Wrestling Merch I Saw Junking 2

It's time for another blog post looking at wrestling stuff that I saw while looking around at antique malls, yard sales, flea markets and more. 

First up a couple old WWE VHS tapes, first up is WWE 2002 Rebellion which has been selling on eBay for $8 - $15.  This event was held in Manchester England on October 26, 2002 and was headlined by Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman vs. Edge in a handicapped match.

Behind that is WWE Unforgiven 2002, held September 22, 2002 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.  Brock Lesnar wrestled The Undertaker to a double disqualification for the WWE title in the main event. Selling for $15 to $25 on the eBay.

Next up a classic audio book on cassette tape, It's Good to be the King...Sometimes, by Jerry "The King" Lawler, read by the King.  I owned this on CD back in the day and I have the book.  It's cool listening to the King read his story. 

I found it for sale on Walmart's website for $15 from a third party seller.

1984 WWF LJN action figure, they are asking $20, in that condition I would say $5, $10 at most.  On Ebay you can get one in much better condition for $10.  I had this figure when I was a kid.   

1999 Racing Champions 1:64 scale racecar of driver Jerry Nadeau and his number 9 WCW/nWo sponsored racecar.  Nadeau drove this car for the 1999 Winston Cup series.

They are asking $8 at the antique shop, on eBay sold recently for $10, so this is a good deal.

I didn't buy any of these items, just not what I'm looking for.

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Until next time! 

Brock Lesnar's Non-WWE Matches

Brock Lesnar recently announced his retirement after losing to Oba Femi in a Hell in a Cell match at SummerSlam in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Looking back at Brock's career that began in the year 2000 Brock has almost exclusively competed in a WWE or WWE developmental ring.

I say almost as he left the WWE in 2004 and in that 8 years before he returned in 2012 he did wrestle elsewhere.  In 2004 he attempted a career in Pro Football, and when that didn't pan out he returned to what he knew, and that was pro wrestling.

Lured back to the squared circle Lesnar would debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling on October 8, 2005 in the Tokyo Dome winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in a triple threat match defeated Champion Kazuyuki Fajita and Masahiro Chono pinning Chono.

Lesnar would continue to compete for New Japan through the end of 2005 with successful title defenses against Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata.  In 2006 he main evented the annual January 4th Tokyo Dome show defeating Shinsuke Nakamura and wrestling in 3 more matches for the promotion through May 2006.

Brock was slated to defend the title against Hiroshi Tanahashi in July 2006, however New Japan wanted to cut his money from $50,000 per match to $30,000.  Lesnar would not agree to it so he was stripped of the title and Tanahashi would win a one day tournament On July 17, 2006 to become the champion.

Fast forward a year, Lesnar who was still in possession of the physical IWGP Heavyweight Championship would appear and defend the Championship on Antonio Inoki's debut IGF: Inoki Genome Federation show June 29, 2007.   That night TNA World Champion: Kurt Angle would defeat Lesnar to win the title.

Oddly enough, New Japan Pro Wrestling would officially recognize Lesnar's title as the IWGP 3rd Belt Championship stating he was the title holder from October 8, 2005 until June 29, 2007.  New Japan would then go one to recognize Kurt Angle as the champion.

Kurt would defend the title in TNA at Hard Justice 2007 against Samoa Joe.  He then defeated Yuji Nagata at the 2008 January 4th New Japan Tokyo Dome show, WrestleKingdom II.  Then in February 2008 he would lose the title in a unification match against Shinsuke Nakamura the then current IWGP Heavyweight Champion.   

In his career Brock wrestled 12 matches in Japan, 3 in 2003 during a Smackdown house show tour, and again for the WWE in 2015 defeating Kofi Kingston at The Best in the East live WWE Network special.  His other 8 matches in Japan are the only non-WWE Matches of his career. 

Here are the matches:

October 8, 2005

Toukon Souzou New Chapter, Tokyo Dome

Brock Lesnar defeated IWGP Heavyweight Champion: Kazuyuki Fujita & Masahiro Chono to win the championship

December 10, 2005

Battle Final 2005 Osaka, Japan

IWGP Heavyweight Champion: Brock Lesnar pinned Manabu Nakanishi

December 11, 2005

Battle Final 2005 Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

IWGP Heavyweight Champion: Brock Lesnar pinned Yuji Nagata

January 4, 2006

Toukon Shidou, Tokyo Dome

IWGP Heavyweight Champion: Brock Lesnar pinned Shinsuke Nakamura

February 19, 2006

NJPW Circuit 2006 Acceleration Tokyo, Japan

IWGP Heavyweight Champion: Brock Lesnar & Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Akebono & Riki Choshu

March 19, 2006

NJPW Circuit 2006 Takeoff

IWGP Heavyweight Champion: Brock Lesnar pinned Akebono

May 3, 2006

New Japan Cup 2006 Special Fukuoka, Japan

IWGP Heavyweight Champion: Brock Lesnar pinned Giant Bernard

June 29, 2007

IFG Toukon Bom-Ba-Ye, Tokyo, Japan

Kurt Angle pinned IWGP Third Belt Champion: Brock Lesnar to win the title

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Until Next Time!

Goldberg: The Losses

Back when Goldberg debuted I initially bought into the hype, but then I became disenfranchised with him including is first run in the WWE.  He second run in the WWE I could care less about as well.  That being said he possible the only wrestler whose career lasted longer than a minute where you can count the number of loses he suffered, here they are.

This first set of matches are where Goldberg was directly involved in the finish.  

July 24, 1997 WCW Saturday Night taping Dark Match, Atlanta, Georgia
Chad Fortune pinned Bill Goldberg

December 27, 1998 WCW Starrcade Washington DC
No Disqualification Match: Kevin Nash pinned WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Goldberg to win the championship

Anyone my age remembers this for the screw job finish that it was.  Fist Discro runs in and gets destroyed, the Bam Bam Bigelow runs in and is tossed out by Goldberg and while the referee and security tend to Bigelow Scott Hall returns dressed as security and hits Goldberg with a cattle prod leading to the jackknife powerbomb and pin.

October 25, 1999 WCW Nitro Phoenix, Arizona
Bret Hart pinned WCW United States Champion: Goldberg to win the Championship

The last segment before this match had Hall & Nash in the ring cutting a promo where Goldberg ran out and speared both men.

This match was okay.  Hart had a hairline fracture in his leg and Goldberg worked the leg the majority of the match asking the referee to stop it.  Hart jumped on Goldberg's back with a sleeper hold and has Mikey J was checking for a choke Goldberg slipped Hart off onto him bumping the referee.  Goldberg then clotheslined Hart to the floor.

Hall, Nash, & Sid ran in, after taking out Hall and Nash Golberg was caught by a big boot from Sid.  He then was chokeslammed by Hall, side suplexed by Nash, and powerbombed by Sid.  They all left the ring, Hart slid back in pinning Goldberg, who kicked out just after three.

December 5, 1999 WCW House Show Chicago, Illinois
WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Bret Hart defeated Goldberg

Hall & Nash interfere causing the ref to signal for a disqualification.  Hart asks to re-start the match.  The referee does.  Hall, Nash, & Jarrett interfere, Bret doesn't see it and pins Goldberg after. Taken from a report on DDT Digest.

I would wager there was a referee bump and Hart was on the floor during the beat down much like their match on October 25th.

December 19, 1999 WCW Starrcade Washington DC
No Disqualification Match: WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Bret Hart defeated Goldberg

The ref gets bumped and Roddy Piper comes out.  He gets in the ring just has Hart applies the sharpshooter and immediately calls for the bell, ala the Montreal Screw Job.  Piper then takes the title and walks towards the back, Hart catches up at the entrance way where Piper hands him the belt.

This was the match where Hart was concussed by a Goldberg kick that essentially would end Hart's in ring career.

December 20, 1999 WCW Nitro Baltimore, Maryland
Bret Hart defeated Goldberg for the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Champion

The ref is bumped, Bret Hart locks Goldberg in a figure four.  Hall and Nash run in with baseball bats and attack Goldberg.  Hart breaks the hold and takes his licks with the baseball bat.  Roddy Piper runs in and attacks Hart who is pinning Goldberg, the ref counts 1, Hart is pushed off Goldberg by Piper, the referee counts two and three then awards the title to Hart, who wasn't pinning Goldberg.  Jeff Jarrett runs out and hits Piper with a guitar.

Nash, Hall, Hart, and Jarrett declare themselves the nWo.  Incidentally Hart was the World Champ, Jarrett the US Champ, and Hall & Nash Tag Team Champs.

July 24, 2000 WCW Nitro Cleveland, Ohio
No Disqualification Match: WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Booker T defeated Goldberg

This match last only a couple of minutes.  Booker T attacked Goldberg in the aisle during his entrance.  In the ring Goldberg got the best of Booker T until Jeff Jarrett ran in hitting Goldberg with a chair, who no sold it and speared Jarrett.

Ernest "The Cat" Miller ran hitting Goldberg with a spin kick, Booker T hit and axe kick and the Book End for the three count.  Goldberg kicked out on three then speared and jackhammered Booker.

September 17, 2000 WCW Fall Brawl Buffalo, New York
No Disqualification: Scott Steiner defeated Goldberg

Goldberg had Steiner in position for a Jackhammer when Vince Russo ran in and hit Goldberg with a bat three times.  The action when to the floor where Steiner bodyslammed Goldberg through the table.  The match continued with Goldberg powering out a Steiner Recliner.

Goldberg was sitting on the top rope when Midajah hit Goldberg with a lead pipe and Russo it him with the baseball bat.  Goldberg then powered out of another Steiner Recliner.  Russo attempted to attack Goldberg with the bat but it was blocked.  Steiner then his Goldberg in the midsection and head with the lead pipe.

Steiner applied his finisher for the third time but Goldberg was unconscious so the referee called for the bell. 

January 14, 2001 WCW Sin Indianapolis, Indiana
No Disqualification: Totally Buff: Buff Bagwell & Lex Luger defeated Dewayne Bruce & Goldberg

A fan from the audience sprays mace in Goldberg's face then Luger unloads on Goldberg with a chair outside and then inside the ring.  Luger then lifted Goldberg up on his shoulders for the worst blockbuster ever before pinning him.  There was an additional stipulation that if Goldberg lost he would be forced to retire from wrestling.

July 20, 2003 WWE Raw House Show San Jose, California
World Heavyweight Champion: Triple H pinned Goldberg

According to the report in the Pro Wrestling Torch newsletter this match featured a couple ref bumps and Randy Orton and Ric Flair interfered before Triple H got the pin with the pedigree.

August 24, 2003 WWE SummerSlam Phoenix, Arizona
Elimination Chamber: World Heavyweight Champion: Triple H defeated Chris Jericho, Kevin Nash, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, & Goldberg

Goldberg eliminated Orton, Michaels, and Jericho by pinfall.  Triple H pinned Goldberg after hitting him in the back of the head with a sledgehammer avoiding a spear.

November 17, 2003 WWE Raw Beaumont, Texas
Three on One Handicap Match: Evolution: Batista, Randy Orton, & Triple H defeated Goldberg

December 14, 2003 WWE Armageddon Orlando, Florida
Triple Threat: Triple H defeated WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Goldberg & Kane to win the championship

Triple H pinned Goldberg after Kane chokeslammed him.  Randy Orton, Ric Flair, and Batista all interfered in the match.

April 2, 2017 WWE WrestleMania 33 Orlando, Florida
Brock Lesnar pinned WWE Universal Champion: Goldberg to win the championship

This set of matches are where Goldberg was in the match but was not directly involved in the finish

December 29, 1998 WCW House Show Long Island, New York

WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Kevin Nash defeated Goldberg & Bam Bam Bigelow

I'm guessing Bigelow was pinned

December 30, 1998 WCW House Show Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Kevin Nash defeated Goldberg & Bam Bam Bigelow

I'm guessing Bigelow was pinned

April 26, 1999 WCW Nitro Fargo, North Dakota

Diamond Dallas Page defeated WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Sting, Kevin Nash, & Goldberg to win the Championship

August 2, 1999 WCW Nitro Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Rick Steiner & Sid defeated Goldberg & Sting by DQ

November 8, 1999 WCW Nitro Indianapolis, Indiana

Ladder Match: Scott Hall defeated WCW United States Champion: Bret Hart, Goldberg, & Sid to win the championship

November 22, 1999 WCW Nitro Auburn Hills, Michigan

The Outsiders: Kevin Nash & Scott Hall defeated Goldberg & Sid

November 29, 1999 WCW Nitro Denver, Colorado

Steel Cage: Bret Hart & Chris Benoit defeated Goldberg & Sid and The Outsiders: Kevin Nash & Scott Hall

December 13, 1999 WCW Nitro New Orleans, Louisiana

The Outsiders: Kevin Nash & Scott Hall defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions: Bret Hart & Goldberg to win the championships

June 26, 2000 WCW Nitro Des Moines, Iowa

WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Jeff Jarrett defeated Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner, & Goldberg

July 10, 2000 WCW Nitro Jacksonville, Florida

Fatal Four Way: Jeff Jarrett defeated Kanyon, Scott Steiner, & Goldberg

August 13, 2000 WCW New Blood Rising Vancouver, British Columbia

Three Way Dance: Kevin Nash defeated Scott Steiner & Goldberg

September 4, 2000 WCW Nitro Dallas, Texas

Triple Cage War Games: WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Kevin Nash, Jeff Jarrett, Scott Steiner, & Vince Russo defeated Booker T, Sting, Goldberg, and Kronik: Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke

In his career Goldberg was only directly involved in the loss of a match 14 times.  Of those only twice was it a clean finish in a straight up one-on-one match with no special stipulations or outside interference.  June 24, 1997 in a dark match to Chad Fortune before his Television debut and his, presumably, final match when Lesnar beat him at WrestleMania 33.

Chad Fortune (left) with Erik Watts as Tekno Team 2000 in the WWF 95/96

Like him or not I doubt anyone else in the career can say the same thing. 

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WrestleMania 32 Review

I always get excited for WrestleMania every year and leading up to it this year was no different.  Sadly though I must have watched a different show than others in my Facebook food because I didn't watch a show that was awesome, insane, spectacular, amazing or any other accolade that makes a blanket declaration stating the entire show was tremendous, because it wasn't.

The pre-show started at 5pm with the first match starting around 5:45pm and the main event ended about 10 minutes of midnight.  That's pretty near a 7 hour event which is very long.  I'ts a good thing I had coverage at work until 1am and not midnight.  

Including pre-show and the Rock's impromptu match the card featured 12 matches.  The three pre-show matches were better than I thought they would be.

United States Champion: Kalisto defeated Ryback

10 Woman Tag: Team Total Divas: Brie Bella, Paige, Alicia Fox, Natayla, & Eva Marie defeated Team Bad and Blonde: Lana, Tamina, Naomi, Summer Rae, & Emma when Brie made Naomi tap out to the Yes Lock.  It also seems as thought it's Brie's last match. 

The Usos: Jimmy & Jey defeated The Dudley Boys: Bubba Ray & Devon

As much as I hate to admit this, the sequence that Brie used to set up the Yes Lock was actually really, really good.  Lana makes her in ring debut, didn't do a lot boy she looks different with her hair down.

The main show was kicked off with the 7 Man Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship.  It was a good match, the last guy I thought was going win it did in Zack Ryder.  He's worked hard for the company for a long time and deserves to have this big moment at WrestleMania.  I can't imagine he'll have a very long title run. (Note: He lost it to the Miz the next day on Raw.)

It's was bullshit that Jericho got the win of Styles.  First off it looked like Jericho purposely had a bad match.  It was more than just the timing was off, or they weren't clicking because when it came time for Jericho to look good he was spot on.  However when it was Styles turn Jericho was slow and off a step.  This is their 4th singles match, one we didn't need to begin with, so does this mean we have to watch them have 1 more match together at the next PPV, god I hope not!

League of Nations beat New Day, it was Four on three they should win.  As much as I loved seeing HBK, Austin, & Mick Foley come out and beat down the League it basically made their win look worthless.  I will say I marked out big time seeing HBK in his wrestling gear. 

Brock Lesnar defeated Ambrose in a Street Fight.  Not much of a street fight, some chairs, a kendo stick, and a whole bunch of suplexs.  It was basically an extended squash.

Triple Threat Match: Women's Champion: Charlotte defeated Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch when Becky tapped to the Figure-8.  In my opinion this was the best wrestling match of the night.  It was damn good and it stole the show.  Charlotte came to the ring with the Diva's Championship and left with the Women's Championship officially ending the Diva's name that I have hated since they started it.  Sasha got the big entrance with her cousin Snoop Dog rapping her to the ring.

Hell In A Cell: Taker beat Shane, I found surprising because storyline wise it seemed Shane was destined to win so he could take over Raw.  If you take out the part where Shane jumped off the top of the cage to elbow drop Taker on the announce table, it wouldn't be as good of a match.  It was a spectacular spot and I really enjoyed the match but it wasn't great.

I would never guessed that Baron Corbin would win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, he had no build up, just walked to the ring with the others that were unannounced and came away with the win.  I wonder if this means he is on the main roster now?

Rock had a really long segment where he announced the attendance of the event.  Then the Wyatt Family interrupted which lead to an impromptu 6 second match where Rock beat Eric Rowan.  Then Cena made a surprise return aiding Rock in yet another Wyatt Family beat down. I could have done with out the whole segment.

Roman Reigns beat Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, of course that's not a surprise to anyone.  The crowd booed Reigns after his win and during his celebration.  The only pop for Roman is when he accidentally speared Stephanie, because if there is anyone they hate more than Roman is Stephanie McMahon.

I realize there are a lot of people that really like WrestleMania, and that's cool, I just don't agree.  There were aspects that I really liked about it, aspects I didn't like at all, It has nothing to do with the outcomes not being what I wanted them to be.

The best part about Mania was Paul coming over and us watching it together and that chat group with the other guys.

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Royal Rumble Predictions

I don't normally post these type of blogs but I figured that I would this time.

Pre-Show

Darren Young & Damien Sandow vs The Dudley Boys: Bubba Ray & D-Von vs. The Ascension: Konnor & Victor vs. Mark Henry & Jack Swagger

The winners of this match get to enter the Royal Rumble alter in the night.  Of all the people in the match the Dudley's are the only ones I can see the fans caring about moving forward.  Realistically though none of them are going to win the Rumble match itself.

Tag Team Champions: The New Day: Kofi Kingston & Big E w/ Xavier Woods vs. The Usos: Jimmy & Jey

New Day retains, I don't see them dropping the tag titles anytime soon to any team at this point.

United States Champion: Alberto Del Rio vs. Kalisto

Alberto retains, although I don't see him as a long term champion I also don't see Kalisto as a viable champion.  Sin Cara will be back soon from his injury bringing their team back together.  The US Championship used to mean something a long time ago and men raged wars over it.  Cena's US Open Challenge was really good and I would love to see that come back.

Diva's Champion: Charlotte w/ "Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. Becky Lynch

Charlotte will retain cheating of course.  I see Charlotte with a nice long title run, I'm hoping over a year making it mean more when she loses it.  Nikki Bella's long title reign did nothing to strengthen the title as she is the last of the WWE "barbie doll" wrestlers.  I do see Becky coming out looking even stronger and more over as a babyface than when she went into the match.

Intercontinental Championship Last Man Standing: Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens will win this match and take his Championship back.  Owens can make the title mean something that Ambrose just can't do.  The only way I would be okay with Owens not winning is if he returned later and won the World Championship in the Rumble Match.

Royal Rumble Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

For the first time the Champion, Roman Reigns, will have to defend his championship in the Rumble match, and of course he has number one.  I do not see Roman walking out as champion.  I predict two possible outcomes for him.  Either he and Lesnar will eliminate each other building to a match at WrestleMania or Triple H will cause Reigns elimination leading to a match between them at WrestleMania.

I think WWE has the perfect opportunity to do something they have never done before, something that is historic by having AJ Styles debut in and win the Rumble match and the WWE World Championship.

I also think Jake Roberts will be a surprise entrant, other good ones would be Kevin Von Erich and Tully Blanchard.

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WWE Network MSG Special Thoughts

Madison Square Garden

October 3, 2015

House Show live special in WWE Network

No opening pyro the set up and entrance is that of a normal house show

Commentators JBL, Byron Saxton, and Rich Brennan.  Eden Stiles handled ring announcer duties.

Dolph Ziggler & Randy Orton vs. Sheamus & Rusev w/ Summer Rae

Decent opening match with Dolph taking the Ricky Morton heat before getting the hot tag to Orton.  RKO out of nowhere later and Orton gets the pin on Sheamus.   Crowd was hugely hot for Orton.

After the match Rusev called Sheamus a stupid American and called him useless, Sheamus brogue kicked him.  7/10

Video package from Raw of Rollins attacking Corporate Kane with a chair leading to Demon Kane coming out to attack him.

Backstage, Renee Young interviews with Corporate Kane on crutches.  He talked about helping Seth Rollins being worried about the Demon that keeps attacking him and how he would help stop it. 

Stardust vs. Neville

Pretty standard back and forth match with Neville hitting red arrow for the win. 5/10

Backstage, Renee Young interviews Paul Heyman who cuts yet another awesome promo as only he can do.

Video package for the upcoming NXT behind the scenes special coming soon to WWE Network that honestly looks amazingly good!  Debuts after Raw this Monday, 10/05/2015

Team Bella: Nikki, Brie, & Alicia Fox vs. Team PCB: Paige, Becky Lynch, & Divas Champion: Charlotte

Should be noted Bella’s were announced and came out as a team where as Team PCB had individual introductions playing off the tension in the team.  Side note, I really just can’t stand Nikki Bella at all anymore and would not be upset if something horrible, yet non-life threatening befell her.  Let’s get this straight, it’s not that she’s such a great heal and that’s why I don’t like her…I just don’t like her personally.  Like I don’t like Rey Mysterio.

Basically Paige is a bitch to Becky and Charlotte through-out the match then they dessert her and Paige is pinned after a rack attack from Nikki.  Good match though, nothing breath taking 6/10

Paige cuts a post-match promo essentially continuing her slow burn heal turn saying she doesn’t deserve to be treated like this and that she doesn’t know what she to them to make them do this.

Video package showing footage from Raw & Smackdown of the Wyatt and Reigns fued.  I don’t care at all about them being in a Hell in a Cell match.

Intercontinental Champion: Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho

Pre-Match promo Jericho announces that October 3, 1990 was his debut match making tonight his 25^th Anniversary in wrestling.  He points out Lance Storm in the front row his first ever opponent.  Then talks about his father playing hockey at MSG.  Jericho then points out Don Callis & Lenny St. Clair aka Dr. Luther also in the front row.  Not mentioned, but sitting next to them was Arnold Skaaland’s wife Betty.   She must be in her 80’s and I think it’s amazing that she wants to be there watching wrestling after all these years.

Owens comes out to a big ovation.    Outstanding match once again from Kevin Owens, this time with Jericho has his dance partner.  I would love to see these two guys again.  We get our first “This is Awesome” chant, deservedly so.  Non-stop action from bell to bell you wouldn’t believe it was their first ever match together.  They hit everything except the pop-up powerbomb, Owen’s took the win reversing a second walls of Jericho attempt into a small package.  8.5/10

Owens wished Jericho a Happy Anniversary as he was walking to the back.  He also stopped to taunt a crying child. Owens post-match antics 10/10

Promo for the new WWE Network Show “Breaking Ground” which is about the WWE Performance Center, looks greats.  Debuts 10/26/15.

Backstage shot of the Big Show looking angry.

Video Package of the Dudley Boys vs. New Day

Tag Team Champions: New Day: Kofi Kingston & Big E w/ Xavier Woods vs. The Dudley Boys: Bubba Ray & Devon

Pre-Match Promo during New Day’s entrance continued the hilarity they bring every week.  They played down the Dudley Boys calling this the end of their Goodbye Tour then continued their “Save the Tables Campaign.”  Dudley’s got a good ovation.

Crowd was hot for this match still hyped from the Owens vs. Jericho match.  Lots of “We want tables” and “New Day Sucks” chants.   New Day dominated both Devon & Bubba Ray early with quick tags and wear down holds.  Dudley’s hit a 3D out of nowhere and Woods hit the ring causing the disqualification.  New Day then beat down the Dudley’s then brought a table into the ring.  Xavier Woods played taps on this Trombone, back to too the action in the ring.  Dudley’s cleared Kofi & Big E then put Woods through the table standing tall.  Dudley’s win, New Day still champs.  7/10

Jon Stewart shown front row ringside with his son.

Unnecessary video package shown hyping the Brock Lesnar/ Big Show feud with some history re-written as they show clips of the 2002 Survivor Series match where Show beats Lesnar for the WWE Championship with no mention at all of Paul Heyman turning on Lesnar at they show, they even showed a clip of Heyman out of context being shocked and Lesnar being pinned. 

Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman vs. The Big Show

Tremendous ovation at the opening note of Lesnar’s entrance music

Straight from the opening bell Show no sold a couple Lesnar clotheslines then he reversed an attempted double leg dumping Brock over the top rope.  Apparently Show is playing the unstoppable monster for this match.  Lots of Suplex City chants.  Whoah!! Three quick chokeslams from Show followed by a loooooong two count.  Show goes for the knock-out punch Lesnar ducks, 4 german suplex and an F-5 later Lesnar has his arm raised.  Pretty high impact 4 minutes of wrestling.  8/10

Post-Match Lesnar heads to the back, then decides to return to the ring where a the very stoppable monster is tossed around again with an overhead belly to belly suplex and another F-5.  Crowd sings nah-nah-nah-nah goodbye to Show as he leaves the ring.

Promo video for the Bayley vs. Sasha Banks 30 Minute Iron Man Match for NXT Takeover Respect this Wednesday 10/7/2015 on WWE Network.

Hype video for Cena vs. Rollins for the United States Championship Steel Cage Match including footage of John Stewart costing Cena the title at Summerslam

Steel Cage Match: United States Champion: John Cena vs. World Champion: Seth Rollins

The World Heavyweight Championship is not on the line.

Cena came out second, was greeted with “John Cena sucks” chanted to the beat of his entrance music.   We get that big match feel with the introductions taking place once both were in the ring.

Rollins using the cage early throwing Cena face first into the cage, I’m a fan of cage matches but I like some blood in my cage matches.  I’m 10 minutes into this match and really I’m not that impressed.  Crowd is into it but their previous matches at Summerslam and Night of Champions were much better.   They basically took every generic cage match spot and did them. 

Rollins gets the upper hand and Cena is down in the cage he looks like he’s about to escape over the top when Demon Kane comes down stopping him.  Rollins then decides lets goes for a frog splash off the top of the cage, eats canvas, then an AA and Cena retains.  6/10

Post-match Demon Kane enters the cage hitting Rollins with a chokeslam then a tombstone piledriver.  Demon Kane hold the WWE Championship high before dropping it on Rollins and leaving the ring to end the show.   

Overall it was a really good show it definitely had a different feel to it as the presentation was more than a House Show, but definitely not a PPV or Television event.  Matches had a house show feel to them as the focus was definitely on the wrestling more than anything else.  You know what it was, it was like a Coliseum Home Video exclusive type event.  That’s exactly what it was!

I would like to see WWE do more specials like this for the MSG house shows or other big house shows it would make WWE Network even more appealing.

Interesting note, no pyro of any kind was used, not for the opening, Dudleys, Lesnar, Kane, no one.

Later Readers!

WrestleMania XXXI Reaction

WrestleMania XXXI was the best WrestleMania that the WWE has had in a long time.  I can't say that I completely happy with the results of all the matches, but it was a solid show from top to bottom.

The kick off pre-show featured two matches, the fatal four way for the World Tag Team Championships and the second annual Andre the Giant Battle Royal.   The commentary team for the night was Michael Cole, JBL, & Jerry "The King" Lawler.

The tag team match was chaos from start to finish, it was hard at times to tell who was the legal man in the ring and it became a bit clustery with spot after spot.  I was glad that Kidd & Cesaro retained the titles and the end played out well.  I'm not a New Day fan, Big E Langston looks awkward and out of place smiling and clapping where as Woods and Kingston it seems natural.  Also their finisher maneuver is dumb, Big E's big ending while the little guy jumps off the top rope and pushes down on the opponent.  If anything Woods and Kingston should be a tag team with Big E going solo. 

The Andre the Giant Battle Royal was up next.  As far as battle royals go it was a decent one.  The ending with Miz & Sandow finally coming to a head was excellent and even though Sandow lost he looked strong against Big Show.  Hideo Itami won a tournament at Axxess to earn the right to compete in the match and had a HUGE fan response including a Hideo chant. 

Michael Cole continues to amaze me with how dumb he sounds on commentary.  Maybe he's being told what to say and doesn't have a choice but in the end he is still making the ridiculous comments about Hideo Itami referring to him as a "Young up and comer from NXT" and  upon being eliminated "Welcome to the big leagues."  Hideo has been wrestling for 15 years all over the world, he invented the GTS that CMP Punk borrowed, and he was the NOAH World Heavyweight, Tag Team, Junior Heavyweight, and Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion.  When Hideo was brought into the WWE they made his signing a huge ordeal including having Hulk Hogan fly to Japan for a ceremonial in ring contract signing.  I can't imagine they would have Michael Cole say what he did to essentially belittle Hideo by dismissing him as nothing more than an average rookie.  I realize that he hasn't made huge strides in the WWE, yet, but he will.

I really enjoyed the opening packaged for the show and I like how WWE always goes with America the Beautiful in place of the National Anthem.

The Ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship was fantastic!  The finish with Bryan and Ziggler atop the ladder violently headbutting each other was insane and I loved it!  I'm was glad that Bryan won the match and I hope he brings prestige back to the Championship, not that Barrett wasn't a good champion, but Daniel Bryan will be able to elevate it better.  During the match Dean Ambrose took a powerbomb onto a ladder that was rigged to break upon impact which I feel resulted in him taking a worse bump than if he has just taken a fall onto a standard ladder.

Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins was a solid match and the finish reversing the curb stomp into and RKO was phenomenal!

It surprised me that Sting vs. Triple H was 3rd match on the main card, I figured it would happen later in the show considering what a huge deal Sting finally wrestling in the WWE is.  This was probably the weakest match on the card in my opinion.  Sting had very little offense but he did his standard Sting stuff.  The real highlight of the match was the appearance of DX: Billy Gunn, Road Dog, & X-Pac to run interference when Sting had the upper hand, then the nWo: Kevin Nash, Hulk Hogan, & Scott Hall appeared to even the odds.  The highlight of the match was Shawn Michaels then appearing and superkicking Sting!!!  My dream match for the last 20 years has been Sting vs. Shawn Michaels, that might be the most we ever get, but I can hope that maybe this match will still happen.  Sting's loss also surprised me, I realize now the story they were telling was Raw vs. Nitro with DX vs. The nWo and WCW lost.  I would hope Sting wrestles again in the WWE, I would hate to have this match be his only match.  I wasn't a fan of either Sting or Triple H's entrances either.

AJ Lee & Paige over the Bella's was way better than I thought it would be. Not because of the lack of talent in the match but because WWE doesn't usually let their Diva's show than can wrestle.  NXT has great woman's matches, but they do call it woman's down there and not Divas which is interesting.

Rusev has this big pro Russian entrance, which was pretty neat but I really like Rusev's entrance music as it is and honestly that would have works just as well.  Before Cena's entrance they did this whole patriotic entrance video, then he comes out with his own music, not flag insight and people weren't chanting USA, they were instead booing Cena and chanting "John Cena Sucks" along with his music.  As much as they tried, this wasn't the old school USA vs. evil foreigner this was Cena vs. Rusev.  I a big fan of Rusev, he's great in the ring, has great heat, and has had good matches with everyone he's been in the ring with.  Cena is Cena, he didn't need the win, didn't need the championship, basically no one cared.  They wasted Rusev getting his first loss to someone the fans didn't care that he lost too, not to mention he lost after bumping into Lana and a single attitude adjustment making him look weak.  The match was decent, the finish was terrible.

Bray Wyatt was the perfect opponent for The Undertaker.  It was a good match, giving Taker the win he needed after last years loss.  I doubt this will be Taker's last match, in fact he looked physically better than he has in the last few years.  It would be cool to see him stick around this year on a regular schedule.

I didn't expect much for the main event, I wanted Lesnar to win and figured and Reigns would win the Championship.  I was pleasantly surprised at just how good the match was, and with Rollins cashing in and the way he did it, was fantastic.  I truly enjoyed the physicality between Lesnar and Reigns.  I would like to see them wrestle again.

In the end it was one of the best WrestleMania's and one of the best WWE big events in a long time. I hope they can continue with this momentum into Raw tonight and onward this year.

Later Readers! 

Clash of the Champions and WrestleMania Ponderings

We've had Wesley home for a week now and I've spent a few of those nights watching Clash of the Champions.  Specifically seventeen through twenty which took place between November 1991 & September 1992.  These years in WCW I refer to as the Ric Flairless years of WCW. 

During this time WCW experienced their most turbulent post Jim Crockett Promotions period with leadership changing from Jim Herd to Kip Frye to "Cowboy" Bill Watts.  You can see the difference based on match booking, who was being pushed, and even how the shows looked on TV. 

Coincidentally the time frame is also when the short lived WCW Light Heavyweight Championship existed, October 1991 - September 1992.  We only got one match Clash XVII 11/19/1991 with champion Brian Pillman defending against Johnny B Badd.

The talent at that time was so good!  Barry Windham, Steve Austin, Brian Pillman, Bobby Eaton, Arn Anderson, Dustin Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, Jushin Liger, Sting, Rick Rude, Cactus Jack, Vader, and more!

Of course some terrible gimmicks like Super Invader, you can tell it's Hercules and he has the stupidest gear and mask on.  It's just terrible

Clash of the Champions XX marked the final television appearance of Andre the Giant. It almost seems wrong that it was with WCW and not the WWF.

Tonight is the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony.  This years class is Kevin Nash, Randy Savage, Larry Zbyszko, Alundra Blayze, The Bushwackers, Tatsumi Fujinami, Rikishi, & Arnold Schwarzenegger.  I'm surprised that Blayze is getting in because of her throwing the WWF Women's Championship in the trash on Nitro.  It's good that they made amends. 
The Bushwackers is a surprise for another reason.  The definitely deserve it the wrestled as a tag team all over the world for 37 years from 1964 until 2001 when Butch Miller was forced to retire due to illness.  The reason I am surprised is because their are other tag teams that probably should be inducted that haven't been like, The Rock n' Roll Express or Demolition.

WrestleMania XXXI is tomorrow, and finally Sting will be wrestling in a WWE ring!  My dream would be against Shawn Michaels but Triple H will be a great opponent.  The Undertaker needs to have an outstanding match to comeback from last years crushing loss. I don't mean the end of the streak, as shocking as that was, I'm referring to how bad the match was.  Granted he was knocked out a few minutes into the match, so he did the best he could, but that's not the match that he can go out on.

 So here are my official WrestleMania XXXI picks:

Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Championship: Tyson Kidd & Cesaro retain

Andre The Giant Battle Royal: Hideo Itami

Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins: Seth Rollins

US Champion: Rusev vs. John Cena: Rusev

Bella Twins vs AJ Lee & Paige: AJ Lee & Paige

Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match: Daniel Bryan

Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt: Undertaker

Sting vs. Triple H: Sting

WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns: Brock Lesnar

This is who I want to win not who I think is going to win.

Enjoy WrestleMania everyone!

Later Readers!