Monday Night Raw
Date: June 9, 2025
Location: PHX Arena, Phoenix, Arena
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We’re done with Money In The Bank and Seth Rollins and Naomi have the briefcases. That means we could be having some cash-ins teased soon, with Gunther challenging Jey Uso for the World Title tonight being a legitimate possibility. We’re also ready to start up on the King and Queen Of The Ring qualifying matches so let’s get to it.

Here is Money In The Bank if you need a recap.

Various people came to work today, including Becky Lynch in a Ms. Rachel shirt (if you have young kids, that probably either makes you smile or glare).

We get a long Worlds Collide and Money In The Bank recap.

Here is John Cena, who insists on his special entrance. Cena says that the fans teach him something every time they open their mouths. At Money In The Bank, Cena learned that the truth is a lie. The fans wanted a sideshow comedian whose greatest achievement is pretending to be him. These people are all spineless keyboard warriors and armchair activists with no real power to change anything.

R-Truth is a gimmick that the fans will spit out in a year and not care about at all. This is his farewell tour and he has limited time left. We run down the number of dates he has left, which leaves him at 19. If you want to accomplish something, send him competition instead of the class clown. Every time someone has come to him, he has shut their mouth and beaten his best….and here is CM Punk to interrupt.

Punk asks if Cena is comfortable because he has a lot to say. He’s comfortable with having this conversation with his fists but one way or another, he’ll get through this. Punk thinks it’s ironic that Cena wants to ruin wrestling and Punk is the one defending the establishment. That’s not what he’s doing, because he isn’t standing for TKO or defending the billionaires. Instead, he’s here to defend the people. Is Cena mad because he was picked by the establishment but not the people?

Cena has said that he hasn’t had real competition, but he’s stolen the title from the best WWE has. Punk is here because the people are his boss and if they want the truth, they’re going to get Ron Killings. They are all just spokes on the wheel and it’s time Cena learned that too. That starts by Punk taking the title from Cena’s shoulders. Remember when they locked up at Elimination Chamber?

Punk felt it then, just like when Seth Rollins gave him a Stomp. Cena said I’M SORRY because he knows what he’s doing is wrong. That title is corrupting him and even though Punk didn’t want to get it when he came here. Now though, Punk is going to have to become the monster to stop the monster. Punk counts 18 dates left after tonight and he’ll let Cena pick the date he takes the title from him.

If Cena is more Boston Red Sox than New York Yankees, he’ll do it tonight. Cena says Punk is on but not here, because Punk is going to have to follow him to Saudi Arabia at Night Of Champions (Punk has been VERY vocal about not wanting to do those shows). Punk seems in but here are Seth Rollins and company to hold up the briefcase.

There was a lot going on here but anything involving Cena and Punk together is a great way to go. At the same time, Punk feels like someone who could take the title from Cena given their history together. I do like the idea of tying it in with Punk’s known issues about Saudi Arabia, so the whole thing has a few different angles at the same time.

AJ Styles vs. Chad Gable

The Creeds are here with Gable. Feeling out process to start until Styles hits the drop down into the dropkick to send Gable outside. Gable is ready for a dive though and takes out the legs as we take a break. Back with Styles getting in a shot of his own but a nasty German suplex puts him back down. The top rope headbutt gives Gable two but Styles catches him on the top. That’s fine with Gable who gets the ankle lock, which is reversed into a quick Styles Clash for the pin at 7:57.

Rating: C+. It’s good to see Styles getting a win and for once, there is something reassuring about what is next for Gable. It made for a nice opener, even though they didn’t have much time to set things up. Styles could be getting ready to go after the Intercontinental Title and that means he needs some wins like this one.

Roxanne Perez comes up to Liv Morgan in the back to pitch an alliance to help win the Women’s Title for Judgment Day. Morgan isn’t interested and blows her off.

Queen Of The Ring First Round: Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Kairi Sane

Ripley picks up Morgan to start but gets knocked down, with Sand taking down Morgan and Perez at the same time. Ripley gets back up for the staredown but Morgan breaks it up. Perez saves Morgan, who gets kicked in the head by Ripley. The Riptide is broken up by Perez and Ripley is sent out to the floor.

Sane gets tossed onto her for the big crash and we take a break. Back with Morgan hitting a Codebreaker on Ripley and taking Sane up top. Ripley powerbombs the villains down but walks into a top rope forearm from Sane. Back up and Sane hits a quick sitout Stunner for two on Ripley with Morgan and Perez making the save.

Sane is kicked to the floor but Ripley pulls herself up and goes after Perez and Morgan. Ripley headbutts sane and blocks Morgan’s Oblivion. Riptide connects but Raquel Rodriguez breaks up the pin. Sane dives onto both of them and then drops the Insane Elbow on Morgan…but Perez steals the pin at 12:48.

Rating: B. As much as I never need to see that “steal the pin” ending again, this was a heck of a match with quite a bit of action throughout. Perez going forward is a smart way to advance both her status on the main roster and the issues with Judgment Day. At the same time, Ripley needs something fresh, as she is starting to feel pretty ice cold. As hard as that might be to fathom, that needs to change.

Video on Worlds Collide.

Video on Nikki Bella.

Bella introduces herself to various women backstage and exchanges terms of respect with Kairi Sane.

Here is Becky Lynch for a chat. She isn’t sure where her YOU DESERVE IT chants are and lists off her various accomplishments. Lynch has raised the status of the Intercontinental Title just by winning it. On Saturday, Lyra Valkyria injured Lynch’s shoulder and Lynch, just trying to finish their issues, asked Valkyria to put the title on her waist. Then that crazy bird lady tried to kill her!

Lynch wants Valkyria out here to raise her hand properly so here is Valkyria, who Lynch says has that crazy look in her eyes again. Cue the returning Bayley from behind to jump her, sending Lynch bailing. That’s a good way to go as Bayley is a fresh opponent for Lynch, which Valkyria was cheated out of the title.

Commentary argues about what they just saw but R-Truth climbs onto the announcers’ table. Killings says don’t let anyone ever tell you that you don’t matter. They heard and they understood so he is back because of these people. He’s back and while the people love R-Truth, he can be funny all the time. Or too forgiving all the time, but not him.

He’s not a side show or a gimmick…and he takes some scissors out to cut his hair off. The truth has set him free and he is Ron The Truth Killings, so put some respect on his name. And with that he walks out through the crowd. I have no idea what is next for him, but it better be something special after a pretty awesome promo that showed a VERY different side of Killings.

Finn Balor isn’t sure why Dominik Mysterio is getting a match in the King Of The Ring. Mysterio makes sure Balor is cool with it, with JD McDonagh saying he and Balor are going to win the Tag Team Titles. Roxanne Perez comes in to celebrate her own win but Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez come in to not be pleased with her. Balor approves. As the clubhouse continues to turn.

Video on Mr. Iguana from AAA.

Seth Rollins give Bron Breakker a pep talk before his match.

King Of The Ring First Round: Dominik Mysterio vs. Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker vs. Penta

Non-title. Penta and Mysterio go to the floor to start, leaving Zayn to hammer on Breakker in the corner. Breakker is right back up with a running clothesline to Mysterio and we take a break. Back with Breakker suplexing Penta so all three others go after Breakker at the same time. Mysterio’s rollup gets two on Penta but Zayn is back up for the corner climbing tornado DDT.

Zayn dives onto Breakker on the floor so Penta dives onto Zayn, setting up Mysterio’s suicide DDT. Breakker hits his clothesline off the apron to crush Mysterio and we take another break. Back again with Breakker running the corner for a super Frankensteiner and then catching Penta with a jumping knee.

Breakker’s gorilla press is countered into a DDT for two and Mysterio is back in. Zayn gets caught with Two Amigos but reverses the third into a Blue Thunder Bomb for his own near fall. Back up and Penta Sacrifices Zayn’s arm and hits the Penta Driver, with Mysterio stealing the two. Breakker is back up and takes the straps down, allowing him to run around the ring to spear Penta. Cue LA Knight of all people with a BFT to Breakker, leaving Zayn to exploder Mysterio into the corner. The Helluva Kick gives Zayn the pin on Mysterio at 17:06.

Rating: B-. This got a lot of time and while it felt really similar to the four way for the Intercontinental Title at Wrestlemania (which only had Finn Balor in Zayn’s place), Zayn winning was a surprise. The match felt like it was designed for Breakker to win as he is known to smash through almost anyone. Zayn winning the whole thing is certainly an option and that is quite the interesting option.

AJ Styles isn’t happy with Seth Rollins sending Paul Heyman to threaten him last week. If you threaten Styles, he’ll hit you in the mouth and he’ll go tell Rollins that himself.

New Day is not happy with being asked who is next for their Tag Team Titles. Instead you should be thanking God for them being champions.

Video on Asuka, who is back next week after about a year away. I’m hoping this wasn’t meant to be a surprise as her name was listed in the graphics earlier in the night.

Here is Nikki Bella to thank us for having her back. She gets to the point, which is Evolution II taking place next month. Bella talks about the various women who will be around for the show and all of the talent we have here (including Stephanie “Vaquay”), which brings out a furious Liv Morgan. She isn’t happy with Bella not mentioning her and goes off about all of her accomplishments.

Morgan knows that Bella is scared of her because Morgan would have beaten her if Bella was still around. Morgan brings up that at least she has a man, unlike Bella. That makes Bella laugh, and she asks who Morgan’s man belongs to. Bella goes to leave but comes back when Morgan calls her a reality Diva. The Oblivion leaves Bella laying. Bella being in the ring again at Evolution seems like a layup, and it wouldn’t stun me to see her sister show up to try and win the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

John Cena vs. CM Punk is set for Night Of Champions.

Raw World Title: Jey Uso vs. Gunther

Gunther is challenging. Uso starts fast and tries some early sleepers, with Gunther bailing to the floor as we take an early break. Back with Uso hitting a high crossbody but coming up favoring his ribs, which gives Gunther a target. Gunther rips Uso’s shirt off and goes after the bad ribs with some knees to the back. A suplex drops Uso again and it’s time to rip the tape off as well. They go to the floor with a German suplex dropping Uso again and we take another break.

Back again with Uso winning a battle over a suplex and striking away. The enziguri rocks Gunther again and they go to the apron, with Uso knocking Gunther out to the floor. Gunther pulls him down again though and tries the top rope splash, which hits raised knees. Back in and the spear sets up the Superfly Splash for two on Gunther, leaving them both down.

The powerbomb is countered into a hurricanrana and Uso hits a superkick. Uso gets the sleeper but gets caught with a backbreaker. Gunther’s powerbomb gets two and he hits his own spear for two. Uso can’t get the sleeper but he can hit a spear. The Superfly Splash misses and Gunther grabs a choke, even pulling it back to the middle.

Uso fights up but gets pulled back down, with Gunther letting go for some reason. Back up and Uso grabs his own sleeper, which is countered into the elbows to the head. Gunther elbows him in the head and gets the sleeper again to finally finish Uso and win the title at 22:01.

Rating: B-. They were really starting to get me here, but then the sleepers just kept going and took a lot of the energy out of the thing. That being said, I was rather stunned by the ending, as it felt like a situation where something big was going to happen to end the match. Instead, Gunther just won clean in a major moment. I’m not sure where this is leading, but there are certainly options available. Just try to find something other than the sleeper whenever we get there.

Gunther celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Sweet goodness what a show. You had some very good action, some great talking and a major title change to wrap it up. This was one of the times where the show felt red hot again and has me wondering what is going to happen next. That isn’t a feeling that happens very often and dang did it work here. Awesome show, both for tonight and for the future.

Results
AJ Styles b. Chad Gable – Styles Clash
Roxanne Perez b. Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan and Kairi Sane – Rollup to Sane
Sami Zayn b. Dominik Mysterio, Penta and Bron Breakker – Helluva Kick to Mysterio
Gunther b. Jey Uso – Sleeper

 

 

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

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

NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #12
Date: September 4, 2002
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West, Ed Ferrara
Hosts: Jeremy Borash, Goldilocks

And now, for something you might have seen before, as the company is trying to find a way to save some money so we’re getting a Best Of show. Thankfully it’s the best of the X-Division, which is pretty easily the best thing about the company so far. That being said, it’s not a great sign when you need something like this just a few months in but here we are. Let’s get to it.

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

Note that I’ll be including the full versions of the matches even if the versions aired here are clipped.

Various fans, wrestlers and TNA personalities talk about the X-Division and how special it is. While it’s still just the old cruiserweight division all over again, they’re treating it as something important and that’s a good thing to see after so many years of WCW never coming close.

Jeremy Borash and Goldilocks welcome us to the show and talk about how great the division has been from the beginning.

From Weekly PPV #1:

AJ Styles/Low Ki/Jerry Lynn vs. Flying Elvises

The Elvises would be Sonny Siaki/Jorge Estrada/Jimmy Yang and they jump the other three to start. Lynn is right up for a dive onto Siaki as Styles powerslams Yang. Lynn comes in with a backbreaker for two on Yang as this is all action to start. Back up and Yang sends Lynn into the corner for the step up moonsault kick too the chest. It’s off to Siaki, who gets sent into the corner so Ki can come in to strike away. An over the shoulder backbreaker plants Ki before a Samoan drop into a moonsault gets two.

A neckbreaker out of the corner into a running shooting star press gets two on Ki but he’s back with a heck of a kick to the head. It’s back to Styles for the springboard moonsault into the reverse DDT for two as everything breaks down. Lynn Cradle Piledrives Estrada but walks into a fisherman’s neckbreaker from Siaki. Ki kicks Styles by mistake though and Yang Time (twisting moonsault) is good for the pin on Styles at 6:27.

Rating: B-. And that’s how TNA starts. They weren’t kidding with the “total nonstop action” part as they had all six people going nuts out there and cramming in as much stuff as they could in about six and a half minutes. That isn’t much time to work with but Styles looked like a star and Lynn looked like the established veteran while Ki was the hard striker. Throw in a kind of awesome gimmick like the Flying Elvises and how can you go wrong?

The Flying Elvises talk about how amazing it is to be in the first match in company history. They wanted to be first and never felt like that before. Mike Tenay pops in for some comments…and I have no idea why he’s shot with a Dutch angle.

From Weekly PPV #2:

X Title: Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles vs. Psicosis vs. Low Ki

For the vacant title and it’s double elimination, meaning it’s a string of singles matches and you have to lose two falls to be eliminated, with the last man standing being the champion. That’s a unique idea and I could go for seeing it used again. Styles chops at Psicosis to start but gets faceplanted down for his efforts. A superkick gives Styles two but Psicosis knocks him down and hits the guillotine legdrop for two. Back up and a hurricanrana is countered into the Styles Clash to give Psicosis his first loss at 2:01.

Psicosis – 1 loss
Styles – 0 losses
Ki – 0 losses
Lynn – 0 losses

Low Ki comes in to kick away at Styles, including an enziguri. Another Styles Clash is broken up and they go to the corner, where Ki reverse superplexes him into a dragon sleeper. Styles makes the rope so Ki kicks him in the face, only to miss a Phoenix splash. A hard clothesline takes Ki down again and a belly to back faceplant gives Ki his first loss at 4:21 total.

Psicosis – 1 loss
Ki – 1 loss
Styles – 0 losses
Lynn – 0 losses

Lynn is in next and immediately hits the cradle piledriver to pin Styles at 4:41 total.

Psicosis – 1 loss
Ki – 1 loss
Styles – 1 loss
Lynn – 0 losses

Psicosis comes in to dropkick Lynn down but he’s back up with a middle rope bulldog for two. A headscissors sends Lynn outside and there’s the big flip dive to drop him again. Back in and a top rope spinwheel kick gives Psicosis two but he gets dropkicked out of the air. Another cradle piledriver pins Psicosis to officially eliminate him at 7:42 total.

Ki – 1 loss
Styles – 1 loss
Lynn – 0 losses
Psicosis – Eliminated

Ki is back in to kick Lynn down for two and a power drive elbow gets the same. A super hurricanrana connects but Lynn rolls through into a sunset flip for two of his own. There’s an enziguri to stagger Ki again and Lynn hits a jumping Fameasser from the apron. Ki tries a triangle choke but gets powerbombed down for a VERY near fall, with the fans not exactly seeming convinced by the kickout. Ki’s fisherman’s buster is countered into a DDT (nicely done) and the cradle piledriver gives Lynn the pin at 12:02 total.

Styles – 1 loss
Lynn – 0 losses
Psicosis – Eliminated
Ki – Eliminated

So it’s down to Styles vs. Lynn, with Styles needing to beat him twice in a row to win the title. Styles is right back in with a discus lariat and a spinwheel kick gets two. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gives Lynn two of his own but Styles blocks a sunset flip and hits a slingshot splash for two. Lynn’s tornado DDT gets two more and they’re both down for a breather. Back up and Styles’ neckbreaker gets two, followed by Lynn’s rather snappy Liger Bomb out of the corner getting the same. Styles is right back with a Styles Clash for the pin at 16:05 total.

Styles – 1 loss
Lynn – 1 loss
Psicosis – Eliminated
Ki – Eliminated

It’s one fall to a finish for the title and Ricky Steamboat comes in to referee. They trade pinfall reversal sequences to start until Lynn knocks him to the floor. There’s a whip into the barricade to drop Styles but he’s right back with a shot of his own. Back in and Lynn hits a reverse suplex to drape Styles over the top before reversing a hurricanrana into a flipping faceplant for two.

Back up and Styles hits the fireman’s carry backbreaker for two of his own but Lynn’s brainbuster gets two more. The sleeper goes on, with Styles jawbreaking his way to freedom. Styles goes up and gets superplexed back down for two and Lynn is getting frustrated. Lynn takes him up again but gets shoved down, setting up the Spiral Tap to give Styles the pin and the title at 25:59.

Rating: B. This was a really cool idea and something I could go for seeing again. The double elimination stipulation made it feel like the best person won and helped cover the idea of the last person entering having a huge advantage. Styles is someone who has already stood out and beating someone with the status of Lynn is only going to help move him along.

We jump past Lynn and Styles winning the Tag Team Titles and move into their first title defense. From Weekly PPV #4.

Tag Team Titles: AJ Styles/Jerry Lynn vs. Disciples Of The New Church

The Disciples (Slash/Tempest, with James Mitchell) are challenging. Slash shoulders Lynn down to start but a powerslam is escaped. Lynn runs the corner for a bulldog and Styles comes in for a running flipping splash to the back. Tempest (better known as Crowbar) comes in and gets his arm cranked, followed by a kick to the face for a bonus. Back up and Tempest runs him over, only to be sent outside. That doesn’t last long as Tempest is back in to take over, including an anklescissors out of the corner.

Styles gets backdropped to the apron but comes back in with a springboard missile dropkick, allowing the tag back to Lynn. Everything breaks down and the Disciples pull a diving Styles out of the air. Lynn makes a quick save and Styles adds a Lionsault for two on Tempest. Back up and Tempest’s Death Valley Driver gets two on Styles so Slash can come back in for some rams into the buckle.

What would become James Storm’s Eye of the Storm sends Styles flying but he’s fine enough to catapult Slash into the corner. Lynn comes back in to start the comeback, including a sitout bulldog for two on Tempest. Another Death Valley Driver is broken up and Lynn hits the cradle piledriver, only for Slash to kick him in the face. Styles tags himself back in and (kind of) hits the Spiral Tap to retain at 10:37.

Rating: C+. This was a way to show that the champions who don’t quite get along can get along well enough to retain the titles, even if they were still having issues. It’s still probably the top story in the promotion at the moment, or at least the most interesting, though I’m not sure how much ground that is covering. The New Church is already looking like a bunch of losers and odds are that is going to continue without much to make it better.

From Weekly PPV #6.

Tag Team Titles: AJ Styles/Jerry Lynn vs. Flying Elvises

The Elvises are challenging and Sonny Siaki is on commentary. Lynn and Estrada trade arm control to start until until Lynn elbows him in the face and grabs a running headscissors. Styles adds a running knee to the face and a legdrop gets two. An elbow to the jaw gives Styles two more but Estrada gets in a slam, allowing the rather necessary tag off to Yang.

Lynn comes back in to knock Yang into the corner, setting up a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. What looks like a top rope cutter from Styles…just kind of crashes down and Yang sends him outside for a heck of a clothesline. Back in and a Koji Clutch keeps Styles in trouble, setting up Estrada’s knee to the ribs for two. The banged up ribs are dropped over the top rope for two and a Lionsault connects for the same.

Another rather slow motion knee drop into a slingshot hilo gets two next two, followed by the logical abdominal stretch. Styles tries to fight back but Lynn gets knocked off the apron so the beating can continue. A kick to the face gets Styles out of trouble though and it’s back to Lynn to clean house. Lynn dives onto Estrada but Styles accidentally takes Lynn out with a dive of his own. Lynn is VERY busted open but he’s fine enough to come back with the slingshot Fameasser over the ropes. That’s enough to pin Estrada, even as Styles is on top for the Spiral Tap, and retain at 15:24.

Rating: B. Well hokey smoke, a wrestling match broke out on this show. It really shouldn’t be any surprise that Styles and Lynn work this well together as they’re incredibly talented but at the same time the Elvises are right there with him to make their side work. This was a rather good match and one of the better things the promotion has produced so far.

They Styles and Lynn kept arguing and fighting but then they started getting along a bit more.

We see some quick highlights of AJ Styles beating Elix Skipper and Lynn beating Low Ki via DQ.

From Weekly PPV #6 (and earlier in the night as we go back in time a bit).

Amazing Red vs. Low Ki

Red snaps off some armdrags to start and then kicks Ki outside. Back in and a middle rope clothesline drops Ki but he’s right back with a hard kick for two of his own. A butterfly suplex into a double underhook crank has Red in trouble but he fights right back out. Red goes up top, where Ki pulls him into a hanging dragon sleeper for some rather painful cranking.

They trade kicks to the head until Red’s hat flies off, which has him so annoyed that he hits a quick standing shooting star press for two. The Code Red gets two more but Ki strikes away, only to get dropped with a spinwheel kick. Red’s corkscrew moonsault misses though and the Ki Krusher 99 finishes for Ki at 7:29.

Rating: B. This is how you make someone into a bigger deal as Red was in there hanging with someone who almost won the X-Division Title last week. The perk of a promotion still being this new is that people can still make an impact in a hurry. That’s what Red did here and it was a heck of a match as the show kicks off fast.

From Weekly PPV #8.

Amazing Red/Spanish Announce Team vs. Flying Elvises

It’s a brawl to start until Siaki is left alone to clothesline Red. Jose Maximo (brother of Joel) gets triple powerbombed and the Elvises get to pose and dance. For some reason Yang and Estrada go to commentary, leaving Siaki to get triple teamed in the corner. Then they sing a little Elvis as a surfboard/dragon sleeper combination sets up a top rope double stomp for two on Siaki.

Back up and Siaki fights back but he doesn’t want a tag from Yang. Red kicks Siaki down on top and it’s a double super Spanish Fly for two. Yang and Estrada come back in and take out the Maximos but Estrada gets caught in Code Red for two more. Estrada counters a double super Spanish Fly into a double super DDT to the Maximos. A top rope legdrop/splash combination hits Red but the other Elvises pose, allowing Siaki to steal the pin at 11:46.

Rating: B-. Oh that’s a Russo trait if I’ve ever seen one. You have the team who doesn’t get along but wins anyway, making the other team look that much worse. If Red and the SAT’s can’t beat Siaki when they have him 3-1, why should I believe they can beat pretty much anyone? It’s a bad idea and something that Russo absolutely loved, which shouldn’t be all that surprising.

Mike Tenay and various wrestlers talk about the SAT’s and Amazing Red. This includes the SAT’s, but one of their microphones isn’t working because of course.

Now talk about the intensity and hard hittingness of Low Ki.

From Weekly PPV #8.

X-Division Title: Low Ki vs. AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn

Styles is defending and gets double teamed to start, including a faceplant. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gives Lynn two on Ki but Styles is back up with a powerslam. Ki is back up with a dropkick and elbows but Styles pulls the referee in and kicks Ki low (there’s a joke there somewhere). Ki and Lynn strike it out until Lynn sends him to the apron for a legdrop over the rope.

The dragon sleeper has Styles and Lynn in trouble but Lynn takes Ki down. A top rope hanging DDT gets two on Styles with Ki making the save. Ki butterfly suplexes Styles for two and Styles puts Ki down for the same with Lynn making the save. Styles and Ki go up top and it’s a super sunset bomb to turn it into a Tower Of Doom. Ki gets back to back dragon sleepers for back to back saves.

Styles brainbusters Lynn for two but Lynn is back with a Ki Crusher 99 for two on Ki. Back up and Ki accidentally takes out the referee (ERG) but gets launched out to the floor. Styles chairs Lynn down so Ki covers for two, only for Styles to hit the Styles Clash to break it up….but Ki falls back on Lynn for the three (as in the third count, with the break apparently not mattering, which isn’t how it works in wrestling) for the title at 16:18.

Rating: A-. Rough ending aside, this was great. They were all going nuts and doing their thing as fast as they could and it made for an awesome match. As usual, the X-Division stuff is stealing the show and that shouldn’t be a surprise given what else we’re seeing. Excellent match here as they were doing everything they could for all of the time they had.

Low Ki is happy about his win. I think. It’s hard to tell with him.

From Weekly PPV #9.

X-Division Title: Low Ki vs. Sonny Siaki vs. Jimmy Yang vs. Jorge Estrada

Ki is defending and this is elimination rules. Siaki and Ki start things off as we’re actually tagging here. Ki fights him into the corner early on but gets powerbombed out. Estrada comes in and grabs a Regal Roll but the Lionsault is countered. Some kicks rock Estrada for two, with Siaki having to break up a dragon sleeper.

The Elvises aren’t happy with each other so Yang comes in with a middle rope spinwheel kick. Yang chokes him over the ropes but Ki is quickly out of a sleeper. Estrada comes back in and takes out Yang, including a springboard flip dive on the floor. Back in and Yang hits a dropkick into a Boston crab, which he bends back really fast and Estrada taps immediately for the elimination at 6:41.

Ki comes in so Yang hits him with a missile dropkick for two. Yang Time is loaded up but Siaki crotches him down, setting up the Ki Crusher at 7:56 to get us down to one on one. Siaki comes in with a pop up cutter for two but Ki is back with a springboard kick to the face. Siaki manages a shot to the face, only to get sent into Yang as he’s still on the apron. Ki rolls him up to retain at 9:22.

Rating: B-. They only had so much time here as you had three eliminated to cover in the span of less than ten minutes. At the same time, the Elvises are having issues and that’s likely going to lead to something going south sooner or later. As for Ki, it’s a good move to have him beat all three members of the team to retain, as that’s going to make anyone look strong.

From Weekly PPV #10.

X-Division Title: Low Ki vs. Jose Maximo vs. Joel Maximo vs. Amazing Red

Ki is defending under elimination rules. All three challengers start hammering on Ki, who blasts them with kicks to the head. We settle down to Ki chopping Red but it’s too early for the Ki Crusher. Joel comes in for a tornado DDT to Ki and it’s quickly off to Jose. Ki is fine enough to kick both Maximos into the corner but Red comes in to pick up the pace. Everything breaks down and an Alabama Slam/neckbreaker combination drops Ki.

Red’s top rope hurricanrana sends Joel into Jose and Ki tosses Red onto both Maximos. Ki’s big twisting dive off the top takes all three of them down again, giving them a quick breather on the floor. Back in and Ki is knocked outside again, leaving Joel to hit a lifting sitout Pedigree to pin Jose at 9:07.

Back in and Ki kicks away at Joel but Red knocks Joel down and hits a twisting top rope splash for the elimination at 10:10. So it’s Red vs. Ki for the title, with Ki countering Code Red into something like an Alabama Slam into the corner. A super Ki Crusher is countered but the second attempt plants Red hard to retain the title at 12:08.

Rating: B-. Good enough, but this was similar to last week’s match against the Flying Elvises as there was no reason to believe that two of the three were going to have a chance. That leaves you a long time before we get to the one on one match and then it only lasts about two minutes. The match itself was a bunch of spots and Ki striking, which is a good way to bring Ki up even higher.

And now, a best of three series between Styles and Lynn. From Weekly PPV #10.

AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn

Falls Count Anywhere and the first of a three match series tonight. It’s a brawl to start with Lynn taking him outside, where Styles manages a whip into the steps. Styles strikes away before getting crotched on the barricade to cut him off rather quickly. They fight into the crowd with Styles evening things up a bit, including a running flip dive off the balcony. Styles rams him into the barricade but gets suplexed back to ringside for two.

Back in and they trade flips until Lynn gets in a Stunner. A powerbomb is countered into a faceplant for two, with Lynn getting his foot on the ropes. I’m not sure why that breaks the count in a falls count ANYWHERE match but we’ll move on. A neckbreaker gives Styles two but Lynn is back up with a hurricanrana to the floor. They slug it out on the stage where Lynn drops him with a discus lariat. Something like a bulldog off the stage gets two and it’s back to the stage where Lynn hits a cradle piledriver for the pin at 9:56.

Rating: B-. These two work well together and it makes sense for the two of them to be put together this many times on one show. At the same time, they didn’t stay out there too long to burn the fans out. If nothing else, having Styles getting a rub from Lynn, who is as smooth of an in-ring veteran as TNA has, is a great idea.

Jerry Lynn is ready to finish AJ Styles for good but here is Styles to jump him from behind. Since the second match is No DQ, we’ll just start it in the back.

Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles

No DQ and Lynn is up 1-0. They strike it out and go inside with Lynn hitting a Stunner over the ropes. A table is set up but Styles cuts him off, with the table being turned over. Styles’ springboard dive hits the upside down table (ouch) but he’s right back up with a legdrop onto a chair onto Lynn. A catapult sends Styles face first into the chair in the corner though and Lynn hits the slingshot Fameasser in the ropes.

Lynn’s tornado DDT to the table on the floor is broken up and a double clothesline leaves both of them down. Lynn tries a sunset flip but Styles grabs the chair and cracks him in the head for the save (that was nice). Back up and Lynn hits a top rope hanging DDT onto a chair…and pulls Styles up at two (uh oh). Styles knocks him off the top but gets crotched, setting up a super hurricanrana through the ringside table (with Styles landing head first for a scary crash). Back in and Styles is fine enough to reverse another tornado DDT attempt into the Styles Clash onto the chair for the pin at 10:37.

Rating: C+. Another good enough match between the two of them and again they didn’t overstay their welcome. That’s something you need to do if you’re going to see them fighting over and over, especially if Styles was all but guaranteed to win and tie the series up. It was a bit too similar to their first match, though nothing bad whatsoever.

With the series tied, we’re having a ten minute Iron Man match for the final fall and it starts right now.

Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles

Ten minute Iron Man match and the winner gets an X-Division Title shot (ignore the clock on screen starting before the bell). Styles gets smart and pins the down Lynn at 11 seconds.

Styles – 1
Lynn – 0

Styles pins him again at 19 seconds.

Styles – 2
Lynn – 0

Lynn kicks out of a third cover and reverses a suplex into a neckbreaker for two. Styles grabs a sleeper to slow him down as we’re already two minutes in. Lynn fights up so Styles pulls him down by the hair and puts on the chinlock. Back up and Styles’ hurricanrana is countered into a faceplant to give Lynn a fall at 3:49.

Styles – 2
Lynn – 1

Lynn follows Styles’ plan by covering for an immediate two but Styles scores with a backdrop. We have five minutes left as Lynn comes back with the springboard Fameasser for two. Lynn goes up but gets caught in a Razor’s Edge Dominator (that was cool) and a delayed cover gives Styles another fall at 6:32 (even if the referee was a bit confused).

Styles – 3
Lynn – 1

Styles hammers away as Low Ki comes to watch, complete with a ladder. We have two minutes left as Lynn hits a tombstone for the pin at 8:13.

Styles – 3
Lynn – 2

Lynn can’t hit the cradle piledriver but can hit a Styles Clash to tie it up at 8:58.

Styles – 3
Lynn – 3

They trade very fast rollups but neither can get the pin as time expires at 10:00.

Rating: B-. This one saw the two of them getting the chance to show off their athleticism a bit more and Styles getting two falls at the start was very smart. I’m not wild on seeing the whole thing end in a draw, but otherwise, how else would we get to a triple threat title match? It didn’t get too insane, but Ki coming out with the ladder more or less guaranteed where this was going.

Post match Ki comes in and raises both of their arms, only to kick them down. Ki says the division is about the champion so next week it’s time to prove that he is the greatest in a ladder match.

Various wrestlers are impressed by AJ Styles.

Styles is glad to be the best and you’ll see even more.

Mike Tenay thinks the X-Division is awesome.

From Weekly PPV #11.

X-Division Title: AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn vs. Low Ki

Ki is defending in a ladder match. Ki and Lynn chop it out to start with Styles quickly taking Lynn’s place. Lynn is back up but misses his slingshot Fameasser, allowing Ki to springboard kick Styles down. Back in and Lynn takes over on both of them, including a fairly illogical surfboard to Ki. A suplex drops Styles and you can see Lynn have to stop himself from covering.

Ki breaks up a Liontamer to Styles (Why?) and drops both of them in a hurry. Styles knocks Ki into the corner and they’re all down for an early breather. It’s Styles up first and he heads to the floor, where a ladder is bridged between the barricade and the apron. Ki and Styles climb onto said ladder but Lynn is right there for a double faceplant.

Lynn baseball slides a ladder into Styles’ ribs but Ki cuts off his climb. Styles unloads on Ki until he gets dropped by Lynn. A double hiptoss sends Ki into a ladder leaning against the rope, followed by a suplex sending Lynn into the same ladder. Ki is back up with a hurricanrana to send Styles into the ladder and they need a breather. Styles loads up the ladder and tries a climb but Ki pulls him down for some kicks to the chest.

Ki pulls Styles off the ladder again and then sends the ladder over, with Lynn crashing down in a heap. Back up and Lynn hammers on Styles, followed by a sitout powerbomb on Ki. Two more ladders are brought in and Styles climbs after Ki, who puts him in a dragon sleeper. Lynn breaks that up (Why?) and shoves Styles down, followed by a cradle piledriver off the ladder to plant Ki. That’s enough for Lynn to pull the title down for the win at 20:05.

Rating: B+. This was more of a match where they went after each other rather than the ladder and that makes things so much more interesting. Sometimes it’s nice to see them mix it up a bit and in this case, it was great to focus on people this talented. Lynn gets the title and can defend it against a bunch of people, including these two, and I can certainly go for more of that at the moment.

Wrestlers and Tenay praise Jerry Lynn.

Lynn talks about being interested in the X-Division because it suits his style. Cue Styles, who offers respect to Lynn. Cue Ki, who is still coming for the title. Lynn is looking forward to it.

Overall Rating: B. While this wasn’t so much a look back at the X-Division as much as it was a look at the three way feud with some side players, it does at least focus on by far the best thing in TNA to date. You’re only going to get so far on everything else the promotion has to offer, but these guys have been doing great in the few months the promotion has been around. That’s what this should have been and it wound up working fairly well, assuming you don’t mind almost everyone else being completely ignored.

 

 

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NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #11
Date: August 28, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

Things took a big turn last week and it actually gives me some hope for the company. The problem right now is that the promotion is having financial issues so a lot of things, including people, have been cut down. That made for a far more interesting and entertaining match last week so maybe things can be a bit better. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Earlier today, Brian Lawler was asked what Jeff Jarrett did to him. Again though, before he can answer, Jarrett runs in and beats him down.

Kid Kash vs. Amazing Red

They fight over wrist and arm control to start with neither getting very far. Kash sticks the landing on a monkey flip so they trade legsweeps and we get a staredown. Red’s headlock doesn’t last long so they trade armdrags and it’s another standoff. Kash flips him off and gets sent to the apron for some elbows to send him outside. Back up and Kash gets in a shot of his own, setting up a springboard clothesline for two.

Red charges into an elbow in the corner and a middle rope clothesline gets two more. Kash hammers away but Red is back up with a middle rope Downward Spiral for a near fall of his own. They go up top and Kash throws him down for two, followed by a slingshot legdrop in the ropes for the same. Kash runs the rope and hits a springboard spinning high crossbody, followed by something like a kneeling MuscleBuster for the pin at 9:28.

Rating: B-. This is something that the X-Division needs, as you can only have Styles/Ki/Lynn as the focal points for so long. At some point you need some fresh blood in there and these two could certainly fit the bill. They had an exciting enough match and that’s good to see, especially as a way to open the show.

Post match Red offers him a handshake but Kash hits a clothesline instead. The SAT’s run in for the save.

Sonny Siaki, on his own, has to be asked to turn around and face the camera and isn’t worried about facing Monty Brown. Sure Brown was in the Super Bowl, but Siaki is bigger than the Super Bowl.

Sonny Siaki vs. Monty Brown

Before the match, Brown grabs the mic and promises to take out Jeff Jarrett for costing him the World Title last week. Siaki backs him into the corner to start and fires off some shoulders to the ribs. That earns him a trip to the floor but Brown misses a charge into the barricade. Back in and Brown gives him a side slam before stomping away for two. A running splash in the corner hits Siaki and a butterfly suplex into a vertical suplex gets two more.

We hit the chinlock on Siaki but he fights up, only to get clotheslined right back down. A running DDT drops Brown though and we get a double breather. Siaki’s clothesline gets two but Brown drops him again. An overhead belly to belly sends Siaki flying and a powerbomb swung into a Rock Bottom plants him again. Cue Jeff Jarrett though, with the distraction allowing Siaki to hit Brown low for the pin at 10:13.

Rating: C. Brown is in a weird place as he’s a monster with charisma, but he’s nowhere near ready for this level in the ring. The problem with that is if you keep beating him, he loses the status that he has. It would be nice to let him smash through some people to rack up some wins and then bring him along, but why do that when you can just have him lose?

Post match Brown hammers on Jarrett and here is Brian Lawler to go after Jarrett as well. Security breaks it up and Lawler is cut off again. Darn the luck.

Commentary hypes up the X-Division ladder match.

Slash, with new partner Kobain (better known as Flash Flanagan in OVW), is ready to win a spot in a Gauntlet For The Gold for the Tag Team Titles. Kobain says what is likely supposed to sound like Nirvana lyrics.

Backseat Boyz vs. James Storm/Chris Harris vs. Hot Shots vs. Disciples Of The New Church

Elimination rules and the winners are in the Gauntlet For The Gold for the vacant Tag Team Titles. Chase Stevens (partners in the Hot Shots with Cassidy O’Reilly) starts with Trent Acid (of the Backseat Boyz, along with Johnny Kashmere) with Acid flipping over him. Stevens hands it off to Kashmere, with the Boyz having to fight because they can’t be eliminated.

Then they point at each and clean house, including the Dream Sequence (later made famous by the Motor City Machine Guns) to Stevens. Some moonsaults to the floor drop most everyone else and Stevens shooting stars onto everyone else. Back in and Slash tags herself in for a neckbreaker to get rid of Kashmere at 4:13.

Kobain comes in for something like a Demolition Decapitator to Stevens. O’Reilly comes back in and kicks Harris down, setting up a double basement dropkick for two. Harris fights up and hits a heck of a clothesline on Cassidy, with Kobain coming in. That doesn’t last long as Storm tags himself in and hits a reverse tornado DDT to get rid of the Hot Shots at 7:55.

Slash chokes away at Storm in the corner, followed by what would become Storm’s Eye Of The Storm. Kobain comes in and sends Storm outside for the big dive and Slash adds a running knee back inside. Cue Don Harris and Brian Lee for commentary as Harris comes back in to clean house, with Kobain accidentally elbowing Slash. Storm superkicks both of them as everything breaks down, only for Slash to come back with a cutter out of the corner. Another neckbreaker is countered and a slam swung into a Rock Bottom finishes for Harris at 12:54.

Rating: C. This was one of those matches where they didn’t quite have time to build anything up and it hut things. At the same time, you have some teams who aren’t overly familiar around here, with the Kobain deal feeling more stupid than anything else. The good thing is Harris and Storm are being built up as the best team around here and it would not surprise me at all to see them get the titles.

Post match Harris and Lee run in for the beatdown with the other teams all running in as well. Harris and Lee clear the ring, because of course they do.

Jeff Jarrett runs into Bob Armstrong, who tells Jarrett he’ll get what he deserves. Jarrett says he deserves all the titles and promises to deal with Armstrong’s surprise.

Miss TNA: Bruce vs. April Hunter

We get a bunch of BEEPs, which are likely due to crowd chants. Hunter fires off chops and snaps off a headscissors but Bruce pulls her down by the hair. A slam and delayed vertical suplex give Bruce two and he sends Hunter face first into the buckle a few times. Bruce flips out of a belly to back suplex and pulls her down by the hair, setting up a powerbomb for the pin at 3:01.

Rating: D. What even is the point of this anymore? In theory they’re setting someone up to beat Bruce in a big moment, but is it even going to matter when it happens? There comes a point where it’s been run into the ground and it isn’t like it had far to go in the first place. Another bad match here, even with Hunter being better than some of the people who have been in there.

Post match Bruce goes to take off Hunter’s top but Slyck Wagner Brown (Hunter’s boyfriend) makes the save.

The Flying Elvises aren’t all shook up without Sonny Siaki but he better not come back because he’s lonesome tonight. Siaki comes in to say he’s fine without them.

Spanish Announce Team vs. Flying Elvises

Jose wrestles Estrada down to start and they trade some not very near falls. Everything breaks down in a hurry and the Elvises clear the ring, setting up stereo Asai moonsaults. Back in and Estrada plants Joel for two before handing it off to Yang for a dropkick into the corner. Estrada’s slingshot legdrop gets two more but he misses a charge, allowing the tag back to Jose.

Estrada crotches him on top and grabs a neckbreaker for two, followed by a suplex into a neckbreaker. Yang grabs a front facelock as commentary previews upcoming shows, including next week’s Best Of The X-Division (which may or may not have been a way to avoid having to pay for another show). That doesn’t last long and Estrada comes in to miss another charge, allowing Joel to come in as well.

Everything breaks down and Estrada hits a DDT into a springboard corkscrew hilo. Jose grabs a dragon suplex and Joel adds a missile dropkick but Yang is back with a running spinwheel kick in the corner. Cue Sonny Siaki to shove the SAT’s off the top though, allowing Yang to….miss Yang Time. Instead he hits a quick superplex for the pin on Jose at 14:23.

Rating: B-. Much like the opener, this felt like a way to help establish some more names in the division. In this case, we’ve seen both of them before but it was fun to have them out there going crazy for a bit. It’s not like this is some great match, but I had a good time with it while it lasted. If nothing else, either of these teams could come after the Tag Team Titles when they’re brought back.

Here is Goldilocks to introduce Brian Lawler for the big Jeff Jarrett explanation. First though, Lawler calls her a piece of trash who shows too much skin and wants her out. With Goldilocks gone, Lawler calls out Jarrett to meet him face to face. Before he can talk though, cue Ron Killings, who is made at Lawler for hitting him with a chair last week.

Lawler begs forgiveness and Killings leaves, with Lawler saying this is personal with Jarrett. Then Lawler spots his girlfriend in the audience and accuses a photographer of hitting on her. Lawler escorts said girlfriend to the back as we’re STILL not getting an explanation. I can’t imagine it’s anywhere near that interesting and that is getting more and more obvious every time they tease this story.

We recap Jeff Jarrett being attacked by the Bullet last week, who was NOT Brad Armstrong.

Jeff Jarrett vs. The Bullet

Jarrett jumps him fast and sends things outside, with Bullet being whipped over the barricade. The beatdown is on with Jarrett blasting him with some chair shots. They go back inside where Bullet fights back and starts using quite a few familiar moves (as in similar to Brian Armstrong, Bob’s son and better known as the Road Dogg). Jarrett whips out some handcuffs and attaches Bullet to the ropes. It’s time for a chair so Bob Armstrong comes out, earning himself a chair to the head. The match is thrown out at 3:45.

Rating: C-. And yet, it’s somehow more interesting than anything involving Brian Lawler. That brings up the problem though: Jarrett is involved in quite a bit on this show and it’s not the most interesting stuff. At some point you need to give him something that gets people to care and we haven’t seen it yet. Brian Lawler and the Armstrongs isn’t the way to make that happen either.

Post match Bob gets destroyed and busted open with another chair shot. Security cuts Jarrett off and no unmasking ensues.

Don West hypes up the main event.

We recap Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles going to a draw in their three match series last week. This set up a three way ladder match, with Low Ki defending the X-Division Title.

X-Division Title: AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn vs. Low Ki

Ki is defending in a ladder match. Ki and Lynn chop it out to start with Styles quickly taking Lynn’s place. Lynn is back up but misses his slingshot Fameasser, allowing Ki to springboard kick Styles down. Back in and Lynn takes over on both of them, including a fairly illogical surfboard to Ki. A suplex drops Styles and you can see Lynn have to stop himself from covering.

Ki breaks up a Liontamer to Styles (Why?) and drops both of them in a hurry. Styles knocks Ki into the corner and they’re all down for an early breather. It’s Styles up first and he heads to the floor, where a ladder is bridged between the barricade and the apron. Ki and Styles climb onto said ladder but Lynn is right there for a double faceplant.

Lynn baseball slides a ladder into Styles’ ribs but Ki cuts off his climb. Styles unloads on Ki until he gets dropped by Lynn. A double hiptoss sends Ki into a ladder leaning against the rope, followed by a suplex sending Lynn into the same ladder. Ki is back up with a hurricanrana to send Styles into the ladder and they need a breather. Styles loads up the ladder and tries a climb but Ki pulls him down for some kicks to the chest.

Ki pulls Styles off the ladder again and then sends the ladder over, with Lynn crashing down in a heap. Back up and Lynn hammers on Styles, followed by a sitout powerbomb on Ki. Two more ladders are brought in and Styles climbs after Ki, who puts him in a dragon sleeper. Lynn breaks that up (Why?) and shoves Styles down, followed by a cradle piledriver off the ladder to plant Ki. That’s enough for Lynn to pull the title down for the win at 20:05.

Rating: B+. This was more of a match where they went after each other rather than the ladder and that makes things so much more interesting. Sometimes it’s nice to see them mix it up a bit and in this case, it was great to focus on people this talented. Lynn gets the title and can defend it against a bunch of people, including these two, and I can certainly go for more of that at the moment.

And we’re off the air before Tenay can even finish his sentence.

Overall Rating: B-. Again, these shows are SO MUCH BETTER because they don’t have all of the frills and stupid stuff bringing it down. Instead, they’re focusing on the in-ring action and it’s that much better as a result. There are still problems though, including WAY too much Jarrett and anything on Bruce. Other than that though, it’s a mile ahead of everything they were doing in the first ten weeks or so and I’ll definitely take that.

Results
Kid Kash b. Amazing Red – Kneeling neckbreaker
Sonny Siaki b. Monty Brown – Rollup
James Storm/Chris Harris b. Backseat Boyz, Hot Shots and Disciples Of The New Church last eliminating the Disciples Of The New Church
Bruce b. April Hunter – Powerbomb
Flying Elvises b. Spanish Announce Team – Superplex to Jose
Jeff Jarrett vs. The Bullet went to a no contest
Jerry Lynn b. AJ Styles and Low Ki – Lynn pulled down the title

 

 

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A Night Of Appreciation For Sabu
Date: December 12, 2004
Location: Diamondback Saloon, Belleville, Michigan
Attendance: 700
Commentators: Doc Martin, Jim Paul

This was uploaded by the Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling Youtube channel in light of Sabu’s recent passing. In short, Sabu had some serious health issues back in 2004 and an independent show was put together to help him out. I’ve heard of this show before but never seen it so we could be in for something fun. Let’s get to it.

Conrad Kennedy III is ready to team with Eddie Venom to beat up D-Ray 3000 and Shark Boy. He’s the man with talent on loan from God. Well that’s quite the line and oh my the flashbacks are strong here.

Opening sequence, which is something close to the opening credits with wrestlers being listed.

A1 is ready to win the BCW Can-Am Heavyweight Title from D’Lo Brown.

D-Ray 3000/Shark Boy vs. Conrad Kennedy III/Eddie Venom

Before the match, Kennedy says this is a night for a great wrestler: himself! He’s not scared of D-Ray 3000’s afro and as for Shark Boy, Kennedy has 99 problems and a fish ain’t one. D-Ray and Kennedy fight over a hiptoss to start until D-Ray hits a crossbody and drops the afro to send Kennedy outside. The rather large Venom comes in to shove Shark around, including driving him into the corner.

Shark gets behind him though and bites the back of Venom’s tights, with the villains both going outside. A slingshot dive drops both of them, leaving D-Ray alone in the ring. Shark loads up a chair and teases a Sabu step up dive…but decided D-Ray can do it instead. D-Ray gets on the chair and falls down, which granted might not have been the best idea when the chair was in the middle of the ring.

That’s enough for Venom to come in and hammer away, including a nice jumping shoulder for two. Kennedy comes back in to stomp on D-Ray and it’s quickly back to Venom for an elbow drop. D-Ray gets back up for a double knockdown though and it’s back to Shark to clean house with some Battering Rams. The Dead Sea Drop (Diamond Dust) finishes Kennedy at 11:09.

Rating: B-. This was exactly what the opening match should have been and it was completely acceptable. You had a loudmouthed heel and his big enforcer against two smaller high fliers. The smaller guys fight back with some fun offense (including the Sabu tribute for a nice touch) and then win to shut the loudmouth up. That’s a great way to open the show and it went well.

BCW Can-Am Heavyweight Title: A1 vs. D’Lo Brown

A1 (a powerhouse who was part of Team Canada in TNA), with Jade, is challenging for the top title in Border City Wrestling. They take their time to start until Brown backs him into the corner for some slaps to the chest. Brown asks the crowd what his name is and after they tell him, he asks who A1 is supposed to be. A1 gets taken down and sent outside but he’s able to move before the big running dive.

Brown goes outside as well and hammers away as it’s been one sided so far. Some forearms and right hands stagger A1 but he comes back with a clothesline. Back in and A1 runs him over again, setting up a chinlock (with a foot on the rope because he’s a villain). That’s broken up and A1 misses a charge, allowing Brown to hit a middle rope moonsault for two.

A1 hits a heck of a clothesline but the piledriver is countered with a backdrop. Brown makes the comeback, including the shaky legdrop and the leg lariat for two each. The Sky High sets up….a Sabu point to the sky and the Low Down connects but Jade has the referee. Brown of course kisses her (in a spot that will never age well) but A1 grabs a neckbreaker for the pin and the title at 13:54.

Rating: C+. This was kind of a weird one, as Brown dominated a good chunk of the match but then lost via a near slip on a banana peel ending. A1 had a good look and it’s easy to see why he was given a shot in TNA. I never thought he was all that bad, but he really didn’t wrestle a power style here, which is weird given his look.

Monty Brown vs. Dallas

Brown was on fire at this point in TNA and Dallas is better known as Lance Archer. Brown slugs away to start but Dallas takes over and chokes on the ropes. To mix it up a bit, Dallas chokes in the middle of the ring but Brown is back with a butterfly suplex for two. Brown gets to hammer away…and here is Abyss to take the referee out. Dallas and Abyss beat Brown down and shake hands, allowing Brown to fight up. A Pounce each drops the villains and Brown gets the pin at 6:46.

Rating: C. I know he had a very, very good reason for retiring, but dang Brown continues to be one of the biggest “what if’s” of this generation. He had so much charisma and was starting to figure it out when he had to retire. At the same time, it’s kind of amazing how similar he feels to Big E. They were both power wrestlers with football backgrounds, but Brown has a lot of mannerisms that Big E. would use and it’s almost jarring to see the similarities.

Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles

Well here’s your guaranteed good match of the show. They fight over a lockup to start and actually go to the mat with it before Styles takes him into the corner for the clean break. Styles starts working on a wristlock before taking him down with a hammerlock. That’s reversed into a headlock, but the Last Rites and Styles Clash are both blocked.

Another headlock is broken up so Styles goes for the drop down dropkick, only for Daniels to grab the ropes. Daniels makes the eternal mistake of pointing to his head to show how smart he is though, and Styles hits the dropkick on the second try. Daniels is sent to the floor and that means the big no hands flip dive, which Styles makes look so awesome every time.

Back in and the big knee drop and a clothesline in the corner get two on Daniels. That’s broken up and Daniels gets in a backbreaker for a needed breather. Daniels’ abdominal stretch is broken up with a hiptoss and they trade forearms until a Downward Spiral drops Styles again. Back up and they fight over a waistlock until Styles gets a pumphandle gutbuster for two. Daniels’ Blue Thunder Bomb gets two more, followed by Styles’ belly to back faceplant for the same. They fight over a hurricanrana until Styles takes him down, setting up the Styles Clash for the pin at 16:51.

Rating: B. This is the definition of a match that is going to work no matter what they do. These two are incapable of having a bad match and there is a reason that so many places wants to run it. Styles was about as good as it got around this point and Daniels was one of the few people who could hang with him. Heck of a match here and the best thing on the show by a mile so far.

BCW Tag Team Titles: Team Canada vs. Gutter/James Storm

Team Canada (Petey Williams/Johnny Devine, with Scott D’Amore) are defending. Gutter grabs a headlock on Williams to start and cranks on the arm. An armdrag sends Williams down and a headscissors before a clothesline does it again. Gutter’s running knee gets two so Williams hands it off to Devine. That doesn’t work well either as Gutter takes him into the corner for the tag off to Storm.

Devine fires off some right hands but they roll around a bit until Storm hits the Eye of the Storm for a big crash. Gutter comes back in and gets punched down by Williams, who chokes on the ropes and sings for a bonus. The double teaming has Gutter in trouble, with Williams sending him into the corner for a double elbow. Something like a Dominator DDT gives Devine two and Williams puts on the (assisted) abdominal stretch.

That’s broken up again so a frustrated Devine plants him down for two. A suplex into a Stunner (ouch) gets two on more Gutter, with Storm having to make the save. It works so well that Devine tries it again, with Gutter escaping this time and hitting a German suplex. The tag brings in Storm to clean house, including with a powerslam and spinebuster for two each.

Devine gets sent into a few buckles but Williams hits Gutter with the spinning Russian legsweep. Storm cuts off the Canadian Destroyer with a superkick but D’Amore pulls the referee out. That earns him a superkick of his own but Devine hits Storm with a foreign object so Williams can get the pin at 12:25.

Rating: C+. Good enough tag match here, though I’m a bit curious about why this wasn’t America’s Most Wanted rather than Storm and Gutter. Other than that, you could see the talent involved, with Gutter being fine enough to be involved. Not a great match or anything, but it’s nice to have the titles on the line to make things feel more important.

Post match Gutter and Storm shake hands.

Insane Clown Posse/Rude Boy vs. Breyer Wellington/Corporal Robinson/Zach Gowen

Boy and Robinson get things going, with Robinson slugging away in the corner but getting knocked down by a double chop. With enough wrestling out of the way, it’s time to stab Robinson in the head and go for some blood with a spike. Gowen and Dope come in, with Dope mocking the one leggedness and then running Gowen over with a clothesline. A brainbuster drops Gowen again and we get a Sabu point.

Dope hits a nasty piledriver and it’s off to J for stereo basement dropkicks. J hammers away in the corner until Gowen manages a quick dropkick. It’s back to Wellington to fight back, with a suplex getting two. The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a double arm crank. Robinson comes in to kick away in the corner and it’s back to the chinlock.

That’s not working for Dope, who comes in to clean house but gets put out because stabbing someone in the head is fine, but not tagging isn’t ok. Wellington grabs a Death Valley Driver but J is back up with a Hennig necksnap. Dope comes back in to (legally) clean house and the Posse hits a top rope moonsault and guillotine legdrop for the double pin at 8:13.

Rating: C. The Posse have been around all kinds of wrestling promotions and for the most part, they’re perfectly decent at doing moves but they don’t have much beyond that. The same issue was on full display here, making it a passable enough match but not something that gets much better. Everyone else was about the same, making this little more than some of Sabu’s friends being on the show.

Mick Foley says he’s here because he has to be, even though he’s missing a day of his vacation. However, Sabu is a friend of his and Foley doesn’t let his friends down. Sabu was an innovator who influenced a lot of people. Those people made a lot of money and it’s time for them to show respect to Sabu.

We get the same opening sequence.

AT Hawk (former ECW referee) talks about what Sabu means to him after all of their time together in various places. Hawk watched Sabu’s uncle the Sheik and even accepted an award in Sheik’s honor. Now tonight he is going to present it to Sabu. A few years ago, Hawk was talking to 2 Cold Scorpio, who wanted to know what Sabu was like in the ring. Hawk described him as the Sheik with wings, which is actually pretty accurate.

Michael Shane vs. Jeff Hardy

Shane is Shawn Michaels’ cousin and was a big enough deal in TNA. The bell rings and Shane grabs the mic, saying if you keep taking his picture, he’s leaving and not coming back. They take their time before getting going, with the fans pretty firmly behind Hardy. Shane starts in on the arm, which is reversed into a hammerlock. Hardy grabs the hooking clothesline and the legdrop between the legs, followed by a dropkick through the ropes.

A slingshot dive takes Shane down again but he’s fine enough to post Hardy and cut him off. Back in and a neckbreaker gives Shane two and it’s Hardy being sent outside again. Shane grabs a chair but sits down and puts on a sleeper, which is certainly a unique look. Back up and Hardy fights back with the usual, including another legdrop between the legs.

Now Hardy grabs the chair and hits Poetry In Motion for a VERY delayed two. A belly to back suplex cuts Hardy off but he’s right back with a slam. Shane gets smart though and kicks the referee into the ropes for a crotching. Hardy is right back with a top rope clothesline but the Twist of Fate is countered into a rollup with feet on the ropes to give Shane the big upset at 11:27.

Rating: B-. That’s quite the surprising result, with Shane being little more than a decent hand in TNA and Hardy being Hardy. This was the time when Hardy was away from WWE and not a big star yet, but it was certainly one of the better matches on the show. Hardy might have some issues, but he is more than good enough to have an entertaining match with just about anyone.

Shane Douglas talks about his respect from Sabu and how he helped bring wrestling back from its cartoonish nature. Sabu tore his muscle down to the bone and tape it up to finish the match. People who don’t respect the business will take the night off because their money was guaranteed but they had a sprained ankle. Tonight, he hopes they can help Sabu out a bit.

Here is Jimmy Hart to pay tribute to Sabu…and here is Sabu. Hart really puts him over, talking about how hard Sabu works and how the fans have grown to cheer for him whenever hardcore elements are brought in. Sabu actually says thank you, which is more than you usually hear from him, before doing the point. It’s great to have the entire point of the show there, which was far from guaranteed given his health issues.

Here is Mick Foley to be the guest referee for the main event. Foley says the fans were chanting the right name when they were chanting for Sabu. For the first time ever he came out to a KISS song here because it’s what Steve Williams, who is having a tough time of his own, used to do. Wrestling is a weird family and tonight we are here to honor someone who has given and given to the industry. This is one of those nights where he is glad to be a wrestler and he is glad to be here.

Raven vs. Shane Douglas

Mick Foley is guest referee. Hold on though as Douglas talks about breaking into the business with Foley before taking his usual shot at Vince McMahon. That brings him to ECW and how the company revitalized the industry. Douglas has said that ECW was built on his shoulders, but the reality is that it was built on Sabu’s shoulders. Then there is Raven, who disrespected the Sheik, so now it’s time to give Raven a beating for both Sabu and the Sheik.

Raven’s entrance talks about him being on such C level shows (commentary’s words) such as Win Ben Stein’s Money and he was a member of the Cartel on Global Championship Wrestling with someone he can’t remember (Foley), along with once having Foley tickle his feet while Raven was with a woman, despite Foley and Raven meeting just three hours earlier.

We also get Disco Inferno’s home phone number (because reasons) and Raven gets his entrance, but Raven tells the fans to stop cheering him. Raven hates Sabu, the Sheik, charity shows and Christmas. And these fans suck! Sabu can’t stand up and Foley is a big fat slob. NO he will not sell that stupid sock because it’s stupid. And he’ll come after Jimmy Hart too! Raven wants to put Sabu through a table but if he can’t do that, he won’t wrestle. With Raven leaving, Foley says he has two words for him: “No not ‘suck it’. What is this, 1999? JOHNNY POLO!”

THAT makes Raven snap, with Foley saying THAT was the real embarrassment to the business. The fans chant for Polo and Raven covers his ears in vain. Raven gets back in the ring and Foley says make no mistake about it: if that sock comes out, Raven is selling that son of a b**** like a million bucks.

With all that hilarity (I was in stitches over some of this stuff) out of the way, we’re ready to go. Feeling out process to start with Raven bailing out to the apron to glare at the crowd. Douglas runs him over with a shoulder and we stall some more. Raven gets knocked outside and the fans start chanting for JOHNNY. He grabs the mic and demands that the fans do not call him THAT STUPID NAME.

Foley takes the mic and says he did not start calling Raven JOHNNY POLO, but don’t start mentioning Dude Love or anything. Douglas hammers away with the microphone and sends him into a chair in the corner. It works so well that Douglas sends him into the chair again, followed by a crotching against the post. They go to the floor (you knew this was coming) with Raven getting in a few shots before heading tot he bar where Douglas does a different kind of shot. They get back to ringside, with Foley counting to two after about three minutes on the floor.

Raven grabs the mic again and asks why Foley is stealing the show from him in his match. Raven: “Do I come down to Flannel World and steal your t-shirts?” Some jabs and a clothesline put Douglas down and Raven demands that Foley get on his knees and count like Bronco Lubich. That doesn’t happen so Douglas rolls him up for two, with Foley diving down to make the count. Raven yells at Foley for having an ego and Foley tells him to stop stinking up the f****** place.

A running crotch attack against the ropes gives Raven two more and it’s time for the chair. The drop toehold into the chair gives Raven two more and the slow beating is on. Douglas fights up and hits a low blow, followed by the clothesline comeback. Foley gets bumped in the corner so the Even Flow only gets a delayed two. Raven kicks Foley down and hits another Even Flow for no count.

Back up and the argument is on, with Raven accusing Foley of having an ego and being fat. Where was Foley when Raven was getting squashed in WWE??? Raven chokes on the ropes but Foley pulls him away and the brawl is on. The running knee hits Raven in the corner but he’s back with an Even Flow each. Raven gets the mic for about the fifth time and says that NOW it’s about him. He wants a table….and we’re clipped to the match having ended, with Sabu in the ring and Douglas apparently having won. Well we saw about 18:15 of the match if you’re keeping time.

Rating: B. The wrestling was nothing to see here, but this was one of the most entertaining matches I’ve seen in a long time. Raven was hilarious here and they made me buy into he and Foley not exactly liking each other. Douglas was a fine hero to carry the legacy of ECW while Raven was just being his usual goofy self. Hilarious stuff here (Raven’s introduction was outstanding) and I could have gone for seeing how the ending went, just for the sake of completion, but dang what we got was great.

Post match Foley, Sabu and Douglas pose. Jimmy Hart and Foley thank the fans and leave but Raven has the mic again. Raven: “I never liked him anyway. I could have beaten all three of them if I wanted to.” Fans: “RAVEN! RAVEN!” Raven: “ME! ME! ME! I still don’t like you people.” He does however thank Sabu for everything…but Douglas and Foley are still a*******.

We get the opening sequence for the third time.

Raven talks about how talented Sabu is and how sad it is to see someone so talented taken down due to something that wasn’t his fault. Wrestling is a backstabbing business but it’s touching to see something like this. He got to tell Sabu about the show and he’ll always remember the announcement. Unfortunately Fat Guy D’Amore is on the show but anyway, Raven loves Sabu and he admits this is way out of character for him. Raven calls Sabu over and mocks his appearance for tonight, though Sabu won’t talk in front of a camera.

Jimmy Hart talks about what a great night this was and talks about Scott D’Amore calling him up to the show. Then he saw everyone there and it was great. Of course he would set up the ring and park the cars….but he isn’t popping popcorn. He remembers the first time Sabu came to WCW and Goldberg, Hall and Nash were all watching (…….uh……). They gave Sabu a standing ovation after the match….and then the video cuts off. Ok then.

Overall Rating: B. Again, this is a show where you have to consider the point. This was designed to be a bunch of people coming together to support someone who means a lot to them. It’s a stand alone show with some very talented people and some of the matches were rather good. I liked this a good bit and the participants’ love of Sabu was very apparent. Check this out, especially the main event, if you want to see something of a 2004 time capsule.

 

 

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Monday Night Raw
Date: May 19, 2025
Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

We’re officially in Money In The Bank season, but before we get to that show, we have this weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event. That show alone should be quite the presentation, with a fairly stacked card already coming together. Other than that though, we need to get ready for the Money In The Bank ladder matches with some qualifying matches taking place this week. Let’s get to it.

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

We look at the actions of Seth Rollins/Bron Breakker/Paul Heyman from last week.

Here is Logan Paul to get things going. He gets right to the point by saying he’ll be the next World Heavyweight Champion by beating Jey Uso at Saturday Night’s Main Event. After the YEET chants get on Paul’s nerves, Paul goes on about how he has knocked Uso out a few times and is ready to do it again. Cue Gunther to interrupt and Paul knows this isn’t good. Gunther thinks that Paul’s statements make him sound confident and that is what drives them in life.

The people here should show Paul (who looks very nervous) more respect. Gunther talks about all of Paul’s successes and says he could learn from Paul. That works for Paul, who is willing to talk to Gunther anytime. Gunther can imagine the headlines if Paul becomes the World Heavyweight Champion and Paul says Gunther knows business. Gunther says this may be business to Paul, but to Gunther, this is personal.

Taking the title from Uso is personal for Gunther and just ask Pat McAfee what he does to non-wrestlers. At least McAfee showed some heart, but if Paul wins the title, Gunther will eat him alive. Gunther goes to leave but Paul talks trash about him, only to get superkicked by an invading Jey Uso. This was a promo about making Paul feel like a bigger threat to win the title, which was needed after the Gunther title shot was announced.

We look at Giulia and Roxanne Perez splitting up after last week’s loss.

Perez is officially signed to Raw (as Giulia is officially signed to Smackdown).

We look back at NBA stars Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson getting into it last June on Smackdown before they play in the NBA Playoffs this week.

Jey Uso runs into Paul Heyman, who wants to give Uso some facts. Everyone says that Heyman betrayed CM Punk and Roman Reigns, which means stabbing them in the back. The fact is that Bron Breakker is facing Uso in a non-title match tonight because it isn’t about the title. Instead, Breakker is out to slow Uso down so Seth Rollins can win the title soon.

Penta/AJ Styles vs. Judgment Day

Styles sends McDonagh into the corner to start but misses the drop down dropkick. Not that it matters as Styles knocks him into the corner for some chops from Penta. Cue Balor, who is taken down as well with the villains being sent outside. Penta and Styles hit stereo dives and we take a break (with a great slow motion replay of the dives).

Back with Penta in trouble and being sent up top. McDonagh gets knocked down but Balor is right there to cut off the tag attempt. Penta fights out of trouble and hits the reverse Sling Blade on Balor, allowing the tag back to Styles. The Calf Crusher goes on so McDonagh tries to make the save, only to frog splash Balor by mistake. The belly to back faceplant gives Styles two and he hits the moonsault DDT on the floor. Carlito gets in a posting to cut Styles off though and we take a break.

Back again with Styles fighting out of trouble and handing it off to Penta, with McDonagh coming in as well but stumbling on the ropes. Penta superkicks an upside down McDonagh in the corner but charges into a Spanish Fly. Balor Sling Blades Penta, who is back up with another superkick. Carlito’s distraction earns him a shot from Styles and a Canadian Destroyer off the steps plants McDonagh on the floor. Cue El Grande Americano though with a headbutt to the back of Penta’s head and the Coup de Grace finishes him off at 17:08.

Rating: B. This was a match that I wouldn’t have expected much from and it wound up being a heck of a showdown. That’s quite the success for a match that shouldn’t have been much on paper and it even keeps El Grande Americano vs. Penta going. Good stuff here and a very nice surprise.

Iyo Sky is ready for anyone to win Money In The Bank so here is Becky Lynch to remind Sky that Sky has never beaten her. Sky is ready anyway.

Seth Rollins interrupts Logan Paul, who is trying to get out of this place. Rollins says Jey Uso is going to get hurt tonight and that means Paul has a real chance on Saturday. If Paul gets past Uso and Gunther, Rollins will be waiting for him. Maybe they run it back from Wrestlemania two years ago with the title on the line. Think about it.

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Becky Lynch vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Natalya

Lynch tries to get the alliance going with Perez to start and then tries to throw her outside. It’s Lynch outside instead, leaving the other two inside. This time Lynch pulls Natalya outside for a ram into the barricade before coming back inside where Perez can get two off a rollup. Natalya suplexes Lynch for two but the Sharpshooter is countered into a Disarm-Her. Perez breaks that up but Natalya blocks the Manhandle Slam attempt. A basement superkick sends Perez outside, only for her to come back with a dive onto both of them.

We take a break and come back with Natalya discus lariating both of them but the double Sharpshooter doesn’t work. Everyone gets knocked down until Natalya and Lynch are back up to slug it out. Perez sunset flips Natalya to suplex Lynch at the same time, with Lynch having to jump back up for the save. Perez goes up but Natalya grabs a slingshot powerbomb to plant Lynch for two.

The Sharpshooter has Perez in trouble until Lynch makes the save. That earns Lynch a discus lariat and the double Sharpshooter sends Lynch and Perez to the ropes. The Manhandle Slam drops Perez but here is Lyra Valkyria to brawl with Lynch. A quick Pop Rox gives Perez the pin on Natalya at 14:35.

Rating: B. They got rolling here, even if Natalya was pretty clearly there to take the fall. The good thing is that while Natalya might be little more than a jobber to the stars, she can still do rather well in the ring. Putting her out there while Valkyria intercepted Lynch was a good way to go and I had fun with the match, despite Natalya’s obsession with the Sharpshooter.

Sami Zayn comes in to see Jey Uso, telling him to worry about Logan Paul. Zayn will deal with Seth Rollins and company and he has Uso’s back tonight if the numbers game comes up.

We look at John Cena beating Michael Cole on Raw in 2012. Cole: “Not quite as embarrassing as Heidenreich.”

Akira Tozawa gets to face Rusev next week. Chad Gable comes in to promise destruction and Tozawa (and Maxxine Dupri) leave. With them gone, Gable wants a Money In The Bank qualifying match for himself and Ivy Nile. New Day comes in (Pearce: “DOES ANYBODY KNOCK AROUND HERE???”) and isn’t thrilled with the Creed Brothers getting a title shot in a triple threat next week, also involving the War Raiders. Pearce throws them all out, with Xavier Woods saying it smells like a midlife crisis in here.

Sheamus vs. Grayson Waller

Austin Theory is here with Waller, who slaps Sheamus in the face to start. Sheamus works on the arm and it actually turns into a technical off on the mat. Back up and Sheamus goes with the power to send Waller flying a few times. Waller is sent outside but slides back in, where he hits a quick clothesline as we take a break. We come back with one heck of an AUSTIN THEORY chant going and Sheamus getting annoyed at Waller for hitting him in the chest. Sheamus pounds away (Theory winces) but gets caught in the rolling Downward Spiral for two.

Theory accidentally distracts Waller though and Sheamus hits a knee to the face. Sheamus grabs the Dublin Smile but a discus forearm puts him on the apron. For some reason Waller decides to try the ten forearms to the chest, which Sheamus reverses into…something that looked like White Noise onto the apron but was more Waller being dropped onto the rope. Waller tries to leave but Theory won’t let him, allowing Sheamus to hit the ten forearms. The Brogue Kick puts Waller away at 10:53.

Rating: C+. I wasn’t quite feeling this one, as the idea was that Waller didn’t want to do this but he wound up having a pretty competitive match against a monster like Sheamus. The good thing is that Theory seems to be taking a step towards having more of a personality, which could be interesting if he is given the chance. Theory has long since shown the talent to do something but it isn’t going to happen as he’s stuck with Waller.

Michael Cole and Pat McAfee make a bet on the NBA Eastern Conference Finals (if the Pacers win, Cole will call Raw in a tank top but if the Knicks win, McAfee will call Raw in a suit). They talk to Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who will be a playable character in WWE2K25. It’s a big rivalry with the Knicks and Haliburton is ready to go. Cole hypes up the Knicks (McAfee: “YOU BIASED PIECE OF TRASH!”) before Haliburton picks Jey Uso to beat Logan Paul. You can tell Haliburton is a big fan and the commentators being fans of the teams was a nice way to tie it together.

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown.

Gunther is interrupted by Seth Rollins, who says it’s been awhile. Rollins thanks Gunther for doing things with his title, but Gunther says the reality is Rollins is not the long term game around here. Rollins says that if Gunther gets in the way, he’ll make himself a target. Gunther says he is eagerly awaiting it.

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Rhea Ripley vs. Zoey Stark vs. Kairi Sane

This is Sane’s first match in several months after a hand injury. Sane goes after Stark to start but gets caught with a nasty German suplex. Ripley gets sent into the ropes and Sane takes her down with a hurricanrana but Stark tries a missile dropkick…and may have blown her knee out. We pause for the doctor to check on Stark and the camera goes to the briefcases as we take a break.

Back with Stark gone and Ripley hitting a fall away slam on Sane. Ripley sends her flying again so the referee can talk to her a bit, likely as this is being called on the fly. Sane is back up to knock her into the corner for the running forearm and they slug it out from their knees. Ripley ducks a shot to the face and hits the headbutt, setting up Riptide for the pin at 9:25.

Rating: C+. There is a HUGE asterisk next to this one as it is pretty clear that Stark was there to take the fall but then got hurt. Ripley moving on is fine and it’s a shame to see Sane have to lose on her first night back, but the bigger story here is Stark. That looked absolutely terrible and hopefully Stark is able to come back WAY down the line.

Rusev is ready to destroy Akira Tozawa. Next week he will forgive Tozawa’s stupidity and forget his existence.

Finn Balor introduces Roxanne Perez as a potential member of the Judgment Day. She’s even got presents: chicken tenders for Dominik Mysterio and apples for Carlito! Raquel Rodriguez throws her out, saying Liv Morgan will not like this. Balor trying to appeal to Dominik’s sleaziest tendencies to get revenge on him is some brilliant stuff.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker

Non-title and Paul Heyman is here with Breakker. Some shoulders in the corner have Uso in early trouble but he’s right back to knock Breakker outside. The suicide dive connects and we take an early break. Back with Breakker running multiple ropes to hit a hard clothesline. Breakker powers him around and hits an overhead belly to belly, which doesn’t get all of the rotation. Uso fights up and knocks him into the corner for the running Umaga Attack and a near fall.

They fight out to the floor and Breakker hits the bulldog off the apron onto the announcers’ table. We take another break and come back with Uso fighting back, including a jumping enziguri. The pop up Samoan drop gets two but Uso gets caught on top, meaning it’s the super Frankensteiner for another near fall. A quick superkick gives Uso two so Breakker grabs a chair. Uso superkicks him down again but Heyman grabs Uso’s leg, allowing Seth Rollins to jump him from behind for the DQ at 14:58.

Rating: B-. As annoying as a DQ ending can be, they didn’t have a better option here with Breakker being an up and coming monster and Uso being the champion. Rollins has made it clear that this match is just about slowing Uso down anyway so it makes perfect sense for Rollins to jump him. These two have some chemistry together too so this worked well.

Post match the beatdown is on until Sami Zayn and CM Punk come in for the save. After the fans get done singing Cult Of Personality, the brawl is on. The fight heads into the crowd with Punk diving in with a double ax handle. The four of them go into the back…and Logan Paul knocks Uso out again to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show was all about setting up Saturday Night’s Main Event and that was pretty well done. Paul vs. Uso got a nice boost, but there was also quite a bit of looking forward to other stuff. Not only did they set up some Money In The Bank participants, but you can see some title matches either already being announced or teased for down the line. This was the big preview night and that worked very well. The action was good too, but this was all about setting things up for later and that has me intrigued.

Results
Judgment Day b. Penta/AJ Styles – Coup de Grace to Penta
Roxanne Perez b. Natalya and Becky Lynch – Pop Rox to Natalya
Sheamus b. Grayson Waller – Brogue Kick
Rhea Ripley b. Zoey Stark and Kairi Sane – Riptide to Sane
Jey Uso b. Bron Breakker when Seth Rollins interfered

 

 

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

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NWA Weekly PPV #10
Date: August 21, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

Every time I do two of these in a row, I come in thinking I should get back to this series more often but then I change my mind completely before I start the second one. That’s certainly the case here, as last week’s show was terrible. It was a string of gimmick matches which set up another string of them this week, though thankfully this week’s string involves AJ Styles and Jerry Lynn. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Thank goodness Ed Ferrara is gone from commentary.

AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn

Falls Count Anywhere and the first of a three match series tonight. It’s a brawl to start with Lynn taking him outside, where Styles manages a whip into the steps. Styles strikes away before getting crotched on the barricade to cut him off rather quickly. They fight into the crowd with Styles evening things up a bit, including a running flip dive off the balcony. Styles rams him into the barricade but gets suplexed back to ringside for two.

Back in and they trade flips until Lynn gets in a Stunner. A powerbomb is countered into a faceplant for two, with Lynn getting his foot on the ropes. I’m not sure why that breaks the count in a falls count ANYWHERE match but we’ll move on. A neckbreaker gives Styles two but Lynn is back up with a hurricanrana to the floor. They slug it out on the stage where Lynn drops him with a discus lariat. Something like a bulldog off the stage gets two and it’s back to the stage where Lynn hits a cradle piledriver for the pin at 9:56.

Rating: B-. These two work well together and it makes sense for the two of them to be put together this many times on one show. At the same time, they didn’t stay out there too long to burn the fans out. If nothing else, having Styles getting a rub from Lynn, who is as smooth of an in-ring veteran as TNA has, is a great idea.

Chris Harris (smoking) wants James Storm to drop the cowboy thing for one night because they have a big fight. Brian Lee and Ron Harris come in to mock them, with Storm making western movie references. Storm seems to think he got them. Uh, right.

James Storm/Chris Harris vs. Ron Harris/Brian Lee

Storm and Lee start things off with Storm not being able to do much with the power game. A running forearm works a bit better and Ron is knocked outside as well. It’s off to Chris vs. Ron and it’s quickly time for the villains to have a conference on the floor. Back in and Ron hits some running corner clotheslines as everything breaks down. Chris is back with a headscissors while Storm beats up Lee on the floor.

Back in and Ron hits a swinging side slam for two and Lee grabs the chinlock. With that broken up, it’s back to Ron for a big boot. Chris fights out of trouble and makes the tag to Storm as everything breaks down. For some reason Lee gets in a fight with a fan in the front row, though there is nothing to suggest who it might be. Chris’ top rope shot to the back of the head snaps Ron’s throat across the top and Storm gets a rollup for the quick pin at 9:00.

Rating: C. The match wasn’t anything good to see, but what matters is Storm/Harris getting to work together and continue to grow as a team. They’re a good example of wrestlers who had nothing going on and it turned out they were a successful pairing. Thankfully TNA seems to be running with it as they now have a homegrown team who is turning into something.

Post match Ron and Lee jumps Storm and Chris to leave them laying.

Jimmy Yang vs. Sonny Siaki

2/3 falls and Jorge Estrada is here with Yang, who jumps Siaki as all three do their entrance together. They get inside for a spinwheel kick to Siaki, followed by a choke over the ropes. Siaki takes part of his top down (making it FAR easier to tell them apart), followed by a suplex cutter. Yang is right back with a neckbreaker though and Yang Time is good for the first fall at 3:30.

Another choke over the ropes is quickly broken up and Yang crashes to the floor. Siaki is back up with a suplex and they go back inside for the two count, setting up the chinlock. That doesn’t last long so Siaki grabs a pumphandle suplex for two instead. Yang fights up and hits a middle rope kick to the face, only for Siaki to grab a fisherman’s neckbreaker to tie it up at 8:27.

Siaki’s shoulder breaker gets two but Yang pulls him into a half crab. That’s broken up as well so Yang grabs a leglock. Siaki escapes that as well and is fine enough to hit a superplex. Yang is up first with a spinning kick to the chest but Siaki knocks him back down. They both go up to the same corner, where Yang manages a super swinging neckbreaker. Yang is back up with a rollup but Siaki reverses into one of his own and grabs the rope for the final pin at 14:09.

Rating: B-. I have no idea why this was 2/3 falls other than to stretch the match out a bit longer. Siaki definitely feels like the strongest of the three in the ring, though that ending of the third fall didn’t exactly work. Hopefully this gets Siaki out of the team though, as the trio isn’t getting anywhere at the moment.

Post match Jeff Jarrett storms out to say he wants to know what surprise Bob Armstrong has for him. Cue Brian Lawler to jump Jarrett and the brawl is on. Security breaks it up so Goldilocks goes into the ring to ask Lawler about his issues with Jarrett. Lawler is about to answer…and he gets jumped too. I’m really not sure if Lawler having issues with Jarrett is all that interesting.

Brian Lawler vs. Slash

The brawl is on with Lawler in trouble and they’re quickly on the floor. The mats get pulled back but Lawler reverses a suplex to take Slash down. Back in and Lawler flips the fans off as we hear about various problems in the New Church. They go outside again with Lawler hitting a bulldog on the ramp but stopping to yell at a fan. That’s enough for Slash to hit a top rope superplex for two, only for Lawler to come back with a DDT. Lawler stops to dance and gets kicked low but he’s fine enough to knock Slash off the top. The Tennessee Jam finishes for Lawler at 5:57.

Rating: C. It shouldn’t be surprising that things were fine enough here as these two had a long history in Memphis. At the same time, Lawler is only so interesting as this angry good guy, though it is likely a case of him being available rather than anything else. If nothing else, it’s nice to have Lawler stop talking about his dad, as that was killing him.

In the back, Jeff Jarrett argues with Bob Armstrong and leaves. We’re not finding out the surprise they advertised last week are we?

X-Division Title: Low Ki vs. Jose Maximo vs. Joel Maximo vs. Amazing Red

Ki is defending under elimination rules. All three challengers start hammering on Ki, who blasts them with kicks to the head. We settle down to Ki chopping Red but it’s too early for the Ki Crusher. Joel comes in for a tornado DDT to Ki and it’s quickly off to Jose. Ki is fine enough to kick both Maximos into the corner but Red comes in to pick up the pace. Everything breaks down and an Alabama Slam/neckbreaker combination drops Ki.

Red’s top rope hurricanrana sends Joel into Jose and Ki tosses Red onto both Maximos. Ki’s big twisting dive off the top takes all three of them down again, giving them a quick breather on the floor. Back in and Ki is knocked outside again, leaving Joel to hit a lifting sitout Pedigree to pin Jose at 9:07.

Back in and Ki kicks away at Joel but Red knocks Joel down and hits a twisting top rope splash for the elimination at 10:10. So it’s Red vs. Ki for the title, with Ki countering Code Red into something like an Alabama Slam into the corner. A super Ki Crusher is countered but the second attempt plants Red hard to retain the title at 12:08.

Rating: B-. Good enough, but this was similar to last week’s match against the Flying Elvises as there was no reason to believe that two of the three were going to have a chance. That leaves you a long time before we get to the one on one match and then it only lasts about two minutes. The match itself was a bunch of spots and Ki striking, which is a good way to bring Ki up even higher.

Ron Killings compares himself to Abraham Lincoln for freeing the Black sports entertainers. He has a dream too, and it involves kicking the dust off of Monty Brown.

NWA World Title: Ron Killings vs. Monty Brown

Brown is challenging and shoves him into the corner, allowing for some dancing. Three straight running shoulders give Brown two but Killings sends him crashing out to the floor. The big flip dive takes Brown down and Killings stomps away. They fight onto the announcers’ table, where Killings escapes the Alpha Bomb. West: “WHAT HAVE WE JUST SEEN???” Uh, two guys punching each other and one of them escaping a powerbomb before getting off the table?

Brown sends him flying and then takes it back inside for two. A Downward Spiral sets up Killings’ top rope legdrop for two and the chinlock goes on. That’s broken up so Killings hits a leg lariat for two more. Brown is back up with a powerslam into a splash for two of his own. Killings ax kicks him down for two so Brown tries the Alpha Bomb, which is reversed into something like a sunset bomb to retain the title at 10:13.

Rating: D+. To say Brown was green here would be a huge understatement and there was only so much that could be done in a situation like this. It helps that Killings is able to hang in there and do some of his stuff, but he needed someone better than Brown to make this work. Brown has all kinds of charisma but that isn’t enough to carry him through a ten minute match with this kind of importance.

Post match Jeff Jarrett is IMMEDIATELY in the ring to go after Killings but Brian Lawler comes in. Lawler grabs a chair but hits Killings by mistake, which he realizes is a big mistake.

Jerry Lynn is ready to finish AJ Styles for good but here is Styles to jump him from behind. Since the second match is No DQ, we’ll just start it in the back.

Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles

No DQ and Lynn is up 1-0. They strike it out and go inside with Lynn hitting a Stunner over the ropes. A table is set up but Styles cuts him off, with the table being turned over. Styles’ springboard dive hits the upside down table (ouch) but he’s right back up with a legdrop onto a chair onto Lynn. A catapult sends Styles face first into the chair in the corner though and Lynn hits the slingshot Fameasser in the ropes.

Lynn’s tornado DDT to the table on the floor is broken up and a double clothesline leaves both of them down. Lynn tries a sunset flip but Styles grabs the chair and cracks him in the head for the save (that was nice). Back up and Lynn hits a top rope hanging DDT onto a chair…and pulls Styles up at two (uh oh). Styles knocks him off the top but gets crotched, setting up a super hurricanrana through the ringside table (with Styles landing head first for a scary crash). Back in and Styles is fine enough to reverse another tornado DDT attempt into the Styles Clash onto the chair for the pin at 10:37.

Rating: C+. Another good enough match between the two of them and again they didn’t overstay their welcome. That’s something you need to do if you’re going to see them fighting over and over, especially if Styles was all but guaranteed to win and tie the series up. It was a bit too similar to their first match, though nothing bad whatsoever.

With the series tied, we’re having a ten minute Iron Man match for the final fall and it starts right now.

Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles

Ten minute Iron Man match and the winner gets an X-Division Title shot (ignore the clock on screen starting before the bell). Styles gets smart and pins the down Lynn at 11 seconds.

Styles – 1
Lynn – 0

Styles pins him again at 19 seconds.

Styles – 2
Lynn – 0

Lynn kicks out of a third cover and reverses a suplex into a neckbreaker for two. Styles grabs a sleeper to slow him down as we’re already two minutes in. Lynn fights up so Styles pulls him down by the hair and puts on the chinlock. Back up and Styles’ hurricanrana is countered into a faceplant to give Lynn a fall at 3:49.

Styles – 2
Lynn – 1

Lynn follows Styles’ plan by covering for an immediate two but Styles scores with a backdrop. We have five minutes left as Lynn comes back with the springboard Fameasser for two. Lynn goes up but gets caught in a Razor’s Edge Dominator (that was cool) and a delayed cover gives Styles another fall at 6:32 (even if the referee was a bit confused).

Styles – 3
Lynn – 1

Styles hammers away as Low Ki comes to watch, complete with a ladder. We have two minutes left as Lynn hits a tombstone for the pin at 8:13.

Styles – 3
Lynn – 2

Lynn can’t hit the cradle piledriver but can hit a Styles Clash to tie it up at 8:58.

Styles – 3
Lynn – 3

They trade very fast rollups but neither can get the pin as time expires at 10:00.

Rating: B-. This one saw the two of them getting the chance to show off their athleticism a bit more and Styles getting two falls at the start was very smart. I’m not wild on seeing the whole thing end in a draw, but otherwise, how else would we get to a triple threat title match? It didn’t get too insane, but Ki coming out with the ladder more or less guaranteed where this was going.

Post match Ki comes in and raises both of their arms, only to kick them down. Ki says the division is about the champion so next week it’s time to prove that he is the greatest in a ladder match.

Don West does his big hype package. Sweet goodness he is awesome at this stuff.

Referee Scott Armstrong asks his dad (Bob Armstrong, behind a door so we can’t see him) to not come after Jeff Jarrett. Bob says he has to and he has padding.

Jarrett is in the ring so here is Bob, in his Bullet mask and gear, with Jarrett beating him up. Jarrett calls him an old man and hammers away but Bullet fights back and clears Jarrett out. Hold on though as the real Bob Armstrong pops up on the stage with a chair. The Bullet unmasks as…well he doesn’t as we’ll see who that is next week.

Overall Rating: C+. This was actually a very interesting show because it was WAY toned down compared to everything else that they had been doing. That’s because the company was not doing well financially and they were doing things on a budget. Therefore, a bunch of people are gone and you have things like Styles and Lynn working three matches on a single show.

At the same time, my goodness this was SO much easier to watch without some of the terrible stuff. It was a much straighter show and while it might not work full time, it wasn’t the Dupps or Jive Talkin or all the other dumb ideas that get so much time. Granted it did have a bunch of Jeff Jarrett, but you know that’s coming every single week around here.

 

 

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NWA Weekly PPV #9
Date: August 14, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West, Ed Ferrara

I really need to do these more often. Things have been a total mess around here, which is kind of the trademark of the promotion in its early run. Ron Killings has won the World Title and Don Harris is at war with the New Church because…I have absolutely no idea. Jeff Jarrett is still the star of the whole place while the X-Division guys continue to steal the show week in and week out. Let’s get to it.

Opening recap, looking at last week’s World Title change.

Opening sequence.

Here is new World Champion Ron Killings for a chat. Killings says this is his house, which he dubs the TNA Asylum. He has had to work harder because of the color of his skin. A senior WWF official told him that he couldn’t make the same mistakes as a white man. That’s too far, so from this day forward, he is a legend. Now he’s the World Champion, but here is Jeff Jarrett (teaming with Killings tonight) to say he can’t believe some of this nonsense.

Jarrett claims reverse racism because he has never gotten the same shot. Killings says come get your shot but cue Bill Behrens (with a ridiculous cowboy hat) and security to cut it off. Behrens makes a bunch of sheriff jokes and says Jarrett and Killings fan fight…but it won’t be sanctioned for the World Title. Cue Brian Lawler to go after Jarrett until security breaks it up. Lawler shouts about knowing it was Jarrett. Well of course it was. It’s always Jarrett.

Kid Kash/Shark Boy/Slim J vs. Amazing Red/Spanish Announce Team

Kash and Joel start fast and trade wrist control before exchanging armdrags for a standoff in a quick sequence. Kash flips him off and hits a running shoulder before backdropping him out to the floor. A slingshot hurricanrana takes Joel down again and we hit the parade of dives. J, Red and Kash all one up each other with flip dives and we settle down to Kash suplexing J onto Joel. Back up and everything breaks down, with the SAT’s tying up Boy and J in a Liontamer/camel clutch at the same time.

Red adds a springboard missile dropkick but gets kicked in the face by J. Kash comes back in to drop an elbow on Red and then hits a kind of super powerslam. It’s back to J, who misses a twisting top rope splash. Everything breaks down (shocking I know) and Kash runs the corner for a super hurricanrana. Boy’s Diamond Dust gets two on Red with Jose making the save. The Money Maker (Jay Driller) plants Red with Joel’s top rope legdrop breaking it up. The double super Spanish Fly hits J and Red’s very twisty splash finishes him off at 10:39.

Rating: B. This falls right into the classic formula of “take a bunch of people and let them fly all over the place to pop the crowd”. That’s all this was supposed to be and it was entertaining stuff. Red’s stuff continues to be insane and that was the case here, with Kash’s great looking hurricanranas not being too far behind.

The Dupps have an idea for their own version of Cribs, which is about their house…which is an outhouse. My goodness this is so dumb.

Here is Bruce to say he is more woman than anyone in this arena. All of the married men in this arena, including Mike Tenay, are fantasizing about him. The challenge is on, and he’ll throw in $5000 to any woman who can beat him. A woman from the crowd signs a quick contract and we’re ready to go.

Miss TNA: Bruce vs. ???

Bruce is defending and gets speared down to start, followed by a legdrop. A toss over the top sets up a slam on the floor, followed by another back inside. Then Bruce grabs a small package for the fast pin at 1:50. The woman shrugs it off with an “oh well”, because that’s what you should do here.

Jeff Jarrett wants the World Title and beats up Bill Behrens in the backroom. Then he runs into Low Ki for a staredown, followed by Tito and Bo Dupp bumping into each other. Thankfully for us, this means a match.

Don Harris vs. Malice

Last Man Standing and this is missing from WatchTNA because…well I’m guessing the SS on Harris’ shirt. Malice jumps him to start and gets taken down for his efforts. Harris chairs him in the head but Malice throws powder in Harris’ eyes. More powder blinds Harris again and Malice gets in a chair shot as Harris is busted open. Malice whips him into the barricade a few times and they go up to the stage, with Harris being tossed out to the floor.

That’s a bit too much selling for Harris though, as he comes back with a chain for some choking and a clothesline. It’s time for a table and Harris kicks a chair into Malice’s face. Malice gets in a powerbomb but pulls Harris up for a chokeslam. That’s countered into a DDT but Malice is back up with a belly to back superplex through the table. Naturally only Harris gets up for the win at 7:08.

Rating: D. If you have a Last Man Standing match, maybe A, have it go longer than ten minutes and B, don’t have the SECURITY GUARD beat the former #1 contender to the World Title. The fact that Malice hit the finishing move here and then lost anyway should tell you everything wrong with this match, but there was so much else wrong with the thing that it’s not even covering the biggest issue. Horrible stuff here as Don Harris continues to be far too big of a star.

Post match respect is shown, and if you have the respect of DON HARRIS, you’re going places.

Dupp Cup: Teo vs. Bo Dupp

The first to ten points wins and if you think I’m keeping score, I have no idea what to tell you. Teo starts fast and sends him into a chair, followed by ripping off the pants and hitting him with a stick horse. It doesn’t count for points though because Bo likes it and yes, someone was paid to come up with this nonsense.

Stan Dupp offers a distraction and Bo gets in a big boot as Don West is actually trying to keep track of the points (doing commentary with a solo mic at ringside, reportedly because Mike Tenay didn’t want to be part of this). Stan goes to the ticket window where the woman in charge beats on him with a broom. Bo takes Teo to the outhouse but Puppet is inside with a kendo stick. That’s enough for Bo to be send face first into the hole to give Teo the win at 4:25.

Rating: F-. I…what do you want me to say here? This was every bit as stupid as you could have imagined and then it just kept getting worse. I’m sure the people backstage were roaring with laughter over it, but if your commentator, and one of the most prominent, well respected people you have, is washing your hands so you can do an outhouse joke, it’s way past time to think about what you’re doing.

We recap Monty Brown vs. Elix Skipper, with Skipper turning on him (after they won a match) and Brown wanting revenge.

Monty Brown vs. Elix Skipper

Detroit Street Fight. Before the match, Skipper calls out Brown for the fight and then gets jumped from behind because Skipper is kind of dumb. Brown hammers away to start and chokes him over the ropes with a shirt. Skipper gets in a chain shot to the ribs and chokes away, which is shrugged off without much effort.

Back in and some trashcan/lid shots slow Brown down, with Skipper adding in a Matrix to send Brown crashing. A slingshot dive onto the can onto Brown gets two on the floor but Brown is back up with the Alphalution (kind of a reverse F5). The Alpha Bomb onto a trashcan (onto a stop sign because reasons) finishes Skipper at 5:45.

Rating: C. I can go with pushing Brown as a star as he has more charisma than should be allowed, but this was another violent gimmick match crammed into way too short of a time limit. As is the case so often around here, this stuff needs time to breathe and that isn’t what we’re getting with just about anything. Brown is going to be a force though, as even TNA shouldn’t be able to screw him up.

The Flying Elvises are all ready to challenge for the X-Division Title. They’re fired up because it’s 25 years since Elvis died and Sonny Siaki is going to win the title in his honor. As in his own honor, because he hates Elvis. Hence being in a stable called the FLYING ELVISES. Other than that, I’m trying to figure out why Goldilocks is in her third different outfit in an hour.

X-Division Title: Low Ki vs. Sonny Siaki vs. Jimmy Yang vs. Jorge Estrada

Ki is defending and this is elimination rules. Siaki and Ki start things off as we’re actually tagging here. Ki fights him into the corner early on but gets powerbombed out. Estrada comes in and grabs a Regal Roll but the Lionsault is countered. Some kicks rock Estrada for two, with Siaki having to break up a dragon sleeper.

The Elvises aren’t happy with each other so Yang comes in with a middle rope spinwheel kick. Yang chokes him over the ropes but Ki is quickly out of a sleeper. Estrada comes back in and takes out Yang, including a springboard flip dive on the floor. Back in and Yang hits a dropkick into a Boston crab, which he bends back really fast and Estrada taps immediately for the elimination at 6:41.

Ki comes in so Yang hits him with a missile dropkick for two. Yang Time is loaded up but Siaki crotches him down, setting up the Ki Crusher at 7:56 to get us down to one on one. Siaki comes in with a pop up cutter for two but Ki is back with a springboard kick to the face. Siaki manages a shot to the face, only to get sent into Yang as he’s still on the apron. Ki rolls him up to retain at 9:22.

Rating: B-. They only had so much time here as you had three eliminated to cover in the span of less than ten minutes. At the same time, the Elvises are having issues and that’s likely going to lead to something going south sooner or later. As for Ki, it’s a good move to have him beat all three members of the team to retain, as that’s going to make anyone look strong.

Earlier today, Goldilocks (outfit #4) got in a car with Jerry Lynn, who made a short drive to another building and beat up AJ Styles, knocking him into a bathtub and demanding respect.

Disco Inferno is back with Jive Talking and brings out actor Dean Baldwin (read as Shark Boy without a mask) to talk about his upcoming movie. This leads Disco to asking about Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger’s bedroom habits. Cue Brian Lawler who rants about Jeff Jarrett doing…something. Baldwin: “Who are you? What are your credentials?” Lawler takes Baldwin out and we still don’t know what Jarrett did. Security throws Lawler out.

Goldilocks (outfit #5) watches the Dupps freak out. Stan is leaving and Goldilocks isn’t sure what Bo should do. Bo: “Thank you for caring.”

Tag Team Titles: Jeff Jarrett/Ron Killings vs. AJ Styles/Jerry Lynn

Styles and Lynn are defending but Styles isn’t here to start. That means Lynn gets beaten down but here is Styles to even things up. House is cleaned and Styles hits Jarrett with the drop down dropkick for an early two. A Lionsault to the floor connects for Styles but he gets dropped onto the barricade. That leaves Lynn to monkey flip Killings inside and a middle rope bulldog gets two.

We settle down to Jarrett stomping away on Lynn and Killings comes in for a wheelbarrow faceplant. The ax kick gets two on Lynn, who is right back with the Figure Four to Jarrett, who turns it over in literally less than two seconds. Since this is TNA, commentary insults Lynn for being dumb for trying a Figure Four on Jeff Jarrett.

Killings puts Lynn on top but gets taken down with a tornado DDT for a needed breather. That’s enough for the tag off to Styles so house can be cleaned. Everything breaks down and Styles flips over Jarrett but the referee gets decked. Lynn’s reverse DDT drops Jarrett and Cradle Piledrives Killings but Jarrett is up for the save. Jarrett gives Lynn the Stroke and Styles his the Spiral Tap on Killings for a double pin at 12:24.

Rating: C+. Oh there it is. That’s the big ending that Russo loves as not only do we have the two teams who don’t get along, but now they have a screwy finish to hold up the titles. Odds are we’ll either get a rematch, a ladder match or a tournament of some kind because it gets the titles off of Lynn and Styles without having them lose. It’s not a bad match, but dang it feels like a lame way to end the title reign.

Post match Bob Armstrong comes out to say the titles are held up. Next week, it’s Killings for Monty Brown for the World Title and Lynn vs. Styles for a future X-Division Title shot match. Lynn wants falls count anywhere. Styles wants anything goes. Armstrong says sure, and it’s going to be 2/3 falls, with the third fall being a ten minute iron man match. As for Jarrett, he gets a special opponent next week.

Don West does the big push for next week’s show.

Brian Lawler attacks Jeff Jarrett in the back and shouts about wanting to kill him. Geez what did he do? Make him watch Jeff Jarrett matches?

Overall Rating: D. As usual, the matches where it’s played a lot straighter are far easier to watch. Case in point, we had something as simple as a six man tag as the opener and it was by far the best thing on the show. After that, it was man vs. woman, a Last Man Standing match, the Dupp Cup nonsense, a street fight and then a four way before a screwy tag match to wrap up the show. That’s WAY too much going on at once (including ANYTHING involving the Dupps) and some of it is absolutely horrible. There are fun parts to the show but as usual, they’re all so bogged down and it’s killing the positives. As per Russo.

 

 

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Monday Night Raw
Date: May 5, 2025
Location: CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

It’s the last Raw before Backlash and that is quite the speedy turnaround from Wrestlemania. There are only a few matches set for the pay per view so there is a good chance to see something else added here. If nothing else, we’ll get to see what Seth Rollins and company have going on so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a long recap of last week, with Bron Breakker wrecking Sami Zayn on Seth Rollins’ orders.

Here is Jey Uso, who comes through the crowd with some kids, which will always work. He gets right to the point by calling out Logan Paul but gets Paul Heyman instead. Heyman says he isn’t here to disrespect Uso but Uso talks about how Heyman has a lot of nerves to come out here after what Heyman did to his family. Heyman finds it interesting to hear that coming from Uso after what he did to Roman Reigns. Where was everyone to warn Heyman about what was going to happen to him?

Heyman blames CM Punk for the betrayal at Wrestlemania and, after complaining about the CM PUNK chants, talks about Punk putting him in a no win situation. That brings him to Reigns, who was still playing high school football when Heyman and Punk got together. What did Reigns think he was going to do? Sell his secrets to Punk? Heyman turned Reigns into the Tribal Chief and the two of them were the Undisputed WWE Champion for over 1000 days, but it was Reigns who lost the title.

Then Reigns left him with Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu and those Tongans! Reigns finally came back, but it wasn’t to avenge Heyman, but rather to get his ula fala back. Everyone wants to blame Heyman (who is SCREAMING this stuff) but this time, he is in the right and SCREW EVERYONE ELSE. Uso: “Are you ok?” He wants to know what this has to do with him, which sends Heyman into a speech about how Uso doesn’t understand what it means to be champion.

Uso does not know what power that title brings and Seth Rollins needs it. Stage one is what has happened so far, but stage two is taking that title (Uso looks…sad?). Uso gets to pick the date he loses the title, because Rollins is officially challenging him for the title. Heyman goes to leave but Uso calls him back. If it’s anyplace, anytime, we’ll do it tonight (Heyman’s eyes bug out at this). Good stuff here, with Heyman bringing the emotion and setting up the title shot while also making Uso feel like a big time fighting champion.

We look back at JD McDonagh’s return last week (with Michael Cole making a mistake and saying the War Raiders retained the Tag Team Titles).

Paul Heyman goes to see Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker, and says he can’t believe Jey Uso fell for it. Rollins says he told Heyman it would happen before leaving. Heyman explains Rollins’ recent efforts and how Uso isn’t ready for him tonight. When Rollins wins tonight, they get the keys to the kingdom.

Penta vs. JD McDonagh

Judgment Day is here too as McDonagh grabs an armdrag to start. Back up and Penta strikes away in the corner, including a kick to the leg. McDonagh chops his way out of trouble and they go to the apron, where Penta scores with a jumping enziguri. A Balor distraction lets McDonagh come back with a Death Valley Driver though and we take a break.

Back with McDonagh getting crotched against the post, setting up a dropkick to the head. Penta chops away and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two before diving onto an interfering Carlito. Finn Balor gets in a shot but gets caught, meaning it’s a double ejection. Cue Chad Gable to crotch Penta on top, earning himself a big flip dive. McDonagh hits a jawbreaker but misses the moonsault, allowing Penta to grab the Canadian Destroyer for the pin at 10:54.

Rating: C+. They did a nice job here with making Penta look like a star. He got a win here and survived a few bits of interference to make it happen. That’s a fine way to go and hopefully they keep it going for the next few weeks, as Penta can become a bigger deal in a hurry. If nothing else, there is a good chance he’ll be challenging Dominik Mysterio for the Intercontinental Title sooner rather than later and that’s a good way for him to go.

Grayson Waller is pleading his case to Adam Pearce and offers the match to Austin Theory instead. Theory agrees and gets the match, but Waller won’t say who isn’t against.

Austin Theory vs. Sheamus

I had been wondering what happened to Sheamus. Theory, who does not seem happy with Grayson Waller, gets shoved into the corner to start, allowing Sheamus to fire off some uppercuts. A nice dropkick gives Theory a breather but Sheamus hits him in the face. Sheamus grabs a pair of Irish Curses and puts on the Cloverleaf, with Theory making the rope, right in front of a less than interested Waller.

Sheamus comes off the top with a shot to the head and we take a break. Back with Sheamus missing a charge into the post and getting caught with a Blockbuster for two. They go up top where Sheamus hits a super White Noise, followed by the ten forearms to the chest. The Brogue Kick finishes for Sheamus at 9:39.

Rating: C+. This was Sheamus doing what he does best, as he was out there beating Theory up until he finished him off. That’s something that has worked for him for a long time now and it’s nice to have him back. If nothing else, there is something fun about seeing Waller and Theory have issues but winding up staying together because they’re they only people who would have the other.

Penta is getting an Intercontinental Title shot at Backlash.

JD McDonagh isn’t happy with his loss but Dominik Mysterio isn’t interested. Cue AJ Styles to say this place isn’t hard to find, but he’s coming for the winner of the title match at Backlash. Styles leaves and Mysterio talks about everyone coming for the title. He suggests Finn Balor deal with Styles, but Balor isn’t pleased with the idea. Or he’s just kidding so it’s fine.

New Day comes up to Chad Gable and suggests a mutually beneficial agreement about dealing with the War Raiders. Becky Lynch comes up and New Day doesn’t like what happened to her last week.

Here is Lynch for a chat. She doesn’t like being told she sucks because she should be thanked for taking out the garbage. Then she took out the recycling, which is what Lyra Valkyria is. Valkyria is slightly better than garbage but still worthless. The reality is that Valkyria owes everything to her, so here is Valkyria to interrupt. Valkyria says Lynch is the queen of recycling as she has done the same things over and over. The reality is that Lynch went on holidays and everyone else got better, including Valkyria, who is now a champion.

Valkyria has had more title defenses than says Lynch has shown up to work this year. Lynch goes into a rant about being the best ever, even citing Sports Illustrated. Valkyria lists off Lynch’s accomplishments, but it doesn’t include being the first Women’s Intercontinental Champion. As long as Valkyria is here, Lynch better like second place. The brawl is on and security can’t break it up. Lynch gets away and rants about disrespect, only to get caught in Nightwing to leave her laying. Valkyria is trying here but it’s hard to imagine that she retains the title over a star like Lynch.

Roxanne Perez vs. Iyo Sky

Non-title. Sky flips away a few times to start and Perez doesn’t seem to know what to do. A dropkick sends Perez outside but she comes back in with a nice dropkick to the leg. Perez works on the leg but Sky is back up with a heck of a suicide dive and we take a break. Back with Sky winning an exchange of forearms and hitting a flapjack.

A kick to the head gives Sky two but the leg starts giving out. Sky is fine enough to hit a quick double stomp for two but Over The Moonsault misses. The leg is hurt again and a faceplant into a cartwheel knee to the neck gives Perez two. They go into a rather fast pinfall reversal sequence until Sky gets a rollup for the pin at 10:11.

Rating: B. The women’s division continues to feel stacked with talent and that was on display again here. Perez is starting to fit in around here and I could go for seeing what is next for her. At the same time, Sky is rapidly reaching the top level of the division (if she isn’t already there). Good match here, with that ending sequence being quite the back and forth.

We actually get a show of respect after the match but Giulia runs in to jump Sky. That has Perez beating Sky down as well, with commentary pointing out that Rhea Ripley is in Australia so there is no one to make a save.

Otis vs. Rusev

They collide to start and no one goes anywhere, but some running shots stagger Rusev. A jumping spinwheel kick drops Otis though and we take a break. Back with Otis dropping Rusev over the announcers’ table but Rusev is back up. A big kick hits the post though and Rusev is in more trouble. They get back in, where Rusev drops him again with a superkick, setting up the Accolade for the win at 6:27.

Rating: C+. Remember Rusev? Well he’s back, once again as a monster heel. That is something that could go somewhere but WWE is going to need to come up for something for him. Facing the Alpha Academy needs to be something short term, though I’m not sure who is next for him after that. For now though, nice return, with Rusev looking like a killer.

Post match Akira Tozawa comes after Rusev, earning both Tozawa and Otis another beating. Tozawa gets powerbombed onto Otis and another Accolade ensues.

Adam Pearce brings Pat McAfee into the ring to address the Gunther situation. Gunther comes out as well, wearing street clothes because McAfee isn’t that important to him. Gunther promises to keep this professional, unlike Michael Cole, but he does not appreciate the YOU TAPPED OUT chants. McAfee puts over Cole as a legend and since Gunther had to attack a 60 year old man, so he’ll give Gunther his opinion about him.

Hold on though as McAfee has to put over the city of Omaha for a good while before talking about how the two of them grew up watching all the wrestling they could. McAfee grew up as a huge wrestling fan, dreaming that he could one day get in the ring. For Gunther, it’s become a job after twenty years but for McAfee, it’s still the biggest thrill. On Saturday, McAfee is going to prove that this version of Gunther is soft.

After some staring, Gunther asks if McAfee enjoyed his daughter’s birthday last week. That must have been a special day, and now Backlash is going to be a special day for Gunther. It’s his first match since Wrestlemania and he is going to be more focused than ever before. Gunther promises to destroy him once and for all, but for tonight, he’s safe.

If they do this the right way, everything should be fine on Saturday, as McAfee can get in some shots, preferably with the big kick, before Gunther gets to crush him for good. McAfee is fired up about this, but his promos are going on rather long each time and that’s not helping as much as it could.

We look back at John Cena vs. Randy Orton in their I Quit match at Breaking Point.

Raw World Title: Seth Rollins vs. Jey Uso

Rollins, with Bron Breakker and Paul Heyman, is challenging. We get the Big Match Intros before Rollins takes him down with a crucifix for two. Rollins knocks him down again and it’s time to shove each other around a bit. Uso knocks him to the floor and Rollins needs a bit of a breather. Back in and Rollins gets in another knockdown, only to be sent outside as well. The big suicide dive connects for Uso and we take a break.

Back with Uso knocking him off the top but they both hit crossbodies. Uso wins a slugout and hits a Samoan drop, followed by a running Umaga Attack in the corner. Back up and Rollins knocks him to the floor for a dive, only to get superkicked out of the air for two back inside. They’re both down for the THIS IS AWESOME chants but Rollins is back up with the buckle bomb. The frog splash misses though and Rollins counters the spear into a Pedigree for two.

The Stomp misses and Uso gets a sleeper (how he won the title), which is broken rather quickly. Uso is back up with the spear for two so he goes up, only for a distraction to let Breakker get in a crotching. The superplex into the Falcon Arrow drops Uso and the Stomp (or most of one) gets two.

Cue Sami Zayn to go after Breakker, allowing Uso to hit a spear into the Superfly Splash for….two. Breakker spears Zayn down and Uso goes to check on him, allowing Breakker to hit a spear on Uso as well. Back in and a Stomp connects….but CM Punk is back. After taking Breakker out with a chair, Punk chairs Rollins down for the DQ at 19:30.

Rating: B. I wasn’t sure where this was going but they had a good match before they went to the right ending with Punk returning. I was worried they would have one of them take a fall here and that was a terrible idea. They did a nice job here, though I’m not sure how the numbers game is going to workout. Right now it’s Punk/Zayn/Uso vs. Rollins and Breakker, with Roman Reigns still to come back to uneven things even more. That opens up some interesting options and with Heyman talking, everything should go well.

Post match the beating stays on until the villains run to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show did a good job of making me want to see where things are going. You had a nice return with Sheamus, some solid action, and a big moment in the end with Punk coming back to get revenge. There are good things taking place on this show week to week, even if it feels far too early for another pay per view with Backlash. For now though, another strong show here, with pieces that make me want to come back next week, which is incredibly important.

Results
Penta b. JD McDonagh – Canadian Destroyer
Sheamus b. Austin Theory – Brogue Kick
Iyo Sky b. Roxanne Perez – Rollup
Rusev b. Otis – Accolade
Seth Rollins b. Jey Uso via DQ when CM Punk interfered

 

 

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

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

 

Monday Night Raw
Date: April 28, 2025
Location: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

Now we’re in the weird part of the show, as Wrestlemania and the main fall out show are both over. That means it is time to start getting ready for everything else that matters, with the road to Backlash being less than two weeks away. That should make for an interesting show as we already have a main event set with John Cena set to defend against Randy Orton. Let’s get to it.

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

Nick Aldis is in charge tonight with Adam Pearce gone for a week. That could be interesting.

Commentary talks about Gunther attacking Pat McAfee last week, earning himself a fine and a suspension. Later tonight, McAfee gets to comment on the situation.

We look back at Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman gloating last week, with Bron Breakker joining up with them in a move that has all of the potential.

Here are Rollins, Heyman and Breakker for a chat. Rollins hits his catchphrase and talks about how it must be difficult for those of you who still want to chant for CM Punk or Roman Reigns. The future of this company isn’t John Cena, Jey Uso or anyone else, because it is Rollins himself.

Cue Sami Zayn to interrupt and Rollins doesn’t seem overly thrilled. Rollins welcomes him back to the show (where he was last week) and Zayn says they have known each other for a long time. This is a bunch of nonsense though, because Rollins and Zayn spent a lot of time talking about Punk and Reigns. What was the one thing those two had in common? It’s the guy who is now standing behind Rollins, which doesn’t work for Rollins. Zayn thinks Rollins might have been jealous of Punk for all that time because he just wanted to be in Punk’s position.

Rollins says this is the future and this is NOT the Bloodline, but Zayn says he’s looking at the Wise Man and the dog. By the way, if Breakker keeps looking at him like that, he’ll get his face kicked in. Rollins says Zayn is going to need to get out of the way or get beaten down, but maybe they can pull some strings and get him off Raw without any problem. They’ll need an answer by the end of the night.

We look back at Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer last week, with NXT’s Roxanne Perez and Giulia running in for the double beatdown. Rhea Ripley made the save.

Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez

They start slowly until Perez knocks her into the corner. Ripley gets a boot up but can’t get a Razor’s Edge. Instead Perez takes her down and starts in on the leg, even managing to kick her down. A dropkick sends Ripley to the floor but she’s fine enough to pull a suicide dive out of the air. Perez is right back up and wraps the leg around the post, only to have Ripley power out of a Russian legsweep back inside. A clothesline takes Perez down and we go to a break.

Back with Perez still working on the leg but Ripley fights up again. Now the toss Razor’s Edge connects and a running basement dropkick gives Ripley two (with the knee messing up the cover). Cue Giulia for a distraction, which allows Perez to try a failed Pop Rox. Instead Ripley knocks her down, setting up Riptide but Giulia runs in for the DQ at 11:48.

Rating: B-. This was a good showcase for Perez as WWE seems rather interested in showing what the NXT women can do on the main roster. That’s a good idea as the women are NXT’s strong suit and more than capable of hanging up here. It makes me wonder who is on their way up, though Perez is pretty much here already.

Post match the double beatdown is on but Iyo Sky runs in for the save.

The Judgment Day is happy to have JD McDonagh back. Finn Balor goes to talk to him but Liv Morgan says they need to get ready for their match. It’s time to get into the Tag Team Title picture so she’s gotten them a match with the War Raiders. Balor is happy, but would like to be more in the loop.

Here is Logan Paul for a chat. He beat AJ Styles at Wrestlemania but some people still aren’t satisfied. There are people who do not recognize greatness and greatness does not look like Jey Uso. Paul has done everything in WWE except win a World Title, so Uso’s days are numbered. Cue Uso to interrupt, saying he’ snot about to just hand the title over. The fire that was lit inside him when he saw Gunther beat up his brother is never going out. If Paul wants the title, come take it. Paul calls him stupid and gets dropped with a superkick as Uso leaves. There are far worse options for Uso’s first opponent.

War Raiders vs. Judgment Day

New Day is on commentary and do not like all of the attention being paid to McDonagh when Woods’ recovery from injury didn’t get much praise. Erik gets knocked into the corner to start but fights out with a dropkick. Ivar comes in for some heavy knees and Judgment Day is sent outside. Ivar crashed into the side of the ring and we take a break with Erik looking concerned.

We take a break and come back with Erik hitting a heck of a right hand to drop McDonagh. That’s enough for the tag off to Ivar, who sits on Balor in the corner. A spinning kick to the head drops McDonagh but Ivar misses the Doomsault. Instead McDonagh hits his own moonsault for two on Ivar, who is back up to drop both villains. They go to the floor where the Raiders are launched into each other and Ivar takes out New Day. Carlito’s distraction lets McDonagh hit a jawbreaker on Erik but here is Penta to shove McDonagh off the top. The War Machine finishes McDonagh at 10:35.

Rating: C+. I like the War Raiders and odds are they’re getting a title shot out of this, but egads this division feels ice cold right now. It’s coming off more like the tag divisions of old and that’s a terrible thing to see. Maybe things can pick up, but for now, it feels like the titles have a grand total of no value and that’s never how things should be going.

Paul Heyman interrupts Sami Zayn and Otis, with the latter leaving. Heyman talks to Zayn about bringing up the Bloodline but moves on to Seth Rollins. Whether it’s true or not, Rollins sees himself as the future of wrestling. Bron Breakker is not happy either and is demanding a match with Zayn tonight.

That has to be respected because Breakker is the key to their plans. If Zayn is willing to move to Smackdown this week, the GM’s have guaranteed Zayn a WWE Title shot against the winner of John Cena and Randy Orton (that gets Zayn’s attention real fast). Heyman: “You can live in the future or you can die with the past.” Heyman goes to leave and Breakker is waiting at the door, where he looks pleased. Now that’s a good way to go, as it gives this some stakes that we know matter to Zayn

Here is Becky Lynch for an explanation of her attack on Lyra Valkyria last week. She stepped in to help Valkyria after Bayley was attacked just before Wrestlemania….and yeah of course she did it. Lynch does not want to hear the fans yelling at her because Bayley has attacked her over and over since 2019. Bayley has forgotten what this business is supposed to be because she’s out here dancing to wrestlers’ music and wearing their shirts while crying about not being a bigger star. Well Bayley got to see what a bigger star looks like when Lynch walked down the ramp at Wrestlemania.

As for Valkyria, she wouldn’t be in this business if not for Lynch. While Lynch was gone though, Valkyria buddied up with Bayley while Lynch wanted her to “ditch that b****.” It’s too late though because Valkyria is already a loser, but cue Valkyria , looking near tears, to interrupt. Valkyria says a lot of women in the back warned her about Lynch (Lynch: “I’ll bet they did!”) with Bayley being the first. She didn’t believe it though because she had this dream of winning the Women’s Tag Team Titles with her fellow Irishwoman.

Maybe it took all of the Manhandle Slams to get it through her head but Lynch bails from the threat of a fight. Valkyria brings up beating Lynch for the NXT Women’s Title and issues the challenge for tonight. Lynch isn’t wanting to fight in Kansas City so Valkyria issues the challenge for Backlash, and she’ll even put the Women’s Intercontinental Title on the line. Lynch is in but Valkyria says she’s already on the way to being a better woman than Lynch. She’s already a better wrestler, which sends Lynch into a rant.

Valkyria dropkicks her through the ropes and the beating is on with Lynch bailing. Valkyria goes to pose on the stage but Lynch jumps her from behind. They hit all of the notes here but I’m just not quite buying it from Valkyria. I can’t imagine Lynch doesn’t win the title, or at least beat the daylights out of Valkyria at Backlash, but that’s going to be a heck of a step back for Valkyria.

Nick Aldis comes up to Penta and understands that he wants Judgment Day but we can’t have that kind of violence. However, Aldis has made a match between Penta and JD McDonagh for next week. That’s good for Penta, but Chad Gable interrupts to mock Penta for losing at Wrestlemania. That wasn’t even his favorite part of Wrestlemania though, because that was seeing Rey Fenix lose to El Grande Americano. Penta kicks him in the face and hits the catchphrase.

Video on Rusev, who is ready to hurt people after finding himself.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Ivy Nile

Vaquer’s NXT Women’s Title isn’t on the line and Chad Gable is here with Nile. They to to the mat to start with Nile working on a front facelock but something like a European clutch gives Vaquer two. Back up and a spinning rollup gives Vaquer two more but the Devil’s Kiss is blocked. Vaquer shrugs that off and hits the Devil’s Kiss as we take a break.

Back with Vaquer hitting it again, followed by a running Meteora in the corner, with Gable putting the foot on the rope. Vaquer gets distracted, allowing Nile to suplex her down for two. Nile goes up but gets caught with some headbutts, setting up the superplex. The SVB (a butterfly backbreaker) is blocked and Nile plants her down for two more. A dragon screw out of the corner slows Nile down though and the SVB finishes for Vaquer at 9:32.

Rating: B-. They’re in a weird place with Vaquer, as she is already feeling like one of the best stars in all of the women’s division but she hasn’t been NXT Women’s Champion for very long. The problem is she’s a bigger star than pretty much anyone else in the NXT women’s division so I’m not sure how long she’ll be around there. She’s more than ready for the main roster, but dang I hope they don’t waste that momentum in NXT for much longer.

Nick Aldis meets with AJ Styles, who wants to get back in the ring. Cud Judgment Day to interrupt, with Liv Morgan saying she’ll need tome off to be in a Hollywood movie. Aldis agrees and says that’s been settled up, but doesn’t think the same of Dominik Mysterio’s request. When you’re a champion, you have to be here more often (as in a champion like….Morgan). Mysterio and Styles don’t think much of each other but the villains leave. Styles tells Aldis he has an idea, and Aldis seems to know it in advance.

Karrion Kross hopes Sami Zayn makes the right decision.

Michael Cole talks about last week when Gunther went after the commentary team. This led to a brawl between McAfee and Gunther, with Gunther choking him out. McAfee gets on the announcers’ table and sucks up to the fans a bit. He’s been on the commentary team for so long that he has forgotten who he was. McAfee is still the guy who born the son of a hard working truck driver but he wasn’t given much in this life. He went from an irrelevant bum to being known around the country.

There are a few things that he wants to be known for when he is gone, like being a hard worker. He wants to be seen as someone who gave back to various charities, but above all else, he wants to be remembered as a loyal mother******. You have to ride with those who ride for you and there is one man who has been with him since the day he got here. That man is Michael Cole so last week, McAfee had no choice but to help his friend.

Yeah he’s nuts to go after Gunther but if he dies, he dies. He wants “Smackdown’s version of Adam Pearce” to get out here so cue Nick Aldis, who wants to keep this professional. McAfee wants Gunther’s suspension lifted for the sake of a fight. Aldis says he can’t do that for a fight, but he can do it for the sake of a match. The match is made for Backlash. McAfee is annoying but he can still cut a good promo, which he did here.

We look back at the first John Cena vs. Randy Orton WWE Title match, which was all the way back at Summerslam 2007.

Jey Uso checks on Sami Zayn, and says he has his back no matter what decision he makes. Zayn leaves and Uso gets decked by Logan Paul.

Here is Seth Rollins for a chat. He wants Sami Zayn out here for his decision, so here is Zayn in person. Rollins gets that Zayn doesn’t like Breakker or Heyman, but Rollins and Zayn have known each other for twenty years. Last week, Rollins saw Zayn return and thought Zayn would show him the same respect.

Rollins believes that this is the way forward in WWE, but there is no one better to lead us into the future than Rollins himself. It hurts that Zayn doesn’t believe him but that is how the business works. Zayn is one of the few true friends Rollins has in wrestling. When Rollins became a father, Zayn was one of the first people he called because he had no idea what to do. Zayn gave him advice, and now Rollins is hoping Zayn will take the same advice.

Take whatever Heyman is offering him and go to Smackdown. Zayn says that everything Rollins has said about their friendship outside of the ring is true. Everything about what is going on in the ring though is Rollins playing games. He knows it’s a game because he has previously confided in Rollins that the one thing he wants more than anything is to be World Champion. When has Rollins ever known Zayn to run away? Zayn will not be threatened because he will become World Champion and he will do it the right way. That brings out Bron Breakker with Paul Heyman and we’re ready to go.

Bron Breakker vs. Sami Zayn

Heyman and Rollins are here with Breakker and Zayn is in street clothes. Breakker sends him flying with a suplex to start and rakes Zayn’s eyes over the top rope. An elbow to the face drops Zayn again and something like a powerslam gets two. Breakker takes him out tot he floor and hits the diving clothesline onto the announcers’ table.

We take a break and come back with Zayn hitting a sunset bomb. Zayn goes up but Breakker runs the corner for a super Frankensteiner. Breakker’s spear gets cut off with a shot to the face but the Super Spear knocks Zayn silly. Another Super Spear connects and Rollins tells Zayn to take the deal. Zayn tells Rollins where to go so it’s a third Super Spear. Medics come to check on Zayn so Rollins orders one more Super Spear, which is finally enough to stop the match at 12:32.

Rating: B-. Well if you want someone to take a heck of a beating and get all the sympathy in the world while making the new villain look like a monster, Zayn is the guy you call. That’s exactly what we had here, as Breakker wrecked Zayn and looked like a killer in the process. That’s what this needed to be and Breakker did his part about as perfectly as imaginable.

Post match the fans want one more spear but have to settle for a Stomp from Rollins instead. This was the next big beatdown as the team continues to knock off enemies.

Overall Rating: B. A lot of this show focused on the women and that was not a bad way to go. The two women’s matches and the Valkyria/Lynch segment worked, but the other big thing was that much better. The Zayn story was very good and they have a lot of options to pick from with the stories they are setting up. I liked what we got here well enough, but I’m more excited for where things are going and that is a good situation to have.

Results
Rhea Ripley b. Roxanne Perez via DQ when Giulia interfered
War Raiders b. Judgment Day – War Machine to McDonagh
Stephanie Vaquer b. Ivy Nile – SVB
Bron Breakker b. Sami Zayn via referee stoppage

 

 

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

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

 

Monday Night Raw
Date: April 21, 2025
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

So we’re finally done with Wrestlemania and there are a lot of changes to cover. First of all, we have two new World Champions as Jey Uso and John Cena are the top stars in the company, having defeated Gunther and Cody Rhodes. Those are on top of a rather long list that I’m sure we’ll get to this week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Wrestlemania if you need a recap.

We open with a long recap of Wrestlemania Week in Las Vegas.

Here is John Cena to get things going, again with the black screen other than just his name. Hold on though as Cena does not like his ring introduction and hands the ring announcer a paper with the proper way to do it. Cena is the Unseen 17 and the greatest of all time, but he says that he doesn’t owe us an apology. On Friday, everyone bullied him but now that he has some gold, the people want to cheer him?

That is an unhealthy relationship and not the way you treat your wife or child. The people should give him an apology but we get a WE’RE NOT SORRY chant. Cena says the people are pathetic and mean nothing to him before soaking in some negative chants. Cena has taken all kinds of shots over the years and this isn’t going to be the crowd that breaks him. What matters is the 36 dates (which appears on the screen).

No matter what happens, Cena is on his way out and runs down the dates he’s already appeared this year. That brings us down to 27 dates (Cena: “Not matches! Appearances.”). The fans say he doesn’t wrestle but he doesn’t have to. All he has to do is show up and do this. When that countdown hits zero, the professional wrestling countdown stops cold. Now of course there will be another Raw and another champion, but the title of Bruno Sammartino, Steve Austin, Roman Reigns and everyone else is coming home with him.

All he has to do is keep playing us like the puppets we are because they lost their best chance to stop him last night with Cody Rhodes. The reality is there is no one in WWE with the strength, speed or RUTHLESS AGGRESSION of John Cena. However, Cena has a heart so he tells us to take out our cameras. Take your pictures because the last real champion is here. Then Randy Orton pops up and Cena turns around (Cena: “S***!”) for an RKO. With Backlash in St. Louis, that makes all the sense in the world. It was also an outstanding promo from Cena, who continues to flow so naturally as a heel that it’s almost unbelievable.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriguez vs. Becky Lynch/Lyra Valkyria

Lynch, who returned last night, and Valkyria, are defending. Lynch’s kicks to various parts of Morgan put her down and it’s already off to Valkyria to kick the villains down. Stereo dropkicks through the ropes have Morgan and Rodriguez down again and we take a break. Back with Lynch fighting back and blocking Oblivion. The Manhandle Slam gets two with Rodriguez coming in for the save.

Everyone goes up top and Morgan grabs a sunset bomb on Lynch. Rodriguez hits a super bomb for two on Valkyria, who gets up for the Nightwing to Rodriguez but Morgan makes the save. Lynch gets posted and Valkyria big boots Valkyria in the face for two more. Rodriguez tries to powerbomb Morgan onto Valkyria but only hits raised knees. Valkyria sends Rodriguez outside but knocks her into Lynch, with the distraction letting Morgan hit Oblivion for the pin and the titles at 11:54.

Rating: B. This turned into a heck of a back and forth match and I kind of like the rapid fire title changes. Lynch and Valkyria got their big moment last night with the surprise return, but they aren’t a regular team and this brings back some stability to the titles, with the long term champions holding them again. If also frees Valkyria from being a double champion, which didn’t need to happen.

Post match Rodriguez and Morgan leave and Lynch erupts on Valkyria, beating her down and screaming at her. Lynch teases leaving a few times but comes back for a few Manhandle Slams. That’s either going to make Lynch the second Intercontinental Champion or give Valkyria by far her biggest wins to date.

We look at Paul Heyman turning on Roman Reigns and CM Punk to join Seth Rollins on Saturday.

New Day is coming to the ring and get a nod of approval from Karrion Kross.

Here is New Day for a chat. They tell us to get down on our knees and thank God for them. They are the greatest team of all time and no one, dead or alive, can touch them. Cue the Alpha Academy, with Maxxine Dupri bringing up the Academy beating them in sixty seconds. The challenge is issued and decline, so Dupri dubs them the Minute Men. That’s enough to get the title match and here’s a referee.

Tag Team Titles: New Day vs. Alpha Academy

New Day is defending but the lights go dim and…..Rusev is back. New Day bails and Rusev wrecks the Academy with no trouble. No match. He had been rumored to come back and while I’m not sure how far he’ll go, it’s better than having him sit on the sidelines for the better part of ever.

Judgment Day celebrates their new titles when Finn Balor comes in to glare at Dominik Mysterio. Balor breaks into a smile and congratulates him but Carlito thinks he and Balor should get some titles of their own.

Here is Iyo Sky for a chat. Last night was the best night of her career because she beat the best in the world to prove that SHE is the best. Now no one will ever forget her because she is the Genius of the Sky and the Women’s World Champion. Cue Stephanie Vaquer (NXT Women’s Champion) to say that she wants to fight the best. The challenge is on for right now so Adam Pearce makes the match.

Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer

Non-title. Feeling out process to start with neither being able to get very far. Sky blocks an O’Connor roll attempt and they stare at each other a bit, followed by Sky sending her outside. The big suicide dive connects but Vaquer gets in a dive off the barricade as we take a break. Back with Sky armdragging her off the top and nailing a missile dropkick. The Bullet Train gets two but Vaquer is right back up with a Meteora.

The SVB (a butterfly backbreaker) is blocked and Sky stomps her down for two. Instead Vaquer is back up with the Devil’s Kiss (figure four necklock with Vaquer sending her face first into the mat) to quite the reception. Back up and Sky snaps off a German suplex, only for Vaquer to hit one of her own. They’re both down and get a FIGHT FOREVER chant so they go up top, where Sky hits a super Spanish Fly. Sky gets up and here is Roxanne Perez to jump Sky for the DQ at 13:58.

Rating: B-. They were having a good match and thankfully went with the most logical ending. What mattered here was getting Vaquer a quick look on the main roster with a top talent and she more than lived up to the task. The ending keeps everything going and boosts up Perez vs. Vaquer for the title this week on NXT.

Post match Giulia (from NXT) runs in to go after Sky, with Perez beating on Vaquer. Cue Rhea Ripley for the save. Ripley stares down Giulia and the villains leave, with Ripley saying she’s coming for Sky’s title.

We look at Jey Uso’s rise up to the main event.

Here is Uso for his World heavyweight Championship celebration. After doing the YEET thing again, he says he is so grateful to finally have the title on his shoulder. He is ready to put in the work every week to keep it and asks for the catchphrase. Cue Sami Zayn to interrupt and give Jey a big hug. It was hard for him to miss Wrestlemania because just like Jey, he is a game day player and it’s hard to not be in the ring.

The thing is, he had to be the first one to stand in this ring and congratulate him on being the new champion. Every single person in this building knows that Jey deserves that and we are here to celebrate, so hit his music. The celebration is on and here is Jimmy Uso to join in with no issues. This was a nice moment and it was refreshing to not have another turn from these guys.

Last night, Logan Paul denied any knowledge of interference in his match. He’ll face anyone, anywhere, anytime.

AJ Styles says he’s ok with the loss last night and he’s ready to bounce back. Karrion Kross and Scarlett come in to yell about Styles being the best around here but now he’s legitimized Logan Paul. Styles does not want to be the old, evil version of himself before and tells Kross to go solve the problem himself. Kross: “Maybe I will.”

We come back from a break with Gunther yelling at commentary, getting on Cole for saying negative things about him. Gunther shoves McAfee and chokes Cole, earning a shot from McAfee. Agents and referees come in and Gunther chokes McAfee out while trying to hold back some other people (possibly people from McAfee’s show). Gunther is FINALLY dragged off and McAfee is revived but has to be helped out.

After a break, Cole and McAfee are going to the trainer’s room and Joe Tessitore has taken over commentary. Cole starts to go back to the ring but Adam Pearce tells him to take the rest of the night off. Cole says Gunther might have broken his nose but he isn’t going to let some bully not let him do his job. That gets a big reaction and Cole comes back to commentary to join Tessitore, with the fans cheering for Cole, which you do not hear very often.

Intercontinental Title: Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio

Mysterio, with Judgment Day, is defending and stomps Penta down in the corner to start. Penta fights up and hits a crossbody before knocking Mysterio down again. We take an early break and come back with Penta in control, including a running Canadian Destroyer. Mysterio rolls outside for a breather though and Finn Balor gives him a pep talk. Penta hurricanranas Balor into Mysterio but cue JD McDonagh to shove Penta off the top. The frog 619 and frog splash retain the title at 8:02.

Rating: C+. McDonagh being back is another boost for the team, but it feels like Balor’s days as part of the lineup are numbered. There is something interesting about the idea of Balor constantly acting like the leader but never being able to win anything or come up with a plan. That very well could be leading to a shift in power and that could be rather interesting.

We get an old school style newsreel on El Grande Americano’s win at Wrestlemania, including shots of the massive celebrations in the streets. He’s earned them.

Here are Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman for a chat. The fans want CM Punk or Roman Reigns but Rollins starts talking about how he is a visionary. He is also the winner of the main event of Wrestlemania…and here is Punk. The brawl is on but Punk turns his attention to Heyman, allowing Rollins to beat him down. Heyman says they are going to say this all the way until Wrestlemania XLII, but there is a new reigning, defending, undisputed top star in WWE and he is Seth Rollins.

Cue Reigns (Rollins throws Punk outside) to charge into the ring and hit the spear on Rollins. That leaves Heyman all alone though and Reigns drops him with a Superman Punch. The spear is loaded up…and BRON BREAKKER cuts Reigns off with a Super Spear. Breakker and Rollins have a staredown and Breakker drops Punk with a Super Spear.

Rollins hugs Breakker and tells him to take out Reigns again. Reigns fights back with a shot to the face but Breakker runs around the ring and hits a Super Spear through the barricade. Rollins Stomps Punk and poses with Heyman and Breakker as we now have two Paul Heyman Guys.

Oh that’s a very intriguing way to go as Breakker fits in perfectly as a Paul Heyman Guy and could easily be moved into a main event slot. I like this a lot and it has all kinds of potential. If nothing else, you can see the huge tag match at Backlash from here. Heck of a way to end the show with a big surprise and a smart one at that.

Overall Rating: B. This was a very wrestling lite show and as usual, that’s not the point of the post Wrestlemania Raw. This week was all about the fallout and the big moves going forward. We had returns, a big reveal in the end and several matches/feuds being teased for the near future. I liked this show a lot and it felt more like a traditional post Wrestlemania Raw, which is nice to see after something of an absence.

Results
Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriguez b. Becky Lynch/Lyra Valkyria – Oblivion to Valkyria
Iyo Sky b. Stephanie Vaquer via DQ when Roxanne Perez interfered
Dominik Mysterio b. Penta – Frog splash

 

 

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