WWE 205 Live 27/12/2016

Cedric Alexander vs Tony Nese

Feels like another Alexander match being cut short to fit with their Alicia Fox storyline, but what they did fit in was fun. Think Nese may find himself in a difficult position, now they’ve given Neville a similar “bearded heel who is an incredible athlete with a muscular physique” gimmick, but I liked him here. Had a nice flashy combo of moves to down Cedric, but then slowed the match down on the mat so as to not overshadow the face. Alexander took a big bump to the floor when Nese shoves him from the top rope, and I dug his springboard clothesline. End was goofy, but fun, with Gulak claiming from the floor that Fox hit him, resulting in her getting sent to the back and Nese using the distraction to thwack Alexander with a palm strike for the win. Bonus points for Gulak looking like an utter boss in his suit.

Mustafa Ali vs John Yurnet

Glad to see them seemingly turning Ali face, saw him working that way in an AAW match, and he’s very likable. Plus you have to feel that the WWE couldn’t pull off the subtleties of an “You only boo me because of my heritage” gimmick. Since this match, it’s emerged Yurnet was probably injured going into this, and he seems to be limping right from the get go. Liked Aries trying to suggest he was just playing possum. Match is really brief due to the injury, with Ali hitting a reverse DDT and a sweet imploding 450 to win.

Neville vs Rich Swann

Neville continues his good work from last week, though he was noticeably a bit flashier this week than previously. I liked the fact he was able to keep up with Swann’s initial quickness, because Neville is still a superb athlete, but once in control he is much more deliberate. Loved him hurling Swann into the ring apron, with a nasty bump by Swann to boot. In the ring, Neville drives his elbow into Swann’s head in a nasty manner. I thought Neville was really good here at working his flashier offence into his character, hitting a standing shooting star to Swann’s back, which was a focal point of a lot of his offence. Swann is able to get more offense than in the previous week’s tag match, hitting a sweet looking Phoenix Splash to a standing Neville on the floor. I loved a lot of the touches in this, like Neville throwing Swann to the outside, giving him a beat to regain his bearings and nail an enzuigiri as soon as Swann was back on the apron, as well as Swann selling his beating with a slow walk across the ring, giving Neville time to attack. In the end, the cumulative beating from Neville slows Swann down too much, as he spends ages getting to the top rope, and Neville catches him with a superplex to win the match. Really enjoyed this, Neville has become a treat to watch.

Stardom Year-End Climax 22/12/2016

Ruaka vs Azumi vs Arisu Nanase

This is a rookie three way, with all three girls looking exceptionally young. You get the impression these three must have worked together and trained together a lot in their development, and thus a few sequences do look really slick – the quick exchange of role-ups where none of the girls looked lost for example. As the match progresses, a certain hierarchy in ability soon becomes apparent, highlighted by Nanase and Azumi putting a two-person crab on Ruaka, and only Azumi looking like she was applying any pressure. Nanase also has really flimsy looking strikes. Azumi looks the most capable of the three, though I was impressed at the angle of the Boston Crab applied by Ruaka to Nanase. However, Nanase escapes and cradles Ruaka for the pinfall. Nanase was probably the least impressive of the three, but this was a perfectly fine opener.

Konami vs Hiromi Mimura

The pre-match interview establishes this is Konami’s first Stardom match, though she has wrestled elsewhere. Her first move in the match is to snatch Mimura in a bodyscissors and go for the submission, and they work a nice little mat sequence of hold and counterhold. Mimura is a rookie, albeit more advanced than the girls in the opener, and she definitely seems to be improving from the matches I saw from her earlier in the year. Her selling was really good here as Konami decides to work on a leg, including it slowing her running the ropes and giving Konami an opening. At one point they work a strike exchange, but whilst Mimura goes for blows to the face, Konami unloads a kick to the leg, which takes Mimura longer to recover from. Mimura gets a close nearfall of a Majistral cradle, but a nasty looking rolling kneelock by Konami gets the tap. This was good.

Oedo Tai (Kris Wolf & Hana Kimura) vs Kaori Yoneyama & Saori Anou vs Jungle Kyona & Natsuko Tora

This match really flew by. After a brief bit of schtick at the start with Kimura, Anou and Kyona all posing for the cameras, this kicked off and didn’t slow down for the rest of the match. Hard to say there was any real structure, as people kept popping in and out of the ring without any tags, but it always felt like the people in the ring we actually trying to win. Nothing was done just for the purpose of looking cool, it always seemed to be to lead to a pinfall or a submission. Loved Anou teaming with Kyona, whipping her into the corner to splash Kimura, but then immediately rolling up Kyona from behind to try a flash pinfall. Yoneyama and Anou also locked a nice combo figure 8/head scissors on Tora, which looked cool. Wolf looked a lot more solid and confident than she did the first time I saw her compete, and Yoneyama, though short and stocky, was a little dynamo here, looked really good. The end saw Tora leap off her partner Kyona’s back to hit a big senton on Anou, but Wolf immediately dived in to cover Tora on impact and get the pin. A lot of fun.

Twisted Sisterz (Holidead & Thunder Rosa) vs Queen’s Quest (HZK & Momo Watanabe)

This was for the Sisterz NWA Vendetta Pro titles. Queen’s Quest seem pretty green, with mainly rookie offence like dropkicks and some soft looking blows, but they were game here, and sold nicely for the Sisterz. I really liked the fluid teamwork of Rosa and Holidead, with Holidead wheelbarrow suplexing her partner into a senton looking really choice. They zero in on the back of HZK, locking in pendulums and nailing a big back breaker, but I also liked that the moment Holidead makes a mistake and tangles her leg in the ropes, HZK goes right after it, kicking it in the ropes and locking in a figure four. Watanabe hits a really nice looking double-knees to Rosa’s face, but the result never feels in doubt due to the lack of power behind the rookie’s offence. They do get a really nice nearfall from a top rope senton, but Rosa is soon able to cradle HZK for the win.

BY HO (Kairi Hojo & Yoko Bito) vs Oedo Tai (Kyoko Kimura & Kagetsu)

This is for Oedo Tai’s tag titles. Odeo Tai take this to the floor early, which fits into their style of match more than their opponents. Kagetsu sends Bito sprawling into rows of chairs. Hojo has entered the match with strapping on her back, which is targeted by Kimura. It’s soon ripped off and Kimura lays in with a backbreaker and stomps. I liked the way, rather than go into a strike exchange, Kimura allows the smaller Hojo to unload with chops, in the process wearing herself out, and then levelling her with one big strike. Bito tags in, but doesn’t fare too well. However, her in ring stint does allow Hojo time to recover. Her flying punch from the top looks great. Loved Hojo diving in to save Bito from taking a knockout kick to the head to turn the momentum for their team. Oedo Tai try to use briefcases as weapons to turn the tide, but it backfires when Kagetsu hits Kimura by accident. Hojo blasts Kagetsu with her awesome elbow drop and Bito follows this with a Jig’N’Tonic for the titles.

Io Shirai vs Mayu Iwatani

This is for Shirai’s World of Stardom title, and is an absolute blast. Shirai played the role of dominant ace perfectly, with a cool and slightly cruel demeanour, giving a slight hint of a smirk after slamming Iwatani on the wooden floor. I liked the way they showed Shirai coming into the match with a gameplan, as she wedged Mayu’s leg in a chair before hitting it with a running dropkick. The injured leg provided an opening that Shirai would use to try and make comebacks later in the match when Iwatani was in control. Iwatani, as the challenger, really put it all on the line to win the title for the first time. A crossbody to the floor is followed by a Dragon Suplex on the floor. This is the match turning point that starts things really rolling for Iwatani, as Shirai can barely beat the count, and this is the first notable momentum shift. Iwatani goes for the Dragon Suplex at several points in the match, hitting a nasty one on the ring apron and a conventional one in the ring for a close nearfall. However, she goes to the well once too often as she tries for a top rope version, only to have Shirai land on her feet and nail a series of awesome rolling Germans, where she rolls over Mayu as if to make an O’Connor roll, then rolls through to her feet and suplexes Iwatani again. This was a very back and forth match, but the changes in momentum felt organic and both girls really sold their exhaustion in the closing stages. The end sequence was excellent, with Shirai spiking Mayu after reversing a tombstone, then nailing two consecutive moonsaults for the win. Terrific, terrific match.

ECW Hardcore TV #6 11/05/1993

The Super Destroyers vs Tony Stetson & Larry Winters

This is hair vs titles, with Tommy Cairo handcuffed to the Destroyers’ manager Hunter Q Robbins on the floor. It’s also no DQ, which Jay Sulli on commentary seems to keep forgetting. The opening stages where they brawl outside are actually pretty exciting, and the Destroyers actually look like big killers for a change. The camera cutting regularly to Cairo and Robbins makes the match harder to follow, but then it transpires there’s no real match structure anyway, so we’re not missing anything. No real heat worked on the faces, just guys getting in and out of the ring, and no transitions to offence, just guys deciding it’s their turn to go on the offensive. Winters has the wimpiest kicks to the head I’ve ever seen. Thankfully the end soon comes, as Robbins throws his cane into the ring (good job stopping that Tommy Cairo!) and Stetson intercepts it and crowns a Destroyer for the title

Jimmy Snuka & Eddie Gilbert vs JT Smith & Max Thrasher

The formatting of this show continues to suck, as they book two tag matches back to back. There’s bits of this that are good: Gilbert continues to impress and has some nice offence, and I dug this cool reverse slam Smith did. The rest is pretty meh, with Thrasher’s sole contribution being to tag in, eat a Gilbert backbreaker and a Superfly splash for the loss.

Sal Bellomo vs The Canadian Wolfman

Wolfman is just an obese bald man with regrettable tattoos in jeans. He’s utterly terrible, starting the match by just looking at Bellomo, who just wanders up and punches him. He also can even take a snapmere bump, which is unfortunate as Bellomo seems to want to use quite a few. Bellomo splash finishes this quickly.

Jonathan Hotbody vs Tommy Cairo

This is a lumberjack match, and is probably match of the show. I liked Hotbody’s continued attempts to cower away from Cairo, despite the match stipulation, and especially how his partner Chris Candido was complicit in that, trying to provide him shelter outside the ring. There’s a nice bump when Hotbody throws Cairo to the floor and the Cairo/Robbins story from the start of the episode is paid off when it’s a Robbins cane shot that provides the knockout blow to put Cairo out. Call this a mild win.

The Sandman & Miss Peaches vs Rockin' Rebel & Tigra
This doesn't even get a finish. The main story is that Tigra wont tag in, forcing Rebel to wrestle all the match. This means he has to take Sandman's terrible looking offence. Honestly, becoming drunken hardcore Sandman gave him a career, because surfer Sandman is just a mess of sloppy looking spots and weak offence - his grazing dropkick here being a case in point. Rebel does take a big bump over the top to the floor to become the worker of the match. Tigra and Peaches finally get in...and the show ends just as they hook up. Excellent work lads.

WWE 205 Live 20/12/2016

Ariya Daivari vs Lince Dorado

Not been too impressed with either guy since 205 Live has started, but Daivari was clearly superior here. He had some nasty looking impact to his strikes, and I dug both the rainmaker neckbreaker and his whip into a big clothesline. After threatening last week to show me something I’ve never seen before, Dorado has been really unimpressive: springboard stunner looks shitty, tope saw him go vertical and basically headbutt Daivari’s thigh and he nearly slipped springboarding into the ring for a rana. Daivari polished him off with a frog splash. Daivari feels like a good worker, just not interesting enough for this division, might fit in better with the heavyweights.

Cedric Alexander vs Drew Gulak

Some of this was really good, but it fell victim to the ongoing Cedric/Fox/Dar storyline. Gulak showed nice early aggression, nailing some big forearms and taking advantage when Alexander takes his eyes off the prize (to talk to the ref) by hurling him into the ropes. Both guys take a big bump to the floor as a suplex reversal takes both over the top, but we get the booking coming in with Fox hurting her ankle, and Noam Dar coming out to carry her to the back. Even with this distraction, Gulak can’t beat Cedric, and the Lumbar Check puts him away. Gulak has lost 3 on the bounce now on this show, guy is far too talented to be enhancement talent when there’s guys like Dorado and the Bollywood Boyz kicking about.

Neville & Brian Kendrick vs TJ Perkins & Rich Swann

Man, heel Neville is already one of the most interesting wrestlers on this show, loved how he was portrayed here. Neville is a mass of muscle compared to most guys in the division, and the power advantage was put over really well here. He battered Swann from the get go, with a seated dropkick to the back of Swann’s head looking like it took Swann out. Neville never looks in any danger, and Perkins can only get in by blind tagging Swann, who looks overwhelmed. Kendrick likewise has to blind tag in, with Neville unwilling to share his spotlight. I liked the dynamic of the face team realising their best chance of winning is to isolate Kendrick, as it really puts over how much of an impact Neville is having on them. Swann tags himself back in, but I love that he’s still so hurt from Neville’s beating that he takes a little too long getting in, giving Kendrick an opening to strike. Swann takes a flatliner bump right on the top of his head, which looks killer. Neville gets back in and nails a great looking deadlift German for 2. Neville has been less flashy than usual, all clotheslines and heavy strikes, and I like that the one time he does get flashy, landing on his feet from a top rope moonsault, he gets caught with a Swann superkick for a close 2 count. With Swann so weak, it leaves Perkins having to carry a lot for his team, and when he springboards into the ring straight into a enzuigiri, it spells doom. The Red Arrow gets three for Neville, and this new attitude really works for him.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

WWF Raw 25/4/1994

Jeff Jarrett vs Razor Ramon

Non title match here, with Razor still holding the gold. Jarrett goes for some smart controls early, sliding to the floor and suckering Ramon out to be attacked. Jarrett shows a few nice bits, including a neat diving fist drop. Annoying ad break clip returns with Ramon hitting a sunset flip, and I liked that Jarrett tried to block it, only for Razor to physically hook the arms with his legs to pull him over, instead of Jarrett toppling for no reason. Ramon makes a comeback, which draws out Shawn Michaels. Razor beats him up handily, but Diesel comes out to draw the DQ. Was pretty good until the non-ending.

Bam Bam Bigelow vs Tony Devito

Bigelow remains a pretty dull squash worker, with lots of dead time between his moves. Just nothing compelling despite his execution being fine. An enzuigiri and a headbutt get the win

Heavenly Bodies vs John Paul & Jason Headings

Paul feels like a guy higher on the jobber tier, so he doesn't get totally punked out, looking semi-competitive until he's hit with a double superkick by the Bodies. Del Ray hits a lovely sitout powerbomb on him before Headings comes in. Headings' first act is to grab Pritchard, rush into the corner with him to allow a Del Ray "blind tag", then go to the centre of the ring for an Irish whip. Just looked very amateur, and the Bodies should have known better. They make up for it by blitzing Headings with some fun double-teams: Pritchard back suplexes Del Ray onto Headings, they nail him with a combo powerbomb/neckbreaker and finish the job by Pritchard holding Headings in place for a Del Ray moonsault press.  

1-2-3 Kid vs Duane Gill

Kid squashes are always fun, as they actually feel like competitive bouts. Here, Gill gets to throw Kid from the ring and knock him back down as he tries to climb back in. I like that Kid retorts by using a springboard clothesline to get in, using offense as an opening. Nice leg lariat gets the win.

Owen Hart vs Rich Myers

Really vicious Owen showcase here, with some nice punches and stiff headbutts thrown. Also, loved the bulldog, where it looked like he really was trying to drive Myers’ face into the mat. Nice stuff, ended with a sharpshooter. Owen is up there with Jarrett and Kid as the best of these 94 Raw squash workers.

WWE Main Event 13/05/2014

Damien Sandow vs Dolph Ziggler

This was better than I thought it was going to be, albeit not something I’d actually call good. Liked some of the things Sandow did, like the vicious little elbow he did on a rope break to take the advantage, which he sadly then followed with some weak blows. They did go to a chinlock very early, but Sandow at least made it fun with some shit-talking. Some bits were off – a drop toehold into the ropes saw Ziggler having to walk two or three paces before falling, but Sandow showed an aggressive side, which led to him dropping a few nasty kneedrops. The aggression proved his undoing, as he puts too much force into a back suplex, with Ziggler flipping to his feet and hitting a flash zig zag for the win. Surprisingly decent.

Emma vs Alicia Fox

The start of this is great, as Fox gets on the mic…and almost immediately hurls it at Emma’s face. She keeps attacking before the ref can ring the bell, then immediately hits a backbreaker when it does. She dumps Emma through the ropes to the floor, which looks nasty. Like Emma selling her wooziness at being beaten down, so she takes too long to hit her corner crossbody, meeting only knees. Suddenly, Emma pulls out a roll up from nowhere and wins. Real shitty ending to a fun match.

Sheamus vs Cesaro

Yeah, there’s no way these two were going to have a bad match, and they both put it all out there for Main Event. Love the aggression from both guys, both happy to take a blow and lay one out at the same time. I loved how evenly this was worked, but in a way that both guys were getting worn down by the beating they’d take. Neither guy gets a sustained advantage as they’re both hurting too much from the damage they’ve taken to fully capitalise. Some nice offensive spots by both guys, loved Cesaro’s draping DDT over the ropes to send Sheamus’ head into the apron, and Sheamus hit a rare top rope dive to the floor. Sheamus misses a Brouge Kick and before he’s got both feet on the floor, Cesaro deadlifts him for a swank German suplex. It felt like an odd time for them to fight – Cesaro just a few weeks into his Paul Heyman run and Sheamus only just winning the US belt – as neither guy felt right losing, so when they both head to the floor, you know we’re getting a double count-out. Really good bout though, as these two always have.

WWE 205 Live 13/12/2016

Jack Gallagher vs Drew Gulak

My two favourites in the division here. Enjoyed the opening exchanges on the mat, managed to showcase how both guys are very close in technique, but Gulak’s hot-headedness at Gallagher’s ways would cost him as he ran headfirst into Jack’s traps. Loved the rolling crucifix, where they cycled around the ring. Though it wasn’t portrayed as such by the commentary team, who saw it as the two men battling for supremacy, it felt more like Gallagher disorientating Gulak and trying to get the pin. Gulak gets a few nice moments, starting with a nasty looking slam into the ropes. This gives him an opening by hurting Gallagher’s neck, which briefly becomes his focus. I liked the way they exchanged strikes, only a few blows, but treated as if they really hurt, culminating with Gallagher’s bullet headbutt. This gives him the opening for the corner dropkick to win. Criminally short, but what we got was great.

Lince Dorado vs Mustafa Ali

Very brief, and not anything exciting. Dorado does a pre-match interview promising to do things you’ve never seen before, but certainly here he does nothing to distinguish himself from any other generic high flier. Ali had the better moments here, slinkily avoiding Dorado in the corner to hit a big roundhouse kick and a rolling neckbreaker. Dorado’s offence looks a bit milky and his handspring stunner is clunky. His big top rope rana was pretty good though. The end sees Dorado hit an Asai moonsault to the floor and it puts both guys out of commission for the double count out. Kinda makes Dorado look like an idiot by putting himself out of action.

TJ Perkins vs Rich Swann

This was fine, but definitely the weakest main event of this show so far. Felt the most inconsequential. The opening exchanges were quite fun, liked Perkins showing some subtle frustration early on. Perkins’ slingshot dropkick to the apron always looks nice, and Swann seemed to do a bit more highflying than he has in previous weeks. His rolling thunder frogsplash looked pretty good. I think being face vs face made this feel a bit more of an exhibition and also affected the crowd reactions, so it was nice to see them work in an injury to Swann’s leg to give the match a bit more story. He injures it missing a moonsault to the floor and, following a sweet twisting pescado by Perkins, it becomes the focal point of TJ’s attack. Swann makes a brief comeback, but tries his leaping 450 like an idiot, causing his knee to buckle on the first jump. This lets Perkins quickly lock in the kneebar for the tap. Nothing particularly wrong with this, but not something you’ll remember for long.