Certainly one of the more heartbreaking moments in Monday Night Raw history occurred tonight when Roman Reigns was forced to relinquish his Universal Championship due to his fight with leukemia. There were a lot of matches from his career that I wanted to feature for the Match of the Week but ultimately, I think his first WWE World Heavyweight Championship victory should be the one. Never mind the fact Reigns would lose to Sheamus immediately after the match, this match still represents the long climb it took for Reigns to get to the top of the mountain. He lost his big match at WrestleMania earlier in the year but would go on to avenge that loss with a big one at Survivor Series just months later. If there is anyone who is ready for a fight, it's Roman Reigns. Can't wait to see you back in the ring where you belong.
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WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Final - Dean Ambrose vs. Roman Reigns
Fittingly, this is tonight's main event. They debuted at Survivor Series
three years ago and have established themselves as the top dogs of the
company. I liked the dynamic of this match, two brothers beating the
hell out of each other to secure what they want most. They looked
bruised and battered from their last bouts and they did a fantastic job
of selling the pain. Unfortunately, the Atlanta crowd wasn't all into
the action or the two guys in the ring for that matter. Regardless, they
still pulled out a fun match here with Roman Reigns finally hitting a
sick Spear onto Dean Ambrose to score the win. The match made sense,
they were tired from their last matches and thus, the match lasted less
than ten minutes. The scene with both guys sitting and trading punches
was really cool. Can't wait for The Shield to have that triple threat
match. Confetti and fireworks go off as Reigns embraces the moment with
Ambrose by his side. And then, out comes Triple H. The Game offers his
hand to shake. However...
Winner: Roman Reigns
Rating: **3/4
Monday, October 22, 2018
Monday, October 15, 2018
Match of the Week (October 15, 2018) - Randy Orton vs. Batista vs. Daniel Bryan (WWE WrestleMania XXX)
Since today is my birthday, I wanted to share with you a match that had a special meaning to me in my life. In 2014, Daniel Bryan defeated both Randy Orton and Batista in the main event of the biggest show of the year to capture the most prestigious championship in the WWE. However, the meaning behind both this match and event as a whole is so special to me. I was transitioning through a new phase of my life as I had broken up with my girlfriend and was finding my way into finally transferring into a university. Things were happening fast and I was experiencing a different level of stress that I have never felt before. There was one thing I could always count on to help me with life... professional wrestling. Seeing Daniel Bryan beat Evolution in one night before closing out the show with the championship belts in both hands was something I will never forget.
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Randy Orton vs. Batista vs. Daniel Bryan (Taken from WWE WrestleMania XXX Review)
This is it. The first triple threat main event at a WrestleMania since WrestleMania XX. And this event oddly resembles that one is so many ways. Bryan gained this opportunity after beating Triple H earlier in the show. Hard to believe that the original main event was going to be Batista vs. Orton. Bryan being injected into the match gives this match and event both a different kind of life. You know Bryan is going to win, but you just still got that feeling. The hate for Batista is real and he is fully embracing his role as a heel. He does such an amazing job at provoking these fans to boo him, he is a heel at heart. This match was exciting from the start and definitely worthy of closing out a wild night of wrestling. Just a roller coaster of a match filled with Bryan trying to fend off both Orton and Batista. Things got really foggy when Batista hit Bryan with a Batista Bomb as Orton connected with an RKO through an announce table. One of the coolest spots I have ever seen in a WrestleMania main event. Bryan refuses to quit and ends the match by getting Batista to submit after an amazing back and fourth finish. Bryan celebrates in the ring with both titles in hand as the pyro sets off to cap off an incredible night. Wow. Everything made sense here. It wasn't the perfect match or even the best main event in WrestleMania history. But again, everything made sense. You had Triple H, the scumbag boss, do his best to alter the finish with Scott Armstrong and the sledgehammer. But he failed. You had Batista, the man who was scheduled to likely win the match, submit to Daniel Bryan! What a match, what an ending, and what a show.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Rating: ****1/4
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Randy Orton vs. Batista vs. Daniel Bryan (Taken from WWE WrestleMania XXX Review)
This is it. The first triple threat main event at a WrestleMania since WrestleMania XX. And this event oddly resembles that one is so many ways. Bryan gained this opportunity after beating Triple H earlier in the show. Hard to believe that the original main event was going to be Batista vs. Orton. Bryan being injected into the match gives this match and event both a different kind of life. You know Bryan is going to win, but you just still got that feeling. The hate for Batista is real and he is fully embracing his role as a heel. He does such an amazing job at provoking these fans to boo him, he is a heel at heart. This match was exciting from the start and definitely worthy of closing out a wild night of wrestling. Just a roller coaster of a match filled with Bryan trying to fend off both Orton and Batista. Things got really foggy when Batista hit Bryan with a Batista Bomb as Orton connected with an RKO through an announce table. One of the coolest spots I have ever seen in a WrestleMania main event. Bryan refuses to quit and ends the match by getting Batista to submit after an amazing back and fourth finish. Bryan celebrates in the ring with both titles in hand as the pyro sets off to cap off an incredible night. Wow. Everything made sense here. It wasn't the perfect match or even the best main event in WrestleMania history. But again, everything made sense. You had Triple H, the scumbag boss, do his best to alter the finish with Scott Armstrong and the sledgehammer. But he failed. You had Batista, the man who was scheduled to likely win the match, submit to Daniel Bryan! What a match, what an ending, and what a show.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Rating: ****1/4
Monday, October 8, 2018
Match of the Week (October 8, 2018) - The Brothers of Destruction vs. Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper (WWE Survivor Series 2015)
As The Brothers of Destruction get ready to reunite at Crown Jewel to take on D-Generation X, let's go back to the 2015 edition of Survivor Series. To coincide with the 25th anniversary of The Undertaker's debut, he teamed with his brother Kane to take on The Wyatt Family in a legendary Survivor Series match that I will remember for the rest of my life.
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The Brothers of Destruction vs. Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper
Numbers can easily define the legend that is The Undertaker. 25 is the flavor of death for tonight. Survivor Series 2015 celebrates 25 years to the day that The Undertaker debuted on the WWE stage. Bray Wyatt gets to choose two members of his family to take on The Brothers of Destruction. He sends in Erick Rowan to the wolves where he receives a Double Chokeslam for his troubles. Wyatt decides to team with Luke Harper and have Braun Strowman stay in his corner. The Brothers are in control of the match until Strowman tosses Kane over the announce table. The tides seem to turn until Undertaker gets his retribution as he leads a Double Chokeslam to Strowman through the table with the help of Kane. Awesome. Back in the ring and once again, Wyatt looks to be in control. However, The Brothers both sit up simultaneously in the faces of Wyatt & Harper before delivering the final nail to the coffin. What a scene. Undertaker plants Harper with a Tombstone for the win. That was more show and more nostalgia than anything. And I loved it. I got chills watching that incredible entrance by The Undertaker and it literally felt like I was stepping back into my childhood watching this match. The Wyatt Family took the loss but let's be honest, facing The Brothers of Destruction on a PPV match is as good as anything.
Winners: The Brothers of Destruction
Rating: ***1/4
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The Brothers of Destruction vs. Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper
Numbers can easily define the legend that is The Undertaker. 25 is the flavor of death for tonight. Survivor Series 2015 celebrates 25 years to the day that The Undertaker debuted on the WWE stage. Bray Wyatt gets to choose two members of his family to take on The Brothers of Destruction. He sends in Erick Rowan to the wolves where he receives a Double Chokeslam for his troubles. Wyatt decides to team with Luke Harper and have Braun Strowman stay in his corner. The Brothers are in control of the match until Strowman tosses Kane over the announce table. The tides seem to turn until Undertaker gets his retribution as he leads a Double Chokeslam to Strowman through the table with the help of Kane. Awesome. Back in the ring and once again, Wyatt looks to be in control. However, The Brothers both sit up simultaneously in the faces of Wyatt & Harper before delivering the final nail to the coffin. What a scene. Undertaker plants Harper with a Tombstone for the win. That was more show and more nostalgia than anything. And I loved it. I got chills watching that incredible entrance by The Undertaker and it literally felt like I was stepping back into my childhood watching this match. The Wyatt Family took the loss but let's be honest, facing The Brothers of Destruction on a PPV match is as good as anything.
Winners: The Brothers of Destruction
Rating: ***1/4
Sunday, October 7, 2018
WWE Battleground 2016 Review
The Shield goes to war! All three members of The Shield collide in the main event as the WWE Championship is on the line in the final PPV before Raw and SmackDown go their separate ways.
Match 1: Charlotte Flair & Dana Brooke vs. Sasha Banks & Bayley
With these ladies being drafted to Monday Night Raw, the Raw women's division was looking stacked. Charlotte Flair teams up again with Dana Brooke to take on Sasha Banks and her former NXT enemy in Bayley. Crowd was absolutely hot for Bayley here and were eating up every move she executed with Flair having the weakest link in the match in Brooke being a downfall for her. Banks is able to submit Flair with her Bank Statement submission as the long feud between Charlotte and Sasha had only just begun.
Winners: Sasha Banks & Bayley
Rating: **1/4
Match 2: The New Day vs. The Wyatt Family
Aside from Xavier Woods oddly becoming scared to death of The Wyatt Family, this feud was a really good one. Really looked forward to seeing the two top teams in the company at the time go at it. While the match didn't get enough time I think they needed to really steal the show, they still put on a great display of twists and turns. They also centered the match around Woods being afraid of Bray Wyatt before he was finally able to conquer his fears and gain an advantage over him at one point before he went on to eventually fall to Bray and his Sister Abigail finisher. Great match but also kind of seemed like a lost opportunity to have these two feud for a longer period and have a better payoff than this.
Winners: The Wyatt Family
Rating: ***
Match 3: WWE United States Championship - Rusev (c) vs. Zack Ryder
Just a tad bit random to see Zack Ryder get a crack at Rusev and his United States Championship. Not complaining since I'm definitely a huge Ryder fan and love seeing him get some love on the PPV. Ryder was trying to ride the momentum he gained from WrestleMania 32 and take down Rusev with it. Ryder actually got in a decent amount of offense in this one and made the match more competitive than most Rusev matches at this time were. Unfortunately for Ryder, a kick to the back of the head from Rusev before following it up with an Accolade proved to be too much. Afterwards, Mojo Rawley came out to Ryder's aid as he stared down Rusev out of the ring. Enjoyable for what it was but definitely felt like a pre-show type of match.
Winner: Rusev
Rating: **
Match 4: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
If anyone has ever seen these two go at it in Ring of Honor back in the day, then you know what to expect. More specifically, this match reminded me of their match at Death Before Dishonor in 2010. If you have never seen it, then I highly recommend you do so before watching them here. It was their first match against each other in their personal feud that year and very similar to the animosity that was building here. As usual, incredible chemistry between the two with some incredible displays of athleticism that had the crowd reeling. After hitting two consecutive Helluva Kicks, Zayn pins Owens to score one of the biggest wins of his career. Remarkable performance as usual from these two with a very sweet ending as Zayn stared down Owens after the first Helluva Kick and following it up with another second nasty kick to the face. These two truly are destined to fight each other forever.
Winner: Sami Zayn
Rating: ****1/4
Match 5: Natalya vs. Becky Lynch
After Natalya turned her back on Becky Lynch a PPV ago, the two square off here. Seeing Natalya interact as a heel just seems a bit off to me. As much as I love these two, this was just a bland match that saw Natalya dominate throughout the match before Lynch finally got in a bit of offense at the end. Am I watching a John Cena match from 2006? Natalya locks up Lynch in a Sharpshooter and makes her submit to score the win.
Winner: Natalya
Rating: *1/2
Match 6: WWE Intercontinental Championship - The Miz (c) vs. Darren Young
If you forgot how slim the roster was looking in 2016 due to injuries, look no further than this. Another bland match here with the shenanigans nearing the end of the match overlooking all the action in the ring itself where the crowd was growing restless. With Bob Backlund at ringside for Darren Young, he gets himself involved with the match after Maryse slaps him. Backlund goes crazy and shoves Backlund to the floor before Young came down and choked The Miz out outside the ring as the referee calls for the bell. What the hell was that? If anything, that just made everyone involved in the match look like an idiot and those who don't know who Bob Backlund is just get a bad outlook on him.
Winner: n/a
Rating: *1/4
Match 7: John Cena, Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. The Club
The next chapter in the feud between John Cena and AJ Styles has them finding allies to go at it in a war here before they face off in another singles match. Dig the idea of this as it sets up for a big rematch at Summerslam between the two. Fun match here with Enzo Amore really getting a rub from both Cena and the crowd has he cut a pretty sweet promo on The Club prior to the start of the match. Say what you want about him but he can damn well talk. Solid chemistry between the two teams as they nicely sprinkled some action between Cena and Styles but not enough to fulfill your appetite. But the two tag teams more than held their own and had some cool spots for themselves when Cena or Styles weren't involved. However, Cena and his squad get the last laugh when an Attitude Adjustment off the top rope to Styles proved to be the difference maker.
Winners: John Cena, Enzo Amore & Big Cass
Rating: ***3/4
Match 8: WWE Championship - Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
Always wondered when the WWE would book a triple threat between The Shield members, just never thought it would come on a lesser PPV like Battleground. However, with the roster being slimmed down from injuries and with the new brand extension, I guess this makes sense. But I'm pretty sure they will eventually all go at it at a WrestleMania or Summerslam down the road. Especially one that won't have the general managers and commissioners at ringside hogging the spotlight. Even still, this was still a great match as you would expect from three guys who have been going at it for years. Back and forth they went with teases of them colluding before realizing it's a triple threat match and every man is for themselves. Roman Reigns hits Seth Rollins with a Spear but Dean Ambrose immediately grabs Reigns and plants him with a Dirty Deeds DDT to secure the win. With that being said, Reigns has been pinned cleanly in consecutive PPVs. Interesting. Afterwards, the SmackDown Live roster comes out to hoist up Ambrose and celebrate their champion.
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Rating: ****1/4
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
Heading into a new stage in the WWE, they really needed a strong PPV that would deliver in terms of quality in the ring along with blending that to help with feuds down the line for each respective brand. Thankfully, they certainly delivered but it wasn't without a couple hiccups with the biggest one being Chris Jericho hosting Randy Orton on an episode of The Highlight Reel which came off as just forced and cheesy for a PPV. Regardless, still a fun show and a nice introduction into the 2016 brand extension.
Rating: 8/10
Match 1: Charlotte Flair & Dana Brooke vs. Sasha Banks & Bayley
With these ladies being drafted to Monday Night Raw, the Raw women's division was looking stacked. Charlotte Flair teams up again with Dana Brooke to take on Sasha Banks and her former NXT enemy in Bayley. Crowd was absolutely hot for Bayley here and were eating up every move she executed with Flair having the weakest link in the match in Brooke being a downfall for her. Banks is able to submit Flair with her Bank Statement submission as the long feud between Charlotte and Sasha had only just begun.
Winners: Sasha Banks & Bayley
Rating: **1/4
Match 2: The New Day vs. The Wyatt Family
Aside from Xavier Woods oddly becoming scared to death of The Wyatt Family, this feud was a really good one. Really looked forward to seeing the two top teams in the company at the time go at it. While the match didn't get enough time I think they needed to really steal the show, they still put on a great display of twists and turns. They also centered the match around Woods being afraid of Bray Wyatt before he was finally able to conquer his fears and gain an advantage over him at one point before he went on to eventually fall to Bray and his Sister Abigail finisher. Great match but also kind of seemed like a lost opportunity to have these two feud for a longer period and have a better payoff than this.
Winners: The Wyatt Family
Rating: ***
Match 3: WWE United States Championship - Rusev (c) vs. Zack Ryder
Just a tad bit random to see Zack Ryder get a crack at Rusev and his United States Championship. Not complaining since I'm definitely a huge Ryder fan and love seeing him get some love on the PPV. Ryder was trying to ride the momentum he gained from WrestleMania 32 and take down Rusev with it. Ryder actually got in a decent amount of offense in this one and made the match more competitive than most Rusev matches at this time were. Unfortunately for Ryder, a kick to the back of the head from Rusev before following it up with an Accolade proved to be too much. Afterwards, Mojo Rawley came out to Ryder's aid as he stared down Rusev out of the ring. Enjoyable for what it was but definitely felt like a pre-show type of match.
Winner: Rusev
Rating: **
Match 4: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
If anyone has ever seen these two go at it in Ring of Honor back in the day, then you know what to expect. More specifically, this match reminded me of their match at Death Before Dishonor in 2010. If you have never seen it, then I highly recommend you do so before watching them here. It was their first match against each other in their personal feud that year and very similar to the animosity that was building here. As usual, incredible chemistry between the two with some incredible displays of athleticism that had the crowd reeling. After hitting two consecutive Helluva Kicks, Zayn pins Owens to score one of the biggest wins of his career. Remarkable performance as usual from these two with a very sweet ending as Zayn stared down Owens after the first Helluva Kick and following it up with another second nasty kick to the face. These two truly are destined to fight each other forever.
Winner: Sami Zayn
Rating: ****1/4
Match 5: Natalya vs. Becky Lynch
After Natalya turned her back on Becky Lynch a PPV ago, the two square off here. Seeing Natalya interact as a heel just seems a bit off to me. As much as I love these two, this was just a bland match that saw Natalya dominate throughout the match before Lynch finally got in a bit of offense at the end. Am I watching a John Cena match from 2006? Natalya locks up Lynch in a Sharpshooter and makes her submit to score the win.
Winner: Natalya
Rating: *1/2
Match 6: WWE Intercontinental Championship - The Miz (c) vs. Darren Young
If you forgot how slim the roster was looking in 2016 due to injuries, look no further than this. Another bland match here with the shenanigans nearing the end of the match overlooking all the action in the ring itself where the crowd was growing restless. With Bob Backlund at ringside for Darren Young, he gets himself involved with the match after Maryse slaps him. Backlund goes crazy and shoves Backlund to the floor before Young came down and choked The Miz out outside the ring as the referee calls for the bell. What the hell was that? If anything, that just made everyone involved in the match look like an idiot and those who don't know who Bob Backlund is just get a bad outlook on him.
Winner: n/a
Rating: *1/4
Match 7: John Cena, Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. The Club
The next chapter in the feud between John Cena and AJ Styles has them finding allies to go at it in a war here before they face off in another singles match. Dig the idea of this as it sets up for a big rematch at Summerslam between the two. Fun match here with Enzo Amore really getting a rub from both Cena and the crowd has he cut a pretty sweet promo on The Club prior to the start of the match. Say what you want about him but he can damn well talk. Solid chemistry between the two teams as they nicely sprinkled some action between Cena and Styles but not enough to fulfill your appetite. But the two tag teams more than held their own and had some cool spots for themselves when Cena or Styles weren't involved. However, Cena and his squad get the last laugh when an Attitude Adjustment off the top rope to Styles proved to be the difference maker.
Winners: John Cena, Enzo Amore & Big Cass
Rating: ***3/4
Match 8: WWE Championship - Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
Always wondered when the WWE would book a triple threat between The Shield members, just never thought it would come on a lesser PPV like Battleground. However, with the roster being slimmed down from injuries and with the new brand extension, I guess this makes sense. But I'm pretty sure they will eventually all go at it at a WrestleMania or Summerslam down the road. Especially one that won't have the general managers and commissioners at ringside hogging the spotlight. Even still, this was still a great match as you would expect from three guys who have been going at it for years. Back and forth they went with teases of them colluding before realizing it's a triple threat match and every man is for themselves. Roman Reigns hits Seth Rollins with a Spear but Dean Ambrose immediately grabs Reigns and plants him with a Dirty Deeds DDT to secure the win. With that being said, Reigns has been pinned cleanly in consecutive PPVs. Interesting. Afterwards, the SmackDown Live roster comes out to hoist up Ambrose and celebrate their champion.
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Rating: ****1/4
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
Heading into a new stage in the WWE, they really needed a strong PPV that would deliver in terms of quality in the ring along with blending that to help with feuds down the line for each respective brand. Thankfully, they certainly delivered but it wasn't without a couple hiccups with the biggest one being Chris Jericho hosting Randy Orton on an episode of The Highlight Reel which came off as just forced and cheesy for a PPV. Regardless, still a fun show and a nice introduction into the 2016 brand extension.
Rating: 8/10
Monday, October 1, 2018
Match of the Week (October 1, 2018) - Kane vs. The Undertaker (WWE Hell in a Cell 2010)
Another random pick for this week's Match of the Week but the conclusion of tonight's episode of Monday Night Raw got me thinking... How many times have The Undertaker and Kane fought against each other? It's easy to remember their classic WrestleMania bouts but it's also easy to forget their later matches like this one in 2010.
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World Heavyweight Championship - Hell in a Cell - Kane (c) vs. The Undertaker (Taken from WWE Hell in a Cell 2010 Review)
Probably one of the most baffling main events I could remember within the past decade or so. I remember the hate this match was getting before it even happened. But in my opinion, it's cool to see these old veterans main event a PPV inside Hell in a Cell with Paul Bearer being in The Deadman's corner. Also incredible to believe that these two men were involved in the very first Hell in a Cell match. Let's get this out of the way, the ending may have been the most fucked ending I have ever seen in a WWE ring. And trust me, I've seen some stupid shit. But before that, I thought that the match was actually going really well, probably better than what anyone could expect. We tend to forget just how good Kane can really be and I love the emphasis he put on working on The Undertaker's leg. Matt Striker nicely pointed out that it would affect Undertaker's arsenal of moves. But things got really weird when after Kane knocked out the referee after hitting a Tombstone to The Undertaker. Paul Bearer would enter the match when the door opened. The lights dimmed down as fire started to erupt from the titantron. Bearer gives the urn to Kane before Kane knocks him out The Undertaker it. Kane retains the championship. I feel like we took a trip back to 1999.
Winner: Kane
Rating: **1/4
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World Heavyweight Championship - Hell in a Cell - Kane (c) vs. The Undertaker (Taken from WWE Hell in a Cell 2010 Review)
Probably one of the most baffling main events I could remember within the past decade or so. I remember the hate this match was getting before it even happened. But in my opinion, it's cool to see these old veterans main event a PPV inside Hell in a Cell with Paul Bearer being in The Deadman's corner. Also incredible to believe that these two men were involved in the very first Hell in a Cell match. Let's get this out of the way, the ending may have been the most fucked ending I have ever seen in a WWE ring. And trust me, I've seen some stupid shit. But before that, I thought that the match was actually going really well, probably better than what anyone could expect. We tend to forget just how good Kane can really be and I love the emphasis he put on working on The Undertaker's leg. Matt Striker nicely pointed out that it would affect Undertaker's arsenal of moves. But things got really weird when after Kane knocked out the referee after hitting a Tombstone to The Undertaker. Paul Bearer would enter the match when the door opened. The lights dimmed down as fire started to erupt from the titantron. Bearer gives the urn to Kane before Kane knocks him out The Undertaker it. Kane retains the championship. I feel like we took a trip back to 1999.
Winner: Kane
Rating: **1/4
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