205 Live – March 27, 2020: The Secret To Their Success

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: March 27, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jon Quasto, Aiden English

We’re still in the new version of the show here and that’s the kind of thing that 205 Live has been needing. It’s just a showcase show these days with no pressure or stories, but more importantly they don’t have the vanishing crowds or extended shows. It’s a good sign, even though the show is little more than filler on the Network. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Isaiah Scott vs. Joaquin Wilde

Wilde goes with the hammerlock on the mat to start before switching over to the armbar. Scott is right back up and they trade headscissors to a standoff. Another headscissors sends Scott to the floor but he pulls the ring skirt aside to trap Wilde. Some kicks to the back set up some forearms to the face as Scott is a bit more aggressive this time. The chinlock sets up a Gory Stretch of all things, cranking the arms together rather hard.

Scott even leans down into a backslide for two but Wilde is fine enough to shove him off the top. A top rope hurricanrana sends Scott outside again, followed by a ram into the announcers’ table. Back in and Scott blocks a tornado DDT, setting up the slugout. Scott gets the better of things and hits the House Call for two, only to have Wilde get in a kick to the head. Wilde goes up top, only to get pulled down into a flipping slam (Quasto calls it a pop up Michinoku Driver so good enough) for the pin at 8:34.

Rating: C+. Scott is officially on a roll around here and it would be nice if he had somewhere to go as a result. This was a good enough match and that’s all it needed to be. The entirety of 205 Live has turned into little more than good exhibitions and until things change in a big way, that’s all it needs to be.

We look at Jordan Devlin retaining the Cruiserweight Title on NXT UK.

Tony Nese vs. Oney Lorcan

Nese bails to the corner to start as the announcers bicker about whether or not Lorcan cheated in the elimination tag. Nese’s hammerlock doesn’t get him very far so Lorcan takes it down into a headscissors on the mat. That’s reversed into a front facelock, which is reversed into a quickly broken Fujiwara armbar. That means a standoff until Nese is right back with another chinlock.

Lorcan slips out in a hurry and starts cranking on the wrist before going to a headscissors. Back up and they strike it out with Nese having to bail to the floor. That doesn’t last long as Nese elbows him down and slaps on a bodyscissors to keep Lorcan down for a bit. Lorcan fights up again and hits the running Blockbuster for two but Nese snaps the throat across the top. The Lionsault gets two and it’s a German suplex into the corner. The running Nese finishes Lorcan at 9:47.

Rating: C. Just a match here though Nese getting a win is a nice way to keep him relevant around here. I’m still a little tired of him after his rather long time around this show but he’s established and fine enough in the ring. Lorcan is rather hot and cold most of the time and this was another week where he was fine but lost again, as tends to be his case.

Overall Rating: C+. I know it’s a nothing show but this has turned into something fairly refreshing most of the time. They don’t waste time with nonsense and are in and out with nothing going on that shakes things up these days. Just go with what they need to do and get out, which might have been the solution all along: let the wrestlers wrestle and stop pretending that this show is ever going to matter.

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:

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Roman Reigns Off Wrestlemania And More Changes Likely To Come

Just stop it already.

We are less than two weeks away from Wrestlemania XXXVI and my goodness it couldn’t get much worse. I love Wrestlemania and WWE quite a bit but egads it’s falling apart right in front of our eyes. Roman Reigns is now likely off the card, meaning that one of the show’s main events is going to be off the cards. I’m not sure what that is going to mean (likely Braun Strowman taking Reigns’ place) but how many more things can go wrong?

According to the Observer, quite a bit as as apparently a lot more names are going to be taken off the show or just did not come in for it in the first place. I still understand why the show is happening and why WWE is so gung ho about it, but I don’t think even they could have had any idea how bad this is going to be. No rational fan is going to grade this fairly against any other Wrestlemania of the past, but at this point we’re looking at more of a joke than anything else.

What is anyone here supposed to do? Act like everything is fine and this is what they want? I’m not sure how good or bad the show is going to be, but they are reaching new levels of pathetic. I know the whole thing isn’t their fault, but at what point does someone throw in a towel because they’ve taken enough? My guess would be the night after Wrestlemania, even though that show has been taped as well. This is getting even worse in a hurry, and I didn’t think that was possible at this point.

205 Live – March 20, 2020: The Scaled Down Scaled Down Show

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: March 20, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jon Quasto, Aiden English

We’re back here and thankfully this show has gotten into the formula that it should have had years ago: a short form show which gets in and out without wasting a bunch of time. Last week saw Kushida and Isaiah Scott surviving the elimination tag and that could set up some stuff for the future. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Joaquin Wilde vs. Danny Burch

Burch cranks on the arm to start and takes him down with a wristlock. That’s switched into a Fujiwara armbar to work on a different part of the arm because Burch is that thorough. Wilde reverses into an armbar of his own but they wind up heading outside instead. Burch knocks him into the barricade, only to have Wilde dive off of said barricade to drop Burch again.

Back in and Wilde goes back to the arm for a good bit until Burch jawbreaks his way to freedom. Some shots in the corner set up a middle rope missile dropkick for two but Wilde gets in a jawbreaker of his own. Burch headbutts him down though and the Crossface makes Wilde tap at 8:10.

Rating: C-. Just a match here with the arm work actually playing into the finish. Burch is someone who can have a nice enough match against anyone, though I’m not sure how smart it is to beat someone like Wilde, who could actually go somewhere. It’s not great, but at least it was a fresh match.

Video on last week’s elimination tag, with John Cena watching from the production area.

Isaiah Scott vs. Oney Lorcan

This could be interesting. Lorcan drives him into the corner to start and they hit the mat with Lorcan cranking on both arms. He drives Scott back down to the mat until Scott flips forward and nips up. Scott cranks on something like an abdominal stretch so Lorcan gets over to the rope. An uppercut in the corner rocks Scott again and they trade rollups for two each.

Lorcan is back up and snaps the knee around the rope, sending Scott outside in some pain. Back in and Lorcan cranks on the knee some more but Scott uses the good leg to kick him in the face. A discus lariat turns Lorcan inside out and a middle rope kick to the back of the head makes it worse. The rolling Downward Spiral gets two but Lorcan scores with a chop. Scott is sat on the middle rope but kicks him down, setting up the Swerve Stomp for the pin at 9:54.

Rating: C+. Nice match here with Lorcan being a good foil for Scott, who picks up one of his biggest wins to date. Scott is someone who could go a long way around here but it isn’t going to work if he doesn’t win a few matches on his own. That’s what they did here and coupled with being one of the survivors last week, he could start to go somewhere. Or as far as you can go on this show at least.

Overall Rating: C. All things considered, this was a rather nice show and again, the shorter run time helps it so much. Couple that with the lack of the same tired acts that have dragged this show down for so long. This was just a wrestling show with some watchable matches and after several months of mostly lame shows, this was a nice change of pace.

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

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Main Event – March 19, 2020: This Is What It Took

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: March 19, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Mickie James

As strange as this is going to be, it might be an improvement for what we usually get on this show. Given the amount of people they are allowed to have in the building, it would surprise me if they brought some of the normal low level wrestlers that frequent this show. Then again Ricochet was on here last week so it could go in a bunch of ways. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Aleister Black vs. Leon Ruff

Well at least there’s some star power. Ruff is from Evolve and looks a bit terrified. Black sits down in the middle of the ring to start, with Mickie telling Ruff to kick him in the face. That doesn’t happen though as Black Mass finishes Ruff at 1:13.

From Smackdown.

Here’s John Cena for the big interview with Cole. Cena says he can’t wait to get back to the fans before moving on to Bray Wyatt. Cole brings up the Wrestlemania XXX match and Bray saying that it led to his downward spiral and the birth of the Fiend. Cena is used to being blamed for things and it has been a long list of people with potential. That’s a dangerous thing because it can get you a long way but it can also make you believe your own hype.

Six years ago, Wyatt lost and got lazy but blamed Cena instead. Cena never gives up and some people say it’s because he wins a lot. That’s true, but what about all of his big losses to Miz, Rob Van Dam, CM Punk, The Rock, Brock Lesnar and others? It’s because Cena always keeps going and rising up again without blaming everyone else. So how does he respond to Wyatt? Give him a chance and he’ll give the Fiend an Attitude Adjustment.

After we look back to two weeks ago with the start of Cena’s promo about not wrestling at Wrestlemania, Cena says that he’s facing Bray because he wants to invest in the future. People like Drew McIntyre, Tommaso Ciampa, Matt Riddle and Velveteen Dream deserve the chance instead of giving Bray his fifth or sixth chance. Wyatt pops up in an empty seat and says Cena can say this while having everything. A lot of people want to imagine what it’s like to be Cena for one day.

In reality, Cena is the sick one because no one believes that it’s about the future. Cena will smash and bury everyone as long as he gets the spotlight. He craves it like an addict and even fiends for it. Six years ago, Cena took something from Bray and he’s thought about it a lot since. He wanted to crush his brain for five seconds of peace from the voices but then he started listening. Those voices became a fun house and he was put back together as the Fiend. At Wrestlemania, it’s going to be a slaughter. Let him in.

This was very good stuff as the silence made Bray’s words a bit creepier. I love that they’ve taken something that seems so disconnected and turned it into a big story for Wrestlemania. I’m not sure if the Cena match was always the catalyst for the Fiend stuff or if they made this up at the last minute, but it ties in logically and that’s all you can ask for in a story.

Video on Undertaker vs. AJ Styles.

From Raw.

Lawler brings out Undertaker for the contract signing and Undertaker power walks to the ring, where he turns the table over in anger. Post break, Undertaker is still in the ring and waits on AJ, whose music plays a few times but he doesn’t show up. AJ and the OC show up on screen with the contract, which was never in the ring. He’s the one who challenged Undertaker last week because Undertaker is the one who won’t just go away. You don’t see Michael Jordan or Brett Favre showing up and taking up a spot, but you know Undertaker will be at Wrestlemania.

It’s old Money Michelle’s fault because she makes his dust off the hat and coat so she can have things. Undertaker needs to let it go and stop sticking his nose in OC business. AJ is willing to pay for Undertaker’s assisted living after Wrestlemania because Undertaker will be resting in peace. Styles signs the contract and sends Gallows and Anderson to take the contract to him.

That’s a big negative but AJ finally talks them into it. They come into the arena and lay the contract down, but the gong hits and the lights go off. Back up and he’s behind them, meaning the beatdown is on. With Anderson and Gallows down, Undertaker signs the contract and stuffs it in Anderson’s mouth as a disgusted AJ looks on from the screen.

Angelo Dawkins vs. Murphy

Montez Ford is here with Dawkins and Akam is out with Murphy. Dawkins takes him into the corner for the early clean break so Dawkins runs the ropes. That earns him a trip to the floor but he’s right back in for a shot to the face. Murphy sends him into the post though and we take a break.

Back with stereo right hands putting both of them down, sending Ford into a frenzy on the floor. They seem to work as Dawkins hits the spinning corner splash and a regular version gets two. A quick Akam distraction lets Murphy hit a top rope Meteora for two, meaning Ford superkicks Akam. Murphy sends Ford into the barricade but walks into a Sky High for the pin at 8:16.

Rating: C-. I’m trying to get my head around the idea of a match you could see on Raw taking place on Main Event. It wasn’t anything great but it’s nice to see something like this. What confuses me more than anything else though is why they can’t do this occasionally on Raw. You have the people there and the storyline is already built. As usual, my one request from this show is an effort, and for once, it’s coming close.

From Raw.

The announcers are in the ring to welcome us to the show and hype up everything happening tonight. After a clip of AJ Styles talking about Undertaker and Michelle McCool last week, here’s Edge to interrupt. He shows us a package of everything that has happened with Randy Orton over the last few months, which is quite the emotional ordeal. Back in the arena, Edge talks about the long road between the two of them over the last twenty one years.

Edge knew that their careers would intertwine and that’s what they did, as they fought over the Intercontinental Title and then forming Rated RKO. They both owe Mick Foley for pushing them to this new level but Edge took a lesson from Foley that Orton never did: grit. After all the surgeries and time off, Edge fought back and got here again. He didn’t have his dad pushing him this far because he was raised by a single mother who broke her back to help get him here.

Then Beth Phoenix came out to give a medical update on him, but Orton took her out with an RKO. What Orton didn’t know was that Beth was here to announce Edge’s retirement. The beatings and injuries were too much, but Orton dragged Beth out of the hole. At Wrestlemania, if Orton has the guts, the match is on in a Last Man Standing match.

From Raw one more time.

Here’s Steve Austin (announced as the greatest of all time, which is now applied to both himself and John Cena) for a chat, complete with cans of his IPA. Austin says if you want to know what 3:16 Day is all about, give him a h*** yeah. We cut to a shot of the empty seats and Austin asks for it again. Byron Saxton gives him a VERY enthusiastic H*** YEAH and Austin reads some jokes off a card, saying like 3:16 Day means flipping people off and…..a bunch of gibberish because Austin has the card upside down. As he reads these, Byron holds up big cards with a rating for each joke.

Austin gets a 5 for his last joke before saying Byron has been so helpful during this entire time. Therefore, he can come down to ringside and celebrate 3:16 Day with Austin. Byron comes down and drinks before the Stunner means beer can be consumed. Cue Becky Lynch with a cooler but Austin brings up her Stunning her the last time they were in a ring together. They drink a lot (with one more Stunner to Saxton) to end the show. This was uh….rather stupid, though Austin asking for the fan response and cutting to the empty seats made me chuckle.

Overall Rating: C-. I have no idea what to make of this show as they actually did something different this time, though it wasn’t anything great. It’s just nice to see some people on here and have it not feel like a punishment. I have no confidence in this continuing once we’re out of the Performance Center, but seeing some bigger names is nice for a one off (or however many off this is going to be).

Results

Aleister Black b. Leon Ruff – Black Mass

Angelo Dawkins b. Murphy – Sky High

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:

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Wrestlemania Has Changed. Again. And Again.

I mean, it had been a full day with no changes.

And then, it all changes again. As you might have heard, Wrestlemania is kind of insane this year, just like everything else going on in the world. The big news on Monday was that the show would take place at the Performance Center, but since nothing can actually last these days, we already have two more big changes.

First of all, the show will be taking place over two nights. Usually I can’t stand this idea, but in this situation it’s something that makes sense. There are only so many ways you can go with the show at this point given the amount of people that are allowed to be at the show. It’s annoying, but as long as it isn’t back to back 5+ hour shows, they’ll be fine.

Then there’s the possibility of having matches taking place in multiple locations. Really, if there aren’t going to be any fans in the building in the first place, it doesn’t make much of a difference. I’ll take what I can get here and having any form of Wrestlemania is better than nothing, especially in the current environment. It’s going to be weird, but what isn’t at the moment?

205 Live – March 13, 2020: Welcome To The New Age

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: March 13, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jon Quasto, Aiden English

And then everything changes. Instead of wrestling in front of a shrinking crowd after a show or a filing in crowd before a show, they’re wrestling in front of no one because this show is cursed. It’s actually a big show this time around with an elimination tag between Team NXT and Team 205 Live Originals. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Team NXT vs. Team 205 Live Originals

NXT – Isaiah Scott, Tyler Breeze, Danny Burch, Oney Lorcan, ???

205 Live – Tony Nese, Ariya Daivari, Brian Kendrick, Jack Gallagher, Mike Kanellis

The Singh Brothers are here with the 205 Live originals and NXT’s mystery partner is….Kushida. Nese takes Kushida down to start and strikes the pose but Kushida is right back up with a wristlock. That’s broken up so Kushida hits the handspring elbow, meaning it’s off to Kanellis vs. Burch. The latter works on the arm and hands it off to Lorcan for more of the same. Nese comes back in to forearm Lorcan in the face but it’s already back to Burch for some right hands.

Burch throws Nese outside but has to beat up the Singhs. The distraction doesn’t mean much as Burch grabs a Crossface on Nese, causing everything to break down. That leaves Nese and Burch in the ring so the distracted referee misses the Singhs coming in. Burch takes care of them but a camera shot to the face lets Nese get rid of Burch at 5:32.

Nese stomps away at Breeze on the way back in but refuses to tag Gallagher. He’ll tag Kanellis, who tags Nese right back in to stomp on Breeze as well. Gallagher tags himself in though and hammers away but Breeze is right back with a sunset flip. Gallagher counters that with a rollup for the elimination at 7:45 though and 205 Live is up 5-3. Lorcan comes in and gets kicked into the corner before it’s back to Nese….who is promptly half and half suplexed for the elimination at 8:58.

Kanellis is in next and gets chopped in the corner but superkicks Lorcan right back down. Hold on though as Nese pulls Gallagher off the apron, earning himself a headbutt. Gallagher headbutts Kanellis as well, sending him into a rollup from Lorcan for the pin at 10:34. We’re tied up again as Kendrick elbows Lorcan in the back of the neck. Daivari’s neckbreaker gets two and we hit the chinlock (you shouldn’t need that in an elimination tag. Lorcan fights up and it’s a double clothesline for the double knockdown.

Kendrick and Scott come in with the latter cleaning house but a Daivari distraction lets Kendrick knock him to the floor. It’s Daivari coming in legally for a change but he misses a charge into the corner, allowing Scott to roll him up for the elimination at 15:05. Kendrick comes back in and gets small packaged for the pin at 15:13.

That leaves us with Gallagher vs. Scott/Lorcan/Kushida, but Kendrick and Daivari beat Scott up before leaving. Kushida gets sent into the announcers’ table and Lorcan goes into the steps, leaving Gallagher to pound on Scott. Gallagher gets tossed to the floor but comes back in for a discus elbow to get rid of Lorcan at 17:30. A dive off the top takes Scott down and the running dropkick in the corner gets two on Kushida. Gallagher cranks on the arms but Kushida slips out and hits him in the face, allowing Scott to come back in. The House Call gets two and it’s Pop Culture into Kushida’s cross armbreaker for the win at 20:22.

Rating: C+. The thing that makes me happy here is how they built something up and then had a pretty good match. It wasn’t the best show in the world but what we got was good enough for a major match, at least by this show’s standards. I’m not sure if it is enough to go anywhere, at least not with Kendrick and Daivari as such big heels, but all in all, pretty good stuff.

Scott and Kushida show respect but stare each other down to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. These one idea shows are always weird. This one was good though as it’s an effort and some thought going into this show, and that’s what this show has been lacking for months. I could go for some more of this, though having the title mainly on NXT (or NXT UK at the moment) is making this show seem less and less important every week. Just try in some way though and maybe there can be a need for this thing. Given how the wrestling world is going at the minute, anything is better than nothing.

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:

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Main Event – March 12, 2020: The Last One

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: March 12, 2020
Location: Capital One Arena, Washington DC
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Mickie James

Welcome to the last normal WWE show for what is probably a good while. I’m not sure when we’ll be in a big arena again but it seems like it could be a very long time. In other words, a lot of this stuff isn’t going to matter, but that has never stopped WWE or Main Event before. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ricochet vs. Eric Young

Ricochet shoves him into the corner to start and hits a dropkick to the floor. Instead of a dive though, it’s a springboard backflip so Ricochet can hit the superhero pose. Back in and Ricochet grabs a hurricanrana into a neckbreaker but Young knees him in the ribs. After Young mocks the superhero pose, the neck crank keeps Ricochet down. Back up and Ricochet kicks him in the face to send Young to the floor, meaning it’s a big flip dive for a bonus. Ricochet gets in a knee to the face, followed by the 630 for the pin at 5:25.

Rating: D+. Why Ricochet? Normally I would think it’s some ridiculous reason like Vince doesn’t like how he looks in trunks, but would that really surprise you? I can’t think of any good reason to downgrade him this much but given that it’s WWE, I probably shouldn’t be surprised. Annoyed yes, though not exactly annoyed.

Video on Shayna Baszler winning the Elimination Chamber.

From Raw.

Here’s Becky Lynch for a chat. She’s glad to know her Wrestlemania challenger and we see a package on Shayna Baszler running through the Chamber last night. Shayna says she’s coming for the title and there’s nothing Becky can do about it. Back in the arena, Becky praises Shayna’s accomplishments but calls her a black hole of charisma. Becky saw her as the constipated robot of NXT but she remembers Shayna as the one who wouldn’t shake her hand last year at Wrestlemania. People like Becky don’t beat trained killers like Shayna, but that’s what she does. Shayna is underestimating her so Becky is going to smash her face in.

Quick look at Drew McIntyre taking out Brock Lesnar.

From Raw.

Erick Rowan vs. Drew McIntyre

McIntyre steps over the cage, with commentary again not sure what’s in there. So we’re already forgetting last week? McIntyre gets a boot up in the corner to start and clotheslines him to the floor. That means a posting and an overhead belly to belly for the power display. McIntyre uses the steps to crush the cage (fake animal hater) and it’s the Futureshock into the Claymore pin on Rowan at 2:20. Now PLEASE tell me we’re done with the cage thing.

Humberto Carrillo vs. Shelton Benjamin

Shelton goes straight for the cross armbreaker to start but Carrillo gets to the rope in a hurry. An elbow to the jaw staggers Shelton and the high angle springboard armdrag takes him down again. Shelton knocks him down on the floor though and we take a break. Back with Carrillo hitting the springboard spinning crossbody for two, only to have his moonsault hit knees. Shelton bails to the floor again and it’s a moonsault DDT to drop him again. Back in and Shelton blocks the armdrag and grabs the armbreaker, only to have Carrillo slip out. The springboard kick to the face sets up the moonsault to finish Shelton at 8:10.

Rating: C. The match was fine enough and as usual, Carrillo is a lot better when he isn’t actually talking or having any kind of a story. He’s rather fun to watch in the ring but egads he’s as dull as you can get otherwise. It’s not a bad match or anything and they did a good job of making Shelton seem like a big deal around here before losing in the end. Not too bad, but nothing memorable as usual.

From Smackdown.

It’s time for the Firefly Fun House with a wall full of John Cena pictures. Bray Wyatt calls it magnifico and thinks the fans must be asking why Cena. Ramblin Rabbit pops in to say it’s because Cena beat him six years ago at Wrestlemania, sending Bray into a depression and starting his downward spiral of negativity. Bray, sounding a bit nervous: “Yeah Yowie Wowie.” Bray says there would be no Firefly Fun House without Cena. He forgives Cena, but a being built on pain and fueled by vengeance is waiting at Wrestlemania. That being is not so forgiving and around and around we go. Let him in.

Video on Randy Orton vs. Edge.

From Raw.

Here’s MVP to insult Washington DC and talk about how he’s transitioning into a management role. He needs a centerpiece to his stable though, and that would be Edge. As great as Edge is, he has a problem focusing so MVP can help guide him back to prominence.

We see Edge arriving at the arena and MVP is thrilled to see him. Edge storms the ring and demands Orton get out here right now but MVP asks him about his wife. That earns him a spear but here’s Orton to go after Edge…who hits an RKO on Orton. Edge grabs some chairs but Orton bails, leaving him to choke MVP out and hit an RKO onto the chair. Edge shouts that this is Randy and gives MVP the one man Conchairto. After a long staredown, Edge charges after Orton and we take an abrupt break. As usual, Edge’s facial expressions are second to none and tell you how intense Wrestlemania is going to be.

Overall Rating: D+. It almost feels weird seeing a full arena show at this point as everything changed so much in such a short amount of time. That’s how things can change in the blink of an eye in wrestling, though I don’t think it was ever expected to be this bad. The show was the usual Main Event, and that’s not exactly something I need to see most of the time. For now though, it’s kind of weird “see you later” show, which is a weird status for this show.

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:

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Tampa, Florida City Government Makes Wrestlemania 36 Decision

We’ve been waiting for this.https://wrestlingrumors.net/2020/03/12/breaking-tampa-florida-goverment-makes-wrestlemania-decision/

And they punted. Basically the company is getting one week to make a decision. If WWE doesn’t do something that satisfies the city, there will be another meeting next week. I’m not sure if I can see the show taking place, but it isn’t done just yet.

205 Live – March 6, 2020: They’re Building Something

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: March 6, 2020
Location: Keybank Center, Buffalo, New York
Commentators: Jon Quasto, Aiden English

We actually have something to build to for once as next week will see the five on five elimination match between 205 Live Originals and NXT. That has the potential to be an awesome match or the potential to be rather disappointing. Either is equally possible but I’ll take any kind of a direction over none whatsoever. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We open with a look at the end of last week’s show, including the return of Jack Gallagher. Due to the attack, Lio Rush is out of the elimination tag.

Isaiah Scott promises payback and there won’t be a new captain to replace Rush. There will be a fifth member, but no captain.

Isaiah Scott vs. Ariya Daivari

Scott’s attempted armbar sends Daivari straight to the rope so he settles for a dropkick to the side of Daivari’s head. With Daivari out on the floor, Scott kicks him in the head and grabs the modified Rings of Saturn, with Scott using the leg to wrap the arm back. Daivari gets out and hits him in the neck, followed by a hanging neckbreaker to really take over. The throat is laid across the middle rope so Daivari can kick the rope into said throat and we hit a neck pull to keep Scott in trouble.

Back up and Scott scores with a discus lariat and there’s the middle rope elbow to the back of the neck. Some YES Kicks against the ropes set up the rolling Downward Spiral for two on Daivari. Scott has to slip out of the hammerlock lariat and grabs a rollup for two, only to get DDTed for the same. Another hammerlock lariat attempt is broken up and it’s the House Call….for two? With that not working, Scott stomps on the arm to bend it back (Pop Culture) and finishes with the top rope double stomp at 8:34.

Rating: C-. That’s probably as good as you’re going to get from Daivari and it’s nice to see Scott getting a win. I’m not sure what the two of them are going to do in next week’s elimination match but the more Scott and less Daivari the better. The House Call only getting two was weird, but the double stomp might be an even better finisher for Scott.

Tony Nese/Mike Kanellis vs. Danny Burch/Oney Lorcan

Nese shoves Burch away to start and hits the bicep pose, only to get knocked down so Burch can do his own. Lorcan comes in to headlock Kanellis but gets run over with a shoulder so it’s back to Burch to take over. A wishbone pull has English wondering how many more kids he can give Maria so Mike slaps Burch in the face. The chase is on outside and Nese gets in a cheap shot to take over.

Back in and the tag brings in Lorcan, who is taken down with a quick blindside clothesline so the villains can stomp away. Kanellis gets two off a knee to the face and we hit the chinlock. Nese comes in for his own chinlock but misses a Lionsault, allowing the hot tag to Burch for a kick in the corner. A DDT out of said corner puts Kanellis down but Nese breaks up a Doomsday Device. The pumphandle slam/middle rope knee to the head finishes Burch at 8:31.

Rating: C. Better match than the opener here and hopefully we get something bigger and better next week in the huge elimination tag. Burch and Lorcan are great for the face tag team around here as they can have good matches against anyone and that includes getting Kanellis and Nese over as a team. Fine enough match and that’s what you need for the 205 Live version of a go home show.

Overall Rating: C. That’s what they’ve been building towards for a few weeks now and if that goes well, I’m curious to see where this is going. If nothing else, it’s nice to see the show getting ANY kind of attention after months of nothing. Just please let next week work. Otherwise, I’m not sure what else is going to actually matter around here because they don’t even have to build up an entire show, but just one match. Make it work and have even a passable mystery partner and everything should work out well enough.

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

Main Event – March 5, 2020: Prelude to the Prelude

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: March 5, 2020
Location: Barclays Center, New York City, New York
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Mickie James

It’s the go home show for Elimination Chamber and most of the show is already set up. At the same time though it is another show helping to set up Wrestlemania. That’s an interesting combination and I’m not sure how well it is going to work here. Things might work out well enough, but you never can tell. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Shelton Benjamin vs. Curt Hawkins

Time for a hometown boy to lose again. Hawkins snaps off some armdrags to start and Shelton needs an early breather. Back in and Shelton sends him shoulder first into the post for two and a flying armbar makes the arm even worse. We hit the armbar but Hawkins fights up and slugs away, setting up a Falcon Arrow for two. An enziguri gives Hawkins two but Shelton pulls him into the reverse cross armbreaker for the tap at 5:02.

Rating: D+. Just a short match here to give the crowd something to moan about, because that’s what we get around here most of the time. That’s the kind of thing that WWE certainly enjoys doing more often than not because…well I’m not sure why but it’s certainly something WWE feels the need to do. Not a good match of course, but it’s not like Main Event matters in WWE’s eyes.

From Smackdown.

Here’s John Cena for the big close. After taking in the crowd reaction, Cena says that he’s back so it must be Wrestlemania season. So what is he doing at Wrestlemania this year? He knows his role has changed so now it’s time to do something a little different. Cena always listens to the biggest superstar there is, which would be the fans. He knows he can probably say or do whatever he wants and have it happen at Wrestlemania, but he’s going to do the right thing.

This year’s Wrestlemania should go on without him. It’s not goodbye but it’s goodbye for now, because Cena cares about the future. Wrestlemania spots should be earned and not demanded so this year’s he’s betting on the future and sitting out. That makes tonight special because he doesn’t know when he’s going to be back. He has an announcement tonight and he wanted to make it in front of his friends and family.

The fans cheer for him and Cena drops the mic before heading to the front row to shake hands with some kids. Cena goes up the ramp and salutes….and there go the lights. They come back up and the Fiend is…..right behind him. Cena looks at the Fiend, who points at the sign. Cena looks at the sign, looks at the Fiend, and nods, as the lights go out and we get the laugh to end the show.

From Raw.

Here are Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar to get things going. Heyman does his usual shtick and then says he can’t do this. It’s their job to make you interested in Wrestlemania and yes, this year’s card looks like the best in years. The problem is the main event, which is a sham. Drew McIntyre is overhyped, because he eliminated Lesnar from the Royal Rumble with the help of a low blow from Ricochet.

There is no reason to believe that McIntyre can pin or submit Lesnar because the next time Lesnar sees McIntyre or gets his hands on him…and here’s McIntyre. Before Drew can say anything, Lesnar teases leaving but then charges at him, only to get his head kicked off with the Claymore.

McIntyre leaves and the fans sing goodbye to Brock, who is having trouble standing after the kick. Brock staggers up the ramp and here’s McIntyre to take him down with another Claymore and pose with the title. The fans want one more so McIntyre delivers and Lesnar is out cold. You don’t see someone take Lesnar down like that every day so well done.

Elimination Chamber rundown.

Akira Tozawa vs. Eric Young

Young jumps Tozawa at the bell but Tozawa chops him to the floor. That earns Tozawa a neckbreaker and it’s Young taking over again. Another neckbreaker off the apron drops Tozawa and we take a break. Back with Young stomping away in the corner and elbowing him in the face for two.

We hit the neck crank as commentary talks about Elimination Chamber to avoid talking about the match. Tozawa fights up and hurricanranas him to the floor, setting up the suicide dive. Back in and a missile dropkick drops Young again but he blasts Tozawa down for a change. The top rope elbow gets two but Tozawa is back with the Black Widow. That’s broken up so Tozawa goes up, shoves Young down, and finishes with the top rope backsplash at 11:20.

Rating: C. Nice stuff here with Tozawa continuing to be able to have a good match against anyone around here. That’s what he did again, as Young is fine for a solid performance almost any time. It’s a lot better than the opener, though that might be due to not having the hometown star lose.

From Smackdown.

Here’s Goldberg to get things going. It’s not about who’s last because it’s all about who’s next. He throws the mic down and here’s Roman Reigns (dang they’re not waiting around for this one), which Goldberg seems to like. They stare each other down until Reigns says “I’m next”, as the Wrestlemania sign looms over them.

Recap of Edge returning and getting destroyed by Randy Orton.

From Raw.

Here’s Beth Phoenix for the medical update on Edge. Before she can get anywhere though, it’s Randy Orton interrupting to offer her a hug and a handshake. Those aren’t happening so Orton sits on the top, only to cut her off again. Orton talks about going to a show in 1999 when he was 19 years old with his dad Bob Orton introducing him to agents Tony Garea and Jack Lanza. Orton was just a fan back then and couldn’t believe that he was seeing all of these stars.

Edge was the only wrestler to come up and shake his dad’s hand though and Randy was so proud. Bob introduced the two of them and Edge said maybe one day they could work together. That gave Orton some confidence and just a few years later, they were fighting for the Intercontinental Title and stealing the show every night. Then they came together as Rated RKO and won the Tag Team Titles.

Orton started making some bad decisions though and got himself into a hole that he shouldn’t have been able to get out of. He was able to be there for his family though and now he wants Edge to be able to do the same thing for their daughters. Everyone has blamed Orton for what he did but it wasn’t Orton’s fault at all. It’s Beth’s fault because she has enabled Edge, who is a junkie for the roar of the crowd.

Beth did nothing to stop him so Orton had to stop him so Edge could be a husband and father. Orton has realized that he loves Edge’s kids and Edge more than Beth ever could. Beth finally slaps him and it’s an RKO to drop her, with Orton immediately storming off. A bunch of referees and wrestlers come down to check on her to end the show. There’s your other big incentive for Edge to come back and the fiery promo should be great. Orton’s explanation was good and fits his rather crazy outlook on things, which is all you need most of the time.

Overall Rating: C-. There are some good things being set up for Wrestlemania and what matters is that they have a card in sight. With so little time left, they have to do something to get the rest of the card ready and there is a good chance that we are going to be starting that run on Monday. Then again they might have yet another show lined up to do in between because WWE loves running as many shows as they can. Fine enough show for its purpose here, but it wasn’t anything worth seeing, as usual.

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