Dynamite – October 30, 2024: Holiday Shows Do Well

Dynamite
Date: October 30, 2024
Location: Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

It’s Fright Night Dynamite as we have the Halloween episode. The big story tonight is the Tag Team Titles are on the line with the Young Bucks defending against Private Party (again) with Private Party’s career as a team also being defended. Other than that, Orange Cassidy is doing to do something about Jon Moxley so let’s get to it.

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

We get a special video previewing tonight, with something of a spooky/horror theme.

We get a video on the Blackpool Combat Club, talking about how Jon Moxley built this company but Orange Cassidy says cut it off. Cue Cassidy to say this isn’t who he is, but last week he saw his best friend’s neck crushed by a steel chair. He was surrounded by people who shouldn’t have been there. Those people were very young because he was surrounded by the future of AEW. They were in danger because of people like Jon Moxley. See, Moxley doesn’t need AEW, but Cassidy certainly does.

Without him, there is none of this, so now he knows what he needs to do, meaning he has to cut his head off the snake to make sure no one else gets hurt. The sunglasses come off and Cassidy issues the title challenge. Let him know, because he isn’t hard to find. He’s Freshly Squeezed Orange Cassidy, he’s the next AEW World Champion, and he still doesn’t need a catchphrase. That ending was a bit too goofy, but this was exactly what the promo needed to be and gives Moxley a good first challenger, albeit one who has very little chance of winning.

Mercedes Mone says Kamille isn’t going to need luck against Kris Statlander tonight.

Adam Cole vs. Buddy Matthews

Feeling out process to start with the much bigger Matthews slowly powering him into the corner. A shoulder takes Cole down as he seems a bit ginger. Matthews knocks him outside where Cole limps around a bit and has to stretch the ankle out a bit. The distraction lets Matthews hit a big kick off the apron as we take a break.

Back with Matthews hitting a superplex but Cole snaps off a neckbreaker. A DDT onto the apron drops Matthews and leaves them both on the floor. Matthews is back with a hard shot to the ankle, which is sent into the steps. The medic comes out to check on him and Cole teases leaving, but Matthews laughs at the “new” Cole for leaving like a little b****.

That brings Cole back to the ring and they slug it out, with Cole hitting back to back superkicks. The leg gives out on the running knee though and Matthews hits a Stomp for two. Cole knees him in the face a few times for two but Matthews buckle bombs him and hits another Stomp for one. A superkick and a pair of Panama Sunrises, including one on the floor, set up the Boom for the pin at 15:30.

Rating: B-. Well that was certainly a Cole match, with a bunch of superkicks, Panama Sunrises and silly kickouts. He’s such a weird case as he has star power and feels like he should be a star but then it doesn’t exactly work out that way in the ring. Maybe it’s that he feels like the Modern Style Greatest Hits guy, but this wasn’t exactly great.

Post match we get a handshake but the lights go out. They come back up and Cole is shaking hands with Malakai Black instead.

Christopher Daniels is with Private Party, who are risking everything for the Tag Team Titles tonight, for a pep talk. They’ve got this.

Adam Cole is in the trainer’s room with the Undisputed Kingdom. Cole says his ankle is fine and he’s ready for Malakai Black. He goes on a rant about how MJF has betrayed a bunch of people but Cole needs the fans, while MJF only cares about himself. That was almost the same promo Cassidy did half an hour ago.

Here is Don Callis to bring out Kyle Fletcher for a chat. Fletcher calls out Will Ospreay, who isn’t here because he’s a coward. Instead here is Mark Davis, Fletcher’s long injured partner, to ask what Fletcher has been doing. They were part of an empire but Fletcher betrayed everyone. Fletcher says Davis is going to have to make a decision, but Fletcher has no problem cutting out the past. I mean…points for acknowledging it but Davis could have been completely forgotten and very little would have been lost.

Hangman Page talks about his history with Jay White and how they have fought each other so many times. We know what White is going to do, but Page could do anything in their match at Full Gear. Maybe he’ll even burn White’s house down.

Here is the Blackpool Combat Club, with Jon Moxley saying he challenged Orange Cassidy last year because he wanted to hurt Cassidy. Moxley accepts the challenge, saying he’ll fight Cassidy in the valley, which is where Cassidy will die. We get an example, with the Club jumping Yuta and wrapping a chair around his neck.

Cassidy makes the save, with Yuta jumping him, only or the Dark Order to come out and get beaten up again. Darby Allin repels from the ceiling for the brawl, with Top flight and Action Andretti running in for the real save. The Young Bucks come out and the scheduled title match is right now. This was another case of the villains being chased off by a group more than twice their size, which doesn’t exactly make AEW look great.

Tag Team Titles: Young Bucks vs. Private Party

The Bucks are defending and Private Party has to split up if they lose. A springboard dropkick takes Quen down to start but Kassidy is in to send the Bucks outside. Some dives to the floor have the Bucks in trouble so Matt grabs the ring bell. Quen takes it away…and knocks Kassidy silly by mistake. Nick uses the distraction to kick Quen in the face and we settle back down inside.

The already busted open Kassidy is sent into the steps, followed by a falcon Arrow off of those steps. A superplex gets two on Quen and we take a break. Back with Kassidy coming in to clean house as everything breaks down. The Bucks clear Quen out and Risky Business gets two on Quen.

Private Party hit some dives but the Bucks fight back and drag Quen up to the stage….where Kazuchika Okada gives him a Tombstone. The Bucks hit Gin & Juice for two on Kassidy and the shoes are pumped up for the Superkick Party and two more. The EVP Trigger is loaded up but Kassidy falls down, only for the second attempt to have them ram knees. A small package gets two on Nick and now the EVP Trigger connects for a near fall. The V rigger int a One Winged Angle gets two as Quen dives back in for the save. Kassidy crotched Nick on top and a poisonrana int Gin & Juice is good for the pin and the titles at 18:06.

Rating: B+. My issues with Private Party aside, this was a heck of a match and the title change felt like a big moment. AEW needed to do something like this and that’s exactly what they gave us. It had emotion and came at the right time, and even though I have zero reason to buy Private Party as a top level team, it was an awesome moment and one of the best things AEW has done in a good while.

Post match the Bucks hand over the titles and Private Party celebrates in the crowd. That’s the start of the Bucks’ face turn isn’t it?

Moxley vs. Cassidy is set for Full Gear.

Jamie Hayter and Penelope Ford have agreed to not get physical before their match next week. Ford says people have forgotten who she is (A decent at best star who was never close to the top of the division?) but Hayter says this is all over something that happened two years ago. Hayter is fine with beating her up next week.

Here is the Learning Tree to brag about Chris Jericho’s win last week. Jericho brags about winning the title and getting four stars in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, plus for carrying Terrifier 3 to the top of the box office. So just sit back and enjoy the Nueve’s title reign. I really could go for never hearing about Dave Meltzer or the Observer in a wrestling promo again.

Video on Anna Jay.

Daniel Garcia yells at Jack Perry over being entitled. Perry goes to the Elite’s locker room where the Young Bucks are shredding documents.

Kamille vs. Kris Statlander

Mercedes Mone is here with Kamille and gets her own entrance. Kamille runs her over to start but Statlander nips up for a dropkick. A hard clothesline drops Statlander again and we take an early break. Back with Statlander dropping her for a change but missing a 450. Kamille’s torture rack powerbomb gets two but Statlander is right back with Wednesday Night Fever for the pin at 6:25. Not enough shown to rate, but that’s a really fast first loss for Kamille.

Post match Mercedes Mone yells at Kamille and takes out Statlander.

Video on Kip Sabian seemingly joining the Patriarchy.

Christian Cage promises to deal with Hook.

Mark Briscoe, with the Conglomeration, is upset at losing the Ring Of Honor World Title, but he isn’t sure why Chris Jericho doesn’t care about his own health. The word of the day is instability because Jericho brought up Jay Briscoe again. The challenge is on for a six man Fight Without Honor for next week, because I guess we’re having an ROH match on AEW TV.

The Young Bucks leave, despite Christopher Daniels’ protests. The place is too violent and chaotic so they’re out. Brandon Cutler, carrying a box, tries to catch up, but gets beaten down by the Blackpool Combat Club. Daniels has to watch as Claudio Castagnoli uses a hammer to crush….something about four inches away from Cutler’s hand. That looked TERRIBLE and made me laugh at how terrible they screwed it up. I get that you can’t actually crush his hand, but put the camera in a better place.

Swerve Strickland vs. Shelton Benjamin

Prince Nana and MVP are here too. Swerve makes the mistake of trying to wrestle Benjamin to start so they’re quickly on the floor. Benjamin can’t manage to post him so Swerve cranks on the arm in the ropes. A kick of the apron is cut off and Swerve is tripped down, followed by a toss back to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Swerve hitting a kick to the back and getting in his dance, setting up the middle rope elbow to the back of the neck. Benjamin grabs a Kimura but Swerve slips out, only to get caught with a DDT for two. Swerve drops him for a 450 but Benjamin sends him flying with a German suplex. The rolling Downward Spiral hits Benjamin, who pops up to run the corner and catch Swerve on top. Swerve slips through the legs though and hits the Swerve Stomp for the pin at 14:38.

Rating: B. Another solid back and forth match here with Swerve getting a win over someone with a reputation. Swerve needed something like this to get back on top and Benjamin’s first loss coming to a former World Champion isn’t going to hurt him. Granted this is pretty clearly setting up the next big opponent for Swerve so it only means so much.

Post match MVP calls someone…and Bobby Lashley is here. The staredown is on and Benjamin’s distraction lets Lashley beat Swerve down. Nana gets taken out as well and, after being loudly told THIRTY SECONDS LEFT, MVP says look who’s back in business to end the show. This is one of those situations where it was clear what was going to happen and that’s not a bad thing.

Overall Rating: B+. This show started a bit slow but got better as it kept going, with some stuff that makes me want to see what happens next. It had some problems, but there were enough things on here that kept my interest along with action to back it up. Pretty easily the best Dynamite in a good while and certainly something they needed. Unfortunately the show is likely going to get smashed in the ratings because of baseball, but they needed this show after some lackluster weeks.

Results
Adam Cole b. Buddy Matthews – Boom
Private Party b. Young Bucks – Gin & Juice to Nick
Kris Statlander b. Kamille – Tuesday Night Fever
Swerve Strickland b. Shelton Benjamin – Swerve Stomp

 

 

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NXT – October 29, 2024: Rough Night

NXT
Date: October 29, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with Halloween Havoc and the big story is wee seem to be heading for a mini ECW reunion when the show heads to Philadelphia next week. Odds are that means we get some hype for the show this week, as Bubba Ray Dudley does not seem happy with Ridge Holland for attacking NXT Champion Trick Williams to end Sunday’s show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Halloween Havoc if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Halloween Havoc but it’s interrupted by Tatum Paxley shoving a casket to the ring.

Tatum Paxley vs. Wendy Choo

Casket match with Paxley bringing a casket and Choo bringing a bed. Paxley starts fast with a dropkick to stagger Choo as commentary says the first casket match was between Undertaker and Kamala in 1992, showing commentary doesn’t know the difference between Casket and Coffin. Choo gets a trashcan wrapped around her head for some stick shots, followed by something like a reverse Angle Slam back inside. Back up and Choo puts her in a trashcan for a dropkick as we take a break.

Back with Paxley being hiptossed into a dollhouse but Paxley uses the pillow to avoid the casket being closed. Choo pulls out a pillow full of Legos and a full nelson slam plants Paxley in a rather painful way. Paxley still won’t be slammed inside so they both crash in with the lid closing. A fire extinguisher blast to the face sends Choo onto her bed and Paxley puts her into the casket for the win at 10:10.

Rating: C. This felt like something that belonged on the Halloween Havoc Kickoff Show more than here, but I do like Paxley getting a win. That and anything involving Choo and this dumb sleep/pillow/bed thing taking a step down. I’m still not sure what the heck Choo is supposed to be about but I also can’t bring myself to be remotely interested.

Now we get the Halloween Havoc recap.

Here is Trick Williams for a chat. Williams went into the Devil’s Playground at NXT and he’s still your NXT Champion. Ridge Holland attacked him after the match though and that’s why he owes Bubba Ray Dudley a thank you. Cue Bubba, who says he did what he did because Holland was disrespectful. Bubba was watching Holland get involved and wondered where everyone was, but none of them came out because of that title.

Williams needs to have eyes in the back of his head, which Williams understands, but he wants revenge. What he wants is a tag match with the two of them against Holland and Ethan Page in the ECW Arena next week. Ray says he’s known Williams for about three minutes and the juices are already flowing. He’s ready to bring out the tye dye and puts on the glasses, but then he says no. I heartily approve of this decision.

Ava is in the back with Rob Van Dam, who says if Bubba doesn’t want to do it, he will. Ava says she’d love to have him on the show and will think of something for him to do. Kelani Jordan comes in and wants the North American Title back. Nikkita Lyons comes in to say Jordan is at the back of the line, which doesn’t work for Jordan.

Shawn Spears and Brooks Jensen play Tony D’Angelo a voicemail from someone not happy with how this has been going. They’ll deal with D’Angelo next week. Commentary confirms that was Nunzio on the phone, meaning we’re likely getting the FBI. Sure.

Heritage Cup: Lexis King vs. Charlie Dempsey

King is challenging and has William Regal in his corner. Round one begins with a bit of a slow start before they trade rollups for two each. Dempsey fires off some knees to the face but Dempsey hits a spinning high crossbody for two. A rollup (ala his father Brian Pillman) gets the same but Dempsey grabs a bridging butterfly suplex for the pin at 2:24.

Round two begins with Dempsey elbowing him in the face and grabbing a cravate to crank away. Back up and Dempsey sends him over the top, with King hurting his knee on the apron. We take a break and come back with the clocking having been paused for the commercial (erg). King’s belly to back suplex into a superkick drops Dempsey as the round ends.

Round three begins with Dempsey going after the bad knee and a fisherman’s suplex gets two. A half crab stays on the leg but King fights back, only for the knee to go out again. Regal tries to slip him the brass knuckles but King says no, allowing Dempsey to grab a German suplex for the pin to retain at 2:55 of the round and 13:34 overall.

Rating: C. This was another step in the evolution o King into a nice guy, but at the same time it’s also another loss on a large pile of them. At some point he has to win some bigger matches, which could still come, but he also has to do something that stands out a bit more. I didn’t see it here, even with Regal in his corner.

Video on Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker.

Zaria vs. Brinley Reece

Zaria shoulders Reece down and lifts her up by the arm or some pain. Reece’s clothesline doesn’t work as it’s a spear into an F5 to give Zaria the pin at 2:48. Total destruction.

Post match Fatal Influence pops up to mock Zaria but here are Roxanne Perez/Cora Jade to do the same. Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer run in to even things out a bit (some may say they’re already ahead) but Jordynne Grace (from TNA) runs in to officially wreck the villains.

Post break, a ten woman tag has been set up.

Nikkita Lyons vs. Kelani Jordan

Jordan snaps off an armdrag to start and hits a running dropkick. A basement crossbody gets two on Lyons before they pull each other into the splits. Lyons sends her hard into the corner but Jordan fights up with some running forearms. Those are cut off but here is Rizzo for a distraction, allowing Jordan to pull Lyons down. One Of A Kind finishes Lyons off at 4:04.

Rating: C. I can certainly go for Lyons not getting close to a title, as she loses what little appeal she has every time she’s on the show. Rizzo going after Lyons could be interesting as Rizzo has done well enough when she is given the chance. Jordan is likely going to either go after Fatal Influence again or go after the Women’s Title.

Post match Rizzo runs in to beat Lyons down and they brawl to the back.

Here is Ethan Page for a chat but Ridge Holland cuts him off in a hurry. Holland says everyone is sick and tired of Page but Holland will be taking the NXT Title from Trick Williams. Bully Ray made the right call by turning down the offer of a tag match but here is Ray to interrupt.

Ray has learned a lot about Holland in the last 48 hours, who has commanded the conversation on Busted Open Radio. He’s impressed by Holland’s rugby background and ability to come back after serious injuries so quickly. Ray doesn’t like disrespect but isn’t going to be wrestling again. Holland isn’t surprised because Ray is just a radio host and is overrated, just like ECW. The beating is on but Trick Williams makes the save. The tag match is on.

This was a good example of what has kept me from caring about the whole story. Ray talked about being half of the greatest tag team ever and while the Dudleys were great, Ray on his own is just kind of there. He’s dragged down a lot of shows he’s been on in recent years and it’s hard to care about him again just because they’re going to a certain arena. At least it’s likely to be done next week though.

Stephanie Vaquer and company are ready for the big ten woman tag next week. Rhea Ripley comes in and tells them to blow the roof off.

Jaida Parker is ready to take out Lola Vice and Dawn Marie better stay out of her way.

Judgment Day is here…and Rhea Ripley has been attacked.

Tag Team Titles: Nathan Frazier/Axiom vs. Cedric Alexander/Je’Von Evans

Frazier and Axiom are defending. Alexander works on Axiom’s arm to start but gets armdragged without much effort. Frazier and Evans come in to trade missed kicks and flips but Alexander comes in of a blind tag for a running dropkick. Frazier knocks Alexander into the corner so Axiom holds out his hand for a tag but Frazier would rather stomp away.

Back up and Frazier is sent outside, with Evans and Alexander hitting dives as we take a break. We come back with Alexander hitting a fireman’s carry kick to the head to Axiom and Evans comes back in. A springboard clothesline gets two on Frazier and Evans makes Axiom DDT Frazier for two. Evans’ powerbomb gets two with Frazier making the save.

A double springboard cutter gives Evans two on Axiom, who is right back with a super Spanish Fly to Alexander. Frazier’s phoenix splash gets two but Evans makes the save while also hitting a step up cutter on Axiom. Cue Wes Lee to brawl with Evans to the back, leaving Alexander to hit a Michinoku Driver. Not that it matters as the brainbuster/superkick combination finishes Alexander to retain at 14:55.

Rating: B-. This was pretty much the same thing Axiom and Frazier have done for months now: bicker a lot leading up to the match, have some issues during the match, win to retain anyway, stat the whole thing over. They’re going to split up someday and neither of them are going to come out looking good because this story has been going on way too long. That being said, I’m not sure who else there is to take the titles, but find something new for them already.

Wes Lee and Je’Von Evans are brawling in the back when Ava and Rob Van Dam come in. The fight is broken up, with Van Dam saying he knows what he wants to do next week. I’m going to assume it’s another special referee and if so, egads find something else to do already.

Overall Rating: C. I was not feeling this one at all, as there is a bunch of stuff that I feel like we have to get through before we can get to something better. This includes the Frazier/Axiom stuff and the ECW nostalgia, which thankfully should only last a week. Just not the most appealing show here, but hopefully it picks up when we get done with the latest reminder that ECW was supposed to be far better than it really was.

Results
Tatum Paxley b. Wendy Choo – Paxley shut Choo in the casket
Charlie Dempsey b. Lexis King 2-0
Zaria b. Brinley Reece – F5
Kelani Jordan b. Nikkita Lyons – One Of A Kind
Nathan Frazier/Axiom b. Cedric Alexander/Je’Von Evans – Brainbuster/superkick combination to Alexander

 

 

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Monday Night Raw – October 28, 2024: Addition By Subtraction

Monday Night Raw
Date: October 28, 2024
Location: Giant Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

It’s the last Raw before Crown Jewel and that means we get to hear about the entirely and completely important Crown Jewel Titles. Other than that, the Usos are back together with Roman Reigns after the Bloodline went too far last week. There is a good chance that we’ll hear some more about that this week so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the Bloodline and Jey Uso costing each other titles last week.

Here is Jey Uso for a chat. After recapping what he’s done over the last week, Jey brings out Jimmy Uso, as the only person he wants to talk to. Jimmy says he’s here to say thank you because they need to be together to take down the Bloodline. Jey cuts him off though, saying they’re not the ones either.

Jey hasn’t seen him since Wrestlemania but now no one gets them confused because Jey is the former Intercontinental Champion. He’s won titles, but none of them top being Jimmy’s twin brother. They still have things to work out but they can be the USOS. Jimmy invites Jey to Smackdown to make things right with Roman Reigns, which Jey accepts. Cue the Bloodline to interrupt but the Usos fights their way out of a beating and clear the ring. Good reunion here, but it’s the next step in a very long story.

Post break, Adam Pearce is on the phone with Nick Aldis and yells about the Bloodline being here. Judgment Day comes in to ask which former World Champion Dominik Mysterio will be facing. Pearce doesn’t have time for this so it can be Damian Priest. Mysterio says he has this.

Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser

They slug it out to start and fight into the corner with Sheamus getting the better of things. That heads out to the floor, with Kaiser grabbing a guillotine but getting driven into the steps. We take an early break and come back with Sheamus hitting the ten forearms on the apron. Sheamus hammers away in the corner but gets powerbombed down, only to say COME ON when Kaiser starts punching him. Some hard shots from Sheamus set up the Brogue Kick to pin Kaiser at 9:46.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time here due to the break and it’s a little strange to see this feud picked up again when it was mainly going back in the early summer. That being said, there is absolutely some value in building up Sheamus to challenge Bron Breakker for the Intercontinental Title in a hoss feud. It has some stories built in and that should be good enough if they go in that direction.

Rhea Ripley is sick of Raquel Rodriguez and her betrayal. All Ripley wants is the title back and nothing can stop her.

Sami Zayn talks to Jey Uso and can’t believe what he’s seeing. Solo Sikoa wasn’t the one who was getting in his head for years and Jey could just be his own may. Jey says Sami wouldn’t understand because he isn’t family. Oh that was harsh.

Gunther doesn’t think much of Cody Rhodes and is ready for a tag match on Smackdown.

Zelina Vega vs. Ivy Nile

The LWO and American Made are both here too. They start fast with Vega sending her outside for a Meteora off the apron as we take an early break. Back with Vega getting two off a moonsault (not much contact there). Nile is back with a German suplex for two but Vega is back with a Code Red. The guys get in a brawl on the floor though and the distraction lets Nile hit a swinging Rock Bottom for the pin at 6:28. Not enough shown to rate but it was short and not exactly great.

Jimmy Uso is ok with Sami Zayn not being family.

Here is Seth Rollins for a chat. He’s ready to go to war with a monster at Crown Jewel because a part of him that has been gone for a long time is back. Bronson Reed pops up on screen to say he promised that he wouldn’t wreck anything in the arena, but he’s out in the parking lot. Rollins comes out for the brawl, where Reed shrugs off a Stomp onto the hood of a car. They go into the back of a truck and Reed hits a Death Valley Driver through some tables to leave Rollins laying. That’s either a way to write the match off of the crowded card or to give Reed a way to injure Rollins again.

We recap Miz and R-Truth brawling, which drew out the Wyatt Six to attack Paul Ellering.

Miz tried to get away from the Final Testament but they weren’t letting that happen.

R-Truth was with the Alpha Academy when Miz came up to try to make amends. That earns him a shot to the face, with R-Truth saying good luck with the Wyatts. R-Truth runs into Pete Dunne, who he calls Butch. It’s rather funny when R-Truth gets it.

Tag Team Title #1 Contenders Tournament Finals: LWO vs. War Raiders vs. New Day

Kofi and Lee dropkick Ivar to start but he crushes Lee in the corner for two. Erik comes in to knee Rey to the floor and the ring is cleared early on as we take a break. Back with Erik crushing Woods but Rey fights up and knocks Erik outside. Woods is back in but refuses to tag Kingston, with commentary talking about Woods being the “quarterback” of the team. Now Kingston comes in and his a Boom Drop. Woods hits a dive to the floor and Kingston dives onto them again as we take a break.

Back again with Rey kicking Kingston in the head and bringing Lee in to pick up the pace. The double stomp out of the Tree of Woe hits Kingston before Lee, Kingston and Erik go up at the same time. That’s broken up and Lee powerbombs Kingston for two with Woods making the save. Kingston loads up Daylight but Woods would rather dive onto Lee. Cue Chad Gable to pull Rey to the floor for an ankle lock, leaving the Raiders to hit the German suplex/springboard clothesline to pin Kingston at 17:34.

Rating: B. I would have bet on the LWO getting the win here but good idea of pulling the trigger with the Raiders. They’re an established team and a pair of monsters so why not see if they can get the gold again. If nothing else, Judgment Day isn’t doing a thing with the belts so moving them on to a more traditional team is a good idea.

Seth Rollins is off getting medical treatment at a facility.

Miz’s advice for the Final Testament regarding the Wyatt Sicks: run. That doesn’t work for Karrion Kross, who wants Miz to take Bo Dallas out.

The Usos are going to leave but see Sami Zayn talking to Solo Sikoa. Jimmy says he told Jey all they had was family, with Jey agreeing. Now usually this isn’t something that winds up being what it seems, but Jimmy is often presented as stupid so it kind of fits.

Damian Priest vs. Dominik Mysterio

Mysterio is here on his own. Priest starts fast and knocks him to the floor without much effort. Dominik manages a posting to take over though and we go to an early break. Back with Priest breaking up the Third Amigo and hitting a hard clothesline for two. Priest gets sent outside though and here is Liv Morgan for a distraction so Carlito and JD McDonagh can come in for some cheap shots. Priest beats them up with a chair but Dominik grabs a rollup with tights for the pin at 8:58.

Rating: C. This felt like a way to keep Priest’s issues with Judgment Day going until he can move on to a feud with Gunther and there are worse ideas. Priest lost because there were three people helping Mysterio, who had to cheat as well. If nothing else, the idea of Mysterio getting built up towards a World Title match could have quite the reactions, as the fans still love to boo him out of every arena.

Post match Priest wrecks Dominik and Carlito to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Maybe it’s the lack of any time left or realizing that it’s not working, but the lack of focus on the Crown Jewel Titles made this so much more enjoyable. WWE might have known that the idea was lame from the beginning but it’s nit to get the focus off of them for a night. Other than that, you had some things st up for the post Crown Jewel shows as Survivor Series is on the way. Not a great show, but it got some things done.

Results
Sheamus b. Ludwig Kaiser – Brogue Kick
Ivy Nile b. Zelina Vega – Swinging Rock Bottom
War Raiders b. New Day and LWO – German suplex/springboard clothesline combination to Kingston
Dominik Mysterio b. Damien Priest – Rollup with tights

 

 

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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Survivor Series Count-Up – 1991 (2012 Redo): It Still Annoys Me

Survivor Series 1991
Date: November 27, 1991
Location: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Attendance: 17,500
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby Heenan

Gorilla and Bobby talk for a bit.

Team Ric Flair vs. Team Roddy Piper

Ric Flair, Ted DiBiase, The Mountie, The Warlord

Roddy Piper, Bret Hart, Davey Boy Smith, Virgil

Sherri is sent to the back and Roddy brings in Smith. The good guys work over the arm of DiBiase with Virgil of all people getting the biggest pop. After all four go in they start going around again with all four getting in another set of shots on the arm. Bret stays in but misses a knee in the corner to put himself in trouble. They trade near falls before Bret takes him right back down by the arm.

Virgil gets sent to the floor and Flair sends him into the steps, with Virgil doing an awful job of pretending to slam into them. The full nelson goes on but everything breaks down and Bret comes off the top to take out Warlord, giving the illegal Piper the pin to tie us up at 3. Piper vs. DiBiase now before Virgil is quickly tagged in. Virgil slaps the Million Dollar Dream on DiBiase but Ted sends him into the buckle to escape.

Rating: B. Gah this was going AWESOME until the pretty lame ending. Having Flair be the sole survivor is a smart move though as it makes the fans hate him even more. This was a GREAT setup though and was on pace to be a classic before the ending. To be fair though, at the pace they were going the match would have been an hour long if they were going to do a full version. Still though, what we got was very good.

Gorilla thinks Tuesday in Texas may be on TV! Give me a break.

Team Mustafa vs. Team Slaughter

Colonel Mustafa, Berzerker, Skinner, Hercules

Sgt. Slaughter, Tito Santana, Jim Duggan, Texas Tornado

Rating: F. The match sucked, it was never in doubt, and the biggest deal on the heel team was Skinner, who would get an IC Title shot soon after this. What a horrible match and one of the most worthless ones in the history of the show so far, which is covering quite a bit of ground. Nothing to see here at all.

WWF World Title: Undertaker vs. Hulk Hogan

Rating: D. Yeah this match completely sucked but we have a new champion and a reason to watch Flair vs. Hogan, which never happened for various reason. Hogan would beat Taker for the title at Tuesday in Texas six days later, but the title would be held up and decided in the Rumble, where Flair would win it and set up Wrestlemania. Bad match, but a BIG moment.

People come out to check on Hogan as Gorilla rips into Flair. Hogan takes awhile to leave, likely to let the fans get over some of their shock.

Roddy is in the back and goes on a big rant against Tunney and Flair and Taker.

Intermission, which means we see a graphic for fifteen minutes.

Team Nasty Boys vs. Team Rockers

Nasty Boys, Beverly Brothers

Rockers, Bushwhackers

Gorilla and Bobby plug Tuesday in Texas again.

Legion of Doom/Big Boss Man vs. IRS/Natural Disasters

Quake wants to fight IRS now but walks off with Typhoon instead, making it the LOD vs. IRS. Hawk powerslams IRS down but a charge goes shoulder first into the post. Hawk gets sent face first into the steps as we continue to fill time by having IRS look like he has a chance. We hit the chinlock as the announcers talk about Thanksgiving dinner. Not hot tag brings in Animal who cleans whatever is left in the house. IRS tries to walk out but runs into Boss Man in the aisle. Hawk hits a top rope clothesline for the win.

Gene is in the bowels of the building with Bearer and Taker. Hogan will rest in peace. In Texas. They look in a casket to end the show.

Ratings Comparison

Team Flair vs. Team Piper

Original: A-

Redo: B

Team Slaughter vs. Team Mustafa

Original: F

Redo: F

Undertaker vs. Hulk Hogan

Original: C-

Redo: D

Team Nasty Boys vs. Team Rockers

Original: D

Redo: D

Legion of Doom/Big Boss Man vs. IRS/Natural Disasters

Original: D

Redo: D+

Overall Rating:

Original: D+

Redo: D-

A little worse this time, but the same problems still plague this show. Screw you Vince.




Daily News Update – October 28, 2024

Make sure you check out some recent reviews:

Survivor Series 1988 (2017 Edition)

Smackdown – October 25, 2024

Survivor Series 1989 (2019 Edition)

Impact Wrestling – October 24, 2024

Rampage – October 25, 2024

Ring Of Honor – October 24, 2024

Bound For Glory 2024

Survivor Series 1990 (2012 Edition)

Halloween Havoc 2024


On The Card: Major Grudge Match Set For WWE Crown Jewel, Triple H Himself Makes It Official.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/on-the-card-major-grudge-match-set-for-wwe-crown-jewel-triple-h-himself-makes-it-official/

Two Up? Here Is What WWE Is Considering For Saturday Night’s Main Event (And It’s Big).

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/two-up-here-is-what-wwe-is-considering-for-saturday-nights-main-event-and-its-big/

Double Up: Two More Title Matches Officially Set For WWE Crown Jewel.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/double-up-two-more-title-matches-officially-set-for-wwe-crown-jewel/

Already Done: Full SmackDown Results For November 1 *SPOILERS*.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/already-done-full-smackdown-results-for-november-1-spoilers/

WATCH: The Usos Reunite In Special Moment On SmackDown.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-the-usos-reunite-in-special-moment-on-smackdown/

WATCH: Title Change Takes Place In Impromptu SmackDown Main Event.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-title-change-takes-place-in-impromptu-smackdown-main-event/

Next Up? Becky Lynch Announces Upcoming Appearance, Teases Announcement About Future.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/next-up-becky-lynch-announces-upcoming-appearance-teases-announcement-about-future/

Tune Out? Details On WWE’s Music From Def Rebel, Criticisms From Wrestlers.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/tune-out-details-on-wwes-music-from-def-rebel-criticisms-from-wrestlers/

Always Room? Another Match To Be Added To WWE Crown Jewel (Contains SPOILERS).

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/always-room-another-match-to-be-added-to-wwe-crown-jewel-contains-spoilers/

Back At It: Top WWE Star Returns To The Ring After 3 1/2 Month Absence.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/back-at-it-top-wwe-star-returns-to-the-ring-after-3-1-2-month-absence/

That’s Why? Samantha Irvin Reveals She Did Not Want To Announce In WWE, What She Wanted To Do.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/thats-why-samantha-irvin-reveals-she-did-not-want-to-announce-in-wwe-what-she-wanted-to-do/

On The Level? The Women Of WWE May Have Reached One Of The Most Important Milestones Possible.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/on-the-level-the-women-of-wwe-may-have-reached-one-of-the-most-important-milestones-possible/

He Might Know: Cody Rhodes Teases Something For WrestleMania 41 Main Event.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/he-might-know-cody-rhodes-teases-something-for-wrestlemania-41-main-event/

WRESTLING RUMORS: WWE Changing Plans For Elimination Chamber.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-wwe-changing-plans-for-elimination-chamber/

Cameo: Injured NXT Star Makes Surprise Return In Special Feature At Halloween Havoc.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/cameo-injured-nxt-star-makes-surprise-return-in-special-feature-at-halloween-havoc/

More? Another Grudge Match Possible For WWE Crown Jewel.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/more-another-grudge-match-possible-for-wwe-crown-jewel/

WRESTLING RUMORS: What You Might Expect In WarGames At WWE Survivor Series.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-what-you-might-expect-in-wargames-at-wwe-survivor-series/

WATCH: The Boogeyman Returns To WWE And Scares A Lot Of People (Nose Poking Is Involved).

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-the-boogeyman-returns-to-wwe-and-scares-a-lot-of-people-nose-poking-is-involved/

WATCH: William Regal Returns To NXT, Set For Special Role Next Week.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-william-regal-returns-to-nxt-set-for-special-role-next-week/

VIDEO: WWE Hall Of Famer Makes Surprise Save At Halloween Havoc, Future Involvement Teased.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/video-wwe-hall-of-famer-makes-surprise-save-at-halloween-havoc-future-involvement-teased/

 

As always, hit up the comments section to chat about what is going on and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page and follow us on Twitter (featuring news stories written by ME).




NXT Halloween Havoc 2024: When The Wheel Comes Down

Halloween Havoc 2024
Date: October 27, 2024
Location: Giant Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T

It’s another big time show on the road as we have one of the most obvious WCW shows being brought back to the big time. That means a bunch of Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal matches, which could make for an interesting card. The main event is another Trick Williams defending the NXT Title against Ethan Page, which isn’t so interesting. Let’s get to it.

Gigi Dolin hosts the opening video, which is focusing on people being different tonight for one night of the year. The matches involved get attention too.

The set looks GREAT with a bunch of Halloween themed pieces, ala the old WCW sets (no big pumpkin though). Even ring announcer Mike Rome is dressed as Beetlejuice.

North American Title: Oba Femi vs. Tony D’Angelo

D’Angelo is defending in a Tables, Ladders and Scares match, meaning street fight with pinfalls or submissions. D’Angelo breaks up the Big Match Intros and they go straight to the brawl, with D’Angelo taking him outside for a spear through the barricade. The weapons are busted out, with a ladder being bridged between the ring and the apron, allowing Femi to chair D’Angelo in the back.

A chokeslam onto a chair gives Femi two and he puts a chair over D’Angelo in the corner. D’Angelo kicks his way out and they go out to the floor, where Femi sends him into the apron. There’s a slam onto the ladder back inside and it’s already table time. Femi blasts him through said table for two and then wraps a crowbar around D’Angelo’s face. A powerbomb is loaded up but D’Angelo reverses into a backdrop, followed by the spinebuster for two.

Back up and Femi throws him again, with D’Angelo coming up holding his leg. Femi busts out a zip tie to tie D’Angelo to the corner, but he has to stop and beat up the D’Angelo Family. Riz gets stalked to the apron, where she grabs the crowbar, which Femi snatches away without much trouble. D’Angelo rips off the tie and spears Femi through the bridged ladder but Femi is right back up with the pop up powerbomb for two. Riz is back in with the crowbar and the Family hits a Shatter Machine with a chair. The spinebuster through the table gives D’Angelo the pin at 15:33.

Rating: B. They beat the fire out of each other here and it made for a good opener, with D’Angelo retaining via some interference in the end. I get that Femi was threatening Riz, but having a bunch of people come in to help D’Angelo beat a monster doesn’t make me want to cheer him. The good/bad stuff has been all over the place in this feud, though in theory this is it for them.

Lexis King still needs a corner man for his Heritage Cup match but no one trusts him. William Regal comes in to say he knew King’s father and hopes the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Regal will be the corner man. Oh dear.

Fatal Influence has decided that Kelani Jordan will defend the Women’s North American Title in a gauntlet match.

Cora Jade/Roxanne Perez vs. Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer

Vaquer cranks on Jade’s arms to start and hands it off to Giulia for a top rope ax handle to one of those arms. Perez comes in and gets caught in a headlock before she and Vaquer trade rollups for two each. Giulia sets up Vaquer’s 619, followed by a double elbow to Jade as this is one sided early on. Perez’s crossface attempt doesn’t work as Giulia pulls her into an STF, with Vaquer adding the same thing on Jade.

Giulia’s missile dropkick puts Perez down for two more but Jade grabs the leg to take over. A running elbow to the back gets two on Giulia and Jade grabs the chinlock. Back up and Giulia and Perez both knock the other down, allowing the tag back to Vaquer. A high crossbody puts Perez down again but Jade comes in, only to get headbutted into the corner. Vaquer dragon screws Perez’s leg as everything breaks down again.

The rapid fire headbutts have the villains in trouble but they’re back with stereo superkicks. Perez hits the dive to take them both out on the floor, with Jade adding a Darby Allin Coffin Drop to drop them both on the floor. Back in and Perez snaps off a super hurricanrana, with Jade adding a Swanton for two. Giulia is back in with a spinning piledriver to plant Vaquer, followed by a running knee to Jade. Perez superplexes Perez and Vaquer adds a huge corkscrew moonsault for the pin at 14:37.

Rating: B. This was more of a showcase for Giulia and Vaquer, which isn’t a bad idea at all. They’re the new stars in the women’s division and are likely o take the title from Perez rather soon. At some point you can only keep the title off of them or so long and we might be reaching that point. Jade was trying to hang in there with three more talented stars and did well enough, but this was about everyone else.

Post match Zaria pops up in a box to stare at everyone else.

Cedric Alexander talks to Je’Von Evans, who isn’t sure if he should have slapped Nathan Frazier. Alexander tells him to keep his cool….but they did get a Tag Team Title shot out of it so maybe snap on occasion. Works for Evans, who wants the titles.

Busted Open Radio’s Dave LaGreca and Bubba Ray Dudley are here and recap/preview the show.

We recap Ridge Holland vs. Andre Chase. Holland joined Chase U and won the Tag Team Titles, only to turn on them when they lost. He put Chase in an ambulance, so now it’s an ambulance match. Makes sense.

Andre Chase vs. Ridge Holland

Ambulance match, meaning you put your opponent in an ambulance and shut the door to win. Chase starts fast with a clothesline out to the floor, setting up a running flip dive off the apron. Holland drives him over the barricade though and Chase is knocked silly. They go up to the ambulance, with Holland pulling out the stretcher (lazy ambulance people not clearing things out) but Chase is back with a blast from a fire extinguisher.

The stretcher is taken to ringside, with Chase being bounced off of it before they go back inside. Holland snaps off an overhead belly to belly, followed by some chair shots. They both grab kendo sticks, with Chase getting the better of things and hitting the spelling stomps. The fight heads back to the floor, with Chase countering the Redeemer and hitting a DDT onto the announcers’ table.

Holland fights back up and puts him onto the stretcher but can’t put him into the ambulance. It’s time for a pumpkin (the ans REALLY like that) but Chase hits him with the backboard. The pumpkin hits Holland and a flip dive off the ambulance puts him down again. That’s still not enough to close the ambulance though as Holland fights out and hits the Redeemer on the stage for the win at 14:28.

Rating: B-. That’s probably the right result but dang it’s rough to see Chase lose again. I’m not sure what is next for him but this definitely feels like the end of the feud. Holland is likely moving on to something bigger while Chase is off to do whatever he has planned. It was a good fight and a nice return for Chase, though Holland winning opens more doors.

Nathan Frazier was training this week when Axiom interrupted. Axiom wasn’t happy with Frazier going all mad on NXT and they argue. Again. With Axiom saying Frazier is condescending.

Ava is fired up for various things coming up on NXT. This includes Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker, with ECW legend Dawn Marie as guest referee. Sure. And we’ll make it a hardcore match. Sure again.

Women’s North American Title: Fatal Influence vs. Kelani Jordan

Jordan is defending in a gauntlet match, with Jazmyn Nyx up first. Jordan works on a wristlock to start and sends her to the floor for a moonsault. Back in and Nyx kicks her down and grabs a fisherman’s suplex for two. Another one is blocked though and Jordan puts her down, setting up a 450 for the pin at 3:32.

Jacy Jayne is in next with a running hurricanrana, only to be sent out to the floor. Jayne misses a charge to the floor though and Jordan hammers away. Back in and One Of A Kind is broken up, allowing Jayne to hit a Cannonball in the Tree of Woe. Jayne’s running knee gets two but Jordan elbows her way out of trouble. A rollup gives Jayne two more and she drops Jordan with a neckbreaker. Back up and Jordan grabs a quick neckbreaker for the pin at 7:58 total.

Jayne drops Jordan in between falls though and here is Fallon Henley as the final opponent to get a quick two. A spinning suplex out of the corner gives Henley two but Jordan is back with a standing legdrop for two of her own. Jordan kicks away but gets caught with a swinging faceplant for two more. Cue Nyx for a distraction though, allowing Henley to get her knees up to block a 450. The running knee gives Henley the title at 14:14 total.

Rating: C. This was only so good and the win fits Fatal Influence pretty well: they barely win but get to brag about getting some gold. That had to happen at some point, as Henley and company can only brag so much while piling up the losses. Jordan is well protected with the loss, but the match itself just wasn’t very good.

Post match Fatal Influence talks about that being a statement made but here is Zaria to lay them all out. Well that was effective.

Tony D’Angelo is happy with his win. Riz knows who attacked her and is coming for revenge on Tuesday.

Bubba Ray Dudley and Dave LaGreca talk about the show when Ridge Holland interrupts. Ray doesn’t like it and a match seems likely. In Philadelphia.

Booker T. is on the stage and showing the various places the main event could end. Tatum Paxley pops out of a box and says she wants Wendy Choo on Tuesday. Ava makes the match, but Paxley spins the wheel to make it a casket match.

We recap Ethan Page vs. Trick Williams for the NXT Title. They’ve traded the title, so now it’s time to go all violent to wrap it up.

NXT Title: Trick Williams vs. Ethan Page

Williams is defending in a Devil’s Playground match, meaning anything goes and falls count anywhere. Page jumps him to start but they both grab chairs, with Williams’ knocking Page’s out of his hands. Williams puts a pumpkin over Page’s head and nails a spinning kick for two before it’s time to go back to the floor. They fight into the crowd with both of them hitting each other with various things before going back to ringside.

Page flips him off the top for two back inside but a quick Trick Shot gives Williams two…as Page was in the ropes, despite it being falls count anywhere. Commentary has to point out that it was a bad call as Page fights back. The announcers’ table is cleared off as Williams is bleeding from the mouth.

Ego’s Edge off the steps and through the announcers’ table gets two on the floor and they’re both down. Medics come out to check on Williams, but he waves them off, leaving Page to plant him hard onto the steps back inside. Williams avoids a big crushing with the steps but gets kicked low to cut him off again. Another low blow cuts Page off though and the Trick Shot retains the title at 15:54.

Rating: B. The match was good and violent, but there was only so much more that could be wrung out from this feud. Williams beat him definitively before so this was only going to be so good. Now that being said, they worked hard here and beat each other up and it was better than I was expecting. Not a classic, but a good enough main event.

Post match Ridge Holland runs in to jump Williams, with Bubba Ray Dudley making the save. Yes it’s an ECW moment, because the show is going to Philadelphia next month and therefore we must do something with ECW, because a promotion that closed 23 and a half years ago must be remembered forever.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a pretty strong show, with the worst match being the decent gauntlet match. While there might not be anything worth going out of your way to see, you have about three hours of entertaining wrestling with some big moments. Quite a bit of Ridge Holland, but if you’re cool with him, it’s worth a look if you have the time.

Results
Tony D’Angelo b. Oba Femi – Spinebuster through a table
Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer b. Cora Jade/Roxanne Perez – Corkscrew moonsault to Perez
Ridge Holland b. Andre Chase – Holland shut Chase in an ambulance
Fatal Influence b. Kelani Jordan – Running knee
Trick Williams b. Ethan Page – Trick Shot

 

 

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

 




Survivor Series Count-Up – 1990 (2012 Redo): They Need A New Idea

Survivor Series 1990
Date: November 22, 1990
Location: Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Attendance: 16,000
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Roddy Piper

This is a somewhat different show that in recent years as we have a main event of sorts. It was never tried again and that’s probably the best idea. It’s called the Grand Finale Match of Survival in which the survivors of each team meet in one final Survivor Series match. The winners get absolutely nothing, which continues to prove that these shows are pretty worthless. Let’s get to it.

Sean Mooney welcomes us to the show and talks about the Grand Finale. He’s standing in front of a giant egg which apparently is going to hatch because of the heat from the crowd. Nothing good can possibly come from this.

The nifty squares open things up again.

After Gorilla and Piper chat a bit, we’re ready to go.

The Warriors vs. The Perfect Team

Ultimate Warrior, Texas Tornado, Legion of Doom
Mr. Perfect, Demolition

I guess this team isn’t as Ultimate as last year. This is the three man version of Demolition. Perfect is feuding with Tornado (Kerry Von Erich, the IC Champion) and the LOD is feuding with Demolition after the LOD cost them the titles. Warrior, the world champion, is there because he has nothing else to do. His team is in the back before the match and says they’ll win. Actually the name Warriors is appropriate as you have the Ultimate Warrior, the Modern Day Warrior (Von Erich’s nickname in WCCW) and the Road Warriors (the LOD’s NWA name).

I’ll never get why the LOD and Demolition never had a big proper match. They fought on house shows but that’s about it. Perfect immediately goes to the apron and lets part of Demolition start. It’s Animal vs. Smash first and they fight immediately with Animal taking him to the mat. Animal throws him into Hawk for a right hand and the other Warriors get in a shot as well.

Smash comes back with a powerslam for two and it’s off to Perfect. That doesn’t last long so here’s Smash again, and he walks right into a powerslam. Everything breaks down and the Warriors clear the ring. Tornado comes in to face Smash who is taking a beating in this so far. Off to Ax who has much better luck for about ten seconds. There’s the Claw from Tornado but for some reason Warrior gets the tag and hits a series of awkward looking shoulder blocks before finishing Ax with the splash.

Crush immediately comes in to jump Warrior and take over. Smash comes in to slam Warrior and Crush drops a top rope knee for two. Perfect is freaking out in his trademark over the top style. Warrior gets up a boot in the corner and clotheslines Crush down. Off to Hawk who always looks like he could murder someone in the ring. Perfect tries him out and is immediately slammed down.

Hawk counters a reversal to send Perfect into the corner but Bird Man’s shoulder goes into the post HARD to give the evil ones the advantage. Demolition pounds away on him but Hawk punches right back. A big flying shoulder puts Smash down and Hawk doesn’t tag when he has the chance. The top rope clothesline kills Smash and everything breaks down. Hawk kicks the referee and somehow this disqualifies Hawk, Animal, Smash and Crush. We’re down to Perfect vs. Warrior/Tornado.

It’s going to be Warrior starting the handicap match but Perfect wants Tornado instead. Perfect immediately jumps him and is clotheslined out almost immediately after the jumping. Warrior bangs Perfect’s head into Heenan’s and sends Bobby into the front row. Tornado charges at Perfect and slams into the post to give Perfect the advantage for a bit. A buckle gets exposed somewhere in there and after Tornado’s face goes into it, the Perfectplex makes it one on one.

Perfect tries the Plex again on Warrior which doesn’t work at all. Instead he hammers Warrior down and hits a great looking dropkick for two. Having Perfect run things out there for as long as possible is the best idea they’ve got. Warrior starts grabbing the ropes and shrugging off all the offense from Perfect. A shoulder block and the splash get the final pin.

Rating: D. This was probably the worst Survivor Series match so far in the four years they’ve been running this show. Not only was the match lopsided from the start, but half of the people in it were gone seven minutes in. Perfect never had a chance and Warrior had no reason to be in this match at all.

Ted DiBiase has a mystery partner for his match. Oh boy did he ever.

Million Dollar Team vs. Dream Team

Ted DiBiase, Rhythm and Blues, ???
Dusty Rhodes, Koko B. Ware, Hart Foundation

Rhythm and Blues are Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine and the Harts are the tag champions. Dusty and DiBiase are feuding for obvious character reasons. Now we get to the legendary part of the match: the mystery partner. DiBiase gets on the mic and introduces for the first time ever…..THE UNDERTAKER. Who on the planet would have imagined what this guy would become over the next twenty two years? Unreal indeed. The look on Taker’s face is eerie and he stands there like a zombie which makes it even better.

Quick sidebar: the Undertaker is probably the greatest example ever of someone being the only person that could pull off his character. Mark Calaway is PERFECT as the Undertaker with the look and the size and the dead looking eyes and the tattoos and everything like that. Before this he was just Mean Mark Callous in WCW and was a generic big villain. Sometimes it’s about finding what works and Taker has worked for a very long time. Also a bit of trivia: he debuted at a Superstars taping three days before this under the name Kane the Undertaker.

Undertaker and Bret start with Taker pounding the tar out of him. Well if you want to make someone look like a killer, call Bret Hart. Bret hits the ropes and charges at Taker, only to get caught by the throat and slammed down. It was more like a clothesline that Taker went to the mat with than the usual chokeslam here but he did have Bret by the throat.

Off to Neidhart who can’t move Taker at all and gets slammed for trying. Jim looked TERRIFIED and tags out to Koko, who is too stupid to be afraid. Koko misses a charge and clotheslines himself on the top. The Tombstone (I believed named by Gorilla on the spot here) debuts but isn’t exactly the famous version yet, as Taker has both of Koko’s legs on one side of his head and covers with the folded arms but from the sides. It looked and sounded great though.

Bret comes in and hammers on Undertaker who just stares at him. Taker tags in Valentine and gives one of the most evil glares you’ll ever see at Bret. Off to Big Dust who starts gyrating. They chop it out in the corner and it’s off to Anvil. The Harts take their turns working over Valentine’s arm but Greg gets a knee up in the corner. Off to Honky who is rapidly on his way out of the company. Bret makes a blind tag to Neidhart who sneaks in and powerslams Honky out.

DiBiase comes in to jump Neidhart but it’s quickly off to Dusty for the big showdown. It’s back to Neidhart quickly but Virgil trips Jim up and DiBiase clotheslines him down for the pin. Here’s Bret again who pounds away and it’s back to Dream for more of the same. Back to Undertaker who gets some HEIGHT on a jumping stomp to the back of Dusty’s head.

Bret comes in again and chokes Bret in the corner and somehow shows no emotion while at the same time looking angrier than any wrestler I’ve ever seen. Bret fights off DiBiase out of the corner and it’s off to Dusty. Taker comes in, goes up, walks (a little way) down the rope with no one to hold onto, and hits a double ax to eliminate Dusty. Brother Love stomps on Dusty a bit so Dusty chases him off. Undertaker stalks Dusty to the back to get counted out, which is the only thing they could have done with him here.

Back in the ring Bret rolls up Valentine very quickly and it’s DiBiase vs. Hart. Bret pounds on DiBiase and atomic drops him to the floor, followed by a pescado to take Ted out again. DiBiase’s shoulder goes into the post and his head goes into the steps and they head back inside. They slug it out but DiBiase sends him chest first into the buckle to take over.

A quick backslide gets two for Hart and now it’s time for a classic: Bret trips over DiBiase and fakes a knee injury, resulting in a small package for two. Virgil interference messes up and another rollup gets two for Bret. The backbreaker and middle rope elbow get two for Hart but DiBiase rolls through a cross body for the pin.

Rating: C+. This is a very interesting match as you could see stars being made and stars going away. DiBiase clearly didn’t mean as much as he used to and would shift into a tag team run soon after this. Dusty would be gone in January as would Honky. On the other hand you can see the rise of Bret Hart on the horizon as the crowd was LOSING IT over those near falls at the end. Oh and the Undertaker. That’s kind of a big deal.

The Vipers are ready for Martel’s team. Why they’re in the shower I’m not sure.

The Vipers vs. The Visionaries

Jake Roberts, Rockers, Jimmy Snuka
Rick Martel, Warlord, Power and Glory

Power and Glroy are Hercules and Paul Roma. This is built around Martel vs. Roberts, which is based on Martel blinding Jake with cologne and Jake not having full vision yet. This was a BIG feud which they screwed up with a horrible match at Wrestlemania. It wasn’t that the wrestling was bad, but that it was a blindfold match and they spent about 2 minutes in contact with each other.

Marty and Warlord start as Piper is singing I Am The Walrus. Warlord powers Marty around but misses a charge in the corner. For those of you unfamiliar with Warlord, imagine Chris Masters but paler, bald, and even dumber. Both Rockers try to outmaneuver him but it just results in bringing in Martel. Shawn handles him with ease and brings in Jake, causing Martel to scamper away.

It’s Roma instead and Jake picks him apart like he’s not even there. He works on Roma’s arm and brings in Snuka to keep it up, but the afro apparently weighs down Snuka’s brain to the point where he can’t maintain a wristlock. Off to Hercules who gets chopped down so it’s off to Warlord instead. Snuka tries his stuff but when that gets nowhere it’s off to Marty. Jannetty tries his speed stuff but jumps into a great looking powerslam for the pin.

Off to Shawn whose leapfrog is caught but he ranas Warlord down instead. Jake comes in and the fans wants a DDT. A bunch of clotheslines take Warlord down and it’s back to Shawn. Roma comes in with an elbow drop to the back of the head as Gorilla talks anatomy. Warlord comes in and backdrops Shawn before tagging out to Herc. Martel comes in just as fast and drops a knee for two. Roma sends Shawn into the corner and Shawn of course sells it like he’s dead. Martel’s shoulder hits the post and here’s Snuka again.

A flying headbutt to the standing Martel gets two, but Rick grabs a small package for the pin out of nowhere. Jake comes in again and Martel immediately runs and brings in Hercules. Roberts is getting frustrated because he can’t get his hands on Martel, but he still manages a knee lift and a failed DDT attempt. Jake starts pounding away on Herc and Martel clotheslines him down out of nowhere.

Roma comes in for some stomping but he misses a middle rope punch. There’s the hot tag to Shawn who suplexes Roma down and hits a middle rope elbow for two. Shawn does what he can but Hercules comes in off a blind tag and pounds away even more. Power and Glory hook up the Powerplex (superplex from Herc immediately followed by a top rope splash from Roma) eliminates Shawn and it’s 4-1. It’s Hercules in first but Jake is in trouble. Warlord comes in with a bearhug but Jake escapes and DDTs him out of nowhere. Jake says screw it and gets the snake out. He chases Martel to the back for the countout loss.

Rating: D+. There wasn’t much to see here but other than Jake vs. Martel, there was nothing here at all. To the best of my knowledge, Warlord and Snuka never interacted at all before or after this so they were just tacked on. The Rockers and Power and Glory had fought at Summerslam but that’s about it. The Visionaries are the first ever team to survive intact.

The Hulkamaniacs are ready for the Natural Disasters. This is a continuation of Hogan vs. Earthquake, with Hulk N Pals facing Earthquake and Jimmy Hart’s and Bobby Heenan’s cronies. Hogan says they can go get rid of Sadaam Hussein. This is during the Gulf War.

Natural Disasters vs. Hulkamaniacs

Earthquake, Dino Bravo, Haku, Barbarian
Hulk Hogan, Big Bossman, Tugboat, Jim Duggan

There’s some actual drama here as Hogan had never beaten Earthquake before this and the other guys balance out somewhat well. Haku vs. Duggan start us off as the announcers talk about the Grand Finale. It’s such a different time when they automatically know who is going to be on what side. Today you would be waiting on the swerve. Duggan pounds away on Haku and a clothesline gets two.

Bravo and Barbarian come in to get some shots but it’s quickly off to Boss Man vs. Haku. Haku dropkicks him down for two but the Boss Man Slam puts Haku out quick. Barbarian comes in next and Boss Man runs him over. Heenan gets taken off the apron and Boss Man punches Barbarian a bit before walking into a suplex. Barbie misses a middle rope elbow and it’s off to Duggan vs. Bravo. Scratch that as Earthquake makes a blind tag and crushes Duggan in the corner. Duggan keeps trying to knock Quake down but Jimmy low bridges him. Duggan brings the board in with him and hits Quake for the DQ.

It’s Hogan vs. Earthquake but Hulk beats up all three guys because he can. Hogan easily slams Earthquake and fires off ten punches in the corner. Quake comes back with a powerslam and tags in Bravo who stomps away before getting small packaged for the pin. There’s the tag to Boss Man who hits his rapid fire punches in the corner. Boss Man goes up for a cross body and oh my goodness Earthquake caught him. That is SCARY. Hogan shoves Boss Man on top of him for two but Barbarian kicks Boss Man in the back to put him down. An elbow from Earthquake eliminates Boss Man.

Hogan vs. Quake again and Hulk tries to drop the big guy. Hulk tries another slam but can’t get Quake up. The third attempt results in Quake falling on Hogan for two. Hulk avoids an elbow and there’s the tag to Tugboat, causing everyone to shout TOOOOT which sounds like booing. Hogan pulls Earthquake to the floor and Quake and Tugboat get counted out. That leaves Hogan vs. Barbarian and the only thing I can think to say is “really?” Barbarian goes after Hogan on the floor and doesn’t hit a piledriver well at all. It gets two and they clothesline each other. Barbarian hits the top rope clothesline, Hulk Up, legdrop, done.

Rating: C-. This was a lot more fast paced and energetic than you would expect. The continued practice of just teasing the encounter that the match is based on is getting REALLY old though as I guess they want to preserve the house show draws, because who would want to see a feud continue after a single match right? My goodness have things changed in the last twenty years.

Hogan beats up Heenan post match and poses. Piper cheering for Hogan is just wrong.

Some fans talk and get on my nerves. Well one fan signs who he likes which is cool.

Here’s Savage with something to say. He’s still the King at this point which has been going on for awhile. Savage doesn’t have a match tonight and he doesn’t like not being recognized as the future WWF Champion. He promises to take his title back from Warrior and talks about Sherri slapping The Ultimate Chicken a few times. There’s nothing of note here but it reinforced that they have issues. That’s something you never hear today: promos to just remind you that people don’t like each other.

Alliance vs. Mercenaries

Nikolai Volkoff, Bushwhackers, Tito Santana
Sgt. Slaughter, Boris Zhukov, Orient Express

This is during the Iraqi Sympathizer period for Slaughter and the idea here is military themed. Before the match, Slaughter tells Gene about having a Thanksgiving dinner with the Mercenaries and not having to be inconvenienced by being in the desert. That’s better than being in the Army and eating K-Rations right? This was a pretty edgy angle at the time. Stupid but edgy. This interview is in the arena with the Mercenaries’ music playing. That must be a pretty dull period for the crowd.

The Bushwhackers torment Boris to start and the flying forearm from Tito eliminates him in about 20 seconds. Sato comes in and is accidentally superkicked by Tanaka. The Battering Ram puts out Sato and it’s 4-2 inside of two minutes. Tanaka comes in and the forearm from Tito makes it 4-1 in less than 2:15. Volkoff pounds on Slaughter with his usual stuff but gets punched in the face for his efforts as Slaughter takes over.

After a long beating, Slaughter eliminates Volkoff with an elbow. There were about three minutes of beating in between there but there was absolutely nothing of note to talk about. The Bushwhackers double team Sarge for a bit but Slaughter beats them down and gutbusts Luke for an elimination. A clothesline takes out Butch about 30 seconds later and it’s one on one.

Tito immediately dropkicks Slaughter into the post and things speed up with by far the two most talented guys in the match in there. Tito hits a top rope forearm for two and stomps away even faster. Piper is trying not to curse and Slaughter slams Santana’s head into the mat. A neckbreaker and backbreaker combine for two on Santana.

After some more beating, Tito gets a quick forearm attempt but hits the referee by mistake. The forearm hits the second time but General Adnan (Slaughter’s manager/boss) hits Santana with the flag and Slaughter puts on the Camel Clutch. The referee saw the flag though and it’s a DQ win for Tito.

Rating: D-. Well that…..happened I guess. They went through seven eliminations inside of eleven minutes and the match was awful. Basically this could have been Slaughter vs. either Volkoff or Santana and gotten the same payoff. I have no idea what they were going for here, but my guess is that they had nothing else to fill in fifteen minutes with (the show only runs two hours and twenty minutes and we’ve got the ultimate dumb filler to go).

DiBiase and the Visionaries say Warrior and Hogan (no mention of Santana) can’t work together. Sean says it’s going to be these five against Warrior and Santana.

It’s time for the Egg Hatching. Gene talks about the fans being hot tonight and the egg starts to hatch. There’s no way around this: it’s the Gobbledygooker, a humanoid turkey who square dances to Turkey in the Straw with Gene Okerlund, does a bunch of flips and is played by the WAY too talented for this Hector Guerrero.

The fans IMMEDIATELY start booing when it hatches, as there is absolutely no point to it. This was rumored to be anything from Undertaker to Flair (about a year early for him) to some Playboy chick. When you’re in a bad mood about being unemployed, remember that someone came up with this idea and was paid to do so. Total time spent on this: over seven minutes.

Hogan, Warrior and Santana are ready.

Hulk Hogan/Tito Santana/Ultimate Warrior vs. Ted DiBiase/Visionaries

If you can’t see the ending of this coming, just go click on something else now. Oddly enough, Hogan comes out before Tito. Tito and Warlord start and a forearm ends Warlord in less than 30 seconds. To update a reference for 2012, Tito is apparently the Ronda Rousey of the WWF. Roma immediately powerslams Tito and brings in DiBiase. My goodness a 20 minute Santana vs. DiBiase match would freaking rock. Tito misses another forearm and a hot shot gets the pin for DiBiase.

Hogan comes in and beats the tar out of DiBiase for a bit before ducking his head too early. A kick to Hogan’s face slows him down and it’s off to Hercules and almost immediately Roma for a top rope forearm for two. Back to Hercules who pounds away on Hulk even more, as does DiBiase. The Powerplex hits Hogan and has basically no effect. Roma is immediately pinned by a clothesline and it’s 3-2.

Martel comes in to beat on Hogan but gets kicked in the face. Off to Warrior who fires off a bunch of kicks in the corner and backdrops Martel. Rick tries to hit him in the head and boy are you really that dumb? Hogan knocks Martel to the floor and Rick walks off for the countout. Hogan beats on DiBiase a bit and there’s the legdrop. Warrior beats Hercules with the splash about 40 seconds later to win.

Rating: D. What in the world was the point of this? I mean……am I watching a house show? These are the kind of matches you hear about at the end of shows to send the fans home happy, not to main event a PPV. It was clear that this show wasn’t needed and that something had to be done.

Posing ends the show.

Overall Rating: F. This show has some moments of ok, but can you imagine PAYING for this show? Undertaker debuts here but no one had any idea what that would mean. Nothing is changed at all, mainly because the company was afraid no one would want to see the house show matches after this. This show runs two hours and eighteen minutes and eight minutes of that are the Gobbledygooker. On top of that the main event runs about ten minutes in total counting entrances. You’re looking at about two hours for the non main event stuff and that’s ridiculous for a PPV. This is another show that doesn’t need to exist.

Ratings Comparison

Warriors vs. Perfect Team

Original: C-
Redo: D

Dream Team vs. Million Dollar Team

Original: C+
Redo: C+

Vipers vs. Visionaries

Original: D+
Redo: D+

Hulkamaniacs vs. Natural Disasters

Original: C+
Redo: C-

Alliance vs. Mercenaries

Original: F
Redo: D-

Grand Finale Match of Survival

Original: D-
Redo: D

Overall Rating

Original: F
Redo: F

It sucked four years ago and it still sucks now.

Here’s the original review if you’re interested:

Survivor Series Count-Up – 1990 (Original): A Turkey And An Undertaker Walk Into A Show…

 

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Bound For Glory 2024: Of Course They Did

Bound For Glory 2024
Date: October 26, 2024
Location: Wayne State Fieldhouse, Detroit, Michigan
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s the biggest night of the year in TNA and the show is looking pretty solid. The main event is Joe Hendry challenging Nic Nemeth for the World Title, but the show is billed as a triple main event. The other two main events will see Jordynne Grace defending the Knockouts Title against Masha Slamovich, plus a three way Full Metal Mayhem match for the Tag Team Titles. Let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: Ash By Elegance/Heather Reckless vs. Brinley Reece/Xia Brookside

Reckless messes with Reece’s hair to start so Reece works on her arm. Brookside comes in for a wheelbarrow splash, followed by a double suplex. It’s off to Ash to kick away at Reece but Reckless gets taken down. The fans want Brookside as Ash faceplants Reece into a basement dropkick (which isn’t exactly smooth, with commentary saying is due to their inexperience as a team, which seems to be intentional).

Reece fights out of Reckless’ chinlock and gets in a double knockdown, allowing Brookside to come back in with some clotheslines. Broken wings connects with Ash and Reece’s Codebreaker gets two. It’s back to Reckless, whose high crossbody is rolled through so Reece can hit a TKO for two, with the Personal Concierge putting the foot on the rope. Brookside and the Concierge are ready to fight on the floor, but that leaves Reckless to hit a springboard Spanish Fly. Rarefied Air finishes for Ash at 8:38.

Rating: C. Perfectly fine match here to get things going as the fans are always going to want to see the Concierge get beaten up. If nothing else, I’m glad they didn’t start the biggest night of the year with an NXT star getting the win, as it wouldn’t have felt right. Not a great match here, but the fans were into it and that’s always a smart way to get things going.

We get the Bob Ryder Hall Of Fame video. Ryder was a longtime backstage worker in TNA and had a lot to do with building up wrestling on the internet. He also worked in ECW and WCW and helped develop a lot of the things that got the company on the map. A bunch of wrestlers say thank you and we get quite the THANK YOU BOB chant.

Eric Young is here to induct Ryder into the Hall Of Fame. Young talks about Ryder being part of the original group that made the company come together. Ryder worked in WCW and ECW, becoming a pioneer in online wrestling discussion. Ryder was in talent relations and did all kinds of things to make it work for everyone. Young and Ryder were friends and spent Christmas and Thanksgiving together and all of the Brazilian steakhouses throughout the southeast miss him.

Despite everything he loved, he loved wrestling the most and despite what one idiot backstage says, there is one King Of TNA, and that’s Bob Ryder. Young holds up the plaque for Ryder and another THANK YOU BOB chant wraps it up. You could hear how much this meant to Young and there couldn’t have been a better inductor.

We see the Rhino Hall Of Fame video. It looks at Rhino’s career before TNA, along with various people talking about how big of a deal it was for him to sign with the company. Rhino signed up here because he believed in it.

Here is Tommy Dreamer to induct Rhino into the Hall Of Fame. When he inducted Team 3D, he got 3D’d the next night. When he inducted Raven, he got DDT’d. Whoever invented the phrase “always a bridesmaid, never a bride”, he hates you. Dreamer is excited to induct Rhino into the Hall Of Fame and goes over Rhino’s career path, including coming to TNA. Rhino has found the fountain of youth because he looks the same, works the same and is the same as he has been for twenty five years. He always says it’s the year of the Lions (we pause for the chant) but this is the year of the RHINO.

This brings out Rhino for the YOU DESERVE IT chant, but he says that’s not true. WE deserve it because the fans have been here forever. Rhino talks about how much he loves Detroit and hopes to die here. After mocking Dreamer a bit, Rhino thanks his girlfriend for being here but he won’t be proposing because he doesn’t have the hardware. The fans boo, but Rhino says it’s his night.

Rhino talks about how much he loves his daughter and how much he wishes he had been there more often. He thanks a bunch of people from Jim Cornette to Paul Heyman to WWE and more, including Heath Slater. This brings up a story about his brother being diagnosed with cancer and being given a death sentence. Slater would talk to him during the long car rides and it was like the cancer went away. He thanks Slater for being a friend and a brother.

Rhino talks about his faith in God and how he prays for the family to get home save every time. His goal is to leave the planet a bit better than he found it and that’s what he hopes to do. One more thank you and he’s out. This was an excellent speech and you could feel the emotion from Rhino. Easily one of the best induction speeches I’ve ever heard for an induction and Rhino does deserve it.

Steve Maclin thanks Eric Young for his help but he’s got Josh Alexander by himself. Young is fine with that, but he’s got Maclin’s back if Alexander brings help, which seems fine with Maclin.

Call Your Shot Gauntlet

This is basically a 20 entrant Royal Rumble with 2 minute intervals at first and then 1 minute intervals for everyone else, with an anytime title shot to the winner. We have standard over the top eliminations until there are two left, when it becomes a one on one match. Frankie Kazarian is in at #1 and Zachary Wentz is in at #2. Wentz takes him down in the corner to start and then pulls Kazarian out of the air, only to get caught with a Fameasser over the middle rope. Wentz fights back again and knocks him into the corner as Jake Something is in at #3 to run Wentz over.

Trey Miguel is in at #4 and picks up the pace as Wentz gets a needed breather. Hammerstone is in at #5 and teams up with Something to wreck various people. It’s not enough for an elimination or anything, but it is quite the collection of clotheslines. Rohit Raju is in at #6 and gets in an assortment of stomps. Laredo Kid is in at #7 and is quickly knocked out for the first elimination. Something tosses Miguel and it’s Sami Callihan in at #8. That goes nowhere either and it’s John Skyler in at #9 as Hammerstone seems to have been eliminated.

That means the pace can pick up a bit but no one is eliminated so it’s Bhupinder Gujjar in at #10. Again the pace picks up, including Gujjar having to skin the cat to survive an early elimination attempt. Trent Seven is in at #11 as the ring is starting to fill up. KC Navarro makes it even busier at #12 and is promptly powerbombed by Callihan. Rhino is in at #13 and gets rid of Raju, Skyler and Gujjar in short order. Callihan is gone as well and it’s Tasha Steelz in at #14. Steelz drops Navarro with a cutter but another one to Rhino doesn’t go so well.

Lei Ying Lee is in at #15 and Steelz is quickly out. Jason Hotch is in at #16 and dropkicks Seven in a hurry. Leon Slater is in at #17 as Ying goes after Kazarian, who drops her with a clothesline. Lee is out as Jonathan Gresham is in at #18. Everyone is down so it’s JDC in at #19 to…stay on the floor instead of getting inside. Slater hits his Swanton 450 but JDC is right there to toss him out.

AJ Francis is in at #20, giving us a final grouping of Kazarian, Wentz, Something, Seven, Rhino, Hotch, Gresham, JDC and Francis. Gresham goes after Francis but gets knocked out in a hurry. The Down Payment gets rid of Seven and Hotch is out shortly thereafter. Something and Wentz fight to the apron and both gets eliminated.

We’re down to Kazarian, JDC, Rhino and Francis, with Rhino tossing JDC. Francis gives Rhino a Gore of his own but Rhino hits a clothesline to get rid of him. That leaves us with Rhino and Kazarian in a singles match for the title shot so Rhino hammers away. The referee has to duck a shot though and Kazarian hits a low blow for the fast pin at 26:33.

Rating: C. These things are mainly about getting a bunch of people on the card and there is nothing wrong with that. They were blazing through the introductions, which is kind of what has to be done in a match like this. Rhino was a great choice for the push to the end, but Kazarian was almost destined to win this as he already has a tie to tonight’s World Title match.

And now, the show proper.

Ilona sings the National Anthem.

The opening video hypes up Detroit and talks about how important it is to wrestling history, with a look at the people in the bigger matches, as well as TNA’s history in the city.

X-Division Title: Mike Bailey vs. El Hijo del Vikingo

Bailey is defending and this is something of a dream match. We get the big handshake of respect to start and the fans are very pleased to start. They trade some snazzy rollups to start until Vikingo manages to send him outside. That sets up the big head first dive to drop Bailey as the fans continue to approve. Back in and Bailey starts firing off the kicks, including some shots to the ribs for two.

Vikingo hits a kick of his own and, after avoiding a charge in the corner, kicks Bailey out to the floor. That’s fine with Vikingo, who bounces of the barricade and hurricanrans him down again. Bailey is back up with a corkscrew dive to put Vikingo down as well, meaning it’s time for a double breather. A shooting star press misses for Bailey back inside so he grabs the Green Tea Plunged for two instead.

Bailey hits a fisherman’s Falcon Arrow into a shooting star press for two and we pause for a quick breather. Vikingo ducks a superkick and hits a hard kick to the face of his own and they’re both down again. Bailey wins a battle of the kicks and even hits a crane kick to drop him again. The moonsault knees set up a tornado kick and the Ultimate Weapon gets two. The Flamingo Driver is countered into a Canadian Destroyer though and Vikingo hits some running knees in the corner.

Bailey bails out to the floor but there’s a rope walk into a corkscrew moonsault to drop Bailey again. Back in and Bailey breaks up another 630, only for the moonsault knees to hit apron. Vikingo’s Canadian Destroyer from the post to the apron knocks Bailey silly again and they both go up top. That’s fine with Bailey, who grabs something like a fisherman’s superplex (Meteor Rain) for the pin to retain at 14:49.

Rating: B. The pretty much non-existent build to this match didn’t make me think the title was in jeopardy, but that’s not the worst thing. This was more about giving Bailey a hard fought win over a top international name, which I’ll take over trying to tie everything together with a last second challenger. Rather good opener here, with two very exciting stars.

We run down the pay per view card.

Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Spitfire vs. Rosemary/Wendy Choo

Spitfire is defending. Threat sends Choo into a slam from Luna, who drops Threat onto her for a bonus. Rosemary comes in and gets suplexed for two so it’s already back to Threat. Choo busts out her special pillow (it’s dumb in NXT too) so the pillow gets suplexed, allowing Choo to take over. Choo’s running boot in the corner staggers Luna and a double dropkick in the Tree of Woe makes it worse. A running clothesline out of said corner gets Luna out of trouble and it’s back to Luna to clean house.

The middle rope dropkick hits Rosemary and a powerbomb connects for the same. Luna’s big dive takes Rosemary out again but she has to save Threat from Choo. That just means a DDT to put Luna down on the floor, setting up the big dive from Threat. Back in and Rosemary spears Luna for two but Luna reverses a double superplex into a double powerbomb. Threat comes back in and strikes away but Rosemary hits Choo by mistake. Threat sends both of them flying and the Pressure Drop to Choo retains the titles at 10:28.

Rating: C+. As usual, the titles feel like they belong on a regular TV match more than anything else, but it’s nice to see something like an actual feud over the belts. Rosemary still deserves better than Choo and hopefully that is coming soon, as the pillow stuff is just nonsense. I’m not sure who is next for the titles, but at least Spitfire is being built up.

Post match Rosemary spears Choo down to end the team.

We look at Frankie Kazarian cheating to win the Call Your Shot gauntlet match.

Kazarian is reading Earl Hebner’s book and promises to raise the hand of the World Champion at the end of the night.

Steve Maclin vs. Josh Alexander

The brawl is on in the aisle to start and Alexander is sent hard into the steps. Maclin scores with the Scud and drops him onto the apron as the bell has yet to ring. Alexander manages a quick posting and the leg is wrapped around the post as well. They both get inside and the bell rings with Maclin fighting back. A backbreaker gives Maclin two but the Jarheadbutt misses.

Alexander knees him in the ribs and snaps off a bunch of rolling German suplexes. Maclin reverses into his own rolling German suplexes and they’re finally both down. The slug out goes to Maclin, who ties him in the Tree of Woe, only to miss the running shoulder. Alexander’s crossbody to the back knocks him to the floor for two but Maclin is right back with an Angle Slam.

A top rope superplex rolled into a Death Valley Driver for two leaves Alexander staggered but the referee gets bumped. Alexander scores with a low blow and zip ties Maclin’s hands behind his back. Maclin is able to avoid a charge though and now the running shoulder hits the ribs. The Scud, still with the hands tied (which is FINE with the referee), connects and a running knee gets two on Alexander. Back up and Alexander manages a Tombstone for two, setting up the ankle lock as Maclin passes out at 14:45.

Rating: B-. The hard hitting aspect was good and I wanted to see where it was going, but the zip tie thing completely lost me. How is that either not a DQ or maybe something that earns a quick stoppage? Other than that, Alexander winning was the right call as he’s been losing a good bit lately, so this was the best result, especially with Maclin being protecte.

We recap Matt Cardona vs. PCO in a Monster’s Ball match. Steph de Lander has fallen for PCO and they got married, but Cardona doesn’t approve. Now de Lander is off getting neck surgery, so Cardona has to fight him on his own.

International Title/TNA Digital Media Title: Matt Cardona vs. PCO

Monster’s Ball, meaning anything goes and PCO is defending both titles. An early clothesline drops Cardona but he sends PCO outside, where Cardona realizes there are no countouts. That means Cardona joins him on the floor for some rams into various steel objects, including dropping him back first onto the steps. Cardona whips out a door but a nasty backdrop sends him through it instead.

With Cardona on the floor, PCO loads up a dive, which is cut off with a trashcan shot to the head. Another door, plus some chairs (Cardona doesn’t know why his face isn’t on it) are thrown in, with Cardona building up a structure with more chairs underneath the bridged door. PCO fights back but gets powerbombed through everything for two.

The bag of thumbtacks are pulled out, with some of the tacks going into PCO’s mouth for the Reboot. PCO fights up so it’s Radio Silence for two, with Cardona being stunned. A third door is brought in but PCO breaks it over Cardona’s back. PCO pulls out a bag of his own containing…well more tacks actually. Cardona gets in a low blow and finds a barbed wire baseball bat. PCO fights up, chokeslams him into the tacks and drops the PCOsault to retain at 13:16.

Rating: B-. It was violent and PCO gets his revenge, but these things have become paint by numbers over the years. You can almost guarantee the spots you’ll see, with doors instead of tables this time around. PCO smashing through the annoying Cardona is fine, but there was no big moment here that made this one stand out in any significant way.

We recap Moose vs. Mike Santana. Moose is part of the System and Santana has gone after the team. Santana wants to get into the main event scene so he’s coming after the biggest name the System has.

Mike Santana vs. Moose

Moose has JDC with him. The fight starts fast on the floor with Santana sending him into the barricade. The referee goes to check on Moose, allowing JDC to send Santana into the steps. They get inside so Moose can get two but Santana escapes a powerbomb and hits an enziguri. Santana’s running Cannonball in the corner is countered into a powerbomb to give Moose two more. A release Rock Bottom plants Santana and Moose slaps away, only to miss a spinning high crossbody.

The rolling Buck Fifty gives Santana two so Moose rolls outside, where Santana hits a huge dive. Back in and a leg lariat gives Santana two but Spin The Block misses. Santana settles for a Death Valley Driver into the corner and a 450 gives Santana two. Back up and they go to the corner, where Moose tries the super Sky High but they both crash down instead.

A nasty powerbomb onto the apron has Santana in more trouble but he beats the count at nine. JDC comes in with a chain around his hand (works for the referee) but almost hits Moose, earning himself a Spin The Block. Moose’s spar gets two and the fans are into it again. Another spear is countered though and Spin The Block finishes for Santana at 13:44.

Rating: B. There was no reason for Moose to win here, as Santana has hit the ground running as a singles star and very well could be moving into the World Title scene sooner rather than later. What mattered here was getting Santana the biggest singles win of his career and he fought back to overcome the odds to get there. Perfectly acceptable match, with the result being what matters.

We recap Jordynne Grace defending the Knockouts Title against Masha Slamovich. Grace helped her out against the System and now Slamovich wants another shot at the Knockouts Title. Grace beat her before at Bound For Glory and now it’s time for the showdown against a much improved Slamovich.

Knockouts Title: Jordynne Grace vs. Masha Slamovich

Grace is defending. Feeling out process to start with Grace winning the battle over a lockup. Slamovich gets in some shots of her own but Grace ties her in the ropes for a kick to the leg. They head outside where Grace hits a rolling Death Valley Driver for a near fall back inside. Grace starts kicking away at the leg but it’s too early for the Juggernaut Driver. Slamovich fires off some kicks but the leg is too banged up for the full impact. A guillotine keeps Grace in trouble but she powers up into a Jackhammer for two.

They go up top where Slamovich plants her back down, setting up the Snowplow for a fast near fall. Slamovich knees her down and hits a running spinwheel kick, only for Grace to knock her down again. They fight back up and Grace runs her over, setting up the Juggernaut Driver for two. A leglock immediately goes on but Slamovich bails to the ropes. They go up again, and this time it’s a super Snow Plow to bring Grace down. A package piledriver gives Slamovich the pin and the title at 12:42.

Rating: B. Take two powerhouses, let the beat on each other until one of them can’t get up anymore. That’s all you had here and it worked rather well, with Slamovich FINALLY getting the big title win that she’s been needing. It was a good powerhouse match too, and now we’ll have to see who is coming after the title next. I’m not sure how much longer Grace has on her deal around here, but odds are she’ll be in WWE sooner than later, so this isn’t much of a setback.

We recap Joe Hendry challenging Nic Nemeth for the World Title. Hendry has been the hottest thing in the company and now he needs to win the big one. Nemeth isn’t so sure of that, but Frankie Kazarian, now with his guaranteed title shot, is lurking around as guest referee.

TNA World Title: Joe Hendry vs. Nic Nemeth

Nemeth is defending and Frankie Kazarian is guest referee. They go rather slowly to start with Hendry’s wristlock not getting him very far so Nemeth hits a nice dropkick to really stagger Hendry. The fans do NOT like Nemeth’s home state of Ohio so Hendry running Nemeth over makes them feel better. A rather delayed vertical suplex puts Nemeth down and Hendry drops him again with some right hands.

There’s the fall away slam to send Nemeth flying but it’s too early for the Standing Ovation. Instead Alexander grabs a pop up powerbomb for two and the ankle lock goes on (as I remember Kazarian is the referee, as he hasn’t been a factor thus far). Nemeth makes the rope so Hendry puts him on top and grabs a super fall away slam. Kazarian teases the cash in but Hendry tells him to do his job instead.

That’s enough for Nemeth to hit a Fameasser for two, even with Kazarian counting rather quickly. Hendry rolls through a high crossbody and hits an AA for another near fall. They fight out to the apron, with Nemeth planting him down with Hendry falling out to the floor. Kazarian tries to cash in again but John Bradshaw Layfield is here to give him the Clothesline From JBL.

Another Clothesline takes Hendry down and there’s a third to take out Nic’s brother Ryan Nemeth. Back in and Nic, who might not have seen what happened, hits Danger Zone and another referee comes in to count two. The superkick is countered but Nemeth counters the counter into Danger Zone to retain at 15:10.

Rating: B-. Yes really, JBL just helped cost Joe Hendry the World Title in the main event of Bound For Glory. I don’t care if Hendry is leaving next week (which he isn’t), you need to give him the title here. Hendry has been the next big thing for way too long around here, but instead of going with the title change, we’re sticking with the TNA tradition of NOT going with what the fans are begging to see. The match was good but not great, with a rather slow pace until the big messy finish. Which was about JBL.

We look at the Hall Of Fame inductions.

Genesis is back on January 19, a Sunday.

Here’s what’s coming on Impact.

We recap the Tag Team Titles in Full Metal Mayhem. The Hardys and ABC both want the belts back do we’ll do it in TNA’s version of TLC.

Tag Team Titles: Hardys vs. ABC vs. The System

The System is defending and it’s basically Tables, Ladders And Chairs. The ring is all painted up in something Jeff Hardy had to design, complete with something like a ramp on the floor in front of the hard camera. We starts slowly as the champs get double teamed to the floor with Poetry In Motion.

Bey takes them out with a dive and a bunch of chairs are brought in, but instead we get Austin splashing Myers through a table out in the crowd. Matt legdrops Eddie off a ladder through another table so we’re down to challengers vs. challengers at the moment. The Hardys take over inside, with the Plot Twist taking Bey down. Jeff gets knocked into the corner for Poetry In Motion but comes back with some ladder shots.

ABC grabs a specialty ladder and tries to climb but it takes too long to hold up, allowing the Hardys to make the save. The big ladder is bridged in a regular ladder, basically cutting the ring in half. They grab chairs and walk across the bridge until Austin and Jeff get knocked onto the bridged part, leaving everyone down. The System returns from the dead to pour a bunch of ladders out before setting up a bunch of tables (which are all painted as well).

The Hardys are put through the tables but Bey breaks up the Conchairtos. The 1-2-Sweet takes Myers down and Bey goes up but gets Blue Thunder Bombed off the ladder for another crash. Matt tries to climb, only to get pulled down with the Art Of Finesse. Myers and Bey go up the ladder to slug it out but Bey is left hanging. Myers hits a spear off the ladder ala Edge in 2001 and everyone is down.

It’s Matt coming back in with a chair, which he wraps around Edwards’ neck for the Twist Of Fate. Jeff brings in the really big ladder and Swantons Myers through a table at ringside. Austin goes up so here is Alisha Edwards to break it up. Matt takes out Alisha but Eddie goes up, only for the Hardys to throw chairs at him and powerbomb him off the ladder through tables at ringside. That’s enough for the Hardys to win the titles at 27:17.

Rating: D+. As soon as the Hardys were announced for the match, you could tell what was coming. As soon as it was announced as Full Metal Mayhem, you knew it wasn’t going to be very good. But then they went nearly half an hour in slow motion, with the whole thing being a Hardys tribute, because the Hardys have to win everything.

The painted ring, ladders and tables were little more than an eyesore and didn’t help anything. Also, why would TNA allow the challengers to set up the mood of the match or whatever it was? Shouldn’t that be the System’s deal? Either way, rather weak main event, as the Hardys just cannot do this anymore. Naturally, they’re the Tag Team Champions and get the big, ahem, feel good moment to end the show.

The Hardys celebrate with the fans to wrap it up.

Oh and one more thing:

I was watching on TNA+, the official TNA streaming service.

Show ends, Thanks For Watching graphic comes up. Fine.

Below that.

“Don’t Miss Bound For Glory On October 26!”

Overall Rating: B-. And that’s TNA in a nutshell: they have some good stuff (most of the matches were completely acceptable or better) and a nice moment with Slamovich FINALLY winning the title, only to entirely overthink the ending of the two biggest matches. Hendry winning the title, even if he loses it back on Thursday, was what the fans wanted to see. Instead, they got JBL and Ryan Nemeth getting involved before Hendry lost pretty much clean (he fought back up and even tried his finisher, so he at least had a chance).

Then there’s the main event, which was roughly the 14th time this promotion has paid tribute to the Hardys. They’re a great team and legends and everything, but that doesn’t mean they need to win the titles in the main event of your version of Wrestlemania. Right now, TNA needs something to fire the fans up.

That could have been Hendry, but instead they have a bunch of rather aged champions (save for Mike Bailey, 36, the youngest men’s champion is 44 year old Nic Nemeth). You can be older and still more than hang in the ring, but you might want to go with some people whose heyday wasn’t 15+ years ago.

Overall, this show was good, but it had the same problem that has plagued TNA for almost its entire history: they won’t just give the fans what is right there in front of them. I liked most of the show and most of it worked, only for the last two matches to leave a really bad taste in my mouth. That shouldn’t be happening very often, and it is almost a tradition around here.

Results
Ash By Elegance/Heather Reckless b. Brinley Reece/Xia Brookside – Rarefied Air to Reece
Frankie Kazarian won the Call Your Shot Gauntlet last eliminating Rhino
Mike Bailey b. El Hijo del Vikingo – Meteor Rain
Spitfire b. Rosemary/Wendy Choo – Pressure Drop to Choo
Josh Alexander b. Steve Maclin – Ankle lock
PCO b. Matt Cardona – PCOsault
Mike Santana b. Moose – Spin The Block
Masha Slamovich b. Jordynne Grace – Package piledriver
Nic Nemeth b. Joe Hendry – Danger Zone
Hardys b. The System and ABC – Hardys pulled down the titles

 

 

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Ring Of Honor – October 24, 2024: When Spinning Belts Aren’t Enough

Ring Of Honor
Date: October 24, 2024
Location: Adventist Health Arena, Stockton, California
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

So once again we have a new champion and once again it came on an AEW show. In this case, Chris Jericho has regained the World Title from Mark Briscoe in a ladder war, thanks to the interference of the Learning Tree. While I can’t imagine that we’ll be seeing the new champ around here in any significant role, we’re in a new era. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a quick look at Chris Jericho regaining the World Title last night on Dynamite.

We run down the card.

Gates Of Agony vs. The Infantry

Bravo works on Kaun’s wrist to start before grinding away on a headlock. Kaun powers out and it’s off to Toa for a hard clothesline. Bravo fights up and hands it off to Dean, who is promptly dropped with a superkick. Dean pops back up and takes Kaun into the corner for some choking, setting up the chinlock.

That’s broken up in short order but a neckbreaker gives Bravo two. Kaun DDTs his way to freedom though and it’s Toa coming back in to clean house. The Samoan drop/fall away slam at the same time sends the Infantry flying and everything breaks down. Open The Gates finishes Dean at 8:18.

Rating: C. So the Gates are now good guys, or at least they were wrestling like it here, as they did a comeback and then finished the Infantry off. That’s kind of a random turn, but it’s not like there is any reason to believe that this will matter in the title scene. I’m sure we’ll hear about it, but until I actually see it happen, it’s the usual ROH noise that goes nowhere.

Reyna Isis vs. Viva Van

Isis is from CMLL. Feeling out process to start with Van ducking a clothesline and dancing a bit. Isis’ running hurricanrana brings Van down and Isis hits some running knees in the corner. Back up and Van hits a running spinwheel kick before grabbing a rocking horse. Isis kicks her way out of the corner and hits a high crossbody, setting up a springboard dive to the floor. Back in and they trade rollups for two each until Van hits another spinwheel kick for two. Van misses a charge though and gets caught in the ropes, where Isis hits a middle rope legdrop for the pin at 6:38.

Rating: C+. This was the latest “here’s someone from another promotion and she’s a champion there so she must be awesome” match and as usual, it was up to the incoming star to prove themselves. That’s only going to get so far in a match that doesn’t even last seven minutes, but Isis did what she could here. I’m not sure if she’ll be sticking around, but another match or two wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Leyla Hirsch is back from injury and ready to go.

Brandon Cutler vs. Rocky Romero

Romero has the mascot of the Stockton NBA G-League team with him. Cutler says Romero can’t do anything until they shake hands, so Romero shakes his hand and grabs a headlock. Romero shoulders him down and his a middle rope springboard crossbody to start fast. A middle rope spinning crossbody connects but Cutler rakes the eyes for a needed breather.

Cutler drops a dancing elbow for two and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up and Cutler misses a high crossbody to fall outside, allowing Romero to hit the dive. Back in and Cutler’s rollup with feet on the ropes is caught thanks to the mascot, allowing Romero to hit a tornado DDT. The standing Sliced Bread finishes for Romero at 4:52.

Rating: C. So the mascot for the villains (well, one of the many villain stables in AEW that is) just lost to the lackey of the stable comprised of people with no stable of their own. With a basketball mascot involved. This is a match that someone felt needed to be on a show behind a paywall. I think it’s safe to say that sums up this show as well as anything else right now.

EJ Nduka/Lee Johnson vs. Bret Haskins/Jiah Jewell

Haskins and Johnson start things off with Johnson headlocking him down as commentary talks about Jerry Lynn still being a member of the Board Of Directors. Along with Stokely Hathaway and Paul Wight (I guess?), none of whom have been around here in months. Nduka comes in and drops Jewell so it’s back to Johnson, who gets taken into the corner. A splash is shrugged off though and Nduka comes in to clean house. That includes a spinebuster/neckbreaker combination to finish Jewell at 4:40.

Rating: C. Nduka is a beast and someone who could go somewhere. Johnson feels like someone who could have been a thing but never actually won anything important, which kind of limits his impact. I’m not sure why these two are a team unless it’s meant as a way to hide Nduka while giving him something to do, but it’s better than him sitting on the sidelines even longer.

From Final Battle 2022 (and from a previous review).

Women’s Title: Mercedes Martinez vs. Athena

Martinez is defending and takes her into the corner for some early forearms to the head. Athena gets fired up and hammers Martinez down, including a backhand to the jaw. Back up and Martinez hits a spinebuster (the fans do not approve) to start the rather early comeback. That doesn’t last long as Athena shoves her off, setting up a basement superkick for two.

Martinez is right back up with some suplexes into a brainbuster for two more. A Prism Trap is broken up though and Athena plants her hard on the apron. They head outside with Athena missing some running knees into the barricade so Martinez can grab a hanging neckbreaker off the barricade. Back in and the Brass City Sleeper is broken up so Athena gets to pull the turnbuckle pad off. A shotgun dropkick sends Martinez into the exposed buckle and the O Face gives Athena the pin and the title at 12:55.

Rating: C. That was the only way to go, as Martinez has been away for a long time but while Athena is in the middle of a rather nice heel turn. Also, Athena had to win something outside of NXT at some point to make her feel more important and this is as good as anything else. Decent match, but the right call is much more important.

Here is Billie Starkz to introduce Athena, still chained to Lexi Nair for protection, for a special celebration. Nair introduces the Minions In Training dance team but Athena sends them out. Athena isn’t happy that her parents aren’t here, with her mother option to have surgery rather than come here. Where is the women’s division? She lifted them all up but can’t get any kind of attention from them?

She hasn’t lost in almost two years (in ROH at least) so where are her flowers? This party sucks and it’s ALL Starkz’s fault for being all jealous. Starkz finally snatches the microphone away and says she’s done before storming off. Nair has a surprise though: the original Women’s Title, but now IT SPINS! Abadon’s music plays and suddenly Abadon is chained to Athena instead of Nair. The Black Dahlia drops Athena and it’s a cake to the champ’s face.

After losing the World Title last night, Mark Briscoe had nothing to say.

TV Title: Komander vs. Brian Cage

Cage is defending and shrugs off Komander’s chops to start. A toss sends Komander down and Cage fires off the shoulders in the corner. The clotheslines in the corner keep Komander in trouble and Cage sends him crashing out to the floor, with Komander coming up holding his leg. Cage throws him (Atlantis according to Riccaboni) back inside where Komander flips out of a German suplex.

A hurricanrana out of the corner sends Cage outside for the running flip dive but Cage is fine enough to hit the apron superplex for two. Komander is back with a top rope Fameasser, followed by Cielito Lindo. Cage kicks out and rolls through into four straight powerbombs and the F10 to retain at 10:17.

Rating: C+. Fine enough power vs. speed match here, though there was only so much they could do to get around the idea that Komander wasn’t going to win the title. He’s one of the most prominent designated losers around here and while Cage is only a step ahead, he wasn’t going to lose the title here. Cage’s finishing sequence did look good though, as he went into beast mode to put Komander away.

Overall Rating: C-. This was another case where the wrestling wasn’t the point, but rather this show did not feel important in the slightest. What did we have here? The suddenly good Gates beating the Infantry as part of the never ending merry go round of tag matches around here, a showcase for a CMLL star, two low level people in a match involving a mascot, a tag squash, and Komander getting a title shot. Oh and a setup for the Halloween match, because we needed to spend six weeks or whatever getting that ready. This was bottom of the barrel even for this show, which doesn’t have much room to spare in the first place.

Results
Gates Of Agony b. The Infantry – Open The Gates to Dean
Reyna Isis b. Viva Van – Middle rope legdrop
Rocky Romero b. Brandon Cutler – Standing Sliced Bread
EJ Nduka/Lee Johnson b. Jiah Jewell/Bret Haskins – Spinebuster/neckbreaker combination to Jewell
Brian Cage b. Komander – F10

 

 

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Rampage – October 25, 2024: Fire Someone

Rampage
Date: October 25, 2024
Location: Maverik Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

We’re closing in on the end of this series and in a way that’s sad to see. The show is a marked difference than Dynamite and Collision as it’s usually a light, easy to watch series. You won’t get much in the way of major storyline development, but it lets AEW do what it does best with a focus on the in-ring side of things. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Kingdom vs. Gates Of Agony vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Roderick Strong is on commentary. Moriarty takes Taven down by the arm to start as commentary admits that these things can be kind of messy. Taven grabs a cradle for two and it’s off to Bennett, who gets elbowed in the face by Kaun. A standing moonsault gives Kaun two but it’s Taylor coming in with a Baldo Bomb for two on Bennett.

We take a break and come back with Taven cleaning house as commentary talks about ll the former Ring Of Honor champions involved here. Everything breaks down and Toa Samoan drops Moriarty and Bennett at the same time. Open The Gates plants Moriarty but Bennett makes the save. Taven’s frog splash pins Moriarty at 9:01.

Rating: C+. You have six people in this match, meaning four people were eligible to take the pin. Who takes it? The one person in the match who happens to hold a championship. It’s not like Ring Of Honor means much these days, but I’ll never understand the seemingly going out of the way to make the thing look less important.

Beef is ready for The Beast Mortos, but the returning JD Drake comes in to wish him luck.

The Undisputed Kingdom tries to get The Beast Mortos to stay on their side, saying if Mortos beats Beef tonight, Mortos can eat him!

Anna Jay vs. Leila Grey

Commentary again talks about Jay’s time in Japan, saying you get better over there by wrestling more days than you have off. Given that she had 8 matches over 21 days, it would seem that she didn’t get much out of it. They fight over a headlock to start until Jay hits a running shoulder and some knees to the ribs. Grey gets two off a neckbreaker, followed by a CM Punk running knee into the corner and a bulldog back out of it for two more. An exchange of forearms goes to Jay and she Iconoclasms Grey down. The Gory Bomb finishes Grey at 3:12.

Rating: C. Jay is coming up on a Women’s Title shot in the near future so it makes sense to give her a quick win here. There’s nothing wrong with that, as Grey isn’t going to lose any status by taking a fall against a bigger star. It wasn’t exactly a top level back and forth match, but it gives Jay the momentum that she needs.

Quick Dynamite recap.

The Beast Mortos vs. Beef

JD Drake is here with Beef and they shove each other around to start. They trade shoulders until Mortos takes him down, followed by a chop block for two. Mortos misses a backsplash though as commentary talks about energy drinks. A hard headbutt puts Beef down…and we take a break? In this match?

Back with Beef flipping out of a belly to back suplex and hitting something like a running crossbody. Beef’s corner splash into a bulldog gets two but the pop up Samoan drop gives Mortos the same. Mortos’ twisting Swanton connects for two more but Beef enziguris him into the ropes. Beef goes up but Dralistico distracts the referee so Rush can crotch him down, allowing Mortos to hit his spinning piledriver for the pin at 10:05.

Rating: D+. So Jake Roberts is going to fire Mortos now yes? It just took him ten minutes to beat a comedy goof who is popular because the fans like chanting his funny name. Mortos is coming off a featured pay per view match with Hologram and he needs ten minutes to beat Beef? I have no idea what AEW was thinking here, but this made Mortos look pathetic, which I can’t imagine was the plan.

Post match the beatdown is on, with Rush choking JD Drake as well. Are they seriously going to have La Faccion Ingobernable fight the Workhorsemen/Beef? If that’s their idea of a featured match, just release all of them, plus the person who thinks it’s a good idea.

Harley Cameron asks Renee Paquette if Thunder Rosa has ever punched her in the face. Renee says no, so Cameron declares her special. After squeaking, Cameron says she’s attractive and threatens to get violent with Rosa. Whatever Renee is being paid, it should be doubled after she kept a straight face during this whole thing. Cameron is hysterical.

Ricochet vs. Nick Wayne

Wayne bails to the floor to start and walks around ringside, saying it’s on his time. Back in and Wayne knocks him into the corner but Ricochet fires off some dropkicks. They go outside, where Mother Wayne offers a distraction, allowing Nick to get in a cheap shot as we take a break.

Back with Ricochet hitting a springboard missile dropkick to send him outside, meaning it’s a big dive to drop Nick again. Nick rakes the eyes on top and a Stunner out of the corner sets up a rollup for two, even with Nick grabbing the ropes. Wayne’s World is broken up and Ricochet kicks him in the face, setting up a German suplex for two. They trade kicks to the head until Wayne hits a double underhook Canadian Destroyer for two of his own. Ricochet knees him down, hits Vertigo, and adds a running elbow for the pin at 13:18.

Rating: B-. You kind of know what you’re getting here, with both guys getting in their normal stuff for an entertaining match. Ricochet is likely on his way to a showdown with Konosuke Takeshita for the International Title so much like Anna Jay earlier, it was smart to give him a win in a match like this. Fine enough main event here, even with little doubt as to the result.

Konosuke Takeshita comes out for the staredown with Ricochet to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. I’m still trying to get my head around that Mortos match, but the rest of the show worked well enough. As usual, it’s nice to keep things moving around here and build things up a bit, which is what we got with Ricochet and Jay. That’s a perfectly fine way to go with this show, but spend less time cooking the Beef next time. Otherwise it’s just tough.

Results
Kingdom b. Gates Of Agony and Shane Taylor Promotions – Frog splash to Moriarty
Anna Jay b. Leila Grey – Gory Bomb
The Beast Mortos b. Beef – Spinning piledriver
Ricochet b. Nick Wayne – Running elbow

 

 

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