Ring Of Honor
Date: January 29, 2026
Location: H-E-B Center At Cedar Park, Cedar Park, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re finishing up the month here and hopefully we get some title defenses around here. There are some titles that haven’t been defended in almost two months and that is quite an issue for a show with so many titles in action. Hopefully they find the time for some of those belts to be on the line so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We actually see the commentators. I don’t remember the last time that took place on the weekly show.

Athena vs. Vertvixen

Proving Ground match, meaning if Vertvixen wins or survives the ten minute time limit, she gets a future title shot. We get an error before the bell, with Riccaboni saying we’re a week away from Global Wars featuring Athena’s promotion, which has been postponed due to weather issues. Athena takes her down by the arm to start and nips up but Vertvixen is back with a whip into the corner.

A running Codebreaker drops Vertvixen just as fast and Athena pulls the nose for a right hand. That’s enough to draw some blood and Athena suplexes her to cut off the comeback. The cravate brings Vertvixen back up and she sends Athena into the buckle. A Blue Thunder Bomb gives Vertvixen two and she knees Athena in the head. They fall outside, with Athena powerbombing her against the barricade to take over. Back in and Athena just unloads with rights and lefts, setting up the Koji Clutch for the tap at 6:55.

Rating: C+. This is the point where I once again ask what the point is of having Athena go on for so long as champion. We’re now into the fourth year of her reign and unless they think there is something into her beating Roman Reigns’ mark, what’s the goal of this? And please, not Billie Starkz winning the title. It’s not like there is some years long story between them but really, what else is there supposed to be?

Post match respect is teased….and the Minions run in for the beatdown. Hyan and Maya World make the save.

The Infantry and Trish Adora are in the back when Carli Bravo brings in the fan who has been helping him: Christian. She’s rather tall and the other two accept her.

Anthony Henry vs. Adam Priest

They lock up to start and go to the mat with Priest bailing out to the floor early on. Back in and they wrestle to a standoff until Henry gets in a cheap shot to the gut. That earns him a dropkick into the corner, where Henry gets in a neckbreaker over the turnbuckle bar. A neck twist keeps Priest in trouble but he’s fine enough to knock Henry outside. The baseball slide through the ropes drops Henry again and he jams his knees coming back inside. A piledriver gives Priest two but Henry catches him on top with a superplex…but Priest ties the legs up for a small package and the pin at 7:20.

Rating: C+. That was one of the better uses of that ending sequence I’ve seen as it isn’t something that often works well. They had a good enough match going with the neck work from Henry, though watching a mostly tag guy like Priest in a singles match only gets you so far. Henry continues to be a nice hand and that’s about it, which granted is about all he’s presented as being.

Aaron Solo vs. Tommy Billington

They lock up to start and go to the mat (oddly familiar) before forearming it out. A backdrop sends Billington outside and a belly to back suplex puts him down back inside. Billington gets caught in a sleeper but fights out and flips over for a clothesline. Billington goes up and hits a missile dropkick but the piledriver is countered. That doesn’t sit well with Billington, who hits a pair of piledrivers for the win at 5:20.

Rating: C+. Much like the previous match, it was entertaining while it lasted but I’m not exactly a lot higher on Billington for beating someone else that everyone beats. The match feels like someone put on here to give Billington something to do. That’s fine, but doing it in back to back matches isn’t exactly interesting.

Rocky Romero talks to Adam Priest, who doesn’t think much of the Don Callis Family. Priest talks about his wins and wants a title shot, say against Kazuchika Okada. That doesn’t work for Romero, who tells him to show up on Collision.

JD Drake vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Drake clotheslines him down to start and they go outside, with Henry hitting a rather hard chop. Shibata is back with a ram into the barricade and grabs a suplex for two back inside. Henry is back with a spinebuster and Cannonball, followed by a Vader Bomb for two. Shibata sends him into the vicinity of the referee though, which is enough for a low blow. The cross armbreaker makes Drake give up at 5:26.

Rating: C. This was another match with no reason to question the result and not enough time for the action to get good. That has been the theme of this show and it hasn’t made for the most engaging episode. As usual, Drake and Shibata were fine, but it isn’t a match I was overly anxious to see.

We get an ad for Global Wars. So I guess it’s back on?

Viva Van/Lady Bird Monroe vs. Hyan/Maya World

World flips out of an armdrag to start but Van dives over her for a standoff. Hyan comes in and isn’t about to get armdragged, allowing World to come back in for a bulldog. A legdrop gives Hyan two but it’s back to Van for a rolling spinwheel kick. Monroe grabs a front facelock, which is quickly reversed for a running splash in the corner. Everything breaks down and World hits a great running dropkick to Monroe. A wheelbarrow faceplant/Downward Spiral combination finishes Monroe at 4:04.

Rating: C. This is the first match of the show where it felt like the winners actually benefited. Hyan and World are still new around here and need some wins to establish themselves. That is what they got here, even if it was over a team of unproven stars. That’s about all you can ask of them here and while the match wasn’t good, it’s what Hyan and World needed.

Post match Athena and the Minions run in to beat down Hyan and World. Athena tells them to find a partner for a six woman tag next week at Global Wars. I’m assuming it’s happening, as otherwise this is a lot of avoidable false advertising and confusion.

Tony Nese vs. Mascara Dorada

Mark Sterling is here with Nese for some crowd insulting. Nese backs him into the ropes to start and flips over him out of the corner, meaning it’s time for some jumping jacks. Back up and Dorada flips around as well, allowing him to scare Nese down for some jumping jacks of his own. Nese knocks him outside for a cheap shot from Sterling (ignore the brace on his arm) and strikes away back inside. A bridging northern lights suplex gives Nese two and he grabs a bodyscissors.

That’s broken up and Dorada hits a kick to the head into a running headscissors to the floor. The big twisting dive connects and a springboard frog splash gives Dorada two back inside. Nese flips out of a German suplex and hits a double stomp, followed by a pumphandle driver for two more. Back up and Dorada strikes away before Nese misses a charge into Sterling. The shooting star press finishes for Dorada at 10:29.

Rating: C+. Well that happened. That’s kind of the mantra for the whole show and it’s not the best way to go. The good thing is that it involved Dorada in the ring, which is certainly a treat. At the same time you have Nese, who is talented but has been turned into such a low level player that it doesn’t mean much to beat him. As has been proven by everyone who has beaten him.

Overall Rating: C-. Here’s the thing: the wrestling was perfectly fine for the most part, with the worst match being completely decent. The problem is outside of setting up a six woman tag for next week (in theory), there was pretty much nothing changed here whatsoever. It was a bunch of midcarders having matches against even lower level stars for about an hour.

With so many titles around here, there is pretty much no reason to not be able to throw out even a token title defense here and there. Next week marks two months since Final Battle and six of the eight titles Ring Of Honor offers has not been defended since that show (the Pure Title has been defended since, while the TV Title hasn’t been defended since July). With the amount of wrestlers and titles available around here, there is no good excuse for that to be the case. Fix it already, because it could do some good things for this show.

Results
Athena b. Vertvixen – Koji Clutch
Adam Priest b. Anthony Henry – Small package
Tommy Billington b. Aaron Solo – Piledriver
Katsuyori Shibata b. JD Drake – Cross armbreaker
Hyan/Maya World b. Lady Bird Monroe/Viva Van – Wheelbarrow slam/Downward Spiral combination to Monroe
Mascara Dorada b. Tony Nese – Shooting star press

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

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Dynamite
Date: January 28, 2026
Location: H-E-B Center At Cedar Park, Cedar Park, Texas
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone

We’re continuing the march towards Revolution and the question is who will be challenging MJF for the World Title. Kenny Omega has thrown his hat into the ring and that means it is time to start getting him ready for his chance. It might take some time to get there, but there is still more than a month remaining before the show. Let’s get to it.

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

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Kenny Omega vs. Rocky Romero

They’re starting fast and this is described as “massive”. Rocky Romero is not in a massive match. There is no way around this. Romero jumps him to start fast but gets elbowed in the corner right back. A slingshot dive to the floor drops Romero again as we’re told that Samoa Joe has suffered an injury during training.

Omega hits the Kitaro Crusher but it’s too early for the V Trigger, with Romero bailing out to the floor. Back in and a running Sliced Bread drops Omega, who kicks Romero in the face. Romero stops to dance and is promptly kneed in the back of the head for a great comeback. The V Trigger into the One Winged Angel finishes Romero at 3:48.

Rating: C. This worked and it worked well, with Omega just running through Romero, including that awesome running knee to the head. It’s also nice to see a match just come and go without stretching out too long. That was the situation here and it went exactly as it should have. Nice job, and Romero getting beaten up was a nice bonus.

Post match Tony Schiavone (in neon yellow shoes) comes in to announce that Omega one of the four top contenders to the World Title. Omega says he hasn’t felt this good in years and he’ll beat anyone in his way to get there. Cue Hangman Page to say he’d rather be fighting beside Omega rather than against him, but he made the mistake of looking ahead.

Page is going to be the next champion, which brings out Swerve Strickland to say he’s here for the World Title. He hasn’t been pinned since he came back and it doesn’t matter who he has to beat to get the title back. Omega says it sounds like Swerve is looking for a fight, which Swerve says is truer than Omega knows. Cue Don Callis, who says Swerve’s undefeated streak ends tonight against Andrade El Idolo. Then Andrade is coming for Omega, because the Don Callis Family runs this show. Omega says Callis is the one who should worry and the chase is on.

Video on Thekla vs. Kris Statlander.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Jon Moxley vs. Ace Austin

Non-title. Moxley jumps him to start and hammers away in the corner before glaring at the referee. Austin takes it to the mat for a rather spinning rollup, followed by a springboard (from the bottom rope) armdrag. Moxley is sent outside and we take an early break. We come back with Moxley getting out of a headscissors on the mat and taking him to the top for a back rake.

A superplex brings Austin down with a crash but he’s back with a Russian legsweep. That doesn’t work for Moxley, who blasts him with a clothesline and they go to the pinfall reversal sequence. One heck of a spinning kick to the head gives Austin two and a springboard spinning kick to the head gets the same. Moxley isn’t having this as it’s a cutter into the Death Rider for the sudden pin at 10:05.

Rating: B. Austin was trying his best here and some of those kicks looked rather good. Losing to Moxley is one thing but hopefully they don’t do the same thing of “here’s someone new, watch them lose over and over” for a few weeks. It was a nice start for Austin though as Moxley seems set for an eventual showdown with Konosuke Takeshita.

Post match here is Konosuke Takeshita for a staredown with Moxley. Davis And Doyle run in from behind and Moxley gets taken out. No Death Riders make the save for some reason.

TNT Title: El Clon vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe is defending and Don Callis is on commentary because this has been his show thus far. Clon actually knocks Briscoe down to start but Briscoe Red Neck Kung Fus his way out of trouble. With Clon sent outside, Briscoe loads up the chair but Clon starts flipping around. That just earns him a clothesline, followed by the dive off the apron. Clon manages to tie him up in the ring skirt though and a running dropkick sends us to a break.

We come back with Briscoe knocking him outside for the running flip dive. The snap jabs have Clon in trouble but he gets in a kick to the head. A brainbuster drops Clon again and the Froggy Bow connects for two. The Jay Driller is loaded up but Clon bounces out of it (I’m not sure if that was a no sell or a counter but it looked cool. Illogical but cool.) and knocks him outside. Back in and Briscoe rolls him up to retain at 11:18.

Rating: B-. Clon is fun to watch with his flips and such, but it feels like we’re just waiting around for Hologram to come back for their one big match. Otherwise, Clon feels like just another warm body for the Don Callis Family. That’s not exactly a great place to be, but at least he got to do something here.

Post match Briscoe says it’s an Open Challenge for Collision, but he’s tired of the Don Callis Family so no one from them. The lights go out and a beating heart is on screen. And it’s Tommaso Ciampa making his debut to quite the reception. We get the big staredown and the match is apparently set for Collision. Ciampa even kisses him on the cheek.

Kyle Fletcher and Kazuchika Okada have a meeting in the back, with Okada saying he wasn’t thinking when he took the screwdriver at World’s End. It was just about winning and he wasn’t trying to hurt Fletcher. That’s acceptable to Fletcher and they shake hands in peace.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Here is MJF for a chat. After asking Taz why they’re working in a dump like this, MJF gets cut off by Brody King. For some reason MJF calls him dumb and stupid before saying King needs to win something to get the title shot. MJF accuses King of following people around, such as Malachi Black with their spooky light tricks. Or Buddy Matthews with his scary name and his bad ankle.

Maybe King should follow MJF, who can use a big scary man, even if MJF has, quote, “never in my life have I met a liberal man who looks more like a nazi”, unquote. The reality is that to be World Champion, you need to be a leader rather than a follower, but he needs to beat someone. King agrees, which is why he has gotten an eliminator match against MJF for next week. If he wins, he gets a title shot in Australia.

Video on the Young Bucks’ issues and their rise back up, with their return next week. They were gone?

Women’s Title: Thekla vs. Kris Statlander

Thekla is challenging and slaps her in the face to start. That earns her a glare out to the floor and some chops back inside. Thekla hangs in the ropes to avoid a charge but Statlander knocks her outside without much trouble. A delayed vertical suplex drops Thekla on the floor and a catapult sends her into the steps. Statlander takes too long getting up though and is knocked outside, followed by a double stomp to the back as we take a break.

We come back with Thekla grabbing the headscissors choke in the ropes, which is countered with a reverse Alabama slam. A Falcon Arrow gives Statlander two and a running clothesline knocks Thekla silly again. The 450 is broken up and a spider suplex (Taz: “Black Widow Jones.”) sends Statlander crashing down.

She heads outside so Thekla can hit her with a big dive, only for Statlander to come back with a spear. Thekla spits in her face and pulls her into a Black Widow, which is broken up just as fast. A Stomp give Thekla two but she charges into a superkick. Thekla’s quick rollup gets two but Statlander gives her a gutwrench powerbomb and Staturday Night Fever to retain at 11:45.

Rating: B. This was an interesting case of the powerhouse having to figure Thekla out and get the win to retain. It worked well with Thekla being weird enough to offer Statlander a challenge but not being able to trip her up. I’m not sure who is next for the title but there should be a solid group of challengers available.

Post match the Babes Of Wrath come out to celebrate but Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford are there for the staredown.

Don Callis wants the Family to bring him some gold. However, he does want Konosuke Takeshita to apologize to Kazuchika Okada. With Callis gone, Takeshita is not pleased with Fletcher forgiving Okada and walks away, leaving Fletcher worried.

Video on Jack Perry vs. Ricochet.

Earlier today, the Demand beat Perry up, with Ricochet trying to interview Perry at the same time.

Tag Team Titles: Davis And Doyle vs. FTR

FTR, with Stokely Hathaway, is defending. Doyle shoves Wheeler into the corner to start and then runs him over with some shoulders. Wheeler is able to send Davis into the corner for some clubberin but he’s right back with some chops. Davis and Doyle are sent outside, where Wheeler’s dive is easily cut off and we take a break.

We come back with Harwood and Davis chopping each other out until everything breaks down. FTR gets splashed in the corner until Doyle gets DDTed onto the apron. That leaves Davis to get belly to back superplexed into a top rope splash to give Wheeler two. Wheeler is knocked outside and Davis grabs a sleeper…but here are the Death Riders to clock Davis with a belt. The Shatter Machine retains the titles at 9:28.

Rating: B-. I’m worried about Doyle, who just disappeared after that DDT on the apron. Hopefully he’s not injured. Either way, this was another nice defense from FTR as they turned back a different kind of challengers. Again I’m not sure who is next for the titles, but in this case there aren’t as many ready to go challengers.

Orange Cassidy talks about dealing with Wheeler Yuta for five years now and even mocks Yuta’s beard. Yuta, with Marina Shafir, comes in to get in Cassidy’s face but Toni Storm evens things out. A mixed tag seems ready, with Cassidy and Storm tangoing away.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Swerve Strickland vs. Andrade El Idolo

Don Callis (of course) is on commentary (of course) and the winner faces Kenny Omega next week. Andrade grabs a headlock, which doesn’t last long, as Swerve is up for the forearm off. They both trade flips away from headscissors and the fans approve. Swerve takes him down and Andrade begs him to come off the ropes, with Swerve sending him outside instead.

Back up and Swerve gets whipped into the steps and we pause for Andrade to hit on….well it’s supposed to be a fan but that would be independent wrestler Jazmin Allure. We take a break and come back with Andrade cutting off a comeback, followed by the double moonsault for two. Swerve pulls him off the top though and it’s a Death Valley Driver onto the apron. They fight onto the barricade, with Swerve getting backdropped hard onto the edge, which has the fans feeling his pain.

Both of them dive back in at nine and Andrade fires off some forearms but the DM is blocked. The spinning back elbow drops Swerve (Callis: “We worked on that one all week.” Schiavone: “Oh for crying out loud.”) but the double knees are countered with the House Call for a rather near fall. A super poisonrana sends Swerve into the corner for the running knees, followed by the hammerlock DDT for two. Big Pressure is countered so Swerve hits the House Call, only to get pulled into the DM to give Andrade the pin at 14:51.

Rating: B. Giving Swerve’s first pinfall loss since his return to Andrade is certainly a way to go, though egads it means having to hear from Callis even more. Swerve will be around the World Title picture sooner than later as he pretty much has to be, though he might have to work to get back there for awhile. I’m assuming Omega beats Andrade next week, as the idea of putting any kind of long term faith in Andrade sounds a bit misguided.

MJF is ready for Brody King next week but Kenny Omega comes up to say it’s one more win and then they’ll see each other at Revolution. MJF walks off and runs into Andrade, who wants the title. That’s enough to send MJF outside, where Hangman Page is waiting on him. MJF gets in his car and has the driver speed off to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. I liked the show and they did a nice job of not making this feel like a skippable show on the way to the bigger shows. Having so many people come after the World Title is a good way to go, assuming it doesn’t set up some multiman match. There are some openings for the title pictures and that’s a nice place to be on the way to the next pay per view. Good show here, and hopefully they keep it up for the next few weeks.

Results
Kenny Omega b. Rocky Romero – One Winged Angel
Jon Moxley b. Ace Austin – Death Rider
Mark Briscoe b. El Clon – Rollup
Kris Statlander b. Thekla – Staturday Night Fever
FTR b. Davis And Doyle – Shatter Machine to Davis
Andrade El Idolo b. Swerve Strickland – DM

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

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Evolve
Date: January 28, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

It’s another case of the show before the big show as Evolve Champion Jackson Drake is in a three on one handicap match against a team of monsters. The idea is simple: have Drake get destroyed before next week’s title match, which is kind of a brilliant move. The other big deal tonight is Team PC is running the show and that should be interesting. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of how Team PC won control tonight.

Team ID is ready for anything tonight, but a referee comes up and says most of them aren’t booked tonight so they have to leave.

Jackson Drake panics about tonight but the Vanity Project insist they have this.

Opening sequence.

Tate Wilder and Sean Legacy are in the ring for a match but Kam Hendrix and Keanu Carver interrupt. They’re in charge tonight, with the rest of Team PC in the VIP area. Tonight they take over Evolve, then NXT, then WWE. We’ll start with Wilder vs. Legacy, but there are three stipulations. First, the loser has to clean the locker room. Second, the winner can face Hendrix after he wins the Evolve Title next week. Before we get to the third, here is Harlem Lewis (his chyron is switched to MEATHEAD) to interrupt. He wants in on this, with Team PC handling the less than positive introductions.

Tate Wilder vs. Sean Legacy vs. Harlem Lewis

The graphic showing the match has this as Tate Slower, Sean Legacy (with SUPER crossed out) and Meathead, as it’s nice to have the little touches like that. Lewis wrecks everyone to start and hits a double clothesline to take over, including a hard slam to Legacy. Wilder flips over them in the corner and Lewis is sent into the corner, leaving the other two to trade near falls.

Legacy’s big dive takes Lewis out and Wilder’s big dive takes both of them out as well. Hold on though as Hendrix gets to the third stipulation: weapons are allowed! Team PC gets a bunch of weapons out and we take a break. We come back with the weapons in the ring and Legacy superkicking Wilder. Team PC slides Legacy a chair but he can’t bring himself to use it, allowing Lewis to come back. He’ll gladly use the chair but the brainbuster onto said chair is reversed into a small package.

Lewis is sent face first into the chair and Wilder has to make a save. Wilder’s spinning suplex drops Legacy but Lewis is up to kick Wilder in the face. Some kendo stick shots have Legacy and Wilder in trouble but Wilder is back with a big chair shot. A springboard splash onto the chair onto Lewis connects and everyone is down again. Back up and Legacy and Wilder tease throwing each other through a table, with Legacy sending Wilder into a chair instead. Lewis sends Legacy through the table instead and the Boomslang finishes for Lewis at 8:26.

Rating: B. This was a nice showcase for all of them and I like the idea of Team PC actually messing with stuff. It’s not just them making matches but rather having them abuse their authority, which makes for a more interesting show. Other than that, you had Lewis looking like a monster out there and that has potential for him in the future. Legacy is gone to NXT anyway so let someone get another rub off of him on the way out.

After the replays, Team PC tells PJ Vasa to come get some.

PJ Vasa vs. Laynie Luck

Team PC says Luck’s entrance took place during the break because she’s a PC jabroni. The bell rings twice for some reason and Luck actually kicks her away to start. Vasa isn’t having that and crushes her, only to miss an elbow. A Rock Bottom plants Luck and a backbreaker does it again, followed by another backbreaker for two. The bearhug goes on to stay on Luck’s back but she manages to fight out and trips her down. Vasa charges into a boot in the corner but opts to just hit Luck in the face. The Issue finishes Luck at 3:19.

Rating: C. It wasn’t quite a squash, but Vasa is clearly the new big monster around here. That’s the kind of abuse of power that works well for the PC guys and Vasa being on their side is a good way to go. Kendal Grey having to fight Vasa off would be a good way to go and this was an effective performance from the big bad.

Post match Team PC tells Cappuccino Jones to get out here because he’s up next.

Before that though, Chuey Martinez reads a prepared statement about the stupidity of the ID Program compared to the PC wrestlers.

Cappuccino Jones vs. Brooks Jensen

Hold on though as Jones (Mocha Jones) has to have his right arm tied behind his back. Hendrix says he and Braxton Cole have this so the other three go get ready to face Jackson Drake. Jensen knocks him into the corner to start and starts the slow beating, with Jones trying to go up. That’s fine with Jensen, who punches him out of the air and slams him down as we take a break.

We come back with Jones slugging away with the left hand but Jensen slams him down onto the tied arm. Jensen cranks on the arm and then chokes with a knee for two. Jones kicks his way out and actually knocks him into the ropes, with a bridging rollup getting two more. Jensen gets creative with a crossface chickenwing, which is actually reversed into a cradle for another near fall. A DDT of all things drops Jensen as Cole and Hendrix are getting worried. The Stundog Millionaire sets up a neckbreaker for two on Jensen but Jones can’t jump to the ropes. A Backstabber onto the knee brace finishes for Jensen at 8:35.

Rating: B. I don’t particularly care about either of these two and they had me cheering for Jones by the end. That is a sign they are doing something very right and it absolutely worked here. The PC continues their reign of dominance tonight and this was one of the more enjoyable matches Evolve has had thus far.

Keanu Carver/Jax Presley/Harley Riggins vs. Jackson Drake

Non-title and the rest of the Vanity Project is here with Drake. Riggins shoves him into the corner to start and Drake realizes he’s in over his head. Drake gets sent flying into the corner, where Carver sends him flying right back out. A running clothesline turns Carver inside out to cut off a comeback attempt and the monsters start taking turns stomping away in the corner.

Riggins comes back in for the double arm crank but Drake’s rollup actually gets two. A missile dropkick sends Presley outside and a powerslam gets two on Riggins but Carver is back in to beat on Drake. Hendrix and Cole take out the Vanity Project and Carver hits the Pounce. Hendrix says hang on because he’s in this match too. Naturally he comes in and gets the pin on what used to be Drake at 4:53.

Rating: C+. While I don’t think this was a face turn for Drake, he was certainly wrestling as one here and it oddly kind of worked. Granted he’s a smaller guy so having him as the underdog against a bunch of monsters made sense. The match was little more than an angle rather than a match but it actually worked. Nice job.

Overall Rating: B. This show was a very good example of why I like Evolve: the show feels like it can go in different directions week to week. Rather than just doing the same stuff week to week, there are different kinds of shows, including this one. They could have played this safe but instead it came off like the PC guys were really running things. It worked very well and Hendrix has some impressive charisma. If he can keep doing that, he’s got a future in this stuff. Fun show here, with Hendrix hopefully winning the title next week.

Results
Harlem Lewis b. Tate Wilder and Sean Legacy – Boomslang to Legacy
PJ Vasa b. Laynie Luck – The Issue
Brooks Jensen b. Cappuccino Jones – Backstabber
Keanu Carver/Jax Presley/Harley Riggins/Kam Hendrix b. Jackson Drake – Pounce

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

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Royal Rumble 2023
Date: January 28, 2023
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Attendance: 51,338
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Pat McAfee

As usual, it’s hard to believe that a year has passed since this show and now we get to see how it holds up. There are of course two Royal Rumble matches, plus Kevin Owens getting another title shot against Roman Reigns. The bigger story though is Sami Zayn, who has been having some issues with Reigns, his Bloodline boss, coming into the show. Let’s get to it.

Musician Hardy talks about knowing what it takes to become someone. We get some previews of the show’s big matches. Well as many big ones as you can on a card with five matches. Hardy says when you get the chance, kick the door down.

The announcers welcome us to the show….and Pat McAfee is here as a surprise commentator. Graves is FURIOUS and Cole sounds shocked that he’s here. Cole isn’t sure how McAfee could be here when he talked to him on Face Time earlier today. McAfee: “Yeah I lied straight to your face.” Graves’ reaction alone is worth a listen as he won’t stop yelling.

Men’s Royal Rumble

90 second intervals with Gunther in at #1 and Sheamus is in at #2. Believe it or not, they go straight to slugging it out with a collision not getting anywhere. Gunther tries to toss him out so Sheamus rakes the eyes for the break. The Irish Curse isn’t enough to get rid of Gunther and it’s the Miz in at #3. Since it takes about thirty seconds to get to the ring, Gunther is back up and trying to toss Sheamus before Miz can even get inside. Miz finally runs inside and gets chopped down by Gunther, leaving Sheamus to hammer Gunther in the corner. Sheamus and Gunther try to toss each other until Kofi Kingston is in at #4.

Kingston high crossbodies Miz and Gunther and kicks Sheamus in the face for a bonus. Back up and Sheamus sends him to the apron but can’t get rid of him just yet. No one can get rid of anyone else so Johnny Gargano is in at #5. The slingshot spear hits Kofi and there’s an enziguri to Miz. For some reason Gargano loads up some forearms to Miz’s chest, only to have Sheamus glare him away. Some kicks to the face put Miz out, leaving a bunch of people to go after Gunther.

Xavier Woods is in at #6 and New Day starts to clean house on everyone else. Kofi and Woods tease fighting each other but do a….we’ll call it a dance I guess. Karrion Kross is in at #7 and goes after Woods (after another rather slow entrance, which is starting to become an issue as it takes time for anything to happen). Gunther BLASTS Kross with a clothesline but he’s right back up, meaning it’s time for a slugout with Sheamus. Chad Gable is in at #8, who gets into an amateur match with Woods, who for some reason thinks this is a good idea.

Gable German suplexes Woods down but gets decked by Kofi as Drew McIntyre is in at #9. The reverse Alabama Slam sends Gargano down onto Gable as commentary mocks Sheamus and McIntyre’s team name, which may or may not be an adult film company. McIntyre Claymores Kross out and gets to trade chops with Gunther. Santos Escobar is in at #10, giving us Gunther, Sheamus, Kingston, Gargano, Woods, Gable, McIntyre and Escobar at the one third mark. Escobar goes after Gable but has to slip out of Sheamus’ forearms to the chest.

Angelo Dawkins is in at #11 and McAfee seems rather intrigued. Gunther kicks Woods out but Escobar saves Gunther from Kingston for some reason. Kingston hits a pop up double stomp to Gunther’s chest, only to be sent outside and onto a chair. The idea is for one foot to stay on said chair…but yeah he’s out anyway. Not that it matters as Brock Lesnar is in at #12 and smashing is likely to ensue. The suplexes start fast and there go Escobar, Dawkins and Escobar.

We get the Lesnar vs. Gunther staredown and the fans REALLY like that one. Since we don’t have enough power in there at the moment, Bobby Lashley is in at #13. Lesnar suplexes Gunther but walks into a spear from Lashley, who takes down almost everyone else. A clothesline gets rid of Lesnar, which somehow didn’t set up a Wrestlemania rematch. Baron Corbin is in at #14 as Lesnar wrecks ringside.

Lesnar also wrecks Corbin, including an F5 on the floor. Things slow down in the ring and it’s Seth Rollins in at #15. Rollins throws Corbin inside and quickly eliminates him, which has McAfee very happy. Sheamus and Rollins slug it out as Otis is in at #16. Otis gets to run some people over as commentary makes sumo references. Rey Mysterio is in at #17…or not as he doesn’t show up. Rollins gets rid of Lashley in a bit of a surprise and here is Dominik Mysterio, with Rey’s mask (suggesting an attack) in at #18.

Otis is tossed during the entrance as commentary yells about how much they can’t stand Dominik. After Dominik finally gets in, Elias is in at #19 (McAfee is a big an) and goes after a variety of people. This includes breaking a guitar over Gunther, because that is a good idea. A simultaneous Claymore and Brogue Kick put Elias down and what’s left of him is eliminated.

Finn Balor is in at #20, giving us Gunther, Sheamus, Gargano, McIntyre, Rollins, Dominik and Balor. Dominik and Balor get together to dump Gargano but get stared down by Sheamus and McIntyre. Booker T. is in as a surprise at #21 and fires of some kicks into the Spinarooni. Then Gunther eliminates him without much trouble. Sheamus and McIntyre beat on Gunther (who has a cut on his back) as Damian Priest is in at #22.

That doesn’t go anywhere so it’s Montez Ford in at #23 and taking his time to get to the ring. Ford goes after the Judgment Day and is quickly tossed by Priest. Edge is in at #24 and yeah that gets a big reaction. Judgment Day gets speared down and Edge tosses Priest and Balor without much trouble. Dominik breaks up a Rollins vs. Edge showdown, allowing Judgment Day to pull Edge out as well.

Austin Theory is in at #25 but he pauses to get in as Edge has to beat up Judgment Day near the entrance. Cue Rhea Ripley to jump Edge but Beth Phoenix pops up to spear her down. Theory finally gets in and Omos is also in at #26. Sheamus and McIntyre are waiting on him but they get dropped without much effort. Gunther is the only one left to go after Omos but the chops only have so much effect. With Omos as the only one standing, Braun Strowman is in at #27.

Strowman staggers Omos with a right hand and puts him out with a running clothesline for the big elimination. Theory is sent flying into the corner and it’s Ricochet (Strowman’s partner) in at #28. Strowman uses Ricochet as a projectile but gets pummeled but Sheamus and McIntyre. The two of them get together and forearm him in the chest, with Gunther making a weird save. Gunther can’t get rid of McIntyre or McIntyre….but he can eliminate both of them at once. Wrestling is weird for you.

Logan Paul is in at #29 (big reaction) and gets jumped by almost everyone left in the ring. Paul gets away and hits a heck of a Buckshot Lariat on Ricochet but Gunther gutwrenches Paul to the apron. That’s broken up so Paul has to slug away at Strowman, who powerslams him down. Ricochet adds the shooting star but Paul is sent through the ropes instead of over.

Cody Rhodes is in at #30, giving us a final grouping of Gunther, Rollins, Dominik, Theory, Strowman, Ricochet, Paul and Rhodes (that’s a nice number for a final grouping). The pace picks up and Rhodes hits the Cody Cutter on Theory. After firing the weight belt into the crowd, Rhodes has to counter Three Amigos into Cross Rhodes. Dominik is out and Ricochet cuts Gunther off. Ricochet and Paul wind up on opposite aprons and springboard in at the same time for a heck of a mid air collision.

Cody and Ricochet get rid of Strowman but Theory dumps Ricochet to get us down to five (Rhodes, Theory, Rollins, Gunther and Paul, with the latter on the floor). The Stomp hits Theory and Rollins gets rid of him, giving us the Rhodes vs. Rollins vs. Rhodes staredown. Gunther breaks that up and gets double teamed, including a pair of Pedigrees. Rather than dumping Gunther, they fight each other but both miss finishers.

Then Paul comes back in and dumps Rollins as we’re down to three. Rhodes ducks the big right hand and hits Cross Rhodes on Paul for the elimination, leaving us with Rhodes vs. Gunther. Rhodes strikes away but the Disaster Kick is clotheslined out of the air. Gunther puts him on the top to stand on his throat and put him on the apron. Rhodes goes up top and gets toss superplexed right back down.

That’s enough to start Rhodes’ comeback and the Cody Cutter connects, setting up a running clothesline to put Gunther on the apron. Rhodes goes after the leg ad hits Shattered Dreams but Gunther is back with the running dropkick. The powerbomb plants Rhodes again as Gunther looks to be on fumes. The sleeper on the apron has Rhodes in more trouble, only to have Rhodes pull him outside as well. Back in and Rhodes is chopped out of the air but he’s fine enough to hit Cross Rhodes. A running clothesline finally gives Rhodes the win at 1:11:40.

Rating: A-. This was a pretty awesome Rumble with Gunther having the career making (because his career wasn’t made yet) performance. He was virtually unstoppable and only went down when someone who was in the match for almost an hour less took him out. Other than that, you had Sheamus and McIntyre as the monster pairing who kept fighting with everyone. The star power was strong and the action was very good, making this a great match with an excellent final sequence to boot. Heck of a Rumble.

We recap Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight. Wyatt was back after a long hiatus and wants to be respected. Knight isn’t impressed and violence has ensued.

LA Knight vs. Bray Wyatt

This is the Mountain Dew Pitch Black match, which means neon lights and anything goes. Knight charges at him to start and gets hammers down, setting up the big toss into the corner. It works so well that Wyatt throws him out of another corner, meaning it’s time for a breather on the floor. Knight manages a whip into the steps but Wyatt sends him over the barricade.

Wyatt loads up a suplex off the steps but Knight drives him through the announcers’ table, with all of the neon stuff popping up or a weird visual. With Knight bailing into the ring, Wyatt throws a toolbox inside as well, seemingly hinting at violence. Back in and the BFT is blocked so Knight hits him with a kendo stick. Not that it matters as Knight charges into Sister Abigail for the pin at 5:04.

Rating: D. To say things have changed in the last year is a major understatement but there isn’t much of a way around the fact that this match wasn’t very good. It was a bunch of slow motion fighting and then the finish came pretty much out of nowhere. The lights were a different way to go and I’m sure WWE liked the check it brought, but the match was rather nothing.

Post match Bray puts on another mask and Knight runs away, with some kendo stick shots not having any impact. Wyatt catches him near the production area and gives him the Mandible Claw. Then Uncle Howdy pops up on top of a platform and dives onto Knight, with flames coming out of the hole. Then full size versions of the Firefly Funhouse characters look down from the platform.

Tonight’s attendance: 51,338.

Raw Women’s Title: Alexa Bliss vs. Bianca Belair

Bliss, who has been more evil as o late, is challenging. Belair powers her around to start and hits a running shoulder in the corner, followed by the right hands in said corner. Back up and Bliss gets in a few kicks of her own, setting up a backbreaker with feet into Belair’s back for the extra pain. The chinlock slows Belair down and it works so well that Bliss grabs it again.

This time Bliss says “you couldn’t just leave it alone could you”, which apparently wakes Belair up to hammer away in the corner. The handspring moonsault gives Belair two and some frustration is starting to set in. Bliss gets in another shot and slowly hammers away, setting up the jumping knees to the chest. A backsplash gives Bliss two but Belair has had enough of this and KOD’s her for the pin to retain at 7:34.

Rating: C. This version of Bliss was only going to go so far as the original “SHE’S EVIL” stuff wasn’t quite interesting. Asking fans to care for the warmed up leftovers didn’t help and it was on display here. Then you have Belair, who has cleared out the women’s division and needs a big name to come after the title. Not a terrible match, but it could have been on Raw without missing much.

Post match Belair leaves and Bliss is left in the ring, where a video of her evil days plays, complete with Uncle Howdy asking if she feels in charge. Then she would to on maternity leave and none of that would go anywhere, thank goodness.

Women’s Royal Rumble

90 second intervals and Rhea Ripley is in at #1 and Liv Morgan is in at #2. They stare each other down to start until Ripley hammers her down. A running boot drops Morgan and a delayed suplex puts her down again. Dana Brooke is in at #3 (naturally looking Barbieish) and missile dropkicks both of them down. A hiptoss into a basement dropkick hits Morgan and Brooke manages a superplex.

With Ripley down in the corner, Emma is in at #4 and grabs a neckbreaker to put Ripley down again. Everyone goes after Ripley and Shayna Baszler is in at #5 as the entrants seem to be going rather quickly here. Baszler goes after Ripley before beating up Morgan and Brooke. The arm stomp has Brooke in more trouble and it’s Bayley, who rips up a sign on the way to the ring, in at #6. Morgan is right there with Oblivion to Bayley but can’t get rid of her. More brawling is on and it’s B Fab in at #7.

Some stomping doesn’t do much for B Fab as Ripley easily tosses her out. NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez is in at #8 and gets to clean some house, even taking Ripley down with a spinning headscissors. Dakota Kai is in at #9 and poses with Bayley, but a bunch of women beat him down. Iyo Sky is in at #10, giving us all of Damage CTRL, with a lineup of Ripley, Morgan, Brooke,, Baszler, Bayley, Perez, Kai and Sky.

The rest of Damage CTRL has to be saved and Sky flips around a lot. Brooke helps Emma get back in but it’s Damage CTRL tossing Brooke out. Damage CTRL kick out Emma and Perez and it’s the returning Natalya in at #11. Bayley cuts Natalya off before she can get revenge on Baszler (who put her on the shelf) and we slow down a good bit. Candice LeRae is in at #12 and hits a step up backsplash on Bayley. Baszler hammers on LeRae in the corner before getting slapped by Natalya.

The running boot misses or Baszler and Natalya sends her to the apron, only to have Baszler come back with the Kirifuda Clutch. Damage CTRL gets rid of both Baszler and Natalya as NXT’s Zoey Stark is in at #13. Stark strikes away, including a nasty looking kick to Ripley’s face. A springboard corkscrew splash hits Ripley but it’s way too early for Stark to put her out. Xia Li is in at #14 and cleans house as well, only to have Damage CTRL cut her off. LeRae fights back but Sky shoves her off the top for an elimination.

Becky Lynch is in at #15 and wants revenge on Damage CTRL for taking her out in a cage on Raw. House is quickly cleaned but Bayley sends Becky outside (not eliminated). The rest of Damage CTRL gets on Becky and throw her into the barricade/over the announcers’ table. Tegan Nox is in at #16 and gets to clean house again. Nox and Morgan beat on Stark but can’t get rid of her as Asuka, to a big reaction, is in at #17.

She unmasks as the evil clown and everyone is scared, allowing Asuka to rapidly clean house. Bayley and Asuka have a big staredown, with Asuka unloading with a variety of strikes. Bayley is sent to the apron but manages a neck snap for a breather. Asuka kicks Nox out and Piper Niven is in at #18, meaning it’s likely time to wreck some people. A running seated crossbody hits Morgan and Bayley as Tamina is in at #19.

That means a Tamina vs. Niven staredown and slugout but Lynch is back in to clean house. The returning Chelsea Green is in at #20, giving us Ripley, Morgan, Bayley, Kai, Sky, Stark, Li, Lynch, Asuka, Niven, Tamina and Green. Ripley tosses Green in about three seconds and Becky eliminates Kai and Sky, only to be eliminated by Bayley (the fans REALLY react to that). Morgan dumps Bayley right at Becky’s feet and the fight is on again. Damage CTRL and Becky brawl into the crowd and Zelina Vega is in at #21 (cosplaying as a character from Street Fighter 6 in a promotional deal).

Li and Vega strike it out on the apron until Vega kicks her to the floor. Vega’s middle rope Codebreaker hits Piper and Raquel Rodriguez is in at #22. A quick clothesline drops Ripley and a spinning slam hits Asuka. Vega is back up to kick away at Rodriguez, who puts her on the top. Michin is in at #23 and gets to fire off a bunch of kicks as a trend continues. Niven fights off a bunch of people trying to eliminate her and Lacey Evans is in at #24.

Evans’ slingshot Bronco Buster hits Morgan in the corner and a legsweep takes Stark down. Michelle McCool, in the front row, is in at #25 and gets to beat everyone up at once, including the Faithbreaker (Styles Clash) to Vega. McCool gets rid of Tamina and Indi Hartwell is in at #26. That goes nowhere so Sonya Deville is in at #7 and gets rid of Stark. Asuka and Deville kick away at each other until Evans cobra clutches Vega out. Shotzi is in at #28 with a high crossbody to Rodriguez and Niven. Deville eliminates Hartwell and Nikki Cross is in at #29.

Cross gets to beat up various people and she throws her jacket down for a bonus. With the ten second countdown not even starting, Nia Jax is in at #30, giving us a final grouping of Ripley, Morgan, Asuka, Niven, Rodriguez, Michin, Evans, McCool, Deville, Shotzi, Cross and Jax. Everyone stops to wait for Jax, who, believe it or not, runs her mouth and fights everyone but Rodriguez off. Rodriguez gets thrown down but a bunch of people go after her, with Ripley….managing something close to the Riptide.

Everyone gets together to toss Jax and Rodriguez clotheslines Evans out. Asuka pulls Rodriguez into the armbar but Asuka moves on to kicking Deville off the apron for an elimination. Ripley gets rid of McCool and Michin eliminates Shotzi. Niven LAUNCHES Michin onto Shotzi to get us down to six, with Niven belly to back suplexing Rodriguez. For some reason Niven goes up, allowing Rodriguez to kick her out as Ripley gets the Iron Woman record.

The Tejana Bomb to Ripley is countered, with Ripley tossing Rodriguez and then sending both Asuka and Cross to the apron. Morgan knocks out Cross and we’re down to Ripley, Morgan and Asuka. Ripley is sent to the apron but headbutts Morgan and pulls her out to the apron with her. Asuka joins them and mists Morgan, allowing Ripley to kick Asuka out. Morgan Codebreakers Ripley down but she hangs on and pulls Morgan out for the win at 1:01:08 (earning the Stick Stickly seal of approval).

Rating: C. I ran out of ways to say “and then this wrestler came in and they beat a bunch of people up and then nothing happened and then someone else came in.” The double Iron Women thing didn’t do much as Ripley was doing her thing here and there while Morgan was barely around. The Women’s Rumble has a tendency to be rather top heavy and that was the case here, with the Damage CTRL run, along with Becky and Ripley, being the only interesting part. It was the Ripley show and she was kind of laying around (as you tend to do in an hour long run) and that didn’t make for a good Rumble.

Hardy performs to kill some time.

We recap Kevin Owens challenging Roman Reigns for the World Title. This is much more about whether or not Sami Zayn is really part of the Bloodline or just their lackey. On the other hand, Reigns is sick and tired of Kevin Owens so it’s time to get rid of him once and for all. Zayn has insisted that he’s in the Bloodline, and even Jey Us, who never believed him, isn’t sure about Zayn anymore. Reigns has told Zayn’s final test is at the Royal Rumble, where he has to show whose side he is really on.

WWE Universal Title: Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns

Reigns, with Paul Heyman and Sami Zayn, is defending. They circle each other to start until Reigns hits a quick clothesline. Back up and Owens scores with an elbow to the face before stomping away at Reigns in the corner. There’s the Cannonball as Zayn is starting to look worried at ringside. Reigns rolls outside and there’s the backsplash to crush him again. Back in and Reigns hits a release Rock Bottom for two, followed by the apron boot to the face for the same.

The chinlock goes on for a bit but Owens fights up and drops Reigns again. The frog splash gives Reigns two but he’s back with a sitout powerbomb. Back up and the Superman Punch gives Reigns two more, only to have Owens send the spear into the post. Owens hits the Swanton for another near fall but botches a springboard moonsault attempt. The second attempt misses, allowing Reigns to hit a spear for another near fall.

Naturally the referee gets bumped and more naturally, there is no one to count as Owens hits the Pop Up Powerbomb. Reigns goes low to cut Owens off again and tells Zayn to throw in a chair. That goes rather slowly, allowing Owens to come back with a Stunner or a rather near fall. Zayn is breathing a sigh of relief as Heyman glares at him and the two inside slowly get up.

Another Pop Up Powerbomb is countered into a Superman Punch (that was cool) and another spear gets another two. Owens rolls outside where Zayn tells him to stay down, only to have Reigns spear Owens through the barricade. Rather than covering though, Reigns sends him head first into the steps, followed by another spear to retain at 19:13.

Rating: B-. It was a good, hard hitting fight but there was absolutely no drama as to the winner because we have been flat out told that this is all about Sami Zayn. Owens was trying, but he was just the designated challenger here and there was no way around it. Reigns could only make you believe he was in so much danger and it showed pretty badly. Not a bad match whatsoever, but the opening bell started the countdown to the spear.

Post match Reigns holds on on Zayn getting his lei, as instead he has the Usos destroy an already out of it Owens. The beating continues, including a chair being wrapped around Owens’ neck for the running Umaga attack from Solo Sikoa. Owens gets handcuffed to the ropes for some superkicks as the fans chant for Sami. Reigns grabs the chair and yells at Owens, but Zayn gets in between them, saying Owens is done.

Reigns thinks about it and then holds the chair out to Zayn, who doesn’t want to do it. Zayn: “I don’t want to.” Reigns: “I think you should.” Zayn takes the chair as Reigns shouts about how he loves Zayn while Owens keeps trying to hold him back. Does Zayn want to go do the Jackass stuff again? Zayn stands behind Reigns and slowly holds up the chair, with Reigns turning around and saying PULL THE TRIGGER. Reigns calls out Zayn for crying and shoves him in the face a few times, shouting that THIS IS MY WHOLE LIFE.

With that, Reigns turns to look at Owens again, and with the fans chanting for him, Zayn blasts Reigns in the back with the chair to one of the loudest pops you will ever hear. Jey Uso looks at Zayn and can’t believe what is going on but never touches him. Instead Jimmy superkicks Zayn down and destroys him, with Sikoa adding the Spike. Reigns tells Jey to get in on this but a broken Jey rolls to the floor and leaves without touching anyone. Reigns destroys Zayn with the chair and forearms tot he head, ripping the Honorary Uce shirt off of him to end the show.

I didn’t catch it live but as has been pointed out: that was the same way Seth Rollins turned on Reigns to end the Shield, which ties the whole story together. Reigns was so betrayed by the Shield that he turned to the only people he could trust, his family, to avoid it happening again but then the one person who wasn’t blood, turned on him. That is some top level storytelling and the fans reacted to it as a result. For wrestling, this was Shakespeare, and the tag match at Wrestlemania and then Jey siding with Jimmy was incredible, but they just couldn’t find a way to wrap it all up, at least within the next year.

Overall Rating: B-. As usual, the Royal Ruble is one of the most unique shows of the year as it is built around two matches. The first Rumble was great and the second was…well not, but this year had a special bonus. The post main event angle was an instant classic and set things off for the next several months. The show is not great and the women’s Rumble is weak, along with the other non-Rumble matches, but the two good parts carry the show far enough.

Results
Cody Rhodes won the men’s Royal Rumble last eliminating Gunther
Bray Wyatt b. LA Knight – Sister Abigail
Bianca Belair b. Alexa Bliss – KOD
Rhea Ripley won the women’s Royal Rumble last eliminating Liv Morgan
Roman Reigns b. Kevin Owens – Spear

Ratings Comparison

Men’s Royal Rumble:

Original: A-
2024 Redo: A-

LA Knight vs. Bray Wyatt

Original: D+
2024 Redo: D

Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss

Original: C-
2024 Redo: C

Women’s Royal Ruble

Original: C
2024 Redo: C

Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns

Original: B-
2024 Redo: B-

Overall Rating:

Original: B
2024 Redo: B-

Yep, more or less the same as the original.

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Royal Rumble 2022
Date: January 29, 2022
Location: The Dome At America’s Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Attendance: 44,390
Commentators: Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

Somehow this show was a year ago and that might be better for everyone involved. This show was absolutely not well received and I am almost scared to see just how badly this falls down. Hopefully time has been a bit kinder to it, but you never can tell. In addition to the Royal Rumbles, we have Seth Rollins challenging Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Title and Brock Lesnar defending the WWE Title against Bobby Lashley. Let’s get to it.

I was in the stadium for this show, sitting in the upper deck with the Titantron on my right.

The opening video looks at how the Road To Wrestlemania begins here. As usual we get the Royal Rumble highlight reel and dang there have been some great moments over the years. The rest of the matches, which don’t mean nearly as much (as usual), get some attention as well.

Smackdown World Title: Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins

Reigns is defending and is currently by himself, as Paul Heyman has jumped back to Brock Lesnar and the Usos are barred from ringside. In the name of mind games, Rollins comes to the ring to the old Shield music, complete with the through the crowd entrance and gear (Of note: McAfee talks about the Shield days and says it was “Mox”, Seth and Roman”.).

Rollins goes with the grappling to start and Reigns is frustrated early. The corner clotheslines miss for Reigns and Rollins clotheslines him to the floor. Back to back suicide dives don’t do Rollins much good as Reigns knocks him out of the air back inside. They fight to the floor again though and Rollins is fine enough to hit a quick powerbomb through the announcers’ table.

Back in and the frog splash gets two but Rollins misses the Phoenix splash. Reigns’ spear is cut off by a boot to the face though and a buckle bomb into the Stomp gets a close two. Another Stomp is loaded up but Reigns blasts him with a clothesline to cut that off. Reigns’ powerbomb gets two so Rollins laughs at him, earning the big forearms to the face. The laughter is enough to let Rollins pull him into a triangle choke, which is broken up with another hard powerbomb.

They head back outside with Rollins being sent into various things, followed by a Superman Punch for two back inside. They head outside again and the spear cuts Rollins in half. Back in and another spear is countered into the Pedigree (how Rollins beat him for the title in 2016) for a rather close two.

Rollins has to elbow his way out of a Rock Bottom attempt and kicks Reigns in the face. Another spear cuts Rollins down again….but he’s still laughing at Reigns. Rollins holds out the Shield fist so Reigns pulls him into the guillotine. The referee checks the arm, with the hand falling onto the rope for the break. Well in theory at least, as Reigns doesn’t let go and it’s a DQ at 14:23.

Rating: B. This was a good match and that shouldn’t be a shock given who was in there. Any combination of the Shield guys are going to work well together and that was on display here. They tied the history of the team in well and Rollins broke Reigns down mentally, which should set up a huge rematch down the line. Granted it didn’t and this was a one off match, but it should have set something up.

Post match Reigns is all upset and slowly grabs a chair. The big beatdown leaves Rollins laying.

Women’s Royal Rumble

90 second intervals and Sasha Banks (in Sailor Moon gear) is in at #1 and Melina is in at #2. They pose at each other to start before Banks dumps her in less than a minute. That leaves Banks do to Melina’s splits pose until Tamina is in at #3. Banks dropkicks her through the ropes before Tamina can get inside, setting up the Meteora from the apron. Tamina saves herself back inside but gets caught with a quick Rey Mysterio bulldog. Running knees have Tamina in trouble in the corner but she headbutts her way to freedom.

Kelly Kelly is in at #4 and it’s strange to see her as anything but the blonde. Kelly comes in for the short form screaming headscissors but stops to dance, allowing Tamina to run her over. For some reason Kelly tries the triangle choke over the ropes on Banks and gets dumped for not thinking that through. Aliyah is in at #5 and hits a weird looking standing Thesz press to hammer on Banks. Tamina slaps Aliyah and they grapple against the ropes as Liv Morgan is in at #6.

Morgan knocks everyone down and stops for a bow, allowing Banks to hit Three Amigos. Queen Zelina is in at #7 and kicks Banks out in a pretty big upset. Tamina can’t eliminate Aliyah as Bianca Belair is in at #8. A kick to the head rocks Tamina and Belair muscles Vega up for a suplex. Belair’s handspring kick to the face can’t get rid of Morgan but she does hit Vega with a moonsault. Dana Brooke, with Reggie, is in at #9 but she does say she’ll go in on her own. Tamina saves Zelina for some reason so Brooke gives Belair a handspring elbow in the corner.

Michelle McCool is in at #10, giving us Tamina, Aliyah, Morgan, Zelina, Belair, Brooke and McCool. House is cleaned and McCool knocks Brooke….right into Reggie’s arms. The Faithbreaker hits Vega and Brooke gets tossed for good this time. Sonya Deville is in at #11 and goes over to join commentary rather than getting inside. The slow elimination attempts continue until Natalya is in at #12.

Morgan goes right at Natalya, who puts her on the apron without much trouble. It’s not quite enough for an elimination so Natalya dumps Tamina instead. More teased eliminations continue until Cameron is in at #13. Cameron cleans some of the house as Deville gets up and slides in, where she takes out Cameron without much trouble. Natalya and Deville are the only ones left standing until Naomi, who hates Deville, is in at #14.

A springboard spinning kick to the face rocks Deville and Naomi kicks her out. Carmella is in at #15 and Corey Graves certainly approves. Carmella walks around the ring as a good chunk of the other women bunched up on one side of the ring for some reason. Rhea Ripley is in at #16 and throws Carmella inside, only to get triple teamed down. Ripley shrugs that off and knocks out Carmella and Vega without much trouble.

Charlotte is in at #17 as a bunch of people go after Natalya. Aliyah is tossed out after about 23 minutes, followed by Naomi being kicked to the floor. She hangs on by her feet….but Sonya Deville is still here to pull Naomi out for the elimination anyway. Ivory, as part of the Right To Censor, is in at #18 and says nothing has changed since she was last here. It is hard for her to look at these girls and, as she gets in the ring, she says she sees a lot of wayward, lost little girls. As she is talking, Ripley picks her up and, as she is still talking, Ripley tosses her out. Ivory: “HOW DARE YOU???”

With that rather funny bit out of the way, Brie Bella is in at #19 and starts the YES chant but can’t get rid of Natalya. Ripley and Belair can’t get rid of Charlotte as Mickie James, reigning Impact Wrestling Knockouts (or Women’s, as the graphic says) Champion is in at #20. That gives us Morgan, Belair, McCool, Natalya, Ripley, Charlotte, Brie Bella and James, the latter of whom goes right after McCool. A headscissors gets rid of McCool and it’s Alicia Fox (with the brown hair instead of the blonde hair) in at #21.

Fox gets to clean some house and the referee checks on Natalya. Nikki Ash is in at #22 and we pause for her to sneak up on Ripley but, of course, she can’t eliminate her. Everyone pairs off until WWE Legend Summer Rae (AND HER SONG THAT IS SO FREAKING CATCHY) is in at #23. A slap off with Natalya goes to Rae, but Charlotte runs her over before anything can get interesting. Natalya dumps Rae and it’s Nikki Bella in at #24. House is cleaned again and the Bellas get to reunite, with Nikki knocking out Fox. Sarah Logan returns at #25, gets in a few shots, and is tossed by the Bellas.

They toss Liv as well, after a pretty ridiculous 37 minutes without an elimination. Liv and Logan get their reunion on the floor as Lita is in at #26. Mickie goes after Lita and gets DDTed, allowing Lita to get the easy elimination. Charlotte and Lita slug it out until Mighty Molly is in at #27…and gets jumped by Ash on the floor. Molly is tossed in and then eliminated by Ash, who gets in a rather long pose and stare. Ronda Rousey makes her big return at #28 and yeah this feels like a huge deal, especially with almost everyone in the ring stopping to look at her.

Ash is out fast and Nikki Bella is sent to the apron…where Brie punches her out. Shotzi is in at #29 as Rousey gets rid of Brie. Rousey goes after Belair and Natalya powerbombs Charlotte as Shayna Baszler completes the field at #30. That gives us a final grouping of Belair, Natalya, Ripley, Charlotte, Lita, Rousey, Shotzi and Baszler. Rousey and Baszler start wrecking people before squaring off instead. Charlotte interrupts that as well so Rousey kicks out Shotzi.

Belair gets rid of Natalya but Natalya comes back in, only to be tossed by Rousey as well. Lita cleans house, including a middle rope hurricanrana on Ripley. The Litasault is loaded up but Ripley breaks it up and, say it with me, Charlotte gets rid of Lita. Ripley and Rousey fight to the apron and Charlotte kicks Ripley out. Belair kicks Charlotte on the apron and spinebusters Baszler but Baszler catches her in the Kirifuda Clutch. That’s reversed into a KOD attempt but Charlotte dumps both of them. We’re down to Rousey vs. Charlotte and they square off, until Charlotte missed a boot in the corner and gets dumped at 59:45.

Rating: D+. This wasn’t exactly great and showed just how little depth there was to the women’s division at this point. Of the thirty women involved, HALF of them were legends or returning names. I know why there is a Women’s Royal Rumble, but if you need to import half of the lineup, it might be time to put it on the shelf. With six of the entrants not even making it a minute each, this was a bunch of nothing until Rousey came in and won, because part timers and returning stars rule.

Titus O’Neil and company did their local charity stuff.

Raw Women’s Title: Doudrop vs. Becky Lynch

Doudrop is challenging and attacked Lynch leading up to the title match. After the Big Match Intros, Doudrop goes with the power to send Becky outside for a breather. Back in and Becky has to bail from a Vader Bomb, leaving Doudrop to get Cannonball the steps by mistake. Becky kicks away but what looks to be a tornado DDT is blocked. The sleeper puts Doudrop down to one knee but she powers out without much effort. Doudrop’s charge goes into the post and Becky hits the missile dropkick for two.

Becky gets run over again though and a backsplash connects for two. The triangle choke has Becky in some trouble but the sitout powerbomb breaks that up fast. The Cannonball gets two but Becky is back up with a Molly Go Round for two of her own. Doudrop’s throat is snapped across the top and a top rope Fameasser gets two more. Back up and Doudrop plants her for two more, only to have another Vader Bomb countered into a super Manhandle Slam to retain the title at 12:55.

Rating: D+. This wasn’t so much bad as much as it was a lot of standing around waiting on the finish. Doudrop wasn’t about to dethrone the biggest women’s star ever, even if this is a downgraded Becky. This was Becky being given a mountain to climb and I can absolutely give them points for running a fresh challenger out there. That’s a good thing, but you need to have an entertaining match to back it up and that wasn’t the case here. When the most exciting thing in a match is the Wrestlemania sign catching on fire, you’re in big trouble.

The announced attendance is 44,390.

We recap Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley. They’re very similar, they’re monsters, they were amateur wrestlers, the were mixed martial artists, now they’re having a title match.

Raw World Title: Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley

Lesnar is defending and has Paul Heyman with him while Lashley has MVP. They fight over a lockup to start until Lesnar snaps off a German suplex. Lashley is right back with one of his own but Lesnar hits two in a row. The F5 is countered though and Lashley hits a pair of spears to send Lesnar outside. Another spear sends Lashley through the barricade in the required big crash and Lesnar is rather smiley.

Lashley is back up to post Lesnar and they head back inside. Back in and Lesnar grabs more German suplexes but Lashley slaps on a quick Hurt Lock. Lesnar rams him into the corner for the break and the F5 hits Lashley, only to bump the referee at the same time. Cue Roman Reigns to spear Lesnar down before telling Heyman to hand over the title. Heyman does just that and a belt shot knocks Lesnar silly. Lashley gets the cover and the title at 10:14.

Rating: C+. That’s by far the match of the night so far as it felt like something actually happened. Lesnar vs. Lashley is a genuine dream match and something different for Lesnar, though he wrestled it similar to how he wrestles everything else. The Heyman twist was a good way to go and it’s nice to see Lashley get his title back, but this could have been something special and instead it was just ok. Granted Lashley injured his shoulder during the match so take it with a grain of salt.

Heyman leaves with Reigns as Lashley celebrates.

We recap Edge/Beth Phoenix vs. Maryse/Miz. Edge came back, Miz didn’t like it, the wives got involved, mixed tag.

Edge/Beth Phoenix vs. Miz/Maryse

Miz is knocked outside to start and Maryse is sent on top of him, allowing Edge to forearm Miz back inside. A cheap shot lets Miz take over on Edge and cannonball down onto his back. Maryse chokes a bit from the floor so Beth goes a stalking, for some reason thinking she needs a chair. Edge manages a quick implant DDT and Maryse can’t cut off the tag.

Beth comes in to beat up Maryse, including a spinning side slam for two. Miz goes after Beth and gets hammered down in the corner for his efforts. Maryse gets in a cheap shot with the loaded purse for two, setting up a camel clutch of all things. That’s broken up and Beth hits a clothesline for the double knockdown.

It’s back to Edge for the Edge-O-Matic on Miz, with Beth adding a powerbomb. Edge’s top rope elbow gets two but he spears the corner for the mishap. Maryse snaps off a top rope hurricanrana (that’s a new one for her) and there’s the French Kiss for Beth. The Skull Crushing Finale gets two on Edge and Miz gives us a shocked face. Beth is back up though and a double spear cuts Miz down. Mostly stereo Glam Slams give Edge the pin at 12:28.

Rating: C. Here is another match where it could have used some chicanery with Miz and Maryse cheating as much as they could have to win the thing and instead they played it pretty straight. The idea of battling couples works, but Edge and Beth aren’t going to lose to Miz and Maryse without all kinds of cheating and everyone knew it. Not an awful match, but another boring one on a show full of them.

A recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor is here so we hear his story.

Men’s Royal Rumble

90 second intervals with AJ Styles in at #1 (and strikes a Shawn Michaels pose for some reason) and Shinsuke Nakamura (Intercontinental Champion) in at #2, meaning Pat McAfee gets to dance on the announcers’ table. A strike off goes to Nakamura, who hits the spinwheel kick to the head but can’t exploder Styles out. Styles knocks him into the corner and it’s Austin Theory in at #3. The rolling dropkick hits Styles to start but Nakamura goes for Theory.

Robert Roode is in at #4 and hits some spinebusters but Styles cuts him off. Styles reverses a whip and sends Roode outside for the quick elimination. Ridge Holland, with face guard, is in at #5 to run some people over. Styles gets rid of Nakamura and goes after Theory as Montez Ford is in at #6. Ford throws Theory to the apron but can’t get rid of him. Instead Ford kicks away at Holland to little effect and US Champion Damien Priest is in at #7.

A bunch of stomping ensues until Sami Zayn is in at #8. More nothing ensues and it’s Johnny Knoxville in at #9. Knoxville takes Sami down and hammers away before going after Styles. The Phenomenal Blitz drops Knoxville fast and Ford adds the frog splash. Sami Helluva Kicks Knoxville out but Styles dumps Zayn for a bonus. Angelo Dawkins is in at #10, giving us Styles, Theory, Holland, Ford, Priest, and Dawkins. Omos is in at #11 and he should get to clear some of the ring. There goes Dawkins and Ford follows him rather quickly.

Ricochet is in at #12 and get chopped by Omos as NOTHING continues to happen. Chad Gable is in at #13 and rallies the troops to go after Omos, which means sending Priest after him alone. With Priest gone, the rest of the group, plus Dominik Mysterio in at #14, gets rid of Omos. Happy Corbin is in at #15 and dumps Ricochet pretty fast. Dolph Ziggler is in at #16 as this is reaching some incredible levels of boring. Deep Six plants Dominik and Corbin gets rid of him, followed by Styles getting rid of Theory.

Sheamus is in at #17, with Holland being tossed before Sheamus can get inside. Rick Boogs is in at #18 and McAfee is excited, as compared to the eerily still crowd. Boogs tosses Gable and Madcap Moss is in at #19. Corbin tosses Styles, ending a nearly thirty minute run with….nothing (that’s the story of the match so far: nothing happens, and we’re just sitting around waiting as more people come in and go out).

It’s Riddle in at #20, giving us Corbin, Ziggler, Sheamus, Boogs, Moss and Riddle as this drones on. Corbin and Moss get rid of Boogs and Drew McIntyre returns from injury at #21. McIntyre wastes no time in getting rid of Moss and Corbin, which would somehow carry on through Wrestlemania. That’s not enough though as Drew follows them outside and unloads on them with steps to the head. Kevin Owens is in at #22 and Pop Up Powerbombs McIntyre.

Rey Mysterio is in at #23 and the fans are barely reacting to a string of big, popular names. Kofi Kingston is in at #24 and gets tossed to the apron fast. Owens breaks up a springboard attempt and Kofi lands on the barricade….but his feet hit the floor as Kofi finally botches his big save spot. It’s Otis in at #25 and hits some elbows as the mindless brawling continues.

Big E. is in at #26 and oh yeah, he’s a former WWE Champion. Belly to belly suplexes abound and the Warrior Splash hits Owens. Bad Bunny gets lucky #27 and gets to clean house, including a high crossbody, followed by a Canadian Destroyer to Riddle. Bunny ducks the Brogue Kick and ducks Sheamus before teaming up with Rey to get rid of Ziggler. Mysterio turns his back on Bunny and almost gets tossed, leaving Owens to Stun Bunny instead. Otis dumps Mysterio and Shane McMahon is in at #28.

Shane wastes no time in getting rid of Owens before slugging it out with McIntyre. Randy Orton, the hometown boy, is in at #29 and the RKO gets rid of Big E. Another RKO hits Otis and Riddle hits a running RKO to McIntyre. Otis is out….and Brock Lesnar is in at #30, meaning everyone knows exactly where this is going. Lesnar gets to clean house, including a bunch of suplexes before dumping Orton and Bunny. Riddle is tossed, Shane follows him, and it’s down to Lesnar vs. McIntyre. Some right hands look to set up the Claymore but Lesnar reversed into the F5 to win at 51:11.

Rating: D-. This was HORRIBLE and is absolutely in the running for worst Royal Rumble of all time. There was no drama until the end, but the bigger problem is there was nothing set up throughout the match. This is the third time I’ve seen this match and I still have no idea what is supposed to be interesting until the end. People come in, they brawl, they get eliminated, more people come in. It’s about 50 minutes of absolute nothing and then “oh well, here’s Brock to get ANOTHER Wrestlemania title match after two minutes of work”. This felt like they didn’t try and just said “Lesnar wins, move on”. Absolutely horrendous.

Overall Rating: D-. I’ve heard this show called the lowest of the low for WWE creative in this era and that very well may be true. The ONLY decent thing on the entire show was Rollins vs. Reigns, and that ended in a screwy finish. You also have Lesnar vs. Lashley and that doesn’t even require creative to work. Instead, we had two terrible Rumbles, one of which is an all time miss, plus some nothing midcard matches. The Rumbles are always going to define these shows though and these were all time terrible. Horrific show and it gets worse every time I watch it.

Ratings Comparison

Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins

Original: B-
Redo: B

Women’s Royal Rumble:

Original: C-
Redo: D+.

Becky Lynch vs. Doudrop

Original: D+
Redo: C-

Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley

Original: B-
Redo: C+

Edge/Beth Phoenix vs. Miz/Maryse

Original: C
Redo: C

Men’s Royal Rumble

Original: C+
Redo: D-

Overall Rating

Original: C-
Redo: D-

WOW I have no idea what I was thinking on that Men’s Royal Rumble. That has to be up there on my all time list of stupid ratings.

Here is the original review if you need a recap.

https://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2022/01/30/royal-rumble-2022-at-least-something-caught-fire/

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.

Looking at the best non-Royal Rumble Royal Rumble matches over the years.

https://www.smarkdownsblog.com/wwe-royal-rumble-ppv-best-non-rumble-matches

NXT
Date: January 27, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the week before the big show and that means we have more qualifying matches for the six way ladder match for the vacant NXT Title. Other than that, the Tag Team Titles are on the line as Darkstate defends against OTM. That should be enough to carry us to next week’s big card so let’s get to it.

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

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Joe Hendry vs. Jackson Drake

Non-title and….non-match as the Vanity Project has attacked Hendry in the back. Ava pops up to say she has to deal with Tony D’Angelo and they’ll shuffle the schedule.

IMG Credit: WWE

Tag Team Titles: Darkstate vs. OTM

Darkstate is defending and Shuggars is trying to get his gear on as the match starts. Price and Griffin have a big staredown with Nima coming in for some double slams to clear the ring. Back in and Price sends Shuggars into the corner but Three Amigos are broken up. OTM clears the ring and we take an early break.

We come back with Nima in trouble as Shuggars grabs a spinning toehold. Griffin and Nima hit stereo crossbodies and it’s back to Price, who Rock Bottoms Shuggars onto Griffin for two. Cue the Vanity Project for a distraction though and Price gets rolled up to retain the titles at 11:10.

Rating: B-. Good enough here, though Darkstate is only so interesting as champions. It feels like they’re just kind of there and the big impact that they had earlier in the run is gone. They’re far from bad, but they need to do something else to stand out. The same is true of OTM, who just feel like they’re kind of floating around from match to match.

Post match the brawl is on with Chase U and the Culling getting into things. The Culling lays out Darkstate.

Nikkita Lyons agrees to face Jaida Parker so Blake Monroe doesn’t have to. Singing is involved.

Jaida Parker vs. Nikkita Lyons

Parker works on the arm to start and grabs a headlock as the fans are rather approving. Lyons is back up with a spinning kick to the face and some dancing. A faceplant sets up the neck crank but Parker is up with some clotheslines. The Tear Drop in the corner and the Hipnotique sets up a kind of abdominal stretch slam (better than the Hipnotique) to give Parker the pin at 4:54.

Rating: C. Not much to see in the match, but Parker being treated as someone serious is a good thing to see. The fans love her and she has the charisma to make it work. If she can turn that into something in the ring, she’ll be a star in a hurry. NXT needs some replacements and she very well could be one of the better ones.

Post match Blake Monroe (in a different outfit than before) says she’ll see Parker soon.

Tavion Heights gives Eli Knight and Elio LeFleur a pep talk but Arianna Grace, Stacks and Lexis King interrupt. They don’t think much of Heights and a match between King and Heights seems likely.

TNA’s The Elegance brand is ready for Sol Ruca and Zaria.

Zaria isn’t happy that Ruca isn’t here yet but Thea Hail comes in. They argue about being handed title shots and a match seems likely.

Ethan Page wants Myles Borne to be ruthless instead of righteous tonight. Borne says mind his own business and Ricky Saints, who comes in as well, can shut up too.

Vanity Project comes up to see Ava and says she can’t prove they attacked Joe Hendry. Ava says she can’t but there is a spot in the ladder match and Jackson Drake is in, but if Hendry is cleared, he’s in too.

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Dion Lennox vs. Myles Borne

Borne grabs a headlock to start and they go to the mat with Lennox getting caught in a headscissors. Lennox is up with some rollups for two each but Borne is back up with some running elbows in the corner. A running clothesline puts Borne on the floor, where he fights back with a whip into the steps as Ethan Page comes out to watch as we take a break. We come back with Borne fighting back until Lennox grabs a rollup, though the referee catches him cheating. Page throws Borne a belt but the referee takes it away (it didn’t seem like Borne was going to use it), allowing Lennox to hit a Michinoku Driver for the win at 10:42.

Rating: C+. I still like Borne, though I’m worried they might turn him evil. He’s the definition of someone who would make for a good overcoming the odds story so hopefully that’s the direction they’re taking instead. If nothing else, having him take the title from Page would be a nice result. As for Lennox…uh…can I talk about Borne some more?

Post match Page tells Borne that he has to listen so Borne drops him.

Tony D’Angelo comes in to Ava’s office, where Ricky Saints is warning her about Keanu Carver. Saints leaves and D’Angelo asks Ava why she bailed him out. Apparently NXT needs him and she wants to know if he’s in or out. He’ll make his intentions clear next week, but he’s not the same D’Angelo. Ava warns him not to interfere in the ladder match.

Andre Chase isn’t happy with Chase U getting involved in the fight earlier but now he has to go get ready for his match. Lexis King comes in, asks if Uriah Connors’ father is proud of him, and rides his throne into the arena.

Tavion Heights vs. Lexis King

Heights suplexes him for two in the first ten seconds before starting in on the ribs. King manages to send him outside for a ram into the barricade as Stacks and Arianna grace come out to watch. Heights gets in another suplex back inside, only to miss a clothesline and fall back out to the floor. He comes up favoring his arm and misses a slingshot shoulders back inside. King grabs the Coronation for the pin at 3:49.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what is next for either of these two as they feel like they are pretty much just kind of there. Neither feels like they are moving up the list in the slightest and that isn’t a great sign. Hopefully they find something new to do, as both of them could do more than they are currently handling.

Post match King poses with Stacks and Grace, saying that was just the beginning. Granted his promo is cut off but at least it’s something.

We get a special feature called NXT Origins, featuring a look at Finn Balor’s time in NXT. I’ve heard worse ideas.

Zaria vs. Thea Hail

Izzi Dame is on commentary. Hail’s headlock doesn’t last long as Zaria powers her into a fireman’s carry. That’s broken up and Hail sends her outside for a suicide dive. A clothesline drops Hail back inside and we take a break. We come back with Zaria’s choke out of the corner being broken up and Hail running her over for two. The springboard backsplash is pulled out of the air but she gets the Kimura to keep Zaria in trouble. That’s broken up with a backdrop and Zaria hits a spear but the F5 is countered into a DDT. Cue Tatum Paxley to go after Dame and the distraction lets Hail grab a rollup for the pin at 9:16.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure what to make of Zaria but it’s starting to get less and less interesting. She’s a powerhouse and can do that well enough, but it only works so well if she keeps losing match after match. Then again it could (and likely is) leading to a feud with Ruca, which is about as good of an option as she has right now.

Post match here is Fatal Influence, with Zaria laying Hail out with an F5.

Charlie Dempsey was impressed by Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey, except for their loss. Grey is distracted by not being Jacy Jayne but Stacks and company come up to say Dempsey is one of them. Dempsey is confused, as he should be.

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT Title Qualifying Match: Keanu Carver vs. Andre Chase

Chase goes right at him to start but gets powered into the corner. Carver knocks him outside and then into the ropes back inside. A suplex gives Carver two but Chase fights back with some shots to the head. The high crossbody gives Chase two and they head outside, with Chase tackling him over the announcers’ table. Carver gets back up for a hard slam onto the announcers’ table. Back in and the spinning powerslam gives Carver the pin at 4:01.

Rating: C+. Chase was trying out there and he did what he could, but there is only so much offense to be found against this kind of a monster. It made for a nice debut for Carver, who feels like something to be reckoned with in the near future. While I can’t imagine him winning the title, I could imagine him smashing through a lot of people and that’s a good idea.

Post match Carver wrecks him again, including stomping Chase’s injured face into the steps.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Keanu Carver grabs the mic and says if anyone has a problem with him wrecking everyone, come do something about it. We cut to the back, where Shiloh Hill and Dion Lennox are heading to the ring.

Post break, Jackson Drake, Lennox, Hill, Sean Legacy and Carver are in the ring, with Hill saying all that just fired him up even more. Lennox doesn’t want to hear that trash talk because Darkstate knows how to take things. Legacy says this is the biggest opportunity of his life and he’ll take chances, which is why Drake thinks Legacy will choke. Cue Ricky Saints with a ladder, which he climbs before addressing everyone else. He is the rose who has come up from the concrete jungle but Carver is sick of talking so the fight is on. Cue Joe Hendry to join the fight but Carver powerslams him down.

One more rundown of next week’s show wraps us up.

Overall Rating: C+. This was the kind of show that you need to have every so often, as this was all about setting things up for next week’s really big event. It might not make for the best card but it is something that has to be done. They made it work well enough here, though you might be better off just waiting for next week instead of wasting your time here.

Results
Darkstate b. OTM – Rollup to Price
Jaida Parker b. Nikkita Lyons – Abdominal stretch slam
Dion Lennox b. Myles Borne – Michinoku Driver
Lexis King b. Tavion Heights – Coronation
Thea Hail b. Zaria – Rollup
Keanu Carver b. Andre Chase – Spinning powerslam

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

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

Monday Night Raw
Date: January 26, 2026
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re coming up on the Royal Rumble this weekend, though you might not have noticed it as the build for the show has only been so strong. Maybe it was due to this past weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event, but the show hasn’t felt overly important and is lacking some focus. Hopefully they fix that up tonight as they’re out of time. Let’s get to it.

Here is Saturday Night’s Main Event if you need a recap.

Here is AJ Styles to welcome us to the show. There is a man backstage who says that is the last time he’ll get to say that and his name is Gunther. That isn’t how Styles sees it going though, because while this is going to be the year that he retires, there is a lot that he still wants to do. He wants to wrestle some people one more time and he wants to be World Champion one more time.

Gunther might be good, but he isn’t phenomenal and here is CM Punk to interrupt. Punk talks about how they have known each other for twenty years and have been everywhere from friends to rivals, but now they have respect between each other. Punk isn’t sure about Styles putting everything on the line in WWE, which Styles thinks means Punk doesn’t think he can win.

That’s not what Punk meant, but it’s a huge gamble and if it goes badly, they can never face each other in a WWE ring. Styles knows Punk isn’t trying to be disrespectful but that’s how it’s coming off, especially since Styles knows he can beat him. The challenge is thrown out for tonight, with Punk thinking they should just have it be for the title. It seems to be on.

Saturday Night’s Main Event recap.

Stephanie Vaquer/Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky vs. Liv Morgan/Roxanne Perez/Raquel Rodriguez

That’s a stacked lineup. Perez and Sky start things off with Sky getting taken into the corner for some stomping from Morgan. Rodriguez adds a string of elbows but it’s off to Vaquer to fight back. A legdrop gets two on Morgan but it’s too early for the SVB. The Devil’s Kiss doesn’t get very far as Rodriguez makes the save and we take an early break.

We come back with Perez’s double springboard moonsault getting two on Vaquer. Back up and a shot to the face cuts Perez off, only for Morgan to pull Ripley off the apron. The distracted Ripley gets sent into the steps but Vaquer backbreakers her way out of trouble. Sky comes in (as a woman can be heard saying “excuse me”) and house is cleaned, including a hard kick to Perez. The Bullet Train sets up a butterfly backbreaker to put Perez down but Morgan is back in for a double Russian legsweep on Sky.

Oblivion doesn’t work and Sky kicks her way over to Ripley for the big tag. A Razor’s Edge sends Morgan into Perez but Riptide is broken up. Morgan hits a springboard tornado DDT to drop Ripley as everything breaks down. Vaquer escapes the Tejana Bomb and hits a big dive onto Rodriguez on the floor. That leaves Ripley to block Oblivion but Perez tags herself in. Sky missile dropkicks Perez and Riptide finishes Perez at 12:55.

Rating: B. They had a pretty action packed match here with most of the big stars in the women’s division in one match. That’s a nice way to go, with Ripley getting the win to pop the crowd. I’m not sure where it goes from here, though at least Ripley and Sky already have challengers set and Vaquer vs. Rodriguez is all but set.

We look back at Finn Balor vs. CM Punk from last week.

Balor comes up to Punk in the back and says Punk was part of the most memorable night of his career. He thanks Punk for last week, but Punk says it takes two to tango. Punk isn’t the best in the world unless he beats the best in the world and there aren’t many people left like them in WWE. Balor should think about what he wants his legacy to be. If he wants to be champion again, maybe he should ditch Judgment Day, because hanging around Dominik Mysterio isn’t helping things. If Balor wants another shot, win the Rumble and come see him in Vegas. Balor is thinking about things.

There’s a HHH version of WWE2K26.

Here is the Vision for a chat. After overcoming the booing fans, Paul Heyman says they are here to boost the star power on this show, even in this second class city. Heyman introduces everyone on the team and we go through some of the issues the Vision has been having with Adam Pearce as of late. Cue Pearce, with Heyman asking the crowd to boo him and flip him off.

Pearce apologizes and Bron Breakker’s suspension is officially lifted and he’s in the Rumble. Pearce: “What else do you need?” Heyman offers a handshake and Pearce praises him before putting the rest of the Vision in the Rumble as well (Heyman is VERY confused). As for Austin Theory, he might have won last week if not for brass knuckles so tonight, he gets to face Rey Mysterio one on one. And we’ll do that right now.

Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory

Penta and Dragon Lee are here with Mysterio. We’re joined in progress after a break with Theory running him over with a hard elbow to the mask. Theory knocks him down again and we hit the chinlock, with Mysterio getting up rather quickly. Mysterio fights up and sends him to the floor, where Penta and Lee have to be chased away. That lets Mysterio drop Theory again and we take a break.

We come back with Mysterio in trouble but he avoids a charge in the corner. Theory punches a springboard out of the air and Ataxia gets two. Mysterio gets in a knockdown of his own and it’s time for the seconds to get in a fight on the floor. That’s broken up but Theory gets in a Stomp for the pin at 9:12. I’m not sure but it looked like Mysterio was banged up there at the end.

Rating: C+. It wasn’t bad and I do like Theory getting some wins. If they want to get rid of his negative reputation, this is the kind of thing that he needs to do. They need to keep it up though and that’s always the tricky part. For now though, they’re at least going in the right direction. Now hopefully Mysterio isn’t actually hurt.

Post match the Vision wrecks everyone, including a big spear to Penta.

IMG Credit: WWE

Natalya explains that she’s crushing Maxxine Dupri and implies she wants Becky Lynch’s title. I’d settle for just not having to listen to Natalya talk.

Raquel Rodriguez is screaming for Stephanie Vaquer but Bayley and Lyra Valkyria get annoyed at her for being loud. Vaquer comes in for the brawl.

Roman Reigns is back at the Royal Rumble.

Earlier today, Michael Cole had a sitdown interview with Gunther, who says there is nothing for him to gain with just beating Styles again. Now he has something to gain, as he can end Styles’ career. Styles wanted one more moment, but now the moment he’s going to give the fans is seeing him give up in his final match. He’s getting rid of all these old timers….and just how long is Cole going to keep chasing one more moment? Gunther could end him right now but he wants Cole there at the Royal Rumble to announce the end of Styles’ career. Gunther as the half charming/half menacing villain is a good way to go.

Video on CM Punk vs. AJ Styles.

Adam Pearce is happy about a phone call when Finn Balor comes in to declare for the Royal Rumble. Pearce says the Rumble is full but Balor says this isn’t over. Balor leaves and runs into Liv Morgan, who wants to know what is up with Balor and CM Punk. Last week Punk treated Balor like a participation trophy and the Judgment Day is his real family. Balor says this isn’t so straightforward.

IMG Credit: WWE

Alpha Academy vs. Los Americanos vs. Creed Brothers vs. New Day

For a future Tag Team Title shot so Jey Uso is here while Grayson Waller is here with New Day. Bravo takes over on Kingston’s arm to start and Rayo comes in for a double shoulder. Tozawa comes in to fight back but Brutus’ Brutus Ball wipes out the pile. Otis is sent into the steps and we take an early break. We come back with Woods sending Tozawa into the corner and dropping Kingston onto him for two.

Cole can’t remember which Americano is which so Graves tells him “Rayo Red, Bravo Blue. I’m the Miss Rachel of luchadors out here.” Bravo comes in for the spinning torture rack and Cole thinks that reminds him of someone. Otis comes in to clean house, including the Caterpillar for two on Brutus. Tozawa adds a double DDT and a German suplex as the fans are starting to get pleased with this. Waller crotches Tozawa on top but Otis is back up to wreck people. Tozawa’s top rope backsplash finishes Julius at 10:42.

Rating: C. Well, we couldn’t get a top level team winning so we’ll go with the comedy goofs instead. The tag division has been flaming death for months now and this is the best they can do? The match was another mess with so many people out there that you can only get so much out of any of them. It’s an ok enough match, but my goodness how is this the best possible result?

Becky Lynch mocks Jackie Redmond’s Toronto Maple Leafs jacket and talks about Natalya attacking Mid Maxxine. The same thing happened to her with Loser Lyra but now Lynch is in the Royal Rumble so she’s going on to win. The Kabuki Warriors come in and say they’re in the Rumble, but Lynch blames Asuka for the loss at WarGames. They’ll see each other in the Rumble.

Je’Von Evans comes up to AJ Styles and says he’d love to see him on the retirement tour. Styles likes that idea but Evans doesn’t seem certain it’s happening. At least Evans seems ok after last week.

Stephanie Vaquer requests a fight with Raquel Rodriguez so Adam Pearce grants it for next week.

Royal Rumble rundown.

The Vision plans for the Royal Rumble and talk about how one of them should be their focus. Logan Paul thinks it should be Bron Breakker and the team agrees. Good talk.

Oba Femi is official for the Royal Ruble. Well that makes sense.

Raw World Title: CM Punk vs. AJ Styles

Punk is defending. Feeling out process to start and Styles has to escape a GTS attempt, with Punk having to get out of a Calf Crusher as well. Punk bails away before resetting things a bit, only to get knocked outside in a hurry. A sliding knee connects for Styles and we take a break.

We come back with Punk hitting the running knee in the corner, setting up the running bulldog. A Shining Wizard gives Punk two and he strikes away but the GTS is countered into the fireman’s carry neckbreaker. Styles takes him up top but the superplex is broken up. Punk gets the Anaconda Vice but it’s broken up pretty quickly.

Another Shining Wizard is countered into a failed Styles Clash attempt and they head outside. Punk grabs a GTS on the floor and they both make it back inside at nine. The Styles Clash connects for two and they need a breather. Back up and they strike it out until Styles hits a Pele Kick. Another Styles Clash is countered into a GTS attempt…and Finn Balor runs in to dropkick Punk for the DQ at 18:10.

Rating: B+. It was rather good and they did a nice job with the surprise ending as I was expecting Gunther instead. They had to do something like this with the ending as a title change seemed unlikely, though Styles losing here didn’t make sense either. Odds are this sets up Balor vs. Punk at the Rumble, which is a good enough match, if you ignore Punk beating him last week. Either way, very good match here, which was somehow their first singles match in over twenty years.

Balor beats Punk up with some running dropkicks against the barricade and a pair of Coup de Graces to end the show. The fans don’t care much, and that’s not overly surprising as we’ve already seen Punk vs. Balor. This wasn’t much of a reason to see it again.

Overall Rating: C. The more I think about the ending to the main event, the less I like it. The whole thing feels rushed together, which is pretty much how the whole Rumble build has felt. Maybe it was due to having two big shows in eight days or maybe it’s due to the Rumbles feeling wide open, but this Saturday’s show doesn’t feel huge. This week’s show was designed to make it feel better and while that worked to an extent, it really wasn’t a strong episode. It’s not bad and the main event is good, but dang the Rumble needed more than this.

Results
Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky/Stephanie Vaquer b. Liv Morgan/Roxanne Perez/Raquel Rodriguez – Riptide to Perez
Austin Theory b. Rey Mysterio – Stomp
Alpha Academy b. Los Americanos, New Day and Creed Brothers – Top rope backsplash to Julius
CM Punk b. AJ Styles via DQ when Finn Balor interfered

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

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

Royal Rumble 2021
Date: January 31, 2021
Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Samoa Joe, Tom Phillips

A year has passed and a lot of things have changed, including the lack of a Thunderdome. This is one of the last major shows without fans and it is going to be weird looking back at how different everything was just a year ago. I’m not sure what to expect from the card but the Rumble is always cool to see. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Asuka/Charlotte vs. Shayna Baszler/Nia Jax

Asuka/Charlotte are defending as Baszler and Jax’s never ending argument continues. I haven’t heard them argue yet, but since that was all the ever did, I’m going to take a guess. Before the match, Charlotte talks about how she isn’t worried about her dad and Lacey Evans because it’s time to defend the titles. Charlotte headlocks Baszler to start and then runs her over with a shoulder.

Asuka comes in to strike away but gets kicked down for her efforts. It’s off to Jax, who has to break out of an octopus hold, allowing Charlotte to come back in for a sunset flip. The fast tags continue as Asuka comes back in but gets stomped down in the wrong corner. Jax grabs the cobra clutch but is smart enough to let it go and knock Charlotte off the apron before Asuka can get over to the corner.

They go up top and it’s a sunset bomb to plant Jax down hard. Baszler is right there though to cut off the hot tag attempt, because the villains are smart here. Jax’s sitout powerbomb gets two on Asuka with Charlotte making a save. That’s enough for the hot tag to Charlotte and house is cleaned.

A double Natural Selection puts down both challengers but Baszler is back with a knee to the face for two on Charlotte. Asuka takes Jax down on the floor but it’s a top rope moonsault from Charlotte to drop them both again. Cue Ric Flair and Lacey Evans, with the latter saving Baszler from the Figure Eight with a loaded Woman’s Right. Jax adds the legdrop for the pin and the titles at 10:33.

Rating: C. Wow, a Ric Flair/Charlotte story. We haven’t seen one of those in a bit. This was little more than a way to set up Evans vs. Charlotte, which never actually happened due to Evans’ pregnancy. It was a pretty dark period for the titles as well, as Jax and Baszler dominated the belts for a long time and they stopped having any meaning that they had in the first place. I do kind of like the nothing Kickoff Show matches too, as cramming in some kind of a story on here isn’t always the most fun. Not a bad match though, and seeing Charlotte lose is tends to be cathartic.

The opening video follows the show’s comic book theme, with people having to answer the call to accept their destiny.

Raw World Title: Goldberg vs. Drew McIntyre

McIntyre is defending after Goldberg accused him of disrespecting legends in a segment that didn’t seem to go as planned. McIntyre hits a Glasgow Kiss and spear before the bell to send Goldberg outside. Goldberg hits a spear through the barricade as the bell hasn’t rung yet. Back in and the bell rings, with McIntyre hitting a Claymore for two about ten seconds in. Two straight spears give Goldberg two and the Jackhammer (minus most of the jack and most of the hammering) gets the same. Another spear misses and McIntyre finishes with the Claymore at 2:31. And that’s it for Goldberg for now, thank goodness.

Respect is shown post match.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Sasha Banks vs. Carmella

Sasha is defending and Carmella has Reginald, her sommelier, in her corner. The threat of a Bank Statement sends Carmella straight to the floor and it’s time for a breather. Back in and Banks hits a chop but a Reginald distraction lets Carmella knock her off the apron. Some elbows to the face back inside set up the figure four necklock over the ropes, which burns through most of Carmella’s offense.

The chinlock goes on for all of a few seconds, with Banks fighting up and hitting a middle rope Meteora. That bangs up the knee though and Carmella gets creative by tying Banks’ hair in the rope. Since that isn’t the smartest way to win a match, she has to let Banks go, meaning the comeback is on.

A slingshot knee in the corner has Carmella in trouble but she sends Banks outside. Reginald catches her, earning himself a hurricanrana. That’s enough for an ejection, but Carmella wipes Banks out with a suicide dive. Back in and the Code of Silence is broken up as well, allowing Banks to hit a knee to the face. A low superkick gives Carmella two but Banks pulls her into the Bank Statement to retain at 10:25.

Rating: C. They were working hard, but I’m only going to be able to buy Carmella being so much of a threat to Banks. The title wasn’t going to change hands so close to Wrestlemania as Banks was all but guaranteed to be in a major match, meaning this wasn’t going to have that much drama. Carmella was trying, but this was a matter of time rather than a question of who was winning.

Big E. fires up Xavier Woods for the Royal Rumble but Sami Zayn comes in to complain about the conspiracy against him. Kofi Kingston comes in and the trio laughs Sami off.

Here is Bad Bunny, with Booker T. (as GI Bro), to perform his song Booker T.

Rumble By The Numbers video. That never gets old:

1130 entrants
30 winners
18 winners have gone on to win the title at Wrestlemania
4 consecutive winners have won the title at Wrestlemania
1 was Shawn Michaels’ entry number when he went all the way
1 second is the record for fastest elimination, held by Santino Marella
17 Royal Rumble appearances for Kane
43 eliminations for Kane
13 eliminations for Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman, the most in any given year
1:16:06 that Daniel Bryan lasted in the Greatest Royal Rumble
8 women eliminated by Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler
4 women who have competed in the men’s match
3 back to back winners (Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels)
23 years since a consecutive winner
3 wins for Steve Austin

Women’s Royal Rumble

90 second intervals with Bayley (who has shaved COLE in the back of her head, continuing their one sided feud) is in at #1 and the returning Naomi is in at #2. The trash talk doesn’t work on Naomi, who staggers her a bit and dances. A kick to the head head out of the corner sets up the Rear View on Bayley but it’s too early for a toss. Bayley gets in a few kicks of her own and it’s Bianca Belair in at #3. Belair starts fast with a spinebuster and handspring moonsault to crush Bayley. Naomi gets sent to the apron, with Bayley sending Belair out there with her.

Billie Kay, still with her resume is in at #4 but sits in on commentary instead of getting in. Belair barely hangs on as Shotzi Blackheart is in at #5. Kay likes the tank enough that she goes over to offer her a headshot but Blackheart scares her back to commentary. The four inside actually pair off and it’s Shayna Baszler in at #6 as the entrances seem to be going fast.

Baszler knocks Kay down before getting in and the brawling continues as Toni Storm is in at #7 (and also passes on Kay). Naomi and Storm trade hip attacks to the face and Baszler tosses Blackheart for the first elimination. Jillian Hall, looking like she hasn’t aged a day, is in at #8 and she actually takes Kay up on her offer. Kay gets in too and it’s time to double team Naomi.

Ruby Riott is in at #9 and gets to beat up Storm, who cuts her down with a German suplex. The brawling continues until Victoria makes another surprise return at #10, giving us Bayley, Naomi, Belair, Kay, Baszler, Storm, Hall, Riott and Victoria. The spinning side slam plants Riott but Naomi dropkicks Victoria to the apron. That just lets her hit the slingshot legdrop and it’s Peyton Royce in at #11. We get an IIconics reunion so the team can beat up Naomi, but Kay won’t do the pose because she wants to be Riott’s friend too.

Victoria hits a Widow’s Peak on Royce and it’s Santana Garrett in at #12. The brawling near the ropes gives us more near eliminations as the ring is getting too full. Liv Morgan is in at #13 and it’s her turn to beat up a bunch of people, while also joining forces with Ruby. Kay tosses Jillian but gets eliminated by Riott and it’s Rhea Ripley in at #14 (Lawler: “RHEA RIPLEY??? RHEA RIPLEY???”) to toss Storm. Victoria tries the Tarantula for some reason and gets choked out by Baszler.

Ripley kicks Garrett out and it’s Charlotte in at #15. Riott tries to German suplex Peyton off the apron, allowing Bayley to powerbomb Riott out without much trouble. Dana Brooke is in at #16 and hits a top rope flip dive onto a bunch of people, who were nice enough to stand there in one place.

Morgan tries to get rid of Bayley but gets tossed instead as Torrie Wilson is in at #17 (Lawler approves). Torrie gets in some of that Hall of Fame offense with a clothesline and a suplex as Ripley powerbombs Brooke onto the apron for the elimination. Lacey Evans (to Ric Flair’s music) is in at #18 and she has even stolen the robe Charlotte wore to the ring. For some reason, Evans poses in front of Charlotte, who jumps her from behind and brawls to the floor (neither are elimination). Charlotte throws Royce out to blow off some steam and Baszler knocks Torrie out.

Mickie James is in at #19 and Bayley is tossed during her entrance. Mickie and Charlotte have a showdown with Mickie snapping off a hurricanrana out of the corner. It’s Nikki Cross in at #20, giving us Naomi, Belair, Baszler, Ripley, Charlotte, Evans, James and Cross as the field has thinned a good bit. Cross gets to clean house (WWE will instantly begin planning ways to ruin this as soon as possible).

Alicia Fox is in at #21 but here is 24/7 Champion R-Truth to run from the usual gang of idiots. Fox pins him to win the title and it’s Mandy Rose in at #22. Ross tosses Fox and Truth gets his title back, meaning the chase is on again, because this stupid gag has to continue. Dakota Kai is in at #23 and goes after Ripley and it’s time to brawl on the ropes.

Evans actually Woman’s Rights James out and it’s Carmella, with Reginald, in at #24. Kai and Rose are both out as Carmella isn’t sure about getting inside. Once she does, Reginald has to save her from Cross’ elimination attempt, allowing Carmella to superkick Cross out. Tamina is in at #25 and superkicks Reginald, who can’t save Carmella from being eliminated as well. We get the Ripley vs. Tamina showdown that no one was asking for and Belair kicks Naomi out…but her feet don’t touch. Naomi grabs Belair’s hair and pulls herself back up, because Naomi and Kofi Kingston have to have their big save spot every year.

Lana is in at #26 and goes after Ripley as commentary recaps the Lana Goes Through A Table Every Week deal. Alexa Bliss, still under Bray Wyatt’s influence, is in at #27 so everyone jumps on her. Then the video screens go out and she transforms, only to have Ripley toss her out in a funny bit. Ember Moon is in at #28 and comes in with the Eclipse to Baszler.

A double middle rope Codebreaker hits Tamina and Evans as Nia Jax is in at #29. Baszler knocks out Evans and Jax tosses Moon. Naomi is out as well, with Tamina being tossed after her. Jax and Baszler already get in a fight (BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT THEY DO!) with Jax tossing her out. Lana goes after Jax and low bridges her out as Natalya is in at #30.

The final grouping is Belair, Ripley, Charlotte, Lana and Natalya, which is less than I would have expected. Hold on though as Baszler and Jax beat up Natalya and get back in to jump Lana. Natalya hugs Lana, who is stupid enough to fall for it, and gets tossed out to get us down to four. Belair gets punched down in the corner and Natalya German suplexes Ripley. Natalya talks trash to Ripley on the apron and gets tossed by Belair to get us down to three. Charlotte gets double teamed down but comes back with a suplex to Belair.

The sign pointing sets up a slugout between Charlotte and Ripley until Charlotte is sent to the apron. Belair and Ripley trade shots to knock Charlotte out and we’re down to two. They waste no time in fighting to the apron, where they both wind up sitting and then get back in. Ripley sends her to the apron but Belair is back in for a double hair takedown. The audio machine thinks this is awesome as they get back up, with neither being able to hit a finisher. Ripley misses a shot though and Belair clotheslines her out for the win at 58:49.

Rating: C+. The women’s Royal Rumble is a great thing and shows you how far women’s wrestling has come, but at the same time it shows you how far it has to go. The top of the division is good, but the Rumbles have required a lot of nostalgia entrants and it makes for some long matches. They’re still good and the bigger names do well, but there are a lot of times where I was rolling my eyes at someone like Torrie or Jillian or Mandy coming in because we needed someone to fill in a spot.

Now that being said, this was the kind of match that the women’s division has been needing. The Four Horsewomen have dominated the division for such a long time and it was dying for some fresh blood. The final two here were that fresh blood and Belair won to give her the big moment. That’s how this needed to go and it worked well, especially the drama of wondering who would pull it off.

Post match Belair breaks down in tears and thanks her family for helping her get here. Now it’s off to Wrestlemania.

Miz and John Morrison go to see Bad Bunny and offer a collaboration. That’s going to be a no, which doesn’t go well for the two of them. They don’t think much of Booker T. either, and of course he is right behind them.

The Kickoff Show panel talks about the women’s Royal Rumble.

We look at the Women’s Tag Team Title match on the Kickoff Show.

R-Truth comes up to the Kickoff Show panel and Peter Rosenberg wins the 24/7 Title. JBL: “This could be the worst event in wrestling history.” Corey Graves: “David Arquette is finally off the hook.”

We recap Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns for the Universal Title. Reigns has had to cheat/use the Usos to survive against Owens, so tonight it is Last Man standing. This was a great run for Owens, who was looking more motivated than he had in years. This also involved Adam Pearce almost having a title match before Owens got the match instead via card subject to change. For some reason this just kept going and wasn’t all that great.

Smackdown World Title: Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens

Owens is challenging in a Last Man Standing match and Paul Heyman is here with Reigns. They slug it out at the bell and Reigns hits a Superman Punch in less than thirty seconds. Owens beats the count and cuts off the spear, setting up the Pop Up Powerbomb. They head outside with Owens posting him but getting sent into the steps for his efforts. A spear drops Owens on the floor but he is up at seven.

Reigns hits him with the steps a few times and they fight beyond the barricade. Owens manages a superkick to get himself out of trouble and now the steps hit Reigns. They fight behind the video screens, where Reigns finds a chair to batter Owens some more. Another superkick gets Owens out of trouble again and he chairs Reigns in the legs for a change. Reigns fights up again and kicks at Owens’ legs, setting up a chair shot to the back.

A Stunner gets Owens out of trouble but Reigns is back with a Superman Punch. Owens gets tossed off the platform and through some tables, which really needed a crowd for the extra pop. That’s good for a nine and they fight backstage, where Owens staggers towards a practice ring. Cue Reigns to run him over with a golf cart (I’m sure that was AEW inspired) but Owens is up at nine again. Owens takes him down and unloads, setting up a powerbomb onto a backup announcers’ table.

A frog splash off a ladder puts Reigns through the ladder for another nine count. Owens hits him in the face with a ladder to put Reigns on another table….then climbs onto a raised forklift platform for a Swanton. Somehow Reigns is up and starts crawling away, only to be dragged into the Gorilla position and then back into the arena. A desperation Superman Punch sets up a spear to send Owens through the set but he rolls off the stage to beat the count.

Reigns says he can’t quit and pulls out some handcuffs but Owens grabs the Stunner. That means Reigns can be handcuffed to a lighting rig so Reigns has to beat up the referee to break the count. A low blow takes Owens down so here is Paul Heyman with a key. Another referee comes in to count….and then just stops, as Heyman takes well over a minute to get the key to work. With that nonsense out of the way, Reigns grabs the guillotine to knock Owens out and retain the title at 24:56.

Rating: B. It was a good brawl and Owens got in a lot of shots but that ending was a complete botch. Reigns could have hit the referee or something but instead the referee looked like he got distracted by a good looking taco. At least the rest of the match worked well though, as that could have been a near disaster. Reigns winning wasn’t the biggest shock, but this is going to be it for Owens, as he has lost multiple times now. At least this was pretty awesome while it lasted, save for the misfire at the end.

Men’s Royal Rumble

Ninety second intervals again with Edge in at #1 and Randy Orton is in at #2 because these two are joined at the hip. Edge jumps him in the aisle to start the fight before going inside for the bell. They’re right back on the floor with Orton being rammed into various things. Orton is knocked across the announcers’ table and it’s Sami Zayn in at #3. The three of them actually bother getting inside for a change, with Orton holding Edge so Zayn can stomp away.

Mustafa Ali is in at #4 (still part of Retribution) and goes after Edge because he doesn’t like older wrestlers. Jeff Hardy is in at #5 for a Whisper in the Wind on Sami and Ali. Orton is back up to yell at Zayn and hits some RKO’s. Edge spears Orton down, allowing the two of them to roll outside again. The Impaler onto the announcers’ table rocks Orton and Edge chairs him down as Dolph Ziggler is in at #6. Orton is busted open and can’t stand as Ziggler dumps Hardy. Edge gets back in and gets Zig Zagged, leaving the villains to triple team him.

Shinsuke Nakamura is in at #7 and goes after Ziggler before avoiding Zayn’s Helluva Kick. Nakamura kicks more people in the face as Orton is being helped out. Carlito is in at #8 and gets in a fight with Nakamura over the apple. There’s a Backstabber to Ali as Orton is STILL being helped to the back. Xavier Woods is in at #9 and goes after Ali, who injured Kofi Kingston.

Big E. (Intercontinental Champion) is in at #10, giving us Edge, Orton (on the floor), Zayn, Ali, Ziggler, Nakamura, Carlito, Woods and Big E. as the ring is getting full. Woods hits the Honor Roll on Zayn and then drops Big E. onto him with a splash. There goes Zayn and it’s time to go after Ali as John Morrison is in at #11. Woods hits his top rope DDT on Ali but they both wind up on the apron. Ali kicks Woods out but Big E. tosses Ali a few seconds later.

Ricochet is in at #12 and springboards in to dive onto another conveniently placed pile. Nakamura cuts Ricochet off and it’s Elias in at #13. A sitout chokeslam drops Ricochet and Elias beats on Carlito for one of the weirder combinations I could have imagined. Elias tosses Carlito, who wrestled one more match on Raw before leaving again, despite looking better than he ever had.

Damian Priest (making his main roster debut) is in at #14 and gets to clean some house, including eliminating Elias. Priest and Edge slug it out as we see Orton getting his knee worked on in the back. The Miz is in at #15 (Graves: “The M-I-Z with the MITB!”) but goes over to break up Bad Bunny’s DJing equipment before getting inside. Miz and Morrison beat up Ziggler as Bad Bunny comes out to yell. The distraction lets Priest toss Miz and Morrison, allowing Bunny to dive onto the two of them (that’s a Wrestlemania match). Riddle is in at #16 and strikes it out with Nakamura, which is more interesting than I would have expected.

Daniel Bryan is in at #17 and gets to strike away at a variety of people. Ricochet is fine enough to backflip over Bryan into a German suplex for the freaky athleticism display. Kane is in at #18 for a pretty weak looking chokeslam on Edge. Ziggler gets tossed and another chokeslam onto the apron gets rid of Ricochet (and that’s about all you need to know about Ricochet’s spot in WWE). We get a HELL NO reunion before Kane turns on Bryan, allowing Priest to kick away and toss Kane as well.

King Corbin is in at #19 and World’s Strongest Slams Nakamura. Commentary talks about Giant Gonzalez having a birthday today (along with Fit Finlay) as Corbin tosses Nakamura. It’s Otis in at #20, giving us Edge, Orton (in the back), Big E., Priest, Riddle, Bryan, Corbin and Otis for a pretty wide variety. Otis gets to toss people around and there’s the Caterpillar to Priest. Corbin sneaks up on Otis for the elimination though, leaving Bryan to fire off kicks to Corbin in the corner.

Dominik Mysterio is in at #21 and it promptly spinebustered by Corbin. That’s broken up in a hurry and Dominik headscissors Corbin out for an upset. Priest and Riddle get in a fight over who gets to beat on Bryan and it’s US Champion Bobby Lashley in at #22. Lashley tosses Mysterio and Priest in a hurry and we get the staredown with Big E.

Neither can overpower the other so they slug it out until the Hurricane is a surprise entrant at #23. Hurricane tries the double chokeslam on Big E. and Lashley, which goes as well as when he tried it on HHH and Steve Austin 19 years ago. That’s enough to get rid of Hurricane so it’s Riddle and Bryan kicking away at Lashley in the corner. Christian is in at #24 and gets in a quick shot on Lashley, allowing a bunch of people to toss Lashley out. There’s the Unprettier to Big E. and we get the Edge and Christian reunion (that’s cool).

AJ Styles is in at #25 as we’re getting a lot of talent in there at once. The Phenomenal Forearm misses Edge, who is back with a spear to drop Styles. Rey Mysterio is in at #26 (with a sponsorship with a Mexican beer) and goes after AJ, who is saved by an Omos intervention. Omos isn’t done and pulls out Big E., who is tossed over the announcers’ table. Sheamus is in at #27 and goes with the ten forearms to Edge. The ring is getting a bit full, so Omos pulls Mysterio out.

Cesaro is in at #28 to clean house but he doesn’t fall for Sheamus’ offer of a Bar reunion. Sheamus gets Swung and Bryan gets the same treatment until Seth Rollins is in at #29. Cesaro goes right after him for the slugout and Braun Strowman completes the field at #30. The final field is Edge, Orton (still not here), Riddle, Bryan, Christian, Styles, Sheamus, Cesaro, Rollins and Strowman. That’s ten names and at least seven Hall of Famers. Not too bad.

Strowman beats on various people and tosses Styles, who is caught by Omos to save him. That leaves Strowman to toss Sheamus, Cesaro, and the once again in Styles. Strowman gets knocked down and everyone pulls themselves up (including Rollins, who is on the floor but not out). Bryan hits a running dropkick on Christian and another one drops Strowman in the corner. We get a Riddle vs. Bryan slugout (actually rather cool) until Bryan has to save himself on the apron. A missile dropkick puts Riddle down but Rollins is back in with the Stomp to Bryan and an elimination.

Now it’s Rollins vs. Riddle on the apron, with Rollins Stomping him out. That leaves us with Rollins, Edge, Christian and Strowman, plus the missing Orton. Rollins and Strowman’s alliance lasts all of negative two seconds before Edge and Christian go after Strowman. That’s broken up, but Christian and Strowman are both tossed. Edge gets rid of Rollins but Orton is back with the RKO….and then gets tossed to give Edge the win at 58:26.

Rating: B+. The star power alone here is insane as you had one big name after another, especially at the end. The best thing about a Rumble is not being sure who is going to win the thing and that was the case here. There were even a few surprises to make it more interesting. It was also nice to have some talented people get extended runs where they actually did some things, as oftentimes they are just standing around doing nothing.

Edge doing the Iron Man thing was only so interesting, but it was a big deal to have him win. Now granted there is a good case to be made that Edge didn’t need the win and it should have been used to build up someone other than a Hall of Famer, but WWE likes its old wrestlers. Still though, very good Rumble and I wasn’t sure who was winning until the end. Now just ban the whole “OH WAIT HE’S STILL IN IT!” and I’ll be happy.

Replays, celebrations and pyro end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Pretty solid show here, with nothing bad and a good choice in the Women’s Royal Rumble (the Men’s….eh could have been worse). There was also a good brawl between Owens and Reigns and Carmella vs. Banks could have been worse. It’s always nice to have nothing to complain about and the Rumbles carried the show. This is one of the most unique shows of the year as the Rumbles are the majority of the show in focus, star power and importance. It worked well here, though neither Rumble was a classic. Overall, a good but not great show, as tends to be the case in WWE these days.

Ratings Comparison

Asuka/Charlotte vs. Nia Jax/Shayna Baszler

Original: C
Redo: C

Drew McIntyre vs. Goldberg

Original: N/A
Redo: N/A

Sasha Banks vs. Carmella

Original: C-
Redo: C

Women’s Royal Rumble

Original: B-
Redo: C+

Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns

Original: B-
Redo: B

Men’s Royal Rumble

Original: B
Redo: B+

Overall Rating

Original: B
Redo: B

Yep, just about the same in both viewings.

Here is the original if you are interested:

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.

NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #26
Date: December 18, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

Believe it or not, the big story is about Jeff Jarrett and Vince Russo, who may or may not be on the same page. That’s in addition to Russo having his Sports Entertainment Xtreme stable, which may or may not have AJ Styles on his side. That could make for an interesting story but, you know, Jarrett and Russo. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We look at Jeff Jarrett going to Europe and Japan to defend the NWA World Title. Believe it or not, this makes him look like a hero.

Here is a ticked off Curt Hennig storming in from the parking lot and coming into the arena. He is here to deal with Vince Russo and since he isn’t Roddy Piper, he’ll be tying Russo in knots or punching him in the face. Cue Russo (with Don Harris) and the chase is on, only for Low Ki, Christopher Daniels and Elix Skipper to run in and jump Hennig. Apparently they’re part of Sports Entertainment Xtreme, so here is BG James to brag on commentary, followed by Russo yelling at Tenay.

Bob Armstrong stops AJ Styles in the back and asks why Styles is with Russo. Styles says he’s proven his greatness in the ring, including last week (when he lost clean) and now it’s time to be the heavyweight champion.

Gauntlet Match

Ten entrants with ninety second intervals and pin/submission for eliminations. Jason Cross is in at #1 and Amazing Red is in at #2…and we cut to the back where Jeff Jarrett jumps AJ Styles. They trade leapfrogs to start and go to a standoff, with Cross missing a running flipping legdrop. Red sends him outside for a jumping kick off the apron as Tony Mamaluke is in at #3. The same seated Brock Lock that made Cross give up last week doesn’t work this week so Mamaluke switches to a jawbreaker.

Jimmy Rave is in at #4 and goes after Mamaluke as the other two brawl on the floor. Mamaluke and Rave go up top and it’s Shark Boy in at #5 to powerbomb the two of them down. Everyone pairs off and thankfully we go split screen as Kid Kash is in at #6. Red charges into a boot to the face as AJ Styles and Boy slingshot dives onto Kash on the floor. Ace Steel is in at #7 and hits a springboard dropkick to Rave. Almost everyone is back inside as Rave rolls up Mamaluke for the first elimination at 8:40.

Rave’s spinning crossface to Boy is broken up so Boy grabs the Dead Sea Drop (Diamond Dust) to pin Rave at 9:21. Kash gets a quick pin on Shark Boy for another elimination at 9:35 for back to back…uh wrestler ejections. Jose Maximo is in at #8 and dives onto Kash, who cuts him off with a powerbomb. Joel Maximo is in at #9 and goes to the floor, where Steel gives him a suplex. Steel and Cross go inside as David Young is in at #10 to complete the field.

Young grabs a sitout powerbomb, followed by a double belly to back suplex tot he Maximos. Steel is sent into the corner, followed by a big flip dive from Young to take out a pile. Steel, Cross, Red and Kash all hit dives of their own, followed by Kash grabbing a rope walk hurricanrana to Young. The running tornado DDT plants Young again for two, leaving almost everyone else to brawl on the floor. A Doomsday DDT plants Young and Red’s Infrared is good for the elimination at 17:36.

Steel catches Jose up top with a super tornado DDT and the pin at 18:13. Joel Rolls Steel up for the elimination 18:36. A hurricanrana gets rid of Joel and we’re down to Kash, Cross and Red. Cross gets double teamed down, leaving Red to kick Kash in the head for two. Kash catches Red on top for a super gorilla press but Cross cuts Kash off. Red goes up for a diving cutter to pin Kash at 21:39. Cross brainbusters Red and hits the shooting star legdrop for the final pin at 22:11.

Rating: C+. It was fun and there were some good spots, but they were flying through the eliminations at the end and that wasn’t the best way to go. No one really had a chance to stand out, with the one on one portion barely breaking thirty seconds. I had a nice enough time, but they just needed a better structure.

Commentary runs down the card.

Here is Sports Entertainment Xtreme for a chat. Vince Russo talks about how people laugh at these fans for being so stupid looking. He introduces the fans to the three newest members of the team. Low Ki wasn’t being booked because he wouldn’t agree to a 52 week schedule. Christopher Daniels wasn’t here because a plane ticket from California was too much. And Elix Skipper wanted more money, which Russo promises him, along with various physical accompaniment. As for BG James, he needs to stop worrying about his dad and take care of him.

Russo is tired of Jeff Jarrett and wants an answer right now. Cue Jarrett to say it is time for Russo to shut up and listen. Russo is still a magazine writer who has no respect for anyone in this business. Jarrett was the first wrestler that Vince McMahon told him to interview. He has protected Russo time after time from people like Shawn Michaels and Bill Goldberg in the WWF and WCW. They have been successful together under the name of sports entertainment (oh good grief). And yes, Russo came up with the idea for the Good Housekeeping match with Chyna.

Then a few weeks ago, Russo crossed the line by spitting in Jerry Jarrett’s face. If not for wrestling, Russo would be selling TVs in New York. Russo says Jarrett has lost his respect and the boys laugh at him, so whose side is he on. Jarrett makes it clear that he has never been with Russo and never will be (….that’s not what he said just a few minutes ago but whatever). The brawl is on and Jarrett grabs a chair but the numbers game gets to him. Security breaks it up and Russo leaves through the crowd.

Disciples Of The New Church vs. America’s Most Wanted vs. Harris Twins

Non-title and for the sake of simplicity, I’ll refer to all three of the Harris’s by their first names. Storm Whispers In The Wind onto Slash to start, followed by a Russian legsweep for two. Chris comes in and gets booted down by Lee for one before a snap suplex gets two. A crossbody gets Chris out of trouble and Storm’s high version gets two.

Everything breaks down, as you probably knew was coming, and the brawl heads outside, as you probably also expected. Lee gets sent into the barricade and it’s AMW and the Twins brawling back inside. The H Bomb drops Chris but here is I believe Belladonna with a low blow…and never mind as the ROAD WARRIORS of all people run in to lay out the Twins. Hawk’s top rope splash lets Storm get the pin on Ron at 7:36.

Rating: C. Well, if the Twins are going to sell for anyone, you might as well make it the most dominant tag team ever. It was certainly a big reaction to have them show up, and if it gets the Twins away from the title picture, I’d certainly call it an upgrade. This was another “we’re not really wrestling for the most part” match and that’s happening too often around here lately. But, you know, Russo.

The Road Warriors say they still have it.

Bob Armstrong gives the X-Division a pep talk about going after Sports Entertainment Xtreme.

Video on the triple threat match for the X-Division Title, with champion Sonny Siaki ready to prove his greatness again.

X-Division Title: Sonny Siaki vs. Jerry Lynn vs. EZ Money

Siaki is defending and Lynn is in because he did well last week. The champ gets punched down to start and Money’s neckbreaker gets two. Siaki superkicks Money into a sunset flip to give Lynn two but Money fights up and takes over on both of them. Lynn uses Siaki as a launchpad for a tornado DDT to Money, followed by a flip dive to both of them on the floor. Back in and Money gives Siaki a Buckshot Lariat and a 3D drops him for two. Cue the woman from last week to open her jacket to Lynn, followed by a slap (she’s sending mixed messages). Lynn gets sent outside and Siaki’s swinging neckbreaker retains the title at 7:46.

Rating: C+. This was a good way to help get Siaki over as the champion, as he is still brand new in the title picture. Having the still unnamed woman with him should help as it’s a classic formula that works every time. Lynn being in there made this feel more important, but Siaki is going to have to beat him again at some point or his reign is only going to go so far.

Post match the woman hugs Vince Russo, who says he has had his eye on Siaki since the beginning. The woman (still no name) is a gift to him for every desire he has (because that’s all women are for in Russo’s world). Lynn comes back in to jump Siaki but the woman kicks him low and the villains leave.

BG James vs. Ron Killings

Street fight, which might be an improvement. James jumps the rapping Killings from behind to start fast and they brawl up to the stage. Killings’ ax kick gets two, as apparently this is falls count anywhere. They go over near the cage dancers (who are still a thing for some reason), with James getting in a trashcan shot. A powerbomb puts Killings through a table for two and James hits him with whatever he can find. Naturally Killings comes back with a shovel to the head but here are Christopher Daniels, Low Ki and Elix Skipper to take Killings out for the pin at 4:37.

Rating: D+. It was just a messy brawl which was barely a match, with the interference making it worse. That being said, it’s better to have James doing a brawl than a match, even with all of the screwiness. Then again I’m not sure I’m supposed to know the story in the first place, because the promotion probably didn’t either.

Post match here is Bob Armstrong, who has three men to face Russo’s three men.

Low Ki/Christopher Daniels/Elix Skipper vs. SATs/Amazing Red

Sure, send three people out there for their second match tonight. That’s the ticket. The villains clear the ring to start until Ki is left alone with Joel. Ki misses a charge and gets knocked out to the floor, leaving Daniels to come in. Red chases him out and it’s Ki coming back in to get caught in the corner for the running clotheslines. A doomsday dropkick sets up something like a wheelbarrow cutter for…nothing, as there’s too much time for that to be the pin.

It’s back to Daniels, who gets knocked down for two and Red kicks him in the face for two more. A backdrop sends Daniels outside and apparently we’re in Mexico as Skipper immediately comes in. The SATs tie up Skipper and Ki in a camel clutch/Boston crab combination, with Red adding in a running dropkick. Daniels comes back in for a clothesline to take over, with Skipper sending Red into the corner.

Another clothesline and a standing moonsault drop Red for two and Skipper grabs the chinlock. Red manages to counter the Ki Krusher into the corner and the Code Red puts Ki down again. Both Maximos come in (of course) off the tag and everything breaks down again. Skipper’s brainbuster gets two and he sends Jose outside for a slingshot dive. Red comes back in but misses the Code Red, only to avoid Ki’s phoenix splash but then miss Infrared.

Don West gets onto the announcers’ table to cheer for Red, whose hurricanrana gets two on Daniels. Ki comes in but kicks Daniels down by mistake, leaving Red to grab a springboard spinning Downward Spiral for two. Skipper’s gutwrench powerbomb gives Ki two on Red and everyone goes into the same corner. That results in everyone crashing down, leaving Ki to hit the super Ki Crusher to pin Red at 21:07.

Rating: B+. As usual, the X-Division guys do what they can to save the show with an awesome match. They beat each other up for over twenty minutes with pretty much nonstop action (hey that’s catchy) throughout. The villains winning is of course the correct call as they have to build some momentum now that they’re on the new team. Really good match here and it brought the show up a lot.

Post match Russo and company get in the ring to answer the greatest question in wrestling: why are there tables under the ring? BG James says it’s because he put them there, so some tables are set up. Curt Hennig tries to make the save but David Flair of all people comes in to take him out. Jeff Jarrett makes the save with a chair but AJ Styles saves Flair from the Figure Four. Skipper and Ki put Jarrett through a table and Russo destroys the set with an ax (because he’s manly like that) to end the show. And yes, while I know there were reasons, the show ended with David Flair as the big surprise rather than the ROAD WARRIORS.

Overall Rating: C-. The wrestling is good, but my goodness the huge overarching story is dragging everything else down. The Russo stuff is just people talking about old stuff and loyalty and bringing in random people for shock value. You have the awesome main event and a few other decent things, but having the Harris Twins and BG James in the ring so often is bringing it right back down. That’s in addition to Jeff Jarrett being one of the least interesting top stars you can find, yet here he is in the big featured spot. Oh but Russo got to use an ax so it’s cool. Not as bad as the previous show, but that’s not much of an improvement.

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

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