Thursday
Impact Wrestling
Date: September 22, 2016
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: D'Angelo Dinero, Josh Matthews
There are two weeks left before Bound For Glory and a lot of the card has been filled in. Tonight we have the two semifinal matches in the Grand Championship tournament and more of the build towards Ethan Carter III vs. Lashley for the TNA World Title. We're to the point where everything is about setting up the pay per view so let's get to it.
We open with a recap of Lashley and Moose brawling to end last week's show until Ethan Carter III came out for the save.
Grand Championship Title Tournament Semifinals: Drew Galloway vs. Eddie Edwards
Josh tries to get “Scottish Dragon” over as Drew's latest nickname. It's better than the Leonidas of TNA. Drew chops away to start but Eddie backflips out of a suplex and kicks Drew out to the floor. The suicide dive connects, only to have Drew pop back up with a tilt-a-whirl slam onto the apron. Drew rolls some suplexes for two before getting in some right hands to “break down the guard” to end the first round.
Drew wins the first round so Eddie scores with a running clothesline to start the second round. A super hurricanrana gets two on Galloway and Eddie ties him in the Tree of Woe, only to have Drew sit up into a belly to belly superplex. The Boston Knee Party sends Drew outside and back to back suicide dives has Eddie in full control to end the second round.
Eddie wins the second round to tie it up and starts fast by going after the knee. That's reversed into the Iron Maiden but Eddie reverses into one of his own. Eddie shifts over into some leg holds so Drew kicks him in the face. That's one way to do it. They chop it out with Drew getting the better of it and hitting a Razor's Edge buckle bomb. Eddie gets an enziguri but walks into the Futureshock for two as time expires at 10:17.
The judges give it to Drew on a split decision. Again, the points aren't actually mentioned and they would have the same result if they just had the judges vote on a winner instead of giving numbers. But hey, why do what makes sense when you can make it more complicated?
Post match Drew says his match will be the real main event of Bound For Glory because nothing can follow him. This brings out Ethan Carter III, who doesn't like Drew suggesting that he's the better man. Drew thinks it's interesting how Ethan comes out on his feet all the time and offers him a Grand Championship shot. As Drew leaves, Ethan says he can beat Drew anywhere anytime but here's Lashley to interrupt. Mike Bennett runs in from behind to beat on Drew and it's a double beatdown. Cue Moose but the good guys are left laying.
Allie is trying to find people to help with Maria Kanellis' public workout but Maria comes up to yell at her again.
Aron Rex and Eli Drake are ready for their semifinal match.
Bennett asks Lashley if they're friends but Lashley says he has no friends. Mike thinks he can get a title shot by beating Moose but Lashley stares him down.
Grand Championship Title Tournament Semifinals: Aron Rex vs. Eli Drake
Before the bell, Drake tells Rex to stay off the mic because he can't hang at this level. Rex laughs off the insults and says he's going to tell the tale of Eli Drake. Eli is the offspring of an out of work Chippendale dancer and a Muppet and has bad taste in knee pads. That's a little rude but not exactly Drake was probably more insulting. Rex needs to stick with being smart and not trying to be a Rock knockoff.
They trade headlocks to start as it's a very simple first minute. Rex's Russian legsweep looks to set up the Wind-Up Elbow but Drew bails to the floor. A sideslam looks to set up the Edgecator on Drake but the first round wraps up. Round one goes to Rex but he still can't get the Edgecator to start the second.
Drake pops him in the jaw a few times and grabs a chinlock, which really isn't the best idea in a match this short. A jumping neckbreaker gets two on Aron and Drake pounds him down to end the second round. Drake wins the second and Rex is in trouble to start the final round. Not that it matters as Rex hits his discus punch (the Revelator) for the pin at 8:43.
Decay promises to destroy the Hardys in the Great War but they catch Vanguard I spying on them. A Senor Benjamin hologram pops up to laugh at them as Vanguard I flies away.
Rex is talking about his win when Galloway pops up to say he'll win, though Aron disagrees.
We see a man walking to his car and talking about his past being behind. He gets in his car and the reveal is Cody Rhodes (just Cody here), who will debut at Bound For Glory.
Here's Decay with a message for the Hardys. Rosemary says the Great War will be the end of every last Hardy. More destruction is promised until Matt Hardy appears in the crowd to say this is a world of magic. The battlefield for the Great War will be the entire world so Matt can delete the title reign. Jeff shows up to say they'll twist Decay's fate and Abyss will no longer be beautiful, Steve won't be crazy and Rosemary won't be rosy anymore. The lights go out and come back up to reveal Steve and Abyss tied to the ropes. Reby shows up to spear Rosemary but she can't get a Twist of Fate. Reby promises to take care of her soon.
Ethan Carter III and Moose fire each other up.
X-Division Champion DJZ comes out and issues an open challenge for a title match.
X-Division Title: DJZ vs. Trevor Lee
Lee is challenging and starts fast with a slam to work on DJZ's back. The champ fights back and sends Lee outside for a big flip dive to take out Lee and Andrew Everett. Back in and a middle rope back elbow to the jaw rocks Lee, followed by a springboard hurricanrana. The ZDT retains the title at 3:45.
Post match Everett and Lee (they're still the Helms Dynasty despite Helms not being around in months) beat on DJZ until Eddie Edwards makes the save. Edwards asks for a title match next week and DJZ says it's on.
Maria yells at Allie for being stupid like Gail Kim. Allie is crushed, again.
Here are Maria, Allie and Sienna for Maria's public workout. Maria yells at Allie and tells her to get out of the camera shot because no one wants to see her. Sienna deserves a title shot but isn't going to get one tonight. An unnamed opponent comes out and gets beaten up by Sienna, allowing Allie to get the first pin in about thirty seconds. Allie doesn't have a second opponent because she already found the easiest opponent she could. Maria berates her again so here's a woman in all black, including a mask. Yeah I think you know where this one is going.
The masked woman easily takes Maria to the mat and reveals herself as Gail Kim. Sienna comes in for the save but Gail beats her down too and sends the other heels running. There's an interesting story here, assuming you completely remove Gail from the match. Every part of this looks to be setting up Allie taking the title from Maria but no, let's have Gail Kim get the title shot instead. Maybe Maria retains anyway and loses to Allie down the road but that should be at the pay per view, not some TV match later on.
Same Cody vignette from earlier. They really couldn't film two of these?
We run down the Bound For Glory card.
Ethan Carter III/Moose vs. Lashley/Mike Bennett
Bennett drops to the floor at the opening bell so Lashley gets beaten down by both opponents. We take a break about a minute in and come back with Bennett hitting a cutter for two on Carter. Bennett sends Carter into the corner but punches Lashley by mistake. The hot tag brings in Moose and everything breaks down. Carter grabs a quick rollup to pin Bennett at 8:35.
Post match Lashley and Carter brawl with wrestlers and referees barely able to hold them back. Cue Billy Corgan to say that's not how this is going down. Next week we're starting Bound For Glory early with Team Lashley vs. Team Carter with the winning team getting to pick the stipulations for the title match. Oh and let's just make it Lethal Lockdown. You know, because THE BIGGEST GIMMICK MATCH TNA HAS SHOULD BE USED TO SET UP ANOTHER MATCH.
Results
Drew Galloway b. Eddie Edwards via judges' decision
Aron Rex b. Eli Drake – Revelator
DJZ b. Trevor Lee – ZDT
Ethan Carter III/Moose b. Lashley/Mike Bennett – Rollup to Bennett
Friday
Nothing.
Saturday
Nothing.
Sunday
Clash of Champions 2016
Date: September 25, 2016
Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
It's the first Raw only pay per view and things are starting to get interesting around here. Tonight's main event is Seth Rollins challenging Kevin Owens for the WWE Universal Championship but the big question is what role HHH will play in the whole thing. Other than that we have Roman Reigns challenging Rusev for the US Title and New Day defending the Raw Tag Team Titles against Anderson and Gallows. Let's get to it.
Pre-Show: Alicia Fox vs. Nia Jax
Rematch from Raw when Jax mauled Alicia in a no contest. Fox runs right at her with a dropkick but gets rammed hard into the buckle for her efforts. Something like a half nelson chinlock keeps Fox in trouble and her kicks to the head have no effect. Back up and Nia misses a charge in the corner, allowing Fox to get in a few dropkicks to little avail. A high crossbody sets up the scissors kick for two and that's probably it for Alicia. Nia runs her over and hits her Samoan drop for the pin at 4:56.
The opening video focuses completely on the titles and what it means to be champion. It's exactly what you would expect here and nothing out of the box whatsoever.
Raw Tag Team Titles: New Day vs. Anderson and Gallows
New Day is defending but first they have to talk about two guys trying to split them from their titles like Brangelina. Of course, Anderson and Gallows are the kind of guys who give out raisins at Halloween and wear tube socks with flip flops. Anderson and Gallows start fast by taking out Big E. on the floor and Liger Bombing Kofi for a close two in the first thirty seconds. Even Woods takes a beating on the floor and has Francesca II thrown at his feet.
Kofi can't get a sunset flip so he dropkicks Gallows instead and makes the diving tag off to Big E. The Warrior Splash crushes Anderson but he knees Big E. in the face to block the spear through the ropes. Gallows comes in off another tag and the Boot of Doom gets two with Kofi having to dive in for a save. It's back to Kofi, who dives right into a spinebuster for two more.
Anderson and Gallows are a step ahead of them here and it's working really well. A chokeslam plants Kofi but he gets out of the Magic Killer. Big E. tags himself back in and it's Trouble in Paradise into the Big Ending but Gallows pulls Big E. out at the last second. Kofi dives onto Gallows and Woods gets in a Francesca shot, setting up the Midnight Hour to retain the titles at 6:38.
WWE Network ad, including Hulk Hogan.
We recap the Cruiserweight Title match which doesn't have much of a story. TJ Perkins won the title in the Cruiserweight Classic and Brian Kendrick won a four way on Monday to get the shot.
Perkins says he's nervous but knows what it takes to get here. Kendrick knows the same thing but TJ is confident he's keeping his title. WHY WAS THIS NOT ON RAW????
Cruiserweight Title: TJ Perkins vs. Brian Kendrick
Kendrick is challenging. Perkins comes out to a video game style theme as we hear about Kendrick driving Perkins to wrestling lessons because TJ didn't have a driver's license yet. They trade waistlock takedowns to start and Kendrick slows it down with a headlock. The threat of a kneebar sends Kendrick bailing to the ropes and the floor.
TJ goes after the veteran and gets caught in a veteran move as Kendrick ties him up in the ring skirt. Back in and TJ grabs a Muta Lock but Kendrick drops him throat first across the top rope to start in on the neck. Kendrick stretches on the neck and kicks at the head, only to have TJ come back with a double chickenwing into an atomic drop.
Three Amigos look to set up something on top but Kendrick breaks it up. That's fine with TJ as he dives off the top with a hurricanrana to take Brian from the apron to the floor. Back in again and the Captain's Hook is countered into the kneebar but Brian gets out and grabs Sliced Bread #2. Perkins pops back up and hits a modified enziguri to set up the kneebar to retain at 10:32.
Post match Perkins gets interview time but Kendrick comes in for a handshake, which turns into a headbutt to the champ.
Cesaro is ready for the final match in the best of seven series. Aren't we all.
We look back at matches 1-6.
Sheamus vs. Cesaro
It's the final match in the best of seven series and the winner gets a championship opportunity, whatever that's going to mean. Sheamus starts fast with some right hands but gets uppercut off the apron. The uppercut train makes things worse for Sheamus so he goes for the bad shoulder to take over. A top rope clothesline gets two on Cesaro but he stops a charging Sheamus by raising a boot.
Cesaro's DDT gets two and he actually follows it up with a 619 of all things. Well that's fresh. Three straight Irish Curses get two for Sheamus and we hit the Cloverleaf. The Brogue Kick is countered into the Swing which sets up the Sharpshooter to make Sheamus scream. Unfortunately it doesn't make him tap (meaning the feud would be over) so Cesaro kicks him out to the floor instead.
There's a suicide dive and both guys are down with Cesaro LANDING ON HIS HEAD. He's all shaken up (understandably so) but the Brogue Kick still only gets two. The Neutralizer gets the same so they do the big slugout with Cesaro getting the better of it, only to have Sheamus pull himself to the top.
Cesaro is right there with a dropkick and they head to the top with Cesaro falling off but catching a diving Sheamus with an uppercut. White Noise on the floor has Cesaro in even more trouble but he posts Sheamus and sends him over the barricade. Both guys are stunned and somehow this isn't a countout yet. Cesaro's arm is banged up and the match is a no contest at 16:49.
Sheamus has to be carried to the back as Cesaro wants to keep fighting.
Charlotte laughs at Bayley for thinking she belongs here when Bayley can't even beat Sasha.
Sami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho
Not much of a story to this one other than Sami wanting to fight Jericho, who is Owens' friend. Sami gets going a bit too fast with a right hand in the corner but gets punched in the face for his efforts. They head outside with Sami hitting the moonsault off the barricade but the referee accidentally blocks Sami from getting back in, allowing Jericho to get in the springboard dropkick.
Another quick beating on the floor sets up a chinlock on Sami but he fights up and hits his big flip dive to the floor. Back in and a Michinoku Driver gets two for Sami, only to have Jericho score with a step up enziguri. The Lionsault hits knees so Sami sends him outside for the diving DDT. Sami misses a Helluva Kick though and has to counter the Walls into a small package. The Blue Thunder Bomb gets another near fall so Jericho grabs a Codebreaker for the quick pin at 15:19.
Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley give Owens a pep talk. Owens is going to do what matters tonight: try to impress HHH. Oh and show that Rollins is the mistake instead of the man.
We recap the Women's Title match with Charlotte defending against Bayley and Sasha Banks. Charlotte injured Sasha and took the title at Summerslam but Bayley debuted and pinned the champ. A triple threat #1 contenders match was inconclusive so here's another triple threat for the title.
Raw Women's Title: Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Bayley
Charlotte, with Dana Brooke in her corner, is defending and Sasha takes her straight to the floor to take over. Back in and the challengers knock Charlotte outside so it's time for a big standoff. Charlotte gets inside again and is chopped right back down, allowing Sasha to tie her in the Tree of Woe.
Some running knees to the chest have Charlotte in trouble but Bayley takes her down and drops the running knee on Charlotte's chest. Dana finally does something by pulling Bayley to the floor with Charlotte and Sasha quickly following. A hard shot to Sasha's face has Charlotte in control but Sasha comes back with a headscissors and forearms. Bayley comes back in with a crossbody and running shoulders/knees in the corner. A miss sets up Sasha's knees to both of them in the corner with Bayley getting the worst of it.
Sasha gets all serious with the forearms but takes too much time going after Dana, allowing Charlotte to hit an STO of all things. Some near falls are exchanged and all three are down despite only Charlotte taking a big shot in the form of a Bayley to Belly. Charlotte gets double teamed for a bit but is still able to slam both of them down. A great looking double moonsault gets two on each and Natural Selection has Bayley in trouble.
Banks makes the save with the Bank Statement but Dana makes the save, leaving Bayley to grab a rollup for two more. Bayley has to break up another Bank Statement on Charlotte so Sasha puts her in the same hold. This time it's Charlotte with the save and she throws Sasha into the barricade to make it worse. Back in and Charlotte kicks Bayley into Sasha, setting up a big boot to retain the title at 15:32.
Kickoff show recap.
We recap Roman Reigns vs. Rusev. Reigns started going after US Champion Rusev and even ruined his wedding celebration by shoving Lana into a cake. Now normally that would be a heel act but it's Roman Reigns so we'll go with it. The match was scheduled to take place last month but Reigns attacked Rusev before the match. Again: acts of a hero.
US Title: Rusev vs. Roman Reigns
Rusev is defending. They strike it out to start with Rusev being knocked out to the floor. Back in and Rusev gets two off a spinwheel kick as the fans go with LET'S GO RUSEV/RUSEV SUCKS. That's certainly a new one. Now they switch over to the same thing for Reigns which fits a bit better. Some kicks to the ribs have Reigns in trouble but he comes back with clotheslines like any good face would. I mean, Reigns isn't a good face but that's what they do.
Reigns goes shoulder first into the post and the fans chant for CM Punk. Oh come on. We're seven minutes in. There's no way Punk can last that long. Back in and Rusev grabs a waistlock so we get a DELETE chant. A Samoan drop puts Rusev on the floor and Reigns hammers away but realizes this has to be back inside.
Rusev kicks him in the head for two but Reigns comes right back with a Superman Punch. The spear hits so Lana pulls the referee out and gets ejected as a result. Reigns gets in some apron kicks but gets caught in the Accolade. As you might expect, Reigns powers out and hits the spear to win the title at 17:11.
Rollins tells Stephanie and Mick that he's going to prove them wrong.
We recap the main event. Owens won the vacant Universal Title and Rollins was granted a rematch by Mick Foley. The real story here though is which of these two can impress HHH as Owens wants to prove him right but Rollins wants to prove him wrong. In other words: the wrestlers are here for the sake of impressing the bosses because that's how WWE works.
Raw World Title: Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens
Rollins is challenging and has to go after Owens as he heads to the floor early on. The champ is dropped in a heap so Rollins throws him back inside for some chops in the corner. A Blockbuster gets two but it's too early for the Pedigree or the springboard knee. The champ gets smart by kicking Rollins in the knee and hitting a great looking spike DDT. Some kicks to the back get two more and Owens stays on the knee.
A big backdrop over the top sends Rollins down hard onto the knee and Owens follows with a Cactus Elbow. We hit the chinlock and Owens promises to make Rollins fade to black. Owens: “FADE TO BLACK! GET IT???” After some shouting about being the foundation, Owens gets turned inside out with a clothesline. A quick backbreaker gets two for Seth and it's time for the Spanish announce table.
That's for later apparently as Rollins takes him back inside for a Pedigree attempt, only to have Kevin superkick him in the leg. Rollins hits the jumping knee to the head but gets superkicked again. Seth gets in an enziguri before going down though and both guys are stunned. The springboard knee is countered into the pumphandle backbreaker for two on Seth so Owens goes up.
A super gutbuster (ala Dean Malenko) sets up a quick frog splash for two more and both guys are down. Owens takes it back to the floor and sets up the other table. A quick SUCK IT to the referee and another to Rollins sets up a missed backsplash. Back in and Seth gets in a frog splash of his own for a near fall of his own.
Rollins throws in his own SUCK IT and the Pedigree gets two with Chris Jericho coming out to put Owens' foot on the ropes. A chase scene gives us the obvious ref bump and of course Rollins gets the Pedigree a few seconds later. Jericho interferes again but gets sent outside, allowing Seth to hit a suicide dive. Owens takes one as well but here's another referee as Owens hits the Pop Up Powerbomb to retain at 25:09.
Jericho: “WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!”
Results
New Day b. Anderson and Gallows – Midnight Hour to Anderson
TJ Perkins b. Brian Kendrick – Kneebar
Cesaro vs. Sheamus went to a no contest when neither could continue
Chris Jericho b. Sami Zayn – Codebreaker
Charlotte b. Sasha Banks and Bayley – Big boot to Bayley
Roman Reigns b. Rusev – Spear
Kevin Owens b. Seth Rollins – Pop Up Powerbomb
Quick Results
Monday Night Raw
Rusev vs. Seth Rollins went to a double countout
Braun Strowman b. Sin Cara – Powerslam
Charlotte/Dana Brooke b. Bayley/Sasha Banks – Big boot to Bayley
Cesaro b. Sheamus – Neutralizer
New Day/Enzo and Big Cass/Sami Zayn b. Shining Stars/Chris Jericho/Anderson and Gallows – Bada Boom Shaka Lacka to Primo
Brian Kendrick b. Gran Metalik, Rich Swann and Cedric Alexander – Captain's Hook to Alexander
Roman Reigns b. Kevin Owens – Reign escaped the cage
Smackdown
Usos b. American Alpha – Superfly splash to Jordan
Baron Corbin b. Apollo Crews – End of Days
The Miz b. Dolph Ziggler – Skull Crushing Finale
Randy Orton b. Erick Rowan – RKO
Nikki Bella/Naomi b. Carmella/Natalya via DQ when Carmella attacked Nikki on the floor
Dean Ambrose b. John Cena – Sunset flip
NXT
Austin Aries b. Oney Lorcan – Last Chancery
Billie Kay b. Aliyah – Big boot
Cedric Alexander b. Andrade Cien Almas – Lumbar Check
Impact Wrestling
Drew Galloway b. Eddie Edwards via judges' decision
Aron Rex b. Eli Drake – Revelator
DJZ b. Trevor Lee – ZDT
Ethan Carter III/Moose b. Lashley/Mike Bennett – Rollup to Bennett
Clash of Champions 2016
New Day b. Anderson and Gallows – Midnight Hour to Anderson
TJ Perkins b. Brian Kendrick – Kneebar
Cesaro vs. Sheamus went to a no contest when neither could continue
Chris Jericho b. Sami Zayn – Codebreaker
Charlotte b. Sasha Banks and Bayley – Big boot to Bayley
Roman Reigns b. Rusev – Spear
Kevin Owens b. Seth Rollins – Pop Up Powerbomb