IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: April 25, 2019
Location: Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa
Commentators: Percy Watson, Renee Young, Byron Saxton

These shows are so hit or miss and with a week where a lot went down, it’s hard to say what we’re going to get. If nothing else we might have something fresh in the way of the original matches, though there is no reason to expect it to be anything worth seeing. That’s never stopped Main Event before though. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Dana Brooke vs. Ruby Riott

Dang it not Ruby. Likely annoyed at having her stable broken up and getting sent to Main Event, Ruby drives her into the ropes but gets powered right back out. Some elbows work a bit better for Riott until a kick to the face gives Brooke two. Shoulders in the corner put Brooke back in trouble so she grabs a rollup for two more to get away.

The chinlock goes on to keep Brooke down again as the back and forth continues. This time Brooke fights up and gets kicked in the face for her efforts, meaning it’s right back to the chinlock. Brooke comes back again with a clothesline and the handspring elbow sets up a cartwheel splash. Ruby gets two off a rollup but walks into the Samoan driver for the pin at 5:12.

Rating: D. Remember the match where Brie Bella knocked Liv Morgan silly and the rest of the match was a mess? Ruby Riott was the one who took charge and threw something together on the floor. She can do that because she’s talented, experienced and unique enough to be put in that spot. Now she’s jobbing to Dana Brooke on Main Event.

We look back at Roman Reigns punching out Vince McMahon.

From Smackdown.

Here’s Shane McMahon to get things going. After making Greg Hamilton do the big intro, Shane wants to talk about Roman Reigns. We see the clip of Reigns hitting Vince last week, which is like disgracing the American flag or defacing Mount Rushmore (which Shane stumbles over). That man is a national treasure and it’s time for payback.

Shane lists off some options before saying that he’ll deal with Reigns right now in this ring. Reigns comes out and they both drop their mics. Cue Elias from behind and the beatdown is on. Drift Away leaves Reigns laying. Great. More McMahon Family Fun as Shane and Vince like each other again.

We look at Becky Lynch having to face two challengers at Money in the Bank.

From Raw.

Baron Corbin vs. AJ Styles

The winner gets Rollins at Money in the Bank. AJ seems to have an ankle or leg injury so it’s right hands instead of the dropkick. AJ’s springboard is blocked with a right hand to the face and Corbin sends him hard into the corner. They head outside with AJ being whipped in the barricade and getting dropped ribs first onto said barricade as we take a break. Back with AJ fighting out of a chinlock but getting slammed down onto his face for two.

Styles gets in some kicks to the leg but it’s too early for the Calf Crusher. Instead AJ goes with the running seated forearm and a spinning backfist to rock Corbin. A rollup into a Styles Clash attempt is broken up and it’s Deep Six for two. The Calf Crusher goes on this time though until Corbin slams him head first into the mat for the break. AJ gets sent into the corner but comes back with a kick to the head. The Phenomenal Forearm sends AJ to Money in the Bank at 13:05.

Rating: C-. I can’t remember the last time I felt such a relief, but there is no way that Corbin isn’t getting his title at some point. It’s clear that WWE sees the world in him for some reason and there doesn’t seem to be a way around it. At least we can have Rollins vs. Styles while it lasts though and that match should be awesome.

Post match Rollins comes out for the staredown. A handshake ends the show.

From Raw.

We go to the Firefly Fun House, which looks like a children’s program. Bray Wyatt (looking slim) in a longsleeved shirt comes in and introduces himself, saying he knew we would be together again. Offscreen children cheer and Bray can’t wait to show what he’s learned. He ducks his head and looks to come up evil but he’s just kidding. Bray introduces us to his special friends: Mercy the Buzzard and Peppy the Witch (the stars of the creepy vignettes). See, Bray used to be a bad man, which makes the children boo.

That part of him is dead now, but he always keeps a memory with him to prevent that from ever happening again. That would be a cardboard cutout of his old look…..and Bray whips out a chainsaw and cuts it in half. The fun is just getting started and remember that he’ll always light the way, so all you have to do is let him in. I have no idea what to think of this but it was disturbing in a lot of ways.

EC3 vs. No Way Jose

EC3 is rather disturbed by the Conga Line. Same with me man. The dancing begins again after the bell with EC3’s waistlock not being much of a counter. A slam works a bit better though and it’s a Stinger Splash into a neckbreaker. The seated full nelson sets up the EC3 Elbow (that’s growing on me) for two more. It’s too early for the TKO though and Jose grabs a belly to back suplex. Some clotheslines set up a high crossbody but EC3 gets in a reverse DDT to cut things off. The 1%er finishes Jose at 5:13.

Rating: D+. It was slightly better than the first match but that might be due to the lack of Ruby Riott losing. EC3 is someone else who seems to check all of the boxes for greatness in WWE but for some reason (possibly backstage discipline), he’s stuck here as the high point of his week. Hopefully things turn around for him because he’s too good to pass up.

And from Smackdown to close things out.

Kofi Kingston vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Non-title, Rusev and Lana are at ringside and Owens and Woods have their own announcers’ table. Nakamura misses an early kick to the head and gets sent to the floor. Kofi teases a dive so Nakamura can get back in, where he takes Kofi down into a cross armbreaker. That’s switched into a cross armbreaker but Kofi stacks him up for two and the escape. Kofi’s top rope splash to the back gets two and a dropkick puts Nakamura on the floor again. A dive is cut off with a kick to the face though and Nakamura adds the knee drop off the apron.

Back from a break with Nakamura hitting more knees, followed by a kick to the head. They head outside with Nakamura kicking him out of the air for two as we go to New Day for more commentary. Kofi flips to his feet and goes to the middle rope but Nakamura hits the sliding German suplex to take him down again. Kinshasa is countered with the standing double stomp. Trouble in Paradise misses so Kofi settles for the SOS, drawing in Rusev for the DQ at 13:23.

Rating: B-. The ending wasn’t exactly in doubt as WWE isn’t about to push Nakamura into the World Title scene all of a sudden. Kofi not winning isn’t the biggest problem in the world as it’s basically a matter of time until he loses the title. Good match from two good workers, but what comes after is probably what really matters.

Post match Owens and Woods make the save with Woods being taken down. Owens cuts the nonsense and superkicks Kofi, setting up the big beatdown. He shouts that Kofi’s kids better have had a good time because Owens is coming for the title. Kofi tries to fire up but gets stomped down in the corner. Woods breaks up the apron powerbomb so Owens gives it to him instead to end the show. I know it seemed obvious from the beginning, but that’s because it was obvious from the beginning. Why stretch it out for another few weeks instead of just getting to the point already?

Overall Rating: C. The original wrestling was even worse than usual if you can believe that, but the rest of the show was good stuff with a nice focus on the recaps, which were all big stories instead of focusing on midcard material from one show over another. There is interesting stuff going on in WWE at the moment and this was a nice showcase.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: April 26, 2019
Location: St. Clair’s College, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Don Callis

It’s the go home show for Rebellion and that means we’re in for what could be a good six man tag with the two major feuds coming together. In this case that would be the Lucha Bros/Johnny Impact vs. Brian Cage/LAX, which could be rather entertaining. Other than that we’ll likely be getting a lot of highlight packages, where Impact has had some success before. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap montage.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Eli Drake for a chat, with a selfie stick to hold his microphone and Kenny the kendo stick. Eli talks about the old Eddie Edwards being dead. He asks Kenny and Mikey what they think of that but here’s Eddie for the brawl. Eddie throws the stick at Drake and hits a suicide dive as the fight heads to the back. I really hope that’s not the last we see of Drake over an intergender match at that horrible United We Stand show.

Video on Tessa Blanchard vs. Gail Kim.

Ace Austin vs. Aiden Prince

Prince starts fast and hurricanranas Ace to the floor for a suicide dive, followed by a heck of an Asai moonsault. Ace is fine enough for a handstand on the apron and a kick to the chest. The Space Flying Tiger Drop puts Prince down again as they’re starting fast. Back in and Ace misses a moonsault, allowing Prince to nail a Downward Spiral for two. The 450 is awkwardly countered into a triangle choke from Austin and it’s a playing card between the fingers for the paper cut. The Fold finishes Prince at 5:56.

Rating: C. Prince was your token Canadian for the tapings and did well for himself in the time he had. Austin continues to be someone with a bright future as he has everything you could need to be a star save for maybe the size. I still love the cards and magic stuff as you don’t see many people (if anyone) doing that kind of thing. Nice match too.

Post match Austin beats on Prince again until Petey Williams makes the save.

Jordynne Grace was working out earlier when Taya Valkyrie attacked her. Taya hit her with a dumbbell and DDTed her onto a weight for the knockout.

Rob Van Dam, looking nearly ancient, is looking forward to coming back to face some of the new talent.

The Rascalz literally bump into each other after being told to meat (yes meat) here. It turns out that Moose wrote the notes because he has an idea. The North comes in and the Rascalz get beaten down.

Video on Brian Cage vs. Johnny Impact for the World Title. That’s way too long of a feud for such little interest. The story has been acceptable and logical but it hasn’t been interesting and that’s a big flaw.

Rebellion rundown.

GWN Flashback Moment of the Week: Rob Van Dam wins the World Title.

Scarlett Bordeaux promises us a live Smoke Show at Rebellion.

Rosemary vs. Undead Maid of Honor

Su Yung and the Bridesmaids distract Rosemary to start but she shrugs off the beatdown without much trouble. The bloody glove is slipped in but Rosemary hits the mist. A spear gives Rosemary the pin at 2:25.

Post match Rosemary chains up the Maid of Honor and leaves with her.

Rich Swann goes to the OVE Compound but Sami Callihan isn’t there. Swann sits at the door and says it’s true that Sami took him in but now they’re going to war. He was there when Sami’s mom died and they went to Germany together. We’ll find out how things go on Sunday. Swann leaves and Sami opens the door, having heard all of that.

A braggadocios Johnny Impact comes up to the Lucha Bros for tonight’s six man. The Bros don’t want to hear it because they’re the best team in the world. Johnny likes their confidence.

Killer Kross vs. The Mack

Mack armdrags him into an armbar but a run of the ropes lets Kross grab a front facelock. Back up and it’s time to throw fists with Mack getting the better of it until a running knee to the face cuts him off. A leg lariat gets Mack out of trouble so Kross clotheslines him right back down.

Something close to a Sling Blade gives Mack two but Kross pounds away even more. This time Mack Hulks Up and nails an exploder suplex. The reverse Cannonball connects but Mack’s standing moonsault is countered into the Krossjacket Choke to give put Mack away at 8:12.

Rating: D+. This wasn’t quite a squash for Kross and I really don’t get the point of doing that to Mack. It would seem that we’re coming up on a heel turn for either Swann or Mack, hopefully the former, and that would make this loss make even less sense. It’s not like Kross is anything more than the devil on the shoulder/Impact’s muscle at this point so he doesn’t really need to beat Mack here.

Long recap on LAX vs. the Lucha Bros, setting up Full Metal Mayhem on Sunday.

Deaners vs. Halal Beefcake

That would be Cody/Jake vs. Joe Coleman/Idris Abraham. Jake isn’t bothered by Abraham slapping him in the face to start so it’s off to Cody, who slams Jake onto Coleman for two. Beefcake puts Cody throat first onto the middle rope for a choke with their boots and pushups on the side. Jake comes in to clean house and it’s a Deaner DDT (set up like a Magic Killer but Cody throws Abraham into the air into a Hellevator) for the pin at 3:12.

Rating: D. So the Deaners are officially a thing with no mention of Cody’s past in the company. To be fair though, that’s probably the best thing they can do. Halal Beefcake was more entertaining than the Deaners but after all the weeks of promos we’ve seen from them, odds are we’re going to be stuck with them for at least a few months.

Rebellion rundown.

Here are Johnny Impact and Taya Valkyrie for a chat before the main event. Johnny thinks the marks in the crowd are way too happy about having Lance Storm referee on Sunday. The two of them were trained by Storm and he was even a guest at their wedding. This brings out Storm, who hugs Taya and seems rather happy.

Storm says he taught the two of them to work and put something into this business. Johnny is worried about taking the Drill Claw and asks if integrity is more important than twelve years of friendship. That’s not cool with Storm, whose lone job is to give these people a champion they can be proud of. A fight breaks out and Storm superkicks Impact down.

Johnny Impact/Lucha Bros vs. Brian Cage/LAX

Mixing up the faces and heels is often interesting. It’s a brawl to start with Fenix hitting a rolling dropkick to put Ortiz down. The double splash hits Fenix though and it’s a double flapjack to take him down again. Fenix comes back with a kick to Santana’s face and Pentagon comes in to start cleaning house. Unfortunately that house includes Cage, who powers out of the Backstabber.

Pentagon knees him in the head instead and now Johnny is willing to come in with a slingshot spear. Ortiz tags himself in and it’s time for the parade of dives, including Cage moonsaulting onto everyone not named Fenix. That’s because Fenix is on top for the big dive and everyone is down enough for a replay montage. Back in and a triple superkick into a series of splashes take Cage down. The top rope double stomp What’s Up hits Santana and now it’s the strikes to Ortiz.

A 450 gets two on Ortiz with Cage making a save. Now it’s Pentagon getting triple teamed, capped off by Cage’s F5. Fenix gets planed with a super Flatliner so Impact comes in for more superkicks. Cage plants Johnny for two but Johnny Bravo pulls the referee out. Just because this hasn’t been insane enough, Fenix chairs Cage in the head but LAX takes the Bros out with chairs of their own. A baseball slide sends the ladder into LAX, only to have Cage hit Weapon X for the pin on Impact at 11:59.

Rating: B-. This was everything that you needed in a go home main event. It’s cool to mix up the faces and heels like this, even if the reasoning was based around champions vs. challengers. These matches should be good on Sunday, but they both need to do something fresh after the pay per view.

Overall Rating: B. Rather good go home show here with the six match card getting some good attention. Everything either got a video or a match to build things up and that’s a smart formula that has worked for years now. Just keep doing more of this and they should be fine. Now since every week can’t be a go home show, I don’t see that formula lasting very long. Otherwise though, good stuff.

Results

Ace Austin b. Aiden Prince – The Fold

Rosemary b. Undead Maid of Honor – Spear

Killer Kross b. The Mack – Krossjacket Choke

Deaners b. Halal Beefcake – Deaner DDT to Abraham

Brian Cage/LAX b. Johnny Impact/Lucha Bros – Weapon X to Impact

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor
Date: April 24, 2019
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman, Nick Aldis

I don’t know how either but somehow we’re still waiting to get to the post Supercard shows. I know it wasn’t the best night in the world for the company but egads man get on to something new already. It’s another night of one off matches that aren’t likely to mean much but that’s how things go around here these days. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Kenny King vs. Tracy Williams

King is the hometown boy and Williams is coming in with a bad shoulder. They start slowly as the announcers ignore the match to talk about the Crockett Cup. To be fair, that sounds a lot more interesting. King picks up the pace and rolls over to grab a headlock, which is reversed into one from Williams. A takedown puts King on the mat and we take an early break. Back with a standoff as the even match continues.

Williams takes him down and starts in on the arm as the announcers argue about handshakes in wrestling. King grabs the referee for a distraction and crotches Williams on top. That’s about it for the offense at the moment though as Williams knocks him off the apron. King jumps onto the apron and corkscrews off in a completely unnecessary flip.

Back in and a butterfly suplex gives King two as Aldis continues to break down a match like no one else in a very long time. King takes him up top but gets caught in a DDT onto the top rope (that’s a new one). A Death Valley Driver gives Williams two and we take another break. We come back with Williams not being able to get the Crossface, allowing King to grab a Last Chancery.

With that broken up, King kicks him in the head and then the ribs for two, which Aldis says is making Williams bend the knee. King grabs a rollup and a rope for two and it’s time for the chops to fire Williams up. The Royal Flush is countered into a small package for two and a fisherman’s buster gets the same. Williams tries a high crossbody but gets pulled out of the air, setting up the Royal Flush for the pin at 19:18.

Rating: B. Nice long (very long) match here with King getting a win to continue a roll that hasn’t actually started yet, which is very clear as the announcers didn’t mention his win in New York at all. King is fine for a midcarder and hopefully that’s where he stays, because I can’t imagine an extended main event run from the guy.

We recap Bandido vs. PJ Black II. The original match caused Black to see the error of his ways and is a reason why he joined Lifeblood. Tonight he’s ready to show everyone what the good Black can do.

Video on Nick Aldis vs. Marty Scurll for the NWA World Title at the Crockett Cup.

Bouncers vs. Reno Scum

Scum must work really cheap because I don’t get the appeal. Milonas and Adam Thornstowe start things off with Adam bouncing off the huge shoulder. The bigger Luster the Legend comes in to try his luck and gets slammed down without much effort. Bruiser hits a running crossbody to set up the snap jabs as the beating continues.

Scum goes with some double forearms to the back to take over for the first time. A double slam sets up a falling headbutt to give Luster two and we hit the bearhug. The missed charge sends Luster shoulder first into the post and the tag brings in Milonas to a rather tepid reaction. Thornstowe gets caught in Closing Time for the pin at 4:57.

Rating: D. The Bouncers are a perfectly nice team in this spot and for once ROH seems smart enough to understand that. They would get wrecked by the Briscoes, the Guerrillas or Villain Enterprises so let them hang around the midcard and win squashes or matches like this. The fans like them well enough and they’re a fine little boost in the middle of the show.

Bandido vs. PJ Black

They grapple to the mat to start with Bandido going after the leg. Back up and it’s a standoff with Black shooting an invisible arrow at Bandido. A shoulder just makes Bandido nip up, followed by a handstand nip up to get in Black’s head. Black misses an elbow and Bandido freezes him with the finger gun. A dropkick puts Black on the floor but he’s right back in for a crucifix driver as we take a break.

We come back with Bandido kicking him in the head to block a dive, setting up a heck of a moonsault to the floor. The Cannonball hits the barricade though and it’s time to head back inside for a slugout. Back in and Black gets crotched on top but manages to roll through a super hurricanrana into a Styles Clash for his own near fall.

A pumphandle into a cutter (the Wellness Policy, because we have to take a shot at WWE every few shows) gives Black two but Bandido rolls over and deadlifting Black into a piledriver (Black’s head landed on Bandido’s leg as the whole thing looked messy). Back from another break with Black hitting a moonsault press for two but running into a Spanish Fly for two more.

Bandido charges into raised boots though and a top rope double stomp to a standing Bandido gets two. Black gets caught on top for a super Spanish Fly but the moonsault hits raised boots. A shot to the face rocks Black again though and the handspring bridging German suplex finishes Black at 15:21.

Rating: B-. So you remember when Black was evil and lost to Bandido? Well now he’s good and lost to Bandido again. The match was very back and forth and entertaining, but I’m not sure what the point of this was. Black’s change hasn’t made him any better but I guess he feels better about it? Uh, good for him then I guess.

Post match they shake hands because Lifeblood is good that way.

Tenille Dashwood has been put through a table. Bully Ray pops up to say bad things happen to good people. People have been trying to figure out who attacked Dashwood six months ago and now we know. He’ll tell Lifeblood she says goodbye. I mean, they could have done this for some fresh new heel but why do that when you can have it be Bully instead?

Overall Rating: C+. As I’m writing this, Matt Taven is three weeks into his ROH World Title reign. We haven’t seen or heard from him in that time, not even in an inset promo. How in the world can we go that long in what is supposed to be a new era after that long of a chase? This keeps happening over and over and I have no idea why ROH can’t find SOMETHING that is better than this. At least have him say something. It’s only going to happen again at the next pay per view too, so what’s the point in even getting annoyed at it again? Nice show, but come on already with this scheduling stuff.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: April 23, 2019
Location: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska
Commentators: Aiden English, Vic Joseph, David Otunga

Things aren’t in the best place around here at the moment with some of the biggest stars in the show (both currently an in its history) moving up to the main roster in last week’s Superstar Shakeup. That means it’s time to build things up again but the materials might not be there this time around. Maybe tonight will prove me wrong. Let’s get to it.

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

Drew Gulak, behind his podium, welcomes us to the show and tells us about how confusing things are in 205 Live at the moment, with Ariya Daivari and Oney Lorcan facing off for the #1 contendership. Not that it matters as he’ll be the champion one day anyway. As for tonight though, Gulak has to deal with his former student Humberto Carrillo.

Opening sequence.

Drew Gulak vs. Humberto Carrillo

No Jack Gallagher with Gulak after their incident last week. We even get an Instagram video from Gallagher, who is missing tonight due to getting stitches in his mustache. He headbutted Gulak last week because Gulak has never done anything for him while using Gallagher to further his own goals. After we hear about how handsome Carrillo is, Gulak takes him to the mat with a headlock takeover.

A rollup gives Gulak two and it’s already time for the mockery. Carrillo gets two of his own off a crucifix and it’s Gulak looking all flustered. They head outside with Carrillo climbing up the post and standing on top, telling Gulak to come up. Gulak tells him to come down but eventually climbs in. Carrillo runs him over and grabs a chinlock, which you don’t often see from a face. That’s released and Gulak breaks up a springboard to take over.

The leglock goes on to take away the flying ability so Carrillo slaps him in the face. Gulak goes to his own chinlock before switching into a modified surfboard. That’s a little too much though so it’s back to the chinlock. Carrillo gets up again and hits a handspring elbow, followed by a great looking spinning high crossbody for two.

A missile dropkick is good for the same and they slug it out until Gulak knocks him down again. The ankle lock has Carrillo in trouble but the good foot gets Carrillo out of trouble. With nothing else working, Gulak tries a superplex (Vic: “That’s not on the ground!”) but gets powerbombed down. Carrillo’s Aztec Press (handstand into a springboard moonsault) gets the pin at 15:08.

Rating: B. That’s the best thing that could have happened as Carrillo has been needing a big win for a long time now. He’s one of the better prospects around but there is only so much he can get out of dealing with Gulak and Gallagher, who are pretty much the rite of passage on this show. Good battle of styles here, which isn’t a big surprise.

Oney Lorcan likes the idea of Ariya Daivari being a hard hitter.

Daivari says he’s a different man since he got his head on straight. He’s coming for the title and beating Lorcan to get there.

Drake Maverick doesn’t like Maria Kanellis interfering last week. Brian Kendrick comes in to say the same because Maria cost Akira Tozawa a win. Mike Kanellis tells him to leave, which Kendrick willingly does. Kendrick: “I was just a distraction anyway.” Tozawa jumps Mike from behind until referees break it up.

Ariya Daivari vs. Oney Lorcan

#1 contenders match so here’s Cruiserweight Champion Tony Nese to watch. Daivari starts fast and tries the hammerlock lariat but gets sent outside off the counter. Back in and Daivari drives him into the ropes and we actually get a clean break for a change. Oney goes with a headlock to grind Daivari down and some rollups get two.

They fall out to the floor in a heap with Lorcan getting the worse of it, meaning Daivari can send him into the corner a few times. Some chops just fire Lorcan up so Daivari grabs a reverse DDT to take him down. Back up and Lorcan misses a charge to fall out to the floor so Daivari rips at the face. Just to complete the boring formula, Daivari slaps on a Million Dollar Dream to take Lorcan down.

Lorcan goes Bret Hart by climbing the ropes and flipping back for two, followed by a suplex for the same. A dropkick puts Daivari on the floor and an uppercut knocks him out of the air (great visual). The running Blockbuster gets two but Daivari is right back with a superkick into another Million Dollar Dream.

Lorcan powers up again and nails a running uppercut. The super half and half suplex is broken up but Daivari misses his frog splash. Another superkick connects for Daivari though and the second frog splash works just fine. The hammerlock lariat gives Daivari the title shot at 15:10.

Rating: B-. It was a good, hard hitting match with Lorcan doing everything he could, but there’s only so much you can do against someone as uninspiring as Daivari. His new demeanor is an upgrade but he’s still one of the least interesting people on the roster. I know they’ve lost a lot of talent lately, but there has to be a better option than this.

Post match Daivari turns down a handshake with Nese and says he wants the Cruiserweight Title. Nese says try to take it and poses to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The wresting was good, but we’re building towards Ariya Daivari vs. Tony Nese for the Cruiserweight Title. I can’t get my head around that one and I can’t help but shake my head over what we’re going to have to watch coming up. The wrestling will be good because both guys have gotten better. The problem is I have no reason to care about either of these two and they come off like the bottom of the barrel of a show that is already at the bottom of the WWE ladder. It’s going to be fine, but the build is going to be the least inspiring that I can remember in a long time.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Worlds Collide: Women Collide
Date: April 24, 2019
Location: Pier 12, New York City, New York
Commentators: Aiden English, Vic Joseph, Mia Yim

This is the last (I think) entry in the series of Axxess events, because that’s something that needed to see the light of day because reasons. The idea here is pretty simple with a bunch of matches between women of different brands. I’m not sure what to expect here as the matches have been mostly good, but this was taped the day after Wrestlemania. Let’s get to it.

Announcers’ preview.

Candice LeRae vs. Kay Lee Ray

Kay starts in on the arm but Candice gets in a nifty spinning reversal. A headlock takeover works a bit better until Kay headscissors her way out of trouble. Some rollups give Candice two each but she’s snapmared down into a rolling kick to the head to give Kay two of her own. Candice is right back with a Black Widow, sending Kay stumbling into the ropes.

Back to back to back dives take Kay down for two but the Lionsault misses. Kay gets caught on the middle rope and a super German suplex gives Candice two. A springboard is broken up with a superkick to the back but Candice is right back with a reverse hurricanrana. Now the Lionsault can connect for the pin at 8:25.

Rating: B. Heck of a match here with Candice looking awesome and Kay more than holding up her end. Candice was working hard to keep up with the more polished Kay and that worked perfectly well. I liked this more than I was expecting to so we’ll call this a rather pleasant surprise to start.

Piper Niven vs. Zelina Vega

This better be a squash. Niven towers over Vega and easily shoves her down but gets drop toeholded into the middle buckle. Choking over the ropes works a bit better for Vega and a missed charge keeps Piper in trouble. Vega manages a tornado DDT to cut off a comeback as this is WAY too much from Vega so far.

A Dragon Sleeper goes on until Piper realizes that she’s twice Vega’s size. The hold is broken up with a toss and the seated crossbody crushes Vega again. The Vader Bomb misses and Vega gets in a Codebreaker. The delayed cover (since Vega can’t pull her) gets two but Vega’s moonsault misses. A scoop sitout brainbuster finishes Vega at 4:58.

Rating: D-. Nope. I did not buy the idea of Vega getting in this kind of offense whatsoever and the match really suffered as a result. I’m assuming Vega got in this much offense because she’s on the main roster, but she’s wrestled what, three matches there? This went beyond the point of being believable and it really didn’t work.

Io Shirai vs. Sonya Deville

Mia doesn’t think much of someone coming from the Octagon to the ring because Sonya’s attitude isn’t enough of a reason to boo her. Shirai starts flipping around and hits a few ax handles but Sonya pulls her hard off the ropes to take over. Sonya gets serious by putting her hair up and kicking away in the corner for two.

The bodyscissors goes on with Sonya slapping the head and ribs a bit for a bonus. The fingers get bent backwards as Yim goes on another anti-MMA rant. Sonya hits a chop and Mia asks if that was necessary. Some elbows to the face as Mia now loves the idea of Worlds Collide because different parts of WWE come together. So to clarify: as long as it’s all WWE with wrestling backgrounds, we’re cool. Got it, I think.

The fans are split as Sonya grabs the chinlock, which doesn’t last long as usual. Sonya misses an enziguri and Io’s missile dropkick gets two (with Aiden calling Sonya a former MMA artist, or a mixed martial artist artist, as said by the Artist). Now the enziguri connects to give Sonya two and a running double leg takedown (just call it a spear) finishes Shirai at 8:22.

Rating: C. Another good but not great match with the biggest point being Mia’s rather strange rant against MMA. Sonya winning is rather odd as well, as Shirai is probably going to go after the Women’s Title soon while Sonya is little more than Mandy Rose’s muscle. It’s not completely unrealistic, but it’s not what I would have done.

NXT UK Women’s Title: Toni Storm vs. Nikki Cross vs. Bianca Belair

Toni is defending and we get Big Match Intros. Nikki goes right at Bianca to start but gets caught in a fall away slam. That gives us Bianca vs. Toni in a showdown that I don’t think many people actually wanted. Toni easily spins out of a wristlock and takes Bianca down but here’s Nikki to chop in the corner. Nikki ties Belair up in the ring skirt and hammers away yet still manages to stop a charge from Toni. Now both of them are tied up in the skirt so Nikki can forearm and scream a lot.

Back in and a high crossbody gets two on Toni so Belair throws Nikki outside. That doesn’t last long as Nikki is back in for a three way knockdown. Toni is up first with the running hip attacks in the corner but Belair spears both of them down. The KOD hits Nikki with Toni diving in for the save. The hair whip puts Toni in the corner but Bianca goes shoulder first into the post. Cross is back in with the reverse DDT to Toni and Belair is sent outside. That leaves Cross to take Storm Zero to retain Toni’s title at 7:29.

Overall Rating: C+. Another pretty good but completely skippable show in a series of them. I like the Worlds Collide concept but there are some things that you just don’t need to film. It’s fine if I don’t get to see the matches from Axxess and while the shows weren’t bad, they’re nothing that is going to stick with me. Well maybe other than Mia being ultra serious about everything and her weird hatred of mixed martial artist (artists) getting into wrestling. Seriously what was that?

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: November 25, 2004
Location: Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, New York
Commentators: Michael Cole, Tazz

It’s Thanksgiving and that means we’re likely in for a heavily themed show. That’s rarely a good idea around here as WWE doesn’t have the best track record with these things. That being said, there are worse things they could do, like focus on Orlando Jordan vs. Josh Matthews again. Let’s get to it.

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

Vince McMahon narrates a video thanking the troops.

Opening sequence.

Joy Giovanni is setting the Thanksgiving table and happens to be leaning over quite a bit.

Here’s Torrie Wilson, tonight’s ring announcer, to wish us a happy Thanksgiving and hopes we saved room for dessert: Smackdown. With that bad line out of the way, she introduces the first match.

Rey Mysterio vs. Rene Dupree

Kenzo Suzuki and Rob Van Dam are barred from ringside. Dupree has a black eye coming in and the announcers try to figure where it came from. Maybe a match perhaps? Rey starts fast with the top rope wristdrag but the springboard crossbody is dropkicked out of the air. A guillotine legdrop misses, which is far better than jumping straight down with nothing in mind. Rey’s sitout bulldog gets two more but the 619 attempt is sidestepped for a crash to the floor. Rene’s bad luck continues with a posting and the springboard seated senton gets two. Now the 619 can connect, setting up the springboard legdrop for the pin.

Rating: D+. This was as generic of a match as you can get with both guys doing their regular stuff and getting out of there in a few minutes. You’re only going to get so much out of a match like this but since there are almost no other teams on the show, this is about all you can expect for a build towards the title match. They might as well bring out Van Dam and Suzuki for their match now.

In the back, Hiroko explains Thanksgiving to Kenzo Suzuki, who is too busy fawning over Torrie. Hiroko gets the point and leaves in a huff.

We recap last week’s Tough Enough competition.

Here are Al Snow and the Tough Enough competitors for this week’s shenanigans. Ryan Reeves has two broken ribs but he isn’t quitting. This week’s elimination: Daniel Rodimer, who would bounce around developmental for a long time as a Stephanie McMahon project that never worked out. Tonight it’s arm wrestling with Mizanin having to compete right handed to make it even less fair. Puder beats Mizanin in about a second and Reeves beats Smith, albeit with some more effort. After Smith and Mizanin give their predictions, Puder actually beats Reeves without much trouble.

Eddie and Booker T. are ready for their tag match tonight against JBL and Orlando Jordan. Amy Weber comes in and offers her services as an image consultant, which manages to drive a wedge between them over who will be winning the upcoming title match. Booker talks about Eddie already getting his rematch but Eddie explains why those weren’t fair. Eddie talks about Booker being a five time WCW World Champion and it turns into an argument over family. Amy breaks it up by saying they’re forgetting about Undertaker. Eddie says he doesn’t forget anything and leaves angry.

As we transition to the announcers, we get a CGI version of JBL’s entrance….with JBL as a turkey in the limo. These have been going on throughout the night and they’re as bizarre as they sound.

We recap John Cena winning the US Title from Carlito last week and getting attacked by Jesus after. His kidney is messed up pretty badly.

Carlito and Jesus brag about the injury with Carlito saying Jesus took care of Cena. They still have the chain that injured the kidney last week, which was like a drive by. Jesus says he showed Cena what it was like to be from the streets and if Cena ever comes back, he’ll do it again anywhere Cena wants. Carlito spits apple at the camera.

Rey and RVD alternate between Spanish and English about Rob vs. Suzuki.

Rob Van Dam vs. Kenzo Suzuki

Rey and Rene are barred this time. Rob starts fast with the kicks to the face but gets crotched on top to cut off the momentum. A running clothesline gives Kenzo two as the announcers talk about Japanese Thanksgiving. Kenzo drops a running knee, which Cole describes as “well that was a knee to the nose”, because he’s good at explaining the obvious. Rob fights up with a kick to the face, followed by a springboard kick to the face for good measure. Rolling Thunder connects to set up the Five Star but Hiroko gets in the way. She also hands over her sash, which Kenzo uses to choke Van Dam for the DQ.

Rating: D. So the solution to the boring Tag Team Champions is to have them wrestle two bad matches. They can’t drop the titles soon enough as this has been a terrible reign between two guys who couldn’t get a strong reaction if their lives depended on it. Kenzo going after Torrie isn’t going to work either, though at least it seems that they’re moving towards the team dropping the title.

Post match Hiroko goes after Torrie to set up a catfight with Kenzo breaking it up and gyrating in front of Torrie. Rob kicks him in the face.

Joy has put all the food in the ring with Josh Matthews hosting Big Show’s Thanksgiving. Show is happy to celebrate his favorite holiday and says he’s glad to celebrate with the greatest announce team of all time. Well he would if this was Monday and Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler were here. Show plugs the Rise and Fall of ECW DVD before asking Tazz not to have a flashback and suplex him through the pumpkin pie. Fans: “ECW! ECW!” Show: “You should buy the DVD!”

Show talks about eating a bunch of food when he was a kid, to the point where his dad put a lock on the refrigerator. Then one Thanksgiving his sister brought her boyfriend over. That wasn’t working for Show, so he waited until no one was looking, knocked him out with a turkey, tied him up and threw him into the neighbor’s yard. He told the sister that the boyfriend went home so she went after him, meaning more food for Show.

Now it’s on to all the food he liked to eat, including the cranberry sauce that better be shaped like a can. He calls Cole, Tazz, Tony Chimmel and the production staff to the ring to eat because it’s time to share the wealth. Everyone goes to eat but here’s Luther Reigns to interrupt. Reigns talks about never having a Thanksgiving because he was always in prison.

These people talk about not having enough to eat but he spent his time trying to stay alive. Reigns gets in the ring and makes Joy put him some food together, earning herself a pie to the face. Show sends him into the food and Reigns bails, leaving everyone else to get in a food fight. Joy pies Show to make things even.

I remember watching this live and the same thing stood out to me nearly fifteen years ago: Show sounded natural. This wasn’t scripted and was pretty obviously him being told “go talk about Thanksgiving for a few minutes.” Show is a good talker so it’s not like there was any danger there. Why that isn’t done today is one of the great mysteries of modern WWE.

The announcers are covered in food.

Here’s Kurt Angle, with armed security, for a chat. Angle is thankful for this holiday but not as thankful as the fans are for him starting the Kurt Angle Invitational. The security holds up the Gold Medal and tonight it’s time for someone else to get a shot at it.

Kurt Angle vs. Cody Steele

The fans chant what sounds like LIAR when Cody says he’s from Rochester. Angle even volunteers to drop down to all fours so Cody can have an early advantage. The reversal takes all of five seconds and Angle hits him in the face. That means a breather for Steele, who agrees to go down as well because he doesn’t seem that bright. Of course Angle kicks him in the face and it’s the Angle Slam into the ankle lock for the fast tap.

Angle gets in a little more ankle cranking for a bonus.

The remaining Tough Enough participants get twenty seconds each to tell us what they’re thankful for.

Mizanin is glad to be here, for the Mizfits who vote for him and for not being Daniel Puder.

Reeves is thankful for food and family. He does a survey asking who the people are here to see and Snow has to take the mic away from him for taking too long.

Smith thanks God, friends, family and the fans.

Puder says just about the same thing as Smith while promising to win. His three favorite words are Snap Crackle and Pop and he’ll show us what that means soon.

We look back at Heidenreich breaking down last week.

Paul Heyman talks about Heidenreich being under round the clock supervision and on medication. He knows a different side of Heidenreich, who is a very sensitive man. Heyman actually bows his head in prayer for him. I’ll give WWE this: they’re trying everything they can with Heidenreich, even if he’s that terrible.

Jackie Gayda and Michelle McCool are stretching for obvious reasons when Charlie Haas comes in. Michelle leaves and Charlie likes Jackie’s pilgrim outfit. Jackie is ready to rip Dawn Marie’s costume off and then her head is coming with it. That makes Charlie happy and he doesn’t like the rumors of him cheating on her with Dawn Marie. Kissing ensues. That’s better than Charlie talking again.

Dawn Marie vs. Jackie Gayda

Indian vs. Pilgrim. Catfight, referee shoved, done in thirty seconds.

Post match Charlie tries to break it up and pulls Dawn off. It says a lot when a story about two gorgeous women fighting in small outfits is this uninteresting.

Booker T./Eddie Guerrero vs. John Bradshaw Layfield/Orlando Jordan

JBL and Eddie start by throwing the towel at each other until Eddie snaps off some armdrags. Booker comes in and side slams Jordan for two because Jordan is really not very good. A JBL cheap shot from the apron lets Jordan take Booker down and we hit the chinlock. It’s back to JBL for an elbow to the face and some elbow drops get two.

Jordan grabs another chinlock as Cole thinks the fans are split on who they want as champion. As long as it’s not JBL that is. Booker gets up pretty easily and makes the hot tag off to Eddie so house can be cleaned. Three Amigos keep JBL in trouble and everything breaks down. JBL powerbombs Eddie out of the corner and boots Booker in the face.

Booker pops up for the ax kick but a fan in a Rey Mysterio mask decks Booker in the jaw. There’s something hilarious about the smartened up security guard sitting there with his arms crossed as a fake fan attacks a wrestler. So much for suspension of disbelief. It’s Danny Basham, followed by another “fan” (Cole: “Now who could this be?” I’m guessing the other fan helping Danny Basham is…..Funaki probably.) shoving Eddie off the top. That would be Doug Basham, who smiles as the Clothesline From JBL finishes Eddie.

Rating: D. Believe it or not, Jordan was in fact able to bring down a pair of Hall of Famers and JBL, who should be in there too. There’s no way to believe that he’s a threat to these two and yet he’s in there week after week for reasons I still don’t understand. It’s another bad match to close out the show, which really doesn’t surprise me.

Post match Undertaker comes out to crush JBL, leaving the Bashams as an afterthought to end the show.

Overall Rating: F. I’ve had to say this a lot lately but I feel so sorry for the fans who bought tickets to this. Quick matches from the Tag Team Title feud, an Angle squash, a thirty second match between Dawn and Jackie, a food fight and a thirty second long arm wrestling tournament from people fighting for a chance to train in developmental. Then their big main event: an Orlando Jordan match. If I paid money for this show, I wouldn’t be coming back and that’s been the case for a few weeks now.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

I feel like I always need to confirm that Impact Wrestling still does pay per views. This is their spring offering, though it isn’t clear who is rebelling against what. Lately the company has been rebelling against the idea of going with anything fresh and it has become a bit of a chore to watch. That being said, their pay per views tend to be much better than television because it’s all about the in-ring product, which is usually an improvement. Let’s get to it.

Knockouts Title: Taya Valkyrie(c) vs. Jordynne Grace

We’ll start off with a match that could go either way as Valkyrie seems like someone they want as a long term champion but Grace is a monster who no one has been able to slow down yet. Now the problem with that is that once she loses, a lot of that momentum goes sailing out the window. I’m also thinking that the show taking place in Canada isn’t going to do Grace’s chances any favors as Valkyrie is of course Canadian.

I’ll take Grace winning though, as it might be a bad night for Valkyrie and her husband. The division has been needing some fresh blood for a long time now and Grace could be it. Let her run some people over for a few weeks or months before losing it back to someone else. Like the best female in the world not working for WWE (or perhaps including that batch) in Tessa Blanchard. But yeah, Grace wins here, as she should.

X-Division Title: Rich Swann(c) vs. Sami Callihan

This story has been more interesting than I would have guessed as Callihan oddly grows on me more and more. Swann is a good choice for the title as he can wrestle that X-Division style, but there comes a point where Callihan has to win something and that hasn’t been the case yet. He’s been chasing the title for a few months now and this might be the night he gets there.

So yeah I think Callihan gets the title here as there’s little reason to not give it to him. You can even go somewhere with the issues between Swann and Willie Mack. It’s a good idea to give Callihan something as he’s going to have suitors and putting a title on him could make him happier. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him move towards the World Title scene sooner rather than later either. For now though, the X-Division Title will do.

Tag Team Titles: Lucha Bros(c) vs. LAX

This is Full Metal Mayhem, which loosely translates to TLC With Pins. These teams have been feuding for months now with LAX dropping the titles and then turning heel, meaning it’s time for a major gimmick match to blow it off. LAX has looked like stars over the last year and getting them against a team like this, one of the best in the world (maybe even the best), has done nothing but good things for them.

I’m basically flipping a coin here but I’ll take the Lucha Bros to retain. We can worry about no one but LAX being on their level later, because this match is going to rock. These four work so well together and the Lucha Bros can turn anything they do into a classic. I’ve been nearly drooling over this match since I first heard about it and that’s not going to change now. It should be great and could go either way but I’ll take the Bros to retain.

Gail Kim vs. Tessa Blanchard

I’ll spare you another rant about Impact’s obsession with Kim and go with how well this match has been built up. The story started months ago but thankfully they’ve waited until the pay per view to actually set it up. As worried as I am about where this match is going to go, the story has been well done and I’m hoping that the match itself is as good as the buildup has been.

As for the winner, I’m going to do something probably not that bright and give Impact Wrestling the benefit of the doubt. I’ll take Blanchard for the win, because there is no reason whatsoever to go with Kim. She’s retired and not likely to wrestle again and Blanchard could be one of the biggest stars in the company very soon. Go with what makes sense instead of giving Kim another tribute that she doesn’t need.

Impact Wrestling World Title: Johnny Impact(c) vs. Brian Cage

Somehow this feud feels like the third (or arguably fourth) biggest match on the show and that’s not a good sign. I haven’t been a fan of this one since it started nearly four months ago and it hasn’t gotten much better. For some reason it just isn’t interesting and I don’t know how much better this match is going to make things. Their match at Homecoming was good, but I need something more to make me care than Impact suddenly turning heel.

I’ll go with Cage winning, because he’s been built up so much that he has to win the title at some point or there’s nowhere for him to go. Now hopefully that means that the story is done between these two, because there is no need for it to stretch on into the summer. The feud hasn’t been very interesting in months and Lance Storm as guest referee isn’t the cure. Cage wins, and I’ll try to make myself care.

Overall Thoughts

And that’s it. Seriously the show has five matches announced and we’re less than forty eight hours away. They’ve also announced a live Smoke Show from Scarlett Bordeaux which will likely set up a sixth match but egads man. How do you only have five matches set up when you had more than two months to get the show ready? I’m sure it will be fine (Impact pay per views always are) but we’re in for a mystery box show and that’s not the most thrilling.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Worlds Collide: Cruiserweights Collide
Date: April 17, 2019
Location: Pier 12, New York City, New York
Commentators: Aiden English, Tom Phillips

In case the last one’s name wasn’t obvious enough for you. This time is more of an international flavor though with wrestlers from NXT UK and 205 Live facing off in a series of matches. There is always some potential there and if the matches are given some time, we could be in for a fun show. Let’s get to it.

The announcers give us a quick preview.

Tyler Bate vs. Brian Kendrick

During the entrances, we get a cool photo of Bate when he was about fifteen, meeting Kendrick at an indy show in England. Naturally there’s a handshake before the bell and Kendrick thinks the BIG STRONG BOY chants are for him. A BRIAN KENDRICK chant is a little more clear as they lock up to start. Bate easily gets the better of a test of strength and Kendrick seems like he wants to try something else.

The hammerlock (Kendrick: “HA HA!”) works a bit better until Bate bounces up and down, picks up his own foot, and puts it on Kendrick’s arm for the escape. How British of him. Kendrick uses the more traditional rope break to get out of a hammerlock and tries a headlock. That means a flipping escape and right hands for the first real show of aggression. The power sends Kendrick outside, where he asks a fan why he wasn’t informed of Bate being a big strong boy.

Back in and Kendrick pokes him in the eye, which makes the referee think the match shouldn’t continue. They keep going though and Kendrick tries it again, only to have Bate block this attempt and get in an eye poke of his own. Back up and another pair of eye pokes are blocked so Bate punches him in the face instead. The referee actually yells about the punch though, allowing Kendrick to knock Bate to the floor. The USA vs. UK chants begin as Bate is holding the back of his head after a hard shot. Kendrick sends him head first into the buckle and it’s off to a double arm crank.

Since Kendrick is a veteran, he gets a USA chant going again to make sure the fans don’t get too bored. A neckbreaker gets two but Bate Hulks Up and snaps off a rather un-Hulk like hurricanrana. The running shooting star gets two and a backslide is good for the same. Kendrick is staggered but manages to snap on the Captain’s Hook in the middle of the ring. You don’t use a hold on a guy as strong as Bate, who powers him up into the airplane spin. The rolling Liger kick drops Kendrick again and the Tyler Driver 97 finishes Kendrick at 13:57.

Rating: B-. This took some time to get going but they built it up into something good by the end. Kendrick can still go in the ring every single time and he helped Bate have a good match. Bate is awesome, and the more than he gets to spend time in the ring with veterans who work a different style like this, the better he’s going to be.

Flash Morgan Webster/Mark Andrews vs. Ariya Daivari/Mike Kanellis

No Maria with Mike, lowering his interest level by at least 73%. Mike does however get a rather strong chant before the match and the fans are very pleased when he starts against Andrews. And like someone who knows what he’s doing, he hands it off to Daivari to really start instead. Another tag continues the stalling as there’s no contact in the first minute. They finally lock up at about a minute and a half with Andrews snapping off some armdrags.

A hair pull takes him down though as the fans are completely behind Kanellis again. Andrews is right back up with an armbar but it’s quickly off to Kanellis vs. Webster for a change. Webster grabs a drop toehold and it’s a standing moonsault from Andrews with Webster adding a standing Swanton for two on Kanellis.

It’s back to Daivari who has some luck by stomping Webster down in the corner, followed by a sliding boot from Kanellis for two. Daivari’s hip swivel neckbreaker gets two as he and Kanellis are getting into a nice groove with the alternating beatings. The big boot gives Kanellis two and Daivari slaps on a chinlock. Webster finally gets in a clothesline and it’s back to Andrews for a double crossbody.

The double stomp to the ribs sets up the standing moonsault to Daivari and Kanellis gets knocked down. An assisted 450 gets two more on Daivari and there are the stereo flip dives to the floor. Back in and Webster gets crotched on the top so Kanellis nails a Michinoku Driver. Kanellis superkicks Daivari by mistake though and Andrews hits the Stundog Millionaire. Webster’s Swanton to the back finishes Kanellis at 13:06.

Rating: C+. This took some time to get into but it turned into a straight formula tag match with the time to set it up. That’s something that is going to work every time, which is why it became the formula over the years. Webster has grown on me so much in recent weeks and his tagging with Andrews has been a big part of that. Nice match here.

Albert Hardie Jr. vs. Gran Metalik vs. Ligero

Hardie is better known as ACH. Just to make sure he fits in, he even puts on an invisible ask as the feeling out process begins. Ligero runs Hardie over but walks into an armdrag from Metalik. That means an early standoff as the fans seem to be behind Metalik so far. Ligero gets kicked to the floor so Hardie can flip around a lot and send Metalik to the floor. Back in and Ligero returns the kick to Hardie’s face, meaning it’s already time for Ligero vs. Metalik. The latter’s rope walk dropkick gets two but Hardie is back in to kick Metalik’s leg out.

Hardie slows things down with an abdominal stretch until he has to get rolled up to give Ligero two. A big flip dive to the floor takes Metalik down and it’s time to rip at Ligero’s mask to make Hardie a bit of a heel. It’s back to the abdominal stretch as Hardie continues to be a little different.

Metalik is more of a traditionalist and superkicks Hardie in the face to break it up. The handspring back elbow drops Ligero and Hardie and a suicide dive drops Hardie again. The Metalik Driver gets two on Hardie with Ligero making the save. Ligero’s springboard Stunner drops Metalik and there’s the big flip dive to take him down again. A bridging German suplex gives Hardie two on Metalik and a kick to the face sends Metalik outside. That leaves Ligero to hit C4L to put Hardie away at 11:12.

Rating: C. This was a moves match as they went from one spot to another with nothing in the middle. I’ve never been a big ACH fan and a lot of the problem stems from this being his go to match: a bunch of very athletic stuff, minus anything to bridge it together. It’s a perfectly watchable match, but it feels like something I’ve seen a dozen times.

Akira Tozawa vs. Jordan Devlin

Devlin starts slowly with some kicks to the leg so Tozawa takes him down for a stalemate. A hammerlock into a front facelock has Devlin in trouble so he reverses into a leglock as the grappling continues. With that not working, Tozawa kicks him in the face and drops the backsplash, setting up the hard corner stomps.

A backbreaker gets Devlin out of trouble and he kicks Tozawa in the back to make it worse. The release Rock Bottom into the standing moonsault (onto Tozawa’s side) gets two and it’s off to a waistlock. That’s broken up with elbows to the face and a knee to the face drops Devlin again. Devlin is smart enough to roll away from the top rope backsplash so Tozawa hits a suicide dive instead.

The Black Widow makes Devlin scream but Tozawa is no AJ Lee so it’s not quite enough. Tozawa wins a slugout until an exchange of kicks to the head puts both guys down. Devlin is up first but the slingshot cutter is countered into a bridging German suplex for two. The top rope backsplash hits knees though and Devlin’s pull up Saito suplex finishes Tozawa at 13:08.

Rating: B-. Another good match here as Devlin has found his groove and become one of the best things about whatever show he’s on anymore. Tozawa was his usual entertaining self as his charisma and work are more than enough to carry him in any match. Devlin seems destined to be a star though and that’s a good sign for NXT UK’s future.

Overall Rating: B. Pretty solid show here, even if it’s nothing that you need to see and nothing I’m going to remember in about a day. That’s the problem with these shows: they feel like they’re just content for the sake of content and that’s not the most thrilling thing in the world. Check this one out though as it’s four rather good (at worst completely watchable) matches in front of an energized crowd.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #54
Date: April 20, 2019
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jim Cornette

You can see some stories coming into focus at the moment and that makes for some interesting stories. Tonight’s main event is Mance Warner vs. Sami Callihan, which should be a good way to go. Well maybe not good but at least a fun brawl. The problem is the main events are getting more and more brawl based and that can only last for so long. Let’s get to it.

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

Air Wolf/Rey Horus vs. Lucha Bros

Pentagon swears at Wolf in Spanish and we’re ready to go, allowing Cornette to rant about how much he can’t stand traveling in New York. Fenix and Wolf trade arm holds on the mat until a springboard armdrag sends Fenix outside. Pentagon superkicks Wolf down but Horus grabs an armdrag on Pentagon to take over again. Wolf and Horus’ dives are blocked by stereo kicks to the face and the fight heads outside with Fenix chopping Horus against the barricade.

Some more keep Wolf in trouble and Pentagon even takes the glove off to make it even better. The Bros unload with the superkicks, including a double shot to a kneeling Wolf. The flipping wheelbarrow splash gets two on Horus so it’s back to the chops between Wolf and Horus. A quick springboard Downward Spiral takes Fenix down so Pentagon comes back in for another superkick.

The Pentagon Driver gets two with Horus making the save this time around. Horus dives into a kick to the ribs but is fine enough to grab a Spanish Fly for two more. Not to be outdone, Fenix hits the spinning kick to the head, setting up the Black Fire Driver for another near fall. The Bros have had it though and it’s a double superkick into the spike Fear Factor for the pin at 7:43.

Rating: C+. Oh like this was going to be anything other than good. The Bros are one of it not the best tag team in the world today and they make anyone with them look that much better. Air Wolf has gotten so much better since his debut and while he’s still not great, he’s turned into someone who can have a good match against anyone. Having it be against the Lucha Bros just made it really easy.

Video on Contra vs. Tom Lawlor.

Salina de la Renta won’t say when LA Park will cash in his title shot because it doesn’t make sense to say when they’ll go for the title. She calls Sami Callihan a warthog so here’s Sami to break up the press conference.

Ace Romero vs. Josef Samael

The fight starts on the ramp with Samael already bailing. A chop has no effect on the huge Romero but kicking the ropes as he gets inside certainly does. Some crossface shots keep Romero in trouble but he drops backwards onto Samael for the breather. Romero goes up top and gets slammed down, with the crash knocking the referee off his feet. To go really old school, Samael loads up the boot and kicks Romero in the face for the pin at 3:13.

Rating: D. Romero is a monster but Samael shouldn’t have been selling that much in one of his first matches. The team is an awesome group but Samael isn’t the most thrilling guy in the world. Believe it or not he’s a former NWA World Champion, which thankfully hasn’t been mentioned yet. You can figure out why it’s a good idea on your own.

Post match the beatdown is on until Barrington Hughes comes in and gets beaten down as well.

Lawlor says if Contra wants to be famous, come after the champ. He’ll face any combination of them face to face, man to boys. It’s time to remind people how filthy he can be, and he has friends coming.

We look at LA Park winning Battle Riot II.

We look back at Sami going after Salina earlier tonight.

Ricky Martinez comes up to Sami and the fight is on in the stairwell.

We look back at the Hart Foundation stealing the Dynasty’s car.

We see the Harts inside the car, with smoking and cats doing various cat things. They imply that something is in the glove compartment and also suggest that MJF did various, uh, favors, to get into the Dynasty. Hart: “With those tight pants of his.”

Gringo Loco vs. Puma King

How many times can we see this match? Loco dives over him to start, setting up an anklescissors for no effect. Cornette goes into his regular explanation of why luchadors roll around so much as they flip to a standoff. Puma won’t shake hands, instead going with a spinebuster and low superkick. The top rope hurricanrana sends Loco to the floor for the springboard dive.

Back in and King hits what looked to be a low blow but Loco is fine enough for a springboard cutter for two of his own. King hits a heck of a pop up powerbomb and goes up top, only to get caught in a super Spanish Fly for two more. Puma grabs a superplex and rolls into a second but the third is blocked. The top rope hurricanrana is countered into a tiger bomb to give Loco the pin at 6:53.

Rating: C-. The match was fine but it feels like we’ve seen this one a few times now. The point of this show is to mix the styles up but having the two people who wrestle a similar style doesn’t work over and over. It was entertaining, but I rolled my eyes when I saw who was going to be involved.

Salina has a proposition for Mance Warner if he’ll take care of Sami for her. Warner turns the hat around but his granddaddy Mad Dog taught him what happens if you lay down with women like him. He’ll pass on those fleas. Salina: “Well….uh….your genitalia has fleas!”

The Dynasty drinks Red Bull with MJF saying they’re not firing on all cylinders. The losses have been flukes and they want to take the Hart Foundation down. We get a group cheer, but Hammerstone doesn’t seem convinced.

Sami Callihan vs. Mance Warner

After Cornette gets in a shouting match with Callihan, the brawl is on in a hurry. They fight to the floor with Sami choking against the barricade but the first eye poke gets Mance out of trouble. Beer can shots to the head keep Sami down but he finds a chair and drives it into Warner’s throat. A suplex on the floor (after several block attempts) just wakes Warner up so Sami gives him another one onto an open chair.

As tends to be the case in every MLW main event, countouts and DQ’s aren’t a thing as Mance sends Sami to his knees off a chop. They head inside with a chair being thrown in and the bell rings….which seems to be a mistake. Mance uses the distraction to chair Sami in the back as the announcers get in an argument about Sami being a guest on Cornette’s podcast. Sami gets creative by tying Mance up with his own suspenders and wrapping a chair around his neck. Warner is back up with a Bionic elbow but the drop toehold sends the chair into the throat again.

That doesn’t seem to do too much damage as Mance sits him in the corner and hits a headbutt. Sami is right back with a Tombstone through the open chair….for two. If that’s not going to be the finish, don’t do the spot. A table (with only one leg) is brought in and set up in the corner with Sami spearing him through it for one. Back up and Sami spits in his face so it’s a lariat into the knee to the face for two more. Mance loads up something in the corner but Ricky Martinez and Hijo de LA Park run in to jump him for the DQ at 10:05. Yes a DQ after all that.

Rating: C. The near falls were ridiculous here but the problem is that it was another brawl in the main event. That has been the case way too many times lately and it’s getting really repetitive. Warner not losing is a help, but he needs to get a pin in one of these matches at some point.

Post match Sami makes the save and it’s a handshake between Callihan and Warner. They keep brawling with Part and Martinez to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. I liked most of the show but it’s starting to feel repetitive around here. It seems that almost every show is nearly the same and a lot of the feuds are going longer than they should. It’s still an entertaining show and doesn’t feel long at all, but they need something fresh in here to keep things going.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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IMG Credit: OTT Wrestling

Scrappermania V
Date: March 16, 2019
Location: National Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
Commentators: Aonghus og McAnally, Tony Kelly

This is Over the Top Wrestling, which is an Irish company as you can probably tell. I’ve been on a bit of an independent kick lately and I’ve heard great things about this place so it’s worth a try. That and someone asked me to do it and since I have a real issue saying no, here we are. Let’s get to it.

I have never seen ANYTHING from this company so I’m coming in completely blind. Therefore, please excuse any storylines or character points that I miss as I’m relying on the commentary only.

Opening sequence. Standard, but promising enough.

An unnamed man welcomes us to the show and we go into the opening video, which certainly makes this feel like a big deal.

Someone who looks like a boss comes to the stage and….leads out some more people, who may be the commentary team. He talks about how big of a show this is going to be and hands it off to a heel announcer, who isn’t very well received. The booed one is rather proud of his shiny jacket and insults the Irish rugby team. Unlike the team who couldn’t get the job done, Jordan Devlin will get the job done tonight. That’s certainly popular and the original announcer talks about tonight being Ireland vs. the World. He runs down the big names on the show, many of which are from the World rather than Ireland.

Aussie Open vs. Angelico/Rey Horus vs. Club Tropicana vs. Besties In The World

The Aussies are Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis, Club Tropicana is Aiden Epic and Captain Sexsea and the Besties are Davey Vega and Mat Fitchett. The Besties come out to Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden, which actually makes for a pretty awesome entrance. Tropicana seems to be….comedic sailors I think and the fans sing them to the ring. Sexsea is rather popular and gets dragged into the Aussie corner to start.

The Besties tag themselves in though and hit a standing moonsault on Davis before it’s Horus and Angelico coming in for a Koji Clutch/Black Widow on the Aussies. Tropicana makes the save with an oar and the broken pieces are used for some spanking. Everyone but Angelico goes to the floor and that means the big flip dive for the crash. Back in and the abuse of Davis continues, as do the rapid fire tags. The Besties hit stereo enziguris on the Aussies, setting up a toss cutter for two on Fletcher.

Tropicana comes back in for a quick distraction into a double DDT on the Besties. Everyone but Tropicana gets piled up in the corner and it’s a sliding headbutt between Angelico’s legs to….hit all of them low at once? Huh? A Blockbuster/Russian legsweep combination gets two on Davis, followed by stereo superkicks to Angelico. More superkicks abound until Davis backdrops Horus onto the pile at ringside. Back in and Sexsea chops away at the Aussies until a low blow from Davis sets up the Fidget Spinner (kind of a lifting double AA) to give Fletcher the pin at 8:52.

Rating: C+. I liked this more than I was expecting. The announcers went out of their way to give us a bit of an explanation of who the teams were and why they were different, which is the best thing that they could have done. So often these matches are just a bunch of people doing stuff but here the teams looked different enough and were treated as different acts that it worked well. The Aussies continue to tear it up every time they’re in the ring and a WWE run down the line seems inevitable.

Post match Tropicana gets a standing ovation. I’m not sure they deserve it more than any other team.

More Than Hype vs. The Rapture

That would be Darren Kearney/LJ Cleary/Nathan Martin vs. Charlie Sterling/Zack Gibson/Sha Samuels. Before the match, Gibson gets to cut a promo and I actually cannon understand him over the booing. That’s the standard that is often set for heel heat but you almost never see it actually happen. Gibson rants and I have no idea what he’s saying, which is as strong of a compliment as I can give him. He says no one cares about Dublin and demands that the fans are silent as the British National Anthem is played.

This goes as well as you would expect until the other trio comes out. A triple dive gets us started in a hurry and I believe Nathan goes after Sterling but winds up staring down all three villains. That’s fine with him as he fights them off at the same time but the numbers game takes him down. Gibson grabs a chinlock and the fans are right back into it with a NO DEAL BREXIT chant.

The villains take turns with chinlocks on Nathan but Gibson still won’t shut up, grabbing a microphone and yelling about more stuff I can’t hear over the booing. Samuels and Gibson take too long tagging and Nathan gets in a jawbreaker, allowing the hot tag to Cleary. A springboard spinning crossbody gets two on Samuels and it’s off to Kearney to clean house with a series of kicks.

The running shooting star gets two on Sterling, who is hurricanranaed into Gibson for a rather positive reaction. Nathan adds a frog splash onto both of them and a triple superkick gets two on Sterling. Kearney and Nathan get caught in a double Doomsday Device and a super powerbomb gets two on Cleary. Gibson and Sterling are sent outside though and it’s an assisted Canadian Destroyer to give Nathan the pin on Samuels at 9:29. Commentary lets us know that this is the end of a huge losing streak, which makes things even better.

Rating: C+. I don’t remember the last time I heard a crowd reaction like that and it carried the match a lot further than it would have gotten on its own. The fans absolutely HATED Gibson here and it makes the reactions he gets in NXT UK seem all the less impressive. That man needs a rocket strapped to his back at this point and WWE is crazy to not run with him for the reactions alone.

We go to the back where a man named Joe Cabray is chained to a chair. They SHOOT HIM IN THE HEAD but the room fills with smoke. The guys smell it and pass out, waking up tied to chairs of their own. A large man appears, flanked by a mini guy named Mini Mo, who identifies the two in the chair as the Angel Cruzers and promises to blow up the arena (Irish Cheatum?).

The big man throws one of them against a wall but the one left in the chair whistles, which summons a dog a dog to bite through the ropes. That earns the dog a kick in the head so the man gets out of the chair and hits the big man (and dog kicker) in the head with a brick. A stomp to the big man’s head crushes his skull (with blood going everywhere) and we cut to Mini Mo running to the arena to blow it up.

Before he can press the button, one of the Cruzers runs up and puts a garbage bag over his head. That’s not enough though as he throws Mo at a passing car….and runs away. The car is run by the other Cruzer, who runs Mo over, tearing off all of his limbs….and we go to the arena where the Cruzers’ entrance video is a singalong talking about what a lucky crowd this is and saying don’t ask for autographs. Despite being MURDERERS, the team is rather well received, made even better with their partner’s entrance.

Before we get to the match, permit me one question:

WHAT IN THE NAME OF JIM HERD AND VINCE RUSSO’S MANIC FEVER DREAMS DID I JUST WATCH??????

And now, on with the show.

Justy/Sammy D/Team Prick vs. Hurricane Helms/Angel Cruzers

Angel spears him down and chokes on the mat until Cool comes in to choke as well. Everything breaks down and it’s a quadruple chokeslam to put the four on the outside. The Cruzers hit stereo flip dives but Sammy breaks up Hurricane’s version. Back in and Justy’s high crossbody misses Cool, who starts in with the snap jabs. Team Prick breaks up a brainbuster attempt but Hurricane does the same to a TripleBomb attempt.

Angel steals a weightlifting belt and ties Rick to the post to even things up a bit. A low blow breaks up the whipping and it’s Rick and Angel fighting to the back. As Hurricane and Sammy fight in the ring, Angel comes back with a lawnmower (a must have at any wrestling event) to RUN OVER RICK’S HAND. Hurricane gives Peter the Eye of the Hurricane, leaving Justy to take the brainbuster into a Swanton from Cool for the pin at 9:28.

Rating: C. This is another match where the backstory would help a lot as it seems that there is a heck of a history between these teams. The announcers haven’t exactly been giving us a lot of details on most of this stuff and that was the case again here. Then again, a match with a lawnmower cutting off someone’s hand doesn’t need a lot of explanation.

Dan Barry vs. David Starr

We probably shouldn’t be an hour and fifteen minutes into a show before the first singles match. As you might guess, Starr is the mega heel here while Barry is announced as one of the most popular around the company. Barry dodges away a few times to start before grabbing a hard to break wristlock. Starr gets taken down and it’s an early standoff with the fans getting on Starr’s nerves. A hammerlock is broken up in the same manner I’ve seen Tyler Bate use as the counters continue to annoy Starr.

The fans let Starr know that he’ll never beat Walter (a story spread around a variety of promotions) and it’s time for some tumbling into a headlock takeover from Barry. A dropkick puts Starr on the apron but he’s fine enough to hit a clothesline and head up to the stage for a breather. The suicide dive sends Barry into the chairs, followed by a rolling kick to the face for two back inside. Barry wins the slugout and kicks Starr in the face, setting up White Noise for two more.

Starr gets sent to the apron for a superkick through the ropes but Barry catches him on top. The super hurricanrana sends Starr rolling underneath the ropes so Barry dives out onto him for the big crash. Back in and Barry’s frog splash gets two and he forearms Starr to the apron. That means another dive is blocked with a forearm, allowing Starr to DDT him onto the apron. Another superkick sets up the brainbuster onto Starr’s knee for two. The Crossface doesn’t last long so Starr blasts him with another clothesline, setting up a powerbomb backbreaker for the pin at 18:01.

Rating: B. Even though the backstory wasn’t exactly present, the story here made sense from what they were doing in the ring. Barry wasn’t the most polished wrestler in the world but he seemed to be a cult favorite who was trying as hard as he could, only to fall short to the more well rounded Starr in the end. They had to have a heel win at some point on this show and Starr is as good of a choice as it could have been.

Post match the fans want Barry to come back and declare him one of them.

We look at a woman being upset that she lost in a cage match and being the one of her friends who hasn’t been signed elsewhere. She’s ready to face Meiko Satomura and is ready to prove herself and become someone worth respecting.

Meiko Satomura vs. Martina

Martina is rather popular and dances with a flag on the way to the ring. Satomura on the other hand gets the expected legend’s pop. They lockup to start with Martina taking her to the ropes to show some power. That earns her a kick to the face and a headlock takeover to the mat. That’s reversed into a Fujiwara armbar so Satomura goes straight for the ropes. Back up and Meiko kicks at the leg and slaps on a quickly broken leglock. Martina’s leg is fine enough for some running clotheslines in the corner and a boot to the face for two.

A spinwheel kick to the face drops Martina again, only to have her pop up and send Meiko to the floor. The required dive takes out both Meiko and some fans, meaning lawsuits are likely coming soon. Back in and Meiko slaps on a nasty looking arm crank, which is quickly reversed into a Crossface from Martina.

That means another rope break and Meiko is right back up with a cartwheel double knees into the back. The slugout goes to Meiko off a kick to the head but Martina grabs a neckbreaker for two. With the strikes not working, Martina takes her to the top for a superplex and rolls through into a regular suplex for another near fall. Meiko bounces up again and kicks Martina in the head for the pin at 13:03.

Rating: B. They were trying to make Martina look like someone who could hold up with a legend and she did that well enough, though the ending came out of nowhere. You could tell that Meiko was winning when she kicked out of one big spot after another, but it’s understandable to have someone of Meiko’s stature.

Post match Martina dances again and breaks out some beers to share.

Tag Team Titles: British Strong Style vs. Kings of the North

The Kings (Bonesaw/Damien Corvin/Dunkan Disorderly and yes that’s really his name) are defending and this is also loser leaves town. Oddly enough the Brits are very popular for this one. The Kings are in their third reign of over nine months so to say they dominate the titles is an understatement. The fight is on with the champs jumping them before the bell but Seven avoids a charge in the corner.

Disorderly gets clotheslined to the floor for a suicide dive, leaving Bate to slug it out with Bonesaw. Bate’s big dive takes everyone out and it’s Dunne clotheslining Corvin to the floor, setting up the moonsault to take everyone out again. They fight into the crowd and Seven dives out of the balcony for another wipeout. Back to ringside with the champs taking over and hitting some running strikes to crush Seven in the corner.

We settle down to a regular match with Seven in trouble until he comes back with a quick Falcon Arrow. That’s not enough for the hot tag though as Seven has to powerbomb Bonesaw and Corvin out of the corner. Now the tag brings in Dunne to clean house, including a series of stomps to Corvin’s face. Bonesaw gets pulled on top for even more stomping but Bonesaw is fine enough to kick Dunne in the face.

Bate comes back in for a kick to Corvin’s face and the German suplex into the shooting star for two. The airplane spin keeps Corvin in trouble….and let’s just add Disorderly on top for a double spin. Everyone comes in for the slugout with the Kings posing, only to get punched in the face for their efforts. A grab of the referee lets the champs get in a triple low blow though and the Brits are in trouble again.

Seven gets caught in a fireman’s carry faceplant/running boot to the face combination, setting up a frog splash for a very near fall. The champs head up top but Bate and Dunne are right there for a double finger snap. A piledriver into the Tyler Driver 97 into the Bitter End….gets two? Seriously? The fans don’t even react because they’re kind of in shock over the lack of a pin. Bate adds Spinal Tap and the Burning Hammer/top rope knee combination gives us new champions at 12:28.

Rating: B. It was a fun match, though the Bitter End should have been the pin and I think they knew that was the case. The Brits winning is a good move as you can’t have the champs holding on that long, especially against a trio as big as British Strong Style is right now. Good match, as the show continues to be on fire.

Post match the champs celebrate and do a triple HHH water spit.

Women’s Title: Raven Creed vs. Debbie Keitel

Debbie is challenging and has Valkyrie (not Taya) in her corner. An early distraction lets Debbie hit a forearm and a t-bone suplex for two. She even spits in the champ’s face so Raven kicks her low and hits a double stomp to the back. Debbie is fine enough to hit a hot shot and Valkyrie gets in some choking for two. The cobra clutch keeps Raven in trouble (there haven’t been many rest holds on this show) and another suplex gets another two.

The clutch goes on again but Raven is back up with a forearm. Valkyrie checks on Debbie and has to catch her when Raven hits a forearm off the apron. That earns Valkyrie a posting but the distraction lets Debbie get a rollup for two with feet on the ropes. Raven has had it and headbutts Valkyrie, setting up a Backstabber to finish Debbie at 6:22.

Rating: D. And so much for the good match streak. This was short, not interesting, and felt more like a match between Raven and Valkyrie than Raven and Debbie. Raven ran through both of them without breaking a sweat, making this a match that offered very little and only had a single positive: it was the shortest match on the show.

Scotty Davis vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

Well there’s a legend for you. Scotty, 18 years old, seems to be a big fan favorite as he takes most of a lap around the arena before coming to the ring through the crowd. Davis is a little overwhelmed by the streamers and even falls down in them. Feeling out process to start with Liger taking him to the mat for a quickly broken headscissors.

Instead it’s the Surfboard to put Davis in trouble but Liger lets it go for another standoff. They switch it up to a fight over arm control and that means another standoff. Davis rolls around and gets a gutwrench suplex, apparently a side effect of being a suplex machine. Liger gets sent outside for a suicide dive but he’s right back with a running flip dive off the apron. A brainbuster on the concrete should kill Davis but instead it’s only a near countout.

Back in and the Surfboard with a Dragon Sleeper goes on to put Davis in real trouble. Liger’s brainbuster is countered into a fisherman’s buster, followed by Davis spinning around the ropes for a German suplex. That’s another two as Davis can’t understand how Liger keeps kicking out. Liger reverses a powerbomb into a Liger Bomb for two of his own and now frustration sets in on the other end. Davis kicks him in the head and Rolls the Dice for the huge upset at 10:05.

Rating: C+. What does it mean to have Liger putting someone over who was born after Liger had been wrestling for seventeen years? Then again that’s kind of the point of having Liger on his big retirement tour. The match was fine with Liger going with the greatest hits and then losing in the end, which I’m still not sure on.

Post match Liger gets the big legend reception and sendoff, as he should.

We recap the main event, with Jordan Devlin challenging Walter for the World Title. Walter is considered unbeatable and Jordan is the hometown boy, basically making this the same match as the main event of Progress at Wembley. It’s also a rematch of Walter taking the title from Devlin in August.

OTT World Title: Jordan Devlin vs. Walter

Devlin is challenging and doesn’t get nearly the hero pop you would expect. The fans are into him, but British Strong Style’s title win got a far stronger reaction. They do the Big Match Intros and NOW the reaction comes in. That’s better. Just to make it clear that Walter is the heel, he throws the title on the mat and stomps on it. Devlin slugs away to start and tries a package piledriver, which is broken up through pure power.

That’s fine with Devlin, who knocks him to the floor and keeps hammering away. An apron dropkick keeps Walter rocked until he comes back with a chop. Devlin gets posted and Walter starts in on the arm and hand. Back in and Walter ties up the arm and slaps Devlin in the back of the head. More right hands have Devlin in trouble and Walter throws the Irish flag on top of him for more stomping. The sleeper doesn’t work on Devlin though as he reverses into one of his own.

Walter goes down in the middle of the ring but stands up again and climbs the middle rope to fall back for the break. That only lasts a few seconds though as Devlin slaps it on again. This time Walter muscles him up for a Tombstone of all things for the break and another near fall. Walter goes up top but gets kicked in the head, setting up a slingshot cutter to give Devlin two of his own. The knee to the face sets up a package piledriver but Walter rolls to the floor before the cover.

Back in and Devlin punches away with the bad hand and actually manages to knock him down. The 450 hits knees and Walter’s bridging German suplex gets two. Walter hits some Sheamus forearms to the chest but gets his fingers snapped. Now it’s Devlin with his own German suplex into a Backstabber to send Walter outside again. That means a moonsault to the floor and the 450 connects for two more.

Walter’s hard powerbomb gets the same and a second gets two more. The sleeper goes on in the middle of the ring but Devlin’s arm is up at two drops (I thought that was the finish). The Fire Thunder Driver gets a very close two on Devlin so Walter is ready to walk. He gets to the stage but Joe Cabray (who no sells bullets to the head) is waiting on him.

Walter tries to walk again and more wrestlers cut him off in the crowd. It happens a third time and Devlin hits a dive off the top. Back in and Devlin tries a bridging rollup but gets pulled back into the sleeper. That’s reversed with the Bret Hart backflip for two before Devlin stomps at the face. The chop has no effect and Devlin slugs away, setting up the package piledriver for the pin and the title at 21:16.

Rating: A-. This was straight out of the Sting vs. Vader playbook and that’s probably why I liked it so much. They beat the heck out of each other with Devlin refusing to give up against the much bigger monster. Devlin winning was a great way to wrap up the show with a feel good moment as the countryman winning is always a smart move to make. I had fun with the match and the title change was the perfect finish to a really good show.

Post match Devlin celebrates and the locker room comes in to put him on their shoulders. Walter shakes his hand and Starr comes out for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. The crowd and atmosphere carried a lot of this show, though the action itself was a blast. Aside from the Women’s Title match, nothing on here was even close to bad and it offered a nice mixture of different styles. The one criticism I would have here is the lack of storyline explanation, as I rarely had any idea of what the issues were between the people. You could tell well enough, but more details (especially about some of the insane vignettes) would have been nice. Overall, very good show though and I can see why this place is getting so much praise.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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