WWE Smackdown 2/28/2025

WWE Smackdown 2/28/2025

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/02/wwe-smackdown-2212025.html

We are in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett are on commentary.

Cody is walking in the back. He is told his locker room is this way, courtesy of The Rock.

Trish Stratus comes out to talk. She says wrestling has a generational impact and says the father of a girl in the front row maybe had a poster of her at a young age. She says this will be the first time her kids see her wrestle live. She says it feels great to be with the next generation of talent. She brings out Tiffany Stratton.

Tiff and Trish are wearing Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys. They say it's Trishy Time and Tiffy Time. They then show their names on the jerseys. They then throw the jerseys out in the crowd.

Chelsea Green comes out with Piper Niven, dressed as a mountie. Green calls them dumb and dumber. She says like Austin Matthews she's the best thing to step foot in this arena tonight, but she actually wins. Green says the people are better in America. Tiff says Green doesn't represent her. Green says she doesn't represent losers. Tiff ends up challenging her to a match tonight. Green says she has plans and can't make it. Trish says her and the crowd thinks it's a good idea and says Nick Aldis should bring out a ref. A ref then comes out.

Chelsea Green vs Tiffany Stratton

We join this in progress. Tiff cradles her for 2. Green step up enzugiri's her and hits a bad low flatliner for 2. Green chinlocks her. Tiff backdrops her. Tiff hits forearms and lariats. Tiff handspring backflip back elbows her. Tiff spinebusters her for 2.

Green hits a bad leg lariat on Tiff for 2. Tiff finlay rolls her then double stomps her. Piper pulls Green out to save her. Trish bangs Piper's head off the apron. Tiff hits a top rope swanton on Green and Piper.

Candice LeRae and Nia Jax come out. They beat up on Trish then pulls out Tiff for the DQ. Tiff is thrown onto a table.

Thoughts: This was joined in progress. We saw little of it and it ended on a DQ. This wasn't much.

Trish gets her head banged off the mat. Nia headbutts Tiff over. Trish hits shots on Nia. Tiff lifts Trish for a double boot on Nia. 

We see a video from Nick Aldis earlier in the day. He says there's a dispute over who is the #1 contender to the US Title. He says he will give 6 men a chance tonight. We will have Escobar vs Knight, Melo vs Braun and Andrade vs Solo Sikoa. Nick says the winners face each other in a triple threat and will be the #1 contender to the Us Title. He says this goes down tonight.

The Bloodline talk in the back. Fatu tells Solo what happened last night was an accident. Solo says he's sure it was an accident. Fatu asks what's up with him and says he heard he had a shot at the US Title. Solo says the family needs to make a mistake and the statement starts with taking the US Title. He says he wants Fatu to run the play tonight and bring home the US Title. Solo says everything he's doing is to show him how much he loves him.

Thoughts: They teased more tension here with Solo and Fatu.

We see clips of WWE LFG.

Cody Rhodes is given a bunch of food and champagne courtesy of The Rock. R-Truth is in the dressing room. Truth asks how he got this spread. Cody says you have to consider selling your soul to The Rock. Truth says Rock is the Soul Man and used to team with Tony Atlas. Cody tells Truth to help himself to the food and Truth asks him to ask Rock to get them some jellyrolls for next time.

US Title #1 Contenders Tournament 1st Round - Andrade vs Jacob Fatu

Fatu shoulders over Andrade. He misses a corner charge and Andrade chops him. Andrade top rope crossbodies him. Fatu is pulled over the top and Andrade hits a diving headscissors on him outside. Andrade then top rope moonsaults over the post on Fatu.

We go to PiP break and return. Andrade double boots him out of the corner. Fatu puts him on his shoulders and Andrade poisonrana's him. Andrade hits lariats then flying forearms Fatu. Fatu flying back elbows him.

Fatu misses a corner hip attack then Andrade does a corner meteora on him. Andrade does a top rope moonsault into a standing moonsault for 2. Fatu butt drops him then hits 2 corner hip attacks. Fatu impaler ddt's him. Fatu then double springboard moonsaults him and wins.

Thoughts: It was an athletic match as expected. The crowd got into Fatu as a face here and even cheered Andrade on some. This worked out well and helped out both guys. I liked this.

We see The Street Profits and Nick Aldis talk earlier in the day. Ford says they were on the shelf for 3 months and still didn't get the title shot they wanted. Legado del Fantasma walks in. Escobar says they are finally ready to apologize to his family for falsely accusing them of taking them out. Dawkins says they won't apologize and Santos says he will beat it out of them. Aldis says it's The Street Profits vs Los Garza tonight with tag title implications.

Los Garza (Berto and Angel) vs The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins)

The Profits get nailed by DIY before they get in the ring. Ciampa stomps on Dawkins and JG pounds on Ford. Los Garza then stupidly go after DIY. Angel superkicks CIampa. The Profits end up stomping on DIY. Pretty Deadly then come out and attack The Profits. Kit is thrown into a codebreaker then DIY fight Pretty Deadly. The Motor City Machine Guns then come down and join the fight. They beat up DIY and JG takes a double kick. Everyone except DIY fights in the ring. Berto tope con hilos outside while Angel top rope moonsaults outside.

The Guns beat up The Profits then get hit by DIY from behind. Security and the refs just watch the fight then try to separate it.

We then cut away to Drew McIntyre in the back. He goes up to Cody Rhodes. He says Cody has a lot of decisions to make and he won't get involved. Drew says he wouldn't know what to do in his position. He said they were both low on the card a decade ago and would have done anything. Drew says he doesn't know what The Rock will do when Cody says yes and Rock finds out he sold his soul a long time ago.

They show a John Cena video. Drew McIntyre comes out and says to shut it off. Drew tells John you either die a hero or see yourself become the hypocrite. Drew gets on the commentary table. He says he's gonna say stuff about John Cena. He says he can't help but wonder why old John Cena would say about present day Cena. He said he tear himself apart for leaving for Hollywood and only coming back for ego trips. He says he'd also rip apart the bald spot that has its own area code. Drew says he was scared of him politically when he was a kid. Drew says he's not a scared kid, he's a monster. He says he will bury John. 

Damian Priest comes out. DP says all Drew does is complain and cry every week. DP says the fans see through Drew's delusional thoughts. Drew says he's not delusional and says he tells the truth. DP says R-Truth makes more sense than him.

Drew says he got screwed over the last year and DP talks about the year he had. DP says he cashed in on Drew due to Drew's obsession with Punk. He says he then pinned him with the obsession over Punk. Drew says he's not obsessed with Punk. DP says he will take pride in pinning him tomorrow. DP says he dropped Drew due to his obsession with Punk. He says if he needs a reminder, step through the ropes and he will do it again.

Seth Rollins comes out. Seth says it's the three amigos here at the scene of the crime. Seth says Drew had the worst MITB cash-in of all time and said he would have beaten him for the title if it wasn't for DP.

Seth says he's here to talk about the future though. Seth says it's not the same Seth who hobbled into Mania last year. He says they don't stand a chance against him. CM Punk comes out.

Punk says he sees a couple of people he has personal issues with. Punk says Seth says he feels like how he looks. Punk says he looks like an oven mitt and he will cook him in The Chamber. He says he has no issues with DP but he will be collateral damage if they meet in the cage.

Punk says he's obsessed with his Mania moment and will beat all of them in the chamber to do it if he has to. He says we have people buying souls. He says Drew doesn't have one to sell as he snatched his at HIAC in October. He says they are dealing with HIAC Punk tomorrow. He says if they don't feel like not showing up, he understands. 

Seth says Punk won't main event Mania over his dead body. Drew says it's been 6 months and Punk is due to an injury. He says he will give him one tomorrow. DP says Drew will just complain on the internet when The Chamber is over. Seth says Punk's chants die tomorrow with his Mania dreams.

John Cena's music hits and Logan Paul comes out. Logan says Cena doesn't care about the fans. He says you can't see him, but you can see Logan. Logan says us full-timers are putting in the work while Cena can't even show up.

Logan says Seth wear curtains to work and dresses like he lost a bet. He says he looks like if Lady Gaga threw up on a coat hander. He says Drew is right at home - he can't win a championship these days and neither can the Toronto Maple Leafs. He says he barely knows anything about DP but says he heard he used to be a champ. He says it shows you can have a priest standing in the ring and Logan remains the answer to WWE's prayers.

He says he wants to smack the stupid expression off of Punk's face and says he wants to see it. Punk says he will show him and Logan runs.

Thoughts: This was a fun segment to get some hype going for The Chamber.

We see clips from The Elimination Chamber Kick Off earlier in the day. Liv gets nailed from behind by Bianca and Naomi then a big fight broke out. 

US Title #1 Contenders Tournament 1st Round - LA Knight vs Santos Escobar

This one feels like a neverending series at this point. LA backs him up in the corner and Santos shoves him. Santos side headlock takeovers him. Santos flips out of a headscissors. They each hit punches in the corner.

Santos shoulders him over then LA knees him in the gut. Santos corner dropkicks him. LA stun guns him and hits a swinging side slam. LA takes a jumping kick off a missed dive. LA's throat is pulled down over the top.

Santos is thrown out. LA is whipped into the steps. We go to break and return. They trade chops. LA hits punches and is kicked in the leg. Santos is thrown chest first into the buckles then takes a neckbreaker. Santos armlocks him. LA lariats Santos then pop-up slams him. LA elbow drops him.

Santos misses a corner splash and LA corner stomps on him. LA is tripped into the corner. They fight on the buckles and Santos top rope hurricanrana's him for 2. Santos hits a corner spear. Santos slingshot swantons him. Santos jumps off the top and is caught with a cutter on his way down. LA pins him and wins.

Thoughts: It was the usual so-so match with these two. It just wasn't that great and had a hard time keeping momentum throughout. LA won as expected here though I'm not complaining.

Sami Zayn comes out to talk. He says him and KO have been through a lot together. He says KO has been doing a lot of running and hiding. He says he knows KO is here. He invites him to come out here and to say his final peace. He says there will be nothing left to say after tomorrow.

KO appears at the empty Rogers Center. KO Says they have had a lot of fights but tomorrow is as big as it gets. He says Sami is trying to convince people KO is the bad guy. KO says everything that happens, Sami fully deserves. He says he won't do anything for Sami's family when he puts in Sami in a wheelchair because this is all Sami's fault.

Sami says he's nervous...about what he will do to KO. He says he's worried about his family not being able to forgive him. Sami says he's prepared to end KO. KO says he will see him tomorrow night.

The Miz talks to Carmelo Hayes in the back. He says they are 1-0 and it's better than awesome, it's awes-him. Melo says he will do it on his own tonight and tells Miz not to come out with him.

Cody Rhodes comes in. Miz asks what will Cody will do. Miz says there's more than being the 4th judge at a show. He says if Cody doesn't take Rock's offer, maybe someone else will.

US Title #1 Contenders Tournament 1st Round - Braun Strowman vs Carmelo Hayes

BS forearms him in the corner then hits a hard corner lariat. BS throws him then shoulders him over outside. Tama Tonga runs down. Solo Sikoa then chairs BS from behind. BS chairs Solo. Tama jumps off the apron on BS then BS throws him over the commentary table. Melo hands BS the chair while the ref isn't looking and makes it look like BS chaired him. Melo then wins by DQ.

Thoughts: This wasn't much prior to the finish with Melo getting a cheap one over Braun.

Braun throws Tama into the post after. BS then powerbombs him.

Naomi, Bayley and Bianca Belair talk in the back. Bayley says she doesn't have to wait until tomorrow to get her hands on Roxanne. Bayley says they all know Liv and Raquel attacked Jade. Bianca says may the best woman win if it comes down to the 3 of them tomorrow.

Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodiguez and Roxanne Perez vs Bayley, Naomi and Bianca Belair

RR = Raquel Rodriguez, RP = Roxanne Perez, BB = Bianca Belair

Naomi and Liv pound on each other and Naomi dropkicks her. Naomi corner dropkicks her. The 6 girls get in the ring and fight. Liv kicks Naomi then Naomi high kicks her. Bay topes Liv outside then topes RP outside. Bay then topes RR.

We go to PiP break and return. Bay uses the buckles to bulldog RR. BB top rope crossbodies RR then dropkicks her. BB hits corner spears. BB flips over her then suplexes him. BB handspring moonaults her for 2. BB hits corner punches on RR.

BB tilt-a-whirl gutbusters Liv. Naomi piledrivers RR over the middle rope onto the apron. Naomi is dropped throat first on the top rope. Naomi kicks RP off the buckles.  then does a bulldog on her. Bay top rope elbow drops RP for 2.

RR is hurricanrana'd over the top by Naomi. RP spin kicks Bay in the gut. Bay jumping knees her. RP clips her then hits a code red for the win.

Thoughts: It needed more time and did end kind of early but it was an okay and brief match. They pushed the feuds well here to hype up Elimination Chamber.

Alexa Bliss shows up behind RP and then hits a sister abigail on her.

Byron Saxton interviews Charlotte Flair. She says Tiffy and Trish are a cute team. She says once that is settled, Tiff has a bigger problem in Flair. She says she will remind Tiffy that time is rapidly slipping away. She says she will see her at Mania.

Triple H does a video tweet saying he will see Travis Scott at Elimination Chamber.

We get a Shinsuke Nakamura video. He says a dog is sataisfied with the scrapsfrom the table. He says he will allow the fools a chance to fight for a shot at his title. He says whoever comes out of this will be an example of. He says to pray that you lose otherwise nothing but hell awaits.

The Bloodline talk in the back. Solo says he took care of Braun and Fatu needs to finish the job. Fatu tells LA and Melo to come with it. He says he's America's Most Wanted and a menace to society. He says he will dog walk whoever gets in his way. 

US Title #1 Contenders Tournament Finals - Jacob Fatu vs Carmelo Hayes vs LA Knight

LA hits shots on fatu then Melo hits shots on LA. Fatu stomps on LA in the corner. LA knocks Fatu into Melo. Fatu headbutts LA. LA boots him out of the corner and 2nd rope diving headbutts him. Fatu is pulled over the top by LA. Melo backrolls LA.

LA pop-up slams Melo then double jump elbow drops him off the buckles. Fatu headbutts him. LA hits shots on Fatu outside. Fatu headbutts him. Melo pounds on Fatu and tries to headbutt him but hurts himself. Fatu uppercuts Melo.

LA hits knees to the gut of Fatu and sends him into the rails. LA is sent into the rails then Melo is sent into LA. Fatu tries to crossbody both but goes over the rail. 

We go to PiP break and return. Fatu chokes LA in the corner. Fatu throws Melo then corner hip attacks him. Fatu headbutts LA then throws Melo. LA is dropped gut first on the top rope. Fatu flying back elbows LA. Melo blind springboard ddt's Fatu. Fatu pop-up samoan drops Melo.

LA neckbreakers Fatu for 2. Melo hits a double jumping codebreaker for 2. Melo goes up top and is thrown onto Fatu outside. LA 2nd rope springboard twisting crossbodies Fatu. Melo hits a top rope nothing but net on LA. Fatu then top rope swantons the two when Melo goes for the pin. Fatu corner hip attacks Melo then hits a high angle impaler ddt. Fatu double jump moonsauls Melo.

LA pulls Fatu out on the pin attempt and pins Melo.

Thoughts: It was a solid three way here with some nice spots and a decent pace. They were able to work well together and to make this flow.

Cody Rhodes and CM Punk talk in the back. Punk asks what Rock is about. Punk says what could Rock offer Cody? Punk asks what young Cody would have done? Punk says young Punk would have taken it. He says he's happy that offer never came to him. Punk says he has no love for Dwayne but wants to see him take the offer, shine it up real good, turn it side and shove it up his part-time Hollywood candy @ss. Punk says he will see Cody in the main event of Mania.

Michael Cole interviews Cody Rhodes in the ring and asks him about The Rock's offer. Cole talks about the good things about Rock's offer and tries to sell him on it. He then tells Cody there's a special gift for Cody. A pick-up truck with Cody's logo on it then rolls in.

We then see a pick-up truck on an airplane tarmac on the tron. The Rock appears in that video. He says he's coming to Elimination Chamber and says it will be a big night. He says Cody will make the decision of a lifetime. Rock says they have been talking all week and he knows Cody has been doing the right hing. Rock says to enjoy the truck as he knows Cody loves driving like he does. He says Cody loves driving on the dangerous, the beautiful and the dusty roads.

Rock says he's been talking to Dusty all week and says he was told Cody has been talking to Dusty too. Rock says he's got everything to make Cody's dreams come true and says everyone will be waiting all night to see Rock. Rock says Cody will embrace him as his brother and Rock will embrace him as champ. He says Cody will give him his soul. Rock says all the dreams Cody doesn't even know he has will come true with one decision.

Rock says he has a gift for Cody and it's a belt with "Cody's Soul June 11th, 2015" written on it. He says the date is the day Dusty died. He said it broke his heart as Dusty was his hero. Rock says he loves Cody and calls him brother. Rock then goes in a jet as Cody looks shocked.

Thoughts: They tried here. The angle is coming together better but it needs more time than it got and it needed more explanation which will we will not get. We don't know why Rock wants this or what he gets out of it, just what Cody would get out of it.

Overall thoughts: It was an okay show. We got some decent in-ring action. We didn't get too many new storyline developments though due to the PLE being tomorrow, which they tried to hype up here. There was nothing that great or must see here though. I'd say the segment with the men's Elimination Chamber competitors was my favorite part of the night. I'd give it a 6 out of 10 but wouldn't recommend it.

WWE Speed 2/28/2025

WWE Speed 2/28/2025

The last show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/02/wwe-speed-2262025.html

WWE Speed #1 Contenders Tournament - Chris Sabin vs Dominik Mysterio

Dom wristlocks him. Sabin headflips out and flips him by the arm. Sabin rolls him up for 2. Sabin armdrags him, is put in the headscissor and they stand off. Sabin hits punches. Dom throws him out then misses a plancha. Sabin PK's him from the apron. Sabin springboard tornado ddt's him. Dom drops Sabin crotch first on the top then top rope splashes him for the win at 2:16.

Thoughts: I was surprised to see Dom get the win here. It was a quick one and what we got wasn't bad, but it was only a little over two minutes long.

Dom now faces the winner of Ivar vs Yoshiki Inamura.

Overall thoughts: There was only one new match as usual here. It only went 2:16 so it's a quick watch but it wasn't anything you really need to see. 

New Japan Pro Wrestling 2/27/2025 Fantastica Mania 2025 Day 7

New Japan Pro Wrestling 2/27/2025 Fantastica Mania 2025 Day 7

Note - Only one of the other 6 days aired so far. But, that one aired on a live only stream with no warning as NJPW is testing their service. I haven't seen it around online so I haven't been able to cover it.

KAMAITACHI & Titan vs. Max Star & Xelhua

Kam is Hiromu under a mask. Max and Titan go at it. They shake hands. Max headflips and cartwheels out of a wristlock and they try to dropkick each other at the same time. They stand off and Max flying headscissors him.

Kam and Max trade chops. Kam flying headscissors him. Xel gets in and armdrags Kam. Xel flying headbutts him then tilta-a-whirl backbreakers him. Xel plancha's him. Titan then does a surprise tope outside. Max walks up the buckles and top rope moonsaults outside.

Titan gets his feet up on a 450 from Max and reverse sitout slams him. Tex does a neat sub on Titan than Kam breaks up. Max is lifted for a headscissors on his partner. Kam then lifts the ref for a headscissors on Max.

Kam running crossbodies both opponents outside. Max springboards into an armdrag off the casadora on Kam. Max walks up the ropes and tope con hilos Kam outside. Xel suplexes Titan then does a neat double arm and leg pin attempt. Titan hits kicks on Xel and spinning heel kicks him.

Titan top rope double stomps Xel and pins him.

Thoughts: It was a great opener full of high flying and fast paced action. This is exactly what you would want an they delivered. I really liked this.

Hechicero & Ninja Mack vs. El Barbaro Cavernario & El Desperado

Hech and Barb start us off. They do some bad mat wrestling and stand off. They shove each other. They roll around on the mat and trade chops. Hech dropkicks him. Barb double boots him out of the corner. Hech catches him on  springboard and ducks a superkick. Barb rolls him up for 2.

Hech boots him out of the corner and Barb does the arm. Hech dropkicks him. Mack and Despy go at it. Despy shoulders him over then side headlock takeovers him. They trade pin attempts. Mack running euros him in the corner and ends up flipping over the top. Hech and Despy slap each other on their knees.

Mack corkscrew kicks Despy then does the ninja special. Hech and Barb get in. Barb goes up and over him and Hech step up knees him in the corner. Barb takes corner lariats then a double basement dropkick. Despy is stomped on by his opponents and gets his legs split.

Barb tilt-a-whirl sarmdrags Hech then hits ataxia on Mack. Barb unties Hech's mask. Despy dragon screws Mack. Mack superkicks Despy then Despy spinebusters him for 2. Despy stretch mufflers Mack. Despy cannonballs MAck off the top. Barb top rope crossbodies Hech. Despy pulls down Barb on his leapfrog then misses an elbow drop on him.

Barb superkicks Hech and slams him. Hech rolls Barb and flips him into a grounded sleeper. Barb then pulls off Hech's mask for the DQ.

Thoughts: I didn't like this at all. The finish was dumb with Barb costing his team the win for no reason. The match went long and there were just too many styles at play here which messed up the flow of the match.

Barb tries to unmask Hech again. Barb talks to Hech on the mic after and they end end up fighting outside. Both guys send each other into the rails and Rush grabs a chair.

MLW World Tag Team Title Match - CozyMAX (OKUMURA & Satoshi Kojima) (c) (w/Mima Shimoda) vs. Los Depredadores (Magnus & Rugido)

Koji and Rug go at it. Rug top wristlocks him. Rug works the arm and side headlocks him. Rug shoulders him over. Koji hiptosses him and shoulders him over. Oku and Mag trade shoulders and various strikes.

Oku knees him in the gut and basement dropkicks him. Mag superkicks him. Oku fliyng neckbreakers him then Rug flying elbows Oku. Rug and Koji trade chops. Rug powerslams him. Koji takes a double back elbow and a double elbow drop. Oku is tripped into the ropes for a Mag 619.

Mag hits machine gun chops on Koji. Rug springboard dropkicks Koji then northern lights suplexes Oku. Mag grabs some stand-up of Mag outside an hits Oku and Koji with it. Rug and Mag then rip the stand-up.

Oku hits a backbreaker then cutters on both opponents. Koji hits machine gun chops on both opponents. Koji top rope elbow drops Rug for 2. Oku and Koji are thrown into each other then take a backcracker + german. Koji's team hits stereo cutters for 2.

Oku cannonballs Mag off the apron. Koji lariats Rug for the win.

Thoughts: Oku and Koji are kind of limited and Rugido isn't exactly the best either. It was so-so which I expected here just from looking at the line-up's.

Lightning Match - Zandokan vs Neon

Neon flips out of a wristlock and side headlocks Zand. They shoulderblock battle. Zand knocks him over and Neon kips up. Neon flips out of a german then Zand 2nd rope twisting crossbodies him. Neon standng moonsaults him. Zand then sentons him.

Zand flying headscissors Neon. Neon springboard headscissors Zand then tope con hilos him outside. Neon tries to jump over the top to hurricanrana him but is powerbombed on the apron. They go up into the stands and Neon is shoved in the aisle. They trade forearms. Neon uses part of the entrance area to headscissors Zand. Neon then crossbodies him off the entrance area. 

Back in the ring, Neon misses a top rope moonsault. Zand does a back body drop into a bomb on Neon. Zand superplexes Neon. Zand and Neon trade chops. Zand tiger drivers him then running lariats him. Neon hits a code red for 2. Neon twisting suplexes him. Neon hits a double jump imploding splash and wins.

Thoughts: It was basically a spotfest here with them doing cool moves without much logic or reason. It did have some nice spots and I was entertained by the second half of it, but it was not a smart one.

We get a tribute to Black Cat.

Averno, Taiji Ishimori, Raider & Soberano Jr. vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Mascara Dorada, Mistico & Stigma

MD = Mascara Dorada

Tana and TI go at it. TI pulls on Tana's hair then Tana pulls on his hair. Tana then hits dragon screws on all 4 opponents. Tana takes corner attacks from his opponents. Mist is group stomped on.

Av rips up Mist's mask and Raid kicks Stig in the leg. Stig is popped up, booted then chopped. Tana is chopped up by his opponents. Stig is then kicked in the leg. Tana is ganged up on in the corner. Tana fights off 4 attacks in the corner and hits a 2nd rope twisting crossbody. MD comes in and top rope double splashes opponents. MD headscissors Av while on his shoulders. MD flips off of Raid's shoulders into an armdrag on Av.

Raid pumping knees MD. MD satelitte's on Raid into a botched armdrag. TI and Stig trade chest chops. Stig ropkicks him out then tilt-a-whirl armdrags Sob. Tana and Av go at it with chops.

Tana slaps Raid down. Mist and Sob go at it. Mist flying headscissors Sob. Mist walks up the buckles and corksrew armdrags TI. Mist is then popped up into a headscissors on Av. Mist and Raid are on the 2nd rope and Mist hurricanrana's him down. Mist tilt-a-whirl armdrags Av out. Tana then does a slingshot plancha out on TI. Stig tornillo plancha's out and MD fosbury flops out. Mist then tornillo's out.

Stig pop-up powerbombs Av then Sob brainbusters Stig. MD walks up the buckles and crucifix bombs Sob. Raid has MD on his shoulders and backcrackers him. Mist spanish fly's Raid. Tana slingblades TI then Mist hits a springboard double crossbody on Sob and Av.

MD springboard headscissors Sob. Mist springboard headscissors Av. MD moonsaults off the top onto Sob outside. Mist top rope plancha's Av outside. Stig springboard crossbodies Raid. Raid backbreakers Stig. Raid misses a corkscrew swanton off the top. Stig toyota rolls into a sunset bomb on Raid to win.

Thoughts: The first half was slow with Tana. They then had a more traditional match for a while until going into  a dive sequence and a sequence with everyone getting a move in and getting out. I would say it was okay overall as they tried here even if it could have used a few less minutes. 

Sob has a fan kiss him after then asks the bell ringer to do it. The faces corner Sob outside after. Mist and Sob get in the ring. Sob kisses Mist's boot and then tries to hit him. Mist headscissors him out and Sob leaves. 

Ultimo Guerrero vs. Atlantis Jr.

UG = Ultimo Guerrero, AJ = Atlantis Jr

UG unmasks before the match after teasing that he would keep his mask on. The rumor is Atlantis' brother came out with Atlantis and was wearing an Atlantis mask.

They shake hands. UG throws him down and AJ goes for the crossface. The do a double knuckle lock. UG flips him over his back and then ties up his legs. AJ armdrags him. UG surfboards him and AJ ties the legs up.

AJ hits a nice dropkick. UG lariats him. AJ superkicks him then tope con hilos him. AJ hurricanrana's him. UG sunset flips him in the corner. They trade corner lariats. AJ flying kicks him. They get on the 2nd rope and UG 2nd gordbusters him for 2. UG 2nd rope powerbombs him for 2.

AJ spinning torture rack bombs UG for 2. UG canadian destroyers him for 2. They go up top and AJ top rope belly to belly suplexes UG for 2. AJ is crotched on the top tope and UG 2nd rope reverse suplexes him for 2. AJ powerslams UG then top rope splashes him. AJ then hits another top rope splash and wins.

Thoughts: I didn't like it at all. They got off to a slow start and just traded big moves that meant nothing. Both of these guys know better than to do this.

Volador Jr. vs. Templario

They trade forearms to start. Temp goes up and over in the corner. Vol messes up a handspring spot then Temp blocks his flying headscissors him. Temp flying headscissors him out. Temp tries to tope him but nails a young lion instead.

Vol lariats, back elbows and boots him in the ring. Temp walks up the buckles and springboard dropkicks Vol. Temp topes him outside. Temp flying forearms Vol inside. Temp corkscrew headscissors Vol. Temp goes after him outside then ends up taking a slingshot headscissors from him on the floor.

Temp waistlock slams Vol down for 2. Vol rolls into a code red on him for 2. Temp flips Vol over his back into a piledriver for 2. Temp throws Vol over the top then does a flying space tiger drop on him.

Vol superkicks him. Temp flying knees him. Vol superkicks him and they boot each other at the same time. Temp wheelbarrow suplexes Vol for 2. They go up on the buckles and Vol 2nd rope hurricanrana's him off a powerbomb attempt. 

They go up top again and Temp top rope hurricanrana's him for 2. They trade forearms on their knees. Vol canadian destroyers him for 2. Temp sitout gordbusters him for 2. Vol superkicks him and hits a codebreaker for 2. Temp 2nd rope powerbombs him then hits a powerbomb backbreaker for 2 when Mgnus pulls the ref out.

Magnus and Rugido beat up Temp then Vol backcrackers Temp. The ref is thrown back in and Vol wins.

Thoughts: I didn't like this. It was slower than what you would think. Vol was pretty sloppy here and seemed to have hurt his leg at one point. The finish wasn't very good either and they didn't sell much here.

Vol and his buddies pose on Temp after. They put the Depredadores mask on Temp and do a promo. They then try to start a fight with Okumura after.

Overall thoughts: I wasn't a big fan of the show. Some of the undercard stuff was okay but the big matches were all spotfests with big moves and not much else in between. They did try so you can't fault them, but the work just wasn't good. I'd give this one a 5 out of 10 and wouldn't recommend it. I thought the opener was the best match on here.

TNA Impact 2/27/2025

TNA Impact 2/27/2025

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/02/tna-impact-2202025.html

The System come out to talk. Alisha says The System is always 10 steps ahead. Eddie says they made an example and said JDC took out Leon Slater. Eddie said another future star found out what happens when you cross The System. JDC says you either get with The System or get run over and says Leon got run over. Moose says he went in Oba Femi's universe and shook his world up. He says Oba felt like he needed to do the same. He says Oba will find out there's a big difference from being the ruler of NXT than being the face of the franchise.

Moose says Jeff Hardy pinned him twice and it bothers him as he's not who he used to be. He says everyone knows it and says Jeff got lucky. He says Jeff's luck runs out tonight. Brian Myers says Leon and Oba aren't System material. He says Eddie and Orlando Colon may have what it takes to be System material.

The Colon's come out. Eddie says they aren't in this business because they like to wrestle, it's a way of life because of their last name. Eddie says he respects The System. Orlando says they aren't here just to be part of the roster but to show what it means to be a Colon. Orlando says why would they fight against The System to take over TNA when they can fight with The System. Orlando says if they have their backs, they have The System's backs.

Moose says he likes these guys and says things go a little easy if you trust The System. The Colon's then put their fists in with The System.

Thoughts: I'm not too sure what the play is on this one unless they want some people to take losses for The System.

Gia Miller interviews Spitfire. Dani says Ash and Heather By Elegance are too concerned with how they look. Dani says they are here to fight. Jody says they are used to doing things themselves but says who are thye to say no if they want to be their assistants for 24 hours? They discuss what they want to do to them and says they have a long list of things for them to do. They then chant "mohawk, mohawk, mohawk", implying they will give them a haircut.

The System argue with Leon Slater in the back. The Hardy's walk in then security breaks it up.

Mike Santana vs Oro Mensah

This is a bit of a random one. We haven't seen much of Oro period lately. Mike side headlocks him and they trade wristlocks. Oro armdrags him over. Mike headflips out and  throws him down. Oro upkicks him while on the mat. They each hit some shots and Oro flying headscissors him. Oro corner chops him.

Oro pulls Mike's throat down over the top rope then springboard rider kicks him. Mike catches Oro's plancha outside then drops him on the apron. Mike facekicks him outside.

Mike hits chops then enzugiri's him. Mike backrolls into a cutter on him for 2. Mike is up top and Oro uses the 2nd rope to backflip into a kick on him. Oro koppo kicks him for 2. Oro gets caught on another koppo kick attempt and is buckle bombed. Mike spinning lariats him and wins.

Thoughts: It was short and fine. Oro did his athletic offense and him and Mike figured out how to make this work. This was one of Mike's better efforts so far.

Mustafa Ali and his crew do a video asking who the real Mike Santana is. They say Mike is hiding something and say he's back on the sauce drinking alcohol. Ali says he approves this message at the end of it.

We go to break and when we return, Mike yells at Ali's crew. He wants Ali and asks where's he it. John Skyler asks if Mike thinks Ali has time for him. Mike says if Ali wants to play dumb, he can do it face to face like a man. Mike tells him to relay the message.

Tessa Blanchard vs Kelsey Heather

Tessa backs Kel up in the corner and then clubs on her. Kel flying headscissors her. Tess superkicks her in the knee and basement dropkicks her. Tess suplexes her into the buckles. We see Masha Slamovich watching in the back.

Tess dropkicks Kel in the corner then running forearms her there. Tess slaps her in the corner. Kel rolls her up for 2 twice. Tess cutters her then hits a hammerlock ddt to win.

Thoughts: It was a squash and wasn't much of note. The crowd wasn't as hard on Tessa as they were last time, likely because it wasn't going to get them anywhere.

Masha is interviewed in the back. Cora Jade nail Masha from behind. Cora says she doesn't know why Masha is worried about Tessa when she will be the one to take her title at Sacrifice.

Elijah talks to Joe Hendry in the back. He says their match with The Colon's was electric. He said he had a blast. Joe says it's all fun and games and then one day, the guitar is wrapped around his head. Elijah says he has every reason to believe that. Elijah says he has nothing to worry about and asks why he would do that when they can make fantastic music together. He says he has a friend. Joe says if he believes in Joe Hendry, he can walk with Elijah.

The System come in. JDC welcomes Elijah but says The System runs the show here.

Steve Maclin vs KC Navarro

SM side headlocks him. KC flips out of a back body drop. Steve hits a big chop. Steve lariats KC in the back of the head in the corner. Steve sliding lariats him for 2. Steve has words with AJ Francis outside then is pulled throat first down on the top rope. AJ drops Steve face first on the apron. Eric Young and The Northern Armory come out.

KC double stomps Steve. KC slingblades Steve for 2. KC clubs on Steve's back. Steve hits lariats on him. Steve hits a thesz press with mounted punches. Steve corner lariats Kc then olympic slams him for 2. KC superkicks him and facewash kicks him. KC hits a top rope frogsplash for 2.

Steve holds KC in the air and hits a flatliner. KC is put in tree of woe and Steve hits his crosshairs spear. Steve then hits a KIA and wins.

Thoughts: It was fine. They kept things moving and KC loss here as expected. It was basically just filler though.

The Northern Armory clap for Steve after on the ramp and say Steve has a decision to make with them.

Tessa Blanchard talks to Lei Ying Lee in the back. She asks if she has a staring problem. Lee says she talks too much. Tessa says Lee doesn't even deserve to breath the same air as her and isn't on her level. Santino comes in and says Tess can face Lee and see if she's on her level. Tessa says whatever and Lee says she can't wait.

George Iceman introduces Heather and Ash By Elegance. 

TNA Knockouts Tag Titles - Loser's become the winners personal concierge's for 24 hours - Heather and Ash By Elegance vs Spitfire (Jody Threat and Dani Luna)

The Elegance crew are dressed up in Minnie Mouse gear.

Jody and Ash go at it. Jody side headlock takeovers her. Jody waistlock takedowns her. Jody shoulders Heather over and back elbows her. Jody hits corner lariats on Heather. Dani slams Heather then slams Jody onto Heather for 2.

Heather takes dropkicks then a low crossbody from Jody for 2. Jody slams down Heather. She is pulled onto the 2nd buckle then takes a codebreaker. Ash stomps on Jody. Heather chinlocks Jody then Jody throws her over. Jody hits a step up enzugiri. Dani gets in and hits lariats on Ash.

Dani backbreakers Ash then jack knife powerbombs her for 2. Dani germans Ash.  Dani takes a backcracker + top rope double stomp combo for 2. Jody northern lights suplexes Ash. Jody michinoku drivers Ash for 2.

Jody misses an attack on the ropes. Jody kind of hits a stunner on Ash. Dani deadlift germans Heather in from the 2nd rope. Heather is then thrown into a stiout powerbomb and is pinned.

Thoughts: I was surprised to see Ash and Heather lose. I just don't get why they keep having them lose like this since it seems like Ash is sticking around. The match was average but they kept things moving. Heather took a wicked german from the 2nd rope.

Dani says she wants us to meet her personal concierge's as Ash, Heather and George scream.

Spitfire have The Elegance crew carrying their stuff. George offers to help out and Santino walks in and says no. The Elegance crew are disgusted by Spitfire's stuff.

Mance Warner vs Sami Callihan

Sami stunners Mance to start and sends him out. Sami chairs Mance in the gut and the back and is disqualified.

Mance lariats Sami on the floor then chairs him in the gut. Mance then chairs him in the gut. Security tries to break it up. Santino comes out. He says this is to be continued at Sacrifice in a street fight. They then fight more.

Frankie Kazarian vs Ace Austin

Wes Lee, Dupont and Igwe come out for commentary on this one. Kaz stalls as the match starts and tells the announcer (Mckenzie Mitchell, formerly of NXT) and tells her to say he's the king of TNA.

Ace side headlock takeovers Kaz then dropkicks him. Ace rolls, trips him and kicks him in the head. Ace then basement dropkicks him. Ace goes to springboard and Kaz knocks the rope out under him. Kaz stomps and clubs on him. Kaz spin kicks him, knee lifts him and lariats him. Kaz springboard legdrops him. Ace rolls him up for 2 then cradles him. Ace russian legsweeps him then legdrops him. Ace hits corner lariats. Ace helicopter kicks him.

Kaz goes out and goes near Wes' crew on commentary. Ace hits Kaz then Kaz sends him into the apron edge. Ace superkicks him from the apron. Ace argues with Dupont and Igwe outside. Ace goes to springboand and Wes gets near him. Kaz then slingshots Ace in and cutters him for the win.

Thoughts: It was a shorter match and not much. The finish was kind of weak here. I'm not a big fan of the slingshot cutter either. It seems fun in your head, but the move is silly.

Ace gets jumped by Wes' crew after. The Rascalz come out and make the save.

Spitfire are talking to The Elegance Crew in the back. They say one of them can carry their bags and one can walk the dog. Heather complains as the bag has dumbbells in it. Ash says the dog looks like a ratdog. Steph De Lander comes in and says it's her dog. She says if she talks trash about her dog, she will hit her face. We then see another, much bigger dog and that one is Jody's. Jody gives Ash poop bags and Ash says she pays people to do this. We cut ahead. Ash things they are done for the night but they say it hasn't been 24 hours. The Elegance Crew have to sit in the back of the car with the dog and complain.

Thoughts: These segments are always fun and this was no exception.

Ryan Nemeth comes out. He says Nic Nemeth returns to TNA in 15 days at Sacrifice. He then leaves.

Oba Femi and The Hardy Boys (Matt and Jeff Hardy) vs The System (Moose, Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards)

Moose avoids Oba early on. Moose drops Eddie after Edide pokes his chest. Oba gets hit from behind by Myers. Oba then hits a double lariat. Eddie and Myers are then sent over the top.

We go to break and return. Eddie is legdropped while laying on the bottom rope. Jeff jumps off of Matt's back onto Myers in the corner. Jeff hobbles around Moose pulls Jeff down by the hair. Moose hits mounted shots on Jeff. Myers stomps on Jeff's knee. Moose chops Jeff and Eddie chokes Jeff on the ropes. Alisha Edwards then does it as well. Jeff jawbreakers Eddie. Jeff htis a twist of fate on Moose nd gets Matt in.

Matt hits forearms on Moose. Matt bangs Moose's head off the buckles then 2nd rope tornado ddt's him. Matt hits a side effect on Moose for 2. Eddie topes Oba outside but is caught and chokeslammed on the apron. Myers sends Oba into the steps. Moose takes a twist of fate into a neckbreaker for 2.

Everyone starts getting in to a do a move. Moose pump kicks Oba. Oba powers up and spinebusters Moose.  JDC comes in and gets lariated. The Colon's then come in and get hit (the ref got knocked down earlier when Myers pushed Jeff onto the ref). Moose rolling spears Oba then Matt takes a rolling spear from Moose after help from Myers. Moose then pins Matt.

Thoughts: It was short main that didn't get enough time to develop into anything. Jeff looked like he hurt his knee here. The Moose/Oba section was fun but that was really it. There were just too many people involved for how little time it got.

The Colon's and The System pose after. Joe Hendry and Elijah then come down and the heels head to the ramp area. Santino comes on the ramp. He says at Sacrifice, it will be Jeff Hardy vs Moose in a ladder match for the X-Division Title. He also says we will have a 10 man tag next week with The System and The Colons vs Joe Hendry, Matt Hardy and 3 mystery partners. Jeff Hardy then gets into the ring after and is still hobbling, making me question if that ladder match actually happens. 

Overall thoughts: It was the usual average Impact. I know I say this every week, but it's the truth. They don't do a lot of long storylines to really get you invested into anything and because they often tape multiple shows in one night, they don't have longer and more dramatic matches where you might see something great. People are also usually missing because of the taping schedule and they have too many divisions, so they often have to set up things for those divisions last minute. The main should have been better than it was as should have the Spitfire tag. They didn't get the most out of either situation. Everything did mostly make sense though on the show so this wasn't awful. I'd give this a 5 out of 10 and wouldn't recommend it.

NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #7 7/31/2002

NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #7 7/31/2002

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/02/nwa-tna-weekly-ppv-6-7242002.html

Ed Ferrara, Don West and Mike Tenay are on commentary.

NWA TNA X Title Match - AJ Styles (c) vs. Elix Skipper

Elix works on AJ as he gets in the ring. AJ spinning high kicks him then hits a nice mcgillicutter for 2. AJ spinning lariats him and hits chops in the corner. AJ dropkicks Elix in the corner and hits a hard lariat for 2.

AJ hits forearms then hits a nice dropkick. Elix goes up and over then dragon suplexes him. Elix running forearms him while he's on all fours. Elxi stomps on him then euros him. Elix hits shots in the corner then does Misawa's forward rolling double mule kick.

AJ superkicks him out of the corner then hits a hard kick to the side of the face. Elix backdrops him then powerslams him. Elix headstands on the top buckle and elbow drops him. Elix gutwrench suplexes him for 2. AJ hits punches and kicks to the body. Elix throws him over by the leg. Elix hits elbow drops on him for 2. Elix bangs AJ's face off the apron and axe kicks him as he hangs over the apron. Elix is thrown into the apron edge.

Elix double underhook suplexes him and backrolls into a submission on him. AJ hits shots, goes for a hurricanrana and is powerbombed down. Elix does a double arm and head submission on AJ. Elix neckbreakers him. Exli goes for a northern lights suplex but AJ does a guillotine choke to him.

AJ reverse ddt's him. AJ misses a top rope legdrop. AJ hooks his legs under Elix's arms and pulls him over the top. They fight outside and Elix does a corkscrew plancha on him. Elix sunset flips him for 2. Elix walks up the ropes, AJ dropkicks the ropes and Elix take a hard ride down. AJ spiral taps him to win.

Thoughts: AJ really beat the crap out of Elix here. He hit some really hard shots that aren't typically like AJ. It really felt like this almost a shoot at times with how hard they were going on each other. It wasn't a real fast paced match though. I did like it overall but it was not what you would expect out of these two.

Tenay says Ken Shamrock has his belt back after Malice stole it on the last show. Tenay says Scott Hall faces Jeff Jarrett tonight as Jeff's suspension was lifted by Ricky Steamboat.

Monty Brown goes after Elix Skipper as Elix leaves. Elix fed him to the wolves last week. Brown hits shots on him and bangs his head off the commentary table. Elix stomps on Brown in the ring. Brown gorilla presses him and drops him into a fallaway slam. Brown then powerbombs him.

Jeff Jarrett comes out with someone in a giant sack. Jeff says Ken Shamrock won't be here tonight and says Ricky Steamboat hasn't arrived. He says he will take this opportunity to entertain himself and the friends. Jeff says Bill Behrens told him he would have to start from the bottom and work his way up to the top to get a title shot. Jeff says he thought he would play ball and says that's what he will do.

He then unties the sack and has a midget tied up in a sack. Jeff says he will cripple the midget Todd Stone. Jeff lariats him and stomps on him. Jeff then hits a piledriver on him. Jeff powerslams him then hits a stroke.

Jeff says he just had a mini-stroke. He tells women in the back to bring small farm animals out here.

Puppet the midget comes out. Jeff asks if he's hot because he's stealing his shtick. Jeff says he's not Jeff Jarrett, he's The Dwarf Destroyer tonight and tells him to come get some. Puppet calls him slapnuts and says he will even the size. Puppet then pulls out a gun! Security tries to stop him and he tells everyone to get away from him. Jeff then chairs Puppet.

Ricky Steamboat comes out with Bob Armstrong and Don Harris. He tells Jeff we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Jeff asks what the hard way is. Jeff says let's do it man to man - him vs Steamboat. Jeff says if he beats him, he gets a title shot. Jeff says if Steamboat beats him, he will take his 60 day suspension.

Ricky Steamboat gets in the ring. Scott Hall shows up behind Jeff and hits punches. Hall lariats Jeff over the top. Jeff goes up the ramp. Hall grabs a stretcher. Hall tells Steamboard to step aside and says this is between him and Jeff. Hall says he's been going out on a stretcher the last few weeks and says Jeff goes out on a stretcher tonight.

Thoughts: I didn't like Jeff getting the edge here over Puppet as Puppet had a gun. 

Goldilocks interviews Sonny Siaki, who is alone. Goldi asks where his partners are. Sonny says he knows Goldi was checking out his @ss and tells her not to without his permission. He also tells her not to touch Sonny Siaki again. Sonny then tells her not to think dirty thoughts about him.

Sonny says he doesn't need backup. He says he gave Yang and Estrada the night off as the world wants to see him showcase his talents. He says one Elvis is better than three and that's the one and only Sonny Siaki.

Slash vs Sonny Siaki

Sonny ducks a lariat and poses. Slash hits punches and boots in the corner on him. James Mitchell has some gold dragon on a box with him and says it's the ark of The New Church. Sonny hits armdrags then pop-up samoan drops him. Sonny flipping legdrops him and James says he has the blood of the audad in the box.

Slash goes to sunset bomb Sonny outside but is hurricanrana'd on the floor. Sonny uppercuts him then sends him into the rail. Sonny back body drops him outside. 

Sonny slingshot swantons Slash for 2. Slash elbow slices Sonny for 2. Slash eye rakes Sonny. Slash whirlybirds him for 2. Slash clubs Sonny's neck. Slash cobra clutches Sonny then russian legsweeps him with it for 2.

Slash boots him out of the corner. Sonny hits him while he's on the 2nd rope. They go up top and both get crotched up top. Slash misses a top rope swanton.

Sonny hits punches then back elbows him. Sonny lariats him then pumphandle suplexes him for 2. Sonny suplexes him then misses a 2nd rope senton. Mitchell gives Slash a  black sack. He puts it on Sonny's head and neckbreakers him to win.

Thoughts: It was hard to get into this one as it was heel vs heel and wasn't anything too great. It was just an average match.

Slash holds Sonny around the ropes. James says the blood of the audad can be used to anoint or desecrate. He says let the desceration begin as Sonny chose the wrong path. James then puts some blood looking substrance on Sonny's forehead.

Don Harris comes in and beats up Slash. Don then powerbombs him. Malice comes down but James tries to hold Malice back. Malice and Don stare down and trade words. 

Goldilocks interviews Ricky Steamboat. Goldi has red circle with a line through it overtop The Dupp's on her shirt. Goldi asks if Ricky can take control of the situation in TNA. Ricky says the law has been laid down by the NWA for decades but it has been thrown through the window lately. He says he's here to set down the law. Goldi said they wouldn't listen to Bill Behrens and Ricky says he won't go there as you won't compare him to him to Bill.

Truth comes out. He says one of the caged dances is caged up like a dancer. He says she's out here against her own free will and says they are exposing her for her own benefit and the almighty dollar. Truth says this is nothing but a freak show. He says he took a stand and it's time for her to take a stand.

Truth mocks her and says she isn't a dancer but a $2 ho. Truth says she won't be the next Destiny's Child, saying her destiny will be on a street corner in the hood. She slaps him. Truth goes after her and Monty Brown knocks Truth off the stage area over the rails. Brown stomps on Truth on the floor.

Brown is whipped into the wall. Truth then hits him with a garbage can. Truth breaks a piece of wood over Brown's back as security come to check on Brown.

Ricky Steamboat comes out to the ring. He says Truth got his attention. He says if there's something you want to say about "them", come say it to his face.

Truth comes back out. He takes the mic from Ricky. He tells him to talk to him with respect. Ricky says Truth has to earn respect if he wants it. Ricky says he doesn't know what card Truth has been dealing. He says if you are talking about "them" then you are talking about authority, unless he's talking about the crowd or skin color. Ricky says he's here to listen to him talk.

Truth says he's not like "them" and says he means as much to "them" as he does. Truth talks about Ricky's career. He says he was a big fan of his and says they talk about Wrestlemania III to this day. He says Ricky became the IC champ as he reached the pinnacle of his career. He asked why didn't he get a chance to become the WWF champ. He asks why they stopped him.

Truth says the IC Title was always for a second class citizen. Truth says they are pulling the same stuff on him. Truth says he's not gonna take it. He says Ricky can change it and make the right decision and tells him the ball is up to him.

Ricky says he knows where he's coming from. Ricky says he will give him the shot at the NWA Title next week. Truth says that's what he's talking about then he raps after. Truth gives the crowd the "up yours" sign after.

Thoughts: I'm not sure what to make of this one. Truth attacked Brown then basically got turned face in the segment after, even though he's definitely not a face. 

Malice vs Gran Apolo

They shove each other. Apolo hits punches. Mal hits knees to the gut and punches him. Mal hits punches in the corner. Apolo chops him. Apolo's head is banged off the buckles. Apolo walks up the buckles and la silla's Mal for 2.

Apolo lariats Mal over the top then does a wild tope con hilo on him. Apolo is sent out but lands on his feet. Apolo hits punches and chops outside. Apolo is sent into the post. Apolo is sent into the rails then Mal is sent into the rails. Apolo jumps on him in the ring and is powerbombed for 2. Apolo is busted open somehow and Mal punches the cut. Mal 2nd rope superplexes Apolo for 2. Mal slams him and 2nd rope legdrops him for 2. Apolo rolls him up for 2. Mal catches him and is caught with a ddt. Apolo superkicks him and wins.

Thoughts: It was an okay heavyweight match. There wasn't anything too notable except for Apolo somehow getting busted open. But nobody really botched anything and they got a lot of time, so it was okay. If anything, it was something different.

Mal nails Apolo after then chokeslams the ref. Mal goes for a chokeslam on Apolo but Don Harris makes the save. Don hits a big boot. Slash comes out and puts the hood over Don's head then neckbreakers him. Mal chokeslams Don.

James Mitchell says Don has chosen the wrong path and says it's time for more desecration. He then puts the blood on Don.

Thoughts: I'm interested in Don vs Malice. I'm sure there won't be a lot of bumps but I'll give that one a chance.

Don West is in the ring and says how about some TNA? He brings out Miss TNA Taylor Vaughn. Don says it's been a while since she won Miss TNA and asks what she's been up to. Bruce of the Rainbow Express then comes out for some reason. Bruce says he heard Truth earlier. He says he agrees with him and is inspired. Bruce says he wants to be treated equally and wants rights. Bruce says you can treat him like them or put the Miss TNA Title on the line right now. He calls her a b!tch I think then Taylor low blows him.

Miss TNA Title - Taylor Vaughn (c) vs Bruce

Tay throws a high heel at him and suplexes him. Tay slams him for 2. Tay hits chops. Tay tackles him then they bang each other's heads off the mat. Bruce lariats her down then slaps her around. Bruce adominal stretches her then slams her. Bruce misses a 2nd rope legdrop. Bruce tilt-a-whirl drops her and wins.

Thoughts: Don said this was sick and I agree with him. I thought The Rainbow Express were done as we hadn't seen them in a while and they weren't over. But, nope. The match was disturbing to watch. It was like Bruce was wrestling one of the 1990's WWF Wrestling Buddies and Tay just flopped around hard when did moves to her. I don't know who this one was for. Tay also lost clean so you can't even say she was cheated or something here.

Low-Ki is doing pull-ups and Goldi wants to interview him. Ki says he does his talking in the ring.

Low-Ki vs Jerry Lynn

Ki hammerlock takedowns Lynn. Lynn headscissors him and waistlock takedowns him. They trade holds on the mat and then stand off. Ki rolls him. Lynn rolls out of a wristlock and flips Ki with it. Ki upkicks him.

Lynn hits shots in the corner. Ki armdrags him. Ki trips him. Lynn step up enzugiri's him. Lynn hits boots in the corner. Ki gets on his shoulders and rolls him over. Lynn spinning tilt-a-whirl backbreakers him for 2. Ki leg kicks him then does a mongolian chop. Ki pounds on Lynn in the corner then slams him. Ki does a flashing elbow for 2. Ki headscissors him. Lynn cradles Ki then Ki running lariats him. Ki dragon sleepers Lynn in the ropes. Lynn legdrops Ki's neck over the middle rope.

Lynn legdrops Ki then spinning vertebreakers him for 2. Ki kind of gets powerbombed but triangles Ki. Lynn hits a gordbuster then hits mounted punches. Ki flying elbows Lynn then dropkicks him. Lynn takes a stun gun for 2.

They trade shots. Ki chest kicks him over then is lariated. Ki springboard enzugiri's him. Ki hits chest kicks while Lynn is down then buzzsaw kicks him. Ki handsprings and is caught with a sitout powerbomb for 2. Ki cradles Lynn for 2.

Ki dragon sleepers him then Lynn hits a tornado ddt for 2. Ki does a stiff koppo kick. AJ Styles gets on the apron and he kicks Lynn in the back of the head. He causes a no contest with it.

Thoughts: It took a while to get going and the crowd wasn't that good in the first half of it. It did get better though and the two were pretty stiff with each other. Then we had the bad finish. I'm not sure why AJ would want to do what he did when he did it since Lynn was about to get beat.

AJ talks trash to Lynn after. Ki headkicks AJ.

Golidlocks interivews Don Harris. Don asks if Goldi wants him to cut a wrestling promo. Don says Malice got one up on him this week. He says if Malice wants blood, he'll ask Ricky Steamboat to book a first blood math. He says payback's a b!tch and says don't start no sh!t, don't want no sh!t.

Jive Talkin' with Disco Inferno

Disco says his phone has been ringing off the hook. He says he's been in discussions with network executives to replace a female talk show host who has her own book club and weight problems. He says he can't reveal the name but is talking about Oprah. He says his nationwide host for the hottest, sexist and dumbest b!tch for Miss Jive Talkin' has becoming.

He says the show is called TNA. He says he's seen a lot of "A" but not much "T". He says his guest will be the first to expose her chest on live TV and brings out Goldilocks, who he says is a sexy dumb b!tch. Goldi comes out and says Disco insulted her. She says she's out of here. Disco tells her to sit on the couch. She says she doesn't sit on the couch of jack@sses. Disco apologizes and Goldi sits down.

Goldi sits with her legs spread and Disco says to show some class. Disco asks her what part of California she's from and she says LA. Disco asks what kind of musical artist she sounds like. She says she was told she sounds like a female Kid Rock. Disco doesn't know who that is.

Disco wants her to tell him about her songs. Disco says enough of that and tells her to take her shirt off. Goldi says her makes her sick. Goldi says he doesn't see him showing the world his @ss. Disco says Goldi doesn't have any talent and says she can't show the only talent she has as she doesn't have kneepads with her. Goldi slaps him. Disco grabs her by the throat and calls her a dirty slut. Goldi knees him in the nuts and says it would have hurt more if there was something down there to hit.

Paulina from Tough Enough then puts Goldi in a sleeper and throws her down.

Thoughts: This was horrible as expected and had Russo's hands all over it.

Don West says next week's show will have the greatest show you have ever seen with Lynn/AJ/Ki in an X-Division Title match along with the first blood match and Truth/Shamrock for the NWA Title. Don then promises the most unbelievable show of all time in an impressive rant for next week's show.

Scott Hall vs Jeff Jarrett

Scott has a stretcher with him though this is more like a hardcore match than a traditional stretcher match where someone is wheeled out on one.. Scott nails JJ before he enters. Scott hits shots on him outside and sends him into the steps. JJ is then thrown onto the commentary table and takes punches. Scott bangs JJ's head off the table. JJ hits shots inside then Scott drops him with one. Scott fallaway slams him.

They fight to the back. Scott throws him into a door. Jeff hits him with a step stool. Scott sends him into a door. They head back into the arena and Scott punches JJ off the stage. JJ bangs Scott's head off a rail.

They go to ringside where Scott hits more shots. JJ baseball slides the stretcher into Scott and rams it into his gut. JJ jumps off the apron onto him then hits him in the back with it. 

Jeff lays the stretcher on the 2nd rope and sends Scott into it. JJ is sent into the stretcher in the corner. Scott drops him with a punch then crotches him on the stretcher. Scott hits JJ with the stretcher then drops him throat first on it. Scott hits him in the face. Scott hits a razor's edge but Truth comes down and pulls hte ref out.

Truth nails Scott and scissors kicks him in the ring. Truth puts JJ on Scott and JJ gets a 2 count. Monty Brown comes down and throws Truth over the rail. Jerry Lynn comes down and slingshot splashes JJ. Scott gets a 2 count on JJ. AJ Styles then nails Lynn on the ramp. AJ goes up top and Don Harris crotches him on the top rope for some reason. Malice and Slash then come out and beat up Don. They fight in the crowd.

JJ and Scott bang heads. They both get up. Scott hits punches on JJ. Scott hits the ref with the stretcher when JJ moves. JJ dropkicks the stretcher into Hall's face.  Ricky steamboat comes down, JJ swings a chair at him but hits the ropes with it and has it rebound in his face. Scott grabs the chair, Ricky grabs it from him then JJ hits the stroke on Scott on a chair. JJ picks up the win.

JJ then puts Scott on the stretcher as the show ends.

Thoughts: There was a ton of shenanigans here. I'm not even sure what beef Don Harris had with AJ or what beef AJ had with Jarrett. This match was all brawling and it was just average. The stretcher wasn't the greatest weapon ever and the match was built around stretcher shots. I just thought this was average and had to shake my head at Jarrett winning.

Overall thoughts: It was the usual TNA show with some awful Russo segments, some okay junior wrestling, Jeff Jarrett putting himself over then average work from the heavies. The Disco and Bruce segments were really bad here. Malice/Apolo was okay and I liked the two junior matches. This felt like a long show and took me a while to get through it. I'd give this one a 4 out of 10 overall as the good wasn't good enough to overtake the bad and I wouldn't recommend it.

AEW Dynamite 2/26/2025

AEW Dynamite 2/26/2025

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/02/aew-dynamite-2192025.html

Cope is in an ambulance. He says he wants to show The Death Riders their ride tonight.

We see MJF getting a tattoo removed. He says he watches people chant cowboy sh!t at a phony while he's here literally giving you an arm and a league. MJF says he's mad at the people for choosing Page over him. He says the only 3 letters that matter to him now are MJF.

Adam Page arrives in a pick-up with bullhorns on it.

"Hangman" Adam Page vs Aaron Solo

Page running facekicks him. Page hits punches on him in the corner. Solo corkscrew kicks him then Page lariats him. Page hits a buckshot lariat and wins in this quick squash.

Page says there's 3 things he hates. English Ivy, running out of biscuits and when a little b!tch with a bad spray tan spits in his face. He says he will sit in the ring until he gives MJF the beating of a lifetime.

MJF comes out. He asks if Page is nuts. He says Page is heartless and says he's not fighting him now. MJF says he has to leave and get ready for the match. He says he forgot why he came out here. MJF says he's worried about his friend and tells him to check on him. MJF says this is where we find out who is actually ready.

We then see Christopher Daniels with fake blood in the back. Adam Page goes looking for MJF and seens Daniels in the back.

Thoughts: As always, the big issue with Daniels being the punching bad is that Page was beating the crap out of him prior to MJF doing this. So it's hard to feel Page really cares.

We see Don Callis and Kyle Fletcher watching the show in a box.

We see a Chris Jericho interview from earlier in the day. CJ says Renee is here for how she treated him last week. Don Callis and Mark Davis then walk out of CJ's locker room. Don says sometimes they need to handle problems in house. He calls Will Ospreay a degenerate piece of garbage and needs someone like a bounty hunter to take care of these people. CJ says bigger isn't necessarily better but says Bryan Keith is better. He says Bryan has what it takes to beat Will.

Bounty Match - Will Ospreay vs Bryan Keith

They lock up. Will wristlocks him. BK takes him down and they stand off. BK hits forearms and Will flying headscissors him. Will hits chops. BK double throat thrusts him. Will hits armdrags and armlocks him. Will boots BK in the chest then slams him. Will standing corkscrew moonsaults him.

BK slides out then Will plancha's him. Will is thrown out. BK running facekicks him outside. We go to PiP break and return. BK hits chops then exploders him in the corner. Will hits chops. Will handspring corkscrew kicks him.

Will hits shots on BK then corner facekicks him. Will springboard forearms him for 2. Will goes up and over. BK high kicks him. Will enzugiri's him then BK lariats him. Will hits a stunner then hits an os cutter for 2. BK knees him in the face then does a spinning tiger driver for 2.

BK sunset flips him. Will picks him up and hits a styles clash. Will hidden blades him for the win.

Thoughts: It was average. I had a hard time buying that Bryan could win here which brought things down some. They didn't do anything too wild here. 

Will motions to Callis and Fletcher in the stands. Kyle tells him to come on and they fight on the steps. 

We get a video on Momo Watanabe ahead of the match with Mercedes Mone.

We see Mercedes Mone. she says she has things to do and says Momo made a big mistake choosing her to face. She asks Billie Starkz if she has seen Momo and knocks her water in her face. Starkz asks who she things she is. She calls her a narcissistic b!tch and says Mone kows who she is. Starkz tells her to watch her back and Momo Watanabe swings a bat at her. Mone drops her belt and Momo grabs it. She says she wants the title and is taking it.

The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd) vs The Murder Machines (Lance Archer and Brian Cage)

Cage and Truth go at it. Truth is double teamed and Turbo is knocked off the apron. The Runners hit dropkicks. Cage and Lance are sent over the top. The Runners then pose. Cage and Lance hit lariats on the outside. Truth is sent into the rails. We go to PiP break and return.

Lance foot chokes Truth. He running back elbows him. Cage euros Truth. Truth hits a jawbreaker and gets Turbo in. Turbo hits shots on Cage and Lance. Turbo 2nd rope twisting crossbodies Cage and rolls him up for 2.

Lance footpresses Turbo down then Lance splashes Truth. Turbo takes forearms and a facekick for 2. Truth is suplexed on the floor and Lance chokeslams Turbo for 2. Lance goes for blackout. The Hurt Syndicate's music hits and they come out. Turbo then pins Lance while he's distracted.

Thoughts: It was average and the finish wasn't that good here. I don't like the faces winning in a cheap way and this was kind of a lose-lose as neither team really needed to lose here. I thought The Runners should have been thrown around more.

We get a video on Cope vs Mox. Mox says he appreciates Cope putting his money where his mouth is. Claudio says he tips his hat to Cope. He says this is not Cope hunting them, it's Clauding hinting him.

Swerve Strickland comes out to talk. He says he told Tony Schiavone he would come here and win championship gold. He says he showcased the AEW Title to the world. Swerve said Nana was right when he said his focus wasn't the title. He says he's still the man around here and needs gold around his waist to prove it. He says he has wrongs to right and one of them is with Ricochet.

Swerve tells Ric they are done when he says they are done. Ricochet comes out. Ricochet asks if Swerve is dumb. He says he told him he's done with him. He said Swerve had his chance and he won. He says winners don't chase losers.

He says he's chasing gold and trying to be something Swerve won't be - a champion. Ric says he will have gold around his waist the next time Swerve sees him. Nana says he has an offer for Ric that he might want to consider. Nana says the fans deserve a rematch. Nana says he has a contract that says the winner between Ricochet and Swerve will be #1 contender.

Ric says that's good and says he's on. He says they aren't doing it tonight. He says the fans don't have enough money to pay his fee. He says they will do it in Revolution.

Thoughts: I don't like this being a #1 contender's match as Swerve has done nothing but lose lately and I don't see how he earns this.

Ric leaves. Nana says he has to talk to Swerve. Nana says he's glad Swerve is making the title a priority again and taking the steps to get it. He says he wants him to go back to being the most dangerous man in AEW. Nana says he took a lot of bullets for him. Nana says he needs Swerve to get his robe back or he doesn't know if he can do this anymore.

Renee interviews Adam Page. Page says MJF is gone and he left. Page says if he doesn't run MJF over, MJF will wish that he had.

Daniel Garcia and FTR vs Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong

Cash wristlocks Kyle. Kyle trips him and they trade hammerlocks. Kyle leglocks Cash and Cash ropebreaks. Cole and DG go at it. They end up doing a stand off. Dax does an armdrag on Strong. Strong chops him in the corner. Dax chops back. Dax suplexes him and legdrops him for 2. DG hits a twist and shout on Strong. Cole gets in and checks on Strong. Cole and DG argue. Kyle then boots DG over. The 6 wrestlers then fight.

Cole superkicks Dax outside and Kyle dropkicks Dax against the rails. DG dropkicks Kyle against the rails and DG is backbreakered on the rails. Cash tornado ddt's Strong on the floor.
We go to PiP break and return. Dax and Strong trade forearms. Strong olympic slams him then flying knees Cash. Strong drops Cash on his chest. Strong lariats Cash over the top. KYle flying knees Cash off the apron. Dax takes a gutbuster > backcracker > PK.

Dax fights off the 1v3 then he sharpshooters Kyle. We get a trple cradle spot then a triple lariat spot. DG and Cole hockey fight. DG facekicks Strong then lariats Cole. Dax sharpshooters Strong. Kyle tries to break it up with a guillotine but is abdominal steretched by Cash. Cole then jack knife pins DG to win.

Thoughts: It was a good tag with everyone really firing up here and taking this up a notch. I didn't expect that out of this one and it was a nice surprise. This was much better than expected.

They shove each other after. We are told Adam Cole will face Daniel Garcia for the TNT Title on Collision. 

Claudio looks for Cope backstage. Cope finds him and hits him. Cope hits him with some kind of object and sends him into a hockey board. They fight to the ring. Yuta comes out to help Claudio then Marina Shafir appears. Claudio chairs Cope. Claudio goes for a conchairto. Jay White copes out. Cope chairs the heels and spears Claudio.

Shafir gets on Cope's back with a sleeper. Yuta flying knees Shafir when Cope moves. Jay hits a bladerunner on Yuta. Cope chairs Claudio. Cope conchairto's Claudio. Mox comes out but doesn't really get involved as Jay threatens him with a chair. Cope goes to conchairto Shafir. Willow Nightingale's music hits. Willow comes out and conchairto's Shafir.

Harley Cameron vs Deonna Purrazzo

HC goes down off a lock-up. DP knees her in the gut. HC tries to grab the leg and is thrown back. We see Taya Valkyrie watching in the back. HC hits armdrags on DP. HC flying headscissors DP then neckbreakers her for 2.

HC gets stuck up top and DP pump kicks her down. DP baseball slides HC. We go to PiP break and return. HC jawbreaker her and lariats her on the ropes. SP spin kicks her then russian legsweeps her for 2. HC is in tree of woe and kicks DP. HC hits forearms and step up enzugiri's her. HC leg lariats hr for 2.

DP pump kicks her then powerbombs her for 2. HC hits a twisting reverse ddt and wins.

Thoughts: I was surprised they had DP lose here, but that's really all she does since she formed The Vendetta The match wasn't anything too special here. Harley's strength is on the mic, not in the ring.

We see Claudio and Shafir being taken away in an ambulance with Cope, Jay and Willow closing the doors.

AEW International Title - Revolution International Championship Series - Konosuke Takeshita vs Orange Cassidy

KT takes off OC's glasses. He breaks them and chews on them. OC then puts another pair on and wrestlers with them. KT knocks him over and takes the 2nd pair. KT gives Don Callis the sunglasses.

OC armdrags KT. KT ducks an orange punch. OC does his weak chops. KT facekicks him. OC superkicks him. OC dropkicks him then does weak kicks. OC boot flurries him in the corner. 

OC slingshot ddt's KT. KT drops him with a big forearm. We go to PiP break and return. OC bangs KT's head off the buckles. OC top rope flying elbows KT. KT hits a big lariat. OC's ddt is blocked and he ends up taking a blue thunder for 2.

OC hurricanrana's KT over the top. KT forearms OC outside. OC sits on the commentary table and tells KT to hit him. OC then puts his hands in his pockets. OC beachbreakers KT throug hthe commentary table.

OC orange punches KT in the ring. He topes him into a ddt on the floor. Don Calli complains and OC takes his sunglasses back from him. OC comes off the top and runs into a KT forearm. OC hits a stunner. KT package tombstones OC then OC flips him forward from that position for 2. KT hits a raging fire on OC and wins.

Thoughts: I didn't like it. It had the usual OC big match issues where he fools around with weak kicks and playing around with sunglasses. There's just no explanation for that in a title match. I wasn't really impressed with the selling in this one either. 

Overall thoughts: It was a long episode of Dynamite. It felt every bit of 2 hours here. I didn't like the Page/MJF segment as Page was beating the crap out of Daniels a month ago and is now coming to his aide. Swerve and Ricochet's segment wasn't bad and the 6-man with FTR impressed me. I thought The Outrunners/Murder Machines and Deonna/Harley were both lose-lose segments with people taking unnecessary losses as well. I'd give this one a 5 out of 10. AEW is trying to put on better shows just the booking hasn't improved.

WWE Speed 2/26/2025

WWE Speed 2/26/2025 

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/02/wwe-speed-2192025.html

WWE Women's Speed Title - Candice LeRae (c) vs Zoey Stark

Zoey backs her up in the corner. CL slaps her and Zoey rams her into the corner. Zoey hits corner spears and shoves her in the head. CL boots her in the gut. They fight on the apron. CL kicks her there.  Zoey superkicks her on the apron for 2. CL crucifix bombs her for 2. Zoey is back body dropped over the top and bangs her face off the steps. Zoey gets back in and CL pounds on her. CL's throat is pulled down over the top and Zoey springboard dropkicks her for 2.

Zoey rolling death valley drivers her for 2. Zoey is pulled into the buckles and CL tries to pin her. CL argues with the ref and is rolled up for 2. CL hits a step up enzugiri.

Zoey spin kicks her and hits a release dragon suplex. Zoey knees her in the face for 2. Zoey hits a Z360 and CL rolls out of the ring off of it. Zoey throws her back in but CL rolls away and Zoey runs out of time on the pin attempt.

Thoughts: It got 5 minutes so it actually was a full match here. The match was just average though. The crowd didn't really care and I thought they could have done a better job of CL trying to survive the time limit and to evade Zoey. 

Overall thoughts: There was only one new match as usual here. It was average and I thought they could have told the story of CL trying to survive the time limit a little better. As usual, there was nothing you really needed to see here, though the show was only 6 minutes long so it's not a major time investment.

NWA Powerrr 2/25/2025

NWA Powerrr 2/25/2025

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/02/nwa-powerrr-2182025.html

Aron Stevens and BFT talk. He says soon the world will meet BFT 2. Kratos says Odinson tore his bicep during the Kill/Talos match. Aron says it's it so sad? Kratos says let's see how battle tested they are. Aron says he told us what will go down and says let us show you what will go down.

#1 Contender to the NWA Jr. Heavyweight Title - Hunter vs Slade vs Lev vs Alex Misery

There is no way Slade is a junior. Lev is thrown into Alex. Hunter is german'd into the other two. Hunter dropkicks Slade then corner cannonballs him. Lev nails Hunter from behind. Alex jumps off Lev's back into Slade in the corner.

Alex is knocked off the apron. Hunter goes for a pin then does a tope off of it. Hunter springboard dropkicks Slade for 2. Slade is thrown off a double ddt attempt. Hunter takes a samoan drop + flipping neckbreaker combo for 2.

Slade dragon suplexes Alex. Hunter takes a lariat + german combo. Lex indian deathlocks Slade and Alex breaks it up. Slade is pulled over the top and Alex yells at Lev for not working with him. Alex jumps off of Lev's back onto his opponents outside.

Alex gets distracted by Rolando Freeman outside. Alex takes a pop-up powerbomb on the apron edge. Hunter slingshot code red's Lev. Hunter is caught on an asai moonsault by Slade then Slade air raid crashes Hunter. Slade does a figure four ankle lock on Hunter and Hunter taps out.

Thoughts: The submission finish was a bit random, as was the match. I have no idea why or how Lev and Alex are being said to be working together since they never have in the past. What we got of this was okay with them keeping it moving and them coming up with some creative spots. 

We see a interview with Kyle Davis and Mike Mondo. Mike says 20 years the world has been Paul Birchall's sandbox. He says he's been trying to shake his hand since then and says Paul passed him by when he tried to shake his hand. Mike says what about Mondo? He says he's been grinding for everything he got and says it changes tonight. He says tonight is his sandbox and says it will be Mondo Time and Gutcheck Time tonight.

Mike Mondo vs Paul Birchill

They lock up. Mike puts him in the corner and they trade shots. Mike hits forearms. Paul clubs on him then hits a short arm clothesline. Paul atomic drops him and throws him out. Paul knocks Mike off the apron when he tries to get in. Mike eye pokes Paul.

Mike comes off the 2nd rope and is hit in the gut. Mike nails Paul from behind out of the corner then kicks him in the gut. Mike stomps on Paul. Mike puts Paul's arm in the 2nd buckle then stomps on him. Mike then ties his leg up in the ring skirt at the same time and kicks him.

Mike chokes Paul on the ropes and drops him with a punch. Mike chinlocks him. Paul knocks him over then germans him. Paul hits another german then hits a 3rd german for 2. Paul cradles him for 2. Mike superplexes him but Paul gets a pin attempt off of it. Mike low blows Paul after he grabs the ref. Mike then pins Paul.

Thoughts: It was one of Paul's better efforts. This had a lot of clubbering. It was okay and I guess made sense giving the explanation for this. 

We get a dual package focusing on Latimer vs EC3 and Markova vs Nieves.

Kyle Davis interviews EC3 in the ring. EC says he feels like a stranger in a strange land. He says the NWA Title is the most prestigious because of the one year he put into it as champ. He says fans follow spectacles then Thom Latimer comes out. EC3 just freezes in place. Thom says they have been doing this for too long and says it ends at Looks That Kill in a cage. EC then leaves without saying anything.

Blunt Force Trauma (Damage and Carnage) vs Kratos and Baron Von Storm

BFT have new gear with some straps in front that don't look good. Storm is Kratos' mystery partner. BFT attack before the bell. Storm hits shots on Damage then Damage knees him in the gut. Storm threatens the claw. Carn grabs Storm and Storm knocks him off the apron.

We go to break and return. BFT is stalling outside. Dam clubs on Storm. Storm hits corner spears. Kratos flying forearms Dam in the corner. Kratos chops Dam. Kratos suplexes Dam then release suplexes him. Carn knees Kratos from the apron in the back then Dam lariats Kratos.

Carn pounds on Kratos. Kratos takes corner attacks then a Carn spinebuster. Carn snapmares Kratos and traphezus holds him. Kratos powerslams Carn. Kratos goes for the tag but Dam pulls Storm off the apron. Carn and Kratos trade forearms. Carn superkicks him.

Kratos jumping knees him then falcon arrows him. Storm gets in and hits lariats on BFT. Storm samoan drops Dam. Storm lariats Dam then does a standing camel clutch. Aron Stevens gets on the apron. Storm ends up putting the claw on him. Kratos back enzugri's Carn then Dam throws Kratos' shoulder into the post. Storm claws Aron. Dam clips Storm, Aron falls on Storm and Dam pins Storm with Aron on top of him stuck in the claw.

Storm won't let go of the claw after. Kratos shows him a globe and Storm lets go of the claw.

Thoughts: This was the first time and hopefully the last time I saw a finish like that. I didn't like it at all. Storm got pinned with Aron on top of him then Damage on top of Aron. Aron should not have been allowed in there and the fact that the ref ended up letting Aron take part in the final pin was awful. The match was average otherwise with them doing a lot of punches and strikes. 

Overall thoughts: The NWA just can't help themselves. They were having an acceptable show then had to do a stupid finish in the main to bring the show down. The opener was random and Slade is too big to be a junior heavweight but the work was okay. Birchill/Mondo was average but there was nothing wrong with it. The main was also average. I'd give this one a 5 out of 10 as it was a much better effort than usual from the NWA. I wouldn't recommend it though.