Jon

[PPV Recap] ‘WCW Great American Bash 1990: New Revolution’ – Flair vs. Sting, Luger vs. Callous, Doom vs. RNR

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Date: July 7, 1990
Venue: Baltimore Arena (Baltimore, MD)
Commentators: Jim Ross & Bob Caudle

The 1990 edition of The Great American Bash is best remembered for the official crowning of Sting as the top dog in WCW, months after it was initially planned due to a knee injury suffered in January. Have I watched this show a bunch? Yup. Have I recapped this at least twice before? Yup. Is it going to stop me now? Nope.

CHAMPION ROLL-CALL

  • NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair
  • NWA UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
  • NWA WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson
  • NWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Doom (Ron Simmons & “Hacksaw” Butch Reed)
  • NWA UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Midnight Express (“Beautiful” Bobby Eaton & “Sweet” Stan Lane)

THE LINEUP

  • Brian Pillman vs. Buddy Landell (**1/2)
  • Mike Rotunda vs. The Iron Sheik (1/4*)
  • Doug Furnas vs. Dutch Mantell (**)
  • Tommy Rich vs. Harley Race (**1/2)
  • The Midnight Express [c] vs. The Southern Boys for the NWA UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/2)
  • Tom Zenk vs. Big Van Vader (SQUASH)
  • The Steiner Brothers vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (**3/4)
  • El Gigante, Paul Orndorff, & The Junkyard Dog vs. Arn Anderson, Barry Windham, & Sid Vicious (**)
  • Lex Luger [c] vs. Mark Callous for the NWA UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (**3/4)
  • Doom [c] vs. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express for the NWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (***)
  • Ric Flair [c] vs. Sting for the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF King of the Ring 1993’ – Bret Hart vs. Everybody, The End of Hulkamania in the WWF

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Date: June 13, 1993
Venue: Nutter Center (Dayton, OH)
Commentators: Jim Ross, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, & “Macho Man” Randy Savage

The inaugural (PPV version of) King of the Ring features a show-long master class from Bret Hart, the real end of Hulkamania in the WWF, and much more. I’ve revisited this before not too long ago but not on JVPW so let’s do this!

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: Hulk Hogan
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Money Inc. (“The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase & Irwin R. Schyster

LINEUP

  • KOTR QUARTERFINALS: Bret Hart vs. Razor Ramon (***)
  • KOTR QUARTERFINALS: Mr. Perfect vs. Mr. Hughes (*)
  • KOTR QUARTERFINALS: Jim Duggan vs. Bam Bam Bigelow (*)
  • KOTR QUARTERFINALS: Tatanka vs. Lex Luger (**)
  • KOTR Semi-Finals (****1/4)
  • Hulk Hogan [c] vs. Yokozuna for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP (*1/4)
  • The Steiner Brothers & The Smoking Gunns vs. Money Inc. & The Headshrinkers (*1/2)
  • Shawn Michaels [c] vs. Crush for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • KOTR Final (***3/4)

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[Event Recap] ‘NXT TakeOver XXV’ – Gargano/Cole II, Baszler vs. Shirai

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Date: June 1, 2019
Venue: Webster Arena (Bridgeport, CT)
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, & Beth Phoenix

NXT abandons its usual piggybacking of WWE PPVs with NXT TakeOver XXV featuring Johnny Gargano defending his NXT Championship against Adam Cole, Tyler Breeze making his return to challenge Velveteen Dream for the North American Championship, and much more!

CHAMPION ROLL-CALL

  • NXT CHAMPION: Johnny Gargano
  • NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION: The Velveteen Dream
  • NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Shayna Baszler
  • NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: VACANT

THE LINEUP

  • Matt Riddle vs. Roderick Strong (****)
  • LADDER MATCH: The Street Profits vs. The Undisputed Era vs. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch vs. The Forgotten Sons for the vacant NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (***3/4)
  • The Velveteen Dream [c] vs. Tyler Breeze for the NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)
  • Shayna Baszler [c] vs. Io Shirai for the NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/4)
  • Johnny Gargano [c] vs. Adam Cole for the NXT CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/4)

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[PPV Review] ‘WWE WrestleMania XXXV’ – Rousey vs. Flair vs. Lynch, Bryan vs. Kingston, Triple H vs. Batista

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Date: April 7, 2019
Venue: Metlife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
Commentators: Various

WrestleMania XXXV has come and gone, and what a show it was. Did KofiMain run wild? Who came out victorious in the historic first-ever women’s main event? Read my rundown/review to find out.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE CHAMPION: ‘The New’ Daniel Bryan
  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Brock Lesnar
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Bobby Lashley
  • WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION: Samoa Joe
  • WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION: Buddy Murphy
  • WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection (Bayley & Sasha Banks)
  • RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPION: ‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey
  • RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder)
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Charlotte Flair
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso)

LINEUP

  • Brock Lesnar [c] vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/4)
  • AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton (***)
  • The Usos [c] vs. The Bar vs. Rusev & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black for the SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)
  • FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE: The Miz vs. Shane McMahon (***1/4)
  • The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection [c] vs. The IIconics vs. Divas of Doom vs. Nia Jax & Tamina Snuka for the WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Daniel Bryan [c] vs. Kofi Kingston for the WWE CHAMPIONSHIP (****3/4)
  • Samoa Joe [c] vs. Rey Mysterio for the WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP (NR)
  • Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre (**1/2)
  • NO HOLDS BARRED: Triple H vs. Batista (***)
  • Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin (*3/4)
  • Bobby Lashley [c] vs. Finn Balor for the WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Ronda Rousey [RAW] vs. Charlotte Flair [SMACKDOWN] vs. Becky Lynch for the RAW and SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS (****)

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[PPV Review] ‘ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard 2019’ – Okada vs. White, Taven vs. Lethal vs. Scurll, Ibushi vs. Naito

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Date: April 6, 2019
Venue: Madison Square Garden (Manhattan, NY)
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana, & Kevin Kelly

ROH and NJPW combines its forces to present the G1 Supercard, the first non-WWE pro wrestling event to be held in the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden in a very long time. Did both companies bring their A-game? Was I, a man who barely watches either, convinced to put these two companies in the rotation? Let’s find out!

Champion Roll-Call

  • ROH WORLD CHAMPION: Jay Lethal
  • IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: ‘Switchblade’ Jay White
  • ROH WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: Jeff Cobb
  • IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Tetsuya Naito
  • IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: ‘Bone Soldier’ Taiji Ishimori
  • NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPION: ‘The Aerial Assassin’ Will Ospreay
  • WOMEN OF HONOR WORLD CHAMPION: Mayu Iwatani
  • RPW BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Zack Sabre Jr.
  • ROH WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Villain Enterprises (PCO & Brody King)
  • IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa)
  • IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Rappongi 3K (Sho & Yoh)
  • ROH WORLD SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Villain Enterprises (‘The Villain’ Marty Scurll, PCO, & Brody King)

The Lineup

  • Jeff Cobb [c] vs. Will Ospreay [c] for the ROH WORLD TELEVISION and NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS (****1/4)
  • Dalton Castle vs. Rush (NR)
  • Mayu Iwatani [c] vs. Kelly Klein for the WOMEN OF HONOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (*1/4)
  • NYC STREET FIGHT: Juice Robinson, Flip Gordon, & Mark Haskins vs. Bully Ray, Silas Young, & Shane Taylor (**)
  • Taiji Ishimori [c] vs. Dragon Lee vs. Bandido for the IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (****)
  • Villain Enterprises [c] vs. Guerrillas of Destiny [c] vs. The Briscoes vs. Los Ingobernables de Jopon for the ROH WORLD TAG TEAM and IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS (***)
  • Zack Sabre Jr. [c] vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the RPW BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***3/4)
  • Tetsuya Naito [c] vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/2)
  • LADDER MATCH: Jay Lethal [c] vs. Marty Scurll vs. Matt Taven for the ROH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (**3/4)
  • Jay White [c] vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)

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[PPV Review] ‘NXT TakeOver: New York’ – Gargano vs. Cole, Dream vs. Riddle, Dunne vs. WALTER

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Date: April 5, 2019
Venue: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, & Percy Watson

It’s WrestleMania 35 weekend, which means it’s time for NXT to throw down with the latest edition of TakeOver. This one is for all the marbles too as FIVE championships on the line, including the United Kingdom Championship which yes is still a thing how dare you. Did NXT once again lay it all on the line and potentially outshine the main roster? Read on to find out (but I mean it’s pretty obvious).

CHAMPIONS

  • NXT CHAMPION: VACANT
  • NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION: The Velveteen Dream
  • NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Shayna Baszler
  • NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The War Raiders (Hanson & Rowe)

LINEUP

  • The War Raiders [c] vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black for the NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/2)
  • The Velveteen Dream [c] vs. Matt Riddle for the NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP (***3/4)
  • Pete Dunne [c] vs. WALTER for the WWE UNITED KINGDOM CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/2)
  • Shayna Baszler [c] vs. Bianca Belair vs. Io Shirai vs. Kairi Sane for the NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)

  • 2 OUT OF 3 FALLS: Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole for the vacant NXT CHAMPIONSHIP

    (****)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF WrestleMania VIII’ – Hogan vs. Sid, Savage vs. Flair, Piper vs. Hart

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Date: April 5, 1992
Venue: The Hoosier Dome (Indianapolis, IN)
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan

WrestleMania VIII features a “double main event” as Ric Flair defends the WWF Championship against Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan takes on Sid Justice in Hogan’s “final match”. Lots of quotations going on here folks. Also on the show Roddy Piper defends the Intercontinental Championship against Bret Hart, a newly babyface Undertaker faces off against former friend Jake Roberts, and much more! I don’t think I’ve watched this since the live PPV and I was five back then, so let’s see how it holds up now.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Money Inc. (‘The Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase & IRS)

LINEUP

  • Tito Santana vs. Shawn Michaels (***)
  • The Undertaker vs. Jake Roberts (*¼)
  • Roddy Piper [c] vs. Bret Hart for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (***¾)
  • Jim Duggan, Sgt. Slaughter, Big Boss Man, & Virgil vs. The Mountie, Repo Man, & The Nasty Boys (*½)
  • Ric Flair [c] vs. Randy Savage for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP (****)
  • Tatanka vs. Rick Martel (**)
  • Money Inc. [c] vs. The Natural Disasters for the WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (¾*)
  • Owen Hart vs. Skinner (NR)
  • Hulk Hogan vs. Sid Justice (DUD)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWF WrestleMania VII’ – Hogan vs. Slaughter, Warrior vs. Savage

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Date: March 24, 1991
Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (Los Angeles, CA)
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon & Various

The 7th annual WrestleMania features the FIGHT FOR AMERICA as Hulk Hogan challenges turncoat Sgt. Slaughter for the WWF Championship. Also on the show The Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage meet in a Retirement Match, Jake Roberts takes on Rick Martel in an infamous (for the wrong reasons) Blindfold Match, and also seven hundred other matches. It’s another beefy boi of a card, so strap in.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWF CHAMPION: Sgt. Slaughter
  • WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Mr. Perfect
  • WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Hart Foundation (Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart & Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart)

LINEUP

  • The Rockers vs. Haku & The Barbarian (***½)
  • Kerry Von Erich vs. Dino Bravo (*)
  • Davey Boy Smith vs. The Warlord (**)
  • The Hart Foundation [c] vs. The Nasty Boys for the WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**½)
  • BLINDFOLD MATCH: Jake Roberts vs. Rick Martel (*¾)
  • Jimmy Snuka vs. The Undertaker (*½)
  • RETIREMENT MATCH: The Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage (****¼)
  • Genichiro Tenryu & Koji Kitao vs. Demolition (*)
  • Mr. Perfect [c] vs. The Big Boss Man for the WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Greg Valentine vs. Earthquake (*)
  • The Legion of Doom vs. Power & Glory (NR)
  • Virgil vs. Ted DiBiase (**)
  • Tito Santana vs. The Mountie (NR)
  • Sgt. Slaughter [c] vs. Hulk Hogan for the WWF CHAMPIONSHIP (***)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWE Fastlane 2019’ – The Shield’s Final (LOL) Stand, Becky vs. Charlotte

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Date: March 10, 2019
Venue: Quicken Loans Arena (Cleveland, OH)
Commentators: Various

WWE moves into the Fastlane en route to next month’s WrestleMania tonight. It’s looking pretty good on paper, as Becky Lynch faces Charlotte Flair for the right to be in the RAW Women’s Championship match next month, Daniel Bryan defends the WWE Championship against Kevin Owens, The Shield reunites for possibly the final time (for now), and much more. Let’s goooo.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE CHAMPION: ‘The New’ Daniel Bryan
  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Brock Lesnar
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Finn Balor
  • WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION: Samoa Joe
  • WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION: Buddy Murphy
  • WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection (Bayley & ‘The Boss’ Sasha Banks)
  • RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPION: ‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey
  • RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder)
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Asuka
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso)

LINEUP

  • The Usos [c] vs. The Miz & Shane McMahon for the SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (***)
  • Asuka [c] vs. Mandy Rose for the SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (*1/2)
  • HANDICAP MATCH: Kofi Kingston vs. The Bar (NR)
  • TRIPLE THREAT MATCH: The Revival [c] vs. Bobby Roode & Chad Gable vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black for the RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (****)
  • FATAL FOUR WAY: Samoa Joe [c] vs. R-Truth vs. Andrade vs. Rey Mysterio for the WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/4)
  • The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection [c] vs. Nia Jax & Tamina Snuka for the WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (*3/4)
  • TRIPLE THREAT MATCH: Daniel Bryan [c] vs. Kevin Owens vs. Mustafa Ali for the WWE CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/4)
  • Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair (*1/2)
  • The Shield vs. Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre, & Bobby Lashley (***3/4)

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[PPV Recap] ‘WWE Elimination Chamber 2019’ – TWO Chamber Matches, 1st Women’s Tag Champs Crowned

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Date: February 17, 2019
Venue: Toyota Center (Houston, TX)
Commentators: Various

The 2019 Elimination Chamber features TWO Elimination Chamber matches, as Daniel Bryan defends the WWE Championship in one while the first-ever WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship is decided in the other. Also on the show Finn Balor challenges for the Intercontinental Championship in a handicap match against Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush, Ronda Rousey defends the RAW Women’s Championship against REAL THREAT Ruby Riott, and more! Hopefully it won’t be seventy hours long, but you never know.

CHAMPIONS

  • WWE CHAMPION: ‘The New’ Daniel Bryan
  • WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: Brock Lesnar
  • WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Bobby Lashley
  • WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION: R-Truth
  • WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION: Buddy Murphy
  • WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: VACANT
  • RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPION: ‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey
  • RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder)
  • SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Asuka
  • SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Miz & Shane McMahon

LINEUP

  • ELIMINATION CHAMBER: The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection vs. The Riott Squad vs. Nia Jax & Tamina Snuka vs. Naomi & Carmella vs. Sonya Deville & Mandy Rose vs. The IIconics for the WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (****)
  • The Miz & Shane McMahon [c] vs. The Usos for the SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/2)
  • HANDICAP MATCH: Bobby Lashley [c] & Lio Rush vs. Finn Balor for the WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/4)
  • Ronda Rousey [c] vs. Ruby Riott for the RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP (SQUASH)
  • No-Disqualification Match: Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin (1/2*)
  • Elimination Chamber: Daniel Bryan [c] vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Samoa Joe vs. Kofi Kingston for the WWE CHAMPIONSHIP (****3/4)

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