IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: May 29, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Corey Graves

It’s back to the Performance Center for some more matches that aren’t going to have any significant impact whatsoever. That’s how things work around here and I’m running out of ways to say how worthless this show is. It’s right in the running with Dark to see how little a show from a major promotion can matter so maybe they can sink even further. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tyler Breeze vs. Tony Nese

Nese poses to start before they lock up against the ropes. That’s good for a clean break so Breeze snapmares him into a chinlock. Nese fights up and hits Breeze in the face (egads man) to take over and we hit the bodyscissors. Breeze fights up and strikes away, including the running forearm in the corner. That earns him another shot to the face and Nese moonsaults him for two.

The Sunset Driver is countered into a sunset flip for two but Breeze has to roll away from the Running Nese. Back in and Breeze slaps on a half crab, sending Nese over to the rope. Nese is right back in with a quick double stomp but it hurts his knee again. A spinebuster sets up a Rock Bottom for two on Nese but he’s right back with a running elbow in the corner. The Running Nese finishes Breeze at 8:32.

Rating: C. This could have been worse but you can still feel how nothing of a match that it really is. Both of them go from match to match around here and while there might be a very slight story for either of them, it’s not like there is any reason to keep track of the wins and losses. That is the case around here most of the time and it gets rather tiresome in a hurry.

We look at Drake Maverick winning the triple threat match on NXT, earning himself a spot in the Cruiserweight Title match.

Tehuti Miles vs. Danny Burch

Miles plays some mind games to start and it’s Burch chasing him to the floor early on. Back in and Burch hits him in the face before grabbing a headlock on the mat. That’s another chance for Burch to hit him in the face before grabbing the leg to pull Miles out of the air. Burch strikes away in the corner and stomps him down as this is one sided.

Miles is back up with a dropkick to the floor and we hit the chinlock back inside. A pair of neckbreakers gives Miles two and the chinlock goes on again. Burch fights up and hits his own dropkick, followed by a release German suplex. Back in and Miles grabs a rollup with trunks for the pin at 7:37.

Rating: C-. What the heck was that? We’re building towards Burch and Oney Lorcan challenging for the NXT Tag Team Titles and he LOSES here? To TEHUTI MILES??? I know it’s a nothing show that no one will see but why in the world did they do this? There was no one else for Miles to beat? I don’t get this and it’s making my head hurt all over again.

Overall Rating: D+. So not only is the show a complete waste of time but now they’re having #1 contenders to titles lose to cruiserweight jobbers? I don’t get the point of this, even if that has been the case around here for a long time now. Nothing to the matches of course, but then they do something screwy with a result? I’d love an explanation, but my goodness the possibilities that presents.

Results

Tony Nese b. Tyler Breeze – Running Nese

Tehuti Miles b. Danny Burch – Rollup with trunks

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: May 28, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, MVP

We’re on the way to Backlash and I’m not sure what they’re going to do to get us ready here. The show is mostly set up already and I’m not exactly thrilled with what we’re going to be seeing as far as original content on this one. It’s just hard to get fired up for this show and that’s the case every week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Hey it’s the 400^th episode. This is not likely to mean anything whatsoever.

Bianca Belair vs. Ruby Riott

Ruby goes for the arm to start but gets whipped hard into the corner for a shoulder to the ribs. A tilt-a-whirl gutbuster gives Belair two and we hit the neck crank. Back up and Belair flips over Riott out of the corner, setting up a dropkick back into the corner. Belair misses a hard charge into the post (that sounded horrible) and Ruby stomps her down. An STO gives Ruby two but Belair double chickenwings her onto the turnbuckle. The KOD finishes Riott at 5:45.

Rating: C-. Just a match here with Riott continuing to fall further and further down the mountain. That has been the case with her since she came back (and before) and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. Belair has already cooled off a lot, but it might be more due to the fact that the Street Profits are playing golf instead of wrestling.

We recap the first round of the Intercontinental Title tournament.

From Smackdown.

We open with the Dirt Sheet, where John Morrison’s abs are now certified social media influencers. Miz can’t believe that Otis is Mr. Money in the Bank and goes on a rant about how Braun Strowman teamed together. Miz: “It just makes no sense.” Morrison: “Like Becky Lynch choosing to have a child with Seth Rollins.” Morrison can’t believe that the Universal Champion is the one that Bray Wyatt replaced with puppet animals. Miz: “Bray Wyatt had the choice between Braun Strowman and stuffed animals. HE PICKED STUFFED ANIMALS!”

We have a special feature tonight: rejected Firefly Fun House puppets, all of whom don’t think much of Strowman. One of which is Mandyquin Rose, whose power is to whisper plans into Otis’ ears. Mandyquin: “Not everything about Braun is a monster.” Morrison: “TOO FAR!”

Cue Strowman to say the show isn’t half bad. Now ask him about Bray’s puppets at Money in the Bank. Miz can’t believe that Strowman thinks Bray is done with him. Miz fought Bray Wyatt and it spiraled into the lowest point of his life (and it only took him about a week to bounce back) but Morrison was there to help him. Morrison doesn’t think much of Strowman and manages to get him a match against Miz next.

Miz vs. Braun Strowman

Non-title. Miz slugs away to start and is knocked down with a single forearm to the chest. The running shoulder puts Miz down again and the dominance is on. A low bridge puts Strowman on the floor and Morrison adds a Flying Chuck. Strowman posts himself by mistake and Miz kicks him in the head. The short DDT is blocked though and Miz is driven into the corner. There’s the big toss and the running powerslam finishes Miz at 3:45.

Rating: C-. Miz got some stuff in here but he and Morrison, even combined, shouldn’t be any real threat to Strowman at this point. It’s not a very good match but that wasn’t the point of something like this. Odds are we get Morrison vs. Strowman next week and that’s the end of it as Bray comes back for the PPV title match.

Post match, Morrison challenges Strowman to a handicap match for the title at Backlash. Strowman says it’s on.

From Raw.

Edge talks about how Randy Orton woke him up last week. Now he has to prove that he still has it, which he has learned over the years from people like Kurt Angle, Mr. Perfect, British Bulldog, Eddie Guerrero and Christian. He was a five tool workhorse for this company but everything he said was in the past tense. Maybe he can’t do those things anymore but he’s going to dig into his soul at Backlash because that’s all a man can do.

Akira Tozawa vs. Shelton Benjamin

Tozawa runs the ropes to start and slips away to hit an enziguri. Shelton is right back with a knockdown into an armbar but Tozawa hurricanranas him to the floor. The suicide dive sends us to a break and we come back with Shelton kneeing him in the face. Shelton gets two off a suplex and we hit the chinlock.

Tozawa’s back is bent over Shelton’s knee but he pops up for the Octopus. That’s broken up in a hurry so Tozawa nails the Shining Wizard. A missile dropkick gives Tozawa two but Shelton rolls into the ankle lock. That’s reversed into a rollup for two and Tozawa kicks him in the head. The top rope backsplash is broken up though and Shelton hits a belly to belly superplex. Paydirt finishes Tozawa at 9:36.

Rating: C. What in the world does it say when you’re losing to Shelton Benjamin on Main Event in 2020? Remember when Tozawa was this close to a title match in the Cruiserweight Title tournament? Like, last week or so? Well now he’s here losing to Benjamin, who hasn’t meant a thing in years. I don’t get it, but at least the match was ok.

From Raw.

It’s time for the VIP Lounge with MVP talking about how no one can offer this kind of star power. His guest this week is Drew McIntyre, who is soon to be the former WWE Champion. Drew wastes no time in asking where Bobby Lashley is but MVP says don’t worry because we’ll save that for Backlash. MVP remembers taking a Claymore kick and he knew McIntyre would win the WWE Title, but MVP would have a hand in him losing it.

Lashley has a title shot after thirteen years, but Drew took nineteen years to get here. Then he was in the main event of WrestleMania and beat Brock Lesnar in five minutes. Drew doesn’t need anyone talking or fighting for him and Lashley is going to have to pry the title from his cold dead hands. MVP: “That could be arranged.” Cue Lashley so Drew Claymores MVP just in case. McIntyre is ready for him and tells Lashley to get in. The half conscious MVP holds Lashley back and gets him up the ramp.

From Raw again, after the show’s main event.

Post match here’s McIntyre for the brawl but since there is no security, some NXT wrestlers come in for the failed save. Lashley spears McIntyre down but the brawl continues. Even more wrestlers fail to break it up so here’s another batch to finally separate them to end the show. They’ve got something pretty good here with this feud as I want to see these two fight.

Overall Rating: D+. Yeah this didn’t work out so well and that’s not exactly surprising. We’re in that post Money in the Bank lull as we wait around to see what happens at Backlash, which isn’t exactly a top level show in the first place. Hopefully that show winds up being something good, but you never can tell these days. Either way, at least they had a crowd here, even if it didn’t save the show.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: May 22, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Corey Graves

We’re back with another edition of the show that continues to exist. The Cruiserweight Title tournament is starting to come to a close and that means absolutely nothing around here, as tends to be the case. Hopefully we can get some good action around here, because it’s not like anything matters when it comes to stories. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch vs. Ever Rise

Remember when Burch and Lorcan beat these two on NXT in less than two minutes? Well now you’re getting a rematch! Burch and Martel lock up to start but a cheap shot from the apron lets Parker come in to hammer him down. A leg trip lets Burch take Parker over to the corner so Lorcan can get the tag. The rapid fire uppercuts set up the half crab that gave them the win on Wednesday but Martel sends Burch into them for the save this time.

Lorcan gets taken into the corner for the alternating beatdown, setting up the snapmare into the chinlock. That’s broken up and a running Blockbuster allows the tag to Burch so house can be cleaned. A headbutt rocks Martel but the Tower of London to Parker is broken up. Burch doesn’t mind as he Crossfaces Martel for the win at 5:45.

Rating: D+. So that happened. It was more competitive than what happened before, but it’s not like there was anything interesting here. Ever Rise isn’t worth seeing and I don’t exactly see much for them in the near or distant future. At least they lasted longer than two minutes this time around though, and that’s an upgrade.

We look back at NXT’s tournament matches.

We look back at Jack Gallagher eliminating Isaiah Scott from the tournament.

Isaiah Scott vs. Tyler Breeze

Breeze takes him down to start so Scott takes things into the corner. Scott misses a kick to the head and the frustration is setting in. He even slips going to the middle rope and Breeze dropkicks him to the floor. A hard whip sends Scott into the barricade and Breeze gets two off a suplex back inside. That’s enough for Scott to get fired up and he sends Breeze outside for a running stomp from the apron.

Back in and the rolling Downward Spiral gives Scott two but Breeze is right back with an enziguri for his own two. Scott spins him into a quick German suplex for two more and a neckbreaker staggers Breeze again. The Supermodel Kick gives Breeze a quick two but the Cheeky Nandos kick is broken up. Instead, Scott hit the Confidence Boost (inverted Iconoclasm) for the pin at 8:46.

Rating: C. I’ve liked Scott for a good while now so hopefully this is the start of a push for him. I wouldn’t get my hopes up as it’s a win over a low level wrestler on the least important show in the division at the bottom rung on the ladder. But he won something, so that’s a step up right?

Overall Rating: C-. It’s another case where I can’t say much about the show because there is no reason to think about it that much. I can appreciate that the wrestlers are out there trying and putting in the effort, but this show is just such a nothing event that I don’t know how much hope there is. That’s a sad situation, but it’s also the reality 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

Main Event
Date: May 21, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, MVP

It’s back to this one again and I’m running out of ways to come up with ways to talk about this show. There isn’t anything worth seeing on it most weeks, but you never know when you might see something that throws you a little curve ball. Hopefully that is the case again here, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Jinder Mahal vs. Akira Tozawa

Mahal goes straight to the power to start but Tozawa slips out of a slam and kicks away at the leg. A superkick drops Tozawa but Mahal would rather slug away than cover. Tozawa gets whipped hard into the corner and it’s the knee to the face to keep Tozawa down. The chinlock goes on and some knees to the back keep Tozawa in trouble. Another chinlock goes on because this is a match that needs two of them. Tozawa fights up and hits a quick Shining Wizard into a missile dropkick for two. A whip into the corner cuts Tozawa off and the Khallas gives Mahal the pin at 5:47.

Rating: D. This was textbook Mahal: nothing beyond the basics, a lame finisher, hearing about how great and awesome he is and nothing else. I know Tozawa isn’t going to be a threat to a former World Champion but could we please find something interesting for Mahal to do? If we just must have him as a featured player, could he find a way to do something that might strike my interest? For a change at least?

From Smackdown.

Otis/??? vs. Miz/John Morrison

The partner is….Strowman. I’d love it if one time it wasn’t he teased partner and was instead someone like Bo Dallas. Otis drives Morrison into the corner to start so Morrison kicks him in the head. Gyrating gets Otis out of trouble and he faceplants Morrison for a bonus. Morrison gets knocked down again and it’s off to Strowman for a double Caterpillar as we take a break.

Back with Miz front facelocking Otis before the YES Kicks connect for two. Otis suplexes both of them down at the same time and it’s back to Strowman to clean house. Miz is ran over on the floor but Strowman goes shoulder first into the post. Morrison strikes away until Strowman catches him with the powerslam for the pin at 9:38.

Rating: D+. That’s all it needed to be as this was about putting Otis’ toe into the main event waters. It’s going to be a good while before Otis goes after the title, assuming he actually gets that far. Normally I would say I can’t imagine the title change taking place, but who would have imagined Otis getting here in the first place?

Post match here’s Mandy Rose and the distraction lets Otis think about using the briefcase. Strowman sees it coming though and Otis says it’s just for a laugh. Celebrating ends the show instead.

From Raw.

Charly Caruso is in the ring to start and brings up the idea of Randy Orton vs. Edge being the best wrestling match of all time, should it take place. Cue Orton to say that challenging Edge to a wrestling match isn’t a surprise because the second W stands for wrestling. They’ve already torn the building apart in a Last Man Standing match and on that night, Edge was the better man.

No one can do what he does in the ring in a wrestling match though, including Edge. Last week Orton saw doubt in Edge’s eyes and the grit (take a shot) and passion are gone. Cue Edge (in a GET GRIT) to say Orton is playing a game of chess so he wasn’t going to rush in. This is just about getting a paycheck for Orton because he was handed this spot.

Orton didn’t grow up dreaming of being WWE Champion or saving up money to go to the show at the end of the month like Edge did. He didn’t cry when he won the Intercontinental Title because it was a stepping stone to the top. Edge remembers beating Orton for that title in 2004 but Orton tells him to hold on. Edge isn’t stopping because Orton doesn’t love this like everyone else does and yes he accepts the challenge. That’s enough for Orton, who leaves without saying a word. I’m digging the love of the business vs. love of a check vibe here, though the “best match ever” thing isn’t working.

Shane Thorne vs. Ricochet

Brendan Vink and Cedric Alexander are here. Thorne takes him to the ropes for a quickly broken lockup. Ricochet works on a wristlock but gets taken down into an armbar. A quick rollup gives Ricochet two and Throne is annoyed. Back up and a spinning left hand drops Thorne again but he pulls Ricochet off the middle rope for a crash.

The Cannonball sends us to a break and we come back with Thorne working on a neck crank. Some knees and elbows to the ribs keep Ricochet down and it’s right back to the chinlock. Back up and Ricochet hits a rolling dropkick to start the comeback. The standing shooting star press gets two on Thorne, who is right back with a ripcord knee for the same. Ricochet kicks him in the back of the head though and finishes with the Kickback at 12:49.

Rating: C+. The match was better than I expected from these two, but at the same time, what does it say that it’s a relief that Ricochet is beating someone who is best known as little more than a low level tag wrestler? Also of note: MVP made no reference to managing Thorne and Vink anymore, so that seems to be over.

From Raw.

Drew McIntyre vs. King Corbin

Non-title. Hold on though as here are Bobby Lashley and MVP, with the former saying he’s coming for McIntyre’s title no matter what. The two of them watch as McIntyre and Corbin fight over a lockup to start. A shot to the leg staggers McIntyre early on but he’s fine enough to clothesline Corbin outside. Another clothesline puts Corbin over the barricade with MVP clapping from the stage.

There’s a third clothesline to put Corbin at ringside and he goes inside, only to roll back to the floor to avoid a Claymore. Corbin knocks McIntyre off the apron and into the barricade, followed by the slide underneath the corner clothesline for two. McIntyre gets sent face first into the turnbuckle and it’s a superplex to give Corbin one. Corbin talks trash and runs into an overhead belly to belly.

There’s a big boot to set up the top rope shot to the head into McIntyre’s nip up. McIntyre gets two off a spinebuster but Corbin plants him down for one more. Back up and the Futureshock looks to set up the Claymore, which is countered into Deep Six for two. Corbin tries the slide under the ropes clothesline but walks into the Claymore for the pin at 9:12.

Rating: C. Now this is a better usage of Corbin (provided you keep him on one show): let him do one match as a threat to the champ and then send him elsewhere. There is no reason to do anything higher up with him than that and if WWE can grasp that concept, they might be able to get something out of Corbin. It was fine for a warmup for McIntyre vs. Lashley and that’s all it needed to be. Now keep Corbin on his own show if you have to have him in such a big role.

Overall Rating: C-. They’ve done worse but this wasn’t exactly a thrilling show. Backlash is a pretty weak show for the company and they didn’t exactly make me care about what they’re doing here. The stuff they’re doing makes logical enough sense, but it isn’t something that I want to see. At least Lashley vs. McIntyre makes sense, but I’m not sure how good it’s going to be on the way there.

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: May 15, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Corey Graves, Byron Saxton

After those weeks of not having this as the least interesting show WWE offers, it’s back to the same formula that turned the show into a joke. This week is back to the two matches with little story to them and telling us to watch NXT if we want the cruiserweight matches that actually matter. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Tyler Breeze vs. Tehuti Miles

Miles looks impressed with his own looks and throws a towel at Breeze to start. A spinebuster cuts Miles down so he heads to the ropes, where the referee has to pull him off. That lets Miles get in a shot to the face and he poses a bit while Breeze staggers around on the floor. Back in and the slow stomping ensues, followed by the chinlock. Breeze fights up and hits a quick Supermodel Kick for two but Miles hits a spinning Dominator for the same. Miles loads up a neckbreaker but Breeze reverses into the Unprettier for the pin at 6:00.

Rating: D+. Miles comes off as a cross between Breeze and Velveteen Dream, which isn’t quite the most interesting thing in the world. The bigger problem here is getting back to how 205 Live matches tend to feel: no emotion, no energy and nothing worth watching. You had two guys doing moves to each other and that isn’t the best way to fill in a few minutes when the moves aren’t all that great in the first place.

We look at the ten man tag from two months ago, with Jack Gallagher causing Tony Nese to be interrupted. Nese attacked him a few weeks ago and then jumped Isaiah Scott in the Cruiserweight Title tournament, allowing Gallagher to win. How that makes them hate each other is beyond me but it’s better than nothing. I think.

Tony Nese vs. Jack Gallagher

Feeling out process to start with Gallagher working on the arm but getting taken down into a leglock. Gallagher gets up and kicks him outside but Nese comes right back in to knock him down. The chinlock goes on, followed by a headlock to keep Gallagher in trouble. Nese switches to the bodyscissors and then a Boston crab, with Gallagher fighting up without much damage done.

They head outside with Gallagher sending him into the barricade for two back inside. The slugout it on until Nese snaps him throat first across the top. A Lionsault gets two and the Sunset Driver connects for the same. The Running Nese is countered with a headbutt and Gallagher’s sunset flip gets two. Nese can’t hit a pumphandle slam so Gallagher nails the rolling elbow for the pin at 8:38.

Rating: C+. Much better match than the first though you can feel how low level the whole thing is. This feels like the kind of a match that we have seen in some form several times now, which is the problem with so much around here. These matches run together and while this one was pretty good, it wasn’t the kind of match that I’m going to remember in about five minutes.

Post match Gallagher says this isn’t over.

Overall Rating: C-. I know I’ve harped on this but you can really feel how little this show matters. During the middle of the show, they were talking about how the tournament stuff is on the other show while pointing out that the main event was a match between people already eliminated. They go out of their way to make it clear that this show is the bottom of the barrel and I just don’t get it. If WWE cares so little about the show, why bother running the thing? This one was fine, though don’t expect to see WWE act like it matters.

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: May 14, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: MVP, Tom Phillips

This is going to be a different kind of Main Event as there is no point in talking about Smackdown when Money in the Bank has since taken place. Therefore expect a lot from the red show, which tends to make for some less interesting than usual shows. However, given how lame the pre-Money in the Bank shows were, it sounds like a big improvement. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Jinder Mahal vs. Denzel DeJournette

Denzel wrestles him up against the ropes and then down to the mat so Mahal elbows his way to freedom. A good superkick gives Mahal one as commentary makes it very clear that Mahal is a former WWE Champion. The chinlock goes on, followed by some kicks to the head for a bonus. Mahal drops a knee for two but Denzel grabs a belly to back suplex for the double knockdown. There’s a flying shoulder to drop Mahal but he knees Denzel in the face. The Khallas finishes Denzel at 6:23.

Rating: D+. What else were you expecting here? Well maybe a former World Champion not needing six minutes against a jobber. I know we’re in for another Mahal push because of the international appeal but that doesn’t mean we have to like it. It’s the same Mahal as it was before, albeit with a repaired knee. Why would I want to see this all over again?

Video on the Money in the Bank ladder match.

From Raw.

Here’s an emotional Becky Lynch without the title but with the Money in the Bank briefcase. She’s upset about something and needs to go away for awhile. That’s why she made asked the powers that be around here to raise the stakes last night. Cue Asuka to scream about the briefcase, but Becky opens it up to reveal the title, which now belongs to Asuka because the ladder match was for the title, not an opportunity at the title. Asuka freaks out and celebrates around the arena. Becky: “You go be a warrior, because I’m gonna go be a mother.” Asuka stops and hugs Becky before chanting her name in a great moment.

Video on Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins from the pay per view.

From Raw.

Drew McIntyre vs. Andrade

Non-title. McIntyre works on an armbar to start and shouts at Vega a bit. Back up and McIntyre hits a kick to the ribs out of the corner to send Andrade outside. Andrade charges into a tilt-a-whirl slam onto the apron as this is one sided so far. Andrade dives under the ring and reaches through the ropes that hold it together to pull McIntyre into the apron.

A baseball slide hits McIntyre in the ribs before Andrade starts in on the arm. Double knees to said arm get two but McIntyre is back with a sitout powerbomb for the same. McIntyre gets sent into the corner for the running knees but the hammerlock DDT is countered into a Glasgow Kiss. The reverse Alabama Slam sets up the Claymore for the pin at 8:34.

Rating: C+. They’re moving with the stories tonight as Vega’s team seems to be on the ropes after only being around for a few weeks. Andrade losing again doesn’t make him look good, but it’s not like his title reign has meant anything in four and a half months anyway. Granted he’s losing to the World Champion so it’s not like it’s some upset. Still though, either protect him or get rid of the title.

Post match Drew says he didn’t come out here for a match but anything can happen on Monday Night Raw. He’s always up for a Claymore party, but he’s here to talk about something else. Last night he was in a heck of a fight with Seth Rollins. He still has the title though and now he has some more exciting news. There is something called the Brand To Brand Invitation, meaning that a wrestler from Smackdown has challenged Drew to a match and it has been accepted. That’s why next week, live on Raw, it’s Drew vs. King Corbin.

Ruby Riott vs. Bianca Belair

Ruby gets in a cheap shot after teasing a test of strength early on. Belair’s headlock takeover puts Ruby down and a heck of a dropkick sends her into the corner. Another kick to the back sends Ruby face first into the mat so Ruby gets smart by grabbing the foot. This time it’s Ruby kicking her outside with Belair clutching the arm as we take a break.

Back with Ruby kicking her in the arm for two but getting speared down. That was with the bad arm though and Belair can’t follow up. This time Belair kicks her to the floor and stomps away, followed by a handspring moonsault for two. The standing version gets the same as they’re putting in more effort than you almost ever see around here. Ruby reverses into something like a Rings of Saturn but Belair powers out in a hurry. An STO gives Ruby two but she gets caught on top, meaning it’s the KOD to give Belair the pin at 10:02.

Rating: C+. This was a match that had no business being good but they made it work well here. Ruby continues to be someone who can make anyone look better and Belair is an athletic marvel, making this a nice combination. I liked it well enough and after Becky’s announcement, the division is going to need some fresh names. These two could do that rather well.

Video on Edge and Randy Orton’s Last Man Standing match.

From Raw.

Here’s Edge for the big closing segment. He knows his career didn’t end at Wrestlemania but why is he confronting Randy Orton? Edge got his pound of flesh at Wrestlemania….and here’s Orton. Randy says congratulations because the better man won. Orton goes to leave but turns around and comes back because he can’t be the bigger man. The better man won at Wrestlemania but the better wrestler didn’t.

Edge hid behind other wrestlers at the Royal Rumble and then incapacitated Orton at Wrestlemania. He might not have gotten up at ten but it didn’t take him nine years to make it back. Orton talks about how Edge hasn’t had a regular match since 2011 and his grit and passion won’t help him there. If Edge has the guts, they’ll have a straight up wrestling match at Backlash. Edge doesn’t say anything but Charly Caruso says if it happens, it might be the greatest wrestling match ever. Try to get your head around that one to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. That’s one of the better Main Events in a long time and the women’s match was a big help. Granted it helps that we’re past Money in the Bank now and don’t have to worry about building momentum towards the match any longer. It’s not a great show, but for Main Event, this was a near masterpiece.

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: May 8, 2020
Host: Jeremy Borash, Tom Phillips

Yes it’s the first time that Jeremy Borash has gotten to host a show and I could go for more of that taking place. If nothing else, Tom Phillips could probably use a break as he is on almost every show these days. I’m not sure what we are going to be seeing this time, but opening the vault is always fun. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Tom introduces Jeremy and welcomes him to the team.

The subject this week is Oney Lorcan, who is working out in his back yard. Here’s our first match.

From Starrcade 1996.

J-Crown/Cruiserweight Title: Ultimo Dragon vs. Dean Malenko

The J-Crown is a collection of 8 junior heavyweight titles from around the world collected into one title. Dragon currently holds the J-Crown but wants the Cruiserweight Title, held by Dean. Sonny Onoo, the evil Japanese representative, is now a regular evil manager, representing Dragon. The Dragon is a very solid wrestler from Japan while Malenko is a smaller guy but known as the Man of 1000 Holds. Mike Tenay, international wrestling expert, joins commentary for this one.

Dean takes it to the mat to start but Dragon sits out. Now Dean sits out as both guys fight for control. Ultimo finally gets control with a leg lock but Dean rolls away to the ropes. Dragon takes him right back down to the mat and puts on a quickly broken chinlock. They’re moving very quickly so far. Dragon nips out of a headscissors and we have a standoff. Dean is taken down again and Dragon fires off some HARD kicks to the back.

Dean takes him down with a backbreaker and puts on a headscissors as this is a chess match so far with both guys trying to get an extended advantage. Dragon hooks another chinlock but Dean is out of it almost immediately. The fans all chant USA as Dragon hits a jumping kick to take Dean down and it’s off to a modified STF. Malenko fights up again and we head outside where the Dragon slams him down. A suicide dive takes Malenko down but there’s no Asai Moonsault (it’s named after Dragon, its inventor).

Back inside and Dragon suplexes him down for two and Malenko gets the same off a sunset flip. Dragon hooks on a bow and arrow hold before shifting over to an abdominal stretch. The match has slowed WAY down and not in a good way. Tenay talks about Dragon’s name meaning that he’s the final student of Bruce Lee. Dragon would have been about seven years old when Lee died, so I’m thinking that’s not true.

Malenko fights up and hooks a quick release German suplex for two and it’s off to a leg bar by Dean. In a smart move, Dean lets go of the hold for a second so he can pull Ultimo back to the middle of the ring. Dragon finally makes it to the rope so Dean dropkicks him in the side of the knee to keep the pressure on. A kind of spinebuster puts Dragon back down and we hit another leg lock to keep Dean in control. Dean catches a charging Dragon in a WICKED powerslam to pop the crowd but for some reason there’s no cover. Dragon comes back with a spinwheel kick and a powerbomb for two.

Dean picks him up for a tombstone and the fans go nuts again. The Texas Cloverleaf (Malenko’s leg lock finisher) is escaped but a tiger bomb gets two instead. Dean is kicked to the floor and there’s the Asai Moonsault to put both guys down again. Back in and Ultimo misses a moonsault, allowing Dean to put on the Cloverleaf, only to break it to go after Onoo. A brainbuster gets two on Dragon but Ultimo escapes a suplex, leading to a pretty awesome pinfall reversal sequence, culminating with Dragon hitting a tiger suplex for the pin and the title at 18:30.

Rating: B-. Cut five minutes out of this and it’s a classic. The main flaw other than that is the leg work not going anywhere as Dean worked that thing over for a good five minutes and then it’s perfectly fine for all of Dragon’s high flying stuff. It’s a good match but there are a lot of things holding it back. That and Dean losing hurt the crowd a lot.

Lorcan is lifting his dog and throws us to his own match.

From 205 Live, February 21, 2020.

Ariya Daivari/Brian Kendrick vs. Danny Burch/Oney Lorcan

No DQ. It’s a brawl in the aisle before the bell with Daivari throwing Lorcan off the stage (for a rather short drop). Kendrick gets whipped hip first into the steps and Lorcan is brought inside for the opening bell and a near fall as Burch and Kendrick fight in the crowd. Lorcan throws Daivari over the barricade and into Kendrick, who is taken inside for a beating

It’s Daivari coming in with a chair, only to get sent face first into said chair. Again: Daivari is not very good at….anything really. Burch tells Lorcan to get the table and they set one up at ringside. Kendrick saves Daivari from going through the table and sends Lorcan through it instead with a Death Valley Driver from the apron. Lorcan goes over the announcers’ table and Daivari throws in a ladder. Daivari is sent into the ladder though and he’s down again

Kendrick Russian legsweeps Burch off the ladder and Daivari adds a splash off the ladder for two. Lorcan Hulks Up to slug it out with Kendrick but Daivari makes the save with the chair. A running Blockbuster sends Kendrick onto the chair and Burch duct tapes Kendrick to the turnbuckle. Daivari tales the assisted spike DDT onto (not through) the table. Another one inside finishes Daivari at 12:16.

Rating: B. Again, it’s the kind of match that works for the dual reason of they were trying hard and it was something fresh around here. These guys beat each other up rather well and the weapons were the right touch here. Burch and Lorcan are two of the better people around here and if you can get some better opponents for them more often than not, they could be the focal point around here.

Tom and Jeremy both pick Drake Maverick to win the Interim Cruiserweight Title tournament. Tom walks out to let Jeremy have the show to himself to wrap things up.

Overall Rating: B. This is the kind of thing that I like to see. You get a nice mixture of the old and the new, which is the kind of thing that you can do on this show for a long time to come. It’s not like the cruiserweights mean anything around here and I get more out of this than watching the same matches over and over. There’s good stuff in the vault, and sometimes it’s better to let things out than put more stuff in.

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: May 7, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, MVP

It’s the go home show for Money in the Bank and that means the recaps will be weak with this one. There is almost nothing going on of note over the last week’s worth of shows and while I’m sure they are going to showcase things, that doesn’t mean they are all that interesting. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

R-Truth vs. Cal Bloom

Truth does WHAT’S UP and only MVP responds. Bloom powers him into the corner to start but gets forearmed in the face a few times. An armdrag into a hiptoss puts Bloom down and a legdrop gives Truth two. Bloom is right back with a butterfly suplex and it’s time to hit Truth in the face a few times. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Truth busts out John Cena’s finishing sequence. The AA is countered into a powerslam for two though and Truth is in trouble again. Bloom loads up a powerbomb but Truth reverses into the AA for the pin at 5:14.

Rating: D+. Bloom is someone they clearly see something in and it’s smart to put him in there with a veteran like Truth. He’s been around forever and has worked with a lot of people with a lot of experience, making him a treasure trove of wrestling knowledge. You don’t get to see him win that often and he still has all this charisma no matter what is going on around him. No wonder he’s been here forever and is showing no signs of slowing down.

From Smackdown.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Carmella vs. Mandy Rose

Feeling out profess to start And they dive over each other a bit, setting up a low superkick for two on Mandy. A shot to the face sets up a chinlock on Carmella but here’s Sonya Deville for the distraction. She praises Mandy as the match continues, including Mandy getting two off a side slam.

Last year, Sonya almost handed Mandy the briefcase but Mandy managed to screw it up anyway. Sonya: “How embarrassing! Not nearly as embarrassing as losing to Carmella, which is probably about to happen!” Sonya says she’ll stop talking but then says she’s sick of standing up there and challenges Mandy to a fight right now. The distraction lets Carmella spin Mandy around so she can stand there and get superkicked for the pin at 3:49.

Rating: D+. If ever there was a place for the distraction rollup finish, this was it.. Instead we had Mandy get distracted, get spun around, and then stand there while Carmella superkicked her. That looked terribly fake and while the bigger story is fine, come up with a better way to do it. I do however like Sonya cutting a promo instead of just popping up for the distraction. At least it was a little different.

Post match Sonya sends her into the steps and talks a lot of trash. Sonya’s intensity has been really good, but is a showdown between Fire & Desire that big of a deal?

From Smackdown.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Otis

Otis runs him over to start and hits an early delayed vertical suplex for two. Ziggler gets sent into the corner and slammed down for two, followed by a catapult into the corner again. A trip tot he floor slows Otis down and Ziggler sends him into the barricade. Back from a break with Ziggler still in control, including hitting a dropkick for two. Graves mentions something that might be kind of important: the two ladder matches, with the wrestlers going up through the headquarters, will be taking place AT THE SAME TIME. They’ve hinted at that a few times but I didn’t think they would actually do it.

As I try to get my head around that brilliant idea, Otis fights back but the Caterpillar is broken up with a neck snap across the top. The Zig Zag gets two but Otis throws him down with a suplex. The Caterpillar finishes Ziggler clean at 9:53. Cole: “That is probably the biggest win of Otis’ career.” I know WWE wants you to forget about Wrestlemania but give me a break.

Rating: D+. I think we’ve pretty much hit the peak of Otis’ worth at this point and that’s fine. He got the big win at Wrestlemania and now he can do some spots in Money in the Bank without having a chance of winning. The match wasn’t very good but again, points for trying someone new and having Ziggler lose.

We look at the end of the gauntlet match from Raw with AJ Styles earning the last Money in the Bank qualifying match, plus AJ promising to win.

Ruby Riott vs. Kairi Sane

This could be interesting. Sane laughs a lot to start and takes Riott up to the ropes for a clean break. A headscissors into a running Blockbuster drops Riott and a top rope forearm gives Sane two. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Riott sends her into the post. Back from a break with Sane fighting out of a seated full nelson.

Riott misses a running kick in the corner though and Sane hits a running forearm. The Sliding D gets two and Sane goes up top, only to have the Insane Elbow broken up. Riott gets two off a top rope backsplash but Sana Alabama Slams her out of the corner. The Insane Elbow is good for the pin at 10:44.

Rating: C. As has been the case on a few shows prior to this one, it was nice to see something fresh like this one. This match might have taken place before, but it isn’t something that has been beaten into the ground. In other words, it felt like something I might want to see and that is the kind of thing WWE could do a little more often.

From Smackdown.

Here’s Braun Strowman for a chat but the Firefly Fun House cuts him off in a hurry. Bray has a story for us about the Black Sheep, who smelled a little funny. The Black Sheep was ready to do everything but the shepherd came to get him. Then the government placed a lien on the Sheep’s house and reptilians took over, because that’s what reptilians do. Bray wants to write a happier ending, but Strowman cuts him off and says come say it to his face. Strowman: “BYE!”

And from Raw to wrap it up.

Drew McIntyre vs. Murphy

Non-title and Seth Rollins is watching from the stage. Murphy gets knocked outside early on and McIntyre throws him over the barricade for a bonus. McIntyre stares at Rollins a bit too much though and gets sent into the barricade. Back in and the Meteora gets two on McIntyre, who comes back with one heck of a chop.

Murphy strikes away again, only to get caught with a Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre knocks him hard off the apron though and it’s a top rope clothesline for two back inside. A super White Noise is countered though and Murphy hits a powerbomb for two. Murphy loads up his own Claymore but walks into the real thing for the pin at 6:21.

Rating: C. So yeah, the unstoppable champion pinned the lackey after a fairly competitive match. This was less a contest and more counting down until one of two possible conclusions. That’s what we got here and it wasn’t all that interesting. Rollins could be an interesting threat to McIntyre but sending Murphy out there isn’t the way to go about it.

Post match McIntyre begs Rollins to fight him but Rollins walks off instead. Rollins runs back to the ring and hits McIntyre with a knee to the face. He shouts about how this is bigger than either of them and looks at the title. The title is dropped though and McIntyre avoids a Stomp, setting up the Glasgow Kiss. Seth bails from the threat of the Claymore to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. I know it wasn’t much but I rather liked that Sane vs. Riott match. It’s nice to see a match where you immediately wonder what might be going on in a match because it sounds good. You don’t get that kind of a feeling very often in WWE, but it doesn’t happen very often. Use the talent that you have and see how much more fun it might 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

205 Live
Date: May 1, 2020
Host: Tom Phillips

It’s more of the Matches That Made Us with the Singh Brothers getting a turn. I’m not sure what that could include but these things have been a pleasant surprise so far. While I’ve never been anything close to a Singh Brothers fan, they’ve probably had a good match in there somewhere for the second half of the show. Let’s get to it.

Tom gives us a quick intro.

The Singhs talk about the match that made them huge fans when they were kids so here it is.

From Wrestlemania XII (clipped on the show but this is the full version):

WWF World Title: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels

Bret is defending and this is a sixty minute Iron Man match, meaning the most falls (pin, submission, countout, disqualification) in the time limit wins. Lothario comes out with no Shawn but he points to the top of the arena for Shawn’s famous zipline entrance into the crowd. That shot of him riding down into the arena was shown on a lot of highlight packages for a very long time. Hebner explains the rules in full, even down to how a countout works, and we’re ready to go.

Feeling out process to start as Shawn grabs some quick takedowns to frustrate Bret just a bit. Bret holds on to a headlock to slow things down as Vince tries to say there are no Bret or Shawn fans but only WWF fans. Lawler is all over him for sounding stupid as this headlock continues. In this case though it makes sense as both guys would want to conserve energy.

Shawn fights up into a top wristlock but Bret reverses into a front facelock. That goes nowhere so Shawn escapes into an armbar. They get to their feet and try to pick up the pace but it’s right back to the mat for more arm cranking on the champ. Bret takes him into the corner for some shots to the ribs but Shawn forearms him in the jaw and headscissors Bret to the floor.

We’re ten minute in and you might think that headscissors would start the second gear but instead it’s right back to the armbar from Shawn. Bret stops to yell at Lothario and the distraction lets Shawn crank on the arm all over again. The hold stays on so long that Vince and Jerry actually talk strategy and analyze the match. Back up and Michaels gets caught in a spinebuster but fights out of a Sharpshooter attempt. They head to the floor and Bret is sent into the timekeeper’s area where a superkick takes the timekeeper’s (who looked a lot like Tony Chimmel) head off.

Back in and Bret grabs a chinlock to slow things down all over again. Shawn FINALLY fights up and hits a hard clothesline but Bret nails one of his own and it’s right back to that chinlock. Another comeback from Shawn includes a dropkick and there’s another armbar. We’re twenty minutes in and this already isn’t boding well. Shawn pulls on the wrist with his foot in Bret’s face before switching to a regular armbar. Good thing too as the fans might have been interested in something different.

Back up and they get a bit more aggressive as Bret’s shoulder is sent into the post. A shoulder breaker and hammerlock slam (shades of the Andersons) have Bret in even more trouble but Shawn isn’t following up. There’s a cross armbreaker on the wrong arm so Shawn quickly switches to the proper version. Shawn switches up to a seated armbar for a good bit until Bret fights up with a Stun Gun for the break. The arm keeps giving him problems though and Shawn sends Bret face first into the buckle. Bret isn’t done yet though as he comes back with the Five Moves of Doom.

For some reason he goes to the top rope and Shawn is ready to catch him, but Bret puts his knee on the back of Shawn’s head and drives him down onto the mat. Shawn comes back with a powerslam for two as there are thirty minutes to go. A slam brings Bret off the top again and a hurricanrana lets Shawn hammer away. That’s one of the first lucha style moves Shawn has used after basically promising to use a bunch of them. Nice little head game there and not something you often see work on Bret.

The threat of Sweet Chin Music sends Bret to the floor but Michaels goes to the top and LAUNCHES himself down onto Bret. That was one heck of a dive and always impresses me whenever I see this match. Back in and a PerfectPlex gets two on the champ. We hit a sleeper, which is smart but annoying after everything we’ve sat through here. Bret fights up (the arm injury disappeared a long time ago) and backdrops Shawn WAY over the top for a huge crash. Lothario comes over to check on him but somehow it’s not a countout.

Back in and Bret works on the back with an ax handle and backbreaker. There are twenty minutes left and Bret drops him with a belly to back superplex. We hit the reverse chinlock for a bit until Shawn fights up, only to have Bret throw him to the floor and into Lothario. With fifteen minutes to go, Bret even screams at Jose as he tries to get up and belly to bellys Shawn down for two. That’s rather heelish of him. The yelling, not the suplex.

Shawn’s right hands don’t get him anywhere as Bret counters a rollup by kicking Michaels outside again. This time it’s Bret diving through the ropes to take Shawn down again. Bret is willing to take the countout now but then changes his mind and breaks it up. Lawler: “He’s his own worst enemy! No, not as long as I’m still alive.” Back in and a German suplex gets two for the champ and Shawn can barely stand. He’s still able to slug it out from his knees though, telling Bret to bring it on.

A big headbutt puts Shawn down but Bret can’t follow up. After a few shakes of his head, Bret grabs another reverse chinlock and we have ten minutes to go. Shawn fights up yet again but it’s a double clothesline to reset things all over again. There’s a superplex from Bret as Vince declares it over at the six minute mark. He’s wrong on both counts as not only does it not get a fall but there were nearly seven minutes left.

Shawn kicks Bret in the face to block a Sharpshooter so Hart has to settle for a half crab instead. Unfortunately Shawn is right next to the ropes for the save and we’ve got five minutes left. Bret dives into a boot and both guys are down again. Shawn comes back with a nice dropkick to send Bret into the corner and there’s the Irish whip for Bret’s chest first buckle bump. Four minutes left and Shawn forearms into the nipup (which the camera misses) as it’s time for a comeback. Lawler: “Michaels has just gotten his nineteenth wind!”

With three minutes left, Shawn gets two off a top rope ax handle. The top rope elbow gets the same and Shawn plants him with a gutwrench powerbomb. He goes up with two minutes left and a moonsault press gets another near fall. A middle rope hurricanrana gets the same and Shawn is winded. With a minute left, Shawn goes up top but misses a dropkick and gets caught in the Sharpshooter. Bret cranks back on it but the time limit expires at 1:00:00.

We’re not done yet though as Bret goes to leave, only to have Monsoon make a ruling that we’re getting sudden death because THERE MUST BE A WINNER. Bret is ticked and starts hammering away on the back but Shawn jumps over him in the corner and hits Sweet Chin Music out of nowhere. Everyone (including me when I was watching live) jumps to their feet but Shawn can’t follow up. Both guys stagger to their feet and another superkick gives Shawn the first fall and the title at 1:01:50.

Rating: B-. This is a really tricky one to grade but the first twenty minutes ruin whatever else they could have had here. It’s just a bunch of laying around in rest holds, which may make sense but that doesn’t mean it’s entertaining. This would have been much better off as a regular match running about forty minutes as it increases drama and lets you believe that something might happen at any given moment.

The match is fondly remembered and it’s certainly not bad, but it’s definitely nowhere near a classic. Allegedly neither guy wanted to job multiple times to the other and it caused the match to be a bunch of waiting around for the first and decisive fall, which made for a dull match until the last five minutes. Unfortunately that’s the case with almost all Iron Man matches and it certainly happened here too. Good match, but not as great as it’s hyped up to be.

Bret is all ticked off and leaves, not to be seen for over seven months. Vince gets in the great line of “the boyhood dream has come true for Shawn Michaels.” Shawn is stunned but finally celebrates like you knew he was going to do.

And a match with the Singhs in it.

From 205 Live, July 9, 2019.

Lucha House Party vs. Singh Brothers

Tornado tag with Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado for the House Party. It’s a dance/pose off to start before the House Party punch them out to the floor. The Singhs get chopped a lot until it’s Metalik kicking away at Sunil back inside. Dorado comes back in and throws Metalik onto Sunil for two as Sumir comes back in for a save. That’s fine with Dorado, who hits a springboard moonsault for two of his own.

Something like a reverse hart Attack gets two on Sumir but Sunil crotches Dorado to break up the rope walk elbow. A double suplex gets two and a spinwheel kick sets up some hip swiveling. Some kicks keep Metalik down and, of course, that means it’s time for dancing, because that’s what the Singh Brothers do. A top rope Demolition Decapitator (Nigel: “BUENOS NOCHES!!!”) gets two as Dorado seems to have fallen into a hole somewhere.

As Metalik gets sent outside, Dorado FINALLY comes back in to break up some more hip swiveling. A high crossbody gets two with Sunil making a save of his own. The Golden Rewind puts Sumir down but the luchadors get double superkicked out of the air. Sunil brings in the Boscar trophy, which is taken away by Kalisto. The Metalik Driver sets up the rope walk DDT/a shooting star press for the stereo pins at 10:52.

Rating: C-. It wasn’t bad but this did a lot to expose the Singh Brothers as little more than a one note act. They did very little other than their dancing and that’s not enough to carry a ten minute match. The Bollywood Boys deal is fine, but come up with a better way to present that during the matches.

Tom says goodbye.

Overall Rating: C. This could have been a lot worse as Shawn winning is a major moment and one of the biggest moments of the era. The 205 Live match was nothing to see but there is only so much to be gotten out of a Singh Brothers match in the first place. I could go for something a little more out of left field next time though, as they’ve only been hitting the big classics over the last few weeks. Mix it up a bit.

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: April 30, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: MVP, Tom Phillips

No matter what the situations are around here, Main Event is going to Main Event. It’s been the same batch of repetitive matches and recaps. I was liking the random assortment of matches we were getting for a little while there and those have already stopped for the sake of it’s just Main Event. Lucky us. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Bianca Belair vs. Catalina

Belair shoves her down and then into the corner to start, followed by a running clothesline. We hit the abdominal stretch on Catalina, followed by a splash to the back into a nipup. A backbreaker cuts off Catalina’s comeback and we hit the double arm crank. That’s broken up and Catalina hits a running dropkick but Belair pulls her off the ropes. The KOD finishes Catalina at 5:43.

Rating: D+. Longer form squash here with Belair getting to showcase herself a bit, though it could have been done better. The match should have been a little shorter to make it more effective, though what we got wasn’t bad. Catalina was just there for the most part and that’s about all she should be around to do.

From Smackdown.

Here’s HHH for his big celebration and they’ve got a LONG time for this. HHH talks about how hard it is to believe that it’s been twenty five years….and here’s Shawn Michaels to interrupt. Shawn talks about how awesome this is and he has two words for you: “Social distancing buddy! Don’t touch!”. He’s sent out hundreds of invitations to HHH’s friends and family and they’re all here.

After we look at the empty arena, Shawn talks about how they’ve been friends for the entire twenty five years. He has some nice memories of his own twenty fifth anniversary celebration on Smackdown and HHH can’t even pick his favorite moment from that night. HHH can’t believe Shawn didn’t have his own celebration and promises heads will roll when he gets back into the office. Anyway, Shawn talks about how much money they were when they were in DX (ignore the fact that Shawn and HHH’s DX didn’t beat Nitro once of course) and we get get a blooper reel of DX moments. HHH: “Almost in one take.”

Shawn says his Wrestlemania career pales in comparison to what HHH did at Wrestlemania and we see a look at HHH’s Wrestlemania losses. Shawn: “You weren’t that good.” HHH: “How many losses did you have at Wrestlemania?” Shawn: “This isn’t about me.” After some more platitudes, Shawn gets to Stephanie No Fun, who calls HHH. Stephanie: “I’m watching your twenty fifth anniversary celebration.”

After more talking in a way NO ONE WOULD EVER USE IN REAL LIFE, Stephanie says to tell that lazy eyed….and the call ends. Shawn brings up Ric Flair, who calls in as well to praise HHH and his family. Flair: “Don’t let Shawn superkick you at the end of the segment.” Flair starts to cry to end the call, calls back, and cries some more as we take a break.

Back with Road Dogg on the phone saying HHH got a haircut but needs a bigger one. He finds out that he’s on live TV and gets out in a hurry. Shawn says they need to wrap this up but HHH says he called the bosses at Fox and says they can have all night. Shawn: “Good. We haven’t even gotten to the Katie Vick segment yet.” With that mind blowing line out of the way, here’s Vince McMahon himself for a big moment.

Vince goes into a story about seeing HHH wrestle for the first time. It was like the buildup to the egg hatching at Survivor Series 1990 and then it was such a big disaster. Vince then explains the Katie Vick story (without every detail of course) and the Bayley: This Is Your Life segment, which wasn’t a good idea but it wasn’t Bayley’s fault (Vince’s words).

Anyway, Vince loves him but this was a horrible way to go out. As HHH would say, it was ROTTEN. Vince: “If you haven’t put everybody to sleep by now, I’ll say goodnight.” The lights go out to end the show and some crickets chirp. Shawn: “Story of your career buddy. Story of your career.” This was a lot more lighthearted than I was expecting and there were some funny lines, but other than HHH and WWE, was anyone asking to see this for twenty minutes?

From Raw.

United States Title: Andrade vs. Apollo Crews

Crews is challenging and Vega is here with Andrade. Feeling out process to start with Andrade working on a wristlock. That’s reversed into an armbar as Vega isn’t looking pleased with the goings on. Crews’ front facelock doesn’t last long and it’s Andrade grabbing a headlock instead. They go to the floor for a bit, followed by Andrade taking him back inside to stomp away.

Some choking and a dropkick keep Crews in trouble but Andrade misses a running knee in the corner. That means a nasty crash to the floor but Andrade avoids a moonsault, causing Crews to tweak his knee as we take a break. Back with Andrade working on a half crab, only to miss the running knees in the corner. Crews hits an Angle Slam and they’re both down. An overhead belly to belly sends Andrade flying but he gets a boot up in the corner.

Crews is back with a press slam and the standing moonsault for two but Andrade is back with a whip into the corner. Now the running knees can connect for two as Vega is losing her mind. Crews blocks the spinning elbow but the gorilla press is countered into a DDT for two. The hammerlock DDT is countered into an enziguri and a powerslam gives Crews two of his own. Crews knocks Andrade off the top but misses a top rope splash and hurts the knee again. Andrade kicks him to the apron and the referee stops it at 16:45.

Rating: B-. I was surprised by the ending but this doesn’t feel like it’s over. Crews is someone who needs a major moment if he is ever going to break through and I’m not sure how much longer he can go without one. It’s not like Andrade has done anything with the title in four months, which is the case with almost anyone who holds it for almost any amount of time.

Money in the Bank rundown.

Humberto Carrillo vs. Murphy

Murphy takes him down by the arm to start so Carrillo reverses into a wristlock. A running hurricanrana into the springboard armdrag gives Carrillo two but Murphy sends him outside. Carrillo gets rammed head first onto the ramp and we take a break. Back with Murphy pounding away even more and grabbing the chinlock.

That’s broken up and Murphy charges into a superkick, meaning it’s time to forearm it out from their knees. A jumping enziguri takes Murphy down and it’s a springboard dropkick to send him outside. Back in and a missile dropkick gives Carrillo two but he has to roll out of the moonsault. Carrillo kicks him in the head for two more but Murphy hits a knee to the face. Murphy’s Law is good for the pin at 10:49.

Rating: C. Not too bad here and that’s as good as you’re going to get on a show like this. These two are in need of something to do, as Murphy being the lackey for the #1 contender isn’t exactly gold and Carrillo has been the same person since the day he debuted. Neither is on fire or even lukewarm at the moment, but maybe that can get better with time. Not that it likely will, but it might.

Video on Bray Wyatt vs. Braun Strowman.

Video on Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins.

From Raw.

Jerry Lawler is in the ring to talk about Money in the Bank, including the Raw World Title match. Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre come out and McIntyre tells Lawler to leave for this. Lawler is out in a hurry and McIntyre signs without much thinking about it. Rollins doesn’t sign yet so McIntyre says time’s ticking.

That sends Rollins into a rant about how he doesn’t want to do this but has to. This is bigger than all of them and Drew will be a great champion one day. Rollins has to do this because he had to suffer for that title. He doesn’t want what happened to him to happen to Drew because it is his burden to carry. When that time comes, Rollins can lead Drew as well. Drew: “You’re full of s***.”

Drew tells him to stop talking forever because no one wants to hear Seth talk. Rollins says that the big picture will be clear at Money in the Bank and he signs. He goes to talk about having faith but Drew sends him face first into the table. The ring is cleared and a headbutt drops Seth so the Claymore is loaded up. Cue Murphy to kick McIntyre in the head, earning himself a hug from Rollins. McIntyre is back up and Claymores Murphy to end the show. This was the latest in WWE’s rather long string of contract signings, most of which aren’t all that interesting. That was the case here, but Rollins’ delivery did help.

Overall Rating: C-. As usual, all this show did was point out how boring things are in WWE at the moment. We’re less than a month removed from Wrestlemania and you would never know it based on what we’re seeing. There is nothing that makes me care about what is going on and I don’t see that getting better anytime soon. They need a spark or at least a few hot matches, but that has been the case for way too long now.

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

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

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