IMG Credit: World of Sport

World of Sport
Date: September 8, 2018
Location: Epic Studios, Norwich, England
Commentators: So Cal Val, Stu Bennett, Alex Shane

We’re coming into the home stretch for the series as we have four shows left counting this one. The big story coming out of last week is the crowning of new Tag Team Champions as Adam Maxted and Nathan Cruz lost the tournament final last week and then imploded. The only solution? A loser leaves town ladder match. On a week’s notice. Anyone watching this series isn’t surprised by this development. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap/preview.

The announcers talk about the ladder match.

Here’s Cruz, now with his own music, to open things up. He doesn’t owe anyone an explanation but he did what he did last week because Maxted has listened to the people. Cruz doesn’t want Maxted has but doesn’t want Maxted to have it either. He throws out the challenge for the ladder match, which Bennett agrees to. They do know it was already announced last week right?

Adam Maxted vs. Nathan Cruz

Ladder match. A slugout goes to Maxted to start and a belly to belly takes Maxed down. The fans want the ladder so Maxted goes for it, only to have Cruz cut him off. They fight back to the ring until Cruz knocks him down at ringside and picks up the ladder for a shot to the face. Back in and Maxted hits a slingshot belly to back suplex but Cruz avoids being thrown into the ladder in the corner.

Maxted sends him into the ladder, though we don’t see the contact due to a quick camera cut. Cruz gets in a crotching and sends Maxted outside but a springboard dropkick takes Cruz right back down. That works so well that they do it again, though this time it’s a springboard spear to take Cruz off the ladder this time. Maxted goes up and gets the contract at 7:20.

Rating: D+. What the heck am I supposed to get out of a sub eight minute ladder match? This didn’t have time to go anywhere, which tends to be the case with almost everything around here. They set this match up and then blew it off the next week to get rid of a character on a show that is wrapping up in three weeks. That’s pretty excessive.

Post break Cruz promises to be back.

Earlier today, Bennett gave Sysum a match with Rampage. It’s a tag match.

Liam Slater vs. Robbie X vs. Gabriel Kidd vs. Crater

One fall to a finish. Again, Crater stays on the floor to start but this time he gets in much sooner to clean house. Robbie’s handspring is pulled out of the air and a bunch of dropkicks can’t save him. Crater finally gets knocked to the floor and a bunch of dives actually put him down on one knee. Back in and Slater powerbombs Robbie but Kidd kicks him in the face. Now it’s Robbie back up with a basement dropkick on Slater until Crater comes back in to run them over. A Lethal Injection, with some help, takes Crater down and a top rope splash into a top rope elbow sets up a triple pin on Crater at 5:37.

Rating: D-. Yes that’s how the match ends and yes this is supposed to make sense. I have no idea how it’s supposed to make sense, but in WOS’ minds it does. If there is a logical reason why we’re not just getting handicap matches instead of these multi-man matches when they’re clearly handicap matches isn’t clear but this is getting annoying. Also, what in the world is the point in building someone like Crater as this monster and then being like “oh well these guys beat him”.

Post match Crater wrecks them all again and goes for Robbie’s mask. He doesn’t get it off, but he does go for it.

Martin Kirby vs. Grado

Kirby wants whatever is in Grado’s bag (because he has a bag now) but Grado cuts him off with a clothesline, earning the famed EASY chant. A hiptoss is blocked as well and Grado takes him down with the power of the belly. The power of the belly prevents a German suplex and a fan distraction lets Grado avoid a charge to send Kirby outside. Back in and Kirby takes the knee out and slams him down, followed by the eternally missing elbow.

Grado’s jabs have Kirby in more trouble and there’s the cannonball. A nice enziguri puts Grado down and it’s time to go for the bag. It’s a toothbrush, which Kirby rubs on his armpit. They fight over whose mouth it’s going into before Grado goes with a bionic elbow. Now it goes into Kirby’s mouth but a rollup with feet on the ropes gives Kirby the pin at 7:23.

Rating: D. I really need this series to end very soon. This match was unfunny comedy and the same stuff that Grado has done to annoy me since I first saw him. Kirby was fine for a midcard heel and now he’s a comedy foil for Grado. I get that some fans are going to like it, but it doesn’t do much for me.

Justin Sysum/Joe Hendry vs. Rampage/Sha Samuels

Hendry headlocks Samuels down to start and it’s already down to Sysum vs. Samuels. Justin speeds things up, as you might expect, and hits a dropkick, only to draw in Rampage for a cheap shot. Samuels drives Sysum into the corner as the heel beatdown begins. Sysum gets sent outside for a beating from CJ Banks, followed by Samuels dropping an elbow for two.

A missed charge in the corner allows the hot tag off to Hendry as everything breaks down. Hendry gets himself out of some trouble with a backdrop and it’s already back to Sysum. Dude let the guy breathe. The villains are sent into each other and Sysum dives onto Banks, setting up the 450 for the pin on Samuels at 8:37.

Rating: C-. Totally standard match here and there’s nothing wrong with that. The ending sent the fans home happy as two of the three(ish) top stars of the show get to beat the villains by combining forces. It’s as paint by numbers as you can get and really, that’s as good as it’s going to get around here.

Overall Rating: D. I don’t think it’s any secret to the fact that I’m not the target audience for this show. This show is meant for either a person who never watches wrestling or a kid who doesn’t notice the major flaws in booking and structure. Pretty horrid show here and I can’t imagine a lot of fans are interested in watching something like this, especially with everything else out there to watch.

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

IMG Credit: World of Sport

World of Sport
Date: September 1, 2018
Location: Epic Studios, Norwich, England
Commentators: Alex Shane, So Cal Val, Stu Bennett

It’s time to crown some new champions and for once, the title match is going to include some people we’ve actually heard from more than once this season. Now I’m still not sure if I can tell which member of either team is which, but it’s not like it matters all that much in the first place. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with the opening recap which not only opens, but also recaps.

World of Sport Title: Rampage vs. British Bulldog Jr.

Bulldog is challenging, even though Will Sysum won a #1 contenders match two weeks ago. The champ has his usual goons with him because that’s about all he has to define him. Well that and being champion. Rampage gets dropped by an early shoulder and Bulldog works a headlock. A slam gives Bulldog two but Rampage is right back with a clothesline.

The delayed vertical suplex (impressive given Rampage’s size) takes Rampage down again but a shot to the knee cuts Bulldog down. Some cranking to said knee allows CJ Banks to ram the knee into the apron. Bulldog is fine enough to pull Rampage face first into the post and the powerslam (scoop, not running) gets two. A Sha Samuels distraction doesn’t work and Bulldog loads up the powerslam, only to be raked in the eyes. The implant DDT retains Rampage’s title at 5:50.

Rating: D+. I’ll give them points for building Rampage up as a heel champion but my goodness he’s running through everyone to get there. Having Bulldog, who is probably the biggest star in the promotion (second at worst), lose this close to clean is rather surprising, but it’s going to be a big deal when someone finally takes the title.

Post match the three on one beatdown is teased but Justin Sysum comes down for the save. Bennett says that Sysum has to face Samuels and Banks tonight. If he wins, he MIGHT get another shot at Rampage. You mean like the one he already earned?

Martin Kirby vs. Joe Hendry

Submission match. Hendry sings his song live but Kirby’s arm is in a sling. Apparently he’s injured himself combing his hair (Kirby is bald), pulled a hamstring, and has a bad case of the sniffles, all according to a note from his mom. The obvious ruse is obvious and Hendry is ready for him by knocking Kirby to the floor. Back in and Hendry throws him to the mat three times in a row before kicking Kirby outside again. Kirby goes for the leg though but it’s not enough to prevent a backdrop.

With that not working, Kirby goes after the back with a kick and a backbreaker (can’t fault his logic) as the fans think he sucks. We hit a reverse chinlock as Shane recaps the feud. It’s off to a front facelock, which isn’t exactly a back hold. A guillotine choke stays on the neck but is only good for two arm drops. Hendry fights up and hits a good looking suplex for the breather. Kirby slips out of the ankle lock and hits a spinebuster into one of his own, only to have Hendry put on the real ankle lock for the tap at 6:57.

Rating: C. There was a story, there was a logical finish, and hopefully it wraps up the feud. The whole thing is still thrown together and not exactly the most interesting thing in the world, but at least it followed a logical progression. I’m not sure what Hendry can do in the next four weeks but at least he got his big win here.

Tag Team Titles: Kip Sabian/Iestyn Rees vs. Adam Maxted/Nathan Cruz

Tournament final. Maxted dropkicks Sabian down to start and it’s off to Cruz for an enziguri. Rees offers a distraction though and Sabian rakes the eyes to take over. With Maxted down, Sabian springboards in with a missile dropkick for two as I think Maxted and Cruz are the faces here, but I’m having enough trouble remember who is who. Frustration is already setting in so it’s back to Rees for two off a snapmare. Seriously a snapmare?

Sabian comes back in for a snapmare of his own but does add a knee to the back before covering. An atomic drop/shoulder block combination gets two more (it’s no snapmare though) and Rees forearms away in the corner. Maxted finally hits a clothesline and the hot tag brings in Cruz to face Sabian. Everything breaks down and Cruz gets two off the Samoan driver. Rees makes a blind tag but eats a Codebreaker with Sabian diving in with a dropkick for the save. Maxted misses a moonsault though and it’s the powerbomb/top rope neckbreaker combination to give Rees the pin and the titles at 8:07.

Rating: C-. Another run of the mill tag match here and that’s not the most thrilling thing in the world. Like I mentioned, it didn’t help when there’s not much of a gimmick between these teams (you could say the big man/small man gimmick is there for Rees/Sabian but that’s not much) and that hasn’t changed in six weeks. Some promos would help. Just let us know who in the world they are.

Post match the new champs celebrate and leave. Cruz and Maxted hug but Cruz jumps him.

Justin Sysum vs. Sha Samuels/CJ Banks

If Sysum wins he might get a title shot at some point. Banks offers an early distraction and Samuels jumps him from behind. The villains have to tag so Sysum dropkicks Samuels to the floor and it’s time for a heel conference. Back in and Sysum slugs away at Samuels as Banks continue to be rather worthless. Banks comes in, gets punched in the ribs, and hands it back off to Samuels.

The double teaming takes Sysum down again and Banks punches him out to the floor. That doesn’t last long so Samuels throws Sysum down back inside and a lot of glaring ensues. Sysum clotheslines Samuels down and crossbodies them both at the same time. Cue Rampage (with a ridiculous amount of camera cuts) and Sysum goes to meet him on the ramp. He’s smart enough to run back and hit his spear through the ropes on Samuels, followed by the spinning strike to Banks. A 450 puts Samuels away at 8:06.

Rating: D. The ending wasn’t exactly in doubt here but egads Samuels and Banks are two of the most boring lackeys I’ve ever seen. Banks seems to be a bad one by design but Samuels is straight out of Central Casting for thugs. Sysum is easy to like though and him winning the title to end the show should be a good way to go out.

Overall Rating: D+. The two matches in the middle were better but the main event was lame and the title match was too short to mean much. They’ve done a little better in recent weeks, though that might be just due to them not adding in so many characters every week. The show isn’t terrible, but it’s nothing I’m going to remember in a month or so. That’s often worse than being bad, but in this case it’s not even worth getting annoyed over.

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

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/07/23/new-book-kbs-complete-2003-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: World of Sport

World of Sport
Date: August 18, 2018
Location: Epic Studios, Norwich, England
Commentators: Alex Shane, So Cal Val, Stu Bennett

Things kind of wrapped up last week and that means it’s time to start something fresh around here. We’ll likely be seeing another match in the Tag Team Title tournament and that means four more people being thrown together and being called teams. Other than that we’re getting two more title matches and I’ll be stunned if there’s a story to them. Let’s get to it.

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

Women’s Title: Bea Priestly vs. Kay Lee Ray

Ray is defending. Priestly takes her down in the corner to start and chokes for a bit. Well at least we know who the villain is. The champ catches her up top but gets knocked into the Tree of Woe for the Alberto double stomp. They head outside with Priestly throwing her into the barricade. Kay is fine enough to slide back in for a suicide dive….and here’s Viper for the no contest (because when you attack one wrestler first, it’s still not a DQ even in England) at 3:10.

Rating: C-. The action was good while it lasted but you’re not about to get anything resembling time on this show. At the same time, Viper coming out as the monster makes sense in theory, until you remember that she took the fall in the title match. Why would I want to see this again when Kay has already shown that she can pin Viper clean?

Post match the fight is on when Ayesha (I had to look it up off the company’s site) comes out to help Viper. Bennett makes a battle royal for the title next week.

Earlier today, Bennett yells at Grado for not being serious. His punishment: a spot in the Tag Team Title tournament if he can find a partner. This company is rather questionable at times.

Will Ospreay vs. Martin Kirby

Ospreay starts fast with the flipping off the ropes with an armdrag and dropkick sending Kirby out to the floor. The teased dive just lets Ospreay hit his pose but Kirby is right back in with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. We hit one of the most quickly broken chinlocks I’ve ever seen until Ospreay sends him into the corner and hits something like a 619. A springboard clothesline gives Ospreay two but Kirby shouts STOP, and then hits an enziguri. Dang who knew Ospreay took instruction so well?

They head outside with Kirby beating him up even more, including a suplex on the ramp. A Michinoku Driver gives Kirby two and the fans are entirely behind Ospreay. Back up and Ospreay is fine enough for an enziguri and a standing C4, which Bennett calls old school. Kirby gets two off a neckbreaker but takes too long walking the ropes. A hurricanrana sets up the shooting star for two, followed by Stormbreaker to finish Kirby at 7:18.

Rating: C. It helps a lot to have the better known and more talented people in the ring, especially with a little extra time. Ospreay is one of the biggest stars in the promotion and has certainly faced a lot more international talent than most. That’s going to make him seem like a bigger deal and his matches have felt more important.

Bennett is in the ring with Grado to ask if he’s found a partner. Grado hasn’t…..except for this guy.

Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Grado/British Bulldog Jr. vs. Crater/Robbie X

Grado and Robbie start before it’s off to Crater vs. Bulldog without anything happening. Bulldog’s shoulders have no effect so Grado tries his luck, only to bounce off of Crater and sell it like death. Bulldog comes back in with some forearms and it’s already back to Robbie, who is quickly slammed off the top. The arm work begins with the good guys taking turns, as polite Englishmen should.

Bulldog hits his suplex and it’s back to Grado for some dancing, which Bennett describes as the grace of an elephant. Robbie can’t suplex Grado, who snaps off the left hands. A cheap shot from the apron allows Crater to come back in, hit a single shoulder, and hand it back off to Robbie. Grado suplexes his way out of trouble and hands it off to Bulldog to clean house. Robbie gets backdropped onto Crater, who easily catches him….and leaves. The cutter gives Grado the pin at 8:34.

Rating: D+. Pretty standard formula match here with a big man tag and there’s nothing wrong with that. I mean, aside from the match not being very good and all that. Bulldog was the only optional partner for the popular Grado as Bulldog’s name alone makes him a big deal. Not terrible, and the result was the only option.

Post match Crater comes back in and kicks Robbie, only to have Bulldog and Grado stare him off.

Rampage and his cronies don’t care about the triple threat #1 contenders match.

Joe Hendry vs. Justin Sysum vs. Adam Maxted

The winner gets a title shot at some point in the future. Hold on though as Maxted’s partner Nathan Cruz says he should take the shot to protect Maxted’s face. Maxted actually agrees so Cruz gets knocked to the floor to start. Hendry technicals Sysum down and then scores with a shoulder, which doesn’t need a replay. It’s Cruz coming back in and speeding things up, earning himself a dropkick from Sysum. Maxted’s distraction lets Cruz hit a slingshot belly to back suplex but Hendry comes back in with a German suplex on Cruz, aided by a sunset flip from Sysum.

Hendry starts cleaning house with some clotheslines, followed by the ankle lock on Cruz. Sysum dives in to block a tap (always a nice touch, though you do wonder why they don’t tap with the other hand. Cruz hits Sysum with a Samoan driver but walks into the fall away slam from Hendry, with Maxted putting the foot on the ropes. Back up and Cruz sends them both to the floor but Sysum does an awesome jumping spear from the floor through the bottom ropes to take Cruz down. Maxted offers a distraction though, only to have Sysum hit what looked like a running slap to the face for the pin at 6:58.

Rating: C+. Sysum winning is the right call as he’s been one of the most impressive people on the show so far and I could go for some more of him. That spear from the floor was impressive enough, though it should have been the finish. At least Hendry didn’t take another loss, which is at least a step in the right direction for him.

Overall Rating: C. That’s pretty easily the best show of the series so far, as at least they’re getting somewhere with some of this stuff and aren’t adding in a bunch of new people every week. It’s still not a good show and there are a ton of issues, but things are settling down a little bit. That being said, it could just be the fact that we’re almost halfway done with the series and you can see the ending from here.

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

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/07/23/new-book-kbs-complete-2003-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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