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Tag: wwe results

  • WWE NXT house show report Orlando 10-17: Finn Balor & Bayley team up in 8 person main event

    Submitted by Jay Williams

    Hype Bros beat Marcus Louis & Tucker Knight 

    Louis is growing his hair out, seemingly leaving the bald monster persona behind. Tucker & Marcus were half way to the ring when the Hype Bros music hit and the two sprinted past them to get everyone fired up. The crowd was all over Tucker Knight for his silver boots, always a fun live event tradition, even singing songs about them. Ryder took a beating here until making the hot tag to Mojo who ran wild before tagging in Ryder to hit the electric chair rough ryder from the top for the win. 

    Apollo Crews beat Elias Samson

    Elias makes his way to the ring with his guitar to be interviewed by our hostess Dasha Fuentes, he begins playing his guitar and does a fun song insulting the town they’re in as he does at each event. Apollo’s music hits to a good reaction, plenty of chants for Crews as Elias worked holds during this match. Towards the end Crews got a hold of Samson’s guitar and held it over the side of the ring threatening to drop it, then threatened to play it, all to infuriate Samson. After the guitar was safe the finish saw Crews fire back and hit his new finish a big scoop slam variation for the win. Apollo Crews has a lot of fan support growing here.

    Gionna Daddio & Aliyah the former Jasmin aka Nhooph Al-Areebi were out to talk to the crowd, very energetic and likable babyfaces here, talked about being the youngest divas in NXT and were proud to follow in the footsteps of those who started the Divas Revolution, mentioning Bayley, Sasha, Becky, and Charlotte. Which lead to Emma & Eva Marie interrupting them, Emma proclaimed she started the Divas Revolution, crowd was anti Eva Marie here, booing her down so she put her arms up and twirled to soak in the attention and encourage it. During the verbal exchange the heels took cheap shots and laid out the two youngsters leading to referees rushing the ring attempting to break it up and check on the roughed up divas. 

    Riddick Moss def. Levis Valenzuela Jr.

    Valenzuela is charismatic, likable and plausible as his persona, his dancing and proclaiming “Fiesta” brings the people in and his taunts received actual laughs from the crowd, the best being “Booo this man, he sucks!” as he pointed at Riddick. Simple yet wonderful when the wrestler has charm the way Levis does. Moss is technically sound and plays the straight heel to Levis’ flamboyant babyface. 

    Chad Gable & Jason Jordan beat Dash & Dawson

    A great reaction for Gable & Jordan, these are made men after that performance at Takeover Respect. The singing of their names to the old Kurt Angle theme is very over, with Jordan even encouraging it along. Dash and Dawson are also well respected by the local crowds and strong, rough, and tough workers. A very good tag match as one would expect, and in the end Gable & Jordan get the win with the assisted German suplex. Jordan and Gable feel like a cut above with their athleticism, they are amazing wrestlers. 

    Hugo Knox beat Sawyer Fulton

    Knox is another non-tv wrestler with personality that already shines through, his dancing and party boy attitude got a lot of “Go Hugo” and other chants of encouragement. Fulton is big and scary, so the dynamic of this match was the serious heel getting frustrated by the fun loving face and finally getting beat. 

    Gionna Daddio storms out from the back with a mic to call out Emma and Eva Marie, she says they don’t know who they’re messing with and she’s from Jersey. The heels make their way down and take each side of the ring asking her what she’s going to do, which leads to Gionna declaring she wasn’t challenging them alone…

    Asuka & Gionna Daddio beat Emma & Eva Marie 

    Huge pop for Asuka, this woman is a star. Emma’s nightmare continues as Asuka seems to be following her at every turn both on tv and on live events. Good heel work by Eva Marie in this match, taunting Gionna while in holds, embracing the heat. Hot tag to Asuka who laid in some ferocious kicks to Eva Marie at one point. Tag to Gionna who hit a crossbody for the win. Gionna has a lot of potential, as many of our non tv wrestlers on this show, the personality and likability is already there. Emma & Asuka did a good job here keeping everything going.

    Baron Corbin beat Solomon Crowe

    Heel heat for Corbin is not only on NXT tv but also at live events, there are always hecklers and those who get Baron’s attention only to get taunted right back. Crowe is out with an altered look, Orange sleeveless zip up hoodie, the sides of his head shaved and looking quite intimidating. Hard hitting match here, big moves in this one, Baron prevails with the End Of Days for the win and a chorus of booos.

    Blake & Murphy w/ Alexa Bliss & Tye Dillinger vs. The Vaudevillains & Finn Balor went to a no contest once Alexa Bliss interfered, leading to Bayley running in to have the match restarted as an 8 Person Tag.

    WWE NXT Champion Finn Balor, WWE NXT Women’s Champions Bayley & WWE NXT Tag Team Champions The Vaudevillains beat Tye Dillinger & BAMF

    BAMF entered first to their dubstep music which always gets them heat, Dillinger even as a heel is well liked at live events, and his Ten gimmick is over, even Alexa Bliss was holding up the two hands open Ten sign during his entrance.

    The Vaudevillains are quite popular at live events as well, superstar reaction to Finn Balor. The current non-demon persona with the leather jacket has included an attitude of confidence, he is the main event. Finn joins in posing with Gotch and English pre match and is entertained himself with their ole timey antics, including some awkward stretching by Simon Gotch.

    The match took off once it was restarted as Bayley is another true main eventer here in NXT, the place lit up, people jumped out of their seats at her music. Finn Balor himself was leaping and punching the air as Bayley laid into Alexa Bliss. Finn was ecstatic to see Bayley and was her biggest fan.  This match then went all over the place including all six men in a long connected submission hold with Finn at the end holding a Boston Crab on Murphy, yelling to ASK THEM.

    Then all hell broke loose, Aiden English hit a Stone Cold Stunner on one of BAMF and this lead to Bayley hitting one of her own on Alexa Bliss.  The place was going crazy. The ring clears and Bayley is seemingly alone as Bliss is down and the men are all on the outside.  As Tye Dillinger comes face to face with Bayley in the center of the ring, putting his hands in her face with his Ten gesture, and in the greatest moment of the night Bayley wraps her arms around Dillinger and hoists him up for the Belly To Bayley.  Leaping to her feet and pumping her fist after hitting him to the mat, the crowd was electric.  

    Balor then goes to the top and nails the Coup De Grace on Dillinger for the pin. The babyface champions all celebrated, hugs for all.  Bayley even Too Sweeted Finn Balor, everyone left this show happy. 

  • WWE Raw Live Results 10-19: The First Steps Towards WrestleMania

    The Big Takeaway: An unusual show, but a good one. The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair all appeared. Neither guise of Kane, who is wrestling the WWE World Heavyweight Champion on Sunday, showed up. There was an impromptu Shield reunion in the main event. Plus, the company had its top babyface appear in the opening segment, and never showed up again. And said babyface was treated as a heel. 

    Show Recap: 

    Steve Austin is out first. He talked about growing up in Texas going to the Sportatorium, where he got his start. Then he introduced the Undertaker. 

    Michael Cole and JBL billed the Undertaker’s match with Brock Lesnar as the final ever battle between the two men. Austin vanished as Undertaker made his entrance. The Dallas fans made the Undertaker the babyface, even though he’s been treated as a heel in the program. Undertaker said the depths of hell will look like the gates of heaven compared to where he’s going to take Brock Lesnar this Sunday. 

    Lesnar and Paul Heyman came out. Heyman cut his promo from the ramp. Heyman said his client wanted to gain revenge for the Undertaker’s tainted win at SummerSlam. He said after Undertaker losses this weekend, he’ll have to wonder what it’s like to live a legacy where he defeated everyone but Brock Lesnar. 

    Undertaker replied that when you take everything from a man, that man ends up fighting with nothing to lose. Undertaker motioned for Lesnar to come to the ring. Lesnar went to the ring despite the objections of Heyman. Lesnar jumped on the apron, laughed at the Undertaker, then jumped off. Heyman told Lesnar he did the right thing because now he’s in the Undertaker’s head. Crowd treated Lesnar as the heel and this was really good. 

    The rest of this show is going to be tough to live up to the opening segment because it will mainly feature characters we’ve seen for three hours every Monday night. Perhaps that’s why this segment opened the show, to sell the main event for this weekend before thousands of viewers switch to Monday Night Football. 

    The New Day’s promo included Big E. saying Everything is Booty in Texas, mentioning Dez Bryant’s foot and Tony Romo’s clavicle. Xavier Woods’ trombone was broken based on an angle on Smackdown where he used it against the Dudley Boyz. 

    The New Day defeated The Dudley Boyz and John Cena (8:35) 

    Woods pinned Devon Dudley with a schoolboy cradle while holding the trunks. John Cena did a rare plancha onto Big E., which distracted Devon. In the midst of all that, Kofi Kingston and Big E. rammed Bubba Ray Dudley into the post. Pretty good match where Big E. shook his ass several times while Cena was getting the heat. 

    Cole announced Randy Orton missed the tour of Mexico due to injury and wasn’t in the building tonight. They announced that Orton wouldn’t be at Hell in a Cell on Sunday, leaving Dean Ambrose without a partner for his tag team match against Braun Strowman and Luke Harper. Ambrose was shown talking to Dean Malenko and Fit Finley in the back. 

    Renee Young interviewed her boyfriend, who claimed that the Wyatt Family injured Orton and challenged Harper and Strowman to a fight tonight. 

    Nikki Bella and Alicia Fox defeated Naomi and Sasha Banks (8:48)

    Nikki Bella pinned Naomi after the Rack Attack. Alicia Fox looked pretty good, including a spinning backbreaker on Naomi. Sasha Banks and Nikki had some rough spots during the hot tag sequence. Match was just there. 

    On an interview on Smackdown, Nikki Bella apparently said “Divas Revolution? No. It’s the Bellas’ Evolution.” You know things are bad when they’re lifting catchphrases from 1999 WCW factions that failed (I know, that’s being redundant). One that included Malenko and Shane Douglas, no less. 

    They announced that Corporate Kane has been suspended after a closed door meeting with the Authority for tonight’s show after his actions last week. This was an announcement made on the company website. 

    Shawn Michaels came out to a surprisingly tepid reaction. Michaels took a bite from a kid’s pizza on the way to the ring. Apparently, it went down the wrong way because he coughed throughout the interview. He brought up being in the first Hell in a Cell match against the Undertaker, and the 18th anniversary of that match will be this Sunday. Then he brought up Roman Reigns also being in a Hell in a Cell match against Bray Wyatt, and he believed those two matches will tear the house down. 

    Seth Rollins came out. The two went nose-to-nose and the crowd chanted for a match against them. Rollins said Michaels was supposed to introduce him. Michaels said he’s been getting instructions from the back for 20 years, then he forgets them once he gets to the ring. Rollins said Michaels got the order from his best friend, HHH. Rollins said he was the one who was going to stop the show this Sunday. Rollins billed himself as Shawn Michaels 2.0, but he was better than the original. 

    Michaels said if he had a nickel for every time he heard that he heard that someone was going to be the second coming of Shawn Michaels, he would be a billionaire. Michaels cut a promo that seemed aimed at various people that said he never once wanted to be the second coming of someone else when he was the greatest wrestler who ever lived. 

    Michaels brought up Kane. Rollins cut a promo on Kane, then requested to have his music played so he could leave. Michaels said the problem with being the second coming of anyone is they never listen to anything you say compared to an original. Michaels told Rollins that he had an match coming up next against Ryback, then asked to hit his music. Which they did. Great segment by Michaels. 

    Seth Rollins defeated Ryback (4:02)

    Rollins worked over Ryback’s ribs, including a nice tope where Ryback landed against the announcers table. Ryback made a comeback, but Rollins kicked him in the ribs and pinned him clean with a pedigree. 

    Members of the Dallas Cowboys were shown at ringside. 

    They showed an angle from Smackdown where Summer Rae was a special referee for a match with Dolph Ziggler and Rusev. Rae helped Ziggler win. Afterwards, Rae came onto him, but Dolph said he wasn’t interested in being used. 

    King Barrett, Rusev and Sheamus defeated Neville, Dolph Ziggler and Cesaro (12:52)

    King Barrett pinned Ziggler after Barrett kicked out of a cradle, and Ziggler wound up against the ropes where Sheamus gave him a Brogue Kick outside the ring. Neville worked almost the entire match, getting the heat after Rusev knocked him off the apron with a forearm into the announce table. At one point, Neville did a somersault plancha onto Rusev and Cesaro. There was nothing at all regarding Rusev’s romantic life, aside from Cole mentioning he’s now engaged. While Neville was getting the heat and Rusev pounded away on him, the fans chanted “USA.” At that moment, the only American in the ring was the referee. 

    Ric Flair didn’t even get a ring entrance for his appearance. He didn’t seem to know he was on camera and waited forever to start his promo. Flair brought up the Von Erichs and the Freebirds. Flair announced that Ambrose had found a tag team partner in Roman Reigns, which was strange since it was announced earlier that Ambrose would face Harper and Strowman alone. 

    Reigns came out. I guess they just used Flair to help Reigns get cheered because he disappeared after the Wyatt Family magically appeared on the ramp. Eric Rowan was back with the Wyatt Family with no explanation as to why he’s back with them, or why he’s even a heel. 

    Reigns pulled out two chairs and sat down in the middle of the ring. Reigns called out Wyatt to sit down in the other empty chair. Wyatt sat down in the chair, and Reigns told him face-to-face that Wyatt was a bully and his digs power by fear. He said Wyatt was afraid of being alone, and he was scared of Reigns. 

    Reigns kept poking at Wyatt until they wound up in fistacuffs. It ended up with Reigns using a chair across Wyatt’s back, and another chair to the shoulder of Rowan. Ambrose ran down to back up his partner. 

    Rollins, Stephanie McMahon and HHH watched this from the back. Michaels walked in. HHH talked about how they didn’t want Reigns and Ambrose to face Harper, Rowan and Strowman in a handicap match tonight. Michaels suggested Rollins be the third partner. Shawn insuinated it may be too heavy a load for Rollins to handle since he already wrestled tonight. Rollins objected to that and said he would join Reigns and Ambrose tonight in the main event. I can’t believe they would give away a Shield reunion on an one-off show.  Wait, when did this become a six-man? 

    Charlotte (C) defeated Brie Bella via submission in a nontitle match (5:31)

    Charlotte won with the Figure Eight. Nikki posed with Charlotte’s Divas title for heat. Probably the deadest match of the night so far.  

    Paige watched the match from the back. Young asked Paige if she was the person if she was the person who attacked Natalya on Smackdown. Paige didn’t answer. Young pressed her for a honest response. Paige said it could have been anyone, bringing up past names like Kaitlyn and Eve Torres, or Lita, Trish Stratus or even Alundra Blaze. Paige heeled on Young saying she was no Erin Andrews and she wasn’t as cute. Actually, Young did a better job asking questions than Andrews ever has. Granted, they were scripted questions, but still. Paige even called her Sally Jesse Raphael at one point. Is this 1985 again? 

    Kevin Owens (C) defeated Mark Henry in a nontitle match (3:38)

    Kevin Owens was very good in getting heat since Mark Henry was in his home state. Henry seemed more animated, at one point screaming at Owens that he had been a bully in this company for 18 years. Owens actually got Henry up for the Pop-Up Power Bomb and the pin. 

    Ryback came out to go after Owens, who slid out of the ring. Henry threw Owens back in, and Ryback power bombed Owens. 

    Young asked Rollins about reuniting with the Shield. Rollins laughed that off and said he just wanted to prove to HHH and Michaels that he was the man. He said if Ambrose and Reigns wanted to relive the past, he would destroy them again. 

    The Wyatt Family defeated Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose by DQ (14:05)

    The match ended when Strowman put the head and arm choke on Regins. Ambrose couldn’t budge Strowman, so he pulled out a kendo stick and repeatedly whacked Strowman with it. Strowman didn’t sell that and broke the stick over his knee. Ambrose tried to give Strowman a tope, but Strowman caught him and rammed his back into the ring apron. Reigns followed with a tope where he cleared the top rope by plenty onto the Wyatts. The final sequence appeared screwed up. Reigns gave Wyatt a spear, but Rowan fell over them. Reigns ended it by giving Rowan a spear. 

    Earlier in the match, Ambrose tried to make a hot tag. Strowman had tripped Reigns off the apron and thrown him into the barricade. That left Rollins, but just as Ambrose got to the corne, Rollins faked a knee injury. Wow, he really does want to be the next Shawn Michaels. Rollins walked out.  

    Crowd was so hungry for a Shield reunion, they chanted “This is Awesome” before the match started. When the Wyatts had a face-to-face staredown with Reigns and Ambrose, Rollins just stayed back and left his teammates hanging. Then he stepped up and stared down Rowan, and the crowd roared. Then Rollins told his teammates to get out of the ring because he was the architect. When Rollins saw Rowan was going to start the match, he tagged out. 

    SUMMARY: A good show, although I sense this was one of those shows where the main event was rewritten several times. Almost all the matches were solid. I still don’t think the Lesnar-Undertaker buildup has the juice it should have going into Hell in a Cell, but it was rushed since it was announced for HIAC to begin with. 

  • WWE House show results Yucatan, Mexico 10-17: Adam Rose injured, Undertaker, Kane

    By Tom Griffiths

    Typical house show match, Harper & Kane started, Harper took a powder or two, when Kane gained a clear advantage a few minutes in he gave the tag to Taker, Taker did his punches in the corner spot including scaring the ref, hit old-school at the second attempt, Strowman came in, Taker took his first of two bumps during the match off a running shoulder block from Strowman, sold for a minute or two on the mat and in the corners, hit his leaping clothesline on Harper for the transition, tagged in Kane, Kane took the long straight heat, teased the hot tag twice and got it at the third attempt, Taker house of fire, Harper fed him, punch, bump, punch, bump, snake eyes, running boot, leg drop, choke slam, double choke slam attempt on Strowman, broke the grip, Strowman dumped to the outside by both, Kane follows, discuss clothesline on Taker, Harper goes to follow-up, Hell’s Gate for the finish.

    Seen worse, Taker moved well, Strowman didn’t do much nor did he bump IIRC. Assume will be the same on the other show.

    Adam Rose went out on a stretcher today and his match with Fandango was stopped abruptly.  We are told Rose is now fine now, and it was described as him getting his bell rung.

  • WWE NXT House Show Results Tampa 10/16: Samoa Joe vs. Tye Dellinger, Bailey vs Eva Marie

    By Jonathan Lyon

    1.Hugo Knox beat Riddick Moss (new Mike Rallis  name)

    2.Marcus Louis w/Sylvester Lefort loses to bull Dempsey. Louis dropped the monster gimmick. Good move.

    El Jefe Levis Venezuela came out for a promo about fiestas, and was interrupted by Tom Caden.  Crazy big dude, who proceeded to join in on the fiesta.. Not bad.

    Asuka, Carmella, and a girl who’s name I didn’t catch beat Emma, Cameron, and Peyton. Cameron didn’t look like she wanted to be there.  Asuka got a big reaction.

    Baron Corbin beats Angelo Dawkins- it could have been quicker?

    Match of the night was a fatal four way tag with The Vaudevillains beating Jordan and Gable, Blake and Murphy, and the Hype Bros. Blake and Murphy are can’t miss live, highly entertaining and engaging with the audience. When Gable came in, they put on ear guards. Pin comes with a whirling dervish to BAMF.

    Apollo Crews beats Dino Sabetelli.. Both guys are super athletes.

    Bayley beats Eva Marie in a not bad match. Bayley definitely carried her through, but Eva Marie did her part, she needs get her arm drags down though, very lazy and not in anyway believable.

    Main Event was Samoa Joe beating Tye Dellinger. Great Match. Fun to listen to the sounds of a Joe match in the front row. The crowd was full by appearance and kept the excitement up thoughout.  

  • WWE Raw live results 10-12: John Cena Open Challenge, Rusev and Lana

    Recorded for Superstars:

    – Jack Swagger went over Adam Rose in about an 8 minute match. Finish saw Rose put on an ankle lock which Swagger countered to an ankle lock of his own.

    – Stardust went over Fandango in a 10 minute match with his finish. Lots of chants for “Cody” and “let’s go Cody”.

    The Big Takeaway: 

    A show that was a little great, a little bad, a little weird and a little surreal. Demon Kane wrestled and defeated Seth Rollins in a lumberjack match in the main event. Corporate Kane booked the match after HHH and Stephanie McMahon, who never got to the arena or appeared on the show due to “transportation issues,” told him he was in command. Later, HHH and Stephanie ordered Corporate Kane not to wrestle Rollins. The strange moment of the night was Rusev getting jobbed out in 3:00 by Ryback, then getting totally buried by Summer Rae days after the news of his very real engagement to Lana gained mainstream publicity. John Cena had his latest great U.S. Open Challenge match with Dolph Ziggler. 

    Show Recap: 

    Corporate Kane was backstage where the Authority was on speakerphone just leaving on a plane. Stephanie could be heard berating an airline attendant. HHH told Kane to handle the show until they arrived. Kane wished them a safe flight, and called over a stage manager. Kane told her to inform Seth Rollins that he would face Kane tonight in a lumberjack match, so they were hot shotting stuff right off the bat. 

    Dean Ambrose came out and said he wanted to fight someone. Randy Orton came out. Crowd reacted strong to him, but also started “Let’s Go Cubs.” Orton said Ambrose that at Hell in a Cell, Ambrose would face Braun Strowman and Luke Harper, and Orton would be his partner. Ambrose said the line to fight the Wyatt Family starts behind him and told Orton to follow his lead and they would be fine. 

    Orton told Amrbose that he should follow Orton’s lead. Ambrose said he wasn’t big on trusting Orton. Orton said he wasn’t big on trusting himself. As they argued off mic, the New Day came out. Xavier Woods reminded Orton and Ambrose that the New Day left Dolph Ziggler, John Cena and the Dudley Boyz laying last week. Woods taunted Ambrose that the Shield never did that, and Big E. said Legacy, the Authority or Evolution never did that. Woods asked Orton how many groups had been in, and said Orton brings new meaning to the term “groupee.” Woods said Ambrose and Orton should make like Derek Rose and go sit on the bench. 

    Kane appeared on the TitonTron and ordered an immediate tag team match. 

    The New Day defeated Dean Ambrose and Randy Orton (17:51)

    Ambrose and Orton argued during the match, including when they took turns stomping Big E. Ambrose got a hot tag and did a tope on Kofi Kingston and Big E. Later, Woods held Orton’s leg, and Ambrose did a tope on him, as well. The finish was Orton gave Kingston the Draping DDT and went for the RKO, but Big E. ran in to prevent it. Ambrose tried to stopped Big E., but Kingston threw Orton into Ambrose, and Kingston pinned Orton with a schoolboy cradle. 

    There was a package for the Undertaker-Brock Lesnar main event. It couldn’t compare to the buildup for SummerSlam. We’re supposed to believe the history between the two started at last year’s WrestleMania, even though their original program was in 2002. 

    Before the Nikki Bella-Naomi match, they showed highlights from the Sasha Banks-Bailey match from NXT Takeover Respect, which included reviews from mainstream media outlets like Rolling Stone and Miami Herald. It was a good idea, but with horrible timing. Crowd chanted “We Want Sasha” during the match, and Michael Cole wondered how Naomi felt about that like Team BAD was going to going to break up. Then they chanted “You can’t wrestle” while the match was going on. it wasn’t that bad. 

    Nikki Bella defeated Naomi (4:56)

    The gimmick is Team Bella is trying to break up Team BAD just like Team PCB fractured because of Paige. After Naomi hit a tope (3rd time already for that move in the first hour) on Nikki and Alisha Fox, Brie Bella got up on the commentator’s table and tried to lead another “We Want Sasha” chant. Sasha tripped Brie off the table. Naomi got distracted. Nikki hit the Rack Attack. Pin. 

    Byron Saxton asked fans who the most unconventional superstar in the WWE is. Everyone said either Paige or Ambrose. This led to Saxton doing a backstage interview with Paige, who grabbed a Payday candy bar out of his jacket and took a bite. This was a product placement bit. 

    John Cena came out. Crowd booed the hell out of him. Cena started dancing beside a fan singing “John Cena Sucks.” Cena said he loved the AllState Arena because his first WWE match was in that building. It came time for the open challenge and this week’s opponent was Ziggler. 

    During the opening minutes of the match, the crowd seemed distracted and popped. Cena grabbed the microphone and acknowledged that a fan proposed to his girlfriend in the crowd, and she said yes. Cena congratulated the new couple as the match was going on and the fans chanted “She said yes.” 

    John Cena (C) defeated Dolph Zigger to retain the U.S. Championship (17:32)

    An excellent match that Cena won wiith the AA. Lots of kicking out of near falls. Ziggler continues to work like Shawn Michaels, this time stomping his leg to tease the Superkick. Plenty of kicking out of finishers. Ziggler hit a superkick and Zig Zag, both for near falls. Cena kicked out of the Zig Zag, the two struggled to their feet, and Cena immediately hit the AA for the pin. After one near fall by Ziggler, JBL started talking about how he felt Ziggler was going to win, which naturally gave away the finish. Vince McMahon used to do that on play-by-play and it always telegraphed the ending. 

    Stephanie and HHH called Kane again to say they were stil far away from the arena. Kane didn’t tell them he had booked his own match against Rollins. 

    The Dudley Boyz defeated the Ascension (2:42) 

    Devon Dudley pinned Viktor after the 3-D. Bubba Ray Dudley held up Viktor for the Doomsday Device since they were in Chicago as a tribute to the Road Warriors. 

    Sheamus and King Barrett defeated Cesaro and Neville (3:48)

    Crowd was hot while it lasted, particularly for Cesaro. Finish came out of nowhere. Neville tried to pin Sheamus with a cradle. Sheamus kicked out so hard, his legs pushed Neville to the ropes, where Cesaro gave him the Bullhammer Elbow, and Sheamus pinned him. 

    Roman Reigns came out for an interview. He basically explained his program with Bray Wyatt from the beginning. Crowd gave him the “what” treatment, and he appeared really annoyed by it. He snapped at them “Can you not hear me?” Then the fans chanted boring. He looked preturbed but stuck to the script. Wyatt came out and said Reigns had a massacre waiting for him at Hell in a Cell. Reigns said he agreed, but when they lock the cell, Wyatt was going to wish he was trapped with anyone but him. The fans booed. And this man is supposed to be the chosen one in six months? As if things couldn’t get any worse, after this interview died he had to wrestle Strowman. They might as well have put a piano on his back and told him to run wind sprints trying to carry Strowman to something decent. 

    Roman Reigns defeated Braun Strowman by countout (7:50)

    It was a struggle. Laregly a punch-and-kick match until it spilled out to the floor. Reigns hit Harper and Wyatt, then ran off the ring steps to deliver the Superman Punch to Strowman, which knocked him down into the announcer’s table. Strowman got counted out. Two hours into the show and this was the first match all night where the crowd was completely dead.  

    Wyatt looked in Reigns’ face and said “Follow the Buzzards.” Reigns punched him and walked to the back. 

    HHH called Kane to tell them they were getting close to the building. HHH’s cell phone recepton was poor. He repeatedly asked Kane what the main event was. Kane told him Seth Rolllins was in a lumberjack match against Kane. HHH only heard that Rollins was in a lumberjack match, but didn’t hear who he would be facing before his line went dead. 

    Ryback defeated Rusev (3:05) 

    Ths was one of those weird segments where fantasy and reality collide. Only in wrestling could a segment like this happen. It was six minutes of Rusev being punished on live national television for getting engaged to his longtime girlfriend. First, Ryabck pinned him clean with a Shellshock, without question the cleanest job Rusev has ever done. 

     If that wasn’t enough, Summer Rae came into the ring and cut Vince McMahon’s promo for him. She showed the TMZ headline where it was announced that Rusev and Lana had been engaged for over a month, then totally castrated him as a selfish user who manipulated her for months. All Rusev could do was stand there and take it, and then Summer slapped him and walked off. In this age where Kayfabe has been dead and buried, that was surreal television. How they get Rusev back on track as a killer after this segment is beyond me, which may have been the intent. Ziggler was never mentioned by Summer, though Michael Cole mentioned Lana in passing during his match with Cena earlier. I guess that angle where Summer snuck into his shower will have to stand as his storyline breakup. 

    Kevin Owens defeated Kalisto (3:54)

    Crowd sure liked Kevin Owens, who won with the Pop Up Power Bomb. Kalisto bumped all over the palce, including going for a somersault huracanrana outside the ring, only to have Owens dump him on the floor. Kalisto made a good comebck and it was a good match considering the style difference. Of course, Owens has had very good matches with guys of all sizes for years.  

    Brie Bella and Alicia Fox defeated Charlotte and Becky Lynch (3:05) 

    Paige was at ringside on commentary. Natalya is now with Charlotte and Becky Lynch, and they’re called Team NBC. Paige, however, says she never left Team PCB. Natalya started arguing with Nikki Bella outside the ring. Paige shoved Natalya. Charlotte got distracted, and Brie pinned her with a dropkick off the second rope. Two distraction finishes in both the Divas matches. And Charlotte does her second job in two weeks. These people have no idea how to get the Divas over. 

    HHH and Stephanie got in touch with Kane again. This time, they were able to hear him explain how he would be wrestling Rollins in the main event. Stephanie hit the ceiling she was so mad. HHH ordered Kane not to wrestle. 

    Rollins, in his first appearance on the show, apparently didn’t see the preceding segmet. He talked with the Big Show about how he could count on Show to have his back against Kane tonight. Show just laughed at him and walked off. Then Kane walked in and told Rollins he’s been ordered not to wrestle him tonight, but he would find a suitable replacement to face Rollins. We were supposed to believe it would be the Demon Kane. 

    It was announced that Michaels and Ric Flair would appear on next week’s Raw in Dallas. Rollins was plugged for an apperance on SportsCenter with Jonathan Coachmen tomorrow night. 

    The Demon Kane defeated Seth Rollins in a nontitle lumberjack match (8:19) 

    The Demon Kane won with a tombstone after lots of interference. The New Day were front and center among the lumberjacks, so it’s clear the company is striking that iron while it’s hot. At one point, the lumberjacks brawled at ringside. The heel lumberjacks left the babyface lumberjacks laying at ringside. So all the heels, including the New Day, Sheamus, Rusev, Stardust and Owens, started putting the boots to Kane. Big E. tried to give Kane a splash, but Kane rose up and cleared the ring by himself. He choke slammed Woods and Stardust before the finish. Earlier, Rollins tried to escape, but Cesaro chased him down and put him back in. 

    SUMMARY: On a night where the Pittsburgh Steelers won on the final play of the game, the Chicago Cubs movd within one win of eliminating the St. Louis Cardinals, Steve Spurrier retired and Steve Sarkisian got fired, the WWE had to work extra hard to produce compelling television. But they did it. The crowd stayed largely interested throughout the show. The most telling segment was Reigns. For all the scorn that Cena receives, people still see him as a top guy. I just don’t sense the fans feel that way about Reigns. That was a problem seven months ago. The time between last WrestleMania and this one was supposed to be his period of being groomed for the top spot. The company sees him as a top guy. The fans still don’t, particularly those in big cities. 

  • WWE House show results 10-10 St Louis: Orton & Roman vs Strowman & Wyatt

    By Curt Chaplin

    R-Truth defeated Tyler Breeze

    Jimmy Uso defeated Heath Slater; Mimi dance off between Uso and Slater. Slater claimed to be cheap shotted and wanted another match; Neville came out and hit the red arrow for the win in under 30 seconds.

    Rusev with Summer defeated Mark Henry

    New Day (Big E and Xavier) retained against PTP and Dudley Boyz. Kofi was put through a table after the match.

    Becky Lynch and Charlotte defeated Naomi and Temena. Sasha was ringside but not in wrestling gear.

    Ryback defeated Kevin Owens by DQ (thumb to the eye) and an IC title match.

    Orton/Reigns defeated Wyatt/Stroman.

    Kind of interesting seeing Breeze work with the main roster when there was an NXT Live Event last night.

  • WWE house show report 10-11 Bloomington, IL: Reigns & Orton vs. Strowman & Wyatt

    By Kevin Shride

    1.  R-Truth pinned Tyler Breeze with a sunset flip.  Basic opener, better crowd heat that you’d guess.  Most seemed to know who Breeze was.

    2.  Jimmy Uso pinned Heath Slater with a superkick.  They started the match, then after just a couple of spots, Slater challenged Uso to a dance-off right then.  (Incidentally, the sound was the worst; everybody could barely be understood.)  Slater danced to “I’m Too Sexy”, which was typical goofy heel stuff.  Uso then brought 2 kids into the ring, and all three of them danced to  “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”, which the kids were hysterical doing.  The ref declared Uso the winner of the dance-off, and as soon as the kids were out, Slater hit Uso, then was immediately superkicked and pinned.  After, Slater challenged anyone in the back to another match, since he was cheated in this one.

    3.  Neville pinned Heath Slater with an immediate kick and red arrow.  Took about 30 seconds.  Slater then issued another challenge.

    4.  Mark Henry pinned Heath Slater with the World’s strongest slam.  Even quicker.  They replayed “Watch Me” and Uso and Neville came back out to dance with Henry.  Not nearly as funny as the kids.

    5.  Dolph Ziggler pinned Rusev with the Zig Zag.  Easily the best match on the show.

    6.  The New Day (Kingston and Woods with Big E at ringside) beat Prime Time Players and Dudleyz in a 3-team elimination match to retain the WWE Tag Team Title.  Woods pinned O’Neill after Big E ran in and hit the Big Ending.  Then Woods pinned Bubba Ray with a schoolboy after Big E hit Devon while Devon was getting a table.  After the match, the Dudleyz 3-D’ed Woods through the table.

    7.  Charlotte & Becky Lynch beat Tamina & Naomi with Sasha Banks at ringside.  I guess they figure Sasha doesn’t need the work as much as the other two.  Charlotte pinned Tamina with the running rolling cutter.

    8.  Ryback beat Kevin Owens by DQ, so Owens retains the Intercontinental Title.  Owens was DQ’ed for poking Ryback in the eyes.  Seriously?  I guess Roddy Piper would have been DQ’ed in every match.  A low blow would at least be more in line with a DQ.

    9.  Roman Reigns & Randy Orton beat Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman when Reigns pinned Wyatt with a spear after an Orton RKO.  Perfectly fine match.  They didn’t let Strowman do much, but 

  • WWE Main Event results (10/6): The Kevin Owens Show

    WWE Main Event from Philadelphia was proclaimed the “Kevin Owens Show” by the reigning Intercontinental champion himself and basically it was just that, though credit is due to other talent that anchored the show as well. With a lot of crew headed overseas and unavailable for the taping, this episode featured only two matches, but both got plenty of time. Likewise, an angle on the show saw Jimmy Uso leave the broadcast booth to confront a boastful Kevin Owens.

    Owens opened the show with an in-ring promo lobbying for himself to be named Superstar of the Year. He listed various potential nominees including John Cena, Brock Lesner and Seth Rollins. He sarcastically mentioned Kalisto and Cameron as candidates as well. Owens said he the only acceptable choice. He referred to 2015 as the “Kevin Owens Show” then began listing his accomplishments.

    He started with winning the NXT title (or “NFC title” according to the closed captioning for this show). Owens went on to talk about beating John Cena. The crowd chanted, “WHAT!” He replied, “I beat John Cena, that’s what!” He then brought up winning the IC title from Ryback before bringing up his recent win over Chris Jericho at MSG. He noted he beat him on the 25th Anniversary of Jericho’s first match. Owens called it the “greatest night of his career” and noted the match was his debut at MSG. Owens claimed he was the first person to debut at MSG as IC champion.

    Owens was upset the commentators focused on Jericho’s anniversary on that night and ignored his accomplishments. He signaled out Byron Saxton (who was on commentary on this show with Tom Philips and Jimmy Uso) as Saxton provided commentary for the Garden show. Owens called him “disrespectful” and “rude” before saying it wasn’t the first time it had happened. He called Saxton a bully. Owens then turned his attention to Jimmy Uso, who was smirking and shaking his head.

    Owens called out Uso before accusing him of hiding behind the announce desk. “You know, you wouldn’t want to get hurt, would you,” a snarky Owens asked Uso, whose twin brother is still out with an injury.

    Jimmy took off his headset and thought things over for a moment. He left the booth and entered the ring to confront Owens. Uso snatched the microphone out of Owens’ hand and said Owens was right about one thing. Uso said he had been “sitting at that table talking all summer long and tonight, I’m done talking.” Uso got in Owen’s face and Owens backed down and slinked away. This set up a match for later in the show.

    Naomi (with Tamina) beat Paige

    Paige and Naomi began by grappling through several exchanges before reaching a stalemate. Naomi did a few leap frogs over Paige and dodged a few more moves, which frustrated Paige who kept screaming, “STOP IT!” Naomi gave her a flying headscissors but Paige cut her off. Paige draped her in the ropes for repeated knee strikes. Paige grounded Naomi and began to shine her up before a commercial.

    After the break, Paige continued to get heat as she kept pummeling Naomi. Paige hooked Naomi in the tree-of-woe at one point. The announcers talked about the ongoing strife between Natalya and Paige. Paige taunted Tamina and the crowd before applying an abdominal stretch. Naomi countered with a hip toss for a hope spot. However, Paige caught Naomi on a crossbody and gave her a fallaway slam. The announcers foreshadowed the outcome in talking about Paige dominating the majority of the match. Just as they mentioned that, Naomi escaped a scoop slam and hit a clothesline.

    They were both down on the mat then Paige began feeding into Naomi’s comeback. Naomi ran wild with a series of kick then an enzuigiri. Naomi executed a modified slingblade into a jawbreaker for a nearfall. Paige blocked a rump bump and hit a superkick for a two count. Paige began screaming at Tamina at ringside and Naomi rolled up the distracted Paige with an O’Connor roll into a bridge for the pinfall.

    Intercontinental champion Kevin Owens beat Jimmy Uso in a nontitle match

    At the opening bell, Owens powdered as he slid out of the ring to confront Byron Saxton, who cowered away. Uso jumped Owens only for Owens to cut him off back in the ring. Uso quickly fired up. After a couple of arm drags and a right hand from Uso, Owens bailed out again to set up Uso doing a baseball slide but Owens blocked it. He slung Uso out of the ring by his hair and Owens proceeded to toss Uso into the barricade. Much like the previous match, the heel kept pummeling the babyface through a commercial break.

    Owens talked trash and delivered a DDT after Uso escaped a headlock. Back to the headlock, Uso fought free and a moment later hit an enzuigiri. Much like the prior match with Uso’s wife, both were down on the match selling before the babyface started the comeback. Uso ran wild with a flurry of moves leading to a Samoan drop. Owens blocked an enzuigiri only get reversed on an Irish whip to set up an attempted Umaga splash. Owens avoided the splash and countered with a cannonball into the corner for a nearfall.

    Owens signaled for his finisher but Uso escaped and hit a superkick. Uso went to the top but Owens got his knees up when Uso went for a splash. Owens then used the pop-up powerbomb to score the pinfall, ending a very good match.

    Afterwards, Owens bullied Saxton at ringside before leaving. Before exiting the scene Owens held the IC title overhead as he stood at the top of the ramp and proclaimed this the “Kevin Owens Show.”  

  • WWE Superstars results (10/9): Cesaro, the great entertainer, on Superstars again

    The Big Takeaway: Cesaro was extremely entertaining in a 3-minute squash against Adam Rose. The Prime Time players beat The Ascension in a decidedly average main event.

    Cesaro beat Adam Rose (3:30)

    I mean it really shouldn’t be baffling in this company, but it really is – why is Cesaro on this show working with Adam Rose? The klaxon sound that they use at the Royal Rumble goes off, Cesaro’s music stops and Adam Rose appears on the ramp with a mic. He claims that Cesaro can’t “string a sentence together” and completely buried them both by asking “how does it feel to be here competing against Adam Rose” while the likes of Rollins, Kevin Owens are “megastars”?

    Cesaro’s response to all this is to wait for the bell and then absolutely annihilate Rose with a running European uppercut to the corner. He follows this up with a press slam a la the Ultimate Warrior, where Rose just lands on his face, and then another uppercut. Rose dodges a third and then comes off the second rope with a missile drop kick into a cover for two. He begins to work over Cesaro’s neck and back with clubs and blows and then locks on a rear chin lock. Cesaro throws him off but charges into an elbow.

    Rose is now doing the stomps that Shawn Michaels used to do before a super kick. He hits Cesaro with one and then goes for an airplane spin to mock Cesaro’s giant swing. Cesaro scoffs at it, no selling it and does a 36 rep giant swing which he slows down as if he’s going to stop at about 30 reps and then just picks him up and carries on. Cesaro is such a great entertainer; the crowd is just eating out of the palm of his hand. He then puts on the Sharpshooter for the win. To his credit, Adam Rose was good here too.

    The Prime Time Players beat The Ascension (8:47)

    Viktor and Darren Young lock up and test each other’s strength back and forth until a headlock takedown by Viktor breaks things up. Young slaps a headlock on and an arm ring by Viktor is reversed into a hammerlock by Young. Viktor runs into an elbow and tags in Konnor, who comes in to no sell everything and then shoulders Young to the mat. A blind tag from O’Neil brings him in to match up to Konnor’s brawn – he shoulder barges Konnor and scoop slams him and then hits him with a leg drop. Konnor rolls outside and Viktor comes in to start on O’Neil. He gets belly-to-back suplexed on the ring apron by Young, which looks like it really sucked, and we head to a break.

    Viktor and Young are in together as we return. Young gets whipped into the corner and does a flip bump over the top rope. Outside, Konnor launches Young into the barricade and the ring apron. They come back in and he covers him for two. Young plays the babyface in peril as they double team him. Young is bleeding from his right shoulder. He goes for a victory roll up, but as he is doing it Konnor blind tags in on the way through. Konnor comes back in and leg drops Young and stomps on his face. Konnor puts on a chin lock and Viktor comes in. They use the ropes to slingshot Young and then go back to the chin lock.

    O’Neil eventually gets the heat on Konnor. He steams in and shoulders barges Konnor to the mat and then clotheslines him, following it up with a big boot. He does his triple backbreakers on Viktor and then slings him aside. He charges at Konnor in the corner with a splash and then powerslams him. The pin broken up by Viktor, who is sent outside. As Titus turns round, he eats a big boot from Konnor and then his pin attempt is broken up by Young. Young and Viktor send each other over the top and when Konnor misses a charge to the corner, O’Neil capitalizes with the Clash of the Titus. A nothing match, it was what it was.

  • WWE NXT TV taping spoilers (10/8): new & familiar names, Nia Jax, Asuka, Finn Balor

    The big news from Thursday’s WWE NXT tapings at Full Sail University was former TNA Champion and multiple time TNA Tag Team Champion James Storm debuting tonight.

    Storm was at NXT’s weekend show in Nashville and backstage at TakeOver last night. He was given a win over Martin Stone, a former WWE contracted wrestler who worked the tapings as enhancement talent. Due to the TV schedule and even though he has been done with TNA for some time, he will continue to be appearing on TNA television for probably two more months, something discussed on Wrestling Observer Radio Wednesday night.

    *****

    Results submitted by John Carey

    – NXT Tag Team Champions The Vaudevillains over Dawkins & Fulton. The finish had to be reshot because Dawkins botched the sell on the finish. 

    – Nia Jax over Evie in a squash match.

    – Apollo Crews won a #1 contender battle royal match eliminating Baron Corbin to win. Notable entries included Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa & Martin Stone.

    – Asuka over Billie Kay in a squash match.

    – Enzo & Cass over Dawson & Wilder via Enzo roll up. Mechanics beat them down after the match.

    – James Storm over Martin Stone in a squash match.

    – Alexa Bliss over Peyton Royce

    – Emma over Shazza in a squash match

    – Chad Gable/Jason Jordan over Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa. Match went around 10 minutes and was the best match in the tapings to this point.

    – Nia Jax over Kay Lee Ray in a squash match

    – WWE NXT Champion Finn Balor over Tye Dillinger.