IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: September 26, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness, Mauro Ranallo

The road to WarGames continues and you can see most of the card from here. At the same time though, we’re also trying to find out who attacked Aleister Black. The investigation has been going on for weeks and it should be about time we know whodunit, especially with Takeover starting to come into focus. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Here’s William Regal to talk about what he’s found in the Black situation but the Undisputed Era cuts him off almost immediately. Adam Cole thinks Regal is going to come out here and not do his job and that’s on Regal. It’s also in the past and now Regal’s responsibilities is to make sure that such a thing doesn’t happen again. On top of that, what is Regal going to do about the War Raiders? Regal finds it interesting that the three of them interrupt him when he’s talking about the investigation.

The three of them get in the ring and accuse Regal of trying to get away from the War Raiders. Cole wants to know why Ricochet has been ducking him or why Pete Dunne got a title shot. Regal says Dunne asked for a shot and Cole gets a little more serious. There’s no title shot for Cole right now because it wouldn’t be fair. However, in two weeks Cole can have his rematch in a triple threat match with Ricochet and Dunne. As for the War Raiders, they’ll get their title shot in three weeks.

Johnny Gargano is in a good mood and ready to face Tony Nese next week. He’s apologized for his failures and for the man he was becoming. Next week, he starts back down the right path. Johnny goes over to Candice LeRae when Lacey Evans comes in to say Candice should have been fighting next to him. Gargano has to hold Candice back.

Video on Lars Sullivan.

Velveteen Dream isn’t going to talk about Johnny Gargano or Aleister Black, though he seems to accuse Tommaso Ciampa of being the attacker. He’s not a snitch though and the writing is on the wall.

Lars Sullivan vs. Victor Orchant

Forearms to the back set up a pop up powerslam as the fans chant for the jobber. A pair of beals sent Orchant to the floor but here’s EC3 from behind for the DQ at 1:28.

EC3 actually wins the post match brawl and knocks Sullivan to the floor.

Regal has narrowed down his list of suspects but Nikki Cross comes out of his office. She wants to face Bianca Belair again and Regal says he’ll consider it. Cross won’t let him into his office and keeps saying “I know”. She leaves and Regal seems to think she’s a bit out there. Nobody knows what Nikki knows.

Street Profits vs. The Mighty

The Mighty have the Profits’ cup and jewelry from a few weeks back. The Profits are serious this week, which you don’t see every day. Thorn laughs at them to start so Ford knocks him senseless with a single right hand (that looked GREAT) to start things off. Ford hammers on Miller to start things off and a spinning Stinger splash makes things even worse. A double bulldog takes the Profits down and Ford adds a big dive to the floor.

Back in and Dawkins charges into a boot in the corner as Percy says this issue is about the “principalities” of the thing. Nigel: “What does THAT mean?” Total silence from Percy, as there should be there. Dawkins slips away and brings in Ford to clean house. They head outside though and Thorn dropkicks the steps into Ford’s knee to take over.

A double Russian legsweep sets up a clothesline for two on Ford and it’s off to a leglock. That goes nowhere so it’s a double clothesline for the double knockdown but Miller pulls Dawkins off the apron. Ford flips out of a suplex but tweaks the knee, allowing Thorn to roll him up for the pin at 7:41.

Rating: C. Both of these teams are kind of floundering at the moment and it’s a good idea to have one of them get a clean pin here. I could have gone for more of the Profits but it seems that their time is over. The Mighty don’t do much for me but at least they’re getting a win here to hopefully get somewhere.

Kairi Sane vs. Vanessa Borne

Non-title. Borne gets serious by STEALING KAIRI’S HAT and throwing it away. Kairi blocks some strikes and takes her down by the knee but a swinging suplex gives Borne two. The chinlock goes on for a bit before Sane is back with a DDT. The spear sets up the Insane Elbow to finish Borne at 3:06.

Rating: D+. Not quite a squash but Sane was never in any real danger and destroyed her in the end. Borne is still someone who could be a player in the division and losing clean to the champ isn’t going to really hurt her though at some point she needs to actually win something of note.

Post match here’s Shayna Baszler to say she’s coming for the title. She’s invoking her rematch clause so Sane says we’ll do it at Evolution.

Keith Lee wants competition and goes in to see Kona Reeves. Kona doesn’t think much of him because Lee interrupted his interview prep. Lee: “You’re the man with the finest set of losses in NXT.” A match is made for next week.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Otis Dozovic

Non-title. Dozovic runs him over with some shoulders and throws Ciampa over the corner to the floor. Back in and a spinning slam plants Ciampa again, followed by a backdrop to the floor. That means a Worm from Dozovic as Ciampa isn’t sure what to do. Dozovic makes the mistake of going outside and Ciampa slams him head first into the ramp to take over for the first time.

Some hard forearms to the back of the head have Dozovic in trouble and there’s a braced knee to the head for two. Another knee to the face gets another two and we hit the sleeper. You don’t jump on the back of a monster though and Dozovic drops backwards onto Ciampa for the crash. Some clubbing shots to the face and a hard clothesline give Dozovic two so Ciampa goes for a walk.

Cue Tucker Knight to cut him off though and Dozovic suplexes him on the floor. A big elbow gets two back inside so Ciampa rakes the eyes. He still can’t hit the Fairytale Ending though so Dozovic gives him a sitout powerbomb for two instead. Ciampa is fine enough to hit a hanging DDT onto the apron though and the regular version is enough to finish Dozovic at 9:39.

Rating: B. This is a great example of a match that had no business being anything worthwhile whatsoever and turning into something very entertaining. Dozovic got a lot out of this and Ciampa had to sweat a bit for a win because he underestimated Dozovic coming in. Why can’t we get something like this on Raw every now and then? Like AJ Styles vs. Luke Harper or something. Let them have some fun and see what talent is out there.

Overall Rating: C+. Good show here as you can see WarGames from here and a lot of interesting stuff is coming up as well. With stuff like Black’s attacker likely being revealed soon and the impending arrival of Matt Riddle, we could be in for some very entertaining shows in the next few weeks.

Results

Lars Sullivan b. Victor Orchant via DQ when EC3 interfered

The Mighty b. Street Profits – Rollup to Ford

Kairi Sane b. Vanessa Borne – Insane Elbow

Tommaso Ciampa b. Otis Dozovic – Hanging DDT

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 26, 2018
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

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

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

Opening recap and preview.

Opening sequence.

The empty seat situation is fixed after last week.

Noam Dar vs. Lio Rush

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

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

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

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

Brian Kendrick vs. ???

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

Post match Drew Gulak beats the jobber up.

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

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

Mustafa Ali vs. Hideo Itami

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: World of Sport

World of Sport
Date: September 22, 2018
Location: Epic Studios, Norwich, England
Commentators: So Cal Val, Stu Bennett, Alex Shane

It’s the next to last show and since Justin Sysum won a #1 contenders match a few weeks back, it’s time to crown a #1 contender. Yeah that hasn’t made sense in recent weeks and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. With just a week to go before the final episode, you can also almost guarantee Grado getting something going, likely in the form of a Tag Team Title shot. Let’s get to it.

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

There’s an opening. It recaps stuff.

Women’s Title: Kay Lee Ray vs. Viper

Viper is challenging because she hasn’t gotten to do that recently enough. Kay speeds things up to start and kicks Viper in the leg, followed by a running Downward Spiral for two. One heck of a crossbody gives Viper two of her own and she shrugs off…whatever the camera cut didn’t let us see.

A backsplash crushes Ray for two more but she trips Viper down for hey look at the fans again. They head outside with Viper slamming her onto the ramp and getting two off the Michinoku Driver. Ray gets the same off a superkick and counters a superplex attempt into a sitout powerbomb for two more. The Gory Bomb retains the title at 6:17.

Rating: D+. So you remember all those other times when Viper was a monster and Ray managed to beat her anyway? This was the least interesting of those as the “division” is still all of three people most of the time and Viper is the only one presented as a challenger to the title. Totally nothing match as the same thing has been done multiple times.

As usual, neither woman gets to say anything. You think that might be why the women’s division is the weakest part of the show?

Bennett gets to announce the big unique match, which is called the Buzzer Battle. It will start as an elimination tag match and every time he rings the buzzer, two more will be added. Once we get down to eight people, the match turns into an over the top rope battle royal. The winner of that is #1 contender, like Justin Sysum is at the moment.

Buzzer Battle

There will be sixteen people in all and we start off with Robbie X vs. Kip Sabian, which isn’t a tag team elimination match, meaning I don’t think the promotion gets the idea either. The feeling out process goes to Sabian who sends Robbie into the corner, only to get dropkicked down for his efforts. Sabian grabs a cravate and the buzzer brings in Stevie Boy and BT Gunn, giving us Robbie/Stevie vs. Sabian/Gunn as I try to figure out how these teams are determined.

An ax handle to the arm sends Sabian over to the corner for a tag and it’s Boy vs. Gunn. They’re hesitant to start until Gunn throws a dropkick, only to have Iestyn Rees join Gunn/Sabian and Liam Slater join Stevie/Robbie. Gunn and Boy stay in the ring with Gunn hiptossing him down until Rees tags himself in. Sabian comes in as well for some kicks to the back as the fans want Robbie. Stevie can’t get a hurricanrana on Rees so it’s the powerbomb/neckbreaker combination to plant him instead.

Sabian makes Gunn get the pin but he won’t do it, meaning Sabian has to come back in for the pin instead. Gunn punches Sabian in the face and gets decked by Rees, allowing Slater to come in and get the elimination. The buzzer brings in Grado and Sha Samuels, giving us Grado/Slater/Robbie vs. Rees/Sabian/Samuels. Grado and Samuels come in, which the announcers call a “historic” rivalry. I mean, they’ve had one match so I guess that’s historic now.

The jabs into the Bionic elbow but Rees and Sabian pull Grado’s partners to the floor, allowing Samuels to clothesline Grado down. Back from a break (the first ever during a match on this show) with nothing having changed (always appreciated) as Robbie and Slater try to get back on the apron. Bennett is enjoying Grado taking a beating so Val rings the buzzer, bringing out British Bulldog Jr. to join Grado/Slater/Robbie and CJ Banks to join Samuels/Sabian/Rees.

A quick cutter takes Samuels down and it’s off to Bulldog vs. Sabian. Bulldog cleans house in a hurry but an atomic drop/shoulder combination takes him down. Grado comes back in and everything breaks down….so it’s a quadruple DQ to get rid of Grado, Bulldog, Rees and Sabian. As annoying as I tend to find though, that’s a good idea in this match. There’s the buzzer so here’s Adam Maxted but Nathan Cruz, who doesn’t have a contract, jumps him from behind and gets in to beat on Slater, which is perfectly legal.

Even Barrett says he had another wrestler in that spot as Slater dives over for a tag to Maxted so house can be cleaned. Another buzzer brings in Crater on Cruz’s team and Sysum on Maxted’s team but Barrett is getting bored so another buzzer brings in Gabriel Kidd and….MOOSE??? Wait you had MOOSE available for any length of time and you don’t mention it until there’s an hour and fifteen minutes left in the season??? Val: “There is a Moose loose about this WOS hoose!” That almost makes up for what a mind boggling decision it is to wait this long for Moose to debut.

So we’re down to Robbie/Slater/Maxted/Sysum/Moose vs. Banks/Samuels/Cruz/Crater/Kidd. The double tag brings in Moose to face Banks for the MOOSE jabs and the fans are way into him, because he’s the most charismatic guy on the roster (save for maybe Grado). Everything breaks down and Slater dives onto a bunch of people, followed by Kidd doing the same. Cruz hits a hanging Codebreaker to get rid of Robbie and tags Crater in for a reverse Razor’s Edge flipping slam on Slater.

A splash finishes Slater and we take a second break as we’re down to eight, meaning the battle royal is on with a final grouping of Slater, Maxted, Sysum, Moose, Samuels, Banks, Cruz, Crater and Gabriel. Back again with nothing changed for a second time (sweet) with everyone sliding in and a bunch of shots of the crowd. Cruz and Maxted are tossed out and fight up the ramp as Kidd is eliminated as well. Actually Cruz and Maxted went out through the ropes so it’s only seven left.

Banks and Samuels hold Sysum so Crater can drop a splash until Moose makes a save. We can’t have Moose vs. Crater yet though as Banks jumps Moose from behind. Maxted and Cruz get back in with the former eliminating the latter, only to have Cruz come back in and toss Maxted as well. This of course is perfectly within the rules because….well why wouldn’t it be? Security gets rid of Cruz as Moose clotheslines Banks and Samuels down at the same time.

The running basement dropkicks in the corner rock the two of them and they’re both tossed a few seconds later. The Crater vs. Moose battle begins…and ends in a hurry with Crater tossing him out, to get us down to Crater and Sysum. Justin slugs away and manages to pick Crater up, only to have the big man fall on him. Crater charges into a boot though and Sysum does slam him, followed by the toss for the win at 31:45.

Rating: D+. To say this was different than anything else all season is an understatement but that doesn’t make it a good idea. This match, while very unique, was more complicated than it needed to be. I certainly do like the idea of having something other than just a big battle royal, but the elimination stuff here was all over the place and I kept having to check my notes to see who was in the match on which side. That makes me remember how badly built up this roster has been and that’s not something we need to be reminded of again.

Once we got to the battle royal though, it got a lot better as you could keep track of what was going on and who was still in, even though Cruz’s participation was rather annoying if you’re treating the show with continuity. Sysum winning was about as obvious as you could get, especially when you factor in HE WAS ALREADY #1 CONTENDER IN THE FIRST PLACE. In other words, the wrestling itself was fine, but it was messier than it needed to be and a big end around that gets us right back where we were in the first place.

Sysum can’t believe he won.

Next week: Sysum vs. Rampage and Grado/Bulldog Jr. vs. Rees/Sabian. Well duh.

Overall Rating: C. The big match was a nice change of pace, though the opener was only going to be so good given what the story was with the time allotted. I do appreciate the fact that they’ve changed things up as it was VERY needed around here, but how excited can I get over it with an hour to go in the entire series? It’s too late in the process, but at least they did make for a better episode this time around. If nothing else, just for the sake of changing things up and having what felt like a big match instead of another seven to eight minute match.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #23
Date: September 21, 2018
Location: War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

We’re still down in Florida and that’s not the worst thing in the world. The arena looked rather good last week for WarGames and had a very close knit vibe to it, making the show feel more intimate than most. Well as intimate as two teams inside a double cage is going to get. Let’s get to it.

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

Here are Konnan with Fenix and Pentagon Jr. for an opening chat. Konnan is fired up to be back home and the CERO MIEDO chants start up. He wants to talk about Salina de la Renta and while he doesn’t have a problem with ambition, he has an issue with her methods. Those contracts for Pentagon and Fenix were so one sided and a good example of why wrestling contracts get bad names.

Cue Salina with Ricky Martinez, the latter of whom is carrying a contract. Salina makes it clear that Pentagon and Fenix were granted early release and didn’t walk away. She offers them new contracts, which were negotiated with “Hunter”, who is offering them English classes and a little rebranding. Ricky holds out a pen and the fans are already starting the NO chants. If they sign, they can get out of having to face LA Park and Low Ki. That’s a big no though, as Spanish is shouted and the contracts are ripped up. MLW has these two signed up for a long time and teasing the WWE signing is an interesting idea.

Opening sequence.

Stud Stable vs. Hart Foundation

Dirty Blonds/Parrow for the Stable here and this is under hurricane (tornado) rules. Pillman wearing a smoking jacket to the ring is a perfect touch and he’s looking more like his dad every day. Smith starts the beating early as Pillman slips to the floor to trip Parrow. The Foundation cleans house but Pillman charges into a boot in the corner. That’s not cool with Smith, who fires off kicks to Parrow’s chest.

Hart hits the big moonsault to the floor and the fans are way into him all over again. Back in and Smith suplexes Brien, leaving Hart to hit a slow motion sunset bomb out of the corner. Pillman takes forever coming off the top with a high crossbody but Parrow is right there to throw him into the corner. The Blonds are back up and beat Hart down, much to the fans’ annoyance. Not that it matters as Pillman knocks Brien to the floor, leaving Parrow to take the running powerslam for the pin at 4:26.

Rating: C-. I don’t disagree with the idea of the Harts winning here, as they are almost destined to be a major force around here. However, the Stable hasn’t won anything of note in what feels like months and you can’t do that much longer without the wins not meaning anything anymore. Pillman was clearly being protected in one of his first matches back from injury and there’s nothing wrong with that. Good win for the Harts.

Post match the Harts leave as Colonel Parker yells at Parrow. The Blonds beat Parrow down to kick him out of the Stable.

Video on WarGames, including Sami Callihan blaming Jimmy Havoc for the loss.

Havoc isn’t pleased with what Sami did and thinks the anger is misdirected. One of Sami’s kids tapped out but that’s not the point. They’re going to fight and Havoc likes that Sami is angry.

Aria Blake and Maxwell Jacob Friedman are in the back with MJF not getting the women’s wrestling thing. Or women’s voting for that matter, but that’s a different story. Blake wants to snatch Taya Valkyrie bald but Friedman would rather talk about his abs.

Aria Blake/Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Taya Valkyrie/Joey Ryan

This is Taya’s debut. Hang on though as Ryan needs a lollipop and some oil. The bell rings and Friedman WILL NOT touch Ryan’s….yeah. Ryan: “If you’re not going to touch it, maybe SHE’LL touch it!” Bocchini on what we’re seeing: “I don’t know how to explain this on national television. Google it.” That’s as good as you can do in that situation. Blake rips at Ryan’s chest hair instead and actually gets a near fall as it’s back to MJF for a failed atomic drop attempt.

Taya comes in for a drop toehold onto Joey’s crotch, which MJF sells like death for two. Back up and MJF refuses to hit a woman so Taya slaps him instead. A shake of the chest and a shot to the face gets two before it’s back to Ryan. Blake offers a cheap shot from the apron and it’s MJF taking over by ripping at Ryan’s face. With Ryan in trouble, Blake comes back in for some spanks and a spinning neckbreaker for two.

It’s back to MJF for a chinlock until Ryan suplexes his way to freedom. That’s enough for a double tag to the women with Taya easily getting the better of it, including some running knees in the corner. A surfboard stomp gives Taya two and she seems….mildly annoyed at best. Aria gets in a kick to the head though and it’s back to the men. Ryan slugs away and puts the lollipop in MJF’s mouth, freaking him out as you might have expected. The superkick hits Taya by mistake though, allowing Aria to hit Ryan low. As she tends to her likely broken arm, MJF gets a rollup with trunks to pin Ryan at 8:37.

Rating: D+. That really needs to be it for this feud as MJF has beaten Ryan every time. There’s enough of a roster around to allow Friedman to have multiple opponents and it’s time to switch things up a bit. Ryan wasn’t as over the top here outside of signature stuff and mostly wrestled the match straight, which is the right call in something like this.

Post match Aria has her elbow out of socket ala Alexa Bliss for a great touch. MJF brags about getting rid of Ryan and Joey Janela, so here’s Janela to jump him from behind. A low blow gets MJF out of trouble.

Fury Road Control Center. Announced for the show: Tom Lawlor vs. Shane Strickland. I’m good with that.

Callihan accepts Havoc’s challenge and blames the WarGames loss on his former friend.

Brody King vs. PCO

King wastes no time in stomping PCO down in the corner and dropping a backsplash for an early two. PCO is fine enough to knock King to the floor and hit a suicide dive, which is rather impressive given how huge he is. They slug it out with PCO’s shouting adding a lot to the impacts.

A pop up powerbomb drops King back inside and PCO gets annoyed at the referee for not counting fast enough. King gets two of his own off a running clothesline and a suplex is good for the same. PCO is right back with a DDT but King backdrops him into the corner for a scary looking crash. We get the required slugout until they go for each others eyes. The referee gets shoved down and it’s a double DQ at 5:19.

Rating: C. There is something so much fun about having two big guys hit each other really hard for a few minutes. The ending here is fine as they can have a street fight or something to really get violent and that’s where the story needs to go anyway. PCO has grown a lot on me in a short while and I’m getting into the idea of the character.

Post match King piledrives PCO and hammers away at his unconscious body. Referees get Brody out and PCO MOONSAULTS ONTO EVERYONE (Freaking sweet!) to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This is a show where the matches don’t add up to the overall total. They’re packing in a lot of good stuff onto the show and I’m liking the characters and motivations more every week. Above all else though, they’re giving you a reason to tune in next week and that’s not something that even WWE knows how to do a lot of the time. It’s a good sign for the future and something a lot of companies take years to understand.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 20, 2018
Location: Fronton Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Don Callis, Josh Matthews

After all the weeks of telling us multiple times a night that the show was going to Mexico City, the show is now in Mexico City! Odds are these tapings will take us up to Bound For Glory next month and that means we should be seeing some big stuff taking place over the next four weeks. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at the major feuds around here, including the World Title situation, OVE and LAX. The World Title match gets a lot of time as well.

Aerostar/El Hijo Del Vikingo/Laredo Kid vs. OVE

They waste no time in the six way staredown until Laredo kicks away at Dave, who has grown a Wyatt Family size beard in a week. Aerostar comes in and kicks Jake until Sami powerbombs him down. It’s Vikingo’s turn now and he hand walks into a hurricanrana to send Jake outside. That means we hit the dives with Kid moonsaulting onto everyone and Vikingo shooting starring onto an even bigger pile.

Back in and Sami pounds on Laredo as we actually get down to a regular match. A double beal sends Laredo flying…into his corner so it’s off to Vikingo. That doesn’t go well either as he gets caught in the corner for some kicks to the back. Another double beal is reversed with a seated senton and it’s Aerostar coming in to clean house. A springboard Codebreaker into a shooting star press into a 450 gives a dog pile two count on Sami. OVE is right back up with triple Tombstones and the All Seeing Eye finishes Vikingo at 8:23.

Rating: C+. That’s a very good way to start off a big series of shows like this. You need something fast paced and exciting, which is what a trios match is going to do. Most importantly though they had Aerostar in there, which gives the fans someone they recognize. His partners could hang with him, which lets you know their skill level. Otherwise, I have no idea who Vikingo is and therefore I don’t know if OVE should be squashing him or winning a hard fought match. Well done for such a simple match.

Matt Sydal again offers his services to Rich Swann. He suggests a tag match against the Lucha Bros and Swann actually agrees, though he tells Sydal to keep up.

Tessa Blanchard throws a woman out of the locker room and Faby Apache (a big name in AAA) tells her to show some respect. That sounds like a setup.

Here’s Eli Drake for an Open Challenge and it includes a first class ticket on the Gravy Train.

Eli Drake vs. Trevor Lee

Trevor is fired up to start and uppercuts Drake in the corner but a running clothesline takes him down. A trip to the floor doesn’t last long as Lee brings it back inside for two off a backbreaker. The Gravy Train is countered into a rollup for two but the second Gravy Train attempt is enough for the pin at 3:37.

Rating: D. Lee showed some fire here and was better than I was expecting. Drake winning these matches in a hurry tells me that TNA has something planned for him and that’s a good sign going forward. The action made the match work and they were smart to keep things going at such a fast pace.

King wants to beat up a luchador to show Konnan what he has.

King vs. Kronoz

The OGz beat Kronoz down and a spinning back fist gives King the pin at 19 seconds.

Post match King calls out Konnan to no reaction.

In the clubhouse, Konnan and LAX rant about King’s lack of respect. Konnan tells them not to tell him what to do because the ceasefire can’t be broken up. The revenge can take place at Bound For Glory.

Alisha vs. Faby Apache

They kick at the legs to start with Faby getting the better of things. A surfboard has Alisha in trouble until she hurricanranas her way out of trouble. Alisha gets two off a victory roll but she charges into a boot in the corner. The Black Widow doesn’t last long so Alisha goes with a clothesline instead. A Flatliner gets two on Apache but she kicks Alisha in the face and hits a Batista Bomb for the pin at 5:10.

Rating: C-. The earlier segment made it pretty clear that Apache is destined to face Tessa at some point down the line so she’s not about to lose to a low level name like Alisha. That being said, Alisha got in some offense here and it made the match watchable enough. Not too bad here and Apache is in for something bigger.

Post match Faby (through a translator) says she wants to face Tessa next week because Tessa is a new girl and needs to learn respect.

Texano Jr. says he has two partners of his own: his fists and his bullrope. Those are enough to let him win the World Title and ride away on his horse holding it.

Scarlett Bordeaux will have an announcement next week.

Rich Swann/Matt Sydal vs. Lucha Bros

As you might expect, the Lucha Bros are crazy over. Swann and Fenix go to an early standoff and Fenix isn’t sure what to make of that. It’s off to Pentagon vs. Sydal as things break down in a hurry. A cutter drops Sydal and Pentagon superkicks Swann out of the air for two. We settle down to Sydal kicking Pentagon in the face for two but Swann comes back in and eats a superkick.

The hot tag brings in Fenix to clean house and there’s the big corkscrew dive to the floor. Everyone is down and we take a break. Back with Sydal kneeing Fenix in the face and stereo hurricanranas taking the Bros down. Pentagon is fine enough to Fear Factor Sydal on the apron, followed by the Muscle Buster driver (Black Fire driver) for the pin on Swann at 13:04, though Fenix looked surprised that he won.

Rating: C+. Usual good stuff from these four, as Sydal is much easier to watch when he’s not allowed to talk. The Lucha Bros are really entertaining and work so well together, which is the case with any brothers. You can’t fake that kind of thing and it’s a good reason why so many brother teams are that good.

Post match OVE comes in for the beatdown until Brian Cage makes the save.

Aries is ready to face Texano because there’s no one left.

The Desi Hit Squad is getting a massage before their non-title match next week against LAX. Gama Singh comes in and orders them to exercise and beat each other up.

Joe Hendry and Grado have a new video on Katarina, with Hendry saying he’d never leave his best friend for her. As usual: Hendry is fun and entertaining and Grado is there too.

From Bound For Glory 2005: Ultimate X. The ending isn’t actually shown.

Video on Tessa Blanchard, Su Yung and Allie.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductee: Abyss. I have no issue with that whatsoever as he’s been around since the beginning.

Impact Wrestling World Title: Austin Aries vs. Texano Jr.

Aries is defending and has Moose and Killer Kross with him. Feeling out process to start and Aries takes him down for a dropkick. Back up and Texano scores with a forearm into a slingshot headbutt, only to have his neck snapped across the top rope. They fight to the floor and we take an early break.

Back with Aries raking the back and sending Texano into the corner as we break open the Hollywood Hogan Starter Offense. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gets Texano out of trouble and a Rough Ryder gets two on the champ. Aries takes a breather on the floor, where he picks up the bullrope. The referee takes it away so Texano hits a superkick for two. That’s about it for Texano though as the brainbuster retains Aries’ title at 12:12.

Rating: D. There was no spark to this at all and I was actually surprised when the match just ended out of nowhere. I’ve seen Texano put on some entertaining matches before and Aries is capable of great stuff but this was a bad effort from both of them. The stuff early on wasn’t anything to see and the ending was even worse. Really bad and disappointing match that certainly didn’t feel like a main event.

Post match Johnny Impact pops up with a graphic saying he’s in Los Angeles. Aries doesn’t buy it and asks where Impact is. Cue Impact down the ramp to clear the ring. Now it’s Eddie Edwards with the kendo stick to get in a few shots on the villains to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. Very meh show overall with nothing that stood out and two matches that were both rather bad. The fact that they were in Mexico City really just meant that they had some different jobbers, though I would prefer that to trying to make the show look like it’s in Mexico as some theme week idea that WWE uses in England. Not the worst show they’ve put on, but it didn’t help much in the Bound For Glory build.

Results

OVE b. El Hijo Del Vikingo/Laredo Kid/Aerostar – All Seeing Eye to Vikingo

Eli Drake b. Trevor Lee – Gravy Train

King b. Kronoz – Spinning back fist

Faby Apache b. Alisha – Sitout powerbomb

Lucha Bros b. Matt Sydal/Rich Swann – Black Fire driver to Swann

Austin Aries b. Texano Jr. – Brainbuster

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

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

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

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

I love the 80s.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/kbs-review-case-dont-remember/

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: September 25, 2018
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips

With less than two weeks to go before Super Show-Down, a lot of the big feuds are already in high gear. It’s almost like Smackdown has a good idea of how to set up a pay per view rather than just wasting time and having everything else going on at once. The big story is of course Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles for the World Title so let’s get to it.

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

We open with MizTV….as hosted by R-Truth and the now brunette Carmella. This is now Truth TV so Truth wants a WHAT’S UP. Carmella is introduced as the “Andy Richards” to his Conan O’Brien and hypes up Daniel Bryan as the guest. Truth has to read through some cards for his questions and asks about how Bryan took care of Miz and the other Carmella last week. Bryan: “This show is already better than MizTV.” Actually hang on, because we need a seven second dance break.

Truth and Carmella dance, followed by Truth promising an animal segment next. Bryan says last week was cathartic and now he wants to be WWE Champion again. That’s what’s coming at Super Show-Down because Bryan wants to be WWE Champion to prove that he’s the best while Miz wants to win the title so he can say he’s the best. Cue Miz to ask what Truth is doing. Truth says that he beat Miz two weeks ago and Miz didn’t have a title, he’s taking his talk show instead. Miz: “You’re an idiot.” Truth: “I’m an idiot with a talk show!”

Miz doesn’t like Bryan but Bryan always fights fair, which is why he’ll never win. That’s why Miz won at Summerslam and why he’ll win at Super Show-Down. Miz had one idea foiled last week but he has an idea for every minute of every day. If Bryan cheats in Australia, he’ll tarnish his own name and the beliefs of these people.

Truth complains about Miz talking too long and taking away the time from his animal segment. He’ll fight for the show right now, even though Miz says this is his show. Truth: “DANCE BREAK!” Miz goes to the back and rants to Paige about the show being stolen so we’re having a match for the show right now.

The Miz vs. R-Truth

Bryan is on commentary. Truth runs him over to start and stops to dance, with Miz being sent outside for a staredown with Bryan. Miz is knocked outside again and goes after Carmella, earning a clothesline from Truth. Back in and Truth charges into a boot to the face, followed by the YES Kicks. Bryan actually critiques the kicks and says why they’re not quite the real thing.

A DDT sets up a bow and arrow as Bryan actually praises Miz’s improving wrestling skills. Truth reverses a backslide into one of his own but Miz elbows him in the face as we take a break. Back with Truth hitting some clotheslines and a Stinger Splash, followed by a jawbreaker for two. The Lie Detector gets two but Miz pokes him in the eye, stares at Bryan, and hits a running knee for the pin at 11:40.

Rating: C-. Now, again, consider the difference between Raw and Smackdown’s way of building things. In addition to the obvious Bryan vs. Miz feud, tonight Miz and Asuka are facing Truth and Carmella on Mixed Match Challenge. Last night’s Finn Balor vs. Jinder Mahal match beat you over the head with they Mixed Match hype. This was more subtle, basically saying “hey if you want to see more of this, check out this other show”. That’s far better and more appealing than the Raw method, as it’s not beating you over the head. In other words, much better.

Earlier today, Becky Lynch jumped Charlotte at a photo shoot and demanded that her photos were taken instead. Charlotte has been sent home due to her injuries.

Big E. vs. Sheamus

Before the match, Kofi talks about not taking people seriously sometimes. That’s why before this match, we’ll be having the Say Something Nice Challenge. We’ll start with Cesaro, who has weird nipples and looks like a Swiss Jason Statham, but it’s cool because they like Statham movies. Sheamus’ mohawk is big and weird looking, but the carpet must match the drapes. Sheamus cuts them off and promises of taking the Tag Team Titles are made.

Sheamus jumps Big E. from behind as Graves talks about areola shaming. A hiptoss brings Sheamus to the floor and we take a break. Back with Big E. throwing him with a belly to belly and some hip swiveling. The Warrior Splash hits knees though and Sheamus gets two off a powerslam. The Brogue Kick is countered into a powerbomb for two but the spear through the ropes is countered. Sheamus escapes the Big Ending as well and it’s a Brogue Kick for the pin at 6:41.

Rating: D+. Not enough time to go anywhere but it was a watchable enough power match. Both tag divisions continue to be desperately in need of some switching up though as the Usos have nothing to do and Raw has almost no tag teams of note. You could easily mix things up and get a few better matchups out of the teams but that doesn’t seem likely.

Paige tells AJ Styles not to go too crazy out there during the contract signing.

Lana comes in to see Rusev, who wants answers from Aiden English.

Here are Rusev and Lana for a chat. Rusev calls English a traitor for turning on him on Rusev Day, so English needs to explain himself right now. English comes out to say none of this is his fault. Before they met, Rusev was the super athlete but no one cared about him. We see a clip of Rusev being here a year ago and the rise of Rusev Day since that moment. At Wrestlemania, 70,000 people were chanting their names (true for the most part), but then SHE happened.

We look back at Lana joining the team and everything falling apart. Lana talks about the Wrestlemania XXXI tank (still awesome) and accuses English of riding Rusev’s coattails. English says he knows Lana’s loyalty to her husband, but is she going to tell him about that one night in Milwaukee? That’s good for a mic drop and a HOLY S*** chant from the crowd.

Clip of the Summerslam contract signing between AJ and Joe.

Asuka and Naomi warm up.

Lana tells Rusev she has no idea what English is talking about when Becky comes in to say Milwaukee is a fun town. Trash talking ensues and Becky leaves as Rusev wonders when they were in Milwaukee last. Lana walks away.

The Iiconics are in the ring before the next match but Naomi’s entrance cuts them off before anything can be said.

Asuka/Naomi vs. Sonya Deville/Mandy Rose

Instead the Iiconics are on commentary. This is the result of some bickering earlier in the day. Joined in progress with Asuka in trouble and not being able to dive over to Naomi for the tag. That lasts for all of a few seconds until the hot tag brings in Naomi, who is taken down with a forearm to the back. The illegal Asuka hip attacks Mandy to the floor and it’s a double kick to Sonya’s head for the pin at 2:28 shown. Just a warmup for Australia.

Some wrestlers went to a Denver children’s hospital earlier today.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tye Dillinger

Non-title. Tye goes right after him to start but gets kicked down in the corner, followed by some stomps to the head. Kinshasa is blocked though and Tye gets two off a superkick and a frog splash. Tye hammers away in the corner…and here’s Randy Orton to pull him off for the DQ at 2:06.

Post match Orton wrecks Dillinger and leaves him laying. Not wanting to feel left out, Nakamura adds Kinshasa.

Rusev tells Lana he believes her saying nothing happened but Lana doesn’t seem happy.

Orton says Tye isn’t his next victim, but he doesn’t like the Perfect Ten thing.

Becky Lynch vs. Lana

Non-title. Becky knocks her down to start but Lana is right back with right hands to the head. That’s enough to send Becky outside and Lana makes the mistake of following her, earning herself a quick beating. Back in and a small package gives Lana two but it’s a Bexploder into the Disarm-Her for the tap at 2:53. Not quite a squash but close enough.

English promises video proof of what happened in Milwaukee.

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

Overall Rating: C+. As usual, there’s a goal for almost everything you see here and Smackdown knows how to sprinkle in the fun/entertaining stuff to go with the important series material. I’m looking forward to Super Show-Down, but the more I watch of the build makes me worry that we’re going to be watching another show that means nothing. At least the build has been good this time around, so hopefully we get something good this time around.

Results

The Miz b. R-Truth – Skull Crushing Finale

Sheamus b. Big E. – Brogue Kick

Asuka/Naomi b. Sonya Deville/Mandy Rose – Double kick to Deville’s head

Tye Dillinger b. Shinsuke Nakamura via DQ when Randy Orton interfered

Becky Lynch b. Lana – Disarm-Her

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: April 26, 2004
Location: Landon Arena, Topeka, Kansas
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

They don’t have to go far to beat Smackdown this week. We’re still a week away from the big Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit title match so you can probably bet on a lot of hype for that one tonight. Other than that Edge and Benoit are the new Tag Team Champions and Evolution won’t be happy. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Shawn challenging Benoit last week and Benoit and Edge winning the titles.

Opening sequence.

Lita/Victoria vs. Gail Kim/Molly Holly

Lita is especially smiley this week while Molly’s hair is now longer, brown and curly. Victoria and Gail start things off and it’s a very early dancing moonsault (again with the camera facing Victoria’s front) for two. Molly comes in for a quickly broken cravate so it’s off to Gail to keep beating on Victoria. An elbow knocks Lita off the apron and Gail grabs a Black Widow to take Victoria down. That’s broken up pretty quickly and the hot tag brings in Lita to clean house. A spinning belly to back suplex gets two on Gail and Molly loses the wig. Molly sends Victoria into the barricade, leaving Lita to DDT Gail for the pin.

Rating: D+. Not terrible as they take care of the issue from Backlash. It’s not like the women’s division means anything at the moment (and it hasn’t for years) so having the women trade wins don’t exactly help or hurt anything. They kept it short here and nothing was terribly botched so that’s about all you can ask for.

Post match Molly beats up Lita some more but here’s Kane of all people to interrupt. Just like last week Lita isn’t smart enough to roll under the bottom rope and get out so Kane strokes her cheek and smells her neck. She finally runs away and, after a break, runs into Matt Hardy in the back. Matt says he’s facing Kane tonight and he’ll take care of her. Kane shows up and beats Matt down as Lita wisely runs for a change.

Here’s Kansas’ own Coach for a chat. He brags about not choking like all of the Kansas college teams but here’s Tajiri to interrupt. Tajiri calls him a liar and wants a rematch tonight. That’s a no so Coach puts in an order for Chinese food. That means a kick to the head…and here’s HHH to interrupt. HHH kicks him low and asks why Shawn is getting the title shot. It was Shawn who tapped out at Backlash and that’s why HHH should be getting the shot instead. With Tajiri getting up, HHH says he’s just like Shawn because he doesn’t know when to get up. That means some green mist and the blind HHH freaks out as Tajiri runs.

Post break HHH goes into Bischoff’s office and yells at a plant (as in a potted plant) about wanting Tajiri tonight. Eric leaves and HHH yells at the empty room. Because he can’t see.

Rob Conway vs. Rhyno

Eugene and William Regal show up at commentary. Eugene: “French Canadians! Pat Patterson first Intercontinental Champion Rio de Janeiro 1979!” JR to Lawler: “You didn’t even know that.” The USA chants begin and Eugene joins in before heading down next to the Titantron for some cartwheels. Rhyno gets two off a belly to belly but gets thrown over the top.

Conway chokes on the ropes as Eugene has stolen some popcorn and come back to commentary. Regal: “No don’t put that in your ear!” Conway gets two off a kick to the ribs and the referee is nearly jumping as he counts the two. Eugene is over in the tech area as Conway whips Rhyno into the corner and gets two off a clothesline. Some pyro goes off thanks to Eugene pushing buttons, allowing Rhyno to hit a Gore (the only significant offense of the match) for the pin.

Rating: D. The wrestling was just a backdrop for the Eugene stuff but it feels like innocent, harmless fun. That’s the way they should be treating him and Regal as the funny straight man is the perfect foil. This was a lot of fun and I’m starting to remember why I was a big fan of the guy back in the day.

Post break La Resistance wants to fight Eugene tonight but Regal says that can’t happen. Johnny Nitro makes Eugene vs. Conway in two weeks.

Edge and Benoit are cut off by Shawn, who reminds him of their match next week. Shawn leaves and Edge wants Benoit to stay focused on tonight.

Here are Christian, Trish Stratus and Tyson Tomko for a chat before a match. Christian talks about Jericho being a problem and needing a problem solver.

Christian vs. Grandmaster Sexay

Sexay gets jumped to start as JR goes back to the 1800s for insults about Trish. A flapjack lets Sexay dance a bit and a middle rope dropkick gets two. The reverse DDT is broken up and a cactus crossbody puts them both on the floor. Back in and Tomko offers a distraction to break up the Hip Hop Drop. The Unprettier gives Christian the easy pin.

Post match Tomko kicks Sexay in the face but Jericho’s music hits. Tomko is sent into the aisle but Jericho comes in through the crowd and gets Trish in the Walls for all of two seconds.

HHH vs. Tajiri

HHH, with a somewhat green face, is still wiping his eyes and hammers away to start. Tajiri gets choked on the mat as the fans remind HHH that he tapped out. Some kicks knock HHH down and the handspring elbow gets two as the fans are already into this one. That’s enough to send HHH outside for a breather but Tajiri smacks him in the face and sends him head first into the steps. HHH gets back in at nine and the Buzzsaw kick is blocked.

Tajiri kicks away even more but walks into the spinebuster as Lawler makes more and more jokes about Tajiri’s accent. A hard whip sends Tajiri into the corner but he’s right back with a spinwheel kick. The Octopus Hold is countered by a HHH hiptoss and the Tarantula doesn’t go on full. Instead Tajiri goes with a missile dropkick that knocks HHH into the referee. The mist misses though and the Pedigree finally finishes Tajiri.

Rating: C+. This was much better than I was expecting with Tajiri working hard and HHH actually giving him a lot. You don’t see a midcarder going move for move like this with a top star very often and it makes for a very refreshing match. HHH didn’t lose anything here and Tajiri looked better than he has in a long time. Now why can’t we get something like this a little more often?

We recap the Lita/Kane/Matt Hardy stuff.

Kane vs. Matt Hardy

Matt, who always meets his deadlines, can barely walk to the ring. Kane wastes no time in beating him down and chokes on the ropes. A whip sends Matt chest first into the buckle and there’s the chokeslam. Kane chokeslams him again but Lita runs in to save Matt from the Tombstone. Lita lets him kiss her and Kane walks out. Angle instead of a match.

Victoria tried to get people to vote.

Lawler is in the ring to promote the Divas Magazine, because he’s the only one you could get to talk about the thing. We see some shots on the Titantron and here’s Stacy Keibler to help things out. What is she doing here you ask? Meeting Harley Race, sitting in the front row, of course. Therefore cue Randy Orton as JR panics. Orton says he’s the only real legend around here and has already accomplished more than Race has in his whole career. Race shaking his head is worth a chuckle and Orton goes out to spit on him. That draws Race over the barricade but Shelton Benjamin (hey he’s still here) to jump Orton for the save.

Smackdown Rebound. That show needs no more attention.

Batista and Flair want their titles back. Apparently Batista hasn’t been able to sleep since losing the titles and that will NEVER happen again. He screams everything he says here but does earn himself a WOO.

Tag Team Titles: Ric Flair/Batista vs. Edge/Chris Benoit

Benoit and Edge are defending and Edge still has a cast on his hand. Flair and Benoit hit the mat for an early standoff with Flair slicking the hair back. With the technical stuff not interesting him, Benoit chops in the corner and hits a backdrop. Flair goes for the leg (well duh) and it’s already off to Batista. Edge comes in as well and stomps the big man down in the corner until the running clothesline takes his head off.

Flair comes back in and gets taken down into a weird looking half crab (Edge is turned halfway around instead of facing backwards), followed by a Figure Four as tends to be required in Flair matches. Of course Flair knows the counter so it’s back to Benoit for more chops and a Flair Flop (earning some appreciative applause). Benoit chops him so much that it’s a second Flop but Edge walks into an atomic drop.

A knee to the back sends Edge hard into the corner and Batista sends the bad hand into the steps as we take a break. Back with Edge sending Batista face first into the buckle and the hot tag bringing in Benoit. They’re not wasting time with this one. Everything breaks down and Flair is clotheslined to the floor, leaving Batista to take the rolling German suplexes. The Swan Dive sets up the Crossface but Flair is back in for the save.

We settle back into the standard operating procedure here with Flair tossing Benoit into the corner and Batista adds a suplex. The half crab keeps Benoit in trouble and Flair gets two off a chop. You don’t chop with Benoit so Flair takes him down by the legs to bring Batista back in. An enziguri gets Benoit out of trouble and the hot tag brings in Edge. Everything breaks down again and Batista spinebusts Benoit. That allows Flair to load up the Figure Four, only to eat the spear to retain the titles.

Rating: B. Hot tag match here with a clean finish, which is a lot more than I was expecting. They’re rolling with the idea of longer wrestling matches at the moment and that makes for a very fun ending like this one. Edge and Benoit’s roll continues and Edge’s feud with Kane is forgotten more every week, thank goodness.

Post match HHH comes in to beat the Canadians down but here’s Shawn for the save with a chair. He hits Benoit by mistake (dun dun dun) and that’s not cool with Edge. They calm down but Benoit is up with the Sharpshooter to Shawn to end the show. Good way to set up next week’s title match.

Overall Rating: B-. There’s some stuff on here that isn’t as entertaining as the rest but it’s such an easy show to watch and they’re making it a lot of fun every single week. Above all else they’re not just focusing on one or two things and leaving the rest out to dry. Build up the entire show and the good parts will look even better as a result. If you happen to get something fun like Eugene as a bonus, it’s even better. Another good show this week.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: September 20, 2018
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Percy Watson, Corey Graves

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

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

Opening sequence.

Zack Ryder vs. Mike Kanellis

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

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

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

From Raw.

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

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

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

From Smackdown.

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

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

Apollo Crews vs. Mojo Rawley

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

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

From Raw again.

Universal Title: Roman Reigns vs. Baron Corbin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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