offical wwe thread

[famicommander]

No he doesn't.

 

[famicommander]

Kenny King and Matt Taven will each represent ROH in the 2017 CMLL International Gran Prix. It's a tournament with half of its competitors from Mexico and the other half from abroad.

Mexican entrants:
Ultimo Guerrero
Diamante Azul
Euforia
Volador Jr
Dragon Lee
Mephisto
Valiente
Rush

International entrants:
Satoshi Kojima (Japan/NJPW)
Juice Robinson (USA/NJPW)
Michael Elgin (Canada/NJPW)
Marco Corleone (USA/CMLL) also known as Mark Jindrak
Sam Adonis (USA/CMLL)
Johnny Idol (New Zealand/CMLL)
Kenny King (USA/ROH)
Matt Taven (USA/ROH)

Hopefully next year they can do a whole tour with the CMLL guys like they've been doing with NJPW and Honor Rising/War of the Worlds/Global Wars.

 

[jro]

Enzo has a very bright future.








as a manager

He's a good talker, yeah. Sucks at literally everything else. Sounds like he likely wouldn't have gotten the shot he did if not for Cass going to bat for him over and over since they got called up. I don't particularly like Cass, either, but I do think it'll be good for him to sink or swim on his own merits now.

 

[Syn]

Enzo needs to go to 205.

 

[famicommander]

Enzo just needs to discontinue existing. He's horrible. But I guess so is 205 Live, so they sort of belong together.

Anyway, Ring of Honor's weeklies

Women of Honor Wednesday:

Throwback Thursday:

Future of Honor Friday:

Bonus match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs Christopher Daniels 2/3 falls for the ROH World Championship from this last episode of ROH TV:

 

[Renmauzo]

Holy shit, the B block final was...incredible; you know a match is amazing when you're shouting at your monitor. The whole show was just great front to back. I'm going to re-watch Okada/Omega III later this afternoon.

NJPW...BEST.FUCKING.WRESTLING.PERIOD.

 

[Hot Chocolate]

Yuji Nagata is in his 50s and is putting on five star matches with people old enough to be his kids

 

[Renmauzo]

Yuji Nagata is in his 50s and is putting on five star matches with people old enough to be his kids

Testify.

 

[famicommander]

Yuji Nagata is in his 50s and is putting on five star matches with people old enough to be his kids

It seems that in general, despite the stiffer in ring style, the reduced touring schedule and shorter travel distances allows NJPW stars to last longer than their WWE counterparts. Satoshi Kojima, Minoru Suzuki, Jushin Thunder Liger, Togi Makabe, Gedo, Jado, and even Manabu Nakanishi are all in better shape than the elder statesmen in WWE.

 

[famicommander]

Women of Honor Wednesday:

Great match this week but it's the same one from the Women of Honor TV special a week or two back

Throwback Thursday:

Watch and weep at what has become of these two in NXT and on 205 Live

Future of Honor Friday:

 

[Arcademan]

As always, thanks for the videos and posts Famicommander. I know I haven't been around much and posting less. I'm so far behind with my wrestling shows. I have over a dozen LU and NJPW shows on my DVR I need to find the time to binge watch.

 

[famicommander]

WWE sure is good at killing a tag team's momentum.

Anderson and Gallows were the biggest heavyweight tag team act in the world when they arrived in WWE, now they're irrelevant.
The Hardys were the hottest act in all of wrestling when they returned to WWE, now they're on the fucking preshow.

If I'm the Young Bucks I don't go to WWE for anything.

 

[Arcademan]

WWE SummerSlam PPV Results: 8-20-17

Results courtesy of PWTorch.com (direct link to Keller's ongoing report).

Pre-Show Results:

(1) MATT & JEFF HARDY & JASON JORDAN vs. THE MIZ & BO DALLAS & CURTIS AXEL (w/Maryse)

WINNER: Miz & Bo & Curtis in 11:00.

The Jason Jordan push sure seems stalled. Mid deserved a better Summerslam spot with the year he's had.

(2) TOZAWA vs. NEVILLE Cruiserweight Title match

WINNER: Neville to regain the Cruiserweight Title.

A good match, but Tozawa's cartoonish demeanor makes it hard to invest in this as a serious situation even with good athleticism. I am even more against the Cruiserweight Title change now that it went back to Neville because it reset the days Neville held the title and took away the meaning when he eventually lost it to the right person who was going to be the next identity of the division.

(3) BIG E & XAVIER WOODS (W/Kofi Kingston) vs. THE USOS WWE Smackdown Tag Team Title match

WINNERS: The Usos to win the Smackdown Tag Team Titles in 19:00.

Really good tag match. It filled 20 minutes well. Hot action the final six or seven minutes that totally got the crowd engaged, although even the first two-thirds of the match was good.

MAIN SHOW

(1) JOHN CENA vs. BARON CORBIN

Cena went to the announcers and said that Corbin is still thinking about Tuesday instead of tonight. Corbin chased after him, but Cena went right back into the ring. Corbin mouthed off to Cena. A loud Let's Go Cena / Cena sucks! battle chant broke out. Corbin kneed Cena aggressively in the ring, then stomped away at him. He yelled at the ref, then yelled at the crowd. Cena battled back, but Corbin fired right back himself with a hard clothesline for a two count.

Saxton said Corbin is in a state they've never seen him in before. JBL said Corbin's temper can work against him sometimes, but right now it's working for him. Corbin yelled at the fans some more, giving Cena an opening to dropkick Corbin. Corbin just popped him in the face and dropped him right afterward. The crowd taunted Corbin with Where's your briefcase!? That's better than either Skinny Fat or Dumpster Fire.

Cena rallied and signaled for a sudden You Can't See Me fist drop. Corbin obviously moved out of the way because it was way too easy to expect Corbin to lie on his back after Cena postured to the crowd for a minute. Corbin hit a nasty looking chokeslam backbreaker for a two count. Corbin lifted Cena to the top rope and then set up a superplex. It was a night of blocked and reversed superplexes last night. Cena blocked this one, too, with a headbutt and then a flying DDT. Cena went back to You Can't See Me and more quickly went for and landed a fist drop. Corbin came right back with a Deep Six for a two count. Corbin stomped away at Cena. Cena avoided his charge. Corbin charged back at Cena, but Cena clotheslined him and then hit the Attitude Adjustment for the clean win.

WINNER: Cena at 10:15. (**1/2)

Odd seeing Cena in an opening match, although really the fourth of the night. Decent enough match. I liked Corbin's aggressiveness and that chip on his shoulder. He lost, but he looked good here. Cena just phoned it in, though, going to his You Can't See Me routine twice and he didn't do much else memorable. The clean win keeps Cena in his place as a future PPV headliners, but Corbin looked fine here and doesn't get hurt too bad. It is Cena, after all.

(2) NAOMI vs. NATALYA WWE Raw Women's Title match

Natalya slapped Naomi at the start. She hither with a barrage of blows in the corner. The ref pushed her away. Natalya absorbed a Naomi elbow and gave her a springboard slam. Naomi countered with a head scissors. Nice opening minute. Naomi slid up to Natalya and slapped her. Natalya took a break at ringside to regroup. Naomi went after her with a kick, then leaped off the stairs with a blockbuster.

A minute later Natalya took over. She catapulted her off the ring apron edge into the turnbuckle. Natalya rolled Naomi into the ring and scored a two count. She stayed on offense for a while. They showed Carmella and James Ellsworth watching on a monitor backstage. They made the requisite facial expressions that conveyed how interested they were in what they were watching like someone reacting to taking a bite of food in a restaurant commercial. Natalya eventually settled into an abdominal stretch.

Natalya went for a superplex. Naomi, of course, blocked it and then gave Natalya a modified Russian leg sweep off the middle rope. Natalya came back with a boot, but Naomi countered a clothesline with a spin wheel kick. Naomi then rammed Natalya face-first into the mat with a head scissors for a two count. Naomi sling shot herself into the ring a legdrop onto Natalya who was lying backwards off the second rope right in position for the move. There is no way to do those moves without looking totally orchestrated beyond anything else in matches, so can they just stop doing them? Natalya lifted her knees on a subsequent Naomi moonsault, then applied the sharpshooter and got the tapout win. Naomi cried afterward, as women are apparently required to do after title losses.

WINNER: Natalya at 11:10 to capture the WWE Smackdown Women's Title.

Solid match. Nice to see Natalya get a title win. It is moments like this where having two women's titles at once does diminish the impact of title changes. I'm all for the agony of defeat, but women in WWE flat out break into tears too often after losing. There are other ways to sell a loss.

 

[Arcademan]

WWE SummerSlam PPV Results: 8-20-17

(3) BIG CASS vs. THE BIG SHOW

No matter how much Cass spray tans, his physique isn't getting any more cut looking. There are some really bad camera angles on him, and whatever he's doing since NXT isn't working. He's resembling Buddy Landel's body-type career path.

Enzo was raised above the ring in a shark cage and talked constantly as Show took it to Cass with big chops to the chest early. Show side-slammed Cass, but he landed on his injured right hand that was all taped up. Cass went on offense for a while, focusing on Show's hand. The crowd chanted Boring! Cass smiled and raised his right arm straight in the air. He applied an armlock.

Enzo got restless in the cage and made a lot of noise. Eventually Enzo attempted to get out of the cage. Cole laughed and said, Ah, Enzo, the cage is built so you can't get out. Enzo took off his shorts revealing his boxers. Then he pulled out some body oil he had stashed and wiped it all over himself. Then he took out black gloves and used them to get a better grip and slip between the rungs of the cage. Cass looked up and saw Enzo on the loose. Graves asked what Enzo would do now 15 feet above the ring. Enzo dropped down. Cass gave him a big boot immediately. Show got up, but Cass gave him a running Big Boot for a two count. He delivered another running big boot and then an Empire Elbow for the win.

WINNER: Big Cass in 10:30. (1/2*)

Not good. The whole thing with Enzo in the cage just wasn't worth it. No room for Sami Zayn or Miz in an Intercontinental Title defense, but this? I understand Vince McMahon wants to showcase Cass in a big win at a big event in case Cass can elevate to a top tier heel sooner than later, but this just wasn't good.

(4) RANDY ORTON vs. RUSEV

Rusev attacked Orton from behind before the bell. The ref made Rusev back off. The ref checked if Orton was ready. He was. Rusev charged. Orton side-stepped him and hit an immediate RKO and scored a pin.

WINNER: Orton in 0:10.

I wasn't sure how they'd get out of this match with a clean finish since I assumed they had interest in keeping both guys strong. This gives Orton a satisfying clean win but it comes across as more of a fluke than anything from Rusev being reckless, so in a strange way, it could be less of a burial than a hard-fought clean loss. But we'll see, as the key with most things in WWE is the follow-up and how it's framed on the next TV shows. Who had their money on Orton's match this year being more one-sided and shorter than last year?

(5) ALEXA BLISS vs. SASHA BANKS Raw Women's Title match.

JoJo did formal ring introductions for this match. Back and forth rapid-fire blows in the corner. The ref told them to take it to the middle of the ring. Bliss took advantage of that to cheap shot Banks with a punch to take control. Banks came back with a flurry. Bliss returned fire with a neck snap over the middle rope and then a crossbody off the ropes. They exchanged quick two counts. Cole said it was a frantic pace, and it was. Bliss dominated for several minutes.

Banks teased a comeback and scored a two count with a roll-up, but Bliss took over again. Bliss stopped another Banks comeback a minute later. Banks eventually slammed Bliss off the top rope and then nailed a running basement knee to the face of Bliss. Both were slow to get up. Banks hit a couple flying clotheslines and a dropkick. Not the crowd pop you'd want here. She scored a two count. Bliss fired back with a face driver into her knee for a two count. Bliss showed frustration. Banks catapulted the back of Bliss's head into the top turnbuckle as a counter to a sunset flip. That looked cool. She followed up running knees for a two count. Then a back stabber into a Bank Statement. Bliss reached for and grabbed the bottom rope. Graves said the diminutive stature of Bliss could cost her, but it didn't. Bliss yanked the ring skirt, knocking Banks off the ring edge. Banks landed hard.

Bliss threw Banks hard through the ropes to the floor. Banks grabbed at her left shoulder. The ref counted to nine before Banks returned just in time. Bliss attacked Banks's shoulder and arm. Bliss stepped on Banks as she moved over to the top rope. She landed her Twisted Bliss turning splash for a believable near fall. Banks surprised Bliss with a Bank Statement. Bliss reached for the bottom rope, but couldn't reach it. Then she tapped.

WINNER: Sasha Banks in 13:10 to capture the WWE Raw Women's Title. (***1/4)

That finish felt like it was a bit out of nowhere, especially since Graves said right before Bliss tapped that with the injured shoulder, she couldn't fully apply her finisher. Really good match, though. Definitely the spark the show needed after the previous half hour.

 

[Arcademan]

WWE SummerSlam PPV Results: 8-20-17

(6) FINN BALOR vs. BRAY WYATT

Bray came out first. Then the full Demon ring entrance for Balor. Balor dominated early. The announcers talked about this being the longest Bray has been on defense early in a match. Bray took over about five minutes in. Let's Go Balor! chanted fans. Balor immediately made a comeback with a kick and a side slam for a two count. Balor hit a running dropkick at ringside, sending Bray into the barricade. Bray caught a charging Balor with a clothesline sends later and got a two count. Bray did his crab walk. Look at this freak, said Cole. Balor popped up, not intimidated. Balor hit sling blade, a dropkick, and then a double stomp off the top for a three count. The crowd counted along.

WINNER: Balor at 10:50. (**1/2)

That's called getting your win back. Bray is, in a way, beyond any loss meaning that much since he always seems to talk big and ultimately lose. This win, though, is a statement win for Balor, sending a message he's headed toward bigger things than feuding with Elias and losing to Bray, which is where things stood after Monday.

(7) CESARO & SHEAMUS vs. SETH ROLLINS & DEAN AMBROSE WWE Raw Tag Team Title match

Seth came out first to his music. Then Ambrose came out. Back and forth action early, with the announcers focused a lot on this being the first time Seth and Dean have teamed in years. Not counting recent house show matches, that is. Cesaro and Sheamus regrouped at ringside after a flurry by Dean and Seth. At ringside, Sheamus surprised Dean with a Brogue Kick. Seth did a running dive through the ropes, but Cesaro and Sheamus caught him and threw him hard to the floor. The heel duo worked over Seth for a while as Dean recovered from the Brogue Kick at ringside. Cesaro settled into a chinlock. Seth came back with a Blockbuster on Cesaro. Both were slow to get up.

The crowd began playing with a beach ball. Cesaro got mad and went into the crowd and popped it. The crowd cheered. The announcers drew attention to it. Graves said Cesaro won't be disrespected like that. When Sheamus and Cesaro double-teamed Seth, Dean leaped off the top rope onto all three. Graves made note of Ambrose landing Seth. Dean threw Seth into the ring and ran to his own corner. Seth dragged himself toward Dean for a hot tag. He somersaulted over and hot-tagged Dean. Not the pop they'd want. Dean rallied against Cesaro in the ring, then dove onto Sheamus at ringside. Then he went right back after Cesaro with rapid-fire offense. He played to the crowd briefly and climbed to the top rope. Four-way action broke out. Dean and Seth clotheslined Sheamus and then Cesaro both over the top rope. Dean and Seth played to the crowd, then did running dives through the ropes onto Cesaro and Sheamus at ringside.

Sheamus broke up a double-team move from ringside, then Cesaro gave Dean a big uppercut. Cesaro set up a Neutralizer. Dean escaped. They exchanged blows. Dean landed the (former) Lunatic Clothesline. Cesaro tagged in Sheamus before Dean could tag in a fresh Seth. Dean went for a superplex on Sheamus, but Sheamus battled back. Dean eventually hit it. Then Seth landed a frog splash for a near fall, broken up by Cesaro. They cut to a crowd reaction shot.

Seth and Dean stomped away at Sheamus in the corner. Dean and Set looked at each other intensely. Ten they went back at Sheamus and lifted him up top and set up a big running powerbomb. Instead, Cesaro entered and broke it up. Cesaro backdropped a charging Seth over the top rope. Seth landed in a way that made me worry for his surgically repaired knee. Meanwhile, Sheamus landed a tilt-a-whirl slam for a near fall. Cesaro dove at Dean off the top rope with a crossbody, but Dean rolled through. Dean then set up a Dirty Deeds, but Cesaro countered with a Cesaro Swing. After three turns, he promptly shifted into a sharpshooter mid-ring. Sheamus gave Seth a rolling senton at ringside to prevent him from breaking up the hold. When Dean got near the bottom rope, Cesaro transitioned into a crossface mid-ring in a nice sequent. Dean leaned back and got a one count on Cesaro. Cesaro let go, then tagged in Sheamus. Sheamus gave Dean a clothesline off the top rope off of Cesaro's shoulders for a near fall. Booker T said that was it before the kickout. Cesaro and Sheamus gave Dean a double crucifix for a near fall, broken up by Seth. That was too close.

The heel duo stomped away at Seth and tossed him to the floor. Then they went after Dean two-on-one. Sheamus set up White Noise. Seth gave Cesaro a huracanrana off the top rope, knocking into Sheamus to break up the White Noise. Cool spot. Seth superkicked Cesaro, but the director cut to a crowd shot and missed it. Seth superkicked Sheamus, and then Dean hit Dirty Deeds for the win.

WINNERS: Seth & Dean to capture the WWE Raw Tag Team Titles. (***3/4)

Really good tag match. This show needed that match.

 

[Arcademan]

WWE SummerSlam PPV Results: 8-20-17

(8) A.J. STYLES vs. KEVIN OWENS U.S. Title match

Shane McMahon came out first as special referee with Shane O-Mac on the front. Two of his kids were in the front row wearing referee shirts. Styles caught Owens with a standing dropkick to stop early Owens' momentum. Owens came back with a nasty clothesline. JBL said Ric Flair has held the U.S. Title six times, and sent him good wishes in his health battle. JBL observed that Shane is calling it right down the middle. Styles came back after several minutes with a fast buster. Owens took that bump well. Styles set up a Styles Clash. Owens backdropped out of it. Owens then hit a superkick and went for a Pop-up Powerbomb. Styles countered with a fireman's carry neckbreaker for a two count.

Styles climbed to the top rope. Owens stumbled into Shane, and knocked him into the ropes, knocking Styles off balance. Owens climbed to the top and lifted Styles, but Styles countered into a sunset flip powerbomb. They replayed Owens knocking Shane into the ropes and wondered. Styles went for an inverted slingshot 450 splash, but Styles landed on both Owens and Shane. Shane was checking on Owens condition. Styles checked on Shane as fans chanted A.J. Styles. Owens threw Styles into the ropes and hit a Pop-Up Powerbomb. Shane counted, but Style kicked out. Owens was frustrated. He blamed Shane, who was clutching his back in pain, for not getting over to count sooner. Where were you?! he asked. You fall of buildings and you get back up, but you can't get over for a three count. He got in Shane's face. Shane went nose-to-nose with Owens. Owens went after Styles, but Styles moved out of his way. Styles then rolled Owens over into a Calf Crusher. Owens raked Styles' eyes to break it up.

When Styles grabbed Owens legs, Owens kicked Styles into Shane. Shane fell through the ropes. Styles applied a Calf Crusher again. Shane was very slow to get up. Owens tapped. Styles let go and noticed Shane was still at ringside. Shane struggled to get back into the ring. Styles got in Shane's face and shoved him and told him to do his job. Shane shoved back. Owens rolled up Styles and Shane counted two. JBL said Shane is trying to call it down the middle. Styles caught a charging Owens with a forearm to the head. Then he suplexed Owens into the turnbuckles.

Styles went for a huracanrana off the top rope, but Owens blocked it. Owens then cradle suplexed Styles off the top rope for a near fall. Owens and Styles battled mid-ring, exchanging blows. The crowd was into it. Styles went for a Pel kick, but Owens moved. Owens connected with a superkick. Owens charged. Styles lifted his boot for a weak looking boot to the face spot. Styles went for a roll-up, but lifted Owens and hit a Styles Clash for a believable near fall. Styles complained to Shane briefly about the two count. Styles then went for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Owens ducked and then hit a Pop-up Powerbomb for a three count. Shane waved off the count, though, because Styles' boot was on the bottom rope. Owens was, of course, not pleased. Shane explained. They went forehead to forehead. Owens had none of it and shoved Shane and told him not to touch him. Shane shoved Owens right into a schoolboy from Styles. That got a two count. Styles hit a Pel kick. Styles then connected with a Phenomenal Forearm. Finally, he hit the Styles Clash and scored the three count.

WINNER: Styles to retain the U.S. Title. (****)

That was the right mix of Shane getting involved given the hype. I'd have gotten a kick out of the match going totally smooth and Shane not factoring in at all. Owens has reasons to be upset, but none that stand up to objective interpretation. But a heel shouldn't care about whether he's right or not, he should insist he is no matter what.

(9) JINDER MAHAL (w/The Singh Brothers) vs. SHINSUKE NAKAMURA WWE Title match

Nakamura's ring entrance included a live violinist. After formal ring introductions, the wrestlers approached each other. Nakamura broke up a delay in a test of strength with a kick. Jinder took a break at ringside after a couple minutes. They cut away to the Japanese announce team to hear their commentary on the match. Nakamura nailed Jinder with a wheel kick to the face and then a knee drop. The crowd sang Nakamura's song. Jinder bailed out again. Nakamura went after him and threw him back into the ring. He shot the Singh Brothers a look when they got mouthy. That distraction gave Jinder just enough time to recover and then knock Nakamura off the ring apron with a forearm. Jinder threw Nakamura back into the ring quickly and stomped away at him.

Jinder settled into a chinlock. Nakamura eventually broke free and kicked Jinder. He showed some fire and then threw several hard round kicks to Jinder's chest. Jinder applied a triangle mid-ring. Phillips sold it as a big moment. Jinder reached the bottom rope to force a break. Nakamura went for a suplex, but Jinder blocked it. Nakamura kneed Jinder in the gut and then dropped him face-first to the mat. Shinsuke went for a running knee, but Jinder moved and rolled up Nakamura with a yank of the tights. Nakamura kicked out. Jinder gave Nakamura a running knee for a near fall. Nakamura hit an enzuigiri. He avoided a charging Jinder, who went shoulder-first into the ringpost. Nakamura then gave Jinder a running knee from behind. JBL said the one you don't see is the one that knocks you out. Samir Singh jumped onto the ring apron. Nakamura took care of him. Then he beat up Samil Singh. That gave Jinder time to give Nakamura the Khallas for the win. JBL said Jinder has shown he's not a flash in the pan by beating one of the greatest Japanese performers of all time. They cut to crowd reactions of fans in dismay.

WINNER: Mahal at 11:25. (**1/4)

This finish, while not clean because of the Singh Brothers interference, did seem like trolling the fanbase who knows and respects Nakamura's history before WWE. The match was more mediocrity, and Nakamura maybe takes some blame for that as the magic just isn't there. Or maybe Jinder is just that mediocre. Vince McMahon had to enjoy this, though shoving his sports entertainment guy over the New Japan guy on a big show in New York. That all said, I wouldn't rule out that Nakamura eventually beats Jinder for the title. I don't think it'd matter as much if it happens, though, than if it happened here. We might be talking a year from now about Jinder's expectedly long title reign, too.

 

[Arcademan]

WWE SummerSlam PPV Results: 8-20-17

(10) BROCK LESNAR (w/Paul Heyman) vs. BRAUN STROWMAN vs. SAMOA JOE vs. ROMAN REIGNS WWE Universal Title match

Braun came out first. Then Joe. Then Reigns to an explosion of boos. Booker said Voted most hated Superstar in 2016. Cole stammered after hearing that. Graves chimed in, likely repeating what Vince McMahon said in his headset, and said Roman isn't hated, he's controversial. He said you have to take The Big Dog seriously as a top contender to the title. I wonder if we ever seen Booker again after this. And finally Brock.

After formal ring introductions, the bell rang. Strowman threw Reigns to the floor and battled him there while Joe and Lesnar went at it. Lesnar gave Joe a suplex. Joe rolled to the floor. Lesnar was last man standing in the ring. Reigns shoved Strowman into the ringpost, then looked in Brock. He smiled and Lesnar called him in. Reigns entered the ring. Lesnar took a deep breath of anticipation. He ducked Reigns clothesline and delivered a German suplex. Big pop. Joe charged in. Lesnar suplexed him. Strowman entered. The crowd cheered. Lesnar's facial expressions were great here. Reigns and Joe charged in before Lesnar and Braun could battle. The crowd booed.

Lesnar and Braun cleared the ring. They faced off again and the crowd popped. Strowman lifted and threw Lesnar into the corner, then clotheslined him hard over the top rope to the floor. Big pop. Reigns clotheslined Strowman, but Strowman barely budged and shoved Reigns aside. Big cheers. Strowman charged, but Reigns moved. Strowman dropped to the floor. Joe put Lesnar in the Coquina Clutch. Reigns went to spear Joe, but Joe let go and Reigns speared Lesnar through the barricade. Big pop. Holy sh? chant. Joe chokeslammed Reigns onto the announce table. Strowman charged at and knocked Joe into the announce table. Cole said, This could be catastrophic tonight. Cole wondered what Strowman has in mind.

Strowman forearmed Lesnar as soon as he stood. This is awesome! chanted the fans. Strowman picked up Lesnar and gave him a running powerslam through an announce table. It looked like he barely cleared the edge of the table with Lesnar's head. Graves said, Someone get FIMA on the phone; I think we're going to qualify after this disaster. A Strowman chant broke out. Reigns hit Strowman at ringside with a Drive By. Joe flew through the ropes with a flying forearm and connected with Reigns. Cole said they are flying around like Cruiserweights. Strowman threw the padded office chair at Reigns and Joe. Then he disassembled the announce table and gave another running powerslam to Lesnar through the table. There is little room for error on these big spots.

The crowd chanted One more table! Strowman tipped one table over onto Lesnar. The crowd popped huge. Graves said it might have broken Lesnar's legs. Heyman begged for Strowman to stop. Lesnar was underneath the desk. They went to a ceiling cam that looked down at the scene of a dozen referees and producers pushing the table off of Lesnar. Heyman cried out at ringside as paramedics put Lesnar on a body board. He was lifted onto a gurney. Cole said Lesnar might be headed to the emergency room. The crowd sang the Na na na na, good bye song. Booker said this means we're going to have a new champion. That mean, given WWE's heavy-handed reverse psychology that gives away EVERYTHING, that Lesnar will be back out and win.

Strowman began hitting Reigns and Joe with the ladder base at ringside. A Strowman chant broke out. When Reigns began hitting Strowman, the crowd booed loudly. But he's not hated, just controversial. Right. Reigns bashed Strowman with the base of the steps three times, sending Strowman tumbling to ringside after the third. Joe schoolboyed Reigns for a two count. Joe then gave Reigns an inverted atomic drop, running boot, and running senton for a two count. Joe set up a urinage, but Reigns arm dragged out of it and hit a Samoan Drop for a two count. We were 53 minutes into hour four (or six, counting the Kickoff show) at this point.

Reigns signaled for the Superman Punch. Joe ducked and applied the Coquina Clutch. Strowman re-entered and chokeslammed both Joe and Reigns at once. Strowman covered Reigns for a near fall. Strowman was bleeding from around his ear from the ringside step shots by Reigns. The crowd chanted Un-der-taker! playing off of Internet rumors circulating all day.

Suddenly Lesnar marched back to the ring, getting a pop from the crowd. Produced tried to talk him out of it. Lesnar went into the ring and speared Strowman and then mounted and pounded away at him. Lesnar knocked Strowman over the top rope to ringside. He ducked Reigns and gave him a German suplex. Lesnar then gave Joe a suplex. Strowman returned to the ring. Lesnar set up a suplex. Graves said, No way! Strowman powered out. Lesnar went for a kimura lock. Reigns hit then from behind with a flying Superman Punch. He gave one to Joe, too. Reigns signaled for his spear, then delivered it on Lesnar for a believable near fall.

Reigns signaled again for a spear. Joe came up behind Reigns with a Coquina Clutch. Strowman dropkicked both of them. Strowman then gave Joe a powerslam for a near fall, with Lesnar yanking the ref out of the ring before the third count. Graves called it 都ituational awareness. Cole said he thinks Strowman had Joe pinned. Reigns gave Lesnar a Superman Punch at ringside. He went back into the ring and gave Strowman a Superman Punch for a near fall. Strowman powered out by lifting Reigns back onto his feet. Cole threw superlatives at Reigns. Strowman caught a charging Reigns with a boot and then delivered a running powerslam. Lesnar burst into the ring and broke up the count. Heyman was worried at ringside. This is awesome! chanted the crowd.

Strowman lifted Lesnar. Lesnar, though, slipped free and lifted Strowman. Strowman countered and lifted Lesnar. Reigns speared Strowman, and Lesnar went down. Strowman rolled to the floor. Booker wondered who was in the worst shape. Lesnar lifted Reigns for an F5. Reigns slipped free. Joe threw Reigns out of the ring. Joe put Lesnar in the Coquina Clutch mid-ring. Graves touted the potency of this hold. Lesnar countered into an F5 and delivered it mid-ring and scored a near fall, broken up by Reigns. Absolutely incredible, said Cole.

Reigns waited for Lesnar to stand, then delivered a Superman Punch. And another.Lesnar got back to his feet, but Graves said he was weak in his knees. Reigns hit a third Superman Punch. Lesnar eventually stood again. Reigns yelled and then went for a spear, but Lesnar lifted him and delivered an F5 for the three count.

WINNER: Lesnar to retain the Universal Title. (****1/2)

Tremendous payoff to all the build-up. It's most fascinating that Lesnar beat Reigns, not Joe or Strowman, in retaining. That really says something about Vince's belief in Joe.

 

[famicommander]

Minoru Suzuki will be at ROH Death Before Dishonor on September 22 in Las Vegas.

That's fucking great news. Kushida has also been announced, but since he's the TV Champ (at least until the TV tapings this weekend) that's not surprising.

 

[famicommander]

AAA is livestreaming TripleMania XXV for free on Twitch this Saturday night. It's their flagship show, like Wrestlemania or Wrestle Kingdom or Final Battle. So if you're not watching the carny ass boxing match, this is a pretty good alternative.

 

[famicommander]

So basically what WWE's plan is, according to Sports Illustrated, is for Cena and Lesnar to bury everybody on the roster and then have Reigns beat them both.

 

[Arcademan]

So Bobby Roode's WWE debut is....GLORIOUS?!!

We'll see how long that lasts

 

[famicommander]

Women of Honor Wednesday:

Throwback Thursday:

Future of Honor Friday:

 

[famicommander]

Eddie Edwards has won the GHC Heavyweight Championship, the world title of Pro Wrestling NOAH. He is the first non-Japanese wrestler to hold the title, the 17th person overall, and his reign is the 29th in the title's 17+ year history.

He adds his name to a list that includes Kenta Kobayashi, Go Shiozaki, Minoru Suzuki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Mitsuhara Misawa, Yuji Nagata, and Takeshi Morishima among others.

For Edwards, this is his third major world heavyweight championship. He held the ROH World Championship and TNA World Heavyweight Championship once each.

 

[Hot Chocolate]

Triplemania sucked ass so go watch the last Noah show instead


This is turning into a banner year for Kushida and no surprise that he and Osprey tore the house down



And fuck Sexy Star

 

[famicommander]

For those who didn't hear, at Triplemania Sexy Star intentionally dislocated Rosemary's elbow and possibly tore her triceps.

Apparently Sexy was mad that Rosemary, the former Knockouts Champion, was put in the four way title match at AAA's biggest event in her debut match.

What a stupid piece of shit. Hopefully she loses all of her bookings.