IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Dynamite
Date: November 11, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross

It’s the show after Full Gear and that means we have a long time to go before Revolution at the end of February. There is a lot of ground to cover on the way to that show and that means they have the time to set up more than a few things. I’m not sure what that is going to include and that is a nice feeling to have. Let’s get to it.

Here is Full Gear if you need a recap.

Happy Veterans Day.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Team Taz for a chat before Brian Cage’s match. Taz talks about how Cage is going to wrestle but before that he can see Darby Allin sitting up in the rafters. The last time they saw him, he was splattered on the roof of his own car at Full Gear. If Allin comes near the ring, he is getting taken out again. While he is sitting up there, send a message to his friend Cody, who can get taken out too. Cage is about to wrestle someone who is respected around the world in Matt Sydal. See, Sydal is no joke and Cage isn’t either, so let’s go.

Brian Cage vs. Matt Sydal

Taz is on commentary and Ricky Starks is at ringside. Sydal starts fast with an enziguri into a kick to the face but gets tossed into the corner for the rapid fire clotheslines. A hiptoss into a backbreaker has Sydal in more trouble and Cage throws him around to make it even worse. There’s another clothesline and Cage does the curls into the fall away slam for two more. Sydal slips out of a powerbomb though and sends Cage to the ramp before going up top (Taz: “Oh no.”).

The top rope Meteora connects and it’s time to head back inside for the various kicks to various parts of Cage. The snap Angle Slam sets up another kick for two more and Sydal needs a breather. Another kick to the head connects but Cage is right back with a huge clothesline. The Drill Claw is countered into a hurricanrana for a hot near fall, which has Taz in near hysterics (which is a nice move as it adds drama). Sydal goes up top but Cage pulls him out of the air (dang) for the Drill Claw and the pin at 7:40. Taz: “VICTORY!!!!”

Rating: C+. That’s one of the better Sydal matches I’ve seen in a long time as he was fighting the monster and did so rather well. It helps that Cage is the kind of athletic freak that you don’t get to see very often. Sydal looked good in defeat and that’s nice to see, as he has only been doing so much around AEW so far.

Post match Ricky Starks grabs the mic and says the TNT Title is next. They’re ranked now and the revolution will be televised.

Here’s Cody Rhodes for a chat. After asking how the fans are, he congratulates Darby Allin (with a wince) and says that he will not be asking for a rematch right now. There are other giants to take care of….and here’s a rather tall and muscular woman to cut him off. Her name is Jade Cargill (not sure if I heard that right) and she is the total package.

She has been sitting on the sidelines studying her competition and has heard Cody talking about himself for months. He calls himself the giant killer but there is nothing giant about him. Jade knows a real giant and statements like Cody’s are an echo loud enough to wake him. The next time Cody wants to talk, keep that s*** to yourself.

Jade goes up the ramp but stops to say congratulations on the name. The giant that he was talking about is the real star, and his name is SHAQ (who commentary mentions was backstage at Full Gear to make a little more sense out of things). Cue Brandi, to ask who told her this was open mic night b****. Brandi shouts in her face about messing with her man and says get out of here until Brandi sends for her, heifer. Jerry Lynn comes out to break it up and commentary thinks it’s going to take more than just him.

Cue Cage to kick Cody low and Starks joins him, but it’s Darby Allin coming in for the save. Darby hits a Coffin Drop to a standing Starks, which is made a lot worse as he has a jacket with thumbtacks sticking out (that’s a new one). With everyone cleaned, out, Will Hobbs comes out to make it a trio. The Shaq thing was a little odd but Brandi snapping and going off on Jade was great.

We look at Kenny Omega beating Hangman Page to become #1 contender.

Jon Moxley talks about how he couldn’t say I Quit on Saturday because he was unable to. On Saturday, he realized that this title represents everyone who can’t pay their bills right now and every kid who gets mocked for being a wrestling fan. Now he has his biggest challenge in front of him. Beating Kenny Omega once is one thing but doing it again is another and it’s going to take someone special. Moxley creates magic though and while someone will beat him someday and it might be Omega, good luck.

Moxley vs. Omega for the title is set for December 2. Well that’s quite the surprise s that sounds more like a pay per view headliner. I can get the idea of not being able to wait three and a half months, but dang that sounds like leaving a lot of money on the table.

Butcher and Blade vs. Natural Nightmares

Bunkhouse match meaning anything goes and you can only win by pinfall or submission in the ring. It’s a brawl to start with Dustin taking Butcher outside for a face first drop onto an open chair. Marshall drops Blade and it’s time to set up a table at ringside. A guitar to the head drops Marshall so Dustin takes Blade back inside to load up Shattered Dreams. Butcher gets back up to run Dustin over though as Marshall is busted open bad. A ladder is brought in (as you tend to find in most bunkhouses) and we take a break.

Back with Butcher and Blade in control until Dustin fights up to take Butcher outside. They fight up to the set and climb onto the stage, where Marshall blasts Butcher with a fire extinguisher. That means a bulldog to take Butcher off the stage and through some well placed plywood. That leaves Marshall and Blade, busted open as well, to slug it out with Marshall nailing him with a trashcan lid.

The huge elbow drop off the ladder gets two and it’s Butcher and Dustin coming back in. Dustin’s sunset flip (not quite a Code Red) gets two on Butcher but Blade hits Dustin in the throat with a chain. A powerbomb/neckbreaker combination through some chairs gets two on Dustin with Marshall making the save. Marshall takes out Butcher with a cutter but Blade blocks one to him. Instead it’s Butcher being knocked into Bunny to put her through the table. A cowbell to Blade sets up the cutter to give Marshall the pin at 13:03.

Rating: B. Well that worked and the blood took it a lot higher than it would have been otherwise. I know the cowboy stuff is a little much at times but this was all about violence and four people wanting to hurt each other. That is the kind of thing that you shouldn’t be doing very often but when you get one that really works, it can be a heck of a showcase and that’s what it was here. Really violent brawl and I got into it in a big way.

Matt Hardy talks about the feud with Sammy Guevara, which is the most personal of his career. He went a long way to beat Guevara so don’t squander what Hardy has given him. Just don’t make us sit through the match again.

It’s time for Chris Jericho to induct MJF and Wardlow into the Inner Circle. Jericho talks about how it is the first time that the Inner Circle is adding in two members, but first we need the rest of the Inner Circle (minus Sammy Guevara). Jericho is confused by the lack of Sammy because he’s out of the hospital but we can worry about that later. Now it’s MJF and Wardlow, with MJF talking about how it has been a long hard road to get here. Tony: “Oh shut up.”

MJF has been in this industry for five years and all he had was a small loan from his father of a million dollars. He has taken a hard road to get here and he has written out some poetry, which he thinks his homies in Proud and Powerful will appreciate. The poem happens to be lyrics from a Drake song (MJF: “I WROTE THAT!”) and Santana and Ortiz aren’t pleased. Jericho says it’s on him if they have an issue but MJF beat him to get into the Inner Circle. MJF and Wardlow are going to make the team stronger than ever and they are already stronger than the Walls of Jericho.

They are a team and they are going to make it work. MJF: “I don’t even know who Drake is!” We’re not just here to celebrate him though, because it’s also Chris Jericho’s birthday, complete with confetti and balloons….which go flying out of the building instead of falling down. Next week though, they’re going to Vegas and it’s all on MJF. Jericho holds up the tickets as MJF sings him Happy Birthday and it’s a group pose. JR: “Well they’re probably bus tickets.” The tension is there and that’s an interesting thing to see for the future.

We look at the Young Bucks beating FTR to become the Tag Team Champions.

A nervous Alex Marvez talks to the Young Bucks and asks what is next for the team. They talk about how big of an accomplishment this is for them and how they are looking for fresh competition. Next week it’s the Bucks vs. Top Flight, who have competed on Dark. New top guys out. I’ve heard good things about Top Flight so hopefully they get a great showcase next week.

Scorpio Sky vs. Shawn Spears

Tully Blanchard is here with Spears. They trade running shoulders to start until it’s an exchange of chops to put Spears into the corner. A big boot takes Spears down and they head outside with Sky hammering away. Sky bites at the ear to send Spears back inside but he rolls right back outside to keep things moving. Back in again and Spears throws him off the top as we take a break.

We come back with Sky hitting a big dive to the floor to drop Spears again and it’s a slingshot cutter back inside. They head to the floor again with Sky trying a dive off the steps, only to jump into a superkick. A backbreaker onto the steps has Sky down again (Tony: “That’s very abrasive steel too.”) and they head back inside one more time.

Sky’s TKO is countered so he goes with a Scorpion Deathlock (Tony: “It’s a Scorpio Deathlock!”). Tully begs Spears to make it to the ropes and then offers a distraction, allowing Spears to grab the slug to load up the glove. Tully throws another slug to Sky for a distraction, allowing Spears to hit the loaded glove for the pin at 9:04.

Rating: C. There was a lot going on here and it was a little bit too much for the match to work. They went in and out a lot and it was getting to be a big distracting. It’s also not the kind of thing that is going to make me care about Spears, but it’s not the worst idea in the world to give him a push. Not a bad match either, but it would be nice to see Sky getting a bigger push instead of the less interesting Spears.

Kenny Omega isn’t ready for an interview and is nowhere to be found.

Actually hang on as Omega is outside and on the phone with someone. The call ends and Omega is asked about the upcoming title match. Omega talks about how he has been living with everyone being on him about not being the Cleaner or the Best Bout Machine. Now he is ready to bring back the old Omega, who has never wrestled Moxley before. Now he has had a fight with him, but what happens when they have a match? That’s what’s coming on December 2, so Moxley better be ready. He has a flight to catch so enjoy Dynamite.

Tay Conti vs. Red Velvet

Anna Jay and Brandi, who begrudgingly does the Red Velvet mixing deal, are here too. Jay takes her into the corner to star but gets taken down into a rather complicated rollup for two. Back up and they trade armdrags before Velvet scores with a spinwheel kick for two. Conti kicks her down as well and we take a break.

Back with Velvet hitting a Rey Mysterio sitout bulldog into some running knees to the back in the ropes. They get back up and hit stereo kicks to the face, allowing Anna to slide in a chair. Conti wants nothing to do with that though and Velvet hits a leg lariat for two more. A kick to the face misses, though Velvet slaps her thigh anyway. Thankfully Conti doesn’t sell it and it’s a Gory Special into a spinning knee to the face to finish Velvet at 7:59.

Rating: C-. That miss near the end hurt it a lot but it’s nice to see a midcard women’s story as Conti isn’t interested in joining the Dark Order just yet. What we got worked out well enough, though it seems to be the next step in a much bigger story. It’s also nice to see Velvet getting a chance to showcase herself as she is getting more comfortable out there.

The Inner Circle is celebrating the Vegas trip when Sammy Guevara pops up to say he was told to go to the beach instead of being here. MJF insists he sent another email and has a ticket for Sammy as well. Sammy: “I only got one email.” I’d be more worried about Sammy being around four days after a Conchairto on concrete.

We recap Kip Sabian/Miro/Penelope Ford not being happy with Orange Cassidy’s apology and a brawl nearly breaking out.

Next week: Sabian vs. Cassidy, Team Taz vs. Darby Allin/Cody and Top Flight vs. the Young Bucks, plus the Inner Circle Slays Vegas.

Here’s Eddie Kingston for a chat. Kingston doesn’t need the fans to cheer his name because he already knows it. Yes he quit against Jon Moxley but he’s back here, unlike all of these people who never got in the ring in the first place. For tonight though, we have Penta vs. Rey Fenix and you’re welcome.

Penta El Cero Miedo vs. Rey Fenix

Kingston is on commentary. They kick each other down to start and then trade clotheslines. Fenix flips forward into a victory roll, which is reversed in a hurry as they get back to their feet. A twist into a sunset flip gives Penta two so Fenix hits a running headscissors to send him outside. Back in and Penta gives him a big backdrop to the floor, which seems to bang up Fenix’s knees. They head inside again with Penta lifting him up for a Tombstone but tying the legs up instead.

Penta goes extra evil by ripping part of the mask apart, revealing a good chunk of Fenix’s face. Excalibur: “This would be a disqualification in Mexico!” Kingston: “WE’RE IN JACKSONVILLE!” The chinlock goes on as Excalibur and Kingston keep up their argument. Back with Fenix hitting a running spinning kick to the head in the corner but getting sent out to the ramp. That’s fine with Fenix, who hits a quick kick to the head and now it’s time to rip Penta’s mask. Kingston: “You should DQ Fenix for that!”

Some shots to the face have Penta in trouble but he’s back with a flipping forward DDT (starts in a reverse DDT position and flips forward to drop Fenix on his head). Fenix sends him outside for a very spinning corkscrew dive. Penta is right back with a fear Factor onto the apron and Fenix is mostly done on the floor. Even Kingston thinks that was too much but Fenix is up a few seconds later anyway. Penta drops him on his head again and takes it back inside for another Fear Factor and the pin at 12:33.

Rating: B. Aside from Fenix possibly dying multiple times during the match, this was an awesome showcase between the two of them and you knew it was going to be. Kingston continues to be awesome on commentary, as he has a tendency to do. The ripping at the masks made it feel more personal, but there was no way this wasn’t going to be awesome. Heck of a main event, as you knew it was going to be.

Kingston: “THIS IS AWESOME! CLAP CLAP! Whatever you marks do!” He praises the match for being so great and calls Penta his best friend for showing his brother who is boss. Fenix falls outside….and here’s Pac to say he’s back. Pac is ready to go with Kingston but referees break it up to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The wrestling carried this one for the most part as the show felt a little unfocused throughout. What we got worked out well enough though and that’s a nice thing to see, especially on a show that was more about taking a nice deep breath after Full Gear. It was a good show though and that’s nice to see in a spot that always has the potential to be a letdown. Pac being back and the rather brutal tag match were cool enough and it was an easy two hour watch.

Results

Brian Cage b. Matt Sydal – Drill Claw

Natural Nightmares b. Butcher and Blade – Cutter to Blade

Shawn Spears b. Scorpio Sky – Loaded left hand

Tay Conti b. Red Velvet – Gory Special into a knee to the face

Penta El Cero Miedo b. Rey Fenix – Fear Factor

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

Dynamite
Date: October 7, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur

It’s time for a big special show here as we’re looking at Thirty Years of Chris Jericho. There are a lot of wrestlers who can manage to be in the business for thirty years but it takes someone special to be involved at this high of a level for this long. Jericho has made it work though and he has more than earned this kind of a night. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a bunch of the roster paying tribute to Jericho. As it turns out, all of their favorite Jericho moments have come during his time in AEW.

Taz and Ricky Starks are joining commentary for a FIVE person booth. Please don’t let this be a show long thing.

Here’s what’s coming on the show.

FTW Title: Will Hobbs vs. Brian Cage

Cage is defending. They shoulder it out to start until Hobbs blasts him with a dropkick. Hobbs hammers away in the corner but gets dropped hard onto the top turnbuckle. A clothesline cuts Hobbs off again and the standing moonsault gives Cage two. We hit the chinlock for a bit until Hobbs suplexes his way to freedom. Some clotheslines into a jumping shoulder have Cage in trouble and a powerslam gets two.

A Sky High is good for the same but cage is back with a pumphandle flipped over into a faceplant. They fight over a standing switch until Hobbs no sells a German suplex. Cage does the same and it’s a double clothesline to put them both down. The Last Will And Testament gives Hobbs two more so he goes up top to miss a frog splash. The Drill Claw gives Cage the pin at 9:08.

Rating: C+. They had a good but somewhat slow power match here and that’s a good thing. What might not be the best thing is having Hobbs lose clean so soon into his push. I don’t think it means he’s already done in this spot, but having Starks interfere or something might have helped protect Hobbs a bit. It was far from a burial or even a shovel to the head, but I wouldn’t have had it be a clean loss.

Post match Ricky Starks gets in the ring for the beatdown but Taz calls him off. Taz gives Hobbs the option of joining Team Taz or getting beaten down. Hobbs doesn’t give an answer though as Darby Allin comes out for the save. Taz swears vengeance.

Slash congratulates Jericho on thirty years in wrestling.

Dennis Miller congratulates Jericho.

Hiroshi Tanahashi congratulates Jericho.

Ted Irvine congratulates Jericho. I’d hope he does.

Bully Ray congratulates Jericho.

Lance Archer talks about his Texas Death Match with Jon Moxley in New Japan. He has grown a lot since then and now it’s time to give Moxley a beating. Moxley has never faced anyone like him and Archer wants the title.

Tag Team Titles: Hybrid 2 vs. FTR

FTR, with Tully Blanchard, is defending as the Young Bucks watch from the back. Angelico kicks Harwood around to start and sends him outside in a hurry. The champs think about leaving but here’s Jack Evans to dive onto all three of them, only to hurt his knee in the process. That’s fine with Harwood, who takes Evans back to the floor and drops the bad leg onto the barricade.

Back from a break with Harwood staying on Evans’ knee until a sunset flip gets him out of trouble. Evans kicks him down though and the hot tag brings in Angelico to clean house. Wheeler gets knocked down for a leg crank but the rope is grabbed in a hurry. Evans tags himself back in and kicks Wheeler in the face. A top rope double stomp/belly to back suplex gets two on Wheeler and an assisted 450 is good for the same.

FTR is back in with a dragon suplex into the jackknife cover for two on Evans but Angelico saves him on the top. Evans tries a top rope flip but completely misses, save for maybe his boot hitting Harwood in the face. Angelico dives onto Wheeler, who Gory Bombs him onto the apron. Back in and Evans’ flipping backslide gets two on Harwood, who is right back with a tiger driver for two of his own. That’s enough kicking out so it’s the PowerPlex to plant Evans for the pin at 13:38.

Rating: C+. Another good match here as Evans, despite being a natural heel, sold very well here and made me think that they might do a surprise title change here. I haven’t been the biggest Hybrid 2 fan for most of their run but they toned down some of the ridiculous flipping here and had a much better match than you would have bet on. Nice little surprise here, mainly thanks to the leg stuff from Evans.

In the back, the Bucks think FTR is good but superkick the cameraman instead. That should be about a $10,000 fine but Matt doesn’t have his wallet.

Back in the arena, we see a picture of FTR as hot dogs, because they’re weenies you see. Cue the Best Friends and YES INDEED THERE IS AN FTR HOT DOG SHIRT. The Best Friends say FTR is a pair of weenies, but the Best Friends are #1 contenders. The title match is next week so the fight is on, with the Best Friends holding up the Tag Team Titles.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman talks about Chris Jericho praising him after Double Or Nothing. Jericho told him to pick little things up from people he admired. MJF poked him in the chest and Jericho seemed to approve. Jericho is an inspiration and MJF may congratulate him in person.

Shaquille O’Neal congratulates Jericho.

Gene Simmons congratulates Jericho.

Don Callis congratulates Jericho.

Lars Ulrich congratulates Jericho.

Diamond Dallas Page congratulates Jericho.

We recap Brodie Lee vs. Cody for the TNT Title. Lee squashed him to win the title in short order and now Cody is back for the title and revenge. Arn Anderson talks about how this is going to be more physical and all the more difficult, which makes him nervous.

TNT Title: Brodie Lee vs. Cody

Lee is defending in a Dog Collar match and the Dark Order, Brandi Rhodes and Arn Anderson are all here. We get the Big Match Intros and Greg Valentine of all people is actually here, looking like he has aged about two weeks since 1983. An early Dark Order distraction lets Brodie hit a big boot but Cody is right back with the drop down uppercut. The springboard is broken up though and Cody is pulled down hard to the mat.

Silver sits in a chair on the floor but Cody gets in a shot to take him down in a bit of a quick lesson. Back in and a DDT gives Lee…no cover but here’s Anna Jay to help Silver up. The two of them head to the back as Cody is busted open. That means it’s time for some chain shots to keep Cody down but he’s back with a low blow chain shot. A Russian legsweep with the chain takes Lee down again and they head outside.

Cody gets pulled down by the chain and Lee loads up a table at ringside. Some chairs are thrown inside as well but Cody pulls him off the apron and into a cutter in a smart move. They’re both down and we take a break. Back with Lee busted open after having been packaged piledriven through the ringside table and having to crawl around on the mat. Cody hammers away and hits the release gordbuster, followed by the choking in the corner.

Lee gets in some choking of his own though and there’s the swinging Boss Man Slam for two. A chained fist to the head has Cody busted open even worse and Lee throws a char at Anderson’s head (and it got pretty close). Arn gets inside but has to give Alex Reynolds a spinebuster. Lee decks Arn but it’s Cody back up with some chain shots in the corner. Cody chokes with the chain and smiles a lot as Lee looks mostly done.

There’s the moonsault press for two but Lee hits a superkick into a powerbomb onto the chain for two of his own. They go outside again with Lee crashing head first into the post. Brodie is fine enough to superplex him back inside but the discus lariat is countered into Dustin Rhodes’ Final Cut. Cody wraps the chain around Lee’s face and elbows away at the face, setting up Cross Rhodes for the pin and the title at 20:25.

Rating: B+. They were going for brutality here and that’s what they accomplished, so well done on that front. Both guys bleeding made it feel more important and violent, though the dog collar stipulation is a little strange. Cody losing the title for the sake of going off to make his show and then coming back doesn’t exactly make Lee feel like the most important guy, but at least he got one big win. Really good fight here too, and I’m actually surprised Cody won.

Post match Cody gives a rather fired up promo about how he isn’t changing anything because he changed his hair. Some people have wanted him to take another path and now he wants to defend the title next week at the Anniversary Show. He needs an opponent, so here’s Orange Cassidy for an exchange of thumbs up.

Announced for the #1 contenders tournament: Wardlow, Colt Cabana, Hangman Page.

Kenny Omega is excited for the tournament because he wins tournaments around the world. Don’t be surprised if he wins the tournament and then wins the title. He’ll face any man or cowboy to become the champion he was destined to become.

Big Swole vs. Serena Deeb

Swole goes for the leg to start but Deeb flips out and Swole needs to think about things. Some shots to the back slow Deeb down a bit but she’s right back with a hard right hand to the face. Deeb wrenches Swole’s leg around the middle rope and we take a break. Back with Swole’s knee still in trouble but a collision puts both of them down. Swole scores with a headbutt for two so she goes to the ropes, only to get pulled into a Backstabber to give Deeb two. Deeb’s arm trap piledriver is countered and Swole hits a superkick into Dirty Dancing for the pin at 8:33.

Rating: D+. This wasn’t all that great as Swole continues to not be the strongest in-ring performer. She has the charisma to balance it out though and that helps a lot, though I really can’t imagine her as one of the big challengers for the title. Hopefully Deeb gets a little bit better chance than this as she barely did anything here.

Jon Moxley isn’t going to be celebrating next week because it’s another monster waiting for him. Someone is going to have his number and maybe it’s going to be Lance Archer next week. They met in Tokyo and, with the flip of a coin, Moxley says it could go either way next week. Moxley is leaving it all in the ring but as Lance says, everybody dies.

Lance Storm congratulates Jericho.

Kevin Smith congratulates Jericho.

Eli Roth congratulates Jericho.

Gabriel Iglesias, with Chavo Guerrero on Zoom, congratulates Jericho.

Steel Panther congratulates Jericho.

Ultimate congratulates Jericho.

Paul Stanley congratulates Jericho.

Chris Jericho/Jake Hager vs. Chaos Project

Serpentico and Jericho start things off with Jericho knocking him into the corner in a hurry. It’s off to Luther for a clothesline and the stomping is on in a hurry. Serpentico adds a slingshot double stomp as we take a break. Back with Jericho hammering Serpentico down in the corner but getting caught with a DDT. Everything breaks down and Luther backdrops Serpentico onto the pile on the floor, followed by a big flip dive from the top.

Back in and Luther drops a top rope knee for two on Jericho, followed by a top rope knee to drive Jericho face first into the mat. The Judas Effect misses though and it’s the spinebuster/top rope Meteora for two more. Luther uses a Serpentico distraction to bring Floyd the bat to hit Jericho in the ribs. A running boot to the….I guess chest/stomach area gets two, which is enough to draw Sammy Guevara up to the apron. The distraction lets Sammy hit the Judas Effect for the pin on Luther at 9:05.

Rating: C-. This was a disguised version of Jericho vs. Luther as I don’t think Hager was ever tagged in, at least not during the part outside of the commercial. To be fair though, this was in no way shape or form supposed to be anything more than Jericho getting to face an old friend in a big match and that’s fine for this situation. The match wasn’t good and Luther looked old, but it’s a special occasion and that’s ok.

Post match Jericho grabs a mic and thanks the fans….but here’s MJF to cut him off. MJF says cut his music because he respects Jericho. He wants to be part of le celebration with Le Champion and he has a present for Jericho. MJF has Wardlow bring out….Clownico Le Clown, who has a present for Jericho. Before Jericho opens it, MJF promises a major announcement next week and he wants Jericho there for it.

As for the present, it’s a framed photo of MJF….which he breaks over the clown’s head. Jericho hits the Clown with a perfect Judas Effect and tells MJF that he hates clowns. MJF should never interrupt him again….and then they both laugh because everything is cool. The villains come out to celebrate with Jericho and we roll credits, with everything being credited to Jericho.

Overall Rating: A-. This was a heck of a show with the TNT Title match looking great and the Jericho stuff being very entertaining in a way that feels like Jericho had a lot to do with it. I had a good time with this show throughout and it was one of the better shows I can remember them doing. Next week is the bigger one though, and now we get to find out how well things are going to go when the lights are on a little bit brighter. For now though, we had a heck of a night and it’s a great show.

Results

Brian Cage b. Will Hobbs – Drill Claw

FTR b. Hybrid 2 – PowerPlex to Evans

Cody b. Brodie Lee – Cross Rhodes

Big Swole b. Serena Deeb – Dirty Dancing

Chris Jericho/Jake Hager b. Chaos Project – Judas Effect to Luther

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: September 15, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Veda Scott

We’re back to the usual hour and a half long show on Tuesday after last week’s double shot on Tuesday and Friday. This time around we even have a special featured match with Peter Avalon vs. Brandon Cutler in a match where one of them will have a winner, unless they find a way to have a draw, as they should. Let’s get to it.

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

The announcers bicker and make their jokes about each other, as they tend to do.

Red Velvet vs. Brandi Rhodes

Dustin Rhodes is here with Brandi. They fight over the wristlocks to start and Velvet seems to indicate that she is red. A shoulder taker Velvet down but she’s right back up with a leg lariat. Brandi kicks her in the face and hammers away before a low superkick gets two. The Sling Blade gets two but here is Anna Jay to stare at Brandi. The distraction lets Red hit a DDT for two but Brandi is back up with the spear. Brandi grabs Jay’s Queenslayer for the tap at 4:19.

Rating: D+. I can’t say I’m surprised that Brandi is getting a story of some kind because it has been a full two or three weeks since she had something going on. Normally I would complain about someone who isn’t exactly the most talented in-ring performer getting a spot like this but I think that has been covered extensively enough. Brandi is treated like the biggest star around but she loses so much of her aura as soon as she gets in the ring. The solution would be not to have her wrestle….and yeah that isn’t going to happen so here we are.

Daniel Garcia/Kevin Blackwood vs. Butcher and Blade

Eddie Kingston is here too. Butcher and Blade jump them to start and the brawl is on in a hurry with all four heading outside. Back in and Garcia gets beaten down in the corner as Taz goes into his New York geography discussion of the week. Blade comes in and kicks away at Garcia’s head as commentary argues about a pen. Blackwood gets the tag and a crossbody from Butcher to go with it. Everything breaks down and it’s backbreaker into Full Death to finish Garcia at 4:19.

Rating: C-. This was a little bit better than the opener, but I’m still not feeling the suplex onto the knees finisher. Butcher and Blade have come a long way since their debut, which might have something to do with them actually winning some matches for a change. And dropping the whole “we’re butchers” thing.

Dani Jordyn vs. Penelope Ford

Kip Sabian is here too so we get into a Twitch discussion. That’s switched into a battle of the Mean Girl vs. the Super Bad Girl as commentary starts laughing at each other again. Thankfully Scott actually takes her job seriously as Ford chokes on the rope and catapults her throat first into the top rope for two. A gutbuster drops Jordyn and Sabian slides in the burn book so Ford can shoves the pages down Jordyn’s throat. That brings Jordyn back to life (because wrestling is weird) but Ford bulldogs her into the corner. A missile dropkick sets up the fisherman’s suplex to finish Jordyn at 4:32.

Rating: C-. Taz and Excalibur need to be punched in the face while Scott needs a stern lecture as commentary is rapidly going off the rails. It’s more of the same with them doing and saying things to entertain themselves because they know this match means nothing and is just there to fill in time on the show. If AEW insists on the show being this long, at least get commentary to take it seriously for a few matches.

Brian Cage vs. Megabite Ronnie

Ronnie (with his glorious mustache) isn’t a computer guy, but rather a competitive eater. Ricky Starks joins commentary which has to be an upgrade. The running shoulder into a backbreaker set up the shoulders in the corner as commentary makes car references about Cage. Ronnie gets in some kicks to the ribs and a knee to the face but Cage clotheslines his head off. A sitout powerbomb plants Cage and Ronnie….goes to grab a hot dog, which he eats while hitting a People’s Elbow for two. Thankfully Cage kicks him in the face and hits a 619 into the Drill Claw for the pin at 3:09.

Rating: F. You have Cage, who has been a World Title challenger within the last month or so, staying down long enough so that a guy can get a bite of a hot dog and hit a move that takes about ten seconds to set up. All because, at least according to the official reason, AEW wants to let indy wrestlers showcase themselves? But yeah, I’m the one who misses the point.

Santana and Ortiz vs. Griff Garrison/Brian Pillman Jr.

Starks stays on commentary because a four person booth has been a great idea so many times in the past. Santana cranks on Pillman’s arm to start and gets annoyed at Pillman for trying to reverse. Garrison comes in and gets his skin chopped off in the corner, followed by a superkick to put him down. A bulldog drives Garrison down and Ortiz gets two before kicking Garrison in the ribs for good measure.

Ortiz hits another clothesline and brings Santana back in for a running kick to the head. There’s a suplex into the corner but Garrison gets in a shot to the face allowing the tag to Brian for Air Pillman. Commentary doesn’t get the reference, but Excalibur does get to call a tope suicida, which I’m sure is more important to someone other than Excalibur. Ortiz hits a sitout powerbomb into a kick to the head from Santana for the pin at 6:09.

Rating: C. This was an entertaining extended squash as Santana and Ortiz got to do all of their cool stuff. Naturally there was no doubt a tot the winner, but at least Pillman has charisma and Garrison has a little something to him that makes him fun to watch. It was the most entertaining thing on the show to watch so far, which might be more due to commentary doing their jobs for the most part.

Will Hobbs vs. Jessy Sorensen

Hobbs clotheslines him down to start and sends Sorensen to the apron. That means a kick to Hobbs’ head on the way back in but he hits a spinebuster into an Oklahoma Stampede to finish Sorensen at 1:20.

Rache Chanel/Skyler Moore vs. Diamante/Ivelisse

Ivelisse works on Moore’s arm to start but gets hiptossed down in a hurry. Diamante and Chanel come in with the latter hitting some armdrags, only to get pulled into a hard forearm to the face. Ivelisse is back in with a kick to the back to set up a dragon sleeper. That goes nowhere so Diamante comes back with a hard clothesline. A shot to the face allows the hot tag back to Moore though and house is cleaned in a hurry. Everything breaks down and it’s a Backstabber into a rolling kick to the face to finish Moore at 5:28.

Rating: D+. Commentary has thankfully settled down, which may be due to Starks, who can be the cocky guy without going too far out of the way. It wasn’t exactly a competitive match but it wasn’t quite supposed to be here. I like Moore most of the time I see her and she had a fairly fired up comeback so this could have been a lot worse.

Colt Cabana vs. QT Marshall

Allie and the Dark Order are here as well. They go with the grappling to start until Marshall is headscissored out to the floor for a lecture from Allie. Back in and Cabana looks up at the Dark Order for approval and gets dropkicked down in a hurry. Marshall gets sent hard into the corner and an elbow to the head gets two.

The neck crank doesn’t last long as Marshall fights up with a flying shoulder and a top rope elbow to the face. A Lethal Combination gets two on Cabana and he counters the Flying Apple into a belly to back suplex for two. Cue Evil Uno to talk to Cabana for a distraction, allowing Stu Grayson to hit a running knee on Marshall. Cabana’s discus lariat is good for the pin at 7:03.

Rating: C. See, now this was more like it. Not because the wrestling was better or anything, but because there was an actual story here and the slightest bit of doubt over who could win. That’s such a relief and a nice change of pace after all of the noncompetitive matches with people who aren’t all that interesting. Why not do more like this?

Brandon Cutler vs. Peter Avalon

Neither has ever won a match around here and Leva Bates is here with Avalon. They slug it out and head outside for a bit until Cutler sends him back inside for a springboard clothesline. They head outside again with Avalon spinning around the post to avoid going head first into the steel. Avalon is sent inside but comes right back with a suicide dive. Back in and a Rock Bottom gives Avalon two and we hit a quickly broken Boston crab.

Cutler is back with a reverse inverted DDT for two so Avalon comes back with a tiger driver for the same. The split legged moonsault gives Avalon another near fall but Cutler knocks him down and hits a springboard elbow for a closer two. They both head up top and slug it out to send them both to the floor. Neither can get back in thanks to some saves from the other…and it’s a double countout at 6:45.

Rating: C. That’s the only way to go, but most importantly here is that it took place on Dark. This match has a story and the two of them have a history, but it is the kind of match that could only fit on this show. The action was pretty good too, so it was a

Dontae Smiley/Maxx Stardom vs. Best Friends

Chuck drives Stardom into the corner to start and hits a kick to the face to send him over for a tag. It’s off to Smiley, who gets headlocked takeoverd but a running knee takes him right back down. Trent forearms him in the corner and it’s back to Stardom, who hits a spinning bulldog out of the corner. That earns him a suplex down and everyone heads to the floor. Trent spears Stardom down and it’s Soul Food into the half and half back inside. The stuff piledriver into the piledriver gives Trent the pin at 5:36.

Rating: C-. I for one certainly needed to see the Best Friends again as being on every show is not the easiest thing in the world to accomplish. They played it a little more serious here though and that helped a bit. I’m still not a fan of the Trent’s mom’s van deal, but it’s the closest thing we can get to making it work.

Private Party/Gunn Club vs. Dark Order

Billy headlocks Reynolds to start and stares Reynolds down for daring to try a chop. It’s Reynolds being taken into the corner for some work on the arm. Austin comes in to do the same and there’s a backdrop for two. Reynolds drives him into corner though and it’s time for the villains to beat him down. That doesn’t last long either though as Austin drives him back into the corner for the tag to Marq Quen.

An atomic drop looks to set up the shooting star as everything breaks down. Quen’s leg is grabbed and it’s Grayson pulling him down for two off a crash. We hit the reverse chinlock for a bit until Quen it taken back into the corner to keep up the stomping. Uno’s brainbuster gets two with Kassidy making the save, leaving him to get out of trouble with his own with a double hurricanrana.

A roll over to the corner allows a nice hot tag to bring Billy back in. Everything breaks down but the Fameasser is broken up by Reynolds pulling Billie outside. Everything breaks down and it’s the Fameasser for Grayson but Billy gets pulled to the floor. The Fatality finishes Austin at 10:42.

Rating: C. Another not terrible match here, though I’m surprised by Gunn taking the fall. I get that Billy is the legend (work with me here) here around AEW and they don’t want to have Private Party lose, but it still felt off. The Fatality did look good though, which is usually the case for a nice ending.

The Dynamite preview takes us out.

Overall Rating: C-. There wasn’t much wrestling worth going out of your way to see here and it was another long show on top of that. Some of the matches did feel a little more important here, which helped somewhat, though it was still a show that you don’t need to see with a bunch of wrestlers who are on here almost every week. Just more of the same, which means it wasn’t very good.

Results

Brandi Rhodes b. Red Velvet – Queenslayer

Butcher and Blade b. Daniel Garcia/Kevin Blackwood – Full Death to Garcia

Penelope Ford b. Dani Jordyn – Fisherman’s suplex

Brian Cage b. Megabite Ronnie – Drill Claw

Santana and Ortiz b. Brian Pillman Jr./Griff Garrison – Kick to Pillman’s head

Will Hobbs b. Jessy Sorensen – Oklahoma Stampede

Diamante/Ivelisse b. Rache Chanel/Skyler Moore – Kick to Moore’s face

Colt Cabana b. QT Marshall – Discus lariat

Brandon Cutler vs. Peter Avalon went to a double countout

Best Friends b. Dontae Smiley/Maxx Stardom – Piledriver to Stardom

Dark Order b. Private Party/Gunn Club – Fatality to Gunn

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: September 8, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz

For reasons I don’t quite fathom, this is the third episode of Dark in eight days because we needed a special one before All Out and then the regular shows as well. At least tonight’s show along with Friday’s were a little shorter than usual, but we’ve got squashification waiting for us so let’s get to it.

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

Taz and Excalibur give us the rapid fire intro.

Sean Legacy vs. Will Hobbs

This is a big deal as Hobbs has yet to win a match but was in the Casino Battle Royal on Saturday, meaning we’re FINALLY getting someone promoted from the ranks of the jobbers. Hobbs starts fast with a running shoulder before lifting Legacy up by the wrist for some arm cranking. Legacy’s crossbody is knocked out of the air with ease and a release gordbuster knocks him silly again. An Oklahoma Stampede finishes Legacy at 2:59. Now why did it take us so many months to see something like this? Even if Hobbs never goes anywhere, giving him a win or two makes him seem like more of a threat. Better later than never.

Tony Donati vs. Brian Cage

Non-title. Cage hits a release German suplex in the first five seconds and then does the curls into the fall away slam. Donati gets in a few shots to the face but it’s a superplex into a powerbomb. Weapon X finishes Donati at 1:43. Exactly what it should have been.

Griff Garrison vs. Angelico

Taz starts with a story about buying tights and they fight over wrist control. Angelico armdrags him down and poses like a cocky heel should but Garrison grabs a rollup for two. A discus lariat drops Angelico again but he pulls Garrison face first into the middle turnbuckle. Angelico is back with a crazy looking….uh….reverse seated half nelson with the legs? Naturally Excalibur has a name for it and in this case that might be easier. That’s broken up in a hurry and Angelico gets a boot up in the corner to stop a charge. Angelico has had it with this though and pulls him down into a spinning leg crank for the tap at 5:50.

Rating: C. The holds were insane here and that’s one of the reasons I like watching Angelico. He brings a great mixture of international styles and makes them look rather natural while still being able to fly when necessary. Garrison looks unique enough to make things interesting and it was a nice match as a result.

Anna Jay vs. Skyler Moore

Anna sends her into the corner to start but Moore takes her down into a rollup for two. A World’s Strongest Slam plants Anna for two so she drops tot he floor for a breather. Back in and Moore grabs a gutwrench suplex for two more so Jay sends her into the corner for a backrake. We hit the chinlock into a rear naked choke to make Moore tap at 3:25.

Rating: D+. Now this was smarter as Jay isn’t ready to do a long match of any sort. That isn’t a knock on her but rather a reality, because she just doesn’t have the experience. Let her get her feet wet and learn how to do something like this. She probably shouldn’t be doing that on a televised match, but I can get why Jay is out there. The match wasn’t very good, but they both need ring time and there is only one way to get that.

Lee Johnson vs. Eddie Kingston

Commentary talks about cease and desist letters from New York to start as Kingston grabs a suplex. The stomping is on as Excalibur gets to talk about Eddie’s Japanese influence, so you knew he’s all over it. Kingston strikes away but Johnson gets in an elbow in the corner and a springboard missile dropkick. The Blue Thunder Bomb gets two but Kingston is back with the spinning backfist for the pin at 3:18.

Rating: C-. There is something so gritty and raw about Kingston and it works for him. For lack of a better term he feels real, and that is the kind of thing you can’t script. You get something out of watching him and it’s a feeling that I rather like. He was a good signing for AEW and it shows that they do have a nice eye for what should have been rather obvious.

Serpentico vs. Sonny Kiss

Sonny sends him into the corner to start so Serpentico blasts him in the face for two. A rolling elbow gets Sonny out of trouble until Serpentico kicks him down. We get a Fargo inspired strut and a knee drop gets two on Kiss. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Kiss is back with some kicks to the head. The bottom rope splits splash gives Kiss two and it’s the handspring slap in the corner to keep Serpentico in trouble. Sonny tries the Matrix but gets double stomped down for two more. That doesn’t matter very much though as Sonny gets up top for a Molly Go Round and the pin at 4:46.

Rating: C-. Kiss is crazy athletic and the gymnastics look great, but I’m not sure how high of a ceiling he really has. It is far from the most serious gimmick and that can be a problem in the long run. That being said, the athleticism alone will keep him around for a long time and the charisma helps even more. Serpentico is fine as well so this was a perfectly acceptable match.

Ricky Starks vs. Ben Carter

Starks shares a stare with Vickie Guerrero in the crowd before grabbing a waistlock to start. Carter reverses and picks the wrist, only to get headlocked over. Carter is back up and cranks on the arm before hitting a dropkick. Starks is getting tired of this and sends him into the corner but Carter fights out.

That doesn’t work for Starks who unloads with shots to the head. Starks belly go back suplexes him for two and we hit the chinlock. Carter jawbreaks his way to freedom and a rollup gets two. A superkick into a frog splash gives Carter two as Taz isn’t liking this. Carter misses a Phoenix splash and it’s the spear into Roshambo for the pin on Carter at 7:34.

Rating: C. Starks continues to look great every time he is out there and Carter made the most of his time out there as well. That’s all you can ask for out of a match like this and they did things well enough. I could go for a good deal more of both guys and that isn’t something you get to say very often.

Dynamite preview takes us out.

Overall Rating: C-. Slightly more watchable than usual, though that might have something to do with the show being about fifty minutes long. This is what the show should be more often than not, but I have a feeling they just split up what was going to be another nearly two hour episode into two nights. That doesn’t give me hope for the future but it was nice for a one off change.

Results

Will Hobbs b. Sean Legacy – Oklahoma Stampede

Brian Cage b. Tony Donati – Weapon X

Angelico b. Griff Garrison – Reverse inverted Figure Four

Anna Jay b. Skyler Moore – Rear naked choke

Eddie Kingston b. Lee Johnson – Spinning backfist

Sonny Kiss b. Serpentico – Molly Go Round

Ricky Starks b. Ben Carter – Roshambo

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

Dynamite
Date: July 29, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Taz

Things are starting to get into a groove around here again and that can make for some very good television. The last few shows have been rather entertaining and the build for All Out should be starting to come together. This week we get another TNT Title match plus a Tag Team Title match and more. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Inner Circle vs. Best Friends/Orange Cassidy/Jurassic Express

They’re starting big this week. Jericho and Cassidy start things off but it’s off to Hager before anything happens. Cassidy does the slow motion kicks to the legs and then claps the ears to get out of a double leg. Jericho tags himself in and forearms Cassidy from the apron though and everything breaks down in a hurry. The Inner Circle is sent outside for a series of dives, including Marko Stunt being tossed onto the pile and then being tossed back, because MARKO STUNT WILL BE INVOLVED IN YOUR MATCH EVERY SINGLE TIME NO MATTER WHAT!

The good guys have the big five way hug and Sammy dives in, only to get quintuple stomped. We settle back down and this time it’s Trent getting beaten down, including a double suplex from Santana and Ortiz. An assisted standing moonsault gives Santana two and Hager’s hard forearm is good for the same. Sammy adds the fireman’s carry with squats before Hager grabs the chinlock. That lets JR talk about the time Hager gave him an ankle lock, which commentary finds funny.

Trent finally manages a suplex to put Hager down and the hot tag brings in Luchasaurus to clean house. Everything breaks down and the fans…well they aren’t there so ignore that. Hager and Luchasaurus slug it out until Cassidy comes in with a Superman punch to put Hager down. We hit the parade of finishers and it’s down to Sammy vs. Luchasaurus. With Sammy going up top, here’s Matt Hardy to shove him into a chokeslam. A spinning kick to the face gives Luchasaurus the pin at 12:08.

Rating: C+. They’re still running with Cassidy vs. Jericho and while that might not be everyone’s cup of tea, they had a lot more going on here and that’s a good thing. I’m curious to see where some of these feuds go and the match certainly felt big, though it never hit that next level that something like this can do.

Jon Moxley says if you leave him alone, he’ll leave you alone. That brings him to Brian Cage, who had to jump Darby Allin from behind. Then Ricky Starks had to get involved too. So let’s see what happens when the odds are even.

Taz thinks Moxley is terrified.

TNT Title: Cody vs. Warhorse

Cody is defending and has Arn Anderson in his corner. They lock up to start until Cody works on a wristlock. Warhorse gets taken into the corner for a clean yet cocky break, meaning it’s a chop to the back of Cody’s neck. An armdrag into an armbar has Cody in some trouble and a big clothesline puts him on the floor as we take a break. Back with Cody holding a half crab before switching to a Figure Four, which is reversed in about two seconds.

A limping Warhorse gets up for a corner clothesline and he goes up top, sending Cody bailing outside for some safety. Back in and Warhorse puts him down to set up a top rope elbow for two. Cody’s Alabama Slam gets two and the Figure Four retains the title at 10:33 in a pretty sudden ending.

Rating: C+. They have something with Cody trying to do too much as champion and getting worn down, though you can all but guarantee that it’s going to be an AEW regular taking the title. The match was good and Warhorse made an impression, but it’s going to take something good to top Eddie Kingston’s debut last week. Still though, good enough stuff here and that’s all it needed to be.

Post match the Dark Order comes in to beat on Cody with Arn Anderson getting inside to load up a save. Cue Matthew Cardona (Zack Ryder) for the real save and Cody is rather pleased.

Tony Schiavone talks about All Out but here’s the Inner Circle to interrupt. They aren’t happy with anything that happened tonight, with Sammy Guevara yelling about Matt Hardy costing him the match. Chris Jericho isn’t happy with Orange Cassidy either and wants him in a rematch on August 12, where Cassidy will give him $7000 for the jacket. Next week though, Jericho wants Cassidy in a debate. Oh and his jacket now smells like cat urine.

Earlier today, FTR was ready to sign their official AEW deals but wanted their official tag team representative. That would be Arn Anderson, who goes over the contract and makes sure they got their signing bonus. They also want their guarantee of Tag Team Appreciation Night on August 12. With that guaranteed, the contracts are signed and here’s Hangman Page with a bottle of whiskey to celebrate. Everyone (save Arn, who says “not anymore”) drinks and seems happy.

Tag Team Titles: Kenny Omega/Hangman Page vs. Dark Order

The Dark Order (Evil Uno/Stu Grayson) is challenging and Colt Cabana is on commentary. Page (who didn’t like the white wrist tape last week) goes after Dark Order before the bell and Omega doesn’t seem happy with having to make the save so we can get going. An early side slam/elbow combination gets an early two on Omega, who comes back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.

It’s off to Page for a running shooting star press for two and the champs take turns chopping away at Uno. Omega gets caught in the corner for all of two seconds before rolling over to Page for the tag to clean house. Grayson kicks Page in the face for two to slow things down and a running forearm does the same. Back from a break with Kenny cleaning house as everything breaks down.

Grayson takes Page down for a Swanton from Uno and a toss sitout powerbomb gets two. Page gets knocked down in the corner and Omega is suplexed into him, setting up a 450 for two. Page is back up for another save and there’s a V Trigger to Uno’s back for two more. The Last Call retains the titles at 13:54, with Grayson seeming to miss what was supposed to be a save.

Rating: B-. Good enough match here, though the Dark Order wasn’t going to be any kind of a serious threat to the titles. The Dark Order is as midcard of a gimmick as you can get and the champs are going to be moving on to more important things. Page and Omega continue to be on different pages outside the ring but make for a great team, which is an interesting way to go.

Post match Brody Lee sends Colt Cabana and Anna Jay to the back so they don’t see what is about to happen. Lee yells at Grayson and Uno before asking Page if he finds it funny. Cue the Young Bucks from the crowd as Lee thanks Kenny for bothering to show up for a change. Lee says this isn’t all of the Dark Order and they have strength in numbers. A bunch of masked members of the Dark Order surround the ring but here’s FTR with the cooler to Lee and the save is on. I use save in the loosest sense of the word in this case.

Britt Baker knows Big Swole is obsessed with her so Swole can have a shot, if she beats an opponent of Baker’s choice.

Video on Diamante.

Diamante vs. Hikaru Shida

This was announced as a title match last night on Dark but not here. Shida is defending and forearms Diamante down to start. Diamante gets knocked outside for a running knee lift and they head back inside. They slug it out with Diamante getting knocked down by a running knee to the face. Diamante chops her down in the corner and a wheelbarrow Stunner gets two on Shida. A sloppy Code Red gets no count as Shida is rolled into the ropes so Shida hits a Falcon Arrow. The running knee finishes Diamante at 6:14.

Rating: D+. Diamante is not very good and that is the kind of thing that you can’t get around that easily. This was a rather sloppy loss and it is pretty clear that she is not ready for this spot. Shida needs some fresh opponents and this is the best they could do, while Ivelisse sits on the sidelines. Lucky us.

We go over the rules of the Deadly Draw tournament, which is under Lethal Lottery rules.

Nyla Rose draws her color for the tournament and gets purple, which has already been drawn by someone else. That would be Ariane, better known as Cameron (yes THAT Cameron), who is happy to be back.

Here is MJF for his State of the Industry address. He has all the time he wants to tell the fans what they need to hear like a child being force fed macaroni and cheese. MJF can’t believe he is here two weeks in a row because he is always being held down by someone who came from the land of the Titans. That would be Jon Moxley, who is trying to hold down talent, which isn’t what we’re supposed to do anymore, brother.

Moxley is a great wrestler, but let’s see what has happened since he took over. First of all, where is the wrestling? This is a bunch of flipping and gymnastics while Moxley is cosplaying as a certain wrestler, and that is a Stone Cold fact. Everyone wants to talk about the ratings but do you know who draws bigger ratings than Moxley?

The old guard has been running this world for centuries and look where we are. MJF’s talent exceeds Moxley’s tenure and it is time for him to take over right now. He will not stop until this brand is transformed into the pinnacle of professional wrestling. The talent is officially on and MJF is announcing his candidacy to become the new World Champion at All Out. This was masterful and one of the best things AEW has ever done, as MJF can look into a camera and make you believe in him like no one else.

Darby Allin/Jon Moxley vs. Brian Cage/Ricky Starks

Anything goes tornado tag….and there is no Allin. We cut to Taz and company on the stage, where he brags about how awesome Cage is (Taz: “He’s got triceps like pistons Moxley! LIKE PISTONS!”). Starks says he’s everything Moxley’s baby mama wishes he was and brags about how great he is….until Allin Coffin Drops off the set to start things in a hurry. Taz is back on commentary as the fight begins without a bell as far as I could hear. The brawl is on outside with Moxley hitting a suicide dive onto Cage. Moxley goes searching for some weapons and we take a break.

Back with Allin in trouble until Moxley comes back in for the save. Allin hits the flipping Stunner on Cage but Starks spears Allin down. Moxley cutters Stars but Cage hits a clothesline to drop everyone. It’s Moxley back up for a piledriver on Cage and a Coffin Drop/DDT combination hits Cage for two more. Allin crushes Cage’s arm with a trashcan and pulls out a skateboard with thumbtacks on the bottom. Moxley armbars Cage and Allin drives the skateboard into Starks’ back for the pin at we’ll say 10:00. Starks’ back is VERY torn up after that finish.

Rating: C-. This didn’t feel like much as they seem to have one of these wild brawls almost every week. Couple that with a scary looking finish (the blood was flowing down Starks’ back) and this didn’t do much for me. Moxley certainly seems to have moved on from Cage and I’m not sure where that leaves him. Cage vs. Cody for the TNT Title could be interesting, but I don’t really need to see Cody slay ANOTHER monster.

Allin vs. Moxley for the title next week is announced to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This wasn’t their best effort, though as usual their worst shows are still completely watchable. Maybe it was just an off night for them and AEW has earned the credibility that one bad show isn’t a sign of things to come. MJF’s promo was excellent and the Cardona debut worked, though the main event and freaking CAMERON debuting didn’t help things. Not a bad show or anything, but for AEW, it was a step down.

Results

Orange Cassidy/Best Friends/Jurassic Express b. Inner Circle – Spinning kick to Cassidy’s head

Cody b. Warhorse – Figure Four

Hangman Page/Kenny Omega b. Dark Order – Last Call to Uno

Hikaru Shida b. Diamante – Running knee

Jon Moxley/Darby Allin b. Ricky Starks/Brian Cage – Skateboard to Starks’ back

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

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

Dynamite
Date: June 24, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur

It’s a week before Fyter Fest but things might be shaken up a bit as World Champion Jon Moxley is missing this week due to Coronavirus fears. I’m not sure what that is going to mean for the future but we’ll worry about that if something else develops. I’m not sure what else to expect this week but they have a good enough track record to give me hope. Let’s get to it.

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

Wardlow vs. Luchasaurus

Lumberjack match with MJF here with Wardlow and the rest of Jurassic Express with Luchasaurus. They collide to start and Wardlow heads outside for some yelling at the lumberjacks. Back in and Wardlow hits a running shoulder to the ribs to send Luchasaurus outside. After a beating from the lumberjacks, Luchasaurus is fine enough to escape a suplex and fire some kicks to the ribs.

A suplex takes him down and it’s time to rip at the mask a bit. Luchasaurus comes back with a legsweep and the standing moonsault for two before heading up top. Wardlow is right there with him for a top rope superplex for his own two. A knee to the face doesn’t do much to Wardlow, who is right back with a running hurricanrana. That just earns him a Spanish fly and they’re both down.

Wardlow rolls to the ramp and Luchasaurus follows, where he is planted with a powerslam. Jungle Boy tries to interfere and gets throws into the pile of lumberjacks. Stunt dives onto everyone for going after Boy as Wardlow and Luchasaurus fight up the ramp. Brandon Cutler tries to get involved but gets tossed off the stage. Stunt does the same and gets the same result, followed by a Tail Whip to knock Wardlow onto the pile.

Luchasaurus shooting stars onto everyone as JR wonders when someone is going to try to win the match. Back in and Luchasaurus hits a chokeslam but MJF offers a distraction. Jungle Boy spears him through the ropes to the floor, allowing Wardlow to get in a low blow. The F10 finishes Luchasaurus 9:16.

Rating: C+. The spots were entertaining enough but there was only so much you can do with the focus being on the lumberjacks for some fairly long stretches. The ending keeps Luchasaurus safe and makes Wardlow look like a monster, but this was there for the sake of two monsters doing big spots on each other. That worked well enough and it was entertaining while it lasted.

Taz breaks down how Brian Cage does the Drill Claw. Hint: it involves being really strong.

After a rundown of what is to come tonight, Britt Baker sends Tony a note, asking for a diagnosis of Luchasaurus’ green tongue. She also now has a branded Plexiglas case around her special chair.

Hikaru Shida vs. Red Velvet

Non-title and Shida gets in an argument with Penelope Ford on the way to the ring. Ford gets in a slap but the referee won’t let Shida cane her. Running knee and Falcon Arrow finish Velvet at 13 seconds.

Post match Shida goes after Ford and the brawl is on. Shida even knocks down Kip Sabian and they’re finally broken up.

Earlier today, Cody and his very, very large entourage had a press conference for his TNT Title defense against Jake Hager. Arn Anderson talks about how Jake Hager wasn’t the right opponent for Cody at the moment but he wanted to fight him anyway. Cody is going to be ready to fight the tough monster. As for Cody, he sees the TNT Title as hope and talks about how he doesn’t like cosplay wrestling. Cody talks about the title not being complete and Hager finally arrives. They pose and who I believe is Hager’s wife throws water in Cody’s face. They’re done, after the completely realistic press conference.

Joey Janela and Sonny Kiss stop at a gas station where Joey goes inside to get food. Some guys bother Kiss and try to get in a fight with him, causing Joey, with Lunchables purchased, to come out for the save. They both could get used to this.

Sonny Kiss/Joey Janela vs. Brodie Lee/Colt Cabana

Kiss snaps off an early headscissors and handsprings into a slap in the corner. Lee runs him over though and beats up Janela as well. Cabana comes in gets caught in a Hart Attack. Lee breaks up something close to a Muta Lock and the rest of the Dark Order offers a distraction. The confused Cabana adds a splash for two on Kiss and we take a break. Back with Janela getting the hot tag and Death Valley Drivering Cabana.

Kiss and Janela hit moonsaults off the top to take out Lee and Cabana. Back in and Cabana gets hit with a top rope splash from Janela, plus a 450 from Kiss. Lee makes the save but gets sent to the floor. Cabana reverse a Doomsday Device into a victory roll for two so Kiss dives onto the rest of the Dark Order. Lee kicks Kiss in the face but can’t quite catch Janela’s suicide dive. Back in and the discus lariat blasts Janela, allowing Cabana to get the pin at 9:11.

Rating: D+. The sloppiness was hard to ignore here with some spots clearly missing and other moments where someone was just standing there so someone could do something. Cabana having some success thanks to the Dark Order is interesting, but I’m not sure I can imagine him doing a full heel turn.

Post match the Dark Order leaves so here’s Lance Archer to jump Janela and Kiss. Jake Roberts says save it for someone more important.

We look at Shawn Spears using a loaded glove to win last night on Dark.

SCU vs. FTR

Christopher Daniels and Kazarian for SCU here and it’s Harwood working on Kazarian’s arm to start. Wheeler comes in to stay on the arm and everything breaks down in a hurry. Everyone falls out to the floor and we take a break. Back with Kazarian making the hot tag off to Daniels but Harwood cuts him off and suplexes Daniels onto Kazarian. The slingshot suplex, and a Four Horsemen pose, drop Daniels again. Kazarian grabs Daniels’ hands to block a sunset flip but Wheeler breaks it up. Wheeler keeps going by turning over a small package to give Harwood two.

Back up and Kazarian hits an Unprettier for two on Wheeler but Celebrity Rehab is countered into a catapult to send Daniels into the corner. The Veg O Matic gets two on Daniels but Kazarian is back in for the powerbomb/neckbreaker combination for two on Harwood. Daniels hits a jumping knee to put Harwood on the floor but walks into the Goodnight Express for the pin at 12:33.

Rating: B-. There’s something interesting about FTR being billed as this old school tag team but mainly doing more old tag team spots here in the middle of the usual lack of tags chaos. It was still entertaining, but I’m hoping we get some more of the actual, you know, tagging involved in a tag match. Good enough match though and FTR getting another win is a good thing.

Post match FTR talks about all the teams that they want to face in AEW, with the Young Bucks at the top of the list. Cue Butcher and Blade in FTR’s truck but here are the Lucha Bros behind them. Butcher and Blade issue a challenge for an eight man tag at Fyter Fest with the Bucks joining FTR and the match is accepted. The Bros beat FTR down with the Bucks make the save. Butcher and Blade and the Bros steal the truck.

Video on Kenny Omega and Hangman Page being oddballs. The Best Friends don’t know how Page and Omega can be best friends when they don’t even drink the same. Omega and Page aren’t best friends, but they’re a great team and that’s what matters. Page: “Them boys are good. I mean, we’re gonna whip their a**, but they’re good.”

Video on Brian Cage vs. Jon Moxley.

Brian Cage vs. Joe Cruz

Tazz is on commentary as Cage throws Cruz around to start and then curls the guy in his arms. There’s an overhead belly to belly as JR makes sure to get Cruz’s name in in case his family is watching. A toss powerbomb from the ramp to the ring plants Cruz again and the Drill Claw finishes at 1:23.

Post match Taz grabs his mic and asks where Moxley is. He finds him in the camera and yells about how Moxley his hiding at home with some fake excuse. Cage is taking the title at Fyter Fest and is more dangerous than anything Moxley has. Can Moxley stop the path of Cage? Taz got a little tongue tied in there a few times but he got the point across.

Cabana and Lee are happy with their win as Lee tells him how important it is to bounce back. Lee wants one more chance to show him what it means when they face SCU at Fyter Fest. Colt isn’t sure about that but seems to go along with the idea.

We run down the Fyter Fest card.

Baker sends Schiavone a note about Big Swole putting her in a dumpster for NINE AND A HALF HOURS but Swole is still the biggest piece of trash in AEW> Swole comes in but Baker laughs her off and has an appletini. Baker tells her to go steal someone else’s star power so Swole climbs onto the truck and pours trash onto Baker.

Santana vs. Matt Hardy

Ortiz is here with Santana. Moxley and QT Marshall missing the show due to the Coronavirus has been mentioned but there is no explanation for why Santana is taking Sammy Guevara’s place. It’s Broken Matt here, complete with Neo1. Santana drives Matt into the corner to start and actually gives us a clean break. As Baker is throwing trash at commentary (much to Tony’s annoyance), Santana gets backdropped to the floor. Matt presses Santana’s head against the post and literally opens his eye before whipping him into the barricade. Back in and Santana gets in a cheap shot and we take a break.

We come back with Santana flipping out of a side Effect and planting Matt with a spinning Rock Bottom. A Lionsault gives Santana two but he misses the frog splash (which would have missed even if Matt hadn’t moved), allowing Matt to send him into all of the buckles. The Side Effect gets one on Santana, with Ortiz shouting that Matt “WANTS YOUR FOOD!”. Another Side Effect gets two but Santana is back with a running Samoan driver. Santana cradles Matt for two but he reverses into a cradle to put Santana away at 10:54.

Rating: C+. Matt is another good example of someone who is a lot better when he drops the insanity and just wrestles. He does a lot of interesting stuff but he is still more interesting when he is himself. It worked for a long time and while I get that he wants to be creative, sometimes it’s better to just be yourself.

Post match Ortiz helps Santana beat Matt down until Private Party makes the save.

Here are Orange Cassidy and Chris Jericho for a showdown. Jericho asks why the chicken crossed the road. To get to the other side of course. That’s a joke that people have heard before and while it was amusing at first, it becomes more and more annoying over time. Orange Cassidy is the chicken crossing the road joke and it’s ticking Jericho off (this sounds vaguely familiar but I can’t quite place it).

Jericho has watched some of Cassidy’s stuff and yes there is a unique presentation and like Brian Pillman said, you have to be different to make it in wrestling. Then Cassidy got out of his lane and messed with Le Champion. He better be the best Orange Cassidy he can be at Fyter Fest, and if he tries those kicks to the shin, Jericho will knock him out in thirty seconds. Cassidy better reach into his pockets and pull out a man sized miracle because Jericho is knocking the juice out of him at Fyter Fest. Jericho: “Now that’s a funny joke.”

Cassidy takes the mic, thinks about saying something, and lays it down. Now we get the slow motion shin kicks and the hands in the pockets. Jericho breaks Cassidy’s sunglasses and the fight is on with the two of them heading outside. They go into the stands and slug it out until Jericho swings a camera into his face. Cassidy fights back though and Superman Punches Jericho off a railing through a table to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This wasn’t as good of a show as they’ve been doing lately but as I’ve said before: if this is their bad show, they’re going to be just fine. They were focusing on some rapid fire build towards Fyter Fest here but with the top of the cards set, going through the undercard this fast isn’t a problem. The wrestling wasn’t as good this week, though that wasn’t the point either. Not a bad show at all, and I did get a chuckle out of Jericho thinking the same way I do. I guess IAmJericho? Anyway good enough show this week.

Results

Wardlow b. Luchasaurus – F10

Hikaru Shida b. Red Velvet – Falcon Arrow

Brodie Lee/Colt Cabana b. Joey Janela/Sonny Kiss – Discus lariat to Janela

FTR b. SCU – Goodnight Express to Daniels

Brian Cage b. Joe Cruz – Drill Claw

Matt Hardy b. Santana – Rollup

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 23, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Taz, Excalibur

We’re back to this show and that means it’s time to mix up the group of jobbers to have occasionally competitive matches against the mid to upper midcard stars. That can be a good thing but it can also get repetitive. They’ve tied in some slight storyline advancement though and that helps a bit. Let’s get to it.

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

Robert Anthony vs. Brian Cage

Anthony jumps him to start and gets powerbombed down. A superplex sets up the Drill Claw to give Cage the pin at 53 seconds.

SCU vs. David Ali/Musa

Christopher Daniels/Kazarian here. Daniels and Musa start things off with an exchange of armdrags and it’s an early standoff. Musa’s powerslam gets two and it’s off to Ali for a butterfly suplex. Musa makes the mistake of going after Kazarian though and walks into the Blue Thunder Bomb from Daniels. Now it’s Kazarian coming in for a heck of a clothesline, plus the powerbomb/neckbreaker combination on Musa. The Best Meltzer Ever finishes Musa at 3:32.

Rating: C-. SCU is always good for at least a decent performance and that’s what we got here. This wasn’t exactly competitive and it shouldn’t have been, as SCU are former champs and therefore shouldn’t have a problem against a makeshift team. That’s how this show should be going more often and it’s nice to see it take place in the first two matches.

Shawn Spears vs. Pineapple Pete

Spears shoulders him down to start and walks around a lot, allowing Pete to get up. Pete fights out of a top wristlock and sends Spears outside for a consultation from Tully Blanchard. Back in and Spears hammers away in the corner, setting up a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Tully has had it though and distracts the referee, allowing Spears to load up a foreign object in the black glove for the knockout shot at 4:59.

Rating: C-. Spears continues to not be much of note but at least he had a little something with the glove. Other than that though, he’s the same capable hand who doesn’t have much to offer other than that. Pete is fine for a cult favorite and that’s all he needs to be, especially around here.

Lance Archer vs. Griff Garrison

After Archer decks the production guy, Garrison hammers away to expected avail. The Pounce takes Garrison down but he steps up to Archer in the corner. A hard slam gives Archer two and he shouts about how AEW has no idea what is coming for them. Some running shots in the corner set up the Blackout and the EBD Claw is good for the win at 3:41.

Rating: D+. Garrison got in some offense here but it was ultimately a squash. I’ve liked the little I’ve seen from Garrison so far but it isn’t like he’s been around all that much. Then you have Archer, who did his monster thing here as he waits for his next feud, which could be a variety of people.

Post match, Archer chokeslams the production guy.

Dark Order vs. Sonny Kiss/Joey Janela

It’s Alex Reynolds/John Silver for the Order here. Reynolds uppercuts Janela to start but gets splashed and suplexed for one. Kiss comes in and gets knocked into the corner by Silver but pops back up with a hard right hand. Janela’s Russian legsweep into a backflip kick to the face from Kiss. Back up and Silver hits Janela so hard that he drops his mask, followed by a gorilla press into a cutter for two.

Reynolds grabs the chinlock but Janela fights up and ducks a shot in the corner, allowing the hot tag to Kiss. A running Downward Spiral gets two on Reynolds as everything breaks down. Janela is sent outside and Reynolds picks him up for a brainbuster, with Silver diving through the ropes to hit Janela at the same time. Janela comes back in with a double Blockbuster, plus a fireman’s carry to Reynolds. Kiss steps on Reynolds’ back and adds the splits splash to finish Silver at 7:42.

Rating: C. Match of the night so far but that might be due to the extra time. Janela and Kiss aren’t a terrible team, though they aren’t going to get beyond the midcard no matter what they do here. It’s not a great match or anything, but it’s nice to have something a little more competitive than a three minute squash.

KiLynn King vs. Mel

This is Mel’s (you might remember her from the Nightmare Collective) first match in several months. King applauds a bit to start but gets powered into the corner. Mel’s wristlock is countered but she blocks an armdrag with straight power. Mel tosses her down with ease and stomps away before kicking King in the head. A shot to the face gets King out of trouble though and she scores with the second armdrag attempt. King chops away against the ropes but misses the middle rope dropkick. Mel grabs a choke spinebuster for the pin at 5:28.

Rating: D+. This was little more than a squash but there is something about Mel that gets your attention. It was more of a showcase for her than anything else and that worked out well, but there is only so much you are going to get out of something like this. The division could use some more depth given the injury issues though and Mel could shore things up a bit.

Scorpio Sky vs. Lee Johnson

The go with the standing switches to start with Sky taking him to the mat into a front facelock. Back up and Sky holds onto the ropes as Johnson drops to the mat, setting up an Oklahoma roll for two. A dropkick puts Johnson down again and Sky drops some knees into the back. The backbreaker gets two but Sky misses an elbow and gets caught in the Blue Thunder Bomb (third time tonight) gets two. Johnson misses a charge into the corner though and it’s a TKO to give Sky the pin at 4:58.

Rating: C. Maybe it’s just having Sky in there but I had a good time with this one as both guys looked good. Sky is someone who can have a fine match with anyone and Johnson got some offense in here. Not bad at all and I wouldn’t have expected this from a match that only got five minutes.

Luther/Serpentico/Max Caster vs. Jurassic Express

Caster shoves Stunt down to start and dances a bit so Stunt strikes away and hits a running knee to the chest. Some YES Kicks in the corner set up a running dropkick. Boy comes in to act as Stunt’s launchpad, plus to hit a running knee for two on Caster. Serpentico gets the tag and also gets a running hurricanrana from Boy for two more. Luther and Luchasaurus come in….and Luther tags straight back to Serpentico.

A wheelbarrow suplex plants Serpentico and it’s back to Boy, who is tossed at Luther for a Downward Spiral and two more. Express hits a trio of splashes for two on Caster with Luther making the save and pulling Caster into the corner. Luther comes in for a belly to belly on Stunt before running him over with a clothesline.

Caster is willing to come back in and gets kicked in the head almost immediately. That means Luchasaurus can come in and clean house, including the Extinction to Caster. Luther slams Stunt onto the cover for the break but then bails from the threat of Luchasaurus. Stunt, with some help, chokeslams Caster and Boy grabs an STF for the tap at 8:35.

Rating: C-. For the most part, the key to any Express match is how many Stunt shenanigans we have to sit through and they kept them more limited here. I still don’t know why Luther is supposed to be a threat to Luchasaurus or why I should want to see them fight, but Luther has a nickname so he must mean something.

Orange Cassidy vs. Peter Avalon

The Best Friends don’t even bother to stick around for this one. Avalon takes Cassidy’s sunglasses to start and works on a headlock before taking him to the mat. The hands go into the pockets and Cassidy shimmies out of a waistlock. The no hands nip up lets Cassidy get the sunglasses back, but he is sent to the floor for some flirting with Leva Bates.

Avalon dropkicks him through the ropes and hits a slingshot dive, followed by some right hands inside. A leg lariat gives Avalon two and a butterfly suplex is good for the same. Cassidy is back with rams into all four buckles, causing Avalon to do a Curt Hennig bump out of the corner. The tornado DDT gets two on Avalon but he rolls through a high crossbody for two. Back up and a Superman Punch finishes Avalon at 5:45.

Rating: C-. See, now this is something I can go for a bit more from Cassidy because he did something different. It wasn’t the same shtick that we see almost every single time and, while it was just Avalon, it shows that he might be a threat to Jericho if Jericho isn’t ready. Avalon isn’t great most of the time but he was working hard here.

Quick Dynamite preview takes us out.

Overall Rating: C-. There were some decent matches in here and while you don’t need to watch the show (as is almost always the case), they did a better job with keeping it shorter. An hour and twelve minutes is still WAY longer than a show like this needs to be, but it’s also a heck of a lot better than an hour and a half plus. Not too bad here, but just stick to Dynamite.

Results

Brian Cage b. Robert Anthony – Drill Claw

SCU b. Musa/David Ali – Best Meltzer Ever to Musa

Shawn Spears b. Pineapple Pete – Loaded left hand

Lance Archer b. Griff Garrison – EBD Claw

Sonny Kiss/Joey Janela b. Dark Order – Splits splash to Silver

Mel b. KiLynn King – Choke spinebuster

Scorpio Sky b. Lee Johnson – TKO

Jurassic Express b. Luther/Max Caster/Serpentico – STF to Caster

Orange Cassidy b. Peter Avalon – Superman Punch

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: June 3, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur

It’s time for the title show as both the TNT Title and the Tag Team Titles are on the line. That is quite the stacked card for any show and hopefully the execution lives up to the hype. You never can tell for sure with something like this but AEW has a history of being able to pull off a big show. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a Black Lives Matter graphic.

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

The announcers run down the card.

Tag Team Titles: Kenny Omega/Hangman Page vs. Kip Sabian/Jimmy Havoc

Havoc and Sabian, with Penelope Ford, are challenging. Ford grabs Omega’s leg to start and Havoc takes him down. It’s off to Sabian to keep Omega in the corner and it’s back to Havoc to work on the hand. With FTR watching from an empty part of the crowd, Omega fights his way to freedom and brings in Page to run over Havoc. The champs throw Sabian down and Page easily blocks Ford’s top rope hurricanrana. Since the referee say the whole thing and she didn’t turn him over, Ford is ejected.

In the distraction, Havoc hits both champs in the back with a wrench for two. Sabian dropkicks Page to the floor and Havoc pokes at the eyes but Page fights over to Omega for the tag. Omega starts cleaning house and plants Sabian for two before quickly bringing Page back in. The Kitaro Crusher from Omega gives Page two and Page takes out Sabian and Havoc back to back.

A big running clothesline gets two on Sabian with Havoc making the save. Havoc Death Valley Drivers Omega into Page in the corner and Sing the Sorrow gets two on Omega with Page making the save this time. The reverse hurricanrana drops Sabian on his head and there’s the snapdragon to Havoc. Omega hits a V Trigger on Sabian and it’s back to Page for the Last Call to finish Havoc at 13:38.

Rating: B-. It’s kind of amazing how much more entertaining Page is than Omega. He comes off like a more complete character and feels more explosive in the ring as well. I know Omega is going to get the praise and will likely be the top star in the company one day, but I like watching Page a good bit more. The match wasn’t exactly dramatic but it was nice to see the titles defended for a change.

Tully Blanchard yelled at Shawn Spears earlier today and asked what Spears wants his legacy to be. Later, Blanchard thought he had the missing piece for Spears: a single black glove.

We look at Mike Tyson vs. Chris Jericho from last week.

We look back at Brian Cage squashing a human last week.

Brian Cage vs. Shawn Dean

A bunch of suplexes set up the Drill Claw to end whatever is left of Dean at 1:38.

Post match Taz warns Jon Moxley to get serious before Cage kills him at Fyter Fest. Cue Moxley, who is still smiling to annoy Taz. Moxley is in this business for something like this and knows that Cage is impressive. Maybe Cage is a machine but Moxley is a human who can be beaten. It’s going to take Cage all night long though because taking the title from him is a different prospect entirely. The next time you want to bring his name up, remember who you’re talking about.

Lance Archer is beating up someone at what looks like a construction site as Jake Roberts looks on. Archer talks about how one loss isn’t changing him after twenty years in the business and he’ll take everything in AEW. Roberts looks impressed.

We look back at Matt Hardy helping Marc Quen out after an injury last week.

Hardy comes in to see Private Party, where Quen’s knee is fine. They remind him of the bond he and his brother had, which is quite the thrill for the team. If they ever need anything, let him know. Hardy leaves and runs into Sammy Guevara, who he respects, before leaving. Sammy is confused.

We recap Cody winning the TNT Title, the open challenge, and Jungle Boy becoming the #1 contender last week.

Colt Cabana vs. Chris Jericho

Fallout from Cabana arguing with Jericho after last week’s brawl with Tyson. Jake Hager and Sammy Guevara are here with Jericho and Sammy sings Judas for a bonus. Cabana starts fast and knocks Jericho to the floor, setting up an Asai moonsault to take out both Jericho and Hager. Jericho knocks Cabana out of the air back inside though and we take a break.

Back with Jericho elbowing him in the face for two but Cabana slugs away. The Bionic Elbow sets up the Flying Apple into the middle rope splash for two. Cabana rolls up the Superman Pin but Jericho reverses into the Walls of Jericho. The rope is grabbed for the save and Cabana hits a corner clotheslines. A super hurricanrana gives Cabana two but he slips coming out of the corner and walks into the Judas Effect to give Jericho the pin at 9:50.

Rating: C+. I know Cabana is mainly a comedy wrestler but this is the kind of match where he can turn it off and wrestle straight when he has to. That makes Cabana a lot easier to watch and it was the case here. Jericho getting a clean win is good for him at this point, even if it’s over a midcarder. Not too bad here and Cabana was trying.

Videos on the matches announced for Fyter Fest.

Video on Britt Baker’s Road to Recovery with Tony Schiavone and the doctor looking on. She’s a little uh, over the top with things, though calling her wheelchair Role’s Royce is a great touch.

Nyla Rose vs. Big Swole

Swole headlocks her down to start but Rose fights up without much trouble. A shoulder doesn’t work on Rose so Swole sends her outside. That just lets Rose trip her up, sending Swole face first into the apron. Back from a break with Swole hitting a kick to the head and a headbutt, followed by a springboard cutter for two. Swole starts going after the knee but Rose spears her down. The Beast Bomb is countered into a sunset flip for two but Dirty Dancing is countered into a spinebuster/powerbomb to finish Swole at 9:48.

Rating: C-. Not much to see here as Swole isn’t all that interesting and Rose was getting back on the winning path. Part of the problem with any monster like Rose is that once she loses, the luster is gone in a hurry. I’m not sure where she can go next, but one off squashes could be best for her for the time being.

Post match Swole talks about having the fans behind her but Britt Baker rolls over, only to have Swole chase her off with a chair.

Darby Allin is injured but promises revenge on Brian Cage and Taz.

We get a sitdown interview with FTR, who say their name stands for anything they want it to. They’re ready for a bunch of teams, including the Young Bucks, who Dave Meltzer has praised as the next Midnight Express. They know they’re better than the Young Bucks and they don’t want any excuses for when they beat the Bucks in their first match. Tony thanks them for the interview but here are Butcher and Blade to interrupt. Other wrestlers and security break it up and a match is set for next week.

We run down next week’s show, including Marc Quen challenging for the TNT Title.

Colt Cabana is annoyed at his losses so here’s Brodie Lee to say it’s about how you respond to the losing. Lee can help him, so think about it.

TNT Title: Cody vs. Jungle Boy

Cody, with Arn Anderson, is defending and Jungle Boy is on his own here. They start with the rollups early on before Cody wins a slugout in the corner. The Figure Four goes on in a hurry but Boy is out in a hurry. A slingshot DDT gets two on Cody and he bails outside. Cody sends Boy over the barricade and we take a break. Back with Cody headbutting a wall by mistake but Boy stops to yell at MJF.

Cody is busted open so Boy hammers on the cut, only to get knocked down in a hurry. Boy heads up top and gets caught with a dropkick, setting up a delayed superplex. The Figure Four is broken up so Cody goes up top, right above a well placed table. Boy follows him up and they both fall through the table in a big crash. Back in and Boy counters a sunset flip into a rollup for two but Cody snaps off Cross Rhodes to retain at 12:48.

Rating: B. They had my attention here and Boy looked good in a losing effort. It’s a case where he’s a star of the future and that’s a good sign for where this company could be going. I’m curious to see how things are going to go for him and Cody could help a lot of people in matches like this. Good stuff, even if it started to feel like one of those patented forced Cody epics.

Post match all of Cody’s friends come in for the celebration as he shows respect to Boy to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. I had a good time with this one and it was a rather good show, without reaching the next level. What mattered here was having nothing bad and almost everything looking good up and down the card. They’re on the way to Fyter Fest and you can see a lot of the matches from here. Nice stuff here, with a solid show to keep up some momentum.

Results

Kenny Omega/Hangman Page b. Kip Sabian/Jimmy Havoc – Last Call to Havoc

Brian Cage b. Shawn Dean – Drill Claw

Chris Jericho b. Colt Cabana – Judas Effect

Nyla Rose b. Big Swole – Powerbomb

Cody b. Jungle Boy – Cross Rhodes

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