IMG Credit: WWE

I know I say this a lot, but who in the world is actually looking forward to this show? It’s little more than a mixture of Super ShowDown and Money in the Bank rematches and that’s not exactly the kind of show I’m interested in seeing. Throw in what is likely to be a bunch more rematches next month at Extreme Rules and we could be in for a bad one. Let’s get to it.

Cruiserweight Title: Tony Nese(c) vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Drew Gulak

I know it’s not on the Kickoff Show yet but are you really expecting anything else? 205 Live has turned from an afterthought/joke into one of the most entertaining hours of TV you get from WWE every week. Nese hasn’t been the best champion, but it’s clear that he’s trying and is caught in a bad situation with all of the promotions to the main roster (all of which were COMPLETELY necessary).

I think they’ll go with Nese retaining here as it seems that they’re interested in making him feel like a big time champion. Winning against the odds is a great way to go about doing that and he could pin Tozawa without hurting the new version of Gulak. I’m not sure who takes the title off of Nese, but he’s completely outperformed my expectations for his reign so far. Nese wins in a pretty good match.

SmackDown Women’s Title: Bayley(c) vs. Alexa Bliss

This one scares me for multiple reasons. I like Bliss more than most but I feel so sorry for Bayley. They’ve made her more serious this time around and while it’s rehabbing her image, you can feel WWE’s itch to knock her down again because there’s nothing they love more than sabotaging their own work. You know, like a few weeks ago when they had Bayley get pinned in her hometown because that needed to happen.

I’m going with the hope spot here and say that Bayley retains, finally exorcising the demons of that kendo stick match from a few years ago. Bliss has been something close to Bayley’s Kryptonite so a win here would mean a lot more for her. That and with Bliss’ history of concussions, do you really want to see her have to get in the ring that often? Bayley should win here, and for once she actually might.

SmackDown Tag Team Titles: Daniel Bryan/Rowan(c) vs. Heavy Machinery

These titles are the latest victims of the lack of time on the main shows as Bryan and Rowan not only barely have anyone to face but they’re almost never on television in the first place. Heavy Machinery has at least won a few squash matches to help get them here, but that doesn’t make this an interesting match. I’m sure it will be fine based on who is in there, though that’s about the extent of the positives here.

I’ll go with the champions retaining and then going into a deep freeze for at least another month before we get to some more challengers. The tag division on SmackDown could be fine but instead we get this one off (likely) match because the titles just aren’t important enough to put on the show for more than a few minutes a week. It’s still better than the Intercontinental Title though, which might as well not exist these days.

United States Title: Samoa Joe(c) vs. Ricochet

I don’t think it’s any secret that things have not been going well for WWE as of late from a creative standpoint. The fans haven’t been interested in the stories and everything seems like it’s a mess. Then you get something like this though and it shows that WWE knows what they’re doing. Ricochet won a series of matches and then won a #1 contenders match to set up a match that sounds rather good, at least on paper.

I’ll take Samoa Joe to retain here, but in what is probably the most interesting match of the night. There’s something about this match that sounds good, though I’m worried about WWE not giving it the time that it needs for a good performance. Ricochet fighting from underneath and eventually getting caught in the Koquina Clutch can make for a great underdog story, which is where Ricochet excels. Please don’t screw this up as it’s about all we have.

Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre

And now we get to the point where Extreme Rules messes with things. This is going to be more about Shane McMahon, because that’s what the promotion is focused on at the moment. Reigns doesn’t really have any need to fight McIntyre again after beating him at WrestleMania, but at least McIntyre hasn’t been shunted down the card since the initial loss.

That’s why I’m thinking McIntyre goes over here, albeit with help from McMahon. That allows Reigns to say he wants to get his hands on McMahon, who can then make it a handicap match next month at Extreme Rules. Yeah are you really expecting anything else? Then McMahon can pin Reigns (again) and probably set himself up as #1 contender for Summerslam, because that’s the world we might live in later this year. At least this should be hard hitting and physical, but McMahon is going to wind up with the focus.

SmackDown World Title: Kofi Kingston(c) vs. Dolph Ziggler

Ok let’s get through this before Ziggler makes me fall asleep again. I have no idea why we’re seeing this instead of something fresh/interesting like Shinsuke Nakamura or Rusev (yes I know he asked for time off) but hey, take whatever bad you can get I guess. I keep forgetting that this is inside a cage, at least partially because we had a cage match at Money in the Bank and that’s quite the turnaround for the same gimmick.

Kingston retains here, likely to set up ANOTHER match between these two, though possibly with Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn involved at Extreme Rules. This feud has had a lot to do with Kingston not being so well received as champion and a lot of that is due to how lame of a challenger Ziggler is. Just saying IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME over and over doesn’t make him interesting and it’s not going to get him over his eternal plateau in main event matches here either. Kingston wins and I continue to wish for Ziggler to get lost on an endless quest for salsa from the local PDQ.

Raw Women’s Title: Becky Lynch(c) vs. Lacey Evans

Hey another rematch. The more I see of Evans, the more fascinated I am by her. It’s not so much that she’s some kind of incredible performer, but you don’t get actual gimmicks very often these days and it’s rather refreshing to see one. Evans plays it well and her matches have been fine, but there’s not much you can do when you’re going up against Lynch these days without being named Charlotte.

Lynch retains here as they continue to set up something for her to do at one of the bigger shows (hint: expect it to be Charlotte at Summerslam). We’re experiencing the downside to Lynch main eventing WrestleMania at the moment as there is no one in her league and that’s very clear. Unfortunately that means a lot of waiting around for her to get a new arch nemesis and Evans isn’t going to fill that role. Lynch wins here and does so without breaking much of a sweat.

New Day vs. Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens

I like Owens and Zayn quite a bit, but why in the world do they suddenly have to be together on EVERY show? Zayn’s critiques of the audience were one of the best things about WWE and now they’re barely ever mentioned for the sake of Owens and Zayn teaming together again. It would be nice to see them apart for loner than a month but that’s how WWE sees them. It’s certainly still effective, but I could go for trying something else.

Give me Owens and Zayn here, as they have to win something at some point. I’m still holding out hope for New Day turning on Kingston to end his reign as the moment itself could be one of the most epic things WWE has done in a long time. The frustration needs to set in here though and Owens and Zayn beating them would go a long way towards that. Or New Day can win again as WWE wonders why their villains are seen as weak.

Raw World Title: Seth Rollins(c) vs. Baron Corbin

Oh I don’t care. I’m not even going to bother trying with this one because there is no reason to care. We’re likely getting a third match between these two next month and the apathy will be even higher. These two don’t have chemistry together and it doesn’t feel like an important feud because the winner gets to look over his shoulder for Brock Lesnar for the next nine months.

Rollins retains as the guest referee, likely Lesnar himself, is unveiled at the end of the match. Shenanigans allow Rollins to escape and he used the chair again to survive a cash-in attempt, assuming Lesnar doesn’t change his mind again. Either way, Corbin doesn’t win the title (yet) and the fans get to groan again when he weasels his way into a third title match in a row next week on Monday Night Raw.

Overall Thoughts

The interesting thing here is that the undercard actually isn’t that bad. The problem is the complete apathy towards the main events, which feel as tacked on and uninteresting as you can get. Neither match feels important and the mystery of the guest referee isn’t enough to make me care about seeing Corbin vs. Rollins. Next month likely being even more between these four isn’t making things any better either. Overall Stomping Grounds is a show coming in colder than ice cold and while some of the stuff could be good, it’s a show that was put on for the sake of having a pay per view in June and that’s almost never a good idea.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: June 20, 2019
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Renee Young, Byron Saxton

This should be an interesting one as Monday Night Raw was a lot better this week, meaning there is a new level of stuff for Main Event to screw up. You never know what they might be able to pull off around here, but the Smackdown highlights aren’t exactly looking promising. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Sarah Logan vs. Dana Brooke

Logan shoves her into the corner so Dana talks a bit. A small package gives Dana two and a cartwheel splash gets the same. Dana hits a running shoulder but gets sent into the ropes. That means a trip to the apron where Logan hits a running knee to drive Brooke’s face into the post. Brooke is busted BAD and the match is called off at 2:59. Just a freak accident and not something to be blamed on either of them.

From Raw.

Here’s Roman Reigns, who isn’t happy with having to see a video of his loss to Shane McMahon at Super ShowDown. He wants to beat someone up tonight so Shane can come out here and fight. Shane pops up on screen to say no because Reigns needs to worry about McIntyre on Sunday. Drew promises to beat Roman up on Sunday until it becomes very uncomfortable. Maybe he’ll pin Reigns then, but it won’t be over until Reigns is physically disfigured.

He wants Reigns’ children to scream at the sight of him and that’s enough for Reigns to come through the crowd and head after him. Reigns beats up the Revival and puts Drew through the table before chasing Shane into the arena. A diving clothesline over the barricade drops Shane and it’s the Superman Punch into the spear. Reigns tells him to tell Drew he’s getting beaten up on Sunday. Somehow, this is still all about Shane.

From Raw again.

Here’s Becky Lynch for a chat. She gets straight to the point and calls out Lacey Evans, who comes out without much trouble. Evans talks about how jealous Becky is of her and how many things she’s done that Becky can never dream of. She’s a former United States Marine who can run boot camp in the morning and a cotillion at night. Lynch just wants to fight while Evans talks about how the women’s division needs a real woman as champion. Becky is beatable, but Lacey spends too much time getting in the ring and gets caught in the Bexploder. Becky steals her hat. More of the same from these two, though that’s not terrible.

From Raw. Again.

Here are Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross for a Moment of Bliss. Hang on though as Bliss doesn’t have her coffee. Cue Bayley with the coffee, though she drinks it instead. Bliss starts talking about Bayley being horrible so Bayley wants to hear it from her face to face. Bliss gets up and the size difference is hilarious, even though Bayley isn’t that tall.

After Bliss calls Bayley out for being two faced, Bayley talks about Bliss always being the one who tries to start drama because she’s an entitled little princess. Bliss: “I’m not entitled. I’m just better than you.” Bayley says she has proven herself but Bliss says Bayley peaked in NXT. The fight is on but Nikki offers a distraction so Bliss can deck Bayley.

It’s time for the Firefly Fun House. Bray is watering his plants, which he says is just like our minds. If you water them and give them care, they can grow. Some ideas are just full of worms though and that’s not good. Some kids have been told bad ideas, like the earth being round or dinosaurs being extinct. Bray knows what it feels like to not belong or to be different.

That’s why he built this place for us, so they can all be together. We see all the puppets looking at him as Bray gets more sinister and tells everyone to join him here. People worship what they fear and fear is power. Follow the leader. The video starts breaking up and we see various clips from the series’ history, including the Muscle Man Dance, all with the words LET HIM IN flashing on the screen and voices singing “Follow the Leader” as the Fiend appears. Let him in. So is this all in Bray’s mind or some way for him to deal with his psychosis?

Cedric Alexander vs. Robert Roode

Remember when Roode was supposed to be something? Roode goes for the arm to start so Cedric elbows him in the face. An anklescissors into a dropkick has Roode in trouble and a basement dropkick gets two. The armbar goes on and it’s time to mock Roode’s pose. A rather hard clothesline puts Alexander down and we take a break.

Back with Alexander fighting out of a chinlock and the Neuralizer gets two. The Lumbar Check is countered into a failed Glorious DDT attempt so Roode hits the spinebuster for two more. Cedric goes up top and gets broken up, setting up the Glorious DDT to give Roode the pin at 9:16.

Rating: C. Not a bad little match here, though it’s not like it matters all that much because neither of them are going to be able to get to the main show in any significant role. That’s so much of the problem with WWE these days and I don’t see it getting any better anytime soon. Hence the people not watching you see.

Stomping Grounds rundown.

We look at Seth Rollins attacking potential referees with his chair.

From Smackdown.

Seth Rollins/Kofi Kingston vs. Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens

2/3 falls with less than twelve minutes to go. Seth hits Trouble in Paradise to pin Sami for the first fall in nine seconds and we take a break about 45 seconds in. Back with the bell ringing to start the second fall and Seth hitting the Sling Blade on Owens. The champs start in on Owens’ arm but he gets a DDT on Rollins. We see Paul Heyman watching in the back and according to WWE.com, he’s officially on Raw so that’s nine.

Sami grabs a chinlock but can’t hit a superplex. Instead Rollins headbutts him down but has to slug it out with Owens while still sitting on the buckle. The Blockbuster takes Owens down again and that’s enough for the tag off to Kofi. The pace quickens and the Boom Drop hits Sami.

There’s the spinning high crossbody for two more but Sami’s Blue Thunder Bomb gives him two of his own. Rollins comes back in to run Owens over but Sami breaks up the Stomp. Owens gets two off a rollup, followed by a superkick. The Pop Up Powerbomb is countered and the low superkick sets up an enziguri. Now the Stomp can finish Owens at 11:19.

Rating: D+. The match itself was fine if it’s a one fall match but for a 2/3 falls match, this felt like the cop out that it was. Oh and well done on having Kevin and Sami lose AGAIN, which sets them up for their next loss on Sunday to New Day. The booking continues to make my head hurt but that’s just what you have to expect.

Overall Rating: C-. This could have been a lot worse and that’s an improvement for this show. The biggest issue for Main Event is that the highlights are usually rather boring but they kept this one moving well enough to make it work. Until Raw and Smackdown get better, this show doesn’t need to exist and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

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

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

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

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

There was some good stuff this week and that deserves some attention.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/kbs-review-one-small-step-monday-night-raw/

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: June 18, 2019
Location: Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves

It’s the go home show for Stomping Grounds and that means we’re needing some final pushes towards the show. That means Dolph Ziggler, who faces New Day member Xavier Woods tonight. Other than that, it’s likely going to be some hard sells before Sunday, which could go multiple ways. Let’s get to it.

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

Here’s New Day to get things going. Dolph Ziggler is getting his title shot against Kofi Kingston in a steel cage, but first he has to get through Xavier Woods. Big E. has an idea about redubbing the second hour of the show the Freaky Hour, which involves a slip n slide, Woods and….here’s Ziggler to interrupt. Ziggler calls this traditional New Day, because Kofi is hiding behind New Day again.

That won’t happen on Sunday when he has to face Ziggler one on one inside the cage. The next time he goes back to Ghana, he’ll have to tell everyone that he failed. Kofi talks about how this has been a long journey and promises to make it continue after Stomping Grounds. That’s Sunday though, because tonight, Woods is going to take care of Ziggler first. Ziggler laughs it off and promises to end the positivity at Stomping Grounds because it should have been him.

Good grief never let Ziggler show up on TV again. I was a fan for a little while years ago but sweet goodness I’m sick of hearing his stupid IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME promo. It should have been about a dozen other people other than Ziggler but he was over like six years ago so we need to see him again here.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Xavier Woods

Ziggler takes him to the mat for an early near fall to start but a drop toehold puts Ziggler in 619 position. The dropkick to the back makes it worse but Ziggler dropkicks the knee. Woods fights out of a chinlock and goes up top, only to have Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn run down and take out Big E. and Kofi. That’s a double ejection but Woods dives onto Owens and Zayn before they can go. Back in and Ziggler’s jumping DDT gets two as we take a break.

We come back with Woods making a comeback, including knocking Ziggler to the floor for a baseball slide. A gorilla press gutbuster gets two on Ziggler in a rare Woods power display. Ziggler is back up and sends Woods to the apron with a superkick knocking him to the floor. The Zig Zag connects back inside and Ziggler bends Woods’ arm around the rope instead of covering. A superkick against the ropes finishes Woods at 11:33.

Rating: C. Not a bad match, though Ziggler has now gone lower than a bad infection on my scale of usefulness. It’s the same promo, same match, same intensity that will go away as soon as the big match begins and the same reaction of I wouldn’t mind if I never saw him again. Woods has gotten better in the ring, though he’s still the weakest member of the team in that area.

We look back at Seth Rollins’ path of chair shots last night on Raw. You have two hours a week and you’re spending time recapping a Baron Corbin storyline. This is why no one likes you these days.

Baron Corbin is here to pick his referee and Shelton Benjamin and the B Team are waiting to audition. Matt Hardy leaves the office and tells Shelton that he’s next.

Here are Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross for a Moment of Bliss. Hang on though as Bliss doesn’t have her coffee. Cue Bayley with the coffee, though she drinks it instead. Bliss starts talking about Bayley being horrible so Bayley wants to hear it from her face to face. Bliss gets up and the size difference is hilarious, even though Bayley isn’t that tall.

After Bliss calls Bayley out for being two faced, Bayley talks about Bliss always being the one who tries to start drama because she’s an entitled little princess. Bliss: “I’m not entitled. I’m just better than you.” Bayley says she has proven herself but Bliss says Bayley peaked in NXT. The fight is on but Nikki offers a distraction so Bliss can deck Bayley.

Apollo Crews comes up to Zelina Vega to ask about Andrade. Vega accused him of flirting with her and here’s Andrade to jump him from behind. Chad Gable continues to watch and take notes.

Heavy Machinery vs. B-Team

Heavy Machinery get their title shot against Daniel Bryan/Rowan, on commentary here, on Sunday. We get the ode to the Bushwhackers on the way to the ring, with Bryan ripping on them for being in the Hall of Fame. Bryan: “Koko B. Ware is in the Hall of Fame. Should we aspire to be Koko B. Ware?” The big guys waste no time in throwing the B-Team around, including a splash in the corner to Dallas. That sets up the Caterpillar and the Compactor to finish Dallas at 3:10.

Rating: D. The match was nothing of course but it was exactly what the match should have been. You have champions already set up and now the new team is beating a bunch of teams to get set up for their title shot. That’s close to how it worked back in the day and this is as close as you can get in today’s goofy booking.

Post match here’s Seth Rollins to chair the B-Team. It’s 8:50 and we’re at four Wild Card appearances, not counting Corbin.

Shane McMahon arrives and is greeted by Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. They complain about Kofi, so Shane makes the two of them against Seth and Kofi for later tonight.

Aleister Black was told he would never amount to anything and would always fall from grace. This isn’t a woe is me story because it’s a woe is his opponents story. Someone will come knocking at his door and it will be woe for them. How hard can it be to find someone for him to beat up every week?

Here are Shane McMahon, Elias and Drew McIntyre (five and we’re halfway through the show) for a chat. Shane doesn’t have Greg Hamilton do the introduction because everyone knows he’s the best in the world. On Sunday, Drew is going to wreck Roman Reigns….and here’s Miz to interrupt as we hit half a dozen.

Miz shows us a clip of Reigns destroying everyone last night and Shane asks if that’s supposed to be funny. No it isn’t, so we see a clip of Shane running from Reigns in slow motion. We get the Superman Punch and spear in slow motion as well, with Miz saying he didn’t know it was possible to sweat faster in slow motion. Shane bans anyone else from playing any more clips. Miz: “Oh calm down kid. You’re the boss’ son.”

Miz promises to take care of Drew after Sunday so Shane calls Miz’s dad out for looking like a baked potato. That sends Miz into a rant about Shane and his friends taking over everything and how sick it has everyone. It’s all Miz’s fault for letting Shane take over at World Cup (Why can no one remember the name of that show?) when he let Shane take his place.

Shane says Miz won because he was better so let’s have a tag match tonight. It’s Miz/a partner of his choosing against Elias/Drew McIntyre, though Miz has ten seconds to find a partner. As the countdown goes on, R-Truth jumps the barricade and Miz makes him the partner. Shane: “I didn’t see that one coming.”

The AOP are in the back (eight) and run into the IIconics for the best buddy comedy that I never need to see. With the AOP gone (SO glad they were brought in for this), the IIconics run into Paige and the Kabuki Warriors. Paige has gotten a match booked for next week in Tokyo and if the Warriors win, they get a title shot at some point.

R-Truth/The Miz vs. Elias/Drew McIntyre

Elimination Rules just because. Elias shoulders Miz to start but gets taken down by the arm. It’s off to Truth for the dancing legdrop and some hip thrusting, meaning McIntyre comes in. Truth gets pummeled down in the corner and Elias adds some choking. A very snappy suplex gives Drew two but Truth low bridges Elias to the floor. Shane offers a distraction so Elias can hit a running knee in the corner for the pin.

With Truth down, here’s the mob to grab the title. The referee says that doesn’t count so Truth grabs the title back and runs through the crowd. Back from a break with Miz kicking Elias out of the air and getting two off the DDT. The YES Kicks make it worse but McIntyre hits the Glasgow Kiss from the floor. The Claymore finishes Miz at 10:10.

Rating: D+. I’m still trying to get my head around the idea of having a title chase going on during a match.  You would think Elias would have shouted to the referee to count a second pin but why do that when he clearly doesn’t care about the title? Oh and we’re coming up on double digit appearances from Raw names tonight but there’s no Reigns. Someone want to explain that to me?

Post match Drew hits two more Claymores.

Stomping Grounds rundown.

Ember Moon is looking for Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. Carmella runs by looking for Truth. They go in different directions and Ember finds who she’s looking for. Mandy and Sonya are eating donuts and Ember rants about how she’s dealt with people like them her entire life. The donuts are knocked away and the fight is on with referees breaking it up.

Kofi/Seth vs. Owens/Zayn is now 2/3 falls match as they continue to throw gimmicks out there for no apparent reason in a very Bro style of booking.

Here’s this week’s Firefly Fun House.

Truth and Carmella run but there’s a referee waiting by the car. Truth: “You’re an Uber driver and a referee?” Actually hang on as Carmella is really Drake Maverick in disguise. A rollup with his feet in the car gives Maverick the pin. Maverick steals the car because he’s getting married and he’s the champion. Truth wants to know why he wasn’t invited to Carmella’s wedding.

Seth Rollins/Kofi Kingston vs. Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens

2/3 falls with less than twelve minutes to go. Seth hits Trouble in Paradise to pin Sami for the first fall in nine seconds and we take a break about 45 seconds in. Back with the bell ringing to start the second fall and Seth hitting the Sling Blade on Owens. The champs start in on Owens’ arm but he gets a DDT on Rollins. We see Paul Heyman watching in the back and according to WWE.com, he’s officially on Raw so that’s nine.

Sami grabs a chinlock but can’t hit a superplex. Instead Rollins headbutts him down but has to slug it out with Owens while still sitting on the buckle. The Blockbuster takes Owens down again and that’s enough for the tag off to Kofi. The pace quickens and the Boom Drop hits Sami.

There’s the spinning high crossbody for two more but Sami’s Blue Thunder Bomb gives him two of his own. Rollins comes back in to run Owens over but Sami breaks up the Stomp. Owens gets two off a rollup, followed by a superkick. The Pop Up Powerbomb is countered and the low superkick sets up an enziguri. Now the Stomp can finish Owens at 11:19.

Rating: D+. The match itself was fine if it’s a one fall match but for a 2/3 falls match, this felt like the cop out that it was. Oh and well done on having Kevin and Sami lose AGAIN, which sets them up for their next loss on Sunday to New Day. The booking continues to make my head hurt but that’s just what you have to expect.

Overall Rating: D. What was that? I mean what in the world was that??? The Wild Card Rule stuff aside, you have the 24/7 Title still being all over the place, gimmicks being thrown together for the sake of throwing them together, the first thirty minutes being devoted to DOLPH ZIGGLER and more Shane goodness. The show was far from dull, but it felt like they were writing it on napkins during the two hours. You might have some fun watching it due to all the zaniness, but good luck trying to make sense of a lot of it.

Results

Dolph Ziggler b. Xavier Woods – Superkick

Heavy Machinery b. B-Team – Compactor to Dallas

Drew McIntyre/Elias b. R-Truth/The Miz – Claymore to Miz

Kofi Kingston/Seth Rollins b. Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn – Stomp to Owens

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: June 17, 2019
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young

It’s the go home show for Stomping Grounds and egads they need to come up with something to bring some fire to the show. There are all kinds of tickets still available and while you could come up with a variety of reasons why, the biggest problem is the show doesn’t feel interesting. Maybe they can pick things up a bit tonight, but I wouldn’t get too excited. Let’s get to it.

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

Here’s Elias to open things up. He talks about being friends with Anthony Davis (basketball star recently traded to the Lakers), who came here because he needed to surround himself with trash. With that out of the way though, Elias reveals that he is the referee for Sunday’s Baron Corbin vs. Seth Rollins Universal Title match. Cue Rollins to chair Elias down and say that whoever chooses to be the referee (So it’s not Elias?) will be answering to the chair.

The announcers make it clear that Elias, as well as Sami Zayn from last week, are having second thoughts.

The Miz vs. Ricochet vs. Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Cesaro

Elimination match with the winner getting to face Samoa Joe for the US Title on Sunday. Since Elias is still in the ring, everyone hits something on him during their entrances. I get what they’re going for here with giving the fans something fun to start the show, but what is the motivation for everyone to beat him up? It’s another good example of doing something because the script tells you to and that’s not a smart move for anyone. Samoa Joe is at ringside to watch as well.

The match starts after a break with Strowman cleaning house until Cesaro manages to hit his reverse Angle Slam. That earns him a powerslam from Strowman, who then powerslams Lashley onto Cesaro to get rid of the latter at 1:18. Another powerslam gets rid of Lashley at 2:21. Strowman runs over Ricochet and Miz on the floor before throwing Miz back inside. Hang on though as Lashley spears Strowman and Cesaro adds a Neutralizer, setting up the 630 for a triple pin to get rid of Strowman at 4:21.

Strowman isn’t done either and throws Ricochet onto the two of them before driving Cesaro into the set. Back from a break with Ricochet hurricanranaing Miz to the floor, setting up a flip dive. Back in and Ricochet counters the Skull Crushing Finale with a rollup for two but Miz drops him on his head with a DDT. The YES Kicks keep Ricochet in trouble but Miz gets smart by going for the knee. The Figure Four goes on until Ricochet turns it over, only to have Miz do the same until a rope is grabbed. Ricochet kicks him down and stumbles up to the top for the 630 and the pin at 14:21.

Rating: C-. This was all over the place with the first three eliminations being just a means to get us to the final showdown. Ricochet winning is the right call as he has won a few matches against Cesaro in the last few weeks. It’s a smart move to build up someone for a change, especially when you use the same methods that have always worked in wrestling and always will.

Post match Samoa Joe comes after Ricochet, who knocks him to the floor for a running flip dive.

Here’s Becky Lynch for a chat. She gets straight to the point and calls out Lacey Evans, who comes out without much trouble. Evans talks about how jealous Becky is of her and how many things she’s done that Becky can never dream of. She’s a former United States Marine who can run boot camp in the morning and a cotillion at night. Lynch just wants to fight while Evans talks about how the women’s division needs a real woman as champion. Becky is beatable, but Lacey spends too much time getting in the ring and gets caught in the Bexploder. Becky steals her hat. More of the same from these two, though that’s not terrible.

The Revival, dressed rather nicely this week, joins Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre’s celebration.

Corbin says he still needs to find his referee and will announce it tonight on the Kevin and Sami Show. Rollins hits him in the back with a chair.

Here are Daniel Bryan and Rowan to insult the people of Los Angeles. This is the capital of smog and full of stupid and impotent people. Tonight though they are going to excite the audience, which means here are the Viking Raiders. Uh….ok.

Viking Raiders vs. Russ Taylor/Randy Taylor

So that’s what Randy did after Home Improvement. The beating is on in a hurry with the Viking Experience finishing Russ at 34 seconds.

R-Truth and Carmella are in disguise in the crowd but they get caught in a hurry. The mob comes out and chases Truth under the ring…..where Titus O’Neil is hiding? The distraction lets Truth and Carmella escape.

Heath Slater comes in to see Shane and company where he asks for a raise. That’s a big no so Slater goes into the hall to call his wife. Drew follows and the beating is on and Dawson takes Slater’s wallet.

It’s time for the Kevin and Sami Show, with Kevin yelling at their graphics guy. Owens brings out the guest, which is of course Baron Corbin. Sami calls this a safe space but pulls himself out of the running to be guest referee on Sunday. Owens does the same but now we get to find out who the referee will be. That would be someone born to count 1-2-3: EC3. As EC3 comes to the ring, Rollins chairs him down as well. Baron says it’s back to the drawing board but here’s New Day to interrupt.

Sami says that they’re not invited, nor are they official Wild Cards (so that’s their answer this week) but since Kofi is champion, he goes wherever he wants. Owens says Kofi isn’t going to be champion again after Sunday and even if he is, Owens will take the title from him the next chance he gets. Kofi promises to retain on Sunday but as for tonight, Corbin wants a six man tag. New Day is down and picks up EC3 to referee, with Big E. and Woods shaking him up and down to nod yes.

We go to the trainer’s room where AJ Styles is cleared to return. Hang on though as the Good Brothers come in. AJ says they debuted three years ago right here in the Staples Center when they jumped the Usos. They’ve had some classics, but AJ thinks they’ve gotten comfortable. When is the last time they won a match? The doctors’ coats come off and things get serious.

New Day vs. Baron Corbin/Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens

This is now 2/3 falls and it’s Zayn/Owens vs. Big E./Woods on Sunday. Woods gets taken into the wrong corner to start and the stomping is on. Corbin comes in and mocks the clap before hitting a running right hand to the head. An enziguri drops Corbin but Owens is right there to break up the tag. That earns him raised knees to block the backsplash so Sami breaks up another tag attempt. A quick rollup gives Woods the first fall at 4:41 and we take a break.

Back with Big E. in trouble in the corner and Woods and Kofi down on the floor. Big E. tries to fight out but gets superkicked down for two instead. The villains take turns beating on Big E. until Owens gets sent into the post. A belly to belly plants Owens and the hot tag brings in Kingston to beat up Corbin. Kofi’s dropkick into a high crossbody gets two and there’s the Boom Drop. Deep Six cuts Kofi off but Owens and Corbin get in an argument with Owens giving him a superkick. Zayn and Owens leave and it’s Trouble in Paradise to give New Day the 2-0 win at 12:15.

Rating: C. Well that was a bad idea. Corbin is already a weak challenger for the Universal Title and now he’s getting his head kicked off to lose a fall six days before the title shot. I’m not sure what the point was in having this be 2/3 falls but I’m sure just sticking a gimmick onto the match makes it better.

Alexa Bliss brings Nikki Cross a gift: a Women’s Tag Team Title shot against the IIconics. Nikki is thrilled and Alexa slips in a few lines about Bayley causing drama.

Here’s Paul Heyman for a chat. He isn’t that comfortable tonight because Seth Rollins is running around with a chair. Heyman will NOT be guest referee on Sunday because he doesn’t want to get beaten up with a chair. This morning, he thought of something: what do Rollins and the Los Angeles Lakers have in common? They’ve both traded away their balls.

The Lakers traded away their (Lonzo) Ball so LeBron James can have a playmate when he loses again. Rollins traded his balls for a chair so he can fight Brock Lesnar. Heyman threatens Rollins with a cash-in either tonight, Sunday, or any night for that matter. More of the same from Heyman, who seems like a waste of time at this point.

Corbin offers Eric Young the referee job and leaves. Rollins comes in to say he’s turning the job down because he doesn’t look good in stripes. They’re friends (Have they ever been together on TV before?) but Rollins destroys him anyway.

The Usos are ready for the Good Brothers.

Usos vs. Good Brothers

The Brothers waste no time with the Boot Of Doom getting two on Jimmy. The chinlock goes on for a bit but Anderson stops for a Too Sweet. Jey breaks up the Magic Killer with a superkick and it’s another superkick into a double superkick to finish Gallows at 2:40. This feels like the beginning of the traditional losing streak to get rid of someone.

AJ isn’t happy in the back.

Hulk Hogan of all people praises the US Women’s soccer team. There’s your random segment of the week.

Here’s Roman Reigns, who isn’t happy with having to see a video of his loss to Shane McMahon at Super ShowDown. He wants to beat someone up tonight so Shane can come out here and fight. Shane pops up on screen to say no because Reigns needs to worry about McIntyre on Sunday. Drew promises to beat Roman up on Sunday until it becomes very uncomfortable. Maybe he’ll pin Reigns then, but it won’t be over until Reigns is physically disfigured.

He wants Reigns’ children to scream at the sight of him and that’s enough for Reigns to come through the crowd and head after him. Reigns beats up the Revival and puts Drew through the table before chasing Shane into the arena. A diving clothesline over the barricade drops Shane and it’s the Superman Punch into the spear. Reigns tells him to tell Drew he’s getting beaten up on Sunday. Somehow, this is still all about Shane.

Bayley says there is no truth to the rumors that she wouldn’t take a picture with a fan in a Nikki Cross shirt. Naomi and Natalya aren’t so convinced.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: IIconics vs. Nikki Cross/Alexa Bliss

The IIconics are defending but before the match they say they can’t believe they’re having to defend against these two. Billie laughs at LeBron James for not being able to win with the Lakers (because there are NO OTHER sports in Los Angeles). We get Big Match Intros and Bayley comes out to watch. Alexa slaps Billie to start and sends her face first into the middle buckle.

Peyton comes in and a trip lets the champs pose on Bliss. It’s off to Cross for an armdrag and a rollup for two of her own. Nikki has to fight out of the corner but Bliss gets knocked off the apron and into a fight with Bayley. The distraction lets Billie roll Cross up to retain at 3:31.

Rating: D. Just a way to build towards Bliss vs. Bayley, which needs a bit more help. Bliss being involved in multiple stories at the same time is interesting, but at this point Bayley has to win, just to exorcise some of the demons of her earlier career. Oh and one more thing: there were five people involved in this segment. Three of them have titles. That’s a bit much.

Stomping Grounds rundown.

Cross wants Bliss to win on Sunday and will be in here corner.

It’s time for the Firefly Fun House. Bray is watering his plants, which he says is just like our minds. If you water them and give them care, they can grow. Some ideas are just full of worms though and that’s not good. Some kids have been told bad ideas, like the earth being round or dinosaurs being extinct. Bray knows what it feels like to not belong or to be different.

That’s why he built this place for us, so they can all be together. We see all the puppets looking at him as Bray gets more sinister and tells everyone to join him here. People worship what they fear and fear is power. Follow the leader. The video starts breaking up and we see various clips from the series’ history, including the Muscle Man Dance, all with the words LET HIM IN flashing on the screen and voices singing “Follow the Leader” as the Fiend appears. Let him in. So is this all in Bray’s mind or some way for him to deal with his psychosis?

Daniel Bryan rants about how he’s a better wrestler than Rollins because Seth can’t have his chair all the time. Rollins has never beaten him and that won’t change tonight.

We recap tonight’s referee chronicles.

Seth Rollins vs. Daniel Bryan

Non-title and Rowan is in Bryan’s corner. Bryan tries to wrestle to start but gets knocked to the floor for the suicide dives. Rowan catches one though and it’s a claw slam onto the apron for the DQ at 1:28.

Post match the beatdown is on but New Day, Owens, Zayn and the Revival all run in for the brawl. The Usos come in as well and the bad guys are sent to the floor for the big dives from the Usos.

Seth Rollins vs. Daniel Bryan

Still non-title and restarted after a break with everyone banned from ringside. Bryan backdrops him to the floor to start with Rollins landing hard. Back in and Bryan hits a running dropkick in the corner but a second attempt is cut off by a hard clothesline. The threat of a Sling Blade sends Bryan outside, followed by another slugout. Rollins’ enziguri is countered into an ankle lock, followed by a German suplex to send Seth outside.

A running knee off the apron has Rollins in more trouble. Back in and Rollins hits the superplex but the Falcon Arrow is countered into the LeBell Lock. That’s broken up with a rope grab but the running knee is countered into a buckle bomb. The low superkick gets two but Bryan pulls him into the LeBell Lock again. This time it’s reversed into a cradle for two, followed by the Stomp to finish Bryan at 8:02.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have much time to do anything here and that’s fine. What matters most here though is Rollins winning and the fact that they didn’t go with the minute and a half version of the match from earlier. This wasn’t anything great, but it was the best match of the night, even in such a short form.

Post match Corbin chairs Rollins from behind and beats him down with the chair (including a shot that seemed to catch Rollins in the head). Corbin poses with the title to end the show. No announcement on the referee.

Overall Rating: C. The main thing here was the energy. The last several shows have felt so lethargic and it’s been killing anything that might have been good about them. However, the energy doesn’t make up for the big problem that Sunday’s show faces: it’s still a possible Baron Corbin main event and there’s no way around that. I know they can’t have this kind of energy every week, but having something a little more interesting in the main event scene would do wonders for them week to week.

Oh and this week’s Wild Card:

Kevin Owens

Carmella

Daniel Bryan/Rowan

Bayley

Elias

Shane McMahon

R-Truth

New Day

And those are just the ones I counted, meaning there could have been more in the mob chasing R-Truth. Even if you factor out New Day (designated as non-Wild Cards yet they show up and have a match anyway), Shane (because him being listed as a Smackdown star doesn’t count because reasons), Rowan (because two man tag teams are one person) and R-Truth (fair enough, even though he’s still a Smackdown guy), you have five people. The fact that they needed excuses for SIX people to get it down to five shows you that the Wild Card Rule is being phased out for the sake of everyone being on the show. Fine, but hide it better.

Results

Ricochet b. The Miz, Braun Strowman, Cesaro and Bobby Lashley – 630 to Miz

Viking Raiders b. Russ Taylor/Randy Taylor – Viking Experience to Russ

New Day b. Baron Corbin/Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens – Trouble in Paradise to Corbin

Usos b. Good Brothers – Double superkick to Gallows

IIconics b. Nikki Cross/Alexa Bliss – Rollup to Cross

Seth Rollins b. Daniel Bryan via DQ when Rowan interfered

Seth Rollins b. Daniel Bryan – Stomp

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: June 13, 2019
Location: SAP Center, San Jose, California
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Renee Young

I don’t know anymore man. Not that I don’t know what was on the shows this week or what to expect from Main Event, but that I don’t know how much worse things can get as we keep going forward. Raw and Smackdown are pure disasters at this point and somehow the shows are getting worse every week. Let’s see how they spin that this time around. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Titus O’Neil/No Way Jose vs. Viking Raiders

Do you remember when the Vikings squashed the then Tag Team Champions on Raw and haven’t showed up on Raw since? Neither does WWE. Jose tried to dance with Erik to start and gets dropped with a single shot to the face. Ivar comes in and gets his own shows on Jose, followed by the slam from Ivar to send Erik onto Jose. The chinlock goes on for a bit until Jose comes back with a neckbreaker. That’s enough for the tag off to Titus so house can be cleaned. Jose tags himself back in though and it’s the high crossbody for two on Erik. Not that it matters as the Viking Experience finishes Jose at 4:03.

Rating: D. Just a squash here but I’m still trying to figure out how in the world we got here. WWE brings up the Viking Raiders two months ago the night after Wrestlemania after a run in NXT that was so dominant that no one could take the Tag Team Titles from them. Now they’re here on Main Event, beating up No Way Jose and Titus O’Neil while the Revival, the new Tag Team Champions, are there as lackeys for SHANE MCMAHON, because of course it’s about Shane.

We look back at Shane McMahon defeating Roman Reigns at Super ShowDown.

From Raw.

And now, Shane McMahon’s victory celebration. Drew McIntyre is with him and we have live bagpipe players to play him to the ring. Shane talks about growing up in WWE and recognizing special things. That would apply to Roman Reigns, who is a first ballot WWE Hall of Famer. Reigns hits like a mule and has beaten the best WWE has to offer. However, Reigns does not have a victory over Shane because Shane beat him at Super ShowDown. Shane thanks Drew for his preparation but gets cut off by a BORING chant. Shane: “Get used to it. It’s my celebration and I’ve got all night.”

Drew calls Shane the Best in the World but he’s the most dangerous man in the world. At Stomping Grounds, he’s going to give Reigns the beating he deserves and beat him 1-2-3. Shane: “You’re so intense dude.” Shane drinks out of the Best in the World cup before bringing out the Revival. They can’t drink though because they have a Tag Team Title match up next. They can join the party, provided they win some gold. Uh, the titles are silver Shane.

We look at Seth Rollins defeating Baron Corbin and then fending off a Brock Lesnar cash in attempt at Super ShowDown.

From Raw.

Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens

Non-title with Sami Zayn as outside referee. Sami checks Rollins, with the taped up ribs, for weapons and does a much faster check of Owens. They start slowly with Owens working on a wristlock and then an armbar. That’s broken up with some spinning and flipping but Sami offers a distraction so a rollup gets a delayed two. Rollins goes to yell at Sami, allowing Owens to send him outside.

A DDT on the floor drops Rollins and we take a break. Back with Rollins jawbreaking his way to freedom from a chinlock. Owens finally wakes up and goes after the taped up ribs with a backbreaker. A dropkick and forearm to the back but the Sling Blade gets Rollins out of trouble. The ribs go out on a suplex attempt but Owens’ Swanton hits knees.

An exchange of superkicks lets Rollins hit an enziguri but Sami comes in to check on Sami before the frog splash can loss. Rollins low bridges Owens to the floor and hits a suicide dive to take out both villains. The Stomp connects but Sami pulls the referee out at two. Sami takes his place so Seth grabs him by the shirt, earning a DQ at 12:01.

Rating: C. Just announce that Seth can lose the title via DQ at Stomping Grounds and get on with it. This was a preview for the title match that no one wants to see (again) and that’s the perfect way to cap off a boring show like this one. Owens could have been just about anyone here, though at least they did some stuff with the ribs instead of looking like morons.

Post match Corbin comes in and grabs a chair but Rollins takes it away and chases him off. Sami gets chaired down with Rollins exploding as Cole talks about everything he’s been through over the last few weeks. What has he been through? Beating up Lesnar, retaining the title, and then a match here? Rollins hits the Stomp on Sami to end the show with no announcement being made on the guest referee.

Natalya vs. Sarah Logan

They go with the grappling to start with Logan’s headlock not getting her anywhere. Natalya’s works a bit better until she lets it go and yells at Logan instead. It’s off to a leglock on the mat to keep Logan down but that’s reversed into a quickly broken choke. The Sharpshooter attempt is broken up and Logan sends her throat first into the middle rope as we take a break.

Back with Natalya being sent face first into the mat for two, followed by a dropkick for the same. The standing Texas Cloverleaf is broken up and Natalya comes back with the discus clothesline. Back up and another shoulder takes Logan down but the Sharpshooter is broken up. Logan misses a missile dropkick and now it’s the Sharpshooter to make her tap at 11:21.

Rating: D+. Just a match here as the show has to have some kind of main event. Natalya continues to be as solid of a worker as you can get in any division and that’s a great reason to keep her around. She’s going to do something with anyone she’s in there against and can get at least something out of everyone. Logan did her part well enough, but there was nothing here that we haven’t seen a million times.

Stomping Grounds rundown.

From Smackdown to close us out.

New Day vs. Dolph Ziggler/Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn

Woods and Ziggler start things off with Ziggler taking him to the mat and handing it off to Sami for an armbar. Sami gets taken into the corner for the Unicorn Stampede but Kofi gets sent outside so Ziggler can get in a cheap shot. Owens adds a backsplash on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Kofi fighting out of Ziggler’s Crossface and dropkicking Sami down so Woods can come in off the hot tag. A discus forearm has Sami in trouble and a dropkick through the ropes hit Sami and Ziggler. Back in and Ziggler takes Xavier down into a chinlock with a bodyscissors, followed by Sami getting in a chinlock of his own. Owens comes in and gets DDT’d, allowing the real hot tag off to Big E. That means a bunch of suplexes but the Midnight Hour is broken up. Ziggler superkicks Sami by mistake, setting up Trouble in Paradise to Ziggler and another to finish Sami at 13:31.

Rating: C-. Well that happened. This was “hey Big E. is back” and nothing more as he just got to do the big house cleaning spot at the end and that’s about it. I don’t know how this makes me want to see Ziggler vs. Kingston any more, but there is a good chance that Sami/Owens vs. Big E./Woods will be added to Stomping Grounds, which needs some more matches to round out the card.

Overall Rating: D. All this show did was showcase how much talent WWE has but never uses. Look at some of the names on this show (as in the Vikings) who haven’t been on television in weeks. Are they really that much worse than other teams? It’s a similar story with Logan. She might not be the best in the world, but she’s capable of having a passable match with a lot of opponents. Why not throw her on either show for the sake of giving someone a fresh opponent? Oh well. Just go with more Shane and Charlotte instead.

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

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

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

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

It’s pretty much true.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/kbs-review-youre-watching-doesnt-matter/

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: June 10, 2019
Location: SAP Center, San Jose, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young

They really have to go to California three days after an international trip? Anyway, it’s time to start the short road to Stomping Grounds as we’re finally past Super ShowDown. What’s up next? Well that would be a bunch of Super ShowDown rematches as WWE probably thinks you didn’t watch the show and NEED to see their brilliant ideas at work. It’s turned into a bit of a game to see how bad Raw can get these days so maybe we can hit a new low score. Let’s get to it.

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

Here’s Seth Rollins, carrying a chair, to get things going, but first we need to look at him retaining the Universal Title over Baron Corbin and thwarting Brock Lesnar’s cash-in attempt at Super ShowDown. Rollins talks about it being a new era for the Universal Title (even though we’re in the exact same place we were two weeks ago) because everyone is trying to take the title from him.

They can do it by wrestling him but no one can lace his boots, or they can try it by cashing in a contract, which earns them a beating. No one can do what he did to Lesnar but here’s Corbin to interrupt. The fans boo him quite a bit as Corbin says he’ll worry about Lesnar after he wins the title at Stomping Grounds. Corbin blames the referee for costing him the match at Super ShowDown and says that won’t be a problem at Stomping Grounds. See, he’s quite the negotiator and therefore he’s going to get to pick the guest referee for the rematch.

Rollins laughs it off because no one likes Corbin but here’s Sami Zayn to interrupt. Sami thinks it would be better for everyone, including Rollins, if Corbin was champion. If that was the case, we would have a champion who isn’t completely obsessed with Brock Lesnar. Rollins doesn’t buy this and thinks there is something in it for Sami.

It turns out that Sami might have been promised a future title shot so Rollins wants to come fight now. This brings out Kevin Owens, who thinks he might come to the ring and fight Rollins instead. The match is made for the main event. While it seems pretty clear, Sami was never officially announced as the referee. You know what might help Raw a lot? Not opening the show with a fifteen minute promo to set up tonight’s main event.

Lars Sullivan vs. Lucha House Party

Elimination rules. Sullivan runs Dorado and Metalik over during the entrances so Kalisto tries some dropkicks, only to get caught in the Freak Accident for the elimination at 25 seconds. Dorado comes in but his springboard hurricanrana is countered into a running powerbomb for the elimination at 58 seconds.

That leaves Metalik, whose handspring is countered into a toss slam. Sullivan pulls him up at two and goes outside to gorilla press Kalisto onto the steps. Back inside and the Freak Accident plants Metalik….for two as Sullivan picks him up again. Instead he tossed Dorado head first into the post, followed by the Swan Dive to finish Metalik at 3:06.

Rating: D+. While exactly what it should have been, this makes Friday even more frustrating. It shows they know what they’re supposed to do but instead they went with the stupid decision at Super ShowDown. This was an improvement, but it made me more annoyed at Super ShowDown, which I didn’t think possible.

R-Truth and Carmella get caught by the mob but they go into an elevator without the referee. The camera inside the elevator shows it stopping between floors. More on this later it seems.

Becky Lynch is getting ready for an interview. Of note: Rollins is with her and Cole acknowledges their relationship.

We get a sitdown, split screen interview with Becky Lynch and Lacey Evans. Lacey wants to go first because ladies go first, but Becky talks about making Lacey tap at Money in the bank. Sure Lacey should beat her because Lacey is bigger and stronger, but Becky isn’t letting someone like her be champion.

Lacey says Becky doesn’t know anything about her and she won’t stop until she has everything she wants. She hears fear in Becky’s voice and it’s the fear of fading back down into obscurity. The stench of fear is nasty and she’ll be Becky No Belts at Stomping Grounds. Becky says she’ll be taking a slap upside the head and another loss. They kept this short and that’s the best thing for everyone involved.

Nikki Cross asks Alexa Bliss about what happened last week but tonight Bliss is in a champions vs. challengers match tonight. Bliss accuses Bayley of being two faced and says you can only try to convince people you’re something you’re not for so long. She’s totally Cross’ friend though.

It’s time for MizTV, because having a short match in between these segments is just out of the question. This week’s guest is Samoa Joe, who does not like being called the NEW United States Champion. Rey Mysterio stole his title and then Joe had the chance to win it back. Miz calls him out on being handed the title back and jumping Mysterio last week. Joe: “Yeah, so?”

On top of that, Joe brought in Rey’s son Dominic, which Miz finds uncool. You don’t do that to a man’s family so Joe is ready to fight. This brings out Braun Strowman who wants a fight with Joe. It also brings out Bobby Lashley, who isn’t done with Strowman. He wants a title shot, but here’s Ricochet to add his name to the list as well. Before he can get that out though, Cesaro interrupts and punches Ricochet in the face. The brawl is on and the good guys clean house to set up the six man tag.

Samoa Joe/Bobby Lashley/Cesaro vs. The Miz/Ricochet/Braun Strowman

I mean, duh? Strowman starts fast with a leapfrog over Lashley and a clothesline, followed by a tag to Miz for the running corner clothesline. It’s off to Cesaro but Ricochet comes in for the running flip dive to the floor. The standoff takes us to a break and we come back with Ricochet in trouble. Cesaro’s uppercut sends him outside but an enziguri drops Lashley.

That’s enough for the hot tag to Miz, who hits running knees and clotheslines in the corner. Joe gets kicked off the apron and a DDT plants Cesaro, setting up the YES Kicks to Lashley and Cesaro. Lashley gets up and plants Miz though, allowing the tag off to Joe. Strowman is knocked off the apron so he pulls Lashley to the floor, leaving Miz to take the Swing from Cesaro.

Miz is fine enough to kick Cesaro away though and it’s off to Strowman for the running splashes in the corner. That’s enough for Joe, who grabs the title and runs off. That leaves Lashley on the floor, with Miz backdropping Ricochet over the post to take him down. The Skull Crushing Finale hits Cesaro and the 630 gives Ricochet the pin at 13:40. The 630 hit Cesaro in the knee and he falls outside holding said knee.

Rating: C. I saw something on Twitter that was incredibly accurate: we’re supposed to believe that these six men all want the US Title and that Baron Corbin is a better choice for a main eventer than any of them. That’s very accurate, and yet these people are probably going to be stuck facing each other for months. It’s not the worst move in the world, but it’s not making me think much of Ricochet beating Cesaro or Strowman beating Lashley if those results got them to the same place.

Corbin confirms that he has not yet made his choice for guest referee. Sami comes up for a talk.

Becky Lynch/Bayley vs. Lacey Evans/Alexa Bliss

Bayley is the hometown girl and Nikki Cross is here with Bliss. Bayley and Bliss start things off with Bayley driving her into the corner for some stomping. Bliss is right back with an arm twist to take her to the mat before it’s off to Lacey vs. Becky. Lacey kicks her in the ribs and hands it off to Bliss, who has to be saves from the Bexploder. Bayley’s sliding dropkick underneath the ropes barely hits Lacey as we take a break.

Back with Becky coming in off the hot tag but getting knocked down in a hurry. The slingshot Bronco Buster makes it worse but Becky sends Lacey outside for a baseball slide. A Bliss distraction lets Lacey get in a neckbreaker, setting up a backflip (from the mat) splash for two. Evans misses a springboard moonsault and that’s enough for the tag off to Bayley. The Women’s Right cuts Bayley off but Twisted Bliss hits knees. Evans knocks Bayley out again though and steals the pin at 10:49.

Rating: D+. You know, I had been thinking that this week’s show was getting better because it didn’t have the big eye rolling moment. But never fear, because WWE won’t let you down. OF COURSE the hometown girl had to lose here because it was the only option they had. They couldn’t have done a countout, a DQ, a brawl to a no contest, or done ANYTHING OTHER THAN HAVE BAYLEY GET PINNED IN HER HOMETOWN AGAIN. Have fun working in front of a dead crowd for the rest of the night people.

Sami comes in to see Shane McMahon and offers to audition as guest referee for Owens vs. Rollins tonight. Shane agrees on Sami being an outside referee, which Sami agrees was Shane’s idea.

Here’s Paul Heyman to talk about how Brock Lesnar can beat up Seth Rollins every day and cash in any day. Three days ago, Rollins needed a chair to fend off Lesnar because he’s a coward and a stupid coward at that. See now, Rollins is going to have to worry about Lesnar cashing in every week. It could be tonight, it could be next week or the week after that. Or Lesnar could be the guest referee at Stomping Grounds and take the title then. He’ll do it one day and that’s a spoiler because Lesnar is the Beast Slayer Slayer. Good for him. Now both of you go away.

The 24/7 people are STILL stuck in the elevator and Truth announces that he has a phone. Just no bars on his phone. Drake Maverick needs to get out of here because he’s getting married in a few weeks. EC3: “And you didn’t invite me???” Maverick: “You’re my best man!” Maverick is accused of being Hornswoggle but what really matters is Heath Slater getting out because he has kids.

Here are the IIconics for a match against some hand selected opponents. They’ve found San Jose’s finest but the two of them will never win the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Just like the San Jose Sharks will never win the Stanley Cup.

IIconics vs. Lisa Lace/Aaliyah Mia

Non-title. The announcers crack jokes about the jobbers, with Graves having to cut himself off after a Los Conquistadors joke. Royce knees Mia in the ribs and the knee to the head is good for the pin at 1:19. And….that’s it actually. Just a squash win.

Video on Shane McMahon beating Roman Reigns at Super ShowDown. Normally I would say I can’t believe they did that, but I completely believe this one. After the match was over, Reigns said he was upset at the loss but was moving on to Drew McIntyre at Stomping Grounds.

They’re still in the elevator.

And now, Shane McMahon’s victory celebration. Drew McIntyre is with him and we have live bagpipe players to play him to the ring. Shane talks about growing up in WWE and recognizing special things. That would apply to Roman Reigns, who is a first ballot WWE Hall of Famer. Reigns hits like a mule and has beaten the best WWE has to offer. However, Reigns does not have a victory over Shane because Shane beat him at Super ShowDown. Shane thanks Drew for his preparation but gets cut off by a BORING chant. Shane: “Get used to it. It’s my celebration and I’ve got all night.”

Drew calls Shane the Best in the World but he’s the most dangerous man in the world. At Stomping Grounds, he’s going to give Reigns the beating he deserves and beat him 1-2-3. Shane: “You’re so intense dude.” Shane drinks out of the Best in the World cup before bringing out the Revival. They can’t drink though because they have a Tag Team Title match up next. They can join the party, provided they win some gold. Uh, the titles are silver Shane.

Tag Team Titles: Zack Ryder/Curt Hawkins vs. Revival vs. Usos

Ryder and Hawkins are defending and before the match, they talk about their backs being against the wall but it’s not midnight yet. The Revival is knocked to the floor to start so the champs hit a neckbreaker for two on Jimmy. Dawson pulls Hawkins outside though and sends him into the barricade as we take a break.

Back with the Usos picking up the pace off a big dive to the floor. A high crossbody gives Jimmy two on Dawson but it’s back to Ryder to take Dawson down. Jey tags himself in as everything breaks down, allowing Jey to hit the Superfly Splash on Ryder. Dawson tags himself in as well though and steals the pin and the titles at 8:19.

Rating: C-. I like the ending, though odds are this is just going to be a way to advance Reigns vs. McMahon even more, likely with another Usos vs. Revival match at Stomping Grounds. That being said, at least the Revival are somewhat more likely to be on TV than Hawkins and Ryder, who are the most useless Tag Team Champions in at least 64 days.

Rollins is ready for Lesnar, Corbin, Owens and Zayn.

They’re still in the elevator and talk Maverick through his cold feet about the wedding. They decide they’re friends and start singing We Are Family. Then the other people outside the elevator open the door and the chase is on again. Some near falls ensue but Carmella drags R-Truth into the elevator and they get away.

Cole: “Bray Wyatt has invited R-Truth to the Firefly Fun House to stay safe.” Oh….I’m not sure about this.

It’s time for the Firefly Fun House. Bray posts a sign on the door saying Abandon All Hope Ye Who Exit Here as Mercy and Rambling Rabbit get in a fight. Bray threatens them with the Fiend and they shake in fear. Instead they’ll let fate decide. He puts his hands on his head and things get creepy, but Rambling gets to speak his mind.

It’s not cool to eat your friends but it might be time for him to expose what is really going on around here. Bray, now with a clown nose, picks him up and throws him down before CRUSHING RAMBLING WITH A MALLET. He then eats the entrails and declares them delicious. Today’s show is sponsored by Rambling Rabbit’s Delicious Rabbit Spread. I’ll be over here talking my rabbit off a cliff.

Back in the arena and a wide shot of the arena shows a lot of empty seats on the hard camera sign.

Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens

Non-title with Sami Zayn as outside referee. Sami checks Rollins, with the taped up ribs, for weapons and does a much faster check of Owens. They start slowly with Owens working on a wristlock and then an armbar. That’s broken up with some spinning and flipping but Sami offers a distraction so a rollup gets a delayed two. Rollins goes to yell at Sami, allowing Owens to send him outside.

A DDT on the floor drops Rollins and we take a break. Back with Rollins jawbreaking his way to freedom from a chinlock. Owens finally wakes up and goes after the taped up ribs with a backbreaker. A dropkick and forearm to the back but the Sling Blade gets Rollins out of trouble. The ribs go out on a suplex attempt but Owens’ Swanton hits knees.

An exchange of superkicks lets Rollins hit an enziguri but Sami comes in to check on Sami before the frog splash can loss. Rollins low bridges Owens to the floor and hits a suicide dive to take out both villains. The Stomp connects but Sami pulls the referee out at two. Sami takes his place so Seth grabs him by the shirt, earning a DQ at 12:01.

Rating: C. Just announce that Seth can lose the title via DQ at Stomping Grounds and get on with it. This was a preview for the title match that no one wants to see (again) and that’s the perfect way to cap off a boring show like this one. Owens could have been just about anyone here, though at least they did some stuff with the ribs instead of looking like morons.

Post match Corbin comes in and grabs a chair but Rollins takes it away and chases him off. Sami gets chaired down with Rollins exploding as Cole talks about everything he’s been through over the last few weeks. What has he been through? Beating up Lesnar, retaining the title, and then a match here? Rollins hits the Stomp on Sami to end the show with no announcement being made on the guest referee.

Overall Rating: D+. Actually, this was a good bit better than the previous few shows. It’s a higher quality than just about anything they’ve done in the last few weeks and that’s an improvement. Then you get to the problem: this show was really boring. We spent weeks setting up Super ShowDown and now we’re getting ready for a very similar card which isn’t interesting either. Between Shane McMahon’s never ending reign and Baron Corbin: Yes He’s Really A Main Eventer, what is interesting here?

The problem around here seems to be that we never get to the big show/match/story. Everything is always about waiting for the next one but, other than Wrestlemania, the next one never comes. Reigns beat McIntyre at Wrestlemania. So? He’s still fighting him and gets to do it again at Stomping Grounds. Rollins defeated Lesnar at Wrestlemania. Well that might be continuing for the next eleven months. Becky is fighting Lacey again. The Revival got the Tag Team Titles back tonight.

It feels like we’re either riding around in a circle and passing the same things every few weeks or driving down the road with no idea where we’re supposed to go. What is the big match on the horizon right now? Unless someone is suddenly brought up from the mid/upper midcard, Corbin and McMahon are the main event heels at the moment and while I expect Shane to get a title shot there, who does that leave for the other title? Maybe they’re just overloaded with the amount of shows they have going on at the moment, but they need to figure something out and in a hurry because these last few months have been awful.

Results

Lars Sullivan b. Lucha House Party – Swan Dive to Gran Metalik

Braun Strowman/Miz/Ricochet b. Cesaro/Bobby Lashley/Samoa Joe – 630 to Cesaro

Alexa Bliss/Lacey Evans b. Becky Lynch/Bayley – Woman’s Right to Bayley

IIconics b. Lisa Lace/Aaliyah Mia – Knee to Mia’s head

Revival b. Usos and Zack Ryder/Curt Hawkins – Dawson pinned Ryder after a Superfly Splash from Jey Uso

Kevin Owens b. Seth Rollins via DQ when Rollins attacked the referee

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: June 6, 2019
Location: Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Renee Young

I don’t know if it’s because Raw has been such a mess or because of how terrible Super ShowDown was, but I can’t remember much of anything from this week’s Raw or Smackdown. They’re just shows that happened and nothing is sticking out from them. Hopefully the recaps don’t make me want to pull out my hair. Again. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

EC3 vs. No Way Jose

Yes, EC3 can wrestle someone else for a change. A shoulder puts Jose down to start so he hits one of his own, followed by a dropkick. An airplane spin doesn’t get Jose very far as EC3 slips out and hits the forward DDT to take over. EC3 hits a hard clothesline for two and a neckbreaker is good for the same. They head up top but Jose shoves him down and hits a high crossbody, followed by a flapjack for two of his own. That earns him a crotching on top though and the 1%er finishes Jose at 5:30.

Rating: D. Just a match here, but at least EC3 got a win for a change. There isn’t much that can be done when you’re stuck on Main Event all the time but it’s better than facing Cedric Alexander over and over. I still don’t know what’s wrong with him in WWE’s eyes though and unfortunately I don’t think that’s changing anytime soon.

From Raw.

Here’s Seth Rollins for Lesnar’s cash in. Brock’s music plays but he doesn’t come out so Rollins calls him out again. Instead he gets Baron Corbin, who promises to crush Rollins’ dreams on Friday. The fight is on with Corbin getting caught with an enziguri to the floor. Rollins hits a suicide dive and there’s Lesnar’s music again. Corbin hits End of Days though and NOW it’s Lesnar with a chair. Lesnar kicks Rollins low and unloads with the chair, followed by a German suplex.

Heyman wants him to cash in but instead Lesnar throws Rollins outside. Lesnar hits an F5 on the floor (with Rollins bouncing), followed by more chair shots. Heyman starts swearing about how this is the time but Lesnar suplexes Rollins again. Lesnar: “FRIDAY!” And they leave with no cash in, come back to hit Rollins in the back with the briefcase and chair, and leave again with Lesnar doing the boom box thing with the briefcase. Rollins does a stretcher job. As long as this doesn’t lead to more Stephanie promos, I can live with this.

Post break Rollins is put in an ambulance with Becky Lynch going with him.

From Smackdown.

Here’s Roman Reigns for an opening chat but Shane McMahon cuts him off. After getting his traditional introduction, Shane talks about being a fine wine who gets better with age. He promises to hit Coast to Coast and then pin Reigns, or make him tap out for the first time in his career. The referee will tell Shane to make him let go of the triangle choke but he’s going to keep it on so Reigns’ eyes pop out as Shane is announced as the Best in the World.

Reigns tells him to shut up because he’ll powerbomb Shane through the mat at Super ShowDown. He’s tired of hearing about how great Shane is because Shane always needs help. Once Reigns gets done with Shane on Friday, he’ll beat Drew McIntyre at Stomping Grounds. As for right now though, the two of them are ready for Reigns. Cue the Revival to jump Reigns from behind, drawing out the Usos for the save in a preview for tonight’s six man tag. It looks like we’ll be having that match after the break.

It’s time for the Firefly Fun House with a very special episode. This time around, Bray wants to talk about….exercise. Wyatt introduces us to a new character: Huskus the Pig. Bray talks to him about his bad health habits but promises that one day, everyone will tell him that he’s a genius with the whole world in his hands. Then a Vince McMahon puppet with devil horns pops in and threatens to fire Huskus. This leads to a dance workout called the Muscle Man Dance, with Huskus, Vince and Bray all dancing. Now Huskus is in shape.

Natalya/Dana Brooke vs. Tamina/Sarah Logan

In lieu of the international show I guess. Natalya headlocks Logan down to start and it’s off to Brooke in the first ten seconds. The rapid fire tags continue with Logan bailing to the floor as we take a break. Back with Logan holding Natalya in a leglock, which is quickly broken up for the hot tag off to Brooke. That means a bulldog for two but Tamina superkicks Brooke down for the same. The running corner splash misses though and it’s an assisted Swanton to give Brooke the pin at 7:47.

Rating: D. I’m sure a lot of the match was cut by the break and I’m sure that whatever was cut wouldn’t have helped. This was four women being thrown out there for the sake of filling in a match and that’s rarely going to be a good idea. Another match that just exists, which happens on Main Event far too often.

Super ShowDown rundown.

From Raw.

Here’s Undertaker with five minutes left in the show to address Goldberg. Undertaker asks if you ever think about what happens when you face death every time. Do you choke at the stench of the souls that are already gone? Goldberg will find out on Friday and Undertaker doesn’t want the family. Undertaker wants the unstoppable icon GOLDBERG. If Goldberg brings anything less, their first match will be his last. When the reaper beckons, you answer his call, because Undertaker will claim his soul for all eternity. Goldberg is next. And we’re off the air less than a second after Undertaker finishes talking.

And from Smackdown.

Here’s Goldberg for the first time ever on Smackdown. He thanks the fans for their chants and says it’s time to get down to business. He’s been waiting over twenty years to face the Undertaker one on one. Last night he heard Undertaker say he didn’t want the family man Goldberg. That statement made a light go off in Goldberg’s head and he knows he wants the same Goldberg to face Undertaker as well.

Overall Rating: D. Ah yeah that’s why I didn’t remember this week: it was horrible. WWE is somehow getting even worse at the moment and a lot of that has to do with setting up Super ShowDown. What comes after that though? A show built around Super ShowDown rematches. Things need to change around here soon or it’s going to get even worse, if that’s possible.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Super ShowDown 2019
Date: June 7, 2019
Location: King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young

Yeah we’re back over here and no that’s not the most interesting thing in the world. It’s the third of what is likely to be twenty (geez) shows in the country that shall not be named and it feels even more like a show where they’re doing it because they have to. The Goldberg vs. Undertaker match feels like a big deal though and will likely headline the show. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Usos vs. Revival

Cole: “We are live here in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia!” Well at least they said it. Oh and it’s 94 degrees and feels 102 (34 to 39 for you Celsius fans) in the stadium. As a bonus, they have about ten minutes before the show so this is going to be short. Dawson gets backdropped to start and Wilder gets dropped over the top onto him for a bonus. The Usos hit some chops on the floor but Jimmy is taken down inside, setting up a running elbow to the back of the head.

The fans get behind the Usos, even as Jimmy gets caught in the chinlock. That’s broken up in short order and the hot tag brings in Jey for the house cleaning. The running Umaga attack in the corner rocks Dawson and a high crossbody gets two. Hang on though as Wilder distracts the referee, meaning Jey’s small package gets no count. Dawson hits a spinebuster for two but it’s time for the superkicks a go-go. Double superkicks finish Wilder at 7:11.

Rating: C-. Well it was nice while it lasted, but I guess it was more important to give the fans watching at home more hype videos for HHH vs. Randy Orton and Roman Reigns vs. Shane McMahon than let us have a longer match here. That isn’t sarcasm as those matches are more important, but this would have felt weak as a Raw match.

The opening video talks about what a grand international stage this is before going into a pretty standard recap of the top matches.

The pyro is back.

Raw World Title: Baron Corbin vs. Seth Rollins

Rollins is defending and is very banged up after Brock Lesnar destroyed him on Raw. Speaking of Lesnar, he has promised to cash in, though he hasn’t said on whom. The fans are behind Rollins (with his VERY taped up ribs) so Corbin gets smart with a knee to the gut. Rollins is fine enough to kick him in the head, only to have a springboard broken up with a ribs first drop onto the top rope.

Corbin drops the ropes onto the top again for two and the kickouts earn the referee a stern lecture. We hit the waistlock (I can’t handle Corbin not using a chinlock), followed by a belly to back suplex for two. Rollins manages an enziguri for the double knockdown and it’s a Sling Blade to send Corbin outside. That means back to back suicide dives, followed by a sunset flip for two back inside.

Corbin bails to the floor again but this time the suicide dive is blocked with an uppercut. The near fall off Deep Six makes the frustration even worse so Corbin grabs a chair. Common sense sets in and Corbin drops it to the floor but he yells at the referee again. This time though the referee yells back and the stunned Corbin gets rolled up to retain Rollins’ title at 11:12.

Rating: C-. This felt like a pretty lame Raw main event with the banged up Rollins not being able to do much with Corbin. They followed the blueprint pretty much to the letter but that doesn’t mean it’s something that worked. At least Corbin didn’t win here, but you can practically guarantee that we’ll be seeing this again later this month. The ending was clever though.

Post match Corbin hits the End of Days on Rollins. Cue Lesnar and Paul Heyman with the briefcase but Heyman drops the briefcase on the way in, allowing Rollins to get in a low blow and some chair shots. Lesnar tries to use the briefcase to cover up but Rollins Stomps him onto the case (that looked good) to knock Brock cold. No cash in.

Post commercials, Lesnar is still leaving the ring, earning the Goodbye Song from some of the fans.

Intercontinental Title: Andrade vs. Finn Balor

Balor is defending and of course there’s no Zelina Vega. Balor is the Demon here, with a bunch of people in black surrounding him during his entrance. Andrade starts fast and tries a quick hammerlock DDT but Balor shoves him off. A missile dropkick gives Andrade two and we hit the Three Amigos. Andrade’s reverse tornado DDT gets two more and it’s off to the chinlock. Balor fights back and sends him outside for the big flip dive and it’s 1916 for two back inside.

Back in and Andrade kicks him in the face, which just makes Balor yell a lot. Andrade’s cartwheel kick to the head puts Balor in the corner so the running knees can get two. The double moonsault hits knees (that’s still one of the most contrived moves in WWE) and Balor nails the top rope double stomp to the back for two of his own.

Andrade kicks him in the face and the hammerlock DDT gets two (Andrade: “That’s my finish!”). Balor is right back with a powerbomb and the shotgun dropkick but Andrade breaks up the Coup de Grace. They both wind up on top and Balor hits a DDT to bring Andrade right back down. Now the Coup de Grace can retain the title at 11:28.

Rating: C+. Pretty nice match here, which is about all you can ask for in a spot like this. Above all else though, WWE’s ability to screw up something like the Demon astounds me. They make it sound like it’s two completely different people and call him the Demon over and over again. As usual, it’s a case of WWE acting like the fans need everything simplified for them and it’s getting annoying.

Miz says he’ll win the battle royal.

Jinder Mahal says he’ll win the battle royal and then get the 24/7 Title back.

We recap Roman Reigns vs. Shane McMahon. Reigns debuted on the Superstar Shakeup edition of Smackdown and punched Vince McMahon. Shane vowed revenge because you don’t attack people’s fathers (add irony to the list of things they’re bad at these days) and has sent various lackeys after Reigns. Since it’s Shane though, he’s both the final boss and the one that should be easily destroyed at the same time.

Shane McMahon vs. Roman Reigns

Drew McIntyre is here with Shane and his early distraction lets Shane get in some cheap shots in the corner. Reigns misses a charge into the post and Shane sends him in again for a bonus. Some choking has Cole freaking out over everything Shane is allowed to get away with, just like he did last month in a cage. Thankfully Graves is right there to ask how you can get away with stuff in a cage match, with Cole backpedaling in a hurry.

Shane’s back elbow to the face gets two and we hit the chinlock. Reigns fights up but the Superman Punch is countered with a chop block. The triangle goes on until Reigns turns over and powerbombs his way to freedom for two. Reigns sends Shane to the floor and goes to get him, but has to Superman Punch McIntyre first.

Back in and Shane gets two off a spear but the Coast to Coast is broken up with a Superman Punch. I won’t even bother telling you that Shane kicked out, because of course he did. The spear is blocked by a kick to the face and the referee gets bumped. McIntyre hits the Claymore and Shane gets the pin at 9:25.

Rating: D. I burst out laughing and how can you not? It’s clear that they’re just trolling us at this point and flipping off the fans who are complaining about Shane. The thing to remember here is that Shane dominated the match, kicked out of the Superman Punch and blocked the spear. Shane wasn’t dead at the end and got dragged on top for the pin. This was another case of Shane being presented as the greatest thing in WWE and the fans can just deal with it. In his last major singles matches, he’s beaten Reigns, Miz twice and Dolph Ziggler, earning a trophy and the Tag Team Titles in between. How is he not next for Kofi?

Reigns looks….mildly annoyed.

Kofi Kingston talks about all the great things he’s gotten to do as champion. Tonight, he’s giving Dolph Ziggler a new memory: the time where Kingston beats him again. Xavier Woods is here too and still seems a bit forgotten, which seems to be some seeds being planted for he and Big E. turning on Kofi.

Lars Sullivan vs. Lucha House Party

This is Sullivan’s in-ring debut and it’s a handicap match. Kalisto starts for the team and gets swatted away without too much effort. It’s off to Dorado, who has to slip out of an over the shoulder backbreaker, earning himself a clothesline to the floor. Sullivan is bleeding from the mouth as Metalik comes in and hits some kicks but Kalisto gets knocked out of the air again.

A shot to the face knocks Sullivan out to the floor though and it’s time to maul Kalisto. Graves says the fans are in awe of him but they seem to be more in awe of the lines for the restrooms. Sullivan gets knocked off the top….and Kalisto and Dorado beat on him….for a DQ at 5:44.

Rating: F. This is more amazing than Shane beating Reigns. Why in the world was this not LARS SMASH??? I’m going to hope that this is some form of punishment for Sullivan and assume that they’re not THIS stupid, though it wouldn’t shock me if that was the case. It’s another case where I have to laugh, though at least Sullivan didn’t get pinned. Would it really have shocked you if he had?

Post match the Luchas beat him up even more until Sullivan fights up and cleans house to leave them laying.

We recap HHH vs. Randy Orton. They’ve been fighting on and off for about fifteen years and now they’re doing it again because Saudi Arabia.

Randy Orton vs. HHH

HHH gets the motorcycle entrance that we were all waiting to see again. The fans go from an NXT chant to a THIS IS AWESOME chant before they even lock up. Feeling out process to start with HHH taking him into the corner but getting taken down with a headlock takeover. The fight over a top wristlock gives us another standoff as we’re firmly in HHH’s long match formula here. A missed charge sends Orton shoulder first into the post, followed by some rams into various other metal objects.

Orton drops him onto the announcers’ table and sends HHH into the steps. Back in and some stomping sets up the chinlock, with Orton pulling him by the beard to stop a comeback bid. HHH fights up again and hits the jumping knee to the face. Neither finisher can hit and HHH blocks the hanging DDT, only to eat a dropkick to put him on the apron. The superplex is blocked and HHH clotheslines him in the back of the head for a double knockdown.

Orton’s powerslam gets two and there’s the hanging DDT, but the RKO is countered into the spinebuster. HHH covers three times in a row before going to a Crossface of all things. That’s broken up with a rope break and even that takes forever with no energy to it. The Pedigree attempt is countered into a backdrop and the RKO gets two.

Orton loads up the Punt, which Cole says is how he became known as the Legend Killer (no). That’s countered into the Pedigree for two more so Orton rolls to the floor. Orton gets dropped onto the announcers’ table to even the score and HHH does it again to go one up. Make it FOUR in a row and that table still won’t break. Back in and Orton hits the RKO for the pin at 25:39 (it’s as sudden as it sounds).

Rating: D. As usual with a big HHH match, it would have been good if you cut out ten minutes of laying around and stopped watching it in slow motion. It’s not like the match means anything in the long run so Orton winning is the right move, but I need a serious shot of caffeine after this marathon.

We look back at the 24/7 Title changes at the airport and in the air.

Baron Corbin rants about the referee costing him the title. Heads will roll.

Bobby Lashley vs. Braun Strowman

Lashley poses on a platform during his entrance so Strowman throws it off the stage. Lashley’s shoulder has no effect as Strowman just stares at him. The test of strength goes to Lashley off some knees to the ribs, followed by a leapfrog of all things. Strowman runs him over this time but misses a charge into the corner, allowing Lashley to hit a running powerslam for two.

Lashley grabs a chinlock for a bit until Strowman powers him up and sends things outside. That means the running shoulders around the ring and the powerslam (minus the running) for two back inside. It’s back to the floor with Lashley driving him into the barricade and hitting a suplex on the ramp. Back in and Strowman slams him off the top, followed by a pair of powerslams for the win at 8:23.

Rating: D+. It was a decent hoss fight and not much more than that but were you expecting anything else? This is one of those matches that anyone can understand, even if they’re not a wrestling fan. There was a firm ceiling of what they were going to be able to do and they hit it pretty squarely.

Ali says he’s going to win the battle royal so he can inspire people.

Samoa Joe says he’s going to win the battle royal.

We recap Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler, which is the latest instance of Ziggler saying that this time will be different and he’ll be awesome and all that stuff. It’s coming off like a filler feud and that has to be the case every now and then, but Ziggler still isn’t interesting no matter how many times they trot him out there.

Smackdown World Title: Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler

Kingston is defending and has Woods in his corner. Ziggler has an American flag on his tights to make sure he’s a heel around here. Kofi misses an early Stinger Splash attempt and gets dropkicked for two. Some raking of the eyes makes Kofi yell a lot and Ziggler’s yelling gets two. Kofi fights out of a chinlock and whips Ziggler hard into the corner, meaning it’s time for some tromboning. The comeback is on, including the Boom Drop for no cover.

Ziggler goes to the ropes to avoid Trouble in Paradise and heads up top, only to get tossed off. A high crossbody is rolled through to give Ziggler two and it’s off to a pinfall reversal sequence. The SOS gets two and Kofi sends him outside for the big dive (with trombone) off the top. Ziggler sends Kofi into the steps and superkicks Woods before heading back inside. Trouble in Paradise misses but woods kicks Ziggler, setting up Trouble in Paradise to retain the title at 10:09.

Rating: C. Yeah this was every Ziggler match for the last few years and that’s all you could have expected. It was fine and short with the heat likely getting to them. Kofi retaining makes sense as the idea of Ziggler being champion might be too much even for WWE these days. Assuming no cash in, Kofi vs. Shane sounds like Summerslam to me.

In the back, Ziggler rants about how Kofi is a fraud because he had his friend helping him. He wants a rematch with no one interfering, perhaps in a steel cage. WE JUST DID THAT LAST MONTH!

We look back at the opening match with Corbin yelling at the referee and getting pinned, plus the resulting failed cash-in attempt.

Video on the fans being happy that WWE is here.

Battle Royal

Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, The Miz, Otis, Tucker, Tony Nese, Mansoor, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy, Jinder Mahal, No Way Jose, Sunil Singh, Sumir Singh, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Elias, Samoa Joe, Buddy Murphy, Shinsuke Nakamura, Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas, Ali, Samoa Joe, Oney Lorcan, Cedric Alexander, Humberto Carrillo, Ivar, Erik, Akira Tozawa, Ricochet, Mike Kanellis, Heath Slater, EC3, Akam, Rezar, Xavier Woods, Robert Roode, Shelton Benjamin, Rowan, Brian Kendrick, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Scott Dawson, Dash Wilder, Cesaro, Titus O’Neil, Eric Young, Drew Gulak, Sin Cara, Chad Gable

I think that’s everyone. Titus gets one of the special entrances and runs down but makes sure to stop for a funny bit. Elias plays himself to the ring and sings about how many losers there are in the match. Miz jumps out of the ring and attacks Elias as EC3 and the Singh Brothers are tossed early on. Anderson is out too, along with Eric Young and Carrillo. There go Gallows and Slater as they’re clearing the ring out early on.

Axel is out, followed by Lorcan, Dallas and Tozawa. Jose, Kendrick, Gulak and Nese are tossed as you can see the mat for the first time. We settle down to a three way staredown between Heavy Machinery, AOP and the Viking Raiders for a cool visual. The Vikings get rid of the AOP and Tucker as we see Titus hiding underneath the ring. He comes back in and starts cleaning house, including eliminating the Vikings by himself. Shelton knees Titus out and Xavier superkicks Murphy to the floor.

Matt gets rid of Shelton and Joe dumps both Hawkins and Ryder. Gable and Crews are out, followed by Ricochet getting rid of Jinder. Things settle down a lot with almost everyone being down at once. Otis runs over Nakamura and Rusev, setting up the Caterpillar to little reaction. Rowan dumps Otis and Woods but gets superkicked out by the Usos. The Revival gets rid of the Usos and Hardy does the same thing to the two of them.

Cesaro eliminates Matt and Swings Alexander, setting up a catapult for the elimination. Sin Cara hits La Mistica on Cesaro but takes Kinshasa from Nakamura. Cara is right back up though and kicks Nakamura out (seriously) but Rusev dumps him as well. Miz gets rid of Roode and hits the YES Kicks on Cesaro and Elias. Cesaro ducks one though and sends Miz to the apron so Elias can knee Miz out.

We’re down to Joe, Ali, Ricochet, Mansoor, Elias and Cesaro. Ricochet and Ali start double teaming Cesaro but Joe runs them both over. The two of them get together and eliminate Joe but Cesaro eliminates both of them. Mansoor gets rid of Cesaro and we’re down to Mansoor (the home country favorite) and Elias. Mansoor hits a superkick and backdrops Elias out for the win at 17:50.

Rating: D. Yeah fine. It’s been proven that these wins mean nothing so Mansoor winning is an acceptable choice. I’ll take it over some lunkhead winning it and going nowhere as a result. Let the fans have something special to cheer for so they can actually have some energy for a change.

Post match Mansoor looks straight ahead in shock before talking about what this means to him. A year ago he was here as a prospect and now he’s won the biggest match of his career. Nice moment actually.

We run down the Stomping Grounds card, with rematches of both World Title matches confirmed.

We recap the main event in a pretty cool video package with clips of Undertaker and Goldberg from over the years. It’s a great way of showcasing how these are two monsters and that’s exactly what they’re setting up here. This has been the best built thing on the show so hopefully it’s able to come close to the hype.

Goldberg vs. Undertaker

Another spear drops Undertaker for two and it’s time for the situp. Goldberg isn’t sure what to think of that one but he’s fine enough to escape the chokeslam. The kneebar goes on until a rope is grabbed and Goldberg misses a charge into the corner, busting himself open BAD. Half of Goldberg’s head is covered in blood in a few seconds and there’s Old School. The chokeslam plants Goldberg again and it’s a Tombstone for two (and not even two and a half).

Goldberg is up first for the double clothesline and they’re both down. Snake Eyes connects but the big boot is cut off with a spear. They botch the Jackhammer with Undertaker getting dropped on his head like a brainbuster for two. Goldberg tries a Tombstone but falls down, setting up a horrible chokeslam to give Undertaker the pin at 8:28.

Rating: D-. I wanted to say it wasn’t that bad but egads some of those botches were terrible. They sucked the life out of what they had here, though the early part of the match more than felt special. That being said, it was hot, Goldberg was bloody, and it was his first match in over two years. Goldberg looked really, really off after getting cut open too and factoring in the heat, this was a lot more understandable. It was very bad at the end, but it could have been WAY worse (like if it had gone 25 minutes or some nonsense like that).

Undertaker does not look happy to end the show.

Overall Rating: D-. This could have been way, WAY worse and it’s miles ahead of the disaster that was Crown Jewel. There were some watchable matches earlier and, aside from the usual head scratch inducing booking choices in the middle, the last third mostly made sense. Now that being said, HHH vs. Orton is the latest edition of the cure for the common insomnia and Goldberg vs. Undertaker went sailing off a cliff after five minutes.

The problem here continues to be how unimportant these shows feel, and that’s before you even get to stuff like Sullivan winning by DQ, Shane beating Reigns, HHH’s marathon and hearing that both World Title matches are happening again in two weeks. This show is over and done with now so we can move on and forget it. It’s the middle of the three shows, but my goodness it was rough at times.

Results

Seth Rollins b. Baron Corbin – Rollup

Finn Balor b. Andrade – Coup de Grace

Shane McMahon b. Roman Reigns – Claymore from Drew McIntyre

Lars Sullivan b. Lucha House Party via DQ when Kalisto and Lince Dorado double teamed Sullivan

Randy Orton b. HHH – RKO

Braun Strowman b. Bobby Lashley – Powerslam

Kofi Kingston b. Dolph Ziggler – Trouble in Paradise

Mansoor won a battle royal last eliminating Elias

Undertaker b. Goldberg – Chokeslam

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

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