klunderbunker
Welcome to My (And Not Sly's) House
Monday
Monday Night Raw
Date: August 29, 2016
Location: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
It's a big night this week as we're guaranteed a new Raw World Champion in a fatal fourway with Kevin Owens, Big Cass, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins facing off for the title. It's hart to say what we're going to get at Clash of the Champions in about a month so hopefully we can start setting some stuff up tonight. Let's get to it.
In Memory of Mr. Fuji.
We recap Balor's shoulder injury and the setup for tonight's title match.
All four World Title participants for the title are in the ring with Corey Graves moderating. Rollins cuts him off and says they're all here because of him so he'll cede his time to someone else. Owens talks about how he's a prize fighter and tonight he's fighting for a prize. That leaves Reigns, who Owens just allows to be booed.
Cass is tall....and that's about it. Cass: “Did Jericho write that for you?” Cass says he's the biggest dog in this fight, causing Owens to point to Reigns. Seth is glad that this is an elimination match so he can beat up all of them in one night. A brawl breaks out with Reigns and Cass having a staredown before the ring is cleared. I'm glad they kept this short since no one said anything important and it was just hype for the main event.
Neville vs. Chris Jericho
Before the match, Jericho says Owens will win tonight but promises everyone the Gift of Jericho. This is their first match since Neville broke his ankle back in the spring. A catapult puts Jericho on the floor early but he hides behind the ref to get in a cheap shot and send us to a break. Back with Jericho putting on a chinlock but diving into a kick to the ribs.
Neville moonsaults out to the floor and avoids a charge into the corner, setting up a small package for two. A superkick drops Jericho and I'm very surprised at how hot the crowd is despite such a big main event. The Red Arrow misses and the Liontamer make Neville tap at 10:50.
Earlier today Bayley met the New Day and dancing ensues until Dana Brooke comes up, setting up a six person tag along with Gallows and Anderson. The key here: it didn't feel scripted. Instead it seems like the producer said “Bayley runs into the New Day and you've got two minutes. Go.” That works so much better than scripting out the jokes and gives you entertaining things like this.
Nia Jax vs. Haion
Jax runs her over and finishes with an AA into a powerslam at 1:15.
Anderson and Gallows now run a retirement home and suggest that New Day will be joining Team 3D. Nurse Dana Brooke comes in and puts on a rubber glove.
Video on Seth Rollins.
Sami Zayn vs. Jinder Mahal
Sami has a bad ankle coming in and he tweaks it early on, allowing Mahal to smack him in the back of the head for two. A chinlock doesn't go very far and Sami comes back with the Helluva Kick for the pin at 3:06.
Earlier tonight Sasha Banks was on the pre-show, saying that Charlotte was trying to injure her and end her career. Sasha will be back for revenge and the title.
New Day/Bayley vs. Dana Brooke/Anderson and Gallows
Charlotte is on commentary and doesn't think much of Bayley putting on a unicorn horn and eating BootyO's. The women start with Bayley getting some quick two counts before working on the arm. It's quickly off to Big E. for a belly to belly (gimmick infringer) on Anderson as the champs take over. That lasts all of a few seconds before the villains beat him down in the corner. The hot (or at least moderately warm) tag brings in Kofi for the Unicorn Stampede, including a running dropkick from Bayley. Some dancing sends us to a break.
Back with the camera on the commentators as the match is going on behind them. I smell Kevin Dunn's fingers all over this. We actually look at the match to see Kofi in trouble and getting elbowed in the face. Kofi gets in a double stomp and makes the tag to Big E. for the house cleaning. Everything breaks down and Kofi does an insane dive over the top, nearly breaking his arm in the process. Back in and Dana gets two off a rollup, only to have the Bayley to Belly wrap it up at 12:28.
Cesaro says no one likes Sheamus so he'll spin him around and around and around.
Video on Big Cass.
Cesaro vs. Sheamus
Match #2 in a best of seven series with Sheamus up 1-0. Before the match, Sheamus says he'll prove that he's just the better man. Cesaro takes him down to the mat to start and gets two off a double stomp. Sheamus' arm is banged up and the announcers want the match stopped to check it. Thankfully it's a dropkick to send Sheamus outside and we take a break.
Back with the Irish Curse getting two but Cesaro comes right back by hitting the springboard corkscrew uppercut. The high cross body connects (check your Bingo card) and Cesaro sends it outside. That goes well for Sheamus who backdrops him back first into the post, setting up the Cloverleaf for the submission at 11:15.
Tribute video to Mr. Fuji and it's as good as you would expect from WWE.
Video on Kevin Owens.
Braun Strowman vs. Americo
Standard masked luchador. It's the squash you would expect with Strowman throwing him around and tossing him into the air for a faceplant and the pin at 58 seconds.
Strowman unmasks him post match.
Here's Stephanie McMahon to address Shane McMahon getting F5'd at Summerslam, but first she has to say we're about to crown the “first” Universal Champion. Paul Heyman cuts her off but Stephanie is right there to cut his balls off by demanding an apology. Heyman talks about how Lesnar provides value to Raw and is here to pay Lesnar's $500 fine. He pulls out a pile of $1 bills but Stephanie throws them onto the floor. Stephanie wants to know what value Heyman offers to Raw and warns him of a coming storm.
Heyman goes into a rant about the board of directors and how Stephanie can control everyone but Lesnar. For some reason this turns into a discussion on female empowerment with Stephanie saying Heyman is staring at the women's revolution. Heyman apologizes to her and she accepts before dropping the mic and leaving. With Stephanie gone, Heyman chuckles and smirks.
Video on Balor's injury and surgery.
Video on Roman Reigns.
Titus O'Neil vs. Darren Young
The aggressive Young knocks Titus to the floor where he asks for a timeout. Back in and a hard whip sends Darren over the corner where he lands on a camera to break it into pieces. Some neck cranks don't go anywhere so Young crucifixes him for the pin at 4:04.
Backlund and Young celebrate so Titus beats them both up.
Mick Foley apologizes for not being out there for Stephanie but she didn't need him. He suggests that everyone is barred from ringside tonight and again Stephanie says it's the first Universal Title match. Rollins comes in and Stephanie wishes him luck.
Raw World Title: Big Cass vs. Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins
The title is vacant coming in and this is under elimination rules. Mick and Stephanie are at ringside as they should be. Cass says he's shocking the world tonight. The bell rings after a break (THANK YOU!) and Owens immediately heads outside. The Cass vs. Reigns showdown is delayed again as the villains go after the big men and it's time to pair off.
Seth and Kevin are knocked outside and we get the big showdown with Cass blocking the Superman Punch. A running big boot knocks Reigns outside with Cass falling out as well. Rollins dives onto Cass but Owens drops him onto the barricade, only to have Reigns dive onto Owens and Cass as we take a break. Back with Owens in control and getting two off the backsplash to Cass.
Reigns fights back with his string of clotheslines until Cass kicks his head off. They've done a really good job of making Cass look like he belongs here in the first ten minutes. A big boot puts Owens on the floor and the Empire Elbow hits Rollins. The East River Crossing is broken up by a Superman Punch and the low superkick gets two. Owens adds the Frog Splash to get rid of Cass at 13:46. I'm sure Saxton saying he thinks Cass can pull it off a minute earlier didn't give that away for anyone. Also, I believe that's the first time Cass has been pinned on the main roster.
Back from a second break with Reigns powerbombing Owens and Rollins for a Tower of Doom. Rollins' falcon arrow gets two on Roman but the Superman Punch knocks Rollins out of the air for two more. Cole describes this as incredible action for the second time in about a minute.
Owens comes back in with a superkick to Rollins, setting up back to back Cannonballs for another big reaction. The crowd has somehow stayed hot all night and that's a really good sign. The Superman Punch gets two on Owens and you can hear the crowd's sigh of relief on the kickout. Owens' Pop Up Powerbomb is countered with another Superman Punch and Reigns hits a quick sitout powerbomb for two on Seth.
A spear drops Rollins on the floor but here's HHH of all people to Pedigree Reigns on the floor. HHH throws Rollins back inside for the pin on Reigns at 23:48 (POP!), meaning Rollins needs HHH's help yet again. HHH throws Owens inside, Pedigrees Rollins and gives a shocked Owens the title at 25:05.
HHH leaves and Owens celebrates to end the show.
Results
Chris Jericho b. Neville – Liontamer
Nia Jax b. Haion – Fireman's carry into a powerslam
Sami Zayn b. Jinder Mahal – Helluva Kick
New Day/Bayley b. Dana Brooke/Anderson and Gallows – Bayley to Belly to Brooke
Sheamus b. Cesaro – Cloverleaf
Braun Strowman b. El Americano – Faceplant
Darren Young b. Titus O'Neil – Crucifix
Kevin Owens b. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Big Cass – Pedigree to Rollins
Tuesday
Alberto Del Rio is reportedly done with WWE.
Smackdown
Date: August 30, 2016
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, John Bradshaw Layfield, David Otunga
Much like last night, this show has a lot of potential to be something big but instead of one big match, this show is built around a few individual issues. First and foremost, we'll see the fallout from Miz's awesome shoot promo on Daniel Bryan, which some people didn't expect to see referenced on TV. There's also more of the Tag Team Title tournament and Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin. Let's get to it.
We open with the full Miz vs. Daniel Bryan interview from last week's Talking Smack with Bryan calling Miz soft but Miz saying his style means he doesn't get injured and leave for six months to a year at a time. Bryan walked off and Miz went on a tirade about how the Intercontinental Title is the most important one on Smackdown because he's the one out there every night. This was GREAT and more emotion than Miz has ever shown, which makes me think his days as champion are numbered.
Shane tells Bryan that he can't do that to the talent and Bryan agrees. However, Bryan finds this ironic coming from the person having issues with Brock Lesnar.
Opening sequence.
Here's a ticked off Miz with something to say. Miz doesn't want to hear any booing because it's taken 148 days (the length of his title reign) to get the fans' attention. He's bringing prestige back to this title but people think he's soft. Yeah he wrestles a different style but it's because he's smart enough to see the big picture.
What the fans don't understand is what goes on backstage. Who do you think they call when they need someone to do a red carpet premiere or a commercial or main event Wrestlemania and then dress up as a chicken? Miz didn't spend the first twelve years of his career wrestling in front of 50 people and people booing him for that makes them cowards. Cue Dolph Ziggler and I'm done. This was getting really interesting and it's about Dolph “RESPECT ME WHEN I'M SERIOUS AND THEN LOSE EVERY BIG MATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN” Ziggler all over again.
Dolph says no one is going to buy what Miz says because he's never proven a thing. If Miz wants to show how tough he is, fight right now with no referees or titles on the line. Just the two of them right now. As expected, Miz teases fighting but walks off. Ziggler says Bryan was right and calls him a soft, safe coward but that's not enough to get him to fight either.
I actually felt the air go out of me when Ziggler came out. This story had the potential to actually be something fresh but instead it's the same old Ziggler that we've seen for months and have no reason to believe it's going to be anything different this time around. Ziggler is just a played out character and I wanted something fresh this time from Miz. Instead it's another Battle of Cleveland because that's what WWE thinks new and different means.
Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Hype Bros vs. Vaudevillains
The villains takes over to start and send Ryder outside for a neckbreaker on the floor. The double teaming only lasts for a few moments before the tag brings in Rawley for his splashes. A running fist in the corner sets up the Hype Ryder to pin English at 2:53. This was exactly the kind of energetic match these two needed, even though they're likely losing in the next round.
To my shock, JBL seems to love the Hype Ryders. You would expect him to hate a team like this.
Post match the Hype Bros say they're hyped enough to win the titles.
We finally see the tournament brackets and the Usos vs. American Alpha is actually a semifinal match. That makes things a lot more interesting.
AJ Styles runs into Apollo Crews and introduces himself as the face who runs this place.
Here's AJ Styles for a chat. AJ, in the Cena headband, says he's already beaten up John Cena and now he's going to win the World Title. This brings out Apollo Crews to say Daniel Bryan has granted him a match against AJ right now. I love the fact that they just got to the point here. It was clear we were getting this match the second they ran into each other so there's no reason to waste time setting it up.
AJ Styles vs. Apollo Crews
Crews leapfrogs AJ to start and sends it outside but Crews stops to brag about a right hand. Back with AJ holding a chinlock because that's how you come back from breaks in WWE. Crews sends him into the corner and backdrops AJ outside for a moonsault from the apron. Back in and AJ's high cross body is countered into a Samoan drop (that's kind of insane) for another near fall. Not that it matters as AJ stuns him across the ropes and the Phenomenal Forearm puts Crews away at 8:15.
Earlier this week, Renee Young went to Heath Slater's trailer and met his wife for some redneck humor. As Rhino eats cheese whiz and crackers, Slater calls not being drafted an oversight. More redneck jokes ensue and Slater talks about how he's earned a contract several times now. When they win the titles, it's time to upgrade to a double wide. There's talk of the kids (outside picking up bottles and cans) but a car screeching sends the Slaters outside. Rhino just keeps calmly eating crackers. I get what they were going for here but this just isn't my kind of humor.
Here's Bray Wyatt with a message for Randy Orton. Bray isn't scared of snakes or monsters because he doesn't see Orton as anything more than a man. If Orton really hears voices, Bray hopes they're telling him to run but here's Randy in person. Randy says that a bunch of staples in his head aren't going to change anything because being damaged is what he does. Bray calls himself the new predator and promises to cut the serpent's head off at Backlash. Orton talks about Bray seeing the scars on his body but needing to worry about the scars inside. He agrees to the match and goes inside but Bray vanishes.
Natalya/Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch/Naomi
Nikki Bella is on commentary to do a commercial for Total Bellas. Naomi hurricanranas Natalya to the floor and we take an early break. Back with Naomi in trouble until a jawbreaker allows the tag off to Becky. House is cleaned and everything breaks down as Carmella comes out to brawl with Nikki. In the melee, Bliss rolls Becky up and grabs the trunks for the pin at 7:21.
Video on the Headbangers. For the life of me I don't get why they were picked to come back. It's like when Greg Valentine would show up on Nitro for a one off match.
Video on Curt Hawkins.
Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Headbangers vs. Rhino/Heath Slater
Mosh and Thrasher look exactly the same as they did in 1999. Slater gets beaten down to start and the springboard clothesline puts him on the floor. Some stomping sets up a chinlock as Otunga calls the Headbangers the last two Marilyn Manson fans. The Stage Dive (powerbomb/guillotine legdrop combo) gets two as Rhino makes the save. Rhino (with what looks like some blood on the left side of his face) drags Slater over for the tag and the Gore ends Mosh at 2:53. It might be time for Thrasher to go back to training wrestlers like he did with Big Show.
A guy in a suit named Derrick Milliman has been granted a match tonight and issues an open challenge. Kane comes out for a chokeslam and leaves. Were they just running short on time or something? As Kane leaves, Baron Corbin comes out for the main event. Maybe that's what they're trying to set up?
Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose
Non-title and AJ is on commentary. Ambrose knocks Baron to the floor to start and hits a running clothesline from the apron. Back in and Dean's bulldog is broken up and Baron pounds away with right hands. We come back from a break with Corbin holding a chinlock and getting two off a choke legsweep. Dean fights up and gets two off his clothesline before hitting the suicide dive on the floor. Back in and the Deep Six plants Dean but AJ gets in Baron's face and tells him to stay on it. Dean knocks Baron into Styles so AJ kicks Baron in the face for the DQ at 12:12.
Post match the main eventers fight until Dean hits Corbin with Dirty Deeds. AJ gets crotched and Dean seems to sympathize before bouncing the ropes up and down. Dean takes his belt and leaves AJ sitting on the top rope to end the show. I really don't like having AJ look silly like that, especially after he did something good earlier tonight.
Results
Hype Bros b. Vaudevillains – Hype Ryder to English
AJ Styles b. Apollo Crews – Phenomenal Forearm
Alexa Bliss/Natalya b. Naomi/Becky Lynch – Rollup with a handful of trunks
Rhino/Heath Slater b. Headbangers – Gore to Mosh
Baron Corbin b. Dean Ambrose via DQ when AJ Styles interfered
Wednesday
NXT
Date: August 31, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves
The champ is back tonight as Shinsuke Nakamura makes his first appearance on NXT since winning the NXT Title in Brooklyn. I mean, that was only eleven days ago but NXT is making it seem like a big deal. It should be interesting to see who comes out to challenge him for the title, though odds are it's Samoa Joe for a rematch. Let's get to it.
Earlier today, Samoa Joe was deemed unclear to wrestle due to injuries suffered in Brooklyn. William Regal looks annoyed.
Opening sequence.
Tye Dillinger vs. Buddy Murphy
Murphy is deemed a one by the fans. Back in my day, being number one was a good thing. Tye gets him to the mat in a hammerlock but gets thrown away, meaning Blake can give himself a ten. Back up and Dillinger does his spinout into a cartwheel for the real ten. Graves: “That would get you disqualified from any gymnastics competition.”
The lame wrestling goes back and forth with Murphy sending him outside as we go to a break. That's probably the good thing as this is a very simple match and there's nothing that's working especially well save for the TEN thing. Back with Dillinger making his comeback off a clothesline and a backdrop. Some TEN stomps in the corner set up the Tyebreaker for the pin at 9:46.
We look back at the Tag Team Title match in Brooklyn and Johnny Gargano's knee injury costing him in the Cruiserweight Classic.
Tommaso Ciampa says Gargano will be back soon when the Revival comes in and beats him into the arena. They take the beating into the ring and leave Ciampa laying. Wilder says everyone sounds tough until reality hits them in the mouth. Ciampa tries to get up but takes a good looking Shatter Machine.
Steve Cutler wants attention and demands respect. Dang the cupboard really is bare.
Steve Cutler vs. Kenneth Crawford
Crawford is a generic looking guy who Graves says is well dressed backstage. Cutler works on the arm to start but Kenneth flips his way out of a backdrop (didn't stick the landing but he tried) and grabs an armbar of his own. Some good looking dropkicks and a running shooting star get two on Cutler but he walks into a spinning fisherman's driver (as in a fisherman's suplex into a sitout slam) to give Steve the pin at 3:38.
Hideo Itami says he kicked Austin Aries in the head at Takeover but Aries disappointed him by claiming an injury. If he doesn't want to feel pain, get out of the ring.
Video on Sami Zayn vs. Nakamura back in Dallas.
Video on TM61.
No Way Jose vs. Angelo Dawkins
Jose dances around and grabs a headlock to start as Dawkins gets a few chants of his own. Dawkins' chinlock doesn't go anywhere so it's the baseball punch and a full nelson slam (looked more like a cobra clutch this time) to give Jose the pin at 2:43.
Aries, banana in hand (Dig that potassium replenishing!), interrupts Andrade Cien Almas' interview time, saying everyone is trying to steal his spotlight. Since Almas lost, Aries will just take his interview time. A challenge is issued for next week.
Video on Nakamura vs. Finn Balor.
Liv Morgan vs. Aliyah
Aliyah looks a bit more serious this time and kicks Morgan in the ribs. Some knees to the chest have Morgan in more trouble and Aliyah puts on a freaky hold where she cranks on Liv's arm and holds her head down with a leg. Morgan pops back up and tries a kind of spinning kick close enough to the head for the pin at 3:21. There was a hard edit in there so it was probably worse than it looked.
No Way Jose is fired up about his win and says he has the heart to go with the hair. Bobby Roode comes up, compliments Jose's head, and walks away.
Video on Nakamura vs. Joe.
Here's Nakamura for his celebration and the dancing entrance looks even cooler with the title around his waist. The YOU DESERVE IT chants start up until Nakamura starts talking about being in Japan and wanting to face the best competition in the world. That meant he had to come to NXT where he beat Sami Zayn, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe. He's still in a lot of pain but he became the NXT Champion. The Joe Era is over and it's now the Era of Strong Style. Nakamura kind of barks and poses to end the show.
Results
Tye Dillinger b. Wesley Blake – Tyebreaker
Steve Cutler b. Kenneth Crawford – Fisherman's driver
No Way Jose b. Angelo Dawkins – Full nelson slam
Liv Morgan b. Aliyah – Spinning kick to the face
Thursday
Impact Wrestling
Date: September 1, 2016
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Josh Matthews, D'Angelo Dinero
The countdown to Bound For Glory 2016 continues as we have five more weeks before the biggest show of the year. Things have changed a bit coming out of last week as Drew Galloway has turned heel by attacking Aron Rex, likely setting up Rex's first feud and a Bound For Glory match. Let's get to it.
We open with Reby (who looks like Matt from behind) and the Hardys playing the piano and singing the Obsolete song. Even Senor Benjamin, Vanguard One and Maxill get in on the sing a long. Maxill's piano playing give Matt a pre-mo-nition that the battle with Decay will take place here at the Hardy Compound instead of at the Zone of Impact. Matt is worried but Reby has a sword to protect herself and Maxill.
In the arena (and out of that insanity), Mike Bennett and Maria are here for a chat. Mike is here to complete his kingdom of miracles by winning the World Title tonight. He's so successful because he surrounds himself with people like Maria and Moose, who Mike would like to come down to settle things. Instead here's Lashley to say he doesn't have to fake confidence like Bennett does.
Lashley is so confident that he's willing to let tonight's title match be No DQ. Bennett thinks Lashley is jealous of Moose and doesn't believe that they went to dinner last week. The champ says they did go to dinner (Are we on a Disney sitcom?) and maybe Lashley smartened him up a bit. Moose comes out to say he's let his actions do the talking and tonight he'll determine who wins the title. Bennett takes that as Moose saying he'll win but Moose says not so fast before leaving.
Matt Hardy vs. Crazzy Steve
They look at each other to start because both of them are a bit insane. Steve dropkicks the knee out and we hit the chinlock. The fight goes outside with the fans telling Matt to DELETE him. So they want Steve to join Matt's team? Jeff hits Steve with a boot a few times and the Twist of Fate puts Steve away at 4:20.
Post match Steve gets the mic and says Decay is at the Hardy Compound and Maxill is now Rosemary's baby.
The X-Division guys try to explain the X-Division and basically say it's about being fearless. So we can expect Nikki Bella showing up when?
After a break, Matt calls Reby (with his phone actually saying Broken Matt Hardy) but she doesn't answer. The camera in the Hardy Compound shows Rosemary looking at Maxill.
X-Division Title: Trevor Lee vs. DJZ vs. Andrew Everett vs. Mandrews vs. Braxton Sutter vs. Rockstar Spud
The title is vacant coming in and this is a gauntlet match, meaning people are added at fixed intervals but you can pull the title down at any time. Trevor Lee and DJZ start things off and they slug it out for a bit before pulling each other down. Andrew Everett is in third and the time intervals seem to be two and a half minutes. DJZ gets double teamed so the Helms Dynasty (minus Helms showing up lately) goes up at the same time.
A knee to DJZ's head knocks him silly but here's Mandrews to break up the title grab attempt. Mandrews gets thrown off the top though and we take a break. Back with a replay package of what we saw before the commercial instead of what we missed. Braxton Sutter entered during the break and here's Rockstar Spud to complete the field but it's still too early to get the title with Sutter making the save.
We hit the big streak of dives before people get back in, only to be thrown out or knocked down seconds later. There's nothing to talk about here as it's just one move or spot after another with nothing in between. Spud uses a chair to knock Sutter off the cables but it's the Helms Dynasty going up and grabbing the title at at the same time. No one comes down with it though so DJZ springboards in and pulls the title down to win at 16:23.
Ethan Carter III is talking about his match last week when Eli Drake comes up to challenge him to a match tonight.
Drew Galloway promises an explanation.
We look at Allie accidentally winning the Knockouts Title last week.
Here's Drew Galloway to explain his actions from last week. Drew says you don't know what you've got until it's gone. He's been asking why he stood up for TNA when he first arrived and he's not sure. When he won the World Title, the celebration went on for a week. Then Ethan Carter screwed him over three straight times but the fans cheered for him. Then Aron Rex showed up and said the same things he said in his debut but the fans were cheering for him anyway.
Rex wants to be the next Drew Galloway so Drew has to teach him a few things. This brings out Billy Corgan to say Drew's actions should earn him a suspension without pay but a little bird told him not to do it. Drew accuses Corgan of becoming the establishment and doing everything Dixie Carter tells him. Actually it was Rex who kept Drew from being suspended and here he is for the brawl but security quickly breaks it up. This was good stuff and Rex looked like a star who was on Drew's level.
Reby answers the phone and Matt says the match tonight was just a setup. She and Maxill will go to the safe room but Vanguard One tells Matt that Rosemary is already there.
Ethan Carter III vs. Eli Drake
Drake is nice enough to spell his name out before they head to the floor with Ethan in control. Back in and Drake takes over with your standard heel offense (I love listening to him talk but his wrestling isn't great) and escapes the TK3 attempt. A chinlock doesn't go very far and the second TK3 attempt connects just fine. The 1%er is enough for the pin on Drake at 6:00.
Allie is very excited about her title win and doesn't mind Maria making her plan her own celebration.
Reby tells Matt to get back here now. Senor Benjamin is holding Maxill.
DJZ celebrates his title win and says he's ready to defend it.
Here's Allie for her title celebration. Before she can get anywhere, here are Maria and Sienna to interrupt. Maria sends Sienna to the back and yells at Allie for thinking this is actually about her. Allie screws everything up and couldn't even get the right color balloons here. This celebration is for Allie's opponent and Allie needs to lay down right now.
Knockouts Title: Maria Kanellis vs. Allie
Allie lays down and Maria is the new champion in three seconds.
Allie has to fight back tears as she announces Maria as the new champion.
Bennett tries to talk Moose into doing the right thing and hands him a pipe. Moose thinks about it.
Rosemary torments Reby but Senor Benjamin gets Maxill out. Reby tells Benjamin to prepare the field for battle.
TNA World Title: Mike Bennett vs. Lashley
Lashley is defending and this is no DQ. The champ leapfrogs Bennett and does the delayed vertical suplex but here's Moose to offer a distraction as we take a break. Back with Bennett in control and kicking Lashley in the face. Maria hits Lashley in the head with the cast and the Knockouts Title but Lashley shrugs it off and suplexes Bennett for a breather. A torture rack (good move for Lashley) has Mike in trouble and a spinebuster makes it even worse. Maria breaks up the spear but Moose won't give Mike the pipe. The distraction allows the spear to connect to retain the title at 10:59.
Post match Bennett yells at Moose and calls him a failed football player. Bennett slaps him in the face so Moose clotheslines Mike's head off to end the show.
Next week: Decay goes to Cameron. That's right: FINAL DELETION II!
Results
Matt Hardy b. Crazzy Steve – Twist of Fate
DJZ b. Mandrews, Rockstar Spud, Trevor Lee, Andrew Everett and Braxton Sutter – DJZ pulled down the title
Ethan Carter III b. Eli Drake – 1%er
Maria Kanellis b. Allie – Allie laid down
Lashley b. Mike Bennett – Spear
Friday
Nothing.
Saturday
Nothing.
Sunday
Nothing.
Quick Results
Monday Night Raw
Chris Jericho b. Neville – Liontamer
Nia Jax b. Haion – Fireman's carry into a powerslam
Sami Zayn b. Jinder Mahal – Helluva Kick
New Day/Bayley b. Dana Brooke/Anderson and Gallows – Bayley to Belly to Brooke
Sheamus b. Cesaro – Cloverleaf
Braun Strowman b. El Americano – Faceplant
Darren Young b. Titus O'Neil – Crucifix
Kevin Owens b. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Big Cass – Pedigree to Rollins
Smackdown
Hype Bros b. Vaudevillains – Hype Ryder to English
AJ Styles b. Apollo Crews – Phenomenal Forearm
Alexa Bliss/Natalya b. Naomi/Becky Lynch – Rollup with a handful of trunks
Rhino/Heath Slater b. Headbangers – Gore to Mosh
Baron Corbin b. Dean Ambrose via DQ when AJ Styles interfered
NXT
Tye Dillinger b. Wesley Blake – Tyebreaker
Steve Cutler b. Kenneth Crawford – Fisherman's driver
No Way Jose b. Angelo Dawkins – Full nelson slam
Liv Morgan b. Aliyah – Spinning kick to the face
Impact Wrestling
Matt Hardy b. Crazzy Steve – Twist of Fate
DJZ b. Mandrews, Rockstar Spud, Trevor Lee, Andrew Everett and Braxton Sutter – DJZ pulled down the title
Ethan Carter III b. Eli Drake – 1%er
Maria Kanellis b. Allie – Allie laid down
Lashley b. Mike Bennett – Spear
Monday Night Raw
Date: August 29, 2016
Location: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
It's a big night this week as we're guaranteed a new Raw World Champion in a fatal fourway with Kevin Owens, Big Cass, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins facing off for the title. It's hart to say what we're going to get at Clash of the Champions in about a month so hopefully we can start setting some stuff up tonight. Let's get to it.
In Memory of Mr. Fuji.
We recap Balor's shoulder injury and the setup for tonight's title match.
All four World Title participants for the title are in the ring with Corey Graves moderating. Rollins cuts him off and says they're all here because of him so he'll cede his time to someone else. Owens talks about how he's a prize fighter and tonight he's fighting for a prize. That leaves Reigns, who Owens just allows to be booed.
Cass is tall....and that's about it. Cass: “Did Jericho write that for you?” Cass says he's the biggest dog in this fight, causing Owens to point to Reigns. Seth is glad that this is an elimination match so he can beat up all of them in one night. A brawl breaks out with Reigns and Cass having a staredown before the ring is cleared. I'm glad they kept this short since no one said anything important and it was just hype for the main event.
Neville vs. Chris Jericho
Before the match, Jericho says Owens will win tonight but promises everyone the Gift of Jericho. This is their first match since Neville broke his ankle back in the spring. A catapult puts Jericho on the floor early but he hides behind the ref to get in a cheap shot and send us to a break. Back with Jericho putting on a chinlock but diving into a kick to the ribs.
Neville moonsaults out to the floor and avoids a charge into the corner, setting up a small package for two. A superkick drops Jericho and I'm very surprised at how hot the crowd is despite such a big main event. The Red Arrow misses and the Liontamer make Neville tap at 10:50.
Earlier today Bayley met the New Day and dancing ensues until Dana Brooke comes up, setting up a six person tag along with Gallows and Anderson. The key here: it didn't feel scripted. Instead it seems like the producer said “Bayley runs into the New Day and you've got two minutes. Go.” That works so much better than scripting out the jokes and gives you entertaining things like this.
Nia Jax vs. Haion
Jax runs her over and finishes with an AA into a powerslam at 1:15.
Anderson and Gallows now run a retirement home and suggest that New Day will be joining Team 3D. Nurse Dana Brooke comes in and puts on a rubber glove.
Video on Seth Rollins.
Sami Zayn vs. Jinder Mahal
Sami has a bad ankle coming in and he tweaks it early on, allowing Mahal to smack him in the back of the head for two. A chinlock doesn't go very far and Sami comes back with the Helluva Kick for the pin at 3:06.
Earlier tonight Sasha Banks was on the pre-show, saying that Charlotte was trying to injure her and end her career. Sasha will be back for revenge and the title.
New Day/Bayley vs. Dana Brooke/Anderson and Gallows
Charlotte is on commentary and doesn't think much of Bayley putting on a unicorn horn and eating BootyO's. The women start with Bayley getting some quick two counts before working on the arm. It's quickly off to Big E. for a belly to belly (gimmick infringer) on Anderson as the champs take over. That lasts all of a few seconds before the villains beat him down in the corner. The hot (or at least moderately warm) tag brings in Kofi for the Unicorn Stampede, including a running dropkick from Bayley. Some dancing sends us to a break.
Back with the camera on the commentators as the match is going on behind them. I smell Kevin Dunn's fingers all over this. We actually look at the match to see Kofi in trouble and getting elbowed in the face. Kofi gets in a double stomp and makes the tag to Big E. for the house cleaning. Everything breaks down and Kofi does an insane dive over the top, nearly breaking his arm in the process. Back in and Dana gets two off a rollup, only to have the Bayley to Belly wrap it up at 12:28.
Cesaro says no one likes Sheamus so he'll spin him around and around and around.
Video on Big Cass.
Cesaro vs. Sheamus
Match #2 in a best of seven series with Sheamus up 1-0. Before the match, Sheamus says he'll prove that he's just the better man. Cesaro takes him down to the mat to start and gets two off a double stomp. Sheamus' arm is banged up and the announcers want the match stopped to check it. Thankfully it's a dropkick to send Sheamus outside and we take a break.
Back with the Irish Curse getting two but Cesaro comes right back by hitting the springboard corkscrew uppercut. The high cross body connects (check your Bingo card) and Cesaro sends it outside. That goes well for Sheamus who backdrops him back first into the post, setting up the Cloverleaf for the submission at 11:15.
Tribute video to Mr. Fuji and it's as good as you would expect from WWE.
Video on Kevin Owens.
Braun Strowman vs. Americo
Standard masked luchador. It's the squash you would expect with Strowman throwing him around and tossing him into the air for a faceplant and the pin at 58 seconds.
Strowman unmasks him post match.
Here's Stephanie McMahon to address Shane McMahon getting F5'd at Summerslam, but first she has to say we're about to crown the “first” Universal Champion. Paul Heyman cuts her off but Stephanie is right there to cut his balls off by demanding an apology. Heyman talks about how Lesnar provides value to Raw and is here to pay Lesnar's $500 fine. He pulls out a pile of $1 bills but Stephanie throws them onto the floor. Stephanie wants to know what value Heyman offers to Raw and warns him of a coming storm.
Heyman goes into a rant about the board of directors and how Stephanie can control everyone but Lesnar. For some reason this turns into a discussion on female empowerment with Stephanie saying Heyman is staring at the women's revolution. Heyman apologizes to her and she accepts before dropping the mic and leaving. With Stephanie gone, Heyman chuckles and smirks.
Video on Balor's injury and surgery.
Video on Roman Reigns.
Titus O'Neil vs. Darren Young
The aggressive Young knocks Titus to the floor where he asks for a timeout. Back in and a hard whip sends Darren over the corner where he lands on a camera to break it into pieces. Some neck cranks don't go anywhere so Young crucifixes him for the pin at 4:04.
Backlund and Young celebrate so Titus beats them both up.
Mick Foley apologizes for not being out there for Stephanie but she didn't need him. He suggests that everyone is barred from ringside tonight and again Stephanie says it's the first Universal Title match. Rollins comes in and Stephanie wishes him luck.
Raw World Title: Big Cass vs. Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins
The title is vacant coming in and this is under elimination rules. Mick and Stephanie are at ringside as they should be. Cass says he's shocking the world tonight. The bell rings after a break (THANK YOU!) and Owens immediately heads outside. The Cass vs. Reigns showdown is delayed again as the villains go after the big men and it's time to pair off.
Seth and Kevin are knocked outside and we get the big showdown with Cass blocking the Superman Punch. A running big boot knocks Reigns outside with Cass falling out as well. Rollins dives onto Cass but Owens drops him onto the barricade, only to have Reigns dive onto Owens and Cass as we take a break. Back with Owens in control and getting two off the backsplash to Cass.
Reigns fights back with his string of clotheslines until Cass kicks his head off. They've done a really good job of making Cass look like he belongs here in the first ten minutes. A big boot puts Owens on the floor and the Empire Elbow hits Rollins. The East River Crossing is broken up by a Superman Punch and the low superkick gets two. Owens adds the Frog Splash to get rid of Cass at 13:46. I'm sure Saxton saying he thinks Cass can pull it off a minute earlier didn't give that away for anyone. Also, I believe that's the first time Cass has been pinned on the main roster.
Back from a second break with Reigns powerbombing Owens and Rollins for a Tower of Doom. Rollins' falcon arrow gets two on Roman but the Superman Punch knocks Rollins out of the air for two more. Cole describes this as incredible action for the second time in about a minute.
Owens comes back in with a superkick to Rollins, setting up back to back Cannonballs for another big reaction. The crowd has somehow stayed hot all night and that's a really good sign. The Superman Punch gets two on Owens and you can hear the crowd's sigh of relief on the kickout. Owens' Pop Up Powerbomb is countered with another Superman Punch and Reigns hits a quick sitout powerbomb for two on Seth.
A spear drops Rollins on the floor but here's HHH of all people to Pedigree Reigns on the floor. HHH throws Rollins back inside for the pin on Reigns at 23:48 (POP!), meaning Rollins needs HHH's help yet again. HHH throws Owens inside, Pedigrees Rollins and gives a shocked Owens the title at 25:05.
HHH leaves and Owens celebrates to end the show.
Results
Chris Jericho b. Neville – Liontamer
Nia Jax b. Haion – Fireman's carry into a powerslam
Sami Zayn b. Jinder Mahal – Helluva Kick
New Day/Bayley b. Dana Brooke/Anderson and Gallows – Bayley to Belly to Brooke
Sheamus b. Cesaro – Cloverleaf
Braun Strowman b. El Americano – Faceplant
Darren Young b. Titus O'Neil – Crucifix
Kevin Owens b. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Big Cass – Pedigree to Rollins
Tuesday
Alberto Del Rio is reportedly done with WWE.
Smackdown
Date: August 30, 2016
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, John Bradshaw Layfield, David Otunga
Much like last night, this show has a lot of potential to be something big but instead of one big match, this show is built around a few individual issues. First and foremost, we'll see the fallout from Miz's awesome shoot promo on Daniel Bryan, which some people didn't expect to see referenced on TV. There's also more of the Tag Team Title tournament and Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin. Let's get to it.
We open with the full Miz vs. Daniel Bryan interview from last week's Talking Smack with Bryan calling Miz soft but Miz saying his style means he doesn't get injured and leave for six months to a year at a time. Bryan walked off and Miz went on a tirade about how the Intercontinental Title is the most important one on Smackdown because he's the one out there every night. This was GREAT and more emotion than Miz has ever shown, which makes me think his days as champion are numbered.
Shane tells Bryan that he can't do that to the talent and Bryan agrees. However, Bryan finds this ironic coming from the person having issues with Brock Lesnar.
Opening sequence.
Here's a ticked off Miz with something to say. Miz doesn't want to hear any booing because it's taken 148 days (the length of his title reign) to get the fans' attention. He's bringing prestige back to this title but people think he's soft. Yeah he wrestles a different style but it's because he's smart enough to see the big picture.
What the fans don't understand is what goes on backstage. Who do you think they call when they need someone to do a red carpet premiere or a commercial or main event Wrestlemania and then dress up as a chicken? Miz didn't spend the first twelve years of his career wrestling in front of 50 people and people booing him for that makes them cowards. Cue Dolph Ziggler and I'm done. This was getting really interesting and it's about Dolph “RESPECT ME WHEN I'M SERIOUS AND THEN LOSE EVERY BIG MATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN” Ziggler all over again.
Dolph says no one is going to buy what Miz says because he's never proven a thing. If Miz wants to show how tough he is, fight right now with no referees or titles on the line. Just the two of them right now. As expected, Miz teases fighting but walks off. Ziggler says Bryan was right and calls him a soft, safe coward but that's not enough to get him to fight either.
I actually felt the air go out of me when Ziggler came out. This story had the potential to actually be something fresh but instead it's the same old Ziggler that we've seen for months and have no reason to believe it's going to be anything different this time around. Ziggler is just a played out character and I wanted something fresh this time from Miz. Instead it's another Battle of Cleveland because that's what WWE thinks new and different means.
Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Hype Bros vs. Vaudevillains
The villains takes over to start and send Ryder outside for a neckbreaker on the floor. The double teaming only lasts for a few moments before the tag brings in Rawley for his splashes. A running fist in the corner sets up the Hype Ryder to pin English at 2:53. This was exactly the kind of energetic match these two needed, even though they're likely losing in the next round.
To my shock, JBL seems to love the Hype Ryders. You would expect him to hate a team like this.
Post match the Hype Bros say they're hyped enough to win the titles.
We finally see the tournament brackets and the Usos vs. American Alpha is actually a semifinal match. That makes things a lot more interesting.
AJ Styles runs into Apollo Crews and introduces himself as the face who runs this place.
Here's AJ Styles for a chat. AJ, in the Cena headband, says he's already beaten up John Cena and now he's going to win the World Title. This brings out Apollo Crews to say Daniel Bryan has granted him a match against AJ right now. I love the fact that they just got to the point here. It was clear we were getting this match the second they ran into each other so there's no reason to waste time setting it up.
AJ Styles vs. Apollo Crews
Crews leapfrogs AJ to start and sends it outside but Crews stops to brag about a right hand. Back with AJ holding a chinlock because that's how you come back from breaks in WWE. Crews sends him into the corner and backdrops AJ outside for a moonsault from the apron. Back in and AJ's high cross body is countered into a Samoan drop (that's kind of insane) for another near fall. Not that it matters as AJ stuns him across the ropes and the Phenomenal Forearm puts Crews away at 8:15.
Earlier this week, Renee Young went to Heath Slater's trailer and met his wife for some redneck humor. As Rhino eats cheese whiz and crackers, Slater calls not being drafted an oversight. More redneck jokes ensue and Slater talks about how he's earned a contract several times now. When they win the titles, it's time to upgrade to a double wide. There's talk of the kids (outside picking up bottles and cans) but a car screeching sends the Slaters outside. Rhino just keeps calmly eating crackers. I get what they were going for here but this just isn't my kind of humor.
Here's Bray Wyatt with a message for Randy Orton. Bray isn't scared of snakes or monsters because he doesn't see Orton as anything more than a man. If Orton really hears voices, Bray hopes they're telling him to run but here's Randy in person. Randy says that a bunch of staples in his head aren't going to change anything because being damaged is what he does. Bray calls himself the new predator and promises to cut the serpent's head off at Backlash. Orton talks about Bray seeing the scars on his body but needing to worry about the scars inside. He agrees to the match and goes inside but Bray vanishes.
Natalya/Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch/Naomi
Nikki Bella is on commentary to do a commercial for Total Bellas. Naomi hurricanranas Natalya to the floor and we take an early break. Back with Naomi in trouble until a jawbreaker allows the tag off to Becky. House is cleaned and everything breaks down as Carmella comes out to brawl with Nikki. In the melee, Bliss rolls Becky up and grabs the trunks for the pin at 7:21.
Video on the Headbangers. For the life of me I don't get why they were picked to come back. It's like when Greg Valentine would show up on Nitro for a one off match.
Video on Curt Hawkins.
Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Headbangers vs. Rhino/Heath Slater
Mosh and Thrasher look exactly the same as they did in 1999. Slater gets beaten down to start and the springboard clothesline puts him on the floor. Some stomping sets up a chinlock as Otunga calls the Headbangers the last two Marilyn Manson fans. The Stage Dive (powerbomb/guillotine legdrop combo) gets two as Rhino makes the save. Rhino (with what looks like some blood on the left side of his face) drags Slater over for the tag and the Gore ends Mosh at 2:53. It might be time for Thrasher to go back to training wrestlers like he did with Big Show.
A guy in a suit named Derrick Milliman has been granted a match tonight and issues an open challenge. Kane comes out for a chokeslam and leaves. Were they just running short on time or something? As Kane leaves, Baron Corbin comes out for the main event. Maybe that's what they're trying to set up?
Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose
Non-title and AJ is on commentary. Ambrose knocks Baron to the floor to start and hits a running clothesline from the apron. Back in and Dean's bulldog is broken up and Baron pounds away with right hands. We come back from a break with Corbin holding a chinlock and getting two off a choke legsweep. Dean fights up and gets two off his clothesline before hitting the suicide dive on the floor. Back in and the Deep Six plants Dean but AJ gets in Baron's face and tells him to stay on it. Dean knocks Baron into Styles so AJ kicks Baron in the face for the DQ at 12:12.
Post match the main eventers fight until Dean hits Corbin with Dirty Deeds. AJ gets crotched and Dean seems to sympathize before bouncing the ropes up and down. Dean takes his belt and leaves AJ sitting on the top rope to end the show. I really don't like having AJ look silly like that, especially after he did something good earlier tonight.
Results
Hype Bros b. Vaudevillains – Hype Ryder to English
AJ Styles b. Apollo Crews – Phenomenal Forearm
Alexa Bliss/Natalya b. Naomi/Becky Lynch – Rollup with a handful of trunks
Rhino/Heath Slater b. Headbangers – Gore to Mosh
Baron Corbin b. Dean Ambrose via DQ when AJ Styles interfered
Wednesday
NXT
Date: August 31, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves
The champ is back tonight as Shinsuke Nakamura makes his first appearance on NXT since winning the NXT Title in Brooklyn. I mean, that was only eleven days ago but NXT is making it seem like a big deal. It should be interesting to see who comes out to challenge him for the title, though odds are it's Samoa Joe for a rematch. Let's get to it.
Earlier today, Samoa Joe was deemed unclear to wrestle due to injuries suffered in Brooklyn. William Regal looks annoyed.
Opening sequence.
Tye Dillinger vs. Buddy Murphy
Murphy is deemed a one by the fans. Back in my day, being number one was a good thing. Tye gets him to the mat in a hammerlock but gets thrown away, meaning Blake can give himself a ten. Back up and Dillinger does his spinout into a cartwheel for the real ten. Graves: “That would get you disqualified from any gymnastics competition.”
The lame wrestling goes back and forth with Murphy sending him outside as we go to a break. That's probably the good thing as this is a very simple match and there's nothing that's working especially well save for the TEN thing. Back with Dillinger making his comeback off a clothesline and a backdrop. Some TEN stomps in the corner set up the Tyebreaker for the pin at 9:46.
We look back at the Tag Team Title match in Brooklyn and Johnny Gargano's knee injury costing him in the Cruiserweight Classic.
Tommaso Ciampa says Gargano will be back soon when the Revival comes in and beats him into the arena. They take the beating into the ring and leave Ciampa laying. Wilder says everyone sounds tough until reality hits them in the mouth. Ciampa tries to get up but takes a good looking Shatter Machine.
Steve Cutler wants attention and demands respect. Dang the cupboard really is bare.
Steve Cutler vs. Kenneth Crawford
Crawford is a generic looking guy who Graves says is well dressed backstage. Cutler works on the arm to start but Kenneth flips his way out of a backdrop (didn't stick the landing but he tried) and grabs an armbar of his own. Some good looking dropkicks and a running shooting star get two on Cutler but he walks into a spinning fisherman's driver (as in a fisherman's suplex into a sitout slam) to give Steve the pin at 3:38.
Hideo Itami says he kicked Austin Aries in the head at Takeover but Aries disappointed him by claiming an injury. If he doesn't want to feel pain, get out of the ring.
Video on Sami Zayn vs. Nakamura back in Dallas.
Video on TM61.
No Way Jose vs. Angelo Dawkins
Jose dances around and grabs a headlock to start as Dawkins gets a few chants of his own. Dawkins' chinlock doesn't go anywhere so it's the baseball punch and a full nelson slam (looked more like a cobra clutch this time) to give Jose the pin at 2:43.
Aries, banana in hand (Dig that potassium replenishing!), interrupts Andrade Cien Almas' interview time, saying everyone is trying to steal his spotlight. Since Almas lost, Aries will just take his interview time. A challenge is issued for next week.
Video on Nakamura vs. Finn Balor.
Liv Morgan vs. Aliyah
Aliyah looks a bit more serious this time and kicks Morgan in the ribs. Some knees to the chest have Morgan in more trouble and Aliyah puts on a freaky hold where she cranks on Liv's arm and holds her head down with a leg. Morgan pops back up and tries a kind of spinning kick close enough to the head for the pin at 3:21. There was a hard edit in there so it was probably worse than it looked.
No Way Jose is fired up about his win and says he has the heart to go with the hair. Bobby Roode comes up, compliments Jose's head, and walks away.
Video on Nakamura vs. Joe.
Here's Nakamura for his celebration and the dancing entrance looks even cooler with the title around his waist. The YOU DESERVE IT chants start up until Nakamura starts talking about being in Japan and wanting to face the best competition in the world. That meant he had to come to NXT where he beat Sami Zayn, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe. He's still in a lot of pain but he became the NXT Champion. The Joe Era is over and it's now the Era of Strong Style. Nakamura kind of barks and poses to end the show.
Results
Tye Dillinger b. Wesley Blake – Tyebreaker
Steve Cutler b. Kenneth Crawford – Fisherman's driver
No Way Jose b. Angelo Dawkins – Full nelson slam
Liv Morgan b. Aliyah – Spinning kick to the face
Thursday
Impact Wrestling
Date: September 1, 2016
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Josh Matthews, D'Angelo Dinero
The countdown to Bound For Glory 2016 continues as we have five more weeks before the biggest show of the year. Things have changed a bit coming out of last week as Drew Galloway has turned heel by attacking Aron Rex, likely setting up Rex's first feud and a Bound For Glory match. Let's get to it.
We open with Reby (who looks like Matt from behind) and the Hardys playing the piano and singing the Obsolete song. Even Senor Benjamin, Vanguard One and Maxill get in on the sing a long. Maxill's piano playing give Matt a pre-mo-nition that the battle with Decay will take place here at the Hardy Compound instead of at the Zone of Impact. Matt is worried but Reby has a sword to protect herself and Maxill.
In the arena (and out of that insanity), Mike Bennett and Maria are here for a chat. Mike is here to complete his kingdom of miracles by winning the World Title tonight. He's so successful because he surrounds himself with people like Maria and Moose, who Mike would like to come down to settle things. Instead here's Lashley to say he doesn't have to fake confidence like Bennett does.
Lashley is so confident that he's willing to let tonight's title match be No DQ. Bennett thinks Lashley is jealous of Moose and doesn't believe that they went to dinner last week. The champ says they did go to dinner (Are we on a Disney sitcom?) and maybe Lashley smartened him up a bit. Moose comes out to say he's let his actions do the talking and tonight he'll determine who wins the title. Bennett takes that as Moose saying he'll win but Moose says not so fast before leaving.
Matt Hardy vs. Crazzy Steve
They look at each other to start because both of them are a bit insane. Steve dropkicks the knee out and we hit the chinlock. The fight goes outside with the fans telling Matt to DELETE him. So they want Steve to join Matt's team? Jeff hits Steve with a boot a few times and the Twist of Fate puts Steve away at 4:20.
Post match Steve gets the mic and says Decay is at the Hardy Compound and Maxill is now Rosemary's baby.
The X-Division guys try to explain the X-Division and basically say it's about being fearless. So we can expect Nikki Bella showing up when?
After a break, Matt calls Reby (with his phone actually saying Broken Matt Hardy) but she doesn't answer. The camera in the Hardy Compound shows Rosemary looking at Maxill.
X-Division Title: Trevor Lee vs. DJZ vs. Andrew Everett vs. Mandrews vs. Braxton Sutter vs. Rockstar Spud
The title is vacant coming in and this is a gauntlet match, meaning people are added at fixed intervals but you can pull the title down at any time. Trevor Lee and DJZ start things off and they slug it out for a bit before pulling each other down. Andrew Everett is in third and the time intervals seem to be two and a half minutes. DJZ gets double teamed so the Helms Dynasty (minus Helms showing up lately) goes up at the same time.
A knee to DJZ's head knocks him silly but here's Mandrews to break up the title grab attempt. Mandrews gets thrown off the top though and we take a break. Back with a replay package of what we saw before the commercial instead of what we missed. Braxton Sutter entered during the break and here's Rockstar Spud to complete the field but it's still too early to get the title with Sutter making the save.
We hit the big streak of dives before people get back in, only to be thrown out or knocked down seconds later. There's nothing to talk about here as it's just one move or spot after another with nothing in between. Spud uses a chair to knock Sutter off the cables but it's the Helms Dynasty going up and grabbing the title at at the same time. No one comes down with it though so DJZ springboards in and pulls the title down to win at 16:23.
Ethan Carter III is talking about his match last week when Eli Drake comes up to challenge him to a match tonight.
Drew Galloway promises an explanation.
We look at Allie accidentally winning the Knockouts Title last week.
Here's Drew Galloway to explain his actions from last week. Drew says you don't know what you've got until it's gone. He's been asking why he stood up for TNA when he first arrived and he's not sure. When he won the World Title, the celebration went on for a week. Then Ethan Carter screwed him over three straight times but the fans cheered for him. Then Aron Rex showed up and said the same things he said in his debut but the fans were cheering for him anyway.
Rex wants to be the next Drew Galloway so Drew has to teach him a few things. This brings out Billy Corgan to say Drew's actions should earn him a suspension without pay but a little bird told him not to do it. Drew accuses Corgan of becoming the establishment and doing everything Dixie Carter tells him. Actually it was Rex who kept Drew from being suspended and here he is for the brawl but security quickly breaks it up. This was good stuff and Rex looked like a star who was on Drew's level.
Reby answers the phone and Matt says the match tonight was just a setup. She and Maxill will go to the safe room but Vanguard One tells Matt that Rosemary is already there.
Ethan Carter III vs. Eli Drake
Drake is nice enough to spell his name out before they head to the floor with Ethan in control. Back in and Drake takes over with your standard heel offense (I love listening to him talk but his wrestling isn't great) and escapes the TK3 attempt. A chinlock doesn't go very far and the second TK3 attempt connects just fine. The 1%er is enough for the pin on Drake at 6:00.
Allie is very excited about her title win and doesn't mind Maria making her plan her own celebration.
Reby tells Matt to get back here now. Senor Benjamin is holding Maxill.
DJZ celebrates his title win and says he's ready to defend it.
Here's Allie for her title celebration. Before she can get anywhere, here are Maria and Sienna to interrupt. Maria sends Sienna to the back and yells at Allie for thinking this is actually about her. Allie screws everything up and couldn't even get the right color balloons here. This celebration is for Allie's opponent and Allie needs to lay down right now.
Knockouts Title: Maria Kanellis vs. Allie
Allie lays down and Maria is the new champion in three seconds.
Allie has to fight back tears as she announces Maria as the new champion.
Bennett tries to talk Moose into doing the right thing and hands him a pipe. Moose thinks about it.
Rosemary torments Reby but Senor Benjamin gets Maxill out. Reby tells Benjamin to prepare the field for battle.
TNA World Title: Mike Bennett vs. Lashley
Lashley is defending and this is no DQ. The champ leapfrogs Bennett and does the delayed vertical suplex but here's Moose to offer a distraction as we take a break. Back with Bennett in control and kicking Lashley in the face. Maria hits Lashley in the head with the cast and the Knockouts Title but Lashley shrugs it off and suplexes Bennett for a breather. A torture rack (good move for Lashley) has Mike in trouble and a spinebuster makes it even worse. Maria breaks up the spear but Moose won't give Mike the pipe. The distraction allows the spear to connect to retain the title at 10:59.
Post match Bennett yells at Moose and calls him a failed football player. Bennett slaps him in the face so Moose clotheslines Mike's head off to end the show.
Next week: Decay goes to Cameron. That's right: FINAL DELETION II!
Results
Matt Hardy b. Crazzy Steve – Twist of Fate
DJZ b. Mandrews, Rockstar Spud, Trevor Lee, Andrew Everett and Braxton Sutter – DJZ pulled down the title
Ethan Carter III b. Eli Drake – 1%er
Maria Kanellis b. Allie – Allie laid down
Lashley b. Mike Bennett – Spear
Friday
Nothing.
Saturday
Nothing.
Sunday
Nothing.
Quick Results
Monday Night Raw
Chris Jericho b. Neville – Liontamer
Nia Jax b. Haion – Fireman's carry into a powerslam
Sami Zayn b. Jinder Mahal – Helluva Kick
New Day/Bayley b. Dana Brooke/Anderson and Gallows – Bayley to Belly to Brooke
Sheamus b. Cesaro – Cloverleaf
Braun Strowman b. El Americano – Faceplant
Darren Young b. Titus O'Neil – Crucifix
Kevin Owens b. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Big Cass – Pedigree to Rollins
Smackdown
Hype Bros b. Vaudevillains – Hype Ryder to English
AJ Styles b. Apollo Crews – Phenomenal Forearm
Alexa Bliss/Natalya b. Naomi/Becky Lynch – Rollup with a handful of trunks
Rhino/Heath Slater b. Headbangers – Gore to Mosh
Baron Corbin b. Dean Ambrose via DQ when AJ Styles interfered
NXT
Tye Dillinger b. Wesley Blake – Tyebreaker
Steve Cutler b. Kenneth Crawford – Fisherman's driver
No Way Jose b. Angelo Dawkins – Full nelson slam
Liv Morgan b. Aliyah – Spinning kick to the face
Impact Wrestling
Matt Hardy b. Crazzy Steve – Twist of Fate
DJZ b. Mandrews, Rockstar Spud, Trevor Lee, Andrew Everett and Braxton Sutter – DJZ pulled down the title
Ethan Carter III b. Eli Drake – 1%er
Maria Kanellis b. Allie – Allie laid down
Lashley b. Mike Bennett – Spear