Rampage
Date: September 10, 2021
Location: Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio
Commentators: Jim Ross, Mark Henry, Taz, Tony Schiavone

The biggest week in AEW history wraps up here with a pay per view quality match. This week’s feature match will see Pac vs. Andrade El Idolo in a match that was supposed to take place at All Out. Instead it is happening here, along with hometown boy Brian Pillman Jr. facing the rather rude Max Caster. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

I was in the arena for this show, sitting in the lower section looking straight at the entrance.

Opening sequence.

Pac vs. Andrade El Idolo

Chavo Guerrero is here with Idolo. They stare each other down to start before going at it in a hurry. Andrade catches him with a basement dropkick and we hit the Tranquilo pose. Some kicks in the ribs just wake Pac up and he hurricanranas Andrade outside for the big running flip dive. Pac whips him hard into the barricade and we hit the chinlock back inside. Andrade snaps off a running boot to the face and a hanging DDT onto the apron sends Pac hard to the floor.

That means Andrade can hit his own big dive but it’s only good for one back inside. Pac gets up top but gets caught on the ropes, setting up the Alberto double stomp (which looked horribly violent) to put them both down on the floor as we take a break. Back with Andrade hitting a top rope split legged moonsault for two. With that not working, Pac is taken to the top but manages a super hurricanrana to bring Andrade right back down.

The running boot in the face rocks Andrade again to put him on the apron. Pac can’t hit a running sunset bomb to the floor so it’s a superkick to stagger Andrade instead. A huge moonsault to the floor has Andrade down again, though Pac might have hit his head on the barricade. Back in and a 450 connects for Pac but the Black Arrow is broken up. A running Pele kick rocks Pac again but he drives Andrade into the corner to block the hammerlock DDT.

Andrade charges into an overhead belly to belly into the corner but he catches Pac in the fireman’s carry. That’s countered into a crucifix bomb into the Brutalizer, which draws Andrade’s translator onto the apron with a stun gun to distract Pac. The Lucha Bros run out to take care of him but Chavo gets in a cheap shot to knock Pac silly. Andrade steals the pin at 15:42.

Rating: B. Sometimes you need to just let people beat each other up really well for awhile. That’s what we got here, as these two had a physical, hard hitting match. It was entertaining and I wanted to see it go to a better ending, but Pac looked like his usual self and Andrade felt like a star for the first time around here. Good stuff and I would have loved to see what they could have done on pay per view.

Post match Chavo and Andrade go to leave but Andrade turns on Chavo and slams his head into the ramp. With Andrade gone, the Lucha Bros superkick Chavo so Pac can grab the Brutalizer. Referees come down and finally break it up so Death Triangle can pose. Andrade might need a new manager now. Say one who managed him in Mexico recently?

Here are Darby Allin and Sting to answer Tully Blanchard’s challenge from Dynamite. Allin calls Shawn Spears a generic piece of s*** who has ridden Blanchard’s coattails. After a loud….whatever you call Sting’s scream, Sting calls out Blanchard for riding Ric Flair and Arn Anderson’s coattails for years. We can do it right now, so here is Tully to talk about the numbers game. Sting is distracted and doesn’t notice Spears running in to plant Allin with the C4 on the floor. No matter how old he is, Sting will never escape being an imbecile.

Adam Cole talks about what it means to be in the Elite because they are the best. Fans respect Bryan Danielson and Christian Cage because their body of work is so special. Cole isn’t even in his prime yet and he would mop the floor with Bryan Danielson.

Bryan Danielson says that the Elite feels and looks insecure and he is going after one specific member of the team. He would love to face Kenny Omega in his first match but if he isn’t stepping up, someone else will. Everyone is hungry around here so let’s go.

Britt Baker/Rebel/Jamie Hayter vs. Riho/Kris Statlander/Ruby Soho

Riho takes Baker down to start so it’s time to rethink things. Statlander comes in to muscle Baker over with a powerslam and picks Riho up to kick Rebel in the chest for a funny spot. Tony: “What do you call that Excalibur?” Taz: “Well he’s not here.” Hayter comes in but Rebel hits a cheap shot from the apron as we take a break.

Back with Riho fighting out of a chinlock so Hayter goes over to knock Statlander off the apron. She doesn’t knock Soho down though, meaning Riho can kick Hayter away and make the tag. A running kick to the face rocks Hayter and an STO gets two. Everything breaks down and Statlander rolls Rebel up until Baker breaks it up for the save. Statlander is back up with a twisting Falcon Arrow to Baker, with Riho getting on Statlander’s shoulders. Riho covers Baker up so Riho double stomps her instead. Soho comes back in for the former Riott Kick and the pin on Rebel at 9:27.

Rating: C. This was a way to get Soho some more air time and there is nothing wrong with that. AEW knows they have something with her and putting her in a six woman tag is a good way to have her out there without hurting anyone. Rebel is there to take losses for Baker so this went as well as it could have. Maybe not an all time classic, but it did what it was designed to do.

We get the face to face interview between Max Caster and Brian Pillman Jr. Caster is sick of Pillman having so many fake friends but they won’t be here tonight. Anthony Bowens says Caster is going to beat up Pillman’s Saved By The Bell reunion looking face. Pillman is going to prove if Caster can back up his talk because they’re in Cincinnati and Pillman is coming at him 100mph. Pillman hasn’t inherited his dad’s speaking abilities.

Max Caster vs. Brian Pillman Jr.

Caster’s rap insults Cincinnati, but Bowens grabs the mic before he can say what a bowl of Skyline Chili looks like. Bowens: “YOU’RE ON THIN ICE!” Pillman takes him down and rains down right hands to start. Caster is sent outside for the dropkick through the ropes but Bowens breaks up Air Pillman back inside. That’s enough for Caster to get in some right hands in the corner and a knee drop gets two.

Caster sends him outside so Bowens can get in some stomping, followed by Caster’s dropkick to the back for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Pillman makes the comeback and pounds away with the right hands in the corner. Bowens’ interference lets Caster score with a right hand on top but Pillman shoves him away. A dive takes Bowens out so Caster can get in a shot of his own. The Mic Drop misses though and Air Pillman finishes Caster at 6:41.

Rating: C. This was 100% for the live audience and there is nothing wrong with that. Pillman was over huge in his hometown and it was great to see him get a win over someone who isn’t going to be hurt by the loss. That’s how something like this should go and AEW made it work out very well. Not a great match, but a nice moment.

Post match Bowens comes in to jump Pillman and the double team is on. Cue fellow Cincinnati native Jon Moxley for the save and thoroughly please the live crowd to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Now this is what I wanted to see from Rampage. They had a featured match and then some more showcase matches. The opener was excellent and then the other two matches did their jobs well enough. What mattered here was allowing some people to get some extra time without the breakneck pace of Dynamite and it was rather fun for a change.

Results
Andrade b. Pac – Pin after Chavo Guerrero interfered
Ruby Soho/Riho/Kris Statlander b. Britt Baker/Rebel/Jamie Hayter – Riott Kick to Rebel
Brian Pillman Jr. b. Max Caster – Air Pillman

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Rampage
Date: September 3, 2021
Location: Now Arena, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Excalibur, Chris Jericho, Mark Henry, Taz

It’s the go home show for All Out and the big deal is that CM Punk is here in Chicago again. They’re still at the point where it feels important even though it happened two days ago, and it isn’t like they’ll be in Chicago every week. Other than that, expect a lot of hype towards the pay per view. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Lee Johnson vs. Malakai Black

Johnson grabs a headlock to start but gets shoved into the ropes. Said ropes are grabbed out of fear of Black Mass, with Jericho and Henry thinking pain is coming. Black continues to take his time before knocking Johnson into the corner as we take a break. Back with Johnson striking away to send Black outside.

The big dive drops Black again and they head back inside so Johnson can hit a frog splash for two. Black kicks him in the head but would rather hammer away in the corner instead of covering. It’s time to grab a chair but Black slowly offers it to Johnson. That’s fine with Johnson, who picks it up, earning himself Black Mass to drive the chair into his face. Black gets the easy pin at 9:56.

Rating: C. Black was playing the mind games here and while Johnson got in a bit too much offense, it was nice to see Black destroying him in the end. That kick to the chair was great and Black’s path through the upper layer of the Nightmare Family continues. I think you can guess who is next and it should be quite the match.

Post match Black stands over Johnson but Dustin Rhodes (yep that’s who was expected) runs in for the save.

Post break, Dustin challenges Black for Dynamite.

Here is Miro for a chat about Eddie Kingston. Miro talks about Kingston being a Mad King, but Miro only serves one king. His God has told him to destroy Eddie, who is nothing more than Jon Moxley’s bag boy anyway. Cue Kingston to say Miro as God’s favorite champion is BS. Kingston doesn’t care what Miro says because he is here to deal with Miro’s sins. He knows about Miro’s bad neck and is coming for it, but Miro runs from the brawl. That’s fine with Kingston, who gives chase but runs into the TNT Title to the head. They get inside where Kingston hits a spinning backfist into the DDT to drop Miro. Solid exchange here.

Jamie Hayter/Rebel vs. Kris Statlander

Britt Baker is here with Rebel and Hayter. Statlander gets driven into the corner to start and Hayter hammers away, with Rebel getting to come in for some beating of her own. There’s a toss suplex to drop Statlander for two but Rebel’s YES Kicks don’t do much good. Instead, Statlander is back up with a powerslam and takes an invading Hayter down as well.

A backsplash crushes both Hayter and Rebel for two and Hayter is low bridged to the floor. Rebel gets caught in an electric chair so Hayter charges…and gets caught in a World’s Strongest Slam at the same time. A kick to the head rocks Rebel and it’s a weird arm trap Liontamer to make Rebel tap at 4:11 as Baker and Hayter watch from ringside.

Rating: C. This is about all you could ask for here as they made Statlander look dominant on her way to the title match with Baker. Statlander is a force on her own and they have toned down the alien stuff enough to make her a more serious challenger. That’s the kind of tweak you need and it worked on most fronts here.

Post match the beatdown is teased but Red Velvet runs in for the save.

We look at the build to the Lucha Bros vs. the Young Bucks in a cage at All Out, including the big beatdown from the Elite on Dynamite.

All Out rundown. Jon Moxley and Satoshi Kojima got in a fight at the press conference for their match earlier today.

We get the split screen interview, with 2.0 saying Daniel Garcia is going to keep Darby Allin out of All Out. Allin isn’t looking past Garcia tonight because he wants to look at CM Punk one more time before All Out.

Darby Allin vs. Daniel Garcia

Sting and 2.0 are here too and CM Punk, in a Bret Hart shirt is out for commentary. Allin stars fast and takes Garcia down to hammer away. They head outside, where Allin misses a charge and falls over a table, sending himself hard into the barricade. Sting beats up 2.0 to give Allin some time but Garcia sends Allin into the steps to keep him in trouble. Back in and Allin grabs a Fujiwara armbar but Garcia is right back up. Garcia catches him on top for a superplex and a near fall as we take a break.

Back with Garcia grabbing a sleeper so Allin climbs the ropes. The big drop down onto the mat breaks things up and Allin grabs the Pepsi Twist (an old Punk move), for two and some applause from Punk. Code Red gives Allin two as Punk wants to know why so many moves are named after soda. Allin grabs the Last Supper for the pin on Garcia at 10:48.

Rating: C+. Allin continues to be at his best when he has to fight from behind and that’s what he did here. Garcia is a good choice for a match like this as he can make anyone look good before losing in the end, as he isn’t an established name just yet. Punk was good on commentary too, as he sounded like he wanted to learn about Allin on their way to the match on Sunday.

Post match 2.0 comes in for the beatdown and Punk stands up, eventually throwing down the headset. Punk stares 2.0 down and Allin hits a big suicide dive onto both of them. Allin stares Punk down to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling itself was only pretty good, but this show’s job was to set things up for the pay per view. It did a nice job of giving some of the lower level matches (plus Punk vs. Allin) some extra attention and that is what Rampage can be very good for in the future. Good show, and the kind of thing that AEW has been needing.

Results
Malakai Black b. Lee Johnson – Black Mass into a chair
Kris Statlander b. Rebel/Jamie Hayter – Arm trap Boston crab to Rebel
Darby Allin b. Daniel Garcia – Last Supper

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Rampage
Date: August 27, 2021
Location: UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Commentators: Mark Henry, Taz, Excalibur, Chris Jericho

We’re on to week #3 and they might have a bit of a hard time beating out last week’s show. Rampage has become a lot of fun in a hurry though as the hour run time is a great change of pace over the full two hours of Dynamite. I’m not sure how a taped show is going to work but I doubt it matters that much. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Tournament Finals: Jurassic Express vs. Lucha Bros

The winners get the Young Bucks, who come out to watch, at All Out. Jungle and Fenix run the ropes to start until Fenix gets onto the ropes for his nutty bouncing into an armdrag. Jungle isn’t sure what to do so it’s off to Luchasaurus vs. Penta. After taking a long time to take the glove off, Penta tries a charge at Luchasaurus and gets kicked in the head. Everyone gets knocked down for a breather as NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is watching in the front row.

We take a break and come back with Luchasaurus and Penta coming back in with the former getting to clean house. A double clothesline drops the Bros and the standing moonsault gets two on Penta. Fenix is back up and kicks Luchasaurus down, setting up the frog splash (complete with Eddie dance). Jungle comes back in with a clothesline into a poisonrana on Fenix and it’s a tiger driver into the Snare Trap.

Penta breaks it up and hits a backbreaker for two on Jungle. Penta is taken outside where Marko Stunt and Luchasaurus hold him in place, only to have Fenix walk the ropes to hurricanrana Jungle onto the pile. There’s the Canadian Destroyer to drop Jungle onto the apron, followed by Fenix hitting one of his own for one on Luchasaurus. The Bros hit the series of superkick to Luchasaurus and the assisted wheelbarrow splash gets two. The assisted Fear Factor finally finishes Luchasaurus at 12:15.

Rating: B-. Another nutty tag match with one crazy spot after another, as has become the tradition around here. The Bros are LONG overdue for another title program and I’m wanting to see what they can do with the Bucks in the cage. It is high time for the Bucks to drop the titles and this should be a good place to do just that.

Post match the Young Bucks come out for the staredown but the Lucha Bros and Jurassic Express clear the ring.

We get a video on CM Punk’s debut, leading into a look at Punk vs. Darby Allin at All Out.

Miro comes to the ring, though he comes out by kicking Fuego del Sol down the ramp. T
hey get inside, with Miro demanding that Fuego show his face to the Lord. The mask is ripped off, and here is Eddie Kingston for the brawl with Miro. The brawl is on and referees break it up, though Miro seems very pleased by the challenge.

Tay Conti vs. The Bunny

Bunny jumps her before the bell and hits a sliding forearm in the corner for a slightly delayed two. Back up and Conti unloads with some chops in the corner but Bunny knocks her into the ropes. We hear about Conti’s martial arts background, allowing Henry to say “it doesn’t matter if you know karate if someone know ka-razy.” Conti is back up with a belly to back swinging faceplant into a swinging Boss Man Slam. A knee to the face connects and the Tay-KO rocks Bunny as Penelope Ford comes out. The distraction lets Blade slip Bunny the brass knuckles for the knockout pin at 4:33.

Rating: C. The action was moving out there and the ending worked well as Conti seems to need an ally. Bunny and Ford make sense as a team in the Casino Battle Royal, which is one of those ideas that is suitable for villains in such a match. Conti should be a dark horse favorite in the match and it wouldn’t stun me to see her win the whole thing.

All Out rundown, now including Miro defending the TNT Title against Eddie Kingston.

We get the weekly split screen interview between Christian Cage/Frankie Kazarian vs. Kenny Omega/Brandon Cutler. Omega can’t wait to drop Christian on his head with the One Winged Angle and send the fans home happy. Christian knows he has already hurt Omega and now he wants the big one at All Out. Tonight, make sure you get in the ring because they don’t want any of this Cutler stooge stuff.

Kenny Omega/Brandon Cutler vs. Christian Cage/Frankie Kazarian

Don Callis is here with Omega and Cutler. Kazarian throws Cutler around with ease, which shouldn’t be the biggest surprise. Omega comes in and chokes Kazarian in the corner but misses a charge. A Russian legsweep drops Omega and it’s back to Cutler so Christian can choke away on the ropes. Kazarian drops Cutler on the top rope for a kick to the face so Michael Nakazawa gets in a laptop shot tot he back. This has a grand total of no effect, allowing Omega to clothesline Kazarian down.

Back in and Cutler misses a dancing elbow, setting up the hot tag to Christian. Some chops have Cutler cringing in the corner but Omega breaks up the right hands. Christian slips out of the One Winged Angle and hammers on both of them at once. The reverse DDT lays out both villains but Omega crotches Christian against the post. Omega V Triggers Cutler by mistake and walks out, leaving Cutler to get speared and Killswitched for the pin at 8:27.

Rating: C+. This was mainly a storytelling match as there was no way two stars like Cage and Kazarian were losing to Omega and his lackey. They got the ending right too as Omega bailing on Cutler fits him perfectly and leaves Cutler to take the fall. It was a perfectly fine match and the did what they needed to do to keep up the All Out build.

Overall Rating: C+. Much more down to earth show this week and while Rampage is more or less the third hour of Dynamite, it serves a nice purpose. I would much, much rather have it be a show like this than a place to put the Gunn Club and the Factory and the Wingmen. The show wasn’t must see, but for an hour of television where two new All Out matches were set, it worked out just fine.

Results
Lucha Bros b. Jurassic Express – Spike Fear Factor to Luchasaurus
Bunny b. Tay Conti – Brass knuckles punch
Christian Cage/Frankie Kazarian b. Kenny Omega/Brandon Cutler – Killswitch to Cutler

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

I think this qualifies as a busy weekend.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/kbs-review-news-wrestling-weekend-edition/

Rampage
Date: August 20, 2021
Location: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Jim Ross, Mark Henry, Excalibur, Taz

So this is a weird show as there is a big surprise, but everyone knows exactly what it is going to be. AEW has all but said what is going to happen here and that just leaves the question of how it goes down. There are a few ways to do that and I’m rather excited about what is going to happen. Let’s get to it.

Here are Dynamite’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

The crowd is already changing for CM PUNK…..and here he is to open the show. Punk takes his time getting to the ring and is clearly shaken up by this. Punk even dives over the barricade into the crowd and hugs a lot of people at ringside. After a break, Punk says you know how to make a guy feel like Britt Baker in Pittsburgh. Punk says he’s winging this and while he can’t get to everything tonight, he has a lot of time on Wednesdays, Fridays and four Saturdays/Sundays a year.

One important thing: if any of his decisions have ever made anyone feel disappointed or let down, he had to leave because he needed to get out of there so he can feel healthy. After taking off his jacket to reveal the CM PUNK: I WAS THERE shirt, Punk sits down Pipebomb style to talk about how he left Ring of Honor with tears in his eyes. He knew that he was leaving a place where wrestlers could learn their craft and love professional wrestling. While he was leaving Ring of Honor, he also left professional wrestling.

On August 20, 2021, he is back in professional wrestling because he wants to work with that same talent that he wishes he could have faced before. He is here to settle some scores and for some young guys, so he calls out Darby Allin…..who is in the rafters with Sting. Punk knows Allin is good and he’s seen him do some crazy things in and out of the ring. Punk knows Allin is crazy and there is nothing crazier than facing Punk in Chicago on pay per view on September 5 at All Out. Oh and one more thing: seven years is a long time, and on your way out, enjoy a free ice cream bar on him. And commentary actually has ice cream!

Christian Cage is fired up for Kenny Omega and tells Jurassic Express to go get the Tag Team Titles.

#1 Contenders Tag Team Tournament First Round: Private Party vs. Jurassic Express

Matt Hardy and Marko Stunt are both here too and the Young Bucks come out to watch. Kassidy takes Jungle down to start and it’s quickly off to Quen, who is armdragged in a hurry. Jungle takes Kassidy down as well but a distraction lets Private Party get in a quick double team to take over.

Back with Jungle hitting a clothesline and bringing in Luchasaurus (But…..he wasn’t even fighting out of a chinlock!), who puts Boy on his shoulders for some reason. That lets Quen hit a super Canadian Destroyer (with Jungle landing on his face because THAT’S A REALLY SCARY MOVE), followed by a springboard shooting star….well it’s a shove because only his hands graze Luchasaurus but at least he made contact. Back in and the Silly String is countered into the Extinction Level Event for two, followed by the Throwassic Express for the pin on Quen at 10:21.

Rating: C+. Private Party is like the Hardys if the Hardys weren’t very good. They can do the flips and dives and such and every now and then, one of them will actually work. This had the right ending and it would not surprise me a bit to see Jurassic Express get to the title match at All Out. That seems to be the story they are telling and that is more than a good enough idea.

Jade Cargill vs. Kiera Hogan

Hogan goes right at her but walks into Jaded (with some walking around) for the pin at 1:07.

Daniel Garcia, with 2.0, and Jon Moxley get this week’s split screen interview. 2.0 talks about how ready they are for this, with Moxley speaking really fast about how he isn’t going down tonight.

Daniel Garcia vs. Jon Moxley

2.0 is here with Garcia. Moxley doesn’t waste time in starting but Garcia takes him down by the leg. The leglock is countered into a cross armbreaker, followed by some rolling German suplexes. Garcia picks the ankle for an ankle lock but Moxley is in the ropes in a hurry. A heck of a clothesline blasts Garcia but the Paradigm Shift is countered into something like a nasty Sharpshooter. Moxley is fine enough to reverse into a bulldog choke for the tap at 4:06.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time here but I continue to like Garcia. Moxley wasn’t really in danger but it was nice to see him have to figure Garcia out and then make him tap. That’s about all you could get out of this one but Garcia could be good with a little more polish and a few wins.

Post match 2.0 comes in but Eddie Kingston comes in for the failed save attempt. Sting and Darby Allin come in for the real save. The beatdown is on and it’s a double Coffin Drop onto 2.0. Posing ends the show.

Overall Rating: B+. The best description I’ve heard of this show was “it’s a one thing show, but it’s a BIG thing”. This was all about Punk’s debut and that worked as well as you could have expected. I don’t know what else you could ask for here and the wrestling being pretty good was just a bonus. This was a pretty special event and that’s what it was supposed to be. Total success.

Results
Jurassic Express b. Private Party – Throwassic Express to Quen
Jade Cargill b. Kiera Hogan – Jaded
Jon Moxley b. Daniel Garcia – Bulldog choke

Rampage
Date: April 13, 2021
Location: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Excalibur, Chris Jericho, Mark Henry, Taz

It’s the debut of the secondary show which is actually on television and not full of squashes. I’m not sure what this is going to mean for the company as a whole, but if they can put some stuff on here instead of cramming it all onto Dynamite, we could be in for something good. The card is pretty stacked tonight too so let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Impact Wrestling World Title: Kenny Omega vs. Christian Cage

Omega, with Don Callis, is defending. They go with the feeling out process to start and Christian flips him off in the corner to start the mind games. It’s too early for both guys to hit their finisher and Omega bails to the floor for an early breather. Back in and Omega chops away but Christian knocks him to the apron for the dropkick back to the floor. Hold on though as Callis offers a distraction, allowing Omega to shove Christian down in the big crash.

We take a break and come back with Christian snapping off a snap suplex but Omega catches him on top. The superplex is broken up with a heck of a sunset bomb and Christian hammers away, setting up the stand on the back while Omega is in the ropes. There’s the right hand to the face but Omega is right back with YOU CAN’T ESCAPE into the moonsault for two. Omega knees him in the face, hits a powerbomb and nails the V Trigger for two more. Henry: “That was a heel factor like Wolverine.”

Christian grabs the rope to counter a German suplex out of the corner and avoids another V Trigger, sending Omega knee first into the buckle. The spear gives Christian two but Omega is back with a pair of snapdragons. Christian manages to snap the throat across the top though and a frog splash gets two (and I bought it). Callis gets on the apron for the distraction so the Young Bucks can bring in a chair. The One Winged Angel onto the chair is countered into the Killswitch onto the chair to give Christian the pin and the title at 15:25.

Rating: B. I was surprised by the title change and that’s a nice feeling to have. I’ve spent weeks saying that Omega wasn’t losing anything until he lost the AEW World Title, though having an AEW wrestler beat an AEW wrestler for the Impact World Title is a heck of a way to go. Either way, they had a good match and that’s what matters most here as the new show kicks off.

Post break, Christian, with Jurassic Express and Orange Cassidy, is happy with his win but knows what it is going to take to beat Omega for the AEW World Title. He’s in Omega’s head though and that’s all that matters.

Fuego del Sol is ready to beat Miro.

Miro is ready to beat Fuego del Sol.

TNT Title: Fuego del Sol vs. Miro

Del Sol, with a 1-38 record, is challenging and gets a full time contract if he can pull off the upset. Fuego tornado DDTs Miro before the bell and then does it again after the bell, sending Miro to the floor as Jericho wants to know how a luchador is from Mobile, Alabama. Miro beats the count back in and another tornado DDT gets a close two. Del Sol goes up top again but this time he dives into the Samoan drop. The jumping superkick sets up Game Over to retain the title at 1:59. Exciting while it lasted but this was the only way it was going to go.

Post match, Miro rips up the contract and holds up the title.

Post break, Fuego gets up but Tony Khan (his first time ever on AEW TV outside of being seen in passing in the background) and Sammy Guevara come out. Khan hands Guevara a contract, which he brings to Fuego. Yes Fuego has been around for a long time and is like 1-50, but the people love him and now he is All Elite.

Sting and Darby Allin brood in the rafters.

Mark Henry runs a split screen interview with Red Velvet and Britt Baker. Velvet doesn’t think much of Baker attacking her with a crutch but Baker says she’ll retain the title even with a broken wrist.

Women’s Title: Britt Baker vs. Red Velvet

Baker, with Rebel, is defending and is crazy over in her hometown. They fight over the wrist control to start, which is not a great idea when Baker has a bad wrist. Velvet takes her down but won’t stomp on the arm, which has Jericho and Taz going nuts. Back up and Velvet hits a leg lariat into a moonsault press for two as we take a break. Back with Baker going for Lockjaw but the band hand won’t let her get it in.

Velvet goes after the glove so Rebel offers a distraction, earning an ejection. A moonsault gives Velvet two but Baker is back with a curb stomp (Jericho: “That’s a real curb stomp!”). The Lockjaw is loaded up so Velvet goes for the hand. That’s fine with Baker, who goes with a reverse Lockjaw for the tap to retain at 10:33.

Rating: C+. Velvet was doing everything she could here but the complete lack of drama hurt things. Baker is the most over woman that AEW has ever seen by about ten miles and this was her big homecoming. The match wasn’t great but the crowd reaction lifted it up and that’s ok in a spot like this.

Post match, Baker lays out Velvet again but Kris Statlander makes the save by dropping Baker. Cue Jamie Hayter (who wrestled here way back in 2019 and looks like a discount Becky Lynch) to jump Statlander and pose with Baker to end the show. That was a really questionable choice as Baker was the biggest face in the world on this show and they end it was a virtual unknown returning as her new enforcer to beef up the heel stuff. That’s a weird way to go and I’m really not seeing why they had to do this here in front of this crowd.

Overall Rating: B. This worked really well, with the title change at the beginning making the show feel important and the big Baker entrance feeling special. The Fuego thing probably gets a lot better if you watch Dark/Elevation, though it’s not like a sub two minute match is going to drag a show down that much. The ending…..yeah still not feeling it in that spot, as AEW still needs to learn the concept of enough is enough. Overall, the show felt like a short form Dynamite and that is a rather appealing idea, especially since it’s not tacked on to Dynamite in the first place.

Results
Christian Cage b. Kenny Omega – Killswitch onto a chair
Miro b. Fuego del Sol – Game Over
Britt Baker b. Red Velvet – Lockjaw

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IMG Credit: World Of Sport

World of Sport
Date: September 29, 2018
Location: Epic Studios, Norwich, England
Commentators: So Cal Val, Stu Bennett, Alex Shane

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

We open with a recap of the season, mainly focusing on the titles.

Bennett is in the ring to start and introduces the first of two title matches.

Tag Team Titles: Kip Sabian/Iestyn Rees vs. British Bulldog Jr./Grado

Bulldog and Grado are challenging. The champs try to jump them to start but get punched in the face for their cheating efforts. Bulldog slams Grado onto Sabian but Rees offers a grab of the leg to let Sabian take over. A slingshot legdrop gets two on Grado and it’s off to Rees for a chinlock. Grado fights up without too much trouble and brings in Bulldog for the real house cleaning, mainly off a bunch of suplexes. Rees tags himself in though and saves Sabian from the running powerslam, followed by a leglock on Bulldog.

That just earns him an enziguri for the second hot tag to Grado as house is cleaned again. Shane: “Grado has been kept on the outside this entire match.” We’re barely six minutes in and this is his second time in the ring. The Cannonball crushes Sabian for two but he’s right back up to take both challengers down again. The powerbomb/neckbreaker combination only gets two, leaving Bulldog to pull Rees to the floor. Sabina gets Grado up but walks into a cutter for the pin and the titles at 7:55.

Rating: C-. Given the main event we have coming up, this was only the second most obvious ending of the week. The only question coming into this match was which of the two top stars would get the pin and that doesn’t leave much in the way of drama. Not the worst match, but more a matter of waiting on the inevitable.

Post match Bennett applauds Grado to end their….I guess it was a feud. That being said, Grado came into this season as WOS Champion and leaves as a Tag Team Champion. That’s kind of a downgrade no? Did he ever even mention going after the World Title again?

We recap Rampage vs. Justin Sysum. Rampage and his cronies cheated Sysum out of the title so Sysum (already #1 contender at the time) won a match involving nearly the entire roster to earn the shot tonight.

WOS Title: Justin Sysum vs. Rampage

The distraction lets Rampage trip Sysum down on the apron and a hard clothesline gives Rampage two. A belly to back suplex gets the same and an elbow to the face cuts off a comeback attempt. The required heel spinebuster gets two more and we hit the even more required chinlock. Back from a break with Sysum making a comeback off with exactly the kind of offense you would expect from him.

A t-bone suplex sends Rampage flying, only to have him clothesline Sysum’s head off. Rampage’s superplex gets the same and another suplex on the floor keeps Sysum in trouble. Like any villain, Rampage tries to cheat but spends too much time setting up the steps, allowing Sysum to hit a clothesline. The 450 is loaded up but cue Banks for a distraction, mainly showing how toothless the referees are around here.

Sysum hits his own running clothesline for two as Banks pulls the referee out. That means a suicide dive for Banks but since that’s another distraction, Rampage catches Sysum with a Samoan drop. We haven’t had a cheap booking tactic though so the referee gets bumped, meaning there’s no one to count the pin on a fisherman’s suplex to the champ. Now it’s Samuels coming back in to slam Sysum and take the turnbuckle pad off.

Rampage’s implant DDT gets two and the referee gets crushed again on the kickout. Rampage grabs the belt but another referee comes out to take it away, allowing Rampage to grab a small package for two. Sysum sends him head first into the exposed buckle though and the 450 gives him the pin and the title at 25:04.

Rating: C+. It’s good, but WAY too long for what they were capable of doing. This felt like they were trying to fill in as much time as they could with one booking trick after another, which isn’t what you want on a main event. The match should have come off as a big moment and while the title change was the only way to end the show, it needed to have come about ten minutes earlier.

Post match Rampage is livid and shoves Barrett so it’s a Bull Hammer to leave him laying. Sysum celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. And that’s probably it for the series. The final show was exactly what you would have expected it to be and there’s nothing wrong with that. You wouldn’t want to leave the fans sad and having the popular guys win the titles was the right way to close things out. I’m not wild on a lot of the roster but that’s the way you go with things, at least in a classical booking style.

Overall though, the show just wasn’t very good. At the same time though, it wasn’t very bad. That’s the problem as a whole: the show is so average and so mundane that there’s just nothing to talk about. Most of the roster is forgettable and the promos/stories are almost nowhere to be seen. None of the stories stuck with me more than the end of each episode and that’s not enough to make a full time series. Having ten episodes hurt things, but they didn’t leave me with anything that made me want to see more.

I still have almost no idea what the differences are in a lot of the members of the roster. So many of them have no distinguishing features and since there are almost no characters around, it’s not exactly the best roster to make you remember who is who. There were a few stories here and there but most of them began and wrapped up so fast that they didn’t have time to go anywhere.

Every week, the thing that sticks out to be is how much better stuff there is out there. The British wrestling scene is hot right now and this doesn’t cater to any large group of fans. Older fans aren’t going to be interested in such a lame show and younger fans aren’t going to be entertained by something that comes and goes so fast. With all the other wrestling available out there, this isn’t something worth your time.

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

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IMG Credit: World of Sport

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

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

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

Opening recap/preview.

The announcers talk about the ladder match.

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

Adam Maxted vs. Nathan Cruz

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

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

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

Post break Cruz promises to be back.

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

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

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

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

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

Martin Kirby vs. Grado

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

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

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

Justin Sysum/Joe Hendry vs. Rampage/Sha Samuels

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

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

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

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

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

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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IMG Credit: World of Sport

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Martin Kirby vs. Joe Hendry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Justin Sysum vs. Sha Samuels/CJ Banks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: World of Sport

World of Sport
Date: August 11, 2018
Location: Epic Studios, Norwich, England
Commentators: Alex Shane, So Cal Val, Stu Bennett

I don’t know what to expect here but I’d assume a bunch of wrestlers will be added without allowing us to get to know anything about them. We’re still going along with the Tag Team Title tournament and there’s a new Women’s Champion, but it hasn’t been the best presentation in the world so far. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Kay Lee Ray becoming the new Women’s Champion and last week’s ladder match. This week, Gabriel Kidd gets to cash in his big opportunity….by facing the monster Crater.

Earlier today, Grado went into Bennett’s office to yell about getting a rematch for the title. Bennett says no but he’ll let Grado have a match against someone else. Just be serious.

Grado vs. Sha Samuels

Grado comes to the ring in a suit to show how serious he can be. Samuels isn’t impressed but Grado has been training so hard that he’s been walking OTHER PEOPLE’S DOGS. Grado says ring the bell but gets knocked down in a hurry, meaning it’s off to a chinlock less than a minute in.

Back up and Grado is sent to the floor and then into the barricade as it’s one sided in the first two minutes. A slam on the ramp gets Grado out of trouble and there goes the jacket. Some clotheslines set up the left jabs (with a camera cut on each one) and there’s a Cannonball in the corner to keep Samuels in trouble. Samuels gets back up and dives into a cutter for the pin at 4:50.

Rating: D. I know why they’re doing it but egads it’s rough watching Grado as the face of the promotion. He’s still just a comedy guy and while I chuckled at the walking other people’s dogs line, I’m guessing this is going to be the big story throughout the season. The wrestling was nothing of course and that’s all you can expect from a Grado match.

Martin Kirby vs. Joe Hendry

Fallout from two weeks ago when Kirby walked out on Hendry. Joe wristlocks him down to start and goes for the arm again, sending Kirby bailing to the floor. Back in and Kirby leg lariats him down, followed by a running shoulder to the ribs in the corner. Hendry rolls him up for some near falls but walks into a spinebuster, allowing Kirby to take WAY too long walking across the middle rope for a missed elbow. Hendry’s fall away slam gets two and he slams Kirby off the top for two more. Kirby is back up with a Fameasser and an enziguri, only to get his ankle locked. A rope is grabbed and Kirby rolls him up for the pin at 6:47.

Rating: D+. This show has really not been kind to Hendry, who should be the kind of guy this show is built around. I still know nothing about Kirby, which goes back to the main problem of this show. At the moment I know his name, the color trunks he wears, and that he’s a sore loses who cheats. I need a little more than that.

Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: BT Gunn/Stevie Boy vs. Brad Slayer/CJ Banks

Gunn and Stevie at least have matching gear and face paint. Gunn runs Banks over and grabs an armbar as we keep cutting to the crowd. A middle rope dropkick puts Banks down and it’s Boy coming in to speed things up. The good guys take turns on Banks with Gunn suplexing Boy onto him for two. Slayer low bridges Boy to the floor to take over and Banks gets two of his own off a snap suplex. A chinlock doesn’t go anywhere and the hot tag brings in Gunn. Everything breaks down and a Doomsday Device with a jumping elbow finishes Slayer at 6:17.

Rating: D+. It’s nice to see a team you can identify pretty easily (Gunn and Boy are a perfectly fine fast paced face team and the kind of thing you need when you already have four heels in the semifinals) and a very formula based tag match. That being said, it still wasn’t very good and that’s where the problem on this show comes from: including the pilot, one match has broken nine minutes. I understand that you only have an hour a week, but having one match get some actual time would be nice.

Gabriel Kidd vs. Crater

This is Kidd’s big reward from last week. Crater weighs over 500lbs and shoves Kidd down with….I think you get the idea here. Kidd uppercuts away and eats a clothesline, followed by some big tosses across the ring. The bearhug goes on but Kidd keeps his arm up at two drops. Crater splashes him in the corner and a chokeslam sets up the big splash for the pin at 4:48. Total squash.

Rating: D. So Kidd was a face? The things you learn around here. If that was made clear last week, they didn’t do the best job in the world of explaining it. I’m also going to need an explanation of why we needed to have a ladder match for the right to be squashed by a novelty act. Just more characters with little definition who seem around to fill time.

Kidd does a stretcher job.

World of Sport Title: Justin Sysum vs. Rampage

Rampage is defending and hammers him down to start until Sysum hits a spinning middle rope crossbody. A nice dropkick gets two on the champ but he runs Sysum over without much trouble. Sysum grabs a backbreaker but Rampage’s goons break up the 450. Things slow down with Rampage hitting a belly to back suplex and slapping on a bearhug. A clothesline gets two but Sysum catapults him into the corner for a breather. Sysum’s Stinger Splash into a t-bone suplex gets two and a Cactus Clothesline takes them to the floor. Rampage gets back in and Banks grabs Sysum’s leg for the countout at 7:13.

Rating: C-. They were starting to get somewhere here and some of that is due to Sysum being one of the more talented guys on the roster. Rampage continues to be a guy who has cronies, which isn’t exactly what I’m looking for in a top heel. I get what they’re going for with him and it works fine in a ten week show, but it’s not exactly thrilling stuff.

Overall Rating: D+. This show really needs a chance to breathe. Leaving out commercials, the show runs about 45 minutes. They squeezed five matches into that time frame and it’s too much. Cue out a match a week (Crater’s would have been the best option) and let someone talk. We need to know a little something about these people and you could accomplish that n some fifteen second promos.

Who am I supposed to cheer for on this show other than Grado? I get that a lot of the show is supposed to be a flashback to the old World of Sport days, but things have changed a bit since the original show was canceled. If nothing else have some vignettes while they’re on the way to the ring. Just give us something and the show would be that much better to watch. I know it’s not the standard wrestling show, but it’s ok to have some standard wrestling ideas.

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

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

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

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