New Column: The Kevin Owens and Triple H and Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns Show
A column about the last five minutes of Raw.
A column about the last five minutes of Raw.
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Classic
Date: August 31, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Daniel Bryan, Mauro Ranallo
We open with a look at the Great Eight.
Bryan and Mauro talk about the tournament so far.
Quarterfinals: Gran Metalik vs. Akira Tozawa
Back in again and they chop it out until Tozawa gets bored and just punches Metalik in the jaw. Well mask but you get the idea. Metalik blasts him with a superkick and a standing shooting star (getting a bit too common as well) gets two. The Metalik Driver is countered into a Saito suplex for two more and Tozawa is stunned.
Tozawa charges into a superkick which just makes him scream more so Metalik sends him outside for the springboard flip dive. Back in again and Tozawa takes him up top for a superplex, only to get reversed into a great looking hurricanrana. The fans would like them to fight forever and Tozawa hits his German suplex for two. Metalik fights out of another German suplex and hits the Metalik Driver for the pin at 15:48.
They shake hands post match.
Brian Kendrick knows this might be his last shot.
Kota Ibushi is one of the best in the world and wants to win because he loves wrestling.
Quarterfinals: Brian Kendrick vs. Japan
More kicks have Kendrick in trouble so he grabs a neckbreaker across the turnbuckle rod for a unique counter. Brian grabs a cravate to stay on the bad (and surgically repaired) neck, only to eat a dropkick to put both guys down. A middle rope moonsault gets two for Ibushi but Kendrick superkicks his head off to get them back to even. Sliced Bread #2 gets another near fall for Kendrick so Ibushi gives him a release German superplex from just off the corner to knock Brian silly.
Rating: B. I thought the first match was more entertaining but this one told a better story. This was all about Kendrick throwing everything he had at Ibushi but not being able to put him away and eventually falling to the better man. The neck injury was a good bonus to the story and gave Brian enough of an opening to make this interesting. The storytelling was carrying this and it was very entertaining as a result. Good stuff here and Kendrick continues to surprise me in this thing.
Results
Gran Metalik b. Akira Tozawa – Metalik Driver
Kota Ibushi b. Brian Kendrick – Gold Star Bomb
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
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NXT
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August 31, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves
Earlier today, Samoa Joe was deemed unclear to wrestle due to injuries suffered in Brooklyn. William Regal looks annoyed.
Opening sequence.
Tye Dillinger vs. Buddy Murphy
Murphy is deemed a one by the fans. Back in my day, being number one was a good thing. Tye gets him to the mat in a hammerlock but gets thrown away, meaning Blake can give himself a ten. Back up and Dillinger does his spinout into a cartwheel for the real ten. Graves: “That would get you disqualified from any gymnastics competition.”
Tommaso Ciampa says Gargano will be back soon when the Revival comes in and beats him into the arena. They take the beating into the ring and leave Ciampa laying. Wilder says everyone sounds tough until reality hits them in the mouth. Ciampa tries to get up but takes a good looking Shatter Machine.
Steve Cutler wants attention and demands respect. Dang the cupboard really is bare.
Steve Cutler vs. Kenneth Crawford
Video on Sami Zayn vs. Nakamura back in Dallas.
Video on TM61.
No Way Jose vs. Angelo Dawkins
Video on Nakamura vs. Finn Balor.
Liv Morgan vs. Aliyah
Video on Nakamura vs. Joe.
Results
Tye Dillinger b. Wesley Blake – Tyebreaker
No Way Jose b. Angelo Dawkins – Full nelson slam
Liv Morgan b. Aliyah – Spinning kick to the face
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
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Night Raw
Date: April 1, 2002
Location: Pepsi Arena, Albany, New York
Attendance: 9,000
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler
Opening sequence, including the debut of Across the Nation. I always liked that one.
Intercontinental Title: Rob Van Dam vs. Booker T.
Post match Eddie Guerrero runs out for his return and beats Van Dam down. Now that makes things feel more important.
During the break, Show literally threw Vince out of the arena.
William Regal vs. Spike Dudley
Hardcore Title: Raven vs. Bubba Ray Dudley
Hardy Boyz vs. Boss Man/Mr. Perfect
Post match Brock Lesnar comes out and destroys the Hardys to set up his first feud.
Terri vs. Trish Stratus
Before the paddling can occur, Molly Holly comes out and destroys Trish to give her a real match. Trish gets the paddle broken over her head to make it serious.
Austin is here and tells Flair to let Vince inside so they can handle this after the main event.
Kane vs. X-Pac
X-Pac has Hall and Nash at ringside but Kane beats him up to start. Some kicks send Kane outside though Hall pulling the ropes down might have helped too. Nash adds in a big boot and X-Pac does his spinning heel kick, only to be launched out to the floor. Back in and the Bronco Buster has gets no reaction so Kane powerslams him for no cover. Kane finally has enough of the interference and punches Hall in the face, drawing the Outsiders in for the DQ.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
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Smackdown
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August 30, 2016
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, John Bradshaw Layfield, David Otunga
Opening sequence.
Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Hype Bros vs. Vaudevillains
To my shock, JBL seems to love the Hype Ryders. You would expect him to hate a team like this.
We finally see the tournament brackets and the Usos vs. American Alpha is actually a semifinal match. That makes things a lot more interesting.
AJ Styles runs into Apollo Crews and introduces himself as the face who runs this place.
AJ Styles vs. Apollo Crews
Natalya/Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch/Naomi
Nikki Bella is on commentary to do a commercial for Total Bellas. Naomi hurricanranas Natalya to the floor and we take an early break. Back with Naomi in trouble until a jawbreaker allows the tag off to Becky. House is cleaned and everything breaks down as Carmella comes out to brawl with Nikki. In the melee, Bliss rolls Becky up and grabs the trunks for the pin at 7:21.
Video on Curt Hawkins.
Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Headbangers vs. Rhino/Heath Slater
Mosh and Thrasher look exactly the same as they did in 1999. Slater gets beaten down to start and the springboard clothesline puts him on the floor. Some stomping sets up a chinlock as Otunga calls the Headbangers the last two Marilyn Manson fans. The Stage Dive (powerbomb/guillotine legdrop combo) gets two as Rhino makes the save. Rhino (with what looks like some blood on the left side of his face) drags Slater over for the tag and the Gore ends Mosh at 2:53. It might be time for Thrasher to go back to training wrestlers like he did with Big Show.
Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose
Results
Hype Bros b. Vaudevillains – Hype Ryder to English
AJ Styles b. Apollo Crews – Phenomenal Forearm
Alexa Bliss/Natalya b. Naomi/Becky Lynch – Rollup with a handful of trunks
Rhino/Heath Slater b. Headbangers – Gore to Mosh
Baron Corbin b. Dean Ambrose via DQ when AJ Styles interfered
http://www.wwe.com/article/mr-fuji-passes-away
I know Fuji is best remembered as the other manager when you have people like Jimmy Hart and Bobby Heenan around in the 80s, but a lot of people forget a few things about him, including the following:
2. He still holds the record for most days as a WWF Tag Team Champion, 932 over five reigns. Billy Gunn is second with 916 and then it’s Ax and Smash at over 100 days less.
3. And then this. If you’ve never seen it, I give you the 80s.
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Night Raw
Date: July 22, 1996
Location: Key Arena, Seattle, Washington
Attendance: 6,755
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler
We open with a look at Seattle for a change of pace.
Tag Team Titles: Shawn Michaels/Ahmed Johnson vs. Smoking Gunns
The Goon vs. Marc Mero
Bob Backlund campaigns for President.
Mankind vs. Freddie Joe Floyd
Goldust vs. Barry Horowitz
Tag Team Titles: Smoking Gunns vs. Shawn Michaels/Ahmed Johnson
The beating continues with Lawler actually mentioning Ron Simmons. Faarooq pledges his loyalty to Sunny to end the show.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IH7O904
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Your House #9: International Incident
Date: July 21, 1996
Location: General Motors Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Attendance: 14,804
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross
Earlier tonight on the Free For All, Cornette swung the tennis racket at Jose Lothario but got punched in the face for his efforts. Vader and Shawn came in to prevent any further violence. The main catch for the
Smoking Gunns vs. Bodydonnas
Bart gets tired of having his arm pulled apart so he throws Skip down and brings in Billy to fire off some right hands. A nice headscissors puts Billy down and Skip spins out of a few hiptosses, only to be punched down for his efforts. Skip grabs another armbar as the match slows down all over again. Out of nowhere Sunny collapses but as Skip goes to check on her she slaps him in the face, allowing the Gunns to clothesline him down.
Camp Cornette rants about the fight with Cornette and Lothario while guaranteeing a win later.
Mankind vs. Henry Godwinn
Marc Mero vs. Steve Austin
This is a rematch from the King of the Ring tournament. Austin jumps him right after the bell but Mero comes back with a quick armbar. That gets him nowhere so Steve grabs a headlock and takes him down to the mat. Back up and they slug it out with Mero, a former New York Golden Gloves Champion, easily taking control. Austin is knocked to the floor and goes after Sable, only to be jumped from behind.
Back inside and Steve gets rolled up for two but manages to send Mero out to the floor to take over. A catapult sends Mero face first into the post and another shot knocks him off the apron and into the barricade. Back in and a middle rope elbow gets two for Austin and we hit a reverse chinlock. Austin slaps Mero in the back of the head but misses a charge and lands on the middle rope to give Marc a breather.
Former WWF Champion Bob Backlund is running for President of the United States and looks for registered voters in the crowd.
Goldust vs. Undertaker
Goldust, who has since lost the Intercontinental Title to Ahmed Johnson, bails to the floor to start and does so again after Undertaker moves towards him. He gets in again and hides behind the referee for a few moments before doing his trademark deep breath. It only earns him an uppercut to the jaw, sending Goldust right back to the floor for more stalling. Lawler makes movie references as Goldust teases walking out and VERY slowly gets back in the ring.
The announcers talk about the main event while the ring is repaired.
We go to the back to see the brawl between Undertaker and Mankind continue.
Goldust and Marlena are in the boiler room where Mankind and Undertaker were fighting earlier. Goldust quotes Kramer vs. Kramer when Mankind pops up and calls Goldust mommy. Mankind rams his head into a cabinet while screaming about what mommy wants, mommy gets.
The announcers ignore what we just saw and talk about the main event a bit more.
If Camp Cornette loses, Cornette has to pay back all of the fans, which would cost him millions. Also Owen has a broken arm coming in. Vader and Ahmed start things off but Vader wants the world champion instead. Shawn is happy to oblige and is easily shoved away by the monster. Vader lifts Shawn into the air in a choke but Shawn punches his way to freedom. Shawn speeds things up and actually hits a running hurricanrana to take Vader down. A cross body sends Vader to the floor and Michaels follows with a nice plancha to take the monster down.
Shawn tries another hurricanrana but gets hit a bit low to give Vader control. Vader pounds away in the corner and Shawn is in quick trouble. Michaels manages to escapes a belly to back suplex and makes the hot tag off to Sid for a battle of the giants. Sid cleans house and sends all of Camp Cornette out to the floor, drawing a HUGE reaction from the crowd. Owen tries to sneak in from behind but is easily taken down by another clothesline. Off to Johnson who actually rolls German suplexes on Owen.
Post match Sid and Ahmed clean house with powerbombs to Owen and Bulldog but Vader is pulled to safety. Shawn dives over the top and takes out Vader, sending Camp Cornette running off. A lot of posing ends the show.
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