WWE The Greatest Royal Rumble 2018 Results and Review

Greatest Royal Rumble 2018 Results and Review - SRC wwe 

The opening of the show was definitely interesting, with a kick off panel of all men, and then we got into the crowd filing in, and I was absolutely stunned. This is a huge stadium, and there’s a ton of people in the crowd, and it truly was epic to see Saudi Arabia’s support for the WWE. WE started with the national anthems of both Saudi Arabia and The United States before the event took place. No singers, just the sound, and that was it. We went live at noon, and well, I don’t usually do this, but this review is being written as I watch the show! That’s right, going back to the old school.

WWE The Greatest Royal Rumble 2018 Results and Review

The crowd was electric to start, and the WWE spent a lot of money on pyro. This felt far more like Wrestlemania than anything else. The crowd was going nuts, and I loved it, this was a great crowd, and truly something interesting to see.

John Cena defeated Triple H

I wasn’t sure who was going to go over on this one, but it was interesting to see the two work a different style. They started a little slower than usual, and the crowd was all over this one. After some methodically placed fighting, Triple H couldn’t get Cena down for the 3 count, and eventually lost to three Attitude Adjustments across several points in the match. This was a fun little match, with Cena winning and that’s it. The crowd was all Cena at times, and Triple H had fans too, it was fun. The crowd was all in with this, and I was too. Fun match, and it was definitely a good opener.

Cedric Alexander defeated Kalisto in the WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match

This was a great back and forth match with Kalisto throwing out everything he had. The two went back and forth with relative ease, and there was a lot of attention to the speed and frequency of the match. Alexander was able to retain, but not without a heavy duty fight with Kalisto hitting some of his greatest hits, including a variation of the Spanish Fly that I haven’t seen in WWE, with a spring board effect. That was quite good. The Lumbar Check was hit, and Kalisto would lose to the champ, and that was it. This had a good flow to it, but they weren’t as over as the previous guys, obviously. A good match none the less.

Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy defeated The Bar in the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship Match

Wow, well, that was something else. The guys were working in half-speed if you ask me. The Bar was able to throw in a lot of attacks, but Wyatt and Hardy were quick to counter the fight left and right, and it was interesting to see them work together. Hardy and Wyatt worked very well here, while The Bar was missing their offense and getting things reversed at times. It’s interesting to see how many of the moves were reversed or missed, and of course that led to Wyatt and Hardy getting the big win, and that’s that. Not my favorite match, but not a terrible one either. It was a good television match at best.

Jeff Hardy defeated Jinder Mahal in the United States Championship Match

This was an interesting match with a lot of upside to it. Hardy was able to get the upper hand after Jinder Mahal was throwing lefts and rights, and even a distraction from one of the Singh brothers. While this was a decent match, it wasn’t great, and the fans were way into Hardy over Mahal. While I didn’t think it was stellar, there was enough here to make it worth checking out. Hardy is always fun to watch, and Jinder has finally been hindered. Hardy wins, Mahal goes down, it’s that simple.

The Bludgeon Brothers defeated The Usos in the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match

Well, I didn’t expect the ending that we got here. The Usos didn’t go down without a big fight, though, although the match wasn’t that long. The Usos were just not powerful enough to get the win here, and the bigger men took everything that the Usos had and still couldn’t get the job done. The Bludgeon Brothers took them down with high power, and constant moves forward, which was a nice touch. The big guys win, the Usos go down, and that’s that. An ok match, but nothing too stellar, and now it’s time for a bathroom break if you ask me.

Seth Rollins defeated Samoa Joe, Finn Balor, and The Miz

Well, well, this was a hard hitting match with a lot of bruises being left on the guys. Finn was busted wide open, Rollins had his ribs nearly smashed in, Joe had his head smacked hard on the ladders, the Miz took some major shots on the back and face, and it was a hard hitting affair. This was back and forth, with lots of great overall flurries, and in the end, it was Seth Rollins that got the big win with cat like reflexes, and that was fun. Rollins got a huge reaction too, and it was fun to see him win this one.

The WWE introduced 4 new athletes from Saudi Arabia, and they were getting cheered. But out came the Daivari Brothers to immense heat!

The recruits bonded together and beat up the Daivari brothers to a lot of cheers and great reaction. This was a cool little segment, and the Saudi Arabian new recruits got a lot of praise from the crowd, and it was fun to see.

Aj Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura ended in a double countout in the WWE Championship Match

I don’t know what is wrong with these two, but they lack the chemistry that they did in NJPW. This match wasn’t that great, and I was actually kind of bored through the match. I didn’t really have a lot of reason to like this, as the two seemed to be working at half speed at times, and the logic was thrown out the window at times. It was slow, and methodical, but without any real passion for me. I ended up nearly falling to sleep, but out of the blue a low blow, and some fighting outside caused a double count out and the match was over. I guess that’s a good thing. Overall, not a terrible match, but definitely far from great, and a double countout? Ok, I’ll take it.

The Undertaker defeated Rusev with Aiden English in a Casket Match

Well, well, The Undertaker got a huge ovation, but he was looking old, and tired. The Undertaker allowed for a little more of a match than Wrestlemania, but it was obvious that he isn’t the same guy, as the past. He was able to take on Rusev and drop Aiden English and Rusev into the casket and that was that. A slow moving match with the ending that featured the end of English and Rusev. This was not a fun match, it was slow, but it featured a good performance overall from Taker, given his limitations, and well, it made the crowd feel happy, and that’s ok with me. I hope he retires.

Brock Lesnar defeated Roman Reigns in a steel cage match for the WWE Universal Championship

The match was overall the same as you’d expect with other matches that these guys have had. I didn’t expect the final moments, and that was shocking overall. Over the course of the match, there were a lot of F5’s a lot of Spears and Superman punches and it was insane, Roman took a serious beating. But here’s the thing, the match ended when Roman speared Lesnar through the cage and onto the floor! It was a stellar bump, no doubt, and Lesnar got hit hard, and it looked like it hurt overall, including Lesnar looking like he got the wind knocked out of him or at least knocked out, with Roman looking like he pulled his shoulder too, and that was that. Lesnar hit the ground first, which meant that Lesnar is still the champion. I don’t like the finish, I don’t like Lesnar, but wow, that was a brutal finish.

Braun Strowman Won The Greatest Battle Royal

What was one of the longest Royal Rumble Matches, we got to see a huge event pull through 50 guys, and some missing of course. There was fire works, there were 50 super stars and so much more. This was an interesting match for sure, and lots of stories could have been told, but the biggest ones were with Daniel Bryan, Braun Strowman, Elias, and others. Daniel Bryan was nearly at the end, he was in the final 3, and it was all over when Braun Strowman took out Big Cass, right after Cass eliminated Daniel Bryan. Bryan’s chest was blistered and just awful, which was interesting overall. Shane got through threw a table, and well, the whole night was fun, but of course Braun Strowman would win big here.

At the end of the day, I had a good time with this, but probably because I was working at the same time. It was a fun romp, but nothing that I would want to do annually. Some may think it was a glorified house show. I thought it was fun, and well worth the hype. I would give it a B rating, just because it was fun, and that’s it. There were some dry spots, no doubt, but overall, this is a lot of action and a lot of WWE overall. I didn’t hate it, I want to express that clearly. It wasn’t as good as Mania, but hey, it was a fun romp none the less.

WWE NXT April 25, 2018 Results and Review The Best of The Best

Ciampa Stands Tall - SRC WWE 

I don’t usually cover NXT but since I’ve been on a new tear for this blog, I decided to give it a shot, and well, I am delighted about what has gone down last night with the throwdown of NXT. Let’s discuss the quick show that had a lot of action, and was well paced overall.

WWE NXT April 25, 2018 Results and Review The Best of The Best

The Undisputed Era came out and cut a promo about how cool they are and that they are going to run rough shot over NXT for good. This was a good little segment, but I never liked a lot of talking with my wrestling, but that’s the norm these days, I guess.

Adam Cole defeated Oney Lorcan in the NXT North American Championship Match

This was a stellar affair, although quick. Lorcan really connects fast and hard with the moves he has, and is a slippery fellow. Adam Cole didn’t have much of an answer to him for a few spots, and he was selling a rib injury, but with the help of his cronies, he was able to pick up the big win. If it wasn’t for them attacking Lorcan while the ref was turned, this would’ve turned out a lot differently.

Heavy Machinery defeated Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli

This was an interesting little match, as it featured Heavy Machinery throwing their weight around, no joke. They eventually would get the win as Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli are going their separate ways, as one refused to tag in, and left the other for dead.

Johnny Gargano was stretchered out of Full Sail after Tommaso Ciampa attacked

Ciampa attacked Gargano with a serious frenetic pace that was nothing short of insane. It was a killer beat down that goes down deep into the ages of the world of wrestling. It was a nice intense fight and at the end of the day Ciampa got the last laugh by throwing Gargano down a table with a finisher that looked just as brutal as ever.

Aleister Black defeated Eric Young

Since the title match didn’t happen, Eric Young and Sanity came down the ramp and challenged Black and he accepted. This was a good overall television match with lots of back and forth action, and some stellar offense and defense from both men. Black was able to control some of the match, but not all of it, with a great deal of maneuvering overall. Young was able to fly through the air, and got a little help from Sanity, but it wasn’t enough because Black Mass hit and Young was thrown down as he is now going to Smackdown with his crew.

Overall, the night of wrestling felt crisp, and within only 1 hour, I was fully vested into the happenings that are going on with WWE NXT, that’s for certain.

205 Live April 24, 2018 Results and Review The One Match Show

Gulak Beat The Hell Out of 205 - SRC WWE

205 Live this week was just one match. That’s right, just one match overall. It was a gauntlet match for the number one contender spot for the Greatest Royal Rumble event this Friday.

205 Live April 24, 2018 Results and Review

Kalitso won the Gauntlet Match

The match featured Mustafa Ali starting out and getting a quick win over TJP, but after that, he was spent, and out came Drew Gulak and he put the boots to Ali. Ali would eventually pass out in the Gulak lock or the GULOCK, and that was a good match. Tony Nese came out and really worked over Gulak, and I thought he had his number, but nope, he tapped out after some back and forth action. After that, we saw Kalisto show up and get rocked for a good portion of the match, until he was able to throw down after a Salida Del Sol and that was that!

Kalisto will face Cedric Alexander at the Greatest Royal Rumble.

A one match show? Ok. Not a bad show, but again, lots of missing talent. Furthermore, why didn’t Nese come back to cost Gulak the match? I’m just saying, he was very upset with his loss, and that could’ve put the show a little further down the road instead of just having one match, and that’s it. Oh well.

WWE Smackdown Live April 24, 2018 Results and Review Heel Foreigner Reigns

Knee To Face Deux - SRC WWE 

I didn’t realize that WWE Smackdown was live in Louisville! That’s near where I live, and had I known, I would have gone down there. Sadly, I was not there, I was at home watching this overall. Anyways, here we go, smackdown Live was going on, but guess what? There’s not many of my favorites, including your favorites, such as Tye Dillinger. Anyway, here we go, Smackdown Live where the foreign heels get big time shots at the gold.

WWE Smackdown Live April 24, 2018 Results and Review

Miz TV started the show, and I figured Daniel Bryan was going to come down, but instead it was Big Cass. He cut a promo and sized up Miz, then sized up Daniel Bryan, and we go forward with the show. Not a great opening, and what happens in the back is interesting, as Bryan is laid out and holding his shoulder. Already injured? Lame.

The Iiconics defeated Asuka and Becky Lynch

I know that it’s not “woke” to talk about the body’s of women performers, but The Iiconics have breast implants and it’s painfully obvious that they have been enhanced. I think they are beautiful regardless. Either way, you’ll find that the match was serviceable, and had a good back and forth feel. It was fast paced, had some nice pushes, and you’ll find that Asuka is not the unbeatable woman any longer, as she once again loses on television. The Iiconics work very well together, and outsmarted the duo of Lynch and Asuka, which I appreciated overall.

Jimmy Uso defeated Rowan

This was a short, fast match. The Uso’s were able to use Naomi to help distract, and a superkick to the side of the head claimed a serious blow to the Bludgeon Brothers and we ended up seeing Rowan drop a match to Jimmy Uso. Not a bad match, not a great one either.

Carmella and Charlotte Flair Signed a Contract for WWE Backlash

This was boring. I was bored with it.

Shelton Benjamin defeated Randy Orton

This was a fast paced, good overall match, and it was great to see Orton go beyond just “work mode” and do well with Shelton. Shelton is a pure athlete and can go very well with just about any worker if you ask me. In this match the two were able to put together a fast paced, good match, even though one of the Singh brothers interfered with a mask on! Classic! Jeff Hardy was watching on the sidelines. Good match for what it was worth.

Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, and Aiden English defeated Aj Styles, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows

This was a good match with a lot of back and forth between the players. I didn’t dislike anything here, although it was a little short. Aiden English and Rusev felt like jobbers, and Nakamura was the star here. Anderson, Gallows, and Styles worked well together, but eventually succumb to the chaos of the ring and would get a loss due to Nakamura.

After the match, Nakamura got jumped, but recovered, and was going to take out Styles but Ken Anderson got in the way, and he got killed with two knees to the head. That was the end of the show, and we got the finish for Smackdown.

Overall, a good show, but there was a lot missing. There was so much missing that I wonder why this show isn’t 3 hours. I’m serious, there’s a lot of missing talent for this show, and the matches were cut short etc.

Impact Wrestling Redemption 2018 Results and Review

Impact Redemption 2018 Poster 

As a wrestling fan, you know I watch a lot more wrestling than the average person. That’s the case for this week again, as I was able to catch the Impact Wrestling Redemption show. Well, here are my thoughts on the PPV that featured talent from Impact Wrestling, and Lucha Underground, oh and AAA as well. If you missed it, you may want to check it out. This show happened in Orlando Florida on April 22, 2018.

Impact Wrestling Redemption 2018 Results and Review

Aerostar defeated Drago

This was a singles match that was on half speed. The two are obviously good, but it seemed like they were miscommunicating in the ring, and it was a bit slow. Aerostar would win, but it was obvious that the two weren’t working their best match. It was a decent lucha opener with the normal spots you’d expect.

Eli Drake and Scott Steiner defeated LAX for the Impact World Tag Team Championship Titles

This was a fun match that featured a lot of Drake flying around the ring with Lax. Lax is good here, and I miss the older version of the group, but this one was good overall. When Steiner got tagged in he threw in a lot of suplexes, but got blown up fast. He was breathing heavy, but he managed to climb up to the top rope and hit a top rope Frankensteiner that blew me away, and eventually would get the big win with the help of Eli Drake. The two are now world tag team champions! A good overall match, but Steiner is looking lighter, and out of shape, or rather ring shape. Still good though, better than me on a lot of levels, so maybe I should give the guy a break.

Taya Valkyrie defeated Kiera Hogan

Kiera Hogan looks like Ember Moon, and I was stunned by her look and the Hogan name. Taya Valkyrie is hot, and I love her. I’d love to interview her. Valkyrie won, and took the boots to Hogan, really worked well and the two put on a decent back and forth match. It’s hard not to like Taya Valkyrie, she’s a good wrestler, and just appeals to me as a very attractive woman.

Matt Sydal defeated Petey Williams in the X Division Championship Match

This was an interesting back and forth match for the cruiserweight guys, and it was not too unlike what you’d expect from 205 Live. Sydal is Evan Bourne, mind you. Petey was able to throw down a lot of different offense including a Canadian Destroyer, but Bourne had the last laugh with a win here. They did well here, but it wasn’t their best work. A funny note before the match, Petey Williams was throwing down some Steiner math, when Steiner showed up and said that it’s Canadian math and it’s different. I marked out huge.

OVE defeated Eddie Edwards, Moose, and Tommy Dreamer in a House of Hardcore Match

This was your standard hardcore match with a lot of back and forth, hard hits, tables, chairs, and trash cans. OVE would win this round, but after the match Eddie Edwards snapped and tied Sami Callihan to the ropes and beat the crap out of him with a kendo stick. Callihan bladed on camera after a while, which was a dumb production move, as they didn’t cut away from it. Edwards eventually hit a woman with the kendo stick and that was the end of this. This was a cluster of a match, with lots of back and forth and some decent moves including Moose throwing himself across various plateaus and even a table with a cutter mid-way, lots of a fun.

Allie defeated Su Yung in the Impact Knockouts Championship Match

Wow, Su Yung’s character is amazing. I love her. I love the look, and love the style. She should be Sister Abigail, I’m calling it now. Allie is the cookie cuter American blonde champion, and she’s good. She reminds me a little of Madusa. After some decent back and forth, Allie would get the win, but barely escaping from Su Yung’s offense. I love her, did I mention that? Great back and forth and style from Su Yung and Allie did well too, throwing in some clever action for a decent victory.

Pentagon Jr. defeated Austin Aries, and Fenix for the Impact World Championship

This was not a great match, mind you. It was a lot like the match that they had in New Orleans during Mania weekend, but it was a good one to watch none the less. I did like Pentagon Jr and Fenix throwing down some great action against Aries, and was impressed with Aries as usual. Pentagon, however, wow, he’s ready for the top spot in nearly any company and WWE is stupid for not pushing him and the Demon, as the two would be killers together. Obviously, he’s not in that fed, but this was fun to watch, and the win cements him as a big time player, it was great to see overall. I loved it.

Overall, Impact Wrestling’s Redemption PPV was a good watch. I had fun, I didn’t hate any of it, and I’m curious to see how they follow this up. I won’t be watching Impact on a weekly basis, or maybe I will, I don’t know, but this was a great night of wrestling for them. I want to see how they can continue this momentum.