WWE SD 9-21-16

I'm on the road for the WWE 2K17 press event - so this is probably going to be a fairly short update compared to the usual ones. The show starts with a fantastic recap of the Ambrose-Cena feud that really feels like it's elevating Ambrose, while Miz-Dolph is hyped up too. Hot damn - TWO IMPORTANT SINGLES TITLES. Bryan says that the SD Live Women's Title will be on the line at No Mercy, and tonight, we will have THE FIRST-EVER SD LIVE WOMEN'S TITLE CONTRACT SIGNING. Boy howdy what history! Bryan says he knows contract signings can get crazy - but he's going to make sure that doesn't happen here, and doesn't very much like folks booing that.

Becky comes down and says she's got her thick skin on tonight - COME AT ME BRO. Becky is so great. Bliss comes out and we see her win last week. Bliss mocks Becky for not using creams, and Becky says she gets ready for fights - not beauty contests. Bliss tells her that her role is to win, then lose - the one who doesn't get it. This is easily Alexa's best promo work to date. Becky says she wasn't born to be a champion - she was born to work a job she didn't like to barely make ends meet. She watched too much TV and believed that when she was told she could be anything she wanted to be, she decided to do it! She wasn't born to be a champion - but fought to be one! Alexa says she was born to be a champion and she'll make Becky a one-hit wonder. Alexa shoves her down, signs it, and then tosses the table on her. Great stuff here. Becky chases her on the ramp and Bliss runs away. Becky signs and comes off as such a star here - outstanding!

Usos vs. American Alpha is next, but first, Bryan runs into the Miz. Miz says he has a problem and Daniel says it can't be about his new contract or the new title match tonight. Miz says that's the issue, so Bryan says okay - he'll just take the title from him since the new contract is dependent on him defending the title. Otunga says he talked to Rikishi about the Usos' new look on the set of a movie, but didn't elaborate on the point. Gable says he's back and JJ says they made it personal - so they're going to become SD Tag Team Champions! Chad jumps Jimmy, in pants, so Jey is in the shorts then. FINALLY - a way to tell them apart.

AA work on the knee for a bit while the SD champs look on from backstage. AA double dropkick sends the Usos down, so they work on the knee with a nice rope-based attack. During the break, Chad eats a suplex sending him knee-first into the rope - called a World of Sport suplex by Mauro. Chad gets a hot tag and JJ runs wild with Alphaplexes! JJ goes for an Angle-run up superplex, but gets tossed off and hit with a splash getting 2 thanks to a save by Gable. CAPTURE PLEX BY JJ! Chad wants to come in, but JJ won't tag him in for his own good. Chad gets chopblocked, JJ gets double superkicked and splashed - so the Usos win and go onto NM. Excellent story told here - this show is so much better than Raw. Otunga KEEPS TALKING ABOUT ASKING RIKISHI AND WON'T TELL THE STORY. DON'T BRING IT UP THEN!

Beauty and the Manbeast talk about this - they beat them before and they know they can beat them again. Slater wants to make RHY-NO a thing akin to U-SO, but Rhyno is no fan. Usos threaten to knock the crackers out of Rhyno's hand, which he is absolutely not down with. Orton faces Rowan tonight. Swagger does commentary for Crews vs. Corbin. Swagger says he's here to be WWE World Champion. Well that just ain't happening. Crews hits a nice jumping kick on the floor and gets 2 mid-ring. Baron traps Crews on the barricade and elbows his head - excellent spot that Brock should steal. Crews is trapped against the post and is dropkicked into the post, getting an "oh shit!" muted and the End of Days wins it.

Yet another Hawkins video. I think the return of Jesus got less hype. Generic Brunette Woman talks to Nikki and Naomi about facing Nattie and Carmella. Naomi talks about what feeling the glow means - it's confidence. Nikki says that she loves Trin, before Naomi says she's got a cure for Nattie's negativity. Nikki says she now fights every match like it's her last - it's her reboot, while Carmella's just a boot. Dolph says everything is different, but it's the same and he needs to win and they have their own Branjelna with Maryse and Miz. He says he wasn't supposed to be a World Champion, or a Kent State Hall of Famer - BUT NOW HE IS AND HE CAN DO ANYTHING. HIT HIS MUSIC. Finally - good stuff from Dolph. Maryse is showing off marvelously here.

Dolph gets a nice pop here. Dolph starts off strong and hits a series of lariats. Mauro talks about Dolph's history of winning the IC Title from Miz. Dolph takes a big bump off a barricade toss. Miz does Bryan's kicks, showing more intensity than he usually does. Running basement kick gets 2 for Miz. Dolph lands a back elbow and then a Stinger splash, but Dolph gets posted. Miz does a terrible impression of the corner dropkicks, but it leads to the running lariat anyway. Miz dives off with an axehandle and eats a dropkick. Fameasser is countered into an alley oop into the ropes. Finale turned into a jumping DDT for 2. Cactus clothesline sends both guys over the top.

SLINGSHOT LIGERBOMB BY THE MIZ gets 2. Dolph goes for the RNC, but Miz gets the rope. Miz lands a boot for 2. Dolph turns a Finale into a cradle for 2, and then a Fameasser gets 2. Maryse almost uses the hairspray in front of the ref, so he kicks her out! BACK AND FORTH CRADLES GET 2! ZIG ZAG GETS 2.5! Best IC Title nearfall in ages! Miz grabs the title to leave, but Dolph chases him. Miz uses the spray while the ref is removing the belt from the ring and wins with the Finale. Excellent match on a fantastic show.

Orton has a bad match with Rowan, but Orton tried his best and won with the RKO. Bray claps for him and says the people love him, but Orton is just a man while he is a god. Okay then. Nikki comes out for the tag match. Naomi has even more neon gear on, it's crazy. Sloppy nothing match here, but Carmella tosses Nikki into the barricade, giving her another wedgie. AJ says he has no rivalry with Cena or Dean - he beat them both! HE'S THE CHAMP THAT RUNS THE CAMP and he's superior in every way.  AJ says the only way the title is coming off of his shoulder is if someone else is pinned.

Cena comes out to a huge reaction, and still feels like THE MAN. Cena vs.Ambrose is up for the first time ever. Basic lockup to start things off leads to Cena getting a headlock. They teases finishes early before Cena just locks on a side headlock takeover. Cena misses a corner charge, giving Dean an edge for an ad break. Corner forearm and a bulldog hit for Dean, who has let his beard grow to super-sleazy levels.

STF is on! Dean gets the ropes and lands the tope! Dean goes for a crossbody, but CENA HITS AN AA FOR 2! Another AA is turned into Dirty Deeds for 2! Another AA is countered into a sunset flip by Dean for the win! This was a fine tease for a future PPV match, and made Dean look great going into the PPV. AJ jumps Cena and Ambrose, so Bryan comes out and says that Dean was promised a one on one rematch for the title - and it will happen next week on SD! Dean takes him out to close the show. OUTSTANDING show tonight - hot damn!

WWE Cruiserweight Classic Finale 9-14-16

CWC recap leads to Bryan saying that the CWC roster is doing what Tiger Mask and Dynamite Kid did in the '80s, and what the NJPW Juniors did in the '90s. TJP's rise in the tourney is chronicled and Gran Metalik comes out to face Zack Sabre Jr. This is going to be an interesting style matchup as it's basically lucha vs. British style. ZSJ is dropkicked to the floor and eats a flip dive! A springboard senton gets 2.5! Metalik goes up, but gets uppercutted and eats a punt on the rope.

Metalik counters ZSJ's wacky British submissions with a wacky lucha submission! ZSJ gets a dragon sleeper holding his hands together behind his back. ZSJ gets a series of quick submissions, but Metalik hops out before eating a leaping Yakuza kick. He runs in and eats a sick kick. I guess he doesn't really need a jaw - James Ellsworth seems to get by just fine without one. Slap/uppercut fight off the knees! ZSJ eats a lariat and a running superkick before a springboard elbow gets 2.

ZSJ hits a series of forearms and uppercuts in the corner. He locks on a top-rope cravate before ZSJ gets crotched and eats a ropewalk rana. A springboard splash is met with a triangle turned into an armbar by ZSJ. Metalik turns it into a cradle for 2. ZSJ runs in and eats a Metalik Driver - giving Metalik the win! Regal gives Metalik a CWC medal and he is interviewed after the match. DIY says they're ready to rock and roll.

 

 

Ibushi comes out to face TJ Perkins in the other semi-final. TJP impresses with fancy matwork, while Ibushi shines with a springboard dropkick. Golden Triangle moonsault is avoided with a kick. Ibushi comes in at 9 and eats a dragon screw legwhip. Ibushi ranas him to the floor and hits the Golden Triangle moonsault! Delayed missile dropkick hits for 2.5. In-ring Golden Triangle is met with a knees to the gut and a kneebar, but Ibushi gets the ropes. Deep bridging German gets 2 for Ibushi! TJ eats some nasty kicks on the apron while the fans chant "yes!"

Ibushi goes for the apron to ring German, but TJ fights out of it and lands a triangle wrecking ball dropkick. Ibushi hits a Pele! Ibushi goes for the last ride, but eats a DDT and the inverted lungblower gets 2.5! Ibushi goes for a Pele, but is locked into a kneebar! They slap one another hard and the Golden Star Bomb hits for 2.9! Phoenix Splash misses and they go back and forth with forearm shots. GTS hits for TJP, but the inverted Dudebuster by Ibushi hits and gets 2! Golden Star bomb is countered into the kneebar! He transitions into a necklock and taps him out!

Cedric and Dar are backstage to face DIY. Sasha Banks is in the crowd along with Kalisto and Rich Swann and Jack Gallagher and Bayley. DIY gets a huge pop before Bryan says that Johnny will actually be wrestling his fiancee soon. Crowd overshadows the match by chanting the Empire March at Dar. Dar eats a big knee by Johnny, who fires away with running forearms after Ciampa locks on a cravate. Spear gets 2 for Johnny. Ciampa lands some knees to the jaw, then Johnny eats a knee before Ciampa hits a roaring lariat. Ciampa chops Dar hard up top before Dar avoids an Air Raid Crash. Dar avoids it and lands a boot to Johnny before Cedric tags in and gets 2 off a brainbuster. A giant spinkick gets 2.9999, but the ref calls it 2. Superkick by Johnny leads to the lawndart and kneeling superkick/knee strike for the win!

Bryan, Mauro, and Regal chat about the CWC. Everything here is of course due to HHH. Corey chats for a bit before TJP comes out. HHH says that the winner here is the inaugural CWC winner and the first WWE Cruiserweight Champion. It's a large purple and silver belt with WWE logos and globes and it looks very create-a-belt ish.

TJP gets a headscissors, then a rocking horse and 2 off a cradle. TJ gets locked into a modified surfboard and makes it to the ropes. Triangle rana sends Metalik to the floor! TJ locks on a nasty body lock, but Metalik gets to the rope. TJ stands on the apron and METALIK SOARS AND HITS A RANA OFF THE APRON! That needs to be an OMG move in 2K18! Double-jump flip dive hits!

TJ lands some kicks, but Metalik hits a springboard dropkick. A standing SSP misses, so TJ locks on a kneebar! He gets to the ropes and we get more forearm exchanges, but a superkick takes TJP out! Big DDT hits and they're both worn out. A Metalik moonsault meets the knees and a do-dan leads to the kneebar! METALIK DRIVER, but he can't cover due to the kneebar. It gets 2! Metalik slaps the daylights out of TJ, who avoids the Driver and hits a rebound dropkick! Metalik kicks him up top and goes for a super Metalik Driver! TJ turns it into a flying kneebar! The legs are crossed and Metalik taps! TJ Perkins is now a former X Division and current Cruiserweight Champion who makes his Raw debut this Monday night. "TJ Perkins was living on the streets and now he is the first CWC winner and Cruiserweight Champion!" TJ's chest is beaten to death with welts.

 

After the match, TJ holds a key that he says is to the last place he was evicted from. He said he used to hold onto the key to remind him of where he was - and now he no longer needs it. This was an excellent show and so much better than Backlash. This CWC was star-making and I hope they go all the way with the cruiserweights now. I doubt they will, but I at least have some hope now.

Screenshots -
http://www.imagebam.com/gallery/tsyv29pbbyu3bt873qof3retwlgzqt1k

WWE SmackDown 9-13-16

Backlash recap starts things off. AJ is formally announced as "the face that runs the place" to huge cheers while just "AJ Styles" gets a sing-along. AJ's blue and gold sideplates are slick. AJ says he's the champ that runs the camp, leading to Cena coming out. Cena says he has only one more reign to go to tie Flair and AJ is the face that runs the place, and Cena has one goal left - to be the 16 time champ! Dean comes down because hey, he's the former champ! He says that a loss doesn't bother him, and hey titles come and go too. Well fuck off - he's only mad because he got hit in the balls. Cena spits fire with "I'm shocked that low blow hurt you - you got no balls!" Dean calls Cena a lazy part-timer. Damn - now I want Cena vs. Dean for the number one contender's shot. Dean and Cena have outstanding chemistry.

Shane comes out and says that Dean will get his one on one shot - but not now. Cena gets the shot at No Mercy, and Dean gets to be in it. "Since you guys have animosity, you've gonna team tonight." OF COURSE! It's Dean and Cena against AJ and a partner of his choice. A fatal 5-way women's match determine's Becky's next opponent. Usos vs. Hype Bros. rematch. Knee clip, eye rake, superkick and a splash win it for the Usos. Miz walks around backstage. Hawkins facts videos are now actually using him. Okay then. Miz is out with Maryse in regular garb. How disappointing.

Dolph lectures Former Wrestlemania Main Eventer Miz on how to be a top guy and Miz buries him and says Dolph's career is dead. Dolph agrees and says he just wants one more match - with no gimmicks. Bryan orders a rematch. SmackDown - the show where cheating ACTUALLY HAS CONSEQUENCES. Miz says he will not give Dolph a shot because he wants to renegotiate his contract, so he leaves. AJ asks Baron to be his partner, but Baron wants a shot at the title instead.

Baron von sad tummy is out to face Apollo in a Backlash pre-show rematch. Baron won that, and jumps Crews and hits his finish on the floor. Swagger's theme hits and his "contract has expired", so he's on SD Live now. Swagger says he's like a rolling stone and he's now on SD Live. He's got a stone-cold fox of a wife and he's going to be a BIG PROBLEM MAN! HE'S A MAN. SUCH A MAN! HE'S A BIG PROBLEM MAN!

Becky comes out to a great reaction and says Philly is the perfect place for Becky Balboa to be SD Women's Champion. Becky is so genuine - she comes off like a female version of Daniel Bryan in that regard. Nikki shaking her ass and pseudo-flashing the audience really misses the whole point of the #womensrevolution deal. Everyone's in this at one time - so it's going to be a cluster. Nattie hits a pair of snap suplexes and gets 2 off a Michinoku driver on Naomi.

Ridiculous spot where Naomi hits a corner kick on Alexa, then the Bubba bomb - but she hangs on and Nattie hits the run-up basement dropkick. Rear View gets 2. Carmella superkicks Nikki, but gets tossed out and Alexa steals the pin to win! AJ talks to Kane about being his partner tonight.

Shane is mid-ring for the Slater signing. Love Heath's Has 7 kids (that he knows of) graphic. Rhyno gets an ECW chant. Slater's new I Got Kids shirt is great and Heath is so likable. He thanks Shane, Bryan, and Rhyno, and hit kids. "Betty Lou - baby, I'M GONNA GET YOU A TONGUE!" Ascension comes down in new shitty warpaint to get a shot. Heath said he'd give a shot to anyone at any time - so Shane okays this. Dammit. Rhyno seemed pissed...I'm sensing an Ascension win here. Nope. Rhyno gores and wins it. AJ meets Bryan, who gives him THE JAWLESS WONDER James Ellsworth as his partner! "He isn't even a household name in his own household! Mauro rules.

Casual wear Randy is out and says that Bray is the face of fear because he's afraid of the RKO. Bray says scary words and teleports to the ring. Rowan jumps Orton in a new black jumpsuit. RKO TO ROWAN! ELLSWORTH GETS A GRAPHIC!

AJ comes out, but MAIN EVENT MIZ JUMPS HIM. "He'd break his jaw if he had one!". JBL gets a great one in. Miz is legit a main eventer again and has credibility again. Amazing.  During the break, AJ hits the over the knee AA and Miz does Bryan's "I have til 5" bit to Cena. Miz should bust out Bryan's cape and Mr. Small Package gimmick next. Dean and AJ go at it, but Miz eats an AA and loses. Step back for Miz there, but this show was a huge step forward for him as a whole. Dean hits Dirty Deeds on Cena to a chorus of boos. Yes! Dean has an edge to him again! This is so much better than him slinging hot dogs around.

Screenshots -
http://www.imagebam.com/gallery/8f9to6328u6uub281xurbuv1eiirjrfr

WWE Backlash 2016

The show opens with a 9/11 tribute and a recap of the feuds. Bray vs. Orton is hyped even with that being off the card now. Shane and Bryan come out for the opening 20 minute promo here on this PPV with no card. Women's title match is up. Naomi's intro is great and Alexa's Harley Quinn pigtails are hot. Carmella vs. Nikki is the only thing actually hyped in the intros. The SD women's title looks so awful. Cluster to start.  Nikki gets the disaster kick on Bliss for 2. Bliss gets 2 off a Code Red. Nattie Germans Becky, and then eats a rana from Naomi. Full nelson bomb into a cattle mutilation by Naomi! Alexa breaks it up and eats a double Eat Defeat. Alabama slam counters the code of silence and gets 2.

Three person tower of doom with Nikki, Nattie, and Carmella. Bliss gets 2 on everyone. Bliss gets 2 off a spinning sunset flip out of the ropes akin to Booker. Nikki goes for a dive, but Carmella nixes it. Naomi tosses her out and hits a springboard plancha to the pile. Blockbuster powerbomb takes Bliss out! Nattie takes Naomi out with the sharpshooter. TKO takes out Nattie. Carmella schoolgirls Nikki to take her out - leaving Becky and Carmella. Disarmer gives Becky the win and the title! "A LIFELONG DREAM FINALLY REALIZED!" Yes, THIS is what she dreamed of when she was struggling. Still a good story though. Becky's post-match promo is outstanding and she tears up and says she's Becky Balboa. Well, there's her post-WWE indy name.


Miz is an asshole to a fan and Bray beats up Orton backstage. Usos are out in perfect heel gear - white hoodies and all-black slacks and shorts respectively. LONG chinlocks here. Chop block and the big kick lead to a Tequila Sunrise win for the Usos. RHYNO AND SLATER SKIT! Slater dominates the skit and a VOTE FOR RHYNO chant breaks out and Rhyno never gets a chance to speak. Connor video.

Miz vs. Dolph recap. Maryse's super-hot outfit is amazing and shown off gloriously after a slingshot. Dolph is messing with his shoulder a bit and it gives Miz a target to work on constantly. Miz gets 2 on a slingshot Ligerbomb! Miz avoids defeat via the RNC and the shortstop DDT hits before a figure four. Superkick gets 2 when Miz gets his foot on the rope. Hairspray to the eyes leads to the Finale and the win.

Pre-show panel leads to Bray coming out and an attack recap. Bray wins via countout because Orton can't compete, so he'll face...KANE!? Joy of joys. This is made a no holds barred match, and is still rather bad. Senton through the table by Bray. Chokeslam gets 2 for Kane, but Orton comes out and RKOs him and another chokeslam wins. What in the holy fuck. AJ talks to some "indy guys" about how they got to meet AJ on the night he won the WWE World Title.

No Mercy is hyped up and it's a month away. Rhyno and Slater come out to face the Usos. DOUBLE SUPLEX BY THE USOS TO THE POST ON SLATER! Greatness. Slater eats a ton of offense, but gets a leaping neckbreaker and leaping DDT for 2. GORE HITS AND SLATER WINS! WWE Title match is up and AJ's rise is chronicled. AJ debuts a slightly new style of gear - it's very much like his existing stuff, but with FPR-style designs on it. AJ avoids a dive by low-bridging Dean and moving his throat into the ropes. Dean stomps a mudhole in AJ to boos. Dean catches AJ off a crossbody and hits a spinning Irish Curse for 2. Dean hits the flying standing elbow on the floor! Calf crusher is on, but Dean escapes. and does so again with a head bash. Apron CATAPULT INTO THE POST TO AJ! AJ recovers with a KENTA combo, but Dean avoids the Clash, but a torture rack backbreaker bomb gets 2. Springboard 450 hits for 2! Pele leads to the lunatic lariat. Dirty Deeds is on, but he's backed into the ref and low blowed. The Clash wins it!

Screenshots -
http://www.imagebam.com/gallery/krhjr63y53m1gh9l7xofndydaggk785r

WWE SmackDown Live 9-6-16

Bryan is mid-ring with the dreadful SD Women's Title. The red and blue clash horribly on this belt. Bryan hypes up the FIRST-EVER WOMEN'S SIX PACK CHALLENGE elimination match. Bryan puts them in a SIX-WOMAN TAG and NOW IT'S A SIX WOMAN FORUM. Becky comes out and says she's surprised that she wasn't brought out first - leading to Bryan saying he loves his sister and law, and plugs Total Bellas. All of the sacrifices will be worth it to be the first SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPION. Yup. Why couldn't they come up with a better title name than that? Nattie tells her to settle her tea kettle and how Becky prevented SD from being her kingdom. Nattie buries Becky for having unnatural hair! Ha! Alexa comes down and asks if Becky will ever stop moaning about her past and then Carmella yammers a bit. All the heels intimidate Becky, but Naomi and Nikki come down. Nikki is shoved and angry - in a great moment, Naomi puts her wacky hat on her.

Dean appears with some guy and sugars up his coffee to an absurd degree, while also looking like he is back from a six day bender. Backstage, Miz and Bryan are passive aggressive again. Miz comes out to face Crews, with Dolph on commentary. Dolph vs. Miz is made for Sunday. Dolph is funny burying JBL in a billion small ways, and then Apollo impresses huge with a moonsault off the apron before the break. The old hand-slapping babyface bit works here. Dolph says that he's been a cheerleader and a caddy, and he said he'd be champion and has been one before. Miz uses Dolph as a distraction and wins. Maryse comes in and gets the belt. Goddamn is she hot.

 

 

 

Footage airs of AJ being hit with Dirty Deeds, pissing AJ off. AJ bullies a PA and tries to frame him to get fired by destroying headphones...on a TV show. Bad plan, AJ. Connor's Cure video leads to them hyping up the tag tourney, and a hype video airs for American Alpha. Usos are backstage and have bigger beards now. Usos vow to win tonight and we get a cool crowd shot before Bray says things. I think he wants to eat Orton, or a snake, or something. Nikki comes out and shakes her ass for the #womensrevolution. They go to a break to ensure that everyone gets a full intro here in this six-person tag.

Alexa pie-faces Naomi while Mauro puts over Alexa's love for country. Becky gets 2 off a backslide on Carmella. Nikki comes in and chases the heels away, leading to them all calling them chickens and we get an ad break. Because THIS MATCH needed two of them. Becky runs wild on Carmella Nattie pulls Becky off the apron before Nattie and Bliss make a wish on Becky. Becky elbows out of a chinlock and Nattie gets 2 off a Michinoku Driver. Becky is SUCH a good face in peril here. Bliss is in and misses an elbow, so Nikki gets a tag. Disaster kick hits for 2. Carmella comes in and mocks Nikki, only to eat a TKO. Heels break it up and the discus lariat hits before Alexa and Becky brawl and Carmella taps Nikki with the Code of Silence.

 

Usos vs. Alpha is up, with the Usos basically turning heel by attacking immediately - but then eating Grand Amplitude! They officially turn heel by attacking them after the match. They superkick Chad's left knee and Uso Crazy splash it as well. That was excellent. Casualwear Orton walks backstage and cuts a promo on Bray on how a snake never stops wanting its prey - and he just has to lie in wait to get what he wants. Fandango is mid-ring with new tattoos, and Breeze is in Dubai looking for new kinds of silk for their fashion. He meets a lady to tango with Fandango and likes her tattoos. She dances and dabs, leading to Fandango saying YOUR HIPS ARE FULL OF LIES! Kane comes down and Fandango says he loves THE BIG RED DANCING MACHINE and he gets chokeslammed. A "go big red" chant breaks out. That was fun. AJ is backstage being a dickhead. "That is a picture of your family - nice-looking family. SMASH!" Hype Bros face Rhyno and Slater next. But first, a second ad for Connor's Cure stuff.

 

 

Hype Bros remain hyped. "The Slater Family" is behind the announcers. Stinger splash is met with knees to the face. C'MON HEATH GET IT TOGETHER MAN! Mojo sends him to the floor with a lariat. GET IT ANOTHER KIND OF TOGETHER. HEATH TAGS IN RHYNO! YES! DO IT FOR HEATH AND DO IT FOR YOUR FUTURE VOTERS! RYDER GETS 2 OFF A SCHOOLBOY! Crowd is booing for the boot, but Rhyno prevents the boot! GORE WINS IT! YES! Give Rhyno and Slater the belts! Another recap of the Usos attack on Alpha.

Renee's super-echoy room leads to them saying that Alpha's status is unknown. Usos come out and butcher their lines a bit, but they're intense and say that they put their bodies on the line for the fans, but they get turned on when Alpha comes in. Okay then. Dean acts like a bit of an asshole to the hairdresser for his in-ring chat with AJ. The hairdresser looks nearly identical to the Fandango tangoer earlier, who was wearing a Dean shirt.

 

Dean kicks out Charley the interview girl and gives AJ a gift - a bowling trophy, before replaying the glorious crotching and handshake. Dean mocks AJ's soccer mom haircut. Soccer mom haircuts and bowling trophies are part of the go-home show build to the WWE World Title match at a PPV. He says he beat Cena and man are they doing an outstanding job of building up AJ vs. Cena for the WWE Title, possibly with it being Cena's last title shot or title win. Dean cuts a great promo about how you aren't given trophies for being the face that comes in second place. AJ kicks his balls and breaks the trophy before taking Bullet Club-style aim at the title. This was fun.

Screenshots -
http://www.imagebam.com/gallery/lnq4dx5emsc34vagcn1ygpldsijqlqp7

WWE Hidden Gems - Gagne- Metrics and The Last Battle of Atlanta

The Hidden Gems collection is up, and brings a lot of interesting stuff - and the two biggest things for me are Gagne-Metrics and the Last Battle of Atlanta. The Metrics thing was shown in clipped form on the AWA DVD, and seemed fascinating - not really good, but an interesting bit of insight into a time when Verne Gagne was one of the biggest TV stars in the world. The Last Battle of Atlanta has been covered by Karl Stern and Bruce Mitchell in-depth, and is historical in nature. I've also had a few magazines that covered it and it seems incredible.

 Verne says that you can feel better in just 10 seconds a day - how? ISOMETRICS. Or Gagnemetrics! Verne says it would be just swell if folks did stretching exercises, but they're fatiguing and you won't sweat. Verne says they're for everyone and they'll lean you out - but not give you giant, bulging muscles. Verne talks about how important it is to tighten up those buttocks and he presses up against a doorway for 10 seconds. He breathes deeply and does knee bends against the doorway. For his final exercise, he lifts against a railing for 10 seconds. This was an amusing little time capsule - although WWE opting to skip to the next thing by putting the core content in a tiny thumbnail bugs me since it's nearly impossible to get a good shot of the VERNE GAGNE FOUNDATION FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS logo without recording it and snapshotting it.

Gagne-Metrics Gallery -
http://www.imagebam.com/gallery/7so1tlxv6tltxwzi36fzpigk8gunvr02

Onto the Last Battle of Atlanta - from October 23, 1983. It's presented here without commentary and with a little graphic detailing the history of this ceiling-using cage match and it inspiring Hell in a Cell. They tieup to start and break off so Buzz can test the ceiling out. They fight on the apron, but Rich misses a backhand and slams his wrist into the cage. Buzz stomps away and kicks him down. Buzz works on the arm before slamming Rich into the cage to draw blood. Tommy was a free-bleeder and is in white and yellow gear - so it already shows up perfectly on him.

Buzz talks shit and pokes the eyes before choking him against the cage. Tommy fires back with punches and lands a kneedrop before tossing him into the cage. Buzz fires back off his knees with strikes to the gut and jaw. Buzz punches him, but eats a piledriver that gets a 7 count. Rich misses a knee that gets 4, but lands some punches. Buzz hits a slow and kind of scary piledriver since Tommy's arms aren't in position.

A wide shot reveals "Precious" Paul Ellering in his shark cage and yellow and white tie-dye gear. Buzz slugs away taking Rich down for a 5 count. Buzz simply missing an elbow drop gets a huge pop - one nice thing about the lack of commentary is that like with PWG doing the same thing, you get a better sense for how it was in the building. BACK AND FORTH KNEELING PUNCHES! Crowd is losing their shit! Tommy takes him down and goes to climb up the ceiling, but knows it can't hold him, so he just falls down with a fistdrop that misses. Buzz ties him up in the ropes, but takes a while - so this isn't going well for him. He misses a crossbody into the cage and is then tossed into the cage face-first for a 4 count. Tommy covers for 2 - so it's either last man standing, or unseen ref pinfall rules here.

The medium blue canvas in covered in blood and Tommy is stumbling around. Sawyer is sent into the cage once again for a three count after a cover. The referee calls in help because both men are unable to get up on their own. Over the house mic, fans are told to stand back  Rich wins, so Paul must face Ole Anderson. Paul consoles Buzz before Ole comes in and just beats the shit out of him with punches. This is all punch and kick, but the punches and kicks look excellent and are varied. Bonus points for Ole's pants getting torn because hey, it's a fight! Elbow off the second rope gets 2. He stomps away and tosses him into the cage.

Ole eats an inverted atomic drop and sells it perfectly - like his spine has been jolted. A fan yells 'LET'S GO OLE!" and Paul hits a sloppy gutbuster. Ole eats the cage and then lands a shot - but an eye poke ends that, resulting in a louder 'LET'S GO OLE!" yell. Ole is choked against the ropes, leading to a crowd-wide "OLE!" chant. Paul goes for a piledriver, but Ole slowly blocks it to a huge reaction. Paul slams him into the cage, but misses a legdrop. They go back and forth with punches, which Ole wins out on and wins this match too. The crowd goes nuts and the fans are thanked for coming. Anderson wins, but eats a beating with a belt and punches from someone who isn't named. This was incredible and well-worth watching.

Screenshots -
http://www.imagebam.com/gallery/m6tv9hoqw67yd4itzr54k6q4c9rajiq5