Ring Crew Reviews: Top 54 Matches from 2014 (Part III: 30-22)

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• More **** matches.

• 30. Last Man Standing Match: Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena. WWE Payback 2014. 06/01/2014. After defeating DB at RR, Wyatt and the Family turned their sights on John Cena. They left him lying, costing him the unified strap. At EC, it was more of the same as it was down to Cena and Orton and the Family attacked Cena costing him yet again. At WMXXX, Cena and Bray hooked up one-on-one and Cena came out on top. The cage rematch at Extreme Rules was so counterproductive, so protective of Cena, so not protective of Bray that it was arguably the worst, high-profile match of the year. After easily avoiding all three Family members attacks and getting surefire victories stolen from him, Cena finally succumbed to defeat when a child turned heel before he did. Other than the interference costing Cena and a member of the Cenation following the buzzards, there wasn’t a lot of storyline movement except for a general difference of values and motivation which the video package reinforces. In the final few weeks, Cena upped the ante bringing the Usos into his corner, while the Wyatts targeted Jerry Lawler in a strange segment. Let’s get to it.

• The Wyatts are out in full force with smartphone accompaniment. Cena is out solo and the Wyatts look to move in, but Cena is saved by the Usos. Awesomely, the dueling Cena chants are overcome and replaced by U-SO-U-SO-U-SO chants. We’re finally ready to go and both come out slugging. Bray WINS that one and goes to the headbutts. Cena no sells for a bulldog and a BOOT OF HOPE. Cena wants the count but Bray was playing possum and lays him out with an uppercut. JBL: “Cena may never give up, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be knocked out for an 11 count.” Bray with a back elbow and Cena is reeling. Bray follows up with a Ho Train and Cena is trashed. 1. 2. 3. 4. Cena uses Bray to pull himself up. Cena is lifeless and Bray flops him around for a little two-step but Cena Prototypes up for the shoulderblocks and the ProtoBomb. Cole: “NOW, CENA WANTS TO LEAD!” JBL: “NOW, THE MUSIC HAS STOPPED!” King: “JOHN CENA SAYS, ‘MAY I CUT IN?!’” Monsoon: “WILL YOU ALL STOP?!” ANYWAY, Cena hits the 5KS and wants the FU but Bray counters to a slick gutbuster. 1. 2. 3. 4. Cena up only to eat a Batista kick. Cena no sells to avoid a senton and drop Bray into the STF. Wyatt kicks him off for the Book End. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Bray taunts Cena with the set-up but no Spider Walk. He wants Sister Abigail but Cena shoves him off only to get steamrolled with the running crossbody. 1. 2. 3. 4. Cena crawls to the apron. 5. 6. 7. Bray picks him up on the apron and face smashes him down. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Bray, nicely, picks up on the King tangent by giving him the stink eye at ringside while Cena is down. 7. 8. Cena is back up again, jockeying for position with Bray on the top rope. Cena headbutts him down for the top rope fame-asser. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Cena up first and wants the FU. Bray pushes him off and catches him in SISTER ABIGAIL! 1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! Cena stirs. 8! 9! CENA IS UP! Of course, he pogosticks right into an FU. I HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE that finisher/finisher spot that is all the rage in Cena matches now.

• ANYWAY. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. SPIDERWALK! Cena is amazed as Rowan tackles him from behind. Odd timing for that as Bray wasn’t in any particular peril as he just got up to beat the count. Uso 1 dumps out Rowan. Harper shitcans Uso 2 to hit a suicide dive on Rowan and Uso 1. Uso 2 reappears for a corkscrew moonsault on all to the/ floor. BUT WAIT! BRAY WYATT HAS GOT A CHAIR! He waffles Cena a few times to the ribs and back. Cena bails out to the floor for the count. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Cena uses the ringpost to pull himself up. Wyatt winds up for the baseball swing but eats post and Cena comes back. The Usos and Wyatts have disappeared, presumably brawling to the back. Cena gets the chair and contemplates whether or not he will blast Wyatt.

• Minor tangent: Remember how one of the key elements of the WM feud was that this was a battle for Cena’s soul? Bray has a Raven-esque edge to his character where he’s willing to take punishment to get what he wants, lose the battle to win the war. He turns his back on his opponents and BEGS them to hit him with a chair from behind to sink to his level – turn heel. He did it with Daniel Bryan and he did it with Cena at WMXXX. Would Cena embrace the hate of Wyatt’s kool-aid and strike down upon Bray with great vengeance and furious anger or would he stand up for truth, justice, hustle, loyalty, and respect of the American Way? Of course, Cena won the match but kept his character intact by not striking Bray with a chair. Fast-forward to Payback.

• CENA WAFFLES BRAY WITH THE CHAIR! He unloads on Bray again and the ref starts the count. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Bray beats the count but collapses again as Cena goes looking for plunder and comes up with a table. Bray cuts him off with boots. Cena wants the FU but Bray counters to a suplex through the table. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Cena uses the table to pull himself up. Bray brings in the stairs and BLASTS Cena. 1! 2! Bray leads the crowd singing in unison to “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.” 3! 4! 5! THE LEGIONS HAVE BEEN BRAY-WASHED! 6! 7! Cena is up but gets curb stomped into the stairs. After a spell, Cena is up to cut off Bray and knock him out with the stairs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Bray rolls to the floor to regroup but Cena picks up the stairs and THROW THE FUCKING STAIRS DOWN THE AISLE AND BRAY EATS THEM IN THE FACE! HOLY SHIT! That would have been a legitimate ending to the match. Cena agrees and says it’s over. 1! 2! 3! 4! Bray rolls over. 5! 6! 7! Cena can’t believe it and goes looking for more tables. Bray stumbles to his feet and Cena dives off the apron but gets caught in SISTER ABIGAIL INTO THE BARRICADE! YEAHHH! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Both guys pull themselves up using the barricade and apron, but they’re up. Cena counters a whip and posts Bray and he cuts a flip over the bottom half of the ring steps. Cena wants a piledriver only to get backdropped ON THE STAIRS! Then, Bray runs and leaps off the stairs with a senton on the floor. Both men are up and Bray wants another chairshot but Cena ducks under for an FU on the floor. Cena then races to slide in the ring to set up the next spot like he just started the match. THE WYATTS HAVE COME OUT! They pummel Cena and help Bray to his feet to make sure that he beats the count. Back in, they blast Cena with a combo big boot.

• BUT WAIT! MY GOODNESS, THE USOS! One dive on Rowan. The camera catches Harper getting the table ready to waffle the other Uso diving out of the ring in mid-dive, but it’s still an awesome cutoff. The Wyatts set up some tables while Cole and crew yell at the ref to count Bray because he’s still down, thus needlessly protecting Cena again. Rowan catches a flying Jey Uso and tries a snap ab suplex but Uso lands on his feet and superkicks him back. Jey then follows up with the Runaway Samoan Semi through a table. Harper and Jimmy meet each other at the top and Harper wins that exchange and superplexes Jimmy TO THE FLOOR THROUGH TWO TABLES! And now, the match continues as Cena fires up but Bray lands on his feet out of a FU and crossbodies Cena through the barricade. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Both men get to their feet. They aimlessly brawl through the crowd, so Cena can FU Bray through a roadie trunk and bury him under another. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Cena is the last man standing at 24:14.
• That finish is a bit of a groaner as it furthers Cena’s goal in life to FU someone off of every free-standing object possible, natural and man-made. It’s also the same finish used in the Jericho-Kane LMS from Armageddon 2000 in one of the worst matches Jericho’s ever had. If Bray had gotten one relatively clean, strong win out of this, it might have helped him. As it is, losing to Cena twice and getting one of the weakest wins possible does little to help a guy who was already super over and had a clean wins over DB and The Shield on his resume.

• To their credit, this match is MUCH better than either of the other two and goes a long way toward washing the bad taste of the EE debacle away. They follows the template that was used most notably at SS 08 with Edge/UT HITC: get all the regular finishes and signature stuff out of the way early, because it’s going to take super-finishers in succession and weapons to settle this one. Each tries the usual 5KS, FU, STF or crossbody, Sister Abigail in the first half but each fails. It’s only the use of finishers on the floor, through barricades, and through trunks that deal decisive blows against each. The interfering mini-match in the middle is a definite choice, though I’m not sure a good one. The Usos/Harper & Rowan threw out some great spots, but it didn’t entirely serve the match’s interests as it just neutered Bray a bit more when Cena was winning anyway. Finally, on second viewing, the finish comes off so obvious and contrived as they do nothing outside of the ring area the entire match, and then just walk over for the finish a good 30 yards away from the ring. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a hellacious brawl with crazy spots including one of the most badass stair tosses and spots you’ll ever see, but it’s hard to go but so high. ****

• 29. The Briscoes vs. The Hardy Boyz. OMEGA Wrestling: Chaos in Cameron. In the previous match, an elimination match between The Bravado Brothers & Hurricane against CW Anderson, Caleb Conley, and Micky Gambino, Hurricane was the lone survivor basking in the spotlight.

• The Briscoes come out and put the boots to him and hold off a rescue attempt from The Bravados. That draws out the hometown heroes The Hardyz and they clear the ring.

• Jay and Matt to start. They go head to head and shove it out. They switch to slugging it out, and Matt wins that exchange. Jay goes to the eyes to take over and grabs a headlock. Matt sends him off and Jay bowls him over with the SHOULDERBLOCK! MAN UP, BOY! Matt comes back with a clothesline and some weak GnP. Jeff tags in and Jay escapes to tag in Mark. Mark hits some of the Redneck Fu and lands on his feet out of a few flips and yakuza kicks Jeff down. Jeff comes back with a mule kick and some turnbuckle shots. Mark is out on his feet, so Jeff gives him the Blow of Doom but no WCW repeat as Mark kicks out at 2. Double suplex from the Hardys gets a nearfall. The Hardyz work a few quick tags of nothing, so Jay tries a cheap shot. Jeff ignores, so Jay FUCKS HIM UP in the corner with a LARIATO and trashes him into another LARIATO from Mark. Matt has HAD IT WITH THE DOUBLE TEAMING ONE TIME and comes over to the heel side of the ring on the floor, and Jay gouges his eye and tells him to take a walk. The Briscoes isolate Jeff and pound away in the corner that draws a loud HARDYHARDYHARDY chant. Jeff with a belly to belly suplex and locks in a CC to a call-and-response taunt of BRISCOESBRISCOESBRISCOES, though the Hardy chant was louder and longer. Jeff in with a facewash in the corner for 1, 2, 2 1/2. Jeff lunges but can’t make the hot tag. Mark with a headbutt and a side suplex but whiffs on a senton off the top. The crowd wants the tag, and Jeff makes the microwave wild tag at 7 minutes in. Matt comes in with clotheslines for both Briscoes and the yodelling elbow drop. Side Effect gets 1, 2, no on Mark. Jay in with an illegal attack, so Jeff shitcans him out and hits an illegal Twist of HATE on Mark.

• Another TOF from Matt Hardy. 1, 2, 2.99999 and 2 Twist of Fates aren’t enough to put away Mark Briscoe. Matt heads up for the MOONSAULT! NO! HE WHIFFS! Jay lays out Jeff on the floor with a LARIATO to begin heat #2. Referees come out to check on Jeff from the LARIATO on a hardwood, gym floor. Matt Hardy is all alone against a fresh Jay Briscoe. Jay puts the boots to him and chokes away in the corner. Mark tags in for a back rack, while the announcers recap the ROH title feud between Matt Hardy and Jay Briscoe. Some BLATANTCHOKERY follows with no hope in sight for Matt. Neckbreaker from Jay gets 1, 2, 2 1/2. Matt gets a second wind and avoids a double backdrop and shitcans out Jay. Mark cuts him off with a few Mongolian chops but gets superplexed off the top by Matt. Jay isn’t taking any chances and bumps the ref to avoid a count from a superplex of all things. The Briscoes want chaos tonight as they bring in several chairs. THEY WANT TO DESTROY MATT HARDY IN HIS HOMETOWN! WE NEED SOME HELP OUT HERE! Jay and Mark waffle him several times. Mark wraps a chair around Matt’s neck to set up a PILLMANIZING CONCHAIRTO! THEY COULD END HIS CAREER! Jay: “WE DON’T GIVE A SHIT!” Jay then flips off the crowd. OK, then.

• BUT WAIT! WILLOW THE WISP HAS COME OUT! He knocks down the Briscoes with his umbrella. Matt is up for the TWIST OF FATE ON JAY! 1, 2, 2.9999999999999999. Jay is all I AIN’T GOING DOWN, TONIGHT and hits the BLATANTLOWBLOW on Matt. Matt doesn’t fucking buckle, so Jay low blows him AGAIN and Mark dropkicks his ass down for good measure. Without of a hint of a tag, now Mark is the legal man covering for 1, 2, 2.99. Mark goes to a Camel Clutch with a few crossfaces. Matt decides to no sell a submission and a few low blows, but a dropkick puts him back on his ass. The inevitable stretcher comeback is taking forever, so Mark goes to another resthold. BUT WAIT! JEFF HARDY HAS COME OUT! He’s still feeling the effects of the concussion from earlier but wants the hot tag. The crowd is into it and wants the tag as well. TAGS TO JEFF AND JAY! Burrito from Jay into the low blow leg drop and a basement dropkick for 1, 2, no. Whisper in the Wind for 1, 2, broken up by Mark. The Briscoes hit him up with a rolling FU into a Frog Splash. Cover gets 1, 2, nearfall. Jeff fights them off with a double clothesline and ANOTHER tag to Matt already even though he’s been resting for about 45 seconds after getting beat up for 10 minutes straight. Poetry in Motion from the Hardys and another TOF on Jay. SWANTON ON JAY! 1, 2, broken up by Mark. Mark shitcans out Jay and hits the uppercut of a lifetime on Matt. Macho elbow 1, 2, 2.99999. The Briscoes want the DOOMSDAY DEVICE! NO! VICTORY ROLL FROM MATT HARDY! 1, 2, 3 and The Hardyz take it at 23:43.

• A really good match that was shooting for epic, but comes off a little bloated instead. It is rare that two teams of this caliber and protectedness can go out there with no restrictions and have the best match they can, so it’s a genuine treat that this match even exists. But because of that, it has that “everything and (yes and) the kitchen sink” feel to it. You’ve got some odd no-sells of blows, blatant bumping and ignoring of the ref with no repercussions, a masked wrestler alt personality run-in, several finisher kickouts, a stretcher job, and a stretcher job comeback from the lockerroom. I love both teams and it’s good; it’s just a bit much. ****

• ****1/4 Matches.

• 28. Elimination Chamber for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship: John Cena vs. Christian vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro vs. Sheamus vs. Randy Orton (c). WWE Elimination Chamber 2014. 02/23/2014. Orton beat Cena back at TLC 2013 to unify the two straps. He went on to defeat Cena at RR as well after some interference from the Wyatts. Cena, DB, and Sheamus won a 6 man tag to get in the EC against The Shield after interference from The Wyatts as well. Cesaro defeated Dolph and Christian defeated Swagger for the remaining spots in the EC. The majority of the competitors faced off in an unofficial round robin tournament on RAW in the weeks leading up to this show with the most significant finishes being DB, Cena, and Cesaro all pinning Orton clean.

• Cesaro and Sheamus to start. Cesaro with a dropkick and he goes to work on Sheamus. Sheamus bails to the grating to recover, but blocks a shot. Sheamus clotheslines Cesaro back into the ring. They trade strikes and Sheamus slingshots in with a shoulderblock for 1, 2, no. Neckbreaker gets a fleeting 1 count. Sheamus with a charge in the corner, a knee lift, and he dumps Cesaro to the grating. Sheamus takes over with the CLUBBINGBLOWBARRAGE and a Hogan-line. They block suplexes until Sheamus whiffs and posts himself. Cesaro gives him a double foot stomp off the second rope. Cesaro tells Cena that he can’t see him as he goes to work on Sheamus. Sheamus tries to Celtic up and Cesaro no sells for a stiff Euro uppercut. Sheamus uses the ropes to flip up to the top rope and again goes Euro uppercut into next week. Sheamus with a flying shoulderblock to come back

• DB is next at 5 minutes and the building explodes. DB is sporting a taped up shoulder as he lands a missile dropkick on both. He kicks both around and flips up and over for a burrito on Sheamus. He kicks the tar out of both and a DRFG enzugiri on Cesaro. He ducks behind Sheamus for an Indian Deathlock and Northern Lights Cesaro into a bridge for 1, 2, no. Slick spot. Bridge on Sheamus for 1, 2, no. Cesaro catches DB in a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker as JBL notes that DB won this match back in 2012. Sheamus and Cesaro hook back up for some clubberin’. Cesaro clotheslines Sheamus to the grating. DB gets sent into the pod by Cesaro and displaces the infamous, bulletproof glass WITH THE INJURED SHOULDER! He’ll be out for a while. Sheamus no sells Cesaro’s uppercuts for a Finlay Roll on the grating. Back in, Cesaro covers for 1, 2, no. Dueling Cena chants from the crowd to show they are bored.

• 10:10 and it’s Christian and that means this thing will go damn near 40 minutes. On the lead in, Christian was bringing up the rear as a face, so he started leaning if not outright turning heel. He dumps Sheamus to the grating to continue the trend and goes to work on DB’s arm. He pulls the tape off and then wedges his arm in the pod door and hits a SINGLE ARM TORNADO DDT OFF THE TOP! 1, 2, NO! Sheamus and Cesaro are trapped in dinosaur amber just waiting to be resurrected while this is all going on. DB with a desperation enzuigiri to come back. He goes for the IED but wipes out on his injured shoulder. Sheamus is back up to toss Christian into the cage several times. Christian drops behind for the falling DDT on the grating. Cesaro’s now got Christian. Christian shoves him off for the Unprettier but get alley ooped onto the cage. Christian catches it for the Spider-Man spot but gets no chants. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO on this crowd. ANYWAY, Cesaro catches him again. PLEXIGLASSBOMB! EURO UPPERCUT! 1, 2, 2.999999999999999 from Cesaro. Cesaro pastes Sheamus with the pod door, but Sheamus no sells. Cesaro no sells that for a Karenlin Lift ON THE STEEL!

• Cena is next at 15:10. He hoists up Christian and uses him as a battering ram on Cesaro and then FU’s him onto Cesaro. Beast. That looked much more organic and realistic than the tired version on Orton and Kane from this Summer. Cena heads up top but DB cuts him off for a top rope rana. Christian cuts off DB’s rally with the UNPRETTIER! 1, 2, 2.99999999999999. PHEW! Cesaro wants the Big Swing on Orton. Cena cuts him off with a crossbody that inadvertantly catapults Christian onto the turnbuckle. ProtoBomb on Christian. Sheamus with an Schwein Redline on Cena as the spots are coming fast now. They slug it out again with strikes and uppercuts. Sheamus gets caught with a recliner kick from Christian, but still backdrops out of the Neutralizer. Tornado DDT from Christian on Cesaro. Christian fires up but Cena drops him onto the cage. Cena tries the shoulderblocks but Cesaro gets him with the SWISS DEATH FROM BELOW! 1, 2, KICKOUT! Surprisingly no eliminations so far as they are obviously trying to protect each guy. Now, it’s time for a 3-way strike off with Cena, Cesaro, and DB. Cena tries an FU but DB breaks it up. Sheamus holds Cesaro in place for DB to work him over and then tosses DB into the cage. Superplex from Cesaro on Sheamus. 1, 2, no.

• At 20:25, Orton is the last one in. He stomps everyone, picking the remains. Orton poses and then points at the WM sign. Orton wants the Punt on DB, but he whiffs. Orton’s no cornered by everyone else. He’s all BRING IT ON, MOTHERFUCKER! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Orton steps through the ropes and then hides in the pod. Now, THAT was funny. That draws a PUSSYPUSSYPUSSY chant from the crowd that even surprises Orton. Sheamus Pump Kicks the pod door off the hinges in a cool spot and then tears Orton a new one. Cesaro cuts Sheamus off, leaving Cena to finish the job. 5KS on Orton. Cesaro breaks that up as well and calls for the BIG SWING! 30 ROTATIONS! DB with CHAOS THEORY ON CESARO! Sheamus flips DB and then Bulldog powerslams Christian. Pump Kick on Cena. Christian sneaks Sheamus with a school boy for 1, 2, no. He covers Cena for 1, 2, 2.9999999999999. Sheamus is up and pissed at Christian. He tries the Razor’s Edge on the grating but Christian escapes to the top of the pod. Orton grabs Sheamus with a superplex. SPLASH FROM CHRISTIAN OFF THE TOP! 1, 2, 3 and Sheamus is out at 26:05.

• Orton wants a DDT but Christian dumps him out. Busaiku knee and Christian’s out courtesy of DB at 27:13.

• Now, Cena, Orton, Cesaro, and DB do the RR standoff. DB/Orton and Cena/Cesaro pair off and of course, the mega faces overcome for the DB/Cena standoff. THIS is the match that needs to happen at a Mania within the next 3-5 years, just like we needed to see Cena/Punk. Why does WWE have such an aversion to organic superface clashes at WM now but not manufactured ones? Why did we need Cena/Rock twice but no Cena/Punk or Cena/DB at Mania? For the last few years, I’ve found the SS main events much more satisfying than the WM main events, but I digress. ANYWAY, they kick and punch it out. DB grabs him for the YesLock, but Cena rolls through only to get booted off. Cena wants the FU, but Cesaro is behind him for a GERMAN SUPLEX ON CENA WHILE HE’S STILL HOLDING DB! UNBELIEVEABLE! ONE, TWO, THREEOHNOHEALMOSTGOT’IM! Cesaro is fired up and counters out of the STF into another attempt at the Karenlin Lift. Cena shitty ranas out and FUs Cesaro to the grating. STF and Cesaro is out at 30:13.

• Depressing elimination as a clean pin for Cesaro over Cena in a match like this really could have put him on another level, especially going into Mania with the Andre Battle Royal victory, but I digress again. ANYWAY, Cena avoids the RKO for a STF attempt. BUT WAIT! THE WYATT FAMILY HAS COME OUT! They take out DB and put the boots to Cena. A few clotheslines and a Sister Abigail later and Cena is done. This draws a THANKYOUWYATTS chant. Orton hooks the leg for 1, 2, 3 and Cena’s out at 32:45.

• Corporate Kane comes out to tell the Wyatts to take it to the back. DB attacks Kane from behind in a questionable strategy. Orton trashes DB into the pod, but DB crotches him up top and hooks him in the Tree of Woe. DB lands a few IEDs to the prone Orton. Super, back suplex gets 1, 2, 2.9999. Orton cuts off DB and hits his DDT off the second rope. He wants the RKO. NO! BUSAIKU KNEE! 1, 2, Kane bumps the ref. RKO on DB! NOT THIS WAY, DAMMIT! 1, 2, KICKOUT! SMALL PACKAGE FROM DB! 1, 2, 2.9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999! YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES! Kane waffles him into another RKO to kill the crowd for approximately 6 weeks at 37:31.

• A good EC match in a gimmick that almost always delivers. For what it’s worth, I don’t think the gimmick has ever delivered a match less than ***1/2 (discounting the ECW one from December to Dismember, which I saw once and didn’t hate but can’t remember enough to rate adequately).

• What’s to like: DB getting a lot of time to shine and being protected, Cesaro getting a lot of time to shine and being protected, Christian actually getting a pinfall, something other than CENAWINSLOL, waiting until all the participants were entered to have a pinfall, each guy getting a chance to hit plenty of his moves, and letting DB kick out from the RKO.

• What’s not to like: The rapid fire eliminations of Sheamus and Christian, Cesaro jobbing to Cena twice in a month when a pin could have really put him over the top, The Wyatts interference, and the Kane interference.

• As usual, the EC comes off like stellar angle advancement on the way to Mania. A wild ride, but a speed bump nonetheless. ****1/4

• 27. Falls Count Anywhere: Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose. WWE RAW. 08/18/2014. Through the first few months of 2014, it seemed The Shield were always one failed tag away from dissolution and it always seemed that Ambrose would be the fall guy. However, they righted their ship through the spring and even toppled Evolution in back to back PPV matches. That was, until Rollins sold out to join the Authority and put down his brothers-in-arms with a chair. Reigns would break off into the chase for the title, while Ambrose would try to get revenge on Rollins. He would come up short at MITB where Rollins won the briefcase and he was banned from the building at Battleground. At SS, Ambrose would finally get his shot, and Rollins would take him down again with the help of the MITB briefcase.

• Ambrose with a quick crossbody into some GnP to get started. Rollins comes back with shots to the throat and he stomps him down in the corner. Rollins pauses to glare at the crowd and gets dropkicked out of the ring and tossed into the crowd. Ambrose covers on the concrete for 1, 2, no. Ambrose tosses him onto the stage and goes to the throat to retaliate. He teases a suplex but Rollins tries a powerbomb. Finally, Ambrose syncs up and lands the suplex on the steel for 1, 2, shoulder up. A right from Ambrose sends Rollins rolling down the ramp and selling his back. Back in, Ambrose goes looking for plunder and comes up with a chair. He goes to the gut and then hits the CHAIR-ASSISTED BOBYSLAM! Ambrose hits an elbow drop with a chair off the top, while the crowd chants WEWANTABLES a bit. Ambrose wedges the chair in the corner, but gets tossed into in by Rollins. Cole’s all THISMATCHISTRENDING as we take a break. We’re back to Rollins going all Bagram using the Kendo stick to choke Ambrose and waffle him. Ambrose blocks another shot and tucks the Kendo stick. Rollins superkicks him and lands a shitty dropkick. Ambrose no sells to go for a Nigel-line, but Rollins ducks for an enzuirigi. 1, 2, no. Good sequence. Rollins gets another chair but whiffs on a Stinger Splash allowing Ambrose to hit a tornado DDT. Cover gets 1, 2, nearfall. Ambrose lunatic fringes up and wants Dirty Deeds.

• Rollins tosses him off for the Curb Stomp. No dice as they collide on stereo crossbodies for a double down. They slug it out and Rollins ends the flurry with a spinkick. Ambrose tries a catapult and Rollins blasts him with a Kendo stick, but Ambrose catapults him anyway. Cool spot. Ambrose gets the cane again, and he waffles Rollins around. Cane-assisted Russian leg sweep gets 1, 2, 2 1/2. Ambrose spelunks again and finds a half dozen chairs. He puts Rollins up top for a suplex on the chairs, but Rollins fights him off for an MDK LIGER BOMB ON THE CHAIRS! HOLY SHIT! 1, 2, 2.999999999999999999999. Rollins goes under the ring and gets a table. Rollins preps a Super Curb Stomp through the table. Ambrose recovers for a superplex through the table instead. BUT WAIT! CORPORATE KANE HAS COME OUT! Ambrose shrugs off the cooler and hits a suicide dive. Rollins tries cutting him off at the pass and eats the RECLINER NIGEL-LINE FOR HIS TROUBLE! DIRTY DEEDS! 1, 2, Kane breaks it up because we can’t have nice things. Kane gets dismissed into the stairs and Rollins is backdropped into the crowd. Ambrose with a running start across the announce table and lands the MOUNTAIN BIKER HAMMER into the crowd. Ambrose preps the announce table, but Kane goozles him for a ChokeSlam into the table. Rollins follows up with the Curb Stomp into the table. Kane uncovers the cinder blocks and Rollins terminates Ambrose with extreme prejudice and a Curb Stomp at 16:15 for the sports entertainment finish.

• A fine brawl for a RAW main event, but SERIOUSLY can we just spot with the Kane run-ins? This match at least proves that these two guys had a ****+ PPV main event in them, if not for overbooking and ridiculous finishes. In all of their matches together in 2014, Ambrose and Rollins were aces when it came to building up their finishes and making the other guy work to hit his and this match was no different. ****1/4

• 26. NEVER Openweight Championship: Tomoaki Honma vs. Tomohiro Ishii (c). NJPW Wrestling Dontaku. 05/03/2014. Stereo shoulderblocks are no sold a few times at the bell. They chop it out for a while with neither budging an inch. Ishii finally gets the advantage but runs into a shoulderblock. Honma misses his headbutt but still avoids a kick from Ishii. Forearm battle time. Honma hits him with some weak sauce and Ishii is all YOUR MASTER’S KARATE AIN’T SHIT and fires back. Honma tries to rebound off the ropes but gets steamrolled by Ishii. Ishii no sells more of his chops to swat him down like a fly. Ishii with another throat chop and Honma is near death from a torn trachea. Honma tries Hulking up but again Ishii questions his manhood and piefaces him down like a child. Ishii with a suplex for 1, 2, no. Honma still can’t get anything going with his chops as Ishii headbutts him down. Honma gets a desperation DDT and he’s fired up. Bulldog leads into the falling headbutt. He rolls Ishii into a half crab. Ishii shrugs it off to make the ropes. He takes over immediately with a Saito suplex. Ishii lands the SWAGGEST OF ALL TIME DELAYED HANGING VERTICAL SUPLEX OFF THE TOP.

• Honma channels his inner 95 Hogan and no sells for Hogan-lines. He avoids a LARIATO and ducks behind Ishii and drops him with a BEAST GERMAN SUPLEX. Ishii hurts his shoulder on the landing and falls to the floor. Honma gestures to the crowd and climbs up top for the falling headbutt off the top to the floor. That was awesome. Back in, Honma hits the Blockbuster and calls for another diving headbutt. He hits it for 1, 2, 2.99. Honma tries to scoop him up but can’t do it. He blocks an enzuigiri but runs into a LARIATO. Ishii SELLS THE BAD ARM! They meet in the middle for clothesline collisions for a few rounds. Ishii finally drops him but Honma Hogans him and kicks out at 1. Last Ride gets 1, 2, 2.9999. They fight over a suplex and Honma wins the struggle with a Brainbuster. Greetings from Asbury Park gets 1, 2, 2.99999999999999. Ishii is dead weight and Honma can’t get him up. He tries another falling headbutt but eats canvas. They block LARIATOS and Honma school boys him for 1, 2, no. Ishii HEADBUTTS THE SHIT OUTTA HIM! NO SELL! GERMAN SUPLEX! Ishii can’t capitalize and it’s a double down. They slug it out and Ishii sells his bad neck as Honma smacks him around. They both go for headbutts and Ishii lands an enzuigiri and a SEATED LARIATO. 1, 2, 2.9999. Brainbuster follows from Ishii for 1, 2, 3 to retain at 14:08. That’s the first legit awesome match of this Puro reviewing session for me (Honma/Shibata, Okada/Goto, and this). It’s hardly a bona fide classic, but Ishii’s badass routine plays better than either Shibata’s or Goto’s in the other matches. Also, Honma’s borderline slapstick, ultimate Hogan mark gimmick plays better against a thick mofo like Ishii than a MMA striker like Shibata. The psychology is tightest here with Ishii selling some nerve damage through the latter half of the match and making it interesting. Spot of the match: The hanging vertical suplex off the top from Ishii. ****1/4

• 25. NEVER Openweight Championship: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito (c). NJPW New Beginning in Osaka. 02/11/2014. Lockup to start and both guys won’t give an inch, so it goes on for a spell before finally the ropes and the referee settle this one. They trade positions on the ropes and tease not giving a clean break, before Ishii is all FUCK TEASING and forearms Naito back. It’s CLUBBERING TIME, TONY! They forearm it out and Naito wins that by going to the eyes. He tries a shoulderblock but gets bowled over by the larger Ishii. Naito comes back with an armdrag and a back elbow. Ishii runs off the ropes into a Bluechipper dropkick. Naito is fired up but the crowd isn’t buying right now as they don’t like him beating up Ishii. Naito snapmares him down and goes to a chinlock. He periodically works in a few elbows to the head for good measure. Naito covers for a fleeting 1 count and goes back to the elbows to the head. Ishii thinks about selling before rubbing his neck and getting the dirt up off his shoulder. Naito has 99 problems but Ishii ain’t one so he smacks the taste out of his mouth. Ishii no sells that weak sauce to stare him down in disdain. Naito comes back with more elbows but Ishii still isn’t impressed. They go eye to eye and Ishii headbutts him away and Naito goes down. Ishii with a slam and starts kicking Naito around and headbutting him some more. Naito comes back with some more weak stuff and Ishii ignores his paltry strikes to club his ass down with the LEATHERY chops. Ishii unloads with a chop and forearm rampage and Naito is trashed. Ishii looks at the ref and is all I AIN’T FUCKING AROUND, YOU BETTER TELL HIM.

• The ref goes over to Naito to try to negotiate a truce, but Naito is too busy holding his head and selling to listen. Ishii doesn’t have time to wait around for him to lick his wounds and knees him in the head some and goes back to the forearms. He gives him some of the business and that fires up Naito for some strikes to BIG BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOS! Ishii fires back with headbutts. Naito is part-Samoan though (I’m guessing) and no sells to headbutt his ass back down. Naito sends him off for a hiptoss and a dropkick TO THE HEAD! STANDING SWANTON! Naito is feeling it but the crowd still hates him. Ishii tries getting the boot up in the corner but Naito avoids with a neckbreaker off the ropes. The ref is now checking on Ishii. He comes back with a powerslam and he tries to work out the kink I nhis neck. Naito gets the boot up in the corner and floats out of a slam into a NECKBREAKER! DROPKICK TO THE NECK! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Cover gets 1, 2, no. He wants a German but Ishii drives him into the ropes. He tries to get the boot up again but Ishii ignores for a corner LARIATO. Superplex follows for 1, 2, kickout. Ishii goes back to the chops and headbutts. Naito fires up and doesn’t even fire back at first; he just chest bumps Ishii’s shots out of the way and backs him against the ropes. Naito fires back and now Ishii’s the one no selling his stuff. IT’S GO TIME! They slug it out and Ishii grounds him with a beast forearm. Powerbomb gets 1, 2, 2 ½. Naito blocks a LARIATO. He wants the Acid Drop DDT but gets countered only for Naito to counter THAT with a German that folds up Ishii. NOOOOOOOO! NOT THE NECK! Ishii retreats to the corner where Naito follows up with an IED. Ishii tries to no sell, so Naito slides out to the apron and trips him up with a sweep and then dropkicks him into the turnbuckle BAD NECK FIRST! Naito puts him up top but the SURGICALLYREPARIEDKNEE gives way and he can’t get over for the rana. Both men recover and Naito wants another German but Ishii elbows free. Naito tries to reapply by going back after the neck. He goes for the wheelbarrow but Ishii counters so Naito floats back into the Bo-Dog DDT and hits it this time. He bridges into a German suplex for 1, 2, 2.7 on Ishii. Naito wants a Dragon suplex but Ishii escapes by going to the bad knee. They counter for a bit and Ishii ends the rally with a LARIATO. Double KO. They both recover and slug it out with forearms and then both stop to sell exhaustion. Naito comes back first and clubs down Ishii who collapses in pain and running on fumes. They slug it out again and Ishii takes this round with some DEADLY DOUBLE FOREAMS! RIGHTS AND LEFTS!

• Naito is staggered but still recovers to smack him down. Naito heads back up top for DOUBLE FOOT STOMP TO THE BAD NECK! ISHII NO SELLS! THE MAN HAS NO CONSCIENCE AND NO NECK! Ishii is out on his feet but still on his feet. He comes back with headbutts and avoids a burrito but Naito stays a step ahead shoving away his offense and knocking him on his ass. Naito tries the burrito but both go down and Naito’s the one selling. Odd spot there. Ishii gathers him up for the Last Ride. Bridge gets 1, 2, 2.999. Naito tries a leap frog but Ishii gives him a LARIATO TO THE NECK! ANOTHER TO THE FRONT! 1, 2, 2.99. Kickout/3 count looked a bit mistimed there as well as the ref had to delay so Naito could kickout. Crowd is all in though. Naito lands on his feet out of a suplex and tries an enzuigiri but Ishii ducks. He wants the LARIATO but whiffs. Shining wizard from Naito. Double KO spot. Both men get to their feet for the usual slug it out with forearms. Ishii wants a LARIATO but Naito catches him in the uranage. 1, KICKOUT AT 1! He tries to send Naito off but he overpowers with a burrito. Gloria puts down Ishii and Naito says it’s over. He heads up for Stardust Press but whiffs. Naito charges in but Ishii puts him up top for a TOP ROPE DELAYED SUPLEX! 1, 2, KICKOUT! Ishii says it’s over. LARIATO! NO SELL! FORWARD ROLL KICK! DRAGON SUPLEX! 1, 2, NO! Now, it’s time to smack it out as both are still out on their feet. They come to blows with massive HEADBUTTS! Ishii looks to end him but Naito cuts him off with the HEADBUTT OF DEATH! Ishii comes to to avoid another and take him down with an enzuigiri for 1, 2, 2.9999. BRAINBUSTER! 1, 2, 3 for a new champ at 23:31.

• Good stuff, though I’m not really buying it as a MOTY. The neck and knee psychology went nowhere and didn’t seem to both either man in the last 5-10 minutes despite good selling early in the match; in fact, it’s NAITO that ends up bearing the brunt of a bad neck at the end of the match, not Ishii who was selling it ¾ of the match. I was ready for a dynamite closing and it’s right there, but the DDT sell and the lag on the 3 count took me out of the match a bit. It has all the markings of the NJPW matches from the last few years, but it never got there for me. ****1/4

• 24. AJ Styles vs. Kazuchika Okada. NJPW G1 Climax 23: Day 1. Okada was screwed out of the title by AJ and the Bullet Club in May. A rematch a few weeks later proved equally unsatisfying, even with Ishii interfering to somewhat even the odds. This is non-title and the final of their 3 bouts in 2014. BigOKADA chant at the bell, and AJ keeps his distance to hype the Bullet Club in response. AJ pretends to give a clean break in the corner, but Okada sidesteps his attack and taunts in the middle of the ring. They trade wristlocks with AJ getting the advantage and grounding Okada. Okada rolls through, and AJ grabs a rope break. Okada tries to send AJ off, but AJ wants the Bret Hart headlock. Short version as Okada does send him off next go round. AJ stops short to try theStyles Clash, but Okada shoves him off and tries the Rainmaker. No go. ECW Standoff. They go to the forearms and AJ comes back with a chop. Okadaoutsmarts him and backdrops him down. Okada follows up with a slingshot senton and wants a straitjacket. AJ gets the ropes and takes over with the Hogan karate. Bluechipper dropkick from AJ as we’re basically on pace for their other matches. Okada rolls to the floor to regroup. AJ slams him at ringside and talks some more trash. This is all feeling pretty paint-by-the-numbers to me so far, especially given their other two matches. Back in, AJ goes to work with the Bret Hart backbreaker for 1, 2, no. Okada comes back with forearms, but AJ thumbs him to the eye and waves the referee off. AJ drops a knee and has abandoned the back work he was just setting up. MOARCHINLOCK! Okada punches free as AJ fights over different facelocks and kravats.

• Okada finally gets going with a back elbow, yakuza kick, and flapjack. Okada kips up and Batista kicks the hell out of AJ. He whiffs on a charge, but stays on offense and dropkicks AJ off the top to the floor. AJ jumps the rail on the floor to avoid, but he can’t avoid FLYING OKADA CROSSBODY ON THE FLOOR! That was nice and something different from the other matches. ANYWAY, back in, Okada plants him with a DDT and it’s time for Red Ink. AJ struggles and makes the ropes. AJ avoids the Macho elbow and snap suplexes him into the post. Another upgrade. AJ picks him up for the Torture Rack and a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! 1, 2, NO! AJ goes old school for the SPRINGBOARD SSP! Unfortunately, Okada moves and he wipes out. They forearm it out. Okada tries a Euro uppercut, but AJ no sells for an enzuigiri.AJ wants the Styles Clash, but Okada counters. Okada’s dropkick attempt misses as well. AJ tries a Tornado DDT but gets shoved off into a ref bump. OY VEY! Schwein Redline neckbreaker by Okada, but still no ref. Okada hits the Macho elbow and signals for the Rainmaker. Takahashi levels him from behind with a LARIATO. Okada shakes it off and dropkicks him down. AJ cuts him off with a PHENOMENAL, FLAIR PROTEGE HAMMER! Bloody Sunday attempt is shaken off. AJ ducks the Rainmaker for a German suplex. NO SELL! OKADA WILL NOT BE DENIED! Okada counters a Styles Clash attempt into a Tombstone. OKADAOKADAOKADAOKADA! GERMAN SUPLEX! RAINMAKER! 1, 2, 3 for Okada to take it at 18:05.

• Okada finally overcomes the Bullet Club Takahashi interference to score one for the good guys. There were some repeat spots and a few nice upgrades, but it still feels like they are missing something. AJ’s not the best heel in the world, and Okada isn’t the most sympathetic babyface. The back psychology in their 2nd and 3rd matches is right there, but is never developed. Another good, but not great match between the 2. ****1/4

• 23. Two-out-of-Three Falls Match for the Campeones de Parejas: The Devastation Corporation vs. The Throwbacks (c). Chikara: Tomorrow Never Dies. 12/6/2014. DC is Blaster McMassive and Max Smashmaster. TB are Dasher and Mark Angelosetti, Mr. TD. Dasher and Blaster to start. Commentary nicely puts over how the teams know each other from King of Trios. Dasher with a go-behind, but Blaster goes to the arm wringer. Dasher uses the turnbuckle to roll through into a wristlock and chains into a hammerlock. Blaster tries a shot but spins himself into a side headlock. Blaster has HAD IT WITH THE CATCH AS CATCH CAN and slams Dasher into a front facelock. Dasher tries to fire up, so Blaster smacks the moustache off his mask. Dasher takes offense and smacks him on the ass. Blaster though is anti-corporal punishment and shoves him back down. Dasher wrestles circles around him into a roll up for a fleeting 1 count. Good sequence so far. Angelosetti and Max tag in. Max wants a high test of strength and TD smacks him instead. TD with a dropkick, but Max no sells to put him up top for a smack. TD no sells that for a Thesz press. Neither guy can get going as Max whiffs on a senton and TD goes to the up/downs but misses a splash. TD finally gets the splash for 1, 2, no. No tag but Blaster comes in to take over. Dasher evens the odds for a double hip toss and double falling headbutt. Max has had his breather and comes back in. TD tries a Snow Plow, and Max counters to a BODYSLAM! AHHHHHHHHHHH! TD tries a rally and can’t get the bastard down, so Dasher assists him with a Code Red. Blaster breaks up the cover with the Kevin Nash special of boots and sledges. The Throwbacks team up for stereo wheelbarrow armdrags and suicide dives on the DC. Back in, TD goes to work on Blaster but eats a LARIATO that flips him. Death Blow puts down TD for 1, 2, 3 and the Throwbacks 1-0 at 8:07.

• After some selling from TD who is kayfabe dead, Dasher tries to fight the good fight against Max but gets shitcanned out. The heels drag TD over and puts the boots to him. It’s not looking good for The Throwbacks. The crowd tries to get behind TD with DEFENSEDEFENSEDEFENSE chants as he kicks out of a splash from Max. Blaster knocks Dasher off the apron and showboats. He hits the carcinogenic leg drop for 1, 2, no. Max stalks over TD and drops him into a backbreaker for 1, 2, 2 1/2. The DC stack him up in the corner for more combo offense including a cannonball. Blaster wants a ChokeSlam, but TD gets to his back and kicks him away a few times. DEFENSEDEFENSEDEFENSE! Unfortunately, Blaster tosses him with a belly to belly throw, and Max does the Andre step spot. TD with a sloppy go behind into an even sloppier O’Connor Roll, and Blaster kicks him in the face. NO SELL! He dives off the top, but lands in a suplex from Max. 1, 2, 2.99. Blaster is ready for the kill with a powerbomb, but TD drops him with a SPINEBUSTER! TAGGGGGGGGG! NO! Max knocks Dasher off the apron. TD with a flying clothesline and THERE’S THE TAG! Dasher cleans house with forearms, and he cannonballs Max into Blaster. Dasher slides safe at home into the heels and coves for 1, 2, no. The Throwbacks with a combo Fisherman Buster for 1, 2, 2.99. Blaster shitcans out TD for the DEATH BLOW ON DASHER! 1, 2, TD WITH A CRADLE ON MAX FOR 1, 2, 3 TO EVEN THE MATCH UP AT 1-1 AT 19:14!

• Max can’t believe it and argues the count, while everyone else is selling. TD tries to fire up, and Max flattens him with a clothesline to the floor. Dasher dumps him out with the same, and Blaster with the same on Dasher. Blaster sets up the TOPE CON BIG MOTHERFUCKER ON EVERYBODY! The DC tries to win the last fall by countout but The Throwbacks beat the count back. It’s a melee in the middle of the ring, but TD and Max brawl to the floor. Dasher with a Jackhammer, but it’s broken up by Max. Death Blow on Dasher for the academic 1, 2, 2.99999999999999999999999999999! DASHER KICKED OUT! TD is back in with charges and forearms but gets caught in a Black Hole Slam from Blaster. The heels set up a Death Blow on TD, but Dasher breaks it up. SUPER 3D ON MAX! 1, 2, BROKEN UP BY SIDNEY BAKABELLA! THATNOGOODBASTARD! TD threatens the waffle. HITTHATNERDHITTHATNERD! Instead, the DC toss out Dasher. MASTER BLASTER ON TD! 1, 2, 3 for new champs at 25:33.

• Chikara has always and will always be about storytelling – first, last, and foremost. Not every move is as crisp as it could be and almost nothing as stiff or snug, but that being said, this is an awesome match with great commentary really putting over the Death Blow finisher as the end-all-be-all move. The first fall was solid, but things pick up with the long heat on Mr. TD and the terrific finish to that 2nd fall. Everything after the hot tag to Dasher is pretty incredible stuff. The only drawback is that there’s WAY too little enforcement of basic rules from the referee. I know it’s lucha tag rules, but at times, the count for the DQ on double teams is so rote that no one cares including the referee. Otherwise, great match. ****1/4

• 22. Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan. WWE Royal Rumble 2014. 01/26/2014. After falling short against the Wyatts at TLC in a 3-on-1 handicap match, not long after, DB gave up the good fight and donned his homeless Vietnam vet gear again to become Daniel Wyatt. What seemed a promising union on the surface went sour after DB, Rowan, and Harper couldn’t best the Usos and Rey Mysterio. The following week, Bray said that he would bring the best out of Daniel Wyatt, and he would be his tag partner. They wrestled the Usos and still couldn’t beat them in another schmooz. A rematch was set for later in the night in a steel cage. After finally getting Bray alone in the cage, DB took him out and revealed the whole thing was a ruse to get closer to his prey or something. This would be the war to settle that score.

• King is all THE BATTLE OF THE BEARDS! Bray is all YOU TRIED TO MAKE A FOOL OUT OF ME! The crowd is all YESYESYESYES and we’re underway. DB goes to the rights but Bray cuts him off with a headbutt and a fierce back elbow. DB comes back with a knee to the breadbasket and MT knees. Harper distracts and Bray waffles him from behind to cut him off again. Bray sends him off and DT ducks a shot to suicide dive to the floor. The ref ejects Harper and Rowan for nothing much to the crowd’s delight.Bray gives them a pep talk for a meeting of the minds and welcomes them leaving. As Bray turns around, he eats a DB plancha. DANIELBRYANDANIELBRYANDANIELBRYAN! Crossbody gets 1, 2, no. DB goes to the kicks and gets the boot up in the corner but Bray kicks him off the top rope to the floor. On the floor, DB dodges an attack andBray eats a Cactus bump into the stairs on his injured knee. Back in, DB clips the knee and NOW WE GO TO SCHOOL, ROH HEAD TRAINER STYLE! He pulls Bray out for a DSLW and boots him down. DB hooks in the Indian Deathlock and then curb stomps his face down into the mat. Bray with a power kickout and he goes back to the headbutts. DB comes back and wraps the knee in the ropes and dropkicks it. He tries to suplex Bray off the apron. Bray counters with an arm wringer and drops DB on the apron in a nice spot. Bray throws him down with a suplex in a move that Bray needs to bring back (or I need to pay more attention to notice when he does it, but I think he’s dropped it).

• ANYWAY, to the chinlock for Bray. DB elbows out but Bray shitcans him out. Bray wedges DB’s head against the post and then forearms his head INTO the post and then Ho Trains his head into the post in a brutal-looking spot. Senton on the floor and back in, gets 1, 2, 2 1/2. Bray talks trash and slingshots DB back into the ropes on the concussed head. 1, 2, nearfall. Bray goes to a few crossfaces and a resthold. DB tries to fire up, so Bray boots his ass and then CHOKESLAMS HIM! YEAHHHH! Spiderwalk and Bray lands another Ho Train on DB. 1, 2, kickout. Back to the chinlock as this is just a few too many restholds to keep the momentum going. Bray slams him down but whiffs on an elbow. Double down but both up at 5. DB’s fired up and hits a burrito and goes to the kicks. He drops Bray into the turnbuckle and then kicks it back into his face. Top rope rana gets 1, 2, 2.99. Crowd chants THISISAWSOME as he flips up and over but Bray DESTROYS him with a running crossbody 1, 2, no. DB slides out of a suplex and dumps Bray out. LEAPING TORNADO DDT OFF THE APRON! IED ON THE FLOOR! MISSILE DROPKICK! KIP UP! DR FG ENZUIGIRI! 1, 2, 2.9999999999999. DB tries a trio of IED’s but Bray flips him with a LARIATO. Bray wants Sister Abigail. NO! DB rolls him up for 1, 2, 2.99999999. YES LOCK! Bray bites his hand to get free to kill the crowd. They headbutt it out on the top rope and DB wins the exchange. Diving headbutt and DB wants the Busaiku knee. Bray rolls to the floor to dodge. DB tries a TOPE SUICIDA! NO! SISTER BAIGAIL INTO THE BARRICADE! REGULAR SISTER ABIGAIL! DB’s done at 21:32.

• A really good match that helped make Bray more than anything that’s happened since for sure with the clean finish over the eventual WM main event winner. There were a few chinks in the arm with the knee psychology ultimately going nowhere and Bray going to chinlocks a few too many times in the heat. But DB’s go home is still lights out and that, along with the concussion psychology, helped carry the day. ****1/4

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10.0

The final score: review Virtually Perfect

The 411

10.0 is a default for the best of the year.