Impact Wrestling
Date: July 14, 2020
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Madison Rayne

It’s the go home show for Slammiversary and that’s actually a pretty nice feeling for once. The shows building towards the pay per view have been well done and if they manage to make it work this time, we could be in for a heck of a show on Saturday. Yeah Saturday, as almost everyone outside of WWE has changed up their pay per view schedule in a pretty smart move. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Rosemary/Kiera Hogan/Tasha Steelz/Kimber Lee/Taya Valkyrie vs. Alisha Edwards/Kylie Rae/Susie/Nevaeh/Havok

Steelz is taken into the corner to start with Havok and Nevaeh starting with the rapid fire double teaming. Lee gets kicked to the floor as the villains are all sent outside early on. That means a big beatdown of Nevaeh, with Susie hitting the flip dive from the apron. Havok tosses Alisha onto the pile and Havok adds the suicide dive. Taya cuts off Rae’s dive though and it’s Kylie getting beaten down for a change.

Rosemary’s bicycle kick into a German suplex from Taya gets two. Taya adds the running knees in the corner as Josh is WAY too excited about the state of the Knockouts division, with Madison having to tone him down. Steelz sends Rae right back into the corner to cut off a comeback bid and it’s Lee coming in for a chinlock. Back from a break with Rae ducking a right hand and diving over for the tag to Susie, which commentary completely ignores. Everything breaks down into the parade of secondary finishers until Rae superkicks Lee into Susie’s Panic Switch for the pin at 13:11.

Rating: C. There’s only so much that you can get out of a match like this but it’s about as good of a preview as you can have for the gauntlet match. There are several options for the win and that could make for some interesting stuff on Saturday. The wrestling was fine enough and there wasn’t much of a point here other than having most of the participants out there.

Post match Susie seems to twitch a bit, but everything breaks down into another big brawl until Kylie stands tall.

Here’s your preview for tonight and Sunday.

Madman Fulton and Ace Austin are in Dayton, Ohio, with Fulton not being happy about being back in OVE territory. Ace says if there is one thing he has learned in his five years in wrestling, it’s that you have to go back to where you started.

Hernandez and Rhino have been arm wrestling around the arena for over a week.

Moose tries to recruit Hernandez and Rhino to be his partner tonight and costs Hernandez the win. Hernandez wants to fight Rhino outside and that’s an easy yes.

Flashback Moment of the Week: Chris Sabin wins Ultimate X at Slammiversary 2013.

XXXL vs. Deaners

Points for the cameras shaking during XXXL’s entrance. Josh likes the idea of hunting, fishing and roasting marshmallows at the Deaner compound. Madison: “….you need to stop.” Jake and Larry collide to start with Jake popping up from the shoulder and getting in a slam. Cody is slammed onto Larry for two but Larry forearms his way over to Acey for the tag. A running clothesline gives Acey two and there’s the Pounce to send Jake into the corner. Larry kicks Cody down into a powerbomb but Jake makes a blind tag and steals the pin at 3:22.

Rating: D+. Well that happened and there isn’t much else to be said about something like this. Again, the tag teams seem to be trading wins back and forth and no one is really gaining anything. It wasn’t a good match or anything either, though XXXL looked decent enough in a short form.

Post match XXXL lays out Jake with a Demolition Decapitator, seemingly turning heel.

Moose asks Rohit Raju to be his partner tonight. Raju agrees, even though he’s the final option.

Johnny Swinger tells Chris Bey that he’s going to straighten things out with management. Swinger goes to the referee, saying that he’s been talking to Cancel Culture (must be taped out of order) and they think he’s a qualified emotional support companion.

Video on Willie Mack vs. Chris Bey for the X-Division Title at Slammiversary.

Bey hits on Gia Miller and calls Swinger, who of course is outside, an idiot. Swinger says the office won’t budge and Bey is on his own at Slammiversary.

Video on Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jordynne Grace.

We get a sitdown face to face interview with Purrazzo and Grace. Purrazzo signs the contract but pauses Grace to tell her what she’s getting into on Saturday. Grace signs and says Purrazzo doesn’t know what she’s into right now. Grace knocks her down and leaves.

Video on Ken Shamrock/Sami Callihan vs. the North.

Shamrock and Callihan know they don’t trust each other but they could win some gold. Callihan is likely to turn on Shamrock anyway, so Shamrock promises to break his neck for trying.

Moose/Rohit Raju vs. Tommy Dreamer/Crazzy Steve

Even commentary points out that Raju is always standing around backstage with nothing to do. Dreamer headlocks Raju to start but gets driven into the corner for trying a hammerlock. A suplex drops Raju though and it’s off to Steve, who gets slammed head first into the mat. Moose comes in for the fall away slam but misses the spear into the corner.

It’s back to Dreamer to lose a slugout as everything breaks down. Raju breaks up Dreamer’s dive and hands it back to Moose to hammer away. Dreamer punches Moose out of the air though and grabs a DDT. The double tag brings in Steve and Raju as the pace picks up a good bit. Everything breaks down again and Raju knees Steve in the face. Steve is right back up with a middle rope DDT to finish Raju at 6:14.

Rating: D+. Another match that was just kind of there as it seems they are scraping the bottom of the barrel of whatever they have left from the taping cycle. That is also true of Dreamer, who somehow gets a pretty big time pay per view match when you have how many people on the roster without much to do?

Austin and Fulton get to the gym in Dayton.

Rhino and Hernandez meet in the parking lot with Rhino wanting the money he won in the arm wrestling. Rhino kicks him low and chokes against a production truck but Hernandez throws something at him and gets in a few shots. A trashcan and a traffic cone are brought in and Rhino hammers away (seemingly at the camera in one shot as we’re in Cinematic Mode). Eventually they’re both spent and agree to split the money.

We recap the World Title situation, with the triple threat match being set up to crown a new champion. This is the same video package we saw last week, or at least really close to it.

Austin and Fulton train, while Austin talks about becoming the World Champion on Saturday. Slammiversary isn’t about the mystery opponent or Edwards or Trey. It’s about Austin becoming the youngest World Champion of all time.

A new Slammiversary vignette suggests three people returning.

Eddie Edwards talks about everyone being different. Everything in his career has led him to Slammiversary, starting with his training at Killer Kowalski’s wrestling school. He was born to be the World Champion and now he’s back here for a reason. Eddie has fought through everything to be here and he has no choice but to win the title.

Slammiversary rundown.

Trey and Wentz sneak into the Dayton gym while Austin is lecturing in the ring. A trashcan shot staggers Fulton and they lock him in a closet. Trey and Ace get in a fight with Trey shoving him over a chair and hammering away. Ace sends him into a wall though and hits him with a broom, followed by a chair to the back. Trey gets in a crotching on the barricade and slugs away some more but Fulton is back up. Wentz returns with a barbed wire chair and the villains bail to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. This was a case where they could only do so much with what they had. They didn’t have much left to pull from so they probably had to film some stuff at the last minute. It worked as well as it could have given the circumstances, but it’s a shame that they had to hit a speed bump on the way to Slammiversary. I’m curious about what they’re going to have next week, but Slammiversary still looks good.

Results

Kylie Rae/Susie/Nevaeh/Havok/Alisha Edwards b. Tasha Steelz/Kimber Lee/Kiera Hogan/Taya Valkyrie/Rosemary – Panic Switch to Lee

Deaners b. XXXL – Rollup to Larry

Crazzy Steve/Tommy Dreamer b. Rohit Raju/Moose – Middle rope DDT to Raju

 

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

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

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

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

Impact Wrestling
Date: June 23, 2020
Location: Skyway Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Madison Rayne

Then, as they tend to do in this company for one reason or another, things got complicated in a hurry as Michael Elgin was suspended from the company over SpeakOut allegations. At the same time, Joey Ryan was fired outright, leaving some good sized holes in this show. That means this show is going to be hacked to pieces, which could make for some different viewing. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Nevaeh vs. Tasha Steelz

Havok is with Nevaeh and Kiera Hogan is with Steelz. The trash talk is on to start so Nevaeh pushes her down and hits a Hennig necksnap. That means a trip to the floor so Hogan can offer some advice, which seems to be knee Nevaeh in the chest. Some snap jabs give Steelz two and a headbutt gets the same.

The chinlock goes on but doesn’t last long as Nevaeh fights up, only to get kicked right back down. A neckbreaker gives Steelz another two but she misses a charge into the post. An STO into a release German suplex gives Nevaeh a delayed two and draws Steelz up to the apron. The rollup with trunks give Steelz the pin at 6:06.

Rating: D+. I know I’ve had a lot of good things to say about the division developing and having multiple stories, but the wrestling hasn’t been great for the most part. This was a good example, as they just went through the motions and had a match until Hogan got involved in the finish. We also don’t really know anything about Nevaeh, but at least I’ve learned how to spell her name.

We see a clip of Deonna Purrazzo on Busted Open Radio (there’s your Tommy Dreamer cameo) with Purrazzo talking about being ready to start fast around here. Jordynne Grace pops in on the call and promises to “f****** crush” Purrazzo, who calls this disrespectful. Purrazzo declares herself the face of the Knockouts division and guarantees to win the title in her first shot. That’s it for the interview.

Purrazzo says she’ll fight when the title is on the line. Cue Alisha Edwards to challenge her to a match tonight.

Here’s what else is on the show.

The released WWE wrestler is still coming at Slammiversary.

Rich Swann comes in to see Johnny Swinger, who wants him to be a partner in a six man tonight. That’s not happening because Swann is still hurt, plus he’s not facing Willie Mack tonight. Swann is off to tell Mack what happened too, but Swinger needs to find his Rolodex to see who else could be the partner.

Flashback Moment of the Week: Bully Ray calls out D-Von and a big brawl erupts, with Doc Gallows being revealed as a member of Aces and 8’s. This was much longer than usual and their solution to the show having to be edited.

The North doesn’t like Ken Shamrock and make fun of his UFC career. You know where this is going, and it’s Alexander getting to face Shamrock later.

Moose talks to some referees about being in the Pro Bowl. He’s used to being showered with gifts so everyone should do that for the World Champion. Crazzy Steve comes up to sing a song about how fake of a champion Moose is. This earns him a title shot next week.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Alisha Edwards

They fight over arm control to start until Purrazzo hits a Lethal Combination into a quickly broken Koji Clutch. Purrazzo starts in on the arm with a legdrop into an armbar with the legs. Edwards comes back with some shots to the face but Purrazzo kicks her in the head and snaps on the Fujiwara armbar for the tap at 2:56. Effective debut as it looked like Purrazzo toyed with her until she won when she felt like it.

Post match Grace runs in to chase Purrazzo off. Not her time you see.

Swinger can’t get Suicide to be the partner.

Hernandez agrees to be the partner, if Swinger can beat him at arm wrestling. Swinger is going to need to keep looking. Swinger: “You broke my swing!” He does however get a Rhino Micro Brawler.

Swinger bumps into Taya Valkyrie but can’t get her to say yes either. She’s looking for Bravo. Swinger: “I haven’t seen Dino.”

Ken Shamrock vs. Josh Alexander

Alexander and Ethan Page jump Shamrock before the bell but he fights them off….for about three seconds. Page puts him in the ankle lock and the champs leave Shamrock laying. No match.

Taya Valkyrie vs. Susie

John E. Bravo comes out to be in Taya’s corner, though she’s not happy with him for being late. Madison doesn’t like Susie waving at the empty arena (Madison to Josh: “She’s waving at all of your friends.”). Taya jumps her to start and has to kick out of a rollup for two. A German suplex out of the corner gives Taya two and Bravo gets in some choking from the floor.

Taya slowly kicks away and talks trash before grabbing a reverse chinlock. A grab of the rope breaks that up and Taya charges into an elbow in the corner. Susie hurricanranas her into the corner but Taya is back with a clothesline for two more. Taya misses a charge in the corner and Susie gets in a Thesz press to hammer away. That just earns her a curb stomp from Taya, followed by the Road to Valhalla to give Taya the pin at 8:07.

Rating: C-. Not terrible here but they’re still pushing the idea of Su Yung returning when Susie is pushed too far. That’s an interesting way to go, or at least it was when Bray Wyatt and Mick Foley did it. We could be in for something good when Yung finally come back and seeing Taya as a screaming coward should work well.

Post match Taya stays on Susie but Kylie Rae runs in with a superkick for the save.

Ace Austin isn’t going to let Madman Fulton answer questions about their alliance. This is all about success.

Remember the ex-WWE star coming to Impact? They’re still coming.

Swinger has found a partner: Rohit Raju. Chris Bey: “Why? Why?”

Willie Mack/Deaners vs. Chris Bey/Rohit Raju/Johnny Swinger

Jake and Raju start things off with Raju grabbing a headlock. That’s about it for Raju’s offense to start as the good guys all get in a shot each. Swinger comes in and gets dropkicked into the wrong corner. Everything breaks down and the villains are sent outside as we take a break.

Back with Jake fighting out of the corner until Raju lands a superkick. Bey ties him in the ropes for a kick to the back and a near fall and it’s off to Swinger for a chinlock. That’s broken up in a hurry so Bey comes inf or an abdominal stretch. Jake breaks that up without much trouble and everything breaks down. The parade of finishers is on until Mack Stuns Raju. Bey hits a springboard Fameasser to finish Mack at 11:18.

Rating: C. They did a nice job of setting up the pretty obvious Slammiversary title shot. Mack vs. Bey could be a heck of a match and the setup with Swinger needing to find a partner was funny. Throw in people taking shots at Raju and this was a good enough use of time throughout the night.

Reno Scum comes up to yell at D’Lo Brown but TJP and Fallah Bahh come in to make the match for next week.

Here’s what’s coming next week. In theory at least.

Madman Fulton vs. Eddie Edwards

Ace Austin is here with Fulton. Eddie circles the monster to start and ducks a right hand in the corner. A grab of the hair doesn’t get Eddie very far as Fulton throws him into the corner to take over with the power. Eddie gets in an atomic drop but a belly to belly attempt is easily blocked. A running clothesline sends Fulton to the floor, where he yells at Eddie for thinking about a dive.

We take a break and come back with Fulton throwing him over the top with a chokeshove. Eddie can barely get back to his feet so Fulton sends it back inside for a neckbreaker. A suplex gets Eddie out of trouble and Fulton bails to the floor so the dive can connect. Fulton does a movie monster sit up and Eddie’s chops have no effect.

The Blue Thunder Bomb works a bit better but Fulton sends him hard into the corner. Eddie is fine enough to snap off a super hurricanrana but Fulton gets in a palm strike. The strike off goes to Eddie and he grabs a tiger driver for two. Fulton is right back up with a swinging Downward Spiral to finish Eddie at 14:36.

Rating: B. Match of the night here and that isn’t quite surprising given that Eddie was involved. He’s one of the few names who is almost guaranteed to have a good match and that’s a very valuable thing to have. Fulton is becoming a great monster as well and putting him with Austin could be interesting.

Overall Rating: D+. I do feel bad for them because the show was guaranteed to be a mess given the whole situation, which wasn’t their fault. That being said, this is going to get worse before it gets better and I’m not sure what that is going to mean in the long run. What we got here was a lot of “see you next week” stuff and a good main event. Slammiversary has the potential to be a huge mess but getting rid of people who were just going to cause more problems might make it worth the hassle.

Results

Tasha Steelz b. Nevaeh – Rollup with trunks

Deonna Purrazzo b. Alisha Edwards – Fujiwara armbar

Taya Valkyrie b. Susie – Road to Valhalla

Chris Bey/Rohit Raju/Johnny Swinger b. Willie Mack/Deaners – Springboard Fameasser to Mack

Madman Fulton b. Eddie Edwards – Swinging Downward Spiral

 

 

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

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

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

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

Impact Wrestling
Date: October 18, 2018
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Don Callis

It’s a big show this week as we’re officially past Bound For Glory, meaning the long road towards Homecoming begins. That can wait in a few weeks though as we’re now looking at the fallout from the biggest show of the year. Johnny Impact FINALLY won the World Title from Austin Aries, who seems to be done with the promotion for the time being. Let’s get to it.

Here’s Bound For Glory if you need a recap.

Of course we open with a long recap of Bound For Glory. It’s not like it could have been anything else.

Opening sequence.

The ring is still tiny. I know it’s due to the venue but egads.

Here’s new World Champion Johnny Impact to open things up. After saying wrestling is unpredictable and being cut off by a YOU DESERVE IT chant, he talks about how he wanted to do this for his entire life because he’s it’s like nothing else. He grew up watching it when he was a kid at the Great Western Forum and he’s always been someone who does things a little differently. People told him that making a movie with his own money was crazy but now it’s streaming on Netflix. Even if it’s in a bin at Dollar General, he’s proud of it.

He’s been told he just has the look of a wrestler but now he has the title on his shoulder. This business is what we make it and he’s not going to hide behind goons and tweet passive aggressively because he’s a coward. If someone deserves a title shot they can get it, so here’s Fenix to interrupt. Fenix says he’s won titles around the world but never here. It’s an incredible opportunity to fight for that title and he wants a show next week. Johnny: “Well it’s not like I can say no.” The match is on for next week.

Next week: the show moves to 10pm. That doesn’t sound good.

The announcers talk about Bound For Glory.

Tommy Dreamer talks about great football players who became great wrestlers. Moose wants to join the list but he doesn’t want to put in the work. Tonight, Tommy is going to beat something into him and doesn’t mind giving him a concussion. Not the best thing in the world to say at the moment.

Outside, Moose hits on McKenzie Mitchell and is ready to beat up Dreamer. Killer Kross asks if Dreamer feels in control and says they both accept his challenge.

Katarina vs. Taya Valkyrie

Katarina gets aggressive to start and stomps away in the corner as Callis talks about the ring skirt costing Taya the title “last night”. Some knees to the back set up a backbreaker for two as it’s all Katarina to start. A missed charge lets Taya forearm away and a pair of running knees, including one against the ropes, gets two. The Road To Valhalla finishes Katarina at 3:50.

Rating: D+. Nothing to see here but Taya will pretty clearly get a rematch with Tessa Blanchard for the title. Katarina has already cooled off since returning, though I’m sure they can find something for her to do. Just getting away from Grado is already doing her some good and finding a new star to manage will help a lot.

Post match, Taya says she doesn’t respect Tessa Blanchard for having to retain the title like that.

Matt Sydal and Ethan Page sit in the dark and talk about opening third eyes. Sydal has made Page in tune with himself and tonight, Page can show Trevor Lee how to suffer.

Gama Singh attacks Rohit Raju, who has one more test to pass: facing Gama Singh himself next week. I really can’t stand these people much longer.

Trevor Lee vs. Ethan Page

Sydal is here with Page. There’s something funny about Josh Matthews managing Sydal being banished from all history. Lee chokes him in the corner to start and then chokes differently to mix things up. Page comes back with some right hands and points at his forehead because that’s his gimmick.

Some stomping in the corner (a common move around here) doesn’t do much as Trevor sends him outside for the running kick from the apron. A Sydal distraction (with another offer to join) allows Page to hit a hanging double arm DDT for two as the fans aren’t sure who to cheer for here. Lee hits a jumping knee to the face and gets two off a middle rope moonsault. Page elbows him in the face, sends him into the corner and elbows him again, followed by a Rock Bottom for the pin at 6:22.

Rating: C-. Page looked good here and clearly has enough talent to make it in this company. However, Lee still does nothing for me at all. Now that being said, I’ve heard he’s WAY better outside of Impact and he wouldn’t be the first person to be in that situation. Maybe he just needs a refreshing, but at the moment he’s just the guy who can give you a watchable match.

Rich Swann, with Willie Mack, is ready to win the X-Division Title tonight. Mack had a good time on Sunday, but Swann has to do it on his own tonight. That’s cool with Swann.

Video on the Allie/Kiera Hogan/Rosemary/Su Yung/WHAT THE HECK EVER THAT WAS segment from Sunday.

Kiera talks to Allie, who insists she’s fine but clearly isn’t.

Classic Moment of the Week: Daniel Bryan beats Randy Orton for the World Title. They called it Eric Young beating Magnus but it was Bryan over Orton.

Petey Williams asks Scarlett Bordeaux when she’s going to announce him as her new client. She flirts on him for a bit, but says the talent search is ongoing, and open to fans too. Petey seems confused, but Petey confuses me more often than not.

Killer Kross vs. Tommy Dreamer

Moose is here with Kross of course. Kross misses an early knee drop and Dreamer knocks him out to the floor. Dreamer, wearing his Dusty Rhodes shirt and Dusty Rhodes pants, gets to do the Dusty Rhodes Bionic Elbow and gets choked down for all that gimmick infringement. Back in and a hard whip into the corner keeps Dreamer’s back in trouble and a t-bone suplex gets two.

The cravate goes on but Dreamer gets up top to catch him with a right hand. There’s a superplex as the fans chant ECW. Dreamer loses a slugout but escapes a German suplex and hits a cutter. Moose tries to come in but takes a cutter of his own. The Doomsday Saito is broken up with a bite to Kross’ head but the second attempt drops Dreamer on his head. Kross does it again and that’s a referee stoppage at 7:02.

Rating: D+. This was the not great Dreamer match that you would have expected. I’m still not sure why he keeps getting on TV shows as it’s not like he’s interesting on his own, but nostalgia is a powerful weapon. I had the same reaction to this one that I have to every Dreamer match and that’s not the best feeling in the world.

Post match Dreamer gets beaten up even more.

We see part of Abyss’ Hall of Fame induction speech, which sounds rather good. The fact that he’s the first Impact Original to go in is rather telling.

Eli Drake isn’t happy with Abyss putting him through a table because it’s an unsafe work environment. Those are words that I never need to hear in wrestling again. Oh and he’s suing the company. Well a lot of people have over the years so he might as well join the team.

LAX is celebrating their win when King comes in. According to the bosses, he and the OGz get to keep a piece of New York but they have to stay on their own sides. Konnan says get on your own side then and get out of here.

We look back at the opening sequence.

More announcers talking and recapping the show so far.

Allie vs. Alisha Edwards

Rating: C-. This was much more storytelling than wrestling and there’s nothing wrong with that. Allie can only be the Bayley style character for so long as she’s a very well rounded performer and the kind of person who could be a fixture in the division with a different character. Alisha is getting better as well so the future is starting to pick up for the Knockouts.

Post match Allie stays on Alisha until Kiera pulls her off. Fans: “PSYCHO BUNNY!”

Jordynne Grace is coming.

X-Division Title: Rich Swann vs. Brian Cage

Cage is defending. Swann starts with the dancing and gets shoved down for his efforts. Cage shrugs off a dropkick but Swann flips out of a German suplex attempt. A hurricanrana doesn’t work either as Cage throws him down and hits some Roman Reigns clotheslines in the corner. It’s too early for the Drill Claw though and Cage misses a charge to the floor.

For some reason Swann follows him and gets powerbombed into the post. An apron superplex brings Swann back in and we take a break. Back with Swann being sent chest first into the buckle and then kicked in the face. Cage throws him down again as Josh and Don plug a Titanic marathon on Sunday. An F5 is escaped and Swann tries a front flip seated senton but gets caught in the air.

Instead it’s a DDT to drop Cage but he avoids the Phoenix splash. They trade kicks to the face with Swann getting the better of it, including more kicks to the head for two. Swann tries one kick too many though and gets caught in a pumphandle faceplant. An Angle Slam gets two on Swann but he pulls Cage out of the air with a cutter. A Lethal Injection sets up a middle rope 450 for two but the Phoenix splash misses. Cage powerbombs him, buckle bombs him, and Weapon X’s him for the pin to retain at 14:43.

Rating: B. Easily the best match on the show here and that’s a good sign considering how much potential both of these guys have. Cage is the create-a-wrestler come to life and Swann is a ball of charisma. This was a really fun match and the kind of thing that the show needed after a lot of storyline heavy stuff earlier in the night.

Post match here’s Sami Callihan to show a loop of him pinning Cage on Sunday. A fight breaks out but the Crist Brothers run in for the save. Cage clears the ring to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This wasn’t a great show but you don’t have to do much on the first night after Bound For Glory. Instead of having a big time show, they went with a cool down show with some stuff that advanced stories and made you want to come back for more. That’s a different path from what WWE would do and that’s not a bad idea. It was a very easy show to watch and that’s often something you need after so many weeks of heavier shows. It works for NXT and it worked fine enough here. Not a great show, but the right choice for this week.

Results

Taya Valkyrie b. Katarina – Road To Valhalla

Ethan Page b. Trevor Lee – Rock Bottom

Killer Kross b. Tommy Dreamer via referee stoppage

Allie b. Alisha Edwards – Codebreaker

Brian Cage b. Rich Swann – Weapon X

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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