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Welcome to My (And Not Sly's) House
Monday
Monday Night Raw
Date: October 30, 2017
Location: Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Booker T.
Its time for the fallout show as were less than three weeks away from Survivor Series and Raw is reeling from Smackdowns invasion last week. The interesting part is whether or not Smackdown will be back this week as its time to get ready for the real battle. Hopefully its as entertaining as last week. Lets get to it.
We open with a long recap of last weeks invasion.
Opening sequence.
Kurt Angle is in the ring and the Raw roster is on the stage. Last week was taking friendly competition too far and that was a slap in the face of the people who work here every week. He put them in harms way and that will never happen again. Cue the returning Stephanie McMahon to talk about how Monday Night Raw will be celebrating twenty five years on January 22. The show is still going strong and thats where she and Kurt come in. Angle has lead by example and has even earned her respect.
Stephanie pauses for the YOU STILL GOT IT but blames Angle for last weeks siege. It took twenty seconds to ruin Raws history and thats all because of Angle falling for Shanes lies. Stephanie goes on a rant about how Angle RUINED, yes RUINED, Raws legacy last week in one incompetent moment. Therefore, Angle better hope that he still has it because hes going to be team captain at Survivor Series. If things dont go the way she wants, hes out as General Manager.
Post break Stephanie is leaving and Angle is very sorry. Stephanie mentions Mick Foley as another threat to Angles job. As Stephanie leaves, another limo comes up, containing the Miz. Angle isnt happy with him being late so hes defending the Intercontinental Title tonight. Miz wants to know who but Angle wont tell him for being late. Of note: Bo Dallas was back.
Angle being all apologetic and scared here does nothing for him, but it certainly makes Stephanie look like the queen of the world. You know, BECAUSE WE HAVENT ESTABLISHED THAT ENOUGH IN THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS!
Bayley vs. Alicia Fox
Fox comes out in an airline captains outfit (well, the female wrestling version) and says this is your captain speaking (eh kind of clever). She has business to tend to so we have a replacement.
Bayley vs. Nia Jax
Bayley charges right at her to start and basically bounces off of the monster, landing on the floor in a heap. Back with Nia holding a chinlock, followed by a pair of running splashes in the corner. What looked to be a Vader Bomb is broken up and Nia is dumped to the floor. Bayley dives off the apron with some right hands, followed by a kick to the face for two. We hit a guillotine choke but Nia shrugs it off without much effort. A spear and the legdrop end Bayley at 7:24.
Alicia picks Nia to be on the Raw team. Nia goes to leave but Samoa Joe of all people is back. Post break, Joe says he knows some people here missed him but he didnt miss a single one of them. Therefore, when hes beating the heck out of someone, hell be imagining its all of the people.
Samoa Joe vs. Apollo Crews
Joe wastes no time in chopping Crews in the corner and its not looking good early on. Crews fights back with a good looking dropkick and some right hands in the corner but Joe isnt about to be suplexed. A kick in the corner drops Crews and Joe throws his gum at Titus ONeil. Crews scores with an enziguri but the Toss Powerbomb is countered with a headlock takeover. The Rock Bottom out of the corner plants Crews and its the Koquina Clutch for the tap out at 3:39.
Post match Joe chokes Titus out as well.
Quick look at Raw 25 coming up in January featuring Undertaker, Shawn Michaels and...Kevin Nash?
Intercontinental Title: The Miz vs. Matt Hardy
Matt is challenging and wastes no time in trying a small package for two. A backslide gets the same and these early pinfall attempts are working at making Miz sweat a bit. Miz bails to the floor and we take a break. Back with Matt getting crotched on top and a neckbreaker out of the corner getting two. You can tell Miz is working here as his hair is hanging off the side of his head.
Miz puts him on the apron and gets two off a kick to the head. Back in and Miz hits the corner clothesline but the top rope ax handle is blocked. Instead Miz crotches himself in the corner to put both guys down. Matt gets two off a bulldog and drops his middle rope elbow to the back of the neck.
A regular middle rope elbow (thats a new one) gets two, followed by the Side Effect for the same. Matt scores with a moonsault of all things for two more but Miz is right back with the YES Kicks. A Twist of Fate out of nowhere plants Miz but he rolls to the apron. Back up and Miz snaps him throat first across the ropes, setting up the Skull Crushing Finale to retain at 13:02.
We recap the opening sequence, making sure to show how amazing Stephanie is, just in case you forgot in the last 40 minutes.
Alexa Bliss comes in to see Angle and mocks the idea of Mickie James being a serious contender. Angle isnt cool with that and makes Bliss vs. James for the title in the main event.
Asuka vs. Stacie Cullen
A spinning backfist drops Cullen and its time for some hard knees to the face. Asuka kicks her in the head and the Asuka Lock is good for the submission at 1:42.
Angle grabs a walkie talkie and says the invasion is happening again. It turns out to just be Daniel Bryan and we take a break. Back with Angle yelling at Bryan for wanting to be here to finish the job. Bryan says no but Angle threatens to have the Raw roster destroy him right now. Angle promises to come to Smackdown and even things up.
Recap of Brock Lesnar answering Jinder Mahals challenge and Mahals response.
Bryan is still in Angles office for no apparent reason and sums up what happened in a phone call. The lights go out and we take a break. Back with Bryan in the dark ranting about the door being locked. He says something is wrong and Kane shows up to chokeslam him through a table (off camera of course).
Finn Balor vs. Cesaro
Balor takes him into the corner to start and shouts BAR. Thats still a stupid name so Balor headlocks him down instead. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gets Cesaro out of trouble though and he uppercuts Finn into the corner. Balor sends him outside though and the running apron kick to the face drops Cesaro. Sheamus gets in a cheap shot though and we take a break.
Back with Cesaro hitting the pop up uppercut for two, followed by the apron superplex (that never gets old) for the same. We hit the Sharpshooter for a bit with Balor easily powering out. That means a Sling Blade into the corner dropkick, followed by Balor hitting a good looking running flip dive onto both guys. A top rope double stomp to the back gives Balor the pin at 11:28.
Post match Kane comes out and Tombstones Balor on the stage. HES KANE! DOES ANYONE THINK HE NEEDS TO BE BUILT UP TO FACE STROWMAN? And at the expense of Finn Balor? Good grief is there anyone else you want to put Kane over?
Seth Rollins vs. Kane
I WAS KIDDING!!! Cesaro and Sheamus are still at ringside along with Ambrose. Rollins just looks better in the Shield gear. Seths early shots have little effect so he scores with some dropkicks through the ropes. The suicide dive is broken up though and Kane runs him over with a clothesline. Rollins hammers away in the corner and kicks at the knee, only to get dropped with an uppercut. You cant say Kanes offense is complicated yet it still works well. The side slam gives Kane two and we hit a chinlock.
Back up and an enziguri gets Seth out of trouble and the Blockbuster (still love that move) gets two. A suicide dive is blocked though and Rollins is down in a heap. Back in and Seths springboard .I think clothesline is shrugged off as Sheamus and Cesaro are stomping on Ambrose. Another springboard is countered into a chokeslam for the pin on Rolling at 5:42.
Post match Dean hits Dirty Deeds on Kane but Sheamus and Cesaro come in to help beat him down. Ambrose and Rollins both get Tombstoned, making it THREE former World Champions Kane has decimated in the span of ten minutes. Oh and one thing missing when the Shield was being beaten down: anyone chanting for Reigns to make the save. Isnt that interesting?
We look at the opening sequence. Again.
Bryan is being stretchered out.
Miz and the Miztourage are ready to celebrate and go into their locker room. They find a bag of trash, which Miz interprets as Braun Strowman coming back. Terror ensues.
Post break Miz runs into Braun and asks him for help with Strowman. Kane says hes on his own.
Recap of Strowman being destroyed at TLC.
Heath Slater/Rhyno vs. Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows
This is a Trick or Street Fight, meaning the ring is surrounded by Halloween decorations. For costumes, we have Santa and Mrs. Claus vs. Chad 2 Bad/Tex Ferguson (from Southpaw Regional Wrestling) respectively. Slater is sent into a bucket of apples to start so Rhyno makes a save and puts pumpkins on their heads. Heath finds some candy corn kendo sticks but it takes too long to set up a table.
Anderson and Gallows beat Slater down, including shoving pumpkin filling in Slaters face. Karl crotches himself on a skeleton though (just go with it) and theres a pie to the face. Slater makes the save with the kendo sticks but gets beaten down again. Anderson puts a pumpkin on his own head and Gallows does the same, blinding himself in the process. It takes too long though and Rhyno gets off a table, setting up a spinebuster to put Anderson through said table for the pin at 4:50.
Cesaro and Sheamus tell Miz that Strowman couldnt possibly be back yet. Theyre no team though. So is this supposed to be WWEs version of a horror story? Just because its October? It was more effective when Reigns attempted to murder Strowman and its not exactly spooky, especially when Strowman is likely back this week or next. On a related note, is Kane getting this kind of a push because hes a monster and its the Halloween season? If so, thats rather dumb even by WWEs limited standards.
Elias, with a new guitar, is in the ring for a song. He sings the Ballad of Jason Jordan, complete with shots of Jordan being hit with a guitar last week. Jordan comes out to clean house and breaks Elias new guitar.
Miz and the Miztourage go to leave but Angle cuts them off, saying theyre staying or else.
Here are Enzo Amore and Drew Gulak to mock Angle again. Kalisto isnt getting the title back you see and Gulak is ready to help prove that. Gulak says Kalisto is S-O-F-T, which doesnt sit well with Enzo.
Kalisto vs. Drew Gulak
Drew jumps him to start but charges into a boot in the corner. Kalistos middle rope corkscrew dive and the handspring enziguri sets up the hurricanrana driver. The springboard Salida Del Sol ends Gulak at 59 seconds.
Post match Enzo lays Kalisto out.
Miz is trying to find a way out.
Womens Title: Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James
James is challenging and scores early with a running kick to the chest. The hurricanrana out of the corner has Bliss reeling and a dropkick puts her outside. Back from a break with Bliss working on a neck crank before switching to a chinlock (totally different you see). Something like an STO gets two and Bliss stands on Mickies hair for good measure.
Thats enough to fire Mickie up but Bliss slams her off the top to take over again. An enziguri off the top lets Mickie score with the Thesz press for two. Some rollups are good for some two counts but Bliss punches her in the face for the pin to retain at 11:25. Seriously it was just a right hand.
Miz and the Miztourage go to leave and, after cutting back to Bliss celebrating, get in the car, where of course there is a camera waiting. They pull off and are immediately stopped by a waiting garbage truck. Braun comes out of the garbage as we keep cutting to Miz and company in the vein of a bad horror movie.
Strowman poses (in clean clothes despite BEING IN A GARBAGE TRUCK FOR EIGHT DAYS) and chases them out of the limo. They head into the arena, where Bliss is still posing, where Strowman throws Dallas onto the stage. The Miztourage save Miz from going through the table so Strowman takes them to the ring for FIVE running powerslams. Axel goes through the announcers table to end the show.
Results
Nia Jax b. Bayley Legdrop
Samoa Joe b. Apollo Crews Koquina Clutch
The Miz b. Matt Hardy Skull Crushing Finale
Asuka b. Stacie Cullen Asuka Lock
Finn Balor b. Cesaro Top rope double stomp to the back
Kane b. Seth Rollins Chokeslam
Heath Slater/Rhyno b. Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows Spinebuster through a table
Kalisto b. Drew Gulak Springboard Salida Del Sol
Alexa Bliss b. Mickie James Right hand
Tuesday
Smackdown
Date: October 31, 2017
Location: Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, Virginia
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
This almost has to be better. After last nights rather lackluster Raw, were continuing the build towards Survivor Series. This week we have a pair of Survivor Series qualifying matches as Shinsuke Nakamura faces Kevin Owens and Bobby Roode meets Dolph Ziggler in a 2/3 falls match. Lets get to it.
Opening sequence.
Heres Shane McMahon to open things up. He talks about how Smackdown has always been seen as the secondary show and the little brother to Raw. Then they went live and made the best of it with Daniel Bryan as General Manager, but they knew they had to do something to shake things up. Thats what caused them to invade Raw, because Smackdown has heart.
Shane talks about how Smackdown had to work harder than anyone else and thanks the roster and fans for everything they do. That brings Shane to last night when Daniel Bryan was attacked by Kane. It was a setup and Shane blames Stephanie McMahon and Kurt Angle. Survivor Series is coming and Shane is going to be the Smackdown team captain. Lets get to some action though.
Survivor Series Qualifying Match: Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler
2/3 falls. Ziggler wastes no time in trying some rollups for two, only to have Roode take him down with a clothesline out of the corner. The Blockbuster gets two more and Roode scores with a knee to the ribs. Ziggler hits a quick superkick though and gets the first fall at 3:44. Back from a break with the score being tied up as Roode sunset flipped him for a pin during the break at approximately 7:05.
They slug it out until Roode scores with a spinebuster for two more. The running DDT (without much contact) gives Ziggler another near fall and both guys are down again. Dolph reverses the Glorious DDT into the Zig Zag for two and they hit the rollups with handfuls of tights. Roode finally reverses into the Glorious DDT for the final pin at 11:29.
Post match Roode says hes ready to fight and the next two teammates need to have the same level of passion and competitiveness that the three of them already have.
New Day is in the back, dressed as Jimmy Hart (Woods), Akeem (Big E.) and Brother Love (Kofi) when Rusev and Aiden English come in. Woods speaks in the high pitched voice and Kofi talks about how much he LOVES candy. Rusev takes their candy bucket away and thinks the people giving them candy could be spies from Raw. Halloween is for dumb children and the only holiday that matters is Rusev Day. Rusev CRUSHES the candy and Big E. challenges him to a match later.
Becky Lynch gives Team Smackdown a pep talk and Ellsworth, still on a leash, barks like a dog. Lynch sprays him with water until Natalya comes in to say she should be the captain. Theyre all the weak links on the team, though Charlotte seems to be the one that worries Natalya most.
Baron Corbin vs. Sin Cara
Non-title. Corbin goes for the mask to start and throws Cara outside. Cara saves his mask again and slides back inside to kick Corbin in the face. One heck of a forearm cuts off the comeback (Is it early enough for a comeback?) though and Corbin goes for the mask a third time. Cara gets all ticked off and sends Corbin outside for a beating. A spear to the back and more right hands to the head set up another spear over the announcers table. The referee throws it out at 2:59.
Cara throws a chair at Corbin, who bails into the crowd.
The Usos are ready to take care of Seth Rollins/Dean Ambrose to show that theyre the A team of this B show. My goodness can we please stop with the brands suddenly hating each other stuff? Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin come in and say they get their title shot next week. Gable raps (work with me here) a bit about how theyre going to win the titles.
Here are the Singh Brothers to imitate Paul Heyman and introduce Jinder Mahal. Jinder comes out and says hell win at Survivor Series so that people will call him the Beastmaster.
AJ Styles vs. Samir Singh
Singh gets in a slap, only to be taken down and pummeled. The Styles Clash wraps it up at 36 seconds.
Post match Mahal beats AJ down by bending his back around the post, followed by some Khallases.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are AGHAST at the idea of Shane McMahon being the captain. Oh and what kind of man like Randy Orton would use a low blow to win a match? Owens promises to win tonight and lead Smackdown to victory.
The Bludgeon Brothers are coming.
Here are Aiden English and Rusev with the former singing about how much he hates Halloween because ITS RUSEV DAY!
Rusev vs. Big E.
Big E. is still dressed as Akeem and grabs an early abdominal stretch to have Rusev in trouble. Some stomping sets up the dancing but Rusev pulls E. arm first over the ropes. The same arm goes into the post (Graves: HAPPY RUSEV DAY!) and we take a break with Graves being rather pleased.
Back with Rusev working on the arm (at least Rusev Day sees you still being logical) until Big E. comes back with the belly to belly suplexes. The Rock Bottom out of the corner plants Rusev but English starts singing. Woods drowns him out with the trombone so Kofi chases him into the ring for a Big Ending. The distraction lets Rusev kick Big E. in the back of the head for the pin at 7:37.
Cara says he worked hard to get his mask and hes not giving it up.
English and Rusev come into Shanes office to get Rusev a spot on Team Smackdown. Shane is willing to give him a qualifying match against AJ Styles next week. Shane sings good luck.
Its Fashion Files time and this week its Strangerer Things (I dont watch Stranger Things so Im going to miss most of the jokes/references here). This is subtitled Chapter Twenty: The Right Side Up. The bulletin board has a variety of tag teams posted and Fandango, who is dressed as a sheriff, feeds Eggos to someone in a tent. Tyler Breeze, in a pink dress and wig, comes in with a box of Uggos, making Fandango wonder who was in the tent. Viktor comes in to say it wasnt him and the tent starts to shake. Its Tye Dillinger, also in a dress, who says hes not another eleven but rather a ten.
Konnor comes in dressed as some kind of a creature but says its just a costume. The lights go out and some Christmas lights appear around the picture of the Bludgeon Brothers. The lights flicker back on and the briefcase from a few weeks ago is back. This time though theres a Saw like puppet, saying let the game begin.
Survivor Series Qualifying Match: Kevin Owens vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Nakamura wastes no time in hammering away, knocking Owens to the floor with a hard shot. A whip sends Owens into the barricade and we take a break. Back with Owens pounding him down and grabbing a chinlock. A DDT gives Owens two and we hit the chinlock sequel. This version lasts a bit longer until Nakamura fires off kicks, including a big one to the head to really stagger Owens.
The knees in the corner have Owens in trouble but heres Zayn for a distraction. Its enough for Owens to reverse a superplex into the swinging fishermans superplex to put both guys down. The frog splash gives Owens two but heres Randy Orton (with more hair than Ive seen him have in years) to drop Sami onto the announcers table. The distraction lets Nakamura score with Kinshasa for the pin at 12:25.
Results
Bobby Roode b. Dolph Ziggler Glorious DDT
Baron Corbin vs. Sin Cara went to a no contest when they both brawled on the floor
AJ Styles b. Samir Singh Styles Clash
Rusev b. Big E. Kick to the back of the head
Shinsuke Nakamura b. Kevin Owens Kinshasa
Wednesday
NXT
Date: November 1, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson
Were less than three weeks away from Houston and by now a lot of the card can be figured out in advance. The big story from last week is the addition of the Authors of Pain to the main event mix, making things even bigger than they already were. The major match for Takeover hasnt been announced yet but you know whats coming. Lets get to it.
Opening sequence.
Andrade Cien Almas will officially challenge Drew McIntyre at Takeover. Their contract signing is later tonight.
Taynara Conti vs. Nikki Cross
Theyre not wasting time this week. Cross goes right after her and knocks Conti to the floor for some forearms to the chest. Back in and Conti uses the legs for some kicks to the arm, only to get dropped by a short arm clothesline. A Scorpion Death Drop sets up the swinging fishermans neckbreaker to give Cross the pin at 2:38. Energetic while it lasted but you knew Cross wasnt losing this close to a title shot.
Mercedes Martinez blames her failures on Ember Moon.
Fabian Aichner vs. Johnny Gargano
Gargano takes him to the mat to start and grabs a rollup for an early two. A standing dropkick gets the same as Johnny is moving out there early on. Aichner sends him outside though and we take a break. Back with Johnny elbowing his way to freedom and scoring with a rolling kick to the face.
Aichner makes the mistake of sending Gargano to the apron and then charges into the slingshot spear for two more. The slingshot DDT doesnt put Aichner away either so he grabs a heck of a powerbomb for two. Gargano is back up with a running kick in the corner but the Gargano Escape is countered into a rollup to give Aichner the clean pin at 9:14.
Aleister Black vs. Velveteen Dream is official for Takeover.
Earlier today the Street Profits were admiring Tino Sabbatelli and Riddick Moss very expensive car when Tino and Riddick showed up. Trash was talked but nothing gets physical.
Its time for the contract signing. Drew comes out holding the contract but Andrade jumps him and signs the contract. Zelina hands Andrade her gum, which he uses to stick the contract to Drew.
Peyton Royce and Billie Kay are upset about Billie not being in the title match when Kairi Sane, with her pirate wheel, comes up to scare them.
Tag Team Titles: Sanity vs. Authors of Pain
Sanity is defending with Alexander Wolfe and Eric Young representing the team. Theres no Paul Ellering at ringside. Wolfe hammers away on Akam in the corner as Mauro talks about Wolfe starting sports entertainment training at thirteen. I get not calling it wrestling in a general sense but does ANYONE outside of Vince think that sounds natural or good? Just say training. Anyway Wolfe gets hammered down in the corner and the slow beating begins. We hit a chinlock and take an early break.
Back with Razar holding Wolfe in a front facelock until a double clothesline allows the double tag to Young and Akam. Young cleans house in a hurry and gets two off the top rope elbow. Wolfe comes back in with a top rope clothesline but everything breaks down and the Authors hit the Super Collider. The Last Chapter takes Young down but the Undisputed Era runs in for the DQ at 10:28.
Killian Dain runs in but gets taken down as well. Roderick Strong comes out and puts on the Eras armband, only to lay them out a few seconds later. The Authors are back up and help Strong clear the ring. Cue William Regal to make the big announcement: a triple threat match at Takeover inside WARGAMES. The fans are stunned and the Takeover: Houston logo turns into Takeover: WarGames as a YES chant takes us out. Mauro: Houston, we have a WarGames.
Results
Nikki Cross b. Taynara Conti Swinging fishermans neckbreaker
Fabian Aichner b. Johnny Gargano Rollup
Authors of Pain b. Sanity via DQ when the Undisputed Era interfered
Monday Night Raw
Date: October 30, 2017
Location: Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Booker T.
Its time for the fallout show as were less than three weeks away from Survivor Series and Raw is reeling from Smackdowns invasion last week. The interesting part is whether or not Smackdown will be back this week as its time to get ready for the real battle. Hopefully its as entertaining as last week. Lets get to it.
We open with a long recap of last weeks invasion.
Opening sequence.
Kurt Angle is in the ring and the Raw roster is on the stage. Last week was taking friendly competition too far and that was a slap in the face of the people who work here every week. He put them in harms way and that will never happen again. Cue the returning Stephanie McMahon to talk about how Monday Night Raw will be celebrating twenty five years on January 22. The show is still going strong and thats where she and Kurt come in. Angle has lead by example and has even earned her respect.
Stephanie pauses for the YOU STILL GOT IT but blames Angle for last weeks siege. It took twenty seconds to ruin Raws history and thats all because of Angle falling for Shanes lies. Stephanie goes on a rant about how Angle RUINED, yes RUINED, Raws legacy last week in one incompetent moment. Therefore, Angle better hope that he still has it because hes going to be team captain at Survivor Series. If things dont go the way she wants, hes out as General Manager.
Post break Stephanie is leaving and Angle is very sorry. Stephanie mentions Mick Foley as another threat to Angles job. As Stephanie leaves, another limo comes up, containing the Miz. Angle isnt happy with him being late so hes defending the Intercontinental Title tonight. Miz wants to know who but Angle wont tell him for being late. Of note: Bo Dallas was back.
Angle being all apologetic and scared here does nothing for him, but it certainly makes Stephanie look like the queen of the world. You know, BECAUSE WE HAVENT ESTABLISHED THAT ENOUGH IN THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS!
Bayley vs. Alicia Fox
Fox comes out in an airline captains outfit (well, the female wrestling version) and says this is your captain speaking (eh kind of clever). She has business to tend to so we have a replacement.
Bayley vs. Nia Jax
Bayley charges right at her to start and basically bounces off of the monster, landing on the floor in a heap. Back with Nia holding a chinlock, followed by a pair of running splashes in the corner. What looked to be a Vader Bomb is broken up and Nia is dumped to the floor. Bayley dives off the apron with some right hands, followed by a kick to the face for two. We hit a guillotine choke but Nia shrugs it off without much effort. A spear and the legdrop end Bayley at 7:24.
Alicia picks Nia to be on the Raw team. Nia goes to leave but Samoa Joe of all people is back. Post break, Joe says he knows some people here missed him but he didnt miss a single one of them. Therefore, when hes beating the heck out of someone, hell be imagining its all of the people.
Samoa Joe vs. Apollo Crews
Joe wastes no time in chopping Crews in the corner and its not looking good early on. Crews fights back with a good looking dropkick and some right hands in the corner but Joe isnt about to be suplexed. A kick in the corner drops Crews and Joe throws his gum at Titus ONeil. Crews scores with an enziguri but the Toss Powerbomb is countered with a headlock takeover. The Rock Bottom out of the corner plants Crews and its the Koquina Clutch for the tap out at 3:39.
Post match Joe chokes Titus out as well.
Quick look at Raw 25 coming up in January featuring Undertaker, Shawn Michaels and...Kevin Nash?
Intercontinental Title: The Miz vs. Matt Hardy
Matt is challenging and wastes no time in trying a small package for two. A backslide gets the same and these early pinfall attempts are working at making Miz sweat a bit. Miz bails to the floor and we take a break. Back with Matt getting crotched on top and a neckbreaker out of the corner getting two. You can tell Miz is working here as his hair is hanging off the side of his head.
Miz puts him on the apron and gets two off a kick to the head. Back in and Miz hits the corner clothesline but the top rope ax handle is blocked. Instead Miz crotches himself in the corner to put both guys down. Matt gets two off a bulldog and drops his middle rope elbow to the back of the neck.
A regular middle rope elbow (thats a new one) gets two, followed by the Side Effect for the same. Matt scores with a moonsault of all things for two more but Miz is right back with the YES Kicks. A Twist of Fate out of nowhere plants Miz but he rolls to the apron. Back up and Miz snaps him throat first across the ropes, setting up the Skull Crushing Finale to retain at 13:02.
We recap the opening sequence, making sure to show how amazing Stephanie is, just in case you forgot in the last 40 minutes.
Alexa Bliss comes in to see Angle and mocks the idea of Mickie James being a serious contender. Angle isnt cool with that and makes Bliss vs. James for the title in the main event.
Asuka vs. Stacie Cullen
A spinning backfist drops Cullen and its time for some hard knees to the face. Asuka kicks her in the head and the Asuka Lock is good for the submission at 1:42.
Angle grabs a walkie talkie and says the invasion is happening again. It turns out to just be Daniel Bryan and we take a break. Back with Angle yelling at Bryan for wanting to be here to finish the job. Bryan says no but Angle threatens to have the Raw roster destroy him right now. Angle promises to come to Smackdown and even things up.
Recap of Brock Lesnar answering Jinder Mahals challenge and Mahals response.
Bryan is still in Angles office for no apparent reason and sums up what happened in a phone call. The lights go out and we take a break. Back with Bryan in the dark ranting about the door being locked. He says something is wrong and Kane shows up to chokeslam him through a table (off camera of course).
Finn Balor vs. Cesaro
Balor takes him into the corner to start and shouts BAR. Thats still a stupid name so Balor headlocks him down instead. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gets Cesaro out of trouble though and he uppercuts Finn into the corner. Balor sends him outside though and the running apron kick to the face drops Cesaro. Sheamus gets in a cheap shot though and we take a break.
Back with Cesaro hitting the pop up uppercut for two, followed by the apron superplex (that never gets old) for the same. We hit the Sharpshooter for a bit with Balor easily powering out. That means a Sling Blade into the corner dropkick, followed by Balor hitting a good looking running flip dive onto both guys. A top rope double stomp to the back gives Balor the pin at 11:28.
Post match Kane comes out and Tombstones Balor on the stage. HES KANE! DOES ANYONE THINK HE NEEDS TO BE BUILT UP TO FACE STROWMAN? And at the expense of Finn Balor? Good grief is there anyone else you want to put Kane over?
Seth Rollins vs. Kane
I WAS KIDDING!!! Cesaro and Sheamus are still at ringside along with Ambrose. Rollins just looks better in the Shield gear. Seths early shots have little effect so he scores with some dropkicks through the ropes. The suicide dive is broken up though and Kane runs him over with a clothesline. Rollins hammers away in the corner and kicks at the knee, only to get dropped with an uppercut. You cant say Kanes offense is complicated yet it still works well. The side slam gives Kane two and we hit a chinlock.
Back up and an enziguri gets Seth out of trouble and the Blockbuster (still love that move) gets two. A suicide dive is blocked though and Rollins is down in a heap. Back in and Seths springboard .I think clothesline is shrugged off as Sheamus and Cesaro are stomping on Ambrose. Another springboard is countered into a chokeslam for the pin on Rolling at 5:42.
Post match Dean hits Dirty Deeds on Kane but Sheamus and Cesaro come in to help beat him down. Ambrose and Rollins both get Tombstoned, making it THREE former World Champions Kane has decimated in the span of ten minutes. Oh and one thing missing when the Shield was being beaten down: anyone chanting for Reigns to make the save. Isnt that interesting?
We look at the opening sequence. Again.
Bryan is being stretchered out.
Miz and the Miztourage are ready to celebrate and go into their locker room. They find a bag of trash, which Miz interprets as Braun Strowman coming back. Terror ensues.
Post break Miz runs into Braun and asks him for help with Strowman. Kane says hes on his own.
Recap of Strowman being destroyed at TLC.
Heath Slater/Rhyno vs. Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows
This is a Trick or Street Fight, meaning the ring is surrounded by Halloween decorations. For costumes, we have Santa and Mrs. Claus vs. Chad 2 Bad/Tex Ferguson (from Southpaw Regional Wrestling) respectively. Slater is sent into a bucket of apples to start so Rhyno makes a save and puts pumpkins on their heads. Heath finds some candy corn kendo sticks but it takes too long to set up a table.
Anderson and Gallows beat Slater down, including shoving pumpkin filling in Slaters face. Karl crotches himself on a skeleton though (just go with it) and theres a pie to the face. Slater makes the save with the kendo sticks but gets beaten down again. Anderson puts a pumpkin on his own head and Gallows does the same, blinding himself in the process. It takes too long though and Rhyno gets off a table, setting up a spinebuster to put Anderson through said table for the pin at 4:50.
Cesaro and Sheamus tell Miz that Strowman couldnt possibly be back yet. Theyre no team though. So is this supposed to be WWEs version of a horror story? Just because its October? It was more effective when Reigns attempted to murder Strowman and its not exactly spooky, especially when Strowman is likely back this week or next. On a related note, is Kane getting this kind of a push because hes a monster and its the Halloween season? If so, thats rather dumb even by WWEs limited standards.
Elias, with a new guitar, is in the ring for a song. He sings the Ballad of Jason Jordan, complete with shots of Jordan being hit with a guitar last week. Jordan comes out to clean house and breaks Elias new guitar.
Miz and the Miztourage go to leave but Angle cuts them off, saying theyre staying or else.
Here are Enzo Amore and Drew Gulak to mock Angle again. Kalisto isnt getting the title back you see and Gulak is ready to help prove that. Gulak says Kalisto is S-O-F-T, which doesnt sit well with Enzo.
Kalisto vs. Drew Gulak
Drew jumps him to start but charges into a boot in the corner. Kalistos middle rope corkscrew dive and the handspring enziguri sets up the hurricanrana driver. The springboard Salida Del Sol ends Gulak at 59 seconds.
Post match Enzo lays Kalisto out.
Miz is trying to find a way out.
Womens Title: Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James
James is challenging and scores early with a running kick to the chest. The hurricanrana out of the corner has Bliss reeling and a dropkick puts her outside. Back from a break with Bliss working on a neck crank before switching to a chinlock (totally different you see). Something like an STO gets two and Bliss stands on Mickies hair for good measure.
Thats enough to fire Mickie up but Bliss slams her off the top to take over again. An enziguri off the top lets Mickie score with the Thesz press for two. Some rollups are good for some two counts but Bliss punches her in the face for the pin to retain at 11:25. Seriously it was just a right hand.
Miz and the Miztourage go to leave and, after cutting back to Bliss celebrating, get in the car, where of course there is a camera waiting. They pull off and are immediately stopped by a waiting garbage truck. Braun comes out of the garbage as we keep cutting to Miz and company in the vein of a bad horror movie.
Strowman poses (in clean clothes despite BEING IN A GARBAGE TRUCK FOR EIGHT DAYS) and chases them out of the limo. They head into the arena, where Bliss is still posing, where Strowman throws Dallas onto the stage. The Miztourage save Miz from going through the table so Strowman takes them to the ring for FIVE running powerslams. Axel goes through the announcers table to end the show.
Results
Nia Jax b. Bayley Legdrop
Samoa Joe b. Apollo Crews Koquina Clutch
The Miz b. Matt Hardy Skull Crushing Finale
Asuka b. Stacie Cullen Asuka Lock
Finn Balor b. Cesaro Top rope double stomp to the back
Kane b. Seth Rollins Chokeslam
Heath Slater/Rhyno b. Karl Anderson/Luke Gallows Spinebuster through a table
Kalisto b. Drew Gulak Springboard Salida Del Sol
Alexa Bliss b. Mickie James Right hand
Tuesday
Smackdown
Date: October 31, 2017
Location: Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, Virginia
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
This almost has to be better. After last nights rather lackluster Raw, were continuing the build towards Survivor Series. This week we have a pair of Survivor Series qualifying matches as Shinsuke Nakamura faces Kevin Owens and Bobby Roode meets Dolph Ziggler in a 2/3 falls match. Lets get to it.
Opening sequence.
Heres Shane McMahon to open things up. He talks about how Smackdown has always been seen as the secondary show and the little brother to Raw. Then they went live and made the best of it with Daniel Bryan as General Manager, but they knew they had to do something to shake things up. Thats what caused them to invade Raw, because Smackdown has heart.
Shane talks about how Smackdown had to work harder than anyone else and thanks the roster and fans for everything they do. That brings Shane to last night when Daniel Bryan was attacked by Kane. It was a setup and Shane blames Stephanie McMahon and Kurt Angle. Survivor Series is coming and Shane is going to be the Smackdown team captain. Lets get to some action though.
Survivor Series Qualifying Match: Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler
2/3 falls. Ziggler wastes no time in trying some rollups for two, only to have Roode take him down with a clothesline out of the corner. The Blockbuster gets two more and Roode scores with a knee to the ribs. Ziggler hits a quick superkick though and gets the first fall at 3:44. Back from a break with the score being tied up as Roode sunset flipped him for a pin during the break at approximately 7:05.
They slug it out until Roode scores with a spinebuster for two more. The running DDT (without much contact) gives Ziggler another near fall and both guys are down again. Dolph reverses the Glorious DDT into the Zig Zag for two and they hit the rollups with handfuls of tights. Roode finally reverses into the Glorious DDT for the final pin at 11:29.
Post match Roode says hes ready to fight and the next two teammates need to have the same level of passion and competitiveness that the three of them already have.
New Day is in the back, dressed as Jimmy Hart (Woods), Akeem (Big E.) and Brother Love (Kofi) when Rusev and Aiden English come in. Woods speaks in the high pitched voice and Kofi talks about how much he LOVES candy. Rusev takes their candy bucket away and thinks the people giving them candy could be spies from Raw. Halloween is for dumb children and the only holiday that matters is Rusev Day. Rusev CRUSHES the candy and Big E. challenges him to a match later.
Becky Lynch gives Team Smackdown a pep talk and Ellsworth, still on a leash, barks like a dog. Lynch sprays him with water until Natalya comes in to say she should be the captain. Theyre all the weak links on the team, though Charlotte seems to be the one that worries Natalya most.
Baron Corbin vs. Sin Cara
Non-title. Corbin goes for the mask to start and throws Cara outside. Cara saves his mask again and slides back inside to kick Corbin in the face. One heck of a forearm cuts off the comeback (Is it early enough for a comeback?) though and Corbin goes for the mask a third time. Cara gets all ticked off and sends Corbin outside for a beating. A spear to the back and more right hands to the head set up another spear over the announcers table. The referee throws it out at 2:59.
Cara throws a chair at Corbin, who bails into the crowd.
The Usos are ready to take care of Seth Rollins/Dean Ambrose to show that theyre the A team of this B show. My goodness can we please stop with the brands suddenly hating each other stuff? Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin come in and say they get their title shot next week. Gable raps (work with me here) a bit about how theyre going to win the titles.
Here are the Singh Brothers to imitate Paul Heyman and introduce Jinder Mahal. Jinder comes out and says hell win at Survivor Series so that people will call him the Beastmaster.
AJ Styles vs. Samir Singh
Singh gets in a slap, only to be taken down and pummeled. The Styles Clash wraps it up at 36 seconds.
Post match Mahal beats AJ down by bending his back around the post, followed by some Khallases.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are AGHAST at the idea of Shane McMahon being the captain. Oh and what kind of man like Randy Orton would use a low blow to win a match? Owens promises to win tonight and lead Smackdown to victory.
The Bludgeon Brothers are coming.
Here are Aiden English and Rusev with the former singing about how much he hates Halloween because ITS RUSEV DAY!
Rusev vs. Big E.
Big E. is still dressed as Akeem and grabs an early abdominal stretch to have Rusev in trouble. Some stomping sets up the dancing but Rusev pulls E. arm first over the ropes. The same arm goes into the post (Graves: HAPPY RUSEV DAY!) and we take a break with Graves being rather pleased.
Back with Rusev working on the arm (at least Rusev Day sees you still being logical) until Big E. comes back with the belly to belly suplexes. The Rock Bottom out of the corner plants Rusev but English starts singing. Woods drowns him out with the trombone so Kofi chases him into the ring for a Big Ending. The distraction lets Rusev kick Big E. in the back of the head for the pin at 7:37.
Cara says he worked hard to get his mask and hes not giving it up.
English and Rusev come into Shanes office to get Rusev a spot on Team Smackdown. Shane is willing to give him a qualifying match against AJ Styles next week. Shane sings good luck.
Its Fashion Files time and this week its Strangerer Things (I dont watch Stranger Things so Im going to miss most of the jokes/references here). This is subtitled Chapter Twenty: The Right Side Up. The bulletin board has a variety of tag teams posted and Fandango, who is dressed as a sheriff, feeds Eggos to someone in a tent. Tyler Breeze, in a pink dress and wig, comes in with a box of Uggos, making Fandango wonder who was in the tent. Viktor comes in to say it wasnt him and the tent starts to shake. Its Tye Dillinger, also in a dress, who says hes not another eleven but rather a ten.
Konnor comes in dressed as some kind of a creature but says its just a costume. The lights go out and some Christmas lights appear around the picture of the Bludgeon Brothers. The lights flicker back on and the briefcase from a few weeks ago is back. This time though theres a Saw like puppet, saying let the game begin.
Survivor Series Qualifying Match: Kevin Owens vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Nakamura wastes no time in hammering away, knocking Owens to the floor with a hard shot. A whip sends Owens into the barricade and we take a break. Back with Owens pounding him down and grabbing a chinlock. A DDT gives Owens two and we hit the chinlock sequel. This version lasts a bit longer until Nakamura fires off kicks, including a big one to the head to really stagger Owens.
The knees in the corner have Owens in trouble but heres Zayn for a distraction. Its enough for Owens to reverse a superplex into the swinging fishermans superplex to put both guys down. The frog splash gives Owens two but heres Randy Orton (with more hair than Ive seen him have in years) to drop Sami onto the announcers table. The distraction lets Nakamura score with Kinshasa for the pin at 12:25.
Results
Bobby Roode b. Dolph Ziggler Glorious DDT
Baron Corbin vs. Sin Cara went to a no contest when they both brawled on the floor
AJ Styles b. Samir Singh Styles Clash
Rusev b. Big E. Kick to the back of the head
Shinsuke Nakamura b. Kevin Owens Kinshasa
Wednesday
NXT
Date: November 1, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson
Were less than three weeks away from Houston and by now a lot of the card can be figured out in advance. The big story from last week is the addition of the Authors of Pain to the main event mix, making things even bigger than they already were. The major match for Takeover hasnt been announced yet but you know whats coming. Lets get to it.
Opening sequence.
Andrade Cien Almas will officially challenge Drew McIntyre at Takeover. Their contract signing is later tonight.
Taynara Conti vs. Nikki Cross
Theyre not wasting time this week. Cross goes right after her and knocks Conti to the floor for some forearms to the chest. Back in and Conti uses the legs for some kicks to the arm, only to get dropped by a short arm clothesline. A Scorpion Death Drop sets up the swinging fishermans neckbreaker to give Cross the pin at 2:38. Energetic while it lasted but you knew Cross wasnt losing this close to a title shot.
Mercedes Martinez blames her failures on Ember Moon.
Fabian Aichner vs. Johnny Gargano
Gargano takes him to the mat to start and grabs a rollup for an early two. A standing dropkick gets the same as Johnny is moving out there early on. Aichner sends him outside though and we take a break. Back with Johnny elbowing his way to freedom and scoring with a rolling kick to the face.
Aichner makes the mistake of sending Gargano to the apron and then charges into the slingshot spear for two more. The slingshot DDT doesnt put Aichner away either so he grabs a heck of a powerbomb for two. Gargano is back up with a running kick in the corner but the Gargano Escape is countered into a rollup to give Aichner the clean pin at 9:14.
Aleister Black vs. Velveteen Dream is official for Takeover.
Earlier today the Street Profits were admiring Tino Sabbatelli and Riddick Moss very expensive car when Tino and Riddick showed up. Trash was talked but nothing gets physical.
Its time for the contract signing. Drew comes out holding the contract but Andrade jumps him and signs the contract. Zelina hands Andrade her gum, which he uses to stick the contract to Drew.
Peyton Royce and Billie Kay are upset about Billie not being in the title match when Kairi Sane, with her pirate wheel, comes up to scare them.
Tag Team Titles: Sanity vs. Authors of Pain
Sanity is defending with Alexander Wolfe and Eric Young representing the team. Theres no Paul Ellering at ringside. Wolfe hammers away on Akam in the corner as Mauro talks about Wolfe starting sports entertainment training at thirteen. I get not calling it wrestling in a general sense but does ANYONE outside of Vince think that sounds natural or good? Just say training. Anyway Wolfe gets hammered down in the corner and the slow beating begins. We hit a chinlock and take an early break.
Back with Razar holding Wolfe in a front facelock until a double clothesline allows the double tag to Young and Akam. Young cleans house in a hurry and gets two off the top rope elbow. Wolfe comes back in with a top rope clothesline but everything breaks down and the Authors hit the Super Collider. The Last Chapter takes Young down but the Undisputed Era runs in for the DQ at 10:28.
Killian Dain runs in but gets taken down as well. Roderick Strong comes out and puts on the Eras armband, only to lay them out a few seconds later. The Authors are back up and help Strong clear the ring. Cue William Regal to make the big announcement: a triple threat match at Takeover inside WARGAMES. The fans are stunned and the Takeover: Houston logo turns into Takeover: WarGames as a YES chant takes us out. Mauro: Houston, we have a WarGames.
Results
Nikki Cross b. Taynara Conti Swinging fishermans neckbreaker
Fabian Aichner b. Johnny Gargano Rollup
Authors of Pain b. Sanity via DQ when the Undisputed Era interfered