I’m sick of all of these things holding up the reviews but my area is about to get smashed by an ice storm and there’s a really good chance that my power will be knocked out. If that’s the case we’ll probably be heading to a hotel, but I have no idea how Dynamite and NXT will be going tonight. I’m sorry for the delays but I’ll do them as fast as I can.
KB
Things aren’t feeling the same this year.
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/kbs-review-youve-lost-wrestlemania-feeling/
205 Live
Date: February 5, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph
Things should be back to normal around here as we are almost all the way up to Takeover: Vengeance Day, meaning we are not going to have many more Dusty Classic matches to go around here. I’m not sure how much of an improvement that is going to be around here but we should be back to the usual cruiserweight action. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Opening sequence.
Ariya Daivari/Tony Nese vs. Sunil Singh/Matt Martel
Well it’s certainly different. This is the official burying of the hatches between Ever Rise and the Bollywood Boyz. Singh and Nese go to the mat to start until Singh armdrags him into an armbar. Nese powers up into a fireman’s carry but gets small packaged for two instead. Singh gets taken over to the corner so Daivari can come in. That doesn’t go well either as the tag brings in Martel….who hits Singh by mistake.
It’s already back to Singh, who gets taken into the corner and then suplexed down for two. Nese works on a waistlock but Singh fights up and rolls under Daivari’s clothesline. Martel gets to clean house in a hurry, including throwing some suplexes. Everything breaks down and Sunil drops a top rope elbow on Daivari with Nese making a save. Daivari drops Martel so Singh has to make a save so it’s time to bring in the chain. The referee throws that out but the distraction lets Nese hit the running Nese on Martel to give Daivari the pin at 7:51.
Rating: C-. I’m not sure how much of a difference there was in mixing the teams here but at least they did something different. If there is one major problem around here, it is having everything feeling so repetitive so just mixing it up a little bit like this can help a lot. Not a very good match, but at least it wasn’t something we have seen before.
We look at Legado del Fantasma’s success on NXT….until Karrion Kross took them out.
August Grey vs. Jake Atlas
They go to the mat to start with Grey grabbing a headlock as we hear about Jordan Devlin as the NXT UK Cruiserweight Champion. They trade armbars until Atlas drives him up against the ropes and puts on a cravate. Atlas even holds on as Grey slams him down but they get back up to fight over a backslide. With that not working, things get a little more serious with a slugout until Grey snaps off a hurricanrana.
Another right hand puts Atlas down again but he’s back with a big boot. Some kicks to the chest set up a standing moonsault but Grey is up before a count. It’s way too early for the cartwheel DDT though, meaning Atlas has to settle for a clothesline. Grey sends him outside for a suicide dive and then heads back in, with a spinning high crossbody finishing Atlas at 9:31.
Rating: C. That ending came so out of nowhere that I’m not completely sure it was the planned finish. You could see the referee talking to Atlas after it was over so maybe there was something wrong. Either way, it came at the end of a match that was ok at best, but that’s about what you would expect from the completely passable wrestlers in there.
Post match Daivari and Nese run in to beat down Atlas and Grey.
Overall Rating: C-. Yeah you could feel the lack of interest this time around and I’m thinking that is going to be the case around here going forward again. It was nice to have a few weeks with something different but now it is back to the same stuff that we have been seeing for years. This show keeps cycling through the same people and it has taken them about as far as it can. Get some fresh names in there, or at least try a bit harder.
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Main Event
Date: February 4, 2021
Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Samoa Joe
We’re done with the Royal Rumble and that means it’s time for all of the fallout. That could go more than a few ways, but given that it’s Main Event, I have a feeling it is going to be a few lower midcarders and a bunch of recaps. It can’t be much more annoying that Ricochet getting pinned last week, but you never can be sure around here. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Opening sequence.
Humberto Carrillo vs. Drew Gulak
They go to the mat to start with Gulak getting in a kick to the ribs for little impact as Carrillo grabs an armbar. Carrillo goes for the ankle but Gulak spins out and grabs a neck crank. The grappling on the mat continues with Carrillo pulling on the leg for a bit, followed by another standoff. An armbar sends Carrillo into the ropes for the break so Gulak takes him down for a quick leglock. Carrillo fights up but gets taken down by something like a side slam for two, followed by another armbar. That’s broken up with some kicks to the head, setting up a big kick to the head. The moonsault finishes Gulak at 5:55.
Rating: C. Gulak continues to be one of the most entertaining lower level wrestlers on the roster and I’d love to see him get even a little something on the main roster. Other than that, you have Carrillo doing the same stuff he has done for years now. He absolutely has talent, but there is something missing from him and you can see it lacking every time he is in the ring.
We look at Edge and Bianca Belair winning the Royal Rumbles.
From Raw.
Here’s Drew McIntyre to get things going. Drew talks about how we are on the road to Wrestlemania and goes over how great each match was last night. Cue Edge to interrupt him though and McIntyre praises him for everything Edge did for him over the years. Drew was here when Edge had to retire and then he was in the Rumble last year when Edge returned.
Edge says he likes Drew but what is wrong with him? Winning the Rumble last night means that Edge can challenge Drew for the title. So why isn’t Drew kicking his head off right now? Cue Sheamus to interrupt and ask Edge who he is to question Drew. Edge has been sitting at home while Drew carried this company all year. Drew may take the high road but that’s not what Sheamus is going to do.
Edge won last night, so he can make a decision or Drew can do it for him. That isn’t happening tonight, but everyone will know when he makes his decision. Either way though, Edge is walking out of Wrestlemania as champion. Edge leaves, and Sheamus Brogue Kicks McIntyre, likely setting up the Elimination Chamber title match.
From later on Raw.
A sad Drew McIntyre talks about his ten year friendship with Sheamus, including the two of them spending Christmas together in a diner because they had no one else. If Sheamus wants the match, he has it. No date given.
We look at Bad Bunny’s Royal Rumble performance.
We look at Shayna Baszler/Nia Jax winning the Women’s Tag Team Titles on the Royal Rumble Kickoff Show.
From Raw.
Damian Priest vs. The Miz
Priest wastes no time in knocking Miz to the floor for the step up flip dive to take out both Miz and Morrison. Back in and Miz fights back but Priest isn’t having that and hits the running elbow in the corner. The Broken Arrow gets two but a Morrison distraction lets Miz get in a cheap shot. Miz goes for the briefcase but Bunny takes it away. Bunny hands it to Morrison and hits him with the microphone. The Reckoning finishes Miz at 4:26.
Rating: C. This was about establishing Priest and if having Bad Bunny as his friend helps that along then so be it. I don’t know anything about Bunny but he seems to be quite the big deal in the music world at the moment. If that helps Priest along then great, because Priest is the kind of guy who could be a heck of a star on Raw. A good debut helps that and it worked out well enough here.
Ricochet vs. Angel Garza
Garza rushes straight into the corner for some forearms to the back but doesn’t get anywhere, as Ricochet slaps on a headlock instead. A dropkick puts Garza on the floor and we take a break. Back with Garza (having TAKEN OFF HIS PANTS) tying up the leg and cranking on the chin at the same time. With that not working, Garza takes him back into the corner but gets hit in the face for a breather.
Garza is knocked down so Ricochet rolls forward to pick him up for a brainbuster (that’s a new one). Another kick puts Ricochet down as well though and Garza hits a Lionsault for two of his own. Ricochet knees him in the face but Garza hits a rebound right hand for two more. An enziguri looks to set up the Recoil but Garza grabs the rope to set up a rollup with feet on the ropes to pin Ricochet at 11:10.
Rating: C+. That was a heck of a match and WAY better than something on Main Event should be. Granted it shouldn’t be all that surprising as these are two of the more polished performers in WWE and I have no idea why they aren’t regularly featured on TV more often. They can do something like this but there is no place for them on Raw or Smackdown? Really?
From Raw again.
Randy Orton can’t believe Edge pulled it off last night but the bigger problem is Edge made Orton look like a liar. See, Orton had promised that Edge wouldn’t be back but here he is again. Orton beat Edge up time after time because he loves him like a brother and tried to get him out of this business. Edge isn’t going to main event Wrestlemania because tonight there will be no mercy or compassion. They meet tonight.
And one more from Raw.
Randy Orton vs. Edge
Edge goes straight at him to start and hammers away, setting up the standing choke that he used back in April. Orton breaks that up and chokes him down in the corner, followed by more choking on the rope. Edge snaps off a quick Edgecution for two but the spear is countered into a scoop powerslam. They take it outside with Orton sending him into the steps and we take a break.
Back with Edge in trouble but hitting a clothesline out of the corner. The RKO is countered into the Edge O Matic for two and Edge knocks him off the apron into the barricade. Edge follows and gets poked in the eye, allowing Orton to drop him onto the announcers’ table. Back in and Orton sends him throat first into the bottom rope, followed by the hanging DDT. And now Alex Bliss is on the top rope with black fluid spilling out of her mouth. The spear finishes Orton at 16:02.
Rating: C+. These two always work well together and that was the case again here, even with whatever Bray Wyatt’s latest idea with Bliss is, even if no one but him has any idea what is going on. Edge is going on to something bigger and better at Wrestlemania so it’s nice that he can put the Orton thing behind him rather than having some other big pay per view match between them. I wouldn’t be shocked to see that happen again, but at least they gave Edge the win here.
Overall Rating: C+. What an odd show, as they cut out Smackdown (as they should have), which is usually the best show, and it’s the best Main Event in a good while. As usual, Ricochet and Garza are some of the best parts of the show, but they also helped prime things up for the Road To Wrestlemania, as WWE starts to pick up again. It’s a nothing show, but it’s nice to get a nice original match in there for fun.
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Ring of Honor
Date: February 3, 2021
Location: UMBC Events Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman
I’m really not sure what to say around here as we keep going from week to week with not all that much really feeling like it changes. We don’t have a show to build towards and while we are probably going to have some good matches, odds are they’re going to come after the same format this show has used for months now. In other words, it’s going to be pretty good but not exactly inspiring. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Opening sequence.
Joe Keys talks about how hard it has been to get here and how hard he has worked in the Ring of Honor Dojo. Jonathan Gresham was his trainer, but he isn’t the first trainer he had. That trainer passed away and now Keys wishes he could tell his trainer that he’s getting a Pure Title shot. Now he’s going to get the title to get back at Gresham for what Gresham put him through.
Jonathan Gresham talks about how hard Final Battle was and Joe Keys isn’t ready for that. Keys has earned a title shot by winning a match against other Dojo students but now he is stepping up even higher. Tonight, Keys is going to learn that this isn’t the Dojo because he is up against the Foundation.
Now that we have your required two minute promos out of the way because we must have them before almost every match, we’re ready to go.
Pure Title: Jonathan Gresham vs. Joe Keys
Keys is challenging after winning a Dojo match, thereby making the rankings even less important than your run of the mill wrestling rankings. Gresham takes him to the mat with a headscissors to start and Keys can’t do much to power out. Eventually it means the first rope break and they’re back up. A waistlock has Gresham in trouble and Keys powers him over to the ropes, where Keys has to grab said rope to avoid falling. That’s good for a rope break and we take a break to keep pace with both guys.
Back with Keys winning a slugout so Gresham grabs the armdrags to put Keys in trouble again. A quick backbreaker gives Keys a breather, only to have Gresham crank on the arm again. Keys’ German suplex gets two and there’s another backbreaker to put Gresham down again. The Boston crab sends Gresham to the rope for the break, followed by a headbutt for a third and final rope break. Keys wins another slugout and gets two off a clothesline but misses a top rope headbutt. La Majistral gives Gresham two more and he rolls Keys down into a nasty hammerlock for the tap to retain at 12:41.
Rating: C+. Keys looked fine here and the teacher vs. student idea is always going to work. It helps that Keys got to show off a bit here before the only ending the match could have had. At the same time though, I’m not exactly thrilled with seeing Ring of Honor do their best New Japan impression with the Young Lions/students thing, even if they already had characters and personae before they came here.
Matt Taven comes up to Mike Bennett, who is getting his ankle fixed up. Bennett says he’ll be fine and needs this match tonight. Taven doesn’t seem convinced but goes along with it.
Danhausen…is confused about all the lights and cameras around him. He only cares about being rich and famous and wants to know where his blimp is, as he was promised one in his contract. If he swears, he gets thrown off the air and that means he can’t be rich and famous. Danhausen likes to kick people in the face, like Brian Johnson, who yells at internet people. There is no stopping Danhausen because Danhausen is not evil. This was one of those wacky characters but it was the kind that actually worked, which is not something you get to see very often. Not too bad here.
Brian Johnson talks about how he grew up loving wrestling, even if it meant taking your vitamins or drinking a beer. Now he loves real wrestlers and can’t stand someone who lives on his couch and thinks he’s funny. Danhausen is a joke and it took a bad referee to cost him their match at Ring of Honor. Everyone has overlooked him and that isn’t happening again….whenever this match takes place.
The Bouncers are ready to face the OGK (OG Kingdom) tonight. Things have changed since Mike Bennett left though and tonight, they are the first step on the Bouncers’ path to the Tag Team Titles.
Matt Taven and Mike Bennett are ready to get back to what worked, without having to think of Vincent and the Righteous.
OGK vs. Bouncers
Bennett and Milonas start things off and Bennett finds out that he can’t do things as usual against someone this big. The ankle flares up too, including as Milonas doesn’t move off a shoulder block. Taven comes in and loads up the dive but Bruiser stands in front of him for a good visual. We settle down to Taven getting caught in a side slam/dropkick combination. Taven manages an enziguri and brings Bennett back in, only to have Bruiser run him over.
Some double teaming manages to knock Milonas down though and Taven nails a superkick but Bennett’s ankle goes out again. The Bruiser goes after the ankle with some cranking on the mat, followed by Milonas sitting on him in the corner. We take a break and come back with Bennett getting over for the hot tag to Taven to pick up the pace. The Flight of the Conqueror takes out Milonas on the floor and Aurora Borealis hits Bruiser for two back inside.
Bruiser hits a Samoan drop and we cut to a shot of the video screen for some reason. With that out of the way, Milonas hits a Side Effect on Taven but Bennett is back in with a superkick. Bruiser is back up to run Taven over but the frog splash misses. Bennett catches Bruiser with a spear but falls to the floor. That leaves Taven to grab something like a Crossface to make Bruiser tap at 11:56.
Rating: C. I continue to be astounded at how much better Taven is as a face than the heel he was for years. Bennett still isn’t much more than a guy in trunks but he has already been treated as far more important here than he ever was in WWE. If this is what he wants to do then good for him, because there was little point to him being in WWE as far as career advancement went.
Post match the Bouncers are ready for the toast but here is the Righteous with Vincent saying Bruiser has no direction. Bennett was gone for five years and he’s right back like nothing ever changed. Or Milonas, who has been around for 18 years, and has been given nothing. Taven just bought a house but where is anything for the Bouncers? The Righteous leaves and Bruiser breaks a beer bottle over Taven’s head. A twisting DDT plants Bennett and Milonas is shocked to end the show.
Overall Rating: C. The ending helped the show a bit but the same problems continue around here: nothing to build towards and stories that move along at such a slow pace that they might as well not even be there. At the same time you have the same longer form promos, which work on some occasions but then there are people who have nothing to say and it shows pretty badly. The show isn’t terrible by any means but it’s often boring, which is a lot worse most of the time. That was slightly better this week, but they have a lot of things to fix.
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Monday Night Raw
Date: February 8, 2021
Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Samoa Joe, Byron Saxton
It’s time to start setting things up for Elimination Chamber, as we have less than two weeks before the show and WWE has barely acknowledged the thing yet. Hopefully we actually get something set up tonight, but at this point I’m not sure what that is going to be. I can’t imagine it’s a World Title match inside the Chamber, as Sheamus would seem to be the best option for Drew McIntyre’s challenger at the show. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
In Memory of Butch Reed.
We open with a clip of Sheamus turning on Drew McIntyre last week.
Here’s Adam Pearce in the ring for a big surprise, so he brings out Shane McMahon. After the canned Shane chants die down, Shane gets to the point: Drew McIntyre will defend the WWE Title at Elimination Chamber against Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, The Miz and Sheamus. Shane praises Pearce’s efforts of late and leaves, running into AJ Styles and Omos on the way to the ring. AJ thinks Pearce is doing a phenomenal job, which is a surprise as he always thought Pearce was kind of a dumba**. Anyway, time for an Elimination Chamber preview.
Actually that will be after Drew McIntyre comes up to Shane McMahon as he leaves. Drew would have appreciated a heads up and thought it would be Sheamus getting the shot on his own. Shane says that match can take place later, because nothing is bigger than Drew inside the Chamber. Shane leaves and Drew shakes his head a bit.
AJ Styles vs. Jeff Hardy
Feeling out process to start with AJ backing him into the corner and then whipping him into the corner to make it worse. A backdrop gives Hardy two but his knee gives out, meaning it’s time to roll outside. AJ isn’t letting that go though and nails a chop block on the knee. A knee crusher and a ram into the steps have Hardy in more trouble as we take a break.
Back with AJ working on the knee again and grabbing the Calf Crusher. That’s broken up so AJ heads up top, only to get crotched back down in a hurry. The Twist of Fate connects but the Swanton hits mat. The Calf Crusher goes on again in the middle of the ring and Hardy has to tap at 14:33.
Rating: C+. They had time and AJ got to break Hardy down to get the win. That’s all you need to do here and it makes a lot of sense to have two people involved in an elimination match goat it like this. It’s certainly more logical than the Money in the Bank season, as it’s like they’re doing something that connects to the match for a change.
We look at Bobby Lashley beating up Riddle after last week’s title match.
Riddle, with a black eye, comes up to Keith Lee. Yeah he was banged up last week but he got all toasty and watched all the Air Bud movies (including Spikes Back) and now he’s good to go. Riddle is ready to continue fighting for the title but Lee says he’ll win. That sounds like a challenge to Riddle and Lee glares a bit.
Sheamus yells at Adam Pearce for taking his one on one title match and turning it into an Elimination Chamber match. He accuses Pearce of protecting McIntyre and promises to unleash brutality inside the Chamber.
New Day vs. Retribution
T-Bar and Slapjack for Retribution with Mustafa Ali on commentary. Woods headlocks Slapjack down to start so it’s off to T-Bar, who runs Kofi over. Kofi hits him in the face a few times to no avail and Kofi looks scared. T-Bar jumps over him in the corner and then blocks a sunset flip attempt. A faceplant puts Kofi down again so it’s off to Woods, who low bridges T-Bar to the floor. Kofi hits the big dive and some tromboning takes us to a break.
Back with Slapjack kneeing Woods down and slapping on a chinlock. Slapjack runs him over for two so Ali shouts up at Retribution about ending them. A rollup gives Woods two but the kickout sends Kofi over for a tag off to Kofi so the pace can pick up. Trouble in Paradise knocks T-Bar off the apron and Slapjack (Ali: “YOU IDIOT!”) runs into a kick to the face. Daybreak finishes Slapjack at 10:38.
Rating: C-. Pretty run of the mill tag match here and while it’s not like there is any shame in losing to a team as good as the New Day, it continues to astound me how badly WWE has handled Retribution. They got a few wins here and there but now we’re right back where we were at the start. That being said, Ali vs. Kofi should be great, mainly because it might actually have a point and some logic to the whole thing.
Damien Priest will have Bad Bunny in his corner tonight against Angel Garza.
Here are Ric Flair and Lacey Evans for a face to face meeting with Charlotte. Before Charlotte comes to the ring, Ric (whose face looks rather weird for some reason) rants about how he never takes orders from a woman, including Charlotte. He isn’t staying home though and now he needs someone to be exactly what he’s looking for. That means a woman who has the looks and athletic ability, but just needs a little guidance and wisdom.
Lacey says people don’t get what is going on between them and says she respects Flair, unlike Charlotte. Lacey would never talk to her father like that but she’s the bad one in all of this? Cue Charlotte to say if Lacey wanted to get better, she should have trained in the Performance Center. Instead though, she’s trying to use Ric and Charlotte to become a star.
Charlotte has been trying to protect Ric’s legacy for seven years because she sees him for how he really looks. She doesn’t mind Lacey being a star but they aren’t taking her down. Ric suggests they be a tag team but Charlotte says she already has a partner in Asuka. Lacey says if she beats Charlotte, she’s the new #1 contender. Charlotte says let’s do this now so Lacey knocks her to the floor. A whip into the steps has Charlotte in trouble and we take a break.
After we see Miz and John Morrison telling Angel Garza that they’ll take care of Bad Bunny, we’re ready to go.
Lacey Evans vs. Charlotte
Charlotte it sent to the apron to start and slingshots back in with a rollup for two. A dropkick puts Lacey on the apron for some coaching from Ric and she trips Charlotte down. The slingshot elbow gets two on Charlotte and it’s time to start working on the arm. Charlotte’s good arm clotheslines Lacey down but it’s way too early for the Figure Eight. More arm cranking has Charlotte in some more trouble but she nips up and gets in Lacey’s face a few times in a row.
Charlotte sends her outside though and hits the strut but Flair puts himself between them to break up a dive. Lacey gets in another trip to send Charlotte into the apron and we take a break. Back with Lacey working on the arm some more with both the cranking and a hammerlock (because she is smart enough to mix up the arm work). A big crank on the arm gets two but the double springboard moonsault hits raised knees, banging up Lacey’s knee in the process.
Charlotte chops her down and then into the corner, where they completely mistime something, with Charlotte charging at her, stopping, and then getting slapped. Charlotte kicks her to the floor but yells at flair, allowing Lacey to get in another arm twist to take over again. Back in and Charlotte hits the spear, yells at Flair, and unloads in the corner. Charlotte shoves the referee away and that’s a DQ at 10:33.
Rating: C. Lacey’s timing wasn’t great here, which probably has something to do with her not exactly wrestling all that often as of late. At the same time, of course this is all about Charlotte vs. Ric, because why would it be used to focus on anyone but them? There was nothing here to suggest that Lacey was going to get a big rub out of the whole thing and that doesn’t exactly bode well for the future.
Post match Flair breaks it up and gets in Charlotte’s face. Charlotte says this is all hers and glares at Ric before leaving.
Here’s Edge to talk about what a big week he just finished. He went to all three shows last week to get a lay of the land but now he isn’t sure what to do about the WWE Title, because it is going to be defend inside the Elimination Chamber. Edge respects Drew McIntyre, but he isn’t sure if he likes Drew’s odds.
Cue Miz, John Morrison and Angel Garza to say Edge has always been someone to rely on strategy. Miz talks about how Edge can pick any title he wants because Miz will cash in at Wrestlemania and leave as champion. Edge knows about cashing in the briefcase and knows that he’ll need eyes in the back of his head. So why is Miz telling him what he is going to be doing? Edge did the AWESOME thing twenty years ago and now he needs to see this story through by becoming World Champion again. Edge was good here and sold the story they’re trying to tell really well.
Damien Priest vs. Angel Garza
Bad Bunny is here to cancel out Miz and Morrison. Priest shoves him around to start and nails the spinwheel kick. Garza sends him throat first into the rope though and thanks to a quick distraction, is able to tie up Priest’s legs. Some kicks to the face and a clothesline drop Garza again though and it’s the running elbow in the corner. Garza, who has TAKEN OFF HIS PANTS somewhere in there, manages a clothesline to the floor and the stomping is on. Bunny uses the distraction to grab the briefcase and distract Morrison, who chases him into the ring. That’s enough for a double ejection and Priest finishes with the Reckoning at 3:45.
Rating: D+. The match was surrounded by various shenanigans, but what matters here is Priest feels like a star. He’s a big guy who can move in the ring and the rock star feeling to him works rather well. The Bad Bunny stuff is helping as well and it’s great to see a celebrity enhancing someone like this.
Drew McIntyre says he knows the challenges are coming in Wrestlemania season but if Sheamus wanted a title shot, all he had to do was ask and save their 20 year friendship. McIntyre talks about all of the challengers inside the Elimination Chamber, plus Miz has the briefcase and Edge is looking around. Anyone who wants to come after him can come at him though, because he will rip their face off.
Asuka will defend against Lacey Evans at Elimination Chamber.
Bianca Belair talks about how her Royal Rumble honeymoon is over but now it is time to see who she is going to face. It could be anyone but she isn’t going to show her cards yet. Asuka comes in to congratulate her on the win but reminds Belair that she isn’t ready for Asuka yet. Belair disagrees, but says she knows Lacey Evans isn’t ready for Asuka. Dancing ensues and Belair says Asuka needs to take care of Evans at Elimination Chamber because she might be waiting on Asuka the next night.
Riddle vs. Keith Lee
MVP is on commentary and brought the US Title with him. Riddle goes for the arm to start but Lee powers him up for the easy block. With that not working, Riddle tries a rear naked choke but gets thrown down with more power. Riddle kicks away in the corner but gets Pounced down in the big crash. Lee whips him hard into the corner, shrugs off some strikes to the face, and clotheslines Riddle down. The Spirit Bomb is broken up so Riddle goes to the middle rope for a spinning kick to the face.
That’s good for one so Riddle is stunned, though he manages to kick Lee down again. The Floating Bro gets two and Riddle can’t believe it. Riddle strikes away some more but the Final Flash is countered into another failed Spirit Bomb attempt. This one is reversed into a triangle choke but Lee powers out of that as well. With nothing else working, Lee tries another Final Flash but gets countered into the Spirit Bomb to give Lee the pin at 7:51.
Rating: C+. This worked well because they clearly knock each other and how to work together. I like Lee getting a win over…well anyone really and it wouldn’t shock me to see these two, plus maybe three other challengers, put inside the Chamber as well. All of those possible combinations are interesting and that’s a nice place to be.
Post match respect is shown but here’s Bobby Lashley to run them over and hit the spinebuster on Lee. Riddle gets caught in the Hurt Lock again to leave him laying. With Riddle down, Lee is knocked to the floor and the steps off the head send him over the announcers’ table.
Video on Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton.
Orton talks about how he and McIntyre have unfinished business. They face off tonight and then he gets to take McIntyre’s title at the Elimination Chamber. Destiny will come calling once again and he’ll be heading to Wrestlemania as champion.
Nia Jax vs. Lana
Tables match with Shayna Baszler and Naomi at ringside. After a look back at Lana’s table issues at Nia’s hands, it’s a pair of powerbombs to set up an early Stretch Muffler. Lana gets swung face first into the buckle and Lana is mostly done. The trash talk is on, though Nia manages to miss an elbow that Lana had started rolling away from before Jax dropped.
Lana is fired up so Nia runs her over with a shoulder. Some right hands get Lana out of enough trouble to hurricanrana Nia to the apron, setting up some kicks to the head. Nia headbutts her down but misses a legdrop on the apron. Lana uses the breather to shove Nia through a standing table for the win at 4:36.
Rating: D. Of course the match wasn’t very good and was mainly a squash but at least we got the match that these two should have had months ago. The win doesn’t make up for everything they did but points for trying to give someone new a win for a change. I can go with giving us a bit of closure, but that’s what it needs to be here rather than another step. Also, points for a somewhat creative ending.
Post match Shayna jumps Lana but Naomi kicks her in the face. You know what that means.
Naomi vs. Shayna Baszler
Baszler kicks her down to start and goes after the arm, only to have Naomi hit some dropkicks. That isn’t going to last as Shayna takes her down and slaps on a quick Kirifuda Clutch. Naomi makes it over to the rope for the break so Baszler goes to beat up Lana. That’s enough of a distraction for Naomi though and she small packages Baszler for the fast pin at 3:13.
Rating: D+. This didn’t have time to do much here but it was nice to see Naomi getting a win to reestablish her status. It’s true that she is a multiple time Women’s Champion but that was a long time ago and she could use a refresher. This was the kind of thing Naomi needed and I could go with seeing her doing something more.
Video on the Elimination Chamber.
Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre
Non-title. Neither can hit one of their finishers to start so Drew catches him on the apron. The hanging DDT is loaded up but here’s Sheamus for a distraction as McIntyre is sent hard into the posts. We take a break and come back with Orton stomping away in the corner and sending McIntyre outside. McIntyre gets dropped back first onto the announcers’ table, much to Sheamus’ desire. The chinlock goes on back inside but Drew powers out in a hurry.
Drew gets in a few shots of his own, glares at Sheamus, and snaps off the release belly to belly. McIntyre busts out a superplex but can’t hit the Claymore. Instead it’s the Glasgow Kiss but Orton is right back with the hanging DDT. The RKO is loaded up and quickly countered into the Future Shock. The Claymore is loaded up but here’s Sheamus to try the Brogue Kick, which hits Orton by mistake for the DQ at 12:14.
Rating: C+. They weren’t trying to blow the roof off or anything here and what we got worked fine. It helps when you have two people this good doing their thing for a little while with a history behind them. This worked as a main event and the ending gives us a story not involving McIntyre as we head into the Chamber. Not too bad for a match that was done to death last year.
Post match, Drew immediately Claymores Sheamus to end the show.
Overall Rating: C-. As is almost always the case with any wrestling show, things get SO much better when there is a focus and something to build towards. Just having some Elimination Chamber matches announced and giving the people something to focus on helped so much and that’s a nice relief. The show still isn’t exactly good though, with way too many dumb ideas and stories that don’t work, but there is something to look forward to and that makes a huge difference.
Results
AJ Styles b. Jeff Hardy – Calf Crusher
New Day b. Retribution – Daybreak to Slapjack
Lacey Evans b. Charlotte via DQ when Charlotte shoved the referee
Damien Priest b. Angel Garza – Reckoning
Keith Lee b. Riddle – Spirit Bomb
Lana b. Nia Jax – Shove through a table
Naomi b. Shayna Baszler – Small package
Randy Orton b. Drew McIntyre via DQ when Sheamus interfered
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:
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Fusion #120
Date: February 3, 2021
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Jared St. Laurent, Rich Bocchini
Things have been up and down around here and that isn’t the best news. MLW has the potential to be one of the most entertaining promotions around but that has not exactly been the case as of late. Hopefully things can pick up a bit, because this show has lost a good bit of the charm that it has had. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
We open with a recap of Alex Hammerstone’s issues with Contra, setting up tonight’s Baklei Brawl with Mads Krugger.
Opening sequence.
Here’s what’s coming tonight.
Sentai Death Squad vs. Jordan Oliver
That would be one member of the Squad, with Daivari and Myron Reed at ringside as well. Oliver runs the ropes to start and kicks the Squad in the head for two. Some forearms in the corner set up a running dropkick, though Oliver seems to have banged up his knee. A middle rope cutter gives Oliver the pin at 2:15. I’m wondering if they cut that due to the knee.
Post match, Oliver says he’s a heavyweight and is coming for the World Title. I don’t see that ending well. Like, at all.
Salina de la Renta doesn’t think much of Savio Vega losing last week and the new owner of Promociones Dorado has offered Vega a rather lucrative deal. Salina is great at this smarmy condescending heel stuff.
We look back at the end of last week’s main event, featuring a seemingly crooked referee costing Savio Vega the Caribbean Title against Richard Holliday.
It turns out that the referee is Tim Donaghy, a former NBA referee who fixed games.
The Von Erichs want Team Filthy on Filthy Island. They’re showing up no matter what.
Tag Team Titles: Bu Ku Dao/TJP vs. Los Parks
Los Parks are defending and Salina de la Renta is in their corner. Park jumps TJP to start and it’s Dao vs. Hijo to start. A headlock takeover doesn’t get Hijo anywhere and TJP chases after Park. We settle down to Park getting in a cheap shot from the apron to put Dao down but Dao is back up with a clothesline. Some shots from the illegal TJP let Dao get two but Hijo sends him to the floor so Park can hammer away.
Back in and TJP gets knocked down again, leaving Dao to be sent into a boot in the corner. Everything breaks down and TJP snaps off a middle rope hurricanrana to Park, setting up the suicide dive to the floor. Everyone comes back in and the champs are caught in stereo submissions, both of which are broken up in a hurry.
With TJP and Park on the floor, Dao hits a swinging Downward Spiral to Hijo (it looked like a Boss Man Slam to Dao so nice job on the counter….I think) for two. Stereo clotheslines put Dao and Hijo down but here’s LA Park Jr. (in red, as opposed to Park’s white and Hijo’s orange) to hit a shoulder breaker on Dao to retain the titles at 8:20.
Rating: C. The match was rather energetic for the most part but dang that ending was dumb. Either they’re continuing the crooked referee deal here or this one is supposed to be especially stupid. It didn’t help that there was almost no drama about who was leaving with the titles here, but at least TJP didn’t take the fall. He comes off as a bigger star than most people in the promotion so it’s smart to keep him strong.
Post match TJP shoves Dao down, signaling the end of a partnership that lasted….three matches?
Contra hacks the feed so Mads Krugger says he’ll beat Alex Hammerstone on his own turf.
We look at Laredo Kid calling out Lio Rush for a champion vs. champion match.
Lio Rush doesn’t know who Laredo Kid is but he’s up for the match next week, title for title.
Filthy Island is in two weeks.
Calvin Tankman is back next week.
Never Say Never is on March 24.
We get the Filthy Island Control Center, which has no sponsors. As for who will be there, Tom Lawlor promises that Team Filthy will be there. We’ll also see King Mo vs. Low Ki….and that’s it so far! We do get a disclaimer that says MLW has nothing to do with this and makes no guarantees. This is going to be another Fyre Fest deal isn’t it?
Alex Hammerstone is ready to fight Mads Krugger because he’s just a road block in front of Jacob Fatu and the World Title.
We look at Gino Medina and Richard Holliday yelling at each other after Medina quit/was fired from The Dynasty.
Gino Medina vs. Gringo Loco
They trade some rapid paced armdrags to start until it’s a standoff, with Medina kicking the offered handshake away. A rather casual snapmare puts Loco down but he’s up with a springboard spinning armdrag to send Medina outside. What looked like an Asai moonsault is broken up and Medina chops away on the floor.
Back in and we hit the chinlock as we hear about the Azteca Underground executives in the private boxes. Loco fights back up and trips Medina to set up a low superkick. An enziguri puts Medina down again but he gets his feet up to block a moonsault. Loco gets launched into the corner but grabs a rollup, only to have Medina reverse into one of his own for the pin at 5:28.
Rating: C. I still don’t get it with Medina, who kind of comes and goes without doing much most weeks. Most of the time I forget that he’s even around here, which isn’t a good sign for his future. He does well enough in the ring, but there are only so many things that you can do when you’re barely around and don’t exactly stand out very often.
Gino Medina talks about being untouchable and doesn’t speak very highly of Loco. Cue Loco to jump him and start a brawl.
Here’s what’s coming next week.
Alex Hammerstone shows up at some place with some mechanical equipment (and very little light as you can barely see anything) for the Baklei Brawl with Mads Krugger. Hammerstone and the referee can’t find anyone until a guy who does not exactly look like Krugger (either that or Krugger has shrunk) shows up. The brawl is on with Krugger slamming a gate on Hammerstone’s hand but a tossed pallet misses Hammerstone. Krugger gets sent into the side of a dumpster and a ram into it again is good for the pin. There was no bell and this was a brawl instead of a match.
Post match Hammerstone realizes that’s not the real Krugger and someone (presumably the cameraman) says they need to get the f*** out of there. The real Krugger shows up and hits Hammerstone to end the show.
Overall Rating: C-. This show is getting weaker and weaker as time goes by and the main event, assuming you can call it one, was a good example. The brawl lasted about three minutes max and ended with a bait and switch. I know they need to keep stringing things along, but why bother having the thing if this is what you’re going to deliver? There is no spark to this show anymore and it’s not the easiest show to watch these days, even with it barely being an hour most weeks. Pick things up already, because it really needs the boost.
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:
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Impact Wrestling
Date: February 2, 2021
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Matt Striker, D’Lo Brown
We’re still on the way to a variety of shows and that could make things interesting. The AEW mini invasion continues and that is not the worst thing in the world. That is going to include Private Party challenging the Good Brothers for the Tag Team Titles in the near future but we need to build up some more things than just that. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Opening recap.
Opening sequence.
Tasha Steelz vs. Havok
Kiera Hogan and Nevaeh are both at ringside. Steelz hammers away to start with little success because Havok kicks her out of the corner without much effort. Some kicks to the leg put Havok down though and a big kick to the head gets two. Steelz drops elbows onto the leg so Havok goes to the rope for the break. Back up and Havok screams a lot, setting up a running boot in the corner. The spinning Side Effect gives Havok two but she has to stop to choke Hogan. It doesn’t exactly matter though as the Tombstone finishes Steelz at 4:33.
Rating: C-. Total destruction here with Havok shrugging off the leg work to pick up the win without much trouble. That makes sense as Havok is a heck of a monster and shouldn’t be having any major issues in a singles match against most people. They’ll likely do the title change before too long and that’s a fine way to go with the new belts.
The announcers throw us to a clip from after last week’s show, where Ken Shamrock snapped and beat up a lot of referees, plus dropped Sami Callihan.
Sami Callihan is in Scott D’Amore’s office and is told that Shamrock is suspended indefinitely. Callihan is actually happy because he was going to fire Shamrock anyway.
Here’s what’s coming tonight.
Rich Swann and Tommy Dreamer talk about how nice Dreamer was to give up the World Title shot at Barely Legal so Terry Funk could have the shot. Tonight, Dreamer is going to hold up his end of the card.
The Good Brothers hype up this week’s AEW Dynamite and are ready to beat up Jon Moxley. They’re ready to beat up Private Party too, but here are James Storm and Chris Sabin to interrupt, because they aren’t happy. The Brothers back away from the challenge but the match can be on next week, because the Brothers have to be ready for Dynamite.
Madman Fulton vs. Josh Alexander
Ace Austin is here with Fulton. Alexander tries to take the monster down to start but gets tossed with a release suplex. Fulton sends him face first into the buckle and chokes away but Alexander slips out of a suplex and hits him in the face. The ankle lock goes on for a bit, only to get kicked out to the floor in a hurry. A chokeslam onto the apron rocks Alexander again but he’s right back with a roaring elbow. The Jay Driller finishes 4:48.
Rating: C. The ending came out of nowhere but there are far worse ideas than pushing Alexander. There’s something about him when he goes out there and does his thing, which makes him feel like someone you want to see. Hopefully he gets some kind of a push around here, which would certainly be worth looking into. Fulton losing clean like that doesn’t bode well for him, but he has been past his peak for a bit now anyway.
The Good Brothers have their own action figures.
Johnny Swinger comes into his casino to collect the money from John E. Bravo. Alisha Edwards doesn’t like how Swinger is treating Fallah Bahh, because it always seems to be in Swinger’s World.
Eddie Edwards thanks Matt Cardona for what he did. The tag match is set for No Surrender.
Crazzy Steve vs. Larry D.
Rosemary is here with Steve and Acey Romero is here with Larry, as we’re now in the third generation of stories based around Wrestle House. Steve slugs away and manages to take Larry down for some right hands to the face. Larry throws him outside though, with Acey getting in a few shots. Back in and Steve gets choked in the corner, where Rosemary gives him a bit of a pep talk. Larry gets two off a low superkick but Steve bites him on the forehead. Steve bites his way out of some clotheslines as well but dives into the Best Hand In The House for the pin at 4:01.
Rating: D+. I’m rapidly approaching the point of never needing to see these people again, though Decay is a better fit for both of them. XXXL on the other hand….I get why they’re here and I get why they’re a good choice to put in the ring. That being said, giving them some kind of detailed backstory and being anything more than big brawlers is a bit more than needs to be there.
Post match, Rosemary scares the big guys off.
We get a sitdown interview with Trey Miguel, who is ready to show what he can do on his own. Sami Callihan pops in but he isn’t here to fight. Callihan talks about Trey wasting a great goodbye and now Trey needs to find out what he wants to be.
XXXL isn’t scared of Rosemary but you never hit a woman. Tenille Dashwood comes in and says she’ll hit Rosemary for them. That works for Larry and if Decay can find a third, the six person tag can be on for No Surrender.
Susan vs. Jordynne Grace
Rating: C-. I’m still not feeling the Susan deal, which is giving more bad flashbacks to the Governor deal with the Beautiful People. Grace winning is fine of course and I can always go for more of her, though Lee and Jazz aren’t exactly thrilling. The division continues to take some weird directions given the talent there, but at least they have something going most of the time.
Post match the beatdown is on with Grace and Jazz in trouble until ODB returns for the save. Oh come on haven’t I suffered enough with this show???
Matt Hardy tells Private Party that he has this going forward. Now they need to go win the battle royal on Dynamite so they can win two titles. That means more money for Big Money Matt and some more money for them too!
It’s time for Tony and Tony, with both of them holding coconut drinks and Schiavone in a flower shirt with a shark hat. Khan knows about how to book a big show and Impact is like his own fantasy league. He’s letting Jon Moxley go to New Japan to defend his US Title and Don Callis has driven him to these wacky moves. Schiavone runs down the Beach Break card and Khan says he’s an emotional shark.
ODB says she poked her head in to see what was going on and didn’t like the bullying. They all grab their chests and say BAM.
Rohit Raju vs. TJP
Non-title. Feeling out process to start with TJP dodging a lot and managing something like an octopus out of a crucifix attempt. That’s broken up so Raju kicks him in the face and dropkicks him out to the floor as we take a break. Back with TJP slugging away but walking into a Downward Spiral for two. An elbow gives Raju two more and frustration is already setting in.
There’s a belly to back for another two but TJP scores with a springboard spinning shot to the face. A middle rope hurricanrana sets up a tornado DDT but TJP has to bail out of a Swanton attempt. Raju dives off the top into some raised boots, only to have TJP bail to the floor. Cue Mahabali Shera (OH COME ON) to pull TJP back out and plant him on the apron. Raju hits a sliding knee for the pin at 10:38.
Rating: C. Good grief, are they really trying to drive me this crazy around here? Shera is one of those guys who may have changed for the better but is still one of those names best associated with the darker days of Impact. As long as he isn’t doing that stupid dance, he should be fine but I’m not sure how many fans are going to be happy to see him.
Violent By Design talk about being violent by design. The olive branch isn’t being offered to everyone, but Eric Young can baptize Cody Deaner in violence.
Cody will answer next week.
Here’s what’s coming next week and at No Surrender.
Chris Bey/Moose vs. Rich Swann/Tommy Dreamer
Dreamer and Bey trade headlock takeovers to start and that means a standoff. Bey knocks him down in a hurry though and we take a break. Back with Swann coming in to strike away at Moose, who throws him into the corner for the running uppercut. Bey runs him over as well and grinds away with a headlock. Swann gets faster and spins around, setting up a dropkick for his own two.
Dreamer comes back in for an abdominal stretch but since that’s a bit exhausting, it’s already back to Swann for a kick to the back. A few kicks put Swann down though and Moose comes in to rip away at the eyes. Swann’s sunset flip only gets one before Bey is back up to elbow him in the face. The chinlock doesn’t last long and an enziguri goes a bit better for Swann, allowing the hot tag off to Dreamer. Moose crotches Swann on top though and hits the spear (with Dreamer sidestepping it) for the pin on Swann at 12:09.
Rating: C-. I know it’s just building towards a one off match for an Impact Plus special but Dreamer feels so out of place and tacked on here. Moose vs. Swann has been built up, just like Swann vs. Kenny Omega, but Dreamer is getting this one off spot that it takes a few weeks to set up. It isn’t going to matter long term, but egads it is dragging some weeks down.
Moose spears Dreamer down as well and poses with both titles to end the show.
Overall Rating: D+. It isn’t even like this show is that bad, but the amount of people they are bringing out of mothballs and pushing in fairly big spots are making me feel like the old days. That’s the kind of time reputation that Impact has been trying to shake for years now and yet here we are again. I really hope this doesn’t last, but the association with AEW is making Impact feel REALLY lame by comparison and the future is hardly looking bright. Instead it’s looking old, as there are fewer and fewer young stars in prominent spots around here. Don’t do that again, because it has been done horribly so many times before.
Results
Havok b. Tasha Steelz – Tombstone
Josh Alexander b. Madman Fulton – Jay Driller
Larry D. b. Crazzy Steve – Best Hand In The House
Jordynne Grace b. Susan – Grace Driver
Rohit Raju b. TJP – Sliding knee
Moose/Chris Bey b. Tommy Dreamer/Rich Swann – Spear to Swann
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.
Wrestling fans often forget how good they have it in the 21st century. Watching old WWF matches on a tiny TV screen in standard definition just doesn’t compare to the way we can enjoy the sport today.
Not only that, but the wealth of online wrestling content means you’ll never run out of things to watch, read and listen to.
One of the biggest sources of wrestling information in recent years has been podcasts. The format has grown rapidly since the early 2010s thanks to smartphones making it easier to find, download and listen to them on the go. With podcasts that cater to just about every topic imaginable, from poker to Esports, nearly half of all Americans have listened to at least one, with around 90 million doing so each month.
For wrestling fans, there are enough shows out there that you could spend all your waking hours listening to the latest news and discussions about it. But if you’re looking for quality over quantity, then here are the podcasts you should be listening to in 2021.
With a name that’s sure to bring an immature smirk to your face, the Going in Raw podcast is presented by Steve and Larson, two big pro wrestling fans. They started the show back in 2014 and have been publishing regular shows ever since. Both guys are good friends and passionate about what they do, which really comes across in their presentations.
Going in Raw is published most days, with some days seeing more than one release. Most last around an hour, though some are a little shorter.
You can find Going in Raw on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and PlayerFM.
The veteran pro wrestling journalist Wade Keller certainly knows a thing or two about the sport after spending more than 30 years covering it. He runs the popular Pro Wrestling Torch newsletter, which he founded way back in 1987, and has been hosting his Pro Wrestling Podcast since 2017.
With so much experience, you can be sure you’re listening to some of the best insight from the world of professional wrestling.
Keller publishes the Pro Wrestling Podcast several times a week (usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays with a few extras thrown in for good measure), with most lasting around two hours, giving you plenty of wrestling content to get your teeth into.
You can find the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, PlayerFM and most other places where you can download podcasts.
If you’re feeling a little nostalgic for wrestling of old, this podcast from the former WWE announcer will be right up your street. In addition to working as an anchor for the National Wrestling Alliance and the KVOA TV station, Mooney publishes his podcast several times a month.
Lasting around 60-90 minutes apiece, each episode of Prime Time with Sean Mooney sees him interview some of the biggest names from wrestling during the 80s, 90s, and 00s. Recent interviews have included Todd Pettengill, Scott Norton, and The Blue Meanie.
Prime Time with Sean Mooney is available on all the usual podcast platforms.
Shane Helms has been involved in professional wrestling since 1991. In that time he’s competing in the WWE, WCE, and several independent promotions. Today he works as a backstage producer for the WWE, though he has also made the occasional appearance in the ring. The most recent being an All Elite Wrestling cameo in November last year.
Being on the inside of professional wrestling, Helms is in the perfect position to share great insights, something he does every Wednesday in his Highway2Helms w/ Shane Helms podcast.
Each episode is different though, with discussions on everything from fantasy football to where Helms has been travelling to recently, mixed with plenty of wrestling content. It’s great if you want some variety in your listening.
Highway2Helms w/ Shane Helms is available on all the usual podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify.
Smackdown
Date: September 8, 2006
Location: Civic Center, Columbus, Georgia
Commentators: Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield
We have a major match this time around as Batista is challenging Booker T. for the World Title in a rematch from Summerslam. In other words, this is the big special edition episode since there is no Smackdown pay per view this month. These things have hit and miss results but hopefully they can live up to the hype. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Opening sequence.
JBL and Cole are on their feet for their intro this week. I don’t remember the last time I saw that. Anyway they preview the main event.
Finlay vs. Rey Mysterio
Rey is a bit shaken up after what Chavo and Vickie Guerrero have been up to as of late. The Leprechaun is seen looking from underneath the ring skirt during Rey’s entrance. Eh fair enough as it’s not like he’s a surprise most of the time. Finlay powers him around to start so Rey kicks at the knee in a smart move. That earns him a hard atomic drop to cut him down again, allowing Finlay to wrestle him down without much effort. The headlock goes on for a bit, followed by a gutwrench suplex for two on Rey.
We take a break and come back with Rey still not all there and getting put into a nerve hold as a result. That lasts all of five seconds as Rey is back up with a headscissors for two, only to get caught in the Tree of Woe. A backbreaker out of the corner gets two and Finlay drives him back first into the corner again.
The some city in Ireland crab goes on but Rey gets a leg out and kicks Finlay in the face. That doesn’t work on someone as mean as Finlay, so he switches to a kneeling half crab. Rey fights up again and starts kicking at the leg for the real comeback, including the springboard seated senton for two. Another springboard doesn’t work though as Rey slips and it’s the Celtic Cross for the pin.
Rating: C+. This was an interesting way to go as Rey was messed up in the head and Finlay was good enough to take advantage of what happened. Rey vs. the Guerreros seems like it could be a long form story but it is also nice to see Finlay getting a boost out of it. He has had a nice run in WWE so far and I could go for seeing a lot more of it soon.
Post match JBL gets in the ring to ask Rey what’s wrong (or asking why the Guerreros think Rey is a piece of garbage) but Rey leaves without saying anything.
Mr. Kennedy vs. Danny Giamondo
Non-title and Kennedy says Giamondo is a former Olympic silver medalist in power lifting and a six time NCAA Champion. Cole can’t find any of that information anywhere, even as Kennedy takes him into the ropes and chokes on the rope. The neck crank doesn’t last long as Giamondo fights up and hammers away in the corner. That’s about it though as Kennedy blocks a superplex attempt and hits the Green Bay Plunge to win.
Post match Kennedy calls out Teddy Long to say he might go to Raw if John Cena comes to Smackdown. Long doesn’t like that, so Kennedy can face the Undertaker at No Mercy. It’s a meme for a reason.
Video on the Marine.
Michelle McCool/Teacher’s Pets vs. Brian Kendrick/Paul London/Ashley Massaro
Stevens and London start things off with neither being able to get very far off a headlock. James comes in and gets his arm cranked, with everyone getting a shot in on said arm. Stevens low bridges London to the floor though and it’s a chinlock back inside. London grabs a rollup for two and gets over for the hot tag to Kendrick. Everything breaks down with the women getting in a fight, with the focus being on the skirts flying up. Kendrick comes off the top with a sunset flip to James, with London adding a dropkick so Kendrick can get the pin.
Rating: C-. They didn’t have much time here but the women being there does keep the match feeling different enough. The tag team division is hardly deep at the moment but there are enough teams out there for London and Kendrick to face for the next few….ok maybe not months but they should be fine at least through No Mercy. If nothing else, London and Kendrick are fun to watch.
Video on King Booker.
Vito comes out to do commentary for William Regal’s match. Regal comes out to say this was supposed to be against Vito, but after last week, Regal was considering a sexual harassment lawsuit. As Vito shows off his legs, we have a replacement.
William Regal vs. Bobby Lashley
Vito is on commentary as Lashley powers Regal into the corner to start and then pulls him back inside. Regal is sent outside and Vito pulls up the dress to show off the thong. That’s enough to have Regal panicking again so he pulls Lashley face first into the steps instead. Back in and Regal slugs away in the corner, only to charge into a boot to the face. Lashley can’t hit the powerslam but he can hit the spear for the pin.
Rating: C-. This was more about Vito, so at least he’s doing something other than beating up jobbers. It’s still not exactly a story that has any kind of legs to the whole thing but I’ll take any kind of a change over the same stuff if it has to be around. I’m not sure how long this is going to go, but Regal and Vito could have some comedy possibilities.
Post match JBL runs away from Vito’s handshake. Lashley shakes his hand though and there’s your endorsement.
The Miz vs. Matt Hardy
Miz insults the crowd before the match, including the local Little League World Series Champions. JBL classes things up by making all kinds of gay jokes about Cole and Vito before switching to something a little better by saying it’s stupid to brag about Miz being undefeated when he’s 1-0.
Matt starts fast by pulling Miz out of the corner into a powerbomb but Miz knocks him down in a hurry. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Miz fights up and hammers away as JBL is ranting about reality TV. Matt’s middle rope elbow to the head gets two and he sends Miz outside for a slingshot dive. Back in and the referee gets bumped, allowing Gregory Helms to run down and shove Matt off the top. Miz grabs a rollup with tights for the pin.
Rating: C-. The action worked while it lasted and Miz getting to brag about being undefeated is going to be rather entertaining. I’ve been a fan of the guy for years and it’s fun to see one of the most improbably rises in the history of wrestling. Miz isn’t very good in the ring but he’s a great character and personality and that’s what matters here.
Jimmy Wang Yang is still coming and doesn’t like people think Asians are smart. He got straight B’s!
Chavo Guerrero vs. Tatanka
Vickie Guerrero handles Chavo’s intro and says he is dedicating this match to the Guerrero legacy. Tatanka works on the arm to start but Chavo dropkicks the knee out for a knockdown. Leg cranking ensues as JBL rants about everything Guerrero related he can think of. Tatanka fights back with the chops, including the top rope version. The Papoose To Go connects but Chavo gets his foot on the rope. That’s enough to make Tatanka yell at the referee, allowing Chavo to jump him from behind. The frog splash is enough to finish Tatanka.
Rating: D+. Does Tatanka have photos of Vince with a sheep or something? He’s far from the worst thing around but is there a reason he’s getting on TV week after week? Nothing match of course, but I’m not sure why you would expect anything else. Chavo and Vickie should be fine as a team and odds are they are going to be a focal point for a long time to come.
MVP runs into Teddy Long and says he wants John Cena money to come to Smackdown. Long is tired of dealing with MVP’s lawyers so MVP gets serious, meaning Long has to wipe the spit off of his face.
Video on Batista.
Smackdown World Title: King Booker vs. Batista
Booker is defending and Queen Sharmell handles the ALL HAIL KING BOOKER’s this week. Before the match, Booker gives Batista a chance to bow down or take this whipping. The bell rings after the break with Batista unloading in a hurry. Batista hammers away in the corner and grabs a keylock of all things.
The shoulders in the corner send Booker bailing to the floor but Batista rams him into a few things for two back inside. Booker gets in a kick to the face for two and is stunned on the kickout. We take a break and come back with Batista unloading on the floor and glaring at Sharmell for daring to get involved. An ax kick to a hanging Batista drops him to the floor and the side slam gets two back inside.
Batista fights back again and hits his own side slam for two more but Booker uses the trunks to send him outside. After decking William Regal in the crowd, Batista comes back in with the spinebuster. Sharmell grabs a chair so the referee deals with her, allowing Finlay to come in with the Shillelagh shot to the head to retain the title.
Rating: C. One of the good things about these major shows is they build things up well enough to make you believe that something could happen. I’m not sure they need to do Batista vs. Booker III at No Mercy but Batista vs. Finlay could be a heck of a power match. Booker will likely have to face Batista again but I’m not sure if that happens so soon.
Post match Finlay unloads with the Shillelagh to bust Batista open. A shot into the exposed turnbuckle and a chair to the head leave a pretty bloody Batista laying to end the show.
Overall Rating: C-. This was a weird one as there was nothing overly great on the show but they had enough stuff going on to keep my interest. In other words, it is a show that felt like it had a lot of good things to pick from but it didn’t wind up working out in the end. Smackdown continues to trot out some fresher, younger wrestlers though and that makes for a pretty quick two hours. Not a great show, but an easy one to watch.
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