IMG Credit: WWE

Worlds Collide: NXT vs. NXT Alumni
Date: April 14, 2019
Location: Pier 12, New York City, New York
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Percy Watson

So you might remember the When Worlds Collide tournament from over Royal Rumble weekend. Well now they’re doing a series of one off shows with nothing on the line, though this time around we have some interesting concepts, such as this one with a pretty simple name. This could be entertaining or it could be rather boring so let’s get to it.

The announcers run down most of the card.

Kassius Ohno vs. Aiden English

Yes English does still wrestle. The fans given Aiden an AIDEN DAY chant and Ohno congratulates him for getting a chant while being a commentator. That’s too much for Aiden, who hammers away with right hands in the corner and a running elbow makes it worse. Ohno shoves him off the top to the floor though and follows Aiden outside for a right hand (Ohno: “OHNO DAY!”).

Back in and we hit the chinlock until Ohno switches to a double arm crank. Aiden fights up and reverses a neckbreaker into a falling DDT for two. The big running flip dive to the floor (When did Aiden learn to do that?) knocks Ohno down again and a backsplash gets two more back inside. Ohno isn’t having any more of this and kicks Aiden in the face, setting up the Roaring elbow to the back of the head for the pin at 5:57.

Rating: C-. Ohno’s shouting insults were a very nice addition here and they helped what was an otherwise dull match. There’s only so much you can get out of Ohno vs. English as Ohno is a role player and English hasn’t had much success outside of his Vaudevillain days in NXT. Not terrible, but the ending coming out of nowhere didn’t help things.

Harper vs. Dominik Dijakovic

This is Harper’s big return after his wrist injury. The fans welcome him back and it’s Harper going straight at him for a lockup in the corner. After the clean break, they trade shots to the face with Harper’s knocking Dijakovic outside. Back in and Dijakovic blocks a suplex attempt and nails the suplex toss in a great power display. More of the same gives Dijakovic two but Harper is right back with a DDT to put them both down.

A heck of a right hand lets Harper hit a slingshot hilo and a big boot gets two. The swinging Boss Man Slam gets the same but Harper goes up and gets chokeslammed back down. They slug it out on the apron and it’s Harper neckbreakering him out to the floor in a crash. Back in and a half nelson suplex drops Dijakovic on his neck again but it’s too early for the discus lariat. Dijakovic shouts DIE so Harper superkicks him, only to get kicked right back in the face to give Dijakovic two.

For some reason Dijakovic goes up top but gets German superplexed…so he flips onto his feet because he can. Another kick puts Harper on the floor for the Fosbury Flop (Dijakovic doesn’t quite clear the rope but come on.) for two back inside. A top rope moonsault gets two more so Dijakovic picks him up by the beard (Fans: “NOT THE BEARD! NOT THE BEARD!”), which you just don’t do. Harper isn’t cool with that and blasts Dijakovic with the discus lariat for the pin at 11:49.

Rating: B. And that’s pretty much it for Harper, who asked for his release a few days later. At least he went out on a very good match between two big monsters, with both guys trading bombs until one of them couldn’t get up. I had a good time with this one and that’s all you can ask for from a hoss fight like this.

Post match respect is shown in a nice touch.

Sanity vs. Undisputed Era

Alexander Wolfe/Killian Dain (with Eric Young) vs. Kyle O’Reilly/Bobby Fish here. Fish and Wolfe start things off with Kyle going to his back and Wolfe waving down at him. A hiptoss lets Wolfe wave again and the threat of wild swinging sends O’Reilly bailing to the floor. Back in and Wolfe spins around and has a seat on the mat, freaking O’Reilly out enough that he bails over for a tag.

Dain comes in for the running crossbody on Fish and Wolfe drops a knee for two. O’Reilly tries his luck again and gets German suplexed down. He pops up with a roar…and then falls outside in a funny moment. With Fish yelling at Wolfe, O’Reilly sneaks back in and snaps Wolfe’s leg around the post to take over. The slingshot hilo gets two but Wolfe grabs the rope to avoid a dropkick.

O’Reilly is sent outside and it’s Dain coming in to clean house. The Samoan drop/fall away slam combination is as impressive as ever and a backsplash into the Vader Bomb gets two on O’Reilly. Fish’s exploder gets two on Wolfe with Dain making the save. The Backstabber into the backsplash from Dain crushes Fish for two but O’Reilly comes in off a blind tag and chop blocks Dain. High/Low finishes Dain at 9:07.

Rating: C+. This didn’t have anywhere near the heat you might have expected, though can you blame Sanity for not being all fired up here? They’re almost on the same level as the Colons at this point and I don’t see that getting any better. The match was entertaining enough though because of the talent in there, but not exactly must see.

Post match the Era goes after Dain again so Young comes in for the save.

Tyler Breeze vs. Roderick Strong

Feeling out process to start with Strong going to a wristlock. Breeze spins out and puts on a wristlock of his own before snapping off a dropkick to send Strong into the corner. A catapult makes it even worse for Strong but he’s fine enough to knock Breeze off the top and out to the floor.

Back in and we hit the first backbreaker (you knew those were coming), setting up Strong putting his knee in Breeze’s ribs and pulling on the neck. Strong’s dropkick gets two and he mocks Breeze’s picture taking abilities. It’s off to another backbreaker, this time with Strong keeping Breeze over his knee. The chinlock with a knee in the back stays on the designated target before Strong mixes things up with a modified Gory Stretch.

With that broken up, Breeze is fine enough to hit an enziguri for a quick near fall. The Supermodel Kick gets two more and there’s a crucifix for the third straight two. The Beauty Shot is countered into a backbreaker to give Strong two of his own and Breeze is in trouble again. Some kicks to the face get Breeze out of a Strong Hold attempt but he gets caught in the belly to back faceplant for two more. Back up and another backbreaker is countered into a quick Unprettier for the pin on Strong at 13:13.

Rating: B-. Good match here, which is the case every time Breeze is around NXT. You would think that this could mean he gets to go somewhere because he’s capable of pulling it off, but WWE has decided that someone of Breeze’s size, look and gimmick isn’t going anywhere and that’s a big problem with the whole brass ring concept. At least he can do things like this here though, and that’s as good as it’s getting for him at the moment.

Overall Rating: C+. Perfectly watchable yet also skippable show here, with the matches mostly working and the wrestling being pretty good at times. It’s an interesting concept that could be done on a much bigger scale in the future, though I would be worried to see what kind of things would happen if WWE was actually paying attention to the idea.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: February 20, 2019
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson

I’m not sure what to think about this show as it could go in two very different directions. The major announced match is Johnny Gargano defending the North American Title against Velveteen Dream with two endings having been taped. On the other side though, WWE has promised a major announcement, which doesn’t bode well since the four biggest names from the show have appeared on this week’s Raw and Smackdown. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at Gargano vs. Dream, which should be a big match.

Opening sequence.

Aleister Black vs. Roderick Strong

Fallout from last week when the Undisputed Era beat down Black and Ricochet. Strong takes him down with a single leg to start and grabs an armbar, which lasts as long as an armbar is about to go. Black’s German suplex gets two but Strong sends him outside for a dropkick through the ropes. A drop onto the steps sets up a reverse chinlock with a knee in the back as Strong keeps it on the mat, where it’s hard for Black to kick very well.

Back up and Strong puts him on top, only to have Black slip out of a top rope superplex. His powerbomb doesn’t work though as it’s the first backbreaker to put Strong in control again. You would think he’d have gone there earlier. Black knees his way out of a suplex attempt and the strikes are on in a hurry. A running kick to the face sets up the brainbuster for two and Strong is in trouble. Black knees him to the face but Strong is right back with a torture rack backbreaker on the apron. The belly to back faceplant has Black in trouble but he snaps off Black Mass for the pin at 8:28.

Rating: B. I could watch these two trade backbreakers and kicks to the face for a long time and that’s what they did here. Black is someone who can beat anyone with that kick to the face and it’s not like Strong is going to lose much by getting beaten by someone as good as him. Very nice match here, which is going to be the case with any combination of the people involved.

Post match Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish run in for the beatdown, drawing in Ricochet for the save.

We see Shayna Baszler, Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke invading the women’s locker room last week and nearly starting a brawl.

Bianca Belair says 2018 was her year and it was the referee’s fault that she lost at Takeover: Phoenix. Now Io Shirai and Kairi Sane are trying to get in on her title shot and that’s not cool. You know what else isn’t cool? Belair.

We look at the four NXT main roster debuts.

In two weeks: the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is back with the winners getting a title shot at the War Raiders at Takeover: New York. Four teams have been announced so far: the Undisputed Era, Fabian Aichner/Marcel Barthel, Forgotten Songs and the Street Profits. The other four will be announced next week.

Mia Yim vs. Xia Li

We get a handshake to start and they lock up to the mat with neither getting an advantage. Mia backs up in a hurry from the threat of a bunch of kicks, only to get rolled up for two instead. Now the big kick to the chest connects and even more kicks put Yim down again. Li jumps into a shot to the face though and Protect Your Neck gives Mia the pin at 3:56.

Rating: D+. I wasn’t feeling this one for the most part, though it could have been worse. The problem here was Yim getting beaten up until the very end and then hitting her pretty lame finisher. Li’s kicks looked good and those are going to get her somewhere. Throw in the cool fan entrance and she’s going to be fine.

Post match Baszler, Shafir and Duke run in for the beatdown until the unnamed rookies run in for the failed save.

Gargano is warming up when Candice LeRae comes in to ask how he’s doing. He’s fine, but Tommaso Ciampa pops in. Gargano says he needs her instead of him, but Ciampa will be watching tonight. Well until the main roster gets involved that is.

We get a sitdown interview with Jeremy Borash talking to Matt Riddle. Matt isn’t going to change who he is with the hat and flip flops because he was told a long time ago to tune himself up instead of down. Riddle wants a title and it doesn’t matter which one.

Next week: Yim vs. Baszler.

North American Title: Velveteen Dream vs. Johnny Gargano

Dream is challenging as he cashes in his Worlds Collide tournament win. They go to the mat to start with Dream getting an armbar. Gargano spins out as we see Ciampa watching from the rafters. One heck of a slap sends Gargano to the floor for a bit as frustration is setting in. The champ comes back inside but Dream slides in front of him for an OOO from the crowd.

Another slap has Gargano rocked and Dream nails a top rope ax handle. Dream takes too much time going up though and gets pulled down so Gargano can take over for the first time. Some knees have Dream in trouble and a neckbreaker gets two. The arm work continues with Gargano bending it around the rope, only to have Dream swing away anyway. Gargano sends him outside though and more shots to the face keep Dream in trouble.

Dream finally gets in a clothesline and of course things are instantly even again. A running clothesline sends Gargano outside and that’s enough for a top rope ax handle. Back in and Dream takes him up top but gets crotched instead, setting up a spinning Downward Spiral for two. They bang heads and go to the apron, with Gargano hitting a superkick. The slingshot DDT is cut off but so is the Dream Valley Driver on the apron. Gargano hits the suicide dive, only to walk into wind up DDT.

Dream misses the Purple Rainmaker though and Gargano goes up. This time it’s Dream catching him though and a super Dream Valley Driver gets a VERY close two. Gargano bails outside and superkicks a diving Dream out of the air for a big crash. The slingshot DDT gets two more, earning a standing ovation. Gargano is up first and hits a superkick but a running tornado DDT is countered into the Dream Valley Driver. A second Driver sets up the Purple Rainmaker to make Dream champion at 20:30.

Rating: A-. Well that worked. These two know how to make anything work well and they did just that here, with an awesome back and forth match as Dream FINALLY wins the big one. It also helps set things up with Gargano choking in his first title defense, which should give him even more issues with Ciampa going forward. Great match with better storytelling, as things are starting to to roll towards New York.

So I guess the Dusty Classic was the big announcement? That’s a relief, but also kind of a letdown.

Overall Rating: A. Yeah I’d say they’re still good, though with all of the main roster stuff looming, I’m more than a little nervous. The best part about NXT has been that they don’t have to deal with everything that goes on from the main roster and I’m worried that WWE is going to need to “fix” things down here, which is the last thing they need right now. At least we had another great show here, and there’s a chance that nothing will change in the near future.

Results

Aleister Black b. Roderick Strong – Black Mass

Mia Yim b. Xia Li – Protect Your Neck

Velveteen Dream b. Johnny Gargano – Purple Rainmaker

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: August 15, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson, Mauro Ranallo

It’s the go home show for Takeover: Brooklyn and we now have a new main event of NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano in a Last Man Standing match. The big question now is who attacked Aleister Black, who was originally in the match but was found unconscious in the parking lot last week. Odds are that one is going to take some time to find out though so let’s get to it.

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

In Memory Of Jim Neidhart. Why didn’t they have that on Raw and Smackdown? I’d really like an answer to that.

We open with a recap of the NXT Title situation, including a look at Black being laid out.

Street Profits vs. The Mighty

The fans sound like they’re chanting MIGHTY JOBBERS. Miller and Ford start things off with the former taking over off some chops in the corner. Ford jumps over him though and it’s off to Dawkins to run Thorn over. A belly to back suplex into a moonsault (Black Panther Splash) sets up the old World’s Greatest Tag Team jump over the back to keep Miller in trouble.

Miller avoids a twisting splash in the corner and scores with a northern lariat. A double belly to back suplex gets two and the chinlock goes on. Miller’s spinebuster is good for two more but another suplex doesn’t work, allowing the hot tag to Ford. House is cleaned and a sunset flip gets two on Miller. A second rollup to Miller, with a handful of tights, is good for the pin at 6:23.

Rating: D+. Just a match really as these teams have been kind of feuding for weeks now and it hasn’t exactly taken off. The new look is an upgrade for the Mighty but the Profits are still a lot of fun. The match was fine enough and the right team won, but you can tell they’re going with more of a placeholder show, which makes sense.

The Undisputed Era isn’t sweating Moustache Mountain or the War Raiders. Adam Cole talks about the team beginning a year ago and they’ve never been stronger. They’ll continue to show the world that this is their era and that is undisputed.

Aaliyah vs. Kairi Sane

Shayna Baszler is on commentary. Sane wastes no time in grabbing a Stretch Muffler (Brock Lock) to make Aaliyah scream. A rope is grabbed fast enough so Kairi spears her in half and hits the sliding elbow in the corner. Kairi hits the Insane Elbow, glares at Baszler, drops another elbow, glares at Baszler again and drops a third elbow….for two as she pulls Aaliyah up. That makes Baszler get up as Sane puts on the Anchor (bending back to stare and point at Baszler) for the tap at 4:00.

Rating: C. That was way more effective than I was expecting with Sane looking like a killer that she has never been before. Baszler is walking out with the title (or she should) but egads what a performance from Sane here. I didn’t think she would be able to turn it on like that and it’s the kind of character stuff she needs going into this big of a match.

Video on Adam Cole vs. Ricochet. Cole talks about how amazing of a year he’s had and that’s going to continue. Ricochet is a good superstar but Cole is a great one. Ricochet talks about having his hands on the gold in New Orleans and on Saturday, he’ll have it for real.

Here’s Velveteen Dream to talk about EC3. The fans chant for Dream, until he brings up EC3 and then the chants change to NX3. Just like all of us, EC3 had the Dream’s curiosity, but now EC3 has Dream’s attention. On Saturday, it’s Dream Over, but here’s EC3 to interrupt. EC3: “Sick fanny pack by the way.” Dream is trying to get into EC3’s head but EC3 builds theme restaurants in people’s heads. Dream again says Dream Over, earning another FANNY PACK chant. The fight is on and it’s a One Percenter to Dream.

We look at some people leaving the parking lot when Black was injured, including Kassius Ohno, Undisputed Era, Lars Sullivan, Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa and others.

Video on the history of Gargano vs. Ciampa. This includes looks at New Orleans and Chicago, with Ciampa coming out in the end of the second match, leading to becoming NXT Champion. Johnny is still freaked out that he caused the title change and now he has to take the title from Ciampa to save NXT. Gargano has one more shot to take Ciampa down and he won’t stop until Ciampa can’t get up.

Tyler Bate vs. Roderick Strong

Trent Seven and Kyle O’Reilly are here as seconds. Bate kicks him in the face at the bell and hits a fast backdrop. Some right hands in the corner have Strong in trouble but he drop toeholds Bate down and puts on a chinlock. It’s off to a seated abdominal stretch for a bit before Strong loads up a superplex. That’s broken up as well and a middle rope European uppercut puts Strong down.

Bate can’t do the airplane spin due to the back but he’s fine enough for the reverse hurricanrana. The Stronghold is broken up so Strong knees him in the corner for two instead. A Rock Bottom backbreaker looks to set up End of Heartache but Bate lands on his feet. Well of course he does. The bounce off the ropes into the forearm puts Strong on the floor for the no hands dive and they head back inside. Seven takes care of O’Reilly and the Tyler Driver 97 is good for the pin at 7:59.

Rating: B-. Bate continues to be incapable of having a bad match and Strong is as good a hand as you’re going to have around here. The tag match is going to rock in front of that kind of a crowd on Saturday and if it’s anywhere near as good as their previous matches, we’re in for a major treat.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a pretty safe and secure go home show and that’s how things should be. The card is completely set so there’s no point in doing anything crazy and messing with it. Just let them get to Brooklyn on a roll and that’s what’s happened here. The crowd is going to carry things as high as they can go on Saturday and I’m very interested in how things go.

Results

Street Profits b. The Mighty – Rollup to Miller with a handful of tights

Kairi Sane b. Aaliyah – Anchor

Tyler Bate b. Roderick Strong – Tyler Driver 97

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: WWE

NXT
Date: May 2, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson

It’s back to Full Sail and that means a nice relief from the breakneck pace of the last few weeks of Raw and Smackdown. At least they’ve set some stuff up in advance and this show will likely deliver some entertaining stuff. There are three matches announced for tonight, including Roderick Strong vs. Pete Dunne. Let’s get to it.

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

The Undisputed Era brags about being awesome with Adam Cole talking about how he gave Oney Lorcan the honor of being the first unsuccessful challenger to the North American Title. They’re ready to deal with Danny Burch and Pete Dunne too.

Opening sequence.

Kairi Sane vs. Shazza McKenzie

McKenzie is from Australia and has wrestled in Shimmer. They shake hands and Sane wastes no time in getting two off a rollup. Some chops rock Shazza and the sliding seated clothesline have her in even more trouble. The top rope elbow sets up an Alabama Slam and the Insane Elbow to give Sane the very fast pin at 1:49.

Post match here’s Lacey Evans to admit that she was wrong: Sane does belong here. The hand is extended and Evans decks her in the face.

We look back at Tommaso Ciampa destroying Johnny Gargano last week. Ciampa looking down from the production truck as the ambulance drove away was a great visual.

Candice LeRae says this was supposed to be the greatest year but it’s been one disaster after another. She stars crying while talking about watching Johnny being taken away and has to leave.

Video on Lars Sullivan.

Street Profits vs. TM61

Ford spinwheel kicks Miller in the face to start so it’s off to Dawkins to shoulder Miller down in a heap. In a cool spot, Dawkins launches Ford into the air for a double dropkick to both Australians. Dawkins misses a charge in the corner though and a slingshot hilo crushes him. We’re already in the chinlock and the fans are split on this one. A double clothesline doesn’t make their decision any easier and the hot tag brings in Ford to speed things up. Ford kicks Miller in the face but his sunset flip is reversed into a rollup with Thorn holding the foot on the ropes to give Miller the pin at 3:10.

Rating: D+. Well it’s not like TM61 was doing anything as faces so turning them might be the best thing that they can do. They’re not the most interesting guys in the world so maybe they can do something out of this. It’s still not a good match and I like the Profits a lot more, but at least they’re doing something with one of the teams.

Video on War Raiders vs. Heavy Machinery before their match next week.

Video on Kona Reeves.

Kassius Ohno calls Ciampa a coward for hurting his friend like that.

Kona Reeves vs. Patrick Scott

A knee to the ribs has Scott knocked down early and Kona informs him that he’s the finest. Reeves stomps away in the corner and this time tells the fans that he’s the finest. A falling middle rope elbow sets up the Hawaiian Drop (Samoan drop but with a faceplant instead of landing on the back) is good for the pin on Scott at 2:02. Reeves was really not that impressive.

EC3 says his first match was great, so imagine how great the sequel will be. His TV debut is next week.

Dakota Kai wants to make her mark but doesn’t want to talk about Shayna Baszler. Vanessa Bourne comes in to say she would have slapped Baszler in the face because she’s not a coward. A fight is teased and Kai is willing to fight her at some point.

Candice LeRae vs. Bianca Belair

Candice is rather subdued and shaken up over what happened to Johnny last week. Feeling out process to start with Belair shouldering her down but getting rolled up for two. With Candice still on the mat, Belair deadlifts her straight up into a gorilla press, holds her there for a good while, and then launches Candice face first into the top turnbuckle. We hit a torture rack with Candice having to elbow her way to freedom. The comeback is on with a missile dropkick but Belair shrugs off a tornado DDT. The Alley Oop ends LeRae at 3:39.

Rating: C. Belair gets more and more impressive every time with the incredible athleticism and the look to back it up. That gorilla press was something else and a crazy power display. I know LeRae is tiny but she’s still an adult who is being held above someone else’s head with that kind of ease. There’s no way that’s not impressive on some level.

Next week: EC3’s singles debut and Ohno vs. Ciampa.

Pete Dunne vs. Roderick Strong

Non-title and a grudge match after Strong turned on Dunne at Takeover. Cole and O’Reilly are in Strong’s corner. Dunne wastes no time in forearming Strong down but a trip to the floor goes to Strong. A powerbomb onto the apron keeps Dunne in trouble and Pete is in some serious pain. Back in and Strong cranks on the neck so Pete pulls on his nose to escape. That’s rather rude of him. We hit a seated abdominal stretch for a bit until the X Plex gets Dunne out of trouble.

Dunne comes off the middle rope with a stomp to the arm but Strong sends him outside. Back in and a double underhook backbreaker gets two, followed by some kicks to Dunne’s head. A choke takes Strong down and Dunne tries to switch it into a cross armbreaker. That’s broken up as well so Dunne takes him up top, only to get brought back down in a super Angle Slam. Dunne isn’t happy though and snaps the fingers before dropping Strong with a release German suplex. The Bitter End looks to finish but draws in the Undisputed Era for the DQ at 9:02.

Rating: C+. The ending hurt this one a good deal as there was no secret to the run-in finish. That being said, it makes a lot of sense this time around as it’s clearly going to be a long form story instead of something where they do the matches in a hurry. You can probably hold off on British Strong Style vs. Undisputed Era until Summerslam weekend at this rate and that’s a very interesting idea. The match was good, but it was another step on a very long road.

Post match the beatdown continues but Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan run in for the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This is one of the other areas where NXT shines. This wasn’t about the big main event story but rather a lot of other stuff, which was treated like the most important stuff in the world. That’s very rarely pulled off in WWE but NXT manages to make it work every week. The show wasn’t great or anything but they managed to make the show feel important and that’s what matters most with something like this.

Results

Kairi Sane b. Shazza McKenzie – Insane Elbow

TM61 b. Street Profits – Rollup to Ford with feet on the ropes

Bianca Belair b. Candice LeRae – Alley Oop

Pete Dunne b. Roderick Strong via DQ when Undisputed Era interfered

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: April 4, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

It’s the final show before the big night in New Orleans and as usual, things continue to change around here. Last week saw the announcement of the six man ladder match for the North American Title and this week we have the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Things are picking up at the right time so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a video package on the Dusty Classic with various big names (Terry Taylor is included so take this with a grain of salt) showing up to watch the finals. Bobby Fish’s knee injury is confirmed for the first time on NXT TV though and he is NOT currently cleared.

Opening sequence.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: Authors of Pain vs. Roderick Strong/Pete Dunne

After the Big Match Intros, Strong is sent straight into the corner so the Authors can start the beating early. It’s off to Dunne and the fans are VERY pleased as we take an early break. Back with Dunne in trouble with a hard knee to the ribs cutting him off. Akum comes in for a knee to the chest of his own and Dunne is rocked. The top rope stomp/side slam gets two on Dunne but he snaps Akum’s finger and grabs a faceplant for the tag off to Strong.

Akum gets knocked off the apron and some kicks to Razar’s head give Strong two. Dunne comes in for a running enziguri in the corner and top rope double stomp to the back gets two more. Akum is back in and Razar is low bridged to the floor. The assisted Bitter End gets two with Razar making the save but the Authors just run them over with raw power. Everyone is down and here’s the Undisputed Era for the double DQ at 11:53.

Rating: B. The ending feels like storyline advancement and that’s fine, though the match was rocking by the end. Dunne and Strong work well together and the Authors are great giants to slay. You can feel the triple threat coming because that’s how anything WWE related works, but at least the match was good to set it up.

Post match here’s William Regal to make the triple threat because champions attacking both challengers NEVER WORKS. As a bonus, the winners will also win the Dusty Classic.

We recap the ladder match announcement.

All six participants are ready to win the title. These are just quick sound bytes about how they should win but at least all six of them are getting TV time.

Long video on the rise and fall of DIY, leading to Tommaso Ciampa turning on Johnny Gargano. After rehabbing his torn ACL, Ciampa came back and screwed Gargano over, forcing him out of NXT. That set up Saturday’s grudge match, which has been built up for nearly a year. Ciampa said he carried the team but it was always about Gargano. For the first time, this is Ciampa’s moment. As usual, this was an excellent video to recap the whole thing and make you want to see the match.

Kairi Sane vs. Vanessa Bourne

Bourne goes simple by stomping on Kairi’s foot, only to get rolled up for a few near falls. A flapjack works a bit better for Bourne and she sends Kairi face first into the buckles over and over. Sane cuts her in half with a spear and the sliding lariat in the corner keeps Bourne in trouble. A top rope forearm looks to up the Insane Elbow but Bourne catches her on top. That just earns her the Alberto Del Rio double stomp and the Insane Elbow is good for the pin on Bourne at 4:17.

Rating: D+. Not quite a squash but Sane got in all of her major stuff and wins clean over a game opponent. There’s a good chance that we’ll get Sane vs. Baszler for the title at whatever the next Takeover is and that’s a very good thing. Sane certainly has the star power and look to make such a run work and the history with Baszler is already there.

Lacey Evans has shown us what a strong woman is capable of and doesn’t like Nikki Cross. She doesn’t like that complete psychos are getting chances instead of her. Evans doesn’t think much of the rest of the division either but plans to take Sane’s chance.

The Undisputed Era catches up with Regal (How hard can he be to find?) with Cole yelling about having to compete twice. Regal says there are three options: Cole wrestles twice, O’Reilly defends the titles on his own, or Cole drops out of the ladder match. None seem agreeable.

Video on Aleister Black vs. Andrade Cien Almas. Black says Almas is buying into his own hype and needs to get the monkey off his back by winning the NXT Title. Zelina Vega says there’s a monster in Almas that Black will soon meet.

We look back at Shayna Baszler and Ember Moon brawling last week. Thankfully TM61 isn’t cut off in mid promo this time.

Moon promises to end the war that Baszler started.

Next week: Kairi Sane vs. Lacey Evans.

Lars Sullivan vs. Killian Dain

They do the big shove off to start with Sullivan getting the better of it and knocking Dain out to the floor. Back from a break with Dain getting his neck cranked. That’s broken up and a backsplash sets up a Vader Bomb, which hits Sullivan’s raised knees. Lars goes up top with Dain trying a superplex but a headbutt knocks them both to the floor instead. With everyone down, here are Velveteen Dream, Adam Cole and EC3 for the staredown. Ricochet runs in and moonsaults into his pose as we’ll say the match is thrown out at 5:30.

Rating: C. This is a hard one to rate as they were there for the sake of beating each other up for a few minutes until all the run-ins started. As a way to set up the ladder match this was fine, but it wasn’t supposed to be any kind of a definitive match. I’m sure we’ll see these two have a longer match in the future, as they should.

A big staredown ends the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Most of that is for the video packages alone, as NXT knocked them out of the park yet again. The main thing here was they made Takeover look awesome and there’s even the issue of what Cole will do on Sunday about having to wrestle in two matches. The wrestling wasn’t the point here and now I’m wanting to see where things go on Sunday. Good stuff.

Results

Authors of Pain vs. Pete Dunne/Roderick Strong went to a double DQ when Undisputed Era interfered

Kairi Sane b. Vanessa Bourne – Insane Elbow

Lars Sullivan vs. Killian Dain went to a no contest when EC3, Ricochet, Adam Cole and Velveteen Dream interfered

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

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: March 28, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

We’re almost to New Orleans and that means we’re getting closer to the official announcement of Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano. Earlier today, WWE posted a video of Gargano coming to Ciampa’s house at 3am, prompting Ciampa to say he would have to talk to William Regal about this. That’s a very encouraging line. Let’s get to it.

Here’s last week’s show if you need a recap.

Earlier today Ciampa arrived but wouldn’t talk to reporters. He came up to Regal and asked what kind of place Regal is running here. Regal agrees that it’s on him so the solution is Gargano vs. Ciampa in an unsanctioned match at Takeover. If Johnny wins, he’s reinstated in NXT. Regal: “This time, you’re going to have to do it yourself.” This was a quick segment but it felt like a conversation these two might have. It didn’t feel scripted and it felt natural. Why does that NEVER happen on the main roster?

Opening sequence.

Here’s Regal in the arena for his big announcement. This is the place where we determine the best in the world so it’s time to announce a new championship. At Takeover: New Orleans, the first NXT North American Champion will be crowned. Regal talks about how this will be a counterpart to the United Kingdom Championship but here’s the debuting EC3 (called that with no Ethan Carter III ever mentioned).

Mauro asked him what EC3 stood for and apparently it’s the formula for success. The fans chant for him and EC3 says it should keep going because he deserves it. He brags about his theme song (which mentions his name several times and says that he’s in the top 1%) but thinks Regal has gone above and beyond to create a brand new championship for him. Fans: “NXTHREE! NXTHREE!”

That’s a step too far for Regal but EC3 will be competing for the title. It will be EC3 and five other competitors in a six man ladder match to crown the first champion. EC3 isn’t sure about that one but the fans thank Regal. That’s cool with EC3 because you can put the entire locker room against him and he’ll prove that he’s the top 1%. EC3 is already one of the most charismatic guys NXT has ever had so this was a very successful debut segment.

Charly Caruso updates the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, which is down to the semifinals:

Authors of Pain

Street Profits

Roderick Strong/Pete Dunne

Sanity

TM61 is frustrated that they can’t win and keep having to go back to the drawing board. The interview is cut short as Shayna Baszler and Ember Moon are in a fight in the next room. Referees break it up as they’re trying everything they can to make it seem like Ember has a chance.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals: Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain

Ford yells at Razar to start and gets shoved in the face. Dawkins comes in instead and gets pummeled in the corner for his efforts. The Profits actually take the big guys down and Ford takes a sip from the cup before offering it to Paul Ellering. That’s a no as the cup is knocked out of Ford’s hands, allowing the Authors to jump him. The Last Chapter ends Dawkins at 2:34. This was nothing.

Charly talks about the other semifinal match tonight.

Regal announces Adam Cole as the second competitor when Velveteen Dream comes up. Dream: “You’re looking well.” Regal: “I know.” Dream wants in the match to give the fans an experience. Regal agrees so Dream is the third entrant.

Lars Sullivan vs. John Silver

Back to back tosses into the corner and a military press powerslam sets up a top rope headbutt. The Freak Accident ends the slaughter at 1:42. In this case, better to be Quick Silver than Long John.

Regal runs into Sullivan and offers him a spot in the ladder match. Sullivan says that sounds fantastic and he will bring the destruction unequivocally and categorically. He imagines a ladder in his hands to inflict more punishment. For next week though, he wants Killian Dain. Killian is in the ladder match as well but Regal makes the match too.

Dakota Kai comes out for a match but we cut to the parking lot where Andrade Cien Almas attacks Aleister Black, including shoving his face into a cooler. Almas drags him into the arena and throws him into the ring for a chair to the back. The title is held up as Almas shouts about being the champion.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals: Sanity vs. Roderick Strong/Pete Dunne

Strong and Wolfe start things off with an early slam putting Roderick down and drawing the partners in for a staredown. Young and Dunne go into the corner and it’s another staredown to annoy the referee. Wolfe takes over on Dunne and we take a break. Back with Dunne in more trouble and Young getting two.

This time it’s Young getting caught in the wrong corner and having his chest ripped off with chops. A middle rope knee gives Dunne two and we hit a hammerlock. It’s time to go after the arm with a double wristlock but Young powers him up with a suplex for the break. That’s enough for the tag to Wolfe and a Death Valley Driver gives him two. Everything breaks down and Dunne punches Wolfe out of the air but gets caught with a neckbreaker.

Young throws Strong off the top and drops the elbow for two of his own. Dunne and Wolfe are back in and Pete kicks Young down, setting up End of Heartache on Wolfe. It’s back to the legal Young, who gets caught in Strong’s belly to back faceplant into a Downward Spiral from Dunne (good idea, not the best execution) for the pin at 10:26.

Rating: B-. Good match here and a smart idea to give Dunne and Strong another win over an established team. I know it’s not a long tournament but it’s enough to make them look like a big deal in a hurry. The fans love both guys and a match between the two of them and the Authors could be fun. Nice match here, as Sanity continues to be a great pair of hands for something like this.

Regal announces the final competitor, who happens to be in his office. That would be…..Ricochet. In case the crowd wasn’t hyped up enough.

Overall Rating: A-. Sweet goodness NXT is great. In an hour they set up the grudge match of the year, introduced a new character, set up a six man ladder match for a new title, had a good match and sent the fans out with a big debut. I’ve said this many times but they come in with a plan and execute it to near perfection. This show breezed by and I’m WAY more excited for Takeover than I was. Great show, which happens quite often.

Results

Authors of Pain b. Street Profits – Last Chapter to Dawkins

Lars Sullivan b. John Silver – Freak Accident

Roderick Strong/Pete Dunne b. Sanity – Double faceplant to Young

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: March 13, 2018
Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time to send someone to Wrestlemania. With four weeks left before the big show, we have two semifinal matches to get through before we know the finals of the Cruiserweight Title tournament. Tonight we have Cedric Alexander vs. Roderick Strong, which has the potential to be a heck of a showdown. Let’s get to it.

Here’s last week’s episode if you need a recap.

The opening recap gives us a recap to open up, including a preview of tonight’s semifinal.

Opening sequence.

Hideo Itami/Akira Tozawa vs. Lince Dorado/Gran Metalik

The build towards the Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles continues. Dorado and Tozawa start things off and they actually go technical early on. It’s too early for Tozawa to hit the big kick so Dorado shoulders him down and dances a bit. Stereo dropkicks give us a standoff until Dorado’s second attempt works a bit better. Metalik comes in and gets caught in a hurricanrana before it’s off to Itami for some missed kicks.

Dorado actually gets the better of a strike off with Itami until Hideo takes his head off with a kick to the face. It’s time to get even more aggressive as Itami takes down his knee pad, only to do his reverse kick to the face of a downed Dorado. That’s such an arrogant looking move and it works so well. Tozawa’s missile dropkick gets two but he and Dorado kick each other in the face for a double knockout.

The hot tag brings in Metalik to clean house, including a reverse Sling Blade to drop Itami. With Metalik on the apron and leaning through the ropes, Dorado hits a great looking springboard to the floor. Metalik’s springboard bangs up his knee though and Itami grabs his Twisting Stunner for the pin at 8:08.

Rating: C+. I’m still not sure on having a tag division but it could be an option if they build up some actual teams. Lucha House Party and the resident Japanese team are a good start but you need more than two or three teams to fight over titles. This was good enough with some of the dives looking awesome, but nothing that hasn’t been done before.

Post match Itami and Dorado nearly get in a fight but Kalisto and Tozawa break things up.

Video on Roderick Strong, featuring a lot of the same clips from his introduction videos in NXT. He’s ready to face anyone of any style.

Jack Gallagher vs. Murphy Myers

Drake Maverick is on commentary. Jack actually lets him go up against the ropes to start before calmly snapping into Murphy’s arm. A few forearms and an enziguri actually stagger Gallagher but he catches Myers in the ring skirt and hammers away. The headbutt ends Murphy at 2:38.

Video on Cedric Alexander, who has earned the right to be here after coming up short in a chase for the title before. He can do anything and nothing will stop him.

Mustafa Ali is in a dark hallway with a shadow approaching from behind. He talks about Drew Gulak attacking Mark Andrews after the match was over but Ali isn’t scared of the bully. The shadow reaches him and the interview cuts off. These things have certainly been different and in this case they’ve made him stand out very well.

Cruiserweight Title Tournament Semifinals: Roderick Strong vs. Cedric Alexander

Neither can maintain a front facelock to start and they roll into a standoff. Strong gets two off a dropkick as Ali is watching in the back. A backdrop nearly sends Strong onto his feet but he’s fine enough to break up a springboard to send Cedric face first into the turnbuckle. Cedric seems to come up favoring his ribs so Strong grabs a seated abdominal stretch.

Back up and Cedric tries the handspring enziguri but Strong is waiting on him with a dropkick for a sweet counter. It’s off to a chinlock with Strong shouting that no one wants Cedric to be champion. Now that’s just cruel, yet also good trash talk at the same time. Cedric gets back up and hits a kick to the face, followed by a springboard cutter to send Strong outside. The springboard clothesline gets two more and something like a Michinoku Driver is good for the same.

Another springboard is countered into a backbreaker attempt but Cedric counters that into a crucifix for two. Strong isn’t going to be denied though and gets the first backbreaker to take over again. Back up and a quick Neuralizer sets up the Lumbar Check…..for two as Strong gets to the ropes. I don’t recall anyone ever surviving that, which makes the escape so much better. Why doesn’t WWE get that concept elsewhere?

They head to the apron with Strong slapping on a Torture Rack but throwing Cedric BACK FIRST ONTO THE BUCKLE in a scary looking crash. That’s not enough for a countout so Strong grabs a top rope superplex, giving Cedric that great lost look on the impact. That’s still not enough for the win so Strong knees him in the face and grabs End of Heartache for two with Cedric getting a boot on the ropes.

One heck of an elbow to the face drops Strong but Cedric can’t follow up. It’s time for the slugout but Strong can’t get the Stronghold. He can get another jumping knee to the face, only to get small packaged go send Cedric to Wrestlemania at 14:57. The shocked look on Cedric’s face is a great plus.

Rating: B+. These two were beating the heck out of each other and you bought the idea that they were both willing to do anything they could to get the win. I had a blast with this and Cedric is more than worthy of going to Wrestlemania. That’s the mark of a great tournament: you could see anyone winning, and that’s been the case with the final four. Great match here and one of the best ever on 205 Live.

They look at each other in a sign of respect. Strong leaves and Cedric says he earned this. Every morning he wakes up with his four year old daughter telling him he’s a champion. At Wrestlemania, that becomes reality. More good stuff on the mic here as I want to see Cedric win the title. That’s hard to do, especially with how low level the title really is. Well done indeed.

Overall Rating: B. That main event is more than enough to carry the show but you can also see some stories being added to the show. You can only go so far on the tournament alone so having something new, including the possibility of Gallagher vs. Maverick, gives me some hope for the future. Good show here, as 205 Live continues to rock.

Remember to check out my new forum at steelcageforums.com, follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: February 27, 2018
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for another round of the tournament as we’re in the final eight. This tournament has completely reinvigorated the show and actually made it fun to watch. That wasn’t the case for over a year but better late than never. Tonight we’ll have half of the semifinals set so let’s get to it.

Here’s last week’s show.

And the show featuring this week’s quarterfinalists.

And the other show featuring this week’s quarterfinalists.

We open with a recap of last week’s first round matches. These quick recaps are really effective, especially since they don’t take up a bunch of time.

Opening sequence.

Cruiserweight Title Tournament Quarterfinals: TJP vs. Cedric Alexander

Both say they’re going to Wrestlemania and winning the title. The fans are behind the hometown boy in TJP as they hit the mat for a wrestling sequence. Back up and a flip off goes to Alexander, who counters TJP’s hurricanrana into a powerbomb for two. Back up and a headscissors takes Cedric down, meaning we can hit the dab. Cedric starts working on the arm with his feet on TJP’s face but a whip into the corner allows TJP to get in a boot to the head. A dropkick sends TJP outside but he’s back in fast enough to block the big flip dive.

Now it’s TJP’s turn to start in on the arm, sending Alexander straight to the ropes. Some kneedrops and a chinlock with an arm trap keep TJP in control. That’s not enough for him though as he grapevines the legs in a standing Indian deathlock but steps on Cedric’s head for a nice change of pace. The slingshot hilo bangs the ribs up a little bit more and it’s back to the chinlock. A good looking jumping back elbow to the jaw gets two on Cedric and it’s off to an abdominal stretch/octopus hold hybrid.

Cedric reverses a belly to back suplex into a crossbody and chills in the corner (where a turnbuckle pad is upside down). The Neuralizer gives Cedric two and the springboard Downward Spiral is good for the same. The Lumbar Check is reversed into the double chickenwing gutbuster to put Cedric down again. TJP dropkicks the knee out but Cedric kicks him in the….I think top of the head to knock TJP outside. Now the slingshot dive connects, only to bang up Cedric’s knee even more.

Back in and the knee gets hurt again and there’s the kneebar. Cedric’s crawl to the ropes is enough for the break so TJP settles for a rollup with trunks for two instead. A double clothesline gives us a double knockdown. It’s TJP up first with the springboard forearm (no nipup due to exhaustion though) and the kneebar goes on again. Cedric rolls halfway around the ring for the break this time and it’s time for a strike off. TJP gets the better of it and tries the Detonation Kick but Cedric slips out and grabs the Lumbar Check to advance at 17:30.

Rating: B. They did a good job here with the more complete wrestler in TJP breaking Cedric down but Alexander just wasn’t going to be denied and had to hit his big move for the win. I didn’t buy the idea of Cedric tapping but there was a reason to believe that TJP, who is the master of these tournaments, could pin him instead. Good storytelling here and I was digging the match.

Drake Maverick talks about how important cruiserweights can be, especially with someone pointing them in the right direction. The last few weeks have been his vision for 205 Live.

Last week, Mustafa Ali was in the fight of his life but he looked at the Wrestlemania sign and kept going. Next week he faces the bigger and stronger Buddy Murphy, but Buddy isn’t strong enough to break him.

Buddy says if Mustafa thought he was in a fight last week, he has no idea what he’s in for next week.

Cruiserweight Title Tournament Quarterfinals: Kalisto vs. Roderick Strong

The winner gets Cedric in the semifinals. Roderick hammerlocks him to start and a wristlock puts Kalisto on the mat. Back up and a headscissors takes Strong down as Cedric is watching backstage. A backbreaker out of nowhere gives Roderick one but he gets hurricanranaed to the floor. Kalisto snaps off a big dive and dropkicks Strong underneath the ropes for good measure.

Strong is fast enough to send him into the apron though and a release suplex drops Kalisto on the announcers’ table as things get a lot more intense in a hurry. That actually draws the first 205 Live chant that I’ve heard in at least a year, so maybe there’s something to this new style. Back in and Strong stomps away but Kalisto is up at one. Another backbreaker gets another two and Strong, apparently a heel, mocks the Lucha Dance.

Strong tries a modified Gory Special but Kalisto armdrags his way out and hits the basement hurricanrana. Kalisto comes back with the usual and another basement hurricanrana gets two. The Salida Del Sol is broken up though and Strong grabs an Angle Slam for two of his own. A double underhook powerbomb is countered into a rollup to give Kalisto two and both guys are down again.

Kalisto catches Strong on top and stands up there with him, allowing Strong to pick him up for what looked like a slam. Instead Kalisto held on and rolled through to drop Strong though in a really unique looking spot (even Nigel said he had no idea what it was) for two. Strong finally knees him in the head though and another backbreaker sets up End of Heartache to end Kalisto at 11:42.

Rating: B-. Strong’s mid-match heel turn was a little weird but he’s one of those guys who can wrestle as a face or a heel just as well and Cedric needs a heel to face anyway. Beating Kalisto makes Strong look even better and now we should be in for a good match two weeks from now. Kalisto is going to be fine of course and it’s not like a loss here hurts him all that much. Good, but not as good as the opener.

Overall Rating: B+. Now that’s more like it. Just like this week’s Mixed Match Challenge (the other main roster tournament), things got a lot better once they got past the last first round matches. We’re into the matches between big names now and that makes for some very fun shows. This was about 45 minutes long and felt like half of that, which is some high praise for a WWE show anymore.

Remember to check out my new forum at steelcageforums.com, follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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

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

NXT
Date: February 14, 2018
Location: Center Stage Theater, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson, Mauro Ranallo

We’ve got another packed show this week with two title matches on tap. First up the Women’s Title is on the line as Ember Moon defends against Shayna Baszler in a rematch from Takeover: Philadelphia. After that, Pete Dunne defends the United Kingdom Title against Roderick Strong. Let’s get to it.

We open with a quick preview of both title matches.

Opening sequence.

United Kingdom Title: Roderick Strong vs. Pete Dunne

Dunne is defending. Strong goes for a very early attempt at the Strong Hold but Dunne slips out as we take an early break. Back with Dunne twisting Strong’s arm around in a very strange angle and kicking it hard. They head outside with more shots to the arm as Dunne is certainly focused so far.

Strong sends him into the barricade though and gets it back inside to take it to the mat. The first backbreaker gets two and the second sends Dunne into the corner for a stomping. They head up top where Dunne cranks on the arm again to get out of a superplex. That’s fine with Strong who gets a fireman’s carry to drop Dunne onto the barricade.

We take another break and come back with Dunne grabbing the arm again. This time he cranks it back ala Lucha Underground’s Pentagon Dark, followed by a sitout powerbomb for two. A snap German suplex puts Strong down again but he dives into a dropkick to give Roderick two this -time. Another backbreaker is countered into an exchange of rollups for two and both guys are down again.

Dunne scores with an enziguri for two and grabs a triangle choke, only to have Strong pull him throat first into the rope for the break. Strong takes him up top for a super Angle Slam and it’s time for another Strong Hold. That’s broken up with a snap of Strong’s fingers though and the Bitter End retains the title at 21:12.

Rating: A-. Is Dunne capable of having a bad match? I really don’t remember the last time that he’s done anything less than great and a lot of that has to do with bringing in a completely different style mostly independent of the WWE training system. Strong looked great here, but at some point he has to actually win something. The great performances can carry him a long way, but he has to actually pull off a big win.

We look back at last week’s outstanding segment with Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, Andrade Cien Almas and Zelina Vega. The title rematch is next week.

Velveteen Dream is ready for No Way Jose next week. He has no comment on wanting to face Tyler Bate.

Here’s Aleister Black in a suit for a chat. Black’s path has always lead him one way, starting with a sensation, left him in a dream and put him in the way of an era. The devil has been driving him and that devil is the NXT Championship. Cue Killian Dain to say the devil isn’t on Black’s back. Dain is the one on Black’s back and wants the NXT Title as well. That means Dain has crossed Black though, and now he must fade to black. Aleister challenging for the title in New Orleans makes sense and this certainly feels like the first step toward that match.

TM61 vs. Andrew Duckworth/John Skyler

Thorn drives Skyler into the corner to start and takes Duckworth down with a suplex. A few shots to Thorn’s knee get him into the corner though and trouble begins. It’s over in very short order though as Thorn grabs a belly to back suplex. The hot tag brings in Miller to start cleaning house in short order. Thunder Valley ends Skyler at 2:12. Basically a squash.

Women’s Title: Shayna Baszler vs. Ember Moon

Moon is defending and wastes no time hammering Baszler up against the ropes. The step up enziguri and a pump kick to a kneeling Baszler have her in big trouble. It’s too early for the Eclipse though as Baszler rolls to the floor, only to be taken down by a HARD suicide dive. Moon wrecks the bad arm though and the title is in big trouble. Back in and Baszler grabs a cross armbreaker but Moon is quickly in the ropes. They head outside again with Moon’s arm getting caught in the barricade for more damage. Baszler is going off on the arm so here’s Kairi Sane for the save and the DQ at 4:46.

Rating: D+. Just angle advancement here with Baszler continuing to the monster who doesn’t play by the rules. She’ll win the title, likely in New Orleans, and whoever gets to beat her can be the giant killer. It’s a classic story (or one ripped off from Samoa Joe and AJ Styles in TNA) and it’ll work very well here.

Sane clears the ring and checks on Moon to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. They’ve got some big stuff set up for the coming weeks and you can tell they’re already looking towards New Orleans, which is less than two months away. Next week intrigues me though as you could go either way with Gargano winning and facing Black, who he’s already pinned, in New Orleans or have Ciampa interfere and cost Gargano his NXT career. I’m sure they could find a way to get to the obvious grudge match though, and it’s cool to have so many of these options available.

Results

Pete Dunne b. Roderick Strong – Bitter End

TM61 b. Andrew Duckworth/John Skyler – Thunder Valley to Skyler

Shayna Baszler b. Ember Moon via DQ when Kairi Sane interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the 2018 Updated Version of the History of the WWE Championship in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/01/26/new-book-kbs-history-of-the-wwe-championship-2018-updated-version/

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

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

205 Live
Date: February 6, 2018
Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’ll continue the tournament this week with two more second round matches. The whole thing started last week with new General Manager Drake Maverick starting the tournament and bringing in some outside names to fill in the brackets. That’s the case this week as well with Roderick Strong making his 205 Live debut. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of Maverick’s debut and last week’s first round matches.

Opening sequence.

Cruiserweight Title Tournament First Round: Kalisto vs. Lince Dorado

They shake hands to start and it’s time to go, though they’re rather intense as they let go. Dorado takes him to the mat before trading some fast armdrags. A double flip up gives us a standoff and the fans know what they’re in for. Back up and Kalisto is thrown into the air, only to land on on Dorado’s shoulders. Well of course he does.

Dorado shoves him off but charges into a pair of knees in the corner. Kalisto sends him outside for a suicide dive into the announcers’ table but Dorado is right back up with a running flip dive. Back in and Dorado starts in on a reverse chinlock before we hit a chinlock. Dorado takes too much time going up though and has to bail out, allowing Kalisto to score with a superkick.

They head up top and of course that means a super hurricanrana to bring Kalisto back down. Dorado is impressing me here and that’s not something that happens too often. Kalisto is right back up with the springboard corkscrew body block for two, followed by a super victory roll for the same. The rolling kick to the head is blocked though and Dorado is right back with the handspring Stunner (The Golden Rewind. Ehhhhhhh not feeling that one.).

The shooting star press crushes Kalisto but he’s smart enough to roll to the floor. Back in and the Salida Del Sol connects but Dorado grabs the rope at the last second. You know, like at two. Kalisto is back up and tries a reverse hurricanrana but Dorado just kind of slides over Kalisto’s back. Not that it matters as the Salida Del Sol sends Kalisto to the second round at 11:35.

Rating: B. This is the kind of stuff the tournament needed to have and it’s easily the best I’ve ever seen from Dorado. They were flying all over the place here and looking awesome in the process, especially the Salida Del Sol. That’s one of the best finishers in the entire company today and it’s very cool to see him advance like this. Let us see what he can do against a better opponent. Or on the main roster with Dorado against the Bar.

Long video on Roderick Strong, which I believe first aired back on NXT. His family fell apart when he was a kid and now he uses wrestling to keep things together. He also has a family of his own and they mean the world to him.

Mustafa Ali photo bombs Cedric Alexander. Cedric: “Everybody’s ok until their lumbar gets checked!”

TJP reads Tweets and says this time it’s about him instead of everyone else.

Next week: Mark Andrews vs. Akira Tozawa in a first round match.

Video on Andrews, who is quite the high flier.

Tozawa thinks he’ll win and asks a backstage worker for his opinion. The backstage guy likes Andrews so Tozawa fires him.

Tony Nese and Drew Gulak comes in to see Maverick and Drake isn’t pleased with either of them. Drew is a goof and Tony has abs. The train has left the station though and next week it’s the two of them in the first round of the tournament. One of them needs to step up to the plate. Mavericks’ delivery continues to be a very strong point.

Cruiserweight Title Tournament First Round: Hideo Itami vs. Roderick Strong

Itami headscissors him to the mat to start but has to flip out of a bow and arrow hold. The half nelson backbreaker doesn’t work on Itami and we’re already on a headlock to slow Strong down. Itami is right back up with some kicks to the head, including a middle rope kick to the back of the head for two.

The tornado DDT into the guillotine is broken up though and Strong stays on the back, as is his custom. A pumphandle backbreaker gives Strong two (Strong: “COME ON KENTA! COME ON HIDEO!”), followed by a dropkick for the same. Strong misses a charge into the corner though and a DDT takes him down. Itami scores with Sami Zayn’s Helluva Kick and a top rope clothesline for two each.

It’s Strong’s turn for a big move so an Angle Slam takes Itami down. A trip to the floor sees Itami’s back bouncing off the barricade as Strong certainly has a target. Back in and Itami grabs a quick Falcon Arrow for two, followed by a running hip attack with Strong hung on the ropes. The jumping knee is countered into a failed Strong Hold attempt. This time Itami reverses into the very modified Rings of Saturn, sending Strong bailing to the ropes.

A gutbuster into the Cloud 9 (a spinning belly to back faceplant) gives Strong two more but Itami takes him up. That means a super Falcon Arrow (more like a superplex with a bit of a spin) for another near fall, followed by the running hesitation dropkick. Back up and Strong scores with the jumping knee to the face. The End of Heartache (suplex into a backbreaker) sends Strong to the next round at 17:02.

Rating: B+. These guys were beating each other up out there and that’s the kind of match they needed to have. Strong is starting to figure out how to work the WWE style and he might be better off on the main roster full time rather than being down in NXT. There’s only so much he’s going to get out of it and we seem to have passed that point. Itami….I really don’t know anymore. It never quite worked down in NXT and I’m not exactly seeing it clicking here. The talent is there but for some reason it’s not coming out, which just happens sometimes. What he’s doing isn’t working though and that needs to change.

Overall Rating: A-. This tournament has done wonders for 205 Live and I’ve been liking it more and more in several weeks. The Cruiserweight Classic was built up so well because it was an all action show. We spent over a year watching 205 Live try to be half action and half story and while I do like the stories, the action takes it to far higher levels. I’m genuinely interested in seeing who the final four entrants are going to be and I haven’t had that kind of curiosity around this show since it debuted. Keep this stuff up and 205 Live will be one of the best WWE shows going.

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