IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: June 26, 2019
Location: Download Festival, Leicestershire, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Aiden English

We’re still at the Download Festival and that means we’re still in for a cool venue. The big story coming out of last week saw Kay Lee Ray becoming the new #1 contender to the Women’s Title, though you might not be seeing the title match for a little while. What we get tonight though is Walter defending the United Kingdom Title against Travis Banks, which could be rather interesting. Let’s get to it.

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

Travis Banks says he’s ready.

Opening sequence.

Mark Andrews vs. Joseph Conners

Andrews rolls out of a wristlock to start and takes him down with an armdrag. The fans are VERY appreciative of an armbar but Conners cuts them off by bending Andrews’ neck around the ropes. A running clothesline gets two and a suplex is good for the same as they’re keeping the offense simple so far. Some choking on the apron and a neck snap across the rope somehow wake Andrews up so he can slug away.

The knee slide into the enziguri sets up a suicide dive to the floor to rock Conners again. He’s right back with a sunset bomb into the corner though and a belly to back faceplant gets two. The fans are all over Conners, showing that the Download Festival has bad taste in heels. Andrews can’t get a backslide but can get a Stundog Millionaire. Fall To Pieces finishes Conners at 6:09.

Rating: C-. Just a match here and nothing that hasn’t been done better before. What makes me feel better though is that it seems Conners is falling down the card, which means we don’t have to listen to him anymore. Andrews is still easy to cheer for and that’s a good piece to have around on any show.

The Hunt is angry but Dave Mastiff comes up to suggest he’s on their side against Gallus.

Here are the Grizzled Young Veterans, with trash bags around their feet, for a chat. They’re not happy about having to defend their Tag Team Titles in front of a bunch of dirty fans out here. The fans clap so Gibson has to tell them that’s not something to cheer about. This is supposed to be a music festival but Gibson hasn’t heard a single instrument. They’ll defend their titles against Moustache Mountain and then they can go anywhere but here. Good stuff as usual, but the fans didn’t hate Gibson as much as they tend to do.

Video on Piper Niven vs. Rhea Ripley, with Niven standing up against Ripley for thinking she is the most dominant female in NXT UK. They meet next week.

In two weeks: Gallus vs. The Hunt/Dave Mastiff.

Killer Kelly vs. Xia Brookside

Xia is aggressive to start and forearms her in the back, but it’s not the best strategy against Kelly. A wheelbarrow suplex gives Kelly two and it’s time and it’s time for a double arm crank. With that going nowhere, Kelly hits a pump kick to put Xia in the ropes for some covering up. She’s fine enough to come back with a headscissors as Jazzy Gabbert and Jinny come out to watch. Kelly gets in a shot from behind as the two of them leave but Xia is fine enough to hit the Codebreaker for the pin at 3:16.

Rating: D+. Just a match here with Xia getting a win to get back some momentum after coming up just short in the battle royal last week. Kelly continues to show a lot of potential, though she almost never (if ever) actually wins a match. They keep her strong enough so that a win wouldn’t come out of nowhere though and that’s a smart way of doing things.

Toni Storm is happy that Kay Lee Ray won the battle royal but would love to know when Ray wants her shot. Toni is ready anytime and she’ll be in action in two weeks.

Noam Dar vs. Ligero

Dar holds his jacket out in an attempt to get Ligero to charge for a funny moment. The bell rings and Dar messes with Ligero’s horns before bailing out to the floor. Back in and Dar avoids an armdrag before knocking Ligero down for some more mocking. Dar can’t get a rollup so he hides in the corner as the stalling continues. A headlock works a bit better as Kenny Williams comes out with a chair to watch at ringside.

Dar is fine enough to work on Ligero’s knee, which is rammed into Dar’s head to break up a suplex. A Widowmaker and kick to the back give Ligero two but Dar kicks the leg out. Dar grabs a fisherman’s buster for two but the Nova Roller is broken up. Ligero’s enziguri puts Dar down for a bit, only to have Dar get back up and get a knockdown of his own. Dar misses a top rope double stomp and injures his knee but really it’s just a ruse to get Williams to give him the chair. Williams hands it to him but doesn’t let go, allowing Ligero to grab a rollup for the pin at 8:59.

Rating: C-. I don’t know what it is about Dar. For the life of me I can’t remember the last time that I went back and forth on someone so many times but I go from liking Dar to rolling my eyes about having to see him again. He’s not someone I want gone, but he’s someone who needs to figure out how he should be presented because it hasn’t happened yet.

We look back at Banks coming out to say he’s ready for Walter last week.

United Kingdom Title: Travis Banks vs. Walter

Walter is defending. Banks tries to circle the monster to start but gets taken into the corner. The big chops miss but a crossbody is pulled out of the air so Walter can lay him on the top rope. Walter’s chop puts Banks on the floor and a big boot to the face knocks Banks silly. Walter goes to the test of strength to keep Banks down but he manages to power up and kick at the leg. A big kick knocks Walter down and a Shining Wizard rocks the champ again.

The shotgun dropkick sets up a top rope double stomp for two on Walter and you can feel the energy going out of the crowd. The Slice of Heaven is countered into a Boston crab to crank on Banks’ back. A rope is grabbed so Walter throws him into the corner. Only to get caught with the Slice of Heaven. Walter bails to the apron and gets dropkicked to the floor, setting up a suicide dive. Banks stays outside for too long though and gets powerbombed onto the apron. Back in and a regular powerbomb retains the title at 8:49.

Rating: B. Banks wasn’t going to win here but he was trying as hard as he could. That’s not enough to overcome the situation though and it was pretty clear that the title wasn’t changing hands. Walter is likely to have a very long reign and that means he isn’t going to lose the title in his first defense. Banks was game here and they had something going near the end but it wound up being what was expected, which was fine.

Overall Rating: B-. This is an instance where they have to get through a bunch of stuff before we can get to the build to Takeover. Next week the Tag Team Titles are on the line and then we probably get the Women’s Title match soon after that. With those out of the way, we can move on to the Takeover stuff and that’s where it should get really good. This worked well enough, though you could feel it wasn’t as important.

Results

Mark Andrews b. Joseph Conners – Fall To Pieces

Xia Brookside b. Killer Kelly – Codebreaker

Ligero b. Noam Dar – Rollup

Walter b. Travis Banks – Powerbomb

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: June 4, 2019
Location: Sames Auto Arena, Laredo, Texas
Commentators: Aiden English, Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

I don’t even know what to make of this show anymore. It seems like they’re trying to turn Tony Nese into the next big thing around here but I’m not sure that’s going to work. At the same time though, they have the General Manager running around chasing R-Truth and the 24/7 Title on the same show. Hopefully things settle down this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Drake Maverick gives us the opening preview, which is an idea that they didn’t really need to stray from.

Opening sequence.

Akira Tozawa vs. Noam Dar

Hang on though as Drew Gulak jumps Dar from behind and takes out his leg. Dar says that it’s broken and Maverick comes out to say that you can’t start 205 Live like this. Yeah you wait until half an hour into the show to break someone’s leg. Maverick swaps in Gulak and we have a replacement.

Akira Tozawa vs. Drew Gulak

Drew is in basic black trunks this time and his hair looks more slicked back. Tozawa puts Gulak down with chops to start and drops the backsplash for an early two. Gulak comes back with some shots out of the corner and a fall away slam for a bit of a change of pace from Gulak’s usual stuff. The cravate goes on but Tozawa slaps out and tries the Black Widow, which is reversed into a suplex.

It’s off to a chinlock as the match slows down quite a bit. That’s broken up as well so Gulak goes with the jumping elbows for two as the announcers talk about him using a different style. The neck crank goes on (Aiden: “The Drew Gulak of old would be grabbing a hold.”) before switching back to a chinlock, which apparently is no longer a hold.

Now it’s a double arm crank as Gulak is certainly mixing up the holds (or whatever Aiden thinks they are). Tozawa fights up and kicks him to the floor, setting up a running flip dive off the apron. The regular suicide dive connects and Gulak is knocked over the announcers’ table. Back in and Tozawa’s missile dropkick gets two, followed by the Black Widow. The hold breaks down but Gulak manages to get his foot on the rope for the break. Now it’s Gulak’s turn to take him down, this time for a Texas Cloverleaf.

That’s broken up as well so they slug it out with Gulak getting the better of it off a hard clothesline. A gutwrench faceplant gets two and it’s off to the nerve hold. Tozawa fights up with a basement dropkick as we hear a producer in a voice probably not meant for us. Gulak counters the top rope backsplash with a superplex and a torture rack neckbreaker finishes Tozawa at 13:39.

Rating: B-. That one actually surprised me as I would have bet on Tozawa getting the pin. Having Gulak in his new, intense style and then lose would have been incredibly stupid but they threw a curve here. The ending is also a little questionable as Tozawa has been set up as the next challenger for a few weeks now. A triple threat is possible and that’s not something we’ve seen for the title very often, so it could work well.

Mike and Maria Kanellis don’t like the idea that Mike isn’t the best. It’s not because he hasn’t been on TV enough because he’s been the best since he debuted here two years ago. He deserves a chance because he’s not complacent. It’s time for Drake Maverick to pay attention to him instead of chasing the 24/7 Title (amen brother) so send him the best competition.

Tony Nese saw what happened in the first match and while he gets that Drake is busy, he’ll listen to whatever decision Drake comes to.

The Lucha House Party is ready for Lars Sullivan and they’ll be ready for the Singh Brothers too.

Oney Lorcan vs. Ariya Daivari

Lorcan takes him into the corner to start to go after the banged up ear, which Daivari grabs in pain. The test of strength goes to Daivari (that’s a bit surprising) but Lorcan fights up (that’s not a bit surprising) and grabs a double arm crank. Daivari reverses into one of his own and the hold stays on for a good while, almost as if they’re trying to stretch the match out to fill in the show.

Lorcan finally flips out and tries the early half and half, which is blocked without much trouble. A middle rope crossbody gives Lorcan two and it’s so quiet that we can hear fans talking in the background. Lorcan works on the arm and tries a cross armbreaker, sending Daivari feet first into the rope. They take turns on the floor and inviting the other to fight, though Lorcan is smart enough to dodge an elbow drop. Daivari is fine enough to get a neckbreaker out of the corner but the elbow is banged up again.

A hard clothesline gets the same and another one cuts off Lorcan’s chops. An Iconoclasm of all things connects for two but Daivari’s frog splash misses. One heck of a running uppercut drops Daivari and the running Blockbuster gets two. The half and half is countered into a superkick but Lorcan is right back with a DDT on the arm. A missed charge lets Daivari get the Million Dollar Dream and Lorcan is down. Now the frog splash can connect but it hurts the arm again. The delay lets Lorcan grab a crucifix for the pin at 15:38.

Rating: B. Lorcan is quite the battling face and Daivari is a lot better in the ring than he is with any kind of character stuff. The arm even played into the finish for a rare surprise. I had a good time with this and it was one of those matches that you only get on 205 Live: entertaining, long and it might actually mean something in the future.

Post match Daivari misses a charge and gets low bridged to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. As usual, 205 Live works best when they focus on wrestling with only minimal storyline advancement. They’re setting up a bunch of people to challenge Nese and that’s the best thing they can do at the moment. None of the challengers are far ahead of the others so let one of them earn it or have Nese fight them at once. Either way, it’s an interesting idea and hopefully they make it work, which might actually happen around here.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: May 28, 2019
Location: BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Commentators: Aiden English, Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

We seem to be getting ready for Akira Tozawa to challenge for the Cruiserweight Title against Tony Nese, which is certainly an upgrade over Ariya Daivari. I’m not sure what we should expect with the rest of the show but this has become one of the better series around as of late, which says a lot about where things are in WWE these days. Let’s get to it.

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

Jack Gallagher is watching last week’s match when Humberto Carrillo comes in. They both enjoyed beating up the Singh Brothers but there is still an uneasiness between them. Gallagher needs to know that he can beat Carrillo so he’ll have a chance tonight.

Opening sequence.

Brian Kendrick vs. Mike Kanellis

Kendrick rushes him to start but misses a big boot. Instead it’s an early Captain’s Hook attempt with Kanellis bailing to the floor. Kendrick follows him outside though and Kanellis’ chop hits the post. Kanellis is fine enough to hit a suplex into the barricade, followed by a regular one for two back inside.

The chinlock sets up a spinebuster for two on Kendrick with the kickout stopping Maria’s proud strut. Kanellis puts him on top for some chops and shoves off a leg lariat after Kendrick gets back down. Kendrick is right back with the Captain’s Hook but Kanellis gets over to the rope in a hurry. They head outside with Kendrick suplexing him off the steps for a nasty looking landing.

Back in and Sliced Bread #2 is broken up so it’s right back to the Captain’s Hook. Kanellis fights up again and gets in a Samoan driver for a needed breather. They slug it out and trade superkicks before a pair of clotheslines give us a double knockdown. Kendrick is up first and now Sliced Bread connects with a delayed cover getting two. Kanellis hits another Samoan driver into the rolling cutter for the pin at 9:47.

Rating: C+. Kanellis is starting to get better but he needs something better than the rolling cutter for a finisher. That and a personality might do him a lot of good. Getting a clean win is a positive sign for him though and a match down the line against Tony Nese for the Cruiserweight Champion could be a nice match.

Nese comes in to see Drake Maverick when Tozawa comes in. The champ offers Tozawa a title match and makes a formal request but Maverick says he’s only taking it under consideration.

Ariya Daivari yells at his barber and says he’s still coming for the Cruiserweight Title. Before he gets there though, he’s going to get even with Oney Lorcan for cutting his ear open last week.

Noam Dar vs. Mike Karma

Feeling out process to start with Dar not really taking Karma all that seriously. Dar throws him outside and poses, with a chant of EASY. Another toss to the floor keeps Karma down but he comes back in for some forearms. Dar isn’t having any of that and kicks the leg out, setting up the Nova Roller for the pin at 2:22. Just a squash.

Post match Dar says he’s back despite the jet lag from performing in NXT UK. Oh and Oklahoma sucks.

Maverick talks about the potential Cruiserweight Title match….but then chases after R-Truth and the 24/7 Title. He’s the boss of a show and he’s literally in a chase scene.

Oney Lorcan thinks Ariya Daivari is looking unbalanced after last week so he’ll bust open Daivari’s other ear to even things out.

Jack Gallagher vs. Humberto Carrillo

Feeling out process to start with Gallagher spinning out of an early wristlock in that very British way. Gallagher gets in a hammerlock with his leg and pulls back on the other arm, eventually getting it behind his back to bend back onto the mat (FREAKING OW MAN!). That’s broken up to avoid the death of Carrillo’s arm and he cranks on Gallagher’s foot for some near falls. A headlock keeps Jack in trouble until he walks on his hands to escape. An armdrag into an armbar has Gallagher frustrated again and it works so well that Carrillo does it again.

Gallagher is back up with his handstand in the corner so Carrillo mirrors him in the opposite corner. With that (hand) stand off over, Carrillo gets another armdrag into a dropkick but Gallagher sends him outside. That means a whip into the barricade, followed by a kick to the head back inside as Gallagher gets a lot more aggressive. We hit the chinlock and Gallagher pulls him back down to prevent an escape. It’s off to a reverse chinlock for a real change of pace, followed by the regular chinlock again.

The holds are finally broken until a dropkick puts Carrillo down again. That doesn’t last long as Carrillo hits the springboard spinning crossbody to send Gallagher to the floor. That means the suicide dive with Carrillo coming up holding his arm. The arm is fine enough for a standing moonsault, followed by a Disaster kick for two. Carrillo gets caught up top and it’s a belly to back superplex, meaning both of them head outside for a breather.

Gallagher charges into a hiptoss into the barricade. They head to the apron with Carrillo hitting a missile dropkick to the back to keep Gallagher in trouble. The top rope moonsault hits raised boots though and Gallagher hits the running dropkick to put him on the floor. That means a dive from Gallagher but Carrillo gets a rollup for two back inside. A double clothesline gives us a double knockdown and a quick breather. Gallagher is up first for a delayed vertical suplex, which is reversed into a hard DDT. A twisting 450 gives Carrillo the pin at 16:04.

Rating: B. This was your usual long but quality main event around here as Carrillo continues to be built up. He has the look and ability to make a run around here at the moment and that’s a good idea. The finisher helps too as they haven’t had a traditional high flying face in a little while.

Post match they shake hands and hug with Gallagher leaving.

Overall Rating: B. Another good show here, assuming you don’t mind the fact that a lot of the stars on the show aren’t the most interesting in the world. They’re starting to build up some people for the next generation, but there are things that still need to be done to make the show more interesting. At least the wrestling was good though, which is better than you get a lot of the time.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: May 22, 2019
Location: Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for a big one as we have Pete Dunne vs. Walter II for the United Kingdom Title. The first match was the biggest match in the history of NXT UK and now Dunne wants his chance to get the title back. That’s all but a guarantee for some shenanigans but the question is what kind. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Fatal Four Way Qualifying Match: Travis Banks vs. Joseph Conners

Banks takes him down by the arm to start before heading outside early on. Conners sends him into the steps so the fans get behind Banks with the KIWI BUZZSAW chants. The chinlock cuts those off as the energy isn’t exactly here yet. Banks fights up and sends Conners to the floor again, this time for a heck of a suicide dive.

The Slice of Heaven misses back inside though and a running sunset buckle bomb (nice) gives Conners two, plus some polite applause. We hit the pinfall reversal sequence into a standoff as the fans get behind Banks all over again. Back up and Conners sends him into the corner but Banks comes out with the Slice of Heaven. The Kiwi Crusher finishes Conners at 8:27.

Rating: C+. Nice match here with Banks getting the win that he should have had a long time ago. Conners…I know he’s trying and they seem interested in pushing him but it’s not working. At least they dropped the idea of him not liking all the new talents around here because even the older ones aren’t even a year old yet. This could have been worse though, which tends to be the case in Conners’ matches.

Post match Banks promises to run through Dave Mastiff, Jordan Devlin and Joe Coffey to becoming #1 contender. The match is in two weeks.

Nina Samuels is proud of how she manipulated Toni Storm into the title match. Now it’s time for her masterpiece next week when she wins the title in her series finale.

We recap Mark Andrews vs. Noam Dar from two months ago when they beat the heck out of each other and were too injured to finish.

Noam Dar vs. Mark Andrews

Of course Dar gets the big home country reception. Feeling out process to start with Andrews missing a kick to the head for a standoff. Andrews takes him down again though and a standing moonsault gets two. Dar grabs a very spinning backslide for two and it’s off to the quickly broken ankle lock. Instead Dar hits a bicycle kick for two but Andrews is right back up with a jumping enziguri. Stundog Millionaire sends Dar outside for the running flip dive with Dar’s knee giving out. That would be goldbricking though and Dar hits a quick Nova Roller for the pin at 5:50.

Rating: C-. Well that was a little shorter for the sake of the heel turn at the end, which isn’t the most interesting thing in the world. Their first match was quite entertaining and this one was more of an angle than anything else, which doesn’t do much for me. At least we got something out of it though and they didn’t waste time until getting to the ending.

The Grizzled Young Veterans don’t care about Moustache Mountain calling them out for a title shot because the champs decide when they defend their titles.

Here’s Rhea Ripley for a chat. She knows how much people want to see her wrestle tonight but it’s just not going to happen. Rhea has been told that Piper Niven is something of a big deal here in Scotland but she sees Piper as a wannabe superstar who reeks of fear. All Piper can do is talk about her and as soon as Piper steps in the ring with her, nightmares become reality. Short and to the point here.

Kassius Ohno is rather happy that he gets his update from Sid Scala and Johnny Saint this week. Since Saint isn’t here, Scala gives him Jack Gallagher for next week, which seems to work for Ohno.

Next week: Nina Samuels vs. Toni Storm for the Women’s Title.

United Kingdom Title: Pete Dunne vs. Walter

Pete is challenging and gets powered into the corner to start. That’s reversed into a series of rolls on the mat into a standoff. Dunne takes him to the mat this time and tries for the arm stomp but has to duck the chop. Back up and Pete grabs a headlock, which is reversed into one from the champ as they’re firmly in first gear. The sleeper is blocked and Dunne grabs the leg to send Walter outside.

Dunne follows though and this time it’s the big chop to give Walter his first real advantage. A kick to the arm doesn’t do much for Dunne as Walter kicks him in the face to take over again. There’s a whip into the barricade and Walter stomps him on the steps. Back in and Dunne is in trouble but he sneers up at the champ anyway. That just earns him some hard stomps and a reverse chinlock as things stay rather slow.

Dunne fights up and drops Walter with a single forearm as the fans are behind Pete (or Peter actually). A middle rope dropkick to the knee takes Walter down again and it’s off to a kneebar. Dunne can’t get it in all the way so he kicks Walter in the arm instead and hooks something like an Octopus hold while pulling on the finger. A crucifix bomb gives Dunne two and annoys Walter so much that he hits a rather hard clothesline.

The Boston crab stays on Dunne’s back but Dunne gets out again. Some stomps to the head have Walter in trouble this time and a double arm crank is broken up as well. Walter’s fingers are tied in the buckle and Dunne dropkicks the hand for a bonus. Dunne’s super hurricanrana brings Walter back down for two but he’s back up with a chop between the shoulder blades.

A German suplex rocks Walter, who is fine enough to explode into a clothesline for two on Dunne. The top rope splash is punched out of the air and Dunne grabs the Bitter End. The fingers are bent back….and here’s Fabian Aichner to push the rope toward Walter. With the referee on the floor with Aichner, Marcel Barthel runs in to hit Dunne with the belt. Walter’s powerbomb retains the title at 16:33.

Rating: B+. It’s good and a hard hitting brawl but it was a far cry from what they did in New York. The problem here was they went from the slow start to beating the tar out of each other in the span of a few seconds and it didn’t have the smoothest transition. The ending is a good way to move things forward while also keeping Dunne strong for the future. It’s a very good TV match, but not a great, classic one.

Walter, Aichner and Barthel post to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. They weren’t messing around here with a huge main event, a match to set up the #1 contenders match and a heel turn in the middle. They’re setting things up for the future and when you add that to the good stuff this week, it’s a heck of a show. This place is officially on a roll and the new villains vs. British Strong Style will work just fine for the time being.

Results

Travis Banks b. Joseph Conners – Kiwi Crusher

Noam Dar b. Mark Andrews – Nova Roller

Walter b. Pete Dunne – Powerbomb

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: May 7, 2019
Location: KFC Yum Center, Louisville, Kentucky
Commentators: Aiden English, Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re still building towards Ariya Daivari vs. Tony Nese for the Cruiserweight Title for reasons that I don’t quite understand. They really need some fresh talent to go after the title and we might be able to get somewhere close to that with Akira Tozawa vs. Mike Kanellis in a No DQ match tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

I was in the arena for this show, looking straight at the Titantron. The amount of people who left after Smackdown ended made me feel bad for everyone performing on this show. They’re working hard and probably ¾ of the audience walks out as their show starts.

Mike and Maria Kanellis are ready to show us a changing of the guard in the cruiserweight division because Mike is better than the best. Beating a former Cruiserweight Champion is a great way to get to that goal and with Brian Kendrick barred from ringside, it can be a fair fight.

Kendrick can’t wait to see Tozawa beat Kanellis once and for all. Whether Kendrick is out there or not, Tozawa is ready to be as violent as he needs to be and Mike is screwed.

Opening sequence.

We see Ariya Daivari getting in Tony Nese’s face last week, saying he could have taken Nese out at any time last week. He didn’t, but he could have.

Ariya Daivari vs. Noam Dar

Tony Nese comes out for commentary and there is no hiding the empty seats this week. The traditional exchange of wristlocks goes nowhere so Daivari punches him down in the corner for some more success. Dar gets one off a very spinny backslide and a running dropkick sends Daivari outside. An argument with Nese wakes Daivari up a bit as he sends Dar face first into the announcers’ table to take over.

Back in and we hit the variety pack of stomps before it’s off to the Million Dollar Dream to bring Dar to his knees. Dar flips back to break it up but Daivari kicks him to the floor again. Another argument with Nese lets Dar get two off a small package. A northern lights suplex gets the same and Daivari has to kick out of the ankle lock in a hurry. Dar slaps it on again though and gets it broken up again, this time with a superkick cutting him off. The frog splash sets up the hammerlock lariat to finish Dar at 8:44.

Rating: C. This made did more for Dar than Daivari, who still doesn’t show me anything that makes me want to watch him in a high profile match. The finishing sequence looked good but it doesn’t change the fact that Daivari still isn’t interesting and is as generic of a villain as you can get.

Post match Daivari motions that he wants the belt so Nese gets in the ring to scare him. Nese says the same thing that Daivari said to him last week: he could have taken Daivari out, but he didn’t.

Oney Lorcan promises to work harder and earn the Cruiserweight Title one day. He says this with his hands behind his back and sounds like he’s giving a speech in school.

Singh Brothers vs. David Kauffman/Kevin Lee

They’re still officially the Singh Brothers but they’re the Bollywood Boys again, even down to having film strips on their Titantron video. Sumir punches Lee in the face and it’s Sunil coming in for a double suplex as we’re firmly in squash territory here. Hang on though as we need some dancing. Kauffman gets knocked off the apron and it’s something like the Demolition Decapitator for the pin at 1:43.

Post match the Singhs complain about the Lucha House Party ending their undefeated streak last week, but it was more because of the 1.3 billion citizens of India cheering them on. They want a rematch in the future. Isn’t this booked a little backwards? They do the undefeated thing, lose, and then win to set up a rematch? Shouldn’t it be win, win, lose, rematch?

Mike and Maria compliment Drake Maverick for barring Kendrick from the main event. Hang on though as Maria is barred as well. Mike isn’t happy with this use of logic but it’s now one on one.

Next week: Jack Gallagher vs. James Drake vs. Mark Andrews vs. Humberto Carrillo.

Gallagher is ready to win the match, when Humberto comes in to say he’ll win instead. Jack says Humberto can try and they shake hands with the tension at a high level.

Akira Tozawa vs. Mike Kanellis

No DQ. Tozawa wastes no time in taking it to the floor and sending Mike into the set on the stage. The Black Widow on the floor has Kanellis in more trouble but the fall doesn’t count out there. What does count is Kanellis escaping and side slamming Tozawa onto the stage. It’s time for some weapons, including three chairs and a table this time around. Mike sets up a table on the floor, slams Tozawa down, and puts a second table next to the first.

Back in and Tozawa snaps off a hurricanrana to send Mike right back to the floor, but the suicide headbutt is superkicked out of the air. Now it’s time for the chairs with Kanellis setting up two face to face, but after nine reversals in a row, Tozawa hits the suplex to drive Kanellis through the chairs. The Shining Wizard sends Kanellis outside and a whip sends him over the announcers’ table as things are getting more violent.

In a rather stupid move, Tozawa puts a trashcan over Kanellis’ head and hits the suicide headbutt, knocking himself silly in the process. Back in and Tozawa grabs a Samoan driver through a trashcan and they’re both down again. They chop it out with Tozawa hitting the right hand, setting up an exchange of kicks to the face. A snap German suplex gives Tozawa two more as the fans want tables. I love the Dudleys but I want to smack both of them for making that a thing.

Tozawa gets in another German suplex on the apron and now it’s time for the tables. Kanellis rolls off before Tozawa can launch the top rope backsplash and scores with a superkick. That lets Mike go up top but Tozawa pops up and snaps off the super hurricanrana to drive Kanellis through the tables instead. Back in and Tozawa piles the chairs onto him, setting up the top rope backsplash for the pin at 16:05.

Rating: B. The thing that got my attention here was how the fans went from not caring at the start to actually being into the match by the end. That’s a very impressive accomplishment and they pulled it off here. Both guys worked hard here and the match was violent enough to validate the gimmick. Rather good match that felt like the blowoff the feud needed.

Maria and Kendrick come out to check on the people you would expect them to check on to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Less interesting talent to start the show aside, this was a rather good show that managed to draw me in by the end. The violent match made for a better finish to the show and it made for a good show overall. Daivari vs. Nese is still a chore to sit through (though the effort is there) but they need some more interesting names in a hurry.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: May 8, 2019
Location: Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back in the UK and that means things can get a bit more back to normal around here. In this case we have a Tag Team Title match with the Grizzled Young Veterans defending against Amir Jordan and Kenny Williams, which seems like a filler feud until we get to something more important. Let’s get to it.

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

Sid Scala welcomes us to the show and announces an upcoming fatal four way for the #1 contendership. Tonight, we get the first of four qualifying matches with the eventual winner going on to face the winner of Walter vs. Pete Dunne.

Opening sequence.

Moustache Mountain vs. The Hunt

They seem to have dropped Wild Boar and Primate’s regular names, thank goodness. Bate takes Boar down to start and gets two off a crossbody. Seven comes in to chop Primate in the corner, which just gets him growled at for his efforts. Primate yells at him again so it’s a chop to the leg into a DDT to take Primate to the floor. The suicide dive drops him again but a Boar distraction lets Primate take over back inside. Seven fights up on Boar but it’s way too early for the Seven Star Lariat.

The Hunt hits a double slam and Primate drops Boar onto Seven for two. A missed charge sends Primate into the corner and the OH TRENT SEVEN ARMY chants fuel the hot tag off to Bate. An overhead belly to belly into a running shooting star gets two on Boar. Seven’s sitout slam gets the same on Primate but Boar throws Primate at Seven for two of his own. Everything breaks down and it’s a double Bop and Bang, setting up the clothesline/dragon suplex combination to pin Primate at 7;22.

Rating: C+. The Hunt looked better than usual here and that’s a good sign for their future. Just dropping their real names makes them seem that much more animalesque and the wrestling backed it up. Having them wrestle like wild men is a unique way to go for them and the match was entertaining with Moustache Mountain being built up for a future title shot.

Amir Jordan has been attacked and seems to be favoring his arm as he goes to the trainer’s room.

Fatal Four Way Qualifying Match: Joe Coffey vs. Flash Morgan Webster

Coffey is the hometown boy. Flash gets thrown down with raw power to start and the fans are very pleased with Coffey. Another hard charge takes Webster down for the biggest reaction you’ll ever see to a shoulder block. Webster gets in a shot of his own to knock Coffey outside and a dropkick knocks him off the apron. Back in and a flipping splash gives Webster two, followed by a hard whip into the corner as it’s almost all Coffey so far. The swinging butterfly suplex gets two and it’s off to the nerve hold.

Webster fights out of a full nelson for a crossbody and some right hands. They fall out to the floor with Webster getting back in and hitting a running flip dive. Back in and a jumping knee to the face gives Webster two, with the fans being rather pleased on the kickout. The Swanton hits knees though and it’s All The Best For The Bells to finish Webster at 6:06.

Rating: C. Interesting crowd reaction aside, this was a fun match with both guys trying hard and Webster not being sure what to make of the fans booing him. You had to see that coming though and Coffey winning was the obvious ending, especially if they didn’t want the fans to storm the ring or something. Not bad at all and Coffey looked fired up.

Post match Gallus says this is their kingdom to try and cool the fans off but it doesn’t work in the slightest. Wolfgang wants Dave Mastiff next week but Joe tells him to focus on the four way.

We look at Pete Dunne training for his rematch with Walter in two weeks.

Ilja Dragonov is coming.

Nina Samuels vs. Kasey Owens

The fans are behind Kasey, who looks to be a little goofy. Nina stomps her down in the corner to start and a dropkick to the back makes it even worse. The chinlock goes on until Kasey fights back up for a running dropkick of her own. A shot to the back takes Kasey down again though and Nina cartwheels off the top to avoid a charge. The fireman’s carry backbreaker finishes Kasey at 2:52. Notice how they’re building Nina up. Instead of beating the champ and going for the shortcut version, she’s winning a bunch of matches in a row before she gets the bigger match. It’s worked for years and it still works now.

Post match Nina talks about how she respects Toni Storm but she’s coming for the title.

Dave Mastiff promises to beat up Wolfgang next week and smash Gallus’ kingdom. He leaves but here’s Kay Lee Ray to take his place. Kay applauds Nina for her gumption, but Kay is getting the next title shot.

Preview of the remaining qualifying matches.

Tag Team Titles: Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Amir Jordan/Kenny Williams

Jordan and Williams are challenging. Before the match, Gibson says the title match isn’t happening because Jordan is injured. The fans need to put their shoes back on and head home because the fairy tale ending isn’t happening tonight. Williams comes out to accuse the champs of attacking Jordan so he has a replacement partner.

Tag Team Titles: Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Kenny Williams/Noam Dar

Williams and Dar are challenging. The fight is on in a hurry with all four heading outside. Back in and Dar knocks Gibson into the corner with a northern lights suplex getting two. Drake comes back in for a running dropkick to Dar’s head and it’s a forearm to put him on the floor again. We settle down to Dar getting beaten down with Drake driving a knee into the ribs to keep him in trouble.

A diving save cuts off a hot tag attempt and for once it doesn’t go through a few seconds later. Dar gets in a clothesline and dives over but Gibson pulls Williams to the floor at the last second. The third attempt works a bit better and now it’s Williams coming in to clean house in a hurry. A bulldog sends Drake head first into the corner and a tornado DDT makes it even worse.

The champs head to the floor for a springboard trust fall from Williams, followed by a top rope back elbow for two on Drake. It’s back to Dar for a kick to Gibson’s knee into the ankle lock but Gibson is too close to Drake for the tag. That’s fine with Dar, who ankle locks Drake with a grapevine. Williams does the same to Gibson at the same time but Gibson kicks and punches his way to freedom.

Everyone is down until Drake gets a half crab on Dar’s recently repaired knee. Williams grabs the hand to block the tap and then kicks Drake in the face for the save. A running clothesline has Gibson in trouble but he’s right back with a middle rope Codebreaker to Dar. Williams’ wheelbarrow faceplant gets two on Gibson but Drake breaks up the Nova Roller. That leaves Williams alone against the champs, with Drake hitting a running dropkick in the corner. Helter Skelter into the 450 retains the titles at 13:30.

Rating: B. I wasn’t expecting much from the match in the first place but they made a very smart change by swapping Dar in for Jordan. This was a serious match and there was no room for Jordan’s dancing in the middle. Dar isn’t my favorite guy in the world but he was working well here and the match was rather good as a result.

Overall Rating: B+. These shows have gotten better recently and this was no exception, mainly because of another NXT principle. The main event wasn’t the biggest deal in the world but the announcers treated it like something that mattered more than anything else going on. They didn’t spend the match talking about the four way or the UK Title match and it made all the difference in the world. Rather good show here and the Glasgow crowd helped carry things very far.

Results

Moustache Mountain b. The Hunt – Dragon suplex/clothesline combination to Primate

Joe Coffey b. Flash Morgan Webster – All The Best For The Bells

Nina Samuels b. Kasey Owens – Fireman’s carry backbreaker

Grizzled Young Veterans b. Noam Dar/Kenny Williams – 450 to Williams

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: March 27, 2019
Location: Coventry Skydome Arena, Coventry, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re down to two shows before Wrestlemania weekend, meaning we’re in for the build towards Pete Dunne defending the United Kingdom Title against Walter in what should be an incredible showdown. I’m not sure what else we’ll be seeing, but at least we should be in for some entertaining stuff, which has become the norm around here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Jordan Devlin vs. Dan Moloney

Devlin takes him into the corner to start and offers a clean break before sneaking in a chop. We hit the armbar for a bit, followed by a standing moonsault for two on Moloney. An elbow to the jaw sets up a cobra clutch as Moloney can’t get anything going. Back up and a slingshot cutter keeps Dan in trouble. A headbutt rocks him again, setting up the hard Saito suplex for the pin on Moloney at 4:29.

Rating: D+. They’re building Devlin up quite well, as there’s a pretty wide gap between the title contenders and the rest of the roster. Giving Devlin a step towards that top tier is a good idea, as the promotion needs some fresh talent at the top of the card. Devlin has been on a roll for a long time now and makes as much sense as anyone else.

Here’s Kassius Ohno to a chorus of booing. He’s new around here and wants to speak from the heart. Ohno reads an apology from his phone, wishing his deepest condolences to Ashton Smith’s friends and family. He shouldn’t have revived Smith and then knocked him out again….but he just couldn’t help himself.

It’s really gratifying to knock someone out over and over again. He could have gone anywhere he wanted but NXT UK chose him. When he came here to make an impact, he saw some guy from New Zealand trying to make play British wrestler. If Travis Banks tries to go against Ohno, the Kiwi Buzzsaw will be smashed to bits. Ohno did well here, as it takes a lot to overcome the whole being Kassius Ohno thing.

Video on Dave Mastiff.

In two weeks: Toni Storm defends the Women’s title against Jinny.

Jinny is in India for the WWE tryouts because WWE chose to send her there instead of Toni. She’s more marketable and better in the ring than Toni, and she’ll prove it in two weeks.

Xia Brookside vs. Rhea Ripley

Rhea throws her down a few times with very little effort. Xia goes with a jumping headlock and Rhea can’t quite power her way out of it. The second attempt at a power escape works a bit better and a hard forearm to the back gives Ripley two. A delayed suplex keeps Brookside’s back in trouble but she’s right back up with a bulldog into a headscissors.

Double knees in the corner let Brookside send her outside and it’s a high crossbody to a very strong reaction (much better than I was expecting). Back in and a middle rope Codebreaker gives Brookside two more but Ripley has had enough. A hard toss into the corner sets up the Riptide to put her away at 7:22.

Rating: C+. This was a very nice surprise with Ripley selling a lot for the still young Brookside. Much like the men’s division, the women’s division has a strong top group but needs a lot more than what they have at the moment. You can only get so far with the same two people so adding Jinny and a few more, like Brookside down the line, would be a good idea. Brookside getting this kind of a reaction is a really good sign for her future though and hopefully she can go somewhere.

Post match Ripley says she’s the most dominant woman in NXT and no one can compete with her. That’s a REALLY bad thing to say and here’s Piper Niven (Viper) to chase her off. Piper says Ripley isn’t the most dominant woman around here anymore.

Isla Dawn is excited to have a fellow Scotswoman on the roster when Kay Lee Ray (I think) comes up to say she’s not Isla’s friend because they’re both from Scotland.

Video on Walter, showcasing a lot of his success in Progress. The destruction of Jack Starz’s chest is disturbing with the broken blood vessels.

Trent Seven doesn’t like Joe Coffey calling him the dead weight of British Strong Style. He’s coming down Moustache Mountain with the Trent Seven Army behind him, waiting for Coffey.

Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner don’t like Kenny Williams and Amir Jordan dancing around. They’re ready to take those two out because that mat is sacred ground and they’re ready to be successful.

Mark Andrews vs. Noam Dar

Dar takes him tot he mat to start but has to spin out of a wristlock. A missed kick to the head sends Dar into the corner and it’s an early standoff. Andrews has some more luck with a headscissors into an armbar, though it doesn’t last long. Dar knocks him to the apron instead and a baseball slide sends Andrews to the floor.

Back in and Dar crotches him on the top for two, followed by an armdrag into the ropes. Andrews fights up by kicking him away, setting up the knees slide into an enziguri. There’s the double stomp to the ribs so Dar rolls to the floor, leaving himself open for a suicide dive. A standing corkscrew moonsault gets two back inside but Dark picks the ankle for the ankle lock. That’s broken up as well and a middle rope moonsault to the floor takes Dar out again.

Andrews’ springboard is broken up for another trip to the floor, meaning Dar can get a running snapmare of all things to send him into the steps. Back in (again) and Andrews gets caught in the ankle lock with a grapevine. A dive gets him over to the ropes and Dar can’t believe it. Andrews is fine enough for an enziguri and a moonsault for two but a kick to the leg cuts him off. The Stundog Millionaire gives Andrews two and he tries a reverse hurricanrana…but Dar’s knee buckles and the match is stopped due to (legit) injury at 12:30.

Rating: B. The ending is a shame for multiple reasons (including the most obvious) as they were having a heck of a match before the injury. This was your awesome cruiserweight match and while I’m not a big Dar fan, hopefully the injury isn’t all that bad and he’s back in the ring sooner rather than later.

Post match they’re both taken out on stretchers but they do give double thumbs up each.

Next week: Trent Seven vs. Joe Coffey.

Here are Sid Scala and Johnny Saint for the contract signing between Pete Dunne and Walter. Scala hypes up the match and Walter signs while staring Dunne down. Dunne says Walter doesn’t have to say anything because he wants this match even more than Walter. In New York, Walter will learn that NXT UK belongs to the Bruiserweight. Dunne signs but Walter calls him Peter and says he could put Dunne through a table whenever he wanted to. Dunne’s time is up and the reign of the Bruiserweight ends in New York City. The staredown ends the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The ending segment was good with the intensity dripping off these two guys and that’s about all that mattered on the show. The rest of the card worked well enough and they’re building some stuff up for the future. If that’s the big thing they take away from the American version, they’re going to be in good shape. Just blow the roof off the place in New York (as you know they can) and it’s a successful Wrestlemania season.

Results

Jordan Devlin b. Dan Moloney – Saito suplex

Rhea Ripley b. Xia Brookside – Riptide

Mark Andrews vs. Noam Dar went to a no contest

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: February 12, 2019
Location: Huntington Center, Toledo, Ohio
Commentators: Aiden English, Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re actually coming up on a fresh title match for a change as Akira Tozawa is the new #1 contender to Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy, with his title shot coming on Sunday. As for tonight, we have a grudge match as Noam Dar gets to face Tony Nese in a No DQ match. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at Dar beating Nese last month and the ensuing brawl, which set up tonight’s match. It’s more appropriate here than Maverick talking.

Opening sequence.

Here’s the Lucha House Party for a chat. Gran Metalik asks where they are and Kalisto says they’re in Toledo, where it’s snowing. They’re upset that they didn’t get to finish their duet with Elias so they’ll settle for taking Jack Gallagher’s mustache and giving it to Penelope. Metalik is ready to sing but Gallagher cuts them off.

Jack Gallagher vs. Lince Dorado

Drew Gulak sits in on commentary and actually picks Tozawa to win the title on Sunday. You don’t get a definitive pick like that very often. Gallagher takes him down by the wrist to start so Dorado fights up and bounces off the ropes to send Gallagher flying instead. Gulak and English affirm that Humberto Carrillo is in fact a handsome man as Dorado hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker into a splash for two.

Gallagher is right back with a throat first drop across the top rope (thumbs up from Gulak) as we’re now talking about Carrillo’s taste in music. Dorado sends him outside and teases a big dive but Gallagher heads over for a handshake with Gulak. Back in and Gallagher takes Dorado down again and forearms him in the mask before cranking on both arms. It’s off to an abdominal stretch, which is quickly countered into a toss outside for a heck of a springboard dive.

A spinwheel kick to the head has English asking what would happen if Carrillo joined the Lucha House Party. Dorado hits a bottom and middle rope moonsault (Gulak: “I don’t understand this.”) before going up to the top, allowing Gallagher to get the knees up this time (Gulak: “THANK YOU!”). Gallagher hits a powerbomb but tries another, earning himself a monkey flip for the counter. So much for learning from your opponent’s mistake. The Golden Rewind gets two and Dorado takes him to the corner, only to get sunset flipped down to give Gallagher a very fast pin at 10:12.

Rating: C. Obsessive commentary about Carrillo aside, this was a nice match with Gallagher having to deal with the flipping power of Dorado. We’ve already seen Gulak vs. the Lucha House Party and while I don’t need to see something similar again, at least it’s something that you can almost guarantee to be watchable.

Gallagher jumps into Gulak’s arms to celebrate. Gulak: “See this Humberto Carrillo? YOU COULD BE A PART OF THIS!” Sweet goodness I haven’t heard this kind of praise since a Stephanie McMahon match.

Carrillo is willing to listen to Gallagher and Gulak.

Ariya Daivari is tired of dealing with failures on this show. He came here to serve himself and he already has the money and the miles. Next up is the Cruiserweight Title.

Mike Kanellis has worked sixteen years to get here and he’s not here to lose a match to Kalisto and Brian Kendrick. Maria says the losses are part of the process and it’s going to pay off. They’ve been successful everywhere and legends are made by THE match. I can go for more of these talk to the camera promos, especially when someone isn’t holding their own camera.

Noam Dar vs. Tony Nese

No DQ and Dar starts fast with a suicide dive before the bell. An early northern lights suplex gets two as Dar is extra fired up. Dar whips him into the steps before using said steps as a launchpad for a clothesline. He’s not done yet as he puts Nese’s fingers inside the hook that attaches the buckle to the post and bends them back. Nese is tired of getting beaten up and sends Dar into the post to take over.

Back in and Nese bridges him between a chair and the ropes for a springboard moonsault to start in on the ribs. A slam onto the chair makes things worse but Dar gets in a dragon screw legwhip for a breather. Dar’s t-bone suplex into the corner gets one and it’s time for some chairs, with a table as a bonus. A backdrop puts Nese onto the pile of chairs on the floor, drawing what sounds like a NIGEL chant. Well it’s not like either of these two have the strongest personalities.

Back in and Dar rams the knee into a chair but Nese goes for the pinkie for the save. I guess he’s been watching his Pete Dunne matches. The pumphandle driver onto the chair gives Nese two but Dar is back up. Dar gets smart by blocking a left hand with the chair, which he then wraps around Nese’s shoulder. The chair is used in a Fujiwara armbar but Nese turns it over for the break.

They head outside again with Dar getting knocked down, allowing Nese to pull the steps over with one arm. Nese hits him in the jaw before dropping Dar back first into the steps. Dar gets a triangle on the good arm but Nese lifts him up for a powerbomb through the announcers’ table, which is only good for two back inside. Shame too as that was easily the best thing so far.

The running knee hits the buckle and Dar hits a top rope double stomp onto the leg. An ankle lock with a grapevine goes on and since there are no rope breaks, Nese crawls underneath the ropes for the break. Nese’s chair to the knee rocks Dar and the running knee to the head drives him through the barricade for the next big crash. Dar is DONE so Nese throws him back inside for the pin at 19:10.

Rating: B-. This got a lot better once they started brawling but they could have cut off about five minutes to really make it better. They did something very good by having Nese win so definitively, as he could be moved up as a nice choice for a one off title match. I’m not sure where Dar goes, but he’ll be fine almost anywhere he winds up at this point.

We look at Akira Tozawa becoming #1 contender last week.

Tozawa, Buddy Murphy and Drake Maverick are in the back for the contract signing. Tozawa signs, so Buddy pulls out his phone and tells Tozawa to take a picture of himself with the title, because it’s as close as he’s going to get to it on Sunday. Murphy isn’t losing so he signs the contract. Tozawa actually brings up Neville (not by name) and says he took the title from him, just like he’ll do from Murphy. The staredown ends the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The main event had some very good spots but the title match stuff at the end felt entirely tacked on. What we got wasn’t bad though and I’m curious to see where they’re going after Sunday. It’s usually the complete opposite and it’s cool to see them doing something different for a change.

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: February 13, 2019
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

Things are getting more interesting around here as Walter continues to be the biggest thing to be added to the show since its inception (all those months ago). For now though, we’re in Phoenix for some shows taped at the Royal Rumble Axxess. We should be in for some fun shows around here and some guest stars aren’t out of the question. Let’s get to it.

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

In Memory of Pedro Morales.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Toni Storm to open things up. She won the Mae Young Classic and then it was Toni Time at Takeover: Blackpool. Toni knew that Rhea Ripley would be coming to get her title back though because Storm is a bully. She’s beaten Ripley before though and she can do it again. This brings out Rhea, who now has what sounds like THIS IS MY BRUTALITY before her theme music. She’s the first ever NXT UK Women’s Champion and she’s sick of hearing the comparisons to Storm. The rematch is brought up and Storm says “that’s nice”. The fight is on with Rhea quickly bailing.

Noam Dar vs. Jordan Devlin

Devlin’s wristlock is countered into a headlock, followed by some arm cranking on Devlin’s arm for a change. That just earns him a release Rock Bottom into a standing moonsault but the fans think he still sucks. We hit the double arm crank on Dar for a bit before he fights up and kicks Devlin off the ropes.

An exchange of kicks puts both guys down and Dar slaps on the ankle lock. That’s escaped as well and the Irish Ace Cutter gives Devlin two. They head outside with Devlin loading up a whip into the steps, only to have Travis Banks come out to yell. Dar’s ankle goes into the steps but Devlin stops to fight Banks, allowing Dar to grab a rollup for the surprise pin at 10:20.

Rating: C. I’m not big on either guy (though I’m much higher up than I used to be) and this was a completely middle of the road match. Neither does much that grabs your attention and while this was little more than a way to advance Devlin vs. Banks, it wasn’t exactly thrilling. Then again nor was it bad, so we’ll go with right in the middle.

Post match Devlin stays on Dar, drawing Banks in for the big fight.

Next week: Ripley vs. Storm for the title.

Two weeks from now: Walter vs. Kassius Ohno.

Jinny vs. Mia Yim

Jinny takes her straight down into a front facelock until Mia reverses into one of her own. An armbar is broken up just as fast and Mia grabs a rollup for two. The running hurricanrana doesn’t work either as Mia cartwheels her way out and takes Jinny down for some slaps to the arms. With none of the holds working, Jinny goes with blunt force trauma in the form of a Downward Spiral into the middle rope. A slap to the face gives Jinny two and she pulls on Mia’s arms for good measure.

That’s broken up and Mia slaps on a Tarantula of her own. Mia adds a neckbreaker for the double knockdown before firing off some shots to the face. A Cannonball connects as you can see the Axxess venue in the background. It’s not a bad thing but it’s just so odd to see. Jinny misses a charge and gets German suplexed into the corner, sending herself outside for a much needed breather. Back in and Jinny scores with a kick to the head, allowing her to throw her feet on the ropes for the pin at 7:55.

Rating: C-. Jinny is someone who seems like she would gain a lot from some talking segments that get to showcase herself outside the ring a bit more. Her work is fine enough, but the only things I know about her is she’s mean and cares about fashion. I need a lot more than that, and it would be nice if they let us have something.

Wolfgang vs. Pete Dunne

Non-title and no seconds here, oddly enough. Wolfgang goes for the arm to start so Dunne spins out and takes Wolfgang down with a total of no effort. Another grab of the wrist sends Wolfgang out to the floor and it’s time for a breather. Back in and a referee distraction (stop telling Dunne the rules) lets Wolfgang get in a forearm, setting up the required chinlock.

Dunne fights out of that as quickly as anyone fights out of a chinlock and nails a middle rope dropkick to the knee. An ankle lock sends Wolfgang bailing to the ropes, followed by sending Dunne face first into the apron. Back in and Dunne stomps on the arm as Nigel talks about Wolfgang having a SUBURBAN COMMANDO tattoo on his forearm. Well I’m a fan for life.

Wolfgang drops him ribs first across the top rope to bang Dunne up but Dunne avoids a charge and is right back with a bunch of slaps in the corner. Dunne flips out of a release German suplex and nails the X Plex for two. It’s time to bend the fingers back, followed by the stomping to Wolfgang’s head. Dunne pulls him into a triangle until a buckle bomb breaks things up.

The spinning release fisherman’s suplex gets two but Dunne nips up before the Howling. There’s a stomp to the fingers but Wolfgang is right back with a hard clothesline. Darren Young’s Gut Check gives Wolfgang a very delayed two as Wolfgang grabs his knee. He gets up limping, prompting Nigel to say he thinks Wolfgang has a bad knee. That kind of line sounds so out of place from him. Anyway the Howling is countered into the finger bending to make Wolfgang tap at 10:43.

Rating: B-. Leave it to Wolfgang to give Dunne one of his worst matches ever and leave it to Dunne to still make it entertaining. That’s not fair to Wolfgang as he was pretty good here, but the problem is having him get in on the same ground floor as Bate, Dunne and Seven. That’s being the other rookies in 2002 and it just doesn’t work. Walter is the end game for Dunne anyway, so keeping him strong like this is the only way to go.

Overall Rating: C+. Perfectly watchable show here which felt like a combination of a regular show and a special. The whole show feels like it’s on hold until Walter vs. Dunne is set up and that’s fine, though it can’t last forever. I can imagine that one taking place in April over Wrestlemania weekend and if it just happens to be in New York, so be it. Anyway, it should be a blast whenever it happens because they’re putting in the effort to build the characters, which is what matters most.

Results

Noam Dar b. Jordan Devlin – Rollup

Jinny b. Mia Yim – Kick to the head

Pete Dunne b. Wolfgang – Dunne bent his finger back

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:

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: January 9, 2019
Location: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph, Percy Watson

It’s time to find out who gets the final spot in the four way at the Royal Rumble. This week we have Cedric Alexander vs. Hideo Itami with the winner moving on to the title match. That’s about all there is of note this week, which should be about all you need. It’s probably too early to have any of the new faces show up but you never know. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s qualifying matches and a preview of this week’s qualifying match.

Opening sequence.

Noam Dar vs. Tony Nese

Before the match, Nese says he’s tired of Dar’s complaining and will win because he’s the better man. You can’t get much more to the point than that. A headlock takeover puts Nese down until he reverses into a headscissors. Dar starts in on the arm but Nese drives him into the corner. A moonsault goes sailing over Dar, who trips Nese straight down. Back up and Dar loads up a backslide, which gets two after he spins Nese around several times. Nese gets serious with a running elbow to the face and it’s off to the bodyscissors.

Some forearms to the face keep Dar in trouble and we hit the neck crank. Dar finally goes with the speed by ducking a running shoulder A running forearm in the corner sets up a northern lights suplex for two but Dar can’t follow up. With the covers not working, Dar slaps on a guillotine until Nese drives him into the corner for the break.

The double springboard moonsault gives Nese two but Dar blocks a suplex and fires off kicks to the head. Nese misses some kicks of his own and it’s another guillotine choke. That’s reversed with another suplex for two more but Dar just starts slugging away, which isn’t his nature. It’s so unnatural for him that Nese catches him with a pumphandle powerslam. There’s no follow up though as Nese would rather try the running knee, allowing Dar to roll him up for the pin at 12:39.

Rating: C+. Nese was doing his best here and that made for a pretty good match. I’m not wild on either of them but at least we got an energetic and long match with Dar, who has a bigger future, getting the win. If Murphy retains the title at the Rumble, Dar wouldn’t be a bad choice for a next challenger. Giving him a win like this helps that process and maybe WWE thinks the same.

Akira Tozawa isn’t here tonight so Brian Kendrick is reading a letter from him. Tozawa is competing in Japan to get ready for the Rumble and won’t let this opportunity slip by. The HAH’s are included but Kendrick doesn’t read them all. Kendrick isn’t sure why they’re friends, but he’s going to help Tozawa win the title.

Drew Gulak and Jack Gallagher come in to see Drake Maverick and offer him a list of potential people to hire for the show. Maverick promises to read their suggestions and drops them on the floor after they leave. Mike and Maria Kanellis come in, wanting to know why Mike hasn’t wrestled in five weeks. Maria doesn’t like that much time being wasted and thinks they just haven’t been fighting the right way. Why is Maverick bringing in all these new people when he doesn’t have time for who he already has? Fair point actually. Anyway, they better be ready to fight like her.

Lio Rush thinks Kalisto only beat him because of the Lucha House Party. Therefore, the trio is going to feel the Rush. How many people can those three tick off while still being faces?

Cedric Alexander vs. Hideo Itami

The winner is the fourth person in the Rumble four way and Itami has Ariya Daivari in his corner. They’re rather slow to start with no contact until nearly a minute in. Alexander’s takedown attempt doesn’t get him very far so he chops Itami down instead. It’s not the best idea to get into a strike off with Itami, who kicks away at the chest to take over. Alexander takes him down again but comes up holding his chest, which isn’t something you see injured very often.

The way too early Lumbar Check attempt sends Itami bailing to the floor with Cedric going after him, only to have Daivari get in a quick clothesline. Alexander gets sent into the barricade and it’s time for more kicks back inside. Some kicks to the chest keep Alexander in trouble and another set of them cut off his comeback bid. The chinlock goes on for a bit with Alexander fighting up and hitting a few dropkicks. The springboard flatliner gets two but Itami blocks a Neuralizer with a kick of his own.

A top rope clothesline gives Itami two and he’s getting annoyed at Alexander kicking out again. Alexander scores with the Neuralizer for two of his own and now it’s Itami in trouble. He’s fine enough to grab the rope to block the Lumbar Check and head outside, so Cedric dives onto both villains.

Another Daivari distraction lets Itami punch Cedric in the face to break up a springboard and a Falcon Arrow off the apron drops him HARD on the floor. Cool spot with a sick landing. That’s only good for a nine and you can hear the fans being into the near count out. Back in and Cedric gets a very close two off a rollup but it’s that spinning knee to the face to finish Alexander at 17:05.

Rating: B. Itami is still hit or miss in the ring but Cedric being one of the most consistent performers on the show is exactly the kind of thing to keep him straight. He still needs a MUCH better finisher though as I’m not even always sure what it’s supposed to do half the time. Cedric is going to be fine despite the loss as there’s a great value in being the consistent performer on the show.

Buddy Murphy is pleased with the result but wants competition before the Rumble. Therefore, next week is an open challenge for a non-title match. I don’t see that ending well.

Overall Rating: B. This was a show about setting up the Rumble title match and that’s a fine place to go. The opener seemed to be setting things up for the future, which is a perfect way to use the other half of the show. That open challenge could be a great way to bring in some of the fresh talent, which could mean multiple people. Good show here, which is almost always the case anymore.

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:

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