IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: February 13, 2019
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

We’re coming up on the build towards New York and that’s going to be a big night, with some of the card starting to come into focus. The big story continues to be Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa, but Velveteen Dream is getting involved as well, which could make for some very interesting curves. He does certainly know how to shake things up. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Dominik Dijakovic vs. Shane Thorne

Thorne gets smart by going after the arm to start, including wrapping it around the ropes and kicking away a bit, followed by a dropkick to the side of the head. Dijakovic shrugs it off with some power but Thorne stays smart by wrenching the arm some more. A belly to back suplex puts Dijakovic down but he superkicks Thorne off the top for a big crash. Dijakovic, who stands 6’7, nails a big springboard spinning ax handle to the floor (Fans: “FEAST YOUR EYES!”), setting up Feast Your Eyes for the pin at 4:22.

Rating: C. I still don’t know why his name isn’t just Dominic Dijak but at least he got a win here and looked fine doing so. Thorne has nowhere to go but up as he’s starting from scratch and looked good here. I hope he gets at least a chance and in NXT, they might be willing to actually give him a chance. Nice little match here that actually had me wondering for a bit.

The Undisputed Era says they’re having a down start to their year but losing the Tag Team Titles mean they’re all free to go for singles gold. Tonight, Adam Cole is starting with Ricochet.

We look back at the end of last week’s show with Io Shirai pinning Shayna Baszler.

Shirai wants the title but Bianca Belair isn’t sure about that.

Humberto Carrillo and Stacy Ervin Jr. are here for a tag match (with Mauro doing their introduction via voiceover for some reason) but Kassius Ohno interrupts. He knows how the crowd is around here but he won’t be around much longer. Instead he’s going somewhere to be appreciated….and here’s Keith Lee to knock him out with one shot to the face. Lee says he could have hit Ohno in the “dangly bits” like Ohno did to him and apologizes for the interruption.

Humberto Carrillo/Stacy Ervin Jr. vs. Street Profits

The Profits mock Ohno, who is still out as they walked past. Carrillo and Ford start things off with some fast paced counters, capped off by stereo missed dropkicks. A whip into the corner just lets Carrillo flip around a bit, followed by some rather nice armdrags into an armbar. Dawkins comes in with a heavy shoulder but Carrillo is right back up with a spinning kick to the face. A running shooting star gets two on Dawkins but Ervin walks into a rather fast spear to put him in trouble.

The chinlock doesn’t last long so Ford hits a SCARY belly to back, dropping Ervin on the back of his head so hard that the referee immediately slides over to check on him. Ervin is right back up and rolls over for the tag to Carrillo so house can be cleaned. A handspring elbow drops Dawkins and a big dive into an armdrag sends Ford outside. Everything breaks down and a very high moonsault gets two on Dawkins. Back up and Ervin gets caught in an electric chair, setting up the Doomsday Blockbuster to give Ford the pin at 6:15.

Rating: C+. Some of those dives and flips looked great and I could go for more of either team. I’ve liked the Profits for a long time now and having them get into the title picture would be fine. The same is true for Ervin and Carrillo, even though the latter is already up on the main roster, as he should be.

Post match the Profits say they want in on the title picture because they’re ready to go to war at any time, even with the War Raiders. This brings out Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel to say they should get the shot. Cue Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch power walking to the ring for a three way argument but the War Raiders come out to request more fighting over the titles. The Undisputed Era comes in from behind but the Raiders clear the ring without much trouble.

Johnny Gargano says 2018 was an up and down year but he knows his endgame. Now he knows what he wants to do and is ready to show the locker room. Johnny Wrestling is back.

Next week: Gargano defends the North American Title against Velveteen Dream.

Taynara Conti vs. Aliyah

Aliyah’s gear is designed by Versace. Conti wastes no time in trying an armbar but Aliyah is right back up with a faceplant as Vanessa Borne is out at ringside. Aliyah kicks her in the back a few times but gets sent face first into the middle buckle. Some throws by the arm have Aliyah in more trouble and a kick to the face makes it even worse. The armbar over the ropes stays on the arm but Borne grabs Conti’s leg, allowing Aliyah to slam her off the top. A series of kicks to the back of the head makes Conti tap at 2:52.

Post match Borne raises her head but here’s an angry Shayna Baszler to chase them off. Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir come in from behind though and it’s a big beatdown to all three. Shayna says this is the new reality.

Video on Velveteen Dream winning the Worlds Collide tournament and getting the North American Title shot.

Adam Cole vs. Ricochet

Cole starts fast with right hands in the corner before going after the leg. The knee is wrapped around the post and then around the rope back inside as Cole certainly has a focus. Ricochet gets in an enziguri for a breather but Cole is right back on him with more shots to the knee.

A knee crusher keeps Ricochet in trouble but he’s right back with a hard clothesline off the good leg. Somehow he’s fine enough to hit a standing moonsault for two so Cole goes right back to the knee. The fireman’s carry backbreaker gives Cole two of his own but he misses an enziguri. Ricochet grabs a suplex, only to get caught in the brainbuster onto the knee. That’s only two as well so Ricochet is right back up with a reverse hurricanrana.

Ricochet gets to the top but seems to slip/have his knee give out on what looked like a Swanton attempt. They forearm it out with Cole getting the better of things but taking too long going up top. Ricochet’s elbows don’t work as Cole knocks him down, only to have Ricochet pop back up. Some rolling suplexes set up Vertigo (Samoan driver) to finish Cole at 15:15.

Rating: B+. This was a heck of a match with a different side of Ricochet coming out. It’s cool that he got to do some stuff other than the flips for a change and having something like Vertigo as a more traditional finisher can help keep the big spots fresh. Cole was working hard too and they had a good story with the knee. I liked this more than I thought I would and it was a great main event.

Post match the Undisputed Era runs in to beat down Ricochet. Aleister Black tries to come in for the save and gets taken out as well to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. I know the Gargano vs. Ciampa feud is becoming an all time classic, but it’s a good sign that they can go almost completely away from it for a week and have a rather solid show. Other than Gargano’s promo, there was nothing about them on here and it was nice for a change. That’s a very good sign for the future and hopefully something they keep up. I say hopefully with a bit of a smile as they’ve done it for years now. Anyway, very good show, as you probably knew in advance.

Results

Dominik Dijakovic b. Shane Thorne – Feast Your Eyes

Street Profits b. Humberto Carrillo/Stacy Ervin Jr. – Doomsday Blockbuster to Ervin

Aliyah b. Taynara Conti – Kicks to the head

Ricochet b. Adam Cole – Vertigo

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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: WWE

205 Live
Date: February 5, 2019
Location: Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett, Washington
Commentators: Aiden English, Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s time to find out the #1 contender for the Cruiserweight Title as tonight is a four way match with the winner getting the Elimination Chamber title shot. Other than that we have a somewhat heated up Ariya Daivari, which isn’t likely to go very far because it’s a heated up Ariya Daivari. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick previews the four way between Lio Rush, Cedric Alexander, Akira Tozawa and Humberto Carrillo, with Buddy Murphy saying the challenger doesn’t matter.

Opening sequence.

Brian Kendrick vs. Mike Kanellis

Maria is is in on commentary again this week. Feeling out process to start with Maria saying last week’s loss doesn’t count because it wasn’t even a match. Mike runs him over and shout that this is HIS show, which isn’t the best battle cry in the world. Kendrick doesn’t like the sound of that and forearms Mike out to the floor. That just means a quick Maria distraction so Mike can run him over and get in a good posting. A suplex gives Mike two and it’s off to the chinlock as Maria says Mike only needs to win one match to become a legend.

Mike kicks him to the floor but Brian gets in a posting of his own for a breather. Back in and Kendrick grabs the Captain’s Hook for a bit, with Mike getting a single finger on the rope. Mike gets two off a superkick and frustration is setting in. A spinebuster is good for the same so Mike pounds in elbows to the chin. For some reason Mike lets up and Kendrick tells him to bring it, earning himself a kick to the face. With that not working, Mike tries a neckbreaker but gets reversed into Sliced Bread (Maria: “NO!”) for the pin at 10:36.

Rating: C-. I’m almost curious about where the Mike thing is going, as he hasn’t had any kind of a story, though at least he’s getting the chance to actually do something. He’s not the most thrilling guy in the world but he and Maria make for a good act. I had fun with this one, though a losing streak isn’t the best sign for Mike’s future.

We look back at Ariya Daivari laying out Hideo Itami after last week’s main event.

Daivari says he was tired of being the only person to have Itami’s back. Itami kept talking about respect but no one respected him until he took it last week.

Rush says he’s beaten Tozawa twice and has Alexander’s number. It’s time for Murphy to feel the rush.

Kendrick says Tozawa won last week and he’ll do it again tonight. Tozawa says he knows he can beat Murphy. If Tozawa can speak English, why is Kendrick here?

Carrillo says he’ll win the title at Elimination Chamber.

Alexander says he was running through the Cruiserweight Title tournament at this time last year but this time, he only has to beat three people.

We look back at Tony Nese attacking Noam Dar, earning himself a suspension.

Maverick tells Drew Gulak that he and Jack Gallagher can’t be in Carrillo’s corner, because no one is going to be in anyone’s corner. They leave when Dar comes in, saying he wants Nese next week. That’s a no, so Dar threatens to take care of Nese somewhere else. Drake agrees, making it a No DQ match next week.

Akira Tozawa vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Humberto Carrillo vs. Lio Rush

Elimination rules with the winner getting the shot at Murphy at Elimination Chamber. Rush starts talking trash, telling Tozawa that he’s beaten him twice and that he doesn’t know who Carrillo is. All three go after him so Rush bails to the floor, allowing Tozawa to hit a suicide dive. Back in and Cedric trades armdrags with Carrillo until Tozawa slingshots in to knock Carrillo outside. Rush breaks up another suicide dive and hits one of his own on Tozawa.

The big spinning tornado DDT plants Carrillo for two and Rush is right back with the trash talk. Carrillo kicks him down but walks into a missile dropkick from Tozawa for two more. Rush kicks Tozawa in the head for two of his own but Tozawa avoids the Final Hour. Cedric is right back in though and the Lumbar Check gets rid of Rush at 5:30.

That leaves us with three so Carrillo kicks Alexander in the head a few times. A heck of a missile dropkick nails Alexander, setting up a standing moonsault for two. Cedric is right back up on the apron but slips off and bangs up his knee, though he manages to clothesline Carrillo anyway. All three are down for a bit, which is a nice touch for a little reset. Tozawa kicks Cedric out to the floor in a big crash and shoves Carrillo off the top. The top rope backsplash gets rid of Carrillo at 9:56 and it’s down to Tozawa vs. Alexander.

Cedric takes his time getting back in and only has one good leg. The elbow pad comes off and Tozawa grabs the Octopus Hold until switching over to a rollup for two instead. Stereo big boots to the face give us another double knockdown and the fans are rather pleased. Tozawa gets up first and counters the Neuralizer into a snap German suplex, followed by a second one for two more.

Alexander is smart enough to roll away before the top rope backsplash can launch and drops Tozawa on the apron to take over. Back in and the fans are split in their cheering as the Lumbar Check is countered. Alexander gets him in an electric chair (after circling the ring a few times due to nearly dropping him) but gets countered into a reverse hurricanrana. The top rope backsplash sends Tozawa to the Chamber at 17:03.

Rating: B. This felt like a showdown for the sake of getting a big prize down the line, which is exactly the point. Tozawa winning wasn’t the biggest surprise after last week as Carrillo isn’t ready, Rush isn’t getting a shot at Murphy and Alexander has been done several times before. Tozawa makes sense and is a fresh option, so having a good match to get to the logical ending was rather nice.

Post match Murphy comes on screen to say he’ll be waiting on Tozawa at Elimination Chamber.

Overall Rating: C+. Another nice show here with a good main event and a perfectly watchable step forward in another story. Having another title match set up for the pay per view is a good moment and a sign that we might be getting more regular title matches on pay per view. That’s something the title has needed for a long time now and the regular TV show has been backing it up as well. Good stuff here, again.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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: WWE

205 Live
Date: January 22, 2019
Location: Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, Kansas
Commentators: Aiden English, Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

As usual, the go home show for a pay per view is a little weird for this show as there’s only one match to build towards on Sunday. Thankfully it involves four people at once so there’s a lot to cover tonight. One such match will see all three challengers fight in a triple threat, though you can almost guarantee that the winner won’t be leaving the Rumble with the title. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick runs down the card, which sounds rather good.

Opening sequence.

Aiden English is introduced as the new announcer. It’s not like he’s doing anything else.

Humberto Carrillo vs. Gran Metalik

Feeling out process to start with neither being able to get very far off a wristlock. They exchange flips before an exchange of stereo dropkicks set up another flip off. Carrillo flips out of the corner until a heck of a wristdrag out of the corner sends Metalik outside. A big running flip dive takes Metalik down again but he’s fine enough to raise his feet up to block a moonsault. Metalik gets two off a reverse Sling Blade and the rope walk dropkick is good for the same. A chinlock doesn’t last long as it’s a spinning kick to the head to drop Metalik for two.

Metalik stumbles to the apron so Carrillo goes up top and hits a kind of bulldog onto the apron for a double knockdown. Carrillo gets back up onto the apron so Metalik gets a running start for a hurricanrana over the top and down to the floor again. Back in and a very high springboard Swanton gives Metalik two more. Carrillo blocks a superplex though and scores with a missile dropkick, followed by a handstand in the corner into a springboard moonsault (cool) for the pin at 10:32.

Rating: B. Now this was the kind of match that I was hoping for, with two luchadors flying around and showing off how good they can be. That’s exactly what it should have been and both guys looked great. Metalik is underrated and Carrillo continues to look awesome every time he’s out there. I liked this one a lot and I have a feeling that’s going to be the case going forward with either of them.

Drew Gulak and Jack Gallagher are in Maverick’s office to say they aren’t happy with Carrillo. Before they can actually say anything though, Gulak leaves in frustration. Tony Nese comes in and says he wants a rematch with Noam Dar. It’s one win apiece so Maverick says he’ll consider it. That’s not cool with Nese, who threatens violence against Dar if he doesn’t get a match.

Akira Tozawa and Brian Kendrick say the title match doesn’t matter because Tozawa is winning the title on Sunday.

Lince Dorado and Kalisto are ready for a big year for the Lucha House Party. Kalisto suggests that if he wins the title, all three of them are champion.

Ariya Daivari promises that Hideo Itami will make an example of his opponents tonight and win the title at the Royal Rumble.

Kalisto vs Akira Tozawa vs. Hideo Itami

Buddy Murphy is out for commentary. Hideo jumps both of them from behind to start but Kalisto picks up the pace with some dropkicks. Tozawa is right back up with a missile dropkick to send Kalisto outside, setting up a suicide dive. The fight goes over the announcers’ table with Murphy getting taken out, meaning he’ll move off to the side to watch instead.

Some kicks have Itami back in control and we hit the chinlock on Tozawa. That goes nowhere so it’s more dropkicks, including one to knock Kalisto out of the air. The cover is broken up though and everyone is down. That means the three way slugout with Tozawa’s hard right hands getting the better of it, followed by Kalisto catching Itami with a kick to the head. Everyone heads to a corner but it’s Murphy coming in to shove all of them down. Murphy goes after all three until Kalisto kicks him away and they fight back.

The Salida Del Sol sends him outside so Tozawa can add the suicide dive. The match is still going (remember No DQ) with Itami hitting a Falcon Arrow for two on Tozawa. Kalisto catches Tozawa on top and knocks Itami to the floor but Tozawa blocks a super hurricanrana attempt. Tozawa misses the top rope backsplash but Itami is back in for the spinning knee to the face to finish Tozawa at 12:21.

Rating: C+. This was good though not great, with the Murphy part making sense but not really going anywhere. Itami winning is fine as any of the three could have gotten the win here, though he’s not exactly thrilling (hence his future departure). It did a nice enough job to set up the title match on Sunday and was as logical of a move as they had, so I can’t quite complain all that much.

A bunch of replays end the show. Of course I finally get the idea of Itami’s finisher as he’s leaving. It’s still not good, but at least it makes sense.

Overall Rating: B-. Well done again here with a pair of entertaining matches as Carrillo gets a showcase and the title match gets some hype. What more could you want from a forty five minute show? They’re starting to find the sweet spot around here and while it’s not getting the most attention in the world, the quality is still high and that’s a good thing. Just keep it up.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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: WWE

NXT
Date: January 16, 2019
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness

We’re almost to Phoenix and things continue to get more and more interesting around here. That’s one of the best things that you can have happen to you at the right time and since it’s NXT, they know exactly how to do so. Keep building things in the NXT way and everything will be just fine. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Street Profits vs. Metro Brothers

Ford and Chris Metro start things off with a takedown and dancing having Chris in early trouble. Dawkins comes in to fire Ford up and accidentally knocks him down in a funny bit. JC comes in and slaps Dawkins, earning himself a fast knockdown. Ford is very pleased with his partner and a heck of a frog splash finishes JC at 1:49. Total destruction.

Post match the Forgotten Sons run in and beat down the Profits. Fans: “WE FORGOT YOU! STAY FORGOTTEN!”

Matt Riddle is still banged up and can’t be in Keith Lee’s corner tonight against Kassius Ohno. He just hopes Lee leaves a little bit for him.

Aleister Black says Tommaso Ciampa knew he wasn’t safe. At Takeover, he will absolve Ciampa of his sins but let’s start the fight early next week. It was nice to see an old school talk to the camera promo instead of the hold your phone style that they love anymore.

Here’s Bianca Belair for a chat. After bragging about getting rid of Nikki Cross last week, we hear about how she’s going to take the title at Takeover, no matter what Shayna and her horse friends think. This brings out Shayna Baszler with Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir with Shayna saying she doesn’t see it.

Yeah Belair set a bunch of records at the Performance Center and maybe the fastest and the strongest, but she’s not the smartest. Belair shrugs it off but Shayna promises to turn Belair from un-de-feat-ed to over-ratted. Shayna as Duke and Shafir go to the corner but walks into a slap. Belair bails from the numbers advantage in a smart move. This worked well and Shayna continues to look like a star.

Dominik Dijakovic vs. Adrian Jaoude

Jaoude can’t get anywhere off an attempted ankle pick but a double leg works far better. Dijakovic can’t wrestle up so it’s so kicks to the ribs into a spinning elbow to the face instead. A hard clothesline (the Bloodline) sends Jaoude into the corner but he grabs a kneebar to slow Dijakovic down. Jaoude can’t follow up though and it’s a big boot to set up Feast Your Eyes for the pin at 4:23.

Rating: C-. Jaoude continues to impress in defeat as he has the look and mat skills to go somewhere. There’s a lot more to it than that of course but at least he has the unique part down. Dijakovic is certainly good as well, though that name is just stupid when he already had a bit of a name coming in. At least he’s winning though.

The War Raiders are out in a field and light a bonfire with Undisputed Era chairs on top. They’ll destroy the champs in Phoenix, and that is undisputed.

Video on Takeover: Blackpool. Walter’s debut still makes it worth the whole thing.

Johnny Gargano vs. Humberto Carrillo

Apparently Carrillo is the nephew of Hector Garza. Doesn’t really change anything but an extra detail doesn’t hurt anyone. They fight over a wristlock to start until Carrillo backflips out of the corner. A nipup confuses Johnny and an enziguri makes his head hurt. Carrillo sends him outside but charges into the slingshot spear.

An abdominal stretch keeps Carrillo in trouble and lasts about as long as any other abdominal stretch. Gargano gets elbowed to the floor for a dive from Carrillo and a heck of a high missile dropkick puts Johnny down again. The moonsault takes too long though and Johnny gets his feet up. The Lawn Dart sets up the slingshot DDT to finish Carrillo at 4:43.

Rating: C+. This was reminiscent of Lex Luger getting ready to face the Giant back in WCW as he fought someone of a similar style, like Roadblock in his situation (Raise your hand if you thought you’d get a Roadblock reference this week). Carrillo is VERY impressive and I’m glad he got the call up to 205 Live this week as the division needs that kind of skill.

Post match Johnny calls out Ricochet for next week.

Tommaso Ciampa says if he’s the puppet master, Aleister Black is the ultimate puppet. The champ only fights on the biggest stage so we’ll wait until Phoenix for the real fight. Just be careful what you wish for.

Velveteen Dream video.

Kassius Ohno vs. Keith Lee

A very big shoulder takes Ohno down early and Lee follows up with a spear for two. That’s enough to send Ohno outside for a breather but he has to move before Lee can try a dive. Back in and Lee unloads with the heavy lefts and rights but Ohno scores with a running big boot. The running backsplash gives Ohno two and it’s off to the double arm crank.

Ohno forearms him in the back of the head for two more and it’s time for the chinlock. That’s broken up so Ohno tries another backsplash, which just hits knees. Lee slugs away and gets two off a slingshot crossbody. A Mongolian chop sets up the Pounce but Ohno grabs the rope to get out of the fireman’s carry. Lee shoves the referee by mistake and gets hit low, setting up the rolling elbow to finish Lee at 9:14.

Rating: C+. Nice power brawl here with both guys looking good. I get where they’re going with Ohno winning as it sets up another showdown with Riddle, but did they need to have Lee take a second straight loss? The Riddle match was already done a few weeks ago and doesn’t exactly need to happen again after a clean loss. The story makes sense from where they went with it, but not so much with having Lee lose again.

Post match Riddle runs out to chase Ohno off.

Overall Rating: C. This was a much lighter show and there’s nothing wrong with that. Next week will be the big hard push and we did get a nice build towards the Women’s Title match here. Other than that we likely saw the setup for Ohno vs. Riddle III at Takeover so at least we got something extra as a result. Not a bad show, but not one that you really need to see.

Results

Street Profits b. Metro Brothers – Powerbomb/European uppercut combination to JC

Dominik Dijakovic b. Adrian Jaoude – Feast Your Eyes

Kassius Ohno b. Keith Lee – Rolling elbow

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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