WWE Survivor Series

18th November 2012

Indianapolis, Indiana

Pre-show

Zack Ryder & Santino vs 3MB

'Team CoBro' take on Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal, whilst Drew McIntyre watches from outside the ring. The Three Man Band take the win as Zack Ryder and Santino become more and more of a joke by the second.

Bonus Classic Survivor Series Match

Clay/Kidd/Gabriel/Mysterio/Sin Cara vs Tensai/Young/O'Neil/Epico/Primo

This was a nice surprise! I fully expected Mysterio and Sin Cara to be on the card, possibly against the Prime Time Players, but to include everyone else in the match is a bit of a treat (except for Tensai of course, his matches can never be considered a 'treat'). A couple of really good spots in this match including some double dives to the outside, and also Darren Young getting used for target practice by the high flyers of the opposing team. Kidd, Gabriel, Mysterio and Sin Cara all stand together as the winning team after a flurry of acrobatic offence.

Divas Championship

Eve Torres (c) vs Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn was attacked backstage before the match, much like she was at Night of Champions, but this time she survived the ordeal, discovering that her attacker was Aksana. Eve was close by of course, providing insincere concern before getting shoved to the ground. The match proved to be decent, Eve is getting to be one of the best Divas on the roster. Kaitlyn put up a great fight, that is until Eve literally pulled the rug out from under her feat, causing a violent bump to the outside and giving Eve the opportunity she needed to retain her title.

United States Championship

Antonio Cesaro (c) vs R-Truth

Cesaro wasn't quite ready to give up his title just yet, pinning R-Truth after delivering the Neutraliser. Antonio Cesaro has had a decent run so far, but I think it will only escalate before he eventually loses it, probably, as many have guessed, to a returning Jack Swagger. very entertaining match though, and I'm glad Truth got to be a little more serious for once. Reports from ringside are that Little Jimmy was nowhere to be seen.

We're reminded that wrestling is little more than a violent soap opera when AJ interrupts proceedings to make fun of Vicky Guerrero for a while, only to be attacked by Tamina Snuka. Vicky looks surprised to see her, so is Tamina just trying to make a name for herself? I guess we'll find out on Monday's Raw. 

World Heavyweight Championship

Big Show (c) vs Sheamus

This was the one match on the card I really had no interest in. Could they do something to change my mind? In a word, no. It was a case of 'same old, same old' from the pair, with a very worrying ending to the match... Show gets himself disqualified for using a ref to block the Brogue Kick, obviously annoying Shaemus, causing him to beat on Big Show with a steel chair. And what's the next PPV? TLC. That's right, the wheels have already been set in motion for a rematch, only adding the stipulation of a 'Chairs Match' to the mix, hoping that will make people care enough to sit through it. All WWE have done is help me schedule a pee break a month in advance.

Classic Survivor Series Match

Team Ziggler vs Team Foley

My predictions for this match were that Team Foley would win, Orton would be the Sole Survivor, and Daniel Bryan would be the first to get eliminated. I was wrong on all counts! If a match can surprise you this much then it has to be good. Not only did Ziggler eliminate two of the biggest threats on the opposing team, but he was also the Sole Survivor. I really hope this is the start of a real push for him towards cashing in the Money in The Bank contract.

WWE Championship Triple Threat Match

CM Punk (c) vs John Cena vs Ryback

A decent match, but nothing to write home about. Ryback looked very strong throughout, WWE are clearly wanting to impress upon us the belief that he is almost indestructible. What really was interesting was the ending to the match... After being put through an announce table, Ryback battles back to deliver a Shellshock to CM Punk, before getting Cena up on his shoulders to deliver a Shellshock to him as well. Before Ryback gets a chance to cover him, the ring is invaded by three men dressed all in black, who are seemingly intent on destroying Ryback; Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. While the group are delivering a beating to the monster, including putting him through the one remaining announce table, Punk crawls over the unconscious Cena and gets the victory.

Heyman looks shocked at that attack, but surely he has something to do with it... Is it connected to the conversation he had with Brad Maddox on last weeks Raw? I can see Ambrose and Reigns joining the dark side and being part of a heel stable, but why Rollins? He's currently NXT champion and an enormous face, what are his reasons?

Raw has a lot to answer this week!

TNA Turning Point

11th November 2012

Orlando Florida

Last months Bound For Glory in Arizona was a fantastic event, can TNA keep the momentum going back at the Impact Zone?

Samoa Joe (c) vs Magnus

Samoa Joe was always going to retain the TV Title in this bout, but I was still looking forward to it nonetheless. A really good, hard fought match between the two ex-teammates, that wasn't at all enhanced by the 'No DQ' stipulation. Joe came out on top as expected, but for me, the match brought a great deal of credibility to the TV Title and I look forward to seeing who they pit against Joe against next.

ODB and Eric Young vs Tara and Jesse

Erm... What is this? Is Jesse actually going to wrestle for TNA as a solo competitor? Or is he just here for a guest appearance? And does anyone remember that ODB and Eric Young have been Knockouts Tag Champs for about 8 months now? The whole thing's a bit of a mess really. I guess the match was fun, but I'd rather that a talented wrestler like EY was seriously contesting for the TV Title or being used in decent tag team situations. ODB and EY won the match if you care.

Rob Van Dam (c) vs Joey Ryan

Too early. This is the first time we've really seen Joey Ryan have a proper match for TNA, and he goes straight for the X-Division Title? A little early for my liking, there are much worthier candidates on the roster and Ryan is not in RVD's league just yet. I enjoyed the match though, and again I am looking forward to seeing what they do with Joey next. This was another one of those matches for which we already knew the outcome, RVD got the pinfall victory to retain the title.

Joseph Park vs DOC

Are people bored of Aces & Eights yet? I'm still intrigued by the whole thing, but it's just not moving at a quick enough pace. I half expected TNA to do there own 5 on 5 match to mirror WWE's classic Survivor Series match, with 5 of the TNA locker room against 5 of Aces & Eights, but instead we've got a lawyer against a glorified bouncer. Not much wrestling happened in this match, but we did get a glimpse of Joseph Park's 'brother' Abyss when he was busted open and spied his own blood. DOC won this one, but this only leads us to think that Angle will be evening the score later on by winning his match against Devon.

Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez (c)  vs Christopher Daniels & Kazarian

For a tag team that has just been thrown together out of nowhere, Chavo and Hernandez are working really well together; the hard-hitter and high-flyer is a classic combination. Again, another predictable match, the champions were always going to retain. Too much predictability tonight?

James Storm vs Bobby Roode vs AJ Styles

A three-way to decide the number one contender to Jeff Hardy's title belt, with the one who gets pinned being ineligible for a title shot until next years Bound For Glory. An interesting stipulation, and three of TNA's top guys on the roster. There was a great deal of back and forth action in this match, trying to keep  us guessing right until the end, but with a Last Call Superkick to AJ Styles, James Storm took his spot as the number one contender. More interesting than that is the fact that AJ is now out of the title picture for nearly a whole year. Expect a good showing from him in next years BFG Series.

Kurt Angle vs Devon

Not too interested in this one if I'm honest, and that's not to say they didn't have a good match; even a bad Kurt Angle match is better than some guys on a good day. It's just the Aces & Eights storyline starting to wear thin. The biker gang came and surrounded the ring part way through, but Angle still managed to pin Devon for the victory.

Jeff Hardy (c) vs Austin Aries

This was all about Jeff.

It's quite unbelievable that after all the ladder matches and TLC matches that he's had, he can still come up with new innovative ways to hurt himself. It was like watching Hardy do a high-wire act at the circus, and Aries was just there to hand him the unicycle. Amazing stunts, awesome action. Fantastic end to the show.

NGW Ultimate Showdown

Sports Arena

Sunday 11th November 2012

There's about 200 people sat around the ring, and NGW suffer from 'technical difficulties'... 20 minutes later, the show begins!

Colossus Kennedy vs Sam Adonis

The American Sam Adonis starts by getting the crowd heated up and it looks like it could be a fun match. Sadly that doesn't last very long, the pace is very slow and the crowd quickly lose interest. I've seen Colossus many times now and I know he can have a great match, so I was a little disappointed with this one. Sam Adonis deserved to lose and thankfully he did.

Alpha Female vs Angelina Love

I was dubious as to how many people a name like 'Angelina Love' would draw to an event, but then again I've never tried to book a wrestling event! Nevertheless, this was a very good match. Angelina drew the cheers from the crowd, Alpha got the jeers. Alpha dominated for the most part and scored a much deserved pinfall victory.

Bonus Academy Match - Lucas Steel vs Ricky Halestorm

I would have enjoyed seeing this match, but The Proven interrupt before it even gets started, pissed that they're not on the card themselves. They beat on both the in-ring competitors, Ricky getting thrown to the outside. Caz takes the mic, standing over the prone body of Lucas Steel and proclaims to the NGW locker room that if you're not with them, then you're against them. Could Steel be joining the Proven?

Nathan Cruz vs Robbie Dynamite

Excellent. But then a Nathan Cruz match always is! Not the Cruz/Allmark rematch we had hoped for, but Robbie Dynamite did a good job of filling in for him; he has a tendency to over telegraph some of his moves, but he's an awesome mat technician. This would almost have been a five star match, if not for a slip up on what was meant to be the 'big finish'. Still, the best bit of a Cruz match is often the storytelling and it did just that. Dynamite scored the victory, causing Cruz to throw a bit of a tantrum and shove Mel who was, as always, in the wrong place at the right time. Cruz's former manager, Rich Dunn, comes out and reminds him of his match with Colossus coming up at the Eastmount, for which Rich himself will be the Special Guest Referee!

Half time - We all get hot dogs.

Team GB (c) vs Los Amigos

The second half starts with a bang as Los Amigos try and win back their titles from Team GB. We're treat to some of El Ligero and Dara Diablo's usual high flying antics and a couple of really good spots; my favourite of which was the super-kick frenzy! Sam Bailey ended up using the title belt to deliver the killing blow and ending the match in a disqualification. After the match Ligero gets out a ladder as GB scarper, looking ahead to the four corners tag team ladder match coming soon at the Eastmount! Can't wait!

Matt Myers vs Joseph Conners

So we were supposed to have Noam Dar, but it was announced earlier in the night that he'd had to pull out last minute due to injury and that one half of the Predators, Joseph Conners, would be taking his place. This was a bit of a disappointment, which is to say nothing bad about Conners, I do actually rate him quite highly, but I was looking forward to seeing the young Scot after hearing so much about him. Conners and hometown hero Myers still put on a great match, even more impressive after we learned later on that evening that Myers had badly winded himself early on in the match and apparently struggled throughout. Myers scored the victory to rapturous applause, but this was mildly soured when he had to be practically carried off.

Next up we had the all important raffle, and an announcement from NGW management: Senior official 'Milky' was to retire after tonight's main event! As they like to say in the wrestling business, we wish him luck in all his future endeavors.

Rampage Brown (c) vs Stixx

Rampage Brown has held the title since March, so a lot of people were thinking his time must surely be up. Plus, Stixx is practically the only one left on the roster that looks like he could actually beat him. The fans get to see the action up close as the pair's brawl spills into the stands. This is everything a main event should be; it's exciting, it's hard hitting, and most importantly, we don't know who is going to come out on top. In a surprise turn of events, Rampage defends his title cleanly, pinning Stixx for the 3 count.

A good first half was followed by an excellent second half, and it has me looking forward to three things:

1. Four Corner Tag Team Ladder Match
2. Nathan Cruz vs Colossus with Rich Dunn as SG Referee
3. Who have they got to challenge Rampage next?

The only real downside for me was the 'technical difficulties'; they can get away with these back home at the Eastmount, but the problems with the mic and the entrance videos really do need resolving before their next appearance at the Sports Arena.