IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: September 18, 2018
Location: BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Commentators: Corey Graves, Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton

We’re past Hell in a Cell now and AJ Styles is still the Smackdown World Champion, despite having tapped to Samoa Joe. That almost guarantees a rematch in Australia next month and that means the title is in jeopardy. Other than that, Becky Lynch won the Smackdown Women’s Title, which isn’t going to make people boo her any more. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a video on Lynch taking the title from Charlotte.

Here’s the Miz for MizTV to get things going. He starts things off by announcing Miz vs. Daniel Bryan in a #1 contenders match, which was announced weeks ago. His guest this week is Maryse, who apparently was rather hard to get. Miz lists off everything that Maryse has done, though she found beating Brie Bella on Sunday to be the easiest thing in her career. They talk about the reasons neither Brie nor Bryan are really happy for each other and their marriage was one of convenience.

As for something more personal, this is Maryse’s last night on Smackdown. The fans are very happy so Miz calls out Bryan for a fight right now. Cue Bryan, to say you don’t talk about his wife that way. So where was he before Miz called him out? Politely waiting to stand up for his wife’s honor?

Bryan dropkicks Miz, sending him right into Maryse. Everyone panics but Maryse smiles as Miz jumps Bryan. That goes badly as well and Maryse gets dropped off the apron again allowing Bryan to stand tall. This feud still doesn’t have that spark, and it probably has something to do with three big matches taking place in less than two months.

New Day is on a safari for….something not specified.

Post break Bryan says he knew that was coming because Miz wouldn’t call him out without some ulterior motive. In Australia, he’ll punch Miz in the face and punch his ticket to a title shot.

Cesaro vs. Kofi Kingston

Prelude to the Bar’s Super Show-Down title shot, proving that yes indeed that tournament was a waste of time. Before the match, New Day talks about getting rid of the other day and Big E. goes into an Australian accent, which Woods says is terrible and Kofi finds offensive. Cesaro cuts him off too and we’re ready to go.

Joined in progress with Kofi in trouble as Cesaro works on the knee and an uppercut rocking Kofi for two. An enziguri gives Kofi a breather but Cesaro catches him with a dropkick on top. Kofi sends him outside for a rolling dive (Woods: “I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT WAS BUT IT WAS GOOD!”) and the SOS gets two back inside. That’s enough from Kofi though as the knee gives out and the Neutralizer finishes him off at 3:39.

Rating: D+. Just a quick match to help set up the Bar as challengers, because again, that tournament meant nothing and they’re in trouble again because there’s so much stuff going on that they have to rapid fire teams into title shots. Why they couldn’t do a double DQ between New Day and the Bar on Sunday to set up a rematch in Australia eludes me. Just go with something that makes sense so it’s not all screwy.

Rusev blames Aiden English for the loss on Sunday so English rants about Lana behind Rusev’s back. Speaking of behind a back, Lana is behind English’s so the apology begins in short order. She leaves to tell Rusev.

Randy Orton demands that a production guy show him the violent clips from Sunday and asks how those make him feel. More destruction will ensue.

Clip of the ending of AJ vs. Joe from Sunday.

AJ says he got lucky and maybe that was karma catching up with Joe. There’s a rematch in Australia where anything goes and there must be a winner. Tonight though, AJ has to deal with Andrade Cien Almas and he can’t look past him.

Rusev asks English to intro him and says he’ll talk to Lana later.

US Title: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev

Nakamura is defending. Feeling out process to start until Nakamura kicks at the leg and says COME ON. An overhead belly to belly throws Nakamura down and it’s time to go to the floor for a breather. Back in and Nakamura kicks him in the face to send us to a break. We come back with Nakamura kneeing his way out of a suplex attempt as English starts up the RUSEV DAY chants, much to Lana’s chagrin.

Rusev fights back with clotheslines and the spinwheel kick, followed by the kick to the back of the head for two. Nakamura’s running knee in the corner hits turnbuckle but he rakes the eyes and hits a middle rope knee to the chest instead. Kinshasa runs into the Machka Kick though but English jumps on the apron to tell Rusev to CRUSH. That’s enough for the distraction so that Nakamura can roll Rusev up to retain at 11:22.

Rating: C-. While the ending wasn’t exactly in doubt, I do have to wonder how WWE has managed to botch Nakamura again. You spent two months setting up his stuff with AJ and now he can manage one or two matches a month without even appearing at the first pay per view after winning the title. Nakamura could have been anyone here and that’s not a good sign for the US Champion.

Post match English jumps Rusev with the microphone and says Happy Rusev Day.

AJ Styles vs. Andrade Cien Almas

Non-title. Almas jumps the champ during his entrance but AJ says ring the bell. That earns him a big boot to the face and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two as we take a break. Back with AJ scoring with a tornado DDT as he still doesn’t even have his shirt off. A spinning back elbow takes Styles down but he’s right back with the fireman’s carry backbreaker and the seated forearm. The Styles Clash is broken up but Almas double moonsault hits knees. Almas is fine enough to catch AJ on the ropes and hits the top rope double stomp to drive him back first onto the apron.

Back from another break with Almas falling to the floor and AJ hitting a slingshot forearm for two more. The Clash is broken up again but Almas is favoring his knee. A springboard missile dropkick sets up double knees in the corner for another two so Almas loads up the hammerlock DDT. That’s reversed into a jackknife cover but AJ backflips into the Styles Clash for the pin at 14:55.

Rating: B-. They clearly have big plans for Almas as you don’t have someone go move for move with Styles and Bryan without wanting to turn him into something special. The ending was awesome and one of those things where you look at Styles do it and then wonder how he pulled that off. Not many people can do that and it’s a big reason why he’s in the spot he’s in.

Post match Samoa Joe jumps AJ but bails into the crowd after raking the eyes.

Asuka vs. Billie Kay

Before the match, Billie and Peyton Royce get in their usual insults to the town and say Asuka’s hair looks like Naomi’s glow. Peyton offers an early distraction so Billie can slap Asuka down and put on the cravate. A big boot gives Billie two but Asuka reverses a suplex into the Asuka Lock for the tap at 1:48. This was on the same level of every Asuka vs. Billie match.

The announcers tell us how to donate to the Red Cross to help Hurricane Florence victims.

Here’s Paige to introduce Becky Lynch for the Championship Celebration. Becky is glad that she’s finally getting the recognition that she deserves but wants Charlotte out here. Charlotte comes out and says Becky was the better woman on Sunday. The thing is Becky gave up a lot to become champion and Charlotte is coming back for it at Super Show-Down. Becky: “I’m sorry, I stopped listening after you said I was the better woman.”

Becky wants Charlotte to put the title around her waist but she’ll settle for being called queen. Charlotte: “B****.” The fight is on with Charlotte being thrown over the announcers’ table and the Disarm-Her going on. The Bexploder leaves Charlotte laying to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I know I talk about this a lot but it’s almost remarkable how much easier this show is when they don’t hype up three shows at the same time. We’re coming up on Super Show-Down and that was the focus tonight. WWE knows how to set up a regular pay per view and that’s what they have here. That’s all this needed to be and the show was a million times easier to sit through as a result. Good show with mostly good wrestling and angle advancement, which is what this week needed to be.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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: September 13, 2018
Location: Rebel Sports Complex, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Don Callis, Josh Matthews

The very slow build towards Bound For Glory continues, which should be the case given how far away the show really is. We now have a main event of World Champion Austin Aries defending against Johnny Impact, which was announced in the most low key way possible. You can probably guess what we’ll be getting this week so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Here are Austin Aries, Moose and Killer Kross for a chat, complete with some couches and a small table. Aries says they’re running the show now and everyone who comes up to them is taken down. Cue KM and Fallah Bahh of all people (Aries: “What the heck is this?”) with Aries saying they’re fat, then realizing that he can’t fat shame anyone.

Apparently Scarlett Bordeaux has them to always speak their mind so KM calls Aries rotten and a horrible World Champion. The monsters get up but Aries tells them to take their seats. Aries offers them a peace offering. Aries: “Not a piece of pie.” Bahh can have a title shot tonight and the deal is made.

Lucha Bros vs. Cult of Lee

Pentagon and Lee start things off and everything breaks down in a hurry with the Cult being dropkicked to the floor as we take a break. Back with Fenix kicking Lee in the face but getting dropped throat first across the top rope. Pentagon gets knocked down as well and it’s Fenix getting double teamed as the fans chant for LUCHA LIBRE. Some chops give Fenix a quick breather but Lee stomps him down in the corner for his efforts.

A double Lethal Injection really gets Fenix out of trouble and the hot tag brings in Pentagon as everything breaks down again. Pentagon flips Fenix into a splash for two on Konley and it’s time for the skin ripping chop in the corner. A spike Fear Factor is broken up and Trevor gets two off the assisted top rope double stomp. Pentagon superkicks Konley to the floor and it’s a dive from Fenix to follow. Now the spike Fear Factor can finish Lee at 12:31.

Rating: C+. The Lucha Bros are just fun to watch and the two of them seem to get better and better every single time they’re out there. You know they’re going to wind up in WWE one day so enjoy their stuff outside the big company while it lasts. The Cult isn’t great but they’re more than good enough for something like this and that’s not a bad place to be.

Post match OVE pops up on screen to say they sell tickets and they’re ready for one more match against the Lucha Bros and Brian Cage at Bound For Glory. Of note: Sami did all of the talking here, but Jake Crist was over his shoulder, mimicking every word he said.

Bahh isn’t sure so KM gives him a pep talk. They need advice from former champions.

Post break Bahh and KM find Eli Drake and ask what he thinks they should do. Drake talks about their clothes and mocks the Mexican fans before next week’s show in Mexico.

Classic Clip of the Week: the Von Erichs at Slammiversary 2014.

Allie and Kiera Hogan don’t like Tessa Blanchard but Allie isn’t going to let what Su Yung did to everyone else happen to her.

Tessa didn’t need Allie’s help. She’ll prove that she’s undeniable in Mexico City.

Alisha vs. Katarina

The bell rings and here are Grado and Joe Hendry to interrupt. Hendry talks about how depressed Grado is. He can’t even eat anymore so Hendry has put together a custom music video to express his feelings. The song talks about access being denied and even references the aborted incest angle between Katarina and her storyline brother Paul Burchill from WWE. Alisha rolls her up for the pin at 2:40 in the only wrestling of the match.

Scarlett Bordeaux rubs Bahh’s stomach and tells him to win the title.

Earlier this week, Josh had a Skype interview with Johnny Impact. After seeing Impact getting laid out last week, Johnny says he registers his injuries as setbacks instead of pain. He knows Moose and Kross are going to get involved at Bound For Glory but Aries needing that much backup tells him that Aries is insecure.

LAX vs. The Fraternity

Non-title and the Fraternity are Channing Decker and Trent Gibson playing college frat boys with a combined SAT score of 2000. Ortiz wastes no time in beating Decker with a flip flop so Decker cartwheels into a clothesline to the back of the head. A belly to belly into a top rope elbow gets two so Santana comes in to clean house.

Santana gets taken down as well for a double headbutt as the Fraternity aren’t looking too shabby. Ortiz sends them back into each other though and uses Decker for half of a Magic Killer on Gibson. Back up and Decker tries a charge down the ramp, only to run into a chokeslam. LAX throws Gibson into Decker in the corner for a Cannonball and the Street Sweeper finishes Decker at 4:16.

Rating: C. For a match where a squash should have been expected, this was a heck of a surprise with the Fraternity, which sounds like a nothing gimmick, getting a lot. You knew there wasn’t going to be an upset (save for through OGz interference) but it’s always nice to see a team do better than expected. Not bad at all here.

Post match here are King and the OGz to complain about the ceasefire. The only thing he cares about is that the kid they ran over is still breathing. Konnan has to be held back.

Aries says he’s smiling tonight and at the rate he and his buddies are going, there might not be a Bound For Glory.

Bahh is fired up when Rich Swann comes in to give him another pep talk. Swann runs into Matt Sydal, who again offers to show him the way. That’s a big negative so they’ll have a match next week instead.

Next week: the newest inductee into the Hall of Fame announced.

Kongo Kong vs. Brian Cage

Non-title. Kong runs him over to start and catches a diving Cage in midair. Cage knocks Kong to the ramp so Kong forearms him in the face and hits a big fat dive over the ropes for two. The top rope splash misses so Cage settles for two off a powerslam instead. A Lionsault gives Cage two (because of course he can do that) but the 619 is broken up with a clothesline. Kong hammers away in the corner so Cage Batista Bombs him for two. Cage backflips out of a chokeslam (I mean….what?), knees him in the face and hits the discus lariat to turn Kong inside out. The F5 gives Cage the pin at 4:43.

Rating: C. Cage scares me more and more every time I see him because human beings shouldn’t be able to do those kind of things. This was another impressive outing, though some of that entertainment might be due to seeing Kong get destroyed. It wasn’t quite a squash, but it was the kind of fun that I hope for every time Cage is out there.

Post match Cage accepts OVE’s challenge for Bound For Glory.

Bound For Glory rundown.

About thirty people wish Bahh luck.

Impact World Title: Fallah Bahh vs. Austin Aries

Aries is defending as Josh talks about some of the greatest upsets in sports history. As you might expect, Aries has Moose and Kross, both armed with chairs, backing him up. KM is there with Bahh as well. We even get some Big Match Intros with a good sounding announcer. Aries isn’t exactly looking nervous to start and slaps on a headlock to frustrate Bahh early on.

Bahh’s headlock works a bit better as Aries can’t do much with him. Back up and Bahh makes the mistake of running the ropes, leaving him sucking wind on the ropes. We come back from a break with Bahh running Aries over and chopping him down in the corner without needing oxygen. Aries is smart enough to go after the leg but Bahh is right back with more chops. The sitdown splash misses so Aries tries the brainbuster due to reasons of temporary insanity.

Bahh eventually reverses into a suplex and goes back to the chops. The Samoan drop gets two and a belly to belly is good for the same. Bahh tries to roll over Aries but gets reversed into the Last Chancery. That means a foot on the ropes for the break so Aries tries another brainbuster. This one is reversed and a crossbody gives Bahh two but the Banzai drop is broken up again. The Last Chancery goes on for the second time and Bahh taps at 16:22.

Rating: B-. Part of that is due to a surprise as I never would have guessed that this would have been any good and it wound up being rather entertaining. I had a good time watching this, mainly because it wasn’t Bahh doing his annoying comedy. Instead it was a good performance from a guy knowing how to use his size to his advantage. I wonder how much Aries had to do with that, as it was easily the best Bahh performance ever.

Post match KM gets laid out with chairs as the fans still cheer for Moose.

Overall Rating: B-. Solid episode this week though there are a few points that held it back. I mean, Grado in general causes anything to go down and some of the stories aren’t the best, but you can see where they want to take most of them and they’re building up Bound For Glory as a very good blowoff point. That’s a good sign for the biggest show of the year, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.

Results

Lucha Bros b. Cult of Lee – Spike Fear Factor to Lee

Alisha b. Katarina – Rollup

LAX b. The Fraternity – Street Sweeper to Decker

Brian Cage b. Kongo Kong – F5

Austin Aries b. Fallah Bahh – Last Chancery

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

It’s kind of an important piece of hardware.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/kbs-review-september-19-2018-workers-title/

And I wrote a book about it.

https://www.amazon.com/History-Intercontinental-Title-Thomas-Hall-ebook/dp/B01D4D3EGQ/

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: April 19, 2004
Location: Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

We’re done with Backlash and that means it’s time to start the long road to Bad Blood in June as May is Smackdown’s turn. Chris Benoit retained the World Title in another classic triple threat match while Randy Orton survived against Cactus Jack in the match that should elevate him to the next level. Let’s get to it.

Here’s Backlash if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Chris Jericho vs. Christian

Now that’s how you open things up. Lilian Garcia adds another town to Jericho’s list of homes, billing him from Winnipoga, Manitoba, Canada. Christian has Trish Stratus with him and….egads man. That’s one of the better looks she’s ever had, which is quite a list to top. They fight over a lockup to start but shove each other away for a staredown. Christian slaps him in the face so Jericho punches him in his, which seems to be a little more effective.

A middle rope dropkick gives Jericho two and it’s off to the pinfall reversal sequence. You don’t do that to Jericho, who tries for the Walls. Trish comes in for the save and that means another spank. As Lawler calls that sexual harassment, Jericho dives onto the two of them as we take a break. Back with Jericho going face first into the steps, allowing Trish to slap him in the face.

The Chick Kick knocks Jericho into a chinlock until the standard comeback gets him out. A running crotch attack to the back looks to set up the Lionsault but Jericho settles for the Flashback instead. Christian’s reverse DDT (not the Unprettier JR) gets two and he heads up top.

That takes a little too long though and a butterfly superplex gives Jericho two of his own. Christian is right back with a super reverse DDT but the Texas Cloverleaf doesn’t work. Trish gets in a cheap shot but her slap hits Christian, setting up the enziguri. Now it’s Trish getting in to break up the count so Jericho loads up the Walls, only to have a big bald tattooed man come in and kick Jericho in the face to give Christian the pin.

Rating: B. Nice match here and the addition of a monster can help advance the feud. Jericho won last night so it makes sense to have Christian get his win back here. It’s a good idea to bring in some more people to keep the feud going, which is something that modern wrestling just doesn’t understand a lot of the time.

Post break, Christian introduces Trish to her new problem solver: Tyson Tomko. Chris Benoit’s music cuts off the end of the segment, which really shouldn’t be the case for a pre-tape.

Here’s Benoit to celebrate retaining the title. Benoit talks about every wrestling fan and historian knowing about the Dungeon right here in Calgary. Eighteen years ago, Stu Hart springboarded his career into professional wrestling and that’s why he’s here today. Benoit wishes Stu was here so he could thank him and we pause for a STU chant. Ever since he left the Dungeon, Benoit has been told that he can’t win the big one and he’s proven them wrong.

Then he won the Royal Rumble and went on to become World Heavyweight Champion at Wrestlemania XX by making HHH tap out. Then he was told it was a fluke so last night he made Shawn Michaels tap too. Cue Shawn because this still isn’t over. The fans remind him that he screwed Bret before Shawn talks about how he’s always believed in Benoit. We see a clip of Shawn pinning him clean two months ago so he wants another title shot.

Benoit says let’s do it right now but here are Eric Bischoff and Johnny Nitro to cut them off. Calgary doesn’t deserve that match so let’s do it in two weeks instead. Therefore in two weeks in Phoenix (with Johnny pulling out a PDA to make sure of where the show is taking place), much to the fans’ annoyance. They shake hands and talk some trash. There’s your non-pay per view main event.

Women’s Title: Victoria vs. Molly Holly

Victoria is defending and Molly’s wig now has short hair. An early clothesline gives Molly two but she gets monkey flipped down. The apron clothesline drops Molly again as they’re certainly starting fast. Back in and the dancing moonsault gets two….and there goes the wig. A lot of her hair has grown back to the point where she looks like she just got a very short haircut and is in no way bald anymore. That’s too far for Molly, who chokes Victoria down and gets disqualified.

A white limousine arrives and it’s….Evolution, with Batista throwing his belt over his shoulder and hitting Flair in the head. HHH hears about Shawn getting the World Title shot in two weeks and says that’s his match.

Kane says there has been a problem of late. He’s shown compassion and it has made him weak. Tonight, he feasts on fear and suffering and someone will be sacrificed. This might be better if he hadn’t lost last night.

Bischoff and Nitro are scared about Kane when William Regal comes in. He’s already tired of being stressed over Eugene and isn’t a glorified babysitter. Bischoff is more worried about where Eugene is now but Regal says he hasn’t seen him since a game of hide and seek went awry earlier today (seriously). That’s not cool with Bischoff, who says Regal either take care of Eugene or Regal gets to face Kane tonight.

Here’s a cut up Randy Orton for a chat. Mick Foley promised to shut him up last night but that didn’t happen. Last night was the biggest win of his career and he wants to thank Foley for what he did. We get a quick RANDY chant before Orton talks about all the things that Foley did to him last night that the fans loved.

Everyone loved it when he was thrown into the pile of tacks but then it was the RKO onto the barbed wire bat that put Foley away. After Orton won though, he turned into something new. Last night he entered the ring as the Hardcore Legend and the Legend Killer (So he wants to kill himself?) but left as a living legend.

Cue Edge to interrupt and he’s tired of hearing Orton run his mouth for the last fourteen months. Edge doesn’t like Orton and wants him to spit on him just like Foley. That’s a big no, because Orton is tired and sore, but Edge isn’t worth it anyway. The fight is on but Batista and Flair come in to take Edge out.

Benoit makes the save but HHH comes in to beat him down as well. Evolution leaves them laying and poses on the stage but here are Bischoff and Nitro to make Edge/Benoit vs. Flair/Batista for the Tag Team Titles tonight. Orton looked like a star here and that’s exactly the point of last night’s match.

Garrison Cade vs. Tajiri

Coach introduces Cade and sits in on commentary. Cade takes him into the corner to start but gets kicked in the face. The handspring elbow is broken up with a boot to the back as Coach brags about Cade’s expensive cowboy boot. Tajiri’s back gets bent around Cade’s knee and Cade slowly walks around. The delay allows Tajiri to hit the handspring elbow this time around and a superkick gets two. A Lionsault misses though and Cade drops a top rope elbow for the pin.

Rating: D+. Cade wasn’t terrible here but he wasn’t exactly thrilling either. Giving him the clean pin over Tajiri at least suggests a short term push for him, though I don’t know how far he’s going to be able to go. At least they’re trying something new and as soon as they can come up with a better name for him, he might have a chance of going somewhere.

SmackDown Rebound looks at Big Show losing his job, followed by losing his mind and threatening to kill Torrie. Instead he chokeslammed Kurt Angle off a balcony and left him in a pool of blood.

Eugene is in the arena with a t-shirt gun so let’s cut to the announcers to talk about the Tag Team Title match. Regal comes out to collect him and takes a shirt shot between the legs. Of course the selling is hilarious and the EUGENE chant is a good sign.

Benoit and Edge fire each other up before the title match.

Val Venis/Lita vs. Gail Kim/Matt Hardy

Fallout from both Heat and Backlash. No match as Matt, who has 44 different action figures and doesn’t like wasting time making his bed, gets followed to the ring by Kane, who beats up both guys as his sacrifice. He goes after Lita but Matt dives on her and takes the beating instead. Lita cowers in the corner like a nitwit instead of, you know, RUNNING AWAY FROM KANE.

Tag Team Titles: Edge/Chris Benoit vs. Ric Flair/Batista

Flair and Batista are defending. Benoit and Flair take turns driving each other into the corner to start until some chops have Flair in the corner. Edge comes in for a backdrop and fires off his own chops in the corner. It’s off to Batista who gets dropkicked into the ropes but Edge can’t knock him down. Instead Benoit comes in and takes him down with a snap suplex, which annoys Batista so much that he takes Edge’s head off with a clothesline.

Flair comes back in and works on an armbar for a bit. Edge spinwheel kicks his way out of trouble and it’s back to Benoit for more chops. Another snap suplex sets up the Sharpshooter but Benoit has to let it go to suplex Batista. With Batista gone, the Crossface has Flair in trouble but HHH comes out for a distraction. Batista spinebusters Benoit and we take a break.

Back with Batista hammering away on Benoit and slapping on a bearhug. Flair distracts the referee and HHH manages to get inside and choke away. We hit the rear naked choke from Batista until a belly to back suplex drops Benoit. Flair comes in and takes a German suplex, allowing the double hot tags to Edge and Batista. Everything breaks down and Edge punches his way out of the Batista Bomb. The Swan Dive hits Batista but HHH pulls Benoit out. Cue Michaels to superkick HHH as Edge spears Batista for the pin and the titles. JR: “Stu Hart has gotta be smiling!” Like Stu would ever let a long match air in full on TV.

Rating: C+. The ending continues the story they have going here and Edge felt much more like his pre-injury self here than what we’ve been seeing for the last few weeks. Let him be all fired up and clean house, which is what he does better than anything else. Benoit being a double champion in his hometown is a nice idea and a great way to send the fans home happy. Not a bad match either.

Overall Rating: C. Nothing great here but a perfectly watchable show that advanced the stories forward and let us have a pretty fun night of wrestling. The problem with the main event scene would be that Shawn and HHH won’t leave Benoit alone but it’s not like there’s anyone else to fight him. Orton and Batista aren’t ready and Flair wouldn’t feel like a threat. That doesn’t leave many options, but it’s pretty clear who is up next. Anyway, nice show as they leave Canada with a fun evening. Oh and where was Shelton Benjamin? Not seen once all night and only mentioned in passing.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Mae Young Classic
Date: September 12, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, Beth Phoenix, Renee Young

This isn’t really a show that needs much of an introduction. There are four matches on each episode and you might have heard of some of the women before. We’re still a good way off from the finals or even the later rounds but that doesn’t mean what we’re getting isn’t any good. I had a fine time with the first week so hopefully this lives up to that standard. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s show.

Preview of tonight’s matches.

Opening sequence.

The announcers take some time to explain a little bit about Mae Young. Not the worst idea actually.

All matches are first round matches.

Priscilla Kelly likes to play mind games and then strike.

Deonna Purrazzo was an alternate last year and is ready to prove herself for real this time. She’s a new NXT regular so you can imagine where things are going here.

Samoa Joe is here.

Priscilla Kelly vs. Deonna Purrazzo

You can tell Vince isn’t paying attention as Cole calls Purrazzo a wrestler. Kelly looks a bit Elvira-ish, which works to a certain degree. Apparently she was also on three episodes of “My Big Fat Roman Gypsy Wedding.” I have no idea what to do with this information so we’ll move on to Kelly snapmaring her down but getting caught in a wristlock. Purrazzo bounces out of a headscissors on the mat and it’s already a standoff.

A rollup gives Purrazzo two and Kelly is getting annoyed at the speed. It’s too early for the Fujiwara armbar so Kelly chops away in the corner. A running knee gives Kelly two and it’s off to a dragon sleeper. Purrazzo gets a boot up in the corner and chops away, followed by a backflip into a basement dropkick. Kelly is rocked and the Fujiwara armbar (with Purrazzo bouncing up and down on the mat to crank on it more) makes her tap at 4:27.

Rating: C. The match was fine, albeit never in doubt, but it mainly served as a showcase for Purrazzo. She might not be the best in the world (though she’s quite good) but she has an obvious likability to her and that makes her fun to watch. There’s a real chance of her making a pretty deep run in this thing. Kelly was reminiscent of Paige and that’s not a bad place to be. She’ll get better with time.

Purrazzo is in tears over the win. That makes things even better.

Aerial Monroe is proud of her muscles and she’s different from everyone else. I’d love to hear someone say they’re like everyone else for a change.

Zeuxis is a luchador and that’s about it.

Natalya is here. She’s standing in front of Izzy but that isn’t even acknowledged.

Zeuxis vs. Aerial Monroe

Monroe dances to the ring and her husband and daughter are here. That’s a little more noteworthy when you consider that her husband is Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander. Aerial isn’t happy with Zeuxis going after her hair, threatening to pop her in the mouth. A few clotheslines miss and Monroe knees her in the face(ish) for two. Zeuxis ges for the hair again so Aerial chops her down. Fans: “YOU GOT CHOPPED!” Well yeah, that’s kind of obvious.

Cole reads off more of his factoids as the match itself is ignored because we need to get these personalities over. An abdominal stretch has Aerial in trouble as Beth tries to actually talk about the match. A fish hook camel clutch, with more hair touching, keeps Aerial in trouble. Aerial is right back with a delayed kick to the face and a running Downward Spiral. Zeuxis doesn’t seem to mind and catches Aerial on top with a super Spanish Fly for the pin at 4:03.

Rating: D+. The wrestling wasn’t great to put it mildly here and Zeuxis seemed like a pretty standard villain. Aerial certainly has some charisma and a unique look but she’s going to need a bit more than that to make it work. I wasn’t particularly impressed by either of them here, though Io Shirai is going to kill Zeuxis in round two anyway.

Aerial’s daughter is crying over the loss. Well that works.

Reina Gonzalez is a rather big (as in tall) woman who lost in last year’s tournament. She won’t be as nice this year.

Kacy Catanzaro is a tiny little thing who was a success on American Ninja Warrior. She sounds like the face version of Alexa Bliss and that’s not the best thing in the world.

Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan are here.

Kacy Catanzaro vs. Reina Gonzalez

Kacy is very bubbly and climbs the post to get in the ring. Makes sense and a nice little touch. Cole instead talks about how USA Today broke the news that Kacy would be in the tournament, because EVERYONE CARES ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT. Kacy is 5’ and 100lbs, putting her only at Reina’s shoulder. For some reason Kacy decides to charge right at her and gets swung around by the neck.

Kacy scores with a headscissors and tries another, only to be reversed into a hard backbreaker. Apparently Reina has been VERY annoyed at all of the attention on Kacy. Like, the attention from USA Today! A hard forearm to the back drops Kacy again but an elbow misses. Some dropkicks to the knee have Reina reeling and a middle rope springboard dropkick gets two. A quick victory roll gives Kacy the pin at 4:47.

Rating: D+. I know Kacy is going to get the hype and I can understand why, but Reina is someone who has earned a contract of her own. Sometimes you just need a big woman who can make others look small and that’s what they had here. Kacy is as charismatic as you can get but being Rey Mysterio’s size isn’t going to do her any favors.

Post match Reina puts Kacy on her shoulder.

Mercedes Martinez made the semifinals last year and isn’t here to lose. Well I would hope that’s the case every year.

Ashley Rayne (Madison Rayne) is high energy but things can get under her skin. There are some clips from TNA but just the photographer is credited.

The Undisputed Era is here.

Ashley Rayne vs. Mercedes Martinez

In case you were wondering, Newsweek broke the news that Mercedes would be in the tournament. You know, like she was last year. Mercedes cranks on the arm to start and puts on an early chinlock. Back up and something almost like a One Winged Angel (just lifting her up instead of on the shoulder) rocks Rayne for two and it’s off to a double underhook stretch. The announcers talk about Martinez’s tattoos until Rayne makes it to the corner but can’t hit a tornado DDT.

A very delayed vertical suplex puts Rayne down for two but she’s fine enough to reverse the second into an RKO (called a neckbreaker). Martinez gets two more off a spinebuster so Rayne comes back with some forearms and a neckbreaker. An actual neckbreaker that is and not a cutter. Cross Rhodes gets two and Martinez’ fisherman’s buster is reversed into a small package for the same. Martinez is done with the TNA reject though and knees her in the face, setting up the fisherman’s buster for the pin at 7:34.

Rating: C. Easily the match of the night here but that’s probably due to Rayne being more used to the higher level of competition. The match still wasn’t great but Martinez is a great choice to push in the tournament as she looks like someone who could take out anyone at any given time. That being said, you would have expected a little more than a first round loss from Rayne, who was one of the higher level names in the whole thing.

Overall Rating: D. This was a hard one to get through and I was rather bored at different times. The wrestling wasn’t very good and the main event was the only match worth seeing. Other than that, the whole thing felt like a bunch of people who were just there because they were being included because they already worked for the company or because they needed to fill in spots. Pretty weak show, but you can never guess the quality when it comes to a tournament.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-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 17, 2018
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Corey Graves

It’s the night after the Cell and that means things are now heading towards a variety of shows because the days of building towards one event on Monday night is gone. In this case we’re coming up on Super Show-Down, Evolution and the next Saudi Arabia show. Oh and Survivor Series is down the line and we can get there eventually. Roman Reigns retained the Universal Title last night over Braun Strowman via a no contest when Brock Lesnar interfered. In the Cell. Let’s get to it.

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

Here’s Reigns to open things up but first, a video on last night’s Cell match. Reigns says last night was brutal but he’s still Universal Champion. He knew Lesnar would get a rematch and if he wants the title, come get it right now. Cue Strowman instead, to say that Lesnar saved the title last night. That’s the second time Lesnar has screwed him over and there won’t be a third time.

Strowman wants Lesnar before he gets to Reigns but here’s Baron Corbin to interrupt. He’s upset about what happened too and has gotten together with Stephanie McMahon to come up with a plan. At Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia, Reigns will defend against Strowman and Lesnar in a triple threat match. Strowman: “I think that sucks. I think you suck and I think you suck.”

That’s enough for Strowman but here’s Paul Heyman to take his place. He’s here to educate the fans and shows us the door that Lesnar kicked off of the Cell last night. You can boo Lesnar all you want but tonight it’s all about Brockonomics. The bigger star you are, the more money you’re worth in WWE and UFC.

There is nothing more powerful than the Universal Championship though and look at all the money WWE brought in when Lesnar was champion. Lesnar will get the title back and become the crown jewel of WWE. Heyman leaves but Corbin is still not done. Reigns is banged up so let’s have a Universal Title match tonight with Corbin himself getting the shot.

It was an acceptable opening segment, but we’re now hyping up a show in NOVEMBER because Super Show-Down and Evolution just aren’t enough. Super Show-Down is already overshadowing most of the show and now we need to start getting ready for another show a month later? It didn’t work during the build to the Cell and it isn’t likely to work again here, which is why WWE is going with it full steam ahead.

Dean Ambrose vs. Drew McIntyre

No seconds. Ambrose goes straight for the leg to start and wraps it around the post. The leg gets sent into the LED board (Remember when the side of the ring was a skirt and didn’t make noise? I miss those days.) but Drew runs him over on the floor. Back from a break with Dean in an armbar but hitting a right hand to the jaw. A clothesline takes Drew down and the knee is banged up again, only to have him kick Dean away.

Drew gets crotched on top and goes down into the Tree of Woe, only to sit up and choke superplex Ambrose down. Ambrose avoids a Claymore though and the Texas Cloverleaf has McIntyre in more trouble. A rope is grabbed so Dean knees him outside for a suicide dive. Dean goes up but misses the top rope standing elbow to the floor. He dives back in at nine, only to run right into the Claymore for the pin at 11:25.

Rating: C+. This was all it needed to be and there’s nothing wrong with that. Drew getting a clean pin over a former World Champion is a good sign and hopefully it leads to several more once this feud is over. Strowman is going to tie up the title picture for a long time as we wait around for the Saudi Arabia show, which will totally benefit Reigns’ time with the title.

Post break Dolph Ziggler congratulates Drew when Corbin comes in to say he’s winning the title tonight. Corbin also talks Ziggler into invoking his rematch clause tonight because Rollins might not be here, meaning it would be a forfeit to make Ziggler champion. My goodness Corbin isn’t working in this role.

We look back at Ronda Rousey retaining the title last night.

Natalya talks with the Bellas when Rousey comes in. They are SO proud of her and Rousey wants to issue an open challenge tonight. For some reason this requires some instructions. This “we’re all giggly sisters who totally love each other” is nauseating.

Chad Gable vs. Viktor

Gable wastes no time in taking him to the mat but Viktor cartwheels away (ok then) and chops Gable into the corner. A butterfly suplex gives Gable two but a Konnor distraction lets Viktor elbow him down. The chinlock doesn’t go anywhere as Gable is right back up with the armbar over the ropes. A crossbody puts Viktor on the floor for a cannonball, followed by a missile dropkick back inside. Rollins Chaos Theory gives Gable the pin at 4:14.

Rating: D+. Viktor was trying here but there’s only so much you can get in a four minute match with zero doubt to the ending. The Gable/Roode team is fine but this is going to set up Roode vs. Konnor, despite Ascension losing clean twice in a row already. There is no reason for the feud (Is this even a feud?) to continue and whatever steam Gable and Roode might have had is going away.

Post match, Konnor lays out Roode and Gable because THIS MUST CONTINUE.

Rollins arrives and is told about the title match. He doesn’t seem to mind.

Here’s Undertaker to respond to HHH about Super Show-Down. During his very well received entrance, Cole says many consider Undertaker the best of all time. Those people would be wrong. Undertaker talks about how no one can spin a web of lies like someone with a broken soul and no one has a soul as broken as HHH. The delusion will be HHH’s downfall because his new battlefield is the board room.

HHH can no longer decipher truth and can’t see his own demise. Undertaker doesn’t care what anyone thinks and only cares about what’s coming: HHH going six feet under again and Game over. HHH can have his delusion and his best friend Shawn Michaels, but Shawn is going to be at ringside. Therefore, Undertaker will bring Kane to even things up. Undertaker already took Michaels’ career and he’s going to do the same to HHH. As a bonus, he’s going to take HHH’s soul.

This didn’t sound like an Undertaker promo as it felt like someone cutting a promo while in Undertaker gear. It certainly wasn’t bad or anything, but Undertaker talking at a normal pace and speaking about board rooms was just a bit off. You can see the big tag match coming from here and…my goodness I don’t really care if it’s not at Wrestlemania.

Same Reigns vs. Strowman match from earlier.

Video on wrestlers going to the Dallas children’s hospital.

The kids come out with Bayley and Sasha Banks.

Bayley vs. Dana Brooke

Joined in progress with Bayley fighting out of an armbar but getting caught with a handspring elbow in the corner. Dana sends her hard into the corner for two and some handstand knees to the ribs get the same. Bayley snaps the throat across the top, slips out of the Samoan driver and hits the Bayley to Belly for the pin at 2:54 shown. Nothing to see here.

The AOP nearly kills a guy in the back.

2K19 ad.

AOP vs. Gregory James/Barrett Brown

I think you get the idea by now. The Death Valley Driver into the corner sets up the Super Collider for the pin at 1:04. The team is as much of a layup as you can get but they’re going to have to wait a few months to get into the title hunt, again because things are set up so far in advance these days.

Ziggler and Corbin are in the back when Rollins comes in to say he’s ready to go. That was in doubt after he appeared earlier?

Intercontinental Title: Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler

Rollins is defending and they’re both really banged up after falling off the Cell last night. Rollins sends him outside to start but Ziggler beats him back inside and knocks the champ into the barricade to send us to a break. Back with Rollins elbowing him in the face, followed by a Blockbuster to put them both down.

The Sling Blade is countered into a sleeper but the superkick is countered into the ripcord knee for two. Rollins gets crotched on top, only to have Ziggler get crotched as well. The superplex looks to set up the Falcon Arrow but Ziggler slips out into a rollup for two. He takes too long getting up though and the Stomp retains Rollins’ title at 9:38.

Rating: C+. Was there really a need to go from the Cell one night to ANOTHER rematch between these two the next night? You couldn’t just have them cut promos on each other and set up a match in….two weeks maybe? This was the shortened version of what these two have done for three months now and I really don’t care anymore as WWE continues to take away any impact the Cell could have.

Reigns says he’s not the underdog tonight.

Hispanic Heritage Month video on the fathers of wrestlers. And Roberto Clemente.

Here’s Rousey for her open challenge. Rousey congratulates Alexa Bliss who pushed her hard last night and showed Rousey how to fight like a champion. She wants to be like Bret Hart, Steve Austin and Ric Flair, so the open challenge is on. Cue Natalya…or at least her music as the Riott Squad pulls Natalya out onto the stage. Ruby is the one accepting the challenge but Rousey beats all three up without much effort until a spear cuts her down. The Bellas make the save because we need the six woman tag to set up Evolution.

We look at Corbin giving himself a title match by just giving himself a title match.

Corbin is warming up when Strowman comes up. He hopes Corbin wins the title because, and I quote, “You suck and I know I can kill you.”

Here’s Elias for a song. Elias is tired of being cut off every week but it’s all jealousy. Everyone who interrupts him knows that WWE stands for Walk With Elias and that gets on people’s nerves. Tonight he has Bobby Lashley, who has all the tools but he can’t win in the clutch. Kind of like the Dallas Cowboys. The song continues but here’s Lio Rush to cut him off. Rush is tired of hearing Elias play the same dish track every week. Elias: “Who’s kid is this?” Rush introduces himself so Elias says security can come out here and take Rush back to lost and found. That gets a chuckle from Rush, who is ready to see Lashley take Elias apart.

Bobby Lashley vs. Elias

Joined in progress with Rush on commentary, introducing himself as the Manager of the Hour. Lashley powers out of a chinlock and elbows Elias in the jaw before going up. That’s not the best idea as Elias knees him out of the air. Cue Kevin Owens to go after Rush, who does all of his flipping and diving to escape. Elias goes after him as well and the match is thrown out at 2:52.

Post match Lashley throws Rush at the other two and the villains bail. That’s a good usage of Rush, who can always work a match if necessary, which is a huge perk.

Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox and Mickie James are ready to take care of Ember Moon tonight.

Ember Moon/??? vs. Alicia Fox/Mickie James

The mystery partner is….Nia Jax. Fox and James hide on the apron until Moon starts for the team. Moon cranks on the arm but gets sent into the corner so James can come in. That doesn’t work well either as Moon sends her outside for a suicide dive. Back in and Fox takes her down into a chinlock as they’re building towards the hot tag to Jax.

James adds her own chinlock before Fox gets two off a big boot. A belly to back suplex attempt doesn’t quite work though and it’s a diving tag to bring in Jax. Everything breaks down and the Eclipse drops James, leaving Fox to kick at Jax’s legs. That goes as well as you might expect with the Samoan drop finishing Fox a few seconds later at 5:55.

Rating: D. Totally standard formula tag match here and bringing Jax back is fine, though there’s not much for her to do at the moment. Rousey and the title are tied up in Bellaville, Jax has beaten Bliss multiple times and the Riott Squad wouldn’t exactly be thrilling. Maybe put her against Moon, but that’s not the most inspiring stuff either.

Corbin insists the referee call the title match down the line.

Cole and company talk about the Hurricane Florence victims and show us how to donate to the Red Cross.

Universal Title: Roman Reigns vs. Baron Corbin

Reigns is defending and is banged up after last night. Corbin goes right for the ribs to start and gets two off a rollup. They head outside with Reigns hitting the apron dropkick but getting clotheslined down as we take a break. Back with Corbin holding a chinlock, followed by a chokebreaker for two.

That’s enough non-chinlocking so we hit it again to keep Reigns in trouble. Reigns fights up for the corner clotheslines as the announcers are STUNNED that he can do this. Dude he had a 24 minute match last night where nearly ten minutes was spent laying down. Rollins and Ziggler had a 25 minute match and then FELL OFF THE CELL and wrestled for ten minutes tonight. Reigns isn’t that impressive.

The Samoan drop gives Reigns two and there’s the Superman Punch off the steps. Corbin has finally had it and throws a chair at Reigns and yeah I’m not falling for this. There’s the restart with No DQ. Back in and the Superman Punch gives Reigns two. Reigns goes for the chair but here’s Strowman to take Reigns down. Strowman misses a charge into the post but Corbin grabs Deep Six for two. Now it’s Ziggler, McIntyre, Rollins and Ambrose running in for another fight, including double suicide dives to put Ziggler and McIntyre down. The spear retains the title at 16:53.

Rating: D. Well duh. I can get behind the idea of a champion having to overcome the odds and still retain the title in an obvious finish but Corbin is one of the least threatening heels in years. When your big move is “I’LL CALL STEPHANIE!”, I’m not going to buy you winning the title. All the run-ins didn’t offer any help either and the match was just boring as we waited for the inevitable spear. Reigns can carry things, but he’s not a miracle worker yet.

Overall Rating: D+. This was a very lethargic show as the Cell continues to mean less and less every single year. Tonight, Rollins and Ziggler wrestled after falling off the Cell (which is apparently less devastating than about twelve minutes of wrestling inside of the thing, which is a debatable point at best) and Reigns was treated like a god (again) for wrestling to a no contest inside of the thing. No time to worry about that though, because we have three shows to build to at once. The Saudi Arabia show is going to dominate the news in short order and that’s not going to help all the problems that Raw already has.

Results

Drew McIntyre b. Dean Ambrose – Claymore

Chad Gable b. Viktor – Rolling Chaos Theory

Bayley b. Dana Brooke – Bayley to Belly

AOP b. Gregory James/Barrett Brown – Super Collider

Seth Rollins b. Dolph Ziggler – Stomp

Bobby Lashley vs. Elias went to a no contest when Kevin Owens interfered

Nia Jax/Ember Moon b. Mickie James/Alicia Fox – Samoan drop to Fox

Roman Reigns b. Baron Corbin – Spear

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Hell in a Cell 2018
Date: September 16, 2018
Location: AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
Commentators: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Corey Graves, Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton

Welcome to the first show of the three that WWE is currently building. In this case we have the show designed around carnage and that could mean a few things. The show hasn’t exactly blown me away on paper but maybe they’ll surprise me here. There are two matches inside the big red cage tonight so let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Rusev Day vs. New Day

Rusev Day is defending after winning a tournament. There are enough empty seats visible that I feel like I’m watching 205 Live. Kofi wastes no time in double stomping English and it’s already off to Rusev. A fall away slam has Kofi in trouble and we go split screen to see an Alexa Bliss vs. Ronda Rousey ad. At least it’s on a commercial show instead of the regular TV shows.

Back with Kofi fighting out of a front facelock and hitting a tornado DDT for the tag off to Big E. Suplexes abound but Rusev tags himself in to kick Big E. in the head. English tags himself back in though, leaving Big E. to spear the illegal man to the floor with English nailing a dive. Back in and the reverse DDT gets two on Big E. but English takes too long going up, allowing New Day to hit a powerbomb/top rope double stomp (sweet finisher) for two (which doesn’t finish) in what could have been the ending.

Kofi gets Machka Kicked to the floor and Big E. gets DDT’ed on the apron. Back in and English tags himself in again, this time to Rusev’s annoyance. The annoyance gets even worse when misses a top rope headbutt. English’s top rope splash gets two and he grabs the Accolade of all things. Big E. gets Machka Kicked again but Kofi slips out. With Rusev missing a charge and sending himself outside, Trouble in Paradise retains the titles at 8:48.

Rating: B-. That’s about as perfect of a Kickoff Show match as you can get. They didn’t overstay their welcome, it was an exciting and entertaining match and they got a popular act out there to give the fans something to cheer about. That’s all you can ask for in something like this and it was a good idea.

The opening video talks about people being afraid of different things, which doesn’t have the most impact when it’s Brie Bella and Maryse. Tonight there is no turning back and you must surrender to evil.

The red Cell is lowered. It….really didn’t need the change. Was black not an option?

Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton

Inside the Cell. Orton is back to being the Legend Killer but this time it’s more the Hero Killer, with Hardy being his first target. Hardy goes right after him to start as Phillips says there are no rules other than the pinfall or submission has to take place in the ring. That sounds like a rule to me. Orton takes him outside and sends him into the cage but Hardy does the exact same thing. Well, to Orton instead of himself but you get the idea.

It’s already time for a table because THE CELL isn’t enough of a weapon. That’s not enough either so of course it’s ladder time. A ladder to the ribs slows Orton down even more but a chair to the back cuts Hardy off. An RKO on the floor is blocked and Hardy uses the chair as a launch pad for Poetry in Motion against the cage. They actually get back in for Hardiac Arrest but the Swanton is broken up and that means a superplex.

Jeff kicks him down again and let’s get a second ladder because why not. Hardy sets this one up upside down on the floor but gets front suplexed onto it instead. Some more chairs are brought inside with one of them bouncing off of Jeff. Orton hits him a few more times before stealing Hardy’s studded belt for a whip to the exposed back. To get a little creative, Orton puts Hardy inside of a ladder with Hardy’s head sticking between some rungs for a little stomping.

We hit the chinlock, which feels completely out of place in the Cell. Hardy is right back up with the legdrop between the legs and a basement dropkick but Orton powerslams him. With nothing else working, Orton goes outside and finds….a screwdriver. That goes THROUGH THE HOLE IN HARDY’S EAR, which Orton then TWISTS AROUND, giving us one of the best in pain looks I’ve ever seen from Jeff. A low blow lets Hardy take the screwdriver out of his ear (I didn’t think I’d be writing that one) and he unloads with a chair.

Orton is still fine enough to crotch Hardy on top and the hanging DDT (with Orton bleeding from the back) plants Hardy again. The RKO is countered into the Twist of Fate and a Swanton onto the chair gets two. And so much for Hardy’s chance of winning, though there was no way that was the ending anyway. Hardy finds another table (of course) but sets up the big ladder with the small ladder next to it.

Orton gets laid on the table and Hardy climbs up, only to grab the top of the Cell. A few swings back and forth set up the splash through the table, though it seemed that Orton was off the table before Jeff even let go. They raise the Cell with the referee screaming for medics and for the match to be stopped. Orton covers Hardy and demands a count as the referee loses his mind, though he’s fine enough to count the pin at 24:50.

Rating: C+. I get what they were going for here but egads this went longer than it needed to. They easily could have cut out ten minutes here and had pretty much the same TLC match inside the Cell. The emphasis her is on the last three words: this was inside the Cell, making the ending that much worse. Yeah Hardy is hurt “for real” but IT’S THE FREAKING CELL. We’ve seen Shane McMahon dive all the way off the top and the match wasn’t going to be stopped, but this one was? Come on already.

Post match we get the quiet voices and the lack of Orton’s music as I’d like to point out that he was inside the Cell instead of FLYING OFF THE THING LIKE SHANE DID LAST YEAR (and the year before that because Shane gets to do whatever he wants). Replays show that Orton was off the table a good two seconds before Jeff dropped. Really not a good angle to show there people.

HHH vs. Undertaker is still happening again.

AJ Styles wants to fight Samoa Joe because he’s sick of talking all the time.

We recap Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch. Charlotte was added to the Women’s Title match last month at Summerslam and Becky wasn’t happy at having her title shot stolen from her. Becky turned on her after the match but the fans cheered her on anyway, so tonight it’s about the title for her and revenge for Charlotte.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch

Charlotte is defending. They hit the mat to start but Becky kicks her away for a cautious standoff. It’s way too early for either finisher so Charlotte settles for a knee crusher and a leglock. Back up and Charlotte misses a shoulder into the corner so Becky hits a running forearm to the shoulder (nice) from the apron. A Pentagon arm snap gets two and it’s off to the armbar.

The Bexploder is blocked so Becky forearms her down for two instead. Back up and Charlotte sends her to the apron but bangs up her arm again. The bad arm goes shoulder first into the apron for two more so Charlotte gets smart by kicking her in the face. Becky avoids the moonsault though and the cross armbreaker goes on. Since she’s Charlotte, that’s reversed into the sitout powerbomb and they’re both down.

The fans cheer for Becky and seem pleased when she wins a slugout. A hammerlock slam gets two but Charlotte grabs a desperation Boston crab. The Disarm-Her goes on so Charlotte crawls underneath the ropes for the eventual break. Back up and the spear is reversed into a small package to give Becky the pin and the title at 13:52.

Rating: B. That’s the kind of physical match you would expect from these two and the ending was exactly what it should have been. Becky won the title completely clean because she was willing to do whatever it took and if that included destroying Charlotte’s arm, so be it. Charlotte felt like she was fighting from behind the entire time and never once felt like she could keep up with Becky, which is how the match should have felt. Very good stuff and the right call at the right time.

Post match Charlotte offers a handshake but Becky holds up the title and says this is her moment. As she should.

The Marine 6 is coming, featuring Miz, Becky Lynch and Shawn Michaels.

Connor’s Cure video.

Jeff Hardy has been taken to a local medical facility. Gee you think?

Kickoff Show recap.

New Day has their pancake butler come in to celebrate but Kofi pops up as his interviewer. They’re ready to defend their titles against the Bar in Australia but first, pancakes. It’s starting to feel like they’re forcing these things and that’s not good at all.

Raw Tag Team Titles: Dolph Ziggler/Drew McIntyre vs. Dean Ambrose/Seth Rollins

Ambrose and Rollins are challenging and the BURN IT DOWN is strong this time. Feeling out process to start between Ziggler and Rollins with Seth taking him down and handing it off to Ambrose for some running elbows. An early Stomp attempt sends Ziggler bailing to the floor so it’s off to McIntyre instead. He wants and receives Ambrose who goes nose to nose with Drew before dropkicking his knee out.

A Ziggler distraction lets McIntyre hit Ambrose from behind though and it’s off to Ziggler for a chinlock. That lasts as long as your average chinlock and Rollins is right back up with the Sling Blade. Another distraction lets Ziggler hit the running DDT for another two and McIntyre comes in for an armbar. Ziggler grabs the sleeper before it’s right back to McIntyre for a shoulder breaker. Rollins fights up and gets to the corner but the referee is distracted so the hot tag doesn’t count (still one of my favorites).

Ziggler puts Rollins up top but gets kicked away so McIntyre tries his luck. That’s not the best either as Rollins scores with a Blockbuster and the hot tag brings in Ambrose. He can’t suplex McIntyre but he can get two off a Jackknife rollup instead. Ziggler comes back in and takes Ambrose to the apron where McIntyre gets in a big boot. Everything breaks down and Ambrose gets suplexed hard into the corner for a crash.

That’s enough for the double hot tag to Rollins and Ziggler but Rollins’ suicide dive is caught. Ambrose dives onto all three of them for the big crash and everyone is down on the floor. Back in and Rollins gets two off the Falcon Arrow, followed by a Buckle Bomb for the same. McIntyre comes in to send Dean outside so Rollins can grab an O’Connor Roll for two with Ziggler snapping off the Zig Zag for two of his own. Cole: “WHAT A SEQUENCE!” It wasn’t that good man.

McIntyre is back in again and gets dropped just as fast, allowing Rollins to hit the frog splash for an even nearer fall. A Tower of Doom is broken up and Rollins tries a dive onto Ziggler, only to crash hard to the floor. Since it’s Rollins he’s back up only a few seconds later to tags himself in for the running up the corner superplex. The Falcon Arrow is loaded up but McIntyre hits the Claymore to give Ziggler the pin to retain at 22:58.

Rating: A. Totally awesome tag match here with Ziggler and McIntyre getting the win that they’ve needed to look like serious threats. If nothing else it makes you realize how sad it was to watch the makeshift/comedy guys fighting over the belts for months now. All four were working hard here and the fans were into it the whole way. I know it’s not the last match or even one of the last matches in the feud, but at least we had something awesome to get started. Great match and one of the best things in the tag division in years.

Mick Foley comes in to tell Braun Strowman that his life will change in the Cell (no, it won’t) and Strowman needs to respect his authority. Strowman says count the three and hand him the title. Foley: “Good talk.”

All four teams are ready for the first episode of Mixed Match Challenge.

We recap Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles. Joe has been messing with AJ’s mind and promises to send AJ home to his wife and kids, sound asleep. We get the full Samoa Joe bedtime story from Smackdown and it’s still incredibly awesome on an evil level.

Smackdown World Title: AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe

Joe is challenging. AJ goes right at him to start but Joe shrugs it off and starts hammering away. A dropkick works much better and a running knee to the head rocks Joe again. There’s a baseball slide to keep Joe down but he’s smart enough to roll away before the Phenomenal Forearm. AJ’s slingshot gets kicked out of the air though and Joe sends him knees first into the steps.

Joe doesn’t take well to a comeback bid and gets his knee taken out again. Another running knee in the corner has AJ reeling so Joe sends him outside for the suicide elbow. Back in and we hit the neck crank for a bit until AJ fights up. That just earns him an elbow that turns him inside out as it’s all Joe. The rather cocky (and deserved) Joe gets caught on top and pulled face first into the buckle though and AJ finally has a breather.

The running corner clothesline and a seated forearm give Styles two…and a fan tells Joe that pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza. I mean, he’s right but what a weird time to say it. AJ gets two more off a moonsault reverse DDT but a Lionsault hits knees. Joe’s powerbomb into the Boston crab into the STF into the Crossface until AJ dives for the rope.

Somehow AJ is fine enough to hit the torture rack powerbomb for two and they’re both done. The springboard 450 gets two and Joe’s crazy hard clothesline gets the same. Neither finisher can connect so Joe goes with a loud kick to the head for a delayed two. AJ is right back up with the Phenomenal Forearm but Joe catches him in the Koquina Clutch, only to have AJ backflip into the pin at 19:01.

Rating: A-. This was a lot of fun with Joe having AJ beaten for most of the match and AJ having to survive the entire time. It shows that AJ is in trouble here and that Joe is likely getting the title soon. Like, say in October. In Australia. In a match that was already announced. This one was a heck of a fight though as Joe knows how to bring AJ to a level that few others can and he did it here too. Just let Joe win the title in Australia and everything will be fine.

Post match Joe celebrates before AJ is announced as the winner. Joe says that AJ tapped and Graves agrees. AJ kicks Joe down and holds up the title as the announcers argue. The replay shows that AJ did tap and it was before three so we’re almost guaranteed a rematch, which was announced weeks ago because WWE now works for the calendar instead of vice versa.

Miz and Maryse, in matching suits that make Miz look stupid but somehow works on Maryse, are ready to take care of Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella. Daniel and Brie are only relevant because of them and Miz wouldn’t be surprised if Brie is doing all this for the sake of reality show ratings.

We recap the mixed tag. Miz cheated to beat Bryan at Summerslam so now we’re having a mixed tag match to continue the feud without giving up the big rematch. Which is also taking place in Australia and has already been announced in advance. Oh and did I mention that Brie will be back on Total Divas this Wednesday?

Miz/Maryse vs. Daniel Bryan/Brie Bella

The women start (gulp) but thankfully it’s off to the men before anything happens. A distraction from Maryse lets Miz punch Bryan into the corner. Phillips: “Some people believe that Brie Bella has the hardest punch in WWE.” No Tom, they don’t. Graves: “No one believes that Phillips.” Yeah what he said. Bryan is back up with the moonsault over Miz into the running clothesline but Miz bails to the floor at the threat of a YES Lock.

The women come back in and once again tag back out before anything happens. Again: thank goodness. The fans chant COWARD at Miz as Bryan takes him down with a dragon screw legwhip and a top rope hurricanrana puts Miz in even more trouble. The running knee misses so Bryan settles for the YES Lock, drawing in Maryse for the save. Bryan is fine enough to hit the running dropkicks in the corner until Miz avoids the final charge and drops Bryan on his hip (better than his head/neck).

The Reality Check gives Miz two as Brie goes into cheerleader mode, which is really about as good of a role as she’s going to have. Miz fires off some kicks in the corner but Bryan breaks up the superplex. The Swan Dive (To quote Miz: Really?) misses so Bryan kicks Miz away and brings Brie in. Maryse won’t do the same so Brie punches Miz a few times and sends Maryse into the announcers’ table.

Everything breaks down and Brie gets two off a middle rope dropkick. Bryan gets back in and throws Miz down for touching his wife on the save and we hit the stereo YES Kicks. Of course the big ones both miss and the guys fight up the ramp, leaving Brie to hit the BRIE MODE knee. Miz gets back on the apron so Brie rams Maryse into him and grabs a rollup, only to have Maryse reverse into a hideous one of her own with a grab of the tights for the pin at 13:01.

Rating: D+. They tried as hard as they could here and keeping the women out of the ring was the best path they could have taken but they were running with an anchor here. I’m just not feeling this whole Miz vs. Bryan feud as it hasn’t reached that point where I need to see Bryan beat Miz. Maybe they’ll get there by the end, but for now it’s not really working. Getting it back to one on one might help, but please keep Brie out of the ring.

We look at the ending of the first Cell match again.

Hardy is now coughing up blood.

We recap Ronda Rousey vs. Alexa Bliss. Rousey was ticked off that Bliss cashed in Money in the Bank so she went nuts and wrecked Bliss for the title at Summerslam. Now we’re doing a rematch where Bliss has no chance so we can build towards Rousey vs. THE LEGEND Nikki Bella at Evolution.

Raw Women’s Title: Ronda Rousey vs. Alexa Bliss

Rousey, with bad ribs, is defending and has Natalya with her while Bliss has Mickie James and Alicia Fox in her corner. An early headlock takes Bliss down and Rousey loads up what looks like a Stump Puller before rolling back into a cradle (that’s a new one). Bliss decides to shove her and gets punched in the face for her efforts. A kick to the ribs has little effect as Rousey monkey flips her down and hammers away, followed by the overhead throw.

James and Fox have to save Bliss from the armbar so Rousey throws Bliss onto both of them. Rousey: “Who needs enemies when you have friends like that?” Bliss finally trips her down and kicks away even more, setting up a seated abdominal stretch. Rousey fights up for the swinging Samoan drop but the ribs give out, allowing Bliss to hit the knees to the ribs into the moonsault. The champ gets up again and tries a superplex, only to get pulled down into the Tree of Woe for a dropkick to the ribs.

Another abdominal stretch sets up a ribs first whip into the buckle (I was expecting the shoulder there so well done on surprising me) to keep Rousey in agony. The seconds help a bit so Natalya and Rousey beat them up, followed by stereo crossbodies to put Rousey and Bliss down. Bliss unloads on the ribs…and there’s the Death Stare. Rousey powerbombs her down but charges into a kick to the ribs. That’s about it for Bliss though as Rousey blocks a right hand and the Regal Roll/Samoan drop sets up the armbar to retain at 12:02.

Rating: B. This was a lot better than I was expecting, even with a complete lack of drama. I know no one was buying Bliss as having a chance here but Rousey sold well and they had a good story throughout. There were even a few surprises in there and Rousey has to face a little adversity from time to time.

The announcers talk about the victims of Hurricane Florence. Nothing wrong with that.

We look at the ending of Styles vs. Joe again.

Joe yells at the referee and Paige, who tells Joe to calm down. The rematch with AJ is set for Australia and there will be no countouts or disqualifications.

Super Show-Down rundown. Egads get on with the main event already.

We recap Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman. Reigns won the Raw World Title at Summerslam and it’s not like he had anyone else to face. Strowman cashed in Money in the Bank but Shield reformed to take him out. Ignoring that Reigns knew about the cash-in in advance and this was a complete heel move from Shield, Strowman is now the villain and cashing in his contract tonight, meaning we’re done with it WAY early this year, making me rather happy.

Raw World Title: Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman

Reigns is defending inside the Cell with Mick Foley as guest referee in a completely minor detail. Reigns slugs away at the bell but gets sent shoulder first into the post. A running shoulder sends Reigns off the apron and into the cage as Reigns is in early trouble. Reigns is right back with a show to the face but another shoulder sends him hard into the cage. Strowman grabs the steps but has them dropkicked back into his face.

That’s it for Reigns’ offense though as Reigns dives into a chokeslam onto the apron. Reigns is right back with some chair shots to the ribs, followed by a DDT onto the chair for two. A pair of Superman Punches rock Reigns but the third is countered into a chokeslam….for three, which Foley calls two. That was quite the botch and pretty clearly a three count. Another Superman Punch gets another two and it’s time for a table.

Reigns sees Strowman up and runs around the ring at him but doesn’t see Strowman puck up the steps, which bounce off Reigns’ head. Strowman: “WHY WON’T YOU STAY DOWN YOU FOOL???” There’s a steps shot to the ribs and Strowman LAUNCHES them over the top because he’s strong enough to do that. The running powerslam gets two so Strowman sets up the table in the corner. Of course that earns him a spear through the table, drawing out Ziggler, McIntyre, Rollins and Ambrose.

Since WWE can’t pay attention to multiple things at once, we watch the brawl on the floor with Rollins and Ziggler fighting up to the top of the Cell. McIntyre follows them up and saves Ziggler from a bad case of death. Cue Ambrose to the top with a kendo stick to clean house, setting up a bunch of punching back and forth. A double clothesline puts all four down as Reigns and Strowman still haven’t moved.

Ziggler climbs down but Rollins follows him, meaning it’s time to fight on the side of the Cell. We’re just waiting on the big fall now and indeed there they go, through a pair of announcers’ tables in the most contrived spot of the night. All six are down….and we have Brock Lesnar (looking weird in a plain black shirt).

Brock kicks the door off the hinges (good visual) and then climbs up said door to get inside. Paul Heyman maces Foley and Lesnar hits both guys with pieces of the table. Lesnar wrecks them some more and gives Reigns an F5 onto Strowman. With Lesnar leaving, another referee comes in and it’s a NO CONTEST IN THE CELL AT 23:48.

Rating: B-. I don’t even know where we are anymore. The most violent match in WWE history just ended because “the two of them can’t continue”. As in after THEY LAID THERE FOR THE BETTER PART OF TEN MINUTES??? This is just so freaking dumb because, again, the stupid calendar backed them into a corner. If this is just any regular wrestling match then fine, but we just HAD to wait for Summerslam to change the title to Reigns and then we just HAD to do the Cell match in September.

This was a way to make you think that you were getting something good when it was any given street fight plus a bunch of interference so the other guys can do something cool off the side of the Cell. Oh but then we get to the important stuff: setting up a likely triple threat in NOVEMBER AT SURVIVOR SERIES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PROMOTE THREE SHOWS AT ONE FREAKING TIME ANYMORE! This is the most annoyed I’ve been at a match in a long time and it wasn’t even a bad one. The ending sucked the life out of me though and that’s a horrible way to cap off an otherwise good show.

The show goes off the air almost immediately, likely to avoid the BULL**** chants from making the Network.

Overall Rating: A-. I was tempted to drop this by a few notches for that ending but man alive this was a heck of a show. Aside from the mixed tag (which was held back by reasons outside of the actual wrestling), nothing was even close to bad and there are two back to back instant classics in the middle. There are a lot of flaws with the way some things are going in the future, but the actual wrestling is rather strong at the moment, which I can’t say I expected coming in. Very good show and one of the best main roster shows in a long time.

Results

Randy Orton b. Jeff Hardy – Hardy missed a splash through a table

Becky Lynch b. Charlotte – Small package

Drew McIntyre/Dolph Ziggler b. Dean Ambrose/Seth Rollins – Claymore to Rollins

AJ Styles b. Samoa Joe – Rollup

Maryse/Miz b. Daniel Bryan/Brie Bella – Rollup with tights to Bella

Ronda Rousey b. Alexa Bliss – Armbar

Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar went to a no contest when Brock Lesnar interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: World of Sport

World of Sport
Date: September 15, 2018
Location: Epic Studios, Norwich, England
Commentators: Stu Bennett, So Cal Val, Alex Shane

I’m not sure what to say about this show anymore as we have three episodes left and a grand total of nothing to be excited about. There’s very little life in this place and that hasn’t changed since the first show. It’s settled down to the point where you can tell who everyone is, but I still have no reason to care about these people. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap/preview.

Ayesha vs. Viper

#1 contenders match. They start with the required power lockup with Viper getting the better of things. Stereo shoulders don’t get anyone anywhere so Viper sends her face first into the buckle over and over. A cobra clutch has Ayesha in trouble and a backsplash gets two. The clutch goes back on (just to mix things up a bit) but Ayesha breaks free and runs her over. A fisherman’s suplex gets two on Viper but seems to tick her off, earning Ayesha a trip into the corner for the Cannonball (becoming way too common these days). The sitout powerslam is good for the pin on Ayesha at 6:49.

Rating: D. I’m not much of a fan of these power vs. power matches and when I still know NOTHING about either of them, it’s a little hard to really care. We’ve seen Kay Lee Ray beat Viper twice now and I have no idea why I should care about seeing it happen a third time. But hey, that’s never stopped them before and it’s not going to in the final few shows.

Post break, Viper promises to win the title.

Will Ospreay/Bea Priestly vs. Stevie Boy/Kay Lee Ray

The entire deal here: they’re couples in real life. Ignore continuity, heel/face alignments and the fact that, again, neither of the couples have actually interacted on TV up to this point. REAL LIFE you see. The men start with Ospreay running the ropes for a hurricanrana but Stevie pops back up for a standoff. The women come in with Ray getting two off a middle rope dropkick and grabbing the choke.

Priestly hits a running knee to the head….in theory at least as they cut away to the crowd before the impact. Wait. So we can have LADDER MATCHES but a knee to the head from one woman to another isn’t allowed? Then why would you book the women on the show in the first place? Anyway Ray is back with another dropkick (allowed to be seen) and it’s back to the men. Ospreay scores with an enziguri but a Falcon Arrow gives Stevie two. A slugout goes to Stevie and everything breaks down.

Stereo Cheeky Nandos kicks have Stevie and Ray in trouble but Stevie hits a top rope hurricanrana. I mean, Ospreay flips forward and lands on his feet but Stevie did his part fine. The guys are sent to the floor for stereo suicide dives from the women, who then go back inside for the big staredown. That…goes nowhere as they head outside, go halfway around the ring and then fighting on the floor instead. Back in and Ray gives Ospreay a reverse hurricanrana so Stevie can get two off a Canadian Destroyer. Ospreay is fine enough for the running C4 and Stormbreaker for the pin at 8:04.

Rating: C. Well that was a thing that happened. The wrestling was fine but I need a lot more than “they’re dating” to make me want to watch a match. Ospreay is Ospreay but I couldn’t tell you a single thing about any of the other three, aside from Ray being Women’s Champion which means nothing here. This felt like the definition of filler and that’s always annoying.

Iestyn Rees vs. British Bulldog Jr.

Thankfully there’s no Grado with Smith so hopefully that team is already gone. They shove each other to start with Bulldog taking him down without much effort. The test of strength goes to Rees thanks to a kick to the ribs but he can’t get Bulldog all the way down. Back up and they hit some hard running shots to the chest until it’s a double knockdown. The non-delayed suplex gives Bulldog two but Rees sends him shoulder first into the post.

Rees starts working on the arm back inside and we hit an armbar as the fans are entirely behind Bulldog (well duh). A stomp to the arm warrants another cut so Bulldog rolls him over into a cross armbreaker. The armbar goes right back on and a neck snap across the top rope cuts off Bulldog’s comeback.

Rees gets caught on top though and a superplex gives Bulldog two. Some rolling German suplexes give Bulldog the same and a powerbomb with a jackknife cover gets the third straight near fall. Rees spears him for two of his own and can’t believe the kickout. Bulldog hits a quick powerslam for the pin at 11:04, by far the longest match of the series so far.

Rating: C+. Bulldog is better than most people on the roster in the first place so the match being better isn’t the biggest surprise. Iestyn is a decent talent but he needs a slightly better (and easier to pronounce) name to make things work a little better. You can almost pencil in Bulldog and someone else (please not Grado) winning the Tag Team Titles to end the series.

Crater vs. Robbie X

You win by taking off the opponent’s mask. Robbie kicks away to start but a handspring elbow is countered into a release Rock Bottom. A bearhug goes on so Robbie goes for the mask to escape. Crater manages a dropkick (not bad all things considered) and Robbie sells it like death, as he should. Robbie is fine enough to kick him to the floor for a moonsault but Crater runs him over again. A big splash misses though and Robbie hits a springboard cutter, allowing him to pull the mask off for the win at 5:11.

Rating: D. Robbie was fine but what is the point in building up Crater to have him lose in a handicap match and then a mask vs. mask match which is more humiliating than anything else? It still feels like whoever is booking these shows learned wrestling by reading a book instead of hands on experience and that’s not the best idea in the world. Nothing to see here, especially since Crater covered his face.

Post match Crater takes the mask back and puts it on again before leaving in shame.

Bennett has some….breaking news for us. Next week there will be a unique match involving the entire male roster with the winner getting a title shot the following week. Three things here.

1. Justin Sysum still won the #1 contenders match a few weeks back and still hasn’t received his title shot.

2. Bennett said that it’s a match involving the entire male roster for a show at Rampage. Shouldn’t that have been the entire male roster save for Rampage? I know that’s a little picky but with as much of a mess as this place has been, they don’t have much in the way of the benefit of the doubt.

3. The preview for next week shows that it’s pretty much a Royal Rumble. That’s not unique.

Overall Rating: C-. I know I’m not the target audience for this show but I’m really not sure what that audience is supposed to be. Are kids or adults supposed to care about who Ospreay is dating or about Viper getting a Women’s Title match? This show really feels like a rough draft where they threw whatever they thought of first into a series and hoped for the best. It’s certainly not terrible and I’ve seen FAR worse, but it’s a show that needs some more people working on it and a lot of kinks ironed out.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground
Date: September 16, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Matt Striker, Vampiro

Last week was a packed show with King Cuerno returning to go after Lucha Underground Champion Pentagon Dark and Fenix returning from the dead to haunt everyone. There’s a very Pet Sematary vibe there and that could make for some interesting stories going forward. You know, in a company so devoid of ideas. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at King Cuerno attacking Pentagon Dark, the crazy fight between Catrina and Melissa Santos and the return of Fenix, albeit the zombie/evil version.

Gift of the Gods Title: Ivelisse vs. El Dragon Azteca Jr.

Dragon is defending and Ivelisse goes right at him with a springboard armdrag. That earns her a kick to the face for two as the fans are all behind Ivelisse. She’s fine enough to block a Boston crab attempt but gets caught in a Brian Kendrick Captain’s Hook. Back up (it’s still just a chinlock) and Ivelisse hits a few clotheslines, followed by a springboard tornado DDT. Dragon slams his way out of a Black Widow and a springboard armdrag sends Ivelisse out to the floor.

Back in and a quick Code Red (makes sense) gives Ivelisse two and a hard kick to the head gets the same. The fans aren’t happy when Ivelisse gets dropped again, though Dragon getting crotched makes them a little better. Dragon knocks her off the ropes though and it’s a middle rope legdrop (with the required Bobby Eaton reference) for the pin to retain at 7:12.

Rating: C. Nice match here and that’s all it needed to be. Having Dragon beat a bunch of people is going to turn him into a more viable champion, though he has to defend against some bigger names down the line. Ivelisse is popular though she hasn’t really done much in the last few seasons. Perfectly fine opener here and that’s all it needed to be.

Post match Ivelisse is upset so are XO Lishus and Joey Ryan to ask if she wants to be a Trios Champion. She’ll go with a sure on that.

King Cuerno vs. Mil Muertes

Hang on a second though as Antonio Cueto comes out to say we’ll make this a #1 contenders match. Muertes throws him into the corner for the ten clotheslines, followed by the snap powerslam to cut off a comeback. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker doesn’t do much to Muertes, who hits a heck of a superplex on Cuerno. The swinging chokeslam has Cuerno in more trouble but he knees Muertes out of the air. They slug it out from their knees and then out to the floor with the referee being thrown into the crowd for the double DQ at 5:08.

Rating: C-. I’m really not sure what the need was to put Muertes in here when they’re setting up the title match next week. Pentagon vs. Cuerno was pretty much ready but now it’s going to be a triple threat? Why? It’s not like Muertes and Pentagon have had any real issues, making this seem like a change for the sake of a change and that’s not the best idea in the world most of the time.

Post match the fight continues until Antonio comes out to make the triple threat title match for next week. Well that’s a shock. The guys keep fighting and Pentagon watches from the rafters.

Trios Titles: Fenix/Aerostar/Drago vs. Reptile Tribe

The Tribe is defending and Fenix takes a very long time to get to the ring with Melissa looking concerned. Hang on though as here’s Jake Strong to say he’ll win the Trios Titles himself if the titles without any partners because he’s a strong wrestler. Drago gets taken into the corner for an early beating, leaving Melissa looking rather sad.

Some heel miscommunication lets Drago hit them in the face a few times and a hurricanrana takes Jeremiah down for two. Fenix comes in for the rolling cutter but sits down instead of following up. The old Fenix snaps back to reality for a few seconds and kicks a bunch of people but doesn’t go for a cover. Instead he tries a superkick on Moon, who Matrixes back, leaving us with a kind of weird still shot. Moon bails to the floor and Fenix tags Aerostar in with a hard slap to the chest.

Another rolling cutter takes Jeremiah down as Striker goes into a weird conspiracy theory rant. A slingshot Codebreaker staggers Daga and it’s a doble knockdown. Drago comes back in to clean house as everything breaks down. There’s the big flip dive from Aerostar and Fenix (slowly) throws Drago onto the pile. Fenix loads up his own dive….and superkicks Aerostar down. A Muscle Buster lets Jeremiah hit the double underhook shoulder breaker to retain at 9:15.

Rating: C. This was all storyline and there’s nothing wrong with that. As tends to be the case around here, there are all kinds of ways for this storyline to go and that’s what makes it interesting. You can almost guarantee that Catarina will be involved again somehow and there’s a good chance that it’s going to be resolved at Ultima Lucha, which tends to happen a lot in this promotion. Match was fine, but that’s not the point and that’s ok.

Post match Melissa pleads with Fenix and gets shoved down. That’s the necessary move for a heel turn.

Marty the Moth Martinez comes in to see Antonio. A wad of exchanged money gets Marty a Gift of the Gods Title match for next week and another wad of money is for something else.

Overall Rating: C-. I wasn’t feeling this one as the idea was go keep things moving forward but it felt rather low key. We’ve still got a few weeks before Ultima Lucha and that means the final stories are starting to be put together. I’m interested in where several of them go, though this season feels like it’s flown by and we should be at the halfway point, not nearing the end. That’s not good, though it’s about all you can expect with a shorter season.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Contrary to what you may have seen on Monday Night Raw this week, the next major show won’t be taking place in Australia and men will indeed be wrestling on the card. This Sunday will see Hell In A Cell, featuring two matches inside the Cell and a bunch of other stuff that won’t be heavily featured as there’s only so much that can take place when we have the other two shows to build towards. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Smackdown Tag Team Titles: New Day (c) vs. Rusev Day

Rusev Day won a (yet another) tournament to earn the title shot in a bit of a surprise. The team was a hot act in the spring but since WWE has to WWE, we’re finally getting somewhere between the two of them in the middle of September. New Day has held the titles for about a month now and since the division basically consists of four teams, it’s not like they have a bunch of competition.

I’ll go with New Day to retain, likely as Rusev Day implodes for good because WWE doesn’t want them together for whatever reason. Other than that the match should be entertaining and will likely see a rematch this week on SmackDown Live. Rusev is in need of some kind of a success but given his track record in WWE, odds are we’re going to be waiting a very long time to actually see it happen.

Raw Women’s Title: Ronda Rousey(c) vs. Alexa Bliss

This one has me more confused with each step of the build. First of all, Rousey smashed her way through Bliss on the way to the title at Summerslam. You know, how she should have done because it’s RONDA ROUSEY vs. Alexa Bliss. The match was about five minutes long and Rousey was never in anything resembling trouble. Again, how it should have been. So how are we going to make a rematch work?

I’m really not sure, though Rousey of course retains, likely with more involvement from the Bella Twins because we need Nikki Bella vs. Rousey in our lives. Before I go on that rant, I’ll go with Rousey retaining in a match that isn’t as dominant as it should be. Rousey will likely sell the rib injuries from Monday, though that really shouldn’t be enough to keep her in trouble for very long.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Charlotte(c) vs. Becky Lynch

This is the first case of “well, we’re not having this Cell ready match in the Cell because….reasons”. Last month Charlotte won the title and Lynch snapped and turned on her, with the fans wanting to cheer Lynch but WWE dragged their feet and is going with more of a shades of gray feud because they don’t know how to listen to what the audience clearly wants.

As for the match itself, I’ll go with Lynch winning the title. I know WWE doesn’t exactly get the idea here a lot of the time, but this is as much of a layup as you can have. On top of that, is there anyone else who can possibly take the title off of Charlotte? The only way I could imagine it not happening is if Charlotte does a hard heel turn to make Lynch the super face that she needs to be. I could live with that, but that’s about the only way they could go other than Lynch flat out beating her.

Raw Tag Team Titles: Dolph Ziggler/Drew McIntyre(c) vs. Dean Ambrose/Seth Rollins

Let’s not even pretend that this is going to be the big, final match between these teams. These four plus Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman are going to fight for the next few months and there’s no way around that. The titles might change hands here but it’s far from likely to be the final title change between them. The wrestling should be good, but the storyline stuff isn’t exactly going to matter.

I’ll say the champions cheat to keep their titles, which will set up a rematch where the Shield boys want to use a variety of weapons. Say like tables, ladders and chairs. Along with Reigns. And Strowman. With all three belts above the ring at once. There’s not much else to say here and that’s a really bad sign given how many eggs WWE has put in the Shield’s basket.

Daniel Bryan/Brie Bella vs. The Miz/Maryse

When this match was first announced, I was a fan of the idea. It advances the story while preventing the overload of Miz vs. Bryan, which is almost guaranteed to keep going all the way into 2019. Then it became clear that this was going to be the Maryse/Bella show and that’s one of the scariest things you can have. We’ll have to hear about what a legend Bella is and how awesome she looks after having a baby a year ago, all while she botches everything she does and shouts BRIE MODE before doing some of Bryan’s stuff. Yay for us.

It doesn’t make sense to have Miz and Maryse win here so I’ll take Bella beating Maryse here in some form. Bella can’t do much properly in the ring but the YES Lock looks passable enough. Maryse doesn’t need to ever win anything again as she just has to put on one of her outfits, strike her model pose and insult the crowd in French to be right back where she was before. Bella and Bryan win in hopefully the last match from the women for a long time.

Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy

Here’s your Smackdown Cell match (even though the Cell is now red) because….why is this the Cell match actually? I know the logical answer would be so Hardy can dive off of the Cell like an idiot, but my guess is more that they didn’t want to do a Cell match on Smackdown but since WE MUST HAVE A CELL PAY PER VIEW, this is the default match instead. Just in case you need more proof that having a Cell pay per view is a really bad idea.

I’ll go with Orton winning as Hardy tries to do something stupid and winds up taking the RKO for his efforts. Orton has an interesting character if he goes from one short range feud to another where he destroys a variety of popular faces. Knowing WWE though, they’re going to do something stupid with it and waste a lot of potential because that’s all WWE is capable of doing at the moment.

Smackdown World Title: AJ Styles(c) vs. Samoa Joe

On paper, this should be where Joe gets the title. He took Styles to the limit in their first match and has been even more physical since then. Logic on the street would suggest that he wins the title here by overwhelming the emotional Styles and choking him out so he can hold up the title and say OH WENDY, DADDY’S COMING HOME! That makes sense in theory, until you remember that WWE has already announced a third match between these guys in Australia at Super Show-Down.

That’s where I think the title change actually takes hand. I mean, it doesn’t really matter when Joe wins the title as long as he does, though Styles is rapidly approaching CM Punk’s 434 day reign with that very title. On top of that, he actually defends the thing and has great matches while making others look good. Hence why he’s likely about to drop the title. Styles isn’t a guy who does the same three moves over and over again when he wrestles four times a year. What value is there for that?

Raw World Title: Roman Reigns(c) vs. Braun Strowman

And then there’s this, which is one of the most oddly booked matches in a long time. They do have a long history between each other, but their last singles match was eleven months ago in October. That’s all well and good as the blowoff to a long running feud (Undertaker and Mankind hadn’t had a singles match in over a year when they had the Cell match), but does anyone believe that this is the last match between these two?

I’ll go with Reigns retaining as Strowman is sacrificed again in the name of getting him over. I still have no idea what the end game is supposed to be for Reigns, who is beating (arguably) his chief rival in his first feud as champion (the fourth time he’s been champion that is). Why is him beating Strowman in the Cell supposed to make me care? Is it just because he’s that awesome or something? I’m sure WWE could explain it to me, though I doubt it would still make sense.

Overall Thoughts

I know I talk about this a lot but it’s pretty amazing to see how much difference it makes to have one show focused on Sunday and another focused on everything else involved. There’s a lot of stuff that can be done to set up Sunday’s show and Smackdown has done that far better than it’s Monday counterpart. The pay per view will have its moments, but it really does feel like they’d like to get this show out of the way so they can focus on the other stuff instead.

Just look at the card. There’s a lot of big stuff on here and there is a grand total of one match (Styles vs. Joe) that I’m interested in seeing. That’s not acceptable on a card that features two Cell matches and a bunch of big title matches. How can you possibly have this kind of a card and have so little interest in the whole thing? WWE is ice cold right now and I don’t see that changing for a long time to come, which makes for a very rough end of the year.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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