Impact Wrestling – September 20, 2019: Attempted Murder, Farewell And Cheat Food

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 20, 2019
Location: Fronton Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Don Callis

I’m pretty sure this is the final show in Mexico and that might be the best thing for everyone involved. These shows haven’t been the most consistent with a cross between horrible and entertaining enough. Tonight is all about LAX, who are having their farewell match before heading off to AEW. Let’s get to it.

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

Instead of the usual opening sequence, we get a nice retrospective on Santana and Ortiz, which is more than deserved.

Opening sequence.

OVE vs. Tessa Blanchard/Rob Van Dam/Rhino/Tommy Dreamer

Street fight so the slugout is on in a hurry. Sami and Van Dam are left alone in the ring with Rob kicking him down and hitting Rolling Thunder. Tessa and Jake take their places with Tessa crotching him in the corner to take over. The running Codebreaker out of the corner puts them both on the floor so it’s Fulton coming back in to slug it out with Rhino. With Rhino not having the best luck, Dreamer comes back in and hits a cutter on Fulton, who pops back up with a big boot.

Dave gets backdropped onto the pile at ringside and Tommy follows with the fall (there was a lack of diving) off the top. Van Dam hits his own flip dive, leaving Sami vs. Tessa inside. Another cutter drops Sami but Dave superplexes Tessa onto the pile again. Back in and Rhino no sells a suplex from Sami and it’s time for the parade of people knocking each other down with one shot. Tessa tornado DDTs Fulton but he’s right back up with a gorilla press so Jake can come in off the top with a big cutter.

Dreamer and Van Dam bring in a kendo stick with Rhino sliding in a table for a bonus. Before Dave can go through it though, Sami low blows Dreamer and Rhino. Dreamer grabs Sami with a groin claw though and Rhino Gores Dave through the table. The Five Star hits Jake and Tessa puts on the Crossface with the kendo stick to make Jake tap at 9:49.

Rating: C+. Not bad here with the ECW people being rather unnecessary supporting stars for Tessa. In theory this should set her up for the X-Division Title shot at Bound For Glory while the ECW people do….whatever it is that they do when they’re not on Impact. It was a pretty entertaining match, but I can’t help sighing whenever the ECW guys show up.

Ace Austin shows up in a wheelchair and neck brace but promises to be here for Alisha Edwards. He smirks at the camera after she leaves. This is another example of a story that would be over as soon as anyone involved watched the show.

We see LAX’s first Tag Team Title win.

The North is ready to celebrate LAX leaving, and they even have a pinata.

The announcers preview the show.

Alisha Edwards vs. Taya Valkyrie

Non-title. Alisha mocks Taya’s gyrating entrance and gets taken down for some right hands to the head. Cue Ace in his wheelchair as Taya chokes in the corner. Alisha manages to send her into the corner and hits a basement dropkick, followed by a Downward Spiral for two as John E. Bravo put Taya’s foot on the rope. Ace pops out of the chair and does his handstand on the apron into the kick to Bravo, with Alisa somehow not seeing any of it. Taya gets in a cheap shot and hits the Road To Valhalla for the pin at 3:24.

Rating: D. This story isn’t doing much for me whenever Eddie isn’t involved as Alisha isn’t all that good. Taya needs a big time opponent for Bound For Glory and I’m not sure who that is going to be. There are a lot of possible options but none of them really stand out above the others. The bigger problem though is Alisha looking rather ridiculous to not get what is going on, as apparently NO ONE in the company has told her a thing about what is going on in the ring and backstage.

Post match Alisha checks on Ace.

The North is looking for people to join their party (with Alexander no selling the whole thing). They run into Rob Van Dam and Rhino, the latter of whom rips up their pinata. I think we have our new #1 contenders.

Gama Singh introduces Mahabali Shera as the newest member of the Desi Hit Squad.

Mahabali Shera vs. Cody Deaner

Shera drives him straight into the corner and starts hammering away, followed by a neckbreaker to keep Cody in trouble. Cody slugs away and hits a suicide dive onto the rest of the Squad, only to dive into a chokeslam back inside. A World’s Strongest Slam ends Cody at 2:47. Shera looks great now but the Squad’s entire gimmick of being from India is still not enough to make me care.

Classic LAX moment: the street fight with the OGz.

We get what looks to be a glitch as Melissa Santos pops up with headphones in her ears, looking like she’s ready for a Skype interview before disappearing after about a second.

Rascalz vs. Australian Suicide/Toxin/Arez

The Rascalz jump the not quite named luchadors to start and hit stereo suicide dives. We settle down to Trey wristdragging Australian into a dropkick to the floor. Toxin comes in for a bunch of flips into a brainbuster to send Trey outside, with Dezmond flipping in to strike away. Arez comes in for a backbreaker on Dezmond so Wentz comes back in for a springboard spinning crossbody.

The Rascalz are sent outside for a big corkscrew dive from Toxin, followed by dives from the other two. Back in and the Rascalz are fine enough to hit a Burning Hammer/top rope double stomp combination to Toxin but Australian makes a save with a moonsault. A superkick into the push moonsault finishes Australian at 4:38.

Rating: C. This is the kind of match that is always going to work because it’s such pure insanity that is just entertaining. I’m not sure who the Rascalz will be fighting at Bound For Glory but it better be someone rather big, as the team deserves a high profile match. They don’t seem to get that around here, but they should be getting one.

Moose is walking the streets of Mexico City and looks for a fight. He finds and wins one while shouting for Ken Shamrock.

Various wrestlers (including Tommy Dreamer of course) are in Las Vegas for Brian Cage’s bachelor party. More on this later.

We get a sitdown interview with Tenille Dashwood, who is happy to be here because she hasn’t faced a lot of the Knockouts. She wrestled Taya Valkyrie in Taya’s first match and it went badly for Taya. Now it’s all about her.

Jessika Havok vs. Su Yung

No DQ. Havok has a staple gun and jumps Su during the entrance to start the fighting in a hurry. Su gets in a few shots of her own but Havok follows her outside. Old School on the barricade is easily broken up and it’s time for a ladder to be brought in. Su grabs a hanging Pedigree and dodges a charge in the corner to send Havok into a chair. Yung grabs the staple gun and stabs Havok in the….somewhere, setting up a cannonball off the apron. The bloody glove is loaded up but Havok Tombstones her for the pin at 6:07.

Rating: D+. This feud hasn’t been interesting since the start as it’s been so all over the place that it’s hard to keep track of why they’re fighting in the first place. Or maybe it’s just not interesting enough to make me want to keep track of the thing. Yung was interesting when she came in but they booked her like any other Knockout for so long that the impact is long gone.

Post match Su pops up and Mandible Claws Havok before pelting a chair at her head. They fight to the back with a quickly edited brawl up a stairwell. Havok grabs a rope and hangs Su over the stairs….and we see the legs hanging as we have our latest murder.

And now, Melissa Santos’ bachelorette party with the Knockouts attending and Taya making it all about her. Joey Ryan shows up as the stripper and I’ve seen more convincing acting on Total Divas.

Cage’s bachelor party includes him eating a bunch of cheat foods. Dreamer: “This is kind of turning me on.”

Classic LAX: Barbed Wire Massacre III vs. OVE.

Flashback Moment of the Week: Shane Douglas vs. Raven in a hair vs. hair match from 2003.

Next week: Johnny Swinger.

Bound For Glory rundown.

LAX vs. Rich Swann/Willie Mack

Everyone shakes hands to start as they’re all friends here. Santana and Swann start things off and it’s an early trip to the mat for a standoff. They both flip out of hurricanrana attempts so Swann hits a dropkick for the first real offense. Santana takes him into the corner though and it’s Ortiz coming in for the rapid fire double teaming. Ortiz slaps on a Boston crab but it’s quickly back to Santana, who gets armdragged into the corner.

It’s off to Mack, who gets double dropkicked for his efforts. Mack and Swann are fine enough to run Santana over and put him in trouble for the first time. Ortiz gets caught in a Samoan drop so the standing moonsault can connect for two. Back from a break with Ortiz being caught in the wrong corner for more chops. The chinlock goes on for a bit until Ortiz jawbreaks his way to freedom.

Ortiz manages to drop Mack though and it’s a double knockdown for a breather. The hot(ish) tag brings in Santana for a running kick to Mack’s chest as everything breaks down. Ortiz comes back in off a blind tag and an assisted powerslam gets two. Everything breaks down and a reverse Razor’s Edge/top rope flipping neckbreaker plant Santana for two more.

A dragon screw legwhip drops Mack and a powerbomb puts Swann down but Santana can’t cover. Two more powerbomb get two on Swann but somehow he’s fine enough to slip out of the Street Sweeper. The super hurricanrana sets up Mack’s frog splash for two, followed by a bunch of kicks to Santana’s head. The handspring cutter into the Stunner into the Phoenix splash into the frog splash finish Santana and LAX at 18:38.

Rating: B. This worked well and that shouldn’t be surprising in the slightest. LAX has been one of the best teams in the world for a very long time now and it is no shock that they can have a very good match with a team as good as Swann and Mack. They deserve the big sendoff and that’s what they got, as the AEW Tag Team Titles are next up.

The locker room comes out to send LAX off.

Su Yung wakes up in the hospital. Apparently she’s murder proof.

Overall Rating: C-. The main event helped but it’s clear that there are a lot of things on this show that aren’t working. It feels like so many of the stories are just thrown together with no direction in mind and they’re hoping for the best. Bound For Glory is looking ok at best, as we spent this week with two Tommy Dreamer segments, the ECW guys being set up as title contenders and a case of murder before a nice sendoff. That’s as all over the place as you can get and while they still have time, it’s not making Bound For Glory look great.

Results

Tessa Blanchard/Rob Van Dam/Rhino/Tommy Dreamer b. OVE – Crossface with a kendo stick to Dave Crist

Taya Valkyrie b. Alisha Edwards – Road To Valhalla

Mahabali Shera b. Cody Deaner – World’s Strongest Slam

Rascalz b. Toxin/Arez/Australian Suicide – Push moonsault to Australian Suicide

Jessika Havok b. Su Yung – Tombstone

Rich Swann/Willie Mack b. LAX – Frog splash to Santana

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/


And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:


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




205 Live – September 17, 2019: A Dull Way To Get Ready To Go Out

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 17, 2019
Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Dio Maddin, Vic Joseph, Aiden English

Things might be starting to wrap up around here as the show’s future isn’t clear due to Smackdown moving to Fridays. There is a chance that 205 Live continues there, but HHH has made it clear that the show is going to be more integrated into NXT, as it should have been all along. I’m not sure what to expect here, but we do need a new #1 contender. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Sunday’s Cruiserweight Title match with Drew Gulak retaining the title over Humberto Carrillo and Lince Dorado.

Opening sequence.

Lince Dorado vs. Ariya Daivari

Daivari talks trash to him to start, saying that he could have made Dorado champion. Dorado sends him outside for a pair of dives to start and there’s a running hurricanrana off the barricade to make it worse. Back in and Dorado has to bail out of the shooting star press but the knee is banged up to let Daivari take over.

The chinlock goes on but the knee is fine enough for a springboard spinning crossbody for two on Daivari. Dorado’s comeback is countered into a quickly broken sleeper so a springboard backflip kick to the head puts Daivari down. A high crossbody gives Dorado two but Daivari crotches him on top. The Iconoclasm gives Daivari his own two but Dorado is back up with a superkick.

Two Super Crazy style moonsaults connect until Daivari grabs a Rock Bottom for two more. The hammerlock lariat is countered and they trade some rollups for two each. Daivari gets the better of a slugout and puts him on top, which just seems like a bad idea. The superplex attempt is broken up and it’s the shooting star press to give Dorado the pin at 12:16.

Rating: C+. These two went back and forth and it was entertaining enough. Daivari has gotten that much better just because he isn’t talking all the time or being the standard rich heel. It seems that the story between these two is done as there is no reason for them to keep fighting, but that has never stopped things around here before.

We recap Tony Nese snapping on Oney Lorcan a few weeks back, setting up their match tonight.

Lorcan promises to hurt Nese worse tonight. Then he’s coming for the Cruiserweight Title again.

Jack Gallagher vs. Brian Kendrick

During the entrances, Kendrick says he’s been looking forward to showing Gallagher what respect looks like. Gallagher takes him to the mat for some early arm bending, until Kendrick winds up on top for two. Back up and Gallagher does his handstand in the corner to stop Kendrick again and they head outside with Kendrick being whipped into the barricade. Gallagher wants Tozawa gone….and there’s a kendo stick shot to the back to disqualify Kendrick at 3:05.

Rating: D+. Well that….kind of happened. I’d assume this sets up a No DQ rematch next week on what could be the last show, which makes sense as this story has been building up for a long time now. It’s a rather understated feud but it’s certainly there, so maybe we can get something out of it to wrap things up nicely.

Post match Kendrick beats on Gallagher with the stick and even chokes him with it. Tozawa breaks it u but Kendrick beats him down with the stick as well.

Humberto Carrillo says he’ll get another chance and win the Cruiserweight Title.

Oney Lorcan vs. Tony Nese

They go straight to the slugout on the mat until Lorcan forearms him in the back to take over. Right hands in the corner have Nese in more trouble and they head outside. Nese is fine enough to send him into the barricade, followed by a slam through the announcers’ table. After a dive to beat the count back in, Lorcan gets kicked in the face for two.

A hard whip into the corner gets the same and it’s a one armed delayed suplex to stay on the back. We hit the bodyscissors, followed by a shot to Lorcan’s throat. Nese misses a springboard though and Lorcan snaps off some chops. The running Blockbuster puts Nese on the floor and Lorcan sends him hard into the barricade.

That works so well that Lorcan does it again and throws Nese back in for a rather hard clothesline. The pumphandle slam and half and half are both countered, with Nese hitting a double stomp to the chest for two. Lorcan slips out of the sunset driver and a running uppercut puts Nese on the floor again. Hold on though as here’s Drew Gulak for a distraction, allowing Nese to roll Lorcan up and grab some trunks for the pin at 15:22.

Rating: C+. Nese and Gulak being back together isn’t the most thrilling story in the world, though they are at least suggesting that it’s a ruse by Nese to get closer to Gulak and get the title back. I’m not exactly waiting to see what is going on for Tony Nese and Lorcan losing again doesn’t instill me with confidence. Fine enough match, but there was a firm ceiling on the amount of interest.

Overall Rating: C. If 205 Live is coming to an end after this month, I really don’t think I’ll mind all that much. The show can be outstanding at times, but how often is it something like this, where it’s just a match that comes and goes with nothing all that great to the whole thing? It’s still an entertaining enough show, but it’s the kind of show that I wouldn’t miss most weeks. With so many other big things going on, a very minor league show with a hit and miss record isn’t the most interesting thing. I’ll watch it as long as it’s around, but they need to find something a little more thrilling than what they have right now.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/


And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:


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




Ring of Honor TV – September 18, 2019: From One Week To Another

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: September 18, 2019
Location: Center Stage Theater, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman
Hosts: Quinn McKay, Ian Riccaboni

I’m not sure what to expect from this show anymore as it has gone from one match a week to a few matches a week to one really big match a week and it’s hard to say what to expect. Odds are it’s more from the Atlanta tapings and that….could mean a variety of things, which tends to be the case around here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Clips of various Lifeblood vs. Villain Enterprises matches.

Clips of the Briscoes vs. the Rock N Roll Express for the Tag Team Titles in Nashville. The Express didn’t die so we’ll call that a moral victory. It did seem to be a hot match.

Marty Scurll says he’s on top of the wrestling world but can’t help being frustrated over Bandido. He doesn’t need to hide behind a mask like Bandido.

Bandido yells in Spanish.

Clips of Angelina Love beating Sumie Sakai thanks to some hair spray to the face.

Kelly Klein is ready to beat Love at Death Before Dishonor.

Shane Taylor is ready for Mark Haskins and Flip Gordon.

Rhett Titus has been thinking about what Kenny King said and he’s going to treat every match like his first and last.

Rhett Titus vs. Shaheem Ali

Titus goes straight to the armbar to start but Ali flips up in a hurry. A headlock on the mat works a little better for Titus as it takes a full five seconds before it’s broken up. An elbow to the jaw has Ali bailing into the corner but he’s fine enough for a slam and a splash for two. Titus’ high crossbody gets the same and we take a break.

Back with Titus flipping out of a belly to back suplex and throwing Ali down with a belly to belly. A northern lights suplex gives Titus two more and he wins a chop off for a bonus. Ali gets dropkicked to the floor and has to counter a slingshot dive into an overhead suplex. The frog splash gets two so Ali tries it again, with the sequel only hitting mat. Titus nails a cyclone boot for the pin at 8:42.

Rating: D+. This one just happened and that’s about as good as I can get about it. What exactly are you expecting from a Rhett Titus match? He hasn’t meant much since the All Night Express and I don’t exactly see this “I really love wrestling and my family” run as being much better. Maybe he can get somewhere with it, though his career path so far would suggest otherwise.

Matt Taven talks about losing his hair to Rush in Mexico City a year ago. He owes Rush a thank you for that because it inspired him to be better. Now nothing happens unless he says so because he is Matt Taven.

Next week: Lifeblood vs. Villain Enterprises. Again.

Bandido vs. Marty Scurll

The fans are VERY into both of them here. We get a handshake, with Bandido being nervous but going through with it, earning some applause from Scurll. Marty wrestles him to the mat to start and an early standoff takes us to a break. Back with Marty “accidentally” poking him in the eye, though Bandido is fine enough to superkick him outside. Scurll hits his own superkick on the floor to take over and he even heads into the crowd for a quick bow.

Back in and a slingshot into an arrogant cover gets two on Bandido as the fans are eating Marty up here. There’s a surfboard double knee stomp to slow Bandido down and the knee gives out on a gorilla press attempt. The knee is fine enough for a springboard spinning crossbody and a cutter puts Marty on the floor for a big flip dive. Back from another break with Marty suplexing him for a double knockdown.

A tornado DDT looks to set up a chickenwing but Marty settles for a pumphandle Ghostbuster for two more instead. The chickenwing is broken up again so Marty snaps off a half and half suplex instead. Bandido is right back up with a shot to the face and they’re both down for a breather.

Marty teases a chop off before punching Bandido in the face, only to have a middle rope hurricanrana countered into a buckle bomb. The 21 Plex is countered so Bandido hits a standing shooting star press for two instead. The superplex moonsault World’s Strongest Slam plants Marty but he’s fine enough to pull Bandido into the chickenwing. That’s broken up so Marty hits Black Plague for the pin at 19:43.

Rating: B. Sometimes the solution is to just have two popular guys do a bunch of stuff to each other for twenty minutes and let the fans go nuts. That’s what they did here and the match was a blast as a result. They didn’t need to go any more complicated than that and we can get one more big team match between the groups next week, because that’s what works best around here. I’ll take it over whatever else we can get and it should be another fun match, just like this one.

Overall Rating: C+. As usual, these shows pretty much just jump from one week to the next with very little way of knowing if next week’s is going to be any better or worse. This one was fine enough with a good main event, and that’s often enough to carry them week to week. They need to get to Death Before Dishonor already though so something can happen, though I have no idea where they are supposed to go after that, which has been the case for a very long time now.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/


And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:


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




Pacific Coast Wrestling – Relentless: WHAT THE HECK

Relentless
Date: June 4, 2016
Location: Oak Street Gym, Torrence, California
Commentators: Christian Cole, Todd Keneley

I’m finally finishing up a set of DVDs I bought (just as another set is almost delivered) with another show from Pacific Coast Wrestling. One of the earlier DVDs was their first event and while this is their third, I skipped over the second after their lackluster offering last time. It’s a pretty small looking indy company, but maybe things can get better with a little more experience. Let’s get to it.

Quick welcome from the announcers.

Opening sequence.

Joe Graves vs. Hammerstone

Hammerstone would go on to bulk up (though he’s big here) and become a pretty awesome power guy in MLW. Graves is fresh off beating Timothy Thatcher in a rematch at the second show. They shake hands to start and Graves bails into the corner for a bit. With that out of the way, Graves takes him down for a quick choke, followed by a crucifix for two. Graves cranks on the arms until Hammerstone makes it over to the rope for a much needed break. Hammerstone tries to pick up the pace so Graves bails to the floor, only to get taken down with a baseball slide.

Just because he can, Hammerstone hits a big flip dive to drop Graves again. An overhead belly to belly on the floor makes it even worse for Graves as Hammerstone is getting to show off here. Back in and we hit the abdominal stretch with Hammerstone slapping the side for some added effect. A reverse AA into a GTS sends Graves to the apron, where he grabs a half nelson suplex to drop Hammerstone for a change.

Graves’ crossarm choke doesn’t last long either as Hammerstone slips out and hits an enziguri. The pace picks up with Hammerstone nailing a superkick and a big boot for two. Graves is right back with a German suplex for the same, followed by something like a triangle choke to make Hammerstone tap at 10:59.

Rating: B-. You could see the star power in Hammerstone here as he had a ton of energy and his power stuff looked good. Graves has the wrestling/submission skills to look like a killer and that made for a nice match here. This was already better than most of the matches on the first show so they’re off to a much better start.

Graves says that he proved himself against a man worthy of being his partner. He’s banged up but he won and now he wants the soon to be established PCW Title.

Video on the Almighty Sheik vs. Douglas James in tonight’s main event.

Reno Scum vs. Los Luchas

These teams fought in the GFW Tag Team Title tournament so this won’t be as fresh. Thornstowe and Zokre start things off with Phoenix grabbing Thornstowe from the apron like a rudo would. I mean they’re technicos but they did it anyway. Thornstowe’s dropkick puts Zokre down but Phoenix is right there with a double 619. Scum bails to the floor for a breather until Luster comes in. That’s fine with Phoenix who sunset flips him for two but Thornstowe pulls Zokre to the floor.

That leaves Phoenix to get beaten up in the corner with Luster dropping a headbutt for two. We go old school with a Pit Stop before the chinlock goes on to keep Phoenix down. A You Can’t See Me moonsault hits Phoenix and a bunch of people in John Cena shirts are VERY pleased. Phoenix hits a dropkick to get a breather, allowing for the hot tag to Zokre for a springboard clothesline to Thornstowe.

Scum bails to the floor but a slingshot dive is caught. That’s fine with Zokre, who flip dives onto all three for the big knockdown. Back in and Phoenix misses a moonsault, setting up a toss cutter from Thornstowe. Zokre comes in as well with a Blockbuster onto Star’s knees for two but it’s Poetry in Motion into a double stomp to the back of Star’s head. The Scum Stomp (top rope Stomp) finishes Star at 9:01.

Rating: C+. These teams have always felt low rent but they had a nice match here and that’s more than I would have bet on. They’re getting ready for the Tag Team Titles so it makes sense to have a nice match here. Scum is likely to get a title reign sooner rather than later and that makes sense for a promotion like this.

In the back, Scum brags about their win and want a shot at the Keepers of the Faith.

Kevin Martenson vs. Timothy Thatcher

Martenson is a little odd, including standing on his head and clapping his feet together during his entrance. Thatcher has the New World Symphony for his theme music, which would later be used by Walter. The fans are behind Thatcher here, as they probably should be. Martenson heads to the floor at the bell because he’s a little out there, followed by a standoff back inside as we hear about Martenson being part of a southern California faction called Vermin.

Thatcher can’t get very far with a pull of the leg but goes with something like an STF to bend Martenson in a disturbing way. With that broken up, it’s off to a modified surfboard as Martenson gets bent even more. Back up and Martenson manages a quick suplex into the corner to bang up Thatcher’s leg and take over for the first time. The leg gets tied in the ropes for a kick to the knee , allowing Martenson to chill on the barricade for a bit.

Back in and Martenson stays on the knee by slamming it into the mat but a springboard is broken up with an uppercut. Martenson is right back with a double stomp to the chest and a kick to the face for two. The required Sharpshooter goes on but Thatcher slips out and goes to a Fujiwara armbar. A rope is grabbed so Martenson slips out and grabs a rollup, with rope, for the pin at 13:05.

Rating: C. The ending felt rather out of place after a long match focused on the leg, but it does make sense after Martenson couldn’t win with the submission stuff and Thatcher was starting to come back. Martenson cut things off before Thatcher could get that far so while it does make sense, it came out of nowhere. Martenson is one of those CRAZY characters who is off before the match and then wrestles a completely logical match the rest of the way, which kind of defeats the point of the whole character. Thatcher was good as usual, though it’s weird to see him as a face.

Almighty Sheik vs. Douglas James

This is Sheik’s first match with traditional rules. Before the match, Sheik’s manager MK takes credit for Sheik being officially ranked around here, though he should be ranked #1. See, Sheik is awesome and all that jazz and James is going to lose. James is a bit small but has a ju-jitsu background. They start slowly until an early dropkick puts Sheik on the floor. Douglas gets him into a chase for a bit and you can see Sheik getting frustrated.

Back in and Sheik’s bearhug is broken up with some jabs to the face. That’s fine with Sheik, who throws it outside and whips James into the barricade to start the brawling. James gets draped across the top but since the referee is with MK, Sheik gets in a chair shot to the back to make it worse. The bloody James is sent back inside and Sheik bites the cut to showcase some blood hungriness.

James gets in a crossbody and a dropkick but gets sent hard outside again. Sheik goes to get a chair but manages to hit a fan with it first, possibly knocking the chlorophyll out of him. For some reason the commentators start impersonating Mike Tenay, Tony Schiavone and Tazz as James goes back inside and dropkicks Sheik into the referee. The frog splash hits the referee so the ensuing superkick gets no count. Sheik is back up with a powerbomb and the camel clutch finishes James at 10:01.

Rating: D+. Not bad but nothing more than a way to establish Sheik as a big time heel. That has been known since the promotion debuted but they needed to make it clear against someone other than MVP. James is a rather small guy and while Sheik isn’t a giant, he’s a lot bigger than James and it wasn’t the most impressive looking win.

Ryan Taylor vs. Scorpio Sky

Taylor is just a guy in trunks. Feeling out process to start with Sky countering a headlock takeover with a headscissors. Back up and Taylor spins him around into a rollup for two and it’s another standoff. Sky takes him down with a test of strength but can’t break Taylor’s bridge. They trade armdrags and it’s another standoff so they can both stand in the corner. Taylor takes him down and uppercuts him in the corner, setting up a jackknife cover for two as they’re certainly taking their time here.

Sky gets knocked outside and it’s a suplex onto the apron to really put him in trouble for the first time. Taylor drops him throat first across the barricade and that’s nearly good enough for a countout. Sky’s right hands don’t get him anywhere and Taylor knocks him right back down. It’s time to work on the arm but Taylor lets go to talk trash, allowing Sky to punch him in the knee.

The arm is so banged up that Sky can’t even whip him into the corner, so it’s a suplex into the corner to rock Taylor instead. Some running knees in the corner set up a Side Effect for two but Taylor is right back with a doomsday Saito suplex for two of his own. Sky gets dropped on his head with a bridging belly to back suplex and Taylor walks around a bit to let him remember what planet he’s on.

As you might have guessed, Sky pops up with a running knee to the face for two and a dragon screw legwhip makes it even worse. More rapid fire kicks to Taylor’s leg in the corner put him down but the good leg is fine enough for a kick to Sky’s head. Taylor tries it again but gets reversed into something like a Figure Four for the tap at 18:25.

Rating: B-. The time helped here as they were able to let the story build up with more work on the limbs and then the submission to end it. Taylor kept running his mouth instead of following up when he had the chance and it made for a good match. Sky is so smooth in the ring and can work with anyone, which makes me rather pleased to see him get the push that he has gotten as a result.

Jeff Cobb vs. JR Kratos vs. Willie Mack

A running double dropkick puts them both down with Cobb rolling to the floor. Kratos is fine enough to hit a running kick to the face and Mack is outside as well. One heck of a big dive to the floor takes both of them out and Kratos is the only one left standing. Cobb is down but wakes up enough to catch Kratos’ dive off the apron. Everyone is down on the floor again until Mack throws Cobb over the barricade.

Mack blasts Kratos with a chair but all three head back to ringside. Kratos gets driven into the barricade and then inside again, though he’s fine enough to catch Mack on the top with a jumping knee. Cobb comes back in and swings Kratos around into a German suplex in a scary display of power. That leaves Mack and Cobb to slug it out with Mack getting the better of it, only to have Kratos grab a piledriver for two.

For your WHAT THE HECK spot of the match, Mack hits a Wasteland on both of them at once, setting up the standing moonsault for two on Cobb. Mack gets sent outside so Cobb can hit the unnamed Tour of the Islands on Kratos. The Stunner drops Cobb though and the Chocolate Thunder (fire) driver gives Mack the pin at 15:18.

Rating: B. This was the kind of hoss fight that never gets old no matter how many times you see it. Mack deserved the win for that double Wasteland alone and thankfully that’s where they went. Cobb, who is arguably the most successful of all of these three, did the least here but when the only moniker you have is Mr. Athletic, you’re only going to get so far. Either way, it was a heck of a fight and that’s exactly what they were shooting for here.

The five and a half minute highlight reel wraps us up.

Overall Rating: B+. This was roughly 174x better than the previous show as it was almost all action without the long form promos that were clearly meant to fill in time. It runs less than two hours and the only not so good match is Sheik vs. James, which even served its own purpose of getting Sheik over. I liked this a lot better than I thought I would and it’s actually a heck of a show. Check this out if you have the chance.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/


And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:


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




Major League Wrestling War Chamber: The Big D

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

War Chamber
Date: September 14, 2019
Location: Nytex Sports Center, North Richland Hills, Texas
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

It’s time for another big event here, though this one was not broadcast live. This time around it’s a big team gimmick match, which is really just a one ring WarGames. It’s Contra vs. Team Lawlor this time around, which should help set up the next challenger for Jacob Fatu’s World Title. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of Contra running roughshod over MLW, including taking the World Title from Tom Lawlor. Now it’s Low Ki/the Von Erichs/Lawlor vs. Contra in War Chamber, which is the most logical move you could have as the bigger feud of the Hart Foundation vs. the Dynasty isn’t a violent feud and wouldn’t fit.

Leo Brien vs. Blake Banks

Brien was one half of the Dirty Blondes, who I always liked. Now he seems to be a roughneck cowboy type and kicks Banks in the face to start. A toss by the ears makes it even worse and Brien finishes with an Oklahoma Stampede at 1:27. I approve.

Post match here are Salina de la Renta and LA Park to beat up both the referee and Banks so Salina can introduce Park. She gets straight to the point: Park is cashing in his Golden Ticket at Superfight in November.

We recap the Hart Foundation stealing Maxwell Jacob Friedman’s car and finding something in the glove compartment which got Teddy Hart a match with Friedman.

Hart is at a hockey rink in Calgary and talks about what he learned from the game. He played a lot of sports, including being a professional badminton player, but nothing gets him fired up like going to Dallas to beat up the Hart Foundation. When Alexander Hammerstone gets back from Japan, he’ll pay for his crimes against the Foundation.

Kevin Von Erich and his sons go to the sight of the former Sportatorium, with Kevin talking about the history and significance of the building. It was so hot there that he took his shoes off in the back and liked the feeling so much that he kept wrestling that way. They all take a pebble from the ground as Kevin talks about how amazing it is to have his sons follow in his footsteps. This was really cool and you can tell how much it means to Kevin.

War Chamber

Tom Lawlor, Low Ki, Ross Von Erich, Marshall Von Erich

Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, Simon Gotch, Ikuro Kwon

It’s WarGames but with one cage and barbed wire over the top instead of a roof. The first two will start for five minutes before the team who won a coin toss earlier today gets a two on one advantage for two minutes. After those two minutes, the team that lost the coin toss evens things up for two minutes. You alternate until all eight are inside and then it’s first pin or submission to win. Kevin Von Erich is at ringside for a special bonus.

Simon Gotch and Marshall Von Erich start with Contra having won the coin toss earlier. Marshall knocks him into the corner to start and hits a Cannonball as the fans are rather behind the Von Erichs. A sliding lariat sets up a headlock takeover as David is coaching from ringside. There’s a suplex as they’re keeping it in first gear so far, as they should be doing. A front facelock has Gotch slowed even more but here’s Samael to make it 2-1.

That means Marshall gets taken to the mat but he manages to forearm his way to freedom without much effort. The beatdown is on again until Tom Lawlor is in to even things up (a bit before two minutes but close enough). It’s time to start whipping people into the cage as the clock speeds up again to bring in Jacob Fatu to make it 3-2. Tom and Marshall are waiting on him for the double teaming, earning themselves a Samoan drop and a swinging release Rock Bottom respectively.

There’s a handspring moonsault to Marshall for good measure and it’s complete destruction at Fatu’s hands alone. Samael bites Lawlor’s ear for a bonus until Low Ki ties it up again. House is cleaned as Marshall tries to hold Fatu back, leaving Low Ki to beat people up. Samael is busted bad as Fatu sends Lawlor into the corner to take him down again. With the ring getting full, here’s Kwon to make it even worse and complete Contra. Things go back and forth without much of note until Ross evens it up so that the match can “officially” start.

Ross cleans house with a hurricanrana to Gotch and a running boot in the corner to Fatu. That earns Ross a trip into the cage and Samael chokes Ross with some tape. Lawlor and Fatu slug it out in the corner as Contra starts taking over completely. Samael suplexes Ross for two but Ki is back up with elbows to Kwon’s head.

Due to reasons of insanity, Samael goes up top but gets stopped by the wire and comes back down. Lawlor and Fatu are the only ones left standing so Lawlor charges at him in the corner for a running shot to the face. The fans get behind the Von Erichs again and almost everyone is knocked down at the same time. Samael kicks Ross low but stops to yell at David, allowing Marshall to hit him from behind.

Lawlor has Gotch in a Muta Lock as Fatu hits a pop up Samoan drop on Ross. With everyone else down, Low Ki takes Samael up top so they can try to put each other in the barbed wire. Samael gets the worst of it but here’s a masked man to try and climb the cage. David Claws him down and the fans are VERY happy with that one.

Kwon saves Samael with the red mist to Lawlor and Fatu nails the double jump moonsault for two as Low Ki saves. The Von Erichs are both up though and it’s a Claw to Gotch, with a Doomsday Device to make it even worse. The Claw goes back on and you’re not getting out of that in Dallas as Gotch is pinned at 30:18.

Rating: B. It was long (very long) but it didn’t feel long and that’s a good sign. These guys beat the heck out of each other until the ending and it felt like the war that it was supposed to be. Gotch losing doesn’t mean a thing as Fatu is the member of the team who actually matters. I’m not sure who goes where from here as there isn’t much of a point in having this feud continue, so it’s time to do something new. Unfortunately that means LA Park, but you knew that was coming.

A lot of replays and celebrating end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. This was almost literally a one match show but that one match was quite good and the rest of the show was more than good enough. It would seem to be time to start the build towards Superfight now and that could be an interesting path for MLW, as they have a lot of ways to go, including a bunch of stuff that wasn’t covered here. Very good show, mainly because of that one single match. Now follow up on it.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/


And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:


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




Smackdown – April 21, 2005: The Bright Future And The Dark Present

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: April 21, 2005
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Attendance: 17,258
Commentators: Michael Cole, Tazz

The search for a #1 contender continues with Booker T. vs. Big Show for the final spot in the #1 contenders triple threat match. The other, and likely more interesting, story is the issues between Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio, who are still the reigning Smackdown Tag Team Champions. For now at least. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

WWE Championship Series: Big Show vs. Booker T.

JBL, with the now former version of the WWE Title, is on commentary. Booker’s wife Sharmell is in the front row. Hold on though as here’s Kurt Angle, which doesn’t sit well with JBL. Kurt stares at JBL and then joins commentary as well. Booker’s waistlock doesn’t get him anywhere as JBL goes on one of his great rants about how unfair this whole thing is. Angle mentions being a four time WWE Champion, with Cole bringing up the gold medal. Angle: “That too.” Some shots to the knees have Show down but he uses the good leg to kick away in the corner.

The standing legdrop gives Show two as Angle comes to the realization that he would face JBL one on one if no one wins here. Oh here we go. As JBL yells about Angle being bald, Show cuts off the comeback with a superkick. The big boot misses though and Show crotches himself on the ropes. The Book End gets two and a Cactus Clothesline puts both of them on the floor. That’s enough for Angle and JBL to get up and beat them both down for the double DQ.

Rating: D+. This was all about the story instead of the match itself, a lot of which was missed for the sake of showing commentary. You can see the four way coming from here because heels never learn in WWE but at least the commentary was entertaining until we got to the finish. Show is already back to where he was before his comeback though and that’s a bit sad to see.

Post match Show and Booker clear the ring and here’s Theodore Long to say not so fast. As expected, next week will now be a four way #1 contenders match, because this company can’t even go through three matches without changing the format of a series it created. As for tonight, tag match playa, holla holla holla!

It’s time for Carlito’s Cabana, with the fans behind Carlito in a bit of a surprise. We’re in New York City and that’s not cool. He has no problem with spitting part of the Big Apple in their faces because he doesn’t like it here. Earlier today, he was walking the streets and saw hundreds of kids with no chance of growing up to be cool. New Yorkers are known for losing their cool, which brings him to his guest tonight, who is the opposite of cool: Eddie Guerrero.

The fans are VERY behind Eddie here as Carlito brings up Eddie’s absence last week when MNM laid Rey Mysterio out. We see a clip, but Eddie threatens to do some violent things to Carlito if he says cool again. Eddie would like Rey to come out here right now for a chat so here he is. A lot has changed in the last year with Eddie going from holding up the WWE Championship in this building a year ago and now….this. Eddie has become clouded and selfish and it cost Rey a shot at the WWE Championship.

Instead of focusing on what he doesn’t have, Eddie is focusing on what he does have: his health, and his family, like Rey. They shake hands but here are MNM on the screen. Melina wastes no time in issuing the challenge but Eddie wants them to say it face to face. They say they’re happier back here, and step aside to reveal Eddie’s low rider. Spray painting ensues and Eddie rants in Spanish.

During the break, Eddie and Rey went to the car and the title match is on for tonight.

The returning Matt Morgan, now with a stutter, says he isn’t nervous because he commands attention. And that would be it for Morgan’s chances at going anywhere in WWE.

Orlando Jordan tells the Bashams, who are about three feet from him, to get over here right now. He wants them to help him beat up John Cena tonight to soften him up for JBL. Jordan leaves and Danny says he’s getting sick of this.

Matt Morgan vs. Brett Matthews

Morgan thinks Matthews is laughing at him so the destruction is on in a hurry, including a big boot. A side slam sets up a suplex into a Rock Bottom (later named the Hellevator/Nightmare Pendulum) gives Morgan the pin in a hurry. Matthews would later change his name to something that stuck a little better: Zack Ryder.

John Bradshaw Layfield/Kurt Angle vs. Booker T./Big Show

Booker and JBL stare at each other to start but Show comes in before anything happens. That means the big overhand chop and a headbutt as Show does his usual slow paced offense which looks effective enough. With JBL knocked down and out to the floor, it’s off to Angle, whose headlock is carried into the corner. Booker comes in for a headlock and cleans house without much effort. The side kick takes too long though and it’s time to roll some German suplexes.

Angle low bridges him to the floor and it’s Booker in trouble for a change. A whip into the corner sets up a waistlock with a grapevine to keep Booker down and Angle gets some near falls. JBL holds Booker down for some Angle stomping and a belly to belly makes it even worse. The rib work continues with a bodyscissors but Booker gets up and grabs a DDT. The hot tag brings in Show to clean house and run everyone over but the Angle Slam cuts him off. Show is back up and grabs a chokeslam on JBL as Angle walks out on the match. The ax kick and the chokeslam finish JBL.

Rating: D+. Totally standard main event tag match here with Angle showing some intelligence because this means nothing in the long term. They aren’t hiding the obvious ending to next week’s match and that’s acceptable enough here, though JBL vs. Cena again isn’t the most thrilling prospect in the world.

Here’s Heidenreich for a chat. He’s been here for a few days now and has even made a few friends. He would like to bring out one of those friends right now, so here is the Brooklyn Brawler (who has theme music). Heidenreich reads a poem about him, which basically says the Brawler is here. The Brawler isn’t impressed and says that was embarrassing.

The only more embarrassing thing was when the Yankees choked against the Red Sox last year in the playoffs. That was so embarrassing that Brawler takes off his shirt to reveal a Red Sox shirt. Now, he is the BOSTON BRAWLER, earning himself a beating from Heidenreich. I remember the Brawler doing this and it very well might be more memorable than anything Heidenreich did in his career.

We look back at MNM ruining the low rider.

Tag Team Titles: MNM vs. Rey Mysterio/Eddie Guerrero

MNM is challenging and we get the very cool paparazzi entrance (another one which was incredible in OVW, especially with Superstar as their theme song). The brawl is on before the bell with Eddie backdropping Nitro to get things going. Mercury is sent outside as well, with Cole declaring it a tag team clinic about thirty seconds in. Back from a break with Rey dropkicking Nitro down and Eddie nailing the slingshot hilo.

A Nitro distraction lets Mercury knock Eddie off the apron though and the champs are in trouble for the first time. Mercury grabs an abdominal stretch, which is broken up in a hurry for the hot tag off to Rey. That’s fine with Nitro, who fireman’s carries him into a gutbuster from Mercury to take over again. Eddie comes back in anyway as everything breaks down. Rey loads up the 619 but Melina distracts Eddie, allowing MNM to hit their elevated DDT for the pin and the titles.

Rating: C. I’ve always liked MNM and this is a good way to start them off in a hurry. It’s not a great match or anything but they advanced the Eddie vs. Rey story and made some new stars in the tag division at the same time. That’s a rather nice use of ten minutes and a much better debut than the Heart Throbs had on Raw.

Post match Eddie shoves Rey down and goes to leave but Rey shoves him down on the floor and leaves by himself.

Raw Rebound. I wouldn’t remind people of that show.

MNM has a photo shoot by their limo and Melina is very pleased.

John Cena vs. Orlando Jordan

Non-title. Before the match, Cena, in a Babe Ruth Yankees jersey, says he’s hearing the sounds of New York and lists off some boroughs to make the crowd happy. Cena talks about how New York is built on tradition and that makes it special. New York knows how to adapt and overcome, which he will do here. Dude it’s Orlando Jordan. You could win this match without taking the jersey off. Jordan only has one Basham here and that isn’t going to end well.

Jordan gets in an early shoulder but gets punched in the corner. Doug Basham offers a distraction so Jordan can hit a DDT, which is probably about it for his big time offense. Cena comes back but gets sent shoulder first into the post so Jordan can hammer away. The bearhug is broken up with a shot to the head and a suplex puts both of them down. Back up and some clotheslines have Jordan in trouble as Cena initiates his finishing sequence. Doug has to take an FU and as the referee gets rid of him, cue Danny to belt Cena in the head. Jordan’s top rope elbow gets two and, after dropping Danny, Cena finishes with the FU.

Rating: D. What were you expecting here? Jordan isn’t interesting and isn’t worth watching but he’s here almost every single week and we have to watch him have one bad match after another. There was no way that Cena was losing here and it was a matter of time until Cena beat him. They didn’t spend too much time on it, but any time spent watching Jordan feels like an eternity.

Overall Rating: D+. The wrestling was not good here but the storytelling made up for a lot of it and that’s what matters more. The Eddie vs. Rey stuff is a very good story and I’m digging how they’ve made one logical step after another. That is the case with JBL vs. Cena as well, though that one isn’t as interesting. It wasn’t a great show here, but they’re setting things up and you can see where it’s going.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/


And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:


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




Impact Wrestling – September 13, 2019: They Live Here Too

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 13, 2019
Location: Fronton Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Don Callis, Josh Matthews

The Mexico run continues after last week’s big engagement between Brian Cage and Melissa Santos. That means he’ll be gone for another few weeks as we continue the Brock Lesnar style title reign. Sami Callihan is getting a title shot in about five weeks though and that could make for an interesting Bound For Glory. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Kiera Hogan vs. Tenille Dashwood

Dashwood finds the early shoving amusing and they trade early arm control attempts. A kick to the back annoys Dashwood again so Kiera hides in the corner. That earns her an elbow to the face and a basement dropkick, meaning it’s time for some bailing to the floor. Back in and Kiera gets in her own kick to the face, followed by some choking in the corner.

There’s a running clothesline in the corner but Kiera can’t get her feet on the ropes to properly cheat. Dashwood makes her comeback with a variety of shots to the face and the Taste of Tenille. Kiera’s kick to the head gives her two of her own so Dashwood snaps off a wheelbarrow suplex. A high crossbody sets up the Spotlight (pretty much a Claymore) to finish Hogan at 8:58.

Rating: C-. Fine little win for Dashwood here, though I can’t imagine she’s going to be around that long. She seems almost perfect for one of the bigger stars in AEW and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her being the next short term Impact import. Just do something with her while she’s around, please? It would be nice for some company to get that idea right.

Sami Callihan promises to cause some trouble in Mexico tonight.

The North is proud of getting rid of LAX and wants to know why more people aren’t talking about them. They should be more people’s favorite tag team. These guys are getting better and better at an alarming rate.

Announcers’ preview.

Michael Elgin vs. Dinastia

Dinastia is the reigning AAA Mini Champion. Elgin shoves him down to start so Dinastia tries a waistlock for the usual unfunny visual. A high crossbody is caught in a one arm tilt-a-whirl backbreaker as the fans are starting to get behind Elgin. There’s the apron bomb and an Emerald Flosion, the finisher of Naomichi Marufuji, who will be having a match against someone to be named at Bound For Glory, for the pin at 3:11.

Rating: D. Well at least it didn’t last long. Elgin is a good addition to the roster, yet somehow he’s in a one off match at Bound For Glory against a Japanese guy who will appeal to hardcore fans but does very little long term for Impact. I’m sure the match is going to be good but it’s never been a kind of booking I care for. As for the point of this….I’m going to hope it was lost in translation somewhere and move on.

Elgin talks about the things he has done over his career (without mentioning names) but there was one man in Japan he never faced. Marufuji is coming to Chicago and they’ll see each other.

In Rosemary’s….whatever it is, Taya Valkyrie complains to Rosemary about Tenille Dashwood getting the spotlight. Rosemary: “How do you keep getting in here?” Taya gives her a phone and suggests they have mimosas. Rosemary: “MOSAS??”

TJP steals Fallah Bahh’s lunch and tries to teach him to find his voice.

Flashback Moment of the Week: LAX vs. OVE from Bound For Glory.

James Mitchell warns Havok to leave Su Yung alone. Even he is scared of what Yung is going to do next.

Moose congratulates Ken Shamrock for getting a match with him at Bound For Glory. Enjoy your time now though because at Bound For Glory, Ken is stepping into the ring with the World’s Most Dangerous Man.

Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. El Texano Jr.

Wagner’s son, El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. I presume, is here with him. Texano jumps him during the pre-match speech and Wagner loses his mask, which he isn’t supposed to be wearing anymore anyway. After a quick trip to the floor, it’s time to start working on Wagner’s leg but the referee won’t let Texano use the bull rope.

Wagner grabs a cutter for a breather and a delayed two, followed by a missed charge to send Texano outside. The dive to the floor takes Texano down again but he grabs a hanging DDT on the way back in. Texano goes up top but gets superplexed back down, setting up a hammerlock lariat. The Dr. Driver (Michinoku Driver) finishes Texano at 5:55.

Rating: C-. This was your run of the mill “here are two stars from the host country” match and it worked just fine. Wagner is the bigger star of the two and will be at Bound For Glory (one of the four matches so far have all Impact talent, which isn’t a good sign) so giving him more exposure here made sense. Short match but they put some stuff into it and the fans cared so I’ll take it.

Ace Austin is scared of Eddie Edwards hurting him and wants Alisha to stay in the back during their match tonight.

LAX is packing up the clubhouse when Rich Swann and Willie Mack come in. Respect is shown and Swann/Mack want to have LAX’s last match around here. Konnan promises to get it made.

Ace Austin vs. Eddie Edwards

Eddie charges in and they trade chops in the corner with Austin being knocked outside. That means the big dive as Josh talks about how horrible of a human Ace really is. Callis: “If Ace kills Eddie Edwards, it saves Alisha the cost of a divorce.” Eddie crotches him against the post but Ace is fine enough to get in a kick to the head. The playing card slices open Eddie’s finger but Eddie Hulks Up.

The Blue Thunder Bomb gives Eddie two and he hammers away in the corner like he’s in a match with a wrestler who wants to steal his wife. Ace gets in a baton shot to the face to knock Eddie silly and we take a break. Back with Eddie fighting out of a dragon sleeper and grabbing the tiger driver for two. Ace tries to bail so Eddie hits the suicide dive and stomps on the chair Ace tries to grab. The handstand on the apron avoids a chair shot so Eddie just throws the chair at the arm for the DQ at 13:15.

Rating: C+. Eddie has become one of the most consistently strong performers around here as I want to see where his trip into madness goes. He has settled down in the loony land at the moment and that makes for some interesting developments. I’m curious to see where this Ace/Alisha stuff is going and you don’t get that around here very often.

Post match Eddie stays on him and beats up some security to go further over the edge. Ace is clutching his arm on the floor.

Brian Cage and Melissa Santos are getting married in two weeks and Cage isn’t vacating the title.

Johnny Swinger is coming.

Watch Ken Shamrock’s bare knuckle boxing promotion!

Eddie and Alisha yell at each other as Ace is put in the ambulance. She yells even more and leaves with the ambulance as Eddie is stunned.

Big Mami/Nino Hamburgesa vs. Desi Hit Squad

The Deaners are here with the Squad, who are in Deaner style gear. There is no Gama Singh, who was last seen on the farm. Nino flips over Singh to start and runs him over with a shoulder before it’s off to Mami vs. Raju. Mami manages a Matrix and a clothesline gives her two. It’s already back to Singh to dropkick Nino’s knee, only to miss a middle rope elbow. We get the required double Stinkface and the rather rotund Nino hits a suicide flip dive. Mami dives off the middle rope to take all three of them out again. Back in and some Squad miscommunication sets up Nino’s top rope splash for the pin at 5:27.

Rating: D. I know these two are better known in Mexico and the fans cared about them but it’s not exactly my style of humor with a bunch of spots based on their size and nothing else at all. I’m not exactly thrilled with having them around but they play a role on the show and they won’t be here next week so I guess I can live with it. Just get on to something else.

Post match Mahabali Shera returns to beat up the Deaners and officially join the Squad. Gama Singh is very pleased.

Tessa Blanchard/Tommy Dreamer vs. Sami Callihan/Jake Crist

Street fight. They start on the stage with OVE getting knocked down the ramp. Crist gets sent face first into the apron and hurricanranaed down, leaving Tessa to stare at Sami. Another knockdown has Callihan in trouble and we take a break. Back with weapons in the ring and Tessa planting Jake with a tornado DDT. Sami and Dreamer take their places in the ring and fight over the staple gun with Sami taking a shot to the chest. OVE gets tied in Trees of Woe for almost stereo baseball slide dropkicks into chars to their faces.

Stereo cutters get a double near fall but Dreamer gets sent hard into the corner. Tessa fights both of them at once but it’s a double big boot to take her down. A cutter gets two on Tessa to put her in trouble until Dreamer gets back up for the save. Sami gets in a baseball bat to Tessa’s ribs but Dreamer hits him with a kendo stick. Cue Madman Fulton for a distraction though, allowing Callihan to get in the Cactus Special to pin Dreamer at 9:23.

Rating: D+. Just a quick match here as Tessa’s main event push takes another hit. That being said, I fully expect her to get a shot at Sami’s title before the year is out and winning it isn’t an impossible option. Sami getting the pin is good, even if beating Dreamer hasn’t meant anything in about fifteen years (or more).

Post match Tessa beats up OVE, including Fulton, but Sami gets in a shot from behind to take her down. Rob Van Dam and Rhino run in for the save because ECW LIVES!!!

Overall Rating: D. Another not very good show down south, which has become too much of a trend around here. The good news here is they’ve started the build to Bound For Glory early and they should be ready for the show. The problem though is how many matches are going to need outside help. That shouldn’t be the case with the biggest show of the year, but it’s not like they have a lot of stories that can be blown off there. Bad show tonight, but maybe there is some hope for the future.

Results

Tenille Dashwood b. Kiera Hogan – Spotlight

Michael Elgin b. Dinastia – Emerald Flosion

Dr. Wagner Jr. b. Texano Jr. – Dr. Driver

Ace Austin b. Eddie Edwards via DQ when Edwards used a chair

Nino Hamburgesa/Big Mami b. Desi Hit Squad – Middle rope splash to Raju

Sami Callihan/Jake Crist b. Tessa Blanchard/Tommy Dreamer – Cactus Special to Dreamer

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/


And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:


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




Monday Night Raw – September 16, 2019: The Changing Shows

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: September 16, 2019
Location: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young

It’s the night after Clash of Champions and thankfully that show is out of the way. Last night offered a grand total of nothing important as it was just a show that had to be done before we could get on to the Cell next month. The Fiend is already haunting Seth Rollins and the Universal Championship so expect the big push to begin tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

I was in the arena for this show, sitting in the middle section of seats and looking directly at the Titantron. The lower area of the hard camera side and all of the upper deck on the hard camera side were tarped off but the rest of the arena was mostly full.

Here’s Seth Rollins to get things going. There is a lot to unpack last night because he and Braun Strowman lost the Raw Tag Team Titles. It doesn’t matter whose fault it was though because the two of them faced off for the Universal Title later that night. Strowman is large and strong and last night he gave Rollins a heck of a fight. Four Stomps and a Pedigree later though, Rollins is still Universal Champion.

Then things got even worse because the Fiend knocked him out but ran away before Seth could do anything about it. Don’t worry though because Seth is getting his shot at the Fiend inside the Cell. Seth: “Yowie wowie indeed.” That sounds like summoning Bray though and it’s time for the Firefly Fun House. Bray says Seth is his future best friend but he has to cut off the pesky Ramblin Rabbit from telling us the truth. Anyway, Seth has done some bad things and the Fiend never forgets. Maybe he’ll even have something else to say to Seth tonight. Bray goes silent for a bit before laughing and saying he’ll see him in h***.

The graphics for what is coming later tonight are now upside down. Cole and Graves start talking but Renee asks if they have been upside down the entire time, bringing the whole thing to a grinding halt. I’d assume that was a Bray thing as the song is still playing, but either way it was quite the noticeable deal.

Braun Strowman says whoever is in the ring is going to get these hands.

Here are Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode, followed by the Revival, for a Tag Team Champion Summit. Roode brags about how awesome they are but here is Strowman to run them over to a pretty big reaction, though he misses Dawson and Roode runs before Strowman can hit him. So we have four new champions who are being run over by a well known choker so the choker can be rebuilt again to set up future choking. There was no one else who could have gotten beaten up here? Or this couldn’t have happened later?

Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross brag about their win last night and are ready for Sasha Banks and Bayley tonight. It was interesting how Banks talked about how the titles didn’t matter after she lost them and Bayley is just pathetic. Words to toast to.

OC vs. Cedric Alexander/Viking Raiders

Cedric slugs away at AJ to start and kicks him in the face but the Michinoku Driver is escaped. Styles falls into the wrong corner though and it’s Erik coming in to scream in AJ’s face. Anderson comes in as well, so Erik slams Ivar onto him for two as it’s one sided so far. It’s off to Gallows instead so Erik hits him in the face, only to miss the running knees in the corner.

Erik gets sent to the floor and into the barricade, setting up a big boot to send us to a break. Back with Erik fighting out of a chinlock and handing it right back to Ivar to clean house. Everything breaks down and it’s a Neuralizer to Anderson but AJ tags himself in and hits the Phenomenal Forearm to finish Cedric at 8:25.

Rating: C-. That has to be it for Cedric going after Styles right? He’s lost twice in a row with one of them being a clean pin in a title match. I was thinking they might go somewhere with him but it seems that the legs have already been cut off. That’s quite the shame as Cedric has been great lately, but it’s not surprising to see a push cut off so soon.

Post match the beatdown is still on but Ivar hits a big flip dive to the floor to take a bunch of people down. Back in and Cedric crotches AJ on top and hammers away, only to have his super hurricanrana countered into a super Styles Clash to really hammer in the point.

R-Truth and Carmella were at the Women’s College Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville earlier today with R-Truth being confused by the big basketball on the roof. Cue Mayor Glenn Jacobs (named as such here) with Truth trying to figure out how tall the University of Tennessee women’s basketball players are. Truth thinks the Mayor is Magic Johnson or Larry Bird, but gets an offer of a tour of historic Knoxville. Now Truth thinks he’s talking to the President as Carmella just looks confused. I could go for more of this.

King of the Ring Finals: Baron Corbin vs. Chad Gable

We get the Big Match Intros and a quick mention of Don Muraco being the first king, which isn’t something referenced very often. Gable goes for the ankle to start but gets elbowed in the head for his efforts. A dropkick works a bit better for Gable as Corbin is knocked outside but he’s fine enough to backdrop a charging Gable into the timekeeper’s area.

Back from a break with Gable diving back in to beat the count (which he did two more times during the break). Corbin elbows him in the face a few times and we hit the required chinlock. That’s broken up so Corbin slides under the ropes for the big clothesline instead. A big boot drops Gable again as he can’t do much with the size and power. We hit the chinlock again as the announcers make every reference they can to various kings and royal courts to really hammer the point home.

Gable fights out and gets the ankle so Corbin hits him in the head to escape. Corbin’s charge hits the post (becoming WAY too popular of a spot) and the fans are getting into Gable here. The missile dropkick sets up some rolling Liger kicks in the corner but Corbin is right back with a pop up World’s Strongest Slam to put them both down. They head outside with Corbin sending him into the barricade over and over but a charge hits steps.

Gable wraps the leg around the post a few times and hammers away back inside. The leg is fine enough to hit a heck of a Deep Six for two, only to have Gable grab the rolling Chaos Theory for the same. End of Days is escaped and Gable gets the ankle lock again. The grapevine goes on but Corbin makes it over to the ropes and you can hear the energy getting sucked out of the arena. Gable goes back to the ankle but Corbin makes the rope and spins him into End of Days for the win at 19:42.

Rating: B. It’s amazing how much easier it is to put up with Corbin when he’s not appearing in ten segments a show. Corbin winning is far from shocking and maybe the King thing can go somewhere for him, though he is still walking a thin line. Just don’t overpush him like WWE always wants to do and he could be downright tolerable.

Corbin poses in front of the throne and limps off.

And now, a gender reveal party for Maria Kanellis’ unborn child, with various wrestlers holding up Team Boy and Team Girl signs. So it’s a boy, and the father happens to be Ricochet. Mike freaks out as Ricochet says it’s a lie and that he wouldn’t….ok not that he wouldn’t…..and Mike slaps him in the face. He’ll wait for Ricochet in the ring. Titus O’Neil tells Ricochet to go handle this and the Street Profits suggest a baby on a pole match. Dawkins: “How about a Maria on a pole match?” Ford: “Maria on the pole is how they got in this mess in the first place.”

Mike Kanellis vs. Ricochet

Kanellis is in street clothes and Ricochet doesn’t want to do this. Ricochet begs off and says this isn’t happening so Mike hits him in the face. Some weak stomping has Ricochet in trouble but he comes back with a shot of his own. A kick to the head in the corner sets up a springboard clothesline and the Recoil finishes Kanellis at 1:06.

We get another Firefly Fun House, with Bray adding names to his Wall Of Friendship, which includes painted over faces of Kurt Angle, Finn Balor, Mick Foley and others. He’s off to find a new friend.

Post break Mike is sitting on the apron as Maria comes out to yell at him some more. Obviously Ricochet isn’t the father but she’ll introduce him to the real father right now.

Mike Kanellis vs. Rusev

Nice to see Rusev again, mainly because of the chiseled physique and incredible mustache. Mike begs off and says he’s had a bad day and he’s just ok with all of this. Congratulations to the two of them, but Rusev isn’t letting him leave and beats the heck out of him before the bell. As Graves calls Mike a beta cuck, a jumping superkick and the Accolade end Mike at 34 seconds. Lana being salty over Rusev apparently cheating on her should be interesting.

R-Truth and Kane go to Neyland Stadium, home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team (BIG pop for that). Truth thinks the team is made up of volunteer Santas but we get a nice speech about all the people who make the city work. Actually a new officer has been sworn in is here, though Truth thinks he’s Robocop. Actually hang on though, as he wasn’t quite sworn in as a police officer. Instead, he’s a referee, so Truth tries to run and crashes into the goal post, meaning we have a new champion. Remember when Kane took the WWF Title from Steve Austin in 1998? Now he’s doing this.

Rey Mysterio vs. Cesaro

Before the match, Cesaro says that if Rey’s son Dominick doesn’t leave WWE, he’ll beat Dominick up like he’s about to beat up Rey. The fight is on in the aisle before the bell, followed by a bell and the uppercut from Cesaro. There’s an elbow for two as Cesaro is in red street shoes and what appears to be a lack of socks. A powerbomb out of the corner is broken up with a hurricanrana into the post but the suicide dive is countered with Cesaro’s uppercut. Rey is fine enough to hit a 619 to the back and we take a break.

Back with Cesaro grabbing a chinlock, followed by a slingshot hilo for two. The chinlock goes on again but Rey fights up with a crucifix bomb for the breather. A tornado DDT gives Rey two so Cesaro pulls him down into the Crossface. With that not working, the Radicalz treatment continues with Three Amigos. That’s fine with Rey, who hits a 619 and the Code Red for the pin at 11:48.

Rating: B-. This is where Cesaro shines, though unfortunately it is so often in defeat. At some point he needs to win something to keep his stock up a bit, though WWE doesn’t seem to agree. Mysterio’s retirement tour is worth seeing of course, as he is a true legend and can do whatever he wants on the way out. I’m not sure what they’re going to do with Dominick, but Mysterio has earned the right to do something special like that.

We get a short form Firefly Fun House with Bray adding Seth’s picture to the wall and not saying anything.

The Draft is coming on October 11/14.

Video on the AOP, who talk about how they came to WWE so they could fight. Instead they’ve been sat on the sidelines because no one is willing to fight them. Now, you might be wondering how this is significantly different than Aleister Black sitting in a room, asking for someone to fight him. The answer: there are two of them here.

Sasha Banks/Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross

Non-title and Cole is so disgusted with Sasha that he doesn’t even do the catchphrase anymore. Bayley and Bliss start things off with Bayley taking over to start, only to get hit in the face instead. Bliss gets up a boot in the corner and a sunset flip gets two. A flip dive off the apron takes both villains down but Bliss may have hurt her knee. Cross comes in and gets double Banks’ double knees in the corner.

More knees are blocked with a shot to the face but Bayley pulls Bliss off the apron. The knee is banged up again and here are some trainers to check on her. To be fair, it has been at least a month since Bliss had a knee injury. We take a break and come back with Bliss gone and Cross fighting out of a chinlock. Nikki shrugs off some double teaming in the corner and hammers away, including tying Banks in the ring skirt. Back in and Cross hits a tornado DDT on Bayley, setting up the hanging Purge for two as Banks makes the save. The Bank Statement makes Nikki tap at 12:14.

Rating: C+. This worked well in a way to make Cross look good, which is something that needed to happen. Bayley and Banks not losing is the right call as well, as both of them are still getting themselves established in their new roles. Good effort from everyone here and some smart booking to get them out of a sticky situation.

Post match the beatdown is still on until Becky Lynch comes out with a chair for the save. Banks and Bayley get their own chairs so it’s Charlotte making the save to take care of Bayley. The beatdown on Banks sends the villains leaving.

Post break, Banks wants a rematch with Becky at Hell in a Cell.

The limo arrives at the arena with R-Truth on top. That means a rollup to give him the title back, because that joke is still going. They come to a truce because they both work hard 24/7 to do their jobs.

Becky doesn’t just want to face Banks at Hell in a Cell, because it should be IN the Cell.

Lacey Evans vs. Dana Brooke

Well at least it isn’t Natalya again. Lacey isn’t wasting time and kicks her into the corner but gets driven into the corner. Dana hammers away and gets one off a suplex so Lacey sweeps the leg to take her down. A nasty slingshot dropkick to the face rocks Dana and it’s time for the armbar. Dana fights up for the comeback but walks into the Woman’s Right. She’s out cold but Lacey slaps on the Sharpshooter for the win at 3:12.

Rating: D. Dana was trying and looked good at times, but GOOD GRIEF why is Lacey vs. Natalya continuing? They’ve already split some matches and now we need to have them play mind games? The ending made me roll my eyes because I never need to see the two of them fight again and now we’re likely heading to some big showdown that no one but the two of them care about.

Seth Rollins vs. Robert Roode

Non-title and Dolph Ziggler is here with Roode. Feeling out process to start with Roode armdragging him into an armbar. That lasts as long as any average armbar and Roode hits him in the ribs to take over. Roode knocks him off the barricade so Ziggler can get in a cheap shot and we take a break.

Back with Roode still on the ribs before sending Seth outside. This time Ziggler’s interference is cut off with a superkick and the comeback is on. The springboard knee misses but so does Roode’s spinebuster. That means Rollins can hit a Falcon Arrow for two, followed by the Buckle Bomb. The Stomp looks to finish but Ziggler comes in for the DQ at 10:25.

Rating: C-. Not much to see here as Ziggler just won’t go away and kept popping in here, despite not being the most intriguing presence in the world. I can appreciate not having a new champion lose though, even if it’s to the World Champion. Just don’t let Ziggler and Roode (or at least Ziggler) around Rollins much longer and things should be fine.

Post break the OC comes in for the 5-1 beatdown but Kane (in full gear and mask) of all people makes the save to a huge pop. Chokeslams abound as I try to imagine masked Kane without hair. There is something amusing about the costume coming complete with a huge wig….and there go the lights. The Fiend is here and it’s a Mandible Claw to Kane. Fiend crawls over to Rollins and a minute long Firefly Fun House logo, with the colors changing, the graphic going upside down and the voice sounding rather evil, ends the show. Good ending, with the mind games and evil continuing.

Overall Rating: C-. I wasn’t sure about this one as it had a lot of things going on, though very few of them felt all that important. Rollins vs. Fiend should be interesting, but you can tell the attention is shifting more towards Smackdown as Raw is starting to feel a lot smaller. That should be the way things go once they get to FOX, but I would hope for some extra attention on Raw in the way of storylines, as a lot of the things on this show felt like they were just thrown out there to fill in the three hours. Not a terrible show, but it wasn’t exactly a show to get invested in.

Results

OC b. Cedric Alexander/Viking Raiders – Phenomenal Forearm to Alexander

Baron Corbin b. Chad Gable – End of Days

Ricochet b. Mike Kanellis – Recoil

Rusev b. Mike Kanellis – Accolade

Rey Mysterio b. Cesaro – Code Red

Sasha Banks/Bayley b. Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross – Bank Statement to Cross

Lacey Evans b. Dana Brooke – Sharpshooter

Seth Rollins b. Robert Roode via DQ when Dolph Ziggler interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/


And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:


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




Clash Of Champions 2019: I Drove Six Hours For This?

IMG Credit: WWE

Clash Of Champions 2019
Date: September 15, 2019
Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
Commentators: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips

Even though titles are an everyday part of wrestling, we have here a full show all about them, because most shows need to have a theme these days. There are a lot of matches crammed onto this show, though thankfully they have moved King of the Ring to Raw tomorrow to save some space. Let’s get to it.

I was in the arena for this show, sitting in the upper deck opposite the hard cameras.

Kickoff Show: Cruiserweight Title: Drew Gulak vs. Lince Dorado vs. Humberto Carrillo

Gulak is defending. Every match is getting Big Match Intros and they’re lowering the lights during the introductions, which is a really cool visual that I hope becomes the norm. Also, cool shot from Gulak just sitting on the ropes and holding up the title because it’s all that matters. Gulak wastes no time in dropkicking Carrillo into the corner at the bell but both challengers go after him at the same time.

Carrillo’s half of a double dropkick misses but he makes up for it with a springboard armdrag to take Gulak down (that always looks great). Dorado sends both of them to the floor for a springboard crossbody, followed by a hurricanrana off the barricade to the champ. Gulak takes Dorado down though and goes back inside, where Carrillo’s flips offer some frustration. The armbar goes on, which just does not seem like a good idea in a triple threat.

Dorado comes back in with a crossbody on Carrillo for two with Gulak not being able to get there in time anyway. A gutbuster cuts Dorado down though and it’s something like a full nelson/abdominal stretch hybrid to stay on the ribs. Carrillo is back in with a dropkick and a COME ON, which is rarely a good sign for someone trying to fire up the crowd. Another dropkick puts Gulak on the floor again, where he catches Dorado in an electric chair. That’s fine with Carrillo, who dives onto both of them for a nasty crash.

Back in and the missile dropkick gives Carrillo two more with Gulak making a proper save this time around. Carrillo goes up for a moonsault but Gulak raises boots, which Carrillo catches and reverses into a modified Sharpshooter. That’s broken up as well so it’s the exchange of rollups gets a bunch of two counts.

Everyone is down again until Carrillo heads up top, with Gulak launching Dorado for a dropkick. Gulak is knocked outside, leaving Dorado to miss a shooting star press. Carrillo hits a Disaster kick into the Aztec Press, only to have Gulak come in and suplex Dorado for the pin (only after the referee tells Dorado that his shoulders are up, causing Dorado to drop down) to retain at 10:06.

Rating: C+. Exactly what you should be going for with this match in this spot as the fans are more fired up than they were before. Gulak retaining wasn’t exactly shocking but he is going to be the best choice if 205 Live moves to NXT as it is rumored to be (and should be doing). Carrillo could be something big in the future, but he isn’t ready yet. Dorado could have been almost any third person out there, which isn’t a terrible thing.

Kickoff Show: United States Title: Cedric Alexander vs. AJ Styles

Alexander is the hometown boy (and wearing the colors of the Charlotte Hornets) and challenging, meaning he gets quite the strong reaction, even though AJ was born in North Carolina as well. You can see what this means to Cedric and that’s not the kind of thing you can fake. AJ sends the Good Brothers to the back and is willing to go it alone. The bell rings and AJ charges straight at him, earning himself a Michinoku Driver for an early two.

The big running flip dive takes AJ down again and a Neuralizer gets two more. AJ breaks up a springboard though and takes him to the apron for a suplex. The Styles Clash on the floor knocks Cedric cold but AJ pulls him up at two for some reason. The Calf Crusher doesn’t stay on long so Cedric goes to the apron again, this time for a spinning elbow to AJ’s face. Cedric gets in the springboard Downward Spiral but AJ grabs a reverse DDT. With Cedric rocked, it’s the Phenomenal Forearm into the Styles Clash to retain the title at 4:55.

Rating: B-. They packed in a lot here and while I’m not sure I get the idea of having Cedric lose in his hometown in what should have been a layup, I can understand not letting him pin AJ for a title. Cedric had the crowd going here and that likely would have been the case in any city. Good match though, and a pairing I could go for more of in a longer form.

Post match AJ beats on Cedric some more, with Gallows and Anderson coming in to help. No one makes the save. I was expecting the Viking Raiders here but it was just a long beatdown instead.

The opening video looks at all of the titles and the people who hold them, which is exactly what it should be. Then it switches to Roman Reigns vs. Erick Rowan, which isn’t quite what I think of when I think of a show about champions. We switch into the usual opening hype video, as tends to be the case.

Raw Tag Team Titles: Braun Strowman/Seth Rollins vs. Robert Roode/Dolph Ziggler

Ziggler and Roode are challenging after winning the largest Tag Team Turmoil match in Raw history. So it’s on top of a list of…..probably five matches? That’s the second biggest/first time in history deal during the entrances as we heard about Rollins being the first person to defend the Tag Team and Universal Title in history. The title isn’t even forty months old yet and six people have been champion. Can we cool it with historic firsts for it for….I don’t know, until it has a history that matters?

Strowman stares at a scared Roode to start and a big shove sends Roode down. Ziggler comes in for the tried and false jump on the monster’s back sleeper with Strowman breaking it up and kicking him in the face. Now it’s off to Rollins, who has to fight off both villains at once. The running DDT plants Rollins on the floor though and the challengers take over back inside. Ziggler goes with the sleeper again, albeit from a standing position this time due to a lack of monster from Rollins.

The Fameasser gives Ziggler two more but Roode charges into a boot in the corner. Rollins grabs the Blockbuster but Ziggler is back in to prevent any hot tagging. Just to make sure he gets it in, Ziggler jumps on Rollins for another sleeper (he REALLY likes that move). That’s broken up again so Ziggler tries another running DDT, which is reversed into the Falcon Arrow. The hot tag brings in Strowman to clean house, including the running shoulders on the floor.

One big one knocks Roode into the barricade, with Cole saying he almost went into the FANS. That’ll be a fine, which Cole can count as Ziggler slips out of the powerslam. A rake to the eyes causes Strowman to go shoulder first into the post but he’s fine enough to break up the Glorious DDT. Rollins springboards back in with the springboard knee and a Sling Blade to Roode.

Ziggler gets knocked over the barricade and Roode uses the breather to come back with a spinebuster for two of his own. Strowman comes back in but knocks Roode into Rollins, allowing Ziggler to low bridge the monster to the floor. The Glorious DDT plants Rollins to give Roode the pin and the titles at 9:36.

Rating: C. The match was your standard Raw main event and that’s acceptable enough to open a pay per view. Strowman and Rollins were never going to be long for the titles so it’s not like this is some big shock. That being said, the fact that the World Champion has to get pinned in an opening match is another problem entirely, but that’s where they had to go to get out of this story, which absolutely needed an historic first double title defense.

Post match Strowman looks annoyed and Rollins looks up at the screen to see the replay of the loss.

In the back, Strowman says he didn’t get pinned and tonight he’s winning the Universal Title. Rollins might just get his hands.

Becky Lynch says she and Rollins will still be champions at the end of the night. In regards to meeting her match in Sasha Banks, it is Sasha who has questions to answer. Tonight we need to find out if Banks has what it takes to be great. Becky has accomplished more in WWE than any woman ever and she lists off a bunch of her accomplishments. Now Banks is complaining about Becky getting her spot, but Becky earned everything she has. Tonight, Banks finds out what happens when the Man comes around. Becky was bringing the fire here.

We recap the Smackdown Women’s Title match. Bayley had been scheduled to defend against Charlotte but Sasha Banks turning heel prompted a double turn, meaning we get heel Bayley for the first time. I’m not sure what this is going to mean, but it could go a lot of ways.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bayley vs. Charlotte

Charlotte, of course the hometown girl, is challenging. The announcers talk about how awesome it is that Charlotte is going for her tenth title in just over four years because losing titles means nothing in this company. Charlotte boots her down at the bell for two in basically the same opening as Cedric vs. AJ. Some chops connect and it’s already time to go after Bayley’s knee.

Bayley rolls outside again and gets sent into various barricades as this is one sided so far. The fans are behind Charlotte as she drives Bayley into the corner for some shoulders to the ribs. A knee to Bayley’s knee has her in more trouble but the Figure Four is countered into a small package. Charlotte boots her into the corner and stomps away until the referee pulls her off. That’s enough of a distraction for Bayley to unhook the buckle pad and send Charlotte head first into the steel to retain at 3:45.

Rating: D-. Well that’s a thing that happened. I’m glad Charlotte didn’t get the title again but having the champion getting squashed might not be the best idea in the world. That being said, I do like the idea of Bayley cheating to retain the title like this and it does offer something new for her, which is what she has been needing for a long time now. Felt like a TV angle more than anything else, but at least Charlotte isn’t champion so soon.

Bayley grabs her title and SPRINTS out of the arena as Charlotte has to smile a bit.

We look back at Shane McMahon firing Kevin Owens for Owens doing his job which wasn’t his job.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: New Day vs. Revival

New Day is defending but they’re banged up after some recent Revival attacks. Woods, with his injured knee, starts with Dash, who is smart enough to go after the bad leg. The good knee hits Dash in the head and Big E. runs Dawson over on the floor for a bonus. Big E. comes in legally to Rock Bottom Wilder out of the corner for two as it’s almost all champs so far. The Warrior Splash is broken up though and Wilder hits a clothesline to knock Big E. off the apron for a big crash.

Back in and the double teaming begins, which is where the Revival tends to shine. The belly to back legdrop gives Dawson two as Graves is all over Saxton again, which is making me long for the FOX move so these two can be away from each other for good. Dawson’s chinlock with a bodyscissors keeps Big E. down but you can’t fight thighs like his forever. The belly to belly plants Wilder and the hot tag brings in Woods to pick up the pace. Woods hits the bottom rope springboard DDT for two as the knee gives out again.

Big E.’s spear through the ropes misses so Wilder tries his own suicide dive, which is pulled out of the air. That’s fine with Dawson, who heads outside for the Shatter Machine. Woods is left to get double teamed, which includes a wise chop block. Another Shatter Machine hits Woods and it’s a reverse Figure Four to make Woods scream. With that out of the way, Woods finally taps away the titles at 10:03.

Rating: C+. Pretty formula based match here but it was a good example of Revival being a better team than most. They knew what they needed to do here and used their better teamwork to get rid of the big monster and then take out the injured man. This made a lot of sense and was well executed, which is what the Revival tends to do. Not a great match, but one that made perfect sense.

Post match Revival grabs the mic and says the titles have been revived. Later tonight, Randy Orton is taking the WWE Championship from Kofi Kingston. What a weird place for a promo.

Alexa Bliss (back to the Harley Quinn look) and Nikki Cross are ready to retain the Women’s Tag Team Titles. The boom mic comes down….because R-Truth and Carmella are running the production. R-Truth: “I’m sorry other Carmella!” Truth praises Bliss’ voice, which she uses to speak into the microphone that R-TRUTH IS ON THE SET SO COME GET THE 24/7 TITLE! The chase is on.

It’s off to Sonya as Cole is trying to compliment Nikki like she just achieved her lifelong dream and the dream of everyone else who has been told she can’t do it. She’s a pretty, professional athlete who danced (or something close to it), in a wrestling ring for five seconds. Stop acting like she’s Marilyn Monroe winning a Nobel Prize for physics. Graves and Renee make Twitter jokes as Bliss suplexes Sonya for two.

Mandy comes in and Graves is quickly silent, which is just disturbing on a variety of levels. A slap to the face puts Mandy down so she shouts about being gorgeous, which at least cuts off Renee vs. Graves. Hang on though as here are R-Truth and the Mob, with Bliss rolling Truth up for two, which sends them running off again. We settle down to Sonya kicking Bliss in the ribs for two more and hitting the short form chinlock. Bliss gets double stomped in the corner and it’s off to a bodyscissors to keep her down.

That means a LEXI chant (or at least something close to it) so Mandy talks more trash, setting up a double knockdown. That’s enough for the hot tag to Cross, who suplexes and crossbodies Sonya for her own two. Everything breaks down and Sonya pulls Bliss off the top by the hair. A High/Low gets two with Cross having to dive in for the save, earning herself some nice applause. The hanging Purge to Bliss retains the titles at 8:06.

Rating: D. This was like some weird combination of a pretty lame match with comic relief thrown in for a bonus. The commentary made it even worse with everyone running their mouths the whole time and barely paying attention on the match because it wasn’t as important as their petty squabbling. That happens way too often these days and it gets really annoying, even in a low level match like this.

Kickoff Show recap.

Intercontinental Title: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Miz

Miz is challenging after calling out Nakamura for a title shot a few weeks ago. Hold on though as Nakamura’s injured mouthpiece Sami Zayn has something to say. Zayn rants about the level of disrespect around here, including from the Undertaker, who chokeslammed him on Smackdown. We even see a clip of it during Nakamura’s entrance. Just in case that isn’t enough, Zayn has a live mic during the match, which can be either awesome or a nightmare.

They trade arm control to start (with Sami describing Miz’s armdrag as “a decent armdrag at best.”) until Nakamura misses the big kick to the face. Sami’s mic is cut and Phillips is elated. An exchange of COME ON’S lets Nakamura get in the strikes, including the knee to the face as Miz hangs over the apron. Back in and Nakamura kicks away, only to have his leg kicked out from underneath him in a smart move. I mean, it’s not a move that tends to work but it’s smart.

Miz’s own kicks in the corner set up some running clotheslines and the ax handle gets two. The Figure Four is countered into a cross armbreaker but Miz stacks him up to escape. Miz’s big kick is countered into a rollup for two and the spinning kick to the head rocks Miz again. The sliding German suplex makes it even worse but we’re nowhere near enough teased finishers for Kinshasa to connect.

Instead Miz sidesteps it and slaps on the Figure Four until a rope is grabbed. Sami offers a grab of the leg though and it’s a running knee to the back of Miz’s head for two. Kinshasa is countered into the Skull Crushing Finale for a close two but Sami distracts the referee. This time the distraction lets Nakamura hit a kick to the head, followed by Kinshasa to retain at 9:34.

Rating: C-. I bought Miz has having a chance coming in but once the match started, it was rather clear that it wasn’t going to be happening here. Sami is making for a good help to Nakamura and I could go for having them together for a good while. Not a terrible match but it wasn’t exactly must see stuff.

Smackdown is coming to FOX and the Draft is coming on October 11/14.

We recap Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch. Banks came back for the first time in four months since Wrestlemania and she isn’t happy with all of the BECKY cheers. She beat up Natalya and Becky made the save, earning herself a beating. Becky called out Sasha for never being the star she thought she should be, but more importantly she wanted a fight, which got us here.

Raw Women’s Title: Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks

Becky is defending and slaps the trash talk out of Sasha’s mouth. It’s too early for either submission so Banks rolls to the floor in a wise move. For no logical reason whatsoever, Banks poses with her back to the ring, earning herself a baseball slide to the back. Becky’s middle rope legdrop is broken up though and Banks gets in the heelish kicks, setting up more gloating. The Meteora gets two on the champ as Cole suggests that the Four Horsewomen moniker might be an homage to the Four Horsemen.

What looked to be a middle rope Meteora is dropkicked out of the air and they’re both down. Becky is up first with the Bexploder and the fans are getting back into things, which has been lacking for a lot of this show. Another one sets up the middle rope legdrop but Becky’s superplex is broken up and the middle rope Meteora gets a quick two. The kickout draws screams but the Bank Statement is blocked.

The Disarm-Her isn’t though and Banks has to go to the ropes for the break. A running dropkick against the ropes has Banks in more trouble and a missile dropkick gives Becky two. Banks is right back with a pair of Backstabbers into the Bank Statement so Becky rolls into the ropes for the break. Both of them have bad shoulders now though so Banks grabs a chair to make things a little easier. She gets smart though by sliding the chair in for a distraction, meaning she can hit Becky in the ribs with another chair for the near fall (makes sense as Banks is a known Eddie Guerrero fan).

Sasha grabs the chair again but the referee takes it away, allowing Becky to pick it up. A pretty weak chair shot hits the referee and the fight heads into the crowd. Becky hammers away and grabs the Disarm-Her in a handrail, which would make no difference on the hold but looked cool.

They fight through the concourse (where Becky pours mustard on her) and down into another part of the arena with both of them getting knocked down the steps. Back at ringside, Banks drives her back first into the barricade as we’re told that Becky was disqualified for hitting the referee. This isn’t announced in the arena, but we’ll say the match is over at about 15:00.

Rating: B-. Out of everything on the show so far (and likely throughout the rest of the show), this was WAY better in person than it came across here, as there was good action but not the most fire. Banks winning the title was a strong possibility and she probably gets it in the end, but the ending brawl was the annual “here’s a feud that suddenly belongs in the Cell” because it’s September/October and that’s what we need to do.

Post match Becky beats her up even worse, including the Disarm-Her in a chair. The DQ is announced and Becky doesn’t seem to mind as she leaves.

We recap Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton. Kofi snapped at Summerslam and beat Orton up with a kendo stick for glaring at his family, so Orton has declared Kingston stupid. Orton is inside his head and wants to prove that he can beat Kofi one on one. If he had to beat Kofi up to get here, so be it. New Day has been beaten down and Kofi isn’t happy with his family and close friends being attacked. They had a pretty awesome segment on Smackdown where Kofi recreated his famous Boom Drop in Madison Square Garden, which would suggest that he is in trouble tonight.

Smackdown World Title: Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton

Orton is challenging. Feeling out process to start with Orton taking him down by the arm and stopping to smile. A headlock takes Kofi down again so he’s back up with the double leapfrog into a jumping back elbow. Kofi hits a forearm in the corner and Orton bails to the ramp, only to have Kofi strike Orton’s pose to bring him back in. I can always go for some mind games.

Back in and Kofi chops away in the corner but a poke to the eye cuts that off in a hurry. A throat snap across the top sets up a shoulder to send Kofi into the barricade, with Orton following instead of standing around. You can’t let Orton get that close to a table so he drops Kofi back first onto the announcers’ table twice in a row for a pair of twos back inside.

With frustration setting in, Orton sends him shoulder first into the post and strikes the real version of his pose. They head outside again with Kofi going face first into the steps, which just seems to trigger the comeback. Kofi hits a dropkick and the jumping clothesline, followed by the Boom Drop to put Orton in trouble for a change.

Trouble in Paradise is countered into the backbreaker though and Kofi is cut off again. The hanging DDT is countered with a backdrop to the floor and Kofi’s no hands dive puts Orton down. Back in and Orton hits his perfect dropkick for two but Kofi’s SOS is good for the same. Kofi gets crotched on top and the snap powerslam gives us the next near fall.

The hanging DDT knocks another item off of Orton’s to do list and the RKO connects, with Kofi right next to the ropes. Since RKOing a groggy Kofi is out of the question, Orton loads up the Punt. We’re not seeing that one though and Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise to retain at 20:48.

Rating: B-. This was more long than good, though it did have some moments. They could have gone either way here so the match wasn’t the most predictable. Kingston has pretty much plateaued as champion though and that means he needs a new challenger. Since Orton has been defeated, an Orton destroyer might be possible and I think you know where that is going.

The Street Profits preview the King of the Ring finals, including Ford singing the Circle of Life from Lion King. This includes Ford confusing Rafiki with Rikishi, but here’s King Booker to interrupt. Booker talks about the King of the Ring and Dawkins wants to be knighted. See, it sounds good in the club to call yourself the Dark Knight. Booker tells them to get their minds right but comes back for a catchphrase.

We recap Roman Reigns vs. Erick Rowan, which thankfully is not main eventing the show as was rumored. Reigns was attacked several times by a mystery assailant, eventually revealed to be Rowan. Daniel Bryan was involved for a time as well but now it seems to just be about these two, at least at the moment.

Erick Rowan vs. Roman Reigns

No DQ. They go straight to the fight here, as they should, with the brawl going to the floor, including Reigns being sent face first into the announcers’ table. Rowan drives himself into the steps, so he picks the steps up and hits Reigns instead. They hit each other with various things before making it back to ringside, with Reigns nailing the apron dropkick. Reigns stops to load up the announcers’ table though and gets run over again in a big crash.

They go back inside with Rowan running him over and kicking him in the face as this has been rather physical so far. Reigns clotheslines him to the floor but Rowan lands on his feet and beats Reigns up some more. The steps are brought in but it takes a little extra time so Reigns muscles him up for a Samoan drop. A shot with the steps and the Superman Punch give Reigns two in his best shot yet.

They head outside again with Rowan waking up in a hurry to powerbomb him through the table for two back inside. It’s back into the crowd as they seem to be repeating stuff for the sake of filling in time, which is never a good idea. They mix it up a bit by going to the tech area for a claw slam through a table to knock Reigns out again, allowing Rowan to put him on the stage.

Rowan grabs the camera again but Reigns pulls out….what looked like a spiked club to hit him in the ribs. The camera hits Rowan and so does a Superman Punch but the spear is cut off by the returning Luke Harper, who gets quite the reaction as soon as people realize who he is. The discus lariat sets up Rowan’s Iron Claw for the pin at 17:24.

Rating: C+. There were good and bad parts to this one and the good just outweighs the bad. First of all, they were very smart to make this a fight instead of a match because not only does it make more sense, but it made for a better showing. Harper was a great surprise too and a pretty welcome return. The problem though is the length, as this could have been cut in half to make things better. Rowan looked like an unstoppable monster though so well done for making something new.

Seth Rollins says the loss earlier wasn’t on him. He slayed a beast at Summerslam so tonight, let’s add a monster to the collection.

Raw World Title: Seth Rollins vs. Braun Strowman

Strowman is challenging and runs Rollins over at the bell because that’s the theme of the night. An early running powerslam attempt is escaped and Rollins starts in on the knee. Three straight superkicks into the frog splash don’t even get one and Rollins is stunned (fair enough). Strowman throws him down again and says Seth is tougher than this.

Rollins avoids a charge and hits back to back springboard knees to the head. A third is countered with a shot to the chest though and the champ is down on the floor. Strowman runs him over once but a second attempt is countered with a drop toehold to send Strowman over the announcers’ table. A suicide dive connects and Rollins puts him on the announcers’ table, but Strowman runs the steps to shove him off the top.

Rollins can’t superplex him so Strowman shoves the champ off the top, setting up a heck of a top rope splash for two. Strowman banged up his knee on the crash though so Rollins grabs a sleeper. With Strowman down, the Stomp connects for two. Then the Stomp connects for two and then the Stomp connects for two, then a Pedigree sets up a fourth Stomp to retain the title at 10:54.

Rating: B-. I know it’s not the biggest surprise as Strowman manages to come up short again, but they didn’t exactly hide that this was just a pit stop on the way to the real match with the Fiend next month. Strowman’s big man offense worked well as usual, but there wasn’t exactly much doubt about the ending. What we got was entertaining though, with that splash looking great. It’s good, but it’s nothing memorable, much like the show as a whole.

Post match Rollins poses on the stage but the lights go out and we’ve got a Fiend. Sister Abigail onto the stage sets up the Mandible Claw and various gyrations to leave Rollins laying and end the show with an evil laugh.

Overall Rating: C. This was a tricky one to grade as it’s certainly not a terrible show, but it’s one of the least interesting or memorable ones that I can remember. Above all else, watching it a second time made it feel really long. It felt like I watched this thing for the better part of a month and it wasn’t that great in the first place.

Nothing on here is going to stick with me beyond maybe a day or two more, which isn’t a good sign when I’ve watched it twice in less than five days. It felt like nothing happened here, with only the Tag Team Titles changing hands. That hasn’t meant anything in years so I need more than that to make for a good show. It’s watchable once at best, but don’t expect to see anything that hasn’t been done better before.

Results

Dolph Ziggler/Robert Roode b. Seth Rollins/Braun Strowman – Glorious DDT to Rollins

Bayley b. Charlotte – Ram into an exposed turnbuckle

Revival b. New Day – Reverse Figure Four to Woods

Shinsuke Nakamura b. The Miz – Kinshasa

Sasha Banks b. Becky Lynch via DQ when Lynch hit the referee with a chair

Kofi Kingston b. Randy Orton – Rollup

Erick Rowan b. Roman Reigns – Iron Claw

Seth Rollins b. Braun Strowman – Stomp

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/


And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:


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




NXT UK – September 19, 2019: The British Way

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: September 18, 2019
Location: Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time to go full British here as Sid Scala faces Kassius Ohno in a British Rounds match. This could make for something interesting while also giving this place a signature match, which it hasn’t had so far. I’m curious to see how WWE runs something like this as it could range from really bad to a pleasant surprise. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Ohno defeating Scala on a moment’s notice, so Scala is now prepared and in a match of his choice.

Opening sequence.

Travis Banks vs. Tyson T-Bone

Banks takes him straight into the corner for an early stomping and some running shots to the face to make it even worse. T-Bone uses the size advantage to crush Banks and damage the ribs, meaning it’s time to punch said ribs over and over. We hit the chinlock on Banks, followed by the slingshot suplex to get back to the ribs. Banks is fine enough to hit a knee to the floor, setting up the required suicide dive. T-Bone is right back with a German suplex out of the corner to counter the Slice of Heaven. Back up and T-Bone tries another suplex, only to get reversed into a small package to give Banks the pin at 4:35.

Rating: C-. Banks continues to seem to be the guy who should be rocketing up the card but he never gets there. He clearly has talent but doesn’t seem ready to move up to the next level for whatever reason. T-Bone looks great but is more about being a jobber to the stars around here, which they have to have.

Toni Storm’s whereabouts aren’t clear yet but Gallus comes in to say this is their kingdom.

Rhea Ripley vs. Debbie Keitel

Keitel is from Ireland and has only been wrestling for two years. A waistlock just annoys Ripley so she sends Keitel into the corner. For some reason Keitel thinks it’s a good idea to slap Ripley in the face so it’s Riptide to finish Keitel at 1:25. Well that worked.

Post match Ripley says it’s time to get her NXT UK Women’s Title match. There is no one like her around here so here are Jinny and Jazzy Gabbert to interrupt. Jinny insults Rhea’s look, saying it all belongs in the past. The present is right here though so the brawl is on, with Rhea kicking Jazzy off the apron before anything can really start.

Trent Seven arrived earlier and Noam Dar annoyed him with a bullhorn. The fight almost started but referees broke it up.

Joseph Conners vs. Kenny Williams

The always serious Conners sends him into the corner to start and gets two off a hard clothesline. Williams gets his own two off a sunset flip before firing off some elbows to the face. A hard whip into the corner has Williams in trouble again as Conners talks to himself, which apparently is now his thing. Williams comes back with a jawbreaker and some chops, followed by the springboard back elbow to the face. A wheelbarrow faceplant gets two more with Conners rolling to the apron. Conners snaps the rope into Williams’ chest and Don’t Look Down is good for the pin at 5:12 to an almost creepy silence.

Rating: D+. Yeah this was another Conners match, though I guess talking to himself is better than fighting the rookies in a company that is about a year old. The match wasn’t terrible but Williams is better than this and Conners is just not interesting in any definition of the word. I don’t know what they see in him but he doesn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon.

Video on Cesaro vs. Ilja Dragunov from Takeover. Cesaro says Dragunov brought it and you should keep watching him (Dragunov).

Oliver Carter is back for his first win next week. YEAH MAN (his words).

Kay Lee Ray is ready for Tegan Nox in two weeks.

Next week: Trent Seven vs. Noam Dar.

Sid Scala vs. Kassius Ohno

This is a British Rounds match, meaning we have six three minute rounds. You win with two pinfalls or submissions, one knockout, or being ahead on falls at the end of the final round. The fans are rather behind Sid here, even as Ohno takes him down by the arm. A headlock has Ohno in more control as Nigel has a ball listing off various British wrestlers of rounds fame. The chinlock keeps Scala down before it’s off to an ankle crank. Scala reverses into one of his own but the first round ends to break things up.

After a thirty second break, Scala starts the second round with a cravate but Ohno spins out to give us a standoff. Ohno starts cranking on both arms but Scala slips out again. A few rollups get two but the second round ends with a kickout. The third round begins with Ohno using the size to hold Scala down but some knees to the ribs get him out of trouble. That’s fine with Ohno, who hits the rolling elbow to earn the first fall at 1:30 of the third round.

Scala is rocked and can barely stand as round four begins, apparently with the other minute and a half being dropped due to the fall. Ohno slams him down and Scala has some trouble getting back up. That’s fine with Ohno, who grabs a cravate and drops a knee to keep Scala down. Scala slugs away but it’s another big forearm to put him down again. Ohno grabs another cravate and headbutts him to end the fourth round. Scala can barely get to his feet during the rest period so Ohno is very happy to start the fifth round.

The abdominal stretch goes on, followed by a chinlock but Scala comes back with some knees to the head. Back in and Ohno misses an elbow, followed by a backsplash hitting raised knees. Ohno is in trouble as the sixth and final round begins so Scala dives at him and hammers away in the corner. The size is just too much though and Ohno grabs a Regal roll for two.

The chinlock doesn’t last long so Ohno BLASTS him in the back of the head with a forearm. An electric chair is countered into a victory roll for two, followed by a crucifix for the same. Ohno kicks him in the head with twenty seconds left but gets caught in a backslide for two as time expires at 20:02 (counting the breaks so well done on keeping the time close), meaning Ohno wins one fall to nothing.

Rating: B. This match is not going to work for everyone (meaning fans or wrestlers) but I got into it a lot more than I expected to. Not only did they have a story here with Ohno being the bully but they sucked me into the drama at the end. Throw in Scala as a rather good underdog and the match did exactly what it was supposed to. It’s not something that would work every week or that I would want to see very often, but if you make it someone’s gimmick or a special attraction, it could work rather well.

Scala is upset to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This was one of those shows that had a lot of different things to offer, which often makes the show that much better. I liked the show well enough and the whole thing went by rather quickly. As usual, it’s a good idea to focus on things other than the major title, which is what they did here. Nice show, with a main event that may or may not be your taste.

Results

Travis Banks b. Tyson T-Bone – Small package

Rhea Ripley b. Debbie Keitel – Riptide

Joseph Conners b. Kenny Williams – Don’t Look Down

Kassius Ohno b. Sid Scala – 1-0

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/


And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:


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