IMG Credit: WWE

Worlds Collide
Date: February 2, 2019
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton

So this is something interesting as WWE is trying a new idea. This is a tournament made up of a bunch of wrestlers from different shows with the winners getting to face the champion of their choice on any of the three brands included (NXT, NXT UK, 205 Live). We could be in for some good wrestling here as the fifteen (yes fifteen) names included are rather talented. Let’s get to it.

Now this is going to be a little bit different as the special that aired on the Network only included the later rounds. WWE also aired the preliminary rounds on YouTube so I’m including them as a bonus. I’m just a nice guy that way you see.

The format was pretty simple here: there was a fifteen man battle royal with the winner advancing to the second round. The battle royal, the semifinals and finals will air on the Network. In something that won’t matter much, the order of eliminations for the battle royal determined the brackets for the first round, but I don’t think that’s really even worth mentioning when we get to the actual matches.

First Round: Mark Andrews (NXT UK) vs. Drew Gulak (205 Live)

Drew calls Mark a stupid kid as the announcers recap the concept. The exchange of headscissors results in Andrews flipping to his feet and it’s an early standoff. A wristlock puts Andrews down for the first time so he flips up again as we get to a second standoff. The announcers spoil the battle royal results, as we now have no reason to watch the future match from the past that determines the present.

Gulak takes it back to the mat, this time with Andrews getting the better of his leg. A test of strength has Andrews down on the mat and it’s time to pull on the arm. Back up and Gulak talks some trash as they chop it out. Andrews knocks him down and hits a standing Whisper in the Wind for two. The Gulock is countered into a rollup for two and we hit the pinfall reversal sequence. They run the ropes with Andrews trying a leapfrog but getting pulled down into a sunset flip for the pin at 8:29.

Rating: D+. This was an awkward match as it felt like they were trying to fill in time with whatever basic stuff they could do. It’s not like they didn’t have chemistry but it wasn’t anything worth seeing, save for Andrews’ flips. I guess we can just chalk this one up to an off night for both guys, which happens to everyone.

First Round: Travis Banks (NXT UK) vs. Keith Lee (NXT)

The much larger Lee offers Banks a shot so it’s off to some kicks to the leg. Lee starts chopping away and LAUNCHES Banks across the ring to take over for the first time. A running splash in the corner gets two but Banks is right back with a dropkick. Lee gets sent into the corner, setting up a middle rope double stomp to the back. They head outside for a suicide dive but a second attempt is pulled out of the air because Lee is that strong. Back in and Banks slips out of a huge powerbomb but it’s the Supernova to finish Banks at 4:50.

Rating: C-. I liked this one better than the previous one as Lee is that much more entertaining. With the right push, he could be a huge star for NXT in a hurry, just due to pure athleticism and charisma. Banks is another talented guy who can’t seem to catch a break, though he’s going to be around NXT UK for the time being.

First Round: Adam Cole (NXT) vs. Shane Thorne (NXT)

Feeling out process to start with Cole working on a waistlock but not being able to get very far. Cole takes him into the corner for a clean break and ADAM COLE BAY BAY! A headlock takes Thorne down, with Cole telling him that it’s the Adam Cole Invitational. Thorne fights up and kicks him to the floor, which really isn’t approved of by the crowd. The arm gets bent around the post, followed by a regular wristlock back inside. Thorne goes with stomping to keep Cole in trouble, much to the fans’ annoyance.

It’s already back to the arm though as the annoyance didn’t last very long. A knee to the shoulder sets up another armbar until Cole fights up and hits a kick out of the corner. Some elbows to the face give Cole two and a running boot to the face gets the same. The Last Shot misses though and a belly to back gives Thorne two of his own. Another attempt at an armbar gets them both sent outside for a double crash. Back in and Cole superkicks him out of the air, setting up the Last Shot for the pin at 11:10.

Rating: C+. Thorne has impressed me in his few outings since the Mighty broke up and that’s a good sign for his future. If he can keep that up, there’s a very nice future for him either in NXT or on the main roster. At the same time, Cole gets to show that he can wrestle a nice match with some time, meaning he’s not just a rather good talker. Nice little surprise here.

First Round: TJP (205 Live) vs. Dominik Dijakovic (NXT)

Dijakovic throws him down with raw power to start as we get a pretty week TJ chant. We get some arm work from Dijakovic but the much smaller TJP spins up into an anklescissors for the break. For some reason he tries a crossbody so Dijakovic casually tosses him around in a nice power display. The chinlock with a knee in the back keeps TJP in trouble for as long as you would expect until the escape lets TJP wrench Dijakovic’s arm. A pretty hard clothesline with the good arm gives Dijakovic two and it’s right back to the chinlock.

That’s broken up again and this time Dijakovic misses a running boot in the corner. That means a one legged Tree of Woe and a running dropkick from TJP, followed by a top rope hurricanrana for two. A bunch of spins set up an STF and then a Regal Stretch to really pull on the arm. Dijakovic grabs the rope, followed by a sitout chokeslam for a close two. Trash talk just gets Dijakovic caught in a cross armbreaker but that’s countered into Feast Your Eyes to give Dijakovic the clean pin at 9:00.

Rating: B. This was actually a very well put together match with power vs. speed, which is about as basic of a wrestling match as you can get. TJP is so smooth in the ring and can move around like few others, making for a very entertaining match. Dijakovic is a power guy and that’s a role that is going to keep him around for a long time. I was very impressed here and this was a great time.

First Round: Cedric Alexander (205 Live) vs. Tyler Bate (NXT UK)

That’s certainly an interesting pairing. The fans like both these guys and we get an early handshake. Bate spins out of a wristlock but gets taken down by the leg. A leglock keeps Bate down for a bit until they go to a test of strength and bridge up from their backs at the same time. That means a BOTH THESE GUYS chant, which gets cut off as Bate takes over with a crossarm choke. Bate is right back on the arm but Alexander pops up again as neither has had a serious advantage yet. A cartwheel gets Bate out of an anklescissors but the airplane spin doesn’t last long.

Instead Alexander kicks him in the head for two and it’s off to a waistlock for a bit. Back up and a nice dropkick gives Alexander two more and it’s time to slug it out. Bate gets in a kneelift and the airplane spin works this time, including a pop up uppercut for two. A Michinoku Driver gives Alexander the same and they trade more right hands. The Spanish Fly gets two more on Bate so he kicks Alexander in the head. That’s enough to set up the Tyler Driver 97 for the pin at 10:37.

Rating: B-. Another good match here with Bate getting to showcase himself against someone else probably too talented (in the ring at least) for the show he’s on. There’s no secret that Bate is going to be a big star when he eventually becomes a full time main roster member (you know he and Dunne are coming there one day) and having him get wins like this show how ready he is for there.

First Round: Tony Nese (205 Live) vs. Velveteen Dream (NXT)

Remember how I said the previous matches could be interesting? I’m not so sure with this one. Dream goes for the arm to start (my goodness come up with something new) but Nese reverses into an armbar of his own. This time Dream spins out and stares at Nese, who isn’t sure what to make of things.

Back up and Nese hides in the corner, drawing some of the louder booing of the night. A big kick misses Dream so Nese poses at him instead. Dream’s dropkick hits the arm to send Nese to the floor and that means a top rope ax handle. Back in and Nese catches him with a fireman’s carry gutbuster to put Dream in real trouble for the first time. A hard kick to the ribs keeps Dream down but hang on, because Nese needs to do some pushups.

The springboard Lionsault misses though and Dream comes back with shots to the face, followed by a running clothesline. The big boot into a legdrop gives Dream two but Nese is right back with a hard forearm. Dream kicks him in the face again for a delayed two and they’re both spent. Nese rolls him into the corner, only to charge into a superkick when he tries the running knee. Dream goes up, blocks a top rope superplex attempt, and hits the Purple Rainmaker for the pin at 9:05.

Rating: C. This was one of the more obvious matches of the first round and there’s nothing wrong with that. I liked Dream to win this when I first saw the field and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him win the tournament, as he’s been flirting with the NXT Title for a long time now. Nese was trying, but he was in over his head here.

The announcers recap the tournament, because in addition to not showing the battle royal here, we’re also not showing the last first round match. That is airing on the Network special, because that makes so much perfect sense.

Vic Joseph takes over for Tom Phillips on commentary.

Quarterfinals: Keith Lee (NXT) vs. Adam Cole (NXT)

They lock up to start with Lee swinging him around for a crash, allowing Lee to order Cole to BASK IN HIS GLORY. Cole gets in a single shot and hits his own catchphrase but stops to take a bow, meaning it’s a huge clothesline to drop Cole again. That’s enough for Cole to need a breather on the floor and this time the break seems to work, as Cole takes the knee out to put Lee in trouble. The knee goes around the post and things slow down off a leglock.

A running dropkick to the knee (good looking one too) makes things even worse so Lee headbutts Cole down, as only someone his size can pull off. One heck of a beal sets up a hard running clothesline (Lee shouldn’t be able to do that) but Cole goes to the knee again. A pump kick to the face gets two but Lee is fine enough for a pop up sitout Last Ride (the Spirit Bomb) for two of his own. Just because he can, Lee misses a middle rope moonsault, setting up Cole’s running knee for two more. Lee’s fireman’s carry is broken up and it’s a four straight superkicks into a Shining Wizard to finish Lee at 10:25.

Rating: C. Lee is the kind of guy who is going to be just fine in all of five minutes because he’s that awesome in the ring. That’s a very valuable asset to have as it allows you take a loss like this without that much damage. At the same time, it’s a loss to Cole, who is one of the most over names in NXT.

Quarterfinals: Dominik Dijakovic (NXT) vs. Tyler Bate (NXT UK)

Bate tries his luck in a slugout before going after the arm that was damaged in the previous match. Dijakovic is fine enough to pick him up for some knees to the ribs and a big toss outside. There’s something so cool about seeing someone throw around a grown man like that. A backbreaker sets up a middle rope splash for two on Bate and it’s off to the chinlock. That stays on for a good while until Dijakovic misses the middle rope spinning splash.

Bate manages a hurricanrana to set up the airplane spin into the uppercut for a nice two. Some right hands just make Dijakovic laugh and ask for more, which Bate is happy to give him. Bop and Bang look to set up the Tyler Driver 97 but Dijakovic powers out and connects with a spinning boot to the face. A superplex attempt is broken up and Bate tries a sunset bomb, only to have Dijakovic moonsault to his feet for a superkick. Well of course he can do that. Bate gets sent outside for a suicide dive but Feast Your Eyes is countered into the Tyler Driver 97 for the pin at 9:24.

Rating: B. This was one of those matches that was more impressive than anything else as Dijakovic got to show off some amazing athleticism. Bate is already known as an established star so having him win here makes sense. Dijakovic looked good though and some of the things he was doing were almost hard to believe.

Quarterfinals: Humberto Carrillo (205 Live) vs. Velveteen Dream (NXT)

Carrillo’s first round match wasn’t shown because WWE does some really questionable stuff sometimes. The traditional battle over the wristlocks start things off with Carrillo taking him down into an armbar. Dream’s shoulder just lets Carrillo nip up and flip Dream outside. The threat of a dive is cut off with a clothesline and it’s time for some hip swiveling. A neckbreaker drops Carrillo for two and hey, more swiveling ensues.

The chinlock goes on and for once, the fans cheer for the person grabbing the hold. You don’t see that very often. Carrillo fights up and tries a handspring but Dream dropkicks him in the back for a nice counter. We hit the chinlock for the third time but Carrillo actually fights up and hits a jumping back elbow. A spinning kick to the face looks to set up a springboard, which Dream knocks out to the floor. The dive to the outside only hits barricade though and Carrillo gets in a missile dropkick.

Carrillo’s moonsault hits raised knees and Dream gets two off the wind up DDT. The Purple Rainmaker only hits mat and Dream sits on the mat, allowing Carrillo to get a running start, handspring off the ropes and pick up Dream for a Spanish Fly on the way back. That’s a little more complicated than it needs to be but it looked cool. Carrillo takes too much time going up and gets crotched, meaning it’s the Dream Valley Driver for the pin at 11:23.

Rating: B-. At some point, Carrillo actually has to win something. He’s been very entertaining in almost every match he’s been in but you can only have him lose so many times before it stops mattering. At the same time, Dream continues to be one of the best performers on any show and he’ll be fine anywhere. Well not on the main roster of course but anywhere else.

We’re off to the Network version now with Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton on commentary.

Battle Royal

Tyler Bate, Jordan Devlin, Mark Andrews, Travis Banks, Zack Gibson, Humberto Carrillo, Drew Gulak, Tony Nese, TJP, Cedric Alexander, Velveteen Dream, Dominik Dijakovic, Shane Thorne, Keith Lee, Adam Cole

It’s everyone involved in the tournament with the winner getting a first round by. As in a first round bye to a tournament where we already know several of the semifinalists. The order of the eliminations determine the first round matches. Dream is crazy popular here and it’s a big brawl to start. Carrillo gets knocked to the apron early on and Gibson hits him in the throat for the first elimination. Lee dumps Gibson a few seconds later, followed by Dream getting rid of Alexander.

TJP and Dream have to hang on and Gulak slides back underneath the bottom rope. There’s something annoying yet also necessary about having wrestlers tease eliminations that don’t go anywhere in a battle royal. It’s not entertaining, but you have to sit through this part no matter what. Dijakovic hits a hard clothesline to get rid of Bate and it’s time to gang up on Lee. They all get knocked away so we get the Lee vs. Dijakovic showdown.

Cole breaks that up and it’s Dream dumping Thorne. It’s back to the regular brawling near the ropes with Cole being sent to the apron. TJP’s Wrecking Ball dropkick knocks Cole out and Nese seems to take credit. Lee eliminates Gulak and Dijakovic gets the big spinning toss to put Andrews out. Dijakovic suplexes TJP and Nese at the same time because he hasn’t shown off enough yet. Devlin sends Banks to the apron and kicks the knee out for an elimination.

That’s not enough either as Devlin goes outside and sends Banks knees first into the steps. Dream gets sent over the top again but still won’t be eliminated. TJP follows him to the apron for a slugout as we get the Lee vs. Dijakovic showdown II: This Time They’re Doing Stuff. Dijakovic puts him on the apron and, after Lee fights off a few people, it’s a spinning boot to get rid of him. Everyone else gets rid of Dijakovic, leaving us with Dream, Devlin, Nese and TJP.

It turns into a three on one as Devlin isn’t about to help Dream. Makes sense as they’re on a much lower level than him. Dream fights them off and gets rid of TJP, leaving Devlin to go after Nese. That doesn’t go very well as Nese stomps them both in opposite corners until Dream gets back up. A missed charge lets Dream clothesline Nese out but Devlin hits a dropkick to win at 19:28.

Rating: D+. This was longer than it needed to be but you have to fill in some time before you get to the first round and quarterfinals, which follow the semifinals in this wacky situation. Devlin winning is fine, though I’d question wrestling for twenty minutes to avoid a seven minute first round match.

Charly Caruso explains the tournament. This thing continues to be one of the most amazingly screwed up presentations I’ve ever seen.

First Round: Humberto Carrillo (205 Live) vs. Zack Gibson (NXT UK)

Now this is the ONLY first round match to air on the Network. The matchup itself isn’t anything amazing so the wrestling itself better blow everything else away. Gibson jumps him before the bell and stomps away in the corner after said bell but Carrillo flips him over and starts kicking at the knee. A springboard wristdrag has Gibson in trouble so he goes with a shot to the throat.

It’s off to a chinlock (Gibson: “GIVE UP!”) followed by an armbar suplex and then a second chinlock. Carrillo fights up and hits the handspring elbow, followed by the moonsault into the moonsault for two. Gibson is right back with the Ticket to Ride but Carrillo is right back up with a springboard kick to the face. A handstand springboard moonsault out of the corner finishes Gibson at 6:18.

Rating: C+. I mean, it was good but why in the world was this one on the main show instead of something else? I’m sure there’s no particular reason for it but I’m still confused by almost everything I see on this thing. It’s like they went out of their way to make this all the more confusing, which is so WWE when you think about it.

Recap of the first round. At least they make it a little faster here.

Vic Joseph replaces Tom Phillips.

Quarterfinals: Drew Gulak (205 Live) vs. Jordan Devlin (NXT UK)

The early lockup goes nowhere so they go to a standoff. Drew takes him to the mat but Devlin can actually hang with him there, including a quick chinlock. That’s reversed into something like a forward half crab and a cravate as the crowd is trying to break out of an eerie silence. Back up and a belly to back backbreaker puts Drew in trouble, setting up a seated abdominal stretch to keep him down.

After a rope grab gets two, an argument breaks out over which of the two is cheating. Drew gets the better of the fight and stomps away in the corner, only to have Devlin nail a spinning backfist for the double knockdown. Devlin gets back up and tries a springboard moonsault press, which is countered into a loose Gulock. The break puts both of them down again as this is starting to drag a bit.

A hard clothesline staggers Gulak, who manages to counter a leapfrog into a sunset flip (cool spot) for two. Devlin pulls him up into the hard belly to back and another near fall. That means some trash talk in the corner so Gulak, known as the fair talker, takes Devlin down into an STF/armbar combination for a scary looking hold. That’s broken up as well and Ireland’s Call finishes Gulak in a hurry at 11:43.

Rating: C-. This was a weird one but I can go with the idea of trying something different. You can only go with the same style of a match for so long around here so the heel vs. heel battle of the cheating was a change of pace. It wasn’t the most thrilling thing in the world though, which made this feel a little longer than it should have. Then again it might be just because of how much there has been here, especially in a match between people not likely to win the whole thing.

Just because it has to change again, commentary is now being handled by Nigel McGuinness and Vic Joseph.

Semifinals: Adam Cole vs. Tyler Bate

This could be interesting. They begin with the traditional battle over the wristlock and it’s Bate spinning out ala Johnny Saint, only to have Cole strike his signature pose. Bate dropkicks him to the floor for a breather, allowing Cole to snap him throat first across the top. A neckbreaker looks to set up the Last Shot but Cole just drops down for a chinlock instead. Dang Kevin Owens should be upset over that one. Cole mocks Bate, which has never been the best idea in the world but Cole has a tendency to do some dumb stuff.

Bate makes his comeback with a middle rope elbow and an uppercut for two. An exploder suplex sets up the running shooting star for two on Cole and a small package is good for the same. Cole misses the jumping enziguri and it’s a bridging German suplex for two more. Bate slugs away until a quick brainbuster gives Cole his own near fall, plus the shocked kickout face as a bonus. Bop and Bang is blocked with a superkick but Bate bounces off the ropes with the rebound clothesline. The Tyler Driver 97 finishes Cole at 10:31.

Rating: B-. This was lacking a little bit though what we got was entertaining. As has been the case before, Bate winning matches over names like Cole is a good sign for him, as he’s still growing as a wrestler. That’s going to take some time because he’s so young, but getting in there against people with different styles is a good thing for him. Nice match, though the fans are starting to get burned out and I can’t blame them.

Semifinals: Velveteen Dream (NXT) vs. Jordan Devlin (NXT UK)

Dream is coming in with bad ribs and the fans are all behind him. A feeling out process to start lets Devlin grab a waistlock in a smart move. Dream goes with a shoulder, which only hurts the ribs again. Another shot knocks Devlin outside with Dream following to send Devlin ribs first into the barricade to even things up a bit. Back in and Devlin’s ribs are fine enough for a release Rock Bottom into a standing moonsault but Devlin would rather mock Dream than cover.

A kind of seated abdominal stretch stays on the ribs, followed by a backbreaker for two. The chinlock with a knee in the back goes on but since he doesn’t pay attention or learn from his mistakes, Devlin starts talking more trash and gets punched in the jaw. Dream scores with a spinning top rope ax handle and you can hear the crowd getting back into things. A superkick gets two and Dream hits a high crossbody but Devlin rolls through for his own two.

Devlin gets smart with a Backstabber for two (and a very weak kickout) but the backdrop driver is countered into a quick pinfall reversal sequence. Dream’s wind-up DDT gets two of his own but the ribs give out on the Dream Valley Driver attempt. Now the backdrop driver connects for two and Devlin heads up, only to have his moonsault hit raised knees. Shouldn’t that jar the ribs even more? Anyway the Dream Valley Driver sets up the Purple Rainmaker to send Dream to the finals at 12:23.

Rating: C+. You can really feel things dragging here and that’s understandable. The ribs story worked well here with Dream selling well and Devlin being too cocky to just go for the cover, allowing the more experienced and better Dream to make his comeback. It’s a good match, but this thing needs to end and soon.

Worlds Collide Tournament Finals: Tyler Bate (NXT UK) vs. Velveteen Dream (NXT)

Dream’s ribs are even more injured this time around and we get Big Match Intros, which are understandable here. Say it with me: they fight over a wristlock to start (a headlock isn’t too much to ask) with Bate spinning around to escape and striking a pose. Dream bails to the floor for a bit as the fans are actually split for a change. It’s almost weird hearing a crowd not entirely behind Dream. Bate goes with the obvious and drives shoulders into the ribs in the corner, followed by elbows to the ribs. You can’t fault the logic.

Something like an abdominal claw and then a more traditional abdominal stretch keep Dream in trouble until of course he powers up enough for a hiptoss escape. Bate is calm enough to go back to the ribs with a bodyscissors but Dream reverses with a slam. Since he won’t have many chances here, Dream goes up top for the Purple Rainmaker, only to get caught and slammed down for two. A German suplex sets up a waistlock as you would think Bate would go for something a little bigger already.

Dream gets in a knee lift for a breather and scores with a clothesline, followed by a heck of a backdrop with Bate taking one of the longest bumps I’ve ever seen. A superkick into a Fameasser gets two and Dream rolls through into a Dream Valley Driver for another near fall as things are picking up. Another shot to the ribs sets up the Tyler Driver 97 for two and that should sum up the ending from here. Bate goes with a Liontamer of all things (smart) and then into a regular Boston crab (not as smart, but still smart).

Rating: B. And that, finally, is that. Dream winning makes the most sense as he was the biggest star on the show. The problem here is that we just saw a match with him dealing with bad ribs against Devlin so the story didn’t have the same impact. It’s a better match because Bate is a better opponent but it really came too late and was only good as opposed to great.

Bate and Dream pose to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This one depends on if you watched the first half or just the Network version. The Network version is better but feels incomplete (because it is) though the whole thing is WAY too long at just shy of four hours. The wrestling is pretty good throughout but there’s no instant classic or anything. That’s too long for a bunch of midcarders in a tournament and the weird structure of the shows made it worse. It’s fine for background noise if you’re completely out of stuff to watch, but it’s not worth the time to sit down and watch.

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

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/see-later-wwe-releases-three-talents-one-day/

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/theyre-not-done-yet-wwe-releases-hall-famer-contract/

Four of them in this case.You have TJP, Hideo Itami and Tye Dillinger from the roster and Arn Anderson as a producer.  I can’t say I’m surprised at the first three as none of them seemed happy and they all probably wanted out.  Maybe they’re off to AEW (ok Itami is back to Japan and we all know it) or just the indy scene (which could mean AEW) but it’s not like there’s a ton of room on the WWE roster at the moment.  None of the three were really doing anything in the first place so these aren’t the biggest losses.  I liked TJP, but if he’s not getting the Cruiserweight Title back (which he isn’t) and they won’t put him on the main roster, it doesn’t matter.

Anderson….I love the guy, but he’s been there since 2001.  That’s a LONG time to have anyone around and I can understand getting rid of him.  Maybe they just needed some fresh blood and if so, cool.  People like Abyss and HUrricane could offer something new and really, WWE needs just that right now.

In this book, I’ll be looking at Monday Nitro and Thunder from January – June 2000 and try to see just how bad everything was able to get. The shows were a nightmare but somehow it kept getting worse every single week. Each episode will be broken down match by match and segment by segment. Included will be analysis and ratings for the shows to see why the year is remembered so poorly.

The book runs about 385 pages and is available on Amazon both in a physical paperback for $10.99 or an e-book format for $2.99. In case you don’t have a Kindle, there are plenty of FREE apps you can get from Amazon for pretty much any electronic device, all of which are available at this link.

You can pick up the book from Amazon here in paperback and here as an e-book.

And from the UK Amazon here in paperback and here as an e-book.

Or if you’re in another country with its own Amazon page, just search “KB Nitro VII” and it should be the first thing to come up.

Also you can still get any of my previous books on the Intercontinental Championship, Monday Night Raw from 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003 and the first half of 2014, Monday Nitro from 1995-1999, In Your House, Summerslam, Starrcade, ECW Pay Per Views, Royal Rumble, Saturday Night’s Main Event, the WWF and WCW pay per views from 1998, Wrestlemania, WWE Grab Bag and Clash of the Champions, NXT Volumes I, II and III at my author’s page here.

I hope you like it and shoot me any questions you might have.

KB

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: February 15, 2019
Location: Fronton Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Don Callis, Josh Matthews

We’re still in Mexico City and the big story coming out of last week saw the Lucha Bros become the new Tag Team Champions with about 184 piledrivers. The big question now is where things go from here, though tonight being the Uncaged special should help a lot. That means a stacked card, including the World Cup match (meaning a company vs. company tag) and a four way for the World Title. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at tonight’s big matches, mainly focusing on the World Cup and the World Title. Makes sense.

Opening sequence.

Knockouts Title: Tessa Blanchard vs. Taya Valkyrie

Street fight with Tessa challenging while wearing jeans and a shirt that her dad wore back in the 80s. Tessa charges up the ramp with a chair but gets taken down for some right hands. They get inside with a table already set up in the corner as Tessa loads up a chair in the corner. Taya runs her over and sends things outside but takes too long posing, allowing Tessa to blast her in the head. A running dropkick drives a chair into Taya’s head into the barricade but the champ is back with a sign shot.

Tessa takes a beer to the face but she wraps a chair around Taya’s neck and drives it into the post. Since this is modern wrestling, Taya is up without much damage done. Back in and we hit the choke with a cable cord and it’s time to rip off Taya’s shirt. Taya finally manages to send her into the chair in the corner, followed by a chair driving a metal sheet between Tessa’s legs. Tessa is right back up and throws in a bunch of chairs, one of which is pelted at her head.

Taya gets thrown onto a pile of chairs though and we take a break. Back with the two of them sitting in the chairs for a slap off until Taya kicks a chair into Tessa’s face for two. A spear drives Taya into the table in the corner but they bounce off for a good visual. It works so well that they do it again and the thing still doesn’t break. Tessa loads up a regular table but gets shoved outside for a big plancha from the top. Back in and Taya hits a top rope double stomp through the table to retain at 17:56.

Rating: B-. They beat each other up here and it felt like a fight, which is exactly the point. Taya needs a fresh challenger and while Tessa is still the best in the whole division, it’s time for someone to take her place. She can be back later on with no issues as she’s that good, though they had a good match here to wrap up the feud.

The announcers preview the show.

GWN Flashback of the Week: Team Impact vs. Team AAA from Bound For Glory 2017. At least it ties into later tonight.

Team Impact is ready to win tonight but they’re not sure on the team captain. Sami Callihan goes to take care of something so Eli Drake takes charge and gives them a pep talk.

Ethan Page vs. Willie Mack

Mack is now Hot Chocolate. Page slugs away to start but Mack does a dancing handstand in the corner because he can. A double nipple twist has Page in more trouble so he grabs a running DDT to take him down. Mack’s suplex puts Page down but a middle rope enziguri of all things (that’s a new one) gives Page two. Mack hits his running strikes in the corner, including the reverse Cannonball. A standing moonsault gets two so Page kicks him in the head a few times. Those have limited effect on Mack’s hard head and the Stunner finishes Page at 5:03.

Rating: C-. Didn’t have time to go anywhere but Mack is ready to break into the next level. That’s the case with every promotion he’s in and for some reason it just never happens. This might be the place though as Mack is getting pushed well enough around here and stays on TV, even in a quick match like this one.

Killer Kross says tonight is like a 3-1 handicap match for Johnny. Everyone pays the toll.

The Crist Brothers follow Mack and seem to jump him.

Team AAA speaks Spanish.

Here’s Sami Callihan for a chat. Everyone knows he and Rich Swann are brothers and what Swann said last week is fake news. Sami has given him multiple chances to join OVE so tonight is the final offer. A serious Swann comes out and throws the shirt away again so the fight is on. Sami gets the better of it and piledrives Swann on the stage, followed by a toss through a table.

World Cup: Team Impact vs. Team AAA

Impact: Fallah Bahh, Eli Drake, Eddie Edwards, Sami Callihan

AAA: Hijo Del Vikingo, Aerostar, Puma King, Psycho Clown

Elimination rules and thankfully we get a mention of Callihan vs. Drake from last year. Clown and Callihan slug it out to start as Callis wonders if Callihan can be traded to Mexico. A middle rope crossbody takes Callihan down and it’s off to Aerostar for a top rope corkscrew crossbody, followed by a Codebreaker in the corner. Drake comes in and hammers away but Aerostar quickly brings in Vikingo.

The pace pics up and the fast tags begin, capped off by King brainbustering Edwards for two. That’s enough to bring Bahh in for the first time with a belly to belly suplex planting King. Everyone comes in for the big staredown but wind up on the floor just as fast. Back in and King snaps off a running hurricanrana to Edwards.

Aerostar hits the first running dive (How did we not get to one of those yet?) and Bahh dives off the apron for a bonus. Vikingo adds a crazy springboard inverted moonsault before going up again, only to get powerslammed down by Drake. It’s time for the kendo stick but Edwards doesn’t like it, allowing King to roll Drake up for the elimination at 9:01.

Back from a break with Callihan chinlocking King until Bahh slams Callihan onto him for a near fall. Since Bahh isn’t very good, a single shot slows him down and it’s off to Vikingo to springboard Codebreak Callihan. Vikingo gets to clean house and kicks Bahh into the corner without much effort. A dive is countered into a powerslam though and Vikingo is out at 15:49. Aerostar comes in for a variety of dropkicks before avoiding a Banzai Drop to pin Bahh at 16:40.

It’s Edwards in now and a rolling cutter takes him down, only to have the Boston Knee Party take care of Aerostar at 17:39. We’re down to King/Clown vs. Callihan/Edwards and King powerbombs Callihan for two. Not to be outdone, Callihan piledrives King for the elimination at 18:39 to continue the rapid fire eliminations. Clown says bring it on and beats both of them up in a hurry until a Boston Knee Party takes him down.

Not so fast though as Sami wants the pin and gets rolled up to make it one on one at 20:06. They slug it out with Eddie being sent outside for a suicide dive. Back in and Clown gets two off Sliced Bread #2 but here’s Drake to hit Edwards with the kendo stick. Clown grabs la majistral for the final pin at 23:12.

Rating: C+. The best thing I can give this one is that it didn’t feel long and the right team won, though it’s not like this means anything long term. To be fair though, it’s not like it was supposed to and the whole World Cup thing is just a nice bit of marketing. All in all, it’s perfectly watchable and that’s not a bad thing to have going for you.

Reno Scumm is coming back. Dang it why?

We look back at the Lucha Bros taking the Tag Team Titles from LAX.

Konnan is going to get LAX one more shot but that’s it.

Allie and Su Yung are panicking about Rosemary, who seems to hack the feed.

Scarlett Bordeaux is in bed in lingerie and promises to make her in-ring debut in Las Vegas.

Next week: Edwards vs. Drake.

Impact Wrestling World Title: Johnny Impact vs. Brian Cage vs. Killer Kross vs. Moose

Impact is defending and it’s one fall to a finish. Moose gets low bridged outside early on and it’s time to kick people in the head. Cage sends the champ outside though and it’s the big flip dive onto all three of them. Back in and it’s a double powerbomb to plant Impact but Moose and Kross fight over the pin. I’m as shocked as you are but the alliance actually continues, this time with a double teaming on Cage.

Shockingly enough, Moose rolls Kross up for two and there’s the first suplex to Moose. Impact gets back up and starts cleaning house until Moose kicks him in the head. The chokebomb out of the corner gets two on Impact but Cage German suplexes both other monsters at the same time. Everyone hits everyone in the face until Impact’s springboard spear hits Cage for a four way knockdown.

It’s Impact up first and they all heads to the corner for the required Tower of Doom. Instead of covering, Kross switches gears a bit with a cross armbreaker on Impact but Cage makes the save with a dragon sleeper to Kross. It’s Kross up again with some suplexes all around but Impact kicks him in the face for two more. A pop up powerbomb into a backsplash gives Moose two, only to walk into the Drill Claw from Cage. Impact is right up with Starship Pain for the pin on Moose at 10:37, just as Cage had Kross pinned off the Drill Claw.

Rating: B-. It was entertaining while it lasted and the more I think about it, the more I think it should have been a bit shorter like this. The problem is that it’s still not a great story and Cage has no reason to be annoyed here because he lost the match completely clean. I’m not sure why this is going to keep going, even though it feels like it has been forever already.

Overall Rating: B+. This was one of the action shows and that’s where Impact works best. The worst match was the short Mack vs. Page match and even that was perfectly watchable. What we got here was almost all wrestling and there’s nothing wrong with that, especially when Impact isn’t the best storytelling company in the world. I had a very good time here and it worked quite well with one of their better shows in a long time.

Results

Taya Valkyrie b. Tessa Blanchard – Top rope double stomp through a table

Willie Mack b. Ethan Page – Stunner

Team AAA b. Team Impact – La majistral to Edwards

Johnny Impact b. Moose, Killer Kross and Brian Cage – Starship Pain to Moose

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: September 20, 2004
Location: Tuscon Convention Center, Tuscon, Arizona
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

It’s the season premiere of Raw and that means….I’m not sure really as wrestling doesn’t have seasons. One thing tonight is the end of the Diva Search, meaning the segments that have managed to make great looking women in swimsuits a chore to sit through are over. Other than that, we’re coming up on Taboo Tuesday, which we don’t know much about. Let’s get to it.

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

In Memory of Jim Barnett, a longtime promoter in the NWA and Australia.

Here’s Vince McMahon to open things up. After a quick welcome, he wants to get to the major announcement promised, which concerns everyone, including Eric Bischoff. This brings out a limping Bischoff (thanks to having a sledgehammer dropped on his fott a few weeks back) and Vince gets to the point. A few weeks ago, Chris Jericho suggested that the fans vote on a type of match. That’s a good idea, but what about doing it on a full pay per view?

Indeed, on October 19, we’ll be seeing a new concept called Taboo Tuesday (yes Tuesday) where the fans get to vote on everything from who gets a World Title shot to what the Divas are wearing. Bischoff loves the idea on paper but doesn’t think these people are capable of making such decisions. Vince is a busy man so maybe he should think about this for a week. Next Monday, Bischoff can have another idea that isn’t involving the fans taking control.

That sounds like patronizing to Vince, and there’s a reason that Bischoff is the GM of Raw and Vince isn’t the GM of Nitro (good line). Maybe Bischoff doesn’t like the idea because with the fans picking things, there’s no need for a GM. Actually, Vince thinks Bischoff should be wrestling that night, against this man. Cue the still injured Eugene and Bischoff isn’t sure what to do.

They’ll be facing off at Taboo Tuesday and the fans get to pick what happens to the loser. Vince even has options: the loser is the winner’s servant, the loser has to wear a dress, or the loser’s head is shaved. Bischoff immediately tries to talk Eugene out of the match because he loves his nephew. They could go out and get some ice cream tonight but Eugene knocks him out instead.

The fans didn’t exactly react to the concept, and I can’t say I blame them. As Bischoff said it’s good on paper, but I’m not sure how well it’s going to go in practice. On a related note though, how much better is it to have Eugene back at a level where he belongs? It’s probably way too late, but this was more charming than annoying and that’s a positive sign for him.

We look back at Randy Orton attacking HHH last week, including the cake. Orton got him at the end of the show as well, but HHH still left as champion so it’s not like it mattered all that much. Shelton Benjamin and Chris Benoit ran in for the save to end the show, meaning we’re probably in for a six man tonight.

Hey look there’s a six man tonight.

Stacy Keibler/Victoria vs. Molly Holly/Trish Stratus

In case you didn’t get enough of Stacy wrestling last week. Stacy mocks Molly’s dancing from last week because she frowns on culture. Victoria takes Trish down early to start and the standing moonsault (now minus the dancing) gets two. Molly comes in and walks into a powerslam as Lawler talks about getting to dress the Divas at Taboo Tuesday. A giant swing doesn’t work well for Victoria with the announcers mocking her for it, but thankfully it’s not time for a tag to Stacy just yet. The spinning side slam plants Trish and now it’s off to Stacy for two. Molly comes back in and gets caught in a backslide for the quick pin. Yay indeed.

Orton reads Raw Magazine because that’s what wrestlers do. Vince comes in and says “Sucks doesn’t it?” He’s talking about reality, which is what caused Orton to lose the title. Orton promises to win the title back because it’s his destiny. This interests Vince, who tells Orton to give it his all.

Billy Graham is here.

We look back at Gene Snitsky causing Kane to accidentally injury Lita last week.

Snitsky has been blamed all week but it wasn’t his fault. Last week Snitsky was there to do a job and he did that. To repeat, it wasn’t his fault!

Hurricane vs. Tajiri

This is fallout from a tag match on Heat. They fight over a wristlock to start until Tajiri kicks him in the face. Hurricane gets in a clothesline to set up a seated full nelson but Tajiri fights up without much effort. A tornado DDT is blocked and Tajiri gets in a superkick. Hurricane is right back with something like a neckbreaker but Tajiri reverses the cover into a crucifix for the fast pin.

Post match Hurricane is mad and takes the mask back from a fan. That’s quite the nice heel move.

Kane is at a medical facility (thankfully in street clothes instead of his gear) and says there is a 50/50 chance of saving the baby. Upon hearing Snitsky’s name, Kane gets a lot angrier and vengeance seems to be sworn. So this is the start of Kane’s face turn, though it’s still not the nicest of scenarios.

Intercontinental Title: Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels

Jericho is defending and has hacked his hair off for a pretty bad look. Christian comes out for commentary as a bonus. As expected, they fight over arm control to start until Shawn takes him down with a headlock. Back up and Shawn gets sent over the top so the cat get skinned, allowing him to come off the top with a high crossbody, which gets rolled through for two. A backbreaker keeps Shawn in trouble as Christian dubs himself the Show Stealer, which is much better than the Showstopper.

Jericho’s superplex attempt is broken up without much effort and Shawn hits the early top rope elbow. That’s enough for Christian, who goes to the ring to steal the show. He manages to get in but Shawn knocks him right back out, only to walk into the enziguri from Jericho. Christian gets ejected (wrestling referees have no jurisdiction over commentators) and we take a break. Back with Shawn starting in on the leg and grabbing the Figure Four. That’s broken up in a hurry so Shawn gets smart and stays on the leg.

Jericho grabs a small package for the break and kicks Shawn down, only to jam his knee on a Lionsault attempt. The rapid fire pinfall reversal sequence gives us some good near falls until Jericho takes him down again and scores with the Lionsault this time around. Jericho goes with the straight right hands this time around but Shawn is right back up with the forearm into the nipup. Shawn nips up and gets caught in the Walls, only to have Jericho let go and dropkick the invading Tyson Tomko down. That’s enough for Sweet Chin Music to connect but a very, very slow crawl over for the cover draws Christian in for the DQ.

Rating: B. It was good while it lasted and I can understand why they went with the DQ finish. It’s annoying, but Shawn isn’t going to be Intercontinental Champion and Jericho isn’t ready to lose the thing yet. Christian and Tomko are almost annoying at this point though, as the match was getting really good when the interference started.

Post match Christian shouts at Shawn and beats him up, which is one of the first times I’ve bought him as a bigger time heel.

Smackdown Rebound.

Kane has freaked out at the medical facility with a lot of screaming ensuing.

HHH complains to Evolution about the fans voting because fans are stupid. Flair tells HHH to calm down because he’s the best ever and all that jazz.

Long recap of the Diva Search, with the eliminated women talking about how much they learned about respecting the business. I’m not sure if I want to laugh or glare over a line that stupid.

Rob Conway vs. Maven

What are we doing here? Conway jumps Maven from behind to start as the USA chants start up in a hurry. Maven fights out of a chinlock and stops a charge in the corner before hitting a high crossbody. That’s rolled through to give Conway two (second time we’ve seen that spot in as many matches) before Maven hooks a small package for the pin. Nothing match and it’s still Maven.

Lita’s doctor says she lost the baby, because a doctor is going to do that on national television ten minutes after the fact. Kane comes out of the room and nearly kills the doctor but beats up a wall and screams instead. Hey the wall didn’t hurt your baby dude.

Simon Dean wants to help you lose weight. Seeing the Simon System advertised on VHS is so strange. Simon: “Remember, you can be fat, unattractive and die alone, or you can do the right thing and pick up the phone.”

JR and King do their somber voices about Lita losing the baby.

And now, the Diva Search finals, because WWE doesn’t know what a transition is. Coach mocks both of them and goes to get the envelope but here’s Trish, looking very out of place in a dress, to interrupt. After making fun of all the tasks the women have had to go through, she promises an official victory party for the winner next week. With Trish gone, Christy wins the contest and cheers a lot. She says it’s all about the energy and that she doesn’t need decaf. Carmella gives the lame “oh well it was fun” response doesn’t care about the booing. After some more lame answers, this whole thing is finally done, thank goodness.

Evolution vs. Randy Orton/Chris Benoit/Shelton Benjamin

Shelton knocks HHH down to start and thankfully the announcers bring up Shelton beating him a few times. A shoulder block just lets Shelton nip up so HHH tries the right hands. That goes badly as well as HHH gets backdropped, only to drive Shelton into the corner. So strength seems to work on Shelton, which is why HHH tags Flair instead of Batista. Some cerebral. Benoit tags himself in as well and it’s time for the chop off. Flair gets the worse of it and the Swan Dive connects for two as everything breaks down.

Orton loads up the RKO on the floor but gets posted, allowing Batista to hit the big clothesline. That means Orton needs medics and we take a break. Back with Shelton coming in off the hot tag to clean house and hitting a Stinger Splash on Flair. Batista misses a charge into the corner, though he comes nowhere near the post for a bit of a weird visual. HHH finally gets in a knee and Shelton is in trouble for a change.

Things slow down with Flair hammering away in the corner and HHH coming in without a tag, though Lawler is sure he saw one. I’ll take his word for it. The spinebuster gives HHH two and it’s back to Flair for the Figure Four. That’s broken up as well but Batista remembers that he’s in the match and works on the leg as well. The slow motion holds continue until Shelton kicks Batista in the face, allowing the hot tag to Benoit.

Everything breaks down (of course) and Benoit suplexes both Batista and Flair. HHH comes back in and takes one of his own, leaving Flair to get caught in the Sharpshooter. That’s broken up by HHH but here’s Orton to charge down the ramp and tag himself in. A few right hands send HHH running and the RKO finishes Flair.

Rating: C+. And thus it’s another attempt to get Orton a big moment. That’s all well and good, but having him already win and lose the title makes this feel out of place. The fans aren’t exactly enamored with Orton at the moment and having him taken out so Benoit and Benjamin can wrestle most of the match isn’t going to help things. The only thing that can make it better is him winning the title from HHH and being a hero, but that’s not going to happen because it’s HHH’s title and no one is getting over as a hero while that is the case.

Overall Rating: C-. The wrestling was pretty watchable this week but for the most part I kept wondering if this is what we were really doing. A lot of the show just felt like it was there for the sake of doing something with the time as we sit around and wait on the next big story. Orton, at least in this form, isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and that leaves us back where we were a year ago. Something needs to be shaken up around here very soon, but it might be a long time.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

It’s been one of those weeks.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/kbs-review-pancake-developmental/

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: February 20, 2019
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson

I’m not sure what to think about this show as it could go in two very different directions. The major announced match is Johnny Gargano defending the North American Title against Velveteen Dream with two endings having been taped. On the other side though, WWE has promised a major announcement, which doesn’t bode well since the four biggest names from the show have appeared on this week’s Raw and Smackdown. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at Gargano vs. Dream, which should be a big match.

Opening sequence.

Aleister Black vs. Roderick Strong

Fallout from last week when the Undisputed Era beat down Black and Ricochet. Strong takes him down with a single leg to start and grabs an armbar, which lasts as long as an armbar is about to go. Black’s German suplex gets two but Strong sends him outside for a dropkick through the ropes. A drop onto the steps sets up a reverse chinlock with a knee in the back as Strong keeps it on the mat, where it’s hard for Black to kick very well.

Back up and Strong puts him on top, only to have Black slip out of a top rope superplex. His powerbomb doesn’t work though as it’s the first backbreaker to put Strong in control again. You would think he’d have gone there earlier. Black knees his way out of a suplex attempt and the strikes are on in a hurry. A running kick to the face sets up the brainbuster for two and Strong is in trouble. Black knees him to the face but Strong is right back with a torture rack backbreaker on the apron. The belly to back faceplant has Black in trouble but he snaps off Black Mass for the pin at 8:28.

Rating: B. I could watch these two trade backbreakers and kicks to the face for a long time and that’s what they did here. Black is someone who can beat anyone with that kick to the face and it’s not like Strong is going to lose much by getting beaten by someone as good as him. Very nice match here, which is going to be the case with any combination of the people involved.

Post match Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish run in for the beatdown, drawing in Ricochet for the save.

We see Shayna Baszler, Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke invading the women’s locker room last week and nearly starting a brawl.

Bianca Belair says 2018 was her year and it was the referee’s fault that she lost at Takeover: Phoenix. Now Io Shirai and Kairi Sane are trying to get in on her title shot and that’s not cool. You know what else isn’t cool? Belair.

We look at the four NXT main roster debuts.

In two weeks: the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is back with the winners getting a title shot at the War Raiders at Takeover: New York. Four teams have been announced so far: the Undisputed Era, Fabian Aichner/Marcel Barthel, Forgotten Songs and the Street Profits. The other four will be announced next week.

Mia Yim vs. Xia Li

We get a handshake to start and they lock up to the mat with neither getting an advantage. Mia backs up in a hurry from the threat of a bunch of kicks, only to get rolled up for two instead. Now the big kick to the chest connects and even more kicks put Yim down again. Li jumps into a shot to the face though and Protect Your Neck gives Mia the pin at 3:56.

Rating: D+. I wasn’t feeling this one for the most part, though it could have been worse. The problem here was Yim getting beaten up until the very end and then hitting her pretty lame finisher. Li’s kicks looked good and those are going to get her somewhere. Throw in the cool fan entrance and she’s going to be fine.

Post match Baszler, Shafir and Duke run in for the beatdown until the unnamed rookies run in for the failed save.

Gargano is warming up when Candice LeRae comes in to ask how he’s doing. He’s fine, but Tommaso Ciampa pops in. Gargano says he needs her instead of him, but Ciampa will be watching tonight. Well until the main roster gets involved that is.

We get a sitdown interview with Jeremy Borash talking to Matt Riddle. Matt isn’t going to change who he is with the hat and flip flops because he was told a long time ago to tune himself up instead of down. Riddle wants a title and it doesn’t matter which one.

Next week: Yim vs. Baszler.

North American Title: Velveteen Dream vs. Johnny Gargano

Dream is challenging as he cashes in his Worlds Collide tournament win. They go to the mat to start with Dream getting an armbar. Gargano spins out as we see Ciampa watching from the rafters. One heck of a slap sends Gargano to the floor for a bit as frustration is setting in. The champ comes back inside but Dream slides in front of him for an OOO from the crowd.

Another slap has Gargano rocked and Dream nails a top rope ax handle. Dream takes too much time going up though and gets pulled down so Gargano can take over for the first time. Some knees have Dream in trouble and a neckbreaker gets two. The arm work continues with Gargano bending it around the rope, only to have Dream swing away anyway. Gargano sends him outside though and more shots to the face keep Dream in trouble.

Dream finally gets in a clothesline and of course things are instantly even again. A running clothesline sends Gargano outside and that’s enough for a top rope ax handle. Back in and Dream takes him up top but gets crotched instead, setting up a spinning Downward Spiral for two. They bang heads and go to the apron, with Gargano hitting a superkick. The slingshot DDT is cut off but so is the Dream Valley Driver on the apron. Gargano hits the suicide dive, only to walk into wind up DDT.

Dream misses the Purple Rainmaker though and Gargano goes up. This time it’s Dream catching him though and a super Dream Valley Driver gets a VERY close two. Gargano bails outside and superkicks a diving Dream out of the air for a big crash. The slingshot DDT gets two more, earning a standing ovation. Gargano is up first and hits a superkick but a running tornado DDT is countered into the Dream Valley Driver. A second Driver sets up the Purple Rainmaker to make Dream champion at 20:30.

Rating: A-. Well that worked. These two know how to make anything work well and they did just that here, with an awesome back and forth match as Dream FINALLY wins the big one. It also helps set things up with Gargano choking in his first title defense, which should give him even more issues with Ciampa going forward. Great match with better storytelling, as things are starting to to roll towards New York.

So I guess the Dusty Classic was the big announcement? That’s a relief, but also kind of a letdown.

Overall Rating: A. Yeah I’d say they’re still good, though with all of the main roster stuff looming, I’m more than a little nervous. The best part about NXT has been that they don’t have to deal with everything that goes on from the main roster and I’m worried that WWE is going to need to “fix” things down here, which is the last thing they need right now. At least we had another great show here, and there’s a chance that nothing will change in the near future.

Results

Aleister Black b. Roderick Strong – Black Mass

Mia Yim b. Xia Li – Protect Your Neck

Velveteen Dream b. Johnny Gargano – Purple Rainmaker

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: February 20, 2019
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s the second week in Phoenix and last week got things off to a good start. The different venue and crowd offer a nice change of pace and that can help freshen things up a little bit. We’re still on the way towards Walter vs. Pete Dunne for the UK Title and with the right build, it could be a classic. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Toni Storm beating Rhea Ripley to become Women’s Champion last month and Ripley not handling the loss well. The rematch is tonight.

Opening sequence.

Mark Andrews/Flash Morgan Webster vs. Coffey Brothers

For the sake of sanity, I’ll only refer to Mark Coffey as Mark and Mark Andrews as Andrews. Mark literally throws Flash around to start and it’s off to Joe for some stomps to the ribs. A quick dropkick gets Flash out of trouble and it’s off to Andrews as the pace picks up in a hurry. That’s a good thing for Andrews, though a blind tag lets the Brothers hit a pop up uppercut to take over again. You can’t beat the brotherly thinking. A double chop keeps Andrews in trouble and they take turns on full nelsons.

Joe switches to a double underhook but a buckle bomb attempt is countered and the hot tag brings in Flash. The standing Lionsault sets up a hurricanrana from the apron to the floor to keep Mark down. A jumping knee to the face into an assisted moonsault gets two on Joe. We settle back down with Joe slugging away at Andrews until Flash tags himself in to help on a tornado DDT. Stereo flip dives to the floor drop the Brothers and there’s a Stundog Millionaire to Joe. Mark suplexes Andrews onto the apron though and All The Best For The Bells finishes Flash at 8:29.

Rating: B-. This was a good sign on multiple fronts, starting with the fact that it was a rather nice match. As usual, power vs. speed is something that is always going to work and that was the case here. Other than that, it makes the Coffey Brothers they should have been all along. Joe vs. Pete Dunne was good, but when you have your brother right there, why is he teaming with another guy like Wolfgang? It never made sense, though Joe vs. Dunne was a better idea than Dunne vs. Wolfgang any day.

Video on Nina Samuels, who seems to like the spotlight.

Jordan Devlin is back in Ireland and promises to be the best, as always.

Video on Kay Lee Ray, who is awesomely Scottish and coming to the women’s division.

Trent Seven vs. Shane Thorne

Shane is making the rounds as of late and this makes as much sense as anything else for him. Feeling out process to start with Seven’s wristlock giving Thorne some early problems. Thorne’s shoulder doesn’t get him very far so he snaps Seven’s arm across the top rope. The shoulder gets wrapped around the post and it’s off to an armbar. Seven is right back up with a suplex into a slam for two and it’s off to a rather quick Figure Four.

The hold is turned over and they fall to the floor with both guys banging up their knees. Back in and Thorne gets slammed off the top but manages to block the Figure Four. A hard belly to back suplex puts Seven down for two and a kind of chickenwing hold is right back on the arm. Not that it matters as Seven shoves him away and hits the Seven Star Lariat for the pin at 8:59.

Rating: C. I know the Mighty wasn’t the most popular team in the world but Thorne is carving out a very nice place for himself as someone who can have a watchable match with just about anyone. That’s going to keep him around for a long time and we had a nice match here. Seven sells limb injuries well and this was no exception.

Jack Gallagher wants to wrestle in NXT UK and will talk to Johnny Saint about it over a cup of tea.

Here are the Grizzled Young Veterans for a chat. The heat isn’t as strong on Zack Gibson here as he talks about how hard the two of them have worked to get here. He doesn’t like being here instead of back home in Liverpool having a cup of tea, but he’s here to explain why British wrestling is the best in the world. They can’t have the best competition because they are the best competition.

The challengers can be from 205 Live, NXT or NXT UK because it won’t matter. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch can come for their shot whenever. Here are Burch and Lorcan in person with Burch telling Gibson to shut up. Burch is proud to be British but he’s more proud to represent these fans. The match is next week but Burch and Lorcan chase them off now.

Next week: Gallagher vs. Tyler Bate.

Also next week: Walter vs. Kassius Ohno. That’s a stacked show.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm vs. Rhea Ripley

Storm is defending and the fight starts before the bell with Ripley throwing her into the corner. The bell rings and Ripley stomps away before forearming the champ against the ropes. Ripley starts in on the back with a backbreaker getting two as the pace slows a bit. The bodyscissors goes on for a bit until Storm is up with some right hands.

Those just earn her a dropkick for two, which is quite the visual from the rather big Ripley. The standing Cloverleaf has Storm in even more trouble but she rolls Ripley outside. That means a suicide dive to start the real comeback and a running hip attack in the corner makes things worse for Ripley. The back is too banged up for Storm Zero so it’s a Backstabber instead, which works well enough.

Storm takes some time following up though and it’s a slugout from their knees. The champ gets the better of it but gets caught on top, allowing Ripley to grab a superplex for two. Ripley misses a charge into the post though and a quick Storm Zero retains the title at 11:00. That was a very fast finish and it felt like they had another minute or two in there.

Rating: B-. It wasn’t anything great but it was high enough quality to work just fine. Storm retaining wasn’t exactly a surprise and that’s ok for a pretty big TV main event. Both of them looked polished and the women’s division is getting some depth, meaning that it doesn’t have to be these two over and over. Ripley can go rebuild for a bit and she’s going to be fine in the long run.

Overall Rating: B-. This show worked well as it felt more like a regular NXT show: one feature match and enough other stuff to keep the whole thing entertaining. They moved around enough from one story to another and all of those things feel fresh. Also, and again just like NXT, they don’t have the same people on every week and it keeps the shows from being repetitive. They’re getting the formula right and that’s a very positive sign.

Results

Coffey Brothers b. Flash Morgan Webster/Mark Andrews – All The Best For The Bells to Webster

Trent Seven b. Shane Thorne – Seven Star Lariat

Toni Storm b. Rhea Ripley – Storm Zero

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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 #45
Date: February 15, 2019
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Matt Striker, Rich Bocchini

We’re still in Philadelphia and it’s time for a title to be on the line. In this case that would be the Middleweight Title, which should be a fun match between Maxwell Jacob Friedman challenging Teddy Hart. This promotion has become a home for the Hart Foundation, which is quite the odd development. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with what looks like a fan created Hart Foundation music video. Not a bad one either.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. explains where he got a custom made Egyptian wool shirt in Japan. He offers a lot of praise for Japan in general and is working on his Japanese. A fan, who I believe was very prominently featured during Sandman’s entrance last week, comes in so some flirting can ensue.

Opening sequence.

Earlier this week, Salina de la Renta posted a video on Instagram making fun of Tom Lawlor and the fans (or marks as she calls them). She’s fine after the loss because Low Ki has a guaranteed rematch, which he’ll be using at Intimidation Games.

Ace Austin vs. Rich Swann

Swann is freshly heel and talks about bringing the party with him wherever he goes. They go basic to start with Austin working on an armbar as a random graphic pops up, saying CONTRA. It’s not acknowledged, which makes things a little more interesting. Some armdrags have Swann down and it’s time to for the rapid fire near falls into stereo dropkicks for a standoff. Swann lays on the top rope for a breather but Austin drop toeholds him down for a kick to the back.

Something off the top is shoved down though with Austin crashing onto the bare floor. A chop off goes to Austin back inside and a springboard spinning kick to the face gets two. Austin goes up and hits a top rope Vader Bomb for….the pin at 5:40? That was weird as the referee didn’t seem ready to count and even stopped at two before the three went down. Odd indeed.

Rating: C. It was fun while it lasted as both guys are talented with Austin being a nice surprise who has come out of nowhere. Swann as a heel has some potential too as you know he can do everything needed in the ring. He wasn’t going to get very far as smiling face though so this is a nice change.

Post match Swann beats up the referee and says that was two. Bocchini gets beaten up for trying an interview and Swann goes after the announcer as well, drawing some hard booing.

Ariel Dominguez vs. Alexander Hammerstone

This is Hammerstone’s debut and Dominguez is still rather small. Hammerstone growls about how he’s anything but normal and the future has arrived. Dominguez gets choked into the corner to start and an armdrag is blocked with raw power. There’s a Brogue kick to knock Dominguez silly and Hammerstone throws him with a German suplex. Hammerstone grabs a pumphandle and walks him around the ring before tossing Dominguez with a suplex.

The fans chant ONE MORE TIME but Hammerstone goes for a delayed vertical instead, allowing Dominguez to slip out. You don’t do that to Hammerstone though as it’s a hard clothesline to drop Dominguez. The Nightmare Pendulum (Hellevator) finishes Dominguez at 2:36. Hammerstone was impressive here and a lot better than when I saw him a few years ago.

Lawlor vs. Low Ki II is a cage match. The Contra thing pops up again as this is being announced. Also announced for the show: Taurus/Laredo Kid vs. the Lucha Bros.

Mance Warner is a very southern guy who has a bunch of nicknames while drinking light beer and talking about the semi truck engine he rented for the weekend. He’s certainly a fast talker.

Here’s MJF for his title shot but first, he needs to call Philadelphia white trash for liking ECW. As for Hart, the fans cheer for him even though MJF never lost the title. Why aren’t they chanting for him instead? Hart can come out here tonight and face him one on one because MJF is ready to prove that he’s the better man.

Middleweight Title: Teddy Hart vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Hart is defending and has his cat Mr. Velvet with him. MJF won’t shake hands so Teddy goes to the corner for some posing instead. They switch places and Hart pulls the trunks down in a funny bit. Friedman sends him outside in a heap and kicks the rope for a low blow on the way back in. Why that isn’t a DQ isn’t made clear but Friedman suplexes him down into a headlock. Yes a headlock not a chinlock. That stays on for a lot longer than you might expect until Hart fights up and walks MJF’s back into the sunset flip for two.

The top rope Lionsault is good for the same and Hart goes with the right hands to the face. Hart spends too much time talking though and gets his arm stomped, followed by the hanging piledriver for two. The Fujiwara armbar goes on and MJF even bites the hand to make it worse.

Hart makes the rope so MJF puts him on top, where Hart pulls his trunks WAY up for some pain. The ref gets bumped and a hammerlock DDT plants MJF for no count. With Hart checking on the referee, MJF grabs a chair but gets kicked low because Hart is a good bit more intelligent. The electric chair Backstabber sets up the corkscrew Lionsault to retain the title at 11:13.

Rating: C. Nice enough match here as Friedman is your classic cruiserweight heel: stays on the ground and works a lot of submission holds, which is an idea that has worked forever. Fans are going to cheer for someone like Hart because of the flips and don’t want to see MJF keeping it on the mat, while also being such a jerk. They kept it simple here but did it well, which is a lot better than doing something complicated and messing it up.

As Teddy comes through the curtain, Richard Holliday jumps him as MJF comes in to say it’s his belt. It seems that we have a payoff as the double beatdown ends the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I liked this show as, just like last week, they didn’t focus on the main event scene and instead pushed their other stories to keep them interesting. It makes for a good show with Hammerstone looking rather impressive. Keep doing what they’re doing and things will be fine.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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 #44
Date: February 8, 2019
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Matt Striker, Rich Bocchini

We’re done with SuperFight and now we’re on the way towards Intimidation Games because MLW is actually making some steps forward around here. Tom Lawlor won the World Title in a very short match, which might have been due to time constraints. Fair enough, though you can imagine the rematch coming from here. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at SuperFight, which was a rather snappy little show.

Opening video.

Myron Reed vs. DJZ

They fight over arm control to start with no one getting anywhere. Reed bails into the ropes, followed by a cartwheel to stay away. DJZ gets a bit more serious with a dropkick into a jawbreaker to put Reed in some early trouble. A trip to the floor lets DJZ hit a suicide dive, followed by a nice slingshot splash back inside. Reed is right back up with a dive of his own (no hands) before going with a chinlock to slow things down. Reed: “He’s going to sleep!” Then why are you not using a sleeper? Young whippersnapper.

The comeback doesn’t take very long (I guess DJZ wasn’t very sleepy) as DJZ grabs a jumping neckbreaker. Reed is right back with the springboard cutter and DJZ’s tornado DDT is shoved off. An O’Connor roll is reversed into another one and Reed grabs the tights for the pin at 6:26.

Rating: C. Perfectly watchable showcase match for both guys here with DJZ suddenly being a somewhat respected name. Reed is someone who needs a lot more ring time but you can see the potential inside of him. A little more time for both guys is going to do them some good though they’re doing well enough here.

The Hart Foundation answers some questions about Valentine’s Day. Brian pleads the fifth about which girlfriend he’ll spend the holiday with, though he’s known for stacking them up like pizza. Teddy asks about his cats and uses a certain word. The solution to spicing up a twenty five year marriage: leave. Davey is indeed single and fills out his shorts. Finally: no hair, though they do like these beIN Sports sunglasses. This was funnier than it had any right to be.

Gringo Loco vs. Puma King

These guys are both rather popular. They start with the flipping that doesn’t make any actual contact and covers for some far falls. Of course it’s a standoff, which certainly pleases the fans. Puma takes over in the corner but we stop to dance, because dance breaks have made it to MLW. Loco flips forward to get a breather and they trade hurricanranas. One of them sends Loco outside and Puma is right after him with a dive. Back in and King nails a superkick, followed by more dancing.

They run the ropes and for no logical reason, King bails outside, setting up a flip dive from Loco. Back in and a spinning Vader Bomb gets two but King is right back with a top rope Codebreaker. Gringo catches him on top though and a springboard cutter gets two. Puma’s Code Red gets the same and it’s time to fight on the corner at the same time. The required super Spanish Fly finishes King at 7:38.

Rating: C+. Yeah this worked and they did exactly what was advertised here. They flew around, hit big spots and played to the crowd. Really, what else were they supposed to do? The match was entertaining and didn’t overstay its welcome, which is a great result for a TV match like this.

Tonight: the future of the Lucha Bros is revealed.

MJF doesn’t want to hear about Teddy Hart’s redemption because he doesn’t get it. Why are we praising someone who messed up in the first place? Where is the praise for MJF, who never did anything wrong? He’s never been to jail or done drugs, so now it’s time for him to get back the title he never lost.

Tommy Dreamer says Brian Pillman Jr. is coming into his house tonight. He has a mystery partner and because he’s been around for so long, he had about 2000 people to pick from. It’s going to be Sandman and I don’t know why they don’t just say so.

Jimmy Havoc is coming back.

Brian Pillman Jr./??? vs. Tommy Dreamer/???

Street fight for what should be obvious reasons. Before the partners are revealed, Pillman grabs a mic and says the smart marks have been waiting for him to have a microphone in this arena. Without saying much, he announces Davey Boy Smith Jr. as his partner. Well he had two realistic options and he picked one of them. Dreamer’s partner is of course Sandman, who comes through the entrance in a visual that feels completely wrong.

The first spit of a beer lets us start things off in a brawl, as it certainly should be. They actually get inside with Sandman falling down off an elbow drop attempt. We settle down to Dreamer getting kicked in the back to put the Harts in control, allowing Pillman to hit a good looking dropkick. The delayed suplex gets the fans to cheer against the ECW guys for a change, though Sandman’s swearing brings them back.

Smith hurts his head off a headbutt attempt and walks into a DDT, allowing the hot tag to Sandman. Everything breaks down and Dreamer hits his cutter on Smith as Sandman has found a cane. The slow chase is on and Dreamer finds some chairs. Pillman goes underneath the ring and finds….the Blue Meanie. The distraction lets Sandman get in the first cane shots to Pillman but Sandman gets dropped. Back in and Dreamer gets powerbombed through the chairs for a pin at 8:08.

Rating: D+. I’m not sure why I didn’t mind this as much as the Ring of Honor match from Sandman. Maybe it’s how serious that was treated compared to this, but for some reason this was a lot more acceptable. For one thing Sandman wasn’t doing much here and that’s best for everyone. His entrance is still cool and that’s why you bring him in. Not a very good match, but the ending was the right call.

Dreamer and Sandman get the heroes’ farewell.

Next week: MJF vs. Hart for the Middleweight Title.

The Lucha Bros say they’ll be around MLW. They’ll fight anyone anywhere anytime because they’re the best tag team in the world.

Tom Lawlor staggers out of a strip club, seemingly still drunk from last night with the title. That was funny.

Overall Rating: C. This one really did fit the idea of a fusion of a bunch of styles and that’s a good idea. You had three different matches on here and it made for a very breezy show. As usual, MLW is good at being able to go through a bunch of stuff without having any of them seem weak or unimportant. It keeps things fresh and that was the case here.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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