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Category: WWE News

  • WWE Royal Rumble 2016 live results: 30 men battle for the WWE World Championship

    The 2016 WWE road to Wrestlemania begins in Orlando, Florida, where 30 men will enter the Royal Rumble match to determine the WWE World Champion! For the first time ever the WWE World Champion, Roman Reigns, will be in the match, and be forced to defend his title against 29 other participants. Roman must be the last man remaining in the ring in order to go into Dallas, Texas at Wrestlemania 32 as the champion.

    The only other time something similar to this happened was at the 1992 Royal Rumble. In December 1991, the WWF title had been vacated, so it was declared that the winner of the Royal Rumble match would become the WWF Champion. Ric Flair won the Rumble that night, and he will be in attendance tonight as his daughter Charlotte looks to defend the WWE Divas championship. Could we see Flair enter the Rumble and win it again? No, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a tremendous night of action. 

    We will also see a “Last Man Standing” match between Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental Championship. The match will only end once one competitor is unable to meet the 10 second count. Between this match and the Rumble, get ready for a whole lot of fan-count-alongs. 

    Check out this Wrestling Observer back issue: Feb 1, 1988 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The first Royal Rumble up against Bunkhouse Stampede

    We are looking for your thoughts on the event, so send a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to Dave Meltzer.

    Coverage provided by Dave Meltzer

    MARK HENRY & JACK SWAGGER VS. DUDLEYS VS.  DAMIEN SANDOW & DARREN YOUNG VS. THE ASCENSION – WINNERS GET INTO THE RUMBLE

    Henry & Swagger won the match to advance.  The Dudleys did the 3-D on Viktor, but Swagger broke up the pin and put Bubba in the ankle lock.  Henry then splashed Bubba and paused, and instead covered Viktor for the win.  Nothing much to the match.

    DEAN AMBROSE VS. KEVIN OWENS FOR THE IC TITLE IN A LAST MAN STANDING MATCH

    Super match ending with Ambrose winning.  Owens had destroyed him for a few minutes including a super falcon arrow off the top rope through a table.  Owens put him on four chairs and went to the top rope to splash Ambrose, but Ambrose got up and shoved Owens off the top through two tables stacked up on the floor.  Lots of highlights including Ambrose getting up from the power bomb and Owens surviving the Dirty Deeds, as well as Ambrose coming off the top rope with an elbow to the floor, putting Owens through a table.

    NEW DAY VS. USOS FOR THE TAG TEAM TITLES

    Good match with a hot finishing sequence.  Jey sueprkicked Koingston but didn’t see that Big E had tagged in.  Jey came off the top rope but E caught him with a big ending for the pin.  Xavier Woods debuted a new trombone called Franseca II.   Good stuff including E tackling Jimmy to the floor, and Jey doing a splash off the top rope but Kingston got his foot on the rope.

    ALBERTO DEL RIO VS.  KALISTO FOR U.S. TITLE

    So far the odds are 100% as Kalisto won the title.  For the finish Del Rio undid the padding on a turnbuckkle.  Kalisto gave him a mistimed huracanrana and Del Rio went headfirst into the exposed metal and used the Salida del Sol and got the pin.  Kalisto had used the Salida del Sol on Del Rio earlier but Del Rio got his hand on the ropes.  This came after a missed double foot stomp by Del Rio.

    Stephanie agreed to renegotiate Brock Lesnar’s contract if he took out Roman Reigns tonight in an interview segment with Paul Heyman.

    CHARLOTTE VS. BECKY LYNCH FOR DIVAS TITLE

    This was easily the most heated women’s title match on a WWE PPV in a long time.  Crowd really wanted Lynch to win.  Real good match.  Lynch had the match won with the disarmer but Ric Flair threw his sports jacket over her head.  She let go of the move to go after Ric.  This allowed Charlotte to poke Lynch in the eye (which they were out of position to catch) and spear her for the pin.  Lynch had survived the spear earlier.  Funny spot with Ric kissing Lynch to set up a Charlotte advantage. 

    Sasha Banks is out to set up the next title match, but she kicked Lynch out of the ring after the match.  Very clearly they are building this as the Mania feud.  Crowd was way behind Banks.   But then they acted like they were best friends.  Then Banks laid her out from behind with the back stabber and Bank statement and  Charlotte tapped.  Huge reaction to Banks as she held up the belt.

    Going into the Rumble this has been a really good show.

    ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH

    The crowd is booing Reigng to start.  Rusev is out with Lana as No. 2.  We’ll be back at certain points. 

    HHH won the match throwing out Dean Ambrose after he also threw out Roman Reigns.  So the show ended iwth HHH, Stephanie and Vince celebrating.   The match itself was great, one of the best Rumbles ever.  Not really much in the way of suprises, only A.J. Styles and Sami Zayn.  Reigns stared, was destroyed  by the League of Nations and taken to the back.  He came back near the end and started eliminating people.  They put over The Wyatts a lot, particularly Braun Strowman, who along with Brock Lesnar were made the Monsters.  Lesnar dumped the entire Wyatt family except Bray.  Bray came out next and the rest of the Family interfered and they all through out Lesnar.  Styles got a big reaction, among the biggest of anyone and came in third and lasted a long time.

    A few more highlights:

    *Crowd mostly booed Reigns and when he went against HHH, fans cheered HHH

    *The attack on Reigns was at just over 20:00 in, with Vince out with the League of Nations to destroy him with Rusev splashing him through a table and he was put on a stretcher.  He got off the stretcher and went to the back, coming back jner thje end.

    *R-Truth came out, thought it was a ladder match, climbed the ladder, no belt and then he was thrown out by Kane.

    *Strowman was put over as a monster, eliminating Show with a head and arm choke and throwing out Kane as well

    *Kevin Owens eliminated Styles and the fans booed that more than any elimination.  Styles may have been the most popular guy of all in the match.

    *Sami Zayn threw out Owens and they really put over their rivalry

    *Ambrose threw out Jericho who may have lasted the longest with the exception of Reigns

  • Evolve 54 iPPV results: HHH & William Regal make an appearance

    By Chris GST, courtesy of PWPonderings.com

    EVOLVE Wrestling held the second event of the weekend on their way to crowning their first Tag Team Champions. WWE COO Triple H was in attendance as William Regal was set to make an announcement along with NXT tag team Jason Jordan and Chad Gable signed autographs. Regal made an appearance during intermission which included EVOLVE Champion Timothy Thatcher and Matt Riddle where Riddle appeared to have challenged the champion to a future match.

    – 2nd Chance Tag Team Tournament First Round Match: Team Tremendous (Dan Barry & Bill Carr) defeat The Premier Athlete Brand (Anthony Nese & Caleb Konley w/So Cal Val & Andrea), pinning Nese with “Book em, Danno!” The Premier Athlete Brand attack Tremendous after the match. Konley however leaves, stating he only cares about the EVOLVE championship. Peter Kaasa chases Anthony Nese away.

    – Style Battle 2016 Round Robin Tournament Match: Matt Riddle submits Yehi to an inveted heel hook. Riddle is now 2-0 and Yehi is 0-2.

    – Tommaso Ciampa pins Ethan Page with a running knee strike to the face. This was Ciampa’s EVOLVE debut.

    – 2nd Chance Tag Team Tournament First Round Match: Catch Point (Drew Gulak & TJ Perkins w/”Hot Sauce” Tracy Willams & Matt Riddle) defeat Zack Sabre Jr. and Sami Callihan when Perkins submits Callihan in a cross armbreaker after a Detonation Kick. Frustrated by the loss, Callihan shoves Sabre Jr. and challenged him to a singles match tomorrow. Sabre Jr. accepted.

    – Style Battle 2016 Round Robin Tournament Match: “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams w/Drew Gulak submits Peter Kaasa to a crossface. Williams is now 2-0 and Kaasa is now 0-2. Tomorrow night, the winner of Williams vs. Riddle wins the Style Battle tournament.

    – EVOLVE Tag Team Title Tournament Semi-Final Round Match: Johnny Gargano & Drew Galloway defeat the Bravado Bros. (Harlem & Lancelot Bravado) when Gargano submitted Harlem to the Garga-No Escape.

    – EVOLVE Tag Team Title Tournament Semi-Final Round Match: Heroes Eventually Die (Chris Hero & Tommy End) defeat Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta) with a Death Blow/knee strike combo to Romero.

    The EVOLVE Tag Team Title Tournament finals take place Sunday in the same building with Gargano & Galloway take on Heroes Eventually Die for the Evolve tag team titles.

  • WWE Ft. Meyers, FL, results: Roman Reigns vs. Rusev, Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens

    Submitted by Drew Goldfarb

    Opened with national anthem (took photo as it ended). Arena doesn’t seat a lot (lowers are 21 rows deep, no club/uppers). Of seats available, floor is sold out, bowl is about 75%.

    Dolph Ziggler vs. Tyler Breeze

    Ziggler got a nice pop while Tyler Breeze had lots of pictures being taken during his entrance, he had his live cell phone tron). Crowd HEAVILY behind Ziggler. Ziggler mocked Breeze’s pose in the corner to a big cheer. Ziggler won on a super kick. Nothing you wouldn’t expect from these guys. Solid, fun match, but nothing overly special.

    Curtis Axel vs. Braun Strowman

    Axel got no real crowd reaction, though a couple of people cheered) while Strowman got CHEERS, believe it or not…entered to a weird non-theme, just some rumbling sounds that sounded like the noise when the Star Destroyer is slowly passing overhead in Star Wars… NO tron image… “fireflies” came out from stands. Strowman tried to draw heat, and was cheered. Finally got some boos when he went into the slow, submission offense. Strowman won with his shoulder-carry side drop slam… and was cheered again. Axel never knocked Strowman off his feet. Not a single semi-interesting spot or moment in the match. Strowman is SO dull.

    Ambrose cut a promo on Owens on the tron next previewing their IC Title match tonight.

    U.S. Champion Alberto del Rio vs. Chris Jericho: non-title

    Crowd member (a kid) allowed to introduce next match. Jericho (introduced to MASSIVE pop) vs Del Rio (boo’d widely, though a pocket of cheers in one section). Non-title match. Del Rio tore up the sign of the fan in the backwards red hat who’s always at these shows and thee the pieces back at him. No idea what the sign said. USA chant, even though Jericho’s Canadian.  Jericho wiped his armpits and under his crotch with ADR’s shirt when he laid it on the turnbuckle, then threw it to the crowd (ew?). During the match, Del Rio grabbed the fan’s hat and flung it to the back row of the floor seats. Del Rio had the arm breaker over the ropes til the 5 count which was a nice spot.

    Jericho rolled out of the arm breaker and into the Walls (crab-style). Del Rio reached the ropes for the break. Jericho hit the Codebreaker for the win after avoiding the top-rope stomp while tied up in the second rope. The 10 kids around me were REALLY into this match. It was as entertained as I’ve ever been by an ADR match, though I typically find him really boring. Jericho signed autographs and had fun pumping up the crowd after the match… seemed to be enjoying himself. 

    WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. The Usos

    New Day introduced to mixed response, but most people responded…Big E and Kofi twerked over the smoke blasts while Xavier danced between them…Big E did snow angels in the ring…I love these guys) vs Usos (got a nice, all-positive reaction). Xavier borrowed (and then returned) a sign saying RIP with the trombone and held it up with the other members around him. Kofi and Xavier in the match. Teams traded dancing/taunting funny spots early. Spot of the match: with one Uso standing on the second ripe and holding the top rope up, the other five through his legs to the outside. Big E distracted the ref from an Uso pin, distraction allowed Xavier to get the pin on a roll up to retain.

    Really good match, though Big E stole it for me, taunting the announcers (he ate some paper he took from one of them) and fans and dancing around. Big E attacked Usos as soon as the bell ended the match and cleared the ring to dance around as a team. Usos attacked New Day and hit the big splash on Big E after a minute and posed with the belts before leaving them in the ring. Big E sold his left leg on his way up the ramp, but that may have just been him being Big E goofy.

    WWE I-C Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens

    Owens was booed and walked up to barricade and stared down a kid for a moment to taunt him, while Ambrose got big cheers at least on par with Ziggler, only more sustained through the entrance, though not QUITE what Jericho got. KO attacked Ambrose before he entered the ring as he stood on the apron and posed with the belt. Ref started the match as soon as Ambrose was standing up in the ring. Ambrose hit the dive through the ropes after KO started with all of the offense. KO hit the cannonball for a two count. A

    mbrose suplexed KO off the top (Ambrose was standing on the second rope) then went for Dirty Deeds but was blocked. Ambrose connected on his rebound clothesline for two and the top rope elbow to a standing KO for a near-fall. Ambrose countered Popup Powerbomb with a hurricanrana, then kicked out of the PuPB when KO hit it the second try. After distracting the ref by undoing the turnbuckle, KO grabbed a chair but was caught by the ref. Ambrose tried a roll-up but KO kicked out. Ambrose’s rebound clothesline was ducked, but he twisted it into Dirty Deeds for the pin. Really good match, as you’d expect.

    > Intermission

    Becky Lynch vs. Tamina (w/Alicia Fox as special ref

    Tamina was with Naomi… Titantron showed Sasha Banks’ name first and I got excited… no real response for Tamina while Lynch got a nice positive response. A “Becky” chant prematch and a few during. Becky got no offense for the first 75% of the match but won on a roll-up. Alicia played no role. Tamina and Naomi attacked Alicia and mostly Becky post match and Natty made the surprise save to a nice pop. Natty applied the sharpshooter to Tamina for a minute before Tamina and Naomi escaped.

    Bray Wyatt vs. Kane

    Wyatt was with Braun… cheered during entrance with plenty of fireflies), while Kane got a MASSIVE pop, like Jericho. Big “Kane! Kane!” cheer prematch. Wyatt did a small DX-like crotch chop as a taunt to the crowd at one point, which was odd. More of the HHH crotch flick than the full-fledged chop. Anyway… Bray was boo’d throughout the match. Braun and Kane had a stare down at one point. Fun spot where each did their special sit-up (Bray’s crab, Kane’s sit) at the same time… didn’t let it breathe, though, and it was over too quick to enjoy, unlike the Brock/Taker one at SS. Strowman interference allowed Bray to hit Sister Abigail for the pin. People boo’d a LOT. I didn’t realize people anywhere still loved Kane like this (and not just in the “you’ve done a lot for us, so I like and respect you” way).

    Nice “thank you fans” video shown on tron. Well edited as always.

    WWE Champion Roman Reigns vs. Rusev (w/Lana)

    Lana cut a promo to major boos while Reigns got biggest pop of the night, though may have been only slightly more than Kane’s. Reigns entered through the crowd. CONSTANT pro-Roman chants. The people love Roman Reigns. A Lana distraction allows Rusev to lock in the Accolade. Reigns gets out of it and hits a spear for the pin fall victory. Entertaining match.

  • WWE Main Event results: The Dudley Boyz fall from grace continues, Jerry Lawler excellent on color

    Mark Henry and Jack Swagger def. The Ascension via pinfall

    Main Event breaks its two-week streak of in-ring promos in the opening segment by offering us this rematch of last week’s featured contest. It’s worth noting that this is the third time Swagger and Henry have teamed together; all three contests have featured The Ascension and the previous two both resulted in babyface victories.

    Rich Brennan opines during the entrances that there is “something different” about Jerry Lawler, who, incidentally, began his recent heel turn on the first Main Event taping of 2016. Lawler responds that some people resolve to be more “kind, considerate and nice” at the turn of the year. The King, on the other hand decided to simply be himself!

    This was a bog-standard, by-the-numbers, ten minute tag match. The heels gain control leading into the commercial break as is customary in the WWE; Viktor breaking up the Patriot Lock on Konnor while the referee is distracted.

    After the break, Lawler’s amusing reminiscences about Royal Rumbles past punctuate the heat portion of the match. Lawler suggests that Roman should hide under the ring until the end of the Rumble, evoking memories of the 1996 edition of the match when he pulled the same stunt. Brennan, to his credit, takes that opportunity to make an appropriate reference to Santino’s 2011 near-miss.

    After one tease when Konnor knocked Mizark from the apron, Swagger eventually gets the hot tag to his partner – completing a desperate crawl to the corner after a double clothesline spot. Henry runs wild on Viktor, before pausing to enjoy a “We The People” recitation with Swagger. This almost allows a recovering Konnor to attack him from behind. Instead, Swagger pushes Henry out of the way, allowing the World’s Strongest Man to level Viktor with the World’s Strongest Slam for the win. Three in a row it is then for Henry and Swagger, who one-up The Ascension leading into their next meeting on Sunday’s pre-show.

    – Jojo is backstage with the Social Outcasts. Adam Rose continues to suck verily on the mic by referring to Slater, Bo and Axel as his “red dragon”, “enchanted shark” and “wild snowflake” respectively. Axel grumpily (and understandably) questions his moniker, before Bo cuts him off to inform us that these are “four best friends” with the same goal: “To win on Sunday!”

    Heath cleverly sees a problem with this, pointing out that there can only be one winner and that he’s that man. At this point, Jojo interjects with a terribly worded question – something about their opponents, The Dudley Boyz, being veterans. Bo says that The Social Outcasts are not a team, they’re a family, while Heath adds that the Dudleyz party will be ruined tonight. The geeks walk off, only for Bo to return momentarily, Columbo-style, to remind Jojo to bo-lieve. This was awful.

    Neville def. Tyler Breeze via pinfall

    During Breeze’s entrance, Lawler asks Prince Pretty to “take a picture of Rich and let’s see how much that camera can take!” Ouch.

    Nice five minute TV match here. Neville continues the intensity he showed in last week’s Smackdown main event, erupting so quickly out of the blocks at the bell that referee Mike Chioda has to briefly hold him back.

    Breeze gets an early eye rake in as Chioda enforces a rope break, before following up with a supermodel kick for two. Breeze is incensed at the perceived slowness of the count, screaming “I’m not trying to be out here all night!” Which is funny because he then immediately applies a front face lock!

    Neville goes up top for two failed attempts at the Red Arrow, the second of which sees him eat a dropkick. Breeze then sets him up for a Frankensteiner, only for Neville to hang on to the ropes and finally hit his finish for the win.

    – We then get the same Rumble By Numbers segment, narrated by Byron Sexton, that aired on RAW.

    Heath Slater and Curtis Axel w/ Bo Dallas and Adam Rose def. The Dudley Boyz via pinfall

    Yes, you read that right. More humour from Lawler during the entrances here, as he states that the older the Dudleys get, “the better they were”. The King says he never liked them, prompting Rich to enquire about their ECW days. Lawler: “I never liked anyone in ECW!”

    Long shine segment for the faces leads into the break, when the Dudleys hit a Reverse 3D on Axel, before tossing Heath from the ring behind him. Rose and Bo tend to their fallen brethren as we go to commercials.

    We return with the heels turning the tables on their foes in more ways than one; Rose and Dallas causing a distraction by removing them from under the ring, which flummoxes the Dudleys into losing the advantage. The Outcasts of course waste time by celebrating with a victory lap, which Lawler amusingly dubs the “Bo Train”.

    Axel and Heath take turns to get the heat on D-Von, before the latter gets cut off with a spinebuster. Hot tag to Bubba, who slams Axel off the top, before hitting a big boot and the bionic elbow. The huskier Dudley then follows up with a uranage (called correctly by Rich) for two.

    Scoop slam and Wassup follow, leading into D-Von being informed that tables are required post-haste. That was as good as it got for the Dudleys. Rose and Dallas cut D-Von off at the pass, which concerns Bubba so much that he falls victim to the fatal distraction/schoolboy combo. Axelmania lives. Dumb finish and yet another loss for the Dudleys. They’ve only won two televised matches this year and haven’t won a conventional tag-team match via pinfall on RAW since they beat The Ascension on November 16th of last year. And everyone beats those guys.

    Final Thoughts

    Another weak edition of the show, highlighted only by Jerry Lawler’s continuing return to former glories as a heel announcer. Meanwhile, the eroding of any credit remaining in the Dudley account continues, as they lose to a joke outfit that got knocked out en masse by the Big Show on RAW. Bubba must surely be hoping and praying that the rumoured plans to give him a run as a singles heel are restored to the agenda as soon as possible. As for D-Von, what’s that Deacon guy up to these days, I wonder?

  • NXT Orlando TV taping spoilers: Finn Balor vs. Neville, Samoa Joe vs. Sami Zayn

    Submitted by J.J. Williams

    Dark Match:

    • Manny Andrade (La Sombra) beat Rich Swann: The Florida crowd still really doesn’t know who Manny is, but this match was good, kept it simple and mixed in some athletic spots, Swann connects immediately and was the crowd favorite here. Andrade won with a running double knees to Swann who was set in the corner.

    2/10 TV show:

    • Baron Corbin beat Johnny Gargano: Loud boooes for Corbin instantly, his entrance looked great in this large venue with a row of spotlights down on him in the dark arena, felt like a star. Johnny did some good work out quicking Baron which seems to be how some of the better Corbin matches have gone lately. Baron won it with the End Of Days.
    • Zack Ryder & Mojo Rawley beat John Skyler & Corey Hollis: A less wild Hype Bros match than usual, they just worked the match and won.
    • Alexa Bliss (w/Black and Murphy) pinned Cameron: Having to decide which of the two heels to support, the NXT crowd of course chose Alexa Bliss here, Cameron has a different kind of negative reaction than Eva does, where the people just don’t seem in to her. Bliss is very animated and has great taunts, she won it with the Sparkle Splash off the top.
    • Elias Samson pinned Jessy Sorenson: Another basic win for Elias.
    • NXT Women’s Champion Bayley pinned Carmella with a roll through pin after a series of counters and nearfalls. The story told was they were friends having a wrestling match, there was no cheating, nothing overly violent yet they both clearly needed this win. Carmella even did two dives through the middle rope to the floor to wipe Bayley out. This felt like a way to not lower Carmella even in defeat, she just got outwrestled. Post match, Bayley raised Carmella’s hand, they embraced, when Nia Jax & Eva Marie ran down and roughed them both up, destroying Carmella before Asuka ran down, stared the heels off, and in this time Bayley had recovered and was tending to Carmella when Asuka and Bayley looked at each other. The place began a YES chant as the two had a moment in time. 

    2/17 TV show:

    • Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady & Chad Gable & Jason Jordan beat NXT Tag Champions Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson & Blake & Murphy: Really good action here, long match, finish saw Jason Jordan take the best hot tag in wrestling, followed by an additional hot tag to Big Cass who then tagged Enzo for the splash off the top and the pin. 
    • Asuka beat Deonna Purrazzo: The rematch saw Asuka win yet Deonna gets in just enough offense to appear tough. Asuka is a star.
    • Tye Dillinger beat Alex Riley: Good reaction for Tye, a lot of Ten chants and he actually picked up a win. Riley is working as a bitter heel lately on the live event loop, hasn’t really gone in to it on tv yet he’s still working that way. None of the fire that got him fan support during his main roster run.
    • Samoa Joe vs. Sami Zayn was a double pin draw. Zayn used the Helluva kick and then collapsed on top of Joe but his shoulders were on the mat and the ref counted both of them down. They ruled the match a draw and later in the show they announced there would be a 2/3 falls rematch at the Full Sail taping to finally determine our number one contender.

    2/24 TV show:

    • Chad Gable & Jason Jordan beat Blake & Murphy: Good match as usual, American Alpha get the win with the alley oop german suplex pin.
    • Apollo Crews beat Chris Girard (Biff Busick): The crowd wasn’t familiar with Girard, his work is different than anyone here right now, he throws vicious uppercuts, his chinlocks are tight and his strikes look strong. Apollo got the win with the big slam that Triple H taught him. 
    • Tommaso Ciampa beat Bull Dempsey: Good reaction for Ciampa, won the match via submission. 
    • Eva Marie & Nia Jax beat NXT Women’s Champion Bayley & Carmella: Bayley took enough punishment that when the heels got Carmella alone they were able to destroy her, Nia dropped multiple leg drops on her before Eva tagged herself in to take the glory and the win. A lot of heat on Eva, of course. 

    3/2 TV show:

    • William Regal announced Joe vs. Zayn in a 2/3 fall match “next week” with the winner getting a title shot.
    • Vaudevillains beat Hugo Knox & Tucker Knight: Vaudevillains still entered to their cheerful music despite being on the heelish path lately. The newcomers making their tv debuts on the babyface side had some support but nothing like their house show reactions. 
    • Elias Samson beat Steve Cutler: Another decisive win by Elias.
    • Emma beat Santana Garrett: Nice reaction for Santana, full music and tv entrance, back and forth match showing what both women can do in the ring, the end of Santana came when she was hoping to try a high risk move yet Emma knocked her off the top in to a tree of woe, after putting the boots to her she held the advantage until winning via Emma Lock submission. Good showing for both, hope to see more of Santana.
    • William Regal introduced Austin Aries. Before Aries could even make it in to the ring Baron rushed him and beat him down, then looking at Mr. Regal in the ring, the Baron vs. The Indies feud continues.
    • NXT Champion Finn Balor beat Neville with the Bloody Sunday DDT to retain:  These two have always worked well together and this match was no exception, Neville took a few huge spills to the outside, even getting “Holy Shit” chants after the loud thuds. A lot of Neville offense that he doesn’t get the time on the main roster to showcase. They teased the Red Arrow a few times down the stretch before Finn fought back with a huge lariat knocking Neville inside out. The finish saw Finn hit the coup de grace, then hoisting Neville up in the Bloody SundayDDT for the win.  

  • Austin Aries debuts at NXT tapings tonight in Orlando

    Earlier today, Paul “Triple H” Levesque said there was a major surprise planned for tonight’s NXT TV tapings in Orlando, FL. For wrestling fans, he wasn’t kidding as former TNA Champion Austin Aries (Daniel Solwold) debuted with the promotion tonight.

    During the fourth hour of the show (scheduled to air on 3/2), NXT General Manager William Regal introduced the 37-year-old Aries and announced he had signed with NXT. Aries was then attacked by Baron Corbin and laid out, which, given the date the show airs, would seem to indicate Aries vs. Corbin has a good chance of being on the next Takeover special, scheduled for Friday, April 1st in Dallas during Wrestlemania weekend.

    Aries had been with TNA until the promotion’s finances resulted in his contract expiring without being offered a new deal to his liking. Prior to signing with TNA, he had considered leaving wrestling after he was a late cut to get on the cast for a spot on the Tough Enough season in 2011 won by Andy Leavine. He won the TNA World title once, the X Division title six times, as well as the tag team titles, making him the fifth TNA Triple Crown champion.

  • WWE Smackdown results (01/21): Wyatt Family stands tall, DeanTV, Roman Reigns vs. League of Nations

    – Air Date: January 21, 2016 (Jan 20 in Canada)
    – Location: Wright State University Nutter Center in Dayton, OH

    The Big News:

    The Wyatt Family laid out Roman Reigns and again stood tall to end the show.

    Show Recap:

    They opened Smackdown by plugging MizTV with Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens, as well as Roman Reigns vs. League of Nations.

    Chris Jericho came out and welcomed everyone to Thursday Night Jericho, his first Smackdown in 14 months. He wore a light-up jacket with jeans and no shirt. Jericho plugged the Rumble and had the monkeys in the back play a Raw video package. He didn’t explain why he disappeared during the Highlight Reel. He started calling himself the saviour again when he was interrupted by New Day.

    Big E said “Christof” was no saviour, and they’re still mad about him destroying the trombone. Xavier Woods said there should be a documentary about Jericho called “Making a Brass Murderer,” but they wouldn’t need to plant evidence because it’s all on video. They asked the crowd for a moment of silence for the trombone and the crowd booed.

    Jericho called them stupid for mourning the trombone and said they look like jackasses with horns on their heads. He called them Rooty, Tooty, Booty and the crowd chanted along. New Day jumped in the ring and Jericho backed off. He said he’d love to kick their asses but they already have a 6-man match scheduled.

    6-Man Tag Match: The Usos & Dolph Ziggler beat The New Day via pinfall

    Ziggler wore face paint to match the Usos, as he did on their tour of India. They showed that The Usos’ cousin, The Rock, posted a picture of Ziggler and The Usos with their face paint, calling it bad ass.

    Jerry Lawler was basically a full-fledged heel this week. He said Ziggler looked silly in face paint, got mad at an Uso for pulling hair and said Jericho should be charged criminally for breaking the trombone.

    New Day worked over Jimmy Uso until he hit a corkscrew dive and hot-tagged Ziggler. Ziggler ran wild until Woods tossed him out, but Jey Uso tagged himself in and dropkicked Woods into the corner (like Finn Balor) and followed with a Samoan drop.

    An Uso took out out Big E and Kingston with a dive. All three babyfaces hit a triple-superkick on Woods and an Uso pinned him for the win. Nice match. Although, Woods can thank constant camera switches for not looking completely out of place.

    Commercial break. Royal Rumble By-The-Numbers video. Becky Lynch entrance. Commercial break.

    Becky Lynch beat Alicia Fox via submission

    Charlotte and Ric Flair joined commentary, and they replayed Lynch’s promo with Flair from Raw. The announcers said Lynch took a page out of Flair’s book, and Flair said Becky can’t even read his book. Charlotte said her look of surprise on Raw was because she couldn’t believe Lynch spoke the way she did to her father, not because he accepted the challenge.

    Fox did a Northern Lights Suplex on the outside and held the bridge as if she could get a pinfall and Mauro Ranallo made sure to point this out. Lynch won shortly afterwards with the Disarmer.

    The announcers congratulated The Rock on being the top box office draw of 2015.

    The Miz hosted MizTV and explained the rules of a Last Man Standing match. As he talked about how dangerous the match is, Dean Ambrose interrupted. Ambrose talked over Miz, so Miz told him to shut his mouth. Ambrose threatened to shut Miz’s mouth by knocking him out. Miz asked the crowd if they thought Ambrose could do this better than him and they cheered. Miz gave up, welcomed everyone to DeanTV, sat silently in the corner, and the crowd chanted Yes.

    Ambrose compared Last Man Standing to an amusement park and went on to explain the rides he’ll take Owens on, like snapping him in half over the ring apron. He said Owens looks like a bear, so he would use the steel steps as a bear trap and hit him with every object he can find, including a Kendo stick or the new Smackdown announcer. Ambrose would then put Owens through the table and will be the last man standing, as always.

    Owens came out next but stayed on the stage and said he likes zoos more than amusement parks. He said the Intercontinental Title was his and his obsession with the title would prevail over Ambrose’s insanity. Owens continued, saying Ambrose’s insanity has taken him far but it would be his downfall because he won’t know when to stop, and Owens would stand over him as new champion.

    Ambrose invited Owens down to the ring for DeanTV but Miz attacked him from behind. With Ambrose down, Owens sauntered to the ring. Owens actually attacked Miz and gave him the pop-up powerbomb. He then grabbed Ambrose and said Sunday would be the Kevin Owens Show. Owens went for the powerbomb but Ambrose countered and tried for Dirty Deeds, but Owens bailed. Ambrose gave Miz the Dirty Deeds instead and counted to ten as Owens looked on.

    Ambrose comparing Last Man Standing to an amusement park was pretty dumb, but he did the best he could with it and overall I thought this was good.

    Bray Wyatt (w/Wyatt Family) beat Ryback via pinfall

    After hitting a powerbomb, Ryback did CM Punk’s running knee lift in the corner, followed by a superkick. That really happened. He tried a splash off the top, but Bray moved and hit a uranage and running senton for two. Ryback came back with a meat-hook clothesline but Luke Harper jumped on the apron, allowing Braun Strowman to toss Ryback into the steps. Bray pulled him back in the ring and hit Sister Abigail for the win. Afterwards, Bray ranted (not on a microphone) about slaying the beast on Raw and said the rest would be slaughtered at the Rumble. This was fine.

    Titus O’Neil beat Stardust via pinfall

    O’Neil lifted Stardust off the top rope into a Clash of the Titus for the win. Before the match, O’Neil compared being in the Rumble to being on the line of scrimmage with bodies flying everywhere, and this Sunday could be his national title. I wish they did more of these promos with different guys.

    During the match, Lawler said Byron Saxton and O’Neil both attended University of Florida and asked if he could do the bark. Byron said, “I don’t have much bass in my voice” and Lawler responded, “Oh, we know that.” That was funny. The announcers also mentioned Stephen Amell during the match.

    Backstage, they showed Kalisto getting ready for an interview as a stagehand showed him… the script, I think? She held up pieces of paper and he was reading it with her. Was it a script? Is wrestling fake? Not sure what this was.

    After a break, Renee Young asked if Kalisto was ready for Sunday. Kalisto said, in Mexico, Alberto Del Rio’s name is up there with Mil Mascaras, Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero. Kalisto said he has beaten Del Rio twice and will do it one more time. Del Rio interrupted and called his victories flukes. Rusev, Wade Barrett and Sheamus grabbed him from behind. Del Rio attacked him and Sheamus gave him a Brogue Kick. This was a setup for the main event.

    WWE Champion Roman Reigns beat League of Nations via DQ

    Before the match, Reigns sarcastically said he didn’t see it coming when Vince McMahon made him the number one entrant. Reigns would still walk in and out of the Rumble match as champion and was ready to take on the League of Nations tonight.

    Heels got the heat pretty easily after the League distracted Reigns allowing Rusev to hit a fallaway slam. Reigns sold it like he’d been taking a long beating. Rusev kicked Reigns in his heavily padded stomach and back and Reigns sold some more. He came back with a clothesline on Sheamus, who tagged Rusev back in.

    Reigns hit him with a clothesline too, followed by ten more clotheslines in the corner and a jumping clothesline. He got ready for the superman punch but Barrett and Del Rio held him down. Sheamus attacked him and the referee called for a DQ. Ugh.

    Rusev hit a superkick and was about to apply the Accolade but the Usos ran down. They each hit superkicks but the numbers game caught up to them too. Rusev hit an Uso with a superkick and Sheamus hit the other with a Brogue kick. Reigns then took out Rusev with a superman punch and Sheamus with a spear. (Barrett disappeared and never took a bump, so he’s still injured.)

    The Wyatts appeared suddenly and surrounded the ring. Reigns tossed Harper and Rowan over the top. Strowman got in his face and actually tossed Reigns over the top, where he was taken out by Harper and Rowan. Strowman gave Reigns his [finishing move] and Bray finished him off with Sister Abigail.

    Final Thoughts:

    I thought Smackdown was better than usual right until the main event. They announced tonight’s main event on Raw and plugged it throughout this show, just for it to end after 5 minutes on a DQ. I know the idea was to play up the numbers game against Reigns, but it was terribly deflating after all that build – and after we’ve seen Reigns beat these guys already. That being said, the post-match angle was fine. I’m not a fan of hot-shotting the Wyatts, but if that’s the direction, then this was the right way to follow-up the finish of Raw.

  • WWE NXT recap for 1/13/2016: Samoa Joe, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin all compete plus Bayley!

    Check out WrestlingOutsiders.com for 100% free MMA and Pro Wrestling podcasts!

    The Big News: All three participants in the triple threat #1 Contender’s Match had singles matches this week and all three came out victorious

    The Medium News: Bayley and her #1 Contender Carmella continued the build to their title match by teaming up to defeat Emma and Alexa Bliss.

    The Little Beaver Sized News: Rich Swann debuted, in a losing effort to Baron Corbin.

    1.) Sami Zayn submitted Adam Rose

    All three men who will compete in the #1 Contender’s Match next week will have matches tonight, so of course we kick things off with Sami Zayn! This is Zayn’s first match in Full Sail since May. The last time Rose was here on NXT he didn’t allow his music to be played, which got him heat. Now he just let it play while he implied he hated his own theme.

    Rose got just enough offense so that this wasn’t a total squash. One person in the crowd tried to get a “Leo Kruger” chant going, but everyone else ignored it and chanted for Sami. Rose hit a Diving Headbutt, which you could tell he was afraid of the landing as he braced himself to the point that it looked ridiculous on slow motion replay. Out of nowhere Zayn hit the STO and slapped on the Koji Clutch for the submission.

    -Alex interviewed Johnny Gargano about his match with Samoa Joe. Gargano pointed out that Joe has been upset about not winning the NXT Title at Takeover and has been taking it out on everyone. Gargano said he is all heart and as long as there is a heart beat he will not back down.

    -Gable and Jordan were outside the arena, talking about being the Alpha Males of NXT. After talking back and forth they named their team American Alpha and said they will beat Blake & Murphy next week.

    Jordan finally said the “Ready, Willing and Gable” line.

    2.) Apollo Crews pinned Tye Dillinger

    This is a rematch of Crews debut back at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn. Dillinger, despite being the Perfect 10, didn’t win 5 matches in 2015. Him and Jason Jordan broke up as a team 10 times and then he has lost almost every match since becoming the Perfect 10.

    Crews picked Dillinger up for a suplex. In his efforts to get out of it Dillinger dropped knees down to Crews’ head, but Apollo still dropped him with the suplex. Apollo went for a Springboard WhatAManeuver, but Dillinger tripped him up and hit a nice looking Suicide Dive. Back in the ring he even got a near fall with a Running Twisting Knee to the face. The announcers talked about how no one had ever kicked out of that move. You know, the one he has used maybe one other time. Whatever. Crews won with a twisting sit out power bomb.

    After the match Crews talked about not liking matches that end in DQ, so he wants a match with Finn Balor.

    -Alex was trying to interview Blake and Murphy, but they were ignoring him. Alexa took over and said Blake & Murphy blew it in London, saying they are so much better than what they showed then.

    -A short video package for The Vaudevillians aired. They were angry young men.

    3.) Baron Corbin pinned Rich Swann

    It is the debut of Rich Swann, who got some screaming and hollering from the fans. The announcers mentioned that he was one of the top independent wrestlers in the world. Swann looked really good in the match. At one point he took a backdrop and did a full flip, landing flat on his face.

    Swann did his best to avoid Corbin like he had the Plague and chopped Baron down with kicks. Swann came off the top rope, but Baron avoided him and hit something that looked more like a Black Hole Slam for the win.

    -Alex interviewed Bayley and Carmella. Carmella was happy about being #1 Contender and getting to wrestle her friend. I smell a heel turn. Bayley just started talking about their upcoming tag match when Dash & Dawson came up and made Carmella go crazy when pointed out that Enzo & Cass can never win the big one.

    4.) Bayley & Carmella defeated Alexa Bliss & Emma

    Emma and Alexa attacked Bayley before the bell, attacking her ribs before the match even started . Despite that Bayley still started the match despite being injured. This was an alright match, but was almost a handicap match. They got the heat on Bayley. When Bayley scratched and crawled and dragged himself to the corner Alexa knocked Carmella off the apron.

    Bayley made her own comeback, which got halted when Dana Brooke interfered to give the heels back the advantage. Finally Bayley was able to avoid her foes and make the tag. Carmella went nuts on both girls and made Alexa tap to a leg scissors.

    -Alex interviewed Finn Balor. Balor accepted Apollo Crews challenge to a non title match.

    5.) Samoa Joe submitted Johnny Gargano

    The fans chanted Johnny Wrestling until half of the crowd decided to chant for Joe. Gargano got a little bit of offense, so Joe went outside the ring. Gargano went to run down the apron at him, but Joe tripped him up and Gargano crashed face first on the apron.

    Gargano made a brief comeback, including hitting a slingshot DDT, but ended up kicked in the face and locked in the Coquina Clutch for the tap out. Good match, but not nearly as good as the Ciampa match a few weeks ago.

    The announcers ended the show by wishing good luck to Sami Zayn and Baron Corbin, putting over that they have to face a monster next week.

  • No bounce back for WWE RAW ratings without NFL

    Due to a disastrous third hour, Raw did not have much of a bounce back after the end of football competition.

    Monday night’s show did 3.48 million viewers, only up 160,000 viewers from last week’s show that went up against the national championship college football game.

    On this night was clear what did the show in was the show itself, with major pattern of declines from start to finish, including a third hour that did 3.12 million viewers, a number that would have been considered poor even going against a huge NFL game.

    The show was promoted around building to a Highlight Reel segment where Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns would meet face-to face. No major matches were plugged for hour three.

    The three hours were:

    8 p.m. 3.78 million viewers
    9 p.m. 3.59 million viewers
    10 p.m. 3.12 million viewers

  • WWE Smackdown spoilers: Roman Reigns vs. The League Of Nations

    Submitted by Kaven Hashemian from Dayton, OH

    Dark Match: 

    Zack Ryder pinned Fandango (3:41)

    Main Event:

    – Jack Swagger & Mark Henry defeated Konnor & Viktor when Mark Henry pinned Viktor (8:11)

    – Neville pinned Tyler Breeze (4:57)

    – Curtis Axel & Heath Slater (w/Adam Rose & Bo Dallas) defeated The Dudleys when Curtis Axel pinned Bubba Ray (10:02)

    SmackDown: 

    – Dolph Ziggler, Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso defeated WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) when Jey pinned Xavier (13:14)

    – Becky Lynch made Alicia Fox (w/Brie Bella) submit (3:25). WWE Divas Champion Charlotte & Ric Flair sat ringside for commentary
    during the match.

    – MizTV segment feat. WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose & Kevin Owens

    – Bray Wyatt (w/Braun Strowman, Erick Rowan & Luke Harper) pinned Ryback (5:47)

    – Titus O’Neil pinned Stardust (3:13) 

    – WWE Champion Roman Reigns defeated WWE U.S. Champion Alberto Del Rio, Bad News Barrett, Rusev & Sheamus via disqualification (5:06)