IMG Credit: WWE

Mae Young Classic
Date: October 3, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Beth Phoenix

We’re on to the second round now and that means things are going to start getting interesting. In this case we have the first instance of previous winners facing off, which should make for some good matchups. That’s the point of a tournament as you start getting to the better matches after you get to the halfway point. Let’s get to it.

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

All matches are second round matches.

We open with a quick recap of the first round to set things up for tonight.

Opening sequence.

Toni Storm is a rock star with a ton of attitude.

Hiroyo Matsumoto is still Lady Godzilla, but does she still love to have fun?

Toni Storm vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto

A lockup goes nowhere to start so Toni does a rather complicated spin to escape a wristlock. Toni’s wristlock keeps Matsumoto in trouble so they hit the mat with Matsumoto headscissoring her way out of trouble. Toni handwalks out so Matsumoto kicks her in the ribs to keep her in trouble. A Stunner over the middle rope puts Storm down again and a missile dropkick gets two.

The dueling chants begin but the LET’S GO TONI chants are pretty clearly winning out. Matsumoto chokes with a boot in the corner but Toni catches her with a German suplex. A fisherman’s suplex gets two and Toni slugs away but she has to backdrop her way out of a powerbomb attempt.

Matsumoto holds on though and puts on a half crab, which looks great on someone as tiny as Storm. Vader Bomb style double knees get two on Toni, who is right back with another German suplex. That’s fine with Matsumoto who scores with the Rock Drop for two of her own as Toni has to get a foot on the rope.

One heck of a clothesline puts Storm down again and Matsumoto loads up another, only to have Storm duck underneath and grab a bridging rollup to advance at 9:17. Nice move on the ending there with Matsumoto listening to the crowd’s chants of ONE MORE TIME instead of just going for the pin when she had it.

Rating: B. I had a good time with this and it’s an encouraging sign that Storm is getting this good in a hurry. Matsumoto is a hard hitter in her own right and has a great future, but Storm has superstar written all over her and there is no reason to believe she isn’t going to be a big time player for years to come.

Kacy Catanzaro is from American Ninja Warrior and can overcome her smaller size.

Rhea Ripley is ready to be a dominant force and is more serious than ever.

Kacy Catanzaro vs. Rhea Ripley

David vs. Goliath, as tends to be the case for Catanzaro. A shoulder puts Catanzaro down in short order so she tries a change of pace with the kicks to Ripley’s legs. Kacy gets sent to the apron where she dropkicks Ripley in the ribs, followed by a hurricanrana. That’s fine with Ripley, who drops her hard onto the ropes for two and starts slowing things down. Just to show off a bit, Ripley dropkicks her down for two, which looks rather odd/impressive given the size differential.

A basement dropkick gets one and the fans are split on this one too. Rhea hits a very delayed suplex and cranks on something like a Texas Cloverleaf, though she’s standing behind Kacy like an ankle lock. Back up and Kacy spins around her multiple times into a DDT, which is straight out of a Rey Mysterio match. If you can do something that only Mysterio can usually pull off, I think you have a future around here.

Rhea bails to the floor so Kacy hits a corkscrew plancha to keep things moving. Back in and Kacy completely botches a springboard missile dropkick so she tries again, this time jumping over the top to land on the middle and dropkick Rhea down. Rhea has had it with all the flips though and kicks her in the ribs, setting up Riptide for the pin at 7:04.

Rating: C+. Kacy is a crazy good athlete and some of the stuff she was doing out there was almost hard to believe. That being said, she’s also very new at this and clearly needs a lot of fine tuning. The look, charisma and athleticism are going to be more than enough to carry her though and that’s what matters. Ripley on the other hand is ready to be a star right now and that’s more than enough reason to send her forward here.

Lacey Lane is an underdog who scored an upset in the first round so she wants to continue her Cinderella story.

Taynara Conti is a black belt in judo who is ready to destroy Lacey.

Taynara Conti vs. Lacey Lane

Conti wastes no time in flipping her down and does it again, just to show Lane that she’s in over her head. Lacey is right back with a 619 for two and an elbow to the face. A missed charge in the corner allows Conti to pull her down by the long hair though and a few kicks to the chest have Lane in even more trouble. Conti is frustrated at the kickout so it’s off to a crazy eyed armbar for a few seconds.

Back up and Lane hits a clothesline and something like Sister Abigail for two of her own. That’s about it for Conti, who tries another flip but gets reversed into the crucifix bomb to give Lane another upset pin at 2:38. I don’t think I get the appeal of Lane but the Full Sail fans seemed to like her so it makes sense to push her again, though I’m not sure about having her go over someone like Conti.

Meiko Satomura wants to show the world strength.

Mercedes Martinez wants to make up for her loss last year with another big win here.

Meiko Satomura vs. Mercedes Martinez

Feeling out process to start with Meiko going into a wristlock for the very early control. That’s reversed into a slightly harder arm crank but Meiko takes her right down again and drops a knee to the chest for two. A double underhook neck crank keeps Martinez down until a suplex gives her two of her own. Meiko slaps on a headscissors on the mat and the announcers laugh a bit too much while talking about how to escape.

Mercedes smacks her in the face for the break and it’s time to slug it out. That goes to Martinez as she slams Meiko down and cranks on the leg for a bit. Some forearms in the corner have Meiko in trouble so she kicks Mercedes upside the head. A top rope crotching puts Meiko down again though and it’s a hanging swinging neckbreaker for two. Mercedes’ fisherman’s buster is reversed into a Fujiwara armbar until a few rolls get Mercedes to the ropes.

With the submissions not working, Meiko tries a frog splash for two instead. Mercedes snaps off a Saito suplex for two and they’re both down. Back up and Meiko spikes her with a DDT, followed by a second to set up a backflip knee to the ribs for a close two. Martinez is right back up with a big boot and the fisherman’s buster….for two. That earns a standing ovation and I can’t argue with that at all. A surfboard goes on but Mercedes can’t add a dragon sleeper, allowing Meiko to elbow her way out. Meiko kicks her in the face and a running kick to the back of the head is enough for the pin at 11:32.

Rating: A-. Well that was awesome and blows away almost anything else in the tournament so far. They beat the heck out of each other until Martinez couldn’t stand up any longer, which is often the best formula you can have. Satomura looked like a legend and Martinez was right there with her until the end. Great match and worth checking out for the reaction to that near fall alone.

Overall Rating: A. That’s easily the best episode of either tournament with an instant classic and another very good match to go with it. Throw in a very entertaining Catanzaro vs. Ripley match and there’s nothing bad here whatsoever. This is the kind of show that I’ve been waiting for from this thing and it was an incredible hour of wrestling. Now hopefully the rest can come close to this, though that’s hard to do.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Super Show-Down
Date: October 6, 2018
Location: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
Commentators: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Corey Graves

We’re at the latest big international show here and that means…well it’s hard to say actually. There’s a lot going on at the moment in WWE but they have a tendency to turn these shows into a glorified house show with almost nothing happening. Hopefully WWE has figured that out and knows that we need to actually get something important on the show. Let’s get to it.

The opening video is exactly what you would expect: a look at the big matches, mainly focusing on Undertaker vs. HHH.

The stadium looks great with a ton of people and no major gaps. We also get pyro, so you know this one is important.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: New Day vs. The Bar

Bar is challenging after just being announced as #1 contenders. Big E. is the odd man out here as Kofi elbows Cesaro in the jaw for two and Woods comes in for a sliding clothesline. The top rope elbow gets two and everything breaks down with Kofi diving over the top onto both of them…and getting caught for a ram into the post. Woods gets rammed as well and the champs are in some trouble.

Cesaro cranks on Kofi’s leg for a few moments before it’s off to Sheamus for the ten forearms. That means a neck crank and a double backbreaker for two, followed by more shots to the back. Kofi finally kicks Cesaro away and runs over for the hot tag to Woods. A running Downward Spiral drops Sheamus for two but it’s an Irish Curse to cut him off.

Cesaro tags himself back in so Sheamus throws Woods at him for the uppercut. The Swing into the Sharpshooter draws Kofi back in for the save off a kick to the chest but falls outside with Sheamus. Woods kicks Cesaro in the chest though and it’s a Backstabber into a top rope double stomp (ala the Lucha Bros) to retain the titles at 9:40.

Rating: B-. Perfectly fine opening match here as New Day is one of the best choices to get a show started. They’re fun, they’re fast paced and they’re entertaining but more importantly they didn’t overstay their welcome here. The problem is I’m not sure who can take the titles from New Day, as there aren’t exactly many teams to challenge them. Are there even three other teams on Smackdown at the moment?

We recap Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch. Lynch was tired of not getting her title shot and Charlotte “stole” her title at Summerslam, sending Lynch over the edge. Becky won the title at Hell in a Cell and has become one of the hottest things on the roster as she’s channeled the rebel character.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch

Lynch is defending and we get Big Match Intros. Feeling out process to start with Charlotte being a bit tentative to go after her. That’s not the best idea in the world as Charlotte takes her into the corner and sends her post. Lynch pulls her down to the floor for a crash and two back inside, followed by some aggressive kicks in the corner. A Fujiwara armbar allows Becky to rip at Charlotte’s fingers until a heck of a belly to back suplex gets her out of trouble.

Charlotte chops away and stomps on the leg in the corner but Becky sends her face first into the buckle. That just earns her a big boot for two and Charlotte seems surprised by the kickout. We’re seven minutes into the match. Why is that surprising? The spear gets two more and again, Charlotte can’t believe it.

The moonsault misses because of course it does and Becky enziguris her down. Charlotte avoids a top rope legdrop though and goes for a Boston crab of all things. Becky makes the rope and tries to walk with the title so Charlotte throws her back inside for a second spear. The Figure Eight goes on but Becky hits her with the title for the DQ at 10:35.

Rating: C+. That’s fine as there was no way they were going to change the title here and it’s fine to have Charlotte be this close and then get cheated out of the title. Lynch is still on fire and one of the most popular members of the roster so everything is fine there. Rather nice match too, as you would expect from these two.

Post match Charlotte stays on her but gets suplexed into the barricade.

Here are Elias and Kevin Owens for a song. The fans seem to approve of Elias’ guitar playing (fair enough) and Elias knows they get what WWE stands for. Owens doesn’t like Australia though and thinks the show should have been in Canada. Elias name drops someone from Australia and then insults the local sports team because he knows how to annoy a crowd. That’s about it though as it’s time for an interruption.

Elias/Kevin Owens vs. John Cena/Bobby Lashley

Cena is looking FAR leaner and has grown his hair out longer than it’s been in the last fifteen years or so. Lashley and Owens start things off but it’s off to Elias without any contact. The guitar arm gets cranked and Lashley sends him face first into the buckle, only to charge into a boot in the corner. A powerslam sends Elias into the corner for the tag as Cole brings up Owens quitting a few weeks back. I didn’t know that was still in continuity.

Lashley rains down right hands in the corner so Elias comes in at the same time. That goes badly as well as Cole is wondering why the referee is allowing all of this. Fair question, even as Elias knocks Cena off the apron. Lashley gets stomped in the corner and Owens adds some shoulders for good measure. The chinlock goes on as the announcers go into a discussion of Cena’s ring rust.

Elias drives Lashley back into the corner and low bridges him to the floor for the big crash. Back in and Owens’ frog splash gets two, followed by the front facelock which is guaranteed to fail. Lashley throws him off and makes the hot tag to Cena as house is cleaned in a hurry. Cena hits the usual on Elias, including the AA, but adds the Sixth Move Of Doom (as Cole puts it), the back of the left hand to the face, for the pin at 10:01. Cena was in for maybe a minute.

Rating: C-. This was the house show match you would have expected and I could picture the finish before the bell even rang. Cena is far from a regular performer anymore so having him around for appearances like this is all you can ask for. The ending is fun and if Cena is just having a good time out there anymore, good for him.

Post match Cena says thank you and isn’t sure what the future holds. WWE will always be his home though and he’s focusing on the now. This felt like a retirement speech, though Cena has said things like this before.

Iiconics vs. Asuka/Naomi

Before the match the Iiconics are very proud to be home. It’s so strange to hear them as full on faces. Peyton and Naomi start things off with Naomi dancing a bit until it’s off to Billie. Asuka comes in as well so the Iiconics try some double teaming, only to have Naomi come in for a staredown. The Iiconics strike a superhero pose…and are immediately dropkicked to the floor as this is starting to get messy early on.

Back in and a cheap shot puts Asuka down for two as Peyton hammers away. Billie pulls on an armbar but a kick to the ribs is countered into a German suplex. The double tags brings in Naomi and Peyton to very little reaction as Naomi cleans house. Asuka’s missile dropkick to the shoulder puts Billie down for two but she breaks up Naomi’s springboard legdrop. Asuka is sent into the barricade and a knee to the head finishes Naomi at 5:43.

Rating: D+. Well duh. Was this one ever in any real doubt? Well of course it was because it’s WWE but they got the ending right here as the Iiconics finally win something and get to soak in some cheers. The match itself was as nothing as you would expect, but that’s not the point in something like this.

Post match the Iiconics pose and it’s a rather nice moment.

We recap the Smackdown World Title match. Samoa Joe went after AJ Styles to get the title but turned it personal by talking about Styles’ family. Joe couldn’t quite win the title so he got even more aggressive, to the point where AJ tapped in a match but the referee didn’t see it. To really cap things off, Joe went to AJ’s house to stalk his family, sending AJ completely over the edge.

Smackdown World Title: AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe

AJ is defending and anything goes, meaning there must be a winner. The fight starts in the aisle until they get inside for the opening bell. Joe hammers away but AJ sends him outside and into the table to take over. Back in and AJ kicks him in the chest, only to be taken down with one of the loudest and hardest chops in recent memory. A big boot puts AJ on the floor and the suicide elbow sends him into the barricade.

Back in and the slow beating continues with Joe slapping on a nerve hold. AJ’s comeback is cut off with a running elbow and it’s back to the hold again. Joe runs him over again and a catapult sends AJ throat first into the bottom rope. AJ fights up again and kicks Joe down, followed by the middle rope moonsault into the reverse DDT (one of the best I’ve seen him do) for his own near fall but Joe blasts him again.

The snap powerslam gives Joe two and something like Emerald Flowsion gets the same. Joe grabs a chair but AJ dropkicks it into his face, followed by some chair shots to Joe’s back. The chair is used as a launchpad but Joe catches him in a Rock Bottom through the chair to cut AJ off in a hurry. It’s time for a table as the seeds are planted for a TLC match between these two in December. Joe chairs him down but a superplex through the table is countered into an electric chair to bang Joe up even more.

Joe grabs his knee and says it popped so AJ stomps at the knee like a good crazed champion. The Calf Crusher is countered into the Koquina Clutch but AJ pulls himself under the ropes for the break. Joe’s throat is snapped across the top rope and it’s a springboard 450 onto the knee to keep Joe in major trouble.

They head outside with AJ hitting a Phenomenal Forearm off the barricade but AJ can barely throw him back in. The second Forearm is countered into the Clutch, followed by a heck of a suplex for two on the champ. The MuscleBuster is countered into a rollup which is countered into the Clutch but AJ rolls out of it again. AJ gets the Calf Crusher and Joe taps at 23:45.

Rating: B+. So what in the world is left for Joe Nakamura now? AJ has beaten him at every turn and there’s no reason for this feud to keep going. My guess is this moves on to either Daniel Bryan or Miz as the next challenger, as there’s not much left for Joe to do. He’s been pinned and tapped out, so it’s time to move on to someone fresh. That’s quite the shame, though AJ is only a month away from a full year as champion.

Bella Twins/Ronda Rousey vs. Riott Squad

Nikki and Ronda have some issues over who is going to start so Ruby jumps Nikki from behind to take over. Nikki shoulders her down and gets two off a spinebuster as Rousey really wants in. It’s Brie coming in instead so Ruby Downward Spirals her for two. Liv comes in to a nice reaction and an enziguri gets two of her own. The blue tongue comes out so Brie grabs it (uh….)and hits a dropkick.

The Brie Mode knee connects for two and it’s back to Nikki for a double suplex. Logan comes in instead and a running knee to the face drops Nikki. The Squad starts taking turns on Nikki until she sends Liv into the corner for a breather. That’s not enough for the hot tag though as Ruby comes back in and drops Nikki on the back of her head for two. Logan’s chinlock doesn’t last long as Nikki fights up, only to have Logan knock both partners off the apron.

Not that it matters as Nikki takes her down and dives over for the hot tag off to Rousey. Judo throws and right hands abound, followed by the spinning Samoan drop. Everything breaks down and Liv breaks up the armbar. Rousey isn’t having it though and armbars both Morgan and Logan at the same time for the double tap at 9:59.

Rating: D+. Pretty standard formula here and that’s perfectly fine. They were teasing the issues between Rousey and Nikki, which still isn’t the best match in the world but I’ll take them having a fight instead of being treated as equals in some dream match. That double armbar was cool if nothing else.

Cruiserweight Title: Cedric Alexander vs. Buddy Murphy

Alexander is defending but Murphy is the hometown boy. The confident Murphy shoves him in the face and gets two off an early knee. Cedric has to bail to the floor so Murphy hits a huge flip dive over the top. Back in and a top rope Meteora gets two more as Alexander is writhing in pain. A kick to the arm gets two more and we hit the chinlock.

The fans are entirely behind Murphy (well duh), even as he puts Alexander on top but charges into a running Michinoku Driver for two. The springboard spinning Downward Spiral (third time in one form or another tonight) sends Murphy to the floor with Alexander hitting his own running flip dive.

Back in and Cedric puts him on top but gets caught in a sitout powerbomb for two more. A jumping knee to the face looks to set up Murphy’s Law but Alexander reverses into a rollup for two. The Lumbar Check gets two, which is one of the only times that’s ever happened (Alexander’s bugged out eyes are a great touch). The springboard clothesline is countered with another knee to the face and Murphy’s Law is enough for the pin and the title at 10:30.

Rating: B-. That was the only option they had here as there was no reason to not change the title. Alexander has held the title for months now and isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire. They can switch the title back if they really want to, but this was the only choice they had and thankfully they figured that out.

Braun Strowman/Drew McIntyre/Dolph Ziggler vs. Shield

Shield does the very long entrance through the stadium crowd. It’s a brawl to start with the Shield clearing the ring and knocking the villains to the floor before the opening bell even rings. Strowman has to be saved from the TripleBomb through the announcers’ table and it’s Ziggler and Rollins heading inside for the official start.

Ziggler gets two off the DDT and it’s off to Strowman for the running charge in the corner. McIntyre comes in and pounds Rollins down in the corner, followed by Ziggler grabbing the sleeper. A belly to back suplex gets Rollins out of trouble and a Sling Blade puts Ziggler down. Strowman won’t allow the hot tag though and it’s another splash in the corner. Ziggler comes back in and talks a lot of trash until Rollins tosses him down again.

That’s still not enough for the hot tag as Strowman knocks Reigns and Ambrose off the apron to keep Rollins in trouble. Strowman misses a top rope splash (egads) though and the hot tag brings in Ambrose to clean house. A fall away slam drops Ziggler (you don’t see Ambrose using that one very often) sets up a double chickenwing faceplant for two each and Ziggler is in trouble.

Ambrose’s top rope elbow is rolled through for two and it’s a double crossbody for a double knockdown. Ambrose scores with a neckbreaker and the hot tag brings in Reigns. The corner clotheslines and a DDT get two on McIntyre but the Superman Punch hits Ambrose by mistake. Everything breaks down and Strowman goes shoulder first into the post. Reigns saves Rollins from the reverse Alabama Slam and everyone is down. Rollins and Reigns are surrounded as Ambrose gets up but doesn’t immediately pick a side.

Eventually he dropkicks Strowman to the floor for a suicide dive but the TripleBomb is broken up. A running charge knocks Reigns over and Rollins gets one as well. The Zig Zag gets two on Ambrose so Strowman wants Dean thrown outside to run him over too. Reigns spears Strowman through the barricade instead, leaving Rollins to break up the Claymore/Zig Zag combination. Dirty Deeds finishes Ziggler at 21:38.

Rating: C+. Way longer than it needed to be for what felt like a house show main event. The other problem is we’ve covered these teams fighting for a long time now and most of the impact is gone. They really need to move on to something else, but I’m not sure I see that happening for a good while, as is the case all the time around here.

We recap Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz. Some brass knuckles gave Miz the win at Summerslam so Bryan went after him again, setting up the pretty lame mixed tag match at Hell in a Cell. Tonight it’s one on one again for the #1 contendership.

Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz

The winner gets a title shot at Crown Jewel and Bryan is coming in with bad ribs. Miz goes right after the ribs at the bell and stomps away as Bryan can barely breathe. Some YES Kicks get Bryan out of trouble as the announcers argue about Talking Smack. The running knee misses so Miz hits one of his own for two. Miz loads up the Skull Crushing Finale but gets small packaged….for the pin at 2:27??? Cole sounds shocked and it seemed that Miz’s shoulder was up.

AJ looks on from the back and smiles.

We recap the Undertaker vs. HHH. They’ve fought for years, it was over, and now they’re fighting again because old guys fight around here. Shawn Michaels and Kane are both here as well.

Undertaker vs. HHH

Undertaker’s entrance is faster this year, clocking in at just over four minutes. During the Big Match Intros, the match is turned into No DQ, because A, there are people outside, B, so sledgehammers can be used, and C, because it’s an Undertaker match and he’s old. Feeling out process to start with HHH sticking his chin out, drawing both seconds up to the apron. HHH grabs the wrist and loads up Old School but gets punched into the corner instead.

Snake Eyes connects but the big boot is countered with a running knee. Undertaker gets sent outside where he grabs Shawn by the throat, drawing HHH out for the save, allowing Shawn to send him into the post. Shawn grabs a table but Kane chases him away. The Pedigree on the floor is broken up so they head back inside where HHH grabs a swinging neckbreaker. A THIS IS AWESOME chant is quickly cut off (thank goodness) as Undertaker knocks HHH over the corner.

The announcers’ table is loaded up but Shawn offers another distraction, only to have HHH backdropped over the barricade. They fight into the tech area where another Pedigree is broken up, followed by more brawling through the crowd. Back in and Shawn offers another distraction, earning himself a fight hand. Undertaker chairs HHH in the back and puts him on the table but Shawn interferes AGAIN (this is getting annoying), earning himself a big boot. The Taker Dive is loaded up but HHH cuts him off with a chair to the ribs.

Kane crawls out of whatever black hole he fell into and eats Sweet Chin Music onto the table, allowing HHH to dive off the apron as the tag match continues. HHH goes up top with a chair but dives into a chokeslam. The Tombstone gets two so the referee gets punched. A slow series of chair shots to the back keep HHH in trouble as the announcers try to pass this off as epic.

Undertaker wraps the chair around HHH’s neck, drawing Shawn to the apron to ask for mercy. Shawn gets in and takes a right hand to the nose, allowing HHH to hit the spinebuster. The Pedigree gets two and now HHH wraps the chair around Undertaker’s head. HHH Pillmanizes him for two as Kane makes the save, apparently because he enjoys seeing his brother destroyed. Shawn grabs the sledgehammer and HHH knocks Undertaker silly but there’s no referee.

Hell’s Gate goes on but HHH chokes him with the hammer to break it up. Shawn and Kane come in and get thrown back out a few seconds later so Undertaker picks up the hammer….and then throws it down. A chokeslam looks to set up the Tombstone but Shawn makes the save with Sweet Chin Music. Undertaker doesn’t actually go down so it’s a sledgehammer to the face into another Sweet Chin Music into the Pedigree for the pin at 27:31.

Rating: C. WAY longer than it needed to be but it was far from a bad match. They went with the only real option of smoke and mirrors here and there’s nothing wrong with that given the circumstances. It got really annoying with all of the interference as this was basically a tag match without being a tag match. The real problem though was I didn’t care about the match as it felt like a completely unnecessary sequel to an already great story. It certainly wasn’t bad and the build was good, but it’s something that came and went, which isn’t the best result.

Post match HHH and Shawn have an awkwardly long hug until they go over to help Undertaker up. Kane joins them in the ring for the big pose (Kane looks so out of place) until the monsters beat them up. A Tombstone plants HHH and Shawn gets chokeslammed through the announcers’ table to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. First of all: the show being four hours instead of five made a world of difference. I wasn’t wild at waking up at 4:45 for the show but my goodness it was nice to not have this be some bloated five hour show. Other than a few times in the main event, the show never felt like it dragged and most of the matches were either good or watchable at worst. The stadium looked great and there was some storyline advancement, making this WAY better than Greatest Royal Rumble. As a one off show, this was perfectly fine and a more than watchable show.

Results

New Day b. The Bar – Backstabber into a top rope double stomp to Cesaro

Charlotte b. Becky Lynch via DQ when Lynch used the title

John Cena/Bobby Lashley b. Elias/Kevin Owens – Sixth Move Of Doom to Elias

Iiconics b. Asuka/Naomi – Knee to Naomi’s head

AJ Styles b. Samoa Joe – Calf Crusher

Ronda Rousey/Bella Twins b. Riott Squad – Double armbar to Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan

Buddy Murphy b. Cedric Alexander – Murphy’s Law

Shield b. Dolph Ziggler/Braun Strowman/Drew McIntyre – Dirty Deeds to Ziggler

Daniel Bryan b. The Miz – Small package

HHH b. Undertaker – Pedigree

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Mixed Match Challenge
Date: October 2, 2018
Location: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Commentators: Michael Cole, Vic Joseph, Renee Young

We’re three episodes in now and that means…well not much actually as things are about the same as they are every week. We’re also having some teams that we’ve seen before now, which unfortunately means more Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal. I’m not sure what to expect here but comedy is likely. Let’s get to it.

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

Raw Division: Bayley/Finn Balor (0-0) vs. Alicia Fox/Jinder Mahal (0-1)

Bayley and Balor have each others’ jackets in a nice touch. The women start things off but Fox wants Balor instead. That’s just a ruse though as they trade rollups for two each until it’s off to the men. Mahal takes him down into a quick chinlock so Balor grabs an armdrag into an armbar. A basement dropkick keeps Mahal in trouble as Natalya and Kevin Owens are in the comments section.

The women come back in with Bayley being knocked off the apron and landing in Sunil Singh’s arms. That’s not cool with Fox, who pulls Bayley down and sends her into the post. That means another chinlock for a long while until Bayley backdrops her way to freedom. Balor comes back in to clean house until Mahal superkicks him out of the corner. A shotgun dropkick looks to set up the Coup de Grace but Fox crotches Balor on top instead.

Bayley tackles Fox down as the guys fall to the floor. A high crossbody gets two on Fox so Singh helps her up outside. Ever the gentleman, Singh bails so Fox takes a baseball slide. The chase is on and Singh charges into the Bayley to Belly, leaving Balor to dive onto the guys. The Bayley to Belly finishes Fox at 9:27.

Rating: D+. The lack of drama really killed this one as there’s only so much you can do in a match where you know how it’s going to end. Mahal and Fox are fine for a bickering team but their levels of interest stop as soon as the bell rings. Bayley and Balor are a good combination but they need something better to work with than this.

Braun Strowman and Ember Moon are ready for Balor and Bayley next week.

Bayley and Balor are ready for Strowman and Moon next week.

Smackdown Division: Jimmy Uso/Naomi (0-1) vs. Rusev/Lana (0-1)

The fans chant MILWAUKEE to mess with Rusev and Lana. Naomi and Lana hit the mat to start and Naomi dances at her a bit. A kick to the head and a bulldog allow Lana to break dance up and dance some of her own, so of course we stop for the dance off. This goes on for a good while with Renee having way too much fun when Naomi does a reverse Worm. The guys get in an argument over who won so we hear about Aiden English posting about Milwaukee in the comments.

And now, Jimmy and Rusev have a dance off of their own. Jimmy even busts out some Rikishi glasses so Rusev can….kick him in the head for two. Another kick to Rusev allows the tag to Naomi as everything breaks down. Lana X Factors Naomi and loads up the Accolade but Jimmy asks about Milwaukee. That’s enough of a distraction for Naomi to grab a rollup for the pin at 8:54.

Rating: D. Yeah I’m not sure what to say about this and that’s never a good sign. Like I’ve said with a lot of the matches on this show, it’s not like they have any stories to go with here (save for Milwaukee) so going with the dancing was the best idea they had. Naomi and Jimmy winning is fine as you can have Rusev and Lana get a win back later on. Pretty nothing match, but the dancing was fun.

Charlotte and AJ Styles are ready to win next week.

R-Truth and Carmella aren’t sure if they’re facing Ric or Charlotte next week.

Overall Rating: D+. This is a show where you have to consider it on a very sliding scale. The wrestling wasn’t great but that’s not the point of something like this series. They can get into the serious stuff later but at the moment, we’re just stuck with the nothing matches. That being said, it’s not like these shows are hard to sit through or completely horrible or anything. Instead they’re usually a nice, laid back version of WWE and I’ll take that over the ultra serious and often bad regular stuff any day.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: October 3, 2018
Location: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness

The road to Australia wraps up here as we’ve got one more show before Super Show-Down. That likely means one more segment between Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander and #1 contender Buddy Murphy, along with more between TJP and the Lucha House Party. You know, for a change. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening preview.

Opening sequence.

The empty seats are back with a vengeance this week.

Akira Tozawa vs. Jack Gallagher

Gallagher takes him up against the ropes to start so Tozawa shouts in his face. Tozawa takes it to the mat and it’s time to start fighting over a leglock. The pinfall reversal sequence gives us a reversing sequence of pinfall attempts until Tozawa kicks him in the chest. That sets up the backsplash because almost every wrestling match today needs a backsplash. Gallagher bails and Drew Gulak is a good enough villain to trip Tozawa so Jack can take over.

The chinlock goes on but even Gallagher knows how boring that is so he hammers away instead. Now it’s the longer form chinlock, plus a stomp to the arm. The double arm crank just seems to annoy Tozawa though as he kicks Gallagher to the floor for the suicide dive. Back in and the Black Widow has Gallagher in trouble but you don’t try holds on a British wrestler. Gallagher quickly reverses into a leglock to keep Tozawa down. With that not working, Gallagher takes him up top, which is rarely a good idea in general. Tozawa shoves him down and drops the top rope backsplash for the pin at 8:34.

Rating: C-. There was a story here with Tozawa getting a win back after he went with what worked well for him in the first place. Gallagher on the other hand had his success with the technical wrestling but then got out of his comfort zone. Tozawa could be a top star on the show at the drop of a hat, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the trio is split up soon.

Post match Gulak says the team hasn’t been successful lately so it’s time for the return of the POWERPOINT PRESENTATION! His plan for a better 205 Live includes no mercy, which is why he didn’t win the Cruiserweight Title. Starting right now, this team has no place for weakness or weak links. No place for former Cruiserweight Champions who have lost their edge and are dead weight holding Gulak back.

Gulak goes after Kendrick but gets sent outside, leaving Gallagher to take the Captain’s Hook. You never put a hold on when there are two people around though and Drew comes back in for the Gulock. Good enough angle, especially if you ignore Gallagher losing and Kendrick being called the weak link.

Video on Murphy vs. Alexander, complete with both of them training for the match. That’s a touch I haven’t seen in a very long time and it’s cool to see it back.

Drake Maverick says that Hideo Itami and Mustafa Ali will face off again, though no details are given.

Next week: Lio Rush’s Open Challenge.

Kalisto vs. TJP

They go right into the test of strength with TJP taking him to the mat into a double bridge. Kalisto monkey flips TJP down as well so TJP monkey flips over, only to have Kalisto land on his feet. A crossbody gives Kalisto two and it’s off to the armbar to slow things down. Back up and Kalisto dances a bit, followed by a slightly botched headscissors to the floor. The teased dive has TJP cowering away and he charges into a rollup for two more back inside.

Kalisto tries his hand walk again and gets dropkicked in the ribs this time, followed by another dropkick to the floor. Back in and TJP ties up the legs before tearing the back of the mast off. Good, as that tail thing looked stupid. The double arm crank (that’s popular around here) goes on until Kalisto fights up and tries a springboard but TJP is right there with a Russian legsweep in a cool counter.

TJP rolls some suplexes for two and the chinlock goes on for a few seconds. The Swanton misses though and Kalisto starts kicking away, including his rolling kick to the head. It’s too early for the Salida Del Sol so Kalisto settles for an enziguri instead. TJP is right back with an Iconoclasm of all things off the top but he goes up again, allowing Kalisto to pull him back down for a big crash.

A dropkick to the knee cuts Kalisto off again though and the kneebar goes on in the middle of the ring. Kalisto rolls him up for two and eventually dives over to the rope for the break. With nothing else working, TJP goes for the mask like a true villain. Cue Lince Dorado for the save, allowing Kalisto to grab a rollup pin at 14:27.

Rating: B-. Good match but it never reached the kind of level that these two are capable of hitting. Kalisto winning was a bit of a surprise and even though it wasn’t clean, it does him some good after losing so many times. TJP is still a star who should be on the main roster but why do that when you can have him toiling here?

Post match TJP steals the mask and runs off to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This was a pretty lifeless show as there was little to get excited over, mainly due to the Cruiserweight Title match being set for Saturday. That’s a constant problem in WWE and something that keeps happening no matter what. The show wasn’t bad, but it’s nothing that you need to see. Hopefully Saturday’s match is and things get better as we move forward.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Mae Young Classic
Date: September 26, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Renee Young, Beth Phoenix, Michael Cole

We’re wrapping up the first round tonight with the last four matches, meaning things are already going to be halfway done. The interesting thing here is going to be seeing which surprises WWE has left for us, along with Japanese superstar Io Shirai as this year’s breaking name. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video talks about the eight names who will be competing tonight.

Opening sequence.

All matches are first round matches.

Rachel Evers is the daughter of Paul Ellering and wants to make her own path. She lost her focus last year but that’s not happening this time around.

Hiroyo Matsumoto calls herself Lady Godzilla. I think that sums her up quite well.

Kassius Ohno, who is dating Evers, is here.

Hiroyo Matsumoto vs. Rachel Evers

Cole’s description of a woman who called herself LADY GODZILLA and wants to fight the Undertaker: “She’s colorful and loves to have fun.” Cole on Evers: “She wants to have fun!” They shove each other around (while still having fun) to start and some shoulders go nowhere. Clotheslines go nowhere so Matsumoto shoulders her down as Renee talks about joshi.

Evers gets two off a gutwrench suplex and kicks Matsumoto in the face. A missed charge lets Matsumoto Stun her over the ropes, which is called flamboyance for some reason. Matsumoto gets two off a missile dropkick and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Evers gets laid over the middle rope for some kicks to the ribs, followed by a Vader Bomb knee drop for two more.

Evers comes back with a pop up spinebuster (not a powerbomb Cole) for a double knockdown. A slugout goes to Evers and she grabs a cutter into a backsplash for two. Evers drops a spinning double springboard legdrop for two more and the fans are entirely behind her here. Another strike off goes to Matsumoto and she grabs a German suplex, which Evers no sells to a BIG reaction. Matsumoto has had it with Evers and powerbombs the heck out of her, followed by a Saito suplex (the Rock Drop) for the pin at 7:46.

Rating: B. Well that was awesome. These two beat the heck out of each other in a style that you just don’t get around here. Matsumoto wasn’t quite the monster I was expecting but Evers got to slug it out with her and it turned into a very entertaining match as a result. The crowd alone made it that much better, which is a major benefit that not every match can enjoy.

Taynara Conti is a Brazilian jujitsu fighter who has appeared on NXT before.

Jesse Eleban is a nerdy geek who is from Earth and describes herself as “amazeballs”. I think you get the idea here.

Dana Brooke is here. Uh…..ok then.

Jessie Eleban vs. Taynara Conti

Conti wastes no time in throwing her down twice in a row. Jessie is right back up with a kick to the face (those long legs help with that) and a backsplash (egads enough with that move) gets two. Back up and Conti starts in on the arm, followed by an STO for two. A stomp to the arm sets up an armbar, followed by another version with some cranking on the wrist to keep Jessie in trouble.

Now it’s off to bending the fingers apart, followed by some stomping to the ribs in the corner. Since that’s enough to let Jessie fight back, Conti kicks her square in the arm to cut her off again. A catapult of all things drops Conti and some dropkicks keep Conti in trouble. Conti blocks a rollup though and spins her into a Boss Man Slam for the pin at 4:44.

Rating: D+. Conti winning here wasn’t exactly a surprise here and there’s nothing wrong with that. When you have someone who has wrestled on Wrestlemania and a newcomer, it’s not exactly the biggest shock in the world. Jessie is charismatic and could get somewhere with some more experience and development, but there was no way she was winning here.

Isla Dawn says she takes a lot of inspiration from goddess worship and wants to fight.

Nicole Matthews is a veteran from Canada who wasn’t happy with being an alternate last year. How can you have the best of the best if she’s not included?

Isla Dawn vs. Nicole Matthews

They fight over a few lockups to start as we hear about Dawn being into witchcraft. Dawn takes her down and hits a double stomp, followed by a running Meteora for two. Nicole is right back with a neckbreaker out of the corner (with an edit that made me think that was a second attempt) for two. A kick to the back and a backbreaker has Dawn in more trouble until she avoids a forearm in the corner.

Matthews ties her in the ropes though and kicks away at the chest to keep Dawn in trouble. Some elbows and forearms set up a double arm crank but Dawn is right back up with some knees to the face. A snap belly to back suplex drops Matthews and a fisherman’s suplex gets two. Dawn almost drops her on an Angle Slam for another near fall as Beth thinks a spell might be in need of a spell. Matthews has finally had enough of her and clotheslines Dawn into a Liontamer for the tap at 7:19.

Rating: D. This one didn’t work for me and I don’t think that’s the biggest surprise. I was really disappointed in Dawn here who had an interesting backstory and then just went out and wrestled a normal match. The match itself felt disjointed and sloppy at times, which you shouldn’t have from someone with Matthews’ experience.

Io Shirai is a strong style high flier who was inspired by Rey Mysterio. Make sure the rocket attached to her back doesn’t burn you as it launches.

Xia Brookside is nineteen years old and the daughter of NXT trainer Robbie Brookside. It was nice knowing her.

Of course Robbie is here.

Io Shirai vs. Xia Brookside

Renee on Xia: “She looks like she’s made of Skittles.” That sounds cool, but Io’s moniker is Genius of the Sky. I don’t like Skittles so I’m taking Shirai there. Xia forearms her to start but Io lands on her feet to counter a headscissors. The look of shock on Xia’s face pretty much seals her fate so as Io forearms her in the corner.

Slingshot knees to the chest in the corner and Io grabs a kind of reverse Sling Blade into a Crossface. A hard knee to the face drops Brookside but she gets in a faceplant for a breather. The fans get behind Brookside…for all of two seconds until a palm strike cuts her off. More running knees in the corner set up a Great Muta style moonsault for the pin at 3:17.

Rating: D+. This still wasn’t the most thrilling match in the world as Xia was nothing more than cannon fodder for the big star. At the same time, Io isn’t about to show off everything she can do in a match that is little more than a squash. She’s going to get a heck of a push in the tournament and beyond, which is exactly the point of a match like this.

Shirai helps what used to be Brookside up.

Here are the updated brackets:

Meiko Satomura

Mercedes Martinez

Lacey Lane

Taynara Conti

Toni Storm

Hiroyo Matsumoto

Mia Yim

Kaitlyn

Tegan Nox

Nicole Matthews

Rhea Ripley

Kacy Catanzaro

Io Shirai

Zeuxis

Deonna Purrazzo

Xia Li

We get a recap of the show, which doesn’t happen every week. Feels like filler.

Overall Rating: C. The opening match more than makes up for some of the weaker stuff down the card but the first round being over is the most important thing. The whole appeal of a tournament like this is seeing the people who stole the show in the first round fighting each other again later and that’s going to make the next few weeks a lot of fun.

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: September 27, 2018
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

We’re coming up on Super Show-Down and that means we need to build up a lot of stuff before then. Part of that came this week with Raw and Smackdown, both of which were interesting shows as we got closer to Australia. Some of that was better than others and I’m sure we’ll see some of both tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

No Way Jose/Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley/Mike Kanellis

Ryder shoulders Kanellis down to start so it’s off to Rawley to kick him in the face. That just earns Mojo a middle rope dropkick to the floor, only to have Mojo run him over back inside. The double teaming begins in the corner with Kanellis kicking him in the face to set up a chinlock. Ryder suplexes Rawley down and there’s the hot tag to Jose. Everything breaks down as Jose cleans house, including the pop up right hand to finish Kanellis at 5:04.

Rating: D+. Just a longer than necessary match here with the major four wrestlers from this show having a tag match that didn’t go anywhere. Jose is a good choice for the hot tag though as he’s someone who can get in there and clean house in a hurry. Not much to see here, but I’m almost worried about who is going to be in the second match.

From Raw.

Tag Team Titles: Dolph Ziggler/Drew McIntyre vs. Revival

Revival is challenging and get a jobber entrance. Ziggler shoves Dawson into the corner to start so Dawson takes over off a wristlock. Wilder comes in but gets to deal with McIntyre, who takes him back into the corner. It’s already back to Ziggler as the fast start continues. Ziggler gets caught in the corner and Wilder adds a slingshot clothesline for two. The running DDT is countered into the Rings of Saturn but Ziggler rolls over into a cradle.

Back up and a crossbody puts both guys on the floor in a big crash. Ziggler avoids a charge to send Wilder into the steps and it’s McIntyre getting two off a suplex as we take a break. We come back with Dawson getting the hot tag and hitting a leg lariat of all things to drop Ziggler. A tiger driver gets two and a PowerPlex (sweet) is good for the same with McIntyre making the save.

The Fameasser is countered into an electric chair for a Doomsday Device (dang they’re opening the playbook this week) as the fans are way into this. Ziggler slips out of something and brings McIntyre back in for the power. A powerslam is broken up with a dropkick to the back and Wilder falls on top for two. It’s quickly back to Ziggler though and the Claymore into the Zig Zag retains the titles at 12:38.

Rating: B-. Revival was trying to get noticed out here and while that’s not likely to happen, I can certainly appreciate the effort. Ziggler and McIntyre retaining wasn’t much of a secret but at least they had some fun out there and gave us a good match. It’s so weird seeing Revival as the de facto faces but they pulled the role off quite well.

From Smackdown.

Here’s Paige to run the contract signing. AJ comes out and says he’s just here to sign. There’s no Joe, which AJ says isn’t a surprise. Joe pops up on screen and he’s at AJ’s house. That must put a nauseous feeling in AJ’s stomach because there’s nothing he can do, even though Joe promised him to do all this stuff. Joe even has a doll for Annie and AJ is clearly panicking. That’s what Joe wants, and Joe wants that feeling from AJ in Australia. Joe rings the doorbell and says daddy’s home to end the show. This was awesome again, but at some point Joe needs to actually win the title to really make it mean something.

Super Show-Down rundown.

Video on Undertaker vs. HHH.

Apollo Crews vs. Tyler Breeze

Could be worse. Crews headlocks him to start before hitting a dropkick for an easily broken two. Breeze is right back with a headlock takeover of his own, followed by a dropkick to the back as they’re mirroring each other to start. We take a break and come back with Crews fighting out of a half crab with a grab of the rope.

A Backstabber gives Breeze two but Crews enziguris him off the top. Crews’ standing moonsault hits knees but the standing shooting star press gets two. Some right hands have Crews in trouble until he powerbombs Breeze down. The frog splash gives Crews the pin at 10:28.

Rating: C+. I liked this a lot more than I expected to with both guys working hard out there to put on a good show. Really, this match didn’t need to be anything of note but I had a good time with it, as I wasn’t sure who was going to win until the end. Now when is the last time you could say something like that about a Main Event match?

We see some clips from Raw of the mind games between the two trios.

From Raw.

Shield vs. Baron Corbin/???/???

The partners are of course the AOP, because who else was it going to be? Braun, Dolph and Drew come out to watch, all with their own chairs. Ambrose and Corbin start things off with Dean actually taking it to the mat so Rollins can come in for a double suplex. Corbin hands it off to Akam so the Authors can run everyone over. Reigns gets to face Rezar, who talks a lot of trash and then gets hit in the face.

A few more shots put Rezar down but he pops back up to Reigns’ shock. The Shield clears the ring so here come Strowman and company with the chairs for a distraction. The Authors beat them down and Corbin gets two off a chokeslam as we take a break. Back with Reigns dropping Corbin in a Samoan style so Rollins can come back in to speed things up. The Blockbuster gets two on Akam but Drake Maverick offers a distraction so Corbin can low bridge Rollins to the floor.

We hit the neck crank from Rezar and an elbow runs him over for good measure. Corbin comes in and runs Reigns off the apron in a smart move but the delay lets Rollins hit a Sling Blade. Everything breaks down and Reigns takes a Last Chapter on the floor. Deep Six gets two on Rollins but he’s able to get out of the side slam/double stomp combination.

The hot tag brings in Ambrose to clean house until Akam crotches him on top. Ambrose is fine enough for a jumping neckbreaker on Corbin but Reigns has to break up the Last Chapter. The Stomp hits Corbin and Rollins hits a suicide dive, leaving Dean to hit Dirty Deeds on Corbin. Ambrose dives onto Akam, leaving Reigns to spear Corbin for the pin at 19:14.

Rating: C+. Pretty standard six man tag here though nothing too bad. Seeing Shield all together is almost always fun and that was the case here, though I could have gone for the Authors having a more dominant venture into the main event scene. At least Corbin took the fall, which was the only way this should have ended.

Post match Ambrose looks at Strowman and company before heading back inside for the fist pose to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Well the Raw guys have taken over again as this was almost all about that one story, which isn’t quite enough to cover a full hour. The wrestling ranged from the usual to somewhat better and I’ll certainly take that around here. Not a bad show, but the Raw focus is getting to be a bit much. Again.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-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: September 26, 2018
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

We’re now on the way to the land down under as Cedric Alexander has survived Drew Gulak again and is now ready to face Buddy Murphy at Super Show-Down. That’s next week though as tonight we have Mustafa Ali getting his chance for revenge against Hideo Itami, in what should be a fun match. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap and preview.

Opening sequence.

The empty seat situation is fixed after last week.

Noam Dar vs. Lio Rush

Rush cheap shots him before the bell and they head outside with Rush running away as only he can. Back in and Dar kicks the leg out, followed by a snapmare into the ropes. A double arm crank has Dar telling Rush to scream for Bobby Lashley to help him. Rush fights up and hits a handspring against the ropes to knock Dar off the apron, setting up a moonsault to the floor.

Back in again and Rush kicks at the ribs to set up a waistlock and is smart enough to throw in a rollup for two. A kick to the recently repaired knee has Dar in more trouble but Rush misses a dive and hits the ropes. Dar gets two off a northern lights suplex and picks Rush’s ankle for an ankle lock. Another northern lights suplex sends Rush into the corner for two but can’t hit the Nova Roller. Dar unloads on him in the corner but Rush kicks the knee out and kicks him in the face. The Final Hour gives Rush the pin at 8:13.

Rating: C. I’m still not big on Dar but Rush is becoming more and more entertaining every time. His crazy movement is always fun to see and they’re going to push the heck out of him, if nothing else just for his Lashley connection. It’s a good idea to have him face some adversity like this though, as he came back and won clean in a nice little match.

Alexander and Murphy are in Drake Maverick’s office for a face to face showdown. Cedric’s only thought going into the title match is to win, like he did the last time they fought. He won with pride and no one has more than him. Murphy says it was because Cedric was in his backyard with his mom in the front row. Cedric is tired of the excuses and they both promise to win. Short and to the point here.

Brian Kendrick vs. ???

Big boot and the Captain’s Hook in 10 seconds.

Post match Drew Gulak beats the jobber up.

Ali says he’s fought Itami several times and gotten the same result. Maybe he’s insane, but there are people who look to him to do something about Itami. He’s the light in the dark.

TJP, in a mask, says he wrestled in one just like this so he knows the lucha libre culture. He didn’t care about it the and doesn’t now. All he cares about is tapping people out, like he’ll do next week to Kalisto.

Mustafa Ali vs. Hideo Itami

Itami hides in the ropes to start and Ali is looking annoyed. Now it’s a trip to the floor to keep Ali upset and the chase is on. Itami gets back in first but Ali pulls him back to the floor for a chop to the chest. Back in and Ali cartwheels into a backflip to avoid a kick to the face, followed by a dropkick to put Itami down. A spinwheel kick gives Ali one but Itami pulls him down and sends Ali head first into the post.

Some kicks to the chest keep Ali in trouble and we hit the neck crank. That doesn’t last long though as Ali pops up and spins into a crucifix for two. Back up and they kick away at each other until Itami gets two off a DDT. A half crab keeps Ali in trouble and Itami steps on the back of his head to make it even worse. Ali makes the rope so Itami kicks him in the face to send him outside again. That’ll teach him.

Itami throws him into the barricade (taking out a production guy) and then suplexes Ali on the floor to make it worse. Ali is fine enough to come back in with the rolling X Factor and a sitout powerbomb for two of his own. A backdrop sends Itami to the floor and there’s the big flip dive to make it even worse. Ali goes to the steps to change things up a bit so Itami kicks him out of the air to take him down.

Back in and a RESPECT ME (his third or fourth of the match) dropkick in the corner misses, allowing Ali to hit a tornado DDT for two more. The 054 takes too much time though and a super Falcon Arrow gives Itami his closest two yet. Itami tries a superplex but gets shoved down and Ali tries a splash, only to land on Itami’s raised feet as he hadn’t hit the mat yet. Ali puts him on the apron for a 450 because of course he does and it’s a double countout at 16:28.

Rating: B. Nice long match here as the story can continue later in what should probably be a Last Man Standing match. Ali continues to be the heart and soul of this show as he puts everything he has into every match and you can feel the energy. I really hope he gets a chance on the main roster one day as he’s more than earned the chance.

Drake and some medics come down to check on them to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Good show overall with the wrestling working and the non-title match storylines getting some nice advancements. There’s no need to focus on one match when the payoff isn’t even going to be on this show so letting people like Rush and Ali get some hype is a good idea. I liked the show more than I thought and the shorter time (by about five minutes) helped it a lot.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Mixed Match Challenge
Date: September 25, 2018
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Vic Joseph

It’s week two and we have the reigning champions in action for the first time. Last week’s show was more than entertaining enough and hopefully that’s the case again here. We also have R-Truth and Carmella, who have become one of the most entertaining acts in WWE, together tonight so the pieces are in place for success again tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

The announcers run down the two matches and show us how to use Facebook Watch.

Raw Division: Mickie James/Bobby Lashley vs. Jinder Mahal/Alicia Fox

So yes we really do have to watch this one, though it includes Mickie James in that red gear of hers and I find that to be more than sufficient to make up for it. Lio Rush comes out to handle Lashley’s entrance, who happens to be very over in his home state. The guys start things off with Lashley cranking on a wristlock and then leapfrogging Mahal twice to show off the agility.

Hang on though as Mahal wants a pushup contest. Lashley obliges and the women even sit on their partners’ backs. The Dino Bravo/Earthquake tribute segment goes just fine until Sunil Singh sits next to Fox and Mahal collapses. The ticked off Mahal gets powerslammed for two with Fox having to make the save. Mickie comes in with a top rope Thesz press but Alicia is right back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.

We hit a bodyscissors as Bayley and Finn Balor comment about the match. The chinlock goes on as Miz and Asuka are warning up in the back. Mahal comes in without a tag for a distraction and Fox kicks her in the face for two. A clothesline allows the hot tag to Lashley and everything breaks down, including the managers getting in a fight. Lashley hits the delayed vertical suplex for the pin at 7:53.

Rating: D+. The pushup thing was fine and it’s always nice to see Mahal getting pinned clean instead of main eventing pay per views but this was little more than a comedy match. To be fair though, what else were they supposed to do? Look at these pairings and show me a path to a competitive match. This was about as good as it was going to get and that’s fine.

Bayley and Balor are ready to face Jinder and Alicia next week.

Jinder and Alicia panic and Fox Singh isn’t invited next week.

Smackdown Division: R-Truth/Carmella vs. Miz/Asuka

The announcers recap the issues on Smackdown to help set things up a bit. Before the match, it’s a MIZTV vs. TRUTHTV battle of the chants until the women start things off. They circle each other until Miz tags himself in, allowing Truth to take him down and dance. There’s a hiptoss and DANCE BREAK, with Carmella joining in this time. Asuka comes in and dances as well, sending Miz into a frenzy. He wants to show off his moon walk and proceeds to walk around like he’s on the moon in a funny bit. Truth superkicks him to the floor though and Asuka sends Carmella out to join him.

Some moon walks into the splits have Asuka and Miz upset and another TRUTHTV chant makes it even worse. Back in and Miz kicks Truth in the face to take over but Truth punches him out of the air. The double tag brings in the women with Asuka hitting a running dropkick. A running hip attack gives Asuka two and a Shining Wizard is good for the same. Carmella gets her own two off a superkick with Miz making the save. Truth gets low bridged to the floor and it’s the Asuka Lock for the tap at 9:59.

Rating: C. Of course it was another comedy match and that’s the best idea they’re going to have around here. This was another case where it’s hard to buy one team as a threat as Truth isn’t beating Miz and Carmella isn’t champion anymore so she’s not beating Asuka. The fans were into it and that’s what matters most, so just let them have some fun.

A preview for next week’s show wraps things up.

Overall Rating: C-. It’s hard to get mad at a show that is about half an hour long and features to fun comedy matches. There’s only so much you can do on a show like this and this is about as good of an idea as they can have. Later on we can get into some more serious matches when teams are more in need of wins, but for now just let their personalities be turned up a bit and let them show off.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-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: September 20, 2018
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Percy Watson, Corey Graves

You know, in a weird way I enjoy watching this show and seeing what they have in store. The highlight packages are often fine, but every now and then you get an actually good original match like last week with Zach Ryder vs. Apollo Crews. Oddly enough, the last good match also featured Ryder. But he doesn’t have the right look so no WWE Title run for him. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Zack Ryder vs. Mike Kanellis

Hopefully Kanellis feeling the Crews tonight. Kanellis wastes no time in stomping away in the corner because that’s the only way he’s going to get noticed around here. Some running clotheslines and a big boot get two, followed by a Side Effect for the same. Ryder is back up for a middle rope missile dropkick, only to get his neck snapped across the top rope to cut him down again.

Kanellis’ superkick gets two but Ryder throws him off the top, setting up the Rough Ryder for two. Back up and Kanellis grabs a sitout Michinoku Driver for two but makes the eternal mistake of loading up the Broski Boot. You don’t do that to Ryder, who ducks away and hits the Rough Ryder for the pin at 5:34.

Rating: C. Another perfectly watchable match here with Ryder continuing to look good. Kanellis is someone dying for a character or a gimmick, because being the whipping boy who is waiting for his wife to get back has crippled the limited impact that he could have had in WWE. Not a bad match here and hopefully this gets some attention at some point.

From Raw.

Here’s Undertaker to respond to HHH about Super Show-Down. During his very well received entrance, Cole says many consider Undertaker the best of all time. Those people would be wrong. Undertaker talks about how no one can spin a web of lies like someone with a broken soul and no one has a soul as broken as HHH. The delusion will be HHH’s downfall because his new battlefield is the board room.

HHH can no longer decipher truth and can’t see his own demise. Undertaker doesn’t care what anyone thinks and only cares about what’s coming: HHH going six feet under again and Game over. HHH can have his delusion and his best friend Shawn Michaels, but Shawn is going to be at ringside. Therefore, Undertaker will bring Kane to even things up. Undertaker already took Michaels’ career and he’s going to do the same to HHH. As a bonus, he’s going to take HHH’s soul.

This didn’t sound like an Undertaker promo as it felt like someone cutting a promo while in Undertaker gear. It certainly wasn’t bad or anything, but Undertaker talking at a normal pace and speaking about board rooms was just a bit off. You can see the big tag match coming from here and…my goodness I don’t really care if it’s not at Wrestlemania.

From Smackdown.

Here’s Paige to introduce Becky Lynch for the Championship Celebration. Becky is glad that she’s finally getting the recognition that she deserves but wants Charlotte out here. Charlotte comes out and says Becky was the better woman on Sunday. The thing is Becky gave up a lot to become champion and Charlotte is coming back for it at Super Show-Down.

Becky: “I’m sorry, I stopped listening after you said I was the better woman.” Becky wants Charlotte to put the title around her waist but she’ll settle for being called queen. Becky: “B****.” The fight is on with Charlotte being thrown over the announcers’ table and the Disarm-Her going on. The Bexploder leaves Charlotte laying to end the show.

Apollo Crews vs. Mojo Rawley

Mojo starts with the trash talking and runs him over a few times. With the power not working, Apollo dropkicks him down and hits an armdrag to the floor. Crews follows him out and that’s just never a good idea as Rawley runs him over with a clothesline. Back in and we hit the chinlock, allowing Crews to fight up with an enziguri and the standing shooting star press. The Toss Powerbomb is broken up but so is Rawley’s sitout Alabama Slam. Another enziguri sets up an enziguri into the frog splash to finish Rawley at 6:39.

Rating: C-. While not quite as good as the opener, this was still perfectly fine and there’s nothing wrong with that. Crews is still more than good in the ring but I can’t believe that Rawley has already fallen back to the nothing that he was before his quick Raw push. He’s good enough to be a low level heel but it’s back to the dregs that is Main Event.

From Raw again.

Universal Title: Roman Reigns vs. Baron Corbin

Reigns is defending and is banged up after last night. Corbin goes right for the ribs to start and gets two off a rollup. They head outside with Reigns hitting the apron dropkick but getting clotheslined down as we take a break. Back with Corbin holding a chinlock, followed by a chokebreaker for two.

That’s enough non-chinlocking so we hit it again to keep Reigns in trouble. Reigns fights up for the corner clotheslines as the announcers are STUNNED that he can do this. Dude he had a 24 minute match last night where nearly ten minutes was spent laying down. Rollins and Ziggler had a 25 minute match and then FELL OFF THE CELL and wrestled for ten minutes tonight. Reigns isn’t that impressive.

The Samoan drop gives Reigns two and there’s the Superman Punch off the steps. Corbin has finally had it and throws a chair at Reigns and yeah I’m not falling for this. There’s the restart with No DQ. Back in and the Superman Punch gives Reigns two. Reigns goes for the chair but here’s Strowman to take Reigns down. Strowman misses a charge into the post but Corbin grabs Deep Six for two. Now it’s Ziggler, McIntyre, Rollins and Ambrose running in for another fight, including double suicide dives to put Ziggler and McIntyre down. The spear retains the title at 16:53.

Rating: D. Well duh. I can get behind the idea of a champion having to overcome the odds and still retain the title in an obvious finish but Corbin is one of the least threatening heels in years. When your big move is “I’LL CALL STEPHANIE!”, I’m not going to buy you winning the title. All the run-ins didn’t offer any help either and the match was just boring as we waited for the inevitable spear. Reigns can carry things, but he’s not a miracle worker yet.

Overall Rating: C. The original stuff was better than usual here but the show didn’t exactly make me interested in seeing the multiple shows that are coming up. That’s the case with almost every Monday night anymore though and that’s not exactly the best thing to be said about one of the busiest seasons of the WWE year. Watchable show, but that’s about it.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Mae Young Classic
Date: September 19, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Michael Cole, Renee Young

We’re halfway through the first round with eight names having already advanced to the second round. That means we still need eight more people to move on and we’ll be getting four of those names tonight. This week’s show features one of the bigger names that was announced for the tournament over the summer. Let’s get to it.

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

All matches are first round matches.

Opening recap of the first eight winners and preview of tonight’s matches.

Opening sequence.

Kavita Devi was in the tournament last year and uh…..well she wasn’t very good.

Kaitlyn is back to prove that she can still do this.

Kavita Devi vs. Kaitlyn

Cole is a full on Kaitlyn fan here and Renee sounds like she has a crush on her. An early shot to the face puts Kaitlyn down as Cole talks about the original NXT’s women’s season and how that plays into the Women’s Evolution. Fair enough, though that’s more about the company as a whole than the women.

Kaitlyn chops away and gets two off a legdrop, only to get chokeslammed with no elevation. A running kick to the back sets up an armbar so Kaitlyn taps, which doesn’t count for whatever reason. Kaitlyn has to elbow her way out of a fireman’s carry and some forearms rock Devi. The Cannonball in the corner draws the YOU STILL GOT IT chants, followed by a spear to end Devi at 4:09.

Rating: D+. Devi was horrible last year and was upgraded to pretty bad this year, whichTy isn’t much of a step forward. She isn’t big enough to be a giant but is too big to be able to move around with most people. Kaitlyn on the other hand is being treated like a legend despite not really being a huge star in the first place. It’s nice to have her back and she has some credibility, but this wasn’t exactly a star making performance.

Jinny is a fashionista who has been signed to NXT UK.

Toni Storm was an absolute star in last year’s tournament and she has to be a big favorite this time around.

Tyler Breeze and the Iconics are watching.

Jinny vs. Toni Storm

Beth: “How does being a fashionista translate to a wrestling ring?” Well we’ve been trying to figure out the weird careers/interests in wrestling for years so she’s not alone. They take turns shoving each other around until a wristlock has Jinny in some low level trouble. A forearm to the face just fires Storm up though and it’s a running knee into the corner. Jinny is fine enough to hit a Downward Spiral into the middle buckle though and Storm’s nose may be messed up.

Some forearms to the face set up a Japanese armdrag into the corner and we hit the armbar. Toni is right back up with a rolling crucifix (and what looked like a wink to the camera) for two but Jinny reverses into something like a sitdown surfboard. That’s broken up as well before Storm’s shoulders are ripped apart and Jinny misses a charge in the corner. A hard German suplex puts Jinny down and Storm Zero (tiger driver) finishes her off at 7:09.

Rating: C. I know Jinny is a much bigger star (and different character) in Europe but I didn’t get much out of her here. All WWE told me was that she was a fashionista, which is hardly the most interesting thing in the world. Toni on the other hand continues to have more star potential than almost anyone else in the tournament and is clearly going to be a big deal in WWE as soon as she’s there full time. Not a bad match, even though Storm winning was never in doubt.

Xia Li (the woman from China with the fans) is back and ready to prove herself again.

Karen Q is ready to show what she can do, which includes speaking three languages. That’s more than I’ve learned about her in a year or so of watching her in Ring of Honor.

Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano are here, seemingly with no problems at the moment.

Karen Q vs. Xia Li

Cole is annoyed that Li didn’t bring them the promised dumplings. They bow to each other to start and take martial arts poses, which gets the loudest reaction of the night so far. Xia trips her down so Karen nips up and that’s another double bow. Back up and Li fires away in the corner but Karen pounds away and bows as well. A handspring elbow in the corner hits Li and a running kick to the face makes things even worse. Karen hits a pretty low full nelson slam and the cravate goes on. More kicks put Karen down for two and Xia hits a spinning kick to the back for the pin at 4:28.

Rating: D. They had me interested here with the martial arts stuff to start and then it was really just a match with some kicking included. Li moving on to the next round is fine, if nothing else so we can see the fan thing again. Karen continues to be one of the least interesting people I’ve seen in a long time. She’s not bad, but I still know nothing about her because she’s just someone who goes out and wrestles. That’s not exactly thrilling.

Allysin Kay (Sienna from Impact) is violent but classy, because she has her pinkies up. She was influenced by Bad News Brown, who isn’t a name you hear as inspiration all that often.

Mia Yim is aggressive and has a history with Kay, including a match where she severely broke her nose. That’s the kind of little story that can do a lot of good for these matches.

Sonya Deville is here and I didn’t recognize her with her hair down.

Shelton Benjamin is here.

Mia Yim vs. Allysin Kay

They go straight to the brawling with Kay having to bail to the ropes to get out of a cross armbreaker attempt. Mia does the Andrade Cien Almas pose and avoids a charge to send Kay outside. A kick to the chest has Kay in more trouble but she’s fine enough to Pounce Yim to the floor. Yim shrugs off some chops and heads back inside for a suicide dive without much impact.

A chop hits the post with a lot more impact though and Yim gets dropped face first onto the apron. The fans are split between LET’S GO MIA/PINKIES UP as Kay kicks her in the ribs. Kay blocks another armbreaker attempt and has to do the same to get out of a kneebar. They’ve finally had it with the wrestling and just start hitting each other until Kay bicycle kicks her down.

Yim is right back with some running dropkicks and a missile version gets two. A Code Red is good for the same but Kay is back up with a discus lariat for two more. We get a double knockdown until Yim goes up top (Cole, as she climbs the buckles: “IS SHE GONNA GO UP TOP???”), only to get caught by Kay. That earns Kay a super Soul Food (Eat Defeat) for the pin at 9:37.

Rating: B-. Match of the night here by a pretty wide margin and a lot of that is due to the two of them having a story coming in. I get that you can’t do that in a tournament with a bunch of fresh names (not a criticism, just a reality) but it helps so much to have even something like this. There’s a reason for them to be fighting each other like this and that made the match a lot easier to get into. Good match, and one of the best of the tournament so far.

Overall Rating: C. Totally watchable show this week with nothing terribly bad (Kaitlyn vs. Devi was short enough to get by) and a good main event. We’ve only got a week left of the opening round and the shows being about an hour each make them easy to sit through. After next week we can move on to the better matches, which is where a lot of the fun is in a tournament. This year’s edition has been perfectly fine so far and that’s a good result for something like this, which can go in either direction.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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