WWE Smackdown Live Report 7/9/2018

Monday night July 9th my son, cousin, and I attended the WWE Smackdown Live house show in Augusta, Maine.  The reason for the lateness of this report was that the following morning we headed out of town for the rest of the week camping and I'm just now getting some internet to write this.

The Augusta Civic Center was not sold out but there was a few thousand people in attendance.  My wrestling friends Roy, Cheryl, Phil, and Alex also went to the show, I'm sure there were a bunch of other people that I know from wrestling that were also there.

Let's get to the matches:

Triple Threat Match
United States Champion: Jeff Hardy defeated Samoa Joe & The Miz

The Miz did his beast Rick Rude impersonation calling us Augusta sweathogs and asking us to keep the noise down while he took off his robe.  Solid opening match that saw Hardy get the pin after a twist of fate and a standing splash on Miz.

Andrade "Cien" Almas with Zelina Vega pinned Sin Cara

Photo credit Philster

This match was great!  They gave us a good lucha style match with fast paced action and Sin Cara displaying some impressive aerial offense with a few dives to the floor.  This was probably the best match of the night!  I haven't thought much of Sin Cara but if he was given to chance to have longer matches like this many people would think differently of him.  Almas got the pin with his DDT finisher.

Photo credit Philster

Nikki Cross & Becky Lynch defeated The IIconics: Billy Kaye & Peyton Royce

Photo credit Philster

Cross was a surprise as she hasn't officially been called up yet to the main roster from NXT.  The IIconics came out and insulted us all before making their way to the ring.  Decent match where Nikki took the majority of the heat before making the hot tag to Becky.  Finish came when Becky submitted Peyton with the disarmer

Rusev with Aiden English submitted Tye Dillinger

Dillinger was a surprise and had he not been facing Rusev I think he would have been tremendously over.  He was getting some good "10" chants until Rusev came out.  Short solid match with Rusev winning with the Accolade.

Photo credit Philster

Six Man Tag
New Day: Big E, Xavier Woods, & Kofi Kingston defeated Sanity: Eric Young, Killian Dain, & Alexander Wolfe

I was excited to see this as a six man.  It was a good match, with expected New Day antics and comedy spots.  Canaan wanted to see a Trouble in Paradise badly, and he got one post match.

Tag Team Champions: Bludgeon Brothers: Haper & Rowan defeated The Club: Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows

This was the first match after intermission and it was bad.  Rowan worked most of the match for his team and he's just not that good.  Anderson took the fall for his team.

Women's Champion: Carmella pinned Naomi

Just terrible

Photo credit Philster

No Disqualification
WWE Champion: AJ Styles pinned Shinsuke Nakamura

This was a great match and I'm so happy that I got to see these two wrestle each other live.  It was no five star classic but they worked hard and it was extremely entertaining.  This was also the match I finally found the right setting to get okay pictures on my phone.

They used the standard house show weapons, table, chairs, and kendo stick.  Styles got the pin after a phenomenal forearm.

All in all this was a decent show with the top two matches being Almas vs. Sin Cara and AJ vs. Nakamura and the worst matches being the Tag Team and Women's title matches.  One thing that bothers me the most about house show title defenses is that I know I'm not going to see one so the finish of the match becomes a non-factor.

In the case of the AJ vs. Nakamura match it was exceptionally annoying, being a No Disqualification match the only possible outcome is AJ defeating Nakamura by pinfall or submission.

One of the coolest things for me was there were several wrestlers I had never seen wrestle in person before.

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WWE Live Report 8/12/2017 Augusta, Maine

When the WWE comes to town about 10 miles from your home and you're a lifelong wrestling fan, you go! A few weeks out I went to the Augusta Civic Center box office to pick up a couple of $25 tickets to avoid the ticketmaster fees.  We were in section 24 right in the front row on the aisle and they were fantastic seats.

This is Canaan's fifth WWE event and my 36th.  Rating overall definitely not the best show I've ever been to for the company, but it was a fun above average show.  The civic center was close to full, I'd wager about 4,000 fans, and they were into it which always makes it better.

One of the things that I liked the most about the house shows when I was younger was that the set up was simply, ring in the center of the venue, spotlights and the house public address system.  No lighting set up, no entrance set, just bare bones like the footage I used to watch on Coliseum Home Video or Prime Time Wrestling.

In 2012 when they started adding the set with mini titantron, lighting rigs, and sound system it was when they jacked the ticket prices up from $55 to $95 on the first few rows.  I was super annoyed because it priced me out of trying to buy front row for my son and I. Last night was the first I night I truly enjoyed those additions.

Ring announcer Tom Rome was the host for the evening and from when we got through the doors just past 6:30pm until the show started at 7:30pm they played various clips on the tron from top 10 lists to retro wrestling moments.  Also Rome did various live spots from around the building about that nights show and the upcoming SummerSlam.  It really helped pass the time until the show started, which was promptly at 7:30pm.

The Hardy Boys: Matt & Jeff and Finn Balor defeated The Club: Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows and Elias Sampson

Big pop for this opening trio, all guys my son wanted to see the most at once.  Hardy's got some delete chants in showing that even the fans in Maine know what up with the Broken.  Samson sat on a stool at the top of the entrance ramp singing a song.  At one point when he was booed loudly he told the crowd to quiet down or he'd have to start over.

Decent match, all the guys worked hard, probably my favorite match of the night.  The good guys for the win when Balor hit the coup de gras on Anderson for the three count.

Goldust pinned R-Truth

I was excited to see Goldust, probably the only one.  I've always been a fan of Dustin/Goldust because he's really good in the ring and historically he's put on some pretty fantastic matches on house shows.  This one lasted two minutes when he pinned Truth with his feet on the ropes.
 

Interesting note, the first ever WWE show I went to at the Augusta Civic Center in March 1996 and Goldust was on the card.

Cruiserweight Champion: Neville submitted Tozawa

This was a good match, I was hoping we'd get a title change.  I really want to witness a house show title change.  Someday it will happen!  The finish came when Tozawa missed his senton and Neville locked on his submission finisher for the win.

Big Cass beat up Enzo Amore

This was not a match, there was no referee in the ring.  Enzo came out and did his typical microphone work, called out Big Cass.  Cass came out and after a minute layed out Enzo.  That was it, both guys went to the back after.

Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose defeated Curtis Axle & Bo Dallas

For some reason the order of introductions was Seth Rollins, Axle & Dallas, and then Ambrose.  I'm pretty sure that they were trying to telegraph the alleged tension between Rollins and Ambrose if they are going to actually team together at SummerSlam.  They didn't relay that message well.

Rollins, Axle, and Dallas all looked great, Ambrose was is typical lazy self going through the motions.  His neckbreaker consists of facing a guy grabbing a him by the head and and rotating them both around and they both fall flat on their backs and during the fall Ambrose lets go of the guy.  Somehow, even though they both do the same thing taking the same back bump it only hurts the other guy and Ambrose jumps up.

John Cena pinned Rusev

This SmackDown feature match was the last prior to intermission.  That is also a decent match, better than I expected it to be.  Cena was over big time I can only recall a small smattering of Cena Sucks chants.  This match featured a ref bump and then a low blow by Rusev.  He then tried to hit Cena with the belt but Cena nailed and AA for the pin.

Sasha Banks, Dana Brooke & Mickie James defeated Nia Jax, Emma, & Raw Women's Champion: Alexa Bliss

Mickie James substituted for the injured Bayley.  Sasha Banks got the biggest reaction.  I'm a fan of almost all these ladies and this is the first time I've seen four of them.  Once a again a decent match with everyone putting in a great effort.  It's the best of seen Dana Brooke in the ring to date.

The finish came when Sasha showed us all just how flexible Emma was submitting her to the Bank Statement.

Tag Team Champions: Cesaro & Sheamus defeated Titus O'Neil & Apollo Crews

This was a title match that I had no belief that title would change hands.  I like the team of Sheamus and Cesaro, they've become and actual team, wearing similar outfits to the ring, creating signature entrance and even tandem moves.  They just need a name.

Sheamus brogue kicked Apollo Crews into unconsciousness for the three count.

Roman Reigns defeated Braun Strowman

Somehow Strowman is bigger in person than on TV.  I mean he really is a mountain of a man.  I know I sounds like a broken record but, this match was better than I thought it would be.  I was actually kind of impressed with Reigns tonight and Strowman has consistently surprised me with just how good he is in the ring for a man of his size.

Braun was disqualified when he took the ring steps and struck Reigns.  Post match he continued the beat down of Reigns hitting him with the stairs and tossing him into the ring post before putting him back in the ring.  Braun then slide a table into the ring setting it up in the corner.  Of course, Reigns eventually made a comeback and speared Braun through the table much to the delight of the crowd.

Like I said the fans were really into the match, the booed the bad guys and cheered the good guys just like there were supposed to.  Cena got nothing but love and even Reigns was heavily cheered.  Again definitely not the best house show I've ever been took but it was better than average.  Our seats were great and I will buy those in the future.

I took all the pictures with my phone, the lighting is never good for pictures at wrestling but these are some of the better shots.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page.

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For those wondering...

March 1, 1996 Civic Center , Augusta, ME

The Godwinns: Henry & Phinneas defeated The Bodydonnas: Skip & Zip with Sunny
Duke “The Dumpster” Drose pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
“The Ringmaster” Steve Austin pinned Marty Jannetty

Owen Hart pinned Scott Taylor (sub. for Yokozuna) following an enzuiguri

Savio Vega (sub. for Razor Ramon) defeated Intercontinental Champion: Goldust via count-out when he walked to the back

The 1-2-3 Kid pinned Bob Holly at the 10-second mark with a spin kick

Ahmed Johnson defeated Tatanka
World Champion: Bret “The Hitman” Hart defeated the Undertaker via count-out when Goldust interfered piledriving Taker on the floor; Diesel was also scheduled to be part of the match, making it a 3-way, but was unable to wrestle due to injury

“Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels pinned “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith with sweet chin music

WWE Payback Thoughts

Payback Kickoff

R-Truth vs. Stardust

We were treated to a bonus match tonight in the kick off show with R-Truth taking on Stardust in a decent match.  I’ve always like Cody Rhodes and not been too keen on R-Truth.  Truth picked up the victory to continue the apparent lifetime angle of Cody Rhodes losing and getting frustrated. 

The Ascension: Konnor & Victor vs. The Mega Powers: Curtis Axel & Macho Mandow

The Ascension were a good team in NXT and had they just come into the main roster as the same guys and not tried to compare themselves to Demolition and the Road Warriors they could be top contenders.  Instead they have basically been buried.   Sandow with another gimmick that he has managed to get over and Axel has gone full blown Hogan look-a-like.  They haven’t allotted much time for this one.  Axel hulks up and hits the leg drop but that’s about the all the offense he gets in.  Mandow tries the big elbow and is instead taken out with Ascensions finish and the pin fall loss.

Payback

Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus

Ziggler once again in the opening match which is a testament to the work horse that Ziggler is that he kicks off the show.  The fans continue to rally behind Dolph wanting desperately to see him become the guy in the WWE, as do I, but I just don’t see WWE ever getting behind him, which is unfortunate.

Hard hitting battle between these two and Dolph got his revenge from Extreme Rules with a PG-Era stink face.   Ziggler head butted Sheamus and it busted him open bad, I mean crimson mask bad.  Sheamus got the victory with a brogue kick while Ziggler was on his knees.

2 out of 3 Falls

WWE Tag Team Champions: New Day: Big E & Kofi w/ Xavier Woods vs. Tyson Kidd & Cesaro w/ Natayla

New Day should just be Kofi & Xavier Woods as a Tag Team, Big E doesn’t fit and he looks awkward smiling and clapping his hands “dancing” around.  I like that WWE has been having more 2 out of 3 falls as of late.

Kidd & Cesaro pick up the first fall quickly with their big spin drop kick combo.  Woods tries to enact the Freebird rule to enter the second fall but it is not allowed, that would have been cool! 

New Day picks up the second fall after Cesaro is taken out from the Big E spear to the floor, and then Big E hits the Big Ending while Kofi jumps off the top rope and does nothing to add emphasis to the finish.  Have I mentioned I think New Days tag team finish is dumb?  Because it is.

Cesaro went for what looked like was going to be Angel’s wings on Big E but he couldn’t pull it off which is odd because Cesaro is freakishly strong.   New Day get the final fall when Xavier Woods slides in and pins Cesaro with a small package.   I really thought this match was going to be better, it was a good match but the time constraints really hurt it from building each fall.

Bray Wyatt vs. Ryback

I really like Wyatt and his gimmick, he’s way over with the crowd, but he is a heel through and through.  Wyatt just did a version of the Pounce taking Ryback down.  I really like Monte Brown and I thought the Pounce finish was really good as it was one of those do to anyone of any size finishers.  Wyatt has that suplex slam that he does that is pretty neat, and it just a slight variation that makes it unique.  Wyatt gets the win with Sister Abigail after Ryback hits the corner chest first that was missing the turnbuckle pad.  Glad to see Wyatt get the win, he needs it to maintain the idea that he’s a threat as he hasn’t had the best win/loss record as of late. 

I Quit Match

United States Champion: John Cena vs. Rusev w/ Lana

I’m glad they were very specific in the introductions that you “literally have to say I Quit” to lose.  No passing out, having the towel thrown in, and ect.  I hate the “tension” between Lana and Rusev, it’s dumb.  Rusev never should have lost the title, I’ve enjoyed Cena’s open challenges every week and the matches he has been having is great, but Rusev should be the undefeated evil foreigner and not the verbally abusive boyfriend.

One of my all-time favorite matches is the 1985 Starrcade I Quit match between Magnum TA & Tully Blanchard for the United States Championship, the level of brutality really raised the bar for an I Quit match, I know this one isn’t going to come close to living up to that, but so far they’ve only brought the stairs into play and haven’t done anything that I would wager someone would quit over.   But then again, Flair beat Funk in his I Quit match with the figure four.

Match hasn’t been that good, it’s been very slow and methodical with big bump, then asking if they quit, the answer is no, then another big bump and repeat with a huge delay between moves.  Finally Rusev has the accolade on Cena, a maneuver were someone could be coaxed into saying I Quit, of course Cena passes out so he can’t say I Quit.  Top rope has been undone, swear to god Cena better not win with the “STF” using the rope for leverage, he’s done that before. 

Cena vs Umaga Royal Rumble 2007, choke not "stf" same difference

That was something; Cena applied that STF using the rope, again, and according to Lana Rusev said I Quit in Russian so the ref called for this bell. 

As an I Quit match, this match sucked.

The Bella Twins: Diva’s Champion Nikki & Brie vs. Naomi & Tamina

Naomi and Tamina got the win when Naomi threw Nikki off the top rope, essentially the body slam Ric Flair has taken ten thousand times, and pinned her.  The match wasn’t very good.  You have the ladies down in NXT just killing it, matches so good that Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte just main evented an NXT house show in Philadelphia, and this is what the main roster is delivering. 

King Barrett vs. Neville

Neville won by count-out and then was attacked after the bell by Barrett.  The post-match beat down was more effective than the actual match.  Neville hit the german suplex, which broke the scepter, then executed red arrow. 

Fatal 4-Way

Champion: Seth Rollins w/ J&J Security vs. Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose

   If Rollins loses the title then Kane is fired from his Corporate position in the authority

Of course J&J and Kane got involved in this match very early on so it was basically a 7 way match, but that’s not a surprise.  At one point they teased a Shield reunion as J&J were taken out and Rollins, Reigns, and Ambrose triple power bombed Orton through the announce table.  Crowd popped big for that.  Then of course Reigns and Ambrose tried to do the same to Rollins through the Spanish announce table, but Kane stopped them.  So they power bombed Kane onto Rollins through the Spanish announce table.  The first attempt the table didn’t break so at the audience’s request they did it one more time and sent them crashing to the floor.  Ambrose and Reigns squared off for a bit before everyone got involved again.  Kane took out Reigns and Ambrose then ate and RKO which allowed Rollins to hit the pedigree on Orton to retain his title.

It was a good match, fun to watch, but I hated the pedigree finish, the curb stomp is so awesome, I mean right after the RKO on Kane if he hit Orton with the curb stomp it would have looked so much cooler than the awkward Pedigree.  Because let’s face it, if anyone but Triple H does it, it just looks awkward.

Pretty good show, I’m sure many will be comparing it to the NXT Takeover special that is this Wednesday.  Best match was the main event, followed by the tag match. 

If you watched the show what did you think?

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment and like my blogs Facebook page, until next time.

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!