NorCal and I are back (hopefully once a week now) to talk about the Brand Split thus far, along with the rollout of the Cruiserweight division. All this plus a lot more.
Also, we’re looking for questions to answer on air. If there’s something you’d like to hear us talk about or a topic you’d like to hear us cover, let me know in the comments and there’s a good chance it’ll be addressed on air next week.
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Wrestling
Date: September 22, 2016
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: D’Angelo Dinero, Josh Matthews
Grand Championship Title Tournament Semifinals: Drew Galloway vs. Eddie Edwards
Drew wins the first round so Eddie scores with a running clothesline to start the second round. A super hurricanrana gets two on Galloway and Eddie ties him in the Tree of Woe, only to have Drew sit up into a belly to belly superplex. The Boston Knee Party sends Drew outside and back to back suicide dives has Eddie in full control to end the second round.
Aron Rex and Eli Drake are ready for their semifinal match.
Grand Championship Title Tournament Semifinals: Aron Rex vs. Eli Drake
Decay promises to destroy the Hardys in the Great War but they catch Vanguard I spying on them. A Senor Benjamin hologram pops up to laugh at them as Vanguard I flies away.
We see a man walking to his car and talking about his past being behind. He gets in his car and the reveal is Cody Rhodes (just Cody here), who will debut at Bound For Glory.
Ethan Carter III and Moose fire each other up.
X-Division Champion DJZ comes out and issues an open challenge for a title match.
X-Division Title: DJZ vs. Trevor Lee
Maria yells at Allie for being stupid like Gail Kim. Allie is crushed, again.
We run down the Bound For Glory card.
Ethan Carter III/Moose vs. Lashley/Mike Bennett
Bennett drops to the floor at the opening bell so Lashley gets beaten down by both opponents. We take a break about a minute in and come back with Bennett hitting a cutter for two on Carter. Bennett sends Carter into the corner but punches Lashley by mistake. The hot tag brings in Moose and everything breaks down. Carter grabs a quick rollup to pin Bennett at 8:35.
Results
Aron Rex b. Eli Drake – Revelator
DJZ b. Trevor Lee – ZDT
Ethan Carter III/Moose b. Lashley/Mike Bennett – Rollup to Bennett
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of Honor
Date: September 14, 2016
Location: Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Steve Corino, Kevin Kelly
Opening sequence.
Guerillas of Destiny vs. All Night Express
We look back at Tetsuya Naito and Evil turning their backs on Jay Lethal last week.
Shane Taylor/Keith Lee vs. Ken Phoenix/Ricardo Rojas
War Machine vs. Keith Lee/Shane Taylor
The match is called a no contest for reasons unclear. Rowe gets powerbombed through two chairs to put him out.
Matt Taven is on commentary for the main event and says the new Kingdom will be part of the Six Man Tag Team Title tournament. Partners to be announced.
Roppongi Vice/Kazuchika Okada vs. Kamaitachi/Addiction
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Underground
Date: September 21, 2016
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Boyle Heights, California
Commentators: Matt Striker, Vampiro
Mysterio and Azteca are working out with Mysterio saying to forget Pentagon because they have their own battle to fight. Chavo Guerrero comes in and grabs a leg lock on Azteca but Rey quickly chases him off.
Lucha Underground Title: Matanza vs. The Mack
Mack is challenging and, somehow knowing he would be getting the shot, runs in through the crowd to go after Matanza in the aisle. A Stunner on the floor gives Mack three straight near falls, followed by a hurricanrana for good measure. Matanza shrugs it off and grabs a release German suplex. A pumphandle throw makes it worse and Cueto wants to see Mack dropped on his neck. Mack sends him outside for a flip dive but his frog splash hits knees. Wrath of the Gods retains the title at 6:03.
Cage vs. Texano
Dario comes out of his office to say that the winner of this will get the ULTIMATE OPPORTUNITY. They go to the mat to start until Cage sends him over the ropes, only to get Stunned across the top. Texano gets kicked to the floor and taken down by a big man flip dive which always looks cool. Back in and Cage grabs a reverse Boston crab of all things but his rolling Germans are countered into an ankle lock. They trade some small packages for two each, followed by Cage hitting a Death Valley Driver for two more. A big old discus lariat takes Texano down and gives Cage the pin at 6:02.
Dario says not so fast as that was the first match in a Best of Five series. And before you ask, this was taped before Cesaro vs. Sheamus started.
Trios Titles: Aerostar/Fenix/Drago vs. Worldwide Underground
Aerostar and company are defending. Drago and Evans start things off with Jack having issues removing his warmup gear. Black tags himself in but Taya does the same so we can finally get contact. They trade technical stuff to start with Taya flipping out of a waistlock for a standoff.
Black misses his top rope Lionsault and Taya has to throw Evans in by the hair. The champs start speeding things up and whip each other into Black in the corner as Evans is sitting on the floor with his arms folded. Black tries a springboard but Aerostar springboards up into a hurricanrana of his own. I know it looked bad with Black clearly just being there so he could get taken down but still, cool spot. A springboard Codebreaker puts Black away at 9:23.
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In case you were confused by what you’re going to see Sunday.
http://www.wrestlingrumors.net/kbs-review-the-real-clash-of-champions/
NXT
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September 21, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Corey Graves, Tom Phillips
We get a long recap of Joe attacking Nakamura last week.
Opening sequence.
We look at Kota Ibushi vs. Cedric Alexander from the Cruiserweight Classic in their match of the year candidate that earned Alexander a job.
Oney Lorcan vs. Austin Aries
We come back from a break with Aries dropping a middle rope elbow to the back for two. Oney fires off his hard strikes, including some chops in the corner as the announcers keep pushing his offense as ugly but effective. A charge misses though and Lorcan crashes out to the floor again. Oney comes right back with more running uppercuts, only to miss his middle rope sunset flip. Aries hits the discus forearm and wraps Oney up with the Last Chancery at 11:29.
Video on a monster named Dan Matha who debuts in two weeks.
After their win at the Cruiserweight Classic last week, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa were jumped by the Revival. The champs got beaten up though and ran off.
Aliyah vs. Billie Kay
Mandy Rose thinks Ember Moon looks like a cross between the Hunger Games and Little Red Riding Hood.
Andrade Cien Almas vs. Cedric Alexander
Almas comes out in just a vest and with far less flair and energy than before. We hear about Stephanie McMahon bringing the cruiserweights to Raw as Almas grabs a headscissors to start. The fans are behind Cedric as a very fast pinfall reversal sequence gives us some near falls. They fight over a wristlock but both guys flip out to give us a standoff. Almas does his posing in the ropes and catches Cedric with a slingshot dropkick and a running corkscrew dive to take us to a break.
They shake hands and hug to end the show.
Results
Austin Aries b. Oney Lorcan – Last Chancery
Billie Kay b. Aliyah – Big boot
Cedric Alexander b. Andrade Cien Almas – Lumbar Check
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Night Raw
Date: April 22, 2002
Location: Savvis Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler
Recap of Hogan winning the title.
Opening sequence.
Matt Hardy vs. Brock Lesnar
Mr. Perfect vs. Rob Van Dam
Eddie Guerrero is on commentary. Van Dam yells at Eddie on the floor and gets jumped from behind as the fans chant for Rob. A kick to the face sends Perfect to the floor but he comes back in with the necksnap. Van Dam comes back with the usual and Rolling Thunder gets two, followed by the Five Star for the pin.
Post match Eddie attacks but misses the frog splash.
Trish Stratus/Jacqueline vs. Molly Holly/Jazz
Trish fights the winners off.
Flair is still upset but Arn Anderson tells him to go make it right in the ring. Dang it Arn this show was going along just fine (ok not really) until that BRILLIANT idea.
Goldust/Booker T. vs. Bubba Ray Dudley/Spike Dudley
Goldust grabs a sleeper for a bit before the hot tag brings in Bubba for all his trash talking and punching. Everything breaks down and Spike gets two off a top rope seated senton. Spike tells Bubba to get the tables but Goldust jumps Bubba from behind. Booker gets in a quick ax kick for the pin on Spike.
William Regal vs. Shawn Stasiak
Back with Flair accusing the NWO, who are rather worried. Flair promises that Austin will have a replacement partner. Kevin Nash comes in after Flair leaves but he catches Nash anyway. Flair gives Austin the Big Show as his partner.
Steve Austin/Big Show vs. NWO
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Smackdown
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September 20, 2016
Location: Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Alabama
Commentators: John Bradshaw Layfield, David Otunga. Mauro Ranallo
We open with a preview of Ambrose vs. Cena later tonight.
Usos vs. American Alpha
Baron Corbin vs. Apollo Crews
Corbin and Swagger have a staredown.
Curt Hawkins Face the Facts vignette.
Intercontinental Title: The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler
Miz is defending and we even get Big Match Intros. Ziggler takes it to the mat to start and Miz is in WAY over his head with the technical stuff. A clothesline on the floor takes Miz down again but he dropkicks Ziggler off the apron to take over. Back in and Miz does the YES Kicks but continues the tradition of missing the big one. Ziggler goes shoulder first into the post and gets kicked in the face for two.
Erick Rowan vs. Randy Orton
Post match the lights go out and Rowan disappears with the sheep mask taking his place. Bray pops up on screen and says that unlike Orton, he can never die.
Nikki Bella/Naomi vs. Carmella/Natalya
Naomi kicks Natalya in the head post match.
John Cena vs. Dean Ambrose
As usual, the fans are split on Cena. Feeling out process to start with Cena working on a headlock and then into a top wristlock. Ambrose turns it up by sending Cena into the post and we take a break. Back with Dean chopping and punching away until Cena pulls him down into the STF. Dean makes the ropes and gets in another shot to the head, only to have Cena roll through a high crossbody into the AA for two. Dirty Deeds gets the same and I probably should have penciled that in as soon as the AA hit. Back up and a second AA is countered into a sunset flip to give Dean the completely clean pin at 10:14.
Results
Usos b. American Alpha – Superfly splash to Jordan
Baron Corbin b. Apollo Crews – End of Days
The Miz b. Dolph Ziggler – Skull Crushing Finale
Randy Orton b. Erick Rowan – RKO
Nikki Bella/Naomi b. Carmella/Natalya via DQ when Carmella attacked Nikki on the floor
Dean Ambrose b. John Cena – Sunset flip
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Night Raw
Date: September 19, 2016
Location: FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
Last Week on Raw, Kevin Owens beat Reigns to retain the title despite interference by Rollins and thanks to help from Rusev.
Rusev vs. Seth Rollins
Videos on Cedric Alexander and Brian Kendrick, both of whom are debuting as cruiserweights tonight.
Owens and Jericho have a list of grievances for Foley.
Braun Strowman vs. Sin Cara
Rematch from two weeks ago. Cara fires away right hands and kicks to start until Strowman just runs him over like a monster. We hit an early neck crank for a bit before Cara tries to speed things up, only to have his moonsault caught in a powerslam for the pin at 1:54. What in the world was the point of the countout a few weeks ago?
Charlotte/Dana Brooke vs. Bayley/Sasha Banks
Bo Dallas vs. Gary Graham
Video on the Cruiserweight Classic final.
Cesaro vs. Sheamus
Foley makes the seventh match for Clash of Champions when Jericho comes in. Jericho accuses him of never being a fan but Foley brings up recommending him to Paul Heyman for ECW. Chris has his List of Jericho (list of grievances), which now includes a bad fashion sense. As you might expect, Foley brings up the scarf look. Jericho: “This is very big in Luxemburg.” Foley: “Well it looks ridiculous, right here, in Memphis, Tennessee.” Jericho: “Number six: Uses cheap babyface pops.”
Shining Stars/Chris Jericho/Anderson and Gallows vs. Enzo and Cass/Sami Zayn/New Day
We recap the opening segment.
Videos on Gran Metalik and Rich Swann.
Video on Eddie Guerrero in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Rich Swann vs. Gran Metalik vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Brian Kendrick
Nia Jax vs. Alicia Fox on the pre-show.
Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns
Non-title and inside a cage. Reigns slugs away to start but wants nothing of going through the door. The champ gets beaten down in the corner and a running clothesline makes it even worse. A ram into the cage wall sets up a superkick for two on Roman and we take a break. Back with Owens getting crotched on the top and getting crushed up against the cage a few times.
Results
Rusev vs. Seth Rollins went to a double countout
Braun Strowman b. Sin Cara – Powerslam
Charlotte/Dana Brooke b. Bayley/Sasha Banks – Big boot to Bayley
Cesaro b. Sheamus – Neutralizer
New Day/Enzo and Big Cass/Sami Zayn b. Shining Stars/Chris Jericho/Anderson and Gallows – Bada Boom Shaka Lacka to Primo
Roman Reigns b. Kevin Owens – Reign escaped the cage
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on TNN
Date: October 6, 2000
Location: Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul, Minnesota
Attendance: 4,600
Commentators: Joey Styles, Joel Gertner
Hotline ad. WCW might have been sold.
November To Remember ad.
Nova vs. Bilvis Wesley
Kid Kash vs. EZ Money
If Kash wins, Joel gets to fight Cyrus. Money jumps Kash before the bell but Kash comes back with some fast armdrags to send Money out to the floor. Hamrick and Dinero get nailed as well but the distraction lets Money sneak in from behind. Money picks up Kash for a suplex but lets him fall backwards and crash down to the mat for two. A charge goes badly for Money as he falls onto his partners, setting up huge springboard flip dive from Kash to take out everyone.
Joel Gertner vs. Cyrus
Joel jumps him to start before taking off his shirt to reveal Kamala (old Ugandan savage) chest paint. Cyrus trips him up and chops in the corner but Sandman spits beer in his face, allowing Gertner to get a rollup for the fluke pin. This was harmless fun.
Kash, Sandman, Gertner and Spike drink beer.
Rhino is the man Rob Van Dam never beat.
The Alliance wants their titles back.
New Jack says he took himself out and wants Francine as his next trick. Oh and Rhino will wear a dress. This goes on WAY too long and the fact that I understood him makes it even worse.
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