An Extreme Review with ECW - Hostile City Showdown 1994

My Kingdom of Honor co-host and I are doing a new series exclusively for our Patreon subscribers where we are going to extensively breakdown older special events for various promotions. We are starting it with ECW and all the events and promotions we can find starting with 1994. To listen to the series please check out our Patreon site here.

Hostile City Showdown, June 24th 1994

Hack Meyers vs Tommy Dreamer

Highlights: 

Tommy tries to endear himself to the fans by grabbing a Rangers jersey and stomping on it. That doesn't work as he is mercilessly boo'd. Joey Styles tries to play off that he is the "NWA rookie of the Year" and is gaining fan support since he is no longer a pretty boy but gritty. The crowd has different ideas. The crowd chants 'Dreamer Sucks" as Joey Styles tries to sell Dreamer as the next big thing. Meyers drops Dreamer and the crowd cheers. An odd looking splash by dreamer gets the pin and the crowd boo's.

Grade: 1.5 Stars 

Thoughts:

Because he is viewed as a pretty boy, Tommy is not connecting with the crowd. This match suffered because of it. They can't keep running Tommy out there in this light and expect him to ever get over. This guy is in desperate need of a heel turn.

Chad Austin vs Don E. Allen

Highlights:

911 comes out and choke slams the referee that cost him the TV title. Then he choke slams Austin and Allen. Then Todd Gordon hits the ring and pushes down Paul E Dangerously. 911 choke slams Gordon for good measure. Tommy Dreamer comes in to check on Gordon and he gets a choke slam too.

Grade:  4 Stars

Thoughts:

This is amazing story telling. I love the fact that 911 is still so upset that he was DQ'd two months ago that he is destroying this ref and everyone else. Great way to make him a dominate heel.

The Pitbull #1 vs The Tazzmaniac

Highlights:

A dog collar match is going to finally settle the score between these two. This match doesn't take long before it spills outside the ring and into the stands. Pitbull wraps the chain around Tazz's throat and carries him around the ring touching corners as Tazz touches them too. After the third corner, Tazz suplexes Pitbull and gets the three count. Pitbull #2 charges the ring and the Pitbulls beat down Tazz

Grade:  1 Star

Thoughts:

The reuniting of the Pitbulls was fun but otherwise this match was not good, The pinfall stipulation in a dog collar match made no sense.

The Bruise Brothers vs The Franchise Shane Douglas and Mr. Hughes

Highlights:

Douglas and Hughes get jumped before the match but we quickly get to a traditional tag match as Douglas and one of the Harris brothers head to the ring apron. This match quickly broke down and turned into a typical hardcore match. Mr. Hughes has Ron Harris pinned in the ring and there is no referee. Don comes in, Stomps Mr. Hughes in the neck and rolls his brother into the pin fall. After a five count the referee enters the ring and counts the three on Mr. Hughes? 

Grade:  1 Star

Thoughts:

This was an uneventful match followed by a confusing and weak finish. Just bad all around.

Ironman Tommy Cairo with Peaches vs Sandman with Woman

Highlights:

A singapore cane match on a pole and Enter Sandman by Metallica brings Sandman and Woman to the ring. He spends a ridiculous amount of time lighting a cigarette and walking around the ring talking to the fans. Cairo goes for the pin and the referee refuses to count instead reminding him that he needs to retrieve the cane to win. Cairo goes for the cane and Sandman stops him. Sandman gets thrown out of the ring and through the time keeper table. The two men fight in the corner causing the cane to fall. The referee grabs the cane and puts it into the turnbuckle making this a much easier match. Cairo sees the cane is easy to get and decides to not take it. Woman throws Sandman a cane and he starts wearing out Cairo. The referee claims this is a no decision. Peaches comes in and Sandman pushes her down. Peaches covers up Cairo and Sandman takes the extra cane throwing it to woman who uses it on Peaches. Sandman grabs a mic and tell Tommy to pay your bill then continues to cane him before leaving the ring. Cairo is busted open from the caning.

Grade:  2 Stars

Thoughts:

Interesting story that was told and Cairo took a beating with that cane. Sandman is becoming a great heel, and Cairo is on of the most talent wrestlers I've ever seen. I can't wait to see where they both go from here. 

The Public Enemy vs The Funk Brothers

Highlights:

Dory Funk looks like the crypt keeper from Tales from the Crypt. Terry takes one to many punches on the outside and throws The Public Enemy into the crowd. Chairs come flying from the crowd and become a huge part of the match. Dory Funk gets the best of Rocko Rock and the battle continues far longer than it should have. The Funk brothers spend the majority of this match getting beaten down by the Public Enemy. Joey gets in about his 47th rip on WCW and WWE and the action spills to the stands.  Rock goes for a somersault over the top rope and hits Grunge instead of Funk. Dory is getting beaten down while Terry bleeds on the outside, Paul E and 911 make there way ringside. 911 choke slams the ref and Paul E makes the count. Terry Funk clears the ring and Dory makes the cover on Grunge while Terry counts the three. Terry and Rock end up in the eagles nest where Terry ties Rocko's legs with a rope and then hangs him from the eagles nest.

Grade:  1 Star

Thoughts:

Good old school story telling with the faces getting beaten down but it wasn't believable that they would come back. This got way to over booked with referee bumps and wrestlers making counts. I honestly don't really know why this match ended the way it did but it seriously was a cluster. 

Mikey Whipwreck vs the Rockin Rebel With Jason

Highlights:

This is for the TV title and as Mikey makes his way to the ring the belt hangs off of him like it is three sizes to big. Mickey literally gets his ass kicked from pillar to post and Rebel doesn't go for the pin after the pile driver. Rebel hits a sidewalk slam and goes for a lazy cover but pulls up before the three count. Mikey leapfrogs Rebel and clotheslines Jason for his first offensive move ever. Rebel sets up Mikey who falls down and Jason hits Rebel with a chair. Mikey rips the suit off Jason and then gets double teamed by Jason and Rebel. Taz comes in and goes after Jason and Rebel. The Pitbulls charge the ring and eventually take out Tazz. Match ends as a DQ since Jason interfered.

Grade:  3 Stars

Thoughts:

The match itself was really entertaining. I said it last time and will again. there is something really entertaining about a guy that has no offensive moves in his matches. I am truly interested every month to see how they pull this off and they deliver above and beyond my expectations every month.

Cactus Jack vs Sabu

Highlights:

Sabu comes to the ring tied up and escorted by 911 and Paul E Dangerously. Sabu and Cactus Jack waste little time getting chairs involved. Jack uses a frying pan to smack himself in the head multiple times? After all the carnage and hitting himself in the face with a frying pan, Paul E hit him in the back of the head with his phone and knocked Cactus Jack out for the three count. After the match more of the same continued with 911, Bruise Brothers, Mr Hughes, Shane Douglas and Paul E all getting involved. Eventually it was just Sabu and Jack in the ring and they beat the hell out of each other some more.

Grade 1 Star for the match add the after event promos and this segment is 4 Stars

Thoughts:

Other than the frying pan spot nothing remarkable happened. This was just Cactus Jack and Sabu being Cactus Jack and Sabu. Carnage via chairs, tables, guard rails and frying pans. This just became a hardcore spot fest and honestly wasn't a good one. Paul E's phone must be a Nokia cause he was able to knock out Cactus Jack and the thing stayed in one piece. After the event Cactus Jack held an interview where he spit on his WCW tag team title and declared that he lost his mind. He talked about how Paul E disrespected him by not signing him because he doesn't want to be a family entertainer anymore. Paul E then cuts a promo where he really puts over Cactus Jack as a mad man and one of the toughest people he has ever known. 

Final Grade: 2 stars 

Final Thoughts:

Not a lot of good in this one. Some great Character work by 911 and Mikey Whipwreck. Then add great promos by Cactus Jack and Paul E Dangerously but other wise.......meh

Make sure you check out our show, Kingdom of Honor, for the latest in wrestling talk every Monday night on Lords of Pain Radio and find our archived shows with a lot of never before heard content on our Patreon page here. Also please leave a comment with your thoughts below or send your feedback to us directly at Kingdomofhonor123@gmail.com

The Wrestling Legacy of Harley Race

My Kingdom of Honor co-host and I are doing a new series exclusively for our Patreon subscribers called Wrecked with Rasslers. We are going to be choosing one wrestler and picking four matches or moments that we would want with us if we were stranded on a desert island. This series will focus on wrestling and wrestling only as the real-life stuff you can find else where. To listen to the series please check out our Patreon site here.

If you are a true wrestling fan, you needs to pay homage to the greats that came before. Yes there style was more plodding (especially in the heavyweight division) and a lot more cerebral, however no one could tell a story like the true greats of the 70's. We have great talent in 2019, Jay White, Matt Taven, Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, Cody, AJ Styles, Kuzuchika Okada, Austin Aries, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens and so many more. As much as I love those guys (especially AJ Styles) it is hard to compare them to the true greats of the 70's

Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Nick Bockwinkle, Verne Gagne, Hulk Hogan (before Hulkamania) Bruno Samartino, Randy Savage. This list can go on and on but one name stands out and that is Harley Race. Harley had one of the best minds in the wrestling business and his matches were works of art. He was a true heel and had the ability to draw an emotion from the crowd like no other. His 8 NWA championship runs were all the proof that was needed.

Sit back and enjoy as I take a little trip down memory lane and bring you my four all time favorite Harley Race matches.

.vs Ric Flair, Starrcade 1983. This rivalry hit it's climax in a steel cage for the NWA heavy weight championship. Pomp and Circumstances play in a darkened arena with occasional flickers of light. After some silence a sparkler shines behind the obvious silhouette of the Nature Boy, he comes through the crowd surrounded by police and enters the cage. Race enters to no music and a chorus of boos. Gene Kiniski is our special guest referee. Flair gets introduced to a round of cheers while Race is boo'd out of the building, clearly establishing who the fan favorite is. One thing that's gets lost in today's wrestling is the build. Everyone wants that fast paced, high octane, spot fest style and I get it, that is fun. But if you want to make believable, two fresh guys should go in there and try to feel out and wear down his opponent with head locks and snap mares. These two guys are brilliant at that and great technical wrestlers to boot. The brutality that Harley race inflicts is amazing and he has a beautiful pile driver. The way he rolls his pile driver to protect his opponent but still make it look devastating is a thing of beauty to watch. A bloody Flair and Race put on a classic as each man tried to wound and wear done the other so one could get the upper hand. Flair hits an awkward top rope cross body trying to avoid Gene Kiniski who is prone on the mat for a three count. This is one of my all time favorite matches. It has a little bit of everything and the fact that my boy came out on top makes it better. You can't count out the effort of Harley Race. He delivered a great heel performance in his battles with the ref and the way he put over Flair. This is a 5 star match all the way and still almost 40 years later holds up as one of the greatest of all time.

vs Dusty Rhodes, 12/17/1979 In Madison Square Garden, the 10 pounds of gold is on the line. Vince McMahon on commentary and Dusty is in rare form with some trash talking and an insane amount of charisma. The American Dream is on fire early with a little shuckin and a little jivin some flip flop and fly and a quick 2 count to fluster the champion. Rhodes counters a suplex and hits an atomic drop, after the elbow to a fallen Race then goes for a pin. Harley is pointing to his feet on the ropes so the ref can break the cover without expending any energy on a kick out. The second rope diving head butt looks devastating the way Harley does it. His knees hit the mat before he hits, then uses his knees to catapult forward driving his head into Rhodes. The match ended due to referee stoppage because of Dusty's extensive bleeding. The crowds may have given us our first ever bullsh*t chant and I'm giving this 4 stars.

and Hercules with Bobby the Brain Heenan vs Hulk Hogan and Ken Patera, June 1987. Bobby Heenan grabs the mic and tells everyone to bow to the King Harley Race. No one does so he taps the mic and asks "is this thing on". Hogan and Race start things off with the Heenan family gaining the early advantage. After a blocked suplex and a couple right hands, Hogan sends Race up and over the top rope to the floor. Hulk listens to the crowd who want Patera to enter the ring against Hercules. After a lock up Patera shoves Hercules to the corner and Race catches a backhand from his tag team partner. Hercules checks on him and Patera delivers a double noggin knocker to the heels. In the good guys corner Patera and Hogan are playing a little right hand ping pong with Hercules. Hernandez goes for the bear hug submission but Hogan fights free and gets the hot tag to Patera. Race hits a couple of suplex's for two counts as Hogan breaks them up. After a snapmare Race misses the headbutt which allows Patera to get the upper hand and eventually the tag to Hogan, The Big Boot followed by the leg drop on Race while Patera clears out Hercules. Hogan gets up and punches Heenan off the apron. Hulk and Patera deliver a double clothes line for the 3 count on Race. 3.5 stars and an excellent job by Race and Hercules getting Pantera and Hogan over.

vs Tito Santana 10/4/1986. This one is in the historic Boston Gardens. Mean Gene and Gorilla Monson are on commentary and mock "hansom" Harley Race on his way to the ring. After Tito hits Race with a couple right hands, Harley falls through the second rope and slides on his back down the ring steps. Santana has a front face lock and Harley pics him up and carries him across the ring and slams him into a corner. Heenan distracts the ref and Race uses a foreign object and his thumb to rake the eyes and gain the upper hand. Santana gains the advantage and hits a couple double noggin knockers on Heenan and Race. A low blow by the King and Race is back in charge. After a back body drop where Harley doesn't bridge the referee hits the 3 count and declares Santana the winner stating that Tito lifted his shoulder before the three count and Race did not. Excellent heel work by Race this entire match 4 Stars.

Make sure you check out our show, Kingdom of Honor, for the latest in wrestling talk every Monday night on Lords of Pain Radio and find our archived shows with a lot of never before heard content on our Patreon page here. Also please leave a comment with your thoughts below or send your feedback to us directly at Kingdomofhonor123@gmail.com

An Extreme Review with ECW - When Worlds Collide 1994

My Kingdom of Honor co-host and I are doing a new series exclusively for our Patreon subscribers where we are going to extensively breakdown older special events for various promotions. We are starting it with ECW and all the events and promotions we can find starting with 1994. To listen to the series please check out our Patreon site here.

When Worlds Collide, May 14th 1994

The Rockin' Rebel w/Jason vs Tommy Dreamer

Highlights:

Jason climbs onto the apron and hits Dreamer. Tommy is out after him and Rebel catches Dreamer by surprise with a clothesline on the outside. After a vicious Irish Whip that knocks Dreamer down, Rebel falls on his back next to Dreamer mocking him. Dreamer misses a top rope splash. Dreamer gets the pin fall with the Lou Thesz Press. Jason comes in and berates Rebel who looks to rough up Jason who puts a little green in the palm and the two are friends again. 

Grade: 1 Star

Thoughts:

While Dreamer has clearly started to win over some of the fans with his aggressive never say die demeanor, He is still a "pretty boy" and is getting boo'd more than cheered. Good back and forth action but some clearly missed spots with the worst being a spinning heel kick that actually ended up being a spinning booty bump on Rebel, really took this down.

Mickey Whipwreck vs 911 w Paul E. Dangerously

Highlights:

This match is for Mickey's TV title which he won from Pitbull the night before. 911 starts with a choke hold that turns into a choke slam. After hitting it 911 doesn't cover Mickey instead goes for a second choke slam. He still doesn't cover him and gives Mickey a third choke slam while simultaneously slamming the referee causing the disqualification win for Mickey in his first title defense. After the match Paul E tells 911 to give the referee another choke slam, Paul E. gives the Ref his last rights and the crowd chants one more time. 911 gives them what they want and choke slams the ref once more

Grade: 2 Stars

Thoughts:

I know the grade is probably surprising but a I really like the idea of this underdog getting the win without a single offensive move because of the heels arrogance. 911 showed he can be a monster and the ref bumped insanely for him.

Kevin Sullivan w/ Woman vs Superfly Jimmy Snuka w/ Hunter Q Robins III

Highlights:

Sullivan hits the ring and goes straight after the Superfly. Quickly it goes to the outside and Sullivan finds a skillet from the audience. Sullivan hammers Snuka in the lower region and we are back in the ring. That lasted seconds before they were back outside. Sullivan wanders away and comes back with a rope to choke out Snuka. Mid match, Woman goes to the back with Sandman. Hunter Q trips up Sullivan and Snuka gets the pin. Post match Sullivan runs down Hunter Q and drags him back to the ring. Sullivan knocks down Hunter Q and delivers two cane shots to the crotch. He pulls down Hunter's pants and crotches him with the cane a third time. Kevin delivers two Sullivan Stomps to Hunter and then goes out and starts hitting and throwing chairs at the photographers.

Grade: 3 Stars

Thoughts:

What an absolute lunatic Kevin Sullivan is. He beat the hell out of Snuka, Hunter and then attacked the photographers. This is a great match because it showcases just how great Kevin is at making himself so hated that the other guy gets over by default.

The Sandman and Woman vs Ironman Tommy Cairo and Peaches

Highlights:

This is a Singapore Cane match and Sandman is morphing into what we have grown to love with a cigarette in hand. The loser of the match gets four lashes with the cane. Sandman lifts Cairo up for a pile driver and holds him up for an amazing amount of time before driving him into the mat. Woman comes in to attack Cairo. Peaches interjects and we get a cat fight. Cairo pulls Woman off peaches and corrals her in a corner while Peaches get the pin fall on Sandman. Peaches grabs the kendo stick and pulls down Sandman's pants. He gets three lashes then woman gets involved. Sandman gets a hold of the stick and starts wearing out Cairo.Woman has the cane and is hitting Cairo then Sandman holds up Peaches who gets hit with the cane.

Grade: 0 Stars

Thoughts:

What in the Actual $#%& Why was Peaches allowed to get the pin. This makes no sense and actually pisses me off. 

The Pitbull w/ Jason vs the Tazmaniac

Highlights:

John Moore is the referee and 911 jumps him before the match giving him two choke slams because Moore was the ref in 911's title match. John Finnigen is the new ref. It's not long before it spills into the crowd and Tazz is relentless with his assault on the Pitbull. Roles change and the Pitbull is now in charge. Tazz runs to the ring and after a quick headbutt we are out side the ring. Action quickly spills into the crowd and Tazz chases the Pitbull around before throwing him back over the barricade. Back in the ring and the Pitbull is in charge as the crowd taunts him with Mikey chants. After a back and forth exchange that included many suplexes by Tazz, Jason gets up on the ring apron. Tazz hits an inside out belly to back suplex on Jason and then receives a chain wrapped right hand from the Pitbull for the three count. 

Grade: 2.5 Stars

Thoughts:

This turned in to a really good match. Tazz put in a great performances with his in ring work and selling to make the Pitbull look like a monster. I was really impressed with the work by both men and the screw job ending guaranteed this feud will continue which is great for wrestling fans.

The Franchise Shane Douglas, Mr. Hughes and the Public Enemy vs J.T. Smith and the Bruise Brothers

Highlights:

Time for an eight man elimination match. Douglas gets on the mic and makes fun of Hawk for injuring his knee and not being able to make the match so this is a handicap 3 on 4 elimination match. He also issued a challenge to Ric Flair for a future one on one match. Johnny Grunge is hiding in the crowd and hits a Bruise Brother with a cane. All seven men fight in the isle before Douglas and Smith end up in the ring. Two specials into these reviews and this is the first legitimate tag match we've seen. Actually tagging in and out. Douglas and The Public Enemy take turns working on the leg of Ron Harris for what seemed like an eternity. Douglas goes for back to back head scissor take downs but get punched by Don Harris allowing Ron to make the tag. Eventually Rock starts to work on the surgically repaired knee of J.T.Smith. Mr. Hughes joins in on the fun and we get another long stretch of leg holds. Eventually the Bruise Brothers, Douglas and Mr. Hughes all get counted out at one time. More leg work on Smith which actually makes sense with there only being three people left in the match. Rock and Grunge are celebrating and Smith rolls up Rock from the back for the three count. Rock even though he is now eliminated holds Smith up against the ropes as Grunge charges. Smith ducks, Grunge runs into Rock and Smith rolls up Grunge for the three and the win as the sole survivor. After the match he gets beaten down by The Public Enemy.

Grade: 1.5 Stars

Thoughts:

The four guys getting counted out at the same time made zero sense since only two guys are legal at any given time. The majority of the match being spent on knee holds made sense for a regular tag match but was out of it's element in this match. And why was Grunge able to hit Smith on the leg with a chair in front of the referee when four other guys just got counted out. Inconsistent rules and an out of place story really brought this match down.

Sabu and Beautiful Bobby Eaton w/ Paul E Dangerously vs Arn Anderson and Terry Funk

Highlights:

Main event time. Paul E and Eaton make their way to the ring while 911 wheels Sabu out on a two wheeler. This doesn't waste much time before we are right back to an ECW style tag team match. Not a whole lot of tags or order to the beginning, just a lot of chairs and carnage. The Enforcer puts a figure four on and Eaton does such a bad job of selling it I couldn't figure out who actually applied the figure four. Double A gives Sabu two DDT's while Funk and Eaton battle in the Eagles Nest. Anderson gives Sabu a spine buster and The Public Enemy come out to beat Funk with a chair. Anderson battles with The Public Enemy while Sabu and Funk battle in the ring. Anderson holds Sabu for the chair shot which Funk misses and hit Double A. After Arn recovers he grabs the chair and hits Funk multiple times with it. Sabu puts a half Boston crab, causing Funk to submit, while Anderson walks out. After the match we see Paul E handing cash to The Public Enemy and cuts a promo on Terry Funk. Greatness from Dangerously to set up a match between the Funks and The Public Enemy. 

Grade: 2 Stars

Thoughts:

This was a decent match but not a good match. Double A turning on Funk was predictable but fun and the promo afterwards was amazing. Paul E Dangerously is a master on the mic and he can sell a match better than any wrestler out there.

Full Show Grade: 2.5 Stars

Final Thoughts:

I will give this show an average grade because it was an average at best show. Nothing was really spectacular and very little was note worthy. Joey Styles lacked the energy from the last show we watched and there wasn't any funny one liners. Honestly I was expecting better. Outside of the Greatness by Paul E Dangerously to end the show. I would pass on this one.

Make sure you check out our show, Kingdom of Honor, for the latest in wrestling talk every Monday night on Lords of Pain Radio and find our archived shows with a lot of never before heard content on our Patreon page here. Also please leave a comment with your thoughts below or send your feedback to us directly at Kingdomofhonor123@gmail.com

An Extreme Review with ECW - The Night The Line Was Crossed.

My Kingdom of Honor co-host and I are doing a new series exclusively for our Patreon subscribers where we are going to extensively breakdown older special events for various promotions. We are starting it with ECW and all the events and promotions we can find starting with 1994. To listen to the series please check out our Patreon site here.

The Night The Line Was Crossed, February 5th 1994 

We start the special with a cut a way shot to Eastern Championship Wrestling President Todd Gordon who runs down all of the things ECW has been accused off. Being the hardest hitting, being the bloodiest and being the goriest. He closes the segment by letting us know that Eastern Championship Wrestling is not for everyone.

Grade: 2 Stars

Wildman Sal Bellomo vs The Roughneck Mr. Hughes w/ Jason.

Highlights:

Mr. Hughes is still wearing his sun glasses during the beginning of this match. Didn't take long before Hughes hits the sidewalk slam and gets the three count.

Grade: .5 Star 

Thoughts:

The only remarkable thing about this match is that Mr. Hughes's sunglasses stayed on the whole time.

The Sandman and Tommy Cario vs The Pitbull and Rockin' Rebel with Jason.

Up next is a Dog Collar Match. Jason has changed outfits in between the two matches. Sandman is chained to Rebel and Cairo is chained to the Pitbull. Cairo and Rebel are both busted open really early. Sandman took a pile driver on a table. Cairo hits a belly to belly suplex and Sandman runs over to tie up The Pitbull's legs with the chains. Cairo gets the three count.

Grade:  3 Stars 

Thoughts:

What a great match. It wasn't technically sound but what would you expect for a Dog Collar Match. It was very short but, you need to consider this was 1994, nothing like this happened anywhere, ever. These four guys beat the hell out of each other and we were treated to some never before seen mayhem.

The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocko Rock) vs The Bruise Brothers (Ron and Don Harris)

Highlights:

This match is about 15 seconds in before it spills into the audience. All four men are in the crowd hitting each other with anything they can find. Joey Styles mentions that "chairs are flying everywhere and Johnny Grunge is wearing one. Quite frankly it goes good with his outfit" Another Joey Styles quip as Rocko Rock gets thrown through a pile of chairs. "Well now you know, when you buy a front row seat at ECW you are getting your moneys worth. You might have to share it with The Public Enemy but you're getting your moneys worth." Joey Styles again "Can you imagine their poor mother trying to feed these two (Bruise Brothers)? What do you do, just knock off the horns rip off the tail and wheel it out?" Rocko Rock hits one of the Bruise Brothers with a 2x4 and both members of Public Enemy cover him for the three count.

Grade: 3 Stars

Thoughts:

Again this was not a wrestling match. Not even close but what did you expect? This match gets easily a full star upgrade for the commentary of Joey Styles.

Tommy Dreamer vs Jimmy Superfly Snuka 

Highlights:

Snuka yells at a fan ringside. Dreamer comes over and seemingly yells at the same fan. Snuka yells at the fan again and Dreamer goes out to him, grabs his hat and wears it into the ring. Dreamer kicks out of the Superfly Splash. After the third Superfly Splash, Snuka gets the three. After the match Snuka headbutts the referee and starts pounding on Tommy who is gushing blood from his mouth. Todd Gordon comes to the ring to stop Jimmy Snuka from another splash and gets a double ax handle for his trouble. Other wrestler comes to the ring to help as Dreamer was hit by four Superfly Splashes.

Grade: 3 Stars 

Thoughts:

This was a good match and a great change of pace from the last two. It was great heel work by Snuka and better face work by the gutsy Tommy Dreamer.

Kevin Sullivan and the Tazzmaniac w/ Woman vs The Original Sheik and Pat Tannaka. 

Sullivan and The Sheik immediately head to the crowd as Tazz and Tannaka stay in the ring. After a few minutes the Sheik throws a fireball from ringside onto Tazz and Tannaka gets the three count.

Grade: 0 Stars 

Thoughts:

This had nothing, no time, no innovation, no funny one liners from Joey Styles. Just bad.

JT Smith vs Mike Awesome. 

Highlights:

Smith and Awesome come out to the same music. Smith jumps the bell but Awesome takes over from there. JT Smith rolls Awesome up as he goes for the power bomb for the three count. After the match Awesome power bombs the ref. Mike Awesome goes to deliver a splash on the ref and the top rope broke. Awesome lays there for a second then gets up and throws the turnbuckle onto the ref.

Grade: 3 Stars 

Thoughts:

This match was 1 star at best but Mike Awesome unloading on the ref bumped it up big time.

The Franchise Shane Douglas vs Sabu w/ Paul E Dangerously vs. ECW Champion Terry Funk. 

Highlights:

Paul E Dangerously runs to the ring and blindsides Sherri Martel during Sabu's entrance. Shane Douglas beats the holy hell out of him. Sabu hits the ring and takes it to Douglas. This match is held under different three way dance rules than we are used to. The first two guys get 15 minutes. If there is no pinfall then Funk comes to the ring and faces both men. Sabu does some great story telling by attacking Shane's injured left arm. The action spills out to the ring and Mr. 911 hands Sabu a table. Shane gets laid out on top of it and rolls out of the way as Sabu crashes through the table and to the floor. 15 Minutes of great story telling and great back and forth wrestling then Terry Funk comes to the ring. Funk goes straight after the Franchise. Sabu has been helped from the ring and can not continue due to a leg injury. Out to the floor Funk hits Sherry with a forearm across the back then DDT's The Franchise. Back in the ring Funk is asking for the fans to throw chairs into the ring. Some make it a lot more don't. Funk stacks up five chairs in the middle of the ring and then DDT's Douglas on the chairs. After Funk gets thrown into a ladder, receives a ton of abuse outside the ring and gets hit with Sherri's shoe, he is bleeding from the forehead. Funk knocks out the referee and receives multiple head shots to the steel after Douglas removes the turnbuckle padding. 15 minutes after Funk entered the match and he and Douglas are fighting all over the arena. Sabu makes his way back to the ring as Funk steals Joey Styles's mic. He spews a bunch of expletives and then heads back to the ring. Dangerously gets the crowd behind Sabu as Funk headbutts Sherri. Douglas has a sleeper on Sabu and Funk puts one on him. Sabu slips on his attempt at a springboard moonsault, limps and attempts it again this time hitting it. Funk gets laid out by a bunch of chair shots from Douglas and get carried out by his "Few Good Men" The Rottens come in and put the chairs to Shane Douglas for what he did to Funk. Axel and Ian Rotten decimate Sabu and Douglas. Shane Douglas brings Sabu back from the dressing room and sends him for an Irish Whip and Sabu falls because of his bad leg. Funk makes his way back to the ring. Funk and Douglas have taken the fight outside while Dangerously and 911 take out Ian Rotten. Funk headbutts the ref, delivers a low blow to both Douglas and Sabu. Sabu tries twice to hit a moonsault from the middle of the ropes and cant so he heads to the corner. Funk rolls into position and Sabu hits it. Funk suplexes Sherri in the middle of the ring, Douglas saves her from a spinning toe hold. Funk kicked the ref out of the ring and Douglas lays out Paul E. Funk grabs Sherri's boot and uses it to low blow Sabu then shoves it in Douglas's ear. 2 minutes remaining and all three men are outside the ring. Back in the ring and Funk covers Sherri, then he alternates covers on both Sabu and Douglas but there is no referee. With a flurry of covers to end this match we reach the 60 minute time limit draw.

Grade: 5+ Stars 

Thoughts:

Seriously I have absolutely no clue what the hell I just watched. when you look at the rating you may be surprised but this seriously was an instant classic that will be talked about for years just not in the way most people would have imagined it. This is definitely a match that every wrestling fan should watch in their lifetime.

After the match we find Joey Styles ready to interview Terry Funk who retained his title. Terry is crying and says that the management in WCW and WWF have belittled the business. He doesn't think the guys in the locker room are bad but he doesn't like the companies. He respects the guys in ECW, and talks about how ECW is the best. He is with an athletic organization that is not about producing children programming. He respects the fans and Shane Douglas and Sabu.

Grade: 3 Stars 

Thoughts:

While trashing the other companies wasn't great Terry was very emotional and it didn't seem contrived. maybe a little out of place but not contrived.

Backstage for an interview with Sabu at the press conference. Paul E and 911 are having trouble controlling Sabu as he looks to tear everyone apart. Sabu can't be controlled so Dangerously spoke on his behalf. he called out Shane Douglas for being disgusting, The refs for favoring Funk and Funk for being a cry baby.

Grade: 4 Stars 

Thoughts:

It's Paul E. do I need to say more.

A very angry Shane Douglas is the next interview. He states he beat Sabu and beat Funk so Todd Gordon should declare him the champ. He rips into the fans, says Gordon can fire him and he doesn't care. Terry Funk comes out and calmly asks Douglas why is he so mad? Douglas runs down Funk and his age. Funk gets insulted and after some more back and forth Funk had's Douglas the Title Belt and says he is gifting it to Douglas so it is so much sweeter when he takes it back by beating Douglas. Shane throws the belt at Funk and gets a slap across the face. A melee breaks out and the locker room clears to pull them apart as the show ends.

Grade: 4 Stars 

Thoughts:

An angry Franchise and a calm Funk played perfectly together. The fight at the end was a perfect way to end an ECW show.

Grade: 3 Stars 

Full Show Thoughts:

The good out weighed the bad and it is a must watch for any wrestling fan. There were a lot of moments that I didn't really know what was happening. It was chaotic, violent and fun.

Make sure you check out our show, Kingdom of Honor, for the latest in wrestling talk every Monday night on Lords of Pain Radio and find our archived shows with a lot of never before heard content on our Patreon page here. Also please leave a comment with your thoughts below or send your feedback to us directly at Kingdomofhonor123@gmail.com

The Wrestling Legacy of Rob Van Dam

My Kingdom of Honor co-host and I are doing a new series exclusively for our Patreon subscribers called Wrecked with Rasslers. We are going to be choosing one wrestler and picking four matches or moments that we would want with us if we were stranded on a desert island. This series will focus on wrestling and wrestling only as the real-life stuff you can find else where. To listen to the series please check out our Patreon site here.

Rob Van Dam has been one of the most popular wrestlers in the industry over the last 20 years. His laid back demeanor and flashy move set has drawn a legion of fans his way. The whole F'n Show, Mr Monday Night, Mr Pay Per View, whatever you call him he was always the franchise no matter where he went. Whether he was a face or a heel he was always cheered. The man had charisma that oozed from him. When he first broke on to the wrestling scene, he was so much like Sabu and so much unlike Sabu that he built his own aura. And whether you liked him or not when he put the thumbs to his shoulders you chanted right along with R-V-D. Lets take a look at the four matches I would want with me on a deserted island.

With Sabu vs the Eliminators, Cyberslam 1997. Perry Saturn and John Kronus were arguably the best tag team in the world in 1997. They were the ECW Tag team champions and in this match put the titles up for grabs in a tables and chairs match. Handshakes to begin the match were a rare thing in 1997 but these two teams showed each other a tremendous amount of respect. The best of the handshake spot was the story it continued from Rob's first feud in ECW against Sabu. Surprisingly in a match that featured Sabu this one started out as a very good technical bout. We got about eight minutes in before weapons were introduced and that was when all hell broke loose. Saturn tries to bring the ladder in and RVD stops him. The ladder is draped over the turnbuckle with Saturn and RVD fighting over it. A double dropkick by Sabu and Kronus sends both men to the floor. Sabu goes for a suicide dive and catches the steel guard rail when Saturn bats him away. Kronus goes up and over and lands on RVD. A Rolling Thunder with Sabu delivering a slingshot leg drop onto a ladder gets a two count on Saturn. RVD is slingshot into a ladder that is set up in the corner. Kronus does a cart wheel followed by a back flip and hits a back elbow onto RVD. Saturn gets a running start and uses a ladder on the mat to jump to the top rope and deliver a dive to Saturn who is on the other side of the guardrail. Saturn and Kronus hit Total Elimination twice and pin RVD for the win. 4.5 Stars This was a tale of two matches. A very good technical bout started the night and turned into a slug fest once the weapons got involved. Joey Styles is soooo great at what he does. He lets the action speak for itself and chimes in every now and then with some play by play. Also interesting to note that RVD refused to shake hands after the match.

vs Jerry Lynn, Hardcore Heaven 1999. This could very well go down as one of the greatest feuds in history. Flair vs Dusty, Flair vs Sting, Ciampa vs Gargano, Hogan v Savage, Omega vs Okada, and Jerry Lynn vs RVD. I have always hated Bill Alfonso and that damn whistle. A fast paced match with a lot of fun spots including Alfonso getting involved and helping set up a Vandaminator that Jerry Lynn ducked out of. RVD crotches Lynn on the top rope and delivers a spinning heel kick off the middle rope that knocks Lynn to the floor. Jerry's face hits the concrete between the mats and RVD needs to muscle Lynn back to his feet. Lynn has been busted open and gets a sling shot over the guardrail and into the first row. RVD gets a running start and dives over the guardrail to deliver a flying clothes line on Lynn. Back in the ring and Van Dam goes for a Rolling Thunder but Lynn sits up and gets a spinning heel kick to the face. RVD hits a Vandaminator of the guardrail into Lynn who's out in the crowd. RVD hits a corkscrew guillotine leg drop on Lynn who is draped over the guardrail. A sunset flip over the top rope on RVD through a table on the outside Puts Jerry Lynn in charge. A botched spot on the top rope where Lynn slipped and fell. RVD awkwardly fell onto the top rope and rolled in the ring to cover a sprawled out un-moving Jerry Lynn. Lynn hits his own Vandaminator. A second Five Star Frog Splash keeps Lynn down for the three and RVD retains the television title. 5 Stars Great spot near the end where the move was botched but the two guys played it off like it was nothing and RVD took the two count on an unconscious Jerry Lynn. Great story telling and great athleticism highlighted one of the best matches I have ever seen.

Vs Bobby Roode Sacrifice 2012, RVD and The It Factor in a ladder match for the TNA heavyweight title. A spinning leg drop on Roode as he is draped over the guard rail. So far the count for Tazz using the word nasty is at four. RVD sets up a ladder in between the second and third ropes. RVD ends up underneath the ladder and Roode delivers a catapult into the ladder. Roode sets up the ladder on the top rope to suplex RVD on. Rob counters and suplexes Roode on the ladder instead then hits a second rope moonsault. RVD sets up another ladder in the corner on the face of Roode. He dropkicks a chair into the ladder into Roode. Bobby hits the Double R Spine Buster onto a ladder and Tazz's "nasty' count is up to seven. RVD hits the Rolling Thunder onto the ladder and Tazz breaks out another "nasty" RVD misses a Five Star Frog Splash onto a ladder. The It Factor is climbing the ladder and RVD tries to stop him. Roode kicks him off the ladder and he hits the back of his head on another ladder that was lying on the mat. Roode takes down the title and retains his belt. 3.5 Stars RVD was still very talented and athletic 17 years into his career. Some great spots. A lot of the usage of the word "nasty" by Tazz (I counted 11) and the It Factor at the top of his run in TNA. This was a very fun match and one that entertained me quite a bit.

Vs Jeff Hardy, Invasion 2001. The Hardcore Championship is on the line as RVD makes his way to the ring with some of the best entrance music I've ever heard. Definitely Rob's best in his career. Another very technical match considering this is a for the hardcore title. Van Dam hits a spinning heel kick off the apron onto Hardy who is draped over the barricade for a two count on the floor. Hardy climbs to the top of a 20 foot ladder and RVD pushes the ladder over causing Jeff to crash to the floor. RVD grabs a chair and stalks Jeff who is laying on the floor. When RVD gets close Hardy from a prone position picks up the top of the ladder and hits RVD with it. Hardy grabs the chair and stalks RVD to the top of the stage. RVD hits the VanDaminator and knocks Hardy off the stage to the floor. Hardy misses the Swanton and RVD places the Hardcore title on Hardy's chest. A Five Star Frog Splash for the three count and we have a new Hardcore Champion. 4 Stars I loved this match between the WWE's version of the ECW legend going one on one. The best part is that the hardcore was kept to a minimum and the crowd benefited by it. great showing by the two of them.

Make sure you check out our show, Kingdom of Honor, for the latest in wrestling talk every Monday night on Lords of Pain Radio and find our archived shows with a lot of never before heard content on our Patreon page here. Also please leave a comment with your thoughts below or send your feedback to us directly at Kingdomofhonor123@gmail.com

G1 Climax 29 A block Night 1

July 6th, Dallas Texas is the spot where the 2019 version of the G1 kicks off. The blocks are set and we now set forth on the most grueling and prestigious tournament in wrestling. Sit back and enjoy the ride as this only comes around once a year for a reason.

Lance Archer vs Will Ospreay kicks of this tournament. A brand new look from Archer since his KES partner has bolted for another promotion and to be honest, he's scarier then usual. Archer charges while Ospreay is taking off his jacket and  catches a One Man Spanish Fly for his effort. Archer rolls out of the ring and is hit by a corkscrew moonsault on the outside. Ospreay throws Archer back in and hits a springboard 450 for a 2 count. A chop in the corner wakes up Archer who drops Ospreay with a forearm. Archer catches Ospreay in a Space Tiger Drop attempt and then choke slams him through a ringside announcers table. Archer in complete control of this match walks from turnbuckle to turnbuckle on the top rope, then walks halfway and delivers a version of the Undertaker's Old School. After a little offense by Ospreay Archer delivers a pounce and is back in control. Archer drags Ospreay up the ramp where Ospreay counters a power bomb into a Code Red. Archer beats the 20 count by sliding under the ropes and Ospreay beats it by hitting Archer with a springboard dropkick. Following that with a Shooting Star Press for a two count. Robinson Special followed by an Oz-Cutter for another two count. A little back and forth before Archer delivers the Blackout for a two count. A top rope Blackout followed by the Iron Claw ends Ospreay's night. 4.5 Stars This was an interesting match. Seeing Ospreay beaten down like this was a shock considering how hot he has been this year. This was a highlight for Archer coming out with a new look and showing some flashy new offense and it feels like a major push is in store for him. Archer gets his first two points of the tournament.

Evil vs Bad Luck Fale continues the night of great A block matches. Evil may have my favorite entrance in wrestling., music is great and fits him perfectly and the mask, robe, and presence is second to none. Evil jumps the bell and brings Fale to the outside. A running clothesline down the ramp staggers Fale and Evil has come to this tournament to prove a point. The tide quickly turns, however, and Fale is on offense. After a few failed attempts at the power slam, Evil finally hits it, afterwards they make their way out to ringside. Evil uses a chair then rolls Fale back into the ring. A Bronco Buster gets a 2 count. A shoulder tackle by Fale and Evil's offense is once again short lived. Fale brings a chair into the ring and as he and the ref play tug of war with it, Evil kicks it into Fale's face. A running clothes line drops the big man and Evil tries to hit Everything is Evil but it is blocked by Fale. Grenade by Fale for a two count. Referee gets knocked to the outside and Evil hits Fale with a chair. A low blow from Fale followed by a chair shot and the Bad Luck Fall gives Fale his first two points of the tournament. 3 Stars This tournament is off to a blazing start with another fantastic match. Fale is that guy who is a great monster heel but never seems to put it all together. Evil looked like a man beast throughout this match. He absorbed a ton of punishment and showed a lot of heart in the process. Kevin Kelly and Rocky Romero played up the fact that Evil may be shopping for a new stable throughout the match, and he faces his tag team partner and stable mate, Sanada, July 18th

Speaking of Sanada he is up next against the best technical wrestler in the world today, Zach Saber Jr. Two minutes into this match and we have been treated to an amazing display of back and forth technical wrestling that features counter after counter after counter. Sanada heads to the outside to slow the pace and gets a drink of water from the announcer's booth. Sanada is looking for a test of strength which ZSJ is having none of. They finally lock up and start twisting each other into a back and forth of the same move. After multiple attempts at the paradise lock were countered, Sanada finally ties ZSJ up using the ropes. A great spot wear ZSJ had Sanada into a modified Skull's End was powered out of by Sanada. He stands up with Zach in an electric chair. Sanada then flips ZSJ into position for the TKO but Zack counters it into an Octopus. A rope assisted neck breaker followed by a TKO and a two count on ZSJ. A Skull end by Sanada turned into a Big Swing and a moonsault attempt that was countered into a triangle. Sanada powers out of the triangle and hits a second rope moonsault into another Skull End. Over twenty minutes into this match and ZSJ counters the Skull End into a pin attempt, Sanada rolls through and gets the three count. 5 Stars This was every technical wrestling fans dream come true. A beautiful display of athleticism, ring psychology and technical ability where counters ruled the match. Great heel work by ZSJ as he mocked the fans and Sanada at various spots. Great work by Sanada selling his arm injury and counter mocking Zach. This is one of my top 10 matches of the year so far.

Kota Ibushi vs KENTA is next up on the night. This is expected to be a hard striking match and a mixed martial arts face off to start the match lends to that thinking. They get tied up in the ropes and KENTA teases a clean break but hits Kota with a right hand. Ibushi retaliates with one of his own that send KENTA to the mat. A second rope knee drop on a rope hung Ibushi swings the momentum Kenta's way. After KENTA controls a good portion of the beginning of this match, Ibushi's quickness allows him to hit a powerslam followed by a moonsault for a two count. Ibushi's flurry of offense is quickly countered and KENTA is back in control. After Kenta rolls to the outside, Ibushi dives over the top rope and gets countered with a knee to his left leg. Falling hard, he looks to have injured his ankle and KENTA pounces. Draping Ibushi over the guard rail KENTA delivers a double stomp from the apron and this match is back in KENTA's favor. A double stomp from the top rope by KENTA gets a two count. I thought it was a weird moment hearing the Japanese crowd break into a "this is awesome chant" then I remembered we are in Dallas lol. A series of roundhouse kicks to the head lands KENTA a two count. One of the worst looking GTS's I've ever seen ends the match and gives KENTA the victory. 3.5 Stars Much like the Ospreay vs Archer match, there wasn't much offense out of the loser. This match was dominated by KENTA from bell to bell. The bad looking Go To Sleep lowered the grade but that wasn't KENTA's fault as it was on Ibushi to make it look good and he spent a lot to protect his upper body from the knee.

Main event time between two old rivals in Okada vs Tanahashi. Okada mocks the big slap in the corner that has become famous by shushing the crowd and patting Tanahashi on the chest. Tanahashi retaliates with a forearm to the mouth. After a back and forth Tanahashi climbs to the second rope and gets drop kicked to the floor for his trouble. An amazing amount of back and forth action and it's really hard to pick out anything that impresses me because it is all so good. A High Fly Flow attempt is blocked by a couple of knees that does damage to both guys. Okada delivers a Rainmaker and keeps wrist control as he looks out to the audience. He pulls Tanahashi up for a second Rainmaker and connects full force. A third Rainmaker turns into a small package for a two count. Okada sets up for the Rainmaker a couple more times and is met with a right handed strike to the face. Tanahashi goes for a clothes line that turns into a spinning pile driver followed by a Rainmaker for the three and Okada has two points on the board. 4.5 Stars Every time these two guys meet you expect greatness, you expect a classic and every time, they exceed expectations. Okada is one of the top three in the world and when you see these performances, you see why he won the championship in New York and was the champion in Dallas. Great showing by the greatest Heavyweight Champion in the last 20 years.

Make sure you check out our show, Kingdom of Honor, for the latest in wrestling talk every Monday night on Lords of Pain Radio and find our archived shows with a lot of never before heard content on our Patreon page here. Also please leave a comment with your thoughts below or send your feedback to us directly at Kingdomofhonor123@gmail.com

Monday Night Wars from a fans perspective - WWE week of 6/10/1996

This is my continued look into the most profitable era in wrestling history for an extensive breakdown of what I am doing click here.

WWE RAW:

The show opens with Yokozuna in the ring and we quickly cut to Vince McMahon and "the King" Jerry Lawler. They discuss the upcoming interview with the Ultimate Warrior that is set for later tonight. Lawler shows us a beautiful portrait that he has personally drawn of the Ultimate Warrior and he will present it as a peace offering during the interview. Also tonight we get the Undertaker vs the British Bulldog in the main event. Owen Hart is making his way to the ring and we get a video package highlighting Owens 1994 King of the Ring victory and his Slammy win, that was supposed to go to Shawn Michaels, but was stolen by the King of Harts. 4 Stars This is how you open a show, great storyline building, great character development and great hype for what's coming up tonight. If Raw can keep up this kind of this kind of focus throughout the night, we are in for a treat.

Owen jumps Yokozuna before the bell and the opening match is underway. Yoko absorbs a ton of shots by Owen before an enzuguri finally knocks him off his feet. A missed elbow by the King of Harts followed by a couple ill advised head buts and Yoko is back in charge. Lawler questions how many kids in a Cantonese sweat shop would be needed to make a robe for Yoko's king coronation. Owen rolls to avoid the Banzai Drop and gets the pin with a little help from the ropes. 3 Stars Great heel work by Owen, impressive mobility and ring work by a a guy that weighs in at over 660 pounds. Add to that some fun commentary by Lawler and an entire match without a commercial break. This match well deserved the rating it got.

Video package highlighting the Attitude Adjustment tour live events takes us to commercial break. A quick video interview with Jake "the Snake" Roberts discussing how important his wife was during his drug use days and how he is on the road to redemption Brings us back. 2.5 Stars Great use of time and video packages to highlight not only the excitement of seeing the stars of the WWE live but also Jake Roberts redemption story. Raw is on a roll tonight.

Jake Roberts joins the broadcast booth as we head to our second match of the night. Skip from the Body Donnas squares off against The Wildman Mark Mero, with Sunny, in the final first round match of the King of the Ring tournament. Before Mero makes his entrance we cut to an interview with JR and Yokozuna. Yoku seems upset that he lost to Owen Hart and that he isn't himself. He tells us he needs to go for a while to find himself. The match starts at a uptempo pace with a lot of back and forth action before Skip takes control. We head to a commercial break with a really fun match taking place. Back from commercial and Skip is still in control as Mero is doing an excellent job of showing spurts of possibly coming back only to be cut down by skip again. The crowd and Sable get behind Mero as he delivers a flurry of offense. Skip ducks a cross body attempt that sends Mero crashing to the floor. Skip goes for a slingshot cross body over the top rope and misses crashing to the floor. This opens the door for Mero who hits a slingshot 360 to skip on the floor. Mero rolls Skip back into the ring and hits a slingshot body press for two. A top rope frankenstiener for the three count and Mero advances. 3 Stars Great in ring product, announcers focused on the action in the ring with very minimal discussion about politics and outside story lines and Jake Roberts doing what he could to keep focus on the ring and not on himself. What an excellent match. It loses a quarter star for the commercial break mid match but the performance by the two involved especially the way Skip interacted with the crowd keeps this a must watch.

Back from commercial we find Vince and Lawler in the ring to introduce the Ultimate Warrior. Jerry lets the Warrior know how hard it is to be a king and he presents the portrait to Warrior as a peace offering so they can cancel the upcoming match at the King of the Ring. A really confusing answer by the Warrior where he talks about kings and warriors and how he is going to kick Jerry's ass at the King of the Ring. Warrior turns his back on the King and gets the portrait smashed over the back of his head. Warrior chases the King to the back. 1 Star Lawler had some good slimy heel work but Warrior made this unwatchable.

British Bulldog vs the Undertaker is up next. A video package recapping the match from Beware of Dog where the double pin is causing the rematch at the King of the Ring against Shawn Michaels. As the Undertaker comes to the ring we see a replay of his interaction with Mankind at Beware of Dog and set up his match against Mankind at King of the Ring. As the two get prepared in the ring we catch up with Shawn Michaels who is hanging out in the back. Jim Cornette grabs a mic and asks Michaels about how he is favored by Gorilla Monson. Cornette lets us know that as compensation for the Clarence Mason lawsuit Cornette and Mason get to pick the special guest referee. Finally the bell rings and we are underway with the main event. Almost 3 minutes into the match before we have our first wrestling move which was a suplex by the Bulldog. A powerslam on the undertaker gets a two count and we head to commercial break. Back from break with Bulldog wearing out the Undertaker with a chin lock. We continue with the hard hits and lack of wrestling moves. Undertaker gets counted out and the Bulldog wins the match because Mankind was under the ring holding on to Undertaker's leg preventing him from getting back in the ring. Bulldog and Mankind team up to beat down the Undertaker as Jim Cornette calls back his guys leaving Mankind and the Undertaker alone in the ring. A pile driver from Mankind and security rushing the ring is how we end tonight's broadcast. 1.5 star match and 3 Stars for the overall production. The match itself was nothing special and at times boring with a commercial break in the middle. The announcers spent more time talking about Shawn Michaels and his special guest referee than what was happening in the ring. But in there defense outside of a lot of punches and kicks....not much happened in the ring. The appearance by Mankind help send this show home on a high note.

All in all this was an excellent production put on by the WWE. The focus was clearly in the ring and progressing as many story lines as possible. We also got some under used talent the spotlight. So far this has been my absolute favorite show from all three promotions starting off what is now our third week of reviews. 4 Stars

Make sure you check out our show, Kingdom of Honor, for the latest in wrestling talk every Monday night on Lords of Pain Radio and find our archived shows with a lot of never before heard content on our Patreon page here. Also please leave a comment with your thoughts below or send your feedback to us directly at Kingdomofhonor123@gmail.com