WWE Vault Grab Bag VIII
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, Gorilla Monsoon, Lord Alfred Hayes, Stan Lane, Rodger Kent, Superstar Billy Graham, Rod Trongard, Michael Cole

It’s time for another batch of randomness as thrown on the WWE Vault channels (and its assorted spinoffs). While I have a list of matches I’ve picked, there’s no theme here as I’m just doing them at random. You never know what you’re going to get here and that can make it a lot of fun. Let’s get to it.

From East Rutherford, New Jersey, January 5, 1987.

Honky Tonk Man/Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan/Ricky Steamboat

Why yes, I’m shocked that this is from 1987 too. Jimmy Hart and Miss Elizabeth are here with the villains. Hogan and Steamboat clear the ring without much trouble to start as we’re still in the suspenders period for Honky Tonk Man. Savage throws in a chair and manages to hit the referee but he’s back up, with Steamboat taking over on Honky Tonk Man, who is sent into Hogan’s raised boot.

Savage goes up but Hogan is right there to warn Steamboat, actually being a good partner for once. Steamboat even takes Honky Tonk Man over to the corner so Savage can tag but we’ll save that for later. A less than clean crossbody gives Steamboat two and it’s off to Hogan, who does make Honky Tonk Man tag out. Savage bails to the floor and is pulled right back inside for a tag back to Honky Tonk Man. Steamboat and Hogan take turns knocking Honky Tonk Man down, this time into a chinlock, as Savage keeps running around.

Honky Tonk Man gets out and actually takes over on Hogan, with some right hands connecting in the corner. It’s back to Steamboat, who grabs a sleeper as Honky Tonk Man can’t keep anything going. Steamboat hits the ropes but Savage gets in a knee to the back to cut him off. NOW Steamboat is willing to come in for some shots to the back, allowing Honky Tonk Man to get in some offense for a change.

Another Savage distraction lets Honky Tonk Man get in a slam on the floor but this time Hogan is over there to go after Savage. The fans certainly approve, even as Savage runs away again. Steamboat chops his way out of trouble and it’s back to Hogan, who knocks Savage down without even getting in the ring. That and some regular right hands are enough work from Hogan, who hands it back to Steamboat for the chops.

Honky Tonk Man shoves him off the top and gets punched on the floor for his troubles. Savage grabs the bell but gets slammed off the top, allowing Steamboat to pick it up. That’s enough for Savage to run off and the good guys beat up Hart and Honky Tonk Man. Hogan and Steamboat win via DQ at around 12:30.

Rating: B-. This wasn’t so much a great match as much as it was a blast by having two of the best villains against the two goodliest good guys of all time. They got to have an easy tag match with Honky Tonk Man getting beaten up and Savage running around all over the place. It’s no surprise that the fans went nuts throughout the whole thing because, well, why wouldn’t they?

From New York City, New York, July 12, 1986.

Tito Santana/Bruno Sammartino vs. Randy Savage/Adrian Adonis

In a cage, Jimmy Hart and Elizabeth are here too, and both members of the team have to escape. The villains jump them on the way in but Sammartino avoids a belt shot to start the early comeback. Sammartino unloads on Savage in the corner as Adonis elbows Santana into the corner. Adonis is sent into the cage and immediately tries to escape, which doesn’t exactly work.

The pairs trade off and Savage goes to escape, which doesn’t work either. Adonis still can’t get out the door as Sammartino pulls Savage down for a big crash. Sammartino flips Savage upside down in the corner and stomps away but has to stop and crotch Adonis on top. Back up and Savage sends Santana into the cage, as Sammartino does with Adonis. The ax handle hits Santana, who is busted open to make this feel more serious.

Sammartino easily cuts Savage off by trying to escape so Adonis rakes Santana’s face over the cage. The big rights and lefts have Adonis rocked in the corner and Santana is back up to slug it out with Savage. Santana knocks Savage out of the air and Adonis actually breaks the steps as he tries to get outside, pulling the top off as Sammartino pulls him back inside.

It’s so 80s as you can see the nails sticking out of the things. Savage is sent into the cage and is busted open as well but catches Santana low on the way out. Adonis gets all the way to the top of the cage and dives down, only to miss (not really) Sammartino. Savage tries to escape again and gets punched down by Santana. Sammartino sends Adonis into the cage and leaves, with Santana dropping down to win at 9:52.

Rating: B+. Good grief this was a blast, as you had two teams who felt like they wanted to do nothing more than hurt the other guys. Adonis might not have looked the part all the time, but he could more than hang in there with anyone. Sammartino was old but still in better shape than most of the roster and the fans worshipped him. Awesome stuff here, as it felt like an all out fight.

From Stockton, California, March 13, 1995.

Bull Nakano/Hakushi vs. Alundra Blayze/Bob Holly

Yeah I’d call this different and Shinja is here with the villains. Monsoon: “My pal Sparky!” Nakano glares at Blayze for daring to chop her so Blayze goes with a middle rope shoulder instead. That and a standing moonsault are good for two but Nakano easily powerbombs her out of the corner. One heck of a hair toss has Blayze in more trouble and it’s off to the men for a change.

A running shoulder and hiptoss both put Hakushi down and it’s time to work on the arm. Back up and Hakushi backs him into the corner and adds a running dropkick. The chinlock goes on but Holly is back up to bring Blayze back in. A sunset flip doesn’t work as Nakano sits down on her for two, followed by a clothesline out to the floor. Blayze does get in a missile dropkick and it’s back to Holly for two off a suplex.

Nakano trips Holly down though, with Monsoon saying “yeah the big fat one there, she pulled the leg” in a comment that was bad then and has aged even worse. Back in and the villains are sent into each other, leaving them crashing out to the floor. A pair of dives take them out again so Shinja offers a distraction so Hakushi and Nakano can get in some cheap shots. The men head outside again and Blayze grabs a German suplex for the pin at 7:11.

Rating: C-. Uh, yeah. This certainly was a tag match that happened and no it wasn’t very good. The men’s stuff was a bunch of dropkicks and basic stuff and pretty much nothing else. It’s certainly a unique match but that doesn’t mean it’s something that you want to see. Nakano and Blayze were doing ok, but it’s nothing that is overly memorable in any way.

Now we’re going to mix it up a bit, a collection of Hardcore Title matches to showcase the 24/7 Rule. For the sake of time/insanity, I won’t be listing the time or dates.

The Mean Street Posse attack Crash Holly in a Days Inn room, with Tim White diving onto the bed to count the pin. The Posse keeps getting in arguments over who gets the pin, with a lamp being busted over Rodney’s head, allowing Crash to escape. And then Pete Gas steals some room service.

Next up, the Posse, with referee Teddy Long, go to a laundromat to find Crash, who throws detergent in Rodney’s eyes. A broom to the head gives Abs two so Rodney starts swinging the Cheer. Pete Gas goes after Rodney for missing and Long is knocked down too. Crash escapes again and Rodney gets doused with Tide.

We’re off to the baggage claim at the Newark airport, where the posse jumps Crash again, with Pete actually getting the pin and the title. Then Crash hits him with a scale and gets the title back before running off to….do I really want to know? What I do: Crash’s music playing in the arena when he won the title before the show at an airport is great.

It’s time for a change of pace as the Headbangers track Crash (I feel like I’m playing Carmen Sandiego) to Funtime USA, an indoor game place. Crash was last seen playing laser tag but he’s actually found at a ball toss. Mosh slams him for no count as there’s no referee so Crash escapes and throws balls at him. Then he escapes down a slide, with the cameraman following him.

Thrasher is right there with a trashcan shot for two but Mosh breaks it up. They head over to the test your strength game but Crash avoids the big hammer smash. Crash runs into the ball pit, with the Headbangers sending Earl Hebner in first (Mosh: “Get him in the balls.”). The Headbangers can’t decide who goes in first and Crash gets in a clothesline off the monkey bars. A hurricanrana off the zipline lets Crash escape, with the Headbangers blaming Hebner.

Then one day Crash went to the circus, only to run into a clown and a referee, who appears to be thuggin and buggin, despite the fake nose and mustache. The clown jumps Crash and another joins in to help with the beating. Another clown shows up but Crash escapes and of course it’s the Posse, who decide to go “mess with the midgets”.

Later, Gerald Brisco goes into the APA’s office to find a sleeping Crash (Lawler: “Be very very quiet. I’m hunting wabbits.”) so of course commentary is quiet. Brisco has a referee count the pin but the referee trips over something and Crash chases Brisco out. Brisco runs into the ring and actually punches Crash down, only for Crash to grab the weapons. A broom is broken over Brisco’s back so here is Pat Patterson, with Brisco demanding a Stinkface. Crash breaks that up and the chase continues.

Yeah this was a blast and you could tell it was a bunch of guys being given a camera and told to go have fun.

From Evolution.

NXT UK Women’s Title: Rhea Ripley vs. Dakota Kai

This is a dark match from the original show and Ripley (in between the original blonde and what would become her trademark look) is defending. Ripley picks her up to start but Kai is right back with a quick double stomp to escape. That earns her a big toss, followed by a delayed vertical suplex to give Ripley two. Kai escapes another suplex but Ripley is right back with the Prism Trap. That’s broken up with a roll into the corner and Kai hits a Scorpion Kick, followed by a running boot in the corner. The circling Helluva Kick gives Kai two but she misses a top rope double stomp. Ripley hits a quick Riptide to retain at 3:57.

Rating: C. This wasn’t supposed to be a big, epic match and was just there to get some action in the ring. A the same time, you could see the star growing in Ripley, as she had those little mannerisms that made her feel like someone to watch. That’s the kind of charisma that you either have or don’t and to say Ripley would wind up having it in spades is an understatement.

From Rome, Italy, November 15, 2005.

Undertaker vs. Randy Orton

Bob Orton Jr. is here with Randy. We’re joined in progress with Orton ducking some shots in the corner and grabbing a headlock. That doesn’t work either as Orton is knocked outside, where he looks rather shaken. We’re clipped to Undertaker stomping away in the corner and working on the arm.

We’re clipped again to Old School being broken up and Bob’s distraction lets Orton rake the eyes. That sets up the superplex and we’re clipped to Orton hitting a powerslam for two. We’re clipped again to Undertaker sending him into the post and clipped again (we get it already) to Undertaker beating up Bob. Orton breaks up the big legdrop on the apron to save his daddy and we’re clipped again to Undertaker getting pounded in the chest. As Bob dramatically puts his cowboy hat back on as Orton sends him back inside and hammers away.

We’re clipped again to Orton diving into a raised boot, sending him sprawling into the corner. Snake Eyes sets up the big boot and legdrop for two and we’re clipped again to Old School connecting. A Downward Spiral gets two more, with Bob’s near interference not pleasing Undertaker. The running knee (because Undertaker uses a running knee in this match) in the corner hits Orton again so Bob offers another distraction, earning an ejection. The running bit boot misses for Undertaker though, as we pan over to Bob still leaving.

With that out of the way, Orton gets a DDT out of the ropes (not the hanging DDT) for two before starting in on the leg. A chop block sets up a spinning toehold but we’re clipped again to the referee down and replaced by another and Undertaker sitting up. One might think that would have been a part of the match we needed to see but apparently Bob leaving was more important. The chokeslam connects and here is Bob to pull the referee. This time Bob gets in and, after the RKO is blocked, Undertaker gives him a Tombstone. Another Tombstone finishes Orton at 10:56.

Rating: B-. There was a lot of clipping here but the good thing is you can mostly tell what was going on. Granted it helps when you’re at a house show because it’s not like any of them are going to do anything out of the ordinary. The match was good enough but Orton not even hitting an RKO left it a bit lacking. Still though, Undertaker being on the card was a big enough deal and the fans were way into it.

From Glasgow, Scotland, November 1, 2017.

Shield/??? vs. Bray Wyatt/The Bar

Roman Reigns isn’t here so Seth Rollins says he and Dean Ambrose need a partner. This was a phone call he never thought he would make but he knows he always needs a Plan B. That would apparently be HHH, in Shield gear, or at least something close to it, for quite the reaction. HHH and Rollins have the big staredown until Rollins offers him a vest, which HHH accepts.

Rollins starts with Cesaro, who grabs a headlock for the traditional grinding. Back up and Rollins hits a crossbody and superkick to the ribs before it’s off to Ambrose. A basement clothesline sets up a splash from Rollins, followed by a top rope ax handle to send Cesaro over to the corner. The mohawk with Sheamus attached (that thing has to be sentient) comes in and gets crossbodied as well, with Rollins adding a top rope shot to the head. Sheamus is back up and hands it off to Wyatt, who takes over on Rollins in the corner.

The upside down stare freaks Rollins out so it’s off to HHH for the staredown. Wyatt actually wins the slugout and does the spider walk so HHH gives him a running clothesline. Ambrose comes in to stomp away, allowing his partners to double team Wyatt like good heroes should do. Wyatt gets over for the tag to Sheamus, who is quickly kneed in the ribs and kicked to the floor. An invading Wyatt has to bail from the threat of a Pedigree, leaving HHH and the Shield to load up dives.

Rollins and Ambrose dive but HHH would rather just jump from the apron and go after Wyatt, which you could see coming but it still worked. The big brawl breaks out on the floor until Sheamus blocks Dirty Deeds to take over. Cesaro grabs a chinlock and it’s back to Wyatt for a running clothesline of his own. Ambrose manages a neckbreaker so Sheamus knees him into the ropes, only to have Ambrose hit the rebound lariat. Rollins springboards in with a clothesline (popular move here) and a Blockbuster but Cesaro gets in a cheap shot from the apron (yes it was a clothesline) to take over again.

Sheamus’ middle rope ax handle sets up a chinlock and an Irish Curse gets two. Wyatt hits a gutbuster for the same and we’re off to a chinlock. A knee from the apron lets Cesaro get two and Rollins is sent outside to keep up the beatdown. Cesaro goes outside and gets chopped, only to come back with a front facelock inside. With the hold almost broken, Cesaro boots HHH off the apron and then uppercuts Rollins to give Sheamus two.

We pause for the Bar to yell at the referee….who pulls an Earl Hebner and yells right back at Sheamus. That’s enough for Rollins to chop and kick back at Sheamus, who misses a charge into the post. The jumping tag brings in HHH for the comeback, including a facebuster to Cesaro. The big knee drop gets two and HHH hits a spinebuster as everyone else gets back inside. They’re cleared out and the Neutralizer is countered, with the Pedigree getting two as Sheamus makes the save. Dirty Deeds drops Sheamus and the TripleBomb finishes Cesaro at 20:47.

Rating: B+. I wasn’t that interested coming into this one when it came up on the list but it wound up being a heck of a match. HHH didn’t do much until the end, but that’s the point of a guest star like this. The fans got to see something rather cool and it cool to see everyone putting in some hard work at a house show. Rather good stuff here and a very nice surprise.

Post match HHH joins in the Shield pose.

From Boston, Massachusetts, June 4, 1988.

Demolition/Mr. Fuji vs. Strike Force/Ultimate Warrior

Well this is certainly something. The bell rings and we pause for Fuji to throw the salt until Martel slugs away at Smash. That’s not a good idea with Smash, who pounds away to take over and tags in…Fuji, which doesn’t seem overly intelligent. Shockingly enough, Fuji is quickly beaten down and slammed, allowing Warrior and Ax to come in. They stare at each other for awhile until Ax’s running shoulder has no effect.

Ax’s forearms don’t do much as Warrior is right back with a clothesline so we’ll try Smash instead. Warrior actually takes over on the arm and it’s off to Santana for both a change and a right hand to the head. The good guys take turns working on the arm but Warrior misses a Stinger Splash (I wonder where he learned that). Demolition gets to take turns beating on Warrior and Fuji hits a falling headbutt to the ribs.

Ax charges into a raised boot in the corner though and it’s off to Martel to fire off the right hands. Santana comes in with the flying forearm and grabs the Figure Four as everything breaks down. Warrior drops a salt wielding Fuji with a clothesline and Fuji is rather out of it. The hold is broken and Fuji is taken out, leaving Strike Force to work on the leg. Ax gets in a shot to Santana though and it’s back to Smash to choke on the ropes.

The villains keep trading off, with Ax grabbing a chinlock. Smash’s neck crank does about the same but Ax misses a headbutt. Smash misses an elbow as well and a crawling Santana gets over to Martel to the hot tag. The Boston crab goes on so Ax makes the save and Warrior comes in for the save. Warrior actually gets sent outside but comes back in with a top rope ax handle to pin Ax at 16:28.

Rating: B-. This was a weird match with Fuji being injured and not really dropping much as a result. If nothing else, you don’t want to see one of the reigning Tag Team Champions take a pin, which almost had to be Fuji otherwise. It wasn’t a great match but it was certainly a unique one, which is a nice thing to see.

From Rome, Italy, November 15, 2005. I really wasn’t expecting to go to Italy twice (and the same show at that) in a single set but oh well.

Cruiserweight Title: Nunzio vs. Juventud Guerrera

Nunzio is challenging and gives us a quick introduction. We start with a pose down and the handheld camera running around is giving me ECW flashbacks. Guerrera takes him into the corner to start but gets knocked down, sending Guerrera bailing to the floor. Nunzio goes outside as well for a ram into the apron but misses a Sicilian Slice back inside. A basement dropkick knocks Nunzio silly and a clothesline cuts him off.

We hit the dragon sleeper for a bit, followed by an elbow, which seems to fire Nunzio up. That just earns him a dropkick for two and Guerrera is already getting frustrated. A rollup out of the corner gets two on Guerrera and Nunzio makes the clothesline comeback. Nunzio grabs a headlock of all thing and they go to the mat, which seems like a mistake of some kind. Back up and the Sicilian Slice gets a very close two as Guerrera gets the foot on the rope. The Juvy Driver plants Nunzio but Guerrera stands up, allowing Nunzio to grab a backslide for the pin and the title at 6:45 to blow the roof off the place.

Rating: C+. The match was about what you would have expected from a 2005 Cruiserweight Title match at a house show but dang the crowd was into everything they were doing. Giving Nunzio the title match was absolutely the right call in front of a crowd like that and given that he dropped it back a week later on Smackdown, this wasn’t the biggest disaster. Nice moment here, albeit in just an ok match.

Post match Nunzio celebrates in Italian.

From New York City, New York, January 23, 1989.

Rockers vs. Brainbusters

Michaels and Anderson start things off with Michaels quickly complaining about a hair pull. I mean he’s telling the truth but toughen up man. Anderson runs the ropes but gets threatened out to the floor, with Jannetty throwing him back inside. Everything breaks down and the Rockers clear the ring, with Anderson coming back in to slap Michaels in the face. Blanchard comes in and Michaels is smart enough to bail to the floor to avoid a double teaming.

Back in and Michaels armdrags Blanchard into an armbar and Jannetty drops a splash on said arm. Anderson tries to make a save and the Rockers get to trade places behind the referee’s back in a spot that always works. A double Japanese armdrag takes both Busters down and Michaels saves Jannetty from the double suplex. The double superkick sends the Busters outside and Anderson wants a timeout (a signature thing for him).

Back in and Blanchard grabs the rope to avoid Michaels’ dropkick but Michaels hurricanrana Blanchard. Everything breaks down again and the Busters are double dropkicked to the floor. Blanchard gets back inside, where Michaels escapes the slingshot suplex and follows him to the floor. That’s enough for Anderson to catch Michaels with a clothesline as the Busters finally take over.

Back in again and a suplex gets two on Michaels, setting up a chinlock. That’s broken up and Michaels tries a sunset flip, with Anderson falling into a tag to keep him in trouble. Michaels is able to get up top for a high crossbody, only for Anderson to pull him into an abdominal stretch. The Busters try to switch without a tag and get caught (playing off the earlier spot) so it’s back to Anderson for a reverse chinlock.

Michaels gets up and backslides Blanchard for two but still can’t get the tag. Anderson is back in for the “body to body suplex” (also known as an Anderson Drop and later, the spinebuster). A sitdown splash hits raised knees though and it’s FINALLY back to Jannetty so house can be cleaned. The top rope punch gets two on Blanchard with Anderson making the save. Jannetty tries a suplex but Anderson sweeps the leg from the floor and grabs the lace to give Blanchard the pin at 16:20.

Rating: B+. I for one am shocked that two of the best teams of the 80s were able to have a really good match with a lot of time in front of a crowd that appreciated the match. These teams had great chemistry and of course the Busters knew exactly how to wrestle this kind of a match with a fast paced team. Heck of a showcase here, which would be the case any time these teams got together.

Post match the brawl is still on, with the Rockers clearing the ring.

From Superstars, May 14, 2009.

Big Show vs. Hornswoggle

You know, call it a hunch but I think we might have a theme show here. This is billed as an exhibition match and Show is blowing off steam after losing to John Cena back at Wrestlemania. The bell rings and they stare at each other (one in fear) for over a minute before Show easily picks him up. A gorilla press to the floor is teased before Show puts him on top. Show actually lays down and offers to let him hit the Tadpole Splash but then moves, with Hornswoggle knowing he’s in trouble. The KO Punch is loaded up but Goldust runs in to save Hornswoggle at 3:01.

Rating: D. I mean, what am I supposed to say here? This was an angle disguised as a match and little more than a joke. You could see how far Superstars was already falling with this as the big idea and there was no point to trying anything else. At least they kept it short, which is the point, even though it felt like quite the waste of time overall.

Post match Show lays Goldust out without much trouble.

Overall Rating: B. This was the kind of mixture that I wanted to see as we had a little bit of everything. The fun part about this kind of a mixtape is that you get a little something from all over the plat. You certainly got that here, with house show matches, TV matches and the rather hilarious Hardcore Title stuff. That’s the beauty of the Vaults and it was on full display again with these picks. More to come of course.

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

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

Evolve
Date: October 7, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Blake Howard

We’re closing in on Succession IV and as of last week, the Evolve Title match is officially set. Harley Riggins will challenge Harlem Lewis for the…well silver actually but it should be a heck of a fight. The Women’s Title is ready to go as well with Wendy Choo getting her rematch with Nikkita Lyons. We’ll probably need another match or two so let’s get to it.

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

Harlem Lewis is ready to meet Harley Riggins tonight.

Harley Riggins is ready to meet Harlem Lewis tonight.

Opening sequence.

Here is Marcus Mathers for a chat. He’s been here long enough that if he has something to say, he’s stepping up and doing it. Mathers is tired of everyone running over him and calls them all out. This brings out Cutler James, as Braxton Cole is in the VIP section.

Marcus Mathers vs. Cutler James

Mathers strikes away to start but gets taken down with a headlock takeover. Mathers slips out of a chinlock so James spears him into a stretch muffler. That’s escaped as well and Mathers gets in a missile dropkick but gets pulled out of the air. James tosses him hard to the floor and Mathers is holding his leg as we take a break.

We come back with Mathers’ leg in trouble but he’s able to hit a jumping spin kick to the face (right). Dark Matter doesn’t work for James and Mathers is able to get a DDT. James rolls outside so Mathers uses the bad leg for a kick from the apron, followed by a running hurricanrana. Cole offers a distraction so here is Elijah Holyfield to chase him off. That’s enough for James to hit Dark Matter for the pin at 6:52.

Rating: C. Dang it stop beating Mathers so often. The story of the match was ok, but there’s only so much I can handle of Mathers’ leg being the target and him doing all of the jumping and flipping anyway. If you’re doing a leg injury, stop using so much leg based offense. That really shouldn’t be too complicated but here we are.

Quick recap of Veronica Haven vs. Anya Rune.

Veronica Haven vs. Anya Rune

Haven gets in a quick cutter for two and is already annoyed at the kickouts. The double arm crank goes on but Rune is back up with some running elbows in the corner. Rune’s special effects shot to the face sets up the modified Nightmare On Helm Street for the pin at 2:02. That’s a short match on this show but yeah Rune isn’t working. The gimmick just isn’t there and that’s not changing. Even commentary is pointing out that the fans don’t seem to get it so how much of a future does it have?

Post match Sloane Jacobs and Nikkita Lyons run in for the beatdown, including pouring trash on Rune. They count to ten and that’s enough to accept Wendy Choo’s challenge for a Last Woman Standing match.

PJ Vasa is not impressed.

Earlier this week, AJ Styles came up to Conan Lycan and Nathan Frazer in the gym. If you don’t know Lycan, it might be because Styles is here to offer him a WWE ID contract. Lycan is ready to start today.

The Mog Squad is ready to win, even if they don’t know who Max Abrams is facing.

Cappuccino Jones is going to come after the Mog Squad as soon as he’s medically cleared.

Kale Dixon vs. Aaron Rourke

Alix Brooks is here with Dixon, who starts fast with a clothesline and a slam. Rourke gets in a superkick and some running shots in the corner but Brooks grabs Rourke’s foot. That and a choke are enough for Brooks to draw the DQ at 1:19.

Post match Dixon lays him out with a chair.

Wendy Choo talks about returning after her title loss at Succession III. Now she’s back to regain her title in a Last Woman Standing match. She’s been in a variety of gimmick matches around here and this is how she’s evening the stakes.

Vanta The Unknown is ready to end Laynie Luck’s dream run.

Max Abrams says his nose is too banged up so CJ Valor is taking his place.

CJ Valor vs. ???

The mystery opponent is….the returning Jasper Troy. Valor dodges away to start and tries a waistlock, which really doesn’t work so well. Troy takes him down by the arm and gets two off a splash but Valor kicks Troy into the corner. Valor knocks him to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Valor stomping away until Troy powers him into the corner. The powerslam and a running splash set up a powerslam to give Troy two. A rake to the eyes has Troy in trouble and rolling Chaos Theory gives Valor two more. Troy gets back up for a sitout chokeslam and Into The Abyss finishes Valor at 7:01.

Rating: C+. Troy being back is a good thing as he’s a big guy who can move fairly well, which is enough to give him a chance. It would be nice to see what he can do around here as he’s still new enough to feel fresh. Having him run through the Squad is a nice way to start, as you can imagine Timothy Thatcher is going to be mad at Abrams for changing the plans.

Aaron Rourke swears revenge on Kale Dixon. As he rants, Harlem Lewis and Harley Riggins brawl out to the arena, with Riggins getting in a low blow to end the show. I didn’t recognize Lewis with his hair down.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was about getting things ready for Succession and that was a good job. The wrestling here wasn’t much, but that wasn’t the point of this show. Succession is feeling like it’s an important show, which is more than would be said about a few of the more recent editions. This was just the big warmup, but it was a good warmup.

Results
Cutler James b. Marcus Mathers – Dark Matter
Anya Rune b. Veronica Heaven – Nightmare On Helm Street
Aaron Rourke b. Kale Dixon via DQ when Alix Brooks interfered
Jasper Troy b. CJ Valor – Into The Abyss

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

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Worlds Collide 2026
Date: September 30, 2026
Location: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois
Commentators: Corey Graves, John Bradshaw Layfield

Here we have a special, which was certainly not designed to mess with the AEW pay per view taking place at the same time. It’s WWE/NXT/AAA getting together for a special combined show, with CM Punk and some other guest stars involved. We also have a Reina de Reinas Title match as Roxanne Perez gets a shot at new champion La Catalina. Let’s get to it.

Mascarita Sagrada/Mr. Iguana/Adelicious/La Parka vs. Vanity Project/Mini Abismo Negro

Iguana, and Yesca, scares Smokes away so it’s off to Adelicious to roll Lockwood up for a quick two. Lockwood is right back up with a flipping fall away slam for two, which has JBL rather pleased. Adelicious is able to snap off a headscissors and Iguana comes back in for a spinning DDT to Baylor. Parka and Sagrada get in some running shots in the corner so Smokes comes back in, with Parka suplexing Smokes and Baylor at once.

That means it’s time for Parka to dance and then flip away from Smokes out of the corner, only to get clotheslined out to the floor. The villains get in a bunch of stomping on the floor and it’s Baylor coming back in for some gyrating of his own. Abismo’s running shot in the corner gets two and Smokes’ slingshot spear cuts Parka down for two. A flapjack finally gets Parka out of trouble and Iguana comes in to clean house.

That includes a springboard headscissors and it’s off to Sagrada (JBL: “I’ve always wanted to buy a mini!”). The suicide dive hurricanrana takes Abismo down on the floor but Sagrada runs into Lockwood back inside. Adelicious has to save Sagrada from a gorilla press and then dives onto Lockwood on the floor. Iguana and Parka hit dives of their own and Sagrada does his rather spinning headscissors into a small package to pin Abismo at 12:09.

Rating: B-. This is the signature kind of fast paced opening match that always works in AAA. Let them fly around and pop the crowd, which is exactly what you should be doing here. You get a bunch of people on the card and they get to do stuff without being out there too long. Fun opener, which was the goal here.

Corey Graves pays a quick tribute to Pac, who was his tag partner in NXT. That one still hurts.

Jack Cartwheel vs. Dragon Lee

They go with the grappling to start and flip away from each other without much effort. Cartwheel seems to win a flipping contest (the four straight standing cartwheels are hard to top) and headscissors him out to the floor. That means the Sasuke Special can connect with Lee, who is right back in with a slingshot dropkick in the corner.

Cartwheel is sent to the apron and tries some kind of a kick but gets knocked to the floor instead. Back in and Cartwheel flips out of a German suplex but is lifted up into a powerbomb for two. A running hurricanrana to the floor doesn’t work as Cartwheel sticks the landing, with Lee being rather stunned.

They slug it out on the outside and they go back inside, where Cartwheel hits a clothesline to the floor. Lee is fine enough to superkick him over the barricade but Cartwheel is back up with a Spanish Fly inside. Cartwheel fights out of the Styles Clash and grabs a poisonrana but a Black Arrow (in an amazing coincidence) hits raised knees. Operation Dragon finishes for Lee at 8:58.

Rating: B. You knew why this was on the card and it went exactly as you would have expected. This was two smaller, impressive high fliers being sent out there to do a bunch of crazy things. As usual that worked very well and it wouldn’t have been a AAA show without a match like this one. Lee is on fire right now and I could go for seeing more of him in the near future.

We look at Omos taking out Rey Mysterio at TripleMania, leaving Mysterio in a neck brace.

Fatal Influence vs. Las Toxicas

Non-title. Jacy Jayne and La Maravilla are here too, with JBL absolutely losing his mind at the entrances. Hiedra and Henley start things off with Hiedra sending her straight into the corner. It’s quickly off to Reid, who avoids a charge in the corner, allowing Flammer and Henley to come in instead. Henley gets double crotched against the post and Hiedra gets two off la majistral.

Everything breaks down and Hiedra hits both of them with some running hip attacks in the corner. Jayne offers a distraction, which just lets Flammer come in with a double high crossbody. Another Jayne distraction lets Reid get in a faceplant and a flapjack into a running Blockbuster gets two.

The chinlock doesn’t last long and Hiedra avoids some charges, allowing Flammer to get the hot tag. A suicide dive hits Reid but Henley is back in with a sliding German suplex. Reid’s moonsault gets two with Hiedra making the save. Flammer gets in a big running dropkick in the ropes but Hiedra is legal so there’s no count. Hiedra comes in and is immediately rolled up to give Reid the pin at 10:13.

Rating: C+. This was fine for a women’s tag match and a way to get more women on the card. That’s a good idea in this case, as the AAA women’s division has been hit and miss a lot of the time. WWE’s division isn’t much better but it has more star power and Fatal Influence have been doing well in their few months on the main roster.

Axiom vs. Mini Vikingo vs. Je’Von Evans vs. EK Prosper

The idea is that there’s one from each brand. They circle each other to start until Vikingo hits Evans in the face. Vikingo and Prosper are sent outside, leaving Evans to flip away from Axiom. Prosper is back in to take over on Evans until Vikingo is back in with a corkscrew high crossbody. Vikingo’s dive takes out Prosper for two and Fraxiom small packages Vikingo for two more.

The other two get back inside but Axiom and Evans are sent outside for a huge springboard moonsault from Prosper. Back in and Prosper gives Vikingo a super hurricanrana in to a frog splash for two. Evans and Axiom are back in for some rollups before Evans starts to take over.

The big dive to the floor hits Axiom and Vikingo gets two off a crucifix driver. Axiom and Evans get two each off super Spanish Flies before Evans hits him with a running knee. Prosper is back in to knee Vikingo for two and Evans gives Axiom an OG Cutter. That means Prosper can hit his great moonsault but Vikingo is in with a shooting star. The Phoenix 630 (geez) gives Vikingo the pin on Axiom at 12:40.

Rating: B. Of course this was good and it’s smart to have Vikingo, the AAA star, get his big win here. It was all action from beginning to end and everyone looked great. I was surprised that Evans didn’t win as he’s the biggest star of the match and currently firmly in the Raw midcard. Vikingo is clearly a big project though and him getting the win is a good move. More awesome high flying here.

Reina de Reinas Title: Roxanne Perez vs. La Catalina

Catalina is defending and grabs a headlock to start. That’s reversed into some quick rollups for two each before Perez gets in a rather cocky slap. That just earns her a spinning slam and elbow for two but Perez is back up for some forearms to the back. They head outside with Catalina being sent into the steps, followed by a kick to the face back inside.

A flipping kick to the head gives Perez two and she grabs a sleeper. That’s broken up and Perez misses a charge into the corner, setting up Catalina’s missile dropkick. Back up and they forearm it out with Catalina taking over off an exchange of running uppercuts. Perez knocks her down but a springboard moonsault hits raised knees.

Catalina’s Gory Bomb is countered into an armdrag and Perez faceplants her into the crossface. That’s escaped and Catalina gets in a running hip attack against the ropes. Perez sends her outside and hits a suicide dive but can’t get Pop Rox. Instead Catalina grabs a flipping backslide to retain at 12:43.

Rating: B-. This was a good win for Catalina and that’s why the match was put together. Perez is a star with some status and having Catalina beat her makes the still new title reign feel that much more legitimate. The match was back and forth as well, with Perez feeling like a threat to take the title.

Post match Perez lays her out and poses with the belt.

Los Perros del Mal vs. Penta/Rey Fenix

Penta has been dealing with Los Perros and now has his brother to help. Fenix and Berto start things off with Fenix trying to roll around and an exchange of near falls get two each. Penta and Daga come in and Fenix help take over. Everything breaks down and some stereo basement superkicks hit Berto, as does an elevated splash to Berto. Penta and Daga strike it out until Penta chases him on the floor, right into a cheap shot.

Back in and Penta quickly gets over to Fenix but Karmen Petrovic cuts off a dive so Berto can come in and work on the leg. A tag attempt is cut off and it’s back to Daga to stomp away in the corner. Fenix manages a pop up hurricanrana though and…well actually doesn’t tag, instead hitting a frog splash.

Now it’s back to Penta to hurricanrana Berto before Fenix comes back in, with his handspring cutter being blocked. Daga brainbusters Fenix for two and a running forearm gets the same. Back up and Fenix hits a rolling cutter into Penta’s running Mexican Destroyer to Berto, sending him outside. Petrovic gets on the apron for a distraction though and Daga goes low for the DQ at 15:17.

Rating: B. This was the second biggest match on the show and feels like it could become part of a big feud. It could be interesting to see who Penta and Fenix get to help them against Los Perros as they’re rather outnumbered at the moment. The ending definitely suggests that there is more coming and it was nice to see Los Perros avoid another big loss.

Post match the rest of Los Perros come in but Fenix and Penta clear them out.

We look at El Grande Americano winning the Mega Title at TripleMania with help from Rey Mysterio.

Omos/Judgment Day vs. CM Punk/El Grande Americano/Rey Mysterio

Before the match, Dorian Roldan rants about Omos and Dominik Mysterio, with the fans not approving. Punk even goes old school with the Straightedge Society mask and is of course over like free (non-alcoholic) beer in a frat house. To really mix it up though, we go old school with This Fire Burns, which is a great flashback. Americano starts with McDonagh…but they both tag in their respective Mysterio.

Rey hammers away and grabs a headscissors, allowing Punk to work on the arm. McDonagh comes in and gets his arm cranked as well but actually gets Punk in a wristlock. That’s broken up and Punk shoulders him down and gets a catapult to send McDonagh into the corner. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker allows the tag to Americano for quite the reaction. Some impressive flipping sets up a hammerlock, with McDonagh getting a headlock but Americano headstands his way out.

Back up and McDonagh drives him into the corner for the tag off to Dominik. Americano stomps Dominik right back and gets two off a running kick to the face. Rey comes back in and tries the 619 to Dominik, who rolls away so McDonagh can take over. That doesn’t last long either as it’s right back to Americano, who is knocked down as well. Omos comes back in and elbows away in the corner before handing it off to Dominik. Americano’s fingers are bitten before McDonagh gets to rip at the mask.

A Blockbuster gets Americano out of trouble and we get what I’m guessing is some mistiming, as Americano basically has to freeze in place rather than tagging. It doesn’t make much sense anyway as Americano gets over for the tag a few seconds later and it’s a string of running knees to Judgment Day in the corner.

Omos teases coming in but gets the rope kicked into him, which is quickly shrugged off. Omos is back in so all three good guys get together to knock him outside again. Some dives have Omos in trouble but Dominik tries Three Amigos on Rey. The third is broken up and Dominik has to escape the GTS attempt. Instead it’s a double 619 to Judgment Day and Americano headbutts Dominik. The GTS finishes McDonagh at 20:04.

Rating: B-. It was a big time six man tag and more of a fun match than a good one, which is fine for a main event like this one. The match was a question of whom was going to pin McDonagh, as there’s no way you pin the giant and Dominik doesn’t need to lose any of his heat. This was a good time and how the show should have ended.

Post match the bad guys are back up to fight back but the lights go out…and it’s Oba Femi here for the save (ok that’s a better ending). Judgment Day bails and we get the Femi vs. Omos showdown. Omos shoves him and is immediately clotheslined over the top. Femi celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. What you had here was basically a big commercial for AAA, as you had all kinds of high flying and some big names in the main event. That’s in addition to the title defense and the tag match, which should set up a rematch. It’s not a must see show, but it’s rather entertaining and felt like a AAA focused event with some guest stars. This show did its job and that’s more than enough.

Results
Mr. Iguana/Mascarita Sagrada/Adelicious/La Parka b. Vanity Project/Mini Abismo Negro – Small package to Mini Abismo Negro
Dragon Lee b. Jack Cartwheel – Operation Dragon
Fatal Influence b. Las Toxicas – Rollup to Hiedra
Mini Vikingo b. Axiom, Je’Von Evans and EK Prosper – Phoenix 630 to Axiom
La Catalina b. Roxanne Perez – Flipping backslide
Penta/Rey Fenix b. Los Perros del Mal via DQ when Daga hit Penta low
CM Punk/Rey Mysterio/El Grande Americano b. Judgment Day/Omos – GTS to McDonagh

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

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Evolve
Date: September 30, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Robert Stone

We’re rapidly approaching Succession IV and there is a good chance that some of the card will be set up tonight. In this case we’re going to be seeing a #1 contenders match for a shot at the Evolve Title. That should be enough for a main event but we also have a few grudge matches. Let’s get to it.

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

It’s Gal declares himself a superhero and he’s ready to beat Harley Riggins to become #1 contender. Riggins is a big guy but Gal is parking him in the junkyard.

Elijah Holyfield vs. Braxton Cole

Holyfield starts with the jabs so Cole reverses him into a headlock takeover. Back up and Cole fires off some right hands in the corner, which just earn him a side slam. Cole knocks him down again and drops a leg for two, followed by a catapult into the ropes. The chinlock doesn’t last long and they go to the floor, with Holyfield missing a charge into the post. Cue Marcus Mathers to go after Cole, but Holyfield punches Mathers by mistake. Cole grabs a chair, which is punched back into his face and grabbed by Holyfield…which is enough for the referee to DQ Holyfield at 5:56.

Rating: C. Holyfield is starting to become more of a wrestler than someone who throws punches and does a few moves. It’s still too early for him to be in a long match but that’s the point of Evolve. Let him be out there in front of a small crowd in short matches with relatively low stakes. It makes sense to have a show like this and this is the kind of development that can help someone a lot.

Harley Riggins is ready to take out It’s Gal and move on to Succession.

Gianna Capri vs. Wendy Choo

Capri takes her into the corner to start and gets shoved down, with Choo grabbing a headlock. Some running shots in the corner have Capri in more trouble but she pulls Choo down by the hair. A choke in the corner just wakes Choo up enough for a boot to the face but Capri spinebusters her for two. Choo is up with the clothesline comeback until she can’t get a full nelson. Capri misses a high crossbody though and the Dirt Nap finishes her off at 4:41.

Rating: C+. This was all about getting Choo back in the ring after her return last week. That’s not a bad idea as Choo is on the way to a title rematch with Nikkita Lyons and needs a few wins to set it up. Capri feels like a jobber to the stars at this point and given that she’s called the Sauce Boss, that’s about what you would expect.

Post match Choo says she wants a rematch with Lyons at Succession IV in a Last Woman Standing match.

Sloane Jacobs isn’t convinced but Lyons is in.

Timothy Thatcher congratulates Ulka Sasaki on his first win. Laynie Luck comes in and isn’t sure if she’s good enough to be around here. Thatcher thinks they both love wrestling though and gives Luck a match against Vanta The Unknown at Succession.

Shido Ash vs. Cappuccino Jones

Jones, with his bad shoulder, strikes away to start and hits a dropkick. Ash is right back with some shoulders in the corner and a rather logical shoulderbreaker. The arm is wrenched around the rope and Ash grabs a Fujiwara armbar. Back up and Jones is sent shoulder first over the corner and then into said corner to make it worse.

Jones manages to get to the middle rope but dives into a powerslam as we take a break. We come back with Jones explodering him into the corner and connecting with a high crossbody. A top rope splash is countered into a Koji Clutch, with Jones popping out. That just earns him Fade To Ash for the pin at 7:12.

Rating: C+. Ash looked better here as he was picking apart the injured body part and wore Jones down until he could finish him off. That’s a simple, basic story and Ash did it well. Jones continues to fall apart and I’m expecting him to go bad soon, as coffee tends to do when it is around too long. The match was nice enough here, with Ash getting better in the ring match by match.

Post match here is the Mog Squad, with Max Abrams livid over his nose being injured again. Jones is going to go to TAP WATER! The Squad comes in to go after Jones but Chazz Hall runs in, getting taken out as well. The team wants to be on Succession but Timothy Thatcher comes in, saying the Squad is getting a special surprise next week.

We recap It’s Gal and Harley Riggins being told to fight for a shot at the Evolve Title. To recap: Gal and Riggins were told to fight for a shot at the Evolve Title. Therefore tonight, Gal and Riggins will fight for a shot at the Evolve Title.

It’s Gal vs. Harley Riggins

They’re fighting for a shot at the Evolve Title and Riggins jumps him from behind during the entrances. They get inside and the bell rings so Riggins gives him a running boot for an early two. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Gal knocks him off the top, setting up a high crossbody. Riggins sends him outside though and we take a break.

We come back with Gal still in trouble and getting twisted down by the arm. Gal manages to spin around for a Codebreaker and they head outside, with Riggins being sent into the steps. Back in and Riggins breaks up an Iconoclasm and a TKO gets two on Gal. A chokeslam into a knee to the face finishes for Riggins at 5:29.

Rating: B-. This was one which could have gone either way but Riggins vs. Harlem Lewis should be a heck of a hoss fight. Riggins has come a long way on his own and it should be interesting to see what he can do, assuming he and Jax Presley aren’t teamed up again. Good main event here and we should have the Succession main event set.

Post match Harlem Lewis comes out for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. There were four matches on the show and it felt like there were four stories being advanced in the span of about forty five minutes. It continues to astound me that they have this set up so well and know how to make it work. They did it again here and I want to see Succession, which is looking like a good card. The whole show might already be set, which shouldn’t be a surprise with two weeks before the event. More Evolve goodness here.

Results
Braxton Cole b. Elijah Holyfield via DQ when the referee accused Holyfield of using a chair
Wendy Choo b. Giana Capri – Dirt Nap
Shido Ash b. Cappuccino Jones – Fade To Ash
Harley Riggins b. It’s Gal – Chokeslam knee to the face

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

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Saturday Night’s Main Event #11
Date: May 2, 1987
Location: Edmund P. Joyce Center, Notre Dame, Indiana
Attendance: 9,345
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jesse Ventura

It’s another classic one and in this case we have the fallout from Wrestlemania III. There are a pair of title matches on the show and that is quite a stacked card. In addition, Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant are likely to have something to say about what happened in the biggest match of all time so let’s get to it.

Randy savage is sick of George Steele, who cost him “his World Wrestling Federation Title” at Wrestlemania. Tonight, it’s their final confrontation.

Ricky Steamboat is ready to melt Hercules’ chains.

The Hart Foundation is ready to shut the British Bulldogs up for good.

Jim Duggan is not standing for Nikolai Volkoff singing the Russian National Anthem and even breaks his 2×4.

Bobby Heenan, in a neck brace, has footage to prove that Andre The Giant won at Wrestlemania.

Hulk Hogan thinks that’s nonsense.

There’s the classic opening, now with Wrestlemania III footage.

Ventura and McMahon welcome us to the show and run down the card. There’s something interesting about the two of them sharing one microphone.

We see footage from earlier today (on television) with Bobby Heenan and Ken Patera having a debate. Heenan went after him with a belt which went as well as you would expect, resulting in Heenan’s neck injury and the need for the brace.

Mr. Fuji is now managing Kamala and promises to be ready to overcome his fear of snakes. Kamala and Kim Chee run away at the mention of a snake so this isn’t off to a great start.

We look at Honky Tonk Man bashing Jake Roberts with his guitar on the Snake Pit back in February.

Gene Okerlund thinks that guitar shot is the only reason Roberts would be crazy enough to face Kamala. Roberts offers to have Okerlund ask Damien about that.

Kamala vs. Jake Roberts

Mr. Fuji and Kim Chee are here too. Roberts sends Damien into the ring to scare Kamala outside but spends way too long tying the bag, allowing Kamala to get in a cheap shot. The comeback is cut off by a shot to Roberts’ throat and we hit the bearhug. Roberts gets smart by stomping on the bare feet and hammers away, only to get choked even more.

Kamala mixes it up with some foot choking and Roberts falls out to the floor. The chase is on and Roberts gets in a knee lift on the way back inside. A middle rope knee lift (that’s cool) connects but Fuji offers a distraction so Chee gets in a cheap shot. The big splash gives Kamala the pin at 4:19.

Rating: C. There wasn’t much to this one, save for that rather good looking middle rope jumping knee. The point though was to have Fuji looking good as Kamala’s new manager and continuing Roberts’ tough stretch. Granted it helps to have three managers, which is quite a lot even by 80s standards.

Post match Chee takes off his mask and reveals the Honky Tonk Man. Ventura asks if Honky Tonk Man has been Kim Chee all along and somehow makes it sound both mocking and serious at the same time. Honky Tonk Man gets in a Shake Rattle And Roll to leave Roberts laying. That was one heck of a surprise, as you didn’t get angles like this very often. The fans were surprised and ticked off so that seems to be a success.

We take a quick look at Wrestlemania III, including the iconic opening shot from the start of the stadium and Hogan/Andre’s staredown.

George Steele doesn’t seem to get the idea of a lumberjack match but does understand Elizabeth.

The lumberjacks come out for the match and Honky Tonk Man and Kim Chee both being there has commentary confused.

Ricky Steamboat accuses George Okerlund of TRYING TO CONFUSE George Steele. Okerlund denies it but Steamboat will be escorting Steele to the ring.

Randy Savage, with Elizabeth, is not happy about being called the former Intercontinental Champion. He blames Steele for his issues and wants his title back from Steamboat, who will be at ringside too.

George Steele vs. Randy Savage

Lumberjack match. Steele goes after Elizabeth before the bell and gets jumped from behind but is sent outside. Savage, with his sunglasses still on, goes over to see his friends on the floor before getting back inside so Steele can bite him. Steele sends him outside, where the British Bulldogs send Savage back inside.

This time Steele gets tied in the ropes and punched in the face, with Steamboat and company helping him back inside. Naturally Ventura doesn’t like this because he didn’t like much at all. The top rope ax handle connects for Savage and he’s thrown outside for the group stomping. Duggan gets the 2×4 for the save and chases Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff (of course), earning himself an ejection as we take a break.

We come back with Steele fighting back against the lumberjacks and getting to choke Savage a bit. Naturally Steele goes after a turnbuckle pad, allowing Savage to get in a rather low suplex. Back up and they take turns getting sent to the floor for the expected results. The lumberjacks get in their fight and Danny Davis (who Steele punched earlier) comes in with the bell to knock Steele sillier. The big elbow finishes for Savage at 6:40.

Rating: D+. These guys feuded for the better part of ever (remember that they fought at last year’s Wrestlemania II) and I don’t think they ever had a single good match. That’s rather impressive as you would think that Savage would be able to make anything work. The match was another mess but thankfully it had a bunch of people out there to give us other options other than the match itself.

Post match Steamboat goes after Savage so Hercules breaks it up. The lumberjacks get in and the brawl is on until Jake Roberts runs back in with Damien to go after Kim Chee.

Gene Okerlund sits down with Bobby Heenan and Andre The Giant, with Heenan insisting that Andre won the match at Wrestlemania III. Andre says he was cheated, with Heenan claiming that all of the referees in Hogan’s matches are biased. We see the opening of the Wrestlemania match and Heenan insists that Hogan was pinned off the failed slam attempt. Okerlund points out that the referee counted two, with a desperate Heenan shouting that HE’S LYING. Heenan wants a rematch or for Andre to just be made the champion.

Ventura thinks Heenan might be on to something. And that’s how you make an angle like this work.

Jim Duggan threatens Nikolai Volkoff again.

Gene Okerlund (dude earns his money on these shows) yells at the Hart Foundation for STEALING the Tag Team Titles from the British Bulldogs and calls them a black eye on the face of professional wrestling. Jimmy Hart says the crying Bulldogs will get their shot but Okerlund says it won’t be fair with Danny Davis around. Davis LUNGES at Okerlund (that fiend) and has to be held back.

Tag Team Titles: Hart Foundation vs. British Bulldogs

The Harts are defending in a 2/3 falls match and Jimmy Hart/Danny Davis and Tito Santana are here too. Matilda goes after Jimmy Hart and even bites the Megaphone, with Hart claiming to have been bitten in the leg. Bulldog takes Hart down by the arm to start but gets caught in a headlock. Hart knocks him down and hands it off to Neidhart, who allows Hart to choke in the corner.

It’s already back to Hart for a backdrop and legdrop but Bulldog finally gets a boot up in the corner. That’s enough for the tag off to Dynamite to clean house but everything breaks down. Bulldog is knocked outside and Davis gets in a few cheap shots, earning a chase from Santana. The Harts stomp on Kid and it’s a DQ for the first fall at 4:33. We take a break and come back with Dynamite still in trouble and something like a Demolition Decapitator getting two.

A headbutt looks to get Dynamite out of trouble but Neidhart is there to grab a front facelock. That’s broken up and Hart misses a charge into the ropes, which allows the tag off to Bulldog. Some dropkicks have the Harts in trouble and a clothesline gets two. Neidhart takes over on the Bulldog but hits Hart with a forearm by mistake. Santana has to take Davis out and Bulldog tosses Dynamite onto Hart for the pin and the second fall at 9:48.

Rating: B. The crowd reaction alone was great, though Ventura’s laughing should tell you that something is up. The thing here though as just reminding you how great the tag division was at this point. These teams were able to have some great matches and there are all kinds of teams waiting to come up and go after the titles. It was so awesome to see and these were two of the best teams around (both then and ever).

The fans go NUTS on the fall…and it doesn’t mean a title change because the first fall was a DQ. That’s the definition of a cheap wrestling rule and while it can be done for stuff like this, the whole idea of “you can’t win the title on a DQ” doesn’t work so well when it comes after a pinfall.

Hulk Hogan is still fired up after winning at Wrestlemania and we see some of the same footage from the Andre match. The right hands were going off “like Mount Susuvius” but even he thought he was done when the slam didn’t work. We see some stills of the slam and it’s quite the visual to go from Andre getting two to being upside down. As for Bobby Heenan’s comments, Hogan says go ahead and have your investigation but he’s not giving up the title.

Intercontinental Title: Ricky Steamboat vs. Hercules

Steamboat is defending and Bobby Heenan is here with Hercules. We also cut to Randy Savage and Elizabeth watching in the back, with Savage saying he wants Steamboat to win so he can take the title back himself. Hercules wins a strike off to start so Steamboat slides between his legs and fires off some dropkicks. Even Ventura approves as it’s a smarter strategy, with an atomic drop having Hercules in more trouble on the floor.

Back in and Hercules sends him into the corner as Savage is shown cheering in the back, which has Ventura befuddled. Hercules drops some elbows but gets kicked in the face as Ventura thinks Savage might be too selfish even for himself. The comeback is cut off and Hercules gets the full nelson and Savage storms off, shouting DON’T SURRENDER! Cue Savage in the arena to pull Savage into the ropes for the save. Heenan accurately says that should be a DQ and we take a break as the arguing continues.

We take a break and come back with Hercules’ top rope splash hitting raised knees (it was quite the length too as Hercules could go the distance (yes I am that much of a Disney geek)). Back up and Hercules missing a big elbow, leaving Heenan looking like he’s near death. A missed charge in the corner lets Steamboat chop away as Savage demands that he “SAVE IT FOR ME”. Hercules gets in a knee to the back and with Steamboat down, Heenan throws in the chain for Hercules to choke him for the DQ at 6:43.

Rating: C+. Well that was…something. I’m not entirely sure what as it was mainly Savage losing his mind on the floor (ok that’s not a big leap) and taking the focus off of the match. Hercules is of course a good choice for a challenger, even if he didn’t actually win at Wrestlemania. Steamboat was his usual self here, though the focus was all on Savage, who was his usual insane self.

Post match Hercules chokes with the chain even more to leave Steamboat laying. Savage comes in to help turn Steamboat over and then gives him the big elbow, with Ventura being far too happy.

Jim Duggan is in the front row to again praise America and say that Nikolai Volkoff won’t be singing his national anthem. Yes he’s been banned from ringside but he bought a ticket (which looks like a raffle ticket) and will be watching Volkoff.

Slick says that America cannot deny Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff their freedom of speech.

Can-Am Connection vs. Nikolai Volkoff/Iron Sheik

Slick is here with Sheik and Volkoff, the latter of whom sings the national anthem. That’s enough for Jim Duggan to come in and hit Volkoff with the 2×4 and give the rather pro-American speech. We take a break and come back to start with Martel jumping over Volkoff in the corner and hitting some dropkicks. Zenk comes in and gets kicked down, setting up Sheik’s gutwrench suplex for two.

A regular suplex gets the same and the cover is so weak that even Ventura calls him out on it. Sheik’s belly to belly bangs up the ribs so he grabs an abdominal stretch, which is finally broken up with a hiptoss. Everything breaks down and Zenk is sent outside in front of Duggan while Martel is sent outside as well. Duggan comes inside with the board because security around here is that bad, with the distraction letting Martel roll Sheik up for the pin at 3:57.

Rating: C+. There is something so awesome about watching Sheik doing those suplexes. The gutwrench suplex was his biggest signature move outside of the camel clutch and it looked good every time. On the other hand you have the Connection, who were as white meat of a white meat team as you could have gotten around this point. They were on fire here and dang it would have been fun to see them stay together.

Post match all three villains beat Duggan down but the Connection makes the save. Duggan gets back up and marches around the ring a bit.

Commentary recaps the night and we’re out.

Roll credits.

Overall Rating: B. This was a heck of a fallout show from Wrestlemania, with the focus being on the aftermath of the two big Wrestlemania matches. Hogan vs. Andre is clearly not done and Savage is still obsessed with Steamboat. Throw in the tag division still being awesome and the pretty cool Honky Tonk Man angle and this show was a blast.

Results
Kamala b. Jake Roberts – Splash
Randy Savage b. George Steele – Top rope elbow
British Bulldogs b. Hart Foundation 2-0
Ricky Steamboat b. Hercules via DQ when Hercules used his chain
Can-Am Connection b. Nikolai Volkoff/Iron Sheik – Rollup to Sheik

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

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WrestleFest 1990
Commentators: Sean Mooney, Lord Alfred Hayes, Gorilla Monsoon, Hillbilly Jim, Tony Schiavone
Host: Sean Mooney

So here we have another Coliseum Video as part of a series that the company did for a few years. I’ve done this before and probably rented the tape about seventy two times back as a kid so we’ve probably got some good stuff here. I have a grand total of no memory about what we’ll be seeing though so let’s get to it.

Sean Mooney is our host and is at the control desk to run down the lineup. I’ve heard worse.

From Miami, Florida, January 22, 1990.

Randy Savage vs. Roddy Piper

Queen Sherri is here with Savage. We pause to start, with Savage chilling on the ropes and Sherri slowly circling Piper. Sherri goes to look under Piper’s kilt and gets spanked around a bit, which finally brings Savage off the ropes for the ax handle to get things going after nearly two minutes. Now of course the fans are rather into things already because of the antics with Sherri and they have done one move, but I guess the match is dull due to the lack of action?

Piper clotheslines him right down and sends him into the corner, setting up another clothesline for two more. A sunset flip gives Piper two so Savage elbows him in the face, only to be chased out to the floor. Piper of course gives chase and they brawl back inside, where Savage gets in the neck snap across the top rope. The top rope ax handle connects and Sherri gets in a shot of her own. Back in and a knee drop gives Savage two more and we’re off to the sleeper.

That’s broken up and Piper hammers away in the corner with rights and lefts. Savage even gets tied up in the Tree Of Woe for some stomping before Piper stomps him in the middle of the ring instead. An airplane spin gives Piper two so Savage is right back with an even faster airplane spin, leaving Savage dizzy for a change. For some reason Savage tries to go up and falls down in a heap. Piper follows and keeps hammering away, with Sherri jumping on his back for the DQ at 9:32.

Rating: B. Oh yeah this was amazing with the two of them doing all kinds of stuff without doing much of anything at all. You could tell they were having a great time out there and it wound up being incredibly entertaining. If nothing else the battle of the airplane spins was great and the fans certainly seemed to like it. This was a perfect illustration of what happens when two talented wrestlers are given a chance to have fun, as they barely did anything big and still gave the fans a great performance.

Post match Piper sleepers Savage and then Sherri, with the villains being whipped into each other. Piper whips Savage with a belt to send them running.

A fan from Houston, Texas (with terrible penmanship) wants to see Ultimate Warrior vs. Dino Bravo.

Bravo is ready to face Warrior.

Warrior is ready to face Bravo.

From Tucson, Arizona, February 14, 1990.

Intercontinental Title: Ultimate Warrior vs. Dino Bravo

Bravo, with Jimmy Hart and Earthquake, is challenging. Ignore that the Warrior was wearing the WWF Title for his pre-match promo while the Intercontinental Title is on the line here. As I chuckle about the camera operator having to chase Warrior down the aisle, Warrior knocks Bravo down to start and this a top rope ax handle, only for Earthquake to grab Warrior’s foot.

That’s enough of a distraction (it might be due to Earthquake’s weird brown singlet) for Bravo to get in a cheap shot but Warrior sends him into the corner back inside. Earthquake grabs him again and this time Bravo gets in a clothesline out to the floor. Naturally Warrior gets clever by crawling underneath the ring, allowing him to steal Hart’s pants. Back in and Warrior grabs a quick suplex but the splash hits raised knees.

Naturally Bravo tries a test of strength before avoiding a charge into the corner. The bearhug (with Bravo bouncing for some reason) goes on until Warrior reverses into one of his own. That’s broken up and Warrior is knocked outside, where Earthquake gets in a slam on the floor. Back in and Bravo’s side slam gets two and Warrior is right back up with the flying shoulders. Now the splash connects so Earthquake comes in for the DQ at 8:16.

Rating: D+. Yeah this was about what you would have expected, as these two fought a bunch of times and it never worked. It’s just a power match but neither of them are any good for the most part so how was it supposed to work? The ending seemed stupid but at least they did something to set up the Wrestlemania match, which is at least better than just doing a lame ending for no payoff.

Post match the big beatdown is on with Earthquake going up so here is Hulk Hogan for the save. This segment was in the hype package for Hogan vs. Warrior at Wrestlemania.

This month’s manager profile is on Mr. Fuji, who talks about how he teaches his wrestlers to make others suffer. That makes him very, very happy and we see a montage of various assaults. We also see Mr. Fuji doing a 5k race at Wrestlemania V weekend, naturally in his tuxedo, which felt shenanigansy.

Brutus Beefcake wants to mess with Rick Martel’s hair.

Martel isn’t going to deal with this and promises to make Beefcake smell the sweet smell of Arrogance.

From New York City, New York, December 28, 1989.

Brutus Beefcake vs. Rick Martel

Martel bails out to the floor to start as Beefcake is way too enthusiastic with those clippers. This means a lot of stalling as they show off their physiques until Martel charges into a hiptoss about two and a half minutes after the bell. Beefcake scares him out to the floor and it’s already time to stall. Back in again and Martel offers a handshake, with even BRUTUS BEEFCAKE not being dumb enough to fall for this.

They do eventually shake hands and Beefcake kicks him in the ribs for a change before firing down the right hands in the corner. A stomp to the head and the headknocker just seem to wake Martel up as he comes back with an atomic drop. Martel knocks him down and hits the chinlock, setting up the choke…and another chinlock.

With that broken up, Martel gives him a slam and backbreaker, leaving Beefcake looking a bit dead. For some reason Martel goes up top but gets crotched down, allowing Beefcake to slug away. Beefcake fights back with the atomic drops, apparently a fan of Martel’s selling too. Martel gets knocked outside and is pulled back in, only for him to grab a rollup with the rope for the pin at 14:40.

Rating: C. This was a bunch of chinlocks but that’s probably better than asking Beefcake to go that long. He wasn’t the most versatile in the ring and there was no way around that. Let him do his thing and pop the crowd with his rather strong charisma, which is what we got here. The match wasn’t great, but the fans were certainly into it.

Post match Beefcake takes issue with the whole thing and gets jumped by Martel. That just earns Martel a sleeper to knock him out. Bobby Heenan of all people comes in to save Martel from a haircut.

It’s time for the Tag Team Profile, which is focusing on the Hart Foundation. This involves Jim Neidhart freaking out over not having the Tag Team Titles, with Bret Hart having to calm him down and sending us to a match against the Powers Of Pain.

From Fort Myers, Florida, January 23, 1990.

Hart Foundation vs. Powers Of Pain

Mr. Fuji is here with the Powers. Neidhart and Barbarian start things off and they stare at each other a lot and then trade shoves. Neither those nor Neidhart’s headlock go anywhere so Barbarian clotheslines Warlord by mistake. Hart comes in to hammer on Barbarian before making a blind tag to Neidhart for a clothesline. The Harts take turns working on Warlord’s arm, with Warlord missing a shoulder in the corner to make it even worse.

Warlord finally knocks Hart down with a clothesline and hits the forearm to the back, allowing Barbarian to hit a running headbutt to the back. The Powers take turns working on said back, with Hart having to escape over for the tag back to Neidhart. That means a bunch of shoulders can have the Powers in trouble until Fuji trips Neidhart down. The fight goes out to the floor and only Neidhart beats the count to win at 10:39.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t the best start to the profile as you would think the Harts winning via pinfall would make more sense. Either way, the Harts getting to show off their chemistry and mixture of power/speed was good, especially with the Powers being pretty one dimensional. The Harts could work well with anyone and the Powers were solid enough, even with the less than perfect ending.

Post match the Harts clear the ring with the cane.

The Harts talk about the importance of teamwork, including facing a team without much experience.

From Oakland, California, August 8, 1989.

Hart Foundation vs. Dino Bravo/Honky Tonk Man

Jimmy Hart is here with the villains and Bravo shoulders Hart down to start. A high five doesn’t count as a tag with Honky Tonk Man for some reason so Bravo gets to stomp on Hart for a bit. Hart is back up with a crossbody so Honky Tonk Man comes in, earning himself a quick double wishbone. Neidhart fires off the shoulders in the corner and it’s already back to Bravo, who gets in an atomic drop.

A cheap shot knocks Hart off the apron and the double elbow drops Neidhart again. The reverse chinlock seems to annoy Neidhart more than anything else but a knee to the face keeps him in trouble. Bravo drops a big jumping elbow but misses a knee, allowing Hart to come in again. That means Honky Tonk Man gets beaten up for a bit, with an O’Connor roll giving Hart two. Everything breaks down and Hart is whipped into Honky Tonk Man and Neidhart intercepts the Megaphone. A few shots to Honky Tonk Man draw the DQ at 8:57.

Rating: C. Why would you include this? It’s a makeshift team and the Harts can’t beat them? The match was nothing and then it ends like this, making the Harts look like losers. I don’t get this at all and it was boring the whole way through. Just a big waste of time here and it would have been better off by just having the Harts win a squash.

The Harts know the Rockers are good, but they’re not sure if they’re THAT good. Neidhart concludes that they’re just scared kittens.

From Springfield, Massachusetts, August 29, 1990.

Hart Foundation vs. The Rockers

Hart and Jannetty start things off (that’s an interesting one) with Jannetty grabbing an armbar. Michaels comes in with an ax handle to the arm and sits down on it for a bonus. Hart gets in an atomic drop for a breather and Neidhart is in for two off of a slam. Neidhart grabs a chinlock with a knee in the back, followed by a rather hard backdrop for two. The slingshot splash misses but Hart is back in, with Michaels charging into a raised boot in the corner.

The middle rope elbow misses though and it’s back to Jannetty to pick up the pace. A jumping back elbow and dropkick have Hart in trouble and the powerslam gets two. Hart gets in a clothesline of his own, only to get kneed back down for two. Michaels is back in for the double superkick and a suplex gets two. Hart fights back and gets over to Neidhart for the tag, meaning it’s time to clean house. Everything breaks down and Hart is sent outside but here are the Rougeaus to jump both teams for the double DQ at 12:20.

Rating: B. I’m surprised that Michaels and Hart had this much chemistry together as they’ve never shown anything similar to it before. Anyway, of course the match was good and I could have gone with a heck of a lot more of it, which tends to be the case whenever these teams are together. The Rockers were punching up here and shockingly they were more than up to the challenge.

That wraps it up, with the Harts going 1-1-1, with the win coming via countout.

We get a rather cool look at the fleet of trucks that carry everything to the arenas. I remember seeing this when I was a kid and it was fascinating for some reason.

From New York City, New York, January 15, 1990.

WWF Title: Hulk Hogan vs. Mr. Perfect

Perfect, with the Genius, is challenging. Hogan shoves him into the corner to start and then does it again, with Perfect falling out to the floor. That means a slam to Genius, who is thrown inside in a less than brilliant move. Hogan shrugs off some double teaming and Perfect gets tied up in the ropes, leaving Genius to get atomic dropped out to the floor. Hogan knocks Perfect down again and gives him a hard whip into the corner. A mistimed duck lets Perfect get in a kick to the chest though and Perfect gets to stomp away.

Hogan is sent outside, where he’s fine enough to reverse a whip into the post. It works so well that Hogan does it again but Perfect is able to slap on a sleeper back inside. Hogan eventually fights up but gets sent into the corner, with Perfect going up. That’s not the best idea and Hogan crotches him a few times, followed by an atomic drop, which seems a bit excessive.

The elbow misses so Perfect grabs the PerfectPlex for two, meaning it’s Hulk Up time. They actually go outside though as we mix it up a bit. Hogan misses a swing with a chair and Perfect gets in a foreign object shot for….almost a countout as Perfect distracts the referee (in a rather smart move). Back in and Hogan fights back and grabs the foreign object to knock Perfect cold, which is enough for the DQ at 13:38.

Rating: C+. These two always has good chemistry together and the finish should set them up for another match in the Garden. That’s a good way to go and it worked well enough here, with Perfect being a different kind of challenger. The Genius continues to be a good manager for Perfect, as he can take the funny bumps that Hogan can give so well. Fun match here, which is hardly a surprise.

From Sacramento, California, March 6, 1990.

Ultimate Warrior/Jake Roberts vs. Ted DiBiase/Akeem

Big Boss Man is the guest referee. Roberts works on the arm to start but DiBiase is right back with some shots to the bad neck. Back up and the threat of a DDT sends DiBiase running to the floor, which is probably wise. Roberts is fine with working on the arm for a bit before trying the DDT again, sending DiBiase bailing again. Akeem comes in and misses an elbow, allowing Warrior to come in and knock him into the corner. A clothesline puts Akeem down and it’s back to Roberts who still can’t get a DDT.

DiBiase comes back in to take over as commentary talks about the Boss Man, who has been a non-factor thus far. A piledriver gives DiBiase two and it’s back to Akeem for the running crotch attack on the ropes. DiBiase’s chinlock is quickly broken up with a jawbreaker and a running clothesline sets up the fourth failed DDT attempt. Roberts finally gets smart by handing it back to Warrior, who cleans house and splashes DiBiase for the pin at 6:28.

Rating: C-. The idea here was fine but Boss Man didn’t do a single thing as referee. Roberts not being able to hit the DDT was almost the story of the match but this was really more about Warrior getting to come in and wreck everyone. I’m a bit surprised Akeem didn’t take the fall as it’s not like he was doing much of note at this point. At least DiBiase had the Million Dollar Title and the feud with Roberts, but he took the fall anyway. Odd indeed.

Post match Virgil comes in and gets hit with the nightstick, setting up the DDT (they built it up enough).

Sean Mooney gives us a quick wrap up.

Overall Rating: C+. There were enough good moments on this tape to make it worth a look, especially if you like this era. You get a nice mixture of stars from the era, including the rather bizarre choices with the Hart Foundation. It’s a completely watchable tape, though you might want to fast forward some of the matches.

Results
Roddy Piper b. Randy Savage via DQ when Queen Sherri interfered
Ultimate Warrior b. Dino Bravo via DQ when Earthquake interfered
Rick Martel b. Brutus Beefcake – Rollup while holding the rope
Hart Foundation b. Powers Of Pain via countout
Honky Tonk Man/Dino Bravo b. Hart Foundation via DQ when Neidhart used the Megaphone
Rockers vs. Hart Foundation went to a double DQ when the Fabulous Rougeaus interfered
Mr. Perfect b. Hulk Hogan via DQ when Hogan used a foreign object
Jake Roberts/Ultimate Warrior b. Ted DiBiase/Akeem – Splash to DiBiase

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

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Evolve
Date: September 23, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Robert Stone

It’s a special night here as we have an all women’s showcase, headlined by the Women’s Title match between Skylar Raye and Nikkita Lyons. Other than that, we’re coming up on Succession and that should be getting some focus this week, as the build hasn’t really started yet. Let’s get to it.

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

Skylar Raye is ready for her big chance tonight and has to follow the paths of people who came before her and made their own ways.

Opening sequence.

Sloane Jacobs vs. PJ Vasa

Before the match, Jacobs offers a tribute to Nikkita Lyons and says she’s taking care of Vasa before Vasa can get to Lyons. Vasa runs her over to start and throws her into the corner by the hair. Jacobs manages a headscissors and pulls Vasa into the corner a few times for a smart counter. We take a break and come back with Vasa Hulking Up and getting two off a Samoan drop. Another Samoan drop is escaped though and Jacobs grabs a victory roll (and the rope) for the pin at 4:07.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here but Jacobs getting a win is more than a bit of a surprise. Vasa getting cheated out of a win isn’t the biggest surprise as she has been gone from WWE for the last month or so, but there is a good chance she’ll have one more big showdown before leaving. I’m not sure what is next for Jacobs, but a win is a win.

Post match Vasa runs Jacobs over and calls out Lyons again. Uh maybe win a match first?

Alix Brooks and Kale Dixon aren’t happy about how they’ve been treated, especially by Aaron Rourke. They need a new plan, and he has their attention now.

Here is Zena Sterling for a chat and she says this is the real her. She doesn’t need to smile and pretend to be someone she’s not. The reality is she has always been superior and tonight she’s watching two women fight for a title that should rightfully belong to her.

Anya Rune isn’t sure why no one believes in her but she is ready to prove that she is the main character around here. Yeah good luck with that.

We look at Vanta The Unknown appearing about a month ago and looking rather…intense?

Vanta The Unknown vs. Veronica Haven

Vanta powers her around to start and flips away from a La Mistica attempt. Haven avoids a charge in the corner but gets sent throat first into the middle rope. An arm crank has Haven in more trouble and Vanta kicks her down into an armbar. Haven tries to get up and gets pulled into something like a Disarm-Her (with Vanta pulling back on the arm rather than sitting on it) for the tap (with the foot) at 3:18.

Rating: C. I’m still not sure what exactly Vanta is about (ok so the name fits) but the finish looked good and she could wind up being something around here, just based on how strong of a debut she has had thus far. I’m not sure how long the weird creepy stuff can last, but at least its starting well. Just let her snap a few more arms and she should be fine.

Post match here is Laynie Luck to go after Vanta….who dodges like she’s in the Matrix and knocks Luck down instead. Well that was cool enough.

Video on the history of Succession.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Kali Armstrong is happy to see the Women’s Title match because she knows how much it means to be champion.

Women’s Title: Skylar Raye vs. Nikkita Lyons

Lyons is defending and insists that Giana Capri give her a special introduction. Capri doesn’t quite know how to do that and calls her a declawed feline and Nikkita Multivitamin. After the Big Match Intros, Lyons grabs an armbar, which has Raye flipping away and…well getting headlocked actually. Raye can’t trip her down but can kick Lyons away and grab a headlock of her own.

A run up the corner lets Raye get in a headlock takeover and Lyons is frustrated. Raye tries another corner run but gets suplexed this time. Back up and Raye sends her to the floor for a dive and we take a break. We come back with Raye being catapulted throat first into the bottom rope and Lyons gets to choke in the corner. Something like a dragon sleeper stays on Raye’s neck until she manages to roll her way out.

A crossbody hits Lyons but Raye can’t follow up, meaning it’s off to the slugout from their knees. Some running clotheslines have Lyons in trouble but she blocks a tornado DDT and gets two off a Batista Bomb. Lyons’ Vader Bomb misses and now the tornado DDT gives Raye two. Back up and a running headscissors drops Lyons but Starstruck misses. The spinning kick to the head (Divine Alignment) retains Lyons’ title at 11:33.

Rating: B. For someone still pretty new around here, Raye held her own in there against a more established name. While a title change felt like a long shot, it was nice to see a match so competitive, with Raye feeling like she has the tools to turn into something much better down the line. It’s not a classic, but for the experience level, this was better than expected.

Post match Wendy Choo runs in and gives Lyons the Dirt Nap to end the show. There’s your big moment/return.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a passable enough show, with the main event being the highlight and Vanta definitely standing out with her unique movements. It was nice to have a themed show like this and it kept my interest throughout. As usual, one of the reasons Evolve works so well is that it’s not a long show every week, making it hard to get that annoyed. In other words, get in, draw some interest, and get out before next week. It’s a nice change from the other shows and it worked again here.

Results
Sloane Jacobs b. PJ Vasa – Victory roll
Vanta The Unknown b. Veronica Haven – Pulling armbar
Nikkita Lyons b. Skylar Raye – Divine Alignment

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

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Best Of Victoria
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Jonathan Coachman

This is an interesting one as Victoria was one of the best members of the women’s division when it was at its weakest. That doesn’t change how talented Victoria was though and she definitely boosted the division when she showed up. It should be interesting to see what’s included here, though you can probably guess some of the selections. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

From Survivor Series 2002.

Women’s Title: Victoria vs. Trish Stratus

Victoria is challenging in a hardcore match and jumps Stratus from behind to start fast. Some choking with Stratus’ jacket has her in trouble but she avoids some swings with a broom. They both grab the broom and flip around with it a bit with Stratton getting the better of it and grabbing a trashcan lid. That earns her a broom to the lid to Stratus’ face as Victoria is looking rather nuts. Victoria takes her outside for a face first whip into a trashcan attached to the post (easier access to the weapons you see), followed by a slingshot flipping legdrop for two back inside.

The trashcan is wedged in the corner, where Stratus catapults her face first for two of her own. Some kendo stick shots rock Victoria gain but she’s back with a trashcan lid to knock Stratus down. The Stratusphere is blocked but Stratus sits up for a lid shot of her own (that looked awesome) and Victoria is sent crashing out to the floor. Back in and Victoria hits her with the stick again before grabbing a fire extinguisher to (very eventually) blind Stratus. That and a snap suplex of all things gives Victoria the pin and the title at 7:01.

Rating: B. The thing to remember about this era is that the women’s division was pretty going in an entirely new direction as Stratus was just becoming the star of the whole thing. Victoria showed up and added a new dimension to the division and it worked rather well. That was certainly the case here as they beat the fire out of each other with some of those shows sounding excellent. Rather good match here, with Victoria instantly feeling like she mattered in a different kind of match. Even with a snap suplex.

From Monday Night Raw, November 25, 2002.

Women’s Title: Victoria vs. Trish Stratus

Stratus is challenging and gets shouldered down to start, allowing Victoria to drop an elbow for two. Back up and Stratus gets in a knockdown for her own two, followed by a nice enough bridging rollup for two more. Victoria launches her out to the floor in a big crash though and then drives her into the barricade for a not great looking crash. The slingshot flipping legdrop gets two more, followed by a clothesline for two more.

The seated full nelson (I love a good Ne-Han) has Stratus in more trouble and a pair of snap suplexes give Victoria another near fall. A whip sends Stratus into the steps for quite the loud impact but she gets in a Chick Kick for two of her own. The Stratusphere connects but Victoria slams her down for the standing moonsault. Victoria gets in a bulldog choke for a bit, followed by the Widow’s Peak to retain the title at 8:13.

Rating: B-. This might have been more impressive than the Survivor Series match as Victoria destroyed Stratus and won in dominant fashion. Stratus never had much of a comeback and lost without Victoria even needing to use the weapons from the hardcore match. She looks like an absolute star here and the Widow’s Peak is a heck of a finisher.

From Wrestlemania XIX.

Women’s Title: Victoria vs. Trish Stratus vs. Jazz

Victoria is defending and has Steven Richards with her. Jazz jumps Victoria from behind to knock her to the floor and grabs a Last Chancery on Stratus, which doesn’t last long. Stratus is back up to hammer away but Victoria drops Stratus face first onto the apron. They all wind up on the floor, where Victoria and Jazz start beating up Stratus. Back in and a double reverse suplex into a shoulderbreaker (that was kind of cool) leaves Stratus down so Victoria powerslams Jazz for two.

Back up and Stratus rolls Jazz up for two, with Lawler losing it over the visual of Stratus’ gear. Stratus fires off the forearms at Victoria, leaving Jazz to hit a sitout powerslam for two with Victoria making the save. That means the villains have to brawl some more, with Jazz just straight up choking Victoria in the corner. Stratus breaks that up and victory rolls Jazz for two. The Chick Kick connects for the same and the Stratusphere brings Victoria back off the top.

Jazz is back in with a half crab on Stratus but Richards comes in to break it up. Ignore that the referee was with Victoria so the tap wouldn’t have mattered anyway. Victoria and Stratus fight over a rollup for two before Jazz drops Stratus. Victoria’s moonsault misses but she backdrops Jazz to the floor instead. Richards misses a chair shot and knocks himself silly anyway, earning himself a Stratusfaction. The Widow’s Peak is broken up and the Chick Kick gives Stratus the title back at 7:18.

Rating: B-. They were all working hard here and Richards really didn’t need to be here, though that bouncing chair to the head was good. Stratus had to get the title back eventually and she did pin Victoria, though Jazz will likely be around for awhile too. Nice stuff here, with all of them doing well.

From Monday Night Raw, February 23, 2004.

Women’s Title: Victoria vs. Molly Holly vs. Lita vs. Jazz

Holly is defending in an elimination match and Jazz has Theodore Long with her. Victoria throws Holly over the top to start but gets caught in Jazz’s double chickenwing. Lita slips out of Jazz’s suplex and hits her snap DDT to get rid of Jazz at 55 seconds. Holly is back in with a running flipping neckbreaker on Lita but Victoria gets a bridging rollup to pin Holly at 1:30. So we’re down to Victoria vs. Lita as I try to figure out why they bothered with the elimination stuff if Victoria was going to pin the champion anyway.

The livid Holly goes after Victoria as Lita is smart enough to just stand back and watch. We take a break and come back with Victoria grabbing a headlock takeover of all things. Lita comes back up with a hard clothesline but the angry Victoria grabs a chinlock. That’s broken up as well as Lawler offers to donate a kidney and lung to Lita. Well I’m guessing Lita but I can’t imagine it matters.

The spinning side slam is countered into what was supposed to be a hurricanrana but was more a weird armdrag. That and the reverse Twist Of Fate give Lita two, with Victoria’s bridging rollup getting the same. Something close to a Blue Thunder Bomb plants Victoria but she counters the Litasault into the Widow’s Peak for the title at 9:43.

Rating: C. Yeah we hit a hard wall after the previous matches, with the first two eliminations being nothing and the Lita vs. Victoria section just being ok. Lita was finally getting back into the groove of things after another devastating injury and it was starting to click, with the fans certainly behind her. At the same time though, Victoria was an established name by this point and the fans were into her enough to warrant another run.

From Wrestlemania XX.

Women’s Title: Victoria vs. Molly Holly

Victoria is defending and this is title vs. hair (they weren’t going to be able to be on the show until that stipulation was pitched and that was enough to warrant a spot). They fight over a lockup to start with Holly taking her into the corner for the early choking. Holly throws her down and hits a basement dropkick for two, followed by a reverse cravate of all things.

Back up and Victoria’s bridging rollup (it’s cool to see her using that as a regular thing, which wasn’t exactly a top spot for her but it was working around this time) gets two as JR gets sick of hearing Lawler go on about underwear. A sunset bomb gives Holly two but Victoria is right back with a backslide for the retaining pin at 4:52.

Rating: C+. They barely had time to make it onto the card but this was all about the stipulations anyway. The big deal here was the tease of Holly getting her head shaved and she deserves credit for being willing to do that. It’s a shame they didn’t get much time and that Lawler had to be himself, but the fast pin and Holly’s reaction were good.

Post match Holly realizes she’s in big trouble and tries to run off but Victoria gives chase and…gets put into the barber’s chair instead, but the clippers don’t work. Instead Victoria gets in a blast with some hairspray (good thing that was there) and straps her into the chair (because barber chairs have straps) for the cutting. Thank goodness they included this as it’s the big highlight of the whole thing, with Holly freaking out as she realizes what’s going on.

From Backlash 2004.

Women’s Title: Victoria vs. Lita

Victoria is defending. Lita takes her down a few times to start but Victoria is back with the headlock takeover (as she used back in February). That’s quickly escaped with a headscissors and they fight over a backslide to limited avail. A lockup has them both crashing out to the floor and thankfully Lita doesn’t break something else on the landing. They fight over a rollup for two each and Victoria hits her dancing moonsault for two.

A surfboard has Lita in more trouble but she headscissors her way out of the spinning side slam (MUCH better this time). Another headscissors has Victoria down so Lita grabs a sleeper of all things but gets planted with the spinning side slam. Victoria’s moonsault misses (while landing on Lita, who didn’t roll away fast enough) so the reverse Twist Of Fate gives Lita two. Back up and Victoria small packages her for the sudden pin at 7:23.

Rating: C. As usual, Lita had some incredible charisma and the fans loved her but there was only so much of a way around all of the mistakes she would make in the ring. The moonsault thing has happened before and it’s not exactly something you can ignore, which makes it even worse. The ending coming out of nowhere didn’t help either, but it might have been best for them to just get out of there.

From Vengeance 2004.

Victoria vs. Molly Holly

For a future Women’s Title shot. Holly (with a blonde wig complete with a chinstrap) works on the arm to start but gets monkey flipped over. The dancing moonsault is broken up so Victoria goes with some armdrags. The regular moonsault gives Victoria two and Holly bails outside, with a dive taking her out. Holly sends her into the steps and stomps away back inside, setting up a handspring elbow for two.

A Fujiwara armbar has Victoria in more trouble but she fights up and uses the classic strategy of hitting her in the face. Holly drops the bad arm onto the rope but Victoria gets in a backslide for two. Victoria gets in another right hand and a powerslam for two but the arm gives out on the Widow’s Peak. Instead Victoria hits a heck of a superkick for the pin at 6:22.

Rating: C+. The ending was great as I love seeing someone just smash through their opponent with a shot to the face like that. Victoria sold the arm well and Holly did take away the Widow’s Peak, but that superkick was a nice surprise. You can see Victoria getting more well rounded in the ring and she’s feeling like a bigger star. Nice storytelling here.

From Monday Night Raw, November 29, 2004.

Victoria/Lita vs. Trish Stratus/Molly Holly

This is evil Stratus (with a facemask) and Holly’s hair has mostly grown back. Holly grabs a snap suplex for an early two on Victoria and it’s off to Stratus for a kick to the chest. A hair pull gets two more and it’s already back to Holly to choke on the rope. Victoria’s rollup gets nothing as Stratus goes over to jump Lita so Holly fights back and grabs a chinlock. The camera points out that Victoria’s trunks are torn and thank goodness Lawler isn’t on commentary here.

Holly knocks her for two more but misses a handspring elbow. Stratus is in to cut Victoria off again, with Victoria shrugging that off rather easily. Lita is finally in to slug away on Stratus, followed by a headscissors to Holly. Lita’s sleeper has Stratus in trouble so Holly makes the save as everything breaks down. With Victoria and Holly on the floor, Lita DDTs Stratus for the pin (with a rather “whatever” look on her face) at 6:42.

Rating: C+. This was a good enough match, though Lita’s face at the end was pretty bizarre as you would think she would be a lot more excited to pin the Women’s Champion/her arch-rival. Victoria wasn’t nearly as much of the focus here but she did feel equal to the two biggest names of her era.

From New Year’s Revolution 2007 (the graphic says New Year’s Revolution 2004, which doesn’t exist).

Women’s Title: Victoria vs. Mickie James

Victoria is challenging and has her hit list, which includes a bunch of names she has taken out and only WOMEN’S TITLE left. Victoria cranks on the arm to start but James cartwheels over and works on the arm as well. With that broken up, Victoria kicks James in the face to knock her outside, where a baseball slide connects as well. James gets dropped face first onto the apron as Lilian Garcia (recently attacked by Victoria) is getting concerned.

Victoria tells her to sit down and then throws James around by the hair (JR: “Like a sexy little Frisbee there.”). The moonsault misses though and James makes the clothesline comeback. Some snap jabs set up a running punch to the face, leaving Lawler to make more annoying jokes. A hurricanrana out of the corner has Victoria on the floor so here is Victoria’s friend Melina, who gets punched down too. Melina grabs James’ foot but gets cut off by Maria and Candice Michelle. The Widow’s Peak is countered and James hits a spinning DDT to retain at 6:45.

Rating: B-. The interference in the end didn’t help this one, but this was a very different era for Victoria. It was clear that she had been shunted down the card a bit and was little more than a stopover feud for James, who was being turned into one of the newer stars of the division. Victoria would stick around for a few more years, but it was clear that she could still hang in there if given the chance. The problem is those chances didn’t come very often.

Overall Rating: B-. This was an interesting situation as Victoria arrived during a time when women’s wrestling was basically being relaunched in WWE. She would go on to be one of the bigger parts of the division but it’s more remembered as Trish/Lita and everyone else. They were definitely the biggest stars of the era, but Victoria was incredibly valuable as she was a good monster heel (or as close as you could get to one) and then became one heck of a heroine.

I’m glad she got a look like this as she’s rather underappreciated, though I’m kind of shocked that her cage match with Lita wasn’t included. Either way, nice job here with an underrated star who deserves a lot of credit for building up the women’s division when it was in its very early stages.

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

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Evolve
Date: September 16, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Robert Stone

It’s title week here as Harlem Lewis is defending the Evolve Title against Cutler James, who got the title shot by winning a four way a few weeks back. Other than that, Skylar Raye is coming for the Women’s Title, with the title on the line next week Finally, the ID Program is coming off a big win last week, thanks to the help of It’s Gal. Let’s get to it.

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

Harlem Lewis talks about how important the title is to him and he’s not ready to let it to go. Darkstate doesn’t matter to him and tonight, Cutler James is just another victim.

Opening sequence.

Kale Dixon vs. Ulka Sasaki

Alix Brooks is here with Dixon. Sasaki works on the arm to start and then drops down to let Dixon have some free kicks. Instead he trips Dixon down for two but Sasaki takes him down and hammers away on the apron. A backbreaker puts Sasaki down and the big chop to the back gets two. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Sasaki is back up with a spinning kick to the head for two of his own. Cue Aaron Rourke to put a jacket over Brooks to distract Dixon, with Sasaki getting a nice flipping rollup for the pin at 5:38.

Rating: C+. The match only had so much time but that tends to be the case around here as the matches aren’t always that long. In addition though, Sasaki is a talented star who is at least getting some time, with that flipping rollup being a cool finish. Rourke has a new feud it seems and that should go well for both of them.

The ID Program is happy with their win last week but Braxton Cole comes in to interrupt. Mathers doesn’t seem happy but is held back.

Succession IV is on October 14.

Vanta The Unknown doesn’t like Laynie Luck and isn’t going to let her succeed.

Harley Riggins wants the Evolve Title and has the winner after tonight.

Elijah Holyfield vs. Milosh Jovic

This is Jovic’s debut and he talks about bringing speed and power. Holyfield knocks him down to start and grabs a suplex, setting up the spinebuster and uppercut for the win at 1:34. Total squash.

Post match Holyfield says he’s here to win the Evolve Title but Braxton Cole interrupt. Cole wants the title but Marcus Mathers comes in to go after Cole, with the referees breaking it up.

Video on Cutler James.

Here is Sloane Jacobs to bring out Nikkita Lyons for a chat. Lyons seems to think she’s better than most of the rest of the division, which brings out Skylar Raye to interrupt. Raye calls out Lyons for mocking her for being a cheerleader when Lyons has her own cheerleader in Jacobs. Cue PJ Vasa to interrupt, saying she has the winner of whomever comes out of this next week. Jacobs actually goes after Vasa, leaving Raye to take Lyons out.

Elijah Holyfield gets to face Braxton Cole in two weeks. He’ll knock Marcus Mathers out too if he has to.

Harley Riggins tells Timothy Thatcher that he’s getting the next title shot and he’s going to watch the title match tonight. Thatcher says no, citing how Harlem Lewis and Riggins tend to create chaos. Get involved and deal with consequence.

Evolve Title: Harlem Lewis vs. Cutler James

Lewis is defending. James grabs a headlock to start and takes Lewis down, with the hold staying on for longer than you might expect. It’s finally broken up and Lewis gets in a middle rope stomp to the arm. James counters a dive off the apron though and hits a backbreaker as we take a break.

We come back with Lewis getting whipped hard into the corner and another backbreaker giving James two. Back up and Lewis is able to wrap the arm around the post, setting up a crossface. That’s reversed into a side slam and James hits a pop up uppercut to the back. Shell Shock connects but the arm is too banged up, allowing Lewis to roll out to the floor.

James follows him to the floor and clotheslines the post by mistake. A spear drops James and they head back inside, where he’s able to counter the Boom Slang into a spinning backbreaker. The arm gives out on another Shell Shock attempt and now the Boom Slang can retain the title at 10:09.

Rating: B. I can go with Lewis as the guy who might not be the most talented in-ring star, but he’s a good, strong brawler. It worked well here and that’s the kind of thing that could get him through quite a few title defenses. James felt like a challenger there for the sake of giving Lewis a win over an NXT name and that’s a fine way to go, especially with Lewis breaking him down and winning in the end.

Post match Harley Riggins comes out to say he’s next but It’s Gal interrupts, saying it’s his shot. Lewis tells them to fight to see who gets the next shot and the brawl is on to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Evolve continues to stick with the style that has worked for them thus far: focus on one big thing a week (most of the time) and have some other stuff there to fill in the show which also sets up some stuff for later. You can see where a lot of stories are going here and the Evolve Title was on the line. That’s a good use of about 45 minutes and I liked this show quite a bit.

Results
Ulka Sasaki b. Kale Dixon – Flipping rollup
Elijah Holyfield b. Milosh Jovic – Uppercut
Harlem Lewis b. Cutler James – Boom Slang

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

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WWF House Show
Date: March 19, 1990
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Attendance: 9,500
Commentators: Lord Alfred Hayes, Gorilla Monsoon, Hillbilly Jim

We’re about two weeks away from Wrestlemania VI and that means we probably won’t be in for the biggest card here. The thing is you never know what you might see with one of these things, as house shows can go anywhere between outstanding and incredibly boring. Let’s get to it.

Commentary runs down the card.

Mike Sharpe vs. Jim Powers

This match is so important that commentary doesn’t even acknowledge it starting for a bit as they’re too busy talking about Wrestlemania. Sharpe bails to the apron to start and then hits a loud chop as we’re a minute into the match with absolutely no acknowledgment of it from commentary. Powers dropkicks him out to the floor and Monsoon FINALLY mentions the match as Sharpe staggers around ringside.

Sharpe gets pulled in and knocked outside again, which has him considering walking out. Back in and Sharpe wants a pose off and we go to a test of strength as commentary lists off locations where you can see Wrestlemania on closed circuit. Monsoon prefers pay per view because he can pick his nose in peace. Powers kicks out of the test of strength and goes after the arm but Sharpe is up with a chop. This lets commentary reference Sharpe’s obsession with taking showers before Sharpe gets a boot up in the corner.

The shoulders to the ribs in the corner allow a camera shot of A LOT of empty seats as there is no reason to sit through a match like this. Imagine paying that much attention to it. Anyway Powers’ sunset flip gets two so Sharpe kicks him in the head for the same. A crossbody gets two more, earning Powers a toss out to the floor. As Powers walks around for a bit, Monsoon talks about a sign on the ceiling of his wrestling room saying that if you can read this, you’re not doing well. Back in and Powers’ dropkick gets two, followed by the powerslam to give Powers the pin at 12:52.

Rating: C-. It’s not that it was a bad match on the technical side but it was a dull match between two people who mean nothing in the company. These two were there so there could officially be a match going on while fans were getting concessions and such. It doesn’t make for anything interesting though and that was true here, with nothing to see at all.

Black Bart vs. Hercules

Hercules shoves the bigger Bart around to start and easily powers out of a full nelson. For some reason Bart wants a test of strength, with the reason being revealed as a simple kick to the stomach. The cheating lets Bart take over with more shots to the ribs and a running crotch attack to the back. Commentary’s subject at the moment? The mixed tag at Wrestlemania.

Hercules gets sent face first into the buckle and it’s off to the choking. A swinging neckbreaker and legdrop (to the forehead) get two and we finally hit the chinlock, which you knew was coming. The closeup shows how weak of a chinlock it is, with even Hayes having to admit that it’s bad.

Bart pulls him back down into another chinlock as this is somehow dying even more despite already being dead. Hercules fights up but gets caught with a clothesline for two and my goodness it’s another chinlock as this match has to keep going. The comeback is finally on as Hercules hammers away with the snap jabs, hits the knee lift, and torture racks him for the win at 12:25.

Rating: D. It was boring and that’s all there was here. It’s a match that could have been done in about five minutes without nearly as many chinlocks. Instead, this was another match where they were sent out there to kill time. It gets annoying to sit through these things and it doesn’t make me want to see Hercules facing Earthquake at Wrestlemania.

Orient Express vs. Demolition

Mr. Fuji is here with the Express and yeah I still dig that “all Japanese wrestlers use this song” music. On the other hand, Demolition’s music is scrubbed in quite the disappointment. Smash and Tanaka lock up to start with Smash knocking him down, allowing the tag off to Ax for the chinlock. Sato comes in and gets elbowed in the face but Tanaka gets in a cheap shot from the apron.

That just earns Tanaka a rapid fire beating, with Smash getting two off a backbreaker. The armbar goes on and Ax comes back in to work on the arm as well as Tanaka takes quite the beating. Sato comes back in and gets beaten down and….something happens with Smash getting knocked down, though the camera totally misses it, leaving Monsoon with no idea what happened. Smash is taken outside for a cane shot to the back before going back inside to keep up the beating.

Tanaka has to trip Smash up to cut off a comeback, with the camera mostly missing it as well. Smash clotheslines his way out of the corner and….I’m assuming tags Ax but the camera misses that too! Sweet goodness how hard can it be to know when the tag is coming? IT’S A TAG MATCH! Ax rams Sato into the corner a few times and a powerslam gets two. Everything breaks down and Ax gets the cane to stalk Fuji. Sato is right there with the salt though and Ax is counted out at 10:58.

Rating: C. This wasn’t a great match either but it was far better than anything in the previous two matches. I’m guessing this was designed to set up a title rematch after Wrestlemania, which is fine, and at least Demolition didn’t get pinned. Some of the action here was fine and it didn’t drag, so things are looking up a bit.

Frenchy Martin vs. Koko B. Ware

Martin misses a right hand in the corner to start and gets taken down with a quick armdrag. They fight over a top wristlock and go absolutely nowhere, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Martin rams him head first into the turnbuckle, which just makes Ware mad. A thumb to the throat has Ware in trouble for a change and we’re off to the nerve hold.

Back up and an elbow to the face sets up the nerve hold again as I’m having Black Bart flashbacks. Martin sends him outside for a ram into the apron as Frankie….does nothing, as he’s kind of a useless second here. The sunset flip is blocked and we’re back to the nerve hold as you can feel the lack of energy in the building.

Ware gets up and is quickly knocked right back down for two, meaning we hit the….what is this, the fourth nerve hold? Another comeback attempt is cut off with a clothesline before Ware misses a splash in the corner. Martin chokes some more and the BORING chants are getting louder and louder. AND MARTIN PUTS THE NERVE HOLD ON AGAIN! Holy sweet goodness this is pathetic. Ware fights up and hits a headbutt, followed by the Ghostbuster for the pin at 12:39.

Rating: D-. Oh sweet goodness no. This was a match where they should have been embarrassed with what they did out there, as it was just so dry with Martin not trying in the slightest for the most part. They did the same rest hold about five times in a match and the fans were rejecting the whole thing. Absolutely terrible as this show is dying in an amazing way.

Jim Duggan vs. Earthquake

Jimmy Hart is here with….well you should already know this but it’s Earthquake in case you’re new at this. Earthquake backs him into the corner to start so Duggan is back up with some running clotheslines. Hart trips him up though and Earthquake knocks Duggan outside as I admire a fan’s neon green hat.

A missed charge sends Earthquake crashing out to the floor, where he posts Duggan to cut him off again. Back in and we hit the bearhug for a good while, with Duggan biting his face to escape. Duggan slugs away to put Earthquake on his knee and does it again to put him down, where some more big right hands have Earthquake rocked. Hart offers another distraction though and it’s a splash into an elbow to pin Duggan at 6:37.

Rating: C. I’ll take this after watching that horrible Ware vs. Martin match. Duggan’s comeback was really energized and it’s where Duggan tended to shine. I was surprised that Earthquake didn’t win with the usual, but I guess they didn’t want Duggan to be crushed like that here and then be in the ring at Wrestlemania.

Post match Earthquake elbows him again, with Jim Powers and Koko B. Ware’s save attempts failing miserably. Duggan chases Earthquake off with the 2×4.

Bret Hart is ready to face Rick Martel, who is more worried about his appearance and scent than his wrestling.

Martel calls Hart jealous and knows he’s better than Hart.

Brutus Beefcake (we must be in intermission) is only worried about which way he should lay Dino Bravo for his haircut.

Mr. Perfect is not happy with Ultimate Warrior saying he’ll end Perfect’s perfect record. And Warrior is nuts anyway! Well yeah.

Rick Martel vs. Bret Hart

Fink’s reaction to the Arrogance being sprayed is great as he looks annoyed but what is he supposed to do about it? Hart gives his sunglasses to a fan who has what appears to be a bootleg Mario shirt. Eh I’d wear it. Hart backs him up against the ropes and lets him go, with Martel looking rather disgusted. It works so well that they do it again as they might as well put up a big sign saying WE’RE GOING TO A DRAW.

Hart blocks an O’Connor roll attempt and Martel flips backwards for a rather smug pose. Martel jumps over him out of the corner and gets knocked down, with a small package giving Hart two. That’s enough to send Martel bailing out to the floor before he elbows the buckle by mistake. Hart starts in on the arm with a standing armbar and then takes him down to keep the armbar going. Martel powers out but misses an elbow and the arm is banged up even worse. The armbar goes on again and Hart is looking rather bored.

Martel finally makes it over to the rope but gets pulled back into the armbar, with Hart getting to adjust his kneepad. Back up and Martel sends him crashing to the floor, meaning it is time for some jumping jacks. A suplex back in gives Martel two and he can’t believe the kickout. Hart gets whipped hard into the corner (and actually lands back first for a change) and Martel grabs the abdominal stretch to work on the ribs. The referee isn’t about to have Martel grabbing the rope so he kicks the hand away, leaving Martel to miss a charge into the post.

Oddly that doesn’t turn things around as Martel is right back with a failed Boston crab attempt. A backbreaker puts Hart down again but he gets his knees up to block a slingshot dive. Back up and they collide for a double down before Martel takes him into the corner. An atomic drop out of said corner has Martel in agony and Hart turns it on with a suplex and elbow for two. The middle rope elbow gets two more and Hart backbreakers him to the floor. Back in and Hart hits a dropkick and they go back to the floor, where they brawl to a time limit draw at 21:36.

Rating: B-. Those armbars were a bit dull but this was a mostly hard worked match between two people who can make a good impression inside the ring. Hart was getting another chance to showcase himself and Martel is one of the best options for being a good hand in the ring. It’s easy to see why Hart was being teased for the singles run but it wasn’t quite there yet, and wouldn’t be for about a year and a half.

Post match the brawl stays on with Hart clearing Martel out.

Dino Bravo vs. Brutus Beefcake

Jimmy Hart is here with Bravo and they have a bit of a history from the Dream team days, which won’t be mentioned here. Beefcake only has some small scissors with him, which is weird as the big sheers were pretty much his whole thing. Bravo powers him into the corner to start, leaving Beefcake’s lips rather puffed out for some reason. Another lockup has Beefcake up against the ropes where he comes back with some right hands, including one to the ribs.

A clothesline to the back of the head sends Bravo to the floor and the fans seem to approve. Back in and Bravo takes over with a test of strength (as the brilliant Beefcake was willing to try one), with Beefcake having to fight up and strike away. Some right hands in the corner are cut off with an atomic drop for a rather delayed two. Beefcake sends him into the buckle and tries a slam, with Bravo falling backwards onto him for two more.

The bearhug goes on as it’s hard to ignore how red Beefcake is appearing. Geez it looks like he’s covered with a sunburn. Or a weak ketchup. They even drop to a knee before Bravo gets up again and keeps the hold on. This goes on for a bad, bad while until Beefcake makes the clothesline comeback. An ax handle looks to set up the sleeper but Hart offers a distraction, allowing Earthquake to sneak in and break it up, including posting Beefcake on the floor. That’s enough for Beefcake to be counted out at 11:29.

Rating: C-. It’s amazing to see how well Beefcake could get over with the fans despite having such a limited offense. He couldn’t do much more than punch and do the sleeper but the fans got into it every time. That’s what charisma can do for you and it carried this as far as it was going to go here.

Post match Earthquake beats on him some more with referees having to make the save.

Tugboat Thomas vs. Pez Whatley

Whatley tries to go up and is quickly slammed down, which shouldn’t be a surprise. With that not working, Whatley tries a waistlock, which fails even more. Tugboat knocks him down again and grabs the bearhug, with Whatley not even being able to break it up with a thumb to the eye. Instead Tugboat drives him into the corner but misses a charge, allowing Whatley to knock him down and then dance.

The middle rope elbow gets two, with the kickout sending Whatley right back onto the rope. Another slam off the top has Whatley down again and the jumping splashes in the corner keep him in trouble. Hold on though as Whatley tries to pull out a foreign object, earning himself a choke. Another whip into the corner seems to set up a running clothesline from behind but Whatley falls down, meaning it’s just a running slap to the head. The big splash (and Tugboat does get height) finishes Whatley at 5:37.

Rating: D. Tugboat is one of the most interesting cases from this time as I was a fan when I was a kid but my goodness it’s just not there. He’s your standard big guy who can’t do anything but splashes and slams, but he was around for a long time. You need a bit more than that and his stuff really does not hold up. Whatley’s dancing was nice at least.

The Fink announces the April 30 show, with a main event of Earthquake vs. Hulk Hogan. Oh yeah the fans like that one. This brings out Earthquake and Jimmy Hart, with Earthquake promising to get rid of Hogan for good.

Ultimate Warrior vs. Mr. Perfect

I believe this is non-title but it’s not entirely clear. Warrior runs to the ring and the bell rings so they do the crisscross, with Warrior knocking him out to the floor. The chase sends Perfect outside again, followed by quite the shove into the corner. Perfect gets knocked outside again but this time Warrior drags him back inside by the hair for a faceplant. Another whip crotches Perfect against the post and Warrior knocks him down again.

A big backdrop looks to set up the Splash, which just hits raised knees. This time Warrior is knocked outside and Perfect slowly kicks at the ribs. Warrior actually tries a sunset flip for two, with Perfect starting in on the back again. We hit the reverse chinlock for a good while, with Warrior’s arm dropping twice. That means it’s time to shake the rope and start the comeback, even with a clothesline being pretty badly mistimed. The gorilla press drop and the Warrior Splash give Perfect his first televised loss at 10:11.

Rating: C. Naturally Warrior had all kinds of energy and the loss at the end felt like a big deal, but the chinlock in the middle wasn’t exactly thrilling stuff. Perfect was bumping as well as he could here but you were only getting so much here. Warrior could do better and these two did on occasion, but this was ok at best.

Overall Rating: D. What a lame show, with one good match throughout the whole thing. I’m assuming they were setting some things up for after Wrestlemania but my goodness were they trying to kill the interest on the way there? This came off like most of the people weren’t trying and it was just a show they had to do. Bad stuff here, but Wrestlemania would wind up being good enough. Watch that instead.

Results
Jim Powers b. Mike Sharpe – Powerslam
Hercules b. Black Bart – Torture rack
Orient Express b. Demolition via countout
Koko B. Ware b. Frenchy Martin – Ghostbuster
Earthquake b. Jim Duggan – Elbow drop
Bret Hart vs. Rick Martel went to a time limit draw
Dino Bravo b. Brutus Beefcake via countout
Tugboat Thomas b. Pez Whatley – Splash
Ultimate Warrior b. Mr. Perfect – Warrior Splash

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

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