IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: June 11, 2020
Host: Andy Shepard

It’s another Superstar Picks edition this week and that is one of the most entertaining things you can get on these shows. They offer a great look inside the WWE vault, which is something you don’t get to do often enough on television. Giving it the British slant makes things even more interesting. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Andy explains the concept, saying each match will be for a title.

Sam Gradwell starts with a surprise match from Great American Bash 2006.

US Title: Finlay vs. William Regal

JBL goes on a hilarious rant before the match about Bobby Lashley (Finlay’s original opponent) being pulled from the match due to high liver enzymes. JBL: “LIVER ENZYMES??? AS MUCH AS I’VE DRANK I’M LUCKY TO HAVE A LIVER!!! MY LIVER LOOKS LIKE JAKE ROBERTS’ AND MY LIVER ENZYMES HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGH!” Regal is worried about Hornswoggle (not yet named) interfering so he goes a-leprechaun hunting and before the match starts.

Regal says he’ll just leave but Finlay tries to roll him up anyway. They lock up and go all the way to the floor without breaking it. They walk around and back up the steps and into the ring without breaking that lockup. Regal grabs a single leg and works the leg but that gets him nowhere. Regal throws him to the floor and here’s Hornswoggle! He pops Regal in the leg and JBL freaks out, saying he wants one for Christmas.

Regal loses track of him and stands on the steps instead of, you know, GETTING IN THE RING. Hornswoggle sneaks up on him and Regal nearly jumps out of his skin. Back in Finlay gets a clothesline for two and it’s off to a nerve hold. This heel vs. heel thing is only kind of working so they’re going for comedy. JBL gives us a European soccer lesson as Finlay takes over. Regal gets in some kicks and a butterfly suplex for two.

Hornswoggle is back as he bites Regal’s fingers, forcing Regal to rake the eyes to escape. Back in and Finlay takes over, working on the hand until Regal hits him in the leg to break things up. They’re certainly mixing up the comedy and technical aspects here. Regal hooks a chinlock but Finlay fights out with some shots to the ribs.

Back to the floor and you can hear them hitting each other incredibly hard. This was the same thing they did back at Uncensored 96, although this is a very different match. Back in and Finlay grabs a quickly broken chinlock. Regal fights up and throws him into the corner, where they ram heads for a double knockdown. In a great old school heel move, Regal drops to a knee, putting his leg on Finlay’s throat, while he talks to the referee. The exploder suplex puts Finlay down and there’s a knee drop for two.

The fans call this boring, making me think they don’t know what that means. Regal runs off the apron and gets crotched on the apron skirt. Finlay hammers him back into the ring and takes Regal’s shoe off, though it’s possible Hornswoggle stole it. Finlay misses a charge and hits the post as the fans are loudly booing now. Regal gets the Irish club that I can’t spell but Hornswoggle slips Finlay Regal’s boot though. Finlay clocks Regal with said boot to retain at 13:49.

Rating: C-. I’m going to be in the fairly extreme minority here but I enjoyed this. The technical aspect of it is really good but the comedy stuff is going to be very hit or miss. To be fair though, this was a hard one to work out as the styles really clashed. I was entertained by it though and that’s the point of this, or any match.

Piper Niven goes with this from NXT UK, November 28, 2018.

NXT UK Women’s Title: Rhea Ripley vs. Toni Storm

For the inaugural title. Storm wastes no time in slugging Ripley down into the corner for the running hip attack. Ripley falls to the floor and eats a suicide dive but another hip attack hits the barricade. They head to the apron and Storm Zero is countered with a backdrop, leaving Toni nearly in tears from the pain.

Back in and a hard whip keeps Toni in trouble, followed by the shoulders to the ribs. The fans are behind Storm, even as she gets caught in a bodyscissors to stay on the ribs and back. Ripley switches over to the standing Cloverleaf, sending Storm over to the ropes for the break. The back is fine enough to roll some German suplexes, followed by a headbutt into a bridging German suplex for two.

A running knee attack in the corner gets two and the fans chant Evolution, not realizing that this wouldn’t air for a month after that show because…I have no idea actually. Storm Zero is countered with another backdrop over the top with Storm’s back hitting the apron again. Riptide is escaped but Toni’s back gives out on Storm Zero, setting up Riptide to give Ripley the title at 9:27.

Rating: B. This was good stuff with Ripley getting to win clean in the end with her finisher instead of having the cheating finish to set up a rematch. They went with the right call here of having a definitive winner and that’s the way they should have gone here. Storm already has the bigger honor anyway and can come back to win a regular title later on.

Post match Saint and HHH present Ripley with her title.

Noam Dar, with a beard, doesn’t like the rest of the roster.

Video on Aoife Valkyrie.

Dar wants to be deemed an essential service.

Amir Jordan (by way of Andy) sends us to Summerslam 1992 for a match you might have seen.

Intercontinental Title: Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith

Bulldog, challenging here, has British Commonwealth boxing champion Lennox Lewis leading him to the ring and carrying the Union Jack. The place comes unglued for Davey but Bret isn’t booed at all, as his style is perfect for a crowd like this. Bulldog shoves him into the corner to start before hitting a hard shoulder to send the champion to the floor. Back in and they head to the mat with Bret grabbing a headlock to take over. Bret gets a few near falls off some rollups and it’s right back to the headlock.

Back up again and Davey grabs a hammerlock but Bret hits a HARD elbow to the face to escape, drawing the ire of the fans. Davey takes him down with basic technique and cranks on the armbar. The hold stays on for a good while with the fans getting louder and louder the longer Smith has control. Bret finally sends him into the ropes to escape and drives a knee into Smith’s ribs. The fans boo Hart out of the stadium for a basic move like a knee and boo even louder for a chinlock.

An atomic drop (called a reverse piledriver by Vince) puts Smith down and Bret blocks a crucifix (which worked earlier) in a Samoan Drop for two. Another chinlock is quickly broken but Davey charges into a boot in the corner to put him down again. A bulldog puts Bulldog down but he slams Bret off the top a second later. Davey misses a top rope splash and is sent to the outside, drawing a ton of heat for Bret.

The champion tries a dive to the floor but lands on Davey’s back, nearly breaking several bones in the process. Bret sends him into the post before heading back inside pounding away with European uppercuts. Hart hooks a chinlock for a good while before loading up the Five Moves of Doom. He pulls Bulldog up by the hair to show how evil he is and it’s off to a sleeper. This stays on for a LONG time as well but Smith rams him into the corner to escape again.

They slug it out but Davey drops him out of a gorilla press into the ropes. Three straight clotheslines get two for Smith and a gorilla press gets the same. The delayed vertical and the chest first bump into the buckle get the same. Bulldog hits his powerslam finisher but Bret gets out at two, with far less of a reaction from the crowd than you would expect. Bret rolls through a suplex for two of his own, only to get superplexed down for a near fall.

Back up again and a double clothesline puts both guys down, giving the fans a needed breather. While laying on his back Bret hooks the Sharpshooter ala last year against Mr. Perfect, terrifying the fans. Smith gets the rope so Bret tries a suplex, but Davey drops to his knees and hooks both legs for the pin and the title at 25:40. The place ERUPTS on the three count.

Rating: A+. This took awhile to get going but once those near falls started it turns into an instant classic. Davey had to win here and it was a perfectly clean pin in the middle of the ring. Bret, ever the critic, doesn’t like this match and basically blames the whole thing on Smith for being spent five minutes in. Those of us in the real world see it for what it is: a masterpiece.

Bret, Davey and Diana embrace to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. That first match is the kind of thing I look forward to on a show like this. How many people have thought of that match in years? It isn’t something you’re going to see every day and aside from something like this, when is it ever going to be presented? Do more things like that and showcase what kind of resources you have.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: June 10, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix

We’re done with Takeover: In Your House and the only major change was Io Shirai winning the Women’s Title. Other than that, Adam Cole is still NXT Champion and needs a new challenger. Tonight he faces Dexter Lumis in a match that has me worried. Finn Balor and Keith Lee would seem to be the next big challengers so let’s get to it.

Here’s Takeover if you need a recap.

Takeover recap.

Here’s the Undisputed Era for a chat. Adam Cole talks about how he’s still champion because while Velveteen Dream is a great challenger, but he’s not Adam Cole bay-bay. As for what’s next, what difference does it make? The rest of the team yells about Lumis being weird and stuffing them in a trunk (Strong: “YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I HATE BEING STUFFED IN TRUNKS!”). Strong keeps thinking he seems Lumis in the crowd and Cole is tired of hearing about it. Cole has this tonight, so don’t worry about Lumis. As the team is leaving, Lumis pops up and Strong panics.

Post break, the Era runs into Keith Lee and Mia Yim. Lee likes the look of the NXT Title but Cole says in his dreams.

Keith Lee/Mia Yim vs. Johnny Gargano/Candice LeRae

They yell at each other to start until Lee picks Candice up and moves her to the side. Gargano and LeRae’s stereo hurricanranas don’t work and are countered into…well most of a Super Collider, minus the powerbombs. The women finally start and Candice is thrown straight into the ropes for some shots to the face. The fight heads outside and Lee has to catch Yim in a moment that takes Mauro by surprise. Gargano and LeRae are dropped face first onto the apron and we take a break.

Back with Yim being knocked into the corner, only to have Mia hit Soul Food. The hot tag brings in Lee to beat up Gargano, including Grizzly Magnum. A crazy high toss sends Gargano flying so LeRae tags herself in. That’s fine with Lee, who carries both of them at once. LeRae’s DDT is blocked with ease so Gargano kicks him in the head to make the DDT work. Yim is back in with a kick to the face and a dragon suplex drops Candice again.

Gargano makes the save so Mia hammers on him as well, including a German suplex. Candice hits Soul Food on Mia though and a Lionsault gets two. Gargano comes back in but Mia low bridges him to the floor, allowing her to kick at Candice. Lee Pounces Gargano right into Mia though, allowing Gargano to hit the slingshot suplex, right onto LeRae. Lee immediately checks on her and picks her up, but Gargano rolls him up for the pin at 10:48, sending Candice flying in the process.

Rating: C+. There’s your setup for the rematch as Gargano looks even more evil than usual. That’s the kind of thing you have to do to make him a heel and it worked well here. It was a good match with the man vs. woman stuff not seeming contrived or ridiculous, which is one of the biggest dangers of trying something like that.

We look at Finn Balor beating Damian Priest at Takeover.

Priest wouldn’t change a thing and wanted the match for a reason. The match was the next step in Priest’s name living forever and he accomplished his progress.

Cameron Grimes is ready for Finn Balor tonight but doesn’t think much of Priest’s loss. Priest comes up and decks Grimes with a forearm to the jaw.

Video on Io Shirai winning the Women’s Title, with Asuka and Shinsuke Nakamura being excited for her.

Indus Sher vs. Mike Reed/Mikey Delbrey

Reed gets kicked in the face to start and a running splash in the corner makes it worse. A side slam/middle rope legdrop combination (with the leg possibly not coming close) finishes Reed at 1:05. Total squash.

Cameron Grimes is claiming a broken jaw and doesn’t think he can wrestle tonight. William Regal wants to hear it from Grimes himself.

Post break Grimes is hitting on some women and doesn’t know that Regal is watching from a tablet. Grimes instantly remembers his injury so Regal says the match is on.

Video on Breezango, who need to take things more seriously. It’s not that they can’t go in the ring, because Fandango debuted at Wrestlemania and won (against someone not worthy of naming). They’re going to be entertaining but take things seriously, starting next week against Imperium for the Tag Team Titles.

We look at Karrion Kross beating Tommaso Ciampa in pretty dominant fashion.

Ciampa stayed late after Takeover was over but didn’t have anything to say.

Rhea Ripley isn’t happy with her loss but here’s the still disheveled Robert Stone to offer a partnership. Ripley doesn’t seem impressed but he thinks it’s a maybe. She hits him low and slams him onto a crate. I’m curious where the Stone deal is going, though it’s not likely to mean much.

Finn Balor vs. Cameron Grimes

Grimes hides in the corner to start before getting his arm caught in a hammerlock. Some uppercuts knock Balor to the ropes but he’s right back with an elbow to the face. Balor kicks him down and we hit the chinlock to slow things down. Back up and some running chops in the corner rock Grimes again and the fans seem to approve. Grimes takes him down by the leg but needs to stop for a rub of his sore chest.

Balor rolls through a sunset flip into a basement dropkick though and they head outside. That’s fine with Balor, who can hit a running chop and a whip into the barricade. Back in and Grimes hits a heck of a clothesline to set up his own chinlock, which seems a bit more appropriate. Grimes runs him over again and we take a break.

We come back with Grimes shouting a lot until Balor kicks him out of the corner. There’s the Sling Blade into the John Woo dropkick but the Coup de Grace misses. Grimes is back with a forearm to the face and 1916 is countered into a small package for two. A spinning slam gives Grimes two but Balor avoids a charge and hits the reverse 1916 for two more. The Coup de Grace into the 1916 finishes Grimes at 12:37.

Rating: B-. These guys beat each other up and they have done a good job of making Grimes into someone with some value. At the same time though, Balor hasn’t looked like this in a long time. He’s coming off as a top star and someone who could beat anyone at the moment. Keep this up and show what Balor really can do as a top star.

Post match Balor calls out Keith Lee for a North American Title match.

Dakota Kai vs. Kacy Catanzaro

Raquel Gonzalez is here with Kai. Kacy takes her down in a hurry for a slingshot hilo and they’re on the floor in a hurry with Catanzaro snapping off a hurricanrana. Back in and a slingshot kick takes Kai down again. This time though, Kai sends her face first into the buckle but charges into a sunset flip for two. Kai is back with the scorpion kick into the GTK for the pin at 2:29. This could have been worse as Kacy is someone who has all kinds of positives but she needs a lot more experience. Kai is getting a lot better as a heel too and I like seeing her beat people up.

Post match the beating continues but Kayden Carter runs out for the save. Gonzalez takes Carter out though and the villains stand tall.

Timothy Thatcher is training some unseen wrestlers and promises to make it barbaric and violent. They will begin next week after their legal clearances are in.

Here’s El Hijo del Fantasma for a chat but before he can say much, here’s Drake Maverick to interrupt. Maverick wants to say congratulations because Fantasma is a phenomenal competitor. People have been talking about Drake’s situation but it should be about Fantasma, who debuted in this tournament and then won it. However, Maverick has been curious what would have happened had his head been clear last week (though he said that it was last week) and now he knows he can beat Fantasma.

The champ is down but here are the masked men from last week….and Fantasma headbutts Drake. The other two come in for the big beatdown, with the masked men unmasking as Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza. Fantasma gives Drake the Phantom Driver and unmasks himself, saying his name is Santos Escobar. Wilde and Mendoza hit stereo top rope splashes and the trio poses.

The Undisputed Era is in their dressing room and Strong finds a drawing from Lumis. Panic ensues but Cole says he’s got this. Cole and Fish leave and Strong sees Lumis looking through the window.

Next week, Tegan Nox and Shotzi Blackheart get a Women’s Tag Team Title shot. Also, Imperium defends against Breezango.

Dexter Lumis vs. Adam Cole

Non-title and Strong/Fish are here with Cole. Lumis takes him into the corner to start so Cole stomps away. That goes nowhere and Lumis kicks away without much trouble. Cole bails to the floor and comes back in to stomp away. Lumis powers him up and throws him away (that looked good), with Cole bailing to the apron. This time Cole kicks him down and we take a break.

Back with Cole dropping him for two and hammering away at Lumis’ head. Lumis is starting to get annoyed so Cole drops him with a neckbreaker. This time Lumis fights up with a bulldog into a slingshot suplex for two. Lumis’ German suplex gets two but Cole snaps off a superkick for two more.

There’s a spinebuster to plant Cole but he sends Lumis to the floor. Lumis crawls underneath the ring though and grabs another spinebuster for another two. The Swanton hits knees but Lumis is right back with the head and arm choke. Fish offers a distraction though and Strong makes the save to overcome his fear. The Last Shot finishes Lumis at 12:20.

Rating: C+. It wasn’t a bad match but there is no reason to be interested in Lumis. Other than he’s creepy and draws pictures, what else is there to know about him? This shouldn’t be anything big and thankfully it seemed to be a one off match against Cole. It’s fine to do something with him on a lower level, but Cole has bigger opponents to face.

Post match Cole talks trash but Lumis pulls him into the choke. The rest of the team comes in, drawing in Velveteen Dream for the save. Cole is left alone in the ring….and there go most of the lights. Cue Scarlet to put an hourglass on the apron. Fans: “TICK TOCK!” Scarlet leaves and Cole is worried to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a good fallout show from Takeover and you can see a lot of where things are going from here. I’m not sure how that is going to work as we could be months away from another Takeover, but NXT knows how to set up some big TV shows in advance. This week was about setting up for the future in a hurry and that isn’t a bad idea in this situation.

Results

Johnny Gargano/Candice LeRae b. Mia Yim/Keith Lee – Rollup to Lee

Indus Sher b. Mike Reed/Mikey Delbrey – Side slam/middle rope legdrop combination to Reed

Finn Balor b. Cameron Grimes – 1916

Dakota Kai b. Kacy Catanzaro – GTK

Adam Cole b. Dexter Lumis – Last Shot

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Takeover: In Your House
Date: June 7, 2020
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix, Tom Phillips

I’m almost scared for this one, as I don’t know if NXT can pull off the same magic without the fans. It doesn’t help that the show has been a lot weaker since it moved to two hours, but you never bet against Takeover because the show has a pretty outstanding record. Tonight’s main event seems to be another cinematic match between NXT Champion Adam Cole and Velveteen Dream so let’s get to it.

The opening video is a pure nostalgia trip, with an NXT version of the old “revolutionary force in sports entertainment” intro, Todd Pettengill running down the card, and one lucky winner…..not winning a house tonight. New Generation fans (all 14 or so of them) will have a good time with that one.

An altered version of the old house set is here too, with Code Orange performing the opening song.

Shotzi Blackheart/Tegan Nox/Mia Yim vs. Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez/Candice LeRae

LeRae tags Gonzalez in to hide from Yim, who is game to go after Gonzalez instead. Kai comes in so Mia brings in Nox for the revenge. Nox slugs away in the corner and hands it off to Blackheart for some kicks to the face. Kai gets in her own kick for two though and it’s back to LeRae, who misses the backsplash. Gonzalez kicks LeRae by mistake and it’s time to go outside for the parade of dives.

Back in and Shotzi runs LeRae over for two, followed by Cattle Mutilation. Kai makes the save and then distracts the referee so Gonzalez can get in her own clothesline. It’s Shotzi staying in trouble but Gonzalez misses a running boot in the corner. Mia gets the hot tag and comes in to clean house until a double knockdown puts her and LeRae down. Nox comes in to beat on Gonzalez, who comes back with a powerbomb for two. Yim and LeRae fight to the floor and then into the garage, leaving us two on two. Kai kicks Gonzalez by mistake and a double dropkick puts Gonzalez on the floor. The Shiniest Wizard finishes Kai at 9:52.

Rating: C+. It was a fast paced and exciting opener and that’s all you could expect from something like this. Nox is a star in the making, but I’m not sure how much faith you can put in someone with her history of injuries. I like having the two feuds in one match here and Nox vs. Kai feels like it could have some legs if they want to keep it going.

Promotional consideration paid for by the following, with William Regal as Alfred Hayes: WWE Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches.

We recap Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor. Priest wanted to make a name for himself and attacked Balor, who wasn’t going to stand for that. It’s time for a showdown.

Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest

Balor dropkicks him in the corner before the bell and goes after the knee to take the big man down. They head outside with Balor going shoulder first into the steps and then back first onto the apron. The forearms don’t do much for Balor as Priest plants him with a lifting Downward Spiral. Priest stomps Balor down in the corner for one, meaning it’s off to the chinlock.

Balor fights up and sends him to the apron for the dropkick into the barricade. Some hard stomps against the barricade keep Priest in trouble but Priest is back in with a clothesline to cut off the dive. A series of strikes has Balor in trouble so he hits a fast Pele kick for two. Priest knocks him back to the floor and hits a Razor’s Edge onto the apron for two of his own. Back in and Priest hits some running elbows in the corner but Balor is back with the Sling Blade to break up the trio.

Priest kicks him in the face again, only to have Balor counter again. The Coup de Grace is countered into a sitout chokeslam for two and Priest tells the referee he’s not stopping this. A Razor’s Edge off the apron onto the steps is broken up so Balor forearms him off the apron and onto the steps instead. Back in and the top rope double stomp to the back sets up the Coup de Grace finishes Priest at 12:37.

Rating: B. This is one where the NXT wrestlers at ringside helped carry things as they made it feel more energized. These two started fast and didn’t really stop until the ending, which is a good way to do a match like this. Balor almost has to move on to the title picture now, or at least into contention for it. What else is there for him to do at the moment?

And now, here’s Adam Cole for ICO-PRO.

We recap Johnny Gargano vs. Keith Lee for the North American Title. Gargano and Candice LeRae aren’t happy with how they’ve been treated around here so it’s time to do things their way. This includes defeating Lee to become North American Champion, so Lee and Mia Yim mocked their big proclamation. Gargano attacked Lee’s eyes with his car key and then crushed Lee’s hands to even the odds a bit coming into this one.

North American Title: Keith Lee vs. Johnny Gargano

Gargano is challenging and has the key in his trunks. Lee has a Black Lives Matter vest and shoves Gargano around a few times to start. The spinning kick to the face misses and Gargano is terrified. A quick chase lets Gargano get in a dropkick through the ropes, but the suicide dive is pulled out of the air. Gargano can’t send the bad hand into the steps but winds up running towards the set door.

Since that’s not a real door, Lee catches up to him for the Grizzly Magnum chop. They head back inside with Gargano stomping on the hand so Lee knocks him away for a short breather. Gargano is right back with left hands in the corner before shoving Lee’s face against the buckle.

The band hand is bent around the turnbuckle before cranking on the arm even more. The slingshot spear is cut off by an enziguri to give Lee two but he can’t hit a powerbomb. Gargano’s clotheslines don’t work so Lee shows him how it’s done for two more. Lee wants to see Gargano’s heart and loads up another powerbomb.

This time Gargano kicks him in the head and rolls into a sunset flip for two more. Gargano knocks him outside and it’s a suicide tornado DDT to knock Lee silly on the floor. The count is broken up at nine so Lee Pounces Gargano through the Plexiglas. Lee pulls what used to be Gargano back in but here’s Candice for a distraction.

Mia Yim comes out to take care of her but the distraction lets Gargano use the key on Lee’s eye. There’s the slingshot DDT for two on Lee, followed by a low superkick for the same. Gargano hits two more of them for the same but talks too much trash, allowing Lee to hit the Spirit Bomb. The Big Bang Catastrophe retains the title at 20:38.

Rating: B. Another hard hitting, back and forth match here with Gargano taking a surprising loss so soon after starting his big heel turn. That being said, I’m not sure what in the world is left for Lee. Other than going title for title with Adam Cole, who else is left to come after him at the moment?

We recap Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream. Cole has been champion for a year but Dream had him beaten until the Undisputed Era interfered. Tonight, they’re fighting in a Backlot Brawl, meaning in a ring behind the building with fans in cars around the ring.

NXT Title: Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream

Anything goes, Cole is defending and drives up to the ring in a really big truck, while Dream is in a Lamborghini and dressed as Negan from Walking Dead (complete with Lucille the bat). Dream gets in some early near falls but Cole catches him with a kick to the face. Cole grabs the belt and gets in another car but Dream is there to beat on it with the bat.

They slug it out again and here’s an Uber, with the two of them literally fighting through it. The Uber pulls away and they fight up what looks like the street in front of an apartment building. Cole gets away and finds a fire extinguisher to blind Dream. Some uppercuts knock Dream back to ringside and Cole forearms him up against a truck. Dream manages to post him but Cole rolls away and asks for time out.

A dive off the top is superkicked out of the air to put Dream down again. Dream does the same to Cole though and the champ is out on the ground. Cole gets planted onto the hood of a car and Dream busts out a ladder. The Purple Rainmaker from the ladder is loaded up but here’s the rest of the Undisputed Era in another car with the horn offering a distraction. Dream is fine enough to knock Cole off the ladder and into the windshield though, drawing some blood from Cole’s arm.

The Era beats Dream down in a hurry and that means it’s time to fill the ring with chairs. Dexter Lumis pops out from under the ring though and beats up the Era, even throwing them in the trunk of a car and driving off. Dream is down on the pile of chairs so Cole pulls himself up, only to have the Panama Sunrise countered into a Dream Valley Driver for two. Dream says it’s Dream Over so Cole hits him low and hits the Panama Sunrise onto the chairs to retain at 14:58.

Rating: B. This was one of the more enjoyable cinematic matches and some of that might have had to do with commentary. It helped keep the match a little more grounded and that’s what it needed. This almost has to be it for Dream, because what else is there of him to do down here if he isn’t winning the title?

DX is having issues answering internet questions.

We recap Karrion Kross vs. Tommaso Ciampa. Kross debuted and attacked Ciampa so it’s time for his first real test.

Karrion Kross vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Kross starts fast and sends Ciampa down in a hurry. Ciampa is back up with the Willow’s Bell attempt. Which is countered for a kick to the face. They head outside with Kross dropping him back first onto the apron and there’s a hard suplex back inside. Kross hits a big clothesline and loads up a chokeslam but Ciampa slugs away to knock him to the floor. Now Willow’s Bell can connect for two but the Fairy Tale Ending is countered into an F5. The Krossjacket goes on and Ciampa is out at 6:12.

Rating: C. I thought he would win but I didn’t think he would do it like that. This was just a step ahead of a squash and that is the kind of major debut that Kross needed. Kross comes off like a total monster and giving him that kind of a finisher could make him quite someone to be reckoned with around here. I like the presentation and with someone like Kross, that’s what matters.

A disheveled Robert Stone is here.

We recap Charlotte vs. Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley for the Women’s Title. Charlotte beat Ripley to win the title at Wrestlemania and then Shirai won a ladder match to become #1 contender. Shirai beat Charlotte via DQ so the triple threat title match was set.

Women’s Title: Charlotte vs. Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley

Charlotte is defending and bails to the floor to start. Back in and Charlotte takes them both down while shouting about how this is her house and they are just guests. Ripley fights up but gets sent hard outside, with Charlotte sending her even harder into the barricade. Shirai grabs a hurricanrana off the apron to take Charlotte down but she’s back up to run both challengers over.

Charlotte and Shirai are back inside with the former grabbing the Boston crab until Ripley makes the save. Shirai cuts Ripley off though and adds a 619 to Charlotte. A double stomp to Charlotte’s ribs keeps her down but Rhea is up to drop Shirai and put everyone on the mat for a bit. Charlotte gets in a double spear for the double knockdown but the moonsault hits Ripley’s knees.

Shirai escapes the Riptide and grabs the Crossface on Charlotte, meaning Ripley has to make another save. That’s fine with Shirai, who hits a springboard missile dropkick on Ripley but Charlotte grabs Natural Selection for two more. Shirai knocks Charlotte outside and hits the big suicide dive onto Ripley. Charlotte is back up to take Shirai down and the brawl with Charlotte starts going around the arena. Naturally, Shirai uses the distraction to get up to the top of the house set and dive onto the other two for a huge crash.

Charlotte stays down on the floor but Ripley can’t superplex Shirai. They switch places as Charlotte gets back in and pulls Shirai down. Ripley is ready for her though and it’s a super Riptide to Charlotte for two with Shirai making the save. The standing Texas Cloverleaf has Shirai in trouble until Charlotte makes the save with the kendo stick. The spear sets up the Figure Eight on Ripley but Shirai moonsaults onto Ripley (mostly onto her head) for the pin and the title at 17:40.

Rating: B+. Other than being terrified for how Shirai landed on Ripley, this was a heck of a fight with all three going hard from bell to bell with one save after another. Shirai winning was a surprise but one that I can take as it should slow down the amount of Charlotte appearances. It’s a rather good main event though and that’s what mattered, with Ripley being able to get another shot later on. Charlotte needs to take a few weeks off, but I doubt that’s what she winds up doing.

Confetti and streamers end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Yeah I’d say that worked, as Takeover manages to pull off another one. The worst match of the night was the short Kross vs. Ciampa match and even that was easy enough to watch. They need some fresh blood at the top of the card though and I think Lee vs. Balor is going to be the match to determine that spot. The action was very good here though, and a lot of that was due to the wrestlers acting as the crowd. They really did add something and if the rest of the shows could duplicate it, we would be in a much better place from week to week. Very good show here, though it didn’t have the blow away classic.

Results

Shotzi Blackheart/Tegan Nox/Mia Yim b. Candice LeRae/Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez – Shiniest Wizard to Kai

Finn Balor b. Damian Priest – Coup de Grace

Keith Lee b. Johnny Gargano – Big Bang Catastrophe

Adam Cole b. Velveteen Dream – Panama Sunrise onto a pile of chairs

Karrion Kross b. Tommaso Ciampa – Krossjacket choke

Io Shirai b. Rhea Ripley and Charlotte – Moonsault to Ripley

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: June 4, 2020
Host: Andy Shepard

It’s time to look at one of the other big stables around here with Gallus. The team is a simple concept: take three large Scotsmen and have them beat a bunch of people up, then turn them face when the show goes to Scotland for a bit. Joe Coffey has done well in the lead role so hopefully there is enough good stuff around here. Let’s get to it.

Andy gives us a quick look at the history of the team and throws us to one of their first big matches.

From NXT UK, January 9, 2019.

Gallus vs. British Strong Style

They have a crazy amount of time for this. Joe and Bate start things off with a test of strength. Bate gets taken down but does the always impressive bridge, with Coffey not being able to break it down. Now it’s Bate fighting up and almost getting Bate down until a knee to the ribs cuts him off. Back up and Bate hits a dropkick into a nipup for the staredown, drawing in the other four for a big staredown.

We settle back down for a tag to Wolfgang, which draws all six in for another glaring session. It’s off to Mark vs. Dunne with a running clothesline hitting Mark, drawing all six in again. Gallus gets sent outside for a nice reaction from the fans and a breather for the villains. Back in and Dunne takes Mark down by the arm and bends the fingers back for painful measure. There’s a surfboard double knee stomp as Dunne doesn’t seem to be having much trouble here.

Bate comes in to keep up the pace until a cheap shot from Wolfgang lets Mark grab a suplex. It’s back to Joe for a double underhook crank until Bate fights him off and dives over for the tag to Seven. House is cleaned with Seven hitting a backdrop on Wolfgang, followed by a suicide dive for good measure. Everything breaks down and Mark gets caught in a dragon suplex. Wolfgang kicks Seven to the floor though and Joe sends him into the steps to put the good guys in trouble again. A spear gives Wolfgang two and it’s back to Mark for the stomping.

We hit the front facelock for a bit before it’s back to Joe. They head to the corner with Seven catching him on top with a superplex, allowing the next hot tag off to Dunne. That means an X Plex to Joe and a kneebar to Wolfgang but he’s still able to crawl over for the tag to Mark. Dunne triangle chokes him so Mark tags Wolfgang, whose Howling is countered into an armbar. That’s broken up as well so this time it’s Bate coming in to clean more house. Joe misses a charge so Bate hits a running shooting star for two. The longest airplane spin I’ve ever seen plants Joe but Bate collapses from dizziness.

Bop and Bang is blocked but the second attempt gives us a double knockdown. Mark and Seven come in with Mark kicking him in the arm. That means the Seven Star Lariat doesn’t get a cover so everything breaks down again. We’re left with Mark vs. Dunne, but Joe picks up the UK Title to distract Pete. One heck of a powerbomb plants Dunne for two and it’s Bate coming back in for the rebound lariat on Joe.

Pete and Joe are left alone for the slugout with Dunne stomping on both hands. Joe’s spear is blocked with a knee to the head and there’s the Bitter End, but Wolfgang tagged himself in to run Pete over. Bate comes back in for a hurricanrana to put Wolfgang on the floor. Everyone joins him so Bate hits a huge corkscrew dive to take them all out. Back in and Bate kicks Wolfgang down but walks into Joe’s discus lariat for the pin at 25:28.

Rating: B. Well that was very long though it was quite good at the same time. It could have been shortened a bit though and that’s almost never a positive sign. It makes a lot of sense to give Joe the big pinfall before Saturday though and having him pin Dunne would have felt like a giveaway to the title match’s finish. Good main event here, though trimming off five minutes wouldn’t have been a bad idea.

Video on Gallus.

Dave Mastiff didn’t like the idea of Joe Coffey being all dominant, setting up a Last Man Standing match.

From Takeover: Cardiff.

Dave Mastiff vs. Joe Coffey

Last Man Standing. Coffey brings in a chain but Mastiff comes straight at him anyway to start the brawl in the aisle. They get inside with Coffey hammering away but Mastiff whips him into the corner….and the top rope comes off the buckle. Mastiff shrugs and hits Coffey in the back with the turnbuckle rod before putting it in Coffey’s mouth. Coffey slugs back with some liver shots and a belly to back suplex.

That doesn’t even get a count as Mastiff is right back up with a German suplex of his own. They head outside with Coffey busting out a pool cue to knock Mastiff down. There’s a bag of weapons under the ring but Coffey goes to set up a table. That lets Mastiff hit him in the back with a cricket bat but Coffey is right back up with a headbutt to the ribs to put Mastiff through the table.

It’s chain time again so Mastiff hits another German suplex on the floor. Another table is set up against the barricade and, after giving up a tug of war over the chain, Mastiff cannonballs him through the table. They fight into the crowd with Coffey’s chain shot getting eight. Mastiff has two chairs so he throws one to Coffey, who backs way up. They both get running starts and collide in the aisle for a double knockdown.

With that not working, they wind up by commentary with Dave hitting a Regal Roll onto the announcers’ table for eight. Just to mix it up a bit, they go to the balcony and slug it out before crashing down onto some tables. They both use anvil cases to get up but Coffey kicks Mastiff’s away for the win at 15:59.

Rating: B-. I hit you, you hit me, we do a big spot and get up until the big spot at the end. That’s precisely what they should have been doing here and Mastiff is protected a bit by the ending. I’m a bit surprised by Coffey winning but it’s hardly the worst idea. You could easily put him in as a challenger of the month for Walter and that’s a good spot for him. That could go for either of them and Mastiff can easily be built back up.

Mark Coffey and Wolfgang won the Tag Team Titles in October 2019. This kicked off a crazy successful run for Scotland, who eventually had six champions at once. We see part of a roundtable discussion among those six.

Another Gallus video.

From Takeover: Blackpool II.

Tag Team Titles: Gallus vs. Imperium vs. Flash Morgan Webster/Mark Andrews vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Gallus, Mark Coffey and Wolfgang, are defending and it’s Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel for Imperium in a ladder match. There’s something about the referee ringing the bell and getting out of the way that makes this seem a lot more violent. It’s a brawl to start with Gallus and Imperium heading outside, leaving the Veterans to take over on Webster and Andrews.

Coffey and Imperium take their places in the ring but Webster and Andrews come back in to pick up the pace. The Veterans pulls them down by the arms though and some chair shots make it worse. Gallus ties Drake in the Tree of Woe but Imperium saves him from having his face crushed. Imperium tries to grab a ladder but Webster and Andrews hit big flip dives to knock it away. Imperium brings the ladders in and clean house, making sure to stop to pose.

The Veterans clear them out and tie Andrews in the corner for a running dropkick. Gallus is back in for a slingshot Samoan drop to put Drake onto a ladder but Imperium breaks up a climb attempt. Webster DDTs Wolfgang and Andrews goes up, only to dive onto Coffey instead of grabbing the titles. Andrews is laid over a ladder and it’s Aichner hitting a springboard moonsault onto Andrews onto the ladder for the big crash.

The Veterans are back in with the big ladder and set it up next to two regular ladders, only to have Webster bridge a ladder into one of them. Another, unopened ladder, is pressed against Gibson’s back but everyone gets knocked down before we get the big disaster. Drake is up there alone but hits a 450 on Andrews instead of grabbing the titles. Gibson helps Drake up so Aichner makes his own save.

The European Bomb hits Drake and Imperium is smart enough to get rid of the rest of the ladders, leaving just one to climb. Gallus grabs some more ladders and make the save, setting up a powerslam/enziguri combination to Drake. Webster and Andrews pull the ladder away from Gallus and drop them with a double Stundog Millionaire. The really big ladder is set up at ringside and we get some tables for the bonus (maybe it can shut the fans up for a bit).

One table collapses under Coffey’s weight, leaving Wolfgang on the other table. That doesn’t last long either as Andrews and Webster go up the same ladder at the same time for a double Swanton to crush Wolfgang in a hurry (cool spot, but not the brightest move). Andrews and Webster go up but the Veterans make the save this time.

The Veterans climb but Andrews busts out a kendo stick and destroys Drake. Imperium makes the save and climb as well, only to have Coffey make the save. Wolfgang spears Aichner through a ladder and Barthel gets shoved off the top onto a pile at ringside, leaving Gallus to retain the titles at 22:54.

Rating: A-. This was a blast and somehow managed to not get too jumbled with everyone and all of the ladders involved. They had some big spots and kept things moving, with a few unique spots to make things all the better. I liked this way more than I was expecting to and it was pretty well structured throughout. Heck of a match here and one of the better ladder matches I’ve seen in a good while.

Gallus meets together under a bridge and can’t wait to get back in the ring to stay on top.

Overall Rating: B+. They did a good job of looking at a team that doesn’t have the most depth. Really, they’re a bunch of big guys who beat people up in a pack mentality but they managed to make it work out well here. Gallus has shown more staying power than I would have expected and it makes sense to give them some focus like this. Nice show too, as the team has had some impressive matches.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: June 3, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Tom Phillips, Beth Phoenix

It’s the go home show for Takeover and that means we have another stacked card. The big story is building tot he NXT Title match but you never know how that might go. NXT has a good history with making you want to see the major shows, but things have been difference since they went to two hours. Hopefully they can make it work well here all over again. Let’s get to it.

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

Mia Yim vs. Candice LeRae

Candice jumps her to start but Mia kicks her down without much trouble. More kicks keep Candice down but she kicks her way out of a full nelson. Some backsplashes give Candice two, only to be sent into the corner for a Cannonball. A forearm knocks Candice to the floor and Mia follows her out for a whip into the barricade. The brawling continues and it’s a double countout at 3:49.

Rating: D+. This was just a way to get to the finish and I think you know what’s coming here. Mia was more aggressive than usual here and that’s a good thing that she’s been needing for a while now. Candice is better at the promos than the wrestling, but she could be a lot worse. Just not much of a match, but it wasn’t supposed to be.

Post match the brawl continues and they fight into the Titantron, messing up its feed. Tegan Nox comes in to break it up but Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez come in to break up Nox. Shotzi Blackheart is out as well and the melee is afoot. Everyone else is cleared out and Mia decks Candice. Johnny Gargano comes out to break things up but Candice jumps Mia again. Cue Keith Lee to chase the Garganos off and let’s hit that mixed tag.

Keith Lee/Mia Yim vs. Johnny Gargano/Candice LeRae

Gargano and Lee are in street clothes. The Garganos try to escape but Lee grabs him in a gorilla press. Lee carries him down the aisle and doesn’t mind Candice jumping on his back at the same time. Mia jumps Johnny in the ring and we’re officially ready to start. Mia throws Candice down to start and gets a quick two off Soul Food. Candice gets kicked away but Gargano won’t come in because he’s not in wrestling gear. Gargano comes in to break up a dragon suplex so Lee picks him up, only to have Gargano stab him in the eyes with car keys. Candice rolls Mia up for the pin at 3:45.

Rating: C-. Another angle rather than a match and that’s fine given that the match is already set for Sunday. Gargano vs. Lee should be good and Candice vs. Mia can be done again later. At some point Lee has to lose the title and it would make sense for him to drop the title to the freshly heel Gargano, likely with a lot of cheating included.

Post match Gargano attacks Lee’s hand for a bonus.

Video on Tommaso Ciampa vs. Karrion Kross.

Dexter Lumis has nothing to say….but he pulls in an easel and some markers to start drawing.

Drake Maverick is ready for anything tonight and isn’t feeling the pressure. That’s why he’s having cookies and cake at catering. There is no pressure tonight, and he’s ready for the biggest night of his life.

We get a Prime Target video on Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream. Cole is picked up by the Undisputed Era (including Kyle O’Reilly) for a special day commemorating his one year anniversary as NXT Champion. They take the limo to lunch so we go to Velveteen Dream, who talks is rollerblading by Full Sail University, where Cole injured him to cost Dream the North American Title.

The Era has drinks and toasts to Cole’s success and we cut back to Dream talking about the time he pinned Cole. Dream asks his mirror who will be the greatest NXT Champion and is told that it will be him. Various personalities, including Drew McIntyre, talk about how big of a showdown this is. The match is officially a Backlot Brawl.

Lumis has finished his drawing, which is the Undisputed Era in a car with Lumis driving. Ok then.

Tony Nese vs. Isaiah Scott

Fallout from Nese costing Scott a Cruiserweight Title tournament match. Scott spears him down to start and hammers away before they fight outside. Nese gets in a hard shot on the floor and it’s back inside to send Scott back first into the corner. The bodyscissors stays on the back but Scott gets in some chops from the mat.

Nese powers him up into a guillotine but Scott reverses into a brainbuster for a good counter. Scott sends him outside and hits the running boot from the apron to make it even worse. Back in and Nese goes up top but here’s Jack Gallagher for a distraction. Nese punches Scott off the top and loads up the Sunset Driver, only to be reversed into a sunset flip to give Scott the pin at 5:32.

Rating: C. I don’t get why the cruiserweights don’t get a bit more build than they receive. I know they’re never going to be a focal point of the show, but they are right there and capable of doing a little something. Let them fill in some time so you don’t burn through so many of your top stars and stories so fast.

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch vs. Undisputed Era vs. ???

For the #1 contendership and it’s….Breezango filling out the field in a surprise moment (they’re astronauts because reasons). Burch, Fish and Breeze start things off with Fish getting double teamed. As usual, the other two get in an argument over who should get the pin and the staredown is on. The Era is sent outside and the other four have a staredown to take us to a break.

Back with Strong getting stomped down in the corner until Burch dropkicks Breeze down. Strong sends them into each other and hits a Rock Bottom backbreaker on Breeze. Fish drops Burch on the floor, leaving Breeze to get beaten up in the corner. Fandango gets suckered in so Strong can chinlock Breeze to slow things down. That brings Burch back in for the save and Breeze gets over to Fandango for the tag.

Back to back powerslams plant the Era and it’s a Falcon Arrow for two on Strong. Lorcan comes in as well and strikes away at everyone he can find. A double running Blockbuster drops the Era and Fandango throws Lorcan onto a bunch of people at ringside. Fandango adds the big flip dive, leaving Breeze to Supermodel kick Burch inside. The Era comes in to beat up Breeze as Lumis is here to watch. The Beauty Shot drops Fish though and the Last Dance gives Fandango the pin at 9:46.

Rating: B-. This was your usual wild match but they kept it short enough to not overstay their welcome. Breezango should be good first victims for Imperium, who are the kind of guys who wouldn’t be able to stand the two of them. It could make for an entertaining match, though I’d assume it’s a regular TV match instead of something at Takeover.

Post match Imperium comes out for the staredown, followed by Malcolm Bivens and his two giants. Dang it I was hoping they had forgotten about those two.

We look at Chelsea Green firing Robert Stone last week. That’s probably the right move for both of them as the team wasn’t working.

Aliyah vs. Santana Garrett

Aliyah starts fast with a neckbreaker and right hands as a disheveled Robert Stone comes out to watch. We hit the double arm crank on Garrett but she fires up and hits a hurricanrana out of the corner. A handspring moonsault finishes Aliyah at 2:02. I like both of them but I have no reason to believe this is leading anywhere for Garrett.

An annoyed Stone leaves.

We get another Prime Target, this time on the women’s triple threat match. Io Shirai, underwater, talks about being isolated in the darkness. She loves being alone because it makes her stronger. Rhea Ripley and Charlotte should be afraid of her because she will be the next champion.

Over to Ripley, who is woken up at 5:30am to start training for the day. She finished 2019 on fire but then 2020 was all downhill. It’s time to turn things around. Then we have Charlotte, who is nervous because she hasn’t been on Takeover in a long time. She is NXT homegrown though and will show what she can do again. All three of them want to be the best and have something to prove. Talking heads talk about how good all three of them are and how great the match is going to be.

Bronson Reed vs. Cameron Grimes

Grimes talks trash to start and gets run over by the much bigger Reed. An atomic drop sets up a Bionic elbow and Grimes gets planted off a gorilla press. Reed throws him around again and hits a running hip attack in the corner. Back in and the top rope splash misses, setting up the Cave In to give Grimes the pin at 2:44. Good win for Grimes here and it’s nice to see Reed back.

Post match Grimes talks trash but Karrion Kross is here for the Doomsday Saito to Reed. Kross tells Ciampa that Sunday will be special. Tick tock.

At Takeover: Tegan Nox/Shotzi Blackheart/Mia Yim vs. Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez/Candice LeRae. I can go for a six person.

Interim Cruiserweight Title: El Hijo de Fantasma vs. Drake Maverick

For the vacant title and Maverick’s job is pretty much on the line. They shake hands to start and Fantasma rolls him up for a quick two. That freaks Drake out a bit so it’s off to a slightly safer hammerlock. Fantasma is right back up so they circle each other in a standoff. An armbar takes Drake down and Fantasma gets a rollup for two more. Back up and Maverick grabs a headscissors to put Fantasma on the floor. A Cannonball off the apron takes Fantasma down again and we take a break.

Back with Maverick hitting a middle rope dropkick to put Fantasma on the floor again but this time he powerbombs Maverick on the outside. They head back inside with Fantasma grabbing a surfboard but Maverick slips out and hits a running kick in the corner. Fantasma pulls him into a Boston crab, followed by an ugly sitout powerbomb for two more. That’s enough to fire Maverick up but Fantasma forearms him in the back to take care of that again.

This time Maverick unloads in the corner and drops the top rope elbow for two more. They fight up top again with Fantasma being knocked to the floor. Cue the masked men from the parking lot but Maverick dives onto both of them. Back in and Fantasma hits a quick superkick into the Phantom Driver for the pin and the title at 15:02.

Rating: B. It was a good enough match and I wasn’t sure which way they were going to go until the end. That makes for an interesting way to go and Maverick’s heart was shining through as always. There was even interference to make things feel a little less fair. Fantasma is the right call though as he’s more talented, but it was nice to see Maverick’s great run.

Post match Fantasma celebrates while Maverick sits in the ring. He thanks everyone for what happened, gets the hero’s sendoff…..and here’s HHH with the contract for Maverick to end the show. It was either that or win the title so this was a feel good moment. I’d be curious to find out how long this was planned in advance, but hopefully is wasn’t that long.

Overall Rating: B-. They did a nice job of making Takeover feel like a big deal, but there is still a certain level of magic missing from the show. Maybe it’s a lot of the wrestlers not being able to be in person for the show, but it isn’t exactly as interesting as it has been before. Then again, I’ve said that many times about Takeover before and been completely wrong, so maybe that’s the case this time too.

Results

Mia Yim vs. Candice LeRae went to a double countout

Johnny Gargano/Candice LeRae b. Mia Yim/Keith Lee – Rollup to Yim

Isaiah Scott b. Tony Nese – Sunset flip

Breezango b. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch and Undisputed Era – Last Dance to Fish

Cameron Grimes b. Bronson Reed – Cave In

El Hijo de Fantasma b. Drake Maverick – Phantom Driver

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: May 27, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix, Tom Phillips

We’re less than two weeks away from Takeover and that means a lot of the matches are already set up. Hopefully they come up with a strong main event, though I can’t imagine it’s anything but Velveteen Dream getting his second title shot. That one just doesn’t blow my skirt up but Takeover has surprised me before. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament Group A Finals: Drake Maverick vs. Jake Atlas vs. Kushida

The winner faces Hijo de Fantasma in the finals. They start fast with Atlas being sent to the floor and Kushida going for Drake’s bad arm. Atlas is back in for the save and a middle rope moonsault to the floor takes Kushida down. The springboard Blockbuster gives Atlas two on Maverick but Kushida takes them both down as we take an early break. Back with Atlas kicking Maverick in the face but being sent outside for a dive from Kushida. Atlas makes the save so Drake hits him with a Dudley Dog for two.

Kushida lays Drake out with a right hand and the cartwheel DDT makes it even worse for Drake. Atlas knocks Kushida down on the floor as Drake gets up. The Sakuraba Lock catches Atlas on top but Maverick makes the save. Kushida superplexes Atlas into the cross armbreaker but Maverick reaches an arm over to pin Atlas while the armbar is still on at 11:15. Shouldn’t that be a double pin since Kushida’s legs were over Atlas as well? Or even a clean pin for Kushida since he was on top first?

Rating: C+. The action was rather good here, though the ending was a little bit confusing. Maverick winning is the right story and I’m curious to see what happens. Kushida is starting to look more like his old self, but the New Japan version is never going to be back in full. At least he looked good here, and Atlas should be fine moving forward as well.

Post match Fantasma comes out and shakes hands with Maverick. Maverick: “Carpe diem.”

Post break, we see that Atlas tapped before Maverick got the pin.

Here are Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae for a chat. Johnny talks about how these people at ringside have a company because of him. Tonight is the first ever Johnny Gargano Invitational where he will wrestle a young superstar. Candice pulls the name out of an envelope and it’s….Adrian Adonis?

Johnny Gargano vs. Adrian Alanis

Gargano starts with some forearms and cuts Alanis off with a superkick. The Gargano Escape finishes in 46 seconds.

Post match Keith Lee and Mia Yim pop up on screen at a dinner of their own. Keith pulls out some ugly flowers, which Mia says are so trashy that they’re perfect for the Garganos. Mia busts out the flashlight and mocks Candice for having badly tinted hair and being in NXT for 25 years and never winning a title.

Lee isn’t sure what’s up with the flashlight but does the same thing to mock Gargano himself. Keith: “Now I’m blind but I did work up an appetite.” Mia has prepared takeout, which is Tegan Nox bringing in…..what’s left of a pizza as she ate the rest. Keith: “Apparently she just has a key.” It’s no longer about the Gargano Way, but rather about making them pay.

Drake Maverick isn’t sure what happened in the match but he’ll have another triple threat if necessary. Kushida comes up to say Maverick is fighting for the title and a job at Takeover, so win. Maverick shakes his hand and promises him the first title shot.

Imperium isn’t losing the Tag Team Titles, especially to Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch.

Shotzi Blackheart vs. Raquel Gonzalez

Dakota Kai is in Gonzalez’s corner. Gonzalez drives her into the ropes to start and takes Shotzi down by the arm for some yelling. Shotzi pulls herself up and tries a hurricanrana but Gonzalez blocks it with raw power. The same thing prevents Shotzi’s sunset flip so she hits Gonzalez in the face and head a few times. Shotzi goes after Kai and gets jumped from behind, allowing Kai to STEAL THE TANK. Cue Tegan Nox to make the save as Shotzi is sent into the corner and we take a break.

Back with Shotzi still in trouble and we hit the bearhug. A backbreaker plants Shotzi for two but she knocks Gonzalez outside. Shotzi springboards up with Darby Allin’s Coffin Drop but mostly misses both women and lands HARD on the back of her head. I’ve never seen the referee get down so fast to check on someone but thankfully Shotzi is back inside. Cue Candice LeRae to argue with Nox though, allowing Kai to offer a quick distraction. Gonzalez hits a chokeslam off the top for the pin at 9:45.

Rating: C. I’m still trying to get over the terrifying landing off the springboard. Shotzi just jumped too far which is going to happen every now and then but my goodness that was terrifying. At least she’s ok now though and we should have a few matches coming out of this thing. Gonzalez is fine as a monster too and that’s a spot you don’t see too often in this division.

Video on Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest.

Video on Charlotte.

Rhea Ripley/Io Shirai vs. Charlotte/???

The mystery partner is…..Chelsea Green. During Shirai’s entrance, Ranallo pays tribute to Hana Kimura and asks humans to be better in general. Rhea wants Charlotte but gets Green to start with Chelsea crawling between the legs. A big knockdown takes care of Chelsea so Rhea scares Charlotte off the apron. Green knocks Rhea into the corner and it’s Io coming in to strike away. Some flips set up a dropkick to Green’s ribs and the slingshot knees to the chest connect in the corner.

The 619 is broken up and Shirai is sent outside for the suicide dive from Green. Now Charlotte is willing to come in and stomp away in the corner but Shirai fights right back. Another dive takes Green out on the floor but she whips Shirai into the barricade as we take a break. Back with Shirai sending Charlotte into Green but it’s not enough for the hot tag. A middle rope crossbody is enough for the tag to Rhea though and it’s time to clean house.

An electric chair faceplant gets two on Green with Charlotte making the save. There’s a big boot to drop Rhea and the Figure Four goes on. Shirai makes the save before it can be switched to the Figure Eight though and Shirai is back up with a headscissors into the corner. The running knees get two on Charlotte and now the 619 can connect. Green shoves Charlotte out of the way and takes the missile dropkick for her but Charlotte avoids a charge to send Shirai into Ripley. The rollup with feet on the ropes finishes Shirai at 11:45.

Rating: C+. The action was strong here and if Charlotte has to be on every show, it’s nice to have her wrestling on the show where she’s the champion. It’s still not exactly thrilling to see her every week, but at least they’re setting something up for Takeover. Green being added is interesting, even though she isn’t ready for this spot.

The Garganos are livid and Johnny promises to take the North American Title at Takeover. LeRae wants to face Yim next week. As for Nox, she should be ashamed of herself.

It’s time for a negotiation between Adam Cole and William Regal (online in this case). Cole complains about his lack of a celebration for a year long title reign, but it’s because of Velveteen Dream. Therefore, he wants the Undisputed Era to receive a Tag Team Title shot and to never see Velveteen Dream again. Regal doesn’t like this and thinks it’s Dream getting the title shot at Takeover. Cole complains about everything wrong with Dream, not noticing the strong irony.

Regal points it out and Cole does not like being compared to Dream. That’s a bit too much for Regal, who doesn’t like Cole being like a bay-bay. Cole says that’s Regal’s first funny joke since he was a man’s man. Anyway, Cole will defend against Dream at Takeover, but it’s Dream’s last shot ever. Regal makes the match. However, it will be in a setting of Regal’s choosing. PLEASE don’t make this cinematic too. Please.

Video on Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan, who have fought their entire lives to get here. It’s why they work so well together and why they’re going to win the Tag Team Titles.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Leon Ruff

Cue Scarlett for a distraction so Ruff can get two off a rollup. Ciampa hits a running knee to the head and the Fairy Tale Ending is good for the pin at 1:17.

Post match Karrion Kross pops up on screen to promise the end for Ciampa.

Video on Timothy Thatcher vs. Matt Riddle. Thatcher was Pete Dunne’s replacement partner but he didn’t care for Riddle’s goofiness and it got even worse when they had a misfire in the Tag Team Title match. Riddle beat him off a surprise rollup in a match so Thatcher attacked him again, setting up this special cage match.

Matt Riddle vs. Timothy Thatcher

In a cage with knockouts/submissions only and Kurt Angle as guest referee. This is a very different kind of cage though (dubbed the Fight Pit) with no ropes or turnbuckles and a platform around the top of the cage (pretty cool actually). Riddle comes in off the platform off the top and rolls forward to go after Thatcher. A choke is blocked and they get up with Riddle walking up the cage to escape another choke. Riddle grabs a German suplex and says that’s what’s up BRO. One heck of a slap staggers Riddle so he walks up the cage to kick Thatcher hard in the face.

Thatcher is bleeding from the mouth and seems to have lost some teeth. We pause so the doctor can check on him as Angle holds the teeth. Thatcher says he can keep going though and after a break, Riddle is hammering away with Thatcher on the mat next to the cage. Riddle tries another cage walk kick but Thatcher reverses into a belly to belly suplex. The half crab puts Riddle in trouble and an STF makes it even worse.

Thatcher pulls him over for an armbar, followed by cranking on the leg. Riddle switches up and hammers away, only to get pulled most of the way into a triangle choke. That’s powered up so Thatcher climbs onto the scaffold with Riddle following. Some kicks rock Thatcher until he reverses into an ankle lock with a grapevine. That’s escaped but the Broton only hits scaffold.

Thatcher suplexes him onto the scaffold but Riddle is back with a knee to the face, sending Thatcher down to the mat. The Floating bro connects and Riddle fires off kicks to the chest. A charge hits the cage though and Thatcher grabs the rear naked choke. Riddle rams him into the cage and then drops back for the break, only to have Thatcher grab it again. That’s enough for Riddle who is out (with three arm drops) to give Thatcher the win at 14:32.

Rating: B. Good brawl here and Thatcher was put over completely clean as he survived all of Riddle’s attempts to escape and grabbed the hold again for the win. Odds are this is it for Riddle in NXT, as he isn’t winning the title so move him up to the main roster so his career can be destroyed. Well done on making a new star here though. Angle was a completely non-factor here and I forgot he was referee for a good chunk of the match.

Riddle is upset to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Nice show here and they had some good things going on all night. Nothing was bad and they set up some things for both next week and Takeover. Hopefully they have something next week as well as they could use some momentum as they get ready for Takeover. I can’t believe I need to say that, but NXT has fallen a fair distance over the last few months. They had a good one here though and hopefully that’s the start of a trend.

Results

Drake Maverick b. Kushida and Jake Atlas – Maverick pinned Atlas during a cross armbreaker

Johnny Gargano b. Adrian Alanis – Gargano Escape

Raquel Gonzalez b. Shotzi Blackheart – Chokeslam

Charlotte/Chelsea Green b. Io Shirai/Rhea Ripley – Rollup with feet on the ropes to Shirai

Tommaso Ciampa b. Leon Ruff – Fairy Tale Ending

Timothy Thatcher b. Matt Riddle – Rear naked choke

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: May 21, 2020
Host: Andy Shepard

It’s another special show with a big look at a major match. This time around it’s the triple threat match for the Women’s Title between Kay Lee Ray, Piper Niven and Toni Storm. I don’t remember that match being such a huge one but it’s nice to take a look at something else for a change. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

We open with a video on Storm, who won the Mae Young Classic, earning a shot at the NXT UK Women’s Title. Storm defeated Rhea Ripley to become the new champion, but Jinny was waiting for her.

From NXT UK, April 12, 2019 (actually April 10 in a weird error).

Women’s Title: Toni Storm vs. Jinny

Jinny is challenging. They go right at it to start with Toni getting the better of it and grabbing a half crab. The fans don’t make it any better by calling Jinny a Primark Princess, though Toni switching to an STF might be more painful (emphasis on might). After using the rope for a break, it’s off to a camel clutch to put Toni in trouble for a change. Storm reverses into a surfboard on the mat but Jinny is right back in the ropes for the break.

A Downward Spiral into the middle buckle knocks Toni silly and it’s time to start in on the back. Jinny hits a backbreaker and grabs a chinlock with a knee in the back. Now it’s a regular chinlock as Jinny is looking rather strong so far. Toni fights up with some rolling German suplexes but another shot to the back cuts her off. Jinny’s version of Storm Zero is countered with a headbutt and Jinny is rocked. She’s fine enough to try a hurricanrana, which is reversed into a powerbomb. Storm Zero retains the title at 10:34.

Rating: B-. Jinny was treated as an equal here and a real threat to the title, which is the best thing that can happen to the division at the moment. Storm and Ripley have been on top for so long that they need someone fresh in the ranks. It doesn’t have to be someone to win the title, but there needs to be someone who makes Toni sweat, which is what we had here.

Then we had Rhea Ripley and the debuting Piper Niven ready to fight for dominance.

From NXT UK, July 3, 2019.

Rhea Ripley storms to the ring and, after telling the cheering fans to shut up, calls out Piper Niven for a fight right now.

Rhea Ripley vs. Piper Niven

Rhea manages to pound her down to start but the big running crossbody out of the corner gets Niven out of trouble. A trip to the floor lets Ripley snap Niven over the top rope and the beating continues outside. Niven gets posted to give Ripley one as the fans have moved to split. We hit the bodyscissors on Niven for a good while until Piper dropkicks her into the corner. Niven does exactly the same thing but Rhea drops her across the ropes.

The standing Cloverleaf has Niven screaming a lot until a rope is grabbed. That just makes Rhea even angrier so she slaps Piper in the face. A Saito suplex plants Rhea and the fans move to a more general NXT chant. An exchange of clotheslines goes nowhere but Rhea can’t hit Riptide. Instead Piper avoids a charge to send her shoulder first into the post, setting up the Piper Driver to finish Ripley at 8:33.

Rating: C+. I liked this more than I was expecting to and Ripley got in a lot on Niven. That being said, it makes sense to have Niven win here as we’ve seen Ripley at the top of the division before and it’s a good idea to let someone else get close to that level. Niven is an athletic monster and will likely be near the title scene soon enough.

Kay Lee Ray won a title shot though by winning a battle royal. It turns out that they used to be friends but Ray didn’t think much of her. Ray won the title in an upset at Takeover: Cardiff, which was quite the twist.

We look at Niven, Ray and Storm being friends for a long time but Niven talked about differences coming up. Ray and Storm both started fighting, perhaps over needing to be the dominant one. Niven doesn’t know what happened to the three of them but all Ray and Storm wanted was the title. Storm even asked Niven to step aside from her title shot, but that wasn’t happening. They don’t even know who each other are anymore and they all want the title.

From Takeover: Blackpool II.

Women’s Title: Kay Lee Ray vs. Piper Niven vs. Toni Storm

Ray is defending and Niven jumps her during the Big Match Intros. Niven sends Ray outside for the suicide dive and then Cannonballs both of them in a row. That earns her a whip into the steps so Toni and Ray can fight, only to have Niven drop a backsplash onto both of them. Ray superkicks Niven and chokes Toni, who is right back with a release German suplex.

Storm suplexes Niven as well but gets planted by Ray, who is suplexed by Niven to put all three down at once. It’s Toni and Piper slugging it out but Ray shoves them together in what might not have been the smartest move. Ray grabs a chair and wraps it around Storm’s neck but Niven breaks up the Pillmanizing (and near death). Storm picks up the chair and Niven says hit her, only to have them both go after Ray instead.

With Ray and Storm on the floor, Niven hits a Cannonball off the apron to crush the champ. Back in and Niven breaks up the superplex by powerbombing Storm but Niven breaks it up with a top rope Swanton. Niven’s Michinoku Driver gets two on Ray, who somehow gets Niven up for the Gory Bomb and the same near fall.

Niven busts out a Canadian Destroyer on Ray (because she can) but Storm breaks up the cover and hits Storm Zero for two more on Ray with Niven making the save this time. Storm Zero doesn’t work on Niven so Toni settles for something like a Pedigree instead. A frog splash hits Niven but Ray steals the pin to retain at 13:24.

Rating: B. They didn’t really stop moving here for the most part and Ray winning that way makes sense. I’m a little surprised they pinned Niven, but it makes a little sense given that Storm is coming up on the big match with Rhea Ripley at When Worlds Collide. All three worked hard here though and it was good stuff with the logical ending.

Niven doesn’t think they can ever be friends again.

Ray is glad she crushed everyone’s dreams because she’s champion.

Overall Rating: B. This was a pretty entertaining use of an hour as you got a nearly complete story of three people who are no longer friends and it’s all because of the title. It makes the championship look a lot more important and that’s one of the best things that can be done. The women’s division still needs some work, but at least they have some good talent at the top of the heap. Solid show here, though not exactly worth going out of your way to see.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: May 20, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix, Tom Phillips

I’m not sure what to expect at the moment but it’s time to start getting ready for Takeover. The show is in two and a half weeks and that means we are going to need to get things going in a hurry. There isn’t much set for the show but NXT knows how to do this stuff like no one else. Let’s get to it.

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

In Memory of Shad Gaspard.

Opening sequence.

Karrion Kross vs. ???

Scarlett doesn’t do as much lip syncing this week but the entrance is still cool. Doomsday Saito and the Krossjacket choke finishes…someone (his tights say Liam) at 49 seconds.

Post match here’s Tommaso Ciampa to say Kross started by going after the top man in NXT. Ciampa knows Kross is special and Kross can prove that when they fight at Takeover. They’re starting fast with the build.

We take a quick look at the Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament.

Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament Group B: Akira Tozawa (2-0) vs. El Hijo de Fantasma (1-1)

The winner wins the block. Tozawa takes him to the mat with a test of strength but Fantasma is back up with a northern lights suplex for two. They trade armdrags but Tozawa misses a dropkick to give us a standoff. The chop off is on until Tozawa head fakes him into the right hand. A hurricanrana sends Fantasma outside and Tozawa hits the running flip dive off the steps.

Back from a break with Fantasma hitting a frog splash on the apron but Tozawa plants him down inside. Fantasma crotches him on top but Tozawa drops him on the same buckle to even things up. The top rope backsplash gets two with Fantasma sending him outside for the big suicide dive. Back in and the Phantom Driver finishes Tozawa at 11:30.

Rating: B-. This was a rather action packed one and it’s smart to go with someone new in Fantasma getting the win. He’s someone with a lot of potential and while Tozawa has the history, he hasn’t been getting much extra momentum on Raw with all of the losses. I like the result here though and it’s the right call.

Group B Standings

El Hijo de Fantasma – 2 – 1

Akira Tozawa – 2 – 1

Jack Gallagher – 1 – 2

Isaiah Scott – 1 – 2

We recap last week’s Tag Team Title change and Timothy Thatcher attacking Matt Riddle to end the show.

Thatcher wants one more match with Riddle where pinfalls don’t count and you can only win via knockout or tap out. Riddle can pick the time and the place.

Shotzi Blackheart, on a tank, promises to destroy the NXT Women’s division. She rolls over some cars, which sounds like Dakota Kai. Chelsea Green’s makeup got crushed and she’s sorry to Candice LeRae but she might have just squashed a pixie. This was rather over the top and one of the more memorable things I’ve seen in a long time.

Mia Yim vs. Santana Garrett

They try stereo dropkicks to start so it’s an early standoff. Santana sends her into the corner for a handspring elbow and floats over into a press for two. Yim is back with a dragon suplex and Protect Yo Neck finishes Garrett at 1:15.

Post match here are Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae with Johnny mocking Mia’s theme song. Candice mocks her for winning because she should be winning against Charlotte. See, Mia had ANOTHER chance to win and blew it, as she always does. The brawl is on but Johnny low bridges Mia to the floor. Keith Lee runs in for the save.

We recap Damien Priest attacking Finn Balor last week to unveil himself as the attacker and causing Balor to lose to Cameron Grimes in the process.

Grimes gloats a lot about his win.

Drake Maverick has to beat Kushida tonight and that’s not easy against one of the best junior heavyweights of all time. He has to pin Kushida or make him submit and since Maverick isn’t Bret Hart, he doesn’t have a lot of options. All Drake knows is he’s tired of doubting himself so tonight’s winning.

Roderick Strong vs. Dexter Lumis

During the Era’s entrance, Adam Cole promises a celebration of his one year title reign next week. Lumis wins a wrestle off to start and stares Strong to the floor in frustration. Back in and Strong still can’t outgrapple him, meaning it’s time for another breather. Strong gets back in where Lumis uppercuts and slams him into a legdrop. A bulldog brings Strong down again so it’s out to the floor for a third time.

This time Lumis follows and gets sent into the steps as a result. Strong drops him onto the apron and we take a break. Back with Strong hitting his running forearms in the corner and grabbing the seated abdominal stretch. Lumis glares his way to freedom so it’s an Olympic Slam to give Strong two.

The Stronghold is broken up so Strong elbows him in the back instead. This time it’s Lumis fighting up with shots to the head and a backdrop, followed by a slingshot suplex for two. Strong chops away and Lumis just glares at him again and grabs a spinebuster. Strong tries the Stronghold again so Lumis reverses into a cradle but Strong sits down on it for the pin at 11:28.

Rating: C+. It was good, but Lumis continues to be so gimmicky that it’s distracting. I’m not sure if I can get into him being this high on the card but it might not be something that lasts too long. They have to try something else though and it makes sense to put him out there and see what he can do. And at least he didn’t pin Strong here so it could have been much worse.

Post match, Lumis chokes Strong out. The Era comes in for the save but Velveteen Dream comes in to make the real save. A Purple Rainmaker over the barricade hits Cole, likely setting up the rematch for the title at Takeover. Lumis cradles Strong and rubs his head while blankly staring out into the distance.

During the break, Akira Tozawa and Fantasma showed respect but the masked men ran in to jump Tozawa. Fantasma made the save and ran them off.

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch vs. Ever Rise

Burch runs over Parker to start and hands it off to Lorcan for the headlock on Martel. The running Blockbuster sets up a half crab for the tap at 1:33 while Burch Crossfaces Parker at the same time. Well that was fast.

We look back at the Garganos/Keith Lee/Mia Yim segment from earlier.

Keith Lee is sick of the Garganos and is willing to prove it at Takeover.

Matt Riddle would love to face Timothy Thatcher and let’s do it in a cage.

Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament Group A: Kushida (2-0) vs. Drake Maverick (1-1)

If Kushida wins, he wins the block outright but if Maverick wins, it’s a three way tie between the two of them and Jake Atlas. Kushida grabs a headlock to start so Maverick reverses into a sunset flip. They stare each other down before Drake has to avoid an armbar attempt. A basement dropkick to the ribs puts Maverick in trouble and a handspring elbow makes it even worse.

Kushida snaps the arm back as Jake Atlas comes out to watch. The cartwheel into another basement dropkick gets one on Maverick and we take a break. Back with Maverick sending him into the corner and hitting a middle rope dropkick. A Code Red gets two but Kushida goes right back to the arm to put him outside. Back in and Kushida stomps on the arm but the Sakuraba Lock is broken up with a grab of the rope.

The hold goes on again and stays on a good bit longer, sending Drake into the rope again. Drake demands that the match not be stopped so Kushida gives him a running palm strike in the corner. What looked to be a tornado DDT is blocked but Kushida gets the Sakuraba Lock in the ropes. That has to be broken up due to the ropes so Maverick goes up top for a super sitout bulldog. That’s reversed into the cross armbreaker but Maverick stacks him up for the upset pin at 12:01.

Rating: C+. I understand the issues that exist with the story (playing off of employment at this point, possibly faking a release, releasing someone and then possibly keeping them around because of all of the emotion etc.) but DANG I’ve gotten hooked on the whole thing. I want to see Maverick survive and that’s the kind of story that you need.

Group A Standings

Kushida – 2 – 1

Drake Maverick – 2 – 1

Jake Atlas – 2 – 1

Tony Nese – 0 – 3

Post match it’s Byron Saxton coming out to announce a triple threat match next week for the spot in the finals.

We recap Rhea Ripley vs. Io Shirai.

The Riddle vs. Thatcher Cage Fight is next week.

Drake Maverick talks about living forever. Championships will come, but Finn Balor was a target that turned into an opportunity. Balor put this place on the map so Priest is coming for him at the place where Balor made a name for himself. At Takeover, Balor’s name will turn to ash while the name Damian Priest will live forever.

Ciampa vs. Kross is confirmed for Takeover.

Io Shirai vs. Rhea Ripley

Shirai scratches the back to start so Ripley dropkicks her down. That earns her a quick double stomp from Shirai for two and we take a break. Back with Shirai getting a sunset flip for two and slapping on a Crossface. Ripley powers out and catches her on top for a top rope superplex. That’s good for two and Shirai strikes away, only to get knocked down by a single shot.

Shirai slaps her down into another Crossface so Rhea makes it to the rope again. The 619 connects and a dropkick puts Rhea on the floor. Shirai nails the suicide dive….and here’s Charlotte, for her third appearance on three straight shows. Shirai headscissors Rhea into Charlotte and hits the running knees in the corner back inside. A DDT plants Rhea for two more, only to have Charlotte come in for the big boot to Shirai for the DQ at 10:50.

Rating: C+. Why yes it is Charlotte interfering again, likely setting up a triple threat match for the title at Takeover. I know WWE loves itself some Charlotte and having her on all three weekly shows is something that seems to be a regular move, at least for the time being. Hopefully that isn’t the case, but the title match at Takeover does sound intriguing.

Post match Charlotte spears Rhea down and poses with the title to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. I had a better time with this one than most of the recent shows as it felt like two regular hour long shows stacked on top of each other. That made things a little bit easier to watch, if nothing else due to the fact that they didn’t stay on anything for too long. You don’t need to spend that much time on any one thing and make it more like a buffet than one big meal. That has worked well for NXT for years and it’s what they were doing here. Good show, and Takeover is taking shape in a hurry.

Results

Karrion Kross b. ??? – Krossjacket Choke

El Hijo de Fantasma b. Akira Tozawa – Phantom Driver

Mia Yim b. Santana Garrett – Protect Yo Neck

Roderick Strong b. Dexter Lumis – Rollup

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch b. Ever Rise – Half crab to Parker

Drake Maverick b. Kushida – Rollup

Io Shirai b. Rhea Ripley via DQ when Charlotte interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: May 14, 2020
Host: Andy Shepard

It’s time for another special edition of the show and that should be something interesting. This time around it’s another Superstar Picks show and I’m curious to see what they pull out of the vault this time. The first edition was a lot of fun and hopefully that is the case again here. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Andy Shepard welcomes us to the show and explains the concept in a hurry.

Eddie Dennis starts us off with a trip way back to Raw, March 3, 1997.

European Title: Owen Hart vs. British Bulldog

This is the finals of a tournament to crown the inaugural champion. They go to the corner to start with no one having an advantage. They exchange wristlock counters and it’s Bulldog with some very early control. He counters a monkey flip with a cartwheel and both guys nip up to a standoff but they shake hands and reset.

Owen grabs the wrist and climbs the ropes but gets caught in a powerbomb. Bulldog catapults him to the floor and invites him back in. Rollup gets two for Owen but an armdrag puts him on the mat where Bulldog takes over with a headlock again. Owen tries the same wristlock counter as before but the British one drops him right on his back and arm to counter.

We take a break and come back with Bulldog working on the arm even more. Bulldog’s old crucifix gets two. The delayed vertical is countered into an enziguri attempt but Bulldog ducks low. There’s a surfboard but Owen grabs the referee to escape. Bulldog speeds things up but Owen avoids him to toss him out to the floor. Bulldog is holding his knee but gets back in pretty easily.

Back in Owen tries a leapfrog but injures his own knee. He’s channeling his inner Bret though and is goldbricking so he can get the advantage. Now they’re ticked off and the Sharpshooter is broken up. Things speed up and Owen kicks his head off for no cover. Owen drops a leg for two and hooks a chinlock as they get a breath. Bulldog is knocked to the floor and a sunset flip back in gets two.

We take a second break and come back with Bulldog ramming elbows into Owen’s ribs but a belly to belly suplex stops him cold. Off to a camel clutch but Bulldog stands up and hits an electric chair to break the hold. Owen tries a Flair cover with his feet on the ropes for two and a middle rope elbow gets the same. This is already very good and is getting great. Up to the corner and Bulldog falls onto him to counter a superplex for two.

Bulldog comes back with clotheslines and the fans are getting into it. A suplex puts Owen down for two. Smith gorilla presses him but crotches him on the top. Owen’s German suplex gets two and Bulldog is in a bit of trouble. He’s fine enough to load up the powerslam but Owen grabs the ropes to escape. There’s the enziguri and Bulldog is down. He hooks the Sharpshooter but Bulldog makes the rope. Owen loads up a tombstone but Bulldog reverses into the Powerslam for two. The victory roll that Owen beat Bret with at Wrestlemania X is countered into a rollup of Bulldog’s own for the pin at 22:43.

Rating: A+. Just a total classic here as they countered each other perfectly the entire time and we got a great false finish with Owen kicking out of the powerslam. Do you ever remember that happening? This is easily one of the best matches you’ll ever see, especially on free TV. Great stuff and probably their second best matches ever each.

Candy Floss sends us to Raw, April 7, 2014.

Here are AJ and Tamina so the former can brag about being Divas Champion for 295 days now. She gave all of them a chance to prove her wrong and every single one of them has failed. She’s the hero of this story and the savior of the Divas division. Scratch that. She IS the Divas division, but here’s the debuting Paige to disagree. Paige is here to do what no one else would: congratulate AJ on her accomplishments. AJ tells her to go back to NXT and offers Paige a beating to send her there. Paige isn’t ready but AJ slaps her in the face and says let’s make it a title match. The fans are happy because they all know what’s coming.

Divas Title: AJ Lee vs. Paige

The champ jumps her to start and drops Paige with a running elbow. The Black Widow goes on but Paige powers out, hits a horrible looking Paige Turner and wins the title in a shock at 1:19. Well as much of a shock as it can be given how obvious it was as soon as Paige’s music hit.

Primate’s favorite match from NXT UK is from November 1, 2019 (though it seems to really be October 31, 2019).

Dave Mastiff vs. Jordan Devlin

Devlin goes right at him but is smart enough to bail to the floor when he feels the power. Back in and Mastiff throws him around again, followed by a hard shot to the face. A choke takes Devlin to the top rope but he takes Mastiff’s arm down across said rope to take over. The arm goes around the rope again and Devlin stands on Mastiff’s head. The short armscissors goes on and some of those slaps to the leg look like taps. Anyway Devlin backflips away and muscles Devlin up for the break.

Back up and an overhead belly to belly sends Devlin flying but has to slap his own arm. Devlin tries the Devil Inside for as much success as you would have expected. A hard whip puts Devlin on the floor and there’s a Regal Roll to crush him even worse. Back in and Devlin hits a slingshot cutter into a moonsault for two, only to try it again and hit raised boots. Into the Void connects but Devlin collapses to the floor. Mastiff pulls him back in and goes up for some reason, allowing Devil to hit an enziguri. A super Devil Inside finishes Mastiff at 12:03.

Rating: B-. Devlin is looking more and more like a main eventer every single day and Mastiff does things that a giant should not be able to pull off. That gave us a rather entertaining match with Mastiff’s power and freaky athleticism being enough to hold Devlin down, but in the end it was one creative move that stopped him. That made for a rather strong story in a match where you wouldn’t have expected it.

Finally, Trent Seven picks this one from the United Kingdom Championship Tournament II Night Two.

NXT Tag Team Titles: Moustache Mountain vs. Undisputed Era

The Era is defending. Bate dropkicks Strong to start and it’s quickly off to Seven for some arm cranking. As usual this goes badly for Seven but everything breaks down with the champs sending them outside. Back in and the fans are split as Strong chops away at Seven in the corner.

We’re already into the chinlock but Seven kicks O’Reilly to the floor. Like a smart champion, O’Reilly runs around the ring and pulls Bate off the apron to take over. As tends to be the case, the hot tag goes through a few seconds later, allowing Bate to come in and clean house. O’Reilly saves Strong from the airplane spin and jumps on Bate’s back, so Bate German suplexes Strong at the same time, just because he can.

Seven comes back in and gets kicked in the face for two, sending O’Reilly into fits of frustration. A discus forearm knocks Seven into Bate for the tag and the dragon suplex/clothesline combination (how they beat O’Reilly yesterday) gets a close two. Back up and O’Reilly’s brainbuster gets two on Bate but Seven sends Fish to the floor. A hard shot rocks O’Reilly and a torture rack neckbreaker/top rope knee drop combination finishes O’Reilly for the titles at 10:40.

Rating: B. That’s the way to fire up a crowd and it doesn’t matter if the title reign is just for the live crowd and they drop the belts right back in short order. Moustache Mountain is a fun team and the fans in both America and England love them. This was a perfect opener and that’s all you could have asked to see.

Overall Rating: A-. It’s a greatest hits show and I’m not sure what else you can ask for out of it. They had a nice mixture of stuff here and it was a bunch of either very good to classic matches. This is the kind of thing that they can do time after time and it is going to work almost every time. I wouldn’t mind having NXT UK back, but it’s not exactly something all that high up on my priority list. Keep this going as long as you can because it’s a lot more fun.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: May 13, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Byron Saxton, Beth Phoenix

It’s another title week this time around with the Tag Team Titles on the line as Timothy Thatcher and Matt Riddle defend against Imperium. It’s always fun to see Imperium in the ring so we should be in for a big match. Other than that, Finn Balor gets to beat up Cameron Grimes on his way to finding out who attacked him. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Tag Team Titles: Timothy Thatcher/Matt Riddle vs. Imperium

Imperium (Marcel Barthel/Fabian Aichner this time) are challenging and it’s Thatcher taking Barthel down to the mat to start. Aichner comes in for an armbar as Riddle beats up Barthel on the floor. Riddle comes in to choke Aichner, who powers out without much trouble. That just earns him a gutwrench suplex so Barthel can come in, earning a suplex of his own. Aichner runs Riddle over though and we take a break. Back with Riddle fighting out of a chinlock but it’s too early for the tag.

Aichner hammers away again and hands it right back to Aichner to pound him down. Riddle suplexes his way out but misses the penalty kick, meaning Barthel can cut him off again. That earns Barthel a kick to the head and Riddle monkey flips him….right into Thatcher to knock him off the apron. That’s enough for Thatcher, who walks out, despite Riddle’s shouts. The European Bomb is broken up though and it’s a Bro to Sleep to Barthel. A blind tag brings Aichner back in though and the European Bomb gives us new champions at 11:04.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have much of a choice here as Thatcher and Riddle were a makeshift team to replace another makeshift team. At some point you need to just give them to a regular team and that’s a good idea with Imperium. Riddle and Thatcher can do something later on anyway and give them both something to do.

Post break Thatcher complains about Riddle not being serious. He wants to be a champion, but not with someone who is more about game shows and flip flops. Riddle comes in and the fight has to be broken up.

Tegan Nox vs. Indi Hartwell

Hartwell slams her down by the hair to start and some shots to the ribs have Nox in angry pain. A side slam gives Hartwell two but Nox fights back with a whip into the corner. The reverse cannonball sets up a high crossbody to drop Hartwell again. The Shiniest Wizard gives Nox the pin at 3:19.

Rating: C-. How great is it to see Nox not only on her feet but also getting to do something in the ring? You almost never see anything like that after two horrible knee injuries and yet here Nox is. I’m not sure how high she can go, but not wrestler deserves to have their career cut short so horribly and so soon.

We look back at Rhea Ripley returning to go after Charlotte but getting in a fight with Io Shirai.

Rhea is ready to bring the Women’s Title back to NXT and if she has to beat up Shirai to get there, so be it.

Riddle says he has a match with Thatcher tonight so here’s Thatcher to jump him from behind. He hits Riddle in the arm with what looks like a TV.

Jake Atlas says he has to win to advance and then hopes that Drake Maverick wins to force the tie.

Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament Group A: Tony Nese (0-2) vs. Jake Atlas (1-1)

Last first round match for both guys. Nese grabs a headlock to start and snaps Atlas’ throat across the top to put him down. Some left hands set up a front facelock on Atlas but he’s right back up with a big boot. There’s a German suplex into a step up enziguri for two on Nese. That’s not good for Tony but he can’t hit the pumphandle powerslam. Instead Atlas hits a running neckbreaker, only to get caught in the corner. That lets Nese stomp away at the face and head but Atlas kicks him down. The Rainbow DDT finishes Nese at 5:04.

Rating: C. This didn’t have much time to go anywhere but Atlas is starting to grow on me. He’s come in pretty cold and now has a finisher that is getting over and is a contender for the tournament finals. I’m not sure where this block is going and that’s an interesting feeling, as this could set up a three way tie if Maverick can beat Kushida.

Group A Standings

Kushida – 2 – 0

Jake Atlas – 2 – 1

Drake Maverick – 1 – 1

Tony Nese – 0 – 3

Adam Cole talks to Kyle O’Reilly on Facetime because O’Reilly is making a movie. Apparently it’s Nuns On The Run Ghostbusters meets Titanic but here are Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong to join in things. It’s been a long time since they’ve been together but O’Reilly is happy with what they’ve been doing. They’re not happy with Dexter Lumis so Strong is going to take care of him.

Karrion Kross/Scarlett video, set to the old The End Is Here theme. They are not here to shock a system or to save anyone. No, they are your entertainment and it is time to wake up from the dream or else you will sleep forever. Tommaso Ciampa was the first but will not be the last.

Dakota Kai talks about how she cared too much about the fans because they didn’t care about her. She came back from her knee injury and was in the shadow of Tegan Nox. That brought her to Takeover: WarGames where she took Nox out. Then she met Raquel Gonzalez, who knows what it’s like to be an outcast as well. This is the hurting business and they’re going to hurt everyone.

Isaiah Scott is ready to win and stay alive in the tournament. He’s feeling confident to protect his house. If you can’t win a match in this tournament, you should quit wrestling.

D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels/HHH/Road Dogg in this case) announce the next Takeover, which will be Takeover: In Your House on June 7. Dogg finally remembers that HHH had the hog pen match and we’re suddenly out of time.

Finn Balor vs. Cameron Grimes

This could be interesting. Grimes goes for the Cave In at the bell but Balor isn’t having any of that and takes him into the chinlock. That’s broken up in a hurry and Grimes kicks him away, setting up some elbows to the back. Balor rolls out of a sunset flip and dropkicks him down but can’t get 1916.

Back from a break with Balor fighting out of an armbar but getting kicked in the knee to take him down again. Some shoulders to the back keep Balor in trouble and a big clothesline gives Grimes two. Balor is right back with the double stomp and then regular stomps put Grimes on the floor.

That’s fine with Balor, who goes to the apron to keep up the stomping. The running kick from the apron drops Grimes again…and here’s Damian Priest. Balor is ready for him and takes Priest down, followed by the Sling Blade to Grimes on the floor. Back in and Priest gets in a baton shot to the leg, setting up the Cave In (more like a running double stomp to the back of the head) for the pin at 9:47.

Rating: B-. I’m curious about how this is going to go as they have Grimes getting a big win to give him something to build from, but also Priest vs. Balor. Odds are you can pencil that in for Takeover and Grimes will probably get something out of this as well. Not bad for ten minutes of action.

Post match Priest hits the Reckoning on the chair and sits it on Balor’s throat ala HHH/Undertaker in 2001. Priest reveals himself as the attacker. Well that was simple.

Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament Group B: Jack Gallagher (0-2) vs. Isaiah Scott (1-1)

Final first round match for both and if Scott loses, he’s eliminated. Hold on though as here’s Nese to deck Scott from behind and send him into the steps. Like any goodhearted schnook, Scott says he’ll fight so the bell rings. That is immediately followed by a running corner dropkick for two and the seated abdominal stretch goes on. Scott fights out and hits a quick House Call for two, followed by some YES Kicks. Gallagher pulls him down into a guillotine so Scott muscles up and throws him off. Not that it matters as Gallagher discus forearms him for the pin at 3:32.

Rating: C. This was working while it lasted but it didn’t have time to go anywhere. I’m surprised that Scott is already eliminated. It’s nice to see Gallagher actually get a win for a change, but I still don’t get why Scott can’t get out of the blocks around here. He seems like someone who is ready to be pushed but it just never takes off. He’s far from done, though they might want to actually do something with him.

Group B Standings

Akira Tozawa – 2 – 0

El Hijo del Fantasma – 1 – 1

Jack Gallagher – 1 – 2

Isaiah Scott – 1 – 2

Kayden Carter vs. Aliyah

Carter takes her down in a hurry and the trash talk is on. Aliyah fights up and gets suplexed down for two. A missed charge in the corner lets Aliyah kick away but Carter switches places and stomps as well. Cue Robert Stone to watch as Aliyah takes over again and goes up top. That’s broken up as well and something like an Indian Deathlock makes Aliyah tap. So much for the Stone deal.

And now, Dinner with the Garganos. Things have gotten better in recent weeks with Candice stomping a hole in a ninja and Gargano beating the 7’8 383lb Dominick Dijadofus. They look at some clips of the match with Gargano breaking Dijakovic down. If he did it so easily and Keith Lee had so many problems, Gargano wouldn’t have any problem with Lee. Candice isn’t happy with Mia Yim being rewarded over and over after losing time after time. Where is Candice’s chance? Everyone else deserves nothing, just like Mia.

Gargano knows what it’s like to be North American Champion and everyone loves you….until they don’t. The glory Lee is looking for doesn’t exist because it’s just a catchphrase to get fans on your side. Gargano has been turned on before and while Lee is strong physically, he isn’t strong enough to deal with reality. They’ll show everyone what glory looks like. These dinner deals are great and this worked well, again.

Next week: Kushida vs. Drake Maverick and Fantasma vs. Tozawa, plus Rhea Ripley vs. Io Shirai.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Matt Riddle

Thatcher doesn’t get an entrance and Riddle’s arm…seems to be fine actually. Riddle takes him to the mat to start and fights from underneath. That’s broken up in a hurry so Riddle kicks away at the legs. They go straight back to the mat with Riddle getting on top this time and pounding away.

Thatcher can’t get the leg so Riddle drives him down again and they trade forearms from the mat. They get back up with Riddle firing off knees and kicks. Back from a break with Riddle working on the leg but Riddle gets up again. A German suplex is no sold and Riddle hits the running knee. Riddle gets in a triangle choke but Thatcher reverses into an armbar.

The powerbomb breaks things up and they get back to their feet to strike it out hard. Thatcher knocks him down for the ankle lock (on a bare foot, which is a little strange) but that’s reverses into a Bro To Sleep to put them both down. The Floating Bro hits knees and Thatcher grabs a Fujiwara armbar. That’s reversed so Thatcher grabs the ankle again but Riddle stacks him up for a pin at 12:26.

Rating: B. Maybe it was that the match was so different but this was a really entertaining one with a very different style. Thatcher looked like he could hang with Riddle and doesn’t lose all that much by getting pinned. Fans are still getting used to Thatcher so having him show off against Riddle is a good way to go.

Post match Thatcher sends the arm into the post and grabs the Fujiwara armbar. Riddle taps so Thatcher lets go, only to put it on again for more tapping and screaming to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling was pretty good overall here but the show just felt bleh. You can see some of what they’re setting up for Takeover and I’m sure they’ll be fine to set up a card over the next two weeks, but it’s still not all that thrilling. That being said, there is only so much that can be done with the limited crew and it’s pretty clear that they are lacking a lot of their big stars. It’s just a weird time and while the wrestling worked, it wasn’t a great feeling one and that’s a bigger problem.

Results

Imperium b. Timothy Thatcher/Matt Riddle – European Bomb to Riddle

Tegan Nox b. Indi Hartwell – Shiniest Wizard

Jake Atlas b. Tony Nese – Rainbow DDT

Cameron Grimes b. Finn Balor – Cave In

Jack Gallagher b. Isaiah Scott – Discus forearm

Kayden Carter b. Aliyah – Indian Deathlock

Matt Riddle b. Timothy Thatcher – Rollup

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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