WWE NXT 5/2/2023

WWE NXT 5/2/2023

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/wwe-nxt-4252022-nxt-spring-breakin-2023.html

WWE NXT North American Title - Wes Lee (c) vs Drew Gulak

Wes shotgun dropkicks him to start. Dempsey gets on the apron to distract Wes and Drew gets a nearfall off of it. Wes goes for a leapfrog and is rolled up then Wes kicks double stomp as he is down. Drew diving lariats him off the top for 2. Drew does an armlock with a crossface.

Wes enzugiri's him in the corner. Drew goes outside where Wes topes him. Drew distracts the ref and Dempsey pulls out Wes then Bate comes off the steps and uppercuts Dempsey. Wes then hits his backflip kick on Drew and wins it.

It was short and compact. I didn't think it was that great or anything but it was okay for an opener.

Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre were doing their witchcraft stuff. They said their next destination is Smackdown and said this was their final night in NXT. They said Carter and Chance were the staples of the division for so long and said they would take the NXT Women's Tag Titles with them tonight.

Trick Williams came out to talk. He said Bron hospitalized Melo, but Melo is his buddy. He said he and Melo went to the same high school. He said game recognized game and said the Trick-Melo gang was being created there. Trick said they will always be here. He said they are like Shaq and Kobe. He said Melo don't miss, but when he does, he's coming down with the rebound.

Bron Breakker interrupts. Bron said he speared him and put him in the recliner, but he's still out there. Bron told him to relay the message that he wants to fight him. Trick said Bron blindsided Melo, but also blindsided him. He said they should settle it like men. Bron said he put Melo in the hospital and would hate to do it to his mouthpiece. Trick said Bron was mad that the people didn't like him like they did with Trick and Melo. Trick said he would knock the tan off him until he's black and blue. Trick said he wanted to fight now, but Bron said he calls the shot and said they can fight next week. He said he will break him in half.

JD McDonagh is interviewed. they mentioned him going to Raw. Noam Dar interrupted. Dar asked JD to make sure Dragon Lee doesn't walk out of here tonight. JD said all Dar cares about is the Heritage Cup. He told him to stay away with him because if he doesn't, he will take the Heritage Cup with him to Raw.

Gigi Dolin vs Jacy Jayne

I can't imagine either one of these two are real happy right now. They were supposed to be called up by now but other acts got the nod over them.

Jacy misses some shots and Gigi forearms her. Gigi throws her out then Jacy cannonballs her off the apron. Gigi's brother Myles is in the front row here. Jacy sentons her then kicks her in the back for 2. Jacy superkicks her then takes a superkick. Gigi high kicks her and sto's her for 2.

Gigi throws her into the rails outside then bangs her head off the steps before hitting Kawada kicks. Jacy somehow starts bleeding bad off this. Gigi has her shoulder pulled into the post then Jacy spinning facekicks her for the win.

They keep trying with these two, but they just don't have a great match in them. It would be better just to let this feud go at this point.

Jacy beats her up after and throws her into the steps. Jacy slaps her and yells at Gigi's brother.

Axiom vs Scrypts

Scrypts jumps in during Ax's entrance and single leg dropkicks him. Ax armdrags him then does a flipping northern lights suplex. Scrypts jumps onto the table outside and flips onto Ax. Scrypts misses some shots  then hits a huge top rope moonsault for 2.

Ax hits a nice dropkick then butterfly suplexes him. Ax comes off the top and takes a dropkick. Ax flips him then hits a pumping knee for 2. Scrypts corkscrew crossbodies him and goes for a 450 but takes a superkick in the air. Ax then flying kicks him and wins it.

This was a good little match. It was exactly what you would want with them doing some highflying and not overdoing it. The 450 superkick spot was cool, as was the flip into hte knee and the top rope moonsault.

Ax tries to shake his hand but Scrypts nails him. Ax hits him back then Ax takes his mask and reveals him to be Reggie. Ax superkicks him and we cut away.

We go to Fallon's bar with Briggs and Jensen, who walks in. Jensen apologizes and they say it's not necessary. Jensen says thanks and Briggs tells him thank you for reminding him how hard he hits. Jensen said he learned a lot from Kiana James and and tries to talk Fallon into either selling or buying to make more profit. Two girls ask Brooks if he wants to have a drink and he declines as he wants to hang with his friends. Seems like things aren't totally finished with Kiana here.

JD McDonagh vs Dragon Lee

JD fireman's carries him but Lee holds onto his wrist during it. JD tries to armdrag him but Lee holds on then Lee holds on through a monkey flip. Lee flips him with his feet then dropkicks him. Lee slingshot swinging dropkicks him in the corner then dropkicks him in the corner. JD then shotgun dropkicks him into the buckles.

Lee is put in the tree of woe and JD tries to baseball slide him but his crotch goes into the post. Lee backdrops JD then atomic drops him. Lee then lariats him over the top. Noam Dar comes out.

We go to PiP break and return. They go up top and JD tries to take his mask off. Lee top rope crossbodies JD then flying hurricanrana's him. Lee hits a tope con hilo on him outside. Lee top rope double footstomps him for 2.

They fight on the apron then JD death valley drivers him there. Lee rebound germans him and hits a poisonrana. Lee then takes a big lariat. Lee hits forearms then JD hits Kawada kicks and a slap. Lee sitout powerbombs him for 2. Lee goes up top and is crotched. JD top rope spanish flies him then brainbusters him for 2.  JD pulls him up but takes a canadian destroyer. 

Dar takes a shot at Lee outside but gets a superkick. JD headbutts Lee then pulls him into a belly to belly for the win.

I didn't like this at all. Just people doing big moves for no reason at all and the selling was not good here. 

Lee topes Dar after and they fight to the back.

Carter and Chance talk in the back. They say its weird that a Raw tag team will face a Smackdown tag team for the tag titles. They said the titles will not be taken to Smackdown. They said they have been teaming longer and have more title defenses and a longer reign. They said they will go out tag champs and Chance hugs her against her will.

Schism looks at clips of Gallus working out. Gacy said he will give his body to The Schism for tonight for  the collective good. Rip said to do them this honor and they will take the tag titles. Ava told Gacy to do this for them and then do something for himself.

We see clips of Nikkita Lyons, Wendy Choo and Sol all being attacked by an unknown assailant. Maybe it's the NXT trainer who keeps getting them injured with tough training regimes?

If Gacy wins, The Dyad get a tag title shot - Joe Gacy vs Joe Coffey

Someone called this the anti-dimes match and I think I agree.

They each hit shots in the corner then Joe hits mule kicks. Joe crossbodies him then Gacy hits a knee. Gacy goes for a senton but Joe gets his knees up. Gacy then hits a uranage for 2. Joe uses the buckles to hit a euro then flying shoulders him. Joe botches a belly to belly for 2.

Joe punches Gacy when he goes into the corner then Joe top rope dropkicks him. Joe flying battering rams Gacy then spinning lariats him for 2. Rip gets involved then Gallus and Dyad fight. Joe nails Jagger and almnost nails Ava. Ava sells it like she got hurt then Gacy handspring lariats Joe to win it.

The finish was clevel. The match wasn't bad at all with the two hitting big shots.

Ivy Nile is with Diamond Mine in the back and said she's sick of Ava always getting involved.

Sol talks to Dani Palmer, who is doing a split in mid-air. Tank and Hank then walk in and hyper her up. they said she is so ready. Sol said she made Dani's gear and Hank and Tank talk about how ready she is. Oba Femi walks in, says nothing and moves on.

We see a clip from the Performance Center from earlier. Damon Kemp talks to Eddy Thorpe. Eddy said he is working on side to side movements. Kemp said he has the trash and tells him to throw his trash away. Kemp said that he said he slept on gym floors and he wanted to make him feel at home. Eddy said it's not a funny joke and Kemp said it's a joke that Eddy things he can hang with him in the ring. Kemp then calls him a young boy and threatens him.

Tatum Paxley vs Dani Palmer

This is Dani's NXT TV debut, but she's already been on Level Up. They have music, lights and a graphic for her already, so they believe in her - as they should.

Tatum has new evil makeup I think. Dani cartwheels through a throw then Dani ties her legs up. Dani backflips out of a wristlock. She goes up and over then catches her with a headscissors. Dani then hits a nice dorpkick and does a cool headflip into a pin attempt.

Dani tries to go up and over again but is clubbed in the back and stomped on. Dani gutwrenches her then bangs her head off the mat. She hits a nice elbow drop for 2. Tatum abdominal stretches her and Dani splits out of it to escape it. Dani flying back elbows her then neckbreakers her. Dani comes up from behind like a headscissors but crossbodies her out of it then hits a huge frogsplash to win.

This wasn't Dani's NXT debut as I said, but this was as good as you can really do for her first TV match. She was better here than we have ever seen her be and looked like a star in the making. Tatum, unfortunately had to do the job here and it's a real shame. It's hard to know where she's at since she doesn't get on TV too much, but this is not where you want to be if you here.

We go to Chase U. Andre Chase is late. Thea gets a text saying Chase doesn't feel well and is cancelling class. Thea asks what they should do to make him feel better. Duke then gets up on the podium. He says there is no reason they should fall behind. He then pulls out a Duke University Curriculum (which is an inside joke at Duke University) and says he will teach the class. He said they will learn about the WWE draft.  Someone asks if this means there will be no pop quiz and Duke tells him to hold up his paper. He tells everyone else to do it too and to rip up their papers. He says no more pop quizzes at Chase U and says Duke University has a nice ring to it in an interesting segment.

We go to Von Wagner and Mr. Stone. Von shows pictures of his dad at Summerslam 1992. He said he wasn't even born yet during this. We then see a picture of Von hat Von doesn't want to talk about. Von slams the album shut and we see a sick child in a hospital.

NXT Tag Titles - Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre vs Kayden Carter and Katana Chance

Everyone fights outside to start then Chance is popped up by Carter onto her opponents. Chance enzugiris Isla then Isla and Alba are both thrown out. The faces then dive on the heels as we go to PiP break.

We return and Chance bulldogs Alba then hurricanrana's her. Chance does a flipping kick on her then the faces do a bottom rope springboard moonsault and legdrop in stereo. Chance is flipped onto Alba, but Alba gets her knee up. Alba swantons Chance as she is on Isla's knees.

Isla superkicks Carter then Isla takes the 450 + neckbreaker combo. The our girls meet up in the middle of the ring and fight. Alba superkicks Carter then gets crotched up top. Alba takes a double top rope spanish fly for 2. Chance top rope crossbodies Isla then Alba swings Chance into Carter. Chance then takes a gori special + flatliner combo and the heels win it.

The faces looked good here as usual and it was a decent but short match.

Dijak talks about Ilja Dragunov. He said he gave him fair warning not to show up and says his ribcage is smashed now. He said he was helpless and mocked him. He said he will break him next week.

Indi Hartwell is headed to ringside on crutches.

Apollo Crews talks to Trick Williams in the parking lot. Crews says he sees a lot in him. He sid Melo has the spotlight but Trick is the definition of a superstar. He tells him to keep grinding and next year he will get drafted.  

Indi Hartwell comes out. She said she was a fan of the black and gold era of NXT and said no one ever thought she'd acheive her goal. She said then she found The Way and formed a bond with them and the fans. She said everyone wants to be a fighting champ and said she wasn't going to let her title run end on the medical table last week. She said he couldn't believe she got drafted to Raw  and said the most important thing is NXT and the title. She said there will be a tournament for the NXT women's title next week. She said don't cry because its over, smile because it happened. She said she needed to figure out how she will get out of the ring then Dexter Lumis appeared and helped her out.

Tiffany Stratton came out and took the title then Cora Jade did a tug of war with her over it. The other girls on the roster then came down and fought as the show ended. 

I really don't get why they had Indi win the title if she was getting drafted. That didn't make any sense. I also don't really get why Indi is getting drafted since she's one of the worst women on the NXT and since the crowd support from NXT will not follow her to the main roster.

Overall thoughts: Indi relinquishing the title was dumb. The show was okay overall but it wasn't my favorite episode ever. The in-ring work was good overall minus the JD/Lee match.

Dragon Gate 4/5/2023 The Gate of Passion 2023 Day 3

Dragon Gate 4/5/2023 The Gate of Passion 2023 Day 3

It's been a while since I've done some DG here. DG lost a lot of ground in the west over the years. It was the biggest Japanese promotion here at one point. What happened? Meltzer started getting into NJPW and everyone followed. Jae stopped doing his iheartdg website too and that meant there was no more english source for DG. DG has also always kind of been in its own universe which makes it hard for people on the outside to get in. Nobody online really talks about it and even for myself, it's hard to keep up. DG's style isn't the best to follow longterm either as with so much of it being focused around tag matches, you don't feel like you are missing stuff like you do with other companies and big singles matches.

Natural Vibes (BIG BOSS Shimizu, Jason Lee & Kzy) vs. GOLD CLASS (Ben-K, BxB Hulk & Minorita)

Hulk cartwheels out of an armlock and rolls Kzy into a pin. Kazy gets out of an armlock and puts Hulk in one then Hulk kick combos him. Hulk legsweeps him and misses a kick then they stand off. BBS and Ben go at it. They lock up and shoulder battle and BBS shoulders him over. Minorita headscissors BBS then tries to do it to Lee but Lee headflips out.

Kzy backbreakers Minorita then BBS stands on Minorita. Minorita headscissors BBS out of a samoan drop. Hulk cartwheels through a double team then spin kicks Lee. Hulk 2nd rope dropkicks Kzy. Ben backdrops Kzy into an axe kick from Hulk then runs him over with a shoulder.

Ben takes offense from Vibes then is knocked over with a euro. Vibes all does cartwheels and dances around Ben then drops elbows on him. BBS then does a worm into a splash. Lee tornado ddt's Hulk off of Minorita. Lee runs at Minorita, Minorita leapfrogs him then Ben hits a spear on Lee to get the win.

It was an okay opener though it didn't pick up until a little later. The leapfrog into the spear spot was cool.

Minorita steals the Brave Gate title after and runs off. Vibes then steals Ben's chain.

 

Kagetora & Shuji Kondo vs. Z-Brats (ISHIN & KAI)

Kondo is double shouldered early then Kage step up enzugiri's Kai. Ishin grabs Kage by the hair then strike combos him. Ishin lays down and dares Kondo to come in then kicks the rope into his crotch when he tries. Kage has his crotch pulled into the post.

Ishi dropkicks Kage in the back then Kai ddt's Kage for 2. Ishin bulldogs Kage for 2. Kage step up enzugiris him then flying shoulders Kai. Kai bulldogs Ishii and lariats Kai at the same time. Kondo then overhead throws Kai. Kage gets in and hits some straight punches then Kondo hits his lanzarse spear on Kai.

Kondo is pulled outside while running the ropes then Kage hits palm strikes on Kai. Kai superkicks and enzugiris him then lariats him for 2. Kai hits a cradle shock on Kagetora and wins it.

Kind of the usual DG heel vs face match with the heels cheating and bringing the match to a slower pace then the faces making their comeback and picking things up. I've never been a big fan of heel Kai in Dragon Gate and this was the usual from him.

Don Fujii, Eita & Naruki Doi vs. Daiki Yanagiuchi, Kaito Nagano & YAMATO

Kaito is doing a soccer gimmick and plays around with the ball. Daiki is doing a janitor gimmick and comes ot the ring with a broom and dust pan and janitor gear.

The feed cuts out during the early part of this. Nagano rolls and frankensteiners Eita who is sitting on top. Don punches Daiki right in the mouth and slams him. Don indian deathlocks Daiki. Eita back elbows Daiki for 2. Daiki makes his comeback and goes under Eita's lariat to tope Done outside. Nagano hits nice dropkicks on Eita then Doi takes running corner moves.

Don takes a shot at Daiki then Daiki slaps him on the apron. Don slaps him back and hits a big lariat. Doi suplexes Daiki for 2 then taps him out with the camel clutch.

Pretty standard vets vs rookie stuff. Daiki mostly got beat up here and got a small comeback before being put down. Daiki gets beat up by Don after and Don slams Nagano on Daiki. Nagano's got a good look and story as he used to be a staff member at Korauken Hall and probably will be someone someday.

D'courage (Dragon Dia & Yuki Yoshioka) vs. Natural Vibes (Jacky Funky Kamei & Strong Machine J)

J and Yuki start us off. They do some basic moves then stare down. Dia runs the ropes fast and does a nice armdrag on Jacky. Jacky hits a high dropkick  then J double axe handles Dia's arm. Dia is tripped and takes elbows from both guys. Dia hurricanrana's Jacky in the corner. Dia grabs Jacky's leg then does a rocking chair submission.

Dia standing moonsaults Jacky. Yuki back body drops Jacky for 2. Dia and Jacky trade chops then Jacky is popped-up but hits a dropkick off of it. J back elbows Dia then spin kicks Yuki. J powerslams Dia then corner lariats him. J holds up Jacky to do a kick flurry on Dia then Jacky top rope la silla's Yuki for 2.

Yuki hits a nice dropkick on J. Yuki codebreakers and suplexes Jacky for 2. Jacky takes an irish whip into kicks and a chop + legsweep combo from D'Courage. Dia then running ssp's Jacky for 2. Dia hits a nice swinging ddt onto Jacky and Jacky rolls up Dia for the win.

It was fine. It was a fast paced match where they kept the action moving.

M3K (Masaaki Mochizuki & Mochizuki Jr.) vs. M3K (Susumu Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda)

Jr. leg kicks Kanda then running chest kicks him. Sr. and Susumu go at it then Susumu lariats him hard on the ropes. Sr. spin kicks Susumu then kicks him in the back. Susumu lariats Sr. then Kanda stomps on Sr. Sr. does a hard chest kick on Kanda then Sr. takes a sandwich lariat. Sr. kicks Kanda and Susumu then Jr. kicks both opponents.

Susumu knees Jr. in the gut then Kanda slingshot elbows Jr., who then hits chops on Kanda. Kanda runs into a pumping knee. Sr. and Susumu go at it. Susumu blocks a kick with a lariat then lariats him. Sr. suplexes him then whips his own son into corner moves on Susumu. Jr. pushes Sr. into a face kick on Susumu then Jr. pumping knees Susumu.

Susumu and Sr. trade strikes then Kanda hits Sr. with the blue box. Susumu finlay rolls Sr. into a top rope Kanda elbow. Sr. topes both opponents outside then Jr. 2nd rope moonsaults everyone. Jr. and Sr. accidentally kick each other outside and Kanda/Susumu go into the posts. Jr. and Sr. try to get in but Kanda swings the box at them and we get a double countout in typical M2K fashion.

This dragged a little and it was an odd match with no real clear face or heel alignments here.

Open The Dream Gate Title #1 Contendership Match - Kota Minoura vs. Madoka Kikuta

They shoulder battle to start and trade forearms. Madoka shoulders him over then back elbows him. Madoka slams Kota then headscissors him. Madoka hits chops then Kota gets some offense in. Kota hits elbows and steps on his face. Kota puts him in a strangle hold alpha and Madoka ropebreaks.

Madoka hits a stiff hip attack. Madoka then hip attacks him off the apron. Madoka sliding hip attacks him in the ring and legdrops him for 2. Madoka hits a stiff harlem sidekick and a suplex. Kota exploders him in the buckles.

Kota sliding forearms him against the ropes then does another sliding forearm to the face. They trade forearms then Kota his a nice mid-air clothesline. He double underhook suplexes him then Madoka hits a big lariat. They meet in the middle with lariats and Madoka wins that battle. 

Madoka running hip attacks him in the corner then side michinoku drivers him for 2. Kota takes a sitout last ride but gets out at 1 then side slams him out of a lariat. Kota lifts him up and drops him on his chest. Kota then falcon arrows him for 2.

Madoka pump kicks Kota then then hits a stiff lariat. Kota does a nice-roll out of nowhere into a pin attempt then takes a hip attack and a stiff lariat. Madoka hits another stiff lariat for 2. Madoka spinning lariats him and wins it.

I didn't expect much going into this, but I liked this. Madoka really stiff the crap out of Kota here and looked very good in this one. This was much better than you would think and who knew Madoka of all people was such a good strong style wrestler?

Overall thoughts: I skipped 2 matches here. Despite that, it was a bit of hard to show to get through. Not sure why but the matches for the most part just felt like they dragged. The main was shockingly good and was the highlight of this show.

Big Japan Pro Wrestling 4/21/2023 Kobayashi Day 2023

Big Japan Pro Wrestling 4/21/2023 Kobayashi Day 2023

I feel bad for not getting more BJW shows covered, but there's just too much stuff to cover these days. I think I saw more than anyone else in the world last year at over 500 shows and I still feel I was probably 200 shows short.

Kaji Tomato, Kazuki Hashimoto & Kota Sekifuda vs. Ender Kara, Ryo Hoshino & Yuichi Taniguchi

Kaiji and Kota do Kaiji's dance during intros. Ender and Hash start us off. Ender rolls out of an armlock and grabs a leg. They end up ropebreaking and tag out. Ryo and Kaji go at it. Kaji cartwheels over him then Ryo dropkicks him. Ryo is kicked into a bulldog and baseball slide.

Kota slams Ryo then the two trade forearms. Kota slams him and does his slingshot double stomp. Hash gets in and headbutts Ryo. Ryo top rope dropkicks Hash then Ender kicks Hash. Ender hits an enzugiri on him and knocks him down.

Hash russian legsweeps him  then is stuck on the 2nd rope where he takes ennzugiri's and then a slingshot splash. Ender takes a backdrop into a backcracker then rebound germans Kota. Yuichi gets in and running throat thrusts Kota in the corner. He suplexes Kota for 2 then he walks the top rope while holding his arm.

Kaji tries to help and Yuichi wristlocks both from up top. Ender and Ryo grab arms too and we get 5 people helping Yuichi walk the top rope. Kota throws Yuichi off the top then splashes him for 2. Kaji planchas opponents outside and Kota tries pin attempts on Yuichi before winning it at 8:44.

Nothing wrong with this as an opener. The walk rope spot was fun and it was just a short thing to get the crowd going.

Ender and Hash attack people after the bell.

Kazumi Kikuta & Yuki Ishikawa vs. Astronauts (Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura)

Nomura and Kikuta start us off. They wrestle to the mat and go for some holds before getting back up. Yuki and Abe get in. Yuki dropkicks him then sweeps him into a double stomp. Abe tries to do it back to him but takes another double stomp. They repeat this sequence and Yuki gets facekicked off the apron.

Abe tries another double stomp but Yuki sweeps him again and double stomps him. Nomura then tries it on Yuki and gets double stomped out of it. Yuki takes a double kick from his opponents for 2 and Nomura misses another double stomp attempt and takes one again. Abe tries again for the double stomp and can't get it.

Abe tries again and takes a double stomp then Nomura does as well. Yuki enzugiri's him. Kikuta gets in and dropkicks Abe in the corner then Kikuta 2nd rope knee drops him. Kikuta goes for a kick and takes a dragon screw then Abe spin kicks him in the corner. Nomura dropkicks Kikuta then he suplexes him for 2.

Kikuta and Nomure trade forearms then Kikuta palm strikes him. Yuki top rope dropkicks Nomura. Nomura takes corner attacks then a double enzugiri and double superkick combo for 2. Yuki hits a nice forearm on Nomura then is backdropped for 2. Nomura PK's Yuki for 2 and Yuki tries roll-ups on him for 2. Yuki hits a superkick then Abe catches him with an octopus. Nomura abdominal stretches Kikuta at the same time and Astronauts with via submission on Yuki at 10:52.

I thought this was a fun match. They went in cold and there was no big reason to care for it, but they made it fun with the double stomp attempts.

Abe tries to double stomp Yuki again after the match but gets stomped then Nomura does too.

Daisuke Sekimoto & Yasufumi Nakanoue vs. Daimonji So & Yuya Aoki

YN = Yasufumi Nakanoue

So and YN start us off. YN flips out of an armbar and upkicks him. So is taken down and has his legs split. Sek goes to ankle lock So but So gets out. Yuya hammerlocks Sek then takes one back. Yuya goes for a shoulder block but is shouldered over. Seki slams him then Yuya takes a double shoulder.

YN hiptosses Yuya and knocks So off the apron. YN then hits an elbow drop for 2. Sek chops Yuya in the corner and Yuya asks for more. Yuya hits chest slaps on Sek then is shouldered over. Yuya armdrags him off a powerbomb attempt and dropkicks him.

So gets in and top rope lariats Sek. So hits punches on Sek then flying clotheslines him. So fallaway slams Sek. So gets both Sek and YN on his shoudlers then samoan drops both. Sek and So trade shots then Sek rolls him into a suplex.

YN flying clotheslines So then 2nd rope double stomps him. YN then vader bombs him for 2. So hits a flying forearm then Yuya gets in. Yuya chest slap flurries YN then hits an impressive exploder on him for 2. YN flapjacks Yuya then Yuya takes a double backdrop. Yuya and Sek hit elbow drops on him for 2. Yuya tries pin attempts on YN. YN tries to flip him with a lariat but he holds on and back slides him for 2. Yuya then lariats him for another 2. Yuya lariats YN and wins it.

Not a classic or anything but it was a decent tag match. Sekimoto didn't get a lot of stuff in here and they pushed Yuya and So getting the win as an upset. The crowd liked Yuya.

Yuji Okabayashi vs Necro Butcher

They lock up and Oka arm ringers him then Necro headlocks him. They shoulder battle and Oka back off from Necro's punch attempt. Oka hits chops in the corner then Oka returns fire. Oka hits machine gun chops.

Oka throws him off on a lock up and they trade holds on the mat. Yuji pulls both of his arms back then backdrops him. Necro goes out to stall and pulls Oka out with him. They only have one camera here so it's hard to see what is happening outside, but Oka gets his head banged off the apron and gets stomped. Oka hits chops outside.

They back in and Oka armlocks him. Oka hits a nice suplex but Necro gets his knees up on Oka's splash. Necro spinning beckbreakers him then rips Oka's tights when he pulls him on a piledriver. Necro sits him up top but is knocked down. Oka top rople splashes him then Necro hits a nice hook and both men go down. Oka running lariats him for 2 then torture racks him for the win at 13:34.

It was an interesting styles clash. I don't know what Necro vs Okabayashi was supposed to look like when you think about it as Oka wrestlers like a hoss and Necro is a brawler/deathmatch guy, in a non-hardcore match. I didn't expect all of the arm work though and thought it would have been better if Necro heeled it up some on Oka then Oka made his comeback to win it.

Barbed Wire Board Death Match - Abdullah Kobayashi, Ryuji Ito & Yuko Miyamoto vs. Hideyoshi Kamitani, Kankuro Hoshino & Mad Man Pondo

Everyone fights to start and only Abby is left in the ring from his team. He takes a very slow irish whip into the barbed wire board in the corner then Abby and Pondo try to stab each other with stuff. Abby gets something inserted into his head, but the video quality and camera angle make it hard to see.

Everyone fights outside but we can't see half of it. Yuko pushes a barbed wire bat into Hoshino's head then Yuko and Pondo duel with weapons. Yuko takes some kind of saw blade on a stick to the gut and Pondo stabs him with something. Pondo uses a stape gun on Yuko then uses his saw blade on a stick to cut up Yuko.

Hoshino tries to shoulder over Abby and can't then Yuko trips him from outside. Kami puts a barbed wire board in fornt of Ito then runs through it into him. Ito slams Kami through a barbed wire board bridged on chairs then beats the board into his back with a kendo stick. Everyone goes outside again and we can't really see any of it. Abby pushes a bared wire board into Pondo outside  then Kami pushes the board into Abby. Ito hits kicks on Pondo then is eye poked. Pondo pumphandle tombstones him then has a stop sign dropkicked into his face. Yuko uses the giant slicer thing on his back then staple guns him in the head.

Kami reverses a hiptoss from Yuko into an armdrag then Kami and Abby lariat battle. Hoshino sto's Abby then Pondo accidentally hits Hoshino with a stop sign. Hoshino takes a baseball bat shot to the leg and has a chair thrown at his face. Abby then rolls him up and wins it.

It really wasn't good and it wasn't anything special. They only went 10 minutes and had a couple of people like Pondo and Abby who are immobile at this point. We also couldn't see a lot of it due to the camera set up.

Overall thoughts: I saw 5 of the 6 matches. The camera set-up messed up the last two matches as you couldn't see what was going on. Some of the undercard was fun but the semi-main and main didn't really hit like it should have.

New Japan Pro Wrestling 5/1/2023 Road to Wrestling Dontaku Day 8

New Japan Pro Wrestling 5/1/2023 Road to Wrestling Dontaku Day 8

Oleg Boltin vs Oskar Leube

Oskar shoves him before this starts. He's fired up and ready to go.

They go for waistlocks then trade forearms. Oleg headlocks him  and they shoulder battle. Oskar knocks him over then pulls both of his arms back. Oskar stomps him and drops an elbow for 2. Oleg picks him up and slams him.

Oleg leglocks him on the mat and Oskar ropebreaks. Oleg stomps the knee then shoulders him over and single leg crabs him. Oskar hits a big boot then slams him. Oskar jumping leg drops him for 2 then crabs him. Oleg back body drops him then single leg crabs him. Oleg puts him in a full crab but the time limit expires.

It was wasn't bad for a young lions match. Oskar's obviously above doing that at this time, but he's gotta pay his dues. The two matched up well together and I have a eeling we will be seeing this many more times in the future.

Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA) & Ryohei Oiwa vs. United Empire (Aaron Henare, Francesco Akira & TJP)

Kushida shoulders over Akira early then Akira armdrags him. Akira hits a flying leg lariat and is thrown out. TJP takes arm wringers then Oiwa top rope double axe hanldes his arm. Knight does the same. Knight is legswept into a basement dropkick then Henare chest clubs him over the ropes.

TJP chinlocks Knight then ties his arm up as well. TJP indian deathlocks Knight then Akira and Knight trade shots. Knight tilt-a-whirl backbreakers Akira then Kushida gets in. Kushida hits shots on TJP and crossbodies him. TJP is hiptossed into a Kushida dropkick for 2. Akira slides out of a a double lariat, TJP double dropkicks Kushida and Knight then Akira is lifted into a dropkick on the two.

Oiwa hits forearms on Henare then Henare later fires back. Henare hits a nasty spinning superkick to the face then takes a corner attack from Knight and Kushida. Knight jumps over a double lariat then does a nice dropkick on TJP and springboard crossbodies Akira. Knight then plancha's Akira outside. Henare full nelson's Oiwa and wins it.

They didn't have a ton of time here and basically wasted the first half of this with real basic holds. Things picked up towards the end, but the first half brought this down.

Akira and Kushida point fingers at each other and Knight holds up his belt at TJP.

United Empire (Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) vs. TMDK (Kosei Fujita, Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste & Zack Sabre Jr.)

Kosei forearm flurries Khan to start then Khan drops him with a forearm. Kosei dropkicks him then does a big gutwrench suplex. Khan stomps Kosei then Cobb stands on Kosei's back. Kosei takes a PK and senton combo from Aussie Open then Kosei does a nice dropkick on Kyle. Everyone fights outside and Kyle is sent into the rails by Shane.

Zack puts Cobb's arm in the rails then kicks the rails. Zack stomps Kyle's arm back in the ring then Kosei joins Zack in stomping Kyle's arm. Mikey hammerlock slams Kyle's arm. Shane does a chop and uppercut combo to Kyle in the corner then Kyle takes a reverse 3D. Shane accidentally lariats his own partner and Kyle gets a move in. Zack guillotines Kyle then Kyle suplexes him.

Cobb corner spears Zack then throws Oiwa across the ring. Zack takes a running backdrop from Cobb then Cobb backdrops both of TMDK. cobb goes for a tour of the islands backdrop on Zack, but swings arund and gets onhis back. Zack hits a euro then Cobb hits a standing dropkick.

Kosei and Khan go at it and Kosei forearm flurries him. Khan chops Kosei's ear then Kosei hits a nice slam on him for 2. TMDK get lariated over the top then Kyle plancha's both outside. Kosei backslides Khan and rolling kimura's him. Cobb breaks that up then Kosei rolls him up for 2. Kosei slaps Khan hard then is put into a claw choke and cobra clutch for the Khan win.

It was fast paced and they kept the action moving. It wasn't bad at all. Mark Davis barely got in this one.

CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii) & Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) vs. Strong Style (El Desperado, Minoru Suzuki & Ren Narita) & Yuto Nakashima

Narita hits a euro on Okada then Okada forearms him hard. Narita running boots him then hits a spinning heel kick. Ishii accidentally forearms Okada then Narita underhook suplexes Okada. Narita and Suzuki double team Okada and Suzuki PK's Okada. Suzuki hits kicks to the chest then foot slaps Okada. Okada ddt's him.

Togi and Suzuki trade forearms. Togi corner lariats him then hits corner punches. Yuto and Suzuki stomp Togi then Togi lariats both. Honma shoulders over Suzuki and misses a headbutt. Suzuki kicks him then triangles him in the ropes. Suzuki pk's Honma from the apron.

Honma is driven into the rails and Suzuki punishes him in front of Tanahashi, who is doing commentary. Okada is thrown into the rails by Ren. Despy boots Honma and running back elbows him. Honma back elbows him and falling headbutts him. Ishii kicks Despy in the back then shoulders him and other opponents over. Ishii powerslams Despy and they trade forearms. Despy backdrops him then Ishii takes forearms from Suzuki and Ren.

Ishii takes a spine buster from Despy for 2 then Despy pumphandle drivers him for 2. Suzuki takes an over the knee neckbreaker from Okada then Okada dropkicks Ren. Ishii lariats Despy for 2 then Despy spears him. Yuto hits forearms on Ishii then is shouldered over. Yuto hits kicks and rolls up Ishii for 2. Ishii backdrops Yuto then crabs him for the win.

They had too many people here and not enough time. Everyone got a little section in but there wasn't much else. Honma looked pretty beaten up here but Ren looked good. 

Just 5 Guys (DOUKI and Taichi) vs Los Ingoernables de Japon (BUSHI and Shingo Takagi)

Shingo and Taichi start us off. Taichi face kicks him and they shove each other. Bushi gets in and takes a sidekick. Douki gets in and armdrags Bushi then springboard back elbows him. Douki then double stomps him for 2. Bushi 2nd rope hurricanrana's Douki and tags out. Shingo forearms and headbutts Douki then shoulders over Taichi. Shingo slams Douki into a senton then suplexes him.

Douki kicks Shingo in the gut then ddt's him. Taichi hits Kawada kicks on Shingo then Shingo hits a punch and lariat combo on him. Bushi top rope dropkicks Taichi then neckbreakers him. Taichi avoids a lariat in the corner then makes a comeback with a running STO on Bushi. Bushi high kicks Taichi.

Bushi takes enzugiris from both opponents then Douki 2nd rope double stomps him. Taichi then taps him out with the stretch plum.

This was rushed and too short.

Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito) vs. Just 5 Guys (SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

Sanada and Hiromu start us off. Kanemaru hits Hiromu from behind then lifts up Kane to hurricanrana Sanada. Sanada takes a double team and is double basement dropkicked. Naito then wraps his legs around Sanada's neck and he ropebreaks. Naito is pulled outside byKanemaru and thrown into the rails as is Hiromu. Naito is sent into the post.

Back in the ring, Kanemaru works the knee then Naito has his legs split. Naito hits forearms on Kanemaru then atomic drops him into a neckbreaker. Hiromu flying huricanrana's Sanada then john woo's him. Hiromu then basement dropkicks him for 2. Sanada dropkicks his knee then dropkicks him out of the ring before hitting a plancha. Hiromu and Sanada trade forearms then Sanada backdrops him. Hiromu armdrags him then rolls him up out of the dragon sleeper. Hiromu takes a bridged twisting neckbreaker then Hiromu dragon screws Kanemaru when he gets in. Naito hits armdrags on Kanemaru then baseball slides his back. He hits his slingshot swinging corner dropkick.

Naito has his knee double teamed by his opponents and Kanemaru figure fours him. Sanada then dragon sleepers Hiromu at the same time. Naito's team ropebreaks then Naito makes a comeback. He hits a 2nd rope diamond dust on Kanemaru and they trade roll-ups. Kanemaru enzugiris him then is superkicked, enzugiri'd and running lariated. Naito rolls him up for 2 then Hiromu pushes Naito up into a tornado ddt on Kanemaru. Naito hits a destino and then wins it.

It was an okay main not really nothing too special.

Overall thoughts: I skipped two matches here but it was a house show. Nobody was going all out for this one and with most of the matches being 10 minute tags, there was only so much everyone could do anyway. I wouldn't go check this one out.

New Japan Pro Wrestling 2/14/1991 - Bam Bam Bigelow and Ax Demolition vs Riki Choshu and Masa Saito

New Japan Pro Wrestling 2/14/1991 - Bam Bam Bigelow and Ax Demolition vs Riki Choshu and Masa Saito

Bam slams Riki twice then misses a splash. Riki avoids a dropkick and hits a big lariat. Ax gets in and back elbows Saito then Saito does it to him and slams him. Ax begs off. Riki works Ax's leg and knocks Bam off the apron. Riki then scorpion deathlocks Ax but Bam breaks it up.

Saito scorpion deathlocks Ax and Bam breaks it up with a dropkick. Ax pounds on Riki then Ax takes a double team. Ax clubs on Saito then Saito scorpion deathlocks him. Riki and Bam do a knuckle lock and Riki suplexes him over. Bam beat up on Riki then Bam takes a huge back body drop.

Saito is thrown out and thrown into the rails and post. Bam pounds on Saito then Saito hulks up. Saito backdrops him. Riki lariats Bam then Ax neckbreakers him. Saito suplexes Ax then Riki lariats Ax and wins it.

It really wasn't anything special. The heels should have beaten up on the faces to start but that didn't really happen til later and Riki kind of rushed out the lariat and scorpion deathlock before it meant anything.

All Japan Pro Wrestling 4/30/2023 Champion Carnival 2023 Day 8

All Japan Pro Wrestling 4/30/2023 Champion Carnival 2023 Day 8

There's 4 Champion Carnival matches today:

Champion Carnival - Takao Omori vs Manabu Soya

They lock up. Omori face kicks him and shoulders him over. Soya is facekicked off the apron then thrown into the rails. Omori then ends up taking a back body drop on the mats outside. Soya hits some forearms to the lower back then then they trade chops. Omori suplexes, facekicks then spinning heel kicks him for 2.

Soya spears him and they trade chops. Soya sits on the top rope and Omori samurai drivers him for 2. Omori 2nd rope backdrops him for 2. Soya deadlift brainbusters him for 2 and they lariat battle. Soya lariats him down then hits a running lariat and wins it.

It was fine and exactly what you would want and expect with lariats and stiff strikes. The only issue was that Omori just is older now and moves in slow motion.

Champion Carnival - Hokuto Omori vs Yuma Anzai

Omori grabs him by the hair and headlocks him then Yuma shoulders him over. Yuma dropkicks him then takes a running forearm off the apron. They trade forearms outside then Omori grounded sleepers him inside.

They trade more forearms and Omori belly to belly suplexes him. Yuma suplexes him for 2 then double arm suplexes him. Omori cutters him then puts him in the anaconda vice. Omori and Yuma trade forearms and Omori jumps up and takes a german. Omori koppo kicks him then takes a flying knee.

Omori deadlift germans him then dragon suplexes him. Omori then ki krushers him for the win.

There was nothing wrong with it. Pretty basic match here with them trading some trikes then some suplexes at the end. Omori's heavyweight run just isn't working for me though. It just seems like he lost a lot of his intensity and his stuff just does not look as good against bigger guys.

Champion Carnival - Suwama vs Rei Saito

They shoulder battle to start and Rei knocks him over. Rei is tossed out and Suwama throws him into the rails outside. Suwama chokes him with rope and drags him into the seats. Suwama hits him with a chair and throws him over the rails back into ringside. Suwama picks up a railing and Wada stops him.

They get back in the ring and Suwama sleepers him. Rei lariats him, shoulders him then splashes him for 2. Rei hits machine gun chops in the corner. Suwama flying forearms him then hits a stiff lariat. Rei comes back with lariats then is backdropped. Suwama kicks and clubs on him outside. Suwama beats him up against the rails. They fight more outside and both get counted out.

The idea was there but execution could have been a lot better. Suwama tries to do this brawling style, but he really doesn't have the intensity for it and he's kind of slow, so it doesn't look as good as it could. This was only about 10 minutes but it still dragged.

Champion Carnival - Shotaro Ashino vs Shuji Ishikawa

Ashino wristlocks him then is wristlocked back. Ashino chopblocks him then bangs his leg off the apron and post.  Shuji fire thunders him on the apron. Shuji hits forearms in the corner then sleepers him. Ashino escapes it with gut punches then is lariated. Ashino jumping headbutts him then hits a running euro for 2.

Ashino germans him and goes for the ankle lock but Shuji ropebreaks. Shuji running shoulders him and running lariats him in the corner. Shuji then 2nd rope double stomps him for 2. Ashino goes for an ankle lock and is pushed over the top rope with Shuji's feet. They trade forearms as Ashino is on the apron then Shuji 2nd rope superplexes him.

Shuji goes for a powerbomb but is hurricanrana'd then Ashino ankle locks him. Shuji gets out and forearms him. They trade forearms for euros then Ashino takes a fire thunder for 2. Ashino shoots in and takes a knee to the face then another knee for 2. Shuji goes for another knee but is ankle locked and Ashino taps him out.

There was nothing wrong with it. It made sense for the most part with Ashino working the ankle and finally winning with the ankle lock, but it was just missing that extra energy and intensity like a lot of the stuff on the show. 

Overall thoughts: The matches were all just missing the intensity and aggression and the crowd wasn't that great. I'm not sure what it was exactly. Nothing was bad but nothing was great or exciting either.

IWA Puerto Rico Zona Caliente 4/27/2023

IWA Puerto Rico Zona Caliente 4/27/2023

The last show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/iwa-puerto-rico-impacto-total-4222023.html

We see clips of Invader heart punching TNT from the TNT/Romeo match.

IWA Women's Title - Krystal vs Nathalya Perez vs Roxxy

Krystal is referred to as La Peligrosa and as a shaman. They say Roxxy has broken every mold, isn't afraid of anything and has fought men. Krystal and Perez hit forearms on Roxxy then Roxxy clotheslines both. Roxxy shoulders Perez then Perez hiptosses and armdrags her. Perez hits a dropkick then Krystal blindsides her with a lariat.

Krystal chokes Perez then bangs her head off the mat. Krystal slams her then Roxxy rolls on her. She turns her back and Krystal nails her and legdrops Perez. Roxxy superplexes Krystal and Perez gets under them to powerbomb Roxxy. Perez and Roxxy trade forearms then Perez hits an unusual ddt. Roxxy double underhook ddt's Perez but is pushed off the top by Krystal. Krystal running knees Perez and picks up the win.

It wasn't anything special as they didn't get much time and had to account for 3 people here but they didn't botch anything or have any screw-ups.

Harry William does a promo. He said they almost became tag champs and it was because of him. He says he doesn't know what's going on with Niche and questions if he forgot how to win. He says a win is a win and said if he hadn't cheated, the FoD's would have. Harry said he'd take a match with him, but the winner has to be able to get any title shot they want for winning it. He said Niche cost him two title chances and the third time will be the charm here. He said he plans on killing him because his hunger to be champ is bigger than Niche's.

Savio Vega talks to who I think is Bolo the Red Bulldog. This is from March 2022. He says he has a ref position to offer him and says he may have more for him to do from time to time.

El Atleta Manu vs Azazel

Azazel arrives in a coffin. The person pushing it leaves. Manu opens it up and is brought into the coffin. Bolo knocks on the coffin to see what is going on. It opens up and Manu is getting beaten up and bleeding. They say Manu's face looks like a pizza. Manu then has his head cut with a pizza cutter.

Manu is hit with a kendo stick and then weapons are pulled out of the coffin. Manu takes some chair shots then is whipped with a belt. Manu is put on a chair then Az runs around the ring but gets nailed with the chair when he comes back around. Manu chairs him and hten hits him with a handicap parking sign. Manu canes him in head and back, breaking the stick over him. Manu hits him with a trash can then slams him on the can.

Az takes another kendo stick shot and rolls out. Manu grabs one of the fans chairs with his shirt on it and nails him then he hits him with a bat from a fan. Manu then hits him with an air horn and bangs his head off the casket. Az gets busted open and Wizard says it's like a shark on prey. Az gets a fork and stabs Manu with it then Manu kendo stick shots him. 

Manu forks Az in the head then Az takes a side slam on the top edge of a chair. Manu wraps his hand around a chain then hits Az with it. Manu then puts his head in an unfolded chair and camel clutches him. Az hits him with the trash can to get out. Az flying lariats him then running knees him in the corner. Az then does a coast to coast dropkick into the can into Manu's face for 2.

Manu is seated up top and hit with stuff. Az pours out thumbtacks and gets knocked onto them. Wizard laughs then Manu powerbombs Az for 2. Manu stares down Bolo and says something to him then he chairs Az. Manu gets his head rammed into a chair between the buckles then Az hits a jumping flatliner for 2. Az superkicks him with a chain wrapped around his boot then curb stomps him with it to win.

I thought it went on too long and they did too much. It went around 17 minutes and was all weapons shots and not much else.

Manu puts him in the coffin after and closes the lid.  

Roxxy is interviewed. She said the title was stolen from her in the triple threat and said they would have a triple threat rematch at the next show. She said her goal since she came here was to be women's champ.

Bullrope Match - Mr. Big vs Apolo

Big runs at and hits Apolo before he can get the rope put on him. Big then hits him with the cowbell on it. Apolo finally gets the rope on him while he is being beaten with the cowbell. Big lariats him and goes to touch all 4 corners but Apolo stops him. Apolo is bleeding then lariats him and whips his back with the rope. Apolo hits Big with the cowbell and makes him bleed.

They trade punches and Big chokeslams him in the ring. Big goes to touch the 4 corners then lariats him. Big touches 3 corners and Apolo touches 3 behind him. Apolo rock bottoms him then touches the 4th corner and wins it.

This was very short and disappointing. There was just not much to it before the finish and they didn't get the most out of the gimmick or each other here.

Nathaly Perez is interviewed. She said she will continue giving her all and says she carries the talent in her blood.  She said Krystal is selfish and says Roxxy does deserve to be here, but it doesn't matter. She said what does matter is that Krystal stopped her destiny. She said she will be the women's champ in the rematch.

La Gran Amenaza does a promo. He said money is most important thing and says life gives you what you put in. He gets censored. He said Cuervo did a good job against Ferno but will take care of business on 4/29. He said he's always been a big threat to Ferno and said this is just the beginning.

IWA Title - John Hawking (c) vs "El Escorpion" Mike Mendoza

Mike rolls him up to start and Wizard says Mike has many resources at his disposal and lots of experience. Mike clean breaks in the corner but John pushes him off. They said Mike's grandfather was the wrestler "El Vikingo" Salvador Perez, who was a star in South and Central America and managed the Sheepherders. they also said he was in the first fire match and faced a bear. Mike hits kicks on John then is shouldered, hiptossed, armdragged and dropkicked. Mike goes out to recover.

Mike pulls John's throat over the top rope then Mike top rope crossbodies him. John catches him then is pulled over the top. Mike then is pulled down hard onto the apron. John hits punches outside then Mike enzugiri's him on the apron. Mike sends him into the post then superkicks him as he stands on the apron and as John is on the floor.

Mike eye pokes John then kicks him in the back. Mike beats up on John then hits a nice dropkick. Mike mocks John then is back body dropped. Mike hits a superkick and a spinning high kick. Mike euros him then they botch a flatliner.

John hulks up and hits punches. John flying shoulders him then back body drops him. John flips him with a lariat then hits a full nelson slam for 2. John lariats Mike over the top then jumps off the apron onto him. John goes up top and takes a palm strike then John does a top rope blockbuster for 2. They trade shots on their knees then trade shots standing. Mike top rope double stomps the back of John as he is bent over twice for 2.

John rolls up Mike then takes a superkick. Mike tope con hilos John then rolls into a cutter. Mike double underhooks him and twists it into a cool ddt. John kicks out at two and the crowd gets excited.John full nelson slams Mike off a reversal then hits a TKO for the win.

There was nothing wrong with this. No great story or anything but it was good. Mike was good here and really seemed like he was going to win it.

Mike calls John into the ring after and wants to shake hands. They shake hands and Mike lifts his arm up in victory. Mike then leaves without causing any trouble.

Nick Mercer does a promo. He said Mike Medoza had a chance to win the title and failed. He then said he wants to be a double champ and said he deserves a shot at the title.  He challenges Mike Mendoza to hopefully earn a title shot. He said Mike is one of the best, but so is he. He tells Mike to give himself a challenge on 4/29 and says the winner should be the #1 contender to the title. Nick says they will kill and destroy themselves and says he will show him that there is no life after him.

They run down the 4/29 show which has:

Manny Ferno vs El Cuervo

Mike Mendoza vs Nick Mercer

Romeo and Mr. Big vs a team selected by Savio Vega

Khriz Diaz vs Miguel Perez

El Niche vs Harry William

Azazel vs Manu

Nathaly Perez vs Krystal vs Roxxy

They also promise a reaction from Savio Vega on Invader heart punching him and The Drunken Express.

Mike Mendoza does a promo on Nick Mercer He said his 10 years of experience helped earn him title shots and said Nick has to earn his chances. He said Nick shows a lack of respect for his partner by challenging for a singles title. He said Nick is just a hindrance. He said he has to win so the Era of the Scorpion can begin

Overall thoughts: The main was decent to good, the women's match was short but acceptable, Big/Apolo was too short and Manu/Azazel ran too long. It wasn't a fantastic ep, but it was nice to see the outcomes of all the matches they built up to. They had a tough time here as they only had 2 weeks between shows and could only do so much because of it. With the next show also having so many rematches, they couldn't get that creative angle or promo wise either.