Tables Ladders And Chairs 2019: The Same Thing They Always Do

IMG Credit: WWE

Tables Ladders And Chairs 2019
Date: December 15, 2019
Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Vic Joseph, Samoa Joe, Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’ll wrap up the decade with this one as the show doesn’t exactly feel all that important. Unless one is added later, there are no singles titles on the line tonight. I’m not sure how long it has been since that was the case but it isn’t likely to be any recent time. This isn’t the best time for WWE as they are going to be going slowly until the Rumble build starts around the beginning of the year, so hope for the best here. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Andrade vs. Humberto Carrillo

Rematch from Monday where Humberto won, sending Andrade and Zelina Vega into an argument. Andrade avoids a charge to start and goes into the trash talk, followed by a backdrop to put Humberto down. Humberto gets sent outside and we take a break. Back with Humberto still in trouble, this time in the form of an armbar.

A missed enziguri keeps Humberto in trouble as Andrade is starting to get cocky. Humberto snaps off a hurricanrana before sending Andrade outside, where he seems to be favoring his knee as we take a second break. IN A KICKOFF SHOW MATCH. Back with Humberto missing his double moonsault but managing to send Andrade into the corner for a hard dropkick.

That busts Andrade open and he falls to the floor for a big flip dive. Back in and Andrade catches him on top, setting up the top rope double stomp to the apron. Andrade nails a clothesline to turn Humberto inside out but he can’t follow up. Humberto gets sent hard into the corner again and there are the double knees for two more. Vega’s distraction on the apron doesn’t work but doesn’t quite backfire either, leaving Andrade to get caught on top for a super reverse hurricanrana. A moonsault gives Humberto the pin at 12:37.

Rating: B. This started a little slowly but turned into a heck of a match by the end with everyone working hard and getting to show off a bit. Carrillo can get it done in the ring but the lack of charisma is going to be a major hurdle to clear. Andrade and Vega continuing to have issues could go somewhere, and it’s better than just having him stand around doing nothing all day.

Post match, Andrade walks away from a shouting Vega.

The opening video is a special TLC edition of Firefly Fun House with Bray Wyatt decorating a ladder instead of a tree. We switch into a regular opening video, looking at the main weapons involved tonight.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: New Day vs. Revival

New Day is defending in a ladder match. They slug it out to start with New Day taking over, including Kofi hitting a running kick to Wilder’s chest. The fight heads outside with Revival being sent into various metal objects as New Day continues to dominate. Wilder gets in a shot to Kofi’s knee though and Big E. goes hard into the steps. Kofi is sent into the LED apron board and a ladder is laid on its side on the apron.

The whip into it is broken up but Kofi tries a baseball slide, only to have Revival pick the ladder up and drop it onto his back. Kofi dives over the ladder again and then dives onto it to knock Revival down in a huge crash. Big E. tries to pull the ladder inside and overpowers both Dawson and Wilder at the same time just to show off a bit. The apron splash onto Wilder onto the ladder only hits ladder though and Kofi goes face first into the ladder to make it even worse.

Big E. makes the save but his knee gets wrapped around a ladder, followed by a ladder between the legs to keep him down. The ladder is tied in the ropes but Kofi slips out of a whip into it and catapults it into Revival’s faces. Big E. gets back up and works on Dawson’s banged up knee with a Stretch Muffler, allowing Kingston to hit the knee with a ladder. Kofi goes up but the ladder gets turned over, so he lands on the top and springboards back into most of a tornado DDT on Dawson.

Trouble in Paradise puts Wilder down but Revival gets back up for a Shatter Machine off the ladder. It’s Big E. back up this time with a spear through the ropes to put Wilder on the floor. Dawson is down as well and Big E. sets up another ladder, plus bridges another one horizontally into the rungs. Big E. takes WAY too long setting anything up though and gets superplexed onto the bridged ladder.

That doesn’t break it though so Wilder hits a splash to drive Big E. through the ladder for the big knockdown. Kofi comes back in and climbs, only to get sent face first into the ladder to knock him silly but not down. Big E. hits a Big Ending off the ladder, leaving Dawson to climb as Kofi pulls himself up. Kofi sends the belts into Dawson’s head to knock him into the remnants of the broken ladder. That’s enough to pull the titles down and retain at 19:05.

Rating: A-. Ignoring some of the questionable time spent building spots, this was a crazy spot fest with that springboard tornado DDT being some eye popping stuff. Kofi seems to be back in stride and New Day retaining here makes the most sense. Just wait for Roode to get back though so he and Dolph Ziggler, who WWE sees as some brilliant team, can take them away.

King Corbin isn’t worried about Roman Reigns and will humble him using tables, ladders and chairs.

We recap the Kickoff Show match. We need a recap from a match that took place an hour ago?

Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy

Murphy sits in the middle of the ring ala Black during Black’s entrance. I really don’t see that going well for him. Black sits right in front of him and some of Murphy’s confidence seems to go away. The threat of some very early Black Mass sends Murphy to the floor so he slides back in, only to get sent outside again. Murphy slides back in….and Black is sitting there waiting on him for a great visual.

Black ducks a kick to the face and grabs an armbar but Murphy gets out and knees him in the face. That one shakes Black a bit so he kicks Murphy in the chest and Black seems annoyed at being hit so hard. Black’s running knee from the apron is countered though and Murphy sends him face first into the steps. Back in and Murphy drives in elbows to Black’s bloody nose but Black gets fired up. Murphy gets kicked out of the air and a Shining Wizard rocks him again.

Black Mass is broken up so they head to the apron, with Black kicking him to the floor for the moonsault. Back in and a heck of a knee to the face gets two so Black kicks him in the head as a bonus. A superplex is countered into a set of Cheeky Nandos kicks and a running sitout powerbomb gives Murphy two. Murphy’s big knee to the face is blocked and they slug it out until Murphy gets two off a brainbuster. They pull themselves up in the corner and go to another strike off, but this time Black pulls out Black Mass for the sudden knockout and the pin at 13:41.

Rating: B+. This felt like a Takeover match with two guys getting the chance to showcase themselves on the big stage and taking every advantage of it. They hit the heck out of each other here and Murphy didn’t lose a thing by taking the pin here. Black surviving the likely broken nose and winning anyway gives him another boost and hopefully he can move up to something better in the near future. Heck of a match.

Rusev is thrilled by Bobby Lashley wanting to propose to Lana because it means the end of alimony. Lana better cancel their vacation plans though because all she is going to be able to do is pull splinters of wood out of Lashley’s back.

We recap Seth Rollins officially joining forces with the AOP and destroying Kevin Owens on Raw.

Raw Tag Team Titles: Viking Raiders vs. ???

The Raiders are defending in an open challenge and there are fans sitting ringside with a bunch of KFC. The challenge is issued again and it’s…..the OC, which was the most logical move. Hang on though as they need to bring up being the only team to beat the Raiders, which is a good way to build this up in a hurry. Anderson headlocks Erik to start but gets belly to back faceplanted for his efforts.

Ivar comes in for the slam and then slams Erik onto him for a bonus. A Gallows distraction lets Anderson knock Erik to the floor though and it’s time for the chinlock. The comeback doesn’t work though as Gallows comes in for a chinlock of his own. This allows Lawler to freak out about the fried chicken at ringside for about the tenth time in the match. Erik finally powers up and brings in Ivar to really clean house.

Ivar slugs away at various jaws and we get a Flair Flip in the corner of all things. What appeared to be a top rope splash is broken up (as the Flair traditions continue) and the belly to back neckbreaker gets two. A handspring double elbow hits Anderson and grazes Gallows, but it’s enough to set up the Viking Experience to Anderson for two (with Gallows appearing to be late on the save). That puts everyone down so they roll to the floor with Ivar hitting a big dive….for the double countout at 8:30.

Rating: C-. And there goes the hot streak to start the show as the ending wasn’t going to get over with the fans and likely sets up a rematch tomorrow on Raw. It wasn’t even all that good in the first place with the chinlocks eating up a lot of time in the middle. The OC does feel like a threat to the Raiders though and that kept the match from being too bad.

Post match Anderson stays on the champs and grabs the KFC table, only to have the Raiders powerbomb him through it.

Miz has sent his wife and daughters to an undisclosed location. Bray Wyatt has violated his home and tonight it’s the most important match of his life because he is fighting for his family.

We recap King Corbin vs. Roman Reigns, which actually isn’t headlining. Corbin has been taunting Reigns about no longer being the locker room leader and for being called the Big Dog. Therefore, Corbin handcuffed Reigns and covered him in dog food. Now, Reigns is unleashed to keep up the theme.

King Corbin vs. Roman Reigns

TLC with pin or submission to win. Corbin gets to promise to humble Reigns again before the bell. Reigns punches his way through Corbin’s security/sedan carriers. Corbin charges at Reigns with a chair but gets punched down. Another shot to the face knocks Corbin off the stage and they fight through the crowd. Reigns gets the better of it and sends him over the barricade so they can go to ringside for the first time.

A ram into the steps rocks Corbin but he’s fine enough to hit Deep Six for two. The slide under the corner clothesline gets two more and they head outside for a whip into the steps. The first ladder is brought in for a shot to Reigns’ ribs, followed by a chair to the back. Those are shrugged off and Reigns starts the clothesline comeback. Reigns ducks another under the corner clothesline (sliding underneath the chair wedged in the corner) but walks into a chokebreaker.

The Superman Punch gives Reigns two and he loads up a table, only to walk into….a can of dog food to the head. That’s enough to hit a chokeslam through the table for two more. It’s time to load up the commentators’ table but Reigns Samoan drops him through the other one for the double knockdown. Reigns is up first and runs around the ring to load up a spear but runs into a Dolph Ziggler superkick (or a Superman kick according to Cole).

With Reigns down, Corbin and Ziggler go after the timekeeper but Reigns hits the apron dropkick to break up the dog fooding. Reigns grabs a kendo stick and beats up Corbin’s security again so here are the Revival to take Reigns down again. That’s fine with Reigns, who beats them up as well and hits the big dive onto the pile. Corbin is sent back inside but Ziggler hits Reigns with a chair to cut him down again. The Shatter Machine drops Reigns again and the End of Days onto a chair is good for the pin at 22:12.

Rating: B-. And now we’ll have to get a rematch as Corbin is getting a freaking stable. I’ll spare you another long rant about Corbin and Ziggler sucking the entertainment out of every single thing that happens on Smackdown and just hope that we can move on to something other than dog jokes. You know we’re getting more and more of this, so hopefully it won’t be as bad going forward. The match was an entertaining enough garbage brawl and Reigns has a reason to want to fight again, but that means we have to listen to more of these two arguing. Merry Christmas indeed.

We recap the Miz vs. Bray Wyatt. Daniel Bryan was supposed to face the Fiend for the Universal Title again but got destroyed instead. Therefore, Bray (as in not the Fiend) wanted to face Miz instead and stalked his family for some serious mind games.

Bray Wyatt vs. The Miz

Non-title and this is the first time Bray has been in a televised match as himself in about fifteen months. Serious Miz still does his usual entrance just to show you how important this is. To show you how serious this is to the announcers, they are mocking the foreign commentary teams with some idiotic story about wearing pants at a formal dinner. Bray stands on the announcers’ table and thanks everyone for their interest. He’s REALLY excited about this.

The fans give him a YOWIE WOWIE chant so Miz takes it straight into the corner to start the beating. Some knees in the corner keep Bray down but he smiles at Miz, who kicks away even more. Miz chokes and hammers away on the ropes so Bray….laughs. The sweater is pulled over Bray’s face so Miz can punch at the ribs but Bray gets serious. Miz reverses him into the corner though and kicks away, setting up some running knees in the corner. Sister Abigail is countered into the Skull Crushing Finale but Miz glares instead of covering.

Miz slams him face first into the mat and Bray laughs some more. Bray’s arm is snapped back so he rolls to the floor….and rams himself into the barricade to fix his shoulder. Miz sends him into the barricade and the steps but Bray gets in a backdrop into the timekeeper’s area. Sister Abigail sends Miz into the barricade and more smiling ensues. That’s good for nine so Bray hits Sister Abigail again for the pin at 6:32.

Rating: C+. This was a match that may have been ridiculous on paper but it was exactly how things should have gone. The idea of Bray is that he can control the anger and evil and only channels it when he puts the mask on. That slipped a bit here and Wyatt showed off the dark side when he needed to but was passive the rest of the time. It fits everything he needed to be and the ending was how it should have gone. Very smartly laid out match, even if it wasn’t the most thrilling.

Post match Bray smiles some more but the Fiend appears on screen. Bray says “ok I’ll do it”…..and pulls out the giant mallet. The lights start to flicker and Bray shouts HE’S HERE, only to turn into the running knee from Daniel Bryan, now with short hair and a short beard. The YES Kicks in the corner set up the running corner dropkicks and Bryan stomps him in the head over and over. Bryan grabs the mallet but there go the lights, allowing Bray to disappear. With nothing else to do, Bryan hits the mat with the mallet and poses.

We recap Rusev vs. Bobby Lashley. Rusev’s wife Lana has been having an affair with Lashley and Rusev is fighting back. He agreed to sign the divorce papers so he could get this match, which is of course a tables match.

Rusev vs. Bobby Lashley

Rusev hammers away to start and goes straight for the table but Lana offers a successful distraction. Lashley can’t do much with that so Rusev suplexes him on the ramp to work on the back a bit. It’s too early to put Lashley through the table though so he turns it over in a smart move. For a change of pace, Lashley throws a table at Rusev but only hits the post to break the table in half.

A regular table, plus the two of them, go inside with Rusev sending him face first into the table in the corner. Lashley comes back with a spinebuster and there’s a running shoulder in the corner to keep Rusev down. Back up and Lashley gets sent to the apron where Rusev can’t knock him through a table. Instead, Rusev knocks him OVER the table and down onto the floor, as Rusev doesn’t have the best aim.

A shot with the steps rocks Lashley again and Rusev goes to find…..a piece of barricade. That’s laid up against the barricade but Lashley chokeslams him through it. Lashley hits him with a kendo stick over and over as Lana laughs in Rusev’s face. Back in and Lashley sets up a table in the corner but Rusev takes the stick away and unloads with it. There’s the Machka Kick but Lana jumps on Rusev’s back, allowing Lashley to suplex Rusev through the table for the win at 13:04.

Rating: D+. That was about what was expected: a fairly long brawl until Lana interfered and cost Rusev the fall. This story is going to continue for a long time to come and this match didn’t exactly give me a ton of hope for the future. The story isn’t for everyone but there is an audience for it so I get why it’s continuing. Just….find a way to have better matches.

The Street Profits offer Lashley the advice of “get a vasectomy” but are interrupted by Reigns, Corbin, New Day, Ziggler, and several other people in a huge brawl.

We recap the Kabuki Warriors vs. Becky Lynch/Charlotte. The Warriors have ganged up on them individually (often with the help of green mist) so the two non-friends have joined forces to go after the Women’s Tag Team Titles. It’s a TLC match because….well we need a main event.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Kabuki Warriors vs. Becky Lynch/Charlotte

TLC match with traditional rules and Lynch/Charlotte challenging. It’s a brawl to start with the Warriors being sent outside, including Becky throwing Asuka through a table with a pile of chairs on top. Charlotte adds a big boot to Sane and it’s already time for a ladder. Asuka is right there to throw a chair at Charlotte’s face though and Becky gets knocked outside as well.

A dropkick into the chair into Charlotte’s face lets the champs sit down for some posing as the confidence is already high. Becky is back with a drop toehold to send Asuka face first into a chair and then into a ladder, with Charlotte taking care of Sane on the floor. Asuka has to be saved from a powerbomb through a table but Sane gets knocked down as well. Charlotte and Becky set up a ladder but Sane throws a chair….which doesn’t clear the top rope and hits Sane in the face instead.

They throw chairs at each other for a bit until the Warriors go underneath the ring. They’re dragged back out with Asuka finding a fire extinguisher for a quick blast. Asuka also has a rope to get in a few whips and Sane adds a running flip neckbreaker onto a pile of chairs. Charlotte is put in an announcers’ chair and beaten up for a bit, followed by the next ladder being pulled out. Instead of setting it up though, Sane ties the rope to the leg and then ties Becky to it for a rather unique idea.

With Becky subdued, Charlotte gets hit with a sliding knee off the apron and the Warriors toss her over the barricade. Since playing defense isn’t a thing in a TLC match, Charlotte is back in with a kendo stick to knock both Warriors off the ladder. Charlotte sends them both into chairs and tries to untie Becky, only to get chaired down from behind. Lynch has been loosened enough though and it’s time for the firery comeback. House is cleaned and Becky’s middle rope seated senton puts Asuka through a table. Sane saves herself from the same fate with a double DDT on the floor and it’s time to put both of them onto the table.

The Insane Elbow off the apron misses Charlotte and hits Becky but doesn’t break the table for a nasty sound. Charlotte muscles Sane up for a powerbomb through the table (though it looked like she had trouble getting her up, or something is WAY off with Sane) but Asuka is back up with a chair. Asuka puts a ladder on Charlotte and a table on Becky…and would rather go and help Sane up than climb. After some more stomping, they set up the big ladder (with the rope still attached) but Charlotte and Becky are back in with some pretty bad looking chair shots.

Charlotte boots a ladder into Asuka’s face and they all head outside again. Charlotte’s moonsault through Asuka through the table is broken up and instead it’s a huge powerbomb off the middle rope through the table to nearly kill Charlotte. Becky Bexplodes Asuka into some ladders and climbs but has to drop down to beat Asuka with the rope. Asuka uses said rope to pull the ladder and Becky down though and the crash is enough to retain the titles at 25:58.

Rating: B. This was a match where you had to ignore a lot of instances where they should have just climbed instead of gone to get more weapons. What we got was good though as it felt like a battle where either of them could pull off the win. I’m not sure who takes the titles from the Warriors, but it’s time to move on from Becky and Charlotte as partners (or opponents) for a good while.

Maybe three seconds after the match ends, the big group that was brawling before spills out into the arena with Corbin and Reigns fighting into the crowd above the pile. Reigns spears Corbin off the platform onto everyone else to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. It’s another case of having very low expectations and managing to get a pretty awesome show out of it. There are a few rough spots (Rusev vs. Lashley and Raw Tag Team Titles) but there are more than a few rather good matches and the show was off the air by 10:15. It helps when there was nothing as far as expectations, but they were working hard and it turned into something pretty good. Now just get some more interesting stories to go with a show like this and we’re in awesome shape.

Results

New Day b. Revival – Kofi Kingston pulled down the titles

Aleister Black b. Buddy Murphy – Black Mass

Viking Raiders vs. OC went to a double countout

King Corbin b. Roman Reigns – End of Days onto a chair

Bray Wyatt b. The Miz – Sister Abigail

Bobby Lashley b. Rusev – Suplex through a table

Kabuki Warriors b. Charlotte/Becky Lynch – Asuka pulled down the titles

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

Main Event – December 5, 2019: The Winter Blues (But More Reds)

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: December 5, 2019
Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Mickie James

We’re on the way to TLC and things are starting to get tight as far as setting up the actual card. WWE doesn’t exactly seem interested in building up the show or setting matches for the thing, but to be fair it’s not like the show is going to mean anything in the first place. I’m sure this one will be thrilling too. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Natalya vs. Sarah Logan

So Natalya is the new Dana Brooke? Logan takes her down to start and we’re in the chinlock in the first minute. That’s broken up so Natalya claps a lot before they fight over the leg. The grappling on the mat nearly sets up the Sharpshooter so Logan bails to the floor. Back in and Natalya unloads in the corner, setting up a snap suplex to put Logan outside again. Logan gets in a neck snap though and the chinlock goes on again. Natalya’s belly to back faceplant gets two so Logan sends her into the corner. Not that it matters as Natalya grabs a small package for the pin at 4:55.

Rating: D. This was short and not very good but what worries me even more is the idea of them having another long term feud on here. You never can tell what they’re going to do as far as continuing with the same matches over and over but it can get really annoying. Logan isn’t the best in the world but she deserves better than doing the same stuff week after week.

We recap Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens with the AOP interfering to attack Owens but not Rollins.

From Raw.

Here’s Seth Rollins to apologize for last week. Rollins talks about how everyone in the back is his family and as the head of the family, it is his job to get the best out of everyone here on Raw. Maybe he went a bit too far with that last week though and he needs to apologize. Lawler does not approve of this and it’s even worse when Rollins asks Owens to come out here and accept his apology man to man.

Owens comes out and says he thinks the only family Rollins has is the AOP. Rollins denies it, but Owens calls (uncensored) BS. Cue the AOP to make the offer of a tag match. Rollins says he’s in but Owens says he sees three scenarios, all of which end in him getting beaten down three on one. Therefore, let’s get it over with now. Rollins walks out and the AOP lets him go, but Owens offers to fight them one at a time. For some reason the AOP leaves so Owens issues an open challenge.

Cue Lana to handle Bobby Lashley’s introductions and shows off her rather revealing outfit as Owens facepalms in the ring. Owens: “NO ONE CARES! I DON’T CARE IF YOU’RE NOT DONE TALKING! I AM VOMITING IN MY MOUTH RIGHT NOW!” Lana isn’t done and makes it clear that Rusev isn’t here tonight because the restraining order is on again. Owens says she is repulsive on the inside so Lana calls him a “basic pizza eater”. She threatens to have Lashley come out here and finish him. Owens: “LET’S GET TO IT!!!” Owens as the voice of the fans here is hilarious because he’s absolutely right, but I doubt WWE gets the point.

Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens

There is security on the floor waiting for Rusev. Lashley knocks him to the floor to start but Owens gets in a shot of his own, setting up the frog splash off the apron. Back from a break with Lashley hammering away until a superkick gets Owens out of trouble. The spinning Big Ending gives Lashley two but the full nelson is blocked. Owens hits the Pop Up Powerbomb but here’s the TOP to beat up Owens for the DQ at 8:49.

Rating: C-. Well they didn’t have Rusev interfere, which is actually a bit of a surprise. I’m still not sure what is going on here with the AOP as they could have Rollins as the boss or go in the other direction with a surprise leader. The AOP still aren’t the kind of people you have as the big bads so the leader is necessary. Getting the right one can make it work, but how much confidence should I have in WWE to pull it off?

Post match AOP beats Owens down and drags him off.

Post break Lana and Lashley talk about how tired they are of dealing with Rusev, which has caused Lana to have to hire security. Cue Rusev through the crowd to superkick Lashley and beat him down as Lana screams for the guards to come in. They take their sweet time getting up onto the apron as Rusev bails. They never even got in the ring so Lashley goes outside to yell at them, but since they’re detectives, Lashley gets arrested for getting physical. Lana slaps one of them and is going to jail too.

From Raw again.

The Kabuki Warriors rant in Japanese before their match. They promise to beat Charlotte tonight.

Charlotte vs. Kabuki Warriors

The Warriors now have their own single theme instead of the pretty bad mashup. They jump Charlotte before the bell and the beatdown is on, with the referee giving Charlotte a breather before starting it off. Sane chokes Charlotte in the corner but she fights back, only to get caught by Asuka to keep her in trouble.

Charlotte knocks both of them outside but gets rammed into the barricade to cut her off again. With Sane being sent into the barricade, Asuka kicks Charlotte down to put her right back down. The hip attack hits Sane though and Charlotte kicks Asuka in the face. Back from a break with Sane pounding away but getting kicked out of the air.

The moonsault hits double knees though as Charlotte can’t keep anything going. Sane gets caught in the Boston crab until Asuka kicks Charlotte in the head for the break. Asuka kicks away and grabs the armbreaker, which is reversed into the sitout powerbomb for two with Sane making the save.

Charlotte takes both of them to the top but a double superplex is broken up because it would probably kill everyone involved. Sane hits some top rope knees to the back to give Asuka two but Charlotte is right back with the double spear. The Figure Eight has Asuka in -big trouble until the Insane Elbow (to Charlotte’s bridged ribs) breaks it up for the pin at 16:00.

Rating: C+. Charlotte got too much in here but at least she lost clean in the end, which is how this should have gone. The fact that it was a possibility to see Charlotte get a win over both champions at once though is a bit disturbing, but at least they got it right in the end. Just find some challengers for the champs instead of Becky and Charlotte.

The champs celebrate in the ring until Asuka tries to leave, only to get pointed back in by a production guy’s hand. Nothing happens after that, but they needed to fill in some time.

We look at Roman Reigns destroying Robert Roode on Smackdown.

Cedric Alexander vs. Mojo Rawley

Rawley chills in the corner to start before sending Alexander into another one. A hard whip has Alexander in more trouble and we take a break. Back with Alexander getting two off a crucifix, followed by the Neuralizer for the same. The springboard is countered into an Alabama Slam though and Alexander is done at 6:14. Not enough shown to rate but it wasn’t anything that hasn’t been done before.

From Smackdown.

Here’s Daniel Bryan to talk about everything going on with Bray Wyatt tonight. Earlier today the Miz talked about how the Fiend will change him. Back at Survivor Series, Bryan felt the change from the people. For the last year, Bryan has talked about how the YES Movement is done, but now something has changed. So does he accept Bray’s challenge? YES he does! Cue the Firefly Fun House and Bray is very excited to get to play again but if Bryan does it again, we will see his true form. Bryan helped Bray change in the first place and the Fiend remembers that.

Oh he almost forgot: Bray promised a new face tonight and he is a man of his word. The lights go out in the arena and it’s the Fiend popping up through the ring. Bryan fights him away but gets Mandible Clawed down into the hole. Fiend pulls his hands out of the hole and has a bunch of hair in his hands. He does it again with a bunch of hair being left on the mat and the laughter ends the show. So he’s a Brutus Beefcake fan now?

We look at the setup for Raw’s six man main event.

From Raw.

OC vs. Humberto Carrillo/Rey Mysterio/Ricochet

Carrillo takes over on Anderson’s arm to start and it’s Ricochet coming in with an ax handle to stay on it. AJ comes in and gets taken down by Humberto’s springboard crossbody. They head outside with Carrillo being sent into the barricade and it’s Gallows coming in for an elbow to the back of the head. Joe drops a Red Neck Kung Fu reference as Gallows takes Carrillo down for elbows to the chest.

Carrillo flips over the back and scores with an enziguri. The hot tag brings in Mysterio to pick up the pace and it’s Anderson and Gallows being sent outside. The 619 to AJ is broken up by Anderson and we take a break. Back with Gallows suplexing Mysterio, which is a lot better than having Mysterio fighting out of another chinlock. Anderson comes in for the trash talk into the chinlock but Mysterio sends him into the corner for the break.

Ricochet gets the hot tag to pick up the pace, meaning it’s a bunch of kicks to a bunch of heads. The springboard clothesline into the standing shooting star press gets two on AJ. Styles is right back with the belly to back faceplant for his own two as everything breaks down. The 619 hits Anderson but Gallows superkicks Mysterio down. Ricochet counters the Styles Clash with a hurricanrana for two so Ricochet loads up a super hurricanrana. AJ isn’t about to let that happen though and it’s reversed into a super Styles Clash for the pin at 14:38.

Rating: C+. Pretty standard main event tag here, which worked well enough but was nothing that is going to be remembered beyond….oh I’m thinking tomorrow morning. AJ vs. Orton could be interesting with McIntyre as a nice bonus. I’m not sure about Carrillo being thrown in, but Ricochet will be fine against the OC with the right partner.

Post match AJ poses and gets caught with the RKO to end the show.

Overall Rating: D. I had forgotten how uninteresting so much of the previous week had been. This was a show that didn’t do much and was little more than a show that filled in its requirements. That is the case with Main Event more often than not and it can become a lot to sit through, despite it not being anything in the first place. Bad show here, as the winter funk is strong at the moment.

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:

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Monday Night Raw – December 9, 2019: A Different Way To Rush Through Everything

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 9, 2019
Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Samoa Joe, Corey Graves

I know it seems ridiculous but we are only six days away Tables, Ladders and Chairs. There are only a handful of matches confirmed for the show so tonight is going to be all about rapid fire build, because that’s the best thing this company knows how to do these days. Expect some more from AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton, and of course Rusev vs. Bobby Lashley. Let’s get to it.

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

Jerry Lawler is in the ring with table and chairs so Rusev and Lana can get divorced. Lana and her lawyer come out and Lawler reads off a statement, saying that the restraining order has been lifted. Rusev, in a Donald Duck shirt, comes out and has a seat as Lana rants about she never loved him. He isn’t allowed to speak because this is always about him. Rusev Day went to his head and it’s time to get on their feet to yell at the fans.

Rusev says this is how his marriage went and Lana needs to calm down. He’s the one who needs protection this week and we see a clip of Lashley and Lana being arrested last week. Lana rants about how Rusev will never have anyone like her, but Rusev says he can’t stand her now so why would he want another. Lana screams about how Rusev Day and the WWE Universe destroyed her marriage, nearly breaking down in tears. Rusev says this is ridiculous and wants to sign the divorce papers.

They’re ready to sign but Lana insists that she sign first. Lana: “I get the dog!” They get in an argument over the dog, which is giving me flashbacks to HHH and Stephanie back in the day. Lana emphatically signs but Rusev needs something from her before he signs. Lana thinks he means sex in a variety of places but instead it’s a match with Lashley. Cue Lashley to say he wants the divorce finalized so he can marry Lana. They agree to a match at some point and Rusev signs, triggering the brawl. Lashley beats him up on the floor but Rusev suplexes him through the table back inside.

Kevin Owens accuses AOP of attacking him because Seth Rollins ordered them to do so. Last week he got away though, and that’s a problem for AOP. Owens walks off and runs into Rey Mysterio, who offers to have his back against the AOP if he needs someone. Actually make that the pipe has Owens’ back and Owens accepts.

Matt Hardy vs. Drew McIntyre

On his way to the ring, Drew talks about Matt having a newborn son and the cross eyed look shows that it really is Matt’s. Drew knows Matt is a true professional, but he’s made some mistakes outside of the ring and maybe him reproducing isn’t a good idea. Hardy slugs him into the corner and hits a Twist of Fate as we take a break. Back with the bell ringing and Matt clotheslining him out to the floor. Drew breaks up the Twist of Fate with a shove into the steps though and Matt is in trouble. The Futureshock into the Claymore finish Matt at 2:21.

We look back at the Kabuki Warriors defeating Charlotte last week.

Charlotte offers Becky Lynch some help against the Kabuki Warriors but Lynch has this one on her own.

Owens and his pipe look for the AOP, though Mojo Rawley isn’t sure which way they went. He suggests three directions so Owens hits him in the face, saying Mojo just went in the down direction.

Here are the Viking Raiders to issue an open challenge for their gold. Or silver.

Batista is going to the Hall of Fame. Well deserved.

Tag Team Titles: Viking Raiders vs. Street Profits

The Profits are challenging. Erik misses the shotgun knees in the corner and it’s a spinebuster into the frog splash for two on Erik with Ivar diving in for a save. We settle down to Ivar and Ford trading cartwheels until a spinwheel kick gets two on Ford. Dawkins plants Ivar for two more but it’s back to Ford, who walks into the Viking Experience for the pin at 3:12.

Rating: C+. They packed some stuff in here, just like they would do down in NXT. That being said, I’m rather surprised that the Profits lost so quickly. It’s not like they were severely damaged though as they got in the best near fall on the Raiders yet and it’s not like they got squashed. It was fun while it lasted if nothing else.

Post match respect is shown but here is Seth Rollins for a chat. Everyone else leaves though because the respect is gone. Rollins wants the AOP out here right now but gets Owens instead. Rollins says there is no need for the piper but Owens begs to differ. We see the AOP arriving in the back and it’s off to a break. Back with Rollins saying the AOP is going to come out here and beat Owens up but it has nothing to do with him.

That’s enough to make Rollins leave so here’s the AOP to speak their native languages. Owens says those are all good points and he wants them down here one at a time. Cue Sami Zayn and Mojo Rawley with Sami saying he has a managerial license to jump from Raw and Smackdown. Rather than just being a manager though, Sami is a liberator and that’s what Owens needs right now.

What Owens did to Mojo backstage was too far and Sami wants an apology. They’re about to fight but Sami intervenes, citing the STEEL PIPE in Owens’ hand. Mojo: “Anyone is tough with a pipe in their hands.” Owens wants to test that and throws it to Mojo, setting him up for the Stunner. A few pipe shots to the back leave Mojo laying and send Sami running.

Post break, Owens’ hunt continues.

Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy is set for TLC so Murphy promises to beat him on Sunday.

Aleister Black vs. Akira Tozawa

Tozawa works on the arm to start and has to bail into the corner off the threat of a kick. Some armdrags let Black grab the arm again but a spinning kick to the head misses again. Tozawa snaps off a hurricanrana to the floor but the suicide headbutt is kneed out of the air. Black Mass finishes Tozawa at 3:35.

Rating: C-. The slaughter of the cruiserweights continues as Black claims another one. That being said, the image of Black Mass hitting Tozawa in the face was a great visual as that thing hit to perfection. In theory that makes Buddy the next big challenger but I’m not sure how that is going to go.

Video on Humberto Carrillo.

Humberto is ready for an interview but Zelina Vega and Andrade come in. Yelling ensues and a match is set for tonight.

Liv Morgan’s makeover is coming soon.

Andrade vs. Humberto Carrillo

Andrade won’t let Carrillo start with the flips so it’s a backdrop into a chinlock. Back up and an elbow to the face sets up a running kick to the same face for two. Carrillo gets sent to the top but spins around and hits a high crossbody. Andrade is sent to the floor for the big moonsault and we take a break.

Back with Carrillo backflipping into a moonsault for two but Andrade blocks a superplex attempt. That means the top rope double stomp can get two but Andrade misses the running knees in the corner. Carrillo scores with a missile dropkick into the Aztec Press (which almost completely misses) for two, as there was no way you could give up a fall off something like that.

A spinning back elbow to the face gives Andrade two and now the double knees in the corner connect. Carrillo pops back up with the running dropkick in the corner though, drawing Vega to the apron. Andrade is sent into her though and it’s a victory roll to finish Andrade at 11:04.

Rating: C+. This is how you give Carrillo a push if they insist on doing so. Andrade and Vega having some issues may not be the best idea in the world but it’s better than just having Andrade go nowhere. At least now he’s got some kind of a story to go with it, which hasn’t been the case for a long time.

Post match Andrade blames Vega for the loss and they argue a lot.

Rey Mysterio isn’t ready to lose his US Title back to AJ Styles tonight.

Remember how Owens couldn’t find the AOP? He still can’t.

Zack Ryder vs. Buddy Murphy

During the entrance, Aleister Black says Murphy will regret picking a fight with him. Buddy starts fast and takes him down for some knees to the back. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Ryder is back with a faceplant and the running forearm in the corner. The Broski Boot sends Murphy outside but Curt Hawkins gets taken out. Back in and the jumping knee to the face sets up Murphy’s Law to give Buddy the fast pin at 2:00.

Owens finds the AOP’s van and unloads on it with the pipe. The AOP comes in and beats him down. Someone is in the back of the van and….of course it’s Rollins. Seth says it’s come to this and Stomps him onto the bare concrete. Rollins looks at the AOP and they leave together. So to recap, here are the last few weeks:

Owens: “You’re with the AOP!”

Seth: “No I’m not!”

Owens: “Yes you are!”

Rollins: “No I’m not! Ok I am!”

Post break Rollins is in the arena to rant about how everything should have gone perfectly for him. He gave everything he had for every one of the fans but they booed him anyway. Rollins doesn’t care for the fans getting on the Owens’ bandwagon because Owens if the flavor of the month. It was true that he wasn’t with the AOP but no one believed him. What does Rollins have to do to get the people’s respect? All of this negativity has turned into a self fulfilling prophecy as he is now standing with AOP. They come out to stand by his side and all three leave together.

Owens is loaded into an ambulance.

Becky Lynch vs. Kabuki Warriors

Non-title. Becky suplexes Asuka to the floor to start but the numbers advantage lets Asuka choke away in the corner. Back from a break with Becky hitting a dropkick and kicking them both down. A double DDT gets two on Kairi but she’s back up to slam Becky off the top. Asuka’s missile dropkick misses though and there’s the Bexploder. The middle rope legdrop misses though and it’s the Asuka Lock, only to have Lynch reverse into one of her own.

The Warriors are sent to the floor but Asuka knees Becky in the face to put them all down. Lynch beats the count back in, where Asuka hits a Shining Wizard for two more. A Doomsday forearm gets the same but the Insane Elbow hits raised knees. Asuka breaks up the Disarm Her but it’s a Rock Bottom to plant Asuka. The Disarm Her is broken up by Asuka and Becky doesn’t know what else to do. They go outside again and Asuka chairs her in the ribs for the DQ at 13:04.

Rating: C. I didn’t like the ending here but it’s time to set up a TLC match on Sunday so we need to get that out of the way. The Tag Team Title match should be fun but I’m not exactly looking forward to the rapid fire “hey we’re friendly enough now to fight the champs”, which is likely taking place later tonight.

Post match the Warriors pull out a chair and another Insane Elbow puts Lynch through the table.

The OC is ready to get the US Title back. If Randy Orton gets involved, they’ll end his career, either forever or for life.

The NWO is coming to the Hall of Fame as well. As they should, though Syxx being included is a bit of a stretch.

Charlotte interrupts Becky getting treatment on her shoulder. Becky doesn’t want to hear it so Charlotte leaves….and gets jumped by the Warriors.

Erick Rowan vs. ???

The jobber hits the floor at the bell and grabs Rowan’s cage. He runs it up to the stage, leaves it there, goes back to the ring and tells the referee to count. That’s good for eight and there’s the Iron Claw (make it two) to give Rowan…..a win via referee stoppage for a change of pace at 1:18.

In the back, the Warriors challenge Becky and Charlotte to challenge them to a match at TLC.

Charlotte and Becky agree to fight the Warriors. For the titles. In a TLC match.

And now, the Monday After Weekend Update with the Street Profits. It’s more or less Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update with a bunch of jokes hyping up the TLC card.

US Title: Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles

Mysterio is defending. AJ takes him down to start but a rollup gives Rey a fast two. The frustration is already high for AJ so he sends Rey chest first into the corner. A catapult sends Rey into the corner again, albeit a little harder this time. The chinlock goes on for a bit but Rey sends him outside and hits the Asai moonsault for the big knockdown. Cue the OC and the distraction lets AJ send Rey into the post as we take a break.

Back with AJ dropkicking him out of the air for two as Mysterio is in trouble. AJ sends him outside but Rey gets back in for a slingshot sunset bomb into the barricade. That’s only good for nine each so Rey starts slugging away back inside. The springboard seated senton and a legdrop give Rey two, followed by a tornado DDT for the same. An Alley Oop plants Rey on his face but he sends AJ into the ropes for the 619.

The OC offer a distraction though and it’s a fireman’s carry backbreaker to give AJ two more. Rey is back up and tries the super hurricanrana but gets countered into….well almost countered into the super Styles Clash as they can’t get it to work right. AJ hits a regular version instead, allowing Randy Orton to come in and…wink at AJ instead of hitting the RKO. Rey small packages AJ to retain at 14:19.

Rating: C+. Good enough stuff here with the ending being a nice little surprise instead of the expected RKO. Mysterio retaining the title works well, though I’m not sure who he is supposed to defend against next. Maybe McIntyre, but I’m not sure how much good that title would do him. At least we should get AJ vs. Orton on Sunday.

We are off the air IMMEDIATELY with the ring announcer only saying “And still the United States!”

Overall Rating: B-. This was a different kind of show with a hard focus on a few stories. Those stories worked out well enough with a few matches being good enough to back things up. They had to hit the hard sell to TLC because they have no time to get there any other way. It felt like a different kind of show and that’s a good sound after everything else that this show has done in the last few months. Just get us to next week’s show so we can move on to the Royal Rumble build and some actual time. Not a great show, but a different enough style to make it work.

Results

Drew McIntyre b. Matt Hardy – Claymore

Viking Raiders b. Street Profits – Viking Experience to Ford

Aleister Black b. Akira Tozawa – Black Mass

Humberto Carrillo b. Andrade – Victory roll

Buddy Murphy b. Zack Ryder – Murphy’s Law

Becky Lynch b. Kabuki Warriors via DQ when Asuka used a chair

Erick Rowan b. ??? via referee stoppage

Rey Mysterio b. AJ Styles – Small package

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:

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Monday Night Raw – December 2, 2019: That Was….What Was That Again?

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 2, 2019
Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Jerry Lawler, Samoa Joe

We’re less than two weeks away from Tables, Ladders and Chairs and you can probably piece together a lot of the card from here. That being said, there is a lot that still needs to be done so expect tonight to be thrown into overdrive in a hurry. It is hard to say how well that could go for the show, but I’m guessing it’s going to feel long. Let’s get to it.

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

The AOP arrives in the back and speak Punjabi/Albanian. The translation: Charly Caruso looks lovely tonight. Charly: “What?”

Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens

Post match AOP beats Owens down and drags him off.

Post break we see exactly what happened before the break.

Lana and Lashley are put in the car and taken away. R-Truth and the Street Profits find this funny.

Drew McIntyre vs. Akira Tozawa

McIntyre drops to his knees to make it even and offers Tozawa a chance to leave. That earns him a running dropkick and Tozawa sends him to the floor for a suicide headbutt, which doesn’t even knock McIntyre off his feet. The reverse Alabama slam on the floor knocks Tozawa silly and we hit the reverse chinlock with a knee in the back. One heck of an overhead belly to belly drops Tozawa again and we hit the chinlock. Tozawa gets up and manages a kick to the head, followed by a missile dropkick to finally put McIntyre down. A victory roll gives Tozawa two but it’s the Claymore for the pin at 4:12.

Rating: D+. They had a little something with Tozawa not being able to knock McIntyre down, until he knocked McIntyre down and then got pinned about thirty seconds later. I can go for McIntyre winning a glorified squash though and while I don’t believe that he’s going to become a big deal, at least he has something other than taking loss after loss.

Post match McIntyre calls out Randy Orton for taking some shots at him on social media. He wants Orton out here right now but after a break, there is no Orton. McIntyre calls Orton attacking him last week STUPID STUPID STUPID so here’s Orton to interrupt. Orton doesn’t seem to think much of this and tries to walk away, but McIntyre goes on another social media rant. He’s going to make this simple enough for Orton or the Nashville fans to understand.

McIntyre didn’t think much of the RKO last week and it won’t be happening again. Orton says he thinks of this as a Drew McIntyre attitude problem. He can do these things because he has earned it but McIntyre hasn’t earned a thing. Cue the OC to blame Orton for costing Uncle Alan the US Title.

No, AJ isn’t happy here and yes it’s Orton’s fault. AJ wants to get his hands on Orton tonight so McIntyre bails, leaving Orton alone against the three of them. They get up on the apron and the fight is on until Ricochet runs in for the save. He gets beaten down as well so it’s Humberto Carrillo making a failed save attempt of his own. Rey Mysterio makes the real save and I think you know where this is going.

Post break, Orton tells the three of them thanks for the help, but he didn’t need it. Well at least they weren’t just waiting for the match to start when we got back.

Aleister Black vs. Tony Nese

Nese goes straight at Nese and grabs a headlock as Buddy Murphy is watching in the back. Black flips over him and sweeps the leg, setting up the moonsault into the sit in the middle. Back in and Nese takes the eyes to take over and snaps Black’s throat over the top. The springboard moonsault hits….something close to Black’s knees and it’s a jumping knee to the face. Black Mass (or Black Magic as Lawler puts it) finishes Nese at 3:27.

Rating: C-. I know Black’s sitting in the room deal doesn’t work very well but dang that kick looks incredible. How else are you supposed to top that? It’s a knockout shot that can end anyone and Black has the look to make it seem like something that could take your head off. Great finisher to a great looking star, who shows off whenever he can get out of that room.

Murphy doesn’t regret going after Black and says Black takes himself way too seriously. Murphy is cool, calm and collected while Black is a hothead. Black needs to calm down and if he won’t, Murphy will do it for him.

Eric Young vs. Andrade

Young works on a wristlock to start and knocks Andrade off the top for the big elbow and a near fall. Andrade pulls him off the middle rope though and hits a running kick to the head for two. The armbar goes on for a bit until Young fights up and gets in a shot to the face. The big elbow is broken up again though and the running knees in the corner rock Young. Andrade hits the hammerlock DDT for the pin at 4:36.

Rating: D+. Young was trying here but it was little more than a glorified squash, which has been a trend on the show for the last two weeks. Andrade is someone else who could be someone around here if he is given a chance to shine, meaning not losing or getting put into something that doesn’t matter.

Post match R-Truth runs out with the Mob following, as Truth is hiding behind some NASCAR drivers. One of them is a referee BECAUSE OF COURSE HE IS and the other rolls Truth up for the pin. It’s Michael Waltrip and Kyle Bush in case you need to know that before they lose the title back and disappear after tonight, only to show up in some talking head bit where they say they’re big fans and had a great time.

The Street Profits shill stuff with the No Way Jose conga line.

We recap the AOP stuff throughout the night.

Rollins doesn’t like the suggestions that he did anything wrong. Everyone may be a critic, but not everyone has the guts to be a leader.

We look at Rey Mysterio winning the US Title last week.

Erick Rowan talks to whatever is in his cage.

No Way Jose vs. Erick Rowan

The conga line goes over to check out the sack so Rowan destroys them, as you might expect. Rowan beats up Jose for trying to make a save and hits the Iron Claw. A second one finishes Jose at 2:06. I’m not sure what is in that sack and yet I’m still sure it is going to be a big disappointment.

Post break Rowan won’t say won’t in the cage and is annoyed at being asked about it.

The Kabuki Warriors rant in Japanese before their match. They promise to beat Charlotte tonight.

Charlotte vs. Kabuki Warriors

The champs celebrate in the ring until Asuka tries to leave, only to get pointed back in by a production guy’s hand. Nothing happens after that, but they needed to fill in some time.

Viking Raiders vs. ???/???

Non-title and all the usual sets up the Viking Experience for the pin at 1:37.

Ricochet, Humberto Carrillo and Rey Mysterio are ready to shut the OC up tonight.

We look at Lashley and Lana getting arrested.

The OC are going to win tonight and then get Randy Orton.

OC vs. Humberto Carrillo/Rey Mysterio/Ricochet

Post match AJ poses and gets caught with the RKO to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This was a show that came and went as you can still see most of TLC coming, though nothing has actually been announced for the show with less than two weeks to go. I know that’s become the trend around here, but I have no idea why that is the case. You would think they would have this stuff set up weeks in advance but WWE doesn’t seem to agree, no matter how much chaos it tends to cause. Anyway, watchable show here, but not exactly a memorable one.

Results

Kevin Owens b. Bobby Lashley via DQ when AOP interfered

Drew McIntyre b. Akira Tozawa – Claymore

Aleister Black b. Tony Nese – Black Mass

Andrade b. No Way Jose – Hammerlock DDT

Erick Rowan b. No Way Jose – Iron Claw

Kabuki Warriors b. Charlotte – Insane Elbow

Viking Experience b. ???/??? – Viking Experience

OC b. Ricochet/Humberto Carrillo/Rey Mysterio – Super Styles Clash to Ricochet

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:

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Starrcade 2019: Thanks I Guess?

IMG Credit: WWE

Starrcade 2019
Date: December 1, 2019
Location: Infinite Energy Arena, Duluth, Georgia
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton

I mean, it has been a whole week since their last big event. This is another one of those house shows that is airing on the Network in a shortened form. It isn’t exactly something interesting though last year’s show was pretty good. The two matches announced aren’t exactly breaking new ground but they could be good. Let’s get to it.

The announcers talk about the history of Starrcade and run down the matches announced.

Here is Kevin Owens for the Kevin Owens Show. He doesn’t waste any time and brings out Ric Flair to make it feel like Starrcade. Flair talks about how he’s a fan of Owens and, after switching to a microphone that works, he talks about how proud he is of Charlotte. On Smackdown, Roman Reigns talked about family, and that’s what everyone in WWE is.

The first Starrcade was thirty six years ago and back then all Flair wanted to do was be the best wrestler in the world. That’s what everyone wants to do here tonight and it’s going to be a good one. Owens has heard a lot of WOOing so he wants to let Flair have one of his own. They count it down….and here are the Good Brothers to cut them off.

Anderson and Gallows aren’t happy with hearing about the past when we could be talking about their present. They are the best tag team in the world but Owens brings up their lack of hair. Anderson thinks we should see a bunch of OC highlights for the rest of the show. Gallows: “Maybe some Botched Club!” Owens: “You want to see highlights of your last match?” Cue the Street Profits as Flair goes out to the floor. I think you know where this is going.

Good Brothers vs. Street Profits

Anderson punches Ford into the corner as we hear about a tag match opening the first Starrcade. Ford flips away though and it’s off to Dawkins for a headlock. Dawkins talks a lot and brings him over to the corner so Ford can come back in with a dropkick (it looked like Ford had to lower his legs because he was going to get too high).

Gallows comes in and superkicks Ford to the floor to take over. The pummeling starts in the corner and there’s a big kick to Ford’s head for a bonus. The chinlock goes on again for a few seconds before a fall away slam sends Ford back into the corner. Gallows runs him over and elbows him into another chinlock.

Ford gets up and backflips out of a suplex, setting up the enziguri to put Gallows down. There’s the hot tag to Dawkins and it’s time to clean house. Everything breaks down and Anderson cuts off the hot streak with a spinebuster for two. The belly to back suplex/neckbreaker combination gets two but Dawkins hits his own spinebuster. Ford’s frog splash is good for the pin on Anderson at 8:46.

Rating: C-. Total and complete house show match here and that’s all it needed to be. This was just about giving the fans something to cheer for and they did it well enough. The Profits are a team who can get fans interested through pure charisma and it isn’t like the Good Brothers are going to be hurt by a loss.

Post match the Profits bring Flair into the ring and do the elbow/knee onto the invisible coat in tribute.

Bayley and Sasha Banks don’t like being around here and talk about winning the Women’s Tag Team Titles tonight.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Becky Lynch/Charlotte vs. Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross vs. Sasha Banks/Bayley vs. Kabuki Warriors

The Warriors are defending and it’s one fall to a finish. Sane and Cross start things off but it’s Asuka and Charlotte coming in before anything happens. Charlotte shoulders her down but gets kicked in the ribs when trying to flip backwards. She’s fine enough to hit a fall away slam but Sasha tags herself in to frustrate Charlotte a bit. Sasha’s yelling at the crowd allows Cross to come in and bring Sasha into the corner.

Bliss hits her running slap and tags out for a bow. It’s quickly off to Bayley vs. Becky for a slugout until Bayley actually gets the better of it. Becky kicks her away though and brings in Bliss to clean house. Sane comes in to pull Bliss’ hair though and a dropkick to the back has Bliss in trouble. It’s back to Bayley but she gets small packaged for two, meaning Asuka tags herself back in.

That means a few kicks until Bliss punches her down, setting up the double tag to Lynch and Sane. Bexploders abound and it’s a double DDT to the Warriors. Sane is back up but Cross tags herself in for a high crossbody. The Purge gets two on Asuka with Banks making the save. The Insane Elbow hits Becky so Charlotte spears both Warriors down. Cross rolls Asuka up but gets pulled into the Asuka Lock for the tap at 13:26.

Rating: C+. This was the kind of fun insanity that these matches thrive on, though there is only so much you can do with so many people. It’s really just about keeping people moving the whole time and that is what we got here. There is a pretty firm limit on what they can do with something like this aside from a special occasion and this was as good as it was getting.

Bobby Lashley vs. Rusev

Last Man Standing and Lana is with Lashley, who is fine after Monday’s beatdown. Before the match, Lana talks about her hot boyfriend but there is some bad news: no Last Man Standing match tonight because the restraining order is still in effect. They’ll take that forfeit though. The referee raises Lashley’s hand and rings the bell but hang on a second.

Cue Kevin Owens to say that’s not how this is ending. Owens: “NO ONE CARES ABOUT THE TWO OF YOU AND YOUR STUPID RELATIONSHIP!” Lana wants everyone to ignore Owens right now. Owens: “Like you’ve been ignoring that stupid Russian accent for the last five years?” Lashley lets Owens take Rusev’s place and the match is on.

Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens

Regular match instead of Last Man Standing. Owens hits two superkicks into the Cannonball but Lashley bails from the threat of a Stunner. Another Cannonball off the apron takes Lashley down again but he fights back to send Owens into the announcers’ table. They get back inside with Lashley’s shirt coming off to reveal the taped up ribs and shoulder. Lashley starts hammering away but Owens hits him in the ribs for a breather. A Downward Spiral gives Lashley two and he grabs a Crossface of all things.

That’s broken up with a quick grab of the rope so Lashley throws him outside. Back in and Lashley’s superplex is broken up, allowing Owens to Swanton onto the bad ribs. The frog splash gets two so Owens hits the Stunner, only to have Lana distract the referee. Lashley runs Owens over and grabs a chair, which draws in Rusev, in a Bob Ross shirt, through the crowd for the DQ at 9:29.

Rating: C. This was less of a match and more of a countdown to the obvious ending. That isn’t a bad thing but it wasn’t exactly a thrilling match. Owens could have been just about anyone here as we continue this Rusev vs. Lashley feud that has only started to pick up some steam over a month into the thing. It wasn’t a bad match but there wasn’t exactly a secret to where it was going.

Post match the beating is on with Rusev taking it into the crowd as Lana shouts about Rusev breaking the law. They head back into the ring with Lashley hitting him with some kendo stick shots. Rusev blocks the big shot though and grabs a chair to hammer away. The jumping superkick into the chair sends Lashley and Lana bailing. Rusev runs through the crowd to avoid being arrested to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Much like every single one of these things, this was a show that existed and little more. There is nothing on here that you need to see and nothing on here that is worth your time, though the women’s match was pretty good. You would be better off watching a host of other things though as it’s just a house show with a bigger set than usual. The Starrcade name is fine though and it’s better than just leaving the things dormant for AEW to pick off. Completely acceptable use of an hour, but nothing you’ll regret missing.

Results

Street Profits b. Good Brothers – Frog splash to Anderson

Kabuki Warriors b. Nikki Cross/Alexa Bliss, Charlotte/Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks/Bayley – Asuka Lock to Cross

Bobby Lashley b. Kevin Owens via DQ when Rusev interfered

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

Monday Night Raw – November 11, 2019: As Cold As Iced Tea

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: November 11, 2019
Location: Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, England
Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Vic Joseph

It’s time for a taped show, which tends to have some weaker results than usual. It isn’t going to help to have this taped after Friday’s Smackdown, meaning the fans are going to be spent. We’re still in the build to Survivor Series, and in particular we find out the Raw men’s team for the five vs. five vs. five elimination match. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Here’s Becky Lynch to open things up. The Man is in Manchester where she was training when she was a teenager. Things are getting more intense and the challengers are getting harder, so Becky says bring them on. She’s never going to stop pushing because the only thing she fears in life is not being the best. So how about she becomes Becky Two Belts again right now?

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Charlotte/Becky Lynch vs. Kabuki Warriors

Natalya and Charlotte beat the Warriors last week but “family issues” kept Natalya from being here, meaning Becky is in her place. Asuka kicks away at Becky to start and the shots to the head just get on her nerves. Sane comes in and gets armdragged down, allowing Becky to strike a quick pose.

Becky gets one off a suplex and it’s off to Charlotte for the first time. That means a lot of chops and some strutting but Asuka kicks away. Cue Shayna Baszler to watch as we take a break. Back with Asuka taking over and kicking at Charlotte’s face in the corner. We hit the chinlock from Sane before Asuka comes back in for some strikes.

The Asuka Lock goes on for a few seconds but she switches to an armbreaker. That’s reversed with a lifting powerbomb but Sane is back in with a kick to Charlotte’s face. Charlotte finally avoids a charge in the corner and makes the hot tag off to Becky to stomp away in the corner. Sane gets sent into Asuka and there’s the Bexploder. Baszler jumps onto the apron but here’s Bayley to take her down, allowing Asuka to roll Becky up for the pin at 17:49.

Rating: C. This ate up a lot of time and that’s probably a good idea on a show where everyone is going to be tired in the first place. The ending was annoying but at least Becky vs. Asuka sounds good. I’m glad they addressed the lack of Natalya, though I doubt it was anything more than wanting Becky in the spot and not thinking it through from last week.

Post match Bayley sends Becky into the barricade.

Ricochet and Randy Orton are talking in the back when the OC shows up to mock Humberto Carrillo. Six man for later.

Drew McIntyre vs. Sin Cara

Cara starts fast with a dive to the floor but McIntyre pounds him right back down and hits a heck of a clothesline. Some kicks to the leg slow McIntyre down and a headscissors puts him on the floor. The slingshot hurricanrana is countered into a jackknife on the floor though and the Claymore finishes Cara at 3:59.

Rating: C-. It’s nice to see McIntyre squashing people again and that clothesline looked awesome. At the same time though, it’s easy to see why Cara wants to leave. This is about as good as it’s going to get for him and if he can do something else in Mexico or elsewhere, I can get why he would want out. I can’t imagine WWE letting him go, but I get Cara’s mindset.

Erick Rowan is looking through a screen and seems to be talking to a baby.

24/7 Title: R-Truth vs. Singh Brothers

Truth is challenging in a handicap match. Truth beats both of them up without much trouble with the Lie Detector looking to finish, only to have the Brothers bail to the floor. The chase is on and they run to the back with the fans booing it out of the building. The Brothers get to a room but run into Rowan, who hits them with a couch. Truth comes in and decides the three of them need privacy before turning out the lights and leaving. This wasn’t a match but the couch deal was funny.

Here’s Seth Rollins to talk about Survivor Series and we recap the invasion so far. Rollins likes the energy and talks about how he didn’t know what was next after losing the Universal Title. Last week HHH told him that he should go back to his roots but Raw is his home. Rollins lost his title but that doesn’t mean he is no longer the best in the world. Therefore, anyone in the back can come face him right now. Cue Imperium, with Walter introducing himself and saying Rollins is defiling sacred ground. Just because he’s in the UK doesn’t mean he can avoid an NXT invasion so let’s do this right now.

Seth Rollins vs. Walter

Non-title. Walter throws him around to start so Rollins tries some chops, only to get caught in the release German suplex. We hit the chinlock and then a half crab as Rollins can’t do much against the size and power. Rollins fights back up and even gets to tease the Stomp, which draws in the rest of Imperium for the DQ at 4:49.

Rating: C. This didn’t have time to go anywhere but dang it’s cool to see Walter on the main show. I know his look may not be traditional but sweet goodness the guy commands respect in the ring. He can do a little bit of everything and that power is impossible to ignore. More of him please, as long as he doesn’t become a regular.

Post match the beatdown is on so it’s the Street Profits and Kevin Owens running in for the save.

Imperium vs. Kevin Owens/Street Profits/Seth Rollins

Rollins gets sent outside early on and we get the big staredown with Imperium. Walter drops Rollins back first onto the apron and the beating begins. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Wolfe gets two off a bridging German suplex. Aichner drives Rollins into the corner and it’s Walter coming in for some forearms to the chest. A dropkick into a powerbomb plants Rollins and everything breaks down for a bit as Owens makes the save.

Owens and the Profits get kicked to the floor so Walter goes up, only to get superplexed right back down. The hot tag brings in Owens to take over and a Swanton gets two on Aichner. Everything breaks down again and Ford hits a huge flip dive, which lands on the announcers’ table for a scary landing. Back in and Rollins Stomps Wolfe for the pin at 6:40.

Rating: C+. Imperium is an idea that isn’t very complicated but the four of them execute things so well that it’s hard not to be impressed. They’re just good at what they do and you want to see them beat people up. Walter is the star of the team, but the other three have come up very nicely and the whole thing has turned into one of the best things about NXT UK.

Cedric Alexander vs. Andrade

Andrade sends him into the corner to start but a dropkick cuts him off in a hurry. One heck of a clothesline drops Cedric and we hit the armbar. That doesn’t last long as Cedric sends him outside for the suicide dive. Zelina Vega offers a distraction though and it’s the discus elbow into the hammerlock lariat for the pin at 3:26.

Rating: C. Another match that didn’t have time to go anywhere though I rather approve of Andrade getting another win. The guy is that good and it is a good sign to have him getting a push. The action wasn’t that bad either, though I’m already over the distraction finishes tonight. Why is that almost all we can get?

Aleister Black talks about someone having a secret and wants a certain someone who has one to pick a fight with him.

Various wrestlers say happy Veterans Day.

Veterans Day video.

Here is Lana for a chat. She’s here to confess her sins, even though Lashley, her boyfriend and the love of her life, didn’t want her to. The truth is that she treated on Rusev, but don’t boo her. Rusev cheated on her first so it’s not her being petty. Seven weeks ago, she and Lashley had sex together for the first time. How does she know it was seven weeks ago? It’s because it’s their sexaversary. Lana: “I’m telling you wow, wow WOW.”

She believe in monogamy and now she is dealing with all of these people complaining about her because she fell in front of the world. Last week she got taken out and everything is fine (Lana: “My legs are VERY fine.”)….though she is nine weeks pregnant. Lawler starts doing the math but Lana gets to the point: her sex addicted soon to be ex-husband put a little machka brat inside her. Lana: “THAT BULGARIAN SON OF A B****!” She could feel herself getting fat and bloated but here’s Rusev to interrupt.

Lana rants about everywhere Rusev wanted to have sex with her (including on the tank at Wrestlemania) but Rusev doesn’t seem to buy the pregnancy. Lana: “ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???” She slaps him several times so here’s Lashley to cut things off. Lana even jumps on Rusev’s back so Lashley can beat Rusev down as Lana is rather pleased. Lashley and Lana walk away together with Lana saying she faked the whole pregnancy. This is amazing on a horrible level as they are tripling down on the whole thing and giving it even more time.

Erick Rowan vs. Soner Durson

Rowan comes to the ring carrying something under a covering. Durson is sent outside and crushed with a running crossbody. The Iron Claw is good for the pin at 1:09.

Post match Rowan checks on whatever he brought to ringside and makes sure that no one touched it. He leaves without showing what it was.

Flash Morgan Webster/Mark Andrews vs. Viking Raiders

Non-title. Webster tries to start fast but his dive to the floor is pulled out of the air. Andrews hits a suicide dive though and it’s a pair of stereo flip dives onto the Raiders. Back in and Stundog Millionaire sets up Webster’s Swanton for two on Erik. That goes nowhere as Erik is fine enough to hit a double high collar suplex (that’s scary), setting up Ivar’s dive to take both of them out. Erik drives Ivar into the corner to crush Webster and the Viking Experience finishes Andrews at 3:05.

Rating: C. This was a rather fun match with Webster and Andrews giving it all in their big chance. They have gone from what seemed to be a short form team to one of the best things about NXT UK. I was even starting to think they might have tried something here with a surprise upset and that means they did this exactly as they should have.

Ricochet worried about teaming with Orton, who says let him get in the OC’s heads.

Video on Rey Mysterio vs. Brock Lesnar.

OC vs. Humberto Carrillo/Ricochet/Randy Orton

Ricochet grabs Anderson by the arm to start and it’s off to Orton to take over. Orton tags out to Carrillo by slapping him in the chest, so Carrillo twists AJ’s arm around as well. A multiple springboard sets up a very high angle wristdrag into an armbar as Carrillo gets to show off a bit.

Ricochet hits a springboard spinning crossbody but Orton isn’t happy with being knocked off the apron as we take a break. Back with Carrillo’s springboard armdrag being countered into a faceplant to put him in trouble. Carrillo fights out in a hurry and it’s off to Ricochet, who gets beaten up in the corner instead.

Gallows drops an elbow and the big leg before he stops to knock Orton off the face. AJ comes in but gets kicked in the face, allowing Ricochet a breather. The hot tag brings in Carrillo to clean house but he misses the moonsault. That’s enough for the tag to Orton, who starts hitting his usual on AJ. Orton teases the RKO to Ricochet but takes AJ out instead, setting up the moonsault to give Carrillo the pin at 15:40.

Rating: C. Completely standard tag match formula outside of the ending angle. Orton could go for a face turn a long heel stretch but you can’t just jump straight in with someone like him. That’s all well and good, though the turn on Ricochet isn’t out of the question. I like the idea of giving Carrillo the pin, but I don’t think it’s something that is going to change much after his multiple losses to Styles.

Post match Orton and Ricochet stare at each other, with Orton saying he can take Ricochet out whenever and wherever he wants.

Overall Rating: C-. Yeah this was a very England show with the wrestling being as average as you can get with nothing standing out. The Lashley/Lana/Rusev stuff was pretty terrible but I’ll take what I can get in the vein of having Imperium show up. They need to get back to the States for the go home shows, but they also need to have a rest at some point as you can see how tired a lot of these people are. That isn’t good with a major show coming up, but there is always a major show coming up and it’s taking its toll.

Results

Kabuki Warriors b. Charlotte/Becky Lynch – Rollup to Lynch

Drew McIntyre b. Sin Cara – Claymore

R-Truth vs. Singh Brothers went to a no contest

Seth Rollins b. Walter via DQ when Imperium interfered

Seth Rollins/Street Profits/Kevin Owens b. Imperium – Stomp to Wolfe

Erick Rowan b. Soner Durson – Iron Claw

Viking Raiders b. Flash Morgan Webster/Mark Andrews – Viking Experience to Andrews

Randy Orton/Humberto Carrillo/Ricochet b. OC – Moonsault to Styles

Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com 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:

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Monday Night Raw – November 4, 2019: The Red Is Scared

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: November 4, 2019
Location: Nassau Coliseum, New York City, New York
Commentators: Dio Maddin, Jerry Lawler, Vic Joseph

It’s going to be a big night around here we have the fallout from the Saudi Arabian show, the fallout from the NXT invasion on Smackdown, and Brock Lesnar is hunting Mysterios. I’m not sure what expect from this show, save for some praise for the great hosts in Saudi Arabia and a rushed build towards Survivor Series. Let’s get to it.

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

A trio of black SUVs pulls up in the back. HHH gets out of one and says something to someone in the back of another.

Opening sequence.

Here are an annoyed looking Lesnar and Heyman to open the ring. Heyman explains Lesnar quitting and THEY’RE ACTUALLY EXPLAINING THE WAY OUT. The week of the Draft, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross were sent to Smackdown for future considerations and here’s Lesnar as those future considerations. Heyman makes it clear that Lesnar is better than everyone here and wants to know where Mysterio is so either get out here or Brock will go slap everyone in this audience. Tonight, someone is going to say where Mysterio is so Lesnar can destroy him. Heyman gives Rey’s career the last rites and they’re out.

In the back, Brock looks for Rey and beats up a backstage worker for not answering fast enough. Post break another backstage guy says Rey is in that car over there so Brock breaks into a car to find….not Rey. Brock breaks the door to vent some frustration.

Video on Lacey Evans vs. Natalya in Saudi Arabia and how amazing WWE is for making it happen.

Kabuki Warriors vs. Charlotte/Natalya

Non-title. Natalya gives Sane a spinning slam for one to start and it’s off to Charlotte and Asuka. The champs are sent outside and we take a break. Back with Natalya getting posted and chinlocked as we look at Asuka misting Paige last week. Sane kicks her down for two but Natalya kicks her way to freedom and brings in Charlotte to clean house. There’s a fall away slam and the never good sign of shouting COME ON to the fans.

Natural Selection hits Sane but Asuka puts the foot on the rope at two. The Warriors are laid next to each other inside and Charlotte moonsaults onto both of them for two with Asuka rolling in to kick the referee for….the save instead of the DQ as I think Asuka missed. Back from another break with Natalya and Charlotte inches apart for about ten seconds but not being able to get the tag…..because Sane isn’t in place to break it off.

That looked HORRIBLE, to the point where I thought Natalya was turning on her by not making the tag. Then, just because of course this is what they were going for, Charlotte stops a charge in the corner by raising a boot and the tag goes through thirty seconds later. Good grief. Anyway Natalya gets caught in the cross armbreaker but reverses into the Sharpshooter until Sane makes the save with a Codebreaker. Charlotte spears Sane down so the Sharpshooter can make Asuka tap at 18:07.

Rating: D+. Ignoring the champions losing clean in a tag match to set up a title match, ignoring ANOTHER attempt to push Natalya and ignoring Asuka tapping, that tag spot was one of the stupidest things I can remember seeing WWE do in years. Was that one spot, of Sane running into a boot in the corner, THAT important that they had to throw out any semblance of taking this match seriously and making it look realistic? All four of these women should know better and it looked like something that would get a developmental match stopped so the trainers could yell at them. Completely unacceptable on all levels.

Immediately after the match, Lesnar and Heyman come out to demand Mysterio’s whereabouts from commentary. Heyman says Lawler knows everything going around here so either say where Mysterio is or Lesnar will kill him and there will be no bringing him back to life this time. Maddin gets up and stares Lesnar down, earning himself an F5 through the table. Cue Mysterio with a pipe to whack Lesnar in the knees over and over. A running belt shot leaves Brock laying.

During the break, Lesnar couldn’t stand and nearly crawled to the back.

Rey says he’s fighting fire with fire and coming for the WWE Championship. The challenge is on for Survivor Series.

Buddy Murphy vs. Cedric Alexander

Neither gets an entrance. Alexander anklescissors him down to start so Murphy knocks him down and grabs the armbar. The hold stays on for a good while until Cedric fights up and knocks him outside for the suicide dive. The big flip dive makes it worse and the springboard Downward Spiral gets two. Murphy’s Law is countered into a victory roll for two, followed by the Michinoku Driver for the same. Alexander’s handspring elbow is cut off with a jumping knee to the back and Murphy’s Law is good for the pin at 5:33.

Rating: C. Well it didn’t have anything that made me want to scream at the TV and the champs didn’t lose so we’ll call this an upgrade. This was the Cliff Notes version of what these two are capable of due to the sake of time but at least Murphy won a match for the first time in what feels like forever.

We look at the NXT invasion on Smackdown.

Here’s Seth Rollins for a chat. He lost to the Fiend at Crown Jewel but that doesn’t concern him. What concerns him is that the Fiend took the title to Smackdown and now Brock Lesnar is back. That means no one is going to get a shot for a long time but Rollins isn’t sure if he can start from scratch again. For the first time in a long time, he isn’t sure what he’s doing.

Cue HHH and the NXT chants are on. HHH finds it interesting that whenever Rollins doesn’t know what’s next, their paths cross. Maybe Rollins’ past is his future. HHH talks about their history together, including Rollins being the first NXT Champion. Rollins asks if all of that success was for HHH or himself, so HHH points out that Rollins always came out as champion. HHH talks about what NXT did on Friday, including Adam Cole pinning Daniel Bryan in the middle of the ring.

Survivor Series is coming up and NXT is going to be involved. Rollins can either be with HHH or against him. The fans see someone coming in from the crowd and we’ve got the Undisputed Era. They stay on the apron as HHH asks which side Rollins is on. Cue the OC so the Era bails but Damian Priest and Dominick Dijakovic come in to help them with the beatdown. Erick Rowan, R-Truth, Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder make the save as Rollins isn’t sure what to do. If he’s still confused about having Ryder and Hawkins make the save, he’s in over his head.

Post break, Rollins comes up to HHH and says if HHH wants him on Wednesdays, he’s coming in on the top guy. Tonight, he wants Adam Cole for the NXT Title. The match is made.

Zelina Vega/Andrade vs. Carolina/Sin Cara

Before the match, Vega says Carolina has to hide behind a mask while Cara pretends he could ever beat Andrade. Commentary says Catalina but the name graphic says Carolina. That doesn’t bode well for her future. Andrade charges at him to start but gets sent outside, only to have Vega grab the leg to block the dive. Caro/Catalina hits a dive off the apron to take Andrade down and we take a break.

Back with Andrade putting him on top but getting sunset bombed right back down. Carolina comes in and crossbodies Vega’s knees (How can you go low on someone barely five feet tall?), followed by a faceplant fro two. Vega breaks up Cara’s dive so Carolina hits a Gory Bomb, allowing Cara to hit the dive. That leaves Vega to send her face first into the buckle, setting up a hurricanrana driver for the pin at 7:26.

Rating: C-. Could have been worse but that is likely it for Carolina for the time being. I’m not sure how bright of a future she had in the first place but her stuff didn’t look great here and she got pinned clean by a manager. They did keep it short though and Andrade’s team won so well done on giving him a boost. Now it’s time to move on to something else and that has always been an issue for Andrade so far.

We recap Lana/Rusev/Bobby Lashley.

Here’s Rusev for a chat. He’s ready to put an end to all of this drama so tonight he’s here for Bob Lashley. If Lashley wants Lana, she’s all his, but Lashley is all his. Cue Lashley on crutches to say that he has a torn groin due to some….things….with Lana. Since Lashley can’t do anything at the moment, Lana has someone else to fight in Lashley’s place.

Rusev vs. Drew McIntyre

McIntyre headbutts him in a hurry and it’s an early headbutt to put Rusev down. Rusev fights out of the corner and stomps away, eventually throwing McIntyre outside as we take a break. Back with Rusev fighting out of an armbar and hitting some running shoulders in the corner. Stereo crossbodies give us a double knockdown and they fight to the floor. Rusev sends him back first into the steps, only to have Lashley run down and hit Rusev in the back with the crutch for the DQ at 9:40.

Rating: D+. I was surprised by how uninteresting this was, though it didn’t help that they telegraphed the ending with Lashley staying on the ramp. Lashley faking an injury is fine, but the match itself felt very slow. I don’t think McIntyre is going to be involved in this long term and that’s probably best for everyone involved.

Post match McIntyre leaves and Rusev fights back on Lashley. Rusev picks up the crutch….and gets the RKO from Randy Orton. The beatdown is on but Ricochet runs in for the save, including knocking Lashley off the apron and into Lana, who has to be carried out.

Becky Lynch gets a sitdown interview to talk about her upcoming triple threat match at Survivor Series against Bayley and Shayna Baszler. She talks about how important Survivor Series can be but here’s Shayna to interfere. Shayna has been wanting to meet her face to face for a long time now and she isn’t taking her eyes off of Becky at Survivor Series.

All Becky has to think about until Survivor Series is which limb is going to Baszler. Becky hasn’t figured out if she should respect Shayna or take her head off. At Survivor Series, she’ll have her eyes on Bayley and Baszler at the same time. They stare each other down and say it was nice to meet. Good segment, though you can almost pencil Bayley in for the win from here.

OC vs. Street Profits/Humberto Carrillo

The trophy the OC won at Crown Jewel is at ringside and AJ goes on a rant about being awesome. The next time he sees one of those NXT punks, he’s knocking their head off. Hang on though as the Profits bring up that the OC have the trophy, but the Street Profits beat them two weeks ago. AJ: “Shut your mouth!” Tonight, it’s time to swipe left on the OC because the Profits are coming.

Joined in progress with Dawkins coming in to stay on AJ’s arm. Anderson comes in and gets slammed down, allowing Ford to grab an armbar with a flick of the tongue. Ford goes after Gallows though and gets knocked outside by Anderson. AJ gets in a few shots of his own until Ford dropkicks his way to freedom.

It’s too early for the tag though as Gallows boots him down and the beating continues. The chinlock goes on and we take a break. Back with Ford hitting a Blockbuster and making the tag off to Carrillo for a Disaster Kick on AJ. Everything breaks down and Ford hits the big running flip dive. Carrillo goes after AJ and breaks up the Phenomenal Forearm, only to have Styles roll him up for the pin with feet on the ropes at 11:35.

Rating: C. So remember last month when we did something similar with the War Raiders and Cedric Alexander? They’re doing a good job of keeping AJ strong over the lower level challengers, which will help him even more when he gets a bigger challenger. That’s how you make a title mean something and I’ll absolutely take this over just having him stand around holding the title without doing anything.

We recap Lesnar’s path of rage and pope to the knees tonight.

Mysterio vs. Lesnar for the title is set for Survivor Series.

Viking Raiders vs. East Hampton Polo Boys

Ivar’s frog splash for the pin at 1:00.

Post match the Raiders talk about losing to the OC and warn them that revenge is coming.

NXT Title: Adam Cole vs. Seth Rollins

Rollins is defending and Cole is out with HHH. Cole gets driven into the corner and knocked to the floor to start, allowing Rollins to hit the slingshot dive. A few rams into the barricade take us to a break and we come back with Cole kicking him in the face. An enziguri staggers Rollins but he’s right back with the low superkick for two. Rollins goes up top but dives into a heck of a superkick for two more.

The middle rope Canadian Destroyer is blocked and Rollins kicks him down again. Rollins loads up the Falcon Arrow but gets reversed into the brainbuster onto the knee. The double clothesline puts both of them down until Cole heads up top. That means the superplex into the Falcon Arrow and they’re both down again. Rollins loads up the Stomp…and it’s the Undisputed Era for the DQ at 12:30.

Rating: B. You could feel the interference here but that’s the logical way to go here as you have stable mates for just such a situation. The match was as entertaining as you would have expected from these two and it makes sense to not have Rollins take the title here. If nothing else, Cole hung with Rollins for a match that got a little time, which is how you make someone look good in an invasion like this.

Post match the NXT and Raw locker rooms come out for the huge brawl with NXT getting the better of it due to the numbers advantage. Ricochet hits the big springboard shooting star onto the pile and everyone is down. Keith Lee one ups Ricochet with the huge flip dive to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I wasn’t feeling some of the wrestling in the middle but they did some stuff to set up Survivor Series (including the amazingly logical explanation for Lesnar moving to Raw), which now has a large card. You can imagine a triple threat Survivor Series elimination match as well, which could go on very long but be interesting at the same time. Now just keep up the momentum you have going into the rest of the week and then on the way to Chicago.

Results

Natalya/Charlotte b. Kabuki Warriors – Sharpshooter to Asuka

Buddy Murphy b. Cedric Alexander – Murphy’s Law

Andrade/Zelina Vega b. Sin Cara/Carolina – Hurricanrana driver to Carolina

Rusev b. Drew McIntyre via DQ when Bobby Lashley interfered

OC b. Humberto Carrillo/Street Profits – Rollup with feet on the ropes to Carrillo

Viking Raiders b. East Hampton Polo Boys – Frog splash to #1

Seth Rollins b. Adam Cole via DQ when the Undisputed Era interfered

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:

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NXT – October 30, 2019: Antebellum

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: October 30, 2019
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Beth Phoenix, Mauro Ranallo

Things changed in a big way last week as Finn Balor turned on Johnny Gargano, likely setting up a heck of a showdown in Chicago. Other than that, it’s time to start setting up Takeover, which means it’s time to start setting up WarGames. They have a lot of ways to get there and I’m curious to see which they pick. Let’s get to it.

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

Poppy performs live to open things up with a recap video from last week playing on the screen. As a bonus, they play Io Shirai to the ring.

Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae

Candice knocks her outside to start but gets caught with a 619 on the apron. A heck of a suicide dive drops Candice but Io throws her in for the same dive from Candice. Back in and a hard clothesline gives Candice two but Shirai runs her over. The chinlock doesn’t last long so Candice snaps off a headscissors into a kick to the face. With her nose bleeding, Candice takes her to the apron to fight over a suplex attempt.

Shirai shoves her off the top and out to the floor as we take a break. Back with Candice hitting a tornado DDT to bang up Shirai’s neck. Ms. LeRae’s Wild Ride is broken up but Shirai’s moonsault hits raised knees. A headscissor choke goes on and Candice has to get a boot on the rope for the break. Shirai grabs a chair so Candice rolls her up for two and hits a full nelson swinging faceplant for two. Candice’s Lionsault hits chair though and Shirai gets the pin at 12:56.

Rating: C+. Evil Shirai is more than working and Candice is as easy of a face to cheer as there is outside of Team Fly Kicks. This should finish the story between the two of them though and there is nothing wrong with that, as Shirai is someone who can be even further established as a monster. Then you have Candice, who can smile her way through any loss you give her.

Finn Balor talks about how it felt good to kick Johnny Gargano in the head last week. This is the real Balor, who is glad to be back on NXT. Raw and Smackdown are Hollywood, where you can hide behind a bunch of things. NXT is Broadway, with no place to hide. The Prince is back.

Here’s Balor for a chat. Balor talks about how the hottest thing in the business is a guy who put a mask on but now he’s taken his mask off and now he’s the hottest thing in the business. Everyone has their opinions, including those tough guys on social media. The problem is there are so many fans in the locker room when they should be out there with the people. Balor does not watch the business because the business watches him. That brings him to Johnny Gargano, the so called heart and soul of NXT. Gargano is out of the hospital but if he comes after Balor, he’ll be Johnny Watches Wrestling, as he should be.

Video on the Kabuki Warriors and the two of them furthering their heel status by misting Paige on Raw.

Shane Thorne vs. Bronson Reed

Thorne dropkicks him into the corner at the bell but gets taken down by a clothesline. The running backsplash gives Reed two and it’s time to chop it out. A kick to the head sets up a belly to back suplex for two on Reed and it’s time to fire off the kicks. Reed is right back with some clotheslines and an over the back piledriver for two of his own. Thorne catches him on top and tries a super hurricanrana but gets shoved down. A top rope splash crushes Thorne for the pin at 4:21.

Rating: C+. Oh that worked, if nothing else for the splash alone. Thorne hit at Reed with everything he had but just couldn’t overcome the size and power advantages. They’re 1-1 now and even if it was just a short match that didn’t get a lot of time, I could go for a third one from them, which isn’t usually the case with a match like this.

Team Fly Kicks is ready to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Video on Mia Yim.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Kabuki Warriors vs. Team Fly Kicks

The Warriors are defending and Asuka gets a heck of a WELCOME BACK chant. Asuka goes straight for Nox’s knee to start so it’s off to Sane for a hard chop. Everything breaks down for a bit and the champs are dropkicked to the floor. That’s fine with them as they easily win a brawl as we take a break.

Back with Nox hitting the running backsplash in the corner and Kai snapmaring Asuka down for a kick to the chest. Asuka goes crazy evil with a dragon screw legwhip onto the ropes to crank Kai’s recently repaired knee. The leglock is on inside and they take turns kicking at each other in a painful looking exchange. Sane comes back in to Walk The Plank for a rather cocky near fall.

The Brock Lock has Nox in even more trouble and it’s Asuka coming back in for a leg trapped chinlock. Sane grabs a Figure Four neck lock, followed by a kick from Asuka for two. It’s back to the leglock and we take a second break. Back again with Kai still in trouble as Asuka puts on another leglock. Kai gets up and fights out of the corner before nailing a scorpion kick to knock Sane down. The hot tag brings in Nox so house can be cleaned, including a chokeslam to Sane and running elbows in the corner.

The Shiniest Wizard is blocked though and Asuka grabs a kneebar in the middle of the ring. Nox reverses into a cross armbreaker with Sane making the save this time around. A series of suplexes and kicks puts everyone down and the fans are pleased. Kai gets back in with the running kick to Asuka in the corner but walks into the mist. The Insane Elbow to the back finishes Kai (with Sane covering Kai’s face to avoids the DQ) to retain the titles at 24:06.

Rating: B. This was more long than great, though it was still quite the match. Kai and Nox are a rather awesome team (the matching gear helps a lot) and they’re going to be a big deal at some point in the future, either together or on their own. It’s great to see what can actually be done when these titles are given some time and a crowd that cares, which is so often the case around here.

Post match here are Shayna Baszler and the Horsewomen for what is likely to be painful. Nox tries to fight them off but the numbers get the better of her. Baszler loads up the arm but Rhea Ripley runs out for the save. Shirai jumps her from behind though and the fight is on outside. Bianca Belair runs out to beat down Ripley as well, which draws out Candice LeRae for a failed save attempt.

Rhea gets up and takes everyone out before staring Shayna back. The fight is on with everyone getting in the ring and I think you know where this is going. William Regal comes out and orders security to break it up and the WARGAMES chants are on. That’s exactly what Regal gives them too, though Rhea and company need a fifth. Rhea kicks a guard away and goes after Shayna again but gets held back.

Tyler Bate vs. Cameron Grimes

Bate goes for the leg to start and flips away from Grimes’ attempted escape. An armdrag into an arm crank has Grimes down and his nip up only keeps him out of trouble for a few moments. The airplane spin has Grimes in more trouble and a dropkick puts him on the floor. Back in and Grimes counters a charge into a spinning sitout Side Effect for two as we take a break.

We come back with Grimes hitting his crazy cool backflip into a German suplex for two more. Grimes cranks on the arm even more but Bate fights up and throws him down with a t-bone suplex. The running shooting star gives Bate two and he reverses Grimes’ powerbomb attempt into a hurricanrana for the same.

Bate can’t hit the Tyler Driver 97 so they hit each other in the face until Grimes hits the spinning powerslam for two more. Back up and the rebound lariat gives Bate two, setting up the rolling Liger kick to send Grimes outside. The big no hands dive crushes Grimes again but here’s Killian Dain to distract Bate, meaning it’s the Cave In to finish Bate at 13:11.

Rating: B. Bate is one of those guys who can do something good against anyone in there and that’s what he did here. Then again, Grimes is more than capable of holding his own and the Cave In is one of the better finishers at the moment. I could go for Bate/Dunne vs. Dain/Grimes soon and that appears to be where we’re going. If nothing else, watching Bate throwing Dain around could be awesome. But yeah, another rather good match here.

Post match Dain drives Bate into the steps and crushes him with the Cannonball against the steps.

Video on Angel Garza.

Shayna Baszler and Rhea Ripley are officially the team captains for WarGames.

Undisputed Era vs. Matt Riddle/Keith Lee

Non-title. The champs go after Lee to start and are easily pulled into each other, allowing Lee to leapfrog both of them at once, setting up a double crossbody to put them down again. The Era’s low bridge attempt is blocked as well and that means it’s time for a breather on the floor. Riddle isn’t cool with that and kicks them down as the dominance continues.

O’Reilly gets chopped to the floor and Riddle Jackhammers Fish for two. Back from a break with Riddle suplexing O’Reilly until Fish runs him over with a shoulder. We hit the chinlock for a bit but Riddle powers up without much trouble. O’Reilly kicks Fish in the face by mistake but is smart enough to grab Riddle in a leglock before he’s anywhere close to a tag. That’s broken up but Fish uses the delay to kick Lee off the apron.

Riddle kicks and knees both of them, only to get kicked right back. Chasing the Dragon is enough to bring Lee in for the save but he doesn’t drag Riddle to the corner. Riddle flips out of a suplex though and the hot tag brings in Lee for the big elbows to the face. Lee clotheslines and backdrops them down but a legsweep cuts him down.

O’Reilly goes for the triangle choke but Lee curls him up with ease to shot off even more. The powerbomb breaks it up though and it’s back to Riddle for the strikes and suplexes. Cue Strong and Cole for the distraction though, only to have Riddle send everyone to the floor for a springboard Floating Bro. Lee Pounces Cole into Strong but it’s the High Low to finish Riddle at 14:22.

Rating: B-. Another good match here that seems to be setting up something big for Takeover (I wonder what it could be) and that’s a good way to go. Having Riddle and Lee in the main event scene is a good idea and if you get someone else in there, say Ciampa and one other person, against the Era, should be a rather good idea. That’s almost a guarantee at this point and I can more than go for the idea.

Post match the beatdown is on but it’s Tommaso Ciampa running in for the save with the crutch. Cole is left alone with Ciampa but an O’Reilly distraction lets Cole escape. O’Reilly gets beaten down and Lee throws him onto the rest of the team. Ciampa grabs the mic and says hold on a bit Goldy, because Daddy is going to war.

Overall Rating: B+. Good wrestling, awesome promo from Balor and two WarGames matches being set up. This was a heck of a show and they picked up the steam for Takeover and that is what this show needed to do. You can see the card from here and it seems that this is going to be a show focusing on the feuds instead of the titles. Unless they tie the titles into WarGames, though I’m not sure how smart that would be. Anyway, rather good show here and NXT is back on a roll.

Results

Io Shirai b. Candice LeRae – Lionsault to a chair

Bronson Reed b. Shane Thorne – Top rope splash

Kabuki Warriors b. Team Fly Kicks – Insane Elbow to Kai

Cameron Grimes b. Tyler Bate – Cave In

Undisputed Era b. Keith Lee/Matt Riddle – High/Low to Riddle

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

Monday Night Raw – October 14, 2019 (2019 Draft Night Two): The Go Home Show With Nothing To Go Home To

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: October 14, 2019
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Dio Maddin, Vic Joseph

It’s time for another big episode here, because we just can’t have a regular show these days. This time around it’s the second night of the Draft and that means maybe we can find out how WWE can manage to screw it up again. They’ve gotten really good at that in recent weeks and there is no reason to believe they won’t do it again. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the Fiend vs. Seth Rollins, including everything that happened at Hell In A Cell. Normally I would say “they’re really just moving on like that wasn’t a big deal” but of course they are, because WWE knows that they can get away with it, which they of course will, even running another Cell show next year and talking it up as the ultimate evil which it hasn’t been in the better part of twenty years. Nothing ever changes, which is the biggest problem around here.

Opening sequence.

Here is Becky Lynch for a chat. She’s proud to be the #1 overall draft pick but it turns out that Sasha Banks isn’t here because of the beating Becky gave her in the Cell. We have a replacement on hand though and it’s a woman Becky just can’t get away from. She’s ready to rip an arm off though so let’s do this.

Charlotte comes out and says maybe she can be drafted to Raw so they can fight forever. She doesn’t want the people to think she’s selfish though because she doesn’t even want to fight Becky. Instead, she would rather the two of them be friends again. Then she hits Becky in the face again and the fight is on in the corner. Referees break it up and we take a break before the opening bell.

Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte

Non-title, the winner’s show gets the first pick. They slug it out to start with Becky’s forearms beating Charlotte’s chops, only to have Charlotte pull her down by the hair. We hit the figure four necklock, complete with some faceplants to send Becky into the mat. Back up and Charlotte forearms her in the back of the head, only to get dropkicked down. Becky sends her to the apron and then kicks her to the floor but gets posted as we take a break.

We come back with Becky hitting some clotheslines, plus a missile dropkick for two. Charlotte shrugs it off and grabs a Boston crab before switching to a failed Figure Four attempt. Becky’s middle rope forearm misses though and Charlotte hits Natural Selection for two more. A big boot gets another two so it’s time to go for the leg. Becky kicks her into the buckle for two off a rollup and the middle rope legdrop gets the same. Charlotte gets in a spear but Becky crucifixes her ala Wrestlemania, meaning Charlotte’s shoulder is up as the referee counts the pin at 14:43.

Rating: B-. I’m thinking Becky needs to drop the crucifix as she can’t keep shoulders down no matter what she does. The match itself was the usual good back and forth stuff between these two, though Charlotte is absolutely right about these two fighting each other so many times that it stops having any impact.

We explain the Draft rules.

Seth Rollins is happy that it’s Draft night and he’s ready to keep things going with Bray Wyatt. He isn’t happy with what he did in the Cell but he isn’t ashamed of it either. Tonight, he’ll find Wyatt and end this by burning it down. That would imply there is something positive that can be burned and that is not the case here.

Jim Cramer of Mad Money (a stock show) goes over draft picks.

We see the War Rooms again and…..yeah the overacting is still strong.

Here’s Stephanie McMahon for the first round picks:

Raw – Seth Rollins

Smackdown – Brock Lesnar

Raw – Charlotte

Smackdown – New Day

Raw – Andrade/Zelina Vega

The expert panel (Samoa Joe, Renee Young, Booker T., Beth Phoenix) talks about the picks.

Andrade vs. Ali

On the way to the ring, Zelina Vega talks about how everyone on Raw will learn to suffer a loss to Andrade. Joined in progress with Ali hitting a dropkick but getting crushed in the corner. Andrade shoves him off the top and out to the floor in a heap so the posing can begin. Ali gets sent shoulder first into the post and then the arm gets bent around the rope for a bonus.

As the armbar goes on, we get breaking news: THERE WILL BE A NEW FIREFLY FUN HOUSE TONIGHT. That’s uh, quite the huge story there commentators. The arm gets bent over the top rope this time but Andrade misses a charge and falls out to the floor. Vega offers a distraction so Ali jumps over her for the big flip dive. The referee distraction lets Zelina hurricanrana Ali from the apron, setting up the hammerlock DDT to finish Ali at 5:48.

Rating: C. This was an extended squash as Ali continues to go nowhere in WWE after a big debut. I get that it happens to a lot of people but it can be a little saddening when someone shows that much heart in their matches. On the other hand, Andrade is someone who has seemed ready to move up to the next level for a long time now and maybe this is his chance after a long time waiting around.

More picks:

Raw – Kabuki Warriors

Smackdown – Daniel Bryan

Raw – Rusev

Smackdown – Bayley

Raw – Aleister Black

It is made clear that the Women’s Tag Team Titles will still be defended on both shows. So they’re already having loopholes in the thing.

The Saturday Night Live guys from the Wrestlemania battle royal talk about how awesome this is. I refuse to believe that these things have any kind of a significant impact on the show’s audience as I would hope that people aren’t that dense.

Raw Tag Team Titles: Dolph Ziggler/Robert Roode vs. Viking Raiders

The Raiders are challenging and start fast with a running dropkick into the corner. Roode gets sent to the floor for a dive and a top rope splash gets two on Ziggler with Roode making a save. Ziggler gets back up with a chop block to Erik and a posting makes it even worse. Something that was supposed to be a Zig Zag sends Erik into the timekeeper’s area and we take a break.

Back with Erik fighting out of a chinlock but a pull of his beard breaks up the hot tag attempt. Roode dropkicks the knee out and Ziggler adds the elbow drop. A few shoves are enough to annoy Erik, who forearms the heck out of Ziggler for the double knockdown. It’s off to Ivar for the house cleaning as everything breaks down.

The Zig Zag/spinebuster combination gets two on Erik and a Fameasser gets the same. Ziggler avoids a charge to send Erik into the post and it’s a superkick into the Glorious DDT for two with Ivar making a save. Ivar hits a double handspring elbow to both champs and it’s the Viking Experience to Ziggler for the pin and the titles at 12:06.

Rating: C-. Well that was about….forever overdue. The Raiders have been one of the most dominant teams in years and it made little sense to leave them on the sidelines or toiling against nothing teams while a makeshift team like Roode and Ziggler held the titles. The match was a little boring at times, but the right team won and that’s what matters most.

NHL analysts talk about wrestlers making good hockey players.

The War Raiders are ready to defend their titles. They list off the titles they have won before, including the IWGP and Ring of Honor titles. The raid is here.

More picks:

Raw – Cedric Alexander

Smackdown – Shinsuke Nakamura with Sami Zayn

Raw – Humberto Carrillo

Smackdown – Ali

Raw – Erick Rowan

Aleister Black vs. Eric Young

Young goes straight at him to start but has to bail to the floor to avoid Black Mass. Back in and some kicks to the chest set up the dragon sleeper (the Dark Ritual) to finish Young at 1:36.

More picks:

Raw – Buddy Murphy

Smackdown – Dolph Ziggler/Robert Roode

Raw – Jinder Mahal

Smackdown – Carmella

Raw – R-Truth

The Street Profits are glad to be on Raw when the OC comes up. They could be better hosts of Raw and the beatdown is on with the Profits being left laying.

Ricochet vs. Shelton Benjamin

Ricochet hits the dropkick to start so Shelton snaps off the belly to back suplex to send him outside. Back in and a big boot takes Ricochet down and we hit the chinlock with a bodyscissors. Ricochet fights back up with a kick to the face and a springboard clothesline. The 450 is broken up but Ricochet flips over him from the top and this the Recoil for the pin at 4:45.

Rating: D+. Ricochet has as much potential as anyone in WWE at the moment and it would be nice to see him get a big push on Raw. That being said, I’m not sure how you put him on Raw when he belongs on a bigger stage like Smackdown. Maybe he’ll have a better chance to shine on Raw though and that’s what matters in the end.

Video on Tyson Fury.

Lana is getting a massage at a spa. She likes the deeper rubs, so here’s Lashley to handle the rest. Rusev was never as good as he is so the towel is removed and she flips over so Lashley can get the other side.

It’s time for the contract signing between Braun Strowman and Tyson Fury. Jerry Lawler recaps everything and brings the two of them out for the big staredown. Strowman talks about how big of an ego that Fury has and that’s why he was at the premiere of Smackdown. He isn’t letting Fury use him to advance his career so he’ll beat him at Crown Jewel.

Fury says he isn’t out of his element in any ring and Strowman will be looking up at him after Fury knocks him out. They stand up and Fury snaps the pen before leaving. Fury is a good promo but Strowman is still one of those forced promos where the writers have to get in their lines that they think sound good because they don’t know how humans communicate with each other.

Al Roker talks about changes in the company like it’s a weather report.

More picks:

Raw – Samoa Joe

Smackdown – The Miz (the FOX war room lets off confetti)

Raw – Akira Tozawa

Smackdown – King Corbin

Raw – Shelton Benjamin

So to clarify, the pecking order in WWE goes Humberto Carrillo, Samoa Joe, the Miz, Akira Tozawa, King Corbin.

Buddy Murphy vs. Cedric Alexander

Well it worked on 205 Live. Cedric spins out of a wristlock to start so Murphy does the same as neither can get anywhere. Murphy is smart enough to pull him down by the hair so they take turns sweeping the legs until we get a staredown. An elbow to Cedric’s head sets up a whip into the middle buckle, followed by a drop onto the top turnbuckle for a fall to the floor.

Back from a break with Murphy kneeing him in the face to block the springboard Downward Spiral. Murphy hits the big flip dive and the top rope Meteora gets two. Cedric is right back with a shot to the face and the suicide dive to the floor. Back in and the springboard Downward Spiral connects this time around but Murphy catches him with a kick in the corner. The Powerbomb out of the corner sets up Murphy’s Law for the pin at 9:06.

Rating: C+. Yeah this was entertaining like their previous matches were, though it still isn’t enough to make me believe that WWE is going to push either of them with anything that sticks. Cedric came close but then was put in his place by AJ and the OC while Murphy just vanished after a few weeks of what looked like a huge push. Hopefully it’s different this time around, but I can’t bring myself to believe it.

Crown Jewel rundown, including Seth Rollins defending against the Fiend in a Falls Count Anywhere match.

The Street Profits are ready for the OC and want the smoke.

Hosts of the NBC Premiere League show compare chants from both sets of fans.

The final picks:

Raw – Rey Mysterio

Smackdown – Shorty Gable

Raw – Titus O’Neil

Smackdown – Elias

Raw – Liv Morgan

The expert panel talks again.

Kabuki Warriors vs. Natalya/???

Non-title. Natalya has been asked to pick a partner so she has picked someone who has taken her to the limit. Say it with me: Lacey Evans. I actually laughed because this match might miss the point more than anything since….well since the end of Rollins vs. Wyatt really, though that doesn’t make this any better.

Joined in progress with Lacey in trouble and being knocked outside for a spinning backfist from Kairi. Back in and Kairi hits her in the face again, allowing Asuka to come in for some Kawada kicks. Lacey fights up and makes the ice cold tag to Natalya, who snaps off a release German suplex to Asuka. A kneebar has Natalya in trouble but she rolls through, only to get rolled up by Asuka for two each.

The Sharpshooter has Asuka in trouble until Sane makes the save with a bulldog. Asuka’s hip attack sends Natalya to the floor and we take a break. Back with Natalya fighting out of Asuka’s Octopus Hold and scoring with a basement dropkick. Asuka breaks up the hot tag attempt and ties up the leg while pulling the arm back (kind of the first half of a surfboard crossed with half of a camel clutch).

That’s broken up so Asuka grabs a regular armbar as the fans are eerily silent. Sane comes back in for a double suplex for two and we hit the chinlock. These women were sent out there to die and they are achieving it to near perfection. Natalya muscles her up for a suplex and makes the hot tag to Lacey to clean house.

The slingshot Bronco Buster into the slingshot dropkick rocks Sane for two but Lacey gets caught in the corner. Sane hits an Alberto top rope double stomp for no count as Natalya makes the fast save. The sliding forearm hits Lacey in the corner and Asuka tags herself in. The Woman’s Right knocks Sane out on her feet but Asuka rolls Lacey up for the pin at 15:26.

Rating: D-. What in the world was THAT? They set up Lacey as some big partner for Natalya and then they have a match that went on far too long (I was very surprised when they went to a break) where Lacey just gets pinned? No angle, no title hunt, nothing of the sort. It’s like they were experimenting with something and didn’t realize that it was taking place on Raw. On top of that, the match was incredibly boring with one hold after another as we waited on Lacey Evans, who we’re now supposed to cheer for, to get the hot tag. This feels like they tried something and forgot the ending, leaving it as a total mess.

It’s time for the Firefly Fun House to end the show. Bray thinks Rollins is smart but the Fiend never forgets. Ramblin Rabbit says Rollins is on his way but Wyatt doesn’t think much of it. Rollins comes in and jumps Wyatt from behind so the beatdown is on (with the friends freaking out in a nice little touch). Seth breaks the pictures but Bray gets up and asks why Seth is doing this.

They go through a wall off camera and Rollins gets an evil look on his face. He says burn it down….and then lights Bray’s table on fire. The wall catches fire and the pictures burn as the Fiend starts to laugh to end the show. I mean, the character was in trouble anyway so they might as well get rid of the thing. Then again, odds are he’ll find a way back before losing to Rollins (again) in Saudi Arabia.

Overall Rating: D. Maybe it was the extra hour but this had most of the same problems that Smackdown had yet felt even longer. The picks make next to no sense in places (Carrillo over Mysterio, Corbin, Samoa Joe and Miz?), the War Room stuff was still stupid and the wrestling was just something they threw out there to stretch out the shows.

In a way this felt like a go home show, as it isn’t this week that matters, but what you’re seeing set up this week. The fans were completely done with this show after about an hour and can you blame them? It was a bunch of nothing matches, a token title change to make the show seem important, and Stephanie trying to make Akira Tozawa and Liv Morgan sound like important picks. WWE has been doing things like this a lot recently and they need to get back to normal so we can have something enjoyable for a change. This was really bad and I don’t see single branded shows being their big way out.

Results

Becky Lynch b. Charlotte – Crucifix

Andrade b. Ali – Hammerlock DDT

Viking Raiders b. Robert Roode/Dolph Ziggler – Viking Experience to Ziggler

Aleister Black b. Eric Young – Dark Ritual

Ricochet b. Shelton Benjamin – Recoil

Buddy Murphy b. Cedric Alexander – Murphy’s Law

Kabuki Warriors b. Lacey Evans/Natalya – Rollup to Evans

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

Monday Night Raw – October 7, 2019: Two In A Row!

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: October 7, 2019
Location: Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield, California
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Dio Maddin, Jerry Lawler

I don’t think there’s any other way to put it: the ending to last night’s show was a nightmare, with no one coming out of Seth Rollins vs. the Fiend in the Cell looking good. Things need to be put back on track, so tonight we have a singles match to build towards Crown Jewel, a boxer talking to set up a likely match at Crown Jewel, and Lacey Evans vs. Natalya V: Last Viewer Awake loses. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the end of last week’s show with Lana and Bobby Lashley, for lack of a better term, canoodling on the stage right in front of Rusev. This is interspersed with clips of Rusev and Lana’s wedding and marriage.

Opening sequence.

Rusev vs. Randy Orton

Hang on a second as we come straight out of the opening sequence to Orton and Baron Corbin stomping on Rusev. He fights back but Lashley pops up on screen in a robe. That would be Rusev’s robe, because Lashley is in Rusev’s house. Actually he’s in Rusev’s bedroom, which includes a rather comfortable bed.

There is only one thing missing, which would be Lana herself. She comes in and climbs in next to Lashley, while mentioning that everything they own is now in her name, plus they no longer have separate checking accounts. Lana removes some of the little clothing she still has on and the lights go out with more laughter.

We come back to the arena where Rusev is taking this as expected and Orton and Corbin laugh on the floor. Rusev snaps and beats both of them up, including various shots to Corbin with the steps. A jumping superkicks each knocks both of them into the crowd. No match of course.

Lacey Evans vs. Natalya

Last Woman Standing so Lacey brings out a garbage can with Natalya’s name on it. They have reached the end of the line so it’s time to take out the trash. Natalya starts the fight on the floor by driving Lacey back first into the barricade and knocking her around ringside. The Sharpshooter goes on inside but Lacey climbs the ropes for a break. Lacey slams her head first into the mat for a nine so they head outside, with a swing sending Natalya head first into the barricade.

That’s good for another nine so Lacey teases a table, only to whip Natalya into the steps instead. Back from a break with Natalya being whipped into the timekeeper’s area and being hit with a kendo stick for nine. Lacey gets annoyed so she gets creative by putting Natalya in the chair and strapping her in with the stick before turning the chair over.

That’s only good for nine as well and more stick shots get the same. A hard trashcan shot (which actually includes actual trash) and a moonsault off of the barricade get another nine. They head up the ramp with Natalya being sent into the set, followed by a suplex onto the announcers’ table. Natalya gets back up and hits a suplex on the stage, followed by a powerbomb off the stage and through a table for the win at 17:10.

Rating: D. Good grief this was bad with Natalya selling for almost the entire match, which was mainly Lacey doing something and Natalya laying around for a long time before Natalya hit two moves and won. On top of that, NATALYA gets the big blowoff win in the series? They can’t possibly be setting her up as the next challenger again right? They couldn’t possibly think that is a good idea.

Aleister Black is still in his dark room and talks about the calm and collective demeanor on Raw. That is not who he is though because he is as unforgiving as fire and as cold as death. He is forever restless so come knock on his door for a fight.

The Street Profits do their thing. After the regular recap, it’s time for a scouting report for the upcoming Draft. Apollo Crews is a blue chipper, Buddy Murphy is the best kept secret and Drake Maverick is WWE’s Steve Carrell: the forty year old virgin. With that out of the way though, it’s time to talk about Tyson Fury.

We see Braun Strowman and Fury squaring off on Smackdown and Fury accidentally getting knocked down, drawing him over the barricade for a near fight.

Fury says maybe he shouldn’t have jumped the barricade, but he’s not leaving until he gets an apology. If not, Strowman is going to get these hands.

Viking Raiders vs. Dolph Ziggler/Robert Roode

Non-title. Ziggler gets beaten up by Erik to start and Ivar gets slammed onto him for a bonus. That sends Ziggler, clutching his chest and ribs, over for the tag so Ivar beats up Roode instead. The knee to Roode’s face has both champs on the floor and Roode gets knocked outside again as we take a break.

Back with Erik being knocked off the barricade and getting caught with Ziggler’s running DDT on the floor. The chinlock goes on to keep Erik in trouble so Ziggler grabs a neckbreaker for two. Roode comes back in for another chinlock but Erik fights up and shrugs off some double teaming. Ziggler misses a splash and the hot tag brings in Ivar to clean house.

The Fameasser cuts Ivar off for two but Erik is back in for the German suplex/springboard clothesline combination for two more. Ivar gets sent outside and it’s a spinebuster/Zig Zag combination for two on Erik. The Glorious DDT is blocked Erik comes back in for the Viking Experience and the pin on Ziggler at 14:50.

Rating: C. When all else fails, go with the booking that is the easiest and least interesting way to get the Raiders to a title match. Why they needed anything more than “the Raiders are unstoppable and deserve a shot” is beyond me but why not beat your not great champions to get there?

Here are the Singh Brothers, who seem to have been left to Raw in the 205 Live will. They call out Aleister Black so they can prove themselves for the Draft.

Aleister Black vs. Singh Brothers

Kick to the head, kick to the chest, jumping knee, Black Mass and something like a dragon sleeper give Black the win at 1:05.

Video on the Smackdown premiere.

It is now 9:15pm and we have not had a single mention of last night’s show, or at least nothing major. Unless I missed some quick reference in passing, it has not been mentioned once.

Strowman says he was having fun with Fury on Friday but if he wants to get serious, tonight Fury can get these hands. We get a quick clip of Strowman knocking AJ Styles out with one punch last night, which is as big of a reference as we have gotten so far.

We look at Brock Lesnar winning the WWE Title from Kofi Kingston and the ensuing beatdown by the debuting Cain Velasquez.

Rey Mysterio is upset about what happened to Dominick but the physical scars will fade. He let himself and his family down though but he was sitting in the hospital when Cain Velasquez, Dominick’s godfather, came in. Cain can brag about beating Lesnar and he’s coming for revenge.

AOP talks about fighting to keep food in front of their families and promise violence.

OC vs. Lucha House Party

Kalisto starts in on Anderson’s arm before handing it off to Dorado for the same. Metalik comes in with the splash off of Dorado’s shoulders for two but it’s off to Gallows to take over. Everything breaks down in a hurry and the House Party hits a triple moonsault (off the same corner) for the big knockdown as we take a break.

Back with Dorado fighting out of a chinlock and hitting a high crossbody for the breather. A roll into the diving tag brings in Kalisto with a slingshot hurricanrana and the rolling kick to the face. The hurricanrana driver gets two on AJ with Anderson making the save. The Pele into the Phenomenal Forearm ends Kalisto at 9:30.

Rating: C. Perfectly watchable six man here with the OC getting back on track after last night’s dumb result. The House Party is perfectly fine for a spot like this as they work well together and have exciting matches, meaning it’s not like a loss is going to hurt them. The OC will be fine, assuming they stay together. They could be fine on their own but they seem to work better together.

Post match the House Party takes another beating, including the super Styles Clash to Dorado.

We recap Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks from last night.

It’s time for MizTV with Miz talking about how awesome Smackdown was with all of the big names coming out. With that out of the way, here are his guests for the week with Becky Lynch and Charlotte taking seats. Miz talks about all of Becky’s accomplishments in the last year, including being on Golden Crisp cereal. Becky is proud of everything she has done but what matters right now is beating Sasha Banks. As for Charlotte, it’s good to be the queen because she is champion again.

They get into an argument over whose reign means more with Charlotte saying she made Becky famous. Becky says her reigns mean more but Charlotte says ten times is ten times. Cue the Kabuki Warriors with Asuka shouting in Japanese. The previously announced fight is on and we get a referee, but it’s a double baseball slide to drop the Warriors as we take a break.

Kabuki Warriors vs. Charlotte/Becky Lynch

Non-title. Becky and Asuka start things off with a cheap shot from the apron allowing Asuka to send her outside. Becky fights up and brings Charlotte in to take over on Asuka, including Natural Selection to send Asuka outside. Sane gets sent outside as well and Charlotte busts out the moonsault to the floor to put them both down again. A Figure Eight attempt is broken up and Asuka kicks a diving Charlotte out of the air as we take a break.

Back with Charlotte taking Sane down and bringing Lynch back in to clean house. Asuka gets in a distraction though and Sane hits Becky in the face to take over again. Becky fights back but Charlotte is down and holding her knee. The Disarm-Her has Sane in trouble but Asuka hits the mist, allowing Sane to roll Lynch up for the pin at 11:25.

Rating: C. I’ll give them some rather nice points here for getting out of what could have been a messy ending without screwing things up. None of the new champions took the fall and Becky was protected in the loss. Given that they had other champs lose clean earlier tonight, it’s at least a step in the right direction.

Post match the beatdown is on until Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross make the save.

Roman Reigns talks about the impact children with cancer had on him.

We look back at Lana and Lashley from earlier.

Apollo Crews is ready for Ricochet tonight and is ready to showcase himself.

The Viking Raiders get a Tag Team Title shot next week.

Ricochet is ready for what could be his last night on Raw. This is a showcase, not a swan song.

Ricochet vs. Apollo Crews

Ricochet flips out of a German suplex attempt to start but Crews cartwheels his way out of a hurricanrana as well. They both miss moonsaults to the floor before heading back in for a dropkick from Crews. Ricochet rolls away again and heads to the apron for the kick to the face in the corner. The springboard clothesline sets up a running shooting star press for two. It’s too early for the 450 though and Crews hits an enziguri into the standing moonsault for his own near fall. Not that it matters as Ricochet is right back with the Recoil for the pin at 4:02.

Rating: C+. They packed a lot into a four minute match and that’s exactly what you would want from these two. Don’t leave them out there long enough to let them overstay their welcome and leave you wanting more from them. Crews is his usual self and Ricochet looks more and more like a star every time he’s out there.

We actually look at Rollins vs. Wyatt in the Cell and Rollins not being able to end him. The DQ is included, as I still see no referee stoppage. There is no announcement or conclusion, as they just air clips and move on.

Jerry Lawler brings Fury to the ring for a chat. He didn’t like Strowman making him look like a fool last week and he is here to demand an apology. Cue Strowman to say he was just giving Fury a present last week and then he told security to let Fury go. If Fury wants to get in Strowman’s ring, he’ll eat him for lunch.

Fury says he would have knocked Strowman out but Strowman says he would do the same. How man titles has Strowman won? They go into the corner and here’s security to break it up in a hurry. That doesn’t last long though and the fight is on again but here is the locker room for the save. They keep breaking it up and the fight starts up over and over again.

In the back, Strowman says Fury is tough but there will be no apology. Strowman comes charging back out and the brawl ends the show.

Overall Rating: D+. I came into this show hoping that WWE could find something to start a new path towards fixing last night. What I got was WWE taking the night off after a horrible pay per view and basically saying none of what you’re seeing here matters. It was nowhere near as bad as last night and there were some interesting moments here, but this show felt like they just weren’t interested in trying until the Draft, as everything changes again. That’s not a good sign two nights in a row, no matter how much effort you put in last week.

Results

Natalya b. Lacey Evans – Powerbomb off of the stage

Viking Raiders b. Robert Roode/Dolph Ziggler – Viking Experience to Ziggler

Aleister Black b. Singh Brothers – Dragon sleeper to Sunil

OC b. Lucha House Party – Phenomenal Forearm to Kalisto

Kabuki Warriors b. Charlotte/Becky Lynch – Rollup to Lynch

Ricochet b. Apollo Crews – Recoil

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

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