Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE No Way Out 2003 Review - February 23rd, 2003

WWE No Way Out 2003 
February 23rd, 2003
Montreal, Canada 

WWE Champion: Kurt Angle (since 12/15/02)
World Heavyweight Champion: Triple H (since 12/15/02)
WWE Tag Team Champions: Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (since 2/6/03)
World Tag Team Champions: William Regal & Lance Storm (since 1/20/03)
WWE Cruserweight Champion: Billy Kidman (since 11/17/02)
WWE Women's Champion: Victoria (since 11/17/02)


Jerry Lawler & Jonathan Coachman are on commentary to start. JR is out due to injury after the match with Eric Bischoff on Raw last week. 

1) Chris Jericho vs. Jeff Hardy 

This turned out to be better than anticipated. The crowd was hot for it which added to it a lot. Jeff flung himself around and took some wild bumps including a powerbomb off the top turnbuckle which stung me through the screen. Jericho locks in the walls of jericho following it and forces Hardy to tap.

Match rating - ***

Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Smackdown Review - February 20th, 2003

WWE Smackdown

February 20th, 2003

Indianapolis, Indiana

WWE Champion: Kurt Angle (since 12/15/02)

WWE Tag Team Champions: Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (since 2/6/03)

WWE Cruserweight Champion: Billy Kidman (since 11/17/02)

Commentators: Michael Cole & Tazz

It’s the last show before No Way Out 2003! The Rock is here to start the show ahead of his big rematch with Hulk Hogan. Rock calls out the crowd for booing him and fully leans into working heel. He’s out here for about 10 mins and asks if they REEEEALLY wanna boo him and they seem to want to so he cuts them off from doing his closing catchphrases. He says he will make Hogan his little bitch Sunday and will talk trash to his face whenever he shows up tonight. Pretty wild and weird seeing Rock in this role but hell yeah. 

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Raw Review - February 17th, 2003

WWE: Raw 
February 17th, 2003 
Columbus, Ohio

World Heavyweight Champion - Triple H (since 12/15/02)
World Tag Team Champions - William Regal & Lance Storm (since 1/20/03)
WWE Women's Champion - Victoria (since 11/17/02)
Commentary - Jim Ross & Jerry "The King" Lawler

TONIGHT: Booker T & Scott Steiner vs. Triple H & Batista 

Friday, August 20, 2021

Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Smackdown Review - February 13th, 2003

WWE: Smackdown 
February 13th, 2003 
Bakersfield, California

WWE Champion: Kurt Angle (since 12/15/02)

WWE Tag Team Champions: Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (since 2/6/03)

WWE Cruserweight Champion: Billy Kidman (since 11/17/02)

Commentators: Michael Cole & Tazz

TONIGHT: An in depth look at the upcoming Hogan/Rock rematch plus a Bra & Panties Match between Torrie Wilson and Dawn Marie because it’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow & shit. 

1) Edge vs. Charlie Haas (w/ Paul Heyman) 

Haas keeps Edge grounded and dominates most of this using his amateur skills & background. Edge starts fighting back, Heyman gets on the apron and eats a spear. This allows Haas to roll up Edge and use the tights for the pin. Good little match while it lasts.

Match rating - **1/2

AEW: Dynamite Review - August 18th, 2021

AEW: Dynamite
August 18th, 2021
Houston, Texas 

Commentators - Excalibur, Jim Ross, & Tony Schiavone

The show begins with Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston making their way to the ring through the crowd after the commentators ran down the card for the night. This entrance felt as huge and badass as ever. It also let us know how amazing of a crowd we had on our hands tonight. They are LOUD. In the midst of this special moment, 2.0 attacks Mox & Kingston in the crowd from behind then heads to the ring. They have really meshed SO well into AEW. Great heel promo here saying they want Sting & Darby RIGHT NOW. God, this 2.0 shit just feels so… natural and honestly old school. Like this promo felt so 80’s-90’s and in a good way. WWE/NXT left so much on the table with them. 

1) Sting & Darby Allin vs. 2.0 (w/ Daniel Garcia) 

Some may say my rating of this is high but FUCK IT. This fucking ruled. It’s Sting’s first match on TNT in 20 god damn years. The crowd is HOT AS HELL. 2.0 are the perfect loud mouth obnoxious goofs to take a beating. Darby is a maniac. This is just… fantastic viewing and easy on the eyes pro wrestling. Raw couldn’t have a match this fun if they fucking tried. I also love how Sting’s limited wrestling ability at his current age has led to him basically just no selling everything and I am totally ok with it. At this point, his drawing point is his mystique. He’s more than a wrestler. He is Sting. Don’t make him wrestle, let him be Sting. Let him no sell a fucking powerbomb through a table. The booking of this is so smart and so FORWARD THINKING AND PROGRESSIVE. AEW GETS IT. STING GETS IT. Double scorpion death drop and death lock ends it. Sting & Darby celebrate another victory. 

Match rating - ***1/2

They show clips of Sammy Guevara proposing to his girlfriend in front of the fans before the show. AWWW.

Meanwhile, Tully Blanchard and Shawn Spears are backstage applauding. Spears says he’s gonna let Sammy’s fiancĂ© join the pinnacle tonight so she can be on top for once. Dear lord. 

2) Sammy Guevara vs. Shawn Spears

Friday, August 13, 2021

AEW: Rampage Review - August 13th, 2021

AEW: Rampage
August 13th, 2021
Pittsburgh, PA


Commentators - Excalibur, Taz, Chris Jericho, & Mark Henry 

THE FIRST EVER EPISODE OF AEW RAMPAGE

1) Kenny Omega (c) vs. Christian Cage - IMPACT World Title Match 

As of this writing I haven’t even posted my review of this week’s episode of Dynamite, but in that review, I voiced my disinterest in Christian being the challenger for Kenny and the AEW Title at All Out. I mentioned it even moreso in my review of the Homecoming Dynamite on 8/5. But this past week, I mentioned that although I’m uninterested in the moment, my trust in this promotion to deliver is what leaves me with hope. And tonight, that was displayed because this delivered beyond any expectations I had. 2 weeks ago, I didn’t even want to see one Christian/Omega match. So, when they announced a prelude to their AEW Title PPV match here, I was confused and also just meh. Now? I am insanely excited for that All Out match and so happy we get to see these two go at it again because this absolutely ruled. This had a big fight feel from the jump that I didn’t anticipate to translate onto a new show especially since there’s not a lot of heat on this story, but I was dead wrong, this all came together perfectly. They start slow and work a match that definitely leans more towards the style of Christian Cage early. Just a slow, brooding heat segment with Christian fighting from underneath and it fucking ROCKS. Christian looks exhausted and outwrestled by the younger champion and it garners so much sympathy that explodes into his tremendous comeback off a sunset flip powerbomb from the top rope. A bump Kenny takes better than anyone. Things shift into chaos from here with both men throwing bombs. Kenny destroys Christian with some snap dragons. Several great false finishes here down the stretch. The Bucks run down and try to slide a chair in after Christian kicks out of a few pin fall attempts. It backfires and Christian hits Omega with the killswitch on the chair while the ref is distracted and 1..2..3.. CHRISTIAN IS THE NEW IMPACT WORLD CHAMPION AND KENNY OMEGA HAS BEEN DEFEATED. Wow. Awesome match and shocking finish. Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus join Christian to celebrate. I feel like that will be used in story later as Jungle was there when Christian beat Omega, doing what he couldn’t do. 

Match rating - **** 

Mark Henry is backstage to interview Christian Cage with his new titles. JUNGLE BOY IS POPPIN BOTTLES. This rules and Orange Cassidy is watching from a distance. Could we see OC thrown into this title mix after being screwed at Double Or Nothing? He did say he wasn’t done with Kenny..

2) Miro (c) vs. Fuego Del Sol - TNT Title Match 

Great video to recap us on this little feud before the match. Fuego hits Miro before the bell with a swinging DDT. MIRO IS STAGGERED BUT TELLS THE REF TO RING THE BELL. Fuego with a leg scissors and more DDT’s. MIRO IS REEEELING ON THE FLOOR. Fucking fantastic opening moments of this squash. Miro sold like a maniac for Fuego before destroying him and retaining his title.

Match rating - **3/4

After the match, Fuego brings himself to his feet with an ovation from the crowd. Sammy Guevara comes out and Tony Khan meets him on the stage with a contract. Sammy, being Fuego’s best friend, gets the honor of presenting him with the news that he is finally ALL ELITE. Fuego gets so emotional and it almost makes me tear up. Great moment. HE FINALLY GOT SIGNED.

They show a hype video for next week’s episode of Rampage in Chicago which also replays Darby’s “best in the world” promo from Charlotte. MANNNNN. PUNK HAS TO SHOW UP NOW AND IF HE DOES I WILL CRY. The cameras then cut to Sting & Darby hanging out in the rafters looking COOL AS FUCK. 

3) Britt Baker (c) vs. Red Velvet - AEW Women’s World Title Match 

They do a three split screen interview thing pre-match hosted by Mark Henry then we cut to commercial and things get going when we return. Britt’s entrance was phenomenal yet again. Just a beautiful scene with her hometown crowd going nuts for her. Bell rings and the ladies work holds and I LOVE IT. The wrestling tonight has been the best. Britt has a forreal broken wrist that’s in a cast so that makes these opening holds and limb work mean something. Plus, Britt’s finisher is the lockjaw so on her end the story is her setting up for that. This really was such a good title match. The vibe was there with Britt being in her hometown and the story was simple and kept to the basics (for the most part) as they told the story with their action in the ring. This was my favorite Britt match since the Thunder Rosa bloodbath and it was the total opposite of it. I need more of Britt in technical matches like this and shit, I need more of Red Velvet in general! This is the second big match she’s been thrown into with little notice and she killed it just like she did in the Cody/Shaq/Jade match. Britt hits a fuckin Adam Cole style brain buster on the knee then winks at the camera!!! I popped. Velvet gets a great near fall off a moonsault after the ref throws Rebel out. They trade submissions on the mat with Britt struggling to keep the lockjaw on as Velvet ripped her cast off earlier. Eventually Britt locks it in using her other hand and Velvet submits. Britt retains!

Match rating - ***1/4
 
Post match, Britt attacks Velvet some more. Kris Statlander hops in only to be attacked by a returning Jamie Hayter. I admittedly didn’t know who she was, but apparently she was on some early Dynamite’s in the fall of 2019. Britt curb stomps Velvet on the title then poses with it and Hayter to close the show. BRITT’s BACKUP HAS ARRIVED. Career highlight of a match and night for Britt. What a year this has been for her. 

Final thoughts: Well, well. It’s in the books. The debut episode of AEW’s second nationally televised program on TNT. I really loved this. It was an all killer, no filler show and because of the time restraints of being an hour instead of two, it felt a lot more focused than most Dynamite’s. They focused solely on the three advertised matches, which all delivered greatly, and built towards next week. You got a nice moment with Fuego being signed and a hot crowd that gave the woman who will lead your women’s division for the next decade yet another unforgettable career night. No complaints here, yall. See you next week for THE FIRST DANCE. I am gonna squeal if CM Punk shows up. 

Sunday, August 8, 2021

AEW: Dynamite (Homecoming) Review - August 4th, 2021

AEW: Dynamite
Homecoming 
August 4th, 2021 
Daily’s Place - Jacksonville, FL


Commentators - Excalibur, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, & MJF

1) Chris Jericho vs. Juventud Guerrera 

This started off pretty rough on Juvi’s end and things were pretty shaky throughout. They threw some cool stuff in there and the fact that this is even happening to begin with is just nuts so it was still a fun way to kick off the show. Crowd is hottttt for Jericho which is no shocker. This was really a blast if you overlook the small missteps. A top rope Judas effect? Cmon, that shit was so sick. 

Match rating - **1/4 

Post match, Wardlow attacks Jericho and he is revealed as the fourth labor and Jericho’s opponent next week. ITS WARDLOW SZN BBY. This was a little anticlimactic in comparison to the previous labour reveals, but I love Wardlow so fuck it. 

Sunday, August 1, 2021

AEW: Dynamite - Fight for the Fallen 2021 Review - July 28th, 2021

AEW Dynamite
Fight for the Fallen 
July 28th, 2021
Charlotte, NC

Commentary - Excalibur, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, & MJF


Hello everyone. So, sorry it took me a couple of days to get this up. I know no one probably cares, but I get annoyed with myself when I’m late posting. I attended this show live with Mike, Donnie, Liz, & Jeff. Our second time attending AEW together with the first experience coming at Double or Nothing. This one was a little closer to home which made the event special in a different way than the PPV in Jacksonville. 

Showed up around 6:20 and the line was wrapped down the sidewalk through the parking lot down by the highway. This place was packed, man. They began taping Elevation around 6:50 and we got to see Darby Allin & Sting which rocked as always. Red Velvet competed as well which was a highlight. Then things got started. I don’t wanna jump too far ahead, but this really was another phenomenal live wrestling experience and got me even more excited for our upcoming trip to Chicago. 

1) The Elite (Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) vs. The Dark Order (Hangman Page, Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, John Silver, & Alex Reynolds) - Elimination Match 

From the time the opening Hangman/Dark Order video package aired, I knew this was going to special. Little did I know that was just the beginning. The entrances of both units were equally as amazing. With the Dark Order’s being emotionally charged as Hangman arrived in Dark Order attire, seemingly accepting his role as a member of the group for the first time ever. The Elite’s was more comedic based, but had everyone in the arena rolling. The bell rings and this match implodes into everything I could ever ask for from a 10 man elimination match. We got great showings from people we don’t get to see show out a lot like Uno & Grayson and Silver & Reynolds. Silver and Uno got chants and a big reaction all match. Big LG Doc Gallows was another highlight for me, just feeding like hell for everyone and being as goofy as ever. I also liked that they went with a double count out elimination for he & Grayson. Was a nice way to spice things up and also added to the chaotic element of things. Before we get to the major call backs and story, the Bucks bust out some comedy as they attempt a slam dunk Meltzer Drive on the floor into a basketball goal they brought to ringside. Before you know it, it’s down to Page and the Bucks & Omega. A 3 on 1 situation for the Hangman who was showered with love all night as always. Everyone wanted to see him win and was on the edge of their seat with anticipation as he tried to handle the numbers as well as the mental toll of being alone in the biggest match of his career with his title shot on the line against his three former best friends who ripped his heart out. Hangman tries, and he manages to gain ground and have a hell of a comeback with a double buckshot lariat on the Bucks which allows him to eliminate Matt, but it isn’t long before that’s all she wrote as Kenny & Nick pick the bones of Page and destroy him with a stiff BTE trigger for the win. This match burned me completely out for the next hour and I think it did the same to most of the crowd as well. 

Match rating - ****1/4

Backstage, we find out that PAC is alone tonight because Andrade & Chavo canceled Fenix & Penta’s car ride to the arena and ordered them a limo and they will be there later. They are still trying to get the Lucha Bros to leave PAC and join up with them.