WWE Smackdown (9/20/24)

WWE Smackdown

Golden 1 Center

Sacramento, CA

September 20, 2024

Commentators: Michael Cole and Corey Graves

Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor

We are just two weeks away from Bad Blood and Roman Reigns had to enlist some unlikely help to battle the Bloodline. WWE Champion Cody Rhodes supposedly is to meet Roman face to face to discuss what they have to do later tonight. We also have a US title match with LA Knight taking on Andrade. So let's get to the show.....after a dark match.

Dark Match

Karl Anderson vs Baron Corbin

Anderson of the OCs takes on the wrestling version of the 4A baseball player. Corbin wins it with End of Days.

Winner: Anderson by pinfall

The show opens with a vignette from last week with Cody Rhodes defeating Solo Sikoa in a cage match but gets jumped by the Bloodline. Roman Reigns ran in to help Cody clear them out and Solo challenged them to a tag match at Bad Blood. Cody initially refused so Roman said he can do it without him. Its his company and his ring, Cody replied "It was". The Bloodline attacked Cody and Roman again and they both signed the contract, the tag match is on. Michael Cole welcomes us and tells us of a movie style vignette between Cody and Roman tonight in Atlanta. We're shown The Bloodline arriving to the arena and Jacob Fatu beats up security dudes at the metal detector. Jacob "Anyone else want a pat-down??" Cole says the Bloodline is embarrassed and sends us to our first match.

Match 1

Andrade vs LA Knight for the WWE United States Championship

Andrade won his Best of Five series with Carmelo Hayes so he gets the title shot tonight. They circle to start and Andrade wants a handshake. Knight shakes it and they lock up to start. Andrade gets cradled up for a one count and they both block finishers. Andrade bails to the outside as we go to commercial. Back from break Andrade chops Knight and Knight counters with one of his own. Andrade chops away but Knight counters with right hands. Andrade chops away in the corner like his father in law and Andrade does the Flair Flip onto the apron. He goes upstairs and hits a crossbody for 1..2...no. Andrade locks in a chinlock then Knight drops him with an elbow to the face. Andrade bails to the outside and pulls Knight out. Knight bounces Andrade's head off the announce table to a chorus of "YEAH!" and throws Andrade back inside. Knight hits a slingshot shoulderblock and covers for 1...2...no. Knight shoulderblocks Andrade in the corner but is backdropped onto the apron. Andrade also goes to the apron and shoves Knight into the ringpost. Andrade hits a top rope moonsault on Knight as we go to break again. Back from commercial, Andrade hits a big forearm to drop Knight. Andrade stomps Knight in the corner but misses a charge. Knight hits an inverted DDT and covers for 1...2...no. Knight stomps away at Andrade and hits a running knee to the head. Knight hits a reverse neckbreaker and covers for a deuce and puts Andrade on the top rope. Andrade knocks him off with an elbow and goes for a moonsault, sticks the landing because he saw Knight rolling, then hits a standing moonsault for 1..2...no. Incredible spot as the crowd chanting "this is awesome". Andrade hits a running knee in the corner and covers for 1..2....no. Knight hits a running powerslam and goes to the second rope, hitting the big elbow drop. Andrade rolls him up for 1.....2...no. Andrade hits a spinning back elbow and covers for 1......2...NOOOOO. Knight fails to jump up to the top rope so he gets shoved off. Andrade misses the missile dropkick and Knight catches him with the BFT. He covers for 1.....2....3 to win the match. Now THAT'S how you open the show. Damn good match and Cole tries to bail out tonight by saying its hot and the ropes are slippery.  After the match Knight goes to bump fists but Andrade wants a handshake. Andrade physically makes him shakes hands after. Ah well, respect is respect.

Time of match: 17:09

Winner: Knight by pinfall

We cut to last week where WWE Women's Champion Nia Jax challenging Bayley and Naomi to a tag match. If either of them score a fall, they face Nia at Bad Blood, but if the team loses then whoever takes the fall leaves Smackdown. We cut to real time where Tiffany Stratton whines about her day and Nia slaps her shoulder hard and says "You go girl." Then says if Tiffany loses the fall then she should leave Smackdown.

We cut to a mini-preview of Cody and Roman face to face as we go to break. Back from commercial we get a graphic for Saturday Night's Main Event coming up this December complete with Animotion's Obsession. December 14 at Nassau Coliseum....damn that's old school and I love it. Carmelo Hayes shows up to laugh at Andrade and says he hasn't seen a choke like that since the Kings lost to the Lakers. He tells Andrade to put the fries in the bag because he's washed and Andrade pie faces him. They brawl in the back with the referees separating them. This feud is NOT over.

Back to Graves & Cole, they send us to the vignette style face to face encounter between Cody and Roman set to I Am The Storm by Titus O'Neil. Cody and Roman meet at Georgia Tech's football field where Roman used to play. They meet at the 50 yard line and Roman says everything around this stadium is his. He shed blood, sweat and tears on this field many times, its his field. If this is his field, its his stadium and its his city. Roman asks what he's done for his city. Cody says outside of the stadium down the street is Techwood Studios, Centerstage and not too far is the sight of the old Omni. Multiple generations of his family bled in this city and Roman played football, but went back to the beach. This may be Roman's field but its Cody's home. Roman "That's very good...it is your home. Let's cut to the chase. You signed yourself into a lose/lose situation. You have everything to lose and you're dealing with people who have nothing to lose. They took Jimmy from me, they took my Wiseman, they took my Bloodline and they took my ulafala. I got nothing to lose." Cody "You're telling me this like I'm supposed to be surprise. I told you before Wrestlemania 39 that you'd be a chief without a tribe. I raise you another situation, we already got a tribal chief and its not you. We have a WWE Champion and its not you. So if you can't even beat your own Bloodline, who's standing here right now? Its the guy they used to call Roman Reigns." Roman "What do you want?" Cody wants his word that Roman will have his back so Cody can have his. Roman says he's got Cody's back but when this is all over, he's coming after the WWE Championship. Cody goes to leave but says "Its not yours to take." Roman "You're in my way, in life." Roman walks off and that overblown, overshot promo literally could be summarized by Cody will team with Roman as long as Roman doesn't turn on him. Roman promises he won't, but he's coming after him eventually.

We cut to Kevin Owens looking at a monitor confused. Byron Saxton asks him what's up and Owens just walks off. That can't be good....on to commercial. Back from break, Owens is still downtrodden as we head to the next match.

Match 2

Apollo Crews vs Giovanni Vinci

This stems from 2 weeks ago when the re-invented Vinci made his Smackdown debut only to be humiliated by getting pinned in 5 seconds by Crews, which was absolutely hilarious. Corey Graves says what we're all thinking in Roman and Cody take ten minutes to get to the ring but Vinci couldn't even get his ring jacket off. This time there are no shenanigans as Vinci attacks at the bell. Vinci forearms him in the back as Graves says the "pencil neck" that reffed the last match went back to NXT while Cole points out referee Ryan Tran is a veteran. Vinci uppercuts Crews and chops him against the ropes. Vinci open handed chops him in the chest as Corey says Nick Aldis just fined him via text for making fun of the officials (hahahahahaha!). Cole says he's the best GM we've ever had. Vinci hits a big clothesline on Crews and punches away at Crews. Vinci scoop slams Crews against the ropes three times. Vinci goes for a powerbomb but Crews rolls through for a schoolboy 1.....2....3 to win the match. Corey "Nooooo! Are you kidding me?" Vinci again can't believe it as Crews laughs at him. Now THAT'S how you do comedy without looking stupid. Graves commentary added to it instead of taking away and the quick pin on a heel always is good for a laugh.

Time of match: 1:36

Winner: Crews by pinfall

Uh oh! Post-match Vinci attacks Crew in the aisle. Vinci throws Crews against the barricade and Cole calls him a sore loser. Vinci hits a brainbuster in the middle of the ring as the crowd boos. Good way to get some heat back. Cole "That's impressive and all but you have to win a match." Back to Kevin Owens and Saxton and Byron again asks what's up. Kevin says no offense but he'll do it in the ring. Cole "What a pest Byron is!" We get a vignette for Survivor Series coming up in Vancouver on November 30th. Back from break, Cole says the first WWE show on TV in Sacremento was a Saturday Night's Main Event back in 1988, Randy Savage vs Andre The Giant.

Here comes Kevin Owens for a conference. Kevin thanks the crowd for the ovation and says everyone wants to know what he thinks with Cody and Roman. Owens says he's gotta be honest.....and here comes the Tongans. Tama Tonga, Jacob Fatu and Tonga Loa walk out with Tama going "Yeahyeahyeahyeahyeah" repeatedly. Tama says let the right hand man speak. Tama says it was a big mistake to embarrass them and they're going to get what's coming to them at Bad Blood. But YOUUUUUUU Kevin Owens, Solo Sikoa says he's next. Kevin Owens says "Before you start talking again, I can guarantee you no one has ever wanted to hear anything you've had to say ever. We all know how this is going to end so just get up here so I can punch you in your stupid face." Here they come for the beatdown but here comes DIY to even the odds. DIY clears out the Tongans and here comes Nick Aldis to make a six man tag match. There's our main event.

Back to Naomi and Bayley who say they need to pin Nia and Tiffany to keep their jobs. Naomi and Bayley say they'll give the other a title shot once they win the match and then at Bad Blood. On to the next match.

Match 3

Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton vs Bayley and Naomi in a Tornado Tag Match

Bayley can't get her jacket off and has Naomi help get it off (hahahaha!) as the match begins. The faces bumrush Tiffany and Nia to start. Naomi is heaved into the corner and Nia shoulderblocks her. Bayley and Naomi do a do-si-do to forearm Tiffany and Nia. Naomi splashes Tiffany in the corner then Nia. Naomi hits a bulldog on Tiffany and a double bulldog into the buckle on Nia. Tiffany runs into a shoulderblock and a double clothesline puts Nia down. They pin at the same time for 1...2..no. Graves says if that worked, would referee Jessika Carr be the winner? Nia faceplants Naomi and Tiffany throws down Bayley. Nia and Tiffany do a samoan drop/blockbuster combo and Tiffany covers for a deuce as we go to break. Back from commercial the action spills outside where Naomi is thrown into the timekeeper's booth. Nia gets kicked in the head and Bayley clotheslines Tiffany down. Bayley throws Tiffany into the barricade and hits a suicide dive onto Nia. Naomi hits a crossbody on Nia and Tiffany rolls inside. Naomi dropkicks Tiffany into a Bayley back suplex. Bayley covers for 1...2...no, Naomi pulls her off. Nia clotheslines Naomi and throws Bayley into the corner. Naomi and Bayley hit a double backdrop on Nia but Bayley's charge eats elbow. Nia throws Naomi in the corner and goes for the Banzai Drop but Bayley stops her. Tiffany sends Bayley in the corner but the charge eats boot. Nia does a second rope legdrop while Bayley drops an elbow on Tiffany. Nia and Bayley cover for 1..2....no. Bayley rams Tiffany's head into the corner and set her up on the second rope. Nia headbutts Bayley and hits an X-Factor and covers but Tiffany swantons Nia by accident. Bayley and Naomi hit a 1D and Tiffany rolls to the outside. Nia hits a Samoan drop but Bayley turns it into a crucifix. Naomi runs over and hooks the leg for 1...2.....3 to win the match on a double pin. Bayley and Naomi are declared the winners so we still have no number 1 contender....or both of them are. I'm sure Nick Aldis will figure it out. Sloppy match but the design was for the ending.

Time of match: 11:06

Winners: Bayley and Naomi by pinfall

Cole hypes up our main event as we go to break. Back from break we get a graphic saying this is our 39th TV sellout and 58th sellout overall. We take a look at some fan signs to kill time as we go to a mini-vignette of Chelsea Green as a trash collector. This was her "training" to face Mia Yim in a dumpster match in two weeks on Smackdown on "Mia's home turf". I'd say that's stupid comedy, but that's Chelsea's thing. Cole goes nuts on commentary and gets excited that Chelsea's going in a dumpster. Next week Andrade faces Carmelo in a sixth match which telegraphs that Melo is going to win.

We cut to Nick Aldis with Bayley and Naomi in his office. He says there can be only one contender so next week they're going one on one, winner gets Nia. That's fair. Kevin Owens comes out to the ring but there's no DIY. Uh oh, looks like the Tongans attacked DIY and took them out before the match starts. Owens says the hell with it and attacks the trio to start. The numbers game catches up to owens and Fatu shoves him into the ring. Hang on a second, here comes the Street Profitz to even the odds. Owens jumps off the top and takes out all five others as we go to break.

Match 4

The Street Profitz (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) and Kevin Owens vs Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and Jacob Fatu

Back from break Owens is stomping a mudhole in Tonga Loa in the corner. Ford tags in to kick at Loa when Dawkins tags in. Ford slinghshot hilo on top of Loa and Dawkins sends Tonga off the rope into a shoulderblock. Dawkins covers for 1..2...no. Owens tags in to clothesline and sentons Loa for 1...2...no. Cole says Owens has never pinned ANY of the Bloodline in his career as Ford tags in to stomp Loa in the corner. Loa counters with a clothesline out of the corner and sends him into his own. Jacob Fatu tags in and he uppercuts Ford into the corner. Fatu kicks away at Ford and sends him into the corner. Fatu tags in Tama Tonga for the suplex, slingshot hilo combo. Tama taunts the irate crowd and punches away at Ford. Tama clotheslines Ford down as Cole says Tama is a seven time IWGP Tag Team Champion. Fatu tags in for a huge dropkick. Fatu misses the ass bump in the corner and Dawkins tags in. Angelo hits a flying elbow on Fatu and faceplants Tama. He knocks Tonga Loa off the apron but runs right into a superkick. Fatu hits a top rope moonsault as Graves says its not fair. We go to break with a highlight of the moonsault. Back from commercial its the Tongans double teaming Dawkins. Tama covers for 1...2...no. Graves iterates that its not fair that Fatu is THAT athletic at his size. Tama pounds away on Dawkins then locks in a chinlock. Tama tags in Fatu who hits a standing senton and whips Angelo into the corner.  Fatu headbutts Dawkins in the corner but runs into a dropkick. Fatu charges again but eats ringpost. Dawkins tags in Ford who Pele kicks Tama who tagged in. Ford hits a crossbody then knocks Loa off the apron. Ford hits a big lariat on Tama and kicks him in the ribs. Ford does a standing flip into a heel kick then the standing moonsault gets two. Ford hits an enziguiri then tags in Owens. Kevin outside the ring clotheslines Fatu and Loa down. He does a DX chop then frog splashes Loa off the apron. Kevin in the ring cannonballs into Tama in the corner. Kevin climbs upstairs and hits the swanton for 1...2....nooo, Fatu broke up the count. Dawkins clotheslines himself and Fatu out of the ring and Owens goes for another swanton, but Tama stops him. KO hits a fisherman's buster off the second rope and covers for 1..2....no, Loa pulls Owens off. Kevin calls for a stunner as the crowd chants "this is awesome." Owens hits the stunner but Tonga pulls him out. Tonga throws Owens into the steel steps for the DQ. That was a great match but once again we have a schmozz for an ending. Fatu is out of this world, his solo run eventually is going to be epic.

Time of match: 14:47

Winners: Profitz and Owens by DQ

Post-match its a pier sixer outside. Everyone is down as Ford wipes out Fatu and is last man standing. Fatu recovers to throws Dawkins into the timekeeper's booth. Ford rams Tonga against the apron but Fatu headbutts him. Tonga sets up the announce table but Owens tries to fight out of it. Tama throws Owens into the table as inside the ring, Tonga scoop slams Ford. Fatu hits the top rope splash like his uncle Rikishi as the crowd boos. Tama says now its time to take out Owens. The numbers game is too much but here comes DIY for the save. Tomasso and Gargano run out to save Owens but they get taken out too. Owens heaves Loa into the steps but Fatu backs him against the apron. Loa shoves Owens into the ring and all three heels decimate him. Inexplicably we go to commercial just as Cody Rhodes hits the ring with a chair....nice timing, dopes. Back from break, Cody cleans out the Tongans with a chair to set up Fatu one on one. Cody hits the Cody cutter to chase him off as KO grabs a chair. KO looks like he's going to hit Cody but at the last second throws the chair down. Cody extends his hand and KO shakes it. Guess things are okay with them as we sign off.

But but....we ain't done yet. Apparently we had an entire damn show afterwards of dark matches following the TV broadcast. Let's get to them.

Dark Match 2

Lyra Valkyria vs Liv Morgan for the World Women's Championship

Yes, believe it or not this was AFTER the show on Smackdown. Morgan retains with a victory.

Winner: Morgan (still World Women's Champion)

Dark Match 3

Jey Uso vs Drew McIntyre

Well this is weird. Two Raw guys on a Smackdown dark match. Around this time, HHH says they were cutting back on house shows so it made sense to cram as many matches on one show as possible. Uso wins it.

Winner: Jey Uso

Dark Match 4

Carmelo Hayes vs Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship in a steel cage match

Believe it or not, the live crowd in Sacremento got a world championship cage match after Smackdown went off the air. Rhodes wins it to retain.

Winner: Rhodes (still WWE Champion)

That was a good show for the most part. Only four matches was kind of meh but at least they were good ones. The pow-wow between Cody and Roman established a one night only unholy alliance to dispatch the Bloodline. Bayley takes on Naomi next week to decide who faces Nia Jax at Bad Blood and in two weeks we got a dumpster match. LA Knight is still the US Champ while Andrade battles it out with Carmelo Hayes next week as well. At least we got stuff to look forward to. This Monday's Raw will update us on the Raw side of things as we inch closer to Bad Blood. I'll see you there!

WWE King of The Ring 2015 (4/28/15)

Free of the constraints of network television, WWE decided to have the 2015 King of The Ring finals as a 1 hour WWE Network special. Rather than hold the semi-finals on Smackdown and the Finals on a PPV, we got the semi-finals and finals on this special. For those that didn't bother to read the Raw recap, Bad News Barrett defeated Dolph Ziggler, R-Truth defeated Stardust, Sheamus defeated Dean Ambrose and Adrian Neville defeated Luke Harper. Barrett takes on Truth and Sheamus fights Neville tonight. Let's get to it.

IWireless Center

Moline, Illinois

April 28, 2015

Commentators: Michael Cole, JBL and Jerry "The King" Lawler

Ring Announcer: Eden Stiles

We open the show with a graphic honoring the late Verne Gagne who had passed away the day before before the opening vignette. Jerry Lawler opens the show thanking the fans and giving us a montage of what's to come tonight and how we got here. Then we cut to Byron Saxton who interviews Sheamus about his semi-final match. He says he's going to be the two time (TWO TIME) king of the ring but has to get past the "English elf" Neville. He may defy gravity, but not while he's unconscious. He says it don't matter who's in the Finals against him because he's going to become king. Then he'll make every little fella including Dolph Ziggler in WWE kiss his arse. We cut to Renee Young who's with Adrian Neville and he talks about how he was one of NXT's greatest champions and now he's in the KOTR semi-finals. He said even he can't believe it and no one gave him a chance to win. He's going to defy the odds and gravity. He's going to show Sheamus what a "little fella" like him can do.

Match 1

Sheamus vs Adrian Neville in a King of The Ring Semifinal match

Size vs speed here as we kick things off with Sheamus and Adrian Neville. Sheamus makes fun of Neville's height and calls him an elf. Sheamus backs him in the corner and tells him to come on. Sheamus and Neville trade punches then Neville goes up and over. He goes for a boot, ducks the line, kicks Sheamus in the ribs and runs into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Neville looks legit hurt but Sheamus knees him in the ribs anyway. Sheamus hits another backbreaker and a running knee to the head. Sheamus "Are you not entertained????" Sheamus kicks Neville in the corner and locks in a bear hug. Cole names some Kings of the past and JBL says don't forget King Booker. Sheamus misses a clothesline and Neville hits two running forearms. Neville kicks at Sheamus but Sheamus sends him to the apron. Sheamus goes for 10 Beats of the Bodhran, but Neville blocks it. Sheamus shoves Adrian off the apron straight into the announce table. Neville takes the nine count outside but slides back in. Sheamus slugs away in the corner and throws him across the ring. Sheamus says he doesn't belong in his ring and goes for White Noise. Sheamus hits it but then Dolph Ziggler comes out with a microphone. Ziggler points to the titantron and a highlight of Ziggler beating Sheamus distracts him. He turns around and misses the Brogue Kick, getting kicked in the back of the head but Adrian. Neville goes up to the top rope and hits the Red Arrow. He covers for 1...2....3 to win the match. Kind of cheap to have Dolph distract Sheamus but Neville gets a big win regardless. Good match for what it was.

Time of match: 5:47

Winner: Neville by pinfall

After the match Dolph grabs a microphone and raises Neville's arm. Dolph then says he has unfinished business with Sheamus. He was supposed to kiss Dolph's ass at Extreme Rules and now he's come to collect. He charges the ring and drives Sheamus back with punches, but Sheamus bails. Only when the referees come out does he try to charge the ring. Don't tell me this is going to be a running gag of Dolph chasing Sheamus around to kiss his ass. Sheamus has a nasty cut over his eye and he's bleeding quite a bit. Apparently Dolph hit him with a live round. 

Then we cut to Renee Young who's with Wade Barrett. She says that Neville beating Sheamus is one of the biggest upsets in KOTR history and and asks Wade what his confidence level is. Wade gets offended and says Truth shouldn't have arachnophobia, he should have Bullhammerphobia. Wade says when he's finished with has-been (Truth) he's going to beat the "Neville-will-be.". Neville will be the "man that nobody remembers because Bad News Barrett will be King of the Ring. We go to Byron Saxton with R-Truth who says everyone knows he's afraid of spiders, but he has a plan. He's going to win King of The Ring, declare that spiders are banned from wrestling. Including the "nephew spiders" He'll build a castle, a drawbridge and a moat then he stops. He asks if there are water spiders and Byron looks at him funny. Byron asks about Barrett and Truth says Barrett won't be invited into the castle unless he can kill spiders. Truth says he's going to take care of the water spiders right now. Yeah Truth's pretty out there....anyway, on to the next match.

Match 2

R-Truth vs Wade "Bad News" Barrett in a King of The Ring Semifinal match

Winner faces Adrian Neville in the Finals so logic dictates Barrett will win. Bret Hart and Booker T apparently chimed in on Twitter and Lawler says "I remember when Bret was crowned king of the ring, I crowned him." Hahahaha! Bell rings and they circle to start and Truth gets a quick roll up to a deuce. Barrett punches Truth in the solar plexus and backs him to the ropes. Truth dances and elbows Barrett in the face. Truth hits the O'Connor roll for a deuce but Barrett hits a big boot, covering for another two. Barrett chokes Truth on the second rope then knees him in the head. Wade boots Truth out of the ring and rams his head against the apron. Barrett throws Truth inside and covers for 1..2...no. JBL talks about Roman Emperor Nero as Barrett locks in a chinlock. Barrett gets knees to the ribs but a charge in the corner eats boot.Truth rallies with clotheslines and a kick to the ribs. Truth hits a faceplant and covers for 1...2...no. Truth misses a scissors kick but Barrett runs into an axe kick. Truth covers for 1..2....no. Truth looks at the ref in disbelief as Lawler says Truth needs to fill his moat with bug spray. Truth ducks the line and hits a sky twister elbow. He covers for 1...2..no. Lawler and Cole asks if Barrett looked past R-Truth as Barrett shoves him down. Truth runs right into Winds of Change and covers for 1.....2....nooo. Wade rams Truth's head into the buckle and stomps a mud-hole in him. Barrett misses a charge and Truth hits Lie Detector. He covers for 1..2....no, Barrett got the foot on the rope. Truth can't believe it as JBL says Truth is our last hope to have an American king....ha, he's right. Barrett bails to the outside but Truth grabs him, only to get a thumb to the eye. Barrett turns his armpad around, rolls inside and buries Truth with a Bullhammer. Barrett covers for 1....2....3 to win the match. Its gonna be the two Brits, Neville and Barrett in the finals. Fitting for the two Brits to battle over who's king. Match was okay as JBL says we're one win away from having King Bad News.

Time of match: 4:38

Winner: Barrett by pinfall

Over to the announce table who Michael Cole solemly announces Verne Gagne passed away the day before. We go directly to a video tribute of Verne Gagne of his life. Fun fact, Gagne started the AWA in 1960 because he wanted to be the NWA Champion but the NWA turned him down. Gagne started his own promotion and made himself champion. Three years later, Verne's friend Vince McMahon Sr wanted Buddy Rogers to be the NWA Champion but he too got turned down. Vince, just like Verne, broke off Capitol Wrestling from the NWA and formed the World Wide Wrestling Federation, which we know today as WWE. After the video package, Lawler says everyone who met Gagne has fond memories of him. Michael gives his condolences to the Gagne family.

Then we cut to Renee Young with Dolph Ziggler of all people. Renee asks why he helped Sheamus advance last night only to cause him to lose tonight. Dolph couldn't take it anymore because Sheamus bullied people who can't defend themselves. Dolph called Dean Ambrose to apologize about costing him the match. He promises to inflict more pain on Sheamus and its not about kissing his ass, its about kicking Sheamus'. 

Now we get tonight's WWE Network schedule then to a highlight of Adrian Neville defeating Barrett at Extreme Rules before sending it to Byron Saxton with Wade himself. Saxton says he's got good news, Barrett is up next in the Finals. But he's got bad news, he hasn't beaten Neville yet. Way to telegraph the ending Byron. Barrett says he hates fighting twice in one night but Neville is in trouble because he plowed through Truth. Barrett says he has all the momentum and from here Barrett will be king. On to the Finals.

Match 3

Adrian Neville vs Wade "Bad News" Barrett in a King of The Ring Finals match

This is the Finals and its definitely going to be interesting how they book this. Is the push going to the high flying Neville to cement his rising star status or is Barrett going to get the duke after being booked horribly as the Intercontinental Champion going into Wrestlemania? Bell's gone and immediately Barrett bails outside. JBL says he just wrestled minutes earlier as Lawler says Neville did as well. Barrett starts with right hands and boots to the ribs. Barrett whips Neville in the corner who ups and overs then sends Barrett flying with a headscissors. Neville hits a dropkick and kicks away at Barrett but Wade clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor. Barrett scoop slams Neville on the floor and sends him ribs first onto the apron. Barrett sends Neville back inside and covers for a 1 count. Cole brings up Barrett's loss to Neville at Extreme Rules and kicks Neville in the ribs again before covering for a deuce. Barrett hits a slingshot backbreaker on Neville and covers for a deuce. Barrett locks in an arm-bar and turns it into a surfboard. Neville kicks out of it but Barrett goes for another suplex but Neville rolls out of it and hits a series of kicks on Barrett. Neville clotheslines Barrett over the top to the floor then hits a top rope asai moonsault on Wade. Barrett rolls inside and Neville hits a missile dropkick back in the ring. Neville goes to town with kicks and a dropkick again. Neville hits a german suplex for 1...2.....noooo. Nevvile splashes Barrett in the corner but runs into Winds of Change. Wade covers for 1...2...noooo. Bad News goes for Wasteland but Neville rolls out of it. Barrett counters a kick with a successful Wasteland. He covers for 1....2...nope. JBL wants the Bullhammer and right on cue Barrett load sit up. Neville ducks under it and hits the O'Connor roll for 1.....2...noooo. Neville hit a standing enziguiri to drop Barrett and goes up top. Neville goes for Red Arrow and misses but lands on his feet. Neville turns around and runs right into the Bullhammer. Barrett covers for 1...2.....3 to win the match. JBL says "All hail King Bad News" and Wade gets some heat back by winning the King of The Ring. Good match and arguably better than their Extreme Rules match but this time Barrett gets the duke.

Time of match: 7:06

Winner: Barrett by pinfall

Now its time for the coronation. Jerry Lawler is at the entrance ramp where the throne, cape, crown and scepter are. Wade has the referee put the cape on but he puts the crown on his head himself. He picks up the scepter as Lawler says congratulations are in order for the new King of The Ring. Wade says he's got class and elegance to call himself king. He will be ruling his kingdom with an iron fist and a bullhammer....boom! Michael Cole signs off and says goodnight everyone as Barrett sits on the throne.

Well the show served its purpose to get Barrett over and still give a shout out to Neville for getting this far. As I said earlier, Barrett needed the rub after being a horribly booked IC champion and a stooge for Sheamus the last month. It was doubtful he was beating Daniel Bryan at Extreme Rules before Bryan was ruled out with a concussion so this was the next best thing. Just like with Sheamus five years earlier, they're going to call him King Barrett moving forward. The next show after this is the upcoming Smackdown, I'll see you there.

WWE NXT (7/4/12)

Full Sail University

Orlando, FL

July 4, 2012

Commentators: Jim Ross & Bryon Saxton

After the great debut show two weeks ago, last week's NXT felt like an old episode of WWF Superstars with vignettes and squash matches. Hopefully the upcoming weeks will be better once everybody is introduced and they can all just wrestle. We got a women's match and Kassius Ohno making his debut. JR thanks us for joining and sends us right to our first match.

Match 1

Sofia Cortez vs Paige

Sofia Cortez was Ivelisse Velez on Tough Enough the year earlier and she was actually the protoge of indy legend Steve Boz in Chicago before being signed. Her opponent was actually a 19 year old Saraya Bevis who made her debut at the age of 13 in her native England in 2005. She's the daughter of Sweet Saraya and Roy Bevis, both English wrestlerts. This is booked as a "divas" match and Saxton gets excited before the bell. They lock up but Paige throws Sofia backwards. Sofia ducks under a clothesline and goes for a waistlock but Paige blocks it with a headbutt. Sofia blocks a hiptoss with a headscissors into a frankensteiner. Paige bails to the outside as JR brings up Sofia;s singing talent and martial arts skills. Back inside Sofia kicks and punches away in the corner and tells the ref to shut up. Paige follows with right hands but Sofia lands a martial arts kick. Sofia covers for a 1 count and locks in a arm-trap chinlock but Paige flips out of it and chops Sofia. Paige eats a kick to the face and Sofia executes the Mysterio DDT. She covers for 1....2....3 and that's it. This was definitely nearing the end of the "divas" era as 19 year old Paige looked pretty good selling here and just needed more experience. Sofia gets the duke as JR puts over both having a future. We go to the highlight of the finish as Saxton calls it an impressive debut.

Time of match: 2:27

Winner: Cortez by pinfall

Saxton hypes up Kassius Ohno's debut later tonight but up next is Seth Rollins taking on Camacho with Hunico in his corner. After the commercial break we go right to the match.

Match 2

Camacho (with Hunico) vs Seth Rollins

Camacho was born Tevita Fifita, the son of Haku. He was signed in 2009 as Tonga before becoming Donny Marlow in FCW. He made his main roster debut as Camacho, bodyguard of Hunico. Hunico was born Jose Arriaga who won the Texas state wrestling tournament his senior year of 1996 and was voted tournament MVP. He turned pro in 1999 and worked as Mistico in Mexico until someone else named Mistico (Luis Urive) showed up and Arriaga had to change his name. He signed with WWE in 2009 under the name Hunico and was in their developmental program when WWE signed Urive to work as Sin Cara. When Urive got suspended for 30 days following a wellness violation, Arriaga became Sin Cara. We all know how Sin Cara vs Sin Cara came out of that and eventually Arriaga became Hunico again doing a cholo gimmick. Now he's backup for Camacho against Rollins who made his debut the week before. Rollins makes his entrance punching up the ramp like Donkey Kong before getting in the ring. Rollins and Camacho slug it out at the bell but Camacho takes his head off with a big elbow. Camacho works him over in the corner before whipping Rollins off the ropes who turns it into a cradle for a deuce. Rollins trips up Camacho and covers for a 1 before chopping Camacho. Rollins works him over in the corner then whips Camacho into the other corner. A charge eats boot to drop Rollins and Camacho drops a leg before stomping away. Camacho pulls Rollins into the middle and covers for 1 before taunting him. Camacho executes a back suplex and covers for 1....2...nope. Camacho stomps away at Rollins as JR calls Seth highly regarded. Saxton says that's driving Camacho to beat him up if everyone's high on Rollins. Rollins nips out of a giant swing to hit an enziguiri to stun Camacho and drives Camacho into the buckle with a one armed ddt. Rollins hits a dropkick and kicks Hunico down but runs into a big forearm by Camacho.  Camacho holds Rollins for Hunico to hop up on the apron. Rollins sends Camacho into Hunico then hits the curb stomp on him. He covers for 1....2....3 and that's it. Hunico gets in and beats up Rollins with Camacho joining in. They doubleteam Rollins until Bo Dallas hits the ring to save Rollins. Rollins had a bright future ahead and he did the best he could in that.

Time of match: 4:33

Winner: Seth Rollins

We go right to the next match after commercial.

Match 3

Corey Graves and Jake Carter vs CJ Parker and Nick Rogers

Tag team match to showcase the four new guys. Parker we know but Corey Graves was born Matthew Polinsky and started wrestling in 2000 at age 16. He took the name Sterling James Keenan which was a tip of the hat to Sterling Sharpe of the Green Bay Packers and Maynard James Keenan of Tool. In 2006 he worked dark matches with WWE before signing a developmental deal in 2011. Jake Carter is the son of none other than Big Van Vader and played football for Oklahoma University before injuries derailed him. He also got a developmental deal in 2011. Rogers was born Austin Spencer and he made his name on the Canadian indies before signing with FCW. He had a good run there and now he's here on NXT. Graves & Carter were the FCW tag champs right around the time FCW closed. Parker starts with Graves at the bell and Graves gets in a sideheadlock before Parker monkey flips him. Graves gets mad and rams Parker in the corner who punches Carter. Carter tags in and beats up Parker before landing a forearm. Graves tags in and holds him down before Carter splashes Parker in the corner. Graves chokes Parker on the middle rope before Parker fights back with punches and a backdrop. Rogers gets the tag but runs into a Carter spinebuster who had tagged in. Carter knocks Parker off the apron and tags Graves. They hit their finisher "Bottoms up" on Rogers and Graves covers for 1....2...3 to win the match. Carter & Graves definitely had chemistry and it showed in this match. Just a basic squash to get the team over.

Time of match: 2:25

Winners: Graves & Carter by pinfall

We go to JR and Byron and JR calls Kassius Ohno a knockout artist. We go to a highlight package of Kassius before we go to commercial. Back from commercial we get a Bray Wyatt vignette saying he's not afraid of anything and feels no pain. He tells his future opponents they need to run as we hear sinister laughing. Wyatt is making his debut next week.

Match 4

Mike Dalton vs Kassius Ohno

Ross says Dalton was trained by Lance Storm as Dalton starts with an arm-bar but Ohno overpowers him. Dalton sends him off the ropes and hits a drop toe hold before high school pinning Ohno for a 1 count. Ohno reverses a prawn hold and hits a dropkick to the face. Ohno goes in the corner and shouts "OHHHH....NO" then delivers a clothesline in the corner followed by a jumping forearm. Ross says Ohno prefers knocking people out as Ohno kicks Dalton around. Ohno chops Dalton in the corner and locks in a cobra clutch. Dalton fights out of it and hits a spinning wheel kick. He covers for 1...2...nope. Ohno rakes the eyes then hits the K.O. punch. Ohno covers for 1...2....3...its over. Dalton is out cold as Ross puts over the discus punch as something special. Ohno grabs the mic and says he knocks people out and when they hear him coming they say "Oh no!". Gonna need to do better than that but its a start.

Time of match: 2:32

Winner: Ohno by pinfall

We go to commercial then straight to the next match.

Match 5

Derrick Bateman vs Jinder Mahal

Both Mahal and Bateman won in the previous weeks before so it makes sense to put them together to give someone a possible winning streak. Bell's gone and they tie up to start with the crowd starting a small USA chant, ha! Bateman takes advantage with a northern lights suplex and clotheslining Mahal over the top rope to the floor. Bateman dives onto Mahal on the floor before sending him back inside. Mahal snaps Bateman off the top rope and covers for a near fall before choking him on the second rope. Mahal drops some knees to the sternum and goes for a Rude Awakening but Bateman counters with a backslide for a deuce. Bateman catches Mahal with a cradle for a two count then a slam with a roll up for yet another near fall. Bateman drops Mahal with two clotheslines and a facebuster. A running neckbreaker by Bateman gets a two count and Derrick gets frustrated. Bateman is sent into the ropes and Mahal delivers a knee to the back of the head. Mahal then locks in the camel clutch and Bateman quickly submits. Mahal sold his ass off for Bateman yet one move turned the tide for him. The crowd boos but Mahal is your winner.....but wait! Mahal puts the clutch back on as JR says there's no call for this. Guess he needed some more heat.

Time of match: 4:02

Winner: Mahal by submission

Late breaking news, tonight's main event is now a six man tag with Michael McGillicutty teaming with Hunico and Camacho against Tyson Kidd, Bo Dallas and Seth Rollins. Dusty Rhodes isn't wasting any time plus Rollins & Camacho are pulling double duty. After an obligatory "Don't try this at home" commercial we got to our main event.

Match 6

Seth Rollins, Bo Dallas and Tyson Kidd vs Michael McGillicutty, Hunico and Camacho

Guest Commentator: William Regal

Stemming from the match to start the night, now we got an impromptu six man. Kidd and McGillicutty had a great match two weeks earlier and Dallas was victorious last week. Dallas starts with Michael who Michael tells to scram. Tyson tags in so Hunico does as well. JR complains about Hunico's durag as Kidd hits a top rope headscissors. Hunico gets a boot to the mid-section and a Gory Special and uses it as a pinfall attempt for 1...2...no. Kidd uses his abdominal strength to sunset flip out of it for a two count then Kidd victory rolls out of a waistlock. Kidd armdrags Huncio and tags in Dallas who drops an elbow to the left arm. Rollins tags in and goes to town on Hunico in the corner before splashing him in the other corner. Rollins gets distracted by Camacho allowing Hunico to nail him from behind. Camacho tags in as we cut to commercial. We're back with Camacho covering Rollins for a near-fall before locking in a chin-lock. Rollins fights out of it but is in the wrong corner as Hunico tags in to stomp away. Hunico charges but eats boot then Rollins monkey flips Hunico halfway across the ring. Rollins rolls into the corner to tag Dallas but Camacho tags in. Camacho falls down so Dallas somewhat misses a big elbow so they repeat the spot. Dallas kicks Camacho in the head then knocks Michael off the apron. Camacho counters by throwing Dallas head first into the bottom buckle. Regal says Camacho manhandles people with ease. McGillicutty tags in and and puts the boots to Dallas. Michael gets in a chinlock and punches Dallas for good measure. Dallas powers out of it but Michael locks in a leglock to keep Dallas from tagging. Hunico tags in and delivers a double-underhook backbreaker then covers for 1...2.....nope. Hunico locks in a chinlock as Regal tells a cockamamie story of how Camacho saved Hunico in the barrio from a gang stabbing by biting the nose off the guy stabbing Hunico. Hunico tags in McGillicutty to deliver more damage before executing a backbreaker. The cover gets a deuce and Michael pounds away as Regal says Dallas suffered a kidney injury a few months earlier. McGillicutty cheap shots Rollins but that allows Dallas to make the tag to Kidd. Kidd cleans house of the heels and hits a dropkick to the face. A pier sixer develops with Dallas taking out Hunico to the floor. Rollins dives off the top onto Dallas, Hunico and Camacho. Down to Kidd and McGillicutty, Michael chopblocks Kidd and hits the McGillicutter. He covers for 1...2....3 that's it. Good booking to have Michael get a big win after putting Tyson over two weeks earlier. Hunico struts around as JR signs off. Damn good match for time constraints and it showcased the stars of the future. Kidd and McGillicutty took command but the others kept up nicely.

Time of match: 13:19

Winners: McGillicutty, Camacho and Hunico by pinfall

That was a better show than last week as they're still in weeding out mode. They're trying to establish everyone's skills before they start storylines. It's fairly obvious a lot of these guys could go like Kidd, Rollins & McGillicutty and NXT was to develop character. Paige was only 19 here which is a blessing that NXT was established to get her experience before being put in a WWE ring. Kassius Ohno is a bit of a gimmick but he can definitely work on it. Jinder has a GREAT look and he could be a special heel someday. Bray Wyatt makes his debut next week so let's see what the former Husky Harris has in store.