IMG Credit: WWE

It’s that time again. There may not be a series of wrestling shows with the reputation of NXT: Takeover. The shows have hovered somewhere around great and often moved up to show of the year on a number of occasions. Saturday will see a milestone version with the thirtieth edition, but things aren’t as hot as they usually are. NXT has had that feeling before, but I’m not sure if they can shake it off this time. Hopefully I’m wrong though so let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Legado del Fantasma vs. Breezango vs. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch

This is for a future Tag Team Title shot, assuming you can remember who the Tag Team Champions even are at the moment. The tag division has taken some major hits over the last few months and this is the second straight Takeover without the titles being defended. I can’t say I’m overly surprised as Imperium aren’t the most thrilling challengers, but they need to do something sooner rather than later.

I’ll take Burch and Lorcan to win here, as they haven’t been around much lately but it is going to be a little easier to take them seriously than Imperium. Throw in that they would give Imperium a better match than Breezango and this should be an easy pick. That is assuming they aren’t going to give the rest of Legado the titles to make all three members champions, which is certainly a possibility. Either way, I’ll take Lorcan and Burch with pretty minimal confidence.

Women’s Title: Io Shirai(c) vs. Dakota Kai

This one hasn’t been all that thrilling so far as Kai seems dangerous, but not dangerous enough to be a real threat to win the title. It was like she needed something extra to boost her chances of winning the title, like someone who could give Shirai more of a run for her money. Maybe a monster enforcer who could be a physical threat to Shirai and who destro…yeah you get what I’m going for here. Raquel Gonzalez is back and Shirai could be in trouble.

I want to go with Kai here but I can’t bring myself to say it. Therefore I’ll take Shirai to retain, as Mercedes Martinez seems destined to be the next big threat to come after the title. Kai has been a heck of an even woman in recent months and throwing Gonzalez in helps a lot, but I don’t think it’s enough to get her the title. Considering how goofy and innocent Kai used to be, her transformation has been remarkable but it isn’t enough to get her to the promised land just yet.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Finn Balor

Sometimes you need a good grudge match and that’s what we have here. This is also the kind of match that the show needed to help boost things up and hopefully that is what we are going to be getting. Balor and Thatcher both lost to Dexter Lumis in a North American Title qualifying match and Thatcher isn’t happy as he took the fall. He cost Balor his second chance match and here we are.

Give me Balor to win here, as somehow he needs to get back on track. At the same time, Thatcher is someone who needs his second big win as he has only defeated Matt Riddle in the cage match. That being said, Balor has only lost in one singles match ever at Takeover and I’m not sure I can see Thatcher adding his name to the Samoa Joe list. Balor wins here, but I’m really not convinced.

Adam Cole vs. Pat McAfee

This is being treated as more of the main event than anything else on the show. It’s the old wrestler vs. football player match, but in this case, McAfee might be the best talker in the promotion. I’ve wanted to hear someone shut him up because he really is that great of a villain, but I don’t want to hear Cole be the one to shut him up. Cole has spent a year as the top heel in the promotion. I need a reason to cheer him, not just to boo McAfee.

Of course I’ll go with Cole here, as there isn’t much of a reason to have him lose to the outside here. Cole can be turned face (anyone can) but having him getting beaten down by McAfee isn’t an idea that has legs. Go with what makes sense here in the big mess, as McAfee has a weapon in the big kick but doesn’t need to win here. Then again there is a chance that he could as he could have something bigger in mind as part of Cole’s redemption, but I’ll play it safe and go with Cole winning here.

North American Title: Bronson Reed vs. Damian Priest vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Velveteen Dream

Sometimes in wrestling you need a new champion and the best solution is to hang the title above the ring so a bunch of wrestlers can try to climb a ladder and pull it down. Ok so wrestling can be a little strange at times but that’s what makes it so much fun. That is what we have here as Keith Lee vacated the title after winning the NXT Title, meaning it’s time for some multiman carnage.

You could go in a bunch of ways here but I’ll take Grimes to win as he has been rather impressive for a long time now. Gargano is fine without the title, Dream is….moving on, Reed and Priest don’t make the most sense as winning here and Grimes has been outstanding as of late. Go with the best choice and someone who could get a long way with the title, which is where Grimes comes in.

NXT Title: Keith Lee(c) vs. Karrion Kross

And now we have a heck of a hoss fight to wrap things up. Lee won the title back in early July and Kross has targeted him ever since. Kross has since choked out Dominick Dijakovic and burned Lee with a fireball, meaning it’s time for a big fight. This could be an interesting way to go as they both seem unstoppable, which is where you can tell they have a good match going.

I think I’ll go with Kross to win the title here as there is no reason at all to have him lose so soon. Having him overcome the monster Lee is a way to make him look even more unstoppable, but I’m not sure where things go from there. The key thing here though is Lee can absorb a loss a lot more than Kross, though if there was ever a place for a non-finish, this would be it. Kross wins, even if it’s the second best option.

Overall Thoughts

I’m trying to get excited about this show but it isn’t working this time around. The two hour deal has hurt NXT quite a bit and while it makes WWE a lot of money, it doesn’t exactly help with the quality of the show. That being said, you never bet against Takeover and you would be crazy to do so here. They know how to do these things and hopefully that’s what happens again here, as it probably will.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: August 19, 2020
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix

It’s the go home show for Takeover and really, I’m not sure I could remember half of the card at this point. This show has felt slapped together and while I have confidence in NXT to be able to pull it off, it doesn’t exactly make me want to watch the show. Hopefully they do something better here. Let’s get to it.

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

North American Title Match Qualifying Match: Johnny Gargano vs. Ridge Holland

Candice LeRae is here with Johnny. Holland starts fast and knocks him outside but Gargano manages a kick from the apron and a stomp to the hand to take over. Back in and Holland knocks him down with straight power again before a forearm to the face makes it even worse. Gargano pulls him down by the leg but a crank on said leg is broken up with some kicks to the face. Holland misses a running knee in the corner and Gargano takes him down with the suicide dive as we take a break.

Back with both guys down and everyone panicking after Gargano got dropped on his head after a botched spinning powerslam attempt. That looked HORRIBLE but Gargano is fine enough to hit a superkick. Holland grabs him in a front facelock and swings him around, which is probably not advisable after he got dropped on his head. Gargano flips out of an over the shoulder backbreaker but gets Pounced out to the floor. LeRae grabs the foot on the way back in though and Gargano kicks the rope for a low blow. One Final Beat finishes Holland at 8:10.

Rating: C+. The match was a nice power vs. speed fight but that drop on the head was absolutely terrifying as Gargano came straight down. I’m a little surprised that they didn’t edit that out of this as the show is taped and it could have allowed for a lot less cringing. Gargano winning was the only call here as Holland isn’t ready to beat him one on one and you already have Reed in the match as the young power guy.

Dakota Kai vs. Jessi Kamea

Kai sends her hard into the corner to start and yells about being #1 contender. Some running boots to the face in the corner set up a Facewash for two. Kai’s double arm choke is broken up and Kamea hits a kick of her own, followed by a sliding kick to the chest in the corner. A spinebuster gives Kamea two more but Kai is back with the GTK for the pin at 2:58. That was a lot of offense for a #1 contender to give up two days before a title shot.

Post match Kai grabs the mic and says she isn’t scared of Shirai. Io is so focused on Kai’s past but she’s focused on the future, which means taking the title from her. Kai promises to kick her in the face over and over but here’s Kai to beat her up. They fight up to the ramp and it’s the returning Raquel Gonzalez to take Shirai out. It makes the title match more intriguing, but Kai’s promo had very little fire and sounded scripted in a bad way.

Tegan Nox doesn’t like how Candice LeRae has been and needs to fix it. Maybe over a glass of wine like old time. She’s ready to talk.

Finn Balor knows Velveteen Dream has talent but tonight, no one is getting in the way of Balor getting his North American Title back. Tonight is the same as always: Finn over.

Breezango/Isaiah Scott vs. Legado del Fantasma

Fandango’s arm is still taped. It’s a brawl at the bell with Fandango being left in the ring with Mendoza for a running clothesline. Wilde comes in and gets draped over the top, setting up a double kick to the face. Fandango comes back in but gets sent outside, with Scott having to hit a slingshot dropkick through the ropes to Mendoza. Escobar’s dive is cut off with a kick to the head and Breezango’s double superkicks put the rest of Legado down.

Back from a break with Fandango being shoved off the top and out to the floor to bang up the arm again. Mendoza comes in and helps with a springboard moonsault from Mendoza. Apparently the tag just doesn’t matter as Mendoza stays in and kicks at Fandango’s arm some more. Another kick sends Fandango into the corner but he gets in a double backdrop to the floor.

That’s enough for the hot tag to Scott for the house cleaning, including the jumping Downward Spiral on Escobar. A Wilde distraction lets Escobar knee him out of the air though and it’s Scott in trouble this time. Wilde’s springboard missile dropkick hits Escobar by mistake and Scott is knocked into the corner, knocking Breeze off the apron. Scott comes back out and hits the JML Driver on Escobar but Scott running into Breeze counted as a tag (What else was it supposed to be?). Breeze comes in to slug away but walks into the Phantom Driver for the pin at 12:00.

Rating: C-. This was a messy match and the ending felt a little more complicated than it seemed to be. The idea was to have Scott ready to pin Escobar but Scott not realizing that touching your partner on the apron was a tag was a weird moment. They tried to put in a little more than they should have and it didn’t work out that well. Scott vs. Escobar should work, but the Breezango stuff is making it seem a lot less serious than it should be.

Here’s the Undisputed Era to go face to face with Pat McAfee. Cue McAfee, complete with a bunch of NFL players, through the side entrance. He knows Adam Cole goes nowhere without the rest of his team so he brought a team of his own. Everyone else drops to the floor and McAfee talks about how the last time they were in this arena together, Shawn Michaels was checking Cole’s vitals. Then the next week, Cole went on a rant about how McAfee isn’t special enough to be here.

Cole has wrestled all over the world and even called himself the King of NXT. Yeah Cole was undefeated for 400 days or whatever it was but it took McAfee one kick to knock Cole out. McAfee has made a million dollars in seven different professions and he could make wrestling #8 if he wanted to. Cole gave him two weeks to get ready for this match and HHH talked about how he can make McAfee famous.

On Saturday, Cole is getting knocked out with another kick to the head and all anyone will hear is BOOM. Cole comes at him and beats up the referees before saying he’s making McAfee his b**** at Takeover. McAfee’s promo was one of the best celebrity talks I’ve ever heard but I’m still not sure why I’m supposed to cheer for Cole, who has been the top heel for a year plus, after a guy called him out and knocked him cold.

Mercedes Martinez/Aliyah vs. Shotzi Blackheart/Rhea Ripley

Robert Stone is here too. After Beth gets done with a horribly obvious read off a script to recap the feud (not her fault as I’m sure she was told to sound that way), commentary immediately starts ignoring the women to talk about Cole vs. McAfee. Ripley goes right after Martinez to start but Aliyah makes a quick save. That earns Aliyah a trip into the corner for a beating from Ripley and Shotzi comes in for the WELCOME TO THE BALL PIT. Aliyah gets in a shot to the face though and Martinez comes in to grab a chinlock as we take a break.

Back with Aliyah grabbing a neckbreaker on Blackheart and Martinez coming back in for a knee to the face. Blackheart gets dragged back into the corner and Martinez grabs a seated abdominal stretch. The double underhook suplex gives Martinez two but the fisherman’s buster is blocked.

Blackheart grabs a jumping DDT and the diving tag brings in Rhea to clean house. A basement dropkick rocks Aliyah and an electric chair faceplant gets two with Martinez making the save. Riptide plants Aliyah but a Stone distraction lets Martinez crotch Shotzi on top. Ripley manages to powerbomb Martinez over the barricade for a big old crash and the top rope backsplash finishes Aliyah at 9:55.

Rating: C. That ending made up for some of the weaker parts of the match as Ripley vs. Martinez could be one of the best hoss fights the women’s division has seen in a long time. Aliyah is great as someone who can take a fall for the team and Blackheart has the charisma. I liked this more than I would have bet on and that’s a rather nice surprise.

Long video on Karrion Kross vs. Keith Lee. Kross was watching Lee win the NXT Title and made it clear that he wanted the next shot. Then Kross choked out Lee’s friend Dominick Dijakovic and burned Lee’s eyes. This awakened the monster in Lee, which could make for one heck of a showdown at Takeover in a big hoss fight.

Takeover rundown.

North American Title Match Qualifying Match: Finn Balor vs. Velveteen Dream

Dream is in a red shirt and jeans for a weird look. Balor headlocks him over and then sends Dream outside, where the concern in Dream’s face takes us to a break. Back with Dream fighting out of a chinlock and running Balor over, setting up the Thesz press. Dream sends him into the corner and rakes the back. Balor makes another quick comeback and they hit the mat, with Balor cranking on the legs.

The knee gets cranked around the ropes and Balor stomps away, with the referee having to make sure Dram can continue. Dream manages to crank on a cross armbreaker for a bit until Balor kicks his way to freedom. Back up and Dream’s side kick gets two, followed by some right hands in the corner. After Dream gets annoyed at the lack of counting from the fans, Balor dropkicks him to the floor. Cue Cameron Grimes to talk a lot of trash and we take another break.

Back again with Grimes sitting on the ladder and holding the North American Title as Dream hits a backbreaker. Dream hits the Rick Rude hip swivel but Balor rolls through a sunset flip and hits a basement dropkick. Balor stomps away in the corner but stops to chase Grimes up the ladder, allowing Dream to hot shot him onto the apron. Back in and the Dream DDT is countered so Dream tries the Dream Valley Driver. That’s broken up as well and Balor hits the shotgun dropkick into the corner.

Balor looks to go up but a Grimes distraction lets Dream run the corner for the superplex. Cue Johnny Gargano to shove the ladder over, sending Grimes into the referee. Grimes gets up and is taken down by Balor, setting up a Fameasser from Dream. Balor hits Dream with the Sling Blade, only to charge into a superkick for the double knockdown. Gargano grabs the title so here are Bronson Reed and Damian Priest to surround him.

That means a quick knockdown as Priest takes the title and kicks Reed in the face. Dream kicks Priest in the face and the monsters are knocked to the floor. Balor is back up to clothesline Dream to the floor and hits a big flip dive. Cue Timothy Thatcher to drop Balor, setting up the Dream Valley Driver to Balor. The Purple Rainmaker sends Dream to Takeover at 20:26.

Rating: C. This felt like a main roster match and that’s not a good thing. Ignoring everything involving Dream, there was WAY too much going on here and it took away a lot from what was a pretty nice back and forth match. Thatcher vs. Balor should be a good fight (probably next week on TV) and Dream going on to Takeover makes sense, assuming you ignore a lot of stuff happening elsewhere.

Post match we get the usual parade of shots to the face, capped off with Reed holding the title to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. For the first time in longer than I can remember, I really didn’t care for this week’s NXT. There was nothing on here worth seeing and Takeover feels ice cold. I can’t say I’m surprised by the North American Title qualifying matches not being interesting, as they almost never are. The wrestling hasn’t been all that great in recent weeks and there isn’t much on the line anyway. Takeover should be good as it always has been, but dang they need something fresh on television in a hurry.

Results

Johnny Gargano b. Ridge Holland – One Final Beat

Dakota Kai b. Jessi Kamea – GTK

Legado del Fantasma b. Breezango/Isaiah Scott – Phantom Driver to Breeze

Rhea Ripley/Shotzi Blackheart b. Mercedes Martinez/Aliyah – Top rope backsplash to Aliyah

Velveteen Dream b. Finn Balor – Purple Rainmaker

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: August 14, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Drew Gulak

The show was starting to come together but then they brought back Ariya Daivari and my soul was stabbed all over again. For the life of me I still don’t get why he is treated as such a big deal around here but he is going to be around here no matter what until the end of time. Hopefully the other stuff on here works a bit better. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Ever Rise

Santos Escobar is here with Legado and this is the result of an open challenge from Ever Rise. Raul Mendoza and Matt Martel start things off with Martel cranking on the arm. It’s quickly off to Chase Parker to continue the arm pulling but Joaquin Wilde tags himself in for a quick DDT. The chinlock is on in a hurry and Martel starts what sounds like a DEFENSE chant.

Mendoza takes him down into a chinlock and pulls Parker down to cut off a comeback attempt. Parker fights up and shoves him into the corner though, allowing the hot tag off to Martel. Everything breaks down and Mendoza gets a blind tag to snap Martel’s throat across the top. The Russian legsweep/kick to the face finishes Martel at 5:49.

Rating: C-. Not terrible here but Ever Rise suddenly being faces isn’t going to make them any more interesting. If it means we don’t have to hear them talk any more, it’s at least an improvement though. Legado racking up wins is a good idea, as you need Escobar’s lackeys to be strong. Just try to find anything more interesting for Ever Rise. It can’t be that hard.

We look back at Ariya Daivari’s amazing, incredible, earth shattering return last week.

Ariya Daivari vs. Jake Atlas

Daivari hides in the ropes to start (although in a very exciting way of course). Atlas grabs a headlock takeover and Daivari can’t get out immediately, giving us a rather fascinating display of flailing limbs (only he could make that work). Vic talks about Daivari being a 205 Live original, which must be a compliment and not an indictment against him for not being able to get anywhere other than the lowest show in the company for almost four years.

Daivari gets in a neckbreaker over the middle rope and hammers away in the corner. We hit the armbar (and a THRILLING one at that) on Atlas, followed by a forearm to cut him down again. Atlas fights up anyway and it’s a German suplex into an enziguri for two. Daivari’s hammerlock lariat misses and Atlas knees him in the face. The Blockbuster connects but Daivari bails to the floor.

That means a suicide dive but Daivari gets in a cheap shot and unhooks the turnbuckle pad (cheating is acceptable when you’re that fascinating). The referee doesn’t allow it (pest getting in the way of greatness) so Daivari pokes Atlas in the eye and hits a hammerlock lariat (real wrestlers can win a match with a clothesline) for the pin at 9:21.

Rating: D+. More of the same that we’ve always seen from Daivari, without the one good looking move that he has in the Persian splash. I’ve ranted about Daivari enough over his time here and while that doesn’t make it any easier, it does make me wonder who in the world he has blackmail on. You would think there was SOMEONE else in WWE to push over him but apparently this is as good as we can get. We’re just that lucky I guess.

Overall Rating: D+. This was the flat show that I’ve been expecting over the last few weeks as there is no reason to believe that this show’s warm streak is ever going to continue. They either don’t know how to make it work long term or they would rather just go with the bare bones stuff that they do here. Nothing to see here, with the focus being on making Daivari a thing. Again. After it worked so well all those other times.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: July 31, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Drew Gulak

Things are actually getting interesting around here as there are some stories that could go somewhere in the future. That is the case again this week as Tony Nese and Isaiah Scott team up to face Legado del Fantasma. Scott seems primed to challenge for the Cruiserweight Title but he might not be able to trust Nese. Let’s get to it.

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

Ariya Daivari is on a boat and knows people have been waiting for him to return. Now that the 205 Live roster has caught up for him, his goal has paid off. Daivari gives us a quick recap of everything going on at the moment and announces that he’ll be back soon. Was anyone asking about that?

Opening sequence.

Tony Nese/Isaiah Scott vs. Legado del Fantasma

Raul Mendoza/Joaquin Wilde for Legado here, with Santos Escobar in their corner. Mendoza and Nese go tot he mat to start with Nese grabbing a chinlock. A series of kicks sends Mendoza into the corner and it’s off to Wilde vs. Scott. This time it’s Scott grabbing a chinlock but Wilde reverses into a cravate. That’s reversed into an anklescissors to take Wilde into the corner, where he slaps Scott in the face.

Scott unloads with the stomping and Wilde gets kicked out to the floor in a heap. Back in and Nese tags himself in, much to Scott’s annoyance. They’re fine enough to double elbow Wilde down and take him into the corner to work on the arm. A double suplex gives Scott two and we hit another chinlock. Back up and Mendoza gets in a cheap shot from the apron and it’s a belly to back faceplant to give Wilde two.

A double spinebuster into a double dropkick rocks Scott even more but he fights out of the corner. Scott right hands Mendoza in the face and makes the hot tag off to Nese for a sitout pumphandle slam. Nese gets a Boston crab on Wilde and Scott armbars Mendoza until Wilde kicks Nese into the two of them for the save. Scott comes back in off the tag and starts cleaning house, including the House Call on Wilde.

Mendoza offers a distraction though and Wilde grabs a DDT. It’s Nese coming back in for two off the Lionsault and Legado is sent outside. Stereo flip dives take the two of them down and Scott gets two with Wilde making another save. Scott goes up but Santos offers a distraction, allowing Mendoza to shove him into the barricade. That leaves Nese alone and Wilde comes in off the blind tag for a Russian legsweep/running kick to the face to finish Nese at 14:20.

Rating: B. This was more like it and the kind of match that fits the show well. I’m still not sure how I feel about Nese being a face as it had some mixed results before but he was a good enough choice here. The ending was the only way they could go as well as neither Scott nor the team should be losing yet so Nese was the right option for the fall guy.

Scott isn’t happy as Legado poses to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This is what happens when you actually put in the effort and set up some stories. They did a nice job of making this feel important and it felt like a step in a story rather than throwing some cruiserweights out there because they needed to fill time. I have no confidence in that continuing, but for a one off show, they had a good week.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: July 3, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Drew Gulak, Byron Saxton

It’s a bigger week than usual here as we have Legado del Fantasma for a change. That’s not something you usually see, as the Cruiserweight Champion is rarely on the cruiserweight show. You’ll only see that kind of logic in WWE but it has never stopped them before. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Isaiah Scott vs. Matt Martel

Chase Parker is here with Martel. Matt rolls away from him to start and hits the celebration before grabbing a headlock. Scott sends him into the corner and laughs a bit as some fans say Martel got swerved. The frustrated Martel is taken to the mat in a hurry and punched down before Scott chops him into the corner. A running elbow to the face sends Scott up top but Parker pulls him down for the DQ at 3:17.

Rating: C-. This was nothing special and felt like it was setting up something else for the future, which isn’t the most thrilling concept. Ever Rise is one of the lamer tag teams that NXT has produced in a good while. Scott deserves better than this, but then again that is the case for a lot of people on 205 Live.

Post match the beatdown is on but here’s Tony Nese for the save and a Teddy Long impression.

Ever Rise vs. Isaiah Scott/Tony Nese

Parker jumps Scott from behind to start and snaps off a suplex but Scott is right back up. A reluctant tag brings in Nese to power Parker down without much trouble. Scott comes back in for two off a double suplex but Parker sends him face first into the middle buckle. It’s off to Martel for an armbar before Parker is right back in for an elevated elbow to the back. A front facelock doesn’t last long for Parker as Scott jawbreaks his way to freedom.

The hot tag brings in Nese to clean house with some shots to the face and a dive onto Martel. The Lionsault gets two on Parker and everything breaks down into a four way slugout. Nese kicks Parker in the face and hits the running Nese, setting up the Swerve Stomp for the pin at 6:39.

Rating: C. Not too bad here, especially for an Ever Rise match. Nese and Scott as partners who don’t like each other doesn’t have much of an appeal to me, but it does sound better than another Nese face run. I’m hoping it’s not the latter, but it’s too early to see what we’ll be seeing from these guys.

We look at Drake Maverick attacking Legado del Fantasma and needing Breezango to make a save. The six man was set up for Great American Bash.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Leon Ruff/Liam Gray

It’s Raul Mendoza/Joaquin Wilde for the team with Santos Escobar in the corner. Wilde shoulders Ruff to start and it’s Mendoza coming in for a double back elbow. Mendoza knocks him into the corner and allows the tag to Gray, whose head is clotheslined off in a hurry. A Russian legsweep/running kick to the face finishes Gray at 3:20.

Rating: D+. Just a squash here and that’s a good use of a team like Legado, as they need to establish themselves as more than just lackeys. Mendoza has shown that he can wrestle with anyone but Wilde hasn’t spent a lot of time in a WWE ring. It’s always nice seeing Ruff getting beaten up as that RUFF RUFF chant is incredibly annoying, so call that a bonus.

Posing ends the show.

Overall Rating: D+. At least they’re trying to do something a little bit different around here, which is long overdue. The problem is that stuff isn’t all that interesting and Scott continues to look completely above everyone else on the show. Having Escobar and company around was nice, but I have no reason to believe that they are going to be a regular fixture around here. That being said, you can’t get too annoyed at a show that isn’t even twenty four minutes long so this was another completely acceptable show, all things considered.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: July 8, 2020
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Tom Phillips, Beth Phoenix

We wrap up the Great American Bash tonight with the second of two shows. This time around it’s a big one, as NXT Champion Adam Cole faces North American Champion Keith Lee in a title for title match. That could go either way and may be the biggest match NXT TV has ever seen. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Candice LeRae vs. Mia Yim

Street fight and Mia jumps her from behind during the entrances. Yim sends her into the steps and starts throwing the weapons in before the bell. Candice gets in a few kendo stick shots but Mia shrugs them off and hits her even harder. The fans want and receive a tables (well one for now that is) but the extra time lets Candice get in a dropkick through the ropes. Candice can’t suplex her through a table in the corner so they fight outside with Mia being pulled into the post.

Yim comes up favoring her shoulder but is fine enough to send Candice into a bunch of wrestlers in the chairs. Candice is back up to load up another table near a door but Mia sends her through it as we take a break. Back with Candice driving a chair into Mia’s ribs and then pulling out more chairs. Some trashcan lids to the back keep Mia down and the table is laid over the top rope.

They trade kicks to the head for the double knockdown though and it’s time for a breather. Mia sends her into the corner and puts Candice in a trashcan, setting up the running Cannonball. It’s time for brass knuckles but Mia takes too long, allowing Candice to get in a few cheap shots. The chairs are stacked up in the middle of the ring and they go onto the table on the top rope. Mrs. LeRae’s Wild Ride onto the chairs finishes Yim at 15:51.

Rating: B. Yeah that worked rather well as they beat the heck out of each other for a long time. Candice is someone who has seemed ready to break through to the next level for a long time now and hopefully this is the kind of thing that can help get her there. Yim was on here too and it was a rather good match the entire time.

Mark Henry picks Keith Lee to win tonight.

The women are both still down.

Bronson Reed vs. Tony Nese

Nese tries to slug away at the much bigger Reed to start but just knocks himself down. Reed hits a backsplash to send Nese outside but Nese ties him into the ring skirt and hammers away. Back in and reed uses straight power to knock Nese around some more, only to have Nese snap him throat first across the top rope. Reed isn’t having that and runs Nese over again, setting up a top rope splash for the pin at 5:17.

Rating: C. This was all it needed to be as Reed gets back on the winning track after the loss to Karrion Kross. The match was more competitive than I would have expected but Nese is someone who should be able to get in a little offense on someone like Reed. I could go for more of Reed and seeing him get a win like this was a nice thing to see.

Mercedes Martinez is coming.

Robert Stone can’t get Shotzi Blackheart to join his brand. Instead, here’s Killian Dain to yell at him and knock him down. Shotzi runs over Stone’s leg, sending him into screams of agony. I mean, it’s a tank. He might be onto something here.

Johnny Gargano vs. Isaiah Scott

They go technical to start and hit the mat early on with Gargano getting him down by the arm. Scott nips up and sends Gargano outside, meaning it’s a Fosbury Flop to take him down again. Back from a break with Gargano hitting a release gordbuster and a running clothesline. Scott gets back up with a kick to the face to put Gargano outside and the kick to the face from the apron makes it even worse. Gargano is right back with a slingshot spear for two and it’s time to hammer away in the corner.

That’s broken up but the House Call is blocked as well. The second House Call connects but Scott is too banged up to make the cover. Gargano’s STF is reversed into a rollup for two and a JML Driver gives Scott two more. Another kick to the face sends Gargano outside again but the double stomp only hits floor. Gargano gets in a posting and the reverse hurricanrana plants Scott again. They head back inside and One Final Beat gives Gargano the pin at 14:06.

Rating: B. This was a match where Scott got a lot in a loss. After mainly wrestling on 205 Live for the last few months, it was great to see him getting a chance on a bigger show against a top opponent. I didn’t quite buy Scott as having a serious chance to win but he had some near falls in there that made my eyebrows go up a bit. I’ve been a big Scott fan for a good while so seeing him getting this kind of a chance is rather nice to see.

Video on Tegan Nox vs. Io Shirai for the Women’s Title next week. Nox is ready to win the title after her horrible knee injury in the Mae Young Classic. She’s tired of being labeled the Comeback Kid and is ready to reach the top. Shirai is ready to put Nox in her place, and puts her face in the water again like she did to set up the Charlotte match. Is that her thing now?

We get a tale of the tape for Lee vs. Cole.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Breezango/Drake Maverick

Breezango are in Los Conquistador masks in an appropriate cameo. Fandango shoulders Wilde down to start and gets one off a suplex. Breeze comes in and avoids Mendoza’s kick to the face before grabbing a swinging neckbreaker for one of his own. It’s off to Maverick, who wants to get his hands on Escobar. Instead he gives Mendoza an enziguri and brings Breeze back in, though not before more yelling.

This time Breeze gets taken down for a double hiptoss to drop Wilde onto him for two. We hit the armbar to slow things down but Breeze is up in a hurry and hands it off to Fandango as everything breaks down. Maverick dives onto the trio and Fandango hits his own dive, but comes up favoring his leg. Back in and Wilde starts kicking at the knee and chopping in the corner to keep Fandango down. Now Escobar is willing to come in and hammers away before taking out the leg again.

A weird armbar/leglock combination goes on, followed by a shot to the neck to keep things evened out. The leg work continues until Fandango manages to kick Mendoza out to the floor and the hot tag brings in Maverick. A Rey Mysterio wheelbarrow bulldog plants Escobar as everything breaks down. Escobar scores with a superkick to catch Maverick on the top though and the Phantom Driver is good for the pin at 10:40.

Rating: C. The more I see of Maverick in these matches, the less I can buy him as a credible threat. It helps a lot to have him in a cruiserweight match but Escobar seems to be on a different level. Breezango continues to be just kind of there too, which doesn’t exactly bode well for their upward mobility. That being said, I can’t imagine they’re in any jeopardy as they’re entertaining enough while they’re out there.

The Garganos are happy with their success tonight, but Gargano blames Finn Balor for costing him the North American Title. They’re off to celebrate.

Mercedes Martinez vs. Santana Garrett

Martinez gets a big entrance and you can tell she’s going to be something important around here. Garrett gets driven into the corner to start but she fights out and grabs a quickly broken Octopus. A handspring elbow in the corner doesn’t seem to hurt Martinez as she pops out with a kick to the face. Some right hands to the face keep Garrett in trouble so she flips up for a forearm to the face. Martinez shrugs that off as well and finishes with a fisherman’s buster at 2:31. Martinez looked dominant here.

Video on Cameron Grimes vs. Damien Priest.

Mick Foley picks Adam Cole to win if the match goes longer.

Shawn Michaels picks Cole as well, but it could go either way.

NXT Title/North American Title: Adam Cole vs. Keith Lee

Winner takes all and there are no seconds. They stare each other down to start and we have a good deal of time tonight (and no commercials for a bonus). Cole’s headlock lasts longer than you might expect but Lee powers out and starts cranking on Cole’s hand. A lifting wristlock has Cole screaming and Lee throws him outside without much effort. Lee says the cameraman remembers Johnny Gargano but the Pounce goes through the Plexiglas.

Cole is smart enough to capitalize and sends Lee hard into the steps. Back in and Cole grabs a neckbreaker, which lets the cockiness start to flow. Cole slaps on the figure four necklock, followed by another neckbreaker for two. The Last Shot is loaded up but Lee grabs Cole’s knee pad to break it up. A spinning powerslam plants Cole for two but he catches Lee going up and hits a Backstabber out of the corner for his own near fall. Lee elbows him in the face though and hits the apron superplex (now dubbed the Struggleplex) for a delayed two.

Cole pops up with a jumping enziguri, only to charge into the Spirit Bomb, with Cole having to put a single finger onto the rope. Another enziguri rocks Lee but he pops up with the Pounce into a spinebuster for two more. The middle rope moonsault (which nearly looked like a falling splash as Lee took his time to flip) connects for another near fall and Cole is mostly dead on his feet. He slips out of the Big Bang Catastrophe though and hits a superkick, which just fires Lee up. Another superkick wakes Lee up so Cole superkicks the knee and hits the Last Call for two more.

Back up and Lee BLASTS HIM with a clothesline and they’re both down. Somehow Cole manages the Panama Sunrise for two more and the shocked look is great. Three straight superkicks give Cole two and his disbelief continues to grow. Another Last Shot drops Lee for no cover but a second Panama Sunrise is countered into the Spirit Bomb. The Big Bang Catastrophe connects for the pin and the title at 19:53.

Rating: B+. They had to do the title change here as Lee had been built up as way too big of a deal to lose in his big chance. Cole had held the title more than long enough too and I’m not sure what is next for him. Lee seems primed to face Karrion Kross though, and a transitional title reign wouldn’t be the biggest shock. Both guys are ready for the main roster today (and have been for a very long time) but I’m not sure what Cole is going to do whenever he gets there. Either way, it was a rather good match, though it didn’t hit that next level. Lee winning with just one finisher was a nice change of pace though.

Confetti falls and pyro goes off as Karrion Kross and Scarlett watch from the top of the arena to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Another great show to complete the two week head to head showdown. This had three good to awesome matches with the surprising street fight, the rather encouraging showcase from Scott and the big title change to close it out. It felt like there was a Takeover spread out over two weeks and that’s a pretty good way to do things. NXT does it again, as they have a tendency to do.

Results

Candice LeRae b. Mia Yim – Mrs. LeRae’s Wild Ride onto a pile of chairs

Bronson Reed b. Tony Nese – Top rope splash

Johnny Gargano b. Isaiah Scott – One Final Beat

Legado del Fantasma b. Drake Maverick/Breezango – Phantom Driver to Maverick

Mercedes Martinez b. Santana Garrett – Fisherman’s buster

Keith Lee b. Adam Cole – Big Bang Catastrophe

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: July 1, 2020
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Tom Phillips, Beth Phoenix

We’re bringing back the Great American Bash over the next two weeks and that could be an interesting situation. NXT tends to know how to do these big shows pretty well and that could make for some interesting stuff over the following two shows. Next week is the big one but tonight could be a heck of a strong outing as well. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence, including a look at the history of the WWE Great American Bash.

Mia Yim vs. Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai vs. Candice LeRae

Elimination rules and the winner gets a title shot against Io Shirai next week. Candice bails to the floor to start with Kai joining her, leaving the other two inside early on. They circle each other until LeRae slides back in to roll Nox up for two. Kai comes back in to go after Nox, who she pulls to the floor. A kick to the head misses but Mia breaks up Candice’s suicide dive with a running dropkick. Candice is back up with a springboard spinning dive onto Kai.

Back in and Nox kicks down Kai and LeRae at the same time, setting up a parade of kicks to the face in the corner to take everyone down. Nox and Yim are up to run LeRae over, setting up Protect Yo Neck to get rid of LeRae at 4:06. Back from a break with Yim and Nox turning their attention to Kai, who kicks out of a double pin attempt. Kai bails to the floor so Yim can block a chokeslam attempt from Nox. Yim lays in the ropes ala Andrade, making Nox miss a charge.

Kai comes back in to kick Nox in the face and grabs a sitout hiptoss. Yim is back in for a dragon suplex on Kai and dives onto Nox. Kai gets a dive of her own, followed by a Code Blue for two back inside to give Yim two. Soul Food sends Nox right back to the floor but Kai snaps back in and rolls Yim up for the pin at 10:01.

Back from another break with Kai and Nox slugging it out and pulling themselves back up to keep fighting. Nox elbows her in the head and hits the reverse Cannonball in the corner for a delayed two. Kai avoids a dive off the top and hits a Kairopractor for two of her own. A faceplant gives Nox two more but Kai is back with the reverse Rings of Saturn. That’s broken up and Nox goes up top for a Molly Go Round of all things. The Shiniest Wizard gives Nox the pin and the title shot at 20:29.

Rating: B. Good match here, though I’m not sure it needed to be that long. Nox winning was a surprise as I would have bet on LeRae winning here so points for going with a twist. Nox is someone who could be a big star if she can stay healthy and while I don’t think she’s winning next week, it’s a great sign to see them putting this much faith in her.

Damien Priest wants to know what kind of a man Cameron Grimes is by challenging him to a match. The beating will live forever.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Oney Lorcan

Lorcan goes straight to the armbar to start and pulls it into a short armscissors. Thatcher can’t pick him up so Lorcan rolls forward to keep him down. Lorcan is finally reversed into a short armscissors from Thatcher, who switches to a mount and shots to the face. A double wristlock keeps Lorcan in trouble and Thatcher gets in a few more shots as we take a break. Back with Thatcher hitting a belly to bell to send Lorcan outside.

Lorcan slips over the back and hits a half and half suplex for two of his own. They uppercut it out as Mauro manages to explain Thatcher’s training history for a second time. Lorcan wins a slugout and grabs the half crab but Thatcher reverses into something similar. That’s broken up as well and it’s a butterfly suplex to give Thatcher two. Thatcher has had it and pulls Lorcan down into the Fujiwara armbar for the tap at 11:31.

Rating: B-. Good back and forth submission brawl here with a fairly obvious result. There is something very special about the two of them working each other over with hold after hold and Thatcher is someone who can do it with the best of them. Lorcan can do some awesome things as well and it was a good choice for both guys.

Post match Thatcher doesn’t let go of the hold immediately.

Karrion Kross video.

Rhea Ripley vs. Aliyah/Robert Stone

Stone is in boxing gloves and if Rhea loses, she has to join the Robert Stone Brand. It’s Stone starting for the team and throwing in an Ali Shuffle, meaning Ripley sends him outside without much trouble. The distraction lets Aliyah snap off a headscissors for two but Ripley gives her an electric chair faceplant. Stone makes the save and Ripley is sent outside, with Stone’s slingshot dive completely missing. Aliyah’s dive connects though and we take a break.

Back with Ripley caught in a Crossface/Boston crab combination but she powers out in a hurry. A double suplex plants Ripley but the team can’t decide who should cover. Rile gets in her own double suplex and dropkicks Stone into the corner. Aliyah is thrown into him, followed by another whip head first between Stone’s legs. A big boot drops Aliyah and there’s a headbutt to Ripley. Just to show off, Ripley grabs a double Prism Trap for the double tap at 9:56.

Rating: C. The match was nothing to see of course but the good thing was they didn’t do something crazy like stick Ripley in some lame comedy angle. She comes off like a star and didn’t have any trouble here, as she shouldn’t have. The Prism Trap is a cool hold on its own and the finish, with Ripley using one arm for each of them, was a great looking finish. This went how it should have and that’s a good sign.

Video on Roderick Strong vs. Dexter Lumis. Strong doesn’t like Lumis staring but is ready to face his fears.

Roderick Strong vs. Dexter Lumis

Strap match with pinfall or submission to win. Strong jumps him before the strap goes on but Lumis fights back and ties them together to get things going. They’re on the floor in a hurry with Lumis getting the better of it and taking Strong into the corner back inside. Strong is sent over the top for some choking and then gets slammed onto the mat again. Back in and Strong hits a knee to the face but right hands in the corner are countered with an uppercut to Strong’s jaw.

They head outside again with Strong being launched into the steps and then into the set. Lumis opens up the trunk of the Dodge Viper next to the set but Strong isn’t letting that happen and grabs an Angle Slam. Back in and Strong whips away but the chinlock doesn’t last long. Instead Strong chops away to a seated Lumis, who pops back up with a running clothesline.

A slingshot suplex gives Lumis two and the whipping is on again. The Silencer is blocked and Strong hits a jumping knee to the face. Strong nails a top rope superplex and ties Lumis’ legs up for a modified Stronghold. A rope is grabbed and Lumis fights up again but here’s Bobby Fish, who is taken down with a strap shot. Lumis’ Side Effect sets up the Silencer for the tap at 16:00.

Rating: B. It was a good, back and forth match and they’re trying something with Lumis, but it’s still Lumis. I’m not sure what the big appeal is for him as he’s just kind of standing there with a creepy look on his face. I can give NXT points for taking a shot with him though, as they could use some fresh blood around here. It also helps to have Strong out there as someone who can lose to almost anyone and be just fine.

We get a Prime Target video on Keith Lee vs. Adam Cole. Lee is ready to the biggest win of his career because he is Mr. NXT. He’s been on a roll in recent months and now he’s ready to take care of Cole for the title. Cole talks about how awesome Lee is but he’s beaten everyone thrown at him. They know only one of them can leave as champion, and Cole says he’s the one who gets things done. They’re ready for the showdown.

Candice LeRae is annoyed at being ganged up on in the four way. Johnny Gargano likes her aggression, including her attacking Mia Yim. Referees and Isaiah Scott of all people break it up and Gargano doesn’t like Scott getting involved with his wife with a match being teased. Works for me.

Here is Legado del Fantasma for a chat. Santos Escobar talks about shaping the wrestling world and following his role models. The fans were led to believe that lucha libre was all about masks and now they are going to rediscover lucha libre in his image. They are going to leave a legacy and right the wrongs of those who disrespect what it means to be a lucha libre artist. Cue Drake Maverick, in a neck brace, to interrupt. The brace comes off though and he charges into the ring, only to be cut off by Escobar’s goons. Cue Breezango to make the save and clean house. Breezango issues the six man challenge for next week.

Cameron Grimes doesn’t think much of Damien Priest and is ready to take care of him so he can go after the winner of Lee vs. Cole.

Io Shirai vs. Sasha Banks

Non-title and Bayley is here with Banks. As you might expect, Sasha and Bayley come out in a Jaguar, with Bayley carrying a dog. They also both have the red, white and blue gear on for some flavor. Banks drives her into the corner to start and strikes the signature pose. Shirai slips away though and gets to the top for a missile dropkick to send Banks outside. That means a suicide dive to drop Banks again, followed by the running knees in the corner.

Shirai hammers away but Bayley runs over to honk the car horn, allowing Shirai to slip away and drop Shirai to take over. The chinlock goes on, followed by some elbows to Shirai’s face. Banks’ running Meteora gets two but Shirai sends her into the corner. A super hurricanrana drops Banks again and there’s a flapjack as well. The 619 sets up a springboard dropkick for two but Banks grabs a quick Bank Statement.

That’s broken up as Mauro messes up his history, saying that Banks beat Bayley in the thirty minute Iron Woman match. Banks misses the running knees in the corner but Shirai misses the moonsault as well. A middle rope Meteora gives Banks two but she comes up favoring her ankle or leg. Another 619 misses for Shirai and they forearm it out on the apron.

Shirai gets caught on the top for a kick to the head, setting up a running sunset bomb into the Plexiglas. Back in and Banks misses the frog splash, setting up a Crossface from Shirai. Bayley throws the belt in for a distraction though and forearms Shirai to break it up. Banks goes after Shirai but cue Asuka to spray mist into Banks’ face, setting up a rollup for two. A palm strike sets up the moonsault to finish Banks at 14:05.

Rating: B+. This was a great showcase for both of them as Banks is someone who can do all kinds of things no matter what you ask of her and Shirai got one of the biggest wins of her career. It wasn’t the cleanest finish in the world but Bayley interfered and Shirai had to do something else to pin Banks. Either way, they looked sharp here and it was a rather good, hard hitting match.

Shirai and Asuka celebrate and it’s a preview of next week (now with Breezango/Maverick vs. Legado del Fantasma and Mia Yim vs. Candice LeRae in a street fight) to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. This was where NXT shines: let the wrestlers wrestle and tear the house down. The main event felt like a main event and they set up a bunch of stuff for next week. It was a heck of a show with nothing being bad and the worst match on the card being a match that was put together as well as it should have been. The best thing here is the fact that that they have a huge main event set for next week and we should be in for another major night. Great show here.

Results

Tegan Nox b. Dakota Kai, Mia Yim and Candice LeRae – Shiniest Wizard to Kai

Timothy Thatcher b. Oney Lorcan – Fujiwara armbar

Rhea Ripley b. Aliyah/Robert Stone – Double Prism Trap

Dexter Lumis b. Roderick Strong – Silencer

Io Shirai b. Sasha Banks – Moonsault

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