Daily News Update – September 4, 2024

Make sure you check out a recent review:

NXT – September 3, 2024


WATCH: Monday Night Raw Star Makes Surprise Return To Save Old Friend On NXT.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-monday-night-raw-star-makes-surprise-return-to-save-old-friend-on-nxt/

Drew McIntyre Gets In Amazing Shot At Fan Who Made CM Punk’s Bracelet.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/drew-mcintyre-gets-in-amazing-shot-at-fan-who-made-cm-punks-bracelet/

They Had A Plan: Backstage WWE Mindset On CM Punk Defeating Drew McIntyre At Bash In Berlin.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/they-had-a-plan-backstage-wwe-mindset-on-cm-punk-defeating-drew-mcintyre-at-bash-in-berlin/

Take Two: Details On WWE Planning Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa, Speculation Over When It Might Happen.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/take-two-details-on-wwe-planning-cody-rhodes-vs-solo-sikoa-speculation-over-when-it-might-happen/

And Out? More Details On Odyssey Jones’ WWE Status.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/and-out-more-details-on-odyssey-jones-wwe-status/

Double Outs: Two More Names Depart WWE, One After 36 Years With The Company.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/double-outs-two-more-names-depart-wwe-one-after-36-years-with-the-company/

Called It? Backstage Reaction To Joe Tessitore’s WWE Debut On Monday Night Raw.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/called-it-backstage-reaction-to-joe-tessitores-wwe-debut-on-monday-night-raw/

 

As always, hit up the comments section to chat about what is going on and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page and follow us on Twitter (featuring news stories written by ME).




NXT – September 3, 2024: They Have A Goal

NXT
Date: September 3, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with No Mercy and that means we are about a month and a half away from Halloween Havoc. That should be a big enough show, but we also have the first show on the CW in about a month, which is going to have its own stacked card. The NXT Title will be on the line on that show, with Ethan Page defending after retaining on Sunday. Let’s get to it.

Here is No Mercy if you need a recap.

Long No Mercy recap.

Here is Trick Williams to get things going. He is out here to finish things with Pete Dunne (fans: “WHOOP THAT BUTCH!”) but here is Ethan Page to interrupt. Page says he might not be Dunne, but he is the NXT Champion, with Williams raising his hand at No Mercy. Williams says he was a man of his word and called the title match down the line but for now, he has to get rid of Dunne. Page teases violence and here is Dunne to jump Williams, with referees breaking it up.

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger nearly get in a fight with Gallus.

Fatal Influence are rather mean to Jaida Parker.

Rascalz vs. Gallus vs. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger

For a future Tag Team Title shot. It’s a big brawl to start with Miguel being sent into the corner but coming back with a rollup for two. Miguel hurricanranas Walker down but gets stomped by Mark Coffey as the fast start continues. Mark runs Miguel over with a clothesline, only for Wentz to come in with a Motor City Machine Guns style Dream Sequence to put Mark down. Hank and Tank come in and wreck everyone as we take an early break.

Back with Walker clotheslining Mark and Wentz, allowing the tag off to Ledger to clean house. Miguel kicks Walker in the face and makes him DDT Coffey for two but cue Je’Von Evans to jump Joe Coffey and the Good Brothers to go after Walker. Miguel’s top rope Meteora into Wentz’s Swanton finishes Ledger at 11:02.

Rating: C+. They didn’t waste time here and were flying through everything with this one, including the interference from the OC. Why Walker/Ledger vs. the OC needs to continue is beyond me but at least it isn’t near the title picture at the moment. The Rascalz should make for a good set of challengers and when the champions aren’t on the best footing at the moment, there will be just enough of a reason to believe the titles could change hands.

Axiom and Nathan Frazier are ready for the Rascalz, who come in to say they’re ready to take the titles back to TNA next week.

Trick Williams and Pete Dunne get in another fight in the locker room.

Oro Mensah vs. Lexis King

The rest of Meta Four is here with Mensah. The fight is on to start with Mensah knocking him into the corner and hitting a forearm to the back for two. King is sent out to the floor and slammed off the barricade for a crash. Back in and Mensah’s springboard is broken up with a shove off the top and King hammers away. A running shot to the back of the head gets two so King yells about Mensah’s father, which sends Mensah into a rage. The beating is on but King rolls him up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 4:49.

Rating: C. King is settling into the role of guy who knows how to push buttons and get under his opponents’ skin. He still isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire but it’s an improvement over where he was before. Mensah was showing some fire here but he still feels like he’s kind of going through the motions until Noam Dar gets back to bring Meta Four to full strength.

Post match Mensah chases King to the back.

The D’Angelo Family threatens Oba Femi, who doesn’t think much of Riz. Tony D’Angelo assigns Stacks to deal with this.

Gallus rants about Je’Von Evans when Wren Sinclair comes in to ask them to be quiet because Miles Borne has sensitive ears. Gallus says they’re coming for the Heritage Cup, with Charlie Dempsey asking Sinclair to calm down.

Tatum Paxley vs. Rosemary

Wendy Choo is here with Rosemary, who takes her into the ropes for an early Upside Down. The neck crank is broken up and Paxley hits a clothesline but Rosemary snaps off some suplexes for two. A quick facebuster rocks Rosemary though and the Psycho Trap gives Paxley the pin at 3:45.

Rating: C. Erg I was hoping this would be Rosemary’s chance to make up for a less than great outing last time but here she is looking like even more of a jobber. I understand that you don’t want TNA stars going over NXT names over and over but there was no one better to lose like this than one of the most successful Knockouts in recent years?

Post match the beatdown is on but Lyra Valkyria runs in for the save.

Pete Dunne and Trick Williams fight again. Ava is done with this and sends them to the ring right now.

TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace will be defending in an open challenge next week.

Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne

It’s a brawl on the floor before the bell with Williams taking over before they get inside for the official start. Dunne hammers away until he is sent into the corner so Williams’ jumping neckbreaker can connect for two. Williams knees him down and hits a running neckbreaker but Dunne gets in a crotching onto the ring skirt. A stomp onto the steps rocks Williams and we take a break.

Back with Williams getting two off a Rock Bottom but Dunne German suplexes him right back down. They go back outside with Williams missing a big boot and the fight going onto the barricade. A crash sends them through the announcers’ table and it’s a double countout at 11:20.

Rating: B-. This felt like a fight as these two wanted to get to each other that badly. There is a good chance that this is designed to set up a rematch for the CW debut (perhaps in a cage) and that makes things more interesting going forward. If these two are still fighting each other, who goes after the NXT Title? Joe Hendry more than likely, but I’ll take these two in another big fight first.

Post match the brawl is on again, with security not being able to do much about it.

Ridge Holland isn’t sad about what he did to Andre Chase and talks about how Duke Hudson criticized everything he did. Holland got the gold back in Chase U but mediocrity took it away. He starts destroying Chase U next week, but this week he starts this week with Hudson’s trophy.

An injured Shawn Spears thanks Brooks Jensen for saving him. Spears thanks him for being there and leaves when Dion Lennox comes in, saying Spears is psychologically manipulating Jensen.

Joe Coffey vs. Je’Von Evans

The rest of Gallus is here with Coffey. Evans shrugs off some right hands to start and hits a running hurricanrana. Coffey catches a running forearm with a Regal Roll into a Vader Bomb for two. Evans is sent outside but here is Cedric Alexander to cut off the interfering Gallus. Back in and Evans’ springboard spinning splash finishes Coffey at 2:30.

Lyra Valkyria didn’t want to come back to NXT but had to help Tatum Paxley against the weird girls.

Ava makes Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams in a Last Man Standing match next week, with the winner getting the NXT Title shot on the first CW show. As long as it doesn’t end in a draw, sure.

Oba Femi vs. Stacks

Non-title and the rest of the D’Angelo Family is here too. Stacks slugs away to start but gets driven into and thrown out of the corner. Some elbows, with a glare at Tony D’Angelo, have Stacks in trouble and his comeback attempt is easily cut off. Femi hits him in the back of the head a few times for two but Stacks strikes away, including a dropkick to put Femi down. Not that it matters as Femi is back up with the toss powerbomb for the pin at 4:31.

Rating: C+. Femi is such a force these days that it is hard to imagine him losing anytime soon (or anytime at all for that matter). He has found his groove as the unstoppable monster and the more people he runs over, the better of a monster he’s going to be. Stacks was a good designated victim here and that’s all he needed to be.

Ashante Thee Adonis hits on more of the women but Eddy Thorpe breaks it up.

Je’Von Evans thinks he should get a Heritage Cup shot and Wren Sinclair grans his request. Charlie Dempsey comes in and isn’t pleased so he blames Miles Borne, who didn’t hear a thing.

Jazmyn Nyx vs. Jaida Parker

The rest of Fatal Influence is here too. Parker shoulders her down to start but stops to favor the bad ribs. Nyx is back up with a running kick to those ribs and we hit a bodyscissors. Parker powers out and puts her on the corner for the seated senton. The running hip attack finishes Nyx at 4:40.

Rating: C. This was Parker getting her win back after a big loss on Sunday, which isn’t a bad way to go. Parker vs. the team is something that could go on or a few weeks and build her back up, though she’ll need some friends on the way there. For now though, Parker continues to feel like she is rising up the ranks and that could be quite the ride going forward.

Post match Fatal Influence beats Parker down.

Here is Roxanne Perez to brag about her success and even the women on the main roster can’t stop talking about her. People fantasize about beating her but then fantasy meets reality. It doesn’t matter if you are the hot prospect or a big star from Japan…and here is Chelsea Green to interrupt.

Green doesn’t like how the fans smell but they cheer for her anyway. She is here to interrupt the fun sized champion because she is the new #1 contender. Cue Giulia to interrupt and the fans seem impressed. Giulia wastes no time in dropping Green and then issues the challenge for the CW show. Perez seems to accept to wrap it up. You had to know that was coming and that’s not a bad choice to make.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling wasn’t the strongest here but that wasn’t the point. This show was about setting up the big CW debut in about a month and that show is already feeling like the biggest thing NXT has done since Stand & Deliver. This is already feeling like a bigger deal than No Mercy, which is a great way to off to a hot start on the way to the next major change over. Nice job this week, even if it was just a preview for the important show.

Results
Rascalz b. Gallus and Hank Walker/Tank Ledger – Swanton to Ledger
Lexis King b. Oro Mensah – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Tatum Paxley b. Rosemary – Psycho Trap
Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams went to a double countout
Je’Von Evans b. Joe Coffey – Springboard spinning splash
Oba Femi b. Stacks – Toss powerbomb
Jaida Parker b. Jazmyn Nyx – Running hip attack

 

 

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

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

 




Daily News Update – September 3, 2024

Make sure you check out a recent review:

Monday Night Raw – September 2, 2024


 

Locked In: Former 8 Time Champion Re-Signs With WWE.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/locked-in-former-8-time-champion-re-signs-with-wwe/

VIDEO: Bronson Reed Not Medically Cleared, Pulled From Monday Night Raw.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/video-bronson-reed-not-medically-cleared-pulled-from-monday-night-raw/

Yes Him: Odyssey Jones Removed From WWE Roster Page, Backstage Reaction.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/yes-him-odyssey-jones-removed-from-wwe-roster-page-backstage-reaction/

Sweet: Backstage Reaction To WWE’s Major Change In Live Event Scheduling.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/sweet-backstage-reaction-to-wwes-major-change-in-live-event-scheduling/

WATCH: Rhea Ripley Suffers Knee Injury On Monday Night Raw Thanks To Liv Morgan.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-rhea-ripley-suffers-knee-injury-on-monday-night-raw-thanks-to-liv-morgan/

The Future? CM Punk Discussed For Major Match At Survivor Series, Stretchered Out On Monday Night Raw.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/the-future-cm-punk-discussed-for-major-match-stretchered-out-on-monday-night-raw/

Get Well Soon: Update On Kairi Sane After Being Busted Open On Monday Night Raw.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/get-well-soon-update-on-kairi-sane-after-being-busted-open-on-monday-night-raw/

 

As always, hit up the comments section to chat about what is going on and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page and follow us on Twitter (featuring news stories written by ME).




Monday Night Raw – September 2, 2024: Now Take Your Time

Monday Night Raw
Date: September 2, 2024
Location: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We are officially done with Bash In Berlin and that means we have a bit of time before Bad Blood. Gunther retained the Raw World Title over Randy Orton in the show’s main event, but the more interesting match saw the Terror Twins beat Judgment Day, with Rhea Ripley getting her hands on Dominik Mysterio for just a bit. Odds are that gets some fallout this week so let’s get to it.

Here is Bash In Berlin if you need a recap.

Wade Barrett is in the ring and welcomes Joe Tessitore to the broadcast team. Tessitore, who has called a bunch of different sports, is happy to be here.

Bash In Berlin recap.

Here is a rather happy Rhea Ripley (to a ROAR) to get things going. She’s rather happy with her win at Bash In Berlin and since she pinned the Women’s Champion, it’s time she gets her title back. Cue Dominik Mysterio (sporting a heck of a black eye, thanks to Rhea) to interrupt, eventually (after some interruptions from a rather angry crowd) saying Liv isn’t here tonight.

The reality is he and Liv were jet lagged due to the lack of sleep (Dominik: “For a variety of reasons.”) but she’ll accept the challenge. Ripley tells him to callate (Spanish for “shut up”) but here is Liv to get in a cheap shot. Ripley’s leg gets tied up in the ropes so Liv stomps away until Damian Priest makes the save.

Chad Gable fires up American Made.

Rhea Ripley’s leg is messed up but she refuses medical care. Damian Priest tries to calm her down and is going to get a match with someone in Judgment Day for some pain.

Alpha Academy vs. American Made

It’s a brawl to start with Tozawa getting double teamed as we settle down. Tozawa gets over for the tag off to Otis, who goes to the floor where Julius hits a running knee. Nile comes in and gets in Otis’ face but Maxxine is in to take her down. Otis fireman’s carries Tozawa for an airplane spin to send the villains outside, where Maxxine hits a dive as we take a break.

Back with Brutus hitting a Shell Shock on Tozawa, followed by a springboard moonsault for two. Tozawa manages to avoid a charge and brings in Otis to clean house, including the Caterpillar. A few dives have Tozawa rolling until Julius cuts him off with a suplex. Maxxine comes in for her own version of the Caterpillar (it goes backwards) but a Chad Gable distraction lets Nile grab the Diamond Chain Lock (dragon sleeper) for the tap at 11:03.

Rating: C+. These teams have fought a few times now and it’s fine to see the villains win, if nothing else to boost them back up after their losses to the Wyatts. I’m not sure how much steam this feud has though, as it feels like they’ve been going around in circles for a bit. Maxxine looked a bit more comfortable in there, but it’s clear that she’s still just doing spots rather than having a mind for this. Granted given her experience, that’s about all that can be expected.

Post match Chad Gable goes on a rant about the Wyatt Sicks getting involved last week and he wants an eight man street fight next week. The lights go out and cue Uncle Howdy to talk about how the silence is deafening. His life is no longer his and if this is the path that Gable has chosen, the Wyatts will collect a debt.

Zelina Vega vs. Shayna Baszler

The rest of Pure Fusion Collective is here too. Baszler goes after Vega’s recently injured arm to start but a 619 to the legs sends Baszler outside. We take an early break and come back with Vega hitting a moonsault for two but she goes after the Collective. The distraction lets Baszler hit a knee for the pin at 6:38.

Rating: C. The fans were into Vega but she was overcome by the numbers game here. That being said, as usual, I have no idea why a match that doesn’t even run seven minutes included a break. The match wasn’t exactly a big one in the first place and then we don’t even see half of it. Multiple promotions do this and I do not get why.

Post match the beatdown is on but Lyra Valkyria runs in for the save, only to be beaten down as well. Sonya Deville brags about the team, saying there is not a man anywhere who can take them home and not a woman in the locker room that can take them out.

Rhea Ripley is now on a crutch as a precaution. Finn Balor is willing to face Damian Priest in a tag match but since Ripley is hurt, it means no match. Ripley has something in mind and Priest says let him know what he (whoever that may be) says.

Zelina Vega and Lyra Valkyria want the Pure Fusion Collective.

Here is CM Punk for a chat. Punk brags about his win and says how great it is to be in Denver. Now that the personal stuff is done though, it’s time to get down to business. He went through a fight at Bash In Berlin but there is someone else who did it there too: the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther.

Punk wants to be the champion and is coming for the title, because the people are going to take it from him. The music pays and he goes to celebrate but here is Drew McIntyre to jump him. Wade Barrett tries to hold McIntyre back but he slips by and hits a Claymore to drop Punk. McIntyre sends him inside and BREAKS PUNK’S BRACELET before hitting another Claymore. Oh I think you know where this is going at Bad Blood and it should be a big one.

Post break Punk is taken out on a stretcher…where McIntyre attacks him again.

Intercontinental Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Dominik Mysterio vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. Dragon Lee

Lee knocks both of them to the floor to start but Dominik breaks up a dive. That leaves Dragunov to glare at Dominik for daring to chop him before Dragunov suplexes both of them and we take a break. Back with Dragunov hitting an H Bomb on Lee but Dominik frog splashes both of them for two. Dragunov Death Valley Drivers Dominik onto the apron so Lee gets in a shot of his own…but cue Carlito to take Lee out.

Damian Priest runs in to go after Carlito and chase Dominik out of the arena, leaving Dragunov to strike away on Lee. The 619 is countered into a sitout powerbomb (they got a bit lost in there but saved it pretty nicely) to give Lee two but Dragunov Death Valley Drivers him into the corner. Lee manages to tie him in the Tree of Woe for a top rope stomp, only for Dragunov to come back with the Torpedo Moscow for the pin at 10:37.

Rating: C+. This was almost split in half as Dominik was chased off part of the way through the match, leaving it as a singles instead. In that case Dragunov is the best option as Lee hasn’t done much in the last few weeks. Dragunov hasn’t done much better, but he’s far closer to a title level than Lee at the moment.

We look at Bronson Reed crushing Braun Strowman last week.

Strowman, with very banged up ribs, wants Reed’s spot in the triple threat match. Adam Pearce says sure, as I try to figure out who in the world thought it was a good idea to have Strowman back a week after that big of a spot. Yes he’s a monster, but he’s not a monster who should b back that soon.

Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre vs. Damage CTRL

For a shot at the Women’s Tag Team Titles, with new champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill at ringside. Sane has to fight out of the wrong corner to start and anklescissors Fyre out to the floor. Damage CTRL gets in a glare off with the champs and we take an early break. Back with Sane hitting a DDT, allowing Sky to come in and clean house. Everything breaks down and Belair gets knocked over, with Cargill not being happy. The distraction lets Dawn and Fyre hit the Downward Spiral/Gory Bomb combination to finish Sky at 8:06.

Rating: C. This was another match where it didn’t have much time to go anywhere and it gets us pretty much back to the same place where we were before Saturday but with the titles reversed. I can go with the idea of a feud though, as the titles could use the effort. It’s better than one random team after another getting a shot so I’ll take what I can get.

Kofi Kingston is trying to get a Tag Team Title shot from Adam Pearce when Gunther walks by and glares.

Damian Priest talks to Rhea Ripley, who says Priest’s partner said…..yeet. I was expecting Rey Mysterio.

Here is Gunther for a chat. He brags about the success of Bash In Berlin and talks about how he beat the best version of Randy Orton. With that out of the way, cue Sami Zayn, as in the last man to beat Gunther, to interrupt. Zayn talks about wrestlers using the Intercontinental Title as a stepping stone to the World Title. Gunther did just that and now Zayn wants to do it as well because it is the one title he has never won. Gunther liked the list of legends Zayn gave, but Zayn wasn’t on there, so no shot. With Gunther going to leave, Zayn brings up the loss at Wrestlemania and that gets his attention.

Jey Uso is ready for the main event but Bron Breakker comes in to say Jey has one chance to drop out of the #1 contenders tournament. Uso doesn’t seem scared, despite Breakker being rather serious.

Intercontinental Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Braun Strowman vs. Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser

Sheamus and Kaiser brawl on the floor to start but the banged up Strowman runs them both over. Strowman is sent through the barricade and we take an early break. Back with Kaiser kicking Sheamus out to the floor but Strowman throws a chair to drop Kaiser cold. Strowman chokeslams Sheamus for two but Sheamus knocks him out to the floor. The Kaiser Roll gives Kaiser two, only for Sheamus to come back with a Brogue Kick. Cue Pete Dunne to take Sheamus out though, leaving Strowman to powerslam Kaiser for the pin at 7:36.

Rating: C+. I’m still not sure I can get behind the idea of Strowman being able to move here, let alone win, but here we are with Strowman on his way to a possible title shot. He didn’t have to do much here, with the chair throw looking great, but this was a bunch of stuff going on at once. Strowman winning would be fine most of the time, though having him around despite selling such a huge attack just a week later felt off.

Damian Priest and Jey Uso are ready.

Pete Dunne says that was a message to Sheamus from an old friend, but DO NOT CALL HIM BUTCH.

Judgment Day vs. Damian Priest/Jey Uso

Non-title and Balor immediately hands it off to McDonagh to face Priest. It’s quickly off to Uso, who gets stomped down in the corner as the villains take over. That doesn’t last long as Uso sends them outside and hits a big dive as we take a break. Back with Balor driving shoulders into Uso’s ribs in the corner and handing it back to McDonagh for two off a springboard moonsault. McDonagh works on the arm until Uso fights up and kicks him down, allowing the tag off to Priest.

Everything breaks down and Balor rolls Priest up for a fast two. South Of Heaven is broken up so Priest hits a double clothesline, setting up Uso’s double high crossbody. Cue Liv Morgan to break up the Superfly Splash though and Balor hits the shotgun dropkick into the Coup de Grace into McDonagh’s moonsault. Priest makes the save and here is Rhea Ripley to, slowly, chase Morgan off with the crutch. Balor is sent outside and it’s the Razor’s Edge into the Superfly Splash to finish McDonagh at 14:20.

Rating: B-. That should set up a title match either next week or at Bad Blood (hopefully the former) and it’s nice to see Priest getting his hands on the Judgment Day. The match was nothing we haven’t seen done before, but it fits the story that they’re telling. I’m not sure how good it is for Uso to be involved with the Terror Twins, who I still want to take the titles from Judgment Day, but it makes enough sense.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling wasn’t great here but it was a show where things were set up, either for Bad Blood or likely beyond. You have Zayn vs. Gunther, more Punk vs. McIntyre, the Tag Team Title stuff and the tournament final next week. That’s a lot to set up (plus more) in three hours and they made it work. That’s certainly an eventful show and we have more than a month before the pay per view so things can breathe a bit for a change.

As for Tessitore, he did pretty well for his first night. You could tell he’s studied what he’s watching and was speaking with confidence. I’m not expecting him to know every move (he referred to Ilja Dragunov’s Torpedo Moscow as a shoulder for instance) as the details will come. You can tell he’s an experienced commentator who is going into a new field, but for a start, he did well.

Results
American Made b. Alpha Academy – Diamond Chain Lock to Dupri
Shayna Baszler b. Zelina Vega – Knee to the face
Ilja Dragunov b. Dragon Lee and Dominik Mysterio – Torpedo Moscow to Lee
Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre b. Damage CTRL – Downward Spiral/Gory Bomb combination to Sky
Braun Strowman b. Ludwig Kaiser and Sheamus – Powerslam to Kaiser
Jey Uso/Damian Priest b. Judgment Day – Superfly Splash to McDonagh

 

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

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

 




Daily News Update – September 2, 2024

Make sure you check out some recent reviews:

Emergence 2024

Ring Of Honor – August 29, 2024

Impact Wrestling – August 29, 2024

Smackdown – August 30, 2024

Rampage – August 30, 2024

Bash In Berlin 2024

Collision – August 31, 2024

No Mercy 2024


 

Double Shot? Big Update On Future Of WWE Performance Center(s).

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/double-shot-big-update-on-future-of-wwe-performance-centers/

Going At It: WWE And AEW To Go Head To Head Next Week.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/going-at-it-wwe-and-aew-to-go-head-to-head-next-week/

Oh Yeah? Steve Austin Offers Interesting Tease For WrestleMania 41.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/oh-yeah-steve-austin-offers-interesting-tease-for-wrestlemania-41/

Back At It: WWE Superstar Set For Return After Several Months Away.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/back-at-it-wwe-superstar-set-for-return-after-several-months-away/

Not A Fan? Backstage WWE Reaction To Swerve Strickland’s New AEW Deal, What It Could Lead To.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/not-a-fan-backstage-wwe-reaction-to-swerve-stricklands-new-aew-deal-what-it-could-lead-to/

Come On Over? How WWE Views Daniel Garcia Following Return To AEW TV.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/come-on-over-how-wwe-views-daniel-garcia-following-return-to-aew-tv/

Champion Problem: Cody Rhodes May Be Dealing With An Injury.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/champion-problem-cody-rhodes-may-be-dealing-with-an-injury/

And NEW! Title Change Takes Place At WWE Bash In Berlin.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/and-new-title-change-takes-place-at-wwe-bash-in-berlin/

Mark Your Calendar: WWE Gives Major Update On Monday Night Raw’s Move To Netflix.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/mark-your-calendar-wwe-gives-major-update-on-monday-night-raws-move-to-netflix/

Homecoming: Former Champion Returning To WWE On Legends Deal Following 15 Year Absence.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/homecoming-former-champion-returning-to-wwe-on-legends-deal-following-15-year-absence/

Not Them: Important Detail On Upcoming Vince McMahon Netflix Documentary.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/not-them-important-detail-on-upcoming-vince-mcmahon-netflix-documentary/

They Did It Again: WWE Bash In Berlin Sets Another All Time Company Record (x3).

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/they-did-it-again-wwe-bash-in-berlin-sets-another-all-time-company-record-x3/

WATCH: International Star Makes Surprise Debut At NXT No Mercy.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-international-star-makes-surprise-debut-at-nxt-no-mercy/

Down And Out: Title Change Leads To Betrayal At NXT No Mercy.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/down-and-out-title-change-leads-to-betrayal-at-nxt-no-mercy/

Not Yet? Clarification On WrestleMania 2026 Following Confusing Report From Pennsylvania Governor.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/not-yet-clarification-on-wrestlemania-2026-following-confusing-report-from-pennsylvania-governor/

In A Hurry? WWE Makes Unique Change To Bad Blood.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/in-a-hurry-wwe-makes-unique-change-to-bad-blood/

Family Time: Backstage Reason For The Bloodline Missing SmackDown.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/family-time-backstage-reason-for-the-bloodline-missing-smackdown/

 

As always, hit up the comments section to chat about what is going on and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page and follow us on Twitter (featuring news stories written by ME).




NXT No Mercy 2024: Ah That Was Fun

No Mercy 2024
Date: September 1, 2024
Location: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s another NXT pay per view to cap off a big holiday weekend and in this case, the big story is a TNA wrestler getting an NXT Title shot. The main event will see TNA’s Joe Hendry challenging Ethan Page for the NXT Title with former NXT Champion Trick Williams as the guest referee. Let’s get to it.

The opening video is a standard recap of most of the card.

Tag Team Titles: Chase U vs. Axiom/Nathan Frazier

Chase U is defending in a rematch against the former champs. Axiom ties Chase up to start and grabs something like an abdominal stretch so Frazier can add a running boot. Frazier dropkicks Chase into the corner so Holland can come in to drop Frazier with a faceplant. It’s back to Chase, who is quickly taken into the corner so the double teaming can ensue.

Chase gets away again and hands it off to Holland, who grabs a Downward Spiral on Frazier. Axiom comes in and gets thrown down with a toss suplex, setting up Holland’s top rope headbutt for two with Frazier making the save. Chase is taken up top but the super Spanish Fly is broken up. Instead Chase slips out and hits the super Spanish Fly, followed by a tiger bob for two.

We settle down to Holland chopping away at Axiom, who actually strikes back and scores with a superkick. A dive takes Chase down and a frog splash hits him back inside. Frazier’s 450 gets two but Chase kicks him in the face before playing Animal in a Doomsday Device. A buckle bomb/enziguri combination gets two, setting up Holland’s Northern Grit for two more with Axiom making the save.

The brainbuster/Golden Ratio combination gets two more but another Golden Ratio hits Frazier by mistake. A powerbomb/Backstabber combination gets two more on Axiom before he and Holland go outside. Chase goes up top for some reason, only to get caught with the super Spanish Fly into the Phoenix splash to give Frazier the pin and the titles a 13:31.

Rating: B. The ending came kind of out nowhere as there was no big moment before Chase just got caught in the champs’ finishing sequence for the titles. It’s not even surprising to see Chase U as they’re never able to have anything long term. We’ve kind of done Axiom and Frazier as champions though so I’m not sure what is next for them. Good opener though, which isn’t a surprise.

Post match the champs leave….and Holland wrecks Chase U, which fits his nature rather well. The lifting DDT plants Chase onto the announcers’ table to leave him laying.

Video on Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams.

We recap Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz. They used to be friends, then they split up when Wentz got fired, then Lee became a singles star, then Lee turned on him, saying Wentz abandoned him. Now Wentz is ready to get revenge.

Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz

Wentz’s TNA X-Division Title, which he won on Friday, isn’t on the line. They both miss flips to start and the shots to the face have the same result. Wentz kicks him in the face and hits a spinning middle rope crossbody for two. The threat of a superkick sends Lee outside, where Lee gets smart by going after the knee. Back in and Lee hammers away before sending Wentz face first into the middle buckle.

They lock hands and slug it out until Wentz is back with a nasty spinning knee to the face for the breather. Lee gets sent outside for a running kick to the chest, followed by a middle rope flip dive to the floor. Back in and a Swanton gives Wentz two and he grabs a Boston crab. That’s broken up so Wentz superkicks him and goes up, only to be hurricanranaed down. A middle rope Phoenix splash gives Lee two and the Cardiac Kick gets the same.

Wentz hits a running flipping DDT before knocking Lee outside for a much needed breather. Rather than waiting him out, Wentz follows him to the floor but gets sent into the steps. Lee’s running knees only hit steps though, only for him to knock Wentz onto the announcers’ table…which collapses. A top rope Meteora to the floor drops Wentz again and Lee puts him up against the post. Lee loads up a chair but their teammate Trey Miguel breaks it up, allowing Wentz to hit a Canadian Destroyer off the apron. Back in and the UFO (a springboard cutter) finishes Lee at 13:40.

Rating: B. They didn’t have much of another option here, especially after Wentz won the title. You can’t have a new champion lose so soon if you’re TNA and it gave Wentz one of the biggest wins of his career. Lee can claim an issue in the end with the interference, but at least it came off a match that had the high spots and fast pace you would expect here.

We recap Kelani Jordan defending the Women’s North American Title against Wendy Choo. Jordan is the young, plucky star who has worked hard and is an athletic marvel. Choo is weird and obsessed with sleep.

Women’s North American Title: Kelani Jordan vs. Wendy Choo

Choo is challenging and takes her down for a stomp onto the mat to start. Back up and Jordan sends her to the floor for a twisting dive, followed by a spinning moonsault back inside. Choo twists the neck around to take over and kicks her in the back but Jordan escapes the Tree Of Woe.

Jordan grabs a sitout DDT for two and a frog splash gets the same. A powerbomb gives Choo two and she grabs the Million Dollar Dream, with Jordan fighting up after two arm drops. Jordan fights up and knocks her down, setting up the One Of A Kind to retain the title at 13:20.

Rating: C. This was a case where the people involved hurt it, as you have someone who is summed up as “she’s young and athletic” defending against “she’s weird and obsessed with sleep.” How was this supposed to be interesting? Jordan is still very new but she has the potential to become something with some more molding. Choo….well it’s not her fault she’s stuck with whatever she’s supposed to be.

Post match Tatum Paxley runs in and chokes Choo out before leaving the doll next to her.

We look back at Ridge Holland turning on Andre Chase, who was taken out in an ambulance.

Holland has nothing to say.

North American Title: Oba Femi vs. Tony D’Angelo

D’Angelo, with his Family, is challenging and takes him down to start. Back up and D’Angelo charges at him but seems to hurt his ankle in the process. Femi grabs a suplex and sends him flying, setting up a running elbow in the corner for two. A huge shoulder breaker (with a Papa Shango name drop) gets two on D’Angelo but he comes back with a fisherman’s suplex for the same.

They slug it out until D’Angelo grabs a powerslam for a breather. An electric chair drop gives D’Angelo two more and it’s time to go outside. Femi takes a crowbar from the Family but gets sent into the steps for taking too long. Back in and Femi hits a quick toss powerbomb for two, followed by the regular powerbomb for two. D’Angelo is back with a spinebuster but can’t cover, allowing Femi to hit back to back powerbombs to retain at 13:44.

Rating: B+. This is the match I was looking forward to the most on the card and it delivered. Femi is someone who just has “it” and he has “it” in spades. He’s only been doing this a short while but his matches are turning into events, as you want to see what someone with his size can do. It also makes me wonder who can stop him, as it doesn’t seem like anyone in NXT is going to do it anytime soon. These guys beat each other up and it was exactly what I hoped it would be.

Trick Williams tells Ethan Page he’ll call the match right down the line tonight. Page threatens him, but Williams does it right back.

Zachary Wentz is done with Wes Lee and is grateful to have Trey Miguel by his side. They want the NXT Tag Team Titles.

We recap Jaida Parker challenging Roxanne Perez for the Women’s Title. Parker won a gauntlet match for the shot despite still being relatively new to wrestling. Perez brought up being a prodigy at her age so Parker slapped the taste out of her mouth.

Women’s Title: Jaida Parker vs. Roxanne Perez

Perez is defending and Parker stares at her to start. A hard slap staggers Perez and a suplex sends her flying. Back up and Perez sends her to the floor, where Parker catches a dive in a fireman’s carry. Perez slips out and kicks her hard into the steps, with Parker’s ribs being banged up.

Back in and Perez hits a dropkick to send her to the apron again, with Parker being rammed into the post. An abdominal stretch has Parker in more trouble before Perez sits her on the middle rope. Perez sits on her ribs and dances a bit, only to have Parker come back with a heck of a sitout powerbomb for two.

Back up and Parker pulls her out of the air for a ram into the buckle, setting up the top rope sitdown splash with Perez laid over the ropes. Parker comes up favoring the ribs though and Perez tries the Rings of Saturn but Parker powers out. Parker’s moonsault misses but she’s able to escape Pop Rox. The running hip attack sends Perez crashing to the floor, where Parker misses a running hip attack through the barricade. Pop Rox on the floor drops Parker but they both beat the count. Back in and Pop Rox retains the title at 14:48.

Rating: B. Parker feels like a star and that is a great sign for her future. I’m curious to see what she does going forward because the potential for her to turn into something, both in NXT and on the main roster, is rather strong. For now, I can get why Perez gets the win, as she is a bigger deal and there are a lot of big names on the way in for NXT. For now though, this was a near star making performance for Parker, and that is a reason to stay interested.

Post match Perez poses….and Giulia debuts for the big staredown. Yeah that works.

Ava announces a triple threat match for a future Tag Team Title shot this week, plus that the NXT Title will be on the line during the premiere on the CW on October 1.

We recap TNA’s Joe Hendry challenging Ethan Page for the NXT Title. Page is in over his head against the wildly popular Hendry and Trick Williams, who Page beat for the title, is guest referee.

NXT Title: Ethan Page vs. Joe Hendry

Hendry is challenging and Trick Williams is guest referee. They lock up to start and Williams breaks it up both times, being totally fair early on. Hendry takes him down by the arm and Page is frustrated. Back up and some shoulders don’t go anywhere for Page so Hendry puts him down with a suplex. A sunset flip gives Hendry two before Page just starts hammering away to put him in trouble.

Hendry gets sent into the corner and suplexed for two as Williams continues to be a mostly neutral factor so far. A super powerslam gives Page two and he goes up again but this time Hendry grabs a super fall away slam for the big crash. Page bails to the floor and gets taken out by a running dive, only to sent Hendry into the steps. The Ego’s Edge to the apron has Hendry down and Page wants the countout. That’s good for a nine, allowing Hendry to hit his own Ego’s Edge for a near fall.

There’s the fall away slam and the fans believe, with the Standing Ovation connecting…but Page’s foot is under the rope. Hendry yells so Page shoves him into Williams, with a standing Ovation to Hendry getting two from a second referee. Page brings the belt in but gets it taken away, allowing Hendry to roll him up for two. A DDT onto the belt (the referee is fine with it) gets two as Williams runs in to break up the count because he is the real referee. Page decks the second referee and kicks Hendry low, setting up the Ego’s Edge to retain at 15:07.

Rating: B-. This was ok but they were working under a firm ceiling. There is only so much you can do when you have a star from another company challenging a modern day Honky Tonk Man. They did their thing well enough, but it feels like this was just filling time before Page loses the title on the first CW show for the big moment.

Post match Williams is annoyed and it gets even worse when Pete Dunne jumps him to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. Yeah this was awesome, with one match out of six being less than very good and the main event being more than good enough to get by. NXT has gotten back to the point where it feels like they are exceeding expectations and that is a great thing to see. This was a very fun show which absolutely flew by so we’ll call it quite the hit.

Results
Axiom/Nathan Frazier b. Chase U – Phoenix splash to Chase
Zachary Wentz b. Wes Lee – UFO
Kelani Jordan b. Wendy Choo – One Of A Kind
Oba Femi b. Tony D’Angelo – Sitout powerbomb
Roxanne Perez b. Jaida Parker – Pop Rox
Ethan Page b. Joe Hendry – Ego’s Edge

 

 

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

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

 




Collision – August 31, 2024: That’s What Makes This Work

Collision
Date: August 31, 2024
Location: Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re in the middle of All In and All Out and that means things should be happening here. There are a few matches set for the pay per view but it would not be surprising to see some more added on this show. Throw in the good action you tend to get around here and we could be in for a solid week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Conglomeration/Hologram vs. The Beast Mortos/Johnny TV/Lee Moriarty

Shane Taylor and Taya Valkyrie are here with the villains. O’Reilly and TV get things going with some stand up grappling until Strong grabs a quickly broken cross armbreaker. Cassidy comes in for a basement dropkick and it’s off to Hologram for a monkey flip. Moriarty can’t do much with Cassidy on the mat so it’s back to Hologram, who gets rolled up for a fast two.

Hologram dropkicks him out to the floor so Mortos comes in, earning himself a rather spinning headscissors. Everything breaks down and we get a submission chain from almost everyone, with Mortos having to shoulder it apart. It’s time to head outside so Hologram can hit a big rope walk flip dive as we take a break. Back with Cassidy fighting out of trouble and getting over for the tag to O’Reilly. House is quickly cleaned but Mortos cuts that off, including a reverse Sling Blade.

O’Reilly gets over and hands it off to Hologram, who gets to clean house, including spite the spinning session to take down all of the villains in a row. Cassidy and O’Reilly fire off kicks to Mortos, setting up Cassidy’s Stundog Millionaire. Cassidy DDTs Mortos but gets suplexed by Moriarty. TV takes too long setting up Starship Pain to Hologram though and gets taken down with a reverse Spanish Fly, setting up a rollup to give Hologram the pin at 15:39.

Rating: B. This is one of those things that AEW does really well, as they took a bunch of people and put them into the ring at the same time for a fun match. It isn’t likely to be about much more than helping boost Hologram up but it was a match that went rather well for what it was supposed to be. It’s a good example of a match that didn’t take itself seriously and that’s how you can have a lot of fun with something like this.

We look back at Jon Moxley’s rather bizarre return on Dynamite.

Bang Bang Gang vs. Premiere Athletes

Austin and Nese start things off with the latter driving him into the corner with raw power. Woods comes in and a quick distraction lets the villains triple team Austin in the corner. Daivari gets in a knockdown of his own for two but Austin manages a quick Quick Draw, allowing the tag off to Robinson to pick up the pace. House is quickly cleaned, including a spinebuster to Woods. Everything breaks down and Colton gets two off a dropkick. Nese is sent into Mark Sterling at ringside and 3:10 To Yuma finishes Woods at 4:35.

Rating: C. The Gang gets a nice win here to put them back on the right track after some recent losses. That’s not a bad way to go and we could be in for some nice stuff from them going forward, though hopefully against some fresh opponents. The team is starting to gel, but Jay White coming back soon enough could take things in a different way.

We look at Mercedes Mone defending her NJPW Women’s Strong Title for NJPW.

Hikaru Shida (in tonight’s four way match for a TBS Title shot at All Out) is ready.

We look at Kevin Von Erich getting to do the Claw at All In.

FTR vs. Kingdom

Taven takes Harwood down to start but Harwood is right back up with a hiptoss. Some chops have Taven in trouble and it’s Wheeler coming in for a double hair toss. A double backdrop into a double clothesline has Taven on the floor and Bennett is sent out with him. Back in and Taven slips out of the slingshot suplex, allowing Bennett to get in a cheap shot as we take a break.

We come back with Harwood getting a VERY delayed two off a small package due to a distracted referee. Wheeler comes back in to clean house as everything breaks down. A top rope double clothesline puts the Kingdom down and it’s a German suplex into a flipping rollup for two on Bennett. Taven rakes the eyes to avoid a Sharpshooter but the Hail Mary is broken up. The Shatter Machine to Bennett sets up a PowerPlex to finish Taven at 10:08.

Rating: B-. Just in case the Kingdom losing on Rampage wasn’t enough I guess. FTR is in a similar place to the Bang Bang Gang from the previous match in that they need something to elevate them back up after a loss. There are worse ways to do it than this and the match went fine, though FTR needs something new in a hurry, which very well could be the Grizzled Young Veterans.

Post match the Grizzled Young Veterans come in to take out FTR. They’re tired of being compared to FTR but you will remember their name.

Thunder Rosa is ready for the four way.

Lance Archer abuses various production workers and security. One of them having their feet sticking up from a trashcan is a funny visual.

Top Flight/Action Andretti/Lio Rush vs. Iron Savages/Jacked Jameson/Turbo Floyd

Leila Grey and Truth Magnum (odd) are here too as Andretti and Floyd start things off. And never mind as Boulder comes in to run Rush over but we get a series of rapid tags without anything in between, leaving Darius in the wrong corner. That doesn’t last long either as Darius dives over to Dante, who actually airplane spins Bronson. A four man suplex drops Bronson but Floyd cleans house on his own. Everything breaks down and a Downward Spiral sets up a frog splash to give Dante the pin on Jameson at 4:46.

Rating: C+. This was a strange one as they had a weird lineup on the villains side and then it didn’t have much time to go anywhere. It certainly wasn’t boring though and I’ll take that over some of the other options. Not much to see here, but what were they supposed to do with these circumstances?

Queen Aminata and Serena Deeb are both ready to win the four way. Deeb knows she can beat the other three but offers an alliance, which has Aminata intrigued.

Kyle Fletcher vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Don Callis joins commentary. They forearm it out before trading shoulders, with Ishii getting the better of things. Fletcher is back with a slam and right hands in the corner but Ishii runs him over with a headbutt. Ishii takes him to the apron, where Fletcher is back with a brainbuster and we take a break.

Back with Ishii hitting a hard clothesline in the corner and sending him flying off a suplex. Fletcher manages a kick out to the floor into a dive but Ishii manages a powerbomb for a double breather. Back up and one heck of a clothesline gives Ishii two but Fletcher lawn darts him into the buckle. They go up top and Ishii busts out a jumping hurricanrana of all things, only to have Fletcher hit a brainbuster for two. Fletcher’s clothesline wakes Ishii up so it’s a Tombstone to put him back down for two more, followed by the piledriver to give Fletcher the pin at 12:46.

Rating: B-. The match was what you would expect, but this is a good example of how Tony Khan can burn through wrestlers. Between this, Dynamite and Ring Of Honor, I’ve watched more than half an hour of Ishii in the last four days. Seeing Ishii on the card this week didn’t have me interested, but rather saying “geez, again?”. With the amount of wrestlers that Khan has available, I don’t get the thinking in having someone show up that often and burn out their interest so quickly.

Video on Queen Aminata, also in the four way.

Video on Bryan Danielson winning the AEW World Title and being attacked by Jack Perry on Dynamite. The title match is official for All Out.

Pac is ready to face Will Ospreay at All Out and take the International Title. Orange Cassidy and Kyle O’Reilly come in and a tag match seems set for Dynamite.

Buddy Matthews vs. Komander

Matthews takes him down by the arm to start but Komander is back up with a wristlock of his own. A dropkick sends Matthews outside, where he reverses a dive into a suplex as we take a break. Back with Matthews hitting a hard knee on the apron but Komander grabs a running hurricanrana driver. Matthews strikes away until a poisonrana sends him to the floor, with Komander nailing a dive. Back in and a tornado DDT gives Komander two so he goes up, only to dive into another knee. Murphy’s Law finishes for Matthews at 10:00.

Rating: B. They got rolling near the end here and it was one of the more entertaining Komander matches I’ve seen. Who knew that if you stopped letting Komander run across the ropes while everyone waits around like a moron, things would get better? This was a heck of a match between the two as Matthews gets to show off, which he often does well.

The MxM Collection want the House Of Black next week. The House is in.

Video on Serena Deeb, the final entrant in the four way.

Serena Deeb vs. Queen Aminata vs. Hikaru Shida vs. Thunder Rosa

For a TBS Title shot at All Out. Shida slugs away at the other three of them to start and whips them into the same corner for a running knee. Deeb pulls Shida to the floor though and has a slugout with Rosa. Back in and Shida breaks it up, only for Shida and Rosa to be taken down with a double suplex. We take a break and come back with Aminata snapping off some suplexes, followed by some running kicks in the corner.

Deeb gets up and cleans house (including on Aminata, as the alliance is already gone) but Rosa breaks up the half crab on Shida. Rosa Backstabbers Aminata and hits some running dropkicks against the ropes for two. Deeb gets an Indian Deathlock on Rosa and suplexes Shida at the same time for a bonus. Rosa and Shida slug it out until Rosa snaps off a super hurricanrana. Rosa’s Death Valley Driver plants Shida but Deeb puts Rosa in a half crab. Aminata breaks that up but Shida hits the Katana to pin Aminata at 14:25.

Rating: B-. Shida is a good call here as she is still probably the most accomplished woman in AEW history. Letting her get a shot at the title, even in a match that doesn’t have much build, is a smart way to go. If nothing else, she should be able to have a quality match with Mercedes Mone, which is one of the reasons you would put her in a match like this one.

Overall Rating: B. Rather impressive show here with a bunch of stuff that kept my interest and a pay per view match being set up by the main event. That’s not a bad use of two hours, especially with so little time between pay per views. As usual, AEW is at its best when its wrestlers get to wrestle and we were seeing that for a long time this week, making for a higher level Collision.

Results
Conglomeration/Hologram b. Johnny TV/The Beast Mortos/Lee Moriarty – Rollup to TV
Bang Bang Gang b. Premiere Athletes – 3:10 To Yuma to Woods
FTR b. Kingdom – PowerPlex to Taven
Top Flight/Action Andretti/Lio Rush b. Iron Savages/Jacked Jameson/Turbo Floyd – Frog splash to Jameson
Kyle Fletcher b. Tomohiro Ishii – Piledriver
Buddy Matthews b. Komander – Murphy’s Law
Hikaru Shida b. Queen Aminata, Serena Deeb and Thunder Rosa – Katana to Aminata

 

 

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

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

 




Bash In Berlin 2024: The Great German Bash

Bash In Berlin 2024
Date: August 31, 2024
Location: Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We’re over in Germany for this one as WWE continues to do all kinds of international shows. In this case it’s not exactly a deep card with only five matches, but those matches should all be quite the spectacles. Odds are the main event will see Gunther defending the Raw World Title against Randy Orton so let’s get to it.

The opening video talks about how WWE is in the what’s next business and what’s next is Berlin. We get a look at how the show is set up and how the matches came together. It’s a nice concept and not something they have really done before.

Smackdown World Title: Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens

Rhodes is defending and may have a bad knee coming in. They stare at each other for a good while to start before finally locking up. Owens knocks him down and sends Rhodes into the ropes, where the Cody Cutter is blocked (the knee looked fine there). A kick to the face staggers Rhodes and they glare at each other as things are getting a bit more intense. Owens misses a charge and gets sent outside, where he cuts off a dive to send Rhodes into the apron.

Rhodes knocks him away though and now the suicide dive can connect. Back in and Rhodes starts in on the arm with a short armscissors before switching over to a Figure Four. The rope is reached so Owens sends him to the apron and then into the barricade. Owens hits a frog splash off the apron to crush the ribs again, setting up a waistlock back inside. Rhodes fights out again and snaps off the powerslam for two before they both need a breather.

A German suplex sends Rhodes flying but he’s right back with the Cody Cutter for two. They go up top with Owens hitting a super Regal Roll (good impact on the landing) for two more and they get another breather. A Disaster Kick is countered into a Stunner attempt which is countered into Cross Rhodes for two as the fans approve again. They go to the corner again and Owens hits the swinging superplex for a rather delayed two.

Back up and they strike it out with Rhodes getting the better of things but the Cody Cutter fails as the knee gives out. Owens can’t bring himself to attack the bad knee (Barrett: “FORGET THAT! JUST GET THE VICTORY!”) so they go outside…where Owens begrudgingly kicks the knee out. He can’t bring himself to use the apron powerbomb though, instead hitting the Stunner for two back inside. Another Stunner gets another two but the Swanton hits raised knees. Cross Rhodes retains the title at 23:14.

Rating: B-. This had its moments but it never got to that next level. It didn’t help that the big question was whether Owens would go evil, which only gets you so far when it was almost impossible to believe that he was going to win. That was the problem from the start of the setup to the match and it held them back a good bit.

Post match Rhodes tries to talk to Owens, who is rather upset. Owens does hug him though and things seem ok, even with Owens shoving the camera away.

We recap Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre defending the Women’s Tag Team Titles against Jade Cargill/Bianca Belair. Dawn and Fyre won the titles in a surprise earlier this year and are defending them against the monster challengers while being huge underdogs.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Jade Cargill/Bianca Belair vs. Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre

Dawn and Fyre are defending. Belair starts against…well both champions actually, but Cargill comes in to start with a double brawl. We settle down to Belair stomping Fyre into the corner and raining down some right hands, only for Dawn to offer a quick distraction. Dawn sends Belair shoulder first into the post and the beating continues on the floor, with Cargill having to be held back.

Back in and a knee to the head gets two on Belair and we hit the chinlock. A sunset flip doesn’t work for Belair as a blind tag lets Fyre hit a Meteora to take her back down. Fyre grabs a tornado and even manages to dropkick Cargill in the process. Belair avoids a charge into the corner and grabs a suplex, setting up the big tag to Cargill. A Jackhammer gets two on Dawn, who is slapping her knee off the landing.

Everything breaks down again and the Gory Bomb/Downward Spiral combination gets two on Belair with Cargill making the save. Something like a double gorilla press plants Fyre, allowing Cargill to Dominator Belair onto her for two. The Swanton/backbreaker combination doesn’t work (Dawn is holding her knee again) and Cargill throws Cargill into the barricade. That leaves Fyre to get spinebustered into the assisted German suplex for the pin and the titles at 11:57.

Rating: B-. That was a surprise as I wouldn’t have bet on the match getting that good. At the same time, it’s another case of a pretty short lived title reign where the belts bounce around again. Belair and Cargill can be the super dominant team, but that isn’t going to matter if they’re only holding the things for a few months at a time.

We recap CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre in a strap match. These two have hated each other for months, mainly with Punk being on the shelf due to an injury. Despite that, McIntyre attacked Punk and stole a bracelet that symbolizes Punk’s family. McIntyre beat Punk at Summerslam with the help of an overzealous special referee, leaving Punk to want a strap match so he can punish McIntyre without letting him get away.

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre

Strap match where you touch all four corners in a row to win (and thankfully we have the lights over the corners to help keep score), though if your momentum is broken, the lights reset. McIntyre jumps him before the bell and the beating is on outside, with Punk being sent into the steps and onto the announcers’ table. They get inside, where McIntyre ties the strap to Punk’s wrist as the beating is on.

Punk is sent outside again, with McIntyre pulling him into the apron before whipping away back inside. McIntyre poses quite a bit though and the delay lets Punk hit a quick GTS. Rather than go for the buckles though, Punk whips away and hits a neckbreaker, with McIntyre bailing out to the floor. That lets Punk pull him into the apron just like McIntyre did earlier, setting up a stomp to the hand.

They go onto the announcers’ table, where the Futureshock is countered into a backdrop. Punk fires off some chops but McIntyre slams him on a chair to cut things off. Punk has a cut over his eye so McIntyre hammers away but Punk comes back with the running knee into the corner bulldog. The table is set up, which takes the better part of ever, allowing McIntyre to come back with the Claymore.

McIntyre hits three buckles, only for Punk to go straight to the floor and pull him face first into a chair in the corner. Back up and McIntyre throws him through a table at ringside for the huge crash. Punk gets back in so McIntyre carries him around, with Punk hitting the same three buckles. The fight over the fourth buckle is enough for the referee to reset both counts so they slug it out again.

Punk grabs a Sharpshooter and McIntyre taps to no avail, eventually blacking out from the pain. That’s good for two buckles but McIntyre cuts him off again and hits a neckbreaker for the reset. McIntyre nips up and NOW we get serious as he whips out the bracelet. A Claymore drops Punk but he comes back up with the GTS to get us back to even. Punk touches a buckle, hits a GTS, touches a buckle, hits a GTS, touches a buckle, hits a GTS, steals the bracelet back, and touches the fourth buckle to win at 19:10.

Rating: B+. This was the kind of brutal, violent match that it needed to be and there is nothing wrong with that. What matters here is getting Punk a win to show that he can still do this and while he didn’t have to pin McIntyre or make him tap, he beat him within an inch of his life and made him tap in the Sharpshooter. That’s a heck of a way to put Punk over and odds are we’re heading for a rubber match, perhaps inside the Cell. Awesome fight here, with the right result.

German announcer Sebastian Hackl is in the ring to announce that this is the highest grossing arena show in WWE history. I believe that was set earlier this year at Backlash in France so they’re doing pretty well with these things.

We recap the Terror Twins vs. Judgment Day. Dominik Mysterio turned on Rhea Ripley for Liv Morgan, meaning Damian Priest (also betrayed by the team) and Ripley are out for revenge.

Terror Twins vs. Judgment Day

Priest goes off on Dominik in the corner to start and the fans rather approve. Mysterio gets kicked in the face and the fans want Mami. That’s exactly what they get so it’s off to Morgan, who gets planed with an easy suplex. It’s back to Priest but a quick distraction lets Dominik send him into the steps to take over. Another Morgan distraction lets Dominik grab a chinlock, with Cole absolutely losing his mind over the officiating.

A suplex is countered into the Broken Arrow though and it’s back to Ripley to clean house. The basement dropkick hits Morgan and Ripley gets to face Dominik. After a failed reconciliation attempt, Ripley fires off some clotheslines and grabs a figure four necklock (how the whole thing started with them) but has to take out Morgan. Riptide is loaded up but Morgan makes the save and unloads in the corner.

Something like a la majistral bomb gets two on Ripley but she kicks Morgan in the face. Priest comes back in and we get stereo Razor’s Edges to the villains. Cue Carlito and JD McDonagh, with the distraction letting Morgan hit a sunset powerbomb to send Ripley into the barricade.

Cue Finn Balor to drop Priest, allowing Dominik to hit a 619. The frog splash gets two but it’s back to Morgan, who can’t hit Oblivion. Something like a springboard Codebreaker drops Ripley but Priest wrecks the a bunch of people on the floor. Dominik has to save Balor from South Of Heaven but gets dropped with a clothesline. That leaves Ripley to Riptide Morgan for the pin at 14:17.

Rating: B. The Terror Twins are about as easy of a concept as you can get today in wrestling: they’re big, they look cool, they beat people up, they pose and soak in the cheers. On even footing, there is no reason for Dominik and Morgan to have a chance here and that’s exactly what happened once the odds got evened up. This evened things up a bit after Summerslam and there is a good chance we’re going to some rubber matches at Bad Blood. Really fun stuff here, with the Terror Twins being a hit.

We recap Gunther vs. Randy Orton for the former’s Raw World Title. Gunther beat Orton in the King Of The Ring finals earlier this year but Orton’s shoulder wasn’t down, meaning it’s time for a rematch. Orton wants to win the title, but he wants Gunther to see the RKO coming.

Raw World Title: Randy Orton vs. Gunther

Gunther is defending and Ludwig Kaiser handles his introduction. We pause for the fans to chant for Gunther before they go with some grappling on the mat. Back up and Gunther soaks in some more cheers before going for a chickenwing. With that broken up, Gunther tries a chinlock as the fans are already deeming this awesome. That doesn’t last long either and the fans are it again, this time with Orton going along with them to play a little mental chess.

Orton takes him into the corner and stomps him down before starting in on the arm again. Gunther knocks him outside but this time Orton sends Gunther into the steps to take over. That lets Orton work on the arm, including sending it into the steps again. Orton drops him onto the announcers’ table and then slams the arm onto it for a bonus. Back in and Gunther tries a sleeper but Orton goes right back to the arm to cut him off again. The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a fall away slam to send Gunther flying.

Gunther fights up and slugs away but Orton cuts him off with a clothesline. There’s the snap powerslam for two and Orton puts him up top and the superplex brings him back down. They strike it out in the corner, with Orton going to the eye to cut off a comeback attempt. The hanging DDT plants Gunther and now we get an RKO chant. The RKO is countered into the German suplex though and Gunther hits a dropkick into the frog splash for two.

Gunther tries the powerbomb but the bar arm gives out again. Some more attempts have the same results but the fifth attempt connects for two. Back up and Orton hits an RKO out of nowhere for two and we get a bit of a breather. They go outside again with Orton dropping him onto the steps and then piling said steps up in front of the announcers’ table. Orton eventually drops him through the table and heads back inside but the RKO is blocked.

The sleeper goes on so Orton drives him into the corner, eventually breaking it up. That’s fine with Gunther, who chops him in the back and grabs the sleeper again, including some elbows to the neck. Orton breaks it up again so Gunther elbows away again and grabs the sleeper (also again) and Orton is finally out to retain the title at 34:25.

Rating: B+. This was a rather good back and forth match, though it was starting to draw near the end as things just kept going. What matters though is that Gunther gets the big decisive win over Orton, which had been missing since their first match. Gunther is likely to hold the title for a long time and getting a clean win over Orton is a good way to go for a first title defense. The crowd was the focus again as usual, but their hero won in the end, as he should have. Strong main event here, but it probably went about ten minutes too long.

They shake hands to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. Somehow a show that had nothing close to bad and a red hot crowd felt a bit weak. The Women’s Tag Team Titles aside, there was only so much to be seen here. That’s part of the problem when the new philosophy is a bunch of long title reigns, as it leaves you realizing there will not be much in the way of title changes most of the time. What we got here was rather good though, and for the show after the big one with Summerslam, it went very well.

Results
Cody Rhodes b. Kevin Owens – Cross Rhodes
Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill b. Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre – Assisted German suplex to Fyre
CM Punk b. Drew McIntyre – Punk touched all four buckles
Terror Twins b. Judgment Day – Riptide to Morgan
Gunther b. Randy Orton – Sleeper

 

 

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Rampage – August 30, 2024: For Your AEW Fix

Rampage
Date: August 30, 2024
Location: State Farm Arena, Champaign, Illinois
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

We’re done with All In and rapidly approaching All Out but the big story this week is the return of Konosuke Takeshita, who is returning after heading back to Japan for the G1 Climax Tournament. Tonight he’s in a four way, which is certainly a unique way to bring him back. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Jeff Jarrett/Jay Lethal vs. Kingdom vs. Private Party

Kassidy and Taven start things off with grappling that goes nowhere. Instead Taven hits a dropkick but Kassidy is back with a shot to the face. A neckbreaker/top rope kick to the chest combination drops Taven as it’s almost all Private Party to start. Taven finally gets in a shot of his own though and it’s Bennett coming in for the choking. Lethal tags himself in to slug away at Taven but three straight Figure Four attempts (on different people) are blocked.

Instead Bennett knocks Lethal down and we take an early break. Back with Lethal fighting up against the Kingdom and handing it off to Jarrett to take over in the corner. The running hip attack in the ropes sets up the strut, which is broken up just as fast. Silly String hits Taven and Quen’s 450 gets two with Bennett making the save. Taven slips out of the Stroke but gets caught in the Figure Four, with Lethal grabbing the same thing on Bennett for the double tap at 9:54.

Rating: C+. That’s a perfectly fine way to get Jarrett and Lethal a win as Jarrett has been on something of a roll as of late. It’s likely a mostly meaningless tag match but the fans were into what Jarrett was doing and it was a quick, well enough done outing from everyone. That being said, sweet goodness the Kingdom still feel like they could be something but that just isn’t going to happen.

Video on Konosuke Takeshita.

Video on the Beast Mortos.

Mina Shirakawa vs. Missa Kate

Shirakawa slides around to start and dances a bit, as she tends to do. A Russian legsweep puts Kate down and a dancing double knee stomp has her in even more trouble. Shirakawa’s frog splash gets two but Kate kicks her in the face for the same. Back up and Shirakawa fires off some strikes to the face, setting up a reverse inverted sitout DDT for the pin at 3:05.

Rating: C. Pretty much a squash here and that’s what it should have been, as Shirakawa gets to go out there and do her thing in a short match. Shirakawa is still in the weird place of being an important part of the new Women’s Champion but not really doing much around here. Getting her in the ring, even on occasion, can help that and that’s what they did here.

Stokely Hathaway and Kris Statlander are annoyed at Willow Nightingale for picking a street fight when the only street Nightingale knows is from a Justin Bieber song. They bring in a production worker so Statlander can drop him.

Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Outrunners

Erica Leigh is here with the Outrunners. Gibson and Magnum trade headlocks to start before it’s off to Drake to work on the arm. Magnum manages a slam but Drake knocks him down and gets in some spitting. Floyd gets knocked off the apron for a crash to the floor and we take a break. Back with Gibson saving Drake from a suplex but Magnum slips away and brings Floyd back in to clean house. The Veterans cut that off though and a Doomsday Device plants Floyd. Grit Your Teeth finishes for Drake at 9:52.

Rating: C+. Fun match here, with the Outrunners being such goofy stars that it’s hard not to notice them. They know exactly what they’re supposed to be and they work very well together. The Veterans are all but set for a big time title match sooner than later (possibly at All Out) so giving them a dominant enough win here is a good idea.

Video on Komander.

Nyla Rose vs. Aminah Belmont

Rose hits a clothesline to start and hammers away in the corner, followed by another clothesline. A chokeslam and the Beast Bomb finish Belmont at 1:34.

Video on Lio Rush.

Lio Rush vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. The Beast Mortos vs. Komander

Takeshita and Mortos take over on the smaller two to start but get sent into each other for their efforts. Everyone goes to the floor where Takeshita and Mortos ram the other two together. That’s enough working together though as Takeshita and Mortos slug it out, only to get dropped by a pair of dives. Rush and Komander fight inside until Mortos and Takeshita come in to break it up. Komander sends Takeshita outside and the rope walk twisting moonsault drops Takeshita again. Mortos is right there with a dive though and we take a break.

Back with Rush hitting his springboard Stunner on Takeshita but getting faceplanted by Komander. Mortos misses a charge and gets sent to the apron, setting up a Spanish Fly into a German suplex. Komander breaks up the double cover but Mortos misses the top rope clothesline half of a Doomsday Device. A springboard poisonrana takes Mortos down for two but Cielito Linda misses for Komander. Mortos spears Rush but gets kneed by Takeshita, who hits a Falcon Arrow to pin Komander at 13:52.

Rating: B. While it would seem that a singles match would have been a better way to bring Takeshita back, this was a fast paced and non-stop action match, which is quite a way to go. Everyone looked good here and I had fun with what we got out of what was little more than a showcase for Takeshita and Mortos. Now do something important with Takeshita already.

Overall Rating: B-. This is where Rampage shines as it is one of the more consistently entertaining shows from any promotion. You’re going to get some entertaining matches and some fun spots, which is all you can ask for in a show that only runs an hour. No it doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things, but when you have a show that is often as packed as Dynamite, this is a nice change of pace if you want your AEW fix.

Results
Jay Lethal/Jeff Jarrett b. Kingdom and Private Party – Double Figure Fours to Kingdom
Mina Shirakawa b. Missa Kate – Reverse inverted sitout DDT
Grizzled Young Veterans b. Outrunners – Grit Your Teeth to Floyd
Nyla Rose b. Aminah Belmont – Beast Bomb
Konosuke Takeshita b. Komander, The Beast Mortos and Lio Rush – Falcon Arrow to Komander

 

 

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

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Bash In Berlin 2024 Preview

It’s time to go international again and in this case we’re in Germany for another European pay per view. The show is likely to be headlined by an Austrian defending the World Heavyweight Title but it’s close enough to be the big featured attraction. Granted it is one of the five matches on the card so hopefully it lives up to the hype. Let’s get to it.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre(c) vs. Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill

Now on paper, this should seem to be a pretty one sided idea, but that’s a trap I’ve fallen into far too many times before. The more I think about this, the more I think it’s a case of how WWE wants to present the titles going forward. If they want the belts to actually matter, they need some more regular teams holding the belts rather than the latest dream team, which seems to be what would happen if Belair and Cargill get the belts back.

In a prediction I’m sure will go wrong, I’ll actually say the champions retain here, either through Belair and Cargill turning on one another (unlikely) or through some kind of shenanigans (more likely). Dawn and Fyre have held the titles for a bit now and it would do the belts a lot of good to keep them on the champs for a bit. The longest reign with this version of the titles is about six months. Taking them off the current champions in about two and a half isn’t going to do them any good, so the champions retaining is the right move. It might not be what happens, but it makes the most sense.

Smackdown World Title: Cody Rhodes(c) vs. Kevin Owens

It’s weird to have this title listed so early on but is anyone buying this as a big time main event? The return of Roman Reigns has changed a lot on SmackDown and while Rhodes vs. Owens should be good, it isn’t exactly the kind of match that feels must see. Odds are we’ll see something more important next time, possibly with Solo Sikoa also involved, but for now, it should get them through.

Naturally Rhodes retains here, though the question is whether or not the match ends clean. I’m not sure I can imagine Owens turning heel after all of this, though they are certainly teasing the idea. This week’s Smackdown also saw Owens mentioning that Rhodes has a knee injury, which is some great storytelling with the will he/won’t he deal. But yeah, there is a grand total of no way Owens gets the title here so go with what makes sense as Rhodes retains, possibly with some more things taking place at the same time.

Terror Twins vs. Judgment Day

This might not be the main event, but it is certainly one of the matches with the most heat. The fans are going to go nuts at the idea of Rhea Ripley getting to hurt Dominik Mysterio, which is the entire point of the whole thing. It is going to be an absolutely insane moment when it finally happens, but I’m not sure if we are going to see the big Riptide take place here or later.

I can’t see a way the Twins lose here as they are the fresh new team with the fans being into pretty much anything they do. This should be the match where Ripley gets a pin on Morgan to set up another title match between the two, even if that is little more than an appetizer. This is still all about Ripley vs. Mysterio and we’ll get to that in due time, but the Twins go over here, as they get to continue their dominant start.

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre

They already had their big showdown earlier this month at Summerslam and now it’s time for the rematch where things can get a bit more violent. In this case that means a strap match of the four corners variety, which opens up a few more options. Punk is still coming for revenge and odds are he’ll get it here, but it depends on just how far he is going to be able to go with it.

I’ll take Punk winning here, as the stipulation is the perfect way for him to get some revenge and set up a rubber match between the two where McIntyre can defeat him for good (at least in theory). These two are going to beat the fire out of each other and there are going to be some awesome moments so I’ll take what I can get here. This could be rather good, with Punk winning to get some of his momentum back.

Raw World Title: Gunther(c) vs. Randy Orton

Like this could be anything else. This is the big featured match of the card as Gunther gets the closest thing he’ll have to a homecoming as World Heavyweight Champion. It helps that some fans are already cheering him due to how good he is, so hopefully he receives a nice moment for his first title defense. The story here is that Orton’s shoulder was up during King Of The Ring, but now things are a bit more about Gunther than Orton.

While there is always the chance that WWE will go with Orton, there is no way that Gunther, whose whole deal is long title reigns, is going to drop the title four weeks later. The good thing is that Orton is enough of a legend with the big weapon available that it feels like there is a chance, but this is absolutely more about Gunther than Orton. Gunther gets his clean win over Orton to retain, despite at least one RKO in the process.

Overall Thoughts

This is pretty much in line with some of the other international events: it’s much more about WWE getting to say that they have been to another country and giving the fans a chance to go nuts for people they don’t get to see very often. The show should be fine, but it’s hard to believe that anything major is going to happen. That’s not a bad thing though, even if a five match card still feels wrong.