Monday Night Raw
Date: February 18, 2008
Location: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

No Way Out is out of the way and now we have a clear path to Wrestlemania XXIV in just over a month. It’s time to start the build and the good thing is you can probably see a few of the matches from here. As for this week, Vince McMahon gets to face Hornswoggle in a cage, because this story is still going. Let’s get to it.

Here is No Way Out if you need a recap.

Here is new #1 contender HHH to get things going. HHH talks about how happy he is, because last year he was getting ready to go watch Wrestlemania from a wheelchair backstage. Well now he is back where he belongs and he is going to become a 12 time World Champion, but here is (still WWE Champion) Randy Orton to interrupt. Orton says this title reign started with HHH, who he beat to become the champion. Four years ago, HHH was jealous of Orton because Orton was that much better.

Cue John Cena to interrupt as well because he wants to wait a cotton picking minute (Cena: “Yeah I went there.”). Cena accuses Orton of losing his way into Wrestlemania so tonight, let’s have a rematch for the title with the winner facing HHH. Orton appeals to HHH, who doesn’t really care who he faces at Wrestlemania.

Cue William Regal to say HHH is going to Wrestlemania no matter what, but tonight Orton will face Cena….in a non-title match. If Cena wins, he moves on to the main event of Wrestlemania in a triple threat match. HHH isn’t cool with that because he has already earned his shot, but Regal makes it more interesting: HHH can be guest referee for Orton vs. Cena. This was shorter than I would have expected to come up with something like that.

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Jeff Hardy vs. Snitsky

Snitsky shoves him down without much trouble to start and there’s the boot choke in the corner. Hardy isn’t having that and sends him into the corner for the slingshot dropkick. A big boot puts Snitsky on the floor in a crash and we take a break. Back with Hardy caught in a bearhug and then getting shouldered down hard. Three elbows give Snitsky two and we hit a crossface choke (minus the arm trap).

Snitsky lets that go and misses a big leg, allowing Hardy to hit the Whisper in the Wind for two. The Twist of Fate is blocked and a big boot drops Hardy for two more. The pumphandle slam is loaded up but Hardy reverses into the Twist of Fate. That’s enough to set up the Swanton to send Hardy to Wrestlemania.

Rating: C+. A smaller hero vs. a monster is something that will always work and they had it going well here. That is all you need in a lot of cases and Hardy being one of the most popular stars in the company helps a lot. They had a perfectly fine story here and Hardy knows exactly how to do a match like this one. Nice job.

Mike Adamle brings out Shawn Michaels for a chat. Shawn gets right to the point: the greatest wrestler of all time and the man who inspired him to get into wrestling is going into the WWE Hall Of Fame. The fans give a WOO and we see the Ric Flair Hall of Fame video. Your mileage on Flair may vary, but I don’t think this is anything resembling a controversial pick.

Paul Burchill vs. Super Crazy

Katie Lea is here with Burchill (who gets a PAUL THE PIRATE chant) and we get an inset promo where they talk about how attractive the other is. Burchill strikes away to start and curb stomps Crazy for the very fast pin. Total dominance.

Randy Orton comes in to see HHH and hints at an alliance, but HHH says he’s only going to do things that favor him.

We look at Big Show returning last night to attack Rey Mysterio, with Floyd Mayweather Jr. making the save and breaking Show’s nose.

Here is Big Show for a chat. Show was asked to come out here and apologize for what happened last night. He will apologize, even though he thinks Mayweather should apologize. Show asks Mayweather to come out here in person, so cue Mayweather with about six other people behind him.

Mayweather says he has been a WWE fan for many years and he’s sorry things went that way last night. He was called out and had to retaliate. Show says he was just trying to get some publicity and apologizes. They shake hands and Mayweather leaves in peace….but Show says hang on a minute.

Show wants to get something off his chest: the only way Mayweather could hurt him was on his knees and he was STILL bigger than Mayweather. The truth is Show could take him out in two minutes and the challenge is on. Mayweather, and entourage, come back to the ring and sure let’s do it. The tease of a right hand makes Show back up but Mayweather leaves. I think I know where this is going.

Video on Money in the Bank.

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Mr. Kennedy vs. Val Venis

Kennedy, with new music, sends Venis shoulder first into the post to start and goes after the arm on the mat. The armbar goes on as JR is smart enough to say that Venis is recently back from elbow surgery. Back up and the Mic Check sends Kennedy to Wrestlemania in a hurry.

Vince McMahon vs. Hornswoggle

In a cage. Finlay comes to the ring and wants to fight for Hornswoggle but is told to get out. Cue JBL to slam the cage door on the back of Finlay’s head and then handcuff him to the top rope. Vince pulls out a belt and whips Hornswoggle as Finlay can’t do anything. Vince leaves and JBL throws Hornswoggle into the cage.

Finlay tells JBL to beat him up instead but Hornswoggle gets kicked in the head. The fall away slam into the cage leaves Hornswoggle laying and even Vince says that’s enough as JBL leaves. This was more intense than I would have bet on, with commentary being silent making it better. No match of course.

Here are Santino Marella and Maria for a chat. We get a poll on if Maria should pose for Playboy, with 94% saying yes. I know it’s a popular concept, but maybe you should wait a bit after such a serious moment? Anyway Santino announces that Maria is posing but Beth cuts him off for a match that Maria didn’t seem to know what was coming. Hold on though as Santino reads the fine print: no Playboy unless Maria wins here!

Beth Phoenix vs. Maria

Non-title and Beth slams her down with ease to start. Cue the returning Candice Michelle for a distraction though and Maria grabs a rollup. There was no way to do this without pinning the unstoppable champion?

Randy Orton vs. John Cena

Non-title but if Cena wins, the Raw World Title match at Wrestlemania is a triple threat, also involving guest referee HHH. Cena backs him into the corner to start but Orton scores with an uppercut. A dropkick has Cena out on the apron and Orton knocks him into the announcers’ table as we take a break.

Back with Cena getting a boot up in the corner and dropping an elbow for a fast two. Orton is right back up and a hanging DDT gets two on Cena, followed by the snap powerslam for the same. The circle stomps set up a jumping knee to the head for two more and frustration is setting in.

We hit the chinlock so Cena is up fast, only to miss a charge into the corner as he still can’t keep anything going. Cena shrugs off a ran into the buckle and initiates the finishing sequence but Orton grabs the rope to block the FU. They head outside with Cena being sent into the steps but the RKO is countered into the STFU. The rope is grabbed so Cena yells at HHH, only to duck a cheap shot from Orton. A quick FU sends Cena to Wrestlemania.

Rating: C+. So there’s one of your Wrestlemania main events as you knew the ending to Orton vs. Cena last night was going to wind up going somewhere. Cena being added to the match does add something fresh to the whole thing, but this wasn’t exactly a classic. The match felt big, but another champion gets pinned, albeit with some shenanigans.

HHH Pedigrees both of them and poses with the title to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I’ve got a feeling this is going to be the start of the Wrestlemania season trend, as there was very little here in the way of wrestling. Instead, this was ALL about setting up Wrestlemania in one form or another. I can go for that, as they don’t have very long before Wrestlemania and the rapid fire build has begun. Good enough stuff here, but it’s all about the future.

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Dynamite
Date: November 9, 2022
Location: Aggaris Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone

We are just over a week away from Full Gear and the card could use some help. So far the main matches are a four way for the Ring Of Honor World Title and MJF challenging Jon Moxley for the AEW World Title. Other than that we a few title matches and the finals of a tournament that hasn’t started yet. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Gunn Club/Swerve In Our Glory vs. FTR/Acclaimed

Billy Gunn storms the ring before the bell but gets ejected for jumping Swerve. We settle down to Wheeler hammering on Swerve in the corner as the fans are rather pleased with the goings on. The good guys take turns on Swerve, including the scissoring from the Acclaimed, as everything breaks down, with the four villains getting punches rained down in the corner.

We take a break and come back with Harwood suplexing his way out of trouble and avoiding a splash in the corner. The hot tag brings in Bowens as everything breaks down, including the Gunn Club stealing the Big Rig. All eight get up for the big showdown and it’s Lee picking Bowens up to swing into various people (points for a cool visual). A spinning forearm strike to the back of the head drops Bowens and a corkscrew dive off the top takes out the big pile.

Harwood is back up with a superplex to send Colton onto the pile. Back in and Austin does a Road Dogg shaky punch (complete with a crotch chop) but gets pulled into a Sharpshooter (that feels like a reference to Road Dogg saying he was a better sports entertainer than Bret Hart earlier this week) from Harwood. Everything breaks down and we hit the finisher parade until the Big Rig gives Bowens the pin on Austin at 12:05.

Rating: B-. Hot tag match to start and that is always a smart way to go. At the same time, you get the Tag Team Title feud for the pay per view on the show and FTR…well I’m sure they’ll face the Gunn Club at some point. For now though, it’s a good eight man tag with a fast pace and almost all action.

We hear from MJF on the Pardon My Take podcast, where he says he is banged up from the Acclaimed’s beating. His focus is on Jon Moxley at Full Gear because MJF is a generational talent. MJF is ready to face Moxley, who really impresses him because of everything he has done over the years.

After all of those years of working for $15 after driving hundreds of miles, Moxley has become the #1 star in the world but now the throne is up for the taking. MJF has had other people take the spotlight from him throughout his career, from a neck tattoo to Matt Hardy taking a fall to a year of Chris Jericho to a press conference. Now though, he is coming for the title because he is MJF. The mic gold is plentiful with this one.

Stokely Hathaway talks about how he thought he and MJF were friends but now he’ll do things however he can. He’ll also see Max in h***.

Full Gear Contenders Tournament First Round: Ethan Page vs. Eddie Kingston

Stokely Hathaway and Ortiz are the seconds. Page bails into the corner to start but comes right back with a middle rope shoulder. That’s enough to Kingston to the floor for a shoulder off the apron, meaning it’s time to stomp away on the floor. Back in and Kingston snaps off a butterfly suplex, only to be taken back to the floor for a suplex from Page.

We take a break and come back with the two of them slugging it out from their knees. The Stretch Plum goes on Page but Hathaway offers a distraction so the tap is missed. Back up and Page kicks Kingston in the head, only to get caught up top. That’s fine with Page, who hits a super Ego’s Edge for the pin at 9:12.

Rating: C+. The ending looked great as Kingston went flying, but it’s a little weird to see Page getting a push all of a sudden. He’s fine enough but out of everyone on the roster, him? Then again this is just winning the first round of a #1 contenders tournament so it might not mean anything, but it’s still coming a bit out of nowhere.

Jose the Assistant tells the Dark Order that once Rush wins the World Title, he’ll give 10 the first title shot. The others members will never get one, so John Silver calls him a Rush (Roosh) bag. The fight is on.

Here is Ari Daivari to offer his butler to Wardlow for the TNT Title.

TNT Title: Wardlow vs. Ari Daivari

Wardlow, with Samoa Joe, retains with a four movement Powerbomb Symphony at 1:47, with some clotheslines in between.

Post match Wardlow calls out Powerhouse eHobbs for a fight so here he comes….and Samoa Joe decks Wardlow, setting up the Koquina Clutch. Joe glares at Hobbs before leaving. Unify the titles and we’re all good.

Nyla Rose is ready to take the TBS Title back at Full Gear.

Tony Schiavone brings out Britt Baker and Saraya for a face to face chat. Saraya gets to the point: she is cleared to return to the ring and therefore this is HER HOUSE. Baker mocks her for being a “superstar” and coming to the place Baker helped make. She doesn’t remember Saraya laying a single brick but now Saraya is walking into her house. Baker: “We don’t take walk-ins so b****, make an appointment.”

Saraya talks about how long she has been in this business and how Baker has everything handed to her. Saraya worked all over the UK for free and wrestled the same day she was hit by a car. She has what it takes to be a superstar and has been in MSG, the 02 and the Tokyo Dome.

Baker doesn’t know what it’s like to be publicly humiliated and battle her drug addiction in front of the world. At Full Gear, it’s Saraya vs. Baker, so Baker tries to jump her. That just earns Baker a whatever we’re calling the Rampaige now. The fans were SILENT for Saraya’s promo, which came off as the most condescending, talking down speech I’ve heard in a long time.

The Best Friends run into the Factory in a stairwell and after some Danhausen yelling, we get Lee Johnson vs. Orange Cassidy for the All-Atlantic Title on Rampage.

Earlier today, the Best Friends ran into Jay Lethal and company, where accusations of scumbaggery were made. Trent vs. Lethal was set up for later.

Trent vs. Jay Lethal

Lethal chop blocks him during the entrance and starts in on the leg after the bell. A dragon screw legwhip drops Trent but here are Chuck Taylor and Danhausen as we take a break. Back with Trent rolling some suplexes, setting up a half and half superplex. The running knee looks to set up the Strong Zero but we pause for Danhausen to try and curse Satnam Singh. Instead he punches Sonjay Dutt low, leaving Trent to jump Singh. The distraction lets Lethal hit a Lethal Injection for the pin at 7:15.

Rating: C. This was a case where the action was fine enough, but my goodness it is nearly impossible to care about Lethal and company. They’re the most midcard team I can imagine and adding in Jeff Jarrett hasn’t made them any more interesting. The match was ok enough, but a standard distraction finish isn’t the way to get around the boring that is Lethal.

Post match Dutt brings out Jeff Jarrett, who puts over Satnam Singh as being a real monster (while taking a shot at Braun Strowman). Jarrett is told to wrap it up so he chases a stage manager off with the guitar.

Jungle Boy wants to end this with Luchasaurus and Christian Cage so the challenge is made for Rampage.

Here is Jon Moxley with William Regal for a chat. Moxley talks about the first time he met Regal and wanting to be just like him. He tried to pick a fight with Regal and the beating was very bad. Then Moxley got mad and kneed Regal’s ear off his head. That was enough for Regal to take Moxley under his wing, but then the real work began.

Moxley is getting ready for MJF, who he first fought about a year or two ago. They know that MJF has potential and want him to fulfill it, but MJF doesn’t know what it means to have any pressure on him. Then MJF started calling himself the devil, but Moxley has met the devil and looked into his eyes. MJF is not the devil and doesn’t know what is coming for him. Pretty standard stuff but Moxley can sell it well.

More Elite deletion vignettes.

Video on the Ring Of Honor four way World Title match with Chris Jericho defending against Daniel Garcia, Claudio Castagnoli and Bryan Danielson.

Skye Blue vs. Jamie Hayter

Rebel, Britt Baker and Toni Storm are here too. They go straight to the floor to start with Blue getting in a shot to the face but Baker offers a distraction. Hayter grabs a backbreaker into a suplex and we take a break. Back with Blue hitting an enziguri into the Code Red for two. Not that it matters as Hayter grabs the ripcord lariat for the pin at 6:45.

Rating: C. I have no idea why this needed the extra time for a break, but Hayter continues to feel like a force. She has the look, the power game and the fans seem into her. That is a great combination and I’m not sure why she needed that much time to be Skye Blue. It’s ok to wreck more than one person a show and it would have worked here.

Post match, Storm chases Hayter off.

Video on Dante Martin vs. Brian Cage in the #1 contenders tournament.

Lance Archer beats up Ricky Starks before their tournament match.

Bryan Danielson vs. Sammy Guevara

2/3 falls, Tay Melo is here with Sammy and William Regal is on commentary. Danielson starts fast with the strikes but Sammy picks up the flips and dropkicks him to the floor. The suicide dive is cut off though and Danielson hits a missile dropkick to the floor. Danielson looks at Melo so Sammy throws a chair at him for the DQ and the first fall at 2:22.

Sammy unloads with mic shots to the head and eye as we take a break. Back with Danielson’s eye busted open and Sammy looking rather cocky. Sammy hits a great looking GTH to tie it up at 7:42. Danielson gets in a few shots but Sammy jumps the ropes (with a bit of a slip). That’s fine with Danielson, who knocked him down but misses a Swan Dive. Sammy slaps on the Crossface but Danielson makes the rope as we take a break.

Back with Melo being ejected and Danielson tying him in the Tree of Woe for the YES Kicks. Sammy gets out though and hits a hard running knee to knock Danielson to the floor. A shooting star takes Danielson down in a heap but he’s right back with the LeBell Lock back inside. That’s countered into the Walls of Jericho but Danielson slips out and knees Sammy in the head. The LeBell Lock goes on and Danielson cranks it up with….let’s call it a LeBell Rings of Saturn for the third fall and the win at 20:37.

Rating: B. These guys put in some work and it does help them get ready for the Full Gear match. Daniels winning here is a bit of a surprise but it certainly isn’t a ridiculous stretch. The four way should be good as it does feel like a match where any of them could win and this served as a nice preview, with the 2/3 falls being a nice way to give Sammy a pin.

Overall Rating: B-. Solid show throughout, but there wasn’t any big thing that was must see. The good thing is that they built up Full Gear in a way that they needed to and that helped the card a lot. The wrestling was mostly good and I’m more interested in the pay per view than I was before so I’ll take that as a nice use of two hours.

Result
Acclaimed/FTR b. Gunn Club/Swerve Glory – Big Rig to Austin
Ethan Page b. Eddie Kingston – Super Ego’s Edge
Wardlow b. Ari Daivari – Powerbomb Symphony
Jay Lethal b. Trent – Lethal Injection
Jamie Hayter b. Skye Blue – Ripcord lariat
Bryan Danielson b. Sammy Guevara 2-1

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Make sure you check out some recent reviews.

Survivor Series 2003 (2019 Redo)

Monday Night Raw – November 7, 2022

NXT LVL Up – November 4, 2022

NXT – November 8, 2022

Former WWE Star Makes Surprise Return This Week On Monday Night Raw.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/former-wwe-star-makes-surprise-return-week-monday-night-raw/

Money In The Bank Briefcase Cashed In On Monday Night Raw In Brand New Way.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/money-bank-briefcase-cashed-brand-new-concept/

Championship Dropped In The Trash On Monday Night Raw, Possibly Finished.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/championship-dropped-trash-monday-night-raw-possibly-finished/

First WarGames Match Announced For WWE Survivor Series.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/first-wwe-wargames-match-announced-survivor-series/

How WWE’s Saudi Arabian Events Have Handily Surpassed WrestleMania.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwes-saudi-arabian-events-handily-surpassed-wrestlemania/

WWE Crown Jewel 2022 Reportedly Broke An Important Company Record.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-crown-jewel-2022-reportedly-broke-important-company-record/

WATCH: Sasha Banks Trains In The Ring With 47 Year Old Former WWE Star.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-sasha-banks-trains-ring-legend/

LOOK: Alexa Bliss Shares Photo With Very Different Appearance.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/look-alexa-bliss-shares-photo-different-appearance/

WWE Considering Calling Up Popular NXT Star To Main Roster.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-considering-calling-popular-nxt-star/

MJF Lands Major Role In Upcoming Biopic Film.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/mjf-lands-major-role-upcoming-biopic-film/

WATCH: Another Former WWE Star Makes AEW Debut.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-another-former-wwe-star-makes-aew-debut-2/

WRESTLING RUMORS: Update On John Cena’s Return To WWE.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-update-john-cenas-return-wwe/

WWE Has A Special Reason For Running WarGames At Survivor Series.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-special-reason-running-wargames-survivor-series/

As always, hit up the comments section to chat about what is going on and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page.

NXT
Date: November 8, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We are a little over a month away from Deadline and for reasons I don’t quite grasp, Von Wagner is next in line for the NXT Title shot. The good thing is that match is set for next week so it won’t drag down a major show, but we could be in for a rough two weeks. Hopefully the rest of the show can balance it out. Let’s get to it.

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

Joe Gacy vs. Cameron Grimes

Gacy, now in regular trunks instead of his full body gear, has the rest of Schism with him and gets knocked into the corner to start. Grimes fights his way out of some quick trouble and elbows Gacy in the face. Back up and Grimes slips out of a fireman’s carry and knocks Gacy outside as we take a break.

We come back with Gacy stomping away (he likes doing that) and we hit the Crossface. That’s broken up and Grimes gets in a knockdown. After stomping on Reid’s hand at ringside, Grimes hits a high crossbody for two. Gacy bails to the floor and there’s the big running flip dive to take out a bunch of Schism. Back in and an Ava Raine distraction lets Gacy hit the handspring lariat for the pin at 10:45.

Rating: C. It’s amazing to see how things are getting so bad for Grimes. One might think that it’s bad to feud with the lamest thing in all of NXT, as has been the case for Grimes for a long time now. Other than that, you had a pretty basic good guy vs. bad guy match with lackeys interfering. What else was there to get out of this?

Nathan Frazer tells Axiom that he’ll be out of action a bit longer due to his injuries. JD McDonagh comes in to say Frazer knows nothing about pain so Axiom mocks McDonagh for losing a lot. A match is made for later.

And now, to the Barber Shop with Carmelo Hayes not worrying about the haters saying he didn’t get his North American Title back. He and Trick Williams aren’t worried about Wes Lee and don’t care for their barber being something of a fan. Apparently the contract signing is in two weeks.

Scrypts is coming to watch NXT fall.

Sol Ruca vs. Elektra Lopez

Lopez gets knocked outside to start but she’s right back with a heck of a clothesline to take over. Ruca tries to fight back with some shots to the face and manages to stagger Lopez, only to get slammed off the top. A chokebomb finishes for Lopez at 2:58. Not quite a squash but Lopez didn’t feel like she was in danger.

Post match Indi Hartwell runs in to brawl with Lopez.

Duke Hudson and Thea Hail want to take Charlie Dempsey apart. Hudson will be at ringside tonight against that BESMIRCHING (chuckle) Charlie Dempsey but only for support.

We get a video call between Toxic Attraction with Jacy Jayne being worried about showing up because Alba Fyre might hurt them. Then Fyre (who Jayne thought was a cop) pulls her out of the car and promises to come for Mandy Rose next week.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Andre Chase

The rest of Chase U is here too. Dempsey takes him to the mat to start but Chase is back up with a front facelock. Chase can’t get an armbar but he can hit the spelling stomps. That’s broken up and Dempsey pulls him into a leglock, followed by an STF. That’s enough for Duke Hudson to throw in the towel at 2:48, despite Chase being right next to the rope.

Kiana James and her assistant come into Fallon Henley’s bar where Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen are in lust. James is trying to buy the place (Wasn’t she trying to do that to Chase U for about thirty seconds a month ago?) but Henley isn’t interested. She has a lot of memories and isn’t taking the deal, as James wants to build an apartment complex.

Hank Walker vs. Stacks

Tony D’Angelo is here with Stacks. Walker gets taken down to start and hammered in the back as commentary talks about Logan Paul. A knee to the head gives Stacks two but Walker gets fires up and runs Stacks over. Stacks pokes him in the eye and gets two off a rollup before dropping Walker with a running knee to the back of the head for the pin at 3:11.

Rating: C-. What were you expecting here? Walker is a wrestling security guard and Stacks is a lackey to a Mafia boss. There was only so much to get out of something like this and they hit their ceiling pretty hard here. I still don’t quite get the appeal of Walker, as he’s a bit similar to Briggs and Jensen, but he’s unique enough to have a spot, as long as it doesn’t get much higher than this.

It’s time for the Grayson Waller Effect with Von Wagner, with Mr. Stone, and Bron Breakker as guests. The fans writing in don’t seem to like Wagner and he doesn’t care what they think. Wagner brags about how great he is but Breakker says try jumping him face to face. Breakker lists off all of the people who have been impressed by him or taken out (Breakker: “Apollo Crews. There I said your name, you happy now?”) and violence is teased but they just stare at each other instead. And yeah it’s still Wagner so he still isn’t interesting.

Wes Lee wanted to win the Tag Team Titles last week but he’s ready to beat Carmelo Hayes next week.

Cora Jade isn’t scared of Wendy Choo, who doesn’t have any friends and no one cares about her.

Apollo Crews is in Nigeria as part of a WWE talent search but he hasn’t forgot about Bron Breakker.

JD McDonagh vs. Axiom

Axiom takes him down for an early double arm crank to start and McDonagh is looking frustrated early. McDonagh tries to fight up but can’t get anywhere with him. A trip to the floor has McDonagh even more annoyed and we take an early break as seething ensues. Back with Axiom hitting a heck of a springboard moonsault to the floor but he comes up holding his knee.

Back in and McDonagh gets caught in an armbar and has to go to the ropes for the break. McDonagh starts going after the leg but Axiom is able to get back up with a shot to the head for a double knockdown. It’s McDonagh up first anyway but his moonsault is pulled into a triangle choke.

That’s broken up as well but Axiom’s knee gives out on a superkick attempt. This time Axiom pulls him into a choke, which is reversed into a VERY bendy kneebar, which is enough for the referee to break the hold because Axiom is screaming so hard. Axiom begs him not to stop it but the doctors say it’s over at 13:45.

Rating: B. This was a technical vs. high flier match and a lot of fun for the most part. That ending was nasty (though not quite as nasty as when it happened to A-Kid in NXT UK) and a good way to make McDonagh look dangerous. I don’t need to see him get another title shot, but they are doing a great job of making him feel big.

Brutus Creed vs. Damon Kemp

The rest of Diamond Mine is here and we have a five minute time limit. Brutus jumps Kemp in the aisle to start the fight fast before heading inside for the bell. The fight is on fast with Brutus knocking him around and then outside. Kemp gets pulled back to the floor and hammered onto the announcers’ table before they head back inside. Brutus sends him shoulder first into the post before grabbing a chair. That’s taken away though and Brutus blasts him for the DQ at 2:46.

Post match Creed hits him with the chair again but Veer and Sanga are looking at Diamond Mine from the balcony.

T-Bar is still coming back and promises his form of justice.

Roxanne Perez offers an ear to Indi Hartwell if anything is wrong but Hartwell says there are no friends in this business. It doesn’t work that way.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Nikkita Lyons/Zoey Stark vs. Kayden Carter/Katana Chance

Carter/Chance are defending. Chance takes Stark down to start but Stark sticks the landing on a monkey flip. Lyons comes in to work on Carter’s arm but Carter is back up with a running dropkick to send Stark outside. We take a break and come back with Stark holding Chance in a Stretch Muffler. That’s broken up and it’s back to Carter, who hits a big dive to take out both challengers at once.

Chance comes back in and kicks Lyons into the corner for the tag off to Stark. A suplex gets two on Chance, even with Lyons cutting Carter off from making a save. Chance Stundog Millionaires herself out of trouble and everything breaks down. Stark almost clothesline Lyons by mistake and Lyons even takes the bullet of a double superkick for her. A superkick drops Carter but the champs are back up and the 450/neckbreaker combination retains the titles at 11:04.

Rating: C. I’m still not sure what I’m supposed to see in Starks and Lyons as a team as they seemed to be nothing more than two women thrown together to have an NXT team in the Women’s Tag Team Titles tournament. They’re ok enough but it feels like you could sub someone else into either spot with little to no change.

Post match respect is shown but Stark hits Lyons with a title to split the team up. This would be one of those splits that is supposed to be a big deal but they’ve been a team for….have they even had five matches together on TV?

Overall Rating: C. As has been the case for a pretty long time now, there isn’t anything that feels like a big deal right now. I’m sure there will be a new challenger for Breakker after he beats Wagner next week, and the way they are going, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a multi-man match at Deadline. What we got here was another ok show, but it felt like it was setting up more stuff in the future. That has to happen sometimes, but it happens a lot in NXT these days.

Results
Joe Gacy b. Cameron Grimes – Handspring lariat
Elektra Lopez b. Sol Ruca – Chokebomb
Charlie Dempsey b. Andre Chase when Duke Hudson threw in the towel
Stacks b. Hank Walker – Running knee to the back of the head
JD McDonagh b. Axiom via medical stoppage
Damon Kemp b. Brutus Creed via DQ when Creed used a chair
Kayden Carter/Katana Chance b. Zoey Stark/Nikkita Lyons – 450/neckbreaker combination to Stark

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NXT LVL Up
Date: November 4, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Matt Camp

It’s a pay per view weekend and that means a grand total of very little on this show as Crown Jewel has no connection to NXT. LVL Up doesn’t have much to offer most weeks but maybe we can get in a nice match to take up some of the time. The show is usually at least decent so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ivy Nile vs. Sol Ruca

The fans approve of Nile as she works on the wristlock to start. Ruca trips her down and Nile actually grins a bit, only to have it cut off by Ruca’s headlock takeover. Nile is back up with a sunset flip but a jumpless X Factor gives Ruca two. A rather muscular deadlift suplex gets two on Nile but she is back with an armbar in the corner. The arm is fine enough to hit a side slam and a flipping splash connects on Nile in the corner. Nile isn’t having that and suplexes her over, setting up the Diamond Chain Lock (dragon sleeper) for the tap at 4:55.

Rating: C. I still like Nile a god bit and it is nice to see her getting wins, but almost all of her recent LVL Up matches have felt the same. You would think she would be ready for some far better competition on the main NXT show but for some reason she is stuck down here. Ruca continues to be the same thing: very athletic with nothing that makes me care about her as a wrestler.

Myles Borne is ready for Hank Walker, who he seems to like.

Myles Borne vs. Hank Walker

Borne takes him down by the arm to start as we hear about these two knowing each other as teenagers. A Pounce (with a Monty Brown reference from commentary) sends Borne outside but he comes back in to forearm in the corner. The armbar has Walker down but he gets a boot up to stop a diving something designed to land on a raised boot. The comeback is on but Borne snaps off a northern lights suplex. Back up and Walker runs him over with a flying shoulder for the pin at 4:16.

Rating: C. Walker has grown on me a bit and he’s doing enough of a southern/country powerhouse deal to make it work. Borne has come a LONG way in a short time and is having better matches every time he’s out there. That’s what some ring time can do and while he isn’t a big deal yet, he is at least getting better.

Oro Mensah vs. Xyon Quinn

Quinn powers him up against the rope to start but gets armdragged into an armbar. That works so well that Mensah does it again but Quinn hits him in the back. Mensah is fine enough to send him outside for the slingshot dive but Quinn stays on the back with some rams into the apron. A backbreaker and knee to the back give Quinn two, followed by a swinging neckbreaker for the same. The bearhug stays on the back but Mensah breaks it up and hits a springboard moonsault press. Mensah’s running spinwheel kick in the corner finishes Quinn off at 6:07.

Rating: C+. That might be a little high but it’s cool to see a complete match like this one. They had a story, Quinn worked on the back to wear Mensah down, Mensah made a comeback, and the action was fine throughout. It’s one of the better things I’ve seen around here in a good while and after some of the weaker efforts, I’ll absolutely take that.

Overall Rating: C. That’s one of the better LVL Up’s I’ve seen in a bit with the main event being a very nice surprise. There is talent here, but it helps when they had some of the more developed LVL Up stars around here. Mensah has been on the regular NXT show since coming over and Nile has been ready for a serious NXT feud for a long time now. That made for a better show and I’ll always take that kind of change.

Results
Ivy Nile b. Sol Ruca – Diamond Chain Lock
Hank Walker b. Myles Borne – Flying shoulder
Oro Mensah b. Xyon Quinn – Running spinwheel kick in the corner

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Monday Night Raw
Date: November 7, 2022
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena At City Plaza, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Kevin Patrick, Corey Graves

We’re done with Crown Jewel and now it is time to get ready for Survivor Series. There weren’t many developments this weekend but we get to find out where some of these stories are going on the way to WarGames. I’m curious to see who is going inside the cage and maybe we find some of that out this week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Crown Jewel if you need a recap.

Here are the Usos and Solo Sikoa to get things going. We see a photo of the Bloodline celebrating at the end of Crown Jewel with the Usos promising to beat New Day for the titles on Smackdown. Cue New Day to interrupt with Xavier Woods promising to get the titles back on Friday. The Usos praise New Day’s history and there’s nothing wrong with being the #2s.

Woods calls out the Usos for being coddled in a famous wrestling family, which sends Jey into a rant about the pressure that comes with being part of a legendary family. Woods rants right back about what it means to have pressure, because New Day knows what it’s like to sit in catering, wondering if you’re getting fired or building a YouTube channel so someone will notice you at work. Jimmy brings up breaking Woods’ crown before Jey says there would have been no Kofimania without the Usos forfeiting in the gauntlet match (now there’s a call back).

Kofi’s kids wouldn’t be running around the ring at Wrestlemania so stay at home with them on Friday. Kofi talks about how much the record means to New Day and they’re going to fight to keep it like no other. Cue Matt Riddle, with bongos, to interrupt and this better be good. Riddle offers New Day a hit of the bong, which they accept, but Jimmy is the only Bloodline interested. Jey isn’t impressed though so let’s have a six man tag. This was a really good serious segment and while I get that they needed a sixth, Riddle was his usual goofy self and it brought things down a bit.

Matt Riddle/New Day vs. Solo Sikoa/Usos

Riddle suplexes Jimmy to start and it’s time for the Unicorn Stampede. Woods comes in to work on the arm but Jey enziguris Riddle. Sikoa takes Riddle down in a crash to the floor and we take a break. Back with the Usos hitting a double spinebuster on Riddle and Sikoa kicks him in the ribs. Riddle manages a quick suplex and jumping knee to Sikoa, allowing the tag to Woods to pick up the pace. A basement clothesline and splash get two on Sikoa, followed by a high crossbody to put him down again.

There’s the Boom Drop but Trouble In Paradise is broken up. New Day gets taken outside for some rammings into the announcers’ table as we take a break. Back with Sikoa countering a sunset flip with a legdrop but he runs into a raised boot in the corner. A tornado DDT gets Kofi out of trouble and it’s a double tag to Jey and Riddle.

House is cleaned with a pair of Brotons and a powerbomb to Jimmy. Jey is back up with a pop up neckbreaker for two on Riddle, who pulls him into a triangle choke. Jimmy makes the save with a Superfly Splash for two, with Kofi breaking it up as well. Kofi’s dive to the floor is up off but Riddle is back up with a Floating Bro to Sikoa on the floor.

Jimmy dives onto Riddle and knocks the top of the announcers’ table off in the process. Back in and Riddle catches Jimmy with a kick, setting up the hanging DDT. Sikoa tags himself in as Riddle hits the RKO on Jimmy, leaving Sikoa to come in for a Spinning Solo and the pin on Riddle at 20:52.

Rating: B+. This got its time and picked up a lot of steam along the way. By the end, it was all about the chaos and for a TV match, I was rather impressed. The Usos and New Day are always worth watching, but there is something nice about not having the challengers pin the champions to set up their title match. Sikoa gets a big win over a former champion and it worked out very well. Heck of a match.

Long video on Crown Jewel.

Here is JBL to mock Pennsylvania for losing the World Series to a team from Texas before interrupting Baron Corbin.

Baron Corbin vs. Cedric Alexander

For some reason and JBL is on commentary. Corbin knocks Alexander around without much trouble and more hard shots have him down again. Alexander manages a Neuralizer to send him to the floor but Corbin is right back in with the End of Days for the pin at 2:18. Simple and effective.

Here is Seth Rollins for the United States Title Open Challenge. Cue the Judgment Day and Rollins is more than a bit confused. Finn Balor gets in the ring to say that Rollins once cost him gold so now he is costing Rollins gold. Cue the OC to interrupt for the staredown, with Rollins slipping away. Styles says this isn’t over because there is always the Rhea Ripley Problem. They still haven’t found anyone, but someone found the OC. We hear a fight on the floor and….Mia Yim is back! Ripley is down and the big beatdown is on with the OC (and/with Yim) standing tall.

Seth Rollins says we’ll still have the Open Challenge.

Elias vs. Otis

Chad Gable is here with Otis. Elias’ shoulder doesn’t work to start and Otis knocks him hard into the corner. An attempt at a slam doesn’t work for Elias but he avoids a charge into the post. Back to back jumping knees to the face drop Otis but Elias has to knock Gable down. Otis uses the distraction to hit the World’s Strongest Slam for the pin at 2:59.

Judgment Day isn’t worried about Mia Yim because she solves NOTHING. The team goes to leave when Rhea Ripley runs into Bianca Belair for some sneering.

Here are Bianca Belair, Asuka and Alexa Bliss for a chat, but first we see a clip of the three of them almost getting into a fight with Damage Ctrl in the parking lot earlier today. They aren’t impressed but here is Damage Ctrl to interrupt. Dakota Kai said Bianca Belair still hasn’t beaten Bayley but Asuka rants in Japanese.

Sky yells right back and the argument is on. Sky: “B****!” The big fight is on until Bianca says this is WAR, so this is ending at WARGAMES. Cue Nikki Cross to jump Belair form behind and the big brawl is back on. Damage Ctrl and Cross beat them down, with Bayley saying she’ll see Bianca at WarGames.

Austin Theory vs. Shelton Benjamin

This is the result of Theory not wanting Benjamin’s advice earlier today. Feeling out process to start with Benjamin blocking a ram into the corner. Theory punches him down but gets pulled into the ankle lock. That’s broken up so Benjamin snaps off a German suplex for two. Back up and a rake to the eyes slows Benjamin down, setting up A Town Down for the pin at 2:43.

Here is Miz for a chat before his match with Johnny Gargano. Miz rants about how Gargano’s video about his relationship with Dexter Lumis is false. He can’t believe that anyone would believe those sources, but his own father believes Gargano! Miz has been in discussions for a film version of the REAL story but here is Gargano to interrupt. Before the match, Gargano needs to tell the truth and blow the whistle on himself.

When he did his interview last week, he wanted Miz to tell the truth and actually pay Dexter Lumis, but that didn’t happen. Therefore, he needed some extra evidence and he did something a little deceitful to get it. Gargano hired someone to do it, and it turns out that the producer Miz met with over the movie was a private investigator….and she had a hidden camera on. Miz looks terrified as Gargano pulls out a universal remote to run the Titantron, which shows Miz telling the investigator that everything Gargano said is true.

Miz quit paying because Lumis went nuts, but since it went under, why should Lumis be paid? If nothing else, Lumis should be paying him since he wasn’t doing anything three months ago. Miz looks near tears as we’re ready to go. I’ve liked the feud and story but this was bad even for a corny wrestling angle.

Johnny Gargano vs. Miz

Gargano starts fast by dropkicking him to the floor and hitting the running kick from the apron. Some chops on the floor has Miz in trouble and Gargano holds the ropes to avoid a dropkick back inside. Gargano goes after the arm but Miz is back with a kick to the ribs to slow him down. A running kick to the chest gives Miz two and we hit the chinlock.

Back up and Gargano hits what might be a low blow, setting up a jumping neckbreaker for two. A superkick knocks Miz off the apron and there’s the slingshot dive to drop him again. Miz is fine enough to drop him over the barricade though and we take a break. Back with Gargano hitting a Backstabber out of the corner for a double knockdown. Gargano faceplants him for two but Miz left hands him on the apron.

The slingshot spear gives Gargano two but Miz’s short DDT gets the same. The Skull Crushing Finale is countered into a rollup for two, followed by a kick to the head for two more. There’s a suicide dive to send Miz into the announcers’ table but Miz is pulled underneath the ring. He comes out with a turnbuckle rod and tells the referee to check, allowing Miz to hit Gargano with a turnbuckle rod for the pin at 15:50.

Rating: B-. This was a very Gargano style match with all of his usual stuff, plus a screwy ending. It was a match that you knew was coming after last week, but if they’re having the long form match here, I’m not sure how much more need there is for them to fight again. Lumis is probably going to be back soon and that will get Miz’s focus, leaving Gargano without anything to do at the moment. For now though, it was a pretty action heavy match, but the angle before it was rough.

Post match Lumis comes out to chair Miz down and have a glaring seat.

Damage Ctrl recruits Nikki Ash for WarGames. She laughs and says it’s time to play, which seems to be a yes.

24/7 Title: Dana Brooke vs. Nikki Cross

Dana is defending and Damage Ctrl is here, with Bayley on commentary. Nikki wastes no time in taking her down for a cross arm choke before ramming her face first into the mat. The Purge gives Nikki the pin and the title at 2:01. Total squash.

Post break, Damage Ctrl and Cross are walking through the back, where Nikki throws the 24/7 Title in the trash. Please be the end of the thing.

The OC officially welcomes Mia Yim to the team and she is ready to pick up the tab tonight. Then she’ll deal with Rhea Ripley.

Here is Seth Rollins to issue the open challenge again. First though, he brings up ten years of Rollins in WWE, earning himself a nice chant. With that out of the way, he’ll need an opponent, so here is Mustafa Ali on the Titantron. Bobby Lashley jumps him from behind, talks about wanting revenge on Seth, beats up Ali for trying to accept the challenge again, and then promises to take the title back. It was going to be one of them and the two attacking each other was clever.

US Title: Seth Rollins vs. Bobby Lashley

Rollins is defending and gets clotheslined over the top before the bell. The brawl is on with Rollins cutting off the spear through the barricade with a superkick. Lashley is back up to hammer away and Rollins gets posted hard. There’s the spinebuster through the announcers’ table and Rollins is left laying with no match.

Post match Lashley leaves…..and here is Austin Theory with the briefcase? Post break we have a cash in and I guess this is legal.

US Title: Seth Rollins vs. Austin Theory

Theory is challenging and hits Rollins in the face for two. Rollins is back with an attempt at a Pedigree but gets reversed into one of his own for two. Theory gets knocked outside but rolls back in for a powerbomb and a near fall but the Stomp is countered into A Town Down….and Bobby Lashley pulls the referee out at two. After yelling at Lashley that he ruined it, Theory gets wrecked and posted hard a few times. The Hurt Lock leaves Theory out cold on the floor and Lashley leaves. Theory beats the count back in but gets Stomped to retain Rollins’ title at 4:58.

Rating: C. The match was immaterial as it was a few traded sequences and then Lashley doing his thing. What matters here is that the briefcase is gone and that is great to see. Theory wasn’t going to become the World Champion and it would have been a waste of time seeing him try to cash in on Reigns. Going after the US Title is a smart way to go, though him losing the match was a bit of a surprise. As a bonus, this opens up a new direction for the briefcase, so maybe it can get more interesting for once.

Overall Rating: B. This show was a mixture of good action and good structure. There were some rather good matches, with that opener getting pretty near excellent. What made this show work better though as a mixture of long and short form stuff. It kept the show moving and that is how to prevent the normal boring feeling setting in. Rather nice show here and the road to Survivor Series begins with a hot start.

Results
Usos/Solo Sikoa b. Matt Riddle/New Day – Spinning Solo to Riddle
Baron Corbin b. Cedric Alexander – End Of Days
Otis b. Elias – World’s Strongest Slam
Austin Theory b. Shelton Benjamin – A Town Down
Miz b. Johnny Gargano – Turnbuckle rod to the head
Nikki Cross b. Dana Brooke – Purge
Seth Rollins b. Austin Theory – Stomp

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Make sure you check out some recent reviews.

Survivor Series 2002 (2017 Redo)

Smackdown – February 15, 2008

No Way Out 2008 (2022 Redo)

WRESTLING RUMORS: WWE High On NXT Talent, Looking For Special Call Up Plans.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-wwe-high-nxt-talent-looking-special-call-plans/

Why WWE Star’s Crown Jewel Performance Was More Impressive Than It Seemed.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/why-wwe-stars-crown-jewel-match-was-more-impressive-than-it-seemed/

Former Record Setting World Champion Set To Become Free Agent.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/former-record-setting-world-champion-set-become-free-agent/

WWE Has An Interesting Plan For Its Women’s Division.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-interesting-plan-womens-division/

Paul Heyman Believes Brock Lesnar Now Respects This WWE Superstar.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/paul-heyman-believes-brock-lesnar-now-respects-wwe-superstar/

Wrestling Fans Erupt Over Controversial Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley Ending.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-fans-not-happy-ending-brock-lesnar-vs-bobby-lashley/

WRESTLING RUMORS: Triple H Reportedly Sees Young Star As Next Sasha Banks.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-triple-h-reportedly-sees-young-star-next-sasha-banks/

Roman Reigns Targeted By 38 Year Old WWE Superstar.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/roman-reigns-targeted-38-year-old-wwe-superstar/

Backstage News On Why MVP Missed WWE Crown Jewel.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/backstage-news-mvp-missed-wwe-crown-jewel/

As always, hit up the comments section to chat about what is going on and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page.