IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: July 12, 2018
Location: St. Clair College, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Don Callis

With Slammiversary less than two weeks away, there isn’t much left to be done. Most of the card is already set up but last week’s show saw a big angle in the return of the original LAX. I’m sure that will set up a match at the pay per view, which is starting to look like a heck of a show. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the LAX split, which has been far better than I was expecting.

Opening sequence.

OG’s vs. ???/???

That would be Homicide/Hernandez and it’s a complete squash with a Border Toss ending one of the jobbers at 58 seconds.

Post match King says Konnan’s time is done so King decided to take him out. Konnan is a smart man though so King brought in the OG’s. When Konnan restarted LAX, he went with the young boys instead of these two guys who don’t need your cheers. That’s why at Slammiversary, it’s a street fight. Good followup here as they didn’t waste time and set up the match in short order. That’s what you should have done and if we get a fired up response, everything will be copacetic.

Shotzi Blackheart recently impressed at a RISE event and gets to face Allie tonight. She’s ready to go.

Video on Blackheart.

OVE talks about how great they are and they’re ready to show their greatness in six man matches in tonight’s main event.

Shotzi Blackheart vs. Allie

Shotzi has long green hair and is from the Black Lagoon so I’m already a fan. A shoulder puts Allie down to start and Blackheart grabs something like a Muta Lock but pulls on Allie’s arms instead of her face. This is getting more and more promising. Back up and they chop it out until Allie misses a charge in the corner and we hit a quickly broken chinlock. Shotzi misses a missile dropkick and Allie gets two off a German suplex. The running Codebreaker puts Shotzi away at 5:45.

Rating: C. It’s a small sample size but Shotzi looked good for the most part here. Hopefully she’s brought back for some more shots as the division can always use some extra talent. Allie’s transformation from fun Bayley style character to serious has worked well and the change in gear helps too. You can only be so serious in the goofier looking gear but the Allie shirt and black pants give her a very different vibe.

Post match Tessa Blanchard comes out to beat Allie down.

Grado annoys Eli Drake, who hits on Katarina. A match is set for tonight.

Tessa is tired of Allie interfering in her business so she took Allie out.

Long recap of Tommy Dreamer vs. Eddie Edwards. Eddie’s turn has been great, but Dreamer being involved has sucked away a lot of the interest I had in the story.

The silhouetted woman is still coming but seems to have red hair.

Austin Aries knows Moose isn’t going to beat him and doesn’t think much of a retired, washed up football player (“I’m not talking about Moose.”) being here tonight. He’s looking forward to hearing what DeAngelo Williams has to say.

From Slammiversary 2013, Gail Kim and Taryn Terrell had a heck of a Last Man Standing match.

Josh Matthews brings out Williams, who happens to be Moose’s friend. If nothing else I could go for seeing him have another match. Williams has been training with Moose and thinks Aries is trash. We see a clip of the training and here’s Aries with a rebuttal. The fans chant for Aries, who says he knows his own name.

Aries asks why Williams isn’t in training camp and realizes it’s because no one wanted to sign him. He and Moose can bond over their lack of winning championships and Aries has a message for Moose. That would be a left hand but Aries misses a chair shot. Williams takes it away so Aries kicks him low and blasts him in the back. With Moose not around, this was about as good as it could have been.

KM and Fallah Bahh are having the same talk they have every week when the Desi Hit Squad comes in. They want to bring glory to India (we know) so KM yells at him. Gama Singh says that’s typical of North Americans. Well that’s irony.

Eli Drake vs. Grado

Grado has Katarina and Joe Hendry in his corner. Drake jumps him from behind and fires off the shoulders in the corner. A hurricanrana out of the corner of all things puts Drake down and Grado slugs away. Drake fires off a clothesline and the Gravy Train is good for the pin at 2:06.

Post match Drake accuses Hendry of trying to steal Katarina. I mean, yeah.

Video on Aries vs. Moose.

Killer Kross is ready to end Petey Williams next week.

Matt Sydal says his third eye is open and he isn’t an underdog at Slammiversary. Size doesn’t matter because if it did, he wouldn’t have a career. Good line.

Moose calls in to say he’ll be here next week to face Aries face to face.

We get a sitdown interview with Madison Rayne, who can’t believe what she’s going to be doing at Slammiversary. The lights flicker and Madison gets up to look for Su Yung. The interviewer disappears and THE TIME HAS COME is written on a wall. Yung’s dress is seen leaving the room and Madison opens a door to follow her but the camera cuts off.

OVE vs. Fenix/Pentagon Jr./Rich Swann

Tornado rules. Pentagon and Sami get in each others’ faces to start until six superkicks stagger everyone. Swann and Sami are the only ones left standing and Swann flips over him to speed things up. They kick each other as well though and it’s another knockdown. The Lucha Brothers beat up the Crist brothers and kick Dave in the face in the corner for two. Sami low blows Pentagon and suplexes Fenix into him, followed by a heck of a clothesline to take Fenix’s head off.

Swann is right back with a dive though, only to have Jake flip dive onto everyone. Not to be outdone, Fenix springboards into a twisting dive of his own, giving us a pretty awkward IMPACT WRESTLING chant. Dave superplexes Swann onto the pile and we take a well deserved break.

Back with the Tower of Doom into a powerbomb from Jake for two on Fenix. Jake puts Fenix up top but gets punched back down, setting up a very high angle Swanton. Swann starts kicking Sami down but eats a piledriver for two with Pentagon making the save. The Pentagon Driver gets two on Sami and Pentagon is stunned.

A series of cutters take almost everyone down, including Jake diving off one corner to cutter Swann, who was diving off another for an awesome visual. Sami gets caught in a spike Fear Factor for two in a rather ridiculous kickout. Another Fear Factor onto the apron destroys Jake and Swann kicks Callihan in the head. Swann’s super hurricanrana is countered into a powerbomb though and Callihan’s Get Out Of Here is good for the pin at 17:51.

Rating: B+. Heck of a main event here, rather ridiculous kickout for Sami aside. I can’t imagine Pentagon losing his mask at Slammiversary (it’s too valuable to him elsewhere) and Sami losing would be the right call. Other than that though, this was a rather fun match and Swann is looking like a star in the heavyweight division. I’m still not sure why he couldn’t do that in WWE, but then there would be no point to the cruiserweights having their own division. In other words, exactly how it is now. Really good match and a lot of fun in the style OVE should be doing most of the time.

Back to Madison, who follows Yung outside and gets surrounded by the bridesmaids. They come up to her but disappear, leaving Yung to grab Rayne to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. What does it say when this might have been the best TV show of the week? I’m looking forward to Slammiversary and most of the matches are looking very good. The show wasn’t perfect but the big stories are looking great and I’m curious to see who wins some of the pay per view matches. This is the best they’ve been in a long time and if that continues, they might be onto something.

Results

OG’s b. ???/??? – Border Toss

Allie b. Shotzi Blackheart – Running Codebreaker

Eli Drake b. Grado – Gravy Train

OVE b. Rich Swann/Fenix/Pentagon Jr. – Get Out Of Here to Fenix

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Impact Wrestling
Date: June 28, 2018
Location: St. Clair College, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Don Callis

We’re getting closer and closer to Slammiversary and the card is really starting to take shape. One of the matches though appears to be Eddie Edwards vs. Tommy Dreamer, which means more of Dreamer talking about stuff that happened twenty years ago and how much he loves wrestling. That’s all well and good, if you ignore the fact that he’s done it for more than half of his career. 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 big stories, including Konnan returning and being suspicious of King, Edwards going insane, Madison Rayne becoming #1 contender and OVE vs. Pentagon Jr./El Hijo Del Fantasma.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Rayne for a chat. She never intended to get back in the ring but now it’s all about creating moments. The biggest moment she could create would be to become the Knockouts Champion again. Sure she’s afraid of Su Yung, but she’s told her daughter to not be afraid of monsters. She’s coming to Slammiversary not as a mom, but as the five time Knockouts Champion.

This brings out Tessa Blanchard to say it’s not 2011 anymore. Tessa rants about being a third generation diamond of professional wrestling so Madison mocks her for telling us that over and over. A fight nearly breaks out but the lights flicker and Yung’s laughter is heard, allowing Tessa to drop her with a forearm. Tessa is awesome and while the Rayne story makes sense, I’m not really caring about what she’s saying.

Rich Swann vs. Trevor Lee

Swann is looking and acting exactly as he did in WWE. It’s a pose/dance off to start with Swann turning the test of strength into more dancing. There’s a flip over Lee as we have no contact in the first minute. A dropkick sends Lee outside though and more dancing takes us to a break. Back with Swann kicking him between the shoulders but getting dropped throat first onto the top rope.

Lee knocks Swann into the corner and chokes a bit as we’re told that it’s Blanchard vs. Rayne later tonight. Swann avoids a charge in the corner though and snaps off some dropkicks into a headscissors to the floor. That means the big flip dive to drop Lee again but his running double stomp gets two. Not that it matters as Swann hits his spinning kick to the head, followed by the reverse hurricanrana and the Phoenix splash for the pin at 12:40.

Rating: C+. If you liked Swann in WWE, you’ll like him here too as he’s doing the exact same thing. That’s a nice pickup as Swann has charisma and the fans love him, not to mention the division needs a top face star which Swann could certainly be. That being said, given how often the division needs some fresh blood, there might be far bigger problems at the moment.

We see OVE attacking Pentagon at a PCW show in Los Angeles. They take off his mask but Pentagon falls on his face, which Sami doesn’t care to expose to anyone.

Clip of the King of the Mountain match from Slammiversary 2005.

Katarina comes up to tell Grado and that she has a match next week. Grado is surprised but she reminds him that she’s a former two time Knockouts Champion. That’s a relief that we’re not supposed to think she’s someone brand new.

This is the Hit Squad’s (Gursinder Singh/Rohit Raju) official debut though we’ve heard about them for months. They’re introduced by manager Gama Singh, a famous former wrestler. Everett tries to spin out of a wristlock but gets punched in the face for his efforts. A dropkick and then a double dropkick get two on Raju as we hear about Singh’s training methods. The Squad sends them both to the floor though and a dropkick gives Singh two back inside.

That’s about it for their control at the moment though as they’re both sent outside for a springboard corkscrew dive from Everett. A springboard spinwheel kick gets two on Raju but Singh knocks them both down. Raju knees Everett into a Sky High for another near fall so DJZ makes a save, apparently remembering that he’s in the match. A series of moonsaults gets two on Raju as Gama Singh is on the apron. The distraction lets Raju grab a rollup with tights to pin Everett at 6:53.

Rating: C. The Hit Squad was better than I expected but they didn’t exactly live up to the hype from hearing about them for so long. The ending didn’t do them any favors either as it was the same distraction for a save into a cheating pin that people have done for years now. They were fine, but certainly nothing inspiring or overly impressive.

Pentagon Jr. challenges Sami to mask vs. hair at Slammiversary.

Video on Moose, who grew up in a very bad neighborhood but he had an outlet in sports. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons but got traded around so much that he lost his love for football but his love for wrestling was growing. This is what he wanted to do more than anything else, even though his wife didn’t support it.

At a House of Hardcore event in Philadelphia, Eddie Edwards attacked Tommy Dreamer and busted him open. Eddie rubbed the blood onto his face and left, with Moose following him out and demanding an explanation. Eddie just said to leave him alone.

Konnan and King argue at the LAX Clubhouse with Konnan saying he’s playing him, no matter what King thinks. King leaves and Konnan says King is lying but LAX doesn’t buy it. Konnan promises proof.

Dezmond Xavier vs. Matt Sydal

Non-title. Xavier armdrags him to start but Sydal has a seat on the mat. A handshake is declined and Sydal takes a quick break on the floor. Back in and Xavier takes his head off with a clothesline and pounds away in the corner. Sydal starts in on the knee though and grabs a half crab, which he lets go in a hurry due to a sore hip. A dropkick to the leg cuts Xavier down again but he snapmares Sydal to the floor. The running flip dive drops Sydal one more time but the knee goes out to slow Xavier down. Back in and Sydal catches him on top, setting up that flip package cradle (name that already) for the pin on Xavier at 5:57.

Rating: C+. This had a lot more of a story than most X-Division matches and that’s a nice thing to see. Xavier continues to be one of the most underutilized talents on the roster. He’s young, looks great and can flip around with the best of them but instead he’s just putting over the champion with the third eye deal, which isn’t exactly lighting the division on fire. Such is life in Impact.

Post match Brian Cage comes out to go after Sydal but Jimmy Jacobs and Kongo Kong show up for a distraction, allowing Sydal to hit Cage with a belt shot. Kong adds a top rope splash.

Callihan says it’s on at Slammiversary and promises to humiliate Pentagon.

The announcers preview Slammiversary, which will include Johnny Impact vs. Fenix vs. Rich Swann vs. Taiji Ishimori.

Austin Aries says he’s being hunted by a Moose and doesn’t think much of Moose’s story. Aries didn’t fail at his first career, but the difference is Moose is going to fail his second too. Moose is desperate and no match for Aries.

Madison Rayne vs. Tessa Blanchard

Some forearms knock Blanchard to the floor to start but she sends Madison throat first into the middle rope. A running elbow to the back keeps Madison in trouble and Tessa kicks her in the back for two. We’re off to an abdominal stretch and a delayed vertical suplex gets two more.

Madison finally gets in a headscissors for two of her own, only to get caught in the corner for a hanging Downward Spiral. A spear gets Madison out of trouble and it’s off to the forearm exchange. Tessa gets the better of it and gets her up in a fireman’s carry, only to get pulled down with a crucifix slam for the pin at 8:04.

Rating: C. They’re going all the way in on the Madison push but I can’t imagine they’ll have her win the title at Slammiversary. I know this company LOVES its nostalgia pushes but egads that would be a big waste of Yung. Then again this is the company that has had Madison go over Tessa twice in a row, which is nuts if Tessa is sticking around for the long term.

Post match Tessa knocks her down and grabs a chair but here are Yung with the dead bridesmaids. Tessa bails and the bridesmaids beat on Madison but Allie runs in for the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This was the new Impact wrapped up in a nice package: nothing bad (the biggest key of them all), some stuff that intrigues me, and no particularly great matches. The wrestling isn’t terrible but it’s nothing that’s going to blow the doors off. What the show has become is stable, but there are enough things that are starting to grow (the main event angle, Moose vs. Aries and the LAX feud) that they’re a few steps ahead of where they were a few months back. That’s a positive sign and hopefully they stay on this trajectory.

Results

Rich Swann b. Trevor Lee – Phoenix Splash

Matt Sydal b. Dezmond Xavier – Flip package rollup

Madison Rayne b. Tessa Blanchard – Crucifix slam

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground
Date: June 20, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s week number two of the fourth season and I’m hoping we’re a bit closer to the standard operating procedure than what we had last week. It wasn’t a horrible show by any means, but it’s not exactly what I had in mind for a season premiere. Maybe we’ll get something better this time with Pentagon Dark defending the Lucha Underground Title against Matanza. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap previews tonight’s show, focusing on the gauntlet, Pentagon Dark vs. Matanza and Antonio Cueto.

Catrina teleports into King Cuerno’s trophy room to look for the gauntlet but Cuerno appears to say it’s not here. She needs it to get her life back but he says he’s given it to someone to hide and isn’t sure where or when (that sounds like Aerostar) he hid it. Catrina teleports away.

Trios Titles: The Mack/Killshot/Son of Havoc vs. Infamous Inc.

Infamous Inc., comprised of Big Bad Steve (indy wrestler Steve Pain), Sammy Guevara (a good high flier) and Jake Strong (Jack Swagger) are challenging and Famous B.’s newest clients since Dr. Wagner Jr. and Texano are in Mexico. The fans go nuts for Strong, as you might have guessed. Killshot and Guevara speed things up to start and it’s an early standoff with Guevara not being sure what to do with him. Son of Havoc comes in to chop the skin off of Guevara’s chest before it’s off to Steve, who is apparently Famous B.’s mechanic.

A cutter drops Steve and Strong is low bridged to the floor. Back in and the villains take over with Strong’s Vader Bomb setting up a Swanton Bomb to give Guevara two. That earns a THIS IS AWESOME chant because that’s the easiest chant to get in baseball. Jake shrugs off Mack’s Pounce and the ankle lock goes on Killshot for the tap, which the referee misses. Mack comes in for some right hands….which have no effect at first but the hold is eventually broken. A Stunner to Steve sets up the shooting star from Havoc to retain the titles at 5:39.

Rating: D+. I’m not wild on throwing together champions as it’s only illustrating the fact that there’s no point in having Trios Titles around here. The trios aren’t exactly strong as the champion were put together to win the titles in the first place, then had a replacement partner, and are now facing a thrown together team. Strong looked good but other than that, the match didn’t have much going for it.

Post match Strong beats up Steve, Guevara and Famous B., possibly breaking B.’s ankle. The fans seem rather pleased.

Here’s Antonio Cueto to say that while Dario wasn’t a great boss, he did have a good idea with the Gift of the Gods. The process to find a new champion starts right now with a match for a medallion.

Ancient Medallion: Drago vs. El Dragon Azteca Jr.

Drago is still under Kobra Moon’s control. They start very fast with some one counts and back to back stereo dropkicks to give us a standoff. An exchange of shoulder blocks goes to Azteca and the spinning rollup gets two. Drago is back up and sends him outside for a nice flip dive.

Back in and Drago starts in on the mask, which really isn’t cool with the fans. Even in the new Temple, they still know their lucha traditions. Azteca fights back but walks into something like a Tesshocker for two. A running Blockbuster gets the same but Azteca kicks him in the head on the top. That’s enough to set up a super victory roll for the pin and the medallion at 6:14.

Rating: C+. They went with the fast paced match that luchadors know how to work in this position and that’s good for all of us. Azteca is turning into something special and with the backstory he has around here, there’s some serious potential there. Bad story with Moon aside, Drago is still one of the safest bets around here too, which is a good place to be in.

Post match Johnny Mundo and Taya Valkyrie come in and jump Drago and Moon.

Antonio is in his office when Catrina teleports in. She’s stuck between this place and the spirit realm so she needs Fenix in a coffin. Therefore, she wants Fenix vs. Mil Muertes in Grave Consequences III. The deal is on so she teleports away.

Lucha Underground Title: Matanza vs. Pentagon Dark

Pentagon is defending and wastes no time by starting the fight in the aisle. The SHH chop, with Pentagon ripping Matanza’s gear open to expose the chest, connects but so does Matanza’s fist with Pentagon’s head. A whip sends Pentagon through some chairs and he gets dropped back first onto the apron. They get inside for the first time and a running Angle Slam gets two on Pentagon.

Back to back Sling Blades give Pentagon the same and the Backstabber into the Codebreaker is good for two more. The spinning belly to back suplex drops the champ again but he’s right back with a pair of kicks to the head. Matanza catches him on top but gets knocked down, setting up back to back Canadian Destroyers. The package piledrive rends Matanza at 7:46.

Rating: B-. Pentagon is becoming a giant killer around here but he’s running out of giants to slay. Matanza is one of the few top names around here and with Prince Puma gone, I’m not sure who is left out there other than Muertes and Mundo. I’ve seen Pentagon vs. Fenix far too many times elsewhere, and I hope Lucha Underground doesn’t go down the same path. Either way, these two beat each other up as much as you can in eight minutes and it was a fun match, so what else can you ask for?

Post match Pentagon goes for Matanza’s arm but an Antonio distraction lets Matanza get away. Antonio berates Matanza and goes into his office, where Jeremiah Crane is waiting on him. He wants to be in Grave Consequences to save Catrina, so the match is now a triple threat.

Overall Rating: C+. This felt more like Lucha Underground and that’s a good thing. It helps a lot when you can start advancing a bunch of stories on the same show, which is one of the places where Lucha Underground shined. Eventually we’ll get to the bigger stories but you need to take the smaller steps before you get there. Thankfully this show knows how to do that, as long as they don’t take too long on the road.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: June 21, 2018
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Don Callis, Josh Matthews

With about a month to go before Slammiversary, the card is starting to come together. We have Moose challenging Austin Aries for the World Title and likely a match between Tommy Dreamer and Eddie Edwards for the sake of getting Dreamer on a pay per view in 2018. Other than that we also know who the X attacker was, but we don’t know anything else about him. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Moose becoming #1 contender in a rather under performing match last week. We also look at the rest of last week’s big stories, including Pentagon coming to El Hijo Del Fantasma’s rescue from OVE and Brian Cage staring Kongo Kong down.

LAX is challenging. It’s a brawl in the aisle to start until someone gets inside, only to have Everett flip dive over the top onto Santana to empty the ring in all of four seconds. We settle down to Everett working on Santana and elbowing him down to bring in DJZ. Everett’s legdrop gets one but Ortiz comes in for help on a backbreaker to put the champs in trouble.

It’s time to start working on Everett’s shoulder but he flips out of a belly to back suplex. A double dropkick is enough to bring in DJZ to no reaction, even as the pace picks up. The champs hit a Blockbuster/spinebuster combo (cool) on Santana and Ortiz gets kicked in the back of the head.

Back from a break with LAX in control and something like Poetry in Motion with a Cannonball crushing Everett. The champs are right back with a More Bang For Your Buck ripoff (even Callis says it reminds him of the Bucks) but Santana breaks up Everett’s shooting star press. The Street Sweeper gives LAX the titles back at 15:01.

The announcers preview the rest of the night.

Jimmy Jacobs and Kongo Kong want Brian Cage.

Video on Fallah Bahh and KM getting together and then splitting up last week.

Here’s KM to discuss what happened last week. KM did everything he could for Bahh and then Bahh failed him. This company needs to be renamed after KM (“KMpact Wrestling”) and Bahh needs to come out here right now and face him like a man. Cue Bahh who pulls a note out of the rolls in his skin, hands it to KM, and leaves. The note says KM is a bully who needs to grow up, with BAHH at the end of every sentence. A standby wrestler is going to face KM tonight.

Scott Steiner vs. KM

KM tries to jump him at the bell but gets pulled outside and whipped into the steps. They get inside with KM begging off and getting suplexed for his efforts. A hanging Downward Spiral sets up the Steiner Recliner for the tap at 2:40. Complete squash.

The Slammiversary press conference took place earlier this week with Moose talking about being ready to take the World Title in his fifth year in wrestling. Austin Aries said he’s merging the World and Grand Championships (Didn’t that happen months ago?) and is ready to beat up Moose, who has nothing on his resume.

We go to Boston where Eddie Edwards is trying to find his wife Alisha but can’t get into his house. Eventually he kicks the door in but finds house empty. Well save for the cameras and a mirror, where his reflection turns into Sami Callihan. A flashback montage ensues and Eddie blames Dreamer for everything.

Calihan and OVE are ready for Pentagon and Fantasma tonight.

Taya Valkyrie vs. Madison Rayne

Taya pulls her down by the hair to start as we hear about Lucha Underground season four debuting. Choking on the ropes has Madison in more trouble but she comes out of the corner with a tornado DDT for the break. A cutter gets two on Taya but she’s right back with a running hip attack in the corner. Taya gives her a curb stomp for two, only to have Madison come right back with Cross Rayne (a stupid name for Cross Rhodes) for the pin at 5:33.

Rating: D+. I’m not wild on Rayne getting this push but they’re going with it and I’ll take a story that gets time over something that they fly through almost any time. The match should be fine, though I don’t buy Rayne as having a real chance at becoming champion for a second.

Post match Madison says she didn’t come back to be an in-ring competitor but she’s going to take the chance when it comes to her. She’s been making moments for the last few weeks and this win gives her a chance to make another moment. This win gives her the chance to win the Knockouts Title for the sixth time at Slammiversary. Su Yung’s laugh is heard and Madison freaks.

LAX is celebrating in the clubhouse when Konnan comes in. He’s proud of the team but wants to talk to King. Back from a break, Konnan thinks King had something to do with him being taken out. King denies it, but Konnan says he better be telling the truth.

The X attacker, now named Killer Kross, talks about how why he did it. Well why not? There is only chaos in this universe so let’s shake everything up and see where it falls. He is the new beginning.

Video on the Desi Hit Squad. I’ve heard about them for so long that I’m having issues making myself care.

From last year’s Impact in India, we look at Sonjay Dutt winning the X-Division Title.

OVE vs. El Hijo Del Fantasma/Pentagon Jr.

Callihan is at ringside and the luchadors start brawling early on. Fantasma beats on Dave to start and a middle rope stomp has Dave in more trouble. One heck of a chop rocks Jake and there’s a running knee to his jaw. One sided so far and Fantasma makes it better with the suicide dive.

Back in and things settle down, this time with Jake working on Fantasma’s leg. A half crab doesn’t get him very far and we take a break. Back with the leg work continuing with Dave cannonballing down. Fantasma scores with a pair of tilt-a-whirl backbreakers but still can’t get over for the tag to Pentagon.

That means it’s time for more pulling on the knee with Jake putting on kind of a kneeling half crab. A neckbreaker finally gets Fantasma out of trouble and it’s off to Pentagon for the Sling Blades. Dave superkicks Jake by mistake but they’re fine enough to superplex Fantasma into a sitout powerbomb for two. Not that it matters as the Pentagon Driver is enough for the pin on Jake at 16:32.

Rating: B-. Nice main event here with OVE taking the loss to the much bigger name in Pentagon. I’m glad that they’re treating him like a big deal even after he’s lost the World Title as he seems like someone who is going to be a player around here for a long time instead of just showing up for a few months and leaving.

Post match Pentagon goes for Jake’s arm but gets hit in the face with the baseball bat. OVE goes for the mask but Fantasma grabs a chair for the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. As has been the case lately, Impact puts out a good show with nothing too bad and some building towards future shows. Killer Kross’ interview was fine, though I’m hoping he’s treated well once he gets in the ring. The tag matches were both good, though I really question the point in having Steiner win a match, let alone squashing someone. Granted, it’s just KM so it’s not like it matters very much.

Results

Scott Steiner b. KM – Steiner Recliner

Madison Rayne b. Taya Valkyrie – Cross Rayne

Pentagon Jr./El Hijo Del Fantasma b. OVE – Pentagon Driver to Jake

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #9
Date: June 15, 2018
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

It’s time to change things up a bit this week with the first ever Tag Team Champions being crowned. This has been teased for a little while and it’s something that could add in a new dynamic to the show. There are several ways to go with the titles, but there’s a good chance that a surprise team walks out with the belts. Let’s get to it.

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

Colonel Robert Parker is giving the Dirty Blonds some strategy for the Tag Team Title tournament. They’re not overly worried.

Opening sequence.

We hear about Battle Riot coming to New York City, which seems to be a 40 man Royal Rumble.

Earlier this week, Brody King tried to collect Salina de la Renta’s bounty on Shane Strickland in a parking lot. This meant shoving Strickland over and that’s about it.

MVP isn’t worried about Maxwell J. Friedman, whose mouth has written a check that his mouth can’t cash. Friedman is going to be taken to school and MVP is going to be his teacher. When Friedman is done, it’s time to go after Sami Callihan and his get along gang.

MVP vs. Maxwell J. Friedman

Before the match, Friedman calls MVP the Jabronin Ronin. Friedman hides in the ropes to start so MVP forearms him in the back and hits a belly to back. A running boot in the corner is blocked though and it’s a poke to the eye like you should be seeing from a villain. Friedman cranks on an armbar and we take a break.

Back with MVP throwing some right hands and the Ballin Elbow connecting for no cover. There’s a fisherman’s suplex for two and the Playmaker connects, drawing out Callihan and company. MVP dives onto the trip, allowing Friedman to get in a low blow, followed by a rollup with feet on the ropes for the pin 7:34.

Rating: D+. Friedman is a pretty simple, basic character and that’s all he needs to be. He doesn’t have the best in ring skills but he’s not the worst either, putting him right in the middle on a show full of others who happen to be right in the middle. MVP is the same guy he’s been for years, meaning I’m still not much of a fan.

Ad for Battle Riot, explaining that it’s a Royal Rumble with pins and submissions with the winner getting a World Title shot anyplace anytime. Confirmed for the match: Jake Hager, Barrington Hughes, Jimmy Yuta and Pentagon Jr.

Barrington Hughes doesn’t like the idea of a bounty on someone who is just doing his job.

Jimmy Yuta and Jason Cade are ready to win the Tag Team Titles, with Cade saying he’s the captain. This goes as well as you would expect.

Simon Gotch vs. Parrow

This is Gotch’s $250 challenge, with Parrow only having to last five minutes to win. Parrow is a good sized guy who we’ve seen before and part of the Stud Stable. Gotch kicks him in the face and the 6’4 300lb Parrow bounces back with a shoulder to send Gotch outside. Back in and a chokeslam is countered into a kneebar but it’s too close to the rope. Tom Lawlor gets in a cheap shot with what looked like a shoe, setting up the rear naked choke to put Parrow away at 1:55.

Post match the Dirty Blonds come out for the save.

Brody King, a bounty hunter with a big beard, challenges Strickland for next week.

MLW CEO Court Bauer calls in and says the match is on for next week.

Elimination rules and anything goes with the titles vacant coming in. TBD is Cade/Yuta of course. It’s WCW rules with one person from every team in at once but everything breaks down in short order. The brothers are sent to the floor and TBD get backdropped at the same time. TBD dive into stereo superkicks but the Blonds pull Pentagon and Fenix outside. That just means stereo flip dives from TBD, followed by Brien’s own flip dive from the apron.

We settle down (kind of) with Cade getting caught in a double whip spinebuster for two as Yuta makes the save. Brien starts in with some suplexes and a backsplash to Fenix for two but Cade is back in for a tornado DDT. A top rope elbow from Yuta and a frog splash from Cade are enough to put Brien away and get rid of the Blonds at 4:28.

Back from a break with all four down in the ring until Cade pops up for some chops to the Bros. A double superkick rocks Yuta and he’s tied up in the Tree of Woe. With Cade seated beneath him, Pentagon gets launched into the two of them, only to have Yuta pop up with a kick to Pentagon’s leg for two. TBD go up top for a double missile dropkick on Fenix and Yuta’s German suplex gets two more. Pentagon comes back in and tells Cade CERO MIEDO. Cade: “I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!”” Eh good for a laugh.

The Sling Blade gets two on Cade and a Codebreaker is good for the same. Something resembling an Angle Slam gives Yuta two but Fenix dives in with a dropkick for a great looking save. An over the shoulder sitout Tombstone plants Yuta for another near fall but Cade is right back in with a handspring Codebreaker.

We haven’t had a dive in awhile so Cade nails a suicide version, leaving Yuta to eat a rolling dropkick to the face. Cade is back in with a hurricanrana to set up the elbow/frog splash combination for two more. As you might have expected though, Cade hits Yuta and calls him stupid as a result, setting up a superkick into the Pentagon Driver for another near fall. A spike Fear Factor on Yuta is enough for the pin and the titles at 16:07.

Rating: C+. It was a fun and wild match but if it’s the first time the titles are going to be decided, I could have gone for some more actual tag team wrestling instead of just a bunch of spots. Now that being said, what we got was an entertaining match in the lucha style and it’s the right call to give Pentagon and Fenix, who have been two of the stars of the show, the titles in the first place.

Salina busts out the Patron (thankfully sans Alberto) as the celebration is on to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This was a show that they needed to get done with the Tag Team Titles being something that can help them later on. They got the first champions right and that’s what matters most here, plus the match itself was entertaining. I’m actually looking forward to seeing Strickland again next week and that’s why you have someone like him in the top spot: he’s an attraction and feels like a big deal, which is what you want in a champion.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #6
Date: May 25, 2018
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

It’s title week as Shane Strickland is defending the World Title against Pentagon Jr., who misted Shane in the eyes and had to defend his #1 contendership as a result. Other than that it’s hard to say what we might see around here as it could be anything from established names to fresh talent. Let’s get to it.

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

Shane Strickland and Barrington Hughes arrived in a very nice car earlier today with Shane telling reporters that Pentagon should be worried. Salina de la Renta comes up to say that the title is rented just like the car. Hughes calls her a witch in Spanish.

Opening sequence.

The announcers chat for a bit.

Santana Garrett vs. Chelsea Green

Santana has been in NXT and TNA while Green is better known as Laurel Van Ness. They shake hands to start with the announcers talking about how close friends they are. A battle of the wristlocks doesn’t get either of them very far and neither can hit a right hand. Some rollups get two each and Chelsea goes mean with a slap to the face. The fans DON’T like that one so Chelsea takes her into the corner….and finds some lipstick? She shouts about that for a bit before a running knee to the face gets two.

The lipstick goes on and seems to make Chelsea a little nuts (I’ve seen this somewhere before) and she sends Santana head first into the buckle. Something like a curb stomp into the corner rocks Santana again and we hit the chinlock. As usual that triggers a comeback but Chelsea forearms her to the apron. Garrett is right back with a kick to the chest and a Russian legsweep (nice one too) for a near fall of her own. Back up and Santana spins out of a suplex, setting up a MickieDT for the pin at 7:56.

Rating: C. This was a perfectly acceptable match with both women doing some good things but very little spark or fire. They had something of a story with Chelsea attacking her friend and going psycho with the lipstick but it never got past a certain level. I’ll certainly take safe over a complete gamble though so this could have been much, much worse.

Tom Lawlor “apologizes” for what happened with Havoc two weeks ago. As usual, Lawlor nails the complete jerk promo.

Simon Gotch vs. Danny Santiago

This is Gotch’s Open Challenge and if Santiago can last five minutes, he makes $250 (which makes the fans laugh). A capture suplex and piledriver end Santiago in 48 seconds. That’s all this should have been.

Joey Janela and Aria Blake have no explanation for why they’re leaving Maxwell J. Friedman’s locker room.

Post break, Friedman freaks out because he finds cigarettes and domestic beer in his dressing room. This is NOT ok!

Video on Shane Strickland vs. Pentagon Jr., which has been well built up for the last few weeks.

MLW World Title: Shane Strickland vs. Pentagon Jr.

Strickland is defending and Pentagon has Salina de la Renta. Hang on though as de la Renta brings in a mariachi band to sing the Mexican national anthem. Shane’s eyes seem fine after the misting that helped set up the match. They circle each other to start until Shane shrugs off a superkick to the ribs and knees Pentagon in the face. That’s enough to start a fight in the crowd with Shane getting the better of it, only to springboard into a superkick back inside.

Pentagon gets creative by tying Shane’s arms to the rope with a camera cable and it’s time to chop away. We take a break and come back with Low Ki sitting in the aisle as Pentagon stops to dance, much to de la Renta’s annoyance. There’s a kick to Shane’s leg but he’s fine enough to knee Pentagon in the head. A 619 to the ribs sets up the rolling cutter for two more and Strickland isn’t sure where to go next.

Shane takes the kneepad down but misses a running knee. Instead he stands on his hands and gets kicked in the ribs for one and they’re both down again. It’s Pentagon up first but he can’t break the arm. Instead he has to save his own arm and you can see de la Renta getting a little nervous. An exchange of kicks to the head puts them both down and we take another break. Back again with the fight on the floor again until Pentagon takes him to the apron for a Canadian Destroyer.

That doesn’t even warrant a cover as Pentagon would rather kick him down instead. The Pentagon Driver gets two and it’s chair time. Of course Shane puts him in the chair instead but dives into a powerbomb while Pentagon is still seated. The Fear Factor (Tony really needs to get the names straight) gets two and a big reaction on the kickout. Salina, looking angrier and more emotional than I’ve ever seen her, gets up and takes the mist from Pentagon by mistake (seems fine). Shane knees Pentagon down and hits the top rope double stomp (Swerve Stomp) to retain at 21:58.

Rating: B. This felt like a big match with both guys working hard and that’s all you can ask for here. Strickland is feeling like the biggest thing around and having him pin Pentagon clean is all you can ask for here. Pentagon can claim that he was distracted or whatever and de la Renta can come back with someone else later on. Good main event and it felt important.

Overall Rating: C+. I’m not sure how smart it is to give one match thirty minutes on an hour long show but I can appreciate them trying something big on a newer series. Strickland is coming off like a more important deal every single week and the women coming in for the first time was a good idea. They did some good enough stuff on here and we can move on to a fresh challenger for Strickland. Another nice effort as the show is starting to find its footing.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #5
Date: May 18, 2018
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

It’s time for our first rematch but the good thing is that it’s a rematch of one of the best matches the promotion has put on so far. In this case we have Pentagon Jr. defending his #1 contendership against his old rival (and brother) Rey Fenix as a result of Pentagon spraying mist in World Champion Shane Strickland’s face last week. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at Strickland vs. Pentagon, which has been built up to the point where it almost has to take place at this point.

Opening sequence.

Kotto Brazil vs. Trey Miguel

Miguel is from the WWN and is a pretty standard high flier. They hit the mat to start with Brazil grabbing a headlock to keep things slow. Back up and they flip a lot with neither making much contact until Brazil smacks him in the face. One heck of a running European uppercut rocks Miguel again but he headscissors Brazil down without much effort. A springboard flip dive has Brazil in even more trouble and I’m rather surprised by how well Schiavone is calling a faster paced match like this. If nothing else the voice is still the same and that’s a good thing.

Back in and Brazil gets one off a snapmare from the middle rope (that’s uh, certainly new) of all things. A slingshot dropkick from the apron keeps Miguel in trouble as the smaller Brazil is continuing to show off here. Miguel gets rocked by a German suplex and a running Sliced Bread makes things even worse. Back up and Brazil misses a charge to get caught in the corner, setting up a 619. Miguel heads up top for a Meteora and the pin at 7:10.

Rating: C. This was a fast paced match with some good spots but it felt like so many indy matches: a bunch of moves and stuff but nothing that suggested a story or storytelling or any of that outdated stuff. Both guys need some more time to get the finer points of wrestling, but they have the athletics part around.

Video on the first Pentagon vs. Fenix match.

We go to Salina de la Renta’s estate in Puerto Rico and Rich is in way over his head with someone as sharp as she is. She has the best collection of Hispanic talent and suggests that he’s intimidated by her. Rich winds up in the pool.

Backstage, Salina says she’s signed Pentagon and Fenix to Promociones Dorado.

We recap Jimmy Havoc’s issues last week, including defeating Joey Janela and getting beaten down by Tom Lawlor.

Team Filthy is in a hot tub and says bring Havoc on because they love easy paydays.

Dirty Blonds vs. Jimmy Yuta/Jason Cade

Elimination rules and the Blonds have Colonel Parker in their corner. Brien and Yuta trade slaps to the face to start and it’s Cade coming in with an ax handle to Brien’s arm. Patrick comes in and gets beaten up as well, setting up back to back dives to the floor to drop the Blonds again. Back in and Patrick rolls through a high crossbody and grabs the tights (good villain) for the elimination at 3:08.

Cade is left alone and punches away as much as he can but the numbers get the better of him in short order. The slow pace begins with Cade getting whipped into the opposite corner, though Patrick does throw in a strut for some real villany. A rollup (odd move for when you’re in control) gives Brien two but Cade does manage to use Patrick as a launch pad for a tornado DDT. Unfortunately a single foot to the chest doesn’t do much damage on Patrick, who puts Cade on top. A superplex is broken up though and Black Magic (a backslide driver) gets rid of Patrick at 7:06.

So we’re down to Cade vs. Brien and Cade is already spent after the long beating. Cade fights out of a chinlock without much trouble but Brien is way too big for Black Magic. Colonel Parker trips Cade though, drawing Yuta over to yell. That’s more than enough for Patrick to come back in for a double whip spinebuster and the pin at 9:03.

Rating: C. This was a little fast and while I can appreciate the different stipulation for the sake of some change, it’s not really working as Cade and Yuta aren’t the most thrilling team in the world. The Blonds are a good, old fashioned heel team (I love that they’re both big and overweight as it’s much easier to boo bigger guys) and that’s something that isn’t around often enough anymore.

Cade isn’t happy with Yuta.

Post break, Cade and Yuta say they’ll be on the same page for the upcoming Tag Team Title tournament.

Shane Strickland’s eyes aren’t back to normal yet but he’s ready for Pentagon. The attack only shows him that Pentagon is scared of Swerve. Pentagon can’t take his heart or the title and Pentagon should be afraid of that. Good, emotional promo from the champ.

Pentagon Jr. vs. Rey Fenix

The winner gets the title shot next week. Pentagon has Salina de la Renta with him, even though she said she has signed them both. They go straight to hitting each other in the face before a chop exchange goes nowhere. A pop up hurricanrana sends Pentagon to the floor and of course that means a big dive to take him out again. The fans are into this (as they should be) but Pentagon cuts them off by dropkicking Fenix out of the air on a springboard attempt.

Fenix’s leg gets wrapped around the post and it’s time for Pentagon to steal someone’s hat. I know he’s a rudo but come on now. A VERY loud chop wakes people up a bit more and a Sling Blade is good for two on Fenix. As has been a problem for him over and over again, Pentagon takes way too long setting something up and Fenix is right back with a rolling cutter. He’s fine enough to catch a powerbomb backbreaker for two more on Fenix and we take a break.

Back with Fenix getting two of his own off a nifty rollup and a spinwheel kick to Pentagon’s head puts them both down. The fans are nice enough to count to ten in Spanish so the guys won’t be confused. How polite of them. They fight to the apron and this is going to be painful. Fenix gets the best of it with a kick to the face and a double springboard stomp to the back.

Pentagon avoids getting German suplexed off the apron so he hits the Fear Factor on the apron instead. Geez and that’s his brother. What would he do to his Aunt Mabel? Naturally that’s only good for two back inside so Pentagon breaks his arm and hits the Pentagon Driver for two more. Of note: Tony has the names for the finishers backwards but that’s pretty normal in his case. Another Fear Factor gives Pentagon the pin at 12:40.

Rating: B. These two are incapable of having a bad match against each other so there was even more fun to be had here. Pentagon was pretty obviously the winner here as there was no way they couldn’t go through with the match after setting things up for Pentagon vs. Strickland for so many weeks. At least Fenix got to do his flippy stuff and that’s what he does best. Good match.

Overall Rating: B-. Another good episode this week and I’m looking forward to seeing Strickland again. They’ve built him up as a top guy who can take on almost anyone, including Pentagon who is one of the top villains around. They’re doing a lot of things right but they still haven’t had that blow away match or story that gets your attention so well. Then again with five hours of programming to their name on this show so far, there’s not much else you can do.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #1
Date: April 20, 2018
Location: Gilt Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Tony Schiavone

This is something interesting and since it’s me, I’m behind on the schedule. Major League Wrestling was around for a little while in the early 2000s but went away for a long time, only to be resurrected after some successful one off shows. They got a TV deal on beIN Sports and air a weekly show, which has been around for a little over a month now. I’m not sure what to expect here but if the first few episodes are good I’ll add it to the weekly schedule. Let’s get to it.

We see some clips from old wrestling promotions and the original MLW, which had some big name stars (CM Punk, Bryan Danielson etc). Nice opening and a good way to make this show feel more important.

The announcers (I’m sure you know Schiavone but Bocchini is former NXT announcer Rich Brennan) give us a quick welcome before throwing it to the ring.

ACH vs. Austin Aries

ACH says he’s as real as it gets and has bad ribs coming in. A handshake gets us going and they fight into the corner as I try to get my head around the idea of Tony Schiavone talking about ACH and Austin Aries. They go with a technical sequence to the mat until Aries has to nip his way out of a wristlock. The Last Chancery is broken up and it’s time for Aries to chill on the top. Back in and ACH flips around a lot, which seems to impress Aries for a change.

Some very fast armdrags have ACH down and there’s the basement dropkick for good measure. ACH’s dropkick gets two and a springboard version knocks Aries from the apron to the floor. That goes nowhere so Aries gets in a shot to the ribs to take over again and they walk around the ring a bit. An elbow to the back gives Aries two more as he’s certainly focusing on a target.

We go very old school with a Stump Puller (picture an electric chair if ACH is sitting on the mat and Aries is pulling on his leg) before Aries misses a missile dropkick. ACH is way too quick to go up top though and the missed splash only bangs up the ribs again. He’s fine enough to get two off a slingshot cutter and they both need a breather. The Pendulum elbow (spinning elbow according to Tony, which is fair enough) gives Aries two but a kick to the face cuts him down again.

This time the splash connects for two and ACH can’t believe the kickout. He’ll have even more trouble realizing what’s going on after a Death Valley Driver onto the apron knocks him silly. And then, because modern wrestling is annoying, ACH is trying the 450 only 45 seconds after a Death Valley Driver on the apron. That hits knees though and the Last Chancery….still doesn’t finish as ACH makes the rope. Instead Aries forearms him in the face and hits the brainbuster for the pin at 17:32.

Rating: B-. This went a few minutes longer than it needed to (you could have gone from the Death Valley Driver to the brainbuster with nothing in between) but it was a good way to start a new show (mainly due to the lack of commercials). ACH isn’t a name that a lot of fans are going to know but Aries was at Wrestlemania just last year. I had a good time watching this one and it’s a promising start to the show.

Jimmy Havoc, a British wrestler, talks about the history of fans wanting blood for wrestling in Florida. They haven’t gotten that in recent years but he’s going to change all of that.

Barrington Hughes vs. Chico Adams

Hughes (the Caramel Colossus, who says he won’t stop until he reaches the top) is 469lbs and finishes with a Rock Bottom at 9 seconds (his second fastest win to date). He’s at Viscera levels of disturbingly huge so getting him in and out of there so fast is the right idea.

Next week: MLW Champion Shane Strickland vs. Jimmy Havoc.

Rey Fenix vs. Pentagon Jr.

This should be a layup and the winner gets a future World Title shot. Pentagon is introduced as Penta El Cero but his graphic says Pentagon Jr. He also has what appears to be a standard good looking manager named Salina de la Renta. Fenix offers a handshake but gets the CERO MIEDO treatment. Some kicks to the head have Fenix in early trouble but he’s right back with kicks to the head of his own and it’s a double knockdown.

Back up and Fenix bounces along the ropes (including bouncing on his back onto the top rope), setting up an armdrag to the floor and a suicide flip dive. They head back in where Pentagon dropkicks him out of the air for a nice counter to take over again. Pentagon heads outside and chops him against the post before, of course, chopping the post by mistake. A running hurricanrana from the apron into the crowd (albeit in slow motion as it’s hard to roll over people) has Pentagon in more trouble.

Back in again and Fenix starts kicking him in the head, followed by a triple springboard missile dropkick for two. A Backstabber out of the corner gives Pentagon two and we take a break. Back with NOTHING CHANGED (THANK GOODNESS!) and Fenix grabbing some rollups for a near fall each. Fenix catches him on top with a super C4 for two more but charges into a powerbomb backbreaker.

Tony tries to figure out why the fans are cheering a rudo (I….don’t know how to handle Tony talking about rudos), followed by Pentagon backdropping him into a powerbomb for a sweet landing. We even get a catchphrase with Tony dropping “What’s major league? THAT’S MAJOR LEAGUE!” The Fear Factor gives Pentagon the pin at 14:09.

Rating: B. Like I said, kind of a layup with Pentagon being one of the biggest indy stars around at the moment and Fenix being crazy levels of exciting most of the time. You don’t need to do much more than let these two go insane and do all kinds of high flying stuff. Pentagon winning makes sense and while I doubt they would put the title on someone so hot, it’s cool to see him getting a big win.

A long video package and a handshake ensue.

A video on Strickland vs. Havoc takes us out.

Overall Rating: B+. Now that’s how you start a new show. This was all about giving you a taste of what you had coming and they did a solid job of making me want to see where things going. You had two good, long matches and stuff being set up for next week. They did something smart by having the hotter matches open things up, though I could see having the World Champion around in the first week. The question is how long can they hold this up, and that’s what we’ll see next week.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: May 31, 2018
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Don Callis, Josh Matthews

It’s a big night tonight with the Under Pressure special, headlined by Austin Aries challenging Pentagon Jr. for the Impact Wrestling World Title. Pentagon won the title last month at Redemption in a three way but Aries is getting his rematch in a singles match. Other than that, Allie is defending the Knockouts Title against Su Yung in a casket match. Let’s get to it.

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

Earlier today, Sonjay Dutt held a talent meeting (because Sonjay is a boss around here) about the X attacks. The locker room says they have to stick together.

We get a rapid fire series of hype videos about the entire card.

Opening sequence.

Eli Drake vs. Scott Steiner

They were Tag Team Champions and fell apart due to colliding egos. Drake talks trash to start and gets shouldered down, followed by the overhead belly to belly. A slingshot shoulder drops Steiner but the Push Up Elbow gives Steiner two. They head outside with Steiner driving him into the barricade but getting posted to cut him off again. Back in and Drake misses a Lionsault, only to put Steiner up in an electric chair for a throat first drop drop across the top rope. Steiner shoves the referee away so Drake sneaks in a chair shot for the pin at 6:13.

Rating: D. That needs to be it for Steiner as he’s not exactly doing anything in the ring or on the microphone, the latter of which being the only thing he’s good for anymore. Drake didn’t get much of a rub off the win but it was short and he got a quick Tag Team Title run out of it so now he can move on.

Callis and Matthews talk about the rest of the show.

We recap Tessa Blanchard vs. Madison Rayne. Tessa debuted a few weeks ago and talked about how she was that much better than everyone else. Madison didn’t like it and the match was set up as a result.

Madison Rayne vs. Tessa Blanchard

Feeling out process to start with Tessa scoring off a quick tilt-a-whirl slam. A kick to the face gets two on Madison and Tessa dropkicks her in the back, allowing more cockiness and trash talk. Tessa grabs a swinging neckbreaker for two and we hit the chinlock. Madison fights back up with a northern lights suplex but a hanging Downward Spiral cuts her right back off and gives Tessa two. Some swearing at the referee looks to set up the hammerlock DDT but Madison reversed into a rollup for the surprise pin at 6:09.

Rating: D+. I’m sorry what? I would really hope that this is leading somewhere else as Madison hasn’t done anything in forever and Tessa is as complete of a package as they’ve had in a long time. They did seem to be suggesting that Madison won on a fluke because Tessa was too cocky, but I’m really not sure about having Tessa lose in any way so soon after she debuts.

LAX is in the clubhouse and Kingston has some rather fetching women for the guys, plus a match with the Cult of Lee next week.

Video on Brian Cage wrecking people around the world.

Dezmond Xavier vs. Brian Cage

Dezmond gets shoved around by raw power to start but manages a dropkick to send Cage outside. A running splash and some kicks have very little effect so Cage throws him back in. Xavier’s DDT is thrown away with a butterfly suplex and we hit that Terminator clap. Dezmond is smart enough to hit and move, including another kick to send Cage to the floor for a Space Flying Tiger Drop (I love wacky Japanese names for moves). Back in and the Final Flash gets one and that’s about it for Dezmond’s already limited chances here. The Drill Claw gives Cage the pin at 5:40.

Rating: D. Dezmond got in a lot here but the ending was never in doubt. I can appreciate a good monster, especially one with such a great look, and it’s nice to have the designated victim getting in some offense. Cage is just more important than the lower card of the X-Division and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Cage as a World Title contender by the end of the year.

Austin Aries says he’s the man who makes the belts matter because that’s how it works around here. Back in the day he breathed some life into this place and that’s what he’s going to do tonight. This time it’s one on one and we get to find out what Pentagon Jr. has. He may have no fear, but after tonight he’ll have no title. Good promo.

We recap Allie vs. Su Yung. Allie is terrified of Yung, who made it even worse when she got rid of Allie’s freaky friend Rosemary. Now Allie seems ready to tap into the dark side to defeat Yung once and for all.

The undead bridesmaids bring out the casket.

Knockouts Title: Allie vs. Su Yung

Allie is defending and comes out with the Rosemary face paint, which actually works very well for her. The champ wastes no time with some clotheslines and a suplex into the corner as Yung seems freaked out by the paint. Yung takes her down into a bodyscissors and calls for the casket to be opened, forcing Allie to look at it. Back up and Allie misses a charge into the corner but fights out of the casket. A running clothesline off the casket drops Yung and we take a break.

Back with Allie missing another charge and getting kicked in the face, knocking her backwards with her legs underneath. Yung’s chair is kicked away with Allie using it for a Codebreaker instead in a smart counter. A superkick knocks Yung into the casket but she gets her leg out for the save. That means the Mandible Claw to knock Allie out, giving Yung the title at 11:48.

Rating: C-. Nothing much here but Allie losing makes sense. Rosemary is going to be gone for a long time and there’s a story to be told with Allie maturing and eventually fighting back against the evil Yung could work. The division is very stacked with heels right now though and I’m not sure who else could take the title from Yung.

From Destination X, the Last Rites match between Sting and Abyss. This would be the one where the fans chanted FIRE RUSSO.

Pentagon has no fear and knows that Aries is great, but he’s not great enough.

Diamante thinks there’s something up with LAX and Kingston.

Petey Williams, who was the most vocal in the talent meeting, is found standing over Sonjay with the X symbol over him.

We recap Sami Callihan vs. Eddie Edwards.

Eddie is ready to go murder Sami in the woods (his words) and tells Alisha to stay here.

Impact Wrestling World Title: Austin Aries vs. Pentagon Jr.

Aries is challenging and his Grand Championship isn’t on the line. Pentagon takes his time on the floor and Aries takes him down with a suicide dive to start fast. The champ puts him up against the post and chops away, hitting the post on the second attempt. They get inside for the opening bell and Aries has the Last Chancery in short order. With the hold broken in short order, Aries ties the string from the mask to the ropes.

You do NOT do that to a luchador and Pentagon gets fired up, only to eat a missile dropkick. Aries sends him face first into the middle buckle and the middle rope elbow to the back gets two. They slug it out with Pentagon kicking him outside and we take a break. Back with Pentagon chopping even more and hitting the back to back Sling Blades.

Hang on though as Aries gets back in and swears a lot, saying this needs to restart. Pentagon is game and gets forearmed into a Death Valley Driver onto the apron. Since it’s a World Title match, Pentagon pops up and hits the Fear Factor on the apron. That means another double countout at 18:40 but, of course, we start it again at Pentagon’s insistence. Aries tells the referee to ring the bell, kicks Pentagon low, and hits the brainbuster to regain the title at 20:21.

Rating: B. This felt very much like an Impact main event: long (in a good way) and doing its job, but nothing that is going to be remembered in a few hours. These matches just don’t have the best staying power and that’s part of why Impact has issues getting anywhere: Aries turning heel is smart, but am I supposed to be upset that Pentagon got screwed? I don’t know much about Pentagon other than a catchphrase. In other words, build up the characters and this will be better.

Overall Rating: C+. These special episodes work rather well for Impact as they take their time and get through everything that they’re supposed to. The matches might not have been good and at least one booking decision was questionable, but the storytelling was fine for the most part and that’s what they need to get down. The X attacker continues to interest me, but egads they could blow that horribly. Overall not a great show, but the good storytelling made it work well enough for a big night.

Results

Eli Drake b. Scott Steiner – Chair to the head

Madison Rayne b. Tessa Blanchard – Rollup

Brian Cage b. Dezmond Xavier – Drill Claw

Su Yung b. Allie – Yung put Allie in the casket

Austin Aries b. Pentagon Jr. – Brainbuster

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: May 17, 2018
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentator: Josh Matthews

Last week’s main event wasn’t the most interesting as it left us without many places to go in the World Title scene. Pentagon Jr. easily dispatched Eli Drake and likely only has a rematch with Austin Aries to go. Other than that, it’s hard to say where things are going to go around here. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at the big stories, including Brian Cage’s World Tour, the X attacker and Sami Callihan jumping Don Callis last week.

Opening sequence.

Tag Team Titles: DJZ/Andrew Everett vs. Eli Drake/Scott Steiner

Drake and Steiner are defending. Everett and Drake start things off but DJZ comes in for an early double spinebuster. Steiner gets in a shot to the back though and a neckbreaker drops DJZ. The belly to belly (not butterfly Josh) suplex gets two and it’s back to Drake to drive DJZ into the corner.

Steiner’s super Samoan drop plants DJZ but not well enough as a kick to the face allows the hot tag to Everett. Everything breaks down and Drake tries the Gravy Train on DJZ but a Codebreaker from Everett sets up a Code Red for a rather creative near fall. Drake breaks up Everett’s springboard but Steiner chairs Drake in the head by mistake. A quick standing shooting star from Everett is good for the pin at 6:22.

Post break the new champs celebrate and say it’s been a long road for the both of them. They’ve been a team for ONE WEEK. I know that’s not exactly what they were going for but it was a bad line.

Madison Rayne is here for commentary for the next match.

Tessa Blanchard vs. Kiera Hogan

Kiera jumps Tessa right after the bell (nothing wrong with that) and Madison approves. Unfortunately that means Madison was doing commentary, which really isn’t her strong suit. Tessa is right back with a forearm and a hanging Downward Spiral to really take over. The trash talking begins but Kiera comes back with forearms and a step up Fameasser for two. That’s it for Kiera though as a cutter and a hammerlock DDT are enough to give Tessa the pin at 4:06.

Rating: D. Just a squash to get Tessa off the ground and likely the start of a setup for Madison vs. Blanchard. That’s not the most thrilling thing but it’s better than having Madison on commentary. She doesn’t have much emotion and is really analytical, which doesn’t make for the best wrestling announcer. Blanchard looked good though.

Post match Blanchard stays on Hogan but Madison comes in for the save.

Earlier today Grado and Katarina accused Jimmy Jacobs and Kongo Kong of being the X attacker. Jacobs threatened Grado with Kong so Katarina set up the match.

We recap Sami Callihan vs. Eddie Edwards, focusing on Sami’s series of attacks on various people, which drove Eddie over the edge.

Pentagon Jr. is ready for tonight’s tag team main event because he’s brought the Chocolate Champion (I don’t get it either) El Hijo Del Fantasma.

Kongo Kong vs. Grado

Can they just destroy each other? Oh and we’re never getting an explanation for how Grado is allowed back are we? Grado walks away from him to start before his right hands have no effect. A single uppercut drops Grado and a belly to belly gets two. Grado’s punches and Bionic elbow don’t do much but a top rope shoulder puts Kong down for a second. That’s about it though as a hard slam sets up the top rope splash for the pin on Grado at 3:34.

Rating: F. Imagine that: taking two of my least favorite people on the roster and putting them in a short, nearly comedy match wasn’t something I was going to enjoy. Kong is still a big fat guy who is nowhere near as impressive as Impact thinks he is while Grado is a small, uninteresting guy who is nowhere near as entertaining as Impact thinks he is. And those are their good points.

Post match Katarina bails as Grado gets hit with the steps but Moose comes out to break up another attempt.

LAX runs into the Cult of Lee, who laughs about Konnan being gone. I’m sure a match is coming.

Tommy Dreamer tried to talk Eddie out of the street fight but Eddie won’t hear it. This ends when Sami has no blood left.

Eddie Edwards vs. Sami Callihan

Street fight from House of Hardcore. Eddie wastes no time and attacks him before the bell, including a kick to the face. A suicide dive knocks Sami into the barricade and there’s something metal to the head. Josh gives us a full history of Sami being all evil until Sami gets in a pipe shot to the ribs. Eddie knocks a spike out of Sami’s hands but a Death Valley Driver on the ramp cuts Eddie off. They head to the ring (which they haven’t been in yet) and Eddie DDTs him on the apron, allowing them to finally get inside.

A kendo stick duel goes to Eddie as Josh compares this to Dreamer vs. Raven. At least they’re just saying what they’re doing this time. Sami spits in Eddie’s face and goes low, setting up Get Outta Here for two. Two chairs are set up and a Falcon Arrow onto them gives Sami two more in what I thought was the finish. Back up and the Boston Knee Party gives Eddie the pin at 10:10.

Rating: C. So what’s the next match? I mean, you know that’s not going to be the end of the feud so what do they have next? My guess: something else where Sami is despicable and Dreamer tries to talk Eddie out of doing this because of something that happened in ECW twenty years ago and Sami is the most evil, horrible thing in the world while still not being anything more than someone who can’t get by without bad brawling. Just a hunch of course.

Post match Eddie chokes him with the bat until security comes out for the save. Dreamer comes out to stare at him as I wonder how well an Eddie heel run could go. Just don’t have him join Sami in some nonsensical turn.

From Destiny World Wrestling in Canada.

Brian Cage vs. Facade

Thankfully Josh gives us a quick bio on Facade, which is still more than when Cage beat the Noah World Champion last week. Facade gets thrown around to start and a powerbomb against the post makes things even worse. For some reason the cameras are staying on a wide shot, which isn’t the best look for a wrestling show. Some chops in the corner have Facade in trouble and a swinging full nelson slam gets two. We’re clipped to a pumphandle faceplant getting two on Facade, followed by a sitout Alabama Slam for two. Weapon X is good for the pin at 7:50 shown.

Rating: D+. The match quality was nothing compared to what we got last week but Josh told me something about this guy and Cage won in a squash from what we saw. This was Cage going around wrecking everything in front of him and it was a fun squash. I got more out of this than I did last week and that’s the point of this whole Cage deal.

From No Surrender 2011, Austin Aries beats Brian Kendrick.

Earlier today, KM praised Fallah Bahh on his weight loss. Next up, hair care. And a tie over bare chest. Bahh tried to hit on Kiera Hogan.

We recap the night.

We run down the card for next week and Under Pressure, two weeks from now. Aries will challenge Pentagon Jr. for the World Title in the main event.

We go to a cemetery where Su Yung and the undead bridesmaids are burying Rosemary. They drop the casket and set it on fire as Yung hisses. Nothing else is said.

El Hijo Del Fantasma/Pentagon Jr. vs. Austin Aries/Matt Sydal

Sydal and Fantasma start us off in a preview of next week’s title match. A headlock takeover gets Fantasma out of early trouble and it’s a standoff. Fantasma snaps off a hurricanrana and a double tag gives us Aries vs. Pentagon. The champ says CERO MIEDO and gets bopped on the chin. A kick to the ribs cuts Aries off and it’s time to go for the arm, sending Aries to the floor and us to a break.

Back with Pentagon superkicking Aries from the apron and Fantasma’s suicide dive getting caught on the ropes. Pentagon takes Aries back inside and grabs a chinlock, followed by What’s Up with Pentagon as D-Von and hitting a dropkick instead of a headbutt. A wheelbarrow Codebreaker combination gets two on Sydal but he’s right back up with a jawbreaker/backbreaker combination to both masked guys.

Aries’ slingshot corkscrew elbow keeps Fantasma in trouble and a top rope ax handle rocks him again. Sydal knees Aries in the face though and the hot tag brings in Pentagon for the Sling Blades. Fantasma’s cutter drops Sydal but Matt hurricanranas him off the top. Pentagon Jr. breaks up the shooting star with a superkick and the Thrill of the Kill gives Fantasma the pin on Sydal at 19:05.

Rating: C. Completely standard main event tag match here with two feuds put together to make a tag match. Fantasma pinning Sydal is fine and the right way to set something up for next week. Aries vs. Pentagon still doesn’t feel big no matter what they do, which is part of what’s wrong with Impact as a whole. The World Title should feel bigger than at least almost everything and that’s just not the case right now.

Overall Rating: D+. As usual, the problem with the new regime shines through: they’ve completely stabilized the stories but they’re not the most thrilling. Pentagon vs. Aries feels like nothing special, I forgot that Sydal was X-Division Champion, the comedy stuff isn’t funny and the Tag Team Titles are on life support because there are about three teams and Scott Steiner just lost a title. They need something interesting and big, which hasn’t been the case in a good while.

Results

Andrew Everett/DJZ b. Eli Drake/Scott Steiner – Standing shooting star press to Drake

Tessa Blanchard b. Kiera Hogan – Hammerlock DDT

Kongo Kong b. Grado – Top rope splash

Eddie Edwards b. Sami Callihan – Boston Knee Party

Brian Cage b. Facade – Weapon X

El Hijo Del Fantasma/Pentagon Jr. b. Austin Aries/Matt Sydal – Thrill of the Kill to Sydal

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

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

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

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