For the first time in far too long, I got to take in a live wrestling show on Sunday night. This was one of the WWE SuperShows, featuring both Monday Night Raw and Smackdown wrestlers. It was also part of the Summer of Cena, with Cena in a six man main event. The announcement that Cena would be on the show made the ticket sales jump, including two extra sections being opened up the day of the show. Yeah there’s something to the guy. Let’s get to it.

This was one of the largest crowds I can remember for a Louisville show, with about 6,000 tickets sold. The show started just after 7pm so they were on time.

We got a quick video of Bianca Belair arriving and being glad to have fans back. Carmella interrupted and they bickered a bit.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bianca Belair vs. Carmella

Belair got a heck of a reaction and you can tell how over she is with the younger fans. They have something with her and I think they know that. This was a basic match with Belair doing the athletic stuff with the power and flips while Carmella was mostly left with the cheating. There was a notable moment where Carmella went down in the corner as Belair was trying to jump over her. I had seen on Twitter that Carmella might have had some issues staying in her top (which I didn’t notice live), but she might have gone down to cover things up. Belair retained at 11:45 with a small package to a very strong pop. C.

Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre

This was a non-title open challenge, but the match was listed on the preview. McIntyre got a big reaction too, but not much bigger than Belair’s. Jinder Mahal jumped McIntyre before the bell so he was fighting from behind. They beat each other up for a bit with their hard hitting stuff until McIntyre won with the Claymore at 7:15. This was really short and I was expecting a lot more. C-.

Jinder jumped Drew post match and got Claymored.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Natalya/Tamina vs. Nia Jax/Shayna Baszler

Natalya and Tamina were the faces here and it worked as well as it could have, meaning not very well in the slightest. These four just do not work that well together and you could tell watching here. The crowd did get a bit into things so it wasn’t a disaster. Tamina superkicked Baszler to retain at 8:52 after they were trying hard. C.

Of note, there was a kid behind me who was somewhere between 3-5 years old. He was there with his granddad, who didn’t seem to be overly familiar with modern wrestling. The granddad was talking to him throughout the match though, including asking if he thought Natalya would get out of trouble. The kid wasn’t quite sure which one Natalya was, but figured out that she was in red. This led to the most bizarre exchange I have heard in a long time.

Granddad: “Yeah Natalya is in the red. That’s Natalya Neidhart.”

3-5 Year Old Kid: “Like Jim The Anvil Neidhart?”

I had so many questions but this kid is being raised right.

Raw World Title: Bobby Lashley vs. Kofi Kingston

This was supposed to be a handicap match but Xavier Woods was attacked in the back. He sent an angry Kingston on anyway and the singles match was on. This was pretty by the book with Kingston doing what he could but getting caught with the power. Kofi started making the comeback but got crotched on top, setting up the Hurt Lock at 9:56. Exactly what you would expect from these two in a ten minute house show match. C.

The Usos cut a quick promo on knowing they would win.

Intermission, with a few Guns N Roses songs. The Reigns promo from Friday aired with the missionary position line edited out.

Riddle vs. AJ Styles

Omos was here with Styles and it’s like watching Great Khali walk to the ring. There was no reference to Randy Orton, who was advertised for the show on Sunday afternoon before I made the drive. The crowd was behind AJ at first but he had them booing by the end. Riddle spanked AJ a few times to start so make your own GAY COMMUNITY jokes. Omos interfered but Charles Robinson heard him send Riddle into the steps. That was enough for the ejection, despite AJ dropping to his knees and begging. Riddle blocked the Phenomenal Forearm with a jumping knee and hit an RKO for the pin at 14:19. B-.

Raw Women’s Title: Charlotte vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Nikki Ash

This was interesting because of the entrances. The fans were mostly quiet for Ash (more on that in a minute) and not bad for Ripley, but they seemed to be in awe of Charlotte. That is how they should be too, as she carries herself exactly like her dad did. Charlotte comes off like the biggest star in the world and that is why she gets pushed like she does. The title reigns are still ridiculous, but when you see her in this mode, you get everything WWE sees in her.

The match itself wasn’t great, as Ripley is now a full on face (even high fiving fans and smiling a lot), with Charlotte as the big bad. That leaves Nikki, who had to keep stealing shots when she could. She was on the floor a lot while Charlotte and Ripley beat each other up and then stole a double pin as the other two were fighting over a rollup to retain at 10:20.

Two things about this match. First, Nikki’s gear was rather different, as the tights were the same color as the top, basically eliminating the thong look. I’m assuming this is to keep it more PG and it’s a better look overall. If nothing else, it’s a lot less distracting.

Second, there were two guys behind me who kept yelling/talking about how the crowd sucked for not cheering in the right way for the best match of the night, including not reacting to Nikki. As obnoxious as it is to actually shout at the fans that they aren’t cheering right, the silence for Nikki makes perfect sense. Prior to Money in the Bank and the superhero deal, Nikki was just there. She hadn’t won anything of note and she had barely been around in months.

Well then she changes her gimmick, still doesn’t win any major matches, and then she wins Money in the Bank. She cashes in the next night and….yeah it’s still just Nikki Cross but now as a superhero. It’s like she won the title with a cheat code, so why should she be cheered as some conqueror? The superhero deal works and will be a smash with kids, but it isn’t going to get over until she looks like she can beat some people instead of winning a ladder match and stealing the title. They haven’t put the effort in with her yet and the crowd reaction showed it.

Roman Reigns/Usos vs. Dominik Mysterio/Rey Mysterio/John Cena

Reigns got a big reaction. The Mysterios got a big reaction. John Cena got a gigantic reaction that felt like he was coming out for a pay per view main event. You can feel that he is on another level and WWE knows that too. This was a well put together match as Cena kept wanting Reigns, even coming in to try and get after him multiple times but kept getting held back.

Rey took a long beating and Cena FINALLY got the hot tag at about 15:00 in to blow the roof off the place. Cena had Jimmy in the AA but Reigns cut him off with a Superman Punch. The spear hit the corner though and Cena gave Reigns an AA, which he more or less no sold but left anyway, leaving Jey to take the AA for the pin at 17:03. Easily the best part of the show, just for Cena’s insane star power and the match getting time while being well put together.

Cena threw gear out to end the show.

Overall, C+, as it was basically an All-Star show for a good $33 seat. They have momentum right now, but that isn’t going to last forever. As for house shows, just keep them like this for now. You had a good crowd, top stars and strong reactions. Work with that for as long as you can and stop with the double house shows for the time being.

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ECW on Sci Fi
Date: February 20, 2007
Location: ipayOne Center, San Diego, California
Attendance: 7,50
Commentators: Joey Styles, John Bradshaw Layfield

We’re done with No Way Out and ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley is still ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley despite getting disqualified against Mr. Kennedy. That means we are likely in for a rematch and that could be enough to keep Lashley busy until we get close to Wrestlemania. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.In Memory of Mike Awesome.

Mr. Kennedy is getting a rematch with Bobby Lashley tonight, with Hardcore Holly thrown in.

Opening sequence.

Here is the New Breed for a chat. They brag about their success last week, which is proof that any one of them can beat any one of the ECW Originals. Matt Striker picks Kevin Thorn for the team so here are the Originals with their pick.

Rob Van Dam vs. Kevin Thorn

Everyone else is at ringside. Thorn kicks him in the ribs to break up the early thumb pointing but gets kicked outside for his efforts. The thumb pointing is broken up again and Thorn pounds away in the corner until Rob knocks him outside. That means a big dive over the top, meaning the big brawl on the floor is on.

Everything is finally broken up and we take a fast break. Back with everyone else gone and Rob hitting a spinwheel kick for a breather. Rob kicks him down again and Rolling Thunder is good for a delayed two. There’s the top rope kick to the face for two and a low high crossbody gets two more. The stepover kick to the face into the Five Star finishes Thorn.

Rating: C-. This felt like little more than a way to get the Originals a win and it isn’t like Van Dam beating Thorn is some big upset. The big brawl at ringside is what mattered here and you know that things are going to keep going for a long time to come. What matters here though is making things feel more even and Van Dam winning clean does that well. Not a particularly good match, but it did what needed to be done.

Video on Snitsky.

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: CM Punk vs. Johnny Nitro

Melina is here with Nitro. Punk headlock takeovers him to start and grabs a hammerlock. That doesn’t last long as Nitro is back up with a headlock of his own. That earns him a leg lariat but Nitro knocks him down again and hammers at Punk’s face. The breakdancing legdrop gets two and Nitro grabs the cravate. Punk fights up again and hits a kick to the head, setting up some knees to the face. Melina breaks up the springboard clothesline though, allowing Nitro to hit a spinning kick to the chest for two of his own. The corkscrew moonsault misses Punk though and the GTS sends Punk to Wrestlemania.

Rating: C. Simple but efficient match here with a bit of a surprise winner. Punk is a big deal in ECW but Nitro has been a pretty established name on both Raw and Smackdown. This was a good win for Punk and while he isn’t going to win Money in the Bank, it means something for him just to be put in the spot in the first place.

Mr. Kennedy doesn’t know why tonight’s title match is a triple threat. Hardcore Holly comes in to say life isn’t fair. ECW is Holly’s world and Kennedy isn’t winning the title.

La Resistance vs. Los Luchas

A spinebuster into Au Revoir gives La Resistance the win in about thirty seconds.

Post match here is Snitsky to lay out La Resistance to give this a point.

We get another video on Bobby Lashley, this time talking about growing up in a military family. Then his parents got divorced and it was time to move into sports to give him a focus. He won a National Championship but there was no one there to celebrate with him. That’s pretty rough.

Extreme Expose.

Mr. Perfect Hall of Fame video.

ECW World Title: Hardcore Holly vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. Bobby Lashley

Lashley is defending. Holly gets knocked down to start so Kennedy takes Lashley into the corner. Lashley fights back on both of them without much trouble, including some shoulders to Kennedy in the corner. Kennedy sends Lashley into the corner and suplexes Holly for two. We settle down a bit and it’s Kennedy hitting a running knee to Lashley in the corner, only to get full nelson slammed by Holly. Lashley is back up to send Kennedy to the floor and backdrop Holly down again.

That earns Kennedy a hard whip into the steps but Holly is back up with a baseball slide to Lashley. Back in and Holly grabs a chinlock on Lashley, who powers up to get Holly on his back without much trouble. With Holly still holding on, Lashley punches Kennedy in the face a few times. Holly jumps Lashley again and grabs a chair, setting up the Alabama Slam… not onto the chair for some reason. Kennedy breaks up the cover and chairs Holly by mistake, allowing Lashley to hit the running powerslam to retain.

Rating: C. This was a good illustration of how Lashley needs new opponents. He was in a glorified handicap match here and still ran through both guys in less than seven minutes. There is no one on ECW to challenge Lashley at the moment and that means he is going to need someone big to come in sooner rather than later. For now though, this worked as another fine demonstration of the dominance.

Overall Rating: C-. It wasn’t a great show, but it was a show that felt a lot more structured. It felt like ECW is finally starting to get things going and find their way, which is long overdue. Now they need some fresh talent to go with that structure, though I’m not sure how much of a priority the show is going to be until a good while after ECW.

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Main Event
Date: July 15, 2021
Location: Yuengling Center, Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Kevin Patrick, Byron Saxton

So THIS is the final Thunderdome show because we really can’t escape that place. As much fun as it would be to see a big Thunderdome farewell, it is much more likely to be the run of the mill Main Event, as the show can’t go that long without disappointing me all over again. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Angel Garza vs. Jaxson Ryker

Ryker powers him into the corner to start so Garza grabs a somewhat desperate headlock. That’s broken up and Ryker slaps him in the chest, setting up a slam for two. There’s a release gordbuster to drop Garza again but Garza runs OUT OF HIS PANTS. A running dropkick puts Ryker down and Garza actually wins a strike off. Garza hits a basement dropkick for two and it’s off to an armbar. Some elbows to the head keep Ryker in trouble and a bulldog sets up a double arm crank. Back up and Ryker hits a running shoulder in the corner, followed by a belly to back suplex. The swinging Boss Man Slam finishes Garza at 5:03.

Rating: D+. Quick match here with Garza not being able to survive the INTENSITY that is Ryker. I’m still not sure what WWE sees in him but I’m sure there is some kind of audience that likes this guy. You’re only going to get so far under these circumstances and I think they hit that limit pretty firmly.

Don’t try this at home.

From Raw.

Rhea Ripley vs. Natalya

Non-title and Tamina is here too. They go with the grappling to start and Natalya grabs some rollups for two each. Rhea takes her outside and hits a quick dropkick to Tamina as we take an early break. Back with Natalya being knocked off the top, allowing Rhea to hit a good looking missile dropkick.

A bridging northern lights suplex gets two but Rhea gets sent into the corner with her head hitting the post. Natalya powerbombs her out of the corner for two but the Sharpshooter is blocked. Natalya tries it again and is reversed into the Prism Trap. With that broken up, Natalya finally gets the Sharpshooter, only to be rolled into the corner for the break. Riptide gives Ripley the pin at 9:28.

Rating: C. This is where Natalya keeps her job: she can have a fine match with just about anyone on the roster and is completely dependable. As long as you keep her away from any microphone, character stuff or storyline, she is a rather valuable member of the roster. Good stuff here, as Ripley broke a sweat but won in the end.

Post match, Charlotte comes in to chop block Rhea and the Figure Four over the apron makes Ripley scream.

Long video on Edge vs. Roman Reigns/the Usos.

From Smackdown.

Here are Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns for a chat. After a long canned ROMAN SUCKS chant, Reigns talks about how he does not like Edge suggesting that he is in Reigns’ head. Reigns might have been a bit scared at Wrestlemania when he was in the crossface but then he stacked them and pinned them. They even printed a shirt up about it! Two weeks ago, Edge got to Reigns because he wasn’t focused. Reigns has some family stuff going on so let’s deal with that right now.

Cue Jimmy Uso, to say he tried to take care of Edge last week when Reigns was on vacation. Reigns asks when Jimmy got to make some decisions for them, but last week wasn’t a vacation. This brings out Jey Uso, to say Reigns needs to keep his head up while the brothers win the Tag Team Titles again. Reigns says Jey hears what he wants to hear it but Reigns wants all three of them to succeed. They need to do it together though and everyone hugs.

Toni Storm is on her way to Smackdown. Must be taking the scenic route.

From Smackdown.

Here is Edge to promise to destroy anyone who gets in his way. We see Edge crossfacing Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso, and now he wants Reigns out here right now. In the locker room, Reigns says he has this covered and wants the Usos to stay here (hopefully leaving the keys with Paul Heyman). Reigns comes to the ring but the Usos follow him out. That isn’t happening though as Reigns says he has this before slowly getting in the ring.

The fight is on but here are the returning Mysterios to jump the Usos. Edge loads up the spear but Jey grabs his leg. Rey breaks that up and the Mysterios hit a double 619 to the Usos. The spear drops Jey as Roman leaves like he should be doing. Edge breaks off a piece of chair to crossface Jey and then does the same to Jimmy, holding his arm in place for at least the second time this week. Jey gets it again as Reigns walks off to end the show. This Edge feud continues to not be good, but that is kind of the case with everything Edge does outside of the ring these days.

Mansoor vs. Shelton Benjamin

Shelton takes him down without much effort and a clothesline makes Mansoor think for a second. Mansoor gets sent to the floor but lands on his feet as Mustafa Ali comes out to watch. A dropkick staggers Benjamin for a change but a look at Ali lets Benjamin knock Mansoor outside.

We take a break and come back with Benjamin grabbing a chinlock as Ali has made it down to ringside. Make that a reverse chinlock before Shelton throws him outside. Ali tells Mansoor to use his mind instead of his heart before a Russian legsweep gives Shelton two. We go back to the chinlock but Mansoor fights up with chops and a jawbreaker. There’s an enziguri into a DDT for two as Benjamin is in trouble for a change. Benjamin’s rollup with feet on the ropes gets two so he yells at Ali. That’s enough of a distraction for Mansoor to grab his own rollup for the pin at 8:59.

Rating: C-. Just when I’m expecting nothing from Main Event, they throw me a curve ball with some storyline advancement. That’s more than I would have expected from this show and that is a nice thing to be able to say. Granted I could go for Mansoor doing something other than winning with a bunch of rollups, but this is probably about as it is getting for him at the moment.

We look at New Day beating Bobby Lashley and MVP.

From Raw.

Xavier Woods vs. Bobby Lashley

Non-title with Kofi Kingston/MVP at ringside. I’m really not sure what it means to have a Cell match two weeks ago, then a tag match, and now a regular match. It’s almost like they might want to come up with some fresh ideas to set up these programs. Lashley throws him into the corner to start but Woods takes the leg out. A step up backsplash gets two but seems to just annoy Lashley. They head outside with Lashley sending him hard into the steps as we take a break.

Back with Woods still in trouble but managing a superkick. A tornado DDT sends Lashley outside and there’s the big flip dive to take him out again. Back in and a missile dropkick puts Lashley down, followed by the Crossface to make it worse. That’s broken up so Lashley hits the huge spinebuster into the spinning Big Ending for no cover. Instead Lashley takes him outside for a hard ram into the post and the spear connects back inside. Lashley still doesn’t cover though….and gets small packaged for the pin at 10:19.

Rating: C. They did a nice job with the surprise as they kept teasing the idea of Lashley costing himself but I didn’t think they would actually have Woods pin him. It’s certainly an upset and while I’m not wild on a champion losing, I can live with the idea of one of the most decorated tag team wrestlers ever scoring a fluke pin when Lashley got too cocky. Just have Lashley smash Kingston and things should be fine.

From Raw.

It’s time for the VIP Lounge with a bouncing MVP saying this should be the Lashley Dome. Next week we are back on the road (which the fake fans appreciate) so here is Lashley….or at least MVP introducing him. Eventually cue a slightly disheveled Lashley to ask the women to leave. He doesn’t like what happened earlier and from now on, it is time to be serious again.

Lashley destroys the entire set, including throwing the love seat out with no trouble. Sunday is the end of Kofi Kingston, as Lashley is going to take care of him like he should have done a long time ago. Lashley leaves and MVP looks scared to end the show. This was straight fire from Lashley and one of his best promos ever.

Overall Rating: C-. That’s it for the Thunderdome and it has overstayed its welcome long enough. I know it was necessary and about all WWE could do, but there was only so much that could be done with the idea. This was your run of the mill Main Event for the most part, and all it made me do was want to see fans back. They aren’t going to make Main Event better, but maybe it might mean a little something for a change.

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205 Live
Date: July 16, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

I’m curious to see what happens to the Breakout Tournament matches now that the tournament itself has already started. That means we might be back to the old stuff featuring the new guys, as we can’t do much more new stuff with the old guys. I don’t think. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Guru Raaj vs. Asher Hale

Feeling out process to start with Hale taking him down without much effort. Raaj manages a roll into the corner but a neckbreaker into said corner cuts him off again. Back up and Hale wraps his feet around Raaj’s neck for a quick twist. A DDT with Hale cranking on the neck a bit on the way down gets two and a powerslam is good for the same.

Raaj is back up with some shoulders in the corner and some rapid fire kicks drop Hale for two. Back up and Hale hits a running knee before kicking at a downed Raaj. Hale loads up a kind of northern lights suplex but Raaj flips over into a backslide for the rather surprise pin at 7:21.

Rating: C. The ending surprised me and that’s about as much as there is to say here. I’m not sure if I’m getting much out of Raaj, but I don’t see why Hale needed to lose again. Part of the problem is that these guys are getting thrown together into matches where no one gets to stand out, which was the case again here. Not bad, but completely forgettable.

Grayson Waller vs. Ari Sterling

The early feeling out process gives us an early standoff as they seem to have some time here. Waller wrestles him to the mat for some slaps to the back of the head but Sterling reverses for some shots to the face. Back up and they trade wrist control until Sterling flips around and takes him to the mat for some arm cranking. Sterling starts flipping around and kicks Waller in the head.

This time Waller dives over him and takes the arm out to counter a cartwheel. Some kicks to the arm set up a DDT on the arm so Waller can start getting cockier. Another shot to the leg has Sterling in trouble and a kick to the chest gets two. The Fujiwara armbar sends Sterling over to the rope so Waller grabs a torture rack. That means an inverted Regal Roll but Sterling strikes away to little avail.

The standing Kimura is broken up and Sterling sends him outside, only to get pulled down over the ropes. Back in and Waller works on the arm again, including a triangle choke over the ropes. The middle rope elbow gives Waller two and we hit the armbar. That’s broken up as well and Sterling hits a running spinwheel kick. The running flip ax kick sends Waller outside so there’s the big flip dive to take him down again. Back in and Sterling misses a 450 but avoids the running stomp. Baha 86 finishes Waller at 15:19.

Rating: C+. The time helped this one a lot and it isn’t something you get to see very often on this show. Above all else, it was nice to see Sterling do something than shrug off a leg injury and win in the end. This time he had to deal with something different and it didn’t take me out of the match as a result. Waller is going to be fine so the loss doesn’t hurt him, but Sterling needed the win a bit more.

Overall Rating: C+. Pretty good show here as I think we are starting the new norm. 205 Live has not meant anything of note for a long time now and that is probably going to continue to be the case for the foreseeable future. The action was good here and that is about all you can expect from this show, so well done enough.

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ECW on Sci Fi
Date: February 13, 2007
Location: KeyArena, Seattle, Washington
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

It’s officially the Snitsky Era as he not only debuted but also attacked ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley last week. I’m not sure what that means for the future of the title, but if Snitsky is as good as they can get, it seems like there might be some trouble. Maybe the rest of the show….never mind. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Bobby Lashley beating Hardcore Holly last week, only to get jumped by Snitsky after the match.

Opening sequence.

Bobby Lashley vs. Hardcore Holly

Non-title but under Extreme Rules. They slug it out to start with Holly bailing to the floor to sucker Lashley in. That’s fine with Lashley, who hammers away some more and hits a belly to belly to send Holly flying. It’s already table time, but first Lashley needs to slam Holly on the floor. The table takes too long to set up though and Holly blasts Lashley with a clothesline. Holly gets creative (and hated) by putting the table back underneath the ring.

Lashley is fine enough to whip him into the barricade for….whatever the barricade equivalent of a Cactus Clothesline is called. They get back inside, where Holly counters a powerslam by snapping Lashley’s neck across the top rope. We take a break and come back with Holly dropping him throat first across the top of an open chair. The chair is kicked into Lashley’s face for two and we hit the chinlock.

With that not going anywhere, Holly wedges the chair into the corner…and is promptly sent face first into it. An exploder suplex sends Holly flying again and the torture rack dropped into a backbreaker gets two. Lashley grabs the table again but Holly baseball slides him down first. Back in and the Alabama Slam is countered, setting up the running powerslam in the general area of the chair to give Lashley the pin.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure if there was any serious drama to the result but they had Holly doing his thing by getting in enough violence. Lashley looked like he was in a bit of trouble a few times here and that’s about all you could ask for her. They are going to need a new challenger for Lashley sooner rather than later though and that is becoming obvious.

Video on Snitsky.

Extreme Expose, which is cut off by Ariel and Kevin Thorn.

Kevin Thorn/Marquis Cor Von vs. Tommy Dreamer/Sandman

It’s a brawl to start with Cor Von sending Sandman into the steps. That leaves Cor Von to hit the Pounds on Dreamer, sending him HARD into the ropes and out to the floor. Back in and we settle down to a regular tag match with Dreamer in trouble, including Cor Von slapping on the neck crank. Back up and Dreamer grabs a neckbreaker but Thorn is right there with an elbow to the back to cut off the tag attempt.

As usual, the tag goes through a few seconds later, allowing Sandman to come in and clean house. What is supposed to be the Heinekenrana (egads) winds up being more like a super monkey flip to drop Thorn again. Sandman has to take out Cor Von though, allowing Thorn to get in a cane shot for the pin.

Rating: D. The match was nothing, but what mattered the most here was the debut of the New Breed moniker. Having the two sides be the ECW Originals and the New Breed makes the story feel that much bigger. I’m not sure how far it can go, but having two groups with that many people opens up some options. The problem is what kind of matches we might be getting with the Originals involved.

Video on CM Punk.

Bobby Lashley runs into Teddy Long in the back. After an exchange of pleasantries, Long invites him to Smackdown and Lashley says he’s in.

CM Punk vs. Mike Knox

They fight over a lockup to start as the fans chant for Punk and commentary talks about Donald Trump vs. Mr. McMahon. Punk wins a battle of the strikes but Knox counters a jump out of the corner into a reverse sitout powerbomb. The cravate goes on for a bit until Punk fights up with a knee to the face. Knox busts out a decent looking dropkick of all things but Punk kicks/hits/punches him in the head. The running knee in the corner sets up the bulldog and the Rock Bottom plants Knox again. The Anaconda Vice makes Knox tap.

Rating: C-. Short and to the point here as Knox’s time has come and gone. There isn’t anything for this version of him to do around here and it would make sense for him to be little more than a jobber. Punk is on his way to bigger and better things and it was a good choice to have him win a somewhat competitive match here.

Post match Knox rolls out but here is Snitsky to run Punk over. The big boot leaves him laying.

We get the second part of the series on Bobby Lashley. He talks about smelling one of his workout shirts before every match because it takes him back to his training in college. Lashley used to climb a mountain at the US Olympic training center because it represented the struggle, with the scenery at the top as your reward. He wants to be a household name and keep climbing, because there is no limit. These videos are a really good idea because Lashley doesn’t have any kind of a personality otherwise.

Sabu/Rob Van Dam vs. Matt Striker/Elijah Burke

Striker hits Sabu in the face to start, earning himself a tornado….and then a stop, followed by a regular DDT. It’s off to Van Dam vs. Burke with the fans being WAY into the initials guy. Burke’s headlock doesn’t get him very far and Van Dam kicks him down. Some finger pointing lets Burke slam him down so it’s back to Striker….who is quickly kicked in the face. Sabu comes back in for some shots of his own but a blind tag brings in Burke to take over.

A few knees in the corner set up a chinlock, followed by Striker coming in, slipping, and then hitting a running boot in the corner. Sabu fights out of another Burke chinlock in a hurry and it’s back to Van Dam to clean house. Everything breaks down and Sabu is dropped face first onto the apron. Van Dam hits a big running flip dive onto Striker, leaving Sabu to miss….something, but he lands on Burke anyway. Not that it matters as Burke rolls him up for the pin with feet on the ropes.

Rating: D+. This was a pretty flat match and the ending wasn’t exactly smooth. There is something to be said about having the New Breed win again though as it looks like they are a threat, even if it was a bit more about capitalizing on Sabu screwing up. Van Dam was trying, but there is only so much that one person can do in a pretty short match like this one.

The New Breed comes out to celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This show started off well with the Lashley vs. Holly match but then it started to fall down in a hurry. The Originals vs. New Breed story should help, but Lashley still needs an opponent and the rest of the show needs a few more angles up and down. Overall the show isn’t the worst, but it needs a good deal of work to bring it up a few notches.

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Main Event
Date: July 8, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Kevin Patrick, Byron Saxton

Our random wrestling show of the week is back and I’m really not sure what that is going to mean. In a reversal of things that I said for years about Main Event, I’m running out of ways to say that things are different around here and that is a very good thing. I’m curious to see what we get, though it might not wind up working out. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Veer vs. Jeff Hardy

Shanky and Jinder Mahal are here with Veer. That isn’t surprising as Jeff Hardy and Shanky doesn’t have the same ring. Veer powers him into the corner to start and Jeff knocks himself down while trying a shoulder. Hardy is sent throat first into the middle rope and we’re already in the neck crank. Jeff fights up but gets taken down by the hair, which seems to be the consequences of a bad appearance choice.

The nerve hold goes on again but Hardy fights up with a sitout jawbreaker. This time Hardy’s comeback actually works, including some shots to the head but the Twist of Fate (possibly with a botch as we cut to Mahal and Shanky) is blocked. Veer sends him into the corner for some running clotheslines and the baseball clothesline finishes at 4:31.

Rating: C-. They’re doing a nice enough job of making Veer feel like a monster, but then you remember that he is (at least currently) little more than Mahal’s lackey. That could go in a few different directions, but odds are it winds up being nothing more than another Mahal push, because of course that is what it is going to wind up being. As for Hardy….egads it’s still weird to see him like this.

We look back at Edge returning to challenge Roman Reigns. This still isn’t working.

From Smackdown.

Here is Jimmy Uso to call Edge out. Cue Edge, who asks Jimmy if he gets what is going on. Jimmy is doing everything Roman Reigns wants, because he is Reigns’ b****. Yeah this is a trap, but it’s a trap for Jimmy. Edge goes to the ring and the fight is on, with Edge sending him shoulder first into the post twice in a row. Jimmy is back with a superkick and a ram into the steps, followed by a bunch of right hands. A big boot cuts Jimmy off and it’s a crossface (with a sleeper for a change) to make him tap. Edge grabs a piece of chair for the regular Crossface to mimic the Wrestlemania photo from earlier to end the show.

From Raw.

Nikki Cross/Alexa Bliss/Asuka/Naomi vs. Eva Marie/Doudrop/Shayna Baszler/Nia Jax

Oh boy. First of all, it has gone from Nikki Cross to Nikki ASH to Almost A Superhero Nikki Cross. Second, this could be an all time train wreck. Reginald is here too because you just need nine people here for a match. Doudrop and Naomi start but Eva tags herself in and actually drives Naomi into the corner. A single forearm sends Naomi into the corner and it’s already back to Doudrop. Naomi kicks Doudrop to the floor and hits the dive onto everyone else.

The parade of dives is on until Eva is left alone in the ring. Bliss comes in and screams her to the floor as we take a break. Back with Bliss forearming Doudrop but getting headbutted down for her efforts. Jax comes in to hammer on Asuka and it’s off to Baszler to work on the leg. That doesn’t last long so Bliss channels Reginald, with Baszler breaking things up. Eva comes in, ducks a kick from Asuka, and hands it back to Baszler again. Everything breaks down with Nikki’s top rope splash connecting for two, only to have Jax (Nikki Jax according to Smith) Samoan drop her for the pin at 12:24.

Rating: D-. There were botches, there were timing issues, there were too many people involved at once and none of them were interesting, plus Cross loses so NIA JAX can get some momentum? This division is in a complete nose dive and feels so silly most of the time these days. It’s turning into the Divas Era where most of the women are either goofy or horrible in the ring and that’s a scary thought. It’s also very disappointing, though I really don’t think WWE cares.

Angel Garza vs. Shelton Benjamin

Benjamin grabs a headlock to start but gets armdragged down for an early standoff. This time Shelton tries wrestling him down to some better success, only to have Garza slip out again for another reset. It’s Garza’s turn as he hiptosses Benjamin down, leaving him rather stunned. Benjamin is back up and sends him over the top to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Benjamin running him over and grabbing a half camel clutch. With that not working, Benjamin grabs a snap suplex for two. The reverse chinlock goes on, with the reverse being dropped in a hurry. Garza fights up and hits a kick to the head but Benjamin rolls through a rather high crossbody. A whip into the corner has Benjamin in trouble though and the delayed Lionsault is good for the pin at 9:15.

Rating: C. As usual the formula of taking a pair of talented wrestlers and giving them some time works out well for everyone involved. This wasn’t a great match, but it was something fresh and that is often welcome. I could go for more from Garza and Benjamin is still good for putting someone over. It’s a perfectly nice match and that there are far worse ways to fill in about ten minutes.

We look back at Kofi Kingston’s rather good argument with MVP, setting up this week’s main event.

From Raw.

New Day vs. MVP/Bobby Lashley

MVP works on Xavier Woods’ arm to start and then powers him down without much effort. Woods goes after MVP’s recently healed knee though and hammers away on the mat. Kofi Kingston comes in off the top with a shot to the knee and then slaps on a hammerlock. That doesn’t last long so Lashley comes in to unload on Kingston in the corner.

A neckbreaker gives Lashley two but Kingston slips power of a powerslam and kicks him in the face. Lashley isn’t having that and pounds Kingston down in the corner, allowing MVP to come back in for some right hands of his own. Kingston knees his way out of a delayed vertical suplex though and it’s into the corner for a short form Unicorn Stampede.

New Day sends them outside for the big dives and we take a break. Back with Lashley snapping off a suplex to Woods, setting up an armbar. MVP comes in to work on the arm as well but Woods shoves him away without much effort. If’s back to Kofi to clean house, including a Ballin Boom Drop to MVP. Everything breaks down with Lashley being knocked outside, allowing Trouble in Paradise to finish MVP at 14:36.

Rating: C-. This felt like a house show main event and I believe it is the match that was advertised for the house show main event when things come back later this month. The match itself was a fine way to get Kingston ready for the title match, but it wasn’t exactly something that got my interest up very high.

Overall Rating: D+. All this did was remind me of how bad Raw was this week. I know the fans being back is the big goal and that’s when things are supposed to get better, but egads people. Do we really need to waste so much time with one horrible show after another? As is almost always the case, Smackdown is watchable enough and serves as a fine show, but Raw is dreadful and makes me not even want to watch the highlights. With this as example, the lowlights might be a better way to go.

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205 Live
Date: July 9, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

The debut of the newly stocked 205 Live will have to wait another week as it is time for more Breakout Tournament preview matches. Last week’s matches were not exactly thrilling and did not leave me overly excited for the rest. Maybe this week’s can be an improvement, which shouldn’t be that difficult. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Josh Briggs vs. Asher Hale

Briggs is a 6’8 monster and not exactly a cruiserweight. The fans are behind Hale as he gets slammed down without much effort. The smaller Hale can’t drop toehold him but a small package gets a fast two. Briggs is sent outside for a running knee from the apron but he is right back in for a shot to the face. There’s a hard whip into the corner to give Briggs two and a release side slam drops Hale again. A splash gets two and a chinlock has Hale in more trouble.

Hale gets big booted out to the floor but manages some strikes of his own on the way back in. Briggs isn’t having that and boots him in the face, only to miss a knee drop. A kick to the knee and another to the head stagger Briggs, setting up a tornado DDT for two. Hale slaps on a crossface but lets go to try for the leg, earning himself a kick to the face. The top rope double stomp misses though and Briggs blasts him with a clothesline for the pin at 8:38.

Rating: C. I liked this more than I was expecting to as Briggs looked to be squashing him but Hale made a go of it. There is something to be said about having Briggs just unloading with the clothesline for the win. Nothing else was working so he hit Hale really, really hard for the pin. What more can you ask for out of a finish like that?

Grayson Waller was left out of the Breakout Tournament so he’s ready to fight Odyssey Jones tonight. Waller is going to beat Jones to show that he is the present instead of the future.

Odyssey Jones is ready to show what he can do. Jones seems to have some charisma.

We look at the announcement of the Breakout Tournament field.

Odyssey Jones vs. Grayson Waller

Jones is a huge guy at over 400lbs. Waller strikes away to start and gets absolutely nowhere so he’ll try a headlock instead. A hard shoulder drops Waller and another one puts him on the floor. Back in and a big toss sends Waller flying out of the corner but a low bridge puts Jones on the floor. Waller posts him and scores with a kick to the head, followed by a middle rope elbow to the shoulder back inside.

Jones slugs away so Waller grabs a triangle choke over the rope. A guillotine choke doesn’t work either as Jones muscles him up for a suplex. Waller gets in a few more shots before rolling outside for a running start into a rolling Stunner (that’s a new one). The middle rope elbow gets two on Jones but another triangle is countered with a powerbomb. A hard ax handle rocks Waller and the World’s Strongest Slam finishes Waller at 7:50.

Rating: C. I still like Waller more than most around here and that was the case again this time. Jones is a big guy and can be a good monster, but he only showed so much here. He had some charisma and did the big man stuff well, but it’s hard to get interested in him when Bronson Reed exists. Good enough debut though and he’ll be fine almost anywhere he goes, at least for awhile.

Overall Rating: C. This was a better effort than last week and I’m more curious about Briggs and Jones than anyone from last week. They still have a long way to go, but it is nice to see things improve even slightly over the last batch. Throw in the NXT atmosphere compared to 205 Live and there is a good chance things will improve enough.

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ECW on Sci Fi
Date: February 6, 2007
Location: Qwest Center, Omaha, Nebraska
Attendance: 7,000
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

There is a new big bad around here and it happens to be Vince McMahon himself. That could be a rather scary proposition for ECW, which seems ready for a battle between the old and new. It is hardly a brand new idea in wrestling but at least it has some natural legs around here. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Vince McMahon arriving next week and not liking anything around here, save for Elijah Burke. That resulted in Burke getting beaten down by the ECW Originals, which you had to know was coming.

The ECW Originals (Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, Balls Mahoney, Sabu and Rob Van Dam) are in the ring and here is Vince McMahon to join them. Vince asks what a cornhusker is, thinking it sounds like something that belongs in adult films. As he looks around the ring, he sees a bunch of has beens. Actually make that a bunch of NEVER HAS beens, as most of these people have criminal records so they had to go to ECW.

As Vince said last week, anything bout the original ECW sucks so these men suck too. He’s standing in the middle of Jurassic Park with these dinosaurs, but worry not because tonight, they are going extinct. Sandman loads up the Singapore cane but Vince reminds him who signs their checks. These guys are going to be in action tonight….or at least most of them as Vince can’t stomach all of them in one show. They better not break any rules or touch any officials though, or they’re fired.

Snitsky is coming.

Kevin Thorn vs. Tommy Dreamer

Hold on a second though as we need Matt Striker as guest referee. Thorn has Ariel in his corner and jumps Dreamer to start. Dreamer gets sent into the buckle and choked on the ropes, followed by an elbow to the face. The chinlock goes on until Dreamer hits a Stunner for the escape. A Sky High plants Thorn but Striker claims a knee injury to prevent a count. Thorn is back up with a clothesline to knock Dreamer over Striker, who can count the pin.

Hardcore Holly is ready to prove himself to Bobby Lashley.

Video on Bobby Lashley growing up and succeeding in amateur wrestling. Now he goes to schools where kids hold his title, including one who seems a bit too comfortable with it.

Bobby Lashley vs. Hardcore Holly

Non-title. Lashley powers him into the corner to start and the delayed vertical suplex connects early. A quick hot shot gets Holly out of trouble though and the shoulder gets posted. Said shoulder is sent into the steps and it’s time to head back inside for the reverse chinlock. Make that a waistlock as the memories of hurting Lashley’s shoulder are already fading away.

Holly ties up the legs for I guess you would say the Sharpshooter’s fourth half cousin twice removed by marriage. That is switched into an STF and then back to the waistlock as Holly shows his versatility. Lashley powers up with an overhead belly to belly, followed by a backdrop. The gorilla press powerslam finishes Holly out of nowhere.

Rating: D+. Lashley’s matches continue to not go so well and this time a lot of that was due to Holly. Why would you do two big moves to the arm and then ignore it for a bunch of ribs stuff? That was the majority of the match and that is hardly a way to keep the attention going. Another Lashley match that leaves you shaking your head, which is getting tiresome.

Post match here is Snitsky to jump Lashley with a big boot, setting up Holly’s Alabama Slam to leave Lashley laying.

Balls Mahoney vs. Marquis Cor Von

Mahoney has a neck brace thanks to Umaga on Raw and Matt Striker is timekeeper. Cor Von is smart enough to go straight to the neck, including forearms and a clothesline. There goes the neck brace but Mahoney avoids a charge in the corner and jabs away. That just earns him the Pounce into a cobra clutch and Mahoney is out in a hurry.

Extreme Expose, this time with a schoolgirl theme. Matt Striker interrupts though because he is guest ring announcer for the main event.

Elijah Burke vs. Rob Van Dam

Marquis Cor Von is guest commentator (Tazz and Styles didn’t notice) and Kevin Thorn is guest ring announcer. Also, anyone who interferes in any way is fired. Joined in progress with Van Dam hitting a suplex for two but Burke sends him out to the apron. A jawbreaker sends Van Dam into the barricade and Vince McMahon is very pleased in the back.

Burke grabs a double arm crank back inside, setting up the double knees to the chest. Van Dam kicks him in the head and grabs the monkey flip out of the corner. There’s the Five Star…but the bell rings while Van Dam is still in the air. It turns out to be a mistake (made by Thorn) and Burke is right there with a low blow to pin Van Dam.

Rating: C-. This didn’t have much time to do anything and it was much more about the angle than anything else. There is nothing wrong with that on an angle heavy show like this one and thankfully they kept it short. Burke seems to be getting a push and that is not a bad thing, as the lack of Sylvester Terkay may have been the trick for him.

Post match the beatdown is loaded up but the Originals run in for the save to clear the ring.

Overall Rating: C-. The wrestling was not the point here, as we now have a major story going on throughout the show. That is what ECW has been needing, as too much of the show’s history has been a bunch of short term stuff. Paul Heyman leaving was a big hit to where things are going, but now they seem to have found a new direction. Make things better from the ground up and we could be on to something around here. This wasn’t a great show, but it was an important step.

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205 Live
Date: July 2, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

Welcome to the all new 205 Live, as the roster was completely gutted by all of the releases earlier this week. That means we could be in for a lot of fresh blood, which could be a good thing. Then again, it isn’t going to matter if the overall structure of the show isn’t changed as well. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at the NXT Breakout Tournament, with qualifying matches beginning tonight. So there is the way around doing anything new this week.

Breakout Tournament Qualifying Match: Guru Raaj vs. Andre Chase

Chase is better known as Harlem Bravado. They fight over the wristlock to start and Raaj takes him down for the meaningless early control. A hiptoss into a headlock takeover works a bit better for Raaj and he grinds away to keep Chase down. Back up and Raaj chops him into the corner, setting up a monkey flip for two. Chase gets smart by sending Raaj throat first into the top rope and a Russian legsweep gives Chase two of his own.

A running elbow gets the same and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up and Raaj fights up to start the comeback. A bulldog into a basement dropkick gives Raaj two but Chase elbows him in the face again. Chase’s slingshot flipping Stunner sets up something like a t-bone brainbuster for the pin at 8:26.

Rating: C. Pretty basic match here and there was nothing that made either of them stand out. Chase has a bit of an odd way about him which works for some reason though and that’s often enough to keep you around. I’m not sure how far I can imagine either of them going, but you have to try someone new at some point and that is what they are doing here.

Breakout Tournament Qualifying Match: Desmond Troy vs. Joe Gacy

Gacy has been around the independent scene for a long time. They’re ignoring the weight limits around here too as both guys have a bit of size to them. Gacy powers him into the corner to start but Troy shoves him down to yell a bit. Troy grabs an armbar, setting up a quick crossbody for two. Another armbar takes Gacy down but he’s back up with a suplex for his own near fall.

Now it’s Gacy working on the armbar, followed by a bunch of clotheslines in the corner. The armbar goes on again, though at least this time Gacy switches into a chinlock. That’s broken up as well and Troy hits a flying clothesline into a northern lights suplex for two. Three straight gutwrench faceplants give Troy two but Gacy hits a release Rock Bottom. A handspring clothesline finishes Troy at 8:33.

Rating: D+. I wasn’t feeling this one as they didn’t exactly do much to keep my attention. It was a bunch of clotheslines and armbars from Gacy, who was presented as a bigger star. He’s a bigger name in wrestling but he didn’t feel like a force here. This was just a match for the most part and not much of a showcase.

Overall Rating: C-. This was nothing like a regular edition of 205 Live and it was kind of a downgrade as a result. These matches weren’t quite interesting and I wasn’t overly interested in either of them. Hopefully the rest of the tournament is a bit better, because these matches pretty much came and went without making me want to see the people involved again.

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https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/breaking-top-smackdown-star-injured-nine-months/

Gah that’s a rough one as Bayley was on a roll.  A replacement for her Money in the Bank match is being named tonight and…..it almost has to be Sasha Banks right?