Road to Royal Rumble 2021

Survivor Series is here

One more Thunderdome PPV; the Rumble is the first live PPV of the Covid era, from Tampa in January.

But before that - it's December, that means it's the 16th anniversary of the Counterfactual.  So (1) thanks for reading and (2) nope, I don't have an end date yet.  Maybe 20 years?  Or Wrestlemania 40?  Or the 150th PPV?  I don't know; I'm closer to the end than the beginning though and that leads to the AEW discussion.

I think my original AEW take was I wanted to see four years of quarterly PPVs before considering what to do with them; that was insufficiently optimistic, once Cult of Personality hit for the first time in Chicago, it was evident they're going to outlive the Counterfactual. Tony Khan's 39, over a decade younger than I am and doesn't appear to need my two cents.  My inclination is to leave AEW in its real world form; maybe I revisit at some point, but like ROH or the Japanese promotions, I think probably it exists as is without a counter history.  

The Rumble's pretty good, not for nothing.

WWF Title: Ricochet v. Bryan Danielson

IC Title: AJ Styles v. Claudio Castagnoli

Tags: New Day (Langston/Woods) v. Hooligans (Sheamus/McIntyre) v. Miz/Nitro

Women's Title: Sasha Banks v. Bayley

#1 Contender Elimination Match: Rey Mysterio v. Kevin Steen v. Sami Zayn v. Matt Riddle

No DQ: Edge v. Christian

Tyler Black v. Nick Nemeth

Shinsuke Nakamura v. Bobby Lashley

Roman Reigns v. Jeff Hardy

Shayna Baszler/Rhea Ripley v. Bianca Belair/Toni Storm

Defiance (Orton/Priest) v. Ali/Otis

Asuka v. Natty Neidhart

Here's how we get there.

#1 Contender Elimination Match: Rey Mysterio v. Kevin Steen v. Sami Zayn v. Matt Riddle

Tyler Black v. Nick Nemeth

WWF Title: Ricochet v. Bryan Danielson

After Survivor Series, oGDI is given the opportunity to fill 3 match slots at the Rumble; the WWF Title, a Number One Contender's match and a third match TBD.  This creates tension in the group, all 3 men believing they should be fighting Ricochet for the title.  The conceit is that whomever arrives at Titan Towers first to claim the shot gets it.  They identify this as an attempt to divide them and say they aren't going to take the bait, they do though largely take the bait, the idea being we are supposed to understand there's no honor among thieves.

However, they decide among themselves (sorta) what the match sorting will be.  It starts with Steen; Rey is named the first competitor in the Number One Contender's Match; Rey, recall from Survivor Series, is doing another "I want these guys fired" angle, this time with Murphy/Aleistar Black, and that really grates Steen, as he left the promotion for months the last time Rey decided to do this.

Steen interrupts a Rey/Regal promo; Steen and Rey haven't been together in nearly a year, since Steen turned on him on the Rumble, Steen says he thought he beat the God Complex out of Mysterio, but apparently he needs another lesson and takes the slot available to him in the #1 Contender's Match.  

Rey says he'll beat Steen at the Rumble - and who knows - maybe he'll get Steen fired one day anyway.

The psychology allows for fans to dislike Mysterio; that's the idea, he's a babyface, but he's the locker room leader and there's room to find him overbearing - on the other hand, we are supposed to dislike the actions of the men he's opposing; Murphy/Black attacked his son, they brutally attack Kalisto, ending his run with the promotion, and when Regal tells Murphy/Black he can't protect them, there's room to see Rey as doing the right thing.

Murphy/Black finish up in this build (Crews is peeled away, he doesn't appear at all between Survivor Series and the Rumble) they get multiple warnings "hey, you've gone too far" -but attack Dominik, attack Kalisto - it sets up a tag - Rey and the partner he picks -- Zayn - against Murphy/Black; if Murphy/Black win, they get the spots in the Number One Contender Match but if they lose - they're gone.

They lose - they're gone - Regal refuses to intercede - and Murphy/Black leave the promotion.  

That makes Zayn the third man in the match - Riddle beat Lee at Survivor Series, that means Riddle gets the Kliq match at the Rumble, against a former WWF Champion - turns out, the match he gets is this one, against 2 of them.  

Tyler Black peels off into the Nemeth match when Nemeth beats him on TV with assistance from Gable; we're reminded that a year ago, Black and the Bullet Club ended Angle's run with the promotion, Shoot Nation was asked (told) by Lesnar not to retaliate, that they belonged to him and then immediately were funnled into other programs while Lesnar successfully destroyed the Bullet Club.

But who went unpunished was Black - who beat Lesnar at Mania, sending him from the promotion (at least, as of now) and now it's time for Black to catch some hands; he winds up being attacked by all of Shoot Nation (which we like, because he's a heel, but the psychology is weird, because he fights bravely despite being outnumbered - put a pin in that - with the kill shot coming from Lashley).

Penance.  Black has to pay some penance.  

So Black gives up the title shot to angrily take on Nemeth at the Rumble.

Leaving Danielson.

It's a similar build to the last Danielson/AJ match before the heel turn; Danielson has been working to this moment for years; he is supposed to be the best wrestler in the world, but hasn't held the WWF Title in years - this is why he formed oGDI - this is why he's done everything he's done - to get to this moment and beat Ricochet and win the WWF Title for a record tying 3rd time.  

Danielson says he's glad there are no fans; there's a lot of Mania talk now - it's announced that Mania will be the first match in front of a live crowd in over a year - so the huge anticipation for Mania begins right before the Rumble - but Danielson says he's glad he'll be winning the title with no fans, because they don't deserve to see it - they don't understand what he does - don't appreciate the craft - he's Mozart and all the fans understand are Motley Crue cover bands.  

Shinsuke Nakamura v. Bobby Lashley

Roman Reigns v. Jeff Hardy

No DQ: Edge v. Christian

We discussed Lashley in the last section - he's got a big singles match, babyface v babyface, against Nakamura.  And when you see Lashley - you think Reigns/McIntyre/Langston.  Those 4 have been positioned with each other increasingly over the past couple of years - in matches against each other in multiple configurations; and viewed as on the same level - the power men within their respective stables; we've had years of Reigns/Langston matches, with Usos and New Day and before that Usos/Shield - and McIntyre as part of Hooligans and now Lashley with Shoot Nation, all 4 really thought of together; there's an IRL analogue now, it's the AEW four pillars idea, where guys who aren't stabled together, not even in active programs with each other, are still supposed to be thought of as a collective of some sort.

Reigns has the IRL "head of the table" - "acknowledge me" gimmick, not at the same level, because he's where he is on the card, but the narcisissm is the same (and he hasn't lost with the gimmick, allowing for it to continue without apology).  Reigns beat Hardy in a tag at Survivor Series and now gets him in a single.  

Jeff plays a role in the Edge/Christian build  So - Edge returned at last year's Rumble, he and Nitro winning the tag titles for the Kliq, they lost to the Profits at Mania - and not long after Edge got killed by a masked man.

He returns now, with vignettes, he's angry, paranoid - he's going to find the man who attacked him.

He first accuses Nitro - Nitro and Edge never got their rematch, Nitro comes to Edge in this build and Edge turns him down, he doesn't want to tag with him again, he thinks Nitro might be the masked man.  Nitro turned on HBK once, Nitro's been hanging out with Sheamus, who was known as the Kliq Killer; maybe Nitro wanted to take him out.  

Michaels looks to intervene on Nitro's behalf - look, the Kliq is always fighting each other (Michaels does a comical history about how many times X has turned on Y and A then turned on B - but we all make up at the end of the day and put the Kliq first.  

Edge says Michaels forgets - he's only half Kliq - he's also half Hart Foundation - and maybe Michaels didn't forget that - maybe Michaels was the masked man and tried to snuff Edge out.

Jeff's next - Edge accuses him, brings up Matt, brings up Lita, brings up Jeff's former. masked persona the Blood Dragon.  It builds to what will be the announcement - we are told the Masked Man has come forward and he will confront Edge on RAW the next week.

It's Christian.  Making his return.  He and Edge always talked about one day maybe returning together but Edge couldn't wait - it had to be about Edge - he came back early and teamed with someone else to win the tag titles.  Wait a year - wait 6 more months - and it could have been Edge and Christian - but it always had to be about Edge - do they join the Kliq - do they decide to go singles - and while Edge is winning the Triple Crown - Christian is sent to TNA.  

So thats it - they aren't partners, they aren't brothers, they aren't friends - and now they are going to settle it - a lifetime will build up to one fight - they make it clear they aren't going to do this again - there's not going to be a WM rematch, they aren't going to reunite down the road -  they're going to have a fight at the Rumble, once and for all.  Edge is devastated by the betrayal, but he's already been demonstrating being off balanced in questioning everyone - and he turns that into fury - two men who have known each other their whole lives, with years of under the surface aggrievements bubbling up to the surface, battling it out at the Rumble (yeah, you'd want fans for this one, I appreciate that).

Tags: New Day (Langston/Woods) v. Hooligans (Sheamus/McIntyre) v. Miz/Nitro

Women's Title: Sasha Banks v. Bayley

IC Title: AJ Styles v. Claudio Castagnoli

In the last section we referenced Langston/McIntyre as positioned with each other continuously; they're programmed here as New Day (which includes Banks) battles Hooligans (which includes McIntyre).  

Recall, Nitro has the tag title rematch - Edge turns him down - so he goes to Miz to be his partner.  

Miz, of course, is with Hooligans - Nitro joined them at Survivor Series in an uneasy alliance of Miz's friend groups; it didn't work out.  So Sheamus and McIntyre aren't stoked about Miz joining up with Nitro here; here's where that Kliq Killer stuff resurfaces and the 3 men essentially tell Miz he has to pick a side.  

Miz picks Nitro - it's a title shot and he wants it.  

Sheamus says Miz is ungrateful - Miz was the Cuck, a joke, an embarrassment, and Sheamus saved his career, gave him a home, helped him with his first title.  

Miz says when McIntyre came back, Miz became the third wheel - so the choice between being half of the tag champs or being the third guy in some random match that maybe is on the card or maybe not - doesn't seem that hard.  

Hooligans makes it clear that if Miz makes this choice there's no turning back.  

Miz hands over his hockey jersey.  

So that's the first iteration of the tag match, New Day defending against Miz/Nitro -- meanwhile however, Banks is defending against Bayley - Bayley never got a rematch from losing the Women's Title - Bayley and Banks had a good feud that really kicked off this Banks run of dominance over the past year plus - and since Bayley is with Hooligans and Banks with New Day - there's some type of match that is put together in the build where McIntyre gets a fall on Woods -- and with McInyre and Langston talked about as being in the same space - it evolves that Sheamus and McIntyre are then added to the tag title match.  

The other title is the IC - Claudio was to be Garza's opponent, continuing the long Twisted Sun Gods v. Kings of Wrestling feud - but Covid knocked him out, AJ replaced and won the belt.  So - there's an all babyface match here. 

There's stakes for Claudio - he's been WWF Champ and Tag Champ - a win makes him a Triple Crown Winner.

Let's discuss Dark Ride - Gargano is the champ (Walter also holds a belt and "defends" it overseas) but he loses an epic blowoff to his former friend turned rival Ciampa in an all babyface match.  Postmatch, they hug, the feud over - Gargano handing the belt to Ciampa - and then they are attacked by GDI (Cole/Fish/O'Reilly) and beaten down.  

Leading to a 6 man - GDI uses shenanigans and Cole gets the fall on Ciampa.

That sets up Ciampa defending against Cole - all the stablemates are barred from ringside - but the match ends when, from under the ring, emerges Roderick Strong to assist Cole.  Strong, of course, has spent his entire WWF career as a Horseman, but they've broken up and he emerges his - aids Cole and joins GDI - Cole taking the Dark Ride Championship and he is champion as we get to the Rumble (the last show without dark matches)

That leads to an 8 man - GDI against Kings of Wrestling/Ciampa--- and Styles, who doesn't want Claudio injured before their match -- there's miscommunication however between Styles and Claudio (Claudio inadvertantly lays AJ out and Strong gets the fall on Gargano -- Claudio and AJ fight to the back postmatch, leaving Gargano and Ciampa alone - they have to battle all 4 members of GDI - when to the ring comes -- Prince Devitt - who has emerged as a tweener in Dark Ride after his long heel run with the Bullet Club.

Devitt aids Gargano and Ciampa in fighting off GDI -- and then attacks Gargano and Ciampa - leaving us the image of GDI on one side, Gargano and Ciampa on another -- and Devitt opposed to both.  

Shayna Baszler/Rhea Ripley v. Bianca Belair/Toni Storm

Defiance (Orton/Priest) v. Ali/Otis

Asuka v. Natty Neidhart

Belair beat Baszler at Survivor Series and then got beaten down by the Horsewomen; she takes two of them on with aid of her babyface friend Storm.  Orton's new version of Defiance is he and Priest, from developmental - that'll be the opening tag.  And Asuka, longtime Ace of the women's division faces veteran babyface Neidhart.

Royal Rumble 2021 - the Final Thunderdome PPV is in January

Survivor Series 2020

The build

Survivor Series 2020 takes place from the Bubble, in/around Orlando; it is the first Thunderdome PPV.

(there are no dark matches, as there are no fans in the building; this is the last taped PPV)

This is the 34th annual Survivor Series and the 135th WWF PPV.  

It's the first PPV of the Covid era where the announcers are in the arena; Scott Stanford is the lead announcer, it's his second PPV, the analysts are Paul Heyman (19) Samoa Joe (5)  A bit of politics as it's November; Biden wins the election, just as IRL, and we move back into that timeline, save that Biden's the 47th President and not the 46th.  There will be another political drop in note at the Rumble and then the story gets wrapped up at Mania.  

Clips from Survivor Series history open the show:

1987...the first match in SSeries history, the Killer Bees beating Power&Glory

1988...Randy Savage drops the elbow on Dynamite, winning the WWF Title

1989...Ted DiBiase takes the IC from Rick Rude when the Brain turns on the Ravishing One.

1990...Shawn submits to the Sharpshooter, Bret keeping the IC

1991...Ric Flair locking on the Figure Four to Davey Boy and taking the WWF Title

1992...2 IC switches on the same show; Michaels taking the belt from Savage and then immediately Owen taking the belt from Michaels

1993...the Razor Ramon face turn, he aids Waltman postmatch as he's beaten down by HBK/Diesel

1994...Shawn wins the Triple Crown, taking the WWF Title from Owen, and then Diesel turns on him, laying him out.  

1995...Michaels with the superkick on The Franchise Shane Douglas, keeping his IC

1996...Cactus and Vader going to war in a steel cage at MSG, Cactus taking the IC

1997...the Montreal Match; Owen submitting Bret in a 4 way with Shawn and Austin, sending Bret out of the promotion.

1998...Cactus flying off the top of the cell in the first Hell in a Cell match, against Ken Shamrock

1999...The Dudleys sending the Hardys through tables, taking the tag belts

2000...Tremendous chain wrestling sequence between Eddy Guerrero and Dean Malenko

2001...Page laying out Austin with a diamond cutter

2002...young Brock Lesnar destroying Hunter and Shawn

2003...4 way war between Eddy/Benoit/Brock/Angle

2004...The Lizard King Chris Jericho holding all the Worldwide belts over Chavo

2005...Michaels and Hunter, bleeding profusely, in a Weapons Match

2006...Punk taking the Undisputed Titles from Flair and then throwing the WWF belt down

2007...Johnny Nitro taking the NWA Title from Fit Finlay

2008...Punk's GDI stable attacking Steamboat

2009...Division 1, Nemeth/Swagger keeping the tag belts over Regal/Finlay

2010...Extended spot between Danielson and Low Ki in the greatest match in WWF history

2011...Sheamus hurling Nitro's shoulder into the ringpost

2012...Danielson keeping the WWF Title over Rey

2013....Danielson and Punk nose to nose 

2014...Thunderous ladder/table bump between the Usos and the Shield

2015...Charlotte taking the Women's Title from Paige

2016...AJ Styles winning the Survivor Series Finals, defeating Luke Harper

2017...Lesnar and Angle, 15 years later, battling for the IC

2018...Joe and Danielson trading stiff shots

2019...Lesnar F5 on Walter

1. ROMAN REIGNS/JEY USO d. JEFF HARDY/OTIS

-Roman kicks us off with an "Acknowledge Me" promo, to draw some heat from the fans who are not there; he gets the fall on Otis - then tells Jeff to acknowledge him - Jeff refuses, so he lays Jeff out.  Then says it again as Jey props up Jeff's head.  

2. CEDRIC ALEXANDER (w/Tozawa) d. HUMBERTO CARRILLO (w/Zelina)

-Fast paced match, designed to spotlight Alexander, also allowing to talk about both the IC and Title matches coming up later tonight, given the inclusion of their stablemates in those matches.  

3. SHOOT NATION: (LASHLEY/GABLE/NEMETH/BENJAMIN) d. HOOLIGANS (McINTYRE/SHEAMUS/MIZ)/JOHNNY NITRO

-Shoot Nation matches this year are framed around pushing Lashley, the goal to place him at the same level as Reigns/Langston/McIntyre; also, like Alexander, Gable is the kind of worker who we use as much as we're allowed, so he's in most of the match.  The Nemeth/Sheamus link from their Underground days is part of the match, as is the long ago feud between Nitro and Benjamin.  For Hooligans, the story is the attempt to blend together these two halves of Miz's career doesn't work and the confusion results in Lashley pinning Sheamus.  That story is going to continue and the announce looks to make that clear - Miz has his old partner Nitro, with this newer partners Sheamus/McIntytre; and that fit doesn't look like it's working.  

4. BIANCA BELAIR d. SHAYNA BASZLER (w/Horsewomen)

-This is an upset, Belair has a lot of promise - but look, Baszler is a former champion - but when Belair goes over, that really vaults her into the top of the women's division - postmatch, she gets laid out as the Horsewomen get some heat back and wind up hitting all four corners to stand tall. 

5. SHINSUKE NAKAMURA d. BOBBY ROODE

-The Horsemen are no more; Joe's on the announce, Charlotte injured, Strong and Roode fell out - this is just designed to put Nakamura over strong, Roode's likely just enhancement for the forseeable future.

6. REY MYSTERIO/KALISTO (w/Dominik) d. BUDDY MURPHY/APOLLO CREWS (w/Aleister Black) 

-Mysterio's a legend, it's his first match since the Rumble, he and Kalisto don't enter together, Rey gets a separate entrance - Murphy/Black/Crews viciously attacked Dominik, and now they have to pay - this is a hell of a match; in 2020, Rey's the worst worker of the 4, Dominik will get some type of spot on Black on the outside to get some redemption - Rey's going to get the fall on Murphy.  Rey will still want Murphy/Crews/Black all fired - we'll see a TV angle in the build to the Rumble that will wrap up the 2 guys who you know are about to get wrapped up.  

Intermission.  Heyman interviews Gargano and Ciampa, setting up their Dark Ride Title Match; Walter also comes in unexpectedly via satellite just to remind everyone that he still retains possession of his Dark Ride Title belt, is defending that title in Europe.  

Clip package of each team who entered Survivor Series as tag champions.  Immediately after, the tag champs, the Street Profits, will enter.

Hart Foundation (Bret/Davey, w/Anvil)

Rougeau Brothers

Rockers

Orient Express

Road Warriors

Money Inc

Steiners

Lex Luger/Bam Bam Bigelow

Smoking Gunns

Marc Mero/Bart Gunn

Road Warriors

Nation of Domination (Rock/DLo w/Henry)

Hardys

Edge/Christian

Dudleys

Chris Benoit/Eddy Guerrero

HBK/HHH

Rey Mysterio/RVD

Randy Orton/John Cena

Dead Men Walking

S&S (Cade/Murdoch)

WMD (Cena/Leviathan Batista)

D1 (Nemeth/Swagger)

Young Money (Kingston/Killings)

Empire (Barrett/Gabriel)

Young Money

The Shield (Black/Langston)

The Shield (Black/Ambrose/Langston)

Underground (Sheamus/Barrett)

Usos (Jimmy/Jey/Roman)

Bullet Club (Black/Anderson/Gallows)

Shoot Nation (Gable/Nemeth)

7. WWF TAG TITLES: NEW DAY (WOODS/KINGSTON w/Langston) d. STREET PROFITS

-The 111th Tag Champs in WWF history is the New Day; it's their second reign, first since '16.  It's Kingston's 4th tag title, placing him behind only Mr. Fuji and Tony Garea in WWF history. Solid all babyface match.

8. WWF WOMEN'S TITLE: NO DQ: SASHA BANKS d. ASUKA

-Big Night for New Day, Woods/Kingston/Langston enter postmatch and the four hit buckles, all wearing belts.  Sasha's the only 3 time Women's Champ and her monster roll continues; this match definitively places her above Asuka, who has been the Ace of the division since joining the promotion; this is the only "they fight around the ring" match on the card, really designed to spotlight it as special, hard hitting fight.  

9. MATT RIDDLE d. KEITH LEE (special referee, HBK)

-Michaels was gifted high profile matches for both the Rumble and Mania, the collective decision was a winner takes both match - this is 3 straight all babyface matches in a row, which is a flaw in card construction, but nevertheless.  They throw everything at each other here - handshake at the end, all is well with the Clique.

Each challenger for the IC at Survivor Series is this clip package, followed by the entrance of Styles, the challenger tonight.

Rick Rude

Davey Boy Smith

Ted DiBiase

Shawn Michaels

Roddy Piper

HBK

Owen Hart

Sean Waltman

Sean Waltman

Shane Douglas

Cactus Jack

Ken Shamrock

Steve Regal

Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho

Taz

RVD

Chavo Guerrero

Chavo Guerrero

Shane Helms

MVP

Rey Mysterio

Shelton Benjamin

MVP

Johnny Nitro

Kingston

Luke Harper

Dean Ambrose

Kurt Angle

Mascara Dorada

Adam Cole (Bay-Bay)

10. IC TITLE: AJ STYLES d. ANGEL GARZA (w/Zelina)

The 75th IC Champion is AJ Styles; it's his second reign, first since 2016. There's some subtext here of a return to normalcy - Garza's a weird champ, came from nowhere, suddenly he's Dark Ride Champ, then suddenly he's IC Champ w/o actually being booked in that title match originally - having AJ take this belt is designed to communicate that things are heading back to normal - and if you're watching a Thunderdome Survivor Series in November, 2020, any "hey, things are gonna look like they used to look, AJ Styles has a belt" message that you can give is a good one.  Twisted Sun Gods move to enhancement.  

11. KEVIN STEEN d. SAMI ZAYN

This, obviously, is a multi-year long story; the current position is this is their first WWF singles match, Zayn hates his longtime best friend Steen, whose posture is he's just trying to help Zayn by bringing a more ferocious side out of him.  This, obviously is a hell of a match, the pivotal moment coming in an outside spot, with Zayn on the floor, the referee distracted by tending to Steen in the ring - Danielson emerges from underneat the ring, he's got a chair - and levels Zayn with a shot to the head. That won't directly lead to the finish, Zayn will kick out of the next pinfall attempt, but Steen retains control thereafter and will win the bout.  

The thing that unites Heyman and Joe is their real dislike of oGDI, Joe feuded with both Danielson and Black, and while Heyman was estranged from Lesnar at the time, he/Brock/Danielson had a long rivalry based on a level of mutual respect that Danielson betrayed in what, to this point, was Lesnar's last appearance in the promotion.

They each get really hot with the chairshot - Danielson, of course, returned after a retirement caused by concussions, and an element of his matches is opponents do not intentionally target his head - it's not spoken, but it's impossible to miss that there's an understanding, even in a hot program, that Danielson's head is a no go zone - so here, when he hits Zayn with a chair to the head, a spot that, at most, WWF currently does maybe once a year - maybe - Heyman and Joe just quake with anger.  

Danielson's unbothered, to the contrary, he's joyous as his stablemate wins the match; this is the first card where the announcers are actually in the building, recall, in the Covid era, postmatch, a clearly shaken Heyman leaves the announce and heads to the back, his evening done.  

Clip package of the finish of each WWF Title match at Survivor Series

Steamboat defeating the Dynamite Kid

Savage defeating Dynamite

Hennig defeating Savage

Hennig defeating Kerry Von Erich

Flair defeating Davey Boy

Bret defeating Flair

Bret defeating Lex

Shawn defeating Owen

Bret defeating Davey Boy

Bret defeating Shawn

Owen winning the Montreal Match

Cactus defeating Shamrock

Cactus winning a 3 way over HHH/Rock

Benoit defeating Austin

Angle defeating Booker

Angle defeating Jericho

Eddy winning a 4 way over Brock/Benoit/Angle

A draw - Benoit/Eddy

Rey defeating Juvie

Punk defeating Flair

Rey defeating Undertaker

Jericho defeating Punk

Jericho defeating Chavo

No Contest: Jericho/Matt Hardy

Edge defeating Swagger

Nemeth defeating Mistico

Danielson defeating Rey

A Draw: Danielson/Punk

Claudio defeating Bray

Steen defeating Nemeth

No Contest: Devitt/AJ/Joe

Nakamura defeating Claudio

Tyler Black defeating Nakamura

12. WWF TITLE: RICOCHET (w/BWI) d. TYLER BLACK

The 60th WWF Champion is Ricochet.  

Key moment happens as Steen/Danielson attempt to interfere - they don't - they're fought back by Alexander/Tozawa - Ricochet gets the fall in a terrific match; wins the strap - BWI does the full babyface celebration - Joe joins them for a quick interview in the ring, which will become a part of the end of big matches, Joe in the ring interviewing the winner.  It is Ricochet - on top of the world - on top of the WWF - as the show ends.

Back in a month for the build to Rumble 2021; the 16th anniversary of the Counterfactual.  

Road to Survivor Series 2020, Part 2

Part 1

Here's the first half, built last month.

WWF Title: Tyler Black (w/ oGDI) v. Ricochet (w/ BWI)

IC: Hector Garza (w/Vega) v. AJ Styles

Tags: Street Profits v. New Day (Woods/Kingston, w/Langston)

Womens Title: No DQ: Sasha Banks v Asuka

Kevin Steen v. Sami Zayn 

Matt Riddle v. Keith Lee (guest referee - Shawn Michaels)

And now the rest:

Rey Mysterio/Kalisto (w/Dominik) v. Underground (Murphy/Crews, w/Black)

Shinsuke Nakamura v. Bobby Roode

Cedric Alexander v. Humberto Carillo

Shayna Baszler v. Bianca Belair

Roman Reigns/Jey Uso v. Jeff Hardy/Otis

ShootNation (Lashley/Gable/Nemeth/Benjamin) v. Hooligans (Sheamus/McIntyre/Miz)/Johnny Nitro

Rey Mysterio/Kalisto (w/Dominik) v. Underground (Murphy/Crews, w/Black)

-Rey's gone since the Rumble when Steen turned on him; he returns to call out Regal - Rey establishes that he'll deal with Steen when time allows, but right now, the Underground attack on Dominik can't stand.  Rey tells Regal he's going to see that Murphy/Crews/Black are fired.  

-Regal says he reprimanded them; he knows they went too far, Rey doesn't need to take it further.  What's being re-established here is Rey runs the locker room; he's the Godfather back there and Underground has messed with his family.  What gets set up is a match, Rey and Kalisto, against Kalisto's former partner Crews and Murphy, with Aleister Black in their corner.  Everyone knows Rey ran Steen out of the promotion for nearly a year, a threat to fire the Underground triumverate isn't idle; Underground responds with anger toward Regal - is he going to stand for this?  Regal tries to keep the peace; he's with Underground, he's on their side, they can show Rey in the ring how they feel about this.  But it's clear Regal's got a very tenous grip on this situation - there's a spot where Underground surrounds Dominik after some match (Dominik is just training, positioned as green) they make it clear they could do whatever they wanted to him - and they let him go.  

-It's the legendary Mysterio, with the high flying Kalisto - they take on Kalisto's longtime partner Crews, he's part of the Underground crew that is barely under control.  

Shinsuke Nakamura v. Bobby Roode

Nakamura had built a working relationship with the Horsemen - but that falls apart here, the Horsemen fall apart here; Joe's an announcer now, Charlotte's injured - there winds up a brawl between Nakamura/Roode/Strong when they are partnered up in a 6 man - that results in the end of the Roode/Strong pairing and this match, with Roode positoned as the heel.  

Cedric Alexander v. Humberto Carillo

Blood Warriors International, as mentioned in the first half of the build; is feuding both with Twisted Sun Gods and with oGDI; Ricochet is in the main event, challenging for the WWF Title and Alexander is here against Carillo.  Twisted Sun Gods are also feuding with Kings of Wrestling, as set up in part 1 - Garza was going to defend the IC against Claudio, but Covid causes a late replacement and Styles is moved into that slot.  Carillo can get a fall over Tozawa to build to this match.  

Speaking of KoW - Gargano, you may recall, is Dark Ride Champion (but across the pond, Walter continues to hold his belt and claim to defend it as the Dark Ride Champion) once Claudio is gone, that leaves Gargano on his own - he's attacked by GDI (Cole/'O'Reilly/Fish) - save by Ciampa (Gargano and Ciampa build toward a match to be held after Survivor Series; Ciampa and Gargano were partners, then rivals, this is their first appearance of any type of reconcililation - the idea is Ciampa just wants to keep Gargano healthy for the title match after Survivor Series, but the physical appearance of the two of them on the same side gives some hope for something beyond that).  A no DQ 3 way is set for a Dark Ride special on Survivor Series weekend, Ciampa v. Gargano v. Cole - that breaks down; Ciampa is helped from the ring during the match, Fish and O'Reilly attack Gargano - GDI all over Gargano - there's a blackout - and when the lights go up - it's Devitt.  

Devitt's been gone for a year since the Bullet Club blew up; he's been a heel for years - but now he goes after GDI, laying them out -- then laying out Gargano.  Devitt holds up the title belt.

After Survivor Series, it will have been a year since Cole/O'Reilly/Ciampa all worked a PPV (and Dunne) so all will be eligible to be Dark Ride Champion; throwing all of them (and Devitt) at Gargano while Walter kills everyone overseas is what's up on Dark Ride the rest of 2020.  

Shayna Baszler v. Bianca Belair

-The Horsewomen (Baszler, Ripley, Shafir, Duke) are away from the title picture but continue to assert themselves on the division; they killed Charlotte post Mania and basically just impose their will on every woman save Asuka/Banks -- coming up to take a stand is Belair, making her debut, she's unafraid, but maybe she should be.  

Roman Reigns/Jey Uso v. Jeff Hardy/Otis

-Reigns fully embraces his IRL gimmick now; it's largely geared toward the tag ranks, he's not in the main event, not challenging for the title presently, so it's a smaller scale than IRL (I'm a big fan of the IRL gimmick, it's one of the only things working in IRL WWE in 2021) but "head of the table" when communicating with the other Usos and "Acknowledge Me" when it comes to everyone else is a winner.  He drops the Uso name now; it's time to recognize he's a step above Jimmy and Jey.  

-Jeff's fully embracing his role as veteran tag team wrestler who wants to elevate the young guys, he picks out Otis here, they do a mismatched tag act in the build.  

ShootNation (Lashley/Gable/Nemeth/Benjamin) v. Hooligans (Sheamus/McIntyre/Miz)/Johnny Nitro

-Shoot Nation moves into the same space that New Day/Usos/Hooligans are in, with Lashley joining Reigns/McIntyre/Langston as the powerhouse guy who potentially might be a singles standout.  Nemeth/Sheamus were once the leaders of Underground, so throwing them at each other makes sense.  Gable and Miz are then the third guys in the mix.  

-Nitro and Benjamin are each others' most notable career program, they battled for years, including a Mania main event when Benjamin was WWF Champ and Nitro NWA champ (the third guy in that match..his name escapes me...) and Nitro, of course, has a tag history with Miz.  

-Hooligans is working a 6 man against Shoot Nation (minus Benjamin); somehow McIntyre and Sheamus are incapacited and Benajmin attempts some level of outside involvement on Miz (everyone here is a babyface, but it's a heated match) Nitro hasn't had interaction with either man since his return - but he runs in here - he superkicks Benjamin, he and Miz fight off Shoot Nation - and that creates this match, the melding of Miz's old partner with his new partners in an 8 man against Shoot Nation.

And that's your show. 12 matches - it's the first PPV of the Thunderdome era (Thunderdome matches all throughout the build) - the announce table has been gone throughout the Covid era, but it will return at Survivor Series, with the announcers (Stanford, Heyman, Joe) together for the first time since Stanford became lead announcer. 

It's live (it's not, it's still on tape, Rumble will be live) next month from the Bubble in Orlando.  It's gonna be a happening

Road to Survivor Series 2020 (p1)

Summer Slam 2020

The Thunderdome era in WWF begins the night after Summer Slam 2020 as the build begins to Survivor Series.  

Here's half the card:

WWF Title: Tyler Black (w/ oGDI) v. Ricochet (w/ BWI)

IC: Hector Garza (w/Vega) v. AJ Styles

Tags: Street Profits v. New Day (Woods/Kingston, w/Langston)

Womens Title: No DQ: Sasha Banks v Asuka

Kevin Steen v. Sami Zayn 

Matt Riddle v. Keith Lee (guest referee - Shawn Michaels)

1. WWF Title: Tyler Black (w/ oGDI) v. Ricochet (w/ BWI)

-Black's now year++ title reign continued at Summer Slam with his defense over McIntyre; oGDI (Danielson/Owens/Black) continued a tail of that program against Hooligans (Miz/Sheamus/McIntyre) post Summer Slam and then, when Ricochet was named the challenger for Survivor Series, moved on to match up with BWI (Alexander/Tozawa/Ricochet).  Simultaneously, BWI is programmed against the Twisted Sun Gods, which will be discussed a little later.  Further, the "who is the real GDI" talk heats up as the veteran group on the "main roster" begins verbally sniping at the Dark Ride group (Cole/O'Reilly/Fish).

Ricochet and Black don't make any physical contact in the build; Danielson takes a fall in a singles against Ricochet; Owens takes a fall in a singles against Alexander when Zayn makes his first appearance since Mania with a run in that aids the finish.  

The underlying story here is really a generational divide; whether babyfaces or heels, what we're looking to do is tap into the idea that the group of guys who have won titles before, the made guys, like oGDI, they're standing in the way of the waves of guys who are coming up (like BWI or the Kliq). Think of that as an underlying tension as opposed to the primary driver of any specific program.  It's connective tissue for those paying attention.  oGDI's raison d'etre is they are the real ones, 3 WWF Champions aligned together and so they approach any upstarts from that condescending position.

It's Black - WWF Champ for a year and a half; it's Ricochet, who held the IC title for nearly a year - battling for the WWF Title.

2. IC: Hector Garza (w/Vega) v. AJ Styles

Zelina chose her rudos over her technico and Sombra is headed out the door.  Twisted Sun Gods then feud, as discussed, with Blood Warriors International - but as BWI transitions away - who moves in are the Kings of Wrestling.

Just before the shutdown, Gargano beat Garza to take the Dark Ride title, Gargano and Claudio had just turned face and Gargano was gifted Hero's spot in KoW.  Claudio beat Garza at Mania - and then later that night Garza won the IC (Gargano is still the Dark Ride Champ...however, Walter never relinquished his belt; he went back to Europe with it and of course, is still there given Covid - Walter begins to "defend" the title overseas and that launches Dark Ride: Global; the non US branch of DRW)

So - it makes sense that now that Sombra is out of the way, that Claudio will challenge Garza for the IC and that's the announced match, but with just a couple of weeks to go before the event - Claudio is announced as out of Survivor Series due to Covid precautions.  

So - who will face Garza? Zelina cuts some type of "there's no one at our level" type of promo - and that leads to the return of Styles (his first appearance since Mania) he's pretty dismissive (but in a babyface way; something like "play time is over - the varsity is back" - which will get a pop, because he's the babyface and because it's Thunderdome and WWF gets whatever pops it wants - but if you think about it as part of the generational fight, it's really designed to be the same stuff that oGDI is saying).

That's it - it's the Triple Crown Winning Styles, gone since Mania, challenging for the IC belt.

3. Tags: Street Profits v. New Day (Woods/Kingston, w/Langston)

All babyface tag match; obvious generational component here - the Profits just went over Edge and Nitro in a babyface match to take the belts - and here come the former champs the New Day; it doesn't take much squinting to see the Profits sliding into a spot previously held by New Day - Kingston as real ring veteran is played up here, Kingston's title reigns with Killings; Kingston is ring general, veteran tag team specialist. Langston is not in the match, but he brings his own tag specialist bonafides as the muscleman from The Shield - so their combined years of tag wrestling is discussed here, either as evidence of greatness or evidence that they're past their time.  

Sunrise.  Sunset.  Profits v. New Day for the tag titles.

4. Womens Title: No DQ: Sasha Banks v Asuka

Asuka has really been the ace of the women's division for years; she chased Lynch during Becky's long run, but Asuka was undefeated and presented as the top worker - as the Horsewomen fought the members of 4-Ground, it was Asuka who was still framed as the best worker.

But Banks, at that point a two time champion, really caught fire, essentially extingushing the other members of 4-Ground and then going over Asuka at Mania to win a record setting 3rd Women's Title.

The rematch here becomes no DQ when Asuka shoves Banks - that seems, of course, a minor happening, but Asuka has just worked straight matches, her technical proficiency being the focus of her character as opposed to real emotional fire.  

But during a Heyman Hustle with both women, Banks cut a little too deeply in claiming that she was clearly the better wrestler - and Asuka shoved her to the canvas.  That leads to escalation, with Banks attacking Asuka in a subsequent RAW and Asuka responding in a future episode.  The anger between the two can't be contained by a traditional match - so the rematch is made a No DQ - we will see a brawl, some real physicality between these two women as they step into Thunderdome.  

5. Thunderdome Street Fight: Kevin Steen v. Sami Zayn 

For the first time in WWE - Steen and Zayn will square off.  

We've been telling this story for years now; so I'll save the full recap - where we land here is Zayn's full of babyface fire when he makes his first post Mania appearance as part of the build to attack Steen.  Zayn makes a full throated challenge in the build - he's waited years - years - for this match, 1 on 1 against Kevin Steen.

Steen, of course, still positions everything he's done to Zayn as righteous and that continues - Zayn's not tough enough, doesn't have enough dog - that's what Steen's going to bring out of him at Survivor Series - if Zayn wants to beat Steen, he's going to need to hurt him - to really hurt him - and Steen doesn't think he's got the insides to do it.  

Why did Steen take Generico's mask?  To push him to the next level - to get him over the hump where he could be WWF Champion.  That's what continues here - if Zayn wants to be WWF Champ - like Black, like Danielson, like Steen - he has to be willing to kill or die for it - and if he wants to beat Steen, he'll need to do the same.  

So - we get the street fight stip; Steen goes over some babyface (Mascara Dorada makes sense) really viciously on TV, just beats him about the head and neck; Kevin Steen is an animal.  For Zayn, of course, he presents this as a fight he's waited years for - a year of his life as a referee - a year of his life gone from WWF - years under Steen's thumb when they were aligned - Zayn's a man ready to explode - and that explosion will come at Survivor Series.

6. Matt Riddle v. Keith Lee (guest referee - Shawn Michaels)

-Lee and Riddle are the Kliq; Michaels says he's been given two matches, one for the Rumble and one for Mania and they need to divide them up.  The choice isn't to split them - the choice is to fight for them - that allows for clips of past Clique v. Clique fights; we can get interviews from whomever wants to give them, Hall, Nash, Waltman, Hunter, etc...taped pieces where they are watching clips of past Clique v. Clique fights; it's all water under the bridge, all good times now - but not so much back then.

There's a little tension here as we have real stakes - the stakes increase when Michaels says that the Rumble match will be against a former WWF Champion.  Here's this new generation of the Clique, battling it out one on one - one will have a real chance to ascend to the top, fighting at the Rumble and then at Mania - and the other...the other just remains scratching and clawing with everyone else.  

That's 6.  6 more matches on the card - we'll build them out next month.

Summer Slam 2020

The build.

Summer Slam 2020 takes place in The Bubble, in and around Orlando.  

The announcers are Scott Stanford (1st PPV) Paul Heyman (18th as an analyst) Samoa Joe (4th as an analyst)  They are not in the arena.  It is the 33rd Summer Slam and the 134th WWF PPV.  There are no dark matches; there are no fans; the show is taped, although, unlike Wrestlemania, it airs as if it is not; airing as a continuous 8 match card w/o cinematic matches or easily identifiable edits.  It is the height of WWF personnel serving as fans in the building; with as many there as can safely be held.  Thunderdome begins tomorrow.  

The show begins with a Summer Slam history clip package.

1988: Davey Boy turning on his Hart Foundation partner Bret after losing an all babyface IC Title challenge.

1989: The Rockers and The Brainbusters in a steel cage, all four men bleeding heavily.

1990: Curt Hennig throwing the towel over the shoulder to Bobby Heenan.

1991: Ricky Steamboat submitting to Bret Hart's sharpshooter. 

1992: Shawn Michaels dropping an elbow from the top buckle which sends Owen through the Spanish Announce Table

1993: Bret holding the WWF title aloft after defeating the challenge from Razor Ramon.

1994: Bret, Owen, Davey Boy and Neidhart fighting high on a steel cage.

1995: Shawn dropping an elbow on Razor from the top of the ladder.  

1996: Wild brawling between Vader and Cactus

1997: Ken Shamrock stepping into an Octagon.

1998: A fast paced sequence with Taka Michinoku and Dick Togo

1999: Cactus and Austin nose to nose prior to their Career v. Career match.  

2000: The Rock submits to Benoit's crossface.  

2001: Kurt Angle hitting a series of high angle suplexes on RVD.

2002: Rey Mysterio making his WWF debut, coming to the ring with the Big Gold Belt.  

2003: Eddy Guerrero with the frogsplash atop Lesnar.  

2004: Benoit and Angle trading stiff shots in the middle of the ring.

2005: A parejas increibles face off - Angle and Michaels standing in the ring, jawing at Benoit and Jericho.  

2006: Ric Flair, tears streaming down his face, holding the WWF Title.

2007: CM Punk coming down the aisle wearing the ECW World Title

2008: Punk hitting the Pepsi Plunge on Matt Hardy

2009: Christian inadvertantly knocking out Maria.  

2010: Punk and Bryan Danielson nose to nose.

2011: All the members of Underground doing their full "Whose House" celebration.

2012: Ricky Steamboat throwing in the towel to end the Lesnar/Punk match.  

2013: Punk attacking Danielson with the WWF Fork.  

2014: Brock Lesnar eviscerating RVD.

2015: Fast 3 way sequence with Charlotte/Sasha/Becky.

2016: Lesnar fracturing Prince Devitt's skull.

2017: Tyler Black turning on The Shield to join the Bullet Club.  

2018: Ronda Rousey landing stiff shots on Charlotte

2019: Ricochet hitting a 450 on Buddy Murphy.

1. Randy Orton/MVP d. The Fiend/Braun Strowman

-admittedly, these two teams were tossed together for this one; there's a storyline reason established in the build, but it's thin and given the restrictions placed by the virus (and it's Summer Slam, when historically things get tough in normal years) we wind up here.  Wyatt never shows up - one of the stories coming in is will either of these teams acually be cohesive; Orton/MVP is and Wyatt just blows this match off entirely, RKO for the finish as Strowman goes under.  

2. The Fiend Bray Wyatt d. Braun Strowman

-The stip from the first match, recall, is the losing team immediately squares off - that happens here; as this is taped, there can be enough goofy special effects to make the arena suitable for Wyatt's Funhouse thing; as his matches should feel unusual while still being a wrestling match fundamentally.  It's a squash, as was the Mania win over Cena - Wyatt then brutalizes Strowman over the course of the next build until Strowman leaves the territory; Wyatt "takes" Strowman's "God of Carnage" nickname in a RAW match and sort of wears it like it was a title; like he's the King of the Ring; he becomes The God of Carnage The Fiend Bray Wyatt.

3. Bayley (w/Sheamus and Miz) d. Mandy Rose

-This is really for Bayley to go over super strong; creative has nothing for Mandy going forward but the announce really pushes Bayley as having a lot of momentum, the much like Banks subsequent to her joining the New Day, Bayley's aligning with Hooligans has given her some steam.  

4. Apollo Crews (w/Underground) d. Dominik Mysterio

-Mysterio is super green and that's how this is presented; he's got a lot of heart, but Crews really toys with him; passes up pinning him a couple of times to inflict more punishment - Regal storms down to the ring; the story in the build being his anger at Undeground "going too far" in attacking a kid in Developmental (Rey is not here, the announce makes that clear) and eventually, Crews relents and pins Dominik - Black and Murphy enter, they hit Dom with a couple of moves - Regal is just fuming at this point; red faced - there's a moment of tension, but Crews restores order and leads Black and Murphy away.  

5. Tag Titles:  Street Profits d. Orton/MVP

-MVP was IC champ for nearly a year and a half, nearly 15 years prior.  Orton is a 4 time tag champ and the only 5 time tag champ in WWF history is Tony Garea, so all of that is part of the story here - but the young guys are too good and they go over.  Orton kills MVP postmatch, punting him into oblivion.  

6. IC Title: Angel Garza d. La Sombra

- Hopefully, match quality picks up a little here, as Summer Slam 2020 not only is in The Covid Bubble but also isn't exactly filled with workrate.  Zelina picks a side - she goes with the rudos, turning in some manner on Sombra that ideally doesn't detract too much from the merits of the match.  Carillo enters postmatch; Sombra gets stomped postmatch; he'll spend the build to Survivor Series putting both guys over and then leave the territory.  Dioses del sol Retorcidos rides high.

7. Women's Title: Sasha Banks (w/New Day) d. Asuka

-the emotional high point of the night (maybe the workrate highlight also) as Banks becomes the first 3 time WWF Women's Champ; the announcers stressing that there's never been a man to hold the belt 4 times as well; Banks takes her place with Bret, Owen, Punk in holding the primary title in the promotion 3 times.  Full celebration with the New Day - obviously we're missing fans, but there's an added intimacy here, with everyone in the arena standing and applauding Banks, the announcers putting over the weight of the achievement. 

8. WWF Championship: Tyler Black (w/Danielson and Owens) d. Drew McIntyre (w/Hooligans)

The title reign of the 59th WWF Champion rolls on - oGDI maintains control of the belt, there's some type of brawl with the stablemates that results in their all being ejected from the arena, giving a sense that, 1 on 1, maybe Drew can win - he does not - Black wins cleanly; postmatch celebration as Danielson and Owens return - oGDI runs the World Wrestling Federation, oGDI runs professional wrestling.

And that's it.  

We're back in September for the first half of the build to Surivor Series 2020, which will be the first Thunderdome PPV; here's a preview - the main event will be Tyler Black defending the WWF Title against....Ricochet.  

Road to Summer Slam 2020

Wrestlemania is here

Summer Slam 2020 is coming next month from The Bubble in and around Orlando.  

Here's the card.

WWF Title: Tyler Black (w/Danielson and Owens) v. Drew McIntyre (w/Sheamus and Miz)

IC: Angel Garza v. La Sombra

Tags: Street Profits v. Winners of Opening Tag

Womens Title: Asuka v. Sasha Banks (w/New Day)

Bayley (w/Sheamus and Miz) v. Mandy Rose

Apollo Crews (w/Aleister Black/Buddy Murphy/Steve Regal) v. Dominik Mysterio

Losers of Opening Tag 

Parejas Increibles: Orton/MVP v. Fiend/Strowman

Not exactly a must buy, I appreciate.  We're making quarrantine content here in the Bubble.

Okay - we kick off another wrestling season; let's reset.

RAW and Fight Night are the tentpole programs; with Mauro Ranallo leaving the promotion after Mania, Scott Stanford becomes full time PxP for both of those programs. Dark Ride Wrestling is the midweek program and Vic Joseph will take over as the lead broadcaster.  Paul Heyman is the analyst on RAW, Samoa Joe on Fight Night and Corey Graves and Steve Corino on Dark Ride.  

The primary ring announcer is Jeremy Borash.

We're in The Bubble; this is pandemic programming.  This entire build is recorded, taped in chunks; in fact, everything all the way up through Rumble 2021 will be recorded.  The build here largely looks like the taped matches before WM with trainees and other personnel starting to trickle in to serve as "fans" - each PPV will take a step forward in terms of "getting back to normal" - at Summer Slam, managers/valets/other seconds will be allowed around ringside.  Thunderdome will debut at Survivor Series.  The Rumble will be live and Mania will have fans.  

Vince McMahon is the 46th President of the United States, if you're unaware how that happened and care enough, you'll need to go back several years for that full storyline.

Here's the build:

WWF Title: Tyler Black (w/Danielson and Owens) v. Drew McIntyre (w/Sheamus and Miz)

-Black cashed in the briefcase at WM 35 and took the title from Styles.  At that time, he was a member of the Bullet Club; that stable was blown apart by Lesnar in the build for WM36, but at WM36, Black retained over Lesnar and aligned with Danielson and Owens, who had been established as a new heel act at the Rumble.

-During this build, Black/Owens and Danielson claim ownership of the GDI stable name (they call themselves oGDI, so there's brand new merch) beginning a low key (largely over Zoom) feud with the current owners of that name, Cole/Strong/O'Reilly, who wrestle on Dark Ride (GDI is a stable begun by Punk upon his first signing with WWE some 15 years ago and has had multiple iterations since).

-McIntyre wins a #1 Contender Battle Royal in this build; that used to be a staple, every other year, either after Mania or Summer Slam, there would be a battle royal to set up a new number one contender.  That's largely faded given the use of the battle royal as a method conferring the Dark Ride title, but it returns here. McIntyre and Langston are the last two entrants, both babyfaces, Langston is 1/4 of The New Day (and previously 1/3 of The Shield) and McIntyre is 1/4 of the Hooligans.  Both babyfaces.

-oGDI then feuds with Hooligans.  As a rule of thumb, I minimize physicality between upcoming opponents when it's their first match; once there has been a match, then then seal is broken and builds for rematches tend to have a lot of contact.  Thats pretty easy to do here, as none of the other guys in either stable has a match at Summer Slam so they can focus on each other and absence from the ring is easy to explain because we're not pretending there is no virus.  Things are weird.  Hooligans need to get enough of the advantage in this feud so there's a good sense that the bigger McIntyre might knock off Black and take the strap.  The individual Hooligans have been in underneath slots for years, rarely with the opportunity at the top spot - and so the hopes of Sheamus and Miz, both of whom have "glass ceiling" stories (Miz/Danielson is a fun wrinkle, given their relationship when Danielson was WWF Commissioner and Miz was The Cuck) get funneled into McIntyre's story as underdog challenger, as guy who used to be here and was released and worked his way back.  

-It's an All Star stable - each man a WWF Champion - against the underdog Hooligans - Black defending the title against McIntyre.

IC: Angel Garza v. La Sombra

-Sombra is a technico, he was set to be in the IC Ladder match at Mania, but quarrantine got him; his spot was taken by another of Zelina Vega's charges, Garza, who is a rudo.  Garza won the ladder match and took the strap.

Sombra has had underlying tension with Garza/Carillo and Zelina's involvement with them, that all came to a head in their program with Claudio/Gargano that led them turning face and becoming the Kings of Wrestling.  Sombra's named number one contender and so the build is about Zelina stuck in the middle between her two acts - her heels, her babyface, set to clash at Summer Slam for the IC strap.  It's clear she will have to make a choice, pick a side - that she will no longer be able to keep them all uneasily together.  What will Zelina do?  That's the storyline for this one.

Tags: Street Profits v. Winners of Opening Tag

Losers of Opening Tag 

Orton/MVP v. Fiend/Strowman

The Profits are young babyfaces, doing the same act as IRL; they took the tag titles from Edge/Nitro at Mania.  As mentioned at Mania, Edge will get viciously attacked by a mystery masked man in this stretch and is not expected to return anytime in the near future.  

Orton beat his old partner Cena at Mania, it's Cena's retirement match - that build was about Cena convincing Orton to get his old Viper edge back - an edge he lost after a devastating squash by The Fiend.  

The night after Mania, as mentioned in the Mania post, Cena is on RAW to say goodbye, and he's destroyed by The Fiend, continuing Wyatt's assault on those he feels wronged him in the past.  

That leads to what looks like a renewal of Orton/Fiend - but when Edge gets hurt (the initial advertising is a rematch with Edge/Nitro for the tag titles) a tag title match is needed, so the planned Orton/Fiend singles match turns into a tag with randomly generated partners; calling back to a Summer Slam tradition of opening the show with a Parejas Increibles tag match.  

MVP is a former IC Champ, in fact, his IC reign is the longest in modern history; he's doing a veteran babyface comeback gimmick that begins the night after Mania.  He and Orton clearly do not trust each other, but this is a big opportunity for Porter and he recognizes Orton's value as a multi-time tag champ.

Strowman was one half of Gods of Carnage, he runs his partner, Rusev, out of the territory; Strowman and the Fiend are both reticent in their respective ways - but by the end of the build, it appears that they have formed a new Gods of Carnage.  

The winners of the opening tag will go on to face the Street Profits for the titles - and so they become involved in all this mess; and the losers will immediately square off in a singles match, presumably ending their burgeoning partnership.  

Womens Title: Asuka v. Sasha Banks (w/New Day)

Bayley (w/Sheamus and Miz) v. Mandy Rose

Asuka regained the Women's Title from Baszler at Mania - she faces a fellow 2 time Champion, Banks, who has been on a tremendous roll since joining the New Day, pinning Lynch/Flair in the same match and then submitting Lynch in the Montreal Match at Mania.   Nakamura became aligned with Asuka in a previous build - that resumes here and they are joined by Kushida - Nakamura, as a fellow former Bullet Club member, giving him some babyface cover as Kushida tries to integrate himself into post-Bullet Club life.  They can mix and match with the New Day as proxy for Asuka/Banks, who we look to keep apart - everyone's a babyface here, this is a "who is the better wrestler" program - Asuka has been framed as the best worker in the women's division, in a class by herself - and now here comes Banks, a steamroller, she's looking to become the first 3 time Women's Champ and with Lynch having left the promotion and Flair wiped out by the Horsewomen post Mania, Banks says she is fully seizing the mantle of the Best Women's Wrestler in WWF history by beating Asuka and taking her belt.

Bayley is a babyface, she's toughened up with her association with Hooligans, but she is fan favorite babyface Bayley - Mandy Rose is doing a hot girl heel thing.  

Apollo Crews (w/Aleister Black/Buddy Murphy) v. Dominik Mysterio

Dominik Mysterio is Rey's masked son (definitely masked) currently training in developmental; he's super green.  Crews was a babyface, but his irritation over his partner Kalisto's relationship with Rey led to a heel turn, Crews/Kalisto had a TV only singles program, Crews going over, as Apollo joined the upper leadership of Underground, with Black and Murphy.

The three men  are hanging out at WWFU and start picking on young Mysterio - really giving him the full bully trainer treatment.  This creates a fissure between those 3 and Regal; Regal doesn't like harrassment of someone working in developmental, the wrestlers say they're just trying to toughen him up - there's an uneasy peace and the decision is made that Dominic will make his PPV debut, against Crews, at Summer Slam.

And that's your card.  Quarrantine Summer Slam 2020 - live (well, not, it's taped) in August!

The Top 25 Big Match Wrestlers in WWF History

Part 1 is here

25. Jeff Hardy (34.25 stars, 3 Time Tag Champ)

24. Davey Boy Smith (37.75 stars, WWF Champ, 3 Time Tag Champ)

23. Cactus Jack (39 stars: Triple Crown, 2 Time WWF Champ, IC Champ, Tag Champ)

22. Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig (41.75 stars, WWF Champ, IC Champ)

21. Tyler Black (41.75 stars, WWF Champ, Tag Champ)

20. El Generico/Sami Zayn (43.5 stars, IC Champ, Tag Champ)

19. Kevin Steen (43.5 stars, WWF Champ, 2 Time Tag Champ)

18. Stone Cold Steve Austin (44.5 stars: Triple Crown WWF Champ, 2 Time IC Champ, Tag Champ)

17. Randy Macho Man Savage (47.25 stars. WWF Champ, 2 Time IC Champ)

16. Nick Nemeth (49.75 stars, Triple Crown WWF Champ, 2 Time IC Champ, Tag Champ)

15. Claudio Castagnoli (52.25 stars, WWF Champ, 2 Time Tag Champ)

14. Christian (55 stars, 2 Time Tag Champ)

13. Edge (59 stars, Triple Crown, WWF Champ, IC Champ, 3 Time Tag Champ)

12. Brock Lesnar (61.25 stars, Triple Crown, 2 Time WWF Champ, IC Champ, Tag Champ)

11. Eddy Guerrero (62.25 stars, Triple Crown 2 Time WWF Champ, 2 Time IC Champ, Tag Champ)

And the Top Ten:

10. CM Punk (63.75 stars, 3 Time WWF Champ, NWA Champ, ECW Champ)

9. AJ Styles (68.5 stars, Triple Crown 2 Time WWF Champ, IC Champ, Tag Champ)

8. Kurt Angle (75.25 stars, WWF Champ, 2 Time Tag Champ)

7. Rey Mysterio (80.25 stars, Triple Crown, 2 Time WWF Champ, 2 Time IC Champ, 2 Time Tag Champ)

6. Owen Hart (85.5 stars, Triple Crown 3 Time WWF Champ, 2 Time IC Champ, Tag Champ)

5. Chris Benoit (89 stars, Triple Crown 2 Time WWF Champ, IC Champ, Tag Champ)

4. Bryan Danielson (96 stars, 2 Time WWF Champ)

3. Chris Jericho (119.75 stars, Triple Crown WWF Champ, 2 Time IC Champ, Tag Champ)

2. Bret Hit Man Hart (143.75 stars, Triple Crown 3 Time WWF Champ, 2 Time IC Champ, 2 Time Tag Champ)

1. Shawn Michaels (166.75 stars Triple Crown 2 Time WWF Champ, 5 Time IC Champ, 3 Time Tag Champ)

The 100 (actually 90) Best Big Match Wrestlers in WWF History (Part 1)

Over the past several years, I've been listing star ratings for matches.  This list is the "best big match wrestlers in WWF history" - meaning, I'm just adding up their stars, counting only their 4+ star rated matches (a manageable task).  If you haven't been reading those posts; I'm not including TV matches nor matches in any other promotion, just the big 4 PPVs (a manageable task)

Through WM36 There are 90 WWF wrestlers with 5 and above cumulative stars for their careers.  Here they are, the best big match wrestlers in Counterfactual history. Once I get to 100, I'll cut it off there.  I'm breaking ties with an estimation of how many TV matches they would have had which were also 4 and above.  I'm initally posting this after WM36, but will update this after each PPV, so hopefully, whenever you encounter this list, it's up to date (through SSlam '20)

Runners-up:  4 stars: Drew McIntyre Professor Woods, Bobby Roode, Mascara Dorada, Io Shirai, Becky Lynch, Truth Killings, Greg Valentine, Aguila, Raven, Tyson Kidd, Primo Colon, Dick Togo, Shane Douglas, Booker T, Billy Kidman, Mistico, Ted DiBiase, Terry Funk, Brian Kendrick, Dos Caras, Jr.

4.25 stars: Buddy Murphy, Akira Tozawa, Keith Lee, Kyle O'Reilly, Bobby Fish, Tommaso Ciampa, Matt Riddle, Walter, Ronda Rousey, Austin Aries, Barry Windham, Psychosys, Super Crazy, TJ Perkins, Spike Dudley, Doug Furnas, Phil LaFon, Juventud Guerrera, DLo Brown

4.5 stars: Chad Gable, Jason Jordan, Diesel

4.75 stars: Adam Cole

90. Low Ki (5 stars)

89. Apollo Crews (8 stars)

88. Ray Rougeau (8 stars, WWF Tag Champ)

87. Jacques Rougeau (8 stars, 2 Time WWF Tag Champ)

86. Matt Sydal (8 stars, IC Champ)

85. Bray Wyatt (8 stars, IC Champ)

84. Bayley (8 stars Women's Champ)

83. Sheamus (8 stars, 2 Time IC Champ, 2 Time Tag Champ)

82. Genichiro Tenryu (8.25 stars)

81. Pete Dunne (8.25 stars)

80. The Undertaker (8.25 stars, WWF Tag Champ)

79. Ken Shamrock (8.25 stars IC Champ)

78. Cedric Alexander (8.5 stars)

77. Charlie Haas (8.5 stars, 2 Time Tag Champ)

76. Dean Malenko (8.75 stars)

75. Kenta (9 stars Dark Ride Champ)

74. Jack Swagger (9 stars, WWF Tag Champ)

73. Jamie Noble (12 stars)

72. Hakushi (12 stars)

71. John Cena (12 stars, 2 Time Tag Champ)

70. Kingston (12 stars 3 Time Tag Champ)

69. Roddy Piper (12 stars 2 Time IC Champ, Tag Champ)

68. Charlotte Flair (12 stars, 2 Time Women's Champ)

67. Taka Michinoku (12.25 stars)

66. Lance Storm (12.25 stars, WWF Tag Champ)

65. Chavo Guerrero (12.25 stars, IC Champ, Tag Champ)

64. Tajiri (12.25 stars 2 Time IC Champ)

63. Asuka (12.25 stars, 2 Time Women's Champ)

62. The Rock (12.5 stars, IC Champ, 2 Time Tag Champ)

61. Langston (12.75 stars, 2 Time Tag Champ)

60. Ricochet (13.75 stars, IC Champ)

59. Sasha Banks (16 stars, 3 Time Women's Champ)

58. Luke Harper (16.25 stars, IC Champ)

57. Johnny Nitro (16.25 stars, IC Champ, NWA Champ)

56. Taz (16.25 stars, IC Champ, Tag Champ)

55. Rick Rude (16.25 stars, IC Champ, Tag Champ)

54. Ric Flair (16.25 stars, 2 Time WWF Champ, Tag Champ)

53. Tully Blanchard (16.5 stars, Tag Champ)

52. Fit Finlay (16.5 stars, IC Champ, NWA Champ)

51. Roman Reigns Uso (16.75 stars)

50. Dynamite Kid (16.75 stars, 2 Time WWF Champ)

49. Arn Anderson (20.5 stars, Tag Champ)

48. Sean Waltman (20.5 stars, IC Champ)

47. Kalisto (20.75 stars)

46. Paul London (21 stars)

45/44. The Revival (Dash/Dawson) (21 stars, Tag Champs)

43. Shelton Benjamin (21 stars WWF Champ, 4 Time Tag Champ)

42. Samoa Joe (21.25 stars WWF Champ, Dark Ride Champ)

41. Vader (21.5 stars, IC Champ)

40. DVon Dudley (21.75 stars, 2 time WWF Tag Champ)

39. Ricky Steamboat (22.25 stars, 2 Time WWF Champ)

38. Marty Jannetty (24.75 stars, 2 Time Tag Champ)

37. Hunter Hearst Helmsley-McMahon (25 stars, IC Champ, 2 Time Tag Champ)

36. Rob Van Dam (25.25 stars, 2 time IC Champ, 2 Time Tag Champ)

35. Shinsuke Nakamura (25.25 stars, WWF Champ, Dark Ride Champ)

34. Bubba Ray Dudley (26 stars, 2 Time WWF Tag Champ)

33. Matt Hardy (26.5 stars, 3 time WWF Tag Champ)

32. Pac/Neville (26.75 stars, 2 time WWF Tag Champ)

31-30. Usos (Jimmy/Jey) (29.25 stars, 2 Time WWF Tag Champs)

29. Dean Ambrose (29.5 stars, IC Champ, Tag Champ)

28. Razor Ramon (29.75 stars, 2 Time IC Champ, Tag Champ)

27. Prince Devitt (30 stars, IC Champ)

26. Steve Regal (34 stars, IC Champ)

The Top 25 is coming in June.  

Wrestlemania 36

The Build

Wrestlemania 36 opens with a video package of past Mania crowds - sold out this and record setting that and jam packed whatever.

And then of close up fan reactions in past Manias - crying, screaming, you know what they will show.

And then shots of arenas and stadiums throughout the country - all silent, all empty.

And then we're in the Performance Center.  Very, Very quiet.  

Wrestlemania 36 comes from the WWF Bubble, in and around Orlando.

Your announcers (none of whom is on site, all remote) are Mauro Ranallo (19th and, as it will  be announced during the show, final PPV) Paul Heyman (18th) Samoa Joe (3rd)

For the first time ever, Mania is not on PPV, it is on FOX, with a second screen experience on the Network.

Ranallo sets the scene - this is a Mania unlike any other - WWF does not have 80,000 people in Raymond James stadium in Tampa -- but it does have millions watching on FOX, millions who right now, really could use some entertainment - and WWF looks to give you 4 great hours of professional wrestling.  

No stables, no managers, no dark matches, no valets, no special guest referee - there is no one at all at ringside.  Each match consists of the wrestlers and a referee. 

There will be multiple sets used - the opening match/main event (and probably a couple more) will have the standard pandemic look for WWF (think IRL Pandemic ROH w/ the darkened arena, they'll add the Thunderdome later in the year).  The Legends Match and the Ladder match will have a cinematic quality.  There will be a match outside, a match in a parking lot, a match somewhere else in the performance center that isn't the ring.  There are 12 matches, there should be at least 6 locations.  All have a ring, save the legends match, which looks like IRL Boneyard without the music.  

The other thing here is there's an opportunity to reach lapsed and non fans here and the broadcast will be pitched to really explain the product in an effort to bring in new eyeballs.  

Each match starts with a video package very clearly explaining the story of the match.  During each match, Heyman serves to explain the story, Joe serves to talk about the technical aspects of the work

1. BRYAN DANIELSON/KEVIN STEEN d. AJ STYLES/SAMI ZAYN

-there are a couple of reasons to open with this match; the one I'll talk about now is this is the match they want the viewers to see; it's likely to be the best match of the night, they can do a believable looking contest without a lot of bullshit that is easier to see through without fans.  It would be good if there were some of the younger guys in the promotion who could get exposure tonight, but for this card this is who they want prospective new fans to see.  

-easy story to tell; Danielson used to be the best, he got hurt and AJ became the best, Danielson came back, but couldn't beat AJ and so now he's a bad guy.  Steen and Zayn were best friends, Zayn used to wear a mask, like a superhero - and Steen stripped him of it, which, like a super hero, is stripping him of his identity and a diabolical act in this world.  Now Zayn's back for revenge.  

-the finish is Danielson finally pinning Styles - solidifying the wisdom of the heel turn.

2. BOBBY LASHLEY d. DREW GULAK

-this match being second serves a couple of interests - they can do some grappling and that style where they largely stay in the ring and go hard is the one best suited to an empty building.  Also, Lashley's big and there will be some viewers looking for a body guy.  And the most important thing - this match allows the announcers to preview the main event, as Lashley and Lesnar were aligned until very recently as members of Shoot Nation.  There are a few hours between here and there, they want the viewers to know that Brock Lesnar is fighting for the title tonight.  Easy story to tell here - Lashley's part of Shoot Nation, which was Kurt Angle's stable of wrestlers, Gulak's part of Underground, a collection of wrestlers from WWF Developmental and those two groups have been feuding on and off for a year and we'll see more of this feud later tonight in the IC Ladder Match.  

-Lashley gets him definitively

3. RHEA RIPLEY d. KAIRI SANE

-wait, there are women?  Lapsed fans especially may be surprised how prominant the women's division has been for several years and this match helps catch them up.  It also allows to talk about Rousey; since Ripley took her place in the Horsewomen and clips of Rousey may interest casuals.  And - they preview the women's title match; since Baszler is also in the Horsewomen and she'll be fighting Asuka, friend of Sane.  

-Ripley gets her definitively.

4. CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI d. ANGEL GARZA

-Claudio had a little cultural penetration a few years prior with the "hey movememt" and he's a good guy again so some casuals will know him (and he gives them the kind of work they want).  Gargano can be discussed as Claudio's partner; their connection to Steen/Zayn will mentioned to world build.  

-Good 50/50 match that Claudio takes.

5. RANDY ORTON d. JOHN CENA

-Cena's not as famous here as he is IRL, but he's got some level of entertainment career (maybe a reality star, he wears jacket and tie to dinner in his own home, it's quirky) so some casuals might know him and this is his final wrestling match.  Easy story to understand - he and Orton came up together; Cena largerly spent a career as a good guy, Orton largely as a bad guy - they came back together at the end and now, in his last match, Cena is trying to drag the viciousness back out of Orton, whose career has stalled since losing to The Fiend (who we will see next).  

-We get that vicousness, Orton really sticks it to Cena - no level of friendship demonstrated even post match.  Cena will appear on RAW tomorrow and The Fiend will just destroy him; which maybe ends Cena's time in the Counterfactual.  

6. BONEYARD LEGENDS MATCH: THE FIEND BRAY WYATT d. THE UNDERTAKER

-Purely a cinematic match, same idea as the IRL Boneyard match save for the finish being a definitive burial, RIP for the long retired Dead Man.  The Undertaker used to be King Spooky, no one in WWF history has won more Legends Matches (a longtime Mania staple) than any other man, Wyatt is the new King Spooky and they get all spooky with each other cinematic style.  

It's intermission; they're going to show clips of pre-pandemic action, looking to display youth, athleticism, high spots, fast paced, hot, hot crowds - the stuff they don't really get to display tonight (hey, look, Ricochet)

7. FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE: DREW McINTYRE d. KINGSTON d. JIMMY USO

-Here's the match where they fight all over the Peformance Center, just a full on garbage match; Kingston takes some crazy bump, Uso gets hurt, McIntyre goes over; the Hooligans/New Day/Usos are all discussed here to give some exposure to all of that (the Miz, from the Real World, remember - and there are both men and women wrestlers in the same group, interesting). The other thing that happens here is there are stakes to this match; winner gets to enter last in the Number One Contenders Battle Royal to to set the number one contender for the WWF Title - and that allows to plug Summer Slam, which is where that title match will take place. 

5 Matches left, 4 of them are Title Matches, they get distinctive graphics and a second taped package that shows each of the matches for those titles in Mania history.

WRESTLEMANIA TAG TITLE HISTORY

1. Tito Santana/Brutus Beefcake take the belts from the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff

2. The Hart Foundation (Bret/Davey w/Anvil) take the belts from Tito/Beefcake

3. The Hart Foundation keeps the belts over the Rougeaus

4. The Rougeaus (w/the Anvil) keep the belts over Strike Force.

5. The Brainbusters keep the belts over the Rockers

6. Rick Rude/Marty Jannetty take the belts from Roddy Piper/Jake Roberts

7. The Road Warriors keep the belts over Demolition

8. Money Inc keeps the belts over Strike Force

9. The Steiner Brothers keep the belts over Money Inc

10. Lex Luger/Bam Bam Bigelow take the belts from the Rougeaus 

11. The Smoking Gunns take the belts from The British Empire (Bulldog/Backlund)

12. Steve Austin/Dustin Rhodes keep the belts over Chris Candido/Savio Vega

13. The Hart Foundation (Bulldog/Owen) keep the belts over Doug Furnas/Phil LaFon

14. The New Age Outlaws take the belts from Cactus Jack/Terry Funk

15. The Hardys take the belts from the Nation of Domination (Rock/DLo)

16. TLC: The Hardys take the belts in a 3 way over Edge/Christian and the Dudleys

17. The Dudley Boys take the belts in a 4 way over the Hardys/ Edge/Christian, Raven/Taz

18. TLC: Chris Jericho/Lance Storm keep the belts over the Hardys, Dudleys (Bubba/Spike)

19. Shawn Michaels/HHH take the belts from Shelton Benjamin/Charlie Haas

20. The Horsemen (Ric Flair/Leviathan Batista) take the belts from Shelton Benjamin/Charlie Haas

21. Randy Orton/John Cena take the belts in a 3 way over Haas/Benjamin and Spreekillers(Chavo/Helms)

22. Dead Men Walking (PAUL/Kane) take the belts in a 3 way over Bradshaw/Booker, LWO (Super Crazy/Psicosis)

23. LWO (Chavo/Carlito) take the belts from Sandman/Dreamer

24. WMD (Cena/Batista) take the belts from HBK/HHH

25. DMW (PAUL/Kane) take the belts in a 3 way over LWO, HHH-M/Miz 

26. Young Money (Kingston/Killings) take the belts from Division One (Nemeth/Swagger)

27. Empire (Barrett/Gabriel) take the belts from Defiance (Orton/DiBiase, Jr)

28. Young Money (Kingston/Killings) take the belts from Defiance (Orton/Cody Rhodes)

29. The Shield (Black/Ambrose) take the belts from Empire (Barrett/Ryback)

30. The Shield (Black/Ambrose/Langston) keep the belts over The Usos (Reigns/Jimmy/Jey)

31. The Shield (Black/Ambrose) keep the belts over Division One

32. The Usos (Reigns/Jimmy/Jey) take the belts from New Day (Kingston/Langston/Woods)

33. Ladder: Trash (Claudio/Neville) take the belts from Kevin Steen/El Generico

33. Ladder: Hardys take the belts from Trash

34. The Revival take the belts from The Usos.

35. Shoot Nation (Lesnar/Angle/Benjamin) take the belts from Hooligans (McIntyre/Sheamus/Miz)

8. WWF TAG TITLES: STREET PROFITS d. CLIQUE (EDGE/NITRO)

The Street Profits become the 110th tag champs in WWF history.  

Easy story - Street Profits are young, Edge and Nitro are veterans and the Profits take the belts.  Everyone's a babyface, let the celebration ensue! Over the next month, Edge/Nitro remain together and a rematch for Summer Slam is set - Edge is stoked, feels great, having the time of his life even despite all the terrible things happening with the virus, really enjoying hanging out with Nitro, looking forward to a long tag run - and then Edge gets attacked in the parking lot by a masked man with a pipe; he wears out Edge's leg - the tag match is off, Edge is gone, who knows if he'll return.

And who was that masked man?

WRESTLEMANIA WOMEN'S TITLE HISTORY

32. Sasha Banks takes the title from Charlotte Flair

33. Becky Lynch takes the title from Sasha Banks

34. Asuka takes the title from Becky Lynch

35. Asuka keeps the title over Ronda Rousey

9. WWF WOMEN'S TITLE: ASUKA d. SHAYNA BASZLER

Asuka was the undefeated champion, monster, monster, monster babyface - but she got beaten down by Baszler's Horsewomen and had to relinquish the belt; Baszler would win it and then end Asuka's undefeated streak at the Rumble?  Its a rematch - can Asuka regain what was hers?

She can - they have the best match they can have and Asuka goes over.  Let the celebration ensue!

WRESTLEMANIA IC TITLE HISTORY

1. Dog Collar: Roddy Piper takes the belt from Greg Valentine

2. Randy Savage takes the belt from Roddy Piper

3. Randy Savage keeps the belt over Jake Roberts

4. Bret Hart takes the belt from Randy Savage

5. Rick Rude takes the belt from Curt Hennig

6. Bret Hart keeps the belt over Shawn Michaels

7. Bret Hart keeps the belt over Genichiro Tenryu

8. Randy Savage keeps the belt over Roddy Piper

9. Shawn Michaels keeps the belt over Curt Hennig

10. Ladder: Razor Ramon takes the belt from Shawn Michaels

11. Razor Ramon takes the belt from Owen Hart

12. Vader keeps the belt over Undertaker

13. Cactus Jack keeps the belt over Vader

14. Octagon: Ken Shamrock draw Steve Austin

15. Al Snow takes the belt from Steve Austin

16. Eddy Guerrero takes the belt from Chris Jericho

17. Steve Austin takes the belt from Steve Regal

18. RVD keeps over Steve Austin

19. Rey Mysterio keeps the belt over Chavo Guerrero

20. Ladder: Eddy Guerrero takes the belt from Chavo Guerrero

21. Edge keeps the belt over Steve Regal

22. Fit Finlay keeps the belt over Steve Regal

22. HHH-M takes the belt from Fit Finlay

23. Randy Orton takes the belt in a 3 way over Shane Helms, Jeff Hardy

24. MVP keeps over Jamie Noble and Brian Kendrick

25. Rey Mysterio takes the belt from MVP

26. Matt Sydal keeps the belt over Yoshii Tatsu

27. Sheamus takes the belt from Johnny Nitro

28. Sheamus keeps the belt over the Miz

29. Nick Nemeth takes the belt in a 3 way over The Rock  and Jack Swagger

30. Ladder: Nick Nemeth takes the belt from Sheamus

31. Bray Wyatt takes the belt from Luke Harper

32. El Generico takes the belt from AJ Styles

33. Brock Lesnar keeps the belt over Chris Jericho

34. Shinsuke Nakamura took the belt from Brock Lesnar in the Title v. Title match.

35. Ricochet takes the belt from Prince Devitt

10. WWF INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE: LADDER MATCH: ANGEL GARZA d ALEISTER BLACK/NICK NEMETH

The 74th IC Champ is Angel Garza.  

The first half of the match (I like the industrial look of Sting's first AEW match; no music, I just liked the look) if just Black/Nemeth - easy story to tell; once upon a time, Nemeth led the first version of Underground; time moves on, Nemeth became a good guy with short hair and part of Shoot Nation and over a year ago he was beaten half to death by the new version of Underground, led by Black.  So - here we are, hitting each other with ladders.

There's a wrinkle and he appears halfway though - who was supposed to be in this match with them is La Sombra, a masked wrestler, but illness has apparently taken him out of the match, so his manager, Zelina, had the ability to name a replacement.  

We expect Carrillo - but it turns out to be Garza, who we saw lose earlier in the evening and he takes advantage of the conditions of Black and Nemeth to slither in and win the match.

We now pause before the final two matches for the In Memorium segment. Notable wrestling deaths since last year's WM.

La Parka II
Rocky Johnson

Atsushi Aoki

Harley Race

Jacques Rougeau, Sr.

Adam McCallum

Max Muscle

Moondog Rex

Paco Alonso

Perro Aguayo Sr

Rene Goulet

Rick Bognar

Silver King

Mr Niebla

John Quinn

It's here where Ranallo says this is his last event; thanks everyone; wishes everyone well.

Long Highlight Package then setting the stage for the Montreal Match, getting over the gravity of the stip and the story of 4-Ground.  This match needs some level of stylization - with 4 people legal throughout, it doesn't fit well in the darkened arena.

11. MONTREAL MATCH: SASHA BANKS d. BECKY LYNCH/CHARLOTTE FLAIR/BAYLEY

-the match is a big deal; hence the historical stip - years and years of equity built into this stable and while, probably, this isn't the final chapter, we don't know that either at match time or as of this writing.  

-Banks/Lynch/Flair came up together, really creating the modern women's division - they'd go their separate ways and all win the title, always orbiting each other.  Bayley was the girl they picked on in developmental, essentially, always on the outside of the cool kids club, but joined the group when they reformed to fight the Horsewomen.  

-Ideally, all of the years are evident in this one - with call backs to their many, many matches 

-And in the end it's Banks, submitting Lynch.  Banks has had a renaissance since joining New Day; she pinned Lynch/Flair in the same match and now submits Lynch, understandably unmoored with the end of the Bullet Club. Banks becomes number one contender, she will meet Asuka at Summer Slam, and so more chance to plug that future show - and Lynch leaves the promotion.

-It should feel heavy; we know historically this stip matters, Bret never really came back, not really; after he lost the original Montreal Match; Jeff's back, hes in the promotion currently, but that decade+ long "Let Them Play" young boys to title holders program with Hardys and E/C really came to an end; and Punk, to this date, has not returned.  As these four women look at each other and allow the moment to sit - we do not know if we will ever see Lynch again and what the future holds for this cornerstone group of WWF women.  It's heavy, man.  It's thick.  It's painful.  

-Also painful - what happens to Flair as early as tomorrow's RAW - she just gets killed by the Horsewomen, any heat lost with Baszler losing the belt is regained with a full stretcher job to Flair; Lynch is gone and as of as early as tomorrow, so is Flair.  

WRESTLEMANIA WWF CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

1. Ricky Steamboat keeps the belt over Barry Windham

2. Dynamite Kid takes the belt from Ricky Steamboat

3. Ricky Steamboat takes the belt from Dynamite Kid

4. Dynamite Kid takes the belt from Ricky Steamboat

5. Randy Savage keeps the belt from Bret Hart

6. Curt Hennig keeps the belt over Randy Savage

7. Curt Hennig keeps the belt over Randy Savage

8. Bret Hart takes the belt from Ric Flair

9. Bret Hart keeps the belt from Razor Ramon

10. Owen Hart takes the belt from Bret Hart

11. Bret Hart takes the belt from Shawn Michaels

12. Shawn Michaels takes the belt from Bret Hart

13. Steve Austin takes the belt from Bret Hart

14. Owen Hart keeps the belt over Shawn Michaels

15. Cactus Jack takes the belt from Owen Hart

16. Chris Benoit takes the belt from Cactus Jack

17. Kurt Angle takes the belt from Chris Benoit

18. Kurt Angle keeps the belt over Curt Hennig

19. Kurt Angle keeps the belt over Brock Lesnar

20. Chris Benoit takes the belt from Kurt Angle

21. Eddy Guerrero takes the belt from Chris Benoit

22. Rey Mysterio keeps the belt over Chris Benoit

23. Booker T wins the vacant belt over Bobby Lashley

24. TLC: CM Punk takes the belt over Shelton Benjamin/Johnny Nitro

25. Chris Jericho keeps the belt over Shawn Michaels

26. Chris Jericho keeps the belt over Steve Regal

27. CM Punk takes the belt from Edge

27. Nick Nemeth takes the belt from CM Punk

28. Bryan Danielson keeps the belt over Chris Jericho

29. Brock Lesnar takes the belt from Bryan Danielson

30. Claudio Castagnoli takes the belt from Bryan Danielson

31. Brock Lesnar keeps the belt over Claudio Castagnoli

32. Elimination Chamber: AJ Styles wins the vacant belt over Kevin Steen/Brock Lesnar/Dean Ambrose/Nick Nemeth/Kalisto

33. AJ Styles keeps the belt over Austin Aries

34. Shinsuke Nakamura keeps the belt over Brock Lesnar, title v title

35. AJ Styles takes the belt from Shinsuke Nakamura

35. Tyler Black takes the belt from AJ Styles

12. WWF CHAMPIONSHIP: TYLER BLACK d. BROCK LESNAR

-Tyler Black will enter another year as WWF Champion

-Heres the story; Brock is a monster and Heyman can really humanize him given their relationship; Heyman talking about Lesnar's relationship with Angle and how losing him has brought a new level of emotion to a guy who largely wrestles as a job.  We see that in this match, for both better and worse.  Heyman, despite how their relationship ended, clearly rooting for Brock here.  If Brock wins, it's a record tying 3rd WWF Title (stakes!)

-Black is guy who needs a stable - he went from the Shield to the Bullet Club (and even before, as Joe will give context, back in the Age of the Fall days, Black's a guy who needs that group).  

-This is the ultimate solo match, there's no one except for the two wrestlers and the referee, and that's been what Black has been pushing since Lesnar destroyed his stable - this is the match that will prove, definitively, who Tyler Black is.  Joe really sells that point, that Black doesn't have the kind of respect in the locker room that a guy with his pedigree should have and it's because of the perception that he's never done it alone.  But if he can beat Lesnar 1 on 1 tonight, it totally changes that (stakes).

But in a night of nothing but clean finishes - this one is a screwjob.

There's a ref bump (Lesnar's fault, he's barely containable) and then from under the ring - who emerges?

Danielson and Steen.  

They assault Lesnar - the two of them and Black sending him through a table.

The referee revives - Lesnar is able to kick out - he gets a fired up, IRL Hogan style, babyface comeback -- but in the end it's not enough, God's Last Gift -- pinfall.  

Danielson and Steen descend - the 3 men taking Lesnar apart; Danielson gleefully putting on a submission hold - the announcers are disgusted.  Black never intended to beat Lesnar by himself - it was a swerve, it was all a set up - and the show ends with what is clearly a new stable - a new alliance:

Bryan Danielson.  Kevin Steen.  And the WWF Champion Tyler Black. 

That's it.  There will be content in May and June, the Summer Slam preview in July