IMG Credit: WWE

NXT
Date: September 5, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness

Every now and then you get a dream match, but this time we have a Dream match. The big main event this week is Velveteen Dream vs. Johnny Gargano after Dream interrupted Gargano’s promo/therapy session last week. Other than that we might be getting some more information about who attacked Aleister Black. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Kassius Ohno vs. Kona Reeves

They start rather slowly with Reeves shouting that he’s the finest. That earns him a right hand to the jaw but Reeves comes back with a top rope ax handle. The Hawaiian Drop doesn’t work so Ohno hits the rolling forearm for the pin at 1:46. Thank goodness they’re pulling the plug on Reeves because it just wasn’t working.

Post match Ohno says he’s here to be the best, but now he gets it: there’s always going to be someone fresh and new. Whoever the next guy with buzz is, Ohno is going to be right here to knock them to the back of the line. That’s a good place for him as Ohno isn’t likely to make the main roster with his gut so let him be the NXT gatekeeper.

Connor’s Cure video.

Forgotten Sons vs. Street Profits

The Sons are Wesley Blake/Steve Cutler in a former military gimmick with Jaxson Ryker (Gunner) in their corner. Everything breaks down early on with the Profits dropkicking them to the floor, followed by a big flip dive from Ford. Back in and Cutler gets his arm barred but a blind tag brings Blake back in for a heck of a clothesline. A springboard kneedrop gets two on Ford and the Sons start taking turns hammering him down.

Cutler cranks on a reverse chinlock but his neckbreaker is countered into a backslide for two. That’s enough for the hot tag off to Dawkins as everything breaks down. Cue a masked man to go after Ford but he quick unmasks him as Shane Thorn. Ryker clotheslines Ford, leaving Cutler and Blake to hit a reverse DDT/middle rope stomp for the pin on Dawkins at 6:34.

Rating: C. Well that was quite a bit for a debut match. I like the fact that the Sons beat a bigger named team but it took a lot to make it work. I could have gone without all the interference, but at least we got to the right ending. The Sons could be an interesting gimmick, though this wasn’t the best start.

Heavy Machinery is in William Regal’s office where Otis admits that he broke the toilet in the Performance Center. Something about bad stomach chemistry. They also saw Tommaso Ciampa in the bushes near where Black was attacked.

We look back at the end of last week’s tag match between the Undisputed Era and Pete Dunne/Ricochet.

Post match, Ricochet and Dunne argued about who was responsible for the loss. They want each other’s titles. In two weeks: title vs. title. Well that should be awesome.

Video on the War Raiders.

Kairi Sane vs. Trish Adora

Non-title but Sane has a treasure chest, complete with a bunch of coins. Adora has some size to her with a lot of muscle. Sane takes her down into a rollup before switching over to a Brock Lock. That means a quick rope grab, followed by a spinning backfist to drop Adora. The Insane Elbow finishes Adora at 2:25. Adora has a good look but she didn’t get to do much here, which is understandable.

Post match here’s Shayna Baszler to shove the treasure chest over. Reality is going to hit the pirate ship like a cannonball when she enacts her rematch clause. The fight is on with Sane out striking Baszler and spearing her to the floor. Baszler’s confidence is a great feature for her and it’s making her stuff stand out.

Tommaso Ciampa is in the back again and says the crowd hasn’t seen him since Takeover because he doesn’t have a #1 contender. With Gargano defeated and Black injured, he really is the last man standing. The champ leads wolves and he’s at the top of the food chain. Follow the lead of the NXT Champion. Ciampa is amazing and that’s on his worst days.

Lars Sullivan is in Regal’s office and says he should have told the boss that he was medically cleared earlier on. He was there on the night of the attack to find Black because he owed Black a visit. When he arrived though, Black was already laid out. Sullivan saw the Undisputed Era driving off and Regal arriving. That’s fine for Regal, but Sullivan gets Raul Mendoza next week.

Velveteen Dream vs. Johnny Gargano

Dream poses at him to start and they hit the mat for some grappling. Back up and Gargano is more aggressive than usual with a forearm to the jaw and some Steve Austin stomps in the corner. A trip to the floor goes nowhere so it’s Dream hammering away back inside to slow Gargano down. Dream whips him so hard into the corner that Gargano is flipped upside down, followed by a neckbreaker for two.

We hit the chinlock for a bit until Johnny fights up with the hard shots to the face. Gargano scores with the slingshot spear and Dream bails to the floor where the Cannonball (more like a Blockbuster) from the apron puts him down again. Back in and Johnny misses his rolling kick to the head, allowing Dream to nail a Fameasser. An exchange of kicks to the head is capped off by Gargano clotheslining the heck out of Dream for two and they’re both spent.

They head to the apron for the slugout and Dream tries the Death Valley Driver on the apron. That’s broken up as well but Johnny tweaks his knee. Dream sends it into the steps and hits his twisting DDT back inside for a very near fall. Gargano’s springboard is broken up with a superkick but Dream misses the Purple Rainmaker onto the apron. Johnny nails him with a suicide dive and puts on the Gargano Escape on the floor.

The threat of a countout brings him back to reality but Dream beats the count as well. Gargano loads up a hanging DDT off the apron but lets Dream go before going too far. A fan with a Johnny Wrestling sign gets Gargano’s attention and he heads back inside. Dream calls him Johnny Failure as Johnny lowers the kneepad and the distraction allows Dream to hit the Dream Valley Driver for the pin at 15:51.

Rating: B+. This took its time getting going but once they got started it was off to the races. The Gargano story is rather interesting and while you can see the likely ending, the road there is one of the most entertaining things that NXT does. Throw in the fact that NXT is willing to let Gargano lose the big match and the drama will be off the charts. It’s also a great sign to see Dream get a huge win like this, as he beat one of the top stars in the promotion clean. Great stuff all around.

We get a split JOHNNY FAILURE/JOHNNY WRESTLING chant as Gargano is even more distraught. He walks off through the crowd, which sings the Goodbye Song. There’s also a JOHNNY chant as he leaves through the curtains to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Sometimes I can’t wrap my head around how well run this place is. They cut their losses on a character, debuted a stable, set up a rematch for the Women’s Title and had a great main event, all while advancing the overarching Black story, all in about an hour. On the main roster, that’s four months worth of work if they’re putting in the effort. Another incredible show this week and I don’t know why that still surprises me.

Results

Kassius Ohno b. Kona Reeves – Discus forearm

Forgotten Sons b. Street Profits – Reverse DDT/middle rope stomp to Dawkins

Kairi Sane b. Trish Adora – Insane Elbow

Velveteen Dream b. Johnny Gargano – Dream Valley Driver

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

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

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

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NXT
Date: January 17, 2018
Location: Center Stage Theater, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

We’re still in Atlanta as we’re heading towards Philadelphia for the next Takeover. Last week saw the Undisputed Era beat down Aleister Black to end the show, earning Adam Cole an Extreme Rules match with Black in Philadelphia. Odds are we’ll get the final card for the next Takeover tonight so let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

We see the shots of the crowd and there’s a rather prominent fan with a Britney Spears shirt. I’d wear that.

Heavy Machinery vs. Tino Sabbatelli/Riddick Moss

As usual, it’s a feud over Sabbatelli and Moss’ car. Otis runs Sabbatelli over with a hard shoulder to start and Tino isn’t sure what to do about that kind of power. Tucker comes in and grabs a front facelock to swing Tino around in a circle, only to have him land in front of Moss. Heavy Machinery crushes Moss between the two of them followed by something like a Worm into an elbow. It’s back to Tino to hammer on Otis until a clothesline allows the hot tag to Knight. Everything breaks down and Moss grabs a rollup with his feet on the ropes for the pin at 4:41.

Rating: C-. I’m glad Sabbatelli and Moss got a win and it’s not the biggest problem in the world as Heavy Machinery has already lost most of their steam. It’s also weird to have a power team like Heavy Machinery as good guys but it helps when Sabbatelli and Moss are good rich jerks. Buy something other than the car though.

Cole isn’t worried about Black because there are a million and one ways to hurt him. Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly know everyone wants their titles but they’re all in the Era’s era. I’m still not sold on that name as Undisputed would just sound better.

We look back at the ending of last week’s show with the announcement of the Extreme Rules match. Shouldn’t that have aired before the promo?

Roderick Strong vs. Fabian Aichner

Strong tries a headlock to start as the fans seem split. A leg lariat gives Strong two but Aichner powerslams him out of the air as we take a break. Back with Aichner holding an abdominal stretch until Strong fights out. The Angle Slam is broken up so Strong settles for his first backbreaker. Aichner is right back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker of his own and goes up, only to dive into another backbreaker. The Strong Hold (now a Liontamer) is good for the tap out at 7:37.

Rating: C+. Aichner has a real future with a great look and an awesome set of skills but he needs a little something more to really make it work. Still though, it’s cool to see him getting chances against big names like Strong, who still needs a few more big wins to really get somewhere. He’s a good upper midcarder though and you can always use one of those.

Post match Strong says he wants Lars Sullivan, who had already said he wanted to face Killian Dain. So we might be looking at a three way?

Long video on TM-61, who will be back from injury rather soon. They’ve been out for a very long time. They’ve been training for years, including training under Harley Race. All the work has been worth it though and they’re ready to make it here. They worked their way through a WWE tryout but also were young boys in Japan. Next week we’ll get part two, which hopefully is as awesome as this one.

Aliyah vs. Lacey Evans

Aliyah gets taken down with a wristlock to start but walks into a jawbreaker. Evans is sent to the apron and kicks Aliyah’s leg out for a slingshot elbow. A slingshot bronco buster gets two more on Aliyah but she grabs a northern lights suplex. Back up and Aliyah charges into a right hand in the corner….for the pin at 3:24.

Rating: D+. Aliyah is starting to look better but she still needs some more polishing. Evans has a bit of a weird gimmick but it’s a little more interesting than some others. Ending a match with a right hand though is rather different as well, but it does make her look a little tougher than you would expect.

Post match Evans says she wants to bring some class to the women’s division and she’ll start with Nikki Cross. Shayna Baszler comes out and glares at Evans before grabbing her choke on Aliyah, who is still woozy from the right hand. Ember Moon runs in for the save and tells Baszler to try that on her. Baszler says she’ll do it when the title is on the line. Moon says name the time.

William Regal makes the title match for Takeover. Zelina Vega comes in to say Velveteen Dream deserves the shot more than Johnny Gargano so they should have a #1 contenders match.

No Way Jose is back next week. I liked the guy, but I hadn’t remembered he was gone.

Johnny Gargano comes to the ring and says bring Dream on. This isn’t a fluke and this is his time and opportunity. The match is on for next week.

We look back at the Undisputed Era attacking Sanity to avoid the title defense last week.

Authors of Pain vs. Street Profits

The winners get the title shot in Philadelphia. Akum shoulders Ford down to start and easily pulls him over to the corner so Razar can get in his own shots to the back. The fans are behind the Profits of course as Ford has to fight out of a full nelson. One heck of a full nelson slam gives Razar two and it’s off to a chinlock as we take a break.

Back with Ford fighting out of a front facelock and bringing Dawkins in to clean house. A spinebuster/missile dropkick combination gets two on Akum and that’s probably their best shot. The Super Collider into the Last Chapter ends Ford at 9:43 to send the Authors to Philadelphia.

Rating: C. The Profits will be back of course but this was a big loss for them. The Authors are in a weird place as they’re not being called up to the main roster for whatever reason but there are so many teams around who are more interesting or just better than they are. Throw in the soon to debut War Machine and I’m not sure where they’re going.

Overall Rating: C+. This was the kind of show that they needed heading into Philadelphia as some of the stories needed a little bit more heat. Tonight helped on those fronts as well as adding two fresh title matches to the card. I’m starting to look forward to Philadelphia, which wasn’t the case as we were coming into this show. Hopefully things are even better next week, which tends to be the case around here.

Results

Tino Sabbatelli/Riddick Moss b. Heavy Machinery – Rollup to Moss

Roderick Strong b. Fabian Aichner – Strong Hold

Lacey Evans b. Aliyah – Right hand

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

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Volume VI: July – December 1999 in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/11/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-and-thunder-reviews-volume-vi/

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

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

NXT
Date: November 29, 2017
Location: Aztec Theater, San Antonio, Texas
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson

We’re back on the regular schedule this week as it’s time to get ready for Takeover: Philly. Therefore, we need to deal with the lack of Drew McIntyre, who has wrecked his elbow and be out for several months. Tonight will be at least partially focused on the women though with Kairi Sane facing Peyton Royce. Let’s get to it.

We’re in San Antonio this week with some matches from a recent house show.

Street Profits vs. Riddick Moss/Tino Sabbatelli

Dawkins waistlocks Moss down without much effort and gets in a slam for good measure. Ford comes in for the belly to back moonsault but Sabbatelli gets in a cheap shot to take over. That goes nowhere though as the Profits clean house without much effort. Back from a break with Ford being knocked off the barricade to really take over for the first time.

Moss stops to mock Ford’s dancing before hitting the chinlock. Ford flips out of it though and avoids a charge in the corner, setting up the hot tag to Dawkins as house is cleaned. An elbow gives Tino two with Moss grabbing Ford’s feet, forcing the referee to break things up. Back up and the spinebuster into the frog splash ends Sabbatelli at 12:49.

Rating: C. I’m starting to dig the Profits but they still need a better set of opponents. They’re nailing the charisma though and that’s what’s going to get them a lot further than anything else. Sabbatelli has a great look but his in-ring work just isn’t the best in the world. Moss….well he’s there too.

Last week the UK guys set up a tag match for this week.

Trent Seven and Tyler Bate are ready for said tag match and are ready to teach a fake team a lesson.

Mark Andrews is teaming with Pete Dunne tonight so he can get a future UK Title shot.

Kairi Sane vs. Peyton Royce

Peyton hiptosses her down to start but gets rolled up for a quick two. A dropkick gets the same, only to have Peyton spin kick Sane in the face for the same. Back from a break with Sane holding a chinlock until Sane fights up and hits a spear to cut her off. A running Blockbuster sets up the sliding corner elbow but it’s too early for the Insane Elbow. Sane stomps her down again, cuts down Billy Kay and drops the Insane Elbow for the pin at 9:46.

Rating: D+. Sane continues to not exactly thrill me in the ring though I’ve seen far worse. I get the hype and she has a great look but I’m still waiting on the great match. Royce and Kay are still good foils for the faces but they have to actually win something at some point to really make things more believable.

We look back at Sonya DeVille vs. Ruby Riot from last week. Next week it’s a no holds barred rematch.

We look back at Andrade Cien Almas winning the NXT Title from Drew McIntyre. Drew’s injury is also confirmed.

Tyler Bate/Trent Seven vs. Mark Andrews/Pete Dunne

Dunne front facelocks Bate to start before a hard shot to the face allows the tag off to Andrews. Seven comes in as well but gets dropkicked down for a fast two. It’s back to Dunne to crank on the fingers and we take a break. Back with Andrews working on Seven’s arm until the much bigger Seven blocks a monkey flip.

That’s fine with Dunne, who comes back in with a Backstabber to take Seven down all over again. A quick Seven Stars Lariat cuts Dunne off though and the hot tag brings in Bate to clean house. Tyler hits a middle rope elbow to the jaw but the Tyler Driver 97 is broken up. Andrews’ standing corkscrew moonsault gets two and the fans think this is awesome.

Andrews loads up a top rope hurricanrana but Dunne slaps him in the face for a tag. Not that it matters as the hurricanrana sends Bate into a sitout powerbomb for a strong near fall. A step up enziguri drops Seven but Andrews can’t hit the shooting star on Bate. Instead it’s the airplane spin until Dunne tags himself in. It doesn’t do much good though as Bate drops Dunne with a shot to the face, setting up the Tyler Driver for the pin at 15:53.

Rating: B. The usual good stuff here, though not as great as they’ve been before. This should set up another Bate vs. Dunne match and I’m not sure how many people would really be complaining. Bate and Seven are a really solid team and I wouldn’t mind seeing them in the Tag Team Title hunt, assuming their schedules would allow it.

Dunne lays Andrews out to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. It’s always good to have these shows taped just in case you need something like this. They were able to deal with the holiday schedule and still deliver a perfectly watchable show with a good main event. That’s a lot better than a Best Of show or something like that, which often feel like a waste of time.

Results

Street Profits b. Tino Sabbatelli/Riddick Moss – Frog splash to Sabbatelli

Kairi Sane b. Peyton Royce – Insane Elbow

Tyler Bate/Trent Seven b. Mark Andrews/Pete Dunne – Tyler Driver 97 to Dunne

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Volume VI: July – December 1999 in e-book or paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/11/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-and-thunder-reviews-volume-vi/

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

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

NXT
Date: November 15, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson, Mauro Ranallo

It’s the last show before Takeover: WarGames and that means things could be getting very fun in a hurry. The big story tonight, aside from the build towards Saturday’s main event of course, it Andrade Cien Almas and NXT Champion Drew McIntyre coming face to face. That match hasn’t gotten a lot of attention so a good focus could serve it well. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Street Profits vs. Riddick Moss/Tino Sabbatelli

This has been built up in a culture clash feud over recent weeks. Sabbatelli drives Dawkins into the corner to start but a shoulder puts him down, allowing Ford to come in for a basement dropkick. That’s about it for Ford’s offense though as he gets double teamed in the corner, followed by Moss’ hard belly to back. Ford is able to get over for the hot tag though and house is cleaned in a hurry. Sabbatelli avoids a splash in the corner but gets punched in the jaw….for the pin at 3:18.

Rating: D+. Well that was sudden. Alexa Bliss did that to Mickie James a few weeks back but you kind of expect it to be a long time (like years) before you see it happen twice. Sabbatelli has an incredible look but you have to wonder just how bad he is to not get a chance after all this time.

Recap of Velveteen Dream vs. Aleister Black, which is all over Dream wanting Black to say his name and doing whatever he can to get such attention. The best ending: Black is about to say his name and then kicks Dream in the face so Dream can’t hear it.

Lars Sullivan vs. Raul Mendoza

Mendoza fires off some kicks to start before being run over in the corner. A powerslam and some crossface shots set up the Freak Accident (standing Boss Man Slam) for the pin at 1:50.

Post match Sullivan goes after Mendoza again but Kassius Ohno comes in for the save with no violence. Mauro makes a rare error by saying Takeover is one week from Saturday.

Johnny Gargano is in William Regal’s office to say he can turn it around. Regal knows he can and puts Gargano in a UK Title match against Pete Dunne next week.

Long recap of WarGames with a look back at how the Undisputed Era arrived and took out everyone in front of them. Sanity stood up to them and Roderick Strong/the Authors of Pain are out for revenge. It’s kind of a shame that British Strong Style can’t be the third trio but Strong and the Authors are a fine choice.

Mercedes Martinez vs. Ember Moon

Last week, Martinez said Moon can’t win the big one, which is pretty true so far. Martinez grabs a headlock to start and holds Moon down for a good while. Back up and a one footed dropkick has Martinez in trouble, followed by a double footed version to the side of the head for two. Martinez throws her outside though and we take a break. Back with Moon striking away but getting her skin chopped off for her efforts.

Three Amigos look to set up a fisherman’s buster but now the enziguri connects to get Moon out of trouble. That means a big suicide dive to the floor, only to have Martinez come back with a Tower of London, much to Nigel’s delight. Not that it matters as Ember kicks her down again and hits the Eclipse for the pin at 10:27.

Rating: C. This was a nice win for Moon as Martinez was turned into a big deal in the tournament but can put people over time and time again. The best thing about Saturday’s match is how any of the four could conceivably win, which is where NXT shines. It keeps you from being bored and waiting on the win as is so often the case on the main roster. Good tuneup for Ember here and I wouldn’t be surprised if she won the title.

Here’s McIntyre for the face to face meeting with Almas. Before Andrade comes out, Drew talks about how a plan came together. It was Zelina’s plan but it was still a plan indeed. When the pressure is on Andrade though, will be be able to rise to the occasion? Vega has been talking about mountains but for Almas, Drew is the mountain.

Drew wants Almas out here if Zelina will let him off the leash. Cue both Zelina and Almas and the brawl is on in a hurry. Zelina tries a crossbody but gets caught without much effort. A chop block takes out the champ’s knee though and Almas plants him with a hammerlock DDT. Zelina holds up the title to end the show. This was quick but it did its job.

Overall Rating: C+. Good episode that set up some stuff for Takeover, though most of the card was already set in stone anyway. It was nice to have the title match get some focus as, while it’s a simple story, it hasn’t gotten a ton of attention. Gargano vs. Dunne is a fine choice for an off week main event and then we can move on to the build towards Philadelphia in January. This show did its job though and that’s what matters most for a go home episode.

Results

Street Profits b. Riddick Moss/Tino Sabbatelli – Right hand To Sabbatelli

Lars Sullivan b. Raul Mendoza – Freak Accident

Ember Moon b. Mercedes Martinez – Eclipse

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Updated History of the Intercontinental Title in E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/10/02/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-the-intercontinental-title-updated-version/

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

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NXT
Date: September 13, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

We’re coming up on the end of a taping cycle and that could mean a variety of things around here. Last week’s show ended with Asuka vacating the Women’s Title, which will likely be resolved during the next set of tapings. Other than that we have the continuing issues with the Undisputed Era, which is the official name for Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

The announcers talk about Asuka vacating the title last week.

Billie Kay/Peyton Royce vs. Ruby Riot/???

Riot demanded this match but William Regal told her to get a partner. There’s no partner to start though so it’s Ruby taking Peyton down to start. Cue Nikki Cross to watch from ringside as Peyton does her headscissor choke over the ropes. Ruby sends them into each other though and grabs a breather, only to have Cross get on the apron and tag herself in. Nikki starts cleaning house and hits a quick swinging fisherman’s neckbreaker on Kay. That’s enough for Nikki as she tags out and leaves. Riot hits the top rope backsplash for the pin on Billie at 4:04.

Rating: D+. This was much more of an angle than a match as the Iconic Duo loses again. I don’t remember the last time they won a big match but that’s not the point of a team like them. They’ll be back annoying people all over again in a few weeks and everything will be fine. It’s worked for them for months and it should work for them on the main roster.

We look back at Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli challenging Johnny Gargano last week.

No Way Jose explains his issues with Lars Sullivan. Someone has to teach Lars a lesson and that’s a challenge for next week.

Riddick Moss vs. Johnny Gargano

Johnny headlocks him to start but the much stronger Moss throws him around without too much effort. One heck of an elbow to the jaw cuts Johnny off again and he’s sent into the corner as we take a break. Back with Moss pounding him down in the corner, only to have Johnny clothesline him outside. A baseball slide sets up a running flip dive off the apron but Johnny has to deal with Tino.

Not that it matters as the Gargano Escape has Riddick in trouble but he makes the rope for the save. Johnny is freaked out and the announcers talk about him losing his confidence. Tino tries to interfere again but eats a superkick, followed by the spear through the ropes to put Moss away at 10:28.

Rating: C. Better match than I was expecting from Moss, who is one of those guys who has been around NXT for years but never actually does anything. Johnny having confidence issues is an interesting idea, though having him regain his confidence to put away someone as low level as Moss was the right call. It’s part of a long term story for him and that’s a good idea.

Street Profits vs. Ealy Brothers

Gabriel shoves Uriel into the corner to start and STEALS HIS BANDANA! That earns him one heck of a right hand so it’s off to Ford. The always cool jump over the partner onto the opponent’s back spot has both Brothers reeling but a little Twin Magic earns Ford a kick to the face. That’s about it for the offense though as a missed charge allows the hot tag to Dawkins. Everything breaks down and it’s a spinebuster into the frog splash to put Uriel away at 2:49.

Video on Asuka leading into a recap of last week’s ceremony.

We look back at Wolfgang pinning Tyler Bate to earn a UK Title shot.

Wolfgang is ready for his title shot.

UK Title: Wolfgang vs. Pete Dunne

Pete is defending and the fans go insane for him. Wolfgang gets taken down by the head so Dunne can crank on his arm and then fingers. A cravate takes Pete down, only to have him forearm the heck out of Wolfgang. Dunne snaps the fingers again for another breather though, followed by a DDT to drop Wolfgang head first onto the apron.

Back from a break with Dunne grabbing a Kimura with a bodyscissors. Wolfgang shoves him off so Pete hits a running kick to the head. That just earns him a spear as things are starting to pick up. Dunne bails to the floor so it’s a running flip dive, followed by a moonsault for two on the champ back inside.

The X Plex cuts Wolfgang off but he’s right back up with a delayed superplex. The Howling hits knees though and Dunne slaps on a cross armbreaker. That’s reverses as well so it’s a pop up powerslam for two on Pete. A forearm to the jaw cuts Wolfgang off though and it’s the Bitter End to retain the title at 10:58.

Rating: B. It’s nowhere near what Dunne did with Bate but it was still a hard hitting and entertaining match. Wolfgang didn’t do much for me during the tournament but I’ve liked his stuff since then a lot more. Dunne continues to be WAY better than he should be at his age though and that’s a great sign for his future.

Post match the Undisputed Era comes out to beat down both guys. Dunne bails while they beat on Wolfgang until Tyler Bate and Trent Seven run out for the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a filler show with a good main event and there’s nothing wrong with that. Odds are we’ll be getting a huge match between British Strong Style and the Undisputed Era in the near future and that’s an indy main event anywhere in the world. Good show here, though nothing really worth going out of your way to see.

Results

Ruby Riot/Nikki Cross b. Billie Kay/Peyton Royce – Top rope backsplash to Kay

Johnny Gargano b. Riddick Moss – Slingshot spear

Street Profits b. Ealy Brothers – Frog splash to Uriel

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Complete 2002 Monday Night Raw Reviews in either E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

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NXT
Date: August 16, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

It’s the go home show for Takeover: Brooklyn III and the main event is an interesting case of booking for what comes after the big show. Tonight’s main event will see Roderick Strong vs. #1 contender Drew McIntyre. If Strong wins, he gets to face NXT Champion Bobby Roode at some point after Takeover, but he won’t be involved in the title match on Saturday no matter what. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

The announcers preview tonight’s show and some of Saturday’s big matches.

Here’s General Manager William Regal to emcee the contract signing for the Women’s Title match. Both Asuka and Ember Moon come out with Moon grabbing a mic. She talks about Asuka having all kinds of success, including being one of the most dominant women in WWE history and even surpassing Goldberg’s undefeated streak. That being said, Asuka had to cheat to beat her and that’s not going to be enough this time. Asuka is losing the title in Brooklyn. They both sign but Asuka goes on a rant in Japanese, screaming in Moon’s face. Moon doesn’t seem phased.

Lars Sullivan came to see William Regal and asked for one more tag match, promising to not beat up his partner again. Regal reluctantly agrees.

Street Profits vs. Lars Sullivan/Chris Silvio

Percy and Mauro argue about how much sauce the Profits have. Sullivan gets a full entrance with his partner Silvio, who was an OVW mainstay for years. Silvio charges at Dawkins to start and eats a right hand. It’s such a hard shot that Ford runs into the crowd for a lap to burn off some excitement. Ford comes back in and drops Silvio with a shot to the back of the head, only to have Lars no sell a shot to the face. A Stinger Splash sets up the Sky High into a frog splash to put Silvio away at 1:47.

The Profits run from Sullivan, who is glaring down at Silvio. Sullivan picks Silvio up and carries him to the back in a change of pace. He takes Silvio outside and beats him up outside, because he promised not to hurt his partner in the ring.

Billie Kay vs. Ruby Riot

Fallout from last week where Kay and Peyton Royce made fun of Riot’s looks. Billie avoids Ruby to start and Peyton finds it hilarious. Riot gets in a rollup and does Billie’s giggling pose for a funny moment. A Peyton distraction lets Billie get in a discus lariat for two and Eat Defeat gets the same. Ruby fights up and uses her knees to send Billie face first into the buckle followed by a Pele for the pin at 4:08.

Rating: D+. Not much here but Riot is really starting to look like a bigger deal. She could easily be moved up the ranks to challenge Ember (assuming she wins) as she has the unique look and it factor to take her pretty far. Billie and Peyton are a good team but it’s a big stretch to have them win an important match, which makes them kind of a hard act to move forward.

Post match Peyton says lightning can’t strike twice and says Riot will never be iconic. Sounds like another match is coming.

We run down Saturday’s card.

Video on the Authors of Pain vs. Sanity.

Drew McIntyre vs. Roderick Strong

If Strong wins, he gets a match with Roode after Takeover. If McIntyre wins, nothing changes. Drew powers him down to start and sends Strong down with a suplex slam for good measure. Roderick dropkicks him to the outside but gets tossed into the post for his efforts. An enziguri and belly to back onto the apron put Drew down though and we take a break.

Back with Drew in a seated abdominal stretch and a running kick to the head staggering him even more. Drew fights up and gets in a belly to belly and a top rope forearm drops Strong again. The reverse Alabama Slam gets two but the Claymore is blocked with a jumping knee to the face. A headbutt catches Strong on top but he knocks Drew into the Tree of Woe, only to have Roode run in for the DQ at 12:38.

Rating: C+. Drew is still having trouble clicking in NXT and the more I watch him, the more I think a lot of it has to do with his size. He’s so much bigger than most of the people in NXT and it makes for awkward matches as you rarely have a face this much bigger than his opponents. Strong isn’t a big guy in the first place and it really shows when he’s compared to someone Drew’s size.

As for the ending, that was really the only way they could go. It was a back and forth match until the ending where Roode gave Strong the win (not his brightest move). This lets us have the match without having to give McIntyre a loss before his big match. It’s smart booking, though not the smartest move for Roode.

Roode beats up McIntyre with a Glorious DDT to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This really wasn’t up to the level of most NXT go home shows. The three titles matches got a nice boost but the other two matches were only mentioned in passing. NXT is usually a lot better than this but it wasn’t there tonight. Roode vs. McIntyre still isn’t the most thrilling match in the world but at least they gave it something here. If the match itself is good, all of this will be forgotten but it’s not a great, or even a very good, build so far, which is very unlike NXT.

Results

Street Profits b. Lars Sullivan/Chris Silvio – Frog splash to Silvio

Ruby Riot b. Billie Kay – Pele Kick

Roderick Strong b. Drew McIntyre via DQ when Bobby Roode interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Complete 2002 Monday Night Raw Reviews in either E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/07/21/new-e-bookpaperback-kbs-complete-monday-night-raw-2002-reviews/

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

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

NXT
Date: August 9, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson, Mauro Ranallo

With just two shows to go before the biggest show of the year, it’s time to really push home the main event and that’s what we’ll be doing this week. Tonight NXT Champion Bobby Roode will be in the ring with Drew McIntyre for a showdown, as well as getting ready for everything else we have on tap for Brooklyn. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Sanity through the crowd with Nikki Cross shouting about wanting the Authors of Pain to get out here. The Authors don’t make them wait long but Eric Young makes his return and helps beat them down. Razar is tied to the barricade as Akum is destroyed. Eventually Razar pulls the barricade to the ring but gets beaten down as well. Cross grabs the belts and Sanity leaves with them.

We look back at Ember Moon laying out Asuka with the Eclipse last week.

Video on the Street Profits, who debut tonight.

Billie Kay and Peyton Royce are going to explain how to do perfect makeup but stop to make fun of Ruby Riot instead.

Metro Brothers vs. Street Profits

The Metro Brothers are a couple of greasers named Chris and JC. The Profits are NXT mainstays Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins in another repackaging. Ford and Dawkins dance to the ring with Ford holding out a cup, presumably to ask for change. Angelo shoulders Chris down and hits a good looking armdrag before handing it off to Ford for a basement dropkick.

Back up and Ford flips over Chris’ back, only to get taken into the wrong corner. The Metro dominance lasts all of five seconds until it’s back to Dawkins for a spear. A Sky High into a frog splash gives Ford the pin on JC at 2:19. The Profits looked very crisp and have the charisma to back it up, at least so far.

We look at Hideo Itami trying to attack Aleister Black in the parking lot last week. They’ll fight at Takeover.

General Manager William Regal brings out McIntyre and Roode for the face to face meeting. Roode comes out with a security team in his corner though as Roderick Strong is running around like a crazy man and we need to protect the big money match. Well to protect Roode that is because he’s the big money. Roode talks about Drew feeling entitled to his shot but he’s done everything he’s set out to do.

This is Roode’s NXT and the fans know that he’s the one. Drew thinks Roode might have had the best year ever for an NXT Champion but there’s one problem: Roode is kind of a jerk. That’s just going to make taking the title from him all the sweeter though. This brings out Strong, to say that he’s not done with Roode no matter what Regal says. Strong says this isn’t about the NXT Title but rather Roode disrespecting Strong’s family.

All Strong wants is one more fight with Roode and it doesn’t even have to be for the title. Regal tries to calm him down but Roode says he’ll fight Strong anytime with the title on the line….if Strong can beat Drew first. If Strong wins, he can fight Roode after Takeover, which will be Roode vs. McIntyre for the title no matter what. Drew agrees to the match next week and Regal eventually agrees.

Johnny Gargano was nervous last week but needs a match at Takeover so he can feel the rush of walking through the curtain in front of a Brooklyn crowd.

Oney Lorcan vs. Danny Burch

Rematch from when Lorcan beat him a few weeks back. They lock up to start as Mauro compares Burch’s boxing career to Conor McGregor’s. Neither can get much of an advantage out of a lockup so Burch grabs a quickly broken cravate. Back up and Lorcan’s leapfrog is countered into something like a flapjack, followed by some European uppercuts. Lorcan sends him hard into the corner though and we take a break.

Back with Burch still in trouble but blocking a running European uppercut with a raised boot. Burch can’t hit the Tower of London so he settles for a release German suplex. A lariat gets two and now the Tower of London off the top rope gets two more. Lorcan comes right back with a running Blockbuster and tells Burch to hit him. A slugout goes to Lorcan but he can’t get the half crab. He can get a regular Boston crab though, only to have Burch reverse into a cradle for the pin at 12:52.

Rating: C+. This was more of the hard hitting style that these two are capable of having. I wouldn’t mind seeing these two team up after two good matches as it’s not like either of them have anything else going on. Lorcan and Burch both have potential and if a team is what lets them get somewhere, so be it.

They shake hands post match.

No Way Jose vs. Andrade Cien Almas

Jose dances through the crowd to get to the ring. It worked so well for Adam Rose. Almas has Zelina Vega with him. Jose dances his way out of a waistlock and Almas has a breather on the floor. Back in and a flapjack drops Almas again and he’s knocked to the floor for a second time. Vega yells at him this time and Almas responds by pulling Jose down by the afro. Jose gets stomped down in the corner and there are the running knees to the head. The hammerlock DDT ends Jose at 3:46.

Rating: D+. This was a win to get Andrade back on track as he basically squashed Jose. Having Vega as the driving force is fine as Almas could be a good choice for a heel but he’s only going to do so much with the losing streak gimmick. This was a good sign, but he needs something a bit better than this going forward.

Post match Vega goes to commentary and says, in a very New York accent, that she wants Almas on the grand stage. If Johnny Gargano still wants an opponent, they’ll see him in Brooklyn.

Overall Rating: C+. This was all about setting up Brooklyn, though I’m not quite sure I get the idea behind having Strong vs. McIntyre next week. It makes Roode look smart but if they’re setting up Strong vs. Roode II, I’m not sure how that helps McIntyre. Odds are Drew goes over but otherwise, it’s rather curious booking. Other than that though we had some good development for the rest of the card and Gargano vs. Almas being set up is a smart idea. Throw in the Street Profits looking good and this was a rather nice episode that did its job.

Results

Street Profits b. Metro Brothers – Frog splash to JC

Danny Burch b. Oney Lorcan – Rollup

Andrade Cien Almas b. No Way Jose – Hammerlock DDT

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Complete 2002 Monday Night Raw Reviews in either E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/07/21/new-e-bookpaperback-kbs-complete-monday-night-raw-2002-reviews/

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

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