tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42282557003245253422024-03-19T10:45:58.771-04:00Pro Wrestling TruthEthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.comBlogger738125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-72341677528017417162024-01-08T13:40:00.001-05:002024-01-08T13:40:04.050-05:00WCW Bash At The Beach 1996 Review - July 7th, 1996<b><i>WCW Bash at the Beach</i></b><div><b><i>July 7th, 1996<br /></i></b><div><b><i>Daytona Beach, Florida</i></b></div></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEzqQ72A-Utk7JTbBSTHqlE5qBUEv9UJ95PAhjlMOpWayqwqeXvJWrWUR9_ZfYy7l-6P7UR-_RXgET7DUZ4T6_g64EjQI5LFcsoztEDl4704L3w2xezGBBgjhpAnu7GAIrkaoNdmVTkrSfhxnvzUtzR2mBWvfdP2Cb5i3RVJ_5RtVbRr34k0YnUAbNKd_/s320/bash96.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="172" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEzqQ72A-Utk7JTbBSTHqlE5qBUEv9UJ95PAhjlMOpWayqwqeXvJWrWUR9_ZfYy7l-6P7UR-_RXgET7DUZ4T6_g64EjQI5LFcsoztEDl4704L3w2xezGBBgjhpAnu7GAIrkaoNdmVTkrSfhxnvzUtzR2mBWvfdP2Cb5i3RVJ_5RtVbRr34k0YnUAbNKd_/s1600/bash96.jpg" width="172" /></a></div></b><i>“It’s more than just the bash at the beach. It’s the attempt at a hostile takeover.”</i></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>WCW World Champion: </b><i>The Giant (since 4/29/96)</i></div><div><div><b>WCW US Champion: </b><i>Konnan (since 1/29/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Tag Team Champions: </b><i>Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) (since 6/24/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW TV Champion: </b><i>Lex Luger (since 3/6/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Dean Malenko (since 5/18/96) </i></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Commentators - Bobby Heenan, Tony Schiavone, & Dusty Rhodes</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The boys open the show talking about the morale of the locker room heading into tonight’s event and the unknown about the Outsiders, their attempted takeover, and their mysterious third man. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Psychosis </b></div><div><br /></div><div>I don’t know where to start with this one. Or really even the words to say to properly review such a legendary match and one that holds up here, almost 30 years later. I had seen this match a few times before, but this was my first time in about 10 years. And man, I can’t lie. I watched it 3-4 times before moving forward with this show. It was just such a statement match and completely groundbreaking for its time. These two put on the most insane display of highflying and Lucha style pro wrestling. Just watch this match. Good lord. One of the best 15 min sprints ever in pro wrestling. Misterio wins at 15:18.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Match rating - ****1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Konnan makes a statement toward Ric Flair and says no matter what he’s leaving with his US Title still in tact tonight. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) John Tenta vs. Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart) - Carson City Silver Dollar On A Pole Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“He’s got a leash around his neck, maybe he’s gonna take him outside.. maybe it’s that time of day.” -Bobby Heenan</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Russo baby. Two 300+ boys climbing a pole. We are here. And it’s about as dumb as you’d expect. But atleast it’s entertaining.. sort of. They do shit. Choke each other with a strap. Jimmy climbs the pole for Tenta, but Bubba knocks Tenta on his ass while Hart is on the pole and takes the silver dollars from Hart when he comes down to win the match. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYYWYr8XoTWh2cH3wyrTBW28Ov4-aHwFuO5XiEhB1q2u-86LIJqL_1rQGhrqtp9ur0sGOgmW8Efr5IkkAbVsoihFDhZANPvXOssOJIH8xOm4acoBYpNluXhOQf12nyqMuOXmNPUoez9GJHGss_VUxG0De5Uvs4z3-X5lqHmH6ZhU5K_5BaHW0xPRwi2F_Z" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="985" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYYWYr8XoTWh2cH3wyrTBW28Ov4-aHwFuO5XiEhB1q2u-86LIJqL_1rQGhrqtp9ur0sGOgmW8Efr5IkkAbVsoihFDhZANPvXOssOJIH8xOm4acoBYpNluXhOQf12nyqMuOXmNPUoez9GJHGss_VUxG0De5Uvs4z3-X5lqHmH6ZhU5K_5BaHW0xPRwi2F_Z" width="320" /></a></div>Backstage, Macho & Luger are fired the fuck up and they’re honored to be a part of the team representing WCW against the outsiders tonight. Sting says the unknown makes his mouth water so it doesn’t matter who the surprise man is. LETS GOO.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Diamond Dallas Page vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan - Lord of the Ring Taped Fist Match </b></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>This doesn’t overstay it’s welcome, but is largely worthless. DDP is a blast as per usual recently, but Duggan barely holds it together and this is just meh. DDP wins with the cutter.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - *3/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Mean Gene has The Giant, Jimmy Hart & Taskmaster. They talk about Kevin Sullivan not being the weak link of the Dungeon of Doom and how the Horsemen aren’t the elite. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back in the arena, Arn Anderson & Chris Benoit respond and Arn says he’s been walking the streets of Daytona Beach hearing people say Sullivan is gonna give him a beating, but they’re gonna cut him and the Giant in half. Benoit then speaks and says SILENT BUT VIOLENT and he’s gonna leave Sullivan for dead. Tonight, the horsemen reign supreme. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>4) The Nasty Boys vs. Public Enemy - Double Dog Collar Match </b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>“This is messy…” -Tony Schiavone</i></div><div><br /></div><div>It was indeed messy. The tables didn't break. They were falling all over the place. But isn't that what is to be expected of this type of match and these individuals? Real life brawls are messy. So, yeah. I did not hate this. They make good utilization of the stage props like the lifeguard stand and such. The finish is a little weird, but all in all. Good lil brawl. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Backstage, The Outsiders have arrived and Mean Gene says they have them locked in a room with security in front of it to make sure they stay put until their match later. Dusty says that WCW has better security than the White House tonight...</div><div><br /></div><div><b>5) Dean Malenko vs. Disco Inferno</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>King Dean beating the actual hell out of dumbass Disco Inferno. We love to see it, honestly. In the end, he taps him out to the Texas cloverleaf. This was honestly better than I anticipated it to be on paper.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **3/4</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>6) Steve McMichael (w/ Debra) vs. Joe Gomez </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is just.. bad news bears. Bad news fucking bears. They try and they try pretty hard. But it is not good. Poor fellas. Goodbye. Mongo McMichael takes the W after they struggle to hold it together.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - 1/2*</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Woman is getting Mean Gene ruffled by rubbing up on him. Ric Flair says Konnan might have 1,000 holds, but he’s got unlimited knowledge on pro wrestling. Gene asks Ms Elizabeth about a party she’s throwing tonight. Woman wants Gene to come so she can have a private party with him. Good fucking lord. Mean Gene you better lay down for that woman. No pun intended. “KONNAN, GRAB YOUR BEST HOLD, KID.” </div><div><br /></div><div><b>7) Konnan (c) vs. Ric Flair (w/ Miss Elizabeth & Woman) - WCW US Heavyweight Title Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is fine, but goes on entirely too long and should’ve ended after the first low blow from Woman. Flair does his usual things that make a match good and Konnan is pretty much just there. Flair wins the title in the end off a shoe shot from Woman. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>8) Chris Benoit & Arn Anderson vs. The Giant & Taskmaster Kevin Sullivan (w/ Jimmy Hart)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>"Horseman styleeeeee." </div><div><br /></div><div>The Horsemen attack Giant & Sullivan in the aisleway. They get Giant distracted and it allows them to isolate Sullivan for a while once things get into the ring. It's a Benoit/Anderson control segment so it's great. They build toward the hot tag for Giant. Once he gets in, he makes shortwork of Arn while Benoit & Sullivan brawl up by the announce desk and into the beach set up. Chokeslam finishes off Anderson. This was damn chaos.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/4</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>9) The Outsiders (Scott Hall, Kevin Nash & ???) vs. Sting, Lex Luger, & "Macho Man" Randy Savage</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Nash and Hall get introduced first. The ring announcer Michael apologizes for there not being three guys like was advertised. Mean Gene comes out to confront Hall & Nash and ask where their partner is. Hall says all he needs to know is that he's here and he's ready. Nash says they're enough to handle this on their own right now. Luger, Sting, & Savage come out and the bells rings as commentators put over the uneasiness of not knowing where this mysterious third man is. After a long staredown, Hall and Luger begin. Luger slaps Hall and gets a boot to the gut and some right hands. It doesn't take long to break down and Luger's throat gets crushed on the top turnbuckle in the middle of Sting attempting to splash on Nash. They stretcher him out which evens the odds to a 2v2 match. Tony finally refers to the Outsiders by names.. "Hall on your left, Nash on your right" .. STING CHARGES HALL AND STARTS SLAMMING HIM ON THE MAT OVER AND OVER. BY FUCKING GOD. </div><div><br /></div><div>He got some nice fire in before Hall & Nash begin working him over. Sting gets some separation after about five minutes of being beaten down, but Hall cuts it off. Nash puts him in a hold and the face in peril work on Sting continues. Sting finally breaks free and dives over Nash and almost crashes into Macho Man for the tag and the place fucking explodes. Savage with a chopblock to the back of Hall on the floor. He's clearing house and eats a lowblow from Nash. Everyone is down, now and HERE COMES HULK HOGAN!!! Tony & Dusty are cheering him on, but Heenan immediately questions-- "WHO'S SIDE IS HE ON? BUT WHO'S SIDE IS HE ON?" Hogan rips his shirt off and fucking leg drops Savage. He hits multiple on him and points at Hall & Nash as they stand up on the apron. He cockily pins Savage and Hall, Nash & Hogan celebrate. The commentators ask "where do we go from here? what do we do now?" </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxUl4IvNxHKQBFlOd8819KiZcjAJDXph6wSAEcxo9I2L22vr-8YXKJPfo45FrJy7AEVy1B3tIG3m5ho5w-bWCaFv8uNiaUlBQuZVRMXYriTF--zbdvIndG_4RTfZJ1JDhm_mjE1KHPkGAxeHH07O5qb-D9j8GbklaahBc2EO57B8WWiFtqSE4JOlIYD62i" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxUl4IvNxHKQBFlOd8819KiZcjAJDXph6wSAEcxo9I2L22vr-8YXKJPfo45FrJy7AEVy1B3tIG3m5ho5w-bWCaFv8uNiaUlBQuZVRMXYriTF--zbdvIndG_4RTfZJ1JDhm_mjE1KHPkGAxeHH07O5qb-D9j8GbklaahBc2EO57B8WWiFtqSE4JOlIYD62i" width="320" /></a></div><br />The fans start throwing shit in the ring at Hogan, Nash, and Hall. Mean Gene Okerlund climbs in the ring and asks Hulk what the hell he's thinking. Mean Gene says him joining up with Hall & Nash makes him SICK to his stomach. Hogan says this is the New World Order of Pro Wrestling. Hogan, in other non specific words, says he made WWF a ton of money, and his name got bigger than the company itself so Billionare Ted came calling and made him a bunch of promises he couldn't keep. Hogan is BORED of the WCW. They're taking over the world of pro wrestling. Hogan says he did everything for the fans, he did all the charity work, and the reaction he got? THE FANS CAN STICK IT. He says he was selling out the world while they were struggling to get gas to get to high school. WHATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THE NEW WORLD ORGANIZATION RUNS WILD ON YOU??! Insane god damn promo from this real life piece of shit.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"Hulk Hogan... you can go to hell. Straight to hell." -Tony Schiavone to close the broadcast</i></div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-31174339153966532622024-01-08T13:36:00.001-05:002024-01-08T13:36:08.490-05:00WCW Monday Nitro Review - July 1st, 1996<b>WCW Monday Nitro</b><div><b>July 1st, 1996</b></div><div><b>Landover, Maryland</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr_UEEpi5NFgulEoMvI2OwXzCGnJ75Ek1q4Vl8AGFwKHdMmqf_sD_xAKgo8z229cXtsAiRceWBVXKt9NE_78DfF24CFvhePDVcR8dRLI_k-epRUNGIwCGYqReq0jgbV5wzzULshymJFQbwLTjvctdTn8uqJSCPwhv9cHBvlv3Tr0_sSlUcfSlFhKkZyiB/s768/WCW_Nitro_logo(1995-1999).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="737" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr_UEEpi5NFgulEoMvI2OwXzCGnJ75Ek1q4Vl8AGFwKHdMmqf_sD_xAKgo8z229cXtsAiRceWBVXKt9NE_78DfF24CFvhePDVcR8dRLI_k-epRUNGIwCGYqReq0jgbV5wzzULshymJFQbwLTjvctdTn8uqJSCPwhv9cHBvlv3Tr0_sSlUcfSlFhKkZyiB/s320/WCW_Nitro_logo(1995-1999).png" width="307" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></div><div><b>WCW World Champion: </b><i>The Giant (since 4/29/96)</i></div><div><div><div><b>WCW US Champion: </b><i>Konnan (since 1/29/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Tag Team Champions: </b><i>Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) (since 6/24/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW TV Champion: </b><i>Lex Luger (since 3/6/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Dean Malenko (since 5/18/96) </i></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbysko open the show. Before they can cover much, Diamond Dallas Page interrupts and says his ring has been stolen. He wants the building shut down and searched. They shew him away and replay the incident from last week where The Outsiders showed up and Harlem Heat stole the tag titles from Luger & Sting. That leads us into our first match of the evening. OO also, this was the first mention of "New World Order" as Zbysko said verbatim "there will be a new world order in professional wrestling on Sunday"... interesting. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) (c) vs. The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner) - WCW World Tag Team Title Match</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The Horsemen were shown at ringside watching this with their ENTOURAGE. This is decent. They go back and forth with stuff. There's some decent near falls down the stretch and some confusion on who the legal man is. Just as The Steiner's are building some momentum, Colonel Parker gets involved and it gives Harlem Heat the opening they needed to finish this one off and retain the titles. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Mean Gene approaches the Four Horseman at ringside after the match. They all get a few minutes to speak. Mongo talks about why he did what he did and joined the horsemen and it's because MONEY MAKES THE MONKEY DANCE. This gets Flair all sorts of fired up.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) Disco Inferno vs. Kurasawa (Manabu Nakanishi)</b></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>It's crazy seeing Nakanishi here under the ring name Kurasawa. I had no idea he ever worked WCW, but he did a ton as my Cagematch research taught me. Seeing him beat up Disco a little here was fun. Disco's music starts playing mid-match and a guy dressed up as Elvis comes out and while the ref is distracted, Disco hits Kurasawa with a disco ball for the pin.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - 1/4*</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>3) Diamond Dallas Page vs. Scotty Riggs</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is basically just another enhancement match for DDP heading into his match with Jim Duggan at Bash at The Beach. He wins with a cutter.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Match rating - *1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, DDP is still looking for his ring and even resorts to checking Mean Gene's pockets. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) Greg Valentine vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Commentary is heavily questioning how smart Macho Man is for stepping up to the Outsiders and hyping up Sunday’s big PPV trios match. They collar n elbow tie up and Hammer gets the advantage in the corner and works over Macho Man. They roll outside and use the railing. Macho Man fires back once things get back in the ring. The countdown for hour two begins and it goes live right as Savage hits the big elbow for the three count. Pretty dope. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><br /></div><div>PYRO GOES OFF. HERE GOES ERIC BISCHOFF AND HEENAN TAKING THINGS OVER for the second hour of Nitro. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial, Bischoff has a message for Kevin Nash. He says The Outsiders didn’t scare anybody. Not Luger, not Sting and not Savage. And everyone will be there Sunday to fend them off. They move onto other topics and as they are talking, Bobby Heenan notices Scott Hall & Kevin Nash coming through the crowd holding food and drinks. Bischoff starts calling for security. They try to kick them out, but they say they have tickets and seat themselves in the front row. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4OWzve2K4YhrbQ-j-6g4nW4uB28t9UX7chjjEt0Xgb8xI7d2SgdKv7oFGJDQNbdbc3yfQ7KYPSaC0wVP8w01a1En7vWqGTxgG_0dHLIiS9dNbdTLkeTDGKPLpwGQbK7CMCEpeXJs_6ZJTWf7OswhgatpLInEElrlhSvRwbO18LQzEVjSM9SmG7NC_ZSvu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4OWzve2K4YhrbQ-j-6g4nW4uB28t9UX7chjjEt0Xgb8xI7d2SgdKv7oFGJDQNbdbc3yfQ7KYPSaC0wVP8w01a1En7vWqGTxgG_0dHLIiS9dNbdTLkeTDGKPLpwGQbK7CMCEpeXJs_6ZJTWf7OswhgatpLInEElrlhSvRwbO18LQzEVjSM9SmG7NC_ZSvu" width="320" /></a></div><br />ENTER THE REALM.. BLOOD RUNS COLD.. GLACIER</div><div><br /></div><div><b>5) John Tenta vs. The Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“John Tenta… still wearing that bad haircut.” -Eric Bischoff </i></div><div><br /></div><div>This sure does happen. The big men do what they do. Giant wins off a chokeslam and then Big Bubba comes down and shaves off Tenta’s beard. After the match, Mean Gene interviews them in the aisle way. Tenta has Big Bubba in a something on the pole match. So Bubba talks ab that, but Giant does most of the talking. He & Kevin Sullivan face Anderson & Benoit in a No DQ match at the PPV and man oh man I’m excited for that one. </div><div><br /></div><div>A Rey Mysterio Jr video package airs. The Outsiders interrupt in the middle of it and start approaching the commentary table, but security prevents it. The Steiner’s and Randy Savage come out also as Hall & Nash are led out of the arena after a standoff on the stage. DDP & Dungeon of Doom come out also and Nash still has a mic and says they’re gonna need more than that if that’s the best they got. </div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Mean Gene is with Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Duggan punches out his opponent on Sunday, DDP when he approaches him. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>6) The Four Horsemen (Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, Ric Flair & Steve McMichael) vs. Rock n Roll Express, Joe Gomez, & The Renegade</b></div><div><br /></div><div>It’s the horsemen so it’s immediately pretty great. Just seeing them work and do their thing. It’s just fucking great. This match choice and placement is weird as hell so like.. this isn’t a great match. But Flair, Anderson & Benoit are just a joy to watch work. They dominate this and work smart as fuck, things just sort of suck when they aren’t in. The finish seems a little rushed and Flair locks Renegade in the figure four and ends this thing. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match.. an absolutely fucking GOATED promo from Benoit, Anderson, & Flair. I don’t even know where to start. Just go watch this damn thing. Flair says Benoit is SILENT BUT DEADLY AND THE PARTY GOES ALL NIGHT LONGGGG. Woman, Elizabeth, & Debra surrounding them. These men are GODS. All fucking hail, buddy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Kevin Nash & Scott Hall try to break into the arena again backstage. Security forces them to get in their car and leave. They speed off and Nash says “see you in Daytona…” </div><div><br />SEE YALL IN DAYTONA BABY. Bash at the Beach is up next :)</div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-3579153474928829212024-01-05T14:14:00.026-05:002024-03-06T21:23:47.308-05:002024 Match Rating Archive / MOTY Tracker<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">JANUARY: </span></u></b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z0tHPGx1pbfPRP3bWbOsk7QSDq-TrFmGCIbs1Rt-FO8b5BfgcJQIIewMKXtVxqlSQKdNNR61hULzl0m_frzH5Z5ve7u-AxN5SRKp5_7yQwMqXGtGnwgcsP27lLUc4EFE3e9v0N0gfulkcAxGWWYpmb9K9haewclzvDDcHowAQAk3nKdEs-sanVzP9KL-/s1920/65C1A15E-B998-4F4C-BD11-11AD4DD3A051.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z0tHPGx1pbfPRP3bWbOsk7QSDq-TrFmGCIbs1Rt-FO8b5BfgcJQIIewMKXtVxqlSQKdNNR61hULzl0m_frzH5Z5ve7u-AxN5SRKp5_7yQwMqXGtGnwgcsP27lLUc4EFE3e9v0N0gfulkcAxGWWYpmb9K9haewclzvDDcHowAQAk3nKdEs-sanVzP9KL-/s320/65C1A15E-B998-4F4C-BD11-11AD4DD3A051.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></p>Darby Allin vs. Konosuke Takeshita - AEW: Dynamite - 1/3/24 - ****1/4</span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Daniel Garcia vs. Swerve Strickland - AEW: Dynamite - 1/3/24 - ***3/4</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani & AZM vs. Syuri, Ami Sohrei, & Saki Kashima - STARDOM: Gate - 1/4/24 - ***3/4</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Giulia & Suzu Suzuki vs. Maika & Megan Bayne - STARDOM: Gate - 1/4/24 - ****</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mayu Iwatani (c) vs. Syuri - IWGP Womens Belt - STARDOM: Gate - 1/4/24 - ****1/2</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom 18 - 1/4/24 - ****</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Jon Moxley, & Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr, Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste & Kosei Fujita - NJPW: New Year Dash - 1/5/24 - ****</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Trent Beretta - AEW Continental Crown Title Match - AEW: Collision - 1/6/24 - ****</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Hangman Page vs. Claudio Castagnoli - AEW: Dynamite - 1/10/24 - ***1/2</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Darby Allin & Sting vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Powerhouse Hobbs - AEW: Dynamite - 1/10/24 - ****1/4</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Rocky Romero & Soberano Jr vs. Volador Jr & Mascara Dorado - NJPW: Battle in the Valley - 1/13/24 - ***1/4</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Zack Sabre Jr & Bad Dude Tito vs. Matt Riddle & Jeff Cobb - NJPW: Battle in the Valley - 1/13/24 - ***1/4</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Gabe Kidd - Continental Crown Title Match - NJPW: Battle in the Valley - 1/13/24 - ***1/2</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley vs. Shingo Takagi - No DQ Match - NJPW: Battle in the Valley - 1/13/24 - ****3/4</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Christian Cage (c) vs. Dustin Rhodes - TNT Title Match - AEW: Dynamite - 1/17/24 - ***3/4</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Samoa Joe (c) vs. HOOK - AEW World Title Match - 1/17/24 - ****1/4</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Adam Copeland vs. Dante Martin - AEW: Collision - 1/20/24 - ****</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Daniel Garcia vs. Buddy Matthews - AEW: Collision - 1/20/24 - ***3/4</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor - AEW: Collision - 1/27/24 - ***1/4</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eddie Kingston vs. Bryan Keith - AEW: Collision - 2/3/24 - ***3/4</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Bryan Danielson vs. Hechicero - AEW: Collision - 2/3/24 - ****</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">HENARE vs. Gabe Kidd - NJPW: Road To New Beginning - 2/4/24 - ****1/4</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Page - AEW: Dynamite - 2/7/24 - ****1/2</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Hechicero, Volador Jr, & Mascara Dorada - AEW: Dynamite - 2/7/24 - ****</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - NJPW: New Beginning In Osaka - 2/11/24 - ****</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr - NJPW: New Beginning in Osaka - 2/11/24 - ****3/4</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">United Empire vs. Bullet Club - Steel Cage Match - NJPW: New Beginning in Osaka - 2/11/24 - ***3/4</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kris Statlander vs. Riho - AEW: Dynamite - 3/6/24 -</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">****</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-48738287804827784082023-10-04T18:14:00.001-04:002023-10-04T18:14:19.697-04:00Is AEW back? <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKhpryiOr1XoV-7VL96PzwJclDU_Uga_H9iLEScylKJ1cFhvZYOFhmZURqoKkEAH3bMrq8vfqhncjgMif9fk4vU_bzIcr6NtjuKV-wLnOduuZcL1ENTcHG007tZn97zJtljFRTpCgyftWTxZ1kzn2KaYTAjHpPOP9laPaXKmrNhGAbtyryClUaPmZbLkh/s894/6E55D876-FBB8-47AA-811C-99D5C4FEE5A6.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="894" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKhpryiOr1XoV-7VL96PzwJclDU_Uga_H9iLEScylKJ1cFhvZYOFhmZURqoKkEAH3bMrq8vfqhncjgMif9fk4vU_bzIcr6NtjuKV-wLnOduuZcL1ENTcHG007tZn97zJtljFRTpCgyftWTxZ1kzn2KaYTAjHpPOP9laPaXKmrNhGAbtyryClUaPmZbLkh/s320/6E55D876-FBB8-47AA-811C-99D5C4FEE5A6.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Ever so often nowadays, we hear the phrase “pro wrestling is back” when something cool happens. I’m a frequent user of the phrase. This morning, though, I had a different sentiment in mind. It’s more of a question than a phrase. </div><div><br /></div><div>Is AEW back? </div><div><br /></div><div>Many of you are probably retorting that question with more questions. Where did AEW go? Or… how could they be back? Next week’s Tuesday Dynamite taping hasn’t even sold 2,000 tickets yet. Both of these and many more are valid questions to ask. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can’t necessarily answer those questions with an affirming response. I can’t even answer the question that I titled this post with. What I can do, however, is explain the feeling I have coming out of Wrestle Dream and into tonight’s episode of Dynamite live from Stockton, California. </div><div><br /></div><div>When AEW first began, I didn’t miss an episode. I’d say all the way from 2019 to about September of 2022, it was appointment viewing for me. It was something I scheduled my week and day around every Wednesday and sometimes even Fridays for Rampage. There was a buzz. An excitement. A feeling that I hadn’t felt for wrestling since 2013ish. </div><div><br /></div><div>Somewhere along the way, that was lost. I am not going to blame the “Brawl Out” fiasco for it, but that was around the time where things changed for me. The product seemed to lose something following that incident for me. Peak AEW was a year prior, if we are being honest, but 2022 leading into All Out was still far from where it would fall afterward. </div><div><br /></div><div>Since All Out 2022, I would sometimes go weeks without watching Dynamite. It became less of an exciting part of my week and more of a “well, let’s check cagematch to see if any good matches happened”.. and that sucks to say and admit and realize. There’s been good matches in AEW in the past year. Jon Moxley is the best professional wrestler in the world right now and he has killed it at every turn. I sometimes wonder, though, if AEW putting everything on the ace’s back made them lazy. Or maybe they just lost their charm after Brawl Out and Mox, along with a few select others, have been the only ones to be able to maintain it since such a demoralizing moment in the company’s history took place. Not everyone can be the ace, so I get it. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, shit, now that I think about it. Was CM Punk’s petty drama the issue? I’m one of the minority that found a lot of humor and entertainment in the Punk saga. No one brings the realism and controversy to pro wrestling like he does. My only issue is that it never fully paid off. We never got the Kenny match, the Bucks match, the Hanger rematch, the Mox rematch. That’s where the money and momentum were. Instead, we got a broken company split by two brands based off some of the company’s biggest stars not wanting to get over it and work together. Is it Punk’s fault? The Elite’s fault? Tony Khan’s fault? I’m not sure, I’m not backstage, I’m a fan. So I don’t really care to find out, all I know is that it put the product into a weird funk completely. It was already headed there, don’t get me wrong. Things began to grow stale before this moment, but this is what fully spiraled things, in my opinion. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fast forward to this year and All In, the biggest show in company history and one of the largest attended wrestling shows ever takes place. And it’s fine. 80,000 people paid to see it so much how can you complain or critique, but in reality, it wasn’t even a Top 5-10 AEW PPV. The vibes were off and they’d been off for a hot minute. And how much can you expect from a show headlined by a World Title feud showcasing some of the most horrible traits of American sports entertainment. I left that event no more excited about AEW. I left that event saying “well, that happened” and not even caring to watch dynamite the following week. Hook/Perry and Joe/Punk are the only two matches from that show I’ll ever go out of my way to watch again. </div><div><br /></div><div>The following weekend, I traveled with some of my best friends to Chicago for All Out. It was a fun experience as always, and honestly a surprisingly better one than I anticipated. The episode of Collision was whatever, but the All Out event itself felt like a slight step up. I personally attributed that to getting the bullshit out of the main event spotlight and giving it to the two best workers in the company. And maybe that’s also an overarching theme I need to take a closer at, also. None the less, I didn’t leave that event thinking or feeling like we were headed toward better days. I felt like it was a diamond in the rough. The two workhorses of the company getting their deserved main event slot for the International Championship, one of the best of all time bringing even more out of Ricky Starks than CM Punk did, and a mixed undercard with an overrated Takeshita/Omega match and a match that overdelivered in the form of Hobbs/Miro. It seemed about par for the course for post All Out ‘22 AEW. </div><div><br /></div><div>That leads us to this past Sunday’s Wrestle Dream. All Out felt like one of the better AEW PPV’s in a while. The Dynamite’s that followed were once again mostly skipped by me. However, with this Sunday’s Wrestle Dream PPV, a true light began to shine through this darkness. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sure, you had throwaway matches like MJF/The Righteous and the clusterfuck (in a bad way) of a four way tag. But as long as you have the MJF’s (in his current form) and the Young Bucks & Lucha Bros around, their negatives will shine just about as often as the positives, so that’s a risk that has to be taken. The good thing is when you have things like Danielson/ZSJ, Swerve/Hangman, and Christian/Darby. It completely covers up those negatives. Having lowercard bangers like Kingston/Shibata and Stat/Julia definitely help also. I don’t want this to turn into a review of Wrestle Dream because that’s coming later this week once I finish re-watching, but those are my general thoughts. </div><div><br /></div><div>My main point in talking about Wrestle Dream is how elated I felt after the event and in the days leading up to Dynamite tonight, particularly today. The PPV closed with the much talked about debut of Edge, under his real name, Adam Copeland. Copeland saved Sting from an assault by Christian Cage, Nick Wayne, & Luchasaurus. </div><div><br /></div><div>I haven’t been a huge fan of Edge’s return run in WWE aside from the initial monumental moment at the Royal Rumble a few years ago. This is a huge acquisition for AEW, though and in that main event match and closing segment, a true line between good & evil was drawn. Christian Cage delivered one of the best matches of his entire career against Darby Allin and proved himself to possibly be the best thing going in AEW right now. You had the shocking betrayal of Darby at the hands of Nick Wayne and to follow it up with Copeland making his debut to save Sting and come face to face with one of his best friends inside and outside of the ring? Chef’s kiss. Good shit. </div><div><br /></div><div>That’s the stuff that leaves you dying for more. Wrestle Dream felt like a complete company reset outside of the fact that MJF is still World Champion. He doesn’t even feel like it anymore, in fact, the title feels extremely irrelevant which isn’t a good thing. Everything else is just so good right now. </div><div><br /></div><div>All day I’ve been thinking about how excited I am for Dynamite tonight. It reminds me of the 2013 days when Daniel Bryan & The Shield were on their tear of fantastic television and I was chomping at the bit every Monday because I needed to know what was next and on top of it, I knew the matches were gonna deliver. The latter part of that feeling is yet to be determined and this could be just a fleeting thing coming off the buzz of a PPV. </div><div><br /></div><div>Despite that, I needed to get these words out and document these feelings. I think Wrestle Dream set into motion a lot of new stories and character arches. Outside of the main event stuff, Swerve and Hangman in particular have me super intrigued. Not to mention what’s next for Bryan Danielson. Hell, even Ricky Starks and Wheeler Yuta made the absolute most of their time and I’m itching for what’s next for them both as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>A lot of people have stepped up recently and it’s showing in the overall vibe of the company. I just hope AEW can stick to it, accentuate and become what it at it’s core can be when they channel their energy in the right direction - the best pro wrestling company in the modern history of the business. Don’t get me wrong, I am no AEW apologist. I will give them just as much as raw honesty as I give the fed when it’s warranted. They stray far from the path sometimes and some consistency would be nice, but when this company is on, there’s nothing better and the best could be yet to come if we have more nights and stories like this past Sunday. </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe this is what Tony Khan meant by it being a new era.. I sure fucking hope so. </div><div><br /></div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-12404753897448098922023-09-21T18:15:00.000-04:002023-09-21T18:15:01.795-04:00Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Unforgiven Review - September 21st, 2003<b>WWE Unforgiven </b><div><b>September 21st, 2003</b></div><div><b>Hershey, PA</b></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>World Heavyweight Champion: </b><i>Triple H (since 12/15/02)</i></div><div><div><b>Intercontinental Champion: </b><i>Christian (since 8/10/03)</i></div><div><div><b>World Tag Team Champions: </b><i>La Resistance (since 6/15/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Women's Champion: </b><i>Molly Holly (since 7/28/03)</i></div></div></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-I6v9bKwVPBGCQFGcqrXXlV8CoC3EQ7SJpg_mL6QZMvi73kBkTDiE5i6KgVib2-7S35iefRZcNKzQ7GeLAqBWiZUuGhxBFWVINlUjgQcc6Ro7AO2h0jC187OVHjRk6CtZOY4e_rsa9ZaV9-SdXVeOfB_o0z2CP3PAF7ScdUj0FW8Twefgx_ajs0VDZ69/s1920/goldb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-I6v9bKwVPBGCQFGcqrXXlV8CoC3EQ7SJpg_mL6QZMvi73kBkTDiE5i6KgVib2-7S35iefRZcNKzQ7GeLAqBWiZUuGhxBFWVINlUjgQcc6Ro7AO2h0jC187OVHjRk6CtZOY4e_rsa9ZaV9-SdXVeOfB_o0z2CP3PAF7ScdUj0FW8Twefgx_ajs0VDZ69/s320/goldb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><b>Commentators -<i> Jim Ross & Jerry “The King” Lawler</i></b><i> </i></div><div><br /></div><div>Video package hyping H/Goldberg airs. They make sure to show Bret Hart when H says a line about watching Goldberg in WCW beating a “bunch of nobodies.”</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>1) La Resistance (Rene Dupree, Rob Conway, & Sylvan Grenier) (c) vs. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) - Tables Match for the World Tag Team Titles</b></div><div><br /></div><div>To win this, you have to put every member of the opposing team through a table. This was a decent little opener and went probably about how you’d expect. D-Von goes through a table a few minutes in and Bubba fights from underneath. Somewhere in here, Bubba throws some randomly sick overhand chops while fighting up. D-Von recovers and he & Bubba put every member of La Resistance through tables to become the new World Tag Team Champions. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Video package highlighting the Test/Stacy/Steiner saga. This feud has sucked but the video pack with “Suffocate” by Cold as the soundtrack was HARD and nostalgic af. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2) Test vs. Scott Steiner - Winner gets Stacy Keibler </b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“When you go to Hooters, do you get takeout?” -Jerry Lawler </i></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>I ignored the first portion of this, and I looked up and Test has Steiner in a rest hold. I don’t know why that’s funny to me. Then Stacy yells “cmon Scott” and that’s even more funny to me. Maybe I’m an idiot. Anyways Stacy tries to distract Test and ends up hitting Scott with a chair by accident which leads to Test pinning Steiner and per the stipulation that I forgot about.. Test now has Steiner’s services AND Stacy’s. What does that mean? I have no fucking idea but I want this shit to be over with.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - 1/2*</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Trish Stratus’s 100% Stratusfaction available THIS TUESDAY at FYE ~~|</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton (w/ Ric Flair)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is Orton’s first big PPV match. He dropped Moolah with an RKO in her hometown a few weeks prior and has been calling himself the legend killer ever since. He’s told HBK that he’s gonna use him as a stepping stone, HBK has said he better step hard and put a slinging slap in Orton’s face as a warning. Here we go! They start slow and it’s honestly a blast but I love slow starts. There’s definitely signs of Orton being green here, but there’s also moments where you see what he’s going to become. The crowd wasn’t too into the early portions, but once things get going they come alive. It just felt like this was missing something even when it picked up, though. Shawn goes for sweet chin music and Orton reverses into an RKO in a sick spot. Flair is losing his mind at ringside when Shawn kicks out of it which makes up for how annoyed I was that they had Shawn kick out of it. Flair is just so god damn good in every role he’s in, sucks he’s a piece of shit. Shawn fights back and hits an awesome superkick that destroys Orton. This gets him the three count but Flair discreetly puts Orton’s foot on the rope and the ref thinks he missed something so they restart the match. Orton gets slipped some brass knuckles and that’s all she wrote, lmao. I think I loved that finish as fucked as it was. And yeah, after seeing the replays and how they pulled it off, I loved that finish.. it is confirmed. Orton’s career and run as a scumbag begins. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **3/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, La Resistance & Rene Dupree are in the training room recovering. Chris Jericho walks in and says someone has to stop the bullshit Stone Cold has been causing and it’s gonna be him. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) Molly Holly & Gail Kim vs. Trish Stratus & Lita</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This happens and is fine, but largely just routine stuff and doesn’t go long enough to amount to anything. Lita gets the hot tag and gets the pin on Molly. To be completely honest, I forgot to write anything about this initially. Oops. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Match rating - *3/4</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>5) Shane McMahon vs. Kane </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is honestly one of the worst Shane matches. It’s just a stunt fest as usual, but the pacing sucks and I largely didn’t give a fuck even after weeks of watching Kane set people on fire and electrocute Shane by the balls. They certainly do some crazy shit though, I guess. Shane misses a dive off the set, eats shit and loses to shirtless Kane. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - *3/4</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>6) Christian (c) vs. Chris Jericho vs. Rob Van Dam - Intercontinental Championship Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>They sure tried here. I don’t know what it was, but something was missing. Maybe it’s because the crowd was dead as all of fuck until they did the electric chair powerbomb spot. I dunno. Christian gets his mouth busted open, but manages to still sneak the victory out to retain the title with a roll up on Van Dam. There was still some good stuff in here, though so much so that it’s probably one of the better things on this show. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Triple H gets interviewed and says he doesn’t believe in fairytales and tonight he’s going to end Goldberg’s story book career. ITS TIME TO PLAY THE GAME. Whatever. I don’t give a fuck about either one of y’all. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>7) Jonathan Coachman & Al Snow vs. Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The video package for this plays and god damn this show just keeps getting worse. Why do I do this to myself? There’s no commentary on this and it’s just not a good time at all. Jericho runs down and helps Coach pin JR. Wonderful television, bud. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - fuck the hell off </b></div><div><br /></div><div>JR has his head in his hands laying in the ring after the match. Guess tomorrow on Raw is gonna be extra miserable with Coach & Snow on commentary god fucking help me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Goldberg/H video package airs and they cut to JR & King at the table talking about their loss. JR sells the fuck out of this next match being the last one they ever call and god damn if I didn’t BELIEVE for a minute. JR says LETS MAKE THIS THE BEST SON OF A BITCH WE EVER CALLED. LETS MOTHERFUCKING GO.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>8) Triple H (c) vs. Goldberg - World Heavyweight Title Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“Folks, this is nut cutting time.” -Jim Ross</i></div><div><br /></div><div>If Goldberg loses, he’s gone forever from the fed. That pretty much told you where this match was headed. It’s much better than their first match, but still not great.. just scraping the surface of good.. more on the level of “fine” and “not too offensive”.. H breaks the blade out and bleeds for the berg. Goldberg survives a sledgehammer shot and all and jackhammers H to pin him and win the title. Goldberg manages to not fully shit the bed in a match longer than 5 minutes so I’d say that’s a massive W. The commentary made this feel big, too. So yeah. Fine main event on an otherwise terrible show. Goldberg celebrates with the title to close the show. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“THE GOLDBERG ERA HAS BEGUN..” -Jim Ross </i></div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-66506039159695909302023-09-21T04:19:00.005-04:002023-09-21T04:19:48.939-04:00Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Smackdown Review - September 18th, 2003<b>WWE Smackdown </b><div><b>September 18th, 2003</b></div><div><b>Raleigh, North Carolina - NC State University </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>WWE Champion: </b><i>Kurt Angle (since 7/27/03)</i></div><div><div><div><b>WWE United States Champion: </b><i>Eddie Guerrero (since 7/27/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Tag Team Champions:</b><i><b> </b>Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (since 7/3/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Rey Mysterio (since 6/5/03)</i></div></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqA7u6WXYEhWpQvoY8TpEpLM2uleTDEwCHGGwU_5Xrf1__NGU7ER0HfWy6IfkOuKxQKxPN4DIkO7S2ble1qVdR6GyxhP7RJEUXLLSe01LXS-RGK0pNquf-C3Y2z5YyiAI1LMmPSLFE8alWQ8AWaDR9MC5Panm34oE5Xk0BUElgX3VK6rJsfazji4GQZ1Z/s512/sd9_18-03%20taleee.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="512" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqA7u6WXYEhWpQvoY8TpEpLM2uleTDEwCHGGwU_5Xrf1__NGU7ER0HfWy6IfkOuKxQKxPN4DIkO7S2ble1qVdR6GyxhP7RJEUXLLSe01LXS-RGK0pNquf-C3Y2z5YyiAI1LMmPSLFE8alWQ8AWaDR9MC5Panm34oE5Xk0BUElgX3VK6rJsfazji4GQZ1Z/s320/sd9_18-03%20taleee.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The show begins with Mr. McMahon hyping up the iron man match main event. He is interrupted by The Undertaker. Taker says he knows that Vince orchestrated the interference in his title match, but he isn't gonna mess up the title match tonight. He just wants Vince to know that he doesn't forget... or forgive. Take says he respects the title, but not Vince himself.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) Chris Benoit & Rey Mysterio vs. Tajiri & Rhyno </b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEjjEUVLoYTSdHSudqX5U0QYqa94xlM1twIhgNHOfH5LCMHy6QwLc5miEhGwdlR4cHTpcs2DAAZGceIcV8FKbRZNvBBWwaNpH4xEThhyLPiMi6gspstdzc4AgaB_ODQgxMfkCTUVikAva5gYLdTdJnbXqxZD_78SXnMdvIx-2Lt4gEETqs_6XEsGr860Y/s512/sds9_18_0311.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="512" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEjjEUVLoYTSdHSudqX5U0QYqa94xlM1twIhgNHOfH5LCMHy6QwLc5miEhGwdlR4cHTpcs2DAAZGceIcV8FKbRZNvBBWwaNpH4xEThhyLPiMi6gspstdzc4AgaB_ODQgxMfkCTUVikAva5gYLdTdJnbXqxZD_78SXnMdvIx-2Lt4gEETqs_6XEsGr860Y/s320/sds9_18_0311.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>This absolutely rocked. 5 minutes or whatever and not a moment wasted. Everything crisp and does its job to hype Rey/Tajiri for next week more and also touch on the bad blood between Benoit & Rhyno. I would watch this go 10-15 any day of the week. Benoit & Mysterio get the win and leave the heels reeling. Perfect little opener, I just wanted a little more time. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>TONIGHT:</b> Los Guerreros defend the Tag Team Titles against Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin </div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, it’s Stephanie, Big Show, Vince, and Sable. Vince is shocked Steph didn't quit last week, but he's not gonna fire her, he's just gonna make it even more rough on her since she wants to play it this way.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>“From the GQ cover guy to the Playboy cover girl…” -Michael Cole’s transition from promoting The Rock on the cover of GQ to the following match </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>2) Torrie Wilson & Nidia (w/ Dawn Marie) vs. Shaniqua (w/ The Basham Brothers) </b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqogm9bFuZB04-rZIISTcbt9bA08EzZ1liaFKsmJNE0pZ-mCLnrrr3D5_-buCTuH8TOrk6giIfPLP9S30IoejRG3NvB-6ljS2g-NUYK1t_RE_Q2dUonCubbrQ_NuIe3SQxeZiPe-HPm0SMdb8uUzabbuO-o1-SE514RMZ-4I3AaVRmiY5A_ckgTig6hLkO/s512/sd9_18_322.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="512" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqogm9bFuZB04-rZIISTcbt9bA08EzZ1liaFKsmJNE0pZ-mCLnrrr3D5_-buCTuH8TOrk6giIfPLP9S30IoejRG3NvB-6ljS2g-NUYK1t_RE_Q2dUonCubbrQ_NuIe3SQxeZiPe-HPm0SMdb8uUzabbuO-o1-SE514RMZ-4I3AaVRmiY5A_ckgTig6hLkO/s320/sd9_18_322.gif" width="320" /></a></div></div><div>Another Shaniqua squash. She even destroys Dawn too after the match. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (c) vs. Eddie & Chavo Guerrero - WWE Tag Team Title Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>The review I had written this for match mysteriously disappeared so just enjoy my rating and know that it was really fucking good :) .. Los Guerreros win the straps too!!! YEAH!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***3/4</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlQrXM2EBByHuUif0KPyzY3DKyWa3rof-VdwOFZTBS2gyRi9xzrfQLDPc7nmahERwZzNt9CTyfUxW8LjmCnaZ94YhFlW1b1swukUF8w9QIrwUw1BnSjKFfFNSMuJ7_HYVl5XQ4JoZn1OuFFVaE3An_k6XwVOIPE8Layv05Y1CG_9DYrnT9_uPcmpI2Emv/s512/sd9_18pok.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="512" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlQrXM2EBByHuUif0KPyzY3DKyWa3rof-VdwOFZTBS2gyRi9xzrfQLDPc7nmahERwZzNt9CTyfUxW8LjmCnaZ94YhFlW1b1swukUF8w9QIrwUw1BnSjKFfFNSMuJ7_HYVl5XQ4JoZn1OuFFVaE3An_k6XwVOIPE8Layv05Y1CG_9DYrnT9_uPcmpI2Emv/s320/sd9_18pok.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>MEANWHILEE.... IT'S POKER TIME BACKSTAGE BEFORE DA MAIN EVENT<br /><b><br /></b></div><div><b>4) Kurt Angle (c) vs. Brock Lesnar - 60 Minute Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOXYEJB5VHiRw62b4m3F1jm44zxG0HJs-X-e_aFpbqbJS9ojAdDyRaJkdlHUfsL-LuxJA6r94a_Atn7o0a0oufvl3EiO8GVGP0iKRiBVe5PCVsvGMMl3fmKCd5wI5yWj7zgRMnPu3Dl_4Efai7I6k-Cu1zxYQ1HFhEfOS1lypuO-Z-cicl6WX8L_HRpuu/s512/sd9_18iron.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="512" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOXYEJB5VHiRw62b4m3F1jm44zxG0HJs-X-e_aFpbqbJS9ojAdDyRaJkdlHUfsL-LuxJA6r94a_Atn7o0a0oufvl3EiO8GVGP0iKRiBVe5PCVsvGMMl3fmKCd5wI5yWj7zgRMnPu3Dl_4Efai7I6k-Cu1zxYQ1HFhEfOS1lypuO-Z-cicl6WX8L_HRpuu/s320/sd9_18iron.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div>I have seen this match a handful of times. I loved it on first watch probably a decade ago. I watched it again a few years ago and I thought it was good, but not above a 4 star effort. I think my tastes are much different and more refined now, so I think my take on it in this moment will stand the test of time. Things can change, though. But as of this writing.. I fucking loved this match. Brock's dominance and control and the entire way he paced this match was just brilliant. You do see some of Kurt's flaws here in minor ways. Nothing big enough to hinder the match to a detrimental extent, and nothing Brock's strengths couldn't hide and make you forget. This is an all time Brock performance and one that everyone should see. Just absolutely phenomenal when on top and also when selling Kurt's comebacks. Kurt's selling is hit or miss as always, but he does a decently better job than you may expect. They made 60 minutes fly by and put Kurt down multiple falls due to some ref bumps and Brock blatantly cheating. Everything works, though. Somehow, it all fucking works and never drags or feels overbooked. I can't quite explain it and don't wanna try to break this down too much and over explain. I just know this was a ride. And that's what a match like this HAS to be. You can't run an exhibition for 60 minutes, you have to work these style of matches a certain way and god damn if they didn't lay out a phenomenal blue print for iron man matches to come. Kurt fighting from under almost the entire time and still coming up short at the end made the last stretch of this a fucking nail biter. At the end of this, I was still wanting more. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ****1/2</b></div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-24374704408640845222023-09-21T04:05:00.004-04:002023-09-21T04:05:39.666-04:00Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Monday Night Raw Review - September 15th, 2003<b>WWE Monday Night Raw </b><div><b>September 15th, 2003</b></div><div><b>University of South Carolina - Columbia, South Carolina</b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>WE IN MY HOMETOWN TONIGHT BABY. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div><b>World Heavyweight Champion: </b><i>Triple H (since 12/15/02)</i></div><div><div><b>Intercontinental Champion: </b><i>Christian (since 8/10/03)</i></div><div><div><b>World Tag Team Champions: </b><i>La Resistance (since 6/15/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Women's Champion: </b><i>Molly Holly (since 7/28/03)</i></div></div></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTW22JFVp6eEx0FsEpuem3EcXGnGo3HM5gEH1AL6H7EX5hCo6UxyE3MiE-1LxEpln7zZmh1zWO6q8NdvrMGWgJ-yor2SLYijkw5oEj-RSnRXO6QQuM6rwMb7yn1qEK9Ou_cUv8eLlk0wnbamkqSSp8b2ORQvXcks4cEwjQyT1v0iQlI70xIvcyFYPusSga/s512/raw9_15-03mainn.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="512" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTW22JFVp6eEx0FsEpuem3EcXGnGo3HM5gEH1AL6H7EX5hCo6UxyE3MiE-1LxEpln7zZmh1zWO6q8NdvrMGWgJ-yor2SLYijkw5oEj-RSnRXO6QQuM6rwMb7yn1qEK9Ou_cUv8eLlk0wnbamkqSSp8b2ORQvXcks4cEwjQyT1v0iQlI70xIvcyFYPusSga/s320/raw9_15-03mainn.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The broadcast opens with Triple H walking backstage with his title over his shoulder. He runs into Eric Bischoff. Bischoff reminds H how much he supports him and knows he will win on Sunday. H says he needs one more favor from Bischoff.. he wants to throw a going away party for Goldberg tonight. Eric asks what they’re gonna do if Goldberg shows up, H says “…invite him to the party” as he smirks and walks off. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>TONIGHT:</b> Last Man Standing Contract Signing between Kane & Shane McMahon </div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Chris Jericho and Christian are in the ring on strike to start the show after pyro and shit. They have signs that say “fire Steve Austin” and “Austin is unfair.” They bitch about Austin assaulting Jericho last week. Austin comes out and the crowd goes nuts per usual. He says he only attacked Jericho because he disrespected him and right now they’re holding up the show and they need an asswhooping again. Austin can’t touch them if he isn’t physically provoked and he tries to get them to punch him, but neither will. Austin says Christian will have an IC Title defense at Unforgiven. Jericho wants that title shot, but Austin says he can only have it if he wins the next match. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Jericho - #1 Contender’s Match for the IC Title </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Christian tries to attack Van Dam, but gets kicked down. Van Dam then dives onto both Jericho & Christian to send us to commercial. Good shit. This match rocks while it lasts. Christian runs down and cracks them both with the title and causes a Double DQ so Austin makes the match at Unforgiven a triple threat for the title. BY GOD. This was a fun ass sprint tho.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>We are seeing Goldberg highlights throughout the night apparently. They show a WCW Nitro one after this match. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) Spike Dudley (w/ Bubba Ray & D-Von) vs. Rob Conway (w/ La Resistance) </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Spike is in a neck brace after that infamous incident from last week where Spike got thrown over the top rope and La Resistance missed the table. The Dudleys and La Resistance brawl through the crowd as the match gets started. Conway makes quick work of him and then gets a table and brings it in the ring. These two trios battle in a tables match at Unforgiven. Conway powerbombs Spike through the table and doesn’t miss! Good job, buddy. The Dudleyz run back in from the crowd, but they’re too late. Great moment here where Bubba is checking on Spike and yells “IM SORRY SPIKE, DAMMIT!” </div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Al Snow & Coach tell Bischoff they won’t let him down at Unforgiven against JR & King. They apparently have something planned for them later tonight. Bischoff has to go attend the Kane/Shane contract signing, but he’s handed a note that says there’s two half naked women waiting for him in his office… </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3v3fT1hbHu-cOvKHu5kCeGEw03Eca1jbfxWdjSHpp5WL3I4Zu7Kn4KEBZBah3a_SO0I5Gg1uz7kgotyxwKcKnv0yJT9hYawgSmsmtsPY58u4GYBiV3NfI2mWfVBidaDoxSTJnSnbqs4G9Uflrg7rtKDzTfFC-Po-5JFSQ45akcNQdb2kmB3QOf5RaMxn/s512/raw9_15_032.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="512" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3v3fT1hbHu-cOvKHu5kCeGEw03Eca1jbfxWdjSHpp5WL3I4Zu7Kn4KEBZBah3a_SO0I5Gg1uz7kgotyxwKcKnv0yJT9hYawgSmsmtsPY58u4GYBiV3NfI2mWfVBidaDoxSTJnSnbqs4G9Uflrg7rtKDzTfFC-Po-5JFSQ45akcNQdb2kmB3QOf5RaMxn/s320/raw9_15_032.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Back from commercial, Bischoff walks into his office and it’s… Mae Young and Moolah hahahaha. It’s Moolah’s birthday and she wants a match in her hometown. Bischoff says “well happy damn birthday and who the hell sent you here?” Stone Cold walks up and tells Eric to give her a kiss. He refuses so Mae Young gives him one, lmao. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Victoria vs. The Fabulous Moolah (w/ Mae Young) </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Victoria gets distracted by Mae Young on the apron and Moolah rolls her up only a few seconds in. Victoria snaps after the bell and lays rights on Moolah. Randy Orton comes out to stop it? He says Moolah is a legend and he heard many stories about her from his dad and granddad. Orton says it’s her 80th birthday and she doesn’t deserve this. He introduces himself to her as Randy Orton… Legend Killer. RKO TO MOOLAH HOLY FUCKKKKK. Epic moment. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHs0W4ED2A-SI3fEG9pkgCbxAlBMxR4eain0TjZ-jvvLjeR0xbwaaJA-cph7xv6xUt_athJd-0pBbwDU6l7IAEqJyAveA3gv4q5-mDCrhhGA1qNhnXKJfP1_YjRT9Fn3g-R3SWj3WO6JThST-pZgzQiTjs-pqSjOAVXSqgZVshnSHLm0G3HY2o59BR_Ap/s512/randyortonlegendklaa.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="512" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHs0W4ED2A-SI3fEG9pkgCbxAlBMxR4eain0TjZ-jvvLjeR0xbwaaJA-cph7xv6xUt_athJd-0pBbwDU6l7IAEqJyAveA3gv4q5-mDCrhhGA1qNhnXKJfP1_YjRT9Fn3g-R3SWj3WO6JThST-pZgzQiTjs-pqSjOAVXSqgZVshnSHLm0G3HY2o59BR_Ap/s320/randyortonlegendklaa.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Next Goldberg moment is from Road Wild ‘98 when he slammed The Giant. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) Goldust & Lance Storm vs. Rodney Mack & Mark Henry (w/ Theodore Long) </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Rodney Mack & Lance begin. Henry strikes Storm from the apron. Goldust gets in and Henry finishes him with the World’s Strongest Slam. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - *1/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>In the hall, Flair & H congratulate Orton on RKO’ing Moolah. They’re headed to get ready for Goldberg’s going away party. Orton says he has to take care of some stuff first. As he walks off, he runs into Maven and they staredown. Then he runs into his opponent for Sunday, Shawn Michaels. Orton says he’s gonna use him as a stepping stone on Sunday. HBK slaps the shit out of him and says if he’s gonna use him as a stepping stone.. he better step hard. </div><div><br /></div><div>Outside of the arena, Rosey calls a cab for himself.. the S.H.I.T. (Super hero in training) meanwhile, Terri prances out to interview Molly Holly and Gail Kim. Molly says she & Gail have a handicap match with Trish later tonight. </div><div><br /></div><div>It’s time for the contract signing between Shane McMahon and Kane now. Bischoff is out first with Kane. Shane comes out and it ain’t long before it all breaks down as we expect. Chair shots to Kane and Shane starts cleaning off the announce table. He lines Kane up and climbs to the top turnbuckle for a god damnFLYING WLBOW THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE TABLE ON KANE. Awesome spot. JR sells that it’s gonna take that and more to keep Kane down for 10 at Unforgiven. As Shane is walking off, Kane sits up and stands back in the ring and stares Shane down. Gooood shit. Shane looks flabbergasted. </div><div><br /></div><div>Goldberg moment #3 for the night is from Backlash last April where he defeated The Rock. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>5) Trish Stratus vs. Gail Kim & Molly Holly</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This happens and Trish is great fighting from underneath so it’s awesome. It leads to something even more awesome in the form of the return of Lita who makes the save for Trish and the place goes fucking nuts. I wish I would’ve been there to experience this. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jonathan Coachman and Al Snow come out next dressed as JR and Jerry Lawler. Jim Ross utters the amazing words…</div><div><br /></div><div><i>“There’s two wild asses for you.” </i></div><div><br /></div><div>Before going on a tangent about beating their ass on Sunday at Unforgiven. Coach & Snow pick up the headset from the Spanish announce table and someone in the back cuts off JR & King’s mics. Coach & Snow say they’re gonna give everyone a preview of what it’s gonna be like when they take JR & King’s jobs after Sunday. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>6) Test (w/ Stacy Keibler) vs. Val Venis </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Test verbally abuses Stacy and makes her sit in a chair at ringside. This goes maybe 2 minutes and Val wins.</div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, Jerry Lawler storms down and challenges Al Snow to a match. Coach joins JR up at the original commentary booth.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>7) Jerry Lawler vs. Al Snow </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is what it is. It’s only a minute or two and Lawler gets the win while JR & Coach are bickering on commentary which was admittedly hilarious. JR says he can’t wrestle BUT HES GONNA FIGHT ON SUNDAY. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMINr18CcQBmKcsmqG0QNu8QCnSVFlFIzVFTuWyl_RjQo7oWDJRG3ZkffFp6nMClACccQmNmffSy6uHjOKxLuZehabFn64uhjIQhr3W2MSPx_oAiI220ea124wq8MMd21VGk7I-kOGp7yOHRiH66JXlX1c8CtwrrbfTDALChF0BFzytdgaDgFLWzFluxTM/s536/raw9_15_031.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="536" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMINr18CcQBmKcsmqG0QNu8QCnSVFlFIzVFTuWyl_RjQo7oWDJRG3ZkffFp6nMClACccQmNmffSy6uHjOKxLuZehabFn64uhjIQhr3W2MSPx_oAiI220ea124wq8MMd21VGk7I-kOGp7yOHRiH66JXlX1c8CtwrrbfTDALChF0BFzytdgaDgFLWzFluxTM/s320/raw9_15_031.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The show closes with World Heavyweight Champion Triple H coming to the ring for a celebration for Goldberg. CELEBRATION. Celebrating the end of Goldberg's career that he professes will come this Sunday at Unforgiven. H has a big portrait in the ring of Evolution holding up Golberg's bloody carcass last week and says we have seen the end of Goldberg. This brings out the man himself and he press slams H and H fleas from the ring. BUT THERE AIN'T NO RUNNING ON SUNDAY KING!!!</div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-38428271481303497942023-09-21T03:53:00.005-04:002023-09-21T03:53:53.135-04:00Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Smackdown Review - September 11th, 2003<b>WWE Smackdown </b><div><b>September 11th, 2003 </b></div><div><b>Birmingham, Alabama </b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“SMACKDOWN HAS COME TO THE DEEP SOUTH…”</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div><b>WWE Champion: </b><i>Kurt Angle (since 7/27/03)</i></div><div><div><b>WWE United States Champion: </b><i>Eddie Guerrero (since 7/27/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Tag Team Champions:</b><i><b> </b>Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (since 7/3/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Rey Mysterio (since 6/5/03)</i></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>TONIGHT:</b> John Cena vs. Eddie Guerrero in a Parking Lot Brawl plus Chris Benoit vs. Rhyno</div><div><br /></div><div>In the parking lot, they’re setting up the garage for the Parking Lot Brawl later on. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman vs. Tajiri & Nunzio </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Golden era Rey continues. This is just a load of fun. It’s all about Tajiri looking strong as he gets the pin on Rey in this super short sprint. After the bell, he smashes Rey with the belt for good measure. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudDilKVQdXApuRH1fgFj4zYSh_F74AYTry_cbroUg0QL9Oo30sy5Zs7WeufrtbkMNHpm5ybJkxBhDKJDdY85jYRmz_f7kVkXe49HjcBfamtWN4iS_-r-hyUfKf7JGZolTaa0nHr9U0y7B1uW3eO0Hi0qHwUuw3SwJ7-toasNe03hTJifACH-tBO3wGdkw/s536/sd9_11_034.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="536" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudDilKVQdXApuRH1fgFj4zYSh_F74AYTry_cbroUg0QL9Oo30sy5Zs7WeufrtbkMNHpm5ybJkxBhDKJDdY85jYRmz_f7kVkXe49HjcBfamtWN4iS_-r-hyUfKf7JGZolTaa0nHr9U0y7B1uW3eO0Hi0qHwUuw3SwJ7-toasNe03hTJifACH-tBO3wGdkw/s320/sd9_11_034.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In Vince’s office, he’s sitting with Sable. Big Show is behind them tearing up a magazine. Vince is on the phone about to send the family of Zach Gowen some flowers. Steph walks in and asks if he’s proud of himself for what he did last week. Vince says he’s not responsible for what Brock did to Gowen and Steph refuses to believe him. Steph says Brock deserves to be in JAIL. And up walks Brock behind her. Brock wants a warmup match for his Iron Man with Kurt next week. He suggests a handicap match against Kurt Angle, The Undertaker, & Zach Gowen. None of them are here tonight. Brock says he still needs a fight, but everyone in the room he’s wrestled already… except Stephanie. Vince says that’s a money match, but he gives Steph an option.. face Brock or step down as general manager. What the FUCK lmao. </div><div><br /></div><div>Torrie Wilson & Nidia walk up to Dawn Marie backstage about her match with Shaniqua coming up. Nidia says “it’s suicide, baby”.. but Dawn says she has to stop her tonight. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) Shaniqua vs. Dawn Marie </b></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>This doesn’t go long before Torrie Wilson and Nidia run down to save Dawn from getting completely destroyed by Shaniqua. Cole sells the hell out of it on commentary. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial, Sable walks up on Stephanie McMahon contemplating her decision for later. Give up her job or face Brock Lesnar. Sable says she supports Steph’s decision either way but if she does quit she’s sure Vince will find SOOOMEONE very suitable to take her spot. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Next week:</b> 60 Minute Iron Man Match between Brock Lesnar & Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship </div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Chris Benoit vs. Rhyno </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This was a fucking scrap man. So much better than the majority of stuff recently. Benoit gets a bloody mouth. Albert runs down and slams Benoit into the post behind the ref’s back, but it only gets Rhyno a two count. So Benoit is fighting from underneath for most of this and the struggle rules. Back and forth stiff shit, some sharpshooter spots. Benoit overcomes and wins when all is said and done. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***1/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, the APA is playing poker with Matt Hardy a bunch of others. They toast to the people who stood up for America two years ago today. Meanwhile.. John Cena is in the parking garage talking to the ref about the rules of the parking lot brawl. Amazing classic little segment. That match is next. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>“He’s gonna butcher me? He can’t even beat his own meat right.” -John Cena</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. John Cena - Parking Lot Brawl for the United States Championship </b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOqpgSciYnsGsg47HVsTaeE2IyDdhE93z7Pn_c8q-NZq4ZU9iTTID75xg50-7UGyhTvrGfR_djcyNe6DaqviW0sDscnTvwKua8vqIfOgeQclDRx2mQ9cV_NVIfUUKiqndmdd4WNFtb4CxuYDGaX0l2aXS-7LInfFcZvDmhkvQf3eYG4jF8McBDP1Xc-Ur/s536/sd9_11_03.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="536" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOqpgSciYnsGsg47HVsTaeE2IyDdhE93z7Pn_c8q-NZq4ZU9iTTID75xg50-7UGyhTvrGfR_djcyNe6DaqviW0sDscnTvwKua8vqIfOgeQclDRx2mQ9cV_NVIfUUKiqndmdd4WNFtb4CxuYDGaX0l2aXS-7LInfFcZvDmhkvQf3eYG4jF8McBDP1Xc-Ur/s320/sd9_11_03.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a classic. Cars circle the two men and there’s some talent standing around cheering and chanting as well. They do a lot of awesome spots. This is nostalgic and reminds me of playing this stipulation in the Smackdown vs. Raw video game back in the day. Great match. Eddie wins to retain the title with some help from Chavo and a frog splash off the top of one car onto Cena on the hood of another car. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***3/4</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>5) The APA (Bradshaw & Ron Simmons) vs. Matt Hardy & Shannon Moore </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is just a squash for APA. It’s kind of funny considering they’ve been around in like every backstage segment and the parking lot brawl tonight. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - *1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>They hype the Iron Man Match for next week again. Taz says “BROCK LESNAR IS WIDE OPEN” and a hype video for him airs. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgn8S_Wvn6J1RmNlhbrLxm4meYMvisAzhDKzzzns3REOmycRl_5rYZPxQ_74rmJSrIQfmKyodzcTYSsp0zBytttIAQuBY_BtNIqKVCYCkmViyAQHaF3q_P7dGtVKe8hcgh48a6IYYssGMzdaLYP300cIILDos1IisAzWKc_Mdb-QwyECN56Qk-MkvkfiB8/s536/sd9_11_032.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="536" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgn8S_Wvn6J1RmNlhbrLxm4meYMvisAzhDKzzzns3REOmycRl_5rYZPxQ_74rmJSrIQfmKyodzcTYSsp0zBytttIAQuBY_BtNIqKVCYCkmViyAQHaF3q_P7dGtVKe8hcgh48a6IYYssGMzdaLYP300cIILDos1IisAzWKc_Mdb-QwyECN56Qk-MkvkfiB8/s320/sd9_11_032.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Back from commercial, Mr. McMahon is in the ring and he introduces the next WWE Champion, Brock Lesnar. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>6) Brock Lesnar vs. Stephanie McMahon</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoLHun6FuQv6qeyOIh0Nhwi_nLfn3eWo8gpbGKAucGfckkSAKG10cXfre_n_eKMWiFy1mZG9XueCVdf3RTcEtDDEnC_6M7jvpIpEQVb6Kuwa2Se8VL06KW5YS5TT_X53bpJWZDEXFKi50dvnIzV9Id6t3p1tiNQXgqhDJpH_Zo3wUcec894p_cLNS8Cnd/s536/sd9_11_033.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="536" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoLHun6FuQv6qeyOIh0Nhwi_nLfn3eWo8gpbGKAucGfckkSAKG10cXfre_n_eKMWiFy1mZG9XueCVdf3RTcEtDDEnC_6M7jvpIpEQVb6Kuwa2Se8VL06KW5YS5TT_X53bpJWZDEXFKi50dvnIzV9Id6t3p1tiNQXgqhDJpH_Zo3wUcec894p_cLNS8Cnd/s320/sd9_11_033.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There’s never really a ref and a bell never rings. Vince acts like he didn’t expect Steph to actually come out and thought she would just quit, but the shock turns to him being pissed. He sends Brock after her following a slap from his daughter landing on his face. Steph gets a lowblow and almost escapes, but Brock catches her and tosses her into the barricade. She runs to the back, but Brock brings her back and looks for an F5 on the post like he’s done in the past to Rey Mysterio, BUT KURT ANGLE IS HERE. Angle unloads on Brock and saves Steph. Mr. McMahon tries to interfere, but Angle posts them both and they run up the entrance way. Angle tosses the steps at them as they run off. Angle looks strong heading into his title defense against Brock in the Iron Man Match next week to close the show. </div><div><br /></div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-19648169188184866132023-09-21T03:39:00.007-04:002023-09-21T03:39:53.375-04:00Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Monday Night Raw Review - September 8th, 2003<b>WWE Monday Night Raw</b><div><b>September 8th, 2003</b></div><div><b>Huntsville, Alabama </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><div><b>World Heavyweight Champion: </b><i>Triple H (since 12/15/02)</i></div><div><div><b>Intercontinental Champion: </b><i>Christian (since 8/10/03)</i></div><div><div><b>World Tag Team Champions: </b><i>La Resistance (since 6/15/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Women's Champion: </b><i>Molly Holly (since 7/28/03)</i></div></div></div></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Commentators - </b>Jim Ross & Jerry "The King" Lawler</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhl_JEbXuH1FF1f5Jm17hHhibqLOs5SIRsdg4KK-iGMzzcH5KNAXD30fF0BmBf_RkpBl_T5_ko-qzyF6ges3fpUOyZl1bJOs2VdNDVKMVny3Lf45dFo5_cudUv_X41vsnEoegBpcQcjWZOIJbpbhRHkDqkITrJ1q5CO-T7LMJhUOIBVxTzzJxe-lu-9wG/s1200/golde.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhl_JEbXuH1FF1f5Jm17hHhibqLOs5SIRsdg4KK-iGMzzcH5KNAXD30fF0BmBf_RkpBl_T5_ko-qzyF6ges3fpUOyZl1bJOs2VdNDVKMVny3Lf45dFo5_cudUv_X41vsnEoegBpcQcjWZOIJbpbhRHkDqkITrJ1q5CO-T7LMJhUOIBVxTzzJxe-lu-9wG/s320/golde.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><b>1) Rob Van Dam vs. Kane - Steel Cage Match</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This was a good cage match. Van Dam charges Kane at the bell and mounts an early flurry. Eventually, Kane overpowers him and this becomes just a straight up assault on RVD. Van Dam gets some color and bleeds a bit. This was just an awesome.. almost squash, but moreso just a complete annihilation of Van Dam. Kane chokeslams him off the middle of the top rope off the cage for the win. Cool spot.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2) Rico (w/ Jackie Gayda) vs. Lance Storm (w/ Goldust)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Rico cuts a promo on Storm beforehand and says he’s always gonna be nothing but BOOORING. Storm fires off at him and this match is pretty much about him trying to prove he’s not boring. Storm kisses Jackie on the apron and pins Rico soon after. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - *</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>3) Trish Stratus & Jacqueline vs. Molly Holly & Gail Kim </b></div><div><br /></div><div>“<i>You think Jackie has to have a permit to carry those 38’s?” -Jerry Lawler </i></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>This happens and I can’t lie to ya.. I don’t remember shit about it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Stone Cold Steve Austin is out next. It’s a State of Raw address apparently. There’s a podium in the ring and Austin tosses it out before he starts talking. Austin says that before he gets to the State of Raw, he wants to add a stipulation to the Title vs. Career Match at Unforgiven. Austin says if Triple H gets disqualified or counted out, he loses the title. The crowd cheers and he moves onto the State of Raw and how messed up it is that he can’t whoop a man’s when he sees fit. Christian comes out with his Intercontinetal Title. He wants a talk show of his own since he beat Chris Jericho last week. This brings out Chris Jericho who beats down Christian and then yells at Austin for even considering cancelling the Highlight Reel. Austin said that was never even what he was thinking about and convinces Jericho to calm down and have a beer with him. You know what this leads to.. Austin stuns Jericho and drinks beer while his music plays to end the segment. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) The Hurricane, Rosey, Bubba Ray, D-Von Dudley, & Spike Dudley vs. La Resistance, Rob Conway, Mark Henry, & Rodney Mack </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This match is the definition of fucking broken. Horrible mess of a match. Henry pins Bubba off a worlds strongest slam. After the match, La Resistance throw Spike over the top rope and miss the fucking table so he eats actual shit on the floor. Love to see this dumb shit. Almost like this company needs a performance center, am I right?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - 1/2*</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Eric Bischoff is with Coach and Al Snow. They’re mocking JR and King. Eric makes a tables match for Unforgiven. Gail Kim walks up and seduces Eric for some reason as the cameras fade. </div><div><br /></div><div>JR & King run down the Unforgiven card. Funniest part of this is JR saying “we might just lose our damn jobs at Unforgiven” when they are talking about their tag match with Al Snow & Jonathan Coachman. </div><div><br /></div><div>Shane McMahon is here via satellite for an interview. Shane is riled up talking about that SICK BASTARD Kane. Eric splices himself in and starts poking fun about Shane getting his nuts electrocuted the other week. Eric then announces that it’ll be a Last Man Standing Match between Shane and Kane at Unforgiven. Shane says “SCREW YOU ERIC” and Eric says “no… I just screwed you.” And JR follows it up the only way he can.. “Bischoff is a no good son of a bitch.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Back to the ring for some bullshit.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>5) Scott Steiner vs. Stevie Richards </b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“This is not Stevie Night Heat.” -Jim Ross</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Another waste of time. Steiner wins. Test is at ringside with Stacy whom he just won "possession" of not long ago. And for some reason, they're doing another match between the two that they set up after this match. But this time Test wants to put Steiner's "services" on the line as well. Whatever the fuck that means. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jonathan Coachman and Al Snow hit the ring next. They basically put embarrassing photos of JR up on the tron and try to antagonize him into coming to the ring which he does. Lawler follows him. Coach says this is a man's world and JR is just a yellow coward redneck. JR throws a punch and floors Coach. Snow tries to step in, but Lawler stops him. </div><div><br /></div><div>Goldberg and Triple H come out for their mystery partner tag match. Eric Bischoff introduces Ric Flair as Triple H's partner and... Randy Orton as Goldberg's. Flair, Orton, & H all jump Goldberg and H asks for the steel cage to be lowered down. They beat Goldberg to a bloody pulp and wipe the blood all over the title. H gets down in his face and shows him the bloody title and says it's his and no one is ever taking it from him. Best part of this for me was Goldberg botching the first pedigree attempt and JR howling that he had just been “gut and quartered” at the hands of Triple H.</div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-65517594850702613432023-09-19T21:58:00.003-04:002023-09-19T21:58:32.308-04:00Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Smackdown Review - September 4th, 2003<b>WWE Smackdown </b><div><b>September 4th, 2003</b></div><div><b>New Orleans, Louisana </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>WWE Champion: </b><i>Kurt Angle (since 7/27/03)</i></div><div><div><div><b>WWE United States Champion: </b><i>Eddie Guerrero (since 7/27/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Tag Team Champions:</b><i><b> </b>Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (since 7/3/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Rey Mysterio (since 6/5/03)</i></div></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKESxH5Ny4c-0BrMoivQ33oO5FQAVmrDA01ij6KUQ7R8qaUL4JH2AbsGjBaxsngM8Jm30ilLeEnpUlLqzbIRaw_OqCzi-GM_f3RN7xJl-l_edUeY0mDEfvJcR0YX4UYGfq7eUjbNNT1TcYMYZ_zJk5eCmckPI98Jrj56AO5ui09BdXA341sNTVohDbvsjx/s1280/sd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKESxH5Ny4c-0BrMoivQ33oO5FQAVmrDA01ij6KUQ7R8qaUL4JH2AbsGjBaxsngM8Jm30ilLeEnpUlLqzbIRaw_OqCzi-GM_f3RN7xJl-l_edUeY0mDEfvJcR0YX4UYGfq7eUjbNNT1TcYMYZ_zJk5eCmckPI98Jrj56AO5ui09BdXA341sNTVohDbvsjx/s320/sd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><b>TONIGHT: </b>Kurt Angle defends the WWE Championship against The Undertaker plus The Bourbon Street Bikini Contest </div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) World’s Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas) (c) vs. The APA (Bradshaw & Farooq) - WWE Tag Team Title Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Haas & Benjamin charge the ring and this gets underway as soon as the bell rings. WGTT get Farooq and isolate him from Bradshaw for a minute or two. Bradshaw gets a hot tag and cleans house. Things sort of break down from here and go back & forth for a bit before Benjamin uses the tights on a roll up to pin Bradshaw following a belt shot from Haas behind the ref’s back. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Eddie Guerrero is polishing up his US Title on the hood of his car. A limo pulls up and it’s Big Show, Sable, & Mr. McMahon. Brock Lesnar walks up and asks what the hell is going on because he hasn’t heard from Vince since SummerSlam. Vince says it’s because Brock tapped out. This pisses Brock off and Vince tells him to chill and come to his office so they can talk about it. </div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial, Brock and Vince are arguing again. Vince says he’s disappointed in him because he knows exactly who the hell Brock is. He slaps Brock and it fires him up and he grabs Vince by the shirt. They have this fucking weirdo moment where they’re breathing heavy and Vince keeps repeating “you’re a monster, be a monster.” Perverts. </div><div><br /></div><div>TALE OF THE TAPE for The Undertaker and Kurt Angle for their match later.</div><div><br /></div><div>John Cena comes out. He’s here to brag about his assault on Eddie Guerrero last week. They show clips and all. Eddie comes out and goes after Cena. Cena gets the upperhand by nailing Eddie with his own United States Championship. Cena runs to the parking lot and steals Eddie’s lowrider while he’s down.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial, Eddie storms into Steph’s office because Cena stole his ride. Steph says she can’t do anything tonight, but next week, Eddie can get Cena in any type of match that he wants! Eddie names it.. A LATINO STREET FIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT. We now know this as the infamous parking lot brawl. It happens next week! </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) Chris Benoit vs. A-Train </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Last week, Benoit pinned A-Train, but his foot was underneath the rope so there’s a lot of fire. Train is pissed because he know Benoit can’t beat him. These guys lay it the fuck in like always. It ends in controversy again, though, as Rhyno runs down and tries to spear Benoit, but ends up hitting A-Train instead. Benoit capitalizes and gets the pin. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Video package hyping Taker/Angle. Taker says he knows how to beat Angle and asks if he’s ready to go as far as he is to win. Taker says he is going to show Angle what a submission really is. </div><div><br /></div><div>Earlier today, Nidia and Torrie Wilson are trying on bikinis for the contest that is happening later, I guess? Torrie gets Nidia to put sunscreen on her back and yeah. You know what type of segment this was. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>LATER TONIGHT:</b> Rey Mysterio defends the cruserweight title against Tajiri! </div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, The Big Show is guarding Stephanie McMahon’s office door. She walks up and so does Vince. He says he’s using the office right now to take care of some business. She wants in, but he talks her down and says to give him a few minutes. As she walks away, he reveals that it’s Brock Lesnar who is in there taking care of “some business”. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Kurt Angle (c) vs. The Undertaker - WWE Championship Match</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The commentators and cameramen immediately focus on Taker’s injured wrist. The dynamics of these two’s offensive styles are displayed super well in the first half. They feel each other out, but Taker soon takes control. I like that because Angle can get carried away very easily. This keeps things focused and makes the big moves they start trading after a commercial break mean something. Taker wears Angle down with holds and submissions, but Angle fights back. They trade Angle Slams and chokeslams for nearfalls. Taker hooks Angle in a triangle choke and they do an AWESOME spot where the ref goes to drop Angle’s hand for the third time and it hits the mat, but Angle’s foot makes it to the rope at the same time. They straight up almost had me biting on that being the finish. Back into finishers and shit now, Angle goes for the chokeslam, but Kurt slips out and locks the ankle lock in. Angle is bleeding from the cheek now from something and it’s a great visual. Taker rolls Angle off and THROTTLES HIM FOR ANOTHER CHOKESLAM. Angle has kicked out of this once so Taker puts him for the Last Ride and nails it BUT KOTHERFUCKING BROCK LESNAR WITH A CHAIR. God dammit, Brock. This was good. Awesome performance from Taker. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Lesnar beats the shit out of Taker’s ankle with the chair, but also hits Angle with the chair. Brock don’t give a fuck, ya heard me? Brock kills em both and we go to commercial. He cracks Kurt with the belt to end the segment. </div><div><br /></div><div>During the break, Taker hobbles backstage and collapses in pain due to his ankle. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial, they show highlights from the Bourbon Street Bikini Contest from earlier. I guess this was filmed before the show. </div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Bradshaw has a surprise for Farooq. It’s beer, cigars, and a poker table. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>NEXT WEEK:</b> John Cena vs. Eddie Guerrero in a Parking Lot Brawl</div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Tajiri - Cruserweight Title Match</b></div><div><br /></div><div>These two got a little more time than they normally do and it was awesome to see. Everything they did here was pretty much flawless. Just a perfect exhibition of the style both guys were displaying at the time. Great lucha from Rey, awesome kicks & counters from Tajiri early on. Mysterio locks Tajiri in the tarantula late in the match and a bit later hits the west coast pop to retain the title. Total opposite of the WWE Title match earlier so yeah, this rocked.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***1/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Vince McMahon & The Big Show come to the ring for the final segment of the show. McMahon announces an Iron Man match between Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle for next week for the WWE Championship. Vince then proceeds to introduce the man who he says will win next week.. Brock Lesnar. Lesnar doesn’t come out and cameras pan up to the skybox. Lesnar is up there and he has Zach Gowen with him. Zach is in a wheelchair after all the shit he’s already been put through by Brock. Brock says Zach is in a special wheel chair tonight. It’s a lot faster than most other wheel chairs. Brock says Vince brought a monster out in him when he slapped him and tonight he’s gonna make Zach Gowen regret ever signing a WWE contract once and for all. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cameras pan to another area backstage and Brock has Zach lined up above a staircase. Zach tries to struggle and Brock man handles him. Brock throws him out of the chair and gives him a chance to get up and run. Insane shit from Brock. “What’s the matter? Your leg hurt?” Lmao. After some more taunting, Brock tosses Zach back in the wheel chair and throws him down the steps. Vince looks shocked as we go off the air. Brock laughs while staring at Zach at the bottom of the stairs.</div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-80251800953550650472023-09-16T13:37:00.001-04:002023-09-16T13:37:27.727-04:00Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Monday Night Raw Review - September 1st, 2003<div><b>WWE Monday Night Raw</b></div><div><b>September 1st, 2003</b></div><div><b>Lafayette, Louisiana </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><b>World Heavyweight Champion: </b><i>Triple H (since 12/15/02)</i></div><div><div><b>Intercontinental Champion: </b><i>Christian (since 8/10/03)</i></div><div><div><b>World Tag Team Champions: </b><i>La Resistance (since 6/15/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Women's Champion: </b><i>Molly Holly (since 7/28/03)</i></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDrjg8hXgMYxuMjM28CBRLVvWtUW5BaKmw8eRkJfH1gEyiZfpU4qb3cRhdkskNODsY3figbGwquRpSH9jUD0r5cwovl1xpnkV6RA1AsLks2iKAXj-E8KIxQXSyNDAZwZbPPBj4M5Hqd0RUNUcihBC_n19nMYdQoVfMIzDpqG5mhTLfR0GiwBxQ89P2OLT/s513/TeamGoldbergVsEvolution.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="513" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDrjg8hXgMYxuMjM28CBRLVvWtUW5BaKmw8eRkJfH1gEyiZfpU4qb3cRhdkskNODsY3figbGwquRpSH9jUD0r5cwovl1xpnkV6RA1AsLks2iKAXj-E8KIxQXSyNDAZwZbPPBj4M5Hqd0RUNUcihBC_n19nMYdQoVfMIzDpqG5mhTLfR0GiwBxQ89P2OLT/s320/TeamGoldbergVsEvolution.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Replays of Shane killing Kane via arson last week. Yeah, man. It’s 03 baby. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jerry Lawler is out first for his match with Jonathan Coachman. God help us all. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. Jonathan Coachman</b></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Coach arrives looking like a fucking asshole. Texas Longhorns Jersey, hat backwards and sun shades. They lock up and trade holds for a bit before god damn Al Snow shows up. This is so bizarre. But it is Raw 2003, after all. He jaws at Coach as the match continues saying he’s embarrassing Sunday Night Heat, they are broadcast colleagues on that show. Snow offers to throw in the towel. Coach storms out and SHOWS SOME FIRE. Coach shoves him and says I DONT NEED YOUR HELP I CAN BEAT HIM. Lawler comes out and throws Coach back in and BY GOD AL SNOW ATTACKS LAWLER AND ROLLS HIM IN. COACH WINS HAHAAHAH. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - man, I’m not rating this shit but what a blast </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Terri walks up to Shane McMahon. She asks Shane if he’s concerned that when the fire cleared last week, Kane was nowhere to be found. Shane simply says “I hope that bastard is still burning.” This show is so bad that it’s phenomenal. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial, Al Snow and Coach are hugging and celebrating their victory. Eric Bischoff joins them and up walks STONE COLD BY GOD. Austin asks Coach if he’s proud of himself and says that since he thinks he’s so special, he’s got something just for him. </div><div><br /></div><div>Austin heads toward the ring where the highlight reel is set up. No Jericho in there, though. Austin throws out all the furniture and announces Jonathan Coachman vs. Jim Ross for Unforgiven as well as Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels. Next, he announces a huge trios main event… Orton/H/Flair vs. HBK/Goldberg/Maven. LETS GOOOOO. Chris Jericho comes out to interrupt and he’s soon followed by Christian so Austin makes a match between them next.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) Christian (c) vs. Chris Jericho - Intercontinental Championship Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This was fun! Christian is on a roll with these TV matches lately and Jericho is on point. They both try to outcheat each other to win. Jericho tries to use the ropes, but the ref sees it and Christian reverses and uses the ropes out of the ref’s sight for the win to retain the title.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Triple H/Goldberg hype. H says he’s ready to get his hands on Goldberg because he’s all talk. H says he’s going to end Goldberg at Unforgiven because he’s the KING OF KINGS. Did that originate here? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Trish Stratus & Ivory vs. Gail Kim & Molly Holly</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“Do you think Trish Stratus has a VCR?” -Jerry Lawler </i></div><div><br /></div><div>Ok ladies, go off. This was good and chaotic, but not the sloppy chaotic.. they held this together super well. Insane finishing move by Gail and Holly with this sort of assisted powerbomb thing on Trish off the top fucking turnbuckle. DAMN. The champion and her… friend? get the victory. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Shane O’ Mac walks up on Vince McMahon in the parking lot. He asks why he’s here. Vince says he’s here because he’s concerned for his safety and wants to clear the air between them. Shane says if he’s so concerned, we’ll see how concerned he & everyone else is when he heads to the ring. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial, Shane McMahon hits the ring. He says everyone is spooked that something bad is gonna happen to him so if somethings gonna happen, he wants it to happen right now. He stands around for a minute and nothing happens. Eric Bischoff comes out and echoes the sentiments of everyone else. Shane asks Eric if he didn’t get enough at SummerSlam. Eric threatens to get in the ring and HERE COMES KANE. He attacks Shane and chains him to the ring post. Kane brings out jumper cables and a battery and hooks them to Shane’s dick and starts sparking them off. JESUS H CHRIST. Kane is enjoying this shit and ROB VAN DAM HITS THE RING. Chair shot to Kane, Van Daminator and all oF THAT SHIT. JR goes nuts and calls Van Dam a “badass” as he cleans house. Van Damn starts undoing the handcuffs from Shane and KANE sits up on the floor, but he’s bleeding from the head so he walks off. Fuckin hell. </div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Kane runs up on Eric Bischoff and blames him for what happened so Eric books RVD vs. Kane in a steel cage match for next week on Raw. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) The Hurricane & Rosey vs. La Resistance (Sylvan Grenier & Rene Dupree)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“Why don’t you drag your ass back to Paris and get yourself a JOB?” -Jim Ross</i></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a non title match and Hurricane & Rosey’s first proper one as a team on Raw.. I think? This was fine, but ultimately meant nothing and didn’t last long at all. Rob Conway runs in and cracks Hurricane with one of the tag titles and it allows La Resistance to get the win.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - 1/2*</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, Sylvan Grenier yells for Rene Dupree to get the tables. They start setting one up and here come The Dudley Boys. Bubba & D-Von clean house on La Resistance and put Rob Conway through a table.. sike. I spoke too soon, Grenier & Dupree pull Conway out of the ring before he gets killed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Terri interviews Maven about the biggest match of his YOUNG WWE CAREER later tonight. This segment felt like something straight out of a Smackdown vs. Raw video game. So obviously scripted. From the words to the facial expressions, just inorganic as can be. Ric Flair & Randy Orton walk up and try to psych Maven out. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial, Shawn Michaels walks into Maven’s locker room. Shawn says he knows Evolution got into his head, but tonight they’re gonna have fun and he’s gonna prove everyone wrong. </div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Teddy Long asks Steve Austin why the brothers got kicked off of Raw. Austin says it’s just business and he walks off and runs into Rob Van Dam. Van Dam wants the Steel Cage Match to open Raw next week because he can’t wait two hours to get his hands on that big son of a bitch. Austin agrees. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>5) Victoria & Steven Richards vs. Test & Stacy Keibler - No Disqualification Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This was fucking HORRIBLE. I’m not even gonna say anything about what happens. It’s just hot garbage. Test turns on Stacy again and Scott Steiner comes down.. WHAT FHE FUCK EVER THIS SHIT IS WORTHLESS AND NEVER ENDS. Somehow Stacy ends up on top of Victoria for the pin. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ONE OF THE WORST MATCHES EVER FUCK YOU FOR THIS </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>6) Evolution (Triple H, Ric Flair, & Randy Orton) vs. Goldberg, Shawn Michaels, & Maven </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This was awesome. It isn’t gonna change your life or anything, but just simple great WWE TV trios main event. Maven & Orton start. Michaels ends up being the face in peril. H & Flair do a phenomenal job isolating him from his team and cutting off a ton of hot tag attempts. H taunts Goldberg as he assaults Shawn. Shawn finally gets the tag to Goldberg and the place fucking explodes. Amazing finishing run with Goldberg killing everyone while the rafters rock. LETS FUCKING GO. Jackhammer to Orton for the pin as H looks on from the apron. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Match rating - ***1/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Jim Ross puts Goldberg over heavily post match saying HE IS ONE STEP BY GOD CLOSER TO UNFORGIVEN and winning the World Title from Triple H.</div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-74493599691226271012023-08-24T15:21:00.001-04:002023-08-24T15:21:14.146-04:00WCW Monday Nitro Review - June 24th, 1996<b>WCW Monday Nitro</b><div><b>June 24th, 1996</b></div><div><b>Charlotte, North Carolina </b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>LIVE FROM THE QUEEN CITY OF THE SOUTH </i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><div><b>WCW World Champion: </b><i>The Giant (since 4/29/96)</i></div><div><div><b>WCW US Champion: </b><i>Konnan (since 1/29/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Tag Team Champions: </b><i>Sting & Lex Luger (since 1/22/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW TV Champion: </b><i>Lex Luger (since 3/6/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Dean Malenko (since 5/18/96) </i></div></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzw--4WFUPEnTnzs73IOWmQHrRPbPE24oZS4U3FJKBeFsmx15DvGjfnco4vhRnBmHZKf1K3vvGW-UxV-iainpwYQBmRbyaQpYGeEJS4AVIyhnPTmdrHDERa54Y_mlysk83ZREv0oiUmlzF2Eun132S8xZ4d2yFFCDb7Umywm1tVAQwTli3sMzGJHbNl3f/s768/WCW_Nitro_logo(1995-1999).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="737" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzw--4WFUPEnTnzs73IOWmQHrRPbPE24oZS4U3FJKBeFsmx15DvGjfnco4vhRnBmHZKf1K3vvGW-UxV-iainpwYQBmRbyaQpYGeEJS4AVIyhnPTmdrHDERa54Y_mlysk83ZREv0oiUmlzF2Eun132S8xZ4d2yFFCDb7Umywm1tVAQwTli3sMzGJHbNl3f/s320/WCW_Nitro_logo(1995-1999).png" width="307" /></a></div>Tony Schiavone is on one tonight!! It’s Tony and Larry Zbysko for hour one again. They once again show us Nash & Hall destroying Eric Bischoff at Great American Bash a week ago. Meanwhile, the crowd is chanting “WE WANT FLAIR” — we are in Nature Boy country baby!!!! </div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Mean Gene has Luger, Sting, & Macho Man to talk about conquering The Outsiders and fighting for WCW. Harlem Heat and The Steiner’s interrupt. They basically say they’ll have their backs in fighting for WCW, but tonight they’re taking those tag titles. It’s a triangle match for the WCW Tag Team Championships later on! </div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) Blue Bloods (Lord Steven Regal & Dave Taylor) vs. Public Enemy </b></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>This is an interesting dynamic with the stiff, british style of Regal & Taylor and the brawling of Public Enemy. It only goes a few minutes and Johnny Grunge uses the cast to get the pin on Taylor.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2) Kevin Sullivan (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. Kip Abee</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Sullivan charges the ring and this goes to the crowd IMMEDIATELY and ends up in the stands. Sullivan squashes this man and Jimmy Hart cuts a promo with him afterwards about the tag team match they have against Benoit & Anderson coming up. They’re in horseman country and they just embarrassed a jobber and they’re gonna do the same to Benoit in Daytona Beach in two weeks. </div><div><br /></div><div>GLACIER IS COMING</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Dean Malenko vs. “Hard Work” Bobby Walker</b></div><div><br /></div><div>DEANNNNN. He works over Mr. Walker while Disco Infern i comes out and does his dance and whatever else, distracting from the match. Malenko makes short work of his opponent and Disco comes face to face with him post match and says Dean is boring the crowd so he came out to liven the place up. Dean defends the Cruserweight title against him at Bash at the Beach so that’s what they’re building towards.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) Eddie Guerrero vs. The Barbarian </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Eddie worked his ass off as always and honestly gave Barbarian a hell of a match. Five minutes but a god damn solid five. The finish with Barbarian going for a superplex and Eddie turning it into a crossbody / sorta falling onto him and getting the three count was just brilliant. Why do I wanna see this happen again? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **3/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, Mean Gene interviews Eddie, but it gets cut short which sucks because Eddie is great :( </div><div><br /></div><div><b>5) Chris Benoit & Arn Anderson vs. Rock N Roll Express</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This kicks off Hour Two. It’s a Benoit/Anderson tag so I fucking love it. Just fantastic work. They run the briefcase schtick w Mongo again which gets Benoit & Anderson the cheap victory over RnR. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, Joe Gomez runs down and gets smacked up by the Horsemen and Mongo for even trying to get involved. Officials run down as well as Macho Man to clear the ring.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Mean Gene is with Ric Flair and the girls in a “safe, secure location” and Flair is riled the fuck up. The Horsemen are back. MACHO MAN! KEVIN GREEN! WE’RE LOCKED UP, WE’RE SECURED AND TONIGHT IN CHARLOTTE WE MIX WITH BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE. And here comes Benoit, Anderson and Mongo. Flair tells them to show the camera their rings, everyone is shouting shit as we shift to commercial and Mean Gene has had enough and tells Flair to “GIVE IT A REST!” Amazing. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>6) Alex Wright vs. Diamond Dallas Page</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I love DDP’s music, I cannot lie to ya. And also ALEX WRIGHT! A young king. This is fun, but hella short. Both guys get what they can in. DDP wins with the Diamond cutter. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, DDP puts over the Diamond Cutter and how dangerous it is. DDP faces Jim Duggan in a taped fist match at Bash at the Beach and tells Duggan to tape his whole body if he has to, he’s not taking his title of the Lord of the Ring from him because nobody can. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mean Gene has Kevin Greene for an interview up on the ramp when we get back from commercial. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>7) “Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. VK Wallstreet</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Squash. Went too long even for that. Bye.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - 1/2*</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>8) Sting & Lex Luger (c) vs. The Steiner Bros vs. Harlem Heat - WCW World Tag Team Title Match</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>I was really stoked for this match, and had no idea that it would turn into almost more of an angle than an actual match. Before that breaks down, it’s a fine enough three way tag. Then it breaks down and it was honestly sick as fuck. So, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall invade through the crowd. They have baseball bats in hand and immediately, Sting and the Steiners unite to square up with them. Meanwhile, Luger and Stevie are still going at it and Stevie sneaks the pin with help from Book while everyone's back is turned so we get a fucking title change in the midst of this face off. Security and police officers storm the ring while this is happening to stand with Sting and The Steiners. This could have easily came off so corny, but it somehow worked.. amazingly. Nash & Hall look like more of a threat than ever. Honestly, considering I never saw any of this and only know Nash & Hall from their WWF work mainly, this was the first time I felt that "Outsiders" aurora from them and a segment involving them. With that in mind, this definitely needs to be notebooked as one of the key segments from this period of time. The officers had their hands on their guns on their waist bands. Sting and the Steiners try to coax them into the ring. Nash and Hall slowly back away while the commentary team hypes up the danger these two pose and how strong of a force WCW is for standing up against them. AHHH!! My favorite close to a Nitro so far during this whole saga/project. Fucking cool as shit. Cameras cut to Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan up in the booth. Heenan walks out because he wants no part in all this anymore and Tony reinforces that WCW backs down from no one. </div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-88070457080993442942023-08-24T14:12:00.005-04:002023-08-24T14:12:51.886-04:00WCW Monday Nitro Review - June 17th, 1996<b>WCW Monday Nitro </b><div><b>June 17th, 1996</b></div><div><b>Richmond, Virginia</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>WCW World Champion: </b><i>The Giant (since 4/29/96)</i></div><div><div><div><b>WCW US Champion: </b><i>Konnan (since 1/29/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Tag Team Champions: </b><i>Sting & Lex Luger (since 1/22/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW TV Champion: </b><i>Lex Luger (since 3/6/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Dean Malenko (since 5/18/96) </i></div></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5LQZonndALeKEZfOv3Ppx79QiFPTxMoJTBlA26mNGZeMIkKMDNqiaw783DH6IDjf4Osl09VpZWHEfZNGtitPXQWxHIOrnYseNr_TD3jMU1zcaj0zq2m87odtDXmY7UTmHURNcUdY48TKhwkop7XRhLGgo5PK-m-LUOTC0YUnF_YFF7suN8ioPvlIdgkl/s250/6-17-96_Nitro_1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="250" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5LQZonndALeKEZfOv3Ppx79QiFPTxMoJTBlA26mNGZeMIkKMDNqiaw783DH6IDjf4Osl09VpZWHEfZNGtitPXQWxHIOrnYseNr_TD3jMU1zcaj0zq2m87odtDXmY7UTmHURNcUdY48TKhwkop7XRhLGgo5PK-m-LUOTC0YUnF_YFF7suN8ioPvlIdgkl/s1600/6-17-96_Nitro_1.webp" width="250" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Tony Schiavone is joined by Larry Zbysko tonight. They quickly recap everything that happened at the Great American Bash last night, most notably focusing on Kevin Nash and Scott Hall’s attack on Eric Bischoff. They tease showing the whole clip, but cut it before the full thing and say they will show the rest of the horrific attack later.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) Rick Steiner vs. Stevie Ray </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Short, short match. But typical Steiners and Harlem stuff. Hard hitting power shit. Rick wins with the Steinerline. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - *1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, Booker T comes down to attack Richard and this brings Scott out to save his brother. Harlem Heat gets the upper hand and Rick seemingly injured his ribs during the attack. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) Disco Inferno vs. Joe Gomez </b></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Not much happening here. Gomez gets the surprise victory after a minute or two with a backslide. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - *</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Another amazing backstage promo from Ric Flair with all his women. The man just goes nuts and runs down Macho Man. I can’t even recap it all. It’s just vintage Ric by god. WOOOOO!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Chris Benoit & Arn Anderson vs. American Males (Scotty Riggs & Buff Bagwell)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Fucking awesome showing for Benoit & Anderson. Five minutes of action and it ruled. Riggs & Bagwell bump around well enough and give a decent fight. Benoit’s eye is swollen and fucked from last night. This was just a blast while it lasted.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **3/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, Mean Gene interviews Benoit & Anderson. Anderson says when business deals go south, someone gets rich and someone TAKES A BATH. The Horsemen are back and as Benoit says, they are about GUTS, GLORY, AND GLAMOUR. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. John Tenta </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Have mercy. Here these boys go again. And it’s really and truly not that offensive. They make the most of their time. Just big boys doin’ stuff. Hart gets involved and Tenta drops his ass. He slams Bubba, covers, gets a 1 count before getting up and slamming him again while using the ropes to get the three count. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Big Bubba attacks Tenta with a sock full of coins after the match and yeah buddy. Tenta got beat the fuck up. Bubba & Hart head out with the last laugh. Mean Gene approaches them on their way out. Hart says them & Kevin Sullivan are making examples of everyone. Big Bubba says every time he steps in the ring with that fat piece of trash, he kicks his ass FROM KINGDOM COME. Lord have mercy. </div><div><br /></div><div>SECOND HOUR INCOMING~~~</div><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial, Mean Gene is in the locker room with Macho Man. Macho Man admits he’s not all there, but that there’s no man who can put him down. He faces Flair up next. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>5) Ric Flair (w/ Woman, Debra, & Miss Elizabeth) vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This was a damn mess. In a fun way though. Flair runs from Macho to start and does his whole chicken shit schtick and it’s so damn good. They brawl around ringside and throw food & drink at each other. Macho gets a good control segment in and Flair bumps and sells his ass off. Taking a beating. Eventually Benoit, Anderson, and Mongo come out. A clusterfuck. Mongo hits Macho Man with his briefcase behind the ref’s back and Flair steals the pin. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Kevin Sullivan says that they say that in the end times,, WARS START. And there’s a war starting with the Horsemen. Sullivan targets Benoit specifically, of course. Giant starts talking and mocks the fact that they consider themselves the ELITE. So weird hearing that and it not being about Omega & The Bucks. Giant says anyone in the dungeon of doom is better than anyone in the Horsemen and he will bring them all down. </div><div><br /></div><div>Glacier hype video airs. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>6) Dean Malenko (c) vs. Rey Mysterio - WCW Cruserweight Title Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Rematch from last night. Lowkey enjoyed it more than last night because Rey got a little more offense in. Everything is more crisp and explosive. It’s a back and forth TV junior heavyweight spectacular. Rey mounted more offense this time, but still was too flashy and got caught up in a DDT and eats the loss again. Best match on this program.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***1/4</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>7) The Giant vs. Scott Steiner </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Scott is almost a perfect foe for Giant. He doesn’t give a fuck and tries to power him up and fails. Giant beats him around the ringside area and grabs a chair from underneath the ring after the commercial break. Steiner suplexes Giant and pops the crowd for a two count before getting chokeslammed and taking the L.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><br /></div><div>To close the show, Mean Gene announces that Sting, Macho Man, & Lex Luger will be the three men to face The Outsiders at Bash at the Beach on July 7th. </div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-64559855831834677642023-08-24T14:09:00.003-04:002023-08-24T14:09:21.174-04:00WCW: Great American Bash 1996 Review - June 16th, 1996<b>WCW Great American Bash 1996</b><div><b>June 16th, 1996</b></div><div><b>Baltimore, Maryland </b></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>WCW World Champion: </b><i>The Giant (since 4/29/96)</i></div><div><div><b>WCW US Champion: </b><i>Konnan (since 1/29/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Tag Team Champions: </b><i>Sting & Lex Luger (since 1/22/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW TV Champion: </b><i>Lex Luger (since 3/6/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Dean Malenko (since 5/18/96) </i></div></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiEnmgXPw3pyrroY7ZJTgjNG3dRhA9JDDAh9zOALpLPXH-1_iTyriTfeYSxjtppBpHHnV_VYucDfTo4Qw5eZOWUjYiwmHUZSq7CfuEgtUnCoV7L-Dd8GiFVbuvwt77AbAgYbBFeJCFgy25amJ-AGGaHLAZJfJu1xRikjz_-5_bRasFU2-ATcrkztLvHZK/s317/bash96.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="220" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiEnmgXPw3pyrroY7ZJTgjNG3dRhA9JDDAh9zOALpLPXH-1_iTyriTfeYSxjtppBpHHnV_VYucDfTo4Qw5eZOWUjYiwmHUZSq7CfuEgtUnCoV7L-Dd8GiFVbuvwt77AbAgYbBFeJCFgy25amJ-AGGaHLAZJfJu1xRikjz_-5_bRasFU2-ATcrkztLvHZK/s1600/bash96.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Tony Schiavone & Dusty Rhodes welcome us to the event and preview all the main stories going on tonight including the major one involving Scott Hall & Kevin Nash being in attendance looking for a fight.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMk38XHSQ5ujIU3oRfr1n3KhBzZITF1iX2EOXEtuykELGUB4xIeuhyviwEjge8ckr_tuhXYKCydj2lxWLKO9s1w4R8UODCCbUH8Vi4PwghzA8qH6ZCmsnv3K9FZLGQDnH22cqtWbIWbo5PZyLuAn3RFBlMw7R1fK2pGfsrfBNjEtGuxh7KDlTzuo82xzp/s570/Commentators-9.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="570" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMk38XHSQ5ujIU3oRfr1n3KhBzZITF1iX2EOXEtuykELGUB4xIeuhyviwEjge8ckr_tuhXYKCydj2lxWLKO9s1w4R8UODCCbUH8Vi4PwghzA8qH6ZCmsnv3K9FZLGQDnH22cqtWbIWbo5PZyLuAn3RFBlMw7R1fK2pGfsrfBNjEtGuxh7KDlTzuo82xzp/s320/Commentators-9.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><b>1) The Steiner Brothers vs. Fire & Ice - There Must be A Winner</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This was a pretty banging opener between these bulky bastards. The crowd is hot for it, too. Norton isolates Scott and it leads to the hot tag to Rick and things break down. Steiner Bros comeback leads to some good false finishes before the FRANKENSTEINER from Scott ends things. These boy dropping bombs.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2) Konnan (c) vs. El Gato - US Heavyweight Title Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>They tried their best here, but a lot of this looked clunky. It definitely didn’t deserve the boring chants that were scattered throughout. Konnan powerbombs Gato to the floor off the apron and Gato gets back in the ring before they can even really start counting for a count out and then they go to the finish. Just fucking weirrrd. This kinda was ass. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - *3/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, MEAN GENE IS WITH STING. They’re talking about our Lord Steven Regal. It gets real weird and 1996 real fast with Sting talking about how American men are raised different than the “prissies” in England. Meh meh. No good.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Diamond Dallas Page vs. Marcus Bagwell</b></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>DDP!!! I’m loving seeing the development of this man. Even since last week, he’s improved so much. He also gets more time here, but does well with it. There’s still some things missing, but this is largely solid. He controls a lot of it and it rocks. Unfortunately, they lose me a little near the end so the finish felt a little flat. But DDP wins and yeah!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, The Giant is here with Jimmy Hart. The Giant basically just says there’s no way Lex is putting him in the torture rack tonight because HE is the IMMORTAL. The rack is a fantasy. The chokeslam is reality and Luger will know it tonight. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) Dean Malenko (c) vs. Rey Misterio Jr. - WCW Cruserweight Title Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is an interesting one. It’s Rey’s WCW debut and they work a 17 minute match largely based around Malenko grounding and working over Rey. On its own, it’s a great match. They pull it off well. Considering the circumstances, this gets a lot of mixed reviews which I understand. However at the same time, I think it discounts how good this match was when standing its own. It’s not GREAT. But the work on Rey is good, the selling is there and the little sparks Rey gets are explosive. I also liked the finish where Malenko flat out catches Rey in a flashy comeback attempt, powerbombs him to the mat and uses the ropes to get the three count to retain the title. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***1/4</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>5) John Tenta vs. Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart) </b></div><div><br /></div><div>The big boys really are here to play now. They get five minutes and it’s fine for what it is and allows us a breather after that near 20 min Cruserweight match. Tenta gets the win and tries to chop some of Bubba’s beard off after the match. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - *3/4 </b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>6) Chris Benoit vs. Kevin Sullivan (The Taskmaster) - Falls Count Anywhere Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>It’s horsemen vs dungeon of doom here, but as you know there’s a lot more real life bad blood between these two so the heat here is off charts. Super intense strikes and chops to start as they meet in the entrance way before brawling through the crowd. Sometimes walk and brawl stuff is boring. Here, it was awesome. Snug. Never dull. The hatred was really exuding off these two. They end up in the men’s bathroom before fighting back down the stands and to the ringside area. They break a table out and the finish sees Benoit suplex Sullivan off of it on the top god damn turnbuckle. This was an incredible fight, an amazing brawl. Just fucking awesome stuff. One to study and one to look back on. I loved this shit. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Match rating - ****</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, Benoit continues to slap Sullivan around. Arn Anderson runs down and god damn he pulls Benoit off of him only to join in and THE CROWD GOES FUCKING BONKERS as Anderson & Benoit beat the hell out of Sullivan. This was the icing on the cake after that match. </div><div><br /></div><div>And as if it couldn’t get better… backstage, Mean Gene is with Ric Flair and the ladies. Arn Anderson & Chris Benoit walk up. Anderson says there’s a lot of wannabe horsemen, but tonight what we saw was Chris Benoit earning the right to call himself one. THEY ARE LOADED BABY. Benoit spews a little trash talk and says Sullivan has been served. This shit rules. Flair starts going off about the football players they’re gonna beat up tonight and YEAH. IM REVVED UP BUDDY.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>7) Sting vs. Lord Steven Regal</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Man oh man oh man. This was fucking great. Regal methodically tries to dissect Sting. Working him over on the mat, throwing punches and keeping him in holds. Sting tries and tries. Can’t get a comeback going UNTIL HE DOES AND HE POUNDS ON REGAL WITH FISTS. The crowd explodes. Amazing comeback run and Sting taps Regal out with the scorpion deathlock in just under 17 minutes. That ruled. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>8) Ric Flair & Arn Anderson (w/ Bobby Heenan, Miss Elizabeth & Woman) vs. Steve McMichael & Kevin Greene (w/ Macho Man Randy Savage)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>"Let's see if he can... implant this gameplan... interact.. his gameplan.." -Dusty Rhodes searching for the word 'implement' and Tony Schiavone not giving a single fuck to help him</i></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a pure Anderson/Flair carry job & showcase, as expected. Its two football players who have never wrestled and it goes longer than it probably should've, but honestly I enjoyed it just off the work of Arn & Flair who did everything in their power to make this work. I really think they succeeded in that regard too because this was a ride the whole way. Chris Benoit ends up running down to brawl with Macho Man and things break down. The finish comes in the form of a turn/screw job as Debra comes out with a briefcase full of money and hands it to Mongo and he turns on Kevin Greene and nails him with it. Flair takes the pin. Is Mongo in the horsemen?! What in the god damn fuck.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>9) The Giant (c) (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. Lex Luger - WCW World Heavyweight Title Match</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Fine main event that doesn't overstay it's welcome after a pretty eventful show. Crowd is hot for Luger. Deck is stacked against him with the size difference and Jimmy Hart. Sting comes down to take out Jimmy Hart and these two go back and forth for a bit. Cool spot where Luger somehow hoists Giant up into the torture rack, Luger collapses with him on top on him and Giant gets the victory. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>FINAL THOUGHTS: </b>...this PPV rocked. A breeze to watch. No MOTY contender matches, but I don't even give a fuck about that anymore. I just want to be entertained and not have to suffer through bad wrestling and this was largely good. SO YEAH. ITS WCW WHERE THE BIG BOYS PLAY AND I AM LOVING THIS PROJECT SO FAR.</div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-19166127396147542072023-08-18T01:11:00.004-04:002023-08-18T01:11:49.858-04:00WCW Monday Nitro Review - June 10th, 1996<b>WCW Monday Nitro </b><div><b>June 10th, 1996 </b></div><div><b>Wheeling, West Virginia </b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>WCW World Champion: </b><i>The Giant (since 4/29/96)</i></div><div><div><b>WCW US Champion: </b><i>Konnan (since 1/29/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Tag Team Champions: </b><i>Sting & Lex Luger (since 1/22/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW TV Champion: </b><i>Lex Luger (since 3/6/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Dean Malenko (since 5/18/96) </i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Commentators - </b><i>Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko (Hour One) and Eric Bischoff & Bobby Heenan (Hour Two) (ugh) </i></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EmXll9lL9WLrOfY4tC6js5e8jfnYGKPj7u5n8k3MledWQ5jZ208K_EvAkhTWh8KxCAOJjE5H8GYaDHimO85GeKZBbGcyI_6h6sG6rnBvcHkhhg9zBSlceNvMhF2txnFI9CGw-0NRevXY5Itkg1cortx-sbaht9HI5FCQ0sqQRh87GzCn4S2mysxbCDYT/s600/58B6CD03-8649-4AE0-9794-30361C55B24A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EmXll9lL9WLrOfY4tC6js5e8jfnYGKPj7u5n8k3MledWQ5jZ208K_EvAkhTWh8KxCAOJjE5H8GYaDHimO85GeKZBbGcyI_6h6sG6rnBvcHkhhg9zBSlceNvMhF2txnFI9CGw-0NRevXY5Itkg1cortx-sbaht9HI5FCQ0sqQRh87GzCn4S2mysxbCDYT/s320/58B6CD03-8649-4AE0-9794-30361C55B24A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Tony & Larry show us a replay of the verbal showdown between Scott Hall and Sting that ended the broadcast last week. Hall promised a big surprise for Sting this week so I guess we will be finding out what that entails tonight. This is the final Nitro before The Great American Bash PPV. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) Booker T vs. Scott Steiner </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>These two are normally in tag matches around this time, but tonight they’re going singles. This is short and inoffensive. A lot of power moves and trading kicks & suplexes. Booker dominates most of it only to lose in the end after about 5-6 minutes. The Steiner’s have a PPV match coming up against Fire & Ice so makes sense for Scott to get the win here. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial, Mean Gene is interviewing Scott Steiner. He gets interrupted by Debra. Debra hasn’t been able to sleep worrying about her husband’s well being at the PPV Sunday and she wants a meeting with Flair & Anderson to call off the match. Mean Gene says he will try to arrange it. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) “Diamond” Dallas Page vs. Jim Powers </b></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Bobby Heenan is YELLING the whole time during these entrances about that last segment. This is fun little match honestly and it’s done in less than 5 so I can’t complain. Dallas Page is a blast and he gets the win here in his Nitro debut. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Recap video about Chris Benoit and Kevin Sullivan. </div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Konnan hypes up his US Title defense followed by a video package on it.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Sting vs. Meng </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Awesome few minutes. Sting taps Meng out to the scorpion deathlock pretty quickly, but it was fun while it lasted and Sting had the crowd in his palm as always.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>4) “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan vs. Dave Taylor</b></div><div><br /></div><div>DAVE! He bumps around a lot for Duggan here and gets a few strikes & a crossbody of his own in before eating the pin as anticipated unfortunately. During the match, it’s announced that Luger & Sting challenge Flair & Anderson for the tag titles later tonight!!! Let’s fuckin go. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - *1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Malenko/Mysterio hype package for Sunday. </div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Mean Gene is with Jimmy Hart & Big Bubba. Bubba faces John Tenta on Sunday and talks a load of shit about him. </div><div><br /></div><div>HOUR TWO BEGINS. Tony Schiavone throws it over to Eric Bischoff & Bobby Heenan to host the rest of the show. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>5) The Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. Scott Norton </b></div><div><br /></div><div>The Giant bullies Norton around and chokeslams his big ass on the concrete floor and rolls him back inside for the three count. After the bell, Lex Luger runs down and brawls with The Giant. The Giant tries to put him through a table, but Luger escapes and cuts a promo up at the announce booth about their upcoming match on Sunday. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>6) Billy Kidman vs. Lord Steven Regal (w/ Jeeves)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Ok bro Regal ain’t had to do Billiam like this. Dropped on his head, destroyed in less than a minute. God damn fucking right. Sting runs down and pops Regal in the mouth post match to get him back for the slap he gave him last week. </div><div><br /></div><div>THE NASTY BOYS ARE UP NEXT.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>7) The Nasty Boys vs. Public Enemy </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This was sloppy and messy at points, but that’s what you expect from these two teams. It’s a fun TV brawl that doesn’t quite reach the level of good considering it’s a standard rules match and these teams excel when they can use plunder, but I honestly enjoyed it for what it was. Lots of walk and brawl stuff, but yeah. The Nasties use a trash can and get disqualified after about ten minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Hulk Hogan video package airs along with a replay of Bobby Heenan announcing that he’s coaching Flair & Anderson at Great American Bash on Sunday. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>8) Ric Flair & Arn Anderson vs. Sting & Lex Luger </b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“Lonely women make great lovers.” -Ric Flair</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Flair is a god damn maniac. The big boys are here and they’re about to play, buddy. This is honestly great shit. Not out of this world at all, but it’s the shit I’m a sucker for at this stage of my wrestling fandom. Just simple TV tag wrestling with guys like Flair who bump phenomenally and make everything look crisp & real. You’ve got your larger than life heroes in Sting & Luger and the old school villains in Flair & Anderson, it’s just simple but it works and I could watch gentleman’s three boy tags like this every week, even when they end in DQ like this one did due to interference from The Giant. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, Scott Steiner blasts The Giant with a chair and the numbers run him off. Meanwhile, Scott Hall approaches Eric Bischoff at the announce table again. Bobby Heenan physically runs off when he shows up, even during the middle of a rant about how they outnumbered The Giant. Bischoff says he doesn’t want any problems, but wants to know where Hall’s BIG surprise is. Bischoff doesn’t realize it but Kevin Nash is behind him. Nash says this is where the big boys PLAY, but they aren’t here to play. They want their fight on Sunday, but clearly Bischoff hasn’t found anyone willing to fight. Eric says he will find someone by tomorrow morning and for them to show up to the Bash on Sunday and maybe they’ll get their fight. Nash says they love them in Baltimore, so they’ll be there and that the measuring stick has changed around here and we are lookin’ at it. Let’s fucking go. This sends us off the air as Nash shoves Bischoff onto the announce table and walks off. Eric motions for them to go off air. </div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-28283422649626505422023-08-12T03:36:00.002-04:002023-08-12T03:36:44.661-04:00Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Smackdown Review - August 28th, 2003<b>WWE Smackdown </b><div><b>August 28th, 2003</b></div><div><b>El Paso, Texas </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><b>WWE Champion: </b><i>Kurt Angle (since 7/27/03)</i></div><div><div><b>WWE United States Champion: </b><i>Eddie Guerrero (since 7/27/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Tag Team Champions:</b><i><b> </b>Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (since 7/3/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Rey Mysterio (since 6/5/03)</i></div></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXFWM48SnQwmTQJdQ1V2HWC_ZaHP7PjlH_TRapPIgAxrS1q2xV1FInYOohOI1UDRwnmZEweyYflW0uqoMB8fZ3qWsnzxVl8mi50GCiAABnhmmgVat6a91bloeJaJSDEa2YmAZi6X3jghKlY6jZNmQIO7HoRhvmGIuVQl2sFkoVlG0mkXX_d8Wr_r27dq5/s1280/sd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXFWM48SnQwmTQJdQ1V2HWC_ZaHP7PjlH_TRapPIgAxrS1q2xV1FInYOohOI1UDRwnmZEweyYflW0uqoMB8fZ3qWsnzxVl8mi50GCiAABnhmmgVat6a91bloeJaJSDEa2YmAZi6X3jghKlY6jZNmQIO7HoRhvmGIuVQl2sFkoVlG0mkXX_d8Wr_r27dq5/s320/sd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>FOUR DAYS REMOVED FROM SUMMERSLAM AND WE ARE IN EL PASO TEXAS AND HERE COMES EDDIE GUERRERO WITH HIS UNITED STATES TITLE. </div><div><br /></div><div>Eddie pulls up in a red car in the parking lot.. or as Michael Cole would say “the US Champion has arrived IN STYLE.” Guerrero enters through the crowd and it’s an awesome visual. Cole & Tazz meet him at the ringside and Eddie puts a huge sombrero on Cole. This was monumental. Eddie soaks it all in and begins cutting a prom on how his mom came to America and was harassed by a HONKY COP and cheated on her citizenship test. John Cena ends up coming out and cutting a pretty racist promo about Eddie and latino people. Cena says Eddie is the US Champ, but isn’t even American. Eddie gets super pissed and they get heated and into it. Eddie says Cena must be confused because he’s got about 12,000 of his homies and family here tonight. Cena shit talks his way into a US Title match for later and says it’s a shame they’re in El Paso because after he takes his title, he’s gonna take his sister and EDDIE THROWS A PUNCH AND SENDS CENA REELING TO THE FLOOR. Awesome fucking segment. After Cena leaves, Eddie puts on his Jersey and hat and imitates him. Cena tries to come after him, but Eddie tosses him to the floor again. This was a huge segment for both men. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Nunzio - Cruserweight Title Match </b></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Crowd is hot for Rey as expected. Referee Jimmy Korderas sends Palumbo & Stamboli to the back so they can’t interfere. This starts and it rocks. Just pedal to the medal the entire time. Your classic Rey sprint from this time period in front of a hot ass El Paso crowd. I could watch these all day. Rey wins in around five mins with the West Coast Pop to retain. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2) Chris Benoit vs. A-Train (w/ Sable)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Another banger between these two as usual. They just hit hard and it is great. Benoit hits a flying headbutt for a nearfall down the stretch that definitely felt like the end, but Albert kicks out. He fires back with his sit out powerbomb thing for a two count of his own. He goes for it again and Benoit counters into the cross face which looked awesome. A-Train taps, but his feet were under the ropes. GIVE ME A REMATCH NEXT WEEK.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***</b></div><div><br /></div><div>During the break, A-Train and Benoit get into it backstage. A-Train says Benoit can’t beat him and that his feet were under the ropes. Rhyno comes out of nowhere and destroys Benoit with a gore. Jesus fuck. </div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, someone took the tires off Eddie’s car in the parking lot and he’s freaking out. Bradshaw & Ron Simmons are standing by and Eddie starts yelling & asking if they knew what happened. Funaki and Orlando Jordan walk up and he asks them the same thing. FBI walks up and laugh at him so Eddie starts swinging on them. THIS EPISODE RULES MAN. </div><div><br /></div><div>Brock Lesnar comes out. He looks so odd without that WWE Title, man. He says that everyone has been telling him since Sunday that he “tapped out” but he’s here tell everyone that it was a FLUKE. Brock has this weird deeper tone in his voice here that I haven’t heard before. Brock makes a joke about the people not being able to find jobs and how they give up. Brock says he’s not done with Kurt and demands a title rematch. Angle shows up on the tron mocking Brock and talking to him in a baby voice. Angle says he used to do the same thing Brock is doing when he lost, but then he realized the fans like action, not bitching. Angle threatens to come down and slap an ankle lock on that OGRE LOOKING SON OF A BITCH. Angle heads toward the ring, but The Undertaker’s music hits and he rides out on his bike. Taker says Brock is talking about a title match, but it’s been too long since he himself has gotten a title match. Taker says Brock is trespassing iN HIS YARD and if he has a problem leaving the yard, he’d be glad to help him. WEEEEEEELL, here comes Big fuckin Paul Wight. Big Show stomps down to the ring. I’m not doing play by play for his ass. Stephanie McMahon ends up coming out and making a triple threat number one contender’s match for later in the night between Brock, Show, & Taker.</div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Cena denies being who took the wheel off of Eddie’s car. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. John Cena - United States Championship Match</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This.. was fucking awesome. Immediately after that backstage segment, Cena walks to the ring WITH EDDIE’s TIRE IN HIS HAND. Eddie charges Cena from behind and this shit is ON. Great Eddie dominance early, Cena bleeds after a stair or ring post shot.. I can’t remember which. Eddie beats his ass for a bit then Cena takes control and Eddie sells his ASS OFF for him, bumping around like crazy and the crowd is hot & invested. This was building toward being a MOTY candidate if it didn’t have a non finish. But regardless of that, this is still one of my favorite Smackdown matches of the year. Cena continues to get better and better and Eddie remains underrated as fuck. Awesome counter of the FU by Eddie with a victory roll. The finishing run is cool, but comes to an end before it really kicks into full gear as Cena uses his chain to get disqualified. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***3/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, Cena continues the assault on Eddie and busts him open. The crowd is livid and this is such a fucking coming out party for Cena tonight, man. Cena FU’s Eddie on the STEEL WHEEL to end the beating as the crowd lays into him. Phenomenal. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) The Big Show vs. Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Vintage great WWE style three way dance here. Kurt Angle is on commentary since this is a #1 contender’s match. Everyone here has phenomenal chemistry. Show & Lesnar try to double team Taker to start, but that alliance soon dissolves. There are a lot of great moments and callbacks in this. The way they tease another ring breaking spot between Lesnar & Show on the top rope makes the final few minutes super suspenseful. Taker hits a sick last ride powerbomb into Brock to stop him from super plexing Show. This ends up leading to the finish as Taker pins Brock. I did not expect that! Great main event. It’s Angle vs. Taker for the title NEXT WEEK. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***1/2</b></div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-10892941159478428942023-08-12T03:31:00.006-04:002023-08-12T03:31:59.962-04:00Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Monday Night Raw Review - August 25th, 2003<b>WWE Monday Night Raw </b><div><b>August 25th, 2003</b></div><div><b>Tucson, Arizona </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><b>World Heavyweight Champion: </b><i>Triple H (since 12/15/02)</i></div><div><div><b>Intercontinental Champion: </b><i>Christian (since 8/10/03)</i></div><div><div><b>World Tag Team Champions: </b><i>La Resistance (since 6/15/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Women's Champion: </b><i>Molly Holly (since 7/28/03)</i></div></div></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNH09JlOqWn2JsFs-cbCv04klZukgv3gpIH-IZRxgw1E_438_b4PAHk__vMATag42r78U6T_lp-mbLCxw3eJEdHHCzCFlDSac-Kw_eQFFro7sU7lFTHJCY4UALfESzHiCNQEezKxtgcABi3BJcCge2viP-sglVJHa9N-GwhNN_LbINQ0n7YGZ4P3lO52Bk/s638/RAW2003intropack.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="638" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNH09JlOqWn2JsFs-cbCv04klZukgv3gpIH-IZRxgw1E_438_b4PAHk__vMATag42r78U6T_lp-mbLCxw3eJEdHHCzCFlDSac-Kw_eQFFro7sU7lFTHJCY4UALfESzHiCNQEezKxtgcABi3BJcCge2viP-sglVJHa9N-GwhNN_LbINQ0n7YGZ4P3lO52Bk/s320/RAW2003intropack.gif" width="320" /></a></div>Replays of Goldberg’s bloody ass being helped out of the chamber at SummerSlam last night are shown. He was mauled by Evolution after the Elimination Chamber match. </div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Goldberg opens the show. He calls out the World Heavyweight Champion Triple H. H comes out accompanied by Randy Orton and Ric Flair who are both in oversized dress shirts.. untucked. Amazing. They stand at the stage and H predicts that Goldberg is gonna challenge him to a match. He’s right. H takes his shirt off and hands his belt to Randy. Extremely nice touch here with Orton holding the title over his shoulder and checking it out, seemingly being mesmerized by it. Considering that we know the future, that was a nice little moment. Anyways, H doesn’t want to accept the challenge. Goldberg says he’s gonna follow him everywhere until he gives him the one on one match he wants. H says he will accept Goldberg’s challenge at Unforgiven as long as it’s a career vs. title match so if Goldberg loses, his career is over. H tells him to think long and hard about it. Goldberg says he’ll think hard, but not long. He accepts and says the only funeral that will be happening is Triple H’s.</div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Trish Stratus is getting ready to head to the ring. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) Trish Stratus vs. Gail Kim</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Gail attacks Trish on the ramp during her entrance. She dominates most of this while it lasts, spending most of it on the mat holding Trish in a sleeper. Trish mounts her comeback. She hits a chick kick and then a stratusfaction for the win. This was fine while it lasted. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, Molly Holly attacks Trish Stratus and has a staredown with Gail Kim. </div><div><br /></div><div>They show a replay of all the fucked shit Eric Bischoff said about Linda McMahon before his match with Shane last night at SummerSlam.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial, Molly Holly has Gail Kim by the throat and asks what side she’s on, essentially. Gail responds “Trish doesn’t stand a chance.” </div><div><br /></div><div>Back in the arena, Theodore Long and Rodney Mack come out. Long introduces his new client.. THE WORLDS STRONGEST MAN MARK HENRY. Long said now it’s time to start thuggin and buggin…</div><div><br /></div><div><i>“Get the white boys out here.” </i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) Mark Henry & Rodney Mack (w/ Theodore Long) vs. Garrison Cade & Mark Jindrak </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Mark Henry kills Mark Jindrak. What a king. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Jerry Lawler: “That was some thuggin and buggin, believe that.”</i></div><div><i>Jim Ross: “Darn right.”</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Lance Storm and Goldust are talking. “Mini dust” is latched onto Storm’s leg. Goldust says it’s gonna do Lance good to be in a healthy relationship. Lance walks off and runs into Rosey. Rosey then runs into a random woman backstage who tells him someone is in the ring with a gun.. but she’s talking about a t-shirt gun. Before she can explain that, Rosey storms off to save the day. The Hurricane finds out about this and says “oh sh*t” and runs after him as we go to break. What a bunch of freaks. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back from break, we see clips of Rosey destroying the guy with the t-shirt gun in the ring. Hurricane comes out and says “Roosevelt.. what have you done?” </div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Terri is interviewing Stone Cold Steve Austin. He talks about being provoked into beating Bischoff’s ass last night and how it was warranted. Eric walks up with a ball cap and a black eye looking like shit. Bischoff says Austin wasn’t provoked and he’s gonna award Jonathan Coachman employee of the month and Austin better not come out & interfere. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>3) The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray, D-Von, & Spike Dudley) vs. La Resistance (Rene Dupree, Sylvan Grenier, & Rob Conway)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This began with a pre-match promo from La Resistance doing their usual schtick about fuck America and JR & King saying all kinds of stupid pro-American shit. Whatever. Pyro hits and Spike comes out while Bubba & D-Von jump La Resistance from behind after coming through the crowd and the bell rings. This goes maybe 2 or 3 minutes which was shorter than anticipated. And in just as surprising of a revelation, Rob Conway gets the victory for his team. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Linda McMahon is headed to the ring to issue a statement on Bischoff’s accusations of them having relations. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Highlight Reel with Chris Jericho is next. Linda McMahon is his guest. He straight up asks if he & Eric did the deed. This brings out Mr. McMahon who says he is the victim in this situation. This brings out Shane McMahon who goes nose to nose with his father and compares him to Kane. In the midst of this, Jericho hits Shane with the mic and then he & Vince bail out. Vince makes Jericho vs. Shane for later tonight. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) Randy Orton (w/ Ric Flair) vs. Maven (w/ Shawn Michaels)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>MAVEN! Shawn Michaels accompanies him to ringside for this blast of a match. First thing tonight to get some time. Good back and forth from the two young guns. Orton wins with a superkick. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Eric Bischoff comes out after the commercial to present his employee of the month award to Jonathan Coachman for helping him at SummerSlam last night. Coach gives a speech about why he turned and blames JR for his treatment of him when he returned. Coach wants an apology from Jim Ross and from Stone Cold Steve Austin for assaulting him & Eric last night. Christian comes out instead and says he also wants an apology because he’s the Intercontinental Champion and wasn’t even on the SummerSlam card. This brings out Stone Cold finally who talks shit to everyone and makes Christian vs. Jerry Lawler for the IC Title.. NEXT. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>5) Christian (c) vs. Jerry Lawler - Intercontinental Championship Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Coach joins JR on commentary for this and JR tells him “…you got some problems, son.” This is actually good. I totally expected it to be, though. I honestly wish it had gotten a little more time. Good punches and selling. Christian sneaks a win with some assistance from Coachman to retain the title. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/4 </b></div><div><br /></div><div>As we head to commercial, we see Shane O Mac heading to the ring. Kane is watching him from a distance. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jonathan Coachman is backstage now looking like even more of a douchebag. He does an interview with Christian on retaining his title. Stone Cold interrupts and tells Coach that he has to face Jerry Lawler one on one next week!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>6) Shane McMahon vs. Chris Jericho</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Well.. this certainly turns into a shit show. Kane comes down after a few minutes and wreaks havoc. He & Shane McMahon end up in the parking lot or something. Kane slams Shane into a wall repeatedly and tries to set him on fire. Shane reverses the throw and kicks Kane into the fire. Kane is.. dead I guess? This show is fucking insane lmao. “Burn in hell, you son of a bitch.” </div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-4007907329399602552023-05-11T00:47:00.000-04:002023-05-11T00:47:02.132-04:00Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE SummerSlam 2003 Review - August 24th, 2003<b>WWE SummerSlam 2003</b><div><b>August 24th, 2003<br /></b><div><b>Phoenix, Arizona</b></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>World Heavyweight Champion: </b><i>Triple H (since 12/15/02)</i></div><div><div><b>Intercontinental Champion: </b><i>Christian (since 8/10/03)</i></div><div><div><b>World Tag Team Champions: </b><i>La Resistance (since 6/15/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Women's Champion: </b><i>Molly Holly (since 7/28/03)</i></div></div></div></div><div><div><b>WWE Champion: </b><i>Kurt Angle (since 7/27/03)</i></div><div><div><b>WWE United States Champion: </b><i>Eddie Guerrero (since 7/27/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Tag Team Champions:</b><i><b> </b>Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (since 7/3/03)</i></div><div><b>WWE Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Rey Mysterio (since 6/5/03)</i></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Commentators - </b><i>Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, & Tazz</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WoHpx2YqTKK7_dIYxzkdQeTTDSpLJuZdmKEoOXUMcW6IrtnvLOLKseIHF-v1ovKBYjAAEFMxWeU7M8VijEwwa8ukHV2TELrFetSormEpWgirxUmGrP8iXt0K-ag4pPwZtEmHFh2GeCQ1C5oq4kMrD3pwPWEtg4Ik1bxDenIpQZvb4Y31JYG3yOY-yg/s720/ss03.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WoHpx2YqTKK7_dIYxzkdQeTTDSpLJuZdmKEoOXUMcW6IrtnvLOLKseIHF-v1ovKBYjAAEFMxWeU7M8VijEwwa8ukHV2TELrFetSormEpWgirxUmGrP8iXt0K-ag4pPwZtEmHFh2GeCQ1C5oq4kMrD3pwPWEtg4Ik1bxDenIpQZvb4Y31JYG3yOY-yg/s320/ss03.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div>The show opens with Lillian Garcia singing the national anthem. She kills it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Opening video package is amazing. Maybe my favorite of the year? Although.. it sort of doesn’t fit the Summerslam vibe, it was very dark. But so so so good so I can’t complain. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler welcome us. The 2nd ever Elimination Chamber match is tonight. Cole & Tazz speak for a minute then they send it to the Spanish announce team. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) La Resistance (Sylvan Grenier & Rene Dupree) (c) vs. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von) - World Tag Team Championship Match</b></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>This was better than expected even though it’s largely still not great. It’s saying something that a La Resistance match is getting into to two star territory though. The Dudleyz are all about America tonight so they show fire early. La Resistance isolates Bubba. Things break down and Rob Conway shows up again disguised as a camera man and helps La Resistance retain the titles. The crowd was really into this during the second half. Really just your basic Dudleyz match with La Resistance penciled in. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - *3/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Christian asks Eric Bischoff what happened between him & Linda then </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) The Undertaker vs. A-Train (w/ Sable) </b></div><div><br /></div><div>I was kinda stoked for this. They’ve had good matches in the past, but this was just.. sluggish. No real bombs, just plodding stuff with camera shots of Sable watching on. It’s especially disappointing considering both men were in great runs this year match quality wise, this really should’ve been a banger, but instead it’s just ok. Nothing insulting just.. there! Taker wins and Sable tries to rub on him after the match. Taker grabs her by the throat and…</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Steph’s music hits and STEPHANIE MOUNTS AND LAYS INTO SABLE. A-Train saves Sable from like.. dying. Hell yea. That was pretty good. Taker celebrates as Steph claps for him. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jonathan Coachman is interviewing fans at ringside on who they think will win. Two people in the front row say Goldberg.. oh, of course. Fuckin dorks. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Shane McMahon vs. Eric Bischoff </b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“Bischoff has gone up and down more than an Otis elevator.” -Jim Ross </i></div><div><br /></div><div>This video package and “match” made me want to never watch WWE again. But that’s happened a lot over the years so I most definitely will continue. The best part of this for me was seeing the formation of the Bischoff/Coachman partnership that would be a big part of Raw during my childhood in 2004-2006. I had no idea it started here. Other funny part is Stone Cold’s reaction when Shane hits the flying elbow on Bischoff through the announce table. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Match rating - 1/2* </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Ric Flair is trying to drill the plan for Chamber tonight into Randy Orton’s head - keep the title on Triple H. Orton keeps worrying about the “what if” of him winning and Triple H walks up and puts him in his place. Ah man this got me so hyped. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. Chris Benoit vs. Rhyno vs. Tajiri - United States Championship Match</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to these guys for giving us something worth a fuck. A first on this show. Guerrero is fresh off a heel turn so there’s some fire there and I mean.. Eddie, Benoit, and Tajiri? That’s bound to fuck. Those three do more than enough to cover up any rough patches Rhyno has because all he has to worry about is hitting his shit. So yeah.. this was a hoot. They busted ass and delivered a great four way. Guerrero retains off a frog splash. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***1/4</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>5) Kurt Angle (c) vs. Brock Lesnar - WWE Championship Match</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This sure happens. It’s a great Brock assault for the first half. He just dominates and looks awesome. Kurt begins mounting a comeback and Vince comes down with a chair while Angle has Brock in the ankle lock. The ref had just gotten knocked down so Vince cracks Kurt with the chair. Angle is still able to overcome though and forces Brock to tap to retain the title much to the shagrin of Mr. McMahon at ringside. After the match, Angle hits the Angle Slam on Vince through the same chair he hit him with. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***1/4 </b></div><div><br /></div><div>They show the winner of the latest Diva Search contest in the crowd. I don’t even remember her, but now I’m curious what she’s up to now because her WWE tenure obviously didn’t last. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>6) Rob Van Dam vs. Kane</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“He’s acting like the by product of an inbred mongrel dog.” -Jim Ross</i></div><div><br /></div><div>First off, what the FUCK is Jim Ross talking about. We get all the replays of Kane’s recent hell raising including setting JR on fire and tombstoning Linda. Van Dam charges Kane immediately at the bell, but gets swatted down. Weapons get involved. JR yells so much belligerent shit. They brawl around ringside and stuff and it’s fine! Kane tombstones RVD on the steel steps and some dorks start chanting ECW.. what? Anyways. That ends things. Good match, to be honest. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>7) Triple H (c) vs. Goldberg vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Nash - Elimination Chamber Match for the World Heavyweight Title </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is my second time talking about/watching this in the last 8 months. With that in mind, it’s interesting seeing how well this holds up. Two viewings in a relatively short time and I was just as entertained and invested in the stories they told here. The tiny Orton nugget where everyone wondered if he would stay loyal to H was a nice little touch outside of the main course of Goldberg killing everyone and finally get his hands on Hunter. Jericho & Nash and Jericho & Michaels have also been having their issues so there’s a thread between everyone here. All those minor things are touched on early before the tide turns as Kevin Nash gets eliminated and Triple H’s pod opens. Shawn Michaels super kicks him immediately and Nash destroys everyone before leaving the chamber. This leads to the final pod being open and that pod belongs to none other than Goldberg. Despite my own personal opinions on Goldberg, it can’t be denied that this rocked. Goldberg spends the next 6-7 minutes killing everyone. He spears Jericho through the plexi glass pod. He hits a jack knife on a bloody Shawn Michaels to eliminate him. Before we know it, Goldberg has eliminated everyone and the crowd is going ballistic. He turns his attention to Triple H who has been hiding in his pod the entire time. Flair tries to hold the door shut from the outside so Goldberg puNCHES THROUGH THE PLEXI AND STARTS THROWING RIGHT HANDS AT THE GAME. Goldberg starts ripping H apart and throwing him into the chamber. H starts bleeding and it looks like we might be getting a new champion, BUT NOPE. The Game always finds a way. Flair slides the sledgehammer in through the chamber, H nails Goldberg with it and gets the pin to retain. DAMN. It really felt like it was Goldberg’s time and even on rewatch, I couldn’t remember who won and I was on the edge of my seat waiting on a title change. The finish could be seen as flat, but truthfully it’s made up for by how great the rest of the match was and the post match assault that H & Evolution lay on Goldberg. They bloody him and JR sells the hell out of it and says THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY FOR TRIPLE H BY GOD. So, yeah, this was a great match even if it seems obnoxious watching some of this back and seeing how overly hard they were pushing H at the time and how many shitty finishes they pulled. It worked here, though. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***3/4 </b></div></div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-61347906840162654062023-04-16T14:33:00.006-04:002023-04-16T14:33:59.200-04:00AEW: Dynamite Review - April 12th, 2023<div><b>AEW Dynamite</b></div><div><b>April 12th, 2023 </b></div><div><b>Milwaukee, Wisconsin </b></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i>AEW World Champion: MJF (since 11/19/22)</i></b></div><div><b><i>AEW World Tag Team Champions: FTR (since 4/5/23)</i></b></div><div><b><i>AEW Women’s World Champion: Jamie Hayter (since 11/19/22)</i></b></div><div><b><i>AEW TNT Champion: Powerhouse Hobbs (since 3/8/23)</i></b></div><div><b><i>AEW International Champion: Orange Cassidy (since 10/12/22)</i></b></div><div><b><i>AEW TBS Champion: Jade Cargill (since 1/5/22)</i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Commentators -<i> </i></b><i>Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, & Taz</i></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhLLVgg_nu8xp7yExI1ygPPY4u12nMJLPbBS72o2FxKz1Z0hMRL_o_3JbUK0UYcyYdSPESUP96A-NGQRjJoF2tFqJnZ7O_Y383kCmspim4gGAIBcpZWmn4xFwF0If7_Kgb9thbDJF9B6_l_TfuGaKLkRyoEGy7fuiNEdPJ3RimqUW-i9PZyZ2jx9jIg/s1280/swerrrve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhLLVgg_nu8xp7yExI1ygPPY4u12nMJLPbBS72o2FxKz1Z0hMRL_o_3JbUK0UYcyYdSPESUP96A-NGQRjJoF2tFqJnZ7O_Y383kCmspim4gGAIBcpZWmn4xFwF0If7_Kgb9thbDJF9B6_l_TfuGaKLkRyoEGy7fuiNEdPJ3RimqUW-i9PZyZ2jx9jIg/s320/swerrrve.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div>1) Swerve Strickland vs. Darby Allin </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Any time these two lock up, it’s a blast. It’s their second meeting in AEW, with their first coming almost an exact year prior to this on the 27th of April last year. That match was in the Owen Hart Memorial Tournament. This was a lot more fun than their match last year. That one wasn’t bad by any means, this just had some extra juice to it with Swerve being fairly fresh off his heel turn. Plus, they threw in some way crazier spots like the reverserana off the apron to the floor. Great match to kick off the show. Darby catches Swerve with the last supper flash pin thing for the three count. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, MJF comes down and we get another long winded 10 minute talking segment. Darby shows some good fire and thankfully Sting shows up to save the whole thing with his pom poms. It’s also worth noting that they showed Jack Perry watching the match on a screen backstage earlier. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) Powerhouse Hobbs (w/ QT Marshall & Aaron Solo) (c) vs. Silas Young - AEW TNT Title Match</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This was exactly what it should have been. Less than 2 minutes, a full on squash. Hobbs destroys Silas and retains his championship. Let’s fuckjng go. </div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, cameras cut to the parking lot where Wardlow destroys Hobbs’ precious car that he arrived to the building in earlier. Wardlow breaks the windows out then takes a forklift to it and it is god damn hilarious and great. Hobbs is pissed and tries powerbomb Silas Young off the stage through a table, but Wardlow's music hits to make the save and he delivers a powerbomb to Aaron Solow off the stage. </div><div><br /></div><div>In a pre-tape, Jay White and Juice Robinson declare themselves as BULLET CLUB GOLD and that they are gonna take over AEW. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Buddy Matthews (w/ Julia Hart) - AEW International Championship Match</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Buddy comes out to motherfucking Eyes Adjust by Twitching Tongues. I am not a fan of the King of 205 Live Kenny Omega cosplayer, but between that entrance and his performance here, he’s gaining some points. This was much better than I ever anticipated. They worked the injured hand of OC story very well while still hitting all their spots and having some cool exchanges. The finishing stretch was more than just false finishes as they once again played off the injured hand of OC with it affecting certain things he would try or execute. This was just a great TV match. OC retains with a flash pin of sorts. I doubt we see a Buddy singles match this good for another 6-12 months unless they put him in there with Danielson or something. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***3/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial and after the match, the Best Friends and Orange Cassidy are backstage with Renee Paquette. OC is fresh off his title defense and has his arm iced. Best Friends challenge Aussie Open to a match for the IWGP Tag Titles on Rampage this week.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ethan Page is in the ring when we return to the arena. He wants to know why Matt Hardy did what he did last week. Hardy & Isaiah Kassidy walk down and Big Bill & Lee Moriarty show up. HOOK is here for the save, but the numbers are still too much especially with Big Bill in there and I'll be god damned if it ain't JEFF FUCKIN HARDY making his return to clean house. WOW! Jeff is back and nails the swanton and we are in business bayyybeee.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before the next match, Kenny Omega speaks in a pre-tape from home. He addresses the Blackpool Combat Club and everything they’ve done to he & The Bucks. Kenny says it’s gonna be worse than blood for blood when the Elite get their hands on BCC. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Michael Nakazawa & Brandon Cutler </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Buddy.. this was everything I needed it. Before the match, we got replays of Mox busting Don Callis wide open and here we see he & Claudio jump Nak & Cutler before the bell. They get more in than you’d expect, and they both bleed. It’s just good, good shit. Claudio & Mox win obviously and they continue the assault on a bloody Brandon Cutler after the bell with help from Wheeler Yuta. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Match rating - ***</b></div><div><br /></div><div>As Yuta, Mox & Claudio are destroying the boys some more, KENNY OMEGA’s MUSIC HITS. Man oh man. I came unglued for this. Kenny is bouncing around at the top of the ramp like The Rock. Mox gets on the apron and jumps to the floor telling him to come on. These two haven’t touched in like 2 years. Meanwhile, THE YOUNG BUCKS SLIDE IN THE RJNG FROM BEHIND AND DOUBLE SUPERKICK CLAUDIO AND YUTA. I’m fuckjng screaming. Bucks & Kenny corner Moxley. They bring out a tool box and Kenny breaks out a screwdriver as a throwback to what Bryan Danielson did to Hangman Page last week. Mox literally tells Kenny to bring it on and says he doesn’t have the balls to do it. Kenny goes to and CLAUDIO & YUTA PULL HIM OUT TO SAVE HIM. Love when them boys bail out like chicken shits too. Mox & Claudio throw beers from the crowd at the Bucks in the ring as they retreat. Kenny runs down to the railing with a chair. The crowd is molten and so am I. I loved this. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>5) Riho & Skye Blue vs. Toni Storm & Ruby Soho </b></div><div><br /></div><div>From that insane segment and match to RIHOOO. I’m a happy motherfucker right now. This match is a blast. I can’t remember much of the specifics of it because I was busy buzzing, but it was a breeze to watch and Riho working under with the up&comer Skye Blue as her partner was the perfect little pairing to go up against the rudo unit of Storm & Soho. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***</b></div><div><br /></div><div>We get another awesome run in segment after the match where Jamie Hayter makes the save as the Outcasts spray paint Riho. But the numbers are still too much and DMD BRITT BAKER HITS THE RING FOR THE BIG POP AND SAVE. She cleans everyone out on the ramp/at ringside and it rules. This last 45 minutes has been stellar television, bud. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>6) Keith Lee vs. Chris Jericho</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>The way this match was set up was pretty cool. And on paper, it’s sort of cool, I guess? In reality, it’s a whole lot of whatever. Definitely the weakest match on the show even though I enjoy both of these guys in certain environments. This was far from their worst respectable efforts, though. It just wasn’t much more than fine. Swerve Strickland causes a distraction and Jericho is able to get the cheap victory when all is said and done. I guess we are headed back toward that story now and rightfully so since it never got a proper finale. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After the match, the JAS jump Keith Lee and Adam Cole comes down to make the save and help Lee to the back. Cole does the same little bit that Jericho did the other week and refuses to acknowledge him aside from looking back at out of the corner of his eye ever so slightly. This closes the show. </div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-59731499254705734602023-04-07T10:33:00.003-04:002023-04-07T10:37:11.109-04:00AEW: Dynamite Review - April 5th, 2023<div><b>AEW Dynamite </b></div><div><b>April 5th, 2023</b></div><div><b>Long Island, New York</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i>AEW World Champion: MJF (since 11/19/22)</i></b></div><div><b><i>AEW World Tag Team Champions: The Gunn Club (since 2/8/23)</i></b></div><div><b><i>AEW Women’s World Champion: Jamie Hayter (since 11/19/22)</i></b></div><div><b><i>AEW TNT Champion: Powerhouse Hobbs (since 3/8/23)</i></b></div><div><b><i>AEW International Champion: Orange Cassidy (since 10/12/22)</i></b></div><div><b><i>AEW TBS Champion: Jade Cargill (since 1/5/22)</i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Commentators -<i> </i></b><i>Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, & Taz</i></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDoK_P2Lae2PqNfwL1YxGbt8b6CiMzqCS00lVsiGfs4EJ5bgU3dJQamLvOxoL-Hv73tf8OPJdp8BmfJ7KW3n5YQiEhPt7qb8PdE_TXQtBrtj25UZdjKoOG0WYWKfqpZR5hgpDOl3dp5LOrSiJTPfd_9ogV8jp0XNN4SL8IENezw_KtCsAT1trAblBeg/s1366/C2DA6C82-E44A-4F8C-9611-09F0F078B089.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDoK_P2Lae2PqNfwL1YxGbt8b6CiMzqCS00lVsiGfs4EJ5bgU3dJQamLvOxoL-Hv73tf8OPJdp8BmfJ7KW3n5YQiEhPt7qb8PdE_TXQtBrtj25UZdjKoOG0WYWKfqpZR5hgpDOl3dp5LOrSiJTPfd_9ogV8jp0XNN4SL8IENezw_KtCsAT1trAblBeg/s320/C2DA6C82-E44A-4F8C-9611-09F0F078B089.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) Juice Robinson vs. Ricky Starks</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I’m gonna be completely honest, I saw that this was up first and continued working on some music, only to turn around and see Jay White in the damn ring helping Juice assault Starks. Everyone knows I’m drained on anything Bullet Club related and Juice in AEW does nothing for me, and I’m top of that I’m not necessarily a massive Jay White fan. HOWEVER, a surprise Jay White debut instead of a 12 minute Juice match on dynamite? I’ll get riled up over that. Awesome, unique way to start the show that definitely breaks the formula that AEW normally uses. Jay & Juice too sweet and commentators are openly referring to this as Bullet Club which is interesting to me considering White is no longer under contract to NJPW and neither is Juice.</div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage, Chris Jericho has an interview about Adam Cole. Keith Lee walks up and says he’s had battles with Adam Cole in the past, but he has respect for him. Jericho doesn’t and he challenges him to a match next week to teach him a lesson in respect. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, & Buddy Matthews) (c) (w/ Julia Hart) vs. Best Friends (Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, & Trent?) - AEW Trios Title Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Decent little match here. They don’t run too long and we get signature OC/Best Friends stuff which Dynamite wouldn’t feel the same without. These two teams on paper are the perfect foil for one another gimmick wise. In ring, it’s fine. They run through stuff, the best part for me is Brody King. The way they built toward Trent hitting a piledriver on him was great. Buddy pins Chuck in the end to retain.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **3/4</b></div><div><br /></div><div>In a pre-tape, Christian Cage is staring at us as Luchasaurus walks up out of some smoke with some crazy new mask on.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Jamie Hayter (c) (w/ Britt Baker) vs. Riho - AEW Women’s World Championship Match</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This will always be a great match. Jamie is the best women’s wrestler in the world and Riho is the Rey Mysterio of AEW. Everyone loves her and she’s phenomenal fighting from underneath, especially against a brute like Jamie. It was a little tough because both women are babyface now, but it was still a very good back & forth match and easily the best match on this show. Jamie retains after a couple of ripcord lariats. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ***1/2</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The Outcasts are backstage after Jamie’s celebration. Ruby Soho says that she better not get too comfortable with that title because one of the three is coming for it soon. Saraya plugs their shirt and Renee sends it back to the ring. </div><div><br /></div><div>BACK ON THE STAGE AND MATT MENARD & ANGELO PARKER ARE HERE. After we find out what makes Daddy Magic’s nipples hard, The Acclaimed interrupts. Amazing reaction for them. Ang & Menard are still trying to get The Acclaimed to join JAS so they got them an 8 man tag together for Rampage. They do the scissor me bit and yeahhhh! </div><div><br /></div><div>It’s MJF DAY. They show clips of him earlier in the day getting the key to Long Island. We cut back to the arena and MJF comes out and does a full fledged performance with a band backing him. I thought we were gonna get out easy and only get singing from him instead of a long winded promo, but I was wrong. The singing was lowkey so much better. He tells a story about some teacher who doubted his wrestling dream and calls her a stupid bitch. He says any kid out there watching should know they can do anything in life if they work hard, but the one thing no one can do is be MJF. On his way back up the ramp, Jungle Boy is disguised as a member of the band. He attacks MJF and they get pulled apart as Sammy Guevara comes out for the next match.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>4) Sammy Guevara vs. Komander </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Guevara poses with MJF’s World Championship at the top of the ramp before coming to the ring. He’s coming off a victory over Konosuke Takeshita on Rampage. An unfortunate occurrence followed by another unfortunate occurrence here as he defeats Komander in a match that was very much a Sammy match. They do stuff, most of it doesn’t make sense, but Komander isn’t able to fully go off so it’s less fun than most of his matches as this is more about him bumping around for Guevara. Darby Allin is in the rafters looking on and the cameras show him. They’re hyping up this pillars four way very well, even though I’m not sold on it as a PPV main event level match. Guevara wins with his finisher thing. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2 </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>4) HOOK vs. Ethan Page (w/ Matt Hardy) - FTW Title Match</b></div><div><br /></div><div>HOOK is HOOK and is cool. He retains in under two minutes and for some reason they are running this back again on Rampage on Friday. </div><div><br /></div><div>Backstage or in a pre-tape, Nigel McGuinness & Tony Khan with some help from Adam Cole announce the return of All In with AEW’s debut in the UK at WEMBLEY FUCKING STADIUM ON AUGUST 27th. Unbelievable. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>5) Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & Wheeler Yuta (w/ Bryan Danielson) vs. SOME JOBBERS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Minute or so long squash and it rocks. BCC stands tall and Danielson cuts a promo on why he realigned with BCC and how much he loves each of his stablemates.. even Yuta who is in his words “a little shit” .. Danielson goes on to say there are no other real professionals in AEW and no other real wrestlers in the building besides them. HANGMAN PAGE COMES DOWN TO CHALLENGE THIS AND GOES RIGHT INTO THE FIRING SQUAD. Mox, Claudio, & Yuta beat him down. Danielson screams that he’s an amateur. Danielson says he has no friends and is not a pro wrestler. God damn this rules. Danielson then pulls out a screwdriver and jams it into the face/eye of Page. Crazy ass segment and this heel BCC run continues to deliver. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>6) The Gunn Club (c) vs. FTR - AEW World Tag Team Title Match </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This was just a bad.. bad match. Thank god the Gunn’s title reign is over and thank god FTR finally has those titles back, but good grief, this sucked. FTR gave them way more than they deserved. I was unable to bite on any of the nearfalls. It just felt clunky and full of good ideas with bad, not smooth execution. Whatever. It’s over. FTR wins like we all hoped and assumed. Get the Gunn’s off my tv for the next.. however long. FTR celebrates to close the show and are joined by Mark Briscoe <3</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - *3/4</b></div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-58585492006957791042023-02-03T17:22:00.002-05:002023-02-03T17:22:36.582-05:00The Top 100 Matches of 2022 - Pro Wrestling Truth Year End Awards<p><br /></p><ol class="ol1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Eddie Kingston, Santana & Ortiz vs. Chris Jericho, Daniel Garcia, Jake Hager, Matt Menard, & Angelo Parker - AEW 5/29 - *****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs. Bryan Danielson - AEW Title Match - AEW 1/5 - *****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">El Desperado vs. Jun Kasai - JTO: TakaTaichiDespeMania 9/12 - *****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">FTR (c) vs. The Briscoes - Dog Collar Match - ROH 12/11 - *****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">FTR (c) vs. The Briscoes - ROH World Tag Title Match - ROH 7/23 - ****3/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley vs. Wheeler Yuta - AEW 4/8 - ****3/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Briscoes (c) vs. FTR - ROH Tag Title Match - ROH 4/1 - ****3/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs. Death Triangle - AEW 11/18 - ****3/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">CM Punk vs. MJF - Dog Collar Match - AEW 3/6 - ****3/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kazuchika Okada vs. JONAH - NJPW 8/7 - ****3/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">FTR (c) vs. The Young Bucks - ROH & AAA Tag Title Match - AEW 4/6 - ****3/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kazusada Higuchi (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita - KO-D Title Match - DDT: Who’s Gonna Top? 9/25 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley (c) vs. CM Punk - AEW World Title Match - AEW 9/4 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia - AEW 7/27 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Swerve Strickland & Keith Lee vs. The Acclaimed - AEW 9/4 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eddie Kingston vs. Chris Jericho - AEW 3/6 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley vs. Biff Busick - GCW 3/31 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Chris Jericho vs. Tomohiro Ishii - AEW 11/23 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega vs. Hangman Page, John Silver, & Alex Reynolds - AEW 9/4 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay - NJPW 8/18 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">FTR vs. The Briscoes - ROH 12/10 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay & Aussie Open - AEW 8/31 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Briscoes (c) vs. John Wayne Murdoch & Alex Colon vs. Los Macizos vs. Effy & Allie Katch vs. Second Gear Crew - War Games - GCW 9/3 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia - 2/3 Falls Match - AEW 8/17 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Hangman Page vs. CM Punk - AEW 5/29 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Shingo Takagi vs. Zack Sabre Jr - NJPW 3/26 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kazusada Higuchi vs. Naomi Yoshimura - King of DDT Finals - DDT 7/2 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Bryan Danielson vs. Jon Moxley - AEW 3/6 - ****1/2 </span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley (c) vs. Chris Jericho - AEW 8/10 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley, Eddie Kingston, Wheeler Yuta, Claudio Castagnoli, Santana & Ortiz vs. Chris Jericho, Daniel Garcia, Sammy Guevara, Angelo Parker, & Matt Menard - Blood & Guts Match - AEW 6/29 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley vs. Will Ospreay - NJPW 4/16 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mike Bailey vs. Masha Slamovich - GCW 5/21 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Jay White - IWGP Title Match - NJPW 6/12 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada - IWGP Title Match - NJPW 1/4 - ****1/2</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jungle Boy vs. Luchasaurus - Steel Cage Match - AEW 11/18 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">CM Punk & Jon Moxley vs. FTR - AEW 2/9 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter - AEW 11/18 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">CM Punk vs. MJF - AEW 2/2 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Zack Sabre Jr vs. KENTA - NJPW 7/17 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Dax Harwood vs. Will Ospreay - AEW 6/15 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley vs. Daniel Garcia - AEW 6/1 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Acclaimed (c) vs. FTR - AEW 12/7 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs. Death Triangle - AEW 11/23 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Bryan Danielson vs. Sammy Guevara - AEW 11/9 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita - AEW 7/13 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley vs. El Desperado - NJPW 7/30 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Top Flight - AEW 12/28 - ****1/4 </span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI vs. Jun Kasai & Tomoaki Honma - JTO 12/23 - ****1/4 </span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mike Bailey (c) vs. Trey Miguel - Impact 7/1 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">John Wayne Murdoch vs. Matt Tremont - GCW 8/13 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">El Lindaman (c) vs. Shigehiro Irie - GLEAT 5/18 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Bryan Danielson vs. Hangman Page - AEW 9/7 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Alex Colon (c) vs. Rina Yamashita - Ultraviolent Title Match - GCW 8/13 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">El Desperado & DOUKI vs. Tomoaki Honma & Jun Kasai - JTO 5/6 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Rina Yamashita & Toru Suguira vs. Los Macizos - GCW 6/5 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">El Lindaman (c) vs. DOUKI - GLEAT 8/24 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Z-brats vs. Kung Fu Masters - Dragon Gate 7/30 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eddie Kingston vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW 5/14 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley vs. Tom Lawlor - Defy 4/30 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley vs. Tony Deppen - GCW 6/18 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Young Bucks (c) vs. Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland vs. Ricky Starks & Powerhouse Hobbs - AEW 7/13 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Drew Parker vs. Cole Radrick - GCW 6/4 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Will Ospreay vs. Tetsuya Naito - NJPW 8/17 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Britt Baker (c) vs. Thunder Rosa - Steel Cage Match for AEW Women’s Title - AEW 3/16 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Hangman Page vs. Konosuke Takeshita - AEW 5/18 - ****1/4 </span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Malakai Black, Brody King, & Buddy Matthews vs. PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo, & Erick Redbeard - AEW 3/6 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega vs. Andrade El Idolo, Dragon Lee, & RUSH - AEW 8/17 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus (c) vs. The Young Bucks vs. ReDragon - AEW 3/6 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Shingo Takagi vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW 3/7 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kazuchika Okada vs. El Desperado - NJPW 3/2 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado - NJPW 6/3 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Zack Sabre Jr vs. Will Ospreay - NJPW 3/21 - ****1/4</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eddie Kingston vs. Jun Akiyama - AEW 11/18 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Rey Fenix vs. Dante Martin - AEW 5/4 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Gringo Loco, Abismo Negro Jr, & Flamita vs. Laredo Kid, Rey Horus, & ASF - GCW 4/1 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eddie Kingston vs. Tomohiro Ishii - AEW 9/4 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kazusada Higuchi (c) vs. Yukio Sakaguchi - DDT 10/22 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - AEW 6/26 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eddie Kingston, Wheeler Yuta, & Shota Umino vs. Minoru Suzuki, Chris Jericho, & Sammy Guevara - AEW/NJPW 6/26 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta vs. Best Friends - AEW 7/20 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jon Moxley vs. Will Ospreay vs. Juice Robinson - NJPW 5/14 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Wheeler Yuta (c) vs. Daniel Garcia - ROH Pure Title Match - ROH 7/23 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Minoru Suzuki vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW 4/16 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly - AEW 6/8 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Sammy Guevara (c) - Ladder Match for TNT Title - AEW 1/26 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Brody King vs. Darby Allin - AEW 7/20 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Dragon Lee vs. RUSH - ROH 7/23 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jon Moxley (c) vs. CM Punk (c) - AEW 8/24 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">T-Hawk vs. El Lindaman - GLEAT 2/22 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Cole Radrick (c) vs. Mike Bailey - Unsanctioned Pro 4/3 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">CM Punk vs. Dustin Rhodes - AEW 4/20 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Will Ospreay vs. Orange Cassidy - AEW 6/26 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Cole Radrick (c) vs. Colby Corino - GCW 8/19</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Sawyer Wreck vs. Joey Janela - GCW 6/5 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Young Bucks vs. Rey Fenix & Penta Oscuro - AEW 6/3 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Bryan Danielson vs. Hangman Adam Page - AEW 9/7 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">David Finlay vs. Juice Robinson - NJPW 7/26 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">AJ Gray vs. Mike Bailey vs. Cole Radrick vs. Nick Wayne vs. Jordan Oliver vs. Jimmy Lloyd - GCW 6/5 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kyle O’Reilly vs. Rey Fenix - AEW 5/18 - ****</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eddie Kingston vs. SLADE - Beyond 8/21 - ****</span></li></ol>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-41084348351383330862023-01-26T12:23:00.167-05:002024-01-18T21:45:46.002-05:002023 Match Rating Archive / MOTY Tracker<div><br /></div><div>Y'all know the deal. My lists for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 can be found <a href="http://www.prowrestlingtruth.com/p/match-ratingreview-archive.html">here!</a></div><div><br /></div><div><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>January: </b></span></u></div><div><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></div><div><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUs0THKHt6vYkTagm_-EJMtB2noVP3tbxwI9I8ueH1V-GeMb3gBPtBa28SMgoiNs_8MBpZUihilBvnJUXlcEXVciOgk0ENqGpLcdXc7sBXQ0ofeCJUfCc66JZ39szZD05tw9Aj9GknyShqRpDrNL7nLuVtKjL8f6CvsZs80uQDEZ_GDzBgIxkT-ebWqQ/s1920/danban.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUs0THKHt6vYkTagm_-EJMtB2noVP3tbxwI9I8ueH1V-GeMb3gBPtBa28SMgoiNs_8MBpZUihilBvnJUXlcEXVciOgk0ENqGpLcdXc7sBXQ0ofeCJUfCc66JZ39szZD05tw9Aj9GknyShqRpDrNL7nLuVtKjL8f6CvsZs80uQDEZ_GDzBgIxkT-ebWqQ/s320/danban.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></u><div><br /></div><div>Satoshi Kojima & Takashi Sugiura (c) vs. KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji - GHC Heavyweight Tag Title Match - NOAH: The New Year - 1/1/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Kaito Kiyomiya (c) vs. Kenoh - GHC Heavyweight Title Match - NOAH: New Year - 1/1/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div>Will Ospreay (c) vs. Kenny Omega - IWGP US Heavyweight Title Match - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom - 1/4/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Yuka Sakazaki (c) vs. Miyu Yamashita - Princess of Princess Championship Match - TJPW: TJPW ‘23 - 1/4/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>El Lindaman (c) vs. Kaito Ishida - G-Rex Title Match - GLEAT: Ver. 5 - 1/8/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page - AEW: Dynamite - 1/11/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Jungle Boy & Hook vs. Lee Moriarty & Big Bill - AEW: Dynamite - 1/11/23 - ***1/4 </div><div><br /></div><div>Bryan Danielson vs. Konosuke Takeshita - AEW: Dynamite - 1/11/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Death Triangle vs. The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega - Best of 7 Series Final - AEW: Dynamite - 1/11/23 - ***3/4 </div><div><br /></div><div>The Young Bucks vs. Top Flight - AEW: Dynamite - 1/18/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Bryan Danielson vs. Bandido - AEW: Dynamite - 1/18/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Darby Allin (c) vs. KUSHIDA - TNT Title Match - AEW: Dynamite - 1/18/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Volador Jr. (c) vs. Rocky Romero - CMLL: Super Viernes - 1/20/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Kazuchika Okada & Togi Makabe vs. Kaito Kiyomiya & Yoshiki Inamura - NJPW: Wrestle Kingdom 17 (Yokohama) - 1/21/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Komander vs. Jack Cartwheel - AAA: Luchando Por Mexico - 1/21/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Darby Allin, Sting, & The Great Muta vs. Naomichi Marufuji, AKIRA, & Hakushi - NOAH: Great Muta Final Bye Bye - 1/22/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Bryan Danielson vs. Brian Cage - AEW: Dynamite - 1/25/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Mark Briscoe vs. Jay Lethal - AEW: Dynamite - 1/25/23 - ***3/4 </div><div><br /></div><div>Hangman Page vs. Wheeler Yuta - AEW: Rampage - 1/27/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Jamie Hayter vs. Emi Sakura - AEW: Rampage - 1/27/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Kazusada Higuchi (c) vs. Yuji Hino - KO-D Openweight Title Match - DDT: Sweet Dreams - 1/29/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>FEBRUARY: </u></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page - AEW: Dynamite - 2/1/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Bryan Danielson vs. Timothy Thatcher - AEW: Dynamite - 2/1/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Samoa Joe vs. Darby Allin - AEW: Dynamite - 2/1/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>TJP & Francesco Akira (c) vs. DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title Match - NJPW: New Beginning - 2/4/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Will Ospreay vs. Taichi - NJPW: New Beginning - 2/4/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Chihiro Hashimoto vs. Mirai - STARDOM: 12th Anniversary Supreme Fight - 2/4/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Nanae Takahashi & Yuu (c) vs. Himeka & Maika - Godesses of Stardom Title Match - STARDOM: 12th Anniversary Supreme Fight - 2/4/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Giulia (c) vs. Suzu Suzuki - World of Stardom Title Match- Stardom: 12th Anniversary Supreme Fight - 2/4/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Zack Sabre Jr (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW Tv Title Match - NJPW: New Beginning in Sapporo - 2/5/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>MJF vs. Konosuke Takeshita - AEW: Dynamite - 2/8/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Bryan Danielson vs. RUSH - AEW: Dynamite - 2/8/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks (c) vs. AR Fox & Top Flight - AEW Trios Title Match - AEW: Dynamite - 2/8/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Shingo Takagi - IWGP Heavyweight Title Match - NJPW: New Beginning In Osaka - 2/11/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Gringo Loco (c) vs. El Hijo Del Vikingo vs. Black Taurus vs. Rey Horus - DREAMWAVE Title Match - DREAMWAVE - 2/11/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Abdullah Kobayashi & Daiju Wakamatsu vs. Masashi Takeda & Takumi Tsukamoto - Flourescent Light Tubes Death Match - BJW: Big Cheers - 2/13/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. RUSH & Preston Vance - Texas Tornado Match - AEW: Dynamite - 2/15/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>KUSHIDA, Kevin Knight, The DKC, & Volador Jr vs. Rocky Romero, Josh Alexander, Mascara Dorado, & Adrian Quest - NJPW: Battle in the Valley - 2/18/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Eddie Kingston vs. Jay White - Loser Leaves NJPW - NJPW: Battle in the Valley - 2/18/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Kairi (c) vs. Mercedes Mone - IWGP Women’s Championship Match - NJPW: Battle in the Valley - 2/18/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - IWGP World Title Match - NJPW: Battle in the Valley - 2/18/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Tetsuya Naito vs. Keiji Mutoh - NOAH: Keiji Mutoh Final Last Love - 2/21/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Wheeler Yuta - All Atlantic Title Match - AEW: Dynamite - 2/22/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Drew Parker & Rina Yamashita vs. Mei Suruga & Baliyan Akki - Gatoh Move Pro - 2/23/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley (c) vs. Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham - IMPACT Tag Title Match - IMPACT - 2/23/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>El Desperado, Mistico, & Soberano Jr vs. DOUKI, Hechicero, & Templario - NJPW/CMLL Fantasticamania - 2/26/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Capitan Suicida vs. Ultimo Guerrero - NJPW/CMLL: Fantasticamania - 2/27/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Volador Jr vs. Templario - NJPW/CMLL: Fantasticamania - 2/27/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Titan vs. Soberano Jr. - NJPW/CMLL: Fantasticamania - 2/27/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>MARCH:</u></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Riho vs. Emi Sakura - AEW: Rampage - 3/3/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Saya Kamitani (c) vs. Hazuki - Wonder of Stardom Title Match - STARDOM: Triangle Derby - 3/4/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>AZM (c) vs. Starlight Kid - High Speed Title Match - STARDOM: Triangle Derby - 3/4/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Guilia (c) vs. Maya Yukihi - World of Stardom Title Match - STARDOM: Triangle Derby - 3/4/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Suzu Suzuki, Risa Sera, & Hiragi Kurumi (c) vs. MIRAI, Syuri, & Ami Sourei - Artist of Stardom Title Match / Derby Finals - STARDOM: Triangle Derby - 3/4/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Sanada vs. Taichi - NJPW: New Japan Cup - 3/5/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Jack Perry vs. Christian Cage - Final Burial Match - AEW: Revolution - 3/5/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega (c) vs. House of Black (Brody King, Malakai Black, & Buddy Matthews) - Trios Title Match - AEW: Revolution - 3/5/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page - Texas Death Match - AEW: Revolution - 3/5/23 - *****</div><div><br /></div><div>MJF (c) vs. Bryan Danielson - Iron Man Match for AEW World Championship - AEW: Revolution - 3/5/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Hirooki Goto & Yoshi Hashi (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi - IWGP Heavyweight Tag Title Match - NJPW: 51st Anniv Show - 3/6/23 - ****</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Shingo Takagi vs. Aaron Henare - NJPW: New Japan Cup - 3/10/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Yuji Okabayashi (c) vs. Daimonji So - BJW Strong Heavyweight Title Match - BJW - 3/11/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Balliyan Akki, Mei Suruga, & Ken Ohka vs. Shin Suzuki, Chon Shiryu, & Sawasadee Kamen - Gatoh Move/Choco Pro: 300 Day 1 - 3/11/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Hirooki Goto vs. Kyle Fletcher - NJPW: New Japan Cup - 3/12/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Komander, Aigle Blanc, & Senza Volto vs. Trey Miguel, Fuminori Abe, & Arez - WXW: 16 Carat Gold - 3/12/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis - NJPW: New Japan Cup - 3/13/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shota Umino - NJPW: New Japan Cup - 3/15/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Chihiro Hashimoto vs. Mio Momono - MARVELOUS: Womens Pro Wrestling - 3/15/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & Wheeler Yuta vs. Hangman Page, Evil Uno, & Stu Grayson - AEW: Dynamite - 3/15/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Jeff Jarrett - AEW International Title Match - AEW: Dynamite - 3/15/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>House of Black (c) vs. The Elite vs. Jericho Appreciation Society - Trios Title Match - AEW: Dynamite - 3/15/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Tetsuya Naito vs. SANADA - NJPW: New Japan Cup - 3/17/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Miu Watanabe (c) vs. Rika Tatsumi - International Princess Title Match - TJPW: Grand Princess ‘23 - 3/18/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Yuka Sakazaki (c) vs. Mizuki - Princess of Princess Title Match - TJPW: Grand Princess '23 - 3/18/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>SANADA vs. Mark Davis - NJPW: New Japan Cup - 3/19/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Masha Slamovich (c) vs. Mike Bailey - GCW Title Match - GCW: Worst Enemy - 3/19/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Kaito Ishida (c) vs. KAZMA SAKAMOTO - GRex Title Match - GLEAT: Ver 47 - 3/21/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. Lio Rush - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title Match - NJPW: New Japan Cup - 3/21/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Kenny Omega vs. El Hijo Del Vikingo - AEW: Dynamite - 3/22/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Drew Parker & Abdullah Kobayashi vs. Jun Kasai & Masashi Takeda - FREEDOMS - 3/23/23 - ***1/2 </div><div><br /></div><div>Violento Jack (c) vs. Tomoyo Hirata - King of Freedoms Title Match - FREEDOMS - 3/23/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>KAIRI & Nanae Takahashi vs. Tam Nakano & Waka Tsukiyami - STARDOM: New Blood - 3/25/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Kenny Omega (c) vs. Jeff Cobb - IWGP US Title Match - AEW: Dynamite - 3/29/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Killer Kelly vs. Marina Schafir - GCW: Bloodsport 9 - 3/30/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Kota Ibushi vs. Mike Bailey - GCW: Bloodsport 9 - 3/30/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley vs. Alex Coughlin - GCW: Bloodsport 9 - 3/30/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy Thatcher vs. Josh Barnett - GCW: Bloodsport 9 - 3/30/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Konosuke Takeshita vs. Yuki Ueno - DDT goes Hollywood - 3/30/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Mike Bailey - IMPACT/NJPW: Multiverse - 3/30/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Wasteland War Party vs. Miu Watanabe & Shoko Nakajima - TJPW Live in LA - 3/31/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh (c) vs. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki - TJPW Live in LA - 3/31/23 - **** </div><div><br /></div><div>El Hijo Del Vikingo (c) vs. Komander - AAA Mega Championship Match - ROH: Supercard of Honor - 3/31/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Athena (c) vs. Yuka Sakazaki - ROH Women's Title Match - ROH: Supercard of Honor - 3/31/23 - ***1/4 </div><div><br /></div><div>Samoa Joe (c) vs. Mark Briscoe - ROH TV Title Match - ROH: Supercard of Honor - 3/31/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Lucha Bros vs. Top Flight vs. The Kingdom vs. RUSH & Dralistico vs. Aussie Open - Reach for the Sky Ladder Match for the ROH World Tag Team Title Match - ROH: Supercard of Honor - 3/31/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Claudio Castagnoli (c) vs. Eddie Kingston - ROH World Championship Match - ROH: Supercard of Honor - 3/31/23 - ****3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley (c) vs. East West Express (Jordan Oliver & Nick Wayne) - GCW Tag Team Title Match - GCW: Joey Janela's Spring Break 7 - 3/31/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>BUSSY (Effy & Allie Katch) vs. Maki Death Kill (Nick Gage & Maki Itoh) - GCW: Joey Janela's Spring Break 7 - 3/31/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Kota Ibushi vs. Joey Janela - GCW: Joey Janela's Spring Break 7 - 3/31/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>APRIL:</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley - WWE Women's Championship Match - WWE: WrestleMania 39 - 4/1/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>The Usos (c) vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn - WWE Tag Team Title Match - WWE: WrestleMania 39 - 4/1/23 - ****3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Aaron Henare - King of Pro Wrestling Title Match - NJPW: Road to Sakura Genesis - 4/2/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Suzu Suzuki, Hiragi Kurumi, & Risa Sera (c) vs. AZM, Utami Hayashihita, & Saya Kamitani - Artists of Stardom Title Match - STARDOM: Cinderella Tournament - 4/2/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Gunther (c) vs. Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre - Intercontinental Title Match - WWE: WrestleMania 39 - 4/2/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Kota Minoura vs. Madoka Kikuta - Dragon Gate: Gate of Passion - 4/5/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Jamie Hayter (c) vs. Riho - AEW Women's World Championship Match - AEW: Dynamite - 4/5/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Mercedes Mone (c) vs. AZM vs. Hazuki - IWGP Women’s Title Match - NJPW: Sakura Genesis - 4/8/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Zack Sabre Jr (c) vs. Shota Umino - NJPW TV Championship Match - NJPW: Sakura Genesis - 4/8/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & Yoshi Hashi) (c) vs. Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) - IWGP Tag Title Match - NJPW: Sakura Genesis - 4/8/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. Robbie Eagles - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title Match - NJPW: Sakura Genesis - 4/8/23 - ***3/4 </div><div><br /></div><div>Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. SANADA - IWGP World Title Match - NJPW: Sakura Genesis - 4/8/23 - ****1/4 </div><div><br /></div><div>Kento Miyahara vs. Yuma Aoyagi - AJPW: Champion Carnival 2023 N1 - 4/8/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Kaito Ishida (c) vs. T-Hawk - G-Rex Title Match - GLEAT: Ver 49 - 4/12/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Swerve Strickland vs. Darby Allin - AEW: Dynamite - 4/12/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Buddy Matthews - AEW International Title Match - AEW: Dynamite - 4/12/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Giulia & Syuri vs. Himeka & Maika - STARDOM - 4/14/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Mizuki (c) vs. Nao Kikuta - Princess of Princess Title Match - TJPW: Stand Alone - 4/15/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Tomohiro Ishii vs. El Desperado - NJPW: Capital Collision - 4/15/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) - NJPW STRONG Tag Titles - NJPW: Capital Collision - 4/15/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) vs. Lio Rush & Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW: Collision - 4/16/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>RUSH & LA Park vs. Blue Demon Jr. & DMT Azul - AAA: Triplemania XXXI - 4/16/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>El Hijo Del Vikingo (c) vs. Komander vs. Swerve Strickland vs. Rich Swann - AAA Mega Championship Match - AAA: Triplemania XXXI - 4/16/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Jake Lee (c) vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima - GHC Heavyweight Title Match - NOAH: Green Journey In Sendai - 4/16/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Britt Baker & Jamie Hayter vs. Toni Storm & Ruby Soho - AEW: Dynamite - 4/19/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Jay White vs. Komander - AEW: Dynamite - 4/19/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Tony Deppen vs. Bryan Keith - GCW: Into the Light - 4/21/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Mike Bailey vs. Alex Zayne - GCW: Into the Light - 4/21/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>El Hijo Del Vikingo (c) vs. Komander - AAA Mega Championship Match - GCW: Into the Light - 4/21/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>AZM & Mei Suruga vs. Starlight Kid & Mei Seira - STARDOM: All Star Grand Queendom - 4/23/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Utami Hayashishita & Miyu Amasaki vs. Fuwa-chan & Hazuki - STARDOM: All Star Grand Queendom - 4/23/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Himeka vs. Maika - STARDOM: All Star Grand Queendom - 4/23/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Chihiro Hashimoto vs. Syuri - STTARDOM: All Star Grand Queendom - 4/23/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Saya Kamitani (c) vs. Mina Shirakawa - Wonder of Stardom Title Match - STARDOM: All Star Grand Queendom - 4/23/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Mercedes Mone (c) vs. Mayu Iwatani - IWGP Women's Title Match - STARDOM: All Star Grand Queendom - 4/23/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Giulia (c) vs. Tam Nakano - World of Stardom Title Match - STARDOM: All Star Grand Queendom - 4/23/23 - ****3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru - IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title Match - NJPW: Road to Wrestling Dontaku - 4/27/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Emi Sakura (c) vs. Miyuki Takase - DPW Womens World Title Match - DPW/Gatoh Move: Tokyo Crossover - 4/27/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) vs. TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste) - IWGP Heavyweight Tag Title Match - NJPW - 4/29/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">MAY: </span></u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Tetsuya Endo (c) vs. MAO - DDT Universal Championshio Match - DDT: Mega Max Bump - 5/3/23 - ***1/2 </div><div><br /></div><div>Chikayo Nagashima (c) vs. Mio Momono - AAAW Title Match - MARVELOUS: 7th Anniv Show - 5/3/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Jeff Cobb - NJPW TV Title Match - NJPW: Wrestling Dontaku - 5/3/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Jonathan Gresham vs. Mike Bailey - TNA: Impact - 5/3/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Astronauts (Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura) (c) vs. Hiroyuki Suzuki & Takuho Kato - BJW Tag Team Title Match - BJW: Endless Survivor - 5/4/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Yuji Okabayashi (c) vs. Yuya Aoki - BJW World Strong Title Match - BJW: Endless Survivor - 5/4/23 - ****3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Mina Shirakawa (c) vs. Natsupoi - Wonder of Stardom Title Match - STARDOM - 5/4/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Jake Lee (c) vs. Naomichi Marufuji - GHC Heavyweight Title Match - NOAH: Majestic - 5/4/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Shun Skywalker (c) vs. Madoka Kikuta - Open the Dream Gate Championship Match - Dragon Gate: Dead or Alive - 5/5/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>El Hijo Del Vikingo, Rey Fenix, & Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Powerhouse Hobbs, QT Marshall, & Aaron Solo - AEW: Rampage - 5/5/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>T-Hawk vs. Shotaro Ashino - AJPW: Champion Carnival Tag 10 - 5/7/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Claudio Castagnoli vs. Rey Fenix - AEW: Dynamite - 5/10/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega - Steel Cage Match - AEW: Dynamite - 5/10/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Hiromu Takahashi vs. Mike Bailey - NJPW: Best of The Super Juniors N1 - 5/12/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Roderick Strong vs. Chris Jericho - Falls Count Anywhere Match - AEW: Dynamite - 5/17/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>RUSH vs. Jack Perry - AEW: Dynamite - 5/17/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Mina Shirakawa vs. Tam Nakano - Wonder of Stardom/World of Stardom Title Match - STARDOM: Flashing Champions - 5/27/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta vs. Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, & The Young Bucks - Anarchy in the Arena II - AEW: Double or Nothing - 5/28/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">JUNE:</span></u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Konosuke Takeshita, Wheeler Yuta, & Shota Umino vs. Hangman Page, The Young Bucks, Eddie Kingston & Tomohiro Ishii - AEW: Forbidden Door - 6/25/23 - ****3/4</div><div>JULY: </div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley & Homicide vs. El Desperado & Jun Kasai - NJPW: - 7/4/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>FTR vs. Jay White & Juice Robinson - AEW: Collision - 7/8/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>CM Punk vs. Samoa Joe - AEW: Collision - 7/8/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Chris Jericho vs. Komander - AEW: Dynamite - 7/12/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Mizuki vs. Miyu Yamashita - TJPW: Princess Cup 10 - 7/15/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Yota Tsuji - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/15/23 - ***1/2 </div><div><br /></div><div>Tomohiro Ishii vs. David Finlay - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/16/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Eddie Kingston vs. Shingo Takagi - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/16/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/16/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Tetsuya Naito vs. Jeff Cobb - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/16/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Ren Narita vs. Yota Tsuji - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/18/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Will Ospreay vs. YOSHI-HASHI - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/18/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Kazuchika Okada vs. El Phantasmo - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/18/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Eddie Kingston vs. EVIL - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/19/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Shingo Takagi vs. Aaron Henare - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/19/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Konosuke Takeshita, & PAC vs. Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, The Young Bucks, & Kota Ibushi - AEW: Dynamite - 7/19/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>KENTA vs. Will Ospreay - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/21/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Shota Umino vs. Kaito Kiyomiya - NJPW: G1 Climax - 7/21/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/21/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>SANADA vs. Yota Tsuji - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/21/23 - **** </div><div><br /></div><div>Shingo Takagi vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/22/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>CM Punk & Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage & Ricky Starks - AEW: Collision - 7/22/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>SANADA vs. Kaito Kiyomiya - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/25/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Eddie Kingston vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/26/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Zack Sabre Jr vs. Jeff Cobb - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/26/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>YOSHI-HASHI vs. Taichi - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/27/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Gabe Kidd vs. Kaito Kiyomiya - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/27/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Hikuleo vs. Yota Tsuji - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/27/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 7/27/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>AUGUST: </div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Best Friends - Parking Lot Fight - AEW: Rampage - 8/4/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>FTR (c) vs. Big Bill & Brian Cage - AEW World Tag Team Title Match - AEW: Collision - 8/5/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>CM Punk vs. Ricky Starks - AEW: Collision - 8/5/23 - ****1/4 </div><div><br /></div><div>Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetuysa Naito - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 8/9/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Hikuleo vs. Tetsuya Naito - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 8/10/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Will Ospreay vs. David Finlay - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 8/10/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Kazuchika Okada vs. Zack Sabre Jr - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 8/10/23 - ****1/2 </div><div><br /></div><div>Tetsuya Naito vs. Will Ospreay - NJPW: G1 Climax 33 - 8/12/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>CM Punk vs. Samoa Joe - AEW: All In - 8/27/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">SEPTEMBER: </span></u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Bryan Danielson vs. Ricky Starks - Strap Match - AEW: Collision - 9/3/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Jon Moxley - AEW International Title Match - AEW: All Out - 9/4/23 - *****</div><div><br /></div><div>Claudio Castagnoli (c) vs. Eddie Kingston (c) - ROH World & NJPW Strong Title Match - AEW: Dynamite Grand Slam - 9/20/23 - ****1/2 </div><div><br /></div><div>MJF (c) vs. Samoa Joe - AEW World Title Match - AEW: Dynamite Grand Slam - 9/20/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Bron Breaker vs. Baron Corbin - NXT: No Mercy - 9/30/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland - AEW: Wrestle Dream - 10/1/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr - AEW: Wrestle Dream - 10/1/23 - ****3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Christian Cage (c) vs. Darby Allin - 2/3 Falls Match for the TNT Title - AEW: Wrestle Dream - 10/1/23 - ****3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Jay White vs. AR Fox - AEW: Collision - 10/28/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland - Texas Death Match - AEW: Full Gear - 11/18/23 - *****</div><div><br /></div><div>Eddie Kingston vs. Brody King - AEW: Collision - 11/25/23 - ****1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>DECEMBER:</div><div><br /></div><div>Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brody King - AEW: Collision - 12/2/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Andrade El Idolo vs. Daniel Garcia - AEW: Collision - 12/2/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Bryan Danielson vs. Eddie Kingston - AEW: Collision - 12/2/23 - ****1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Eddie Kingston vs. Claudio Castagnoli - AEW: Collision - 12/9/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Bryan Danielson vs. Andrade El Idolo - AEW: Collision - 12/9/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Claudio Castagnoli vs. Andrade El Idolo - AEW: Collision - 12/16/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Eddie Kingston vs. Daniel Garcia - AEW: Collision - 12/16/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Bryan Danielson vs. Brody King - AEW: Collision - 12/16/23 - ***3/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Swerve Strickland vs. RUSH - AEW: Dynamite - 12/19/23 - ***1/4</div><div><br /></div><div>Mark Briscoe vs. Jay Lethal - AEW: Dynamite - 12/19/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Roderick Strong vs. Komander - AEW: Dynamite - 12/19/23 - ***1/2</div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley vs. Jay White - AEW: Dynamite - 12/19/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Jon Moxley vs. Jay White vs. Swerve Strickland - AEW: Dynamite - 12/27/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Bryan Danielson vs. Eddie Kingston - AEW: Dynamite - 12/27/23 - *****</div><div><br /></div><div>Christian Cage (c) vs. Adam Copeland - No DQ Match for TNT Title - AEW: World’s End - 12/30/23 - ****</div><div><br /></div><div>Eddie Kingston vs. Jon Moxley - Continental Classic Finals - AEW: World's End - 12/30/23 - ****3/4</div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-26144318889454876982022-08-21T17:14:00.002-04:002022-08-21T17:15:28.141-04:00Random Match Review: Kazusada Higuchi (c) vs. Tetsuya Endo - KO-D Openweight Title Match - DDT: Peter Pan (August 20th, 2022)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TGPnudxGKXAqkfRiyfX1CCiKhcucDfTTIRUr6-BwqkzLpmF5mvTX7nciGfGed5ofMCR2VCezNnh3X69euRt2pR5NflbSTIhMfhoX9Aq2gICaJ-crDcaIujQXQDyEdP3lPmDz7ovkH5XW01IsbsXvhPKn1eCssWIFKEb2lMzF-sfTxSoQ117V6wSB_A/s1334/667CCD0A-63C8-4797-AEE2-D3F4CF1CC6BE.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TGPnudxGKXAqkfRiyfX1CCiKhcucDfTTIRUr6-BwqkzLpmF5mvTX7nciGfGed5ofMCR2VCezNnh3X69euRt2pR5NflbSTIhMfhoX9Aq2gICaJ-crDcaIujQXQDyEdP3lPmDz7ovkH5XW01IsbsXvhPKn1eCssWIFKEb2lMzF-sfTxSoQ117V6wSB_A/s320/667CCD0A-63C8-4797-AEE2-D3F4CF1CC6BE.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>This year, subscribing to Wrestle Universe and having access to DDT, NOAH, and TJPW shows as they happen and after they happen has been one of my best investments. Long gone are the days of scrambling for daily motion and google drive links. </div><div><br /></div><div>With that in mind, I’ve been able to keep up with these promotions, particularly DDT, like never before. In the process of that, Kazusada Higuchi has become one of my favorite people to watch. </div><div><br /></div><div>I looked back through some of my match rating archive lists and found that I had watch stuff of his several years back and gave favorable ratings, but this year and being to view DDT and his work less sporadically turned me into a full fledged fan. It was perfect timing for that to happen as well, to be honest. </div><div><br /></div><div>The lead in to this match was both traumatic and triumphant. On one side, you have Higuchi. A guy who’s been waiting for that moment to step up and grab the proverbial brass ring, so to speak. He capitalized on Endo getting concussed by Katsuhiko Nakajima at Cyber Fight Festival and made his way to the finals of the King of DDT tournament in July. There, he defeated his now partner, Naomi Yoshimura, to become the new KO-D champion and achieve his ultimate destiny. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, a few months have passed and Endo is cleared to compete so naturally he wants the title back that he had to vacate. The story truly wrote itself. It wasn’t quite so predictable, though. This match would determine if Higuchi was just a transitional champion or if they are really going to go with him. An emotional story on both sides of the ring with both men having a lot on the line. </div><div><br /></div><div>They exhibit this story well. Higuchi comes out and looks like an absolute beast of a champion. He carries the DDT flag to the ring and waves it around. This guy truly has stepped into this role with both feet and has not disappointed. </div><div><br /></div><div>As the match begins, it becomes clear that they are going to keep Higuchi strong as Endo struggles to even get the least bit of momentum. He does string together some nice pieces of offense that stun Higuchi, but that’s all they are. They stun him. They don’t shift the momentum or turn the tide. Whether it was the sasuke special or the multiple german suplex reversals. You get glimpses of hope, but largely, Higuchi has his number and delivers an epic performance. </div><div><br /></div><div>The finish to the match sees Endo laying on the mat and Higuchi challenge him to stand. He tells the ref to stop counting and tries to fire Endo up, but also murder him at the same time. Some of the stiffest lariats you’ll see all year come out of this exchange and we get one last fighting spirit fire up from Endo before the former champion is finally put down with the Brain Claw.</div><div><br /></div><div>Higuchi retains after a fantastic match. But things aren’t over here. Higuchi is handed the championship by the living legend Kenta Kobashi and is asked who he wants to defend against on September 25th. The answer is simple… Konosuke Takeshita. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is Takeshita’s first event back since his US excursion and he slowly walks to the ring and comes face to face with Higuchi. Takeshita’s response to this challenge? Simple. “Let’s fight.” </div><div><br /></div><div>September 25th, it will happen. Higuchi and Takeshita are 1-1-1 against each other in the three matches they’ve had over the past few years, but the stakes have never been this high and I can’t wait. See y’all then. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - ****</b></div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-29076125166324317272022-08-14T11:27:00.002-04:002022-08-14T11:27:28.720-04:00WCW Monday Nitro Review - June 3rd, 1996<b>WCW Nitro </b><br />
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<b>June 3rd, 1996 </b></div><div><b>Asheville, North Carolina</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>WCW World Champion: </b><i>The Giant (since 4/29/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW US Champion: </b><i>Konnan (since 1/29/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Tag Team Champions: </b><i>Sting & Lex Luger (since 1/22/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW TV Champion: </b><i>Lex Luger (since 3/6/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Dean Malenko (since 5/18/96) </i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Commentators - </b><i>Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko (Hour One) and Eric Bischoff & Bobby Heenan (Hour Two) (ugh) </i></div>
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<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuP26YApsJH74O8J8_UocMQGrgRRFyK-33GqVUlINn_f0mfTD_Di3C-z2S_PMLbf89exNng9lVqzYj1egR0SCeoI1aOSoNpb56RUF9XzEhbV6srp-sPYpDCmn6HgYtefftsHvTY3vwVEZQKojhOrY7ZeoQsnbMvf7uOfajdW5nPGmuOWZR-sktfbcPgA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="703" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuP26YApsJH74O8J8_UocMQGrgRRFyK-33GqVUlINn_f0mfTD_Di3C-z2S_PMLbf89exNng9lVqzYj1egR0SCeoI1aOSoNpb56RUF9XzEhbV6srp-sPYpDCmn6HgYtefftsHvTY3vwVEZQKojhOrY7ZeoQsnbMvf7uOfajdW5nPGmuOWZR-sktfbcPgA" width="318" /></a></div><br />The Shark opens the show on the ramp to discuss the hair shaving he suffered last week at the hands of Big Bubba. Mean Gene Okerlund hosts the interview. Shark says he’s not a Shark.. he’s a man and his name is John Tenta and he’s gonna destroy Big Bubba and make him feel how he felt last week! AW HELL. Tenta charges the ring and we are underway. </div>
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<b>1) John Tenta vs. Big Bubba (w/ Jimmy Hart)</b></div>
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Tenta hits a body slam and some stuff starting off on fire. Bubba flees the ring when Tenta pulls out some scissors. This leads to a countout victory for Tenta. </div><div><br /></div>
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Awesome backstage interview segment between The Steiners and Sting/Luger, they clash tonight and I can't wait. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) High Voltage (Ruckus & Chaos) vs. Faces of Fear (The Barbarian & Meng)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is the WCW debut for High Voltage. Faces of Fear fucking destroy them. Barbarian hits Ruckus with a belly to belly off the top turnbuckle and considering size of them both, it’s nuts. Mafia Kick from Meng gets them the win. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **</b></div>
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<div><b>3) Craig Pittman (w/ Teddy Long) vs. Disco Inferno </b></div>
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My god. Disco Inferno... He gets destroyed here basically. </div>
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<div><b>4) Lord Steven Regal vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan </b></div>
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Hacksaw looks the same here as he did in his Raw appearances 10 years later lol. Regal talks shit about America in the camera and it's great. This doesn't go very long. Duggan tries to cheat and the Bluebloods come down, allowing Regal to scoop a roll up for the three count.<br />
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Gene Okerlund has a post-match interview with Regal to hype his match with Sting. I can't wait for that.<br />
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Meanwhile, Chris Benoit and Kevin Sullivan are arguing. Oh boy. This is my first time seeing all this Benoit/Sullivan stuff in real time after hearing about it from so many people and in so many different documentaries.<br />
<br /><b>5) Kevin Sullivan vs. Prince Iaukea </b></div><div>
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SQUASH.<br />
<br /><b>6) Ric Flair & Arn Anderson vs. The Rock N Roll Express</b><br />
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FINALLY. Something with some substance. Flair & Anderson bring the goods just like last week and we get an old school tag match with RNR. Nothing all that great, but solid stuff. Post-match, Heenan teases not managing Flair & Anderson only to announce he will "coach" them to beat the NFL players they are facing in a few weeks. Heenan insists he's still in retirement and is only coaching bc he wants to prove wrestling is a different world from the NFL. Anyway, this rocks especially considering my taste in wrestling recently. So much old school shit and awesome spots. RNR catch Anderson & Flair both in figure fours and people go nuts. This cuts us to commercial and afterwards, Anderson & Flair have cut off RNR’s early flurry and cut the ring off for a while. Rob Gibson gets the hot tag and clears house for a second, but can’t get anything going. Flair & Anderson get the victory. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/2</b><br />
<br />Arn Anderson cuts a promo at ringside with Mean Gene. Anderson says he’s TOO THICC to play pro football. Flair walks up and lays into the aforementioned NFL players. Flair says this is a message to the entire Panthers organization.. we are thicker, we are sweeter and we are ALL NIGHT LONG. Bobby Heenan walks up and says he has to decline Flair & Anderson’s offer to manage them at the Bash. HOWEVER, he will COACH them. Brain pulls out his All Madden trophy from 1988. This is a god damn mess. </div><div><br /></div><div>GLACIER IS COMING TO WCW video package airs. <br /><b><br /></b></div><div><b>7) The Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) (c) vs. Ice Train - WCW World Title Match</b></div><div>
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Chokeslam. Pin. Bye. Wow..<br />
<br />After the match, The Giant choke slams Ice Train’s partner Scott Norton and that brings out Hugh Morris for a match. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>8) Scott Norton vs. Hugh Morris </b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“There’s a strange soul…” -Bobby Heenan </i></div><div><br /></div><div>Morris drops a bunch of elbows on Norton who according to Bischoff looks like he’s having a “mild seizure”.. Morris goes up top for a moonsault, Norton attempts to catch him and it doesn’t work, but it leads to the finish as Norton pins Morris. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back from commercial, we see NFL players Mongo McMichaels and Kevin Green at the WCW Power Plant getting a game plan together for the Bash. They’re having trouble comprehending that they should think from a wrestling perspective instead of football. Mongo suggest they find a coach.. Macho Man Randy Savage is who they decide on. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>9) Sting & Lex Luger (c) vs. The Steiner Bros (Scott Steiner & Rick Steiner) - WCW World Tag Team Title Match</b></div><div><br /></div><div>As this thing gets going, Randy Savage calls into the commentary booth. He accepts Mongo & Green’s request for him to manage them at the Bash. Heenan tries to play it cool, but clearly hates this since he will be on the other side managing Anderson & Flair so he tries to talk Savage out of it, but to no avail. Back to the match, The Steiners try to isolate Sting. He fights back against Rick and locks in the deathlock so Scott runs in to break it up. This allows Rick to try to control things again, but Sting keeps fighting and hits a reverse ddt and makes the tag to Luger. Luger lifts Rick up into rack position and Scott breaks it up again. Great tag wrestling here emphasizing the simple stuff. The Giant ends up coming down around 7 minutes in and chokeslams Rick Steiner so the ref calls for the bell. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Match rating - **1/4</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>After the match, Sting & The Steiners clothesline The Giant to the floor and he loses his shit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, at the commentary table, Scott Hall re-emerges. He tells Bischoff to sit down and re-emphasizes that they are here and are gonna finish the war that Bischoff started, CHICO. As Hall continues to verbally attack Bischoff, STIIIING walks up. So sick. This feels huge, immediately. Sting says that Scott Hall must not know where he is... HE'S IN THE JUNGLE BABY and Sting heard everything he had to say about him and WCW. Sting says he'll take on all three of "them", but he only sees one right now.. so how about they go one on one right now. !!!! Hall says he's down, but no one tells him what to do or when to do it and tosses his toothpick at Sting. STING SLAPS HALL AND SECURITY SEPARATES THEM. LETS FUCKIN GOOOOO. Hall backs away and says he has a BIIIIG surprise for Sting next week. Big Kev, I assume??? Oh man. Helluva show closing angle. </div><div><br />
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Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228255700324525342.post-21125159098908296882022-08-14T11:18:00.002-04:002022-08-14T11:18:23.793-04:00WCW Monday Nitro Review - May 27th, 1996<div>
<b>WCW Monday Nitro</b><br />
<b>May 27th, 1996</b></div><div><b>Macon, Georgia</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><b>WCW World Champion: </b><i>The Giant (since 4/29/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW US Champion: </b><i>Konnan (since 1/29/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Tag Team Champions: </b><i>Sting & Lex Luger (since 1/22/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW TV Champion: </b><i>Lex Luger (since 3/6/96)</i></div><div><b>WCW Cruserweight Champion: </b><i>Dean Malenko (since 5/18/96) </i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Commentators - </b><i>Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko (Hour One) and Eric Bischoff & Bobby Heenan (Hour Two) (ugh) </i></div></div><div><b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ6CtGyHuk8XJmDKflqwkiaYuAQjPvdctbB0FZTqZovJoXFOOxOgIgYXdSLwXIgnAmekRzoZxKxVbRPTdxHxBap-1jZvMZaheB1-sJF67VqEXM0FDMrBQtZl-RKaQjP2kwWq1GWGPWHV2gktf3GPcdsa2loynUefnQHiqfIcUFQMEG2X02BSw2ta_bjg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="508" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ6CtGyHuk8XJmDKflqwkiaYuAQjPvdctbB0FZTqZovJoXFOOxOgIgYXdSLwXIgnAmekRzoZxKxVbRPTdxHxBap-1jZvMZaheB1-sJF67VqEXM0FDMrBQtZl-RKaQjP2kwWq1GWGPWHV2gktf3GPcdsa2loynUefnQHiqfIcUFQMEG2X02BSw2ta_bjg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></b>SO outside of a very few select matches (mostly cruserweight stuff), I haven't watched hardly any WCW. My dad was a WWF/Stone Cold head so as a kid, that's all that was on so I don't even have any childhood memories or knowledge of WCW. BUT with having so much time at home recently, I figured there would be no better time to start diving into the company and what better place to start than as the Monday Night Wars were picking up and as the NWO formation began to be teased?<b><br /></b>
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This is the first broadcast of Nitro as a two hour program head to head with Raw's one hour program.</div>
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<b>1) Ric Flair & Arn Anderson vs. The American Males </b></div>
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God, Flair & Anderson are SO GOOD. They make this match somehow seem interesting and believable. They get the win after 11 minutes which you could argue they didn't need but they worked it perfectly and it flew by. </div>
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<b>Match rating - *** </b></div>
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<b>2) Steve Doll vs. Mike Enos</b><br />
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This gets interrupted and one of the most historic moments in WCW history takes place. SCOTT HALL walks through the crowd and cuts the well renowned promo - "You want a war? You've got one..." Crowd is awkwardly quiet in complete shock and awe. WHAT IS GOIN ON. Epic epic moment that is a huge hallmark in the history of the Monday Night Wars and pro wrestling as a whole. </div>
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<b>3) Craig Pittman vs. Diamond Dallas Page</b></div>
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TEDDY LONG is ringside with Pittman. Page gets the win in a glorified squash. D D P.</div>
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Bischoff welcomes us to hour two of Nitro. Man he realllllly is so openly trying to outdo WWE with these little things as Raw was only an hour long at the time and he made a huge deal out of Nitro being 2 hours and being in it's second hour as Raw is just starting for it's one hour program. </div>
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<b>4) The Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. The Shark - WCW World Heavyweight Title Match </b></div>
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Fun squash . People are popping hard for The Giants big strength spots bc he's suuuuper fresh at this point. Giant retains (obvs). </div>
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<b>Match rating - **</b></div>
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<b>5) Lex Luger vs. Maxxx </b></div>
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Luger has a small struggle but overcomes and wins this by hoisting the big boy up on his shoulders in a torture rack for a huge pop. Luger faces The Giant on PPV coming up, they hype this up with a post match interview in the ring.<br />
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<b>6) Bobby Walker vs. Brad Armstrong</b><br />
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This was an attempt at a cruserweight style match and these two tried here, but it's a dud. Walker wins with a diving shoulderblock.<br />
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<b>7) Lord Steven Regal vs. Alex Wright</b><br />
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Regal is excellent. So vicious and on his game. Wright is much younger and green (no pun in reference to his tights) and that makes the story simple. Regal works over Wright hard with holds and brutal palm strikes. But Wright fires back and floors Regal with some uppercuts only to go for a moonsault and get grounded again. Wright is able to get back on the offense, but Regal is just too wise and gets Wright in a pinning combo out of a monkey flip attempt.<br />
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<b>Match rating - **3/4</b><br />
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Regal's post match interview with Mean Gene RULES. He addresses Scott Hall showing up and then says he wants Sting or the "painted face circus freak" one on one. GOOD SH*T.<br />
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<b>8) Sting vs. Scott Steiner</b><br />
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HOLY FK. Scott Steiner looks so young and DIFFERENT. WOW. First time seeing him outside of his TNA run if I'm being honest and lordy. But he kills it here. This was super solid and unfortunately had a DQ non finish, BUT it made sense and the brawl that ensued out of it between the Steiner's and Sting/Luger was awesome and made me really wanna see the match. Plus the crowd was hot for it.<br />
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<b>Match rating - **1/2</b><br />
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As the locker room empties to try to separate the brawl in the ring, Scott Hall re-emerges at the announce both for one final word to Eric Bischoff. He reiterates that "we are coming and we are taking over" - Bischoff keeps asking who "we" is and Hall tells Billionaire Ted to get three of his best and they will settle it in the ring. Hall leaves and Bischoff & Heenan, along with the crowd, are shocked and confused as Nitro goes off air.<br />
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<b>FINAL THOUGHTS: </b>There were some duds, but overall, I was kept intrigued for pretty much the whole duration of the show and left wanting to see more of several of the feuds they are building. Plus the Scott Hall stuff is epic, even to this day. I'm excited to <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGnKOElhRN8aOZKljMPMCtSK5K2JUYni66XTobmry_zyNPlmSgaOGl0NOaUrjnteybbFqoEsSq8-S4IvOSOgGJPItSK2oeiZkfzfoKh2VA0IaBci4RrM6cBMxgVRqGgNnis9UZAZJMifTmv_2bm9WFq3lhaSgBKYqlxdiYyr3kDnctlanR_ofZZllRXA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="508" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGnKOElhRN8aOZKljMPMCtSK5K2JUYni66XTobmry_zyNPlmSgaOGl0NOaUrjnteybbFqoEsSq8-S4IvOSOgGJPItSK2oeiZkfzfoKh2VA0IaBci4RrM6cBMxgVRqGgNnis9UZAZJMifTmv_2bm9WFq3lhaSgBKYqlxdiYyr3kDnctlanR_ofZZllRXA" width="320" /></a></div><br />keep digging further into this!! </div>
Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216946931971911975noreply@blogger.com1