Recapping American wrestling since 2013. Not only following the current stuff in WWE, Impact and ROH but also going back in time and doing stuff from back then as well.
We see a video package for Bayley vs. Asuka for the NXT Women's Championship at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II.
The NXT Superstars talk about Brooklyn, New York as well as NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II.
NXT General Manager William Regal talks about NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II. All of a sudden, Billie Kay shows up, asking how it can be the best yet when she's not even booked for it. Regal tells her she's got her match...against the debuting Ember Moon.
Carmella, Liv Morgan and Nikki Glenncross beat Alexa Bliss, Daria Berenato and Mandy Rose after Carmella reverses a jackknife pin from Mandy Rose into a Code of Silence.
NXT General Manager William Regal has orders for security: neither Samoa Joe or "The King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura are to either start a brawl or to get out of their seat, and if either thing is to happen, they are to go into action.
We see Byron Saxton interview Samoa Joe and "The King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura with NXT General Manager William Regal and "the King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura. Both are excited to be in Brooklyn this weekend. Joe says he has a major issue with jumping through hoops to take the NXT title and keep it, and he is wondering if Regal wants him to be NXT Champion. When asked if he is taking this match seriously, Nakamura says he is. Joe says that he and Nakamura have crossed path, and Nakamura trained at the same place ("his dojo") as he did in Los Angeles. When asked if he respects Nakamura, he says he did but wonders if he does now. Nakamura says he respects Joe, and bows his head as he does. Joe takes offense to this, and gets up out of his seat ready to fight. Security rushes into position, as does Regal. Regal calmly asks Nakamura to leave the room, and Nakamura does. Regal then tells security to get Joe out of the room.
This week: The Brian Kendrick vs. Tony Nese! Noam Dar vs. Hoho Lun! Jack Gallagher vs. Akira Tozawa!
We hear from English gentleman wrestler Jack Gallagher and Japanese superstar Akira Tozawa.
Akira Tozawa beats Jack Gallagher to continue on to the quarter-finals of The Cruiserweight Classic where he will face Gran Metalik.
Hoho Lun talks about how he got started with judo (thinking it was professional wrestling) and how he wants to make his family proud. Noam Dar wants to make his way to the top, starting with The Cruiserweight Classic.
Noam Dar beats Hoho Lun by submission with a knee bar to continue on to the quarter-finals of The Cruiserweight Classic.
Tony Nese says he's the guy who's got it all. The Brian Kendrick calls The Cruiserweight Classic his last make-or-break moment.
The Brian Kendrick beats Tony Nese with the Bully Choke to continue on to the quarter-finals of The Cruiserweight Classic where he will face Kota Ibushi.
Next week: Lince Dorado vs. Rich Swann! Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Drew Gulak! Johnny Gargano vs. TJ Perkins!
Brock's back. Randy's back. They're both ready to fight. Who's gonna win...?
My prediction: Lesnar might win this one.
Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor
to decide the inaugural holder of the WWE Universal Championship
With the WWE World Championship on SmackDown, a new title was created by Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley to mirror the world title status of the heralded title on Raw: the WWE Universal Championship. Can Finn Balor make a huge impact on the red brand, or will Seth Rollins continue to be the impact player?
My prediction: Finn Balor just might win this one.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Dean Ambrose (c)
for the WWE World Championship
As if Finn Balor being in line for a major championship on Raw wasn't enough of a shocker, the same thing happened on SmackDown with Dolph Ziggler, who's been waiting a few years to be a top dog again. Now he's got a shot at that, but he has to get past Dean Ambrose to get there. Who will be top banana of the blue brand?
My prediction: Dean will probably retain.
Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks (c)
for the WWE Women's Championship Dana Brooke is banned from ringside for this match.
Well, it had to happen, didn't it? Sasha Banks finally upended Charlotte to become Women's Champion. Now she has to prove herself once again by getting another victory against former champion Charlotte in a championship rematch.
My prediction: Sasha Banks will retain.
Apollo Crews vs. The Miz (c)
for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
NXT just keeps on taking over as fairly recent call-up Apollo Crews gets a shot at the Intercontinental Championship. Will Apollo Crews rise a little closer to the top, or will The Miz stop the show?
My prediction: Apollo Crews is probably going to take the title.
AJ Styles vs. John Cena
It's finally happening: Styles vs. Cena, one-on-one, no Club, no outside interference, straight up mano-a-mano. This one's gonna rock the house...
My prediction: Cena will probably win this one.
Roman Reigns vs. Rusev (c)
for the WWE United States Championship
For all those wondering if Roman Reigns was going to do something after coming back at Battleground, don't worry. He's got something to do. And he just might be the one that beats Rusev...
My prediction: Roman's taking the title.
The Club (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) (c)
for the WWE Tag Team Championships
Thanks to The Club, Big E is injured, and now Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are on their own when it comes to defending the tag team titles. Have they met their match in The Club?
My prediction: The Club are walking out tag champs.
Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens
Chris Jericho doesn't like Enzo and Cass...and neither does Kevin Owens, who now has Jericho's back...
My prediction: Enzo and Cass are gonna win this one.
Sheamus vs. Cesaro
in Match 1 of a Best of Seven Series
Sheamus and Cesaro have been so aggressive in trying to get an opportunity on Raw that they have finally both gotten the attention of Mick Foley...who puts them in a Best of Seven series. The first match will be at SummerSlam, Who's going to have the advantage going out of SummerSlam?
My prediction: Sheamus will probably win the first match.
Becky Lynch, Carmella and Naomi vs. Natalya, Eva Marie and Alexa Bliss
Eva Marie finally gets to re-debut for SmackDown, Carmella and Alexa Bliss are on their first main roster pay-per-view event, Naomi has finally returned as a face with a glow-in-the-dark entrance, and Becky Lynch and Natalya get another shot at each other. The fire of the SmackDown Women's Division has just been lit.
My prediction: Becky, Carmella and Naomi might win this one.
The show starts with Randy Orton signing the contract for his match with Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. Heath Slater shows up with a basket of fruit, tosses an apple to Randy, then apologizes to Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan for dissing them a few weeks ago. He wants to sign the contract, but Shane and D-Bry aren't interested anymore. Suddenly, Randy has an idea...
It's time for Miz TV with special guests Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler. Ambrose shows up super early, and Ziggler shows up soon after. Tension is high between Dean and Dolph, but The Miz cools it down. The Miz talks about Dolph Ziggler's current situation in the WWE, but asks what will happen if Ziggler loses at SummerSlam. Ziggler isn't worried about after SummerSlam, but Dean Ambrose isn't buying what Dolph is saying. Dolph wants to know what Dean wants from him, and wonders if it's him admitting that he wants to kick Dean right in the face after everything he has said in the last three weeks, and tells Ambrose not to hold back when they meet Sunday. Ambrose reminds Ziggler that when he wins the title, it only gets harder, not easier, and the naysayers don't go away and the pressure and the target on his back is even bigger, and that he'll have to have ice water flowing through his veins. He tells Ziggler that the title will weigh him down and bury him, and he will only prove he never wanted it bad enough and that he'll never get it. Ziggler says Ambrose knows nothing about him, but he knows one thing: Ambrose will have to go to the limit and beyond to beat him, and it still won't be enough. He superkicks Ambrose, then tells him this Sunday, he'll find out that Ziggler is this damn good.
During the commercial, The Miz says he will bring "Apollo Creed's" ride to the top to a screeching halt, but Apollo Crews shows up and hits him with the spinout powerbomb for getting his name wrong.
The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso), American Alpha (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable) and The Hype Bros (Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley) beat The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor), The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) and Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango).
Naomi shows up in her first match for the first time in months as a face and with a new theme and entrance. Unfortuately for her - and the WWE Universe - Eva Marie is stuck in traffic and cannot be here tonight, leading to the third no-show by Eva Marie in as many weeks.
We look back at Alberto Del Rio's return to the WWE back last October when he won the United States title from John Cena at Hell in a Cell. We then see him backstage with AJ Styles, AJ Styles mentions that Del Rio is facing John Cena tonight, then makes fun of the fact that while he is facing John Cena at SummerSlam, Del Rio isn't even on the card.
Coming soon: Curt Hawkins...
Randy Orton vs. Heath Slater ends when Orton refuses to let Slater out of the corner. After the bell rings, Randy Orton continues to beat Slater down to send a message to Brock Lesnar, whom he also mocks before hitting the RKO.
Heath Slater is in the trainer's room when Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan tell him that he just earned himself a contract since Randy Orton lost by disqualification. When they have him sign the contract, however, Slater thinks Shane and Daniel are Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley and that he beat Orton and Lesnar. He also says he showed no mercy, which leads to D-Bry and Shane naming the next SmackDown pay-per-view No Mercy. They then take the contract from him before he can sign.
Randy Orton stares down with Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan during the commercial break.
Dean Ambrose beats Erick Rowan. After the match, Bray Wyatt looks at Erick Rowan's sheep mask, then lays it on the rocking chair and walks out on Rowan.
Becky Lynch and Carmella beat Natalya and Alexa Bliss after Eva Marie finally shows up...and Naomi shows up after her, not happy that she got her match tonight. Naomi chases Eva Marie into the ring, and Natalya attacks Naomi. She then tries to roll up Becky Lynch, but Becky Lynch kicks out and puts Natalya in the Disarmher, making Natalya tap out. Naomi celebrates along with Becky and Carmella after the match.
Baron Corbin attacks Kalisto backstage...again.
AJ Styles guests on commentary for the next match.
John Cena beasts Alberto Del Rio. AJ Styles attacks Cena after the match, then says he is sick and tired of John Cena saying the future goes through him. He plans to make Cena's passion his prison, and become the face that runs the place when he wins at SummerSlam. He goes for a Styles Clash on Cena, but it is reversed into an Attitude Adjustment. Cena then takes it outside of the ring and AA's Styles again, this time through the commentary table.
Lightning knocked out the power to the arena before the show, but thankfully electricity was restored before the show.
In a WWE.com exclusive, Rusev is still angry after what happened last week with Roman Reigns, and says he plans to crush Roman tonight.
During the pre-show, we see the aftermath of a cake-covered Lana courtesy of a WWE.com exclusive.
Andrea D'Marco interviews Bob Backlund and Darren Young, but Titus O'Neil shows up. Andrea leaves, then Titus O'Neil apologizes for his "Darren Young was never great" comments. Titus O'Neil wants to bring back The Prime Time Players. Bob Backlund likes the idea, saying the team can be tag team champions again, and goes to talk to Mick Foley about bringing them back together. Titus tells Darren Young this will be for one night only.
"Mr. Irrelevant" Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas congratulates Jinder Mahal for beaing up Heath Slater, and Mahal says that Slater turned his back on the band to join a couple of social outcasts. Bo and Axel chalk it all up to jealousy towards Slater. Jinder tells them to watch his upcoming match against Neville to see him do something Axel can't do: win.
Earlier today, Seth Rollins was outside the arena, saying he had business with "The Demon King" and called him out right now. He then looks for "The Demon King."
Lana and Rusev are in the ring. They say that Roman Reigns ruined a historic celebration last week, and that they will hold up the show until Roman Reigns shows up and apologizes. Instead, they get Raw General Manager Mick Foley, and Rusev demands respect, saying Mick Foley is no GM without him. Foley tells Rusev to get out of the ring, and Rusev tells Foley he sucks for making him defend the US title against Roman at SummerSlam. He says that Foley has no real power, and demands Raw Commissioner Stephanie McMahon come to the ring. She does, and she says Rusev's behavior is unacceptable. Rusev threatens to move to SmackDown, saying Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon will appreciate him there. Suddenly, Roman Reigns shows up and apologizes for Rusev being married to Lana in the first place. After some words from Rusev, Roman says that they might as well have their United Staes title match right now. Stephanie stops this, but Rusev wants to fight for Lana's honor. Mick Foley decides to make a match where Rusev can do just that against Roman Reigns tonight.
Byron Saxton interviews Sheamus before the next match. Sheamus says he is the most dominant Superstar on Raw right now, and proved he is the better athlete compared to Cesaro. He has moved on to greener pastures such as Sami Zayn, but calls him a cheap Sheamus knockoff. When the crowd chants "You look stupid," he tells the crowd that everybody paid to see him...so who's stupid now?
Cesaro guests on commentary during the middle of Sheamus vs. Sami Zayn.
Sami Zayn beats Sheamus after Cesaro leaves commentary and distracts Sheamus.
Tom Phillips interviews Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens. Jericho says tonight's match against Big Cass is 1-on-2, and he and Owens then make fun of Enzo Amore and Big Cass. Kevin Owens says he will beat Big Cass tonight, and that he and Jericho will go on to beat Enzo and Cass at SummerSlam to the point that when they're asked "How you doin'?" they won't be feeling so good because Jericho and Owens beat them.
Referees - and Raw General Manager Mick Foley - stop a backstage between Sheamus and Cesaro, and puts them in a Best of Seven series with the first match starting at SummerSlam.
Before the next match, we see Gallows & Anderson Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) talk about ringpostitis - and microwave an egg - on the Titantron.
The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xacier Woods) beat The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley). Club on TitanTron. Kofi and Xavier call out Gallows & Anderson (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) for thinking what they did to Big E is funny, and say that The Club do not have the power to take their tag team titles or the "New Day Rocks" slogan, which they both do in place of the injured Big E.
Seth Rollins is looking for "The Demon King" backstage. He finds Neville, who tells Seth that he's been in the ring with "The Demon King," and tells Seth that he isn't ready.
Before the next match, Byron Saxton interviews Rachel Lee, who believes that she can go home with the gold and beat Nia Jax after watching the Summer Olympics non-stop.
Nia Jax quickly beats Rachel Lee.
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman enter the ring. Before Heyman can speak, he is interrupted by Heath Slater. Slater states that he is the hottest free agent in sports entertainment today, and says that since both Raw and SmackDown can't recognize him as a star, he's coming to Paul Heyman. Heyman laughts at Slater, but Slater tells him to laugh it up and asks for a one-on-one match against Brock Lesnar. Heyman just ignores Slater and acts like he's not even there, but Slater screams back, saying not to disrespect him and that he has kids that rely on him. Heyman tells Slater he's trying to save his ass. Lesnar gets on the microphone and talks to him, telling him he feels for him as he has kids too and to get in the ring so he can talk about his kids. He does, and Lesnar tells him he doesn't give a shit about his kids. He gives Slater two options: get out of the ring or keep pissing him off. Slater obviously chooses the latter option, and gets decimated as a result. Heyman gives Slater credit for going face-to-face with Brock Lesnar, as Randy Orton doesn't have the guts to do it. He says that Lesnar will massacre Orton at SummerSlam, and that not one person in the locker room can stand up to Lesnar. He then says that Lesnar is the box office for SummerSlam, and that everyone has the rare opportunity to see him in a match.
Before the next match, Enzo Amore says that he and Big Cass are going to have a SummerSlam barbecue this Sunday where they will beat Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho.
Big Cass beats Kevin Owens by disqualification after Chris Jericho interferes. Big Cass fights back, but the newly-christened JeriKO leave Cass laying.
Tom Phillips interviews Roman Reigns backstage. He plans to represent his bloodline and beat Rusev's ass. He is then suddenly attacked from behind by Rusev, and officials have to hold both men back.
The Shining Stars (Primo and Epico) beat The Prime Time Players (Darren Young and Titus O'Neil) after Primo whips Darren Young into Titus O'Neil, who is tending to Bob Backlund. Titus thinks Darren ran into him on purpose and hits him with Clash of the Titus, allowing The Shining Stars to win.
Neville beats Jinder Mahal.
General Manager Mick Foley tells Commissioner Stephanie McMahon that he has gotten off the phone with Jon Stewart and that Stewart will be the host at SummerSlam. Seth Rollins shows up looking for "The Demon King," then asks for the night off. Foley asks Seth Rollins to go to the ring and call "The Demon King" out.
Seth Rollins is now in the ring. He says he has never been so insulted in his life last week thanks to Finn Balor's response, and says he still can't find "The Demon King." He tells the media to get ready for what he's going to say: nothing will stop him from becoming the first WWE Universal Champion. He also says he can't find "The Demon King" anywhere and calls him out from the center of the ring, so he can kick him back into the history books. Nothing happens, and chalks it up to intimidation tactics by Finn Balor because Finn is afraid of him. He then says "The Demon King" is just another character in the Book of Rollins. A fan tries to jump into the ring, and Seth makes fun of the situation by saying "That's the Demon King right there?" and laughing. He continues to mock "The Demon King" when the lights flicker and weird utterings are heard. The arena goes dark and then flashes red. Finn Balor finally shows up in his body paint and Demon King get-up. "The Demon King" is here. After his entrance, Finn Balor stares down with Seth Rollins, then they brawl...and Finn Balor comes out on top.
Gallows & Anderson (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) beat The Golden Truth (Goldust and R-Truth). After the match, Gallows and Anderson are attacked by The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods), and Woods almost takes Francesca II to Anderson's nuts until Gallows makes the save.
Dana Brooke talks with Charlotte backstage. Charlotte then chews Dana Brooke for failing her last week, and says she will beat Alicia Fox by herself before taking the Women's Championship back at SummerSlam before replacing Dana with "someone who isn't an epic failure."
Sasha Banks guests on commentary for the next match.
Charlotte beats Alicia Fox. After the match, Charlotte dares Sasha Banks to get in the ring. Dana Brooke shows up and it becomes a 2-on-1 assault, which ends with Charlotte locking in the Figure Eight on Sasha.
Lio Rush beats Donovan Dijak after reversing Feast Your Eyes into a crucifix pin. Dijak and Prince Nana stomp a mudhole in Lio Rush after the match. Jay White makes the save, but Kamaitachi attacks Jay White. Officials have to hold Dijak back.
The Cabinet (Kenny King, Rhett Titus, Caprice Coleman) interrupt Dalton Castle's backstage promo. Rhett Titus tries to borrow one of Castle's boys, and Caprice Coleman says he can't protect his boys forever, but Castle says that his boys are like him and that they know what they're doing. Needless to say, The Cabinet want Dalton Castle removed from wrestling.
We see exclusive footage from earlier today where War Machine (Hanson and Rowe) are attacked by Shane Taylor and Kevin Lee.
Kenny King interviews "The Hangman" Adam Page, who says that every move he makes is for the bidding of Bullet Club, and they plan to grab any gold that they can find. He says The Briscoes (Jay and Mark Briscoe) have something he wants: the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. Jay is supposed to be the most violent, but at Death Before Dishonor, the ring is his gallows, and the crowd wil see how much he can man up before he "puts his mangy ass down." Jay Briscoe shows up as if on cue and attacks Page, and backstage crew have to hold both men back.
During the commercial break, The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) proclaim they have the night off now that War Machine (Hanson and Rowe) cannot compete for the tag team titles, but Roppongi Vice (Trent Baretta and Rocky Romero) show up and challenge them for the ROH World Tag Team Championships. Suddenly, The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) show up wanting a piece of the action as well, wanting to make the match a five-star classic. Nigel McGuinness says that as much as he'd like to make this a three-way dance, there is no way he can make the match. He says Roppongi Vice have deserved a title shot, but the Bucks have not. With War Machine and The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) out, he makes a match between Roppongi Vice and The Young Bucks, and the winners get a tag team title shot in two weeks.
The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) guest on commentary for the next match.
The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) beat Roppongi Vice (Trent Baretta and Rocky Romero) to earn a shot at the ROH World Tag Team Championships. After the match, The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) attack the Bucks in revenge for being superkicked during the match.
Adam Cole and Jay Lethal show up for their contract signing for Death Before Dishonor, with Nigel McGuinness moderating. Both men are allowed final words before ink is on paper. Adam Cole asks Jay Lethal if he is sure he wants to defend the ROH World Championship, saying that if he's angry now, he'll be even angrier when he takes the title from him. He says that he shaved Lethal's head to prove he can take anything from him, including the World title, because Lethal walks around thinking he's the best when it's Adam Cole who really runs the show. Lethal may be the best, but so is he, and the only thing he intends to steal at Death Before Dishonor is the title, not the show. Jay Lethal tells Adam Cole that just about every match he has had in Ring of Honor has always been about a Ring of Honor World Championship, no matter what. He says that ROH titles are the most prestigious in the wrestling business, and for the first time, it's not about a championship...it's personal. All he can think about is revenge, and he needs it every time he looks in a mirror and is reminded of what Adam Cole did to him. He has no catch-phrases or one-liners, and at Death Before Dishonor, he's coming to fight. He signs. Adam Cole makes a promise, saying that Lethal signed away the World Championship. As Cole signs, Lethal tosses a pair of scissors onto the table. Cole picks them up and looks at them. Lethal slams Cole's head on the table and both men brawl. Adam Cole picks up the world title and says it's already his, but Lethal hits a low blow and is about to take the scissors to Cole's hair when The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) pull Cole to safety. Lethal raises the World title in the air as he stares down Adam Cole and the Bucks to close out the show.
