It’s time to go back to Saudi Arabia for what will be…well if nothing else the show with the longest title in a long time. The show is built around the namesake tournament finals, plus a few other matches. This week saw WWE add some major stakes to the tournaments by putting World Title shots at Summerslam up for grabs, so they are about more than just the crown. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Women’s Tag Team Titles: Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill vs. Indi Hartwell/Candice LeRae

I try to start these things with the Kickoff Show matches, followed by the most obvious results. This one should cover both of them, as even with Belair suffering a knee injury, it is hard to imagine that the titles are in jeopardy. Hartwell and LeRae have been treated as little more than annoyances, so having them be a major threat to the super team is a stretch.

In case you didn’t get it, of course I’ll go with the champions retaining here as there is no reason to believe anything else will happen. Belair and Cargill are going to lose the titles someday, but they already have Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark waiting on them. Why should I believe that a far weaker team has any serious chance of beating them in a match made the previous night? The champs retain here without much effort.

Queen Of The Ring: Nia Jax vs. Lyra Valkyria

This is one of those matches where it could go either way and the more you think about the options, the more interesting things get. In this case, I could see either of them getting a title shot at Summerslam. Bayley vs. Jax and Valkyria vs. Becky Lynch both make sense, but now the question becomes which of the paths WWE is going to take. That’s more that I would have bet on coming in so well done.

With that being said, I’ll go with Jax getting the win as WWE wants her to be a big star and needs to give her an important win of some kind. Valkyria has already been turned into a thing by making it this far and doesn’t need the win, so go with what makes sense and give Jax the win. I could see Valkyria winning and it would make me rather happy, but I’ll go with Jax winning here to make her that much bigger of a monster.

Intercontinental Title: Sami Zayn(c) vs. Bronson Reed vs. Chad Gable

The more I think about Zayn’s mind vs. body vs. soul promo from Monday Night Raw, the more I like it. This is a feud that has gotten a lot of mileage out of something that feels like it should have wrapped up weeks ago and that is heavily due to what Gable has been saying. He has sold me on the feud and that is a great feeling, though it doesn’t mean he’ll be leaving as champion.

I’ll go with the conventional wisdom here and say Zayn manages to retain the title. As much as it would benefit Gable to win the thing, Zayn losing the title, even with potential Otis interference, doesn’t feel right here. Zayn retains the title here, likely pinning Reed in the process, but I could see one more big match between Zayn and Gable, hopefully with the latter winning.

Raw Women’s Title: Becky Lynch(c) vs. Liv Morgan

This is an interesting one as Lynch is a placeholder champion until Rhea Ripley comes back and rips Morgan to pieces. That opens up an interesting question though, as it could be Ripley coming back for Morgan with the title or Morgan and the title in two separate stories. In theory that would mean Lynch retains here, as Morgan vs. Ripley does not need to be for a championship.

While Morgan needs to win the title to avoid being labeled as a choker, I don’t think she does it just yet. There might be a screwy finish here of some kind, but I’ll go with Lynch retaining and the feud continuing. Morgan has quite the set of skills and a VERY loyal fan base, but I don’t know if that is enough to see her win the title here, as much sense as it would make.

King Of The Ring: Gunther vs. Randy Orton

NOW we’re getting somewhere as this could go either way. We would be looking at either Gunther vs. Damian Priest/Drew McIntyre or Orton vs. Cody Rhodes, both of which could make for some awesome moments. Gunther has been waiting to move into the main event scene for a long time now, but Orton has been there for so long that there is always a chance of him sliding right back in. That opens up some interesting options as they both could easily win this.

As much as I could see it being Orton, I’ll go with Gunther, who already has his own history with McIntyre, should that be the path they take. Gunther has mostly cleared out the midcard scene and needs some fresh blood, while Orton could lose every night for years and still be fine. I’ll go with Gunther winning here, as it’s almost hard to imagine him losing again so soon after WrestleMania.

SmackDown World Title: Cody Rhodes(c) vs. Logan Paul

We’ll wrap it up here, with Rhodes getting another title match where the result might not be in doubt, but there is something here to make him look that much better. Paul is just enough of a wild card that he could have a shot at a miracle, but what matters is that he has a chance. That shouldn’t be much of a surprise as Saudi Arabia seems to be really big fans.

So yeah of course I’m taking Rhodes to retain here, as there is almost no reason to believe otherwise. Rhodes is still relatively early in his title reign that he needs to have another big match with an almost guaranteed win, which is where Paul comes in. Paul can put on some of the most exciting and entertaining matches in WWE today, so having him as the next designated victim is a smart move and could boost him up as well. But yeah, Rhodes retains here, as he should.

Overall Thoughts

WWE has benefited quite a bit from these tournaments, as they have allowed the company to produce quite the string of solid matches over the weeks. Having tournaments lets WWE map things out for weeks to come and now we’ve reached the big payoff. The rest of the card is stuff that should be good but they’ll have their work cut out for the to beat some previous events.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Rampage
Date: May 24, 2024
Location: Mechanics Bank Arena, Bakersfield, California
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

We are two days away from Double Or Nothing and that means this show should be about hyping up the pay per view. That shouldn’t be hard to do as there are a lot of big matches already set for the show. We might even get some extra star power this week as the show is at least back on its normal day. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Pac vs. Rocky Romero

Chris Jericho, with Big Bill, is on commentary. Romero tries to take him down to start but has to avoid a big boot to the chest, allowing him to pull Pac into the ropes. Pac isn’t having that and knocks him to the floor for a dive as we take a break. Back with Romero hitting a running Sliced Bread for two, followed by a nasty tornado DDT to send Pac outside. The suicide dive gives Romero two but Pac sends him into the corner for a snap German suplex. The Brutalizer makes Romero tap at 7:12.

Rating: C+. The action was fast, but it’s another Romero lost. He’s a good hand, but why is he getting this much ring time if he isn’t going to win any important matches? I get the whole international connections thing, though you would think at some point there would be a better option to put out there.

Pac takes his time letting go but joins the Lucha Bros on the stag. He says the Bros will see the Gunns tomorrow and then they’re coming for the Trios Titles at Double Or Nothing.

Chris Jericho grabs the mic and says his triple threat match at Double Or Nothing is under FTW Rules and he can’t wait to face both Katsuyori Shibata and Hook. The insincerity is strong but Shibata comes in to go after Jericho, with Hook coming up to give Jericho the Redrum. Jericho and Hook brawl into the crowd.

Post break Hook promises to get the FTW Title back but Samoa Joe pops in. Hook tells him to worry about getting his own title back. Joe says he’s biding his time and he thought there was something special about Hook. He isn’t impressed with Hook or Katsuyori Shibata. Joe and Hook leave, with Shibata saying he’s going to see Carrot Top after he wins the title.

Samoa Joe vs. Dom Kubrick

Kubrick fires off a dropkick, which seems to annoy Joe. That earns Kubrick some shots into the corner and the MuscleBuster gives Joe the pin at 1:20. Ticked off Joe is always fun.

Deonna Purrazzo wants a wrestling match with Thunder Rosa at Double Or Nothing….on the Buy-In.

Rush vs. Isiah Kassidy

Rush jumps him at the bell and hits the Bull’s Horns but steps off at two. They head to the floor, with Kassidy being sent into the barricade a few times. Rush hammers away and throws a chair inside, which is enough of a distraction to let him whip Kassidy a few times with a camera cable.

Back in and the Bull’s Horns is loaded up but instead he slaps Kassidy in the face and poses as we take a break. We come back with Kassidy hitting a dive and adding a Swanton for two. They chop it out on the apron but Kassidy gets suplexed out to the floor. Back in and the Bull’s Horns finishes for Rush at 9:04.

Rating: C+. What a weird match, as Rush’s custom is to squash people, but instead he needed that much time to beat a career tag wrestler. I’m not sure what the point of Rush is at the moment, other than being rather intense, as he hasn’t done anything important since his return last month. This probably should have been a squash, but Kassidy’s comeback being cut off so fast was entertaining enough.

Brian Cage and the Gates Of Agony say the Mogul Embassy is done and brag about Cage beating Anthony Bowens last week. The team is now apparently called the Cage Of Agony in a name that probably took weeks to put together.

Double Or Nothing rundown.

Willow Nightingale/Kris Statlander vs. Anna Jay/Alex Windsor

Stokely Hathaway is here with Nightingale and Statlander. Jay gets tossed out of the corner by Statlander to start so it’s off to Windsor, who gets caught with a basement crossbody. The Pounce knocks Windsor silly so it’s off to Jay, who manages a neckbreaker over the ropes to cut Statlander off. We take a break and come back with Statlander German suplexing Windsor, allowing the tag back to Nightingale. The spinebuster gets two on Jay but Windsor is back in with a Shining Wizard for the same. Nightingale has had it and runs Windsor over, setting up the Babe With The Powerbomb for the pin at 9:22.

Rating: B-. Nice match here, which is impressive as Nightingale and Statlander are a good bit higher up on the food chain than Jay and a debuting Windsor. Jay and Windsor worked well together and it was nice to see some fresh blood in there. Nightingale winning a pretty big match on the way to Double Or Nothing is nice so well done on going the right way.

Post match Mercedes Mone comes out to brawl with Nightingale and they’re pulled apart to end the show. Mone getting physical is nice to see after so many weeks of talking, but dang she has her work cut out for her.

Overall Rating: B-. The best thing I can say about this show is that it had more energy. Rampage has a bad tendency to just feel kind of there, and at least this one built up towards some Double Or Nothing matches. Mone alone felt like something special and I’m somewhat more excited for the pay per view. Just make it work on Sunday and everything will be fine. Nice show this week, and a more energetic effort than previous weeks.

Results
Pac b. Rocky Romero – Brutalizer
Samoa Joe b. Dom Kubrick – MuscleBuster
Rush b. Isiah Kassidy – Bull’s Horns
Willow Nightingale/Kris Statlander b. Anna Jay/Alex Windsor – Babe With The Powerbomb to Windsor

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Smackdown
Date: May 24, 2024
Location: Jeddah Super Dome, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Corey Graves

We’re in Saudi Arabia with a taped show before tomorrow’s King And Queen Of The Ring. That should make for an interesting show, as we find out the other finalists in both tournaments. WWE has never run a regular TV show from the country before but the crowd should be into things. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at where Jeddah is in Saudi Arabia. They did that with Backlash and it’s a nice idea.

We see an announcement from earlier this week, with HHH saying that the winners of the King and Queen Of The Ring tournaments will receive World Title shots at Summerslam.

Queen Of The Ring Tournament Semifinals: Bianca Belair vs. Nia Jax

Lyra Valkyria, facing the winner in the finals, is watching from ringside. Jax powers her down to start but Belair is back up with some running shoulders. Some right hands in the corner rock Jax, who misses a charge and goes shoulder first into the post. Belair adds a big slingshot dive and we take a break.

Back with Belair in trouble and Jax crowning herself with a very small crown. Jax goes after the possibly injured knee with a Stretch Muffler but Belair slips out. A Samoan drop plants Belair for two instead but she’s fine enough to get up top or a high crossbody. The knee is banged up on the landing so Jax knocks her down again. The Annihilator is teased but Belair is right back up with a powerbomb out of the corner for two. Belair’s knee won’t let her get the KOD and a backsplash sets up the Annihilator to finish Belair at 11:15.

Rating: C+. They told a story here with the knee and that was good enough for what they needed to do. Jax going against Lyra Valkyria in the finals is a fine way to go, with Valkyria having her David vs. Goliath match. Jax has run through a bunch of stars on the way there (or escaping against Jade Cargill) so she makes sense for the spot in the finals.

Post match Jax talks about buzzing through people, promising to do the same thing to Valkyria tomorrow. She says “buzz/buzzed through” about five times in a minute.

Post break Bianca Belair’s knee is banged up when Tiffany Stratton comes in to call her a loser. With Tiffany Stratton gone, Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae come in to mock her as well. Jade Cargill scares them off and a match is teased.

Here is A-Town Down Under for the Grayson Waller Effect. They waste no time in teasing LA Knight as their guest but Carmelo Hayes interrupts. Hayes thinks they were talking about himself instead of Knight, with Waller agreeing that Hayes is a better guest. The three of them mock various veterans such as Knight, Bobby Lashley and Baron Corbin until Knight interrupts. The beating is on but the Street Profits run in for the save. Sounds six manish.

Video on Blair Davenport.

Street Profits/LA Knight vs. Carmelo Hayes/A-Town Down Under

Hayes and Ford trade wristlocks to start until it’s off to Dawkins for a facebuster. Knight comes in so Hayes bails over to the corner for the tag to Theory. Knight fights out of some cheating and hands it back to Dawkins for an enziguri in the corner. A quick dropkick sends Knight outside and Hayes knocks him down again as we take a break.

Back with Dawkins pulling Hayes out of the air and hitting a t-bone suplex. The tag brings Knight back in to clean house, including the rapid fire stomps in the corner. Hayes blocks the BFT and hits the First 48 as everything breaks down. Knight drives Hayes over the announcers’ table, leaving Ford to frog splash Waller for the pin at 9:10.

Rating: C+. I can always go for a good six man tag as it lets extra people get in the ring without getting too messy. The Profits get a boost and might be in line for another title shot down the line, which is a good way to keep them strong. At the same time you have Knight vs. Hayes coming up, which is a match both of them need to win. Nice stuff here as they covered a few stories at once.

Yesterday at the King And Queen Of The Ring Kickoff, Logan Paul gave up his brass knuckles.

Cody Rhodes runs into Randy Orton and wishes him luck in the King Of The Ring. Randy: “Thanks Code Man.” Orton is apparently confused, as that’s Cody Rhodes, not Cody Lambert.

Summerslam in 2026 is going to be two nights. We don’t know where Summerslam 2025 is going to be, but we know the 2026 schedule.

Here is Cody Rhodes for a chat but Logan Paul interrupts before he can say a word. Paul says he’s smarter than Cody but he doesn’t need brass knuckles to win the title tomorrow. Cody accuses him of being a cosplaying scared little kid and thinks Paul is carrying another set of brass knuckles. Apparently Michael Cole has the only set of knuckles Paul has ever had, but Cody suggests Paul get checked by a referee.

Paul says check Cody first, with the referee saying Cody is clean. Paul on the other hand has brass knuckles, but says these aren’t even his pants. That makes Paul leave, saying he doesn’t need them to win anyway. Cody cuts him off and says the knuckles are the difference between them. Paul will do anything to win but Cody wants to be the best. He believes Paul is a wrestler but until he gives it his all, he’ll never be on Cody’s level. Giving Paul something to think about is interesting, as that could be some long term seed planting.

Randy Orton is ready for Tama Tonga and isn’t worried about facing the numbers advantage from the Bloodline.

Bayley runs into Nia Jax, who tells her to keep the title clean until Summerslam.

The Street Profits want the Tag Team Titles but DIY come in to say they want the titles. Tommaso Ciampa even pours out the cup.

Bayley vs. Chelsea Green

Non-title and Piper Niven is here with Green. An early shot staggers Bayley and Green hits a missile dropkick for two. Bayley is sent outside early and we take a quick break. Back with Green getting two off a Rough Ryder but Bayley hits the Rose Plant for the pin at 4:44. We might have seen a minute and a half of the match.

Post match Niven wrecks Bayley.

AJ Styles asks Nick Aldis for one more World Title shot but Aldis can’t do it. Styles has to earn the shot and that takes time. Styles says he doesn’t have time, but Aldis can’t help.

Video on Andrade, who is ready to show us who he is.

Legado del Fantasma doesn’t like Andrade.

Paul Heyman talks to Solo Sikoa and reminds him that Tanga Loa isn’t here tonight due to travel restrictions. Sikoa says he knows he’s bringing dangerous people into the Bloodline, but he’s in charge until Roman Reigns comes back. If Heyman has problems with that, he needs to fix them himself. Heyman brings up a problem with Tama Tonga, who pops up and scares Heyman half to death. Tama is ready to win the King Of The Ring.

King And Queen Of The Ring rundown.

King Of The Ring Semifinals: Randy Orton vs. Tama Tonga

Gunther is watching in the front row and Solo Sikoa/Paul Heyman are here too. Tonga slugs away in the corner to start but Orton is back with a fall away slam. They head outside where Tonga flips out of a drop onto the announcers’ table and takes out Orton’s knee as we take a break.

Back with Tonga working on the knee, including another shot to set up a sleeper. Orton breaks that up with a drive into the corner but Tonga grabs it again. Another break lets Orton snap off the powerslam but the knee gives out again. The hanging DDT is countered with a backdrop to the floor, where Orton drops Tonga onto the announcers’ table. Back in and the hanging DDT connects but Sikoa gets up on the apron. That’s broken up in a hurry and the RKO gives Orton the pin at 11:07.

Rating: B-. While I’m not surprised that Orton won, I’m a bit surprised that he won that way. Tonga losing clean so soon is a little weird, though losing to Orton is hardly some career killer. There was no way it would be Gunther vs. Tonga for the finals though, so it was more a matter of how Orton would get there rather than how he would get there.

Post match Sikoa jumps Orton but Kevin Owens runs in for the save.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling wasn’t quite as hot this week but it helped that the show had a list of things it needed to accomplish. This show took care of the two tournament finals and the Women’s Tag Team Title match (on the apparently two hour long Kickoff Show, because that’s a thing) while also setting up some things for later. In other words, it’s a WWE show under the HHH formula and as a result, it went pretty well. Tomorrow is what matters, and for once this show had a direct hand in setting that up.

Results
Nia Jax b. Bianca Belair – Annihilator
LA Knight/Street Profits b. A-Town Down Under/Carmelo Hayes – Frog splash to Waller
Bayley b. Chelsea Green – Rose Plant
Randy Orton b. Tama Tonga – RKO

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Get Well Soon: Jim Ross Went To The ER Due To Shortness Of Breath.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/get-well-soon-jim-ross-went-to-the-er-due-to-shortness-of-breath/

On The Way? Details On MJF’s Return To AEW TV, When He Is Expected Back.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/on-the-way-details-on-mjfs-return-to-aew-tv-when-he-is-expected-back/

He’s In? Update On CM Punk’s Status For WWE King And Queen Of The Ring.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/hes-in-update-on-cm-punks-status-for-wwe-king-and-queen-of-the-ring/

VIDEO: Liv Morgan Breaks Down Unique Ring Gear Throughout Her Career.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/video-liv-morgan-breaks-down-unique-ring-gear-throughout-her-career/

Again: WWE Lays Off Several More Employees.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/again-wwe-lays-off-several-more-employees/

Keep It Alive: Dominik Mysterio Reveals How He Kept Kayfabe After WrestleMania.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/keep-it-alive-dominik-mysterio-reveals-how-he-kept-kayfabe-after-wrestlemania/

Healing Time: Former World Champion Undergoes Surgery, To Miss Several More Months.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/healing-time-former-world-champion-undergoes-surgery-to-miss-several-more-months/

As always, hit up the comments section to chat about what is going on and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page and follow us on Twitter (featuring news stories written by ME).

Make sure you check out some recent reviews:

GCW vs. TJPW

Dynamite – May 22, 2024

WRESTLING RUMORS: WWE Series Going On Hiatus.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-wwe-series-going-on-hiatus/

LOOK: Missing WWE Superstar Sporting New Appearance Amid Return Rumors.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/look-missing-wwe-superstar-sporting-new-appearance-amid-return-rumors/

Kurt Angle Reveals What Would Make Him Come Back To WWE As A Manager.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/kurt-angle-reveals-what-would-make-him-come-back-to-wwe-as-a-manager/

VIDEO: 50 Year Old WWE Superstar Hopes To Return To The Ring After Nearly Two Year Absence.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/video-50-year-old-wwe-superstar-hopes-to-return-to-the-ring-after-nearly-two-year-absence/

Out Again: Update On Miro’s Injury Status, AEW Return Likely Delayed.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/out-again-update-on-miros-injury-status-aew-return-likely-delayed/

Next Up: Son Of Wrestling Legend Now Training For In-Ring Career.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/next-up-son-of-wrestling-legend-now-training-for-in-ring-career/

Homecoming: Another AEW Star Working To Return To The Ring After Lengthy Absence.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/homecoming-another-aew-star-working-to-return-to-the-ring-after-lengthy-absence/

As always, hit up the comments section to chat about what is going on and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page and follow us on Twitter (featuring news stories written by ME).

Dynamite
Date: May 22, 2024
Location: Mechanics Bank Arena, Bakersfield, California
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We’re less than four days away from Double Or Nothing and that means it is time for one of the final pushes to the show. There is a good chance that we’ll be seeing some more matches added to the card. Other than that, we are probably going to be seeing more of the Young Bucks because of course. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence, including clips from Furiosa as part of a crossover event.

Orange Cassidy/Will Ospreay vs. Roderick Strong/Trent Beretta

Don Callis is on commentary and suggests that Cassidy is now one of “his guys”. Cassidy and Beretta slug it out on the floor to start before Cassidy comes back in for a high crossbody on Strong. The Kingdom distracts Ospreay so Trent can get in a cheap shot and take over. Ospreay knocks Strong away and brings Cassidy in to clean house but Beretta crotches him on top. A gutbuster onto the top drops Ospreay again and all four brawl to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Cassidy…seemingly trying to nip up but crawling over for the tag to Ospreay instead. Strong cuts Ospreay off with a half and half suplex and then hits a spinning faceplant for two. Ospreay is back with a poisonrana and Cassidy falls off the top (on purpose) for two more on Strong.

Cassidy’s top rope DDT plants Beretta and another DDT drops Strong for two. Strong is back up and tries End Of Heartache but Callis grabs Cassidy’s foot, allowing him to grab Stundog Millionaire. The Kingdom’s interference fails but here is Wardlow to deck Ospreay from behind. Strong grabs End Of Heartache to pin Cassidy at 12:56.

Rating: B. Rather hot opener here with Strong getting the win that he needs to boost himself up before what is likely a loss to Ospreay on Sunday. Even with the Undisputed Kingdom around him, it’s hard to imagine him leaving with the title without some kind of screwy finish. The Callis/Cassidy stuff…yeah I’m not feeling it, but odds are it continues on Sunday.

Post match Beretta chokes Cassidy out and Strong busts Ospreay open with the International Title.

The Young Bucks have security bar Darby Allin from the building because they want the safest locker room in wrestling. Sonjay Dutt comes in to suggest that he get paid extra if Satnam Singh takes out Bryan Danielson.

Here is Bullet Club Gold for a chat (and yes the wagon for all of their belts is funny). Jay White doesn’t think much of Pac (he’s not sure how to pronounce it) because Pac has been messing with things that don’t concern him. Pac pops up on screen and brings back the Lucha Bros to reform the Death Triangle. Cue Death Triangle to clear the ring and Pac issues the title challenge for Double Or Nothing.

Bryan Keith vs. Katsuyori Shibata vs. Hook

For a shot at Chris Jericho’s FTW Title on Sunday with Jericho on commentary. Shibata and Hook both go after Keith in the corner to start before trading suplexes. Keith gets in one of his own and we take an early break. Back with Shibata hitting running boots in the corner until Hook gets Redrum on Keith. Shibata breaks that up and gets the Figure Four on Keith….but Hook adds Redrum on Keith for the double submission at 6:31.

Rating: C. Ok so it’s going to be a triple threat at the pay per view, making me wonder why Keith, or the qualifying matches, needed to take place at all. At least they didn’t make it go long so Jericho didn’t get to talk that much. Hook being featured is a good thing, though I’m almost scared of how long he’ll have to wait before getting a big win.

Post match Jericho grabs the mic and says he’s here to get more camera time. He’s proud of Hook and Shibata for everything they’ve learned and yes the three way is official. That’s from Tony Khan, making me wonder why he’s allowing the Bucks to do anything at all.

We look at the first Mercedes Mone vs. Willow Nightingale match from last year for New Japan, when Mone was injured. This has set up their rematch at Double Or Nothing.

Video on Konosuke Takeshita.

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Matt Sydal

Takeshita jumps him to start and hits a hard brainbuster before stopping to sneer. Sydal manages a quick hurricanrana and a dropkick but walks into the Blue Thunder Bomb. One heck of a right hand knocks Sydal silly for the pin at 2:00. Ok that was WAY more effective than I was expecting. Nice work.

Post match Takeshita keeps up the beating until Jon Moxley hits the ring…to talk. Or hit Takeshita with the microphone. Back to back nice surprises.

The Young Bucks find Swerve Strickland sitting at their seat and says hit his music because he’s up next.

Swerve Strickland vs. Nick Wayne

Non-title and Wayne is alone for once. Wayne runs away to start but Swerve catches him for a whipping with a belt. Swerve picks him up but gets tornado DDTed on the floor as we take a break. Back with Swerve belly to back superplexing him onto the apron and hitting the Swerve Stomp onto the floor. They get back inside and Wayne rolls him up for two with feet on the ropes, as the band-aid over Swerve’s eye is falling off. Swerve isn’t having that and hits the House Call for the pin at 8:57.

Rating: C+. The ending was just about perfect as Swerve turned it on and beat Wayne like the lower level star that Wayne is. Swerve shouldn’t be having trouble beating Wayne and as soon as it started getting difficult, he finished things off out of nowhere. It was a well put together match as it went the way it should have and that’s nice to see.

Post match Killswitch comes in to beat down Swerve as Christian Cage comes in. Swerve takes out Luchasaurus and Cage sprints off, steals a car and bails…but gets cut off by Prince Nana in another car. Swerve shows up and gives Cage a beatdown so good that I’ll forget to wonder how Nana knew where he should have been at the perfect time. Cage avoids a Conchairto on the hood of the car.

Malakai Black vs. Kyle O’Reilly

They trade strikes to start (shocking indeed) until Black grabs a headlock. O’Reilly kicks the leg out on a springboard attempt and sweeps the leg for a bonus. Black kicks him out to the floor though and we take an early break. Back with O’Reilly’s rebound lariat being cut off by an elbow to the face.

O’Reilly snaps off a German suplex for two and the hard kicks keep Black in trouble. The ankle lock goes on but O’Reilly legs go for no apparent reason, allowing Black to hit a brainbuster for two. Back up and Black head fakes him, setting up The End for the knock out and the pin at 10:21.

Rating: B-. This was mainly about the striking and it worked pretty well, with Black looking like more of a killer on the way to the pay per view. The End is one of those moves that is going to knock anyone cold and that makes Black dangerous. I’m not feeling the Black vs. Copeland feud, but it’s nice to see Black getting built up again.

Post match the lights go out and Black gets a Bloodbath. Adam Copeland pops up to say see you soon.

We look at Bryan Danielson’s history in Anarchy In The Arena and what he is willing to do to fight for AEW.

Double Or Nothing rundown.

We look at Toni Storm stealing Serena Deeb’s flag and using it as a towel on Saturday.

Toni Storm/Mariah May vs. Outcasts

Zak Knight is here with the Outcasts. Cameron gets sent to the apron to start but manages a shoulder to May’s ribs. May takes her down back inside and it’s off to Saraya, with the fans seemingly approving. Storm comes in for the slugout and a Thesz press into the right hands has Saraya in trouble. Storm slams May onto Saraya for two and we pause for the referee to check on Saraya. As you might expect, this lets Cameron come in for a cheap shot so the villains can take over as we take a break.

Back with Storm getting the tag to clean house, including a headbutt to rock Cameron. A chokebomb hits Cameron as everything breaks down. Storm and May pause for a hug but get caught with stereo sunset bombs. Back up and Storm and May kiss the Outcasts, setting up Storm Zero and May Day. Another Storm Zero to Cameron finishes at 9:12.

Rating: C. The Storm/May/Deeb/Cameron/anyone else they’re bringing into things is so all over the place and I think that’s what they’re trying to do with it. If the story has so many moving parts, maybe it doesn’t need to make that much sense. The fans are reacting to the people in it and that might be enough for whatever it is they’re doing.

Storm teases disrobing behind Serena Deeb’s flag again but Deeb runs in with a chair shot. And a shoe shot, which sets up a half crab in a chair to make Storm tap.

Bullet Club Gold wants Death Triangle at Double Or Nothing. That’s already set so I guess they’re just happy about it?

Bryan Danielson vs. Satnam Singh

Jeff Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt and Jay Lethal are here with Singh. Danielson kicks away in the corner to start and is quickly swatted away. A delayed suplex drops Danielson and they head outside. Danielson is sent into the steps as Dutt loads up the announcers’ table….which collapses on its own.

Danielson comes back with the strikes, including a hard shot against the barricade. A Jarrett distraction lets Singh chokeslam him onto the apron for two as the beating is on. Dutt pulls the turnbuckle pad off but Danielson gets in a low blow and strikes away. Singh chops him from his knees but Danielson strikes him down again. The LeBell Lock goes on, with the other villains coming in for the DQ at 4:52.

Rating: C+. This was a good example of “well, what else were they supposed to do?”. Singh did his basic giant stuff, but it was more about giving Danielson an obstacle to overcome. The whole point was about the Elite getting Danielson in trouble and that went well, especially the beatdown. Good storytelling for a mediocre match.

Post match Danielson fights back and gets the guitar but Singh punches it to pieces. Cue the Young Bucks with an envelope (to pay off Dutt and company) but the EVP Trigger only sees their knees collide. Kazuchika Okada comes out for a distraction, allowing Jack Perry to jump Danielson from behind. Danielson is taken up the ramp as Darby Allin arrives in a car, driven by Tony Khan.

Allin comes into the ring and scares the Elite off with a flamethrower (yes a flamethrower) as Nick is sent through a table to end the show. Khan already being back makes me wonder if they’re going to just blow off the Bucks’ story on Sunday. It’s probably false hope, but it’s better than nothing.

Overall Rating: B-. This was an odd show, as it certainly had good parts and things that kept me interested, but it didn’t do much about making me want to see Double Or Nothing. The pay per view should be good, though nothing on it has me begging to see what they’re going to do. This show, while certainly not bad, didn’t make me want to see the pay per view that much more and that’s not a great sign heading into Sunday.

Results
Roderick Strong/Trent Beretta b. Will Ospreay/Orange Cassidy – End Of Heartache to Cassidy
Hook and Katsuyori Shibata b. Bryan Keith – Double submission
Konosuke Takeshita b. Matt Sydal – Right hand
Swerve Strickland b. Nick Wayne – House Call
Malakai Black b. Kyle O’Reilly – The End
Toni Storm/Mariah May b. Outcasts – Storm Zero to Cameron
Bryan Danielson b. Satnam Singh when Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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GCW vs. TJPW
Date: April 6, 2024
Location: Penns Landing Caterers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Dave Prazak, Veda Scott

We have Game Changer Wrestling vs. Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling, meaning it’s a women’s show. It’s another promotional war show, though this one seems to be a bit less intense than the others. I’ve liked the stuff I’ve seen from TJPW over the years, including this weekend, so hopefully they can continue their streak. Let’s get to it.

Suzume vs. Pom Harajaku vs. Saki

Suzume and Pom are from TJPW while Saki is a freelancer, making this more of an exhibition rather than an interpromotional match. Saki gets taken down with a double wristlock to start but she rolls her way to freedom and it’s a standoff. With Pom sent outside, Suzume grabs a headlock on Saki before scoring with a dropkick. Saki swings Suzume down, allowing Pom to come back in and steal a two count.

The much bigger Saki sends Pom back to the floor, only for Pom to come back in and kick her in the shin. Suzume grabs a bulldog to put Saki down before sidestepping Pom’s missile dropkick. Saki kicks Pom in the face but gets rolled up for two. A rope walk spinning faceplant drops Saki again but she’s back up with a Michinoku Driver for two on Suzume. Saki is sent outside though and Suzume cutters Pom for the pin at 7:56.

Rating: C+. The action was fast paced but it was only so interesting, with Suzume dominating a good chunk of the match as the other two were just kind of there. It made sense for the speedy opener, though having a match that has nothing to do with the concept was a bit odd. Saki worked as a power star, but this didn’t break through to that next level.

Session Moth Martina (GCW) vs. Raku (TJPW)

Martina has Every Time We Touch as her entrance music and yes the fans do go rather nuts for it. Raku on the other hand comes to the ring with a pillow. We pause for Martina to get in a fight with the streamers before she can offer Raku a beer. Raku would rather have a nap, so Martina pours beer in her mouth, which I think has Raku drunk (low tolerance and all that). That leaves Raku to beat on Martina with the pillow, which Martina is laid down on for a breather.

Raku steps onto her stomach a few times and then sits on her for a near fall. Back up and Martina sends her into the corner for the Bronco Buster. She loads up another one, but Raku has stopped for a nap. That means Martina has to slowly pull her back to the middle but Raku wakes up at two. Raku strikes away and gets two off a running dropkick. Code Red gets two more, only to have Martina come back with a spear for two of her own. Raku fights up but charges into a Codebreaker to give Martina the pin at 5:49.

Rating: C. This is one of those situations where the whole thing is going to depend on your tastes in comedy. Martina is a ball of energy and a lot of fun, but Raku with the sleeping thing….yeah I don’t get it. I’m not big on that style with Wendy Choo in NXT and it’s the same thing here, as I don’t see the humor. The wrestling was a backdrop to the comedy and that mainly didn’t land for me, so this wasn’t much to see.

GCW – 1
TJPW – 0

Arisu Endo (TJPW) vs. Shazza McKenzie (GCW)

They fight over arm control to start with McKenzie getting the better of things. That’s reversed into a headlock, which McKenzie reverses into a headscissors and we get a standoff. Endo sends her into the corner but McKenzie is back with a running boot for two. McKenzie grabs a chinlock before hitting running legdrop to a seated Endo for two more. Endo is back up with a running hip attack into a splash for two of her own.

The camel clutch goes on but McKenzie crawls over to the ropes rather quickly. McKenzie ties her in the ropes for some kicks to the chest but a super Stunner is blocked. Endo hits a middle rope knee to drive her to the mat, setting up a torture rack neckbreaker for the pin on McKenzie at 7:32.

Rating: C+. McKenzie is someone I’ve seen a good many times over the years and I’m not sure why she has never gotten a chance on a bigger stage. She comes off as a polished enough star but it never comes together. Endo is rather good at what she does as well and it was a nice match between two women who know what they’re doing.

GCW – 1
TJPW – 1

Steph de Lander (GCW) vs. Hyper Misao (TJPW)

Misao, a superhero, promises to save us all. De Lander, in American flag gear, jumps her to start but Misao blinds her with some kind of spray. We get some early skewer use, with Misao stabbing her in the head. De Lander is back with some skewers of her own but Misao, with skewers still in her head, misses a quick 619 attempt. Some chair shots stagger de Lander, who manages to take the chair away. The big swing hits rope though, with the chair smashing de Lander in her own face.

Misao throws in a bunch of chairs and plants de Lander onto them for two. A spinebuster onto the chairs gives de Lander two and it’s time to bring out….a box full of tubes of (de Lander’s) lipstick. De Lander gets knocked off the top and high crossbodied into them for two. Back up and de Lander grabs a sitout F5 onto the lipstick and her Women’s Internet Title for the pin at 8:13.

Rating: C. So much like the Raku vs. Martina match, this was a short form version of a special kind of match, though in this case it was the hardcore variety instead of comedy. While it makes sense to mix things up a bit, it’s a bit hard to get into a violent match like this that only lasts eight minutes and is coming in cold. It wasn’t bad, but it was like they were trying to get in a bunch of stuff in a short amount of time and it didn’t exactly work.

GCW – 2
TJPW – 1

Yuki Kamifuku (TJPW) vs. Dark Sheik (GCW)

Sheik does the splits to start but Yuki isn’t willing to try her own. Instead she takes Sheik down with a headscissors before sending her outside. Yuki’s big dive is teased but she rolls into a pose instead. Back in and Sheik grabs a backbreaker into a splits splash for two, followed by a nice slingshot legdrop. Yuki slugs away but gets kicked in the head for her efforts.

Sheik has to break out of a quick Octopus hold and then pulls Yuki into the old rocking horse hold (the fans don’t approve). A legsweep into a spinning kick to the head gives Sheik two but Yuki catches her with a running dropkick on the top. Sheik counters the Fameasser and grabs a bridging German suplex. A guillotine legdrop finishes Yuki off at 7:44.

Rating: B-. Best match of the night so far as again they didn’t have much time but they packed in a bunch of stuff. Sheik dominated most of the match and then won in the end, as she should have. Good stuff here, with both of them doing well in the limited time that they had to put something together.

GCW – 3
TJPW – 1

Mizuki (TJPW) vs. Allie Katch (GCW)

The wrong graphic/music is put up and the fans are not impressed. The much smaller Mizuki is backed into the corner but she does the same thing to Katch. Mizuki blows a kiss, which Katch does not seem to care for, meaning it’s time to fight over wrist control. Mizuki’s suplex attempt gets little more than a shrug from Katch, who kicks her in the face for her efforts. Katch’s suplex works a bit better and a corner Cannonball gets two.

A chinlock into a slam gives Katch two but Mizuki is back up with a double stomp to the back. The running dropkick against the ropes sends Katch outside and Mizuki is right there with the dive off the top. Back in and a Michinoku Driver gives Katch two but Mizuki bites her thigh. She bites her stomach as well, setting up a top rope double stomp for two. Katch misses another Cannonball, allowing Mizuki to grab a northern lights suplex for the pin at 7:38.

Rating: C+. Another match where they didn’t have much time but they were playing into the small vs. big formula. Mizuki isn’t your usual smaller style wrestler though, with the biting being more than a little odd. It was also nice to see the ending come from something *other than a rollup, as Mizuki beat her clean with a suplex.

GCW – 3
TJPW – 2

Post match Mizuki goes for another bite but Katch bails out.

Hakuchumu (TJPW) vs. Billie Starkz/Janai Kai (GCW)

That would be Miu Watanabe and Rika Tatsumi. Starkz and Watanabe have a tentative handshake to start before Watanabe takes her down by the leg for an early two. A wristlock lasts a bit longer but Starkz grabs a rollup for two. That goes nowhere so it’s off to Kai vs. Tatsumi, with Kai snapmaring her down for a kick to the back. Tatsumi chokes her into the corner and Watanabe comes in for a dancing double elbow.

Since it’s just a double elbow, Kai is able to power Watanabe into the corner for the tag back to Starkz. Alternating kicks in the corner have Watanabe in more trouble but she suplexes her way to freedom. It’s back to Tatsumi to clean house with some running hip attacks in the corner. A dragon screw legwhip over the rope has Starkz in more trouble but she’s fine enough to hit a spinning kick to Tatsumi’s head.

Tatsumi backbreakers Kai and it’s back to Watanabe to pick the pace back up. Watanabe hits a backbreaker of her own and there’s the very giant swing for two on Kai. Watanabe slips out of Kai’s dragon sleeper and hits a powerslam for two, with Starkz making the save. With Starkz down, Kai gets loaded up into something like a spinning Big Ending/cutter combination for the pin at 13:29.

Rating: B. This got some more time and you can see that Hakuchumu is a regular team who has some experience together. They worked well together out there, with Starkz and Kai not quite being able to keep up. It’s also nice to have something that feels different on here after a long string of singles matches.

GCW – 3
TJPW – 3

Maki Itoh/Masha Slamovich/Rina Yamashita (GCW) vs. Miyu Yamashita/Shoko Nakajima/Yuki Aino (TJPW)

The GCW team’s entrance goes through the crowd and the fans rather approve. Miyu and Itoh start things off, with Itoh flipping her off. A big kick misses and we have a standoff, meaning it’s off to Nakajima vs. Rina. Nakajima stomps on her foot but needs Miyu and Aino to lift her up to get the height advantage over the taller Rina. That’s fine with Rina, who has Itoh and Slamovich pick her up….or at least try to, as they can’t get her up.

Rina and Slamovich can get Itoh up though and we get an elevated slugout, with Itoh getting the better of things. Everything breaks down and the fight heads out to the floor, with the GCW team getting back in to dance. We settle down to Rina hitting Aino in the chest before Itoh gets to hammer away in the corner. Aino manages a suplex to Rina and Nakajima comes back in to pick up the pace.

Hold on though as Nakajima brings in her bag full of kaiju toys, allowing Rina to slam her onto them. They take turns hitting each other with said kaiju with Rina getting the better of things. She heads up top but takes too long, allowing Nakajima to hurricanrana her back down onto the kaiju. Everything breaks down and it’s Miyu slugging it out with Slamovich. Miyu gets pulled into a seated abdominal stretch and has to knee her way to freedom. Back up and they trade running shots to the face until Miyu runs up the corner for a spinning kick to the head.

An exchange of kicks to the head leave both of them down and it’s Aino coming back in to run Itoh over with a shoulder. Itoh’s running DDT connects and everything breaks down, with Itoh knocking Aino down for two. Chairs and a door are brought in…but the door breaks as soon as Aino is placed on it. Another door is brought in and Itoh is slammed through Aino for two. Slamovich chairs Miyu down but all six are up for the big slugout. Nakajima hits a big dive to the floor and Itoh rolls Aino up for two. A Walls of Jericho style Texas Cloverleaf makes Aino tap at 21:05.

Rating: B-. The time helped here and commentary was putting over the idea of these wrestlers knowing each other rather well. It made the match feel more personal, but at the same time it wasn’t exactly great. The kaiju stuff in the middle felt like it belonged in a different match and was only happening because it was a signature Nakajima deal. It’s a perfectly fine main event, though not as good as the previous match.

GCW – 4
TJPW – 3

Overall Rating: B-. Good show here with a rather nice mixture of match types. The problem is a lot of those matches went rather quickly and didn’t get the chance to stand out. There was probably a series of much better matches to be had with more time, but there is only so much you can do with an eight match show that doesn’t even combine to go two hours.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Make sure you check out a recent review:

NXT – May 21, 2024

They Have A Plan: Backstage Note On Why Cody Rhodes vs. Logan Paul Title Match Was Changed.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/they-have-a-plan-backstage-note-on-why-cody-rhodes-vs-logan-paul-title-match-was-changed/

On The List: WWE Announces Special Live Event Tour For First Time In Five Years.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/on-the-list-wwe-announces-special-live-event-tour-for-first-time-in-five-years/

Uh Oh: Incoming WWE Star Injured, Plans May Have To Be Changed.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/uh-oh-incoming-wwe-star-injured-plans-may-have-to-be-changed/

Welcome Back: Former WWE World Champion Set For First Televised Match In Over A Year.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/welcome-back-former-wwe-world-champion-set-for-first-televised-match-in-over-a-year/

On The Mend: Injury Update On Damage CTRL Following Monday Night Raw.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/on-the-mend-injury-update-on-damage-ctrl-following-monday-night-raw/

Surprise? Interesting Details On Sonya Deville’s Monday Night Raw Return.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/surprise-interesting-details-on-sonya-devilles-monday-night-raw-return/

Former WWE Personality Offers Surprising Detail On Company Events.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/former-wwe-personality-offers-surprising-detail-on-company-events/

As always, hit up the comments section to chat about what is going on and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page and follow us on Twitter (featuring news stories written by ME).

NXT
Date: May 21, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We are getting closer to Battleground and the card is starting to take shape. You can probably guess some of the matches from here, but before we get to the show, we have the returning Gallus, who attacked a bunch of people last week. That is likely going to be a big story this week so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Women’s North American Title Qualifying Match: Fallon Henley vs. Thea Hail

Chase U and Ridge Holland are here with Hail, who starts cranking on the arm to start. Henley gets taken down for a standing moonsault, only to come back with an armbar of her own. That’s broken up and Hail sends her to the floor for the suicide dive, setting up some heavy shots to Henley’s face. Henley grabs a chair so Holland takes it away, earning himself and all of Chase U an ejection as we take a break.

We come back with Henley getting two off a running faceplant before a double headbutt puts them both down. Hail fights up with some Polish Hammers and a World’s Smallest Slam gets two. The Kimura almost goes on but they fall out to the floor, where Henley sends her into the barricade. Back in and Henley hits a quick Shining Wizard for the pin at 10:29.

Rating: C+. Henley getting another win is nice, though I’m not sure if she is bringing it to the next level, even with her new style. She’s far from bad, but there is something lacking that is keeping her from being a top star. At least she is winning, which is a step in the right direction for anyone.

Post match Henley leaves and Jazmyn Nyx runs in to beat Hail down again.

Earlier today, the D’Angelo Family arrives and runs into Axiom and Nathan Frazer. Tony D’Angelo mocks Axiom for never winning the cup (not like some guy named A-Kid) and the Family gets a Tag Team Title match tonight.

Ivar is injured and Joe Coffey has taken his place in the #1 contenders match for a shot at the North American Title.

Gallus is happy with what they did and Joe Coffey is ready to get the North American Title.

Tag Team Titles: Axiom/Nathan Frazer vs. D’Angelo Family

The Family (Stacks/Luca Crusifino) is challenging and the rest of the team is with them. Crusifino cranks on Axiom’s arm to start and it’s quickly off to Stacks to elbow Frazer in the face. Frazer is right back with a drop toehold so Axiom can hit a basement dropkick to take over. The Family knocks Frazer outside though and Stacks drops an elbow off the apron as we take a break.

Back with Frazer hitting a springboard moonsault into a reverse layout DDT to drop Crusifino. Axiom comes in and makes Crusifino DDT Stacks before firing off kicks to Stacks’ chest. A brainbuster gives Frazer two as everything breaks down. The Family plants Frazer with a double slam, setting up Stacks’ top rope superplex. Axiom superkicks Crusifino out of the air as the No Quarter Catch Crew comes out to go after the rest of the Family. The distraction lets Frazer grab a small package to pin Stacks and retain at 10:36.

Rating: B-. Good fast paced action here as the champs get another win, even with something of a distraction for the finish. Axiom and Frazer are a rather nice team who are getting somewhere together, as their chemistry has been growing in recent weeks. They should be in for a big title defense at Battleground and that should help them even more.

Post match the OC runs in to beat down Axiom and Frazer because the OC has to be a thing.

Lexis King offers his services to Mr. Stone, who isn’t impressed. Ava comes in and tells King he has a match tonight against…someone.

Riley Osborne tells Andre Chase that Ridge Holland is costing the team. Holland comes in to defend himself and Chase tells them to settle it in the ring.

Josh Briggs vs. Wes Lee vs. Joe Coffey

The winner gets a North American Title shot against Oba Femi, on commentary, at Battleground. The rest of Gallus is here too and Briggs starts fast by hiptossing Lee at Coffey. A tornado DDT gives Coffey two on Briggs but Lee sends Coffey outside for the big running flip dive. Briggs throws Lee into the ropes and knocks him out of the air as we take a break.

Back with Lee moonsaulting onto Briggs, who DDT’s Coffey as a result. Lee is sent outside but goes up, only to dive into a chokeslam into the corner. Briggs chokeslams Coffey as well for a double near fall but Coffey is back with a springboard spinning high crossbody for two of his own. Lee is back up with a suicide dive to Coffey as the rest of Gallus takes out Briggs. All The Best For The Bells hits Lee…who falls on Briggs at the same time as Coffey, meaning it’s a double pin at 10:48.

Rating: B-. The ending wasn’t exactly great as it sets up yet another triple threat, which has been done quite a bit recently. I could also go with Briggs not getting pinned so often as it’s killing the momentum he has built up, but Lee and Coffey getting the shot is a different way to go. Good match, though I could have gone with a singles match instead of another triple threat.

Natalya and Karmen Petrovic are ready for Shayna Baszler and Lola Vice.

Edris Enofe and Malik Blade are so scared of their bad luck that they aren’t coming to the ring with Brinley Reece.

Ava makes the North American Title match at Battleground a triple threat match with Wes Lee and Joe Coffey both getting shots.

Women’s North American Title Qualifying Match: Brinley Reece vs. Jaida Parker

OTM is here with Parker. Reece drives her into the corner to start but dives into a knee to the ribs. Parker fires off some forearms in the corner as Booker sings her praises. Reece bridges back up to grab a backslide for two but Parker’s butterfly suplex gets the same. A bodyscissors keeps Reece in trouble but she powers up again. Cue Enofe and Blade to watch…as Parker hits the running hip attack for the pin at 4:53.

Rating: C. Parker is becoming more and more complete every week and I’m curious to see just how far she can go. There is something to her that makes her stand out and that is always worth a look. Reece might have something with the motivational deal, but at some point she needs to win some matches.

Jazmyn Nyx likes Fallon Henley’s new attitude and says it must be nice to get a win (Like the one she got two weeks ago?). Nyx likes it so much that she waited for after the match with Thea Hail to get revenge for Jacy Jayne’s broken nose. Henley isn’t sure what to think of that.

The snoring person isn’t revealed, but she’s wearing Wendy Choo’s pajamas.

Roxanne Perez is ready for anyone because she’s better than everyone.

Ava is on the phone with someone and says Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce are happy with Perez’s next challenger. She’ll find out who that is next week.

Lexis King vs. ???

Before the match, King talks about being on a hot streak and knowing that whomever comes through that curtain is falling to the King. Cue Robert Stone, who introduces….Dante Chen. Well of course he does. Chen sends him into the corner but King nails a quick dropkick for two. King chops and chokes in the corner but Chen comes back with a clothesline. The clothesline comeback is on and an atomic drop into a pump kick sends King outside. A half nelson slam gives Chen two but King knocks him down again. Stone’s distraction breaks up the Coronation, allowing Chen to grab a rollup for the pin at 4:58.

Rating: C. For the life of me I do not get the appeal of Chen. I’ve watched him on LVL Up for what feels like ever and for some reason WWE seems to see something in him. He’s not bad for the most part but man alive is he uninteresting. Seeing him as the reveal had me more confused than anything else, as there almost has to be someone more interesting than him for this spot.

Shayna Baszler wants Lola Vice to be serious tonight.

Here is Trick Williams to say he did not attack Noam Dar. Cue Meta Four to say they don’t believe him but Lash Legend stands up for Williams. Mensah: “Are you shaking this man’s dreads?” Cue Joe Coffey, with the rest of Gallus joining him to attack Williams. Je’Von Evans tries to make the save but gets beaten down as well. Well that should answer a fairly obvious question after last week but points for covering it.

Ava is happy with Robert Stone and Dante Chen.

Shayna Baszler/Lola Vice vs. Natalya/Karmen Petrovic

Natalya and Baszler start things off with an early Vice distraction letting Baszler get in a knee. Natalya kicks her away and brings Petrovic in to pick up the pace as everything breaks down. The villains are dropped with stereo discus lariats and we take a break. Back with Baszler dropping Petrovic for two and it’s off to Vice for some short form dancing.

Petrovic fights up and brings in Natalya (I get what they’re going for but saying “IT’S THE BOAT” will never sound good) to clean house. Vice gets in a knockdown though and dances a bit more before getting pulled into the Sharpshooter. That’s broken up and Hart Attack pins Vice at 12:14.

Rating: C+. I’m a bit surprised at Vice (or her team for that matter) losing as Vice has seemed to be one of the new projects around here and Baszler is in line for a main roster title shot. Natalya is still rather smooth in the ring and can work well with anyone, which has me wondering how long it will take her to get a trainer’s job after she retires. If it takes WWE more than three seconds to offer it to her, I’m not sure what they’re waiting on.

Post match Baszler goes to help Vice up but gets kicked in the head. Vice dances and gets caught in the Kirifuda Clutch. The fight is on but Ava comes out to make the match at Battleground, with Baszler making it NXT Underground. That explains the surprising finish.

Overall Rating: C+. NXT is at a nice place as they aren’t going to blow the doors off with anything new and they certainly have a style they like, but it makes for some rather nice weekly TV. It’s kind of refreshing to have such a steady, even keel show that doesn’t do many stupid things while setting up their bigger events down the line. That is what we got here and I’m looking forward to seeing where some of these things go. I’ll call that a win.

Results
Fallon Henley b. Thea Hail – Shining Wizard
Axiom/Nathan Frazer b. D’Angelo Family – Small package to Stacks
Wes Lee and Joe Coffey b. Josh Briggs – Double pin
Jaida Parker b. Brinley Reece – Hip attack
Dante Chen b. Lexis King – Small package
Natalya/Karmen Petrovic b. Shayna Baszler/Lola Vice – Hart Attack to Vice

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

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Make sure you check out some recent reviews:

NXT LVL Up – May 17, 2024

Monday Night Raw – May 20, 2024

On Schedule: TKO COO Announces Multiple New WWE Series Coming To Netflix.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/on-schedule-tko-coo-announces-multiple-new-wwe-series-coming-to-netflix/

It’s In His Hands: Cody Rhodes Reveals Some Details On What The Rock Handed Him After WrestleMania.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/its-in-his-hands-cody-rhodes-reveals-some-details-on-what-the-rock-handed-him-after-wrestlemania/

VIDEO: Injured WWE Superstar Returns Following Nine Month Absence.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/video-injured-wwe-superstar-returns-following-nine-month-absence/

It’s Even Worse: Eddie Kingston Confirms Knee Injury Is Worse Than Previously Expected, Out A Long Time.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/its-even-worse-eddie-kingston-confirms-knee-injury-is-worse-than-previously-expected-out-a-long-time/

Another Down: WWE Superstar Written Off TV On Monday Night Raw.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/another-down-wwe-superstar-written-off-tv-on-monday-night-raw/

Close Call: Details On Backstage Reaction In WWE To Tiffany Stratton’s Controversial Video.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/close-call-details-on-backstage-reaction-in-wwe-to-tiffany-strattons-controversial-video/

Prominent AEW Personality’s Contract Reportedly Expiring Very Soon.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/prominent-aew-personalitys-contract-reportedly-expiring-very-soon/

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