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: February 5, 2020
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix, Nigel McGuinness

With less than two weeks to go before Takeover, the entire card seems to be set. However, there are some things beyond Takeover which also need to be taken care of and that includes Wrestlemania. Therefore, we have a guest star this week as Charlotte is here to answer Rhea Ripley’s Wrestlemania challenge. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Here are the Broserweights, in a golf cart, with the Dusty Classic trophy in the back. You can tell Matt Riddle is in a good mood as he’s wearing a tie. They’ve been celebrating ever since and tonight it continues because the trophy is in a golf cart. Dunne can’t believe that he’s in a tag team with Riddle, who says it’s meant to be. Riddle wants to know how they’ll get to Portland but here’s the Undisputed Era to interrupt.

O’Reilly: “You’re Matthew Riddell and Peter Dune.” They’re ready to fight now but here’s Roderick Strong to pull them back. Fish: “There are much bigger fish to try than you too.” Riddle: “Bobby Fish just said fish!” He gets in a fish tongue twister but Dunne says not to worry about how many fish Bobby Fish could fry if Bobby Fish could fry fish. Riddle turns it into a song and does a Randy Savage spin for a nice touch. Dunne promises to smoke the Era in Portland.

Angel Garza vs. Isaiah Scott

They start fast and miss a clothesline each, meaning it’s an early standoff. Scott tries to cartwheel around but gets kicked in the ribs to put Garza in control. That’s fine with Scott, who springboards back up for a hurricanrana to send Garza outside. Garza is read for the dive so Scott puts on the brakes and kicks him back to the floor. Scott’s running flip over the ropes is superkicked down and we take a break. Back with Garza hitting a reverse powerbomb, allowing him to TAKE OFF HIS PANTS.

A superkick gives Garza two but Scott reverses a slingshot reverse suplex. Scott slaps him in the face but his springboard is superkicked out of the air (ok not much air as it was off the bottom rope). Garza tries a headscissors out of the corner, which is flipped forward into something like an Iconoclasm for two. It’s time to go up again but this time Garza throws his pants at him for a distraction. Scott doesn’t seem to mind and hits the House Call for two but Garza crotches him on top. The Wing Clipper finishes Scott at 10:38.

Rating: C+. The high flying was good here but I’m not sure how far Scott is going to get at this point. He seems tailor made for a big push but for some reason he keeps losing time after time. The action worked here though as they kept the movement up and the pants thing was a good spot at the end. Garza winning here was the only choice they had after Raw, but maybe he shouldn’t have been facing Scott.

Post match, Garza says he took out his cousin and Rey Mysterio, so now he wants his Cruiserweight Title back.

The Undisputed Era beat up some people for not knowing where Tommaso Ciampa is. Strong even messes up someone getting a haircut, because people get haircuts backstage at NXT.

Video on Mercedes Martinez.

Sgt. Slaughter is here for your random cameo.

Dominik Dijakovic vs. Killian Dain

Oh yeah Dain is a thing. These two got in each other’s faces earlier today at the Performance Center over who should get the next shot at Keith Lee. Dain goes right at him with the shoulders in the corner but Dijakovic fights out in a hurry and hits a middle rope elbow to the head. A clothesline puts Dijakovic over the top though and the SHAVE YOUR BACK chants start up. Dijakovic doesn’t seem to like hairy backs either and hits a flip dive off the steps, turning the chants into FEAST YOUR EYES. Back in and the discus lariat is cut off by Dain’s crossbody to send us to a break.

We come back with Dijakovic flipping out of a belly to back suplex and elbowing Dain hard in the face. The suplex slam into the chokebomb gets two on Dain but he’s right back up to catch Dijakovic on top. Dain’s superplex puts them both down but Dijakovic wins a battle of boots to the face for two. The moonsault misses and the Vader Bomb is broken up, meaning it’s Feast Your Eyes to finish Dain at 8:15.

Rating: B-. This was a hoss fight and another good example of what Dijakovic can do. There are so many times where I look at one of his matches and wonder how I’m seeing this stuff. He and Keith Lee took it to another level but these two more than held their own, making it a heck of a match.

Post match we’re told that Dijakovic gets a title shot in Portland so here’s Lee for the staredown.

Kushida doesn’t know where Ciampa is so the Undisputed Era throws him in a crate. Bronson Reed comes in to stare them down so it’s a jumping knee to the head.

We get a split screen sitdown interview between Johnny Gargano and Finn Balor. They were ready to fight at Takeover: WarGames and Gargano has been counting the days for three months. Finn says he’s been counting the days for four years because he’s sick of Gargano being called the next Finn Balor. Gargano says he’s the first Johnny Gargano and Balor needs this match as much as he does. Balor doesn’t need this match because he doesn’t get paid by the hour but he’s going to take his time and enjoy this.

That’s what Johnny has been looking for: the NXT Finn Balor, not the Finn Balor who lost to Bobby Lashley like seventeen weeks in a row on Raw. Balor isn’t here for the Match of the Year, because he’s here for the last match of Gargano’s life. Gargano promises to take the NXT flag that Balor dropped and drive it through his heart. Balor: “I don’t have a heart.” Heck of a heated exchange here and I want to see these two fight.

Video on Kacy Catanzaro.

Mercedes Martinez vs. Kacy Catanzaro

Martinez starts fast by shrugging off a waistlock and planting her with a spinebuster. A one armed delayed suplex….is broken up and Catanzaro hits a basement dropkick. Catanzaro grabs a hurricanrana for two but her springboard is broken up with a hard forearm. Martinez takes it to the floor and posts her, followed by a whip into the barricade. Back in and the fisherman’s buster finishes Catanzaro at 2:59. They got some stuff in here and Catanzaro looked good in defeat.

Rhea Ripley (listed as NXT Women’s Champion rather than NXT Champion) is ready for Charlotte and Bianca Belair.

The Undisputed Era gets jumped by Ciampa and the fight heads into the arena. Cole is sent into the announcers’ table over and over, which is good for some applause. The rest of the team catches up with them and beats down Ciampa. They get inside but the Broserweights come in for the save. Security breaks it up so here’s William Regal to make a six man. The fight breaks out again and they head to the back.

Jordan Devlin vs. Tyler Breeze

Non-title. Devlin jumps him during the entrance and the beating is on in a hurry. We take a break and come back joined in progress with Devlin elbowing him in the corner but getting kicked in the ribs for his efforts. A basement superkick gives Breeze two and he wraps Devlin’s knee around the post. Breeze drops a knee to the knee and cranks on the leg to keep Devlin down.

That doesn’t work very well as Devlin gets back up with a backbreaker, only to get dropkicked in the face. The neck crank goes on for a bit, followed by a clothesline to put Devlin on the floor. Devlin is right back up again and this time it’s a moonsault to take Breeze down again. Back in and the release Rock Bottom into the standing moonsault gets two on Breeze as we take a break.

We come back with Devlin standing on Breeze’s face (not fair to the gorgeousness), only to charge into a boot in the corner. Back to back dropkicks have Devlin in trouble and a clothesline gives Breeze two. Devlin pops up for a high crossbody, with Breeze rolling through for two more.

A standing Spanish Fly gets two on Breeze and they’re both a bit winded. Devlin tries the moonsault but hits raised boots, allowing Breeze to slap on a half crab. He has to pull it back to the middle but lets it go for some reason, setting up the Supermodel kick for a rather close two. The slingshot cutter gives Devlin two and that’s enough for him, meaning it’s the Devlin Side to put Breeze away at 15:33.

Rating: B. This took some time to get going but once it found its footing, they were off to the races. They’ve got something with Devlin, who has been great in almost everything that he’s done and looked very good here too. This is also the closest Breeze has looked to his old self around here and I could certainly go for more of him. Devlin was the star here though and I think they know it.

Charlotte arrives.

Here’s Bianca Belair for the big showdown. She’s on her way to Portland to become the new NXT Women’s Champion but here’s Charlotte to interrupt in a hurry. We get the big welcome home reaction and she says there is nothing like a Full Sail WOO. Charlotte respects the heck out of Belair but Bianca isn’t the Queen.

Rhea has overlooked Belair to get to Wrestlemania…and here’s Rhea to interrupt as well. Charlotte pie faces Belair away and Belair is nearly losing it as Rhea says she’s all about dropping Charlotte at Wrestlemania. Belair cuts them off to remind Charlotte that she doesn’t even go here. It’s going to be Belair vs. Charlotte at Wrestlemania because Belair is the EST of NXT and Charlotte can’t beat her. Charlotte: “This is a conversation for champions so stand over there and fix your braid.”

Rhea doesn’t like the disrespect and the saying around here is WE ARE NXT. Belair jumps Charlotte and they put her on their shoulders for a double faceplant. Rhea and Bianca trash talk each other until Belair leaves. Charlotte didn’t accept or decline Ripley’s challenge. Good segment here and I want to see where this goes.

Undisputed Era vs. Tommaso Ciampa/Broserweights

Roderick Strong is the odd man out but the other three jump the Era on the stage and the fight is on before the bell. Dunne X Plexes O’Reilly onto the apron and Ciampa kicks Fish in the face. Strong gets beaten down in the aisle and the limping Ciampa goes inside with O’Reilly going after the knee as the bell rings. Ciampa elbows him down and it’s Riddle coming in to strike away at Fish.

The MMA exchange doesn’t exactly work so Dunne and Cole come in. Dunne gets pulled to the floor though and Strong is back up to drop Dunne onto the apron. Back in and the Era takes turns on Dunne in the corner until he sends Fish to the floor and dropkicks O’Reilly to the floor, allowing the diving tag to Riddle (Ciampa’s arm wasn’t exactly extended there). Riddle starts cleaning house with strikes and throws into the back to back Brotons.

The Era needs a breather on the floor and we come back with Riddle getting knocked into the Era’s corner, allowing Cole to come back in for a chinlock. O’Reilly slaps on a guillotine choke but Riddle lifts him up without too much effort. Riddle no sells a German suplex, O’Reilly no sells a German suplex, Riddle hits him in the head and O’Reilly kicks him in the head for a double knockdown.

Dunne gets the hot tag and starts wrecking Cole, including X Plexing O’Reilly onto him for two. The Panama Sunrise is cut off by a forearm but Cole is right back with a brainbuster onto the knee for his own near fall. Dunne ducks a double kick from O’Reilly and Fish and the hot tag brings in Ciampa. Project Ciampa gets two on O’Reilly with Fish making the save. We get the big showdown between Ciampa and Cole but a kick to the head breaks it up in a hurry. Everyone starts hitting each other in the head/face but Strong comes in to break up the Fairy Tale Ending for the DQ at 13:41.

Rating: B. I could have gone for the clean pin at the end here but this was mostly all action throughout and they pulled me in near the end. If nothing else it was nice to see that Ciampa hadn’t hurt his knee again and that he got back in and started taking over. Strong interfering is fine enough, but it could have been a better ending and that slows it down a bit.

Post match the beatdown is on, including Chasing the Dragon to Dunne on the floor. Riddle takes High/Low and Ciampa gets End of Heartache. The Era goes NWO and paints an X on Ciampa’s back (ala Ciampa with the table last week)….but we’ve got three rings on the screen. Those rings would be like the Velveteen Dream’s glasses and he’s back, diving off the top onto the Era and beating all of them up at once.

The Era gets taken out and Dream rips off his gear, revealing Rick Rude style tights with Strong’s family painted on, plus an old school hip swivel. Dream clears the ring and the fans go coconuts to end the show. It’s a cool moment, though I wouldn’t have done the circles thing last week. Why telegraph it at all?

Overall Rating: B+. This is more like it with segments and matches that built towards Takeover. It’s a case of things being better when they have something to focus on and that’s always a good thing. The wrestling was quite strong tonight as well and overall, it was a heck of a show that flew by. Takeover is looking rather stacked, even with six matches at the moment. Hopefully they don’t overdo it, but what we have so far should be great.

Results

Angel Garza b. Isaiah Scott – Wing Clipper

Dominick Dijakovic b. Killian Dain – Feast Your Eyes

Mercedes Martinez b. Kacy Catanzaro – Fisherman’s buster

Jordan Devlin b. Tyler Breeze – Devlin Side

Tommaso Ciampa/Broserweights b. Undisputed Era via DQ when Roderick Strong interfered

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: AEW

Dark
Date: November 5, 2019
Location: Charleston Coliseum, Charleston, West Virginia
Commentators: Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Excalibur
Hosts: Tony Schiavone, Dasha Gonzales

I’m still not 100% sure what to expect from this show but that doesn’t make it a bad thing. In other words, we could get an instant classic or we could get a bunch of nothing, but that Kenny Omega vs. Joey Janela match is starting to seem like more of a fluke than anything else. Hopefully this show is a little better than Dynamite, which was their weakest show yet but still perfectly watchable. Let’s get to it.

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

Tony welcomes us to the show and brings in Spanish commentator Dasha Gonzales. We run down the card and we’re ready to go.

Michael Nakazawa vs. Shawn Spears

This has some potential, though I don’t think it’s the right kind. Tully Blanchard is here with Spears and Friedman is already all over Spears. MJF can’t get why Nakazawa says Naka Naka Naka etc. during his entrance. Nakazawa gets backed into the corner to start and he complains of an eye poke. That doesn’t get him very far so it’s time to trade wristlocks. A snapmare puts Nakazawa down and it’s a little strutting to show off.

The waistlock goes on and there’s the baby oil to get Nakazawa out. See that’s his gimmick because….I have no idea actually. Spears and Tully slip on the oil because that’s how you use a Horseman. Back in and Spears starts in on the spine with some forearms as the pace slows. The half crab stays on the back as the announcers talk about how painful a chop can be.

Nakazawa fights back up with some forearms and a shoulder gets two. A Samoan drop gets the same….and Nakazawa pulls off his underwear to wrap around his hand. Thankfully Spears kicks him in the face and hits a slingshot Jackhammer for the pin at 8:38. MJF: “He is still ridiculously ugly.”

Rating: D+. Well that certainly happened. I’m not sure what else there is to say about it and that isn’t a good sign. Spears continues to be someone who is passable in the ring and not much more than that. He just isn’t that interesting, though I do like the slingshot Jackhammer. Now just find something for him to do. Nakazawa on the other hand can just leave already as he is just plain annoying and nothing in the ring other than some weird semi-sexual stuff. Why would I be interested in seeing him?

Mercedes Martinez/Big Swole vs. Sadie Gibbs/Allie

MJF gives Martinez some crazy respect by saying he respects her. How often do you hear that? MJF is back to form by insulting Gibbs’ teeth. Excalibur: “You can’t just be nice?” MJF: “You’re an idiot.” Swole’s wristlock on Gibbs doesn’t last long as she gets flipped down into a quickly broken chinlock. Sadie wins a battle of shoulders and…let’s look at a fan, which makes me wonder how bad that was. Swole sends her into the corner and it’s Martinez coming in to hammer away.

Allie comes in for a crossbody into a backsplash for two and it’s already back to Sadie. Mercedes gets clever by rolling into the back of Sadie’s legs to take her down into a curb stomp for two. Swole slugs away at Sadie and a kick to the face gets two. The guillotine choke is countered into a suplex to plant Swole and it’s off to Allie to take over on both of them.

Another camera cut seems to hide what was supposed to be a sliding clothesline in the corner but Martinez drives Allie back into the corner. Allie’s Russian legsweep gets two on Swole so she kicks Allie in the face again. Martinez hits Two Amigos into a delayed vertical suplex on Allie as Swole dances on the apron. A Backstabber gets Allie out of trouble but Martinez knees her in the face.

That’s enough for a double tag (with the heel seemingly getting the hot tag) to Gibbs and Swole as everything breaks down. Allie cleans house but MJF wants her to grow up and stop caring about what the fans think of her. Everyone but Sadie heads outside so there’s the Sasuke Special. Even MJF is impressed as it’s time for the parade of secondary finishers to put everyone down. Martinez powerbombs Sadie into a neckbreaker for two with Allie making a save. Allie superkicks Swole down and Gibbs adds the moonsault for the pin at 14:34.

Rating: C. The amount of camera cuts here should be a little worrying as they should be able to work a match like this without having any major trouble. While the match was mainly a formula based tag, the hot tag to Swole was just weird and it was a little sloppy at times. That being said, it was far from a disaster and it’s nice to see the women getting some attention. Now if only they could get close to the title picture for a change.

Britt Baker isn’t happy with Bea Priestly for injuring her at Fight For The Fallen and not even caring. Priestly is no professional and Baker wants her to feel helpless in the Lockjaw at Full Gear. Baker: “That means I can rip your jaw off your f****** face Bea.”

The match is confirmed for the Full Gear Buy In, which Tony says is tomorrow night. They’re really still doing the gambling stuff?

Video on the contract signing between Chris Jericho and Cody, which led to Dustin Rhodes being taken out by the Inner Circle.

Cody’s sitdown interview this week is with Jimmy Havoc, who has gotten where he is by being himself. Then he got into the hardcore stuff and is still being himself, which has made him successful. These can be interesting, but some of them aren’t as strong, which was the case here.

Jurassic Express vs. Joey Janela/Jimmy Havoc

MJF can’t buy that Stung is 23 and older than Jungle Boy. Fair points on both actually. Havoc takes Boy into the corner to start and we get a shockingly clean break. Boy takes him down by the arm but Havoc takes over with one of his own. MJF says Boy is very good, but he is much better of course. Janela comes in for a wristlock of his own but Boy reverses into a headlock and brings in Stunt. That wristlock doesn’t work at all and it’s back to Boy vs. Havoc to prevent any more embarrassment.

Boy dropkicks Havoc for two and it’s back to Stunt to hammer away. MJF: “It’s like if a squirrel had rabies.” Havoc and Janela are sent outside for a suicide dive from Stunt and an Asai moonsault from Boy. Back in and Stunt hits a top rope stomp onto Janela’s arm, meaning it’s Floss Dance time. Thankfully Havoc breaks it up, becoming a huge crowd favorite. Well to me he is at least.

Janela plants Stunt with a German suplex to take over and we hit a cravate. There’s another suplex and MJF is WAY too pleased with Stunt being beaten up. Eh again, I can get it. Havoc bits Stunt’s head but Stunt rolls forward and gets the hot tag off to Boy. House is cleaned in a hurry and it’s Janela hitting Havoc by mistake. Boy’s standing moonsault double knees gets two on Havoc and there’s an atomic drop to Janela. We get the big sell and Boy even inspects the injury.

Another atomic drop makes it worse and Boy powerbombs Stunt onto him for two. Boy has to chop both opponents at once but gets powerbombed thanks to the numbers game. Havoc’s Tiger Driver 98 connects but Stunt comes in for a shot of his own to put everyone down. Havoc can’t hit the Acid Rainmaker on Boy so it’s a Michinoku Driver for two on Stunt instead. It’s staple gun time with Havoc handing it to Janela….who staples Havoc instead. With Boy down, Janela loads up a super package piledriver on Stunt to knock him silly for the pin at 15:05 as Havoc takes care of Boy.

Rating: C-. I’m completely over Stunt, who isn’t entertaining and whose limited charm has completely worn off. There are ways to use someone his size and this isn’t it. It comes off as completely goofy and ridiculous but for some reason he is beloved (allegedly) by the fans and has to be out there a lot of the time. It takes away from the match, though I do enjoy seeing him get dropped on his head like that.

Post break Tully runs into a smoking Janela, who has disrespected him before. Spears jumps Janela from behind and holds his tongue down with pliers so Tully can burn a cigarette onto his tongue. So there’s Spears’ feud.

The hosts wrap it up.

Overall Rating: D+. This show has lost almost all of the charm that it had for me in the first place, which wasn’t all that much. It hasn’t felt like anything you need to see in a long time, though to be fair it never really needed to be in the first place. This is rapidly becoming the Wrestling Challenge to Dynamite’s Superstars and that isn’t the most glowing recommendation. The wrestling is watchable enough, but there is a reason that some of these people are on this show and not Dynamite. It’s completely harmless, but much like Dynamite it is becoming “here’s AEW for the week” rather than “what are they doing this time?”

Results

Shawn Spears b. Michael Nakazawa – Slingshot Jackhammer

Sadie Gibbs/Allie b. Mercedes Martinez/Big Swole – Moonsault to Swole

Joey Janela/Jimmy Havoc b. Jurassic Express – Super package piledriver to Stunt

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: SHIMMER Women’s Athletes

SHIMMER Volume 113
Date: April 5, 2019
Location: La Boom, Woodside, New York
Commentators: Lenny Leonard, Dave Prazak

I’ve seen one Shimmer show in my day and that was about nine years ago so I’m virtually coming in blind. Women’s wrestling has come a very, very long way since then and there’s a good chance that I’ll actually have an idea what I’m watching this time around. If nothing else, it almost has to be better than some of the matches I’ve been watching this weekend. Let’s get to it.

Shimmer Title: Nicole Savoy vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto

Nicole is defending. Feeling out process to start with Matsumoto getting nowhere off a shoulder and having to escape an early headscissors attempt. A hurricanrana gives Savoy two but she spends too much time posing on the ropes and gets powerbombed down. They head outside with Matsumoto getting the better of the fight as the announcers describe her as sexy Godzilla. A running kick from the apron rocks Savoy again and we hit the neck crank back inside.

That’s broken up with a roll thru and it’s time to chop it out with Matsumoto taking over again. Savoy is right back with a powerslam and the first of what commentary suggests should be several suplexes. The cross armbreaker doesn’t last long either so Savoy switches to a Fujiwara armbar for a change. Savoy’s triangle choke is countered into a Boston crab, sending Savoy straight to the ropes. A Vader Bomb gives Matsumoto two, which brings Savoy to her feet for the screaming forearms.

Matsumoto gets the better of it again and hits a sliding lariat for two, only to get pulled into a guillotine choke. That’s broken up so Savoy goes with a snap suplex and it’s a double knockdown. Another sliding lariat is countered into a crucifix for two more and it’s time for another slugout. They trade German suplexes and Matsumoto elbows her in the face for another near fall. Savoy has had it and snaps off another German suplex. A bridging dragon suplex retains the title at 12:23.

Rating: B. Nice hard hitting match here, with Savoy’s year and a half long title reign continuing. This is definitely more of a workrate based promotion as there were no stories mentioned here and the match was a bunch of heavy shots with the women going back and forth. Savoy didn’t exactly come off like the top star, but the match was quite good.

Post match Savoy is a little banged up.

Veda Scott vs. Brittany Blake vs. Brandi Lauren vs. Allie Recks vs. Hyan vs. Shotzi Blackheart vs. Indi Hartwell vs. Leva Bates

Lucha rules with no tags and one fall to a finish. I don’t know who most of these people are but Blake comes out to the Charmed theme song so she’s already a favorite. Then Bates (Blue Pants) tops that with Oops I Did It Again and the full red outfit from the song’s video, plus a Britney Spears style dance. This gets Big Match Intros, which is only extending things far longer than necessary.

Hyan and Shotzi trade armdrags to start until Shotzi goes for the strikes to the face. The enziguri misses Hyan, but she misses a running knee in the corner as well. Shotzi misses a charge though and falls out to the floor, allowing Blake to come in with Leva following a few seconds later. Blake sends her into the ropes for the 619 to the floor, which doesn’t count as a tag for some reason.

Back in and Bates grabs a Stunner to send Blake outside so Veda comes in for a neck snap across the ropes. An Indian Deathlock doesn’t go long so it’s off to Recks vs. Lauren as the fast changes continue. The fans don’t like Lauren so they go with Indi during the slugout. Everything breaks down and it’s a parade of strikes to the face until Veda rope walks into a dive onto a bunch of people at ringside.

Shotzi dives onto the bigger pile, followed by Blake and Recks diving onto everyone else. Back in and it’s a Human Centipede of submissions, which thankfully is broken up in a hurry. Hyan missile dropkicks Scott but gets kicked in the face by Leva. Shotzi gets in a Codebreaker on Recks, followed by a reverse Cannonball in the corner. Hyan breaks up something off the top though and it’s a 450 double knees to Recks for the pin at 8:10.

Rating: C-. This was the indy style that can bring an energetic match down: too many people trying to get in too many spots in a limited time and it hurt things a lot. No one really got to stick out and that’s kind of defeating the purpose here. Now I want to go listen to some Britney Spears.

The ring announcer welcomes us to the show again. After two matches.

Allysin Kay vs. Kris Statlander

Kris has been around a lot this weekend and is an alien. After trying to eat the streamers, Kris bends over like Bray Wyatt to walk on all fours upside down. The test of strength goes nowhere so Kris rolls her around into a rollup for two. A hot shot gets Kay out of trouble and she clotheslines Kris out to the floor. Kay rams her into the barricade for two and we hit the chinlock.

That’s broken up and Kris Matrixes away from a clothesline and scores with an enziguri. The Falcon Arrow gets two but Kay avoids the moonsault. Kay kicks her in the face and takes things to the top, only to get caught in an electric chair faceplant. A knee to Kay’s face sets up a moonsault for two, with Kay coming back with an over the shoulder kneeling piledriver for the same. The strike off goes to Kris…until Allysin is right back with a discus lariat for the pin at 8:33.

Rating: C-. Both of them worked well, though Kay definitely comes off as the bigger star than a lot of the roster, which is perfectly fine. This was a perfectly watchable match and Kris continues to look good, though some more seasoning will probably help her more than anything else. That and the alien gimmick either being more pronounced or dropped, as it’s just kind of a detail at the moment.

Due to time, there is no intermission (good), though the ring announcer does ask us to grab a t-shirt after the show. I’m assuming paying is implied.

Su Yung vs. Shazza McKenzie

Someone who might be Veda Scott is on commentary. Yung is exactly the same as she is in Impact and I’ve seen Shazza several times on Wrestlemania weekend shows. The fans remind Yung that she killed Allie, showing that they are up on their Impact (someone has to be). Shazza fires off some early kicks and gets two off a series of rollups. Yung gets tied in the rope for some kicks to the chest but is right back with a backbreaker onto the apron.

A middle finger to the crowd sets up Su’s flip dive off the apron as Shazza is in some trouble. Yung ties her in the Tree of Woe for some kicks to the back and a hangman’s neckbreaker out of the corner for two. That means a quickly broken chinlock as Shazza fights up and gets in a hurricanrana out of the corner. A hurricanrana driver gives Yung two more but Shazza is right back with some kicks to the face for a breather.

They forearm it out with Shazza getting the better of it to set up some running knees to the back. A high crossbody gives Shazza two more but she gets anklescissored into the corner. The Panic Switch is reversed into a northern light suplex so Yung goes for the kendo stick. That’s broken up as well so they go to the middle rope at the same time, setting up a super Stunner to finish Yung at 11:07.

Rating: C. Does Yung ever win a bit match? This was a nice back and forth effort with Shazza getting to showcase herself for a change. More often than not she’s in some multiwoman match and doesn’t get to show how good she is. The match wasn’t great, but I haven’t seen many great performances from Yung in the first place.

Tag Team Titles: Twisted Sisters vs. Cheerleader Melissa/Mercedes Martinez

The Sisters (Holidead/Thunder Rosa) are challenging. The rather happy Melissa chants delay the Big Match Intros for a little bit. Martinez and Rosa start things off to fight over a wristlock. Mercedes has to flip out of a headscissor attempt and it’s a standoff with Rosa….I think dancing at her? That earns her a shot to the face but Rosa gets two off a victory roll. The Sisters start some double teaming with a tossed splash hitting Martinez for two more before it’s off to Melissa for an elbow/side slam combination.

Holidead gets stomped down and Melissa dances at Rosa to even things up. The distraction lets Holidead get in a neckbreaker for two but Martinez gets in a cheap shot from the apron, meaning it’s a German suplex into a running knee from Martinez for two more. It’s off to a dragon sleeper with some forearms to Rosa’s chest as I’m not entirely sure who I’m supposed to cheer for here.

Rosa finally kicks Mercedes away though and it’s Holidead coming in to clean house (so the evil twins are faces). Everything breaks down and Holidead is sent outside. That leaves Martinez to hit Three Amigas (superplex, snap suplex and spinning suplex) but Holidead makes the save to put everyone down.

The champs are up first for a powerbomb/neckbreaker combination to Holidead with Rosa making another save. An ugly Code Red puts Martinez down but Melissa is right there with a Samoan drop to Rosa. Since Holidead isn’t legal, Melissa hammers away on Rosa, allowing Holidead to come back in with a backbreaker. Mercedes brings in a title but drops it when the referee yells at her, allowing Melissa to hit the Air Raid Crash (White Noise) on Rosa onto the title. An assisted top rope curb stomp retains the titles at 14:45.

Rating: B-. Good but not great here as it took me a bit to figure out what they were going for here. The Twisted Sisters have been around Ring of Honor for a bit but it was nice to have them against some more seasoned opponents. Martinez and Melissa worked well as heels together and once everything broke down, this got a lot better.

Britt Baker vs. Tessa Blanchard

This could be interesting. Tessa tries for a very early Buzzsaw (hammerlock) DDT but Baker shoves her away for an early standoff. The power game lets Tessa drive her into the corner so Baker grabs a rollup for two. That earns Baker a posting and a second one gives Tessa two. A running kick to the back gets the same as Tessa starts in on the spine. A Codebreaker out of the corner sets up a chinlock, which commentary politely calls a submission attempt.

Baker fights up and hits a superkick. The slugout goes to baker, who scores with a Sling Blade into a DDT for two. The Rings of Saturn send Tessa over to the ropes but she’s right back with a jumping cutter. A top rope backsplash and Batista Bomb get two each and Tessa is getting frustrated. She even steals a move from Britt with the Rings of Saturn, which is broken up just as fast.

Baker grabs a brainbuster for two of her own but Tessa hits a faceplant. Magnum (top rope Codebreaker) gives Tessa two more but Baker is right back with a Canadian Destroyer. Baker hits her own Magnum for her own two and it’s back to the Rings. This time Tessa just muscles her up so Baker hits a superkick, only to get pulled into the Buzzsaw DDT to give Tessa the pin at 12:27.

Rating: B. As usual, Tessa looks like the most complete package the women’s division of any company has seen in a long time. Baker is someone who is going to be treated like a star in AEW and performances like this against top talent is going to help her on the way. Tessa was too much for her here though and it’s not like this is going to hurt Baker in any way.

Post match Tessa shows respect and Baker gets a warm reception.

Blue Nation/Zoe Lucas/Steph De Lander vs. Solo Darling/Sea Stars/Kris Wolf

Blue Nation is Charli Evans/Jessica Troy and the Sea Stars are Ashley Vox/Delmi Exo. Wolf seems to be a little insane and VERY popular. Troy and Vox start things off as the announcers say they’re going to be a bit confused as well. Vox slips out of the corner and hits a hard dropkick so it’s off to Troy vs. Darling with the latter hitting some hard kicks to the chest. A snap suplex gets two on Lucas and it’s off to De Lander for some power.

De Lander gets caught in the corner for a Codebreaker and it’s Wolf coming in to fire things up, including a bunch of right hands to Evans. We settle back down to Wolf putting a wolf’s head on De Lander so Vox can hit a running Meteora in the corner for two. A cheap shot from Evans lets the villains take over on Vox with Troy starting in on the arm. Evans works on an armbar to do her part and De Lander gets two off a side slam.

Lucas’ running X Factor gets two more and it’s back to Evans for a rather hard chinlock. Troy gets smart by pulling on the arm again, followed by a legdrop to the arm from Evans. Vox finally manages a double middle rope dropkick and it’s Exo coming in to clean house. It’s back to Darling for the kicks and suplexes, followed by a modified Sharpshooter on Lucas.

That’s broken up as well and this time it’s Darling in trouble in the corner. Darling, the smallest in the match, manages a pumphandle slam on the rather large De Lander and it’s the real hot tag to Wolf for the real house cleaning. Everything breaks down and we get the chained fish hooking until Vox flips them all over. The heroines load up a quadruple dive but Wolf just throws the wolf head at everyone instead.

De Lander is thrown back inside for a bunch of running knee strikes but the dog pile cover is broken up. That means the big parade of strikes with everyone knocked down for a major breather. Lucas’ running ax kick gets two on Wolf but everything breaks down again, leaving Wolf to hit a top rope Meteora to finish Evans at 19:59.

Rating: C+. I think this was supposed to be the big showcase match and while the extra time helped it a lot, it certainly feels like a match where you’re supposed to know the people and their characters before coming in. Wolf certainly stood out but she seemed to be the star coming into the match in the first place. This is a case where the backstory would have helped, but the action was good enough to carry things.

Heart of Shimmer: Samantha Heights vs. Dust

This is the midcard title and Dust is defending but doesn’t have her usual manager, Rosemary, here, due to Rosemary causing a DQ in their previous match. Heights is billed from the Second Star to the Right and straight on to Cincinnati, Ohio. Dust send her into the corner for two but has to escape a fireman’s carry. They head outside with Heights big booting her over the barricade, followed by a running dive.

The champ is right back with a seated senton off the barricade and a double stomp to the back makes things even worse for Heights. Back in and Heights trips her down, setting up something like the Last Chancery. Dust makes the ropes and kicks away at the back, only to get kicked off the top. That means a series of suicide dives from Heights, followed by a high crossbody for two more.

There’s a running kick to the side of Dust’s head and the champ is dead weight on the floor. They slug it out on the apron with Dust hitting a DDT for a delayed two. A Backstabber gets the same and Dust kicks her hard in the face for another near fall. Heights is right back with a Blockbuster for two of her own, which is quick the kickout apparently. Dust ties her in the Tree of Woe for the Alberto Del Rio double stomp and now it’s her turn to be stunned. Another Backstabber is countered so Heights grabs the hand and runs the corner for what looked like a spinning Downward Spiral for the pin and the title at 13:53.

Rating: B-. The ending felt a bit rushed but commentary told a good story and made me want to see Heights win the title. I can see why they went with the feel good moment to end the show and Heights seemed to be rather likable from the limited time she was out there. Dust didn’t seem like the biggest star in the world but she was a villain to overcome and that’s fine.

Overall Rating: B. Given how little there seems to be for character development and stories, this is going to be more about the work and they did quite well in that department. This show flew by and the action was almost all at least fine if not strong, making this quite the event. It’s not something I would watch every day, but for a big special show, they did very well.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Mae Young Classic
Date: October 3, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Beth Phoenix

We’re on to the second round now and that means things are going to start getting interesting. In this case we have the first instance of previous winners facing off, which should make for some good matchups. That’s the point of a tournament as you start getting to the better matches after you get to the halfway point. Let’s get to it.

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

All matches are second round matches.

We open with a quick recap of the first round to set things up for tonight.

Opening sequence.

Toni Storm is a rock star with a ton of attitude.

Hiroyo Matsumoto is still Lady Godzilla, but does she still love to have fun?

Toni Storm vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto

A lockup goes nowhere to start so Toni does a rather complicated spin to escape a wristlock. Toni’s wristlock keeps Matsumoto in trouble so they hit the mat with Matsumoto headscissoring her way out of trouble. Toni handwalks out so Matsumoto kicks her in the ribs to keep her in trouble. A Stunner over the middle rope puts Storm down again and a missile dropkick gets two.

The dueling chants begin but the LET’S GO TONI chants are pretty clearly winning out. Matsumoto chokes with a boot in the corner but Toni catches her with a German suplex. A fisherman’s suplex gets two and Toni slugs away but she has to backdrop her way out of a powerbomb attempt.

Matsumoto holds on though and puts on a half crab, which looks great on someone as tiny as Storm. Vader Bomb style double knees get two on Toni, who is right back with another German suplex. That’s fine with Matsumoto who scores with the Rock Drop for two of her own as Toni has to get a foot on the rope.

One heck of a clothesline puts Storm down again and Matsumoto loads up another, only to have Storm duck underneath and grab a bridging rollup to advance at 9:17. Nice move on the ending there with Matsumoto listening to the crowd’s chants of ONE MORE TIME instead of just going for the pin when she had it.

Rating: B. I had a good time with this and it’s an encouraging sign that Storm is getting this good in a hurry. Matsumoto is a hard hitter in her own right and has a great future, but Storm has superstar written all over her and there is no reason to believe she isn’t going to be a big time player for years to come.

Kacy Catanzaro is from American Ninja Warrior and can overcome her smaller size.

Rhea Ripley is ready to be a dominant force and is more serious than ever.

Kacy Catanzaro vs. Rhea Ripley

David vs. Goliath, as tends to be the case for Catanzaro. A shoulder puts Catanzaro down in short order so she tries a change of pace with the kicks to Ripley’s legs. Kacy gets sent to the apron where she dropkicks Ripley in the ribs, followed by a hurricanrana. That’s fine with Ripley, who drops her hard onto the ropes for two and starts slowing things down. Just to show off a bit, Ripley dropkicks her down for two, which looks rather odd/impressive given the size differential.

A basement dropkick gets one and the fans are split on this one too. Rhea hits a very delayed suplex and cranks on something like a Texas Cloverleaf, though she’s standing behind Kacy like an ankle lock. Back up and Kacy spins around her multiple times into a DDT, which is straight out of a Rey Mysterio match. If you can do something that only Mysterio can usually pull off, I think you have a future around here.

Rhea bails to the floor so Kacy hits a corkscrew plancha to keep things moving. Back in and Kacy completely botches a springboard missile dropkick so she tries again, this time jumping over the top to land on the middle and dropkick Rhea down. Rhea has had it with all the flips though and kicks her in the ribs, setting up Riptide for the pin at 7:04.

Rating: C+. Kacy is a crazy good athlete and some of the stuff she was doing out there was almost hard to believe. That being said, she’s also very new at this and clearly needs a lot of fine tuning. The look, charisma and athleticism are going to be more than enough to carry her though and that’s what matters. Ripley on the other hand is ready to be a star right now and that’s more than enough reason to send her forward here.

Lacey Lane is an underdog who scored an upset in the first round so she wants to continue her Cinderella story.

Taynara Conti is a black belt in judo who is ready to destroy Lacey.

Taynara Conti vs. Lacey Lane

Conti wastes no time in flipping her down and does it again, just to show Lane that she’s in over her head. Lacey is right back with a 619 for two and an elbow to the face. A missed charge in the corner allows Conti to pull her down by the long hair though and a few kicks to the chest have Lane in even more trouble. Conti is frustrated at the kickout so it’s off to a crazy eyed armbar for a few seconds.

Back up and Lane hits a clothesline and something like Sister Abigail for two of her own. That’s about it for Conti, who tries another flip but gets reversed into the crucifix bomb to give Lane another upset pin at 2:38. I don’t think I get the appeal of Lane but the Full Sail fans seemed to like her so it makes sense to push her again, though I’m not sure about having her go over someone like Conti.

Meiko Satomura wants to show the world strength.

Mercedes Martinez wants to make up for her loss last year with another big win here.

Meiko Satomura vs. Mercedes Martinez

Feeling out process to start with Meiko going into a wristlock for the very early control. That’s reversed into a slightly harder arm crank but Meiko takes her right down again and drops a knee to the chest for two. A double underhook neck crank keeps Martinez down until a suplex gives her two of her own. Meiko slaps on a headscissors on the mat and the announcers laugh a bit too much while talking about how to escape.

Mercedes smacks her in the face for the break and it’s time to slug it out. That goes to Martinez as she slams Meiko down and cranks on the leg for a bit. Some forearms in the corner have Meiko in trouble so she kicks Mercedes upside the head. A top rope crotching puts Meiko down again though and it’s a hanging swinging neckbreaker for two. Mercedes’ fisherman’s buster is reversed into a Fujiwara armbar until a few rolls get Mercedes to the ropes.

With the submissions not working, Meiko tries a frog splash for two instead. Mercedes snaps off a Saito suplex for two and they’re both down. Back up and Meiko spikes her with a DDT, followed by a second to set up a backflip knee to the ribs for a close two. Martinez is right back up with a big boot and the fisherman’s buster….for two. That earns a standing ovation and I can’t argue with that at all. A surfboard goes on but Mercedes can’t add a dragon sleeper, allowing Meiko to elbow her way out. Meiko kicks her in the face and a running kick to the back of the head is enough for the pin at 11:32.

Rating: A-. Well that was awesome and blows away almost anything else in the tournament so far. They beat the heck out of each other until Martinez couldn’t stand up any longer, which is often the best formula you can have. Satomura looked like a legend and Martinez was right there with her until the end. Great match and worth checking out for the reaction to that near fall alone.

Overall Rating: A. That’s easily the best episode of either tournament with an instant classic and another very good match to go with it. Throw in a very entertaining Catanzaro vs. Ripley match and there’s nothing bad here whatsoever. This is the kind of show that I’ve been waiting for from this thing and it was an incredible hour of wrestling. Now hopefully the rest can come close to this, though that’s hard to do.

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

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Mae Young Classic
Date: September 12, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, Beth Phoenix, Renee Young

This isn’t really a show that needs much of an introduction. There are four matches on each episode and you might have heard of some of the women before. We’re still a good way off from the finals or even the later rounds but that doesn’t mean what we’re getting isn’t any good. I had a fine time with the first week so hopefully this lives up to that standard. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s show.

Preview of tonight’s matches.

Opening sequence.

The announcers take some time to explain a little bit about Mae Young. Not the worst idea actually.

All matches are first round matches.

Priscilla Kelly likes to play mind games and then strike.

Deonna Purrazzo was an alternate last year and is ready to prove herself for real this time. She’s a new NXT regular so you can imagine where things are going here.

Samoa Joe is here.

Priscilla Kelly vs. Deonna Purrazzo

You can tell Vince isn’t paying attention as Cole calls Purrazzo a wrestler. Kelly looks a bit Elvira-ish, which works to a certain degree. Apparently she was also on three episodes of “My Big Fat Roman Gypsy Wedding.” I have no idea what to do with this information so we’ll move on to Kelly snapmaring her down but getting caught in a wristlock. Purrazzo bounces out of a headscissors on the mat and it’s already a standoff.

A rollup gives Purrazzo two and Kelly is getting annoyed at the speed. It’s too early for the Fujiwara armbar so Kelly chops away in the corner. A running knee gives Kelly two and it’s off to a dragon sleeper. Purrazzo gets a boot up in the corner and chops away, followed by a backflip into a basement dropkick. Kelly is rocked and the Fujiwara armbar (with Purrazzo bouncing up and down on the mat to crank on it more) makes her tap at 4:27.

Rating: C. The match was fine, albeit never in doubt, but it mainly served as a showcase for Purrazzo. She might not be the best in the world (though she’s quite good) but she has an obvious likability to her and that makes her fun to watch. There’s a real chance of her making a pretty deep run in this thing. Kelly was reminiscent of Paige and that’s not a bad place to be. She’ll get better with time.

Purrazzo is in tears over the win. That makes things even better.

Aerial Monroe is proud of her muscles and she’s different from everyone else. I’d love to hear someone say they’re like everyone else for a change.

Zeuxis is a luchador and that’s about it.

Natalya is here. She’s standing in front of Izzy but that isn’t even acknowledged.

Zeuxis vs. Aerial Monroe

Monroe dances to the ring and her husband and daughter are here. That’s a little more noteworthy when you consider that her husband is Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander. Aerial isn’t happy with Zeuxis going after her hair, threatening to pop her in the mouth. A few clotheslines miss and Monroe knees her in the face(ish) for two. Zeuxis ges for the hair again so Aerial chops her down. Fans: “YOU GOT CHOPPED!” Well yeah, that’s kind of obvious.

Cole reads off more of his factoids as the match itself is ignored because we need to get these personalities over. An abdominal stretch has Aerial in trouble as Beth tries to actually talk about the match. A fish hook camel clutch, with more hair touching, keeps Aerial in trouble. Aerial is right back with a delayed kick to the face and a running Downward Spiral. Zeuxis doesn’t seem to mind and catches Aerial on top with a super Spanish Fly for the pin at 4:03.

Rating: D+. The wrestling wasn’t great to put it mildly here and Zeuxis seemed like a pretty standard villain. Aerial certainly has some charisma and a unique look but she’s going to need a bit more than that to make it work. I wasn’t particularly impressed by either of them here, though Io Shirai is going to kill Zeuxis in round two anyway.

Aerial’s daughter is crying over the loss. Well that works.

Reina Gonzalez is a rather big (as in tall) woman who lost in last year’s tournament. She won’t be as nice this year.

Kacy Catanzaro is a tiny little thing who was a success on American Ninja Warrior. She sounds like the face version of Alexa Bliss and that’s not the best thing in the world.

Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan are here.

Kacy Catanzaro vs. Reina Gonzalez

Kacy is very bubbly and climbs the post to get in the ring. Makes sense and a nice little touch. Cole instead talks about how USA Today broke the news that Kacy would be in the tournament, because EVERYONE CARES ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT. Kacy is 5’ and 100lbs, putting her only at Reina’s shoulder. For some reason Kacy decides to charge right at her and gets swung around by the neck.

Kacy scores with a headscissors and tries another, only to be reversed into a hard backbreaker. Apparently Reina has been VERY annoyed at all of the attention on Kacy. Like, the attention from USA Today! A hard forearm to the back drops Kacy again but an elbow misses. Some dropkicks to the knee have Reina reeling and a middle rope springboard dropkick gets two. A quick victory roll gives Kacy the pin at 4:47.

Rating: D+. I know Kacy is going to get the hype and I can understand why, but Reina is someone who has earned a contract of her own. Sometimes you just need a big woman who can make others look small and that’s what they had here. Kacy is as charismatic as you can get but being Rey Mysterio’s size isn’t going to do her any favors.

Post match Reina puts Kacy on her shoulder.

Mercedes Martinez made the semifinals last year and isn’t here to lose. Well I would hope that’s the case every year.

Ashley Rayne (Madison Rayne) is high energy but things can get under her skin. There are some clips from TNA but just the photographer is credited.

The Undisputed Era is here.

Ashley Rayne vs. Mercedes Martinez

In case you were wondering, Newsweek broke the news that Mercedes would be in the tournament. You know, like she was last year. Mercedes cranks on the arm to start and puts on an early chinlock. Back up and something almost like a One Winged Angel (just lifting her up instead of on the shoulder) rocks Rayne for two and it’s off to a double underhook stretch. The announcers talk about Martinez’s tattoos until Rayne makes it to the corner but can’t hit a tornado DDT.

A very delayed vertical suplex puts Rayne down for two but she’s fine enough to reverse the second into an RKO (called a neckbreaker). Martinez gets two more off a spinebuster so Rayne comes back with some forearms and a neckbreaker. An actual neckbreaker that is and not a cutter. Cross Rhodes gets two and Martinez’ fisherman’s buster is reversed into a small package for the same. Martinez is done with the TNA reject though and knees her in the face, setting up the fisherman’s buster for the pin at 7:34.

Rating: C. Easily the match of the night here but that’s probably due to Rayne being more used to the higher level of competition. The match still wasn’t great but Martinez is a great choice to push in the tournament as she looks like someone who could take out anyone at any given time. That being said, you would have expected a little more than a first round loss from Rayne, who was one of the higher level names in the whole thing.

Overall Rating: D. This was a hard one to get through and I was rather bored at different times. The wrestling wasn’t very good and the main event was the only match worth seeing. Other than that, the whole thing felt like a bunch of people who were just there because they were being included because they already worked for the company or because they needed to fill in spots. Pretty weak show, but you can never guess the quality when it comes to a tournament.

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/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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

Mae Young Classic Episode #8
Date: September 4, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Jim Ross, Lita

It’s semifinals time and that means we should be in for some nice, long matches. It wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t get a bonus match thrown in as well and that wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. Hopefully they can live up to the expectations as the matches have been good but nothing great. The extra time should help a lot so let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of last week.

JR and Lita offer a preview.

Video on Shayna Baszler, who held that choke longer last week to send a message.

Video on Mercedes Martinez, who says this is the culmination of her career. We also see clips of Martinez training Baszler, which offers a very nice bonus aspect to the match. Why wasn’t that mentioned before?

Semifinals: Shayna Baszler vs. Mercedes Martinez

Baszler shakes hands this time. Martinez isn’t as polite and slugs away at Baszler with right hands and chops in the corner. A kick to the ribs is blocked but Martinez just lets it go, seemingly in an attempt to get inside Baszler’s head. The threat of a running kick sets up a chinlock, which isn’t a rear naked choke no matter how much JR seems to think it is.

Baszler sends her into the corner and hammers away before getting two off a gutwrench suplex. A kneebar has Martinez in trouble until she finally kicks away. This time it’s Martinez grabbing a hold of her own with something like a Regal Stretch before they forearm it out from their knees. Baszler gets the better of it but Mercedes fights up into a fisherman’s suplex to put Baszler down. The fisherman’s buster is countered into the rear naked choke and Mercedes finally taps at 8:10.

Rating: B. Baszler winning is the absolute right call, especially with the Four Horsewomen battle coming up. Martinez doesn’t have a background in WWE but they’ve treated her as a major deal, which makes it more impressive to have Baszler beat her. Good match here, which is becoming the trend around here.

They hug post match with Stephanie McMahon (well duh), HHH and Sara Amoto out to congratulate Baszler.

Video on Toni Storm, who is here to win.

Video on Kairi Sane, who promises to win. I was hoping she was here for a flagon of rum and a treasure hunt.

Semifinals: Kairi Sane vs. Toni Storm

Sane takes Toni down and rides her for a bit until Storm slips out of a chinlock. That’s fine with Kairi who hits a running dropkick and starts smiling. Storm goes with a shot to the face for two, only to get pulled to the floor with her back landing on the apron. Kairi adds a big dive to put Storm down again and it’s off to a Boston crab.

The sliding forearm is blocked with some raised boots though (smart) and it’s the running hip attack rocking Kairi. Storm tries another one but takes a clothesline to the ribs (not quite a spear) to cut her off again. They slug it out with Kairi getting the better of it but she gets caught on top. Storm gets two off a fisherman’s suplex.

It’s off to a flip over armbar (ala Tommaso Ciampa) with Toni CRANKING on that thing. Kairi finally rolls over to the other side for two but can’t follow up. Toni’s top rope legdrop hits the back but she bangs herself up at the same time. Kairi kicks her down again and hits the top rope elbow for the pin at 12:24.

Rating: B+. This might have been the best match of the tournament so far, or at least the hardest hitting. Kairi winning was pretty obvious and there was no secret to the fact that it was going to be her vs. Baszler, almost from the beginning. Storm looked great again here and if they don’t sign her, they’re dumber than I thought.

Sane gets the victory celebration as well. Baszler comes out for the showdown with JR getting in the usually awesome summary line: the one with the biggest fight in the dog is fighting the biggest dog in the yard.

Overall Rating: A-. I’m ready for the finals and that’s a good thing. The two matches were both quite good and I want to see the winners beat the heck out of each other next week. They’ve built both of them up as unbeatable, which is what makes for an awesome showdown in the end. Really good good show here and the best thing they’ve done so far.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Complete 2002 Monday Night Raw Reviews in either E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/07/21/new-e-bookpaperback-kbs-complete-monday-night-raw-2002-reviews/

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

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

Mae Young Classic Episode #7
Date: September 4, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Jim Ross, Lita

We’re down to the final eight and that means four quarterfinal matches tonight. You can probably guess what’s coming for the final four but that’s what makes these rounds exciting: there’s the chance of a big upset and that could change everything. Things were a lot better in the second round and hopefully that’s the case here too. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of how all eight made it to the quarterfinals.

No bio videos here, though to be fair you should know who they are at this point.

Quarterfinals: Abbey Laith vs. Mercedes Martinez

Abbey takes her down in a test of strength to start until a hard palm strike to the jaw slows Laith down. Mercedes headlocks her for a bit before a heck of a slap staggers Abbey again. A spinning kick is countered so Abbey just does the splits instead of getting dropped again. Laith kicks at the arm a bit and JR brings up the two years off that Mercedes needed for a shoulder injury. That little background information often helps things so much and I wish we got more of it in WWE.

Abbey chops her back and kicks Mercedes in the head for two. That just earns Abbey a hard whip into the post and they fight to the apron with Lita joining the IT’S THE HARDEST PART OF THE RING club. Abbey kicks her out to the floor (which hasn’t been the case very often in the tournament) for a crossbody to leave both of them laying.

Back in and Abbey tries to get fired up but Mercedes sends her outside for a breather. That goes nowhere so Abbey grabs a bridging German suplex for two, drawing a heck of a scream out of Laith on the kickout. Mercedes grabs the fisherman’s buster for the pin at 8:57 in another fast finish.

Rating: B. These finishes coming out of nowhere aren’t doing much for me and they’re becoming a pattern around here. Mercedes advancing is the right call as she’s been treated as a veteran killer so sending her to the semifinals makes sense. Good match here too, which is all you can ask for.

Johnny Gargano is here and you know what that means.

Quarterfinals: Candice LeRae vs. Shayna Baszler

The winner gets Martinez in the semifinals. Shayna wastes no time with a hard knee lift and looks like she’s toying with Candice to start. A kick misses though and Shayna crotches herself to give Candice a breather. Shayna gets sent outside for a suicide dive into a DDT (cool) to drop her on her head. Back in and we hit an Octopus hold on Baszler, followed by the Gargano Escape for a nice touch. Baszler calmly powers her up for a side slam and tries a super gutwrench suplex. Ms. LeRae’s Wild Ride is easily countered into the rear naked choke for the tap at 3:11.

Rating: C+. They were getting going here until the very sudden ending, though this was the right idea. The idea behind Baszler is that she can finish you in the blink of an eye and that’s exactly what they should be going for with her. LeRae is going to be fine wherever she goes and that suicide DDT was freaking sweet. Throw in the submission tease and they had me going a few times here. Give this more time though and it’s instantly better.

Baszler won’t let go of the hold, to the point where I thought they were going to reverse the decision for a second. She even kicks at LeRae as the doctors check on her. Now that’s how you book a heel.

Quarterfinals: Piper Niven vs. Toni Storm

Storm takes the far bigger Niven into the corner and gives her a playful tap on the jaw. For some reason Toni thinks a test of strength is a good idea with Niven taking her down. Storm bridges up and Niven can’t break it for an impressive strength display. Like, a very impressive one as Toni isn’t that big. They bridge up at the same time and shake hands upside down for a cute bit.

Niven powers her down and gets two off a splash, followed by Toni getting the same off a crossbody. Two more splashes give Piper the same so Toni grabs a Backstabber (popular move in this tournament) for a breather. A German suplex is countered into the Michinoku Driver for two and Piper is stunned. She tries the Vader Bomb, only to get caught in a German superplex. A top rope legdrop sends Storm on at 7:36.

Rating: C+. I don’t think anyone was buying the idea that Niven was anything more than a dragon for someone to slay. Storm is as good of an option as anyone else as she has a great look and feels like someone they want to push the heck out of, especially over time. Good enough match here and while Storm isn’t making it to the finals, she’s getting noticed, which is often more important.

Baszler’s fellow Four Horsewomen are proud of her win but here are Bayley, Charlotte and Becky Lynch for the staredown. Rousey: “Anytime, anyplace.” Say…..New Orleans perhaps? Maybe early April?

Funaki is here.

Quarterfinals: Kairi Sane vs. Dakota Kai

Kairi headlocks her down to start and the fans seem pleased at an early standoff. A spinning backfist misses and Kai gives her a martial arts pose. Kairi takes her into the corner for some hard chops as this is getting physical. The fans are behind Kairi but get quieted down with a running kick to the jaw in the corner. Kairi is tired of getting hit in the face so she spears Kai down for a breather.

Kai hits another running kick in the corner but gets sent into the corner. Kairi can’t hit a superplex but can avoid a top rope double stomp with Kai tweaking the knee on the landing. A top rope Phenomenal Forearm gives Kairi two but Kai kicks her down again. Another running kick in the corner misses though and it’s an Alabama Slam it’s the top rope elbow to send Sane to the semifinals at 7:42.

Rating: B. I’m starting to get the appeal of Sane and a lot of it is due to having her do stuff like this. Kai was very game here and that made for a more entertaining match. People like Sane are going to get more out of this than by squashing someone so it’s definitely the right call. Kai will have a job in WWE if she wants one but this is Sane’s tournament to win. Maybe.

The semifinals are set:

Kairi Sane

Toni Storm

Mercedes Martinez

Shayna Baszler

Overall Rating: B. I’m not sure what it says that I’m more interested in the Four Horsewomen battle than the tournament but that was definitely one of the big draws of this whole thing. The final four are interesting and while you can almost pencil in Sane vs. Baszler for the whole thing, that’s not the worst result in the world. Good show here and I’m fired up for the last two shows.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Complete 2002 Monday Night Raw Reviews in either E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/07/21/new-e-bookpaperback-kbs-complete-monday-night-raw-2002-reviews/

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

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

Mae Young Classic Episode #5
Date: September 4, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Jim Ross, Lita

The fast paced shows continue as we have four more episodes being released today before we get ready for next week’s live finale. We’re down to sixteen competitors to go and for the most part, I’m coming into this blind on the spoilers. It’s hard to say where some of these matches are going to go so let’s get to it.

Mauro handles the opening recap again.

The remaining entrants are on stage.

Video on Abbey Laith, who has wrestled for years and is here now.

Video on Rachel Evers, who was originally scheduled to lose in the first round but Marti Belle was so horrible that they changed plans mid-match.

Kassius Ohno is here.

Second Round: Abbey Laith vs. Rachel Evers

The fans sound split here as Rachel shoves her down to start, only to get wristdragged to the floor. Back in and a Stunner of all things puts Abbey down but they hit stereo bicycle kicks for a double knockdown. Abbey sticks with the kicks, including a high one off the side of Evers’ head to send her straight down. She’s up fast enough to catch Abbey on top with a super powerslam of all things for two. Cool looking move if nothing else. Evers tries another kick but gets dropped with a powerbomb, setting up the Alligator Clutch for the pin at 4:51.

Rating: C-. This started off a bit awkward but got better as things went on. Laith feels like someone they’re ready to push pretty hard, especially given her background on the indy scene. Evers just needs a lot more ring time, though she has the look and pedigree to make a pretty nice run for herself one day.

Video on Serena Deeb, who is very aggressive and will work hard.

Video on Piper Niven, who wants to be tough but with a big smile.

Second Round: Serena Deeb vs. Piper Niven

Niven powers her into the corner to start and falls on Deeb in a slam attempt. Well to be fair that was just kind of dumb. A hard belly to back suplex breaks up Serena’s headlock and there’s a splash for two more. With the holds not working, Deeb opts for just punching her in the face for a change. A middle rope Codebreaker (or maybe something like a monkey flip) drops Niven and a neckbreaker gets two.

Deeb is right back up with a modified Diamond Cutter for two more as the fans are split again. A charge misses in the corner though and Niven drops a Vader Bomb….for two. Dang I would have bet on that one. Niven heads up top (uh oh) and misses a splash, only to grab the Michinoku Driver to put Deeb away at 7:12.

Rating: C. What in the world was that ending? Niven missed the splash to seemingly give Deeb a hope spot but she was up less than five seconds later and hit the finish for the pin. I looked away for a second and my head swung back because I thought the video had skipped. They were trying to get into the Sting vs. Vader formula here but that ending REALLY knocked them back.

Video on Princesa Sugehit, who may be a veteran but needs to win this tournament.

Video on Mercedes Martinez, who has waited a long time for this opportunity.

Kalisto is here.

Second Round: Princesa Sugehit vs. Mercedes Martinez

Sugehit, in Wonder Woman themed gear, takes her down by the arm and tries a quick rollup for two. Another rollup, this time into the corner, gets the same on Martinez but she’s right back with Two Amigos into a draping swinging neckbreaker. Princesa grabs a Codebreaker but has to block a superplex attempt. Instead it’s a tornado DDT (now a big spot on the indy Bingo card) for two on Martinez and both of them are spent less than five minutes in. One heck of a Fujiwara armbar has Martinez in more trouble but she pops up and hits a fisherman’s buster for the pin at 5:09.

Rating: C. What is with these sudden endings? Sugehit was dominating and then got caught by one move, seemingly out of nowhere, for the pin. Mercedes winning certainly isn’t a surprise but they could have done a better job of laying the match out. You have almost all the time you want and there’s no need to cut them down this fast.

Video on Bianca Belair, whose hair whip thing is still stupid.

Video on Kairi Sane, who is perhaps the most awesome thing ever.

Second Round: Bianca Belair vs. Kairi Sane

Kairi gets taken down to start and we hit a headlock as JR continues to brag about how awesome of an athlete Belair is. Back up and Belair blows her a kiss, only to have Sane grab it out of the air and stomp it on the mat. One heck of a forearm drops Belair but she hits the hair whip (So you can use it to whip people but get yelled at for pulling it?) to take over.

A delayed vertical suplex with some squats gets two and we hit a seated full nelson. So she’s a No Mercy fan? Some ground and pound of all things has Kairi down but she gets her knees up to stop a splash. Kairi does those rapid fire chops in the corner that probably don’t hurt much but they’re done in Japan and therefore they must be awesome.

A seated double arm choke (another No Mercy move) has Belair in trouble until she fights up and gets in a double chickenwing slam. One heck of a 450 gets a red hot near fall on Sane and Bianca is stunned. Kairi kicks her down and hits a running corner clothesline, followed by the top rope elbow (which she almost completely misses as her hip makes contact instead) to eliminate Belair at 10:00.

Rating: B. I’ll give this one a higher rating for the No Mercy based offense and the hair thing being gone. Sane is clearly the top star in this whole thing and I’d be surprised if she doesn’t win the whole thing. Belair is a heck of an athlete and that 450 looked awesome. She’ll be a big deal in NXT for a good while and then on the main roster assuming she has any kind of talking ability.

A recap wraps things up.

Overall Rating: B-. Now we’re getting to the fun part where they’re having big names face other big names. The wrestling is getting better too and that can make for some sweet matches. I’m looking forward to where things go from here and the rest of the tournament, assuming it’s given time, should be a lot of fun.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Complete 2002 Monday Night Raw Reviews in either E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/07/21/new-e-bookpaperback-kbs-complete-monday-night-raw-2002-reviews/

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

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

Mae Young Classic Episode #2
Date: August 28, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Jim Ross, Lita

It’s kind of nice to have all four episodes of the first round up on the same day as we’re going to be able to get to the final sixteen in one day. The first four matches were all fine and we already have some names to watch. This show will get us down to twenty four names left in the competition so let’s get to it.

Mauro Ranallo narrates the opening video, which looks at last week’s show and previews tonight’s four matches.

Opening sequence.

JR and Lita preview tonight’s matches.

Video on Xia Li, a signee from China who trains in Chinese martial arts.

Video on Mercedes Martinez, who has been a big star on the independent circuit for years and is covered in tattoos.

First Round: Mercedes Martinez vs. Xia Li

Li has a fan in her hand, which gives me a nice flashback to Mulan. Martinez gets rather evil by doing the crane kick pose instead of shaking hands. A headlock into a front facelock has Li in early trouble but she comes right back with a spinning kick to the ribs. More kicks get two and a forearm knocks Martinez straight down. A spinebuster cuts Li off for one though and Martinez’s shocked face is rather over the top. Martinez stays ticked off enough to grab a surfboard into a dragon sleeper for the tap at 3:06.

Rating: D+. This wasn’t quite a squash with the far bigger star winning despite selling a lot of Li’s offense. Li has a good look and seemed poised in the ring. If she can learn English I could see her going somewhere down in developmental. Martinez is going to be a big deal in this thing and that really shouldn’t be any kind of a surprise.

Video on Rachel Evers, the daughter of Paul Ellering who has made several appearances in NXT. She’s well rounded and ready to fight any style.

Video on Marti Belle, who is best known from her time in TNA. She leads the pack instead of following it.

First Round: Marti Belle vs. Rachel Evers

The fans are entirely behind Evers here and Belle is a very clear heel. A single underhook suplex gives Marti two and she brags about how close that was. Back up and Evers gets one off a springboard spinning legdrop out of the corner. Marti snaps the throat across the top as the dueling chants begin.

Rachel comes back with some forearms and a COME ON, followed by a running backsplash. A pretty bad looking spinebuster gets two on Marti so Rachel loads up a fisherman’s buster but slams her forward for two instead. Marti comes back with a Stroke for two of her own as this needs to end soon. A very quick small package pins Belle at 6:31. It’s as sudden as it sounds.

Rating: D-. Yeah this really didn’t work. Rachel has all the requirements to make something of herself (good look, good pedigree) but the in-ring work really isn’t there. The match was sloppy and looked completely disjointed at times, easily making it the worst match of the tournament so far. That only puts it in sixth but I can’t picture much beating this. Really bad match.

Video on HHH welcoming the 32 entrants.

Video on Miranda Salinas, who was trained by Booker T. She’s 5’ and from what I can find, has less than twenty matches in her career. I can’t imagine that’s all she’s had but if so, well done on getting here.

Video on Rhea Ripley, a 20 year old phenom (I’d like some more details on that description) from Australia with a soccer background.

First Round: Rhea Ripley vs. Miranda Salinas

Miranda definitely has some charisma to go with her small stature. The far bigger (probably by a foot) Rhea headlocks her down before hitting a good looking dropkick to send Salinas outside. Ripley fires off some chops in the corner but gets kicked in the back of the head. A running knee to the chest gives Miranda two but a forearm to the face just seems to get on her nerves. Ripley hits a running kick to the face in the corner, followed by a running basement dropkick for two. Something like a Chick Kick sets up a full nelson slam to put Salinas away at 3:51.

Rating: C+. If she’s only 20, they might be on to something with the prodigy thing. I really liked this match a lot more than I was expecting to and there’s something to both of them. Rhea has a good look, solid size and the in-ring work. Her charisma was a bit below average but she can work on that. Salinas’ size is going to work against her but if she can get the work down, she’ll be fine. I was impressed by these two and they had a much better match than I would have bet on. Well done and keep an eye on Ripley coming to NXT.

Video on Mia Yim, who you’ve probably seen in various promotions, including TNA as Jade. She talks about her domestic violence story last year, which got some mainstream attention.

Video on Sarah Logan, better known as Crazy Mary Dobson, who is a backwoods tough girl from Kentucky who trained in Japan.

Natalya and Beth Phoenix are here.

First Round: Mia Yim vs. Sarah Logan

Mia works on a wristlock to start and a dropkick gets two. Sarah comes back by taking her down and hammers away with some right hands for two of her own. A basement dropkick keeps Mia in trouble but she kicks Sarah right into the corner. That’s fine with Sarah, who screams at her to do it again.

Mia obliges and puts on the Tarantula before getting two more off a jumping knee. A rolling guillotine choke has Sarah in trouble but she slips out and it’s time for a seated slap off. Logan is back up first with a running knee to the face for another two but Mia grabs a pair of bridging German suplexes for near falls of her own.

Sarah gets two more off a Samoan drop and a fisherman’s suplex out of the corner gets the same. Sarah: “OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!” She then misses….I’m not sure what actually but Mia kicks her in the head (Mia: “Off with YOUR head!”), setting up Eat Defeat (still don’t like that move) for the pin at 7:17.

Rating: B-. Yim is one of the bigger stars in this thing but she’s going to be facing Shayna Baszler in the second round, meaning she’s probably done after two matches. Logan has some skills but at the same time she’s only going to go so far with the Kentucky tough thing. She needs more time in front of the crowd though and that’s going to come with time.

The recap ends the show.

Overall Rating: C. This wasn’t as good of a show as the first one and a lot of that is due to the Belle vs. Evers match, which really brought things down. The big thing I got out of this one though was the future is looking bright. There’s a lot of talent in this tournament and several of them have been signed to developmental deals. If they can go somewhere with this stuff, the NXT women’s division is going to be in good shape in the near future.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Complete 2002 Monday Night Raw Reviews in either E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/07/21/new-e-bookpaperback-kbs-complete-monday-night-raw-2002-reviews/

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

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