What's up everyone? Thank you again for checking out this week's edition of the regular UnWrest post. Below you will find my reviews for WWE, ROH, NXT, and Impact Wrestling throughout the week. Also, be sure to check out my podcast recommendation. Finally, I'm sharing a quick endorsement for the latest wrestling book I just finished. So, without further ado, LET'S DO THIS!
Raw Thoughts
- I was one of the few that apparently really loved the match between Triple H and Undertaker at Super Show-Down for the Old School match that it was. That being said, I felt that the Raw segment to open the show felt rushed and didn't come off well in my opinion. It was a hot open to the show. But it was hot because of who was on the screen, not because of what they were saying. Likewise, I was disappointed with the way that HBK wasn't the one to just say "I'm back." It seemed to me that Triple H kinda took the moment that should have been Shawn's. The segment just could have been handled better.
- WOW! They really turned Bobby Lashley heel on Raw and Kevin Owens face. I personally believe that this was the right choice. Lashley and Lio's schtick will be much better on the heel dynamic. Lio can be the new Jimmy Hart. I understand that Kevin Owens will be off TV for several months with injuries. I hate hearing that as Owens is one of the best acts on Raw. Get well soon, KO.
- Elias had another big night of heel heat for ripping on the local sports teams.
- ANOTHER HEEL TURN happens as The Bellas turned their backs on Ronda Rousey. Wow.
I think I said it best on Twitter here....
- I knew someone was going to be underneath the Conquistador mask. I was half-thinking that "God, COULD JERICHO PULL OFF SHOWING UP ON JAPAN AND WWE ON THE SAME NIGHT?" But logistically, that would be impossible. So, Kurt Angle was the best and most logical choice given the problems between him and Corbin.
- WWE made the right decision in my opinion to combine the Trish/Bliss and Lita/James matches into the Trish and Lita vs. Bliss and James match at Evolution. I was not looking forward to either match, but the combined match has actually gotten my interest.
- All six men in the main event killed it. They had another phenomenal match that was at or may have surpassed the level of their match in Austalia. Very well done. Dean walking off without Roman or Seth was another way to add more fuel to this dynamic between the teams, as was the constant bickering between Strowman, Ziggler, and McIntyre. Something tells me we are going to see a unique alliance grow out of all of this between members on both sides.
Overall this was another excellent episode of Monday Night Raw, and it seems that Raw is starting to find its groove here in the fall. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if things return to normal next week and suffer as a result. But that's next week. This week, the show rocked. Every segment served some kind of purpose. Even the mixed tag team match was used to promote Mixed Match Challenge. A satisfactory show to get us going towards Evolution and Crown Jewel.
SmackDown Live Thoughts
- Despite the crowd not reacting to the match for a good portion of the match, I really enjoyed the opening women's championship match between Becky and Charlotte. The match served the purpose of setting up the LED board spear by Charlotte and the subsequent announcement of the Last Woman Standing Match at Evolution.
- I actually liked the fact that they ended Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy with Joe being unable to continue due to the bad wheel. 1) It actually shows that injuries matter. 2) Joe doesn't lose anything by losing in this way. Joe didn't lose by submitting. The ref stopped the match. 3) You shouldn't give away matches like Joe-Jeff Hardy on TV... at least with clean finishes.
Plus, am I the only one who thinks that perhaps Joe will use this leg injury to further motivate him to go after AJ in a couple months? Joe may cost AJ the championship before it's all said and done, and he may not be the one winning the title in the process.
- The Miz was a delight during the MIZ TV segment with AJ and Bryan. His reactions to their ribbing of him and his blowup at the end were great.
- Shelton Benjamin's win streak is over after 1 win. AJ continues to look great while most everyone who faces him lose all momentum. I'm not saying that as a burn. AJ is a GREAT, GREAT, GREAT athlete. The problem is WWE is continually feeding him people without giving those who lose to him any sort of protection or agenda after the loss.
- And then One Night in Milwaukee happened. And... I'm done with it. The whole thing died a fast death relatively speaking. But it shouldn't have been done period if it was going to be done the way it was done.
- Big Show looked really good even in defeat to Randy Orton. He's a great success story in getting into the best shape of his life at the later stages of his career.
Overall, again this week, SmackDown just couldn't hold a candle to Raw. Raw has been on a roll lately. Here's hoping SmackDown 1000 can end the drought somewhat. (Rey Mysterio vs. Shinsuke Nakamura?! YES PLEASE!)
NXT Thoughts
- SHE KNOWS! SHE KNOWS! Nikki Cross was absolutely awesome in that opening segment this week. You can tell she was having a blast playing this psychotic character that "knows" the big secret about who attacked Aleister Black. And her torturing of both Ciampa and Velveteen Dream was hilarious. Also kudos to Ciampa (and the NXT Championship, lol) for telling Dream that he wasn't "Tough Enough."
- Keith Lee continues to impress every time he's on TV. The dude has so much charisma and the size to really stand out from the pack. The only thing I want to see from him is more promos. Can he strike a chord and reach out to the audience in an authentic way? If he can, we could be looking at this generation's American Dream.
- I really enjoyed the main event between Cole, Dunne, and Ricochet. However, I don't think it was exactly the greatest thing in the entire world. The end bothered me a bit as it was plainly obvious that Dunne was waiting for Ricochet to dive off the ropes to do his 450 splash while having Adam Cole pinned. And in any other week, this would be the best match I've seen this week. But after a weekend with really good matches (especially the IWGP Heavyweight Championship match), this didn't exactly measure up to that for me. (Then again, wrestling in 2018 is, as Mauro would say, "an embarrassment of riches." So, this match could have easily won "Match of the Year" a year or so ago.)
Overall, this was a very good edition of NXT. And (not to sound like I'm repeating myself) I'd put this at #1 most weeks. But Raw just nailed a grand slam this week. NXT can be #2 this week, but it was anything but that in what it accomplished this week.
ROH Thoughts (Episode from 10/5/18)
- Vinny and T.K. from The Kingdom start off the show in a tag team match against Coast To Coast. The Kingdom are an act that I continue to feel lukewarm about. Sometimes, they feel like a cool act. Other times, they just scream "INDY" group to me in the worst ways possible. I honestly lost interest in this match as it did nothing to gain my attention, and I feel that way too many times about The Kingdom's matches. IF ROH loses The Elite and New Japan decides to bail on their co-branding deal, acts like this are going to be one of the reasons I may end up cancelling my Honor Club subscription. Coast To Coast win in an awkwardly executed rollup. Not a great way to start the show.
- Hurricane Helms and Marty Scurll had a decent comedy match. Helms may move a little slower than he did 15-20 years ago, but he's still a really solid athlete and worker. I like the dynamic of The Hero and The Villain going at it. The fact that Helms got Scurll in a rollup was a bit of a shocker. Now, at Glory by Honor, it looks like we're going to get the rubber match between the two.
- The main event was Cheeseburger vs. Will Ferrara. I honestly have no interest in watching Cheeseburger main event a show by himself. So, I did not watch it. This is the type of junior league stuff that Ring of Honor does that will cause it to lose my Honor Club subscription if The Elite head to Stamford.
Bottom line: ROH was not a good show this week. And I am placing it at the bottom of this week's shows. I get that Cheeseburger appeals to some demographic, but are you telling me Cheeseburger appeal.... LOOK HOW RIDICULOUS IT IS THAT I'M EVEN ARGUING THE MERITS OF SOMEONE NAMED CHEESEBURGER MAIN EVENTING A SHOW?! That just proves my case.
Impact Wrestling Thoughts
- Show starts with a Fatal Four Way Match between Puma King, Trevor Lee, Jack Evans, and Petey Williams. I was not a fan of this match. It was too by the books and didn't really deliver much except for the always-awesome Petey Williams' Canadian Destroyer.
- Nice added-in boos for Eli Drake when he was being interviewed in the back. It's not as if the Mexico City crowd actually booed him for that interview. Then again, SmackDown was NOTORIOUS for the canned heat and cheers they would sprinkle in.
- I enjoyed the six man tag between Johnny Impact's team and Austin Aries's team. I felt that both their match and the Moose-Edwards match received adequate build during this match for Bound for Glory. Impact loses nothing after getting basically triple teamed.
- Tessa Blanchard won another match this week. I'm glad to see that Impact isn't falling into the see-saw booking that WWE often partakes in terms of wrestlers trading wins and losses. Tessa should be protected as a character. That way, whenever she does lose, it means that much more for whomever defeats her.
- The LAX/OG segment at the end of the show helped put the final push onto the storyline. It wasn't groundbreaking by any sense of the word, but it was an excellent way to get people excited to see Konnan get his hands on King and for the feud between the two groups to reach its end.
Overall, a real so-so show for Impact. On one hand, I felt they did a great job with the big six-man tag and the main event trying to get over some of the bigger feuds. I also liked a segment I didn't mention earlier involving James Mitchell and Allie. Mitchell's one of my favorite unrecognized managers in wrestling. But some of the stuff on this match was straight filler (Grado's match for example).
For the week, I'm giving Raw the victory, followed by NXT. Then, I'll go with SmackDown Live. Then Impact Wrestling. And ROH brings up the last place on this list.
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Podcast Recommendation of the Week
The Jim Ross Report wins for this week in my opinion. Ross has a really good first part of an interview with Matt Hardy discussing the impact the recent hurricane had on his home in North Carolina. Plus Matt discusses his "retirement" and the upcoming WWE Network specials he is shooting. This comes along with Jim Ross's opinions on the big events happening in the news, sports, pro wrestling, and pop culture. Ross's commentary is always appreciated, especially on the UFC Post-Fight fiasco and the current state of American politics.
Speaking of Jim Ross...
Book/Audible Recommendation
Jim Ross's autobiography, Slobberknocker, is truly amazing and worth the read or listen. I bought the audiobook to be able to hear JR's voice and inflections as he talks about his trials and tribulations, successes and failures, and plenty of thought-provoking and often humorous stories. Whether you like to read or listen, you should jump on the opportunity to take in Jim Ross's life story and gain a deeper appreciation of Good Ol' J.R.
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Thank you again to everyone who is checking out this page whether you are a new reader or an old friend coming back for more. I appreciate it all. Be sure to check out the Rewind posts on here. I am planning some more over the weekend, and I will send out notifications on Twitter once they are posted.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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