NXT Recap & News

As I've stated numerous times already, I look forward to Thursday nights on the WWE Network as it's always a lot of  fun for me. Tonight was no different as Total Divas and NXT aired as they normally would. However, Superstars would be held off until this afternoon and the incredible Ultimate Warrior Original Special would air in its place at 10pm.

Starting with Total Divas is cool. Now, I've seen both seasons with my girlfriend but we still go back and watch the episodes that run again on the WWE Network. Tonight's involved a fight between Jimmy/John Uso and Naomi/Trinity. It wasn't one of the episodes that I particularly liked so I don't have much to comment on it. However, I leave you with some Bella Twin booty.

Onto NXT, which is always rather glorious.Things started with the Divas division, which is superb. Bayley faced Summer Rae in a number one contender's match. Renee Young looked spectacular on commentary as usual. The crowd turned an old chant that I remember as "Taz is gonna kill you" from ECW, into "Bayley's gonna hug you" which was just great. Both girls brought it and got a good amount of time before Summer won. It looks like the former BBFs will be meeting for the NXT Women's Championship. Where is my Sasha Banks in all of this though?

Next, Sin Cara went one on one with Wesley Blake in a match that did nothing for me. I've never been a big Sin Cara fan and Blake did not impress me. Sin Cara won in a few minutes but the best part for me was that a tweet of mine appeared on screen for the second straight week! It read that I would give Bayley and all of her wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men big hugs. I would. The Vaudevillains appeared and were awesome as usual.

Bull Dempsey competed again and knocked off Angelo Dawkins. I like Bull's old school gimmick but he doesn't do much for me just yet. Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel formed International Airstrike again, though not with the name, and took on NXT Champion Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn in the main event. It was a really good match as Zayn and Neville seem incapable of having bad matches. Kidd received "Nattie's Husband" chants again, which is a clever move. He accidentally knocked Natalya off the apron and faked concern so he could roll up Sami Zayn, who showed real concern, to win. HEELDOM!

Overall, this wasn't the strongest episode of NXT as two of the matches were skippable but the opening Divas match and the main event were both strong. I did not watch the Ultimate Warrior documentary again, but if you haven't seen it, it's totally worth checking out. Not only is it a tear jerker, but it's a great look back on his career and his return just days before his untimely death. 

There is not much on the news front right now but the big story is that Daniel Bryan might require another surgery and could be out for a lot longer than expected. He's been taken out of any of the WWE's upcoming plans and this is surely a blow. He reaches the peak at WrestleMania XXX and gets married, but everything has fallen apart since then. His dad passed away, Connor the Crusher passed away and now he ends up with a huge injury. Hopefully he comes back just as strong as he left and gets the same love from the fans that he was getting before the injury. Get well soon Dragon.

Lastly, Renee Young is supposedly being groomed as a future Smackdown and possibly Raw commentator. She's recently been promoted to Superstars but this is huge. I would love to hear her weekly on the bigger shows as she's fun on NXT and Superstars. She's someone that I greatly prefer to Michael Cole and Jerry "The King" Lawler. While the commentary on NXT is great, the main roster desperately needs something to fix the awful commentary and I hope Renee Young is that jolt.

Well, that's all for now folks. There will be a new WWE Network review up later. To quote Bully Ray, I've decided to start using DA TWITTAH MACHINE more lately so follow me there and on Tumblr.

@the_kevstaa
Tumblr

Random Network Reviews: Guilty as Charged 2000

Guilty as Charged 2000
1/9/00 – Boutwell Memorial Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama

2000 was a wonderful time to be a wrestling fan. I was ten years old and loved the WWF but I was actually partial to ECW. I would go to my first and only ECW show in the summer of 2000 and hearing that their shows would be available on the WWE Network got me pretty excited. Despite that, I've had the Network now for a few months and I haven't really watched any of their Pay-Per-Views except for two or three. Let's jump in and see what ECW was up to at the start of the new millennium.

Joey Styles and Cyrus “The Virus” are in the ring to welcome the fans to the show. Cyrus is in full “Network” mode tonight. Joel “The Quintessential Studmuffin” Gertner interrupts to a big pop. “If I wasn't right here in Birmingham, I'd be licking Heather Locklear and porking Heather Graham.” He continues with some very vulgar comments. He literally only came out to say his piece and he leaves before the intro video plays. Styles plugs the “Hardcore Revolution” video game, which I waited in line to buy that year. I met Tommy Dreamer and Rob Van Dam then so that was cool. My mom took me out of school that day for that so thank you mom. 

CW Anderson w/ Lou E. Dangerously and Bill Wiles d. Mikey Whipwreck in 4:41
Big fan of CW Anderson and Whipwreck was kind of going through the motions before dying his hair red and joining the Unholy Alliance with Tajiri and the Sinister Minister. I never really got the Lou E. Dangerously gimmick. I know it was a Paul Heyman parody...but they never explained why. Wiles jumps in instantly but it backfires like four times before he exits. Whipwreck takes a tough bump outside before CW takes control inside. The most impressive single arm DDT that I've ever seen gets CW a near fall. Mikey comes back with a Russian leg sweep and a flying clothesline but doesn't get three. He tries a backslide but CW nails him with a stiff left hand. Mikey hits the Whipper Snapper from out of nowhere but Lou E pulls out the official. Wiles enters and hits a body slam on Mikey and CW still only gets two. Whipper Snapper on Wiles, but a shot from Dangerously's cell phone and an Anderson spinebuster ends it. That wasn't very good and it did nothing for CW Anderson. *1/2

Danny Doring, Roadkill and Simon Diamond w/ Mitch and Elektra d. Nova, Kid Kash and Jazz in 9:58
The WWE Network dubbed generic music sucks but I understand why it's happening. I don't remember Elektra with Doring and Roadkill at all. Doring overpowers Jazz and is very proud of himself, but Jazz comes back and earns a near fall. Roadkill and Kash tag in and I was a HUGE Kash mark. He's wrestling with a broken jaw which is badass. Some double team moves for the faces work until Dick comes out. Simon hugs his Dick until Kash dives to take them out. Plenty of Dick jokes are being made as Jazz chokes him. Nova hits a new move and they reference how you'll see it on Monday night tomorrow. Nova did have some cool moves. Jazz, Simon, Dick and Kash all fight to the back, leaving Doring and Roadkill to take Nova apart. Nova kicks out of everything as his former partner, Chris Chetti arrives and gets in Nova's corner. Chetti gets the tag and dominates before we get everyone diving outside. The referee doesn't like that, so he dives out onto everyone. I kid you not. Back in the ring, Roadkill pins Chetti. Not bad, but it was a clusterfuck. Kept me entertained though. **1/2

Bo Dupp and Jack Dupp, THE DUPPS, arrive and beat down on Roadkill and Chris Chetti until Nova and Danny Doring chase them with chairs.

Mike Awesome and Judge Jeff Jones cut a promo in the back about Awesome beating up on Spike Dudley's girlfriend. 

Between this and Steve Austin hitting Molly Holly with a Stunner, girls should stay away from Spike. Mike Awesome was an effin beast. Like seriously. I see why Jeff Jones was his mouthpiece. Cut to Spike and his girlfriend and she's really missing teeth. He curses a lot and says that he's going to hurt Mike Awesome. 

Dream Partner Tag Team Match
Yoshihiro Tajiri and Super Crazy w/ Steve Corino d. Little Guido and Jerry Lynn w/ Big Sal in 12:37
HES SUPER! HES CRAZY! HES SUPER CRAZY and he is super over. Steve Corino confuses everyone when he puts the two guys who were supposed to pick partners, on the same team. Little Guido shows up saying he wants to wrestle and Paul Heyman comes out to curse out Corino and everyone. He picks Jerry Lynn and that's how this match comes about. Fun standoff between Crazy and Lynn is appreciated by the fans. Tajiri and Guido now enter and do some mat wrestling of their own. Tajiri and Lynn go for some and its surprisingly sloppy. The action spills outside as Tajiri hits a sweet moonsault. As he baseball slides into Lynn, HES SUPER! HES CRAZY! HES SUPER CRAZY! Hits a balcony moonsault onto Guido. Lynn hits a sunset flip bomb for two. Tajiri and Crazy work together even though one speaks Spanish and other Japanese. Things break down and everyone attacks their partners, allowing Tajiri to put down Lynn with a BRAINBUSTAAA! Action packed and never a dull moment even if the booking was strange. ***

Steve Corino, Jack “High Spot” Victory and somebody who I can't quite put my finger on, beat down on Lynn. Corino runs down Dusty Rhodes and the BULL OF THE WOODS HIMSELF shows up behind him. Bionic Elbows for the world as he takes out everyone. Rhino shows up and ruins all of the fun. They put the boots to the American Dream until the locker room comes to the rescue. Even the heels because kayfabe means nothing when it comes to a legend. 

I used to think New Jack was cool until I learned about the terrible things that he's done. Anyway, he cuts a promo about his friend stabbing him in the ass with a knife and him leaving it there for a week. Somehow this ties back to him wanting to beat up Da Baldies. 

Angel w/ Devito and Vic spams d. New Jack in 8:48
Oh WWE Network, dubbing over New Jack's original Ice Cube theme is necessary but awful. To be honest, if you've seen one New Jack match, you've seen them all. He's a horrible wrestler and this is just him beating the crap out of Da Baldies with every weapon imaginable. New Jack hits his trademark spot off the balcony but still manages to lose to Angel again. I remember originally watching this whole feud and hating it. The heels just kept going over and, actually, no heel has lost so far tonight. Interesting. *

Bill Alfonso is shown earlier tonight backstage annoying the hell out of everyone. He goes into RVD's locker room and it's very clear that Van Dam just finished smoking. He clearly looks like he was too. He hits us with a gem, “Is Mexico in our continent? Find out Fonzie.” He brags the rest of the way to end the promo. Alfonso finds Sabu, who is already in full ring gear. Alfonso promotes Sabu the same way he did RVD. I feel like I saw this same storyline at WrestlePalooza 1998. And right as I type that, they add that if Sabu loses, he will walk out. 

ECW World Television Championship
Rob Van Dam (c) d. Sabu in 18:40 to retain the title
RVD's generic music sucks, couldn't they have given him “One of a Kind?” RVD wins the first exchange between the former Tag Team Champions. He nails his ridiculous cartwheel back flip for a near fall after some brawling outside. Sabu launches RVD off the top and into the guardrail. Sabu follows with leap into the crowd that he misses for the most part. Sabu sets up a table outside, which gives RVD time to recover and hit a corkscrew guillotine leg drop from the apron. Always liked that move. The spots are coming fast as RVD somersaults over the top and to Sabu outside. Sabu takes control due to RVD's need to showboat and splashes him through the table outside. Back inside, things have evened out. Alfonso gives each guy a chair and they duke it out with them, RVD misses the Van Daminator and Sabu throws the chair into his face. Camel clutch from Sabu followed by a leg drop. ECW has the nerve to do a referee spot as Sabu takes him out and hits the triple jump moonsault. The referee is up rather quickly and RVD fakes a Van Daminator only to hit one anyway. RVD thinks Five Star Frog Splash but Sabu stops it and goes for a top rope hurricanrana. RVD blocks it and hits the split legged moonsault for two. RVD wants a chair from Alfonso but he won't give it to him or Sabu, so he does what everyone has wanted to do since Beulah did it and he takes out Alfonso with a Van Daminator. He blocks a move from Sabu, hits the Five Star and retains the Television Championship. Mostly a spot fest but a fun one with the story of Alfonso not being able to pick sides. Some botches hurt the score a bit. ***

The Impact Players cut a promo in the back with Dawn Marie and Jason. Lance Storm channels Daft Punk and says that they're harder, better, faster, stronger than Tommy Dreamer and Raven. “That's not just the coolest, that's not just the best, that's from Calgary, Alberta, Canada...now that my friends is Justin Credible.” I loved this team and that sign off. 

ECW World Tag Team Championship
The Impact Players w/ Dawn Marie and Jason d. Tommy Dreamer and Raven w/ Francine in 10:38 to win the titles
Francine is dressed like a total whore. Cyrus calls both her and Dawn Marie, the hottest woman on the planet. Brawl to begin because this is ECW. They continue to sell Tommy Dreamer wrestling with herniated discs in his back. The Impact Players get tosses off of the stage and trough tables before the Champions pose together. Seeing Dreamer and Raven on the same side will always seem wrong. In the ring the Champions bust out a double team move as the match has calmed down. Dreamer ducks a superkick from Credible only to get one from Storm. The crowd pops hard for a regular near fall because Francine got on the apron and bent over. Storm gets thrown headfirst into a chair for two. Justin gets heat by going for a headlock over using the steel chair. Dreamer hits a neckbreaker onto the chair so not a good idea Justin. Match breaks down into a brawl again as Dreamer and Raven dropkick chairs into the challengers. Justin nails That's Incredible but Raven kicks out. Tommy then kicks out of a piledriver and then back body drops Storm through a table, though he only breaks it with his feet. Catfight busts out between Dawn and Francine and ends with a bronco buster. Raven pushes Francine out of the way of getting hit with the singapore cane and That's Incredible ends it. See Raven? Don't help the ladies, it cost you the straps. Typical ECW brawl and this wasn't bad. **

Some backstage interviewer that I've never heard of catches up with Steve Corino, Rhino and Jack Victory in the parking lot. They brag about what they did to Dusty Rhodes. Rhino uses foul language and I hope he doesn't kiss his mother with that mouth. He stakes his claim for the ECW World Heavyweight Title. 

ECW World Heavyweight Championship
Mike Awesome (c) w/ Judge Jeff Jones d. Spike Dudley in 14:22
Spike Dudley is billed as the Giant Killer, but to be honest, I don't think he should be in a main event. He sets up tables all around the ring. Spike is press slammed from the ring through a table outside before Awesome even takes off his belt. He gets in the ring and is hip tossed through two tables outside. This might get ugly. Awesome continues the abuse because Spike continues to kick out. Spike reverses an Awesome Bomb with an ugly hurricanrana and hits the Acid Drop on the guardrail. He continues to botch by missing a suicide dive. The crowd chants you fucked up and Awesome starts chanting it with them. Top rope hurricanrana doesn't effect Awesome who hits Spike with a lariat. Awesome leaps from the ring to the crowd in an impressive display, but the concrete is soaked from beer and Awesome slips hard when he lands. Spike is still alive as he hits the Acid Drop through a table outside. He goes for another one and is thrown through a table. So, this has been Awesome beating the hell out of Spike for more than ten minutes. He tries to fight more but an Awesome Bomb off the top through a table mercifully ends that. A really, really long squash. I get that Spike was the fighting underdog who wouldn't give up, but this shouldn't have gone on last. *3/4

Overall: 4/10; I remember enjoying every ECW Pay-Per-View but this didn't hold up. The main event is lackluster, there's a lot of filler and even RVD's match wasn't up to par. Plus, with the exception of RVD/Sabu, which featured two faces, all heels won here. All in all, this is a relatively skippable show. My next Random Network Review will be none other than In Your House: Beware of Dog.

Top 10 Thursday: Things About the WWE Network

Unfortunately, I was unable to get any requests for my Top Ten Thursday so I decided to go with one of my own. I didn't want to do one that the WWE Countdown show has done so far and I didn't want to do a huge one like "Top Ten Superstars". In the end, I chose to do the "Top Ten Things About the WWE Network" since I've been enjoying it immensely since February.

10. Chris Benoit

Now, this may not be the most popular choice but it's something I've liked seeing on the WWE Network. Chris Benoit was among my favorite wrestlers during his career and the above moment at WrestleMania XX with Eddie Guerrero was something special. However, we all know what went down in 2007 and since then, the WWE has not made mention of Benoit and have not really released any of his matches on DVD. So, with the WWE Network, going back and watching Chris Benoit has been awesome. Whether it's on ECW Hardcore TV, WCW Pay-Per-Views or all over WWE shows from 2000-2007, getting to see one of the best ever is classic and something that I cherish.

9. Original Specials

This would be higher if there were more. The WWE Network Original Specials have been great. The "Journey to WrestleMania: Daniel Bryan" was an outstanding documentary even if it was about an hour long. It gave an in-depth look into Bryan's career including stuff from before he signed with the WWE. The Ultimate Warrior one was just as amazing during the Network's special "Warrior Week" following the Hall of Famer's untimely death. The Vickie Guerrero Countdown was decent, but according to the schedule for the upcoming week, there will be a Special on the WrestleMania 13 classic between Steve Austin and Bret Hart. If that's anywhere as good as it can be, it'll be must see television. 

8. Legends House

Reality TV done right. I grew up watching Roddy Piper, Jim Duggan, Mean "BY GAWD" Gene and the rest of the cast of Legends House. The first season is already over and there's rumors of not doing a second season but that would be a travesty. Legends House was hilarious, just look at the above GIF. Where else would see a LARPing Roddy Piper? Despite it being funny as hell a lot of the time, the show hit home with a lot of emotion. Especially the final episode where each cast member revealed a heart-breaking story and Pat Patterson came out of the closet officially. All in all, it was a great part of my Thursday nights and I miss it. Plus, that Ashley <3. The former Pussycat Doll looked great on every episode.

7. Legends of Wrestling Roundtable

These Legends of Wrestling Roundtables were a big part of the old WWE 24/7 Classics on Demand service and they've moved over to the WWE Network. While they have yet to add any new ones, the old ones are incredibly entertaining. Usually featuring guys like Jim Ross, Michael Hayes, Tazz, Mick Foley, Eric Bischoff and more, the viewer gets a lot of insight into the backstage workings of the industry. We are treated to a lot of stories that we've never heard before. It's also funny how most of the legends on this show smoke cigars during these. Some of my favorites include Monday Night Wars, Monday Night Raw, Heatseekers and the nWo. The only thing I want, is for new ones to emerge. They can't be too expensive to film.

6. Raw Replays

Starting with the very episode on my 3rd birthday, January 11th, 1993 and continuing through early 1995 as of today, the WWE Network has been uploading every episode in the history of Monday Night Raw. For those keeping track, there has been over 1100 episodes. Slowly going through the early years has allowed me to re-watch these and it's a ton of fun. Add in that they upload "Best of Raw" episodes from random years like '98, '01 or '06 and every Raw since 2012 and there is a lot of enjoy. Let's not forget that while it's not Raw in particular, the "Best of Smackdown" episodes, every single Clash of the Champions, Hardcore TV and Saturday Night's Main Event. There's so much to watch and so much to upload like Nitro, Thunder, Livewaire, Superstars, etc.

5. WWE Countdown

There are a lot of WWE Network original shows, including Legends House that I mentioned earlier and WrestleMania Rewind. However, there is none that I enjoy more than WWE Countdown. As a sucker for top ten lists, I knew I'd enjoy this. Some episodes are hit or miss, but the very best part of this show isn't even seeing what number one is each week. It's the talking head segments with the Superstars/personalities. Seeing non-wrestling people like ESPN's Michelle Beadle or comedian Judah Friedlander is cool. However, getting to see people like Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Cesaro, Renee Young or AJ Lee talk, you can tell how they were big fans growing up. It's a blast to see them mark like we do.

4. Main Event

Before the WWE Network, Main Event was a pre-recorded show that was skippable along with Superstars. However, when the live stream for NXT Arrival (the first live event on the Network) went out, WWE knew they needed to test more live shows before WrestleMania. Enter Main Event. It would now air live on Tuesday nights at 8PM and because it was now live, it became must see television. It actually has probably surpassed Smackdown as the B show. Not only are you treated to an hour of good wrestling, but you also get big announcements like Seth Rollins informing the fans of the second Money in the Bank match. The WWE having to test more live streams has turned Main Event into my second favorite weekly show and I tend to enjoy it more than Raw.

3. Live Pay-Per-Views

At a price tag of $60 per event, I would never order all 12 of the WWE Pay-Per-Views in a calendar year. I'd normally get Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, Money in the Bank and SummerSlam. However, with the events being included in my $9.99 per month subscription, I've watched every Pay-Per-View on the WWE Network. WrestleMania, Extreme Rules, Payback and Money in the Bank. You can't beat that price and the quality has been good for the live stream. Also, nearly every show has been really good to great, though the recent Money in the Bank was the worst of the Network era. Getting to see every Pay-Per-View and not having to pay $60 for each is amazing.

2. Archived Pay-Per-Views

Since getting the WWE Network, I've been having a tremendous time going through the archived Pay-Per-Views. Some of them I had on DVD like the SummerSlam and Royal Rumble collections, but getting to see things like classic WCW, ECW and WWE shows in high definition can't be beat. I can go back and watch Canadian Stampede, Starrcade or November to Remember any time that I want. I've been using this feature to write my reviews and I've yet to even scratch the surface of the amount of Pay-Per-Views. Over 400 events keeps things fresh and allows me to watch some absolute classics. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin? Check. Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker? Check. Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat? Check.

1. NXT

Thursday nights are my favorite nights for the WWE Network and NXT is the main reason why. Yes, there's Legends House/Total Divas and Superstars with Renee Young but NXT is amazing. Their Arrival and TakeOver Specials are must see things on the Network and the amount of talent down there is insane. Sami Zayn, Tyler Breeze, Adrian Neville, Sasha Banks, Bayley and so many more. Even people who have left NXT like Paige, Emma, Bo Dallas and Big E were awesome. The presentation, talent, booking and just everything about NXT is special and something that I'm so glad to be able to watch. I look forward to seeing NXT each and every week and I can't wait until they deliver another special. Easily the  best thing going in the WWE.

Through the Years: Survivor Series 2001 Review

Survivor Series 2001
November 18th, 2001 – Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina

The infamous ending to the incredibly underwhelming Invasion storyline. I do however have a soft spot for Survivor Series Pay-Per-Views and matches so I hope that this show still turns out to be solid even though the outcome of the main event is very telegraphed. 

European Championship
Christian (c) d. Al Snow in 6:32 to retain the title
Oh, how I absolutely love the European Championship. Christian says hello to his fans in South Carolina, which draws him some cheap heat. Al Snow had the Maven theme here as Tough Enough had just ended. Referee Teddy Long is surely disappointed that he's not officiating a tag team match, playa. Christian starts in control as the fans chant “We want Edge.” A headlock of DOOM is followed by a fist fight and suplex from the future Captain Charisma. The crowd is not really feeling Al Snow, surely there were others on the roster that were more over but that damn Tough Enough needed to be promoted. Christian runs into a poor looking powerbomb by Snow, but then hits the Unprettier. He trash talks and gets pulled into a small package but kicks out. Snowplow gets hit but Christian gets his foot on the ropes. Honestly, too much offense for Snow as Christian is looking weak. A second Unprettier, which beats the Killswitch name, ends it. Decent opener, and the false finishes help. **1/4

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Debra arrive and the Alliance cry like babies that Austin wouldn't call them back. Stephanie McMahon looks very hot as usual. They're worried that Austin is turning back to the WWF but he assures them that he's not. Austin's watch tells him that the Alliance is being paranoid. 

Vince McMahon tells Linda McMahon that the WWF is in good shape and will win because he's a risk taker. He curses to get a pop from the crowd too. Nerdy Michael Cole arrives for comments and Vince is confident. William Regal arrives and badmouths the McMahons, but Vince would have the last laugh when Regal kissed his ass. Literally. 

William Regal d. Tajiri in 2:58
Somehow, just because Tajiri and Regal were friends, Tajiri was his protege. Stiff kicks in the beginning bust Regal's nose open quickly. They botch the Tarantula so Regal sends him into the opposite corner so they get it right the second time. Tajiri hits the handspring elbow, much better than how Torrie Wilson does it, but only gets two. Regal ties Tajiri up in the ropes by the neck in a pretty sick visual. An enziguri puts both men down, but when they get up, Regal connects with a Butterfly suplex to win. Good for what it was, but why they only got three minutes is strange. This was a good Raw match but if it's that short, it shouldn't have been on Pay-Per-View. **

Torrie Wilson runs out to a big pop, so William Regal turns around and plants her with the butterfly suplex. William Regal, all about equality in men and women since 1968.

In the back, Test tells makeup lady Janet that she needs to be better when applying oil on him because he needs to shine out there. She looks thrilled at this. In a bit of foreshadowing, Stacy Keibler comes up and flirts with him before caressing Test's booty. Jonathan Coachman interviews Edge, who talks about their similarities including their odd first names. Pretty funny and short. 

Intercontinental and United States Championship Unification Match
Edge (c) d. Test (c) in 11:18 to unify the titles
Test and Edge went through the Hardcore, Intercontinental and United States Titles in a span of weeks to get here. I mean, at the last Pay-Per-View, Edge was IC Champion. I truly miss the WCW United States Title design. It was simple and sweet. Off to a solid start as Test uses his power to hold serve on Edge. Baseball slide from Edge and a swinging neckbreaker back inside put him in control. EDDIE GILBERT hot shot from Test which is a spot I always dig. He follows that with some shots in the corner and the tortuous rear chinlock. He uses a power slam and dodges a cross body before sitting Edge in the corner. Edge stops the superplex and tries a sunset bomb, but Test stops it. Test leaps off and eats a mid-air dropkick. Slug fest follows that Edge wins even though he's about half a foot smaller. Edge reverses the Pump Handle Slam into the Edge-O-Matic for two and Test Spears Edge for two. Test misses a big boot, Edge misses a Spear and Test hits the pump handle but Edge gets his shoulder up. Powerbomb reversed into a hurricanrana followed by a Spear gets Edge a near fall. A fancy series of reversals allows Edge to win with a victory roll. Started slow and a bit awkward but got really good at the end. ***

Stephanie McMahon, in her infinite hotness, whines to Kurt Angle about the possibility of losing tonight because she'll have to become a regular person. Kurt gives her a pep talk. Meanwhile, Lita talks to Jeff Hardy about how weird Matt has been acting. He shows up and says he's fine. When they leave, Trish Stratus comes out of the room that Matt was just in. I honestly have no clue where this storyline went, though it is just the Team WWF locker room and both Trish and Matt fit that bill. 

Tag Team Championship Unification Steel Cage Match
The Dudley Boyz (c) w/ Stacy Keibler d. The Hardy Boyz (c) in 15:50 to unify the titles
Oh Stacy Dudley. Damn. It's interesting that there is still a match type that these two hadn't met in up to this point so maybe this will feel fresh. Matt and Bubba Ray start off as this oddly is using tags. I would expect and hope a cage match to be tornado style. Pretty basic boring stuff for the early goings as it's routine with these four by now. Poetry in Motion is hit twice as it looks like things are about to get tornado style. Bubba Bomb and a Russian leg sweep off the top as the Hardys tried to escape pick things up. The Dudleys flapjack Matt into the cage, before they try to throw Jeff there too, but he tries to climb out. They foil that attempt and he takes a Dudleyville Device. The Dudleys beat the hell out of both Hardys now until they both miss high risk maneuvers. I guess that's why they call them high risk right JR? Hardys now in control and they connect with dueling high risk maneuvers for a near fall. Matt tries to escape but gets caught and hung up in the tree of woe at the top of the cage, which has to suck. Stacy gets yelled at to get the table and she flashes Nick Patrick to steal the keys and put the table in the ring. Hardys block 3D and Matt manages to escape. Crowd pops but this leaves Jeff alone. Even so, Jeff makes it to the top of the cage but must already be on drugs because he tries a super Swanton off the cage, but crashes and burns through the table. Bubba drapes an arm over Jeff and the Dudleys unify the belts. Just like Edge/Test, this started slow but really picked up after. All around enjoyable contest and match of the night so far. ***1/2

Mick Foley is Commissioner again somehow, but was told to be at WWF New York instead of at the “most important show in WWF history.” He does comically say that he will ring up a high bill in Vince McMahon's name. Cutting away, Test beats the hell out of Scotty 2 Hotty and takes his spot in the Immunity Battle Royal.

Test wins the Immunity Battle Royal in 7:41
Apparently, the Alliance's theme song is SummerSlam's “Bodies”. I feel that the outcome out of this match would spoil the main event outcome. Interestingly, nearly everyone in this match would keep their job. DDP's smile makes me laugh every single time. With the exception of a few, this could be the “jobber rumble.” Of course, the former Meat is instantly eliminated. Tazz enters after the match starts and, since Austin kicked him out of the Alliance, they aren't sure what side he's on. Ross and Heyman are very sarcastic and at each other's throats. As with most battle royals, nothing of not really happens until things thin out. Faarooq gets eliminated and is all like “DAMN”. Chavo Guerrero and Hugh Morris, who have also been booted from the Alliance, arrive and join the match but don't last long. The final four are Billy Gunn, Bradshaw, Lance Storm and Test. Test throws Storm and Bradshaw over together before hitting Gunn with the big boot to save his job. Nothing special, your basic battle royal. **

Booker T and Shane McMahon are warming up backstage and Booker states that he doesn't trust Steve Austin. Shane pep talks him about Austin being trustworthy. 

Women's Championship Six Pack Challenge
Trish Stratus d. Lita, Jacqueline, Ivory, Mighty Molly and Jazz in 4:20 to win the title
The title is vacant after Chyna left. There's a dude with a Jacqueline sign, I kid you not. Lita and Trish are the hottest two here, with Molly trailing them. But I'm no chauvinist pig so I don't care about that stuff. Molly's superhero walk was pretty perfect. Jazz is a surprise entrant and she slams Lita once the bell rings. Molly asks for a test of strength with Jackie because of her superpowers but Jackie wins. Both Molly and Helms had their characters down to a tee. Trish gets tagged and gets a big pop. Screw tags as we get a pier 6 brawl and Lita and Jackie pull off poetry in motion once but before they do it again, Jackie nails Lita. Now the girls all hit their finishers, capped by Lita's moonsault. Trish takes Lita over and out and dodges Jazz, knocking her outside. Stratusfaction on Ivory gives Trish the first of seven Women's Title reigns. There you go folks, the first big moment of arguably the best all around female performer's career. What you'd expect from a six diva match. *1/2


Pep talks are the theme of the night as Vince McMahon is giving one to Team WWF right now. I miss what he says because I'm in awe of Kane's badass attire. My goodness, it's a thing of beauty. I finally get to hear “Control” by Puddle of Mudd during the buildup video. 

Team WWF (The Rock, Chris Jericho, Kane, Big Show and The Undertaker) d. Team Alliance (Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Rob Van Dam and Shane McMahon) in 44:57
Everyone gets their own entrance, which I'm all for, but it does take a while. Austin gets the second biggest pop of the Alliance behind RVD. Rock and Austin get into a fist fight before the bell even hits and the crowd is stoked. We get some rehashed one on one battles like RVD/Jericho and Rock/Booker in the early goings. Shane saves RVD from the Walls of Jericho and Booker from being pinned by the Undertaker. Some Old School gets a pop from the crowd. Later on, Big Show gets a hot tag and chops the hell out of Kirk Angel. Angle Slam on Show, followed by the Scissors Kick, Five Star Frog Splash and Shane O Mac elbow is enough to bump Show at 12:43. 

Showing the locker rooms in the back is a nice touch. Shane dances until he sees The Rock, who proceeds to lay the smackdown on him. Shane is forced to eat as many finishers as Show to eliminate the owner at 14:33. 

Heyman hypes up Booker T even though he hasn't won a big match since arriving in the WWF. Kane and RVD, both with awesome attire, go at it in a bout of future Tag Team Champions. A beautiful kick from RVD knocks off Kane at 18:22 and I will miss that attire.

Undertaker gets the remaining Alliance guys in each corner and hits them all. He continues to dominate with snake eyes, a Last Ride and a big boot. Austin hits him with the Stunner though and Austin puts Angle's arm over Big Evil and the three biggest WWF guys are all gone at 20:00.

Booker kicks the absolute crap out of The Rock and I can completely see the former five time WCW Champion being eliminated next. Rock hits a DDT but the pin is broken up and the same happens after a Samoan Drop. Can Booker really not kick out on his own? Well I guess not as he falls victim to a school boy at 22:33.

Rob Van Dam enters and I would've liked a Pay-Per-View match with him and The Rock. RVD, unlike another one of his future tag partners, Booker T, kicks out on his own. Rock tags Jericho as he and RVD have a very nice exchange. Jericho misses the Lionsault and gets kicked in the mouth. Jericho barely gets his knees up on the split legged moonsault and puts RVD away with a weak looking/sounding Breakdown at 24:52.

Of course the final four are going to be four established WWF guys who were never a part of the Alliance when they started during the summer. Kirk Angel and Steve Austin work some good old fashioned tag formula on Jericho. Austin and Jericho miscommunicate in the middle of the ring but salvage it. Jericho gets the Ankle Lock on Angel but it gets countered. Jericho makes the hot tag to The Rock who slaps his lame looking Sharpshooter on Angel and gets him to quickly submit at 31:55.

Jericho and Austin now go at it with some near falls and near submissions. Austin blocks the Lionsault and gets a near fall. He is bleeding from the mouth in a way that reminds me of King of the Ring 1996. Missile dropkick from Jericho gets him a near fall. He tries a roll up but Austin reverses into his own sloppy roll up to get rid of Jericho at 34:33.

Rock comes in and hits Austin with a spinebuster but before he can do the People's Elbow, Jericho hits him with Breakdown. Austin covers and only gets two. Jericho goes to attack again but Undertaker stops him. Jim Ross calls Jericho dumb and I'd have to agree with him. Austin stomps a mud hold in the Rock but doesn't quite walk it dry before tossing him outside. Rock and Austin brawl over the announce table. Back in the ring, Austin puts Rock in his own Sharpshooter and I nearly expect a screwjob after 1997 and 1998. Rock reaches the rope so nothing screwy happens. Austin grabs his title and goes to use it right in front of the referee, which would've disqualified him so that's dumb. Rock blocks it and puts Austin in the Sharpshooter but it's broken by the ropes. Rock busts out a Stunner on Austin as Nick Patrick arrives and levels Earl Hebner. Austin now hits Rock with a Rock Bottom and Rock kicks out because Patrick doesn't at least try a fast count. Where did he learn how to heel ref? Austin knocks him out for his stupidity. Stunner attempt is blocked and Hebner is taken out again. Austin hits the Stunner this time but Hebner is out. Angle comes out to hit Austin with the WWF Title and after a Rock Bottom, Team WWF wins. A very fun match that didn't feel like it went 45 minutes. Great job. ****

Overall: 7/10; Despite the lackluster Alliance angle, this was a satisfying conclusion as the main event was great. That, combined with two really good unification matches and some decent filler matches and you've got an enjoyable way to spend three hours.

Main Event Recap and Stuff

Ever since becoming a live show on the WWE Network, Main Event has become must watch television. It has become my second favorite weekly WWE show (behind NXT) and has not only featured good to great matches, but it also develops storylines and has big announcements. Last night was fun for a WWE Network subscriber with Main Event, a CM Punk themed WrestleMania Rewind and the usual fun that the Countdown brings.

Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus met in a Last Man Standing match for the United States Championship. Obviously, we all knew that Del Rio wouldn't walk away as Champion, but these two have great chemistry and put on another very good match. No clue why the stipulation was added, but it made for a new dynamic between the two that we had never seen before.

The WWE is trying very hard to make the Bella Twins into rebels as Nikki Bella was placed in a ridiculous six on one handicap match against the rest of the Total Divas. Yes, including Rosa Mendes. I know a lot of people hate Total Divas, but I watch it with my girlfriend and adding Mendes brings nothing to the table. Jojo was replaced by Summer Rae and Summer they barely had time to feature the existing girls. Adding one that nobody cares about won't help. Also, I have no idea what the WWE is doing with Summer Rae. On one show she's a face, on one she's a heel. Cameron never showed up for the match as she is still having issues with her former Funkadactyl partner Naomi. Not to continue to pick on her, but Mendes did a really weird thing as she walked to the ring. No clue what it was.

Damien Sandow interrupted the Highlight Reel with Bret Hart, by showing up as Shawn Michaels. Sandow was a bit impressive as HBK but this impersonator thing is still not something I want to see from him. I miss when he first debuted in 2012. Jericho insults Sandow, who responded with "I'm sorry that you forgot to pay the light bill on your jacket" which was a hoot. Bret busted out a Sharpshooter and Chris Jericho marked like he was a kid again.

Sting took to Twitter to post an image saying 7-14-14. People believe that it will lead to his first ever appearance on Monday Night Raw. I think it would be cool to see, but I only ever wanted to see Sting vs. The Undertaker, and after seeing Undertaker at WrestleMania XXX, this has lost its appeal. People aren't getting their hopes up too high after the tweet as it might just be something related to WWE 2K15.

WrestleMania Rewind, which has been hit or miss as a program on the WWE Network, hit last night. It focused on CM Punk and his two Money in the Bank victories but it was so strange to see a focus on Punk. Just the other day, the WWE did a "By the Numbers" video for Money in the Bank and conveniently left off the only two time winner. Yet last night, an entire hour was dedicated to people talking up CM Punk and having nothing but good things to say. I wish there was more actual documentary to this though, as having to put two matches on took up most of the time.

Overall, Tuesday is always a fun night for the WWE Network and last night was no different. To any readers, you'll be seeing a new review up later tonight and tomorrow is "Top Ten Thursday" still. Any requests would be greatly appreciated.