Evolve
Date: March 25, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Peter Rosenberg

For the first time in a good while, we have a new Evolve Champion as Aaron Rourke beat the departing Jackson Drake to win the title last week. That means Rourke will need a new challenger and we might find out who that is this week. Other than that, we need a new Women’s Champion and the process should begin soon. Let’s get to it.

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

Tate Wilder is in the ring and calls out Kam Hendrix for attacking him a few weeks ago. Cue Hendrix, with Harley Riggins and Kai Kavari. None of them like Wilder and find him despicable, but a lot of people want to get his hands on Wilder. For now, Kavari can get his chance. Kavari runs in and gets dropkicked so let’s have a referee in there too.

Kai Kavari vs. Tate Wilder

Wilder is in street clothes and stars fast with a running shot in the corner. Kavari is sent into the corner and knocked to the apron, where he gets in a neck snap over the top rope. A suplex gives Kavari two and we’re off to the chinlock. Wilder fights up and hits some running clotheslines into a spinning suplex. The Wild Ride finishes for Wilder at 3:28.

Rating: C. They didn’t have time to do much here but this was just a quick win for Wilder as he is on his way to getting his hands on the other two. At the same time, Wilder looked a lot better here and that’s a good idea. They seem to think they have something with him and it’s interesting to see getting a more serious push.

Post match Wilde throws Kavari outside in a heap.

Mike Cunningham vs. Lince Dorado

Cunningham is looking a lot cockier than usual here. Dorado takes him down with a flying mare to start so Cunningham runs him over and does something of a dance. Back up and Dorado armdrags him into an armbar but Cunningham takes over on the arm as well. Cunningham dropkicks him off the top and out to the floor, where it’s a twisting dive to take Dorado down again. Back in and Cunningham runs him over, meaning it’s time to go after the arm again.

A spinebuster plants Dorado for two but he’s right back up with a springboard, which is countered into a faceplant. Cunningham works on the arm again but Dorado knocks him outside for the running flip dive. Back in and a cross armbreaker doesn’t work for Dorado so he kicks Cunningham in the head. A handspring Stunner gives Dorado two so he goes up, where it’s a super Falcon Arrow to bring him back down. Cunningham loads up a powerbomb but Dorado reverses into a rollup for the pin at 8:15.

Rating: B-. Cunningham looked better here than he has before but it’s not a big loss to get beaten by someone with this kind of experience. If nothing else, Dorado is someone who can be used to help boost up the younger generation. I could go for more of both of them, as this was a nice surprise.

Post match Dorado thanks Cunningham for the match and is impressed by his skills. Cunningham thanks him for the lessons and promises to learn to get better. They shake hands and everything seems ok.

Timothy Thatcher is annoyed at someone on the phone before hanging up and praising Kendal Grey for setting the standard for the women’s division. In three weeks, it’s an Eliminator Gauntlet to crown a new Women’s Champion. Next week, we have a four way to determine who gets the final spot. In addition, some new prospects debut next week. That should be fun.

Kali Armstrong vs. Masyn Holiday

Layla Diggs is here with Holiday. Armstrong drives her into the corner to start and hits a heck of a running shoulder to the ribs. The powerslam cuts off a comeback attempt and the Kali Connection finishes Holiday at 1:12.

Braxton Cole is rather rich but has to deal with rough things like getting the ice off his Bentley, flying commercial to Cabo and having his lobster be too buttered.

Cappuccino Jones vs. Brooks Jensen

Jensen seems rather annoyed and shoves him out of the corner to start, only for Jones to come off the middle rope with a Stunner. Jones dropkicks him outside and we take a break. We come back with Jensen tying him in the ring skirt and hammering away. Back up and Jones tries to go up top, only to get knocked out to the floor. Jensen’s clothesline gets two and he chokes Jones on the ropes.

A weird stomp, with Jensen’s feet wrapped around Jones’ head as he jumps up, has Jones in more trouble and we hit a full nelson on the mat. That’s broken up and Jones misses a charge into the ropes, allowing Jones to…well slip on the ropes actually. An elbow out of the corner works a bit better for Jones and he strikes away, followed by a Cactus Clothesline. They brawl on the floor and knock the referee away for the double DQ at 8:29.

Rating: B-. It’s another nice match with a result you don’t see that often. Jones is someone who seems like he should be a comedy goof but he’s smooth enough in the ring to rise above that level. On the other hand you have Jensen, who is little more than a middle of the road villain who doesn’t have much to do. Then again they need bodies around here so Jensen does at least have a place.

Post match Jensen lays him out with the cowbell.

Kali Armstrong wants back in the Women’s Title picture and wanted to beat Kendal Grey to get it back. Timothy Thatcher says the goal is to get up to NXT, where she can face Grey again. He does give her something to calm the situation though: she can be in the four way for the final spot in the Gauntlet Eliminator.

Here is Aaron Rourke for his championship celebration. He can’t believe he’s here and while you know him as this confident guy, it wasn’t always the case. When he was a kid, he just wanted to bring his action figures to school rather than play football. People called him names and they made him hate who he was. Wrestling has been his escape since he was five years old, including people like Ric Flair, who inspired him to wear the robe.

Then there is his favorite wrestler, Charlotte, and he’ll be chasing her title record for his entire career. He wants to show people that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from because you can be a success. Don’t be anyone else but yourself because you are good enough and you are great.

He wants to be like the heroes he watched growing up and for people to see him as being outlandish but also himself. We get a rather nice thank you for all of the love and support he has received. He is privileged to be champion and enjoy the ride. Rourke can talk and that’s a rather positive message to be sending. I’ve liked the things he’s been saying in his promos since the beginning and this was rather good again.

Harlem Lewis is in the back and says that title will be his.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was designed to help establish some of the newer stars around here and it’s worked well enough. People like Wilder, Cappuccino and Rourke felt like big enough deals and I like where their stuff is going. At the same time you have Thatcher fitting into his role perfectly and that gives me hope for this show’s future. The next few weeks will show us where things are going, but they’re off to a nice enough start.

Results
Tate Wilder b. Kai Kavari – Wild Ride
Lince Dorado b. Mike Cunningham – Rollup
Kali Armstrong b. Masyn Holiday – Kali Connection
Cappuccino Jones vs. Brooks Jensen went to a double DQ when they both hit the referee

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

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

NXT
Date: March 24, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

The countdown to Stand & Deliver continues as we are about a week and a half away from the show. In this case we have to find a new #1 contender to the North American Title, which will be crowned in a Gauntlet Eliminator match. Other than that we have the rest of the card to put together so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Shiloh Hill asks Robert Stone if he can be the first entrant in the Gauntlet Eliminator. Stone seems interested but Tatum Paxley comes in and complains about what happened last week with Blake Monroe. Paxley wants her title back and Hill says he has an idea. The two of them leave but Josh Briggs pops in, saying he needs to talk to Stone. Hold on though as a referee comes in, saying Stone is needed.

IMG Credit: WWE

Kendal Grey/Wren Sinclair vs. Fatal Influence

Jacy Jayne is here with Fatal Influence. Henley drives Sinclair into the corner to start and then shouts a lot. Reid comes in for an elbow drop so it’s off to Grey, who is headlocked takeovered. We cut to the back where Eli Knight and Elio LeFleur have been attacked. Sinclair comes back in and gets two off Grey’s dropkick. Henley manages a kick to the head and makes a blind tag to Reid, who comes in with a running Blockbuster.

We take a break and come back with Henley hitting a sliding German suplex on Sinclair. A dropkick knocks Reid away and the double tags bring in Grey and Henley. Grey hits a superkick but gets wheelbarrowed into an assisted hot shot for a rather near fall. Back up and Grey hits a spinning back elbow, setting up the cross armbreaker for the tap at 9:48.

Rating: C+. Grey and Sinclair work well together and they come off like a team who are actually friends. That isn’t something you often see but it worked well here. I could go for seeing them working together more, which is also the case with Fatal Influence. These teams feel like regular teams that isn’t something that is often the case in any women’s tag division.

Post match Grey says she’s coming for the Women’s Title at Stand & Deliver but Lola Vice comes in to say that’s her shot. Robert Stone comes out to make the #1 contenders match for next week.

Here is Sol Ruca for a chat. She wasn’t sure what she was going to say out here but she only wanted Zaria to have a chance. Zaria couldn’t get her own moment though and decided to steal Ruca’s. Ruca lists off all of the times and gets emotional as she says she’s finally seeing Zaria for what she really is. She wants to face Zaria at Stand & Deliver, which brings out Zaria, as Ruca expected. Zaria says that the only thing she wanted was the two of them, which was never good enough for Ruca.

As she stands there, Ruca is upset that Zaria cost her the Women’s Title, which is exactly what Ruca did to her last year at Stand & Deliver. It made Zaria sick to be around her and hear her name, but now Zaria is finally picking herself. The fans seem to be behind Zaria as Ruca asks what she ever got from Zaria, who is too insecure to stand beside her. Zaria says she isn’t the villain in Ruca’s story, because Ruca is the mistake. This was the big emotional moment between the two of them but…yeah Zaria still hasn’t actually won anything. That might make it easier to get behind this thing.

Ricky Saints and Ethan Page talk about wanting to be NXT Champion but Josh Briggs comes in, saying he just wants five minutes with the boss. Joe Hendry comes in to say if Saints can’t deal with Tony D’Angelo tonight, Hendry will do it himself.

Kelani Jordan vs. Thea Hail

Jordan forearms her to start and gets taken down with a Thesz press. Back up and Jordan takes over, including sending Hail into various buckles. Hail fights up and reverses a reverse DDT into the Kimura. That’s broken up with a ram into the buckle and something like and X Factor drops Hail. One Of A Kind gives Jordan the pin at 2:48.

Post match Jordan stays on Hail but Jaida Parker runs in for the save.

Jasper Troy is not happy with Keanu Carver interrupting Booker T.’s appreciation night last week and wants some revenge next week in New York.

Shiloh Hill has used some computer program to find Blake Monroe. He gives Tatum Paxley the location but has to go win the Gauntlet Eliminator.

IMG Credit: WWE

Gauntlet Eliminator

This is basically a five man Royal Rumble but eliminations have to be via pin or submission. We have three minute intervals and the winner challenges for the North American Title at Stand & Deliver. Shiloh Hill is in at #1 and Jackson Drake is in at #2 with Hill missing a charge into the corner, allowing Drake to get a rollup for two. Drake’s hot shot sets up a running shot in the corner and a Russian legsweep gets two more. Hill comes back with a tilt-a-whirl slam for two and elbows him down as Dion Lennox is in at #3.

Lennox hits some running shoulders in the corner and we take a break. We come back with Charlie Dempsey having come in at #4, leaving one mystery man to enter. A quadruple sleeper leaves everyone a bit dazed (or sleepy) so Dempsey grabs a Muta Lock on Hill. That’s broken up and Lennox sends Hill through the barricade. Back in and Lennox German suplexes both of them…and here is Candice LeRae.

She’s tried everything to get Johnny Gargano out of his funk but maybe bringing him back home will help. So Gargano is in at #5 to a hero’s welcome, though he doesn’t seem overly thrilled to be here. Drake hits him in the face and Gargano lays on the ropes and Dempsey gets a triangle choke on Lennox. That’s broken up so here is OTM to go after Lennox. The beatdown lets Hill grab the belly to back neckbreaker to pin Lennox at 12:36.

We take another break and come back with Gargano still laying on the apron as Hill and Dempsey brawl on the floor. Drake dives onto the two of them but a 450 only gets two on Hill. A suicide dive hits Dempsey but Hill is back with the belly to back neckbreaker for the pin on Drake at 18:21.

Dempsey suplexes Hill a few times but Hill is back with the belly to back neckbreaker for another pin at 19:50. So it’s Hill against the basically immobile Gargano so here is Birthright to go after Hill, including sending him into the steps. Gargano stands up and LeRae shoves him onto Hill for the winning pin at 20:30.

Rating: B-. The key thing here was that Hill looked like a star and that wound up working. At the same time, Gargano was a nice surprise and I’m not sure how it’s going to go at Stand & Deliver. Either we get the return of Johnny Wrestling or it’s something like a Weekend At Bernie’s title match against Myles Borne. Either way, not a bad match, even with the screwy ending.

Post match Gargano looks shocked that he won and gets serious as he gets a staredown with Myles Borne (who TOWERS over Gargano).

The Vanity Project want to know who will be replacing Eli Knight/Elio LeFleur in the tournament. Josh Briggs comes in to try to get a talk with Robert Stone but a referee wants to speak to Stone instead. No one is willing to referee Jasper Troy and Keanu Carver so Stone will come up with something. Jaida Parker comes in and Stone gets right to the point by giving her a match with Kelani Jordan next week. Works for Parker.

Sid is going into the Hall Of Fame. He was rather high up on my “he wasn’t in already?” list.

We get the Tiffany Stratton NXT Origins video from Raw.

OTM is ready to face Darkstate next week in a six man tag. Their tag partner? TNA World Champion Mike Santana, who warns Darkstate that they’re coming to his hometown.

Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Culling vs. ???

The replacements for Knight and LeFleur are…Los Americanos. Bravo and Spears start things off as the fans are rather behind Los Americanos, as you might have expected. Spears takes him down and jiggles a bit so Bravo grabs the arm to take over. Vance comes in and clotheslines both Americanos at the same time but Rayo manages a quick rollup for two. Everything breaks down and Bravo hits a dive on Spears with Rayo hitting one on Vance, who pulls him out of the air. Bravo dives onto both of them to drop Vance and we take a break.

We come back with Spears going after Bravo’s mask, earning himself a high crossbody. It’s back to Rayo to clean house but Vance chokeslams Bravo onto Rayo to drop both of them at once. Bravo is back up with a spinning torture rack, with Vance breaking it up but knocking Vance down anyway. Spears’ running Death Valley driver gets two and Rayo loads up his mask. A quick headbutt knocks Spears silly and Bravo’s running headbutt finishes at 10:13.

Rating: C+. This makes good sense as Los Americanos are more than entertaining enough and the fans like having them around. There are worse ideas than having them win the tournament and get the title shot at Stand & Deliver. The Culling hardly mean much anyway so there was nothing wrong with the result anyway.

Post match Birthright comes out for the staredown with Los Americanos (and Bravo’s mask looks loaded as well).

Keanu Carver wants to fight Jasper Troy but Robert Stone says they need a referee. Josh Briggs comes in to say he’ll do it and that solves the problem.

Tatum Paxley goes to Blake Monroe’s hotel room and reaches for her through the locked door. Next week, there is no lock holding her back from getting her title.

Sexyy Red is back next week. She swears a bit.

Ricky Saints vs. Tony D’Angelo

Ethan Page is here with Saints. D’Angelo cuts off a boot to the ribs to start and twists the ankle a bit before wrestling Saints to the mat. Saints gets powered into the corner and goes outside for a meeting with Page. The distraction lets Saints dive off the apron, only to get pulled out of the air. Saints shoves him into the steps and celebrates with page as we take a break.

We come back with D’Angelo fighting out of a chinlock and hitting something like an Angle Slam. Saints’ tornado DDT is countered into a suplex but he’s able to hit a dropkick into the corner. Saints gets two off a spear and whips D’Angelo hard into the corner. D’Angelo fights back and hits some overhead belly suplexes. The spinebuster is loaded up but Page comes in for the DQ at 10:17.

Rating: C+. The ending was the right way to go as D’Angelo doesn’t need to lose but they need something for Joe Hendry to do at Stand & Deliver. That feels like it is probably going to be a four way match, which isn’t the most exciting thing, but at least it does feel like the right way to go for the story they’re telling. Not a great match, though probably the logical one.

Post match the beatdown is on until Joe Hendry comes in for the save. D’Angelo gets a Standing Ovation of his own to even things up a bit though.

We run down next week’s card.

Robert Stone makes the four way NXT Title match, with Joe Hendry defending against Ethan Page, Ricky Saints and Tony D’Angelo.

Overall Rating: B-. This show did some good work for building up Stand & Deliver, which is somehow less than two weeks away. I’m not wild on some of the matches that have been set up but at least they are doing something to move it forward. Next week’s show should be a big enough card as well, and hopefully they have a pair of good shows in a row, as it could make for quite the pairing.

Results
Kendal Grey/Wren Sinclair b. Fatal Influence – Cross armbreaker to Reid
Kelani Jordan b. Thea Hail – One Of A Kind
Johnny Gargano won a Gauntlet Eliminator last eliminating Hill
Los Americanos b. Culling – Running headbutt to Spears
Tony D’Angelo b. Ricky Saints via DQ when Ethan Page interfered

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

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

There have been 400+ matches in Wrestlemania history.  Here are some that are underrated.

https://www.smarkdownsblog.com/most-underrated-wwe-wrestlemania-matches

Monday Night Raw
Date: March 23, 2026
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re closing in on Wrestlemania and Roman Reigns is now under CM Punk’s skin. That’s likely going to create an issue on the way to their title match, but there are other things going on as well. Otherwise we have Oba Femi coming after Brock Lesnar, which has all of the hoss fight potential. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Brock Lesnar returning to confront Seth Rollins but getting laid out by Oba Femi instead. That’s a big move, but it’s asking a lot for someone so new to the main roster.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is Lesnar, with Paul Heyman, to get things going. Heyman lists off Lesnar’s various accomplishments but the fans chant for Oba Femi. Heyman warns the fans about getting on Lesnar’s nerves and blames last week’s attack on Femi taking advantage of a distracted Lesnar. Femi is the latest man who is supposed to take Lesnar out, just like Goldberg, Dean Ambrose (!), Bobby Lashley and John Cena, but Femi will be victimized just everyone else. Cue Femi and Lesnar tries the F5, only for Femi to escape and clothesline him to the floor.

Dominik Mysterio is ready to get his Intercontinental Title back tonight.

IMG Credit: WWE

Usos vs. Vision

Non-title and it’s Austin Theory/Logan Paul for the Vision. Before the match, we look at Logan Paul getting into it with Tom Brady at a flag football game. Sounds Wrestlemaniaish. Theory grabs a headlock on Jey to start but it’s off to Jimmy for a double elbow. Jimmy is sent outside and Paul clotheslines him into the timekeeper’s area as we take an early break. We come back with Cole paying tribute to Dennis Condrey of the Midnight Express, who passed away last week. That’s a rather touching moment, especially as Condrey never wrestled for WWE.

Jimmy enziguris his way out of trouble and brings Jey in to clean house. Theory gets sent into the corner and the turnbuckle pad is pulled off. Jey tries a suplex but Theory seems to reverse it into a neckbreaker for two. The spear drops Theory but Paul breaks up the Superfly Splash. The brass knuckles are loaded up so here is LA Knight to take them away. Jey gets the knuckles and knocks Theory cold for the DQ at 7:13.

Rating: C. This was fine while it lasted but the result was about setting up a likely rematch, which is fine enough. The Vision is in a weird place right now but at least they seem to have something of a direction for the Tag Team Titles. Knight being involved makes things a bit more interesting, though I’m not sure how he’ll tie in at Wrestlemania.

We look back at Roman Reigns and CM Punk going face to face last week, with Reigns getting under Punk’s skin.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is Becky Lynch for a chat. Lynch understands what it means to take some time off, because she took ten months off, unlike AJ Lee’s ten years off. She’s ticked off about the lack of respect after losing the Intercontinental Title because she is proud of what she made that title.

When she took some time off to be with her family, her daughter was dancing around to Lee’s music and flipping her hair like that twerp from New Jersey. She didn’t realize that her mother was the greatest of all time (and apparently she’s not the only one saying it). Lee mastered the Divas division but Lynch murdered it.

Cue Lee to chase Lynch off and say that maybe she has to beat her one more time to get rid of her. Say on the biggest stage of them all? She’ll show Lynch why she’s the best wrestler of this generation and apparently Lynch’s daughter’s favorite wrestler and yes the match is on for Wrestlemania. Lynch brings up Lee’s last Wrestlemania match, when she left the day after and we didn’t hear from her for about ten years. Don’t worry because this year Lynch will end her and we’ll never hear from her again. This got personal and it boosted the match up a bit, which is a good thing.

Jimmy Uso thanks LA Knight for the help but Jey still isn’t happy about the whole thing. They calm down a bit, with Jimmy suggesting that Knight watch his words when talking about the family.

Je’Von Evans vs. Grayson Waller

Kofi Kingston is here with Waller. Evans starts fast and sends him to the floor for the big running dive. Back in and a high crossbody gives Evans two but Waller sends him outside as well. Evans switches places with him and hits another dive as we take a break. We come back with Evans hitting another crossbody but Waller slugs him down.

Evans tries a springboard but slips, only to spin back around for a German suplex (nice save). A running knee knocks Waller down again but he pulls Evans off the top. The flipping Unprettier drops Evans again and he gets sent into the post. Evans catches him with a top rope hurricanrana though and the OG Cutter finishes Waller at 8:58.

Rating: C+. They had some slip ups in there but the good thing is they were able to recover in a hurry and the match wound up going fine. That’s a good sign for Evans, as it shows what kind of a head he has on his shoulders. Hopefully that continues, as WWE certainly sees something in him.

Post match Kingston tries to explain why he didn’t help but Waller isn’t convinced.

Paul Heyman comes up to Adam Pearce, who says Heyman is having a heck of a night. Heyman wants a street fight for the Tag Team Titles next week in Madison Square Garden. The match seems to be on, but Pearce tells Heyman to go to the ring now, as he requested. Heyman isn’t happy but goes anyway.

Dennis Rodman is going into the Hall Of Fame. Ok then.

Here is Paul Heyman in the ring to say he’s having a really bad night and not just because after a 40 year Hall Of Fame career he’s making a contractually obligated appearance here in Boston. There is no one for him to hide behind at the moment because all of his men are either gone or injured. At the same time though, he has a stalker who will not leave him alone.

That man is Seth Rollins, and no that isn’t a challenge for a match, because we know how that would go. Instead, maybe Rollins should just come put him out of his misery. The masked man pops up on the announcers’ table (Heyman doesn’t see him) so Heyman keeps calling him out, only to realize who is waiting on him. Some cops show up to get between them and take Rollins away for violating the restraining order (which is apparently a thing).

As Rollins is leaving, Heyman goes on a rant about how Rollins is going to jail and Becky Lynch will marry half of the locker room and his daughter will be adopted by Heyman. Rollins charges away from the cops (Heyman throws the mic at him) and gets in a forearm as Rollins is handcuffed, leaving Heyman looking maniacal.

Post break here what’s you saw pre-break.

IMG Credit: WWE

Kabuki Warriors vs. Lyra Valkyria/Bayley

It’s a brawl to start and Valkyria gets beaten down on the floor. Back in and the Warriors kick away at Bayley, with a basement dropkick taking her down. We take a break and come back with Bayley diving over for the tag to Valkyria. The comeback is quickly on, including a sitout powerbomb for two on Sane.

A delayed vertical suplex is countered by Sane and Asuka is back in to take over. Valkyria kicks her into the corner and a fisherman’s buster sets up Bayley’s middle rope elbow for two. Bayley takes Asuka outside for the Bayley To Belly onto the announcers’ table but Sane saves her from another elbow. Back in and Nightwing finishes Sane at 8:58.

Rating: C+. Well at least they didn’t lose again. I could go with seeing Bayley and Valkyria getting a chance to do something as a team. They work well together and they would fit in well with the Irresistible Forces as some challengers. It still feels like we’re gearing up for a big multi team match for the titles (the Warriors could be in there too), so maybe they’re on the way to setting this up.

Post match Bayley says they aren’t feeling pressure and Valkyria wants the Women’s Tag Team Titles. The challenge is on for next week, with Bayley having to win the crowd back after calling MSG the World’s Most Famous Arena.

We look at Tiffany Stratton’s start in NXT, with Stratton praising what she learned in NXT to bring her here.

IShowSpeed comes in to see Penta, who teaches him the strut. Dragon Lee comes in and Speed is excited to see him. Speed leaves and Penta and Lee seem cool.

Post break, IShowSpeed meets Adam Pearce and is happy that he’s here. Danhausen comes in and suggests they have a show together and split the profits. That’s a no, so Danhausen suggests the show is called “YOU ARE CURSED!” Speed freaks out as Danhausen vanishes, with Pearce wishing Speed luck. Danhausen popping up in the back every week for some wacky shenanigans is the best way to use him, as he certainly shouldn’t be having any serious matches.

Video on Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton’s issues on Smackdown, with Orton saying he’s back to his evil ways because he needs to beat Rhodes. Orton then feigned an apology and took out Matt Cardona, including Pillmanizing his arm.

Asuka yells at Kairi Sane and says she needs to make up the loss. Iyo Sky comes in to say Sane deserves better but Asuka summons Sane away. Raquel Rodriguez comes in to get on Sky for interfering in her match last week and they’re set for next week.

Intercontinental Title: Dominik Mysterio vs. Penta

Mysterio is challenging (and not defending his AAA Mega Title) but here is Stephanie Vaquer to jump Liv Morgan during the entrance. They brawl into the back and we take a break with the two of them having to be separated. Mysterio (with JD McDonagh rather than Morgan) jumps him during the Big Match Intros but Penta is back to knock him into the corner. The slingshot dropkick connects but Mysterio knocks him out to the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Penta sending him tot he floor for a flip dive. Back in and a suplex gives Penta two, followed by the Penta Driver for the same. Mysterio is right back with a Michinoku Driver for two of his own but the 619 is broken up. McDonagh offers a distraction though and now the 619 can connect. The frog splash is loaded up but cue Finn Balor for a distraction. Balor takes out McDonagh so Mysterio tries the frog splash, which is reversed into a small package to retain the title at 7:41.

Rating: B-. This was more about having Balor show up in the end to cost Mysterio and that isn’t a bad way to go. Balor vs. Mysterio is all but guaranteed for a big showdown at Wrestlemania and that should be a good way to go. Penta is going to need something to do at Wrestlemania and this should clear him out of the Judgment Day stuff.

Post match Balor runs in to take out Mysterio and hits a flip dive onto McDonagh and Mysterio. As Mysterio runs, Balor gives McDonagh the Coup de Grace.

We look at Oba Femi clearing out Brock Lesnar earlier tonight.

Here’s a Tale Of The Tape of the two of them.

CM Punk is in the Gorilla Position where he meets Jimmy Uso. The audio isn’t great but they both smile at each other after speaking.

Here is Punk for a chat. He says he’s not sure if we could hear what Jimmy said to him, but apparently it was another “watch what you say about the family”. Punk says that’s proof that Reigns can’t do anything without his cousins. Last week Reigns threatened to send the entire family after him but Punk hasn’t seen a single Samoan coming after him. We’re in a s*** talking business in an effort to set up the big fight and that’s what Punk does for a living.

Last week, Reigns was doing the same thing but he said one thing that got to him. Reigns called him old, and the problem was the young boy saying it. So is he old? The fans hit the YES chant and yeah of course he’s old. He’s not ashamed of it though and is even proud of it. If he was worried, he’s be covering up those gray whiskers, just like Reigns does. He’s middle aged and crazy just like Terry Funk. Gordie Howe, better known as Mr. Hockey, was playing until he was 52, so Punk is Mr. Game 7. Age is just a number so ask him how he feels.

Last week this old man dropped Reigns with one punch and at Wrestlemania, he’ll tie Reigns in knots. Gunther didn’t under estimate him but couldn’t get the job done, just like Jey Uso. Cue Uso (Punk: “Is he gonna yeet me to death?”) to say Punk is still running his mouth about the family. Punk says Jey is owed a rematch for the title and they’re ready to go but cue Jimmy Uso to say hang on.

Jimmy says Jey is always getting in trouble because he goes too nuts. He got them disqualified earlier tonight but Jey says he doesn’t care about the Tag Team Titles. Jey is ready to fight…and here is Reigns (Punk does the spooky fingers). After the long entrance, Reigns says the last time he checked, the Usos had a tag match, but it’s over. With all due respect, Jimmy needs to get his brother and leave his ring.

Punk says they should stay because Reigns needs the help. Jey goes after Punk and Jimmy tries to break it up, with Reigns hitting Punk with the Superman Punch. Adam Pearce and company come out and get rid of the Uso, but Jey tells Reigns to get him. The Spear drops Punk and Reigns kicks him to the floor.

Reigns hits the powerbomb to put Punk through the announcers’ table and then screams at him. As Reigns goes to leave, Punk laughs a lot and says he isn’t the one who needs help to end the show. This was some rather interesting stuff as Jey is basically a psycho and Punk is playing them all off of each other. I want to see where this is going and that’s a great feeling going into Wrestlemania.

Overall Rating: B. The Punk vs. Reigns stuff has me wondering where a lot of this stuff is going and hopefully that continues for the remaining weeks before Wrestlemania. Other than that, you have Femi feeling like a real threat to Lesnar and the women’s stuff getting interesting. This was a stronger episode of build towards Wrestlemania and it gave me some needed hope. They still need to set some more things up, which will likely take place next week in MSG. Good show here, with the ending segment having me rather interested.

Results
Vision b. Usos via DQ when Jey used brass knuckles
Je’Von Evans b. Grayson Waller – OG Cutter
Bayley/Lyra Valkyria b. Kairi Sane – Nightwing to Sane
Penta b. Dominik Mysterio – Small package

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

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Collision
Date: March 22, 2026
Location: Save Mart Arena, Fresno, California
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the second half of the Slam Dunk show as Collision is split up for a pair of shows this weekend. In this case we have the Trios Titles on the line as the new champions are defending against…eh it’s hard to guess as the titles can be kind of all over the place. The wrestling is going to need to carry things again here and that can work rather well at times so let’s get to it.

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

Orange Cassidy/Roderick Strong vs. Lee Johnson/Jay Lethal

Blake Christian is here with the villains. Lethal struts around to start but can’t spin out of Strong’s early wristlock. Strong sends Lethal into the corner and throws Cassidy at him, with Cassidy coming in to pose a bit. Johnson comes in for a big boot/Russian legsweep combination but has to escape a Beach Break attempt.

Back up and Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets to start rolling around. A dropkick connects so Lethal comes in, only to have his Figure Four attempt kicked away. Johnson drops Cassidy with a suplex for two and we take a break. We come back with Cassidy still in trouble in the Tree Of Woe and Christian sneaking in for a quick 619.

Cassidy fights out of the corner and avoids Johnson’s charge, allowing him to kick Lethal away for the tag to Strong. House is quickly cleaned, with an Angle Slam dropping Johnson for two. Everything breaks down again and Lethal’s Hail To The Chief connects, with Strong having to make the save. The Stundog Millionaire hits Lethal and an Orange Punch drops Christian off the apron. End Of Heartache hits Johnson and Cassidy gets the pin at 10:47.

Rating: B-. Nice opener, as Strong and Cassidy get to show that they can work together, which is a good sign for their future. Granted that might have made more sense before they had their big match with the Dogs. Either way, it’s nice to see them win, as the Lethal Twists get to continue their status as the top heels in ROH and losers in AEW.

Post match Strong announces that he’s officially part of the Conglomeration. The Dogs pop up for a challenge for a match next week.

We look at Lena Kross/Megan Bayne winning the Women’s Tag Team Titles at Revolution. The Babes Of Wrath want a rematch.

Megan Bayne/Lena Kross vs. Alex Gracia/Vipress

Non-title. Bayne shoulders Gracia down to start and takes her into the corner for some running shots to the face. It’s back to Bayne for a German suplex and the monsters hit stereo clotheslines. A double chokeslams finishes Gracia at 1:43. Total domination.

Lio Rush vs. Tommaso Ciampa

So Rush is basically Gollum now and Ciampa looks more confused than anything else. Rush, with his eyes bugging out, does his regular running dodges and sends Ciampa outside. There’s the suicide dive, with Ciampa dropping him onto the announcers’ table. Back in and Rush is sent to the apron and then into the post, with Ciampa hitting a running knee to the floor. We take a break and come back with Rush escaping a Fairy Tale Ending and kicking Ciampa in the head.

The springboard Stunner is kicked out of the air and a second attempt is blocked as well. The third works a bit better though as Ciampa is stunned. Rush goes up with Ciampa rolling outside, only to get picked up for back to back Stunners. Ciampa gets up again and they slug it out, followed by the two of them biting the others’ finisher. They strike it out with Rush hitting a spinning kick to the head. Back up and Ciampa sends him into the corner, followed by Project Ciampa for a rather near fall. The running knee finishes Rush at 11:04.

Rating: C+. Yeah I’m not feeling the new Rush thing. It’s weird based on the idea that he looks strange without his hair. The fact that this is somehow a downgrade from Cru isn’t a good sign, but at least Ciampa won here. Hopefully Rush isn’t featured very often or is at last tweaked, because this wasn’t the strongest fit.

Video on Kenny Omega vs. Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page vs. MJF from Revolution.

Trios Titles: Jet Speed/Mistico vs. Don Callis Family

El Clon/Josh Alexander/Konosuke Takeshita are challenging for the Family. Mistico and Clon start things off but the rest of the Family run in to jump Mistico from behind. Everything breaks down and Mistico gets double teamed. Bailey comes in and gets reversed suplexed but Mistico is back up with a headscissors to Clon. Mistico takes all three villains down without much trouble and Knight adds a dive as we take a break.

We come back with Clon working on Bailey’s leg to send Bailey over to the rope. Bailey manages a kick to the head and it’s back to Knight to clean house. Takeshita comes back in with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two but Knight avoids the running knee. Raging Fire is countered as well and Knight plants him down, allowing the tag back to Mistico.

Clon immediately gives him a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two but a springboard is cut off with a kick to the head. Everything breaks down again and Mistico hits a big dive to the floor but the UFO Splash misses back inside. Clon’s step up moonsault gets two but Knight manages the spring board clothesline to Takeshita. That leaves Mistico to grab La Mistica to make Clon tap at 13:12.

Rating: B-. For a token title match on a show that probably isn’t going to get much in the way of viewership, I’ve seen far worse. They had a nice back and forth match with the new champions getting to beat something of a regular team (or at least a regular stable) to start off their reign. Mistico and Jet Speed still aren’t exactly fascinating champions, but it’s better than one of them going after the World Title at the same time.

Schiavone runs down upcoming cards in an Excalibur imitation to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Much like last night, the show was fine, albeit completely inconsequential viewing. It’s not something that had much in the way of important wrestling but the action you did get was fine. That’s about all you could get out of this kind of a show as there was no reason to do anything else and it worked out well enough. There’s nothing worth going out of your way of seeing, but it’s a fine watch all things considered.

Results
Orange Cassidy/Roderick Strong b. Lee Johnson/Jay Lethal – End Of Heartache to Johnson
Megan Bayne/Lena Kross b. Alex Gracia/Vipress – Double chokeslam to Gracia
Tommaso Ciampa b. Lio Rush – Running knee
Mistico/Jet Speed b. Don Callis Family – La Mistica to Clon

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

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Collision
Date: March 21, 2026
Location: Save Mart Arena, Fresno, California
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

This weekend is a bit weird as Collision has been split into two shows due to coverage of the NCAA Tournament. Therefore, this week’s show is only an hour long, with the second half airing tomorrow night. The show even has the theme name of Slam Dunk Saturday, which could lead to some shenanigans. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher vs. Robbie Eagles

Eagles is challenging and he had a hand in training Fletcher to make this a bit more personal. Fletcher sends him face first into the mat to start and then takes him into the corner for a clean break. An abdominal stretch is blocked so Fletcher pulls the hair and slams him down. Back up and Eagles snaps off a headscissors before kicking away at the leg. Fletcher is able to plant him hard with a backbreaker and we take a break.

We come back with Eagles posing a lot before kicking away at the chest. A running kick to the chest sets up a some running knees in the corner but Fletcher blocks another attempt. Fletcher tries to pick him up, only to be reversed into Sliced Bread for two. Eagles misses his 450 though and a Michinoku Driver gives Fletcher two. Back up and Eagles kicks at the leg, including a missile dropkick to the leg.

Some kind of a leglock sends Fletcher to the ropes and out to the floor, with Eagles hitting a dive. Back in and Fletcher tries a superplex but the knee gives out, allowing Eagles to suplex him into the corner. A 450 onto the leg takes Fletcher down again and he gets planted with a poisonrana. Fletcher is right back up with the lawn dart into a running kick in the corner, followed by a brainbuster to retain the title at 12:12.

Rating: B. That ending was a bit questionable as Fletcher’s knee was really banged up and then he just does a bunch of stuff that needs a healthy leg. That being said, the rest of the match was quite good, as I’ve liked almost everything I’ve ever seen from Eagles. Fletcher is one of the few all but guaranteed good matches in AEW and that was the case again here with a very fun opener.

Jon Moxley warns Will Ospreay for wanting to break his neck. Pac wasn’t even here when Ospreay got hurt but he’s more than willing to fight Ospreay anytime.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Dom Kubrick/Lucas Riley/Alpha Zo

Dralistico takes Riley down to start and chops him into the corner. Rush comes in and hammers Riley into the corner before pulling Kubrick in sans tag. Kubrick is sent outside and taken out with a Dralistico dive. The Bull’s Horns set up Mortos’ corkscrew moonsault to give Rush the pin at 2:13.

Thekla laughs at the idea of Toni Storm being hurt and says she had everything to do with it. Storm saw what Thekla was doing and staged the attack to avoid having to fight her. Anyone else who is coming after her should stage their own death, because the real thing is so much worse. I don’t know what Thekla did to make these promos so much fun lately, but it should be repeated.

Brawling Birds vs. Sisters Of Sin

Hayter backs Hart up against the ropes to start and backbreakers her way out of an octopus attempt. The Sisters are sent into the corner for some chops before Blue and Windsor chop it out. Hart gets in a cheap shot from the apron though and Blue decks Hayter off the apron as we take a break. We come back with Hayterade missing and Hart hitting an Eat Defeat. Everything breaks down and all four are dropped for a double breather. Hart flip dives onto Hayter on the floor and Blue’s running knee gets two on Windsor. Blue powerbombs Windsor out of the corner, with Hayter having to make a save. Back up and Two Birds One Stone finishes Hart at 9:23.

Rating: B-. The Birds are starting to get somewhere and it’s kind of fascinating that they’re already pretty much at the top of the list of contenders. They’re a simple team who beats people up and are playing into the British brawler stereotype. It’s something that will work every time and it is working again here. On the other hand, it feels like the Sisters have been losing a lot lately and that needs to stop, at least for a bit.

Brody King thanks Kenny Omega for the save at Revolution but he’s ready for more of Swerve Strickland. For now though, he wants gold.

Video on Hangman Page vs. MJF at Revolution.

Komander/Mascara Dorada vs. Death Riders

It’s Claudio Castagnoli/Daniel Garcia for the Riders (with Marina Shafir) here. Garcia shoves Komander down to start and kicks at his head but makes the mistake of going after the mask. Komander scores with a dropkick and it’s off to Castagnoli, who gets kicked in the head a few times. Dorada’s slingshot dive to the floor is cut off and he gets dropped onto the announcers’ table. Garcia adds a running knee and we take a break.

We come back with Komander getting pummeled in the corner but Castagnoli misses a charge. Komander facebusters him and dives over for the tag to Dorada, who gets to take Garcia down. Dorada and Komander both walk the ropes at the same time, setting up stereo moonsaults to the floor. Back in and an electric chair faceplant into a standing moonsault gets two, with Castagnoli making a save. Komander’s very springboardy hurricanrana (complete with a pause so Dorada can dive onto Garcia) gets two on Castagnoli, who is right back with the Swing. The Neutralizer finishes Komander at 12:50.

Rating: B-. Komander and Dorada work well together as the random luchador team so it was nice to see them getting a chance here. At the same time, this felt like one of the more random Death Riders combinations, as it isn’t like Castagnoli and Garcia team together very often. Nice enough main event though, especially for a show that didn’t feel important.

Overall Rating: B. As usual, it was a good show bu tit was absolutely not a show that you needed to see. Pretty much nothing was advanced here, but at the same time, it was airing around midnight on a Saturday night so why bother wasting big moments? It’s just an hour long and had good action, which is a nice enough way to see this show, though I can’t imagine many people did.

Results
Kyle Fletcher b. Robbie Eagles – Brainbuster
La Faccion Ingobernable b. Dom Kubrick/Alpha Zo/Lucas Riley – Corkscrew moonsault to Riley
Brawling Birds b. Sisters Of Sin – Two Birds One Stone to Hart
Death Riders b. Mascara Dorada/Komander – Neutralizer to Komander

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

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Rey de Reyes 2026 Night Two
Date: March 21, 2026
Location: Auditorio GNP Seguros, Puebla, Mexico
Commentators: John Bradshaw Layfield, Rey Mysterio, Corey Graves

We’re back to another part of this show and this time it’s about some gold rather than a really big sword. The Tag Team Titles are on the line as Psycho Clown and Pagano are defending against the War Raiders. Other than that, we have a mixed six person tag, which should be a lot of fun. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video talks about iron sharpening iron and the iron will you need in this ring. We also look back at last week and look forward to this week.

Money Machine/La Hiedra vs. Lola Vice/Mr. Iguana/Rey Fenix

Fenix and Oro start things off with a run of the ropes, as Fenix keeps leapfrogging him. Oro gets sent back into his corner so Vice is in to hit Hiedra in the head. Iguana comes in to take over on Money Machine but the stuffed iguana is intercepted. A backbreaker/spinning top rope splash combination hits Iguana and they stop to beat up the stuffed version.

It’s off to Vice to send Hiedra into the corner for the running hip attack as everything breaks down. Hiedra is back up with a Stunner into a hip attack of her own, followed by a Downward Spiral. She makes the mistake of going to yell at Iguana though and gets caught in a double swinging faceplant. It’s back to Fenix to clean house with the rapid fire kicks, plus a super inverted Spanish Fly for two on Oro. Vice dives onto Hiedra and Iguana hits a big dive off the top to the floor. The Fenix Driver finishes Oro at 9:41.

Rating: B-. This was the fun opener that I was expecting as Vice and Iguana are a blast together, with the others more than pulling their weight. Fenix was in there as well to add all of the high flying stuff and that’s always worth a look. Good stuff here, with the fans digging what they were getting.

Post match Chelsea Green pops up to say she never lost her Mixed Tag Team Title, so acknowledge her as your champion. Anything involving more Green is a good thing.

We recap the Tag Team Title match, with the War Raiders showing up but Pagano and Psycho Clown not being ready to roll over for them.

Tag Team Titles: War Raiders vs. Pagano/Psycho Clown

The Raiders are challenging. It’s a brawl to start with the Raiders taking Clown out. Pagano manages to fight back and gets an Air Raid Crash to Erik but gets knocked off the top. Ivar crushes Pagano against the steps and hammers away back inside. Erik’s big knee gets two and Erik slams Ivar onto Pagano for two more. Pagano kicks his way out of the corner though and it’s back to Clown, who is healthy enough to start fighting back.

Everything breaks down and Clown hits a running dive to take out Erik on the floor. Back in and Clown gets knocked into the wrong corner, with Ivar being driven into his face. Pagano comes in again to make the save and it’s a missile dropkick into an Emerald Flosion for two on Erik. Pagano and Erik strike it out until Ivar is back in with a spinning kick to the face.

The Doomsault connects, with Clown having to dive off the top for the save. Everyone pulls themselves up and Clown pulls off his mask to reveal a red version. The champs win a slugout and Pagano hits a top rope legdrop for two. Back up and Pagano accidentally elbows Clown, only to have them go after the Raiders instead of each other. The double brawl is on and the referee is shoved down, which is a double DQ at 13:29.

Rating: B. This was exactly the kind of fight you would have expected from these teams and that was great to see. It’s a good example of not trying to overthink things, as this was about two big power teams beating the daylights out of each other. I like the ending as well, as that could set up a big physical rematch down the line.

Post match the brawl is on again and they grab chairs and kendo sticks to make it better. Security breaks it up.

El Ojo is trying to regroup after last week, with Dorian Roldan on the phone with his mom. After getting her out of the way, Roldan has to convince El Hijo del Vikingo that he should focus on winning the Intercontinental Title.

It’s time for the presentation of the sword to El Grande Americano. With the Roldans in the ring, 2010 winner Chessman, 2015 winner Texano Jr., and 1999 winner Cibernetico come out with their big swords. Now it’s time for this year’s winner, El Grande Americano, with JBL hating him all the way to the ring.

Americano greets everyone and thanks the fans for everything before praising the three previous winners. He talks about the respect he has for lucha libre and thanks Marisela Pena, as well as the fans. It’s about carrying the pride of Mexico and it isn’t about where you were born, because the pride of Mexico is about the culture.

Cue Dominik Mysterio (JBL approves) to actually shake hands and suggest that they have the title match right now. Americano chases Mysterio off but here is the Original El Grande Americano to jump Americano from behind. The beating is on with Americano being sent into various things and Original ripping at the mask. Los Americanos run in for the save but Original steals the sword to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. This was a heck of a show with two good matches and a big angle to wrap it up. As has been the case since it started airing weekly, AAA is an easy show to watch and the English commentary has helped it a lot. This was a rather good show and it flew by, which is always nice to see. Heck of a show here and I want to see what happens next week.

Results
Rey Fenix/Mr. Iguana/Lola Vice b. Money Machine/La Hiedra – Fenix Driver to Oro
War Raiders vs. Pagano/Psycho Clown went to a double DQ when both teams shoved the referee

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

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Wrestlemania XII
Date: March 31, 1996
Location: Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California
Attendance: 18,853
Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Vince McMahon

It’s interesting to see Wrestlemania as a one match show and that is basically the case here. While there are other things on the card, such as Diesel vs. Undertaker, which should be a heck of a fight, this is ALL about Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels in a one hour Iron Man match. What else could you need? Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at the Iron Man match and nothing more. At least they’re not hiding what they’re doing here.

Commentary at least acknowledges some of the other matches.

Vader/Owen Hart/British Bulldog vs. Jake Roberts/Ahmed Johnson/Yokozuna

If the latter team wins, Yokozuna gets five minutes with Jim Cornette, which is by far the biggest story here, with the other four just kind of there. Vader and Yokozuna slug it out to start and the other four come in, with the good guys cleaning house. Vader gets knocked to the floor and Yokozuna helps launch Johnson over the top and onto him for a huge crash. Back in and Yokozuna wins another slugout with Vader but drives him into the wrong corner.

Hart tags himself in and dropkicks Yokozuna for some reason, earning a hard elbow to the face. Bulldog pulls Yokozuna out of the way of a charge though and the villains take turns stomping away. Vader just unloads on Yokozuna to knock him down in the corner, only to walk into what would become the Rock Bottom. It’s off to Johnson, who is quickly knocked down in the corner as the villains are right back in control.

Hart kicks him down and then hits the jumping kick to the shoulder, only to get planted down rather hard. Cue Mr. Fuji to wave the American flag as Johnson makes the tag off to Roberts. The snap jabs have Hart in trouble but he gets a knee up in the corner to cut off the charge. Bulldog’s front facelock doesn’t last long as Roberts gets up but Vader is back in to pummel away (in a preview of their Boy Meets World showdown). Hart’s good looking top rope elbow gets two and Vader crushes him for the same.

Bulldog comes back in but misses a legdrop, allowing Yokozuna to come in. The huge right hands have Vader down in the corner and a splash crushes him as well, with Vader waving Hart in as he collapses. Yokozuna’s Samoan drop puts Bulldog down and it’s back to Roberts but Bulldog saves Hart from the DDT. Everything breaks down and the DDT hits Hart, which draws in Cornette with the racket. Roberts cuts him off but Vader runs in for the save (with Roberts looking over his shoulder until Vader comes in) and the Vader Bomb finishes at 13:09.

Rating: C+. This was all about Yokozuna vs. Vader, with the other two just happening to be there. That didn’t make for the best match as Yokozuna could only do so much, though those big right hands looked devastating. It’s also beyond weird to set up the “five minutes with the manager” deal and then not have it but Vader looked like enough of a monster to make up for it…I guess.

We recap Goldust vs. Roddy Piper, which is all about Goldust being obsessed/possibly in lust with Piper, who wants to “make a man” out of Goldust. To say this is uncomfortable in a lot of ways is an understatement.

Marlena, with champagne on ice, is in the back.

Goldust vs. Roddy Piper

This is the Hollywood Back Lot Brawl, meaning they’re fighting in a lot outside. Goldust comes up in his gold Cadillac so Piper sprays it with a fire hose and beats on the car with a baseball bat. Goldust is sent into a catering table and smashed with a garbage can (complete with garbage for once), followed by a ram into a dumpster.

Piper rams him into various things and hits some VERY stiff sounding shots to the face, only to get hit low. Goldust jumps back in the Cadillac and hits a Piper shaped stunt man, who hangs onto the hood and crashes onto the ground. With Goldust gone, Piper jumps into a white Bronco (which Goldust hit on his way out) and the chase is on. It was certainly intense, but the Bronco aspect isn’t a good sign.

Steve Austin vs. Savio Vega

Austin is still Million Dollar Champion and has Ted DiBiase with him, but he is Stone Cold. After a fired up Vega says he’s ready for anything, they slug it out to start and brawl on the mat. That’s not enough so they go outside, with Vega firing off some chops to take over. Back in and Austin drops some elbows before cranking away on the arms. Vega gets back up and kicks Austin in the face as Roddy Piper calls in to rant about chasing Goldust.

Austin goes back to the arm and sends it into the post but a reverse chinlock is quickly broken up. The armbar goes on again as Piper calls in again to promise to beat up Goldust again. Vega is back with a crossbody but Austin Thesz presses him for two (that’s so weird to see) and they go into a pinfall reversal sequence for two each. We go split screen to some footage of the OJ Simpson car chase, which is apparent Piper going after Goldust.

As for the Wrestlemania match going on at the moment, Vega kicks him in the face and hits a crossbody but Austin knocks him down again. Austin goes to the top (HUH?) but dives into a raised boot to leave them both down. Vega clotheslines away and tries a spinwheel kick, which hits the referee by mistake. DiBiase throws in the belt and Austin tries a Million Dollar Dream, only to get kicked in the face. DiBiase offers another distraction though and there’s a pair of belt shots to the head. Vega is out as Austin puts on the Million Dollar Dream for the win at 10:20.

Rating: C+. The match was fine, but the focus was on Piper’s car chase because that’s the “interesting” part. I get that it’s a bigger angle, but this is the kind of thing that belongs on Raw, not Wrestlemania. Austin was still figuring his stuff out here, as he was nothing compared to what he would wind up being, which was a rather necessary change.

Post match Austin won’t let go of the hold until a referee talks him out of it. As he and DiBiase leave, we get another shot of the OJ Simpson driving footage, which Vince says looks familiar. I’m already sick of this and the winking at the joke isn’t helping.

Diesel says he doesn’t sweat the big things or the little things either. He’s coming for Shawn Michaels next.

More car footage, with Lawler now saying it feels like deja vu.

Ultimate Warrior vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley

Here’s an infamous one. Helmsley has a certain blonde with him, with commentary being rather impressed. Apparently her name is Sable. Lawler’s story of Warrior being 400lbs and bald is proven wrong as Warrior looks mostly like his old self. Helmsley jumps him to start fast and hits the Pedigree in less than forty seconds, with Warrior popping up. Warrior Warriors up, hits some clotheslines, and finishes with the gorilla press and splash at 1:39. And Helmsley has yet to live it down for the rest of his career.

We meet the debuting Wildman Mark Mero, who is ready to face the best around here. Helmsley comes in and bumps into Mero before yelling at Sable. Helmsley shoves Mero and the brawl is on to give Mero his first feud.

Piper and Goldust are still driving.

Diesel vs. Undertaker

Paul Bearer is here with Undertaker and they’re fighting after both of them cost the other the WWF Title. Also of note: you can see the clock for the Iron Man match over the Titantron during Undertaker’s entrance, which is quite the gaffe for a promotion that usually does well with production. They slug it out to start with Diesel knocking him into the corner for some elbows to the face.

Undertaker knocks him back down but misses the big elbow. Instead they go outside and Diesel is sent face first into the steps before they go back back inside. It’s way too early for the Tombstone so Undertaker actually goes aerial with a crossbody. The big running clothesline misses though and Undertaker rolls to the apron, where he’s fine enough to snap off a Stunner.

Back in and Undertaker punches him out to the floor, where a big chair shot only hits the post. Diesel is back with a ram into the post, which he does again because it’s Wrestlemania. A running knee cuts off Undertaker from getting back inside so Diesel tosses him back in, which seems a bit contradictory. Back in and a big boot puts Undertaker down again, followed by the side slam for two.

Snake Eyes sets up the running crotch attack in the ropes and Diesel if looking rather cocky. Undertaker tries to fight back and they hit stereo big boots to put them both down again. Diesel is fine enough to grab a bearhug, which stays on until Undertaker manages a belly to back suplex. Undertaker’s top rope rope clothesline gets two but Diesel gets in a shot to the back.

A quick Jackknife connects (as audio messes up, with quite the feedback) but Diesel spends too much time trash talking, allowing Undertaker to sit up. Another Jackknife connects, with Diesel mocking Bearer this time. That earns Diesel a grab around the throat so he punches Undertaker back down. Undertaker gets up again and grabs him by the throat, only to get suplexed. That doesn’t work either, as Undertaker gets up, hits a chokeslam and Tombstones Diesel for the win at 16:46.

Rating: B-. This was a different kind of Wrestlemania match for Undertaker, as he was finally facing someone who was giving him a realistic threat (give me a break on Giant Gonzalez being someone who could beat him). Diesel was not that far removed from around a year long reign as WWF Champion and was still the top heel in the company. They had a good enough power match, with Undertaker surviving Diesel’s best stuff and winning in the end, which is quite the boost to the Streak.

The zoom out shot of Diesel out cold on the Wrestlemania logo is still awesome.

Rhodes and Piper return, with Piper’s Bronco hitting Goldust’s Cadillac on the way in. Goldust tries to escape, with Marlena consoling him, but Piper chases them off (with the camera catching Diesel just chilling) and they come into the arena. They get inside with Goldust getting in a cheap shot and rubbing his (own) chest. Goldust picks him up for a rub of the back of Piper’s jeans, which has Piper fighting back until a low blow cuts him down again.

Piper gets his shirt torn off and Goldust uses it to choke, but the threat of a kiss has Piper fighting back. Goldust goes up and gets crotched, but manages to kiss Piper anyway. That’s too far for Piper, who goes off on Goldust and rips his gear off, revealing Goldust’s bizarre lingerie. Piper hits him low and Goldust runs, covering his chest on the way out. This was every bit of the stupid mess you would expect, though the fans seemed to love Piper, as usual.

We recap Bret Hart defending the WWF Title against Shawn Michaels in the one hour Iron Man match. They’ve followed similar paths to get here and Michaels apparently has a boyhood dream of being the WWF Champion (ignore that he wouldn’t have been watching the WWF as a boy who didn’t grow up in the northeast). Hart is basically billed as the perfect wrestler while Michaels is just talented enough to give him a threat. They’re going for an hour, most falls win.

Gorilla Monsoon is officially the President of the WW, which was kind of a perfect spot for him at this point.

WWF Title: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart

Hart is defending in a one hour Iron Man match. Michaels’ manager Jose Lothario comes out with no Michaels, but he points to the rafters. That gives us one of the most iconic entrances of all time, as Michaels ziplines down from the top of the arena and lands in the crowd before coming to the ring. Yeah it still works. Hart comes out as well and we get a long explanation of the rules to really make this feel more important.

Hart goes for an early takedown but Michaels wrestles him right back down and they stand off again. A headlock works a big better for Hart and it’s time to start burning some clock. Michaels fights up and gets taken back down as we’re over six minutes in. Michaels is back up with some armdrags into an armbar, with Hart’s escape just landing him in a hammerlock. Back up and a headscissors out of the corner sends Hart outside at about the ten minute mark for the first big spot.

Hart gets back in and sends Michaels over the ropes for some cat skinning, earning Michaels a knee to the ribs. The chinlock goes on again but Michaels is back up, only to pull him into a Fujiwara armbar. Hart fights up again and takes Michaels down, followed by a clothesline to the floor. Michaels whips him into the timekeeper’s area and tries the superkick, which kills the timekeeper dead at the fifteen minute mark.

Back in and Hart grabs a chinlock as commentary tries to get some help for the out cold timekeeper. After a few minutes, Michaels gets up and armdrags him down, only to get clotheslined into another chinlock. This one doesn’t last as long as Michaels is up with a dropkick into another armbar. Michaels pulls him down to cut off a comeback as this is just the two of them laying around in holds to burn time.

Back up and Hart gets taken down with a shoulderbreaker, followed by some whips into the corner. Hart fights up with some right hands but gets dropped with a DDT on the arm. Michaels cranks on the arm some more but gets catapulted into the post for a rather delayed two. Well at least they did something different. Michaels fights back but Hart goes up for a driving knee to the back of the head. Back up and Hart grabs a piledriver for two (Lawler: “How’d he kick out of a piledriver???”) as we’re over halfway done.

Michaels gets up for a hurricanrana and hammers away but it’s too early for the superkick. A backbreaker gives Michaels two and Hart has to bail to the floor before the superkick can launch. That means Michaels gets in a great looking dive to put them both down on the floor. Back in and Hart rolls through a high crossbody for two but Michaels rolls him up for the same.

Michaels grabs a sleeper and Lawler asks the logical question of what happens if Hart goes out: does he get counted out over and over or can you get a bunch of consecutive covers? Naturally McMahon has no idea, even though it’s a rather valid question. Hart flips out but gets elbowed and kicked in the face to knock him back down. Michaels charges into a backdrop over the top and wipes out a cameraman for one heck of a great shot.

For some reason Hart brings him back inside (Lawler can’t believe the stupidity) and starts in on the back, including a middle rope elbow. A Banzai Drop to the back lets Hart whip him into the corner, with Michaels flipping up into position for a belly to back superplex. We’re off to the reverse chinlock for a bit until Michaels reverses into a rollup for two. Hart stays calm and goes to the back again before knocking Michaels out of the air.

Back up and Michaels is thrown over the top, where he lands on Lothario, little to Hart’s chagrin. Hart takes him back inside for a belly to belly suplex and another near fall. The O’Connor roll gives Michaels two and the kickout sends him outside. That means Hart can hit a suicide dive, followed by a German suplex for two back inside. Hart slowly hammers away and we’re back to the reverse chinlock with ten minutes left. The hold eats up over two minutes until Michaels fights out for a double clothesline.

Michaels goes up so Hart superplexes him down for the big crash and they’re both down with six minutes left. A half crab sends Michaels to the rope so Hart gives him another backbreaker. Hart goes up and dives into some raised boots so they can breathe again. Michaels sends him hard into the corner and comes back with the forearm into the nipup, leaving Lawler stunned at the comeback. A spinning top rope ax handle gives Michaels two as we have three minutes to go.

The top rope elbow gives Michaels two and a nice gutwrench powerbomb gets the same with two minutes to go. Michaels’ top rope moonsault press gets another near fall as the fans are getting into this again. The middle rope hurricanrana gives Michaels two and he goes up again, only to dive into the Sharpshooter with thirty four seconds to go. Michaels screams a lot but manages to hang on as time expires at 1:00:00.

Hold on though as Monsoon says we’re not done, because THERE MUST BE A WINNER. Hart is not happy at all, which is fair as he survived the hour at a tie, which should go to the champion. Either way we’re going to sudden death overtime. The ticked off Hart hammers away on the back and hits a backdrop as it’s time to blow off some steam. Michaels gets sent into the corner and jumps over Hart, finally hitting the superkick (the first time as a fan that I actually jumped out of my chair watching wrestling). Hart gets up first but Michaels is right there for another superkick for the pin and the title at 1:01:50.

Michaels – 1
Hart – 0

Rating: C. There are very few matches in WWE history as debated as this one and I can see why. On one hand, it’s impressive that they went a whole hour and Michaels did get the big win, with the last few minutes and overtime being rather good. The problem here boils down to everything else, as it just wasn’t that interesting. Rather than having a good match that lasted an entire hour, it felt like they were trying to do whatever they could to get through an hour.

That made for a lot of laying around in holds, which might have made sense but it didn’t make for an entertaining match. This would have been far better as a one fall match that happened to go for about forty five minutes, as it adds more drama and doesn’t spend so much time burning clock. It’s far from some kind of a disaster, but it’s not that interesting and there are LONG stretches that didn’t keep me interested whatsoever.

Post match Hart is livid as Michaels is awarded the title and glares at him on the way up the aisle. Michaels gets all emotional and then celebrates a lot to end the show.

We get the long highlight package to wrap it up, set to the still outstanding Pump It Up Wrestlemania theme.

Overall Rating: C. This show was the definition of a one match card, with Undertaker vs. Diesel being a very distant second. The Michaels stuff (from the entrance to the win) is very memorable, but it needed something else to make the whole thing work. It’s far from a bad Wrestlemania, but it’s not remembered very fondly. I get the different lines of thinking on the main event, though it wasn’t enough to carry the show. Not awful, but definitely in the bottom half of Wrestlemanias.

Ratings Comparison

Camp Cornette vs. Yokozuna/Jake Roberts/Ahmed Johnson

Original: D+
2013 Redo: C
2015 Redo: C-
2026 Redo: C+

Steve Austin vs. Savio Vega

Original: B-
2013 Redo: C+
2015 Redo: C
2026 Redo: C+

Ultimate Warrior vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley

Original: N/A
2013 Redo: N/A
2015 Redo: N/A
2026 Redo: N/A

Undertaker vs. Diesel

Original: B
2013 Redo: B-
2015 Redo: B
2026 Redo: B-

Roddy Piper vs. Goldust

Original: N/A
2013 Redo: N/A
2015 Redo: N/A
2026 Redo: N/A

Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart

Original: B
2013 Redo: B
2015 Redo: B
2026 Redo: C

Overall Rating

Original: C-
2013 Redo: C+
2015 Redo: B-
2025 Redo: C

Well that’s a big drop for the Iron Man match and…yeah despite the consistent B’s beforehand, I really do not see it being that high. Maybe I’m just getting cranky over the years.

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

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

When a lot of big stuff starts but it’s still really good.

https://411mania.com/wrestling/halls-wwe-summerslam-1997-review/ 

Smackdown
Date: March 20, 2026
Location: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
Commentators; Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore

We’re less than a month away from Wrestlemania and the big story around here is Randy Orton snapping on Cody Rhodes last week and leaving him a bloody mess. That’s the kind of thing that could make for a heck of a Wrestlemania showdown, though we have a few weeks to get there first. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look back at Orton attacking Rhodes last week.

Various people arrive but referees and Nick Aldis run to the parking lot, where Drew McIntyre pulls Jacob Fatu through a windshield of a car that has been t-boned by another car. McIntyre hammers him with right hands and Fatu is left bleeding.

Here is McIntyre in the arena to ask what you thought would happen. He wanted to go to the main event of Wrestlemania and you took it from him. Cue Aldis and security, with Aldis saying that the only thing McIntyre is heading towards is unemployment. McIntyre brings up Aldis’ son and how horrible of a father Aldis is, but here is Fatu to start the brawl all over again. Fatu gets the better of things and splashes him through the announcers’ table.

Post break we look back at what we just saw.

IMG Credit: WWE

Tag Team Titles: Damian Priest/R-Truth vs. MFT’s

The MFT’s are defending. Priest grabs the lifting Downward Spiral to start fast on Mateo and takes Tonga down as well. Talla Tonga takes R-Truth off the apron and we take an early break. We come back with Mateo’s standing moonsault hitting Priest for two but Priest kicks him in the face.

There’s the Tag off to R-Truth as everything breaks down. Priest gets knocked outside and R-Truth hits a Stunner of all things into an STF. That’s broken up and Talla chokeslams R-Truth onto the apron. Cue the Wyatt Sicks to go after the non-involved MFT’s, leaving R-Truth to hit an AA for the pin and the titles at 8:44.

Rating: C+. In theory this clears the Wyatts and MFT’s for a match about the lantern, which could be a heck of a wild brawl. Other than that, I cannot imagine that R-Truth and Priest hold titles for very long, but it’s certainly a twist in the title picture. If nothing else, this could bring some of the other teams into the fold, which is long overdue.

Priest’s stunned look (Priest: “WHAT??? WHAT???”) is great and he’ll take it.

The Bella Twins are ready for the Irresistible Forces and the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Charlotte and Alexa Bliss (with ice cream) come up to mock them for being selfish and jumping the line. Brie takes Bliss’ spoon.

Candice LeRae doesn’t know how to fix Johnny Gargano but Danhausen pops in. Danhausen thinks something is wrong and Candice asks if he can fix it. He asks if she has $20 million so she reaches into Gargano’s pocket and pulls out some cash. Danhausen takes it, examines it, and leaves. The Motor City Machine Guns come up, with Chris Sabin telling Alex Shelley to keep walking because they have a match.

We look at fan reactions to Randy Orton attacking Cody Rhodes.

Sami Zayn can’t stop thinking about Rhodes, who always tries and goes the extra mile. Now look at what happened to him. Maybe that ends with Randy Orton winning the title so maybe Zayn’s worldview is wrong. Trick Williams comes in to mock him so Zayn is ready to fight but Williams will have to check his PalmPilot and get back to him.

Fraxiom vs. Motor City Machine Guns

Fraser grabs a headlock on Shelley to start with Sabin coming in to knock Axiom off the apron. Fraxiom get back up to clear the ring and we take a break. We come back with Fraser hitting a running flip dive to take out both Guns on the floor. Back in and Chasing The Dragon gets two on Sabin but he breaks up a super hurricanrana attempt.

The tag brings in Shelley to keep up the comeback as Candice LeRae is here to watch. Everything breaks down again and Fraxiom knocks them outside for the pair of dives. Back in and Sabin kicks out of a rollup, allowing LeRae to cheap shot Fraser, giving Sabin the rollup pin at 8:03.

Rating: C+. That ending is a bit curious but I’ll take something that has the Guns both back in the ring and winning. I’m not sure where the LeRae/Gargano stuff is going and that’s a nice feeling to have. What matters the most is that the tag division is starting to do something outside of just fighting over the belts, which is nice to see for a change. Just keep it going.

We look at the McIntyre/Fatu brawls from earlier.

We look at Roman Reigns and CM Punk’s interaction on Raw.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is Randy Orton for a chat as he has a seat in a chair. Orton talks about how much love he had received from the fans since he came back. Yeah he signs autographs and tells kids happy birthday and all that, but it’s such an empty feeling. He wants his legacy to be about World Titles and he was ready to get another one against Drew McIntyre. Then Cody Rhodes took the title and Orton wasn’t sure if he could win.

Rhodes helped him out though by telling him to be the best version of Orton that he could be, because he started listening to the voices. He doesn’t always stay in control when that happens, but this time they are telling him that he’s going to win the title at Wrestlemania when he beats Rhodes with the RKO. The fans seem to be way behind Orton here.

Video on the Bella Twins’ return.

Post break Randy Orton is in the back when he runs into Matt Cardona, who doesn’t know how Orton could do that to Cody Rhodes. Orton calls him a “mark a** stooge” and lays him out with a shot to the head.

Aleister Black vs. Sami Zayn

Zelina is here with Black and Trick Williams comes out to sit on the announcers’ deck. Black strikes away to start fast but Zayn pounds him into the corner to fight back. We take a break and come back with Black striking away. Zayn fights back but gets elbowed in the face as Williams has a drink from somewhere. Black’s leglock is broken up but the Helluva Kick misses, allowing Black to hit a middle rope Meteora.

Zayn manages to get up and knocks him outside for some rams into the barricade. Back in and Black rolls to the floor again to avoid a Helluva Kick. Zayn follows and knocks Williams’ feet off the ropes so Williams throws the drink at him. That’s enough for Zayn to unload on Williams, only to walk into Black Mass (with Black shrugging as if to say “you asked for this”) and the pin at 9:31.

Rating: B-. Zayn vs. Williams is an interesting way to go, if nothing else as it shows how hot of a start Williams is on as part of the main roster. That could open up more than a few doors and I’m curious to see where it goes for Wrestlemania, where they would likely be facing off. It’s nice to see Black getting a win and hopefully this gives him a bit of momentum.

Matt Cardona wants Randy Orton tonight but Nick Aldis says no. Carmelo Hayes comes up to ask about the US Open Challenge but someone has already taken him up on the title shot tonight. Ilja Dragunov pops up and seems ready for the match, with Hayes approving.

The Irresistible Forces aren’t worried about losing to the Bella Twins. They’re not worried about any of the other teams either.

Here is Jade Cargill for a chat and she wastes no time in calling out Rhea Ripley. Cue Ripley as they’re not wasting time here. Ripley doesn’t want to talk to Cargill anymore and hopes she’s out here for a fight. Cargill says this is about what Ripley needs, because Cargill doesn’t need anything, including the fans. Ripley says she needs this because she lives for this. She’s been doing this since she was sixteen and it’s what matters the most to her.

Cargill says Ripley is just Iyo Sky’s b**** but Ripley says that title needs her so she’ll be taking it. Welcome to the big leagues b****! She offers Cargill the first shot but “on my time”. Cue Michin and B-Fab…who surround Ripley and the big beatdown is on. Maybe they’ll be better lackeys than pitiful challengers.

Kit Wilson isn’t sure what to think of what is going on and Miz talks about having a horrible week. His family vacation was ruined because of bad weather in Hawaii and he has a horrible sunburn on his back. Cue Danhausen to slap both of them on the back but Miz still won’t mentor him. Then a ladder falls down behind them as Miz tells Wilson to go do this on his own. Then another ladder falls on Miz.

Solo Sikoa yells at the MFT’s and doesn’t want to hear about the Wyatt Sicks. Tama Tonga says Sikoa is starting to sound like Roman Reigns. That’s broken up as Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre pop up for another fight, with McIntyre going for the eyes.

Dennis Rodman is going into the Hall Of Fame.

US Title: Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes

Dragunov is challenging. They fight over a rather aggressive lockup to start until Hayes hits him in the face. Dragunov hits himself in the face and powers him across the ring, followed by a Constantine Special. We take a break and come back with Dragunov kicking away at the downed Hayes. That doesn’t last long as Hayes is back up with La Mistica, followed by a running clothesline to the floor. The running flip dive connects, with Hayes crashing into the announcers’ table.

Back in and a frog splash gives Hayes two but bangs up his own ribs in the process. Dragunov gets in a German suplex into a top rope backsplash for two, meaning it’s time for the Coast To Coast. Hayes is back up to First 48 him out of the air, with Dragunov managing an H Bomb on the way down. Hayes gets a foot on the ropes for the break and Dragunov can’t believe it.

We take another break and come back again with Dragunov hitting a Death Valley Driver onto the apron. Back in and Dragunov takes him up top but the superplex is reversed into a cutter for two. They strike it out with Hayes hitting an enziguri but Dragunov stomps him for two. Torpedo Moscow is countered into the First 48 for two and Hayes is stunned. That’s enough to set up Nothing But Net, only for Dragunov to come back with a Torpedo Moscow but doesn’t cover. Instead Dragunov loads up a powerbomb, which is countered into a sunset flip to give Hayes the pin at 15:57.

Rating: B+. This was a match that has been built up for a long time now, though it felt like they were going to build Dragunov back up a bit before we got to the title match. The good thing is that Hayes won clean here and can move on to someone else. I’m not sure who that is, but hopefully it’s a big name at Wrestlemania, as it would be nice to see the title treated that way.

Jelly Roll praises Damian Priest and R-Truth on their win. Roll goes up to Randy Orton, who apologizes for last week. Roll understands it and hopes that Orton realizes what he means to these people. Orton has worked so hard to get here and doesn’t know why he would want to be the old version. Roll even offers to help him get back to the good version and Orton seems interested.

We look at Oba Femi beating up Brock Lesnar on Raw.

Here is Kit Wilson to call out Jelly Roll. He wants to settle this like men so Roll needs to get out here right now. Cue Roll, with Wilson rolling straight to the floor. Roll wants a referee out here to have a match but Wilson says he fights with his words. Roll: “Do what?” He thinks Wilson brought him all the way here for a rap battle, but this is SLAM POETRY. The lights go down a bit and Wilson pulls out his book.

Roll: “YOU GOT A BOOK??? YOU BROUGHT A BOOK???” Wilson starts reading about Roll’s criminal past as Roll’s jaw is hanging open. He also gets in an Ozempic line but Roll comes back with various jokes about sleeping with Wilson’s mother. Wilson jumps him from behind and drops a top rope elbow. Roll was hilarious here as he really sold Wilson’s absurdity.

Giulia isn’t happy with Kiana James for losing and James doesn’t want to hear it. Alba Fyre rolls Chelsea Green in so Green can offer to team up against Tiffany Stratton but Giulia doesn’t want any help.

Jelly Roll wants Kit Wilson and Nick Aldis gives him the match next week.

IMG Credit: WWE

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Bella Twins vs. Irresistible Forces

The Bellas are challenging and dropkick the champs’ knees out to start. Jax and Nikki start things off with Nikki working on the arm. Brie comes in to do the same and a double bulldog connects. Cue Charlotte and Alexa Bliss for a distraction, allowing Legend to clean house. We take a break and come back with the Brie Mode knee hitting Jax. Brie fires off the YES Kick but Jax hits a headbutt.

The champs head outside for a breather so Nikki dives onto the two of them. Back in and a super Samoan drop into a middle rope splash has Nikki in trouble but Brie makes the save. Nikki gets the Fearless Lock on Legend so Jax grabs a belt, only for Charlotte to cut her off and brawl for the DQ at 8:00.

Rating: C. The Bellas are going to be around for the time being and it wouldn’t surprise me if they won the titles at Wrestlemania for their big special moment. I’m still not sure how interesting that is going to be but the Bellas are stars and that means we are going to see them for the coming weeks. The match was rather generic and could have been a lot worse, but I just cannot bring myself to care about the Bellas.

Post match the Bellas go after Charlotte and Bliss, but the Forces take out both of them and wreck everyone.

Randy Orton is on the phone with someone, who needs to watch him go back out to the ring.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Here is Randy Orton with his chair for a chat, though he does shake hands with a kid on the way to the ring. He takes his time doing his full entrance before saying he has an apology to make to Matt Cardona, so if Cardona could please come out here. Cue Cardona, with Orton immediately apologizing. They hug and of course Orton kicks him low for the RKO. Orton takes him outside and loads up the steps but agents run out for the save (as the fans chant for RANDY). Orton throws Cardona back inside and pounds on him before Pillmanizing his arm. Fans: “ONE MORE TIME!” That’s going to be an issue, especially at Wrestlemania.

Nick Aldis comes out to yell at Orton but has to run to the back as we see Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre brawling outside. They climb onto a tower as Aldis and company run to the back. The two of them go over a rail and crash down onto….whatever is behind the fence holding Aldis and company back as the show ends. Their upcoming street fight or Last Man Standing or whatever match at Wrestlemania should be fun.

Overall Rating: B. I liked this show more than most recent Smackdowns, as they covered quite a few things, with some steps being taken towards Wrestlemania. Zayn vs. Williams has me interested, and I’m also curious to see what WWE does get the fans to boo Orton. I want to see where some of these stories go and that is a nice feeling. Throw in some good action and this was a rather good show, especially for Smackdown.

Results
R-Truth/Damian Priest b. MFT’s – AA to Mateo
Motor City Machine Guns b. Fraxiom – Rollup to Fraser
Aleister Black b. Sami Zayn – Helluva Kick
Carmelo Hayes b. Ilja Dragunov – Sunset flip
Irresistible Forces b. Bella Twins via DQ when Charlotte interfered

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

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