Smackdown
Date: August 14, 2026
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re a week away from the Kevin Owens vs. CM Punk World Title match and that means it’s time for some rather big talking. That should be more than enough for the focal point out here but we also have the Tongans and the War Raiders getting a Tag Team Title shot against R-Truth and Damian Priest. Let’s get to it.

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

Here is Nick Aldis to get things going. He brings out the injured Chelsea Green, who suffered a broken orbital bone last week. Green’s injury means she can’t wrestle but she says she’ll do anything to keep going. She gives quite the speech about how she has done everything to get here, missed so many things and done anything asked of her, but she finally made it.

Aldis should understand this, especially after Summerslam. Green and Aldis both proved that it doesn’t matter what others think of them but rather what they think of themselves. Green hands the title away and leaves distraught, but Aldis stops her (the fans like that). As the GM, he can’t do anything….though as Aldis the man, he doesn’t care what medical says. She has thirty days to get cleared, get a mask or whatever it takes to defend the title.

Until someone takes it from her, she is still the champion. Green gives him a big hug but here is Gunther to interrupt. Gunther asks why Aldis pulled that stunt at Summerslam (having a fourth person in the #1 contenders match). He doesn’t think much of Green’s pitiful injury and asks why Owens was added to his match. Aldis: “I added you to Owens’ match.”

Green laughs at Gunther, who tells her to shut up. Green only sees one champion in this ring and here is Matt Cardona (Green’s husband) to run in. Gunther: “All the way from catering!” Gunther asks what Cardona could do to him and mocks Cardona for doing as Green says, meaning the fight is on as we take a break.

Gunther vs. Matt Cardona

Joined in progress and they’re both in street clothes. Gunther fires off the chops and sends him outside for a powerbomb onto the announcers’ table. Another powerbomb onto the apron has Cardona in bigger trouble and a Saito suplex makes it worse. Gunther stops to yell at Chelsea Green though, allowing Gunther to kick him low and hit the Rough Ryder. That’s only for two as Gunther powerbombs him into the Boston (hey) crab to make Cardona tap at 3:41.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here but the idea here was for Cardona to fight for his wife’s honor and it went well enough. Cardona isn’t supposed to be able to beat Gunther in the first place so it’s not like this was in any serious danger. I’m not sure what is next for Gunther, but I can go for him being a bully for a bit.

Post match Green checks on Cardona but here are the Irresistible Forces, with Nia Jax saying she wants the Women’s Title. She doesn’t mind the idea of breaking Green’s face again but here is Tiffany Stratton. That’s the extent of Stratton’s positives, as she runs in and is promptly crushed.

We look at Tatum Paxley debuting last week to help Charlotte beat Jade Cargill.

Charlotte and Alexa Bliss are in the back, with Bliss talking about how Paxley is her friend too. Bliss opens a door and finds Paxley in a black room, complete with a bunch of candles and photos of Bliss and Charlotte on the walls. It’s their new locker room and they go inside, despite it being little more than a broom closet. Charlotte isn’t pleased but goes with it anyway.

We look at Randy Orton costing Cody Rhodes at Summerslam and the two of them wanting to fight last week on Smackdown but not getting around to it.

Rhodes comes up to Nick Aldis and wants a match with Orton. Aldis doesn’t know where Orton is but he’ll look into doing it at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Rhodes will take the match anywhere but here is Sami Zayn to interrupt. Zayn wants to know why Rhodes doesn’t have to wait to get anything he wants, which has Rhodes snapping.

If Zayn wants to do something like that, they can do it tonight. Zayn brings up beating Rhodes, who asks if he can do it again. Zayn says he’s hurt (broken hand), so Aldis asks what if he made it more interesting. We’ll make it a #1 contenders match, if Zayn is willing to go through with it. Let Aldis know.

US Title: Baron Corbin vs. Carmelo Hayes

Hayes is challenging and fires off a running flip dive to take Corbin down to start. A nice springboard spinning clothesline drops Corbin again and he misses a charge out to the floor. The Fadeaway connects but the First 48 is countered into a powerbomb. Corbin sends him outside and into the post as we take a break.

We come back with Hayes hitting a springboard DDT into a frog splash for two. The First 48 is blocked again so Corbin boots him in the face, meaning Deep Six can get another near fall. Now a pair of First 48’s can connect but Corbin shoves him off the top and into the barricade. The End Of Days retains the title at 9:23.

Rating: B-. They had a nice speed vs. power match here, which is where Corbin tends to do well. Corbin isn’t looking bad since his return and it’s all but guaranteed that Trick Williams will get another chance at him, if it doesn’t mean that Williams is moving up the ladder. Having Corbin win the title shows that he still has it and that’s a good thing. This worked well, even with Hayes losing again.

Post match here is Trick Williams on the stage but Lil Yachty runs in from behind with a Trick Stick shot to Corbin. Williams runs in with the Trick Shot to save Yachty from destruction.

Chelsea Green thanks Tiffany Stratton for the save and Stratton says she’s good to defend her title tonight. Cue ominous music. Well first find something that can play ominous music and cue that. Then cue the music.

Here are Kevin Owens and CM Punk to go face to face. Punk knows that Owens was about to say something about him so go ahead and say it to his face. Well after Punk hits his catchphrase of course. Owens says the camera caught Punk calling him something close to a fat slob last week. Punk suggests he would say that to Owens’ face, but Owens says their story started twenty years ago. Punk: “Go ahead. Smarten them up.”

Owens talks about how they used to wrestle for an independent promotion, where Punk was the top star. That night, Punk berated him in front of the locker room when Owens was just trying to make a name for himself. Punk can’t believe this is what the whole thing was about but Owens says that Punk has treated Owens’ friends over the last twenty years. Punk’s going to need more than that, because Owens’ friends hate him.

Owens says Punk is probably thinking of three of them (oh here we go) but Owens means all of them. Punk is fine with having losers hate him if it means not being one of them. Owens is the one guy left in the back who doesn’t like him because Punk is a phony. The reality is that Punk has screwed up everywhere else but he’s been in this ring consistently for twelve years without getting hurt until his recent injury. He’s been World Champion and headlined Wrestlemania against Steve Austin.

Punk says that wouldn’t have happened if he had been here, with Owens saying that Punk still sees him as a fat indy slow. Punk: “Is that how I see you or is that how you see yourself?” He called out Oba Femi and got endometriosis instead. When Punk looks at Owens he sees potential but in the form of a bum who avoids the hard work. Punk is always trying to be better and if Owens had put in that work, maybe he could have avoided Goldberg’s spear.

Owens is convinced that Punk hates himself, but Owens doesn’t feel that way when he looks in a mirror. And what about Punk not avoiding that Roman Reigns’ spear at Wrestlemania. Punk sees the same guy he saw twenty years ago, but Owens regrets not hitting him in the face twenty years ago. Owens knows that if he had, Punk would have ruined his career.That’s why he’s waiting seven more days, because he can hit Punk in the face and take the title. Punk is ready to put him to sleep next week.

They had a good idea here, but the “this started twenty years ago” took  so much out of me. Not only was it something from another promotion, but it happened backstage so we won’t even know what they’re talking about. Throw in the AEW references and this was a good bit too inside baseball for me. Not everything has to be some big historic moment and that was the case here.

Finn Balor is in Nick Aldis’ office and wants to do….something, but Gunther interrupts. Aldis isn’t happy, but Gunther says he only sees a shadow of Balor. That goes as well as expected, with Balor saying he wants a title shot and will gladly beat Gunther to get there.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: R-Truth/Damian Priest vs. War Raiders vs. MFT’s

Only Priest and R-Truth are defending (the Raiders’ AAA Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line) and Haku is here with the MFT’s. R-Truth, Erik and Tama start things off, with Talla tagging himself in. Everything breaks down and the challengers go to the floor, with Priest hitting a big dive to take them out.

We take a break and come back with Priest getting a tag to clean house and hopefully bring the crowd back to life a bit. Everything breaks down and Talla chokeslams the champs down. The Raiders give Tama the pop up powerslam for two before Ivar and Priest get together to drop Talla. R-Truth adds in the STF, which is quickly powered off. Erik knocks Priest through the announcers’ table, leaving R-Truth to initiate John Cena’s finishing sequence on Tama. Talla is back in though and the Brother’s Keeper to R-Truth gives Tama the pin and the titles at 9:50.

Rating: B-. It’s kind of hard to get mad at this one as R-Truth and Priest got just about all they could out of what felt like a thrown together title reign. The Raiders already have their own titles so let the MFT’s do something. They’re a pair of monsters with an even scarier manager so this is all good enough.

Women’s US Title: Jacy Jayne vs. Tiffany Stratton

Jayne, with Fatal Influence, is challenging and jumps her to start, with some shoulders to the bad ribs in the corner. A bodyscissors has Stratton in more trouble and Jayne knocks her down again as we take a break. We come back with Chelsea Green at ringside as the two of them hit running hair takedowns.

Stratton is up with the cartwheel Alabama Slam into the Swanton for two. A handspring Stunner sets up the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, which hits Jayne’s raised knees. Fatal Influence goes after Green so Stratton dives onto the two of them, only to charge back into the Rolling Encore to give Jayne the (four count, as she moved slightly and the referee restarted) pin and the title at 8:36.

Rating: C+. They’re not exactly being subtle about what’s going on with Stratton and Green and it’s good to see Jayne get some gold of her own to complete the Fatal Influence title trio. They’ve hit the ground running around here and I could go with seeing them as more of a focal point. The good thing is that the women’s division has a bunch of stuff going on and that’s a nice development.

Jade Cargill and the Baddies are fine with having a new victim in Tatum Paxley.

Sami Zayn vs. Cody Rhodes

For the #1 contendership and never mind because here is Randy Orton to jump Rhodes before Zayn ever comes to the ring. Orton hits him in the face with the steps and they brawl into the crowd with Rhodes fighting back. Zayn, cheated again, is ticked as they get back to ringside, with Rhodes having to get in a low blow to block a Pillmaniazing. The chair is taken away from Rhodes to prevent him from doing the same thing to end the show. Given that they had about five minutes left for the match, it was more would the bell ever ring, as Orton pretty much had to come in and do something.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a show where a lot happened, with things going in quite a few directions. They pushed towards Rhodes vs. Orton, with a variety of people not being happy, along with a pair of title changes. That’s in addition to the rather intense Punk vs. Owens segment, though dang they could have done better with less really old outside of WWE history. You don’t get that kind of development on a single show, and if the in-ring action was that much better, the show would have been an even better result. Good show overall, but with some better wrestling, it would have been great.

Results
Gunther b. Matt Cardona – Boston crab
Baron Corbin b. Carmelo Hayes – End Of Days
MFT’s b. War Raiders and Damian Priest/R-Truth – Brother’s Keeper to R-Truth
Jacy Jayne b. Tiffany Stratton – Rolling Encore

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

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

Evolve
Date: August 12, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Robert Stone

As usual around here, it’s hard to say what to expect and that makes for a more interesting show. There are a lot of people coming after Harlem Lewis and the Evolve Title, while Thea Hail seems to be next in line for a Women’s Title shot against Nikkita Lyons. That should be enough to get us somewhere, with the ID prospects filling in the gaps. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Ulka Sasaki

Dempsey wrestles him to the mat to start and grabs some headlock takeovers. Back up and Sasaki takes his shirt off so the slugout has more of an impact. They trade some armdrags until Sasaki snaps the arm back to take over. Some forearms to the chest don’t get Dempsey out of trouble as Sasaki drops him with a suplex. Sasaki’s running kick to the chest gets two and they lock hands for some rolling flips.

Dempsey reverses a Kimura into a Boston crab before shifting to a German suplex. Sasaki pops back up for a discus forearm and they’re both down. The Rings Of Saturn send Dempsey to the ropes and he’s up with some suplexes, including a weird pushup bridging northern lights suplex (as in he bridged backwards and then did a kind of reverse pushup for the cover) for two. Sasaki is back up with a sleeper, which is reversed into a reverse fisherman’s suplex to give Dempsey the pin at 8:48.

Rating: B. This was the kind of match that works well on Evolve as they were doing some unique stuff and making it feel different. There are too many times where things get too similar and this stood out, with the physicality and the submission work. Nice start to the show, as both guys looked good.

Brooks Jensen complains about young wrestlers, including ones like Elijah Holyfield who use their parents’ names to get over. Then the elevator door opens and Holyfield is there to chase him off. Obvious payoff and it worked perfectly well.

Wren Sinclair vs. Sloane Jacobs

Hold on though as Jacobs introduces Nikkita Lyons to watch from the VIP section. Sinclair takes her down with an armbar to start and grinds away on a headlock. Back up and Sinclair shoulders her down into a running facebuster for two. Jacobs cuts her off on the apron though and grabs a neckbreaker over the ropes as we take a break.

We come back with Jacobs grabbing a headscissors and using it to ram Sinclair head first into the buckle over and over (that looked cool). Jacobs ties up the arm but Sinclair pops up with some running shots of her own. An X Factor gives Sinclair two but Jacobs is right back with a hanging swinging suplex (Nikki Cross’ old move). Jacobs tries an O’Connor roll, which is reversed into the Final Wrench in a slick counter for the tap at 8:17.

Rating: B-. The ending alone bumps it up a bit and that’s cool to see, as Sinclair outwrestled her for the win. Sinclair continues to have that kind of weird charm to her and it’s good to see her getting some more success. It’s a nice match, and Sinclair going after the Women’s Title isn’t crazy.

Post match Lyons gets in the ring and says Sinclair didn’t beat her so no one is worthy of a title shot. Cue Thea Hail to go after Lyons and announce the title match for next week. And apparently Hail is now “Dad”. Ok then.

Brooks Jensen gets to his truck, leaving just in time to avoid a charging Elijah Holyfield.

Laynie Luck is upset by her loss in her title match but she’s madder about PJ Vasa attacking her. Vasa has two weeks until Luck is cleared and it’s time for revenge. You can tell Luck isn’t the strongest promo but she was showing some emotion here and that’s good.

Harlem Lewis is in the VIP section to scout for potential challengers. He also gives Adrianna Rizzo a cigar but she’ll pass on smoking inside.

It’s Gal vs. Cappuccino Jones vs. Chazz Hall

Jones is sent outside to start but comes back inside, with Gal taking both of them down for some pushups on their back. Shockingly that earns him a double team before Jones decks Hall in the corner. Gal suplexes Jones and gets shooting star pressed by Hall for a quick two. Jones’ headscissors out of the corner takes Hall down and a dropkick catches Gal. A running crossbody hits Gal to send both he and Jones out to the floor. Hall is of course right there with the running flip dive and we take a break.

We come back with Hall’s corkscrew moonsault hitting Gal, with Jones coming in for the save. Gal gives Jones a spinning slam for two of his own, only for Hall to grab a standing Sliced Bread, while kicking Jones down at the same time. Gal is put up top, where he elbows both of them down and hits a double missile dropkick. As usual, Gall takes too much time yelling and gets sent outside, leaving Jones to Froggy Brew Hall, only for Gal to steal the pin at 7:47.

Rating: B-. Gal is the definition of “this is kind of dumb but I like him anyway” and I can go for him going nuts over winning a few matches in a row. He’s a rather quirky guy and it could be interesting to see where he goes. Jones is being a bit more over the top lately and it’s only kind of working, but you can only get so far with the coffee stuff. Hall is…well he’s about the same as he’s always been.

Post match Gal calls out Lewis (who apparently doesn’t have great abs) because Gal is on the winning streak of a lifetime (Two matches!). Hall and Jones beat Gal up like sore losers and, after teasing a brawl of their own, dance to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. I had a good time with this show, as they mixed things up enough and did one of the most important things possible: presenting whatever was in front of them as all that mattered at the moment. You can have a hierarchy of stories and wrestlers, but it makes a big difference to have commentary act like what they’re seeing matters. That’s what they did here and it makes a big difference. Good show this week, and they didn’t really touch on the top stories.

Results
Charlie Dempsey b. Ulka Sasaki – Reverse fisherman’s suplex
Wren Sinclair b. Sloane Jacobs – Final Wrench
It’s Gal b. Cappuccino Jones and Chazz Hall – Froggy Brew to Hall

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

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

Monday Night Raw
Date: August 10, 2026
Location: Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re starting something new here and this time it’s taking the form of a #1 contenders tournament for a shot at Roman Reigns. The catch though is there are a lot of luchadors in the field, with the title match taking place in about a month in Mexico City. LA Knight wants the title shot too though so let’s get to it.

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

We recap LA Knight confronting Roman Reigns last week and calling Reigns a fraud. Rather than Reigns sending the Bloodline after Knight, instead he gave the Bloodline another target. This resulted in Jacob Fatu going after Royce Keys and taking him out in a rather violent street fight. Keys is out indefinitely.

Here is Solo Sikoa, coming through the crowd, and kind of singing the Usos’ theme. He’s here to deal with the Bloodline so here is Jey Uso, through the entrance, to interrupt. Uso asks if Sikoa is sure he wants to do this and then tells him to fall in line. Sikoa finds that funny and asks if Uso fell in line. Sikoa: “Cause it looks like you fell off.”

The reality is that Uso was a World Champion who won the Royal Rumble and beat Gunther at Wrestlemania (and yes, Sikoa does do his own yeeting along the way). But now all of that is gone and Uso has nothing. Sikoa isn’t coming back to the family because he loves where he’s at right now.

Uso says he raised Sikoa, who has his big house because of the rest of the family. Uso wants to face Sikoa tonight and if Sikoa loses, he’s back in the Bloodline. He calls that a warning shot so Sikoa turns around and asks if everyone behind him is ok. Sikoa is in for tonight, but when he wins, the family is done with him. That’s Uso’s warning shot, and yes he makes a finger gun sound. When did Sikoa grow a personality? It’s working for me.

Penta is ready to win the tournament but he can’t look past Laredo Kid.

Laredo Kid is ready to show what he can do in the spotlight.

Jey Uso runs into Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu, the latter of whom isn’t sure what Jey is thinking. Jey says it’s just him running a play but Fatu accuses him of ignoring the rest of the team. That’s not cool with Jey, who says he’s getting Solo Sikoa back, so what has Fatu done lately? Fatu brings up taking out Royce Keys last week and says Jey better win, with Jimmy agreeing.

#1 Contender Tournament First Round: Penta vs. Laredo Kid

Kid isn’t shaking hands to start so Penta grabs a headlock instead. What looks to be a monkey flip attempt from Kid is countered with a kick to the ribs but he knocks Penta outside. That just earns Kid a kick to the head and Penta snaps off a running headscissors to the floor. Kid is right back up with a shot of his own, followed by a moonsault to drop Penta again. A moonsault Swanton hits Penta as well and we take a break.

We come back with Penta kicking him in the knee and grabbing a reverse Sling Blade. A slingshot dropkick in the corner hits Kid for two more but he hurricanranas Penta down. The 450 gives Kid two so Penta Backstabbers him out of the corner for two more. They strike it out for a bit until Penta sends him outside for the big running flip dive. The Penta Driver gets two back inside but Kid drivers him right back. Kid can’t hit a corkscrew moonsault so Penta is right back with a Mexican Destroyer for the pin at 10:45.

Rating: B+. It shouldn’t be a surprise that these two had a good match together as they have the talent and experience to make it work well. Penta getting the title shot is absolutely not out of the question and he very well could be the favorite for the whole thing. Beating Kid is a nice start and we got to see some of the stuff that makes both of them feel like major stars.

Logan Paul (with the Vision but without the arm brace) calls the Alpha Academy a bunch of jokes. Maxxine Dupri agrees, because Akira Tozawa has no chance against Austin Theory, who is apparently rather attractive. Bron Breakker does not seem to approve of any of this, but it turns out that he’s focused on Oba Femi. Yeah that works.

Akira Tozawa vs. Austin Theory

Theory charges into a boot in the corner to start and a hurricanrana takes him back down. That’s fine with Theory, who pops back up with a clothesline to put Tozawa in early trouble. The chinlock keeps Tozawa down as Bron Breakker is in another world at ringside. A full nelson backbreaker lets Theory go outside to pose with his teammates, leaving Breakker at least somewhat interested as we take a break.

We come back with Theory getting a kiss on the floor but Tozawa gets in a Shining Wizard. The backsplash gives Tozawa two and he fires off a bunch of kicks. Back up and Theory just blasts him with a spinning forearm (which is apparently called the Off Switch) for the pin at 8:28.

Rating: C+. I’m still trying to care about the Alpha Academy in this spot and it’s still not working. Otis is a lot more interesting than Tozawa, but Tozawa has been treated as a joke for years now. That makes it kind of hard to just flip a switch and make it work here. He’s good in the ring when he gets the chance, but it’s hard to care about him all of a sudden.

Post match Theory teases doing more but Adam Pearce comes out to cut him off. Bron Breakker gets inside and that’s enough to summon Oba Femi, which is just what Breakker wanted. Theory is quickly dispatched and a bunch of people have to hold Femi and Breakker apart. The fans seem WAY into this one

AAA GM Rey Mysterio is excited about the tournament and Dragon Lee comes up to thank him for the spot. Dominik Mysterio pops in to ask why he’s not in the tournament when he is the king of the luchadors. Rey: “I didn’t think you wanted another handout because that’s how you became a jackass in the first place.” With that great line out of the way, Lee tells Dominik to show his father some respect and he’s ready for a match later tonight.

We look back at Stephanie Vaquer being injured back in the spring at the hands of the Judgment Day, setting up returns from both Vaquer and Becky Lynch last week.

Here is Vaquer for a chat. She’s glad to be back and has missed everything about being around here, including the fans. Above all else though she has missed seeing Judgment Day getting scared every time she shows up. That’s why she’s ready to take them out one by one and she knows Liv Morgan isn’t ready for her.

Cue Lynch to interrupt, with Vaquer asking what she wants. It’s probably the same thing Vaquer wants, including giving Morgan one heck of a beating. Lynch has worked too long to see the title go back to the mid-2000s and that isn’t going to happen. As for Vaquer, she’s a bit more of an enigma, but she seems to be gone more often than she’s here.

So is Vaquer this bada** or does her body give up so her mind doesn’t have to. Lynch is fine with Vaquer giving Morgan a beating but Lynch is getting the title. Vaquer isn’t impressed and leaves so here is Morgan, who is quickly dispatched by Lynch. Vaquer comes back in and almost (but doesn’t) hit Lynch by mistake. They go nose to nose and talk a lot of trash until Lynch storms off. Nice segment here and Vaquer getting involved with Lynch is absolutely a big deal.

LA Knight is ready for Roman Reigns and he’s fine with winning the tournament to get the World Title shot. He’s told that it’s a luchador tournament so he can’t enter, which Knight finds very convenient. Solo Sikoa comes in to say that if he loses tonight, Knight is all alone. Knight doesn’t seem overly interested.

Dragon Lee vs. Dominik Mysterio

Mysterio’s AAA Mega Title isn’t on the line. Mysterio chops away in the corner to start but gets taken down with a headscissors. A double stomp gives Lee two but Mysterio is right back up with a running clothesline. Mysterio backdrops him to the floor, with Lee’s leg landing in the ropes, allowing Mysterio to hit a big dive.

We take a break and come back with Lee superkicking him into a tornado DDT, setting up the big flip dive to the floor (that looked great). Back in and Lee hits another superkick but charges into a Michinoku Driver. Lee is fine enough to tie him in the Tree Of Woe for the double stomp but Mysterio is back with a 619. The frog splash hits knees though and Operation Dragon gives Lee the clean pin at 10:23.

Rating: B-. Well that was surprising. I wasn’t expecting the AAA World Champion to lose a thrown together match, but hopefully this isn’t due to reports of Mysterio being unhappy with his booking on Raw. It’s hard to believe that Lee is in line for a big push, but Mysterio losing isn’t something that should be happening in a spot like this.

Post match Big Cass comes in to lay Lee out. Je’Von Evans runs in and gets a few shots on Cass, who knocks him out of the air. The big boot (that looked great) leaves Evans laying. That doesn’t make beating Mysterio look much better.

Sol Ruca is ready for revenge on Judgment Day and has a partner. Danhausen comes in to offer to do it for a…..well a little discount. Ruca says she has this covered and leaves, with Danhausen asking Byron Saxton for money. That’s a no as well so Danhausen leaves too. Wacky as usual.

LA Knight says he can get a lucha mask to enter the tournament but Adam Pearce turns him down. Once the tournament is over though, they’ll find a way for Knight to earn a title shot. With Pearce gone, Jacob Fatu pops up to threaten Knight, who tells Fatu to go get a permission slip to fight from Roman Reigns. Fatu hits his catchphrase and leaves.

Judgment Day vs. Sol Ruca/???

The mystery partner is…Iyo Sky, which is probably better than a random NXT debut. Ruca ducks Rodriguez out of the corner to start but a headlock is easily shoved off. Rodriguez sends her into the corner for the elbows to the face so Perez comes in to hit Ruca in the face. It’s off to Sky for a basement dropkick into an elbow as everything breaks down. Rodriguez catches Sky’s dive so Ruca dives onto them, with Perez adding one of her own.

We take a break and come back with Ruca still in trouble but she reverses a suplex into an X Factor (well close enough). Sky gets to take over on Perez, with a shotei knocking Perez silly. The Bullet Train to Perez sets up a great looking missile dropkick as everything breaks down. Rodriguez has to save Perez before being knocked outside, leaving Perez to kick Ruca down. Sky reverses Perez’s Shining Wizard and hits the Bullet Train in the corner but Rodriguez is back to break up Over The Moonsault. That earns Rodriguez an Asai moonsault so Ruca flips out of Pop Rox, setting up the Sol Snatcher for the pin on Perez at 11:51.

Rating: B-. This got rolling near the end as it was a bunch of flying around and saves until Perez got caught with the Sol Snatcher. The ending felt like it was a question of when the Sol Snatcher would connect rather than when, which is ok. Hopefully Ruca gets to move on from now, though I’m not sure what is next for Sky.

Bron Breakker comes up to Paul Heyman (Why is he here?) and talks about the showdown with Oba Femi. Breakker asks Heyman who he thinks the future of WWE is, with Heyman saying he respects both of them. That’s not what Breakker asked and he gets a bit more serious before asking it again.

Heyman says he’s starting to think Breakker is starting to think Femi is the future, which is the problem. Heyman is going to keep respecting Femi until Breakker says Heyman that Femi isn’t worthy of that respect. That has Breakker thinking and he walks away, with Heyman realizing he dodged a bullet.

Rey Mysterio praises Penta for his match earlier and Chad Gable comes in to do the same. Penta leaves and Gable says he wants to defend the Intercontinental Title against Mysterio. Works for Mysterio and Gable will talk to Adam Pearce.

Sol Ruca and Iyo Sky are happy with their win but run into Lyra Valkyria (who is looking more and more like a….whatever she is right now). She thinks Ruca is getting close to the Women’s Intercontinental Title, with Valkyria bringing up Bayley. Valkyria tells her to stay out of the way of her title. Sky isn’t sure what Valkyria is at this point and I can’t help but agree.

Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa

If Uso wins, Sikoa is back in the Bloodline. After a rather lengthy Uso entrance, they shove each other around a few times until Sikoa clotheslines him out of the corner. A running headbutt gives Sikoa two and he elbows Uso down to cut him off. Sikoa sends him crashing out to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Uso sending him outside for the suicide dive and Sikoa is in trouble for a change. That’s cut off with a clothesline out of the corner and they’re both down.

A kick to the face just annoys Sikoa, who grabs a Samoan drop. The running Umaga Attack in the corner gets two but another Samoan drop is countered into the sleeper. That’s broken up and a spinwheel kick breaks up Uso’s spear attempt. Cue Jimmy Uso for a distraction though and the spear gives Jey two. Sikoa fights back but goes after Jimmy, allowing Jey to hit another spear. The Superfly Splash sends Sikoa back to the Bloodline at 12:06.

Rating: B-. This was a match that felt like it should have been a bit deal but instead it just came off like a thing that happened. At the same time, having Sikoa be in the Bloodline against his will could be interesting if they go that way, but odds are it’s just business as usual again. That’s not a great thing, and the result here was kind of disappointing.

The Usos celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show was a good use of a bunch of stuff that didn’t feel the most important. You had one tournament match and a bunch of people talking about what they’re going to do later. Next week feels like the show where some more top level stuff happens, but I’ll take a show that does a lot with only so much.

Results
Penta b. Laredo Kid – Mexican Destroyer
Austin Theory b. Akira Tozawa – Off Switch
Dragon Lee b. Dominik Mysterio – Operation Dragon
Sol Ruca/Iyo Sky b. Judgment Day – Sol Snatcher to Perez
Jey Uso b. Solo Sikoa – Superfly Splash

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

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

Forgotten Cell Matches
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Jimmy Smith, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves

This is another idea where the name says it all, which makes for an interesting situation. In this case we have the most violent match WWE has to offer but you never know which version of things you’ll be getting. I’m curious about this set as there have been so many of these things over the years that it is easy to forget some of them. Let’s get to it.

From Monday Night Raw, June 15, 1998.

Steve Austin/Undertaker vs. Mankind/Kane

Paul Bearer is here with the villains and wants Austin and Undertaker out here right now. Mankind even goes into a rhyming poem about the violence of the Cell (with the mesh ripping up your flesh) to help get them come to the ring. Austin comes out but Undertaker doesn’t show up, which seems like a ruse. Mankind goes after Austin on the floor but gets the door slammed onto him.

Kane goes after Austin and Bearer locks himself in the Cell (uh oh) as Kane gets an ugly backdrop on the ramp. And indeed the Undertaker pops up through the ring and kicks Bearer in the face as the beating is on. Kane climbs the Cell as Austin comes back to beat up Mankind.

Bearer gets sent into the cage and is busted open, with Undertaker kicking at the head as Mankind is sent into the Cell wall. Austin knocks Mankind down with a chair and goes up top to beat up Kane as the show ends. If there was an opening bell, I never heard it, but this was just a big angle anyway, with Austin never even getting inside the Cell.

From Monday Night Raw, August 24, 1998.

Mankind vs. Kane

Mankind starts throwing chairs at the roof of the Cell but they fall back onto him. Instead he climbs up but gets pulled down by Undertaker (at ringside), sending him through the table (JR: “IT HAPPENED AGAIN!”). Kane beats Mankind around ringside and slams the Cell door on his head as they both finally get inside. The door is locked and we’ll say the match officially starts.

Kane beats on him with the steps before hitting a big dive over the top for the crash. Mankind avoids the steps being tossed and chairs Kane in the head before pouring out the bag of tacks. That takes too long (of course) and Kane kicks him into the tacks, only for Mankind to come back with the Mandible Claw. The Cactus piledriver puts Kane down but he’s back up with a nasty chair shot to knock him off the top.

The chokeslam and Tombstone knock Mankind silly and Undertaker gives Kane the throat slit. Three straight chair shots to the head set up another Tombstone onto the chair but Austin comes out from under the ring to jump Kane for the….I’m thinking DQ but we’ll say no contest at 4:28.

Rating: D. Yeah that’s what Russo thought the Cell should be: nothing more than a way to build up a PPV match between Undertaker and Austin was to have the Tag Team Champions (yes Kane and Mankind were a team here) fight in the Cell. The match wasn’t even the main event of the show, as there were two more matches to go, plus part of the Brawl For All. I would say I get the idea, but I really don’t, as it’s that stupid in so many ways.

Post match Austin unloads on Kane with the chair and a Stunner as Undertaker is on top of the Cell trying to get inside. The Cell is raised (with Undertaker still on it) and Austin gives Kane another Stunner.

From Monday Night Raw, September 26, 2011 (post show dark match).

Raw World Title: John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio

Cena is defending and this is a match thrown together after a big beatdown of Cena and Punk ended the show. Ziggler (short hair version) and Swagger choke Punk in the corner as Del Rio beats on Cena in another corner. Swagger and Del Rio change places but Cena fights back and gets in a bulldog. Del Rio cuts Cena off again and Cena hits a Vader Bomb for two with Punk making the save (this is basically a five way match in name only as it’s basically a handicap tag).

Cena is back up with the finishing sequence to Del Rio as everyone else fights on the floor. As usual the AA doesn’t work so Punk gives Del Rio a GTS. That earns him a Zig Zag before Swagger ankle locks Ziggler. An AA to Swagger retains at 5:09. Punk’s “oh well” look as his eyes go back and forth boosts things up a lot.

Rating: C. To be fair, it’s a dark match so you can only get so mad at something like this. The point here wasn’t to blow the roof off the place or anything close, but rather just have a fun match to wrap up the night. That’s all they did and it went fairly well, though it really did just feel like a tag match for the most part.

From the June 18, 2021 Smackdown.

Smackdown World Title: Roman Reigns vs. Rey Mysterio

Reigns (who recently attacked Mysterio’s son Dominik) is defending and has to take a chair away from a swinging Mysterio to start. A fire extinguisher to the head (spray and canister) work a bit better for Mysterio, as does a running shot with a toolbox. We take a break and come back with Mysterio striking away with a chair.

Said chair is wrapped around Reigns’ throat and sent into various things and a quick Reigns spear only hits (and breaks) table. A sunset bomb is blocked though and Reigns sends Mysterio into the Cell over and over. We take another break and come back again with a spear being countered via a dropkick.

Another spear attempt only hits post and Mysterio gets in the 619. Now the chair shots can work a bit better and Mysterio splashes the chair onto Reigns in a less than brilliant move. A chairless frog splash can connect for two so Mysterio tries the seated senton, only to get LAUNCHED into the Cell with a toss powerbomb. The cravate choke makes Mysterio tap at 17:13.

Rating: B. Believe it or not, Mysterio knows how to fight a power guy in a match where he can use weapons to even things up. This is what Mysterio has done for so much of his career and it still worked here. While Mysterio winning was a long shot, he’s enough of a legend that it just kind of barely feels possible and that’s more than enough. Not a great match, but for free TV, I’ll definitely take it.

From the June 21, 2021 Monday Night Raw (yes, the second time in four days).

Raw World Title: Bobby Lashley vs. Xavier Woods

Lashley, with MVP (as canceled out by Kofi Kingston) is defending. Woods hits an early dropkick into the corner but Lashley is right back with some shoulders to the ribs. A clothesline takes Woods down again and a lifting Downward Spiral gives Lashley two. They go to the floor and fight over a chair, which Lashley punches into Woods’ face.

Back in and Woods knocks him to the floor again, with a dropkick through the ropes connecting. A chair shot knocks Lashley down on the floor and Woods gets to unload with chair shots. We take a break and come back with Lashley choking away before tying him up in the ring skirt. Woods’ comeback is cut off again and Lashley steps on his head.

Woods realizes that having his head stepped on isn’t great (sit down Tony Atlas) and kicks out the leg in a smart move. Some kendo stick shots put Lashley on the floor and a wheelbarrow faceplant gives Woods two. A springboard tornado DDT gets the same and an amazing Limit Breaker puts Lashley through a table (with Woods almost overshooting him) for two more. Back up and Lashley sends him face first into the chair in the corner, meaning the spear can connect as well. The Hurt Lock retains the title at 13:30.

Rating: C+. This is where the opponent comes into play. Woods is incredibly talented and it’s very cool to see him getting this kind of a shot. However, unlike the Mysterio match, it never once felt like the title was in jeopardy. Mysterio was a long shot, but he felt like he had a prayer. That wasn’t the case here and it gave the match a very different dynamic (and not necessarily in a bad way). Lashley was on a roll at this point though and it was clear why he was smashing through so many people.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a weird collection as “Forgotten” is kind of a misleading title (if nothing else, it’s hard to forget a match that didn’t air in the first place). It’s more like “Cell Matches At TV Shows” and one of them didn’t seem to even be a match in the first place.

There’s a reason the Cell isn’t used at TV very often, as it felt out of place here. Throw in doing it twice in four days (apparently due to the TV networks being jealous of each other (seriously) and it was kind of a weird time. That being said, it’s still fun to look back like this, as these went through multiple eras that you might have….forgotten. Ok they win.

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

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

Because it’s still the 1990s.

https://www.smarkdownsblog.com/wwe-worlds-collide-vs-aew-all-out

Smackdown
Date: August 7, 2026
Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re done with Summerslam and CM Punk is still World Champion, having turned back the challenge of Cody Rhodes thanks to the help of a returning Randy Orton. While Punk might still have to deal with Rhodes, he also has a new #1 contender in the form of the returning Kevin Owens. That’s quite the surprise as Owens had been gone for about a year and a half but now he wants the title again. Let’s get to it.

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

In Memory Of Dory Funk Jr.

Here is a ticked off Cody Rhodes who wants Randy Orton out here for a fight right now. With no Orton, Rhodes pays a quick tribute to Dory Funk Jr. and talks about winning the WWE Title right here in Philadelphia. He also brings up the loss to CM Punk, who comes out to join Rhodes. Punk asks if there is something Rhodes wants to ask him and Rhodes gets right to the point: did Punk know? Punk did not know and is willing to go help take care of Orton together.

Rhodes wants to do it himself and leaves Punk alone in peace. Punk stops him though, saying their unfinished business can be taken care of whenever he says when. As a pleased Rhodes leaves, here is Kevin Owens to join Punk. They waste no time in arguing but here is Nick Aldis to call it off. Owens and Punk say they’re both professionals and Punk thinks Owens is here in his gear.

That’s not true as Owens wrestles in shorts instead of pants, but yes he wants to wrestle. That’s all he’s wanted to do for seventeen months, with the fans saying he’s still got it. Owens: “I never lost it.” He’s been told that Punk is a changed man but Owens isn’t buying it. Rhodes can have his title match anytime but Owens is the #1 contender. That’s because Punk is arrogant enough to look past him, which doesn’t work for Punk.

The reality is that Punk is the best in the world and he acts like it. Were these people really standing around waiting for Owens? Punk thinks Owens should thank him for paving the way for him, as otherwise Owens would be working on the indies and calling Punk for tickets to the WWE shows. Owens says Punk must be lonely on that pedestal and calls him a piece of s***. Now the agents have to come in and hold them back. Yeah this worked, as Owens can hang with Punk on the mic and showed it here.

Charlotte has known Jade Cargill has something for years and tonight, Charlotte is giving her a beating.

Trick Williams is ready to beat up Baron Corbin and get his US Title back.

US Title: Trick Williams vs. Baron Corbin

Corbin is defending and comes in on a motorcycle. They go right to the brawling with Williams knocking him outside early on. Williams knocks him over the announcers’ table and we take a break. We come back with Williams kicking his way out of trouble and the Trick Kick connects.

The Trick Shot is countered into the Deep Six though and Corbin gets a breather. They slug it out from their knees and Corbin is knocked outside, where Corbin grabs the belt. That just lets Williams grab a Rock Bottom for two, followed by the Trick Shot, but Corbin is in the ropes. Corbin is knocked outside again and with the referee shoved away, it’s a belt shot to retain the title at 8:26.

Rating: C+. I still like Corbin winning like this, as he’s not doing anything insane or complicated to win. He’s literally just hitting Williams in the head with a hard object to win the matches and that’s a good way to make him look like a villain. Williams will be fine in the end I’m sure, though I’m not sure if he’s going to go after Corbin again or do something else.

Sami Zayn congratulates Nick Aldis for getting his GM job back before yelling at Aldis for adding Gunther to the #1 contenders match. Aldis doesn’t seem bothered as here is Kevin Owens to interrupt. Owens wants his title shot in two weeks in Toronto, which works for the departing Aldis. That leaves Owens and Zayn to do their usual semi bickering and suggest that they’re fine with fighting each other for the title. Owens: “Six days. I’ve been back six days.”

Baron Corbin does not like his wins being called upsets. The reality is Trick Williams will never get the title back and no one can take the title from him. Carmelo Hayes jumps him and the title match is already set for next week.

We look at the ladder match from Summerslam, with Chelsea Green becoming the new Interim Women’s Champion.

Here is Green for her championship celebration. She thanks herself for the win, but also the blonde bombshell best friend, Tiffany Stratton. Cue Stratton, with Green saying she knows their friendship can handle what happened at Summerslam. Green offers a toast but here is Fatal Influence to interrupt. The brawl is teased and….let’s do it for the Women’s Tag Team Titles, with Jacy Jayne getting a Women’s US Title shot next week in return.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Tiffany Stratton/Chelsea Green vs. Fatal Influence

Fatal Influence is defending as Green starts with Henley. Green quickly brings in Stratton for the armdrags and some double knees to the back send the villains outside as we take an early break. We come back with Stratton Swantoning Reid for two, allowing Green to slam Reid off the top. Everything breaks down and Jayne’s Rolling Encore knocks Green silly Henley comes back in and the Fatal Flaw to Green retains the titles at 7:28.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure about how much sense the title stipulation made, but I’m really not sure about seeing the new champion, who won as a huge underdog, getting pinned less than a week after winning the title. That’s something you see every so often and it’s annoying to see it happen. Even with the interference, there isn’t much good about seeing Green take the pin here as she only has so much status at the moment.

Post match the Irresistible Forces come in to beat down Green and Stratton to pose with their titles.

Damian Priest doesn’t get why the MFTs are coming for them again when the MFTs have already been beaten. The War Raiders come in to say they want their own title shot and R-Truth comes in to say the title match is on next week. Priest points out that the AAA Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line and isn’t pleased.

Video on Brock Lesnar’s career, which is still rather cool to see. Lesnar has officially announced his retirement, which I’ll believe when I don’t see it happening again.

Here is Randy Orton for a chat but before he can get anywhere, a ticked off Cody Rhodes (in different clothes than he was wearing earlier) interrupts. Orton immediately bails out and Rhodes demands an explanation, which has Orton confused. Remember during the road to Wrestlemania when Rhodes told him to be the evil Orton?

Yeah Rhodes beat him at Wrestlemania but that’s the time when Orton realized he needed to go full blast. The best version of Orton isn’t going to bring home #15, but the worst version of him sure will. From now on, he’s not going to let Rhodes be champion again. Rhodes doesn’t have to be a champion anymore, so now the worst version of him is coming out again. So now, who kills Orton?

Sami Zayn rants to Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae about being jealous of Kevin Owens getting a title shot but here is CM Punk to interrupt. Punk asks if they’re still doing this and says that if Zayn could do anything about this, he would have when he lost. Now Zayn is at the back of the line.

Jade Cargill and the Baddies want the Women’s Title.

Nikki Bella says she rebuilt Paige’s career and now it’s Paige’s fault that the Bellas aren’t together right now. Therefore, revenge is promised.

Shinsuke Nakamura says the MFTs need to remember who he is. He’s back and starting a war…but he isn’t coming alone.

Charlotte vs. Jade Cargill

They fight over a lockup to start and crash out to the floor without letting go. Back in and Cargill shoulders her down but Charlotte nips up and gets in a knockdown of her own. The Queen’s Decree (the flipping figure four necklock slams) connects but they head outside, with Cargill ramming her into the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Charlotte avoiding a charge in the corner and grabbing a German suplex. Cargill rolls through a high crossbody for two more though but Charlotte bridges up to try the backslide. That doesn’t work so Charlotte takes her up, where the Stratusphere is blocked.

Instead Cargill gives her a big jumping sitout powerbomb for two but a bit boot misses. That lets Charlotte come right back with a chop block into the Figure Eight so here are the Baddies to break it up. Cue the returning Alexa Bliss…and the lights go out. NXT’s Tatum Paxley is on the top and dives onto the Baddies, leaving Charlotte to grab a Sister Abigail DDT. A top rope Natural Selection pins Cargill at 13:17.

Rating: B-. This was kind of a weird way to debut Paxley but she’s a good choice to move up. Outside of a surprise NXT Women’s Title win, there wasn’t much left for her to do down there and she seems like she could be an interesting addition up here. Other than that, Charlotte beating Cargill with some help in the name of revenge isn’t a bad way to go, though I’d assume we’re far from this being over.

Overall Rating: B. This show was more about the talking and advancing the big developments coming out of Summerslam. The World Title situation is rather interesting here and they’re doing some good stuff by having so many people want the belt. That’s how you make the title chase hot and it’s working here. While there was only so much in the ring, the show felt very busy and flew by, which is a rather nice feeling to have. Good stuff here, as things are looking interesting at the moment.

Results
Baron Corbin b. Trick Williams – Belt shot
Fatal Influence b. Tiffany Stratton/Chelsea Green – Fatal Flaw to Green
Charlotte b. Jade Cargill – Top rope Natural Selection

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

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

In case you needed more proof that this era could be really stupid.

https://411mania.com/wrestling/halls-wwe-smackdown-review-4-29-99-pilot-special/

Evolve
Date: August 5, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Robert Stone

It’s title night as Harlem Lewis is defending the Evolve Title in a four way against Tristan Angels, Max Abrams and former champion Aaron Rourke. That should be more than enough to carry the show, but Women’s Champion Nikkita Lyons is already having to deal with the likely new #1 contender Thea Hail. Let’s get to it.

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

Harlem Lewis, Aaron Rourke, Tristan Angels and Max Abrams are ready for the title match.

Opening sequence.

Here is the Mog Squad to get things going. Max Abrams is rather pleased with his teammates who got him a new pair of sunglasses! It’s time to work on the Hot Boy Summer and tonight, Abrams is going to win the Evolve Title. That’s going to make everyone acknowledge them as the supreme Moggers. All they need is the Evolve Title and Jacari Ball and Santi Rivera have to praise themselves. Abrams doesn’t get how anyone could dislike them, so it’s time to strike a group pose. They take credit for the announcers having jobs but here are Shido Ash and Viktor Zanov to interrupt. And apparently it’s time for a scheduled match.

Shido Ash/Viktor Zanov vs. Mog Squad

Zanov wastes no time in powering Rivera over the top for a crash out to the floor. Back in and Ball and Zanov fight over an armbar until Zanov drops him with a clothesline. Ash comes in and vets slammed onto Rivera as it’s time for the Squad to have a meeting on the floor. We take a break and come back with Zanov caught in the wrong corner for some shoulders to the ribs. That’s broken up and Ball hits a nice dropkick but Zanov has had enough of this. It’s off to Ash to wreck the Squad as everything breaks down. The Dead End finishes Rivera at 6:01.

Rating: B-. This worked well, with Ash and Zanov getting to showcase what they can do. Their judo backgrounds are more than enough to make the stand out and it helps when they can smash through all kinds of people in the ring. As usual, I could go for some Tag Team Titles around here, but I do appreciate Evolve taking their time before (likely) introducing them.

Post match here is Timothy Thatcher to bar the rest of the Squad from ringside for tonight’s title match.

Marcus Mathers talks to Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno, saying the original class of the ID Program is falling apart. It’s Gal comes in to say he’s on a roll right now but Cappuccino Jones isn’t impressed. Mathers and Jones mock Gal so Gal says Mathers should face Kale Dixon while he can face Jones. Works for them, though Jones isn’t overly sure.

Skylar Raye vs. Anya Rune

They go to the mat to start, with Rune escaping a quick headscissors and we take an early break. We come back with Raye spinning out of a wristlock but Rune strikes her down for two. Back up and Raye hits a running bulldog out of the corner but Rune is right back with another knockdown. Rune tries something like La Mistica and it doesn’t quite connect, though she gets in a crossface anyway. With that broken up, Rune grabs a neckbreaker for two and goes up, allowing Raye to slam her down. A good looking frog splash finishes for Raye at 4:43.

Rating: C. That frog splash looked rather good and that’s more than some people around here can do. Raye is someone they seem to be building up and that’s not a bad idea. She hasn’t gotten very far yet but that’s the point of a place like Evolve, as she needs to get some ring time and development.

Post match Giana Capri runs in to jump Rune.

Elijah Holyfield doesn’t think much of Brooks Jensen

Timothy Thatcher announces Wren Sinclair vs. Sloane Jacobs for next week. Chazz Hall comes in to say he wants to fight Cappuccino Jones. Thatcher isn’t sure why this is his problem but Hall talks him into being added to Jones vs. It’s Gal next week.

Evolve Title: Aaron Rourke vs. Max Abrams vs. Tristan Angels vs. Harlem Lewis

Lewis is defending and gets knocked outside to start. Rourke beats on the other two until Lewis is back in with a double clothesline. The Boom Slay is broken up though and Rourke dives onto Abrams, with Angels adding a dropkick tot he back to put them both down. We take a break and come back with Rourke firing off some kicks to Abrams. Lewis sends Abrams and Angels flying at the same time but they double team Rourke down. That’s enough for Abrams and Angels to get into a brawl until Rourke is shoved down onto Abrams for a crash. They all go to the corner and that means a Tower Of Doom for the massive crash. Rourke is up with the Molly Go Round for two on Abrams, with Lewis making the save. The Boom Slay to Abrams retains the title at 6:17.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have a ton of time here and there was only so much they could manage to do in there. At the same time, there was no reason to have Lewis lose here, as he just won the title a few weeks ago. Having him smash through some talented opponents should make for a good win and this worked out well enough.

Post match Lewis gets in a staredown with Harley Riggins to end the show. There’s your promising power match.

Overall Rating: B-. There was nothing on here that jumped off the page, but it’s a great example of a show that had a bunch of stuff going on and everything got some attention. That’s often the best kind of wrestling show and it’s something that Evolve tends to do well. You knew who everyone was and as usual, the matches went by quickly. Good, efficient show here as Lewis gets to start his title reign looking strong.

Results
Viktor Zanov/Shido Ash b. Mog Squad – Dead End to Rivera
Skylar Raye b. Anya Rune – Frog splash
Harlem Lewis b. Aaron Rourke, Max Abrams and Tristan Angels – Boom Slay to Abrams

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

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

Monday Night Raw
Date: August 3, 2026
Location: Casey’s Center, Des Moines, Iowa
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re done with Summerslam and the big Raw story is the end of the Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins feud, as Reigns beat Rollins and they made peace after. Reigns is going to need a new challenger and we might be finding out more about that this week. Other than that, we’re coming up on…geez is there a PPV in September? Let’s get to it.

Here is Summerslam if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Roman Reigns retaining the title over Seth Rollins.

Here is Reigns, with the fans loving him, to get things going. He talks about how he has called various shots and been right every time, including beating Rolling last night. Reigns says he can only acknowledge so much but the fans can do it for him. They sing his song but here is LA Knight to interrupt, leaving Reigns unimpressed.

Knight admits that Reigns did it himself last night, but Reigns is still a fraud. Knight wants to face Reigns one on one and he can do it anytime. Reigns thinks Knight is the real fraud for wearing a Wal-Mart watch while pretending to be a megastar. He holds up the kind of watch a champion wears and asks what Knight has done besides winning a six man tag. Reigns mocks him and says that’s not enough before going to leave.

Knight says he’s realized that Reigns’ aura goes away when he’s standing in front of Knight, with Reigns always needing help take Knight out. He mocks the Shield introduction and leaves, suggesting he’s still ready for a title match. Knight feels like a B show challenger but it needs to happen at some point.

We look at Oba Femi beating Brock Lesnar at Summerslam, with Lesnar endorsing him after the match.

Je’Von Evans vs. Ethan Page

Page shoulders him down to start but Evans knocks him to the floor for the big dive. Back in and Evans hits a heck of a high crossbody and we take a break. Page sends him into the corner though and we take a break. We come back with Page kicking him in the head but Evans escapes for a springboard clothesline.

Page breaks up a springboard and hits a kind of fisherman’s Russian legsweep for two. They go outside with both of them being sent into various things, allowing Evans to hit a heck of a dive over the barricade and into the timekeeper’s area. Back in and Page grabs a Codebreaker for two so let’s take off a turnbuckle pad. The referee isn’t having that and it’s an OG Cutter to give Evans the pin at 12:41.

Rating: C+. As usual, Evans is rather skilled at being able to make a great comeback and he got to do it again here. Page was beating him up a few times and flying through the air to make his comebacks. I liked this well enough, with Page getting pretty well locked into his spot around here.

Post match here is Big Cass to lay Evans out, including with the East River Crossing (bearhug swung into a side slam). This is the serious Cass who worked well in other places over the last few years.

We look at LA Knight/Royce Keys/Solo Sikoa beating the Bloodline at Summerslam.

Roman Reigns yells at the Bloodline for their loss and seems to want Jacob Fatu to take care of Royce Keys, who is NOT part of their family. The Usos volunteer to go after LA Knight but Reigns calls them off, saying leave him alone. Reigns leaves and Knight shows up to mock the Usos for having to follow “daddy’s” rules.

Post break Royce Keys comes up to see Jacob Fatu and says no matter what, they’re still family. Fatu says they aren’t because Keys is just one of the boys (what Reigns said to him) and wants a street fight tonight.

Here is Judgment Day for a chat. Liv Morgan (sporting a black eye) brags about beating Iyo Sky and doesn’t think she has any challengers at the moment. Morgan praises Raquel Rodriguez for her title win as well and knows Roxanne Perez will take out Sol Ruca.

Sol Ruca vs. Roxanne Perez

We’re joined in progress with Ruca working on the arm and they trade rollups for two each. Perez cartwheels away and slaps her in the face before stopping to pose. Ruca whips her into the corner and grabs a surfboard, followed by a moonsault to drop Perez on the floor. Back in and Perez breaks up the cartwheel DDT and we take a break. We come back with Perez hammering away and, eventually getting an X Factor. Ruca goes up but gets grabbed by Morgan for the DQ at 10:27.

Rating: C+. This was kind of a weird one as you would have thought Ruca was going to get some revenge on the team but instead gets beaten up again. Ruca hasn’t had the best run of success as of late and I’m not sure where she’s going next. At the same time, Morgan needs a new challenger and I was thinking Ruca was on her way there but apparently not so much at the moment.

Post match the beatdown is on but here is the returning Becky Lynch to interrupt. The Man has come back around because she doesn’t want Morgan to go another 100 days without defending her title. Morgan has the worst title reign of all time and it’s not just her saying it. That has Morgan annoyed so she says that Lynch should be back raising her daughter while Morgan is the best Women’s Champion of all time.

Morgan goes to leave but Lynch says Morgan isn’t even the best Women’s Champion to sleep with Dominik Mysterio. That gets a huge OOOO but Stephanie Vaquer is back to run through Judgment Day while Lynch watches on. Lynch and Vaquer stare each other down but don’t come to blows. It’s cool to have Vaquer back but Lynch returning at the same time is going to make Vaquer look smaller by comparison.

We look at Brock Lesnar’s career, including the UFC days, set to I Stand Alone. Unless they have another career highlight package for him set to the same song, this is the same video that aired the night after Wrestlemania, though it does include some clips from his Summerslam match with Oba Femi.

Paul Heyman is watching the video when Femi, in all white, comes in to say he never got to thank Lesnar for his kind words. Femi would like Heyman to thank Lesnar for him, with Heyman saying it would be a pleasure and offering what appears to be a sincere congratulations.

Here is Femi for a chat. He talks about the respect that he and Lesnar have for each other after Summerslam. Femi thought Lesnar knew that he was different after Wrestlemania, but then Lesnar came back and insulted him. Now Femi knows that it was just a test to see if he was that good.

We have an answer to that question and now we have gone from “can Femi swim” to “how long can Femi hold his breath?”. Femi won at Summerslam and passed the test and now the Beast can finally rest. So what’s next? If anyone has a problem with him, they will have to answer to the Ruler. And that’s that, which is good as he doesn’t need to start his new feud immediately. As Femi leaves, the Vision comes out, with Bron Breakker and Femi having a staredown, much to the fans’ interest.

Bron Breakker vs. Joe Hendry

Breakker stares at the entrance with his back to Hendry, who wants to get going. Hendry goes after him but gets dropped with a clothesline. Breakker’s spear hits the steps so Hendry takes out Austin Theory and throws Breakker inside…where the Super Spear finishes for Breakker at 1:39. Yeah that had to happen for Breakker, but dang that’s a bad look for Hendry.

Post match Theory hammers on Hendry until Akira Tozawa runs in for the save.

We look back at Big Cass’ return.

Cass talks about how he’s been gone for eight years and he was left in the dirt. It was nothing personal for Je’Von Evans because Evans was just in the way. Cass is here to stack bodies and Evans won’t be the last. Cass channeling Sid has worked for him before and it can work here again.

Here is new Intercontinental Champion Chad Gable for a chat. Gable wants to thank people who have believed in him over the years. He also wants to thank Penta for their match last night, along with the fans who have stuck with him. Even when he was Shorty G. Gable had promised himself that he would win a singles title here and he is proud to be the Intercontinental Champion.

This brings out Penta to interrupt, as he offers respect to Gable and calls him a true luchador. Gable is touched but here is Judgment Day to interrupt. They don’t like the idea of Gable being called a luchador when Dominik Mysterio is the AAA Mega Champion. The challenge is thrown out so get the referee out here.

Judgment Day vs. Penta/Chad Gable

We’re joined in progress with Penta taking over on Mysterio, who takes him into the corner for the tag off to McDonagh. The beating doesn’t last long as Penta is back up for the tag to Gable. House is quickly cleaned and Penta hits the big flip dive, leaving Gable to Olympic Slam Mysterio for a near fall. McDonagh gets in a headbutt though and a suplex puts Gable down on the floor as we take a break.

We come back with McDonagh’s standing moonsault getting two. Gable gets up again and brings in Penta for the Penta Driver on Mysterio for two more. Gable’s moonsault hits raised boots but he reverses into the ankle lock. McDonagh breaks that up so Mysterio loads up the hammer. Gable cuts that off and takes the hammer away, leaving Penta to hit Mysterio with the belt. The rolling Chaos Theory finishes Mysterio at 10:27.

Rating: B-. Gable gets to celebrate his big win and then win again here, which is a good thing to see. He had an awesome moment in winning the title and following it up was kind of a question mark, as he doesn’t have anything to do at the moment. Judgment Day losing again is hardly a surprise, but Gable vs. Mysterio again in the future could be an option.

We look at CM Punk retaining the Smackdown world Title over Cody Rhodes at Summerslam, thanks to the returning Randy Orton.

Bron Breakker asks Paul Heyman if he should do something about Oba Femi. Breakker also asks where Femi is, but Heyman doesn’t know. That doesn’t work for Breakker, who thought Heyman and Femi were best friends. Heyman knows this isn’t good. As this was going on, Lyra Valkyria and Adam Pearce could be seen arguing in the background.

Jacob Fatu vs. Royce Keys

Street Fight. They slug it out to start until Fatu misses a charge into the post. Fatu shrugs that off and clotheslines Keys out to the floor, setting up the suicide dive. Keys sends him into the steps but Fatu is right back with some rams into the announcers’ table. Fatu’s charge is cut off with a clothesline, followed by a running powerslam through the barricade for the huge crash.

Keys loads up a table, which takes too long as always, allowing Fatu to throw him over the announcers’ table. Some chairs are thrown in, with Keys diving off the announcers’ table with a clothesline. More chairs are throw inside and Keys beats him down with a kendo stick. The table is set up in the corner but Fatu grabs a choke with the kendo stick.

A suplex sends Fatu through some chairs for two but he comes back with the inverted DDT for two more. Fatu goes up but Keys catches him with the super powerslam for a very near fall and we keep going. The USB connects but Fatu pops up again with a Samoan Drop through the table in the corner. The triple jump moonsault sets up a flying….Tongan Death grip to finish Keys at 13:18.

Rating: B. This was designed to make Fatu look like a killing machine again and that’s pretty much what he did, as Fatu kept popping up after everything Keys threw at him. It was quite the smashing with Keys fighting him as hard as he could not but being enough. That’s not great for Keys’ future, but this was Fatu being more like the old monster that got him over in the first place.

Post match Fatu puts it on him again and then hits the running Umaga Attacks in the corner. Fatu wraps the chair around Keys’ throat and hits another Umaga Attack, with Adam Pearce and agents having no way to stop him. Cue Roman Reigns to pose, with Fatu posing back. Reigns leaves and runs into Rey Mysterio, who says he’s the GM of AAA. Mysterio wants to run something by Reigns, who goes with him. I have no idea what that’s going to be, but the fact that the upcoming AAA Worlds Collide event is taking place in the same city on the same day as AEW All Out makes me think we might be getting a guest star.

Overall Rating: B. This show felt similar to the Raw After Wrestlemania, with things wrapping up at Summerslam and moving on to a bunch of new stories. Throw in some returns with Cass, Vaquer and Lynch and this show felt rather strong. The wrestling got better in the end and that made things even better. Good show here which felt like a new start to a lot of things.

Results
Je’Von Evans b. Ethan Page – OG Cutter
Sol Ruca b. Roxanne Perez via DQ when Liv Morgan interfered
Bron Breakker b. Joe Hendry – Super Spear
Penta/Chad Gable b. Judgment Day – Rolling Chaos Theory to Mysterio
Jacob Fatu b. Royce Keys – Tongan Death Grip

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

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Summerslam 2026 Night Two
Date: August 2, 2026
Location: US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

It’s time to get back at this as we have another six matches to go. The biggest of those by far is Seth Rollins challenging Roman Reigns for the Raw World Title, which is part of a very long running feud. Other than that, there are human monies on a pole and that should be more than enough. Let’s get to it.

Here is Night One is if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of last night.

Minnesota Viking Justin Jefferson talks about how everything can change at the half, leading into a preview of tonight’s card.

Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor

For a future World Title shot….but hang on. Nick Aldis (once again Smackdown GM) says that in the interest of fairness, he’s adding someone to the match.

Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor vs. Gunther

For a future World Title shot….but hang on again as Aldis wants to add in someone else.

Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor vs. Gunther vs. Kevin Owens

For a future World Title shot and of course Zayn’s jaw drops open as the music hits. Owens wastes no time in wrecking Gunther and Balor to start and it’s time for the showdown. Zayn and Owens hug and then fight (fitting for them), with Owens knocking him to the floor and hitting a big flip dive onto the pile.

Back in and the Swanton hits Gunther, who is back up to take over on the other three. Gunther chops away at Zayn and powerbombs Balor right into the Boston crab. Owens is back in for the save and stomps on Gunther, followed by the clothesline. The swinging superplex plants Gunther for two, with Zayn making the save.

Owens breaks that up as well and tries a Swanton but Zayn gets his knees up. Gunther breaks up the Helluva Kick with a sleeper, which is broken up by the Coup de Grace Zayn. Gunther’s save breaks it up (and by fingertips) so Owens gives Balor and Gunther a Stunner each. Zayn Blue Thunder Bombs Owens for two but Owens is back up with a superkick and Stunner for the pin and the title shot at 8:24.

Rating: B. I mean, Owens vs. Zayn is one of those things that can be heated up in the span of no time and it’s great to see Owens back. Owens vs. Punk is certainly interesting and it should be fascinating to see someone who can hang with Punk on the microphone. At the same time, having Gunther there almost as a red herring of a surprise was great, as the place was very happy to see Owens. While I’m not wild on the last second change, I’m happy with the result so I’ll take it.

US Title: Baron Corbin vs. Trick Williams

The returning Corbin is challenging and thinks Williams, with Lil Yachty, is soft. Williams hits him in the face to start and takes over, allowing Williams to set up a table of all things. That takes too long and Corbin takes over, including some shots on the floor. Back in and Williams is busted open as Corbin keeps pounding him down in the corner. Corbin sends him outside again but stops to go after Yachty, who holds him off with the Trick Stick.

Back in and Williams gets in a faceplant but Corbin knocks him down again. We pause for Yachty to be WAY out of position, with Corbin having to wait around forever before standing next to the rope for the stick shot. A sitout Death Valley Driver gives Williams two but he slides out of End Of Days.

The Trick Kick gets two so Williams loads up the Trick Shot. That sends Corbin to the floor where he grabs the belt, only to have Yachty break it up. Williams knocks Corbin into Yachty though, sending him through the table (thank goodness it was there for no other reason). A belt shot and End Of Days give Corbin the title at 8:53.

Rating: C. This was a match that felt like it could have been in the main event of the first hour of a Smackdown. It doesn’t help that the ending was horrible with one of the worst table bumps in recent memory. That being said, this very well may free Williams up to move into the main event scene. If that’s where they’re going then it’s quite the speedy push but you have to roll the dice at some point.

Interim Smackdown Women’s Title: Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Chelsea Green vs. Charlotte vs. Lash Legend

Ladder match for the vacant title. Cargill goes right after Charlotte to start and Legend sends Green crashing into the ladder. Legend tosses her over the barricade but Charlotte grabs the ladder before it can be set up. With Charlotte knocked down, we get a Legend vs. Cargill staredown. That’s broken up by Stratton and Green, who hammer away in the corner until they get knocked back down.

Cargill suplexes Legend to the floor but gets high crossbodied by Charlotte. The ladder is set up and Stratton takes Legend out for the showdown with Charlotte. The two of them are knocked down so Green goes up, earning herself a Jaded onto the ladder. Stratton is back in and tries a super hurricanrana to Legend, who calmly powerbombs her onto a bridged ladder for a horribly painful looking crash.

Charlotte goes for the title but has the ladder pulled out from underneath her, meaning it’s a crash. Stratton, who is somehow still able to move, goes up but has to hurricanrana Legend into a ladder in the corner. Stratton goes back up but Green pushes the ladder over, with Stratton flip diving onto the other three.

Green goes up but here are the Baddies to cut her off. The two of them beat up Chelsea, who winds up hanging from a ladder, and Charlotte so the other three all climb. Stratton and Legend crash down but Charlotte is up to cut Cargill off…and Green pulls herself up to grab the belt and win 13:04.

Rating: B-. This was a good example of a match where you knew the gist of what you were going to get and it didn’t really veer away from that. Green is certainly a surprising choice to win but the fans love her and that’s always a good place to go. I’m not sure I’d call her a traditional Women’s Champion as she now has to wait for the ACTUAL champion to show up, but it’s a cool moment in a match with some fun spots.

We recap Danhausen vs. Dominik Mysterio. So the Judgment Day invested in Danhausen’s experiments and they didn’t pay off so the team wants their money back. Danhausen won’t do it so let’s put the Human Monies On A Pole, because “haven’t you ever watched wrestling?”.

Dominik Mysterio vs. Danhausen

Human Monies On A Pole (and in a bag with a dollar sign on it of course) and Danhausen is here in the Danhausenmobile. Mysterio jumps him to start and hits a clothesline but Danhausen fights back with the reverse DDT. Cue JD McDonagh to cut Danhausen off so it’s time for the Minihausens to get involved.

McDonagh chokeslams them down, with Cole pointing out that one of them used to be El Torito. That one gives McDonagh a springboard spinning DDT so the Minihausens go up. That’s cut off by Mysterio, who is sent to the floor for a big running flip dive (with Toritohausen hitting the barricade). Cue Joe Hendry for the guitar shot to McDonagh so Mysterio goes up, only to get cursed with exploding pyro. Danhausen gets the money for the win at 6:48.

Rating: C+. Honestly, I was kind of expecting something more. This was one of the most obvious results of the entire weekend as there is pretty much no reason for Danhausen to lose anything anytime soon. Let him do his shenanigans and comedy stuff, as it’s not like pulling something off a pole first is going to make Mysterio into a loser.

Post match Danhausen says something to the referee and Danhausen throws out some money to the fans. Naturally it appears to be Danhausen Bucks but better than nothing.

The Killer Bees, Rick Martel (!) and Molly Holly are here.

Intercontinental Title: Penta vs. Chad Gable

Gable, the home star, is challenging and Penta is the person who beat him twice, including causing the match where Gable’s shoulder was hurt to put him out of action for a year. They shake hands to start before Penta grabs a running hurricanrana. Gable is right back with a rolling kick to the head but Penta cuts him off with a backbreaker.

Penta gets knocked away but is fine enough o superkick a moonsaulting Gable out of the air. Back up and Gable is sent outside for the big flip dive from Penta, leaving Gable holding his shoulder. They get back inside and chop it out until Gable (bleeding slightly) sends him into the corner. Gable goes up but dives right into the Sacrifice for two, but Gable’s shoulder is in big trouble.

They fight out to the apron where Gable gets in a German suplex, sending Penta crashing out to the floor. That lets Gable follow up with a big moonsault but Penta is able to come back with a Mexican Destroyer on the apron (more like a Mexican Backstabber but close enough). Back in and Gable gets the ankle lock, completely with a grapevine, for the tap at 10:58.

Rating: B. Well, they didn’t have another option here as Gable is on the run of a lifetime and needed to FINALLY win something. This is the title he’s been chasing for the better part of ever and it’s great to see him actually get there. Throw in having his family there and it’s even better. Good stuff here and this was an awesome moment at the end of a good match.

Post match Penta presents him with the title and Gable’s family gets in the ring (with his son in a wrestling singlet and his parents in Chad Gable #1 and #2 Fan shirts). Gable thanks his family for helping him over the years in a nice call back to the mask vs. mask promo. Naturally this moment is turned into an ad for root beer, because it must be a commercial.

We recap Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins. This is part of a story that started almost fourteen years ago, with the two of them being major forces throughout that time. Reigns is the top star around here but can’t beat Rollins, who wants to take the title from him one more time. That’s fine with Reigns, who wants one more chance to put Rollins away for good.

Raw World Title: Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins

Rollins, looking like he’s merged with an exploding peacock, is challenging. They bell rings and they stare at/talk to each other, with almost two minutes passing before they get physical. Rollins takes him into the corner and does the Scott Hall spooky fingers. Rollins’ headlock doesn’t last long so he settles for an early Sling Blade to put Reigns in the corner.

Reigns misses a clothesline and gets taken down with a superkick as the idea is that Reigns just can’t get anything going on him. Back up and Reigns gets him in the corner for some clotheslines, followed by a big boot. The Superman Punch misses though and Rollins is sent outside for the suicide dives. Rollins teases going after the announcers’ table and gets kicked in the head for his efforts.

They fight out into the crowd so they can walk around a bit, with Rollins hitting him with a piece of the barricade. Reigns is fine enough to grab a suplex on the floor and they both need a breather. They go back to ringside, where Rollins tries a spear for some reason. That’s countered into a powerbomb through the announcers’ table in the big crash. Reigns loads up another one but Rollins reverses and hits one of his own to leave them both down.

They both dive back in to beat the count, with Rollins hitting a Pedigree for two. The Stomp is countered into a Superman Punch for two and they’re both down again. Back up and Reigns tries a spear, which only hits turnbuckle, allowing Rollins to hit the Stomp for two of his own. Rollins takes him up for the superplex but the Falcon Arrow is countered into a guillotine. Rollins tries to power out but gets cut off with a spear for two more (with a very close kickout).

Reigns talks a bunch of trash and tries another spear, with Rollins hitting one of his own for two of his own. The buckle bomb looks to set up a Stomp, only for Reigns to reverse into the same two moves for another near fall. They yell at each other and then start trading right hands until the referee gets bumped. Reigns hits a double arm DDT (Cole: “Homage to the third Shield member!” Who will not be named!) but accidentally spears the referee.

Rollins Stomps Reigns again and they’re both down for a bit. That’s enough for Rollins to go grab a chair, which Reigns knocks away from him. Reigns loads up the chair but throws it down and says they’re ending this one on one. They forearm it out with Rollins slapping him to keep things going. A Superman Punch doesn’t even knock Rollins down and he reverses the spear into a Pedigree. The Stomp misses for Rollins so he…hits it a few seconds later. The top rope Stomp misses though and Reigns hits another spear. A third spear connects and Rollins is done at 33:40.

Rating: B. This was flirting with being even lower as they spent A LOT of time just staring at or talking to each other. The idea here was that they were fighting man to man until one of them couldn’t hang in there anymore. Reigns finally puts Rollins down and it should end their feud, with both of them needing something new to do. The focus being on Reigns being willing to go that much further to win makes sense, though it never hit that epic level they were trying for here.

Post match Cole says that Reigns has now tied up all loose ends. As I try to remember when Reigns got his win back over Cody Rhodes, Rollins and Reigns do the Shield pose to officially bury the hatchet. Reigns poses to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show flew by and in a good way, as the main event was done at just after 9:00 EST. That’s a pretty swift pace and the matches pretty much all worked, save for maybe Corbin vs. Williams. It didn’t quite hit the heights of last night’s half but this show only had one main event. It’s a good show, but a step down from last night, which shouldn’t be surprising. Still though, more than solid enough here, with some nice surprises and enough quality wrestling.

Results
Kevin Owens b. Gunther, Finn Balor and Sami Zayn – Stunner to Zayn
Baron Corbin b. Trick Williams – End Of Days
Chelsea Green won a ladder match – Green pulled down the title
Danhausen b. Dominik Mysterio – Danhausen pulled down the bag of money
Chad Gable b. Penta – Ankle lock
Roman Reigns b. Seth Rollins – Spear

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

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