AEW Dynamite 11/30/2022

AEW Dynamite 11/30/2022

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2022/11/aew-dynamite-11232022.html

Jon Moxley came out to talk. He said there are three certainties - death, taxes and Jon Moxley. He said there is no one who can outfight or outbleed him. He said the AEW ring belongs to him. Adam Page then came out. Mox asked him if he was sure he wanted to do this and said he didn't remember last time. Page then hit him and they brawled outside. Security came out and stopped it then Mox fell off the ramp accidentally as they fought. This was a nice little segment.

Bryan Danielson vs Dax Harwood

They mat wrestle early and Bryan hits an upkick while Dax tries to sharpshooter him. Dax then hits a hard head stomp while Bryan is down. Bryan hits chops and kicks in the corner and Dax 2nd rope twisting crossbodies him. Dax goes over the top and then is toped into the front row. We go to PiP break and Dax suplexes Bryan in the aisle way in the crowd. Dax hits triple germans as return from break.

Dax hits a stiff piledriver for 2 then misses a top rope headbutt. Bryan knees him off the apron and hits chops outside. They sit up top and Bryan hits elbows then tries for a top rope backdrop but is reversed. Bryan hits headbutts then takes short arm lariats. Bryan hits lariats and they lariat each other. They hit more lariats then do it at the same time again. Dax gets his slingshot powerbomb turned into a hurricanrana. Bryan flips out of a release german then takes a slingshot ligerbomb for 2. They trade pin attempts then Bryan taps him out with the Lebell lock.

They tried for a classic here and I didn't really see it. It was a cold match without much of a story going in or consequences going out. They were stiff and did try a serious match though and it was okay.

Ricky Starks is interviewed. They mention the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale which is next week and Starks says he will be in it. Starks says he will win it.

We go to the back and Page fights with Mox on his way out of the building. Mox goes into the roll-up door and security breaks it up again.

The JAS, Claudio and Yuta are interviewed. Menard says Claudio could be a yodeler. CC says he will silence doubters against Jericho and then Hager says he loves his hat. Hager throws CC a hat and says he is a sports entertainer too. CC says he is sick of all of this then speaks in German. The JAS challenge Yuta and Yuta says he is tired and done with the JAS. Yuta agrees to a match with him and CC against the JAS and tells Garcia to put the Pure Title on the line against him at Final Battle.

AEW TNT Title - Samoa Joe (c) vs AR Fox

Fox was signed after the trios match a few weeks ago, because AEW signs everyone. He will get this match and maybe one more before becoming a permanent Dark fixture.

Joe hits a flurry of punches in the corner. Joe goes out and Fox flips over the top then just rolls through on the landing. Fox pump kicks Joe. Joe does a nice leg sweep and sentons him. We go to break and return then Joe sideslams him. Fox hits a short cutter then a 450. Joe takes back control and hits a stiff pounce then a muscle buster. Joe then gets the win.

Fox got some show off spots here but it was pretty clear he had no shot here. It was mostly just an extended squash.

Joe gets on the mic after and welcomes us to a new and glorious era. He says he is the one true kind of television. Wardlow gets on the tron and says he's coming for what's his. He says this is Wardlow's World.

We get a clip of Powerhouse Hobbs walking the streets. We see him walking by a dice game and said he will let all of us feel the pain, the hurt and the happiness.

We see Tazz narrating clips of Hook choking out Lee Moriarty.

William Regal brings out MJF to talk in the ring. He said Regal sent MJF an email after The Firm attacked him. Regal said MJF has grown weak in it and says MJF can become the greatest villain of all time. He says he has much to learn and he's willing to help him get the title. He says MJF needs to grab the brass ring, not the Dynamite ring. MJF said they met behind closed doors many times after this.

MJF said he kind of respects The Firm. He said they saw him as weak and pounced on it. He said the AEW title needs an upgrade as it is tacky and reminds him of the former title holders, who aren't on his level. He says this version of the title is garbage then throws it out of the ring. Regal unveils a new title with his brown scarf colors on the leather. He calls it the Triple B - Big Burbury Belt.

MJF then says Eddie Kingston will never be champ. He calls Ricky Starks a fake tough guy and a fake star. He calls Bryan Danielson a fake wrestler and says he couldn't wrestle his way out of a paper bag. MJF says some people can't be helped and says he will be champ for a long time - until the bidding war of 2024. He says he will use his title to get a big contract. He mentions Nick Khan and Triple H.

He rips the fans who cheer him and says he will defend the title rarely and wrestle rarely. He says he is a special attraction. He then makes a real off color and nasty line about Bruno Sammartino. He grabs Regal's brass knucks then hits him in the back of the head with it, knocking him out. MJF then quoted some line from a letter Regal wrote to him that we never saw about WWE signing only top class talents. There was some good stuff here, but also a lot of the usual MJF stuff and I found the Bruno line very offensive. The segment also went on too long. The Regal thing made sense in some ways, but also not others as it is dumb to have Regal get turned on after turning on Moxley. They also didn't really explain the turn on Mox or what's happening with the BCC.

Bryan Danielson then came out to check on Regal. Regal is then put in a neck brace and stretchered off. Regal is then put in an ambulance.

Ricky Starks vs Ari Daivari

Stokeley Hathaway, Matt Hardy and Ethan Page then come out. Stokeley talks on the mic and Hardy does his delete taunt. Stokeley says they are trying to highlight Page and tell him to go to the back. Page tells Hardy that he will help him win the Dynamite Battle Royale. Page says he will win it next week then beat MJF and win the title too.

Ari blindsides Starks then takes a spear. Starks then hits the roshambo and wins in seconds.

Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter and Rebel are interviewed. Britt and Jamie tell Tony that they want a sit down interview with him next week and tell Saray to stay home.

Anna Jay vs Willow Nightingale

Anna evades Willow early then is shouldered over. willow hits short arm lariats then is backdropped. Willow crossbodies her low for 2. Willow hits hip attacks in the corner then takes a spin kick to the back. Anna blockbusters her off the 2nd rope and we go to PiP break.

We return with Willow hitting forearms. They trade forearms and Willow hits some corner attacks. Willow spinebusters her. Anna hits a hook kick then does a gori special for 2. Anna jumps on her back for a sleeper and Willow drops back. Tay gets on the apron and is knocked off then Anna rolls up Willow for 2. Willow spinning lariats her and hits a doctor bomb for the win.

Willow winning here was an upset. It wasn't anything too special as a match and was okay enough.

Ruby Soho then returns and comes out after. She pops up behind Tay Melo then takes her down and pounds on her. She knocks Anna off the apron Ruby headbutts her on the ramp then hits a bladerunner on the ramp.

We see clips of the House of Black beating up Best Friends and security.

QT Marshall and Orange Cassidy are interviewed. QT says he wants a shot at OC's All-Atlantic title. OC immediately says yes then QT asks for a lumberjack match. OC then says OK again and QT seems bothered by it.

They have a celebration for Jade Cargill. She comes out in a bikini with money designs on it. She said she made The Baddies and says she decides who goes. Jade said she is mad that her Baddies were hanging out with the member they kicked out. Jade says they need to get in line or step. Jade says they and the company are eating off of her. Jade said she puts butts in seats. She rips Bow Wow then Bow Wow appears on the tron. Bow Wow says he is about money and says he will see her real soon.

The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn do a promo. They say they have no match on Dynamite because no one wants to fight them. They say they give a title shot to the best tag team in AEW, then Billy tells them how can that be since they are the best? They then says they will give a title shot to the 2nd best tag team though they never say who that is.

 

AEW Trios Title - Best of 7 Series, Match 3 - Death Triangle vs The Elite

Death Triangle are attacked on the ramp. Penta takes a back body drop on the ramp and Fenix is hurricanrana'd on it. Pac has a protective mask on and is rammed into the entrance tunnel. Pac is then held and Kenny runs the ramp at him but is cuttered. Fenix and Penta then roll on the ramp and hit cutters.

We go to PiP break and return. The match still hasn't officially started yet and there was a moonsault and a dive off the ramp during the break. The match finally starts then Pac and Fenix are powerbombed on the apron. Penta beats up on The Elite and Matt accidentally dropkicks the ref through the ropes. Penta gets a hammer and tope conhilos the Elite.

Fenix takes Penta's hammer then Penta takes it back and shoves him. Fenix grabs his arm and takes a v-trigger then Penta takes a double superkick. Penta takes a snap dragon suplex, a powerbomb and a v-trigger for 2. The Elite all take superkicks then we get a triple dive off the post. Penta package piledrivers Kenny for 2. We get a bunch of superkicks then Matt double northern lights suplexes the Lucha Bros.

Pac and Kenny fight up top then Pac top rope falcon arrows him for 2. We go to another PiP break and return. Pac takes a jumping knee then hits a rebound german then is lariated. Fenix takes a usperkick then a corkscrew kick. Nick cutters Fenix out of the wheelbarrow position. Fenix goes for a double crossbody but is caught then he the more bang for your buck sequence. The bucks take superkicks and Fenix cutters Omega. Matt takes a double stomp + package piledriver combo then Fenix and Penta do dives to the outside on The Elite. Pac hits a brainbuster on a Buck and Matt gets his knees up on Pac's black arrow corkscrew SSP. Pac then is pinned off of it.

It was the match you would expect with these guys and I wasn't a big fan of it. Just lots of flips, big moves and kickouts with the added addition of ramp dives during the PiP break.

Kenny gets on the mic after. He says there would never be a sweep with him around and says goodbye and goodnight to everyone.

Overall thoughts: Just not my kind of show. The card didn't look too good and it was a pretty cold card without a lot of storylines or programs being featured. This show was mostly all wrestling with little happening storyline wise.

AEW Rampage 11/25/2022

AEW Rampage 11/25/2022

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2022/11/aew-rampage-11182022.html

This took place at 4PM on Black Friday.

ROH Tag Titles - FTR vs Top Flight

 

Darius has a big bald spot and armdrags Dax. No entrances for either team here. Dax slams Darius then they do a stand off. Darius hits some shoulders then takes a double headbutt. Darius armdrags Cash and Cash shoulders him over. Cash is double leapfrogged then is legswept into a ddt.

Darius and Dax trade chops and Dante top rope meteora's Dax. FTR take double hurricanrana's and FTr walk away from a Dante dive. We go to PiP break and return. Dante hits a springboard dropkick on both FTR members then TF hits dropkicks on FTR. FTR is lariated over the top and Darius tops them. Dante the springboards but flips and lands on Cash outside. Dante top rope crossbodies Dax for 2.

Dax fights TF 1v2 then Dante takes a slingshot powerbomb into a top rope splash by Cash. Darius flips on a Dax lariat. Dante tries to pin Dax and messes it up then Dante top rope splashes Dax for 2. Darius standing spanish flies Cash then takes a Dax brainbuster. Dax and Dante roll each other up. Dante misses a flip then takes a big rig for the FTR win.

I didn't like this one. They rushed and just seemed to get confused with the multiple spots they had planned. Dante was sloppy here as well.

The Gunn Club come out after and mock clap and celebrate for them.

We see a video on Powerhouse Hobbs. We see him driving around and he says when you open up the Book of Hobbs, you see a life you want nothing apart of. He said everyone has taken everything that meant something to him and now he is taking everything that means something to you. It's nice to see a little non-wrestling segment on some of the roster members.

The Jericho Appreciation Society come out. Parker says all honor the ocho. Jericho asks if there is any doubt he is the best ROH champ ever. Jericho asks who will be the one to detrhone him then Claudio Castagnoli comes out. CC said he doubted himself because he couldn't be Jericho when it counted. He says he has to beat Jericho for the ROH title. Jericho says he should be more worried about the BCC.

Jericho says he won't give CC a title shot and says there is nothing CC can offer him. Menard interrupts and says CC would make a good addition to the JAS since he used to be a good sports entertainer. Jericho says he will give him a title shot if he agrees to join the JAS upon losing. CC agrees. CC wasn't too good here as a promo and was pretty generic.

Toni Storm is interviewed. They talk about Jamie Hayter becoming champ. Toni said Hayter needed help to win and says she could never do that. Toni said she broke her face losing the title and will break it again to get it back.

Darby Allin vs Anthony Henry

Henry takes him down then Darby does the same. Henry hits some kicks to the back. Darby goes for a sunset flip but it's blocked. Darby bullet topes JD Drake when Henry moves then Darby is stunned over the top rope. Henry spits on him and sto's him on the apron.

We go to PiP break then full break and return. Henry kicks him in the tree of woe position then dropkicks him as he hangs. Henry hanging neckbreakers him for 2. Darby hits a code red for 2. JD throws Darby into the ropes on the outside and lariats him. The ref doesn't see it then Sting lariats JD.

JD is thrown into the rails then Darby takes a top rope superplex. Darby gets out of a suplex and hits a scorpion deathdrop. Darby then does his coffin drop with a bloody mouth and wins it.

It was okay for being a throwaway. The two matches up okay and Henry was fine. 

Athena is interviewed. She said she was suspended and has to give a public apology to Aubrey Edwards. She then dismisses Lexi the interviewed. She then talks about Mercedez Martinez. She wants to know when she will put the ROH Title on the line.

Hikaru Shida vs Queen Aminata

Penelope Ford and The Bunny come down before this starts. Shida is hit on the apron then has her head banged off the buckles. Queen running facekicks her then is rolled up. Shida hits a forearm then a falcon arrow. Shida then does her stupid spinning knee and wins in quick fashion.

We get a split screen promo between Rush, Butcher and Blade vs Reynolds and Silver. 10 is missing and Silver doesn't know why. Reynolds said 10 will be here and said the heels have been annoying him for months. Blade calls him "Slick" and said the three are here to kick @ss. Rush says he's sick of talking and needs to fight.

FTR are interviewed. Dax said it's been a good 2022 and challenges Bryan Danielson.

Rush, The Butcher and The Blade vs Dark Order (John Silver and Alex Reynolds)

 

10 is still missing. The heels beat them up 3v2 to start. Silver is thrown into the rails then Alex running euros and facekicks Blade. Silver gets in and beats up the heels 1v2 then olympic slams Blade. Silver topes Butcher then is caught and forearmed.

We go to PiP break and return. Silver superkicks Butch then hits an Ultimo Dragon stunner on Blade. Uno and -1 found 10 on the stage and bring him in. 10 runs down and goes face to face with Rush. 10 then lariats Silver. Rush hits a dropkick on Silver and gets the win.

Uno is thrown into the steps after and Reynolds takes a spinning lariat. 10 does the same to Uno then Uno has his mask ripped up. Reynolds is thrown through a table off the apron. 10 goes up to -1 on the apron and throws his mask down at him and rips it off. 10 and his new friends then pose behind -1. Jose mocks -1. Rush then talks in spanish.

This was quick and was pretty much all angle. I never liked The Dark Order and I'm happy that it's done. I never got why they put 10 under a mask and as far as I'm concerned, they wasted 3 years of that guys career. I don't think this is the right group for 10 though and I'd certainly not want to be in it if it was me.

Overall thoughts: Nothing really special or worth seeing here. The only real noteworthy thing was 10's turn.

Height differences in women's wrestlers

Height differences in women's wrestlers

I made a brief post about this and wanted to talk about it here. There was a match on NXT 11/29 between Roxanne Perez and Indi Hartwell. It wasn't good and they had issues because of the height differences. If you're a male, you are probably thinking, "they are both girls and are both smaller than me and neither is that tall" and because of that, you wouldn't really think the match has to be booked too differently.

But if you look into it, Perez is said to be around 5'1 and Indi is pushed as 5'10. I doubt they are lying about Indi's height, but even if they are, that's a large difference. The difference between the two is the difference between a Jungle Boy and a Luchasaurus. No one would ever really book them to have a normal even match because it's not really believable nor would it be too good because Lucha is too big.

I think this happens a lot with the women, but it isn't really talked about. And I think it's why a lot of the women's matches are such messes. It's hard to do your usual routine when your opponent is so much bigger. Yet, because people like Indi aren't pushed as giants, they aren't booked that way either in the match by the agents. So girls like Perez have to work the same way with Indi like they would an Alexa Bliss, who is the same size as them. And of course, the match ends up being bad because of it.

I don't really see this changing anytime soon. It would require basically re-thinking women's wrestling and I honestly don't even think some of the people involved in these matches are realizing what's going on.

WWE NXT 11/29/2022

WWE NXT 11/29/2022

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2022/11/wwe-nxt-11222022.html 

Roxanne Perez vs Indi Hartwell

Indi slaps away her hand early then Perez headflips out of her wristlock. Perez does a satellite headscissors then gets stuck on the top. Indi airplane spins her and hits snakeyes. Indi misses an elbow then Perez rolls her into a pin attempt. Perez gets on her back for a sleeper and is brought in throat first to the top rope. Perez is then pushed off the top while seated and rolls to the floor.

Indi slams her and elbow drops her. Perez is put through the ropes and takes a running facekick to the side. Indi slams her and rolls her up then takes a chinbreaker. Indi lariats her and hits short arm clotheslines. Indi sideslams her for 2. Perez hits some hard forearms and running euros her. Perez hits running sledgehammer shots then Indi backdrops her. Indi is thrown out then tope'd. Perez tries to top rope crossbody her but is caught. Indi facekicks her and takes an upkick. Perez hits a code red and wins it.

This went on way too long, had multiple sloppy moments and just wasn't good.

We see the panel for the Iron Survivor match.

Andre Chase is in the back then the rest of Chase U walks in. Duke said he booted him in the face last week and tries to explain it. Duke said he got a list of signatures from the Chase U students to try and get a petition for Chase to be in the Iron Survivor match. Grayson Waller walks in. He says Duke is just playing Chase and says Chase will never be a champ. Thea then goes to attack him and has to be held back. Chase wants to beat up GW but Duke says he will take care of it. 

Dijak vs Dante Chen

Dijak clubs him over the chest and pushes him over the top to the floor. Dijak is pushed into the apron and hits a big chokeslam on the inside. Dijak hits mounted punches and clubs then slams him off the suplex. Chen running facekicks him on the side of the face. His lip is busted open then he takes a facekick. Dijak puts him in a chicken-wing variation then does a GTH for the win.

Dijak's new look is cool, but it wasn't the most impressive squash ever. Just wasn't clean enough, short enough and it didn't have anything super impressive about it. It wasn't awful, just not a smash hit at all.

Dijak gets on the mic after. He says that's an example of hard justice. He says look into his eyes and you will only see the infliction of suffering. He says he didn't come here to re-invent himself. He came to destroy a soft society and anyone who gets in his way. He names some names and says they are nameless, faceless men who will be brought to justice.

JD McDonagh is at the Diamond Mine Dojo with Tatum Paxley and Ivy Nile. He said the Creed's bit off more than they can chew with Veer and Sanga. The Creed's walk in and JD tells him it's silly they are taking them on. Julius says they aren't backing down and Brutus says they will win the fight fair. JD says there is no fair fight with them and it's a matter of bone density. He talks about the math behind breaking a skull and says Veer and Sanga have double the amount to do that. JD says he thinks it is impossible and Julius tells him to get out. I kind of liked this and this was the best use of JD's character so far.

 

We get a discussion on the Iron Survivor Challenge with Alunda Blayze, Molly Holly, X-Pac, Road Dogg and Shawn Michaels. They talk about how young the talent is and how they have improved. Road Dogg puts over Carmelo Hayes and they say he looks like a star that passes the airport test. X-Pac calls him a heat magnet.

Alundra puts over Tony D'Angelo, but Shawn says Tony is injured. Pac says JD McDonagh can go, but is small. Molly said JD has had banger after banger. Molly brings up Joe Gacy. Dogg mentions Von Wagner and Pac says he is jealous about big guys. Dogg and Pac talk about Axiom but they say he can't be cleared. Molly says Von has improved and Alundra says he hasn't won a big match yet. Dogg mentions Grayson Waller. Pac says he's not popular, but he can win it. They then have everyone write names down for the match.

Duke Hudson vs Grayson Waller

GW taunts him early then is shouldered over. Duke then does dips to mock GW while he has him in a side headlock.  They pull each other by the hair then GW hits punches. Duke running lariats him and jumping side slams him for 2. Duke goes to hold the ropes on a pin attempt and Chase yells at him not to cheat. Duke then is nailed from behind.

GW puts on Duke's headband then hits knees from the cravate position. GW misses his 2nd rope elbow and Duke makes his comeback. He does a big belly to belly then does a punch and elbow combo. GW rolls out of the ring and Duke nearly facekicks Thea outside. Duke talks to Chase outside then Waller does his roll into a cutter to win it. GW tells Chase he was right about Duke after.

Waller was good as usual here and it's still hard to determine whether Duke is intentionally trying to do corny babyface offense or if he is just that bad at it.

Javier Bernal is interviewed. He asks Mckenzie to put their issues in the past since it is the holidays. He said tonight is Big Body Tuesday and says he has merch to sell ala Black Friday and Cyber Monday. He has a Big Body Baseball Bat, a Big Body Pillow with his face on it and says he has Big Body Cologne as well. Mckenzie says it smells like rotten eggs. A little silly, but I liked the segment. Bernal is really looking like he could be a player in the future.

Axiom comes in. He said he heard Javi wanted to fight him. Javi said he doesn't think he is cleared but Axiom says he is. Axiom challenges him for tonight.

Kiana James vs Fallon Henley

KJ face shoves her then Fallon shoulders her over. We go to PiP break soon after. We return and Fallon drops her on her butt then does kick to the back of the head. Fallon gets her arm dropped over the middle rope then KJ bangs Fallon's arm off the ropes. Fallon's arm is thrown into the buckle then is wrapped around the rope. KJ slams her and bangs her arm off the mat.

KJ slams her down and ties up both arms. Fallon hits some punches then does a swinging facebuster. Fallon hits a lariat and more shots then takes a boot to the gut. Fallon hits a short arm lariat then slides out and punches her. Fallon is thrown shoulder first into the post then KJ wins it with her spinning flatliner.

I thought they did a good job working the arm but the match went on too long, which hurt it.

Odyssey, Blade and Enofe are in the back. Blade is clutching his ripped vest and says it was his dad's. He says he has anger in him and Enofe tells him to use the aggression on him. Enofe tells him to get in the Mailk the Freak mode and Malik says he wants to handle this himself. 

We got more discussion on which women should go into the the multi-person match at Deadline. They put over Perez for her skill at her age. Dogg puts over Zoey Stark and Pac says she is ready for the main roster.. They said Indi is missing something. Road Dogg says Kiana James has "it". Pac puts over Cora Jade and Alundra talks about Cora throwing her title in the trash and asked who does that, despite her doing it. Dogg says Fallon Henley is his darkhorse.

Cora Jade makes fun of Wendy Choo on tiktok.

Kayden Carter, Katana Chance and Nikkita Lyons vs Toxic Attraction

Zoey Stark jumps Nikkita on her entrance and Nikkita holds her knee. T-A makes fun of her and I guess the match is cancelled.

We cut to an Aoife Valkyrie/Lyra Valkyria video. She's running around in the forest near the water. She says as her old feathers fall to the ground, new ones come back.

Elektra Lopez is interviewed. She said attacking Indi was the biggest impact and lowest amount of risk. She said it's trendy to like Indi, but she sets trends and doesn't follow them. She says Indi can bet on herself, but don't bet against Lopez or you will go broke.

Javier Bernal vs Axiom

Ax side headlocks JB then JB armdrags him from the second rope and dropkicks him. JB rolls out and back in as we go to break. We come back, and I missed a minute, but JB is working the knee. JB slams him then triangles him. JB lifts him up out of it and powerbombs him. JB figure fours him and Ax reverses it. Ax dropkicks him then springboard lariats him. JB ddt's him for 2.

Ax hits a 2nd rope butterfly suplex then a jumping spin kick for the win.

Nothing wrong with this, but it was short and nothing too special. JB worked the knee for a bit before Ax made his comeback and won.

Nikkita is getting worked on in the back and says she is fine. The doc clears her to wrestle.

Pretty Deadly are interviewed. They said there hasn't been enough Pretty Deadly talk and said too many people are talking about the World Cup over them. They say they will tell people a christmas story next week.

We go to the diner with Apollo Crews. He says his vision is clear then Bron breakker walks in. Bron asks what's good here and Apollo says the breakfast of future chamions. Bron said he doesn't see that on the menu. Bron said he believed him when he said they'd meet down the line. Bron says he goes to the gym at 6:15 and Apollo says he goes there before anyone else. Bron says he puts the most pressure on himself and Apollo says that will change in 2 weeks. They agree that something has to give at Deadline. Bron comments on Apollo's journal and asks if there has veer been a time when his vision didn't come true. Apollo says no, and Bron says there's a first time for everything.

JD McDonagh vs Julius Creed

They matwrestle to start and JD side headlock takedowns him. Creed backdrops him and JD holds on with the headlock. Creed just backflips him out of the hold then throws him across the ring. Creed lariats him over the top then JD pulls him out and chops him. JD runs for it and dropkicks him off the apron as he is kneeling on it.

We go to PiP break and return with JD putting himin a bodyscissors. Veer and Sanga come out to watch. Creed mounts a comeback with punches, lariats and a neat powerslam. Creed has him up for a suplex, Jd tries to hit kneees and then Creed goes down and comes back up to suplex him. Creed does his takedown with the cartwheel move then lariats him hard on the floor. Creed hits a great belly to belly and ends up going over the top to the floor. JD kicks him from the apron and Creed goes for a german off the apron but JD holds on. JD asai moonsaults him outside. JD tries to bend Creed's knee.

JD tries to chair Creed against the post but Sanga runs in the way and gets chaired. The ref DQ's JD for hitting Sanga, who wasn't even in the match, in a nonsensical and stupid finish.

Veer and Sanga go up to the Creed's and say they want them at nothing than less than 100%.

Alba Fyre talks about Isla Dawn. She says Isla keeping her from delivering her promises will lead to her demise. Alba says Isla wants fun, but this will be anything but fun.

Dijak leaves the building. Stacks goes up to him and says Tony D wants a word with him. Tony says thanks for softening up Wes Lee. Dijak says he didn't do it for him.  Tony said Dijak used to be a big deal around here and says he will be in the ring next week. Tony says he will see to it that Wes' days as North American champ are numbered. Tony asks if we have an understanding and Dijak says, "something like that". I'm glad he does, because I don't. Are they going to be in a tag match against Wes or something?

Von Wagner vs Malik Blade

Blade rushes in the ring and hits punches. Blade hits corner punches and is slammed. Von misses a knee drop then Blade lariats and dropkicks him. Blade bangs Von's head off the announcer's table then Von hits a jumping knee. Blade escapes out of a powerbomb but slips and does a header. Von clearly misses a kick but Blade sells it anyway. Blade slams him and goes for a frogsplash but lands on Von's knees. Von then hits his F-U and wins it.

Blade was just really off here especially after the header and this ended up not being good.

Von gorilla presses Blade then Enofe comes in to stop it. Odyssey Jones then comes in and hits punches then body blocks Von. Von is lariated over the top but lands on his feet. Odyssey then wants more of Von.

The Iron Survivor Challenge participants are announced. We have Carmelo, JD, Waller, Gacy and then someone else next week who wins the wildcard match. Zoey, Cora, Perez, Kiana and a wildcard winner make up the women's match.

It will be Chase vs Von vs Axiom and Wendy vs Fallon vs Indi in the wildcard matches for the Iron Survivor Challenges next week. 

 

Toxic Attraction vs Kayden Carter, Katana Chance and Nikkita Lyons

Jacy pounds on Chance early and sentons her. Chance dropkicks her and all 6 girls fight at the same time. T-A is all knocked out of the ring. Carter and Chance dive on their opponents outside. Jacy drops Chance with a forearm then Chance chinbreakers Mandy. Mandy is tripped into an indian deathlock and a baseball slide. Carter superkicks her in the face then takes a double knee from Jacy and Gigi off a blindside.

Gigi and Carter fight then Carter is beat up by all of T-A. Mandy spinebusters Carter. Chance gets the hot tag in and beats up Gigi then corner lariats her. Chance 2nd rope crossbodies her but is caught with a backbreaker. Gigi step up enzugiri's Lyons then takes a superkick from Carter. Gigi STO's Chance for 2 then Chance is flipped by Carter onto Gigi.

Chance is pulled off the top by Gigi then Mandy Chance out of the backdrop. Lyons gets the tag in and beats up everyone. She does a nice snap suplex on Jacy and jumping splits on her. Carter is sent into the steps then Chance jumps off the steps onto gigi. Mandy pump knees Chance the Nikkita germans Jacy. Nikkita tries for a spin kick but her knee gives out then she takes a forearm from Jacy. Nikkita takes a high/low double team kick and T-A wins it.

This was a decent main event. It was fast paced and I didn't really have any issues with. It's not something I think I'll remember, but they did a decent job here. Zoey Stark is seen on the riser after gesturing at Nikkita.

Overall thoughts: I wasn't a big fan of this show. The matches weren't good and went too long.

WWE NXT Level Up 11/25/2022

WWE NXT Level Up 11/25/2022

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2022/11/wwe-nxt-level-up-11182022.html

Xyon Quinn vs Tank Ledger

Tank has the worst tron ever. It's just his name in some goofy comic sans font. I think Tank has new gear here with caution signs and tape. He has one full pant leg and shorts on the other.

Tank armthrows Xyon and they do a test of strength. Tank is shouldered over and blocks a hiptoss to hit one of his own. Xyon flurries on him in the corner and pulls on his mouth on the ropes. Xyon backdrops him then pounds on him. Xyon chinlocks him then hits a nice lariat.

Tank picks him up and drives him hard into the buckles, knocking him down then runs him over with a lariat. Tank hits a fallaway slam and splashes him. I'm pretty sure we heard them call a spot then Xyon death valley drivers him. Xyon does a flying forearm and wins it.

Nothing wrong with this. It wasn't long and they kept it action packed. I liked Xyon's flurry in the corner and they were a little stiff. Tank Ledger is seriously the real deal. This guy is in his 3rd or 4th match on TV and he looks like a guy who has been at this for years. 

Amari Miller is interviewed. She said Elektra Lopez has been gone but is back with a vengeance. she said she's not the only woman with an attitude. She said she can get serious too and said she needs to go through women like her to get to the top.

Elektra Lopez vs Amari Miller

I have zero faith in this one. Amari got bubbles for her entrance and Lopez's entrance has an elevator with an elevator arrival sound effect.

Lopez full nelsons her then cravates her. Amari has her arm and brings her down by pushing it into her. Amari goes to slingshot but is swept. She lands on the apron then is hammered on. Lopez slams and elbows her for 2. Lopez puts her in a chin and arm hold thgen grabs her nose.

Amari makes her comeback and takes hard chest forearms. Amari spin kicks her in the corner and knees her there. Amari walks up the buckles and moonsauls but Lopez gets her feet up. Lopez hits a sick looking sky high and wins it.

As expected, this wasn't anything too special. Lopez wasn't bad being a bit more aggressive, but whatever they see in her, I'm not really seeing it. This had some of the usual divas flailing around.

Dante Chen vs Damon Kemp

Kemp has a new singlet that kind of looks like a Transformers design.

Kemp takes him down and shoulders him over. Kemp takes him down and paintbrushes him. Chen works the arm then goes up and over and paintbrushes him. Chen hits armdrags then takes a stun gun and abrunning euro. Kemp stomps him in the corner and hits a big belly to belly. Kemp stretches him over the post then hits a neckbreaker.

Kemp mounts and forearms Chen then misses a 2nd attempt at the neckbreaker on the side rope. Chen hits punches then atomic drops him into a side pump kick. Chen springboards and takes a release german hard on his head. Kemp gives him a stiff uranage and wins it.

This went about 6 minutes and was solid. Kemp was pretty stiff with him and did some new moves here. As far as in-ring goes, there's nothing wrong with these two and I didn't expect any issues. The talking and personality skills are what these two are missing though and they aren't really getting a ton of time to work on it.

Overall thoughts: This didn't look like a great one on paper and it wasn't. There isn't anything worth going to check out here though it wasn't an awful show.

AEW Dynamite 11/23/2022

AEW Dynamite 11/23/2022

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2022/11/aew-dynamite-11162022.html

William Regal came out and said we wouldn't hear from MJF until next week. He said he talked to him via email and that would explain how and why he turned on the Blackpool Combat Club.

Mox came out. American Dragon then came out to stop him from beating up Regal. Bryan said Regal did a bad thing but we all have done bad things. He asked him not to hurt Regal. Bryan slapped Mox then said he was able to understand his dad's struggles and love him because of Regal. Mox said he wanted one thing from Regal - for him to run far away and never come back. He told him to walk and keep on walking then Regal left.  I didn't like this segment at all. Bryan saving Regal didn't make much sense and MJF really should have been out here.

Renee tries to interview Keith Lee. He was asked where him and Swerve stand. Swerve then came in. Lee took off his jacket, Swerve blocked the camera and said let's talk. Then we cut away.

AEW All-Atlantic Title - Orange Cassidy vs Jake Hager

OC did his usual stupid pockets stuff to start and then was run over. OC knocked off Hager's purple hat then Hager went over the top. OC grabbed the hat then 2.0 tried to take it and Garcia ended up grabbing it. Rocky Romero pulled Garcia off the apron. OC went to tope Hager but was rammed into the post and dropped on the apron.

We went to PiP break and returned. Hager's in control and OC is thrown over the top but hangs on. OC falls off the apron but his friends catch him then Hager runs over the Best Friends. OC topes Hayter then the JAS take a corkscrew moonsault from OC outside. OC jumps off the top on Hager but is caught and hits a cutter out of it. OC then tornado ddt's him.

OC takes a uranage off a failed orange punch. OC knocks off Hager's hat and Hager breaks the hold to go get it. OC then rolls up Hager and wins it.

This was stupid with the usual OC shenanigans and Hager joining in with his own hat shenanigans.

The Factory comes out and QT talks about Orange Cassidy. The lights go out and we hear strange music. Julia Hart and The House of Black then appear and beat up The Best Friends. The HoB then clears out The Factory too. Security and jobbers then get beat up trying to stop it. a security guy then takes a fire thunder driver on the ramp. Malakai Black then asks the HoB members to please rise.

Jungle Boy talked about the cage match with Luchasaurus. He said he hurt him but it was worth it for all that came out. He said he got to share a moment with Lucha that people won't forget and he's glad he go to share it with him.

AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Final - Ethan Page vs Ricky Starks

Stokeley Hathaway did Page's intro. Page said Starks will be crying after he beats him and said the crowd can join him like the losers they are.

Starks is all taped up here. Page hits him in the ribs and poses on the buckles. Page does jumping jacks and then stomps on Starks' injured ribs. Starks spears Page then Page drives Starks' ribs into the rails.

We go to PiP break and return. Starks starts to make his comeback and trades shots with Page. Starks goes for a tornado ddt on the ropes but is hung on the ropes instead. Starks tries to tope Page but Stokeley pulls Page out of the way and Starks goes down. Stokeley is kicked out. They fight up top and Starks superplexes him. Starks swinging neckbreakers him and tornado ddt's him for 2. Page powerslams him for 2. Page hits a superkick and is speared. Starks hits another spear and wins it.

This one dragged. It started off okay with the injured body part work, but then they just let it go and Starks ended up winning as expected.

Wardlow talked about no longer being TNT champ. He complained about Joe hitting him in the back of the head. He said Joe is no TNT champ and this is Wardlow's World.

We see clips of Jade Cargill confronting rapper Bow Wow, who is no longer little or 12. Jade and The Baddies are interviewed. Jade said she won't give Bow Wow any more clout. She said they would have a Baddies Celebration next week. She then had Mark Sterling come out and he said there was no comment. Mark hasn't been with her in months. Mark asked Kiera Hogan to sign a contract and the contract was saying that Kiera didn't live up to her Baddies standards is now released from her Baddies contract. This was stupid and Sterling returned out of nowhere.

Best of 7 Series - Match 2 - Death Triangle vs The Elite

Pac is wearing a face covering as he injured his nose/face.

Kenny jumping knees Fenix then Death Triangle take 3v1's.  Penta is powerbombed on the apron and Fenix takes a sky high from Omega. Fenix sling blades a Buck on the floor then takes a hurricanrana from the apron. Kenny goes for a dive but takes a hard cutter from Fenix then Fenix tornillo's off the top to the outside on people.

Omega takes a triple dropkick then Omega is rolled on by Fenix and standing moonsaulted by Pac at the same time. A buck moonsaults off the top onto Fenix and Penta. We went to PiP break and during it one of the Bucks mocked Punk's failed buckshot lariat. We returned and Omega is biting Pac's arm for some reason.

Omega takes a rebound lariat and Penta crossbodies both Bucks. Penta is rolled into a tornado ddt on a Buck then hits triple tilt-a-whirl backbreakers. Fenix top rope dives into a narmdrag on a Buck then does a walk up the ropes springboard into a hurricanrana while holding the other Bucks' hand. Fenix then superkicks a Buck.

Pac takes a snap dragon from Omega then is triple superkicked. Nick Jackson runs up the buckles and does a corkscrew dive off the top then Omega v-triggers Pac on the ropes. Omega hits a GTS (Punk's move) on Pac. Fenix tope con hilos Omega and a buck and Pac takes a low blow.  Matt gets a hammer then Penta gets his own hammer and hits him with it. Pac then win it.

This was as you would expect only with hammers and them doing CM Punk moves to further prove that situation was at least somewhat worked. It had lots of flying and big moves as usual without much thought or story put into it.

Renee is on the ramp and says Thunder Rosa has been asked to reliquinish her title to a pop from the crowd. Jamie Hayter is now upgraded to full-time champ from Interim champ. It makes sense but it's pretty anti-climactic.

Jamie Hayter, Rebel and Britt Baker are interviewed on the ramp. Birtt says they were never considering the word interim champion.

Tay Melo and Anna Jay vs Skye Blue and Willow Nightingale vs Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker

Jamie headlocks Tay over early then Jaymie double suplexes Tay and Jay. Britt slingblades Tay for 2. Britt is double suplexed and then Willow double splashes Tay and Jay in the corner. Willow lifts up Skye and drops her on Jay then Willow is thrown out. Tay whips Willow into the post adn we go to PiP break.

We return and Skye hits a step up knee on the ropes on Jay then Skye swing kicks Jay from the mat. Willow death valley drivers Britt and everyone starts getting a move in. Tay and Skye high kick each other at the same time then hits a code red from the side on Tay. Skye then takes a backbreaker and gets a Britt curbstomp. Britt and Hayter win it.

This was really too short for the amount of people involved and there wasn't a whole lot to it.

Top Flight and FTR are interviewed. Dax said Top Flight has always impressed him and tells them to take over tag team wrestling. Top Flight says they are impressed with FTR and want a dream match with them for the ROH tag titles on Rampage. FTR agrees.

The Acclaimed come out. Dutt, Singh and Lethal interrupt them as does Jeff Jarrett. They said they need to keep their names out of their mouth and Jeff says he will give Max something to rap about. He tells them to watch their back. The Acclaimed then do their usual goofing around to end the segment.

ROH Title - Chris Jericho vs Tomohiro Ishii

What did Ishii do to earn this? Who knows.

They slap each other early. Jericho rolls out and they trade forearms. Ishii shoulders him over. They trade more slaps and then trade chops. We go to PiP break and return. Jericho got his chest bloody from the chops during the breka and I'm pretty sure he bladed it to get even more blood. They trade more chops and Jericho goes down.

Ishii shoulders over Jericho then Jericho hits a bunch of lariats in the corner. Jericho hits corner punches and is powerbombed for 2. Ishii hits a lariat then takes a running cross chop. They fight on the apron and Ishii takes a nasty ddt on the apron, then he rolls to the floor.

They hit forearms on each other outside and Ishii germans him. Jericho then germans him and Jericho hits a lionsault. Jericho codebreakers him. Ishii blocks a judas effect and running headbutts him to the chest/shoulder. Ishii hits a sliding lariat for 2 then hits his own one legged codebreaker. Ishii lariats him for 2 then Jericho boston crabs him to win it.

The blood on the chest was really nice but I thought that was about all that was really special here. The first part of this was honestly boring. I think AEW would have been better off having basically any roster member in here over Ishii.

Jericho gets on the ramp and tries to go after Ian Riccaboni then Claudio comes up from behind Jericho and drops him with a slap.

Overall thoughts: It was a wrestling heavy show as usual. I wasn't too interested in this one but at least they did try to make some things happen here and build a few programs.

WWE NXT 11/22/2022

WWE NXT 11/22/2022

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2022/11/wwe-nxt-11152022.html

Toxic Attraction came out to start. Mandy said another one bites the dust, referring to Alba Fyre. She said she won all by herself and said the Iron Survivor Challenge was created just to figure out who her next opponent is. Jacy said Mandy can sit on the throne and wait for her next victim, then Jacy and Gigi talked about wanting to become tag champs again.

Kayden and Katana Chance came out after they were mentioned. Katana said Mandy is phone and is only champ because of Isla Dawn. They argued and T-A said Kayden and Katana would be irrelevant like they were before when they lose the tag titles. T-A then brawled with them and left them laying.

We saw Wes Lee arriving earlier. Tony D talked trash at him from the car and said he hadn't forgotten what he had done and good luck. Wes said when he's finished with Melo, Tony knows where to find him.

Cora Jade from talked from the back. She said if you never go too far, you will never go far in life.

Duke Hudson is in the back and Grayson Waller comes up to him. GW said everyone knows this isn't him and he's faking his Chase U love. GW made a comment about him showing his true colors and Duke said his true colors are black and red.

Cora Jade vs Wendy Choo

Wendy slaps her to start and grabs a side headlock. Wendy shoulders her over then grabs her arm and swings her around and drops her down. Wendy hiptosses her and Cora running forearms the back of her neck against the ropes. Wendy running kicks her in the corner and misses her sleeping elbow drop. They fight outside and Cora takes a japanese armdrag on the floor.

We go to a PiP break and return. Cora misses an elbow on the ropes and takes an overhead belly to belly. Wendy cartwheels into a splash in the corner then does a sleeping crossbody. Wendy hits a stiff brainbuster and Cora grabs her stick. Cora misses a shot and takes a running facekick. Wendy grabs the stick, the ref argues with her then Cora throws Wendy's drink in her face. Cora double arm ddt's her and wins it.

This was not good at all. All of Wendy's offense looked sloppy here and the two just didn't click.

Wendy was crying after and her eyelash was on her face.

We see Apollo Crews walking to a diner. He says it has been 6 months in NXT and he finally gets Bron Breakker. He says his match with Bron is a match he wakes up in the middle of the night thinking about. He says when you look into his eyes - the vision is clear and we see him holding the NXT title.

Kiana James is interviewed. She says Ivy Nile is tough but she doesn't fear her. She said she doesn't count her wins, just her losses, because there are so few. Kiana says the deal for Fallon Henley's bar fell through due to stupidity, and Fallon and crew paid for it with interest last week.

Javier Bernal walks in and says we aren't going anywhere. He said McKenzie deprived us from seeing him last week. He gives her the "Big Body Files" and we see a list of 1,347 names of opponents for Javier Bernal. Elon Musk was #14 on the list and he said it's because he ain't paying $8 for a checkmark. He is asked about how many followers he has and he says he has 2 thousand million. Drake is on the list, and Mckenzie asks if its Drake Maverick, but it's not. #250 is someone who is retired and Mckenzie says he isn't fighting anyone on the list. Javi says if he keeps getting this attitude, he's fighting her next. A fun little segment. Bernal's really coming along and is going places.

Chase U minus Andre Chase are in the back. Pretty Deadly walk in and ask him about a poker game tonight. Duke doesn't play along and says gambling is against university rules. PD asks when he will take off the uniform and go back to being the Duke Hudson they know. They call him a stooge and he brawls with them. Chase U oddly doesn't really get involved. I know the angle here is that Duke is just pretending to support Chase U, but he needed to be convincing here and wasn't at all. The brawling was not good here.

Ivy Nile vs Kiana James

No entrance for either girl here, but Ivy had some music.  They push each other early and Ivy throws her down. KJ goes for the full nelson and is rolled up. KJ hits a lariat to the back of the neck then hits a backbreaker over her shoulder on her for 2. KJ hits another backbreaker then does a calf crusher variation. KJ backdrops her for 2 then Ivy does a nice octopus stretch on her. Ivy gets offense in and does a side suplex. Ivy does her flying kick in the corner and KJ goes out. KJ goes to leave then Fallon Henley comes out. Ivy puts her in her dragon sleeper submission and wins it.

I didn't think this was too bad at all.

Fallon Henley beats up Kiana after then the Creeds and Tatum Paxley come into the ring. Julius says Ivy is underappreciated and says she doesn't jump people like Indus Sher. Julius talks trash and Ivy stops him then Brutus says intimidation doesn't stop them. Brutus says Indus Sher will not get respect from jumping them and Julius says it will be just them in the ring at NXT Deadline. Ivy is still talking to them after and it feels like they are doing some kind of angle with her.

 

We see Isla Dawn talking about Alba Fyre. She said she warned us about her approach and then we see clips of the lights flickering, which I assumed were from Scrypts. She said for any answers Alba seeks, she must listen. She said they will have so much fun together and we see her blowing out a candle and playing with an oujia board.

We go to Chase U and Duke runs in. Chase is talking with someone named Mario. He said he ran here and said he punched someone. He said he punched Pretty Deadly for talking bad on them. Chase asks if he got fined and then Duke said he got them a tag title match tonight. Chase is shocked and excited. Mario is excited too and Chase tells him to get out as they have a tag title match tonight.

Scrypts vs Guru Raaj

Scrypts wears a mask and a black and orange suit. I think it's Reggie. He flips in the ring from a trampoline and does writing hand motions.

Scrpts does some capoeira, then slides between his legs and dropkicks him. He does a dropsault then kips down under Raaj's leapfrog. Scrpts flips out of a lariat then does a corkscrew crossbody. Scrypts pounds on him then does a flip into a la silla from the top and wins it. He leaves a note with his name on Raaj's chest after.

Scrypts' can really do some amazing things, but his look is terrible and I don't know if he will be able to get over that.

The Schism is in the ring for their Thanksgiving message.  Gacy said autumn is the time of year when the trees shed their leaves. They said this is the time of the year for giving thanks and said it is their duty to represent it. Ava Raine says dysfunction remains the norm and says while blood relatives sometimes have isuses, Schism can be counted on. Rip says gluttony has left this holiday a far cry from its intent. Jagger says people are worried more about Thanksgiving deals on Black Friday. Ava brings a person in the crowd in and they say he is someone who celebrates Thanksgiving. They say they wil christen a new holiday and the fan will be the bridge to the old holidays they leave behind. The crowd chants for "sacrifice" and Gacy says to pledge for Schism Invictus.  Gacy says it's too late to join The Schism and they are not inclusive, but now divisive. They thank the fan for his sacrifice and uranage him through the table. The crowd chants for "sacrifice". I guess they are going a new way with this group and we will have to see how it goes. Them going against the inclusive thing didn't really work for me since they spent their whole existence talking about that.

Trick Williams is interviewed. McKenzie said she was expecting Melo as well. Wes Lee walks in as Trick talks about how good Melo is. Wes asks if Melo has this in the bag tonight and Trick says he does. Wes tries to talk Trick out of being at ringside and implies Melo needs Trick out there to win. Trick eventually agrees that Melo doesn't need him and Wes says it seems he agrees that it'll Melo vs Wes 1v1 tonight.

We see Bron Breakker out on the ocean fishing. He says he can be himself out there and likes it because it is quiet. He says being NXT champ takes a toll. He said he can take his weight off here but says at NXT Deadline, the weight comes back on. He says when he wins, you can find him fishing.

Zoey Stark vs Sol Ruca

She made some comments via TikTok. She siad the locker room doesn't need Zoey's negative energy and she will prove that to her in the ring.

Zoey takes her down then Sol does a handstand walk out of a headlock. Sol cartwheels out of a throw then forward flips out of one. Sol then does a nice leapfrog into a dropkick. They trade superkicks and zoey goes out. Sol follows and is stuck in the ring skirt then beaten up. Zoey baseball slides her.

Zoey misses a corner charge and is rolled up then Sol hits flying shoulders. Sol back body drops her and is kicked hwen she goes up top. She does a slingshot sunset flip for 2 then forward flips into a splash. Sol powerslams her for 2. Sol misses a top rope dropkick then takes a sliding knee for the Zoey Stark win.

This was short but action packed and decent. Sol's really quite the prospect and is probably going to be the future of the women's division along with Tiffany Stratton. She's good looking, she has a gimmick and she's really athletic.

Zoey beats her up after then Nikkita Lyons comes out wearing some very skimpy clothing and chases Zoey off.

Edris Enofe and Malik Blade welcome Von to join them for a party with Odyssey Jones in the parking lot. Von says Blade is looking sharp and Von says he got his dancing shoes on. Von says he could use a night out being mediocre for once and says they don't know about success. He says they will never see him with those two losers then he beats them up 1v2. He rips up Blade's vest and Odyssey Jones has to come make the save.

We see Charlie Dempsey working out and ripping some of the new exercise trends. He says he just needs a deck of cards and we see clips of Karl Gotch and Billy Robinson. He said he trains like they trained and said he trains for performance while being surrounded by people who train for instagram. He says he does 5,000 free squats before breakfast and rips a security guy getting a contract - Hank Walker. He says professional wrestling is a serious business.

WWE NXT Tag Titles - Pretty Deadly vs Chase U (Duke Hudson and Andre Chase)

Elton tries to jump Chase at the bell but Duke nails him.  Duke jumping side slams Kit then Kit is tripped into an elbow drop. Elton gets on Chase's shoulders, Chase is hit in the gut and Elton victory rolls him. Chase rolls up Elton and side headlock takedowns him. Chase shoulders elton over then Elton hits a beautiful dropkick. PD hit a double shoulder then a legdrop + splash combo on Chase.

Chase rolls backwards out of a boston crab then back body drops Elton while he has Kit in a side headlock. Chase then headscissors takedowns Elton while holding Kit. Kit takes a double back body drop and Chase hits the C-H-A-S-E-U stomps.

We go to PiP break and return. Chase chinbreakers Elton and Duke misses a tag because he went after Kit. Chase takes a double axe handle off the top. Chase throws out Elton and he knocks over Thea on the landing. Duke goes to help Thea but misses the Chase tag. Chase is launched into a codebreaker for 2. Duke gets the hot tag in, slamming PD onto each other. Duke slams Chase onto Elton and does a bad punch combo and taunt.

Duke throws out Elton and tags in Chase who isn't expecting it. Chase is out and on the mat. Chase decks Elton then Duke accidentally facekicks him. PD hits a spilled milk on Chase and picks up the win.

This was excellent. Duke's hot tag segment wasn't the best but the storytelling was really good here. Duke made constant mistakes the whole match to further the storyline that he is faking his support for Chase U. He missed tags, brought Chase in when he was out of it then ended up kicking him in the face to cost them the finish. PD were really good heels here as well. Very good pro wrestling here and one of the smarter matches this year.

We see Tiktok clips of Roxanne PErez talking to Nikkita Lyons. Indi Hartwell walks in and starts yelling at her then we see clips of Elektra Lopez filming the argument as well. Elektra says it seems like she isn't the only one who has a problem with Indi Hartwell. Perez vs Hartwell is next week.

Katana Chance and Kayden Carter are talking then Nikkita Lyons comes in. Carter asks if she can help her and they aren't happy with her. Nikkita says they are right and says her and Zoey weren't a real team. She said she met the real Zoey when she hit her. The KC's say what matter is Lyons staing true to who she is and Lyons offers to be their third next week. They make up and do some dancing.

We find out who is in the Iron Survivor Challenge next week.

WWE NXT North American Title - Wes Lee (c) vs Carmelo Hayes

Wes gets a volcano video on his tron for this then pops out of a rock. He stands on it then jumps off. They say it symbolizes all the hurdles and boulders he overcame this year.

Melo drops him with a punch early. Wes spears him then hits punches. Melo goes out and is elbowed onto the table then Wes is put into the rails. Melo is tripped into the rails then lariated over them and pulled back over. Melo pump kicks him then is hurricanrana'd on the ropes.

Melo is rolled up and they pump kick each other at hte same time then try to pin each other. We go to PiP break and return. Wes has his throat dropped on the ropes then Melo hits a nice springboard twisting clothesline. Wes is thrown chest first into the buckles then Melo goes into the buckles. Wes release germans him then they trade shots. Wes combos him and running euros him. Wes hurricanrana's him then Melo la mistica's him without the armbar. Melo goes for a codebreaker but Wes holds onto the ropes. Wes gets a nice jumping meteora to a running Melo then flipping koppo kicks him.

Trick Williams comes out and Wes tope con hilo's him. Wes does a beautiful back handspring into a flip kick then michinoku drivers him for the win.

This was a good match. They were aggressive with each other, everything they did looked good, they did a little more than usual, the crowd was hot and they didn't overdo it. It wasn't as good as the tag match earlier in the show but they just totally got the timing down for this athletically focused match.

We get a graphic that says, "and still North American champion, Wes Lee" on the tron. A cage door then opens up around it and Dijak appears in the ring with sunglasses and a leather jacket. He tries to do a GTH but doesn't seem to hit it and they have to cover for it. The show then ends.

Overall thoughts: The last two matches really delivered and made this one a good show. The tag match is a must see for the great storytelling and the main was a good athletic style match. Scrypts' debut left more to be desired here as his costume was just terrible, but this was an action packed show.

AEW Rampage 11/18/2022

AEW Rampage 11/18/2022

AEW World Title Tournament Eliminator - Lance Archer vs Ricky Starks 

Lance is beating Starks up in the back then Stakrs pushes him into boxes. Starks bangs Lance's head off a garage door then Lance does it to him. Someone is thrown into chairs then Starks hits him with a trash can. They head to ringside and fight in the crowd. Starks jumps off the stands onto him. Lance crossbodies him over the rail.

Starks pounds on him in the corner then lariats him over the top. Starks jumps off the apron then is chokeslammed on it. We go to PiP break and return. Lance is in control then Stakrs shoulders him off the 2nd rope. Starks flying lariats him then Lance hits a nice lariat. Starks tornado ddt's him for 2. Starks wraps his hair up then hits some slaps. Starks flips over his pounce but misses some of it then spears him to win it.

I'm not a fan of matches starting out in the back and having weapons used then being allowed to proceed like nothing happened. I don't think tournament matches like this should be on the B-show and I always hate to see hosses like Archer lose to everyone.

Brian Cage and Prince Nana come down the ramp after, Starks yells at them then is hit by Lance. Lance chokeslams him on the side of the steps and JR says the steps were "not selling a d@mn thing", which I didn't like since it exposes the business.

We get a package on Moxley vs MJF. 

Sammy Guevara and Chris Jericho are interviewed. Chris says Claudio and Bryan will eventually fight each other when the egos come out. Jericho says the ROH title will stay with the JAS and Jericho says he gaurantees he and Sammy will make sure he gets the belt. Sammy says we will see about that.

We see clips of Bandido beating Rush. We get an interview with Rush, John Silver, Jose and 10. John says he cost Rush a shot at the title and Jose calls him the clown of the Dark Order. Jose says John is acting tough like he could beat Jose. John says he and 10 could take them on and 10 says, "What do you mean, us two?". Rush tells John that he will beat the stupid smile off his face, talks in spanish and says he will see him this week.

Athena vs Madison Rayne

Rayne does a backstage promo. She says she respects Athena in the ring but doesn't like how she treats opponents after the match. Her promo then gets cut off as Athena is attacking Rayne in a stupid moment.

Rayne pulls Athena into the middle buckle then sliding lairats her in the corner. They go outside and Athena swings her into the rails. Athena does a carthweel and a backflip into a chop. Rayne rolls her up then Athena suplexes her. Rayne hits lariats and Athena does a foward flipping stunner. Athena spears her, hits some shots then puts her on her shoulder and spins her down onto her knees.

This wasn't too good.

Athena kicks her after and decks Aubrey Edwards (the ref). Athena then crossfaces Rayne and Mercedes Martinez comes out to stop this. She had been out of action. Athena goes outside as MM comes up to her. That match is no dimes.

FTW Title - Hook vs Lee Moriarty

I forgot all about this title. Lee hits a shot in the corner then Hook takes him down. Hook takes him down again then northern lights suplexes him. hook does a bow and arrow. Hook flips out of a hiptoss then grabs him around the leg and suplexes him. Lee runs at him wit ha shot and we go to PiP break.

We go to full break and return with Lee in control. Lee hits crossfaces then is lariated. Hook hits a punch combo to the gut then throws him byt the head. Hook STO's him then throws him on the fisherman suplex. Lee flatliners him in the middle rope and Lee does a knee off the ropes onto the back of his neck. Lee stays in control with a border city stretch attempt then Hook wins with a tazzmission.

It went a little longer than it needed to and I didn't think it was anything special.

Best Friends and The Factory are interviewed. BF says they want to fight them 5v5 tomorrow even though they have 3. BF then brings out Rocky Romero and a video tape.  Renee asks what she is supposed to do with this and it's Danhausen on the video. QT says they will kick their @ss tomorrow.

We get a House of Black video. Buddy Murphy is actually in it and they talk about restoring humanity's faith. They say to feel the creed and we see the HoB beat up on some unknowns. 

We get a split screen promo with Jun/Takeshita and Eddie/Ortiz. Ortiz says Eddie ready and he's been ready for 12 years. He says he trains everyday for momnets like this and says they will have to prove they are body. Takeshita says he knows Eddie respects Jun and this won't be a dream match, but a night mare.

Konosuke Takeshita and Jun Akiyama vs Eddie Kingston and Ortiz

Eddie hits a bad belly to belly early on KT and hits Jun on the apron. KT knocks down Ortiz with a forearm. Jun back elbows Ortiz then takes a shot at Eddie on the apron and boots him off it. Jun short piledrivers Ortiz then Ortiz takes an Akiyama boot then a backdrop + bulldog combo. KT drops Ortiz with a forearm and Jun headbutts Ortiz. Jun backdrops him then running knees him in the corner.

Ortiz takes a double shoulder then a double running knee.  KT running facekicks Ortiz and Ortiz catches him kneeling on the top and does a dragging cutter. Eddie gets in and hits a spinning neckbreaker on KT then hits just faceklook on Jun. Eddie does machine gun chops on KT and tells Jun to watch. KT fights back with forearms and is eye poked. Eddie double underhook suplexes KT then goes face to face with Jun.

Eddie suplexes KT then Ortiz suplexes KT. KT takes a double suplex for 2. Ortiz northern lights suplexes KT. KT fights off a 1v2 and KT is thrown into an Eddie ddt. KT flying clotheslines Eddie then Ortiz and Jun go at it. Jun facekicks him then jumping knees him. Eddie and Jun trade chops even though Eddie is pointed out as not the legal man. Ortiz dropkicks Jun then powerslams KT. KT hits a blue thunder bomb on Ortiz then Eddie backdrops KT.

Eddie and Jun trade chops and Eddie exploders Jun. Jun no sells it then exploders him. Eddie hits an enzugiri then hits a knee to Eddie's face. Jun exploders Ortiz for the win.

They were building here to a big showdown between Eddie and Jun, but we never really got it minus a quick exchange near the end. The whole build to this was about Eddie finally getting to fight Jun and they barely did at all here. Dumb stuff.

Supposedly they announced Eddie Kingston vs Jun Akiyama for tomorrow, but it wasn't on the show and you'd have no way of knowing that.

Overall thoughts: I thought they really screwed up the main and the announcement for tomorrow and 2 of the other 3 matches had issues as well. This was not a good one.

WWE NXT Level Up 11/18/2022

WWE NXT Level Up 11/18/2022

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2022/11/wwe-nxt-level-up-11112022.html

Thea Hail vs Dani Palmer

 

This is Dani Palmer's debut. She does flips during her entrance and they say she is a tumbler and a fitness guru who went to Baylor. She shakes Chase's hand and Duke's hand as well.

They lock up, Dani is flipped and they trade wristlocks. Thea uses the ropes to flip out of the wristlock then shoulders her over. Thea hits a nice high armdrag then a Japanese armdrag. She then jumps onto the bottom rope and armdrags her. The does a neat throw on her with the arm then Dani arm throws her. They stand off and shake and crossbody each other at the same time.

Dani chinlocks her from behind and abdominal stretches her. Thea armdrags her out of it then does a step up enzugiri. Thea starts shaking the ropes and back splashes her. Then misses the bottom rope then back splashes off of it. She then does a spinning neckbreaker and wins it.

Dani really didn't get to do anything here unfortunately except sell, but she does seem athletic. They had a couple sloppy moments but it was short, fast paced and interesting.

Oba Femi, a new wrestler, is interviewed. He's huge, soft spoken and says he's excited to be here. He was born in Nigeria and got a shotput scholarship in Alabama. He said  he's here to make his family proud.

Oba Femi vs Dante Chen

This is Oba Femi's debut. As I said earlier, he's big. They said he's 6'4 and 300lbs and he's not ripped to shreds, but it's believable that he's close to 300lbs.

They lock up and Oba throws him out of the lock-up. Chen side headlocks him and Oba euros him after Chen comes off the ropes. Chen is down then Oba throws him in the corners and one handed backbreakers him. Oba bearhugs him and atomic drops him. Oba hits another euro for 2.

Oba bearhugs him again and Chen jumps on his back. Oba rolls him over and misses an elbow. Chen hits punches and a pump kick. Chen does a springboard punch and does some silly firing up motion. Chen double chops him down for 2. Chen then hits a running double chop and wins it.

This was a pretty good debut for Oba Femi. He's big and he knows how to add a little to the moves he does. They might have something with him. They shake hands after and hold up their arms. 

Oro Mensah vs Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo

Tony D joins the commentators.

Oro wristlocks Stacks then Stacks does it back to him. Tony D talks about having Byron over for dinner. Stacks pulls him down by the hair and stomps on him. Oro walks up him and flips in the corner then does an italian taunt. Oro hits some armdrags and Stacks goes out.

Oro gets some offense in and slides over top the back of his neck on the middle rope to the outside. Oro is sent into the middle buckle then the post then Stacks drops knees on his arm. Stacks fujiwara armbars him and Oro rolls him up. Stacks puts him in a double reverse armbar then keylocks him. They trade forearms and Stacks hits kicks. Oro hits a nice lariat then hits forearms. Oro 2nd rope moonsaults him then hits a nice springboard dropkick. Oro fires up and Tony D distracts him. Oro hits his flipping koppo kick on Stacks for 2. Tony hits Oro in the throat with the crutch while he's on the ropes then Stacks does a curbstomp with the knee to win.

Nothing wrong with this at all. Oro did a good job as the face here before getting screwed in the end.

Overall thoughts: Nothing must see here but a fun show. Dani Palmer didn't really get to do anything in her debut, but she seems athletic. Oba Femi had a good debut against Dante Chen and seems like he has potential. The main was short but decent with Oro doing a good job as a face.