IMG Credit: WWE

Hidden Gems #6
Date: 1994, 2005, 2011

I know I had 2011 wrapped up but since these collections keep growing every week, sometimes I have to add to come back and take care of some new ones. In this case it’s a one off match, with Seth Rollins defending the FCW 15 Title against Dean Ambrose in a thirty minute Iron Man match. They’ve gone to draws in fifteen and twenty minute matches so here we go. And I’ll throw in a bonus or two for the sake of some length. Let’s get to it.

Since the Iron Man match is the real draw here, I’ll go with a few extras to start.

Terra Ryzing vs. Brian Armstrong
Date: February 26, 1994
Location: Center Stage Theater, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 500
Commentators: Eric Bischoff, Bobby Heenan

This is listed as being from Saturday Night on February 26, 1994 but from what I can tell, this is the March 5 episode of Power Hour as it’s the only match I can find from these two. Who are these two you ask? Well that would be HHH (with some very big and very blond hair) and Road Dogg as a guy in trunks, who just happens to be part of a very famous wrestling family.

Armstrong, a rather popular (near) hometown boy works on a wristlock and an armdrag to put Ryzing in trouble. Heenan starts shouting for some reason but gets cut off as Ryzing hits a jumping knee to the face. An elbow drop keeps Armstrong in trouble and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker sets up an Indian Deathlock to make Armstrong give up at 2:51. Nothing to see here, but historical curiosities are rather fun and kind of the point of this whole collection.

Val Venis vs. CM Punk
Date: May 15, 2005
Location: Wachovia Arena, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 3,500
Commentators: Todd Grisham, Jonathan Coachman

This is from Sunday Night Heat and Punk’s singles debut after having a tag match on the same show earlier in the year. Punk grabs a headlock to start as Todd says Punk isn’t related to Punky Brewster. A hiptoss puts Punk down and they trade some legsweeps into near falls. Val makes the mistake of walking around clapping, allowing Punk to chop block him down. It’s time to start in on the leg, which might have been a better game plan than whatever he used in the UFC.

Punk drops some elbows on the leg and grabs a leglock to keep Val in trouble. Val gets back up for some chops but Punk wraps the leg around the post to put Val right back down. This is a lot more competitive than you likely would have expected. The kneepad is down and Punk even throws in some mocking.

Val makes the comeback with a knee and some clotheslines but the limping slows him down. The Blue Thunder Bomb gets two on Punk and the knee gives out again on a fisherman’s suplex attempt. Punk is right back on the knee with a half crab and Val has to crawl over for the rope. Val gets in a half nelson slam and the knee is fine enough to hit the Money Shot for the pin at 6:38.

Rating: C+. This is a case of considering the situation. Punk was a jobber here and had a heck of a little match with Venis giving him a lot. I mean, it’s not exactly surprising given Val’s job of main tryout opponent for potentially future stars. Punk would be ROH World Champion in about a month and in developmental later in the year so it was clear that WWE had their eye on him even at this point. Heck of a nice match here and WAY better than it should have been.

FCW 15 Title: Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose
Date: September 18, 2011
Location: FCW Arena, Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Matt Martlaro

Seth is defending and it’s a thirty minute Iron Man match. They skip the entrances here so the bell rings in a hurry. They grapple around to start with Dean going to the ropes to break up an early waistlock. The threat of an early Avada Kedavra (a low superkick) sends Dean bailing to the floor and we take an early break. Back with Bo Rotundo (Bo Dallas), Maxine (General Manager) and Aksana (Women’s Champion) watching as we have about 26 minutes to go and no falls.

Seth cranks on an armbar and armdrags him into another armbar for good measure. More pulling of the arm keeps Dean in trouble with five minutes down. Dean finally gets in a shot to the face to take over as everyone continues to look on from ringside. Rollins is right back with a series of chops to tie Ambrose up in the ropes and then knock him all the way outside. Back in and Rollins misses a dropkick but backflips onto his feet (of course) so Dean kicks him low for the first fall with 21:45 to go.

Dean’s Midnight Special (White Noise) ties things up at 21:00 left and Byron has the right idea for once: “DO IT AGAIN!!!” A running clothesline gives Dean a 2-1 lead at 20:22 to go. Dean poses as we hit the ten minute mark but stops to hit a second lariat to send Rollins outside. Back from another break with Seth caught in a bow and arrow hold with 17:15 to go.

With that not working, it’s off to a neck crank for a change of pace. Rollins gets back up but misses a kick, allowing Dean to hit a belly to back faceplant for two at the halfway mark. Dean tries another Midnight Special but Rollins reverses into a sunset flip to tie things up at two falls each with 13:45 left.

That’s enough for Rollins to make the fired up comeback, including something like the BURN IT DOWN stomp out of the corner. The Stomp (called the Advanced Curb Stomp here) misses so Rollins sends him outside for the running flip dive, with Seth slamming face first into the barricade on the landing. Back in and Seth hits the springboard clothesline but Avada Kedavra misses. Instead Dean suplexes him out to the floor but crashes out with him in a big heap.

We take another break and come back with just under eight minutes to go and neither guy being able to get to their feet. That means a slugout from their knees until they get to their feet to stay at it. Ambrose gets in a hard shot to the head so Rollins is right back with a jumping enziguri to put them both down. After the big kickout, Seth goes with a Lionsault for two more. Seth unloads with more kicks to the face and the Stomp (a good one at that) gets two.

We hit the five minute mark and Seth isn’t sure what to do next. The yet to be named Phoenix splash misses but Dean can’t follow up with four minutes left. An eventual cover gets two as the fans are almost entirely behind Seth here. Dean STILL won’t follow up with three minutes left but eventually stomps on the stomach and holds his boot there for far too long. A Texas Cloverleaf has Seth in trouble with two minutes left but he makes the rope for the break. Dean keeps smiling and there’s a minute left. Now it’s Ambrose doing the stomping in the corner but misses Avada Kedavra.

Instead Rollins reverses into a Midnight special of his own for two. Avada Kedavra hits Dean for two as the time limit expires with Rollins looking stunned. Hang on though as Maxine says not so fast because we’re going to sudden death. Rollins gets a very fast two off a small package but Ambrose unloads on him in the corner. A running knee in the corner nails Rollins for two more but he kicks Dean to the floor.

That means a suicide dive to almost knock them into the crowd, followed by an exchange of splashes in the corner. A superkick to Dean sets up the prototype rebound lariat and the Midnight Special gets another two. Things slow down for a minute until Dean goes up top, only to get enziguried into a buckle bomb. Avada Kedavra connects again but Dean doesn’t even go down, telling Seth to bring it. He does just that with another Avada Kedavra, followed by a small package driver to retain the title at 34:20.

Rating: B+. This took some time to get going but eventually you could see all of the chemistry that made these two work so well together. The last eight to ten minutes were outstanding with some crazy energy, especially for an arena and venue this small. It’s a lot of fun and these guys beat each other up with some really hard shots and some awesome storytelling. I can see how they saw the star power in here and it was possibly better than any main roster match they’ve had.

Overall Rating: A-. Now that’s what I was hoping for. You can expect great stuff from Harley Race vs. Ric Flair and Greg Valentine vs. Roddy Piper but from these guys on either the C show or developmental? This was a heck of a lot of fun and I could look at HHH’s huge hair for days. Good stuff here with all three being worth checking out if you have the time, especially the Iron Man match.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Tables Ladders And Chairs 2018
Date: December 16, 2018
Location: SAP Center, San Jose, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young, David Otunga, Tom Phillips

This show is now all the more interesting with Vince McMahon coming back to Raw tomorrow for the next shake up. That means things very well may mean nothing tonight, but at least we might get some entertaining stuff here. TLC has a tendency to be fun in a big insanity kind of way and that can carry it a long way. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Cruiserweight Title: Buddy Murphy vs. Cedric Alexander

Murphy is defending and this is former champion Alexander’s rematch at the title. They hit the mat for some early near falls to start and that means a standoff. Alexander sends him outside but Buddy is right back in, only to get dropkicked down for two. The fans go with “2 SWEET” rather than the obvious “2 05” because they don’t think things through. A jumping knee sends Alexander to the floor and we take a break.

Back with Murphy laying in elbows to the face for two of his own before slapping on the chinlock. Buddy even takes him into the corner and climbs up with the hold still on in a nice touch. Alexander is right back with a superkick to the chest and sends him outside for a whip into the apron. It’s too early for the Lumbar Check but Murphy’s Law is reversed as well. At least they kept things even. A Michinoku Driver gives Alexander two and Alexander blasts him in the face for good measure.

Murphy catches him on top though and scores with a Cheeky Nandos kick, followed by a Batista Bomb for two. Cedric is fine enough to drop him hard onto the apron for two more and the Lumbar Check connects for two, with Murphy having to get his foot on the rope for the break. After being dragged back inside, Murphy sends him face first into the middle buckle and a knee to the face is enough to set up Murphy’s Law to retain at 10:26.

Rating: C+. This could have been better as I’ve seen them do various other times, but they didn’t have as much time and were moved to the Kickoff Show (again) so it’s kind of hard to stay as motivated. Something had to be moved here though and this was one of the most likely options. It was still good, though nothing they haven’t topped before.

Here’s Elias for a song but before he can get to Do You Know The Way To San Jose, Lio Rush and Lashley cut him off. That means Lashley’s favorite pose and it’s so stupid that we need to get to the match.

Kickoff Show: Bobby Lashley vs. Elias

This is a ladder match, with the rules changed from “whoever gets the guitar above the ring can use it” to “get the guitar and win”. You know, like a ladder match. Lashley wastes no time in getting the ladder but Elias baseball slides it into his face. Two ladders are brought in but Lio Rush breaks up Elias’ first climbing attempt. Elias scores with a jumping knee to the face but Lashley is right back up to turn the ladder over. Said ladder is dropped onto Elias and we take a break.

Back with Elias in control again until Lashley suplexes him into a ladder in the corner. Lashley puts him under the ladder in the corner but of course takes too long to climb. That means a weak powerbomb to put Lashley onto the ladder in the corner but Elias has to knock Rush off the top. Rush goes flying and….Elias just wins at 6:16.

Rating: D-. What in the world was that? The ladders were barely a detail here and Elias just climbed up and won at the end with almost no drama. I’m glad Elias won and everything but a six minute ladder match? Are we in TNA now or something? Completely nothing match that would have felt lame on Raw, let alone here.

Post match Lashley takes the guitar away and blasts Elias with it because this feud MUST CONTINUE.

The opening video features Becky Lynch talking about how the year is over but they still have unfinished business. We get some videos on Rollins vs. Ambrose, Rousey vs. Jax and Bryan vs. Styles.

Mixed Match Challenge Finals: R-Truth/Carmella vs. Jinder Mahal/Alicia Fox

The winners get the #30 spots in the Royal Rumble and a vacation anywhere in the world. Truth and Carmella’s entrance take so long that Fox’s music comes on a bit prematurely. The guys start with Truth shoving a headlock off and grabbing a rollup for two. Fox, who calls herself the captain, comes in and it’s a double hiptoss to send the villains outside. That means a DANCE BREAK but the Singh Brothers come in to dance as well.

Rating: D-. They did this as well as they could have by getting done with it as fast as possible. This was a bad match with neither team looking good and the whole tournament coming off as a complete disaster. You would think they would have, you know, tried to get an interesting team in there but it was two comedy acts fighting for a prize that they’re not going to get anything from. At least it’s over though.

Post match Carmella talks about how fabulous that was, while saying they just won the #30 spots in this year’s Rumble. Truth got to pick where they go though and he picked….WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. Well, that was horrible and had a stupid ending, but at least they got to plug it on Facebook. Now let’s never talk about this thing again.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: New Day vs. Usos vs. The Bar

The Bar is defending and it’s one fall to a finish. Big E. is the odd man out here and it’s Kofi vs. Sheamus to start things off. Sheamus slaps on a headlock as we hear about the Bar getting rid of Big Show to end a partnership that didn’t need to happen in the first place. Kofi takes him down and hands it off to Woods for two off a jumping elbow. Everything breaks down with the Usos coming in to clean house but Cesaro breaks up Jey’s big dive.

Back in and Sheamus hits the Irish Curse on Woods as Otunga thinks the Usos are in trouble for not tagging in yet. We’re not even three and a half minutes in yet so I think it’s a little early to be worried. Cesaro slaps on the chinlock for a good while until it’s back to Sheamus, who takes Woods all the way to the top. This goes as well as you would expect with Sheamus getting crotched, allowing the hot tag to Kofi. Trouble in Paradise is broken up but Jimmy tags himself in.

Kofi gets caught in a suplex from Cesaro with Jimmy coming in with a high crossbody for two on the illegal Kingston. The Usos clean house with the superkicks and the pop up Samoan drop gets two more. Cesaro sends the Usos outside and gets two of his own on Kingston before busting out the Swing. The Sharpshooter has Kofi in more trouble until Woods comes in with a springboard DDT for the save.

Sheamus’ Brogue Kick is countered and Kofi stomps on his chest. Trouble in Paradise sets up a crazy long rope walk elbow from Woods with Jey making the save. Cesaro hits Swiss Death on Jimmy and it’s time for a bunch of people to go outside, meaning the big trust fall from Kofi. Back in and Sheamus Brogue Kicks Woods for the pin to retain at 12:21.

Rating: B-. This was fun, though it would have made a lot more sense to have it as a ladder match. Instead of a guy who bends over in front of a camera, all we had was six guys who have had some of the best matches on Smackdown for the last year plus because that’s all they know how to do. Good stuff here, though this division is dying for some fresh blood.

The announcers talk about Vince coming to shake things up, which might include Baron Corbin. That means a look at Corbin’s various evil deeds over the last few months.

Baron Corbin vs. Braun Strowman

TLC match with Heath Slater as referee. If Corbin wins, he’s permanent GM but if Strowman wins, he gets a Universal Title shot at the Royal Rumble and Corbin is out of power. Actually hang on a second as Corbin has something to say first. He understands that there have been complaints about his job as GM but he really doesn’t care. After Slater counts to ten, Strowman loses by forfeit and Corbin is permanent GM.

The bell rings and Slater starts counting (rather slowly) but here’s Strowman with his arm in a big sling at seven. Strowman has a mic too and says Corbin has forgotten there are no disqualifications in a TLC match. So if someone were to say, want to help Strowman, like someone who is tired of dealing with a bad GM for example, it would be perfectly legal. Cue Apollo Crews of all people with a chair, followed by Bobby Roode and Chad Gable with chairs of their own. Finn Balor is here as well and they all get on the apron.

Rating: N/A. There was no match here but there wasn’t anything else they could do given Strowman’s injury. It’s a good way to end the Corbin reign of terror but this in no way validates all the time and effort put into the thing. Corbin being out of the job is a good move, but it only really matters if he’s back to being a midcarder instead of being the focal point of the show. They were backed into a corner here and this was about as good of a way out as they had.

We recap Ruby Riott vs. Natalya. Ruby broke Natalya’s father’s sunglasses and Natalya wants revenge, including for being put through a table. Therefore, it’s a tables match.

Natalya vs. Ruby Riott

Tables match with Ruby and the Riott Squad bringing out the Jim Neidhart table. Natalya swings away to start but has to fend off the rest of the Squad, allowing Ruby to jump her from behind. That doesn’t last long and it’s already time for the table but Liv Morgan takes the bullet for Ruby and gets knocked through it instead (great bump). As medics check on Ruby, Natalya throws Ruby with a release German suplex.

Another table is set up at ringside as Natalya shouts about not messing with her family. Ruby gets sent into the barricade and Natalya slams Sarah Logan through the other table. A whip into the steps has Natalya in trouble and Ruby says Natalya’s father is ashamed of her. The Neidhart table is set up in the corner but Natalya takes her down into the Sharpshooter.

Since that doesn’t mean anything, Natalya shouts some more and pulls out a Ruby Riott table. Natalya throws on the Neidhart jacket as Ruby has been down for way too long now. She’s back up with a superkick to drop Natalya but Ruby takes too long putting her on the table. Ruby goes up but Natalya makes the save and powerbombs her through the table for the win at 12:38.

Rating: D+. Well that was long, though at least Natalya won definitively to get the feel good moment and win the feud. It still wasn’t worthy of PPV time and the table stipulation was really wedged in but it could have been a lot worse. Natalya just isn’t good with the emotions and Riott should be in the title picture (even as a challenger of the month or two for Rousey) but instead she’s fighting over sunglasses.

Post match Natalya puts on her dad’s sunglasses, which are somehow back in one piece.

Lars Sullivan video.

Finn Balor vs. Drew McIntyre

McIntyre powers him around to start so Finn dropkicks the knee out. A trip to the top doesn’t go well for Drew as Finn pulls him down, only to get suplexed across the ring for his efforts. Finn’s kicks to the knee don’t work as McIntyre sends him hard into the corner. We hit the chinlock for a bit before another suplex has Balor in more trouble. That means another chinlock for a little longer until Balor fights up for a running chop.

Drew gets sent outside for the big flip dive and a Sling Blade inside keeps him in trouble. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gives Drew two more but Balor hits the enziguri out of the corner. It takes too long to get up top though and a super White Noise gives McIntyre two more. They head outside with Drew getting caught in the ring skirt so Balor can hammer away.

The running kick to the face is blocked though and McIntyre pulls him out to the floor. Balor gets sent back inside so here’s Dolph Ziggler with a superkick to McIntyre. A chair shot takes too long though and McIntyre kicks it into his face. Drew brings the chair in so Balor dropkicks it into him, setting up the Coup de Grace for the pin at 12:06.

Rating: C-. Kind of a plodding match here and the lack of a clean pin makes it a little better. At least they had something with McIntyre having Balor beaten but Ziggler costing him in the end to keep Drew strong. I’m not sure how to feel about the ending here as Balor winning is a good idea but McIntyre losing again makes my head hurt. Either of these two could be pushed rather hard (especially McIntyre) but the Ziggler stuff isn’t helping Drew at all. Just let it be over already so Drew can become a star and Ziggler can go somewhere else. Like complaining that he was held down in a race for dog catcher or something.

We recap Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton. Randy has been extra violent as of late and tore off Mysterio’s mask a few times. A few chair attacks left Rey laying so he did the same thing to Orton, setting up a chairs match.

Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio

Chairs are legal. Mysterio starts swinging the chair early on but has to knee his way out of a suplex on the apron. Orton gets knocked to the floor and Rey hits the sliding splash with a chair for some bonus pain. With Orton down, Rey loads him up in a chair but misses the running seated senton from the apron. In a unique spot, Orton puts a chair on the announcers’ table and drops Rey onto it before throwing a bunch of chairs inside.

Rey sends him head first into a chair wedged into the corner but walks into a powerslam. A springboard is broken up by a pelted chair for two and Orton wedges another chair between the bottom two ropes. You know, because it worked so well earlier. Rey gets in a quick 619 but gets crotched on top to slow him down again.

More chairs are brought in and Orton sends him face first into the wedged chair. Orton loads up a bunch of chairs in a row and tries the RKO, only to get sent into the chairs instead. Rey gets a running start and walks the chairs into a sloppy victory roll for the fast pin at 11:36.

Rating: C. They were doing some nice stuff with the chairs here, but it was a lot of “and then Orton does this with a chair and then Rey does this with a chair”. There was nothing with the mask and I never really felt the hatred. You could go with either of them winning here as either of them will be fine bouncing back from a loss. Rey winning gives him some momentum though and it should be time to go after the US Title soon.

Balor is happy with the win but doesn’t get what Ziggler was doing. Ziggler comes in and takes credit for the win, setting up a fight with Ziggler sending him into some anvil cases. So he’s a heel again. Good for him.

We recap Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax. Nia is #1 contender and a monster with the threat of breaking Rousey’s face. That’s about it for her positives so we’ll get to the match.

Raw Women’s Title: Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax

Rousey is defending and Jax has Tamina with her. Aren’t we so lucky. Nia throws her into the corner to start so Rousey comes back with some jabs. An early armbar attempt is countered into a sitout powerbomb to give Nia two and Rousey’s ribs are in trouble. Nia sends her shoulder first into the post and then crushes said shoulder into the post. The legdrop misses so Rousey tries a choke, only to get thrown outside and into the barricade.

Back in and Nia slaps on the worst cobra clutch ever before a powerbomb is countered into a hurricanrana. Rousey hits a good crossbody to the floor, followed by a running knee back inside. Something like a Superman Punch drops Nia again but another high crossbody is rolled through into the Samoan drop for a close two.

The super Samoan drop is countered into a sunset bomb (not bad) for two more and neither knows what they can do next. Tamina offers a distraction to break up the armbar but can’t do that right either, allowing Rousey to duck the big right hand. The armbar, with a kiss on the hand, makes Nia tap at 10:48.

Rating: C+. You can’t really call this a David vs. Goliath match because David wasn’t a former MMA champion. It was entertaining enough, but how many times have we seen this exact same thing with Nia? She’s big, she’s strong, she can slam people hard, and then she loses in the end except for that one time she beat up Alexa Bliss and then lost the title back to her. Now find something new for her to do.

Post match Nia walks through the back and runs into Becky Lynch. Becky isn’t happy with Nia injuring her and then running her mouth about it so Nia gets sent into a wall. Tamina shows up and Nia kind of shrugs it off.

We recap Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles. Bryan talked about fighting for his dreams to come back to WWE but the people didn’t care enough about him. With that not working, Bryan cut out the middle man and got the title back through any means necessary, which he claimed was fulfilling his dreams. AJ isn’t happy and is out for revenge and the title.

Smackdown World Title: AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan

Bryan is defending and bails to the floor to start. He must have been studying his Kevin Owens tapes. Back in and AJ starts chopping away in the corner before sending Bryan outside. AJ’s slingshot forearm gets kicked out of the air and it’s time for Bryan to start in with the kicks and shots to the ribs. A comeback is cut off in a hurry with AJ being tied in the Tree of Woe for some pulling at the neck.

Back in and the kicks to the ribs keep Bryan in control so AJ fires off some right hands to get a breather. Bryan is right back with a running dropkick in the corner but Styles is right back with a running clothesline to turn the champ inside out. It’s too early for the Styles Clash so Bryan begs off like the villain that he is. Bryan knees his way out of the moonsault into the reverse DDT and gets two off a cravate suplex.

AJ kicks him down again though and Bryan gets knocked into the corner. There’s a dragon screw legwhip to take Bryan down and it’s time to wrap the leg around the post. The good leg is fine enough to hit an enziguri on Styles but a super hurricanrana is countered into a rollup for two. AJ keeps the leg and slaps on a half crab. Bryan rolls out and tries a triangle but AJ scores with a jumping enziguri for the double knockdown.

Back up and AJ hits a dropkick to cut off the running dropkick. The springboard 450 gets a delayed two and the Calf Crusher goes on in the middle of the ring. That’s finally rolled over into the ropes for the break and they head outside with AJ hitting Phenomenal Forearm off the barricade. Back in and another Phenomenal Forearm almost hits the referee so AJ goes with a small package, only to have Bryan reverse it into one of his own for the clean pin at 24:56.

Rating: A. Oh like this was going to be anything other than great. They beat each other up for a long time with the knee telling a good story throughout. The ending was a very nice twist as Bryan may have cheated to get here, but he’s still one of the best wrestlers in the world (with an incredible small package). Great match, but I think you knew that was coming the second it was announced.

Ronda says payback was a b****.

We recap Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose. Back in October, Roman Reigns announced that he had to step away from WWE due to his leukemia returning. Later that night, Ambrose and Rollins won the Tag Team Titles but Ambrose turned on him. Ambrose was tired of Rollins and Reigns treating him as the joke of the team and snapped. Rollins has sworn revenge while Ambrose has decided he hates how these cities smell. Yeah it’s changed a bit.

Intercontinental Title: Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins

Rollins is defending and Ambrose is wrestling in jeans, as he should have been a long time ago. He’s also rather annoyed at having to sit through the Big Match Intros. Rollins says the mind games are done and tries….a crossface chickenwing? Dean goes with a hammerlock so Rollins elbows him in the face to take him down. They head outside with Seth charging into a drop onto the announcers’ table, followed by some shots to the face back inside.

A middle rope elbow to the head gives Dean two as Graves keeps getting on Renee for not telling more about her home life with Dean. Rollins is still in trouble as a neckbreaker gets three straight near falls. Some right hands from Rollins just get him punched in the face again, followed by an exchange of rollups for two each. Ambrose punches him down again and slaps on a cloverleaf to work on the knees. The hold is broken up with Rollins rolling outside but coming back in for a Sling Blade. There’s the Blockbuster to put Ambrose down again, which leaves Seth holding the knee.

The knee is fine enough for a suicide dive but flares up as soon as he lands. Back in and Dean can’t hit a superplex, allowing Rollins to hit the suplex buckle bomb for another near fall. The crowd just isn’t reacting to this stuff and after the horrible build, can you blame them? They both hit crossbodies at the same time until it’s time for a slugout. Ambrose gets two off a double chickenwing faceplant before going up. He has to crotch Rollins on top though and that means a top rope clothesline for two more.

Rollins gets two of his own off the ripcord knee but the frog splash hits raised knees to give Ambrose yet another near fall. Dirty Deeds is countered with Rollins driving him into the corner so Dean goes up, allowing Rollins to hit the superplex into the Falcon Arrow for two more. Again: no reactions to these near falls. Seth loads up the low superkick but Dean sticks out his hand in the Shield pose.

Rollins thinks about it before superkicking Ambrose in the face. They fight outside and Dean gets tossed into the barricade with a powerbomb. Rollins throws him back inside at nine and talks a lot of trash, saying this is for Roman. The Stomp takes too long though and Dirty Deeds connects to give Dean the pin and the title at 22:54.

Rating: D+. The wrestling was good but a big time title match shouldn’t be a chore to sit through. That’s what happened here as the story leading up to the match was so bad that it sucked the life out of the whole thing. Ambrose winning the title doesn’t mean anything for anyone and the clean fall slows Rollins down a bit, but it’s pretty clear that he’s going to be in for a big Wrestlemania match no matter what. This feud was a wreck though and the match’s horrible crowd reactions shows you how bad it was.

We recap the women’s TLC match. Becky Lynch is defending against Charlotte, who she took the title from in the first place and now wants revenge, and Asuka, who won a battle royal to earn a shot. All three have been extra aggressive as of late and this could be very good stuff.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch vs. Asuka

TLC match with Becky defending. The trash talk starts things off until Asuka dropkicks Becky down. Back to back hip attacks have Becky and Charlotte down but Becky is right back up with some headbutts. Becky and Charlotte both hit suplexes and it’s time for some ladders to be brought in. A table comes in as well but Charlotte uses it to shove Becky back to the floor.

Becky is right back in and picks up a ladder, which Charlotte boots right into into her face. Asuka cuts Charlotte down and hammers on Becky in the corner, allowing Lynch to loudly call a spot to her. A slam brings Becky down onto the ladder and it’s Asuka making the first climb until Charlotte makes a save. Not to be outdone, Asuka powerbombs her through a table in the corner.

Becky comes back in with a dropkick to knock Asuka off the ladder this time but she’s right back up with a running hip attack to knock Becky to the floor. That means it’s time for Charlotte to moonsault off the top, right into their clasped hands for the double knockdown. Charlotte takes her time setting up a table on the floor so Becky is right there with more chair shots. A big boot knocks the ladder out of Becky’s hands and Charlotte loads up the announcers’ table. Becky grabs a ladder and knocks Charlotte down, setting her on the table next to Asuka.

The legdrop from the ladder lands SQUARE on Becky’s ribs like a seated senton with Asuka rolling away and the table not breaking at first. Asuka and Becky slowly climb up and slug it out on the ladder until Charlotte, who somehow can still walk, blasts them both with the kendo stick. With both of them out on the floor, Charlotte follows them out and gets in more stick shots. A Bexploder into the table next to the barricade has Charlotte in trouble and it’s Asuka grabbing the stick and hammering away.

Charlotte is right back up with a spear that knocks the barricade most of the way down. Back in and Charlotte pulls Becky off the ladder for the big showdown. The slugout is on with Charlotte being sent into the ladder but coming back with a bunch of right hands. They go outside again with Charlotte putting her on a table and adding a slap to the face. That means a Swanton to drive Lynch through the table and they’re both dead again.

Rating: B+. Well that was a heck of a match until the Wrestlemania preview, though it wasn’t the worst ending to the match. Asuka winning the title this way is absolutely fine and the right call here. It makes her a bigger star and gets the main roster monkey off her back while also allowing Becky to lose the title, giving her a big road back to the title at Wrestlemania. It’s the right call with a very good match on the way there, including some awesome spots and Charlotte somehow not dying along the way.

Asuka poses with the title to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was actually a rather strong show, which tends to be the case when they have lousy TV building up towards it. If you cut out some of the really bad stuff in there, this is getting up towards the classic range. Cut out stuff like the tables match and the Mixed Match Challenge finals plus trim off a few minutes of some of the longer matches and you have a great show as opposed to a very good one. Good show here, but I’m worried about what tomorrow is going to bring. At least we had a nice (albeit too long) night beforehand.

Results

R-Truth/Carmella b. Jinder Mahal/Alicia Fox – Cone of Silence to Fox

The Bar b. New Day and the Usos – Brogue Kick to Woods

Braun Strowman b. Baron Corbin – Pin after an Angle Slam from Kurt Angle

Natalya b. Ruby Riott – Powerbomb through a table

Finn Balor b. Drew McIntyre – Coup de Grace

Rey Mysterio b. Randy Orton – Victory roll

Ronda Rousey b. Nia Jax – Armbar

Daniel Bryan b. AJ Styles – Small package

Dean Ambrose b. Seth Rollins – Dirty Deeds

Asuka b. Charlotte and Becky Lynch – Asuka puled down the title

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: December 13, 2018
Location: Valley View Casino Center, San Diego, California
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson, Vic Joseph

I’m almost scared to watch this show given how likely it is to be full of Raw highlights. This hasn’t been the best week for WWE (thought it’s probably one of the least bad they’ve had this month) and I have a bad feeling we’re going to be seeing a lot of Raw stuff on here instead of the better Smackdown material. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Mojo Rawley vs. Tyler Breeze

The announcers at least acknowledge Breeze’s “change of attitude” for this match, which means they’re forgetting the two week heel run. Rawley hides in the corner to start before powering out by driving Breeze into the other corner. A release gutwrench suplex drops Breeze again and Rawley pounds away with some right hands. Choking makes it even worse for Breeze as Rawley doesn’t seem to be sweating him that badly.

Rawley slaps on a half nelson on the mat for some trash talk but lets Breeze up and charges into a superkick in the corner. With Rawley on the floor, Breeze loads up a crossbody off the apron but gets pulled out of the air and dropped face first onto the apron. Back in and Breeze hits some running forearms in the corner but Rawley shoves the last one away, only to get caught in a sunset flip for the pin at 5:14.

Rating: C-. Not too bad here as Breeze continues to go all over the place with the face/heel alignment. Both guys continue to be way too good to be on these shows when Raw is looking for anything fresh to keep things going. There’s no place for someone with a gimmick like Breeze other than waiting on Fandango to be healthy again? Or for someone with Rawley’s charisma and natural athleticism? To be fair, neither of them is a small British guy (who is WAY too talented for what he’s being used for as well) relieving themselves on a robe.

We look at Drew McIntyre losing to Dolph Ziggler and snapping on Finn Balor as a result.

From Raw.

Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler

Ziggler goes right after him to start but has to fight out of the corner as Drew slugs him down. A belly to belly suplex sends Ziggler flying and we take a break. Back with McIntyre hitting Super White Noise with Ziggler almost falling out for a nasty looking landing. They head outside with Ziggler posting McIntyre for a close nine but Ziggler collapses trying a superkick back inside. McIntyre talks a lot of trash so Ziggler snaps off the Zig Zag for two. They both take a good bit of time to get up and it’s Ziggler trying another superkick, only to get caught with a quick Claymore for the pin at 8:19.

Rating: D+. Nothing much to this one and I really, really hope that Balor isn’t going to be replaced by Ziggler on Sunday. I don’t get how he could possible be the third biggest face on the show, mainly because he’s not a face but rather a heel who was beaten down by another heel. At least McIntyre won though.

Post match McIntyre destroys Ziggler some more but referees break up a powerbomb on the floor. Instead, McIntyre kicks Ziggler’s head into the LED ring skirt.

From Smackdown.

Asuka vs. Charlotte

Before the match, Charlotte promises a preview for Sunday. Becky comes out to watch, as promised. Asuka goes for a kneebar almost immediately before throwing Charlotte HARD with a release German suplex. Charlotte kicks her down and tries the moonsault, which is countered into the Asuka Lock. That’s broken up with a drop down onto the back but Asuka grabs it again.

Charlotte gets out a second time and we take a break after a hot start. Back with Charlotte getting caught in an Octopus Hold, which she switches into a triangle choke. Charlotte punches and powerbombs her way out so it’s time for the Figure Four. Asuka turns it over so Charlotte goes right back to the knee in a smart move.

The spear is countered with a Codebreaker and Asuka starts firing off kicks, as the leg is just fine. Now the spear connects for two so Charlotte goes up again. The second moonsault attempt is blocked and the Figure Four attempt is countered into the Asuka Lock. Charlotte fights to the ropes and they fall outside, where Charlotte finds a kendo stick for the DQ at 15:23.

Rating: B. Good match here with both of them hitting everything they were going for here, including the big, hard shots and holds. They made it feel like a big showdown and that’s exactly what you needed in a match like this. I’m fine with the non-finish as you don’t want to take away the momentum from either of them before Sunday.

Post match Charlotte beats Asuka up some more and gets a swing at Becky. This doesn’t go well with Lynch, who sends Charlotte into the steps and unloads on her with stick shots. Asuka gets the stick away and unloads on both of them before posing with the stick to end the show.

Ascension/Curt Hawkins vs. Lucha House Party

Certainly better choice for the House Party than taking up a spot on Raw in an illogical place (there’s a place for them on Raw, but not how they’ve been used as of late). Viktor takes Lince down to start but gets snapmared right back. Kalisto comes in for the step up falling splash and it’s off to Hawkins, who gets dropkicked down as only he can. Well not as only he can but no one else loses as much as he does.

Everything breaks down and Kalisto’s dive to the floor is caught in a gorilla press (freaking ow man) by Konnor. Back in and Hawkins grabs a chinlock with Viktor coming in to cut off a comeback attempt. The chinlock goes on again and this time it’s a jawbreaker to get Kalisto out of trouble. Since this is a longer match though, Hawkins comes in to break up the hot tag attempt and it’s Konnor getting in a chinlock of his own to complete the trio.

Back up and Kalisto avoids a charge to send Konnor shoulder first into the post. That’s enough for the hot tag off to Metalik, who springboards in with a high crossbody. A missile dropkick gets two on Hawkins and it’s Kalisto and Dorado sending Ascension to the floor. As the double dives connect, Metalik drops the rope walk elbow on Hawkins for the pin at 7:23.

Rating: D+. Those chinlocks sucked the life out of this thing, which is hard to do in a match with the Lucha House Party. It’s not an entertaining match or anything but the ending was a great way to hype up the crowd as the long show gets started. Just keep them away from the main roster with all their annoying shenanigans.

Video on Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins over the last few weeks.

From Raw.

Here’s Seth Rollins to get things going. He isn’t happy with Dean Ambrose and tonight it’s time to spit some truth. Rollins is tired of hearing Baron Corbin (you and me both brother) talking about things so Corbin can get out here right now. Corbin says his door is always open to a superstar of Rollins’ caliber but Rollins tells him to cut it. Since Rollins has been dealing with Dean Ambrose, he hasn’t had the chance to tell Corbin how much he sucks as General Manager.

Rollins talks about everything Corbin has done wrong, including ruining a team like the Revival in whatever a Lucha House Party Rules match is. If Corbin keeps firing people, is it just going to be him, Lashley and McIntyre out here? Rollins: “That’ll send ratings up.” Or maybe they can have more urination segments. Then there’s BROCK LESNAR, who is never around and hasn’t wrestled on Raw since 2002. Right now, morale and TV ratings are at an all time low and it’s all because of Corbin’s job as boss.

Corbin says he doesn’t care about any of this because he’s in charge. If Rollins isn’t careful, it’s going to get worse for him. Rollins: “I don’t think it can get much worse around here pal.” Corbin talks about becoming permanent GM of Raw on Sunday after Rollins loses his Intercontinental Title. Then it’s time for Rollins’ life to become a nightmare.

Rollins tells him to start doing it tonight so the challenge is on. Actually, if Corbin wants to have a TLC match so badly, let’s do that tonight. Corbin says no so Rollins calls him a coward over and over. That’s eventually enough to get Corbin to agree to the match and it’s going to be for the Intercontinental Title.

I’m of two minds about this. On one hand, it’s a good sign that WWE is acknowledging how much people have been rejecting the show. The problem though is that this isn’t making things better. Having a TLC match is going to be cool, but not if Corbin is involved as he’s a big part of the problem. It’s one thing to admit that something is wrong, but until you do something to fix it long term, the problem is still there.

And from Raw again.

Intercontinental Title: Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin

Corbin is challenging in a TLC match with Slater as referee. Rollins stomps him down in the corner and knees his way out of a suplex. They head outside with Rollins grabbing a chair but getting punched in the face for his efforts. Corbin orders Slater to get him a ladder but the delay lets Rollins hit a spring clothesline and we take a break. Back with Corbin cracking a chair over Rollins’ back and whipping him into the barricade to make things even worse. Rollins gets in a dropkick and tries for a ladder but Corbin suplexes him into said ladder in the corner.

Corbin hits the slide under the ropes clothesline and stops to hit the Strowman pose. A backdrop sends Rollins to the floor but he springboards in to catch Corbin on the ladder and hammer him down. Corbin is fine enough to knock him outside and we take another break. Back again with Corbin hitting a Deep Six and some big right hands to the head. Corbin tries another slide but walks into an enziguri.

That means it’s time for the big beating with a chair as Cole recaps the opening segment again. Back to back suicide dives connect but the third sees Corbin throw him through a table. Corbin can’t climb fast enough though as Rollins chairs him down. One of the chair shots hits Slater and knocks him off the apron, though Rollins doesn’t seem to mind as he hits a huge splash off the top through Corbin through a table.

Back in and Rollins goes up but Slater shoves the ladder over, sending him arm first into a table in the corner, which doesn’t break. Corbin climbs up and…..gets powerbombed through the table as Rollins won’t stay down. With Slater down, a Stomp is enough for Rollins to climb up and retain the title at 24:30.

Rating: C+. It’s hard to screw up a TLC match and there was some drama at the end, even though the Slater turn (I think?) didn’t mean much. The problem here is even more Corbin, which is the last thing this show needed. Rollins winning to give us a hero we can believe in helps, but my goodness did we need a twenty five minute Corbin match to wrap things up?

Overall Rating: D+. The Raw stuff could have been a lot worse but the wrestling really didn’t work all that well. At least they had something with the Smackdown material, but there’s only so much you can do when the wrestling content is so lame for the most part. Not terrible here, but it’s just a bad time for WWE at the moment.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: December 12, 2018
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

We’re in an interesting place here as we have a Cruiserweight Title match set for Sunday, and that means we need something to fill in the gap before then. There’s a good chance that we’ll get a hard sell for the title match so whatever else we get could be rather interesting. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick introduces the show and explains tonight’s matches: Buddy Murphy and Cedric Alexander will be facing wrestlers Maverick has chosen. Murphy will face Gran Metalik while Alexander will face Tony Nese.

Buddy Murphy vs. Gran Metalik

Non-title. Kalisto and Lince Dorado are here, complete with pinatas. Murphy takes him straight down by the arm without much effort and gets reversed even faster. A few pulls of the mask keep Metalik down but he nips back up and scares Murphy into the corner. With Murphy knocked out to the floor, it’s a flip dive to put him in even more trouble.

A hurricanrana gives Metalik two but another flip dive off the middle rope is countered into a running suplex. The chinlock goes on (duh) for a few moments until Metalik fights up and drives Murphy into the corner for the eventual break. The rope walk dropkick gives Metalik two, followed by a superkick into the Metalik Driver for the same.

Murphy rolls away before Metalik can come off the to and it’s Metalik going hard into the announcers’ table. Back in and a top rope Meteora gives Murphy two but he charges into a superkick. Metalik’s moonsault misses and a Batista Bomb (that’s becoming popular around here) is good for another near fall. Murphy’s Law is countered into a rollup for two but Metalik springboards into a successful second attempt for the pin at 12:01.

Rating: B. Yeah this worked and served as a great way to showcase what Murphy can do. A lot of the time champions’ skills are forgotten due to them hiding behind the title but that wasn’t the case here, which made for a heck of a performance. Metalik more than did his part too and is quite great in his own right. Just get him away from the Lucha House Party shenanigans every now and then and those talents will show off even more.

We look back at Drew Gulak attacking Brian Kendrick last week.

Maverick tells Kendrick and Akira Tozawa that they’re going to be in a street fight with Gulak and Jack Gallagher next week. Kendrick talks about manipulating a lot of people and no one more than Tozawa. Now though, he’s a changed man. Tozawa agrees that he’s a changed man, but he looks the same. There seems to be an idea at hand.

Gulak and Gallagher say they attacked Kendrick in an attempt to save him. That will continue in the street fight.

We look back at the newly aggressive Ariya Daivari.

Daivari is tired of all the flash and no fight around here. Hideo Itami comes in to say he approves. That explanation has been used by WAY too many characters as of late.

Tony Nese vs. Cedric Alexander

Cedric backs him into the corner to start and we hit a quick pose with Alexander showing off his own muscles. An exchange of wristlocks doesn’t get either of them very far as it would seem that they have a lot of time here. Nese goes after the foot but Cedric headscissors him over, right onto his feet. Cedric scores with a dropkick and sends him outside but gets smacked in the face as he goes up top.

A neck snap across the top rope sets up a springboard moonsault for two on Cedric. The bodyscissors stays on the ribs but Cedric fights out, only to get taken down into a chinlock with a knee in his back. Cedric fights up and this time avoids the shot to the face in the corner, setting up the springboard Downward Spiral. A knee to the jaw in the corner and a springboard clothesline give Cedric two and Nese is rocked.

Nese starts striking away until Cedric kicks him hard in the head for another near fall. Alexander gets rocked by a forearm to the face and a running crossbody for two, with Nigel swearing over how close it was. Cedric is right back with a spinning elbow to the face but the Neutralizer is countered into a somewhat messed up Samoan drop for two more.

With Alexander on the floor, Nese hits a heck of a Fosbury Flop dive to take him out again. Back in and Nese misses the 450, allowing Alexander to snap off a Michinoku Driver for two of his own. Nese flips out of the Lumbar Check so Alexander Neuralizes him into the Lumbar Check for the pin at 13:53.

Rating: B. Another good performance from both guys here as Nese has gotten a lot better over the course of the year. Alexander has been great all along and there’s a reason he’s getting this kind of a push even after his long title reign. The match on Sunday should be very solid, and if you throw in Ali, who you know isn’t done.

Post match Murphy runs in, gets sent to the floor and taken out with a flip dive, and poses with the title on the stage to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Well let’s see. Two very good matches and a strong build towards the only match they have on Sunday with a match being set up for next week as well. The title scene is starting to heat up and if the rest of the show can live up to it, they’ve got something very special around here. Check this one out if you want to see a really strong show and what 205 Live can pull off when they’re focused.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

After a very long year, we’re at the final pay per view of the calendar. In this case, that means a show with a lot of violence in the form of TLC, or tables, ladders and chairs for long. This year’s show is packed, because we need every single match on the card BECAUSE THAT’S HOW WWE WORKS! I’m not sure what to expect on the show, but odds are it’s going to be long. Let’s get to it.

Finn Balor vs. Drew McIntyre

We’ll start with the first match that I saw when I looked at the card. Balor has been under the weather as of late and that means…well very little really, but they’ve been fighting for a few weeks now over Balor wanting to stand up against the bully. At the same time though, McIntyre should be ready for a heck of a push and that would seem to include a win here over Balor.

That’s what I’m going with here as Balor has no reason to win the thing while McIntyre can get another big win under his belt here. McIntyre is someone who can become a top star in the near future and Balor needs to be another victim on his list. Then he needs to move on to something more important, like….whatever it is that he’s supposed to do on a show without a World Champion again. But yeah, McIntyre wins here, as he certainly should.

Elias vs. Bobby Lashley

Officially this is a ladder match, but in reality it’s more like a guitar on a pole match with the win coming by pin after using the guitar. This has been a “great” feud with Lashley making fun of the fans by bending over in front of them and Elias playing songs that say Lashley sucks. They’re really stretching to make this a ladder match and it’s not something that needs to be there, but that’s what the calendar says.

I’ll take Lashley here, as WWE certainly seems to think there’s something entertaining about having Lashley do the “favorite pose” nonsense. Elias might not be the future of the company, but the fans like him a lot and at some point he needs to actually win something. He loses almost every big match he’s in and it’s not like Lashley is going to be devastated by losing here. Elias has a lot more to gain than lose here and needs it way more, but I think they’ll go with Lashley again.

Ruby Riott vs. Natalya

This is a tables match and a great example of something that doesn’t need to be on the pay per view. The match and feud aren’t interesting enough to warrant a spot on an already crowded show and the tables part was just thrown in there for the sake of having a tables match on the card. I mean, they’re fighting over Natalya’s father’s sunglasses, but they’re still fighting over a pair of sunglasses.

Give me Natalya here in the feel good win, but I just can’t get into the story. It’s not a match that needs to be on the pay per view and at best should be on the Kickoff Show. The Riott Squad, Bayley and Sasha Banks are likely to get involved and it would be more interesting as a six woman tag team tables match. If nothing else, it could be interesting to see Natalya go through the table with her dad’s picture on it. Natalya wins though, in a feel good moment.

Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio

This is the chairs match of the show and at least in this case they actually used some chairs before the match was announced. It also helps when their feud has actually gone somewhere in the last few weeks. Mysterio is already back in a groove after his time away from the company and that means he could go somewhere in the coming months, which is quite a good thing.

I’ll take Orton to win here, as he seems more likely to go somewhere faster out of the two. Either guy can be reheated in the blink of an eye, but Mysterio can do it just a bit faster. Orton has to stay motivated to make things work while Mysterio can have a great match at the drop of a hat. I’ll take Orton here as he continues to crush the heroes on his way to a bigger match, though Mysterio will be just fine, as always.

SmackDown Tag Team Titles: The Bar(c) vs. The Usos vs. New Day

Of all the matches they had on the card, they didn’t pick this one to be the ladder match? These three teams have dominated the SmackDown Tag Team Title scene for the better part of two years, with only the Bludgeon Brothers breaking their stretch that started in March of last year. The good thing is the match should be good because they know each other so well, but at the same time it can only be so interesting because we knot it so well.

I’ll take the Usos to retain, for no reason other than they haven’t had the titles in a little while. This division is DYING for some fresh talent though, and I’m not sure if the Bludgeon Brothers count, whenever Rowan is back at full strength. There’s a lot of entertaining wrestling to be had here, but the story isn’t working for me because I’ve grown a bit tired of seeing these seven guys fight. It’ll be good, but not engaging.

Cruiserweight Title: Buddy Murphy(c) vs. Cedric Alexander

Murphy has been quite the surprise success story this year as he came from nothing down in NXT to being one of the more entertaining acts around. He can wrestle a heck of a match and Alexander can as well, meaning we could be in for some good stuff here. However, this match feels like a stepping stone on the way to something that much more important, which is where this winds up.

I’m thinking Murphy retains through some shenanigans here, meaning he’ll need a new challenger. Alexander will have a reason to get the title shot, but I’m thinking Mustafa Ali gets added to the match to make it a triple threat match at the Royal Rumble where Ali FINALLY wins the title. Much like the triple threat match, this should be good, but it should be setting up another match later on.

Mixed Match Challenge Finals: R-Truth/Carmella vs. Jinder Mahal/Alicia Fox

This is the match that really should be on the Kickoff Show but they’ve decided it needs to be on the main card. The second season of Mixed Match Challenge was…well there’s no other way to put it: the show was really dull, despite the better prize of the winners getting the #30 spots in the Royal Rumble. It doesn’t help that the final two teams are the joke teams who didn’t win a match until their final week of competition and made it to the finals more or less as a fluke, but the bigger stars are busy in other matches so there wasn’t much else that could be done.

I’ll go with Mahal and Fox here, which should be the biggest layup on the card. R-Truth and Carmella are great choices to wake up a crowd and there’s no reason to put them out there at the end when they can be used in the middle of the Royal Rumble to give the matches some energy. Hopefully this is kept short and the villains aren’t allowed to talk, because no one deserves to suffer through that.

Raw Women’s Title: Ronda Rousey(c) vs. Nia Jax

I’m kind of amazed by this one. Rousey has cooled WAY down as of late and a lot of that has to do with being paired with Jax again. Jax is just a big vacuum of horrible, who brings down everything that she’s involved in. There’s no reason to believe that we’re getting a surprise title change here and Rousey needs to move on to the actually interesting matches instead of dealing with “I CAN PUNCH YOU REALLY HARD!”

Of course Rousey wins here, likely because Jax looks at Tamina by mistake and passes out from boredom. This is a match that needs to last about five minutes because Jax on offense is going to kill the crowd in a hurry. We know Rousey can lift her and we know she can get her in the armbar, so what exactly is the big mystery here? Will Jax accidentally break Rousey’s face too? We’re basing a match around the possibility of a real injury? I mean, I’ve heard worse ideas and it’s something that has worked before, but it was usually the case when it was someone a little more interesting than Jax. Like a bale of hay.

SmackDown World Title: Daniel Bryan(c) vs. AJ Styles

This is another one where it should be a pretty obvious ending, but at least the talent involved should help make up for some of the predictability. Bryan has found something with this new heel character and Styles has been World Champion for the better part of ever. There’s no real reason to have him get the title back, but with someone as good as Styles, you never can be completely sure.

I’ll go with Bryan retaining in what should be a great match. Bryan can do the in-ring work with the best of him but now that he’s all evil and….however else you would describe him, there’s a lot to be said about how good he can be. Styles will give it all he has (and having him wear a cup would be a great moment that I doubt they’re clever enough to use) but in the end, this needs to be Bryan, who could go a long way as champion in the near future.

Intercontinental Title: Seth Rollins(c) vs. Dean Ambrose

I’m not sure what to think of this. In theory it should be the biggest and hottest feud on Monday Night Raw, but instead the big story has been about Ambrose being obsessed with…how various cities smell. These two are joined at the hip and are again now that Ambrose has turned on the Shield to become what should have been a mega villain. Instead it’s just an Intercontinental Title match that will likely be more intense than the average showdown.

I see no reason to have Rollins hold onto the title here so we’ll go with Ambrose. It’s pretty clear that we’re coming up on Rollins in a big match at WrestleMania, possibly even against Brock Lesnar. Rollins is one of the hottest stars on the roster and it would make sense to get the title off of him soon, especially when it’s against someone like Ambrose, who has the history against Rollins to take away some of the sting of a loss. Ambrose wins here, but this is far from over.

Baron Corbin vs. Braun Strowman

For the sake of simplicity, I’ll assume that Strowman will actually be wrestling in the match, though it’s certainly not a guarantee at this point. This is the match that needs to go one way but will likely go in a different one for the sake of WWE is stupid. Corbin needs to get far, far away from his spot at the center of Monday Night Raw but it wouldn’t shock me to see him win somehow anyway.

Since I need the sanity I’ll go with an injured Strowman winning the match in short order, as something has to be cut short to keep this show from being about five hours long. I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone take Strowman’s place in the match, but I’ll take whatever I can get that sees Corbin FAR away from the place he’s currently in. Strowman is almost guaranteed to face Lesnar at the Royal Rumble, so just let it be set up here and then give him six weeks to heal properly.

SmackDown Women’s Title: Becky Lynch(c) vs. Charlotte vs. Asuka

This is the real main event, no matter what WWE wants you to think at the moment. Lynch has become a star and these three have had some great segments against each other. The thing to remember here is that this match doesn’t mean much in the bigger story going on. All that matters here is who walks out of WrestleMania with one of the titles, whichever the big women’s match has on the line.

I’ll go with the surprise (which seems to be getting more traction) pick of Asuka winning the title here. It keeps both Lynch and Charlotte strong and FINALLY gives Asuka the big win after choking so many times on the main roster. Lynch can say that she didn’t really lose and set up a rematch while Charlotte does whatever she does next. Again: all roads lead to WrestleMania, and that’s really all that matters at the end of the day. Lynch can drop the belt here and get it back later, which is perfectly fine.

Overall Thoughts

Looking at this list has told me one thing: this show is going to be long. There’s a lot of stuff that feels like it doesn’t need to be on here (oddly enough, the ladder match and the tables match would be at the top of this list). Something is either going to have to be moved to the Kickoff Show or be really short to keep the show from feeling incredibly rushed. The key here is the action though, as this show has a tendency to be a lot of fun just because of all the carnage involved. If that’s the case, everything will be fine.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: July 15, 2004
Location: Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, Rhode Island
Commentators: Michael Cole, Tazz

It’s a big night around here with JBL defending the World Title against Eddie Guerrero inside a cage. This is Eddie’s big rematch since Smackdown doesn’t have a pay per view this month so the question is what kind of shenanigans should we expect. The show could be ok, though I’ve been very wrong on that front before. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of John Cena being stripped of the US Title by a power mad Kurt Angle. That makes a lot more sense than having him lose the title.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Booker T. to get things going. Booker says he’s all about championships and isn’t happy with the fans chanting the FIVE TIME part with him. None of them are five time WCW Champions so they shouldn’t be saying anything. Anyway, Booker wants the US Title because he didn’t lose to Cena in last week’s title shot. That’s why he wants Kurt Angle to come out here right now and award him the title. Instead here’s Rene Dupree to say that Americans don’t deserve to be the US Champion since they have no culture. Come on, this place is named after DONUTS.

Dupree wants the title, but here’s Kenzo Suzuki to rant about something in Japanese. Booker says he speaks fluent Japanese and Kenzo says Booker should be champion. Actually Hiroko says Kenzo thinks it should be him because Kenzo loves America. Booker tells Kenzo to say something in English, so he says Booker’s catchphrase to a nice reaction from the crowd. Booker: “TELL ME YOU DIDN’T JUST SAY THAT!” Arguing ensues so here’s Cena to a pretty strong pop.

Cena thinks this is some kind of We Are The World mix tape reunion. Or maybe they’re trying to recreate the Wizard of Oz, with Hiroko as a makeup heavy Dorthy, the dumb Booker as the Scarecrow, the testicle-less Kenzo as the Tin Man, Michael Cole representing the Lollipop Guild and the cowardly Frenchman. We’re not in Kansas anymore though because this is John Cena country and the champ is here.

Cena is going to walk down the yellow brick road to Angle’s office and get his title back, or he’ll just take it himself. He heads to the back and kicks the door in, finding Angle holding the title. Cena picks Angle up from the chair but Luther Reigns makes the save….until Cena throws him through the wall. Security takes Cena away and Angle promises to do something tonight.

Rey Mysterio/Spike Dudley vs. Jamie Noble/Chavo Guerrero

Spike headlocks Jamie down to start and small packages an invading Chavo for two. A spinebuster gives Chavo the same with Rey making an early save. I don’t think it was that bad dude. Rey has had it with the double teaming and springboards in (over the referee) to take both villains out. Stereo dives (with the camera missing Spike’s) take Jamie and Chavo out again but Chavo breaks up a springboard to put Rey in trouble. Since they seem to be in a hurry, Rey bulldogs both of them down almost immediately and it’s back to Spike.

The top rope double stomp gets two on Jamie and everything breaks down. There’s the 619 to Chavo but he’s able to break up one on Jamie. The Dudley Dog connects but Chavo pulls Spike out at two. Jamie hits the tiger driver, only to have D-Von Dudley come in for the distraction, allowing Bubba Ray to kick Jamie low. That’s enough for Spike (who didn’t see what happened) get the pin.

Rating: C. They packed a lot of good stuff in there and made a little something out of a match that should have just been filler. Spike is WAY better when he’s in there against people his own size (or as close to it as you can get) instead of playing the giant killer and this was another entertaining performance, even with the storyline ending.

Post match Spike sees his brothers and figures out what happened so he tells them to leave him alone.

Raw Rebound.

Recap of JBL winning the title from Eddie at the Great American Bash and the El Gran Luchadore thing from last week.

Reigns has been pulled out of the wall but Angle says he might have tweaked his knee and needs his cast adjusted. As for Cena, he can face Booker, Suzuki and Dupree at once.

Summerslam ad with the Olympics theme. I always liked that one.

Booker T./Rene Dupree/Kenzo Suzuki vs. John Cena

Elimination rules. For some reason Kenzo gets his full entrance while Booker and Rene have to share one. No wonder Dupree doesn’t like us. Rene starts for the team as Cole tries to brag about an American winning the Tour de France five times. I’m sure that won’t sound really stupid one day. I mean, it sounds stupid now but it’ll be even worse later. We take a very early break and come back with Kenzo coming in for a slam from Cena. Rene cuts Cena off with a knee to the back though and Kenzo scores with a Shining Wizard. That’s enough to tie Cena in the Tree of Woe and, using Hiroko’s sash, Kenzo chokes away for a DQ.

Rene comes in for a French Tickler but Cena catapults him into the post and gets a very fast rollup to tie things up. Booker starts hammering away and drops the knee for a delayed two. The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a superkick to the chest (Does it have to hit the face to be a superkick?) for two. Cena makes the comeback with the usual and the Shuffle connects for two but Booker throws him outside. Cue Reigns to post Cena and the ax kick gives Booker the pin.

Rating: D+. This was angle advancement more than anything else and that’s fine. Cena continues to be kept strong as it took four people to finally put him down. You can pencil in Cena vs. Booker for a US Title feud and that’s a pretty good place to be. Or Cena vs. Angle down the line when Angle gets out of the wheelchair permanently.

Heidenreich is coming. I mean, coming back as he was already on Raw a few times but now he’s going to be a monster. Oh and he has Paul Heyman with him.

Eddie Guerrero praises El Gran Luchadore but says this week, JBL won’t be able to run. Inside the case there is fear, anxiety, pain and the WWE Championship. That’s going to be a real high for Eddie.

Quick look back at Paul London and Billy Kidman winning the Tag Team Titles last week.

D-Von Dudley vs. Paul London

D-Von gets aggressive to start and hammers away in the corner with London’s right hands not having much effect. Bubba’s advice to D-Von: “KILL HIM!” A suplex gives D-Von two and a Hennig neck snap is good for the same. That means it’s off to a neck crank (Bubba: “COME ON CHAMP!”) for a bit before London flips out of a German suplex attempt. An enziguri hits D-Von for two but he backdrops London out to the floor. Bubba decks Kidman and whips London with a belt but London sends the Dudleys into each other and rolls D-Von up for the pin.

Rating: D. Quick and to the point here with London winning off a glorified fluke. That’s not the worst thing in the world though as they won the titles clean in the match that really matters. Beating some fired up Dudleys either at a big Smackdown or at Summerslam will be a good win for the champs as they’re actually being built up as a new team. See how easy it can be?

Reigns wants Cena so Angle makes the match for next week. For now though, Angle wants to watch the main event and promises that no one will forget tonight. Nothing ominous there at all. I do appreciate the hole in the wall not being repaired or addressed in any way.

Smackdown World Title: Eddie Guerrero vs. John Bradshaw Layfield

JBL is defending and the ONLY way to win is pin, submission or escape over the top (the door is chained shut). I don’t think WWE knows the definition of “only”. Also, there’s something amusing about the announcement that this is the cage match as the cage is being lowered. The fans are rabid for Eddie here. JBL seems to panic a bit as he sees that the cage is locked. Eddie can’t send him into the cage to start so he goes with right hands to the head instead.

Instead JBL sends him head first into the cage but it’s way too early to go over the top. A fall away slam sends Eddie flying but he’s still fine enough to make a save. JBL gets knocked down so Eddie tries and misses a frog splash. Eddie is up fast enough to crotch JBL on the top and Three Amigos keep the champ in trouble. They head up top and JBL grabs a top rope superplex to send us to a break.

Back again with Eddie hitting a dropkick to block the Clothesline From JBL and they’re both down. JBL is up first and gets two off a spinebuster as the fans get behind Eddie again. This attempt gets cut off with a grab of the trunks (and a bit too much exposure), setting up a Russian legsweep from the top. Eddie takes his time getting up so JBL slaps on a sleeper this time around. That’s not the most thrilling move in the world and not something that I like to see in a cage match, though JBL choking with the wrist tape helps a bit more.

Eddie gets smart by running in a circle and using the momentum to send JBL flying into the cage for a break. Another ram into the cage gets a delayed two but JBL backdrops him into the cage. That means an even more delayed two, followed by the Clothesline From JBL for a not very near fall.

We take another break and come back again with Eddie jumping up the side of the cage to make a save. They head back down to the mat with Eddie reversing a fall away slam into the cage into a DDT. He goes up instead of covering though and gets a leg over the top before JBL makes a save. The still good powerbomb gets two more and it’s JBL’s turn to climb up and get pulled back down. Eddie goes all the way to the top of the cage….and turns around for the frog splash in the big spot of the match.

There’s no cover at first though so we look at an angle from the side, which makes it look even better. JBL eventually kicks out, which isn’t surprising as it took almost a minute after the splash hit. A DDT gives JBL a long breather and he goes up this time but Eddie is right behind him. Cue El Gran Luchadore to climb into the cage though and grab Eddie’s leg. That’s enough for JBL to get out and retain the title, sucking the life out of the arena.

Rating: B. These two have certainly figured out some better chemistry and this was a heck of a good match with nearly half an hour including commercials. The important thing here was they nailed the drama and Eddie can’t really complain about losing when he had the win but went for the splash instead. The ending is going to move Eddie on to something else, though I’m almost worried about what is next for JBL. It takes the right opponent to get something passable out of him and this show is thin on top at the moment.

Post match Luchadore jumps Eddie and goes to leave but Eddie pulls the mask off just in time. It’s Angle, who is mad that he lost his mask but happy that Eddie lost to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a pretty solid show all things considered, though I’m not sure how good things can be in the future. Eddie vs. Angle is a proven solid match and Cena vs. Booker will be fine. Above all else, the lack of JBL talking helped so much around here. He can have a watchable enough match under the right circumstances, but there aren’t many people left to fight him at the moment. Anyway, I’ll take what I can get for the big show of the month, even though what’s coming might be a lot weaker.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Hidden Gems #5
Date: 1969, 1970, 1971

We’re going very old school here for what will mostly be NWA matches. Part of the beauty of these collections is the range of stuff they cover and that’s what we’re getting here with some nearly fifty year old stuff. I’m having a great time with these things and it’s very cool to get some stuff that I haven’t seen before. Let’s get to it.

We’ll start in Florida with Gordon Solie introducing highlights of Dory Funk Jr. winning the NWA World Title from Gene Kiniski on February 11, 1969 in Tampa.

NWA World Title: Gene Kiniski vs. Dory Funk Jr.
Date: February 11, 1969
Location: Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 6,000
Commentator: Gordon Solie

Funk is challenging and we’re joined in progress with Kiniski on his back and getting forearmed for trying to get up. Serves him right. We’re clipped to both guys getting up and Kiniski snapmaring him down to take over. Dory gets two off a sunset flip but a kick to the face gives Kiniski the same. A belly to back suplex puts both of them down and things slow a bit more. Funk gets a pair of two’s off a pair of slams and Gene can’t hold him up for a backbreaker.

The spinning toehold is broken up and the sequence works so well that they do it again. A fourth slam sets up a third spinning toehold and this time Kiniski taps to make Dory the champion at 3:45 shown. The match ran 27:00 total so I’m not rating this, but it wasn’t the most thrilling stuff. Then again I’ve never been a fan of Kiniski’s work.

Post match Dory is rather calm, until he’s handed the title and it’s time to jump up and down a lot.

Back to Solie, who praises Dory as the new kind of athlete. Dory comes in and is very humble and thanks his father and the promoter for letting him have the chance. Not much to say here, but Dory never was the most charismatic guy.

Bruno Sammartino vs. George Steele
Date: July 29, 1970
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York

Bruno is defending in a cage with escape only rules but I’m not sure on the date here as I can’t find anything that says there was a show on this date. The cage is put together, which takes a good while in its own right. Steele takes his sweet time getting in and I’m really thinking this is the Philadelphia match from July 25 with the wrong label. Bruno unloads on him in the corner to start and Steele tries to go over the top with as much success as you would guess. A big right hand has Steele down and yeah this is the Philadelphia match. Steele makes a save and chokes in the corner but gets punched away again.

This time it’s Steele getting caught in the ropes so Bruno can kick and punch a lot more. Yeah he didn’t have the most versatile offense in the world but he made it work. Steele gets loose and sends him into the cage but gets his face rubbed against the cage for his efforts. You can see the fired up version of Bruno coming out and he pulls Steele off the cage to keep up the beating. Sammartino stomps away until Steele kicks him into the cage for the double knockdown.

It’s the champ up first though and he actually hits Steele low in a rather hard departure from his norm. More kicks and stomps have Steele in trouble and a running kick to the ribs keeps him down. Steele finally rakes the eyes and rips open a buckle so the stuffing can go into Bruno’s face. That was a thing for Steele and it doesn’t work so well as a heel. The fans lose it on Steele for having their hero in trouble and that’s why Sammartino stayed as champion for so long. NO ONE got that kind of a reaction for so long and the company knew that.

Steele chokes him down in the corner as the audio seems to cut out. You can see the trash the fans have thrown in but Bruno making a comeback is enough to calm them down a bit. Bruno unloads on him and sends Steele into the cage a few times before walking out to retain at 14:41.

Rating: C-. Your mileage on Bruno is going to vary a lot and that’s completely understandable. This is nearly fifty years old and it’s almost impossible to compare the two eras. Bruno beat the heck out of Steele and was the definitive winner, which was exactly what the fans wanted to see here. It’s not a great match, but the fan reaction is more than enough to carry everything as far as it needed to go. I mean, it’s not exactly hidden as it’s been on a few home videos before but Bruno is always worth a look for the fan reactions alone.

WWWF World Title: Pedro Morales vs. Blackjack Mulligan
Date: March 15, 1971
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York

Pedro is defending and Mulligan is the father of Barry Windham and the grandfather of Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas. He’s also managed by the Grand Wizard. The referee takes a good while going over the rules and Mulligan isn’t having any of that. On top of that, he’s not happy with the fans booing him before the bell. They circle each other for a good bit to start with the only contact being the boos hitting Mulligan. Morales avoids an early charge so it’s time for Mulligan to mess with his glove. Another missed charge means more stalling as there’s no contact for the first two minutes.

They finally lock up with Pedro snapping off an armdrag. That means more stalling into another lockup and Morales shoves him away without much effort. Mulligan loads up the glove again and a single shot has Morales flailing around on the mat. It’s off to the nerve hold with Pedro being taken down to cut off a comeback attempt. Morales gets in a shot to the face for the break and the comeback is on with the big left hands. There’s no follow up though as Morales goes stupid with a test of strength that takes him down again. Well to be fair he never was the brightest guy in the world.

hat means the power of the glove (which apparently gives you super strength) keeps Morales in trouble until another shot to the head breaks things up. After Mulligan walks around for a bit, Pedro slaps on a headlock (how devastating) and hangs on for a good while. Something like a bulldog (more like a running clothesline to the back of the head) sets up a chinlock on Mulligan but he gloves his way out of it.

That means a wristlock from Mulligan as we’re nearly fourteen minutes in. A good looking backdrop gives Mulligan two but Pedro pops up and makes a very fast comeback, capped off by a top rope seated senton to the back to retain at 14:16, even though Mulligan’s shoulder was up at about 2.4. I guess the referee wanted out too.

Rating: F. I’ve seen some good Pedro matches but this was just a boring slog with one hold after another and Mulligan’s glove (it was a thing, but you need more to have a full match) being the focal point of the match. Really boring and flat out bad stuff here, which is all the more annoying as both of them were more than capable of better.

Mulligan goes after him again post match but Pedro clears him off…..or at leas I think he does as we’re looking at the crowd for some reason. Pedro waves a Puerto Rican flag for a long time.

And now for something very unique. From July 30, 1971, a special episode of Championship Wrestling From Florida with the whole show being dedicated to Jack Brisco. It’s billed as This Is Your Life Jack Brisco, which could be rather interesting if done right.

Gordon Solie is sitting at the desk next to the champ and they go over Jack’s athletic background at Oklahoma State, though it’s rather hard to understand what Jack is saying.

We get some highlights of Brisco vs. a bunch of wrestlers, with Jack giving a rather monotone talk about how he loves putting people in holds. We see him against Pak Song (a big North Korean wrestler), Bobby Shane (who was going to be a big deal but died in a plane crash at 29) and Hiro Matsuda (trained Hulk Hogan and Lex Luger among others). There isn’t much to say here as they’re just short clips of matches with Brisco wrestling them down or slugging it out.

Back to the desk after a commercial with Gordon sending us to a package from two years ago with Jack and Gordon looking at some old photos of Jack’s athletic career. He wrestled and played football in high school and then went to Oklahoma State where he wrestled again. There’s also a picture of him working at a gold mine in Colorado before college. The college career is covered in some newspaper clippings with Jack saying what’s going on. Then it was on to professional wrestling with more clippings and Jack talking about his time in Florida. I know this isn’t exactly great reading but it’s just pictures with narration.

We see some clips of Brisco beating Mr. Saito for the Florida Heavyweight Title. I believe this is the first time Brisco won the title (he beat Saito for the first two of his eight reigns with the title) on February 10, 1970 in Tampa.

Dory Funk Jr. vs. Dick Steinborn

No date given and Dory’s NWA World Title isn’t on the line. Steinborn rolls away from him to start and actually sends Dory into the corner. A hammerlock has Dory in more trouble until he throws Steinborn down with ease. Dory can’t get away though as it’s a headlock takeover to put him right back down. This time it’s reversed into a headscissors and a backdrop sets up Dory’s own headlock. It’s way too early for the spinning toehold though and Steinborn is over to the ropes.

As Steinborn fights up from an armbar, we hear a discussion about Dory’s brother Terry, who is the forgotten man of wrestling and much more emotional than Dory (YOU THINK???). Dory gets him into the corner but it’s a clean break because the 60s were a nicer time. Steinborn has to kick away from a leglock and hits a dropkick, followed by a nipup. A flying headscissors gives us another nipup but Dory catches him in a backslide for the pin at 7:45. For some reason the camera went into slow motion on the pin and rolled back a few times, meaning the backslide lasted the better part of twenty seconds.

Rating: C-. Much better than some of the other old school matches I’ve seen on these things, as Dory was moving and working out there with Steinborn getting in a lot of offense of his own. The last big turned up the pace a lot, showing that this generation is perfectly capable of wrestling a faster match. You don’t have to, but it’s nice to see it happen.

Jack talks about getting special coaching from Pat O’Connor on how to defend against the spinning toehold.

And of course we see Jack and Pat working out together, complete with exercising. They work on the toehold as well, with Pat showing him how to counter the hold into a Figure Four. They even work on ways to keep the Figure Four from being countered. This is treated like actual coaching instead of the kind of segment you would see today. It sounds a bit boring but it’s such a different time and is fascinating in a way.

Jack Brisco vs. Hiro Matsuda

No date given again and wrestling coach Jack Heath is on commentator with Solie. They start fast and go to the mat with some rather early near falls. Brisco can’t keep hold of him as Heath talks about the United States Olympic Wrestling Team doing well at the recent (1968) Olympics. Matsuda grabs an STF of all things but Jack switches into an armbar. Back up and Brisco gets two off a suplex and it’s off to a double armbar….for a pin, somehow, as the camera freezes and we’re just told that there’s a pin. No bell either, so we’ll say it was about 4:15.

Rating: C+. This was really entertaining stuff with both guys looking good and working hard on the mat. I could have gone with seeing the finish instead of just a still like that but it must have been a thing at the time as it’s the second match in a row where we haven’t actually seen the finish. Brisco was great as always and Matsuda is a very underrated guy who was awesome in the ring in addition to his famous training resume.

We see some clips of Jack beating Dory Funk Jr. in a non-title match. It’s a very technical match with Jack talking about how wrestling is a human game of chess and all the counters and planning ahead that have to go into it. There’s a lot of clipping here and Jack uses the counter Pat O’Connor taught him to flip the spinning toehold into the Figure Four. That’s straight out of a Rocky montage. Dory finally quits after only a few minutes shown of what would probably have been a rather long match.

Jack talks about studying Dory in the hopes of getting a shot at the title. He would win the title about a year and a half later, but rather from some kid named Harley Race, who took the title from Funk.

No goodbye or anything, but for a mini biography of someone who hadn’t hit the pinnacle of his career yet, this was rather entertaining, especially given how many different styles we saw in some of those matches. You hear about these people so often that it’s cool to see them in action in their primes like this.

Overall Rating: D+. This one didn’t work very well for me with the WWF stuff ranging from bad to horrible while the NWA stuff was rather entertaining. Bruno is a legitimate legend but Pedro is hit or miss at best. Then you have Funk and Brisco, who are some of the most revered named in the history of wrestling. Check out the NWA stuff, but go find something newer from the WWF.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

Here’s a thought. Brock Lesnar’s original run Was he given too much too soon? Think about it. By the end of his rookie year he won every major honour in WWE, debuted on Wrestlemania X8 fallout, and was gone after Wrestlemania XX. Subsequent returns have been hit or miss depending on perspective.

You mean there might be something else wrong with Lesnar?

Pretty much, yeah. The thing about Lesnar was that his major characteristics were athleticism and power. That can take you a long way, but Lesnar didn’t have the charisma to back it up. Sure he had Heyman for a little while, but that was gone only three months after he lost the title. The Wrestlemania spot, which should have been his crowning glory, didn’t work either so there wasn’t much left.

The problem with Lesnar was he didn’t really have a character. He’s an athletic freak and a once in a lifetime talent, but that’s not what really matters. Compare him to the other guy with an amazing rookie year in Kurt Angle. Kurt was an athletic freak in his own right but could talk with the best of them, which gave him a lot of staying power. He could work face or heel and make it effective, because the talking could compliment his wrestling skills perfectly well.

That’s where Lesnar fell short. Once you see him do these cool moves, it stops having the same impact. It’s just something you saw him do recently and it’s not as impressive the second time around. Compare that to someone like Ricochet. Sure he has spots, but you know he’s saving the big ones (the double moonsault and the 630) for the moments that matter most. You want to see them do those big moves and they’re built up instead of just seeing them every time.

The same thing is true with the modern Lesnar. His character is a little better because he’s gone Mega Beast, but the very impressive suplexes have lost their impact from him doing the same things over and over again. If you do those suplexes and F5’s again and again, they can be as cool as possible but they’re going to get dull after awhile. Hence the mantra of DO SOMETHING ELSE that you so often hear during Lesnar matches.

So yeah, Lesnar was too much too soon, because he didn’t have the charisma or character depth to handle it. That was always going to happen, because the talking/character stuff is more important than anything you can do in the ring.

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: December 13, 2018
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Don Callis

This needs to be a good show as the next two episodes are going to be Best Of 2018 editions, meaning this is the last chance to set up Homecoming until the go home show. They’ve got a big main event with Moose vs. Brian Cage, which should see both guys beating each other up very well. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at the big stories. Well and the smaller stories too but that doesn’t sound as good.

Opening sequence.

Ultimate X Qualifying Match: Rich Swann vs. Dave Crist

Jake Crist and Sami Callihan are at ringside with Dave. Crist sits in the corner for a long time to start, which is enough to lure Swann in to a false sense of security and a big boot. Stomping and choking ensue in the corner, followed by Swann being sent to the floor so Jake Crist can drop Swann on the apron. Back in and Swann starts hamming away with right hands (and some dancing of course), followed by a Lethal Injection for two. The Phoenix splash misses but Swann is right back with a rollup for the pin at 3:59.

Rating: D+. Not enough time to do anything but it was perfectly acceptable while it lasted. It also makes sense to have Swann move forward to the title match over a second Crist Brother as there’s little reason to believe that they wouldn’t dominate any two other wrestlers. The wrestling was fine enough here, but the time hurt them a lot.

Post match the Crist Brothers jump Swann….until Sami calls them off. Willie Mack comes in for the save and Stuns Sami, but Swann pulls him off for a change. Sami looks back as he leaves. Interesting indeed.

The announcers preview the rest of the matches.

Moose isn’t worried about Eddie Edwards because he’s busy drinking orange juice or whatever they do in a nut house. As for tonight, he’s got Brian Cage. Machines die, but legends never do.

Mack asks Swann what was up with that. Swann is trying to protect Mack, who is going to get into a war he doesn’t want if he goes after Sami.

Josh is in the ring to talk about the history of the Knockouts Title. After listing off some legends and former champions, he brings out Taya Valkyrie and Tessa Blanchard for a chat. Taya says this isn’t a rivalry because Tessa has had to cheat to save the title both times. That’s not how a champion or a Knockout represents themselves and she’s done it twice.

Tessa asks how Taya would know how a champion acts, because the best she can do is watch her husband. Taya is a loser, just like all these people. It may not be how a champion acts but it’s how she’s kept the title all this time. Josh interrupts because there’s going to be a special referee for their title match: Gail Kim. WELL OF COURSE IT IS!!! I mean, she’s barely been gone a year since retiring as Knockouts Champion so it must be time to bring her back again.

Post break Tessa isn’t happy. Can you blame her? She certainly respects Gail (expect to hear that a lot) but she’ll run through her if necessary.

Ultimate X Qualifying Match: Trevor Lee vs. Trey Miguel

Miguel is the Fresh Prince Of Midair. I rather like that. Lee goes with an armbar to start so Miguel flips out into a hammerlock for a counter. A moonsault out of a German suplex messes with Lee and he snaps off a running hurricanrana to make things even worse. Lee gets dropkicked outside for another hurricanrana but he grabs a belly to back backbreaker to take over.

Another backbreaker legs Lee bend Miguel’s back over his knee as things certainly have slowed down. A nipup into an enziguri staggers Lee though and a jumping neckbreaker gives Lee two. Miguel tucks Lee’s head into a turnbuckle for a 619 and a running West Coast Pop finishes Lee at 6:28.

Rating: C+. The extra time helped here and I’m getting into the Rascalz more every time I see them. Miguel is very fun to watch when he gets to go out there and flip around a lot, which he does as well as almost anyone else at the moment. You can always use someone to go out there and do some fun high flying stuff and a trio makes it even better. Good stuff, as I’m not wild on Lee’s Impact stuff.

The Lucha Bros are ready to fight LAX. Tonight it’s Fenix vs. Santana, which should be good.

Su Yung makes Allie say that it’s the beginning of the end.

Classic Clip of the Week: Ultimate X at Bound For Glory 2009.

Video on LAX vs. the Lucha Bros. As I said as soon as this was hinted at: YES PLEASE!

Konnan yells at LAX for not being ready for the Lucha Bros. He leaves, so LAX says they’ll do this on their own.

Fenix vs. Santana

Everyone shakes hands before the bell and Santana starts with Fenix’s bouncing armdrag, with Fenix landing on his feet because he can. Fenix gets sent to the floor for the running flip dive but he’s right back with a jumping kick to the head. That means a moonsault from the top to take Santana out again but he misses the Swanton back inside. Santana’s running dropkick gets two and a swinging Rock Bottom is good for the same. Fenix is fine enough to hit the rolling cutter (he does that very well) for two of his own.

They trade reverse hurricanranas, with Fenix dropping Santana on his head for a double knockdown. Back up and Santana misses a charge to get himself caught in the ropes, allowing Santana to walk the ropes for a kick to the face. Santana hits his own rolling cutter and a Batista Bomb gets two more. Fenix kicks him in the head, but can’t hit the Black Fire Driver. With Santana fighting out, Fenix blasts him again and the second attempt is good for the pin at 8:50.

Rating: B. Well of course this was fun, with both guys beating the heck out of each other with one big spot after another. It’s a very fun match with both guys doing whatever they could come up with, which is how a match like this should have gone. If they give these teams twenty minutes (or more) at Homecoming and tear the house down, we could be in for an instant classic.

Killer Kross isn’t sorry about what he’s been doing lately with Johnny Impact. This brings Johnny in to stay stay away from him and his wife. Johnny grabs him by the throat, which is what Kross wanted all along. Impact again says to stay away from the two of them. Just don’t have Johnny turn heel to retain.

Kiera Hogan is still shaken after what Allie did to her last week. She’ll do whatever it takes to save her friend in the end.

We go back to the mental hospital, where Raven is explaining aliens to Eddie Edwards over a game of chess. Eli Drake of all people comes in to tell Raven that the hardcore style is dead at homecoming. Raven: “You staying for lunch?” Drake wants Raven to make sure he watches but Raven says they don’t get pay per view there. Orderlies take Drake away.

Homecoming rundown.

For the next two weeks: the Best of 2018.

Ruby Raze vs. Jordynne Grace

Raze has Katarina in her corner. Grace sends her into the corner to start and Raze isn’t getting anywhere off an Irish whip attempt. A running hip attack in the corner has Raze in trouble so Katarina gets on the apron for a distraction. That’s enough for Raze to snap off a German suplex and a hanging swinging suplex gives her two. Grace powers out of a chokeslam attempt and they start trading the big forearms. A missed charge in the corner lets Grace electric chair Raze up for a powerbomb. Katarina comes in and gets MuscleBusted onto Raze, setting up the Vader Bomb for the pin on Raze at 4:10.

Rating: D+. Again, not enough time to go anywhere but at least it didn’t go on longer than it needed to and the right person won. Callis is right in comparing Grace to Rhyno and that’s not a bad thing at all. Grace is different than all of the other Knockouts and that’s the kind of thing the division needs.

Gama Singh and the Desi Hit Squad argue about Scarlet Bordeaux when he shows up. She says they’re in the running with KM and Fallah Bahh so they can fight over her. Fair enough.

Moose vs. Brian Cage

This could be fun. The exchange of shoulders doesn’t get either of them anywhere so Cage hits a dropkick and hurricanranas Moose outside. Moose chops the post by mistake though and then chops Cage as well, hurting his hand even more. Cage catches a charge and powerbombs him against the apron but Moose is right back with a delayed running dropkick to the head.

Some hard whips into the corner keep Cage in trouble and another dropkick knocks him off the top. Cage is fine enough to get in a shot to the face, setting up a big running flip dive over the top. Back in and Cage gets two off a spinebuster but gets pulled off the middle rope with the chokebomb.

Cage is right back with the apron superplex and the kickout gives us some confusion. Moose takes his glove off to chop a little harder but an exchange of discus lariats puts both guys down. Cage’s powerbomb barely gets Moose up and he’s right back to his feet for a spear to drop Cage again. They head to the floor and here’s Eddie, still in a hospital gown and without shoes, to jump Moose for the DQ at 11:18.

Rating: B-. Take two bulls and have them hit each other a lot for about ten minutes. It’s worked for years in wrestling and it’s always going to, especially when they’re two guys as scary as these two. I’m fine with the DQ ending as you don’t want either of them losing before a big show. Good match, and something I could go for more of at a later date.

The fight is on and Eddie hits a suicide dive to send Moose into the barricade. Some kendo stick shots have Moose in trouble and he runs away to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a few steps away from being a great go home show (Impact interacting with Cage would have helped) as it had good angle advancement and some rather good wrestling up and down the card. If they can get the main event working better, they’ve got a great pay per view waiting on them in January. Hopefully they can get the momentum back with one show in January before Homecoming though, as the next two weeks are going to throw them off a lot. Still though, strong show here.

Results

Rich Swann b. Dave Crist – Rollup

Trey Miguel b. Trevor Lee – Running West Coast Pop

Fenix b. Santana – Black Fire Driver

Jordynne Grace b. Ruby Raze – Vader Bomb

Moose b. Brian Cage via DQ when Eddie Edwards interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor
Date: December 12, 2018
Location: Stage AE, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Colt Cabana, Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s the go home show for Final Battle and most of the card is actually set for the only time of the year. I could go for more of that but ROH would rather have the ridiculous scheduling for whatever reason. On top of that this is likely the last time we’ll be seeing the major stories this year as we tend to get Best Of shows to close out December. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of SCU’s contract situation and Christopher Daniels agreeing to have his last match against Marty Scurll at Final Battle with a World Title shot on the line. Makes enough sense and Daniels is a big enough legend around here to make it important.

Opening sequence.

Silas Young vs. Flip Gordon

Fallout from a few weeks back in that still bad Sandman match. Hang on though as Flip asks if Silas is really the Last Real Man. If he’s that serious, let’s make this an I Quit match as a Final Battle preview. Silas kicks him down and says it’s on. Gordon is in trouble early and a suplex makes things even worse. Flip starts the flipping into the kicks and a springboard spear has Silas on the floor. I’ll let you figure out what Gordon does from there, just as a little exercise.

Some hard forearms against the barricade have Silas in more trouble and a snap suplex on the floor makes things even worse. Back in and Flip misses the 450, setting up the backbreaker into a clothesline. A springboard clothesline is ducked (with a nipup instead of a flip) and Flip sends him outside for a middle rope moonsault. We take a break and come back with Flip putting a table up in the corner but Silas throws a chair at his head. Some chair shots to the ribs keep Flip down and Silas stands on the ribs while screaming for him to quit.

That’s a big negative so Silas knees him in the face and hits a swinging hanging neckbreaker. A seated full nelson from the side (cool) has Flip in more trouble but he pops up, only to miss a dive to the floor in a bad looking crash. It’s kendo stick time so Gordon grabs the chair and beats him to the strike. Gordon loads up the stick but here’s Bully Ray to choke him with a chain. Silas adds a spear through the table….and apparently it’s a no contest at about 11:00.

Rating: C-. Well they were getting somewhere until the really stupid ending. Why even book an I Quit match when the ending is a no contest? Is it really asking too much to have Young, who might have been leaving when this was filmed, give up in a match to a fired up Gordon? The good thing here is this feud has made Flip grow a bit, which was really necessary to get him away from the place he seemed destined to stay. I haven’t liked how the feud has gone, but I like the eventual result.

Heart monitor vignette again.

Video on Hangman Page vs. Jeff Cobb. Page has NOT been impressed.

Here are Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky for a chat but the Briscoe Brothers jump them from behind. The Young Bucks run in to get rid of the Briscoes and shake the champs’ hands. In a smart move, the Briscoes shove SCU into the Bucks and it’s time for superkicks. The Bucks bring in a ladder but Kazarian dropkicks it into them, leaving Sky to dive onto the Briscoes. SCU climbs the ladders and pose to end a rather good segment.

Video on the Women’s Title match between Sumie and the other three women who don’t stand out enough to remember.

Christopher Daniels, with some clips of his career, talks about how he’s accomplished everything around here and there’s nothing left for him to do. Would anyone blame him for just retiring? Well he’s not cool with just leaving and having the chance to fight again tomorrow. What’s what matters to him more than anything else. He wants to be able to keep fighting but he’s put himself in this position. He’s made Joe Koff put him out of the company and Koff knows that if Daniels gets a new contract, the evil could be right back the next day.

The sands of time are starting to run out and it’s leading to Final Battle. He had Scurll beaten at Survival of the Fittest and it’s going to be his one last shot at a fresh start. Daniels knows what Scurll is thinking because he’s been there before. This means so much more to Daniels though and he’s going to bring it like never before. Outstanding stuff here from Daniels, which has been the case for a long time now.

Kingdom vs. Cody/Jay Lethal/Dalton Castle

What does it say that I forgot Cody was getting the World Title shot on Friday? I kind of dig Castle’s ugly Christmas sweater. Lethal and O’Ryan start things off but Cody tags himself in before anything can happen. And now Castle does the same so he can go after O’Ryan, drawing everyone else in for the big brawl. Cody Disaster Kicks Marseglia to the floor and suicide dives onto Taven and Lethal at the same time. That leaves Castle to suplex O’Ryan and it’s legally back to Cody as things get back to normal. Actually regular tagging isn’t normal around here but I think you get the idea.

A delayed vertical suplex drops O’Ryan again and Lethal comes back in for an elbow to the jaw. Castle comes back in and we take a break. Back with O’Ryan still in trouble, meaning we must have a ton of time for this thing. Taven comes in to get a cheap shot on Castle and it’s Cody getting caught in the Kingdom corner. That means a lot of chopping because wrestlers don’t throw enough right hands anymore. On the other end of the spectrum, wrestlers do use way too many chinlocks, like O’Ryan here at the moment.

Cody fights out in a hurry and snaps off a powerslam so Castle can come back in to clean house. Taven breaks up a run down the apron and it’s the almost entirely banged up Castle being sent into the barricade. Somehow the referee sees NONE of this and it’s Marseglia coming in legally to keep up the stomping. A running knee to the face lets Taven yell at the crowd and get a rather delayed one with Lethal coming in to stare at him for the break.

Back from another break with Castle hitting a DDT to get himself out of trouble and handing it back over to Lethal. A powerslam puts Marseglia down and the announcers point out that it’s the same move Cody used earlier. Taven is right back up and tries a Conchairto so Castle BEATS HIM WITH THE SWEATER. They fight into the crowd and run into the back so we’re down to two on two.

Cody tags himself in but Lethal isn’t going with that and hits a cutter on O’Ryan. Marseglia hits a Sliced Bread as everything breaks down. The Lethal Injection to O’Ryan is broken up with a rollup from Cody as the announcers aren’t sure what’s going on. Lethal takes Marseglia to the floor and Cross Rhodes finishes O’Ryan at 15:34.

Rating: C+. This was exactly what the last match before the biggest show of the year should have been and they did a good job with what they were shooting for here. They even managed to have the right person take the fall instead of one of the people who matter at Final Battle. Every story was advanced here and that’s all this was supposed to do and I was impressed by how well they pulled it off.

Post match Cody says there’s nothing left to say and he’ll see Lethal at Final Battle.

Castle says he’s going to be dishing out a baker’s dozen of suplexes. Wait isn’t a baker’s dozen twenty? We’ll go with twenty instead.

Taven says he’ll win because of who he is.

Page says Cobb is in trouble because he has the guts to jump off the roof. The title should have been his a long time ago.

Cobb is ready.

Jonathan Gresham is ready to show he can out wrestle Zack Sabre Jr.

Madison Rayne has wrestled her entire career for this moment.

Kelly Klein says she hasn’t gotten a fair shot in eight months. Klein: “At Final Battle, you will lose to me.” That’s as bad a line as it sounds, but the other two women don’t even get to talk.

Cody is ready to lead ROH into the future.

Lethal says Final Battle is in his backyard and Cody isn’t using a shortcut to get to the title.

Overall Rating: B. This is for the overall presentation rather than the wrestling itself. They did a very good job of setting up the pay per view and I want to see it a lot more than I did coming in. The show will be good if they don’t have things go on forever and get to the point, which tends to be their weakness. At least we got a very good go home show though and that’s not something they do very often.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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