Sunday 19 February 2017

WWE Royal Rumble 2017 Review



The first match on the Pre Show was Becky Lynch, Naomi and Nikki Bella taking on Mickie James, Alexa Bliss and Natalya. Mickie throws Becky into the barrier to get her team the advantage. Eventually Becky gets the hot tag to Naomi and gets the win after hitting Alexa with a split legged moonsault. I was surprised that Naomi got the win as I thought that she would take the pin. Anyway this was quite a decent match.
Winners: Becky Lynch, Naomi and Nikki Bella (0 for 1)

Next was the match for the RAW Tag Team Championships as Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson challenge Cesaro and Sheamus. The match had two referees for some reason (sorry, I don't regularly watch RAW). Gallows and Anderson focus their attacks on Cesaro before Sheamus gets the hot tag. Sheamus goes to hit Anderson with a Brogue Kick but he hits referee John Cone instead. The second referee then gets involved. Anderson then rolls up Cesaro after hitting the Magic Killer on Sheamus to get the win and become Champions. This was another decent match and I wonder if they will continue the Cesaro/Shemaus partnership

The last match on the Pre Show was Sasha Banks taking on Nia Jax. Jax soon gets the advantage, focusing on Sasha's injured knee. However, despite Sasha's best efforts, Jax hits her with a pop up Samoan drop to get the win. The match was a bit short but it was pretty decent.
Winner: Nia Jax (2 for 3)

The first match was for the RAW Women's Championship as Bayley challenges Charlotte Flair. Charlotte gets to wear down Bayley after sending into the steel steps. Bayley starts to make her comeback and comes close to winning after hitting a Macho Man elbow drop. In the end, Charlotee hits Natural Selection to get the win and become 16-0 in PPV matches. This was quite a decent match between the two.
Winner: Charlotte (3 for 4)

Next is Roman Reigns challenging Kevin Owens for the Universal Championship with the Gift of Jericho in a shark cage above the ring. Owens and Jericho beat up Reigns before Jericho is thrown into the cage and the match gets underway. They fight all over the crowd and they use tables and chairs in this no disqualification match. Reigns gets inspired by Super Cena as he gets frog splashed through a table, thrown head first into a chair and punched by brass knuckles and he still kicks out. Reigns goes on to Superman punch Owens onto a pile of chairs then powerbombs him through an announce table. Reigns goes on to finish it with a spear however, Bruan Stroman comes in and destroys him, culminating in putting him through a table with a running powerslam. Owens then rolls over and pins Reigns to win the match. I quite enjoyed the match although I got pissed off with Reigns getting hit with everything but the ktichen sink and still cam close to winning. As for Stroman getting involved, it made no sense until you find out the next night that it was because Owens promised him a title shot.
Winner: Kevin Owens (4 for 5)

We now get Neville challenging Rich Swann for the Cruiserwieght Championship. Neville proceeds to brutalise Swann before Swann goes on to hit a Phoenix splash and a roundhouse kick. However, Neville manages to get through it and after a superplex, gets Swann to submit with the Rings of Saturn. This was a good match although the crowd didn't seem really into it.
Winner: Neville (5 for 6)

The last match before the Rumble is for the WWE Championshup as John Cena challenges AJ Styles.The match goes back and forth with both guys countering each other's moves. Cena does avoid a phenomenal forearm to hit the AA but Styles kicks out. Styles goes on to apply the calf killer but Cena manages to get out of it and put on the STF. They then go through a load of submission moves before Cena powerbombs his way out of a cross armbreaker. Styles does go on to hit the Styles Clash but Cena kicks out. Styles then kicks out of a Super AA, which surprised me as I thought that would end the match. In the end, Styles hit another Styles Clash then goes for the phenomenal forearm. However, Cena grabs from the ropes then hits 2 consecutive AAs to win the match. This was definitely the best match of the night and congratulations to John Cena in tying Ric Flair, becoming a 16-time World Champion.
Winner: John Cena (6 for 7)

We now get the Royal Rumble match. Understandably, a lot happens so here are some highlights of the match:
  • Big Cass comes in at number 1 and The Gift of Jericho comes in at number 2
  • Jack Gallagher comes in at number 5 with his umbrella William III. He goes on to be the first wrestler to be eliminated by Mark Henry, who came in at number 6.
  • Braun Stroman comes in at number 7 and goes on to eliminate 7 other wrestlers. He eventually gets eliminated by Baron Corbin
  • Tye Dillinger makes his main roster debut at number 10 (obviously)
  • James Ellsworth comes in at number 11 (for fuck's sake). When he eventually gets into the ring, he gets eliminated almost immediately by Stroman
  • Cesaro comes in at number 19 and does the swing on almost everyone in the ring, including almost his partner Sheamus.
  • Randy Orton comes in at number 23 and later on, Brock Lesnar enters at number 26
  • Goldberg comes in at number 28 and eliminates Brock Lesnar
  • The Undertaker enters at number 29 and eliminates Goldberg.
  • Roman Reigns enters at number 30 (fuck you WWE) and eliminates The Undertaker (seriously, fuck you WWE) 
  • The final 4 end up being Roman Reigns, The Gift of Jericho, Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton.
  • Reigns goes on to eliminate Jericho and then Wyatt but Orton eliminates Reigns to win the match
I thought that this was a decent Rumble. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of surprises but that was it really. As for Reigns coming in, that really annoyed me. I don't hate him as much as other people do. However, him coming in after already having a title shot earlier in the night is another example of WWE shoving him down our throat. As for Orton winning, it's an interesting choice. It looked like we're going to Cena vs Orton at Wrestlemania, which we've seen a million times. However, after finding out at Elimination Chamber, I guess that isn't happening.
 Winner: Randy Orton (6 for 8)

I thought that the Royal Rumble was a decent event. Except for the Styles vs Cena match, none of the matches were anything special. We have two more PPVs before Wrestlemania, so hopefully it will get better. 

Sunday 12 February 2017

WWE Elimination Chamber 2017 Preview

Elimination Chamber 2017.jpg

WWE Elimination Chamber (or No Escape if you live in Germany) will be taking place this evening at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. With this being Smackdown last PPV before Wrestlemania, how will that card develop after this event. Let's look at the card. 

The match on the Pre Show will be Mojo Rawley taking on Curt Hawkins. I'm not that bothered about this to be honest but I feel that Hawkins will win here.
Predicted Winner: Curt Hawkins

Nikki Bella will take on Natalya in what could be an interesting. I feel that Nikki will win here.
Predicted Winner: Nikki Bella

Luke Harper will take on the Royal Rumble Winner Randy Orton. This is a slightly tough one to call but I'm going for Orton to win here. 
Predicted Winner: Randy Orton

Becky Lynch will face Mickie James in a match that I'm quite looking forward to. I'm going for Mickie to win here.
Predicted Winner: Mickie James

Naomi will challenge Alexa Bliss for the Smackdown Women's Championship. I will be very surprised if Naomi wins this so Alexa to be victorious here.
Predicted Winner: Alexa Bliss

Dolph Ziggler is taking on Apollo Crews and Kalisto  in a 2-on-1 handicap match. First of all, Ziggler is the heel in this so it's weird that he's at a disadvantage. Despite that, I feel that he will find some way to win.
Predicted Winner: Dolph Ziggler

This is a match that I'm really looking forward to as American Alpha put the Smackdown Tag Team Championship on the line in a Tag Team Turmoil match. Their challengers are Heath Slater and Rhyno, The Usos, The Vaudevillains, The Ascension and Breezango. I feel that American Alpha will retain here.
Predicted Winners: American Alpha

In the main event, John Cena  will take on Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, Hollywood Miz, Baron Corbin and AJ Styles. At first I thought that Cena will win this but I've heard that Wyatt is going to win this so I'm going with him.
Predicted Winner: Bray Wyatt

I'll publish the review during the week so until then I hope you guys enjoy the show.

Saturday 11 February 2017

NXT Takeover: San Antonio Review

NXT Takeover: San Antonio took place at the Freeman Coliseum last Saturday. Every Takeover that I've watched so far have been really enjoyable. Despite that, I was worried that, as it was my first Takeover review, that it would not be as good. Ah well, let's find out.

The first match on the show was Tye Dillinger taking on Eric Young. Dillinger has to deal with Alexander Wolff and Sawyer Fulton Killian Dian trying to interfere, which is does until Young gouges his eyes; and when he goes to the outside, gets ran over by Dian like a freight train. Dillinger manages to make his comeback after he dropkicks Young when he jumps off the  turnbuckle. Dillinger goes on to hit the Tye Breaker but Wolff puts Young's foot on the ropes. Dillinger later on stops Dian from going into the ring but Young pulls him off the ropes to hit the wheelbarrow neckbreaker to get the win. I enjoyed this match and I feel sorry for Dillinger. I don't think that I've ever seen him win a Takeover match.
Winner: Eric Young (1 for 1)

 Next is Andrade "Cien" Almas taking on Roderick Strong. After a technical battle between the two, Almas takes advantage after putting Strong in an armbar over the ropes. Strong does get back into it and goes on to win after hitting Almas with a running big boot. For most of the match, I thought it was good but nothing really stood out. There were some cool spots towards the end and I was surprised that Strong won. However, this match has made me start to appreciate Strong a little more.
Winner: Roderick Strong (1 for 2)

We now get Authors of Pain challenging #DIY for the NXT Tag Team Championship. Like their usual matches, Authors of Pain proceed to brutally murder their opponents. However, Ciampia and Gargano hit them with double team moves and fast paced offence. That stops when Akam knocks Gargano off the apron into the barrier. After Gargano eventually gets the tag to Ciampia, they come close to winning when they put the Authors of Pain in the same submission moves that won them the Championship at the last Takeover. However, Razer picks up Gargano and slams him onto Ciampia. In the end, #DIY go for their finishing move but they get hit with the super collider instead. They go on to hit Ciampia with the Last Chapter to become the new Tag Team Champions. This match was really good and I think that this is the best match that the Authors of Pain have ever had. I'm disappointed that #DIY had a short reign but hopefully they go on to bigger things.
Winners: Authors of Pain (2 for 3)

The penultimate match is for the NXT Women's Champion as Asuka faces the challenges of Billie Kay, Peyton Royce and Nikki Cross. For most of the match it was between Asuka and Nikki before Asuka gets incapaciated. This is when Billie and Peyton get more involved, taking out Nikki with a suplex through a table. They then go after Asuka but it was in vain as she gets the win after a brutal kick to Peyton. This was a good match however, it did have one flaw. With Peyton and Billie working together, and not caring which one of them was Champion, why didn't they just pin each other?
Winner: Asuka (3 for 4)

The main event is the Glorious Bobby Roode challenging Shinsuke Nakamura for the NXT Championship. Roode frustrates Nakamura, getting to the ropes at every opportunity. The match goes back and forth before Nakamura starts kneeing the fuck out of Roode. However, he injures his knee when he lands on the floor after kneeing Roode off the apron. Nakamura gets on to hit the Kinshasa but his injury prevents him making the cover. Despite the pleas of the referee and the medic, Nakamura insists on continuing and walks into an Implant DDT by Roode, and just kicks out. Roode proceeds to do a half Boston crab on the injured knee followed by another Implant DDT to get the win and become NXT Champion. Wow. I knew that Roode would become the Champion at some point but I didn't think it would be now. It now looks like that they have a rematch in Orlando and then Nakamura can go up to the main roster.
Winner: Bobby Roode (3 for 5)

I really enjoyed this event. All the matches were pretty good and it shows how good the NXT roster is becoming. Every NXT live event they have done has been really good so far and hopefully that will continue in Orlando.