IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: October 3, 2005
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Attendance: 14,387
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Jonathan Coachman

It’s a special night as Raw is back on USA and it’s a three hour show, back when that was still a novel concept. The big idea is the return of a bunch of legends, including Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and HHH, with the latter teaming up with Ric Flair to face Chris Masters and Carlito. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a five minute preview video featuring the different openings and a lot of talking heads, including Vince McMahon, Shawn Michaels and Bobby Heenan among others talking about the first show and how going live was different. Then there was the Attitude Era, which is what they really were. As usual, WWE knows how to do these better than anyone else, which isn’t surprising given how much practice they have with patting themselves on the back.

We get what I believe is a new intro, with the “yes sir we promised you a great main event here tonight” video.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Mick Foley to get things going and there’s a certain special carpet in the ring. Mrs. Foley’s baby boy has come back home to the WWE, to USA and to Dallas, Texas. They’re doing things a little bit differently tonight because the guest is introducing the host. Cue Roddy Piper and it’s time for Piper’s Pit. Piper says he’s a fan of Foley’s because he’s nowhere near as crazy as Foley. Piper: “You jump off roofs! You land on thumbtakes!”

The WHATs get on Piper’s nerves but he asks when Foley is coming back to the WWE. Foley says he was at his best in his most recent match but he got beaten up anyway. Piper says there are 12,000 reasons right here to get back in the ring but here are Randy and Bob Orton to interrupt. That sends Foley to another level and he promises that Undertaker will take care of the two of them on Sunday.

Randy says he can do whatever he wants around here because he’s Randy Orton. The two of them get in the ring and Randy gets in Piper’s face, saying Piper would be nothing if not for Bob. Randy watched his father come home black and blue with nothing to show for it while Piper got movie deals and the main event of Wrestlemania. The fight is on and after things get broken up for a bit, Randy hits a pair of RKOs.

We look at Kurt Angle beating Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania and then Shawn evening the score at Vengeance.

Eric Bischoff rants at Teddy Long for bringing the Ortons in but Teddy says he didn’t do it. That’s not cool with Eric, who threatens everything on Smackdown and shoves Teddy, who doesn’t seem phased.

Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels

30 minute Iron Man match. Shawn charges at him and they’re on the mat early with Shawn hammering away. A slam gets a quick two on Angle and a swinging neckbreaker gets two. They head outside with Shawn chopping at Angle, setting up a top rope ax handle for two more back inside. Angle is back up with an uppercut and a knee to the face as they’re already in second gear. The chinlock burns off some time but Shawn jawbreaks his way to freedom at the five minute mark.

Angle gets backdropped over the top and seems to have banged up his shoulder, but he’s fine enough to Angle Slam Shawn on the floor. Back in and Angle stomps away in the corner, setting up the same buckle bomb he hit at Vengeance. Shawn knocks him off the top but Angle runs the corner and hits the super Angle Slam for the first fall at 8:10.

Angle – 1

Michaels – 0

We take a break and come back with 17:54 to go as Angle grabs a reverse chinlock. Shawn fights up but goes shoulder first into the post, setting up the ankle lock. That’s countered into a quick rollup to give Shawn the pin and the title at 15:10 to go.

Angle – 1

Michaels – 1

Angle is ticked off so he takes it outside again and sends Shawn into the steps. The bodyscissors goes on to work on Shawn’s back some more but Shawn counters into an O’Connor roll. Angle rolls through that into the ankle lock and the grapevine makes Shawn tap with 11:13 to go.

Angle – 2

Michaels – 1

Back from another break with 7:42 to go and Angle working on the leg even more. Angle lays on the leg but Shawn forearms him in the chest for the break. Shawn’s leg is fine enough for the forearm into the nipup and he sets up the top rope elbow. Sweet Chin Music ties it up with 4:45 to go.

Angle – 2

Michaels – 2

Angle is back up and whips Shawn upside down in the corner, setting up an Angle Slam for two. A tornado DDT drops Angle with 3:00 left but Shawn can’t follow up. The very delayed cover gets two and Angle charges into a boot in the corner with two minutes left. Shawn’s moonsault press is countered into the ankle lock and Shawn can’t kick/roll out. The grapevine goes on with 1:06 left but Shawn kicks him away with 15 seconds left. Sweet Chin Music connects but time runs out at at the one count.

Rating: B. These two work so well together and they had another very good one here. Angle being able to outwrestle Michaels for most of the match until Shawn gets in a quick fall here or there is a great story and really shows the differences between the two of them. They could do this every night and have a great match so this was something that should have been included on such a major show.

Post match Shawn asks for sudden death but Angle leaves. Shawn celebrates with some legends in the front row.

Kevin Von Erich is here. That’s strange to see in WWE.

Bischoff comes up to Vince McMahon and asks if the match against Cena can be No DQ. Vince: “No.” Eric isn’t happy and calls him Vince before going into a rant about how Vince only signed him to humiliate him every week. What’s next? A Self Destruction of Eric Bischoff DVD? Eric calls him sick, but Vince says no one knows how sick, twisted and perverted he can be.

Lilian Garcia introduces Vince, reading a long description off of a card (Lilian: “He is strong, he is handsome, he is….well endowed?”). Vince talks about how great it is that everything is uncensored again, like it was on February 8, 1998 (it was 1999). That was the night he beat up Steve Austin and we see a clip of the segment (with the right date). Vince pinned Austin and then talked trash to him in the corner, mainly because of all the people holding Austin back.

Then there was the time Vince had Austin arrested….and there’s the glass shatter. I can’t help but smile at Vince’s face because he just can’t help screwing this up every time. Vince insists that he was just having fun and of course he had some other moments to show. Austin thinks Vince is nervous, even though he said he invented Austin, which was part of the big intro. That makes Austin laugh but then he gets serious again because he has his own clips. This includes Dr. Austin, Bang 3:16 and the beer truck, with Vince looking more and more embarrassed after each one.

Vince says it’s a new era and they can start all over again. Austin doesn’t believe it so there’s the Stunner, which you had to have on a show like this. This brings out Shane McMahon, who hasn’t been around here in a good while (since Survivor Series 2003 I believe)…and he’s Stunned as well. Now it’s Stephanie (first time since No Mercy 2003) to yell about Austin destroying her family’s show.

Austin’s look when she says she’s Stephanie McMahon is great, and he asks her what fragrance she’s wearing. Stephanie is confused but Austin thinks she’s flirting with him. Those Stunners probably made her want to give him a kiss, but she slaps him instead. Austin: “So you’re playing hard to get.” Austin is glad she did that because it’s a Stunner for her too (which she took rather well).

Now we get even more serious as LINDA McMahon comes out (oh how I miss that old Wrestlemania theme song) to say Austin can’t do this. She has spent two years bringing her family back together but it’s always the same with Austin. Why Stun her husband? Austin: “Your husband is a piece of trash.” Linda: “….yeah.” But what about Shane? Austin: “He’s a piece of trash too.” What about Stephanie? Fans: “SL**!” Austin: “Stephanie is a precious piece of trash.”

Linda thinks he owes the McMahon family an apology, but Austin was just doing his job. Austin apologizes and Linda goes to leave…but Austin stops her. Linda’s YOU WOULDN’T face is great, but Austin asks Linda for a kiss on the cheek. Linda goes to do it until Austin says we should give the fans something to remember. He gets rather close to her and calls her sweetheart, saying Vince is taking a catnap. They should……drink a beer together. Linda can’t quite keep up but Austin raises her hand anyway and then gives her the Stunner.

This was rather long at over twenty minutes and kind of weird as Austin Stunning Linda, the mostly innocent member of the family, doesn’t feel right. That being said, a show honoring the history of Raw had to have something between Austin and Vince so why not go with the first ever attack on the whole family?

Post break, Vince says someone is getting fired over this.

Money In The Bank: Edge vs. Matt Hardy

Ladder match and Loser Leaves Raw. The ladder is already set up in the ring so Edge jumps him at the entrance and goes for a quick climb. Matt gets up and shoves the ladder over though, setting up a choke with the ladder. A missed charge lets Edge drop toehold him into the ladder in the corner, followed by a hard suplex into the ladder. Edge’s flapjack doesn’t quite work as Matt winds up on the ladder, only to get pulled right back down.

Edge lays the ladder on the top but Matt gets in a few shots of his own. That means he can bring in another ladder but Edge suplexes him chest first onto the ladder on the mat. Edge goes up top but Matt climbs as well and shoves him off, right into the ladder on the corner. The crash is enough to send Edge into the standing ladder and everyone is down again. Back from a break with the two of them on the floor and Edge getting sent over the barricade.

Matt climbs the ladder and dives onto Edge but has to go after Lita. A powerbomb through a table is broken up with a kendo stick shot from Edge and a splash off the apron puts Matt through the table in a big crash. Edge sets up a second ladder in the ring so Matt catches him and climbs the other, meaning it’s a Twist of Fate off the ladders for the next crash.

Matt’s climb is cut off by Lita and the kendo stick but he goes up anyway. Lita shoves the ladder over so Matt is hanging from the briefcase, allowing Edge to pull him down. That lets Edge tie Matt in the ropes and Lita wraps herself around his arms, forcing him to watch as Edge climbs the ladder to retain the briefcase.

Rating: B. This was all about the violence and being the final blowoff, with Matt getting crushed once and for all (in case you hadn’t gotten the idea just yet). There was no other way for these two to finish their feud because of the long history together so it was rather poetic in a way. Good, hard hitting match with Lita and Edge working together to finish Matt off once and of all.

Post break, Matt is led away by police just to rub it in.

Ashley Massaro helps Trish Stratus get dressed, as women like them tend to do. Trish makes sure to check her lingerie in case they lose the bra and panties match. Mae Young comes in and tries to strip but they get rid of her. Instead, Mae goes outside and strips for Jim Duggan, Jimmy Snuka and Ted DiBiase. Ted: “I’ll give you $1000 to put your shirt back on. $2000!” Fabulous Moolah comes in to break it up. Mae: “I want the $3000.” Snuka takes Jimmy’s money and goes to find Mae.

Ric Flair, after hitting on Maria Kanellis a bit, praises HHH for saving him and now, HHH is back once and for all.

Carlito/Chris Masters vs. Ric Flair/HHH

It’s a brawl to start with Carlito and Master being tossed outside in a hurry. We settle down to Carlito getting double chopped in the corner and there’s a double strut. Masters is chopped outside as well and we take a break. Back with Flair in trouble and Carlito grabbing an apple. Instead of spitting at Flair though, it’s the Figure Four to really work on the leg. HHH makes the save in a hurry so Carlito wraps the leg around the rope and slaps away.

You don’t leave Flair’s arm available though as he chops Carlito back, only to charge into a spinebuster. This time it’s Flair slamming Carlito off the top but Masters pulls Flair away from the tag attempt. A HHH distraction lets Flair hit Masters low and NOW it’s off to HHH for the house cleaning. That means a spinebuster each and it’s sledgehammer time. Masters takes it away so Flair hits a chop block, leaving Carlito to get Pedigreed for the pin.

Rating: C. The match wasn’t important as this was all about the return of HHH. There was no reason to believe that Masters and Carlito had a chance because HHH is on a much higher level. It felt like any given Raw tag team main event and it’s rather refreshing to see face HHH for a change.

Post match the celebration is on….and HHH hits Flair in the face with the sledgehammer. Flair is busted open badly as HHH keeps beating on him, including another sledgehammer shot, all while HHH screams at Flair.

Post break in the back, HHH keeps beating on the bloody Flair, saying that he isn’t forgetting. Flair gets sent into various things as HHH says no one touches Flair but him. Flair’s blood is all over the limo and HHH throws him inside before breaking the window with a sledgehammer. The limo drives away.

There are a bunch of legends (Ricky Steamboat, Arn Anderson, Mae Young, Steve Keirn, Dusty Rhodes, Jimmy Hart, Howard Finkel, Sgt. Slaughter, Superstar Billy Graham, Greg Valentine, the Fabulous Moolah, Steve Williams, Jim Duggan, Ted DiBiase, Harley Race, Nikolai Volkoff, Hillbilly Jim, Kevin Von Erich, Jimmy Snuka, Dean Malenko, Tony Garea, Koko B. Ware, Chief Jay Strongbow, Pat Patterson) in the ring with Dusty Rhodes talking about how much he loves Dallas. He talks about some of the legends but here’s Rob Conway to interrupt.

Conway wants to know if this is Homecoming or a nursing home. The old people jokes are on but Dusty gets in his face, asking how Conway dares to say this to these people. The table Conway is eating off of was built by these legends and without it, Conway wouldn’t have any food. Rhodes goes to talk about Harley Race but Conway calls Race fat. As you might expect, Race hits him in the head, as do Patterson and Duggan. The Bionic Elbow sets up the Von Erich Claw and the Superfly Splash. It’s hard not to smile at something like this as Dusty had that incredible fire and Race punching some young punk is always fun.

Torrie Wilson/Candice Michelle/Victoria vs. Trish Stratus/Ashley Massaro

Handicap bra and panties match. Trish gets knocked off the apron to start and Ashley loses her top in a hurry. She fights back in a hurry and takes off Victoria’s shirt, allowing Trish to fight back up. Candice and Torrie are sent into each other as Lawler wants to know where Torrie put her dog. JR: “Where do you think her puppies are?”

Torrie and Candice lose their tops but the Stratusphere is broken up and Trish loses part of her pants. Victoria loses all of hers though, only to have her knock Trish down hard. Lawler: “You think that’s hard?” Candice gets her pants pulled down, with Lawler being very pleased when the underwear comes down a bit too far. Torrie gets stripped as to give Trish and Ashley the win.

Rating: D. It’s one of those matches where it was there for the visuals and nothing more. That’s perfectly fine for what they were going for here and I can’t complain about the lack of wrestling. It wasn’t the point of something like this and for a “special” match, it worked well enough.

Bischoff says that since Vince is gone, he’s in charge tonight. Therefore, his match against John Cena is now No DQ. Angle volunteers to help in exchange for being named champion after Bischoff wins.

Rey Mysterio/Batista/Chris Benoit vs. Christian/Eddie Guerrero/John Bradshaw Layfield

Somehow this is Mysterio’s first ever match on Raw. Long is on commentary and it’s Batista vs. JBL to start, but here’s Bischoff to say hang on a second. Vince is gone and Bischoff doesn’t want Smackdown on this show. Therefore, there is no Smackdown match taking place tonight. The lights go out and Bischoff laughs at the Smackdown wrestlers for looking stupid.

Gene Okerlund is in the ring and brings out Hulk Hogan for a chat. Gene talks about all of Hogan’s accomplishments before asking what is next. Hogan says you can feel the power of Hulkamania here in Dallas before saying he’ll face Shawn Michaels again anyplace anytime. As far as what is next though, Hogan has faced some of the biggest names of all time, but tonight he felt the rumblings again. He saw one person backstage and knew what he wanted. The fans chant for Austin, and that is exactly who Hogan means. I don’t think this was ever mentioned again, but I remember my head snapping up when I was watching this live.

Raw World Title: John Cena vs. Eric Bischoff

Cena is defending and it’s No DQ so Angle is here with Bischoff. Angle keeps distraction Cena so he punches Bischoff in the face and goes after Angle instead. Bischoff gets in a single kick and Cena slams him down and hits the Shuffle but Angle comes in. That lets Bischoff get in a low blow for one but Angle’s chair shot bounces off the rope and hits himself in the head. Cena has had it and finishes Bischoff with the FU in a hurry.

Post match Cena and Angle brawl some more but here’s Teddy Long to send the Smackdown wrestlers (plus Ken Kennedy and Randy Orton) after Angle and Cena. The Raw locker room comes out to save Bischoff from the Batista Bomb and the big brawl is on to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. This is a show where the wrestling wasn’t the point, though the first two matches were rather good. What mattered here was paying tribute to the past and kicking off the new era of the show in a big way. That’s exactly what they did here and for the first time in a very long while, the show felt important and special, which is what they were trying to do. I liked this quite a bit and had a great time with it, so well done all around.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

205 Live
Date: February 28, 2020
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Joe Quasto, Aiden English

It’s time for a special edition of the show, and by that I mean one that was taped before Smackdown went on the air. My guess is that this is just due to the travel situation because it would make too much sense to do this regularly. We’re coming up on the big ten man tag match so maybe we have something good here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Raul Mendoza vs. Joaquin Wilde

Rematch from last week when Mendoza won to even their series. Mendoza hits a running dropkick for an early one and we’re already in the armbar. That’s switched to a cobra clutch but Wilde fights up and gets in a powerbomb off the ropes. Wilde sends him outside for a flip dive, followed by a kick to the chest for two back inside.

They fight on the corner with Mendoza saying that Wilde isn’t better than him, earning himself a super hurricanrana for two. Mendoza snaps off a Spanish Fly for his own two and a pumphandle driver is good for the same. The Wilde Thing is countered so Wilde gets two off a backslide before ducking Mendoza’s running kick to the chest. Mendoza knees him in the face but a bottom rope Lionsault hits knees. The Wilde Thing into a rollup finishes Mendoza at 8:12.

Rating: C+. These two have good chemistry together and that’s what matters. It’s a fun, fast paced match and after weeks of the Singhs and Ariya Daivari having the same boring matches week after week, this is a huge upgrade. Now do something with them and send them to other stories around here so they can stay fresh. That’s how you build something from scratch, which is what they need to do around here.

Here are the teams for the elimination tag in two weeks:

Team NXT: Lio Rush (Captain), Tyler Breeze, Isaiah Scott, Danny Burch, Oney Lorcan

Team 205 Live: Tony Nese (Captain), Mike Kanellis, Jack Gallagher, Brian Kendrick, Ariya Daivari

Lio Rush vs. Tony Nese

Mike Kanellis is here with Nese. Hold on as Nese needs to pose at the bell. That’s not cool with Rush, who hammers away but gets taken into the corner by straight power. Rush hammers away and grabs a springboard hurricanrana, only to get kicked in the face. Nese gets sent outside and it’s a springboard flip dive to take him down. Back in and Nese hits a fireman’s carry gutbuster and grabs a bodyscissors but Rush is back with a rollup for two.

Nese kicks him down again and hits a Lionsault for two of his own. Rush knocks him off the top for a high crossbody but Nese spinwheel kicks him down. A backbreaker sets up a Boston crab to put Rush in more trouble so he grabs a rope. Kanellis’ distraction doesn’t work so Rush hits the springboard Stunner, drawing in Kanellis for the DQ at 10:00.

Rating: C+. Another good back and forth match here to help set up the big tag. As usual, it’s a good idea to have a match like this end in a DQ so you don’t put one of the wrestlers at a disadvantage going into the elimination tag. Rush continues to show off very well in matches like this because he can move in a way that no one else can. Good match here, and the ending sets up more stuff in the future.

Post match the beatdown is on but Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan come out for the save. The four of them brawl to the back, leaving Rush alone. This brings out the returning Jack Gallagher to beat Rush down and plant him with a headbutt. Gallagher takes off his tracksuit to reveal a bunch of tattoos, making him look a bit like Conor McGregor.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a big upgrade over recent weeks for the simple reason that there was a focus. There was a point to the show and it felt like they were building to something for a change. I can go for that after weeks of lackluster shows and matches that meant nothing. This show was also about fifteen minutes shorter than the usual edition and it helped a lot. I don’t think that’s going go be the case going forward, but it’s nice for a one off show.

Results

Joaquin Wilde b. Raul Mendoza – Wilde Thing

Lio Rush b. Tony Nese via DQ when Mike Kanellis interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: September 30, 2005
Location: Entertainment Center, Laredo, Texas
Attendance: 3,500
Commentators: Michael Cole, Tazz

We’re almost ready for No Mercy and most of the card is either set or all but set. That makes for a show that is all about getting fans to want to buy the pay per view, which is often the hardest part. Maybe it works out well here though, even if the show might not seem like the biggest deal. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Cole gives us a quick rundown of Laredo and its location near the border. I don’t think I need a geography lesson to open the show.

Here’s JBL, with an inner tube, a sombrero and a donkey as I think you know where this is going. After a bit of Spanish, JBL tells the fans to find someone with a green card, if they can. The fans chant at him so JBL threatens a big call to immigration before talking about going to meet Rey’s relatives. This includes inner tubing at night and jump starting “peek up” trucks. JBL says the back of the donkey reminds of everyone he sees here, which is why he had to be careful in selecting a partner.

Mr. Kennedy/John Bradshaw Layfield vs. Rey Mysterio/Hardcore Holly

Kennedy compares Tony Chimmel to the donkey on the way in. Rey does the Mexican hat dance around the sombrero before dropkicking Kennedy down for an early two. An inner tube shot to the back lets Kennedy take over and it’s JBL coming in. That earns him a DDT and a tag to Holly means more of a beating in the corner.

It’s already back to Mysterio vs. Kennedy with JBL breaking up a quick 619 attempt. The fall away slam sets up the bearhug until Rey bites his way out. After dispatching Kennedy, it’s off to Holly to pick the pace way up. A full nelson slam plants Kennedy and it’s the dropkick to JBL. The questionably low kick to the ribs drops JBL again but Kennedy grabs Holly, allowing the Clothesline From JBL to connect for the pin.

Rating: C-. Just a quick tag match to advance a pair of feuds and there is nothing wrong with that. JBL doing the anti-Mexico stuff is as JBL as you can get so I wouldn’t have expected anything else. Kennedy is growing on me in a hurry and I’m starting to see why he was as popular as he was for the time being.

We look at last week’s Eddie Is Sick deal with Dr. Barnett…uh…yeah.

Eddie is eating some Mexican food when Batista comes up and takes it away. Just looking out for his partner you see. Batista eats it anyway, making me want some Mexican food in the process.

Melina is in the parking lot when Christy Hemme rides up on a motorcycle (I’m not sure that’s the safest riding attire). They get in an argument and Melina breaks a nail, meaning a match is imminent.

Melina vs. Christy Hemme

MNM are at ringside. Christy sends her into the corner and tells Melina to watch her nail. That earns her a dropkick for two as Tazz rambles about Christy looking great on the motorcycle. An armbar has Christy in trouble until she makes it to the rope, only to have Melina drape the arm across said rope. Christy’s sunset flip out of the corner into a kick to the head lets Christy roll her up for two (with a rather suggestive form on the rollup). Mercury distracts the referee though, allowing Nitro to trip Christy for the pin.

Rating: D. If you’re getting pinned just because you call on your face, it might be time to stay out of the ring. This was every lackluster women’s match you would get around this time, but at least there wasn’t a ton of catfighting. They don’t seem to be trying to make this a bunch of serious women’s matches and given the current crop of talent, that’s best for everyone.

Post match Melina yells so Christy hits her in the face. MNM goes after her but Heidenreich and Animal make the save.

We look back at Undertaker popping out of the casket last week in a fairly effective segment.

Bob Orton vs. Undertaker

Before the match, Bob insists Randy won’t be around tonight so Bob can show no mercy. Never trust a cowboy. Bob snaps off a left hand to start and the glare sends him bailing to the floor. Back in and Undertaker doesn’t honor a timeout request and hammers away but the ref gets bumped early. That means the low blow so here’s Randy to jump Undertaker, because you can’t trust a cowboy.

The big beatdown is on, with Randy hammering away and sending Undertaker over the announcers’ table. They toss Undertaker over the top and back inside so Bob can get two, meaning it’s time for the pain. The ref gets bumped again so Randy can try the RKO….which is shoved away. The Tombstone finishes Bob before Randy can cheat again.

Rating: D. Bob was only 55 years old here so it’s not ridiculous to have him in a match where he actually has to work. The wrestling wasn’t the point here of course as it’s all a way to show that Undertaker might be in trouble when Randy and Bob are allowed to wrestle at the same time. I’m not sure how good the casket match will be, but at least it should be a bit better than this.

Post break, here’s what you saw pre break.

We take a quick look at Bobby Lashley debuting and destroying Simon Dean last week.

Bobby Lashley vs. Russell Simpson

Simpson can’t wrestle him down or whip him in so Lashley drives the not so bright jobber into the corner. Some kicks to the leg slow Lashley down until it’s a backbreaker to drop Simpson. The Dominator gives Lashley the fast pin.

Post match here’s Simon Dean to offer Lashley a shake before their match at No Mercy. This goes as you would expect, with the shake being squashed and Dean being pressed out to the floor.

It’s time for the Peep Show. Before we get to our guest, Christian wants to know why there is no United States Title match at No Mercy. Chris Benoit has been on a roll as of late until he ran into Christian. That’s why he should get the title shot, but here are Booker T. and Sharmell to interfere. Sharmell says Christian asked Booker what he had done lately so Booker talks about pinning Christian last week.

This brings out Orlando Jordan to say he deserves a shot because it’s time for him to get his revenge on Benoit. Booker: “It took you longer to say that than it took Benoit to make you tap out.” Teddy Long comes out and says Benoit gets to choose the opponent but first of all, let’s have a triple threat match so everyone can showcase themselves.

Orlando Jordan vs. Christian vs. Booker T.

Joined in progress with Booker getting double teamed but he sends Christian to the floor and beats Jordan up. Everyone heads to the floor with Jordan being sent into the steps but Christian takes Booker down into a neck crank. Christian heads up top so Booker follows him, only to have Jordan come back in for the Tower of Doom. Booker is up first and beats on Christian, including loading up a catapult. Jordan rolls him up though, sending Christian over the top and grabbing the trunks to finish Booker.

Rating: D+. This Jordan stuff needs to stop in a hurry. The joke ran its course but he’s still here despite having no apparent reason to be there. Other than being there for the sake of filling in a spot, what other justification is there? Nothing match of course but that’s probably best for something with Jordan involved.

Post match Benoit comes out and says he’ll fight them off. Makes a lot more sense than another Jordan match.

Vince McMahon comes in to see Teddy and Palmer Cannon. After Palmer sucks up to him, Vince wants to know the Smackdown match for Homecoming. Teddy knows who will be involved, but not who is in it yet. Teddy had four days and couldn’t come up with a match involving three good guys and three bad guys?

Tag Team Titles; Batista/Eddie Guerrero vs. Animal/Heidenreich

Animal/Heidenreich are defending and Eddie’s stomach seems fine this week. The bell rings and we take a break about two seconds in for an Undertaker vs. Ortons ad. Back with Heidenreich throwing Eddie around and firing off rights and lefts in the corner. Eddie makes the mistake of punching Animal so it’s off to Batista for the big power showdown.

Animal kicks him down but misses an elbow and it’s already back to Eddie and Heidenreich. Eddie feigns stomach pain and gets in a low blow. That doesn’t last long though as Heidenreich knocks him down and puts on the chinlock. Animal’s powerslam gets two but Eddie hurricanranas his way out of a Doomsday Device. It’s off to Batista so house can be cleaned, including the Batista Bomb to Heidenreich. Animal makes the save but here’s MNM for the DQ.

Rating: C-. This was all about setting up the ending and thank goodness they didn’t change the titles. Eddie vs. Batista is interesting and having them go for the titles like this was fine, as long as they don’t actually win them. That’s a trope that needs to go far, far away and it’s quite the relief that they didn’t go that way this time around. Animal and Heidenreich do need to drop the belts, but not here.

MNM unloads on Batista and Eddie with chairs but Eddie takes one away, only to hit Batista by mistake (allegedly). Batista gets up and clears the ring, seemingly not knowing that Eddie hit him.

Overall Rating: D+. They’re in an interesting stretch here as Eddie vs. Batista is a feud where you have to wait and see what is really going on. That’s not normal for WWE and it’s nice to have a bit of a change. Other than that, Undertaker vs. the Ortons feels like it’s going to be going on beyond No Mercy and JBL vs. Mysterio only has so much potential. This show wasn’t great for the most part, but they do have a direction. I’m just not sure how good of a direction that is.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown
Date: February 28, 2020
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

Things are changing in a hurry around here as Goldberg is Universal Champion. That alone would be a huge deal but now we have the return of John Cena, who seems ready to get in the ring at Wrestlemania in just over five weeks. It’s the busy season again and that means things are going to get interesting in a hurry. Let’s get to it.

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

Here’s Goldberg to get things going. It’s not about who’s last because it’s all about who’s next. He throws the mic down and here’s Roman Reigns (dang they’re not waiting around for this one), which Goldberg seems to like. They stare each other down until Reigns says “I’m next”, as the Wrestlemania sign looms over them.

Classic John Cena Moment: the debut match against Kurt Angle in 2002, which was a heck of a match aside from just the promo and slap. The Undertaker handshake felt important too.

Naomi vs. Bayley

Non-title. Hold on though as Bayley has a mic and says she shouldn’t have to be here in front of these little idiot fans. She already made history last night so she’s just here to introduce a future multi platinum recording artist. That would be Sasha Banks, so Bayley jumps the distracted Naomi from behind. Naomi kicks her in the face and hits a dropkick into the corner, only to get sent face first into the corner. The Rear View draws Banks in for the DQ at 2:38.

Lacey Evans and here we go.

Naomi/Lacey Evans vs. Bayley/Sasha Banks

Lacey and Naomi start with some horrible dropkicks to the floor, followed by stereo dives….or in Lacey’s case a jump over the top onto the apron and a fall onto Bayley. Back from a break with Sasha sending Naomi face first into the mat and bringing Bayley back in. Bayley works on an armbar as we hear about Lacey changing her ways and wanting to be a role model.

A knee to the face gives Bayley two and it’s back to Sasha, leaving Bayley to tell the fans to shut up. Naomi finally kicks her away and brings in Lacey to start cleaning house. Lacey kicks Banks off the apron and hits the slingshot elbow onto Bayley. Naomi’s springboard crossbody gets two as everything breaks down. With Lacey on the floor, it’s a Backstabber to Naomi but Lacey pulls Sasha out with her. That leaves Naomi to sunset flip Bayley for the pin at 9:27.

Rating: D+. This was as WWE of a tag match as you can get, complete with the botches near the beginning. It was exactly as you knew it would go and that doesn’t make for the most thrilling stuff. Naomi pinned Bayley, but the interesting thing was a lack of mention about the Elimination Chamber match. I know Lacey mentioned it, but with nine days to go before the show, you would think it might be brought up.

New Day is fired up and have a staredown with Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode.

Classic Cena Moment: the first World Title.

Kofi Kingston vs. Robert Roode

Roode takes him into the corner to start and chops away as Cole and Graves make stupid banter about Mandy Rose. Kofi scores with his dropkick and works on the arm before elbowing Roode out to the floor. The the referee not looking, Roode kicks the steps and feigns a blow to the head, so the referee ejects Big E.

Back from a break with Roode holding a chinlock and then pounding Kofi with forearms. There’s a suplex to Kofi and Roode goes to the middle rope to mock the New Day clap. That lets Kofi avoid a knee drop and come back in with a springboard shot to the head, followed by the Boom Drop. Roode is right back with a full nelson slam for two, followed by the spinebuster for the same. Kofi grabs the SOS so Ziggler puts the foot on the rope. The distraction lets Roode roll him up for the pin at 12:27.

Rating: C-. They’re pushing me with these finishes tonight. I’m not sure what WWE sees in having Roode and Ziggler around so often but they’re not exactly thrilling…well anythings really. It was just a match with the two of them cheating and hopefully not the start of a feud between these teams. I don’t know if I can take Ziggler in another long form story.

Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose are watching in the back with Sonya referring to Ziggler as Mandy’s man. Mandy doesn’t react.

Otis is distraught when Tucker comes up to him. Otis thinks something is up but Tucker says the reality is that sometimes Ziggler gets the girl. Tucker tells him to remember the fans and Otis says he’s right.

Classic Cena Moment: beating the Rock in the rematch.

It’s time for a contract signing for the Intercontinental Title match at Elimination Chamber. Shinsuke Nakamura, with Cesaro and Sami Zayn, come out first, followed by Braun Strowman (with a rather bad haircut). Sami tells Strowman to sit down but Strowman throws the chair up the aisle. That sends Sami into a rant about how Nakamura couldn’t enjoy his birthday last week because Strowman powerslammed him onto a grand piano.

Strowman tells Sami to shut up he doesn’t care what’s in the contract. He’ll have to fight all three of them anyway so there’s the signature. Sami likes what he just heard and makes a quick amendment to make it a handicap match, with all three signing. Therefore, it’s officially three on one at Elimination Chamber. Strowman moves the table but the numbers game gets the better of him and the beatdown is on. A double suplex/kick to the face puts Strowman through the table.

We recap the Goldberg vs. Reigns showdown.

Curtis Axel vs. Daniel Bryan

Drew Gulak is on commentary as Bryan keeps getting his friends TV appearances (and there’s nothing wrong with that). Axel starts fast as Gulak talks about seeing holes in Bryan’s game that could be exploited. With Bryan down, Axel mocks the YES pose but Bryan is back with the YES Kicks. More kicks look to set up the big one but Axel revers into a small package for two. A clothesline to the back of the head drops Bryan but it’s the LeBell Lock to make Axel tap at 4:31.

Rating: C-. I can get behind something like this. WWE has so many wrestlers who can do something in the ring but are never used. I know they’re not likely to be stars and there’s nothing wrong with that, but throw them out there, just for the sake of some fresh faces. Gulak and Axel probably aren’t going to set the world on fire but they’re under contract so why not swap them in for some of the other regular jobbers for a change?

Classic Cena Moment: the sixteenth World Title.

Here are Miz and John Morrison to brag about being the new Tag Team Champions. You know the original, but the reality is that the sequel is going to be even better. Since they won, it’s time for a singing celebration, complete with the Miz and Morrison chant plus Miz’s theme song playing as a bonus. Hold on though as we have a referee and we have a title match….at Elimination Chamber against New Day, the Usos, Heavy Machinery, Lucha House Party and Robert Roode/Dolph Ziggler.

Usos vs. John Morrison/Miz

Non-title. Jimmy takes Morrison into the corner to start and we get the circle of lights breaking into the feed again. When did that become the go to way to promote someone debuting/returning? It feels like they’re everywhere these days. Miz takes over with a DDT for two so it’s off to Morrison for a kick to the ribs. The chinlock goes on with the Usos in trouble as we take a break.

Back with a double tag picking up the pace until Jey is caught with a neckbreaker/top rope double stomp combination. Everything breaks down and Jimmy dives onto Miz, only to have Jey’s Superfly Splash hit knees. Starship Pain is broken up so Jimmy hits a middle rope Canadian Destroyer, setting up the Superfly Splash to give Jey the pin at 9:50.

Rating: C+. Bad night for the champs here, though at least they can blame it on the jet lag or something. That and it really doesn’t matter given that the Elimination Chamber is coming up so soon. However, you really couldn’t do a DQ here or have the Usos beat another team? Or just not have the champs involved at all? Pretty good match though, after a series of less than inspiring ones so far.

Here’s John Cena for the big close. After taking in the crowd reaction, Cena says that he’s back so it must be Wrestlemania season. So what is he doing at Wrestlemania this year? He knows his role has changed so now it’s time to do something a little different. Cena always listens to the biggest superstar there is, which would be the fans. He knows he can probably say or do whatever he wants and have it happen at Wrestlemania, but he’s going to do the right thing.

This year’s Wrestlemania should go on without him. It’s not goodbye but it’s goodbye for now, because Cena cares about the future. Wrestlemania spots should be earned and not demanded so this year’s he’s betting on the future and sitting out. That makes tonight special because he doesn’t know when he’s going to be back. He has an announcement tonight and he wanted to make it in front of his friends and family.

The fans cheer for him and Cena drops the mic before heading to the front row to shake hands with some kids. Cena goes up the ramp and salutes….and there go the lights. They come back up and the Fiend is…..right behind him. Cena looks at the Fiend, who points at the sign. Cena looks at the sign, looks at the Fiend, and nods, as the lights go out and we get the laugh to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show picked WAY up in the second half and that’s the best thing that could have happened. The first forty five minutes or so were a complete slog with almost nothing happening and then things got a lot better in a hurry. It’s like the exhaustion was turned off and they were trying to build towards some major shows, which made things that much better. You can’t ask for much more than two big Wrestlemania matches being made in one night so well done, as the top of the card is now mostly full. Just take care of the rest of it and we’ll be fine.

Results

Naomi b. Bayley via DQ when Sasha Banks interfered

Naomi/Lacey Evans b. Bayley/Sasha Banks – Sunset flip to Bayley

Robert Roode b. Kofi Kingston – Rollup

Daniel Bryan b. Curtis Axel – LeBell Lock

Usos b. Miz/John Morrison – Superfly Splash to Morrison

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: February 27, 2020
Location: Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Mickie James

The Wrestlemania season is in full build, but so are the Super ShowDown and Elimination Chamber builds. That can cause a bit of a problem as there is so much stuff going on at once and they might not be able to make everything work at once. Main Event has surprised me before, but I would be surprised with a surprise. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

No Way Jose vs. Shelton Benjamin

Jose starts fast by taking him into the corner and snapping off an armdrag to the floor. That means a quick beatdown of the Conga Line, plus a little bit on Jose as well. Back in and Shelton grabs an armbar but Jose fights up and hits a splash in the corner. A fireman’s carry flapjack gets two so Jose goes up, only to dive into a cross armbreaker for the fast tap at 4:35.

Rating: D+. Ok so maybe there is a surprise or two in here. This wasn’t much of a match but the ending actually caught me and that’s not something you see around here…well ever actually. Not a good match or anything, but points for throwing in a curve on the most uniform show that WWE has ever produced.

From Raw.

Here are Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman for a chat. The Canadian fans are happy to see their honorary Lesnar but Heyman cuts them off with his usual introduction. Heyman talks about how wrestlers are always trying to make catchphrases for themselves but Lesnar has never needed one. All Lesnar has to do is decide to be champion and no one can stop him. Lesnar getting in the ring is special and that’s what you’ll be seeing on Thursday at Super ShowDown. He owes Ricochet an uppercut and since Lesnar is wrestling, it is special by definition.

The stakes on Thursday have never been higher though, but why is that the case? If Ricochet can pull off the miracle, he is going on to face Drew McIntyre at Wrestlemania and the consequences are huge, if that happens. Heyman: “If my aunt had balls, she would be my uncle, but she is not!” (that one cracked Lawler up). Lesnar is going to wreck McIntyre at Wrestlemania and be champion forever. And that is a spoiler.

From Raw again.

We get a sitdown interview with Drew McIntyre, who isn’t scared about Brock Lesnar because he’s main eventing Wrestlemania. Drew talks about debuting in 2009 (which he says was thirteen years ago) and how he hasn’t won a single World Title since that time. He lost his passion, which included his time in 3MB. Then he got fired and it put a chip on his shoulder, but he knew he could only blame himself. He wasn’t about to let people remember him as the idiot playing air guitar.

When McIntyre came back, he came back to NXT, which was where he could be a leader. Then he debuted on Raw in 2018, four years to the day since he was released. He’s been called the future but then he was a past superstar without ever being the present. That’s why he knew he had to eliminate Lesnar and now he’s going to Wrestlemania to fulfill his destiny. They’re doing everything they can to make McIntyre into a star and it’s slowly working.

Video on Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler.

From Raw.

All six women’s Elimination Chamber participants, save for Baszler, are in the ring for a contract signing. Asuka counts the participants but realizes there’s one missing. Lawler continues anyway, with Sarah Logan, Natalya, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott (who nearly comes to blows with Morgan) and Asuka all sign, which draws out Baszler through the crowd. Lawler wisely leaves as Shayna and Natalya are about to fight, but Asuka breaks it up.

Asuka tells Shayna to bite her but Natalya takes Asuka down and the fight is on, with Liv diving over the table to get at Riott. Shayna is eventually left alone so here’s Becky to take her down. Officials break it up in a hurry. I don’t remember the last time there was a big match with such an obvious winner but it’s getting annoying in a hurry.

24/7 Title: Riddick Moss vs. Cedric Alexander

Moss is defending and throws Cedric down with ease. A running shoulder drops him again but Cedric is right back with clotheslines and elbows. That sends Moss outside for a kick from the apron but Alexander’s slingshot is knocked out of the air back inside. We take a break and come back with Moss cranking on a waistlock. That’s broken up for a double stomp to the back of Moss’ head and a running dropkick to the same spot. The springboard Downward Spiral gives Cedric two but the Neuralizer misses, allowing Moss to hit a Rock Bottom to retain at 9:50.

Rating: D+. Again, I’m actually surprised by this one as they threw in something different in the form of a title match. Who in the world would have seen them doing something like that on THIS show? The match was nothing to see, but points to WWE for putting someone like Moss on television. I know he’s not some breakout star, but he’s been sitting in NXT forever and the show needs some fresh faces.

From Smackdown.

Here’s Goldberg for a chat. He’s glad to be back and whatever the Fiend is, he’s ready. Cue the Firefly Fun House with Bray doing some construction. Bray wants Goldberg to get to know his friends, including most of the cast. There is one person left though….and the lights go out. The Fiend is here but Goldberg is smart enough to turn around and spear him.

Goldberg loads up another one but the lights go out again and Fiend disappears to end the show, complete with Fiendish laughter. As usual, Goldberg is at his best when things are kept simple. He hit Fiend hard and Fiend went down, can he do it again? What more do you need?

And from Raw to wrap it up.

Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton

Owens pounds away to start but the threat of hit the Cannonball sends Orton outside. Cue Rollins and company for the distraction though and Owens is sent into the barricade as we take a break. Back with both of them down and the Profits and Viking Raiders running in for the big brawl. They fight to the crowd with everyone else, leaving Owens to get crotched on top.

Owens knocks him off anyway and hits the Swanton. Rollins is back though and Owens has to knock him off the apron, allowing Orton to come back with a clothesline. Another Rollins distraction lets Orton hit the hanging DDT….for a very fast counted pin at 8:10. Even Orton looks confused by what happened but he’ll take it.

Rating: C. The match had a lot of stuff going on at once but I can go for a few different stories being mixed together, even if it is just for a week. There is no need to always keep things separate so doing something like this is a good idea on occasion. The story is fine as well, with what seems to be a referee going along with what Rollins has been preaching, though I’ve never liked the trope for some reason. It’s a new wrinkle though and that’s fine.

Post match Rollins throws Orton some chairs but Owens pucks one up. The referee pulls it away so Owens grabs him and opens the referee’s shirt to reveal a Seth Rollins shirt. That means a Stunner to the referee and a powerbomb through a table ends the show.

Overall Rating: C-. The show wasn’t anything great or even good but they did something different this time around and that’s what I’ve been asking for since before I can remember. At least TRY to do something new or different, or at least look like you’re making an effort. That’s what they did here, at least to a certain degree, and the show was better as a result. Still not good, but at least different.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Super ShowDown 2020
Date: February 27, 2020
Location: Mohammed Abdu Arena on the Boulevard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton

We’re back in Saudi Arabia and for the first time ever, they’re on a streak of a good show. Last October’s Crown Jewel was a pretty good show, though I’m not sure what reason I would have to believe that will be the case again here. I’m not sure how the main event of Goldberg vs. the Fiend is going to go though and that’s a nice feeling. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Viking Raiders vs. OC

Anderson headlocks Erik to start but that’s broken up with straight power. Ivar comes in for a knee to the face before wrapping his beard (yes his beard) around Anderson’s face. Erik slams Ivar onto Anderson for two but it’s Gallows coming in to try his luck. That means a fall away slam to Erik and the chinlock goes on. Anderson sends Erik into the corner again and Gallows drops the big elbow.

The chinlock goes on again but Erik fights up and rolls over for the hot tag to Ivar. The seated senton out of the corner crushes Anderson and there’s a clothesline to Gallows. Everything breaks down and Erik suplexes Gallows into the corner. Gallows is right back with a chokebomb to Erik, who knees Anderson in the face to get out of trouble. Ivar’s double handspring elbow puts the OC down but he misses a moonsault. The Magic Killer gives the OC the pin at 9:58.

Rating: C. What is with the Vikings not being able to beat these guys over here? It’s a bit of a confusing result as the Vikings have been in a much more prominent role than the OC as of late. That being said, it’s not like this match is going to mean anything in the long run so it’s not something I’m going to get annoyed at. Decent enough power match too.

The opening video talks about making your mark on the world.

That’s a lot of pyro.

Tuwaiq Trophy: Gauntlet Match

Andrade’s US Title isn’t on the line, there are six entrants and it’s R-Truth in at #1 and Bobby Lashley, with a completely covered Lana, is in at #2. R-Truth leapfrogs him to start and snaps off a headscissors, only to get knocked hard off the apron. Back in and Lashley slams him down hard, setting up the chinlock. R-Truth reverses into a sleeper but Lashley runs him over again. The Dominator is broken up though and it’s time for the John Cena sequence. Lashley is fine enough to come back with the Downward Spiral but the spear hits the corner. A rollup gives R-Truth the upset pin at 5:37.

Before the third entrant comes out, Lashley destroys him with a bunch of whips into the steps. The spear drops R-Truth again and it’s the returning Andrade (no Zelina Vega) in at #3. Andrade knees him in the corner to start and puts on an armbar over the ropes. A regular armbar keeps R-Truth in trouble and the running knees in the corner get two.

The hammerlock DDT is broken up and Andrade’s running knee only hits buckle, meaning it’s a crash to the floor. Back in and Truth scores with a Lie Detector for two, followed by a collision of heads so R-Truth can fall on him for the pin at 13:30 (there’s Andrade’s bonus punishment).

Erick Rowan is in at #4 and stars with the power, including a running slam in the corner. R-Truth gets up a boot in the corner and low bridges him to the floor, setting up the big dive. Rowan sends him into the steps but it knocks the cage down, meaning he sends R-Truth into the steps over and over again. A big shot with the steps is enough for the DQ to eliminate Rowan at 17:48. Rowan isn’t done yet as he adds in the Iron Claw before AJ Styles is in at #5.

R-Truth’s shoulder is done and he can barely get to his feet so AJ kicks him in the face. Another into the shoulder lets AJ mock the dancing and it’s time to start on the leg. AJ dances even more and kicks R-Truth in the legs again as the AJ STYLES chants are going fairly strong. The Calf Crusher makes R-Truth tap at 23:36 so it’s Rey Mysterio in at #6 to complete the field. Or not as there’s no Mysterio, who has been attacked in the back by Anderson and Gallows.

AJ grabs the mic and says there’s no Mysterio so he wins by forfeit. He demands his trophy but the referee is willing to give Rey a count of ten. The referee gets to seven but we see the OC down….and some large black boots. Then the gong strikes and there go the lights, as usual. After the full entrance, it’s a chokeslam to give Undertaker the Trophy at 32:27. Undertaker didn’t even take off his hat and coat.

Rating: C-. This was long, though nowhere near as long as some gauntlet matches WWE has done in recent years. Undertaker winning is fine for a surprise and at this point, far better than having him wrestle a full match. I’m sure this will set up the Wrestlemania match and that’s a fine way to go about it. R-Truth did well and as luck would have it, he has a new documentary on the Network. Imagine that timing!

New Day is ready for Miz and John Morrison because this is a big night.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Miz/John Morrison vs. New Day

New Day is defending. Big E. powers Miz into the corner to start and there’s the spanking abdominal stretch. The Warrior Splash brings in Kofi and Morrison with the former hitting a running backsplash. It’s already back to Big E., who gets sent outside for the slingshot dive from Morrison. Miz grabs the chinlock but Big E. fights up, only to get caught with a modified Hart Attack (Flying Chuck instead of a running clothesline).

The Rock Bottom out of the corner puts Miz down and that’s enough for the hot tag to Kofi. A running knee and the Boom Drop look to set up Trouble in Paradise but Miz makes the save. Back up and Morrison hits an Alabama Slam into a running knee for two. Kofi is fine enough to get two off the SOS and it’s a pretty awesome powerbomb/top rope double stomp combination for another near fall.

Miz fires off the YES Kicks to Big E. but Starship Pain misses. Kofi is back in for a quick Midnight Hour for two on Morrison with Miz making another save. Kofi loads up the Trust Fall but crashes HARD to the floor instead, leaving Miz to hit the Skull Crushing Finale for two on Big E. It’s back to Kofi, who reverses another Finale into a victory roll for two more. Morrison sneaks in a chair to the ribs though and Miz grabs a rollup (with tights) for the pin and the titles at 12:58.

Rating: B. This felt a bit longer as they packed a lot in there. Miz and Morrison winning the titles is the right call as we’ve seen New Day as champions for what feels like forever. Miz and Morrison can feud with New Day and the Usos in the coming months, but more importantly they’re something fresh and that’s what the titles have needed. If nothing else, a victory Dirt Sheet will be great.

Seth Rollins and Murphy are ready to retain their titles because it is their destiny to get rid of the Street Profits.

Angel Garza vs. Humberto Carrillo

Garza lays on the corner and does some crunches during Carrillo’s entrance. They both miss a bunch of strikes and it’s a standoff with Carrillo backflipping away. The big spinning springboard crossbody winds up being a headbutt for Carrillo. They head outside with Garza getting taken down off a headscissors and then getting knocked into the barricade off a suicide dive.

Back in and a basement dropkick gets two on Garza but he scores with a running dropkick in the corner. You can tell they’re in a different country as there’s little reaction when GARZA TAKES OFF HIS PANTS! Carrillo fights out of a camel clutch and hits a spinning kick to the head for two. Garza is back up to dropkick him out of the air for two but Carrillo hits a Canadian Destroyer to put both of them down. They go into the pinfall reversal sequence like Garza won on Raw….and he does so again with a rollup for the pin at 9:08.

Rating: C. These matches continue to not exactly hit thrilling as they are just lucha matches without a ton of heat. What we got was fine enough, but it was nothing better than what we got on Raw. I just can’t bring myself to care about them and while the matches are fine, they’re forgettable and not exactly making me interested in either of them.

Bayley is ready to make history again and retain her title. I’m liking these quick interviews before the matches to get me a bit more in the mood.

Raw Tag Team Titles: Street Profits vs. Murphy/Seth Rollins

Rollins and Murphy are defending. Dawkins spears Murphy down to start and wrestles him into the corner so Ford can come in. That means the big dropkick but Rollins comes in to take over on Ford. Murphy’s Meteora gets two and it’s back to Rollins for more stomping. Ford finally sends them both outside but Murphy pulls Dawkins off the apron to keep Ford in. Rollins is sent into the corner though and the hot tag brings in Dawkins to clean house.

Dropkicks and suplexes abound for two and it’s back to Ford who gets rolled up for two more. Ford kicks Rollins down though and hits the frog splash for his own two. Dawkins knocks Murphy hard over the announcers’ table but he’s back in to save Rollins again. A double Pedigree is countered into a double DDT on the champs to send them outside. Ford’s big running flip dive is caught though and he gets planted hard. Dawkins dives off the apron to take both of them down and they head back inside. Murphy gets in a knee to Dawkins, sending him into the ropes for the Stomp onto the apron to retain at 10:42.

Rating: B-. The Profits can do a lot of great things and there is little doubt that they are going to win the titles one day. What we had here was an entertaining match but there was no way the title change was taking place. Rollins and Murphy are big deals on Raw and they aren’t dropping the titles on a show that is the wrestling equivalent of a side quest.

We recap the Kickoff Show match.

Mansoor vs. Dolph Ziggler

Robert Roode is here with Ziggler but gets ejected before the bell. They trade headlocks to start until Mansoor hits a hard running shoulder. A standing moonsault gets two but Ziggler rakes the eyes across the rope to slow things down. The big jumping elbow sets up another chinlock on Mansoor, which is switched into something like a Crossface and then the Rings of Saturn.

Mansoor fights up and avoids the Fameasser, setting up the slingshot neckbreaker. A kind of reverse Big Ending gets two more but Mansoor gets pulled off the top. The Zig Zag gives Ziggler two but they seem to get a little messed up when fighting over a suplex. A reverse Sliced Bread (kind of a running flip DDT) plants Ziggler and the moonsault (with only the legs hitting Ziggler) finishes at 9:12.

Rating: C-. This was miles away from the Cesaro match as they were missing some cues and the match was hardly interesting in the first place. The Mansoor match has become the token crowd match. That’s all well and good, but when you do it over and over again, the charm is gone. When the match isn’t exactly great either, it isn’t making things that much better either.

Post match Mansoor says the same thing he says after every win: Saudi Arabia is awesome and he’s proud.

We recap Brock Lesnar vs. Ricochet. It’s the latest smaller guy challenging Lesnar in an underdog role. Ricochet has as much chance of winning as I do of becoming Miss Nevada 1974, but he has that natural underdog charisma to him that makes you believe a miracle could maybe kind of sort of have a prayer of happening.

Raw World Title: Brock Lesnar vs. Ricochet

Ricochet is challenging and his early dropkick attempt is knocked away. Three straight German suplexes send Ricochet flying and the F5 finishes clean at 1:28. I’m not getting mad at this one because Ricochet was playing WAY over his head here but…actually never mind on this one as there’s not much to complain about this time around.

We recap King Corbin vs. Roman Reigns. They’ve been feuding for months but want to keep everyone else out, meaning it’s time for a cage match. This feels tacked on after the feud ended so there isn’t much of a reason to care about it.

King Corbin vs. Roman Reigns

In a cage and commentary says this is the final time these two are fighting. Reigns chains the door shut so one escape route is cut off. Corbin uses the delay to jump Reigns from behind and the cheap shots take us to the opening bell. The slow beating begins and Corbin goes for an early climb but Reigns cuts him off without too much effort. They come back down with Reigns firing off the clotheslines in the corner.

The Superman punch is countered and Deep Six plants Reigns for two. Corbin looks for the key to the door but settles for two off a powerbomb instead. Some hard forearms keep Reigns down and the door is unlocked, only to have Reigns send him into the door. The Superman punch is countered into a chokeslam for two though and Corbin grabs the chain.

Corbin tries his own Superman punch but gets dropped by the real thing. They both go climbing and wind up on top for the slugout. Reigns has to be pulled back in so Corbin can send him into the cage and back to the mat. That just earns Corbin back to back Superman punches, followed by the Superman punch with a chain for the pin at 12:52.

Rating: C-. I know they kept hyping this up as the end but do you really believe we won’t see it again within a few months? This feud has been driven so far into the ground, which isn’t a good idea as it didn’t have the longest legs in the first place. It was your normal cage match, but they have made me sick of seeing both guys so it wasn’t exactly something that matters anyway.

We recap Undertaker’s surprise (I guess?) appearance earlier tonight.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Naomi vs. Bayley

Naomi is challenging and thankfully her big hair didn’t make it through customs. Bayley takes her to the mat to start but Naomi gets up and hits the splits splash. A kick to the face gives Naomi two more and a hurricanrana puts Bayley on the floor. The running corkscrew dive takes her down again but Bayley drives her back first into the apron to take over.

Back in and we hit the chinlock, with Bayley shouting at fans to shut up. Naomi fights up and hits a kick to the head, followed by a kick to the head for a change of pace. A springboard kick to the face drops Bayley again, followed by a knee to the ribs for two. The reverse Rings of Saturn has Bayley in more trouble but she gets a foot on the rope.

Bayley grabs a quick Bayley to Belly for two and there’s a running knee to rock Naomi again. Naomi catches her on top but misses the split legged moonsault. It’s time to get creative as Bayley ties Naomi’s legs into her shirt and finishes with that weird bulldog driver at 11:38.

Rating: C. I know WWE is going to be doing their big “rah rah we’re awesome and trailblazers and amazing” stuff out of this and I get why they go there, but it’s not a great match. Bayley has been champion for a long time now and it’s going to take a big win to get it off of her. Maybe they have something interesting planned at Elimination Chamber, but for now she has cleaned out the division.

We recap Goldberg vs. the Fiend. Goldberg was the most dominant force of his day and never got a rematch for the Universal Title. Therefore, he’s back to go after Fiend, who is a whole different animal.

Smackdown World Title: Goldberg vs. Fiend

Fiend is defending and gets in Goldberg’s face to start. Goldberg hits a quick spear for two but gets caught with the Mandible Claw. That’s broken up with a ram into the corner and Goldberg hits two more spears. There’s a fourth for two more and Fiend is right back with the Claw. Goldberg knees his way out and hits the Jackhammer to win the title at 2:59.

Post match Fiend gets up, the lights go out, and Fiend disappears. Goldberg celebrates to end the show.

What else is there to say about this? WWE has made it clear for a long time now that outside of Wrestlemania season and Saudi Arabia, nothing else matters. Fiend could have beaten Rock and Austin at the same time and there was no way he was going to defend the title at Wrestlemania because Fiend vs. anyone (save for that colorful guy from Massachusetts) isn’t a Wrestlemania style main event. I’m sure Reigns will get the title back in Tampa and it’ll be Reignsamania again as Fiend gets a pat on the back and is told he did well, just not well enough for the big show.

Overall Rating: D+. While it’s a far cry from the depths that these shows have sunk to before, it’s a pretty weak show with only a few good things throughout. They did make it feel more important with multiple title changes, but at the same time there is so much that just comes and goes like it’s on a slightly bigger than usual house show. The ending is annoying as a big Wyatt fan but I pretty much knew he was done as soon as the match was announced. I wanted to imagine Goldberg going down to the Claw but that’s not how WWE works. Anyway, not the worst, but the main event is almost all anyone will be talking about.

Results

Undertaker won a gauntlet match last eliminating AJ Styles

John Morrison/The Miz b. New Day – Rollup with tights to Kingston

Angel Garza b. Humberto Carrillo – Rollup

Seth Rollins/Murphy b. Street Profits – Stomp to Dawkins

Mansoor b. Dolph Ziggler – Moonsault

Brock Lesnar b. Ricochet – F5

Roman Reigns b. King Corbin – Superman punch with a chain

Bayley b. Naomi – Bulldog driver

Goldberg b. Fiend – Jackhammer

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

Somehow it’s that time of year again.  I’ll be starting the Wrestlemania count-up on Sunday March 1 so I need a pair of shows to redo.  I’ll be doing XXXV from last year but I need another.  You can vote in the comments and all shows are eligible except the following:

XVII

XXI

XXIV

XXXIV

Pick something.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/2020/02/26/kbs-review-triple-vision/

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: September 26, 2005
Location: Heart O’Texas Coliseum, Waco, Texas
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Jonathan Coachman

It’s a big show as this is the last episode to take place on Spike TV. Starting next week, Raw is back on USA where it really belongs. That’s where everything started and after five years on Spike, it’s time to go back where things got going. We’re also coming up on Taboo Tuesday, but more importantly is next week’s Homecoming. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Here’s Vince McMahon to get things going. Vince talks about this being the last episode on Spike TV and all of the growing up they have done together. Spike has been a great tag team partner and he wants to thank them for everything. Next week though, they are returning home to the USA Network with a huge show. Thankfully the Network version doesn’t censor Vince saying USA, as Spike did during the live broadcast. Anyway here’s Kurt Angle to interrupt because he isn’t happy with Eric Bischoff getting next week’s WWE Championship match.

Angle demands the first title shot against whoever wins and no one else deserves it….so here’s Shawn Michaels. He won at Unforgiven too so he should get a title shot too. Angle thinks the Masterlock cut off the oxygen to Shawn’s brain because Angle beat him at Wrestlemania. Shawn remembers superkicking Angle to beat him at Vengeance. Vince makes a rubber match for next week for the #1 contendership and let’s make it a 30 minute Iron Man match.

Women’s Title: Trish Stratus vs. Victoria

Trish is defending and Ashley/Candice Michelle/Torrie Wilson are all at ringside. Trish slugs away to start and anklescissors her out to the floor. Victoria throws her into the crowd though, only to have Trish come back with a clothesline from the barricade. Everyone else gets in a catfight and Victoria gets in a cheap shot, setting up the slingshot flipping legdrop. The spinning sidewalk slam gets and Victoria goes up, where she has to block the Stratusphere. They crash out to the floor but it’s Trish with a spinebuster into the Stratusfaction, drawing in Torrie and Candice for the DQ.

Rating: C-. If you get rid of all of the annoyances and interference, it was the usual good Trish vs. Victoria match. The problem right now is very obvious: other than maybe Victoria, there is no one to remotely threaten Trish’s title and unless Lita goes after it again, that’s going to be the case until someone brand new comes up.

Post match the brawl is on with Ashley ripping off Candice’s dress. A handicap bra and panties match is set up for next week.

Big Show vs. Snitsky

Street fight so Snitsky brings a chair, which is knocked out of his hand in a hurry. Some other weapon shots put Show down for two but he knocks a trashcan away. Snitsky gets dropped onto a trashcan and it’s a chokeslam, followed by a kitchen sink shot, to give Show the pin.

Rating: D-. What else were you expecting here? It’s a three minute match and Show barely broke a sweat beating Snitsky, again. I think we’ve gotten the point by now, but never let that stop WWE from running a match over and over. This wasn’t any good and felt like filler, which is rarely a good sign.

We recap Ric Flair retaining the Intercontinental Title last week, despite getting beaten down by Chris Masters and Carlito.

Here’s Flair for a chat on the stage. He’s been jumped from behind more times than he can count so now he needs some help. That brings out a sledgehammer, because next week, HHH is back and it’s game on.

Video on HHH. I really don’t think anyone has forgotten who he is.

Eric Bischoff is on the phone when John Cena comes in to hang the call up. Cena talks about Bischoff being a kung fu master and a ninja in four states. He’s up against the champ next week though and that means a Karate Kid pose. Cena didn’t have much to say here, but what else was he supposed to say?

Shelton Benjamin vs. Kerwin White

White debuts his caddie, Nick Nemeth, who of course would go on to become Dolph Ziggler. After Shelton makes some golf jokes, White jumps him to start and we’re already in an armbar. Back up and Shelton has to skin the cat, setting up the top rope clothesline. That puts White on the apron so Shelton suplexes him back in, only to have Nemeth trip him to give White the pin. I knew the one match winning streak was too much for Shelton.

There’s a ladder in the ring and here are Edge and Lita, with the latter in a neck brace, for a chat. Lita rants about Matt being a loser who can’t move on but Raw will be just fine without him. She knows a lot about twists of fate and remembers the first Raw on Spike, five years ago. That night it was the Hardys vs. Edge and Christian in a ladder match but this time around, she’s in the right corner.

Edge talks about how Matt is going to lose his career in seven days because next week, Edge is a career killer. He climbs the ladder and goes on a rather intense rant about how he will never lose and is getting rid of Matt forever. Edge is a winner, and that’s why Lita is with him. Cue Matt to shove the ladder over for…not a very big crash really as Lita clutches the briefcase.

Teddy Long comes in to see Bischoff and suggests some Smackdown exposure on next week’s show. Bischoff says no but Vince comes in to say it’s going to be a three hour show (erg) and Smackdown should have a big match. Long is thrilled so he leaves, meaning Bischoff can try to get out of the Cena match. Vince doesn’t want to hear about it because Bischoff was all tough when he had Ted Turner behind him. Go be that Bischoff again.

Lance Cade/Trevor Murdoch vs. Val Venis/Viscera

Non-title. Venis runs Cade over to start and drops an elbow for an early two. Murdoch knocks Venis off the top though and it’s a running neckbreaker to give Cade two of his own. The camel clutch goes on but Venis is right back up for the tag to Viscera and the house cleaning. Cade gets knocked off the apron and it’s a splash into the Money Shot for Murdoch, only to have Cade use a chair for the DQ.

Rating: D. So that happened. Venis and Viscera at least have a theme to them but it isn’t exactly something that is going to make me care about them. That being said, I can appreciate them trying to do SOMETHING new in the division as it’s not like there has been more than two teams for….pretty much ever now?

Chris Masters and Carlito are worried about splinters in their tables match. Oh and Carlito needs to speak English.

Rob Conway vs. Eugene

Eugene has a Shawn Michaels bear and starts fast with an airplane spin into a poke to the eye. He bites Conway on the tights and steals his sunglasses, which is too far for Conway so the beating is on. The chinlock has Eugene in more trouble but he fights up with right hands. A spinebuster sets up the People’s Elbow for two but Conway DESTROYS THE BEAR. Eugene is distraught and it’s the Ego Trip to give Conway the pin.

Rating: D+. Another match between a new name and an established name that doesn’t have much left in the tank. This wasn’t very good and Conway has lost what little steam that he had in the first place. These new names have to go somewhere, but they need something to help them get there in the first place. Conway being a cocky heel can work, but they’re not helping him much by having him beat up Eugene and other low level guys.

Smackdown Rebound.

Homecoming rundown.

Carlito/Chris Masters vs. Shawn Michaels/John Cena

Tables match. It’s a brawl to start, as it should be, with Cena and Carlito heading outside. Back in and a side slam drops Carlito so the pairings can trade off. No one can find a table (apparently not being happy with the ones in plain sight in front of them) until Carlito sets up one at ringside.

Cena and Carlito fight over a suplex through the table but Shawn accidentally superkicks the referee off the apron and onto (not through) the table. Back from a break with Masters grabbing the Masterlock on Cena with Shawn having to make the save. Carlito plants Shawn with a DDT and the good guys are sent into various hard objects on the floor. Cena makes a comeback though and is smart enough to turn a table over at ringside before Shawn can be slammed through it.

With Shawn down on the floor, a table is set up in the corner. Shawn dives in to spear Cena down, breaking up a whip through said table. Stereo ten punches in the corner have Carlito and Masters in trouble and we get stereo Shuffles for a unique visual. Masters is put on the table but here’s Kurt Angle to shove Shawn off the top and through a table for the win.

Rating: B. The best thing they had going here was the fast pace. This was almost non-stop action with both teams staying active the entire time. On top of that, there were no ridiculous tags in a match where anything goes. The ending is fine as it’s not like either of them took a fall and it puts some more heat on Angle vs. Michaels for next week. Better stuff than I was expecting here.

Post match it’s an Angle Slam to put Cena through a table. Cena is busted open and Bischoff holds up the title. This goes on for a good while as the show seems to be running a bit short.

Overall Rating: D+. This wasn’t a very good show but everything is built around next week’s show anyway so it’s not like this really matters. The main event was good and that’s about all you can ask for from a lame duck show like this. It’s still not a good period for WWE but at least they’re trying to do something new. Now if only the new stuff could be, you know, better overall.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: February 24, 2020
Location: Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Jerry Lawler

It’s the go home show for Super ShowDown but since WWE doesn’t get the idea of slowing down on anything, we are also building towards Elimination Chamber and Wrestlemania at the same time. Brock Lesnar is in the house tonight and that could mean some interesting things for Drew McIntyre and Ricochet. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look back at Randy Orton destroying Matt Hardy last week.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Orton for a chat. He needs to apologize for going a little too far, but he also mentions that it has been fifteen years since Raw has been in Winnipeg. Fifteen years ago, he was 24 years old and the Intercontinental Champion, but on that night he was punched in the face by someone named Adam, who you may know as Edge. The fans want Edge but Orton makes it clear that he isn’t here tonight. These people will never understand why he did what he did, but he is sorry for it.

Cue Kevin Owens, who first has to pause while the fans chant for him. Owens has been dealing with some delusional people as of late and now Orton is here as well. See, he doesn’t believe that Orton is telling the truth and now Owens wants to know why Orton attacked Edge.

Owens remembers when Edge retired because he was already wrestling for a living. Then in the Royal Rumble, he heard Edge’s music and wanted to be out there with him because he saw the look in Edge’s eyes. So why did Orton do what he did. Orton: “You think you know me?” Owens knows the people want to see them fight so Orton agrees, but a little later.

Angel Garza and Zelina Vega are ready to take out the trash that is Humberto Carrillo. Vega can’t get away from Charly Caruso fast enough but Angel kisses her hand and says with Charly, business is always pleasure. She seems to approve.

Humberto Carrillo vs. Angel Garza

They start wacky by tying their legs together, standing on their heads, and slapping each other in the face. Garza gets sent outside but comes back in with a headscissors, only to have Carrillo land on his feet. Carrillo sends him outside again for a heck of a suicide dive and we take a break. Back with Garza tying him in the Tree of Woe, allowing Garza to TAKE OFF HIS PANTS! I MEAN HIS OWN IF THAT ISN’T CLEAR!

Carrillo fights back and sends him to the floor, only to do a handstand on the apron for some reason, allowing Garza to hit a superkick. An exchange of kicks on the apron puts Garza down and Carrillo stomps away for a bonus. A catapult sends Garza onto the middle rope for the moonsault to the floor and we take a second break.

Back again with Carrillo grabbing a standing Spanish Fly for two but Vega offers a distraction. Garza catches him on top and that means a super Spanish Fly for two. A pinfall reversal sequence gets several near falls apiece until Garza sits down on a rollup attempt for the pin at 14:41 (he might have had the tights but it’s not clear).

Rating: B-. They did some cool spots and it was clear that they know each other very well. It’s nice to have some lucha out there as they feel like something different, which is more than you get a lot of the time on Raw. If they could combine these two into one wrestler, they would have gold but for now they have a guy with more charisma than he knows what to do with and a guy who Vince wants to push really hard. Maybe they can make it work, but for now it’s just pretty good.

We recap Becky Lynch and Shayna Baszler, even though we’re still supposed to believe that there’s a point to the Elimination Chamber.

Ricochet vs. Luke Gallows

Ricochet starts moving fast to start and sends Gallows to the floor for the big flip dive. Back in and Ricochet springboards into a big boot as we see Paul Heyman watching. An uppercut gives Gallows two and we hit the chinlock. Ricochet fights out in a hurry and hits an enziguri for the double knockdown. The springboard crossbody into the standing shooting star gets two but Gallows is back with a superkick. Ricochet hits his own though and the Recoil connects, setting up a shooting star press (to the middle of the ring) for the pin at 4:31.

Rating: B. That might be a bit high but I really liked the story they told here. Ricochet has no change of winning on Thursday but they are having him win match after match against big names and I’m digging everything that they’re doing. This was a very well done match with the big man vs. little man and then the shooting star was amazing. The rating is much more for the setup and storytelling than for the wrestling, but I really liked this.

Post break, AJ Styles talks about how the OC needs to act like the best team in the world. Ricochet could become WWE Champion but if that miracle happens, AJ will be right there to get his title back. They need to plant their flag at the top of the food chain but here’s Aleister Black on the way to the ring. AJ says Black needs to learn what matters around here and they beat Black down. The team leaves and Black pulls himself to his feet. I’m up for Styles vs. Black.

Here are Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman for a chat. The Canadian fans are happy to see their honorary Lesnar but Heyman cuts them off with his usual introduction. Heyman talks about how wrestlers are always trying to make catchphrases for themselves but Lesnar has never needed one. All Lesnar has to do is decide to be champion and no one can stop him. Lesnar getting in the ring is special and that’s what you’ll be seeing on Thursday at Super ShowDown. He owes Ricochet an uppercut and since Lesnar is wrestling, it is special by definition.

The stakes on Thursday have never been higher though, but why is that the case? If Ricochet can pull off the miracle, he is going on to face Drew McIntyre at Wrestlemania and the consequences are huge, if that happens. Heyman: “If my aunt had balls, she would be my uncle, but she is not!” (that one cracked Lawler up). Lesnar is going to wreck McIntyre at Wrestlemania and be champion forever. And that is a spoiler.

We look at Becky Lynch calling out Shayna Baszler.

Aleister Black vs. Erick Rowan

Yeah you knew the rematches were coming. Despite getting beaten up, Black can still do his full entrance. Black is still staggered so Rowan runs him over and drives some knees into the back. A suplex doesn’t work for Rowan as he gets low bridged to the floor, followed by a big boot to knock him off the apron. Black gets knocked onto the apron and then sent into the timekeeper’s area and we take a break.

Back with Black getting Side Effected for two but he strikes away and sweeps the leg. There’s the springboard moonsault press and a running knee to the face gives Black two. Black might be limping a bit after the moonsault and Black Mass is countered into a Jackhammer for two more. Rowan sends him outside to whip Black into the barricade but a charge into the steps knocks the cage over. That’s fine with Rowan, who powerbombs Black into the post but then goes to check on the cage, allowing Black to hit Black Mass. Another one finishes Rowan at 10:24.

Rating: C+. These two beat each other up rather well and while the cage thing is getting annoying, it’s what Rowan would be doing in a situation like this. Black had to work for this one and while the match with Rowan didn’t need a sequel, they did a good job with this one. Black seems to be moving on to AJ anyway, so going through two Rowan matches isn’t a horrible situation.

Post match, Black challenges Styles for next week.

We get a sitdown interview with Drew McIntyre, who isn’t scared about Brock Lesnar because he’s main eventing Wrestlemania. Drew talks about debuting in 2009 (which he says was thirteen years ago) and how he hasn’t won a single World Title since that time. He lost his passion, which included his time in 3MB. Then he got fired and it put a chip on his shoulder, but he knew he could only blame himself. He wasn’t about to let people remember him as the idiot playing air guitar.

When McIntyre came back, he came back to NXT, which was where he could be a leader. Then he debuted on Raw in 2018, four years to the day since he was released. He’s been called the future but then he was a past superstar without ever being the present. That’s why he knew he had to eliminate Lesnar and now he’s going to Wrestlemania to fulfill his destiny. They’re doing everything they can to make McIntyre into a star and it’s slowly working.

Here’s R-Truth with the winter premiere of Truth TV, featuring Bobby Lashley and Lana as his special guests. They’re not here for the talk show though, because Lashley is scheduled to beat Truth up. Truth would rather ask him questions though, because Lashley is too big. Truth: “Have you seen Sonic the Hedgehog?” Lana: “RING THE BELL!”

R-Truth vs. Bobby Lashley

Lashley stomps away and sends him outside as the fans chant for Rusev. Back in and Truth uses John Cena’s finishing sequence but gets speared down for the pin at 1:53.

We recap Baszler vs. Lynch’s face to screen argument last week.

Styles vs. Black is confirmed for next week.

All six women’s Elimination Chamber participants, save for Baszler, are in the ring for a contract signing. Asuka counts the participants but realizes there’s one missing. Lawler continues anyway, with Sarah Logan, Natalya, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott (who nearly comes to blows with Morgan) and Asuka all sign, which draws out Baszler through the crowd. Lawler wisely leaves as Shayna and Natalya are about to fight, but Asuka breaks it up.

Asuka tells Shayna to bite her but Natalya takes Asuka down and the fight is on, with Liv diving over the table to get at Riott. Shayna is eventually left alone so here’s Becky to take her down. Officials break it up in a hurry. I don’t remember the last time there was a big match with such an obvious winner but it’s getting annoying in a hurry.

The Bella Twins are official for the Hall of Fame.

Here are the Street Profits for a chat before we get to their singles match. They are ready for their Tag Team Title match on Thursday against the Monday Night Messiah and Murph the Smurf. The titles are all that matters though because every day of their lives, they want the smoke.

Murphy vs. Angelo Dawkins

Murphy throws his shirt at him to start but Dawkins is back with the shots to the face and a running elbow, followed by the spinning splash in the corner. There’s a Sky High and Seth Rollins comes in for the DQ at 1:08.

Post match Ford clears the ring and says Dawkins hit Murphy so hard last week that it erased his last name. Ford can do it to Rollins right now too.

Montez Ford vs. Seth Rollins

Ford starts fast and knocks Rollins to the floor for the big flip dive and we take a break. Back with Dawkins and Murphy being ejected, allowing Ford to hit a heck of a springboard crossbody for two. A dropkick knocks Rollins down again but he grabs a suplex back inside for his own near fall. Ford rolls him up a few times but gets buckle bombed for his efforts. A running powerbomb into the barricade sends us to a break.

Back with Ford hitting an enziguri and a standing moonsault gets two. Another enziguri staggers Rollins and there’s a DDT for two more. Ford goes up but gets caught, only to sunset bomb Rollins down for the crash. The frog splash misses though and Rollins Stomps him for the pin at 15:21.

Rating: B-. These guys looked good together but Ford is the one who matters most. Even WWE can see what they have with him and maybe this is a sign that they have some plans for him on his own. You have to use talent like that in a big way and WWE would be nuts to not at leas try. If nothing else, having him do frog splashes and dives like that will keep him around for a long time.

Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton

Owens pounds away to start but the threat of hit the Cannonball sends Orton outside. Cue Rollins and company for the distraction though and Owens is sent into the barricade as we take a break. Back with both of them down and the Profits and Viking Raiders running in for the big brawl. They fight to the crowd with everyone else, leaving Owens to get crotched on top.

Owens knocks him off anyway and hits the Swanton. Rollins is back though and Owens has to knock him off the apron, allowing Orton to come back with a clothesline. Another Rollins distraction lets Orton hit the hanging DDT….for a very fast counted pin at 8:10. Even Orton looks confused by what happened but he’ll take it.

Rating: C. The match had a lot of stuff going on at once but I can go for a few different stories being mixed together, even if it is just for a week. There is no need to always keep things separate so doing something like this is a good idea on occasion. The story is fine as well, with what seems to be a referee going along with what Rollins has been preaching, though I’ve never liked the trope for some reason. It’s a new wrinkle though and that’s fine.

Post match Rollins throws Orton some chairs but Owens pucks one up. The referee pulls it away so Owens grabs him and opens the referee’s shirt to reveal a Seth Rollins shirt. That means a Stunner to the referee and a powerbomb through a table ends the show.

Overall Rating: B. The word I would use here is balanced, as we got a little bit of everything, including action, storytelling and talking, to come together for a rather solid show. There was nothing bad on here, save for maybe trying to make us believe that Baszler isn’t the biggest lock in recent memory. This was the best show they’ve had in a long time and I had a rather god time watching the entire thing. I don’t remember the last time that was the case and that’s a rather nice feeling to have back.

Results

Angel Garza b. Humberto Carrillo – Rollup

Ricochet b. Luke Gallows – Shooting star press

Aleister Black b. Erick Rowan – Black Mass

Bobby Lashley b. R-Truth – Spear

Angelo Dawkins b. Murphy – Sky High

Seth Rollins b. Montez Ford – Stomp

Randy Orton b. Kevin Owens – Elevated DDT with a fast count

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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

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