Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
How are we supposed to take Super Show-Down? Is it a house show? Is it the next WWE pay-per-view? The answer is both. It's a glorified high class house show that no American will be able to watch live. I know I won't be able to get up in time to see it.
Still, while only half the card looks decent, I'll admit that half has me really excited. It will be a shame that I'll be sleeping while Daniel Bryan fights The Miz again, AJ Styles goes to war with Samoa Joe one last time, and Becky Lynch and Charlotte fight with full heat behind them.
I honestly wonder if my half-excitement is more than WWE has for the event because the build-up for the show has been dreadful. This week had two dreadful go-home shows, and it was hard to watch.
Still, while only half the card looks decent, I'll admit that half has me really excited. It will be a shame that I'll be sleeping while Daniel Bryan fights The Miz again, AJ Styles goes to war with Samoa Joe one last time, and Becky Lynch and Charlotte fight with full heat behind them.
I honestly wonder if my half-excitement is more than WWE has for the event because the build-up for the show has been dreadful. This week had two dreadful go-home shows, and it was hard to watch.
Tag teams should look the part, so I guess it makes sense HBK shaved his head. Fake hair vs. bald, that'll sell tickets.
Monday Night Raw October 1, 2018
The Undertaker, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels Still Think They're 40 Despite All Indications Otherwise
Overview: A now-bald Shawn Michaels came out to explain how he had gotten roped into the hype for Triple H vs. The Undertaker before Kane arrived flanked by The Deadman. The two attacked HBK then took out The King of Kings as he tried to make the save.
Analysis: I understand why WWE is going back to the well with this angle. This is a proven moneymaker. Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Triple H have been delivering together for a long time. It's just the fundamental problem that everyone is way out of shape now.
HHH is physically fit but hardly steps in a ring. Taker has almost died in his last few matches. HBK might still be able to go, but it just feels sad watching him right now after so many years away. He just does not look or feel like the same guy anymore. That hasn't stopped all three from acting like they're working an angle in their prime.
Ronda Rousey vs. Ruby Riott Should Be the Evolution Raw Women's Title Match
Overview: Ronda Rousey faced Ruby Riott in a warm-up for Super Show-Down with Riott viciously beating down Rousey. The Baddest Woman on the Planet finally reached her second wind though and ran over the stable leader, hitting the Reverse Kata Guruma and locking in the armbar for a submission victory.
Analysis: Rousey vs. Nikki Bella is likely the Evolution plan, but that's such a lazy idea. It's not going to be a good match, and it's again a weird decision to throw a rookie in the ring with a lackluster veteran. Rousey should be working with the best performers in the company to quickly get acclimated.
Riott is one of Raw's true top in-ring performers. She proved it this week, giving Rousey a complete match unlike anything we've seen from her since Nia Jax. Let the two go 15 minutes, and it could steal the show. Unfortunately, that's not how WWE wants to use Rousey for some reason.
Genuine Heat in 2018 Makes a Real Quality Impression
Overview: Elias and Kevin Owens talked down Seattle, Washington before The Drifter mentioned the city's lost basketball team. The comment caused so much anger that the crowd booed loudly for the entire rest of the segment even while Lio Rush brought out Bobby Lashley for a match with KO.
Analysis: Seattle was a terrible crowd for most of the night, but the audience did make a lasting impression with their heated response to Elias. It was fantastic to hear honest heat for a heel that was completely earned. It added energy to a silly angle and made the follow-up fine match feel more important.
Conclusion
Raw can be boiled down to this: sloppy, unorganized, and heavily reliant on The Shield. This was clear this week more than most, but it is true of Raw on the regular. The best parts of the show all involved The Shield wrestling, but none of the matches lived up to expectations and it was too much for one angle.
The rest of the night was an absolute mess. Take out the Elias/KO pre-match segment, and even the crowd was not into a moment of the show. They "What"ed at Dean Ambrose in the opener. Nothing was working from note 1. It was ugly.
The best I can say of Raw this week was that the match quality was above par on average. It's just that no matches actually stood out. They were all just slightly better than the average TV match.
Overview: A now-bald Shawn Michaels came out to explain how he had gotten roped into the hype for Triple H vs. The Undertaker before Kane arrived flanked by The Deadman. The two attacked HBK then took out The King of Kings as he tried to make the save.
Analysis: I understand why WWE is going back to the well with this angle. This is a proven moneymaker. Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Triple H have been delivering together for a long time. It's just the fundamental problem that everyone is way out of shape now.
HHH is physically fit but hardly steps in a ring. Taker has almost died in his last few matches. HBK might still be able to go, but it just feels sad watching him right now after so many years away. He just does not look or feel like the same guy anymore. That hasn't stopped all three from acting like they're working an angle in their prime.
Ronda Rousey vs. Ruby Riott Should Be the Evolution Raw Women's Title Match
Overview: Ronda Rousey faced Ruby Riott in a warm-up for Super Show-Down with Riott viciously beating down Rousey. The Baddest Woman on the Planet finally reached her second wind though and ran over the stable leader, hitting the Reverse Kata Guruma and locking in the armbar for a submission victory.
Analysis: Rousey vs. Nikki Bella is likely the Evolution plan, but that's such a lazy idea. It's not going to be a good match, and it's again a weird decision to throw a rookie in the ring with a lackluster veteran. Rousey should be working with the best performers in the company to quickly get acclimated.
Riott is one of Raw's true top in-ring performers. She proved it this week, giving Rousey a complete match unlike anything we've seen from her since Nia Jax. Let the two go 15 minutes, and it could steal the show. Unfortunately, that's not how WWE wants to use Rousey for some reason.
Genuine Heat in 2018 Makes a Real Quality Impression
Overview: Elias and Kevin Owens talked down Seattle, Washington before The Drifter mentioned the city's lost basketball team. The comment caused so much anger that the crowd booed loudly for the entire rest of the segment even while Lio Rush brought out Bobby Lashley for a match with KO.
Analysis: Seattle was a terrible crowd for most of the night, but the audience did make a lasting impression with their heated response to Elias. It was fantastic to hear honest heat for a heel that was completely earned. It added energy to a silly angle and made the follow-up fine match feel more important.
Conclusion
Raw can be boiled down to this: sloppy, unorganized, and heavily reliant on The Shield. This was clear this week more than most, but it is true of Raw on the regular. The best parts of the show all involved The Shield wrestling, but none of the matches lived up to expectations and it was too much for one angle.
The rest of the night was an absolute mess. Take out the Elias/KO pre-match segment, and even the crowd was not into a moment of the show. They "What"ed at Dean Ambrose in the opener. Nothing was working from note 1. It was ugly.
The best I can say of Raw this week was that the match quality was above par on average. It's just that no matches actually stood out. They were all just slightly better than the average TV match.
Grade: D+
Becky put her own money behind making that beautiful poster, and the dastardly heel Charlotte ruined it.
SmackDown Live October 2, 2018
The Best Story Going Into Super Show-Down is Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair
Overview: Lynch revealed a new poster for Super Show-Down where she was standing tall over Charlotte. The Queen took offense and stomped down to the ring, taking out her former friend with a Spear.
Analysis: There will be better matches in Australia than Lynch vs. Flair, but no one has told a better story. AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe is too inconsistent. Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz became a slog when Brie Bella got involved and is still working to slowly recover. The Shield vs. Braun Strowman and His Dogs of War is fine but ultimately superfluous.
When these two get near each other, it's electric. The crowd is eating it up even if the reaction is not what WWE wants. The Irish Lass Kicker is pulling out the best promos of a stellar career of promo work. It's simple and excellent and the main reason I'm excited about Super Show-Down.
Infidelity Angles Always Go Well...
Overview: Aiden English played his Milwaukee tape where Lana came to his hotel room. It cut off after she said "I want you". Rusev stormed out of the ring and ran after The Artiste who escaped. Lana was despondent, and The Bulgarian Brute would not listen which she tried to explain.
Analysis: The leash on English is likely short. He won't be able to get far before getting yanked back into obscurity. It doesn't help that it took all of 2 weeks for English to make this story about Lana wanting him.
While the twist (that Lana had more to say when the video cut off) is obvious, that does not save angle from a likely collapse coming. This could have been about so much more than the macho boys wanting the pretty girl.
Carmella is a Better Face Right Now Than Asuka
Overview: Carmella and R-Truth face Zelina Vega and Andrade Cien Almas with Truth taking Almas out of the way so that The Princess of Staten Island could lock Vega in the Code of Silence for the win. Asuka made Peyton Royce tap out to the Asuka Lock after Naomi got Billie Kay out of the way.
Analysis: I did not expect Fabulous Truth to be this good this week, but it really is a great pairing. Truth is elevating Carmella by being pure entertainment while Carmella is often doing the in-ring heavy-lifting. That sounds weird to say given her past, but the former SmackDown women's champion is genuinely good in the ring now.
Asuka may be an all-star wrestler, but she needs an angle like Carmella has to stand out. Her alliance with Naomi feels bland because it's impossible to believe The IIconics have a chance. It's just two faces rolling over two heels without any ups or downs.
Conclusion
For an episode of SmackDown, this was fairly lackluster week. The 2 hours felt sluggish. Even the best match (Bryan vs. Shelton Benjamin) was only fine. It was just not much of a showcase with Styles and Joe basically missing the week entirely (the WWE champion did make a brief prerecorded statement in the opener).
It was a missable week, which is a weird choice given it was the final show before Super Show-Down. It certainly wasn't terrinle. It just failed to stand out. That might be okay with Raw, but SmackDown should be held to a higher standard.
Overview: Lynch revealed a new poster for Super Show-Down where she was standing tall over Charlotte. The Queen took offense and stomped down to the ring, taking out her former friend with a Spear.
Analysis: There will be better matches in Australia than Lynch vs. Flair, but no one has told a better story. AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe is too inconsistent. Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz became a slog when Brie Bella got involved and is still working to slowly recover. The Shield vs. Braun Strowman and His Dogs of War is fine but ultimately superfluous.
When these two get near each other, it's electric. The crowd is eating it up even if the reaction is not what WWE wants. The Irish Lass Kicker is pulling out the best promos of a stellar career of promo work. It's simple and excellent and the main reason I'm excited about Super Show-Down.
Infidelity Angles Always Go Well...
Overview: Aiden English played his Milwaukee tape where Lana came to his hotel room. It cut off after she said "I want you". Rusev stormed out of the ring and ran after The Artiste who escaped. Lana was despondent, and The Bulgarian Brute would not listen which she tried to explain.
Analysis: The leash on English is likely short. He won't be able to get far before getting yanked back into obscurity. It doesn't help that it took all of 2 weeks for English to make this story about Lana wanting him.
While the twist (that Lana had more to say when the video cut off) is obvious, that does not save angle from a likely collapse coming. This could have been about so much more than the macho boys wanting the pretty girl.
Carmella is a Better Face Right Now Than Asuka
Overview: Carmella and R-Truth face Zelina Vega and Andrade Cien Almas with Truth taking Almas out of the way so that The Princess of Staten Island could lock Vega in the Code of Silence for the win. Asuka made Peyton Royce tap out to the Asuka Lock after Naomi got Billie Kay out of the way.
Analysis: I did not expect Fabulous Truth to be this good this week, but it really is a great pairing. Truth is elevating Carmella by being pure entertainment while Carmella is often doing the in-ring heavy-lifting. That sounds weird to say given her past, but the former SmackDown women's champion is genuinely good in the ring now.
Asuka may be an all-star wrestler, but she needs an angle like Carmella has to stand out. Her alliance with Naomi feels bland because it's impossible to believe The IIconics have a chance. It's just two faces rolling over two heels without any ups or downs.
Conclusion
For an episode of SmackDown, this was fairly lackluster week. The 2 hours felt sluggish. Even the best match (Bryan vs. Shelton Benjamin) was only fine. It was just not much of a showcase with Styles and Joe basically missing the week entirely (the WWE champion did make a brief prerecorded statement in the opener).
It was a missable week, which is a weird choice given it was the final show before Super Show-Down. It certainly wasn't terrinle. It just failed to stand out. That might be okay with Raw, but SmackDown should be held to a higher standard.
Grade: C
Everyone was so impressed by this match they almost forgave the ridiculous angry face expressions both put on.
205 Live October 2, 2018
The Brian Kendrick Needed to Escape Drew Gulak's Shadow
Overview: Jack Gallagher faced Akira Tozawa with Drew Gulak and The Brian Kendrick in The Gentleman's corner. Despite help from both outside heels, Gallagher still fell to the diving senton. Afterward, Gulak blamed Kendrick for their failings with the veteran falling to a two-on-one assault.
Analysis: This was the perfect decision I did not know 205 Live needed. Kendrick always felt like the odd man out in this heel alliance, and he will likely stand out far more on his own as a face. While he is a long-time veteran, Kendrick still can add something to the cruiserweight division. I hope this change helps him stand out again.
Overview: Jack Gallagher faced Akira Tozawa with Drew Gulak and The Brian Kendrick in The Gentleman's corner. Despite help from both outside heels, Gallagher still fell to the diving senton. Afterward, Gulak blamed Kendrick for their failings with the veteran falling to a two-on-one assault.
Analysis: This was the perfect decision I did not know 205 Live needed. Kendrick always felt like the odd man out in this heel alliance, and he will likely stand out far more on his own as a face. While he is a long-time veteran, Kendrick still can add something to the cruiserweight division. I hope this change helps him stand out again.
NXT October 3, 2018
Who Knew Lars Sullivan Would Be the One to Make EC3 in NXT?
Overview: EC3 ran down to the ring to start his match with Lars Sullivan early. He assaulted the big man with vicious strikes that showed on the back of Sullivan. He managed to stay in this match with impressive strength and strategy, but the One Percenter took a Freak Accident on the apron into a diving headbutt for the loss.
Analysis: EC3 vs. Sullivan was better than it had any right to be. It was fast and stiff with EC3 finally coming off like a legitimate babyface. It was unlike any other match in recent weeks. While it was short and imperfect, this was a brilliant showcase of what can make both these men stars.
Overview: EC3 ran down to the ring to start his match with Lars Sullivan early. He assaulted the big man with vicious strikes that showed on the back of Sullivan. He managed to stay in this match with impressive strength and strategy, but the One Percenter took a Freak Accident on the apron into a diving headbutt for the loss.
Analysis: EC3 vs. Sullivan was better than it had any right to be. It was fast and stiff with EC3 finally coming off like a legitimate babyface. It was unlike any other match in recent weeks. While it was short and imperfect, this was a brilliant showcase of what can make both these men stars.
Mae Young Classic Week 5
The Second Round of the Mae Young Classic Instantly Raised the Level of Competition
Overview: Toni Storm slowly lost control of this match as Hiroyo Matsumoto got physical, but Storm managed to reverse a third straight attempt at a short-arm clothesline into a bridging cradle for three. Rhea Ripley ended Kacy Catanzaro's underdog run with the riptide powerbomb.
Lacey Lane made quick work of Taynara Conti, hitting a crucifix bomb for the win. Mercedes Martinez dominated the early portion of this clash, but Meiko Satomura refused to let up. She eventually kicked out of a fisherman buster then hit a spinning kick into a scorpion kick for the win.
Analysis: It took all of one match in the second round for a new contest to take the title of best match of the tournament. Storm and Matsumoto told a complete story with the Lady Destroyer looking like the more dangerous performer by Storm refusing to stay down.
Ripley and Catanzaro also raised their games in a strong middle fight that made up for an ugly botch with an otherwise exciting clash. That said, it was the main event that really solidified the night as one of the best the Mae Young Classic (year 1 and 2) has put on to date.
Overview: Toni Storm slowly lost control of this match as Hiroyo Matsumoto got physical, but Storm managed to reverse a third straight attempt at a short-arm clothesline into a bridging cradle for three. Rhea Ripley ended Kacy Catanzaro's underdog run with the riptide powerbomb.
Lacey Lane made quick work of Taynara Conti, hitting a crucifix bomb for the win. Mercedes Martinez dominated the early portion of this clash, but Meiko Satomura refused to let up. She eventually kicked out of a fisherman buster then hit a spinning kick into a scorpion kick for the win.
Analysis: It took all of one match in the second round for a new contest to take the title of best match of the tournament. Storm and Matsumoto told a complete story with the Lady Destroyer looking like the more dangerous performer by Storm refusing to stay down.
Ripley and Catanzaro also raised their games in a strong middle fight that made up for an ugly botch with an otherwise exciting clash. That said, it was the main event that really solidified the night as one of the best the Mae Young Classic (year 1 and 2) has put on to date.
Match of the Week
Meiko Satomura vs. Mercedes Martinez, Mae Young Classic 10/3 (Rating: 9.25/10)
Satomura pulled the absolute best possible from Killer Kelly, and that is made even more clear when she's working with one of the best in Martinez, one of top three performers in the first MYC. Satomura is playing the same role that Brian Kendrick did in the Cruiserweight Classic, the veteran raising everyone's game.
This was pure drama as the two steadily built from submission back-and-forth offense to high-impact moves to some incredible near-falls that had the crowd on their feet. It was some of the best women's wrestling WWE has seen all year and among the top matches of the year.
While it was not perfect with some awkwardness in transitions, this was still an outright classic that lived up to the name of the tournament.
Honorable Mention: TJP vs. Kalisto, 205 Live 10/3 (Rating: 8.75/10)
Two of the cruiserweights in the business went all out this week, and it was great to watch. While 16 minutes did feel like a bit much here with the action slowing significantly late, this was still a great athletic bout coupled with a simple but strong story with TJP constantly letting his ego get in the way.
No match this week was a better showcase of pure wrestling talent. These two are veterans of their craft at the top of their game. From the high-flying to the technical mat work, this was in another league to most of the rest of the matches this week even if it could have been tightened up.
Satomura pulled the absolute best possible from Killer Kelly, and that is made even more clear when she's working with one of the best in Martinez, one of top three performers in the first MYC. Satomura is playing the same role that Brian Kendrick did in the Cruiserweight Classic, the veteran raising everyone's game.
This was pure drama as the two steadily built from submission back-and-forth offense to high-impact moves to some incredible near-falls that had the crowd on their feet. It was some of the best women's wrestling WWE has seen all year and among the top matches of the year.
While it was not perfect with some awkwardness in transitions, this was still an outright classic that lived up to the name of the tournament.
Honorable Mention: TJP vs. Kalisto, 205 Live 10/3 (Rating: 8.75/10)
Two of the cruiserweights in the business went all out this week, and it was great to watch. While 16 minutes did feel like a bit much here with the action slowing significantly late, this was still a great athletic bout coupled with a simple but strong story with TJP constantly letting his ego get in the way.
No match this week was a better showcase of pure wrestling talent. These two are veterans of their craft at the top of their game. From the high-flying to the technical mat work, this was in another league to most of the rest of the matches this week even if it could have been tightened up.