The Cruiserweight Classic semi final matches were set after last night’s episode on the WWE Network.
Zack Sabre Jr. will take on Gran Metalik and Kota Ibushi will wrestle T.J. Perkins and then later in the night, the two winners of each match will meet to determine the winner for the inaugural Cruiserweight Classic. During yesterday’s show Sabre defeated Noam Dar in the first quarter final while Perkins defeated Rich Swann.
The Cruiserweight Classic tournament will wrap up next Wednesday with a live broadcast from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, starting at 9PM EST only on the WWE Network.
Raw doesn’t usually do well on holidays and the college football game on ESPN didn’t help much things either! The Labor Day edition of Raw this week drew 3,069,000 viewers, down 343,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast.
Hour one started with 3,350,000 viewers, then went down to 3,066,000 viewers, before hitting a low of 2,792,000 viewers in the third and final hour. Between hour one and hour three, Raw lost a whopping 558,000 viewers. The college football game head to head with Raw drew 8.3 million viewers. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
All four episodes of FOX Sports’ documentary The Evolution of Punk are now online and available to stream on YouTube.
The Evolution of Punk is a documentary almost two years in the making as cameras followed CM Punk through his tough journey to make it to his UFC debut which will happen this Saturday at UFC 203. From announcing his deal with the UFC, choosing his camp, temporarily moving to Milwaukee, injuries, back surgery, delays, and everything in between, the documentary chronicles Punk’s will to realize his dream to fight in the UFC.
Throughout the episodes you will see Punk in mock fights against his team mates, losing badly in most of them although brushing up his skills with every fight that comes next. By the end of episode four, an incredibly-improved Punk will win his first gym fight. Punk also tells his coach Duke Roufus about being “cursed” in Cleveland and that it was in the same arena as UFC 203 that he went in to Vince’s office and told him that it’s over.
The four-part series aptly wraps up with a montage of Punk to his popular WWE theme song Cult of Personality and “CM Punk” chants. You can watch all four episodes – each titled The Ground Up, A Little Bit Crazy, Hurt, and Cult of Personality – below.
The WWE Network gift card is now available at 7-Eleven stores across the United States, the third store that the card is available in.
The gift card originally launched at Walmart stores in October 2015 and then in February it was also available at GameStop locations. It sells for $29.97 and it gives you three months access to the full WWE Network catalog without needing to add your credit card to the website. The card is only available for those with a U.S. subscription of the Network.
It seems that pro wrestling stars always get some sort of waiver when they get to the UFC. First, Brock Lesnar got a waiver for his four-month notice to be enrolled in the USADA drug testing before his fight and now it emerged that the Ohio Athletic Commission issued CM Punk a license despite no fighting background.
MMAFighting.com, per a Combat Sports Law story, reported that for a fighter to be issued a license in Ohio, the fighter must have at least five amateur bouts and a winning record. If the fighter does not meet any of these requirements, he or she may appeal to the executive director or the Ohio Athletic Commission for a waiver.
Obviously, CM Punk didn’t meet any of those two criteria as he goes in for his fight on Saturday with a 0-0 record and no amateur or professional fights.
When MMAFighting.com reached out to Bernie Profato, Executive Director of the Ohio Athletic Commission, Profato defended the decision to issue Punk a fight license based on two things. “CM Punk has a wrestling background similar to Brock Lesner being permitted to fight in the past. There was also confidence in the matchmaker from the UFC and the past bouts he has submitted in previous UFC events in Ohio,” Profato said.
Punk got no waivers from the USADA though and the former WWE champion has been tested on six different occasions so far, all in 2016. Considering his “straight edge” character, one would assume that there would be no issues with Punk failing a drug test.
The Smackdown Tag Team title tournament has its first finalist as the team of Rhyno and Heath Slater eliminated The Hype Brows on last night’s Smackdown to advance to this Sunday’s finale.
Joining them were supposed to be American Alpha, however The Usos attacked Chad Gable and injured his leg, preventing them from participating in the final. On the Talking Smack WWE Network show following Smackdown, GM Daniel Bryan and Commissioner Shane McMahon announced that The Usos will take on The Hype Bros at Backlash with the winners advancing to the tournament final later in the night.
Heath Slater will also win a Smackdown contract if he manages to win the tag team titles with Rhyno.
Tuesday Night Smackdown! Live TV Report for September 6th, 2016 – “Who ‘Runs The Place?’”
Introduction Segment: Video and Arena Promo
The regular Smackdown! Live video plays and then we are live right away in the arena of Lincoln, Nebraska! Mauro Ranallo welcomes us, and in the ring is General Manager Daniel Bryan. He has the Women’s Championship displayed on a table, and the ring is decorated in a blue carpet. He talks about the Women’s Six-Pack Challenge for the title at this Sunday’s Backlash Network Show, and then introduces the forum featuring the women in that match.
He asks Becky Lynch to come out first, and she thought that he would call for Nikki, his real-life sister-in-law. Bryan does take the moment to promote the new Bellas TV show on E!, starting October 5th (just like I did!), but surprisingly, the crowd boos. He moves on and Lynch vows to become the Women’s Champion for Smackdown!
Natalya, Alexa, and Carmella saunter out and team-up against Becky, but Naomi and Nikki run out for backup. A small brawl ensues, and Becky, Naomi, and Nikki clear the ring.
Segment #2: Backstage Promo
WWE World Champion Dean Ambrose detests the coffee and pours a lot more sugar into it, and then hands it over to an assistant. Ambrose and A.J. will meet in the ring tonight!
Commercials.
Segment #3: Office Promo
Commissioner Shane McMahon and GM Bryan are discussing the women’s situation when Intercontinental Champion The Miz, and his wife Maryse, interrupt. He is not pleased with having to defend his title against Dolph Ziggler this Sunday at Backlash, but Daniel orders him to do that or surrender the championship right now. Miz’s music plays and he’s wrestling now!
Match #1: Single – Intercontinental Champion The Miz (with Maryse) VS. Apollo Crews (Non-Title)
(Note: Dolph Ziggler is on commentary.)
Miz waistlocks Crews and then turns into a side-headlock, but Apollo shoves him off of the ropes and gives him a shoulder-block. Crews waistlock-slams Miz a couple of times, and then reverses a backdrop-try later. He leapfrogs a couple of times, and then moonsaults from the apron-to-the-floor onto Miz!
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Apollo is battling back with a punch and a roll-up, but Miz kicks out and gives him a backbreaker and neckbreaker! 1 – 2 – Crews gets his shoulder up! He presses his knee against Apollo’s head in the turnbuckle and then snapmares him into a surfboard-stretch. Miz tries again for the backbreaker/neckbreaker combo, but is blocked. He regains control with a run and then climbs the turnbuckle, diving right into Apollo’s overhead-belly-to-belly suplex!
Crews fires up with leaping-clotheslines and a kick-up, but Miz wiggles out of another move. He hits Dolph on the outside and then shoves Apollo into Dolph, and then into the ring post. He drags Apollo into the ring and drives him down with the Skull-Krushing Finale and then covers for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Intercontinental Champion The Miz (with Maryse)
Post-match, Ziggler holds onto Miz’s IC title, but Miz has Maryse collect it, much to Dolph’s disbelief.
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
Rene Young interviews A.J. Styles about his opponent for Sunday, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Dean Ambrose. A.J. slams his fists on the desk and wants to know who gave Rene the video of last week’s ending where Dean crotched Styles on the ropes. He berates the technician he thinks did it and appears frustrated.
Commercials.
Segment #5: Video Promo
Highlights of American Alpha’s quest to become Smackdown! Live’s first Tag Team Champions plays.
Segment #6: Backstage Promo
The Usos are questioned about their opponents for the semi-finals in the Tag-Team Championship Tournament, American Alpha. Jimmy and Jey declare their “respect” for Jason Jordan and Chad Gable, but predict they will be the ones to come out on top.
Segment #7: Video Promo
Bray Wyatt talks about the difference between the “Apex Predator” and mankind. He compares this to himself and Randy Orton, who he will wrestle at Sunday’s Backlash.
Nikki Bella makes her entrance, and the six-woman tag bout will take place next!
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Match #2: Six-woman tag team – Nikki Bella, Becky Lynch, and Naomi VS. Natalya, Alexa Bliss, and Carmella
Alexa and Naomi begin, with Alexa slapping Naomi, who rapid-bicycle-kicks back! Bliss tags in Carmella, who is waistlock slammed and clamped in a front facelock. Becky is in and avoids some of Carmella’s moves. She almost takes this with a backslide, ducks a clothesline, and sunset-flips her for two! She switches with Nikki, who has to chase Carmella out of the ring!
Commercials.
Becky is back in and controlling Carmella with an Exploder suplex! 1 – 2 – Carmella kicks out! Natalya and Alexa help Carmella take advantage over Lynch, and then Carmella punches away on Becky back in the ring. They work over Becky for a while, wishbone-leg-splitting her too! Alexa presses Lynch against the middle rope with her knee and then stomps on the back-of-the-head of Becky, and then wears on her with a grounding rear chinlock.
Lynch fights back with a punches and inside-cradle, but is taken over again. She rolls Natalya up in another inside-cradle, but Natalya gets out of it and stretches Becky. She whips Lynch off of the ropes, but Becky kicks back and rolls-up Natalya for a near-fall! Natalya drags Lynch away to prevent the hot-tag, but Alexa is in and misses an elbow; Becky manages the hot-tag to Nikki!
Bella cleans house on Alexa, but Bliss jawbreaks back to switch with Carmella. Nikki capitalizes with her T.K.O.-finisher (Fireman’s-Carry Cutter), and this breaks down with all women hitting moves/finishers. Nikki and Carmella are left, where Carmella clutches Bella in her “Code of Silence” necklock, forcing Nikki to give in!
Winners via Submission: Natalya, Alexa Bliss, and Carmella
Later tonight Rhyno and Slater will take on The Hype Bros in the Tag-Team Championship Tournament, and up next, The Usos face American Alpha in the same Tournament!
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Match #3: Tag-Team – The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) VS. American Alpha (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable)
Both teams shake hands, and then The Usos suddenly hammer away on Alpha to boos! This breaks down quickly, and Jason and Chad out-smart the twins, catching them in their double-team finisher and the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pinfall and ADVANCING: American Alpha (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable)
Post-match, the two teams shake hands again, but Jimmy and Jey turn, assaulting both Jordan and Gable. They appear to injure Chad’s knee with a jumping-kick and the Uso-Splash from the top turnbuckle.
Commercials.
Segment #8: Backstage Promo
Randy Orton is asked about Bray Wyatt’s words earlier. Randy wants to equal Bray’s, so he talks about a snake, a rabbit, and a man, and says the snake gets the better of both, mainly because of the man’s “over-confidence.”
Segment #9: Arena Promo
Fandango is without Tyler Breeze tonight and tries to get another woman to dance with him. She doesn’t dance to his standards, and he wants another partner. A burst of pyro comes from the stage and out walks “The Big Red Machine;” He chokeslams Fandango instead of dancing with him, and then mocks Fandango’s dance before going to the back.
Segment #10: Backstage Promo
A.J. Styles is angered at a backstage person who he thinks is taking pictures of him. He takes the man’s phone and hurls it against the wall.
Segment #11: Video Promo
The video from Raw for Connor’s Cure/The V Foundation plays.
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Segment #12: Video Promo
Curt Hawkins will be returning soon.
Match #4: Tag-Team – The Hype Bros (Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley) VS. Heath Slater and Rhyno
Heath starts out with Ryder and is soon governed by both Ryder and Rawley. They double team Slater and Rhyno for the first bit.
Commercials.
Rawley is still wearing down Heath with a grounding rear-chinlock. He whips Slater into the corner, but misses a running splash! Heath gets the hot-tag to Rhyno, who dominates over Zack! He almost gets this with a spinebuster, but Mojo broke up the pin attempt! Rhyno clotheslines Rawley on the outside and Heath celebrates, but Ryder takes advantage with a roll-up for a very-near-fall! He lines up Slater for the Broski Boot, but Slater moves and switches again with Rhyno, who Gores (spears) Zack and takes this!
Winners and ADVANCING: Heath Slater and Rhyno
Segment #13: Backstage Promo
After replays of The Usos’ attack on American Alpha, Rene announces that Commissioner Shane has said Jason Jordan and Chad Gable’s participation in the finals of the Tag Team Championship Tournament on Sunday at Backlash is “questionable.”
Jimmy and Jey interrupt her and rip on the fans for suddenly cheering on a new team in American Alpha after their six-year time in the WWE. They say they tried to do it with “respect,” but that is over now.
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Segment #14: Arena Promo
WWE World Champion Dean Ambrose and A.J. Styles face each other in the ring. Ambrose give A.J. a “participation trophy” from his bowling, as “that’s the only trophy you’re going to get from me.” A.J. retorts that he’s not a joke, but Dean shows footage of last week when Styles was bounced on the ropes by him.
“The Phenomenal One” proclaims that he doesn’t “want you to hand me anything,” and that he will “beat you at Backlash.” A.J. touts his “phenomenal” (pun-intended on my part) match with John Cena at SummerSlam, and says that John treated Styles sternly in their contest.
Dean goes off on how A.J. has to earn the WWE World Championship at Backlash, because they “don’t hand out trophies to ‘the face who comes in second place.’” Styles responds with a kick-to-the-groin, and then breaks the bowling trophy over a bent-over Ambrose to close the show.
End of Smackdown! Live.
Reporter’s Rumblings
This was a pretty-good Smackdown! Live; not as great as previous, as I felt there was too much talk versus action, but I also understand that in a way, since they were building for Backlash.
Excellence: promos by Bryan/Becky/Natalya/Alexa/Carmella, Bray, Randy, The Usos (heel), and A.J. Matches between Miz/Crews, Six-Women, and Hype Bros/Heath/Rhyno.
Loving the Women’s Division right now as they are all participating extremely-well, both on the mike and in the ring. Them and the Tag-Division are the best of Smackdown! currently!
The Miz has really stepped it up again on the mike and in the ring; love the slimy/cowardly act of making Maryse get his I.C. Title! A.J.’s seriousness is perfect and that is what he is/should be all about. Like The Uso’s heel turn, and the scenario with American Alpha.
Bogus: promos by Dean backstage, Fandango, and Curt Hawkins (don’t see him succeeding.). I was looking forward to Usos/American Alpha as a great match/main-event for the night, but after the angle, I’m ok with how it turned out.
Dolph on commentary – thought he talked the same way he usually does, which right now is hard to believe in his words, and I want him back in the main-event too, as that fire he had prior to Summerslam was much better and more believable.
Backlash Predictions: Naomi for the upset and to become the first Smackdown! Women’s Champion; Usos to viciously attack Heath and then win over Rhyno for the Tag-Team Championships – this will then give Slater a chance to protest not getting a contract, and Shane/Bryan giving him another chance; Miz needs to win to continue his personality; Orton/Bray no contest to go into October’s Pay-Per-View; Dean wins as his current personality fits him better as a champion then a chaser.
Until next week’s Raw, enjoy Backlash for those who are watching, and Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Fans!
Kevin Owens will defend the WWE Universal title against Seth Rollins at the upcoming Clash of Champions Raw-only pay-per-view however the match could turn into a three-way next week. While Rollins will keep his place in the title match, Owens has to defeat Roman Reigns next week on Raw to keep the match a one on one affair. If Reigns defeats Owens, Reigns gets added to the mix.
Also announced for Clash of Champions is a WWE Tag Team title match between the current champions The New Day and Gallows and Anderson. Many expected The Club members to win the titles at SummerSlam however they won the match only via DQ.
These matches will join Charlotte vs Sasha Banks for the WWE Women’s title as the only three announced matches for the pay-per-view so far.
TMZ.COM is reporting that WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall was ejected from the TGI Friday’s restaurant at Atlanta airport this weekend after he called the bartender a bitch.
TMZ adds that Hall, who is a recovering alcoholic and supposedly clean, had been drinking Coors Light and tequila shots according to eye witness reports. The bartender’s father was also at the bar and Hall ended up in a war of words with him when he didn’t believe that the guy was really her father. Cops were called in and they recognized the former WWE and WCW star and calmed him down.
Despite the problems at the restaurant, there were no charges filed with the police and Hall was eventually escorted out after refusing to hand over his beer bottle.
Someone in the restaurant happen to catch some of the “action” on video and TMZ has the footage which you can see below.
The Raw brand, plus John Cena, will be going overseas today for with stops in England, Philippines, and the big one in China.
The tour starts Wednesday when WWE presents Live In London at the O2 Arena. This is a non-televised, one-time live event which is the first one in many years that is not part of the European tour.
After London, the crew is joined by John Cena for an event on Friday, September 9 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. Their time in Manila is quite short as after the show is over, a plane will take everyone to Shanghai, China for a live event at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Saturday, September 10. The 18,000-seater arena is expected to be jam packed as WWE will showcase their first-ever Chinese developmental wrestler Bin Wang, who will be making his debut against Bo Dallas.
After Shanghai is over, it’s straight to Baltimore for another live episode of Monday Night Raw.
WWE today announced the appointment of Chris Bellitti as Senior Vice President, Communications. Bellitti, who previously held senior positions at FOX Sports and ESPN, will report directly to Brian Flinn, WWE Executive Vice President, Marketing & Communications.
As head of WWE’s Communications division, Bellitti will be a key member of the company’s senior management team, responsible for providing strategic vision for WWE’s internal and external global communications initiatives across key business units.
Bellitti brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications from his previous jobs at FOX Sports and ESPN.
Just a few weeks after dropping the WWE Women’s title to Charlotte and vanishing from television, Sasha Banks returned to Monday Night Raw and immediately challenged Charlotte for the title at Clash of Champions later this month.
Banks won the WWE Women’s title on the first post-draft Raw in July, a decision which was “moved forward” as the plan was for Banks to win the title at SummerSlam. Her title reign was short-lived however as Charlotte regained the title at the SummerSlam pay-per-view.
The title switch was done because Sasha was suffering from a back injury and it was thought that she would be sidelined for a few months, however the injury wasn’t as severe as initially thought and WWE doctors cleared her for return much sooner.
Banks swerved the crowd by first delivering a promo that made it seem like she was retiring but then after discarding Dana Brooke who interrupted the segment, she announced that she’s back and ready to go.
Fall is upon us and with that, we have a NEW Universal Champion. Kevin Owens won the title on last week’s Raw, defeating Big Cass, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins in a Four-Way Elimination Match, with the help of Triple H. What will the new champ have to say tonight? Why did “The Game” help Owens? How will Rollins, Reigns, and General Manager Mick Foley and Commissioner Stephanie McMahon react?
The Club are still going after The New Day’s Tag-Team Titles; what will be the next step in Luke Gallows’ and Karl Anderson’s pursuit of Big E., Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods?
Bayley has been featured in the Women’s Division since debuting on Raw two weeks ago; will she get her Women’s Championship shot at Charlotte soon? How will Dana Brooke factor?
All this and more, so read on!
Monday Night Raw TV Report for September 5th, 2016 – “The ‘Clash’ Begins!”
Introduction Segment: Video Promos
A recap of the Fatal-Four-Way Elimination Universal Championship Match from last week’s Raw is shown; a bunch of Twitter comments that read how surprised they were at the ending (with expertly-edited footage of just the wrestlers with their faces on it, so it didn’t reveal the ending) starts off the video.
Stephanie is now on her cell phone making demands for a celebration that Kevin Owens wants until Mick walks up. He is angry with her for Triple H’s action, insinuating she was in on it. He recalls when she was just a backstage person in 1998 and they had a nice exchange. Stephanie goes on about how was embarrassed by her husband, and as the leader of Raw too. Foley believes her and walks away.
The regular Raw video plays and then we are live in ….
Segment #2: Arena Promo
General Manager Mick Foley and Commissioner Stephanie McMahon are in the ring. She welcomes new Universal Champion Kevin Owens, who walks out to balloons and then stands on the turnbuckle while pyro goes off on the stage.
The crowd chants “you deserve it” and McMahon concurs. Owens puts himself over and berates the fans for “stealing” his time last week on Raw, when they chanted “you deserve it.” Kevin claims he knew that all along, and declares Raw “The Kevin Owens Show.”
Seth Rollins marches out and is furious with everyone else in the ring, especially Stephanie. After ranting a bit, Foley backs up Steph, and Owens gets in Rollins’ face. Seth responds with a punch and knocks Kevin to the floor. McMahon holds Rollins back verbally and suddenly suspends him indefinitely. Mick retracts that, and instead books Seth to challenge Owens for the championship at Clash of the Champions on September 25th!
Up next, Bayley will wrestle Women’s Champion Charlotte!
Commercials.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
Mick and Stephanie are conversing about the Universal Championship scenario. Steph is not happy that Foley “overrode” her decision to suspend Rollins; Mick says he made the match so the people wouldn’t talk about McMahon “playing favorites.” Universal Champ Kevin Owens walks up and is enraged about Foley’s match-making, so Mick responds by forcing him to take on Sami Zayn. Jericho also walks up fuming, saying that the “longest-reigning WWE Universal Champion in history” doesn’t deserve that. He calls Mick a “stupid idiot,” which Stephanie takes umbrage with. Foley makes Jericho wrestle Seth tonight!
Match #1: Single – Women’s Champion Charlotte (with Dana Brooke) VS. Bayley (Non-Title)
They start out trading take-downs, and then Bayley hits a couple of armdrags, but Charlotte comes back with a knee. She rams Bayley’s head into the turnbuckle and poses, and then does the same to the other turnbuckle. Bayley gears up from this, and turns Charlotte around with numerous head-smashes into the top turnbuckle!
Charlotte goes to the floor and Bayley jumps and slides through the corner with a front-dropkick, but unfortunately, appears to have hurt her left leg. She follows the Women’s Champion o the floor again, but Charlotte pushes back.
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Charlotte is now in control with a Figure-Four necklock. She turns it into a pin combo, but Bayley kicks out! Bayley shoves Charlotte off and hits a crossbody for two! Charlotte runs in the corner, but Bayley boots back. She jumps on Charlotte, but Charlotte drives her into the corner and stomps onto her knee. Charlotte focuses on Bayley’s left knee with the help of the ring post. She drags her to the middle rope and tries the Figure-4, but Bayley kicks away. Charlotte turns Bayley over with a half-crab, but Bayley turns the move around.
Charlotte goes back to the knee, but Bayley battles back. Charlotte props her up on the top turnbuckle, but Bayley punches back and dives off with a spinning-elbow. Bayley hits rapid-forearms, but is distracted by Dana. Charlotte takes advantage with an O’Connor roll-up, but Bayley shoves her off, into Brooke against the ropes. Bayley capitalizes with her Bayley-To-Belly Suplex and covers for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Bayley
Later tonight, Sasha Banks returns and Rollins meets Jericho, and Zayn and Owens will wrestle again.
Segment #4: Video Promo
WWE’s setup of Connor’s Cure – a foundation to help battle childhood cancer in honor of Connor Michalek – is featured.
Commercials.
Segment #5: Locker Room Promo
Women’s Champion Charlotte is tearing Dana Brooke a new one. Dana begs for forgiveness, and Charlotte slaps her then walks away.
Match #2: Single – Kyle Roberts VS. Bo Dallas
“Don’t you know, you reap what you sow. Bo-lieve in Bo.” A new-attitude Bo rips apart Kyle, and finishes him with CrossRhodes.
Winner via Pinfall: Bo Dallas
Segment #6: Backstage Promo
Owens and Jericho are walking through the halls, discussing what Chris will do to Seth Rollins in their match. Kevin advises Chris to “go for his knee.”
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Match #3: Single – Chris Jericho VS. Seth Rollins
Jericho eggs on Rollins verbally, but Seth hits a dropkick and a flurry of punches and kicks to start out. Jericho slides out of the ring but Rollins follows with a dive-through-ropes. They fight on the outside a bit, and Chris gains an advantage. He brings Seth back into the ring and hits him in the corner, but Rollins regains control with a running-arm.
Seth tosses Jericho to the floor, and then whips him into the corner of the barricade. He sets up Chris on the mat and boots him from the floor. Jericho makes use of the referee, hitting a springboard dropkick that sends Seth to the mat.
Commercials.
“Y2J” is dominating, but “The Architect” battles back. He hits Slingblade and a couple of forearms. He leaps onto the second turnbuckle and dives over with a Blockbuster-neckbreaker. 1 – 2 – Jericho gets his shoulder up! They go-back-and-forth, with Rollins and Jericho both trying for their finishers. Seth springs off the top rope, but Jericho grabs him and manages to turn him into the Walls of Jericho. Seth crawls and clutches the bottom rope to break, and then hits an enziguri and kick-to-the-head, but only gets two!
Seth goes to the top turnbuckle, but Chris meet him up there. Rollins pushes him off and frog splashes, but Jericho moves and hits the springboard-Lionsault! 1 – 2 – Seth kicks out! He goes for the Codebreaker but Seth stops it and Pedigrees for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Seth Rollins
Up next, Sheamus and Cesaro will face in Match #3 in their Best-of-Seven series!
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Match #4: Single – Cesaro VS. Sheamus
(Note: Match 3 in Best-of-Seven Series; Sheamus leads 2 – 0)
Cesaro rolls-up Sheamus right off the bat for a one, and then hits a few uppercuts in the corner. He follows with punches and another fierce uppercut! Sheamus misses a running-boot in the corner, and Cesaro rolls him up again for a near-fall, and then hits a springboard crossbody! Sheamus counters with a back body-drop, but Cesaro clotheslines back on the floor!
Sheamus shoves Cesaro back-first into the ring apron, but Cesaro hits back. He climbs in the ring but is given a tilt-a-whirl-powerslam. 1 – 2 – Cesaro kicks out! Sheamus hits away and tries the Cloverleaf submission, but Cesaro fights him off. He hits back with more uppercuts, and tries a flapjack-uppercut, but Sheamus lands on his feet and drives him with four Irish-Curse Backbreakers! Cesaro still kicks out, but is dropped on to Sheamus’ knee with a Crucifix-Backbreaker. The referee checks on Cesaro, and Sheamus Brogue Kicks him promptly, and takes this!
Winner via Pinfall and LEADING 3 – 0: Sheamus
Commercials.
Match #5: Tag-Team – The Shining Stars (Primo and Epico) VS. Enzo Amore and Big Cass
Cass and Primo begin with Cass shoulder-blocking Primo. He tosses Epico over the top rope, and then does the same to Primo. Enzo follows with a dive-through-the-ropes!
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Enzo and Epico are in the ring, with Epico governing with triple backdrop suplexes! He tags in Primo, who runs at Enzi a bit later but misses. Amore makes the hot-tag to Big, who cleans house on the Stars. He drops the Empire Elbow on Epico and splashes him in the corner, and then boots him to the canvas. He switches with Enzo, but Primo stops their finisher. Enzo crossbodies off the top rope on to Primo, but Epico rolls up Enzo and holds the tights for the W!
Winners via Pinfall: The Shining Stars
Commercials.
Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Tom Phillips interviews Sami Zayn about taking on Universal Champion Kevin Owens later tonight. He says that he thought he’d be satisfied with winning over Owens at Battleground in July, but since then, he hasn’t done anything significant. He admits some jealousy and Owens walks up, interjecting. He retorts about being “jealous” when Sami made it to WWE first, but reiterates that the Universal Championship is “the finish line,” which he “won the race.”
Kevin claims that Zayn only had accomplishments when he was backed up by Owens. Sami vows to win the WWE Universal Championship too, and digs at Kevin for getting help from Triple H!
Match #6: Single – Ann Esposito VS. Nia Jax
Ann puts up a little fight, but Nia finishes her with a powerslam!
Winner via Pinfall: Nia Jax
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Segment #8: Arena Promo
Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows announce themselves as “Retirement Specialists,” and want to do that to Tag-Team Champions The New Day. They present “The Old Day,” who are three people dressed as The New Day if they were eighty. Gallows and Anderson make fun of the trio, complete with a walker, scooter, and canes.
The real Tag-Team Champions strut out, detesting the antics and clearing the ring. it is announced that The Club will challenge The New Day for the Tag-Team Championships at Clash of the Champions.
Commercials.
Match #7: Single – Jinder Mahal VS. Darren Young (with Bob Backlund)
(Note: Titus O’Neil is on commentary.) Darren works over Jinder immediately, but is stun-gunned on the ropes. Mahal kicks Darren in the back of the head, and then drops a knee. He wears Young down with a grounding rear-chinlock, but Darren gets out of it.
O’Neil charges to the ring, but Darren is not phased, countering Jinder and finishing with his Gut-check!
Winner via Pinfall: Darren Young (with Bob Backlund)
Post-match, Titus and Darren engage in a brawl that has to be split by referees.
Segment #9: Backstage Promo
Alicia Fox walks out of the training room where Nia approaches her. She cockily asks how Fox’s friend is, since Jax defeated her earlier tonight. Nia gives Fox advice about how WWE really works, which infuriates Alicia. She gets in Nia’s face and throws multiple objects at her. Nia walks away as Fox screams.
Ads.
Match #8: Single – Braun Strowman VS. Sin Cara
Cara tries a bit, but Braun is too strong. He yanks Sin out of the ring and slides back in himself before ten.
Winner via Count-Out: Braun Strowman
Post-match, Braun hits Cara again with a shoulder-block and yells “get out of my ring!”
Up next, “The Boss” is back!
Commercials.
Segment #10: Arena Promo
Sasha talks about the Women’s Revolution, tracing it back to the late-greats Mae Yong and “Fabulous” Moolah. She also mentions Alundra Blaze, Trish Stratus, and Lita, who wrestled actual matches. She acknowledges Stephanie for bringing her, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte to Raw last year, and being recognized as “superstars.”
However, during her match at SummerSlam with Charlotte, her back got injured. She says she visited with her doctors, but before she can go further, Dana Brooke interrupts. She throws the mic at Sasha but Sasha hits the Banks Statement. Sasha then grabs the mic and announced that the bad news was for Charlotte, because at Clash of Champions, the title is going back to her.
Ads.
Match #9: Single – Sami Zayn VS. Universal Champion Kevin Owens (Non-Title)
Both slug away at each other, and then Owens kicks and fights on Sami on the outside. He punches Zayn in the ring, but Sami punches back. Kevin lands a chest-chop and whips him into the ropes, and follows with a shoulder-block. He whips Zayn again, but Sami backward-leapfrogs over and hits a jumping calf-kick! He goes to run, but Owens holds onto his leg and pulls him out of the ring. He runs him into the corner barricade, but Zayn counters by hopping on it and moonsaulting-back!
Commercials.
Owens has Sami locked in a grounding chinlock, which Sami hits out of. Kevin counters with a sling suplex and a senton splash for two! He slaps Zayn, but Sami slaps back. Owens runs, but Sami pulls the top rope down and then follows with an over-the-ropes swanton! He does it again to Kevin on the opposite side, and then almost gets this after a Blue-Thunder Bomb!
Owens fights back, but Zayn catches him in an exploder suplex into the turnbuckles! He runs for the Helluva Kick, but Kevin moves. The Universal Champion tries to powerbomb Sami on the apron, but Zayn fights out and tries a nelson. Owens elbows out and jawbreaks Sami with the top rope. He sets Zayn up in the corner and hits him with the Cannonball-Splash! He goes for the Pop-Up powerbomb, but Sami leaps out of it and brings Owens backwards with a half-nelson suplex! 1 – 2 – Kevin kicks out!
Zayn kicks and springs off the top rope, but Kevin hits him down. Sami appears to have hurt his ankle. As the referee checked on Zayn, Owens goes for another powerbomb onto the apron, but Sami again counters and again brings him backward with a half-nelson suplex on the floor!
In the ring, Sami tries another Helluva Kick, but his ankle prevents, and Kevin powerbombs him and covers for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Universal Champion Kevin Owens
Post-match, Owens has no time to celebrate as Roman Reigns confronts him! Owens backs out to the ring apron, and then Jericho walks down for backup against Reigns. GM Foley comes to the stage and sees the situation. He gives Reigns a chance, booking him against Kevin Owens; if Roman wins, he will be added to Rollins and Owens for the Universal Championship at Clash of the Champions.
Kevin leaves and Chris goes to attack Reigns, but Roman ducks and spears. He smiles at Owens, who backs up the ramp to close the show.
End of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings
This was an ok Raw; some great action, but I felt a letdown as the show went in regarding the Universal Championship picture. Onto the analysis:
Excellence: promos by Mick, Stephanie, Owens, Rollins, Jericho, Dana, Charlotte, Titus on commentary, Alicia, and Sasha. Matches between Bayley/Charlotte, Rollins/Jericho, Cesaro/Sheamus, and Owens/Sami.
Love that Owens is continuing his own attitude and even ripping on the fans for being “too loving” of him; great way to stay a heel! The opening part of Raw’s recap was fantastic, as for those who didn’t know about last week, would’ve have really believed something huge. (No disrespect to Owens intended, but there have been bigger moments on Raw; the way the video was put together though, made it be like the hugest moment and that is complimentary!) Mick and Steph’s interactions were awesome tonight! Love to see that side of both!
Dana has really improved on the mike and she can be a great personality if given more time. Nice to see Alicia featured again and get her “personality” back; also finally a challenger for Nia – was getting tired of the weekly squashes.
Was a little surprise, and now reflecting I’m happy with that, that Sheamus has picked up 3 – 0! It’ll put some suspense into their rivalry and make each match a must-see now!
Very happy that Sasha did not have to retire; was a bit worried there that she was going that way, but as soon as Brooke came out, I knew she was ok.
Bogus: promos by The Shining Stars, Gallows/Anderson/New Day, and Enzo/Cass (kinda didn’t make sense/usual). Matches between Enzo/Cass/Shining Stars, Nia/Ann, Jinder/Young, and Braun/Cara.
Again, why bring back Jinder for him to job every week. I thought that he got a good chance the first time with a win over Heath and they might push him, but since then, all he’s done is lost. He’s got a good chance at being a good heel if they give him a ball to run with.
Much like Nia, getting bored of the Braun squashes. Let’s bring in a new challenger that can measure up! Where was Neville tonight? So not interested in Darren/Titus, but Titus has potential if used right, as he was pretty-good on commentary.
After last week’s ending, was really disappointed that Triple H was not a part of Raw; he should’ve been to play off of it and make it another one to talk about the next day. I also thought they ripped off Smackdown! blatantly with the booking of Owens/Reigns and their stipulation; Reigns should’ve been involved in the segment with Owens/Mick/Steph/Rollins right away.
I really hope both Bayley and Sami are going to be ok!
Lastly, I’m on the fence about the “new” Bo Dallas. Love the aggression, but I think he still needs an overall personality change; no more “Bo-lieve” gigs.
Until tomorrow’s Smackdown!, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Fans!
The state of California will be getting its own NXT mini-tour in October, starting on the 26th.
The tour starts in Fresno at the Selland Arena, before heading to the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento on Thursday, October 27. San Jose is next on the tour with a show at the San Jose State University Event Center on Friday, October 28 and then on Saturday, October 29 it’s Bakersfield turn with a show at the Bakersfield Theater. The tour ends on Sunday, October 30 at the Palladium on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles.
Tickets for this tour will be available starting Friday, September 9 at 10AM PST.
There’s no denying that Mick Foley is one of the most popular and beloved WWE Superstars in the history of the company. And there’s no denying that his daughter Noelle is one of the most beautiful women in the WWE family. So you would think that a “reality show” featuring the two of them would be a great thing, right?
But…Holy Foley! That was bad!
The first five episodes of the WWE Network series Holy Foley are available to stream, or binge watch, right now with more episodes to be added every week.
There are great reality shows, there are okay reality shows, and then there are bad ones and I’m afraid Holy Foley falls in this category.
This should have been – for a wrestling fan – a great series. Proud dad Mick helping his daughter break in the wrestling business. It’s a good concept but the way it was executed turned this show into a joke.
I don’t even think you can put this show in the reality category. It’s filmed differently from other reality shows and there’s some bad storylines and acting. Everything is rehearsed, there’s nothing spontaneous. Yes, all reality TV shows have scripts but not even Total Divas is this bad.
I think the first – and probably biggest – mistake of this show was the fact that they tried to play it out like Mick had zero idea that his daughter Noelle was training for months and only found out during the family dinner. Give us a break! I mean, seriously? You think ANYONE bought that. Who wrote this script?
And then Dewey Foley goes to work for WWE and all his co-workers are revealed as total marks for his dad, with one even holding a still-packaged Mick Foley action figure on his desk. You really think they had no idea that the new writers’ assistant is indeed Mick Foley’s son?
Now I know this is professional wrestling and you might ask why do we (and I) believe in the storylines they present to us. True, some of them are way beyond stupid and we all know it’s entertainment. There’s a matter of suspension of disbelief, just like watching any regular television show or movie.
But this is different. Holy Foley is trying to present to us a fake, over-the-top rehearsed story about someone getting into the wrestling business. I don’t mind Total Divas to be quite honest, I enjoy the Bella Twins’ filthy mouths and constant jabs at each other, as well as some of the shenanigans of the cast but at least some of it comes out spontaneous and funny.
There’s nothing spontaneous and funny about Holy Foley. Noelle’s constantly talking like a little girl irritates me and her mother’s obsession with dolls is ridiculous. Mick’s “interrogation” of his two younger sons in episode five was probably one of the worst piece of television I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Speaking of his younger two sons, Hughie and Mickey are probably the best thing on the show.
Of the five episodes that are available on the WWE Network, episode four probably had the best scene of the series so far. Mick took his daughter to the WWE Warehouse and then breaks down when coming face to face with the Hell In A Cell from King of the Ring 1998. That was genuine emotion and it was really beautiful to watch.
If you are brave enough, you can watch the first five episodes of Holy Foley on the WWE Network. Hopefully, future episodes will get better!
Dave Bautista’s latest movie, Kickboxer: Vengeance is now showing in theaters. Bautista is joined by Jean-Claude Van Damme, Georges St-Pierre, Gina Carano, and Alain Moussi in the leading roles of this movie. Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum also have roles in this mixed martial arts movie.
The synopsis for the movie reads, “Kurt Sloane (Alain Moussi) has always been there for his brother, Eric (Darren Shahlavi), who’s known in the martial arts world as a modern-day warrior. But when the ruthless and undefeated fighter Tong Po (Dave Bautista) brutally ends Eric’s life in a no-holds-barred match in Thailand, Kurt devotes himself to training with a master in a quest for redemption and revenge.”
Although the movie is in theaters, it’s already available to buy and rent on iTunes.
The NXT tour in Australia and New Zealand got extended by a day as the crew will make a stop-over in Japan for one night only before heading Down Under.
Japan will get its first NXT live event on December 3 in Osaka at the Edion Arena, a smart move considering the two champions – Asuka and Shinsuke Nakamura – are from the Land of the Rising Sun, no doubt ensuring a sell-out for this event.
The tour continues on December 5 in New Zealand and the NXT crew will then perform 8 live events in 11 days.
Former WWE and TNA star Brooke Adams gave birth to her first baby boy today. She and her boyfriend Weston named their newly-born son Jace.
Adams posted a photo on Instagram holding her baby after she gave birth, describing him as “the love of our lives.” Hey boyfriend thanked her for all the pain she endured over the nine-plus months carrying their child. “I can’t thank Brooke enough for the pain she has suffered for the past 9+ months. Today was no shock when she was in labor for 18+ hours and handled it like a champ,” Weston wrote in a separate post on Instagram.
Adams worked for WWE between 2006 and 2007 and was mostly known for being part of the Extreme Exposé dancing crew on ECW TV along with Kelly Kelly and Layla. She moved to TNA in 2010 as Eric Bischoff’s assistant using the name Ms. Tessmacher. Her TNA career went better than her WWE one, and Adams was an integral part of the Knockouts division, winning the TNA Knockouts title on three different occasions and the Knockouts Tag Team title once with Tara.
ProWrestlingSheet.com is reporting that Chavo Guerrero has been hired as the wrestling trainer for the cast of the upcoming Netflix series G.L.O.W.
The cast of G.L.O.W. comprises of actors and actresses who – so far – have never stepped foot inside the squared circle and producers decided to hire one of the veterans from one of the most successful wrestling family to teach the cast the ropes.
Alison Brie, Marc Maron and Betty Gilpin are the first three cast members announced for the series which will tell the fictionalized story of Ruth, an out-of-work actress who finds one last chance to live her dreams in the form of a weekly series about female wrestlers. It is based on the promotion Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling which ran between 1986 and 1992.
Rusev and Lana got married again yesterday in a traditional Bulgarian wedding held at the Bachkovo Monastery in Plovdiv, the second largest monastery in Bulgaria.
Family and friends, including fellow WWE Superstars Natalya, Trinity (Naomi) and Jonathan Fatu (Jimmy Uso) were in attendance. Natalya was one of Lana’s bridesmaids. This was the second wedding for Rusev and Lana, who already got married in July in Malibu, California in front of E! cameras for Total Divas.
You can see some photos and videos from the Bulgarian wedding below.
