Blake 
In this WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 7/18/26 review, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes team up against Gunther and Sami Zayn, Roman Reigns and Jalen Brunson are acknowledged by the Madison Square Garden crowd in New York City, and much more.
Here are some thoughts on Saturday Night’s Main Event.
In this WWE SmackDown 7/17/26 review, Cody Rhodes goes one-on-one with Gunther, Adam Pearce makes a big announcement regarding the WWE Women’s Championship, and much more.
Here are some thoughts on SmackDown.
What if we try to predict WWE champions a year from now?
That’s the challenge for this new series. Could be entertaining?
Let’s give it a shot by fast-forwarding to the summer of 2027.
Here are my WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event predictions for the July 18 show at Madison Square Garden, featuring CM Punk and Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther and Sami Zayn, a Roman Reigns and Jalen Brunson segment, and more.
Let’s jump in.
In this WWE NXT 7/14/26 review, it’s Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice vs. Kali Armstrong in a Triple Threat Match to determine the new No. 1 contender for the NXT Women’s Championship, Naraku goes one-on-one with Tate Wilder, and more.
Here are some thoughts on NXT.
In this WWE Raw 7/13/26 review, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns sign the contract for their SummerSlam match, Oba Femi takes aim at Brock Lesnar, and a surprising star captivates the Dallas crowd.
Here are some thoughts on Raw.
In this WWF Championship Wrestling 1/1/83 review, Curt Hennig goes one-on-one with Ray Stevens, Mr. Saito and Tiger Mask steal the show, and more.
Let’s jump in!
Here are five questions after the July 10 edition of WWE SmackDown, which featured new Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk’s arrival to the blue brand.
Every Friday morning, I write about five of my favorite pro wrestling-specific things or happenings. Enjoy!
The AEW World title booking has been fantastic.
One could point to that opinion being a huge reason for the company’s resurgence.
Is Roman Reigns going to lure Sami Zayn back to The Bloodline?
WWE has made it clear that it’s full steam ahead with the latest chapter of the family drama, with Reigns, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Jacob Fatu, and Solo Sikoa connected in storylines on Raw and SmackDown.
Sami Zayn fans aren’t gonna like it.
That doesn’t mean WWE made the wrong decision.
CM Punk returned on this week’s WWE Raw in Chicago to replace Cody Rhodes as Zayn’s opponent in the main event.
Punk won the Undisputed WWE title in a great match, thus ending Zayn’s reign at a whopping nine days.
Chicago loved it. A portion of the online crowd did not.
And yet, WWE got it right.
There were issues with the scheduled Rhodes vs. Zayn match. Rhodes winning would (and should) have made even more WWE fans unhappy and, yet again, put the QB1 in an unenviable position from a public perception standpoint.
Zayn winning? It would have been nice, but at best, it would have set up a rematch scenario with either Rhodes or Gunther at SummerSlam. Not to mention that it would have allowed Zayn’s character to succeed when, at its best, the story has been fueled by the complete opposite.
.@SamiZayn speaks. 😳 pic.twitter.com/W6dE3Z39XS
— WWE (@WWE) July 7, 2026
Rhodes vs. Punk was the biggest match WWE could do in this scenario. They got there with an unpredictable twist with a predictable payoff, and it worked.
Some argued the match doesn’t need the title. I disagree. Both men have been in the top champion role for the past year or more, and having the championship on the line makes it bigger.
This is one of the biggest matches WWE has left at its disposal. It’s arguably the second-biggest behind the inevitable Oba Femi vs. Roman Reigns match, which appears to be in a holding pattern until WrestleMania 43.
We thought the same would be the plan for Rhodes vs. Punk. Maybe it was, but I’m glad it’s not.
WWE needed another box office match for SummerSlam, and this was the right choice.
Even better, where Rhodes, Punk, and Zayn go from here becomes much more fascinating after the bait and switch on Raw.
In this WWE NXT 7/7/26 review, Kendal Grey defends the NXT Women’s Championship against Nattie, No. 1 contenders are determined for the Women’s North American Championship and NXT Tag Team Championship, and much more.
Here are some thoughts on NXT.
1. An interesting setup for the Triple Threat Match between Kali Armstrong, Kelani Jordan, and Lola Vice. All three have different personalities and goals. Armstrong is the newcomer with a chip on her shoulder. Jordan is now a veteran who is still overlooked. Vice is the former champion owed a rematch. Simple but effective.
2. Lots of great action in the four-way tag team match to crown new No. 1 contenders. I didn’t have a preference as to the winner, as you could have had an intriguing story with any of them. Birthright seemed the least likely to win, while Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux fit the rising stars trend better than the others. You can also pair Osiris Griffin and Cutler James with OTM for a non-title feud. But I don’t think anyone is dethroning Vanity Project…
3. Saquon Shugars needs partners to handle his business with Griffin, James, and Dion Lennox. Who will it be? Again, OTM would be a logical choice, but that’s too predictable for a good WWE mystery!
4. Keanu Carver defeated Tank Ledger. That’s not surprising. What has been, though, is the lack of consistency with Carver’s ascent to the top of NXT. Is he still a projected top player or not?
5. It seems that Naraku is coming after Tony D’Angelo‘s spirit. That sounds….evil. We all know the end goal, and that’s Naraku winning the NXT Championship. The rematch should make that prediction a reality.
6. Mason Rook and Kam Hendrix have unfinished business. It’s not much, but at least they are positioned as upper-tier talents with the potential to rise to champion status.
7. Layla Diggs scores the upset win in the four-way match to determine Zaria‘s next opponent. I thought Lizzy Rain could be an option in this spot, but Diggs is another newcomer with potential. They’re also pushing the story that she wants to do things on her own rather than rely on her faction. Maybe rely on them for the Zaria match, and then focus on your honorable virtues!
8. Reina Volcan says she’s the future of NXT. Anyone who watched it knows the debut wasn’t the smoothest. But she has the look and skills to rise up the NXT ladder rather quickly.
Reina Volcan is ready to get to WORK! 💪 pic.twitter.com/R0vcQeCltF
— WWE (@WWE) July 8, 2026
9. The Tavion Heights and Myles Borne stuff doesn’t do it for me. I liked both of their storyline directions better right after they split from the No Quarter Catch Crew. Considering the interaction with Vanity Project, you would think there’s a tag team title opportunity brewing for Heights and Borne. However, if all this does is lead back to another one-on-one match for the NXT North American Championship, there are better ideas. They had something with Borne last year when he challenged Oba Femi at Battleground, but I’m not sure they’ve recaptured that magic.
10. I know they’re pushing the Niko Vance solo act after the split with Shawn Spears, but don’t do it at the expense of Shiloh Hill. To me, Naraku vs. Hill is one of the most intriguing NXT title matches on the board if they make the swap from D’Angelo. Of course, Hill has to finish things with Tristan Angels first (whose potential I like), which I thought they did at Great American Bash. Interference or not, Hill losing isn’t a welcome sight for a brand that needs top babyfaces.
11. What can I say about Nattie vs. Kendal Grey that hasn’t already been said? It was fantastic. That’s what you want to do with a new champion. Give her someone like Nattie to work with to really showcase the skill. There’s a reason WWE is so invested in Grey, and this match told you everything you need to know. Bravo to the NXT creative team for setting this up as the first title defense, and bravo to both women for a great professional wrestling match.
What did you think of the July 7 edition of WWE NXT? Did you enjoy the Nattie vs. Kendal Grey match? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for reading!
In this Mid-South Wrestling 5/22/82 review, The Grappler teams with One Man Gang, Ted DiBiase goes one-on-one with The Turk, and much more.
Let’s jump in.
COMMENTARY: Boyd Pearce runs through the matches, and Bill Watts is still trying to get his voice back after going wild during the Ted DiBiase and Ernie Ladd vs. The Assassin and Bob Roop match. Watts isn’t buying that Assassin was the person who pinned DiBiase after the shenanigans, and he thinks it was The Grappler. Watts then throws it to the spotlight with Paul Ellering, who is gonna do some push-ups.
VIDEO: Sure enough, Ellering is in the ring with a bunch of kids, and they’re doing push-ups. There is some cheesy 1980s music to really highlight the effectiveness of Precious Paul’s motivation tactics. Ellering decides to show off by doing push-ups with two women on his back. These women were ready to risk it all for this man. Watts notes they’re gonna do this every week until Ellering returns, which is a really good idea.
Rick Ferrara vs. Dick Murdock
Boyd tells a story about Murdock finding an armadillo with horns in it, and that became the Texas armadillo. You aren’t gonna find gold like this anywhere in the world. Watts reveals that Murdock is headed for tour of Japan in July. Murdock calls for the brainbuster, and he hits it on Ferrara for the win.
The Assassin vs. Buddy Landell
Watts is onto Assassin’s shenanigans with his mask in recent weeks. Assassin loads the boot, and Watts is on it. Assassin drives his boot into Landell’s arm and forces him to tap.
Bob Roop vs. Coco Samoa
More storytelling from Watts about Roop rigging Paul Orndorff’s car, which is still the greatest episode of Mid-South Wrestling that I’ve seen to this point in the rewatch series. Roop hits the legdrop for the victory.
Ernie Ladd vs. Kim Duc
Duc takes the fight to Ladd in the early going, but Ladd’s power is the story. He hits a big boot and leg drop for the easy win.
VIDEO: Highlights from the finish to last week’s episode, which featured The Grappler outsmarting the referee.
One Man Gang and The Grappler vs. Mike Sharp and Jesse Barr
Sharp tries to bodyslam Gang, but he can’t do it. Barr gets the hot tag and gets some momentum going. However, Gang drops the elbow on him for the victory.
Billy Starr vs. Mr. Olympia
Watts announces that The Junkyard Dog will be back next week. Olympia showcases some technical prowess, and Starr taunts him. Olympia locks in the submission on the knee for a bit, and he eventually hits a few dropkicks before locking in the sleeper for the win.
Ted DiBiase vs. The Turk
Once again, give Watts credit for putting over the roster and the impressive talents. DiBiase throws Turk into the corner, but Turk kicks out at two. DiBiase hits the powerslam for the victory.
For more pro wrestling reviews, visit the Reviews page!
In this WWF Monday Night RAW 7/22/96 review, Shawn Michaels and Ahmed Johnson challenge The Smoking Gunns for the WWF Tag Team titles, Faarooq makes his debut, and much more.
Let’s jump in.
RINGSIDE: The Smoking Gunns and Shawn Michaels and Ahmed Johnson make their entrances for the upcoming tag title match. Vince McMahon is JACKED over the fact that it’s Shawn Michaels’ birthday. Sunny has a cake ringside, and I’ve got one guess where that cake winds up. Sunny distracts Michaels with the cake and Billy and Bart jump the challengers on the outside. Michaels hits the Sweet Chin Music to Billy to reset things, with Vince noting that he’s knocked out. Cake time, as Michaels puts his finger in the cake and wipes it on Sunny’s nose. She picks up the cake to throw it at Michaels, but Ahmed comes from behind and smashes the cake in her face. Michaels then essentially licks her face and tries eating some of the cake. A lot to unpack in that sentence there. Vince reminds us that Billy is still down as Michaels’ music plays, so I guess we’re not getting the title match. Well then.
BACKSTAGE: Back from commercial, and Gorilla Monsoon says we are gonna have the match later tonight. If Billy can’t compete, he’s stripping the Gunns of the belt. A little harsh if you ask me.
The Goon vs. “The Wildman” Marc Mero (w/Sable)
Jerry Lawler ponders why the New York Rangers would sign Wayne Gretzky when they could’ve had The Goon. Good point. Mero is coming off the loss to Stone Cold Steve Austin at In Your House: International Incident. Austin joins commentary and taunts Mero. Vince announces it’s Austin vs. Undertaker next week, then Austin starts throwing verbal jabs at Bret Hart. Meanwhile, Jake Roberts is on the phone. Vince asks about his injury, and Lawler makes jokes about Jake’s drinking. Well that’s something. The camera stays on Lawler who is mocking him, and Austin says he’ll backhand Vince if he interrupts him again.
Yes, there’s still a match in the ring, and it’s Goon with the momentum. Austin wants Vince to give him a painted school bus like Lex Luger and instead of kissing babies, he’ll kick people’s asses. The man’s rise to stardom was obvious at this point. He wasn’t gonna be denied. Lawler is back to the Jake drinking jokes, while Austin wants to know why Sable is ringside since she’s a distraction. Goon throws Mero to the outside, but he slips on the cake icing and runs into the steps. See what they did there? Mero flies over the top and leaps back in with the leg drop to score the win.
BACKSTAGE: Michaels says Ahmed wants a piece of the tag team gold and they’re gonna face the Gunns.
IN THE CROWD: Bob Backlund is campaigning to be president of the United States.
VIDEO: Clarence Mason argues with Gorilla Monsoon about trying to get a new client into the WWF.
Freddie Joe Floyd vs. Mankind
Floyd is Tracy Smothers, so that’s worth noting. We get highlights from In Your House: International Incident, which saw Mankind climb from under the ring to brawl with The Undertaker. Floyd gets a decent amount of offense and a few near falls, but Mankind locks in the Mandible Claw for the victory.
RINGSIDE: Brian Pillman makes his way to the announce table. He teases saying a lot of bad words.
Goldust (w/Marlena) vs. Barry Horowitz
We get an inset promo from Mero, who is going to beat Vader next week. Mero is also infuriated with Goldust’s obsession with Sable. Pillman says a bunch of outlandish things in response to Vince and Lawler. Not much to this match, as Goldust hits his finisher for the win.
BACKSTAGE: Sunny is pissed about what Michaels and Ahmed did to her. The Gunns say they are going to pay.
IN THE RING: Jim Cornette tells Vince they demanded that Vader get a title shot after he pinned Michaels at International Incident. Cornette says Vader will be the new champ.
Shawn Michaels and Ahmed Johnson (w/Jose Lothario) vs. (c) The Smoking Gunns (w/Sunny) – WWF Tag Team Titles
They brawl to start, and Michaels taunts Sunny since she’s still covered in cake. Lots of back forth, with Vince adding in his trademark “he got him…no he didn’t line” for a few pinfall attempts. The Gunns get some cheap shots in on Michaels with the referee distracted. And they do it again after the referee misses the tag. Meanwhile, the WWF Superstar Line with Jim Ross teases that SummerSlam could be The Undertaker’s last match in the company. Only $1.49 a minute to find out! Michaels finally turns the tide with the double noggin knocker and he makes the hot tag to Ahmed. He runs wild, but Bart pulls the rope down to send him to the outside. And then we get the debut of Faarooq, who destroys Ahmed for the DQ. Lawler says he looks like Ron Simmons. Sunny embraces with Faarooq to signal a partnership between the two.
In this WWF King of the Ring 1993 review, Hulk Hogan defends the WWF title against Yokozuna, Bret Hart puts on a legendary performance, and much more.
Let’s jump in.
VIDEO: Vince McMahon promotes all the first-round matches in the 1993 King of the Ring Tournament. Say what you want about the man, but his enthusiasm was unmatched.
RINGSIDE: Jim Ross, Bobby Heenan, and Randy Savage discuss Yokozuna vs. Hulk Hogan and Crush vs. Shawn Michaels.
Razor Ramon vs. Bret Hart – King of the Ring Quarterfinals
The fans are chanting “1-2-3” at Razor after he lost to the 1-2-3 Kid in shocking fashion on May 17 episode of Raw. The winner of this match faces the winner of Mr. Perfect vs. Mr. Hughes. Heenan pushes Bret’s skills, then says “but I just can’t stand him.” About as much of a compliment as a babyface is gonna get from The Brain.
Bret controls the action until Razor pokes him in the eye. Razor sends Bret shoulder-first into the ring post, and he adds more insult to injury with some kicks to the face. Running powerslam from Razor gets a near fall, and Razor’s frustration is growing. Razor goes for a few elbows, but Bret moves out of the way. Bret drops an elbow off the top, but Razor kicks out at two and a half.
Great finishing stretch with Razor sending Bret chest-first into the turnbuckle. Razor goes for the Razor’s Edge, but Bret wiggles out and uses the ropes to flip over into an inside cradle for two and three-quarters. The fans nearly blew the roof off the place. That was tremendous. Razor attempts a suplex off the top, but Bret counters into a pin for the win. (***1/2, Recommended)
VIDEO: Highlights from Superstars of Mr. Hughes destroying The Undertaker with the urn, which was handed to him by Harvey Whippleman. Then Hughes hammers Paul Bearer with it, who was already beaten down by Giant Gonzalez or someone. A lot going on there.
Mr. Hughes (w/Harvey Whippleman) vs. Mr. Perfect – King of the Ring Quarterfinals
A battle of the misters here. Heenan is using the telestrator John Madden-style in his “Brain Scan” segment, and he gets a few verbal jabs in on Perfect. Hughes wrestling in a full suit will never not be impressive. One reason not to do that is on display when Perfect grabs his tie. There’s an in-set interview with Bret, and he’s picking Perfect to win. They go back and forth, but Perfect gains the momentum. So, Hughes decides to hit Perfect with the urn, which makes zero sense as the referee calls for the DQ. Brilliant idea. (*1/2)
BACKSTAGE: Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji take aim at Hulk Hogan. Fuji says Hogan cheated Yokozuna out of the title at WrestleMania IX.
Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan – King of the Ring Quarterfinals
The fans chant “USA” and a reminder that Bigelow is from Asbury Park, New Jersey, which is located in the United States. Hacksaw tries to pick up Bigelow, and that’s not his best decision. Hacksaw eventually does pick up Bigelow, but he falls on him for two. He finally bodyslams Bigelow and goes for the three-point stance, but Hacksaw runs his head into the turnbuckle. That allows Bigelow to hit the flying headbutt for the victory. (*1/2)
COMMENTARY: You can call 1-900-KING for $1.49 for the first minute and 99 cents after that. Terry Taylor is running the phones, and The Steiners, Crush, and The Smoking Gunns are talking to people. Crush tells a woman named Cheryl that he’s gonna be the new champ.
“The Narcissist” Lex Luger vs. Tatanka – King of the Ring Quarterfinals
Heenan uses the Brain Scan again to look at Luger’s incredible physique. Howard Finkel announces the referee is forcing Luger to wear an elbow pad due to the screws in his arm. Tatanka is still undefeated, so that’s the story entering this one. Luger starts posing, so Tatanka throws the mirror on him. It’s all Tatanka in the early going, and Bigelow is backstage and he wants to “get his hands on the Indian.” Well then.
Luger regains the advantage, but Tatanka rolls him up for a near fall. More back and forth, with Luger wearing down his opponent. JR reveals that we’re 11 minutes into the match, and there’s a 15-minute time limit. Tatanka runs wild and gets another near fall and then another. Tatanka with the chop off the top, but Lugers kicks out yet again. Tatanka back up top, but Luger moves out of the way. The crowd is really into this.
They keep bringing up the time limit, so you know how this is gonna play out. The crowd in the arena doesn’t have a clue since they aren’t updating them. Luger hits a backbreaker for two, and the bell rings for the draw. The fans aren’t happy as Fink announces that both men are eliminated in the tournament, so Luger gets on the mic and says he wants five more minutes. The referee says hell no, and Luger removes the arm pad and wallops Tatanka. (***, Recommended)
BACKSTAGE: Mean Gene Okerlund with Bret and Perfect. Gene tries to stir the shit between these two as he starts putting words in Bret’s mouth. Scheme Gene at it again! Bret says Stu Hart beat Larry Hennig, and they bicker for a bit before Perfect pulls his hand away for the fake handshake. Bret walks off, and Perfect says he owes Bret for SummerSlam. That match was excellent.
Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect – King of the Ring Semifinals
Bret has his hand taped, and Heenan brings up that Razor stomped his hand in the first match. You’ve gotta appreciate the little details. As you would expect, this is a technical masterclass early. Perfect turns up the aggression, and the sportsmanship is out the window as he starts kicking Bret’s leg. Perfect catapults Bret off the apron into the steel barricade, and now Bret is selling the knee.
Perfect hits a dropkick off the top, but Bret kicks out at two. Perfect amps up the speed, but Bret meets him up top for a superplex…and Perfect kicks out at two and a half. Bret turns the tables by going after Perfect’s leg, and Bret locks in the figure four. Perfect somehow manages to get to the ropes, and Bret quickly goes right after the leg again.
Perfect gets back and track and locks in the sleeper. Bret gets to the ropes, and Perfect is still favoring his leg. Back to the sleeper, and Perfect uses the ropes for leverage. Bret throws Perfect into the corner, and he racks him under the ropes. Good stuff by commentary to bring up the idea that Bigelow could back in his way into being the first winner having to win only one match.
Bret goes for the Sharpshooter, but Perfect goes after the injured hand. Smart! Perfect goes for the Perfect Plex, but Bret reverses and suplexes both of them over the top to the outside. Perfect with an inside cradle, but Bret counters for the win. This was fantastic and, honestly, almost as good as the SummerSlam 1991 showdown. Perfect shakes Bret’s hand after the match. (****, Must-See)
BACKSTAGE: Gene with Hogan and Jimmy Hart. Hogan is gonna retain the title, and Jimmy is fired up.
Yokozuna (w/Mr. Fuji) vs. (c) Hulk Hogan (w/Jimmy Hart) – WWF Title
Photographers follow Yokozuna down the aisle, and JR says they’re documenting his journey. Keep that in mind. Savage says some people feel that Bret should have received the rematch against Hogan, and I’d say that’s accurate. Yokozuna uses his power, but Hogan fights back and starts biting Yokozuna in the corner. Hogan tries to pick up Yokozuna, but that isn’t happening.
Yokozuna works in the bearhug, and it’s great seeing the Hogan superfan, Roddy Hogan, in the front row. The fans rally behind Hogan as he punches out of it, but Yokozuna hits him with an elbow to the face. Yokozuna with a belly-to-belly suplex, but Hogan kicks out. Hulk up time, brother. Hogan with the big boot, then another, but Yokozuna won’t go down. He finally does after a third. Hogan with the leg drop, but Yokozuna kicks out at two!
Hogan knocks Fuji off the apron, and one of the cameramen hops on the apron. And then his camera hits Hogan with a fireball to the face, and Yokozuna drops the leg on Hogan to win the title. After the match, Yokozuna hits the Banzai Drop on Hogan for good measure. Heenan declares that Hulkamania is finished. The crowd was into this and expected Hogan to do his thing, but there’s a new champ. (**)
BACKSTAGE: Gene with Shawn Michaels and a rather large man. Michaels runs down Hogan, but Gene is focused on the name of the man standing behind him. Micheals reveals that it’s his insurance policy, and reveals him as Diesel.
The Steiner Brothers and The Smoking Gunns vs. Money Inc. and The Headshrinkers – 8-Man Tag Team Match
Money Inc. are the tag champs, so everyone is aiming for them. Savage notes that they couldn’t stay on the same page with The Headshrinkers on Raw, so that’s worth mentioning. This match is about what you’d expect, with everyone getting an opportunity to get some work in during an action-packed sprint.
Ted DiBiase puts the Million Dollar Dream on Billy Gunn, but DiBiase wants to taunt a bit before finishing the job. However, Gunn reverses into a small package for the victory. Not much to it. (**)
COMMENTARY: Taylor is about fed up with this hotline. Josh asks Razor about the 1-2-3 Kid, and he says something about Mr. Perfect’s mother dancing naked on a table. I think that was in reference to money.
BACKSTAGE: Jack Tunney congratulates Yokozuna. Fuji says he told Gene that Yokozuna would win. Fuji says they’re gonna celebrate in America.
Crush vs. (c) Shawn Michaels (w/Diesel) – Intercontinental Title
JR says Hogan’s vision is gonna be fine, and Savage says Hogan will be back for Yokozuna. Crush with a shoulder tackle that sends Michaels to the outside. A few dropkicks send Michaels out yet again. Crush showcases his strength, and Savage argues he could slam Yokozuna. I’m not sure about that. Diesel helps Michaels retreat for a much-needed break. Crush goes after Michaels, but Diesel stands between them. Michaels sneaks in and hits Crush from behind, and then Michaels bounces Crush’s head off the ring post.
Crush has the momentum as he throws Michaels onto the top rope. Crush swats Michaels off the top, and he hits a backbreaker for two. Here comes Doink, but there isn’t just one of them. They are smoking cigars, and that distracts Crush. Michaels hits the Superkick to Crush into the corner, and Michaels pins him to retain. (**1/2)
BACKSTAGE: Gene with Bigelow, and he’s gonna be the first King of the Ring.
Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Bret Hart – King of the Ring Finals
Commentary does a great job of putting over Bret’s path to the final, which was quite a contrast to Bigelow’s path. Heenan is all-in on Bigelow for that reason. Bret with another masterful selling performance to set him up as the huge underdog. Bigelow, meanwhile, is the dominant heel looking to take advantage of that. It’s the perfect scenario for the King of the Ring tournament.
Bigelow goes after Bret’s back throughout the entire match, using a variety of moves to wear him down. They also show Mean Gene Okerlund watching from the stage in what was a cool presentation element. Some awesome back and forth, and Luna Vachon comes out to attack Bret’s back with a chair while Bigelow occupies the referee. And then Bigelow hits the diving headbutt for the surprise win!
However, here comes Earl Hebner, who saw the shenanigans, and Joey Marella declares that the match must continue. Your mileage on match restarts will vary, but it made a lot of sense in this spot. Bigelow tries to wear down Bret ever more, but the story is that Bret won’t quit. Bigelow does a few counters, but Bret jumps on Bigelow’s shoulders and uses the victory roll to score the win. (****, Must-See)
ON THE STAGE: We get the crowning ceremony, and Jerry Lawler comes out to proclaim that he is the true king of the WWF. He then assaults Bret with some medieval objects to add insult to injury.
In this WWF Monday Night Raw 9/18/95 review, Owen Hart and Yokozuna team up against Men on a Mission, Razor Ramon goes one-on-one with The 1-2-3 Kid, and more.
Let’s jump in.
VIDEO: Highlights from last week’s Raw, which featured Dean Douglas taking it to Razor Ramon and 1-2-3 Kid in the match against The British Bulldog. Of course, that led to a spot with Kid accidentally splashing Razor to set up a match between the two.
1-2-3 Kid vs. Razor Ramon
Before the match, they show the replay from Kid’s memorable Raw win against Razor a few years ago. Kid attacks Razor when he enters the ring and eventually goes for a flying body press, but Razor does a fallaway slam off the top rope for a near fall. Razor adds some VICIOUS chops after that and Kid is forced to retreat. Back inside, and Razor hits a chokeslam for another near fall.
Vince is ALL IN on pushing kid as the ultimate underdog, which makes sense. Kid gains momentum and throws Razor over the top and pops him in the mouth for good measure. Kid then with an eniziguri for a one count as Razor gets his foot on the bottom rope. Kid locks on the sleeper and holds that thing through the commercial break.
Razor finally picks him up for a back suplex and both men are down. Razor puts his arm over Kid but only gets a two. Huge right hands from Razor, and he clotheslines Kid in the corner. Razor goes for more offense on Kid, and he bumps into him….and that sends Kid into the referee. HERE COMES DEAN DOUGLAS, who hits a splash off the top onto Razor. Kid slowly rolls in and puts his arm over Razor for the victory.
Blake’s Take: The chemistry was undeniable between these two, and this was entertaining. Douglas interfering was predictable, but it makes sense for the feud. Kid scores another surprise win over Razor, and that’s another fun story thread attached to this. (Recommended)
BACKSTAGE: Douglas gives his report card, with Kid earning a “D” for dumb, Razor scoring a “E” for elevate, and we get to Dean from there.
VIDEO: Replay of Ted DiBiase getting SLOPPED by Henry O. Godwinn on Superstars. Vince saying SLOPPED is an experience.
Tatanka and Kama (w/Ted DiBiase) vs. Savio Vega and Bob Holly
Tatanka and Savio kick things off, and Savio runs wild. Kama enters but Holly hits a few hip tosses on him. More tags and Tatanka goes over and pulls Holly off the apron. That allows Kama to get a cheap shot on Savio until Holly hits Kama from behind. The referee tries to get Holly out of the ring since he isn’t the legal man, which of course allows a double team move from Tatanka and Kama. Tatanka baits Holly again for another double team. Kama does the same. Get out of the ring, Holly!
Double clothesline from Tatanka and Savio, and finally both make a tag. Holly with a dropkick off the top, but Tatanka breaks up the pin. It’s a BROUHAHA, but Kama reverses Holly’s flying cross body and literally drops the man on his neck for the pin for the win.
Blake’s Take: This was not Razor vs. Kid.
BACKSTAGE: Razor tells Douglas that he’s gonna carve him up when they meet face to face.
Jean Pierre Lafitte vs. Brian Walsh
Vince says this jobber’s name, and I think it’s Brian Walsh. Or maybe Brian Ross. Or maybe Hip Toss. Either way, Bret Hart is on the phone, and he didn’t realize that there were steal pirates in the world. He’s also pissed about Lafitte stealing sunglasses from kids and stealing his jacket. Lawler taunts Bret, and they go back and forth. Meanwhile, Lafitte destroys Toss for the easy victory.
Blake’s Take: SQUASH.
IN THE RING: Tony Chimel is reinforcing the ring because of the HOSS FIGHT that is up next.
Men on a Mission vs. Owen Hart and Yokozuna (w/Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji)
Vince reminds us of Mabel winning the 1995 King of the Ring, and we’re gonna have to go back and review that one. What a show. Mo takes it to Owen before tagging in Mabel, and he showcases his power. Mo goes to work, and Mabel kicks Owen in the back and then chokes him behind the referee’s back. Double team action, and Yokozuna isn’t Holly and realizes he needs to get his ass out of the ring.
Mo and Owen counter pin attempts, and Owen throws Mo to the outside. Here comes Yokozuna. Mabel gets in and the fans want to see it! Mabel gets out, and Yokozuna pummels Mo in the corner. Owen back in, and he and Mo both come up short on an enziguri. Both men make a tag, and it’s Yokozuna vs. Mabel! Chaos ensues, but Owen hits a knee to Mo’s back and then a dropkick off the top for a near fall.
Owen goes up top, but Mo racks him and hits a superplex. However, Yokozuna breaks up the pin. Yokozuna knocks Mabel to the outside, and Cornette hops on the apron to distract the referee. That allows Owen and Yokozuna to work a double team on Monday, and Owen pins him for the win.
BACKSTAGE: Shawn Michaels says the trash-talking is done at In Your House, and he and Diesel are gonna win the tag titles. Diesel says he’s coming back to Michigan, and they’re gonna win all the hardware.
IN THE RING: Cornette tells Vince that Michaels and Diesel are gonna get beaten and lose their titles. Cornette points out the rules of the stipulation for their tag match, and then asks Michaels and Diesel about them breaking up when they teamed up in a previous match. Cornette doesn’t think they can trust each other, but Owen and Yokozuna can.
RINGSIDE: Lawler predicts that Yokozuna will defeat Diesel and become the new WWF champ. Vince announces The Undertaker vs. The British Bulldog as a featured match for next week’s show.
Blake’s WWF Monday Night RAW 9/18/95 Rating
In this WWF Raw 12/15/97 review, Shawn Michaels and Triple H face The Legion of Doom, Owen Hart confronts Vince McMahon after the Montreal Screwjob, and much more.
Let’s jump in.
IN THE RING: Michael Cole asks The Undertaker about his upcoming match with Shawn Michaels at the 1998 Royal Rumble. Cole brings up the stipulation being a Casket Match. Taker says he’s fought Michaels twice, and he can beat him again. Taker says he’s lost only one of these matches, and it took 10 people to put him in there. The lights go out, and here comes Kane with Paul Bearer. Kane goes face-to-face with Taker, and Bearer reminds everyone that Taker burned his parents. Bearer is gonna give Taker another opportunity to face Kane, who slaps Taker right in the face. He tries again, but Taker grabs his arm and walks away.
VIDEO: Promotion for WWF: The Music Volume 2. It was $14.95 on CD. Those were the days.
VIDEO: The 1-800-COLLECT rewind looks at Brian Christopher joining Jerry Lawler in his feud against Taka Michinoku.
Jerry Lawler vs. Taka Michinoku
Michinoku defeated Christopher to be crowned the first Light Heavyweight champ at In Your House: DX eight days before this show. Jim Ross reminds us that the UFC will be in Japan on Sunday, featuring Frank Shamrock. The difference between these two is obvious when Taka flies onto the ropes and hits a splash onto Lawler in the aisle. JR also brings up that Owen Hart is gonna have his first opportunity to address the “controversial” situation at Survivor Series. Lawler hits the piledriver on Taka but doesn’t go for the cover, so of course, he misses a flying punch. Taka gains the momentum, but Christopher interferes for the DQ. Christopher accidentally punches Lawler, and that’s that.
COMMENTARY: Call the hotline, and they’ll tell you a story about DX almost inciting a riot!
BACKSTAGE: Hawk and Animal are coming for DX.
VIDEO: Advertisement of the Jakks action figures championship series, featuring Legion of Doom, Rocky Maivia, British Bulldog, Owen, and Taker. Those were awesome.
VIDEO: Highlights of Steve Austin forfeiting the Intercontinental title to The Rock, and then hitting him with a Stunner.
IN THE RING: Rock introduces himself as The People’s Champion and best damn Intercontinental champ there ever was. Faarooq tries to speak, but Rock says the champ is talking. Rock orders Austin to bring him the title. Here comes Austin, and he calls Rock a piece of trash. Rock’s mannerisms are incredible. Austin tells Rock to grab a monitor because he has a surprise for him. Rock tells Austin he has an hour to return his property to him.
VIDEO: Head to Shopzone.WWF.com for merch!
Dude Love vs. Road Dog
JR informs us that Austin has left the arena. Where’s he heading? This is still the period where Billy Gunn is doing the entrance promo and not Road Dog, who still only had one “d” in his name. Gunn joins commentary. JR suggests that Dog and Gunn be called The New Age Outlaws, and Gunn likes it. History in the making. Gunn gets in a few cheap shots on Dude, but he eventually morphs into using Mankind moves like the Mandible Claw. Dude hits the Double-Arm DDT for the win.
Gunn tries to go after Dude with a chair, but they brawl up the ramp and Dog joins the mix. Dog and Gunn suplex Dude on the stage as the crowd chant for LOD. Gunn hits a DDT on Dude, and then they shoves a referee into Dude as he flies off the stage through a table. He sort of over shot the table and went hip-first onto the concrete floor. Dog and Gunn beat him down some more.
The Brooklyn Brawler vs. Mark Henry
This is Henry’s Raw debut. JR lets us know that Austin has requested a WWF cameraman follow him, so that’s intriguing. Henry destroys Brawler for the squash victory.
VIDEO: Highlights of Owen attacking Michaels at In Your House, then again on last week’s Raw.
IN THE RING: We’re into the War Zone hour, which means Jim Cornette joins commentary. Vince McMahon comes out and says Owen has been endangering ringside fans with his recent actions. Vince says Owen is under contract, so he must appear. Owen comes through the crowd, and Vince wants to know what this is about. Owen says he doesn’t owe Vince a damn thing, and he’s tired of apologizing. Owen says Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, and British Bulldog did what they had to do, and he’s gonna do what he has to do in the WWF. Owen says no one will run him out of the company. Vince turns this into a story about the WWF title, and Owen says “how stupid are you?” Owen says this is real life and his reputation. Owen is gonna make things hard on Michaels, and he’s gonna finish things between them. Vince brings out security and says Owen will enter like a WWF superstar next week instead of entering from the crowd. Owen grabs Vince by the collar and shoves him. This was a great segment.
VIDEO: Call 1-900-RUMBLE-98 to win Austin’s truck!
VIDEO: Highlights of Marc Mero demanding that Sable wear a potato sack on last week’s Raw. She removed it, and it was something many teenagers remember.
Tom Brandi vs. The Sultan (w/The Iron Sheik)
Cornette talks up Brandi’s athleticism. That may not matter in this match, because Sultan uses his strength to control the action. JR updates us that Austin is on a bridge, so there’s a development. The signal should come in for the next segment. Sheik gets on the apron to distract Sultan, but Brandi moves and Sultan runs into him. Brandi rolls up Sultan for the win. Mero attacks Brandi after the match, and the crowd wants them some Sable.
IN THE RING: Rock and The Nation of Domination are back out. We get another highlight package of Austin telling Vince he’s not gonna wrestle Rock, and then he knocks Vince off the apron. Vince wants to hit Austin with a chair, but officials get between them. Rock says they’re coming to get the title. We cut to the Titantron, and Austin is indeed on the bridge. He throws a variety of things in the river, including a pager and the belt. Rock’s eyes tell the story of this rivalry.
VIDEO: Vince says the WWF is making a conscious effort to open the creative envelope to entertain the fans in a more contemporary manner. Vince says they borrow from Days Of Our Lives, MTV music videos, King of the Hill, Seinfeld, and other forms of television entertainment. He says fans are tired of having their intelligence insulted and the theory of good guys vs, bad guys. He also takes a shot at the “take your vitamins and say your prayers” era. Vince encourages some degree of parental discretion. Vince says the new direction has resulted in a boost in viewership, and he thanks the fans for watching that Raw is the cure for the common show. And there’s the Attitude Era kickoff.
Jose vs. Steve Blackman
Los Boricuas were still featured in this era, but all his stable mates head to the back for the match. Blackman hits a German suplex, and that’ll do it for the victory.
BACKSTAGE: Michaels says he’s not hard to find if Owen wants him. He does rock, paper, scissors, and HHH wins, so he gets Owen.
VIDEO: The Lazer Tag Slam of the Week is Taker hitting the chokeslam on Sultan.
Shawn Michaels and HHH (w/Chyna) vs. Legion of Doom
This is quite a tag match on paper. The crowd loves them some LOD, and Hawk and Animal bounce Michaels around for a bit. Some shenanigans from the heels allow them to gain the advantage. There’s a sign in the crowd that says “WWF eats nWo raw” which is raw and full of attitude. Dog and Gunn hit ringside, and they try to choke out Hawk. Chyna gets in the ring and low blows Animal for the DQ. Chyna then hammers Animal with the title. Gunn shaves Hawk’s mohawk, and Michaels wants them to do something to Animal. They team up and powerbomb Animal through the announce table. And then Gunn flies off the top with a leg drop on Hawk. Michaels hits a flying elbow, and the four men want the titles. Michaels stares at them and says “not bad” as they head to the back.
In this WWE SmackDown 10/10/25 review, here are five thoughts on what’s next for Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE title reign, Aleister Black vs. Damian Priest in a Last Man Standing Match, and much more.
Let’s jump in!
1. Who will be Cody Rhodes’ next opponent for the Undisputed WWE Championship?
Cody’s comments towards Seth Rollins were about what you’d expect entering their highly anticipated Crown Jewel match, but I’m more interested in the next opponent for the QB1. Will it be Jacob Fatu or Drew McIntyre? I’ve mentioned that I was surprised that Cody beat McIntyre clean as a whistle at Wrestlepalooza, but perhaps there’s a story brewing with potential rematch. Or is ‘The Samoan Werewolf’ about to get his opportunity at the top title in the company? WWE has protected Fatu about as well as anyone on the roster in recent years, and a showdown with Cody would be a fresh feud on SmackDown.
2. I’m intrigued by the Aleister Black and Zelina Vega pairing.
Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch are back together on WWE television. CM Punk and AJ Lee are everyone’s favorite couple. And now we can add Black and Vega to the list of on-screen husband/wife duos. The thing is, I’m a huge fan of this particular decision. It gives Black an extra element to his presentation coming out of a signature win against Priest in the Last Man Standing Match, and it gives Vega a new start after the lackluster booking for her Women’s United States title run. It seems like a win-win for everyone in this scenario. There’s also more confidence in WWE getting in right, which wasn’t there under the previous regime.
3. Shinsuke Nakamura is back, and so is his theme music.
Nakamura was a nice choice for the next installment of the United States Title Open Challenge. The better choice was bringing back his old theme music. There was a report that other WWE superstars doing the same, and good for them. It can’t be understated what an awesome theme song can do to reinvigorate the crowd’s interest in a wrestler. The match was also a lot of fun. I assumed Grayson Waller would be the surprise opponent, but revisiting the history between Zayn and Nakamura was the more intriguing option.
4. Sign me up for Solo Sikoa and The MFTs vs. The Wyatt Sicks.
Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis retained the WWE Tag Team Championships against The Street Profits, and the storyline direction for Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins could be interesting moving forward. However, the biggest development was a staredown between The Wyatt Sicks and the new-look MFTs. Solo Sikoa had his group decked out in face paint – sort of like The Guerrillas of Destiny – and Tama Tonga finally made his return after being sidelined due to injury. The transition from The Bloodline storyline was brutal for Solo and company, and this is at least a positive step forward.
5. Tiffany Stratton and Stephanie Vaquer do their thing.
There was little doubt that Stratton and Vaquer were going to defeat Giulia and Kiana James. As discussed on the previous edition on SmackDown, the portrayal of Stratton and Vaquer compared to that of Giulia has been vastly different. That was once again obvious in this match. Perhaps Giulia will have a storyline to sink her teeth into at some point. As for Stratton and Vaquer, WWE hasn’t pushed much story in their champion vs. champion match at Crown Jewel, but it should be good stuff. The fans react great for both, and hopefully WWE allows them to showcase their talents.
For more of my show reviews, visit the Reviews section!
In this WWE SmackDown 10/3/25 review, here are five thoughts on Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, another Sami Zayn United States Title Open Challenge, and much more
Let’s jump in!
1. Paul Heyman’s prophecy came true.
The Oracle pontificated a possible scenario for the main event. What if Cody wasn’t there to help Orton when he needed it? That’s how it played out, with Breakker sending Cody through the barricade before Seth Rollins interfered to allow Reed to score the win on Orton. It’s yet another intriguing development in the long-running tease of a Cody vs. Orton feud. Orton also gave a few innocent – but really not-so-innocent – glances at the Undisputed WWE Championship during the show. There aren’t many options on the blue brand for Cody’s next big title program, so Orton being next up would make sense. Maybe Kevin Owens was right about Cody after all.
2. What will Heyman think of Rollins ignoring his advice?
Speaking of The Oracle, he also tried to instill some wisdom on the World Heavyweight Champion. Rollins has become consumed by his lack of success against Rhodes, so despite Heyman’s warning to not get back in the ring after the match, ‘The Visionary’ did so anyways. It didn’t go as planned. Cody countered a Curb Stomp attempt into a Cross Rhodes, once again getting the better of his rival. WWE has teased a power struggle between Rollins and Heyman within The Vision, so the response from both me should be interesting.
3. Sami Zayn does it again.
Another week, another great match in the United States Title Open Challenge. I liked the tease of Carmelo Hayes accepting it again right after he broke up with The Miz. A new ‘Melo is coming to win the title! And then, of course, Miz got some revenge. That set up Aleister Black to stroll down as Zayn’s new opponent. To no one’s surprise, the match was a lot of fun. This is still the best thing going on SmackDown each week. Who will Zayn face next week in Perth? Miz could be an option to allow Carmelo to return the favor.
4. Solo Sikoa is teasing something interesting.
There is no doubt that Solo and the MFTs have lost some momentum after the Jacob Fatu feud. Can they regain it with the tease of a new member? Solo said on SmackDown that the group is still missing something, and once they find it, they’re gonna destroy everyone. Is it the return of Tama Tonga? A potential Zilla Fatu debut? How many other members of The Bloodline are out there? It’s going to be a challenge for this group to jump back into the upper echelon on SmackDown, but I’m at least curious what they’re cooking up.
5. Giulia. Oh, Giulia.
The Women’s United States title picture is the complete opposite of the men’s. The lack of reaction for Giulia and Kiana James is something, even when they’re interacting with top champions like Tiffany Stratton and Stephanie Vaquer. Giulia was a star in NXT, but she’s not getting the same opportunities that Stratton, Vaquer, and Roxanne Perez – all former NXT champs as well – have on the main roster. Maybe it’s an English language thing. Maybe WWE has just dropped the ball on her. Or perhaps it’s something else. Either way, Giulia deserves better. So does the SmackDown women’s division.
For more of my show reviews, visit the Reviews section!