NXT UK
Date: October 14, 2021
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

It’s championship week as Ilja Dragunov is back to defend the United Kingdom Title against A-Kid. That has all the makings of a great match, but more importantly, there will be a crowd here for the first time in WAY too long as the United Kingdom has started to lighten their Coronavirus restrictions. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence, with a new song.

The fans are back!

Blair Davenport vs. Stevie Turner

Davenport jumps Turner before the bell as we start fast. That’s fine with Turner, who fights back at the bell and scores with a Thesz press to hammer away. Some right hands in the corner don’t work out so well as Davenport drops her face first onto the turnbuckle and scores with a basement dropkick to the back of the head. Turner is back up with a running boot to the face and some neckbreakers get two. Davenport BLASTS her with a kick to the head for two more but Turner is back with a Side Effect for the same. That’s enough for Davenport, who knees her in the face and hits a Falcon Arrow for the pin at 4:36.

Rating: C. This was short and to the point, as Davenport shrugged off Turner’s offense and pinned her in short order. You can tell that Davenport is likely the next big thing and eventually the top star in the division, but we still have a little while before we get that far. They had another good step here though, as it is nice to have Davenport back in the ring.

Sha Samuels commandeers a birthday party and gives it to Noam Dar instead. Samuels isn’t happy with the banners but Dar says this can be a warmup for the real celebration when he wins the Heritage Cup.

Rohan Raja makes excuses to Teoman for the Heritage Cup tournament but Teoman promises that the family will grow soon.

Sid Scala has a match to announce when Jinny and Joseph Conners come in. As luck would have it, the match was about her, as Jinny challenges Meiko Satomura for the Women’s Title in three weeks. Jinny’s advice to Scala: burn his clothes.

Flash Morgan Webster vs. Sha Samuels

Webster dodges to start and scores with some right hands in the corner. A few fast chops annoy Samuels, who takes Webster’s head off with a chop of his own. Some hard kicks to the back give Samuels two and a shoulder to the ribs in the corner gets the same. They head outside with the fans chanting for Webster, who is dropped face first onto the apron.

Back in and Webster suddenly picks up the pace, including a middle rope standing moonsault. Samuels is sent outside for a change and that means a suicide dive from Webster. They head back inside where Webster scores with a running kick to the face for another near fall, setting up a heck of a top rope flip dive to the floor. Back in again and Webster scores with a headbutt but walks into a spinebuster to give Samuels the pin at 8:16.

Rating: B-. They were starting to rock here with that Webster comeback being a standout highlight. This was a rather fun edition of power vs. speed and that is going to work every single time. Webster doesn’t get as much attention as Mark Andrews but he showcases himself well when he gets the chance.

It’s time for another Nina Samuels Show, with Xia Brookside not realizing she is the guest. Brookside calls over Leah James and gets a match with her instead. End of show.

We recap Dave Mastiff/Jack Starz cutting off Symbiosis’ attempt at interfering in a recent tag match. They’re facing off next week as a result.

Gallus interrupts Jordan Devlin’s meeting with Sid Scala. Devlin doesn’t want to hear this and threatens to take Joe Coffey out soon.

United Kingdom Title: A-Kid vs. Ilja Dragunov

A-Kid is challenging and circles around the champ to start until a headscissors pulls him to the mat. They go with some grappling until A-Kid rapid fires kicks to the leg. That earns him a big chop but he nips up and kicks at the leg some more. Dragunov checks one though and snaps off a German suplex, sending us back to the grappling. That’s broken up so Dragunov snaps off the rebound lariat, only to hurt his own arm in the process.

Now it’s Dragunov’s turn to crank on the leg but A-Kid chops his way out of a leglock. The leg gets cranked back again though and it’s time to chop A-Kid in the corner. Dragunov gets two off something like a powerbomb but A-Kid kicks at the bad arm to get a breather. The good arm is fine enough to blast A-Kid….who responds by kicking Dragunov in the face. The kicks to the chest (with the bad leg) don’t do much to Dragunov, who catches the leg and sends us back to a strike off.

A kick to the head sets up a fisherman’s suplex (with the bad leg being raised) for two on Dragunov, who is right back with an STO. Dragunov takes him down with a hard knee to the ribs and the rolling German suplexes, though A-Kid cranks on the arm to escape. Some elbows to the head set up another suplex for two on A-Kid as the fans (accurately) deem this awesome. Dragunov misses a top rope backsplash and gets pulled into a sleeper. With that broken up, A-Kid scores with a running kick to the chest.

An armbar over the ropes has Dragunov hurt again but he drops A-Kid again. Torpedo Moscow is cut off with a kick to the face though and they’re both down one more time. They slug it out with A-Kid getting the better of things and Dragunov not being able to powerbomb his way out of a cross armbreaker. He can however flip out of an Oomoplata, setting up Torpedo Moscow to the leg. Another Torpedo Moscow retains the title at 19:25.

Rating: A-. This was excellent stuff and the two of them beat the fire out of each other. That is what you should be expecting to see from Dragunov these days and A-Kid was able to hang in there with him every step of the way. The battle of limb manipulation was great here and it felt like a huge main event title match. These guys brought it and the match was excellent throughout, as you probably expected.

Dragunov demands A-Kid stand up so the handshake can end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. There is a reason that this show has been so well received as of late and the fans being back only make it better. This show felt important again and the energy from the fans played a bit role in that change. Granted the main event being a nearly twenty minute clinic helped as well, as we had one of the better editions of this show in a very long time.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Huge Main Event Confirmed For AEW Full Gear.

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Shawn Michaels Sees NXT Star As A Project, Reason For Big Push.

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Former AEW Champion Signs Long Extension With Company.

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VIDEO: WWE Star Makes Bold Claims About His Place In The Company.

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Enzo Amore Might Be Returning To Wrestling TV Soon.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/enzo-amore-might-returning-wrestling-tv-soon/

Ted DiBiase And Family Ordered To Repay Millions In Embezzled Funds.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/ted-dibiase-family-ordered-repay-millions-embezzled-funds/

AEW’s Tony Khan Says This Week’s Monday Night Raw “Sucked”.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/aews-tony-khan-says-weeks-monday-night-raw-sucked/

WWE Makes Change To Normal Pay Per View Schedule.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-makes-change-normal-pay-per-view-schedule/

As always, please check out all of the videos if you can, hit up the comments section and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page.

With one of the best teams ever.

Terry Funk/Dory Funk Jr. vs. Brian Pillman/Bruce Hart

Date: December 15, 1995
Location: Stampede Corral, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Attendance: 4,600
Commentator: Ed Whalen

This is from the Stu Hart Tribute Show: Showdown at the Corral. Dory shoves Pillman around to start as commentary talks about Dory’s history as NWA Champion, including “turning into a heel” at the end of his reign. Some uppercuts rock Pillman and it’s off to Terry for the required left hands. Pillman is sent outside as as commentary yells at the Fukn’s rather large manager. Back in and a neckbreaker gives Terry two but Pillman chops away, giving us the awesome Terry stagger.

Everything breaks down for a bit and Pillman knocks Terry into the corner for the tag off to Bruce. Terry gets caught in the ropes and some elbows to the face bounce him back and forth. Back up and Terry gets in a low blow to put Pillman down, followed by a toss to the floor. Terry hits Pillman with the table (Whalen: “Terry Funk is a wing-a-ding dong!”) and it’s back to Dory for two off a butterfly suplex. Terry comes in for a double suplex for two on Pillman with Bruce having to make a save.

Dory hammers Pillman down into the corner and Terry comes back in to slap Pillman around (that sounds like an honor). They go outside and everything breaks down with a camera case being swung. Back in and the manager gets in a cheap shot from the floor, allowing Dory to hit an elbow for two. The choking goes on as Bruce goes to the floor to hammer on the manager. Terry finally gets caught using the wrist tape to choke and an exchange of headbutts gives Pillman a breather.

Pillman ducks a right hand and falls into the corner to bring Bruce (Mr. Explosion according to Whalen) as everything breaks down again. Terry is busted open and gets sent back inside so Pillman can rain down right hands in the corner. There’s a piledriver but Dory makes the fast save. Terry grabs a belly to back suplex though and they’re both down again. Bruce comes back in and suplexes Dory for two but Terry comes in with the chair for the DQ at 18:45.

Rating: C+. This got the time to make it work and you had some rather talented people involved. The Funks are going to be great no matter what they are doing or when they are doing it so there was no way that this wasn’t going to work. You know they are going to be on their game for something special like a tribute show and I could go for watching Pillman and the Funks every day.

The brawl continues post match with Bruce being busted open and the Funks being chased off. We see Terry in the back and he hits an official in the head with a chair, which is completely no sold in an unintentionally funny bit.

Monday Night Raw
Date: May 14, 2007
Location: Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia
Attendance: 7,200
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

It’s the go home show for Judgment Day and we are on the way towards John Cena vs. Great Khali for the Raw World Title. Other than that, we have a new Smackdown World Champion in Edge, who happens to be a Raw wrestler. That could cause some issues, which we will likely touch on this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Here is WWE Champion John Cena, who doesn’t have his belt. Cena seems rather sad without the title, because Great Khali took it from him last week and Cena couldn’t do anything about it. Now he could make excuses but that isn’t what he does. Cena has been up against giants before but it has never been like this. You can hit Khali in the mouth and he just looks at you with those eyes. There are people who have been telling him that this Sunday is a bad idea and it won’t be much of a match. That may be true, but that isn’t going to stop Cena from giving Khali one heck of a fight…tonight.

Cue Khali on screen, complete with translator Runjin Singh. Khali speaks, with Singh sending us to a video on Khali’s recent path of destruction. Apparently if Cena wants some, he can come get some. That’s fine with Cena, who goes to the back and gets wrecked in a hurry, including the chokebomb onto a golf cart.

Trevor Murdoch vs. Jeff Hardy

Lance Cade and Matt Hardy are here too. Jeff grabs a headlock takeover to star but gets rolled over into a headscissors to take care of that in a hurry. An exchange of armdrags goes to Hardy so Murdoch elbows him in the face. Hardy sends him outside though and scores with a slingshot dive, only to miss the slingshot dropkick back inside. The chinlock just wakes Jeff up though and the Whisper in the Wind gets two. The Swanton hits knees though and Murdoch gets two, complete with the stunned look on his face off the kickout. He’s so stunned that Hardy grabs a small package for the pin.

Rating: C. Hardy can have a good match with just about anyone and it helps when you have someone as talented as Murdoch. I’m rather sick of seeing this feud take place but at least they had what is probably going to be the best combination. It might not have been great match, but it was a completely nice one and that’s good enough.

Post match, Cade and Murdoch offer a handshake, with the Hardys accepting without any violence.

Video on Snitsky.

We look back at Bobby Lashley attacking Coach last week, with Vince McMahon looking on.

Coach is not happy about having to face Bobby Lashley tonight, but Shane McMahon says he shouldn’t worry. Shane, Umaga and Vince McMahon, in a lilac (or some light pink) suit and doorag, will be in his corner. That’s enough for Coach, who goes off to get ready.

Intercontinental Title: Santino Marella vs. Chris Masters

Marella is defending and is now billed from New Jersey. They start fast with Santino snapping off some hiptosses but Masters powers him into the corner. Some kicks to the leg stagger Masters but he runs Marella over without much trouble. The Masterlock is blocked but the spinebuster connects for two. Masters tries another Masterlock, only to get reversed into a sunset flip (with a nifty reversal that saw Marella spin around the back) to retain Santino’s title.

Post match Masters puts him out with the Masterlock to blow off some steam.

Wrestlers talk about the Condemned.

Candice Michelle vs. Victoria

Melina is on commentary and does the splits entrance on the announcers’ table. Lawler loses it and Candice’s entrance makes it even worse. Candice starts with the hair takedown (Melina: “Oh geez.”) but Victoria sends her face first into the mat. Some hair pulling keeps Candice down but she comes back up with the kicks to the chest. The GoDaddy dance sets up an elbow for two as Melina says all Candice can do is take her clothes off. Victoria’s spinning side slam is countered though and Candice scores with the spinwheel kick for the pin.

Candice wants the title, but Melina thinks she is showing off the fat rolls.

Here is new Smackdown World Champion Edge for a chat. After quite a bit of pyro, Edge talks about how he had the greatest week of any wrestler in history. We see Edge winning the Money in the Bank briefcase, plus the cash in later in the week on Undertaker. Edge was going to have one last great Raw match, but Great Khali has already left.

That leaves him with Batista on Sunday, but Edge has already done what Batista couldn’t do in three months: beat the Undertaker. Edge goes to leave but here is Shawn Michaels to cut him off. Shawn says if Edge wanted to leave with a lasting impression, he could just leave (that’s what he was trying to do man). Edge cuts to the chase and challenges Shawn for later, which seems to be set.

Bobby Lashley starts talking about his title match on Sunday but Shane McMahon cuts him off. Shane reminds Lashley that there can be no contact and does the I’m Not Touching You deal.

Bobby Lashley vs. Jonathan Coachman

Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and Umaga are here too. An exchange of shots to the face goes to Lashley and a running clothesline puts Coach down as well. A torture rack goes on as JR thinks this is about the Hardcore Title. The spear finishes Coach in a hurry.

Post match the brawl is on with Lashley falling tot he numbers game in a hurry. The Umaga Attack misses though and Lashley hits a spear but Shane cuts him off again. Lashley chases Shane to the back but the villains leave in the limo. Vince sneaks up from behind and belts Lashley down to leave him laying. That sneaky champ.

Carlito vs. Val Venis

Venis starts fast with his running knees to the ribs but Carlito takes him down and hammers away. The fans want Flair but have to settle for Venis’ forearms not having much effect. A springboard dropkick puts Venis down but he makes another comeback with elbows to the face. Venis’ neckbreaker gets two, only to take too long setting up the Money Shot. Carlito hits the Backstabber for the pin.

Rating: C-. This was a way to give Carlito a win and set him up for the showdown with Ric Flair on Sunday. Not much of a match of course, but Venis was always a fine hand. Granted I had no idea he was still working here and somehow he had almost two years left, but he could still put in a passable match.

Post match Ric Flair runs in and Carlito bails through the crowd.

Shawn Michaels is getting ready for the main event when Randy Orton comes in. Orton wishes him well tonight but Shawn wonders if there is a point to this. Actually there is, as Orton thinks he can beat Shawn, so the match is made for Sunday.

Next week: Timbaland’s new video debuts, featuring a bunch of the Divas.

We look back at Great Khali taking out John Cena earlier tonight.

Judgment Day rundown.

Edge vs. Shawn Michaels

Non-title and commentary suddenly remembers that Shawn has a concussion thanks to Great Khali last week. Shawn grabs a headlock takeover to start but Edge is out in a hurry with a shot to the head. A swinging neckbreaker gives Shawn a breather so Edge kicks him in the face to keep up the target. Edge gets tossed outside though, allowing Shawn to hit a Thesz press off the apron.

We take a break and come back with the referee checking on Shawn, whose head is looking a bit loopy. Another shot to the head sets up a cravate, followed by a big boot to drop Shawn again. More right hands and a neckbreaker get two and Edge grabs a chinlock with a knee in the back. Shawn fights up again and this time manages to crotch Edge on top. Edge hits a headbutt to stagger Shawn but misses a high crossbody. Somehow Shawn gets up top for the elbow and the superkick finishes Edge off.

Rating: B-. This was a weird one as the concussion wasn’t mentioned until the start of the match (not a bad thing as Shawn had gotten beaten up last week so it was covered) and then Shawn just won clean over the new champ. It’s like they had this match booked and then had to do the Money in the Bank deal without making any changes. Good match, but a rather strange way to go at times.

Post match here is Randy Orton to beat Shawn down. A low blow puts Shawn in trouble and we get what I believe is the first ever Punt to knock him cold to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Much like the main event, this was a bit off all night, with Cena vs. Khali all set and Shawn vs. Orton being thrown together to give both of them something to do. It feels like they ran out of stuff to do before the pay per view and had to struggle to fill in the time here. Judgment Day feels like a B show and this didn’t exactly shake that feeling, as it was a bit of a lame way to take them home.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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It’s nice to get away every now and then.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/kbs-review-hey-look/

205 Live
Date: October 8, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

I’m starting to like this show a bit more than I ever thought I would, as they have gotten into a bit more of a rhythm. You can almost bet on a women’s match, a cruiserweight match and an NXT midcard match. That’s not a bad way to go and the fact that it is done in about half an hour makes it even better. Let’s get to it.

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

Amari Miller vs. Sarray

Miller grabs a wristlock to start but Sarray spins her over into one of her own. Sarray pulls it to the mat for a cross armbreaker but Miller fights up. A heck of a clothesline drops Sarray for two and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Miller scores with a spinning kick to the face for two, setting up an STO for the same. Sarray has had it with this though and comes back with the running dropkick against the ropes for the pin at 4:43.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what happened to Sarray but she has gone from the next prospect to being lucky to pop up on 205 Live. It’s almost like there was a total regime change and Sarray was lost in the shuffle. Or the women’s division is a complete afterthought these days unless you’re a model or a giant.

Creed Brothers vs. Demetri Jackson/Andrew Lockhart

Brutus powers Lockhart into the corner to start and then takes him down without much effort. A delayed butterfly suplex drops Lockhart again and Jackson gets pulled over the apron with a suplex of his own. Julius slaps Brutus as a tag and it’s another suplex into the basement lariat to finish Jackson at 3:07.

Rating: C. This was worth a bit more than most of the matches you see around here, as the Creed Brothers are a rather impressive team. Above all else, they feel real and you get the idea that they are going for every single time. The Diamond Mine is getting better every week and I like the idea of the whole group more and more every time.

Post match, Malcolm Bivens says the Diamond Mine challenges any group on any roster to come have the big money match.

Trey Baxter vs. Grayson Waller

Feeling out process to start with Baxter taking him down for an early riding. Waller is let up and gives Baxter a bit of applause, only to get headscissored down. A basement dropkick gives Baxter one, leaving Baxter confused. Waller is back up with a side slam and backbreaker, followed by a suplex for two.

The double arm crank keeps Baxter in trouble but he flips out in a hurry. Waller scores with a spear into a leglock chinlock but Baxter makes the rope. Baxter flips up for a DDT and Waller is sent outside for a running flip dive. Back in and Baxter tries a rollup, only to get reversed into another one to give Waller the pin at 7:27.

Rating: C+. Definitely the best thing on the show, with the extra time helping a good bit. Waller is someone they seem interested in pushing, even slightly, and Baxter already has a story. That is more than a lot of people are going to be getting in NXT and they were able to have a snazzy match here.

Overall Rating: C+. This worked far better because of the overall presentation. The show felt like the NXT supplemental show, as things are starting to come together. I like what they’re doing here, as the extra star power helps a lot. Give us more of this every week and the show is instantly better than just about anything that has taken place on 205 live in years.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Ring of Honor
Date: October 6, 2021
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

I’m not sure what to expect from this show these days and that can be rather interesting. It’s never clear what you’re going to get and thankfully Ring of Honor knows how to give you the best out of everything they offer. If that can be the case again this week, we should be in for another fun show. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Violence Unlimited issues an open challenge for tonight. Danhausen comes in, realizes he’s in the wrong place, and leaves.

We get a preview, minus Quinn McKay.

Taylor Rust/Alex Zayne vs. Briscoes

Rust and Zayne talk about being ready to step up against the Briscoes as Zayne is on his way to the World Title. The Briscoes tell them to bring it and be made famous. Rust and Mark start things off with the latter not being able to get very far off of a leg dive attempt. A headlock takeover works better for Mark but Zayne is right back up with a modified abdominal stretch.

That’s broken up and Mark unloads with some chops into the corner. Jay unloads for a bit as well but it’s already back to Mark for two off a suplex. Jay’s front facelock keeps Rust in trouble but he fights up and gets over to Zayne for the tag. Everything breaks down and they head outside, with Jay sending Zayne hard into the barricade to put him in trouble for a change. Rust gets kicked in the face as well and they head back inside, where Zayne gets belly to belly suplexed for two. Jay adds a running kick to the face but Zayne flips out of a belly to back suplex.

The hot tag brings in Rust to clean house and a Rings of Saturn with the legs has Mark in more trouble. That’s broken up and everything breaks down again. Rust is knocked outside with the Briscoes following him, allowing Zayne to springboard moonsault onto both of them. Back in and a running flip super hurricanrana gets two on Mark but Rust has to escape the Jay Driller. Jay isn’t having that though and hits the Jay Driller, setting up the Froggy Bow to finish Mark at 10:54.

Rating: B-. They hit each other hard and Zayne/Rust did well in a match they had next to no chance to winning. Sometimes that is the kind of match you need to see on a show and it is always nice to see the Briscoes. Rather nice TV match here and Zayne is already a far bigger deal here than he ever was in WWE.

Danhausen recruits PCO, Sledge and Demonic Flamita to face Violence Unlimited.

Here is Rok-C for her first interview as Women’s Champion (and having her stand next to Brian Zane isn’t the best idea as he towers over her). She sounds rather nervous as she talks about how hard she has worked to get here. Now that she has proven she isn’t a cliché, she is ready to face anyone. The C in Rok-C used to stand for Confident but now it stands for Champion.

Cue the Allure to say this is their house and the C stands for…something they can’t say on TV. Cue Miranda Alize, Trish Adora, Willow and Allysin Kay, followed by Maria Kanellis Bennett. The boss makes a pair of triple threats with the winners meeting for the Final Battle Women’s Title shot. It was nice to not have everyone talk here, as the ending didn’t really require them to say anything.

During the break, Alize jumped Rok-C like a good villain should.

Violence Unlimited vs. Danhausen/Sledge/PCO/Demonic Flamita

Violence Unlimited doesn’t like PCO being involved. Homicide and Danhausen start things off with Danhausen’s waistlock confusing Homicide a bit. A cutter into a t-bone suplex rocks Homicide and he has to go to the ropes to escape an STF. Tony Deppen and Flamita come in with the latter hitting a hard shoulder. They trade some very fast covers before it’s a double nip up for a standoff.

Deppen’s basement dropkick gets two and it’s Dickinson coming in for an elbow to the mask. Flamita kicks his way out of trouble and brings Sledge in to suplex Dickinson in a nice power display. Dickinson is back with a middle rope dropkick to put Sledge in trouble and the chopping is on in the corner. A DDT gives Dickinson two and Homicide adds a knee to the back.

Sledge’s clothesline gives him a breather and he kicks Homicide into the corner, allowing the hot tag to PCO. That means a chop off with King, who gets powerbombed for two. King is right back up with a piledriver…and PCO malfunctions, causing him to go in the wrong corner and take King’s tag. PCO starts beating up his own partners and the PCOsault…kind of hits Sledge? The miss seems to wake PCO up and it’s Danhausen coming in to clean house. It’s time for the parade of secondary finishers, with PCO back to normal. Another PCOsault is broken up and King Ganso Bombs Sledge for the pin at 15:05.

Rating: C+. Fun enough here, though the PCO thing might make your head hurt a bit. That being said, this was never meant to be anything serious (matches involving Danhausen rarely are) so it’s hard to be that critical about something not making sense. Good enough main event for a show like this and the right team won.

Overall Rating: B-. Some nice action, a story for the new Women’s Champion and Danhausen make this an entertaining week. Ring of Honor never reinvents the wheel, but they do their thing well enough that it works out well most of the time. I liked the show and didn’t have anything that got on my nerves, so we’ll call this a nice show.

Thomas Hall has been a wrestling fan for over thirty years and has seen over 60,000 wrestling matches. He has also been a wrestling reviewer since 2009 with over 6,000 full shows covered. You can find his work at kbwrestlingreviews.com, or check out his- Amazon author page with 30 wrestling books.

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AEW Adding Extra Hour To This Friday With Bryan Danielson In Action.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/aew-adding-extra-hour-friday-bryan-danielson-action/

Surprise Title Change Takes Place To Close NXT.

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Two New Titles Matches Set For Halloween Havoc.

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WATCH: Two New Characters Are Coming Soon To NXT.

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You Might Have Missed A Unique Feud Continuing This Week On WWE TV.

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Becky Lynch Explains Curious Summerslam Squash Over Bianca Belair.

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VIDEO: The Miz Turns Blue On Dancing With The Stars (And It’s Awesome).

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WATCH: AEW Star Calls Out The Rock To Come To Dynamite.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-aew-star-calls-rock-come-dynamite/

As always, please check out all of the videos if you can, hit up the comments section and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page.

NXT
Date: October 12, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

It’s another big night this time around as we have Santos Escobar challenging Isaiah Scott for the North American Title. Given that Scott and company have been Drafted to SmackDown, there might not be the most drama on this one. Maybe they have a curve ball for us, but that might not be a good idea. Let’s get to it.

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

Earlier today, Legado del Fantasma jumped Hit Row and kidnapped everyone but Isaiah Scott.

Opening sequence.

Joe Gacy is in the ring and says that Tommaso Ciampa holding the NXT Title means untold unbalance. Tonight, Gacy will beat the walking example of toxic masculinity and championship privilege. He represents all of his Snowflakes and is ready to inject himself into the championship match at Halloween Havoc.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Joe Gacy

Non-title but if Gacy wins, he is added to the NXT Title match in two weeks. Ciampa knocks him around to start but Gacy hits a shoulder for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long but here is Harland (the man who looked at Gacy last week, better known as Parker Boudreaux) for a distraction.

Ciampa is back with a running knee in the corner and they head to the floor, with Gacy bouncing off of the announcers’ table. Back in and Ciampa hits him in the nose, only to get taken outside again. This time it’s a drop onto the apron to put Gacy in control as we take a break. Back with Ciampa running him over again but what looked to be White Noise is escaped. Instead they slug it out with Gacy getting the better of things, only to have Ciampa come back with the Fairy Tale Ending and the pin at 9:49.

Rating: C. The match was fine but what were you expecting here? I know NXT has gone a bit nuts but they aren’t going to put Gacy in a spot like that. Ciampa beating him up was nice to see, but it wasn’t like there was any real doubt about the winner. Now we sit back and wait for Bron Breakker to win the title and hopefully one day remember that he is a Steiner and really get into the new era of NXT.

Post match Harland jumps Ciampa and then chokes Gacy (Fans: “WHO ARE YOU???”), who rubs Harland’s face to get him to let go.

Here is Toxic Attraction for a chat. They want all the titles and they left last week very unsatisfied. They aren’t going to play by the rules and they get what they want. The three of them are getting their title shots at Halloween Havoc and leaving with all of the titles. Mandy Rose doesn’t care what color her hair is, because she is always the baddest b**** in the business. The fact that the team lost their first title shot and the fact that it’s Mandy Rose trying to sound tough makes this kind of hard to take seriously.

Someone is at a graveside and starts shoveling dirt, saying he will bury the past to start anew, apparently at Halloween Havoc.

Xyon Quin vs. Malik Blade

Toxic Attraction seems impressed by Quin during his entrance. Quin powers Blade around to start and whips him hard into the corner for two. Blade gets thrown around again and plants with a spinebuster. The running elbow to the face finishes for Quin at 2:48. The more I see of Quin, the more I like him.

Tommaso Ciampa is ready for Bron Breakker in two weeks, but here are the Grizzled Young Veterans. They are ready to see him lose, but here is Breakker to say he’s ready to fight right now. Breakker will have Ciampa’s back until Halloween Havoc because he wants Ciampa at his best. Worked for John Cena and Shawn Michaels in 2007.

Isaiah Scott says his friends are warriors and if Santos Escobar wanted to bring out the evil spirits in him, IT WORKED. He is taking this North American Title to Smackdown and there is nothing Escobar can do about it.

Ivy Nile vs. Valentina Feroz

The rest of the Diamond Mine is here with Nile, who is the first female champion of the Titan Games. Nile catches Feroz’s crossbody and muscles her up into a delayed vertical suplex. Some kicks in the corner have Feroz in trouble as Barrett says he is getting Glamazon vibes from Nile, which he means as a compliment. As Beth tries to get her head around that, Nile muscles her up into a torture rack and does a squat to make it even worse. Feroz (eventually) taps at 2:43. Nile is an athletic machine, but you can tell she is just doing power/athletic stuff rather than knowing how to string a lot of this together (fair enough).

Post match Malcolm Bivens praises the Diamond Mine, but here is Ikemen Jiro to cut Roderick Strong off. Julius Creed cuts him off but Jiro hits him in the face.

Ikemen Jiro vs. Julius Creed

Creed throws him around to start and scores with a powerslam to plant Jiro again. There’s another suplex to send Jiro flying again as this is a total squash so far. Jiro fights up and kicks him down, setting up a delayed splash off the top. A Lionsault to the floor drops Julius but he pulls Jiro out of the air and plants him down again. The basement clothesline finishes Jiro at 3:30.

Rating: C. This was just beneath a total squash and Creed looked impressive. His gear needs more than a few upgrades, but wins like this will get him noticed. The fans like Jiro, but I can’t imagine he goes much further beyond where he is not. There is nothing wrong with being a low level, less than serious guy, and that’s about all he’s going to be for a good while.

Post match the beatdown is on but here is Kushida to make the save. It doesn’t work and he is beaten down as well, but at least he tried.

Raquel Gonzalez talks about how great her title reign has been and is down to face Mandy Rose. Let’s just make it Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal.

It’s time for Lashing Out With Lash Legend. She liked the Draft, misses Hit Row, and didn’t have time for Tony D’Angelo.

Kyle O’Reilly/Von Wagner vs. Pete Dunne/Ridge Holland

Holland and Dunne didn’t get an entrance, but Lash Legend needed the time more. Wagner jumps Dunne to start and muscles him up for a vertical suplex. It’s off to O’Reilly, who kicks Dunne over to the corner a tag to Holland. That goes a bit better for the Brits, as some knees to the back have O’Reilly in trouble. An overhead belly to belly takes O’Reilly down again and Dunne gets in his own shots.

Holland uppercuts him down to set up an arm trap chinlock, followed by a hard clothesline. O’Reilly manages to knock Dunne away and brings Wagner back in to clean house, including sending Holland into the steps on the floor. We take a break and come back with Holland holding O’Reilly in a chinlock as the fans give him a YOU DON’T GO HERE chant. Dunne comes back in to work over O’Reilly as Holland takes Wagner down off the apron.

Everything breaks down and Wagner takes out both villains on the floor. O’Reilly brings Wagner back in off the hot tag to clean house, including a jumping knee and an Angle Slam. Dunne gets dropped by a running knee from O’Reilly and Wagner hits a double underhook spinning slam to finish Holland at 12:42.

Rating: C+. This is a good example of one of the biggest problems with NXT right now: we haven’t gotten an explanation of who Wagner is and now we likely won’t, because he is a regular around here. It’s more lazy writing from NXT and that is not something I’m used to seeing. The match was fine, but I have little reason to care because I have no connection to Wagner. I’m sure it won’t be a problem though, because it’s not like he is one of about half a dozen characters with that problem.

Andre Chase points out how Odyssey Jones should have had his foot over the rope instead of underneath it last week, but hit low ring awareness prevented it. One of the Chase University students asks if that was illegal and gets thrown out by Chase. Several F bombs ensue.

Tony D’Angelo is proud of his win last week but isn’t happy that he was bumped from Lashing Out With Lash Legend. It seems that D’Angelo has kidnapped Legend’s producer.

Grayson Waller vs. Duke Hudson

Waller talks about being a former Golden Gloves boxer and since he’s facing a poker player, he’s all in. Waller goes right after him but charges into a suplex, setting up a waistlock. The fans chant for “Dukie” as Waller makes a comeback, including snapping Hudson throat first across the ropes. A running Stunner gives Waller two but Hudson rolls him up with tights for the pin at 2:38.

Santos Escobar promises that Legado del Fantasma will stay in the back for tonight’s title match.

Imperium doesn’t like MSK and want the Tag Team Titles.

Indi Hartwell/Persia Pirotta vs. Sarray/Amari Miller

Commentary talks about the Queen’s Crown and Beth actually brings up the fan complaints about the matches being short. Sarray kicks Hartwell down to start so it’s off to Miller, who gets run over by Pirotta. Miller gets kicked into the corner, setting up a sitout F5. Hartwell drops Pretty Savage (rope walk elbow) for the pin at 2:26.

Post match Pirotta says she wants the Women’s Tag Team Titles, but here are Io Shirai and Zoey Stark to interrupt (WAY too fast, as the music hit maybe half a second after Pirotta mentioned the titles). Before they can agree that they don’t like each other, here is Toxic Attraction to say they want the titles too. The brawl is on with the champs clearing the ring.

Grayson Waller hits on a woman but Cameron Grimes interrupts. He’s impressed by how Waller did despite losing, but Waller says it’s just the accept. Waller shows Grimes a dating app and has Grimes’ attention.

Solo Sikoa: coming soon.

North American Title: Isaiah Scott vs. Santos Escobar

Escobar is challenging but gets jumped in the aisle as Scott gets going fast. Scott runs him over at ringside and hits the big running flip dive to take him out again. They get inside where Escobar has to block the JML Driver and knocks Scott back to the floor. There’s a suicide dive to send Scott over the announcers’ table and we take a break.

Back with Scott fighting out of a double arm crank and blasting Escobar with a clothesline. Scott’s rolling cutter is countered into a Downward Spiral to give Escobar two and a frog splash gets the same. Scott catches him on top though and a Death Valley Driver onto the apron plants Escobar again. The 450 hits knees though and Escobar rolls him up for a very near fall. Cue Legado del Fantasma for a distraction but Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes come in to take them out. Escobar gets dropped into the corner and the JML Driver gives Scott the pin to retain at 11:15.

Rating: B-. Scott is a heck of a star and the more I see of him, the more sure of that I am. There is something to him that makes you want to keep watching and in a way, it’s a shame that he is in Hit Row. Good main event here and the match of the night, though something seems up with a certain pair of interfering people.

Post match, Hayes jumps Scott and it’s time for another title match, via Breakout Tournament cash in.

North American Title: Carmelo Hayes vs. Isaiah Scott

Hayes is challenging and gets in a springboard clothesline for a close two. The top rope Fameasser gives Hayes the pin and the title at 1:14.

Celebrating ends the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This is a good example of a show where all of the problems are in the presentation. There are talented people and some of the wrestling is high quality, but the way the material is being presented is killing the show. Above all, there is WAY too much going on here. For two hours, this is a show that is just throwing stuff on the screen, hoping that it catches your attention, and then moving on. Nothing has a chance to develop, nothing has a chance to make an impact and nothing has a chance to stay in your mind, because it’s all about getting the next act out there.

It also doesn’t help that some of the stuff on here just isn’t good. Gacy is a way for some of the writers to poke fun at people they don’t like, Hudson is suddenly a poker guy, Grimes just kind of hangs out backstage looking for women, Toxic Attraction is supposed to be taken seriously, and Von Wagner just…kind of is. What “is” you might ask? Just is, period.

NXT took a long time to define itself and it turned into its own thing. Suddenly deciding that everything that once was is now gone and replacing a bunch of the wrestlers with new ones (Why? Just go with it.), while some (certainly not all) of them wrap up their stories is going to be really jarring. This show is NXT in name only and that is becoming more and more obvious every week. It might be good, but don’t expect me to just drop everything that I cared about and suddenly love a bunch of new gimmicks and characters who we are learning about on the fly. That’s insulting to the fans, but I doubt WWE really cares at this point.

Results
Tommaso Ciampa b. Joe Gacy – Fairy Tale Ending
Xyon Quin b. Malik Blade – Running elbow
Ivy Nile b. Valentina Feroz – Torture rack
Julius Creed b. Ikemen Jiro – Basement clothesline
Kyle O’Reilly/Von Wagner b. Pete Dunne/Ridge Holland – Double underhook spinning slam to Holland
Duke Hudson b. Grayson Waller – Rollup with tights
Indi Hartwell/Persia Pirotta b. Sarray/Amari Miller – Pretty Savage to Miller
Isaiah Scott b. Santos Escobar – JML Driver
Carmelo Hayes b. Isaiah Scott – Top rope Fameasser

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

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Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.