IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: July 30, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, MVP

We’re still on the road to Summerslam and that doesn’t exactly make for the most interesting stuff. This time around we do have a main event to build towards and that means they might have a focus on this show. Hopefully the original stuff makes things a little better. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Riddick Moss vs. Titus O’Neil

Titus powers him into the corner to start and then does it again for a bonus. Moss bails to the floor and can’t manage to pull Titus outside with him, meaning the beating continues on the floor. Some rams into the apron keep Moss in trouble until he snaps Titus’ arm across the top.

Back in and a hard clothesline connects but Moss gets in another shot to the arm. The armbar goes on and a running shoulder huts the arm even more. Moss mocks the dog bark before going back to the armbar. Titus sends him into the middle buckle though and uses the good arm for some clotheslines. Clash of the Titus doesn’t work due to the arm though and the neckbreaker finishes Titus at 5:05.

Rating: C-. This could have been worse as they even told a story with the arm messing with Titus’ power game. No it wasn’t much and it certainly wasn’t memorable, but given what you might have been expecting, this worked out well. Moss is someone who could go a little somewhere if given the chance, but beating Titus on Main Event isn’t the right way to get there.

Video on the Swamp Fight.

From Smackdown.

It’s time for the Firefly Fun House, which starts with a package on the Swamp Fight. Bray, standing next to the Fiend lantern, says that was fun because Braun Strowman came back home. Some of you are probably worried that Braun is now trapped in the swamp, but don’t worry, because it has been certified organic. The lantern starts talking to him but Bray says its job is done for now. No he can’t let the lantern out again, because he had his chance. Now it’s his turn, because he has been unleashed. We cut to the Fiend and that’s it.

We see the end of the Bar Fight between Sheamus and Jeff Hardy.

We look at Sasha Banks taking the Raw Women’s Title belt (without winning the title) from Asuka at Extreme Rules.

From Raw.

Raw Women’s Title: Asuka vs. Sasha Banks

Asuka, with Kairi Sane, is defending and can lose the title via countout, DQ or interference. Banks has Bayley here with her and before the match, Sasha talks about how there is no bigger bully than Stephanie McMahon. That’s because they run the whole company because they’re role models who stand against injustice. That’s why Bayley interfered at Extreme Rules and counted the pin on Asuka. Bayley: “Any role model would have done the same thing.” Before the bell, Sane chases Bayley off and we take a break.

Back with the Big Match Intros, followed by Asuka kicking away in the corner to start fast. The Shining Wizard gets two but Asuka can’t get a Fujiwara armbar. A Backstabber out of the corner gives Banks two and the half crab goes on. Banks lets that go and starts working on the leg until Asuka kicks her out to the floor. That’s enough for Banks as she tries to leave, but it’s the old Eddie Guerrero trick of throwing the belt to Asuka and falling down, but Banks doesn’t get the timing right and the referee doesn’t buy it. Asuka kicks her in the head instead and we take a break.

Back with Banks working on the leg again but Asuka fights up and strikes away. A knee to the face sends Banks to the apron but the knee is too hut to follow up. Banks is back with a kick to the head and the Meteora gets two. We’re right back to the half crab but Asuka grabs a kneebar instead. That’s switched into an ankle lock to keeps Banks in trouble until she rolls Asuka into the corner. A top rope Meteora is countered into a Codebreaker to put them both down again.

Asuka kicks the knee out again and gets two off a release German suplex. The hip attack gets the same but Banks gets in a shot of her own. The frog splash gives Banks two and the Bank Statement goes on. Asuka slips out but can’t get the Asuka Lock as Banks sends her outside instead.

Banks drops the bad knee onto the announcers’ table for nine, with the dive back inside ruining Banks’ posing. Asuka’s rollup is countered into the Bank Statement, which is reversed into the ankle lock. Asuka hits a middle rope dropkick but we see Bayley beating up Kairi Sane in the back. The distracted Asuka still hits a German suplex as Bayley beats the heck out of Sane. Bayley rams Sane into the steel wall over and over and Asuka finally goes to the back for the save, giving Banks the title via countout at 19:30.

Rating: B. They set this up well and I can go for Banks winning the title here, as it could set up something big at Summerslam. If nothing else, it’s nice to see Banks and Bayley getting a major rocket push as WWE tries to fill in the void left by Becky and Charlotte leaving. Good match too, as you would expect from these two without the stupid shenanigans.

Post break, Bayley and Banks are VERY excited and dance around in celebration. Asuka comes out of the trainer’s room and screams a lot.

Ruby Riott vs. Shayna Baszler

Shayna shoves her down to start and then drives Riott into the corner. Riott kicks the leg out though, which just seems to annoy Baszler. A crucifix gives Riott two but she has to break the Kirifuda Clutch attempt. Baszler starts pulling on the leg until Riott sends her face first into the middle buckle. That’s enough to send Baszler outside for a breather and we take a break.

Back with Baszler cranking on the neck while tying the leg up for a bonus. Riott sends her into the corner though and scores with a superkick to rock Baszler again. Ruby slugs away and hits an STO into a standing backsplash for two. Baszler kicks her down and hits a Shining Wizard against the ropes but Riott says bring it on. That’s fine with Baszler, who knees her in the face and grabs the Kirifuda Clutch for the tap at 10:06.

Rating: C. To be fair, Riott did tell Baszler to bring it on so she has no one else to blame. They were getting into a groove here and I could have gone for more of it on a bigger stage. Riott is someone who can have a good match against anyone but Baszler seems ready to move up to the title picture (as she has been for a long time now).

From Raw.

Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler

Non-title and Extreme Rules. Drew goes outside to get a chair so Ziggler superkicks him without much trouble. Ziggler sends him into the post and Plexiglas but Drew is back with an elbow to the face. A lawn dart sends Ziggler hard into the Plexiglas and it’s time for the kendo stick. The Russian legsweep with the kendo stick sends Ziggler into the Plexiglas again and Drew wraps the stick around Ziggler’s mouth.

They head back inside with a bunch of chairs and a table coming with them. Ziggler can’t get a chair so McIntyre cracks him over the back with one instead. A low blow gets Ziggler out of trouble and he finds a second kendo stick to unload on McIntyre. Ziggler does everything McIntyre did to him but McIntyre takes the stick away.

Ziggler is placed on the apron, where his dive is caught for a big drive through the barricade as we take a break. Back with Drew hitting a top rope ax handle but not being able to hit the Future Shock. Instead Ziggler goes up but gets top rope superplexed right back down. The Zig Zag gives McIntyre two more so Ziggler grabs a chair, only to get Claymored through the table to give McIntyre the pin at 14:31.

Rating: B-. This was fine enough, though the lack of the title being on the line kind of took away the interest and that’s not the best idea given the way the TV numbers are going at the moment. McIntyre and Ziggler have chemistry together, but they can only do so much when you’re counting down to the pin. They have already been close enough to this place earlier this month, so seeing the match again wasn’t quite the draw.

Post match Drew holds up the title, earning every bit of the not so surprising RKO from Orton to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Pretty good show here as you can tell that WWE is starting to focus a lot more on the way to Summerslam. The problem is that the shows still aren’t all that good as the presentation is so lame at the moment. Just find a more interesting way to do things and maybe it improves, but WWE has a long way to go to get out of the hole they have put themselves into.

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 24, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Drew Gulak, Vic Joseph

This show has become one of the more intriguing of the minor shows and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. While it doesn’t feel like it matters in the slightest, they have at least brought it up to another level beyond the useless show it was just a few months ago. Hopefully they can continue with those lofty goals tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Drake Maverick vs. Leon Ruff

Ruff gets an entrance for a change. Feeling out process to start and a lockup goes nowhere. Ruff grabs a quick rollup for two and Drake seems to think a little differently in a hurry. Drake takes him down by the arm but Ruff elbows him in the face for a breather. A hard clothesline takes Ruff down though and the comeback (Maybe?) is on, including a bulldog into a backsplash. Drake sunset bombs him into the corner and goes up top for a rather delayed top rope elbow and the pin at 3:45.

Rating: D+. Well that was short. They were playing up the idea that Maverick wasn’t taking things seriously at first and then turned it on near the end. It was kind of a weird match as Maverick but he needs a new direction after the destruction at the hands of Legado del Fantasma.

Post match Maverick says he’s coming for the Cruiserweight Title.

Video on Isaiah Scott, the same one from NXT.

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch/Mansoor vs. Ever Rise/Tehuti Miles

Mansoor scares Miles into the corner to start so it’s of to Parker instead. A drop toehold into a headlock has Parker in trouble and Martel’s cheap shot earns him an armdrag. Lorcan grabs an armbar on Martel and hands it off to Burch to stomp on the hand. Mansoor’s atomic drop keeps Martel down and it’s off to Miles. That’s fine with Mansoor, who takes him down by the head and unloads with right hands.

Everything breaks down for a second with the villains bailing to the floor in a hurry. We settle down to Miles elbowing Lorcan in the face but Martel sneaks in for a dropkick to take over. It’s Lorcan getting caught in the corner and Miles chokes away on the rope. Ever Rise manages to do something right with an assisted whip into the corner and a step up elbow drop for two.

A shot to the face allows the hot tag to Burch and house is cleaned in a hurry. Everything breaks down again and Burch is pulled to the floor. Mansoor hits his slingshot neckbreaker (dubbed Seek And Destroy) but Miles gets to the floor to save himself. That means a dive from Mansoor and it’s a Samoan drop/top rope Blockbuster combination from Ever Rise to Burch. Another Seek And Destroy misses so Mansoor Oklahoma rolls Miles for the pin at 8:07.

Rating: C. Not terrible here and the main thing is they’re starting to build someone up in Mansoor. He is a case where they could come up with someone new for a change and that’s what the division needs. If nothing else, having him eventually take the Cruiserweight Title in Saudi Arabia could be a heck of a moment. Maybe it could even mean the slightest something to fans in America.

Overall Rating: C-. It’s almost strange to see them actually building things up around here. The show still doesn’t need to exist, but at least they’re trying to do something for a change. I’m not sure how long that is going to last as this show is hardly consistent, but at least they’re doing something for a change. Now just stop pretending that Miles and Ever Rise are interesting and we could be somewhere.

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: July 23, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: MVP, Tom Phillips

It’s time for the weekly recap show of all of the events that don’t have the kind of audience to warrant a recap in the first place. WWE at least has Summerslam to set up in the next few weeks, but after that I’m not sure what they are going to be able to do. Hopefully things can be fine enough for an hour here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Bianca Belair vs. Jessi Kamea

Belair powers her into the corner without much effort to start and tells Jessi to bring it on. A quick flip over Jessi sets up a running shoulder to put her down and we hit the cravate. Jessi’s dropkick doesn’t have much effect so Belair fires off shoulders in the corner. There’s a splash to the back but Jessi drives her into the corner. That’s fine with Belair, who sends her into the corner again and hits the KOD for the pin at 4:31.

Rating: D+. What were you expecting from this one? They did their thing for a few minutes and Belair won with her finisher. That’s all you’re going to get out of a match like this and Belair continues to be way too talented for this show. Jessi has been around a few times now and this is about as far as she has gotten so far. I can’t say I’m surprised.

We get some quick promos from AJ Styles and Matt Riddle before their Intercontinental Title match.

From Smackdown.

Intercontinental Title: Matt Riddle vs. AJ Styles

Styles is defending and we get the Big Match Intros. Riddle blocks an early Irish whip attempt and hits the rolling gutwrench suplexes to put AJ on the floor. A running knee puts AJ down again so he rips off the announcers’ table, only to get kicked in the head. We take a break and come back with AJ still in trouble as commentary thinks he’s off his game tonight.

AJ manages a belly to back faceplant to drop Riddle though and it’s time for the forearms in the corner. Some shots to the leg have Riddle in trouble and we hit the chinlock. Riddle powers up and drives him into the corner, setting up the running backsplash. The Bro To Sleep into the Final Flash connects for two and we take another break.

Back again with AJ hitting a clothesline out of the corner but Riddle strikes away without much trouble. Riddle charges into a superkick though but AJ can’t hit the Styles Clash. Instead Riddle hits a ripcord knee to the face, only to miss the Floating Bro. A brainbuster gives AJ two but he has to fight out of the Bro Derek. They strike it out with AJ reversing a Pele into the Calf Crusher. Riddle reverses that into a Bromission attempt but can’t quite get it on. Instead, AJ reverses into a cradle for the clean pin at 18:07.

Rating: B. I’m not wild on the 50/50 booking, though losing a clean fall to AJ Styles is far from some career killer. Riddle has gotten a good start to his run on Smackdown, but I’m worried about the double hit of losing here and then having to feud with Corbin for weeks on end. I know he had frostbite on his feet, but that isn’t the kind of heat he needs.

Post match AJ shakes Riddle’s hand but here’s Corbin from behind to beat Riddle down.

We look at Bayley trying to cheat Asuka out of the Raw Women’s Title at Extreme Rules.

From Raw.

Here are Bayley and Sasha Banks for a chat. Banks says she has this and explains her version of what happened last night. Asuka intentionally tried to blind the referee with the mist and Bayley just borrowed his shirt. Bayley did it because she’s a role model and now they have all the gold. A celebratory dance breaks out but here are Asuka and Kairi Sane.

Sasha was not ready for Asuka last night and the title is still hers. Banks says come get it so here they come. Hold on though as Stephanie McMahon pops up on screen to say Banks isn’t the Raw Women’s Champion. The title is on the line next week and Sasha can lose via pinfall, submission, countout, DQ, or with Bayley interfering. I’m assuming that counts for Asuka as well, but since Stephanie didn’t say it, it isn’t gospel.

Bayley vs. Kairi Sane

Non-title. Sane slugs away to start but Bayley comes back with some shots of her own. That earns her a hip attack to the floor, only to have Bayley come back in and stomp away in the corner. The chinlock doesn’t last long on Sane so Bayley snaps off a suplex for two. Sane drapes her on the top rope though and hits a top rope double stomp to the back, sending Bayley outside in a heap.

We take a break and come back with Bayley unloading in the corner. This is so fascinating that we cut to the back for an interview with Shayna Baszler, who says her interest in the match is like a shark seeing prey. Back to full screen with Sane reversing a suplex into a DDT for a breather. The Sliding D connects but Bayley grabs an armbar over the ropes in the corner.

Sane sweeps the leg and goes up top for an Alberto double stomp into a near fall. The spinning backfist into the Interceptor drops Bayley again but the Insane Elbow misses. Another Interceptor is cut off with a knee to the face. Bayley drops her with a suplex but misses her own top rope elbow. The Bayley to Belly is loaded up instead but Sane reverses into a rollup for the pin at 15:38.

Rating: B-. Given all of the rumors of Sane leaving WWE soon, this is quite the surprising result. That being said, it can also offer to shake things up a bit. I can’t imagine Sane taking the title from Bayley or anything like that, but it is a good idea to give Bayley something to do while they figure out her next big challenger. Good match too, with the surprise ending helping things.

Video on Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler from Extreme Rules.

Riddick Moss vs. Humberto Carrillo

Moss powers him around to start and then cranks on Carrillo’s arm. A headlock gets Carrillo out of trouble for a bit so Moss blasts him with a shoulder. Back up and Carrillo hits a running dropkick to send Moss outside, only to have the suicide dive countered with a drive into the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Moss hitting a backbreaker into a fall away slam. The chinlock goes on for a bit until Carrillo fights up for an enziguri. A standing moonsault sets up a crossbody for two on Moss. Carrillo hits a sunset flip for two more but Moss is right back with the neckbreaker for the pin at 9:37.

Rating: C-. Main Event continues to be one of the most confusing shows I can remember. Carrillo is still part of a fairly big story on Raw but here he is losing to Riddick Moss (again) on Main Event. That doesn’t even make bad sense, and it is another good example of how much of a mess WWE is these days.

We look back at Eye For An Eye.

Videos on Big Show and Randy Orton’s careers.

From Raw.

Big Show vs. Randy Orton

Unsanctioned so anything goes. Show knocks him into the corner in a hurry and hammers away at the arm. The spear sends Orton outside but cue Angel Garza and Andrade to jump Show. They whip him into the steps but the Viking Raiders run out to break up the Punt attempt as we take a break. Back with an unset table in the ring and Orton kicking at the leg. Show hits a chokeslam for two but the threat of the KO Punch sends Orton outside.

Back in and Show knocks him down again, this time putting Orton on the table. A Vader Bomb only hits table though, allowing Orton to hit the RKO for two. Orton isn’t happy, so he blasts Show in the back with some chair shots, leaving the referee to discard the pieces of the broken table. Another chair shot to the back sets up a top rope hanging DDT and a second RKO finishes Show at 13:45.

Rating: C. That’s all you could have expected it to be and that’s fine. Orton got in there and wrecked Show, which was exactly what he should have done. Show is expendable and Orton is probably about to headline Summerslam. What more can you expect from a match that was designed to accomplish one single goal?

Orton Punts Show to wrap things up.

Overall Rating: D+. WWE is just such a mess right now and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. That’s a major problem and Main Event is a good illustration of the whole thing. The original matches either aren’t good or don’t jive with the main roster booking (If Moss can beat Carrillo, why can’t he get on Raw?) and the recaps just show you how bad things are at the moment. Run of the mill Main Event here, which doesn’t say much.

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 17, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Drew Gulak

I’m cautiously optimistic about this show as they have started treating it as something a little more important than filler. That being said, you can only expect so much out of a show supplementing the division that is usually filler for the developmental show. Last week’s show was pretty good though so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tehuti Miles vs. Mansoor

Rematch from last week. Miles throws his jacket at Mansoor to start and stomps away in the corner, followed by a heck of a whip into the corner. Mansoor comes back with a backdrop for two and a suplex with a floatover gets two. The chinlock goes on but Miles fights up and dropkicks him to the floor.

Some whips into various things have Mansoor in more trouble and they head back inside. Miles gets two off a neckbreaker and we hit the bodyscissors. A flapjack gives Miles two more but he misses a dropkick and gets caught with the slingshot neckbreaker. The electric chair Death Valley Driver finishes Miles at 7:22.

Rating: C-. Mansoor continues to improve while Miles continues to be someone who should feel like a breakout star but just never comes off as one. What we got here was fine enough, but it wasn’t exactly a match that I needed to see twice in a row. The wrestling wasn’t much, but I could go for more Mansoor.

We see the Legado del Fantasma segment from NXT, with the trio talking about wanting to bring back the real lucha libre.

We look at Isaiah Scott and Tony Nese joining forces to take out Ever Rise.

Tony Nese vs. Chase Parker

Matt Martel is here with Parker. Nese throws him down with ease and strikes the double bicep pose to play to his strengths. Some takedowns into an STF and then a reverse Figure Four with his legs (best way I can put it) have Nese even more in control. Martel’s distraction attempt doesn’t work as Parker gets taken down by some legsweeps and kicks to the chest.

The second distraction causes Nese to go outside after Martel, allowing Parker to get in a shot from behind. A bulldog gets two and we hit the armbar. Another bulldog attempt doesn’t work though and Nese is back with the Lionsault for two. Martel tries to interfere again but Nese shrugs it off and kicks Parker in the face for the pin at 6:53.

Rating: C-. Why yes, Ever Rise does lose again, as they always do. They’re adequate in the ring but they’re a couple of losers who I don’t recall ever winning a match outside of a quick squash. That’s not exactly worthy of a feud anywhere, including here on this show. Nese feels like he could beat them on his own, let alone with a partner.

Post match Ever Rise beats Nese down but Isaiah Scott runs in for the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. Well they do have stories again, but egads they aren’t exactly thrilling. The wrestling is fine enough but when you go from Scott facing Johnny Gargano and teasing a match against Santos Escobar, it’s a little dull to see him against Ever Rise. Again though, the show is only 27 minutes long so how annoying can it 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

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: July 16, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: MVP, Tom Phillips

It’s the go home show for Extreme Rules and I’m not sure if that is going to mean a thing around here. I’m sure the recapping will be strong around here, but that is the case every single time. Hopefully we get at least one good enough original match, though it’s anyone’s guess as to who will be involved. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Shayna Baszler vs. Jesse Kamea

Baszler takes her down with ease to start and toyfully kicks her in the back of the head. Jesse gets in her own take down and a bit more serious kick, only to be snapped down by the arm. Shayna hits the arm stomp and we hit the armbar. A forearm to the back sets up some different armbar variations, followed by a clothesline for two. Back up and Kamea misses a charge into the corner, setting up a double underhook spinning Big Ending. The Kirifuda Clutch finishes Kamea at 5:11.

Rating: D+. There is something so entertaining about watching Baszler slowly taking someone apart and knowing that she has nothing to worry about. Baszler is someone who feels different in the ring and is someone who can offer something fresh, but for some reason she sat around for two months instead. Maybe she can get something done now, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up.

From Raw.

We open with the VIP Lounge. He’s looking forward to Extreme Rules and his guest tonight has a big role at that show. This brings out Dolph Ziggler, and we see a clip of the Heath Slater mini saga from last week. Ziggler likes the lounge and they trade ideas of how to get into Drew McIntyre’s head. It isn’t hard to turn McIntyre into the one who got fired because Ziggler picked him up off the ground and made him the man he is today.

McIntyre has yet to thank Ziggler so MVP does it for him. Cue McIntyre, who doesn’t like all of the sucking up around here. He has come to the conclusion that Ziggler used people. Ziggler has used Big E. and Mandy Rose but he and McIntyre were never friends. On Sunday, Drew is going to take him apart and punish him. McIntyre wants to fight right now and headbutts Ziggler down. Now can we please be done with Ziggler tonight?

From Raw.

Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins

It’s a near lumberjack match here with several people at ringside. Rollins tries to bail to the floor to start but then comes back in to get kicked in the leg. Owens stomps away so Rollins begs off and gives him the sales pitch again, earning himself another stomping. Owens charges into a boot in the corner but Black gets in a distraction, setting up the Cannonball for two.

The double arm crank keeps Rollins in trouble before Owens sends him outside. Rollins tries to escape over the barricade but gets caught and beaten up again. They fight on the apron with Owens getting the better of things but Rollins slips out of a fireman’s carry. Back in and Rollins hits a chop block to put Owens outside again, setting up the suicide dive. We come back from a break with Rollins choking on the ropes and cranking on both arms as well.

Owens elbows his way to freedom and nails a superkick to put them both down. Rollins hits a quick Downward Spiral to send him into the middle buckle, followed by the Blockbuster for two. A superkick gets two more but the Stomp misses. Owens can’t hit the Stunner either so he sends Rollins back to the apron. Rollins goes after the eye to put Owens down, drawing Black and Dominick to the apron as well. Mysterio gets up too and that’s enough to set up the Stunner to finish Rollins at 16:29.

Rating: C+. It wasn’t the cleanest loss but it’s rather strange to see Rollins lose a match like this before going into the biggest Raw match on the pay per view. These two always work well together, but the Rollins messiah deal isn’t working for me and the matches haven’t been as good since he switched over. It’s still pretty good, but they can do better.

Post match, Mysterio promises to take Rollins’ eye.

Humberto Carrillo vs. Riddick Moss

Moss hasn’t been around in awhile. Carrillo gets shoved around by the power to start and then gets run over by a shoulder (MVP: “FIRST DOWN!”). Moss pulls him down by the hair again but this time Carrillo nips up and hits the high angle springboard armdrag. That’s enough to send Moss outside but he catches the springboard crossbody.

A good posting takes us to a break and we come back with Moss’ side slam getting two. Carrillo is sent to the apron though and hits the enziguri into the springboard missile dropkick. Moss gets boots up to block the moonsault though and the neckbreaker finishes Carrillo at 8:50.

Rating: C-. Moss is someone they seemed interested in pushing for a bit so it’s nice to see him back. I’m not sure if he is going to be able to do much of anything but at least he’s getting a chance to be out there trying something. It’s not like what WWE has been doing as of late is blowing the roof off the place as of late so trying something new seems like a good idea.

We get Bayley and Sasha Banks’ tribute video to themselves.

From Raw.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Bayley/Sasha Banks vs. Kabuki Warriors

The Warriors are challenging. Hold on though because the champs have something to say before the match. We see their tribute to themselves from a few weeks back and now it’s time for the Big Match Intros. The Warriors jump the champs before the bell and we take a break, mainly because they weren’t starting the match with 25+ minutes to go in the show. Banks (with her huge headband) bails from Asuka to start so it’s Bayley coming in for the lockup.

They circle around the ring for a bit until Bayley gets in a shot to the face to take over. Asuka gets over for the tag to Sane, who decks Banks with a forearm. The running Blockbuster hits Bayley and a double Interceptor puts both champs down. Things settle to Asuka armbarring Banks but Sasha is back up to catch Sane on top. Sane gets catapulted into the Plexiglas and we take a break.

Back with Sane being thrown into the corner for some right hands to the head. Bayley grabs a chinlock until Sane jawbreaks her way to freedom. Banks gets kicked away and a spinning backfist is enough for the hot tag to Asuka. House is cleaned again but Asuka is sent into the corner for Banks’ running knees.

Banks hits a high crossbody but Asuka rolls through into the Asuka Lock. Sane spears Bayley but Asuka makes the rope. The Insane Elbow connects for two as Bayley makes the save (with Asuka not noticing it despite Bayley being three feet from her). Sane hits the sliding forearm, only to have Banks reverse into the Bank Statement to make Sane tap at 18:12.

Rating: B. This was the best thing on the show, even though that isn’t saying much. They did a smart thing by having Banks get the win as it sets her up as a bigger threat to Asuka, though it was very nice to not have her beat Asuka again. I’m not sure who takes the titles off of Banks/Bayley, but they’re really gelling as a team and it’s nice to see that working so well.

Overall Rating: C. It’s rather telling that Smackdown is left out in the cold again. Maybe it’s a shift in WWE’s strategy for this show (assuming they have one) or maybe it’s how nothing Smackdown has been as of late, but this was all about Raw and nothing else. It’s nice to see Baszler back, but I’ll wait until she’s doing something important on Raw before I get overly excited.

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 10, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Corey Graves

I have no idea what to expect on this show anymore as it has jumped from a nothing show to something slightly interesting to an actual supplemental show for the cruiserweights. What matters in the end is how much the cruiserweights are actually featured, which can vary pretty wildly. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Mansoor vs. Tehuti Miles

Miles kicks away at Mansoor’s leg to start and then throws him down. Mansoor is right back with a headlock on the mat, only to get tripped down again. This time it’s Miles grabbing a headlock, followed by a knee to the ribs to keep him down. Mansoor sends him to the floor but gets his throat snapped across the top. The running crotch attack on the rope lets Miles check his hair, plus get two for a bonus.

Back to back neckbreakers get back to back twos and Miles grabs the chinlock. That’s broken up and Mansoor trips him up, setting up a spinebuster. The cool slingshot neckbreaker gets two on Miles but he avoids the moonsault. Miles grabs a flapjack but Mansoor is right back with a One Winged Angel into a Death Valley Driver for the pin at 7:46.

Rating: C+. There were some moments in here that didn’t work so well but the big thing about Mansoor is he feels different. His offense is unique and he can put on a rather nice match. I’m not sure why he isn’t around more often but if he is available full time, there are far worse options to put in the ring. Miles still isn’t great, but this was a lot more entertaining than I would have bet on. Nice little match with Mansoor getting in some cool offense.

We look back at Legado del Fantasma beating Drake Maverick and Breezango on NXT.

Oney Lorcan vs. Santos Escobar

Non-title and the rest of Legado is here with Escobar. Feeling out process to start with Escobar wisely going after Lorcan’s banged up arm. That means an early armbar and Lorcan’s arm won’t let him slug his way out. The arm is wrapped around the rope but Lorcan reverses into a front facelock. That’s reversed into a half crab with a knee in Lorcan’s back so a rope has to be grabbed.

A hammerlock suplex bangs up the arm even more and Escobar sends it into the post. Escobar splashes the arm on the apron and it’s off to something like a Tequila Sunrise. Another rope break is good for the save and Escobar misses an enziguri. Lorcan slugs back with the good arm and hits the running Blockbuster. Escobar is fine enough to hit a Codebreaker on the arm though and the Phantom Driver is good for the pin at 8:39.

Rating: C+. I liked this one a good bit as Escobar picked Lorcan apart and shrugged off the offense before picking up the win. They’re making Escobar look like a killer out there and that’s the best thing that they can do with him. He isn’t someone who needs his goons to save him and that makes him all the more interesting.

Overall Rating: B-. Now THIS is more like it, with what felt like some actual effort rather than wasting time and treating the show like a contractual obligation. The wrestling was good, they showcased some people, and it tied into the other shows. If you want to build up the cruiserweights then it’s great to use this as a tool to get there, and for once the show felt like they were doing just that. Nice stuff here and I could absolutely go for more like this.

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: July 9, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, MVP

We’re still slowly, and I do mean slowly, making our way to Extreme Rules and that means more recaps tonight. No matter how much changes in WWE though, Main Event is about as consistent as you can get: it might be good and it might be bad, but it is almost never going to mean a thing. Let’s get to it.

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

Titus O’Neil vs. Akira Tozawa

Tozawa has his ninjas with him. Commentary actually remembers Tozawa’s time with Titus Worldwide in your surprising moment of the day. A chop just annoys Titus but the ninjas block a chokeslam to the floor attempt. Titus: “NINJA THIS!” The ninjas are taken out but Tozawa gets in a running dropkick to put Titus down for the first time and a backsplash gets two. The chinlock goes on as MVP talks about ninjas being shapeshifters. That’s broken up and Titus hits a big boot, followed by the Clash of the Titus for the pin at 4:49.

Rating: D+. Tozawa is one of the most confusing stars in all of WWE. He’ll win matches on 205 Live and in the cruiserweight division, then be treated as a little something on Raw, only to lose to Titus O’Neil on Main Event. What kind of logic and sense is there to that? Nothing against Titus, but he hasn’t wrestled an important match in how long?

From Raw.

Here’s Kevin Owens for the KO Show. Since his guest is Seth Rollins, he doesn’t waste time in getting rid of the chairs. Rollins comes out and asks how Owens’ broken ankle is doing. Owens: “It’s feeling a lot better than your ego.” Owens talks about the bond the two have from facing each other at Wrestlemania so he has a gift for Rollins. It’s a KO Mania III shirt, just like the one he was wearing when he beat Rollins at Wrestlemania.

Rollins throws it away and says he doesn’t care about any of this. The only reason he is out here is to use the show as a platform to address Rey Mysterio. Rollins officially challenges Mysterio for Extreme Rules, but at the same time, he has been thinking about Owens. Maybe Owens would get more out of fighting with Rollins instead of against him. Owens is all about fighting so maybe he should fight for the greater good.

Cue Mysterio and Dominick to interrupt, with Rey accepting the challenge. As for tonight though, Rey needs a partner for the scheduled tag match. Owens cuts them off and offers to be Mysterio’s partner, with an extra bonus: the winning team picks the stipulation for Rollins vs. Mysterio. The fight is on in a hurry.

Kevin Owens/Rey Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins/Murphy

Dominick is here too. Joined in progress with Mysterio hammering on Murphy and sending him to the floor for a hurricanrana from the apron. Back in and Rey hits an enziguri to hand it off to Owens. An elbow to the head allows the tag to Rollins, who hammers away on Owens against the ropes. Owens clotheslines him down and drops the backsplash to pick up the pace a bit.

They head outside to keep up the brawl before handing it off to their partners. Murphy has to avoid the 619 and then gets in a cheap shot, allowing Rollins to rake Dominick’s eye. We take a break and come back with Rollins working on Owens’ leg. Murphy’s cheap shot prevents the hot tag attempt and it’s Rollins sending Owens into the corner.

A backdrop sends Rollins to the apron so Owens can get in a superkick, which hurts his still healing ankle all over again. Everything breaks down and Rollins grabs Dominick, but here’s Black to make the save. Black doesn’t touch him though to avoid the DQ, allowing Dominick to go after Murphy’s eye. Rey hits the 619 into the frog splash for the pin at 11:50.

Rating: C. I’m still not feeling the eye for an eye thing but Owens is a lot more interesting to watch that Humberto Carrillo. Black and Mysterio are both easy enough but Carrillo manages to suck the life out of the show whenever he’s out there. The problem is that Dominick does something similar and he isn’t likely to be leaving anytime soon.

Post match, Rey picks an Eye For An Eye match, where the first person to pull out an eye wins.

From Raw.

Here’s Drew McIntyre to open things up. McIntyre talks about how he’s ready for whatever Dolph Ziggler has planned for him. Maybe it’s a cage match, a street fight, or a match on the edge of a cliff over a volcano with sharks with frigging laser beams on their heads. So get out here and make your announcement. Cue Ziggler, who says he isn’t going to tell anyone about the choice until they get to Extreme Rules. Ziggler talks about how great he is and says Drew’s resume is a big black hole from 2014-2017.

McIntyre brings up Wrestlemania so Ziggler says that McIntyre got there by stepping on a lot of people. Like this man, so here’s Heath Slater. Heath talks about their history together and everything that has happened between them over the years. Back in April, Slater watched McIntyre become WWE Champion, but then he was released two weeks later. When McIntyre was released, Slater called him every day, but where was McIntyre for him?

Slater and McIntyre only talked on the Bump, because it was the only show they would let him on. McIntyre knows Slater’s kids, and not the 22 the world thinks he has. When Slater was there for him, McIntyre wasn’t there for Slater. Remember when McIntyre said he would petition for a match with Slater? Well now he’s on the unemployment line so now he wants McIntyre to give him what he deserved. Slater slaps him in the face and McIntyre gets serious and says it’s on.

Heath Slater vs. Drew McIntyre

Non-title and they’re both in street clothes. Claymore finishes Slater in 22 seconds. Thank goodness they didn’t try to make Slater a serious thing in this mess.

Post match Ziggler yells at Slater so the fight is on with McIntyre saving Slater. McIntyre and Slater hug.

Peyton Royce vs. Bianca Belair

Billie Kay is here with Peyton. Belair tells her to bring it to start but Peyton would rather roll away instead. Peyton gets taken down without much trouble and a running shoulder does it again. There’s another shoulder to the floor and Belair follows her, only to miss a charge into the post. Back from a break with Peyton cranking on the arm before sending Belair face first into the bottom buckle.

Belair sends her into the top turnbuckle to even things up but Peyton snaps the arm across the top rope. Belair fights back again and grabs an O’Connor roll, with the kickout sending her into an interfering Billie. The distraction lets Belair Glam Slam Peyton into the corner and it’s the KOD for the pin at 10:04.

Rating: C-. Belair is a lot easier to watch as a face and I never would have bet on that. Granted it helps to be in there against the IIconics, who are two of the most dislikable wrestlers in all of WWE. It’s good to see some of these other women getting a chance too, as they need to restock the shelves at some point.

Video on Braun Strowman vs. Bray Wyatt.

From Raw.

Asuka vs. Bayley

Non-title with Sasha Banks and Kairi Sane at ringside and Nikki Cross on commentary. Security tells her to stay calm but she freaks out again after Bayley and Banks taunt her. Bayley runs the ropes to start and the threat of the Asuka Lock sends her straight to the floor. A knee to the face on the apron rocks Asuka, but Bayley knocks Cross’ headset off, sending her into insanity again. Cross is taken out and Asuka knees Bayley in the face (Sasha’s UH OH face is great) as we take a break.

Back with Bayley tripping her down and forearming at the spine to take over. A sliding lariat gives Bayley two and we hit the chinlock. Bayley sends her outside, where the four women get in a staredown. The distraction lets Asuka score with a kick for two, followed by a kick to the chest for the same. A Banks distraction slows Asuka down though and Bayley catapults her into the ropes twice in a row for two. Bayley sends her outside and onto the announcers’ table, allowing her to sit in on commentary for a bit. Bayley says this tastes so good and we take a break.

Back again with Bayley chinlocking away and then running her over for two. Asuka fights up with a backfist and an elbow to the face, followed by some knees for a bonus. The hip attack gives Asuka two more and one heck of a backfist puts Bayley on the apron. Back in and a middle rope dropkick gives Asuka two more but Bayley sends her outside. The running knee sends Asuka’s head into the barricade and a cheap shot takes Sane down as well.

The distraction lets Banks get in a cheap shot to set up a Saito suplex to give Bayley two. Bayley is frustrated but gets freaked out as Cross is now behind the Plexiglas. The distraction lets Asuka grab the Asuka Lock. Bayley can’t flip out of I so Banks comes in, only to get speared down by Sane. Asuka switches to a rollup for the pin at 23:25.

Rating: B. This was one of the few times where Bayley actually felt like she was standing toe to toe with one of the top stars of either women’s division. You don’t see her do that very often and it was nice to see for a change. I wasn’t sure who was going to win here and that’s a very nice feeling to have every now and then. Good match, with the interference and shenanigans tying into a few stories and keeping Bayley protected in the loss.

Overall Rating: C. The recap stuff was better than usual and the original stuff at least felt different, but there isn’t much of a way around the fact that Extreme Rules is not interesting no matter what kind of dressing they put on it. I’m hoping we get something a little better than what they’ve been teasing, but there isn’t much of a reason to believe that will be the case. Just get on to Summerslam already, please?

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 3, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Drew Gulak, Byron Saxton

It’s a bigger week than usual here as we have Legado del Fantasma for a change. That’s not something you usually see, as the Cruiserweight Champion is rarely on the cruiserweight show. You’ll only see that kind of logic in WWE but it has never stopped them before. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Isaiah Scott vs. Matt Martel

Chase Parker is here with Martel. Matt rolls away from him to start and hits the celebration before grabbing a headlock. Scott sends him into the corner and laughs a bit as some fans say Martel got swerved. The frustrated Martel is taken to the mat in a hurry and punched down before Scott chops him into the corner. A running elbow to the face sends Scott up top but Parker pulls him down for the DQ at 3:17.

Rating: C-. This was nothing special and felt like it was setting up something else for the future, which isn’t the most thrilling concept. Ever Rise is one of the lamer tag teams that NXT has produced in a good while. Scott deserves better than this, but then again that is the case for a lot of people on 205 Live.

Post match the beatdown is on but here’s Tony Nese for the save and a Teddy Long impression.

Ever Rise vs. Isaiah Scott/Tony Nese

Parker jumps Scott from behind to start and snaps off a suplex but Scott is right back up. A reluctant tag brings in Nese to power Parker down without much trouble. Scott comes back in for two off a double suplex but Parker sends him face first into the middle buckle. It’s off to Martel for an armbar before Parker is right back in for an elevated elbow to the back. A front facelock doesn’t last long for Parker as Scott jawbreaks his way to freedom.

The hot tag brings in Nese to clean house with some shots to the face and a dive onto Martel. The Lionsault gets two on Parker and everything breaks down into a four way slugout. Nese kicks Parker in the face and hits the running Nese, setting up the Swerve Stomp for the pin at 6:39.

Rating: C. Not too bad here, especially for an Ever Rise match. Nese and Scott as partners who don’t like each other doesn’t have much of an appeal to me, but it does sound better than another Nese face run. I’m hoping it’s not the latter, but it’s too early to see what we’ll be seeing from these guys.

We look at Drake Maverick attacking Legado del Fantasma and needing Breezango to make a save. The six man was set up for Great American Bash.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Leon Ruff/Liam Gray

It’s Raul Mendoza/Joaquin Wilde for the team with Santos Escobar in the corner. Wilde shoulders Ruff to start and it’s Mendoza coming in for a double back elbow. Mendoza knocks him into the corner and allows the tag to Gray, whose head is clotheslined off in a hurry. A Russian legsweep/running kick to the face finishes Gray at 3:20.

Rating: D+. Just a squash here and that’s a good use of a team like Legado, as they need to establish themselves as more than just lackeys. Mendoza has shown that he can wrestle with anyone but Wilde hasn’t spent a lot of time in a WWE ring. It’s always nice seeing Ruff getting beaten up as that RUFF RUFF chant is incredibly annoying, so call that a bonus.

Posing ends the show.

Overall Rating: D+. At least they’re trying to do something a little bit different around here, which is long overdue. The problem is that stuff isn’t all that interesting and Scott continues to look completely above everyone else on the show. Having Escobar and company around was nice, but I have no reason to believe that they are going to be a regular fixture around here. That being said, you can’t get too annoyed at a show that isn’t even twenty four minutes long so this was another completely acceptable show, all things considered.

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: July 2, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, MVP

I’m a bit behind on this show but that’s interesting in a way. If nothing else, it shows just how fast the main shows come and go, because I can barely remember a single thing about what has happened in recent weeks. They just come and go with almost nothing sticking for any kind of time, and that’s not good. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tom and MVP welcome us to the show and talk about how much we have learned from the Undertaker due to the Last Ride.

Long Undertaker tribute.

From Raw.

We open with Bayley and Sasha Banks brawling with Asuka in the ring as Samoa Joe is standing next to the contract table. Referees come out and break it up so Joe can do the introduction. The brawl is on again with Joe begging referees to get them apart. With the women separated, Joe introduces Dolph Ziggler as we’re doing both signings at the same time. Ziggler handles Drew McIntyre’s introduction and we’re finally settled down and ready to go. We’ll start with the men, with Ziggler talking about ending McIntyre’s nineteen year journey as McIntyre looks rather serious. Both of them sign with Drew saying it’s official.

McIntyre calls those serious words from Ziggler and talks about how they used to be family. As family, McIntyre is going to let him pick the stipulation for the title match. Asuka cuts him off by shouting in Japanese and signs her own contract. Banks promises to become Two Belts Banks and stamps her own signature on the contract. The brawl is on with Ziggler trying a superkick but McIntyre pulls it out of the air. The threat of a Claymore sends Ziggler bailing, along with Bayley and Sasha. Book the mixed tag for later.

From Raw again.

Here are Rollins and Murphy for the message. We see a recap of the issues with Rollins vs. Mysterio/Dominick, including Humberto Carrillo and Aleister Black nearly taking out Rollins’ eye last week. Back in the arena, Rollins talks about the duty that Mysterio has to his son. The problem is that Rey hasn’t been, ahem, seeing things clearly. Rollins talks about how he gave Rey a chance to get out with honor but Mysterio refuses to leave. They are bound by fate and as fate would have it, Mysterio is meant to be a sacrifice for the greater good of Raw.

Rollins is going to tear him down piece by piece, but here are Mysterio and Dominick on the screen. Rey says that there will be no forgiveness for Rollins no matter what. Mysterio loves Dominick, but now he has to do something even worse to Rollins. It’s an eye for an eye and it won’t be fate, because it’s going to be by design. Dominick can forgive Rey, but he’ll never forgive Rey, which will be ordained by fate. Rollins: “Oh bravo.” Cue Carrillo and Black and it seems that we have another match being booked on the fly.

Post break, Rollins and Murphy are still on the floor to yell at Carrillo and Black. Carrillo says Rollins will never be the man Mysterio is. Black knows evil when he sees it and promises to make Rollins atone for it. Rollins says this ends now and we’re ready to go.

Humberto Carrillo/Aleister Black vs. Seth Rollins/Murphy

Black kicks away at Murphy to start and scares Rollins off the apron. The distraction lets Murphy kick Black to the floor and Rollins stomps away next to the barricade. Back in and Rollins whips Black hard into the corner, setting up Murphy’s reverse chinlock. Black fights up with a shot to the head and it’s a hot tag to Carrillo, who has to chase Rollins to the floor. That lets Murphy get in a cheap shot but Carrillo enziguris him without much trouble.

A middle rope crossbody connects and Rollins comes back in, only to be sent outside. Another enziguri sets up the missile dropkick to Murphy and Rollins has to save Murphy from the 619. Carrillo hits the big springboard dive to the floor and we take a break. Back with Carrillo getting in a shot to Rollins for a breather. The diving tag brings in Black to beat up Murphy and moonsault onto both of them. Murphy counters Black Mass into a rollup so Black knees him in the face.

Carrillo comes back in for a 619 to Murphy for two with Rollins diving in for the save. Rollins dives onto Black and Murphy hits a running knee for two on Carrillo with Black making a save of his own. The Cheeky Nandos kick hits Carrillo and it’s a powerbomb/jumping knee to the face combination….for two. If you’re going to debut a big spot like that, don’t have it be for a near fall. Black and Murphy head to the floor, leaving Rollins to Stomp Carrillo for the pin at 10:28.

Rating: C+. This was a fast paced match and it’s nice to see Rollins win something for a change. That’s been part of the problem with this rather lacking story: Rollins hasn’t really done anything other than taking out Mysterio. He loses most of his big matches and the promos feel like something that has been done in every indy promotion in the world at one time or another. It’s not horrible, but I can’t find any interest in the whole thing.

Post match the brawl stays on with Carrillo taking the steps to the face, with Rollins putting Mysterio’s mask on him. Black has to save Carrillo’s eye from the steps so Rollins gives Carrillo the Stomp onto the steps instead.

Bianca Belair vs. Billie Kay

Peyton Royce is here with Billie. They lock up to start and Kay completely fails at driving her into the corner. Belair powers her up onto the top without much trouble and then pulls Billie back to the middle. A standing moonsault gives Belair two but Billie is back with Eat Defeat for two as we take a break.

Back with Billie working on the arm and putting on a seated armbar. A rollup gives Billie two and she goes right back to the arm. Belair powers her up with a slam into a dropkick as the confidence starts rolling again. A Peyton distraction fails and it’s the KOD to finish Billie at 9:49.

Rating: C. Better than I was expecting here as they had something with the arm injury and Belair having to fight through adversity and survive to win in the end. Not a bad match at all as the IIconics are getting a lot stronger chance to showcase themselves. Belair on the other hand is lucky to make Main Event these days and I really don’t get the logic.

From Smackdown.

Here’s Braun Strowman to talk about Bray Wyatt making him afraid. One night they were sitting in the swamp when Bray saw a snake coming out of the water. Strowman wanted to stomp it but Bray said that was his friend. Bray got face to face with the snake and it bit him, so Bray laughed. It was then that Braun knew he was facing something evil, so he started doing the devil’s work. And he loved every second of it.

We get one of the old Wyatt feed interruptions before Strowman talks about how he still has some of that evil inside him. Braun can’t keep living like this so let’s go back to the swamp. He’s either coming out of this a broken man or knowing that he beat evil. Then he can feed Bray to the alligators in the swamp. Bray’s laughter is heard and Strowman laughs with him.

There’s your cinematic match and there is also your latest Strowman segment that doesn’t make me want to watch him defend the title. I don’t want to see them in the swamp, I don’t want to see them fighting each other and I don’t really want to see Strowman. What is the big appeal here? “Hey, now look where we’re having a match!” Maybe find someone interesting enough that you don’t need to do all these bonuses?

From Raw again.

Drew McIntyre/Asuka vs. Sasha Banks/Dolph Ziggler

Bayley sits in on commentary as the guys start. McIntyre powers him around early on and chops away in the corner as Asuka is very pleased. A quick Fameasser doesn’t even give Ziggler one and it’s off to the women (Bayley: “MAIN EVENT TIME!”). Asuka shoves her around to start but Sasha avoids a charge. That means the threat of the Asuka Lock but the guys come in, allowing Banks to slip out. A spinning elbow to the face drops Banks to the floor though and we take a break.

Back with Ziggler rolling him up for two and hitting the delayed DDT. For some reason Ziggler tags Banks in and Asuka gets to come in as McIntyre is still banged up. Asuka hits a running knee to the face for two on Banks but Bayley offers a distraction. That lets Banks hit a Meteora off the apron (though she seemed to overshoot it) to knock Asuka silly. The chinlock doesn’t last long so Banks hits the double knees in the corner for two more.

Asuka gets in some knees of her own and it’s a double tag to bring the men back in. McIntyre hits the top rope shot to Ziggler’s head but Banks tags herself in. Banks yells at McIntyre, who punches Ziggler off the apron as the yelling ensues. Asuka comes in to kick Banks in the head for two but Banks reverses into a rollup for two. The Bank Statement is countered into the Asuka Lock but Banks flips back onto her for the pin at 14:04.

Rating: C. Just a main event tag match here and they did a good job of making Sasha feel like more of a threat. It’s better to go there than having McIntyre take a fall as they’ve done a great job of making him seem like the most important person on the show. This was one where you could probably guess how the match was going to go and that’s not a bad thing.

Overall Rating: D+. Just a show here and it doesn’t exactly make me want to see Extreme Rules any more than I did before. It’s just a dead pay per view and there isn’t much that makes me want to see anything they have to offer. That’s a really bad sign and while some of the wrestling will be fine, the build has hardly gone all that well. Not a very good show here, but that’s usually the case for July.

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: June 26, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Drew Gulak, Byron Saxton

Last week’s edition of the cruiserweight show featured a pair of rather large monsters and a guy we aren’t allowed to speak about anymore. That doesn’t leave many options for this week but maybe they can surprise us. Last week they surprised me by actually doing something interesting with the show so maybe they can go back to back. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Isaiah Scott vs. Tony Nese

Nese poses to start and then waistlocks Scott down. That means an early standoff as they seem to have some time here. They go to the mat until Scott grabs a headscissors into an armbar. Scott has to slip out of a headscissors so Nese is back with the strikes to the ribs and face. An armbar gets Scott out of trouble again as they are still in first gear.

Nese fights up and snaps Scott throat first across the top, but Scott follows him to the floor for some chops against the Plexiglas. A belly to back onto the apron cuts Scott off again though and there’s a running elbow for two back inside. Nese trips him down to cut off a comeback and the Lionsault gets two.

Scott snaps off a suplex but Nese is back with a spinning kick to the face for his own near fall. A bodyscissors stays on Scott’s ribs until he fights up and unloads with shots in the corner. The middle rope elbow to the back of a seated Nese gets two and the rolling Downward Spiral is good for the same.

Scott’s German suplex gets two but the House Call is reversed into a Boston crab. A rope is grabbed so Nese hits a pumphandle powerslam for another near fall. They head outside again with Nese sending him into the steps, setting up the 450 for two back inside. The frustrated Nese grabs a chair but Scott knocks him into the ropes, setting up a slingshot stomp to send Nese to the floor. Back in and the Swerve Stomp finishes Nese at 19:59.

Rating: B. See, this was at least a little different than usual. Let them do something that feels like a big match and the whole thing comes off as more important. That’s a good idea and something that we haven’t seen around here for a long time now. Scott continues to look like a star and that’s a very good thing for the future, despite taking too long to make it happen in the first place.

Next week: Legado de Fantasma is here.

Scott says he wants the title to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. There isn’t much else that you can say about a show that is literally one match from beginning to end, but that was nice for a change. I’m really not sure about the need to do this show under the current circumstances, but at least they’re starting to do something with the show. It helps when it’s a good match too, so they actually made use of the less than twenty five minute run time here.

Results

Isaiah Scott b. Tony Nese – Swerve Stomp

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