Have to spend some time in the hospital, though the wife and I will be coming home with someone new later this week. I have no idea when I’ll be able to get the weekly shows done but I’ll see what I can squeeze in.
KB
Make sure you check out some recent reviews.
Monday Night Raw – December 3, 2007
Former WWE Star Reveals Interesting Gimmick Planned For Him.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/former-wwe-star-reveals-interesting-gimmick-planned/
WATCH: WWE Star Possibly Injured During Match On This Week’s SmackDown.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-wwe-star-possibly-injured-match-weeks-smackdown/
Good For Him: WWE Star Auctioning Off Ring Worn Gear For A Special Cause.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/good-wwe-star-auctioning-off-ring-worn-gear-special-cause/
There’s The News: Update On Cody Rhodes’ Injury Status (And It’s Not Good).
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/theres-news-update-cody-rhodes-injury-status-not-good/
There’s Your Dream Team: Bret Hart Manages FTR Over The Weekend.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/theres-dream-team-bret-hart-manages-ftr-weekend/
WRESTLING RUMORS: WWE Considering Babyface Turn For Longtime Star.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-wwe-considering-babyface-turn-star/
Double Shot: Two World Titles Change Hands Over The Weekend.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/double-shot-two-world-titles-change-hands-weekend/
There Is It: Main Event Set For AEW Forbidden Door.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/main-event-set-aew-forbidden-door/
There’s Another One: WWE Releases Another NXT Star.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/theres-another-one-wwe-releases-another-nxt-star/
Ouch: NXT Star Injured At Live Event, Match Stopped.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/ouch-nxt-star-injured-live-event-match-stopped/
Family Business: Usos Tease A Bit Of A Surprising Career Move.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/usos-tease-bit-surprising-career-move/
They Had An Idea: Toni Storm Reveals Original Plans For Her Time In WWE.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/idea-toni-storm-reveals-original-plans-time-wwe/
Monday Night Raw
Date: December 3, 2007
Location: North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, South Carolina
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler
We are less than two weeks away from Armageddon and the Raw main event seems to be Chris Jericho vs. Randy Orton for the Raw World Title. Other than that, we have HHH vs. Jeff Hardy and odds are that is going to get the majority of the attention this week. I’m not sure what that is going to entail but let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Opening recap.
Here is Chris Jericho to get things going. Jericho is back and wants a title match, which is why he cost Randy Orton a match against Ric Flair last week. Then after last week, Jericho felt a tingle in his pants because of this. We see a clip of Orton agreeing to the title match after Raw last week and Jericho is rather happy.
Cue Orton, who lists off all of his recent victims but Jericho says that just like beating Rock and Austin in one night, that means nothing right now. Violence is teased but here is William Regal to say the two of them can pick the other’s opponents tonight. Orton picks Umaga to face Jericho while Jericho makes Orton vs. Shawn Michaels.
Maria/Mickie James vs. Melina/Beth Phoenix
Maria takes Melina down for an early two but Melina is back up with some shots to the face. Beth comes in to power her into the corner but stops to bring in Mickie. They slugout is on until Beth pulls her off of the top for the crash. With Maria knocked down, it’s a fisherman’s buster to finish Mickie, making me wonder what the point was to this one.
Shawn Michaels says tonight, the WWE Title isn’t on the line, but Sweet Chin Music is all legal. Mr. Kennedy pops up on a monitor to tell Shawn to be ready for their match at Armageddon. He promises a blast from the past that could break Shawn’s heart.
Here is Mr. Kennedy for a chat. He wants to get to know Shawn a bit more so he has invited some of Shawn’s friends and rivals. We’ll start with someone Shawn won’t share the spotlight with: Marty Jannetty (that’s not Marty Jannetty), Razor Ramon (that’s not Razor Ramon, though he does get in a Hey Yo) and Diesel (that’s not Diesel). We need the man himself though, but that’s not Shawn Michaels. They get to describe Shawn, including words like egotistical, chump and traitor. Kennedy threatens the fake Shawn but gets cut off by the real thing. House is cleaned with Kennedy leaving for the staredown from the floor.
Next week: Raw’s 15th Anniversary.
Vince McMahon, with Coach, is on the phone in his office and announces that Hulk Hogan will be here next week. Other names include Trish Stratus, Mick Foley, Eric Bischoff (Vince: “ERIC BISCHOFF???) and Hulk Hogan but here is Hornswoggle to interrupt. Vince has him sit down because he has something special for next week: the official McMahon Family Portrait. As for tonight, Vince isn’t happy with Hornswoggle surviving his tough love attempts, but since Finlay isn’t here tonight, we’ll see how the Luck of the Irish does against Coach/Carlito. The bosses leave and Hornswoggle pulls out a phone.
We look back at HHH and Jeff Hardy working together last week before being told they will be facing off at Armageddon.
William Regal comes in to see HHH and talks about the logic behind the match with Hardy. Speaking of that match, we’ll sweeten the pot a bit by making it for the WWE Title shot at the Royal Rumble. Since that title means so much to HHH, maybe he’ll use that anger on Hardy. HHH says he doesn’t hate Hardy, but he would Pedigree his mother, grandmother or father in law to be WWE Champion again.
Umaga vs. Chris Jericho
We actually join this in progress with Jericho in control on the floor and taking him back inside for some elbows to the head. Umaga sends him outside though and it’s a splash for two back inside. The nerve hold goes on for a bit, followed by a superkick to send Jericho into the corner. The running hip attack misses though and Jericho manages a knockdown of his own. Jericho’s running dropkick into the Lionsault gets two and the Codebreaker (now named) connects but Randy Orton runs in to jump Jericho for the DQ.
Rating: C+. These two can work well together but my goodness Umaga has fallen a long way. There is only so much you can do with a monster who keeps losing over and over. He didn’t even take a pin here, but rather than being something that mattered, he was just there to make Jericho look good. It happens to most monsters though, and that is the case again here.
Post match Orton lays Jericho out with the RKO.
Hornswoggle vs. Carlito/Jonathan Coachman
No DQ and hold on though as Hornswoggle has hired protection for this match. Cue the APA to wreck Carlito and Coach, setting up the Tadpole splash to finish Coach fast.
Post match Bradshaw says they’re open for hire and plugs Smackdown, with Simmons adding the catchphrase.
Snitsky wants the Intercontinental Title and to hurt Jeff Hardy in the process.
Intercontinental Title: Snitsky vs. Jeff Hardy
Hardy is defending. Snitsky knocks him down fast and drops an elbow before choking away in the corner. We hit a double underhook crank to keep Hardy down but he avoids the running legdrop. A quick Twist of Fate into the Swanton retains the title.
Rating: C-. Not much to see here but were you expecting anything else from Snitsky getting a title shot? That is the kind of thing you see happen when someone no shows a house show. Hardy getting a win is a good thing as his rise up the card continues, and you know that he is coming for the main event scene a lot sooner rather than later.
Post match Snitsky kicks him in the face but HHH comes in with the sledgehammer for the save. HHH teases hitting Hardy but helps him up instead.
Smackdown Rebound.
Armageddon rundown.
Jillian Hall comes in to sing for Vince McMahon, who isn’t impressed. William Regal comes in to tell him that Stephanie McMahon is on her way.
Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton
Non-title. The chase is on to start with Shawn catching him in inside and starting the stomping. The headlock slows Orton down but he’s back up with an elbow to the face. Back up and Michaels grabs an ankle lock of all things to put Orton in trouble. Orton rolls out to the floor for a breather and we take a break.
Back with Shawn clotheslining him out to the floor but missing a superkick, which hits the timekeeper by mistake (Shawn has a bad record with that). Back in and Orton stomps away and we hit the chinlock with a bodyscissors. Shawn fights up and hits a slam into the top rope elbow but has to dive onto an invading Kennedy. They fight into the crowd and Shawn is counted out (because a DQ isn’t an option for some reason).
Rating: C+. This is another match that is going to work almost no matter what because they have some good chemistry together. They weren’t going to have either of them take a fall here as they both have big matches coming up at Armageddon, so this was a matter of waiting on either Kennedy or Chris Jericho interfering. Granted it was a nice match on the way there, but it was waiting.
Post match Kennedy and Shawn brawl into the crowd as Chris Jericho runs in to jump Orton.
Stephanie McMahon comes in to see her dad and points out that he has invited a bunch of people who hate him for next week. She doesn’t want to see him get beaten up again so please don’t put yourself in that place. Vince: “I LOVE CONFRONTATION!” He also promises to name the greatest Raw star of all time.
Overall Rating: C+. They are making me more interested in the pay per view than just about anything else they have done on Raw in the last little while so something is going right. I’m not sure how long that is going to last but at least we are getting some nice television on the way there. Just find a way to keep it going and WWE could be going somewhere.
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.
NXT UK
Date: June 9, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd
After last week’s title show, it’s time for another title show, which should make for a big week. This time around we have Meiko Satomura defending the NXT UK Women’s Title against Ivy Nile in a match that could go either way. Other than that, we could be getting some fallout from Moustache Mountain’s issues last week. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
We open with a recap of Ashton Smith/Oliver Carter winning the Tag Team Titles last week. As a result, former champions Moustache Mountain doesn’t seem happy with each other.
Opening sequence.
Mark Andrews vs. Kenny Williams
Andrews is representing Subculture, but does that team actually exist outside of Andrews anymore? Williams bails to the floor to start but Andrews follows him outside and starts chopping away. Back in and Williams rakes the eyes to break up the armbar so Andrews twists the knee around the ropes. They go to the apron where Williams snaps the arm down, followed by a snap suplex for two back inside.
A belly to back gets Andrews out of trouble but Williams is right back on the arm to cut that off. The crossface chickenwing doesn’t work on Andrews, who is right back with the Stundog Millionaire. They strike it out with shots to the other’s damaged limb until Andrews grabs a left armed Side Effect for two. Another Stundog Millionaire misses and Williams kicks him in the arm for two more. Andrews goes up but gets pulled down by the arm, allowing Williams to take out the leg for a change of pace. Cue the masked Tiger Turan for a distraction though, allowing Andrews to grab a small package for the pin at 9:48.
Rating: C+. This was a fun one as tends to be the case with Andrews’ matches. He knows how to have the high flying style match and Williams can hang with anyone. The Turan deal is interesting as well, as there aren’t many people who could be under that mask but Williams is certainly shaken up by whomever it is.
We look at Moustache Mountain winning the Tag Team Titles and Trent Seven’s growing obsession to hold onto them, even if it meant slipping towards the dark side. Next week: an address from Seven.
Mark Coffey gets a phone call from his brother Joe, who is still gone. Mark says if Joe needs anything, call him or the rest of the family as things seem to be ok.
Tate Mayfairs/Oli Blake vs. Symbiosis
Eddie Dennis is here with Symbiosis. Primate powers Mayfair into the corner to start but Mayfairs dives at him with a headlock. Blake comes in and gets knocked into the corner, allowing T-Bone to hit a suplex. A double stomp sets up a fall away slam to give T-Bone two but Blake manages to roll over. The hot tag brings in Mayfairs to clean house…until a clothesline takes his head off. Primate’s top rope headbutt finishes at 4:34.
Rating: C-. Not much to see here as Mayfairs is ok at best and the team got squashed. What matters is Symbiosis getting a win as they could use the recharge. They have something with the aggressive monsters deal and Dennis continues to be a solid manager. I’m just not sure the two parts combined are solid.
Post match Symbiosis turns on Dennis and lays him out for good. I’m down with that.
Ilja Dragunov is here to watch Meiko Satomura retain her title.
Oliver Carter and Ashton Smith are very happy with their title win. Smith’s daughter was very pleased with the win.
Amale vs. Eliza Alexander
Xia Brookside is here with Alexander. Amale gets powered into the corner to start but she is right back with a running shoulder. A running clothesline has Alexander in so much trouble that Brookside offers a distraction, only to have Alexander miss an elbow. Back up and Alexander manages to kick her to the floor and it’s a chinlock back inside. That’s broken up and they slug it out until Amale hits a faceplant. Amale kicks Brookside off the apron but the distraction lets Alexander hit a running knee to the head for the pin at 6:53.
Rating: C. Amale has cooled off a good bit in the last few weeks and she is going to need something to help her bounce back up. What matters is that she still has the charisma and abilities to make something work and a big showdown with Brookside can help. At least this wasn’t a clean finish and Amale rising up to fight back would be nice to see.
Wolfgang talks to Damon Kemp, who has no idea what he said. They go drinking, which doesn’t go well for Kemp.
Lash Legend brags about how great she is and isn’t impressed by an interrupting Myla Grace.
NXT UK Women’s Title: Ivy Nile vs. Meiko Satomura
Nile is challenging and gets powered up against the ropes to start. A trip to the mat gives us a standoff but they’re right back on said mat for some grappling. Satomura grabs a gutwrench suplex but it’s already back to the grappling. Back up and Satomura’s running crossbody is pulled out of the air as the power gets Nile out of trouble.
The leg is tied up so Nile can crank on both arms but Satomura reverses into an armbar. An exchange of kicks goes to Nile for two and she hits some running forearms in the corner. Something like Diamond Dust gives Nile two and a running enziguri gets the same. Nile is back up with the dragon sleeper but Satomura flips backwards for the retaining pin at 10:27.
Rating: B-. The word here is survive, as Satomura didn’t so much beat Nile as much as she managed to stay alive. That’s a good sign for Nile’s future, as she seems like she could be ready for the next level sooner rather than later. Nile seems primed to be the future and having a legend like Satomura struggle to beat her is a great sign. On to bigger and better things for Nile, but at least she lost to someone who matters.
Respect is shown to end the show.
Overall Rating: C+. This was an interesting show as they didn’t focus on the big stars while also giving NXT UK a big win against the NXT visitors. It isn’t an invasion angle, but it is NXT UK reminding people that they’re still here rather than being doormats. I could go for less of some of the NXT stars, but at least we got a good main event out of Nile. Now get us back to the big stuff and we could be in for some fun times around here.
Results
Mark Andrews b. Kenny Williams – Small package
Symbiosis b. Tate Mayfairs/Oli Blake – Top rope headbutt to Mayfairs
Eliza Alexander b. Amale – Running knee
Meiko Satomura b. Ivy Nile – Rollup
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.
NXT LVL Up
Date: June 10, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness
It’s time for another one of these which will likely have nothing whatsoever to do with the previous show and feature a bunch of stand alone matches. That is the standard formula around here and I wouldn’t expect to see it change anytime soon. It doesn’t mean the show will be bad, but it also doesn’t give me high expectations. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Opening sequence.
Valentina Feroz vs. Arianna Grace
Yulisa Leon is here with Feroz. Grace takes her down by the arm to start but Feroz reverses into an arm crank of her own. A rollup doesn’t work so Grace powers her up for a drop onto the buckle. The chinlock goes on but Feroz fights up and gets two off a small package. Grace kicks her down and, after walking around so she can face the camera, gets two. Some throws put Grace down and she hits a spear but Grace is back up. That’s fine with Feroz, who grabs a backslide for the pin at 4:14.
Rating: D+. In short, Grace is not ready for this spot as she looks all over the place and like she is trying to remember every thing that she has to do. The match wasn’t good and felt sloppy, with Feroz doing what she could but not exactly being great in her own right. I’m sure Grace will get a chance because of her look and family connection, but she needs a lot of work.
Sloane Jacobs vs. Sierra St. Pierre
Feeling out process to start with Jacobs grinding away on a headlock and hitting a dropkick. Another headlock takeover takes St. Pierre over and a middle rope spinning crossbody gets two. St. Pierre fights up and hits some right hands, setting up a neck crank. Jacobs grabs a butterfly suplex for two and finishes with a Samoan drop faceplant at 4:58.
Rating: C-. Jacobs is another work in progress and while I can get what WWE sees in her, she needs a lot more ring time and a lot more work before she is ready to go. This wasn’t terrible but it is clear that Jacobs is still figuring a lot of this stuff out. She might get there and I have more confidence in her than Grace, though that isn’t saying much.
Ikemen Jiro vs. Dante Chen
Jiro works on the wrist to start but Chen flips out and grabs a headlock. With that broken up, they fight over a pinfall reversal sequence to get us to a standoff. Chen gets knocked down for a twist of the neck and a running crossbody gives Jiro two. Back up and Chen knees him in the ribs before another shot sends Jiro to the apron. The seated abdominal stretch stays on the ribs but Jiro fights up with the jacket punches. A slingshot springboard moonsault gets two on Chen, who grabs a gutbuster. Not that it matters as the Ikemen Slice finishes for Jiro at 6:59.
Rating: C. Given my tastes in wrestling, Jiro is someone I shouldn’t like, but he has some great charisma and is smooth in the ring, making it hard to dislike him. That is more than I can say for a lot of NXT wrestlers and I get why he is in a more featured role. You can tell that he has the experience and abilities, but the jacket/over the top nature is likely to keep him pretty firmly in the lower levels of the card.
Overall Rating: C-. The women’s matches were rough but Jiro was a level higher enough to make this passable. This show continues to be the “yeah sure put them on, whatever” card of the week and that isn’t likely to change. What matters is getting people in the ring, but with the house show circuit coming back around, I’m not sure how much of an impact this show is going to have. It’ll stay around because WWE is the ultimate creature of habit, but it doesn’t need to be, at least not in this form.
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.
ECW On Sci Fi – November 27, 2007
Impact Wrestling – June 9, 2022
VIDEO: Former Champion Makes Surprise Return To NXT After Six Year Absence.
FOX Gives WWE Some Great SmackDown News.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/fox-gives-wwe-great-smackdown-news/
Wrestling Legend And AEW Manager Says MJF’s Promo “Made Me Sick”.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-legend-said-mjfs-promo-made-sick/
Switch: Here’s What Finn Balor Turning On Edge Means Behind The Scenes In WWE.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/switch-heres-finn-balor-turning-edge-means-behind-scenes-wwe/
WWE Legend Returned To Main Roster As A Producer Last Week.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-legend-returned-main-roster-producer-last-week/
WWE May Be Changing Judgment Day’s Direction In A Bigger Way.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-may-changing-judgment-days-direction-bigger-way/
Important Clarification On Stephanie McMahon’s WWE Hiatus, Vince McMahon Not Involved.
WATCH: Debuting NXT Star’s Identity Officially Revealed.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-debuting-nxt-stars-identity-officially-revealed/
AEW Announces The Introduction Of A Brand New Title.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/aew-announces-introduction-brand-new-title/
You Might Have To Wait Even Longer To See Roman Reigns Defend The WWE Title.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/might-wait-even-longer-see-roman-reigns-defend-wwe-title/
I Remember Him: AEW Star Makes Surprise Return On Dynamite.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/remember-aew-star-makes-surprise-return-dynamite/
Group Of International Stars Make Surprise AEW Debuts, Big Match Already Set.
Your New Home: Two WWE Stars Officially Moved To NXT.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/new-home-two-wwe-stars-officially-moved-nxt/
WWE May Be Releasing More Wrestlers Soon.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-may-releasing-wrestlers-soon/
Update On MJF, Now Looking To Land More Acting Roles.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/update-mjf-now-looking-land-acting-roles/
WWE Teaming With Dark Side Of The Ring Creators For New Wrestling Series.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-teaming-dark-side-ring-creators-new-wrestling-series/
Cool Piece Of Wrestling Merchandise Suggests Former NXT Star May Head To AEW.
Update On Charlotte’s Upcoming Return To WWE TV.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/update-charlottes-upcoming-return-wwe-tv/
Not So Fast: Rumored AEW Forbidden Door Match Not Expected To Happen.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/not-fast-rumored-aew-forbidden-door-match-not-expected-happen/
More Than One: Update On Adam Cole’s Injury Status.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/one-update-adam-coles-injury-status/
Update On Roman Reigns’ WWE Appearances, Rumored Match Still Possible.
Across The Bow: AEW And WWE Stars Trade Barbs On Twitter.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/across-bow-aew-wwe-stars-trade-barbs-twitter/
Franklin Who? Arena Accidentally Advertises Some Funny Names For WWE Live Event.
Injury Scare Takes Place At This Week’s NXT Taping (CONTAINS MINOR SPOILER).
Vince McMahon Wants To Release His Memoirs.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/vince-mcmahon-wants-release-memoirs/
Hand It Over: Title Change Takes Place On WWE SmackDown.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/hand-title-change-takes-place-wwe-smackdown/
Vince McMahon And Other WWE Higher Ups Impressed By New Star.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/vince-mcmahon-wwe-higher-ups-impressed-new-star/
WWE Planning For Interesting John Cena Match At Summerslam.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-planning-interesting-john-cena-match-summerslam/
Longtime WWE Star Announces Departure From The Company.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/longtime-wwe-star-announces-departure-company/
Chris Jericho And MVP Had Altercation Last Month In Houston Hotel.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/chris-jericho-mvp-altercation-last-month-houston-hotel/
Ouch: WWE Legend Announces Upcoming Surgery With Six Months Of Rehab.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/ouch-wwe-legend-announces-upcoming-surgery-six-months-rehab/
On The Shelf: SmackDown Star Out Of Action With Knee Injury.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/shelf-smackdown-star-action-knee-injury/
Rampage
Date: June 10, 2022
Location: Cable Dahmer Arena, Independence, Missouri
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz
We are just over two weeks away from Forbidden Door but things have been shaken up pretty hard around here lately. A string of injuries has changed some of the direction in AEW but bringing in some of the New Japan wrestlers should help. That includes this week, as Will Ospreay/Aussie Open are teaming up to face FTR/Trent Beretta. Let’s get to it.
Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.
Opening sequence.
Eddie Kingston vs. Jake Hager
Kingston strikes away to start but Hager knocks him down with a knee to the ribs. Hager sends him outside before it’s back inside to crank on both arms. They’re already back to the floor with Hager pounding away, followed by some forearms in the corner back inside. The armbar goes on back inside but Kingston fights up. That doesn’t go well for Kingston, who gets chopped so hard that he takes down the straps. Kingston kicks him in the head to take over, only to walk into an overhead belly to belly.
We take a break and come back with Kingston getting in a shot of his own for the double knockdown. Kingston knocks him into the corner for the rapid fire chops but Hager hits him in the face. The Hager Bomb gets two but Kingston grabs a suplex of his own. Kingston’s spinning backfist is countered into a suplex, only to have Hager come back with the ankle lock. Hager’s right hands in the corner rock Kingston, who comes right back with a pair of spinning backfists for the pin at 11:24.
Rating: C+. They had a good, hard hitting back and forth match here and what matters most is that Kingston got another big win. Kingston is starting to put together a streak where you can believe he could take down some bigger names and this should help. Hager might not be a top star, but he has been treated as someone hard to beat so there is some value for Kingston in the win.
Kingston has to be helped out.
Britt Baker is so mad at Toni Storm that she calls Tony Schiavone a dumb***. She doesn’t like Storm touching the Owen Hart Title but more than that, she misses the Women’s Title.
Video on Ortiz vs. Chris Jericho in their upcoming hair vs. hair match.
Satnam Singh/Jay Lethal vs. Besties In The World
Lethal and Vega start things off but it’s already off to Singh. That means the chopping and tossing can begin, with Vega not having many options. Fitchett tries to come in but both Besties get crossbodied at the same time. Singh holds both Besties for a double Lethal Injection to give Lethal the pin at 1:39. Total squash so not much to get out of Singh here, though he looked rather slow.
Danhausen was so proud of he and Hook winning at Double Or Nothing that they have bought matching golf carts. Hook arrives in his to give chase.
Red Velvet vs. Kris Statlander
The other Baddies and Stokely Hathaway are here too. Velvet charges at her outside but gets powerslammed HARD on the floor, allowing Statlander to throw her inside for the opening bell. That leaves Velvet asking the Baddies for advice, which seems to be “CHOKE HER”. Not that it works as Statlander walks up the steps and then the corner before throwing Velvet inside. A high crossbody misses though and Velvet starts in on the leg.
We take a break and come back with Statlander hitting some shoulders to the ribs in the corner. Statlander powers up and hits a very spinning Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Something like a Michinoku Driver gets two but Velvet is back with a running knee to the back of the head. A spinning middle rope corner drops Statlander and Just Dessert gets two. Velvet’s spinning kick to the head is blocked though and Friday Night Fever finishes for Statlander at 8:55.
Rating: C. Statlander is being built up well, even if it seems like she is there to be fed to Cargill. Letting her run through the Baddies is a good idea as that is why you have lackeys, though Athena might be the one getting the big title shot. Cargill has needed some actual challenges though and Statlander could be just that.
Post match Kiera Hogan and Jade Cargill lay Statlander out until Anna Jay comes in for the failed save attempt. Athena comes in for the real save attempt but gets held back.
Miro is ready to hurt Ethan Page and win the All Atlantic Title.
Ethan Page says he looks up to and prays to himself so he is ready to wave the Canadian flag as he beats Miro next week.
The United Empire and FTR/Trent Beretta are ready for the main event and don’t like each other very much.
Here’s what’s coming on upcoming shows.
United Empire vs. FTR/Trent Beretta
That would be Will Ospreay/Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher/Mark Davis) with Aaron Henare for the Empire. Harwood takes Ospreay down to start but gets run over by a shoulder. Wheeler comes in and gets kind of hurricanranaed down, giving us a standoff. Wheeler gets taken into the corner and it’s off to Davis to toss Wheeler into the wrong corner. Trent comes in and hits a few chops as everything breaks down. The Empire is sent outside and Trent hits an Asai moonsault but comes up favoring his ankle.
We take a break and come back with Trent hitting an enziguri but getting knocked down again by Davis. Fletcher misses a running dropkick in the corner though and the hot tag brings in Harwood to clean house. Some clotheslines set up the rolling German suplexes to Fletcher and it’s off to Wheeler for a powerbomb.
Another German suplex into a jackknife rollup gets two but Aussie Open gets back up to beat Wheeler down. A toss into a cutter sets up Ospreay’s springboard 450 for two. The Oscutter gives Ospreay the same but Wheeler gets away and brings Trent back in. Everything breaks down and Ospreay hits a slingshot dive onto FTR. That leaves Davis to go after Trent, who catches Davis in Strong Zero for the pin at 13:57.
Rating: B. This took some time to get going but the last few minutes were quite good. The Empire didn’t get to showcase itself very much here and that was more than surprising, but at least they did get to beat on Wheeler for a bit. Odds are all three of them will be around for Forbidden Door so there is something of a long term plan here. Good main event, with the guest stars working well before coming up short.
Overall Rating: B-. They went with the wrestling show here and as usual, it was good stuff. The main event took its time to get going but eventually found its gear and the opener was a hard hitting brawl. Statlander got a win and Singh….uh, Statlander got a win! This continues to be more of a supplemental show and thankfully that means cutting out some of the more illogical parts, which works out well as they seem to know what they want from Rampage.
Results
Eddie Kingston b. Jake Hager – Spinning backfist
Jay Lethal/Satnam Singh b. Besties In The World – Double Lethal Injection
Kris Statlander b. Red Velvet – Friday Night Fever
FTR/Trent Beretta b. United Empire – Strong Zero to Davis
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
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Smackdown
Date: June 10, 2022
Location: Raising Cane’s River Center Arena, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
It’s officially Money In The Bank season and that means we need to have some qualifying matches. Maybe they can even play the theme song fourteen times. Other than that, we might get to hear about something related to Roman Reigns wrestling again sometime in the future. But probably not. Let’s get to it.
Here is Hell In A Cell if you need a recap.
Commentary hypes up tonight’s historic show. The lesson here: WWE commentators doesn’t know what historic means.
Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre
In the back, McIntyre throws Butch around and says he’ll see Sheamus out there. They hit each other hard to start with McIntyre getting the better of it off some chops. A Michinoku Driver gives Drew two but Sheamus sends him to the apron for the forearms to the chest. That’s reversed so Drew can hit his own, only to have Butch offer a distraction. Something like White Noise on the apron drops McIntyre and we take a break.
Back with Sheamus hitting an Alabama Slam for two but McIntyre fights up and hits the neckbreaker. There’s the nip up so a spinebuster can give McIntyre two more but Sheamus elbows his way out of a fireman’s carry. Sheamus hits his own Futureshock for two so he goes up, only to get pulled down with a super White Noise for two more.
The Claymore is loaded up but Sheamus knees him down for two of his own. The Brogue Kick is countered into a powerbomb for two but Butch comes in for a distraction. A Brogue Kick cuts him off so Sheamus hits a clothesline to put McIntyre on the floor. They fight in the timekeeper’s area and hit each other with chairs (at the same time) for a double DQ at 12:27.
Rating: B-. I wasn’t wild on the ending and I’ve seen these two fight more times than I can count, but at least they know each other well enough to have a good match almost every time. There is something to be said about two guys this big hitting each other this hard and it worked as usual. I’m sure they’ll have something to keep things going after that ending, but it worked as a nice TV match.
Post break the brawl is still going after the break, with Butch getting involved but not being able to do much. The fight heads out into the crowd, where they’re finally separated.
We recap Seth Rollins seemingly showing respect to Cody Rhodes and then attacking him (again).
Lacey Evans is ready to face Xia Li. She might not be better than Li, but Li certainly isn’t better that her.
Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Lacey Evans vs. Xia Li
Li throws her around to start and grabs a quick cobra clutch. That’s broken up and Evans elbows her in the face, setting up a slingshot Bronco Buster in the corner. Back up and the Woman’s Right finishes for Evans at 2:30. That wasn’t exactly a smooth match and then it just ends with the right hand out of nowhere.
Drew McIntyre comes in to see Adam Pearce and seems to threaten violence over not being in the Money In The Bank Ladder match.
Video on the Viking Raiders.
Sheamus and Butch also seem to threaten Adam Pearce.
Here is Ronda Rousey to say that she is ready to prove that her armbar is better than Uncle Bret’s Sharpshooter. Cue Shotzi to say she has a bad attitude and the challenge is on for right now. Sure why not.
Ronda Rousey vs. Shotzi
Champions Contenders match and Rousey takes her down without much effort. A belly to belly drops Shotzi for two but she tries a figure four necklock over the ropes. That’s reversed into an ankle lock in the ropes and they fall to the floor, with Shotzi hitting a tornado DDT.
Back in and Shotzi pounds away, setting up a kick to the head for two. An armbar has Rousey in more trouble but she fights out, only to fail at another ankle lock attempt. Shotzi suplexes her for two and then does it again into the corner. Some more strikes seem to wake Rousey up, with the slap to the face being a bad idea. A suplex into the armbar makes Shotzi tap at 7:20.
Rating: C. Some of Shotzi’s strikes looked great, with that kick to the head being one of the hardest looking shots I’ve seen from anyone in awhile. That being said, this was little more than a way for Rousey to get a win on TV and keep her sharp before the Natalya match. It wasn’t a match that you needed to see, but it did what it needed to do.
Post match Natalya jumps Rousey and puts her in the Sharpshooter.
Riddle is ready for Sami Zayn tonight, because if he wins, he gets to face Roman Reigns next week. The juice is worth the squeeze you see.
Intercontinental Title: Gunther vs. Ricochet
Gunther, with Ludvig Kaiser, is challenging and powers Ricochet around to start. The big chop knocks Ricochet silly and Gunther steps on him in the corner as we take a break. Back with Ricochet countering a powerbomb into the Code Red for two but a springboard is countered into a sleeper.
Ricochet escapes and hits a running knee but Gunther BLASTS him with a clothesline for two. Another sleeper over the ropes is broken up but Ricochet stops go to after Kaiser. Not that it matters as a standing shooting star press gets two on Gunther. The 630 misses though and it’s a dropkick into the corner. The powerbomb gives Gunther the title at 8:31.
Rating: C+. This was straight out of the Rob Van Dam playbook: build up a high flier, let him hold the title for a bit, and then drop it to someone on their way up. Ricochet getting the title in the first place showed that WWE might have some faith in him, but Gunther winning is absolutely the way to go as he has all kinds of potential. Gunther winning clean makes it even better.
Paul Heyman tells Sami Zayn to go win the main event and he might be in the Bloodline.
John Cena went to the Netherlands to meet a fan with Down’s Syndrome whose family had to flee the Ukraine because of the invasion. Well that’s about the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time.
Classic Smackdown Moment: Steve Austin and Booker T. in the (Green Frog) grocery store.
Video on Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss, who meet next week in a Last Laugh match.
Max Dupri’s newest client will be revealed next week instead of this week. At least they mentioned it.
Riddle vs. Sami Zayn
If Riddle wins, he gets Roman Reigns next week but if Zayn wins, Riddle is off of Smackdown. Paul Heyman is on commentary and note that the bell rings EIGHTEEN MINUTES after Sami’s entrance. Riddle goes for a triangle choke to start and Sami bails straight to the ropes. That’s fine with Riddle, who sits him on the apron for some rapid fire kicks to the chest.
Back in and Zayn gets in a few shots of his own to take over, setting up a chinlock. Riddle fights to this feet and goes up top, only to be shoved off and into the barricade as we take a break. Back with Riddle being knocked outside again but managing to beat the count. Riddle catches him up top but the super RKO is blocked. Riddle catches him with a jumping knee for two but Sami kicks him down.
Sami spends too much time mocking Randy Orton though and the jumping knee takes him down. Riddle kicks him to the floor for the springboard Floating Bro, followed by the hanging DDT back inside. The Blue Thunder Bomb gets two back inside and the Bro Derek is countered into a cradle for two more. Sami takes too long loading up the Helluva Kick though and it’s the RKO for the pin at 13:08.
Rating: B-. I don’t think it’s much of a surprise that Riddle won here given the stipulations, but at least they played up the idea of an upset being possible. Zayn is still someone who can take almost any loss and be fine, which will be the case here for sure. Riddle vs. Reigns has been set up and while I would prefer it at Money In The Bank, having ANY match from Reigns is better than taking the whole summer off.
Post match the Usos jump Riddle but he’s right back up with a kendo stick to clean house to end the show.
Overall Rating: B. Maybe it’s due to things not going so well for so long, but this was a good Smackdown after a good Raw and two good weekend shows. WWE might be on a bit of a roll and that was the case here. They focused on bigger things this week, with the Sheamus vs. McIntyre match, then the Rousey stuff (not so great but she’s a name), followed by the title change and main event. I didn’t get bored once during this show and while I don’t believe it lasts, I will absolutely take a week of good stuff for once.
Results
Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre went to a double DQ when they both used chairs
Lacey Evans b. Xia Li – Woman’s Right
Ronda Rousey b. Shotzi – Armbar
Gunther b. Ricochet – Powerbomb
Riddle b. Sami Zayn – RKO
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
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Impact Wrestling
Date: June 9, 2022
Location: Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Florida
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan
We are rapidly approaching Slammiversary and that means it is time to start filling out the card. The main event is set but we still need to add in a few more spots here and there. This includes another name in the Ultimate X match, plus a likely Moose vs. Sami Callihan match. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
The opening sequence looks at Sami Callihan attacking Moose last week.
Callihan wants Moose.
Opening sequence, again featuring a classic TNA theme. I could go for more of these things.
Tenille Dashwood vs. Rosemary
Madison Rayne is here too. Rosemary knocks her into the corner to start and a ram into the buckle makes it worse. Dashwood manages to get in a shot of her own though and pulls Rosemary outside for a crash to take over. Back in and the Upside Down doesn’t get Rosemary very far as Dashwood clotheslines her down.
A full nelson is broken up though and a double clothesline gives them both a breather. It’s Rosemary up first with something close to the Last Chancery but Dashwood slips out. Rayne offers a quick cheap shot but Rosemary grabs a rollup for the pin at 6:04 anyway. Ignore Rosemary’s shoulders being down.
Rating: C. Pretty run of the mill match here with a bit of a wonky ending. Rosemary not having Havok here was a bit weird as they might not have the brightest future together. Dashwood and Rayne are still fine as heels, but it is still kind of hard to get invested in the division as it pretty much doesn’t exist.
Post match the beatdown is on but Taya Valkyrie comes in for the save. Rosemary and Taya don’t exactly seem to trust each other.
Slammiversary rundown.
The Good Brothers have come to the Briscoes’ chicken farm and we get some rapid fire clips of them looking around the place, including dealing with manure, talking to Mark’s (I think) son and chasing around a chicken. Then they run into Papa Briscoe, who tells them to get out. Violence is teased but the Briscoe Brothers come in via their truck and the big fight is on. Jay gets tied in a tree, but Papa grabs a wrench to keep the Brothers (Good that is) from throwing a cinder block at his head. Papa continues to steal every scene he is in for any promotion.
Heath says Rhino needs surgery and will be out for months. Revenge on Honor No More is promised.
Steve Maclin vs. PCO
PCO starts fast with a running clothesline and somehow winds up on the floor instead of Maclin. A dive takes Maclin down and PCO’s mouth is busted, but he hits another dive for good measure. The PCOsault is broken up so Maclin knocks him off the top and hits a dive of his own as we take a break.
Back with Maclin pulling PCO’s shoulder into the post a few times and grabbing a top rope superplex for two. PCO gets all fired up though and hammers away, including a DDT. The Cannonball sets up the Deanimator but another Cannonball hits steps. Maclin hits a running spear against the barricade and then crushes PCO’s arm in the step for a bonus. The shoulder is WAY messed up (looks dislocated) but PCO beats up the medical people. That lets Maclin hit a chair shot to the ribs, followed by a DDT onto the chair for the pin at 12:24.
Rating: C+. The Maclin push continues and beating PCO means a little something. I’m curious to see how far he can go, as we might be seeing him getting into the main event scene. It isn’t like there is anything else of note for him to do, so maybe there is an opening for him in there.
Post match PCO sits up and goes after Maclin, who runs off scared.
Flashback Moment Of The Week: Samoa Joe retains the World Title in King of the Mountain at Slammiversary 2008.
Tasha Steelz, with Savannah Evans, yells at Deonna Purrazzo for not helping her last week. Purrazzo says she doesn’t need their help so the two of them storm off. Chelsea Green comes in to laugh.
Matt Morgan pops up as this week’s cameo and talks about what his time meant here. Vincent comes in to mock him before leaving.
Joe Doering vs. Josh Alexander
Non-title and the rest of Violent By Design is here. Doering shoves him down to start but Alexander is back up with a headlock. A belly to back suplex doesn’t get Doering out of trouble but he kicks out of the ankle lock without much effort. Doering gets in a running shoulder to drop Alexander for two and then sneers a lot. We hit the neck crank for a bit but Alexander is right back up with a middle rope knee. Some rolling German suplexes have Doering in trouble so the Violent By Design flag is thrown in. That’s fine with Alexander, who hits Doering with the flag for the DQ at 6:30.
Rating: C. Not much to see here other than Alexander snapping a bit on the way to the pay per view title match. Doering is still someone where I don’t get the appeal as he is the big monster of a team run by Eric Young. That is only going to get you so far and we passed that point a long time ago.
Post match Alexander cleans house and stares down Eric Young, who backs off.
Moose isn’t worried about Sami Callihan’s mind games, even as the lights flicker.
We look at Ace Austin joining the Bullet Club in Japan.
Austin and the Bullet Club were happy and then beat up an angry Alex Zayne.
Moose goes hunting for Sami Callihan….and actually finds him, setting up the brawl in the back. Callihan is busted open but Moose finds that he is locked in an area backstage. Callihan reveals that he has the key and beats Moose up before locking him in.
Matt Cardona insists that he is the REAL Digital Media Champion but since he is hurt, he hands it off to Brian Myers. That’s fine with Myers, who will defend against Rich Swann at Slammiversary.
Slammiversary rundown, with Alex Zayne being added to Ultimate X.
Honor No More vs. Frankie Kazarian/Motor City Machine Guns
That would be Matt Taven/Mike Bennett/Eddie Edwards for Honor No More. Bennett and Edwards trade headlocks to start for an early standoff. Bennett gets sent into the corner for some alternating shots to the face, allowing Sabin to come in and kick him down. That’s broken up and it’s off to Taven, who takes over on Sabin without much trouble. Kazarian comes in as well with a neckbreaker for Taven before cranking on Edwards’ arm. Everything breaks down and the good guys take over, including the springboard spinning legdrop to Bennett as we take a break.
Back with Shelley Stunning Edwards over the top rope but Bennett pulls the leg to cut him off. Everything breaks down again and Sabin gets launched into a powerbomb to take him down too. Bennett hits Edwards by mistake but Sabin and Kazarian are pulled to the floor to break up a hot tag attempt. Some shots to Shelley’s head seem to wake him up so Edwards kicks him in the head.
Edwards kicks Bennett by mistake though and now the hot tag can bring in Kazarian to clean house. Kazarian flips out of a double belly to back suplex and hands it back to Shelley to pick up the pace even more. Everything breaks down (again) and Sabin hits a cutter on Taven. The parade of dives is on until Sabin gets triple teamed inside.
Kazarian is back in to take Edwards down for two and Sabin hits a middle rope tornado DDT for two on Taven. A slingshot cutter hits Taven but Bennett cuts Sabin off. The Clothesline From Hell, Michigan (clever) hits Bennett but a low blow lets Edwards grab the Die Hard Driver for the pin on Sabin at 20:27.
Rating: B. This got the time to go somewhere and it shouldn’t be a surprise that it worked. Impact has the kind of roster that allows them to do something like this and it worked well as a main event. Sometimes you need to just let wrestlers have the chance to wrestle and the Machine Guns vs. OGK with the other two involved was always going to go well. You can mix and match the combinations for one good pairing after another here and that is a good sign for the future of this story. Good stuff, as Honor No More gets a boost on the way to Slammiversary.
Post match Heath runs in with a chair for some revenge but Kenny King and Vincent come in to build up the numbers again. Heath’s ankle is Pillmanized over and over to end the show.
Overall Rating: C+. The main event helped a lot here and we got a good show as a result. Slammiversary is all but set and now they have another week to get in the final push. They still need to make Slammiversary work though and that is the tricky part. Some good build can help though and that is what they did here, though next week will matter more.
Results
Rosemary b. Tenille Dashwood – Rollup
Steve Maclin b. PCO – DDT onto a chair
Joe Doering b. Josh Alexander via DQ when Alexander hit him with a flag pole
Honor No More b. Kazarian/Motor City Machine Guns – Die Hard Driver to Sabin
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.
I’m rather pleased with a recent move.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/kbs-review-thats-good-judgment/