Main Event – July 11, 2019: Needing New Management

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: July 11, 2019
Location: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Renee Young, Sam Roberts

It’s time for more recapping moderateness as we see who else wasn’t good enough to make Raw this week. The big theme for this week is going to be setting up Extreme Rules, which is looking like a hit or miss show for the most part. I’m not sure what that means for this week, but you never can tell around here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Natalya vs. Tamina

Yeah I’m seeing why these two didn’t make Raw. Feeling out process to start with Tamina hipping her in the ribs but Natalya pops back up without much trouble. Sam: “Tamina is WWE’s answer to Amanda Nunes.” Nunes is possibly the greatest women’s MMA fighter of all time and is more or less unstoppable at the moment. So yeah, Sam is a moron.

Tamina grabs a wristlock but has to bail from a quick wristlock attempt. They head outside with Tamina blasting her with a clothesline and it’s off to the chinlock back inside. Sam talks about Tamina never getting what she deserves and I’m not touching that one. Natalya fights up and unloads in the corner but walks into the Samoan drop for two. In a decent power display, Natalya grabs a Michinoku Driver of all things for the pin at 6:20.

Rating: D+. This wasn’t even a bad match but WWE has to be kidding themselves if they think there is potential in Tamina. She’s not getting any younger, she has no credibility and she isn’t good in the ring. What in the world does she have going for her that would make the fans care about her, especially near the title picture? Nothing, which has been the case for years now.

From Raw.

Andrade/Zelina Vega vs. Becky Lynch/Seth Rollins

Elimination rules for the sake of the commercials. Becky takes Vega down without much trouble to start but gets caught in a DDT. Another toss sends Vega into the corner so it’s off to the men for a change. Andrade works on a wristlock but gets armdragged down as the announcers talk about the personal and professional damage that could take place should Becky and Seth lose on Sunday. Rollins sends him outside for the suicide dive, leaving Becky to Dis-Arm Vega for the tap at 4:57. Hang on though as Becky goes into the crowd to fight Lacey Evans and we take a break.

Back with Andrade stomping away as Becky isn’t allowed in the match anymore. So….the elimination rules are pretty much worthless no? Andrade goes up top and knocks away a superplex attempt, setting up the top rope double stomp for two. Seth is fine enough to hit the springboard knee to the head for two but Vega, still at ringside, gets in a headscissors.

Becky dives onto her until Andrade breaks it up. Seth freaks out but Andrade runs Becky over by mistake. The distraction lets Andrade hit the running knees in the corner for two but Becky goes after Vega again. That distraction is enough for the Stomp to finish Andrade at 14:13.

Rating: D+. I don’t remember the last story and feud that I can remember that was this much death for everyone involved. I don’t know who benefits from this or who thinks this is a great idea, but egads it isn’t working. Both Rollins and Lynch feel like they’ve lost a bunch of energy and Corbin brings down any segment where he appears. Find something fresh after Sunday, because my goodness this is a disaster.

Post match Baron Corbin jumps Rollins so Lynch goes after Corbin, allowing Evans to pop back in with the Woman’s Right. Paul Heyman comes out and we take a break.

We look back at the two Ricochet vs. AJ Styles matches.

From Raw.

Ricochet vs. Luke Gallows

Non-title. Before the match, Ricochet talks about AJ Styles turning on him and the beatdown from last week. He knows that’s going to happen this week as well so all three of them can get out here. That’s exactly what happens too but AJ grabs a mic of his own. AJ tells Ricochet to appreciate the moment because Gallows is about to give him another beating. Speaking of appreciating the moment, here’s a clip from last week’s beatdown.

Back in the arena, Gallows wastes no time in hitting a big chokeslam. The chinlock goes on and Gallows turns him inside out on a clothesline. AJ is very, very pleased with this beating. Gallows loads up a fall away slam but Ricochet slips out and reverses into a sunset flip for the pin at 2:59.

Hang on though as AJ says Ricochet can leave or fight Karl Anderson RIGHT NOW.

Ricochet vs. Karl Anderson

Non-title again. Anderson runs Ricochet over this time and gets two off a clothesline. The chinlock goes on again as AJ is rather pleased again this time around. This time the comeback is cut off with the spinebuster and Gallows adds a right hand. Ricochet nails him with a flip dive, followed by the middle rope moonsault to Styles. Back in and Anderson hits the post, leaving Ricochet to hit the 630 for the pin at 4:30.

Rating: D+. This didn’t have the time to go anywhere and while I like the idea of Ricochet getting some momentum, I could have gone without having him beat both Good Brothers in a row. That being said, they didn’t have many other options and at least the first one looked more like a fluke. Anderson and Gallows will be fine as big lackeys anyway.

Post match AJ hits a brainbuster on Ricochet, followed by the Magic Killer. AJ says he’s a good guy and leaves, but Ricochet gets up so it’s a Phenomenal Forearm for his efforts.

Video on Kofi Kingston vs. Samoa Joe.

Heath Slater vs. Robert Roode

Roode takes him down without much effort and that means the GLORIOUS pose. Slater is right back up with the hip swiveling and a clothesline as the fans are treating this as you would expect them to treat a Robert Roode vs. Heath Slater match. Roode gets in some stomping in the corner and we take the abrupt break. Back with Slater making a comeback and getting two off a top rope clothesline. The jumping neckbreaker doesn’t work so Slater hits another clothesline for two. And never mind as Roode hits the Glorious DDT for the pin at 7:47.

Rating: D. What else were you expecting here? Slater is little more than a fun comedy guy and Roode has yet to find his footing in WWE despite having been here for years now. This felt a little more important than most Main Event main events but that doesn’t mean it’s a match worth seeing.

We recap Kevin Owens arriving at Smackdown, being ejected, and coming back to rant about Shane McMahon.

From Smackdown.

Roman Reigns vs. Dolph Ziggler

Hang on though because here are Shane, Drew and Elias to watch. Shane is on commentary as Ziggler kicks Reigns down to start and nails a quick Shot to the Heart. Roman fights back up and knocks Ziggler outside for the apron dropkick. A distraction lets McIntyre post Reigns though, which Shane just happened to miss. Back in and Ziggler gets two, followed by another Shot to the Heart for two. A neckbreaker is good for the same and we hit the chinlock.

Another neckbreaker is broken up, as is Ziggler’s running DDT. Reigns starts the comeback but has to Superman Punch Elias, allowing the Zig Zag to hit for two. The superkick is countered with a Superman Punch for two but Elias pulls Ziggler out before the spear. Reigns hits the no hands dive but goes too far and lands face first on the floor. Thankfully he pops up as Shane comes into the ring. Ziggler superkicks Reigns but here’s Owens for a Stunner to Shane. Reigns and Ziggler get back in so the spear can finish Ziggler at 8:48.

Rating: C-. The Owens interference breathed some much needed life into this one but it wasn’t doing well before then. Ziggler and Shane continue to feel like the annoying friends who tag along on everything you do whether you want them there or not. Shane is likely gearing up for a match against Owens at Summerslam and Ziggler….well he’ll be there too, likely saying the same things he always says.

Overall Rating: D. I’m never sure what to say on this show but this was another week that didn’t do anything more than fulfill its purpose in a rather dull way. There was nothing on this show that you need to see and I certainly wouldn’t go out of my way to see Tamina and Heath Slater. Hopefully things pick up under new management, which is certainly a possibility.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

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

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

Smackdown – July 9, 2019: The Final Pull Over The Line

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: July 9, 2019
Location: SNHU Arena, Manchester, New Hampshire
Commentators: Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips

It’s the go home show for Extreme Rules and after last night’s long list of changes, you have to think that the card is mostly set for a change. Tonight is likely going to focus on Shane McMahon, with Roman Reigns possibly even gracing us with his presence for a change. We’re still waiting on the Eric Bischoff regime to start though, meaning this might not be the strongest show. Let’s get to it.

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

Earlier today, Dolph Ziggler arrived and complained about carrying Kevin Owens when Owens showed up in his car and honked at him. They yelled at each other and got in a fight but some well placed wrestlers ran in and broke it up. Shane came in and told Owens to get out of here. Better than fifteen minutes of talking, though it would be better if Ziggler was arrested by the cops in the background for impersonating an entertainer.

In the back, Shane said he was doing his job and will replace the originally scheduled Ziggler vs. Owens main event.

Owens runs into the arena and rants about how Shane needs to hear the truth. He’s tried to be a good company guy for a long time now but a few months ago, the whole McMahon Family was out here saying they were going to listen to the fans. But now Shane gets more TV time than anyone else and NO ONE HAS EVER WANTED THAT!

It makes him sick, to the point where he wants to smash his head on the table, which he climbs onto. Shane comes out and says cut Owens’ mic. Owens finds another mic and rants about Shane calling himself the Best in the World being an insult to everyone in the back. Shane has that mic cut as well so Owens grabs a commentary headset and keeps going. Security finally chases him off.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Finn Balor

Non-title. On the way to the ring, Nakamura says that he’s getting his career back on track. Balor says that Nakamura won’t be using him to do that. Nakamura knocks him into the corner and we take a rather early break. Back with Balor getting kneed in the ribs but managing to send Nakamura into the corner. A Nightmare on Helm Street gets two but Nakamura is right back with a sliding German suplex. Kinshasa is countered with a Sling Blade so Nakamura hits the running knee in the corner.

The middle rope knee to the head sends Balor outside and a posting makes it even worse. They both beat the count back in but Nakamura sends him back outside for Kinshasa, where Balor beats the count again. We’re not done yet as Nakamura throws him outside for a third time, this time for a whip into the steps. Balor beats it AGAIN, so this time it’s Kinshasa for the pin at 9:12.

Rating: D+. So they had a wide open chance to have Nakamura knock Balor silly on the floor for a countout but nah, let’s just have Nakamura pin him instead. I was even getting my hopes up as they could have set up some kind of gimmick rematch on Sunday, but instead we get this. I’m sure we’ll get the rematch on Sunday, though Balor will be lessened a bit because that’s what the Intercontinental Title does.

Shane, Drew McIntyre and Elias are ready for Sunday’s tag match when Ziggler comes in and wants to fight. Instead of Owens, he’ll face Roman Reigns in the main event.

Video on Kofi Kingston’s title win and reign. Then Samoa Joe choked him out to set up their match on Sunday.

Joe says Kofi can deny the truth all he wants but that changes nothing. Kofi is everything Joe said he was and now Joe is coming for everyone Kofi has used to get where he is today. On Sunday, Joe is taking the title. Joe’s delivery alone has made this 49x better than Ziggler.

It’s time for a contract signing for the Women’s Title match on Sunday. Nikki Cross represents herself and Alexa Bliss and here’s Bayley as well. After looking at a clip of Bayley attacking Nikki last night, Bayley wonders where Alexa is again. Nikki says last night was the real Bayley, which Bayley attributes to Bliss being in her head. Bayley promises to bring whatever she has to on Sunday to beat both of them. Then what happens when Bliss loses and blames Nikki? That sends Nikki over the edge and she promises to win the title so they can be co-champions. She wants Bayley to stick around for the next match too.

Nikki Cross vs. Carmella

Bayley is at ringside as Nikki takes Carmella down to start. A faceplant and some rams of the head into the mat have Carmella in trouble. Nikki gets two off a snap suplex and it’s off to something like a Rings of Saturn. It’s off to a regular chinlock for a bit until Carmella gets up and avoids a charge. The Bronco Buster keeps Nikki down but she’s right back up with the Purge to finish Carmella at 3:42.

Rating: D+. The match wasn’t great but the storyline was fine with Nikki being serious and showing what she can do when she’s serious. Now that doesn’t help the fact that Bayley beat her clean last week but I’ll take what I can get. They’ve got something interesting with everyone playing mind games with each other and it could make for an interesting twist.

We look back at the Kabuki Warriors defeating the IIconics in Tokyo to earn a future title shot.

The IIconics run into Paige and the Warriors, who wan their title shot tonight. That’s not happening because Billie is sick though with mad cow bird flu (Peyton: “It’s really rare.”). Paige calls them annoying clowns and slaps Billie, before reminding her that she’s sick. The title match is coming.

We look back at the end of last night’s show with Cedric Alexander dressing up like a janitor to shock Drew and Shane, only to lose in the end and be unmasked, rendering the whole thing rather pointless.

Roman Reigns promises to make Shane and Drew rest in peace.

It’s time for a Tag Team Summit with New Day (whose music came on for half a second before Big E.’s intro), Rowan and Daniel Bryan and Heavy Machinery. New Day is out first and Big E. is excited about the idea of all three members of New Day being able to touch their championship tips together. Bryan and Rowan cut off the hip swivel though with Bryan saying no one takes the titles seriously because New Day doesn’t take them seriously.

Woods wants to hear from Rowan though, because Rowan is always taking orders from someone. It might be Bray, Harper or Bryan and they’re having trouble remembering who his daddy is. Bryan cuts that off and says New Day isn’t serious enough and they have always been a comedy act. It wouldn’t be as bad as if Heavy Machinery won, so here’s Heavy Machinery. Tucker talks about getting close to the titles at Stomping Grounds and now they’ve earned another title shot. Otis mocks New Day’s swiveling as the Chris Farley is strong with this one. Now it’s time for a triple threat.

Otis vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Xavier Woods

Bryan bails to the floor to start so Woods grabs a headlock. That’s reversed with a toss around the ring so here’s Bryan again for an attempt at a double suplex on Otis. He delayed vertical suplexes both of them at the same time (geez), leaving the other three to get in a brawl on the floor. Big E. and Tucker put Rowan over the announcers’ table and get thrown out.

Back from a break with Woods throwing Bryan into the barricade, only to have Bryan grab the LeBell Lock inside. Otis dives in for the save so Bryan kicks at him a bit. The big one is reversed into a suplex and there’s the Caterpillar, with Bryan rolling to the apron. That leaves Woods to take a World’s Strongest Slam for the pin at 8:48.

Rating: C-. The break in the middle was a little better and didn’t feel as forced so it wasn’t as bad as last night. Otis winning was the right call as it adds a little big more intrigue to Sunday’s match. I still don’t see Heavy Machinery winning the titles, but it’s a nice way to make things more interesting.

Video on Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler, which isn’t happening tonight.

We recap the opening segment.

Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville interrupt Ember Moon at catering because this is still going. Ember’s win last week brought the two of them closer together and it’s a tag match for next week, assuming Ember can find a partner. If she can’t, she’ll fight on her own.

Ali isn’t scared of the devil in any form because he’s seen so much evil on the streets of Chicago as a police officer. He’ll ask the devil if he can have this dance and evil only shows up if you won’t fight.

Extreme Rules rundown.

We get a split screen interview between Aleister Black and an empty chair. Black looks a bit confused and then laughs when he is told that the opponent will not be announcing his identity at this time. This is something that Black himself would do so it’s very smart. Black doesn’t care who it is anymore but someone walks up to the chair. Their hand touches the chair and they sit down to reveal…..Cesaro. Black says he’ll fight him on Sunday.

Shelton Benjamin is asked about tonight’s main event, says “well” and leaves.

We’re ready for an interview with Kofi Kingston but Paul Heyman walks by first. Kingston, who didn’t seem to see Heyman, comes in and says last week he kicked Samoa Joe in the head. He likes facing people like Samoa Joe because it makes his title reign more impressive. This Sunday, he’s keeping the title.

Roman Reigns vs. Dolph Ziggler

Overall Rating: D+. Owens was by far the best part of this show but so much of tonight felt like watching everything drag across the finish line to Extreme Rules as we FINALLY end this horrible stretch of programming. The build for Summerslam can’t get here soon enough, just because we’ve been watching these same boring stories for weeks now. Owens hopefully will be a breath of fresh air, but I fully expect him to be looking up at the lights at Summerslam as Shane’s music plays. Until that changes, things aren’t going to get much better.

Results

Shinsuke Nakamura b. Finn Balor – Kinshasa

Nikki Cross b. Carmella – Purge

Otis b. Daniel Bryan and Xavier Woods – World’s Strongest Slam to Woods

Roman Reigns b. Dolph Ziggler – Spear

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

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

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

Smackdown – July 2, 2019: Is He Back And Is It Better Than Ever?

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: July 2, 2019
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton

For the first time in a very long while, Smackdown actually has some catching up to do with Raw. Last night’s show was pretty good for a change and a lot of that has to do with the Paul Heyman influence. While it isn’t clear if Eric Bischoff’s influence will begin tonight or not, it certainly does make for an intriguing possibility. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look back at last night when Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley blew up the set and were taken away in ambulances. Lashley has been released from the medical center and we’ll hear from him tonight. Strowman is pretty banged up and may have a ruptured spleen.

Here’s Kevin Owens for the Kevin Owens Show. He reads his opening statement about the upcoming tag match at Extreme Rules (while having to switch cards between “Under” and “Taker”) and brings out his guests: Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre. We see a clip of Undertaker’s appearance from last night, followed by Shane talking about his winning streak. Now it’s time to beat Reigns again and now the match is going to be No Holds Barred.

Drew talks about what they do in regular matches and how vicious of an assault the tag match is going to be. Owens doesn’t seem convinced and wants to see a piece of the footage. That would be McIntyre and Shane running away from Undertaker during his entrance. Owens thinks Shane looks a bit afraid of Undertaker but in reality, it was just a reflex action that sent Shane running into the crowd. Shane: “What are you doing?”

Shane tells him to be a good talk show host and read the cards like they agreed to. Owens reads about Shane winning at Super ShowDown with NO help….but then switches to asking about Shane losing to Undertaker after a seven year absence. Drew gets in Owens’ face but here’s Dolph Ziggler of all people. Owens cuts Ziggler off, saying that he doesn’t want to hear from Ziggler about how it should be him. Owens: “It should have been you eight years ago and it was kind of but it’s not SO GET OVER IT!!!”

Ziggler goes into his usual speech and says he looks the part but Owens looks like he should be in a hot dog eating contest. Owens says he would win, which is better than Ziggler does in wrestling matches. Owens puts it up to Shane who should get the next title shot but that won’t happen. Instead, the two of them can team up against Heavy Machinery. The winning team will be added to the Tag Team Title match at Extreme Rules to make it a triple threat. Owens’ reactions were hilarious here, but how many wet blankets can WWE manage to throw onto this show in one segment?

Daniel Bryan and Rowan don’t like their match becoming a triple threat match but will walk out with the titles anyway.

New Day is ready for a fight and promise to take their titles back at Extreme Rules.

Big E. vs. Daniel Bryan

Big E. swivels his way out of a waistlock to start and the gyrating continues as Bryan looks on. Bryan tries some running shoulders to no avail so Big E. grabs the abdominal stretch with the trombone accompanied spanking. A clothesline turns Bryan inside out and we take a break.

Back with Bryan working on Big E.’s knee but his running clothesline is countered with a pair of belly to belly suplexes. The YES Kicks are countered into another suplex and the Warrior Splash gets two. Bryan sends him to the floor though and Rowan posts Big E. While Woods dives onto Rowan, the running knee gives Bryan the pin at 8:09.

We look back at R-Truth losing the 24/7 Title to Drake Maverick last night.

R-Truth tries to talk about going on his honeymoon, but it never actually happened. He heard that Hornswoggle and his wife were here in San Antonio instead of on their honeymoon. R-Truth: “So Mr. 7/11 European TV Champion, I’m coming for you! I want my baby back!”

Alexa Bliss sends Nikki Cross out to host a Moment of Bliss because it’s time to kick her out of the nest.

Here’s Cross for a Moment of Bliss (we’re forty four minutes in and the number of talk shows currently doubles the number of matches). Nikki introduces herself and promises to talk slowly so her accent doesn’t become a problem. She brings out Bayley as her guest, who seems impressed with Nikki’s hosting so far. Nikki says she’s here to ask the tough questions, like why Bayley called Bliss a liar. Bayley says she’s telling the truth because Nikki beat her last week and then beat Carmella last night. So why isn’t Nikki getting the title shot? Nikki doesn’t know, but she’ll fight Bayley right now.

Nikki Cross vs. Bayley

Non-title. Bayley hits a dropkick and suplex at the bell before hammering away. Nikki bails to the floor for a bit and gets caught with a jawbreaker back inside. With nothing else working, Nikki jumps on her back for a choke, which is broken up in a hurry. A high crossbody works a lot better for Nikki and she hits a splash in the corner. An ensuing bulldog looks to set up the Purge but Bayley reverses into a backslide for two. The Purge is countered into the Bayley to Belly to give Bayley the pin at 3:06.

Rating: C-. Well thank goodness they cut off that Cross momentum before it got out of hand. The right move was to set something up to offer something interesting and then bail out so we can go right back to the same match we saw last month because that’s how good storytelling goes. If you want to get to Bliss vs. Cross, why make them both seem like losers before you get there?

Ali talks about how people chase the WWE Championship for money and power. He chases it to bring change to millions of minds who have been taught that their name or hometown defines them. He’s going to change that and if you believe that lie, he’ll change your mind. When he becomes WWE Champion, it’s going to change your mind. Then he’ll be on the billboards and posters and fans will see someone who looks like them. Let the chase continue. Along with the rather awesome promos. Now make them go somewhere.

Here are Kofi Kingston and Samoa Joe for a face to face showdown. Joe talks about choking him out last night, which was an act of generosity. It seems that Kofi is always receiving some kind of act of generosity. Whenever New Day is given a singles match, it’s always Kofi getting the shot because he’s the New Day’s guy. Joe says they’re using the people just like he does and in a few years, Woods and Big E. can be the hype man and butler.

Kofi talks about everything he has done by himself while Joe lost the US Title to Ricochet. Joe is the one always jumping people from behind but Joe isn’t convinced. He knows Kofi always has a way out planned, like when he brought in his kids. Kofi calls Joe jealous but Joe offers a handshake in honor of choking Kofi out two weeks in a row.

If Kofi will shake his hand, Joe will promise the safety of everyone Kofi holds dear until Extreme Rules. There’s no handshake, so Joe gives him five seconds before he starts slapping Kofi around the ring. Instead Kofi flips him off (that feels WAY out of character for him) and hits Trouble in Paradise.

Heavy Machinery is very excited about their big chance tonight. They’re up against a team who has won 18 combined titles but never one as a team. They know the numbers from great scouting but Owens and Ziggler aren’t a team. They’re coming for the titles.

We look at the Strowman/Lashley explosion from last night again.

We see a video from Lashley’s Twitter, saying Strowman got what he deserved. That had nothing to do with wrestling because they went into an unsafe area. Lashley could have been electrocuted or something worse but Strowman didn’t care. The next time Lashley sees that son of a b****, he’s sending him to the morgue.

Andrade vs. Apollo Crews

Andrade stomps him into the corner to start and the running knees get two. Crews knocks him back down though and it’s an apron moonsault for two as we take a break. Back with Apollo hitting a jumping enziguri while Andrade is on the middle rope. The gorilla press drop into the standing moonsault gets two but Andrade sends him outside. That means a slingshot dive but Apollo catches him in midair. With Andrade being sent back inside, Zelina Vega gets in a hurricanrana off the steps. Back in and the hammerlock DDT gives Andrade the pin at 5:49. Not enough shown to rate but it was your usual match from both.

Owens and Ziggler say this won’t work but Owens has a plan: Ziggler stands in the corner and looks pretty while Owens does the work. Ziggler thinks Owens should just have a hot dog and let him do the work instead. Owens says they should try because the Tag Team Titles are worth it. Ziggler agrees because he’s done worse. Just no hot dogs.

Aleister Black says there was a knock at his door last week….but there was no one there. He applauds whoever knocked because whoever it was is now fighting on a spiritual plane. Now he only cares about the person showing up at Extreme Rules. For if they shall fight in the heavens, they shall fight through the seven layers of h*** and if they meet in purgatory, fighting they shall. Black flat out said the person doesn’t matter. At least he knows it too after all this time.

Ember Moon vs. Mandy Rose

Sonya Deville is here with Mandy and offers an early distraction. That doesn’t seem to matter as Mandy gets caught with a forearm for two, only to come back with a belly to back faceplant. A knee to the face gives Mandy two more and we hit the chinlock. Ember fights up in a hurry and hits a jawbreaker, followed by the Eclipse for the pin at 2:16. You have to give her a win at some point I guess.

Shelton Benjamin is asked about the upcoming WWE Championship match at Extreme Rules. He looks around, smiles, and says nothing.

Heavy Machinery vs. Dolph Ziggler/Kevin Owens

The winners go on to face New Day, Daniel Bryan and Rowan, all of whom are out for commentary, at Extreme Rules. Otis takes Ziggler down to start but the fight breaks out on the floor with Bryan running through Big E. with another knee. Rowan breaks up the pancake table and claw slams Woods through it as we take a break.

Back with the match having been restarted (because there was NO OTHER OPTION other than that) and Tucker shoulders Owens down for two. Tucker dives over Owens and runs him down for two more but a low bridge sends Tucker outside. Ziggler comes in for a neckbreaker into a backsplash from Owens, setting up a Crossface.

With that broken up, Tucker comes off the middle rope with a spinning crossbody and the hot tag brings in Otis. A spinning slam and t-bone suplex gets two on Ziggler as everything breaks down. Owens gets sent outside and the Zig Zag is broken up. The Caterpillar hits Ziggler but Owens is back up with a superkick. The Stunner is broken up though and Ziggler superkicks Owens, setting up the Compactor to pin Owens at 6:13.

Rating: D+. I’m still trying to get my mind around the restart thing. Anyway, this is the right call as Heavy Machinery is a lot better than another wacky tag team. Odds are we’ll see Ziggler vs. Owens at Extreme Rules, so at least we can hear Owens rip on Ziggler’s repetitive promos again.

Post match Ziggler helps Owens up and gets Stunned for his efforts to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. I would certainly hope that this wasn’t the first Bischoff show because the future would look very bleak. This wasn’t a good show with a bunch of the same things that have been happening for months now. The wrestling was nothing special, the stories were acceptable but not exactly interesting, and nothing memorable. It’s not terrible, but after last night, this was really lacking.

Results

Daniel Bryan b. Big E. – Running knee

Bayley b. Nikki Cross – Bayley to Belly

Andrade b. Apollo Crews – Hammerlock DDT

Ember Moon b. Mandy Rose – Eclipse

Heavy Machinery b. Kevin Owens/Dolph Ziggler – Compactor to Owens

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

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

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

Monday Night Raw – June 24, 2019: Working Some Doubles

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: June 24, 2019
Location: Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett, Washington
Commentators: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Corey Graves

It’s the night after Stomping Grounds and given how things are looking at the moment, I’m not sure how much that’s going to change the direction we’re going. Extreme Rules is in less than three weeks and there is a strong chance that we’re looking either at rematches or matches that are so similar you won’t notice much of a difference. Let’s get to it.

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

Here’s Seth Rollins to get things going. Rollins says last night, Baron Corbin thought he was going to take the title from him, but here’s Becky Lynch to interrupt. Seth: “Hey, you kind of interrupted me.” Rollins talks about how Corbin tried to stack the deck but he didn’t know that Rollins had the best backup on the planet. Becky: “I guess it pays to be the Man’s man.” Lynch recaps the evening between herself and Lacey Evans but Corbin’s music interrupts.

There’s no Corbin though as Evans runs in from behind to jump Becky. Now Corbin comes in and gets taken down with a Sling Blade. The Bexploder sends Lacey outside as well and the villains are left on the floor. Corbin tells Seth to go make the Man a sandwich and Lacey threatens to hit them both again. Lacey wants a mixed tag for Extreme Rules, which works for Becky, but with a condition: after Baron and Lacey lose, neither get to face Seth and Becky again. Actually hang on as Baron has an idea: both titles are on the line and it’s winners take all. Never let it be said that WWE can’t drag things out beyond their expiration date.

Daniel Bryan/Rowan/Revival vs. Usos/New Day

Elimination rules here with a fall getting rid of a team. Dawson tags himself in to take Bryan’s place so New Day takes him down for a splash/legdrop combination. Rowan comes in and cleans house, including a sitout Rock Bottom to Big E. The splash misses though and it’s Woods kicking Bryan in the chest. Bryan sends him outside for the suicide shove but it hits Dawson by mistake. Woods gets forearmed for his efforts and Bryan adds a missile dropkick. The YES Kicks connect but Dawson elbows Bryan by mistake, allowing Woods to roll Bryan up for the pin at 3:32.

The Shatter Machine gets rid of Woods at 4:03 and we take a break. Back with the Usos hitting stereo dives, followed by a bell so the match is “officially” restarted. Ignore that there seemed to be action during the break and the lack of a bell between the previous falls as they now have to find ways around the “no wrestling during a break” rule. To be fair though, it’s not an official rule.

Dawson grabs a powerslam on Jimmy, followed by a Steiner Bulldog (Renee: “Classic Revival!” Steiners, Revival, whatever.) for two. Dawson’s superplex hits Jimmy but Jey tags himself in and dives off of Wilder’s back with a Superfly Splash to Dawson to steal the pin at 11:36. Nice finish there.

Rating: D+. This was the usual elimination match with everything having to happen in a hurry because they don’t have a lot of time. At least one pair of champions lost via miscommunication and the other lost via a quick pin. I’m sure we’ll get some title matches at Extreme Rules and that’s fine.

We recap Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns last night to set up tonight’s handicap match.

Earlier today, Braun Strowman pulled a 17,000lb tractor trailer. Tonight, it’s a tug of war against Bobby Lashley.

Miz is walking to the ring and Abby the Witch from Firefly Fun House appears behind him, though she isn’t mentioned.

Here’s Miz for MizTV and we get straight to the guests: R-Truth/Carmella. Truth is nervous about getting inside but the 24/7 Title rules are suspended during the course of the interview. Miz recaps the history of the title, including the pinfall at Drake Maverick’s wedding over the weekend. Miz: “Truth, A MAN’S WEDDING??? REALLY???” Truth talks about how he can’t do anything in life without having to look over his shoulder. He can’t even have a picnic! WWE Superstars are showing up at his house dressed up as police officers and telling him that his car is on fire.

Cue Maverick to say that winning the title was the biggest moment of his career and his wedding was supposed to be the biggest day of his life. Truth ruined everything and now his wife won’t talk to him. They haven’t even consummated the marriage. Truth: “Fiber is good for that!” Maverick wants a rematch right now. For the title, not his wedding. Miz gets word that the title match can happen right now and all other competitors are banned from interfering. Truth grants Hornswoggle his match.

24/7 Title: R-Truth vs. Drake Maverick

Truth is defending and hits Little Jimmy to retain in 14 seconds.

Post match the mob comes out to give chase and Cedric Alexander hits the Neuralizer. No Way Jose makes the save though, allowing Truth and Carmella to run. Drake is asked where he goes from here but can’t say anything.

We recap the opening segment.

Evans and Corbin are ready to win at Extreme Rules. If they take out Lynch, they can take out Rollins.

Shane McMahon/Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns

Rating: D. Well that came out of nowhere. The match itself was inconsequential of course and there’s nothing wrong with that. As scared as I am of Shane pinning Undertaker at Extreme Rules, I’ll take it over a handicap match with Reigns having to sell for Shane again. At least Drew didn’t take another fall here so it could be worse.

And now, a tug of war between Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman. Lashley gets the early advantage and has Strowman at the line, but then Strowman smiles. Strowman pulls him over without much effort but Lashley jumps at him and the beating is on. The rope goes around Strowman’s eyes and he falls to the floor with Lashley beating him down. At least it was short, though putting it on after Undertaker wasn’t the best idea.

AJ Styles tries to talk about Ricochet but No Way Jose’s conga line interrupts him. The Good Brothers have joined in but AJ tells them to take their match against the Viking Raiders more seriously. AJ wants to know what happened to the guys he met in Japan but Gallows says they’re at the top of their game.

Good Brothers vs. Viking Raiders

Anderson gets taken down to start with Erik slamming Ivar onto him. One heck of a clothesline takes Ivar down and it’s Gallows coming in for a chinlock. The Boot of Doom gets two on Erik and the Good Brothers are rather pleased. Ivar comes back in for the seated senton in the corner though and a dive takes out Gallows. The Viking Experience finishes Anderson at 3:20 as AJ is disgusted in the back.

Rating: D+. Again this was much more about angle advancement than the match and there’s nothing wrong with that. The Good Brothers joining forces with AJ again is about all they’re going to get at the moment, though I can’t imagine that’s going to be enough to keep them in WWE. Given how they’ve been used in the last year or so though, that’s hardly the worst thing for everyone involved.

Nikki Cross apologizes to Alexa Bliss about last night. Bliss says it’s ok because she’s going to try to get a rematch against Bayley.

Post match Naomi and Natalya come in to see Cross, who doesn’t know what Bliss is all about. Bliss comes in and accuses them of talking about her behind her back. That classic women’s dialogue sets up a match between Naomi and Bliss for tonight.

Heath Slater vs. Mojo Rawley

And then Slater walks into the Little Jimmy to give Truth the title back.

And then Cedric Alexander hits a Lumbar Check on Truth to win the title.

And then EC3 hits the 1%er on the floor to win the title.

And then Carmella comes out to distract EC3 so Truth can roll him up and win the title for the ninth time.

We look back at Ricochet winning the US Title last night.

Ricochet talks about working hard to win the title but tonight he’s facing someone he’s looked up to for his entire career in AJ Styles.

Here’s Kofi Kingston for a chat but Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens cut him off for a quick interview. Why is he here, who does he think he is and why won’t he leave? Sami wants to know why Kofi’s entire identity as WWE Champion is having New Day save him. The New Day that Sami and Kevin DESTROYED last night. Kofi talks about New Day being a brotherhood that nobody can break and brings up beating Owens at Money in the Bank. Sami gets invited to the ring to take another Trouble in Paradise right now.

Kofi Kingston vs. Sami Zayn

Non-title and this was announced earlier in the show. Kofi takes him down for an early splash before grabbing a headlock. The top rope forearm to the head sets up the Boom Drop but Trouble in Paradise misses. Sami kicks him in the ribs to take over and Owens gets in a few shots of his own.

Back in and Kofi fights back with some right hands but charges into the exploder into the corner. The Michinoku Driver gets two but Kofi is right back with his jumping double stomp. Sami makes another comeback and tries the Blue Thunder Bomb, which is reversed into a rollup to give Kofi the pin at 8:12.

Rating: C-. Not much time to do anything here, but the other problem is Sami and Kevin being knocked down yet another peg. I’m not sure how many more times WWE thinks they can lose to Kofi but I’m sure we’re going to find out. It’s like that’s their only job on TV anymore and it’s not really helping anyone.

Post match Owens says he wants a shot and Kofi comes back to the ring.

Kofi Kingston vs. Kevin Owens

Non-title again. Sami’s early distraction lets Owens go up for the Swanton, which hits raised knees. A superkick gives Owens two and they head outside with Owens trying the apron powerbomb. Kofi reverses and hits an SOS (with a NASTY landing on the ramp) for the rather fast countout at 1:34.

Post match Kofi sends Sami to the floor and hits the big dive onto both of them. Kofi poses but Samoa Joe jumps Kofi from behind. A Rock Bottom plants Kofi on the stage and Joe glares down at Kofi. Joe leaves but runs back out to put Kofi in the Koquina Clutch. BUT WE HAD TO SIT THROUGH DOLPH ZIGGLER TWICE???

For Extreme Rules: Undertaker/Reigns vs. McMahon/McIntyre.

Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss

Cross is here with Bliss. Naomi starts with the splits and a little gyrating on the mat, only to be pulled down by the hair. Back up and Naomi gets her own takedown, setting up the splits splash. Naomi baseball slides Nikki by mistake, with the distraction being enough for Bliss to hit the DDT for the pin at 1:15.

Post match Bliss beats Naomi down and has Nikki help her but Natalya runs in for the save.

Natalya/Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross

Natalya drives Bliss into the corner to start and it’s off to Naomi for a full nelson. It’s already back to Natalya but a distraction lets Bliss take her down into a chinlock. That doesn’t last long as Natalya pops up with some suplexes to put Bliss down. The Sharpshooter doesn’t work and it’s off to Cross for the faster pace. A running bulldog gets two on Natalya and the fisherman’s neckbreaker connects, but Bliss steals the pin at 5:39.

Rating: D. Nothing match here as Bliss vs. Cross continues, albeit without being the most interesting prospect in the world. At some point Cross is going to have to snap into her old self if they want her to matter, because what they’re doing here isn’t working. However, I have a bad feeling that it’s what they want her to be.

Ricochet vs. AJ Styles

Non-title. Ricochet tries his flipping counter to a wristlock but AJ just drops down into a headlock for a smart counter. They get up to their feet but here are the Good Brothers to stand at ringside. Anderson offers a distraction but AJ goes to the floor and throws them out so they can’t ruin the match. That’s fine, as the match will be restarted after the break.

Back with Ricochet flipping into an anklescissors to stagger AJ and a dropkick gets two. Ricochet starts in on the arm and rolls AJ up for two more but Styles is right back with the Pele. Another dropkick sends Styles outside though and that means the big running flip dive to take him down again. Styles is fine enough to suplex him into the corner for two and it’s off tot he reverse chinlock.

Ricochet fights up so Styles hits a spinning backfist, which is answered with an enziguri. A springboard clothesline into a standing shooting star press gets two on AJ. The moonsault into the reverse DDT gets two on Ricochet, followed by the Phenomenal Blitz for the same. Ricochet knocks him down again and hits a moonsault for two but the 630 misses. AJ’s forearm sets up the Phenomenal Forearm for the pin at 10:54.

Rating: B-. You know, I blame myself for this one. I was dumb enough to believe that they might actually give Ricochet a solid push without throwing in these stumbling blocks like so many other wrestlers have to face. This isn’t the death knell and I’m not mourning the end of Ricochet’s push but he really had to lose a day after the title win? Hopefully he gets to beat AJ at Extreme Rules, but the clean pin is the only way to get there?

AJ helps Ricochet up to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. Man there was a lot on this show. A lot of the wrestling wasn’t very good, but the energy was back and the show had some surprises in there to keep things going. That’s WAY better than what we had been getting and I think WWE knew they had to pick up the pace after the last few months. Extreme Rules is already looking better than I was expecting, but we have a long time to go for them to grind me down into nothing. Still not a good show here, but they’re getting a few steps away from those nightmare shows in May and early June.

Results

Usos/New Day b. Daniel Bryan/Rowan/Revival – Superfly Splash to Dawson

R-Truth b. Drake Maverick – Little Jimmy

Shane McMahon/Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns went to a no contest when Undertaker interfered

Viking Raiders b. Good Brothers – Viking Experience to Anderson

Kofi Kingston b. Sami Zayn – Rollup

Kofi Kingston b. Kevin Owens via countout

Alexa Bliss b. Naomi – DDT

Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross b. Naomi/Natalya – Fisherman’s neckbreaker to Naomi

AJ Styles b. Ricochet – Phenomenal Forearm

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

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

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

Main Event – June 20, 2019: The Unnecessary Show

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: June 20, 2019
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Renee Young, Byron Saxton

This should be an interesting one as Monday Night Raw was a lot better this week, meaning there is a new level of stuff for Main Event to screw up. You never know what they might be able to pull off around here, but the Smackdown highlights aren’t exactly looking promising. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Sarah Logan vs. Dana Brooke

Logan shoves her into the corner so Dana talks a bit. A small package gives Dana two and a cartwheel splash gets the same. Dana hits a running shoulder but gets sent into the ropes. That means a trip to the apron where Logan hits a running knee to drive Brooke’s face into the post. Brooke is busted BAD and the match is called off at 2:59. Just a freak accident and not something to be blamed on either of them.

From Raw.

Here’s Roman Reigns, who isn’t happy with having to see a video of his loss to Shane McMahon at Super ShowDown. He wants to beat someone up tonight so Shane can come out here and fight. Shane pops up on screen to say no because Reigns needs to worry about McIntyre on Sunday. Drew promises to beat Roman up on Sunday until it becomes very uncomfortable. Maybe he’ll pin Reigns then, but it won’t be over until Reigns is physically disfigured.

He wants Reigns’ children to scream at the sight of him and that’s enough for Reigns to come through the crowd and head after him. Reigns beats up the Revival and puts Drew through the table before chasing Shane into the arena. A diving clothesline over the barricade drops Shane and it’s the Superman Punch into the spear. Reigns tells him to tell Drew he’s getting beaten up on Sunday. Somehow, this is still all about Shane.

From Raw again.

Here’s Becky Lynch for a chat. She gets straight to the point and calls out Lacey Evans, who comes out without much trouble. Evans talks about how jealous Becky is of her and how many things she’s done that Becky can never dream of. She’s a former United States Marine who can run boot camp in the morning and a cotillion at night. Lynch just wants to fight while Evans talks about how the women’s division needs a real woman as champion. Becky is beatable, but Lacey spends too much time getting in the ring and gets caught in the Bexploder. Becky steals her hat. More of the same from these two, though that’s not terrible.

From Raw. Again.

Here are Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross for a Moment of Bliss. Hang on though as Bliss doesn’t have her coffee. Cue Bayley with the coffee, though she drinks it instead. Bliss starts talking about Bayley being horrible so Bayley wants to hear it from her face to face. Bliss gets up and the size difference is hilarious, even though Bayley isn’t that tall.

After Bliss calls Bayley out for being two faced, Bayley talks about Bliss always being the one who tries to start drama because she’s an entitled little princess. Bliss: “I’m not entitled. I’m just better than you.” Bayley says she has proven herself but Bliss says Bayley peaked in NXT. The fight is on but Nikki offers a distraction so Bliss can deck Bayley.

It’s time for the Firefly Fun House. Bray is watering his plants, which he says is just like our minds. If you water them and give them care, they can grow. Some ideas are just full of worms though and that’s not good. Some kids have been told bad ideas, like the earth being round or dinosaurs being extinct. Bray knows what it feels like to not belong or to be different.

That’s why he built this place for us, so they can all be together. We see all the puppets looking at him as Bray gets more sinister and tells everyone to join him here. People worship what they fear and fear is power. Follow the leader. The video starts breaking up and we see various clips from the series’ history, including the Muscle Man Dance, all with the words LET HIM IN flashing on the screen and voices singing “Follow the Leader” as the Fiend appears. Let him in. So is this all in Bray’s mind or some way for him to deal with his psychosis?

Cedric Alexander vs. Robert Roode

Remember when Roode was supposed to be something? Roode goes for the arm to start so Cedric elbows him in the face. An anklescissors into a dropkick has Roode in trouble and a basement dropkick gets two. The armbar goes on and it’s time to mock Roode’s pose. A rather hard clothesline puts Alexander down and we take a break.

Back with Alexander fighting out of a chinlock and the Neuralizer gets two. The Lumbar Check is countered into a failed Glorious DDT attempt so Roode hits the spinebuster for two more. Cedric goes up top and gets broken up, setting up the Glorious DDT to give Roode the pin at 9:16.

Rating: C. Not a bad little match here, though it’s not like it matters all that much because neither of them are going to be able to get to the main show in any significant role. That’s so much of the problem with WWE these days and I don’t see it getting any better anytime soon. Hence the people not watching you see.

Stomping Grounds rundown.

We look at Seth Rollins attacking potential referees with his chair.

From Smackdown.

Seth Rollins/Kofi Kingston vs. Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens

2/3 falls with less than twelve minutes to go. Seth hits Trouble in Paradise to pin Sami for the first fall in nine seconds and we take a break about 45 seconds in. Back with the bell ringing to start the second fall and Seth hitting the Sling Blade on Owens. The champs start in on Owens’ arm but he gets a DDT on Rollins. We see Paul Heyman watching in the back and according to WWE.com, he’s officially on Raw so that’s nine.

Sami grabs a chinlock but can’t hit a superplex. Instead Rollins headbutts him down but has to slug it out with Owens while still sitting on the buckle. The Blockbuster takes Owens down again and that’s enough for the tag off to Kofi. The pace quickens and the Boom Drop hits Sami.

There’s the spinning high crossbody for two more but Sami’s Blue Thunder Bomb gives him two of his own. Rollins comes back in to run Owens over but Sami breaks up the Stomp. Owens gets two off a rollup, followed by a superkick. The Pop Up Powerbomb is countered and the low superkick sets up an enziguri. Now the Stomp can finish Owens at 11:19.

Rating: D+. The match itself was fine if it’s a one fall match but for a 2/3 falls match, this felt like the cop out that it was. Oh and well done on having Kevin and Sami lose AGAIN, which sets them up for their next loss on Sunday to New Day. The booking continues to make my head hurt but that’s just what you have to expect.

Overall Rating: C-. This could have been a lot worse and that’s an improvement for this show. The biggest issue for Main Event is that the highlights are usually rather boring but they kept this one moving well enough to make it work. Until Raw and Smackdown get better, this show doesn’t need to exist and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

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

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

Smackdown – June 18, 2019: WHAT WAS THAT???

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: June 18, 2019
Location: Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves

It’s the go home show for Stomping Grounds and that means we’re needing some final pushes towards the show. That means Dolph Ziggler, who faces New Day member Xavier Woods tonight. Other than that, it’s likely going to be some hard sells before Sunday, which could go multiple ways. Let’s get to it.

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

Here’s New Day to get things going. Dolph Ziggler is getting his title shot against Kofi Kingston in a steel cage, but first he has to get through Xavier Woods. Big E. has an idea about redubbing the second hour of the show the Freaky Hour, which involves a slip n slide, Woods and….here’s Ziggler to interrupt. Ziggler calls this traditional New Day, because Kofi is hiding behind New Day again.

That won’t happen on Sunday when he has to face Ziggler one on one inside the cage. The next time he goes back to Ghana, he’ll have to tell everyone that he failed. Kofi talks about how this has been a long journey and promises to make it continue after Stomping Grounds. That’s Sunday though, because tonight, Woods is going to take care of Ziggler first. Ziggler laughs it off and promises to end the positivity at Stomping Grounds because it should have been him.

Good grief never let Ziggler show up on TV again. I was a fan for a little while years ago but sweet goodness I’m sick of hearing his stupid IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME promo. It should have been about a dozen other people other than Ziggler but he was over like six years ago so we need to see him again here.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Xavier Woods

Ziggler takes him to the mat for an early near fall to start but a drop toehold puts Ziggler in 619 position. The dropkick to the back makes it worse but Ziggler dropkicks the knee. Woods fights out of a chinlock and goes up top, only to have Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn run down and take out Big E. and Kofi. That’s a double ejection but Woods dives onto Owens and Zayn before they can go. Back in and Ziggler’s jumping DDT gets two as we take a break.

We come back with Woods making a comeback, including knocking Ziggler to the floor for a baseball slide. A gorilla press gutbuster gets two on Ziggler in a rare Woods power display. Ziggler is back up and sends Woods to the apron with a superkick knocking him to the floor. The Zig Zag connects back inside and Ziggler bends Woods’ arm around the rope instead of covering. A superkick against the ropes finishes Woods at 11:33.

Rating: C. Not a bad match, though Ziggler has now gone lower than a bad infection on my scale of usefulness. It’s the same promo, same match, same intensity that will go away as soon as the big match begins and the same reaction of I wouldn’t mind if I never saw him again. Woods has gotten better in the ring, though he’s still the weakest member of the team in that area.

We look back at Seth Rollins’ path of chair shots last night on Raw. You have two hours a week and you’re spending time recapping a Baron Corbin storyline. This is why no one likes you these days.

Baron Corbin is here to pick his referee and Shelton Benjamin and the B Team are waiting to audition. Matt Hardy leaves the office and tells Shelton that he’s next.

Apollo Crews comes up to Zelina Vega to ask about Andrade. Vega accused him of flirting with her and here’s Andrade to jump him from behind. Chad Gable continues to watch and take notes.

Heavy Machinery vs. B-Team

Heavy Machinery get their title shot against Daniel Bryan/Rowan, on commentary here, on Sunday. We get the ode to the Bushwhackers on the way to the ring, with Bryan ripping on them for being in the Hall of Fame. Bryan: “Koko B. Ware is in the Hall of Fame. Should we aspire to be Koko B. Ware?” The big guys waste no time in throwing the B-Team around, including a splash in the corner to Dallas. That sets up the Caterpillar and the Compactor to finish Dallas at 3:10.

Rating: D. The match was nothing of course but it was exactly what the match should have been. You have champions already set up and now the new team is beating a bunch of teams to get set up for their title shot. That’s close to how it worked back in the day and this is as close as you can get in today’s goofy booking.

Post match here’s Seth Rollins to chair the B-Team. It’s 8:50 and we’re at four Wild Card appearances, not counting Corbin.

Shane McMahon arrives and is greeted by Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. They complain about Kofi, so Shane makes the two of them against Seth and Kofi for later tonight.

Aleister Black was told he would never amount to anything and would always fall from grace. This isn’t a woe is me story because it’s a woe is his opponents story. Someone will come knocking at his door and it will be woe for them. How hard can it be to find someone for him to beat up every week?

Here are Shane McMahon, Elias and Drew McIntyre (five and we’re halfway through the show) for a chat. Shane doesn’t have Greg Hamilton do the introduction because everyone knows he’s the best in the world. On Sunday, Drew is going to wreck Roman Reigns….and here’s Miz to interrupt as we hit half a dozen.

Miz shows us a clip of Reigns destroying everyone last night and Shane asks if that’s supposed to be funny. No it isn’t, so we see a clip of Shane running from Reigns in slow motion. We get the Superman Punch and spear in slow motion as well, with Miz saying he didn’t know it was possible to sweat faster in slow motion. Shane bans anyone else from playing any more clips. Miz: “Oh calm down kid. You’re the boss’ son.”

Miz promises to take care of Drew after Sunday so Shane calls Miz’s dad out for looking like a baked potato. That sends Miz into a rant about Shane and his friends taking over everything and how sick it has everyone. It’s all Miz’s fault for letting Shane take over at World Cup (Why can no one remember the name of that show?) when he let Shane take his place.

Shane says Miz won because he was better so let’s have a tag match tonight. It’s Miz/a partner of his choosing against Elias/Drew McIntyre, though Miz has ten seconds to find a partner. As the countdown goes on, R-Truth jumps the barricade and Miz makes him the partner. Shane: “I didn’t see that one coming.”

The AOP are in the back (eight) and run into the IIconics for the best buddy comedy that I never need to see. With the AOP gone (SO glad they were brought in for this), the IIconics run into Paige and the Kabuki Warriors. Paige has gotten a match booked for next week in Tokyo and if the Warriors win, they get a title shot at some point.

R-Truth/The Miz vs. Elias/Drew McIntyre

Elimination Rules just because. Elias shoulders Miz to start but gets taken down by the arm. It’s off to Truth for the dancing legdrop and some hip thrusting, meaning McIntyre comes in. Truth gets pummeled down in the corner and Elias adds some choking. A very snappy suplex gives Drew two but Truth low bridges Elias to the floor. Shane offers a distraction so Elias can hit a running knee in the corner for the pin.

With Truth down, here’s the mob to grab the title. The referee says that doesn’t count so Truth grabs the title back and runs through the crowd. Back from a break with Miz kicking Elias out of the air and getting two off the DDT. The YES Kicks make it worse but McIntyre hits the Glasgow Kiss from the floor. The Claymore finishes Miz at 10:10.

Rating: D+. I’m still trying to get my head around the idea of having a title chase going on during a match. You would think Elias would have shouted to the referee to count a second pin but why do that when he clearly doesn’t care about the title? Oh and we’re coming up on double digit appearances from Raw names tonight but there’s no Reigns. Someone want to explain that to me?

Post match Drew hits two more Claymores.

Stomping Grounds rundown.

Ember Moon is looking for Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. Carmella runs by looking for Truth. They go in different directions and Ember finds who she’s looking for. Mandy and Sonya are eating donuts and Ember rants about how she’s dealt with people like them her entire life. The donuts are knocked away and the fight is on with referees breaking it up.

Kofi/Seth vs. Owens/Zayn is now 2/3 falls match as they continue to throw gimmicks out there for no apparent reason in a very Bro style of booking.

Here’s this week’s Firefly Fun House.

Truth and Carmella run but there’s a referee waiting by the car. Truth: “You’re an Uber driver and a referee?” Actually hang on as Carmella is really Drake Maverick in disguise. A rollup with his feet in the car gives Maverick the pin. Maverick steals the car because he’s getting married and he’s the champion. Truth wants to know why he wasn’t invited to Carmella’s wedding.

Seth Rollins/Kofi Kingston vs. Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens

Overall Rating: D. What was that? I mean what in the world was that??? The Wild Card Rule stuff aside, you have the 24/7 Title still being all over the place, gimmicks being thrown together for the sake of throwing them together, the first thirty minutes being devoted to DOLPH ZIGGLER and more Shane goodness. The show was far from dull, but it felt like they were writing it on napkins during the two hours. You might have some fun watching it due to all the zaniness, but good luck trying to make sense of a lot of it.

Results

Dolph Ziggler b. Xavier Woods – Superkick

Heavy Machinery b. B-Team – Compactor to Dallas

Drew McIntyre/Elias b. R-Truth/The Miz – Claymore to Miz

Kofi Kingston/Seth Rollins b. Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn – Stomp to Owens

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

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

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

Main Event – June 13, 2019: What Could Have Been

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: June 13, 2019
Location: SAP Center, San Jose, California
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Renee Young

I don’t know anymore man. Not that I don’t know what was on the shows this week or what to expect from Main Event, but that I don’t know how much worse things can get as we keep going forward. Raw and Smackdown are pure disasters at this point and somehow the shows are getting worse every week. Let’s see how they spin that this time around. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Titus O’Neil/No Way Jose vs. Viking Raiders

Do you remember when the Vikings squashed the then Tag Team Champions on Raw and haven’t showed up on Raw since? Neither does WWE. Jose tried to dance with Erik to start and gets dropped with a single shot to the face. Ivar comes in and gets his own shows on Jose, followed by the slam from Ivar to send Erik onto Jose. The chinlock goes on for a bit until Jose comes back with a neckbreaker. That’s enough for the tag off to Titus so house can be cleaned. Jose tags himself back in though and it’s the high crossbody for two on Erik. Not that it matters as the Viking Experience finishes Jose at 4:03.

Rating: D. Just a squash here but I’m still trying to figure out how in the world we got here. WWE brings up the Viking Raiders two months ago the night after Wrestlemania after a run in NXT that was so dominant that no one could take the Tag Team Titles from them. Now they’re here on Main Event, beating up No Way Jose and Titus O’Neil while the Revival, the new Tag Team Champions, are there as lackeys for SHANE MCMAHON, because of course it’s about Shane.

We look back at Shane McMahon defeating Roman Reigns at Super ShowDown.

From Raw.

And now, Shane McMahon’s victory celebration. Drew McIntyre is with him and we have live bagpipe players to play him to the ring. Shane talks about growing up in WWE and recognizing special things. That would apply to Roman Reigns, who is a first ballot WWE Hall of Famer. Reigns hits like a mule and has beaten the best WWE has to offer. However, Reigns does not have a victory over Shane because Shane beat him at Super ShowDown. Shane thanks Drew for his preparation but gets cut off by a BORING chant. Shane: “Get used to it. It’s my celebration and I’ve got all night.”

Drew calls Shane the Best in the World but he’s the most dangerous man in the world. At Stomping Grounds, he’s going to give Reigns the beating he deserves and beat him 1-2-3. Shane: “You’re so intense dude.” Shane drinks out of the Best in the World cup before bringing out the Revival. They can’t drink though because they have a Tag Team Title match up next. They can join the party, provided they win some gold. Uh, the titles are silver Shane.

We look at Seth Rollins defeating Baron Corbin and then fending off a Brock Lesnar cash in attempt at Super ShowDown.

From Raw.

Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens

Non-title with Sami Zayn as outside referee. Sami checks Rollins, with the taped up ribs, for weapons and does a much faster check of Owens. They start slowly with Owens working on a wristlock and then an armbar. That’s broken up with some spinning and flipping but Sami offers a distraction so a rollup gets a delayed two. Rollins goes to yell at Sami, allowing Owens to send him outside.

A DDT on the floor drops Rollins and we take a break. Back with Rollins jawbreaking his way to freedom from a chinlock. Owens finally wakes up and goes after the taped up ribs with a backbreaker. A dropkick and forearm to the back but the Sling Blade gets Rollins out of trouble. The ribs go out on a suplex attempt but Owens’ Swanton hits knees.

An exchange of superkicks lets Rollins hit an enziguri but Sami comes in to check on Sami before the frog splash can loss. Rollins low bridges Owens to the floor and hits a suicide dive to take out both villains. The Stomp connects but Sami pulls the referee out at two. Sami takes his place so Seth grabs him by the shirt, earning a DQ at 12:01.

Rating: C. Just announce that Seth can lose the title via DQ at Stomping Grounds and get on with it. This was a preview for the title match that no one wants to see (again) and that’s the perfect way to cap off a boring show like this one. Owens could have been just about anyone here, though at least they did some stuff with the ribs instead of looking like morons.

Post match Corbin comes in and grabs a chair but Rollins takes it away and chases him off. Sami gets chaired down with Rollins exploding as Cole talks about everything he’s been through over the last few weeks. What has he been through? Beating up Lesnar, retaining the title, and then a match here? Rollins hits the Stomp on Sami to end the show with no announcement being made on the guest referee.

Natalya vs. Sarah Logan

They go with the grappling to start with Logan’s headlock not getting her anywhere. Natalya’s works a bit better until she lets it go and yells at Logan instead. It’s off to a leglock on the mat to keep Logan down but that’s reversed into a quickly broken choke. The Sharpshooter attempt is broken up and Logan sends her throat first into the middle rope as we take a break.

Back with Natalya being sent face first into the mat for two, followed by a dropkick for the same. The standing Texas Cloverleaf is broken up and Natalya comes back with the discus clothesline. Back up and another shoulder takes Logan down but the Sharpshooter is broken up. Logan misses a missile dropkick and now it’s the Sharpshooter to make her tap at 11:21.

Rating: D+. Just a match here as the show has to have some kind of main event. Natalya continues to be as solid of a worker as you can get in any division and that’s a great reason to keep her around. She’s going to do something with anyone she’s in there against and can get at least something out of everyone. Logan did her part well enough, but there was nothing here that we haven’t seen a million times.

Stomping Grounds rundown.

From Smackdown to close us out.

New Day vs. Dolph Ziggler/Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn

Woods and Ziggler start things off with Ziggler taking him to the mat and handing it off to Sami for an armbar. Sami gets taken into the corner for the Unicorn Stampede but Kofi gets sent outside so Ziggler can get in a cheap shot. Owens adds a backsplash on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Kofi fighting out of Ziggler’s Crossface and dropkicking Sami down so Woods can come in off the hot tag. A discus forearm has Sami in trouble and a dropkick through the ropes hit Sami and Ziggler. Back in and Ziggler takes Xavier down into a chinlock with a bodyscissors, followed by Sami getting in a chinlock of his own. Owens comes in and gets DDT’d, allowing the real hot tag off to Big E. That means a bunch of suplexes but the Midnight Hour is broken up. Ziggler superkicks Sami by mistake, setting up Trouble in Paradise to Ziggler and another to finish Sami at 13:31.

Rating: C-. Well that happened. This was “hey Big E. is back” and nothing more as he just got to do the big house cleaning spot at the end and that’s about it. I don’t know how this makes me want to see Ziggler vs. Kingston any more, but there is a good chance that Sami/Owens vs. Big E./Woods will be added to Stomping Grounds, which needs some more matches to round out the card.

Overall Rating: D. All this show did was showcase how much talent WWE has but never uses. Look at some of the names on this show (as in the Vikings) who haven’t been on television in weeks. Are they really that much worse than other teams? It’s a similar story with Logan. She might not be the best in the world, but she’s capable of having a passable match with a lot of opponents. Why not throw her on either show for the sake of giving someone a fresh opponent? Oh well. Just go with more Shane and Charlotte instead.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

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

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

Smackdown – June 11, 2019: In Need Of A Summer Vacation

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: June 11, 2019
Location: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton

We’re back stateside and already rushing towards Stomping Grounds, where Dolph Ziggler will be getting another World Title shot at Kofi Kingston because when you think excitement, you think Dolph Ziggler. Other than that, we have the return of the full New Day lineup, which definitely didn’t warrant a bigger amount of hype. Let’s get to it.

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

Here’s Miz to host MizTV, but he’s doing it against his will this time. See, he’s been given a script (oh give me a break) to read and that means introducing the “Pest In The World”, Shane McMahon. Shane has Elias and Drew Galloway with him, but first we need a highlight reel of Shane vs. Roman Reigns from Super ShowDown. After Shane has Greg Hamilton do the intro again, Shane introduces Elias as the musical guest and has him play a little bit.

The fans tell Shane that he sucks, which he says must be about Miz. We hear about Miz beating Shane around the stadium at Wrestlemania but then losing in the end, along with losing the rematch because Shane is that awesome. Shane shows a clip of Reigns’ post match interview at Super ShowDown where he says he’ll move on to McIntyre, who he knows very well. McIntyre says he’s a weapon that no one else has and it’s called the Claymore.

At Stomping Grounds, he’s going to kick Reigns’ head off. Miz says McIntyre is a star but unfortunately he’s Shane’s lackey. Just look at what Shane did to Miz and then think about what Shane could do to McIntyre. Shane laughs it off and says he’s 3-0 against Miz and Reigns. Miz says Shane won the lottery and the only reason he’s anything is because of his family. On the other hand, Miz was born into a genetic cesspool along with a man who looks like a baked potato. Shane is ready to fight right now but Drew takes his jacket off. Miz can face Shane….if he beats Elias and then McIntyre first. Let’s start that off right now.

So not only was this a big recap of Super ShowDown, Raw, and Miz vs. Shane, but also it took the first eighth of the show to set up the big match of the night, which will somehow likely involved Shane. Yes, you really are expected to want to watch this and stick around for the show. Oh and no, they don’t get the irony of their HILARIOUS commentary of having Miz use a script.

Miz vs. Elias

Joined in progress with Miz in trouble and Elias hitting an Old School Meteora. Miz comes back with the kicks in the corner but Elias knees him in the face for two. Drift Away is broken up so Elias goes with a sitout powerbomb for two more instead. Elias misses a top rope elbow though and the Skull Crushing Finale gives Miz the pin at 2:33.

Miz vs. Drew McIntyre

Joined in progress again with Miz in trouble again but Miz sends him shoulder first into the post to get a breather. Back in and McIntyre gets caught with a DDT but Shane offers a distraction. That means the Glasgow Kiss into the Claymore to give Drew the pin at 2:08.

And hang on though as Shane says he’ll fight Miz anyway.

The Miz vs. Shane McMahon

Shane hammers away but Miz comes back with the left hands, only to have the Finale broken up. The triangle goes on and Miz taps at 44 seconds. So yes, we’re supposed to buy that Miz, who fought less than ten minutes total, can be beaten by Shane in less than a minute. Oh and make sure to cheer for Miz when he’s going after the US Title on Monday.

Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville come up to Ember Moon in the back and hand her some more copies of Muscle and Fitness. Ember isn’t happy about what they did to Carmella last week so they slap her tablet out of her hands. The two of them leave and Ember yells and throws a trashcan.

Tag Team Titles: Daniel Bryan/Rowan vs. AJ Kirsh/Dave Dutra

This is actually a unification match as Kirsh (a Tough Enough alumni who has been on Steve Austin’s podcast several times and is the host of Hood Slam’s events) and Dutra are the Yolo County Tag Team Champions, complete with homemade cardboard belts. Hang on though as here’s Heavy Machinery to say that their challenge has been turned down because Bryan and Rowan are elitist snobs. Bryan says no because Heavy Machinery hasn’t proven themselves, though they can right now by taking their place.

Heavy Machinery vs. AJ Kirsh/Dave Dutra

Non-title and it’s an early knockdown to Dutra, setting up the Caterpillar. The Compactor gives Heavy Machinery the pin at 1:03.

Carmella and R-Truth are here with Truth explaining everything he’s been through, including regaining the 24/7 Title at 47,000 feet (Celsius). Someone comes by so Truth hides in an anvil case. Carmella can’t get him out though and has to go have her match. She leaves as Jinder Mahal shows up and hears Truth shouting. He impersonates Carmella and promises to be right back with a crowbar.

Sonya Deville vs. Carmella

Mandy is here with Sonya. Carmella runs her over to start but gets sent to the apron for some knees to the ribs. We hit the bodyscissors on Carmella, followed by a running knee to the chest for two. Carmella comes back with the Code of Silence but Mandy puts the foot on the ropes. The chase is on and Sonya grabs a rollup for two, only to be sent outside. A suicide dive takes both villains down and there’s a superkick to Mandy. Back in and Sonya knees Carmella in the face for the pin at 3:51.

Rating: D. Fire and Desire are better than some tag teams (though they can’t come near the Tag Team Titles because that’s not in their scripts and therefore they don’t think about them) and this kind of thing is fine for them. You can pencil in the two of them facing Ember/Carmella next week in a similar match, though at least there’s something of a story there.

Alexa Bliss is in the back when Nikki Cross comes in. Bliss tells Nikki that people on social media aren’t happy with her, especially Bayley. It’s so bad that Bliss has already blocked Bayley so Nikki can’t even see any of it. Don’t worry though, because Nikki can get revenge on Bayley when she faces her tonight. Just make sure to think of Bayley during the match and don’t hold back. Nikki gets it.

Here’s New Day for a chat, but first we need to take a break, just in case the fans have too much energy with one of the most popular acts in the company you see. Kofi and Xavier are glad Big E. is back. Big E. talks about how if he had a title reign for every time he tried to come back, he’d be Charlotte Flair. Kofi: “That’s a booking joke!” Xavier: “Let’s get down to business!” (sung to the tune of I’ll Make A Man Out Of You from Mulan).

Woods needs to get their match over fast tonight so he can get back to E3 so let’s hear about Kofi beating Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler in three straight matches. He’ll do it again at Stomping Grounds in a steel cage but here’s Ziggler to disagree. Ziggler shows a clip of Woods kicking him in the head at Super ShowDown but that won’t be the case at Stomping Grounds.

They’ll be locked in a cage and there will be no interference, where Ziggler can prove that Kofi can’t beat him alone. Kofi talks about Ziggler kicking Woods first but here are Owens and Zayn to cut them off. Sami talks about how the two of them fight for justice. See, if Sami had kicked Kofi in the face and cost him the title, the fans would have freaked out. But they’re ok with Woods interfering and costing Ziggler the match?

They’re here to right the wrongs and if they get to beat up New Day at the same time, so be it. Big E. enjoyed seeing Seth Rollins wear Sami out with a chair last night but Sami calls the fans hypocrites again. Ziggler says this title reign is a fraud but Big E. cuts him off to say this title reign is about a man walking through fire to prove he’s the best. Kofi promises to retain the title at Stomping Grounds, meaning it’s time for some hip swiveling. This was about fifteen minutes of talking to advance absolutely nothing.

Bayley has no response to Bliss’ comments, but Bliss better be watching tonight.

Aleister Black is still waiting on someone to pick a fight with him. They can fight over anything really. He asks someone to open the door and shouts that THE DOOR IS WIDE OPEN. WILL SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, PICK A FIGHT WITH HIM???

Bayley vs. Nikki Cross

Non-title and a match that totally couldn’t have taken place last night on Raw instead of the tag match where Bayley lost in her hometown. Bliss is here with Cross. Bayley wastes no time in kicking her to the floor and hits the dropkick under the corner for two back inside. Nikki catches her in the ring skirt and hammers away as we take a break. Back with Bayley tied in the Tree of Woe but slipping out to hit a Stunner over the middle rope. A running knee in the corner rocks Nikki and a forward roll into a splash gives Bayley two. The top rope elbow gives Bayley the pin at 5:35.

Rating: D+. I’ll spare you the rant about how Bayley could have done this exact same match last night and avoided a bunch of annoyances. The match was fine enough, but my goodness what have they done to Nikki? I’m hopeful that they’ll have her snap back into her old self on Bliss, but knowing WWE, they find this version more interesting. You know, by taking away everything that made her interesting.

Mahal can’t find the case because it’s been sent to Los Angeles. Carmella shows up and is distraught.

Firefly Fun House, featuring animal murder.

Apollo Crews isn’t happy with Andrade jumping him before their match last week. Zelina Vega comes in to say that Apollo shouldn’t talk about Andrade because he’ll deal with Apollo later. Chad Gable is next to Apollo and taking notes.

New Day vs. Dolph Ziggler/Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn

Overall Rating: D+. That missing hour is a big help, but my goodness did they really not have anything else to throw out here? Two stories took up half the show with Shane and company plus the main event story getting half an hour apiece. Both shows continue to feel like they’re running on fumes, though they never had the big exhausting moment to get them into that place to begin with.

A few weeks off sounds like a great idea, but there’s no time because in just over a month we’ll have done Stomping Grounds and Extreme Rules. I’m almost scared to see how much mileage they’ll try to get out of these stories, but would it really shock you to see them going through Extreme Rules and then tying into Summerslam? Another uninspired effort this week, as Shane continues to be the most dominant force in years.

Results

The Miz b. Elias – Skull Crushing Finale

Drew McIntyre b. The Miz – Claymore

Shane McMahon b. The Miz – Triangle choke

Heavy Machinery b. AJ Kirsh/Dave Dutra – Compactor to Dutra

Sonya Deville b. Carmella – Running knee

Bayley b. Nikki Cross – Top rope elbow

New Day b. Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn/Dolph Ziggler – Trouble in Paradise to Zayn

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

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

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

Monday Night Raw – June 10, 2019: The Other Side Of The Problem

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: June 10, 2019
Location: SAP Center, San Jose, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young

They really have to go to California three days after an international trip? Anyway, it’s time to start the short road to Stomping Grounds as we’re finally past Super ShowDown. What’s up next? Well that would be a bunch of Super ShowDown rematches as WWE probably thinks you didn’t watch the show and NEED to see their brilliant ideas at work. It’s turned into a bit of a game to see how bad Raw can get these days so maybe we can hit a new low score. Let’s get to it.

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

Here’s Seth Rollins, carrying a chair, to get things going, but first we need to look at him retaining the Universal Title over Baron Corbin and thwarting Brock Lesnar’s cash-in attempt at Super ShowDown. Rollins talks about it being a new era for the Universal Title (even though we’re in the exact same place we were two weeks ago) because everyone is trying to take the title from him.

They can do it by wrestling him but no one can lace his boots, or they can try it by cashing in a contract, which earns them a beating. No one can do what he did to Lesnar but here’s Corbin to interrupt. The fans boo him quite a bit as Corbin says he’ll worry about Lesnar after he wins the title at Stomping Grounds. Corbin blames the referee for costing him the match at Super ShowDown and says that won’t be a problem at Stomping Grounds. See, he’s quite the negotiator and therefore he’s going to get to pick the guest referee for the rematch.

Rollins laughs it off because no one likes Corbin but here’s Sami Zayn to interrupt. Sami thinks it would be better for everyone, including Rollins, if Corbin was champion. If that was the case, we would have a champion who isn’t completely obsessed with Brock Lesnar. Rollins doesn’t buy this and thinks there is something in it for Sami.

It turns out that Sami might have been promised a future title shot so Rollins wants to come fight now. This brings out Kevin Owens, who thinks he might come to the ring and fight Rollins instead. The match is made for the main event. While it seems pretty clear, Sami was never officially announced as the referee. You know what might help Raw a lot? Not opening the show with a fifteen minute promo to set up tonight’s main event.

Lars Sullivan vs. Lucha House Party

Elimination rules. Sullivan runs Dorado and Metalik over during the entrances so Kalisto tries some dropkicks, only to get caught in the Freak Accident for the elimination at 25 seconds. Dorado comes in but his springboard hurricanrana is countered into a running powerbomb for the elimination at 58 seconds.

That leaves Metalik, whose handspring is countered into a toss slam. Sullivan pulls him up at two and goes outside to gorilla press Kalisto onto the steps. Back inside and the Freak Accident plants Metalik….for two as Sullivan picks him up again. Instead he tossed Dorado head first into the post, followed by the Swan Dive to finish Metalik at 3:06.

Rating: D+. While exactly what it should have been, this makes Friday even more frustrating. It shows they know what they’re supposed to do but instead they went with the stupid decision at Super ShowDown. This was an improvement, but it made me more annoyed at Super ShowDown, which I didn’t think possible.

R-Truth and Carmella get caught by the mob but they go into an elevator without the referee. The camera inside the elevator shows it stopping between floors. More on this later it seems.

Becky Lynch is getting ready for an interview. Of note: Rollins is with her and Cole acknowledges their relationship.

We get a sitdown, split screen interview with Becky Lynch and Lacey Evans. Lacey wants to go first because ladies go first, but Becky talks about making Lacey tap at Money in the bank. Sure Lacey should beat her because Lacey is bigger and stronger, but Becky isn’t letting someone like her be champion.

Lacey says Becky doesn’t know anything about her and she won’t stop until she has everything she wants. She hears fear in Becky’s voice and it’s the fear of fading back down into obscurity. The stench of fear is nasty and she’ll be Becky No Belts at Stomping Grounds. Becky says she’ll be taking a slap upside the head and another loss. They kept this short and that’s the best thing for everyone involved.

Nikki Cross asks Alexa Bliss about what happened last week but tonight Bliss is in a champions vs. challengers match tonight. Bliss accuses Bayley of being two faced and says you can only try to convince people you’re something you’re not for so long. She’s totally Cross’ friend though.

It’s time for MizTV, because having a short match in between these segments is just out of the question. This week’s guest is Samoa Joe, who does not like being called the NEW United States Champion. Rey Mysterio stole his title and then Joe had the chance to win it back. Miz calls him out on being handed the title back and jumping Mysterio last week. Joe: “Yeah, so?”

On top of that, Joe brought in Rey’s son Dominic, which Miz finds uncool. You don’t do that to a man’s family so Joe is ready to fight. This brings out Braun Strowman who wants a fight with Joe. It also brings out Bobby Lashley, who isn’t done with Strowman. He wants a title shot, but here’s Ricochet to add his name to the list as well. Before he can get that out though, Cesaro interrupts and punches Ricochet in the face. The brawl is on and the good guys clean house to set up the six man tag.

Samoa Joe/Bobby Lashley/Cesaro vs. The Miz/Ricochet/Braun Strowman

I mean, duh? Strowman starts fast with a leapfrog over Lashley and a clothesline, followed by a tag to Miz for the running corner clothesline. It’s off to Cesaro but Ricochet comes in for the running flip dive to the floor. The standoff takes us to a break and we come back with Ricochet in trouble. Cesaro’s uppercut sends him outside but an enziguri drops Lashley.

That’s enough for the hot tag to Miz, who hits running knees and clotheslines in the corner. Joe gets kicked off the apron and a DDT plants Cesaro, setting up the YES Kicks to Lashley and Cesaro. Lashley gets up and plants Miz though, allowing the tag off to Joe. Strowman is knocked off the apron so he pulls Lashley to the floor, leaving Miz to take the Swing from Cesaro.

Miz is fine enough to kick Cesaro away though and it’s off to Strowman for the running splashes in the corner. That’s enough for Joe, who grabs the title and runs off. That leaves Lashley on the floor, with Miz backdropping Ricochet over the post to take him down. The Skull Crushing Finale hits Cesaro and the 630 gives Ricochet the pin at 13:40. The 630 hit Cesaro in the knee and he falls outside holding said knee.

Rating: C. I saw something on Twitter that was incredibly accurate: we’re supposed to believe that these six men all want the US Title and that Baron Corbin is a better choice for a main eventer than any of them. That’s very accurate, and yet these people are probably going to be stuck facing each other for months. It’s not the worst move in the world, but it’s not making me think much of Ricochet beating Cesaro or Strowman beating Lashley if those results got them to the same place.

Corbin confirms that he has not yet made his choice for guest referee. Sami comes up for a talk.

Becky Lynch/Bayley vs. Lacey Evans/Alexa Bliss

Bayley is the hometown girl and Nikki Cross is here with Bliss. Bayley and Bliss start things off with Bayley driving her into the corner for some stomping. Bliss is right back with an arm twist to take her to the mat before it’s off to Lacey vs. Becky. Lacey kicks her in the ribs and hands it off to Bliss, who has to be saves from the Bexploder. Bayley’s sliding dropkick underneath the ropes barely hits Lacey as we take a break.

Back with Becky coming in off the hot tag but getting knocked down in a hurry. The slingshot Bronco Buster makes it worse but Becky sends Lacey outside for a baseball slide. A Bliss distraction lets Lacey get in a neckbreaker, setting up a backflip (from the mat) splash for two. Evans misses a springboard moonsault and that’s enough for the tag off to Bayley. The Women’s Right cuts Bayley off but Twisted Bliss hits knees. Evans knocks Bayley out again though and steals the pin at 10:49.

Rating: D+. You know, I had been thinking that this week’s show was getting better because it didn’t have the big eye rolling moment. But never fear, because WWE won’t let you down. OF COURSE the hometown girl had to lose here because it was the only option they had. They couldn’t have done a countout, a DQ, a brawl to a no contest, or done ANYTHING OTHER THAN HAVE BAYLEY GET PINNED IN HER HOMETOWN AGAIN. Have fun working in front of a dead crowd for the rest of the night people.

Sami comes in to see Shane McMahon and offers to audition as guest referee for Owens vs. Rollins tonight. Shane agrees on Sami being an outside referee, which Sami agrees was Shane’s idea.

Here’s Paul Heyman to talk about how Brock Lesnar can beat up Seth Rollins every day and cash in any day. Three days ago, Rollins needed a chair to fend off Lesnar because he’s a coward and a stupid coward at that. See now, Rollins is going to have to worry about Lesnar cashing in every week. It could be tonight, it could be next week or the week after that. Or Lesnar could be the guest referee at Stomping Grounds and take the title then. He’ll do it one day and that’s a spoiler because Lesnar is the Beast Slayer Slayer. Good for him. Now both of you go away.

The 24/7 people are STILL stuck in the elevator and Truth announces that he has a phone. Just no bars on his phone. Drake Maverick needs to get out of here because he’s getting married in a few weeks. EC3: “And you didn’t invite me???” Maverick: “You’re my best man!” Maverick is accused of being Hornswoggle but what really matters is Heath Slater getting out because he has kids.

Here are the IIconics for a match against some hand selected opponents. They’ve found San Jose’s finest but the two of them will never win the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Just like the San Jose Sharks will never win the Stanley Cup.

IIconics vs. Lisa Lace/Aaliyah Mia

Non-title. The announcers crack jokes about the jobbers, with Graves having to cut himself off after a Los Conquistadors joke. Royce knees Mia in the ribs and the knee to the head is good for the pin at 1:19. And….that’s it actually. Just a squash win.

Video on Shane McMahon beating Roman Reigns at Super ShowDown. Normally I would say I can’t believe they did that, but I completely believe this one. After the match was over, Reigns said he was upset at the loss but was moving on to Drew McIntyre at Stomping Grounds.

They’re still in the elevator.

Tag Team Titles: Zack Ryder/Curt Hawkins vs. Revival vs. Usos

Ryder and Hawkins are defending and before the match, they talk about their backs being against the wall but it’s not midnight yet. The Revival is knocked to the floor to start so the champs hit a neckbreaker for two on Jimmy. Dawson pulls Hawkins outside though and sends him into the barricade as we take a break.

Back with the Usos picking up the pace off a big dive to the floor. A high crossbody gives Jimmy two on Dawson but it’s back to Ryder to take Dawson down. Jey tags himself in as everything breaks down, allowing Jey to hit the Superfly Splash on Ryder. Dawson tags himself in as well though and steals the pin and the titles at 8:19.

Rating: C-. I like the ending, though odds are this is just going to be a way to advance Reigns vs. McMahon even more, likely with another Usos vs. Revival match at Stomping Grounds. That being said, at least the Revival are somewhat more likely to be on TV than Hawkins and Ryder, who are the most useless Tag Team Champions in at least 64 days.

Rollins is ready for Lesnar, Corbin, Owens and Zayn.

They’re still in the elevator and talk Maverick through his cold feet about the wedding. They decide they’re friends and start singing We Are Family. Then the other people outside the elevator open the door and the chase is on again. Some near falls ensue but Carmella drags R-Truth into the elevator and they get away.

Cole: “Bray Wyatt has invited R-Truth to the Firefly Fun House to stay safe.” Oh….I’m not sure about this.

It’s time for the Firefly Fun House. Bray posts a sign on the door saying Abandon All Hope Ye Who Exit Here as Mercy and Rambling Rabbit get in a fight. Bray threatens them with the Fiend and they shake in fear. Instead they’ll let fate decide. He puts his hands on his head and things get creepy, but Rambling gets to speak his mind.

It’s not cool to eat your friends but it might be time for him to expose what is really going on around here. Bray, now with a clown nose, picks him up and throws him down before CRUSHING RAMBLING WITH A MALLET. He then eats the entrails and declares them delicious. Today’s show is sponsored by Rambling Rabbit’s Delicious Rabbit Spread. I’ll be over here talking my rabbit off a cliff.

Back in the arena and a wide shot of the arena shows a lot of empty seats on the hard camera sign.

Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens

Overall Rating: D+. Actually, this was a good bit better than the previous few shows. It’s a higher quality than just about anything they’ve done in the last few weeks and that’s an improvement. Then you get to the problem: this show was really boring. We spent weeks setting up Super ShowDown and now we’re getting ready for a very similar card which isn’t interesting either. Between Shane McMahon’s never ending reign and Baron Corbin: Yes He’s Really A Main Eventer, what is interesting here?

The problem around here seems to be that we never get to the big show/match/story. Everything is always about waiting for the next one but, other than Wrestlemania, the next one never comes. Reigns beat McIntyre at Wrestlemania. So? He’s still fighting him and gets to do it again at Stomping Grounds. Rollins defeated Lesnar at Wrestlemania. Well that might be continuing for the next eleven months. Becky is fighting Lacey again. The Revival got the Tag Team Titles back tonight.

It feels like we’re either riding around in a circle and passing the same things every few weeks or driving down the road with no idea where we’re supposed to go. What is the big match on the horizon right now? Unless someone is suddenly brought up from the mid/upper midcard, Corbin and McMahon are the main event heels at the moment and while I expect Shane to get a title shot there, who does that leave for the other title? Maybe they’re just overloaded with the amount of shows they have going on at the moment, but they need to figure something out and in a hurry because these last few months have been awful.

Results

Lars Sullivan b. Lucha House Party – Swan Dive to Gran Metalik

Braun Strowman/Miz/Ricochet b. Cesaro/Bobby Lashley/Samoa Joe – 630 to Cesaro

Alexa Bliss/Lacey Evans b. Becky Lynch/Bayley – Woman’s Right to Bayley

IIconics b. Lisa Lace/Aaliyah Mia – Knee to Mia’s head

Revival b. Usos and Zack Ryder/Curt Hawkins – Dawson pinned Ryder after a Superfly Splash from Jey Uso

Kevin Owens b. Seth Rollins via DQ when Rollins attacked the referee

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

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

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

Smackdown – June 4, 2019: Happy Summer!

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: June 4, 2019
Location: Sames Auto Arena, Laredo, Texas
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton

It’s the go home show for Super ShowDown and that means it’s time to really crank up the build towards….wherever Jeddah happens to be. In this case that means Goldberg making his Smackdown debut, along with whatever the WWE Champion (and arguably the fifth, at most, biggest star in the company) is up to. Let’s get to it.

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

Here are Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods to open things up. Kofi talks about being here for so long and how many things he’s accomplished, including becoming champion, having friends and of course, pancakes. We see a video of Kofi going back to Ghana for the first time in 26 years as a national hero. He even got to meet with the President, which is a pretty cool accomplishment.

Back in the arena, Kofi talks about how amazing of a feeling it is to be able to tell the children that they can do whatever they want to do….and here’s Dolph Ziggler to interrupt. Ziggler, who sounds like he has a sore throat, talks about how inspirational Kofi is before showing us a video about….himself. The video asks about Ziggler’s story and how he has been silenced over the years.

After everything he’s done, he has gotten nothing in return. Ziggler says it should have been him because he should have been the hero of the story. Kofi talks about all the times Ziggler has beaten him and how he knows what it’s like to be overlooked. There was something Ziggler left out, so can we see that footage please (So Kofi was surprised that Ziggler interrupted him but already had a rebuttal video ready to the video Ziggler showed him???).

That would be Ziggler vacating the US Title in December 2017 and walking out (which was never addressed). At Super ShowDown, it won’t be Ziggler and as long as Kofi is champion, it will never be Ziggler. Hang on because Ziggler has ANOTHER video, showing him attacking Kofi two weeks ago. Ziggler says on Friday, it will be him. As Ziggler leaves, here are Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for their tag match.

This was pretty terrible and a great example of so many of WWE’s problems at the moment. Not only was it a lot of talking, but the story barely makes any sense. So Ziggler is jealous of Kofi’s popularity, even though he’s had the chance to be the star multiple times and has blown it every time? Why am I supposed to want to see Ziggler have another chance to blow it when he’s done so this many times? I know he’s the heel in the whole thing, but it’s still Ziggler. Did they have no one else to plug into a one off title match?

Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens vs. Kofi Kingston/Xavier Woods

Sami pounds away on Xavier to start so Woods goes with an armbar for some success of his own. It’s off to Kofi to take Kevin down for some right hands both on the mat and in the corner as the fans aren’t exactly thrilled. Sami comes back in and gets stomped down in the corner as we get a two man Unicorn Stampede. A slingshot dropkick has Sami in trouble so it’s time for a breather.

Of course Kofi hits a dive, with Owens barely catching him as it’s all New Day so far. Woods gets sent into the barricade though and there’s the backsplash to make it worse inside. A short clothesline sets up another backsplash and we take a break. Back with Woods shoving Owens off the top and diving over for the tag to Kofi so the pace can pick up again. Everything breaks down and Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise to finish Sami at 10:26.

Rating: C. I know they haven’t done this match very often but it feels like something I’ve seen a dozen times. It was the same formula, the same story, the same ending and the same everything. There just wasn’t much going on here and I still have no desire to see Kofi vs. Ziggler, but at least they got through a full fourth of the show without addressing anything else.

Post match Ziggler comes in and superkicks Kofi and Woods.

Shane McMahon shows us a clip of last night’s beatdown of Roman Reigns. Anything Reigns can do, Shane can do better because he’s the Best in the World. He’ll be calling Reigns out soon and wants to know which dog is showing up.

It’s time for a Moment of Bliss with Bayley as this week’s guest. Hang on though as Bliss needs to complain about her coffee and we have to wait for a replacement to get out here before Bayley is going to be asked a question. Bliss talks about how awesome she was as Women’s Champion and all of her accomplishments before asking if Bayley thinks the title means anything now.

Hang on though as Bliss needs to get her coffee. Bayley slaps it out of her hand and a brawl is teased but here’s Carmella to interrupt. You can’t just show up from Raw and challenge the champ because we need…..and here’s Charlotte because of course she’s here. She’s been talking to Shane and tonight it’s a triple threat between Carmella, Bliss and Charlotte with the winner getting to face Bayley at Stomping Grounds.

The announcers talk about Goldberg and Undertaker as Charlotte’s music keeps playing.

Carmella finds R-Truth and is trying to get in touch with Shane McMahon. Carmella’s phone rings and it’s Shane, because R-Truth has been using her phone. R-Truth takes the phone and asks who it is. The title is ruining his life and he apologizes for ruining Shane McMahon Appreciation Night. Tonight it’s going to be a title defense with standard rules….and that’s right now.

24/7 Title: R-Truth vs. Elias

R-Truth is defending and it’s a lumberjack match with the usual mob of challengers around the ring. Elias throws him outside for a quick beating and it’s a jumping knee to the face for the pin and the title at 26 seconds.

The mob gets up and Elias gets beaten down but manages to slip away from the rather dumb mob. R-Truth chases him under the ring and pins him under there to get the title back. Drake Maverick dives after R-Truth and completely misses as the champ gets over the barricade. Both title matches took less than two minutes combined.

Aleister Black says no one has taken him up on his offer for a fight, even though he’s not a hard man to find. He’ll be waiting until someone comes to knock on his door.

Here’s Shane McMahon to call out Roman Reigns, but he has the Revival with him (and that only counts as one Wild Card entry, as if WWE suddenly cares about that making sense, despite having several Raw names in the previous match alone). After the big introduction and the CM Punk chants, Shane talks about how awesome the Revival is.

We see another clip of Reigns’ beatdown from last night before Shane talks about training dogs. Most of them are fine, but then there’s one dog where you have to take it to another level. That’s Roman Reigns, who Shane will neuter on Friday. Cue Reigns, who beats down the Revival and goes for Shane but gets Claymored by Drew McIntyre. Shane gets in another spear.

Carmella vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Charlotte

The winner gets the title shot at Bayley at Stomping Grounds. It’s a brawl to start with Bliss sunset flipping Charlotte for two. Bliss is sent outside and it’s the Code of Silence to Charlotte, who powers out of it and drops Carmella. Now it’s Bliss coming back in but getting kicked in the face as Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose come down the ramp. The distraction lets Charlotte chop away at both Bliss and Carmella but she stops to point at Sonya and Mandy.

Back from a break with Carmella hurricanranaing Charlotte off the top for two with the fans being surprised by the kickout. Charlotte gets the Figure Eight on Carmella but Bliss dives in with Twisted Bliss for the save. Carmella gets knocked to the floor so Bliss grabs a rollup with trunks for two on Charlotte. That’s broken up so Carmella superkicks Charlotte but gets pulled down by Mandy and Sonya. The DDT gives Bliss the pin on Carmella at 8:48.

Rating: C-. Totally run of the mill triple threat match here though I’m very, very glad to see someone fresh getting in the title hunt (yeah Bliss has been champion several times before, but it’s been a long time). They need something to get away from Charlotte for the time being and Bliss has shown she can hang in the ring.

Here’s Lars Sullivan for his first interview. When asked why he does what he does, he asks why lions methodically stalk their prey before viciously ripping it apart. Lars has come to realize that he is no man. He has been described as one word, but he wants Kayla Braxton to say it. The word is freak, which doesn’t fit. A lion kills prey and is called a lion, but when he hurts people, he’s called a freak. With that out of the way, Lars recites his own version of Three Blind Mice, which involves destroying the mice like he’ll do to the Lucha House Party on Friday. Sullivan sounded nervous and he would have been better off not talking.

Andrade vs. Apollo Crews

And never mind as Andrade jumps Crews before the bell and hits the hammerlock DDT. No match.

Finn Balor runs in to brawl with Andrade, who gives him a hammerlock DDT as well.

We run down the Super ShowDown card.

We look at HHH and Randy Orton calmly ranting at each other last night.

Here’s Goldberg for the first time ever on Smackdown. He thanks the fans for their chants and says it’s time to get down to business. He’s been waiting over twenty years to face the Undertaker one on one. Last night he heard Undertaker say he didn’t want the family man Goldberg. That statement made a light go off in Goldberg’s head and he knows he wants the same Goldberg to face Undertaker as well.

The announcers talk about Super ShowDown for the last few minutes to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. Are they giving the wrestlers the time off before this weekend’s big trip? I could go for more than three matches, with one of them being thirty seconds long, to fill in two hours, but at least the ending segment was very good. The talking being a little bit shorter (along with the rest of the show) helps here but it’s still not worth seeing most weeks. Super ShowDown just needs to be done already because the build has been terrible, but then we have less than two weeks to get to Stomping Grounds and three weeks later it’s Extreme Rules. Happy summer everyone!

Results

Kofi Kingston/Xavier Woods b. Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn – Trouble in Paradise to Zayn

Elias b. R-Truth – Jumping knee to the face

Alexa Bliss b. Charlotte and Carmella – DDT to Carmella

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

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

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