Monday Night Raw – December 31, 2018: Better Luck Next Year

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 31, 2018
Location: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young

We’re taped this week for the second time in a row, which has to be the first time in at least several years, assuming two of the UK shows didn’t take place back to back at some point. The big deal tonight is a cage match between Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre, because that was a story that needed to go on for the better part of nine months, assuming it ends tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

The cage is lowered to start.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Drew McIntyre

In a cage with pinfall, submission or escape to win. Ziggler has thankfully lost the record scratch at the start of his song. An early escape attempt doesn’t work for Ziggler and Drew chops the heck out of him. That and a delayed vertical suplex are enough to put Dolph down for some writhing on the mat.

Dolph’s early comeback is cut off by the Glasgow Kiss but he catches Drew on top. That means a series of rams into the cage but Drew kicks the knee out for a crotching. Back from a break with Drew demanding that Ziggler fight and being set into the cage for his efforts. The superkick gives Ziggler two but Drew pulls him back inside. A double headbutt puts them both down again but Drew is up first, only to have Ziggler slam the cage door on his head.

The Fameasser gets two and we take a break. Back again with McIntyre superplexing him off the top of the cage and then sending Ziggler face first into the cage. The Claymore takes Dolph’s head off but Drew would rather sit and look instead of cover. Another Claymore finishes Ziggler at 19:29.

Rating: C+. It’s a good win for McIntyre but it’s way past time for this feud to be over. McIntyre is better than Ziggler and they need to move him on to something else already. They’ve been at this for months now and McIntyre has gotten everything he can from Ziggler. That doesn’t mean it’s stopping, but it means that it should.

Post match Drew isn’t done as he puts a chair in front of Ziggler’s head and Claymores it into Ziggler’s head, driving it into the cage. Drew says that he’s going to win the Royal Rumble and leaves, but comes back as Ziggler was sitting up in the chair. That means another Claymore to leave Ziggler laying. Ok are we done with these two now? I mean we should have been three months ago but are we done now?

Time for some New Year’s Resolutions.

Finn Balor wants the Universal Title back.

Ember Moon wants to win the Royal Rumble.

Ascension wants to bring back the Fashion Files. And win the Tag Team Titles.

Lucha House Party wants it to be their year.

Here’s Seth Rollins for a chat. He wants a fresh start this year but that’s the case every single week on Raw because things move so fast. However, he has a guaranteed rematch for the Intercontinental Title and wants to use that right now. Cue HHH to say that it’s a new day in WWE and those automatic rematches are gone. On top of that, Rollins doesn’t really deserve a shot right now.

That’s hard for HHH to say because he’s always supported Rollins, which Rollins isn’t letting slip by. HHH talks about how Rollins made him believe in him but HHH is done handing things out. Rollins loses it over that, saying that he never wanted things handed to him. While Brock Lesnar was up in Canada doing whatever Lesnar does, Rollins was out here having classics with everyone from Finn Balor to Dolph Ziggler to MOJO RAWLEY.

HHH wants the old Rollins back and tonight he can burn it down against Bobby Lashley. That’s cool with Seth, who is taking Lashley down tonight, then Dean Ambrose and the Intercontinental Title, and then the Universal Title. If HHH and his family gets in his way, they’re being taken down too. This brings out Shane McMahon to say that Rollins needs to leave, because we’ve got a battle royal with the winner getting an Intercontinental Title shot later tonight and it starts right now.

Battle Royal

Finn Balor, No Way Jose, Viktor, Konnor, Kalisto, Gran Metalik, Lince Dorado, Titus O’Neil, Apollo Crews, Zack Ryder, Mojo Rawley, Tyler Breeze, Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas, Curt Hawkins, Baron Corbin

This is dubbed the Fresh Start battle royal. It’s a brawl to start with Jose hitting an airplane spin on Viktor. Crews eliminates both of them and then puts the B Team on the apron. Some dropkicks have Konnor in trouble and things slow down a lot. Kalisto puts Kalisto on the apron but the House Party gets together to eliminate him. Back from a break with Balor eliminating Metalik by knocking him off the top and then sending the other members of the House Part to the apron.

They’re both thrown out by Balor but Crews then gets rid of the B Team, Konnor and Rawley in a rush. Breeze follows them out for Crews’ seventh elimination until Corbin chokeslams Crews down. Balor dropkicks away as we’re down to five with Balor cleaning house. Corbin gets in a shot from behind though and dumps Balor, leaving us with Corbin, Ryder, Hawkins and Crews.

Ryder gets in some hope spots but Corbin backdrops him to the floor to cut him off. Hawkins and Corbin have the staredown with the fans getting behind Hawkins, even as he’s thrown to the apron. Renee: “Take that haters.” Of course he’s out shortly thereafter to gt us down to two. Corbin throws Crews to the apron but Crews gets back in, allowing Corbin to try the slide underneath the ropes. That’s cut off by a jumping enziguri though, followed by a second to give Apollo the win at 11:38.

Rating: D+. Not much to this one, though they did a good job of making Crews look like a star in the whole thing. There’s nothing to be gained by having him just hang around until the ending and then win by eliminating one person, but Crews got rid of half of the field, which is quite the feat. Now of course that doesn’t matter if he loses badly to Dean tonight, which is about what you have to know is coming. Oh and Corbin in a battle royal is fine, as long as he doesn’t talk.

Post match Crews says that’s what he’s been looking for and it’s finally here after 364 days. Tonight, he wants the title.

Natalya talks about how great this year has been, including last week’s title match against Ronda Rousey. This has been a rollercoaster year and she wants the Raw Women’s Title, which is why she’s entering the Royal Rumble. Nia Jax comes in to say Ronda might not be the champion by then. Something might derail Natalya’s plans too, and here’s Tamina to jump her from behind. Nia: “Where’s your best friend now Natalya?”

Corbin is still in the ring after a break (ERG!) and rants about how hard his job was as General Manager because he had so much to do. This brings out Elias to play some Auld Lang Syne and call Corbin a loser. He was talking to Kid Rock earlier in the day and they agreed that spending New Year’s Eve with Corbin was a bad idea.

Detroit is making a comeback and now that Elias is here it can be ready to roll like never before. Elias’ song is about how Corbin sucks but it doesn’t matter because he’s in Detroit Rock City. The fight is on and they fight into the crowd for a bit before going back to ringside with Elias getting the better of it. If this is as high as Corbin gets, I can live with it.

Drake Maverick and the AOP promise to make the new year even more brutal. Akam pops a balloon.

The Riott Squad isn’t changing because no one ever changes.

Zack Ryder wants to win and collect action figures.

No Way Jose wants a party.

Bayley/Sasha Banks/Ember Moon vs. Riott Squad

Banks takes Logan into the corner to start as the announcers talk about Logan eating a deer heart at her viking wedding over the weekend. Ember comes in to roll Ruby (who has gotten a big haircut) up a few times, followed by a hard dropkick for two more. It’s off to Morgan to kick Moon in the face and then stomp her down in the corner. The Squad triple stomps away so Bayley and Banks come in for the brawl as we take a break.

Back with Bayley getting hiptossed but armdragging Morgan down to take over again. It’s off to Banks for an attempt at the double knees in the corner but Morgan is up in time to take her down instead. Ruby’s chinlock doesn’t go anywhere so Morgan comes back in and runs Banks down for two and some loud screaming. Banks slips out of a backslide and kicks her in the face but the numbers game gets the better of her Moon has to come in for a save and dives onto Morgan and Riott on the floor. That leave Bayley to make a blind tag and it’s the Backstabber into the top rope elbow for the pin on Logan at 12:30.

Rating: C+. DO! SOMETHING! ELSE!!! Good grief how many months has we spent watching Banks/Bayley/a friend of the month vs. the Riott Squad? They have the same match against each other over and over as we wait for them to be in the next big gimmick match on pay per view. How is anyone supposed to benefit from this? Well other than the writers who get to take this segment off every week of course.

We look at Braun Strowman’s year.

Seth Rollins vs. Bobby Lashley

Lashley wants a fresh start so there’s no posing tonight. He’s a fighter and tonight he’s going to fight. Lashley runs him over to start but Seth slugs away to get a breather. An enziguri staggers Lashley and a running knee to the back sends him outside. That means a slingshot forearm but a Rush distraction lets Lashley take over again. The nerve hold doesn’t last long as Rollins jawbreaks his way to freedom but he stops to go after Rush. That means a hurricanrana into the post and we take a break.

Back with Lashley holding a chinlock until he lets go for some posing. Rollins gets dropped onto his shoulder for two more but the delayed vertical suplex is escaped. Some right hands and a Sling Blade put Lashley on the floor. The suicide dives keep Lashley in trouble and the springboard clothesline gets two. Rush offers another distraction though and this time Rollins chases him to the timekeeper’s area. Rollins finally clotheslines him down but gets jumped by Lashley. That’s enough for Rollins, who hits him with a chair for the DQ at 9:38.

Rating: C. They’re trying to build Rollins up but just let him have a match he can win if you want him to work. Rollins got over huge in the first place because he had the most energetic matches on the show but now he’s swatting at Rush like a fly and losing to Lashley. Just let him win here as Lashley losing to a former World Champion isn’t going to derail him. He can do the post match beatdown after a win and still be fine.

Post match Rollins destroys both of them with the chair.

John Cena is back next week.

Remember that video where we see the same six NXT names over and over? Well here it is again.

Jinder Mahal/Singh Brothers vs. Heath Slater/Rhyno

So Rhyno, the hometown boy, is already back after what, three weeks of being fired? It’s no Kevin Owens quitting one week and being back the next but still not great. Slater punches away at Mahal to start but gets driven into the corner for the series of right hands. Sumir comes in for some elbows and dancing but it’s quickly off to Rhyno for the house cleaning. A belly to belly plants both Singhs and it’s time for the Gore. Sunil grabs the foot though and Mahal adds a superkick. The Khallas is good for the pin on Rhyno at 2:59. That was the most necessary match I’ve seen in years.

Ambrose says he doesn’t need to have a fresh start because he’s great right now. He’s not about to have Crews get some feel good moment to begin the year.

Bobby Roode and Chad Gable want to shut up the Revival for good next week so the division can be glorious.

The Revival wants to bring credibility back to the division.

Bayley and Sasha want to win the Tag Team Titles.

Intercontinental Title: Dean Ambrose vs. Apollo Crews

Crews is challenging and dropkicks Dean in the face for talking too much trash. A sunset flip and a rollup give Apollo two each and a clothesline puts Dean on the floor. That means a moonsault from the apron and we take a break. Back with Apollo fighting out of a chinlock and getting two off a small package. A double clothesline puts them both down but it’s Apollo up first with a kick to the head.

The Toss Powerbomb is broken up but Crews settles for two off a standing shooting star pres. A belly to belly sends Dean into the corner and now the Toss Powerbomb connects for two with Dean grabbing the ropes. Dean bails to the floor but gets caught with a flip dive. Back in and the frog splash misses, allowing Dean to hit Dirty Deeds to retain at 9:15.

Rating: C. Well thanks for pushing Apollo for about two hours. It sure was nice to have him do the same offense he always does before Dean pinned him to retain the title. At some point they need to push someone and having them lose like this isn’t the way to do it. I’m sure he gets points for losing or something, but either don’t put him in the match or have him win.

Alexa Bliss is proud of her time running the Raw women’s division but that time has come to an end. Next week, she’ll be debuting her own talk show called A Moment of Bliss. Her first guest will be Ronda Rousey, and Ronda better dress for the occasion because she won’t be in a pit.

Brock Lesnar is back next week.

Nia Jax/Tamina vs. Ronda Rousey/Natalya

Ronda wastes no time and starts the fight in a hurry before dropping Tamina. Nia comes in and has to fight off an armbar. That’s finally shoved away and it’s off to Natalya for a snap suplex on Tamina. Nia pulls Tamina outside but Ronda dives onto both of them to send us to a break. Back with Natalya in trouble and Nia sending her into the corner. The pull out of the corner is even worse and gives Nia two as it’s off to the chinlock.

Natalya scores with a crossbody though and the hot tag brings in Rousey to clean house. A jumping elbow gives Rousey two on Nia but she throws Rousey down again. The super Samoan drop is broken up so Tamina makes a blind tag and kicks Rousey in the face for two. The armbar on Tamina is broken up with the legdrop and Tamina superkicks Natalya to the floor. Tamina misses the Superfly Splash and gets armbarred for the tap at 12:21.

Rating: D. Oh no. This really didn’t work as it was every match we’ve seen Rousey have with these two. OH NO! THEY HIT HER REALLY HARD AND HOW CAN SHE EVER GET AND THERE’S THE ARMBAR! This was a lifeless main event and I was so bored sitting through it after a long show already. Bad ending to the show, which isn’t the way to end the year.

Overall Rating: C-. This show felt rather self contained as it came off more like a holding pattern for next week than anything else. That being said, given how low the viewership is going to be for this due to the holiday, that’s not the worst idea in the world. Next week’s show is stacked though and it should be a good start on the way towards the Rumble. Nothing of note to see this week, though Drew winning is a good sign.

Results

Drew McIntyre b. Dolph Ziggler – Claymore

Apollo Crews won a battle royal last eliminating Baron Corbin

Bayley/Sasha Banks/Ember Moon b. Riott Squad – Top rope elbow to Logan

Bobby Lashley b. Seth Rollins via DQ when Rollins used a chair

Jinder Mahal/Singh Brothers b. Heath Slater/Rhyno – Khallas to Rhyno

Dean Ambrose b. Apollo Crews – Dirty Deeds

Ronda Rousey/Natalya b. Nia Jax/Tamina – Armbar to Tamina

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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Main Event – December 27, 2018: The Necessary Version

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: December 27, 2018
Host: Scott Stanford

It’s another one of these recap shows this week…and I need to be more specific on that one. In this case there isn’t any original wrestling, though that’s to be expected when they had two shows taped in a single night. That’s probably best given the circumstances and the show was such a breeze last week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Stanford welcomes us to the show in the studio, which isn’t something you see too often anymore.

From Raw.

Elias vs. Bobby Lashley

Miracle on 34^th Street Fight so there are weapons around the ring, including Christmas trees. Lashley fires off shoulders in the corner to start until they head outside with Elias hitting him with a Christmas tree. Elias knocks him down again and we take a break. Back with Lio Rush helping put Elias in trouble and Lashley loads up a present. They come back in with Lashley throwing him in an overhead belly to belly and pouring out….Legos. Well that’s different. Not unique as I saw it done earlier this year, but different indeed.

Lashley loads up a superplex that wouldn’t put Rollins on the Legos whatsoever so Rollins shoves him onto them instead. A blast from a fire extinguisher blinds Lashley and he knocks Rush off the apron through a table. Another shot to the ribs with the fire extinguisher sets up the old Al Snow bowling ball to the crotch spot. Elias hits him with a cello for the pin at 12:36.

Rating: C-. It’s a tradition and I can’t get mad about it, but am I supposed to believe that the feud is over now? I don’t see why I should, as the ladder match should have ended things but this kept going anyway. The brawling was fine, but it’s not like this means anything more than the previous matches. It’s nice for Elias to win though, even if almost no one is going to see it.

From Raw again.

Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor vs. Dolph Ziggler

Before the match, Drew talks about not being worried because he’s a mountain lion. If the other two get in his way, he’s not worried to kick their heads off. After he gets done with this, he’s moving on to the Royal Rumble so he can main event Wrestlemania (becoming the first entrant).

Drew cleans house to start and knocks both of them into the corner, only to charge into a shot to the face both times. McIntyre gets sent outside and both guys join him, where Drew sends them into various hard objects as we take a break. Back with Balor caught in an armbar and then suplexing Ziggler into an armbar of his own. The big headbutt sends Ziggler back to the floor but Balor knocks Drew down.

The Coup de Grace misses though and Balor rolls through, right into a Zig Zag for two. Balor knocks Ziggler outside again and tries another Coup de Grace, only to get crotched by Ziggler. A superkick drops McIntyre for two with Balor finally hitting the Coup de Grace for the save. McIntyre gets dropkicked to the floor, leaving Balor to hit the Coup de Grace to put Ziggler away at 11:39.

Rating: C-. I’m completely done with seeing these three fight and while it’s better that McIntyre didn’t take the fall, he shouldn’t be toiling with these people. He should be going after the World Title, but since that doesn’t exist and we CAN’T switch people from one show to another save or at designated times, this is as good as he gets. At least Balor got the pin, which is the second best option.

Post match McIntyre yells at Ziggler for ruining things and gets Zig Zagged. So yes, it’s still going and we’ll be seeing them fight again.

From Raw, again.

Women’s Title: Natalya vs. Ronda Rousey

Rousey is defending. Natalya spins out of an early wristlock attempt but Rousey takes her to the mat without much effort. An early side triangle choke attempt doesn’t quite work as Natalya slips out to grab a waistlock. That’s reversed into a bodyscissors for a bit until Ronda sends her outside in a heap. Ronda looks concerned about her friend as we take a break.

Back with Rousey in trouble and Natalya making things worth with a bodyscissors of her own. The chinlock doesn’t last long and gives Natalya two, with the kickout seeming to just annoy her. An abdominal stretch, with Natalya picking up a leg, makes things even worse for Rousey. Since that’s a hard position to hold, Natalya goes with a dropkick for two. A delayed suplex gets the same and Rousey looks shaken in the corner.

It’s a clothesline to get Rousey out of trouble and she unloads in the corner. A running knee gives Rousey two but Natalya is right back with a Sharpshooter attempt. That’s reversed into Piper’s Pit but Rousey takes too long, allowing Natalya to get the Sharpshooter. With Natalya trying to bring it back to the middle though, Rousey reverses into an armbar for the tap at 15:43, nearly letting go so fast that Natalya hadn’t tapped yet.

Rating: C+. Match of the night so far, but I didn’t quite buy Natalya as having a real change of winning. Maybe it’s her inability to be good with the emotional side of things or the fact that her push has focused on the memory of Jim Neidhart, but this wasn’t exactly thrilling. Rousey did a good job with showing that she didn’t want to hurt her friend, which could help set up an eventual rematch.

From Smackdown.

It’s time for MizTV, with the Best in the World trophy in the ring with him. Miz wastes no time in bringing out Shane McMahon as his guest. Shane says the new mandate from the company is to listen to the fans (less than 24 hours after Baron Corbin main evented Raw) so Miz brings up Paige being removed from power. That’s dropped in a hurry so Miz says there are four McMahon’s (three and a HHH actually) in power so Shane should have more time to form the best tag team ever with Miz.

See, this is all about Miz’s father. Miz lists off his resume and says he’s never heard his father say he’s proud of him. Then it was the Best in the World, where his father said that Shane was something else. Miz’s dad usually likes the high fliers so Miz was confused. Shane is the kind of guy who will put his life on the line and that got Miz’s attention. Miz needs to team with Shane to make his father proud and Shane should do it since this is the land of opportunity. Shane agrees, but says Miz better not screw him. They hold up the trophy to wrap things up. I’m scared of where this is going.

From Smackdown.

AJ Styles runs into Vince McMahon in the back, where Vince asks who AJ is. AJ lists off his monikers but Vince wants to know why AJ wasn’t wrestling in the house that he built. Vince wants the real AJ Styles and knows that AJ has a tormented soul. If AJ can harness his aggression, the animal inside him can get out. That’s what Vince wants to see so he slaps AJ, who beats Vince down. Agents break it up and Vince seems very happy.

From Smackdown, again.

US Title: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev

Rusev is challenging. Nakamura, in a full body suit again, takes Rusev into the corner to start but gets taken down by some running clotheslines. An early triangle choke sends Rusev bailing to the floor and we take a break. Back with Nakamura grabbing a cravate to keep Rusev in trouble. A suplex gets Rusev out of trouble but Nakamura kicks him right back down. The stomps on the back of the neck have Rusev in more trouble and Nakamura grabs a chinlock. Rusev gets up and heads to the apron but gets kicked outside as we take another break.

Back again with Nakamura getting two off a knee to the head. The front facelock goes on for a few moments until Rusev throws him off without too much trouble. Rusev gets two off a spinwheel kick and another kick to the face gets the same. They head outside with Nakamura sending him into the steps and hitting a middle rope knee to the face back inside.

Kinshasa is countered with the Machka Kick for two but Nakamura grabs another triangle. This one lasts a bit longer until Rusev eventually throws him off. Rusev misses a charge into the post and a knee to the head gives Nakamura two. A lariat turns Nakamura inside out and another Machka Kick gives Rusev the pin and the title at 22:45.

Rating: B. It’s about nine months late but I’m that Rusev finally won the title back. He’s been over all year and has seemed to be going in circles for months now. Nakamura continues his near downward spiral after all that time doing nothing, despite being US Champion for five months. Good match here, but these two are going in opposite directions.

And from Raw to wrap things up.

Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin

The week after the McMahons promise everything is what the fans want, Baron is main eventing the show. Seth unloads on him in the corner to start and knocks Corbin outside for the suicide dive. Back in and it’s way too early for the Stomp so Corbin bails, earning another dive. Corbin finally sends him outside and into the barricade as we take a break.

Back with Corbin hammering down on Rollins’ back and hitting the chinlock that you were all waiting to see. Rollins fights up and gets in a Blockbuster, followed by the Sling Blade. A Falcon Arrow gets two but the Stomp is countered into Deep Six. Rollins goes up top but the springboard clothesline is countered with a chokebreaker. That’s about it for Corbin’s offense though as Rollins kicks him in the ribs and hits the Stomp for the pin at 12:36.

Rating: C. And that’s completely it for Corbin, who will fade back into the midcard where he belongs and never darken the main event scene again right? That’s the logical path to take, so I’m sure it’s exactly what’s going to happen. The wrestling was fine but you could tell that everyone was spent and there isn’t much of a way around that. It was fine, but not exactly energized after the first few minutes.

Overall Rating: C. This show was a pretty good idea given how much else was going on last week. The timing couldn’t have gone worse for WWE with Raw and Smackdown being on the two big holidays and next week is going to go badly as well. I barely remembered a lot of this stuff so it was cool to get a fast paced reminder like this. Totally necessary show for once, which you don’t get to say that often around here.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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Monday Night Raw – December 24, 2018: Go To Bed

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 24, 2018
Location: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Corey Graves

We’re taped here, because thankfully USA decided the show didn’t need to be live on a night that was going to have a grand total of fourteen people watching. The big match tonight is Ronda Rousey defending the Women’s Title vs. Natalya and we’ll also be seeing the followup to the McMahon’s taking over last week. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video is Twas The Raw Before Christmas, set to the poem with a look at what we’ll be seeing tonight. This was released on the YouTube page a few days ago and it was awesome.

Here’s Elias, in a Santa hat, to open things up. After saying what WWE stands for, he has a new holiday classic for us. The song is about how annoying kids can be around this time of year but when things get tough, just ask what Elias would do. When it’s bad though, just remember that you could be Bobby Lashley, and he sucks.

Elias vs. Bobby Lashley

We look back at the big announcement from last week.

Heath Slater wants his best friend back on Raw.

Tag Team Titles: Revival vs. Bobby Roode/Chad Gable

Roode and Gable are defending. Wilder knocks Gable down to start so Gable comes in with a monkey flip to Dawson. The armbar goes on and something like a flying headscissors takes Dawson down again. A blind tag brings in Dawson to take Gable down though and we take a break. Back with Gable still in trouble as the Revival keeps taking turns. Gable finally knocks Dawson down and it’s back to Roode to clean house.

Everything breaks down with Roode catching a kick to the ribs and flipping (!) Wilder onto Dawson for two. Gable comes back in for a rollup on Dawson, who gets the same off the same. They bridge up into a backslide but Dawson tags out just in time. An uppercut into a German suplex into a flipping (!) rollup cover gives Wilder two as Roode saves. Roode and Wilder fight to the floor and it’s a suplex reversed into a small package to pin Dawson (not legal) at 10:45.

Rating: C. As much as I want to see the Revival win, this was at least an entertaining match. Roode and Gable are a good team and proof that you can get something together if you actually do something with the people you have sitting around. The ending suggests a rematch and there’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s still not the ending I want.

The B Team tries to sell Apollo Crews a shirt in the form of the 12 Days of Christmas but he politely declines.

Lucha House Party works on a Christmas list but starts chanting again.

Curt Hawkins wants a new Hoverboard, a pet giraffe, dress socks, or A FREAKING WIN.

No Way Jose thinks Santa should get a gift this year. Like polar bear repellent. Or a conga line at the North Pole.

Video on the upcoming NXT callups.

Dolph Ziggler isn’t sure if he’s on the naughty or nice list but he wants a few things for Christmas. Like the Best in the World trophy, a standup special on Netflix, or respect when he beats Drew McIntyre and Finn Balor.

Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor vs. Dolph Ziggler

Post match McIntyre yells at Ziggler for ruining things and gets Zig Zagged. So yes, it’s still going and we’ll be seeing them fight again.

Video on Tribute to the Troops.

The B Team still hasn’t finished the song and starts over.

And now, a visit from Mr. McMahon-A-Claus, featuring gifts for the fans. Like John Cena back on Monday Night Raw and Smackdown, Women’s Tag Team Titles (no dates given), and a steel cage match next week between Ziggler and McIntyre. That’s enough though as the suit is too hot. Vince: “You guys ever see the movie Bad Santa?” Vince smiles to the production assistants in a scene that felt like it normally wouldn’t make TV.

Mickie James/Dana Brooke/Alicia Fox vs. Sasha Banks/Ember Moon/Bayley

Mickie and Ember start things off with Mickie knocking her down for an early two. Ember nips up into a headscissors but Fox tags herself in, only to get superkicked to the apron. A suicide dive sends Ember into the barricade and we take a break. Back with Ember still in trouble as Mickie kicks her in the ribs. Ember finally knocks Dana away and brings in Bayley to almost no reaction. Banks comes back in for the Meteora on James, followed by Ember Eclipsing Fox to the floor. A blind tag brings in Bayley with the Backstabber sending Mickie into the Bayley to Belly for the pin at 8:31.

Rating: D. I know this is an ice cold show by definition but it’s not a good sign when a match like this had no heat whatsoever. Maybe it’s the fans just being done after having so much content, but maybe it’s because these women have been fighting in various combinations for what feels like years now. But nah, we can’t give them anything else to do of course.

Post match the Riott Squad comes in to take out the winners.

We look back at Seth Rollins blaming Baron Corbin for all of Raw’s problems and their argument last week to set up tonight’s main event.

Here’s Paul Heyman to celebrate the holidays, which means talking about Braun Strowman. Heyman has seen Strowman’s personnel files, which includes asking Santa Claus for a replica title as a child. Now he’s an adult though and wants the real thing at the expense of Brock Lesnar. That’s not happening because even Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer couldn’t find him a path to the title.

This brings out Strowman, with his arm in a bandage instead of a sling, and Heyman is panicked. Strowman puts reindeer antlers and a red nose on Heyman, calling him the red nosed advocate. He’ll be fine for the Royal Rumble and Heyman is going to get these hands. Short and sweet from Strowman here.

We look back at Natalya winning the gauntlet match last week.

Natalya expects nothing but the best from Ronda and knows Ronda expects the same.

Alexa Bliss wants Bayley to get some personality, Sasha some humility, Natalya….well she’s a lost cause, and Ronda some good makeup. No mention of Bliss being in charge here.

Tyler Breeze wants Fandango back fast and some Ariana Grande tickets. When told he can only have one thing, he picks the tickets.

Women’s Title: Natalya vs. Ronda Rousey

Dean Ambrose says that he’s getting what he deserves this year as the Intercontinental Champion.

Fighting With My Family trailer.

Jinder Mahal vs. Heath Slater

Good thing they did that whole Slater is a referee thing for….a week? Slater knocks him down to start and grabs the chinlock but here’s Santa Claus for a distraction. Slater gets two, but it’s the Singh Brothers coming in for the DQ at 1:52.

Post match Santa gets in the ring and cleans house, including a Gore to Mahal because it’s Rhyno.

The B Team, looking exhausted from their singing, still can’t remember the end of the song but they fall asleep in the back.

We look back at Mr. McMahon-A-Claus’ announcements earlier.

Same video on the six NXT people coming up.

Seth Rollins is ready to finish Baron Corbin.

Apollo Crews wants a tank so he can moonsault over it.

The Ascension wants to punish people. Viktor: “Are we doing Secret Santa this year?” Konnor explains why that’s a stupid idea in an unfunny moment.

Kurt Angle, who needs to shave, is happy enough to not have Corbin be General Manager of Raw.

Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin

Overall Rating: C-. That’s on a sliding scale here as there’s no reason to expect much from this show and the roster was already spent after a long show to start the evening. It’s far from bad but it’s nothing is going to matter by next week. They basically presented a show because they had to and that’s all they could do given all of the circumstances. It wasn’t great but for what it was, this was fine.

Results

Elias b. Bobby Lashley – Cello to the back

Chad Gable/Bobby Roode b. Revival – Small package to Dawson

Finn Balor b. Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler – Coup de Grace to Ziggler

Bayley/Sasha Banks/Ember Moon b. Mickie James/Dana Brooke/Alicia Fox – Bayley to Belly to James

Ronda Rousey b. Natalya – Armbar

Heath Slater b. Jinder Mahal via DQ when the Singh Brothers interfered

Seth Rollins b. Baron Corbin – The Stomp

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

Mixed Match Challenge – November 20, 2018: They Couldn’t Have Done It Better

IMG Credit: WWE

Mixed Match Challenge
Date: November 20, 2018
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Vic Joseph

We’ve actually arrived at a turning point here with the last night of the regular season. After tonight we move into the playoffs, which should make things a little bit better. Unfortunately we’re getting the four winless teams battling it out for a spot in the final four, because going 1-3 is good enough to get a spot in the playoffs. Let’s get to it.

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

The announcers talk about the prizes. That’s a big deal, and a smart move.

Raw Division: Alicia Fox/Jinder Mahal vs. Bobby Roode/Natalya

The losers are out and the Singh Brothers are all banged up from Brock Lesnar destroying them last week. The guys start things off and the fans are behind Bobby in what feels like a rare occurrence. Roode shakes off a wristlock and starts chopping away but can’t hit the Glorious DDT. It’s off to the women with Fox getting caught in a slingshot atomic drop, minus Natalya sticking her knee out. A basement dropkick gives Natalya two but Fox blocks the Sharpshooter and kicks her in the face.

The chinlock goes on (well duh) so let’s look at R-Truth trying to leave because he thinks it’s Thanksgiving. The northern lights suplex gives Fox two and it’s off to a front facelock. Natalya can’t quite get out but Alicia stops for her Mahal inspired breathing, allowing the hot tag to Roode. Everything breaks down and Fox slaps Roode, who is fine enough to hit a spinebuster on one of the Singh Brothers. The distraction is enough for Mahal to hit the Khallas for the pin on Roode at 8:08.

Rating: D. So you know how these teams kept losing every single match all tournament long? Well now one pair of losers beat another set of losers and gets to go face a team that has beaten them already once this season. That’s about all they have for us to look forward to and I could go for something more than that, though that hasn’t stopped this season yet.

Braun Strowman is out of the second round and will have a replacement announced next week. AJ Styles is officially out as well, so Jeff Hardy will be Charlotte’s permanent partner.

Fox and Mahal argue about who is the captain. They also argue over where they would go on their vacation, with Fox wanting to go to Kentucky to taste some real country chicken.

Smackdown Division: R-Truth/Carmella (0-3) vs. Rusev/Lana (0-3)

They take turns shouting catchphrases to start with no contact in the first two minutes. With that out of the way, Rusev and Lana hit the floor so we can have a dance break. A break from what isn’t clear, but neither is why a team who is going to be 1-3 is in the playoffs. Thankfully Rusev and Lana jump them from behind with Lana covering for one to actually start the match.

Some running knees to the back give Lana two more and we hit the chinlock. In a smart move, Rusev pulls Truth off the apron and then gets the tag, meaning he gets to come in and beat up a downed Truth. Lana goes outside and sends a downed Carmella into various things before stopping to pose. Truth jumps Rusev on the floor, leaving Carmella to superkick Lana for the pin at 6:50.

Rating: F. That’s this season of the show in a nutshell: shenanigans to waste time early on and then a quick match with neither of them doing anything that seemed impressive. Rusev and Lana going out doesn’t shock me as the dance break thing is lukewarm right now and that’s enough to get one more match out of Truth and Carmella. It’s not like either team had a chance against Carmella/Hardy in the next round anyway, but a little more effort here would have been nice.

Here are the brackets for the next round:

Raw

Ember Moon/???

Jinder Mahal/Alicia Fox

Finn Balor/Bayley

Bobby Lashley/Mickie James

Smackdown

Jeff Hardy/Charlotte

R-Truth/Carmella

Miz/Asuka

Jimmy Uso/Naomi

Bayley and Finn Balor are ready for next week.

Overall Rating: F. The only positive to come out of this show is the fact that we’re three weeks away from the end of this mess. There’s nothing going on here and watching the four winless teams in two short matches wasn’t the solution to make things better. Things will improve a bit when we get to the bigger matches down the line, but that’s not making things better here.

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

Mixed Match Challenge – October 23, 2018: This Is Wearing Thin

IMG Credit: WWE

Mixed Match Challenge
Date: October 23, 2018
Location: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Commentators: Renee Young, Michael Cole, Vic Joseph

So who dances this week? The dances in the middle of the matches have become a hallmark of this show and I’m not sure what that means for the series. You can probably guess the finals from here, and that doesn’t make for the most thrilling series. I know the dancing is stupid, but really, what else do they have to do? Let’s get to it.

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

Raw Division: Natalya/Bobby Roode (0-2) vs. Finn Balor/Bayley (1-1)

Natalya is in a Roode robe. The men start things off and let’s exchange jackets/robes. They even exchange poses but Balor tries a Glorious DDT. Roode backs off…and can’t get out of the jacket so let’s try the women instead. They hit the mat with headlock takeovers and headscissors counters, followed by an exchange of wristlocks.

Natalya flips out of a headscissors and it’s a standoff. Neither finisher works and it’s Bayley bailing to the floor. For some reason Natalya tags Roode so Balor dropkicks him in the back to take over. Roode sends him chest first into the corner and let’s look at Jimmy Uso and Naomi warming up.

Balor scores with a Sling Blade and something like the Eye of the Hurricane gets two, drawing in Natalya for the save. Bayley comes in as well but the big hug (copyright Best Friends) is broken up by Natalya. A spinebuster gives Roode two and for some reason he goes up for the Coup de Grace. Of course that doesn’t work, allowing Balor to dropkick him into the corner and hit the real version for the pin at 8:13.

Rating: D. These things are losing their steam and this was a great example. I know Roode and Natalya are a thrown together team due to Owens’ injury (though Owens wasn’t exactly a great partner for her in the first place) but they’re just not fun to watch. The stealing of finishers and poses wasn’t exactly charming and this was probably the weakest match of the tournament so far.

Ember Moon and Braun Strowman are ready to destroy Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox.

Mahal and Fox promise to shock the world and say shanti a lot.

Smackdown Division: The Miz/Asuka (2-0) vs. Jimmy Uso/Naomi (1-1)

Asuka seems rather impressed by Naomi’s entrance. She’s fine enough to headlock Naomi down but they both try hip attacks. That goes nowhere so they giggle and hug, much to Miz’s annoyance. Therefore, it’s time for an exchange of hugs with Jimmy joining in. Miz bails to the floor to avoid the threat of a hug so Jimmy throws him back inside for a bearhug.

A missed charge lets Jimmy go up top, only to get crotched down in a hurry. After a look at Rusev and Lana in the locker room, Jimmy fights out of a chinlock and drops Miz again, allowing for the tag off to the women. Asuka gets kicked down but the split legged moonsault misses. The Samoan drop puts Miz down and stereo hip attacks in the corner have Miz and Asuka in trouble. Naomi mostly misses a dive and the thud allows Miz to hit the Skull Crushing Finale to finish Jimmy at 7:24.

Rating: D+. This was better than the first match but it’s still not much to see. Was anyone buying Jimmy and Naomi as a threat here? That’s the problem with so much of this: AJ and Charlotte are the only real threat to Miz and Asuka and we’re not likely to see that match until the final week. Also, the hugging was pretty much the same thing as the dancing, which comes off as putting a coat of paint on something that wasn’t great in the first place.

Asuka doesn’t look happy with Miz for beating up her friend’s husband.

Rusev and Lana make fun of AJ Styles and Charlotte.

Styles and Charlotte stretch a lot with AJ not being able to do the splits like her.

Overall Rating: D. This show is rapidly losing steam and that’s not a good sign with so many weeks left to go. The wrestling isn’t interesting and the same gags over and over again isn’t doing that any favors. That’s not a good sign when there were some of the bigger names in the competition involved here, but at least the show isn’t that long. I’m running out of ways to say that’s the best part of the show.

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

Mixed Match Challenge – October 16, 2018: This Isn’t #1

IMG Credit: WWE

Mixed Match Challenge
Date: October 16, 2018
Location: Capital One Arena, Washington DC
Commentators: Michael Cole, Vic Joseph, Renee Young

Things are starting to get a little dull around here and I’m not sure how to fix that. The best thing about the series is that it’s not going to last very long. We’re on week five here and the whole thing is only fourteen weeks long. The best you can hope for is to have one good week at a time so let’s get to it.

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

Raw Division: Natalya/Bobby Roode (0-1) vs. Bobby Lashley/Mickie James (1-0)

Lio Rush handles Lashley’s hype. The men get things started and seem to argue over who is the better Bobby. Natalya puts her cat headband on Lashley’s head so he stomps on it. Roode gets smart by trying some rollups for two each but Lashley throws him into the corner. It’s off to the women with Mickie headscissoring her down to little effect. Mickie gets in a running forearm and let’s cut to Miz and Asuka warming up in the back.

Natalya is right back up and takes her down for the stepover basement dropkick but Mickie forearms her in the face to take over. A kick to the back sets up a chinlock for a bit until stereo crossbodies puts them both down. It’s off to the men again with rather unnecessary double tags.

Roode hits the Blockbuster for two and breaks up a superplex attempt as a bonus. Lashley knocks him down again but misses the spear, sending himself into the post. Mickie comes in to break up the Glorious DDT and it’s double Sharpshooters from the Canadians. Rush offers a distraction though and Lashley hits a spear for the pin at 9:52.

Rating: C-. Not the worst match in the world here as Mickie was helping things out a lot. This Natalya and Roode team has a very limited future as naming the team after her cat is hardly the most thrilling thing in the world. Lashley and James are going to go a long way though and you have to go over the weaker teams to get there.

Finn Balor and Bayley are ready to face Roode and Natalya next week.

Roode and Natalya aren’t worried. It’s almost like they have no hope and therefore no reason to hope. Asuka interrupts to say they’ll win.

Smackdown Division: The Miz/Asuka (1-0) vs. Rusev/Lana (0-1)

The women start things off with Asuka stopping to dance. Not really her forte but I’ve heard of worse ideas. Like feeding Lana her own foot. Of course Lana does the same, and then gets kicked in the ribs. Lana kicks her in the head and dances some more so the fans sing her song. That means it’s time for a pose off over who is really the best. Everyone but Miz gets cheered and Rusev kisses Lana for even louder cheers.

Miz and Asuka would rather throw kicks and get sent to the floor for their efforts. Asuka hits a running dropkick and grabs an armbar. A knee to the face gives Asuka two and it’s off to the men, meaning Rusev gets to run Miz over. The Machka Kick gets two but Miz kicks him in the leg. The Figure Four is blocked though and Miz is kicked into the corner for a tag from Asuka.

Everything breaks down and double Accolades are broken up. Lana loads up a solo version but Miz grabs a mic and impersonates Aiden English for the save. Rusev kicks Miz in the head and Lana slaps on the Accolade. A big kick misses Lana and she hits the faceplant on Asuka with Miz having to make a save. The ensuing argument lets Asuka grab the Asuka Lock to make Lana tap at 7:55.

Rating: C. I liked this more than the previous match but I’m a little tired of the side trips in the middle of the matches. The big thing with the four of them asking who the fans liked best came off like a way to fill in the time because there’s no story here. It’s about as good as it could have been though and the ending was really the only option they had.

Jimmy Uso and Naomi are ready to beat Miz and Asuka next week.

Overall Rating: D+. Just another run of the mill episode here as you can pretty easily tell the likely candidates for the finals, which makes a lot of the upcoming weeks a lot less interesting. That’s the problem with a round robin tournament, but I think I prefer this rather than having the same run of the mill elimination tournament. Not a good show this week, but it could get better as we keep going.

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

Mixed Match Challenge – September 18, 2018 (Season 2 Premiere): Exactly What I Was Looking For

IMG Credit: WWE

Mixed Match Challenge
Date: September 18, 2018
Location: BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Commentators: Michael Cole, Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back with season two of this shindig, which should be a lot of fun. The first season saw some rather entertaining matches and moments as it turned out that some teams had some actual chemistry together. This season is a little different though as we have a round robin format this time around as opposed to a single elimination tournament. Let’s get to it.

Since the tournament is a round robin format, the Raw and Smackdown teams won’t cross over until the finals, hence the Raw/Smackdown division names.

The announcers teach us how to use Facebook, as in the way we’re watching the show in the first place. That always makes me chuckle.

Raw Division: Braun Strowman/Ember Moon vs. Kevin Owens/Natalya

Moon is replacing the injured Alexa Bliss, who will get her spot back once she’s healthy. The men start and Owens immediately begs off from Strowman before handing it off to Moon instead. That means the women take it to the mat as Renee tries to remember the Team Pawz thing. Hang on though as Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal ARE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!

Back to the ring with Owens screaming that Natalya can’t let Moon tag. Moon cartwheels, with Owens praising her for being eight years old. A powerbomb sets up a Sharpshooter on Moon but Strowman makes a save and tags himself in. Panicking ensues in a hurry and the house cleaning comes just as quickly.

Owens gets knocked to the floor and Strowman does the run around the ring to knock Owens over. A second attempt runs into a superkick though and Owens throws him over the announcers’ table for a nine count. Back in and Natalya tags herself in to break up the powerslam, only to have Moon take her down in a hurry. Moon climbs onto Strowman’s shoulders for the Eclipse (dang) and the pin at 7:25.

Rating: C. Now this is the kind of thing I was hoping for from this show. It’s nothing great and was far from a mat classic, but the people were having fun and it played off the history that Owens and Strowman already have. Throw in the awesome looking finish and that’s really all you need to have. Good start to the season.

Sasha Banks and Bobby Lashley laugh off the idea of Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal. Well yeah, as they should.

Mahal tries to teach Fox about inner peace with expected results.

Smackdown Division: Jimmy Uso/Naomi vs. AJ Styles/Charlotte

The guys start with AJ wrestling in a shirt for some reason. A feeling out process goes nowhere and it’s an early standoff. They catch kicks to the ribs at the same time and shake hands, which neither is willing to release. Naomi comes in and snaps her fingers at Charlotte which means….I have no idea actually. Charlotte kicks her down and struts a lot so Naomi grabs a springboard sunset flip for two.

They also do the caught kicks and handshake (at the same time in this case) until Naomi kicks her out to the floor. Naomi’s dive is caught by AJ and that’s not cool with Jimmy. Charlotte dives onto both of them but Naomi kicks her in the head to take over. Back in and the split legged moonsault misses, allowing Charlotte to hit the moonsault for two.

It’s back to the men with AJ cleaning house but the Styles Clash is reversed into a Samoan drop. Everything breaks down and Charlotte puts Jimmy in the Figure Eight, only to have Naomi dive in for the save. AJ breaks that up but takes the Rear View, leaving Naomi to get kicked in the face. The Figure Eight makes Naomi tap at 9:43.

Rating: C-. While not as fun as the previous match (there’s no reason to believe that AJ and Charlotte are going to lose for a LONG time), there was enough to keep things going here. Naomi has more charisma than she knows what to do with and having her out there with her husband is really all you can expect her to do. It’s certainly not bad and the match was perfectly watchable, which is perfectly fine.

Post match the winners celebrate, although with AJ tripping and taking Charlotte down with him.

Miz and Asuka are ready for next week.

R-Truth is ready to beat Carmella next week, though he eventually realizes they’re partners.

Overall Rating: C. This is exactly what made the previous season work: keeping the matches short, not having any real hatred or anger between the teams and being much more lighthearted. That’s the big draw of the show. So much of WWE is deadly serious and it’s nice to see these characters in a more laid back atmosphere. That offers a little change of pace, along with the show being in and out in a hurry. Nothing great, but it was exactly what it was billed as being.

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

Money in the Bank 2018 Preview

IMG Credit: WWE

It’s finally, and I do mean FINALLY, here. After what feels like a thirty seven and a half year build, it’s finally time for Money in the Bank. Just like last year we have two ladder matches and just like most years, a majority of the people involved in the matches have no realistic chance of winning the briefcase. There are some other matches on the card as well though and hopefully the show is as entertaining as these have the potential to be. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Bludgeon Brothers(c) vs. Anderson and Gallows

We’re starting off with one of the most obvious endings on the card. Anderson and Gallows are former Tag Team Champions but haven’t really done much of late. Granted that might be due to WWE being unable to focus on much more than the champions and their #1 contenders at the same time, but what else can you expect from such a poor, helpless (and endless) creative team?

I’ll take the Bludgeon Brothers to retain of course, as there’s nothing going on with Anderson and Gallows while the champs are looking rather dominant. At this point I’m not sure who is actually going to take the titles from them as no one on the roster stands out. I do however know that it won’t be Anderson and Gallows, at least not for a long time. This is just going to be your usual ten minute Kickoff Show match with the champs retaining and that’s all it needs to be.

SmackDown Women’s Title: Carmella(c) vs. Asuka

Now on paper, this should be one of the squashiest squashes in the history of squashing. However, that’s not how WWE tends to roll and given how they’ve completely drained the energy from Asuka since WrestleMania alone, I’m not expecting her to get the title here. Throw in rumors of a certain chinless wonder returning to help Carmella and we have all the makings of one of the dumbest things that WWE could possibly do.

And unfortunately, that’s exactly what I expect them to do. I’ll take Carmella to retain with the help of James Ellsworth as Asuka loses her second singles match to someone who barely belongs in the same company as her, let alone the same ring. Carmella maybe a ball of energy, but after so many years of being undefeated, Asuka deserves something a lot better than losing to Carmella, who only has the title because of a match she won a year ago. They’re also likely to shout about how important the briefcase was and how it’s led Carmella to a win over Asuka, just in case the idea hasn’t been hammered in enough yet.

Intercontinental Title: Seth Rollins(c) vs. Elias

This one intrigues me as you really could go either way wit h the thing. On one hand, Rollins is on fire and capable of having a good match with anyone or anything right now. Elias on the other hand has a heat all his own and has taken one of the more classic concepts in wrestling (insulting the live crowd) and turned it into a near art form, making him one of the best villains on the entire show. If he had the in-ring abilities to back it up (and he’s not the worst by any stretch), he could be World Champion by next year.

I’ll take Rollins to retain here, but I can’t imagine he holds the title much longer. With Summerslam coming up in about two months, it’s going to be high time to move him up to the next level and that means giving him a shot at the Universal Title. I can’t imagine them having it be champion vs. champion (though it wouldn’t shock me) and having Rollins lose to someone significantly lower on the card than him would be a major hit to someone who has been on the kind of roll he’s on. Rollins retains here, but his days as champion are coming to a close.

Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass

They wouldn’t would they? I know this company loves to set up trilogies for whatever reason but egads tell me they’re not going to have Bryan lose here to someone like Big Cass. I like Big Cass, but there’s no reason to have him go over Bryan. Again, with Summerslam coming up in the near future, Bryan needs to be geared up for a big match, perhaps against the Miz. Therefore, unless Miz is out there costing Bryan the match, I don’t want to see anything but Bryan winning by whatever means.

Therefore, in what I hope is a show of good faith proven right, I’ll take Bryan here, probably via the heel hook that they’ve been building up as a finisher. The long legs would be a perfect target and it’s not like Big Cass doesn’t have it coming to him. Bryan doesn’t need the win but a loss would be a pretty bad blow to him. The fact that I have to worry about WWE having Bryan take the loss here is rather sad, but that’s the WWE that we live in today. Bryan goes over, at least I hope.

Women’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match: Ember Moon vs. Sasha Banks vs. Natalya vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Naomi vs. Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch vs. Lana

Like I mentioned in the opening, there are various people who just aren’t going to win the ladder matches but have to be in there because Heaven forbid these things only have six people each. Therefore, you can write off Lana, Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss and probably Becky Lynch. At the end of the day, they’re all coming into this cold and there’s no reason to believe they’re going to pull down the briefcase.

With the remaining names, I’ll go with what should feel obvious and take Natalya, who is likely coming after her new best friend Ronda Rousey. It’s one of those stories where WWE has beaten us over the head with their ideas of subtlety, leaving little doubt of what’s going to happen. Or they’ll give it to someone completely random like they did with Naomi at the Women’s Battle Royal back at WrestleMania. But yeah I’ll take Natalya, which takes us to our next match.

Raw Women’s Title: Nia Jax(c) vs. Ronda Rousey

Remember when Jax did that big speech about bullying and it sounded kind of ridiculous because she’s three times Bliss’ size and yet still took ten minutes to beat her both time? Remember how that seemed like something that would crush her momentum because it really didn’t work on any level? Well Jax is already back to mediocrity and now the only question is whether or not this show actually closes the show.

So yeah of course I’m going with Rousey to win here, and I think it might actually close the show. Well actually I think it ends with Natalya cashing in to take the title from her in all of ten seconds because Rousey isn’t used to wrestling and Natalya was just following the rules that Rousey didn’t know. That can set up the big rematch in Brooklyn, even if Natalya is one of the least interesting people you could possibly put the title on. Rousey should be fine, but this could go badly if she can’t handle someone of Jax’s size and lack of experience. But yeah, Rousey wins, as she should.

Roman Reigns vs. Jinder Mahal

Let’s get this thing out of the way before I get buried by the booing from the crowd. I have no idea who the fans are going to go for here, but somehow it might wind up being Mahal, just because he’s not Reigns. What worries me more is that we might not be done seeing these two fight, meaning this is only going to be the first match in a series. But hey, if Reigns isn’t cheered here, maybe he can be cheered next time.

I’ll take Mahal to win here, likely through some form of shenanigans, which will set up a rematch at Extreme Rules which won’t be well received either. I’m really not sure what either of these two are expected to get out of a feud against each other but that’s what we’re stuck with. The more interesting thing here is going to be the crowd reactions though, as this match might even befuddle the Chicago fans. Either that or it’s going to be a new level of rejection and hatred, the latter of which is the more likely of the two.

Smackdown World Title: AJ Styles(c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

I know I’ve said this before, but Nakamura has to win the title here right? I mean, this is the fifth match these two have had against each other and there’s no reason for him to not get the belt already. This is a Last Man Standing match and that would seem to favor someone with a hard hitting finisher like the Kinshasa. Given how this story has been going though, it wouldn’t shock me if they went to a draw and we somehow got another match out of the thing.

With that being a possibility, I’ll hold out hope that Nakamura FINALLY wins the title here, as I can’t imagine how far he’ll fall if he goes 1-4 in the feud and never even wins the title. Styles has the longest reign with the title since Brock Lesnar’s reign that started when he beat John Cena at Summerslam 2014. The other problem is Styles being out of someone to fight, meaning it’s time to move the title on from him. Nakamura wins, as he should have done two months ago.

Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn

The worst part about the whole build to this match? It should actually be pretty good. These two are more than capable of having a good match and Zayn has been such a great heel in the whole thing. There’s only so much they can do with this kind of terrible material though and Lashley never seeming to get upset in the whole thing hasn’t done them any favors.

Of course Lashley is going to win here, because he needs to give Zayn what’s coming to him or whatever, even though the story has been such a mess that I’ve forgotten why they’re fighting in the first place. Lashley should be moving on to something bigger, but Zayn deserves a big run of his own. I’m sure he’s too small to count in WWE though, especially when you have someone Lashley’s size. In other words: this continues to be a big mess and it’s not likely to get much better after the match is over.

Men’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match: Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Roode vs. Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe vs. The Miz vs. Rusev vs. Xavier Woods/Big E/Kofi Kingston

The list of people involved in a match shouldn’t go on for three lines. That has to be a rule somewhere. Just like in the women’s version, there are some names here who aren’t going to win. Therefore, we can drop Roode, Balor, Rusev and whoever goes in from the New Day. I’d almost say Strowman is a stretch as well because they’ve built him up as too unbeatable to actually give him the win.

I’m going with Samoa Joe to win the briefcase. First of all, what’s the point in putting the briefcase on Monday Night Raw when they don’t actually have a World Champion most of the time? Samoa Joe comes off as the kind of guy who could be downright menacing with the thing and make himself out to be a real threat. Miz would be fun too, but I’ll go with Samoa Joe, just for the sake of really wanting to see him get the World Title which he’s deserved for so long.

Overall Thoughts

I’m not exactly thrilled with this show, though it has a tendency to be one of the more entertaining shows of the year. The problem is there’s only so much that you can get out of a show that had such a dull and boring build. The ladder matches are always worth a watch and there’s enough potential later on down the card to make it work out a little better. If the show is at least good, everything should be fine. Just not fine enough to warrant the excessively boring buildup.

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

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

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

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

Monday Night Raw – June 11, 2018: Coasting All The Way To The Break

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: June 11, 2018
Location: Verizon Arena, Little Rock, Arkansas
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Jonathan Coachman

It’s the final Raw before Money in the Bank and that means…well nothing more than a pair of four way matches between the four Raw qualifiers for the ladder matches. I’m sure the winner will get to climb to a lower briefcase or something, because that’s the only kind of advantage you can get in a ladder match. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with all eight Money in the Bank participants in the ring on ladders (with Braun Strowman WAY in the air). Cue Kurt Angle to explain the Money in the Bank concept but here’s a now bald Baron Corbin to interrupt. He threatens Angle with Stephanie McMahon and the eight participants start to bicker over who is going to win.

Natalya insists that she’s healthy to go and Owens goes on a rant about how unfair it is for Strowman to be so tall. Roode: “Owens, do you want the briefcase lowered to your height?” Owens: “That sounds like a great idea!” Strowman cuts them off and says he’s going to win. Bliss screeches a lot and the women start saying their Mixed Match Challenge partners are going to win. Strowman says someone is going to get these hands on Sunday. This was a big waste of time, but so is most everything else they do around Money in the Bank time.

Alexa Bliss vs. Natalya vs. Ember Moon vs. Sasha Banks

Bliss makes another entrance for whatever reason. Moon throws Bliss down with a fall away slam and Bliss backs into Banks. With Bliss sent into the barricade, Moon dropkicks Natalya down but gets rolled up by Banks for two. We get the Natalya vs. Banks showdown but Natalya’s knee is still banged up. Natalya gets taken down again and it’s Moon taking her place, only to be kicked away.

Sasha flips onto Natalya but Moon hits a SCARY suicide dive to drive Banks into the barricade. Bliss steals the near fall and we take a break. Back with Bliss clearing the ring and working on Natalya’s knee until Banks comes back in for some clotheslines. Moon is back in for some knees to the face but Bliss gives her a Code Red for two. The Meteora gives Banks the same and we go split screen for a Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax video. This show really is everything I can’t stand about modern WWE wrapped together.

Back to full screen with Twisted Bliss hitting knees as we take a break. We come back with Natalya breaking up the Bank Statement on Bliss but hurting her knee in the process. She’s fine enough to put Banks in the Sharpshooter until Moon makes the save with a superkick. The Eclipse drops Natalya but Bliss makes another save. Banks comes in and gets knocked out again, leaving Natalya to make Bliss tap to the Sharpshooter at 20:39.

Rating: C+. The match was the same batch of diving saves and near falls that they all are, which means it was at least entertaining. What it wasn’t though was meaningful in any way as this has nothing to do with giving you an advantage in a ladder match. Then again, that’s never stopped WWE before because they came up with this blueprint years ago and haven’t changed it a bit since.

We run down the pay per view card.

Owens comes in to see Balor and brings some olives (Owens: “I didn’t have an olive branch.”). He wants an alliance on Sunday because someone like Strowman could hold the title forever. Maybe the two of them and Bobby Roode could take out Strowman tonight so he doesn’t even make the ladder match. Owens: “Enjoy the olives.”

Breezango vs. Dolph Ziggler/Drew McIntyre

Ziggler jumps Breeze, who has a beard for some reason, as Cole tries to say that he thinks Ziggler and McIntyre can be former Tag Team Champions. McIntyre comes in for a hard shot to the face but an enziguri gets Breeze out of trouble. The hot tag brings in Fandango, who gets dropped in short order. McIntyre powerbombs Breeze onto Fandango and brings Ziggler back in for the superkick. The Zig Zag/Claymore combination ends Fandango at 3:17.

Rating: D+. Just a squash win for Ziggler and McIntyre, even if Ziggler still doesn’t need to be there. I’m hoping this team is split up before too long as every day that McIntyre isn’t pushed as a single star is a waste of time. He’s a top level star in the making and he’s stuck with Ziggler, who hasn’t been able to make anything stick for years.

Post match McIntyre says this is the proof of how great they are. This isn’t just hype so every team in the bank can know what’s coming. They’re here to make the tag team division right, and they’ll do that by winning the titles.

Roman Reigns says Jinder Mahal has earned this whipping by being stupid. Tonight it’s time to deliver a receipt. It’s almost eerie that he’s a little more tolerable with Mahal just because he’s not chasing the title again.

Jinder Mahal vs. Roman Reigns

Before the match, Mahal talks about wanting to see Reigns laying on the mat this Sunday with Mahal’s hand raised in victory. Reigns comes out but hang on because Mahal has Singh get in the ring too. See, Mahal challenged Reigns to a match, but he never said it would be with him, so it’s Singh instead. I had that written down before Mahal even came to the ring because it would be the most annoying, cliched thing they could do.

Roman Reigns vs. Sunil Singh

Superman Punch and spear in 1:11.

Post match Mahal gives Reigns the Khallas.

B Team vs. Rhyno/Heath Slater

Axel and Slater start with Bo dropping some knees for an early two. That means we’re already in the chinlock until Slater fights up in short order. Rhyno gets knocked off the apron and a belly to back suplex/neckbreaker combination is good for the pin on Slater at 1:42.

Post match Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy appear on screen to say they’re here. By that they mean on the stage where they know the B Team is scared. Matt threatens to eat them.

Here’s Elias for the song. This is the last performance before he wins the Intercontinental Title so he needs to be able to concentrate. The song mocks Seth’s nicknames and his training (“Seth Freaking Rollins. Am I supposed to think that’s cool? And I get it, you do CrossFit, so I definitely know that you are a tool.”), going on longer than any other song he’s ever done. Elias even has a special guitar, painted up like the Intercontinental Title. It was given to him by John Mayer and next week it’s going to look great with his new title.

Cue Rollins to chase him off and yells about everything Elias has done in recent weeks. Rollins thinks Elias is cool with the spotlight and the guitars….as he looks at the custom guitar. He teases breaking it but instead says this seems like the perfect time for a charity auction. Elias offers to bid on it so Rollins puts the guitar on the mat and gives it the Stomp. Coach: “That was from one of the greatest hip hop artists of our generation!” Corey calls him out for stupidity so Coach says that John Mayer and Jay-Z (I guess he thinks Jay-Z plays guitar) are the same thing.

Owens tries to get Roode on his side tonight too.

The Riott Squad makes a big mess in the back on their way to the ring.

Ruby Riott vs. Bayley

Ruby punches her into the corner to start but Bayley gets all fired up. That means a takedown and some right hands of her own, followed by the middle rope elbow to the back. Riott heads outside so Bayley follows her and tries a baseball slide underneath the bottom rope…which she leaves short for a terrible looking miscalculation. Instead she suplexes Riott on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Bayley being sent face first into the middle buckle and Riott grabbing an armbar. Thirty seconds after a full break, we go to a split screen for another MITB ad. Bayley fights up with a whip into the corner but a running knee bangs up her bad shoulder. The top rope elbow missing makes things even worse and Ruby rolls her up for two. Back up and the Squad offers a distraction, allowing Riott to send Bayley shoulder first into the post. The Riott Kick is good for the pin at 11:28.

Rating: D+. That missed slide in the corner was a big problem, along with how there wasn’t much of a reason to have these women fight. This one was more about filling in time on a show where they don’t have much else to do. It’s sad to see how far Bayley has fallen in about a year, but never let it be said that WWE can’t turn someone with potential into one of their standard performers.

Post match Ruby draws an R on Bayley’s stomach with a marker.

Natalya tells Ronda Rousey to look out for Nia Jax tonight.

Here’s Coach to moderate a face to face showdown between Rousey and Jax (the second time since the match was announced). Nia says they’re both elite athletes and she’s purposely pushed Rousey’s buttons over the last few weeks. Rousey has a lot of great things about her but she’s still very new in WWE. Her success came from outside of WWE and there are some different rules around here. Nia lists off some things in MMA that you can’t do around here and promises a demonstration on Sunday. Rousey says she improvises and on Sunday she’ll improvise Nia’s arm off.

Nia points out that Rousey’s one match was against a businesswoman who competes part time (and HHH, who Stephanie has apparently absorbed) and it’s clear that Nia isn’t ready. That’s too much for Rousey, who lists off all the times where she’s been told she wasn’t ready and all the times she’s proven them wrong. Rousey: “I am Ronda Rousey and I was born ready.”

Nia stands up and has her punch blocked but a headbutt puts Rousey down. Rousey pulls her down for the armbar attempt and eventually makes her tap…for a bell? Anyway, good of them to confirm that Rousey can put the armbar on Jax after we saw her put it on the bigger and stronger HHH.

Curt Hawkins vs. No Way Jose

Hawkins is now at 200 losses in a row…and he’s not here. The referee starts the count but Hawkins is in the conga line and grabs a rollup for two. The pop up right hand gives Jose the pin at 47 seconds.

Roode and Balor aren’t sure who to trust in the four way.

Video on a Special Olympian who does powerlifting. Nothing wrong with that.

Back from a break and we’ve got an obstacle course, which Sami Zayn has set up to prove that Bobby Lashley used to be in the army. Simply put, if Lashley can complete the course faster than Sami, he’ll prove himself. Sami goes over the entire course and has heard that Green Berets can do this in about two minutes. He did it in a minute and a half earlier today, with a bad hand and no warmup.

Lashley comes out and promises to win because we’re actually doing this. Renee Young flips a coin and Lashley gets to go first. Lashley finishes with ease in 42 seconds, even though the clock keeps going. Of course Sami jumps him from behind and hits a Helluva Kick as soon as Lashley gets down. I can’t begin to fathom how the meeting went when this was set up.

The trio keeps planning when Strowman comes in and tells them to team up on him.

Finn Balor vs. Bobby Roode vs. Kevin Owens vs. Braun Strowman

Strowman clears the ring to start and we take an early break. Back with Strowman getting triple teamed and Owens asking who the monster is now. Strowman fights them off again as the announcers make their picks for Sunday. For some reason Owens tries a cheap shot on Strowman and then bails to the floor, which has gone so well for him with Strowman for months now. Strowman shrugs off Balor and Roode so he can chase Owens to the back. The chase doesn’t last long as Strowman throws him back through the entrance and it’s monster time.

Balor joins them on stage and gets sent into the set, leaving Strowman to load up the announcers’ table. Roode is back up with a ladder and some shots to the ribs have Strowman in trouble. They put Strowman on the table and Owens climbs a table for a big frog splash. Back from another break with Owens and Strowman down, leaving us with the not very thrilling Roode vs. Balor match.

Both guys go down so let’s hit that split screen Rousey vs. Jax ad. Balor kicks him out to the floor before hitting the Sling Blade back inside. Owens is back in to break up the Coup de Grace but Balor knocks him off the top. The required Tower of Doom puts everyone down and Strowman is on his feet. Roode and Balor get knocked down so Strowman catches Owens going into the crowd.

Back at ringside, the injured Strowman runs them all over but Balor manages to get some boots up in the corner. A top rope double stomp to back staggers Strowman again so he shoulders Balor down to get a breather. Roode and Owens get back together on Strowman until Owens rolls him Roode up for two. Balor hits the Sling Blade on Strowman and there’s the shotgun dropkick. There’s the Coup de Grace with Roode making the save because this just can’t end.

Roode hits the Glorious DDT on Strowman but Owens makes the save. Another frog splash gets two on Strowman so let’s bring in a ladder. Well if Owens could do this before, why did he wait so long? Strowman absorbs two shots to the ribs and chokeslams Owens (Owens: “I’M SORRY!”). The powerslam onto the ladder ends Owens at 25:57.

Rating: C-. The Balor vs. Roode part really hurt this but the bigger problem is the booking of Strowman. Looking at what happened to him in this match, why in the world would I believe that anyone can beat him in a singles match? Brock beat him clean but unless Lesnar returns from his spring and summer vacation early, there’s nothing for Strowman to do and with no one who could beat him (save for Roman of course), we’re stuck sitting around waiting on something for Strowman to find something to do or for him to cool off. What a great way to use a guy who only gets over like this every few years at best.

Overall Rating: D. This felt like a sandwich with the ladder matches as the bread and whatever else they could find filling out the middle. It’s not a bad show but it’s really, really boring as it was as much talk about Money in the Bank as I can handle. That’s how you’re supposed to do a go home show but it doesn’t have the same effect when they’ve been doing the same thing for five weeks now. This show is dying for something fresh but odds are we’re just stuck waiting around until the build to Summerslam at this point. At least Sunday can get us on to something different and I’ll take what I can get right now.

Results

Natalya b. Alexa Bliss, Ember Moon and Sasha Banks – Sharpshooter to Bliss

Dolph Ziggler/Drew McIntyre b. Breezango – Zig Zag/Claymore combination to Fandango

B Team b. Heath Slater/Rhyno – Belly to back suplex/neckbreaker to Slater

Ruby Riott b. Bayley – Riott Kick

No Way Jose b. Curt Hawkins – Pop up right hand

Braun Strowman b. Finn Balor, Kevin Owens and Bobby Roode – Powerslam onto a ladder to Owens

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

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

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

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

Main Event – May 24, 2018: What Sorcery Is THIS???

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: May 24, 2018
Location: Times Union Center, Albany, New York
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph, Percy Watson

I’m out of ways to say that this show is going to be all about Money in the Bank qualifying matches. Those things have dominated Monday Night Raw and Smackdown for the last few weeks now and it’s burned out a lot of my interest in the upcoming pay per view. It says a lot when the Main Event original content needs to bail us out. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Brian Kendrick/Jack Gallagher vs. Lince Dorado/Kalisto

Kendrick uses an early Gallagher distraction to take Kalisto down in the corner to start. A backbreaker keeps Kalisto in trouble and let’s talk about the Cruiserweight Title match. Eh it’s not like this match means anything anyway. Kendrick can’t get the Captain’s Hook so it’s off to Gallagher (no longer in Slytherin green), who is backdropped in a hurry. That’s not enough for a hot tag though as Gallagher runs over and pulls Lince off the apron in time.

Kendrick comes back in for a chinlock but Kalisto fights up with some kicks to the chest. That’s enough for the hot tag to Dorado so things can speed up, including a moonsault press. The Golden Rewind drops Kendrick again and Kalisto dives on Gallagher. Back in and Lince’s hurricanrana to Kendrick doesn’t count as Kendrick isn’t legal. The confusion lets Gallagher headbutt Lince down for the pin at 4:47.

Rating: C-. The heels…won??? I don’t remember the last time that happened in a cruiserweight match on this show, to the point where it was a running joke for a long time. Gallagher and Kendrick are fine for a low level heel team and Lucha House Party is going to be fine, at least until fans grab those noisemakers and bludgeon them half to death.

We get some highlights of the first three Women’s Money in the Bank qualifiers.

From Raw.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Dana Brooke vs. Natalya vs. Sarah Logan vs. Liv Morgan

It’s a brawl to start and Morgan gets two off a top rope faceplant to Natalya. Everyone gets in a running shot for two each until the Riott Squad double teams Natalya. Brooke comes back in for the save and breaks up Logan’s cover, only to be sent shoulder first into the post. Natalya is back up with the discus lariat and the Sharpshooter for the win at 4:28.

Rating: D. Another match where they had to rush the whole way, mainly because the first hour was the Roman Reigns Show. Natalya winning was the only pick here, mainly because she’s likely to cash in on her new friend Ronda Rousey and win the title. You know, because that’s how you make Rousey a bigger star: make her a former champion who couldn’t hold the title for five minutes.

From Smackdown.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Naomi vs. Sonya Deville

Naomi starts fast with some rollups for two each as we see other qualifiers watching in the back. Sonya gets in some right hands and a shot to the back for two. A spinebuster gives Sonya two more but Naomi comes back with some kicks. They trade enough kicks for a double knockdown, only to have Naomi grab another rollup for the pin at 4:21.

Rating: D+. Naomi is the right call as she’s a bigger star and has the crazy athleticism needed to make something like the ladder match fun. I’m not sure what Sonya did to warrant getting a second chance at getting into the match but at least they got the winner right, which isn’t always the case.

From Raw again.

Here’s Stephanie to emcee the contract signing. Nia comes out first and Stephanie talks about the personal issues between Nia and Bliss. Rousey is out now and asks Stephanie how her arm is feeling. After Stephanie asks Rousey about how it feels to jump over the women that Rousey has called more deserving, we hear about Rousey not being used to wrestling singles matches.

Stephanie continues her monologue, talking about how Rousey might leave WWE if she loses and accusing Nia of being lazy for taking so long to beat Bliss (Way to treat one of your best homegrown stars there Steph.). She talks about the armbar and Nia finally snaps, saying that Rousey can’t get the armbar on her.

Nia is tired of being called lazy and promises to make a name for herself at Money in the Bank. She signs and picks up the title with Rousey signing next. Rousey moves the table to the side and promises to take the title as they do the long handshake. She promises to take the arm too and a staredown ends things. Not bad, especially once Stephanie shut up for a few seconds.

Apollo Crews vs. Mojo Rawley

Mojo powers him down to start as Nigel recaps Rawley’s last year or so. The always good looking dropkick puts Rawley down and a high crossbody gets two. A shot to the back puts Crews on the floor though and we take a break. Back with Rawley grabbing a chinlock for a good while before hitting a running shoulder in the corner. A second attempt hits a raised knee though and Crews starts his comeback to a nice reaction. The Pounce is cut off by an enziguri and a standing moonsault puts Rawley away at 8:34.

Rating: D+. That chinlock didn’t do them any favors, but at the same time it’s annoying to have Rawley win one week and lose the next. If they want to use this show to help people along (ok so that’s not likely the case), they might as well have some continuity to the thing. Rawley is someone they see something in so why is he losing clean like this?

Post match Titus O’Neil comes in to celebrate but Rawley jumps them both. Titus gets sent outside and Crews goes into the post for a big crash. My goodness, an angle on Main Event. What else could we possibly see?

From Smackdown.

Jeff Hardy vs. Daniel Bryan

The winner gets Samoa Joe, on commentary here, in a Money in the Bank qualifying match next week. Feeling out process to start until Bryan shoulders him down for two. The moonsault over Jeff into the running clothesline is countered with an atomic drop. Bryan rolls outside and we take a break. Back with stereo crossbodies putting both of them down again.

Its Bryan up first and kicking Jeff to the floor but missing the apron knee. Jeff scores with a running clothesline from the apron but takes too long going up top. The delay allows Bryan to tie him in the Tree of Woe for a running dropkick. Jeff blocks a belly to back superplex though and scores with a Whisper in the Wind for two. The Twist of Fate is countered and Bryan kicks away, only to get caught with the Twist.

The Swanton hits knees (with a great bounce off the crash) so Bryan kicks him in the head for two more. Another Twist is countered into a dragon screw legwhip and Bryan slaps on a heel hook for the tap at 11:23. That would be the second time that the US Champion has lost clean in Money in the Bank matches.

Rating: B. Champion losing again aside, this was a fun match with both guys looking like stars who could have gotten the win. Bryan needed the win to get back on track after the Rusev loss, but I’m not sure I can picture him beating Joe next week. Then again I’m not sure I can picture Joe losing to Bryan either, and that makes for a much more interesting match.

And one more time from Smackdown.

Here are AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura o announce the stipulation for Money in the Bank. Nakamura doesn’t understand what a stipulation is but can show us a clip of him defeating Styles last week. He’s been thinking very carefully and wants to dishonor Styles at Money in the Bank. Nakamura picks a pillow fight, which AJ doesn’t think much about. Not that it matters as Nakamura wants to dishonor AJ at Money in the Bank.

The fight is on with AJ blocking the low blow and taking it outside. A chair shot misses as well and Nakamura gets sent into the crowd. AJ tries a springboard off the barricade but gets chaired down, allowing Nakamura to hit Kinshasa. Nakamura makes it a Last Man Standing match. Makes sense given most of their matches.

Overall Rating: D+. They were trying to do something better here but if I heat that MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY song one more time I’m not going to be held responsible for my actions. It’s been done to death for years and now we get to hear it all over again because the calendar says so. This was another run of the mill show, save for that surprising result to the tag match. Just get past the ladder matches already so we can move on though.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the WWE Grab Bag (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/03/23/new-paperback-kbs-grab-bag/

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

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