Overall Evaluation and Achieved Goals
They ran a Lumberjack Match between two giants, Technique By Taz to put over Brian Cage‘s finisher, a squash match that made Hikaru Shida look cool as hell, a movie fight scene to make you care about Joey Janela & Sonny Kiss, then weaved that fight scene into a tag that got Colt Cabana‘s inexplicably elaborate story over AND setup a feud with Lance Archer for Janela and Kiss, then followed that up with footage from their YouTube show that has given Shawn Spears a story too. All this and a press conference with Pro Wrestling Illustrated! And they did it all while the World Champ probably has COVID.
This is a wrestling show.
Areas of Excellence Within Performance
The Cody/Jake Hager press conference for their TNT Title match was ridiculous, but good pro wrestling ridiculous. Cody’s promo on the beautiful nature of the title belt not being finished and missing its plating due to COVID is basically a thesis statement on why the Rhodes Family rules – not many others are going that deep.
“I like the feeling of a man’s kneecap between my legs when I slap on the figure four.”
SCU vs. FTR was some great old-fashioned tag team wrestling, like that time The Revival returned to Full Sail to wrestle #DIY on a random NXT and they just went at it. No story, no formula, just solid work and all the tricks in a fun package.
Britt Baker.
Taz doing commentary for the Brian Cage squash ruled – guy has been waiting for this role. The headset drop as Cage hit his finish and went for the cover cracked me up.
Orange Cassidy in a show-closing brawl is the very definition of excellent. Chris Jericho, like any good old wrestler, knows how to latch onto what’s hot.
Suggested Areas of Improvement
I wish Wardlow vs. Luchasaurus had more behind it – this is a collision of MONSTERS!!! Doesn’t seem like it.
The 8-man tag setup between FTR, the Young Bucks, Butcher & Blade and Lucha Boyz felt a little forced, like they were setting up a Fatal 4-Way on NXT. Good to see the Lucha boyz back though.
My Favorite Things
2. Taz Does Commentary
1. “We are hugging because it makes us strong.”
Official Star Rating
3.25 out of 5 Stars
