Monday Night Raw
Date: January 7, 2008
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut
Attendance: 7,000
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

It’s the first Raw of the new year and we’re starting big with Raw Roulette. The show will basically be a bunch of Spin The Wheel Make The Deal matches and that should make for some interesting options. I say should because it probably won’t, but at least they’re doing something. Oh and there will be a lot about Ric Flair, because we need to do that as often as possible. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of last week’s main event with William Regal costing HHH a spot in the Royal Rumble, but Ric Flair’s career was saved again.

William Regal is in Vince McMahon’s office and tells him that the fans are expecting something big from Raw Roulette on the first Raw of the year. Vince goes over some of the options and you can hear the salesman in him, which is where he tends to shine. As for HHH, Vince wants to see him injured so Regal can face him tonight. We spin the wheel and it’s…..First Blood. Regal seems to approve and leaves, only to get jumped by an angry HHH.

Opening sequence.

Here are Shawn Michaels and Mr. Kennedy and the wheel gives them….a Strange Bedfellows match, meaning they’re going to be partners!

Shawn Michaels/Mr. Kennedy vs. Charlie Haas/Trevor Murdoch

We’re joined in progress with Kennedy dropping Haas for two but Shawn tags himself in and throws Kennedy outside. Then Haas goes to the floor as well, puts on a superhero mask, declares IT’S TIME, and gets slingshotted back inside. Murdoch gets in a cheap shot from the apron though and a clothesline gives him two.

Haas comes back in but gets dropped, only to have Kennedy bail to the floor to avoid a tag. Shawn doesn’t seem to mind and rips Haas’ mask off before starting the comeback. Sweet Chin Music knocks Murdoch off the apron but Kennedy tags himself in, just before Shawn superkicks Haas as well. The Mic Check drops Shawn and Kennedy pins Haas.

Rating: C. Haas and Murdoch were little more than props here and that isn’t the worst idea. What mattered here was keeping Michaels vs. Kennedy going and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them have their big blowoff at the Rumble. The wrestling wasn’t the point here and in this case that’s ok.

Carlito vs. Hardcore Holly

Trading Places match, meaning they’re dressed as each other, but we don’t even get to see the spin of the wheel, which is the best part of the show. Santino Marella and Cody Rhodes are here too, but hang on as Holly has trouble with his big afro. It doesn’t stay on long but Carlito uses the distraction to stomp away and take over. Carlito hits a chop in the corner but Holly shows him how it’s really done to start the comeback. There’s the dropkick so Santino offers a distraction. Since it’s Santino, that doesn’t exactly go well as Holly intercepts the apple and spits it in Carlito’s face. The Alabama Slam finishes for Holly.

Rating: C-. This was mainly there for the visual gag of Holly in a wig so there was no need to have the match get any kind of time. There isn’t much to the tag division at the moment but would Carlito/Marella be huge underdogs against Holly and Rhodes? Carlito in a blond wig was a bit confusing as he did look like Holly, so they got half of the visual quite right.

Maria spins the wheel for her match and it lands on submission match, but Vince McMahon changes it to a lingerie pillow fight. For some reason, Vince feels the need to explain the concept. This results in Maria making a joke about having natural pillows.

Video on Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy, including Orton kicking an injured Matt Hardy last week.

Jeff Hardy promises to take Randy Orton out.

Vince McMahon has Hornswoggle spin the wheel and gives him a talk about….I have no idea as the audio is all screwed up, with JR apologizing for the issues.

Post break we see a repaired version of the video, which saw Vince put Hornswoggle in the Royal Rumble, but first he has to qualify. It’s a Mr. McMahon’s Choice match, so we’ll have a tag match with Hornswoggle getting to pick his partner, with the winning team qualifying. Finlay isn’t here, but Hornswoggle seems confident.

Maria vs. Jillian Hall vs. Mickie James vs. Melina

Lingerie pillow fight, meaning there is a bed with a bunch of pillows on it provided. Lawler: “Why do all of these Divas have all of this great looking lingerie with them every week?” Hold on though as we have a surprise bonus.

Maria vs. Jillian Hall vs. Mickie James vs. Melina vs. Ashley

Jillian and Melina try to hide under the bedspread and get beaten up with the pillows. Maria gives Jillian a Bronco Buster and Mickie tries to powerbomb Melina onto the bed. We get some “vicious” pillow attacks and Jillian is tossed into Melina. Ashley drops an elbow for the pin.

Rating: D-. It’s a good example of a match where the concept is obvious but it’s just so dumb that the charm was lost. Everyone is just oh so happy to be out there with their friends and it comes off as so stupid. There is enough talent in there to get over without this stuff and it’s annoying to have to see.

Super Crazy turns down Hornswoggle’s offer to team up but Hornswoggle sees someone else off camera who gets his attention.

HHH vs. William Regal

First blood. HHH wastes no time in taking the brawl to the floor but misses a toss with the steps. Regal posts him head first and they head back inside where a turnbuckle pad is taken off. Right hands and a knee drop stay on the face but HHH is back with a facebuster. A kick to the head drops HHH again and the fans are all over Regal. The brass knuckles shot is broken up with a spinebuster, allowing HHH to unload with right hands to bust Regal open for the win.

Rating: C. This was short and to the point but mainly just made me want to see these two have a regular match. You can’t do much in a five minute First Blood match but HHH pounding on Regal’s face until it was busted open was quite the visual. Regal is a good lackey who can fight and he wasn’t squashed here, but a First Blood match needs more time than this.

Post match HHH hits a Pedigree.

Video on Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton.

Santino Marella turns Hornswoggle down too because he doesn’t want Vince mad at him and small people freak him out. Hornswoggle is dejected.

We recap JBL vs. Chris Jericho, which stems from Jericho being annoyed at getting bumped into. Then they yelled at and punched each other a lot.

Chris Jericho comes to the ring and finds out that he is in a handicap match.

Chris Jericho vs. Snitsky/John Bradshaw Layfield

Snitsky hammers away in the corner to start but gets caught with the running forearm. Some stomping has Jericho in more trouble but he’s back up with the triangle dropkick to the floor. The brawl with JBL is on outside, at least until JBL hits him with the bell for the fast DQ.

Post match the beatdown continues, with JBL pounding away and choking with a microphone cable. JBL even drags him up the aisle by the cord to make things extra violent.

Royal Rumble Qualifying Match: Highlanders vs. Hornswoggle/BH Jordan

Jordan is a rather skinny guy but hang on as someone comes out to take his place.

Royal Rumble Qualifying Match: Highlanders vs. Hornswoggle/Mick Foley

Foley hammers away at Robbie to start and it’s off to Hornswoggle for a running kick to the face. Rory comes in for a faceplant but a slide through the legs allows the tag off to Foley. The Highlanders actually take him into the corner to start up the double teaming. Foley fights him off like he’s Mick Foley beating up the Highlanders, including the Mandible Sock to Rory and a double arm DDT to Robbie. Hornswoggle comes in with the tadpole splash for the pin.

Rating: C-. Nothing wrong with Foley coming in to save Hornswoggle from a low level team. Foley in the Rumble in the Garden will be nice and Hornswoggle has been featured far too much lately to not be around in some way. They kept it quick here and the fans were into Foley so it went well enough. That being said, egads the Highlanders fell fast, despite not even being that high up in the first place.

The cage is lowered, as the stipulation was already set.

Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga

Non-title in a cage and Randy Orton is watching from ringside. Umaga runs him over to start but misses a sitdown splash. A jawbreaker staggers Umaga and he misses a charge into the cage in the corner. Back up and Umaga launches him into the cage but Hardy hangs on in an impressive counter. It’s too early to go over the top though as Umaga pulls him back down for a crash as we take a break.

We come back with Umaga working on a nerve hold for a good while. A backdrop into the cage rocks Hardy again and Umaga splashes him up against the cage for a bonus. Hardy manages a few right hands so Orton throws in a bunch of chairs to give Umaga weaponry. A chair to the back has Hardy in trouble but he’s fine enough to crotch a climbing Umaga on top. Springboard Poetry In Motion drives Umaga into the corner but the Twist of Fate is easily blocked.

The running hip attack misses though and Hardy LAUNCHES a chair at Umaga’s head to stagger him again. A DDT onto a chair gives Hardy two but Orton slams the door on his head to cut off the escape. The Samoan Spike is blocked though and now the Twist of Fate connects. Hardy goes up, sees Orton waiting on him below, and dives off the cage with a Whisper In The Wind to knock Umaga silly for the pin.

Rating: B. That’s almost all for the finish as otherwise it was a run of the mill cage match with some good spots. What mattered here was Hardy coming off like a superhero with that Whisper in the Wind and Orton looking scared of what is waiting on him at the Rumble. I remember watching this live and being completely sold on Hardy beating Orton. It had me needing to see the title match because I knew Hardy could win. That’s a nice feeling to have and it worked to perfection here.

Overall Rating: C. The main event is more than enough to carry the show, but the Raw Roulette stuff was only so good. They didn’t even show some of the spins and the matches didn’t exactly blow anyone away. What matters here is Hardy, as Orton is starting to realize he could be in trouble and that feels different for him. I liked parts of the show, but the Rumble itself needs some more build. More on that next week, but for now, it’s all about Hardy and that’s really cool to see.

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Monday Night Raw
Date: August 22, 2022
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton

We’re still north of the border and this time there is a special treat for the hometown crowd. Edge is going to be facing Damian Priest for the big homecoming match and that should be a heck of a fight. Other than that, we should be seeing the continuing adventures of Dexter Lumis, plus any other possible returns. Let’s get to it.

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

We open in the back with Riddle and Seth Rollins brawling in the Gorilla Position. They are separated by security but brawl into the arena to keep it going. More brawling leads to more separations until they’re finally held apart on the ramp, much to the fans’ annoyance.

Here is hometown legend Trish Stratus for a chat. The fans seem rather happy to see her and Trish seems overwhelmed by the reception. The ONE MORE MATCH chant starts up and Trish has been thinking….but here are Bayley, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky to interrupt. We take a break and come back with Bayley talking about how awesome it is to have Trish back, but why is she here?

Through translation, we hear about Sky being a huge fan but Bayley still wants to know why Trish has been after them over the last few days. Cue Bianca Belair to say Bayley isn’t in the same stratosphere. Bayley still isn’t convinced so Trish takes off her jacket. Asuka and Alexa Bliss come out to uneven the odds so Bayley and company are ready to leave but it’s time for a match. Trish vs. Bayley down the line could be a heck of a showcase for the latter and Trish looks like she could still go.

Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament: Asuka/Alexa Bliss vs. Dakota Kai/Iyo Sky

Asuka knocks Kai outside and then off the apron for a bonus as we take an early break. Back with Bliss getting out of trouble and handing it back to Asuka to face Sky. They circle each other and trade kicks to the face, with Asuka getting the better of things. Bliss comes back in to knock the villains outside, setting up a big dive to the floor. A cheap shot cuts her off though and we take a second break.

We come back again with Asuka striking away at Sky for two as Aliyah, Doudrop and Nikki Ash are watching in the back. Sky gets over to the apron for a springboard missile dropkick, allowing Kai to come back in with a scorpion kick. Bliss makes the save and hits a double DDT but Kai breaks up some kind of stretch from Asuka.

Bliss makes the save and tries Twisted Bliss but only hits raised knees. Asuka tags herself in though and hits some spinning backfists to Kai. A blind tag brings Sky back in but Asuka doesn’t realize it, meaning Kai tapping to the Asuka Lock doesn’t matter. Instead, Sky comes in for the rollup pin at 18:34.

Rating: C+. There were some sloppy points here but the ending was a nice way to make Kai and Sky look rather smart. Asuka got distracted and was pinned clean, which works perfectly well to send the villains to the finals. It would be hard to fathom them not winning the belts, but stranger things have happened. Long match too, and that isn’t something you see from women’s tags very often.

Dolph Ziggler is ready to bounce back after his loss to Theory but Judgment Day interrupts. Finn Balor doesn’t think much of Ziggler attaching himself to another up and comer to stay relevant. Ziggler slaps him down and heads to the ring.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Finn Balor

Rhea Ripley is here with Balor. An early superkick attempt is blocked and Ziggler is sent into the corner, allowing Balor to talk trash. Ziggler gets whipped hard into the corner and we take an early break. Back with Ziggler getting an elbow up in the corner and hammering away with some right hands.

The Fameasser is countered into a sitout powerbomb for two but Ziggler is back with his DDT for the same. The second Fameasser attempt connects for two and they’re both down for a bit. It’s Balor up first with the shotgun dropkick but the Coup de Grace misses. The Zig Zag gets a very near fall and it’s time to slug it out. Ziggler’s headbutt knocks Balor silly but Ripley gets in a cheap shot. 1916 sets up the Coup de Grace to finish Ziggler at 12:57.

Rating: B-. Those near falls were good and the fans were WAY into this so they were doing a lot right. Ziggler is still a solid choice to have a match like this and put someone over, though I can’t help but roll my eyes when I see him set something up. Balor winning is nice to see though, even if I have no reason to believe the momentum is lasting.

Aliyah brags about being the bougie bada** but Bayley and company come in and mock her for showing up alone. Trish Stratus comes in to ask when Bayley is getting back in the ring. Bayley vs. Aliyah is set for tonight. Bayley and company leave, with Adam Pearce and some security looking at some photos and walking the other way.

Here is Alpha Academy to accept new students. The search is starting here in Toronto but all Chad Gable can find is a bunch of toothless hockey players at Tim Hortons. The Toronto Mapleleafs lost a hockey game to a team from Tampa Bay and they don’t even have hockey! So send me your best Toronto….and here we go.

Kevin Owens vs. Chad Gable

Gable gets knocked outside to start as the fans are WAY behind Owens. Back in and Gable’s headlock is broken up, allowing Owens to hit a hard clothesline. It’s too early for the Cannonball so Gable rolls outside. A t-bone suplex drops Owens again and two more drop him on the apron as we take a break.

Back with Owens hitting a Cannonball and dropping Gable onto his knee. Owens goes up, while favoring his own knee, and hits a frog splash for two. The Pop Up powerbomb and Stunner are both countered, with the latter being reversed into a bridging German suplex to give Gable two. Gable hits a top rope headbutt for two of his own so he takes Owens up top. That means the swinging superplex can give Owens a delayed two but the Swanton hits knees. Back up and a superkick sets up the Pop Up powerbomb to finish Gable at 11:07.

Rating: B. It’s really, really nice to see Owens back and thankfully he is the older, more hard hitting version. I liked this one a good bit, though I could have seen it end after that frog splash. They gave Gable a lot here and it should save him some credibility in the future, as beating him will mean a bit more if he can hang with Owens for this long.

Post match Otis jumps Owens and gets Stunned for his efforts. Then Owens powerbombs Gable onto Otis for a bonus.

Judgment Day mocks the Mysterios, with Finn Balor saying Dominik might be enjoying getting beaten up by Rhea and declaring Rey “6 1 Mine”. Damian Priest promises to send Edge back into retirement.

Bayley vs. Aliyah

Aliyah rolls her up for to and the Matrish sets up a hiptoss. A running crossbody in the corner hits Bayley and a hurricanrana brings her back out for one. Bayley grabs her by the ear and pulls her into a chinlock, only to be armdragged down. Aliyah gets sent into the corner for some shots to the head and the chinlock goes on again.

Back up and Bayley mocks Trish’s pose but what looks to be a Stratusfaction attempt is broken up. Aliyah slides to the floor and hits a sitout bulldog, which is about as she is getting to being Trish. Back in and the half crab keeps Bayley in trouble but she’s right back up. The Rose Plant finishes Aliyah at 6:32.

Rating: C. It’s great to have Bayley back, but Aliyah continues to drag down just about everything she does. There comes a point where it just isn’t working and I think we passed that point with her several years ago. The problem comes down to the fact that she just isn’t very good and shouldn’t be on Raw or Smackdown. Bayley being back is a good thing though and she is already the top heel in the Raw women’s division, where she should be for a long time to come.

Miz/Ciampa vs. AJ Styles/Bobby Lashley

Styles dropkicks the heck out of Ciampa to start and hands it off to Lashley. A double suplex is loaded up but Styles steps to the side, allowing Lashley to hit his own delayed vertical. Miz comes in and Lashley gets to wreck things again, including tossing both villains to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Styles in trouble and Ciampa putting on a chinlock. Styles fights out of trouble and hands it back to Lashley, meaning house can be properly cleaned. A DDT/Downward Spiral combination plants the villains but Ciampa rolls outside before the spear. Lashley posts Ciampa and clotheslines Miz, but the distraction lets Ciampa hit Willow’s Bell for two.

Lashley is back up with the spear so Miz has to make a save. Styles is knocked outside where security pulls someone (definitely NOT Dexter Lumis) away. Then on the other side of the ring, Lumis appears and pulls Miz over the barricade and through the crowd for the DQ at 13:52.

Rating: C+. The ending was an interesting way to go as I wasn’t sure how they were going to tie the Lumis stuff into the rest of the show. Lumis finally having an official target and getting point in a direction is a big step forward and if nothing else, Ciampa didn’t take another loss. He still needs to win something, but at least they have something actually happening with the story.

Post match Ciampa gets beaten up, including a Phenomenal Forearm and spear. Replays show Miz being taken away, including several closeups of Lumis and commentary mentioning him by name.

Video on Edge.

And now, here’s Johnny Gargano, complete with the still awesome REBEL HEART theme. The fans get in their JOHNNY WRESTLING chant and Gargano seems rather happy with his reception. Gargano gives us a brief history of his NXT success but he wasn’t even sure if he wanted to do this again over the last nine months. He has been a father to Baby Wrestling (Gargano: “He’ll appreciate that when he gets older.”) and now he remembers what he has always wanted to do. Gargano wants to win every championship and go to Wrestlemania and now it is time to continue with his dreams.

Cue Theory (who was kind of Gargano’s idiot son in NXT), with Gargano being pleased to see him. Fans: “WHO’S YOUR DADDY!” Theory asks what Gargano has been doing for the last nine months, which Gargano says includes changing a lot of diapers. Now though, Theory has the briefcase and has done everything Gargano wanted to do. He couldn’t do what he did without Gargano (who appreciates that) but now it’s like Theory is the veteran and Gargano is the rookie.

Theory thinks Gargano can even carry his bags. Or maybe just the briefcase. Theory: “Maybe I can show you The Way!” With that reference to their NXT group out of the way, Theory wants to do their old high five and tells Gargano to hit him with it. That earns Theory a superkick and Gargano does a self high five before leaving. Gargano got a major reaction and it seems like he is actually going to have a chance, which puts him way ahead of his nothing original run on the show.

The Women’s Tag Team Title match is next week, as is Kurt Angle.

Edge vs. Damian Priest

Edge is the hometown boy and in very Canadian tights to hammer the point home. Throw in his wife, Beth Phoenix, sitting in the front row and I think you get the idea. Priest powers him into the corner to start but Edge sends him outside. That means it’s time to slow things down and Edge gets in a few shots, only to be taken outside again. A powerbomb onto the barricade knocks Priest silly and we take a break.

Back with Priest missing something off the top and being sent outside again for a huge top rope dive. Priest is fine enough to Razor’s Edge Edge through the announcers’ table and we take a break. Back with Edge hitting a super hurricanrana (about three and a half minutes after Edge took the same move that put him out for a month earlier this year) but the spear is countered with a kick to the head.

An Unprettier gives Priest two (and allows Graves to make a bit of a veiled reference to Christian) and he’s annoyed at the kickout. Priest loads up a spear but charges into a South of Heaven chokeslam to give Edge two, with commentary saying they know each other so well from their time together in Judgment Day. As you remember that was about a month long, Edge gets kicked into the referee and Priest hits his own chokeslam.

It’s time for a chair, which Edge takes away and breaks off to set up the Crossface with the bar in Priest’s mouth. Since that means nothing, Edge loads up a spear, which is cut off with a bar to the head for two. Another Razor’s Edge is countered into a Canadian Destroyer (because of course) and Edge hits the spear for the pin at 19:34.

Rating: B+. It felt like a pay per view style match and the live crowd ate it up so this couldn’t have gone much better. I’m not completely sure if Edge should have won, but I’ll take it over the hometown star losing again, as was the WWE trademark for so long. Priest got something out of the loss just because he hung in there with Edge, though it could have been really interesting to see him get probably the biggest win of his career.

Post match Edge loads up a Conchairto but Rhea Ripley comes in with a low blow. Finn Balor adds the Coup de Grace and the chair is loaded up but Beth Phoenix takes it from Ripley. Phoenix holds the three off with the chair to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. I know I’ve said this a few times now, but what makes this show that much better is having a lack of anything awful while also keeping the shows energized. It feels more like there is a plan to some of these stories and that they are building to a goal instead of putting whatever out there and hoping it makes sense by the pay per view. I’m digging these shows and you are getting some awesome matches to go with the stories, so nicely done. This show has become a bit of a joy to watch in recent weeks and while I don’t know if that is going to last, it has been a great relief after so many years of drek.

Results
Iyo Sky/Dakota Kai b. Asuka/Alexa Bliss – Rollup to Asuka
Finn Balor b. Dolph Ziggler – Coup de Grace
Kevin Owens b. Chad Gable – Pop Up powerbomb
Bayley b. Aliyah – Rose Plant
Miz/Ciampa b. AJ Styles/Bobby Lashley via DQ when Dexter Lumis interfered
Edge b. Damian Priest – Spear

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.

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Smackdown
Date: January 4, 2008
Location: Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jonathan Coachman

It’s the start of a new year and that means we are on the way to the Royal Rumble. This week will take a big step towards that show as we get to find out the new #1 contender to Edge’s Smackdown World Title. It’s Beat The Clock time, and that can make for a fun show. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of Edge being rather grateful to Vickie Guerrero for winning the World Title. Last week she even saved the title, after Batista won a handicap match but didn’t beat Edge, meaning the title didn’t change hands. I’m still not sure I get why the match was restarted instead of Batista winning the match but not the title, but the post match beatdown made more sense.

Opening sequence.

Here is Vickie Guerrero, as pushed by Teddy Long, to welcome us to the new year on Smackdown. She gets right to the point: if Undertaker or Batista touch Edge, they have no chance to retain the title. In the spirit of competition, tonight is a Beat The Clock Challenge (which was announced last week) for a shot at Edge at the Royal Rumble. Participants include Finlay, Rey Mysterio, Batista and Undertaker. With that out of the way, Vickie brings out Jonathan Coachman to replace the departed JBL on commentary.

Beat The Clock Challenge: Finlay vs. MVP

Non-title and Hornswoggle is here with Finlay. Feeling out process to start and they go to the mat for some early grappling. With that going nowhere, they get back up with MVP nailing a kick to the face. Finlay is fine enough to send him outside to start the brawling, only to be sent into the barricade as we take a break.

Back with Finlay working on the leg, which doesn’t seem to be the brightest move. MVP punches his way out and gets Finlay on his back to drop some heavy right hands. The cravate keeps Finlay in trouble until he powers up and into the corner. That doesn’t go well either as MVP knocks him down and hammers away again, only to get pulled into an armbar (as the bad thinking continues).

Back up and Finlay misses a charge into the post, setting up MVP’s running boot to the face for another near fall. With nothing else working, Hornswoggle throws in a shillelagh, which MVP picks up. The referee will have none of that, allowing Finlay to use another one to knock MVP cold for the pin at 9:46.

Rating: C-. I expected a lot more logical style out of Finlay here, as it would make sense for him to go after as many pins as he could. As a match it worked well enough, but this was about one thing and they completely missed the point the whole way. Finlay winning is interesting, though I can’t imagine this going anywhere as far as the US Title is concerned.

Post match Vince McMahon comes out to hug Hornswoggle and hand him his hat, though Finlay doesn’t seem convinced.

Kenny Dykstra/Victoria vs. Michelle McCool/Chuck Palumbo

How are these two still a thing??? The guys start things off with Palumbo taking him down but getting hammered in the corner for his efforts. The women come in quickly and it’s a basement dropkick to Victoria. Back up and Victoria sends her shoulder first into the post though and the villains take over.

A legdrop on the arm sets up an armbar but McCool is out without much trouble. It’s already back to Palumbo, who powerslams Dykstra down but misses a big boot in the corner. Palumbo is fine enough to catch him on top with a superplex for a breather, meaning Michelle can come in to clothesline Victoria. Dykstra offers a distraction though, allowing Victoria to hit the Widow’s Peak for the pin.

Rating: D+. They are taking their sweet time with wrapping up this Palumbo/McCool stuff and I’m really not sure why they’re taking so long. It wasn’t exactly an interesting story in the first place as it’s just a biker with the blonde and the fact that it is designed to go somewhere with Palumbo makes it even worse. Bad match, as Dykstra and Victoria aren’t exactly much better.

Post match Palumbo blames McCool for the lost and leaves without her.

Vickie Guerrero doesn’t like the coffee that Teddy Long brought her. Teddy leaves and an angry Chavo Guerrero comes in. Chavo isn’t happy with what Vickie is doing to the Guerrero name with her relationship with Edge. Her solution: put him in Beat The Clock, but he still wants something he can’t have.

Beat The Clock Challenge: Chavo Guerrero vs. Funaki

The time is set at 9:46 and Chavo starts fast by stomping away in the corner. A slam gives Chavo two but Funaki is back with a running headscissors for two. Funaki small packages him for two but gets belly to back suplexed for the same. They trade some rollups for two each and Funaki gets the same off an enziguri. A middle rope crossbody gets two more but Chavo is back with a Gory Bomb for the pin, setting the new time at 6:02.

Rating: C. Now that’s more like it, as it felt like they were trying to win the match instead of just having a regular match which ended whenever. Chavo isn’t going to get the title shot, but it is nice to have him show some anger towards Vickie, just for the sake of setting up something for the future. Funaki is another good hand and putting him in there meant the match was going to be ok at worst. The clock was what mattered here though and they cut it down to something more interesting by shaving off three and a half minutes.

Beat The Clock Challenge: Batista vs. Curt Hawkins

Hold on though, as Vickie Guerrero pops up to have Teddy Long change things a bit.

Beat The Clock Challenge: Batista vs. Curt Hawkins/Zack Ryder

The clock is set at 6:02 and Batista goes after both of them to start. Some double teaming in the corner doesn’t do much to Batista, who clotheslines Hawkins and catapults Ryder back into the corner. The Batista Bomb is broken up with a high/low though and the double stomping is on. Batista gets taken outside where he punches his way out of trouble but gets taken down again back inside.

A legdrop sets up a Hennig necksnap as they do have a target. Another legdrop into a splash gives Ryder two so they load up a double DDT which is countered into….something that is so unclear that they try it again. This time Batista backdrops both of them down and starts the comeback, including a powerslam to Ryder and a spinebuster to Hawkins. The Batista Bomb is loaded up but time expires at 6:02.

Rating: C. This was angle advancement rather than a match as Hawkins and Ryder were trying to stretch the match out and hurt Batista where they could, but they were never trying to get a win. It wouldn’t have made sense for them to do so either, so they had the logic right here. Edge clears a major hurdle and Vickie did the smart thing, so this went about as well as it could have.

Raw Rebound.

MVP isn’t happy with his loss and is made even madder by the Raw Rebound being about Ric Flair’s career continuing. He’ll beat Flair to end his career and make himself feel better.

Rey Mysterio talks about how difficult a Beat The Clock Challenge can be as you don’t know what you’re doing and have to go as fast as you can. Lucky for him, that’s his style. True actually.

Jimmy Wang Yang/Shannon Moore vs. Deuce N Domino

Cherry is here with Deuce N Domino and Yang/Moore have been having a snappy little feud with Miz and John Morrison on ECW. Deuce elbows Yang in the face to start but his hiptoss doesn’t work so well. Instead Yang hits a jumping kick to the back of the head but Domino gets in a cheap shot to take over. The chinlock doesn’t last long and it’s off to Moore to clean house. A springboard spinning crossbody gets two (it might have helped that Domino was falling down before the contact), followed by a rollup to give Moore the fast pin.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here (a theme tonight) but Moore and Yang continue their roll. I don’t think they have much of a chance at winning the titles, but imagine this: taking two people with nothing to do, putting them together and seeing what happens. I’m still not sure why that isn’t done more often, as it seemed to work just fine with these guys.

Beat The Clock Challenge: Undertaker vs. Matt Striker

The clock is set at 6:02….but hang on as Striker is in a referee shirt. It seems we have a replacement.

Beat The Clock Challenge: Undertaker vs. Mark Henry

The clock is set at 6:02 and Matt Striker is the guest referee. Undertaker’s running shoulder doesn’t work to start so he hammers away in the corner instead. With that not working either, Henry runs him over with a shoulder but gets knocked outside to get to the required brawling.

Henry gets whipped hard into the steps and there’s the apron legdrop to keep Henry in trouble. Back in and Undertaker switches gears by wrapping the arm around the top rope but Old School is broken up. The running DDT plants Henry for two but he’s right back with the bearhug. That’s broken up and Undertaker slugs away, setting up the chokeslam for….two as Striker won’t count the three and then runs off as time expires.

Rating: C. The time is hurting some of these matches, but in this case it might have been better to have them get out of there so fast. Henry can only do so much with the extra time so going home quickly isn’t a bad idea. Much like Batista, this was story advancement to clear one of Edge’s big problems, but it also leaves a big spot open to add some….oh come on like they haven’t made it obvious yet.

Post match Undertaker slams and chokeslams Henry.

In the back, Striker mocks Undertaker for failing to beat the clock and doesn’t like being threatened. Big Daddy V pops in to add some menacing glares.

Royal Rumble rundown.

Beat The Clock Challenge: Rey Mysterio vs. Edge

Non-title, the Edgeheads are here with Edge and the clock is still set at 6:02 (with Cole getting in a good line by saying 619 is no good for Rey tonight). Edge gets smart by going straight to the ropes to start and then bails to the floor for a quick neck rub. Back in and Rey snaps off a hurricanrana, followed by a dropkick into the seated senton for two. Edge powers up and sends him to the floor but here is Batista to take out the Edgeheads.

That’s enough for Rey to grab a cradle for two but Edge sends him face first into the buckle. Cue Undertaker to make the lights go out and when they come back, Edge is in 619 position. Rey hits said 619 and adds the springboard splash for the pin at 4:32 (despite Cole saying REY’S GONNA DO IT, which is usually a dead giveaway in the opposite direction).

Rating: C. You would think that Edge vs. Mysterio would be good no matter what but it turns out that a match getting less than five minutes and having four other people get involved was a bit much. This was certainly a different way to go for them but they did what they need to do. Rey has beaten Edge with help and now he gets the chance to do it again on the big stage.

Overall Rating: C+. The wrestling might not have been great but what mattered here was having the one concept going throughout the show. That made for a very fast paced show, even if there wasn’t much of value until the very end. I can go for a show like this as it makes them focus, but it’s a prime example of a show that doesn’t need to be watched in full if a recap is available.

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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AAA Invades WrestleCon
Date: March 31, 2022
Location: Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: Hugo Savinovich, Carlos Cabrera

In case you aren’t getting the hint, this is part of the WrestleCon series of shows over Wrestlemania weekend. This was a show that was included in the Superfan ticket so it was basically a bonus for anyone taking in every day of the convention. AAA doesn’t come stateside very often so hopefully it works out. Let’s get to it.

Note that I don’t follow AAA so I don’t know anything involving storylines and very little involving characters. I was in attendance for part of this show, as I missed the opener, then didn’t feel like sitting through the whole show. Instead I walked through the convention and came back in to see pieces of the show, which is a bit out of my ordinary.

This show is available for free on the company’s YouTube page.

Opening sequence.

Our host/ring announcer introduces commentary and starts a LUCHA chant.

Christi Jaynes/Ryan Kidd vs. Natural Classics

The Classics are Stevie Filip/Tome Filip and Jaynes dances a lot during her entrance. Jaynes’ chops have no effect on Stevie so it’s a kick to the ribs and springboard hurricanrana to bring him down. Kidd comes in for a dropkick and a handspring elbow but a Tome distraction lets Stevie hit a dropkick of his own. Tome’s jumping legdrop gets two on Kidd and Jaynes is shoved off the apron for some good heeling.

Kidd manages to avoid a charge in the corner and Stevie’s dropkick hits Tome in the back by mistake. The hot tag brings in Jaynes but her high crossbody is pulled out of the air. Everything breaks down and Jaynes moonsaults off the top and out onto Stevie. Back in and some running knees in the corner set up what looked to be a top rope elbow to give Kidd a VERY near fall (that might have been a botch). The Classics gets it together though and send Kidd outside, setting up a powerbomb into a Backstabber to finish Jaynes at 6:56.

Rating: C+. Nice opening tag here as Jaynes and Kidd were able to fire the crowd up, though seeing the Classics win kind of slowed down the energy a bit. The Classics seem like a decent enough heel team, and thankfully they dress differently (one tights, one trunks) enough to keep them separated. Jaynes felt like a huge ball of charisma here and she did well in her chances.

La Hiedra/Mini Abismo Negro/Rey Escorpion vs. Micro Man/Nino Hamburguesa/Taya

Lumberjack strap match and this is where I came into the show. Taya is Taya Valkyrie and Micro Man stands 3’3. Micro and Escorpion start things off with Micro being taken down and stomped in the back without much trouble. Back up and Micro headscissors him into an armdrag, setting up a dropkick out to the floor.

That means Escorpion can come in so Hamburguesa can crush him with a basement crossbody. Now it’s Taya coming in to armdrag Hiedra down, setting up a running hip attack in the corner. Hiedra tries to run but gets chased back inside by the lumberjacks. Everything breaks down and Micro gets thrown down, leaving Taya to get taken down for a running legdrop to the back of the head.

Micro gets dropped onto Abismo’s raised boots but Hamburguesa comes back in to clean house. Hiedra gets caught with a 619 from Micro, followed by a bulldog to Abismo. Hamburguesa knocks Abismo outside for a beating from the lumberjacks (oh yeah they’re a thing) before Taya comes in and beats up all three villains. A spinebuster drops Hiedra but Abismo comes back in with a quick piledriver. The frog splash gets two with Abismo making a save but getting crushed in the corner for his efforts. Micro and Hamburguesa hit Cannonballs in the corner, leaving Micro to roll Abismo up for the pin at 13:03.

Rating: C+. I’m never sure what to say about something like this, but if the point was having mostly uncontrolled chaos, this worked rather well. They had fun and the crowd was into it, with Micro being a cool novelty and Taya having more charisma than she knows what to do with most of the time. It was a fun match, even if the lumberjacks mostly disappeared for long stretches.

Post match here is La Empresa (who may be involved with Hiedra and company) to go after Micro, who low blows a few of them. Micro bites the back of Hiedra’s tights and rides on her back like a horse, only to be put in a trashcan and carried off. Serves him right for not bailing when he could.

NWA World Tag Team Titles: La Rebelion vs. Aerostar/Drago

La Rebelion (Bestia 666/Mecha Wolf, with Damian 666) is defending. Drago and Bestia go with some grappling to start but everything breaks down in a hurry. An assisted tornado DDT plants Bestia for two but Drago is sent outside, leaving Aerostar to get kicked down. Drago gets Rock Bottomed onto Aerostar for two, meaning Aerostar is sent outside for a beating from Damian.

Back up and Drago scores with a hurricanrana to Bestia and it’s time to send the champs outside for the dives. Aerostar takes both of them down and hits a corkscrew high crossbody for two on Bestia. Drago’s running Canadian Destroyer drops Bestia and Aerostar’s springboard Codebreaker does the same to Wolf. Code Red hits Wolf as well but he’s right back up for a shot to the face and a four way knockdown. Damian has to offer a distraction for the save and it’s a powerbomb into a Backstabber to finish Drago and retain the titles at 7:45.

Rating: B-. I got into this one more as you had the high flying vs. the power(ish)/cheating from the champs. It was another wild match, which is what you have to expect on a AAA show, but it had more of a story than most. Aerostar/Drago are a team that got a lot of attention during Lucha Underground and they are still good here. It’s hard to fathom that the NWA World Tag Team Titles wound up on La Rebelion, but they seem passable for short term champs.

Abismo Negro Jr./Arez/Faby Apache vs. Aramis/Mr. Iguana/Octagon Jr.

Yeah I’m going to be lost here. Aramis and Abismo (not to be confused with Mini Abismo from earlier) start things off with the usual flips and escapes until Aramis gets a sunset flip for two. A headscissors drops Abismo again but he’s back up with a dropkick to send Aramis to the floor. That means Octagon can come in with some springboard dropkicks to send Abismo outside as well.

We settle down to Iguana armdragging Apache and then using his iguana puppet (oh boy) to wristdrag her as well. Iguana shrugs off some double teaming and armdrags Abismo before doing the same to Arez. Back up and Arez cleans house, including dropping Iguana and knocking the other two off the apron. Apache puts Iguana in a surfboard for a top rope double stomp from Arez so Octagon comes in for a change. More triple teaming has Octagon in trouble as well and Iguana’s save is cut off.

The villains (I’m assuming) take turns BEATING UP THE PUPPET, including a piledriver and a legdrop as Iguana panics on the apron. We pause for the referee to give the puppet CPR (as I realize I made the right call in checking out the con during this match) before extended posing allows Octagon to come back in with a springboard hurricanrana. Everything breaks down and the heroes hit stereo dives to the floor before we settle back down to Octagon chopping Arez.

Abismo comes in and gets anklescissored into a very spinning headscissors to the floor. It’s off to Abismo vs. Aramis in a pose off until Abismo gets armdragged into the ropes. A springboard wristdrag sends Abismo outside so Arez comes in, only to crash outside with Aramis. Iguana is back up with a running dive into an armdrag (he likes those) to Arez on the floor. Octagon and Aramis take down Apache and Arez for stereo near falls before the villains do the same to them. Back up and Apache and Arez are kicked to the floor as well, setting up the required dives. That leaves Iguana to hit a spinning bulldog to finish Abismo at 14:00.

Rating: C+. This one was a bit too ridiculous for my taste, with stuff like the puppet being more than a little much. That being said, Iguana certainly has charisma and the fans liked what they were seeing from him. Octagon felt like a star and Arez/Aramis did well while they were in there. Apache is a name I’ve heard a good bit about before but she didn’t have the chance to do much here, which was also the case for the less famous Abismo. Fun match, but this kind of stuff can get a little exhausting in a hurry.

La Empresa vs. Drago Kid/Jack Cartwheel/Pagano

La Empresa are Gringo Loco (from MLW)/Puma King (from MLW)/Sam Adonis (Corey Graves’ brother and VERY American). Granted the team’s graphic is listed as “La Empresa AND Gringo Loco” but we’ll go with the simple version. Puma King and Adonis are part of the Trios Champions as well, but with DMT Azul rather than Loco so I’m as lost as you are (assuming you are lost in the first place that is).

Anyway, Puma and Pagano start things off with Pagano grinding away at a headlock. Puma reverses into one of his own before dropping Pagano with a flying mare into an armdrag. Pagano is back up with a springboard…drop back down onto his feet before kicking Puma down a few times. Adonis comes in and gets hurricanranaed by Cartwheel, followed by a dropkick to send him outside.

Loco comes in for a showdown with Cartwheel (there’s something I didn’t expect to say) but instead it’s Drago (who is TINY) coming in to pick up the pace. Loco is sent outside so it’s back to Adonis, who gets hurricanranaed again. Puma superkicks Drago to the floor but gets to face both Cartwheel and Pagano at the same time. Well maybe just Cartwheel, as Pagano goes back to the apron, albeit after some intense glaring. That leaves Puma and Cartwheel to tumble around a bit until Cartwheel’s slingshot….something lands on Puma’s raised boots.

Pagano comes back in to strike away at Puma, setting up a scoot powerslam for two. Everything breaks down and Adonis gets hurricanranaed for the third time, with this one sending him into Pagano’s right hand. Puma gets hurricanranaed by Cartwheel but Loco is back in for a cheap shot to take over. Empresa triple teams Drago, including an assisted faceplant, to take over, meaning we get some heelish staring at the crowd.

Adonis hits a 450 on Pagano but Drago makes a save. That leaves Drago to clean house with a bunch of hurricanranas (including ANOTHER to Adonis), setting up a big dive to the floor. Cartwheel comes back in for a more flippy version of the same sequence, leaving Pagano and Adonis for the big (by comparison) man chop off. Pagano gets up top for a hurricanrana before Cartwheel comes back in to….I think forget to go forward on a running shooting star press to Puma (as he did the flip but landed where he started rather than on Puma).

That lets Puma hit a powerbomb and go up top, where Drago hits a super hurricanrana. Drago tires it again on Loco but gets countered into a sitout superbomb for two. Adonis drops Pagano but Cartwheel comes off the top with a shooting star to break it up (mostly missed but he caught Adonis’ legs, which is an improvement in his case). Drago and Cartwheel both hit running flip dives onto Puma and Adonis, leaving Loco to miss a split legged moonsault on Pagano. That leaves Pagano to grab an Air Raid Crash to finish Loco at 17:32.

Rating: C+. It was the biggest of the six person tags so far but MY GOODNESS ENOUGH WITH THE HURRICANRANAS! I know it’s one of the signature moves but they had to have at least twenty of them in there. That was getting more than a bit old, but Pagano and Adonis were there to add some size and make things a bit better. Another fun match in a series, but having so many of the same style match in a row is starting to wear thin.

Post match La Empresa beats Pagano down with a chair and the American flag.

Cruiserweight Title: Bandido vs. Flamita vs. Laredo Kid

Kid is defending and this is the match on the show I wanted to see in person. Flamita gets double teamed to start but is smart enough to bail to the floor for a breather. That leaves Bandido to headscissor Laredo to the floor but Flamita is back in with a superkick to break up the dive. Flamita hits a dropkick/tornado DDT combination to drop the other two and Laredo is knocked outside again.

Bandido is sent outside with him but Laredo is back in with a DDT on Flamita. That means a big dive to the floor can take out both challengers at once, followed by a 450 onto both of them back inside. Back up and Flamita slips out of Bandido’s one armed gorilla press so Bandido puts Flamita in a Gory Stretch.

Then he leans back so Flamita can pick up Laredo on top, setting up a Gory Bomb/powerbomb combination to leave Bandido as the only one standing. Laredo breaks up the 21 Plex and Flamita goes up top for a double moonsault DDT. There’s a powerbomb to Laredo but Bandido springboards in with a West Coast Pop for two on Flamita. Bandido takes Flamita up top, only to get knocked to the floor by Laredo. With Flamita still on top, Laredo hits a super Spanish Fly to retain the title at 8:08.

Rating: B. It was short but energetic, which is what you probably expected from a match like this. I’m wondering if the show was running long, as this felt like the most interesting match on the card and it got very little time by comparison. The spots and stunts are always impressive though and Bandido feels like a star, so this was good stuff all around. Also, just having something that wasn’t a team match for a change was nice and made it stand out that much more.

Psycho Clown vs. Black Taurus

If there is a story here, it isn’t being explained (at least not in English). For some reason it’s just Taurus on the graphic, despite being Black Taurus everywhere else. Granted he’s from AAA so I guess this is right by definition. An exchange of shoulders doesn’t get either of them very far so they try sweeping the legs for two each.

Taurus headbutts him up against the ropes but gets backdropped out to the floor. The flip dive takes Taurus down again but he’s right back with a kick to the head inside. Clown’s snap powerslam gets two and Taurus rolls outside, where Clown hits a middle rope moonsault to take him down again. Back in and la majistral gives Clown two more (just because he’s a clown doesn’t mean he doesn’t know technique) but Taurus is right back with a pop up Samoan drop for two.

Code Red gives Clown another two and a running corkscrew dive to the floor drops Taurus again. Taurus is right back with an over the shoulder backbreaker and it’s time for a table, because that translates around the world. For some reason Taurus goes up top, allowing Clown to whip him with some kind of a belt. A spear through the table gives Clown the pin at 9:14.

Rating: C. It was a hard hitting brawl but the table felt out of place and didn’t really add much. Much like the previous match though, it was nice to see something different and it helped a good bit. Clown’s music alone is worth a listen as it’s really catchy, but this didn’t feel much like a main event. Commentary called it a dream match, but they didn’t really sell that and it hurt a good bit.

Post match La Empresa runs in and beats Clown down, with Jeff and Karen Jarrett joining in. Adonis explains that they are together and someone from the crowd gives Jeff a cane for some shots. Jeff says he is the brains and money behind La Empresa (sounds like a reveal) and choking with the American flag ensues. They even steal Clown’s mask and Jeff calls the fans basura (trash) before posing over Clown (covered with the flag). The villains leave to end the show.

Post show (not shown), Clown got his mask back and, from under the flag, thanked the fans for coming and left.

Overall Rating: C+. The show, or at least what I saw of it in person, was fun and it was cool to get to see an actual lucha libre show live, but it’s not something I would want to watch regularly. It certainly wasn’t bad, but some of the matches got repetitive as you can only have so many six person tags or wild matches before it loses its charm. I did like it and the dives are cool, but it’s more of a one off night than anything else.

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 wish more people were able to miss it.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/kbs-review-heritage-spoilers-nice-wrestling-show/

NXT LVL Up
Date: August 19, 2022
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Sudu Shah, Nigel McGuinness

The show continues its usual path of almost nothing sticking around from week to week but there is something interesting about having random matches with people popping up every so often. The problem is that a lot of the wrestlers on this show aren’t exactly grabbing me most of the time but maybe we can have some surprises. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Dante Chen vs. Javier Bernal

Well at least we’re getting rid of both of them at once. They shake hands to start before a wristdrag gives us an early standoff. Chen armdrags him down but Bernal hits him in the face rather than shake his hand again. Back up and Chen hits him in the face as well before getting taken down for some shots to the head. A sliding lariat gives Bernal two but Chen sends him into the corner. Chen is taken down again and Bernal rolls to the floor, where a “fan” starts taking a lot of pictures. Cue Hank Walker to pull the fan back, with the distraction letting Chen take over again inside. The double chop gives Chen the pin at 4:30.

Rating: C. Every time I give up on the idea of any angles or stories taking place on this show, they surprise me with something like Walker. Granted it would be nice to have it be ANYONE (ok maybe not anyone) other than Walker be involved but I’ll take it over the same stuff over and over. Bernal and Chen are regulars here and I can’t picture either of them going anywhere, but at least there is a little something going on.

Axiom is ready for his test against Xyon Quinn tonight, though he wishes there was a comic book test in high school. He has an equation to deal with Quinn. I had forgotten Axiom was a thing and this made me think I made the right decision.

Ivy Nile vs. Arianna Grace

Before the match, Grace talks about her unlimited potential. She dedicates the upcoming win to the fans as a thank you for their overwhelming support, but the fans don’t seem to buy it. Grace grabs some rollups to start and grinds away with a hammerlock. That’s enough to send Grace bailing to the ropes before trying a catapult into the corner.

Nile holds onto the ropes for the save and stomps down onto the sternum, only to have Grace get in a shot to the face to take over. The arm trap chinlock keeps Nile down, at least until she fights up and strikes away. A running dropkick in the corner gets two on Grace and the dragon sleeper makes her tap at 4:25.

Rating: C-. Grace still isn’t doing anything interesting so it was nice to see Nile shut her down without much trouble. Nile continues to feel like someone who should be the next big thing but she hasn’t even been around that much in recent weeks. Granted it might be the slow game, but I could go for seeing her shrug off everything Mandy Rose throws at her and choke the title reign out.

Axiom vs. Xyon Quinn

Feeling out process to start as commentary hypes up Axiom’s intelligence, which is usually a heel characteristic. Quinn gets knocked outside so Axiom hits a quick dive, only to get dropped by a heavy shot. Back in and Axiom grabs a small package for two but gets planted by a backbreaker for the same.

Axiom seems to load up a satellite DDT but is thrown down onto his mask instead. A hard clothesline gives Quinn two more and, after shrugging off Axiom’s guillotine choke, something like a rolling Death Valley Driver gets another near fall. Axiom comes back with the rapid fire strikes into a dropkick and the Golden Ratio (jumping basement superkick) finishes Quinn at 6:10.

Rating: C. Axiom seems like a great example of something that sounded good on paper but isn’t exactly working in reality. Having a superhero style character works, but a math based superhero character feels like something that you would see in a bad fourth grade class. A-Kid is a good star in his own right, but this isn’t exactly working, which is why he’s on LVL UP and not regular NXT. Quinn…my goodness that is an impressive miss, as his look alone seemed to be enough for a bodyguard spot on the main roster at worst.

Overall Rating: C. I’m not sure what it was but there was a bit more energy to this show. The action wasn’t exactly great, but having Axiom as some fresh blood, Grace talking before her match and what might be the start of a small angle in the opener made this feel like a better show than most. I have no reason to believe that it is going to continue, but at least they did a little something different for a change around here.

Results
Dante Chen b. Javier Bernal – Double chop
Ivy Nile b. Arianna Grace – Dragon sleeper
Axiom b. Xyon Quinn – Golden Ratio

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.

NXT LVL Up – August 12, 2022

NXT – August 16, 2022 (Heatwave)

Dynamite – August 17, 2022

NXT UK – August 18, 2022

Impact Wrestling Emergence 2022

Impact Wrestling – August 18, 2022

Smackdown – August 19, 2022

Rampage – August 19, 2022

That Makes Sense? New Explanation On Bizarre WWE Booking Decision.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/makes-sense-new-explanation-bizarre-wwe-booking-decision/

Crossover Sequel: AEW Stars To Be Part Of Major International Event.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/crossover-sequel-aew-stars-part-major-international-event/

Uh Oh Maybe? WWE Reportedly Contacted Contracted AEW Star.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/uh-oh-maybe-wwe-reportedly-contacted-contracted-aew-star/

They’re Here: Several Stars Invade NXT (And WWE Spoils Its Own Show).

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/invasion-several-stars-make-surprise-nxt-debuts-wwe-spoils-show/

They’re New: WWE Announces Massive New Performance Center Class.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/theyre-new-wwe-announces-huge-new-performance-center-class/

Special Guest Star: Ricky Steamboat Announced For Special AEW Dynamite Role.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/special-guest-star-ricky-steamboat-announced-special-aew-dynamite-role/

The Big Switch: WWE Announces Significant Step In Vince McMahon Investigation.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/big-switch-wwe-announces-significant-step-vince-mcmahon-investigation/

New Home Homecoming? Former AEW Star Returns To WWE Ring.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/new-home-homecoming-former-aew-star-returns-wwe-ring/

That’s A Very Good Reason: Seth Rollins Reveals Why He Changed In-Ring Style.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/thats-good-reason-seth-rollins-reveals-changed-ring-style/

Not So Fast? Jim Ross Reveals Important Detail About CM Punk’s Return.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/not-fast-jim-ross-reveals-important-detail-cm-punks-return/

There He Is: Long Awaited Return On AEW Dynamite.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/long-awaited-return-aew-dynamite/

Not Another One: AEW Star Likely Injured During Dynamite Main Event.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/not-another-one-aew-star-injured-dynamite-main-event/

Build It Up: AEW All Out Card Adds Two Huge Matches.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/build-aew-card-adds-two-huge-matches/

WATCH: Kenny Omega’s Strange Promo After AEW Dynamite.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-kenny-omegas-strange-promo-aew-dynamite/

It Adds Up: New Report Confirms Theory About Vince McMahon Payments.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/adds-new-report-confirms-theory-vince-mcmahon-payments/

Separate Ways: Two Teams Split In Violent Twists On AEW Dynamite.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/separate-ways-two-teams-split-violent-twists-aew-dynamite/

BREAKING: WWE Announces Weekly Series Ending, Major Expansion Coming.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/breaking-wwe-announces-end-weekly-tv-series-major-upgrade-coming/

There They Go: WWE Releases Twelve NXT Wrestlers.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/go-wwe-releases-twelve-nxt-wrestlers/

Uh Oh: CM Punk Dynamite Reportedly Unplanned, Possible Heat With Hangman Page.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/uh-oh-cm-punk-dynamite-unplanned-reported-heat-hangman-page/

Put Your Money Down: WWE’s Smart New Strategy For Premium Live Events.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/put-money-wwe-makes-money-premium-live-events/

They Have A Point: AEW Stars Vent Frustration Over Recent Match.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/point-aew-stars-vent-frustration-recent-match/

It keeps Going: WWE Releases More Wrestlers, Total Now At Twenty Today.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/keeps-going-wwe-releases-wrestlers-total-now-twenty/

One More Time: WWE Announces Huge Crossover Event For Next Month.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/one-time-wwe-announces-huge-crossover-event-next-month/

Could Be Worse: Health Update On Kenny Omega And Dragon Lee After Dynamite.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/worse-health-update-kenny-omega-dragon-lee-dynamite/

Hard Hitting: New First Time Ever Title Match Set For WWE Clash At The Castle.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/hard-hitting-new-first-time-ever-title-match-set-wwe-clash-castle/

Next Team Up: Injury Causes Two Surprise WWE Main Roster Debuts.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/next-team-smackdown-injury-causes-two-surprise-main-roster-debuts/

Back Off: WWE Stars Erupt In Heated Exchange Involving AEW Star.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/back-off-wwe-stars-intense-exchange-involving-aew-star/

WRESTLING RUMORS: Former WWE Star Cameos On SmackDown.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-former-wwe-star-cameos-smackdown/

Crunch The Numbers: WWE Has Special Plans For This Part Of Monday Night Raw.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/crunch-numbers-wwe-special-plans-part-monday-night-raw/

It Needs A Fix: AEW Reportedly Dealing With “Backstage Drama” Among Top Names.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/needs-fix-aew-reportedly-dealing-backstage-drama-among-top-names/

WRESTLING RUMORS: International Law May Have Kept The Usos Off SmackDown.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-possible-legal-reason-usos-missed-smackdown/

Not Again: NXT Star Injured Shortly After Returning From Injury.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/not-nxt-star-injury-leads-main-roster-shakeup/

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

Rampage
Date: August 19, 2022
Location: North Charleston Coliseum, Charleston, West Virginia
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Jim Ross, Chris Jericho

Things have gotten all the more interesting around here in the last few days as we are now getting ready for one of the biggest matches in Dynamite history. Forget that for now though, because we have something far more important this week. That could only be one thing and say it with me: the Trustbusters are here! Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Here is Claudio Castagnoli, with Wheeler Yuta, to get things going. After praising Ricky Steamboat (in the front row), Claudio gets to the point: an open challenge for a future Ring Of Honor World Title shot. Cue Dustin Rhodes to say he has wanted to hold the World Title for thirty four years and until recently, they both had people saying they should be World Champion. Castagnoli knows the feeling Dustin has and sees the fire in his eyes. The challenge is accepted for next week, with Castagnoli wanting the best Dustin has. Respect is shown. I could go for this.

Ruby Soho and Ortiz want to fight Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti next week.

Tag Team Titles: Keith Lee/Swerve Strickland vs. Private Party

Private Party is challenging. Kassidy punches away at Lee to start and it’s off to Swerve, who can’t hit a suplex. He can however duck a Quen springboard crossbody but gets hurricanranaed to the floor by Kassidy. A corkscrew dive takes Swerve down and we take a break. Back with Kassidy posing at Lee, with the delay allowing Swerve to hit a middle rope stomp on Quen. That’s enough for the hot tag to Lee so house can be cleaned. Kassidy gets Pounced into the ropes and Swerve adds the running kick to the back of the head for two. Swerve doesn’t like that kickout so it’s the JML Driver to retain the titles at 7:58.

Rating: C+. Lee and Swerve didn’t exactly feel like they were in a ton of danger here and that really is how things should have gone. Private Party had that one big win over the Young Bucks and then have done almost nothing of note since them. That isn’t enough to make them threats to the titles here, but their athleticism is still worth at least a glance.

Powerhouse Hobbs interrupts the Factory’s card/dominoes game, asking why they didn’t take care of Ricky Starks. QT Marshall promises they’ll get it done.

FTW Title: Hook vs. Zack Clayton

Clayton (formerly of some Jersey Shore spinoff) is challenging and brags about his star power and promises to take it back to a state people actually like in New Jersey. Redrum retains the title in 12 seconds.

Angelo Parker and Matt Menard don’t like Hook having the FTW Title and think it should be around the waist of a sports entertainer.

Billy Gunn isn’t happy with the Gunn Club and is bringing the Acclaimed to deal with them next week.

We look at La Faccion Ingobernable turning on Dragon Lee and kicking him out of the team.

Buddy Matthews vs. Serpentico

This is billed as a standby match because Hook’s match was so fast in a nice touch. Julia Hart is here with Murphy, who knocks him to the corner to start. A buckle bomb sets up what used to be known as Murphy’s Law for the pin on Serpentico at 1:10.

Post match Miro comes out, holding Malakai Black’s mask. Miro brawls with Matthews and beats him down.

Britt Baker (in a KISS shirt), Rebel and Jamie Hayter aren’t happy that they’re not in the title match at All Out. They do want to see Toni Storm and Thunder Rosa implode though. It’s not like either of them can win anyway.

Penelope Ford vs. Athena

Athena armdrags her into an armbar to start but gets driven into the corner. A jumping knee cuts Ford off but she rolls Athena throat first into the middle rope as we see the guy with a box in his head. Commentary confirms that it’s Kip Sabian as Ford hits a slingshot elbow and we take a break. Back with Ford being sent into the barricade, setting up the O Face to finish Ford at 5:20. Not enough shown to rate but it’s nice to have Ford back.

Post match the Baddies run in to beat down Athena. Jade Cargill and Stokely Hathaway come out and destroy Athena’s wings with a sledgehammer. Cargill sledgehammers Athena down too. Can we GET TO THE MATCH ALREADY? This has been going on for months already.

We recap Jon Moxley and CM Punk on Dynamite.

Video on Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Ricky Starks. Hobbs was hired to keep the FTW Title on Starks but Starks couldn’t keep up his end. More from Starks on Dynamite.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

The Best Friends and Orange Cassidy are ready for the main event.

Trios Titles Tournament First Round: Trustbusters vs. Best Friends/Orange Cassidy

Sonny Kiss is with the Trustbusters. Slim J drives Trent into the corner with Jericho comparing Slim J to a ferret. Chuck makes the save and tosses him into a sitout powerbomb from Trent. Some house is cleaned but Boudreaux comes in to wreck people without much effort. Everything breaks down and we take a break with the Best Friends in trouble.

Back with Trent getting in a forearm but Daivari brings in Slim J, who knocks Chuck off the apron. Cassidy’s staredown distracts Slim J though and Trent gets in a suplex. That’s enough for the tag to Cassidy so the pace picks up, including a high crossbody to Slim Jr and the satellite DDT to Daivari. Now Cassidy wants Boudreaux (and seems to talk some trash). Boudreaux wrecks the good guys, at least until he gets knocked into the corner for a triple dropkick.

Slim J takes the Best Friends down with a top rope corkscrew dive, followed by something like a Whisper in the Wind to Cassidy. Daivari’s frog splash gets two as everything breaks down again. A series of shots send Boudreaux over the barricade but Kiss crotches Cassidy. Slim J’s top rope elbow gets two on Cassidy but here is Danhausen to curse him. That’s enough for the Best Friends to hit a double chokeslam, setting up an assisted splash (with the Best Friends holding Slim J up and Cassidy diving off of their shoulders at the same time) to give Cassidy the pin at 10:32.

Rating: C+. The finish was rather cool and they had the right team win, but it’s still trying to make me interested in the Trustbusters. Good luck with that, as I’ve yet to see something from either Daivari or Boudreaux that will draw my interest. They are getting it much more right with Cassidy though, as he is filling hie role as the guy who is better than the lower card and a possible spoiler for bigger spots perfectly.

Danhausen poses with the winners to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Better than last week’s as it felt like some interesting things took place here, but still not a must see show. Rampage has been around for just over a year now and the show hasn’t felt important in a long time. You might get one somewhat important thing a week and the rest of the show feels like they are just filling in their hour. Not a bad show whatsoever, but nothing you would need to watch, as has been the case with most recent editions.

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.

Smackdown
Date: August 19, 2022
Location: Bell Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Commentators: Pat McAfee, Michael Cole

We’re north of the border for the 1,200th episode and odds are that is not going to be the biggest deal. We are only a few weeks away from Clash At The Castle and now we should be in for some build to the show. There is a lot that needs to be done for the card and maybe we can get some of that done tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

Commentary talks about the 1,200th show, with McAfee name dropping Jim Cornette doing commentary on the first show (or at least the pilot).

Ronda Rousey walks in front of commentary and gets in the ring where she says her fine is paid so Adam Pearce needs to get out here and lift her suspension. Cue Pearce, with security to say that’s above his pay grade, so he asks her to leave peacefully. Pearce says that’s what she did last week and now it’s time to get violent. Security gets in the ring and gets beaten up. That’s too far for Pearce, who has the police come out and arrest Rousey. As she is taken to the back, she asks if this is on Pearce’s pay grade as she is put in the car.

The police car pulls away and Roman Reigns arrives.

Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Natalya/Sonya Deville vs. Toxic Attraction

Zoey Stark is hurt so Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin/Jacy Jayne) from NXT is taking her and Nikkita Lyons’ place. As a bonus, Bayley/Iyo Sky/Dakota Kai sit in the front row to yell at commentary. Natalya rolls Dolin up to start and it’s off to Deville for a spear of all things and a near fall. Jayne comes in and misses a charge into the post, allowing Jayne to hit a running flip dive to the floor.

We take a break and come back with Jayne loading up a Sharpshooter but getting knocked away by Deville. It’s back to Natalya, whose Sharpshooter is broken up as well. Deville is sent into the barricade in front of Bayley and company for some yelling as Jayne tags herself in. Natalya doesn’t notice and puts Dolin in the Sharpshooter, allowing Jayne to grab a rollup (clever) for the pin at 9:59.

Rating: C-. That’s how the match should have gone as there is no reason for one of the most successful NXT tag teams ever to lose to a makeshift team like Natalya and Deville. Not much of a match, but they did the right thing with Toxic Attraction moving forward. At the same time, it does make me wonder why they weren’t in the tournament in the first place.

Sami Zayn (hometown boy) goes in to see Roman Reigns, who asks how things have been going. Zayn talks about his recent issues with the Usos, especially Jey, who has been telling him to LEVEL UP. We hear about how Zayn took a Claymore for him last week and calls Jey ungrateful. Sami knows he went too far….until Reigns agrees with him. Reigns gets up and his phone rings, with Jey on the other end.

Reigns tells Sami to answer it, which doesn’t seem to go well with Jey. Sami says he’ll take care of it before hanging up. Apparently Jey was yelling about trouble at the border so the Usos won’t be here tonight. That has Reigns looking nervous, but Sami offers his services. He does have a #1 contenders match for the Intercontinental Title tonight and Reigns thinks that title would look good in the Bloodline.

Sami goes to warm up but Reigns asks about Kevin Owens. Sami says they’re still tight so Reigns says to tell Owens that Reigns doesn’t owe anyone anything. As Sami leaves, Reigns glares a bit. This was interesting and some good character stuff, which you don’t get enough of around here.

We look back at Gunther retaining the Intercontinental Title over Shinsuke Nakamura last week. Max doesn’t like the interruption so Hit Row clears the ring quickly. Rapping ensues and goes on for a while. The good thing here is that Max is basically LA Knight instead of that not so great stuff he was doing for a few weeks.

Karrion Kross and Scarlett talk about what Drew McIntyre said about him on Raw. He still has his eye on Roman Reigns too. McIntyre and Reigns are his chosen ones.

Ricochet vs. Sheamus vs. Madcap Moss vs. Happy Corbin vs. Sami Zayn

For the Intercontinental Title shot at Clash At The Castle. The fans are WAY behind Sami with the OLE chants. The ring is cleared out to start, leaving Ricochet to hurricanrana Zayn. Corbin (in a t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes, likely for reasons of a lost bag) cuts off a dive with a chokeslam to Ricochet and we take a break. Back with everyone brawling on the floor until Corbin takes Ricochet back inside.

Corbin hits the slide under the ropes clothesline on Moss and then knocks Zayn off the apron (Cole: “Sami looked like El Generico there.” McAfee: “Oui.”). Ricochet is back up with a springboard crossbody to Corbin and a springboard dropkick to knock Zayn off the apron as well. A running shooting star press gets two on Corbin as we see a NASTY bruise/cut on Sheamus’ thigh. Sheamus’ leg is good enough to hit Irish Curses on Moss and Zayn, though he does come up limping.

The ten forearms to the chest have Moss and Corbin in more trouble, followed by seventeen forearms to Ricochet’s chest. Zayn jawbreaks his way to freedom though and low bridges Corbin out to the floor. The big flip dive drops Sheamus and Corbin on the floor as we get some old school Sami for a change. Back in and a Michinoku Driver drops Ricochet and the Blue Thunder Bomb gets two on Moss.

Sheamus is back up to take out Ricochet though and a super White Noise sends Zayn outside, holding his arm. Moss gets in his own run but Ricochet cuts him off as Sami is helped to the back. Corbin Deep Sixes Sheamus and Ricochet clotheslines Moss, leaving everyone down as we take a break.

Back with Corbin pounding on Ricochet and dropping him with a torture rack neckbreaker. Corbin and Sheamus slug it out until Corbin gets clotheslined to the floor. A jumping knee gives Sheamus two on Moss but the Brogue Kick is countered into something like a Boss Man Slam. Ricochet Recoils Moss to the floor and hits a shooting star press for two on Sheamus, with Corbin making the save. Cue Sami for quite the reaction and a t-bone suplex on Ricochet. The Helluva Kick hits Ricochet but Corbin pulls Zayn out. Sheamus is back in with the Brogue Kick to finish Corbin out of nowhere at 22:22.

Rating: B-. The time helped here as it allowed the match to be built up instead of rushed. That allowed everyone a chance to show what they could do instead of flying through everything and trying to get a bunch of stuff in. The Zayn injury gives him a bit of an out instead of jobbing in his hometown so it was nice to see them cover that side. At the same time, it’s good to see Sheamus winning, as he and Gunther could have a heck of a hoss fight. I could even see Sheamus getting the title so we might even have some drama.

Video on Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns.

Video on the Viking Raiders. They have torches and face paint because a great battle awaits. Then they burn a bunch of New Day stuff.

We recap Liv Morgan and Shayna Baszler signing the contract last week.

Morgan’s arm is out of the brace and into just tape but she isn’t worried about Baszler. She can’t start playing it safe now because she needs to get in the ring.

Liv Morgan vs. Shotzi

Non-title. Before the match, Shotzi talks about how Morgan is getting too emotional and calls this match a bad decision. Liv slugs away to start and staggers Shotzi a bit, only to get knocked back with a shot to the face. Shotzi knocks her outside and we take a break. Back with Liv fighting out of trouble, setting up a brawl from their knees. Morgan hits a quick Codebreaker and Oblivion for the pin at 6:02. Not enough shown to rate but Morgan fighting through the pain and winning is the right way to go for her.

Post match Shayna Baszler comes in and knees her down before teasing the stomp on the arm but stomping and kicking Morgan down instead.

Ronda Rousey has been released on her own recognizance and Adam Pearce won’t be pressing charges.

Drew McIntyre finds Karrion Kross’ hourglass in his locker room and rolls his eyes.

Here is Roman Reigns (alone), who takes his sweet time getting into the ring. After being handed the microphone, Reigns talks about how he isn’t here every week, meaning every once in awhile, people are going to come out here and say something stupid. If anyone ever comes out here and says they’re the face of this company or the main event and it isn’t him, they’re LYING. The same thing is true if someone says they carry this company, including Drew McIntyre, who is beneath him.

Cue McIntyre to interrupt, saying that since Reigns isn’t here very often, he doesn’t represent the titles and doesn’t deserve to be champion. Reigns is aghast but McIntyre says it’s easy when Reigns has Paul Heyman and the Usos. Right now though, McIntyre sees fear in Reigns’ eyes because Reigns is just a man and a man who McIntyre can tear apart.

The fight is on and Reigns gets suplexed but the Claymore hits…..Sami Zayn, who runs in to take the shot. Reigns hits the Superman Punch but the Claymore cuts off the spear (despite the camera angle showing that McIntyre COMPLETELY missed by a good four inches) to end the show. McIntyre vs. Reigns feels like a main event, but I’m not sure I can see McIntyre taking the title off of him, even in the UK.

Overall Rating: B. There were only three matches but one of them was about ten minutes long and the other was over twenty so there was a nice amount of action on the show. Other than that, you had some good talking and character development, plus some stuff being added to or boosted for the pay per view. They did well here, with nothing dragging the show down and enough to make me want to see what happens next. Rather good show, and it’s nice to be able to say that more and more often.

Results
Toxic Attraction b. Natalya/Sonya Deville – Rollup to Natalya
Sheamus b. Happy Corbin, Ricochet, Madcap Moss and Sami Zayn – Brogue Kick to Corbin
Liv Morgan b. Shotzi – Oblivion

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.