NXT
Date: February 3, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Beth Phoenix, Vic Joseph

It’s still tournament time because that’s what we’re doing around here at the moment. Tonight we have more tournament matches, but we also have an appearance from Edge, who has never been on this show before. I’m not sure what he is going to do, but the star power alone is worth a look. Let’s get to it.

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

Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals: Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez vs. Kayden Carter/Kacy Catanzaro

Catanzaro and Carter say they’re ready to shock the world again. Kacy walks the ropes for an armdrag to Kai to start so it’s quickly off to Gonzalez, meaning everything breaks down. We settle down to Catanzaro being caught in a front facelock but fighting up for a messed up version of Private Party’s Silly String. Carter comes in for a running forearm to Gonzalez in the corner and a low superkick gets two. Gonzalez shoves Carter off the apron and into the announcers’ table though as we take a break.

Back with Carter rolling away from Kai and making it over to Catanzaro for the hot tag. Everything breaks down with Catanzaro cleaning house before handing it back to Carter. Gonzalez is sent to the apron for a kind of hanging Pedigree, setting up Catanzaro’s hurricanrana driver. Catanzaro hits the inverted Black Arrow but Kai is a hair late on the save so Gonzalez has to kick out anyway. Gonzalez powerbombs Catanzaro for the pin at 13:03.

Rating: C. This tournament is starting to feel more and more like Impact’s women’s tournament as there is little drama as to who is winning, which doesn’t exactly make for the best set of matches. There were only so many ways to present the whole thing because there are only so many regular teams. This was only so good because of some of the botches and messiness, but there was enough energy to carry the thing.

Toni Storm is ready for Io Shirai because she is the only one to get to her in months. Mercedes Martinez can’t stop her either.

Edge and William Regal have a chat in the back.

Leon Ruff vs. Austin Theory

Johnny Gargano is here with Theory. Ruff starts fast but his crossbody is countered into a fall away slam….which doesn’t work as Ruff lands on his feet. Theory drop toeholds him face first into the middle buckle and there’s a belly to back suplex. A crossface shot to the face rocks Ruff but he hammers away at the ribs to slow Theory down. The sunset flip doesn’t work so Ruff forearms away and kicks the leg out. Ruff goes to the apron and nails a superkick on Gargano, followed by a missile dropkick to Theory.

An exchange of shoulders put both Theory and Ruff down, with the latter falling out to the floor. Cue Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae to help Gargano up but Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart run out to jump them. Ruff plays the Eddie Guerrero card by dropping to the floor and grabbing his face, causing another referee to eject Gargano. Back in and a middle rope spinning cutter gets two on Theory, who had to put his foot on the rope. That’s enough for Theory, who grabs the ATL for the pin at 6:18.

Rating: C. Theory winning is nice to see as the guy has all the tools in the world to be a star and giving him a win is a good sight to see. I know he’s Gargano’s lackey but at least he beat someone with a bit of a resume. Ruff is still doing well after his fluke title reign, with that spinning cutter looking great again.

Post match Theory hits another ATL and grabs the bell, but here’s Dexter Lumis to rip out part of Theory’s hair. Why? Because for some reason NXT thinks this is interesting. I don’t know who else does, but they certainly seem to.

Video on Legado del Fantasma.

Video on Tian Sha, who seems to be the one behind Boa and Xia Li’s transformations. It’s about an old woman who had two children and met a dragon who agreed to teach the children. The teacher ascended to the throne and survived for generations, where we see Boa and Li standing around her throne. So yeah, the ancient woman is thousands of years old.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Quarterfinals: Lucha House Party vs. Legado del Fantasma

Dorado starts fast with a Lionsault press for two on Mendoza. A double spinebuster puts Dorado down for two though and it’s off to Metalik for a springboard. An enziguri knocks him to the floor though and Wilde adds a big dive off the apron. We take a break and come back with Metalik hitting a sunset bomb on Mendoza and getting over for the hot tag to Dorado.

A dropkick hits Wilde and Dorado’s high crossbody gets two. Wilde is back up with half of a double springboard DDT, as he can’t quite hook Metalik’s head. The half that hits Dorado gets two but House Party is back up with Dorado helping Metalik hit a rope walk hurricanrana to send Wilde into Mendoza. Dorado moonsaults onto both of them but it’s the Russian legsweep/running kick to the face to finish Dorado at 10:17.

Rating: C+. The action was good and all four were working hard but it’s getting harder and harder to care about these tournament matches. The thing feels like it has gone on for months now and it’s going to continue all the way up to Takeover. The action was good (with the understandable botches) but it’s kind of hard to get excited about these matches when there are several every week.

Post match Legado points at the brackets but here’s MSK to say they’re going to win.

Oney Lorcan, Danny Burch and Pete Dunne arrive to go Finn Balor hunting.

Post break here are Lorcan, Burch and Dunne for a chat. Dunne says he wants the title so here’s Finn Balor to interrupt. Balor says Dunne is hiding behind Lorcan and Burch, which Dunne denies. Burch and Lorcan head to the floor so Balor gets in and says the title match is on for Takeover.

Cue Edge, who says this place is about the W rather than the E, because he sees the passion and the hunger in their eyes. This place helped him find his passion, which helped him win the Royal Rumble. That lets him challenge any champion in this company, meaning it’s time to look at the NXT Title. Edge says Balor is on another level so he’ll be watching Takeover and it might influence his decision. He has never had the NXT Title and that is intriguing, so the fight at Takeover might help him make his choice.

I know that the chance of Edge picking the NXT Title is about one in three hundred and eighty two trillion, but just paying lip service to the idea makes the title seem that much more important. Balor is a big star in WWE at the moment, but Edge is that much bigger, meaning this was a nice rub to the title, even if Edge never appears again.

Johnny Gargano is rather pleased with The Way things are going but McKenzie Mitchell brings up Gargano’s North American Title defense against Kushida at Takeover. Gargano says he’s getting her fired and we take a break. Back with Gargano taking Mitchell over to William Regal’s office where he finds Kushida. The brawl is on with Kushida beating him down and kicking him in the arm until referees and agents break it up.

Toni Storm vs. Jessi Kamea

Kamea is officially in the Robert Stone Brand and takes Storm down for an early two. Storm gets in a shot of her own but here’s Mercedes Martinez. Kamea yells at her and gets decked for the DQ at 1:21.

Post match the brawl is on as Io Shirai comes out to sit on the top and watch.

Curt Stallion has worked hard to get here and it’s time to get his chance at the title. Place your bets.

Cameron Grimes is back next week. That’s always good to hear.

Cruiserweight Title: Curt Stallion vs. Santos Escobar

Escobar is defending and has Legado del Fantasma with him. They lock up to start with Escobar hammering him down in a hurry. Stallion’s chops don’t do much good as it’s a cravate into a seated abdominal stretch to put him down. Back up and Escobar hits a dropkick for two as Scarlett is watching from the perch. Something light a dragon sleeper goes on, followed by the armbar as Escobar finally sees Scarlet. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker cuts off Stallion’s comeback attempt but Scarlett’s presence is quite the distraction.

Stallion clotheslines him out to the floor and we take a break. Back with Escobar cranking on the arm on the mat, which is switched into a half crab and then something like an STF. Stallion fights up and slugs away to put Escobar on the floor, setting up the suicide dive. Back in and Stallion gets suplexed into the corner to give Escobar two. The Phantom Driver into the double underhook knee to the chest retains the title at 13:22.

Rating: C. We waited since November to set up this much of a squash? Stallion barely got in anything outside of a brief flurry and the Scarlett distraction didn’t mean a thing. I’m not surprised at Escobar retaining, but could we have gotten a little more drama here? Escobar vs. Kross could be something, though it isn’t likely to do the title much good.

Post match here’s Karrion Kross to wreck the rest of Legado and have the big staredown with Escobar. Kross gets in the ring and tells Escobar he’s giving him the gift of time. Now run along. Ok so maybe it was a tarot card last week.

Post break Edge runs into Karrion Kross in the parking lot, who says he hopes Edge chooses wisely. No matter who walks out of Takeover as champion, Kross is coming for the title. Edge sees that as motivation to come back here, and Kross might not like that.

Takeover: Vengeance Day rundown.

Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Quarterfinals: Undisputed Era vs. Tommaso Ciampa/Timothy Thatcher

Ciampa headlocks Cole down to start but it’s too early to go with the Fairy Tale Ending. Instead Ciampa goes with the headlock again to keep things slow early on. Back up and Ciampa blocks a superkick but can’t hit a running knee as we have a standoff. Thatcher and Strong come in with Thatcher taking him to the mat with an armbar. A punch to the ribs gives Thatcher two but Strong gets up to bring Cole back in.

Thatcher gets caught in the corner so he fights out and brings in Ciampa to take over on Strong again. This time it’s Strong getting caught in the corner for a beating as everything breaks down. The big four way staredown takes us to a break. Back with the bow and arrow keeping Strong in trouble and Thatcher adds a knee to the ribs. The cross armbreaker doesn’t work so Thatcher slaps on the guillotine, sending Strong to the ropes.

Thatcher chokes away in the corner but Strong goes up with him for a top rope superplex. They’re both down for a bit until it’s a double tag to bring in Cole and Ciampa. Cole knocks him down for two and then nails the jumping enziguri. The brainbuster onto the knee connects but Cole can’t get the Figure Four. Everything breaks down and it’s a Figure Four to Thatcher, with Strong not quite being able to get the Stronghold on Ciampa. Instead Ciampa kicks him away and makes the diving save and we settle back down again.

Thatcher’s release German suplex into a running knee to the face hits Strong for two but he blocks the Fairy Tale Ending. The Angle Slam drops Ciampa again and it’s back to Cole. A superkick gets two on Ciampa and Cole is getting frustrated. Strong comes back in and everything breaks down but Thatcher pulls Cole to the floor. A jumping knee from Strong rocks Thatcher on the floor but Strong walks into Willow’s Bell to give Ciampa the pin at 17:04.

Rating: B+. This got time and was built up well. The Undisputed Era has long since established that they can go in the ring with anyone and Ciampa/Thatcher have shown a rather nice chemistry as well. That set up a heck of a tag match here as everyone worked hard and I wasn’t sure who was going to win until the ending. You don’t get a much better feeling than that in wrestling and it was strong here so good stuff all around.

Post match the Grizzled Young Veterans come out to brawl with Ciampa and Thatcher to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The main event was easily the best thing on the show with Edge’s appearance a close second. I’m curious as to where some of these things go, but I’m more impressed by the Takeover card being set up almost in one week. There are three title matches set and the two Dusty Classic matches will flesh out the card. I’m still not feeling the huge amount of tournament matches, but it is nice to have a great match to close the show out.

Results

Raquel Gonzalez/Dakota Kai b. Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter – Powerbomb to Catanzaro

Austin Theory b. Leon Ruff – ATL

Legado del Fantasma b. Lucha House Party – Russian legsweep/kick to the face combination to Dorado

Jessi Kamea b. Toni Storm via DQ when Mercedes Martinez interfered

Santos Escobar b. Curt Stallion – Double underhook facebuster

Timothy Thatcher/Tommaso Ciampa b. Undisputed Era – Willow’s Bell to Strong

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NXT
Date: January 27, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph, Beth Phoenix

It’s still tournament time around here as the women’s Dusty Classic continues the first round but the men’s version heads on to the quarterfinals. I’m still not sure if this is the best idea in the world as these tournaments are dominating the show, but maybe the action is going to be enough to carry the show. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Quarterfinals: MSK vs. Killian Dain/Drake Maverick

Maverick and Lee start things off and go to the mat in a hurry. Maverick’s headlock is driven against the ropes so Lee says bring it. Dain wants in but Maverick isn’t ready yet, instead taking Lee to the mat with a front facelock. That’s broken up as well as Maverick is taken into the corner for a running Bronco Buster from Carter. Maverick slips away and brings in Dain to clean house, including throwing Maverick at Nash for a knockdown (always effective).

The running big boot in the corner rocks Carter but a shot to the knee put Dain down for a second. Lee comes back in and is tossed outside with ease to send us to a break. Back with Dain hitting Lee in the face again and crushing him with a backsplash. That’s enough to give Maverick two but the chinlock is countered for the hot tag to Carter. A penalty kick rocks Maverick and a dropkick puts Dain on the floor. The push moonsault connects for two with Dain making a save. Dain is sent outside again though and it’s a Hart Attack with a Blockbuster instead of a clothesline to finish Maverick at 11:06.

Rating: C+. This was more like it for both teams, as Dain and Maverick are the kind of a team with just enough credibility to mean something and MSK feel primed for a serious run in the tournament. They made enough sense here too, with Dain being the wrecking ball that had to be dealt with and then Maverick being a much easier target. Good enough match and MSK continues to make me smile.

Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan are fired up for tonight. Pete Dunne looks like he’s ordering dinner.

Raquel Gonzalez/Dakota Kai and Jessi Kamea/Aliyah are ready to win the Dusty Classic.

Curt Stallion looks out the window and sees shooting stars. One day he followed it and knew what he was ready to do. Now he wants to have a rocket strapped to his back in the form of the Cruiserweight Title.

Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: Jessi Kamea/Aliyah vs. Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez

Kamea and Aliyah have Robert Stone in their corner. Gonzalez and Aliyah start things off with Aliyah not being able to shove her around. Instead Gonzales swings her around in a lockup so it’s off to Kamea, who has to avoid an elbow. A dropkick sends Gonzalez into the corner for a running forearm but she sends Kamea into Kai’s elbow. Aliyah comes in for some double teaming and a running flipping hair faceplant puts Kai down.

Kai is sent outside but manages to pump kick Aliyah down hard and gets two back inside. Back in and Gonzalez hits a swinging powerslam on Aliyah, setting up Kai’s running kick to the face in the corner. Kai gets two off a double stomp but Aliyah manages a clothesline to bring in Kamea. That’s fine with Gonzalez, who plants her with the chokeslam for the pin at 5:58.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t quite as interesting as the ending wasn’t in doubt and the match felt a good bit longer than just under six minutes. That being said, the women’s tournament is only three rounds long so it is a good thing to see the winners look dominant. Not the worst match, but it needed more wacky Robert Stone shenanigans to really push it over the edge.

The Way is sure they’ll win the Women’s Dusty Classic but Johnny Gargano isn’t going to answer anything about Kushida. Austin Theory says it’s kind of like the curse but Gargano orders him to say no more words. Kushida does not get a title shot.

Scarlett uses Tarot cards to display that destruction is coming.

Tegan Nox has been training with Brie Larson. Video tomorrow.

Tyler Rust vs. Dante Rios

Malcolm Bivens is at ringside and he has an inset promo, promising that Rust will win. Rust takes him down with ease to start and then nails a hard right hand. A stomp onto the head keeps Rios down and it’s time to crank on the arm. Some chops rock Rust and a backside gives Rios two. What looks to be a tornado DDT winds up as a guillotine choke but Rust powers out. A big boot into a flipping neckbreaker sets up a modified Rings of Saturn (When did that become the most popular move in the world?) to make Rios tap at 3:23.

Rating: D+. Rust still looks good but they are playing into the idea that he might not be as polished as Bivens thinks he is. At least he won here, but it took a little longer than expected. It’s something different though, and that’s often a nice thing to see, especially when so many newcomers have the dominant run before their first story.

Bivens and Rust get a post match photo.

The Grizzled Young Veterans and Kushida/Leon Ruff are ready to win the Dusty Classic.

Finn Balor and Kyle O’Reilly are ready, don’t trust each other, and will see each other out there.

Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Quarterfinals: Leon Ruff/Kushida vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Before the match, Zack Gibson promises to win because Ruff and Kushida have been a team for about five minutes. Kushida takes Gibson to the mat without much trouble but Drake comes in for a spinning kick to the face. It’s off to Ruff for a dropkick but Kushida is already back in for stereo basement dropkicks and two on Drake. We hit the quickly broken armbar and Ruff snaps off a top rope hurricanrana to put Drake down again. Drake forearms his way to freedom but Kushida saves Ruff from a double suplex. A middle rope cutter gets two on Gibson and we take a break.

Back with Ruff grabbing a sunset flip for two on Drake, who pops back up with a heck of a clothesline. Ruff is sent outside for a slingshot forearm/backbreaker combination to put him in even more trouble. A neckbreaker gets Ruff out of trouble back inside and the hot tag brings in Kushida to start cleaning house. The cartwheel into the basement dropkick rocks Drake again and there’s a running dropkick in the corner. Gibson comes back in and escapes an Octopus, setting up a Doomsday Device of all things for two on Kushida.

The double handspring elbow drops the Veterans though and the hot tag brings in Ruff for the second house cleaning. A suicide dive hits Drake and a top rope flip dive hits Gibson. Back in and a running clothesline puts Gibson down again but Ruff misses the Swanton. Drake gets caught not paying attention on the apron and it’s the Ticket to Mayhem to finish Ruff at 13:15.

Rating: B-. I could watch the Veterans at least three days a week and the two of them could be favorites in the tournament. Granted that could be the case for most of the remaining teams and that’s a good sign for the whole thing. This worked out about as expected and Kushida getting the North American Title shot at Takeover (as he is almost a lock to do) is a lot more important than this team.

Post match here’s the Way to beat down Kushida and Ruff. Johnny Gargano insists that Kushida will never get a shot but here’s Dexter Lumis to scare them off. Sweet goodness why can’t this guy just fall in a hole somewhere?

Curt Stallion has been attacked by Legado del Fantasma.

Post break, the Cruiserweight Title match is officially canceled for tonight. If this was supposed to be a surprise, maybe they shouldn’t have pulled the match from the show’s official preview.

Legado del Fantasma doesn’t know what’s going on but ANGRY William Regal comes in and says the title match is on for next week, with promises of consequences if anything else happens to Stallion. Regal leaves and the trio is freaked out by a playing card, though they insist there is nothing to worry about. I wonder if that’s an ace. Like, say, an Irish ace.

Here’s Toni Storm to say she wins whatever she wants. She wanted to be the first ever person to win the Women’s Dusty Cup but Io Shirai took that away from her. Now she wants to hurt and ruin Shirai, but more than anything else, she wants to be the NXT Women’s Champion.

Cue Io Shirai to say she’ll fight Toni anytime because she doesn’t like her. The fight is on with Storm being sent outside but here’s Mercedes Martinez to jump Shirai from behind. Martinez holds up the title but Storm says it’s hers. Shirai is back in to jump them both but Storm pulls her off the top. A pair of hip attacks in the corner leave Shirai laying and Storm rubs the title.

Isaiah Scott doesn’t like being accused of messing with Bronson Reed and suggests you could the fingers pointing at you when you point your finger at someone.

Imperium video, which heavily suggests the return of Walter. It’s about time.

The Undisputed Era aren’t worried about facing Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher because they’re tougher, more experienced and better. Well that was to the point.

Bronson Reed vs. Isaiah Scott

Reed throws him outside to start but Scott sticks the landing, only to get sent face first into the apron. A crossbody on the floor crushes Scott and we take a break. Back with Scott working on an armbar and then raking Reed’s face a bit. Reed isn’t having that and runs him over again, setting up a backsplash for two.

Scott gets in another shot to the shoulder but Reed goes to the middle rope anyway. An enziguri connects though and Scott hits a 450 for two. Scott tells him not to get in his business and hits Reed in the face, which seems to be a rather bad move. Reed headbutts him and adds a hard clothesline, setting up the Tsunami for the pin at 9:21.

Rating: C+. This is the kind of thing that I can go for: taking two young (or at least new) stars and giving them a story. Reed is looking more and more like a breakout star every week and Scott….well at least he can still talk rather effectively. Pushing one of them is a good idea though and if Reed is their guy, so be it.

Scott really does not look pleased.

Tommaso Ciampa talks about how some fights change people and respect can grow. Timothy Thatcher joins him to say pretty much the same thing. Ciampa promises a war with Undisputed Era next week.

Kyle O’Reilly/Finn Balor vs. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burke

Non-title, which I didn’t know until this show started. Balor armdrags Lorcan into an armbar to start and it’s quickly off to O’Reilly vs. Burch. O’Reilly grabs an armbar of his own but Burch goes to the recently injured jaw to break up a tag attempt. Lorcan and Burch get to work on the arm for a change, followed by Burch’s headlock on the mat. That’s reversed into a wristlock, which is enough for O’Reilly to get back over to Balor.

O’Reilly is back in less than five seconds later as Balor and O’Reilly start the rapid fire tags and arm cranking. They stop to glare at each other though and we take a break. Back with Balor getting a tag to clean house in a hurry, including a bunch of stomping on Lorcan. A trip takes Balor down though and Lorcan gets in some stomping of his own.

The chinlock goes on to keep Balor down and a double atomic drop into a Russian legsweep gets two. Lorcan starts yelling at Balor, which rarely seems like a good idea, and is quickly followed by Balor nailing a Pele kick. The Sling Blade is enough for the hot tag to O’Reilly as house is cleaned in a hurry. Burch gets a boot up in the corner and tries a middle rope but dives into a kneebar to give O’Reilly and Balor the win at 11:56.

Rating: B-. They were telling a nice story here, though I’m hoping we get at least a token Tag Team Title match out of this. I’m not sure we will, but it would serve well as a TV main event. At least they had a good match in the non-title version, but I would hope that NXT isn’t he kind of place that just lets the champs lose.

Post match O’Reilly and Balor seem cool but Pete Dunne pops up. Burch and Lorcan send O’Reilly into the barricade and Dunne breaks Balor’s fingers as the Undisputed Era come to the ring for the save, albeit rather slowly. The big staredown ends the show, though Balor drops to the floor with the Era standing in the ring. We could use a fourth for the villains here as that’s a heck of an eight man tag.

Overall Rating: B-. The tournament matches are good but I’m rather relieved that they are wrapping things up sooner rather than later. There are too many tournament things going on at once here and it’s kind of dragging things down. It’s the majority of things going with the show and while the wrestling is good, I could go for something else. This was another good week, but I’m losing patience with all of the tournament stuff.

Results

MSK b. Killian Dain/Drake Maverick – Blockbuster/spinebuster combination to Maverick

Dakota Kai/Raquel Gonzalez b. Jessi Kamea/Aliyah – Chokeslam to Kamea

Tyler Rust b. Dante Rios – Rings of Saturn

Grizzled Young Veterans b. Leon Ruff/Kushida – Ticket to Mayhem to Ruff

Bronson Reed b. Isaiah Scott – Tsunami

Kyle O’Reilly/Finn Balor b. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch – Kneebar to Burch

 

 

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NXT
Date: January 20, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

We less than a month away from the next Takeover and that means it is time to start setting the stage. However, that does not exactly seem to be the case here, as the focus is going to be on both of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classics. Yes both of them, because we are going to have a women’s edition this year as well. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at last week’s first round Dusty Classic matches, plus at what is coming tonight. In addition to the tournaments, we also have the return of the Fight Pit between Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher.

Beth Phoenix is back in person and we even have some streamers.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: Kushida/Leon Ruff vs. The Way

That would be Johnny Gargano/Austin Theory. Theory powers out of Ruff’s headlock but gets staggered by a dropkick. Ruff’s crucifix bomb is broken up but Theory misses his dropkick. Kushida comes in to work on the arm, including tying it around his legs and snapping it back. It’s off to Gargano to change things up though, including taking Kushida down for some knees to the back.

Theory’s rolling dropkick puts Kushida down again and a double back elbow drops him again. Kushida slips out of a suplex though and the hot tag brings in Ruff to clean house. Theory isn’t having that and snaps off a torture rack powerbomb for two as we take a break. Back with Ruff fighting out of a chinlock but getting taken right back down with a neckbreaker. Kushida gets knocked off the apron though and it’s a backbreaker into a neckbreaker for two on Ruff.

Theory sends Ruff into the corner but Ruff comes out with a spinning middle rope cutter. That’s enough for the hot tag off to Kushida so house can really be cleaned, including a tornado DDT on Gargano on the floor. Back in and Gargano hits his rolling kick to the head but Kushida is right back with the cross armbreaker. Theory makes the save and a leg trap brainbuster onto the knee gives him two on Kushida. Another tag brings in Ruff, who dives onto Theory at ringside. Gargano kicks Kushida in the head but gets hiptossed into a basement dropkick. An arm trap northern lights suplexes finishes Gargano at 14:47.

Rating: B. The ending was surprising but the best thing here was that this turned into a heck of a match and never looked back. Kushida vs. Gargano is all but locked in for Takeover and that is going to be a heck of a showdown when we finally get the chance to get there. The Way being out so soon is surprising but it sets up something a little more interesting down the line, which is always good to see.

Pete Dunne talks about how Finn Balor is NXT Champion but Dunne built an entire brand on his back. He is the real threat to Balor’s title and the one who can take away his legacy.

Malcolm Bivens comes out of William Regal’s office and praises Tyler Rust, who comes out of Regal’s office as well. Rust has gotten a match tonight, against Bronson Reed. Bivens really does not seem pleased but says Rust is going straight to the top.

Karrion Kross vs. Ashante Adonis

The Doomsday Saito into a pair of running forearms to the back of the head finish Adonis at 1:18. Total destruction as usual.

Post match the medics and Adonis’ partner Desmond Troy come out to help, with Kross choking Troy out.

Video on MSK, with the two of them talking about how hard they have worked to get here. Did they explain what MSK stands for yet?

Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez are ready to destroy Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: Imperium vs. Lucha House Party

Barthel takes Dorado down to start and grabs a butterfly suplex. The hammerlock goes on and Dorado is sent throat first into the middle rope. Dorado gets over for Metalik, who comes in with a splash off of Dorado’s shoulders for two. Aichner comes in to take Metalik down with a backbreaker for the save as the power takes over. The reverse Sling Blade gets Metalik out of trouble though and Dorado comes back in, only to have Aichner cut off the suicide dive. Dorado gets slammed on the floor and Metalik gets caught in the Tree of Woe.

That means the double dropkick and we take a break. Back with Dorado fighting out of a cravate and grabbing the Golden Rewind. Barthel puts on his own chinlock before putting Dorado on the top. You don’t do that to Dorado, who takes Barthel down and gets over for the next hot tag to Metalik. A rope walk hurricanrana into a springboard moonsault press gets two on Aichner for a good looking near fall.

Barthel catches Metalik’s dive so Dorado runs in with a dropkick for the save. Metalik slips out of the suplex though and a missile dropkick/sunset bomb combination gets two more on Aichner. It’s back to Dorado, who gets crushed by Aichner. A facebuster drops Aichner and a hurricanrana sends Barthel into him for a big crash. With Aichner out on the floor, Metalik hits a huge top rope moonsault to take him down again. Back in and Dorado’s shooting star finishes Barthel at 14:40.

Rating: B-. They got me with this one as I wouldn’t have bet on Imperium being eliminated n the first round. In addition to the surprise, they had a good match with the technical style meshing well with the lucha stuff. This was quite the impressive surprise as they’re doing some rather nice stuff with the tournament so far tonight.

Post match Alexander Wolfe pops up to stare Imperium down.

We see the official weigh-in for the Fight Pit, with Tommaso Ciampa at 201 and Timothy Thatcher at 225. They nearly got in a fight here as WWE continues to try to tap into interest in the upcoming huge UFC show this coming weekend.

Here’s Beth Phoenix to talk about various women who played a part in the Women’s Revolution. Women’s wrestling has grown a lot because the fans wanted it to become bigger, and tonight it’s time to make history again. Therefore, it’s time for the first women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: Mercedes Martinez/Toni Storm vs. Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter

Carter and Storm start things off with Carter working on a wristlock. Storm reverses into one of her own so Carter switches over into a headlock. A shoulder puts Carter down and there’s a dropkick for two. Martinez comes in for a side slam and it’s off to Catanzaro, who is taken down in a hurry. The chinlock goes on with a knee in Catanzaro’s back before Martinez blocks a tornado DDT attempt with straight power. A powerslam gets two on Kacy and we take a break.

Back with Martinez sending Kacy flying with a choke suplex and taking her up top. The superplex is countered into a super hurricanrana to drop Martinez but Storm comes back in to cut off the tag. That lasts for all of three seconds as Carter gets the tag to start cleaning house. A running dropkick in the corner hits Martinez and a low superkick drops Storm.

Another kick to the face sets up a basement dropkick for two on Storm as everyone is back in. Cue Io Shirai to pull Martinez to the floor and throw her over the announcers’ table though, leaving Carter to trip Storm down. That lets Catanzaro go up for a REVERSE BLACK ARROW (How do you even do that?????) and the upset pin at 12:51.

Rating: C. I’ve watched a lot of wrestling in my day and it’s hard to make my jaw drop. That crazy finisher (it started like a moonsault but she did a corkscrew in the air and landed back first on Storm) made it work though and I had to watch it a few times. Catanzaro hasn’t had the most success in NXT but if she can polish that up (the landing wasn’t the smoothest), she’ll be fine at least for a little while longer.

Finn Balor comes in to William Regal’s office to demand Pete Dunne. Balor wants to deal with Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch too though, so Regal says find a partner. Regal seems to have an idea.

Isaiah Scott stops Bronson Reed on his way to the ring for some advice we can’t hear.

Ashante Adonis is hurt but a very excited Carter and Catanzaro come in to celebrate.

Bronson Reed vs. Tyler Rust

Rust has Malcolm Bivens with him. During the entrances, we hear what Scott said: don’t ever be in his business again. Rust grabs the wrist so Bronson cranks on the hand to counter with ease. A rather large headlock has Rust in trouble and a big shoulder puts him on the floor. Rust slides back in and is quickly caught in a gorilla press gutbuster. That’s enough to send Rust outside for some advice from Bivens, which seems to be “snap the arm across the top rope”.

Rust cranks on the arm as we cut to a split screen with Io Shirai and Toni Storm being help apart in the back. Reed shrugs it off and hits a running splash in the corner, setting up the chokeslam for another near fall. Rust manages a Samoan drop out of the corner for his own two but Reed shoves him off. The backsplash crushes Rust and the Tsunami REALLY crushes Rust for the pin at 4:49.

Rating: C. The more I see Reed in the ring, the more I like him and the idea of Reed vs. Scott works rather well for me. If nothing else, it is nice to see NXT taking two young, talented wrestlers and giving them the chance to become bigger stars by having a feud. Rust continue to look good, but he needs a win.

Finn Balor needs a partner and seems to have an idea because someone owes him a favor.

Post break, Balor goes in to see the Undisputed Era and looks all of them over. Balor says they’re all grown men and looks at O’Reilly, saying he knows why he’s here. Balor asks if O’Reilly is in and, after a long stare, O’Reilly says he is. They’ll see each other next week, with O’Reilly calling Balor champ as the tension is rather high.

Here is Legado del Fantasma for a chat. Santos Escobar says he is the champion of champions because he doesn’t have to conquer a curse and doesn’t have a glass jaw. Some people try to act like a champion like Karrion Kross but he couldn’t even make it through his first title defense. Escobar has beaten everyone to come after him, including the Lucha House Party.

The rest of the team has won their first round Dusty Classic match, putting them one step closer to the Tag Team Titles. Cue the Lucha House Party, who will face Legado in the second round, for the brawl. Escobar bails but Curt Stallion comes in to take him out. The good guys clear the ring with Stallion knocking Escobar off the apron. Commentary is confused by why Stallion is here, apparently not watching 205 Live enough to know Stallion has been #1 contender for over two months now.

Drake Maverick gives a fired up promo about how he and Killian Dain are going to win the Dusty Classic. Dain: “That was pretty good!” A slap on the back has Maverick in pain and he still doesn’t even have Dain’s number.

Curt Stallion, identified as #1 contender (McKenzie Mitchell pays attention), is ready for Escobar, who comes up to say the title match is next week.

Also next week: Kyle O’Reilly/Finn Balor vs. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch for the Tag Team Titles.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Tommaso Ciampa

This is inside the Fight Pit, which is a special cage around the ring with a platform around the top of the cage where the wrestlers can walk. There are no ropes in the ring and you win by submission or knockout only, though the fall must take place on the mat rather than on the platform. This looks really cool and it feels like a special match. They start on the platform for some stalking but then start slugging it out.

Ciampa even tries to throw him over the top and out to the concrete but Thatcher drives him face first into the barricade. Thatcher’s front facelock suplex drops Ciampa, who is right back up with a running kick to the face. Some chops against the barricade seem to annoy Thatcher so he forearms Ciampa in the face. Ciampa kicks him down again and catapults Thatcher throat first into the barricade.

Back from a break with the two of them on the mat with Thatcher being sent into the walls. That’s only good for a five and the Fairy Tale Ending is countered with a ram into the steel. Thatcher tries to wedge Ciampa’s hand into the gap between the walls but settles for a suplex into a keylock instead. Now it’s bending the fingers back and slamming them off the mat for some rather evil pain. Ciampa is right back with a shot to the leg and the half crab goes on.

That’s broken up as well and Thatcher kicks him into the wall again. The sleeper goes on so Ciampa kicks him low for the break, setting up Willow’s Bell, using the referee as a rope for a funny/smart moment. They slug it out again with Thatcher going into the steel, setting up the Fairy Tale Ending. The rear naked choke goes on but Thatcher picks him up for a ram into the steel. Thatcher grabs a sleeper but stops to put Ciampa’s leg through the corner gap. A stretch muffler finishes Ciampa at 14:03.

Rating: B+. This is the kind of thing that I can always go for as not only is the match unique, but they beat the heck out of each other the whole time. They built up the idea of going down into the pit feel like an epic battle and Thatcher, now 2-0, has a signature match for whenever he is in a bigger feud. These guys beat each other up and this was every bit as good as I was expecting it to be.

Post match Thatcher is VERY happy with the win but stops to stare at Ciampa in a show of respect to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. If they had a slightly stronger middle of the show, this would have been an all timer for NXT. The main event felt important and like the kind of epic match that would have fit in very well at something like New Year’s Evil, which is not something you see on television very often. Then you have the tournament matches (and there were a lot of them), all of which were good to very good with some surprise endings. I loved this show quite a bit and it’s nice to be able to say that about NXT, even once in awhile.

Results

Kushida/Leon Ruff b. The Way – Arm trap northern lights suplex to Gargano

Karrion Kross b. Ashante Adonis – Forearm to the back of the head

Lucha House Party b. Imperium

Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter b. Mercedes Martinez – Reverse Black Arrow to Storm

Bronson Reed b. Tyler Rust – Tsunami

Timothy Thatcher b. Tommaso Ciampa – Stretch Muffler

 

 

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205 Live
Date: January 15, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, FloridaCommentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

Things are going to take a bit of a turn this week as the show is going to be dedicated to the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. This is where 205 Live can be rather useful, as there are going to be quite a few tournament matches which NXT does not have time to present. Let 205 Live take some of the pressure off of things and NXT can get more important stuff done. Let’s get to it.

We open with a look back at the first batch of Dusty Classic matches from NXT, plus a preview of tonight’s two matches.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round: Legado del Fantasma vs. Bollywood Boyz

Santos Escobar is here with Legado. Sunil grabs a headlock on Mendoza to start but that’s broken up in a hurry. A monkey flip into a clothesline to the floor has Mendoza in trouble and it’s off to Samir. Wilde comes in as well and gets armbarred down in a hurry. A quick ram into the corner has Wilde in trouble but a Mendoza distraction lets Wilde grab a DDT. There’s the double suplex for two on Samir and the cravate goes on.

Back up and Mendoza misses a charge into the post and the hot tag brings in Sunil for the comeback. The spinwheel kick drops Mendoza but Sunil goes after Wilde. It actually works this time as Sunil hits a top rope ax handle for two on Mendoza. Everything breaks down and a superplex into a top rope elbow gets two on Mendoza as Wilde makes a save. Samir gets taken down on the floor and a running boot/Russian legsweep combination sends Legado on at 9:48.

Rating: C. This was the serious version of the Boyz and it worked a lot better than usual as a result. The dancing stuff does suit them rather well but it’s nice to see them actually do the more traditional thing once in awhile. Legado was good as usual, but I’m not sure how bright their tournament futures really are.

Killian Dain is still sick of Drake Maverick.

The Women’s Dusty Classic is here next week.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: Killian Dain/Drake Maverick vs. August Grey/Curt Stallion

Stallion shoulders Maverick down to start but gets sent outside so Maverick can dance. Back in and a dropkick into an armdrag has Stallion in trouble so it’s off to Grey. The staredown is enough to bring in Dain and it’s a drop toehold into a backsplash. Dain picks Maverick up to use him as a weapon (Maverick: “PUT ME DOWN!”). Grey and Stallion are sent outside, with Maverick telling Dain to dive. Instead Dain picks Maverick up to throw at them for the big crash.

Back in and Maverick wonders why Dain wouldn’t dive while getting two on Stallion. A backbreaker gets Stallion out of trouble though and it’s back to Grey for a headlock. That is switched into a headlock but Maverick fights up and brings in Dain for the serious house cleaning. A crossbody gets two on Grey but he’s back up with a superplex into a German suplex for two on Maverick. Dain has had enough of this and powerbombs Stallion, followed by powerbombing Drake onto him for the pin at 10:00.

Rating: C. Maverick and Dain are growing on me quite a bit (I bet it’s the whistling) as Maverick’s charisma is enough to carry just about anything to watchable. Throw in Dain as the monster and they’re a nice little oddball team. I’m not sure why Stallion needed to take a fall, but odds are he holds that title shot for months to come anyway so it hardly destroys him.

Overall Rating: C+. The wrestling was completely average but I can go with burning a show off like this and having something good come of it at the same time. Not only did they get some tournament matches out of the way, but they didn’t waste anything they had coming on the regular 205 Live. Not too bad here, even if the two winning teams aren’t exactly heavy favorites.

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NXT
Date: December 30, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

It’s finally time to wrap up the year and that can’t come soon enough. This is the go home show for next week’s New Year’s Evil, but we also have a major night in that we are finding out the Year End Award winners. NXT makes these things out to be a big deal and hopefully they continue their trend this year. Let’s get to it.

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

In memory of Jon Huber/Luke Harper.

Isaiah Scott vs. Bronson Reed

Reed headlocks him down without much trouble to start. Scott gets sent outside and there’s a big shoulder off the apron to take him down again. Back in and Scott hits a dropkick to the floor again, setting up a running kick from the apron. That’s good for two back inside but Reed pounds him down without much effort. Scott flips out of the corner though and hits an elbow in the corner.

A running dropkick to the leg gives Scott two but Reed is back up to grab him by the throat. Reed headbutts him down a few times and a swinging chokeslam gets two. Scott goes to the ropes so the referee tries to break it up, allowing Scott to sneak in a headbutt. This just annoys Reed though, who runs him over and hits a backsplash. The Tsunami finishes Scott at 6:18.

Rating: C. Not much to this one but I can go for more of Reed being the big unstoppable monster. The Tsunami is one of those spots that is going to work on anyone and it looked awesome here again. I can go for more of Scott as a heel, but maybe he should actually win something of note.

It’s time for the first award, with Breakout Star of the Year:

Pat McAfee

Damian Priest

Shotzi Blackheart

Cameron Grimes

Dexter Lumis

Timothy Thatcher

Raquel Gonzalez

Santos Escobar

Ilja Dragunov

Winner: Shotzi Blackheart.

I mean….yeah she has been pushed, but how is this not Grimes, who has been a star, or Priest, who actually won something? There are worse choices, but there are also some far better ones. And no Karrion Kross?

Shotzi talks about how her dad taught her to be a bad*** and she had a great year. Next year is going to be even better.

Earlier today, the Way panicked because Johnny Gargano saw a black cat. He isn’t losing again!

Breezango vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Drake headlocks Breeze down to start but Breeze is back up to pull on an armbar. It’s off to Fandango for a shoulder and an armbar of his own. The chinlock goes on as we’re told that the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is back in two weeks. It’s off to Gibson for the first time and Breeze is driven into the corner. That means Drake can grab a headlock, but Breeze gets over for the tag off to Fandango.

The pace picks up a bit with a sunset flip giving Fandango two. A double kick to the head puts Gibson down but he knocks Fandango off the apron. Breeze takes the Veterans down so Fandango climbs the lighting structure for a dive. Fandango comes up holding his knee though and we take a break.

Back with Fandango still down on the floor until Gibson sends him inside for a dragon screw legwhip. A slam puts Fandango down again with his knee hitting the ropes this time. The knee is healthy enough to kick them to the floor and a crawl through Gibson’s legs is enough to bring Breeze back in. Everything breaks down and Breeze gets taken down with a double forearm on the floor. Fandango takes Gibson down with a flip off the steps but Gibson is back up to send him knees first into the steps. That leaves Breeze to walk into Ticket To Mayhem for the pin at 13:00.

Rating: C. The more I think about it, the more obvious it is that Breezango is not a great team around here. They’re fine for comedy, but watching them in a thirteen minute match drags a show to a halt. They just aren’t that interesting and it shows worse every time. I get why they’re here, but can we make the matches a little bit shorter?

Post match Ever-Rise comes out and has the referee hold them back. She’s done and walks away, so the Veterans come after them. Ever-Rise walks away.

It’s time for Tag Team Of The Year:

Undisputed Era

Breezango

Imperium

Gallus

Legado del Fantasma

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch

Winner: Undisputed Era.

Can we just name the award after them already?

The Era talks about how awesome they are and this year, it’s Adam Cole and Roderick Strong representing the team in the Dusty Cup.

Boa and Xia Li kneel before the master, who puts paint on their heads. They get up and follow the mystery woman through a curtain and into the light. Next week.

Mercedes Martinez vs. Valentina Feroz

Martinez forearms her in the face to start and hits a quick chokeslam. Feroz’s sleeper doesn’t work and a sunset flip fails even harder. The Air Raid Crash finishes Feroz with ease at 2:12. Martinez looked like a monster.

Post match Martinez says every woman here is on her radar, click click.

It’s time for the Female Competitor Of The Year:

Rhea Ripley

Io Shirai

Candice LeRae

Dakota Kai

Kay Lee Ray

Tegan Nox

Winner: Io Shirai.

Like it really could have been anyone else.

Shirai thanks the fans for voting for her and smiles a lot.

Now the Male Competitor Of The Year:

Finn Balor

Adam Cole

Johnny Gargano

Keith Lee

Walter

Tommaso Ciampa

Winner: Adam Cole.

Not much of an argument here, but it’s a bit closer than the women’s race.

Cole says he told us so but he couldn’t do it without the Undisputed Era. As cool as it is to win two of these in a row, Kyle O’Reilly winning the NXT Title next week is going to mean even more.

Pete Dunne vs. Roderick Strong

Strong chops him against the ropes to start as commentary actually brings up their time teaming together in the Dusty Classic in 2018. They run the ropes until Strong hits a clothesline and hammers Dunne down again. Dunne is back with a headlock but Strong slips out and hits the Sick Kick. With nothing else working, Dunne starts in on the fingers and bends the arm a bit.

Strong is right back with the first backbreaker to send Dunne outside and there’s a dropkick through the ropes. We take a break and come back with Dunne grabbing something like Rings of Saturn. That’s broken up so Dunne backflips over him out of the corner, only to get caught with a dropkick. Strong scores with a running knee in the corner and the running forearms against the rope has Dunne in more trouble.

The Angle Slam connects for two and Dunne heads outside, where Strong hits a full nelson slam onto the apron. Back in and Dunne counters the butterfly backbreaker into a triangle choke, which is countered into another backbreaker for another two. Strong forearms his way out of another triangle so Dunne kicks him in the face. Dunne finally snaps the fingers and the Bitter End finishes Strong at 13:40.

Rating: B. This was the kind of match you would expect from these two with Dunne absorbing everything Strong could throw at him until the fingers were too much of a weak spot. Dunne is starting to look a bit more like his UK self and that is very good for everyone involved.

It’s a big award with Match Of The Year:

Four Way Iron Man Match – Super Tuesday

Finn Balor vs. Kyle O’Reilly – Takeover: 31

Ilja Dragunov vs. Walter – NXT UK TV

Men’s WarGames – Takeover: WarGames

Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte vs. Io Shirai – Takeover: In Your House

Winner: Finn Balor vs. Kyle O’Reilly.

I liked Walter vs. Dragunov better but those two beat the heck out of each other and this gives them some more steam going into the rematch.

Finn Balor comes up to William Regal, who has the trophies. Balor says Regal can keep his, and he’ll give Kyle the award in person.

Balor is on his way to the ring and runs into Pete Dunne, telling him to get in line if he wants a title shot.

Video on the Fight Pit match next week.

Here’s Finn Balor to present Kyle O’Reilly with the trophy. Balor says he and O’Reilly had the Match of the Year, with O’Reilly proving that he belonged in this ring. O’Reilly deserves this….and here he comes to claim it. Balor says the award is his because Balor doesn’t need it. Instead, he has the NXT Title and three plates in his jaw to remind him of that day. That’s cool with O’Reilly, because the trophy means something to him.

It’s proof that he belongs here but he isn’t going to carry around a participation trophy. This is a reminder that he came up short in the fight of his life. He will do everything to become NXT Champion because it means he has done something in the last fifteen years. Balor says that’s great, but he’s going to do everything he can to make O’Reilly suffer. He is going to make O’Reilly wish that he (censored) the first time.

Cue Scarlett and Karrion Kross to interrupt and say that what’s in the ring belongs to them. It doesn’t matter who leaves with the title in seven days because their fate is already sealed. Kross says doomsday is here, tick tock. Damian Priest pops up behind him and hits Kross in the face as the fight is on. The Razor’s Edge on the ramp is broken up so Priest headbutts him down the ramp instead.

Kross drives him back first into the lighting structure but they go crashing through the Plexiglas. They fight into the back and then come through the curtain again with Kross hammering him on some anvil cases. They both crash down and Scarlett REALLY likes what she is seeing. Heck of a brawl here, but the O’Reilly/Balor segment was great.

We get a Rhea Ripley video, talking about how she and Raquel Gonzalez used to be close at the Performance Center. They wanted to be sisters, which Ripley never had before. Now they even have matching RNR tattoos on their fingers. Raquel has changed though and now her ego has grown over Rhea’s success. Gonzalez talks about how she is the biggest and baddest woman in NXT and maybe she has been playing this game since the beginning. Ripley doesn’t seem to buy it and now they’re ready to fight again. That’s better backstory than I would have bet on seeing.

Here’s Legado del Fantasma in the ring for a chat. Santos Escobar tells them to enjoy the year because it was a great one for the three of them, but especially him. His lack of awards is a sham because he’s here to dominate, which is what he has done. William Regal is trying to find the next challenger for the NXT Title because no one can touch him. No one is going to belong in this ring with him because they are the leaders of lucha libre. Cue the Lucha House Party of all people (who somehow have never wrestled on NXT TV) and after some shouting in Spanish, it’s lucha time.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Lucha House Party

Escobar offers a quick distraction so Legado can jump them from behind, only to get caught with a double Golden Rewind. A double dropkick to the floor sets up stereo dives and we take a break before the bell. We’re joined in progress with Metalik splashing Mendoza for two as Barrett rants about how easy it is to beat the Miz. Dorado comes in but Mendoza gets in a dropkick to the ribs and a running clothesline in the corner.

The chinlock goes on for a bit but Dorado gets up top for a high crossbody. The hot tag brings in Metalik for a superkick to Mendoza, followed by a reverse Sling Blade. There’s the rope walk dropkick for two and a super hurricane drops Mendoza again. Metalik’s top rope splash connects with Wilde having to make a save. There’s a running hurricanrana to send Wilde to the floor and the inverted hurricanrana plants Mendoza. The rope walk elbow is good for the pin on Mendoza at 3:51.

Rating: C. They packed some nice stuff into the short time that they had, but the important thing here is getting to see some mostly unused main roster names getting a chance in NXT. I have no idea if this lasts beyond tonight but having Lucha House Party here, possibly to go after the Cruiserweight Title, is a good thing. It’s not like they’re doing anything important on Raw.

Next up is Future Star Of The Year:

Austin Theory

Jake Atlas

Leon Ruff

Kacy Catanzaro

Kayden Carter

Indi Hartwell

Xia Li

A-Kid

Aoife Valkyrie

Pretty Deadly

Winner: Austin Theory.

Given that he wrestled at Wrestlemania, it’s kind of hard to argue against him, especially with Ruff’s title win being little more than a joke.

The Way tells Theory to share with Indi Hartwell, who is amazed to find out that the bell is real. Theory mentions the curse so Johnny Gargano throws his protein powder…..and breaks a mirror in the process. Then he accidentally walks underneath a ladder.

The final award is the Overall Competitor Of The Year.

Winner: Io Shirai.

She has been champion for a long time and has some awesome matches. What else do you need?

Shirai thanks the fans again.

North American Title: Johnny Gargano vs. Leon Ruff

Ruff is challenging and neither get an entrance. Gargano, with the Way at ringside, headlocks him down to start but gets rolled up for a fast two. A victory roll gets two more on Gargano and sends him outside for a breather. Austin Theory offers a distraction but Gargano misses the slingshot spear anyway. Back in and Ruff chops away but Gargano knocks him off the top and out tot he floor. Ruff gets sent into the barricade, only to have Ruff jump onto the cage barricade and come back off with a hurricanrana. Back in and a neckbreaker drops Ruff again and this time Gargano sends him into the steps.

We take a break and come back with Gargano snapping the arm but Ruff gets two off a backslide. Some crossbodies stagger Gargano and a jumping neckbreaker out of the corner puts him down again. Ruff hits a German suplex into a corkscrew Cannonball for two. A rebound lariat drops Gargano again but he pops back up with a superkick.

The Lawn Dart sets up a low superkick for two on Ruff, followed by the discus lariat. Gargano powerbombs him into the Gargano Escape, with Ruff going straight to the rope. The Lawn Dart into the barricade is broken up so Ruff goes to the apron for a jumping cutter onto the floor. Back in and the frog splash gives Ruff two so he takes Gargano up top. That’s fine with Gargano, who drops him hard face first onto the turnbuckle. One Final Beat breaks the curse at 14:13.

Rating: C+. The lack of drama hurt things a bit here but the action was good, which is what carried this over the finish line. This almost has to be it for Ruff and after as much as he got out of the run with the title, I’m thinking he’ll be just fine. Gargano believing in the curse until the ending was a nice touch and the big relief on his face made it that much better.

Dexter Lumis pops up with a bunch of drawings to run down the New Year’s Evil card, including Gran Metalik vs. Santos Escobar for the Cruiserweight Title.

Overall Rating: B-. Good show here, but next week is the one that is really going to matter. This week was more about setting things up for New Year’s Evil, which is looking like it could be bigger than some Takeovers. If it’s anything like a usual big time NXT, they’re going to be just fine. This week was a good stepping stone to that, but it was nothing more than a stepping stone.

Results

Bronson Reed b. Isaiah Scott – Tsunami

Grizzled Young Veterans b. Breezango – Ticket To Mayhem to Breeze

Mercedes Martinez b. Valentina Feroz – Air Raid Crash

Pete Dunne b. Roderick Strong – Bitter End

Lucha House Party b. Legado del Fantasma – Rope walk elbow to Mendoza

Johnny Gargano b. Leon Ruff – One Final Beat

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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205 Live
Date: December 11, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

The rise of the new guys continues around here and that’s a good thing. Curt Stallion is leading the pack and I could go with the title match against Santos Escobar. It’s nice that they’re building things up a bit as while Stallion is unlikely to win the title, he is gaining a lot with the victories that are setting it up. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tony Nese/Ariya Daivari vs. Bollywood Boyz

Nigel dancing with the Bollywood Boyz is always worth a chuckle. Samir fights off the early double teaming attempt and it’s off to Sunil for two off a clothesline. A double suplex gets two more but the way too early Bollywood Blast attempt misses. Nese comes back in with a chinlock and then a torture rack, which looks quite impressive on someone who can be bent around like Samir.

That’s broken up and Nese dropkicks Daivari by mistake, allowing the hot tag to Sunil. Everything breaks down and the superkicks abound, meaning that NOW the Bollywood Blast can connect for two. Nese makes the save but it’s Daivari hitting a Rock Bottom on Samir. The Running Nese knocks out Sunil on the floor and the Persian Lion splash finishes Samir at 5:22.

Rating: C-. Just a match here as the Bollywood Boyz’ fall continues. It’s not a big deal to lose to Daivari and Nese, as they needed a boost after their losses to the young guys. It helps when the Boyz have more charisma than they know what to do with and my goodness it’s a lot easier to watch them as faces. Not a good match, but at least it helped the bigger names.

Curt Stallion/Ashante Adonis/August Grey vs. Legado del Fantasma

This is a rematch from the Takeover: WarGames bonus match, which apparently only aired on the YouTube channel a few days after the show. Adonis and Mendoza start things off with Adonis driving him into the corner without much trouble. They trade headlocks until Adonis shoulders him down. Wilde tries to come in and gets caught in a flapjack, followed by a kick to the face to put Escobar on the floor.

Stallion comes in but the distraction lets Mendoza knee him from behind to take over. Escobar hits a heck of a chop for two on Stallion but he kicks Wilde into the corner, allowing the tag to Grey. A gutwrench powerbomb gets two on Wilde and a victory roll gets the same on Mendoza. Escobar low bridges Grey to the floor though and it’s time to take Grey into the corner.

Some running clotheslines in the corner have Grey in more trouble and a suplex into a splash gives Mendoza two. We hit the cravate (with Escobar giving tips on how to crank) but Grey slips out and makes the hot tag to Stallion to clean house. Stallion’s top rope splash hits Wilde for two with Mendoza having to make the save. Everything breaks down and Stallion rolls Wilde up for the pin at 9:54.

Rating: C+. This is where 205 Live has been doing well as of late. No this stuff has no value anywhere else and no the title match isn’t going to be the most important thing, but they are making it feel like a big deal around here. The match and the build are being treated as something important and that is what makes this feel so much better. Good enough match too, with Stallion’s roll continuing.

Post match Escobar loads up a cheap shot on Stallion but Grey and Adonis make the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. The main event means a lot more and it carries the show well enough. I’m not sure when they are finally going to get to the title match, but they have done a good job of turning what should be nothing into something I kind of want to see. That’s amazing for a show like 205 Live and this is working out rather well. Good enough show here though and that means a lot for probably the lowest show on the WWE menu.

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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

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

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

NXT
Date: December 2, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

It’s the go home show for Takeover: WarGames and that means it’s time for another ladder match (yes I said another ladder match). There is also one last spot to be filled on Team Blackheart and there is a chance that could be revealed tonight. Other than that, it’s time for the final push towards Sunday and that is where NXT shines. Let’s get to it.

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

The roster, including the bosses, are on the stage for an In Memory Of Pat Patterson graphic.

We get the big video tribute, set to Patterson singing My Way, as only it could be. That’s a big one as Patterson really was one of the forces in WWE and an absolute genius at all things wrestling.

The roster gives us a THANK YOU PAT chant in a pretty emotional moment.

Opening sequence.

Damian Priest/Leon Ruff vs. Legado del Fantasma

Johnny Gargano is on commentary and Priest seems to be replacing Curt Stallion, who was jumped by Legado del Fantasma. Earlier today, Priest attacked Joaquin Wilde for sticking a finger in his face, meaning there is no Wilde here with Santos Escobar/Raul Mendoza. Ruff insists that he gets to start with Escobar as Gargano explains what a dad joke is supposed to be. Escobar gets taken down early but Ruff is pulled into the corner for a tag off to Mendoza.

That doesn’t go well for Ruff and it’s already back to Escobar for a jumping knee to the face. Priest comes in for a change and has some trouble with the faster Mendoza. They head outside with Mendoza getting sent into the barricade but Priest is distracted by the Ghost Face in the crowd. That’s enough for Escobar to hit a suicide dive and we take a break. Back with Priest grabbing Mendoza by the throat but getting dropkicked by Escobar.

A suplex gives Escobar two and it’s time to start working on Priest’s knee. Priest is fine enough to power up with a Downward Spiral to Escobar but he’s a little hesitant to bring in Ruff. He finally does though and it’s time to clean some house but a Mendoza cheap shot puts Ruff down. That’s only enough to knock Ruff over to the corner for the hot tag to Priest and now it’s time for the real house cleaning. Priest loads up the Reckoning but Ruff tags himself in. That’s fine with Priest, who Reckonings Mendoza, setting up Ruff’s frog splash for the pin at 12:23.

Rating: C. I don’t need Priest and Ruff as a big man/little man tag team (not without whistling music) but for a one off to build Ruff up a bit, it did well enough. They were also smart enough to not have Escobar take the pin, which shouldn’t be happening anytime soon. I’m curious about Stallion being gone and hopefully it isn’t a health issue, but maybe it’s better to not have him in a spot like this just yet.

Post match Priest shakes Ruff’s hand but turns around to see two Ghost Faces behind Gargano.

We look back at the end of last week’s show with a masked man costing the Undisputed Era the WarGames advantage.

Rhea Ripley and Ember Moon show Shotzi Blackheart an engine for their war machine. Blackheart thinks she’s in love and is ready to go to war.

We look at Undisputed Era’s history in WarGames. The team is together (in suits for a change) and getting ready for one more match, even after Pat McAfee and company have been taking them apart a few times. They’re ready to go to war but their backs are against the wall. This time though, they’re going to make McAfee and company their b******. This did a nice job of making the Era look good, though don’t we already kind of know that?

Team LeRae laughs off the idea of anything from Team Blackheart. The team is ready to fight and Raquel Gonzalez is going to gain the advantage. Tonight, Blackheart is going to feel like she has been run over by a tank.

August Grey vs. Cameron Grimes

Grimes has a bag with him and pulls out the strap. Some kicks to the chest have Grey in trouble to start and there’s a hard whip into the corner. Grey manages a dropkick and a jawbreaker, followed by a running neckbreaker to rock Grimes. Back up and Grimes sends him to the apron, with Grey going up top for a rope walk spinning high crossbody. Grey’s rollup gets two but he gets caught in a swinging Side Effect. The Cave In finishes Grey at 2:17.

Post match Grimes says Dexter Lumis is making a mistake with the strap match and ties Grey by the wrist. A clothesline drops Grey again and the whipping ensues. Grimes gets a little too cocky though and here’s Lumis to take Grey’s place. The beating is on with Grimes being sent running off. Lumis stares a lot because that’s what Lumis does.

Jake Atlas vs. Tony Nese

Atlas armdrags him into an armbar to start and Nese hides in the ropes for a bit. A dropkick sends Nese outside but he’s fine enough to crotch Atlas on the top back inside. We cut to the back where Pat McAfee and Company arrive and come back to full screen with Nese kneeing Atlas in the face. The torture rack keeps Atlas in trouble but he’s right back with a few right hands. Some forearms give Atlas two but Nese is back with a throat snap across the top rope into a low superkick. Nese misses a running knee in the corner though and the cartwheel DDT gives Atlas the pin at 5:24.

Rating: C. This was at least partially there as filler so we could see McAfee and Company arrive. Nese didn’t even get an entrance here so you can only expect so much out of him here. Atlas is still someone who seems like they want to push but he often fails as he gets close to the next level, though he is starting to seem a little more comfortable around here.

Post match Atlas says that bad things have happened around here but he’s not going to stop. One day, he is going to be Cruiserweight Champion.

Here are McAfee And Company for their weekly chat. McAfee says rest in peace to Pat Patterson, who he respects and appreciates. Then you go to the opposite end of the respect spectrum with every wrestling fan at home and here tonight, plus the Undisputed Era. Earlier tonight, we had to see a night out with the Undisputed Era, which was the lamest night out McAfee had ever seen in his entire life.

That was all about nostalgia BROTHER, so let’s do that themselves. McAfee talks about investing into greatness here because he has more money than anyone here has ever seen. He talks about how great they are and talks about Pete Dunne being the longest reigning United Kingdom Champion. Last week, Dunne won a ladder match, with the help of a masked man (who must be handsome and athletic under the mask, but it certainly wasn’t him) and on Sunday, they will have the advantage as a result.

Then you have thirty years of experience between the Tag Team Champions, who have finally gotten the chance that they deserve. McAfee wants everyone to watch on Sunday because he wants them to feel every single bit of pain. You can tune in to see him get hut, but the truth is that these guys broke the Undisputed Era’s spirit. Dunne says the Era is done this Sunday. McAfee wraps it up and continues to make me want to hear him talk more and more.

Quick video on the Grizzled Young Veterans.

The older man makes Boa and Xia Li dunk their heads under water. They then bow to him, only to be attacked from behind. I’m still not sure what to make of these things.

Ever Rise vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Hang on though as here is Imperium to jump Ever Rise and say this is their tag division. They want the Veterans right now so let’s do this instead.

Imperium vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Aichner works on Gibson’s arm to start and hands it off to Barthel for more of the same. Drake comes in to slug away at Barthel but gets taken into the corner as well, meaning Imperium can start taking turns on him. A suplex doesn’t work though and it’s back to Gibson to clean a bit of house. An armdrag into a headscissors doesn’t do much to Aichner so they hiptoss each other to the floor.

Back from a break with Aichner in trouble, including a spinwheel kick from Drake to give Gibson two. Drake gets dropped ribs first onto the top rope though and Gibson gets catapulted into the corner to put him in trouble. The stereo dropkicks in the corner set up White Noise to give Barthel two. Gibson gets in a shot to the throat to slow Barthel down but Aichner breaks up the tag attempt (even though Drake is still down on the floor).

A spinebuster into a kick to the face into a tilt-a-whirl faceplant gets two as frustration begins to set in. Aichner’s moonsault hits knees though and now the tag brings in Drake. Aichner catches Drake on top for a superplex though and Gibson has to make a save this time. With everyone else on the floor, Aichner hits a huge dive, only to have Ever Rise come in to send Barthel into the steps for the DQ at 14:04.

Rating: C+. This was getting going near the end and that’s kind of hard to do in a heel vs. heel match. Thank goodness there was no indication that either side was turning, as it would be quite the bad idea all around. The Veterans needed a win here though and I’m not sure why they didn’t get one, when you could have had Ever Rise cost Imperium the match instead. Also, as usual, Imperium without Walter isn’t worth much of your time.

During the break, Ever Rise ran off while still talking trash.

It’s time for Thatch As Thatch Can. Thatcher talks about how tired he is of all the interruptions….and Tommaso Ciampa is behind him. Ciampa says he’s here to teach and class is in session. Thatcher says he doesn’t want any trouble and then tackles Ciampa down, with Ciampa getting the better of things (Ciampa: “LESSON #1: DON’T BE AN A**!”). Thatcher’s student gets in a cheap shot from behind though and the beating is on, with Thatcher choking Ciampa out.

WarGames rundown.

Thatcher is proud of his student and says on Sunday, Ciampa is going to learn respect.

Raquel Gonzalez vs. Shotzi Blackheart

Ladder match for the WarGames advantage. Shotzi kicks away to start but misses a charge in the corner. Gonzalez gets her in an over the shoulder backbreaker before flipping her down and grabbing the hair (kind of an easy target). Blackheart gets knocked off the apron so it’s time to set up the first ladder. A dropkick through said ladder has Gonzalez down but she manages to drop Blackheart face first onto a ladder.

Gonzalez starts heading back in so Blackheart jumps on her back. That doesn’t work either as Gonzalez sends her into the barricade, only to have Blackbeard send her leg first into the steps. A dropkick sends Gonzalez into the steps as well and a Coffin Drop off the barricade puts them both down.

Back from a break with Shotzi hitting a DDT onto the apron for another double knockdown. Gonzalez is right back with a steps shot to the face and it’s time to set up the ladder in the ring. Shotzi makes another save and they take turns sending each other into the ladder. Said ladder is laid over the middle rope and Shotzi’s running inverted Cannonball sends Gonzalez into the ladder. With Gonzalez on the floor, Shotzi hits a big dive to take her down again.

The rest of the teams are looking on from their podiums but come to ringside to start the brawl at ringside. Indi Hartwell can’t get the briefcase down as Blackheart makes the save, only to have Gonzalez take Shotzi down. Gonzalez goes up but here’s Io Shirai to take her down. After sending Gonzalez outside, Shirai hits the huge moonsault onto everyone else. That’s enough for Blackheart to climb the ladder to win the briefcase at 14:39.

Rating: C+. Take two people, have them do a few big spots, then have the interference to set up the ending. This feels like your run of the mill ladder match these days and while it is still good enough, it isn’t exactly inspiring. Shotzi winning is a bit of a surprise, but they probably have a twist to put her team in trouble on Sunday. Fair enough, but this (and last week’s main event) didn’t need to be a ladder match.

Team Blackheart poses on the ladder to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was all about setting up Sunday but at the same time, the WarGames cage alone is going to be enough to sell the show. The rest of the stories are getting somewhere and while I don’t really need to see Lumis vs. Grimes, the card looks good enough to be a solid night. That’s what this show needed to establish and it did so well enough.

Results

Leon Ruff/Damian Priest b. Legado del Fantasma – Frog splash to Mendoza

Cameron Grimes b. August Grey – Cave In

Jake Atlas b. Tony Nese – Cartwheel DDT

Imperium b. Grizzled Young Veterans via DQ when Ever Rise interfered

Shotzi Blackheart b. Raquel Gonzalez – Blackheart pulled down the briefcase

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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

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

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

NXT
Date: October 21, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

Things continue to be in a weird place around here as we are still needing a big star. Finn Balor is still out injured and I’m not sure how things are going to go without something to focus on. Next week’s Halloween Havoc should help, but you can only get so far with so little to build around. Let’s get to it.

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

Kushida vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Velveteen Dream

The show takes a page from Dynamite’s playbook by starting with Kushida in the ring and Dream making his entrance, only to be jumped by Ciampa to start fast. Everyone gets in for the bell and it’s Dream being double teamed with a toss out to the floor. Back in and Ciampa sends Kushida into the corner before stomping on Dream’s hand. Kushida sends Ciampa head first into Dream’s ribs/lower than his ribs before going for Ciampa’s arm.

Ciampa takes them both down for two each and frustration starts early. A snap suplex hits Dream but Kushida is back up with a sunset flip for two on Ciampa. Dream sends them into each other in the corner but Ciampa is back with a bunch of chops. The Dream Valley Driver hits Kushida and Ciampa sends Dream outside as we take a break. Back with Kushida slapping on the cross armbreaker on Dream on the floor with Ciampa making an illogical save.

Kushida comes back in and kicks Ciampa in the arm until the Purple Rainmaker hits Kushida for two. Another Dream Valley Driver gets two on Ciampa with Kushida making a save of his own. Dream starts swiveling his hips so Kushida sends them both to the floor, setting up back to back flip dives. Kushida loads up another dive but charges into Willow’s Bell from Ciampa. That brings Dream back in to kick Ciampa in the face but Kushida kicks Dream to the floor. Willow’s Bell doesn’t work on Dream and Kushida sends both of them together, setting up a bridging German suplex to pin Ciampa at 15:33.

Rating: B. Aside from having Ciampa take the pin here, this was a good way to start things off. Kushida seems to be getting a nice push at the moment and if Johnny Gargano wins the North American Title, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him as the first challenger. Ciampa is just kind of floating here at the moment and Dream….yeah he’s still there too.

Adam Cole joins the Undisputed Era on a monitor and says the team is getting back on track, starting tonight.

Video on Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez.

Jessi Kamea vs. Ember Moon

Moon takes her down to start but Jessi switches places and hits a running elbow. The cravate doesn’t last long and Moon says Jessi screwed up. A running dropkick sets up a standing moonsault for two and it’s off to a crossface. That’s switched into something like an ankle lock but Jessi sends her into the corner for the break. Moon’s backsplash misses and Jessi is right back with a spinwheel kick. Moon is right back with a middle rope Codebreaker and something close to an STF makes Kamea tap at 4:00.

Rating: C. I can certainly go for Moon having something other than the Eclipse as an alternative finisher so that’s a good idea. Moon still doesn’t feel like a top star but if she is just here for a short term run before moving back up to the main roster (which may not be the best move) then it’s fine, but I’m not sure how well this current setup is going to work out.

Post match here’s Dakota Kai to lay Moon out.

Bobby Fish has been attacked backstage.

Bronson Reed vs. Austin Theory

Theory grabs a headlock as we’re told Fish is officially on his way to a hospital (!) and is out of tonight’s title match. Reed shoves him off with pure power but Theory is right back with a dropkick. It’s time to get smart with a shot to Reed’s knee but Reed is out of the chinlock in a hurry. A powerslam into a backsplash crushes Theory so Reed goes up, only to get caught with some chops. That’s broken up as well and the Tsunami finishes Theory at 3:26.

Rating: C-. The more I see of Theory, the more confused I am by what NXT is doing with him. You would think that he would be tailor made to be one of the next stars but for some reason he keeps losing over and over. It is turning into the losing streak deal that tends to happen over and over again which tends to just make the person losing look like a loser. The match was short too, with Theory being little more than an inconvenience for Reed. I don’t quite get it.

Post match Theory says we’re doing this again because he is the future around here.

Bronson Reed vs. Austin Theory

Pop up Samoan drop finishes Theory in 14 seconds.

Xia Li thanks Kacy Catanzaro for agreeing to face her tonight because she needs to win. Kacy is cool with some competition.

Post break, Austin Theory quits and leaves.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Isaiah Scott/Jake Atlas/Ashante Adonis

Legado bails to the floor at the bell before diving up to come in from different sides. Everyone pairs off and Atlas hammers away on Wilde as they settle down to a regular match. Adonis adds a shot to Wilde’s back and Atlas is back in with Three Amigos. Atlas manages to get up top while holding Wilde’s hand, kicks Santos down and headscissors Mendoza/wristdrags Wilde at the same time in a rather nifty display. Adonis teases a dive so Scott can hit the real dive as we take a break.

Back with Adonis fighting out of a chinlock but getting sent into the corner for an assisted moonsault from Wilde. The assorted villainous beatings continue with Mendoza cutting off a crawl towards the corner. Adonis finally kicks him away though and the hot tag brings in Wilde to clean house. Everything breaks down and it’s Scott coming in with the rolling Downward Spiral for two on Escobar. Mendoza and Scott slug it out on the apron and both wind up on the floor until Atlas and Wilde crash down onto them in a somewhat scary landing.

Scott throws Mendoza back inside for two off a flipping slam with Wilde making the save. It’s back to Adonis, who is hurricanranaed into Scott, leaving Escobar to dive onto Scott onto the announcers’ table. Atlas is right there with the cartwheel DDT to drop Escobar, leaving Adonis to take a running kick/Russian legsweep combination for the pin at 15:27.

Rating: B. This started off a bit slow but turned into some great action by the end. They had me wondering who was going to win in the last few minutes and that is a heck of a trick to pull off. Legado winning by beating one of the newcomers is a fine way to go, though I’m curious to see if Atlas is going to become the next challenger for the title. Good stuff here and it got that much better near the end.

We go to the Garganos’ house where they are practicing Spinning The Wheel To Make The Deal with a training wheel. Johnny is panicking and keeps spinning because he hates wheels and doesn’t like the outcome. He even storms off as Candice is left sitting there.

Ever Rise vs. Drake Maverick/Killian Dain

Dain orders the whistling music cut off this time. Maverick gets caught with a backbreaker/running knee to the head combination and some shots to the back make it worse. A step up elbow to the back keeps Maverick down but he makes a tag so Dain can run them over. Ever Rise cuts him off at the knee to set up a half crab, leaving Martel to shout that Dain is a loser, just like Maverick. That’s too far for Maverick, who sends him into the barricade and then hits Parker in the back with a chair for the DQ at 2:55.

Post match Maverick cleans house with the chair (without hitting anyone) as Dain is stunned. Dain loads up the right hand…..and then says THAT WAS AWESOME. The music plays and Drake dances, but that’s too far for Dain, who walks off.

Roderick Strong has been attacked as well.

Post break, Kyle O’Reilly says he isn’t wrestling tonight, even when Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch offer to team up with him. They can have the shot instead though, which is fine with Breezango.

Xia Li vs. Kacy Catanzaro

Kayden Carter is here with Catanzaro. Li grabs a rollup for two but Kacy is back with a running dropkick for the same. A chop knocks Catanzaro into the ropes and Li kicks her down for two. Back up and Catanzaro kicks away even more, setting up a quick rollup for the pin at 2:27. That was sudden.

Post match Li shoves Kacy down and says she should have won but here’s Raquel Gonzalez to wreck both of them, plus Carter. Gonzalez says this is what is waiting for Rhea Ripley next week.

Cameron Grimes is ready for his match next week against Dexter Lumis…until he finds out that it’s a Haunted House of Terror match. Grimes isn’t scared, despite a lot of stammering and Dexter watching through a window.

Video on Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae, with Shirai saying she can win any match on the wheel.

It’s time for a live edition of Thatch As Thatch Can. The student is Anthony Greene, who Thatcher thinks is named Andrew. Thatcher demonstrates how to hurt someone when they go for your leg and doesn’t like Greene glaring at him. Greene takes him down and grabs a front facelock, which seems to get on Thatcher’s nerves. Thatcher has a referee come in, decks Greene, and says ring the bell.

Anthony Greene vs. Timothy Thatcher

Thatcher drops him in a hurry, pounds away in the corner, and finishes with a half crab at 54 seconds.

Damian Priest is getting a new tattoo and is ready for Johnny Gargano next week.

Tag Team Titles: Danny Burch/Oney Lorcan vs. Breezango

Breezango is defending. Lorcan and Fandango start things off with Fandango grabbing the headlock. A shoulder puts Lorcan down and Fandango gets in a quick dance, only to get caught in a half crab. That’s broken up so Burch comes in for a double chop but it’s off to Breeze for a snap suplex. Some shoulders to the ribs in the corner have Burch in a bit of trouble. They head outside with Burch sending him hard into the barricade, only to have Breeze wrap Burch’s leg around the post.

We take a break and come back with Lorcan uppercutting Fandango for two but some clotheslines get Fandango out of trouble. Everyone brawls on the floor until Lorcan’s suicide dive is cut off with a kick to the head. Back in and the Falcon Arrow into the Last Dance gets two on Lorcan, with Fandango not being able to follow up. A half crab/Crossface combination has Breeze in trouble until Fandango makes the save and everyone is down.

We settle down to Breeze dropping elbows on Burch’s knee but getting crotched on top. Lorcan and Fandango come in without tags and everyone is down again. Double superkicks put both challengers down…and here’s a masked man to shove Fandango off the top. Burch hits Breeze low and the assisted DDT gives us new champions at 12:53.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t so much a good match as much as it was a necessary change. Breezango aren’t exactly the most serious team and the Tag Team Titles have long since been an important part of NXT. You aren’t going to get that potential show stealer out of Breezango most of the time so switching the titles was the right move. Lorcan and Burch needed to win something at some point too, or otherwise they’re just two guys who aren’t serious threats to anyone. This is what needed to happen and that’s a good thing.

Post match the masked man celebrates with the new champions and it’s….Pat McAfee. After praising Lorcan and Burch, McAfee throws up a mocking Undisputed Era pose to end the show. I usually don’t care for celebrities in wrestling but McAfee more than impressed in his limited time so this should work.

Overall Rating: B. The wrestling was better than it has been in recent weeks, though I’m not sure on some of the booking choices. What matters here is they made some moves that have me a little more interested and I could go for some more of this kind of show. It was one of the more well put together NXT’s in a good while and hopefully it is the start of a change, because NXT has been needing one for a bit now.

Results

Kushida b. Tommaso Ciampa and Velveteen Dream – German suplex to Ciampa

Ember Moon b. Jessi Kamea – STF

Bronson Reed b. Austin Theory – Tsunami

Bronson Reed b. Austin Theory – Pop up Samoan drop

Legado del Fantasma b. Ashante Adonis/Isaiah Scott/Jake Atlas – Running kick/Russian legsweep combination to Atlas

Ever Rise b. Drake Maverick/Killian Dain via DQ when Maverick used a chair

Kacy Catanzaro b. Xia Li – Victory roll

Timothy Thatcher b. Anthony Greene – Half crab

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch b. Breezango – Elevated DDT to Breeze

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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

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

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

NXT
Date: October 14, 2020
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett

Things are in a weird place at the moment as Finn Balor is out recovering from his broken jaw and some of the returning and newer stars are doing what they can to get over again. I’m not sure how that is going to go but it is a transitional time at the moment. Maybe things can get better again in the near future though because it has been a rough time. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Here’s the Undisputed Era for a chat before their match. Kyle O’Reilly says he’ll be cleared next week but Adam Cole still has broken ribs. They never got their hands on Ridge Holland but if they had, he would have been in the same hospital bed he is in right now. It’s time for the Golden Prophecy to return and tonight, they’re becoming #1 contenders to the Tag Team Titles.

Undisputed Era vs. Danny Burch/Oney Lorcan

The winner gets a title shot next week. Strong headlocks Lorcan to start but gets taken down into a headscissors on the mat. Burch comes in and works on O’Reilly’s arm but it’s off to Fish to pick up the pace. A slingshot hilo misses Burch though and he uppercuts Fish down. It’s time to work on Fish’s arm, followed by a double Russian legsweep. O’Reilly tries to come in but gets suplexed onto Fish for two.

We hit the armbar on the mat to keep Fish down and it’s a seated armbar for a change. Some chops get Fish out of trouble though and we see Breezango sitting near the top of the arena as we take a break. Back with Fish chopping out of the corner but getting pulled into a Boston crab. That’s broken up as well but Fish comes in off the top….with a missed headbutt.

The hot tag brings in Burch to clean house, including a pop up powerbomb for two on O’Reilly. A Samoan drop plants Burch but he fights out of a fireman’s carry. The double middle rope dropkick puts the Era down and Lorcan is back in to run O’Reilly over. The Era counters the double submission into a rollup for two but it’s the spike DDT for two on O’Reilly. Lorcan is rammed into Burch though and O’Reilly hits a jumping knee for the pin at 13:28.

Rating: C+. Good, action based match here with the Era getting the win to move on. That being said, I really don’t need to see the Era getting another title shot after they have long since established themselves as the top team in NXT history. They had a good match here though and it worked out well, though I’m almost scared to see how it is going to go against Breezango.

We look at Finn Balor undergoing surgery to repair his broken jaw. He’ll be out for a bit but should not have to vacate the NXT Title.

Video on Ember Moon, who has been out for a long time now but came back, wanting her Women’s Title again. She has to go through a who’s who to get there and if that is what she has to do to get to Io Shirai, so be it. They’re betting a lot on Ember’s star power and I’m really not sure it’s there.

Jake Atlas vs. Ashante Adonis

Adonis grabs a sunset flip for two to start and they trade a few grapples. With that not going anywhere, Adonis kicks him in the face to set up a strike off. Cue Legado del Sol though and it’s a rollup to give Atlas the pin at 1:45.

Post match Legado jumps Adonis but Atlas makes the save. Santos Escobar comes out to glare at them so the trio heads to the ring, with Isaiah Scott coming in with chairs to make Legado think twice about it.

Candice LeRae calls herself the uncrowned Women’s Champion and Johnny Gargano wants to know why Dexter Lumis is getting a North American Title shot. Gargano: “HE DRAWS PICTURES! AND KIDNAPPED A GUY!” Gargano isn’t worried about Austin Theory because it’s time to teach him a wrestling lesson.

Johnny Gargano vs. Austin Theory

Gargano takes him down into a front facelock to start but Theory pops up with a headlock. That earns Theory a dropkick and it’s Gargano chopping him into the corner. The armbar goes on and it’s Theory in more trouble early on. Gargano takes him to the match but the threat of the Gargano Escape sends Theory over to the ropes. Back up and Theory hits a hard clothesline into a standing moonsault for two.

Gargano takes him into the corner but Theory kicks away from the apron and hits a rolling dropkick to take over. The slingshot spear gets Gargano out of trouble though and we take a break. Back with Gargano working on an abdominal stretch but Theory slips out and hits a quick suplex. Theory hits a slingshot stomp to the chest and another suplex plants him.

A superkick into a brainbuster onto the knee gets two but Gargano gets up a boot in the corner. Gargano goes up to the middle rope but his crossbody is pulled out of the air. Theory stacks Gargano up for two and it’s time to slug it out. Gargano hits a heck of a superkick, which sets up the Lawn Dart into the corner. One Final Beat finishes Theory at 14:17.

Rating: B-. This got some time and Theory loses to someone who he has no business beating. They’re doing something nice with Theory by having him rubbing elbows with bigger names and getting the chance to show that he can hang with them for a bit. He’ll need some kind of a change in the future to make him into a star, but the base is starting out rather well.

Raquel Gonzalez is ready to face Rhea Ripley in two weeks so here’s Rhea for the near brawl, with agents holding them back.

Tommaso Ciampa is not happy with Velveteen Dream and is coming for him.

Shotzi Blackheart vs. Candice LeRae

The winner gets a Women’s Title shot at Halloween Havoc. They lock up to start with Shotzi pulling on the arm and sliding underneath a clothesline. The reverse Cannonball against the ropes misses so Shotzi settles for a kick to the head instead. A shoulder to the ribs puts Shotzi outside but they switch places, with Shotzi hitting a suicide dive (possibly getting caught in the ropes on the way) to take over again.

Back in and Candice grabs a jawbreaker but walks into a fireman’s carry facebuster onto the knee. Candice knocks her down and hits a Hennig necksnap for two. The seated armbar keeps Shotzi down and it’s off to the neck crank for a change of pace. Candice knocks her into the corner and they head to the apron, with Shotzi being sent into the post before she can knock Candice silly. A running faceplant sends Shotzi face first into the apron and we take a break.

Back with Shotzi hitting a dropkick into the corner and a reverse Sling Blade to drop Candice again. Now the running reverse Cannonball to the back connects but the top rope backsplash hits Candice’s raised knees. Candice catches her on the ropes with a release German suplex, followed by a low superkick for two. Shotzi is back up with a tiger suplex for two, only to get caught with a Backstabber.

The Lionsault gives Candice two but Candice is back with Cattle Mutilation, albeit with Candice sitting down instead of laying on her face. Candice makes it over to the rope but gets sent into the corner. Shotzi goes up for a top rope Thesz press but Candice rolls outside before the top rope backsplash. With Candice rolling outside, Indi Hartwell slips her an object and it’s a knockout shot to pin Blackheart at 15:38.

Rating: B. That’s the best match I’ve ever seen from the two of them and that’s a great sign for the future. Blackheart gets cheated out of the win and assuming Candice wins the title at Halloween Havoc, a Takeover rematch with Blackheart would make a lot of sense. As for this one, these two beat the heck out of each other and it was very good stuff, especially for two people who haven’t reached that level before, at least around here.

Earlier today, Drake Maverick had a marketing presentation for Killian Dain, completely with costumes (Drake: “Fishnets are in!”) and a team name of the Furry and the Fury. It’s all going to fit together tonight when they face Imperium. Dain: “WE HAVE A MATCH TONIGHT???”

Video on Toni Storm.

Robert Stone is here with Aliyah to talk about how great the Robert Stone Brand is. And then this.

Toni Storm vs. Aliyah

Storm gets the rockstar entrance and headbutts Aliyah down to start. A running basement dropkick gives Storm two but Aliyah gets in a running dropkick in the corner for two. Aliyah’s swinging neckbreaker gets two and we hit the double arm crank. Storm fights up and snaps off a German suplex into the corner, setting up the running hip attack. There’s the running clothesline into Storm Zero for the pin at 2:29. Storm feels like a star and that’s all that mattered here.

William Regal isn’t happy with how Candice LeRae became #1 contender but he’s thinking of upping the stakes in her title match with Io Shirai. In addition, in two weeks, it’s Raquel Gonzalez vs. Rhea Ripley. Xia Li, with Boa, comes up and says she needs to compete. Regal says he’ll take it into consideration.

Drake Maverick/Killian Dain vs. Imperium

Dain still doesn’t like the whistling entrance and throws Drake into the ring for trying to dance. Aichner gets thrown down to start and Dain pulls Maverick over the top (that’s a tag) and onto Aichner for two. A hard clothesline takes Maverick down though and the beating is on in the corner. Barthel comes in, hits him in the face a few times, and hands it back to Aichner.

A quick low bridge allows the hot tag to Dain, who can’t quite suplex them both at once. Aichner manages a spinebuster to allow Barthel to add a kick to the chest. Dain is right back up and gets over for the tag to Maverick. That’s about all of the good things for the team though as Maverick gets taken down in a hurry and it’s the Imperial Implosion (no longer the European Bomb) for the pin at 3:48.

Rating: C-. They’re keeping these matches short and that is the right idea for a team like Maverick and Dain. There is a nice enough idea for the team but you are only going to be able to keep them out there for so long, at least at this point. They can grow into that in the future, but for now it isn’t working. Then there’s Imperium, who shouldn’t be allowed around that long either, though for fear of having everyone around fall asleep.

Post match Dain leaves so it’s Ever Rise running in to go after Maverick. Dain comes back in for the save, saying that no one hits Maverick but him. And there’s your big turning point.

North American Title: Damian Priest vs. Dexter Lumis

Lumis is challenging. They fight over a lockup to start with Lumis being sent into the ropes and coming back with a glare to make Priest back off. An armdrag into an armbar has Lumis down before Priest hits a quick Old School into a crossbody. Back up and Lumis hits a Thesz press to hammer away so Priest kicks him in the face. The running jumping elbow in the corner sets up the Broken Arrow for two on Lumis.

We take a break and come back with Lumis hammering away and grabbing a bulldog out of the corner. A spinebuster gives Lumis two more but Priest is back up with a kick to the head. The Downward Spiral gets two and it’s an ankle lock (remember that Lumis missed time with an ankle injury) to have Lumis in big trouble. He finally kicks away though and grabs a belly to back suplex for a double knockdown.

Lumis nips up and jumps into a legdrop for two but the Swanton misses. A heck of a clothesline sets up a missed spinning kick to the head so Lumis hits the Side Effect into Silent. Priest gets his foot in the rope but here’s Cameron Grimes for a Cave In on Lumis (Priest didn’t see it). South of Heaven retains the title at 12:08.

Rating: C-. In case you didn’t have enough proof of it before, Dexter Lumis is not interesting. His whole deal seems to be that he stares at people and I have no idea why that is supposed to be enough to make me interested in him. Grimes can probably get something out of him, but he is one of the few who could. This didn’t work very well, but a lot of that is on trying to make Lumis seem important.

Post match Grimes goes after Lumis but Priest makes the save, telling Grimes to stay out of his business. Gargano pops up to chair Priest down, but here’s William Regal to say they will both get title shots at Halloween Havoc. There’s more though, so here’s Shotzi Blackheart to announce that the matches will be…..SPIN THE WHEEL MAKE THE DEAL. That was one of my favorite gimmicks back in the day so this is a great surprise.

The show had a four minute overrun, which isn’t the norm around here.

Overall Rating: B-. This is where NXT TV shines: they had goals they needed to accomplish and then did just that, which is one of the most important things that they can do. They had good (not great) matches tonight, but what matters the most is that Halloween Havoc is feeling fun. Takeover: 31 felt like something that we had to do just because it was there. This is coming off as something they have set up to make into a cool show, which is where NXT tends to be best. Good show here, and it felt like a return to what works for them.

Results

Undisputed Era b. Danny Burch/Oney Lorcan – Jumping knee to Lorcan

Jake Atlas b. Ashante Adonis – Rollup

Johnny Gargano b. Austin Theory – One Final Beat

Candice LeRae b. Shotzi Blackheart – Right hand with brass knuckles

Toni Storm b. Aliyah – Storm Zero

Imperium b. Drake Maverick/Killian Dain – Imperial Implosion to Maverick

Damian Priest b. Dexter Lumis – South Of Heaven

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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

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

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

205 Live
Date: October 2, 2020
Host: Vic Joseph

So it’s time for a special show, possibly due to high levels of Coronavirus, where we will be looking at Isaiah Scott vs. Santos Escobar for the Cruiserweight Title at Sunday’s Takeover rather than having anything original. Since this week’s NXT didn’t really get to showcase the match very much, this is as good of an idea as they can have for this show. Let’s get to it.

Vic Joseph runs down the Takeover card before getting to our feature presentation. This means a long history lesson between the two of them, starting with this from the April 29 NXT.

Interim Cruiserweight Title Tournament Group B: Isaiah Scott (0 – 1) vs. El Hijo de Fantasma (1 – 0)

Fantasma wastes no time in going for a rollup and takes Scott down a few more times. Scott nips right back up into an anklescissors though and Fantasma needs a breather on the floor. That’s fine with Scott, who follows him to the floor and is promptly enziguried straight back down. They wind up standing on the middle rope at the same time so Scott grabs a jumping hurricanrana for two. A kick to the face puts Fantasma on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Fantasma hitting a basement dropkick to put Scott in the corner, setting up some running knees to the chest. Fantasma’s frog splash gets two but Scott muscles him up with a German suplex. They head outside with Scott’s big dive missing, allowing Fantasma to hit his running dive. The Phantom Driver is countered and it’s a crucifix to give Scott the pin at 11:23.

Rating: C+. That’s a good decision as Scott gets to be back in the hunt here, making me wonder what might happen with the rest of the tournament. Hopefully things keep going as I’m liking the format so far. They need to do something like this to fill in a bunch of time as they can only do so much with such a limited crew.

Escobar would go on to win the tournament but Scott would get the first title shot on NXT, August 26.

Cruiserweight Title: Isaiah Scott vs. Santos Escobar

Escobar is defending and is on his own this week. Scott wastes no time in hurricanranaing him out to the floor and we take an early break. Back with Escobar working a headlock but getting reversed into something like a Gory Stretch. That’s broken up so Scott goes for the short armscissors which sends Escobar to the floor. Escobar catches him with a toss from the apron into the Plexiglas though and Scott is in trouble.

A drop onto the steps gives Escobar two back inside and the pace slows down a bit. Scott manages to grab a knuckle lock and they both go to the middle rope. That means an attempt at a jumping hurricanrana from Scott but Escobar reverses into a super sitout powerbomb for another near fall as we take another break. Back with Escobar hammering away against the ropes but Scott reverses and unloads in the corner. A backbreaker sends Escobar outside again and the Fosbury Flop takes him down.

Back in and the rolling Downward Spiral gives Scott two more but here is the rest of Legado for the distraction. A jumping superkick gives Escobar two so here is Breezango to take out Legado. Scott’s jumping knee to the face gets two and a bridging German suplex is good for the same. The House Call gives Scott another two and a flipping slam out of the corner gets yet another near fall. Escobar bails to the floor and puts on a mask, which seems to be loaded. A headbutt knocks Scott silly to retain the title at 16:45.

Rating: B-. They did a nice job here and the false finish off the Legado interference was well done. Escobar cheating on his own to retain gives him another way to keep the title and that’s a good thing for him. You can have the goons if you want but at some point you have to win on your own, which he did here (cheating included). Scott could get a rematch and that’s a good thing, mainly because I’m not sure who else there is to go after the title.

Then their friends got involved. From NXT, September 1.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Breezango/Isaiah Scott

Street fight with weapons around the ring. It’s a huge brawl to start with everyone going after each other and hitting/throwing people into the weapons. A table is set up at ringside and Fandango puts a ladder on his head for the helicopter spot. Beth calls this innovative because it’s been a good while since ECW was around. Scott kicks a trashcan lid into Mendoza’s face and then knees Escobar in the face. Breeze sprays a fire extinguisher to clean house and we take a break.

Back with Scott kicking his way out of trouble but being knocked to the floor for a heck of a suicide dive from Escobar. Breezango tries to get back up but here’s Imperium to jump Breeze for a four on one beatdown. They get back inside but Scott and Fandango are standing on top of a well placed forklift to dive onto all four of them. Breeze is back in to clean house, followed by Breezango diving onto everyone but Escobar on the floor. Scott is alone with Escobar inside and it’s the JML Driver to give Scott the pin at 11:56.

Rating: C+. They got the important part here and the rest is pretty much gravy. Breezango still feel like they are going to be the most transitional champions in a long time but at least they might get another win over Imperium first. The match was entertaining enough with the dives looking good and the right ending so not too bad.

Takeover rundown.

We’ll wrap it up with this, from NXT, September 30.

We get a sitdown interview between Santos Escobar and Isaiah Scott. Isaiah talks about how he’s the only person to beat Escobar in NXT and he’ll win the title on Sunday. Escobar calls Scott a loose end that he’ll tie up at Takeover. The match will be fair, but Scott doesn’t seem convinced. Why does Escobar always have the bag of tricks or Legado del Fantasma? Escobar calls those excuses but Scott says he’s ready to showcase what he is really capable of. It’s time to reveal Escobar as a fraud, but Escobar says he’ll expose Scott as a failure. This got me a little more interested in the title match so it did what it was supposed to do.

Overall Rating: B. I never know how to rate shows like this as they exist for one purpose. This one achieved that purpose rather well though as I went from barely caring about the match to wanting to see it, as I believe there is a chance for a title change. That isn’t something I would have expected to see, but they made it work well here. Good show with good matches and it could lead to a good showdown. That’s, uh, good.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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

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

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