Dynamite
Date: August 20, 2025
Location: OVO Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Bryan Danielson, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

It’s the last Dynamite before we get to this weekend’s Forbidden Door. As a result, that means we are probably going to get some rapid fire build to the show. The good thing is that most of the card is already set, including a rather big lights out steel cage match, which should be…something. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Bryan Danielson comes out to be a special guest commentator. Yeah that still works.

Here is Will Ospreay to get things going. Ospreay says he’s been having one of the worst months of his career. He talks about the first time he ever came to Glasgow and got screwed over by a promoter. Ospreay praises the UK’s ability to drink and brings up Greggs’ sausage rolls (which are delicious) and we pause for a SAUSAGE, SAUSAGE ROLLS chant. Ospreay: “None of that vegan crap either!”

After calming Danielson down (that was funny), Ospreay talks about feeling human for the first time after having a bunch of health issues. A lot of wrestlers have gone down this same road and they never come back the same. Last week, he was not cleared for Forbidden Door, which is why he wanted the match to be lights out, meaning unsanctioned by AEW. He knows the risks and is willing to take them, and if he can’t be Will Ospreay after Sunday, then he’s going to give everything he has. This is about revenge and he is ready to enter the cage and tear the Death Riders apart.

Cue the Death Riders to interrupt, with Ospreay asking why Jon Moxley needs people to fight his battles. Ospreay is coming to get rid of Moxley, so Moxley should be ready to fight on his own. Cue Jet Speed to brawl with the Death Riders (before their scheduled six man tag tonight) and here is Hiroshi Tanahashi so let’s do the match now.

Jet Speed/Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Death Riders

Tanahashi crossbodies Moxley down to start but gets kicked in the face by Castagnoli to cut him off. Bailey comes back in to kick away at Yuta, who knocks him down to take over again. Marina Shafir gets in a cheap on the floor, with the referee looking right at her, before we continue. Thankfully she is ejected, with Will Ospreay coming out to carry her to the back, and we take a break.

We come back with Knight in trouble in the corner, allowing Castagnoli to strike away. Knight kicks his way to freedom and it’s Tanahashi coming back in to clean house. Triple Twist And Shouts take the Riders down but cue the Bullet Club Wardogs from New Japan for a distraction. Cue Will Ospreay with a body bag, leaving Tanahashi to hit the High Fly Flow for the pin on Yuta at 11:04.

Rating: B-. Tanahashi is retiring in a few months and that is pretty much the best for everyone. He’s an all time legend and one of the best ever, but my goodness his body is horribly broken down and it’s sad to see what he can’t do these days. The rest of the match was fine and Yuta losing is always worth a look, but Tanahashi’s inability to run is just sad to see.

Post match the Wardogs and the Death Riders beat down the winners, with the Young Bucks running in to superkick Ospreay. The Conglomeration cuts them off but Darby Allin pops out of the body bag to help with the brawl. Cue the Opps to help clear the villains out but the brawl goes into the crowd, where Allin Coffin Drops off the balcony to wipe everyone out. Total people involved in this whole thing: 19.

Video on MJF vs. Hangman Page, focusing on the main character vs. villain angle.

Here is Adam Copeland for a chat, along with a serenade from the crowd. Before he can say anything though, here is Christian Cage to join him in the ring. Cage goes to tell the fans to be quiet but Copeland cuts him off, saying these people love him. Copeland admits that Cage is an a******, but he’s COPELAND’S a******.

As Copeland realizes that wasn’t the best way to word things, Cage acknowledges that he has found himself…which is someone who does not need to change. They aren’t on the same page, but at least they are reading the same book. This is a reunion of necessity because they are agreeing to help each other with their respective problems. We get the handshake and here are Kip Sabian and Mother Wayne to interrupt.

Nick Wayne pops up on screen, carrying a pair of crutches though, because he has a broken foot. Wayne won’t be at Forbidden Door, so consider it a blessing that he can’t cost Copeland and Cage everything. He is always one step ahead though…and Killswitch is back. A chokeslam plants Copeland and Cage is laid out as well, as Sabian seems to have a replacement partner. Copeland and Cage being back together is what matters here, and I’m sure they’ll be on the same page sooner than later. It’s the Canadian way.

Mark Briscoe is in England to hurt MJF.

MJF interrupts Ricochet and the Gates Of Agony, asking for their help with Briscoe tonight. Ricochet is in.

#1 Contenders Tournament Finals: FTR vs. Bandido/Brody King

Stokely Hathaway is here with FTR. Bandido shoves his way out of the corner to start before Harwood takes him down by the arm. Harwood’s running shoulder drops Bandido again and they trade takedowns until Bandido does the gun point at Harwood’s head. Wheeler comes in and gets dropkicked to the floor as the Hurt Syndicate is watching in the back. Harwood is so frustrated that he grabs a chair as King comes in to shove Wheeler down.

King strikes away at Harwood, who is right back with a piledriver…which King shrugs off. Bandido is dropped onto Harwood for two but Wheeler comes in to send King outside. Hathaway gets in a cheap shot with a loaded sling and King is in trouble as we take a break. We come back with Bandido and Harwood coming in to pick the pace back up. Everything breaks down and Bandido’s dive to the floor is cut off, with FTR dropping him onto the apron.

A Demolition Decapitator gives Wheeler two, though Danielson wasn’t impressed by the cover. The chinlock goes on but Bandido fights up and hits a middle rope crossbody for two more. We take another break and come back again with Bandido hitting a double hurricanrana, followed by a double DDT. That’s finally enough for the tag back to King to clean quite a bit of house. The cannonball in the corner gets two on Harwood, with Wheeler having to make the save.

Bandido hits a big flip dive to hit Harwood but he has kick Hathaway down and get his mask back. A frog splash gives Bandido two and Wheeler tornado DDTs King on the floor. The PowerPlex is cut off by King’s choke but King gets crotched on top. The top rope belly to back superplex into the top rope splash gets two as we hear the five minute call. A quick Shatter Machine gets two as Bandido is back in for some rollups. King saves Bandido from a Shatter Machine and chokes Harwood, who is chopped out to the floor.

Harwood is back up with a spike piledriver on the apron but Bandido is up with a moonsault to the floor. Back in and the Shatter Machine is blocked, as is the 21 Plex. Another Shatter Machine connects with King making the save…so FTR grabs a table with less than a minute left? King sends them into the barricade but Wheeler is up to miss a suicide dive through the table as time expires at 30:00.

Rating: B+. The ending with the table was rather odd and the ending setting up another triple threat for the titles is rather annoying. Maybe it’s a way to get the titles off of the Hurt Syndicate without them having to lose, but at least the match was rather good. King and Bandido are a team who were thrown together and wound up working very well, though being in there with FTR isn’t hurting things. Heck of a match here, weird table aside.

Post match Bandido gives Harwood the 21 Plex, as his timing is a bit off. And then we get the announcement of the three way title match because…well because of course.

Video on Swerve Strickland vs. Kazuchika Okada.

Here is Hangman Page for a chat. Last week, he was attacked in the parking lot by MJF and that shouldn’t be a surprise, because MJF is a coward. Page needs him to know that at Forbidden Door, there are no second chances and Page is sticking his boot up MJF’s checkered a**. MJF’s music plays but he’s nowhere to be found. Tony Schiavone says that MJF is in the back and has a message for Page, and if Page leaves the ring before he’s done, something bad is going to happen.

MJF is with Ricochet and the Gates of Agony, who have kidnapped Mark Briscoe. They threaten to LIGHT HIM ON FIRE unless Page agrees to three conditions at Forbidden Door: the title can change hands via countout or via DQ and the contract is NOT being used. MJF whips out a lighter and Page agrees. OH SCREW OFF with the contract still being a thing. Just get rid of the stupid contract and move on.

Post break, Page jumps Ricochet with a chair and then beats up security.

Mercedes Mone/Athena vs. Toni Storm/Alex Windsor

Billie Starkz is here with Mone/Athena. Mone headlocks Windsor to start but it’s too early for the Statement Maker. Windsor fall away slams Mone into the corner, where Storm kisses the side of her head before coming in. Athena backs Storm into the corner but gets caught with a basement dropkick. Mone breaks up a double suplex as everything breaks down. Double headbutts put Athena and Mone in the corner, though they avoid the double hip attack. Athena plants Storm on the floor but gets taken out by Windsor’s dive as we take a break.

We come back with Storm getting to come in and clean house, including a PerfectPlex for two on Athena. Windsor’s short arm lariat gets two and it’s right back to Storm, who gets Codebreakered into the Statement Maker. That’s broken up and Mone misses the running knees in the corner. Storm gives Athena a tornado DDT, which is enough for the diving tag back to Windsor.

A running clothesline and Blue Thunder Bomb get two each, leaving Athena to piledrive Storm on the steps. Windsor decks Athena and gives Mone a Samoan drop. The Sharpshooter makes Mone tap…but she’s not legal so it means nothing. Athena comes in with the O Face to finish Windsor at 16:02 in a smart finish (and extra points for Athena looking all fired up after the win, which doesn’t happen often enough in modern wrestling).

Rating: B. That ending was awesome and clever, which is a nice combination to see. I’m always a fan of taking two title matches and mixing them together like this, with the result working well. Good match here, and I’m becoming more and more convinced that Athena is winning the title.

Post match Mone gets shoved down by Persephone, another of her challengers at Forbidden Door, to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. I get that it makes sense for the person doing it, but that whole deal with the contract took me out of a lot of the show. It feels like a twist for the sake of a twist or some massive backtracking, neither of which are something you want to see. Other than that, the show was rather good, with the tournament final and main event offering good action and Forbidden Door’s build going well, even without bogging the show down with all kinds of guest stars.

Results
Jet Speed/Hiroshi Tanahashi b. Death Riders – High Fly Flow to Yuta
FTR vs. Brody King/Bandido went to a time limit draw
Mercedes Mone/Athena b. Alex Windsor/Toni Storm – O Face to Windsor

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

Evolve
Date: August 20, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

The big story around here is Keanu Carver coming after the Evolve Title, as he is smashing his way through the Vanity Project on his way to Jackson Drake. On the other side, Karmen Petrovic seems to be coming to after Kali Armstrong and the Women’s Title. Throw in Sean Legacy and Ridge Holland being on a collision course and we should be in for a good show. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the Women’s Title situation.

Opening sequence.

Kylie Rae vs. Chantel Monroe

Monroe takes her down by the arm to start and goes to cranking. Rae reverses into a wristlock of his own, followed by some armdrags into the armbar. That’s broken up so Rae gets two off a basement dropkick and the armbar goes on again. Back up and Rae kicks her in the head out of the corner, setting up a top rope armdrag.

Monroe gets in a knee lift though and a neckbreaker over the apron connects as we take a break. We come back with Monroe getting two off a Hennig necksnap and the neck crank going on. Rae fights up and knocks her into the corner, where Monroe is right back out with reverse DDT. Monroe sends her throat first into the top rope and a Codebreaker finishes at 9:28.

Rating: C. I’m not sure I get the appeal of Monroe as she feels like quite the one note character. At the same time, Rae won the ID Title a few weeks ago and loses clean here. It’s kind of a weird way to go and I’m not sure what is next for both of them. Monroe has been protected well enough though and if that’s who Evolve wants to push, even in a small way, it’s better than nothing.

Keanu Carver is ready to keep smashing through everyone and win the Evolve Title.

Jackson Drake is with the Vanity Project and is nervous about Carver. Zayda Steel is upset over her loss to Layla Diggs and Bryce Donovan tells her to be better. The team realizes things haven’t been going great lately and it’s time to fix it.

Kali Armstrong is ready for the next challenger. Stevie Turner says that Karmen Petrovic and Chantel Monroe have both won their matches and deserve title shots. Nikkita Lyons comes in to say that she deserves a shot too so Turner makes the four way title match for next week.

Swipe Right vs. Aaron Rourke/Marcus Mathers

Smokes takes Rourke to the mat with a headlock to start but Rourke is back up to send him into the corner. Mathers comes in with a step up tornado DDT and a nice kick to the face gets two. Baylor’s clothesline out of the corner gets two and a double belly to back suplex drops Mathers for two more. A big boot gives Baylor another near fall and Mathers is sent into the corner, allowing Baylor to get in a hip swivel.

Mathers manages to flip over though and it’s off to Rourke to clean house. Smokes Downward Spirals Rourke into the buckle though and it’s back to Mathers, who trades some loud kicks with Baylor. Mathers sends the villains into each other and Rourke drops them with a dive on the floor. A spinning powerslam gives Mathers two on Baylor but the Super Swipe finishes Mathers at 8:22.

Rating: B-. Nice match here, though I’m not wild on Mathers taking another fall. Swipe Right needed a win here, but both they and the Vanity Project seem to be in trouble. There is a very good chance that we are in the beginning of the end of the group, but they should be able to win a match against a makeshift team like Rourke and Mathers.

It’s Gal and Jamar Hampton train in the gym together and while Hampton seems to do better, they appear to bond a bit.

Kendal Grey is sick of Wendy Choo and is ready to fight her next week.

Jax Presley and Harley Riggins are ready to beat up Adrenaline Drip.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Sean Legacy vs. Ridge Holland

The bigger Holland powers him down to start and drops an early elbow for two. Legacy slips out of a powerslam attempt and kicks him down, setting up a standing moonsault for two. We take a break and come back with Legacy chopping his way out of trouble. An overhead belly to belly suplex drops Legacy again though and Holland hammers him down.

Back up and Legacy manages a superkick into a rolling DDT to leave them both down. A German suplex gives Legacy another breather but Holland catches him on top. Holland’s kick to the face gets two but Legacy dropkick him into the corner. A moonsault into something like a side slam gives Legacy two more but Shambles is blocked. Holland is sent into the corner for a cannonball and a gutwrench powerbomb finishes for Holland at 9:18.

Rating: B-. The action was good but there was something missing here, with Legacy starting to feel as someone who should be moved up to the next level but seemingly stalling. Legacy certainly seems to have all of the tools, but he might need something to make them come together. On the other hand you have Holland, who could be getting somewhere if he can put things together, which might be when he’s doing with his focus on the rugby background.

Post match Legacy goes to the back and runs into Ice Williams, who is tired of Legacy being handed everything. Shoving ensues.

Overall Rating: C+. I wasn’t feeling this one for some reason, as it might be due to the idea of having so much of this show being about setting things up for later. Legacy seems to be falling down the ladder, while Carver is on his way to the title match in the near future. It’s not the worst show, but there was nothing here that had my interest.

Results
Chantel Monroe b. Kylie Rae – Codebreaker
Swipe Right b. Aaron Rourke/Marcus Mathers – Super Swipe to Mathers
Ridge Holland b. Sean Legacy – Gutwrench powerbomb

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

NXT
Date: August 19, 2025
Location: The Met Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Booker T., Corey Graves, Vic Joseph

We’re on the road here and that should make for an interesting situation. We’re actually not in the old ECW Arena, which might make things a bit easier as the fans there can be, shall we saw, totally insane. It’s also the go home show for Heatwave, which still has a few spots to fill in on the way. Let’s get to it.

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

We start with a brawl in the back with Josh Briggs jumping Yoshiki Inamura, which is the straight of the street fight.

Josh Briggs vs. Yoshiki Inamura

They go into the arena for the opening bell, where a suplex on the floor has Inamura in more trouble. Briggs throws in some chairs and wedges one of them in the corner before kicking Inamura in the face. Inamura knocks him down for a breather though and it’s time for a Phillies bat. Briggs cuts that off with a chair to the knee and steps on the bat as we take a break.

We come back with Briggs superplexing Inamura onto a piece of barricade, which is bridged over some steps. The audience has to be muted for a bit and they’re also not happy with Briggs for taping Inamura’s arms to the ropes. Some HARD kendo stick shots to the back have Inamura’s back banged up. Inamura rips the tape off (that looked cool) and breaks the kendo stick in half before chopping away to put Briggs down in the corner.

The trashcan is put over Briggs’ head for more strikes and Inamura plants him onto the trashcan. Naturally it’s table time and the top rope splash through said table gives Inamura two. Another table (a SLIM JIM table) is set up and Inamura tries to get another, which is rammed into his ribs. A lariat with a chain drops Inamura and Briggs moonsaults him through the table for the win at 15:52.

Rating: B+. These guys beat the fire out of each other and it’s nice to see Briggs getting a big win. That has been missing for a long time and hopefully it’s the start of something bigger. The street fight makes sense in a city which is known for its hardcore and they did rather well while they had the chance.

Ava and Santino Marella talked to Masha Slamovich, with Slamovich agreeing to be the guest referee for the women’s tag match. The bosses are in.

Trick Williams loves himself and he’s ready to beat Je’Von Williams and then become a three time NXT Champion this weekend.

Ricky Saints vs. Jasper Troy

Saints runs into Josh Briggs as he’s leaving and we get a quick staredown. Saints hits a dropkick to start and hammers away before grabbing a choke. Troy breaks out of that pretty easily but misses a charge, only to knock Saints outside as we take a break. We come back with Saints kicking away at the leg but getting dropped with a single shot. A Samoan drop gives Saints a breather and he avoids a charge to send Troy hard into the post. They head outside with Saints being sent into the steps but Troy’s backsplash hits the steps as well. Back in and a springboard tornado DDT finishes for Saints at 9:15.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have the time to make this work as well, but Saints gets to slay a monster for a big win. That’s about as much as he needs, especially with Briggs likely being the next opponent. Troy can go on to threaten someone else as he’s still new and young enough that he’s far from being wasted. If nothing else there is always the classic bodyguard route, which could work well.

Hank & Tank are in Ava’s office and want to know which members of Darkstate they’ll be facing but the Elegance Brand comes in. The Personal Concierge complains about Masha Slamovich being guest referee. Cue Slamovich to shake Ava’s hand because she’ll be referee tonight.

Here is Jordynne Grace for a chat. She worked a long time to get here and she never expected to make a friend in Blake Monroe. The thing is, she’s watched wrestling for a very long time and she knows how these things end. The adjustment to coming to WWE is really hard and now someone is trying to force her to face her issues. She doesn’t want revenge on Monroe, but she wants Monroe to see herself for what she really is.

Cue Monroe with security, saying that she wants Grace to see the truth. Monroe has drawn up a contract, saying that if Grace touches her before Heatwave, the match is off. Grace says this is where Monroe is wrong, because Monroe was ringside at Evolution while Grace was in the ring. That must have been a crushing moment because Monroe is a jealous snake. That’s what sets Monroe off, calling Grace a jealous impersonator. Monroe hides behind security so Grace beats the guards up. Grace grabs Monroe’s wrist and promises to show her what ugly really is at Heatwave. Nice stuff here, with Grace making her point clear.

Fatal Influence is warming up when Lainey Reid comes in to wish them luck. Sol Ruca and Zaria come in and say that Jacy Jayne is losing soon. Reid says at least Jayne defends both of her titles. Ruca says she has the need for speed. Zaria: “No.” Ruca: “Yes.” Zaria: “No.”

Je’Von Evans is ready to beat Trick Williams to get on to his NXT Title shot at Oba Femi.

Fatal Influence vs. The Elegance Brand

Masha Slamovich is guest referee. M and Henley lock up to start with Henley grabbing a quick rollup for two. Nyx comes in to put M down for two more but she’s back up with a running knee lift. It’s off to Ash, who gets rolled up for a quick near fall. Jayne comes in and misses a spinning forearm to Ash can roll her up for two more (they’re not exactly doing anything high level here). The Personal Concierge trips Henley though and gets ejected as we take a break.

We come back with Henley getting sent into the wrong corner, where M gets in a running boot to the head. Ash misses her moonsault though and the tag brings in Jayne to clean house. A middle rope backsplash gets two on M and a double flipping faceplant puts her down again. M is back up with a superkick and Ash’s top rope double stomp connects for two as everything breaks down. Ash hits her Rarefied Air Swanton for a very delayed two as Slamovich was trying to keep control. Jayne’s discus forearm finishes Ash at 10:49.

Rating: C+. Slamovich was barely a factor here as I forgot she was the referee until the ending. The match itself was a bit weird as it was heels vs. heels and that’s only going to get so far. Jayne getting the win is kind of surprising too as it’s weird to see the champion standing tall going into the title match this weekend.

Post match the Brand and Slamovich get in an argument as Fatal Influence approves.

Kendal Grey and Charlie Dempsey are in the back with Dempsey trying to offer her armbar advice. Wren Sinclair comes in to remind Dempsey of Grey’s college wrestling background when the Culling comes in. They decide there is no saving Dempsey and Sinclair and leave.

Here are Chelsea Green and Ethan Page, with the Secret Hervice, for their peace treaty with the Americans. The Canadians get rid of the table (they know how it is in Philadelphia) before the Americans (Tavion Heights/Tyra Mae Steele) come out as well. Page says they’re here to share their opinions and settle their issues. He praises Heights but says Heights sees opportunity when looking at Page.

In their world, there is only gold, but Heights talks about all the times he has been close to being out and how blessed he has been by the athletic gods. Green accuses the Americans of being rude when they are in the ring with superior athletes. Steele says they speak their mind in Philadelphia and she thinks Green needs to shut her mouth. Steele brags about her gold medal and says it represents the best. She can take anyone down anytime and Heights is ready to fight too. Cue Ava to make the mixed tag, with the Olympians grabbing double ankle locks to send the Canadians limping.

Lexis King interrupts Myles Borne and apologizes for what he has been saying lately. It’s impressive that someone could wrestle so well despite being deaf and blind. Borne: “I’m not blind.” King: “You are now!” And he sprays something in Borne’s eyes.

Kelani Jordan and Lola Vice are in the back and talk about working out when Lash Legend interrupt. Legend isn’t impressed with them and says she’s the biggest threat to the Women’s Title rather than anyone, including Jordan and Jaida Parker.

Darkstate interrupts Ava and brag about their success…but mention Joe Hendry, who pops out of a closet. He wants to know which members of the team will be wrestling on Sunday but is told he’ll find out when everyone else does. Threats are made, including one saying Hendry doesn’t want them behind him. Ava and Hendry find that strange.

Heatwave rundown.

Je’Von Evans vs. Trick Williams

For the NXT Title shot on Sunday (with Oba Femi watching from a balcony) and Williams’ TNA World Title isn’t on the line. Williams decks him with a spinning boot to the face to start but Evans reverses a Rock Bottom. Evans wants him to bring it and snaps off a hurricanrana into a dropkick. Back up and Williams knocks him into the corner, followed by a running clothesline.

Williams’ suplex and neckbreaker have Evans in trouble and the cravate goes on. Evans avoids a charge in the corner and hits a springboard clothesline, allowing him to send Williams outside. Back in and Evans’ springboard is broken up, with Williams LAUNCHING HIM off the ropes and over the announcers’ table for an incredible crash. Commentary is stunned (with a great shot of Booker) and Femi even stands up as we take a break.

We come back with Evans fighting out of a front facelock but getting slammed off the top. Williams tells him to bring it so Evans slugs away, with a right hand sending him to the floor. The big dive takes Williams down and a frog splash gets two back inside. Williams is back up with a right hand but misses a knee, allowing Evans to roll him up for two. Back up and the spinning kick to the face drops Evans but Williams gets distracted by Mike Santana, who is in Femi’s spot. The distraction lets Evans hit the top rope cutter for the pin at 14:51.

Rating: B-. Good stuff here, with Evans getting the title shot which could result in him winning the title. If nothing else, there is a good chance that he could get a TNA World Title shot as well, which wouldn’t be the worst idea. Williams gets to move on to keep defending the title, which is likely going to be in trouble at Bound For Glory. Either way, nice main event here, which did what was needed.

Overall Rating: B+. The wrestling here was rather good and the peace agreement segment worked well enough. The big thing here though is I’m more interested in seeing Heatwave than I was coming in, which means they’re doing something right. As is usually the case with the better NXT shows, it felt like there were boxes being checked off with every segment and it worked well here. Rather strong show going into the pay per view.

Results
Josh Briggs b. Yoshiki Inamura – Moonsault through a table
Ricky Saints b. Jasper Troy – Springboard tornado DDT
Fatal Influence b. The Elegance Brand – Discus forearm to Ash
Je’Von Evans b. Trick Williams – Top rope cutter

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

Monday Night Raw
Date: August 18, 2025
Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re under two weeks away from Clash In Paris and the big story coming out of last week is that CM Punk, LA Knight and Jey Uso are all getting a title shot against Seth Rollins, which doesn’t have the Vision overly happy. The rest of the show is probably starting to come together and that should start getting developed even more this week. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s main event tag, which set up the four way World Title match at Clash In Paris.

Here is the Vision to get things going. We’re in Philadelphia so Paul Heyman brags him status in this city and how no one is greater than him around here. That makes him the GOAT, but the Vision is full of GOAT’s. Heyman praises each member of the team, including the one who took Roman Reigns’ shoes.

After insisting that they’re chanting PAUL E. rather than OTC (and the fans switch chants in a hurry), Heyman talks about how many times Seth Rollins has taken Reigns out. Before Rollins can speak, cut Jey Uso in the crowd, with some fans saying YEET in a great moment. He’s not afraid of any of those people, including Bron Breakker. Rollins accuses Uso of disrespecting Breakker’s family, including calling his dad and uncle FATA****!

Breakker is ready to go into the crowd but Heyman cuts him off and goes into an amazing rant about how people used to handle things in a Bingo hall not far from here. He lists off some ECW greats, including “the late great Tommy Dreamer. Yeah I know he’s not dead yet but he should be!” Breakker: “HE’S STILL ALIVE???” After one of the hardest laughs I’ve had in a very long time, it seems we have an Extreme Rules match tonight. That line about Dreamer was hilarious, as was Breakker getting annoyed at Uso allegedly mocking his family. Good segment here, with Heyman’s love of ECW shining through.

We recap Iyo Sky’s issues with the Kabuki Warriors last week.

Sky and the Warriors seem to make amends, but Sky wants to do this by herself.

Raquel Rodriguez vs. Iyo Sky

Rodriguez powers her around to start, including an early headscissors. Sky snaps off a headscissors but Roxanne Perez trips her from ringside, allowing Rodriguez to hit a heck of a big boot. We take a break and come back with Rodriguez missing the spinning Vader Bomb, allowing Sky to hit the missile dropkick. Rodriguez blocks the running knees in the corner though and gets caught with the spinning Vader Bomb for two.

A hard clothesline gets two more but Sky is back with a tornado DDT. Sky dives onto Perez and then does the same to Rodriguez…who pulls her out of the air. Rodriguez drops her hard onto the apron but the Tejana Bomb is countered into a headscissors into the corner. The running knees in the corner set up Over The Moonsault to finish Rodriguez at 10:20.

Rating: B-. Sky can work well with anyone, but Rodriguez has turned into quite the star in her own right. She is figuring out how to do the power game rather well and that was on display here. Good match, with Sky showing that she can win on her own and overcome the odds, which won’t sit well with the Kabuki Warriors.

Post match the beatdown is on until Rhea Ripley makes the save.

CM Punk interrupts LA Knight in the back and suggests and alliance until Clash In Paris. Knight doesn’t buy this at all because of their fight last week and says he’ll win the title. Knight: “YEAH!” Punk: “No.”

We look back at AAA TripleMania XXXIII.

Rhea Ripley checks on Iyo Sky in the back, with Sky being grateful for the help. The Kabuki Warriors come in to yell about how they can’t help her but Ripley can. Sky yells at them to stop arguing and runs off screaming. Asuka tells Ripley to stay out of their business.

Xavier Woods vs. Penta

Penta strikes away to start but Woods cuts him off rather quickly. Woods shouts CERO DINERO and drops him hard onto the apron as we take an early break. We come back with Woods kicking him in the head for two but Penta hits the Sling Blade. A backbreaker sends Woods outside for a big dive, followed by a slingshot dropkick back inside. The Penta Driver is countered into a reverse suplex to give Woods two. The Honor Roll is countered into the Penta Driver for two, with Kofi Kingston putting the foot on the ropes. Back up and the Canadian Destroyer finishes Woods at 9:48.

Rating: C+. Good enough stuff here, though WWE has seemed to completely give up on the idea of New Day being a regular team and turning them into…whatever they are now. It does help that Penta is getting a win, though I’m not sure what he is going to be doing anytime soon. Just find something for either of them to do though, as they’re big enough stars to have something better than this.

We look at AJ Styles costing Dominik Mysterio the Mega Title.

Dominik yells about Styles when Rey Mysterio comes in to mock him.

Judgment Day vs. Dragon Lee/Mr. Iguana

Non-title and Dominik Mysterio is here with Judgment Day. Lee and McDonagh lock up to start with McDonagh backing him into the ropes. Some chops in the corner have McDonagh in trouble but Lee misses a charge into the corner. Balor comes in to take over on Iguana and snaps off a suplex for two. That doesn’t get him very far as everything breaks down, with the Judgment Day being sent outside. Big flip dives take them down and we take a break.

We come back with McDonagh getting caught in a sitout powerbomb for two. Iguana comes back in and uses the puppet to take over, including a big dive to the floor. Lee plants Balor but gets caught with the Sling Blade. Back up and Mysterio distracts Iguana, allowing Balor to hit the dropkick to the back. The Coup de Grace finishes at 10:05.

Rating: B-. Good stuff here, as it’s nice to have the Tag Team Champions actually doing something involved with a tag team match. It’s not like they have anyone else to come after the titles so just have them face a random lucha team. If nothing else, I’m sure WWE will make some money off the Iguana stuff so it could be far worse.

Post match the beatdown is on but El Hijo del Vikingo (AAA Mega Champion) comes in for the save. Vikingo goes after McDonagh but gets caught with a belt shot to the back. The villains stand tall.

We look back at Becky Lynch beating Maxxine Dupri and attacking Natalya last week.

Lynch denies attacking Natalya and says she was provoked. Tonight, Lynch will prove herself.

We get another video from Bayley, who still seems to be going insane, with a voice talking about how she hasn’t been making sense in a long time. Bayley starts talking back to the voice, which seems to want her to be evil. She isn’t sure what she needs, but the voice offers her a hug.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Natalya vs. Becky Lynch

Lynch is defending and Natalya has the Academy with her. Natalya tries the power to start and they’re quickly on the floor. That’s fine with Lynch, who sends the arm into the post and we take a break. We come back with Lynch working on an armbar until Natalya does the powerbomb counter that is used fairly often. Natalya hits the discus lariat for two but Lynch goes right back to the arm. The Disarm-Her retains the title at 7:41.

Rating: C+. As usual, it’s fine from a technical perspective, but was there going to be any drama over Natalya taking the title? She doesn’t win titles these days and Nikki Bella is already waiting in the wings for Lynch. At least they didn’t make this into a long, stretched out match, as there was no reason to go in that direction.

Post match the beatdown is on but Nikki Bella runs in for the save.

Sheamus talks about his rivalry with Rusev, who interrupts and wants to fight again. Adam Pearce comes in to make the match for Clash In Paris in a Good Old Fashioned Donnybrook. Rusev says he’s going to beat the Irish curse out of Sheamus and Pearce needs a drink.

CM Punk comes in to see Jey Uso and says he has Uso’s back tonight. Uso says no disrespect but he’s got this himself. Punk says he’s just trying to get Uso to Paris but Uso doesn’t want to owe anyone any favors. Everything seems to be cool but Punk seems to think Uso is making a mistake.

Here is Naomi to make a big announcement about the future of the Women’s Title. She says this is hard for her and shows us a clip from Stephanie McMahon’s podcast, where Jimmy Uso reveals what was expected to be the announcement: Naomi is pregnant. Adam Pearce is ready to take the title from her but Naomi says this isn’t going to happen because her hormones are jumping and she isn’t giving him s***.

She tells him to get to stepping and thanks Big Jim for loving to Netflix and chill (there’s a BIG smile at that line) because otherwise, she would have beaten up the women’s division all year. The fans chant YOU DESERVE IT and Naomi seems to be touched. Naomi: “On the bright side, I guess the Bloodline continues baby!”

We get quite the maniacal laugh and an OTC chant before Naomi lays the title down. The division has nine months and some change, but she’ll come back and win the title again, even if she’s breastfeeding at the time. Whomever has the title next, proceed with caution. It’s sad to see the title vacated when Naomi is doing such great work, but this is far more important than anything she’s doing in the ring.

Judgment Day doesn’t know where Dominik Mysterio is but find him talking to El Grande Americano. Mysterio tells the team that he’s just making sure the team always stays on top. Everyone else is fine with this, but Finn Balor doesn’t seem to like it.

Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker

Extreme Rules and Paul Heyman is here with Breakker, who comes out with a shopping cart full of weapons. Uso slips away from the power to start and hits a clothesline to send Breakker legs first onto the shopping card, which is about as dumb of a thing as I’ve seen in wrestling in a LONG time. Uso takes a good while to give Breakker a chance to make sure his leg is ok while setting up a table.

The suicide dive hits Breakker and we take a break. We come back with Breakker seemingly ok and the ring full of weapons. A chair is loaded up in the corner but Uso sends him into it instead. One heck of a Steiner Line drops Uso though and Breakker drops him ribs first onto two open chairs. The clothesline over the announcers’ table connects as well and we take a break.

We come back with Breakker hitting the super Frankensteiner but spending too long taking the straps down. Uso’s spear gets two and another spear into the Superfly Splash connects, only for Bronson Reed to pull the referee (AND STEAL HIS SHOE!). LA Knight runs in for the save but Seth Rollins cuts him off.

Cue CM Punk to brawl with Rollins, who gets jumped by Knight. Rollins escapes the GTS though and sends Punk into Knight, who crashes through a table at ringside. Punk shrugs it off and chases Rollins through the crowd, leaving Breakker to pull out another table. That takes a good while….and Roman Reigns is here. The spear drops Breakker and a Superfly Splash puts Breakker through the table for the win at 20:26.

Rating: B. This was the kind of wild brawl that it should have been, with all of the interference and violence making for a main event that was better than I was expecting. It did feel extreme with a lot of ECW overtones (without going too far) and Uso getting a big win on his way to the title shot in Paris. At the same time you have Reed stealing another shoe, which is more of a crime than anything else, but it’s rather funny anyway.

Post match Reed tries to get some more shoes but Reigns tells Reed that he’ll see him in Paris. Cole thinks that means Clash In Paris, though he isn’t sure to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. What mattered here was they got the momentum going on the way to Clash In Paris. The main event was about doing some wild brawling to hype up the four way at the pay per view, which worked well. The rest of the show was kind of messy, but they’re hyping up the Paris show and the next Worlds Collide at the same time. Get through next week and we should be fine, though Clash is pretty one sided on the Raw half. If they can keep the four way hot through next week though, it very well could work out.

Results
Iyo Sky b. Raquel Rodriguez – Over The Moonsault
Penta b. Xavier Woods – Canadian Destroyer
Judgment Day b. Dragon Lee/Mr. Iguana – Coup de Grace to Lee
Becky Lynch b. Natalya – Disarm-Her
Jey Uso b. Bron Breakker – Superfly Splash through a table

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

TripleMania XXXIII
Date: August 16, 2025
Location: Arena Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Corey Graves, John Bradshaw Layfield, Konnan

So the big deal this time is that WWE is involved, which makes sense as they have since announced their purchase of AAA. That is going to make things all the more interesting and there are several WWE stars on the card. This includes the main event, as Dominik Mysterio, Dragon Lee and El Grande Americano are challenging for the AAA World Title. Let’s get to it.

Note that I do not follow AAA so I apologize in advance for any storyline or character details that I miss. I’m pretty much going just off any recaps presented (my Spanish is weak at best) and commentary.

Rey Mysterio and various other wrestlers talk about the importance of the show and how big it is to be on TripleMania.

As is customary in AAA, we get (I’m assuming) the Mexican national anthem, with various WWE/AAA dignitaries present, including HHH, Shawn Michaels and Nick Khan.

Commentary welcomes us to the show.

Copa Bardahl

This is similar to the Royal Rumble (with pinfall, submission or over the top for eliminations) with ninety second intervals (commentary says ninety seconds, though that is later described as “different intervals”) for a cup. We get a nice graphic of the rules in English and Spanish so at least they’re taking care of the fans. La Parka (with his awesome dancing skeletons) is in at #1 (of fourteen) and Laredo Kid is in at #2.

Parka dances around to start as Konnan talks about various top stars who have wrestled on this event over the years. Kid plants him with a quick Michinoku Driver and hits a 450 for two as Joaquin Wilde is in at #3. Wilde rolls both of them up at the same time for two and it’s Abismo Negro Jr. in at #4. Negro, a powerhouse, gives Kid a gorilla press gutbuster for two as Konnan describes him as “one of the most popular heels in our company”. I try to figure out the logic of that statement as Negro gets some near falls.

Taurus (Negro’s stablemate) is in at #5 and starts wrecking people, though he hits Negro by mistake. Wilde starts snapping off some headscissors but gets dropkicked in the head for his efforts. Aerostar is in at #6 and knocks Negro outside (not an elimination) and hits a dive (also not an elimination) but Kid plants him down. Kid misses a dive of his own though and gets tossed for the first elimination.

Mecha Wolf is in at #7 and gets to clean house for a bit until Cruz del Toro is in at #8. A nice top rope hurricanrana takes Negro down and del Toro and Wilde team up to clean some house. Wolf blows some mist at Wilde and tosses him though as Otis (with the SHOOSH entrance for some reason) is in at #9 for a surprise. Konnan is VERY pleased and Otis faceplants a bunch of people before tossing Aerostar.

The Caterpillar hits Negro and Pimpinela (an exotico, which means a rather feminine wrestler) is in at #10 to quite the reaction. Pimpinela gets to clean some house to start and teases kissing Otis before helping him clothesline Taurus out instead. The kiss is teased again but Wolf dropkicks Otis, knocking Pimpinela out in the process. Cibernetico is in at #11 and runs some people over, including a spear to Otis.

Microman (stands 3’3) is in at #12 and actually beats some people up until Cibernetico glares at him. Cibernetico is knocked to the apron though, with Otis picking up Microman and ramming him into Cibernetico for the elimination. Omos is in at #13 and this won’t end well. Everyone stops to go after Omos, with Konnan wondering why they’re attacking one by one (a question as old as time in wrestling).

Microman is the only one left standing and goes after Omos (barely clearing his knees), who looks around and finally looks down in a funny bit. Omos puts Microman on the top (JBL: “THIS HAS TO BE AGAINST THE GENEVA CONVENTION!”) before everyone else goes after Omos to no avail. Del Toro and Negro are both out and Octagon Jr. is in at #14 to complete the field. That gives us a final grouping of Parka, Wolf, Otis, Microman, Otis and Octagon.

Otis goes after Omos and is knocked down just as fast, leaving Microman to splash him for the elimination. As commentary tries to figure out why you would do that to the one man who was trying to protect you, Omos picks Microman up and tosses him out (in an awesome visual). Everyone else goes after Omos but stop to fight each other (Konnan doesn’t get this either, as he continues to be the voice of reason and logic in this match).

Parka gives Wolf a weird spinning cutter and tosses him to get us down to three. Omos kicks Octagon out and we’re down to two, with the fans getting behind Parka. Graves: “Do you think he can do it Konnan???” Konnan: “No.” And then Omos tosses Parka to win at 26:34.

Rating: B-. This is the kind of thing that will always work on a big show as it’s about getting people in the ring and letting the fans have some fun. Omos is one of those spectacle people where you have to see him to get what he’s like, which made the Microman spot that much better. He might not be someone you want to have around full time, but he’s a great choice for a special appearance like this. Rather fun opener here and a good way to have Omos in there as a surprise.

Dragon Lee is ready for the main event of the biggest TripleMania of all time and wants the Mega Title.

We recap El Mesias defending the Latin American Title against El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. Their families have history, with Mesias having a big rivalry with Wagner’s father so now Wagner wants to win the title.

Latin American Title: El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. El Mesias

Mesias, with Dorian Roldan, is defending. Konnan (apparently part of Roldan and Mesias’ team, along with JBL) argues with Wagner’s father as Wagner kicks Mesias outside for a running flip dive. Roldan grabs the foot though and Mesias’ DDT gets two. A DDT onto the apron plants Wagner on the apron and a belly to back suplex connects for two more. The chinlock goes on before Mesias hits a clothesline for another near fall.

Mesias sends him outside and takes him in front of Wagner’s father for the emotional beating. Back in and Mesias starts tearing at the mask, which brings Wagner up for a clothesline. JBL and Konnan get on Graves, with JBL saying “And I thought Michael Cole was bad!”. Graves: “Oh come on that’s below the belt.” JBL: “Fair, fair.” Wagner’s top rope splash gets two, followed by a quick powerbomb for the same. Wagner’s father and Roldan get in a fight on the floor, with Wagner’s father dropping him with one shot. Back in and Mesias hits a spear for two but Wagner Jr. hits a Wagner Driver for the pin at 10:21.

Rating: C+. This was the storyline match of the show as Konnan was playing the big heel on commentary but the Wagners got some revenge and the gold. It made for a good enough match, though I’m not sure I see the big star power in the younger Wagner. Mesias is a name I’m familiar with and he was still good in the ring, but this was the right way for the fans.

Judgment Day is ready to make this the biggest TripleMania of all time. Rey Mysterio comes in, with Dominik Mysterio saying he wants his dad to see his big win.

Judgment Day vs. Lola Vice/Mr. Iguana/Nino Hamburguesa

Mixed six person tag and Roxanne Perez is here with Judgment Day. Rodriguez throws Vice into the corner to start but a spinning slam is countered into an armbreaker. Balor and Iguana come in for all of a few seconds before Nino (Hamburger Boy) comes in to face McDonagh. After McDonagh takes a shot of…something, Nino crushes him in the corner, only to miss a middle rope legdrop.

That’s enough for Judgment Day to get Nino into the corner for the alternating beatdown. Nino fights out of trouble though and brings Iguana in to clean house. Iguana pulls out his puppet….but BALOR HAS HIS OWN PUPPET! That leaves Iguana very confused so Nino comes in with two burgers, with Balor taking one away for a bite. That leaves Nino to hit a dive and Vice to go up, only for Perez to interfere. Cue La Hiedra to go after Perez but hit Vice by mistake. Hiedra chases Perez off, leaving Rodriguez to Tejana Bomb Vice for the pin at 11:51.

Rating: B-. I could have stopped at “BALOR HAS HIS OWN PUPPET” and the rest of the match would have just been details. That spot was funny enough, though they managed to make Balor eat a burger for a bonus. This was a goofy WWE vs. AAA match and it entertained me rather well, which is about all you can ask for out of something like this one.

Pagano and Psycho Clown are ready to bring the violence to win the Tag Team Titles. Los Garza aren’t scared because they’re from finer metals.

Tag Team Titles: Psycho Clown/Pagano vs. Los Garza

Garza are defending. It’s a brawl to start and the champions throw in weapons so I guess it’s this kind of a match. Los Garza grab kendo sticks….so Pagano and Clown pull out BARBED WIRE kendo sticks. Since those would, you know, nearly kill the champs, Los Garza get the better of things and unload with their sticks in the corner.

Tables are sat up at ringside but that takes too long, allowing Pagano and Clown to come back with chairs and trashcans to take over. Garza gets beaten down but Pagano misses a moonsault with a chair, meaning Pagano can get double super gorilla pressed through a table. Another table is thrown in, with Pagano spearing the champs through a table in the corner at the same time.

Back up and Garza catches Pagano, setting up a powerbomb/World’s Strongest Slam to send both Pagano and Clown through tables at ringside. Berto gets two on Clown and can’t believe the kickout. Clown is back up and pulls out some barbed wire, which is wrapped around Berto’s head. A super Spanish Fly gives us new champions at 12:55.

Rating: C. Some of the spots were ok here, but this felt like a way for the hardcore team to come together and stand up for AAA. I get that Clown is one of the bigger stars in AAA, but this never really clicked and outside of that big spot from Garza, there was nothing on here that stood out. I wouldn’t call it a bad match, though it definitely wasn’t my style.

El Hijo del Vikingo talks about the main event and seems ready.

Here is Rey Mysterio to induct Konnan into the AAA Hall Of Fame. Mysterio gives a speech in Spanish (with translation from commentary), talking about what a revolutionary and visionary Konnan has been. We see a video on Konnan’s career, including a lot of WCW footage. Konnan comes into the ring to talk about the importance of his career and how much AAA has meant to him.

He is the son of great legends and we hear some of those names, with a big hug to Mysterio (whose uncle apparently trained him). More thank you’s wrap it up (there was a translation, but it was hard to keep track as the translations were often coming during Konnan’s speech in Spanish.

El Grande Americano is ready to win the title.

Video on the Women’s Title match, with Faby Apache and Natalya both coming after Flammer’s title.

Reina de Reinas Title: Natalya vs. Faby Apache vs. Flammer

Flammer is defending. Natalya is sent outside to start and Apache clotheslines Flammer down. The dive is broken up though and Natalya unloads in the corner, only to get crucifixed for some near falls. Natalya reverses another rollup into the Sharpshooter, which is quickly broken up. Flammer comes back in and gets her arm barred by Apache, with Natalya adding an ankle lock at the same time.

Natalya breaks that up and stomps on Apache, followed by a surfboard. That’s broken up and Natalya clothesline Flammer, followed by the double Sharpshooter (it’s a cool idea, but like so much Natalya can do, it’s been done to death). With that broken up, Apache and Flammer hit stereo clotheslines to put each other down but Natalya is back in with an ankle lock to Apache. That’s reversed into a Michinoku Driver but Flammer is back in to steal the pin on Apache and retain at 10:45.

Rating: C. I’ve seen a decent amount of the AAA women’s division over the years and the results have been mixed at best. That was the case again here, with Natalya trying to do her thing but only being able to get so far. Natalya being added in there made the match feel a bit more important, though neither Flammer nor Apache really stood out.

Worlds Collide is back on September 12.

We recap the World Title match, which is Hijo del Vikingo facing three challengers from WWE.

Mega Title: El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. El Grade Americano vs. Dragon Lee

Vikingo is defending. They stare at each other to start before pairing off, with Americano clearing the ring. Back in and Vikingo takes Americano out before trading rollups with Lee. American gets back in and helps Mysterio double team Vikingo but Lee is in to break it up. Lee’s top rope double stomp gets two on Americano, who ties Lee’s mask to the rope. Mysterio and Americano get in an argument over who gets to stomp and it’s Lee sending Americano into the post.

Vikingo rolls Lee up for two and the fans aren’t sure what to think about that. Mysterio is back with a Canadian Destroyer to Lee but Vikingo knocks him down. Vikingo’s top rope Codebreaker to Americano leaves everyone down for a needed breather. Vikingo sends Lee into the corner and hits a shooting star press but American breaks up the cover. The villains put Vikingo through the announcers’ table in quite the spot and cue Judgment Day to go after Lee.

Mysterio hits the 619 with Americano making the save. Cue the LWO to brawl with Judgment Day but here are the other El Grande Americanos to go after Lee. A step up Blockbuster gives the original Americano two and it’s time to load up the mask. Lee cuts that off and dives onto a bunch of people at ringside.

Operation Dragon gets two with Vikingo making the save. The 630 gives Vikingo two on Lee and Mysterio steals the metal for his own mask. Americano and Lee get headbutted down and Mysterio hits the frog splash…but a masked man pulls the referee out. It’s AJ Styles, who hits the Styles Clash on Mysterio, leaving Vikingo to hit the 630 to retain at 15:04.

Rating: B. The fans didn’t seem to be thrilled with Vikingo, but it would not surprise me a bit to see either Americano or Mysterio getting the title sooner than later. The massive interference felt a bit tacked on, but the action that we got was good enough. If nothing else, Styles vs. Mysterio continuing has some possibilities, as Mysterio getting flustered is entertaining.

Vikingo celebrates to end the show, though the fans don’t seem overly pleased with him.

Overall Rating: B-. It’s not nearly as good of a show as Worlds Collide, but this felt much more like AAA by way of WWE. I do like the idea of WWE promoting the company more, though I would certainly hope that it doesn’t come at the expense of what makes AAA feel unique. The show was good enough to feel special though, and the WWE names made it bigger, though I’m hoping this is more a rare treat than the new norm for AAA.

Results
Omos won the Copa Bardahl last eliminating La Parka
El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. b. El Mesias – Wagner Driver
Judgment Day b. Lola Vice/Mr. Iguana/Nino Hamburguesa – Tejana Bomb to Vice
Psycho Clown/Pagano b. Los Garza – Super Spanish Fly with barbed wire to Berto
Flammer b. Faby Apache and Natalya – Rollup to Apache
El Hijo del Vikingo b. Dragon Lee, El Grande Americano and Dominik Mysterio – 630 to Mysterio

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

Superstars
Date: September 7, 1991
Location: War Memorial, Rochester, New York
Attendance: 7,000
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Roddy Piper

We’re done with Summerslam and that means it’s time to talk about the big wedding. The real main event of Summerslam saw Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth get married and this week we’ll be seeing what happened at the reception. Other than that, it’s your usual Superstars goodness so let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Roddy Piper goes OFF about Sid Justice being the only one willing to stand up to Jake Roberts and Undertaker. More on this later.

We run down the show.

Texas Tornado vs. Bubba Monroe

Commentary goes into their somber tones about the wedding reception and how horrible things were for Savage and Elizabeth. Piper shifts over to Tornado, who wrestles Monroe down to start. We get an insert interview from Tornado, talking about how Sgt. Slaughter should stay in seclusion after turning his back on his country. Tornado punches him in the ribs and hits the Tornado….we’ll call it a strike of some sort in the head region as it certainly wasn’t a Punch for the pin at 2:24.

We go to the wedding reception (Bobby Heenan shaking his head in sadness as he shakes Savage’s hand is great). They do the first dance and cut the cake and throw the boquet. Then it’s time to cut open the presents…which includes a cobra. Undertaker pops in to SMASH Savage in the head with the urn and Jake Roberts taunts Elizabeth with the snake.

Sid Justice is the only person to stand up to them, chasing Roberts off with a chair. Undertaker’s urn shot was great and there is something funny about someone filming Roberts tormenting the bride. Heck of a segment here, as it was so over the top that the villains look totally evil as a result.

Skinner vs. Scott Summers

Make your own Cyclops jokes. Skinner takes him down to start and ties him in the ropes for a neck snap. Skinner’s insert promo mocks the Dragon before Skinner hits something like a Pedigree into the reverse DDT for the pin at 2:04.

EVENT CENTER!

British Bulldog is ready for various villains, including the newly debuted BULLY.

Jimmy Hart and the Nasty Boys are ready to beat up various teams, including the Legion Of Doom. Knobbs accuses Jack Tunney wearing LOD shoulder pads so he must be on the LOD’s side. There’s a visual.

Virgil vs. Chris Duffy

For some reason Virgil’s entrance is missing. Virgil slugs away to start (must be mad about his missing entrance) and sends him outside for a dive. Back in and a slam sets up the Million Dollar Dream to give Virgil the win at 2:23.

UPDATE!

We look back at Bobby Heenan on the Funeral Parlor, where he suggested that the WWF Title was nothing compared to the REAL World Title. On top of that, there are some very loudmouthed people around here, like Roddy Piper. This brought Piper to the set, where he said Hogan was the only real champion. Piper says he scares Flair and spits on the belt to send Heenan running.

Berzerker vs. Kerry Davis

Mr. Fuji is here with Berzerker, who throws Davis around with ease. Berzerker ties him in the ropes for some running boots then throws him over the top for the countout at 2:27.

The Rockers want the Tag Team Titles and don’t care who they fight.

Harvey Wippleman brags about the Bully taking lunch money and stealing girlfriends at proms.

Bushwhackers vs. Barry Hardy/Duane Gill

The Beverly Brothers pop in to unveil the Genius as their new manager, which fits pretty well. The Bushwhackers do their wacking and stomping for about a minute and a half before Hardy grabs a headlock. That earns Gill some right hands to the floor and we wack a bit more. Some kicks in the corner set up the Battering Ram, followed by a double gutbuster for the pin on Gill at 3:45.

Rating: C-. It’s almost strange to see a match get so much time on this show. It doesn’t help that it was just an extended squash, with the stuff at the beginning taking up so much time. The Bushwhackers were never going to be anything serious, but at least they were good as a way to get the fans into things, which is what they did here.

We go to the Funeral Parlor with special guest….IRS? That’s the best you have? Bearer likes the idea of talking about DEATH and taxes and brings up the estate tax. IRS says even death is no excuse to not pay your taxes, which is kind of awesome. Bearer brings up Big Boss Man attacking wrestling, which IRS says makes him a tax cheat because he’s going after the government who taught him his trade. Bearer: “I think he’s just a hick cop from Georgia.” IRS wants RECEIPTS and walks off. This was some mixture of bizarre, stupid, and amazing.

We look at Bret Hart winning the Intercontinental Title at Summerslam. Roddy Piper praises Bret’s parents, saying Stu is a great man, even if Piper can’t understand a word he says.

Warlord vs. Mark Thomas

Slick is here with Warlord, who knocks him down to start and then hits a heck of a flying shoulder. We get the insert promo from Warlord, who wants the Intercontinental Title but settles for a knee lift to Thomas. A suplex sets up the full nelson and Thomas is done at 2:45.

Greg Valentine is going back to basics. Wait….WE’VE BEEN SEEING THE ENHANCED GREG VALENTINE???

Ted DiBiase and Sherri are upset over losing to Virgil but DiBiase seems to have a plan.

Here’s what’s coming next week to wrap it up.

Overall Rating: C+. The wrestling was the usual collection of mostly meaningless stuff, but there is a lot going on here that has me intrigued. You have what feels like Roddy Piper vs. Ric Flair on the horizon, plus everything that is going to come out of the wedding reception deal. Randy Savage is going to be ticked off and that makes for some great stuff. This was basically the kickoff for the post Summerslam run and that has me interested.

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

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

Brock Lesnar: Before He Was A Superstar
Commentators: Dean Hill, Les Thatcher

So Lesnar is back after a long hiatus from WWE and that means he is in the company’s good graces again. Therefore, WWE is looking back at his career and apparently that includes his time before making it on the big stage. That’s what we’re going to be looking at here, which could have some interesting selections. Let’s get to it.

Dark match from before Raw, June 4, 2001.

Minnesota Stretching Crew vs. Scotty Zappa/Magnus Maximus

The Crew would be Lesnar and Shelton Benjamin, and since we’re in Minneapolis, JESSE VENTURA is managing them. Well dang there’s something I never thought I’d see. The fans are way into Ventura as Benjamin takes Zappa down and works on the arm. Lesnar comes in to stay on the arm and it’s off to Maximus, whose arm is cranked as well.

Lesnar and Maximus have a big man staredown, with Maximus hitting some left hands, only for Lesnar to turn him inside out with a clothesline. Fans: “LET’S GO GOPHERS!” (Lesnar and Benjamin both went to the University of Minnesota, whose mascot is the Golden Gopher). Maximus finally gets something going with a reverse Twist Of Fate for two on Benjamin, followed by a legdrop for the same.

Maximus’ charge in the corner misses but Zappa is right there with a clothesline from the apron. Benjamin fights up and brings in Lesnar as everything breaks down. Maximus is sent outside and it’s a backbreaker to set up Benjamin’s 450 for the….near fall as Maximus makes the save. Zappa and Maximus collide, with Benjamin superkicking the latter down. Lesnar hits an INSANE shooting star press (Maximus was over halfway across the ring) for the pin at 7:46.

Rating: C+. The match itself was pretty dry but WOW that shooting star was insane. Simply put, a big powerhouse like Lesnar should not be able to do that and he made it look easy. It’s a level of athletic ability you do not get to see from almost anyone else and that was incredible. Benjamin looked good as well, but there was no topping that finish. Of note: Maximus would go on to some success of his own as Bam Neely.

Dark match from before Raw, January 28, 2002.

Brock Lesnar vs. Mr. Perfect

Rare blue trunks for Lesnar here. Lesnar powers him into the corner and poses, followed by a shove over the ropes for more posing, including a chest pop. Back in and Perfect threatens to slap the s*** out of him before Lesnar muscles him up for a backdrop. Lesnar’s posing has Perfect jumping over the top for another breather on the floor as this isn’t working so far.

The shoulders in the corner have Perfect in trouble and he loses a chop battle to make it worse. Lesnar charges into a raised boot though and Perfect finally hits a clothesline for a needed breather. Perfect throws him hard into the corner and grabs the PerfectPlex for the pin at 3:50.

Rating: C. This was bordering on a squash for Lesnar until the finish and that shouldn’t be a big surprise. These two were incredibly close behind the scenes and Perfect was absolutely going to go out of his way to make Lesnar feel like a star. Perfect’s bumping was of course great and it was a fun match, even if Lesnar got beaten down rather quickly.

From OVW’s The Last Dance.

OVW Tag Team Titles: Brock Lesnar/Brian Keck vs. Dean Malenko/Perry Saturn

Lesnar and Keck (the latter of whom is substituting for Shelton Benjamin, who is at ringside with his arm in a cast/brace) are defending and get jumped from behind to start fast. It’s a brawl to start and Saturn/Malenko are quickly sent outside. They tease running back in but drop to the floor for another breather. Back in and Malenko and Saturn get headbutted down, only to pull Keck into the wrong corner.

Malenko’s front facelock has Keck in trouble and it’s off to Saturn, who gets sunset flipped for two. Saturn stomps away near the ropes but Keck suplexes his way to freedom. That’s enough for the tag off to Lesnar and house s quickly cleaned, including a Samoan driver for two on Saturn with Malenko pulling the referee. The Moss Covered Three Handled Family Credenza gets two on Lesnar with Keck making a save, allowing Lesnar to grab a northern lights suplex to retain at 9:02.

Rating: C. This was pretty clearly designed to be a way for the Minnesota Stretching Crew to show what they could do against a pair of veterans but it wound up being a Lesnar showcase instead. That’s not a bad thing, but Keck being in there instead of Benjamin is quite the letdown. Malenko and Saturn did their thing and looked fine, though they weren’t the story here.

From OVW TV, July 28, 2001.

Brock Lesnar vs. Leviathan

Leviathan, with Synn and (I think) Connie, is the Guardian Of The Gates Of Hell and would later be known as Batista. Leviathan powers Lesnar around to start but gets hiptossed down. Back up and a spinebuster plants Lesnar, who is right back with a middle rope crossbody. Lesnar gets sent into the corner though for some choking from Leviathan, who hits a belly to back slam for two.

The chinlock with a knee in the back has Lesnar in more trouble and a DDT sets up…well the same chinlock actually. Commentary talks about “ring psychology”, which comes after a discussion of people from “New York” scouting OVW talent. Lesnar fights up and hits an overhead belly to belly. The Samoan driver puts Leviathan down but Connie (apparently Connie Swail for a Dragnet reference of all things) offers a distraction, allowing Synn to spray something in Lesnar’s eyes. The spear give Leviathan the pin at 6:22.

Rating: C. This was basically a “hey did you know these guys had a match?” and that’s a perfectly fine way to go. That’s the kind of thing you want in a collection like this, as Lesnar vs. Batista would have easily headlined a pay per view had Lesnar stuck around. For now though, not much of a match, but neither of them was much to see at this point and there was a lot going on.

Dark match before Raw, January 7, 2002.

Brock Lesnar vs. Rico Constantino

Yes that Rico, but when he was playing it completely normal and felt like he was miles ahead of just about everyone in OVW. Rico starts fast with the kicks (those always looked good) but Lesnar (in white boots for a WEIRD look) takes him down with the straight power. Lesnar drops him again and hits a backbreaker, followed by a chinlock, which feels so off coming from him. Rico fights up for a superkick and a shoulder, but the high crossbody is pulled out of the air. A running powerslam gives Lesnar (pronounced “Less-nar” by the Fink) the pin at 5:30.

Rating: C+. It’s still bizarre to see Rico as a run of the mill wrestler who could do this kind of stuff. As good as he was though, his age was going to be too big of a deal to overcome and it’s part of why Lesnar was pushed this way. Rico made Lesnar look good out there though and that’s not the biggest surprise.

Dark match before Raw, March 11, 2002.

Brock Lesnar vs. Spike Dudley

Much more standard look for “Less-nar” (Fink did it again) save for a goatee which thankfully didn’t last. Lesnar starts fast with a gorilla press and some backbreakers as this kind of match is tailor made for him. A hard whip into the corner has Spike in more trouble and one heck of a powerbomb sends him crawling to the floor. For some reason Spike gets back inside and manages to knock Lesnar off the top. A top rope double stomp connects but Spike charges into the F5 for the pin at 5:04.

Rating: C. Yeah you knew what you were going to get here and it’s why Spike had a job as long as he did. It’s so easy to cheer for a smaller guy like him and having a force like Lesnar on the other side of the ring made it that much better. Not a particularly good match, but Lesnar was becoming more or less TV ready at this point.

Dark match before Raw, February 4, 2002.

Brock Lesnar/Ron Waterman vs. Randy Orton/Rico Constantino

Waterman is a former UFC guy who never went anywhere. He drives Rico into the corner to start but Orton comes in for a double elbow. It’s off to Lesnar, who gets taken down with a basement dropkick, allowing Orton to start in on his arm. Lesnar fights back with the power until Rico manages a double down. Waterman and Orton come in and everything breaks down, with Orton high crossbodying Waterman for the pin at 4:03.

Rating: C+. You can put this on the same list as the Batista match, as this was about getting Orton onto the set, which is fine as he came up with Lesnar in OVW. Waterman is someone who had a good look but was never going to go very far, though the other three were showing potential. It’s weird to think that neither Orton nor Lesnar wouldn’t even be the most successful member of the rookie class, but they did pretty well for second and third.

Overall Rating: C+. The wrestling itself is ok at best (and again, expectations of wrestlers still in developmental are different) but this would have been a perfect choice for something like a modern day Coliseum Video. It gives you exactly what it says it will be and it made for an interesting look at what Lesnar was before he became a force in WWE. It would get repetitive after awhile, but there is something interesting about watching Lesnar fine tune what made him a star.

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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Best Of Umaga
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Todd Grisham

I’m not sure why Umaga is getting a special look on the Vault but that’s kind of the point of the thing. Umaga wasn’t around for very long when you really look at it but he certainly made an impact. He’s the kind of monster who can smash through some people and that is what we are going to be seeing here. Let’s get to it.

Quick opening video, which is just some basic highlights.

From Cyber Sunday 2006.

Kane vs. Umaga

Kane won the spot here by dominating a fan vote (49%) over Sandman (28%) and Chris Benoit (23%). Armando Alejandro Estrada is here with Umaga as Kane slugs away to start. A headbutt gets Umaga out of trouble but Kane is back with more uppercuts. Umaga goes with the power off a belly to belly and a spinwheel kick cuts Kane down again. Kane tries to fight back again and is quickly taken down with a faceplant. Some big chops in the corner wake Kane up so Umaga rakes his eyes.

The middle rope headbutt gets two and the running Umaga Attack connects, with Kane rolling outside. The Samoan Spike only hits post though and Umaga is in trouble for a change. Back in and Kane rains down rights and lefts (so you know it’s serious) in the corner. Umaga is right back with a Samoan drop and that’s enough for Estrada to load up the victory cigar. That takes too long though as Kane sits up and avoids a charge into the post. Kane goes up but has to kick Estrada down, allowing Umaga to knock him out of the air. The Samoan Spike finishes Kane at 8:37.

Rating: C-. Not a great match here, but rather just kind of dull. Kane was fighting back against the monster but could only get so far, which is why Umaga felt like a different kind of heel. He was out there smashing through other monsters and that made him dangerous. It was a fairly run of the mill match, though the ending was how it should have gone.

From New Year’s Revolution 2007.

Raw World Title: John Cena vs. Umaga

Umaga, with Estrada, is challenging. Some early right hands make Umaga mad but Cena avoids a few charges, including sending Umaga flying over the top. Estrada has to calm him down and apparently it works, as Cena’s charge is cut off and he gets tossed outside. Back in and Cena tries to fight back but gets dropped with a screaming clothesline (Umaga likes to scream).

They go outside again, with Cena being sent into the steps and the then announcers’ table (JR: “WE’VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS TONIGHT!”). Back in and Cena avoids a sitdown splash but falls down on a slam attempt for the big crash. A neck snap across the top gives Cena a breather but his high crossbody is countered into a swinging Rock Bottom. Cena manages a Throwback, only to get blasted with a running spinwheel kick (that looked great).

Umaga sits down on Cena’s chest but a raised knee cuts him off for the needed breather. Cena tries the FU and Umaga crashes down onto him for the next big failure. The nerve hold goes on for a good while and Cena’s comeback is cut off with a hard elbow to the face. The middle rope headbutt misses though and Cena sends him head first into the post.

Somehow Cena manages a ProtoBomb into the Shuffle (with a woman in the second or so row absolutely losing her mind at the comeback). Umaga is back up with a belly to belly and ties Cena in the Tree Of Woe, meaning the running headbutt can connect. The running Umaga Attack is cut off by some raised boots though and Cena grabs a rollup for the fluke pin at 17:21.

Rating: B. It takes a lot to make Cena feel like a dramatic underdog but they pulled it off here. Cena was having to fight from underneath throughout and absolutely felt like he escaped rather than winning, which made for a good story. Usually you would expect Cena to make the big power comeback but instead he had to steal a rollup. That makes Umaga feel so much more dangerous and I liked what we got here.

From Royal Rumble 2007.

Raw World Title: John Cena vs. Umaga

Umaga, again with Estrada, is challenging and this is Last Man Standing. Cena, with taped up ribs (the calling card of a champion against a monster) slugs away to start until Umaga wisely goes right to the ribs. They go to the floor fast with Cena being whipped into the steps but manages to fight back in the aisle. Umaga isn’t having any of that and hits a hard clothesline back inside.

The steps are brought in but Cena knocks Umaga off the apron and THROWS THE STEPS AT HIS FACE for the huge crash. Back in and Umaga hits the spinwheel kick to drop Cena again but it’s still not even close to the ten count. The bearhug goes on for a bit before Umaga grabs the steps again. The running Umaga Attack misses Cena but hits the steps, allowing Cena to blast him with the steps for a change.

Umaga beats the count and is fine enough to hit the swinging Rock Bottom. Some cannonballs down onto the ribs have Cena in trouble but, just like last time, he gets the knees up for the low blow counter. The Throwback and ProtoBomb onto the steps have Umaga down and the Shuffle connects as well. Also like last time though, Umaga crashes down onto him on the FU attempt, this time sending Cena into the steps.

Cena gets up but is busted open, earning another knockdown for eight. The fired up comeback is cut off with a scary Samoan drop (with Cena half landing on his head) but the Samoan Spike is cut off. Umaga ties him in the Tree Of Woe but the running headbutt misses this time. Cena’s top rope Fameasser connects and he sends Umaga into the post for a crash. One heck of a monitor shot to the head knocks Umaga silly but he gets up again.

Cena gets knocked onto the announcers’ table and Umaga gets a running start for the missed splash. That’s good for nine and Cena looks crushed at the match continuing. Estrada uses the distraction to unhook a turnbuckle (as in the full thing rather than just the pad) and the top rope falls down. The turnbuckle to the face is countered into an FU though and Cena hits him with the turnbuckle. Cena gets creative by using the ring rope for an STFU to choke Umaga out….then has to do it again to retain at 23:12.

Rating: A-. Oh now this was WAY better, with Cena having to go into full on Superman mode to win a slugout against this kind of a monster. You don’t see Cena get to that level very often but dang it’s a special thing to see when it happens. Outstanding match here and pretty easily the best of Umaga’s career.

From Raw, February 19, 2007.

Intercontinental Title: Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga

Umaga, with Estrada, is challenging and we’re joined in progress with Hardy hitting some dropkicks through the ropes. The dive is pulled out of the air but Hardy manages to post him. Hardy’s run across the barricade is cut off with a shot out of the air and they head back inside.

A big leg gets two on Hardy as commentary hypes up the Battle Of The Billionaires at Wrestlemania. The nerve hold goes on for a bit but Umaga misses the middle rope headbutt. Umaga misses a splash in the corner and the Whisper In The Wind connects. Hardy charges into the Samoan drop though and the running Umaga Attack crushes Hardy. The Samoan Spike gives Umaga the pin and the title at 5:46 shown.

Rating: C. This was more of a surprise than anything else, as Umaga absorbed the big stuff that Hardy threw at him and then smashed through him for the title. While going from Cena down to the Intercontinental Title is something of a fall, Umaga did look like a killer out there. That’s going to make for a good chance for someone to take his title, and that’s why you give a monster like him the belt.

From Summerslam 2007.

Intercontinental Title: Carlito vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. Umaga

Umaga (having eaten Estrada somewhere along the line) is defending. Kennedy tries to tease the alliance to start and is knocked down just as fast. Umaga wrecks both of them, with Kennedy being sent outside, where he cuts off the running Umaga Attack. Carlito knocks Umaga outside and Kennedy kicks him into the steps. Back in and Carlito’s rollup with ropes gets two on Kennedy, who is right back with a Stroke to put Carlito down.

Umaga pulls Kennedy outside though and decks Carlito, only to miss a charge into the corner. Kennedy blasts him with a monitor and it’s time for the challengers to double team the monster. That’s broken up with a double suplex and Umaga smashes through both of them without much trouble. The running Umaga Attack hits Carlito but Kennedy low bridges Umaga to the floor. That doesn’t work for Umaga though, who is right back in with the Samoan Spike to retain at 7:25.

Rating: C+. Kennedy and Carlito felt like planes shooting at King Kong but instead of shooting him down, he crushed them up and put them on a pizza. Neither of them felt like any kind of a serious threat to take the belt, but Umaga had lost enough on the big stages already. Letting him win a match like this was the right call, as he looked liked the definitively better monster.

From Cyber Sunday 2007.

Umaga vs. HHH

Street Fight (57%), which beat Steel Cage (26%) and First Blood (You should be able to do the math to figure out what this is.). If nothing else, we have the awesome keyboard entrance set, which features prominently as the fight starts up on the stage. An early Pedigree attempt is cut off and they fight to the entrance, with HHH knocking him through a wall.

The brawl goes into the crowd and Umaga misses a charge over the barricade, allowing HHH to take over. They get inside for the first time with Umaga again missing a splash into the corner, allowing HHH to go find a trashcan. That takes too long though and Umaga drops him again, setting up a splash for two. A bearhug and belly to belly suplex stay on the bad ribs and the running Umaga Attack stays on…well just about everything else really.

Umaga grabs a chair but gets low blowed a few times, followed by a DDT onto the chair for two. That’s shrugged off as Umaga hits the swinging release Rock Bottom as they go outside. HHH ducks a chair shot but gets knocked over the announcers’ table. The big running splash sends HHH through the table for the huge crash. Back in and the top rope headbutt misses so HHH grabs the sledgehammer, which is knocked away. The Samoan Spike misses and HHH sledgehammers him in the head. The Pedigree finishes Umaga off at 17:20.

Rating: C+. And we’re right back to the run of the mill stuff here, as this was as by the book of a street fight as you could ask. HHH was getting back into the main event scene and needed to go over someone like Umaga to help him get there. This was a basic formula for a match and while it wasn’t bad, it never came close to being anything special.

From Raw, January 7, 2008.

Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga

Hardy’s Intercontinental Title isn’t on the line and this is in a cage. Randy Orton (facing Hardy at the Royal Rumble) comes out to watch and Hardy hammers away to start. Umaga runs him over with the raw power and sends him flying into the cage. Back up and Hardy tries to escape but Umaga slams him down for a crash and we take a break.

We come back with Hardy having to fight out of a nerve hold but getting sent into the cage. Umaga crashes into Hardy against the cage for two so Orton throws in some chairs. A big shot to the back puts Hardy down, but he’s able to crotch Umaga on top. The running Umaga Attack misses and Hardy kicks him into the corner. A DDT onto an open chair knocks Umaga silly for two, leaving both of them down. Hardy goes for the door but Orton slams it on his head. The Samoan Spike is countered into the Twist Of Fate so Hardy goes to the top of the cage and hits THE BIGGEST WHISPER IN THE WIND EVER to pin Umaga at 14:32.

Rating: B-. I understand why this was involved, but this was ALL about Hardy, with the finish being one of the coolest things you’ll see on Raw. It made me wonder what Hardy was going to jump off of to beat Orton at the Rumble and that’s a special feeling. The match itself was just ok, but my goodness what a finish.

From Wrestlemania XXIV.

Batista vs. Umaga

This is Smackdown vs. Raw for brand supremacy or whatever they’re calling it this time. They slug it out to start and Batista is sent to the floor. Back in and Umaga hits a spinwheel kick to rock Batista again. Another trip to the floor lets Umaga beat on him some more and the nerve hold goes on.

Batista avoids the middle rope headbutt but gets knocked down again, setting up another nerve hold. Umaga’s Samoan drop gets two but the Samoan Spike is blocked. Batista sends him into the post, hits a spinebuster and finishes with the Batista Bomb (falling down in the process) at 7:04.

Rating: D. This has to be up there with the all time biggest Wrestlemania disappointments, as what should have been a big power brawl wound up being a boring house show match where they both wanted to beat the traffic. Batista falling down at the end summed it up really well as it capped off the whole mess. Terrible match and a big letdown.

From Judgment Day 2009.

Umaga vs. CM Punk

We’re in Chicago (close enough) here so Punk is even more over then usual. Umaga throws him around to start and Punk can’t do much with the power early on. Punk gets whipped hard into the corner and the nerve hold goes on. Umaga crashes down onto the ribs but Punk raises his feet for a shot to the jaw. Punk tries a slam and collapses (of course), meaning we’re back to the nerve hold. Another comeback attempt is cut off with a shot to the face but Umaga misses the middle rope headbutt (AGAIN).

That’s enough for Punk to send him outside for a dive, followed by the strikes back inside. A running kick to the face staggers Umaga and he misses the splash in the corner. Another splash connects but the running Umaga Attack doesn’t. Punk’s middle rope bulldog gets two but he walks into a Samoan drop for two. The GTS doesn’t work either and it’s the running Umaga Attack into the Samoan Spike for the pin on Punk at 11:53.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to see Umaga get one last big win, as he would be gone from the promotion in less than a month and dead by the end of the year. Umaga was in a weird point here as he was still a good monster but there was a firm ceiling to how far he was going to go. The match was set up for Punk to come back and win a rematch, which is exactly what wound up happening.

Overall Rating: B-. Umaga was an interesting case as he was as general of a wrestling trope as you could get, but dang did he do it well. You knew pretty much exactly what you were going to get with him every time he was out there but it still wound up being a success. Unfortunately drug issues took him down, though I’m not sure how much higher he could have gone.

This is the kind of thing I want from the Vault though, as it’s something that you would not get anywhere else and it had WWE’s awesome production behind it. Good, interesting look at a cool star, and thankfully they ignored the overdone Battle Of The Billionaires (possibly for obvious reasons).

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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John Cena’s Greatest Rivalries
Commentators: Jim Cornette, Dean Hill, Michael Cole, Tazz, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, John Bradshaw Layfield

Another case where the name kind of sums up the whole thing and there isn’t much else to say. Cena has faced pretty much everyone in the modern era and we’re getting a look at some of his bigger ones here. That could cover quite a few different people and I’m not sure who all to expect. Let’s get to it.

Note that this is the WWE Vault version and the VERY slimmed down edition, running just shy of two hours rather than the full seven and a half hour full version. Also note that this was released in October 2014 so some names won’t be included.

We start with Batista, with Cena talking about how important his time in OVW was for his early days. There has not been an influx of talent like that in a long time (true) and they all wanted to have THE spot.

From OVW TV, February 23, 2002.

OVW Title: Prototype vs. Leviathan

Leviathan (naturally Batista), with Synn, is defending and commentary points out that Cena lost his first match in OVW last week….to David Flair? Cena is pretty worried to start and gets kicked down before Leviathan works on the arm. Leviathan is dropped across the top rope as this is dominance thus far. An elbow to the face drops Cena again and an elbow drop gets two. The full nelson slam (Leviathan’s finisher) is loaded up but Cena’s manager Kenny Bolin offers a distraction, allowing Cena to get in a low blow.

Three straight belly to back suplexes give Cena two and he whips Leviathan hard into the corner. A Russian legsweep stays on the bad back but Leviathan blocks another attempt. The comeback is on and now the full nelson slam connects, only for Leviathan to miss…something we don’t see due to a replay. Synn and Bolin get in a fight on the floor as Leviathan hits a powerbomb. Some other guy named Brody gets in the ring with an ether rag to knock Leviathan out. What’s left of Cena gets the pin and the title at 7:11.

Rating: C+. This is a match where you have to keep the words “it’s developmental” in mind. The match was in front of a few hundred people and a single major television market so yeah, it was designed to be very simple. It was clear that they saw something in both guys though, which is why they would both be doing house shows in a few months and then get called up shortly thereafter.

Next up is JBL, who Cena compares to a hard nosed coach who pushed him hard and beat him up even harder.

From Wrestlemania XXI.

Smackdown World Title: John Bradshaw Layfield vs. John Cena

JBL is defending and his entrance (which came first) is cut off here but it’s not his DVD. Cena starts fast with a leapfrog but charges into a boot in the corner. The running shoulder staggers Cena again and a swinging neckbreaker gives JBL two. Some choking on the ropes has Cena in more trouble and a catapult into the rope keeps him in that general area. Another neckbreaker drops Cena for two and JBL grabs the sleeper, which goes as you might expect.

Back up and Cena manages a double clothesline but gets sent outside for another neckbreaker. A superplex drops Cena again but JBL can’t follow up due to the whole crashing down onto the mat as well. The delayed cover gets two so JBL goes up (that can’t be a good idea) and dives into a powerslam to leave both of them down. Cena is able to make the comeback and hits a backdrop, allowing him to initiate the finishing sequence. The Clothesline From JBL misses and the FU gives Cena the pin and the title at 11:28.

Rating: C. This has never been that good of a match and that was clear again here. JBL beats him up, Cena shrugs it off, makes the comeback and wins. It didn’t help that the result was the most obvious imaginable, but dang this would have been better suited as a wild brawl to build the slightest bit of tension (like they did with the rematch, which was outstanding and would have been a much better choice).

We’re not wasting time in getting to the big one as Randy Orton is next up. Cena wants to prove that he’s the best so he faces Orton, who is one of the smoothest wrestlers he’s ever seen (fair). Cena praises Orton’s natural ability, comparing it to Shawn Michaels, saying that it’s not something he himself can do.

From Summerslam 2007.

Raw World Title: John Cena vs. Randy Orton

Cena is defending. We get an old school weapons check and the staredown before the big lockup (they’re definitely going for the big fight feel here). Cena grabs a headlock, allowing him to YELL REALLY LOUDLY IN ORTON’S EAR (he’s an all time great but he can’t hide his spot calling to save his life).

Orton reverses into a shoulder and headlock of his own to a ROAR as this is a very anti-Cena crowd. Back up and it’s too early for the STFU, with Orton bailing straight to the ropes. Orton stomps away but gets taken down with a bulldog for two. Cena’s crossbody misses though and Orton is rather happy at the misfire. A running shoulder sends Cena off the apron and into the announcers’ table for the nasty crash.

Back in and the chinlock goes on, followed by some shots to the head to scramble the brains even more. The big knee drop misses but Orton is right back with another chinlock. That’s switched into a sleeper but this time Cena powers up and starts the comeback. The Shuffle connects but the FU is countered into the backbreaker to put Cena on the apron. Orton hits the hanging DDT and loads up the RKO, which Cena breaks up without much effort.

Cena’s charge sends him crashing out to the floor though and Orton is rather pleased again. Back in Cena grabs a swinging neckbreaker for a breather, followed by the top rope Fameasser. It’s still too early for the FU though as Orton slips out and gets in a neck snap over the top. Orton tries the Punt but gets pulled into the STF, with the long crawl getting him over to the ropes. The RKO gets two but Cena pops back up with the FU to retain at 21:21.

Rating: B-. This was one of (if not the very) their first big time matches against each other and Orton just wasn’t quite there yet. Cena has been the king for a few years now and Orton was an up and coming villain but he needed some more main event seasoning. That would come in time, but for now, it’s really more of a footnote than anything else.

We get to HHH, with Cena talking about how big of a star he is and how important it is to face him at some point.

From Monday Night Raw, October 19, 2009.

John Cena vs. HHH

Points for not doing the Wrestlemania match. Cena grabs some headlock takeovers to start and then takes HHH down again for an early one. HHH bails into the ropes and sneers as only he can. Back in and they fight over a top wristlock until HHH knocks him into the corner. Another whip into a different corner has Cena down but he sends HHH crashing over the corner as we take a break.

We come back with Cena fighting back and hitting a quick suplex. A Pedigree attempt is countered into the STF but Cena pulls him away from the ropes, allowing HHH to make it to the rope (of course). The Pedigree gives HHH two and we take another break. We come back with HHH still hammering away and hitting another Pedigree for another two. An AA gives Cena the same and they’re both down for a needed breather. Back up and Cena tries another AA but gets reversed into the Pedigree to give HHH the clean pin at 20:17.

Rating: B. Of course it was good as these two almost always are, and it’s nice to see a match that might fly underneath the radar a bit. HHH was still one of the biggest names around at this point and having him face Cena was a big deal. You could put these two together and it would automatically feel big, which is what they had going on here. Good match too.

Naturally we get the Rock, with Cena referring to it as Rocky (as Apollo Creed) vs. Cena (as Rocky Balboa). Ehh……not exactly but it’s his DVD.

From Wrestlemania XXIX.

Raw World Title: John Cena vs. The Rock

Rock is defending. Cena shoulders him for an early knockdown but gets caught in a headlock. That’s broken up and Cena is knocked outside for the breather as they’re clearly playing the slow game here. Back in and Rock wins a slugout, allowing him to hit some elbows to the chest on the floor. Cena fights back and grabs the chinlock/headlock, which is reversed into a sleeper.

That’s broken up as well and Rock hits a Samoan drop into the Sharpshooter. Cena powers out again as we’re somehow more than ten minutes into this ridiculously slow match. The ProtoBomb connects but, believe it or not, Cena takes too much time and the Shuffle is broken up. A Rock Bottom attempt is countered into…well it’s a crossface but Cena’s arm is nowhere near the right place (and Cole calls it the STF despite Cena not touching Rock’s legs).

Either way it’s broken up so Rock can take him down again, only to get pulled into the actual STF. Rock powers out and hits a Rock Bottom for two more. The AA gives Cena two more but the top rope Fameasser misses. The spinebuster and the People’s Elbow get two and Cena bails out to the floor. Back in and another Rock Bottom connects for another two and, believe it or not, they’re both down again.

Rock tries the People’s Elbow (with You Can’t See Me) but charges into the AA for two more. Back up and Cena hits his own Rock Bottom for two so he tries the Shuffle. This time though he holds onto the ropes to avoid a Rock Bottom (smart) but the AA is countered into a Rock Bottom for another near fall. They both miss finisher attempts and Rock hits a DDT. Cena gets back up, escapes the Rock Bottom, and hits another AA for the pin and the title at 23:58.

Rating: C. If there was a wrestling textbook, this would be the perfect example of a match that did not need the title. Rock wasn’t sticking around so why in the world would you think he was holding onto the thing? The other problem is this stopped being a match and turned into a collection of finishers and stealing taunts. It makes sense to run the match back at Wrestlemania, but this did NOT need to be for the title.

Post match they talk a lot and Cena gives Rock the ring for the show of respect. Rock takes his sweet time leaving and then endorses Cena to wrap it up.

Cena praises his rivals to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. The key thing to remember here is that this is NOT the complete version. As it is, this would barely make the discount bin at Wal-Mart. However, when you consider that this was about a fourth of the whole version, which featured several more rivals (as the main screen is set up like a fighting game select screen) and matches involving these people, there is a lot of potential here. Cena has had several other great rivalries over his career and a look back at them is a fine idea. What we got here was a pretty lame use of two hours, though I’d be curious to see the whole thing.

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