2021-01-25 Raw

 

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening...whenever it is you have found me.  Today I am going to LIVE blog this week's episode of Raw.  This is one of the first times I have done this as I often watch days or weeks or years (there is a lot of wrestling out there and only so much time).

• This is the worst theme song for Raw ever, I usually skip it when I watch
• Thankfully Drew did not have a major case of COVID
• Was anyone asking for Drew vs. Goldberg?
• They need to turn off the fake crowd noise it is overpowering
• Well that will kill any heat Miz and Morrison had, totally believe they could win Sunday if they cash in
• Was Goldberg blown up walking to the back?
• Is Charlie the best interviewer in the business now?  I think so
• So is no one going to mention that Lacey and Ric are married
• That is one of Ric's robes?
• Charlotte looks nothing like she used to in the face and it is sad
• Do you think Nia hurt someone yet?
• Rose and Brooke are the calvary?  
• I smell a six woman tag!
• I have always loved Dana, wonder if they will bring up the Charlotte Dana history
• This has 5 really good performers and Nia Jax in it
• Well that was pointless with the cartwheels
• They did mention the history!
• That was a stiff kick!
• Could Lacey's trunks get any tighter?
• How is Temptation Island a thing?
• Wait?  They are restarting it?  Good grief because we need more of this match
• Did Shayna screw up and not get in when she was supposed to?
• Remember when Lacey was fighting for her daughter and now she is cheating on her husband, great turn around!
• Ugg that looked bad on Dana and dear lord Nia will hurt you for realz!
• Thank god Dana avoided the Bat Cave by Nia!
• I like that they have gotten away from the sexy Rose and she is more of a wrestler!
• What the fuck was that other than dangerous, how is it guys like Lee and Otis need to go to the Performance Center and Nia somehow keeps a job
• Mustafa has a point about Kofi stealing his spot
• Where is Big E?  He cannot show up and help Woodsy?  
• Those are horrible tights on Slapjack!
• All of Retribution has those horrible tights?
• I love Woodsy!
• Is Woodsy knocked out?
• Modified High Times damn
• We are only an hour into this show?  Really?
• Seriously someone named Bad Bunny is going to be at the Royal Rumble?  That is just bad
• Why is Shelton wearing a mask?  Will that be addressed?
• It is weird for Cedric to be a heel
• Lashley should not be allowed to get on the mic!
• I love Sheltons shoes!
• Damn I love MVP
• And I love R-Truth
• Truth...um....I would NOT get into the ring
• Riddle I do not love though, in fact, I am not a fan at all
• Sheamus has been around a long time without a break from the company
• Sheamus on the mat is interesting
• Why is Miz in his gear?
• I would watch Sheamus and Drew at Mania!
• I miss the mohawk
• Is that a mouse showing up under Sheamus eye?
• WHITE NOISE!
• Oh now we know why Miz is in his gear
• Are they really low on talent at the show?
• This does not really make sense for Sheamus to agree to
• Some really stiff looking shots I like it
• Especially when Sheamus and Morrison are interacting
• Sheamus is going to the top?  I guess he does do the flying shoulder block regularly
• Really good showing for all men
• I do not like this angle at all, nope, feels too real
• Have they ever said that R-Truth is wrestling in gear like his boyhood idol John Cena
• STYLES IS ELIMINATED!  Oh wait not quite the rumble
• A fun match there between two vets!
• Why is there Thunder in the....Thunderdome....nevermind
• That hour was much better than the first
• Some weird verbiage but I like this promo by Orton
• I really like the crazy Bliss
• Uggg, we go from Alexa Bliss to Riddle?  Why?
• Smart by Riddle to go for the quick knee
• Damn, how strong is Shelton?!
• Thought he was going for the Olympic slam there
• Look at the strength by Shelton!
• Cedric was trying to help!
• Cedric has this, he can take out the Original Bro!
• How smooth is Cedric?  
• I love MVP on the outside
• RIDDLES SHOULDERS WERE DOWN BEFORE THE VICTORY ROLL!!!
• Why did Riddle look confused?
• Edge looks old and tired!
• All wrestlers today need to watch this interview.  Edge is real here!
• I really have no idea who is going to win the Rumble this year.  There are so many options
• Remember when Elias was one of the hottest stars in WWE, yeah me too, and I miss it
• I do love Alexa Bliss in any incarnation!
• Can the ring announcer get worse hair?
• Is that ref of legal age to work?  He looks to be 12!
• What a throw by Asaka
• Well, this is creepy!
• I am digging the facial work by these two
• The FUCK?
• This is so strange and odd and I am loving it strangely enough
• Obviously when the fans are back they cannot do this but until then!
• RKO!!!  MY GOD!

If you eliminate that first hour it was a good show.  I really liked this as it picked up.  The Edge promo was exactly what promos should be.  It WAS AMAZING!  I love the Bliss stuff and the end with Orton hitting the RKO on Bliss was perfect and a great ending.  Overall a good show.

RESULTS

• Segment:  Drew McIntyre (WWE Champion)/The Miz & John Morrison/Goldberg
• Interview:  Charlotte Flair (Womens Tag Team Champion)
• Charlotte Flair (Womens Tag Team Champion) def. Shayna Baszler via DQ
• Nia Jax/Lacey Evans/Shayna Baszler def. Charlotte Flair (Womens Tag Team Champion)/Mandy Rose/Dand Brooke
• History:  Xavier Woods and Retribution
• Segment:  Mustafa Ali
• Xavier Woods def. Slapjack
• Segment:  Mustafa Ali
• Segment:  Riddle & R-Truth (24-7 Champion)
• MVP Lounge:  R-Truth (24-7 Champion)
• Segment:  Adam Pearce/R-Truth (24-7 Champion)/AJ Styles
• Sheamus def. John Morrison
• John Morrison/The Miz def. Sheamus
• Segment:  Ric Flair & Lacey Evans/Charlotte Flair (Womens Tag Team Champion)
• AJ Styles def. R-Truth (24-7 Champion) via Submission in a Royal Rumble qualifying match for R-Truth
• Recap:  Randy Orton & Alexa Bliss & The Fiend
• Segment:  Alexa Bliss
• Riddle def. Shelton Benjamin (Raw Tag Team Champion)
• Riddle def. MVP via Submission
• Riddle def. Cedric Alexander (Raw Tag Team Champion)
• History:  Edge & Randy Orton
• Segment:  Edge
• Asaka (Raw Womens Champion/Womens Tag Team Champion) and Alexa Bliss fought to a no contest for the Title

2020-12-17 Main Event

 

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening....whenever it is you have found this entry.  Today, 2020-12-18, I am checking out last nights WWE Main Event.  We are going into TLC this week so I expect a big push!

• 45 time champion?  Really?  That is it?
• I liked it when they put up subtitles for Truth's rapping
• If it was not for this title would Truth still be employed?
• A bouncy castle?
• Orton and Wyatt, two of the best promos going today!
• I know I hated this version of Bray early on but I love it!  I love the crazy Bray and evil Fiend.  Everything about it 
• Bray's old rocking chair?  
• Why does Randy constantly burn all of Bray's nice things?
• Why is no one stopping Randy?  He is trying to kill a man!
• I love the use of the Mandible Claw, my second favorite hold after the Cross Face Chicken Wing
• Why did they change Lacey back to this character after the empowering women character at Mania?
• I hate and love Lacey's trunks at the same time

The Truth stuff is goofy but fun and Lacey and Nikki had an okay match.  I am honestly surprised they still do main event, my guess is the Hulu contract is good money!  Overall not worth checking out unless you like Truth, Evans or Cross!

RESULTS

• Interview:  R-Truth (24/7 Champion) & Drew Gulak
• 24/7 Match
• History:  Kevin Owens & Roman Reigns (Universal Champion)
• History:  Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt & Th Fiend
• Segment:  Payton Royce & Lacey Evans
• Nikki Cross def. Lacey Evans
• History:  Carmella & Sasha Evans (Smackdowns Women's Champion)
• History:  Drew McIntyre (WWE Champion) & AJ Styles

The Condemned 2: A review

Good morning, afternoon or evening whenever you're check this out.  I am back after a few weeks off.  Once the Walking Dead went on break and Fallout 4 came out I have been distracted.  However I am back for an occasional review until the Walking Dead returns.  This time I'm checking out The Condemned 2 from WWE Studios.  "A former bounty hunter who finds himself on the run as part of a revamped Condemned tournament, in which convicts are forced to fight each other to the death as part of a game that's broadcast to the public."  I enjoyed the first Condemned with Vinnie Jones and Stone Cold.  This one stars Randy Orton, Eric Roberts and Wes Studi.  As of 2016/01/02 it has a 4.2 over on IMDB.  

• Are they in a Fallout?  That is totally a wasteland barricade, trust me I've broken through a lot of them lately!
• Is this the new version of bum fights, bum drugging?
• These guards have to be related to stormtroopers
• Probably should've used silenced weapons guys, just saying
• Hey I think that one guy was Hanks partner on Breaking Bad
• I think Randy Orton might be the worst bounty hunter EVER!
• Well that is the end of that guy!
• Judges sure do give a lot of speeches in movies, I wonder if they do in real life
• I hope his dad is Cowboy Bob!  Wrestling reference #1
• Oh...instead it is Eric Roberts, not nearly as cool
• Wow dad is pretty caring, a real pops
• The music in this flick is a little oppressive
• Excellent, a car fixing/towing montage
• Oh its his friend...not a set up for sure!
• Is he looking up...for the satellite?  
• Oh its a drone, my bad
• SLEEPER!  Wrestling reference #2
• Wow, you can break a neck much easier then I would have expected
• Doesn't suspect anything?  Really?
• Why did dad go with them if he was so worried?
• How did Lange NOT see a guy sitting up right as he stepped past him
• Why ignore the other two guns for a handgun?  That you've already shot probably half the ammo out of
• Awesome, kill the kids...oh wait they'll get their phones out instead.  Sadly that is exactly how kids would act.  Not call for help, video tape it
• Through the scope I hope!
• Why would he trust ANYONE at this point?  
• Yep, its Fallout, he has a sniper rifle AND goggles
• Okay the goggles & dune buggy is closer to Mad Max
• Wait, that person had a sock monkey stocking cap...IN THE DESERT?
• A lot of jumping over things in this flick
• Wait...Eric Roberts isn't a bad guy?  Really?  Don't trust me at all
• They didn't hear the cop coming?
• How did Travis find them?
• FINALLY!  Why hadn't they thought of that before?  Kill the drone and they have no idea where you are
• Cooper has a nice beard.  I could have done that role, my beard is better.  Just saying!
• Awful dark for before 5pm
• Isn't Travis still out there?
• Wait...the map lead them TO the gambling HQ?
• Ah yes, there is Travis.  Who will he side with though?
• Yeah figured
• How are there no cops or military yet?
• Really?  A knife fight?  Just shoot him Will
• I guess they're doing the knife fight thing to make it different
• So people actually think Raul can kill Will?  Really?
• Was that EMT laying down on the gurney while helping that guy?

First off, Wow!  Steven Michael Quezada was much better on Breaking Bad.  He is REALLY over the top here, like silly over the top.  80's action villains weren't this over the top.  Although he is a little like the leader guy in Warriors.  

The concept of the flick is interesting.  The use of drones and people using cellphones is an interesting commentary on society.  

The concept of these "rich" people gambling on this underground event makes little sense.  The first flick made sense as it was just the general public, kind of like Death Race.  But this, underground death game makes little sense but who knows maybe I'm wrong.

The acting ranged from okay to bad.  As I mentioned to start off with Quezada was HORRIBLE in this flick.  When I saw Eric Roberts was in this I assumed he'd be the bad guy.  Roberts was good as was Orton surprisingly enough.  He has the look and is decent enough actor that he could be one of those B action star I think.  He's nothing special but then again neither was Van Dam or Steven Seagal.  

The rest of the cast did a decent job.  No one stood out good or bad.  Visually it was decent.  The explosions were over the top like an action movie should be.  

Overall it wasn't bad for what it was.  I give it a 5/10.  Average.  I probably won't watch it again but if I was home and it came on TV I wouldn't turn it off either.  

There you go a new blog.  I'll try to done one or two a week till The Walking Dead returns.  If you have a flick you want me to review let me know in the comments.  As always, until next time...Abyssinia!

Smackdown 11-06-12 results

WWE is doing a "live" Smackdown this week so here we are.  Remember the main event is Alberto Del Rio and Randy Orton in a Falls Count Anywhere match.  

We start off with Sheamus being interviewed by Michael Cole.  They are going to talk about the footage on WWE.com where The Big Show attacked Sheamus in a pub and William Regal got involved.  Of course with them being in the UK they are using Regal and he will be forgot again for 51 weeks/till the next time they come back to UK.  I love that Show calls Sheamus a ginger!  Uggg, more "what" chants.  Seriously because they are in the UK did they also go back in time win a TARDIS to 2001 as well?  Sheamus wants Show who is on the titantron but instead gets Wade Barrett to promote the Main Event's main event between these two.  Barrett's head and neck are weirdly placed for his body it seems to me.  Remember next Monday on Raw Jerry "The King" Lawler returns to the announce booth!

Up next it is Miz and Kofi Kingston one more time and he is using his "rematch" even thought they had a match at Hell in the Cell.  Miz got this match, they are saying now, because of his victory last week.  These two always have good matches.  Kofi is down with a hurt knee and we are off to break.  I am shocked that Kofi won the match with a big high flying move.  Miz is in shock glaring at Kofi sitting on the bottom turnbuckle.  Is he going to shake his hand and join team Foley and turn face like I said in my Raw review.  Wait?  Kofi dropkicked Miz for no reason!  Not a good guy move but shows that Kofi won't be a sucker like every other good guy in wrestling history either.  

Time for the Masked Duo (Rey Misterio/Sin Cara) to take on the Primetime Players (Titus O'Neil/Darren Young).  These guys have faces off for weeks now and thus far the Masked guys have got in WAY too much offense against these guys.  Takes you out of the realm of disbelieve, for me at least.  Every once in a while yes but Titus gets the win with a counter of the 619 into his spinebuster/sit out powerbomb style move.  I like it!  

Oh wait, Matt Striker is in the ring.  He is bullied into saying that he sees "Millions of Dollars" in the Primetime Players and they do te weird dance.  Their promo was not very good at all this week.

We now have the Wrestlemania promo and find out that the AJ Lee storyline recap is up next.  Go read my Raw review if you want to know about it.  I can't write about it a second time!  Good grief they are going to have more "footage" next week.  Now they do a weird segment with Booker and Teddy and people sucking up to Booker.  Awful!

Time for first hour main event.  The Big Show and Wade Barrett taking on Sheamus and William Regal.  Okay I just popped hearing Regal's music.  For years he has been one of my favorite wrestlers.  I am sure he will be taking the pin fall but that doesn't mean I like it.  If you want to see a guy whose every move means something it is Regal.  The fans are really into Regal so he will do the JOB for sure now even if he wasn't suppose to knowing WWE.  Regal is using some big moves and the face team is in charge over Barrett.  Show gets in and it is Regal in trouble.  

I am going to take this moment and say that JBL is a little out of control today on commentary with weird and inside references.  

And yes it was Regal, who has gotten the biggest reaction tonight, did the honors and got pinned.  Storyline wise it makes sense but I don't have to like it!

Good grief Striker is interviewing Alberto.  What is going to happen to him this time?  I really like Ricardo's facials in the background.  He really is underrated.  Wait, what is this?  Rosa Mendes is offering Alberto luck.  

This new show Defiance looks really good if you like Sci-Fi stuff.  Wow this show is flying by and that is a good thing.  This has been a good show.  They are now going to recap the Brad Maddox recap and you can find that explanation here on my Raw review.   

Randy Orton is now interviewed by Striker.  What is the point of those stupid crowd shots of the promo being shown on the big screen?  I like Orton better when he doesn't talk.  Really a commercial for some stupid show before the main event?  UGG!!!  JBL just called Michael Cole Josh Matthews dad and it cracked me up.  Sorry for wanting you to tone it down JBL, I stand corrected!  I think Orton throws the best dropkick in WWE right now.  Orton goes fot the EADDT (does anyone remember why or when it was called that?) on the floor off the barrier but Alberto counters.  Uggg more of those stupid Sonic commercials.  Only having Paul Scheer would make them worse, he is awful.  I'd rather watch that 3MB promo from a few weeks ago than just about anything with him in it.  Sorry back to Smackdown as Alberto has taken over in the back.  These matches aren't the same without head shots.  I completely agree with the lack of headshots but if we are to believe this fight I'd bash a person in the head not the back.  The other problem is that they take these big moves yet a normal move will finish them off at Survivor Series.  Remember when Al Snow won with a shot from HEAD and Lawler mentioned how weird it was that was the finish.  Randy just locked Ricardo in the phone booth on the ramp.  I would have popped if they had blue police boxes instead!  Alberto with an enziguri while Orton the apron and he goes through a table on the floor but kicks out.   I don't believe it, there were a few fans chanting "ECW".  Yep 2002 still in England.  Alberto with the cross armbreaker but Orton breaks it up with the mic.  Alberto needs to win this to be taken serious so Orton will win it soon I bet.  Alberto going for the EADDT but countered.  Orton on the steps and Alberto tried to do a one man conchairto but Orton moved and hit the RKO on the steps for the win.

I don't get it.  Alberto hasn't won in weeks, had a two on one with Ricardo, yet he still loses.  Why not have Barrett come out or Rhodes Scholars and help Alberto to build to Survivor Series but no just a straight clean lost and WWE wonders why no one cares about their shows

Smackdown 11-2-12 review

    

Before I start let me just say how sad I was to hear about the passing of Brad Armstrong.  He never got a chance on the grand stage but if you can find some of his matches do it.  He was amazingly good.  Why he wasn’t down in FCW training is beyond me.  RIP Brad.

It is Friday night at 8pm and you know what that means….it is time for Smackdown!  Here are my thoughts as the show happened

We start off with MizTV and The Miz is going to have Sheamus as a guest.  I see someone take a Brogue Kick shortly. YES!  Miz throws out some reallys.  REALLY!  It is amazing how much better Miz looks without that stupid ass haircut he used to have. Wait, Miz calls Sheamus a loser after he loses all the time to Kofi, and apparently Sheamus agrees as he says the same thing. Miz says it is his fault that Sheamus lost because at Wrestlemania he won his match and that set up the fact that Big Show went heel this summer.  Really?  Surprise surprise here comes Kofi Kingston.  In yet another surprise here comes The Big Show.  Do I smell a tag team match?  The return of Showmiz?!?!  Nope I guess not.  Strange they haven’t mentioned the survivor series teams yet

Tonight it’ll be Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett so they can continue to bury Barrett

WWE has more followers then Under Armor?  Really?  Shocking!

GM Booker T is talking to Big Show.  I really don’t like him as GM.  Wait…there is my tag team match!  SHOWMIZ IS BACK BABY!

Sin Caravs. Darren Young.  Wow JBL just called Chris Jericho Lionheart. There was nothing special in this match, but surprisingly Young won with the Gutcheck.  After the match Titus starts talking on the mic.  Nothing great but Titus challenges Rey Misterio.

I wish they had made Titus and Sin Cara and Young taking on Misterio as I hate these big man little man matches with Misterio as it is extremely overdone.  O’Nell just countered the 619 which is good but shock of shocks Rey Rey wins.  *sigh*

Time for Hell in the Cell recap stuff; CM Punk won, ref screwed Ryback.  Official Brad Maddox will be at Raw to give his side of the story.  We then see a recap of Team Foley and Team Punk being formed on Raw.  I love traditional Survivor Series Matches!

Natalya asks to be an assistant with Eve being in Europe.  That is how she gets on the show.  David Otunga interrupts and finds out he is going to face the returning Great Khali and spits his coffee on Natalya.  He says it is an improvement so Nattie smacks him and this time he spits his coffee on Teddy Long.  Yeah a pointless segment but at least we see Nattie on TV for a few minutes.

Albert Del Rio is going to be doing commentary for the Orton/Barrett match.  Yes, Barrett has his jacket and rose back.  Big fan of that look!  Wow Del Rio already attacked Orton before the match even started.  Nothing to speak of in this match really especially after seeing it a week ago and again on Monday.  Can I just say here I hate all the tattoos on the wrestlers.  It really is out of flipping control.  Alberto came back out and distracted Orton to allow a roll up victory.  Barrett needed that win especially as he goes into the main event next week against Sheamus.

Matt Striker tries to interview Alberto and Orton attacks him in the back.  I like the silent Randy Orton who just beats people up.  Too bad he has two strikes.  Orton tries throw hot coffee on Albert but it is Ricardo that gets it instead.  It is then hot chili or baked beans on Ricardo and a backdrop through a table for Alberto.  Can you say FOOD FIGHT and it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet.  Striker tries to get an interview and he goes face first into a cake, at least it wasn’t an RKO he ate.

Jerry Lawler returns in two weeks and I can’t wait.  I could wait for this however and The Great Khali returns after surgery.  Otunga’s head doesn’t fit his body at all.  This match is bowling shoe ugly to quote Jim Ross.  Thankfully it was short.

Next up is Justin Gabriel and R-Truth.  Strange face vs. face match here.  Fast match up and honestly not sure who is going to win here.  I'm going to guess it is Truth but who knows.  Truth does pick up the win.  It'll be interesting to see where these two go from here.

Time for a recap of the AJ Lee/John Cena/Vicki Guerrero storyline.  I won't recap it again however, it is just bad.  This just in however, Vicki has footage of AJ in a stage of undress at a hotel with Cena.  That I like as I dig crazy chicks!

Show bullies Miz around in the back and threatens to knock him out if he doesn't do what he is told.  He then makes Miz hand him the title.  I like it!

It is announced that Randy Orton and Alberto Del Rio will face off in a falls count anywhere match next week and its time for our tag team main event and of course next week is SUPER SMACKDOWN LIVE!

Show avoids Sheamus early on tagging in when Kofi was in and out when Sheamus was tagged in.  I like the Show character this week.  While I don't like the style of wrestling Kofi uses he is amazingly agile.  The heels work over the Kofi until he makes the hot tag to Sheamus.  Show knocks out Kofi which allows Showmiz to give the big win.  However Show left Miz along in the ring and he eats a Brogue Kick to end the show.

Results:

Darren Young defeated Sin Cara

Rey Misterio defeated Titus O’Nell

Wade Barrett defeated Randy Orton
The Great Khali defeated David Otunga
R-Truth defeated Justin Gabriel

I've put links to Amazon.com for all the superstars this week as well as for WWE 13 and streaming Smackdown at the top of the page.  If you like my blog and are going to buy something at Amazon anyway use the link below and show The Fat Man (that is a link to my twitter account) some love!