ECW on Sci Fi
Date: June 12, 2007
Location: Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

So everything changed last night as we have a brand new roster for all three shows (with more changes to come tomorrow afternoon), but the bigger story is that Vince McMahon got blown up real good. I think we’re going to have a focal point tonight, which might make for an odd show. Let’s get to it.

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

The WWE flag at Titan Towers was at half mast today

We watch the last seven minutes or so of Raw, from Vince coming to the ring, leaving without saying anything, and then getting blown up.

We get a ten bell salute, with the fans not exactly upset that Vince is gone.

Tommy Dreamer vs. Balls Mahoney

Tonight’s matches are dedicated to Vince so naturally this is under Extreme Rules. Commentary talks about how great Vince was for bringing back ECW as Mahoney hammers away, apparently out of dedication to Mr. McMahon. They go outside with Dreamer pulling out the weapons, including a kitchen sink to Mahoney’s head. That doesn’t seem to do much as Mahoney knocks Dreamer down and whips out some weapons of his own.

Dreamer trashcans him down and sets up a chair, which of course he goes into face first. Another trashcan shot to the head puts Mahoney in the Tree of Woe, setting up the running dropkick to drive the can into Mahoney’s face. Dreamer grabs a table, because it wouldn’t be ECW without one. Mahoney gets put through it in a hurry and a DDT onto a chair gives Dreamer the pin.

Rating: D+. I get why they’re doing it, but dedicating a standard ECW brawl to Vince feels rather out of place given what Vince had been doing to the ECW Originals in recent months. At least they kept this relatively short, even though it was a cold match for the sake of filling time on the show.

Boogeyman vs. Matt Striker

Striker runs away to start but gets in a few shots as Boogeyman follows him inside. Some shots to the back make Boogeyman gyrate as Tazz talks about all the entertainment Vince McMahon gave us over the years. Boogeyman hits him a few times and finishes with the chokebomb.

Post match, Striker gets wormed.

We get some post Raw footage of fire trucks arriving and putting out the limo fire.

Joey and Tazz talk about how you could see the smoke from their hotel a mile away. Those little touches do a nice job of helping put together the big picture.

Chris Benoit/CM Punk vs. Elijah Burke/Marcus Cor Von

Punk and Cor Von start things off with Punk taking him down in a headlock. Cor Von reverses into a headlock of his own before running Punk over without much effort. The power gets Punk into the corner so Burke can come in, but Punk slips away and brings in Benoit. The big elbow to the face puts Burke on the floor and it’s time to beg off back inside. Cor Von comes back in and gets punched in the face over and over.

Punk’s springboard clothesline staggers Cor Von and villains are cleared out as we take a break. Back with Burke dropping an elbow on the back of Punk’s head to cut him off. Cor Von and Burke take turns stomping on Punk and a catapult sends Punk into the buckle. For some reason someone says ring the bell so the bell rings, only to have everything break down. Commentary is really confused until the referee says Cor Von was disqualified for attacking Punk until a five count. Even the wrestlers seemed a bit confused on that one.

Rating: C. The match was a fine way to bring in Benoit, but that ending left a few things to be desired. It’s nice to see the referee follow the rules, but dang it was confusing. It made me feel better when almost no one seemed to know what was going on though, as the wrestlers didn’t seem to know what was going on.

Post match Benoit and Punk beat on them a bit more.

We see the explosion one more time to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. This was a weird show, as it was the day after the biggest angle the company has had in a long time. That had to be the focus of the show, but it also made this week’s show feel a lot less important. As a result, it was a mixture of a debut for some new wrestlers and a weird tribute, with the results not exactly working.

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205 Live
Date: November 5, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

This has rapidly become a show that actually offers something and I’m still not sure how to feel about that. It’s very nice to have 205 Live actually matter for a change, as there is only so much you can do with two hours of NXT. Let the wrestlers get in the ring somehow and see what they can do with some extra time. Let’s get to it.

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

I find it interesting that the graphic saying “Orlando, Florida” is on and off in less than two seconds. Where else are we supposed to think this is from?

Roderick Strong vs. Ru Feng

Non-title and the rest of Diamond Mine is here too. Feng shoves him into the corner to start and cranks on the wrist with Strong not being able to do much to escape. Some chops up against the ropes have Feng in trouble though and Strong stomps away near the ropes. Feng fights out of an abdominal stretch and grabs a powerslam for two. That’s enough for Strong, who hits the jumping knee for the pin at 4:55.

Rating: C-. I’m still not sure what Strong is doing at the moment as the Cruiserweight Champion’s biggest feud is against someone who weighs about 400lbs. There’s nothing wrong with keeping Strong out here on some nothing show against a pretty low level opponent, but it would be nice if he had someone more impressive coming after the title. Then again, it’s hard to imagine NXT doing anything that makes these days.

Valentina Feroz vs. Erica Yan

This is Yan’s debut and she gets taken down for an early armbar attempt. That’s broken up in a hurry, as is Yan’s headlock. Feroz pulls her down into a double arm crank and then kicks Yan forward for two. Back up and Yan hits a few running shoulders but gets pulled into something like a Koji Clutch for the tap at 2:59.

Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Ikemen Jiro/Kushida

Jiro and Drake trade arm control to start and it’s Kushida coming in with an ax handle to the shoulder. Jiro hits one of his own and it’s Drake in trouble early. Gibson comes in but can’t get a hiptoss. Instead, Jiro clotheslines him down but Drake comes in off a blind tag for the cheap shot. Gibson is right back in with a chinlock, setting up a top rope ax handle to the back.

The chinlock goes right back on but Jiro manages a suplex to get himself out of trouble. Drake tries to cut off the tag but winds up pulling off Jiro’s jacket instead, allowing the hot tag to Kushida. Everything breaks down and Jiro gets his jacket back, setting up a double basement dropkick. Cue the Diamond Mine though and the distraction lets the Veterans hit Ticket To Mayhem for the pin on Jiro at 10:28.

Rating: C. This was a match with some time and even had some storyline advancement at the end to make things that much better. It’s not the kind of a match that you get from this show and I could go for something like this in the future. Above all else, it’s nice to have something feel like it matters (even slightly) for a change and that’s a good thing.

Overall Rating: C-. Better main event aside, it was another show that is only going to get so far. You can’t expect much out of a show that barely breaks half an hour and spends a bit of time on two matches without a ton of drama. That being said, it felt like one of the bigger editions of 205 Live in a long time, assuming you ignore how ridiculous the name is these days.

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ECW On Sci Fi
Date: June 5, 2007
Location: Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

We’re done with One Night Stand and some ECW things actually took place on the show. First and foremost, Bobby Lashley got the ECW World Title back from Vince McMahon, which should wrap their feud up for good. Other than that, Rob Van Dam seems to be out of action for the time being after Randy Orton beat the living daylights out of him. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Lashley winning the handicap match to get the title back.

Opening sequence.

Here is Vince McMahon, sitting in a rocking chair on a platform, with a rather annoyed glare on his face. Bobby Lashley comes out as Vince keeps rocking back and forth without doing much of anything.

Bobby Lashley vs. Tommy Dreamer/Sandman/Balls Mahoney

Non-title hardcore match. The trio grabs their weapons and start swinging to put Lashley on the floor. Back in and they do it again, followed by a third time for good measure. For some reason Dreamer thinks a suplex is a good idea and gets suplexed down for his efforts. Sandman and Mahoney drape Lashley over the top with Sandman dropping a leg to the back of the neck. Dreamer is back in for the baseball slide to the chair in the Tree of Woe. It’s table time (because of course) but Mahoney chairs Dreamer by mistake. That’s enough for Lashley to put Sandman through the table and spear Mahoney down for the pin.

Rating: C-. You can only get so much out of something like this as Lashley isn’t going to lose to three people so low on the totem pole. I guess this is the best punishment Vince can muster at the moment and while it wasn’t awful, it was spending a few minutes waiting around for Lashley to beat them up. Just find something better for Lashley to do already.

Post match, Lashley poses in front of Vince, who doesn’t move.

Kevin Thorn vs. Stevie Richards

Richards forearms away to start and sends Thorn outside. The dive off the apron is pulled out of the air though, allowing Thorn to drive him into the apron. Back in and the chinlock goes on until Richards fights up, only to be dropped face first onto the turnbuckle instead. Richards strikes away and sends Thorn throat first into the middle rope fir a change. A spinebuster cuts Richards off though and Original Sin is good for pin.

Rating: D. This was another boring one as Thorn isn’t all that interesting once he gets in the ring. The vampire deal is a cool idea but other than the finisher, he’s just another low level power guy. Richards was trying as always, but there wasn’t much anyone could do in these circumstances.

Extreme Expose, who mix it up this week by adding some dancing on the announcers’ table.

We look at Randy Orton injuring Rob Van Dam at One Night Stand, putting Van Dam on the shelf.

Elijah Burke/Marcus Cor Von vs. Major Brothers

Cor Von charges at them to start and the beating is on in a hurry. Brett starts working on the arm though and Brian comes in with a top rope ax handle. That doesn’t work so well so it’s off to Burke, who gets double hiptossed right back down. Cor Von isn’t having this though and comes back in to run both of them over.

A slam in the corner sets up Burke’s seated abdominal stretch, followed by Cor Von’s waistlock. Cor Von knees Brett in the ribs to cut off the comeback and Burke puts on a standing abdominal stretch. For some reason he lets that go though and knees Brett in the back, sending him over to the corner for the tag to Brian. The comeback doesn’t please Cor Von so he tags himself back in to hit the Pounce for the pin.

Rating: C-. You can definitely see something in the Major Brothers, as they feel like a team who know each other well. It also helps that they have gotten some TV time now and have a bit of familiarity with the fans. The New Breed is all but done at this point, but a win over the Majors isn’t going to hurt anyone at the moment.

We recap the opening match, including Vince McMahon almost looking like he was in a trance.

CM Punk vs. Matt Striker

Before the match, Striker promises to teach Punk a lesson to educate these people cheering for him. Punk leg lariats him down to start and a pair of kicks gets two more. Striker comes back with some suplexes and a slam, setting up the half crab. With that broken up, Striker hits a hanging swinging neckbreaker before going right back to the same hold. Punk escapes again and starts striking away, including the running knee in the corner. The bulldog sets up the GTS to give Punk the pin.

Rating: C-. There’s only so much you can get out of Striker, who much like Thorn, is a far better character that he is a wrestler. It also doesn’t help that Punk is one of the biggest stars on this show and isn’t losing to anyone but another big star. Striker put in the effort here, but it was only going to get him so far.

Overall Rating: D+. This was quite the lame duck show as we are less than a week away from the Draft so none of this really mattered all that much. Vince still being broken was the highlight, as he is still one of the best performers in the world. Things need to be shaken up around here so the Draft is coming at the right time, but it didn’t exactly make for a good show this week.

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Here we go again.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/breaking-wwe-releases-18-wrestlers/

Scarlett
Frankie Monet
Ember Moon
Oney Lorcan
B-Fab
Jessi Kamea
Zayda Ramier
Trey Baxter
Katarina Cortez
Jeet Rama
Gran Metalik
Lince Dorado
Karrion Kross
Nia Jax
Keith Lee
Harry Smith
Mia Yim
Eva Marie

To recap: R-Truth, Akira Tozawa and Drew Gulak have jobs because they chase after Reggie every week, but Monet, Kross, Yim and Lee are out of work.  As usual, the reason is budget cuts and as usual, it comes shortly (as in hours) after their latest conference call bragging about how much money they have.  This is the latest example of WWE letting people (not all of them, but some) who could be future stars go at a time when WWE REALLY needs some fresh names.  You have how many people who almost never miss a week of Raw or Smackdown but calling someone up would just be insane?  WWE continues to stand pat with so many of their wrestlers and continues to drop people who could be the future, and I’m sure they’ll get it again soon.

Oh and this happens about a week after Ring of Honor is gone, meaning there is one less secure place to go.  Great.

205 Live
Date: October 29, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for more of the NXT B show and that sounds good enough to me. I’m still wondering if they are going to change the name though, as we are now in a rare case where every single thing about the show’s title is completely inaccurate. It takes something special to pull that off and a new name would make sense. Let’s get to it.

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

Boa vs. Jeet Rama

Mei Ying is here with Boa. Feeling out process to start until Rama takes him down to the mat with a headlock takeover. Back up and some armdrags have Boa in more trouble and even out on the floor for a breather. Boa gets back in and hits a few shots to the face in the corner, setting up the chinlock. A neckbreaker gets two on Rama, followed by a shot to the throat for the same. It’s off to a figure four necklock but Rama fights up and hits some rolling gutwrench suplexes. Boa escapes a powerslam though and grabs a reverse layout DDT for the pin at 5:39.

Rating: C-. Just a match here without much else to be said. Boa continues to be one of the people who is around at least semi regularly but that does not exactly make him interesting. Rama is someone who could go a little somewhere with some more development but this is about his peak at the moment.

Sarray vs. Katarina Cortez

Man Sarray has just not caught on. The fans are behind Sarray to start and they fight over a test of strength to get going. Sarray gets the better of things but gets flipped over, setting up a double bridge up. A double stomp rocks Cortez but she goes for the tape on Sarray’s back to take over.

The camel clutch goes on until Sarray makes the rope, meaning Cortez busts out a rocking horse to stay on Sarray’s back. The double arm crank has Sarray in more trouble but she’s out in a hurry. A hard half crab keeps Cortez down, followed by a fisherman’s suplex for two. Sarray’s middle rope dropkick gets the same and the running dropkick against the ropes (I’m surprised she can still use that) finishes Cortez at 5:59.

Rating: C. Sarray is someone who has most of the tools to be a star but it hasn’t clicked yet. It’s not like the women’s division couldn’t use the help, but for some reason the only noteworthy thing about her is that dropkick. Cortez is good enough in the ring, but she needs a good bit more development.

Sarray checks on Cortez after the match. Maybe not kicking her in the face would be a bit nicer.

Xyon Quinn vs. Ru Feng

They stare each other down to start as Nigel refers to Quinn as a Samoan ghost. Quinn powers out of a top wristlock but gets headlocked down instead. A snap suplex gives Feng one but Quinn is back up with….I think it was a botched leapfrog but he tried to turn it into a leg lariat but had to settle for something like a Sling Blade (we’ll go with bad and leave it at that). Quinn hammers him down and finishes with the running elbow for the pin at 3:55.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t awful, but that botch in the middle is all that is going to stand out in the whole thing. There’s only so much you can do when you have less than four minutes and one of the biggest things was a mistake. I like Quinn a lot and I’m sure he’ll be fine, as it means a bit to be in the featured spot here.

Overall Rating: C-. Much like the old days of 205 Live, it’s hard to really get annoyed at a show that is over in 28 minutes and includes a bunch of advertisements in addition to three matches. This show knows how to get in and out without overstaying its welcome, but it still isn’t great stuff a lot of time time. That being said, these wrestlers need whatever ring time they can so putting them on this far less watched show is a good idea.

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Saturday Night’s Main Event #34
Date: June 2, 2007
Location: Air Canada Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Attendance: 16,176
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler

It’s the night before One Night Stand 2007 and this is a show that WWE is required to do while showing a bare minimum of interest. There has been almost no mention of this show on WWE TV and that is rarely a good sign for what we have coming. The show is only an hour and a half though so maybe we can get a little break this time around. Let’s get to it.

We have a theme this time: Biggest, Smallest, Strongest, Strangest. This is going to be a rough sit.

John Cena vs. Great Khali

Non-title and a preview of tomorrow night’s title match. After a video on Khali being big and scary, we’re ready to go. Cena goes right at him to start but the FU attempt is blocked with a forearm to the back. Khali punches him into the corner without much effort and we hit the choking. An attempt at a takedown for the STFU is shrugged off and Khali runs him over with a clothesline. The fans tell Khali that he sucks as he pounds Cena down again and again. Another FU attempt manages to get Khali off of his feet but he elbows his way to freedom. The chokeslam finishes Cena, with Khali putting his foot on the chest for the pin.

Rating: D+. I’ve never cared for this one as we are a day away from One Night Stand and I don’t really care to see the match again. It wasn’t that good here and the original match was only so much better. I get the idea that it’s now a trilogy and Cena needs to overcome incredible odds, but it isn’t working for me here.

Post match Khali rants, which is translated to Khali saying he can beat Cena anywhere.

Here is Vince McMahon for some arm wrestling with Bobby Lashley, so we see a long history package recapping their feud. Lashley comes out and since this is WWE arm wrestling, we spend a good time on Vince getting ready to go. Actually hold on, because here is Mark Henry to take Vince’s place. Lawler: “Mr. McMahon always has something up his sleeves, even when he’s not wearing sleeves!” Henry takes over to start but Lashley makes the comeback, causing Henry to jump him to start the brawl. Lashley hits a spear to drop Henry but Vince smashes Lashley with a chair to leave him laying.

Maria asks Edge if he is the smallest or the strangest. Edge says none, and explains how he won the World Heavyweight Title. That’s why he isn’t the biggest, strongest, smallest or strangest, because he is the greatest. Good line.

Batista/Chris Benoit vs. MVP/Edge

Batista has a taped up leg coming in. Joined in progress with MVP hammering on Benoit in the corner and then dragging him over to Edge (who gets the hometown pop). Benoit is fine enough to snap off a suplex for two on Edge and then runs him over for a bonus. Batista comes in so Edge bails immediately, leaving Batista to beat up MVP instead. A boot to the face gives Batista two and it’s back to Benoit for the chops.

The rolling German suplexes plant MVP but Edge offers a distraction, meaning the Swan Dive misses. The villains take over on Benoit as Lawler accuses him of taking the coward’s way out. Some shots to the ribs set up a waistlock to keep Benoit in trouble, allowing commentary to list off Edge’s resume. MVP comes in to drop an elbow to the ribs but Benoit kicks him away. There’s the hot tag to Batista to pick up the pace as Edge walks out. The spinebuster into a Swan Dive finishes MVP.

Rating: C. This was pretty much any main event level tag match and it makes sense that Edge would walk out of a match that doesn’t mean anything to him. At the same time, it makes Edge appear to be afraid of Batista to make their cage match a little more interesting. I would think MVP vs. Benoit would be over, but why let it go so soon?

Finlay/Hornswoggle vs. Boogeyman/Little Boogeyman

The big guys start with Boogeyman shoving Finlay down despite having a mouth full of worms. A running shoulder in the corner sets up an atomic drop to keep Finlay in trouble so it’s off to Little Boogeyman for a running seated senton. Little Boogeyman punches away at Finlay, setting up a short (you know the jokes) DDT. Hornswoggle comes in for the brawl but Finlay dropkicks Little Boogeyman in the face. That means a jig from Finlay and Hornswoggle but Boogeyman chases Hornswoggle to the back. Finlay uses the distraction to kick Little Boogeyman in the head for the pin.

Rating: D. We’ll file this under “well what else were you expecting”. The wrestling wasn’t anything to see here but that also wasn’t exactly the point. This was about getting the wacky characters in the ring to continue their feud which likely doesn’t have much of a major endgame in mind. At least they kept (about half of it) short.

Extreme Expose, but we cut to the back where Little Boogeyman is chasing Hornswoggle. That leads into the regular Boogeyman but Finlay makes the save with the Shillelagh. We cut back to the dancing…and here is Hornswoggle, still running from Little Boogeyman. Naturally, this turns into a chicken fight between Brooke and Layla until everyone falls down. Little Boogeyman chases Hornswoggle away as WWE is somehow managing to make EXTREME EXPOSE too complicated.

Kane/Eugene/Doink the Clown vs. Kevin Thorn/Umaga/Viscera

This was originally Kane/Goldust/Shannon Moore/Kamala vs. Umaga/Viscera/Doink/Thorn but Goldust backed out and we get this instead. That’s not fair to Kamala, but nothing ever was. As a bonus, Eugene is now a superhero. Doink and Thorn start things off and the YAY/BOO chants begin. They circle each other for a good bit until Doink grabs a boot to the ribs. That finally earns him a push into the corner and the beating is on. Back up and it’s off to Eugene….who gets to face Umaga.

Eugene gets hammered down and Viscera comes in to send Eugene outside. Gyrations send us to a break and we come back with Umaga coming back in to stomp away. The nerve hold goes on to keep Eugene in trouble and Thorn’s chinlock does the same. Eugene finally manages to escape and brings in Kane to clean house. Everything breaks down and Kane hits the top rope clothesline on Thorn but Umaga makes the save. Viscera misses a charge at Kane in the corner and gets chokeslammed for the pin.

Rating: D. That’s about all you could have hoped for it to be. This was as exciting as a match where they sat around for nine minutes waiting on the hot tag to Kane was going to be. The original lineup wouldn’t have made this any better as it was going to be Kane and a bunch of goofs vs. Umaga and his slightly more effective goofs, so how good could this have been?

A two minute highlight package wraps us up.

Overall Rating: D-. Oh yeah this was terrible, as they managed to have one ok match, a bunch of bad ones, and then somehow found a way to turn Extreme Expose into a joke. I’m sure this was a required show from NBC but it would have been nice to see the slightest bit of effort. The EST theme was something, but egads they managed to waste an hour and a half of everyone’s time with this mess.

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ECW On Sci Fi
Date: May 29, 2007
Location: John Labatt Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

It’s the go home show for One Night Stand and this time around, the pay per view features a big ECW match as Bobby Lashley is challenging ECW World Champion Vince McMahon in a street fight. Other than that, Randy Orton has damaged Rob Van Dam so it might be time for some extreme gloating. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Here is Randy Orton to say he knows he isn’t making a lot of friends around here. We see a clip of Orton taking out Rob Van Dam and giving him a concussion (with a heck of a sell job from Van Dam). Back in the arena, Orton says he doesn’t feel a bit wrong about any of that because it was in a sanctioned match.

Just like Shawn Michaels, Van Dam is coming back too soon and it’s going to be a stretcher match. Orton finds that as very appropriate but here is Tommy Dreamer to interrupt. Dreamer isn’t going to let Orton come out here and gloat because this is Dreamer’s house and Orton isn’t welcome. The challenge is on for tonight with Orton saying it’s on and promising to kill the legend of ECW tonight.

CM Punk vs. Elijah Burke

No DQ. Punk grabs a headlock to start and they go to the mat with Burke’s arm in trouble. The fans want tables but have to settle for Burke striking away in the corner. Back up and Punk kicks him in the face, followed by more kicks for two. A clothesline puts Burke on the floor and we take a break. Back with Burke working on a waistlock and then choking underneath the ropes.

Burke hits a slingshot elbow to the ribs in the corner, setting up a flapjack to stay on the bad ribs. A table is set up in the corner but Punk uses the delay to score with an enziguri for two. Punk hits the running knee in the corner but the bulldog is broken up. Back up and Punk kicks him in the head and the GTS is loaded up, only to have Marcus Cor Von come in for the save. The Pounce puts Punk through the table and Burke gets the pin.

Rating: C+. I know it’s a basic move, but my goodness there is something cool about watching Cor Von hit that Pounce. This was a lot of logical rib work until the ending, which played into the (or what is left of the) New Breed’s numbers game. Punk is protected and the New Breed looks like more of a threat for the pay per view tables match.

Vince McMahon joins us to mock Joey Styles’ and Tazz’s names, thinking they sound like a 12 year old boy and a gargoyle respectively. That’s not as bad as the name Loser though, which is enough for Vince to bring in Bobby Lashley. Vince thinks Lashley is awfully calm before Sunday, but Lashley says it’s because he has an easy match coming up. Lashley stays calm no matter how insulting Vince gets and eventually says Vince has never had to work for anything in his life.

THAT sets Vince off so he threatens Lashley some more, with Lashley not really worrying about anything. Granted Vince getting the show’s name wrong (“Last Night Stand”) probably doesn’t help. Lashley finally starts promising to win and calls Vince old as this is REALLY not Lashley’s strong suit. It’s an all time kind of not being intimidating and this kind of killed the interest I had in the match.

We look at Randy Orton injuring Rob Van Dam again.

Extreme Expose.

Kevin Thorn vs. Balls Mahoney

Thorn hammers away to start and fishhooks Mahoney to make it worst. A whip sends Mahoney shoulder first into the post, setting up Original Sin for the easy pin.

Matt Striker comes up to the Major Brothers in the back and, after suggesting that Rob Van Dam is….a tuskless elephant, brings up the Draft. It can change careers, but the Brothers talk about beating Striker in their first match. That’s enough for Striker, who issues the challenge for next week.

Randy Orton vs. Tommy Dreamer

Believe it or not, Dreamer is fighting for someone he cares about. Feeling out process to start, with Orton taking him down into a headlock. A dropkick puts Dreamer on the floor so Orton goes up top, only to get superplexed back down. Dreamer slugs away and gets two off a jackknife cover. There’s a sitout spinebuster for two on Orton, who is tied in the Tree of Woe for the running basement dropkick. Not that it matters as the RKO (Joey: “Out of nowhere! Out of nowhere!”) finishes Dreamer in a hurry.

Rating: C-. This was more angle advancement than a match, as Dreamer was there to get beaten up as they continue his path of destruction. That is not a bad thing as Dreamer can take some great beatings, but there is only so much you are going to get out of something like this. Granted they did it the right way by having the match stay short, so it could have been a lot worse.

Post match Orton hits another RKO, followed by the Punt. Cue Rob Van Dam in street clothes but Orton knocks him down again, giving us more concussed Van Dam to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. It’s kind of weird to see ECW playing such a prominent role in a pay per view, even if it is the ECW pay per view (or at least it used to be). This built up three matches on the way to the pay per view and did a nice enough job, though the stories are kind of played out at this point. Passable show though and that’s what it needed to be for Sunday.

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205 Live
Date: October 22, 2021
Location: Capitol One Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s weird to be looking forward to this show but they have managed to make it happen. I have no idea what to expect from the show but the mere hint of effort and a purpose has turned this show into something with a bit of value for a change. What’s next? An actual big name showing up around here? Let’s get to it.

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

Amari Miller/Valentina Feroz vs. Katarina Cortez/Yulisa Leon

Leon is new. Feroz and Cortez go to the mat to start with Feroz’s takedown not having any effect. It’s off to Leon for a very spinning wristdrag and Cortez’s missile dropkick gets two. Feroz has to fight out of a chinlock and Miller comes in for the first time, only to get clotheslined down. Everything breaks down and Miller cravates Leon onto her knee for the pin at 3:48.

Rating: C-. Not much to see with this one but Miller getting a win is not exactly surprising. It is clear that they want to do something with her and she has to start somewhere. Feroz and Leon weren’t bad but this was about Cortez and Miller getting over, which worked well enough for this stage.

We see the Duke Hudson poker room from last week’s NXT.

Duke Hudson vs. Malik Blade

Hudson runs Blade over to start and then tosses him outside with straight power. Back in and Blade cranks on a headlock but Hudson counters a dive into an overhead belly to belly. Some slams put Blade down again and Hudson is looking rather cocky. Blade hits a dropkick into a running corner clothesline but Hudson sends him flying again. The more serious Hudson puts him down and finishes by….grabbing Blade by the back of the head and shoving him face first onto the mat at 5:31. Not driving him down mind you, but just shoving him.

Rating: C. The match was pretty good, including Blade being treated more seriously this time, but Hudson is going to need a MUCH better finisher. That felt like the kind of thing you do to embarrass your opponent and get a one count but it finished here. Hudson is already a bit hard to take seriously and that didn’t help things.

Post match, Hudson tosses him a poker chip.

Halloween Havoc rundown.

Jeet Rama vs. Xyon Quinn

Feeling out process to start with Quinn grabbing a headlock until Rama sends him into the corner. A front facelock suplex gives Rama two and the armbar goes on. Back up and a hard whip sends Rama into the corner to give Quinn a breather. The armbar goes right back on, though this time Quinn muscles him up for a World’s Strongest Slam. Quinn is back up to toss Rama around, setting up a running shoulder in the corner. The running forearm finishes Rama at 4:15.

Rating: C. Quinn has been treated as something of a big deal in recent weeks but this time it was more about Rama. I could see that going somewhere as Rama looks good enough in the ring to become a bit of a player. I’m not at all surprised that Quinn won though, as he could turn into one of the upcoming stars of NXT without much trouble.

Respect is shown post match.

Overall Rating: C. This was a bit of a downgrade, but it’s nice to see this as the pretty firm new format of the show. Above all else, it gives you something to look forward to and that is a nice change of pace after so many years of nothing from 205 Live. If this can become something like NXT’s Dark, WWE might be on to something for a change.

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ECW On Sci Fi
Date: May 22, 2007
Location: Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa
Commentators: Tazz, Joey Styles

Things are staying interesting around here as we have the continuing issues between Bobby Lashley and ECW World Champion Vince McMahon. Their next showdown is set for One Night Stand, but we have a little time to cover before we get there. In addition, CM Punk is rising up through the ranks and seems ready to break through to the other side. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Snitsky vs. Tommy Dreamer

Snitsky powers him around to start and hits an elbow to the jaw in the corner. A hard toss sends Dreamer outside and he seems to have banged up his shoulder. Back in and the shoulder is sent into the post (THUD) and we hit a front facelock of all things. Snitsky misses a legdrop though and Dreamer grabs a DDT for two of his own. Dreamer goes up top but dives into a clothesline. The big boot finishes Dreamer in a hurry.

Rating: C-. This is all it needed to be as there was no reason to believe Snitsky was going to be in trouble against Dreamer. Snitsky is the local monster and having him beat down Dreamer is a good way to keep him moving up. At the same time though, there is only so much that you’re going to get out of a match like this. The result was fine, but it was a little dull to get there.

Post match Snitsky grabs a chair but Rob Van Dam makes the save with a Van Daminator.

We recap Bobby Lashley beating Vince McMahon and company at Judgment Day but not winning the title due to not pinning Vince.

Here is Extreme Expose to introduce the new music video for Timbaland’s Throw It On Me.

Kevin Thorn vs. Wyatt Laura

Ariel is gone with no explanation (commentary isn’t likely to mention someone being released) but Thorn unloads on Laura anyway. A running kick to the head sets up the Original Sin for the fast pin.

Elijah Burke is excited to team with Marcus Cor Von tonight because Cor Von can get it done. That’s different from Matt Striker, who better beat one of the Major Brothers tonight, or things will go bad. Cor Von also suggests Striker win.

Matt Striker vs. Brett Major

Brian (Curt Hawkins) Major is at ringside. Brett works on the arm to start but Striker quickly takes him down into a cravate. A sunset flip gives Brett two so Striker blasts him with a clothesline and the cravate goes on again. Brett comes back with a small package and Thesz press for two each, only to have Striker hit the Golden Rule. A rolling neckbreaker finishes Brett off.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t quite a squash but it also wasn’t the most interesting match. Striker is a good talker and has a punchable face, but that doesn’t mean I want to see him have matches. The Major Brothers have been a nice addition to the show and certainly seem a bit better than your usual run of jobbers.

We look at Bobby Lashley successfully running the gauntlet to earn an ECW World Title shot at One Night Stand.

Rob Van Dam/CM Punk vs. Marcus Cor Von/Elijah Burke

Punk has banged up ribs coming in, and the fans are very behind Van Dam. Cor Von shoulders Van Dam down with straight power to start and then does it again for a bonus. Back up and Van Dam hits a running clothesline so it’s off to Burke to hammer away. A rollup gets Van Dam out of trouble and it’s off to Punk for the springboard clothesline. We take a break and come back with Cor Von working on Van Dam’s knee.

Burke pulls on a leglock and drives a knee into Van Dam’s knee for two. Cor Von actually takes him down with a drop toehold and Burke rubs Van Dam face first into the mat. A kneebar keeps Van Dam in trouble until Cor Von hands it back to Burke, who gets enziguried. The hot tag brings in Punk, who cleans house on Burke. Cor Von comes in sans tag though and it’s the Pounce to Punk, which is enough for a DQ.

Rating: C. Kind of a dull tag match with a long stretch of the New Breed working on Van Dam’s knee. The ending was a good way to make Cor Von look like a monster but that wasn’t the most thrilling way to wrap things up. This felt like a way to stretch things out without actually doing anything, which is fine enough for a one off, but they’ll need to find a way to finish off New Breed sooner than later.

Post match Cor Von Pounces Van Dam as well, allowing the New Breed to stand tall to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This wasn’t exactly the most thrilling show as you can tell nothing really matters until we get done with Lashley vs. Vince at One Night Stand. It was far from the worst show, but it was certainly dull, which is often worse. Just get us to the stuff that matters and then we can see where this show can really go in the future.

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205 Live
Date: October 15, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

I’ve started liking this show a good bit more as it feels like NXT without the color scheme making my head hurt. NXT has needed a show like this for a good while now and it could do a good job in building up some people who do not get the chance otherwise. Hopefully they can do that again this week so let’s get to it.

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

Jeet Rama vs. Boa

Mei Ying is here with Boa. Rama works on the wrist to start but Boa is back with some kicks to the leg. That doesn’t work either so Rama takes him down for the quickly broken armbar. Back up and Boa works on Rama’s arm for a change, including bending it around the top rope. Some kicks drop Rama and there’s a knee to the arm. The armbar sets up a cobra clutch but Rama throws some suplexes. Boa goes right back to the arm though and kicks Rama in the head for the pin at 4:30.

Rating: D+. I sighed a bit when I saw Boa was in the match and then it got worse when he was actually in the ring. Boa has not been interesting since he debuted and it isn’t getting better. What he does in the ring is decent enough, but he is just so dull an uninteresting that it isn’t worth the time more often than not.

Josh Briggs/Brooks Jensen vs. Keagan Scott/Taylor Garland

Jensen punches Scott in the face to start and snaps off a powerslam. Briggs comes in to talk some trash and release side slams Garland, setting up a splash. An assisted sitout powerbomb finishes Garland at 1:50. I’m not sure about these guys seemingly wrestling as faces, but that was an effective squash.

Roderick Strong vs. Odyssey Jones

Non-title, as the Cruiserweight Champion is on the show for the first time in months against a guy who weighs over 400lbs. The rest of the Diamond Mine is here too. Strong makes the mistake of going for an armdrag and is shoved away with ease. That means we need a bit of a breather, before Jones swats a flying shoulder out of the air. Jones pulls him back over the ropes and the confidence is rather high. Back up and Jones sends him head first into the corner over and over but Hachiman offers a distraction, allowing Strong to twist the knee around the rope.

A seated abdominal stretch goes on to put Jones in trouble and a kick to the face drops him again. The crossarm choke has Jones panicking but he powers to his feet, despite Strong telling him to stay down. Jones runs him over and hits a rolling senton and Strong’s jumping knee is blocked. Strong slips out though and the jumping knee finally knocks Jones out for the pin at 8:58.

Rating: C. Not a great match or anything, but it was cool seeing some of the bigger names on here where there might have been a tiny bit of doubt about who was winning. You almost never have that on this show these days and it helps a lot to change things up a bit. Strong winning is the right move, but it was nice to have someone who could give him a run for his money for a change.

Overall Rating: C. This show is starting to round into form and I’m rather pleased by some of the things that I’m seeing. There is certainly more of a structure around here and it is showing you just how worthless 205 Live was for so long. That’s very nice to see and I’m glad that it is finally worth something. Now just find a name that actually makes sense and we could be on to something here.

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