IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: August 28, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Corey Graves, Vic Joseph

I’ve run out of ways to figure out what to expect from this show and in a way, that’s rather good around here. There is only so much you can expect with the rather limited roster around here and I’m not sure what to expect from that. We had a Cruiserweight Title match this week on NXT so it might be time for a new opponent. Or maybe a rematch since there was a loaded mask involved. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tehuti comes to the ring for a match but during his entrance, Miles talks about how a rookie like him should be learning from the veterans. He might be rookie of the year though and this show exists because of him. Hopefully a veteran can bring the best out of him. At least he has an opponent.

Tehuti Miles vs. Brian Kendrick

Brian hasn’t been around for awhile. Miles has to spin out of an early armbar and Kendrick drop toeholds his way out of a hammerlock. Some armdrags into an armbar have Kendrick down in an armbar and there’s another into another. Back up and Kendrick kicks him in the face for two and it’s off to an armbar on Miles for a change. Miles fights up and slugs away, followed by a dropkick for two more. The trash talk is on but Kendrick small packages him for the pin at 4:57.

Rating: C-. Kendrick is an interesting case as he keeps coming back and keeps feeling like a star despite not being much of one in a good while. That’s a natural talent that you can showcase very well if given a change. Kendrick looked fine here and Miles is starting to move up a bit by losing to bigger names. That might not sound like much, but they could get somewhere with letting him get a win.

Post match they shake hands and Kendrick says Miles has potential.

Tony Nese vs. Liam Gray

Nese runs him over with an elbow to the face to start and gets annoyed when Gray hits him in the ribs. A German suplex sends Gray into the corner and the Running Nese finishes at 1:40. Just a squash.

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch vs. Ever Rise

Lorcan armbars Martel to start but gets taken down into a headlock on the mat. It’s off to Burch to headlock Parker over as frustration sets in. Back up and Burch pulls a leapfrog out of the air (always cool to see) and a middle rope dropkick puts Parker down again. Martel trips Burch down though and drops a few elbows. The armbar goes on again but Burch throws him off and brings Lorcan back in, meaning it’s time for some loud house cleaning.

Everything breaks down and Parker breaks up a Doomsday Device. Lorcan is fine enough to hit a top rope flip dive to Martel, followed by a running Blockbuster for two more. Parker gets tossed outside so Lorcan tries to suplex him back in. Martel grabs the leg for the Warrior/Heenan/Rude finish but the referee catches him because Ever Rise can’t even cheat to beat someone. The referee yells at Martel and Burch Crossfaces Parker for the tap at 7:54.

Rating: C-. Ever Rise is a team who could do a few things around here and as long as they don’t go much further, they should be fine. Giving them the losing streak and having them complain about it is better than nothing, and since they seem like they’ll be sticking around, it’s better than nothing. Not the worst match either, but that might be due to Burch and Lorcan.

Overall Rating: C. The time makes a big difference here as the show is all of twenty six minutes long and it’s almost impossible to get annoyed at something so short. They didn’t really advance much but Kendrick vs. Miles could go somewhere for one of them. It’s not a good show or anything, but for twenty six minutes, I can think of a lot worse.

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: August 27, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton

We’re off to the Thunder Dome for the show and I’m not exactly expecting it to make that much of a difference. It’s also the last show before Payback, meaning we will be building to a show and recovering from another one at the same time. That could mean a few different things around here, though none of them are exactly thrilling. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Mustafa Ali vs. Arturo Ruas

Ali has to duck from an early kick to the head but a knee puts him down. Ruas kicks him in the arm to keep Ali in trouble and the martial arts are on full display. We hit the armbar on the mat but Ali gets in a few rollups for two each. Another shot to the arm cuts Ali off though and it’s off to an armbar to send Ali over to the ropes.

Ali comes back with a rolling…Codebreaker to the arm instead of the X Factor actually. A Crossface sends Ruas over to the rope for a change and Ruas’ missed charge goes into the post. Ruas tries a cross armbreaker but gets rolled up for two, followed by an Oklahoma roll to give Ali the pin at 5:39.

Rating: C. Now THIS is what Main Event could be as Ruas got in a lot and looked good instead of just getting squashed. They had me believing that the upset could be happening and that’s a hard thing to pull off, especially on a show like this. Not too bad, but then again that could just be Ali being his usual awesome self.

We look at Drew McIntyre retaining the Raw World Title against Randy Orton at Summerslam, plus Orton attacking him the following night on Raw.

From Raw.

Here’s Orton for a chat. Orton talks about doing whatever he wants to whomever he wants but that wasn’t the case last night. He promised everyone that he was going to RKO McIntyre and then kick him in the skull to take the title…but he didn’t. Orton is a lot of things and he has proven that he will always be the Legend Killer. He has killed a lot of legends recently and that’s what he was doing earlier when he kicked McIntyre twice in a row. Earlier tonight, Drew came out here and offered him a rematch out of pity. Does McIntyre know who he is?

He is Randy Orton….and here’s Keith Lee. Orton isn’t sure what to think of this so Lee says Orton looks perplexed. Lee: “Greetings and salutations Mr. Orton.” Lee thought Orton might want to take this chance to bask in his glory. Orton has been called a lot of things over the years, as has Lee, but the only thing that is true is that Lee is limitless. The challenge is issued for right now and Orton says….maybe later. I can go for more of Lee and I’ll take this over squashing some jobber.

From Raw.

Randy Orton vs. Keith Lee

Lee shoves him away to start and gets in a leapfrog, followed by a big shove out to the floor. Back in and Orton’s right hand is caught, allowing Lee to hit a standing overhead belly to belly. Orton bails to the floor again and this time Lee follows for a…failed posting attempt as Orton sends him shoulder first in instead. Orton stomps away back inside and covers, with Lee firing him off with the kickout.

The chinlock into a sleeper goes on but Lee drives him into the corner for the quick break. Lee hits the running corner splash and a crossbody takes Orton down again. Orton gets knocked outside again but Lee throws him back inside this time, only to get kicked in the face to set up the hanging DDT. Orton loads up the RKO but here’s McIntyre for the DQ at 4:47.

Rating: C. I’m not sure on this one as Lee got in a good about of impressive stuff and wasn’t beaten when McIntyre interfered, but the match ended with Lee down and Orton loading up his finisher. Lee didn’t need to pin Orton here, but it could have had a little better ending. Like Orton walking out for a countout or something, as the McIntyre match is all but already set.

Later in the night, Orton Punted McIntyre for a third time.

We look at Asuka winning the Raw Women’s Title at Summerslam.

From Raw.

Raw Women’s Title: Asuka vs. Sasha Banks

Asuka is defending in a lumberjack match. Banks is sent outside in a hurry and a hip attack knocks her off the apron again. Baszler stares Bayley down for daring to help Banks up and we take a break. Back with Banks kicking Asuka down but getting reversed into the ankle lock. Asuka is kicked out to the floor though and Banks dives at her, only to hit the Riott Squad by mistake.

That lets Asuka get up and hit a sliding shot off the apron to take Banks down again. Asuka goes after Bayley, who throws lumberjacks at her to avoid a bad case of death. Banks gets in a cheap shot from behind and nails the frog splash for two back inside. Bayley tries to throw in a chair but Baszler makes the save, leaving Banks to get Asuka Locked for the tap at 7:41.

Rating: C+. There was too much going on here and it was a far cry from what they did last night. The bigger problem though is having the same people face each other so often. They have a lot of talented people in the division but it is rare to see someone new getting into the title picture. Banks, Bayley and Asuka (and Becky Lynch and Charlotte) have been the divisions for a long time now and they need to do something different. Look around the ring and pick someone. Who isn’t Nia Jax.

Video on the Fiend becoming Universal Champion and Roman Reigns returning at the end of Summerslam.

Ricochet vs. vs. Humberto Carrillo

This could be fun. After a slap of hands, they fight over wristlocks to start with Ricochet taking him down to work on the arm. Back up and a running hurricanrana sends Carrillo to the floor, setting up the backflip into the superhero pose. More respect is shown before Carrillo headscissors him out to the floor and strikes his own pose. That means more respect, which is broken up as Ricochet superkicks him to the floor.

Back from a break with both guys escaping suplexes and Carrillo grabbing a rollup for two. A jumping spinning kick to the head drops Ricochet and a dropkick puts him down again. Carrillo’s missile dropkick gets two but Ricochet rolls to the apron before the moonsault. Ricochet rolls through a high crossbody and a quick Recoil finishes Carrillo at 9:52.

Rating: C+. Let two talented high fliers have a high flying match for a few minutes. It’s an idea that has worked forever so why not do it again here? This worked out rather well and while I would rather Ricochet be doing something on Raw, I’ll take what I can get in the situation. At least it got some time too.

We look at Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins from Summerslam.

From Raw.

Rey Mysterio/Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins/Buddy Murphy

The Mysterios jump them on the floor before the bell and the fight is on in a hurry. Dominik and Murphy start things off with Dominik dropkicking him to the floor and knocking Rollins into the announcers’ table. A backdrop puts Murphy on the floor again and Rey hits a….something that the camera misses to send Rollins into the barricade. Rollins is left alone in the ring and it’s a dropkick into a failed 619 attempt from Rey. Dominik dives onto both of them and we take a break.

Back with Rollins mocking Rey for not being able to make the tag but Rey scores with the sitout bulldog. Murphy cuts off the tag to Dominik but Rey scores with an enziguri, allowing the hot tag. A springboard crossbody gets two on Murphy and Dominik sends him into the corner. The tornado DDT gives Dominik two but he has to slip out of the buckle bomb. Rey comes in off the hot tag and it’s a double 619 to Murphy. Dominik goes up….and it’s Retribution to destroy the Mysterios for the DQ at 10:00.

Rating: C. While I didn’t need to see any combination of these four again, above all else they kept it WAY shorter than last night and that’s a big improvement. Dominik has the skills to hang in there in short bursts but there is only so much that you can do in a match that goes on that long. Retribution showing up suggests that things may be finally moving on, but dang it took some time to get us here.

Post match the beatdown is on with Rollins and Murphy watching from the stage as Retribution (six of them this time) leave the Mysterios laying to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Not too shabby here with a pair of matches featuring people I like so I can’t complain all that much. There was no point in focusing on Smackdown whatsoever as it came before Summerslam and nothing mattered at that point. There wasn’t much focus on Payback here, but that could be because there was nothing set up for the show when the Main Event stuff was filmed. If that is true (and it might not be), should tell you a lot about the problems with the company at the moment.

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: August 21, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Drew Gulak, Vic Joseph

What does it mean when 205 Live comes to the Thunderdome? Probably not all that much as last week’s show was pretty much nothing. That’s what happens when you fall back on the same wrestlers who didn’t work in the first place and still don’t now that more time has passed. Maybe they can go with some of the good stuff this time so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Drake Maverick vs. Tehuti Miles

Well it could be worse. Hold on though as Miles wants to make sure that his shiny fanny pack is placed in the corner before heading outside. After taking his time combing his hair, Miles comes back in for a lockup so he can take Drake down. Maverick goes after him in the corner so Miles hides in the ropes and stops to comb his hair. That earns him a dropkick to the floor and the beating is on, with Gulak suggesting that his former boss get him.

Miles manages to send Maverick back first into the post for two and we hit the chinlock. Maverick reverses and grabs some rollups for two each as the pace picks up. Miles can’t get a Boston crab but he can hit a clothesline. That means the arrogance can start up again and Maverick slugs away. A running forearm into the bulldog drops Miles again and the top rope elbow connects. The Underdog finishes Miles at 7:45.

Rating: C-. I was into Miles more than usual here so at least they might be getting a little somewhere. Maverick has lost a lot of the steam that he had before the contract deal but this is better than going elsewhere (in theory). Not much to the match here, but I’ll take Maverick over some of the other options that we have around here.

Jake Atlas vs. Tony Nese

They lock up to start with Nese grabbing a waistlock. That’s switched into an armbar but Atlas reverses into a headlock on the mat. Nese fights up and takes him into a corner, only to be armdragged out of another corner, setting up a dropkick. We hit the cravate on Nese but he reverses a headlock into a belly to back suplex. Nese goes with the neck crank, followed by a spinning kick to Atlas’ seated face for two.

Back up and Atlas hits a forearm out of the corner and a springboard Blockbuster gives him his own two. Nese kicks him in the head to block a sunset flip and the Lionsault is good for another near fall. They slug it out and Nese is backdropped to the floor, setting up a suicide dive. Back in and Nese hides from the cartwheel DDT but stops to yell at Gulak, allowing Atlas to grab a rollup for the pin at 10:36.

Rating: C. This wasn’t half bad actually and well done on giving someone fresh a rub. Atlas is someone who could go a little somewhere around here and this could be a nice start for him. I can go with building someone up and if Atlas is the person they go with, there are worse ideas out there.

Post match Nese jumps him again and hits the Running Nese (with a bad camera angle showing that it hit Atlas in the arm). With Atlas down, Nese picks up the 205 Live cover on the announcers’ table and says this show is nothing without him to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Not a terrible show here and a big improvement over last week. The show still feels like it just goes from week to week most of the time though and that is one of the biggest problems around. Some things will build, but they are almost always short term and rarely lead anywhere. Even if it’s a standalone show, I’ll take some passable matches with better names than what we got last week.

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: August 20, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton

It’s the final show of any series in the Performance Center despite this being the show that needs to be in the place. I would say that I don’t know is going on here but you can pretty much guarantee what you’re going to be seeing. It helps that this is the go home show for Summerslam so they’re going to have a focus at least. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Bianca Belair vs. Billie Kay

Peyton Royce is here with Kay. Belair drives her into the corner for an early clean break before taking it to the mat with no real effort. Kay can’t get a single leg as Belair blocks her with straight power and the hiptoss connects. Belair bounces around a bit but Peyton’s distraction lets Kay connect with Shades of Kay for two. We hit the seated abdominal stretch but Belair powers up and takes her into the corner. Belair hits a dropkick into a nip up and she heads up top. After kicking Peyton away and having to dive over a charging Kay, it’s the KOD for the pin at 6:20.

Rating: D+. How many times can Belair beat these two up? It feels like something she does when she’s bored, which is rather often as she doesn’t exactly do anything outside of yelling at the Street Profits. I could go for Belair doing something else on a bigger stage, but for now this is about all she’s going to be asked to do.

From Smackdown.

Post break Strowman says Fiend knows what he’s getting at Summerslam so get out here and face your fears. Strowman is going to eviscerate him and consume his entrails…but here’s Alexa Bliss instead. She says they need to talk but Strowman says she used him. He’s like a pawn that she used to get him to sing songs in her stupid car. Bliss wants to know what is going on, so Strowman explains that the Fiend changes everyone, including her. So get out of here, because he wants the Fiend.

Bliss tells him to be careful what he wishes for and offers to slap some sense into him. She demands he look at her and hits a heck of a slap before doing it over and over. Strowman picks her up in a gorilla press…and there go the lights. Strowman shouts for the Fiend and slams Bliss down as the lights go completely out. They come back in red with Fiend having replaced Strowman. Strowman appears on the screen and laughs, with Fiend doing the same, to end the show.

The Bliss stuff is a little more interesting but when you have Strowman reading what sounds like the results you get from looking up your promo in a thesaurus, you can only take it so seriously. Strowman still can’t talk and since his entire character is built around being really strong, he doesn’t have the emotional depth to make something like this work out. Also it has been about three months now and they need to wrap it up already.

We look at Seth Rollins and Murphy injuring Dominik Mysterio.

From Raw.

Here are the Mysterios with Rey talking about how hard this has been on the two of them. It was torture seeing Dominik beaten down last week but no doctor is keeping him away from Summerslam. Rey is going to be in Dominik’s corner at Summerslam, but Dominik says he knew what he was getting into. Rollins and Murphy pop up on screen and promise to destroy both Mysterios at Summerslam. The Mysterio name will be destroyed, so Rey says get out here. Cue the two of them and the Mysterios bail…and come back in with kendo sticks to clean house.

Summerslam rundown.

Humberto Carrillo vs. Murphy

They fight over a lockup to start until Murphy takes him down with an armbar. Carrillo fights up with some chops into a headlock but they start running the ropes. A running hurricanrana takes Murphy to the floor and we take a break. Back with Murphy stomping away in the corner and hitting some forearms to the spine. A kick to the same place gets two and Carrillo is sent outside for a slingshot dropkick.

Back in and Murphy asks where these fans were when Aleister Black and Dominik were hurt. Murphy whips him hard into the corner and the referee even asks Carrillo if he wants to continue. A missed charge lets Carrillo unload in the same corner and a missile dropkick to the back gives Carrillo two. Back up and Murphy blasts him with a running knee for the sudden pin at 10:09.

Rating: C-. Carrillo has fallen pretty far in a hurry and I can’t say I’m all that surprised. Ignoring the fact that Carrillo has basically been replaced by Dominik Mysterio as Rey’s little buddy, there is only so much you can expect from him. He can do things in the ring but has no personality to speak of, so how far could he be expected to go? Murphy is his usual self: talented but stuck as a lackey instead of his own man.

Long video on Retribution.

From Raw.

Here’s Shawn Michaels to show us what happened to Ric Flair again. Shawn talks about how the 31 days Flair spent on his death bed were some of the hardest days of all of our lives (uh….). Without Flair, there would be no Shawn, HHH, Edge, Christian, Big Show or Drew McIntyre (UH…….). Randy Orton is on that list as well and then he had the nerve to take out Flair last week. Shawn doesn’t know how it is going to happen but it is going to happen at Summerslam. Maybe it’s from Sweet Chin Music or the Claymore, but someone is going to give Randy what he deserves. Whatever it is, Orton is going to see it coming.

Shawn goes to leave and there’s the RKO into the Punt. McIntyre runs in to run Orton off and a referee comes out to check on Shawn. Orton comes back and McIntyre beats the heck out of him, including throwing him over the announcers’ table. McIntyre checks on Shawn but Orton comes back in again for the RKO as Shawn can’t get up to end the show. This was as expected, including the over the top praise of Ric Flair, because Shawn and HHH still haven’t officially opened their eternal shrine to him.

Overall Rating: D+. Totally run of the mill Main Event here and that’s not a good thing to say. It’s not a show that has any real life to it and I don’t think that is going to change in the near future. Maybe the Thunderdome aspect can help things, but dang man. You can’t use this place for some character development with maybe a promo or two? Just try to do something with the resources you have. Why is that so much to ask?

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: August 14, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Drew Gulak

The show was starting to come together but then they brought back Ariya Daivari and my soul was stabbed all over again. For the life of me I still don’t get why he is treated as such a big deal around here but he is going to be around here no matter what until the end of time. Hopefully the other stuff on here works a bit better. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Ever Rise

Santos Escobar is here with Legado and this is the result of an open challenge from Ever Rise. Raul Mendoza and Matt Martel start things off with Martel cranking on the arm. It’s quickly off to Chase Parker to continue the arm pulling but Joaquin Wilde tags himself in for a quick DDT. The chinlock is on in a hurry and Martel starts what sounds like a DEFENSE chant.

Mendoza takes him down into a chinlock and pulls Parker down to cut off a comeback attempt. Parker fights up and shoves him into the corner though, allowing the hot tag off to Martel. Everything breaks down and Mendoza gets a blind tag to snap Martel’s throat across the top. The Russian legsweep/kick to the face finishes Martel at 5:49.

Rating: C-. Not terrible here but Ever Rise suddenly being faces isn’t going to make them any more interesting. If it means we don’t have to hear them talk any more, it’s at least an improvement though. Legado racking up wins is a good idea, as you need Escobar’s lackeys to be strong. Just try to find anything more interesting for Ever Rise. It can’t be that hard.

We look back at Ariya Daivari’s amazing, incredible, earth shattering return last week.

Ariya Daivari vs. Jake Atlas

Daivari hides in the ropes to start (although in a very exciting way of course). Atlas grabs a headlock takeover and Daivari can’t get out immediately, giving us a rather fascinating display of flailing limbs (only he could make that work). Vic talks about Daivari being a 205 Live original, which must be a compliment and not an indictment against him for not being able to get anywhere other than the lowest show in the company for almost four years.

Daivari gets in a neckbreaker over the middle rope and hammers away in the corner. We hit the armbar (and a THRILLING one at that) on Atlas, followed by a forearm to cut him down again. Atlas fights up anyway and it’s a German suplex into an enziguri for two. Daivari’s hammerlock lariat misses and Atlas knees him in the face. The Blockbuster connects but Daivari bails to the floor.

That means a suicide dive but Daivari gets in a cheap shot and unhooks the turnbuckle pad (cheating is acceptable when you’re that fascinating). The referee doesn’t allow it (pest getting in the way of greatness) so Daivari pokes Atlas in the eye and hits a hammerlock lariat (real wrestlers can win a match with a clothesline) for the pin at 9:21.

Rating: D+. More of the same that we’ve always seen from Daivari, without the one good looking move that he has in the Persian splash. I’ve ranted about Daivari enough over his time here and while that doesn’t make it any easier, it does make me wonder who in the world he has blackmail on. You would think there was SOMEONE else in WWE to push over him but apparently this is as good as we can get. We’re just that lucky I guess.

Overall Rating: D+. This was the flat show that I’ve been expecting over the last few weeks as there is no reason to believe that this show’s warm streak is ever going to continue. They either don’t know how to make it work long term or they would rather just go with the bare bones stuff that they do here. Nothing to see here, with the focus being on making Daivari a thing. Again. After it worked so well all those other times.

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: August 13, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton

We’re coming up on Summerslam and that means we should be in for a lot of big time recaps. I’m not sure what to expect other than that, but it isn’t like we’re going to be seeing anything of note otherwise. Hopefully the show goes along well enough this week, but you never can tell. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Billie Kay vs. Ruby Riott

They’re both here alone. Kay’s headlock doesn’t last long as Riott hammers away, only to get shouldered right back down. That means a cartwheel into the pose from Kay, who is taken down with an STO into a pose from Riott. Serves her right. They go to the apron with Kay hitting a kick to the head, followed by an armbar back inside. Riott is back with a bunch of forearms into a rollup for two but walks into a Regal Cutter for the same. The big boot misses though and Riott hits the Riott Kick for the pin at 4:59.

Rating: D+. Another match which would only be on Main Event, which is better than having it on Raw. At least Riott gets a win here, as it isn’t likely to happen outside of very special occasions on the important shows. I’m not sure why WWE is so obsessed with keeping her at the bottom of the totem pole but she has been there long enough already.

Video on Raw Underground.

Long video on Bray Wyatt vs. Braun Strowman.

And now, the Fiend. After his entrance and a break, we see Alexa Bliss sitting in front of him and looking scared. Fiend goes to the corner and crawls over to her, with Bliss rubbing his face. Strowman’s voice comes up to pull the Fiend away and he pops up on the screen. Strowman says this wasn’t going to work because all he cares about is destroying the Fiend. He tried to fight it but gave into the evil within and is fulfilling his destiny. Strowman is the thing that nightmares are made of and he is the monster. Fiend can have whatever he wants because at Summerslam, he is facing the monster. Strowman says let him in.

As usual, Strowman cannot talk to save his life and might as well be reading off the cue cards. I’m not sure if this was the end of the Bliss aspect of the story, but if that is the case, it feels like another case of setting something up and then changing their mind AGAIN, possibly because it could have been interesting and that cannot happen.

We open with Samoa Joe in the ring for a contract signing. Seth Rollins comes out with Murphy, followed by Dominik, because they really do think this is what we should use to keep the fans’ interest early. Dominik comes out with a kendo stick and Rollins laughs him off for treating this like a joke. Joe doesn’t think much of Rollins treating this as a joke and asks why Rollins is acting like this. Why did he take out Rey Mysterio’s eye, have Murphy take out Aleister Black’s eye, and think about going for Joe’s eye last week?

Rollins threatens Joe and says that he himself is the only one with no choice in this whole thing. He goes into a rant about everything he has done around here with everyone not thinking anything of his efforts. All he is doing is for the greater good and when is it going to be enough? Dominik says it never will be because Rollins’ greater good is for himself. Rollins calls him ungrateful because everything Dominik is doing is because of him.

Dominik is ready to go, so Rollins says Dominik wouldn’t last ten seconds against him in a regular wrestling match. That’s why Rollins is going to do him a favor: Dominik can bring his kendo stick at Summerslam. Or any weapon he wants for that matter, so there are no excuses. Rollins and Dominik both sign, with Rollins being rather pleased.

Seth Rollins vs. Humberto Carrillo

Rollins grabs an armbar to start and sends Carrillo to the apron. Carrillo comes back in with a sunset flip and hammers away in the corner, only to get crotched on top. The belly to back superplex is broken up but Murphy’s distraction means no moonsault. Dominik kendo sticks Murphy though and Rollins gets the boots up to block the moonsault. A superkick sets up a powerbomb into the Stomp to finish Carrillo at 3:03.

Rating: D+. The match was decent enough but the lack of interest in anything they’re doing here hurts things a lot. There is only so much that can be done with such an uninteresting story and hopefully they make a change. It seems that they’re teasing Samoa Joe getting involved somehow, and that’s probably as good of a move as they can make. Dominik isn’t ready for this and that becomes ore obvious every week.

Post match Rollins and Mysterio beat Dominik down, including a series of hard kendo stick shots. Rollins even takes the shirt off so the shots can hurt more. Murphy and Rollins tie him into the ropes with Rollins saying HI DAD over and over. With Dominik still helpless, Rollins has Murphy grab some more kendo sticks and now Murphy gets in his own shots. The double beating continues with Murphy saying that Dominik is a WWE Superstar now. This was a heck of a brutal beatdown with Dominik being destroyed and I do want to see him get back up and fight. Just find something else to say about him other than he’s Rey’s son.

Angel Garza vs. Titus O’Neil

Titus powers him around to start and shrugs off the chops. A big chop has Garza in trouble and it’s already time to go to the floor. Back up and Garza manages a kick to the head, only to get slammed down. Titus clotheslines him outside and we take a break. Back with Garza choking on the ropes and TAKING OFF HIS PANTS, setting up the STF.

That sends Titus bailing to the ropes (as it should) so Garza superkicks him into a sleeper. Titus powers up and throws him down, followed by the running splash in the corner. Garza is right back with a pair of superkicks and the basement dropkick square in the jaw finishes Titus at 11:11.

Rating: D. I often wonder how Titus still has a job, but then you read a story or two about his charity work and wonder how WWE ever got along without him. No his matches aren’t good, but he comes off as one of the greatest human beings ever in wrestling and it can do WWE a lot of good to keep him on the payroll. Oh and Garza was here too.

Quick look at Asuka beating Bayley on Raw.

Video on Retribution.

And then to Raw, just after Randy Orton beat Kevin Owens.

Post match Flair poses with Orton, who wants a microphone. Orton asks Flair to hang on a second and we take a break. Back with Orton saying he loves Flair after all these years, but he shouldn’t have been in this match with Owens. Of course he cares about Flair, but they will not be together any longer. Flair is a liability to him these days and that can no longer be the case. About eighteen years ago, Flair bailed Orton out of trouble in Peoria, Illinois and Orton thinks that he did it because he wanted Orton to be the son that he never had.

Flair starts crying and Orton talks down to him over having a pacemaker and going into a coma last week. Is this the best that Flair can be? Flair says that he’s not the same man he was before but there are some things that Orton wants to hear. Of course Flair wants to be in the spotlight. He’s 71 years old and he’s on Raw. Flair wants to be there with Orton when he wins his 14^th, 15^th, 16^th and 17^th World Title. He doesn’t want to see Orton beat John Cena’s record, because it’s his record.

Orton knows what it’s like to be where Flair was because Orton’s dad did it for years. Flair knows Orton is the greatest of all time and as soon as he got out of intensive care for 31 days and out of a coma for 12 of them, all he wanted to do was tell the people he cared about that he loved them. All he is now is Charlotte’s dad so he wants to have a good time with Orton.

They hug, but Orton hits him low and leaves Flair laying. Orton looks down at him, goes to the corner, waits for the lights to flicker, and then hits the Punt (with the lights off so we don’t see the contact in a clever way around it) to end Flair. Orton whispers something to Flair and here’s Drew McIntyre to chase Orton off, shouting “EVEN HIM???” Medics and Adam Pearce come out to tend to Flair.

Overall Rating: D. They’re trying to make me care about Main Event and I really just don’t care. It isn’t a good build to the pay per view and I don’t see how much better it could actually get much better in the little time that they have left. The rest of the show was your usual Main Event fair, but given how bad the build has been to Summerslam, nothing was saving this one.

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

Saturday Night’s Main Event #32
Date: March 18, 2006
Location: Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Attendance: 7,000
Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross, Tazz

And then there’s this, as we need a two hour commercial for Wrestlemania. The main event is a handicap match between the John Cena/HHH (the Raw main event) and Rey Mysterio/Kurt Angle/Randy Orton (the Smackdown main event), though it could wind up at any part of the show. There’s also Shawn Michaels vs. Shane McMahon in a street fight, which could have some strong potential. Let’s get to it.

Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon promise to destroy Shawn Michaels tonight.

Shawn Michaels says if he’s going down, Shane is coming with him.

HHH is going to be champion again at Wrestlemania when he beats John Cena. Cue Cena to say HHH is tagging with the champ tonight.

JBL admits that it was a bad idea to challenge Steve Austin to a beer drinking contest but he’ll teach Austin something tonight.

The Boogeyman is coming to get us.

I miss these fifteen second promos. Why don’t we get these things more often today?

Opening sequence.

HHH/John Cena vs. Randy Orton/Kurt Angle/Rey Mysterio

Cena and Orton slug it out to start but Angle tags himself in and suplexes Cena down. There’s another suplex but it’s too early for the Angle Slam. Instead Cena hits a spinebuster as the arena is rather full of smoke from the pyro. HHH comes in so Angle suplexes him for a change. There’s the tag to Rey for a few near falls on HHH until he pokes him in the eye. Cena shoulders Rey down but a headscissors takes HHH over for a change. HHH pulls Cena out of the way of the 619 and blasts Rey with a clothesline as we take a break.

Back with HHH sending Rey hard into the barricade, much to Cena’s annoyance. Cena won’t tag in but Angle does come in to break up a cover off a spinebuster. The sleeper cuts off the EDDIE chants but Rey is out in a hurry. Rey knocks HHH off the top though and hits the moonsault. A dropkick is enough for the hot tag to Orton, who gets beaten up by Cena in a hurry.

The FU hits Orton but HHH Pedigrees Cena and walks out. Actually hold on as HHH comes back and puts Orton on top…and Mysterio breaks up the cover. HHH Pedigrees Mysterio but gets taken out by Angle. There’s an RKO to Angle but Cena counters another RKO into a rollup to finish Orton.

Rating: C. The wrestling wasn’t the point here but it was a good idea to have the pin be a fluke. It also made sense to have such complete insanity for most of the ending, as it fit everything that was going on. None of these people wanted to team together and it wasn’t like this was anything more than a spectacle. They didn’t treat it as anything such either and that was the right idea here.

Cena and HHH pose at each other.

Here’s who is going into the Hall of Fame.

Booker T. has a bad knee and can’t face Boogeyman tonight. Teddy Long cancels the match and Booker limps out of the trainer’s room with Sharmell. They both break into big smiles.

Here are Edge and Lita for the Cutting Edge, complete with a table covered in weapons. Tonight’s guest is Mick Foley, who is so pathetic that all he can do is say a city’s name and put a sock on his hand. That isn’t exactly cutting edge, so Edge wants him out here right now for the Wrestlemania beating.

Cue Foley, with Edge lighting the table on fire. Foley turns it over and beats Edge up before pouring out the thumbtacks. Lita gets in a cheap shot though and Edge knocks Foley onto the tacks. Foley gets up, smiles, and chases Edge up the ramp for a neckbreaker. He even gets extra violent with a Conchairto. Once Edge started talking, this whole thing was only about six minutes long.

Long recap on Vince McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels. They’ve done a very good job of making me want to see Shawn superkick his head off so well done on the build.

Sharmell and Booker have gotten changed and dance in happiness. Cue Boogeyman from the ceiling and they run off screaming through the hall.

It’s time for the beer drinking contest between Steve Austin and JBL, who Texas Two Steps out of the limo. After another opening sequence for the second hour (or second hour and ten minutes or so), JBL talks about how happy NBC is to have him on the show. JBL gets in the insults to Detroit, including the jokes about the carmakers, the labor unions, the mayor, and of course the sports teams. He’ll win the US Title at Wrestlemania and make everything better, but here’s Austin in the truck to cut him off.

Austin says it’s good to be on this show and back in Detroit, but he’s thirsty. He doesn’t understand why JBL challenged him to the contest and thinks JBL is about 6’1 and 205lbs. JBL tries to correct him and talks about drinking a case of beer for breakfast and fifteen pitchers for lunch. That sends JBL into a rant about how Austin tries to buck the system but here are the rules for the contest. Austin: “All right.”

JBL has Canadian beer and they each have 25 beers with a minute to drink each. He insists that they go back to back, with JBL insisting that he isn’t Brokeback Mountain. Austin: “No comment.” JBL mentions the one minute time limit and Austin asks if he’s a one minute man. JBL: “You been talking to my wife?” They start, with JBL pouring his beer out instead of drinking it. Austin calls him out so JBL throws a beer at him and runs. Cue Chris Benoit to throw JBL back in for more beer dousing and the Stunner to complete the extended cameo.

Candice Michelle and Victoria admire Candice’s Playboy cover.

Candice Michelle/Victoria vs. Trish Stratus/Mickie James

JR: “Mickie James is a little psycho.” We get a recap of Mickie’s obsession with Trish and we’re ready to go. Trish and Candice start things off, so of course we get the Go Daddy dance. Candice chokes away both with hands and rope, allowing Victoria to get in a kick to the face. The slingshot flipping legdrop gives Victoria two and we hit the front facelock. The fans are rather pleased with Mickie bouncing on the bottom rope to cheer Trish on and Trish throws Victoria off. Victoria is smart enough to knock Mickie off the ropes, only to walk into Stratusfaction for the fast pin.

Post match Mickie says this is goodbye, but she wants to say it the right way. She tries to kiss Trish but only gets the cheek, allowing Mickie to hit the Chick Kick and scream a lot. Mickie even hits the Stratusfaction, with Lawler saying she doesn’t get even but she gets odd.

During the break, Mickie says she loved Trish and shouts if Trish loves her now.

Wrestlemania rundown, including Booker T. vs. Boogeyman.

Here are Mark Henry and Daivari for a chat. After a video on Henry attacking Undertaker and the casket match being set up as a result and a break, Daivari rants about how Henry isn’t scared of anything, including Undertaker. Henry says Undertaker is afraid of him and he will shove Undertaker into the coffin.

There’s the gong and the druids bring out the casket, followed by Undertaker himself. After the long entrance, the slugout is on with Henry running him over. They head outside with Undertaker whipping him into the steps and then chokeslamming Daivari onto the casket. A Tombstone puts him onto the casket as well as Henry is gone.

Shawn Michaels vs. Shane McMahon

Street fight and Vince is here with Shane. Shawn runs up the ramp to jump Shane and we start in a hurry. A chair goes over Shane’s back and Shawn loads up an early table. Vince gets in a cheap shot from behind to put Shawn down though and Shane throws in a ladder. Shawn goes back first into the post twice in a row and Shane climbs the ladder. Shawn doesn’t stay on the table long though and superplexes Shane from the ladder (in the ring) through the tables (on the floor) for the huge crash to send us to a break.

Back with Shawn knocking Shane down again and loading up the ladder in the corner. Shawn climbs said ladder but Vince gets in a few kendo stick shots to the back to knock him back down. Shane drops the ladder onto Shawn’s back and Vince is rather pleased. It works so well that Shane does it again for two and there’s the running ladder shot to the face for the same. We hit the double arm crank for a breather but Shawn is up with a DDT. Shane is fine enough to chair him in the face but Coast To Coast misses, with Shawn pulling Vince in the way of the trashcan.

There’s the flying forearm into the nipup and the comeback is on. The top rope elbow connects and Sweet Chin Music does the same, only to have Vince pull the referee out. Shawn goes after Vince but Shane gets in a low blow, setting up the Sharpshooter. Vince immediately calls for the bell to give Shane the win. JR: “Michaels has been castrated of his dignity!” JR never was one to let things feel small.

Rating: B-. They beat each other up well, but that big superplex spot was a weird thing to put in the first half of the match. It worked out well enough though and the anger continues to build in Shawn, to the point where he should be ready to annihilate Vince at Wrestlemania. It was a story building match, but it was entertaining at the same time.

Overall Rating: C. This was nothing but a big commercial for Wrestlemania and in that sense it worked out well enough. Nothing on here is overly bad and the show really did seem to fly by. It isn’t a show you need to see, but it also isn’t anything that you would regret watching. The energy was there and for a one off special to set up a big show, it was perfectly fine.

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: August 7, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Drew Gulak, Vic Joseph

We’re back to the cruiserweights and for the first time in a good while, that doesn’t sound like a complete waste of time. Things have been getting a little interesting around here, or at least as interesting as a show regularly featuring Tony Nese and Ever Rise is going to be. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ever Rise vs. Mikey Spandex/Marquis Carter

Let’s get these goofs out of the way early. Parker armbars Spandex (what a name) to start as Gulak talks about proper fish tank maintenance. Parker misses a charge, allowing Spandex to slam him for one. It’s off to Parker to knock Spandex down and stomp away but he gets in a dropkick for a breather.

Carter comes in for some running forearms and a springboard elbow gets one on Martel. That’s about it for Carter, who gets taken down into a backbreaker/running knee combination as the fans seem to be cheering for Ever Rise. I know these people are paid but is it really worth that much? Anyway the elevated Codebreaker finishes Spandex at 4:15.

Rating: D+. Well that happened, as I guess we are supposed to care about Ever Rise now? I mean, I can’t imagine many people do, but you do need to give them a win every now and then to make sure the important teams beating them gets a little something. The team isn’t so much bad as they are lame, and in a lot of ways that’s a lot worse, as has been the case with them so far.

We see Legado del Fantasma kidnapping Fandango on NXT, and what happened later that night.

Here is Legado del Fantasma for a chat and they carry Fandango out with him. Escobar talks about how they come out here every week and try to explain that they are just better because lucha libre is not a gimmick. Fandango is thrown over the barricade and then inside, with Escobar talking about Breezango playing dress up. They spit in the face of Escobar and the disrespect stops right now. The rest of the team goes after Fandango and cut off an invading Tyler Breeze as well. Escobar says anyone who speaks his name again will face the same future.

Tony Nese vs. Danny Burch

Oney Lorcan is here with Nese. They lock up to start with neither getting anywhere. The threat of the half crab sends Nese bailing to the ropes so Lorcan takes him to the mat and works on the arm instead. Nese’s waistlock is countered into a headlock so Nese rolls over to the ropes again. Back up and Nese starts the dodging, setting up an elbow to the face for two.

The chinlock goes on but Burch fights up and grabs a headlock takeover. That’s broken up with a belly to back suplex for two and it’s off to the front facelock. Burch’s throat is snapped across the top rope and the Lionsault connects, but Burch is already in the ropes. At least he didn’t waste time. Nese stays on the ribs with a bodyscissors before throwing a chinlock in for a bonus.

That’s broken up as well and Burch clotheslines him into the corner. A suplex gives Burch two and Nese pretty easily loses a slugout. Nese kicks him in the face for two of his own, followed by a second to keep Burch down. The 450 misses but here’s Ariya Daivari to rake Lorcan’s eyes. Lorcan is sent into the Plexiglas and seems to bang up his knee, but he sends Burch back to the ring anyway. Burch sends Nese into a variety of things and grabs a hanging DDT for the pin at 10:53.

Rating: C. WHY DOES DAIVARI HAVE TO KEEP COMING BACK TO THIS FREAKING SHOW??? He isn’t interesting now, he wasn’t interesting before and he is never going to be interesting, but for some reason he has one of those job for life deals and keeps coming back despite never being anything that matters in the slightest. Is ANYONE going to be upset if he isn’t on the show and someone else can get his spot? I actually groaned when I saw him show up and that’s one of the worst reactions you can have for any wrestler. WWE seems to need one on every show though, and I guess Daivari is this show’s version.

Overall Rating: D+. Daivari’s appearance alone sucked the life out of this show for me, which is saying a lot on a show featuring Ever Rise in one of the two matches. I’m not big on Nese but somehow he was the second best thing about the show. This was a major downward spiral for the show and I’m almost scared to see where it is going. Just because someone is on the roster doesn’t mean you have to use them, and that is where 205 Live gets confused. Someone pay Daivari to sit at home already and let the show go somewhere. That isn’t going to happen though, as the 205 Live cycle continues.

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: August 6, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips

Let the recapping continue as we move towards Summerslam at what somehow feels like a rushed and slow pace at the same time. This week’s TV featured the big ideas of Retribution and Raw Underground, both of which could be quite interesting if WWE can pull off a miracle. I’m not sure how they are going to go in short form, but WWE has done weirder things. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Humberto Carrillo vs. Arturo Ruas

Ruas has been on NXT before and has spent a good deal of time in Evolve. Carrillo ducks a big kick to the head to start and they grapple into the corner. An armbar takes Carrillo down but he spins out of a wristlock without much effort. A crossbody sends Ruas into the corner for a running dropkick to the floor. Ruas is back inside before the dive though and that means a jumping knee to the face back inside. Back in and Ruas kicks away before grabbing the quickly broken chinlock. An armbar works a bit better but Ruas misses a running knee in the corner. The high crossbody gives Carrillo two and it’s a torture rack into a faceplant for the pin on Ruas at 5:27.

Rating: C-. Yeah it’s still Carrillo, but it is nice to see someone fresh in there with him. WWE has this many people in and around Orlando so bring them onto the show and spice things up a little bit. It isn’t a great match or anything, but at least they did something fresh for a change.

From Smackdown.

We go to the Firefly Fun House where Bray Wyatt has a snorkel because he was looking for Braun Strowman. Though maybe the alligators have already eaten Braun. All Bray ever wanted to do was save Braun but now HE is awake and HE wants something Braun has. Until HE gets it, none of you are safe. Let him in.

From Smackdown again.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bayley vs. Nikki Cross

Bayley is defending and Sasha Banks and Alexa Bliss are the seconds. Cross starts fast by knocking Bayley around and hitting a monkey flip. The Purge is broken up so Nikki slams her head first into the mat over and over. Bayley is back with a shot in the ropes but Nikki sends her outside in a crash as we take a break. We come back with Bayley running Nikki over and sending her into the buckle. A belly to back suplex drops Nikki on her head for two but a shot to the throat gets her out of trouble.

There’s a tornado DDT for two on Bayley and a reverse DDT onto the apron has her in more trouble. Back in and Nikki gets two off a Regal Cutter but Bayley snaps her throat first across the rope. Bayley goes over to the announcers’ table to mock Nikki’s dance for reasons of general cockiness, allowing Nikki to take her down by the leg. A dropkick through the ropes takes Sasha down and they fight over some rollups for two each. Bayley pops back up and hits the bulldog driver to retain at 10:30.

Rating: C+. They were just starting to cook and then Bayley finished her in a hurry to retain. It didn’t last long but they had me believing they might pull the surprise for a bit. That’s hard to do given how dominant Bayley has been but they need to have someone give her a real challenge because you can only do these same things over and over so many times.

Post match Bayley and Banks leave and the copyright comes up but we stay with Bliss trying to help Nikki up. Nikki says no and shoves her down before leaving on her own. Cue the Fiend of all people to kneel next to Bliss and hold out his hand, which she looks at while shaking her head. Fiend Mandible Claws Bliss to end the show. If we have to do this one more time, that’s a different enough way to go to make it more interesting.

Here’s Drew McIntyre for a chat. He talks about Randy Orton has spent twenty years preying on vulnerability and then coming after McIntyre last week after an Extreme Rules match. McIntyre should have seen it coming and that’s on him. He has gotten in trouble for being lazy before and that was why Vince McMahon fired him. Orton has had everything handed to him over the years though and has gotten in so much trouble over the years that he should have been fired a long time ago.

Cue Orton with Ric Flair to say he wants to be here because he enjoys being here. He enjoys hitting RKOs and punting heads. Orton likes Drew’s spirit, which is going to make beating him at Summerslam all the sweeter. Reigns says Orton should have been fired years ago and he’s right. Orton should have been fired multiple times but Drew was the one who was fired. That’s because Orton was more valuable to this company than Drew ever could be. He has gotten chance after chance because he is the chosen one, then now and forever.

Drew has been quoting legends, but what has he done that makes him that great. McIntyre talks about Undertaker saying he pulled Orton up to his level in the Last Ride, but when has Orton ever done that? How about ten years ago? When Drew’s career was falling down around him and he was self destructing, a kind word from someone like Orton could have changed everything.

Drew looks at Orton and sees a selfish jerk, so at Summerslam it’s time to cash in some receipts both for himself and all the legends that Orton has kicked in the head. This time though, Orton will see it coming. This was good stuff and the kind of thing that can build up a match that makes all the sense in the world on paper.

Riddick Moss vs. Mustafa Ali

Moss throws him down with straight power to start and then does it again for a bonus. Ali’s chop has no effect and a dropkick doesn’t do much better. Another hard shot to the face gives Moss an early two and we hit the chinlock. We take a break and come back with Moss being pulled off the top but taking out Ali’s knee in a smart move.

Moss stomps away in the corner and a leglock sends Ali to the ropes. That’s fine with Moss, who wraps the knee around the post. A snap suplex gets a very delayed two and we hit the half crab. That’s broken up and Ali kicks his way out of the corner, setting up the rolling X Factor for two. The tornado DDT gets the same but the 450 misses. Moss’ neckbreaker is good for the pin at 11:06.

Rating: C+. That’s one of the best Main Event matches I can remember in a long time and I can’t say I’m surprised. First of all, you have Ali, who has shown that he can go with almost anyone on the main roster, but is stuck here for some reason. Then you have Moss, who has been treated like a big deal around here but can’t get on the main roster shows to save his life. Wouldn’t you think he’s at least worth a shot at this point? Good match here though, especially for where they are.

We look at Sonya Deville jumping Mandy Rose and cutting her hair.

From Raw.

We look back at Seth Rollins destroying Rey Mysterio and tormenting his family.

Here are Seth Rollins and Murphy so Seth can make a statement, but first he wants to ask Tom Phillips if he is an unbiased journalist. What was he doing last week when Dominic was attacking Seth with a kendo stick? Rollins starts shouting about Phillips cheering him on and inciting his rage. It’s the bias (oh it’s time to get topical) that causes these problems, so Murphy is going to take care of Phillips. Samoa Joe stands up and says that isn’t happening because he was laughing harder than anyone last week.

Rollins says Joe doesn’t want to do this but Joe says he does. Rollins and Murphy roll inside and tell Joe to come join them. Joe takes off the coat and we go to a break. Back with Joe still not in the ring but here’s Dominic with a kendo stick to lay out Murphy and Rollins. Dominic hits a big dive off the top to take both of them down and the two run off. Rollins grabs the mic and says the match is on for Summerslam.

Overall Rating: C-. What a confusing show. There was no mention of either Raw Underground or Retribution, but we have time for the Mandy vs. Sonya deal and DOMINICK??? For the life of me I don’t get why we are supposed to care about him so much but WWE is going to make sure that he is there no matter what. Even if the guy winds up being fine, I’m not sure how he can warrant this much attention so early. Anyway, Moss vs. Ali was good, but the rest of the show was your usual fare, which you can take or leave.

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: July 31, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Drew Gulak

Things are actually getting interesting around here as there are some stories that could go somewhere in the future. That is the case again this week as Tony Nese and Isaiah Scott team up to face Legado del Fantasma. Scott seems primed to challenge for the Cruiserweight Title but he might not be able to trust Nese. Let’s get to it.

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

Ariya Daivari is on a boat and knows people have been waiting for him to return. Now that the 205 Live roster has caught up for him, his goal has paid off. Daivari gives us a quick recap of everything going on at the moment and announces that he’ll be back soon. Was anyone asking about that?

Opening sequence.

Tony Nese/Isaiah Scott vs. Legado del Fantasma

Raul Mendoza/Joaquin Wilde for Legado here, with Santos Escobar in their corner. Mendoza and Nese go tot he mat to start with Nese grabbing a chinlock. A series of kicks sends Mendoza into the corner and it’s off to Wilde vs. Scott. This time it’s Scott grabbing a chinlock but Wilde reverses into a cravate. That’s reversed into an anklescissors to take Wilde into the corner, where he slaps Scott in the face.

Scott unloads with the stomping and Wilde gets kicked out to the floor in a heap. Back in and Nese tags himself in, much to Scott’s annoyance. They’re fine enough to double elbow Wilde down and take him into the corner to work on the arm. A double suplex gives Scott two and we hit another chinlock. Back up and Mendoza gets in a cheap shot from the apron and it’s a belly to back faceplant to give Wilde two.

A double spinebuster into a double dropkick rocks Scott even more but he fights out of the corner. Scott right hands Mendoza in the face and makes the hot tag off to Nese for a sitout pumphandle slam. Nese gets a Boston crab on Wilde and Scott armbars Mendoza until Wilde kicks Nese into the two of them for the save. Scott comes back in off the tag and starts cleaning house, including the House Call on Wilde.

Mendoza offers a distraction though and Wilde grabs a DDT. It’s Nese coming back in for two off the Lionsault and Legado is sent outside. Stereo flip dives take the two of them down and Scott gets two with Wilde making another save. Scott goes up but Santos offers a distraction, allowing Mendoza to shove him into the barricade. That leaves Nese alone and Wilde comes in off the blind tag for a Russian legsweep/running kick to the face to finish Nese at 14:20.

Rating: B. This was more like it and the kind of match that fits the show well. I’m still not sure how I feel about Nese being a face as it had some mixed results before but he was a good enough choice here. The ending was the only way they could go as well as neither Scott nor the team should be losing yet so Nese was the right option for the fall guy.

Scott isn’t happy as Legado poses to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This is what happens when you actually put in the effort and set up some stories. They did a nice job of making this feel important and it felt like a step in a story rather than throwing some cruiserweights out there because they needed to fill time. I have no confidence in that continuing, but for a one off show, they had a good week.

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