IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: November 15, 2019
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Jon Quasto, Aiden English

I’m trying to keep my interest up in this show. I really am, but they are not exactly making it easy on me. Last week’s show featuring a match from Full Sail made it clear that things could go a lot better around here but for some reason we just can’t get that out of them on a regular basis. Tonight is likely to continue Angel Garza vs. Lio Rush, which feels like a far cry from Alexander, Murphy and Ali. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of Rush successfully defending the title against Angel Garza, who blew Rush’s wife a kiss as a result.

Opening sequence.

Angel Garza vs. Jack Gallagher

Angel offers a handshake to start but pulls it away and grabs a rollup for two. That earns him a double stomp to the legs so Angel takes Gallagher down for a splash to the leg of his own. Garza pulls on the leg some more but spends too much time going after Gallagher’s hair, allowing Gallagher to reverse into a headlock. Back up and Gallagher’s very spinning headscissors is countered into a reverse powerbomb to put Gallagher in trouble.

Gallagher is sat on top for a running dropkick but hang on because GARZA HAS TO TAKE OFF HIS PANTS! It’s off to a seated abdominal stretch for a bit before Gallagher comes back with some suplexes. Garza sends him to the floor though and, after faking a dive, slaps Gallagher in the back. That makes Gallagher scream but also annoys him enough to start the comeback. The Gentleman’s Dropkick misses though and Garza grabs a rollup, plus trunks, for the pin at 6:37.

Rating: C. Just a quick match with Garza continuing to feel like a star and the regular 205 Live wrestlers feeling like tired acts that we have seen forever. Gallagher is awesome but he’s been around so long now that his talents are not having any real impact. That has been one of the biggest problems for 205 Live for months now and it isn’t going well in the slightest.

Post match Gallagher yells at English for saying bad things about him on commentary.

24/7 Title: Tim Gange vs. Samir Singh

Singh is defending. Before the match, the Singh Brothers brag about their long reign with the title (which now says Bollywood) and even sing us a song. They’re a team, so this is a handicap match.

24/7 Title: Tim Gange vs. Singh Brothers

The Brothers are defending. The Brothers double team him to start but Gange fights back and even gets to shake the ropes a bit. A superkick/Russian legsweep combination sets up the Bollywood Blast for the pin at 1:52. I’m reaching new levels of being sick of the Brothers.

On Wednesday, Lio Rush said he wasn’t happy with Angel Garza disrespecting his wife. It’s becoming personal and if Garza ever comes near his wife again, Rush is rearranging his face.

Lio Rush/Raul Mendoza vs. Ariya Daivari/Tony Nese

Mendoza goes straight after Nese but gets sent outside by Daivari. Rush enziguris Nese to the floor and hits the big suicide dive, allowing Rush and Mendoza to rule the ring. Back in and Rush stomps on Daivari’s arm before handing it off to Mendoza for an elbow. A splash gets two and it’s Rush grabbing a chinlock. Nese gets in a cheap shot though and Rush gets knocked outside.

Back in it’s Rush’s turn to get beaten up with Daivari and Nese taking turns putting the audience to sleep. Rush is back up with a suicide dive to take Daivari out on the floor and the hot tag brings Mendoza back in. Daivari makes a save but Mendoza is right back with a running kick to the face. Mendoza and Daivari head to the floor where Daivari drives him into the barricade because this show needs to keep going.

A double suplex puts Mendoza down and Nese teases knocking him off the apron. Daivari’s sleeper is broken up and Mendoza rolls over for the hot tag to Rush. Everything breaks down and Daivari superplexes Rush down. A lot of punching sets up Rush’s springboard Stunner for two and Mendoza’s spinning Rock Bottom to Daivari gets the same. Nese’s 450 misses and the Final Hour finishes him off at 13:26.

Rating: C-. The wrestling wasn’t too bad but my goodness I do not care about these people or anything that they are doing. That is the underlying problem here and it was certainly on display here. I’m not sure if we’re supposed to be going for NXT vs. 205 Live but if that’s the case, they’re even more delusional about the future of this place than I thought they were.

Overall Rating: D. The wrestling isn’t interesting, the characters aren’t interesting and the show isn’t interesting. I don’t know why I’m supposed to be interested in the Singh Brothers shouting BOLLY BOLLY BOLLY BOLLY BOLLY every single week or various low level NXT people showing up. This show is dying in a way that I didn’t think was possible and even though the shows have been a bit shorter as of late, they are feeling longer and longer almost every week. I would say fix this, but I don’t think that can be done without blowing the whole thing up. Again.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: November 14, 2019
Location: Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Mickie James

We’re still in England and that has not been the most thrilling thing so far. All of the energy that the shows had due to the NXT invasion is long gone and I don’t see that making for the best Main Event. You never know what you might get around here but if the best they can do is Mojo Rawley wrestling with a British accent, I don’t have the highest hopes. Let’s get to it.

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

And….it’s a studio recap show due to Raw being taped on the same night as Smackdown. I’m thinking that might be an improvement.

From Raw.

Here’s Seth Rollins to talk about Survivor Series and we recap the invasion so far. Rollins likes the energy and talks about how he didn’t know what was next after losing the Universal Title. Last week HHH told him that he should go back to his roots but Raw is his home. Rollins lost his title but that doesn’t mean he is no longer the best in the world. Therefore, anyone in the back can come face him right now. Cue Imperium, with Walter introducing himself and saying Rollins is defiling sacred ground. Just because he’s in the UK doesn’t mean he can avoid an NXT invasion so let’s do this right now.

Seth Rollins vs. Walter

Non-title. Walter throws him around to start so Rollins tries some chops, only to get caught in the release German suplex. We hit the chinlock and then a half crab as Rollins can’t do much against the size and power. Rollins fights back up and even gets to tease the Stomp, which draws in the rest of Imperium for the DQ at 4:49.

Rating: C. This didn’t have time to go anywhere but dang it’s cool to see Walter on the main show. I know his look may not be traditional but sweet goodness the guy commands respect in the ring. He can do a little bit of everything and that power is impossible to ignore. More of him please, as long as he doesn’t become a regular.

Post match the beatdown is on so it’s the Street Profits and Kevin Owens running in for the save.

Imperium vs. Kevin Owens/Street Profits/Seth Rollins

Rollins gets sent outside early on and we get the big staredown with Imperium. Walter drops Rollins back first onto the apron and the beating begins. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Wolfe gets two off a bridging German suplex. Aichner drives Rollins into the corner and it’s Walter coming in for some forearms to the chest. A dropkick into a powerbomb plants Rollins and everything breaks down for a bit as Owens makes the save.

Owens and the Profits get kicked to the floor so Walter goes up, only to get superplexed right back down. The hot tag brings in Owens to take over and a Swanton gets two on Aichner. Everything breaks down again and Ford hits a huge flip dive, which lands on the announcers’ table for a scary landing. Back in and Rollins Stomps Wolfe for the pin at 6:40.

Rating: C+. Imperium is an idea that isn’t very complicated but the four of them execute things so well that it’s hard not to be impressed. They’re just good at what they do and you want to see them beat people up. Walter is the star of the team, but the other three have come up very nicely and the whole thing has turned into one of the best things about NXT UK.

From Raw again.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Charlotte/Becky Lynch vs. Kabuki Warriors

Natalya and Charlotte beat the Warriors last week but “family issues” kept Natalya from being here, meaning Becky is in her place. Asuka kicks away at Becky to start and the shots to the head just get on her nerves. Sane comes in and gets armdragged down, allowing Becky to strike a quick pose.

Becky gets one off a suplex and it’s off to Charlotte for the first time. That means a lot of chops and some strutting but Asuka kicks away. Cue Shayna Baszler to watch as we take a break. Back with Asuka taking over and kicking at Charlotte’s face in the corner. We hit the chinlock from Sane before Asuka comes back in for some strikes.

The Asuka Lock goes on for a few seconds but she switches to an armbreaker. That’s reversed with a lifting powerbomb but Sane is back in with a kick to Charlotte’s face. Charlotte finally avoids a charge in the corner and makes the hot tag off to Becky to stomp away in the corner. Sane gets sent into Asuka and there’s the Bexploder. Baszler jumps onto the apron but here’s Bayley to take her down, allowing Asuka to roll Becky up for the pin at 17:49.

Rating: C. This ate up a lot of time and that’s probably a good idea on a show where everyone is going to be tired in the first place. The ending was annoying but at least Becky vs. Asuka sounds good. I’m glad they addressed the lack of Natalya, though I doubt it was anything more than wanting Becky in the spot and not thinking it through from last week.

Post match Bayley sends Becky into the barricade.

From Smackdown.

Tag Team Titles: New Day vs. Revival

Revival is defending. Kofi rolls Dawson up for some early near falls and it’s off to Big E. to go after Wilder’s knee. The referee has to check on Wilder and we take an early break. Back with Big E. hitting a belly to belly on Wilder, whose knee is just fine. Kofi comes back in for the dropkicks and the big dive onto both champs. Back in and Dawson avoids Trouble in Paradise, leaving Kofi to get two off the SOS to Wilder.

Big E.’s Rock Bottom out of the corner is broken up and it’s a double hanging DDT to Big E. for no cover. A middle rope uppercut/German suplex combination gives Wilder two but the Shatter Machine is broken up. Dawson gets sent outside and Big E. holds Wilder up for Trouble in Paradise for the pin and the titles at 8:30.

Rating: C+. Well so much for Kofi’s post title loss depression. I’m not sure how much sense it makes to go back to that but if Kofi needs another line on his already Hall of Fame resume, so be it. At this rate he’s already a two time Hall of Famer so it’s hardly a stretch to have him win another title. The match was the usual entertaining stuff between these two.

From Smackdown again.

Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin

Reigns jumps him before the bell and hits a clothesline to the floor. After a quick beating, it’s Corbin coming back inside and hammering away. Reigns hits a big boot but here are Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler to go after Reigns, because he’s lost the locker room or something. Corbin catches Reigns with Deep Six back inside and we take a break.

Back with Ziggler getting in another cheap shot so Corbin can send Reigns into the barricade. They get back in and slug it out until Corbin hits a chokeslam. Corbin misses a shot off the top though and Reigns hits a running clothesline for two. Ziggler and Roode come in again though and the distraction lets Corbin hit End of Days for the pin at 9:27.

Rating: D+. This really missed for me as Corbin vs. Reigns is boring enough on its own, and then we have Roode and Ziggler, who shouldn’t like Reigns in the first place, attacking him because….he took time off for cancer? It feels like it could be the start of Reigns’ big road to redemption, because that’s a story WWE loves to do. It isn’t the worst thing they could go with, but please find a more interesting way to go about doing so.

And again, from Smackdown.

Sami tries to convince Bryan to not do the YES Movement again. The lights go out and the Fiend appears for the Mandible Claw on Bryan as Sami runs away.

Video on Brock Lesnar vs. Rey Mysterio.

From Raw to wrap it up.

OC vs. Humberto Carrillo/Ricochet/Randy Orton

Ricochet grabs Anderson by the arm to start and it’s off to Orton to take over. Orton tags out to Carrillo by slapping him in the chest, so Carrillo twists AJ’s arm around as well. A multiple springboard sets up a very high angle wristdrag into an armbar as Carrillo gets to show off a bit.

Ricochet hits a springboard spinning crossbody but Orton isn’t happy with being knocked off the apron as we take a break. Back with Carrillo’s springboard armdrag being countered into a faceplant to put him in trouble. Carrillo fights out in a hurry and it’s off to Ricochet, who gets beaten up in the corner instead.

Gallows drops an elbow and the big leg before he stops to knock Orton off the face. AJ comes in but gets kicked in the face, allowing Ricochet a breather. The hot tag brings in Carrillo to clean house but he misses the moonsault. That’s enough for the tag to Orton, who starts hitting his usual on AJ. Orton teases the RKO to Ricochet but takes AJ out instead, setting up the moonsault to give Carrillo the pin at 15:40.

Rating: C. Completely standard tag match formula outside of the ending angle. Orton could go for a face turn a long heel stretch but you can’t just jump straight in with someone like him. That’s all well and good, though the turn on Ricochet isn’t out of the question. I like the idea of giving Carrillo the pin, but I don’t think it’s something that is going to change much after his multiple losses to Styles.

Post match Orton and Ricochet stare at each other, with Orton saying he can take Ricochet out whenever and wherever he wants.

Overall Rating: C-. The biggest problem here was the show reminding us how uninteresting the week in England really was. What we got here was a bunch of recaps of stuff that wasn’t great, but they did a good job of making me realize how little the original matches add to this show. They are just things that exist and don’t add much, but it’s better than having the wrestlers sit around and do nothing. This was a completely nothing show, but maybe that is what Main Event needs to be.

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

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

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

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

So this happened.

IMG Credit: WWE

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/breaking-video-clobberin-time-cm-punk-returns-wwe-gives-quick-message-future/

I’m not sure where this is going to go and I’m not sure if he is going to wrestle again, but my goodness it was a moment to hear that music again.

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: November 7, 2019
Location: Nassau Coliseum, New York City, New York
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Mickie James

It’s more of the weekly recap and I really am running out of ways to say I don’t know what is coming. Raw and Smackdown are such swings and misses most of the time anymore and I’m not sure how much better it is going to be in a short form version. At least this is before we went to the UK as the international slog continues. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

No Way Jose vs. Shelton Benjamin

Jose dances out of an early wristlock and dances again to put on a headlock. That means more dancing as we might be seeing a one note character here. Shelton catches him with a kick to the face in the corner and we hit the chinlock. Jose shakes his way up (I’ll call that dancing) and the clotheslines connect. The Dragon Whip misses and Jose hits a Backstabber. The pop up right hand is blocked and it’s Paydirt to finish Jose at 5:11.

Rating: D+. Standard Main Event match here as Shelton has joined its ranks, meaning his main roster career is either over or he’ll be WWE Champion in a month. Jose on the other hand is doomed to walk the airports forever as he goes to Main Event after Main Event, likely answering questions about the NWO along the way.

Video on the NXT invasion.

From Smackdown.

Here’s the Miz for MizTV. After sucking up to the Buffalo crowd, he talks about how he was going to be interviewing Bray Wyatt, who won the Universal Title last night. We see a package of the win but since Bray isn’t here, we’ll move on. Miz talks about all the NXT talents in the building tonight, with Riddle and Lee beating up Sami being his favorite.

Miz can’t wait to see what happens next….so here’s Tommaso Ciampa to a huge reaction. Ciampa talks about how Miz likes to pretend that he’s a star while Ciampa is literally breaking his neck for wrestling. Miz likes acting so while he’s acting the part, Ciampa is playing the part. That’s something Miz has heard for fifteen years and he’s so tired of hearing it that he’s ready to fight right now.

Miz vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Miz’s headlock doesn’t get him anywhere so he slides between Ciampa’s legs for a sunset flip. Ciampa gets sent outside but is fine enough to send Miz into various things, allowing him to sit on the apron and applaud himself. Back in and Miz’s Reality Check gets two but Ciampa beats him up again to take over.

The Fairy Tale Ending is broken up and Miz gets in a shot to the knee to cut Ciampa down. The shot DDT gives Miz two and it’s the Figure Four going on, only to have Ciampa glare at him and escape. Miz tries it again but gets small packaged for two. Ciampa’s half crab doesn’t get him very far as Miz hits the running corner clothesline. Miz gets kneed out of the air though and the Fairy Tale Ending finishes Miz at 7:41.

Rating: C. Ciampa is an interesting case as he is more than capable of hanging on the main WWE roster (if not thriving) but he seems tailor made to be an NXT lifer. Maybe it’s his size, age or history but he screams perfect for NXT and that’s all he needs to be. This was an important win for him, though I can’t imagine him being a big deal on the main roster, at least not one Vince controls.

Video on Rey Mysterio vs. Brock Lesnar.

From Raw.

Here are an annoyed looking Lesnar and Heyman to open the ring. Heyman explains Lesnar quitting and THEY’RE ACTUALLY EXPLAINING THE WAY OUT. The week of the Draft, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross were sent to Smackdown for future considerations and here’s Lesnar as those future considerations. Heyman makes it clear that Lesnar is better than everyone here and wants to know where Mysterio is so either get out here or Brock will go slap everyone in this audience. Tonight, someone is going to say where Mysterio is so Lesnar can destroy him. Heyman gives Rey’s career the last rites and they’re out.

In the back, Brock looks for Rey and beats up a backstage worker for not answering fast enough. Post break another backstage guy says Rey is in that car over there so Brock breaks into a car to find….not Rey. Brock breaks the door to vent some frustration.

Immediately after the match, Lesnar and Heyman come out to demand Mysterio’s whereabouts from commentary. Heyman says Lawler knows everything going around here so either say where Mysterio is or Lesnar will kill him and there will be no bringing him back to life this time. Maddin gets up and stares Lesnar down, earning himself an F5 through the table. Cue Mysterio with a pipe to whack Lesnar in the knees over and over. A running belt shot leaves Brock laying.

During the break, Lesnar couldn’t stand and nearly crawled to the back.

Rey says he’s fighting fire with fire and coming for the WWE Championship. The challenge is on for Survivor Series.

Zack Ryder/Curt Hawkins vs. Eric Young/Erick Rowan

Rowan? Really? Young hammers on Ryder to start so Ryder makes the comeback with some clotheslines. Hawkins comes in to work on the wristlock as the actual team takes over. A toss to the floor lets the villains take over and we go to a break. Back with Ryder slugging away in the corner but getting sent over to Rowan to cut that off in a hurry. A pumphandle backbreaker keeps Ryder down and we hit the neck crank. Rowan’s charge hits boots though and that’s enough for the tag off to Hawkins. Everything breaks down as Hawkins cleans house, setting up a rollup to finish Young at 9:38.

Rating: C-. I’m almost stunned here, but at least they let the hometown guys win a match, even if it doesn’t matter whatsoever. Hawkins and Ryder are the kind of guys who seem like they’re both trying and having fun out there at the same time and what more can you ask for than that? I can always appreciate something like that and that is more than the case here.

Video on Adam Cole.

From Raw.

NXT Title: Adam Cole vs. Seth Rollins

Rollins is defending and Cole is out with HHH. Cole gets driven into the corner and knocked to the floor to start, allowing Rollins to hit the slingshot dive. A few rams into the barricade take us to a break and we come back with Cole kicking him in the face. An enziguri staggers Rollins but he’s right back with the low superkick for two. Rollins goes up top but dives into a heck of a superkick for two more.

Rating: B. You could feel the interference here but that’s the logical way to go here as you have stable mates for just such a situation. The match was as entertaining as you would have expected from these two and it makes sense to not have Rollins take the title here. If nothing else, Cole hung with Rollins for a match that got a little time, which is how you make someone look good in an invasion like this.

Post match the NXT and Raw locker rooms come out for the huge brawl with NXT getting the better of it due to the numbers advantage. Ricochet hits the big springboard shooting star onto the pile and everyone is down. Keith Lee one ups Ricochet with the huge flip dive to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Maybe it was the England shows but I had a good time watching this one and looking back at the pretty awesome NXT invasion. They’ve got something with that and while it has all but died due to the NXT talent not being in England, it was something fun for a week and I could go for more of that. Just anything with a spark please, which has been lacking from WWE for a long time now.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: November 8, 2019
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Aiden English

After WAY too long, the show is finally taking place at Full Sail, which is what they should have done when the show first debuted. I have no idea why WWE feels the need to put the show in front of an empty arena after Smackdown but at least we’re getting a change of pace this time around. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Brian Kendrick vs. Mansoor

Kendrick pounds him down to start but Mansoor headscissors him out of the corner, followed by a dropkick to the apron. Back up and Kendrick is fine enough to send Mansoor’s hand into the rod connecting the buckle to the post. The same hand gets crushed in the barricade and there’s a Codebreaker to the arm.

The short armscissors doesn’t last long so Kendrick takes him down by the arm again. We hit the Fujiwara armbar for a bit until Mansoor gets up for some loud chops. An enziguri into the Falcon Arrow gives Mansoor two and a Death Valley Driver is good for the same. A half nelson suplex drops Mansoor on his head and there’s a powerslam, only to have Mansoor roll through into a small package for the pin at 6:33.

Rating: C-. The arm stuff was fine but Kendrick was recently turned heel and here he has to job to Mansoor because….I’m assuming it’s a clause for the Saudi Arabian shows. Mansoor is good enough in the ring to get by and certainly isn’t a chore to watch but if he isn’t going to be around (which wouldn’t be the worst idea), it’s a little annoying to have him come in and get a win just because Saudi Arabia.

From NXT.

Tony Nese vs. Angel Garza

The winner gets a Cruiserweight Title shot at some point in the future. Garza goes after the arm to start but it’s an early standoff. With that not working it’s time to start on the leg but Nese manages to get on top for a fast two and it’s another standoff. This time Nese takes him down by the arm for all of a few seconds, meaning it’s Garza snapping off a running hurricanrana.

That means it’s time for GARZA TO TAKE….a chop to the chest to prevent his disrobing. Garza puts him on the top and hits an enziguri, only to have Nese try a sunset bomb. That’s blocked and NESE TAKES OFF GARZA’S PANTS! Garza gets in a kick to the face and we take a break. Back with Garza hitting another kick to set up the moonsault to the floor. Nigel: “A thing of beauty from the most beautiful man in the world!”

Nese’s sitout pumphandle powerslam gives him his own two but Garza is back up with a reverse Project Ciampa. It’s Nese’s turn to knock him down and this time it’s a 450 for two with Garza getting a foot on the rope. They chop it out again until Garza flips around into a sitout powerbomb for his own near fall. A double underhook drop down (think a Bubba Bomb but with Nese turned the other way and with a butterfly instead of a full nelson) called the Wing Clipper finishes Nese at 11:19.

Rating: C. Garza winning is the right call and it makes more sense to push the NXT guys over the 205 Live guys. Point blank, most of the people on 205 Live are there for a reason and while Nese is good, he doesn’t feel like someone who would be a star around here. I’m still not sure how much longer 205 Live can last, but I’ve been saying that for two years now so what do I know.

Post match Lio Rush comes out and Garza slaps him in the face. Their title match is next week.

Danny Burch is coming.

Video on NXT invading Raw and Smackdown.

Lio Rush vs. Raul Mendoza

Non-title rematch from last week. Mendoza starts fast and knocks Rush into the corner, only to have the champ fight right back out. An enziguri slows Mendoza down but he catches Rush on top. We hit the surfboard on Rush, causing me to cringe as usual. With that broken up, Rush rolls around and flips into an enziguri to drop Mendoza again. That means a LIO chant so maybe he is doing something right.

Rush kicks him to the floor for a suicide dive (of course) and there’s the springboard Stunner for two back inside. A YES Kick is blocked and it’s a fisherman’s driver for two on Rush. Mendoza has to bail out of a Phoenix splash so Rush kicks him in the head and hits the spinning Unprettier for the pin at 5:40.

Rating: C. Rush is getting better at the face stuff and that’s a good thing if they won’t let him do what worked so well in the first place. Mendoza losing again doesn’t hurt him as it wasn’t like he had any capital in the first place, even if he has quite a bit of talent. They packed enough stuff into the match to make it entertaining, but it’s nothing I’m going to remember in fifteen minutes.

Overall Rating: C+. Maybe it was the show being shorter but my goodness does Full Sail make this show a lot easier to watch. There is an actual energy there and WWE doesn’t have to spend a lot of time trying to hide the empty seats from the camera. Just keep doing thing and cut the whole arena thing, though history has suggested that WWE will keep going because….well because they can be stubborn at times.

Results

Mansoor b. Brian Kendrick – Small package

Angel Garza b. Tony Nese – Wing Clipper

Lio Rush b. Raul Mendoza – Spinning Unprettier

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: November 1, 2019
Location: Keybank Center, Buffalo, New York
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Aiden English

It’s time for the show that continues to exist for no adequately explained reason outside of the need for content. Lio Rush and the Cruiserweight Title were back last week to prop things up a bit but that wasn’t enough to hide the fact that the lack of star power/interest from the fans are killing this show. Maybe this week can be better. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Rush returning last week and Tony Nese setting himself up as the next challenger.

Opening sequence.

Isaiah Scott vs. Ariya Daivari

For those of you who didn’t get enough of it last week. Daivari jumps him before the bell and a short beatdown ensues on the floor. Back in and Daivari sends Scott hard into the corner as the referee is as ineffective as you would guess. More referees come out (three times nothing is still nothing) to check on Scott, who wants to start the match. The bell rings and Daivari charges into a jumping knee to the face but Daivari sends him back first into the apron.

They get back in with Scott eating an elbow but stomping away in the corner anyway. Daivari gets in a cheap shot though and we’re already in the chinlock, because Daivari needs one less than three minutes in. Daivari says he can do this all day and I don’t doubt him for a second. Scott fights up with a suplex and stomp to the back as the fans are already gone. An Iconoclasm is broken up and it’s a snap German suplex into the jumping Downward Spiral for two on Daivari.

Rating: C+. The action was better but my goodness Daivari is boring. The guy could give out free ice cream and money and he still wouldn’t be interesting. He’s every generic wealthy foreign heel that you can find and that is hardly enough to keep my attention these days. Scott continues to look like a star in the making but can we PLEASE get him a better opponent?

We look at the Singh Brothers trading the 24/7 Title with R-Truth at Crown Jewel.

Jack Gallagher vs. Ray Jazikoff

What a name. Gallagher takes him down by the arm and ties up three out of four limbs at the same time. Back up and Ray sends him into the corner, only to have Gallagher do his hand stand to get Ray to pause. The headbutt puts Ray outside and there’s a whip into the barricade. The Gentleman’s Dropkick against the barricade knocks Ray silly and the regular version finishes him off at 3:29.

Rating: C. Total squash here and Gallagher is showing a nice mix of heel and face stuff. He was extra aggressive here and yet still charming, which is a good place for him to be. That dropkick is awesome and looks like it would knock anyone silly. I’m not sure Gallagher is ever going to get above the midcard, but at least he’s got his stuff down cold.

Next week: NXT UK joins 205 Live.

Lio Rush vs. Raul Mendoza

Non-title. Rush headlocks him down to start and the cockiness is on full display. A kick to the head misses and Tom refers to Raul as Luis Mendoza in a Mighty Ducks reference. What is with commentary being so off on Friday? English was a disaster on Smackdown and now this. Are they that worried about the Saudi situation?

Rush snaps off a hurricanrana to the floor and follows with a suicide dive to shot off. Back in and Rush shouts at the crowd and the silence is nearly deafening. It’s too early for the Final Hour though and Mendoza hits an enziguri to catch him on top. A suplex into a swinging neckbreaker gets two and a running dropkick is good for the same. We hit the chinlock as the fans start cheering for English.

Back up and Raul hits a hard clothesline for two more but Rush grabs a jawbreaker. That just earns him a running boot to the face to give Raul another two but Rush is smart enough to roll to the apron as Raul goes up top. They slug it out on the apron with the fans finally getting into something.

Rush knocks him to the floor though and hits the bottom rope moonsault, only to bang up the ribs even more. Back in and Rush hits some forearms, followed by a series of strikes for a near fall. Raul gets in a dropkick for two but Rush rolls into a half crab of all things. The rope is grabbed but Raul’s knee is done, allowing Rush to hit the springboard Stunner and the Final Hour for the pin at 14:36.

Rating: C+. Another technically fine match in front of a crowd that absolutely does not care. Rush is someone who can do a lot of things in the ring but his calling really seems to be as a loudmouthed guy hype man. It’s a lot more memorable than someone else with suicide dives and frog splashes. 205 Live is full of them and while Rush is impressive, it isn’t like he’s one of a kind.

Post match Rush shows Mendoza respect. The camera on the other hand shows multiple sections of the arena that are at best 25% full. I know that has been the case forever but how long is WWE going to put up with those visuals?

Overall Rating: C. I know I bring it up almost every time but my goodness those crowd shots are so sad to see. The wrestlers are trying but they’re fighting a completely lost game. What amazes me more than anything else is how much WWE just accepts that the show is worthless and they don’t care about the crowds not being there. WWE never does something like that, but maybe it’s just that there is no way around the whole thing? Either way, it looks awful, even for a perfectly watchable show.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: October 31, 2019
Location: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Commentators: Dio Maddin, Byron Saxton, Mickie James

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

Opening sequence.

Akira Tozawa vs. Shelton Benjamin

You know what? I like it. This isn’t a match that you’re ever going to see anywhere else and while it isn’t going to mean anything in the long run, it’s nice to have something other than the exact same matches week after week. Shelton throws him down to start so Tozawa annoys him with some kicks. A missed charge sends Shelton outside and that means the running flip dive off the apron.

Back in and Shelton gives him a hard slam before unloading with some forearms in the corner. We hit the chinlock for all of a few seconds before Shelton misses a Stinger Splash. Tozawa strikes away and hits a Shining Wizard for two of his own. Shelton is right back up with a big boot into a powerbomb, followed by Paydirt for the pin at 5:45.

Rating: C. Just a step above a squash for Shelton but above all else, it’s so nice to see some fresh faces around here. Maybe it’s because they needed to keep the rest of the talent ready for Crown Jewel, but it’s a great thing to see something different. Ok maybe not great but at least it isn’t Sarah Logan vs. Dana Brooke.

From Smackdown.

Here are Rey Mysterio and Cain Velasquez for a chat. Rey is proud of his son Dominick for trying to fight back and now Rey knows he’s really a Mysterio. As for Brock Lesnar, Rey knows Cain is going to give Lesnar another scar. Lesnar and Paul Heyman need to get out here right now so we can do this face to face.

They pop up on screen instead, saying that Lesnar has more important things to do than go face to face with Velasquez. Brock has been doing something but Heyman won’t say where he has been doing it. Rey still wants them out here right now so Heyman says Rey should guess to whom Brock has been doing something. We pan down to the unconscious Dominick and Lesnar laughs.

Post break, Rey and Cain are checking on Dominick in the trainer’s room. Lesnar comes in with a trashcan to clean house, including an F5 to send Mysterio into the wall and another F5 to drop Cain onto Dominick.

Post break Velasquez shouts about Brock in Spanish and seems to swear vengeance.

From Raw.

It’s time for the King’s Court with Lana and Rusev, the latter of whom is still wearing his wedding ring for the sake of some hope. Lana says she is tired of being harassed by the fans but the truth is that their marriage was all about Rusev wanting sex. Rusev: “Well can you blame me?”

Apparently Rusev is a sex addict who just wanted to impregnate her. That isn’t happening because she won’t be able to get modeling work if she’s pregnant. Oh and Rusev cheated on her, which Lashley told her about. Rusev denies the whole thing so here’s Lashley, with Lana running off. The fight is on with Lashley going into the steps and they head back inside.

Lashley’s spear is cut off with a superkick and Samoan drop, allowing Rusev to take off the wedding ring. He asks Lana if this is what she wants and stuffs the ring in Lashley’s mouth. Lana finds a kendo stick and hits Rusev for no effect so he yells at her, allowing Lashley to hit him low. Kissing ensues to end the show. They’re getting better with Rusev fighting back and he doesn’t look as bad if Lana believed that he was cheating on her, but this feels like a bad daytime talk show closing out the last ten minutes of Raw.

Video on Braun Strowman vs. Tyson Fury.

Crown Jewel rundown.

Curt Hawkins/Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley/Eric Young

So much for something different. Ryder and Rawley (without the Conga Line from last week) start things off with Ryder grabbing a headlock. Mojo can’t get a suplex as Ryder counters with the neckbreaker and it’s already off to Hawkins. Young comes in and gets backdropped, only to come back with a toss out to the floor.

We take a break and come back with Rawley unloading on Hawkins with right hands. The chinlock goes on but Hawkins jawbreaks his way to freedom and makes the hot tag. A double dropkick through the ropes takes the villains down and Hawkins adds a top rope elbow to both of them as they stand on the floor. Back in and Young hits the Death Valley Driver for two on Hawkins but it’s the Long Island Express (Samoan drop/middle rope flipping neckbreaker) to finish Young at 9:02.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t exactly interesting but they were working hard, as Ryder and Hawkins always seem to be doing. For the life of me I don’t get why they pulled the plug on Ryder as he could have been something worthwhile in the midcard, yet he still maintains a certain level of popularity. Maybe it’s the fans just wanting to cheer for someone who is clearly passionate about what he does, but it’s a shame that he had his legs cut off.

From Raw.

Seth Rollins vs. Erick Rowan

Non-title and falls count anywhere. Rollins charges at him to start and gets tossed into the corner for his efforts. A low bridge puts Rowan on the floor, where he is fine enough to send Rollins into the barricade a few times. The big boot gives Rowan two on the floor and they fight into the crowd.

They fight into the concourse with Rollins hitting him with a metal post. That’s fine with Rowan, who Rock Bottoms him through a merchandise table for two as we take a break. Back with Rollins hitting a suicide dive and sending Rowan into the steps. Rowan sends him into the steps as well and hits a splash off the apron for two. The powerbomb into the post gets two more and they head up to the stage.

Rowan clears the announcers’ table but gets caught with the Stomp onto said table for the delayed two. Rollins finds a chair and they fight into the back with Rowan sends him into a pile of pipes. A ladder to the ribs takes Rowan down and the Stomp onto the ladder sets up….the Halftime Heat finish as Rowan has a forklift lowered onto Rowan for the cover and the pin at 15:05.

Rating: C+. Well at least we didn’t get the fork lift camera angle. They did a lot of good things here but at the same time, I’m not sure how smart it is to have Rollins need this much effort to beat someone three days before a title match that he should lose. I mean, he’ll win but he shouldn’t given the circumstances. Rowan’s push seems to be close to ending, though he got in a lot here.

Overall Rating: C. So yeah Shelton vs. Tozawa wasn’t enough to carry this to another level. The show was short and easy but the usual uninspired Main Event fare. At the end of the day, none of this matters with Crown Jewel having taken place and that means this show is even more worthless than usual. Just mix in a few fresh names though and the show feels a little better, which is better than nothing.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: October 25, 2019
Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Aiden English

It’s really kind of amazing that this show has gone from what used to be an entertaining show that I wanted to see to a show that I was forgetting about entirely. NXT and everything else has completely destroyed anything this show had and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Maybe the Cruiserweight Champion being back can help things a bit. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s triple threat main event with Tony Nese beating Oney Lorcan and Ariya Daivari.

Opening sequence.

Oney Lorcan vs. Lio Rush

Non-title and after a quick look at Rush staring down Angel Garza on last week’s NXT, we’re ready to go. For some reason Rush agrees to a test of strength and gets leg tripped down for two. Rush is fast enough to fireman’s carry him into a quickly broken armbar and a jumping enziguri gets two. Lorcan knees him in the ribs and grabs a bodyscissors for a good while.

That’s rolled over into a cover for two each before Lorcan goes outside. Rush’s suicide dive sends him into the announcers’ table but Lorcan is right back with the running Blockbuster for two back inside. Rush elbows his way out of a belly to back superplex and grabs a DDT for the double knockdown. The clothesline comeback is on and a handspring elbow sets up the bottom rope springboard Stunner. The Final Hour gives Rush the pin at 7:49.

Rating: C. Lorcan continues to fall and it doesn’t seem like he’s going to be getting the title, or even a title shot, for a long time. Rush is someone you can get behind in a hurry, though I still think he’s better used as the heel hype man. At least he had a nice enough match here, but the fan reactions in NXT compared to 205 Live tell you everything you need to know.

Post match here’s Nese to stare Rush down. Nese brags about his win last week and tells Rush to sit and watch a real athlete at work.

Raul Mendoza vs. Tony Nese

This is your NXT guest star and Rush is on commentary. Nese says hang on though because he has to pose, which doesn’t impress Rush. Feeling out process to start with Nese shouldering him down so Mendoza nips right back up. A springboard armdrag puts Nese down and there’s a springboard hurricanrana to send him outside.

Back in and Nese scores with a running elbow into some left hands as the fans are just gone for this one. The chinlock goes on as we look at a tweet from Angel Garza with the Cruiserweight Title Photoshopped around his waist. Nese stomps away and puts on the neck crank but misses a splash to give us a double knockdown. With Rush accusing Nese of spray painting his abs on, Mendoza gets some boots up in the corner and hits a springboard missile dropkick for his own two.

A bottom rope Lionsault gets the same but Nese flips out of a German suplex attempt. That means a double stomp for two on Mendoza and they’re both down. Nese sweeps the leg to put Mendoza on the floor for the Fosbury Flop, which makes Rush laugh for some reason. Rush holds up the title and since Nese can’t handle shiny things, Mendoza grabs a rollup for the pin at 11:11.

Rating: C+. This is a fine example of a match that was technically acceptable but no one cared. The fans weren’t reacting to anything at all and it was just sad to see people out there working hard and not being able to buy any attention from the crowd. This stuff feels so minor league from an importance standpoint, even if the match was perfectly watchable.

Nese is ticked, as he should be.

The Singh Brothers talk about what a big week it has been as they hide in an undisclosed location for the sake of keeping the title safe. Dancing ensues.

Brian Kendrick comes up to commentary and stands on the table with a mic. He talks about how back in the day, you had to earn the right to call yourself a professional wrestler. Someone had to bestow the title on you and you couldn’t just throw your bags into a locker room. There was a protocol to it all, starting with shaking hands with everyone and introduce yourself to them. You would ask the veterans to critique your work and help them teach you to become a wrestler.

Fans are consumers and not wrestlers and now there is no one left in the locker room. See, all you have to do is look yourself up on social media and you’re a star. The fans tell Kendrick to shut up so he talks about how the fans aren’t wrestlers. Drake Maverick is the one chasing around the Bollywood Boyz because he thinks he’s a wrestler but he’s just an embarrassment. Kendrick wants an answer from Maverick next week. This was every “I’m a veteran and that makes me better” promo and it still doesn’t work very well.

Ariya Daivari says he’s ready to fight anyone. Isaiah Scott has taken him up on that offer.

We look at Scott being a star on NXT.

Isaiah Scott vs. Ariya Daivari

Daivari kicks him in the ribs to start so Scott strikes away to put Daivari on the floor. That means a kick to the head back inside and they head right back out with Daivari whipping him into the barricade. Back in and a superplex gives Daivari two but Scott starts striking away again. A release German suplex sends Daivari flying but he’s right back with a Rock Bottom for two. Scott runs into a superkick but the hammerlock lariat misses. The Swerve Kick finishes Daivari at 6:25.

Rating: D+. Egads Daivari needs to get out of the ring already. He’s the most generic heel you can find and it’s not like he’s the kind of worker to make up for the lack of interest. Scott on the other hand is a star in the making and has that IT factor that you can’t ignore. Couple that with a good finisher and there is no reason he can’t go a long way in WWE.

Overall Rating: C-. I feel so sorry for this show as it doesn’t belong in a big arena like this one. This is the kind of thing that needs to be down in Full Sail as a preliminary card for NXT, not live after SmackDown with all of the star power. It’s unfair to the talent, who is working hard and trying everything they can but being stuck in an impossible situation. Having the remaining big names called up again (so they can get beaten up by stars) is a big hit around here and it’s showing badly early on.

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

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

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

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

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/didnt-work-wwe-talent-still-saudi-arabia-will-not-make-back-time-smackdown-wwe-going/

They do have a backup plan though.

GEE!  WHO WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT COMING???  Sorry just had to get that out.

So yeah they’re not making it due to mechanical issues and, since it’s about a 14 hour flight, they’re not making it back.  WWE.com announced a show featuring Daniel Bryan, the Miz, Dana Brooke, Nikki Cross and surprises.  I’m sure FOX is THRILLED with this ragtag roster, but money talks and the Saudis are more important apparently.  Until they tick WWE off enough that the talent won’t go, but how could that ever happen?

I never thought I’d see the day but that’s very impressive. No this doesn’t change everything in Saudi Arabia but it’s cool to see WWE actually make something like this happen. I have no idea if Lacey Evans and Natalya will have any form of restrictions, but they’re on the show and that’s something.