205 Live – October 16, 2020: Good Wrestlers Wrestling

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: October 16, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the post Draft edition of the show and that isn’t likely to mean a thing. You never know what to expect around this show, save for cruiserweights, wrestling, and not much of a run time. Hopefully it winds up being another rather easy to watch show, which has tended to be the case over the last few weeks. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Here’s Ariya Daivari for the Daivari Dinero Division, meaning he’s facing two men and if either beat him, they get $10,000.

Ariya Daivari vs. Anthony Greene

Greene is from Evolve and is very 80s. Daivari drives him into the corner to start for a slap to the face but another attempt is blocked with some right hands from Greene. A running elbow takes care of that though and Daivari whips him hard into the corner. Daivari stomps him down in the corner but misses a charge in the corner, allowing Greene to get some near falls off a pair of rollups. A hurricanrana gets two more but a spinning high crossbody misses. The hammerlock lariat gives Daivari the pin at 3:22.

Rating: C-. I’ve liked the little I’ve seen of Greene before and he did fine here. You can’t get much out of a three minute match but it wasn’t quite a squash so Greene did what he could under the circumstances. It’s interesting to see the Evolve guys trickling in, as there is a lot of talent who could offer some fresh energy around here and NXT.

Ariya Daivari vs. Curt Stallion

Daivari keeps the money because it wasn’t a pin or submission.

Brian Kendrick vs. Isaiah Scott

They lock up to start with Kendrick going to an early armbar. Scott can’t quite spin out so the armbar stays on for a bit until Scott grabs his own on the mat. Back up and Kendrick forearms away in the corner, only to get caught in a rolling Downward Spiral for two. Kendrick’s arm gets sent into the corner so it’s a hammerlock belly to back suplex to stay on the injury.

Kendrick kicks his way out of an armbar but he has to go to the ropes to escape a cross armbreaker attempt. They head outside with Kendrick sending him head first into the steps to bang up the back/neck a bit. Back in and Scott punches him in the face but misses a charge in the corner. A neckbreaker gives Kendrick two and there’s another one over the middle rope.

Sliced Bread is broken up though and Scott hits a suplex. The middle rope elbow to a seated Kendrick’s back keeps him in trouble but Kendrick sends him to the apron. Another neckbreaker is countered into a backdrop to the floor but Kendrick is fine enough to get a mostly one armed Captain’s Hook back inside. Scott gets up so Kendrick hits Sliced Bread for two. Kendrick takes him up top but Scott flips him down hits him in the arm, and grabs the JML Driver for the pin at 10:14.

Rating: B-. I’ve always liked Scott and this was two talented wrestlers getting some time to have a good match. They stripped away everything else that could have made the match stupid and let them use their talents to make it work. I can’t say I’m surprised given who was in there either and this felt like one of the better matches this show has seen in awhile.

Post match Kendrick teases ignoring a handshake but eventually gives one to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Again, they didn’t do anything stupid here and it was by the numbers with talented performers (yes including Daivari). I liked them bringing in some fresh names as this show could use some new faces and Nese vs. Stallion could be taking place next week. Good show here, and at less than twenty eight minutes, you can’t argue with much here.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

205 Live – October 9, 2020: You Would Never Know

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: October 9, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the post Draft show and I can’t imagine much of anything is going to change very much around this show. That might not be the best thing in the world, but 205 Live isn’t exactly the top priority around here. I’m having to strain to remember what happened last week, which isn’t a good sign for any show. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ariya Daivari vs. Jake Atlas

Daivari does seem to be in better shape and starts jabbing away. Atlas knocks him into the corner and they’re on the floor in a hurry. Back in and a quick neckbreaker over the middle rope puts Atlas in trouble again. A chest first whip into the corner sets up a chinlock on Atlas, with Daivari slamming him head first into the mat. Atlas fights up and they slug it out until Daivari grabs a layout reverse DDT.

Rating: C-. The match wasn’t all that interesting in the first place but both guys were looking crisp for the most part. That being said, the ending didn’t do it any favors as the idea was to set up a likely tag match next week. It isn’t exactly a top level feud in the first place and now we get to see more. This could have been worse though, and I’ll take that on this show.

Post match Nese leaves and Daivari smiles, setting up the hammerlock lariat to lay Atlas out again.

We look back at Brian Kendrick beating Ashante Adonis a few times but Adonis keeps learning.

The Singh Brothers are coming back but this time, it’s the Bollywood Boyz. As it should have been a long time ago.

Video on Santos Escobar retaining the Cruiserweight Title over Isaiah Scott at Takeover.

Brian Kendrick vs. Ashante Adonis

Trilogy match time and commentary casually mentions that this is the 200^th episode. Adonis’ headlock doesn’t work so well but a dropkick puts Kendrick down on the ropes. A Cactus Clothesline puts both of them outside and it’s Kendrick sending him into the barricade. The Russian legsweep sends Adonis into the barricade again and a leg lariat gets two back inside.

The armbar goes on for a bit, followed by a bunch of forearms to put Kendrick down in the corner. A high crossbody into a DDT gives Adonis two, followed by a spinebuster for the same. Kendrick is back with four straight big boots to set up the Captain’s Hook but Adonis rolls out. Adonis hits a low superkick and the Long Kiss Goodnight (superkick) finishes Kendrick at 8:27.

Rating: C. The match itself was fine, but it was nice to see them trying to make someone into a new star. This show really needs someone like that and while I’m not sure if Adonis is the kind of person to become the next big thing, he is someone fresh and that is a great thing to see. They also built this up with Kendrick beating Adonis before until he Adonis finally learned enough to get the win.

They shake hands to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This was a bit of a mixed bag for the show as they need to add in a new star but also set up a feud between the more established stars. In other words, you would have no idea that the main shows had been completely reset. I’m still not sure what the solution is around here, but what they’re doing isn’t going to draw in any extra viewers.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

205 Live – October 2, 2020: The Best Idea They Have

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: October 2, 2020
Host: Vic Joseph

So it’s time for a special show, possibly due to high levels of Coronavirus, where we will be looking at Isaiah Scott vs. Santos Escobar for the Cruiserweight Title at Sunday’s Takeover rather than having anything original. Since this week’s NXT didn’t really get to showcase the match very much, this is as good of an idea as they can have for this show. Let’s get to it.

Vic Joseph runs down the Takeover card before getting to our feature presentation. This means a long history lesson between the two of them, starting with this from the April 29 NXT.

Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament Group B: Isaiah Scott (0 – 1) vs. El Hijo de Fantasma (1 – 0)

Fantasma wastes no time in going for a rollup and takes Scott down a few more times. Scott nips right back up into an anklescissors though and Fantasma needs a breather on the floor. That’s fine with Scott, who follows him to the floor and is promptly enziguried straight back down. They wind up standing on the middle rope at the same time so Scott grabs a jumping hurricanrana for two. A kick to the face puts Fantasma on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Fantasma hitting a basement dropkick to put Scott in the corner, setting up some running knees to the chest. Fantasma’s frog splash gets two but Scott muscles him up with a German suplex. They head outside with Scott’s big dive missing, allowing Fantasma to hit his running dive. The Phantom Driver is countered and it’s a crucifix to give Scott the pin at 11:23.

Rating: C+. That’s a good decision as Scott gets to be back in the hunt here, making me wonder what might happen with the rest of the tournament. Hopefully things keep going as I’m liking the format so far. They need to do something like this to fill in a bunch of time as they can only do so much with such a limited crew.

Escobar would go on to win the tournament but Scott would get the first title shot on NXT, August 26.

Cruiserweight Title: Isaiah Scott vs. Santos Escobar

Escobar is defending and is on his own this week. Scott wastes no time in hurricanranaing him out to the floor and we take an early break. Back with Escobar working a headlock but getting reversed into something like a Gory Stretch. That’s broken up so Scott goes for the short armscissors which sends Escobar to the floor. Escobar catches him with a toss from the apron into the Plexiglas though and Scott is in trouble.

A drop onto the steps gives Escobar two back inside and the pace slows down a bit. Scott manages to grab a knuckle lock and they both go to the middle rope. That means an attempt at a jumping hurricanrana from Scott but Escobar reverses into a super sitout powerbomb for another near fall as we take another break. Back with Escobar hammering away against the ropes but Scott reverses and unloads in the corner. A backbreaker sends Escobar outside again and the Fosbury Flop takes him down.

Back in and the rolling Downward Spiral gives Scott two more but here is the rest of Legado for the distraction. A jumping superkick gives Escobar two so here is Breezango to take out Legado. Scott’s jumping knee to the face gets two and a bridging German suplex is good for the same. The House Call gives Scott another two and a flipping slam out of the corner gets yet another near fall. Escobar bails to the floor and puts on a mask, which seems to be loaded. A headbutt knocks Scott silly to retain the title at 16:45.

Rating: B-. They did a nice job here and the false finish off the Legado interference was well done. Escobar cheating on his own to retain gives him another way to keep the title and that’s a good thing for him. You can have the goons if you want but at some point you have to win on your own, which he did here (cheating included). Scott could get a rematch and that’s a good thing, mainly because I’m not sure who else there is to go after the title.

Then their friends got involved. From NXT, September 1.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Breezango/Isaiah Scott

Street fight with weapons around the ring. It’s a huge brawl to start with everyone going after each other and hitting/throwing people into the weapons. A table is set up at ringside and Fandango puts a ladder on his head for the helicopter spot. Beth calls this innovative because it’s been a good while since ECW was around. Scott kicks a trashcan lid into Mendoza’s face and then knees Escobar in the face. Breeze sprays a fire extinguisher to clean house and we take a break.

Back with Scott kicking his way out of trouble but being knocked to the floor for a heck of a suicide dive from Escobar. Breezango tries to get back up but here’s Imperium to jump Breeze for a four on one beatdown. They get back inside but Scott and Fandango are standing on top of a well placed forklift to dive onto all four of them. Breeze is back in to clean house, followed by Breezango diving onto everyone but Escobar on the floor. Scott is alone with Escobar inside and it’s the JML Driver to give Scott the pin at 11:56.

Rating: C+. They got the important part here and the rest is pretty much gravy. Breezango still feel like they are going to be the most transitional champions in a long time but at least they might get another win over Imperium first. The match was entertaining enough with the dives looking good and the right ending so not too bad.

Takeover rundown.

We’ll wrap it up with this, from NXT, September 30.

We get a sitdown interview between Santos Escobar and Isaiah Scott. Isaiah talks about how he’s the only person to beat Escobar in NXT and he’ll win the title on Sunday. Escobar calls Scott a loose end that he’ll tie up at Takeover. The match will be fair, but Scott doesn’t seem convinced. Why does Escobar always have the bag of tricks or Legado del Fantasma? Escobar calls those excuses but Scott says he’s ready to showcase what he is really capable of. It’s time to reveal Escobar as a fraud, but Escobar says he’ll expose Scott as a failure. This got me a little more interested in the title match so it did what it was supposed to do.

Overall Rating: B. I never know how to rate shows like this as they exist for one purpose. This one achieved that purpose rather well though as I went from barely caring about the match to wanting to see it, as I believe there is a chance for a title change. That isn’t something I would have expected to see, but they made it work well here. Good show with good matches and it could lead to a good showdown. That’s, uh, good.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

205 Live – September 25, 2020: They’re Changing Gears

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 25, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Nigel McGuinness

Last week saw 205 Live turn into the Ariya Daivari Show and I’m not sure why anyone thought that was going to be their best idea. Thankfully this show has a tendency to change things up almost weekly so there is a good chance that it will be something different this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Mansoor vs. Ashante Adonis

Adonis takes him down in a hurry to start and throws in an early taunt. That earns Adonis an armbar and you can see the frustration/surprise setting in. Adonis fights up and spins out so Mansoor takes him down with a reverse DDT. Back up and Adonis snaps Mansoor’s throat across the top to put him outside and a neckbreaker gets two. We hit the chinlock for a bit, followed by a flapjack to give Adams two more.

Mansoor jawbreaks his way to freedom from another chinlock and something close to a Vader Bomb gives him a breather. The middle rope bulldog gets two more but Adonis pulls him down into Brian Kendrick’s Captain’s Hook (nice touch). That’s broken up as well though and Mansoor hits his electric chair into a Death Valley Driver for the pin at 7:57.

Rating: C. I know I say this every time he’s out there but Mansoor is someone who looks good and I don’t know why he isn’t getting a lot more time. He has the look, is smooth in the ring and has a cool finisher. What else can you ask for out of him? I’m not sure why he isn’t around very often, but I could go for a lot more of him.

Video on Santos Escobar vs. Isaiah Scott.

Isaiah Scott vs. Ariya Daivari

Daivari works on the arm to start so Scott takes him down by the leg without much effort. That’s reversed into a headlock but Scott is right back with a quickly broken chinlock. Scott bends then arm back and snaps it down onto the mat for an always painful looking moment. There’s a basement dropkick to put Daivari in the corner and they head outside with Scott hammering away.

As they head back in, Daivari grabs a DDT, setting up a neckbreaker for two. The crossface chickenwing goes on until Scott fights up with an elbow to the face. Scott sends him outside for a kick to the face and the rolling Downward Spiral gets two back inside. Daivari plants him down again though and it’s the Persian Lion splash for his own two. The hammerlock lariat is broken up though and it’s the House Call for the pin at 10:33.

Rating: C+. That might be the best Daivari match I’ve ever seen and a lot of that is due to Scott. He is one of the more talented wrestlers around today and I’m glad to see him getting a bigger role at Takeover. I’m not sure if he’s winning the title, but I’m also not sure what he does next if he loses.

Overall Rating: C. They did indeed switch things up here and that’s kind of a strange way to go. Daivari was built up as a bigger deal with an idea last week and then he loses the next? It’s a little weird as you would think they would have built him up further, but then again everything has been rushed as of late so it isn’t all that surprising. The wrestling was pretty good this week too, with Scott and Mansoor both shining as usual. Nice little show, and again the thirty minute run time helps a lot.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

205 Live – September 18, 2020: Four At Once

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 18, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

This show is turning into Friday’s Main Event as I’m running out of ways to describe it. They’re doing some good enough things, but at the same time it isn’t a show that you would ever need to watch whatsoever. There are a few stories around here though and that can be rather helpful to make the show easier to watch. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ariya Daivari vs. Eli Night

This is the first of three Daivari matches (….Why? What did I do to them?) and if anyone beats him, they get $10,000. Daivari suplexes him to start and stomps away in the corner, followed by the leg lariat. There’s the running dropkick in the Tree of Woe and the hammerlock lariat finishes Night at 1:28.

Ariya Daivari vs. Bobby Flacco

Flacco practices a form of karate called Miyagi-do, uses a crane kick, and insists that he is the best around and no one is going to keep him down. A clothesline and some kicks to the ribs have Flacco in trouble and he gets knocked to the floor in a hurry. Back in and Flacco misses a high crossbody, setting up the hammerlock lariat for the pin at 1:59.

Ariya Daivari vs. Jason Cade

Cade is something of a name on the indies and snaps off a hurricanrana to start. That just earns him a Rock Bottom for two and a superkick makes it worse for Cade. The hammerlock lariat ends Cade at 2:00. Well at least they kept it short, but I’d still love to know what WWE sees in Daivari.

We look at Danny Burch upsetting Tony Nese last month, partially thanks to the returning Daivari.

Danny Burch vs. Tony Nese

Daivari joins commentary as Nese sends Burch into the barricade to take over. Back in and a running elbow gives Nese two, setting up the chinlock. Burch fights up with a suplex as Daivari talks about how generous his three challenges were. Nese hits a dropkick to cut him off though and we’re right back to the chinlock. Burch gets to his feet again and nails a headbutt for the double knockdown.

It’s Burch slugging away to start the real comeback, including a very high backdrop. The German suplex into a hard clothesline gives Burch two but Nese kicks him in the face. The Lionsault misses so Burch grabs a Crossface, sending Nese over to the ropes. Nese is right back with the pumphandle driver for two but the Running Nese misses as well. They fall out to the floor and Daivari stands up to offer a distraction. Burch kicks him away but Nese uses the distraction to hit the running knee for the pin at 14:07.

Rating: C. The match was fine enough and it’s nice to see someone getting some extra time like this. Burch is someone who can have a fine match with almost anyone and Nese is a good heel for around here. The ending does set up a Daivari match, but at the same time it sets up a Daivari match, which is a far too common situation around here.

Overall Rating: D+. This was a show that happened and for some reason Daivari was involved in everything. I’m not a Daivari fan in the first place but having one guy in on everything is a bit much for any show. It was definitely the minor league edition of the show and one of their weaker in a good while now.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

205 Live – September 11, 2020: The Three Act Structure

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 11, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Drew Gulak

I’ve been liking this three match structure as of late, which makes me think that it isn’t going to last much longer. The show is still just half an hour long so it’s not like I can get too annoyed about it in the first place. We even had a bit of a cliffhanger last week when Legado del Fantasma interfered in the main event. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ashante Adonis vs. Brian Kendrick

That would be Tehuti Miles, who I didn’t recognize on NXT. Kendrick works on a wristlock to start but misses a charge into the corner, allowing Adonis to hit a dropkick for two. A boot to the face gives Kendrick the same and we hit a seated neck crank. Back up and Miles misses a crossbody, meaning it’s right back to the same crank. This time Miles fights up and drives him into the corner and blasts Kendrick with a clothesline.

The comeback is on with a series of strikes and a spinebuster gives Miles two. There’s a kick to the head for another near fall but Kendrick’s leg lariat gets the same. The Captain’s Hook is countered into a DDT, but Adonis spends too much time talking trash, allowing Kendrick to get the Captain’s Hook for the tap at 7:38.

Rating: C. These matches might not be the most entertaining but they’re building to something and that gives them a little more interest. Adonis is getting closer each time and the fans are being given a reason to care about him. Now the problem is getting them to actually care, which is easier said than done, but at least they are trying.

Post match Kendrick offers him advice if he needs it and says take advantage of your resources. Adonis isn’t sure what to do.

Ever Rise vs. Andrew Lockhart/Erik Lockhart

Ever Rise jumps them before the bell and the beating is on in a hurry. Martel hits a big German suplex and it’s a step up elbow to the back of we’ll say Erik. Andrew comes in and it’s a double flapjack into the corner. A wheelbarrow Codebreaker finishes Andrew at 2:18. Just a squash.

We look back at Legado del Fantasma interfering in last week’s main event.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch

Santos Escobar is at ringside as well. Lorcan headlocks Wilde down to start and then snaps off a headscissors to keep him down. Back up and Lorcan gets taken into the corner with the villains starting in on the arm. That doesn’t last long as it’s off to Burch for his own headlock. There’s a double suplex to Mendoza but he springboards in with a high crossbody for two on Lorcan.

Burch gets dragged into the corner so the beating can be started all over again, including a double basement dropkick for two. Burch finally(ish) elbows his way out of trouble and brings Lorcan back in to clean house. The spike DDT gets two on Wilde and a German suplex takes him down. Escobar gets on the apron for a distract but here’s Ever Rise to yell him down. Lorcan and Mendoza go outside and clothesline each other, leaving Wilde to roll Burch up with trunks for the pin at 7:14.

Rating: C. Another perfectly watchable match which seems to be building somewhere. It might not have been a great match or anything but there is a story here and they are setting something up. I’m not sure how far it can actually go, but at least we have an actual story between some people, including some who are actually interesting, and that’s a big step forward.

Overall Rating: C+. I think you get the idea here, but what matters is the fact that they seem to have a direction. No I don’t believe that they are going to have anything that actually lasts, but at least they have a little something going on for now. It isn’t a high bar to clear, though they at least got over it this time.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

Main Event – September 3, 2020: The Roll Continues

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: September 3, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton

It’s the second week in the Thunder Dome and they’re coming off a good start with a solid show last week. Last week’s show had a pair of higher than usual quality original matches but that has no bearing on this show whatsoever. That has always been a big part of Main Event’s problems, as you never know what you might be getting here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Humberto Carrillo vs. Akira Tozawa

The Ninjas are here with Tozawa, who shouts about NINJA POWER to start. Tozawa is sent to the apron where he can’t suplex Carrillo out but can get superkicked, right onto the pile of Ninjas for the save. Back in and Tozawa kicks Carrillo down but misses a middle rope spinning crossbody.

Carrillo grabs a snap suplex but it’s too early for the moonsault as Tozawa crotches him down. There’s the standing backsplash for two on Carrillo and we hit the double arm crank. Back up and Tozawa flips out of a German suplex attempt but gets chopped down. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker plants Tozawa and a torture rack face plant gives Carrillo the pin at 5:38.

Rating: C. Carrillo mixing it up a bit is one of the best things that he can do as there is only so much you can get out of his limited promo skills/charisma. Then you have Tozawa, who has enough charisma that he could probably loan some of it out to other wrestlers. Tozawa is someone I have wanted to see more from for a long time now and the Ninjas deal is about as good as he has had in a good while. It’s better than nothing, though not that much.

Quick look at Keith Lee beating Randy Orton at Payback.

From Raw.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Keith Lee

The first of the three qualifying matches. The bell rings after the break and Lee cranks on the arm, including lifting Ziggler up by the hand. A hard catapult sends Ziggler face first into the buckle and Ziggler needs a breather on the floor. Back in and Ziggler takes him down by the knee and grabs a chinlock. That doesn’t last long as Lee gets up and runs Ziggler over as we take a break.

Back with Lee hitting Grizzly Magnum and throwing Ziggler into the corner. Ziggler hits a quick Fameasser for two and a neckbreaker into the jumping elbow gets the same. Lee gets up again and slugs away, followed by a pop up face plant. Ziggler tries to fight back but walks into the Spirit Bomb for the pin at 9:53.

Rating: C. Might have been a bit longer than it needed to be but Lee getting another win is a good sign. If nothing else you can put him in the triple threat later and have someone else take the fall to (probably) send Orton on to Clash. They’ve given Lee two big wins early on so the foundation is being set. Just don’t screw it up from here.

Quick look at Randy Orton beating Kevin Owens in seconds thanks to Aleister Black.

Video on Seth Rollins/Murphy vs. Dominik Mysterio/Rey Mysterio.

From Raw.

Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins

The third of three triple threat qualifying matches. Mysterio goes straight at him to start but gets sent to the floor. Back in and Seth stomps away but gets kicked in the face. They head outside with Dominik sending him into the announcers’ table and then diving off of it as we take a break.

Back with Dominik fighting out of an abdominal stretch but getting pulled down into a bodyscissors. That’s switched to a waistlock instead but Dominik fights up and counters a buckle bomb with a hurricanrana into the corner. The tornado DDT out of the corner into a standing moonsault gets two on Rollins and he rolls outside. That means a big dive from Dominik as the rest of the Mysterios are watching in the back. The 619 sets up the frog splash but Rollins rolls away, setting up the Stomp for the pin at 10:03.

Rating: C. Dominik is doing a lot better in the ring than probably would have been expected of him and to be fair they didn’t do something crazy here. I still don’t really care to see him in the ring, but at least they aren’t going completely overboard with someone who looks lost out there. The match was fine enough and the right person won in short enough order so I can’t get that upset. I’m curious about what Rey’s injury means for Dominik though, as there isn’t much else for him to do other than stuff with his dad.

Post match Rollins hits another Stomp as the Mysterios are devastated.

We look at Roman Reigns winning the Universal Title back at Payback.

Ricochet vs. Mustafa Ali

Works for me. Maybe not so much for them though but I’ll take what I can get. Ali armdrags his way out of a wristlock to start but Ricochet flips him back down for a standoff. A headlock doesn’t get Ricochet very far and a shoulder gets one. Back up and Ali drives him into the corner, including an elbow to the face as some frustration is setting in. Ricochet gets sent to the apron and Ali punches him down, setting up a neckbreaker for two as we take a break.

We come back with Ali hitting another neckbreaker for another two and shouting a lot. A third neckbreaker is broken up so Ricochet hits a big clothesline. Ali’s tornado DDT is countered into a northern lights suplex and then a brainbuster for two. Ali tries a sunset flip but has to roll through into a sitout powerbomb for two instead. The 450 misses though and Ricochet hits a poisonrana into the Recoil for the pin at 10:53.

Rating: C+. Yeah like this was going to be anything but good. They did their thing that they have done dozens of times and since they are such talented people, it worked out as well as anything else could have. These two are still WAY too good for this show and that is very apparent every time they are out there. Ali working a lot more heelish here was weird, though I’m not sure how much I’d like to see it full time.

Post match respect is shown and everything is cool.

From Raw.

Randy Orton vs. Keith Lee vs. Seth Rollins

The winner gets McIntyre at Clash of Champions. Rollins pitches the alliance with Orton, who immediately drops down to the floor. Then Rollins rolls out to yell at him but Orton says he changed his mind. Lee grabs Rollins by the hair (Rollins: “OW!!!”) and pulls him inside where Rollins’ headlock doesn’t work very well. Orton comes back in and gets splashed in the corner but Rollins is back up with ax handles to Lee. They send Lee to the apron so Lee slingshots in with a crossbody to both of them as we take a break.

Back with Lee getting knocked out of the air and sent to the floor for a drop onto the announcers’ table. There’s a whip into the steps to put Lee down even more but they carry him back to the apron in a rather questionable move. Orton turns on Rollins with the hanging DDT for two but Rollins is right back with the Falcon Arrow for the same.

Lee rises up though and throws Rollins into Orton for the big crash. Orton heads outside where Lee Pounces him into the barricade before catching Rollins’ suicide dive and tossing him into the announcers’ table. Back in and Rollins enziguris Lee and kicks him in the head again to knock him down. The Stomp is countered into the Spirit Bomb but Orton comes back in for the RKO to Lee and pins Rollins at 11:05.

Rating: C+. That was about all they could do here and that’s the right call. Lee looked dominant and didn’t get pinned, which is what matters most in this. Orton gets back into the title match as well, which isn’t quite surprising and it’s not like Rollins is going to be hurt by taking a fall. Good enough here, but more importantly it wasn’t stupid and that’s an improvement.

Overall Rating: C+. I know it’s a very low bar to clear but WWE is on a bit of a roll as of late. There has definitely been an extra energy since Summerslam and they kept it up with a nicer than usual Main Event. The Thunder Dome has been a big help and you can feel how much better things have been since it debuted. I have zero confidence in it continuing, but at least it’s there for now.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

205 Live – September 4, 2020: It’s Like A Wrestling Show

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: September 4, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Drew Gulak

I’m not sure what to expect from this show anymore but they tried something a little different last week with three matches instead of the usual two. I don’t know if that is going to solve things around here, but the recent shows have not been as dull as the ones in the last few weeks before. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ariya Daivari vs. Tehuti Miles

Daivari hits him in the face to start and says he’ll be Miles’ veteran. More right hands put Miles down and Daivari shouts about Miles being a piece of trash. That’s enough to fire Miles up and he unloads in the corner with some rights of his own. Miles goes to the apron but gets kicked into the announcers’ table to put him back in trouble. Back in and Daivari hammers away, setting up a neckbreaker for two.

The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a heck of a clothesline to put Miles down. Back up and Miles grabs a DDT for a breather and there’s a spinebuster for two. Miles misses something off the top though and Daivari runs him over again. The hammerlock lariat misses for Daivari and Miles rolls him up for two more. Daivari is back with a superkick though and the hammerlock lariat finishes Miles at 6:18.

Rating: C-. I don’t know how to believe it but they actually have a storyline developing here. Miles was his usual self to start but then got serious and came close to beating Daivari a few times. If they keep going through with that, they could have a little something with him. It’s certainly better than nothing and the match wasn’t too bad either.

Post match Miles pulls himself up and Daivari teases a handshake before pulling the hand away. Makes sense.

We look at Isaiah Scott pinning Santos Escobar on NXT.

Mansoor vs. Colby Corino

That would be Steve’s son, who is almost a veteran to mess with my head that much more. They run the ropes to start until it’s an atomic drop into a clothesline to drop Colby. A middle rope bulldog connects and we hit the chinlock to keep Corino down. Colby gets back up and sweeps the leg to drop Mansoor off the middle rope. A seated abdominal stretch doesn’t last long as Mansoor fights up and hits a hanging TKO. The One Winged Angel into the Death Valley Driver finishes Corino at 3:18.

Rating: C. The more I see of Mansoor the more I like of him and that’s a nice thing to have around. He really could be a full time guy on some show and I don’t get why he isn’t. Corino showed some fire here too and they had a completely watchable, and even energized match given how little time they had.

We look back at Ever Rise failing to cheat to win against Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch.

Ever Rise vs. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch

Rematch from last week and Ariya Daivari joins commentary because I must have been evil in some past life. Before the match, Ever Rise yells at Vic Joseph for having a big mouth. Lorcan and Parker start with both guys taking turns dragging the other into the corner for tags. Burch gets taken into the corner for some alternating stompings but it’s quickly back to Lorcan to run people over.

Martel breaks it up with an elbow to the head and it’s Parker stomping away against the ropes. Parker gets two off a snap suplex and we hit the seated armbar. Lorcan fights up with a running shoulder but a drop toehold into an elbow to the back cuts him off again. Parker gets kicked away though and the hot tag brings in Burch to clean house. A German suplex into a running clothesline gets two on Martel but here is Legado del Fantasma to hit Parker with a chair for the DQ at 5:30.

Rating: C-. The match wasn’t the point here and that’s perfectly fine. Above all else it is nice to see some storyline advancement, even if it was on such a low level. Bringing in Legado, especially with the champ involved, makes things seem more important, which has been a big problem around here for a long time. Nothing match, but at least it offered something.

Post match Legado destroys all four of them, including duct taping Ever Rise’s mouths shut to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. For once this show actually gave me some hope and that’s a very nice feeling to have. What mattered here was they felt like they actually had a goal to the show and they made me want to see a little more. They haven’t done something like this in a very long time so hopefully they keep it going for a long time to come.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

205 Live – August 28, 2020: Another Kind Of Show

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: August 28, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Corey Graves, Vic Joseph

I’ve run out of ways to figure out what to expect from this show and in a way, that’s rather good around here. There is only so much you can expect with the rather limited roster around here and I’m not sure what to expect from that. We had a Cruiserweight Title match this week on NXT so it might be time for a new opponent. Or maybe a rematch since there was a loaded mask involved. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tehuti comes to the ring for a match but during his entrance, Miles talks about how a rookie like him should be learning from the veterans. He might be rookie of the year though and this show exists because of him. Hopefully a veteran can bring the best out of him. At least he has an opponent.

Tehuti Miles vs. Brian Kendrick

Brian hasn’t been around for awhile. Miles has to spin out of an early armbar and Kendrick drop toeholds his way out of a hammerlock. Some armdrags into an armbar have Kendrick down in an armbar and there’s another into another. Back up and Kendrick kicks him in the face for two and it’s off to an armbar on Miles for a change. Miles fights up and slugs away, followed by a dropkick for two more. The trash talk is on but Kendrick small packages him for the pin at 4:57.

Rating: C-. Kendrick is an interesting case as he keeps coming back and keeps feeling like a star despite not being much of one in a good while. That’s a natural talent that you can showcase very well if given a change. Kendrick looked fine here and Miles is starting to move up a bit by losing to bigger names. That might not sound like much, but they could get somewhere with letting him get a win.

Post match they shake hands and Kendrick says Miles has potential.

Tony Nese vs. Liam Gray

Nese runs him over with an elbow to the face to start and gets annoyed when Gray hits him in the ribs. A German suplex sends Gray into the corner and the Running Nese finishes at 1:40. Just a squash.

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch vs. Ever Rise

Lorcan armbars Martel to start but gets taken down into a headlock on the mat. It’s off to Burch to headlock Parker over as frustration sets in. Back up and Burch pulls a leapfrog out of the air (always cool to see) and a middle rope dropkick puts Parker down again. Martel trips Burch down though and drops a few elbows. The armbar goes on again but Burch throws him off and brings Lorcan back in, meaning it’s time for some loud house cleaning.

Everything breaks down and Parker breaks up a Doomsday Device. Lorcan is fine enough to hit a top rope flip dive to Martel, followed by a running Blockbuster for two more. Parker gets tossed outside so Lorcan tries to suplex him back in. Martel grabs the leg for the Warrior/Heenan/Rude finish but the referee catches him because Ever Rise can’t even cheat to beat someone. The referee yells at Martel and Burch Crossfaces Parker for the tap at 7:54.

Rating: C-. Ever Rise is a team who could do a few things around here and as long as they don’t go much further, they should be fine. Giving them the losing streak and having them complain about it is better than nothing, and since they seem like they’ll be sticking around, it’s better than nothing. Not the worst match either, but that might be due to Burch and Lorcan.

Overall Rating: C. The time makes a big difference here as the show is all of twenty six minutes long and it’s almost impossible to get annoyed at something so short. They didn’t really advance much but Kendrick vs. Miles could go somewhere for one of them. It’s not a good show or anything, but for twenty six minutes, I can think of a lot worse.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

205 Live – August 21, 2020: Now In Thunderdome Vision

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: August 21, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Drew Gulak, Vic Joseph

What does it mean when 205 Live comes to the Thunderdome? Probably not all that much as last week’s show was pretty much nothing. That’s what happens when you fall back on the same wrestlers who didn’t work in the first place and still don’t now that more time has passed. Maybe they can go with some of the good stuff this time so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Drake Maverick vs. Tehuti Miles

Well it could be worse. Hold on though as Miles wants to make sure that his shiny fanny pack is placed in the corner before heading outside. After taking his time combing his hair, Miles comes back in for a lockup so he can take Drake down. Maverick goes after him in the corner so Miles hides in the ropes and stops to comb his hair. That earns him a dropkick to the floor and the beating is on, with Gulak suggesting that his former boss get him.

Miles manages to send Maverick back first into the post for two and we hit the chinlock. Maverick reverses and grabs some rollups for two each as the pace picks up. Miles can’t get a Boston crab but he can hit a clothesline. That means the arrogance can start up again and Maverick slugs away. A running forearm into the bulldog drops Miles again and the top rope elbow connects. The Underdog finishes Miles at 7:45.

Rating: C-. I was into Miles more than usual here so at least they might be getting a little somewhere. Maverick has lost a lot of the steam that he had before the contract deal but this is better than going elsewhere (in theory). Not much to the match here, but I’ll take Maverick over some of the other options that we have around here.

Jake Atlas vs. Tony Nese

They lock up to start with Nese grabbing a waistlock. That’s switched into an armbar but Atlas reverses into a headlock on the mat. Nese fights up and takes him into a corner, only to be armdragged out of another corner, setting up a dropkick. We hit the cravate on Nese but he reverses a headlock into a belly to back suplex. Nese goes with the neck crank, followed by a spinning kick to Atlas’ seated face for two.

Back up and Atlas hits a forearm out of the corner and a springboard Blockbuster gives him his own two. Nese kicks him in the head to block a sunset flip and the Lionsault is good for another near fall. They slug it out and Nese is backdropped to the floor, setting up a suicide dive. Back in and Nese hides from the cartwheel DDT but stops to yell at Gulak, allowing Atlas to grab a rollup for the pin at 10:36.

Rating: C. This wasn’t half bad actually and well done on giving someone fresh a rub. Atlas is someone who could go a little somewhere around here and this could be a nice start for him. I can go with building someone up and if Atlas is the person they go with, there are worse ideas out there.

Post match Nese jumps him again and hits the Running Nese (with a bad camera angle showing that it hit Atlas in the arm). With Atlas down, Nese picks up the 205 Live cover on the announcers’ table and says this show is nothing without him to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Not a terrible show here and a big improvement over last week. The show still feels like it just goes from week to week most of the time though and that is one of the biggest problems around. Some things will build, but they are almost always short term and rarely lead anywhere. Even if it’s a standalone show, I’ll take some passable matches with better names than what we got last week.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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