IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: October 2, 2003
Location: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Commentators: Michael Cole, Tazz

Somehow we’re less than three weeks away from No Mercy but as luck would have it we already have a double main event. In this case it’s Vince McMahon vs. his daughter Stephanie in an I Quit match and Brock Lesnar defending the Smackdown World Title against Undertaker. This isn’t exactly the most thrilling stuff in the world but guess which one is going to get the most attention. Let’s get to it.

Here’s last week’s show if you need a recap.

Opening sequence, still including Sean O’Haire. I don’t remember the last time he was even on this show.

US Title: Eddie Guerrero vs. Matt Hardy

Matt, who has had four speeding tickets but gotten out of over twenty of them, is challenging. Eddie is ticked off at Matt for injuring his ribs last week so the stomping is on in a hurry. A shoulder puts Matt down but bangs up Eddie’s ribs all over again. Eddie gets dropped ribs first onto the top rope and Matt starts in like a villain should.

Matt plants him with a powerbomb for two and the Side Effect gets the same. A bow and arrow hold is countered into a neckbreaker and Eddie gets a breather. Three Amigos connect as Tazz is talking about Mexican hockey teams. Matt is ready for the frog splash though and brings Eddie down with a superplex.

A neckbreaker cuts Eddie down again but Matt would rather distract Chavo, allowing Shannon to come in with a title. This is what happens when you let lackeys run wild. Naturally Eddie takes it away and throws the title to Matt while feigning innocence. The referee gets rid of that belt but Chavo hits Matt with the other one because cheating is a family business. The frog splash retains the title.

Rating: C+. The endings might be a bit unoriginal but you try turning down that grin. Eddie had so much charisma that it’s almost impossible to not like him at least on some level and that’s what worked so well here. I could watch Eddie do this stuff for hours and the wrestling working so well helped too. Eddie has been the best thing about the last several shows and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Video on Wrestlemania tickets going on sale.

John Cena got annoyed at Josh Matthews for talking about “dope rhymes”. Tonight, Cena puts Angle in his shadow.

Eddie and Chavo run into Big Show and ask him about him attacking Eddie last week. Show doesn’t like “Eddie’s kind”, but he does like Mexican food. He shoves Eddie down and Chavo isn’t happy with the lack of Latino heat. Eddie is going to take care of this Guerrero style.

APA vs. Basham Brothers

It’s a brawl to start and of course the APA gets the better of it, easily clearing out the ring. Faarooq beats both of them up on his own before it’s off to Bradshaw for chops and a Last Call on Doug. Shaniqua offers a distraction though and Danny posts Bradshaw to take over. As usual, Shaniqua comes off like the star of the team, completely defeating the purpose of her being out there. Bradshaw suplexes his way out of a chinlock and it’s back to Faarooq for the house cleaning. The referee gets bumped (In this match?) so Shaniqua kicks Bradshaw in the face, leaving Faarooq to take the Ball and Gag for the pin.

Rating: D. Again, I’d like to point out that I’m supposed to be interested in a team whose finishing move is called the Ball and Gag. There are times where a gimmick is going to kill yo before you can do anything else and that’s what’s happened with the Bashams. I have no idea why they spent so much time down in developmental to be given this treatment on the main roster, but it shows the disconnect between the two places.

Post match, Bradshaw hits Shaniqua with the Clothesline. Again: she’s treated like a more important deal than the team she’s managing.

Chris Benoit vs. Charlie Haas

A-Train is on commentary. As you might expect, it’s a grappling exchange to start with neither being able to get much of an advantage on the mat. Charlie’s hammerlock is reversed into a wristlock as A-Train rants about Benoit not being able to get him in the Crossface. Benoit headlocks him down and does it again when Charlie tries to get up. It’s too early for the Crossface though and Benoit is sent outside.

A-Train actually does something by offering a distraction, allowing Haas to baseball slide Benoit down. Haas starts in on the ribs with a gutbuster before a clothesline gets two. Something like an abdominal stretch with Benoit on the mat keeps the ribs in trouble as A-Train continues to have nothing interesting to say. Some kicks to the ribs set up a normal standard abdominal stretch as Benoit just can’t get anything going.

A single German suplex rocks Charlie but he takes Benoit right back down to continue the wrestling clinic. Benoit finally gets in a clothesline and the release German suplex is good for two. Haas is right back with a suplex of his own, dropping Benoit on his head in a scary landing. Not that it matters as Benoit slaps on the Crossface, drawing A-Train in for the DQ.

Rating: C+. Haas is someone who sticks to a game plan very well as his finisher works the ribs so he beats on the opponent’s ribs for the entire match. What’s not all well and good is A-Train talking. He looks like a monster and wrestles a monster style, but egads he doesn’t need to be out there talking. It’s just not something he’s good at and him saying these really lame limes for the whole match didn’t make me want to see them fight. Stick to what people are good at and stop trying to wedge them into places where they don’t fit.

Post match A-Train puts Benoit in a Crossface of his own.

Here are Vince and Sable for their weekly segment as Cole tries to explain why Vince vs. Stephanie is still going. Tazz thinks it’s all a way to get Stephanie to quit. What gave you that idea Tazz? All the times where he ordered her to quit? Vince talks about everyone needing an opportunity to be forgiven for making a mistake, which brings him to Stephanie. She needs to reverse her decision to have Brock Lesnar defend the title against Undertaker and then quit immediately.

Cue Stephanie (nearly falling out of her top the entire way) to say she won’t do either of those things. Vince ups the ante for No Mercy: when she quits, she’s out of a job too. Stephanie almost begs him not to make the match but Vince goes into a rant about how Stephanie is throwing away all the years of their relationship. He calls what she’s doing defiance and Stephanie starts getting what she considers emotional.

Sable reminds Vince of what he called Stephanie last week so Stephanie tells her to go lay on her back in the men’s locker room like she does best. The catfight is on until Vince slams Stephanie, who starts crying. Undertaker comes out for the save and kicks fellow invader Brock Lesnar in the face as more crying ensues.

So quick recap of this story: we’re supposed to be on the side of and feel sympathy for the rather good looking (and surgically enhanced) millionaire heiress who is being told to quit her vanity job by the father who caused her to be a millionaire heiress in the first place? Oh and after EVERYTHING that Vince has done to people over the years (and that Stephanie has done to people over the years for that matter), a single slam is supposed to be this big, devastating moment? And this is their best idea?

A very stereotypical Mexican delivery guy (complete with a brightly colored blanket and a sombrero with MEXICO written on it) shouts about a delivery of burritos for Eddie. Big Show intercepts them and eats one before spitting in another, which is especially for Eddie. The delivery guy has no issue with any of this.

Cruiserweight Title: Billy Kidman vs. Tajiri

Tajiri is defending. Kidman accidentally runs into the referee to start (not something you see very often) but manages to hurricanrana the champ out to the floor. That means a big dive as things are starting fast. Back in and Kidman’s slingshot is countered with a kick to the shoulder and Tajiri takes over. Tajiri starts in on the arm with a hammerlock and some knees as Tazz talks about the importance of intensity.

Another kick to the shoulder set s up another hammerlock as this isn’t exactly what you would expect from Tajiri. Kidman comes back with an enziguri for two but Tajiri kicks him out of the air (that’s more like it) to take Kidman down again. The BK Bomb gets two and Kidman ducks the Buzzsaw Kick, only to get caught with a low blow. Now the Buzzsaw Kick connects to retain the title.

Rating: C. The arm work was a nice change for Tajiri and it made for a fun match. The cruiserweight division isn’t the most interesting in the world right now but at least the talent still around is putting on some good to very good matches. That being said, what in the world happened to Ultimo Dragon? He’s still doing dark matches and Velocity, but that might be a record for the fastest fall from grace I can remember in a long time. It was like two weeks.

Orlando Jordan vs. Big Show

Show comes to the ring holding his stomach and seems to have some issues after kicking Jordan in the ribs. A clothesline puts Jordan down but Show bails to the floor and takes the countout due to stomach issues. Cole after the countout: “The burritos having a negative effect on Big Show!” Thirty seconds later: “What is wrong with Big Show???”

Zach Gowen joins us live via satellite and says he’s tired of being asked how he’s doing. He knows wrestling is for him and he’s back in the ring next week.

We now join Big Show in the bathroom with various sound effects. Eddie comes in and admits that he spiked the burritos, knowing that Show would steal them. He also steals the toilet paper because COMEDY! So to recap: a few weeks ago, Eddie was in a great fight with Cena inside a ring of cars and then became a double champion. Now it’s toilet humor. Thanks for that WWE.

John Cena/Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle/Undertaker

Cena’s rap says he makes it ok to root for the villain and something about a man dressed as a woman. The fans remind Lesnar that he tapped out as Kurt and Cena start things off. Kurt takes him down without much effort and armdrags Cena into an armbar. One heck of a clothesline gives Angle two and it’s off to Undertaker. The arm cranking continues but Undertaker stops to swing at Lesnar.

The distraction lets Cena poke Angle in the eye and Kurt gets beaten down in the corner. A good looking backdrop puts Cena down though and we take a break. Back with Lesnar firing off shoulders to Kurt’s ribs in the corner as we’re firmly in the tag team formula. Lesnar stomps on Kurt and hits a gorilla press, only to have Angle grab a German suplex. Cena offers a distraction though and the referee misses the ensuing hot tag.

A Shell Shock of all things gives Brock two and a powerslam plants Kurt again. Somehow Kurt is right back up with the Angle Slam and it’s a double knockdown. That’s enough for the hot tag to Undertaker, who comes in with the running corner clotheslines. Brock is thrown to the floor (nearly landing on his head in the process) but still comes back in to break up the cover on Cena. There’s a spinebuster to Undertaker though and it’s back to Angle via the power of Olympic recovery skills. Suplexes a go-go have the villains reeling but Cena grabs the chain to knock Angle cold for the fast pin.

Rating: B-. Pretty solid main event tag here as I’m always a fan of combining two feuds into one for an easy match like this. Cena pinning Angle is the right call as Angle showed he’s dominant with wrestling and playing by the rules but loses when Cena cheats. Undertaker being all fired up doesn’t do much for me but it’s all we’ve got for a co-main event right now.

Post match Lesnar loads up the F5 to put Undertaker through the table but gets reversed, setting a chokeslam through said table to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a show where the wrestling was completely acceptable for the majority of the show but the stuff outside of the matches was dreadful. I mean, spiked burritos and OH NO VINCE MCMAHON DID A WRESTLING MOVE??? We’re coming up on a pretty weak pay per view with the battling McMahons as the real main event but the rest of the show isn’t exactly thrilling either. At least the TV is watchable, which is more than can be said about the episodes of Raw leading up to Unforgiven.

Remember to check out my new forum at steelcageforums.com, follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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

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IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: March 1, 2018
Location: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

The show is in a weird place this week as we have the build to Wrestlemania beginning on the Raw side but Smackdown has another pay per view to get through before it can head for New Orleans. Hopefully Smackdown at least gets some attention this week, but you never can tell. Let’s get to it.

Here’s this week’s Raw

And this week’s Smackdown

Opening sequence.

Akira Tozawa vs. Ariya Daivari

Tozawa starts with the chops and yelling stomps in the corner. The backsplash gets two but Daivari gets in a neckbreaker for his first offense. A backbreaker onto the knee sets up a chinlock but Tozawa is back up with a Shining Wizard. It’s too early for the backsplash so Tozawa settles for the suicide dive. Back in and a missile dropkick gives Tozawa two, only to eat a superkick. Daivari runs up top so the frog splash can get two. Not that it matters as Tozawa kicks him in the head and drops the top rope backsplash for the pin at 6:20.

Rating: C-. Can we please find someone else for the cruiserweights to beat up? I’ve seen it happen to Daivari so many times now that it’s really hard to care. Tozawa has been lost in the shuffle as of late and that’s a shame because he really is one of the best performers on the roster. Get him out there more often, if nothing else to make people look good.

Package on the men’s Elimination Chamber match. They’re never going to mention Strowman destroying Reigns after the match again are they?

From Raw.

Here’s Roman Reigns for the showdown with Lesnar. Actually never mind, because Reigns says something happened and Lesnar isn’t here. It’s not like it would matter as Lesnar doesn’t show up unless he’s getting paid. Lesnar hides behind his contract and shows up when he feels like it. Last night, Lesnar was in Las Vegas but he was running around with Dana White from the UFC.

Reigns is going to get in trouble for this but he’s here every single week no matter what. He cares about this place and doesn’t just call himself a businessman like Lesnar and Heyman. He’s going to go to the back and take his yelling like a man because he actually cares about this place. This was a few years late, but it’s Roman’s best promo ever. Build this up as a fight and it’s a much more interesting main event.

Also from Raw.

Here’s John Cena to discuss his path to Wrestlemania. Last night he failed in the Elimination Chamber and then had a microphone shoved in his face. He wasn’t sure what to say but now he’s figured it out. After all these failures in the Royal Rumble and the Elimination Chamber, it’s time for a Wrestlemania challenge. It’s time for John Cena to challenge THE UNDERTAKER for Wrestlemania.

The place goes nuts but Cena says that’s not happening either. Cena doesn’t make the matches around here and has been told that match is impossible. Therefore, his road to Wrestlemania now goes through Smackdown, because Cena is a free agent. He’ll be there tomorrow night to earn a spot, so see you then. It’s a good thing we can’t see Cena, because he’s sounding really dumb right now. Apparently everyone without a match right now has failed, meaning everyone but Shinsuke Nakamura, AJ Styles, Lesnar and Reigns have failed. Just please don’t be Undertaker. Please.

From Smackdown.

Here’s John Cena to open things up. He makes no bones about it: he wants in on the Fatal Five Way for the #1 contendership at Fastlane so let’s find out what he has to do to get there. Fans: “NO! NO! NO!” Cue Commissioner Shane McMahon to summarize everything, only to be cut off by a LET’S GO CENA/CENA SUCKS chant.

Cena says half the people want him in the match so he should go in. The fans switch to RUSEV DAY and it seems that Cena will be having a shot. This brings out Daniel Bryan, to say he agrees with Shane. They’re willing to put Cena in the main event and if he wins, he’s in the Fastlane title match. His opponent tonight: AJ Styles. The DQ finish seems obvious and that would make the most sense at this point.

And from later in the night.

AJ Styles vs. John Cena

Non-title. Feeling out process to start with Cena hitting an early shoulder block for two. A chickening/half nelson has AJ in trouble but he fights out with some chops for a breather. The tornado DDT out of the corner lands awkwardly and gives Cena two as we take a break. Back with Cena hitting the ProtoBomb and Five Knuckle Shuffle but AJ comes back with the fireman’s carry neckbreaker for a near fall of his own.

A TKO of all things gives Cena the same and Baron Corbin is watching in the back. AJ’s torture rack neckbreaker and Cena’s hard running clothesline get two each but Cena charges into an enziguri as we take another break. Back again with AJ getting two off a clothesline of his own but a Lionsault misses. Cena grabs a Code Red for two more and floats over from the near fall into the STF.

That’s reversed as well and the Phenomenal Forearm gets two. The springboard 450 hits knees though and the AA connects. Cena tries another though and winds up on the floor where a missed charge sends him into the steps. AJ won’t take the countout though and gets AA’d through the announcers’ table for a knockout. Cena rolls back in as the referee checks on AJ, meaning Styles can dive back in to beat the ten count. There’s the Calf Crusher but Cena powers to his feet for another AA and the pin at 22:00.

Rating: B+. These two could have a good match in their sleep so this is no surprise. It’s also not a surprise that Cena is going to the pay per view where he can have another shot at Wrestlemania, which means he’s likely losing at Fastlane so we can set up Cena vs. Undertaker in less than a month. Still though, as good as you would have expected here.

Fastlane rundown.

Curt Hawkins vs. Goldust

They fight over a wristlock to start and Hawkins bails to the ropes to get out of a headlock. That means a spank and Hawkins is begging for a DQ because he was in the ropes. Goldust can’t breathe thanks to running the ropes but Hawkins lays down so Goldust can pin him. Of course this doesn’t work but the small package does get two. Goldust gets knocked outside and we take a break. Back with Hawkins getting two off a Michinoku Driver, only to get caught in the Golden Cross (basically Cross Rhodes) for the pin at 7:38.

Rating: D+. The comedy wasn’t bad here but much like the cruiserweight matches, if you’ve seen it once, you’ve seen all it has to offer. Hawkins never winning is funny, but I’m getting curious about how they’re going to pay it off. Unless he beats a big name to advance their story, I’m not sure what the point of the whole thing is other than low level comedy.

Stills from the women’s Elimination Chamber and Asuka vs. Nia Jax.

Video on the Ronda Rousey signing from Elimination Chamber.

From Raw again.

Here are HHH and Stephanie for the response to last night. First though, here’s the same video package for the third time. Stephanie says that was Ronda acting out of savage instinct and the slap was to remind her of who is boss. Now though we need an apology from Kurt Angle so we can get on the Road to Wrestlemania. Instead here’s a ticked off Ronda but Kurt runs down and cuts her off.

Ronda talks about having never been slapped before and how that took her to a different place. Angle says he needs this job but last night, he lied. The things he said HHH and Stephanie said aren’t true. Stephanie gets back in and says they’re not bad people and goes to leave again. Ronda says not so fast and says it’s Stephanie who needs to apologize to her. If she doesn’t, Stephanie’s arm is coming out of its socket. Stephanie gets in her face and apologizes in a funny bit. The bosses go to leave again but HHH punches Kurt in the face on the way out.

Overall Rating: C+. This is the kind of thing Main Event should be for: it recapped the top stories and while there’s a lot more to look at, this at least managed to cover almost everything that was needed. It’s not easy to cram five plus hours of material (not counting the stuff from Elimination Chamber) into a forty five minute show, especially considering the two bonus match. As it was though, they did it quite well here and the show was easy to watch as a result.

Remember to check out my new forum at steelcageforums.com and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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

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IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: May 31, 1999
Location: Mark of the Quad, Moline, Illinois
Attendance: 9,755
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

So I started running through the 1999 Monday Night Raw shows and got near the end of May….before stopping for about three and a half years. That’s enough time to recharge my batteries so we’ll get back to it here. Undertaker won the WWF World Title eight days ago and everything is about the Corporate Ministry right now. Let’s get to it.

In case you don’t remember that far back, here’s last week’s show (this is a special one)

We open with a recap of Shane McMahon screwing Steve Austin out of the WWF Title at Over the Edge. That Smoking Skull belt is still cool but doesn’t look right in anyone else’s hands.

Opening sequence.

Here’s the Corporate Ministry and Undertaker has promised that we’ll be meeting the Higher Power tonight. Druids are carrying out Undertaker’s symbol and I forgot how much I don’t like this aspect of the story. Undertaker sends the druids to the floor, leaving only the ten members in the ring. Shane brags about using his right hand to take the title from Austin, even demonstrating his much slower count.

Undertaker talks in a very un-Undertaker like fashion, saying there’s nothing Austin can do about Undertaker being champion. For a bigger deal though, Undertaker has been promising “him” Austin’s mind, body and soul. Tonight the Higher/Greater (it’s used interchangeably) Power will be here and Austin will look into his eyes.

Cue Vince to say he’s going to screw Undertaker tonight. That’s because tonight, Undertaker is defending the title against Steve Austin. Shane says not so fast, because the match can take place but it’s non-title. Vince isn’t done though because he’s going to face Undertaker as well after everything Undertaker has done. Shane is cool with that too and if Vince can win, the match against Austin is for the title. If anyone interferes, Austin NEVER gets another title shot. The Ministry goes to leave but Austin is a druid, triggering a brawl with the Union (Mankind, Test, Ken Shamrock and Big Show) coming in to help.

Post break, Austin yells at the Union for some reason.

Big Show vs. Billy Gunn

Gunn gets TOSSED into the corner for a cool visual to start. A running dropkick to the knee cuts Show down as Gunn shows some rare intelligence. Show is back with a boot to the face though and Gunn walks out before the chokeslam.

Road Dogg jumps Gunn in the aisle and the fight is on with Gunn being sent back inside for the chokeslam.

And now, Beaver Cleavage, the incest character that Russo probably thought was a combination of brilliant and hilarious.

Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco can’t talk Vince out of fighting Undertaker.

Christian vs. Beaver Cleavage

This is Beaver’s debut and OF COURSE his real first name is Harry. Naturally he comes out in black and white with the video quality going down to resemble a 1950s sitcom. Beaver gets two off a powerslam but Christian gets the same off a facebuster. Some right hands in the corner don’t get Christian far as Beaver drops him face first onto the turnbuckle.

Beaver gets in a good looking springboard clothesline to the floor, which is a positive but doesn’t erase the fact that his name is Harry Beaver Cleavage. Back in and Christian grabs a belly to back suplex, followed by the reverse layout DDT. Cue Michael Hayes and the Hardys with a cane shot to Christian’s head. Beaver’s reverse suplex is good for the pin.

Rating: F. His name is Harry Beaver Cleavage. If that doesn’t explain the rating to you, I don’t know what else to say. What’s so annoying is the guy wasn’t a bad athlete (he was good as Mosh) but the name and gimmick is nothing more than a way to make Russo laugh and that doesn’t make for anything more than a comedy character. Besides, it’s not funny.

Christian goes after the Hardys and Hayes but Edge and Gangrel make the save.

Undertaker says no one is standing in his way tonight.

Intercontinental Title: Jeff Jarrett vs. The Godfather

Godfather is defending in this battle of Hall of Famers. After Godfather does his thing, he mentions that Debra should belong to him (he won her in a match but Jarrett said no). When he wins tonight, Debra rides the Ho Train and everyone sees the puppies. JR: “Of course Jerry Lawler will be supporting the Intercontinental Champion.” Lawler: “LET’S GO GODFATHER!”

Godfather charges into an early knee and a middle rope clothesline keeps him in trouble. A high crossbody gives Jeff two as Lawler wants to open a puppy resort. Godfather is right back up with the Ho Train and a big boot but Debra offers a distraction. The jacket is opened up but one of the Ho’s takes hers off too. The distraction lets Jarrett hit Godfather with Debra’s Women’s Title to get the belt back.

Rating: D. This would be the third match centered around some for of anatomy and that’s getting to be a little hard to take. I can get why this was entertaining when I was eleven, but my goodness it’s getting to be a little hard to take this time around. Jarrett winning the title back is a good idea as Godfather is hardly a long term champion. The fact that this is the fifth title change of the year so far isn’t a good sign though.

Undertaker vs. Vince McMahon

Non-title, though the thought of Vince winning the title is laughable at best. Especially in 1999. Vince doesn’t have any music here, which is a really weird visual. Undertaker wastes no time in slugging away but Paul Bearer accidentally offers a distraction, allowing Vince to get in a low blow. More pummeling of the boss ensues….and Undertaker shoves the referee for a fast DQ.

Austin says he doesn’t need any help.

Here’s Mankind for a chat. It’s time for the Union to get some payback so he wants HHH out here right now. He’d like that match to be hardcore but there’s one more thing that needs to be covered. Mankind has heard about Chyna checking him out in the back. Maybe it’s because of his charm or maybe it’s because of that time she walked in on him in the shower when he was picking up the soap. It was clear that she wanted to touch him in an impure way. Tonight, he’s going to give her a chance to see the merchandise, if you smell where his sock is hiding.

During the break, Big Boss Man jumped Mankind and they’re still fighting when we get back. As luck would have it, Boss Man has a match.

Road Dogg vs. Big Boss Man

Dogg hits him in the head with the microphone but walks into a side slam for two anyway. The Shake Rattle and Roll into the shaky knee drop gives Dogg two but a spinebuster takes him down again. They fight over the nightstick until Boss Man hits him in the head for the DQ. This might as well have been a brawl instead of a match.

Post match the referee takes the nightstick away so Boss Man whips out a chain to choke Dogg.

Shane throws a fit in the back, which presumably has been going on for about ten minutes now.

Tag Team Titles: X-Pac/Kane vs. Acolytes

X-Pac and Kane are defending. Faarooq misses a charge in the corner to start and X-Pac snaps off the kicks to put him down. That means a double tag with Kane sending Bradshaw into the corner without wasting much time. The big clothesline puts Kane on the floor but he’s right back in with the top rope clothesline. I would say that’ll teach Bradshaw but he seems a bit hard headed at times.

Kane tags X-Pac in to Jerry’s shock, because Russo likes to book teams that hate each other. Cue Shane to cheer the Acolytes on as X-Pac’s spinning kick is countered into a slam for two. The second kick connects though and it’s Kane back in to clean house. Faarooq cuts him off with a powerslam but Kane sits up in short order. Shane breaks up the Bronco Buster with a char though and the Clothesline gives Bradshaw the pin on X-Pac.

Rating: D. I’d rather the titles go on a team that actually gets along, even if this feels like another title change for the sake of having a title change. X-Pac and Kane were fine for an oddball tag team but it got really annoying when X-Pac was the giant killer and beating people like Big Show with the still lame X Factor. As usual though, another angle disguised as a match.

GDTV takes us to the bathroom where someone is having some stomach issues, complete with sound effects. D’Lo Brown comes in and it’s Mark Henry having said issues. This has been another unfunny segment that is supposed to make Russo laugh.

Val Venis vs. Ken Shamrock

Venis has Nicole Bass with him in a story I had tried to forget. They trade right hands to start until Val has to bail away from a cross armbreaker. A spinebuster gives Val two but Shamrock gets the same off a DDT. Val slams him down but the Money Shot misses. Cue Jarrett to distract Shamrock though, allowing Val to grab a small package for the pin.

Undertaker promises to destroy Austin.

HHH vs. Mankind

Hardcore rules. HHH hammers away to start but that’s just not going to work very well against someone like Mankind. They’re quickly into the crowd with Mankind beating the fire out of HHH, who is tossed back over the barricade. There’s a suplex on the floor and Chyna sends Mankind into the steps. The sledgehammer shot only hits the steps so HHH backdrops him onto a chair instead.

A Pedigree on the chair on the floor is countered though with HHH getting catapulted into the post instead. HHH is right back up and knocks Mankind into Chyna into the steps, but it doesn’t seem to cause too much damage. Back in and the Mandible Claw goes on, only to have Chyna hit Mankind low with the hammer. That earns her the Mandible Claw of her own but HHH blasts Mankind in the knee with the hammer for the pin.

Rating: C. These two are always worth a look though the ending is pretty obviously just there to write Mankind off for a bit. That’s all well and good, as Rock and Austin are more than capable of being the top guys who can fight off the evil. It also gives HHH a nice rub as taking out Mankind is something Undertaker never could quite do. Not a bad hardcore match either.

Post match HHH stays on the knee until Rock makes the save. That would be Mankind’s last match until August.

Post break, Mankind is taken away in an ambulance with Test riding with him. Geez that might be worse.

WWF World Title: Undertaker vs. Steve Austin

Undertaker is defending and his symbol is now back on the stage. Austin wastes no time in wrapping the legs around the post, followed by a good crotching. The Thesz press and middle finger elbow are good for two and a clothesline puts Undertaker on the floor. Austin rams him into various things but his piledriver is countered with a backdrop. With Undertaker slugging away, Austin kicks him low (very common move on this show) and they head back inside.

Austin kicks him in the face to block a backdrop (thankfully avoiding the head snapping up) and nails a clothesline. They head outside again with Austin being sent hip first into the post of the steps. A suplex on the floor keeps Austin in trouble but he’s right back with right hands inside. The running crotch attack misses but it’s a Stunner to drop Undertaker. Bearer pulls the referee out so here comes the Ministry for the DQ.

Rating: C-. Much like HHH vs. Mankind, these two are always worth a look, even if they didn’t have anywhere near the same level of chemistry. It’s pretty clear looking back that the title wasn’t changing hands here but at the time, it wasn’t out of the question to see it happening. Then again, a clean (well, clean by 1999 standards) ending wasn’t likely no matter what.

Austin gets tied in the ropes and here comes the Higher Power, of course with his face covered by a robe. He leans over to Austin, pulls open the robe and looks at Austin. The stunned look from Austin takes us out and OF COURSE he never actually said who was under the hood until after the reveal.

Overall Rating: D+. I’ve said it many times but these shows REALLY don’t hold up. Sure they were fun to watch week to week when there was the drama of who would it be (I was glued to the screen the next week to find out who was under the robe) but everything else is just so lame. Above all else though, the horrible names and sex puns. It’s so sophomoric and just flat out not funny that it gets very tiresome after about five minutes.

There is some good stuff on here though and shockingly enough, it’s when you have top stars being able to make something out of this drek. Austin, Undertaker, HHH and Mankind are as good as you would expect and can carry a lot of this nonsense. They’re people who are going to be interesting no matter what they’re doing and it shows here. Next week is ALL drama though and that’s what they were selling here, which helps so much. But yeah, not a strong show here with a lot of Russo’s issues shining through.

Remember to check out my new forum at steelcageforums.com and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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: November 28, 1994
Location: Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, New York
Attendance: 2,500
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

We’re past Survivor Series and that means we have a new WWF World Champion in the form of Diesel. Yes Diesel, who is now fighting on the side of good, and not Bob Backlund, who lost the title to Diesel three days after he won the title back. The fact that the match was eight seconds made it even more emphatic. The company is running on Diesel Power now and that means….well we’re not sure yet so let’s get to it.

Here’s last week’s show.

And Survivor Series.

We open with a stills package of Backlund winning the title. My favorite part of that remains British Bulldog being unconscious on the floor for the better part of twelve minutes and receiving no attention, including people walking over his unconscious body. Diesel dominated his Survivor Series match that night but got kicked in the face by Shawn Michaels, meaning the team was done (vacating the Tag Team Titles in the process). We see the full title change with Diesel winning the title. I remember seeing this at six years old and going nuts.

Owen Hart vs. John Paul

Owen is downright giddy after screwing Bret out of the title. Paul gets taken down by the shoulder as Bret calls in to discuss his shoulder injury. He should be back around the New Year due to some stretched tendons so the WE WANT BRET chants are going to be ignored for the time being. Owen gets in some more suplexes and an enziguri but Paul hits a good dropkick. And never mind as the Sharpshooter wraps him up in short order.

Rating: D. Just a squash here while Bret got to update his story. Owen wasn’t going to do much after the feud with Bret wrapped up but he needed to get a win of his own that actually mattered. Unfortunately it would take a long time to get there and that had a lot to do with Owen falling down the card in short order.

Owen throws the towel in on Paul for bad measure.

BUY THE ENCORE!

IRS vs. Adam Bomb

IRS has Ted DiBiase, who brings out his own druid. Apparently Undertaker STILL owes some taxes, which really is inexcusable. Bomb shrugs off the early right hands in the corner and grabs a headlock, because that’s what you expect from a power guy like him. IRS gets knocked outside and rammed into the apron as the announcers talk about Chuck Norris.

Back in and the slingshot clothesline (always looked good) drops IRS again, followed by a whip into the corner for the same. IRS gets in a toss to the floor of his own and it’s time to hit that chinlock. Bomb fights up and we take a very abrupt break. We come back with Bomb in more trouble and another chinlock going on. The comeback, consisting of some clotheslines, but the druid shoves Bomb off the top to give IRS an easy pin.

Rating: D+. I’ve always been a fan of Bomb so the match was a little more entertaining than it could have been otherwise. As it was though, the match was rather boring with no reason to be interested in anything they were doing. I’m also wondering why we’re building Undertaker vs. IRS but my goodness the possible explanations scare the heck out of me.

Lex Luger makes a post match save.

Stills of the casket match.

Bob Holly vs. Tony DeVito

Holly, mostly in black for a weird look, starts fast with the perfect dropkick. DeVito gets in a running corner clothesline for about the extent of his offense. The announcers talk about Holly’s actual racing career until he finishes with a top rope clothesline.

We get what I believe is the first Henry Godwinn vignette. Egads 1994 was a scary time. He’s the scariest hog of all and when he gets to the WWF, he’ll be in hog Heaven. You just know Vince wrote that line.

Lex Luger vs. Bert Centino

Luger works the arm to start and hits some hiptosses. An elbow drop doesn’t go as well but a running clothesline and the Rebel Rack end Bert in a hurry.

Here’s Diesel for his first interview as champion. He recaps Shawn messing things up because he wanted the spotlight after Diesel did all the work. Shawn better be glad he got away because if Diesel had gotten his hands on him, Shawn wouldn’t have survived. Then with Bret out injured, Diesel won the title at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Diesel recaps his entire day, including the cab ride from the airport.

About a hundred people told him win the title and HOW SWEET IT IS that he now has the gold. He respects Bob Backlund and the crossface chickenwing could be trouble, but Bob has to get it on. Oh yeah he’s corporate now, as that’s not something Diesel would have EVER said before winning the title.

As for Bret, Diesel doesn’t like how he lost the title and if someone hadn’t made Bret give up, Survivor Series would still be going on. Vince: “That would be true.” My goodness you can see the wheels turning for Montreal from here. Diesel would be glad to give Bret a title shot anytime anywhere. He declares the new generation to wrap it up on a pretty bad note.

Heavenly Bodies vs. Gary Scott/Buck Quartermaine

I’ve never been a fan of the Bodies but Cornette raves about them so maybe they’re worth another look. Del Ray gets hiptossed by Scott as Backlund joins commentary, praising the benefits of dictionaries. It’s off to Prichard for a knee drop but Buck is in for some dropkicks. Bob talks about mothers killing their children, which he wants to change. Well now that we’ve covered that issue, Prichard gets in a suplex on Buck to keep him in trouble. Backlund cites Sigmund Freud to explain his blackout after losing the title as Prichard hits the Doctor Bomb for no cover. A Trash Compactor ends Buck.

Rating: D+. I could see why the Bodies were considered a good team and it’s not like there’s anything to be gained off a match like this. Maybe I need to see some of their SMW stuff as that seems to be their heyday. This was mainly about Backlund though, which might explain why the Bodies didn’t work out so well around here.

Backlund doesn’t want to see the title loss (well duh) and promises to chicken wing Vince before he retires. I don’t think anything ever came of that but it’s a funny visual.

Overall Rating: D-. So Diesel is champion now and you can feel the darkness creeping in. They had to get away from Backlund as the top heel and Bret had gotten them about as far as he could, but turning Diesel away from what worked isn’t the best idea in the world. Then again not much on this show was a good idea and that’s a bad sign of things to come. Like Henry Godwinn for example.

Remember to check out my new forum at steelcageforums.com, follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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: November 21, 1994
Location: Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 1,500
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jim Cornette

It’s the go home show for Survivor Series and that means more towel discussion. Actually it means Razor Ramon vs. Diesel, which should make for a good match as the Kliq always worked well together. Hopefully the Survivor Series matches get some more attention this week as they’ve been glossed over, albeit in favor of the bigger matches. Let’s get to it.

Here’s last week’s show

Razor Ramon vs. Diesel

Non-title. We waste no time….in not having the match take place as Diesel and the rest of the Teamsters jump Razor in the aisle. No match and we’re off to a stupid early break.

Tatanka vs. Chris Canyon

I love seeing future names appearing as nobodies. Tatanka starts fast with chops and a slam set up some jumping elbow drops. A release gutwrench suplex puts Canyon down again and we hear about a fan wanting a 24 hour Portuguese channel. Canyon gets in a spinning crossbody for two, followed by a crucifix for the same. Even Cornette is acknowledging some of these near falls. Tatanka scores with a backdrop and the top rope chop, followed by the Papoose To Go for the pin.

Rating: C-. Canyon looked good here and it’s no surprise that he turned into something down the road. He’s certainly not a top level talent but he’s able to go out there and do something, which is more than you get from most jobbers. Why it took him so long to get a major job is hard to say, but it was clear there was something there.

Adam Bomb vs. Jason Ahrendt

Jason was a jobber for the better part of ever. The powerful Bomb wrestles him down for some reason and gets in a suplex. We hit an armbar of all things as it’s time to talk about George Foreman winning the World Heavyweight Championship at 45 years old. Jason’s ax handles have no effect and the Atom Smasher is good for the fast pin.

Vince and Cornette play Raw on Sega Genesis. That’s a show concept if I’ve ever seen one.

We get a long and VERY detailed recap of Clowns R Us vs. the Royal Family, down to the introduction of all six minis. Yes, THIS needs a special feature.

It’s time for the King’s Court with Lawler having all three minis as his guests. Lawler makes the short jokes as only he can until Dink comes out with a water gun. As Jerry blames the other kings, the rest of the clowns come in with their own water guns to soak the kings. Sweet goodness I need to get away from this company.

IRS isn’t happy with Undertaker for cheating on his taxes and has found out quite a few things. This time around, he’s dug up a casket because the occupant’s grave has been repossessed. My goodness IRS and the Repo Man could have been a sweet low level team.

IRS vs. Matt Hardy

Speaking of low level names who became stars. IRS knocks him to the floor as the announcers talk about….hang on a second….Thanksgiving plans, polls about gaining weight over Thanksgiving and Mary Tyler Moore trying to free a lobster. Matt’s sunset flip is broken up and we hit the abdominal stretch. The Write Off (jumping clothesline) ends Hardy as the announcers talk about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

This week’s Survivor Series Report starts with a shot at WCW (saying this won’t be another rasslin pay per view) before looking at the World Title match. We see clips of last week with Bret and Backlund letting each other out of their respective holds to play some mind games. On Superstars, Backlund went insane (again), shouting about how it’s going to be his again.

We move on to the casket match with a quick video and comments from Undertaker and Paul Bearer. After they say exactly what you would expect, it’s a look at the rest of the card to wrap things up. This was at least more complete than anything else and it’s nice to keep the title match here instead of all over the show.

Diesel vs. Razor Ramon

Non-title again. The other eight participants in the Survivor Series match are at ringside. Razor slugs away to start and knocks Jeff Jarrett off the apron as well. Diesel gets taken down in a hammerlock before bailing to the floor for a breather. With Cornette comparing Razor to Desi Arnaz, Diesel elbows him down as the pace slows a lot. Shawn Michaels gets in a few hair pulls from the floor and Diesel slams Razor hard into the mat. We hit the sleeper for a good while until Razor is sent outside as we take a break.

Back with Diesel heading outside to glare at the opposing team, allowing Razor to punch him in the jaw. The big sidewalk slam plants Razor for two and it’s off to the neck crank. Back up and Snake Eyes keeps Razor in trouble and there’s the running crotch attack on the ropes. Razor gets in a knee lift and more of those great right hands. Jarrett is dragged in and it’s time for the big brawl as the match is thrown out to end the show.

Rating: B-. These two work very well together as Razor is big enough to throw Diesel around while still looking impressive. Throw in the fact that they’re going to work hard against each other and it’s even better. The ending was obvious but in this case, that’s perfectly acceptable.

Overall Rating: C. Now that’s more like it. This wasn’t a great show or anything but it has me more interested in seeing the pay per view than I was before. I mean, not enough to watch it again or anything but at least things were good back in the day. The main event did focus on the Survivor Series matches and that’s where things needed to go here. I liked the show, even if some of the wrestling wasn’t great. It did what it needed to do though and that’s worth a pass.

I should probably redo Survivor Series but….egads no. Here’s the latest redo:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2015/11/02/survivor-series-count-up-1994-chuck-norris-and-the-mini-kings/

Remember to check out my new forum at steelcageforums.com, follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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: November 14, 1994
Location: Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 1,500
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Ted DiBiase

We’ve had a big match announced for this week’s show as Bob Backlund is facing the 1-2-3 Kid. That’s an odd match but it sounds oddly interesting for some reason. Bret Hart, who will be defending the WWF World Title against Backlund at the upcoming Survivor Series, should be watching that one so let’s get to it.

For some reason the opening match isn’t included on the Network. Thank goodness for other options though.

Opening sequence.

1-2-3 Kid vs. Bob Backlund

Backlund goes straight for him at the bell, which really isn’t what you expect from him. In something a little more predictable, Kid fires off the kicks and grabs a short armscissors to keep Backlund down. Backlund of course does the power lift to put Kid on the top (because that’s his spot), meaning it’s time to start in on the arm.

Back from a very early break with Kid’s arm being sent into the buckle, only to reverse the Crossface Chickenwing into one of his own. Bob slips out but can’t get the real thing on, instead going with more standard arm work. Kid kicks away some more but misses a top rope splash. The Chickenwing goes on and Kid is done in a hurry.

Rating: C. That’s the kind of win that Backlund needs as it makes him look like he can beat someone smaller and faster. It makes him look like a killer and that’s the kind of thing he needs to do going into Survivor Series. The Kid isn’t going to lose anything by losing here so everything comes out fine.

Post match Bret comes in for the save but Backlund grabs the Chickenwing. He lets go immediately though and says it can be that easy. Bret charges him and slaps on the Sharpshooter in the aisle. He lets go as well, saying there won’t be any releasing at Survivor Series.

New Generation ad with an old lady babbling about Shawn Michaels cleaning up the streets. I have no idea how that makes me want to watch wrestling.

Mabel vs. The Blue Phantom

Mabel and Oscar rap about how they’re going to dominate at the Survivor Series with DiBiase telling Vince to sit down. The Phantom is all in black, making me think they have no idea how colors work. Mabel powers him into the corner to start and sends the Phantom flying with a hiptoss. The big elbow misses and Phantom kicks away in the corner, only to get caught with the Boss Man Slam for an easy pin.

We go to the Survivor Series Report with Todd Pettengill and unfortunately without his sweet shirt from last week. This week looks at the submission and casket match as there’s not much left to say on these things. We see a clip of the first casket match between Undertaker and Yokozuna, spliced in with Chuck Norris talking about how he won’t let it happen again. Tatanka promises to test Norris because he doesn’t like Texas. We hear about the Survivor Series matches to wrap things up.

Jeff Jarrett vs. Gary Sabaugh

The announcers start talking about Sonny Bono becoming a Congressman as it’s time to discuss the news, which was never funny and I never got the point. Jeff hiptosses him down and let’s hit that strutting. Choking on the ropes sets up the running crotch attack before it’s off to the leg. The Figure Four is good for the win.

Rating: D. I know Jarrett is now a Hall of Famer but that doesn’t make him the most interesting wrestler in the world. He wrestles such a simple style but he’s far from someone I’d want to see him wrestle. The country music stuff isn’t good either and it’s not getting any better with time.

IRS has no issues with stealing Undertaker’s headstone because EVERYONE, either living or dead, has to pay their taxes. Being six feet under is NOT a tax shelter.

It’s time for the King’s Court and after some general insults to the crowd, Lawler brings out Owen Hart as the guest. Owen has the towel for the submission match (the same one thrown in to cause Backlund to lose the title in 1983) and can’t wait to see Bret in the Crossface Chickenwing. He promises to never throw the towel in, meaning the only one going into the ring will be pink and black. They take their sweet time explaining the rules (they’re really not that hard) and Lawler thinks Backlund is still rightfully champion.

This brings out British Bulldog (Bret’s towel holder) to say Bret is champion today and will still be after Survivor Series. Owen wants Bulldog to let Bret be in pain for some time before throwing in the towel. They argue over whose hold is better and it just kind of ends after the rambling exchanges.

Aldo Montoya vs. Brooklyn Brawler

This is Aldo’s debut and let’s talk about Celebrity Jeopardy! Aldo avoids an early elbow drop but gets pulled down by the hair. Instead it’s a dropkick to send Brawler outside, followed by the required dive. DiBiase reads an ad for an upcoming movie and Vince really doesn’t seem pleased. Brawler gets two off a backbreaker as Vince reads it all over again. A hurricanrana into some right hands have Brawler in trouble and a spinning high crossbody is good for the fast pin. I’m not sure I see the appeal here, but Paul Heyman certainly did….whatever it was.

Post match DiBiase offers Montoya a spot in the Million Dollar Corporation but gets shot down, both in Portuguese and English.

Alundra Blayze gives a quick plug for her upcoming title match in Tokyo.

Overall Rating: D. I’m interested in some of the team matches but this was almost all built around the World Title match. The problem with that is while it makes for a good match, it really doesn’t make for interesting TV. The fact that most of the talking is about throwing in a towel makes things even worse. Couple that with the Montoya stuff being even less interesting and this was a rough sit.

Remember to check out my new forum at steelcageforums.com, follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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: November 7, 1994
Location: Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 1,500
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler

We’re coming up on Survivor Series 1994, which means it’s time to talk about the Harts. Bret and Owen have been feuding all year, including a heck of a cage match at Summerslam. Jim Neidhart interfered on Owen’s behalf but British Bulldog made the save, setting up something like a fever dream tag match here. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

For a historical note: this is the first time Lawler ever did commentary for the show.

Bret Hart/British Bulldog vs. Owen Hart/Jim Neidhart

You can’t say the Hart Family wasn’t extensive. It’s a brawl to start with the villains being sent into each other, followed by Bulldog pressing Owen over the top onto Neidhart. Bret launches Neidhart back in and we settle down a bit. My goodness it’s odd seeing Bret beating on Neidhart but 1994 was a strange time. A bearhug goes nowhere for Neidhart and it’s off to the Bulldog for the power struggle.

Bulldog shrugs off some double teaming and hits the delayed vertical on Owen. We hit the lamest armbar I’ve seen in a good while until Owen comes back with an enziguri. Serves Bulldog right for something so lazy. Vince goes over the towel colors in the upcoming submission match because that’s the kind of time these people have to kill. Neidhart comes in for a chinlock, followed by a double clothesline to drop Bulldog again.

That means another chinlock, again likely due to the high amount of time they have. Neidhart gets two off a gutwrench suplex and we take a break. Back with Bulldog grabbing a sunset flip for an ECW fast two. We hit the front facelock to keep Bulldog in trouble, only to have Owen draw Bret in so there can’t be a hot tag. I love spots like that and they’re always going to work.

It’s back to the chinlock (the Owen Edition this time), followed by the reverse version for good measure. Bulldog fights up and gets two off a backslide but Neidhart comes back in and pounds him in the corner. We take a second break and come back with a double knockdown to put Bulldog and Owen in trouble.

Just because we haven’t had enough of my favorite stuff yet, Bulldog makes the tag but Neidhart has the referee so it doesn’t count. Bulldog sends them into each other though and NOW the hot tag brings Bret in to clean house. We hit the Five Moves of Doom on Neidhart but Owen gets in a cheap shot from the apron. Owen’s top rope ax to Bret’s head gives Neidhart two more but Bulldog sends Owen into the steps. The Sharpshooter makes Neidhart give up.

Rating: B. Good, long tag match here with both teams getting to throw in a lot of offense. Bret winning makes the most sense and it’s good to have him beat Neidhart instead of Owen, which he’s done multiple times now. The upcoming title match with Backlund vs. Bret should be interesting but you can feel the big stuff coming.

Todd Pettengill has the Survivor Series Report (and an AWESOME Survivor Series shirt) and tells us the story of someone waiting too long to order the show and being arrested for stealing the VHS. The big story for the show is Chuck Norris acting as guest enforcer for the casket match. Chuck wants the toughest, meanest men in the world, which is why he’s showing up.

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Tyron Knox

Tyron’s right hands have no effect and Bigelow clotheslines him down. Vince chuckles at the VINCE FOR SENATE sign in the crowd as Bigelow tosses Knox out of the corner. We hit the chinlock for a bit as the announcers talk about everything else other than this match. Bigelow grabs a front facelock as this is going longer than necessary. Now it’s a neck crank before Bigelow puts his hands on his hips, seemingly out of boredom. A dropkick and the enziguri ends Knox.

Rating: D-. Even more boring than your usual squash with Bigelow not exactly looking thrilled to be out there. Knox got in a bit more offense than your usual jobber but that just extended the match further than it needed to go. To be fair though, sometimes a squash isn’t going to work because you can only get so excited about something like this every given week.

And now for the historical moment: Vince announces that Randy Savage couldn’t come to terms on a new contract with the company and is gone. He does offer what sounds like a heartfelt thank you for everything Savage has done, including wishing him good luck. And that’s the last positive thing you would hear about Savage for a very long time.

It’s time for the King’s Court with guest the 1-2-3 Kid. Lawler says Kid is going out for Halloween wearing a white hat and fuzzy house slippers so he can be a Q-Tip. Kid is going to be in trouble next week when he faces Bob Backlund, but Kid isn’t worried about the crossface chickenwing. Cue Backlund but Kid kicks him to the floor without much effort. Bret comes out to make sure nothing else happens.

This Sunday on Action Zone: Bob Holly vs. Jerry Lawler! That’s not even a weak indy main event.

Doink the Clown vs. Pat Tanaka

Doink has Dink, Wink and Pink with him so Lawler gets covered in silly string. Tanaka’s name graphic doesn’t come up until a little bit into the match. Doink mocks the Crane Kick pose as the announcers talk about the upcoming Clowns R Us vs. Royal Family match, just to make my blood pressure go up. A clothesline has Tanaka in trouble but he grabs a dragon screw legwhip to take over. The leg work doesn’t go very far though as Doink gets in a belly to back suplex, followed by the Whoopee Cushion for the pin.

Rating: D. Doink wasn’t exactly thrilling at this point and the upcoming match would be one of the least entertaining matches the company would ever put together. As soon as the character started being geared towards children, he was dead in the water and everyone knew it. Tatanka should have been around more often as he was talented enough to fill a lower card roll around this point. But nah, just let him job to a clown instead.

Post match the mini clowns steal Jerry’s crown and return it with a jewel missing.

Back from a break with Lawler yelling at the mini Kings. The Clowns come out and snarling ensues.

Bret says he’ll be here when the 1-2-3 Kid faces Backlund last week. It’s the old generation vs. the new generation and the Kid is the best of the new. That’s some high praise but after their awesome title match, I’m not surprised.

Overall Rating: C+. It’s a one match show but that was a heck of a match. The Bret vs. Backlund stuff certainly isn’t for everyone but once they got into it, they had a classic at Survivor Series. The squash matches were really bad this week though and that dragged the rest of the show down. Check out the tag match though.

Remember to check out my new forum at steelcageforums.com, follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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

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

It’s that time of year again.  The Wrestlemania Count-Up begins this Tuesday and I’ll be redoing both Wrestlemania XXXIII and one more that you all get to vote on.  You can list your votes in the comments with the following being out of the running (due to being done recently):

XXXIII

XXXII

XIX

XXVIII

Any of the other 29 editions are available though.

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: March 1, 2018
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Sonjay Dutt

It’s the week before the big Crossroads show and that means it’s time to build things up a bit. Next week’s main event will see Austin Aries defending the World Title against Johnny Impact in what could be an awesome match. Other than that though we’re likely in for more build towards Abyss vs. Kongo Kong, because that’s what we need to see. Let’s get to it.

Need a recap?  Here’s last week’s review.

The opening video looks at Ethan Carter III and Tyrus reuniting and then splitting up in very short order. That’s the smart move considering Carter is leaving.

Opening sequence.

Ethan Carter III vs. Tyrus

Carter runs his mouth (as is his custom) and is promptly shoved out to the floor. Back in and Carter gets shoved outside again as Josh talks about all the other companies they’ll be visiting soon. Carter stalls a lot, including messing with a fan’s phone, before going back in to have his arm cranked.

Chops and running clotheslines have no effect on Tyrus and it’s Carter being crushed in the corner. A charge misses though and Carter gets in a few shots to the back. Carter’s middle rope ax handle drops Tyrus and we hit the cravate. Tyrus shrugs it off and hits a corner splash before hitting his own 1%er. The Tongan Death Grip slam is enough to end Carter at 8:13.

Rating: D+. Assuming this is it for Carter, I’ll give this one a break with him leaving the company for blacker and yellower pastures. It’s certainly a better way to have him go out than having Dixie Carter grab his foot and beg him to stay. I’m not sure on Tyrus being the one to get the rub but it’s better than having Carter just leave.

Joseph Park is going to fight Kongo Kong tonight on his own, but neither he nor his family seems to give him much of a chance.

OVE and Sami Callihan say this is no longer fun and games. Violence takes place tonight.

Josh and Sonjay are in a studio to preview the rest of the show. Better than them saying they’re ringside every week.

El Hijo de Fantasma vs. Braxton Sutter

Hijo’s Latin American Championship isn’t on the line and there’s no entrance for Sutter. Hijo shoulders him down to start as Josh plugs the network, featuring a bunch of names that aren’t around anymore. Some clotheslines put Fantasma down for two but the chinlock doesn’t last very long. A backbreaker gives Fantasma two and a jumping superkick puts Sutter on the floor for the hard suicide dive. Back in and Sutter powerbombs him for two with his feet on the ropes. Not that it matters as Fantasma’s Thrill of the Hunt (Samoan Driver) is good for the pin at 5:14.

Rating: C-. This felt like angle advancement more than anything else as Fantasma is now a big deal around here because he’s a big deal in AAA. Sutter on the other hand….what happened? He and Allie should have been moved up several notches last year off the wedding angle but instead we’re here, seeing him losing in five minutes. I’m sure this was the best possible use for him though.

Post match Sutter yells about how Allie isn’t here because she ruins lives. He’s the biggest star in the company….and cue Brian Cage to wreck Sutter in short order.

Matt Sydal wants to share his spiritual adviser with the world.

Sydal is ready to win the X-Division Title next week but Taiji Ishimori comes in with his own scroll, asking if Sydal will make it title for title. No answer is given.

Kongo Kong vs. Joseph Park

Park goes after him but gets dropped with a single shot to the chest. Kong hammers away in the corner and Park’s headbutt knocks himself down. The top rope splash puts Park away at 2:14.

Post match Jimmy Jacobs gets in while Kong chokes Park. They still want Abyss and this is just getting started.

The Cult of Lee is having a party when the Mumbai Cats come in. After making fun of the masked men and not letting them have a drink, Konnan comes in to wonder why the Cult of Lee isn’t doing cartwheels in Wonder Woman bikinis. They say Konnan is here before and if you don’t know what’s coming, you haven’t been watching wrestling long. LAX throws Lee and Konley into the pool.

Alberto El Patron should be #1 contender. Well to be fair he hasn’t had a World Title match in like two weeks at this point.

Rosemary vs. Hania

Rosemary wastes no time in hammering away at the chest and gets two off a clothesline. A very early Red Wedding attempt is broken up but Rosemary is right back up with her figure four neck lock over the ropes. Hania gets dropped with a dropkick and a t-bone suplex for two. A spear into the Red Wedding is good for the pin on Hania at 3:13. Total squash.

Rating: D. Odds are that’s it for Hania and other than a look, I’m not sure what else she had to offer. This was complete destruction with Hania getting in absolutely nothing, which should tell you that she’s either done or not exactly thought of in the first place. Rosemary getting back towards the title is a good idea though and she should be going after the title in short order.

Post match Rosemary says Hania was just a puppy and now it’s time to bring the Knockouts Title back to the shadow. Rosemary dubs herself the Alpha B**** but here’s the returning Taya Valkyrie to disagree. Taya says the only truth in that is the B**** part but it should be Taya’s, not Alpha. They both go to the apron but Taya jumps her from behind. The Road to Valhalla on the ramp drops Rosemary.

This week’s classic clip: Eddie Edwards wins the World Title from Bobby Lashley.

We get a somewhat creepy video on Laurel Van Ness’ rocky road, including her near wedding to Braxton Sutter, going crazy, nearly marrying Grado, and now her commitment ceremony to the Knockouts Title.

KM, the minister for the ceremony, brings the title, with a bow tie, to the ring. Laurel comes out in a dress with the lipstick being all over the place as usual. She wants him to get to the good part, meaning the objections. Cue Braxton, now in a neck brace, to interrupt. He was dropped on his head earlier and Laurel flashed before his eyes. A year ago, he made a huge mistake when he left her at the altar. He proposes, but she screams NO over and over. KM: “EPIC FAIL BRO!” Laurel asks for more objections and even shouts a request for them. Cue Allie, in a black body suit which isn’t really necessary as she’s sneaking in, to jump Laurel and ruin the ceremony.

The announcers preview next week’s show.

Video on Austin Aries vs. Johnny Impact for the World Title next week.

Sami Callihan vs. Eddie Edwards

Eddie sends him outside for the suicide dive five seconds in but Sami rolls back in to hit one of his own eleven seconds in. Eddie hits another though and we get to thirty seconds on the replays. Some chops rock Sami and OVE is ejected for a distraction. Sami gets in an apron kick to the face though and we take a break. Back with Eddie fighting out of a chinlock and chopping away, but getting caught in a piledriver on the apron. Since this is a regular TV match though, Sami doesn’t even bother to cover.

Eddie fights out of something like a standing Crossface and kicks Sami in the face to catch him on top. A superplex brings Sami back down for no cover as Eddie can’t follow up. The Backpack Stunner gets two but Sami is right back with the running knee in the corner. A slingshot suplex neckbreaker gives Sami two and an exchange of kicks to the head puts both guys down. Sami loads up a powerbomb but Eddie backdrops into a cradle for the pin at 15:04.

Rating: C+. I liked this better than most Sami matches as it actually felt like a match. I’m still not sure why Sami and OVE are going after Lashley and Eddie but I’m guessing it’s something to do with the team being insane. Eddie winning makes sense as it’s not like a member of the team losing a singles match to a former World Champion is a huge blow.

Overall Rating: C. You can see where they’re going with a lot of stuff and they set up next week’s show well enough. The World Title match didn’t need a ton of hype as that’s big enough on its own standing. The wrestling wasn’t anything great here but at least we’re getting towards the big show. If that works, then this doesn’t matter nearly as much. Pretty standard buildup show here and I can settle for that.

Results

Tyrus b. Ethan Carter III – Tongan Death Grip slam

El Hijo de Fantasma b. Braxton Sutter – The Thrill of the Hunt

Kongo Kong b. Joseph Park – Top rope splash

Rosemary b. Hania – Red Wedding

Eddie Edwards b. Sami Callihan – Rollup

Remember to check out my new forum at steelcageforums.com and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: February 27, 2018
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for another round of the tournament as we’re in the final eight. This tournament has completely reinvigorated the show and actually made it fun to watch. That wasn’t the case for over a year but better late than never. Tonight we’ll have half of the semifinals set so let’s get to it.

Here’s last week’s show.

And the show featuring this week’s quarterfinalists.

And the other show featuring this week’s quarterfinalists.

We open with a recap of last week’s first round matches. These quick recaps are really effective, especially since they don’t take up a bunch of time.

Opening sequence.

Cruiserweight Title Tournament Quarterfinals: TJP vs. Cedric Alexander

Both say they’re going to Wrestlemania and winning the title. The fans are behind the hometown boy in TJP as they hit the mat for a wrestling sequence. Back up and a flip off goes to Alexander, who counters TJP’s hurricanrana into a powerbomb for two. Back up and a headscissors takes Cedric down, meaning we can hit the dab. Cedric starts working on the arm with his feet on TJP’s face but a whip into the corner allows TJP to get in a boot to the head. A dropkick sends TJP outside but he’s back in fast enough to block the big flip dive.

Now it’s TJP’s turn to start in on the arm, sending Alexander straight to the ropes. Some kneedrops and a chinlock with an arm trap keep TJP in control. That’s not enough for him though as he grapevines the legs in a standing Indian deathlock but steps on Cedric’s head for a nice change of pace. The slingshot hilo bangs the ribs up a little bit more and it’s back to the chinlock. A good looking jumping back elbow to the jaw gets two on Cedric and it’s off to an abdominal stretch/octopus hold hybrid.

Cedric reverses a belly to back suplex into a crossbody and chills in the corner (where a turnbuckle pad is upside down). The Neuralizer gives Cedric two and the springboard Downward Spiral is good for the same. The Lumbar Check is reversed into the double chickenwing gutbuster to put Cedric down again. TJP dropkicks the knee out but Cedric kicks him in the….I think top of the head to knock TJP outside. Now the slingshot dive connects, only to bang up Cedric’s knee even more.

Back in and the knee gets hurt again and there’s the kneebar. Cedric’s crawl to the ropes is enough for the break so TJP settles for a rollup with trunks for two instead. A double clothesline gives us a double knockdown. It’s TJP up first with the springboard forearm (no nipup due to exhaustion though) and the kneebar goes on again. Cedric rolls halfway around the ring for the break this time and it’s time for a strike off. TJP gets the better of it and tries the Detonation Kick but Cedric slips out and grabs the Lumbar Check to advance at 17:30.

Rating: B. They did a good job here with the more complete wrestler in TJP breaking Cedric down but Alexander just wasn’t going to be denied and had to hit his big move for the win. I didn’t buy the idea of Cedric tapping but there was a reason to believe that TJP, who is the master of these tournaments, could pin him instead. Good storytelling here and I was digging the match.

Drake Maverick talks about how important cruiserweights can be, especially with someone pointing them in the right direction. The last few weeks have been his vision for 205 Live.

Last week, Mustafa Ali was in the fight of his life but he looked at the Wrestlemania sign and kept going. Next week he faces the bigger and stronger Buddy Murphy, but Buddy isn’t strong enough to break him.

Buddy says if Mustafa thought he was in a fight last week, he has no idea what he’s in for next week.

Cruiserweight Title Tournament Quarterfinals: Kalisto vs. Roderick Strong

The winner gets Cedric in the semifinals. Roderick hammerlocks him to start and a wristlock puts Kalisto on the mat. Back up and a headscissors takes Strong down as Cedric is watching backstage. A backbreaker out of nowhere gives Roderick one but he gets hurricanranaed to the floor. Kalisto snaps off a big dive and dropkicks Strong underneath the ropes for good measure.

Strong is fast enough to send him into the apron though and a release suplex drops Kalisto on the announcers’ table as things get a lot more intense in a hurry. That actually draws the first 205 Live chant that I’ve heard in at least a year, so maybe there’s something to this new style. Back in and Strong stomps away but Kalisto is up at one. Another backbreaker gets another two and Strong, apparently a heel, mocks the Lucha Dance.

Strong tries a modified Gory Special but Kalisto armdrags his way out and hits the basement hurricanrana. Kalisto comes back with the usual and another basement hurricanrana gets two. The Salida Del Sol is broken up though and Strong grabs an Angle Slam for two of his own. A double underhook powerbomb is countered into a rollup to give Kalisto two and both guys are down again.

Kalisto catches Strong on top and stands up there with him, allowing Strong to pick him up for what looked like a slam. Instead Kalisto held on and rolled through to drop Strong though in a really unique looking spot (even Nigel said he had no idea what it was) for two. Strong finally knees him in the head though and another backbreaker sets up End of Heartache to end Kalisto at 11:42.

Rating: B-. Strong’s mid-match heel turn was a little weird but he’s one of those guys who can wrestle as a face or a heel just as well and Cedric needs a heel to face anyway. Beating Kalisto makes Strong look even better and now we should be in for a good match two weeks from now. Kalisto is going to be fine of course and it’s not like a loss here hurts him all that much. Good, but not as good as the opener.

Overall Rating: B+. Now that’s more like it. Just like this week’s Mixed Match Challenge (the other main roster tournament), things got a lot better once they got past the last first round matches. We’re into the matches between big names now and that makes for some very fun shows. This was about 45 minutes long and felt like half of that, which is some high praise for a WWE show anymore.

Remember to check out my new forum at steelcageforums.com, follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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

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