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Showing posts from September, 2016

Smark Hen-XT (9/28/16): Classical

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NXT has done a heck of a job building up the Tag Team division. It might not have started with the same fanfare as the Women’s Revolution, the tag teams have slowly made their presence felt by stringing up high quality matches and delivering on great stories. And it all started with one tournament last year. A tournament held in honor of NXT’s greatest figures: Dusty Rhodes.


NXT General Manager William Regal kicked off the show by announcing the second Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. 16 teams are brought together for a single elimination tag team tournament with the finals being held in TakeOver: Toronto. And it begins next week!

I love tournaments. It’s a very simple idea that can deliver so much more—just check out the Cruiserweight Classic. With the DRTTC focusing on tag teams, it takes advantage of a red hot division in NXT. Teams like The Revival, American Alpha, and #DIY all got their careers boosted by competing in the tournament last year. Now that NXT’s Tag Team division is…
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SmackDown RunDown Live (9/27/16): Stepping It Up a Notch

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Face the facts! This edition of SmackDown RunDown Live is brought to you by the same guy who delivers it to you week after week, so yeah, no changes there. Speaking of deliver, the Blue Brand definitely delivered another fun show that featured a WWE Championship match and a guy who had a mental breakdown. We should start right now, really.

John Cena stood tall over his No Mercy rivals



The Phenomenal One defended his WWE World Championship against the Dude in an excellent Backlash rematch, with Cena scouting at commentary, as you do. Cena ended up distracting Styles and Ambrose, allowing Styles to roll up Ambrose for the win. After the match, Ambrose and later Styles both received an AA each for their troubles as John Cena gave us a possible scenario for No Mercy, a historic, record-breaking scenario, that is.



You really have to praise the booking of this triple threat rivalry. Last week was Ambrose’s turn to shine and this week, Cena got his chance. Cena’s involvement tonight might even …
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Good Lucha Things (9/28/16): Go 2 Sleep

By Anthony Cuello
Last week saw the continuation of Dario’s Dial of Doom, with the Mack getting his turn for a shot at Matanza and the Lucha Underground Championship. Like Son of Havoc before him, though, the Mack put up a fight but was eventually subdued by the Monster. Trios Champions Aero Star, Drago, and Fenix also successfully defended their titles, beating a Johnny Mundo-less Worldwide Underground after some discord between Jack Evans and the team. Finally, Cage beat Texano for what he thought was the ultimate opportunity, but it turned out to only be the first match in what Dario Cueto turned into a best of five series.


A Feud Reborn

El Dragon Azteca Jr. and Chavo Guerrero faced off for the chance at a match against Pentagon Dark, with Rey Mysterio as the guest referee to keep things in check. Unfortunately, this match felt a tad too underwhelming.

El Dragon Azteca Jr. achieves some effective offense, only to be taken out by a clothesline from Chavo! #LuchaUnderground@MexWarriorpic.twitter.com/yx…
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The Smark Henry RAW Review (9/26/16): After-Clash

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This week’s RAW sought to regain some momentum after the last couple of duds, and over their first exclusive pay-per-view, Night Clash of Clans Champions. Though they had all the luxury in the world to capitalize on some of the happenings from it, they did no such thing. This resulted in a RAW that looked extremely phoned-in, as if they simply needed to fill their quota of three hours of television. Oh, wait.
The episode actually started with a match, and this is an amazing development in itself. The new United States Champion, Roman Reigns, defended his title against Rusev in a rematch from last Sunday. However, this time around it ended in a double count-out. Now, the Rollins vs. Rusev match from last week's episode was done tastefully in an effort to protect both participants. But, with this match, it doesn't really accomplish anything. Reigns beat Rusev soundly at Clash of Champions, and this particular finish would leave a sour taste in most viewers' mouths the same wa…
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Fenix May Have Left AAA

By Anthony Cuello
AAA's woes seem to know no end, as rumors are now breaking out that Fenix has officially left the promotion.

At a local lucha libre show in Mexico yesterday, Fenix turned heads when he came out as the surprise opponent of Mascara Dorada (otherwise known as WWE's Gran Metalik). After the match ended in a double countout, Fenix went on to announce that he is no longer affiliated with AAA, and that moving forward he will now be known as Rey Fenix.

Twitter user @luchablog, a well-respected source on lucha libre-related news and rumors, confirmed this yesterday:


Fenix is the surprise luchador, facing Mascara Dorada at the Crash — luchablog (@luchablog) September 25, 2016
Fenix's post AAA name is Rey Fenix. He and Dorada went to a double countout. — luchablog (@luchablog) September 25, 2016
Rey Fenix may have slightly changed his mask too. He just announced he's an indie wrestler (no longer with AAA). — luchablog (@luchablog) September 25, 2016
It's worth noting that th…
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#MustWatchMonday (9/26/16): Another Filipino Wrestler Making an IMPACT

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TJP's win in the Cruiserweight Classic has helped increase Filipino interest in the WWE and wrestling in general. Perkins however, is not the only Filipino prominent in wrestling.

Zema Ion, currently going by DJZ, is a TNA-contracted wrestler who has been with the company for the last five years. His career as a wrestler started in 2003, with him going by the name Shiima Xion and dubbing himself the "first Filipino male model of wrestling." Before landing in TNA, he wrestled around the world, working in promotions such as DDT in Japan, AAA in Mexico and various other smaller companies. (Fun fact: In Mexico, DJZ wrestled El Generico, now known as who may or may not be related to the WWE's Sami Zayn.)


In 2011, DJZ debuted for TNA under the name Zema Ion, and is a staple for the promotion's X-Division, which is basically TNA's equivalent of a Cruiserweight division. One of his first matches featured him going up against Jack Evans, Austin Aries, and Low Ki for …
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WWE Clash of Champions 2016 Results

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Wasn't able to watch WWE Clash of Champions live? We got you covered!

Follow the action in Smark Henry's live results and live tweets below!

Results

* Kickoff Show: Nia Jax defeated Alicia Fox via the Samoan Drop

1. RAW Tag Team Championship: The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) (w/ Xavier Woods) def. The Club (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) to retain their titles (6:45)
- Woods used Franchesca (the trombone) at ringside after Kingston went for a dive on the other side. New Day then hit their double-team finisher for the win.

2. Cruiserweight Championship: TJ Perkinsdef. Brian Kendrick via the kneebar submission to retain his title (10:31)

3. Best of 7 Series - Match #7: Cesaro vs. Sheamus was stopped by the referee (16:35)
- The fight spilled at ringside, then both men went over the ring barricade. Trainers and referees then called off the match.

4. Chris Jerichodef.Sami Zayn via the Codebreaker (15:22)

Backstage, RAW Comm. Stephanie McMahon and GM Mick Foley talked to WWE Un…
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The Smark Henry RAW Review (9/25/16): Special Clash of Champions Predictions Edition

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RAW hosts their first exclusive pay-per-view this coming Sunday, Clash of Champions, where every title on the red brand will be defended. Despite a lackluster and confusing build-up to most of the matches featured on the show, the card in itself looks very solid on paper, though it will take a lot to top Backlash, SmackDown Live's inaugural PPV event.

Kickoff: Alicia Fox vs. Nia Jax
Since arriving on RAW, there has been no stopping the freight train that is Nia Jax. She now faces her first real challenge in the form of Alicia Fox at the Kickoff, however there is no real threat to be seen here. Alicia may be a former champion, but accolades mean nothing to someone who’s been as dominant as Jax has. For all we know, she could have a personal checklist and Alicia will end up being the first box ticked.
Prediction: Nia Jax wins in less than five minutes.

WWE Cruiserweight Championship: T.J Perkins © vs. Brian Kendrick
The pride of the Philippines will have one hell of a debut, as he look…
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