Rampage
Date: February 16, 2024
Location: H-E-B Center, Cedar Park, Texas
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

The long road to Revolution continues as things are really starting to come together. At the same time, there are several matches that still need to be set up. While there isn’t much likely to be added to the card on this show, we are in for a twelve man tag, which should be quite the visual. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Jeff Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara

No DQ and Matt Hardy is here with Jeff. They trade slaps to start and then slug it out with Jeff dropping him. It’s already time for a ladder but Guevara knocks it into Jeff, sending him into the announcers’ table. Jeff sends him into the barricade and hits a clothesline off the apron, only to have Guevara fight back up onto the apron. A middle rope knee to the face drops Jeff and they fight onto the floor again, with Jeff hitting Poetry In Motion against the barricade.

Back in and the ladder is set up and they both climb for no logical reason. They slug it out until Jeff grabs a super Twist of Fate for two and we take a break. Back with Jeff putting Guevara on a table at ringside and climbing a big ladder on the floor. They get back inside with Guevara wrapping a chair around Jeff’s head and hitting a middle rope cutter for two of his own.

Guevara puts him on the table at ringside and there’s the huge Swanton off the bigger ladder through Jeff through the table. Back in and a shooting star press hits raised knees, though Guevara’s knee slams into Jeff’s face for a scary landing. The GTH finishes for Guevara at 12:33.

Rating: C+. Other than the names involved, was there any reason for this to be a No DQ match? They used a bunch of weapons and Guevara’s big spot with the Swanton looked good but there is only so much to be gotten from a match with this much violence and so many weapons without a reason. It had its moments, but I could go for more than a match for the sake of someone saying “wouldn’t it be cool if we did this”.

Post match Powerhouse Hobbs comes in to wreck Guevara.

Brian Cage is ready for next week’s six man tag because he gets his hands on Hook.

Private Party wants the Tag Team Titles and have an enforcer/bouncer named Cheesecake.

The Blackpool Combat Club thinks FTR is stupid and Jon Moxley is ready to choke them. Claudio Castagnoli says when you’re great, people tell you, so they’ll see FTR next week.

The Outcasts interrupt Ruby Soho and say they forgive her. Soho knows Saraya was behind everything the whole time and walks off. Harley Cameron is ready to get Soho with her knife, but pulls out a spoon and hits Saraya in the chest with said spoon.

Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs vs. Romero Crews/Hitt/Shimbashi

Rhodes uppercuts Hitt into the corner to start and it’s off to Ross for an armdrag into an armbar. Everything breaks down and Cross Rhodes hits Crews with the other two making the save. The Von Erich’s grab stereo Claws as Dustin hits the Final Reckoning for the pin on Crews at 1:49. Well that was to the point.

Toni Storm snaps over Deonna Purrazzo’s threats and ankle locks Mariah May to blow off some steam.

Video on Sting/Darby Allin vs. the Young Bucks.

Queen Aminata vs. Anna Jay

They shake hands to start and Aminata grabs a wristlock to work on the arm. A headlock takeover has Jay down but she sends Aminata into the corner for a Backstabber. We take a break and come back with Aminata fighting out of a chinlock so they can chop it out. Aminata snapmares her down into a running kick to the chest. Aminata’s running hip attack and running kick to the face in the corner get two but Jay grabs a quick Downward Spiral. The Queenslayer goes on but Aminata flips out and hits a headbutt for the pin at 8:01.

Rating: C. Say it with me: there is only so much you can get out of a match with eight minutes in the ring and a commercial eating up about half. The important thing here is that Aminata got a win over someone who matters. AEW has been trying to push her as someone who matters but that is only going to work if she wins some matches. This might not be a huge win but it’s certainly a place to start.

Respect is shown post match.

Willow Nightingale isn’t happy with Stokely Hathaway cheating to help her win but Kris Statlander plays peacemaker.

Angelo Parker gives Ruby Soho a Valentine’s Day present and talks about everything they’ve been through lately. They’ll have a date next Wednesday.

Bang Bang Scissor Gang vs. Jay Lethal/Jeff Jarrett/Satnam Singh/Dark Order

Lethal and White start things off by fighting over a lockup. An exchange of headlocked doesn’t go anywhere so Uno comes in and gets chopped. Colten comes in for a Stinger Splash into a dropkick, setting up Scissor Me Timbers. Everything breaks down and the villains are cleared out as we take a break.

Back with Austin in trouble in the corner and Jarrett hitting a running crotch attack against the ropes. Singh throws Austin into the corner but a missed clothesline allows the tag off to Billy to clean house. Everything breaks down and Singh is knocked outside. We hit the parade of secondary finishers until the 3:10 To Yuma finishes Reynolds at 10:47.

Rating: C. This was a spectacle rather than an important match and there is nothing wrong with something like that. The Bang Bang Scissor Gang is certainly an idea but they are going to have to do something at some point. I still think/hope it winds up with the two sets of titles being merged, though we might be waiting a bit before we get to that point. Like Double Or Nothing say.

Overall Rating: C. And now we’re back to Rampage being little more than an extra hour of AEW content with little going on. The big story here was Soho and Parker agreeing to go on a date next week. The matches were good enough and there was nothing bad, making this a show that was more about having an easy week. If you’re not looking for much of anything that matters but is completely watchable, have fun with this one.

Results
Sammy Guevara b. Jeff Hardy – GTH
Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs b. Romero Crews/Hitt/Shimbashi – Final Reckoning to Crews
Queen Aminata b. Anna Jay – Headbutt
Bang Bang Scissor Gang b. Jay Lethal/Jeff Jarrett/Satnam Singh/Dark Order – 3:10 To Yuma to Reynolds

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Impact Wrestling
Date: February 15, 2024
Location: Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Florida
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

We have just over a week to go before No Surrender and the card seems to be all set up. In this case that means we should be focusing on building towards everything that is already set up. There are still some spots that could be filled on the No Surrender card though so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Frankie Kazarian vs. Jake Something

Kazarian strikes away to start but Something hits a jumping body block to send Kazarian outside. Back in and a running clothesline puts Kazarian right back on the floor but he’s able to snap the throat across the top rope. A neckbreaker gets two on Something and Kazarian feels the need to slap him in the face a few times. The chickenwing is blocked with a ram in the corner though and something hits a heck of a running forearm.

Something’s powerbomb is countered with a shot to the face so he grabs a Michinoku Driver for two. Kazarian blocks Into the Void and grabs a slingshot DDT for a rather near fall. Back up and Something’s charge hits post as we see Eric Young watching. Something blocks the super Flux Capacitor but Kazarian pulls him off the ropes with a crash. A rollup while grabbing the rope finishes for Kazarian at 9:16.

Rating: C+. Kazarian is on the rise around here and is becoming one of the bigger heels in the company. The big showdown with Eric Young (based on their team which lasted….maybe a week) is on the horizon and that should make for a good match at Rebellion. As for Something, he still feels like someone who could have a nice breakout run, but he has to win a few big matches to get there.

Post break Young wants Kazarian to meet him in the ring to settle this like men.

Jordynne Grace vs. Savannah Evans

Non-title. Evans drives her straight into the corner to start and snaps off a suplex as Grace can’t get anything going to start. A running shoulder connects for Evans but a second hits Grace’s raised boot. The running Vader Bomb gives Grace one but the MuscleBuster finishes for Grace at 2:38.

Post match Gisele Shaw runs in with the big red X to the face, followed by a running knee to leave Grace laying.

Ash By Elegance’s handler gets rid of Gia Miller and introduces Ash, who says she’ll be making her in-ring debut next week. The handler is pleased but the returning Gia isn’t sure what to think.

It’s time for Alan Angels’ Sound Check with Simon Gotch, who debuted last week to attack Josh Alexander. Gotch talks about Alexander’s path to TNA but now it’s not the same Alexander. Gotch says he helped bring Alexander here but his name is edited out. We see a clip of Alexander beating Gotch (then known as Simon Grimm), though now Gotch is back from the dead. Alexander storms in but they’re kept apart.

Grizzled Young Veterans vs. ABC

This is both a title match and a non-title match, as it’s the second match in a best of three series. If the Veterans win, they are the new champions but if ABC wins, we go to a third match. Bey and Gibson get things going with Bey dodging a bit before hitting a Thesz press with right hands. Austin (with his injured shoulder) comes in for some rapid fire stomping in the corner before it’s back to Bey to hammer on Drake.

We go back to Austin, who gets caught in the wrong corner for a running dropkick to the back arm to put the Veterans in control. Back from a break with an assisted shoulder breaker getting two on Austin as the Veterans have a target. Austin manages to duck a clothesline though and the hot tag brings Bey back in.

Bey cleans house, including a dive to Gibson and a double kick to his head. The bad arm gives out before the 1-2-Sweet though and it’s a Doomsday Device for two on Bey, leading to much frustration. Bey manages a kick off the ropes and the one armed Austin comes in to start the comeback. Drake gets smart by going after the bad arm but Bey breaks up grit Your Teeth. That leaves Austin to roll Drake up for the pin to tie the series at 13:44.

Rating: B. Like I said when the series started, there was almost no way that this wasn’t going to work. You have two talented teams and they have shown more than enough chemistry together to put on a heck of a series. The first two matches have been good but the third has the potential to be a classic, especially if the champs are fighting from beneath due to the bad arm.

Dirty Dango mocks the idea of star ratings or PWI rankings being important and says they’re looking for tag teams to beat up.

Mustafa Ali talks about how the X-Division has been going through a bunch of changes. Does it have the right leadership to work though? Ali approves this message.

The Good Hands seem to offer Ali (not here) their services when Chris Sabin comes in and loses it a bit.

Digital Media Title: Crazzy Steve vs. Rhino

Steve is defending and Rhino runs him over hard to start. They go outside so Rhino can get an early table but Steve slides it back under the ring. Rhino drops him back first onto the apron and adds a suplex on the ramp as commentary points out the lack of a DQ. Back in and Steve tries to bring in the title but gets it taken away, allowing Rhino to hit a clothesline for two. The Gore is loaded up but Steve knees him in the face. Steve pulls out the fork for a distraction, allowing him to get in a belt shot for the pin to retain at 4:41.

Rating: C-. They got in there, they did some stuff, Steve cheated to win. This isn’t quite the same monster that Steve had been before but I’ll take him adding another win. Steve could do this for a good while and someone getting to take the title from him should be a good moment. That wasn’t going to be Rhino, though beating him means a bit for Steve.

PCO wants Kon.

Deaner vs. Joe Hendry

Hold on though as AJ Francis interrupts with a rap about Hendry and dubs himself TNA J Francis. Hendry says this has him off guard because he usually does this to people. And never mind as he has a new music video for Francis, talking about how Francis can’t dive and set to AJ Styles’ Get Ready To Fly in a brilliant addition. Deaner jumps Hendry and Francis comes in for the chokeslam. Rich Swann makes the save and there’s no match.

We look at Steve Maclin attacking Nick Nemeth in Puerto Rico.

Maclin and the Rascalz are happy with what happened but Mike Bailey and Trent Seven interrupt. Trent vs. Maclin is set for next week.

Killer Kelly vs. Dani Luna

Masha Slamovich and Jody Threat are here too. Kelly takes Luna down to start and hits a running kick to the chest, followed by some trapping headbutts. The Angel’s Wings are blocked though and Luna runs Kelly over. Slamovich tries to cheat but Threat cuts her off, allowing Luna to grab the rollup pin at 2:47.

Post match the brawl is on until Decay comes in to stare at everyone.

No Surrender rundown.

Moose vs. Kushida

Non-title and everyone is banned from ringside. Moose starts fast by powering him into the corner but a low bridge sends Moose outside. The slingshot dive is pulled out of the air though and Kushida is dropped onto the apron as we take a break. Back with Moose hitting a dropkick and they head outside, where Kushida gets slammed on the floor.

The apron bomb is broken up and Kushida grabs the cross armbreaker on the apron. With that broken up, Kushida’s moonsault press gets two back inside. The Hoverboard Lock sends Moose bailing to the ropes so Kushida goes with a Code Red for two. Kushida loads up the handspring elbow but walks into a spear to give Moose the pin at 9:51.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have time here but it’s another case where you know these two are going to have a solid match based on the talent alone. That was the case here, as Moose is feeling it as the athletic monster and Kushida is…well Kushida, meaning he is going to work well with anyone. Good main event here and I could go for a longer version.

Post match the System comes in to beat Kushida down until Alex Shelley and Kevin Knight run in for the big brawl. The System is cleared out to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. As you might have expected, they didn’t cover a bunch of new stuff here, save for maybe the second match of the series. As you also might have expected, they made the whole thing work with the show being rather efficient throughout. I kind of want to see No Surrender, but I’m almost scared to see what happens with Scott D’Amore gone soon.

Results
Frankie Kazarian b. Jake Something – Rollup while grabbing the rope
Jordynne Grace b. Savannah Evans – MuscleBuster
ABC b. Grizzled Young Veterans – Rollup to Drake
Crazzy Steve b. Rhino – Belt shot
Dani Luna b. Killer Kelly – Rollup
Moose b. Kushida – Spear

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: February 15, 2024
Location: Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, Nevada
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

In theory the slow march towards Supercard Of Honor continues, though we still have no announcement that the show is taking place. Assuming it is going to be held the Friday of Wrestlemania Weekend, we would be looking at fifty days from this broadcast. That is starting to run rather low for an announcement but maybe they can cover it here. In more current news, the Women’s TV Title Tournament starts tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Women’s TV Title Tournament First Round: Queen Aminata vs. J Rod

Aminata chops her down to start and snaps off a suplex as commentary previews the rest of the first round matches tonight and clarifies that there are sixteen participants overall. Rod fights up and kicks her into the corner, setting up a hard whip into the buckle. A suplex gives Rod one but she misses a frog splash. Aminata makes the clothesline comeback, setting up a pair of hip attacks in the corner. Rod avoids a charge in the corner and strikes away, only to get caught with a German suplex. A headbutt finishes for Aminata at 6:06.

Rating: C. They kept this pretty quick and to the point but Rod did get in some offense rather than being squashed. Aminata has been getting a lot of attention (with commentary pointing out how frequently she is featured) and I’m not stunned to see her getting a win here. She’s won in ROH before so this is far from some stretch, though I’m not expecting her to go that far in the whole thing.

Infantry vs. Midnight Heat

Dean shoulders Pearl down to start and it’s a backbreaker/middle rope legdrop for two. Bravo hits a slingshot cutter for two but Gibson comes in to drop Bravo with a DDT. The chinlock doesn’t last long so it’s an over the shoulder backbreaker/top rope elbow for two more. Bravo gets over to Dean for the tag so house can be quickly cleaned. Everything breaks down and a backslide/middle rope legdrop combination for two on Dan. Back up and Boot Camp finishes Pearl at 6:46.

Rating: C. This was an example of a match that felt like it went long for the sake of going long. Midnight Heat might be a team who has done well on the independent circuit (as commentary mentioned) but the Infantry has been presented as a team who could be title contenders around here. Why is it taking them almost seven minutes to beat a pretty generic team making their debut? Again: it’s ok to let a match be a squash, especially if the winners are regulars.

Queen Aminata says she didn’t come all the way to Africa to be average. She looks good in gold but she’ll take the silver in the Women’s TV Title.

Women’s TV Title Tournament First Round: Rachael Ellering vs. Leyla Hirsch

They hug to start and trade takedowns into covers and a standoff. Hirsch’s big knee is blocked and Ellering grabs a gutwrench suplex to take over. Hirsch is right back with her own suplex before grabbing something like an abdominal stretch on her back. With that broken up, they bump fists and slug it out until Hirsch snaps off a German suplex. Back up and Ellering fires off some chops into an STO, followed by a running back elbow for two.

Hirsch goes after the arm and hold on as the medic needs to check on Ellering’s shoulder/elbow. Said medic pops the arm back in and let’s keep going. Hirsch doesn’t want to do this now but Ellering pushes her in the face, earning a Saito suplex for two. Some stomping has Ellering in trouble but she says bring it, meaning Hirsch knees her in the face. Ellering reverses the cover into a cradle for two, which earns herself another running knee to give Hirsch the pin at 10:49.

Rating: C+. The story of the match is the elbow/arm and that’s not a bad way to go. You have the chance of Ellering blaming the arm for the loss and Hirsch not wanting to hurt her friend, which means there are different ways to go. What matters here is they had more going on than just the title and that made it much more interesting.

Post match Hirsch checks on Ellering with the bad arm.

We look at Athena and Nyla Rose putting each other through tables.

Rose is waiting for Athena, who jumps her from behind with a piece of the table. Rose fights back and hits her in the head with the table to leave Athena laying.

Outrunners vs. Lights Camera Faction

Magnum headlocks (Ice) Williams to start and hands it off to Floyd for a shot to the head. Some elbows, including a jumping version, setting up a running shot in the corner to (Jeaux) Braxton. That’s broken up and an elbow to the face lets Williams come back in. Everything breaks down and it’s a powerslam/running neckbreaker combination each to both Williams and Braxton. For some reason Floyd pulls Williams up at two, setting up the Infantry’s Boot Camp to finish him off at 3:52.

Rating: C+. The ending seems to be setting something up between the Outrunners and the Infantry and sure why not. It’s not like either of them have anything of note going on at the moment and odds are they’re not going to get a major title shot. Not a bad match, with Lights Camera Faction being a rather snazzy team name.

Commentary points out that it was indeed Boot Camp.

The Infantry is happy with the win but Lee Moriarty comes in to say the Outrunners just used Boot Camp. The Infantry is no longer happy.

Bryan Keith vs. Slice Boogie

Keith strikes away against the ropes to start and boots Boogie down. A t-bone suplex into Diamond Dust finishes Boogie at 1:53. And that’s how you do a squash.

Women’s TV Title Tournament: Trish Adora vs. Mercedes Martinez

They go with the grappling to start, with Martinez stomping on the foot to escape a headlock. Adora cranks on the arm and rolls her up for two as this is certainly starting slowly. Martinez takes her down for a double arm crank but Adora headscissors her down and does some pushups.

That doesn’t sit well with Martinez, who takes her to the floor and starts in on the back again. A knee in said back with a chinlock has Adora in more trouble but Adora is back up to escape the third Amigo. Adora hits a Thesz press and slugs away, setting up a backsplash for two more. The torture rack is loaded up but Adora’s back gives out, allowing Martinez to grab the Brass City Sleeper for the win at 9:45.

Rating: C. They were going for a technical exchange here and while that part worked well enough, it wasn’t very engaging as they were just kind of doing moves to each other. I liked the back work from Martinez and it played into the finish, but I was bred for most of the match, which isn’t saying much when they didn’t even have ten minutes. Martinez can still go with anyone and she did fine here, but not much in the energy department here.

Rachael Ellering is upset about the loss and Leyla Hirsch comes in to say she didn’t want it that way. Ellering knows it wasn’t intentional and they’re cool.

Lance Archer/Righteous vs. Jon Cruz/JC Valentine/James Blackheart

Dutch knees Valentine in the ribs to start but Valentine is back with a dropkick. For some reason Valentine tries a monkey flip and is promptly planted. Archer comes in to chop Blackheart in the corner, setting up Dutch’s powerbomb into a middle rope headbutt. Blackheart finally ducks a right hand and dives over to Cruz for the tag. Everything breaks down and Orange Sunshine hits Cruz, with Archer Black Outing Blackheart onto Cruz for the pin at 5:16.

Rating: C-. It’s a shame this couldn’t have been yesterday or it very well could have been Valentine’s day. Total squash here, but again it didn’t need to go that long when you could have the monsters crush them even faster. Then again, Archer and the Righteous aren’t exactly doing anything so it’s not like they’ll be hurt by the longer match.

Infantry yells at the Outrunners over stealing Boot Camp and threaten to knock them back to the 70s.

Kenny King vs. Dalton Castle

The Boys are here with Castle, who is still more than a bit off (even by his standards). King pulls him into a headlock and sends Castle to the floor, where it’s time for some fanning. Back in and Castle misses a charge to the outside again, this time with King following to get in another shot. A cartwheel kick to the head rocks Castle…who grabs the Bang A Rang for the pin (it’s as sudden as it sounds) at 4:54.

Rating: C. They got in and out of here rather quickly with Castle hitting all of one move for the win. That makes sense for Castle, who has nothing left to lose at the moment and is as basic as you can get. All that matters is having him get the big match against Johnny TV and that has to be coming sooner rather than later.

Post match Castle says he has nothing left but wants Johnny TV. Cue TV (with Taya Valkyrie) who says Castle still isn’t TV ready. Castle is willing to give up anything, so TV agrees to a match….in exchange for the Boys. Castle is perplexed as TV and Taya walk away.

Athena is sitting on the floor and isn’t sure what she is going to do next. She is the minion overlord and the protector of the women’s division, so next week she wants Nyla Rose in a tables match.

Women’s TV Title Tournament First Round: Diamante vs. Kiera Hogan

Diamante misses some big swings to start before ducking a clothesline and getting in a spank. Back up and Diamante pulls her off the ropes and hammers away on the mat. Some choking on the ropes sets up a chinlock but Hogan is back up with a suplex. Hogan misses the running hip attack but grabs a Side Effect for two instead. Now the hip attack can connect and the running corner dropkick makes it worse. A hangman’s neckbreaker gives Hogan two more but Diamante Stunners her over the ropes. Hogan hits a superkick but walks into the rolling cutter to give Diamante the pin at 6:31.

Rating: C+. This was a bit more of an intense, back and forth match with either feeling like they could pull it off. That made for a better match and Diamante has been on a bit of a roll in recent months. Good way to wrap up the show here with a little more time making things even better.

Nyla Rose accepts for the Women’s Title match next week and we’ll make it 2/3 tables.

Overall Rating: B-. WHERE IN THE WORLD HAS THIS BEEN? This was by far the easiest ROH show I’ve watched in a long time and it’s really easy to see why: most of the stuff felt like it mattered. It really is as simple of that. Don’t make me feel like I’m wasting my time and have something that matters in most of the matches and the show goes way up in quality. The wrestling wasn’t anything special but my goodness this was a massive step in the right direction and if this is where it’s going, I’m rather pleased.

Results
Queen Aminata b. J Rod – Headbutt
Infantry b. Midnight Heat – Boot Camp to Pearl
Leyla Hirsch b. Rachael Ellering – Running knee
Outrunners b. Lights Camera Faction – Boot Camp to Williams
Bryan Keith b. Slice Boogie – Diamond Dust
Mercedes Martinez b. Trish Adora – Brass City Sleeper
Lance Archer/Righteous b. Jon Cruz/JC Valentine/James Blackheart – Blackout to Blackheart
Dalton Castle b. Kenny King – Bang A Rang
Diamante b. Kiera Hogan – Rolling cutter

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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NXT LVL Up
Date: February 16, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Byron Saxton

I’m not sure what to think of with this show these days but unfortunately things haven’t been going well in recent weeks. We’re back to the pretty lame shows where the lower level wrestlers are frequenting this show again and the shows have been weaker as a result. Hopefully it picks up again here so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Brooks Jensen vs. Je’Von Evans

Jensen shoves the 19 year old (and debuting) Evans down before grabbing a failed headlock attempt. A shoulder drops Evans but he’s back up with an armdrag into a headlock takeover, with the fans approving. Jensen fights up and gets in a hard whip to the corner, followed by a basement clothesline for two.

The chinlock goes on and the fans are booing Jensen out of the building. Evans fights to his feet and strikes away, setting up a springboard high crossbody for two. Another dive is powerslammed out of the air though and the top rope knee is enough to finish Evans off for good at 6:22.

Rating: B-. Evans got to showcase some high flying and the fans certainly responded to him, which is a great sign for his future. At the same time, the Jensen stuff was rather interesting as the fans are flat out rejecting him. I’m not sure if that is due to Evans or just because of Jensen, but this certainly did not go well for Jensen and that might not bode well for his future. Evans is off to a good start, but he has quite a ways to go.

Izzi Dame, with Kiana James, isn’t worried about Gigi Dolin.

Izzi Dame vs. Gigi Dolin

Kiana James is here with Dame. Dolin gets powered down to start and then pushed into the corner as Dame shows off the power. Back up and a headscissors takes Dame down, followed by a running dropkick against the ropes for two. Dame kicks her in the face to take over again and the stomping in the corner ensues.

Dolin’s forearms are cut off and a slam gives Dame two. The chinlock is broken up and Dolin strikes away, setting up something like a middle rope neckbreaker. James offers a distraction though and Dame grabs the Z Quill (fireman’s carry flapjack) to put Dolin away at 5:45.

Rating: C. I’m not sure if it is just a lack of anything to do or something else, but this James/Dame tandem has felt lame from the start and isn’t getting any better. They just feel like the latest evil duo and that isn’t exactly much to go on. At the same time, Dolin has fallen almost to the floor and I’m really not sure why. She might not be the next big thing, but she feels like she should be better than this.

Overall Rating: C+. This show worked better due to a pair of reasons and we’ll start with the opener. That was one of the better matches I’ve seen on LVL Up in a good bit and that makes the show feel that much more important. At the same time, cutting this down to two matches (due to the following week’s NXT being taped in advance) helped a lot, as three matches with lower level talent involved starts to wear a bit thin. Not a great or even good show, but it came and went with a solid match and that’s not bad for about twenty minutes.

Results
Brooks Jensen b. Je’Von Evans – Top rope knee
Izzi Dame b. Gigi Dolin – Z Quill

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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Smackdown
Date: February 16, 2024
Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Corey Graves

It’s another big show as we have the return of the Rock and Roman Reigns. Even if we don’t know what they are going to do, you know it is going to be something important and that is the right way to go. Other than that, we have more Elimination Chamber qualifying matches so let’s get to it.

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

The Rock arrived earlier today.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Kevin Owens vs. Dominik Mysterio

Before the match, Dominik brags about how Judgment Day is going to dominate the Elimination Chamber and he is going to complete the sweep. Owens wastes no time in knocking him out to the floor, followed by an armdrag to put him n the floor again. Back in and Dominik gets in a few shots, only to be clotheslined down to cut him off again.

They head outside together this time, with Owens hitting a right hand and sending him into the steps. Cue R-Truth to look at Owens though and Dominik takes over, including the slingshot hilo for two as we take a break. Back with Owens fighting out of a chinlock and firing off right hands. Owens stomps him down and hits the running backsplash on the floor, followed by the Cannonball back inside.

The frog splash gives Owens two (that’s almost a surprising kickout) but Dominik grabs an X Factor of all things. They trade two Amigos each but Dominik misses his own frog splash. Owens is back with the Swanton for two (geez Dominik is getting to look strong here), only to get caught with a 619 for two more. The frustrated Dominik tells Truth to get him a chair, with the distraction allowing Owens to grab the pop up powerbomb for the pin at 14:11.

Rating: B-. It is astounding to see how much better Dominik has gotten in the last year or so and this was another example. This was a solid back and forth match with Dominik more than holding up his end. Throw in the fans loudly booing him before the match and it was quite the overall performance. Good stuff here and I was surprised by how well it went.

Drew McIntyre is here and says he has to win the Elimination Chamber to go on and win the World Heavyweight Title at Wrestlemania. LA Knight comes in to say not so fast and is ready to add McIntyre’s name to that Wrestlemania tombstone on his shirt. Things have to be broken up in a hurry.

The Bloodline arrives.

Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne are ready to win the Tag Team Titles, but Bate thinks they need a team name. Dominik Mysterio comes in to say the Judgment Day will beat them at Elimination Chamber, so Bate says they can beat Dominik and R-Truth next week. I have no idea why they can make this stick but that’s how wrestling works.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Zelina Vega vs. Tiffany Stratton

Vega snaps off a hurricanrana to start before kicking Stratton out to the floor. An armdrag off the apron sets up a middle rope moonsault to Stratton. Cue Legado del Fantasma to ringside as we take a break. Back with Vega fighting out of a chinlock and the LWO coming out to even things up. Stratton cuts off a comeback attempt with an Alabama Slam but Vega cuts off the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. They head outside where Vega is rammed into the barricade, where Legado’s Elektra Lopez offers a distraction. That’s enough for Stratton to deck Vega and hit the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the pin at 8:19.

Rating: C+. I could have seen this one going either way and that made things a bit more interesting. Vega was firing off the offense here and Stratton kept up with her throughout, which is a good sign in one of her first main roster matches. Stratton seems like she could be quite the star around here and the fact that she transitioned from NXT to Smackdown rather smoothly (at least to start) is already giving me hope for her future.

The OC comes in to see AJ Styles, with Karl Anderson saying Styles has forgotten where he came from. The two of them have to be held apart.

Damage CTRL is coming for Bayley at Wrestlemania.

AOP vs. Javier Bernal/Beau Morris

The rest of the Final Testament is here too. Akam throws Bernal down to start and everything breaks down, with the Super Collider (stereo powerbombs, with the non-AOP being rammed together before being slammed down) setting up a powerbomb/neckbreaker combination to finish Bernal at 1:02. Total destruction, as it should have been.

Logan Paul is ready to beat the Miz, win the Elimination Chamber and become a double champion at Wrestlemania.

We look at the Seth Rollins/Cody Rhodes segment from Raw.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: The Miz vs. Logan Paul

Non-title. Paul talks trash to start and is promptly knocked down for his efforts. Miz sends him to the apron, where Paul comes back in with a high crossbody. The standing moonsault doesn’t quite connect but Paul grabs a Regal Roll to put Miz down again. A splits splash gives Paul two but Miz fires off the chops. Paul knocks him right back down and hits a splash on the apron as we take a break.

Back with Miz slugging away and grabbing a Downward Spiral for two, followed by a Codebreaker out of the corner for the same. Miz tries the Figure Four but Paul grabs the ring skirt, leaving the referee distracted. That’s enough for Paul to poke Miz in the eye and hit his own Skull Crushing Finale for a rather near fall, meaning it’s time to get frustrated.

Miz’s Figure Four sends Paul over to the ropes and then out to the floor, where one of his goons hand him the brass knuckles. Miz breaks that up but Paul kicks the rope for a low blow on the way back in. The big right hand sets up something like an STO to give Paul the pin at 12:40.

Rating: B-. There is a history between these two and that made the match feel more important. Paul’s rise continues with another good match, though I could definitely go for less of his goons interfering. Ignoring that the people are interchangeable, it’s the same stuff so often and that gets rather dull. At least Paul won though, and the lineup inside the Chamber is strong enough that he can lose without taking a major hit.

Tiffany Stratton brags to Liv Morgan and Bianca Belair, the latter of whom isn’t impressed. Jade Cargill comes in to tell them all to shut up. Nick Aldis pops in and we pan over to see Bron Breakker next to a contract (not clear if it has been signed), just like Cargill’s (signing again not clear).

Paul Heyman is talking to Grayson Waller, who seems rather interested.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Naomi vs. Alba Fyre

Isla Dawn is here with Fyre, who takes Naomi down into the corner to start. Naomi slides up and slaps her in the face, setting up a splits splash for two. They go outside with Naomi hitting a bulldog onto the steps as we take a break. Back with Naomi sending her into the corner and hitting a high crossbody for two. Fyre is able to send her into the buckle though and a wheelbarrow faceplant gives Fyre two of her own. The Gory Bomb is countered though and an interfering Dawn is kicked down. A headscissors driver sets up a reverse Rings of Saturn finishes Fyre at 9:20.

Rating: C+. This was just a step above a squash for Naomi, who more or less rolled into the Chamber. It didn’t help that Fyre was a replacement after Shotzi’s injury, which is kind of a shame as she is more than talented enough to get a run of her own. If nothing else, let Fyre and Dawn win some tag matches, as they’re both just sitting around doing nothing at the moment.

Dakota Kai begs Bayley to protect her from Damage CTRL. Bayley isn’t sure because she doesn’t know who she can trust and says she can’t do this right now.

Nick Aldis announces that Bron Breakker has signed with Smackdown and brings him out to sign the contract live.

Here’s what’s coming on next week’s show.

Here is the Bloodline for the big chat. After Roman Reigns says his catchphrase, he calls the fans in Salt Lake City idiots who don’t get how big this is. It’s the biggest night ever in WWE because tonight, the Rock is officially part of the Bloodline. Cue the Rock and the Hollywood is strong with this one. Following a break, Rock says this is an all time indoor attendance record for Utah. That’s right: the record for the largest collection of trailer park trash he has ever seen.

Rock loads up the FINALLY…..the people’s lives have meaning and they’ll have a story to tell their 50 wives. These people have brought out a side of the Rock that you haven’t seen in years but it has always been in here. You had the biggest Wrestlemania main event ever and you flushed it away for CODY. What is Cody’s story? He lost last year and now he wants a rematch.

Apply that to sports. Should the 49ers get a rematch after losing the Super Bowl? Michael Jordan crushed the Utah Jazz and they moved on to get back to the top but the people here don’t get it because they are spoiled entitled crybaby b******. The Bloodline’s story is just beginning but the people here DO NOT get to sing along with the Rock as he hits the catchphrase to end the show.

This cemented the Rock’s heel turn (I’m assuming him picking the 49ers losing to the Chiefs and the Jazz losing to the Bulls, both of which were rematches of recent finals, wasn’t a coincidence) and having him officially join the Bloodline while explaining the heel turn makes good sense.

Overall Rating: B. Much like Raw, this was about setting up a bunch of Elimination Chamber participants with one big segment included. The wrestling was good enough but what mattered here was how important things felt. That has been the case for the last few weeks as made things that much better. It was another good show where the big stuff felt important but the rest of the stuff was far from bad. Things will get even bigger after Elimination Chamber but they’re making that show feel important as well, which is a hard trick to make work.

Results
Kevin Owens b. Dominik Mysterio – Pop up powerbomb
Tiffany Stratton b. Zelina Vega – Prettiest Moonsault Ever
AOP b. Javier Bernal/Beau Morris – Powerbomb/neckbreaker combination to Bernal
Logan Paul b. The Miz – STO
Naomi b. Alba Fyre – Reverse Rings of Saturn

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

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AND

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

Make sure you check out some recent reviews:

NXT – February 13, 2024

Dynamite – February 14, 2024

Not Done? Steve Austin Talks Possible Return To The Ring.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/not-done-steve-austin-talks-possible-return-ring/

And NEW! Title Change Takes Place This Week On NXT.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/new-title-change-takes-place-week-nxt/

Oh No: SmackDown Star Suffers Knee Injury During NXT Taping *Contains Mild SPOILERS*.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/oh-no-smackdown-star-suffers-knee-injury-nxt-taping-contains-mild-spoilers/

Yes Boss? AEW Wrestler Reportedly Working In Company Front Office.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/yes-boss-aew-wrestler-reportedly-working-company-front-office/

Maybe? Speculation On Drew McIntyre’s Contract Status, Possible Sign He Is Staying.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/maybe-speculation-drew-mcintyres-contract-status-possible-sign-staying/

WATCH: Rhea Ripley Discusses Potentially Challenging For A WWE Men’s Title.

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Not yet: Latest On Jamie Hayter’s Injury Status In AEW.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/not-yet-latest-jamie-hayters-injury-status-aew/

Farewell? WWE Personality Reportedly Let Go From Company In Surprise Move.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/farewell-wwe-personality-reportedly-let-go-company-surprise-move/

Good To Go? Update On AEW Star Following Injury Scare.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/good-go-update-aew-star-following-injury-scare/

They’re In: Two New Matches Officially Confirmed For AEW Revolution.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/theyre-two-new-matches-officially-confirmed-aew-revolution/

Out Before In: WWE Reportedly Changing Plans For Jade Cargill.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-reportedly-changing-plans-jade-cargill/

WATCH: John Cena Plays Baseball For The Savannah Bananas (This Is Different).

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-john-cena-plays-baseball-savannah-bananas-different/

They’re In: Seth Rollins And Cody Rhodes Officially Set For WWE Elimination Chamber In Special Way.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/theyre-seth-rollins-cody-rhodes-officially-set-wwe-elimination-chamber-special-way/

WATCH: Nasty Botch Takes Place During AEW Rampage Taping (Contains Mile SPOILER).

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-nasty-botch-takes-place-aew-rampage-taping-contains-mile-spoiler/

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).

Dynamite
Date: February 14, 2024
Location: H-E-B Center, Cedar Park, Texas
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone

We have two and a half weeks to go before Revolution and after last week’s ending, what very well could be the main event got a lot more serious. Last week the Young Bucks brutally attacked the new Tag Team Champions, Sting and Darby Allin, before their title match at Revolution. Odds are we’ll hear something about that tonight so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Jon Moxley vs. Dax Harwood

There are no seconds here and Moxley takes him into the corner to start…for a kiss? Happy Valentine’s Day I guess. Moxley puts his hands behind his back so Harwood kisses him as well, followed by some right hands. Harwood slugs away but Moxley bites his face and kicks him down in the corner. A choke is broken up but Harwood can’t get the Sharpshooter.

They fight to the floor where Harwood is sent over the barricade, followed by the slingshot into the post to rock him hard. Back in and Moxley hammers away but a powerbomb out of the corner plants him down for two. They crash out to the floor again and we take a break. Back with the two of them striking it out until they both go down. Moxley goes up but Harwood catches him with a top rope superplex and they’re both down again.

Harwood grabs the Sharpshooter as we get the five minute call. Moxley breaks it up and goes for the cross armbreaker, which is broken up as well. Harwood’s piledriver gets two and they head outside again, with the fans dubbing this awesome. Back in and Moxley hits a Stomp into a piledriver of his own for a rather near fall. The Paradigm Shift is countered into a brainbuster to give Harwood two as we have two minutes left. Harwood goes up but dives into the rear naked choke for the tap at 18:39.

Rating: B+. This wasn’t exactly meant to be a big showdown but rather a way for Moxley to get a good win under his belt. Harwood continues to lose every singles match he has despite putting up a heck of a fight every time. It would be nice to see him win a match on his own once in awhile, though that certainly wasn’t going to be the case here. I did like the close call with the time limit, as they got close enough that Harwood could have pulled it off, only to fall short in the end.

Post match Moxley won’t let go so Cash Wheeler runs in for the save, only to have Claudio Castagnoli jump Wheeler.

Don Callis says his Family has all the talent so we’ll do Konosuke Takeshita vs. Will Ospreay at Revolution.

Wardlow vs. Barrett Brown

Knee to the face and powerbomb finish Brown at 1:24.

Earlier today, the Young Bucks, still in their bloody gear, landed at the airport.

Adam Copeland vs. Daniel Garcia

For a TNT Title shot and Matt Menard is on commentary. Copeland knocks him into the corner to start but it’s way too early for the Grindhouse. Garcia tries a drop down but gets splashed on the back for two, allowing Copeland to choke away in the ropes. Garcia fights out and stomps on the knees, only to dive into a shoulder breaker.

We take a break and come back with Garcia catching him on top but having the arm snapped down over the rope. Garcia is back up with a dragon screw legwhip and stomps away in the corner, allowing him to snap the leg back again. An STF has Copeland in more trouble but he’s right back out again. Garcia goes up so Copeland pulls him down with a single underhook superplex….and Nick Wayne runs in for the no contest at 12:18.

Rating: B-. This was a good back and forth match with the exchange of limb work (AEW really likes that style) until the screwy ending. Garcia was hanging with Copeland, though it would have been hard to imagine him doing anything but stealing a win. What matters here is the ending, which I would hope doesn’t lead to a three way at the pay per view.

Post match the Patriarchy beats them both down, with Killswitch taking out Menard for daring to try and help. Copeland gets a chair and saves Garcia from a Conchairto…until Shayna Wayne hits Copeland low. The Conchairto crushes Copeland’s head and Garcia finally gets up as the villains leave.

We look back at Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland going to a time limit draw last week, setting up a triple threat World Title match at Revolution.

Here is World Champion Samoa Joe for a chat. Joe talks about bringing back the ranking system to make sure he faces the best, but then Page and Swerve went to a draw. Therefore, AEW took a page out of the Texas playbook by making the title match bigger and dumber. Joe promises to hurt one if not both of them, but here is Strickland, with Prince Nana, to interrupt.

Swerve says this wasn’t supposed to be personal but it is getting that way. Joe has said hunger defines the greats, and no one is hotter than Swerve. He has been hoping for a break for years now and today is that day. When the people walk away, all they can say is “whose house” and they’ll do it again when he leaves Revolution with the title.

Cue Page to say Swerve couldn’t beat him last week so it should be Page vs. Joe at Revolution. Page says Swerve doesn’t deserve a second of his time because Swerve couldn’t get it done. Joe isn’t having this and says he’s winning at Revolution. As usual, Joe can talk with the best of them, but it still feels like Page vs. Swerve with Joe on the side.

We see Toni Storm’s new film, which looks at her history with Deonna Purrazzo. Storm let Purrazzo be her young girl but now Purrazzo has forgotten who she is so now she can have the old Toni Storm, if that’s what she wants.

Purrazzo says Storm talks too much and promises to break her arm. B****.

Young Bucks vs. Top Flight

Nick and Dante start things off with the latter working on the arm. Matt comes in and gets ping ponged between the Martins before everything breaks down early on. Top Flight’s dives don’t get to launch but the second attempts connect on the floor. Back in and Matt takes over with a clothesline and we take a break.

We come back with Darius clotheslining his way to freedom and hitting an enziguri, allowing the tag to Dante. Everything breaks down and Top Flight’s stereo sunset flips get stereo near falls. Dante drops both of them and Darius uses his brother to hit a tornado DDT for two on Matt. Nick sends Dante into the barricade though and it’s a low blow to drop Darius. The EVP Trigger is enough to finish Darius at 11:07.

Rating: B-. This was a good way for the Bucks to look good on the way to the title match. They are long since established but giving them some wins before Revolution is a good idea. At the very least, the Bucks got a long way off their attack last week and we should be in for a heck of a showdown at Revolution.

Post match the Bucks talk to Tony Schiavone, by praising Top Flight and talking about how they are the official #1 contenders. At the same time, they do no like what Tony has been saying about them, so that’s a $1000 fine. Tony gets shoved down and the EVP Trigger is loaded up, only to have Darby Allin make the save with the baseball bat. Allin talks about not being able to get a job while all of the Bucks’ friends got hired, but thankfully there was a sane EVP here, and he isn’t talking about Kenny Omega.

After the required CODY chant, Allin talks about how the Bucks re-signed here because it was easier. Allin brings up the first Dynamite, which didn’t feature him but did feature BRANDON CUTLER? Now it’s about the Tag Team Titles at Revolution in Sting’s final match and the champs have nothing to lose. Apparently that makes the title match official. It wasn’t before? Allin was bringing the fire here and leaned a lot into the inside stuff, but what mattered here was the emotion he was bringing with everything he said.

The Bang Bang Scissor Gang is ready for a 12 man tag on rampage, though Billy Gunn isn’t happy with his sons taking his lines.

Willow Nightingale vs. Skye Blue

Stokely Hathaway is on commentary. Blue takes her into the corner to start but Nightingale cartwheels her way out of trouble. One heck of a Pounce sends Blue outside and we take a break. Back with Blue getting the better of a strike off but Nightingale crushes her in the corner. A spinebuster connects but Blue kicks her in the face for two. Nightingale sends her to the apron and knocks her down, only to get caught on top back inside. Blue’s powerbomb out of the corner sets up Code Blue, only to have Hathaway offer the distraction. The Babe With The Powerbomb finishes for Nightingale at 8:52.

Rating: C. This was the weekly women’s match that got around nine minutes and went through a commercial break. In this case we have a slight step forward for the Nightingale/Hathaway/Kris Statlander story, which still only feels so important. At the same time, Blue has fallen quite a ways and that was obvious here, as she lost in one of the lower level feuds in the women’s division.

Orange Cassidy vs. Matt Taven

Non-title Texas Deathmatch, which means Last Man Standing. Cassidy slugs away to start but Taven hits a dropkick. A powerbomb gives Taven two and they head to the floor. Cassidy beats him over the barricade and we take a break. Back with Taven dropping an elbow off the stage to put Cassidy….not quite through a table.

A suplex puts Cassidy through another table for a near ten so Taven hits a running knee on the ramp. Taven pulls another table out from underneath the ring but a bleeding Cassidy is back up. Taven’s Flight Of The Conqueror only goes through the table for an insane crash. Cassidy pulls out a box of chocolates from Chuck Taylor (again, Valentine’s Day)….and yeah it’s thumbtacks instead.

Cassidy tornado DDT’s the rather bloody Taven onto the tacks but here is Mike Bennett to break something over Cassidy’s head. Cue Trent Beretta with a pipe (out of his own gift box) but Taven sends him into a chair. Cassidy hits the Beach Break onto a chair, with Taven popping up and ripping off the pockets. The Orange Punch connects to finish Taven, despite Roderick Strong running in, at 13:27.

Rating: B. The match had some insane bumps (that dive by Taven was nuts), though I have no idea why they had this knockdown bloody war to set up a singles match between Strong and Cassidy. This was all about avenging Chuck Taylor and while it seems to be a bit of an over the top reaction, they need something more interesting than Strong vs. Cassidy in a straight match for the title.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a pretty textbook example of AEW as of late: the action was good to very good (that opener was a blast) but I’m not sure how much difference it made as far as building things up. I was actually surprised when the Tag Team Titles match was made official and the only other thing set for the pay per view was done in a quick backstage segment. That being said, with two and a half weeks before Revolution, most of the card should be set. Right now there are five matches set so they’re doing well enough, at least with the top of the card. Really solid action this week and that’s a good way to go.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Dax Harwood – Rear naked choke
Wardlow b. Barrett Brown – Powerbomb
Daniel Garcia vs. Adam Copeland went to a no contest when Nick Wayne interfered
Young Bucks b. top Flight – EVP Trigger to Darius
Willow Nightingale b. Skye Blue – Babe With The Powerbomb
Orange Cassidy b. Matt Taven when Taven couldn’t answer the ten count

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

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

AND

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

NXT
Date: February 13, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Byron Saxton

Things have gotten more interesting in the main event scene, as not only has Carmelo Hayes attacked Trick Williams and turned into a full on villain, but he has also set his sights on the NXT Title. We should be hearing more about that this week, plus all of the other things going on around here. Let’s get to it.

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

Meta Four is not quite taking Von Wagner/Mr. Stone seriously in tonight’s tag match but here are Stone and Wagner to jump them. Stone’s kids send Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend the wrong way as the guys fight into the arena. And we’re ready to go.

Von Wagner/Mr. Stone vs. Meta Four

Stone knocks Mensah down to start but has to go after Dar, allowing Mensah to get in a kick to the face. Dar’s belly to back suplex gets two and Mensah’s bot to the face gets the same. Stone manages to clear the ring though and it’s Wagner coming in to clean house. A double chokeslam sets up Stone’s splash off of Wagner’s shoulders but Mensah makes the save. Wagner comes back in but Lash Legend (who found the right path) offers a distraction, allowing Mensah to get in a cheap shot so Dar can get the cheating pin at 5:32.

Rating: C. Oh joy as Dar wins again because we haven’t seen that for the better part of ever. Unless they’re building up to a surprise Stone title win, I’m not sure why you have Wagner take the fall here. It was a bit nice to have this be something other than the Heritage Cup rules, but I could go for a long break from Dar.

We look at Carmelo Hayes’ explanation about attacking Trick Williams and then attacking Ilja Dragunov last week.

Chase U gets is stuff back, including Duke Hudson’s MVP trophy. Thea Hail has a date with Riley Osborne and Jacy Jayne doesn’t seem thrilled. Riz from the D’Angelo Family comes in and Jayne pays her off (with a bonus), but mentions Chase U for a possible Tag Team Title shot.

Ridge Holland vs. Gallus

This is a gauntlet match and Wolfgang starts for Gallus. Holland stomps away to start but a distraction lets Wolfgang rip away at Holland’s face. Wolfgang fires off right hands in the corner before they get in a fight over a suplex. Holland’s suplex puts Wolfgang down and we take a break.

Back with Holland having pinned Wolfgang during the break so Mark Coffey is in to take out Holland’s knee. Mark cranks away at the leg but Holland is fine enough to pull him out of the air and hit a swinging Rock Bottom. An overhead belly to belly and spinebuster both plant Mark, setting up Northern Grit. Joe Coffey pulls Holland out at two and that’s a DQ at 10:40…which seems to end the match, even though it should have just ended Mark’s fall.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what they were going for at the end there, but at least Holland got a nice moment and didn’t get pinned. Holland could go in a few different directions but hopefully he isn’t put into another team. He’ll need some friends if he’s going to fight Gallus, though hopefully it’s just a temporary association.

Post match Gallus brings in some chairs but Holland fights back and unloads on Joe. Holland suddenly realizes what he’s doing and backs off.

Lexis King mocks Mr. Stone and Von Wagner, saying Stone’s kids can look up to him. Wagner has to hold Stone back.

The No Quarter Catch Crew checks out the Heritage Cup when Noam Dar comes in to take it back. The Crew wants a shot.

Lola Vice vs. Tatum Paxley

Vice takes her to the mat to start but an early choke is broken up. Paxley starts fast with a rollup for two but Vice is back with a kick to the ribs. The chinlock doesn’t last long for Vice as Paxley rolls her up for two more. Paxley hits an enziguri as Lyra Valkyria is out to watch. Vice kicks her into the ropes for two as Paxley gets a foot on the ropes. That’s fine with Vice, who grabs a headscissors choke for the tap at 3:57.

Rating: C+. Vice is starting to get it together with the MMA style stuff and that is a good way for her to go. At the same time, we could be seeing Vice getting a singles shot against Valkyria after the cash in didn’t go. You also have the Paxley/Valkyria stuff, which could be going in a few directions. Vice seems to be the longer term story though and that should make for a nice future.

Luca Crusifino (the wrestling lawyer) gives Tony D’Angelo a pep talk. Then D’Angelo gives the rest of his family a pep talk.

Lyra Valkyria checks on Tatum Paxley when Shotzi, who got into it with Valkyria over the weekend, comes in to ask for a title shot. It’s on for next week and with Shotzi gone, Paxley pops up and is suddenly fine.

Riz vs. Jaida Parker

Parker swats away a dropkick to start but Riz hammers away in the corner. A missed charge sends Riz shoulder first into the post though and Parker sits on her in the corner. Riz fights up and fires off some uppercuts to the ribs, only to get planted with a spinebuster. Riz says bring it so Parker hits a forearm to the face for the pin at 4:03.

Rating: C. Riz isn’t exactly a polished star yet but she is already figuring things out with what she is doing. Putting her into the team is a good way to start and now we can see what happens to the team in the future. At the same time, you have Parker, who is looking more and more like a monster every times he’s out there. Give her some more experience and a win or two and she could be on her way.

Dijak isn’t happy with Joe Gacy costing him last week and looks into a bag of goodies.

Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin seem to be ready for their Tag Team Title shot but have to bicker a bit anyway. Corbin will say the team name if they win.

Carmelo Hayes vs. Joe Gacy

The fans say Hayes sold out as Gacy snaps off a backdrop and backbreaker. Hayes pulls him down by the leg but gets flipped away but Hayes is back up with the springboard clothesline. Gacy chops Hayes down and grabs the chinlock, followed by another backbreaker for another two. The frustrated Hayes fights back and hammers away but stops to check under the ring.

Gacy cuts him off with a dive and we take a break. Back with Gacy seemingly enjoying being in a half crab until he fights up and grabs a suplex. The swinging Rock Bottom gives Gacy two and a Samoan Driver is good for the same. Hayes’ suplex cutter gets two but Gacy fights back again. The Upside Down is broken up though and Nothing But Net finishes for Hayes at 12:46.

Rating: B-. Who would have thought that the solution to making the most annoying talker that much easier to watch was to not let him speak? Gacy is far from some kind of a star but he’s far easier to tolerate when he isn’t doing his cult deal. Hayes gets a win to show that he still has it as a villain and I’m sure he’s up for something big in the short term.

Post match Dijak comes in to put Gacy in a straitjacket. Gacy smiles anyway.

Some women are giving Brinley Reece a pep talk but the women of Meta Four come in. Lash Legend and Kelani Jordan get into an argument over respect.

Roxanne Perez rants to the women’s locker room about Lola Vice and Shotzi. Wren Sinclair tries to calm things down and gets hit in the face.

We get another vignette about being evil but no name is given.

Here is Oba Femi for a chat. He talks about how dominant he is and how he’s ready for anyone. Send anybody, as long as you don’t want them back. Cue Lexis King to say that he’s impressed. Femi is the ruler, but Lexis is the king, so they can do this next week. King strikes away but Femi blocks the Coronation and sends him running.

Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen get in a fight but Ava says do it in the ring.

Kiana James vs. Brinley Reece

Izzi Dame is here with James. Reece snaps off an armdrag to start but gets shouldered out to the floor. Back in and James snaps off a swinging neckbreaker for two. The quickly broken chinlock sets up Reece’s cutter for two but James hits the 401K. James Bankrupts her for the pin at 3:12.

Rating: C-. Not much to this one as Reece is little more than a wacky backstage character and another athletic newcomer. James and Dame aren’t exactly coming off as the next big thing as James gets a somewhat random win over someone beneath her. They didn’t waste a lot of time on it though so it’s hard to get overly annoyed.

Roxanne Perez isn’t happy with Wren Sinclair but Ava says Sinclair has already asked for a match next week.

Edris Enofe and Malik Blade are worried about what happened to Brinley Reece, who cartwheels in and is rather excited to train harder. The guys aren’t sure what to do.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Tag Team Titles: D’Angelo Family vs. Bron Breakker/Baron Corbin

Breakker and Corbin are challenging with Breakker powering D’Angelo into the corner to start. They trade shoulders until Stacks comes in, only to get pulled into the wrong corner. Corbin cuts off a springboard with a right hand but it’s right back to D’Angelo for a double suplex. Breakker comes back in to fight back but D’Angelo cuts him off with a sitout powerbomb as we take a break.

Back with Corbin hitting Deep Six for two on Stacks, who manages a middle rope elbow to the jaw. D’Angelo comes back in and spinebusters Breakker out of the air before throwing Stacks onto both villains. A powerbomb/neckbreaker combination gets two on Breakker but it’s back to Corbin for a suplex cutter. Stacks manages a sunset flip and rolls over for the tag to D’Angelo, who is Boss Man Slammed for two. Everything breaks down and they fight to the floor, where Breakker is sent through the announcers’ table. Back in and the End of Days hits Stacks, leaving Breakker to spear him down for the pin and the titles at 12:28.

Rating: B-. I was a bit surprised by the title change as Breakker doesn’t seem long for NXT, but there can always be something of a gap. At the same time, it’s hard to imagine this is a long term reign, but giving Breakker one more accolade on the way out is only going to make him feel stronger. I’m not sure who is coming for the titles next but Corbin and Breakker holding them beyond Stand & Deliver is hard to fathom.

Overall Rating: C+. Not the strongest wrestling show in the world but the title change is what matters here and now we should be on the way to some bigger stuff in the coming weeks. NXT seems to know that we are on the way towards Stand & Deliver, which should provide some major showdowns. There is still time to set that up and this was a show that seemed to help set the stage in multiple stories. We’ll get some more steps next week and as tends to be the case with NXT, they set some of that up in advance.

Results
Meta Four b. Von Wagner/Mr. Stone – Rollup to Wagner
Ridge Holland b. Gallus via DQ when Joe Coffey interfered
Lola Vice b. Tatum Paxley – Headscissors choke
Carmelo Hayes b. Joe Gacy – Nothing But Net
Kiana James b. Brinley Reece – Bankrupt
Baron Corbin/Bron Breakker b. D‘Angelo Family – Spear to Stacks

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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Make sure you check out a recent review:

Monday Night Raw – February 12, 2024

Back Again: Legendary Tag Team Set To Reunite For Special Match.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/back-legendary-tag-team-set-reunite-special-match/

Former WWE Superstar Arrested For Suspicion Of Murdering His Wife.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/former-wwe-superstar-arrested-suspicion-murdering-wife/

Star Power: Update On Jade Cargill’s WWE Status On The Road To WrestleMania 40.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/star-power-update-jade-cargills-wwe-status-road-wrestlemania-40/

Undertaker Talks WWE’s Current Backstage Atmosphere, Positives Of Triple H Being In Charge.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/undertaker-talks-wwes-current-backstage-atmosphere-positives-triple-h-charge/

WRESTLING RUMORS: WWE’s Plans For The Rock’s Heel Turn, What He Will Be Drawing From.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-wwes-plans-rocks-heel-turn-will-drawing/

Even More: What Else Happened At Monday Night Raw (Exclusive Live Report).

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/even-else-happened-monday-night-raw-exclusive-live-report/

In And Out: LA Knight Replacing Brock Lesnar In Important Spot.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/la-knight-replacing-brock-lesnar-important-spot/

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).

Monday Night Raw
Date: February 12, 2024
Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Commentators: Pa McAfee, Michael Cole

We’re less than two months away from Wrestlemania and now we seem to have a main event. Cody Rhodes is going to be challenging Roman Reigns, presumably on night two, but that leaves a lot to cover on the first night. Other than that, this week is going to be about Elimination Chamber qualifying matches so let’s get to it.

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

I was in the arena for this show, sitting in the upper deck with the Titantron to my upper left.

Jey Uso/New Day vs. Imperium

Jey gets a crazy strong reaction to his entrance, with the fans going coconuts over the hand wave dance. Kofi and Kaiser start things off with Kofi slugging away, including a dropkick and clothesline. Woods comes in to stomp away in the corner, followed by Kofi and Jey getting to do the same. It’s off to Gunther to face Uso, but instead he walks around for a bit before handing it back to Vinci.

A cheap shot takes Uso down and now Gunther is willing to come in and chop away. Uso gets knocked to the floor and we take a break. Back with Jey fighting out of a chinlock and handing it back to Kofi to clean house. A top rope splash to the back of a standing Kaiser puts him down and Kofi hits the New Day Drop on Vinci. Kaiser is back up to ram Kofi into the steps though and Kaiser adds a boot to the face for two.

Gunther comes back in for a Boston crab so Jey comes in and slaps him square in the face. You do NOT do that to Gunther, who is rather annoyed as we take another break. Back again with Kofi backdropping his way to freedom and handing it back to Jey to clean house. Jey superkicks a springboarding Vinci out of the air and now we get the showdown with Gunther.

An enziguri staggers Gunther and a high crossbody gets two. The spear is cut off though and Gunther cleans house, setting up a hard clothesline for two more. Back up and Jey spears Gunther for two but Kaiser makes the save. Vinci walks into a three man 1D, leaving Kofi to dive onto Kaiser. The Superfly Splash finishes Vinci at 19:50.

Rating: B. This match managed to serve two purposes at once, as Uso looked like an absolute star who could be the one to take out Gunther. The fans lit up when he came to the ring and then the slap made things even better. In addition, you had a heck of a tag match with everyone working hard and nearly twenty minutes flying by. Heck of an opener.

Long recap of the Wrestlemania press event with Rock turning heel and joining Roman Reigns, at least for the time being.

Andrade talks about how much he loves wrestling and goes through his title history. He left in 2021 to remember who he was, but now he’s back.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Bobby Lashley vs. Bronson Reed

Reed powers him into the corner but has to cut off a Hurt Lock attempt. An early spear attempt sends Lashley shoulder first into the post though and Reed knocks him into the timekeeper’s area. We take a break and come back with Reed hitting some hard clotheslines. A Downward Spiral gives Lashley two and a suplex is good for the same. Reed hits a superkick into a Death Valley Driver for two but Lashley is back up with a spinebuster. Reed comes back with a release Rock Bottom and a backsplash before going up. That takes way too long though and Lashley slams him down, setting up the spear for the pin at 8:37.

Rating: C+. This was a fun hoss fight with Lashley being able to throw around a monster like Reed. That suplex and the slam off the top both looked good and the match worked well. I’m also a bit surprised there was no screwiness from someone like Karrion Kross to cost Lashley the match and send Reed to the Chamber in his home country but they went with the logical move instead.

We look at the end of last week’s show, with Sami Zayn saving Cody Rhodes from an attack at the hands of Shinsuke Nakamura and Drew McIntyre.

Earlier today, Zayn sat in an empty arena, who said that he has been through a lot of problems and setbacks, but he will be a champion. Nakamura popped up on screen to say that Zayn sounded like Rhodes so Nakamura needs to stop him. A match was set up for later tonight.

Here is Cody Rhodes for a chat and he gets right to the point: he’s challenging Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. He can do that because of the fans, who made their voices heard online after….well he doesn’t say what caused it (him giving away his shot against Reigns in the first place). Rhodes doesn’t want to get too emotional though, because it might make him a crybaby.

We see the Rock on the Pat McAfee Show, dubbing the term Cody Crybabies. Rock also lists some things that those crybabies can do with chicken nuggets, which has Rhodes so confused that he asks McAfee what Rock said. Rhodes didn’t like Rock putting his hands on him and slapping him across the face so Rhodes is going to hit back. Cue Seth Rollins to interrupt so the fans get to sing a bit.

Rhodes thanks him for the help against the Rock, with Rollins wondering what else can he say except you’re welcome. Rollins says Rhodes needs to finish his story at Wrestlemania because if he doesn’t, everything changes after the match. Reigns shows up and defends the title even less so this is their last chance to take the title and give it to the people. While Rhodes might be the man, he needs a plan.

Last year he got cheated out of the title and now the pressure is even high but it’s even more complicated because of the Rock. Rollins says Rhodes can’t do that on his own because he is tired for Reigns and Rock getting away with this stuff. We hear about Rollins helping Reigns become who he is today but there is one man suited to be Rhodes’ Shield. That man is an architect and a visionary, which seems to leave Rhodes a lot to think about. Rollins was bringing the emotion here but it feels like he’s being set up to cost Rhodes the title at Wrestlemania.

New Day and Jey Uso are happy with their win, but to make it even better, Jey is getting an Intercontinental Title shot next week.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Liv Morgan vs. Zoey Stark

Before the match, we get quick vignettes from both women about how much it would mean to go on to Wrestlemania. Stark misses a shot in the corner, allowing Morgan to stomp away. Back up and Stark hits a running clothesline, only for Morgan to snap off a hurricanrana. A springboard kick to the face puts Stark down and they fight to the apron. Stark Death Valley Drives her onto the apron and we take a break.

Back with Morgan hitting a middle rope Codebreaker for two but Starks’ powerbomb out of the corner gets the same. Another Codebreaker is countered into a catapult into the corner and a superkick drops Morgan for two. Stark takes a good bit too long going up top though and misses a flip dive, allowing Morgan to hit a quick Codebreaker. Oblivion finishes Stark at 9:13.

Rating: C+. They were trading some nice stuff here and while the ending wasn’t exactly in doubt, it was nice to see Morgan putting in the extra effort to win here. She’s being treated as a fairly big deal and that could make a difference for her in the Chamber. Stark is someone with a good bit of skill in her own right, but at some point she needs to win something on her own and that hasn’t happened yet.

R-Truth talks about how JD McDonagh needs to come to reality, but Damian Priest cuts him off. He’s tired of all this because it was never an initiation or anything like that. Tonight, when McDonagh faces R-Truth, it’s an execution.

Post break, R-Truth is trying to find out if Miz can get here from Los Angeles in time for his match.

R-Truth vs. JD McDonagh

So there is no Miz, but there is the rest of Judgment Day minus Rhea Ripley (and McDonagh as he’s kind of busy). R-Truth sends him into the corner to start and hits a splash in the corner. An AA sends McDonagh outside and we take a break. Back with R-Truth hitting John Cena’s finishing sequence but the ax kick misses, allowing McDonagh to hit the Devil Inside (a Saito suplex) for the pin at 6:38.

Rating: C. They barely had any time (at least that we saw) and in the end, having McDonagh beat R-Truth clean is a weird way to go. While R-Truth is pretty much bullet proof and isn’t likely to lose anything serious by being pinned here, I’m not sure why we didn’t get some kind of interference. The match itself was barely anything, but it also didn’t show that R-Truth needs help, because he lost a match straight up without any interference.

Post match the beatdown is on but DIY runs in with chairs for the save.

Cody Rhodes thanks Sami Zayn for his help last week.

Here is Becky Lynch for a chat. After accepting a prom invitation for 2034, Lynch talks about how crazy the Road to Wrestlemania has already been. She loves this, starting with the time she first set foot in the ring when she was 15. Wrestling is what let her meet her husband, have her daughter and cause her to miss her father’s funeral. It’s also left her having some weird conversations with her daughter like why her mom’s face is busted open, why her shoulder is banged up and she can’t pick her up….and why Daddy wants to fight Maui (Rock’s character in Moana).

Lynch knows a lot of people love Rhea Ripley and people believe no one can beat her, but Lynch isn’t anyone. She gets a drink from ringside and drinks a toast to Ripley’s last few days as champion. Cue Nia Jax, who talks about how she wishes her mother was half the woman Lynch is. She sounds rather emotional as she talks about how Lynch is going to win at Elimination Chamber. Just like she’s going to beat Ripley….who interrupts for the fight. Lynch gets crushed in the corner though and dropkicks Jax out to the floor. They almost have to go with Lynch vs. Ripley at Wrestlemania and that’s not a bad way to go.

Drew McIntyre talks about how he’s the only unselfish person around here. Cody Rhodes needs to take himself out of their match next week because the only things you don’t want to be are in his prayers or in a fight with him. Now Cody won’t be going to Wrestlemania, just like CM Punk.

R-Truth thanks DIY for their help….but thinks they’re DX. R-Truth: “How is Road Dogg?”

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: LA Knight vs. Ivar

Valhalla is here too and yes Cole does the antlers joke again. Knight starts fast and knocks Ivar outside for a bunch of rams into the announcers’ table. Ivar sends him into the barricade for a crossbody against said barricade and we take a break. Back with Knight running the corner to superplex him down, only to fail in a powerslam attempt. Ivar’s Tour of the Islands connects and a tiger bomb gets two. Ivar misses a knee though and now the powerslam can connect for two of his own. The BFT is blocked though and Ivar kicks him down, only to miss the Doomsault. Now the BFT can send Knight to Elimination Chamber at 8:26.

Rating: C. This was a different way to go than the Lashley vs. Ivar match and it went well enough. Knight wasn’t about to lose to Ivar, though the good thing is Ivar was built enough for the last few weeks that he was someone who could be a problem for Knight without being a threat. That makes for a slightly more interesting match, though the match not running incredibly long helped.

Sami Zayn runs into Drew McIntyre, who wants Zayn to keep his name out of his mouth. Zayn says McIntyre is in his way, so McIntyre steps aside.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows, including a Last Chance battle royal for the last spot in the women’s Elimination Chamber.

Chelsea Green is NOT happy with being in the battle royal with people like Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae, who are there. She also yells about Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark, who pop in behind her. Green yells at Adam Pearce for seeing Baszler and Stark coming but not saying anything. Management WILL be notified.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn

Nakamura kicks him in the ribs to start but Zayn sends him to the floor and bounces back to the middle. We take an early break and come back with Zayn hitting a middle rope elbow to the head but Nakamura chokes him in the corner. Nakamura kicks him in the head though and we hit the chinlock.

Zayn fights up and hits a quick Michinoku Driver for two so they can both have a breather. A clothesline puts Nakamura on the floor and there’s a big flip dive, with Nakamura not exactly catching him so Zayn hits the floor HARD. We take another break and come back with an exchange of forearms until Nakamura kicks him in the head. Zayn is right back up with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two and Nakamura rolls outside.

We go old school with Zayn trying a diving DDT over the bottom rope, only to get hit in the face. Back in and Nakamura hits a middle rope knee to the back of the head, followed by another one for another two. Zayn is back up with a heck of a clothesline and then the exploder into the corner. The Helluva Kick is loaded up but cue Drew McIntyre for a distraction. Nakamura kicks Zayn’s knee out and hits a running knee to the back of the head for the pin at 17:07.

Rating: B-. While it wasn’t quite their masterpiece in Dallas eight years ago, it was still good stuff with both of them hitting each other rather hard. The ending was part of Zayn’s issues as he continues his downward spiral. I’m not sure where that’s going to go, but hopefully it isn’t a heel turn as Zayn getting into the title hunt as the big underdog could be incredible.

Post match the double beatdown is on, with Cody Rhodes running in for the save.

Overall Rating: B-. The opener was rather good but the rest of the matches were little more than ok, which can often be the case with WWE qualifying matches. They didn’t really do anything big here, but next week’s show with Uso getting his Intercontinental Title shot and Rhodes vs. Nakamura should be more than enough. This wasn’t a show with the big stuff going on and it’s ok to lighten things a bit every so often. That was the case here and while it wasn’t a great show, it covered some things before we can get to the bigger stuff in the future.

Results
New Day/Jey Uso b. Imperium – Superfly Splash to Vinci
Bobby Lashley b. Bronson Reed – Spear
Liv Morgan b. Zoey Stark – Oblivion
JD McDonagh b. R-Truth – Devil Inside
LA Knight b. Ivar – BFT
Shinsuke Nakamura b. Sami Zayn – Running knee to the back of the head

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

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

AND

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