Jeff Knapp

WWE – RAW

Stone Cold Steve Austin’s music hits and out comes Kevin Owens dressed as Austin. Owens asks Chicago if they’re ready to “see Kevin Owens open up a can of whoop ass on Stone Cold at WrestleMania, give me a hell yeah!” He then “what’s” the He continues to get the crowd all upset before he has the ring assistant bring him a beer and give it to him in the ring. He then tells him to “get your sorry ass out of my ring” then hits the Stunner on him then pours a beer all over the man.

The Mysterios vs the Dirty Dawgs – Dom connects with a 619, then connects with a Frog Splash on Roode for the 1-2-3.

Backstage, WWE Officials Sonya Deville & Adam Pierce are with Seth Rollins. Deville reminds Seth that he had a chance last week but blew it but Adam Pearce tells him to calm down as he’ll see if there’s something he can do. Rollins cackles at the thought and walks off.

Two-on-One Handicapped Match: Apollo Crews & Cmdr. Azeez vs Omos – Crews is double-handed choke slammed, dragged upon Azeez, and Omos pins them both for the win.

AJ Styles comes to the ring to addresses Edge and as he’s talking, he is interrupted by Seth Rollins. He wants to take AJ’s spot against Edge at Wrestlemania. Pierce and Deville come out and end up making the match for later tonight and the winner will face Edge.

Liv Morgan & Rhea Ripley vs Natalya & Shayna Baszler – Shayna rolls up Liv for the pinfall.

United States Champion Finn Bálor vs Austin Theory – Theory looks for his springboard rolling cutter but Pat McAfee distracts him just long enough to allow Balor to roll him up for the 1-2-3.

Non-Title Tag Team Match: Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro vs the Alpha Academy – Riddle connects with a Bro Derek on Gable for the win.

After the match Otis attacks both Orton and Riddle until the Street Profits make the save only to have Dawkins lays out Riddle with a Spinebuster and thenMontez Ford follows it up with a skyscraper Frog Splash.

Mixed Tornado Tag Match: 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke & Reggie vs Akira Tozawa & Tamina – Handspring Elbow from Brooke to both Tozawa & Tamina which allows Tamina to fall forward into the privates of an already fallen Akria. Reggie covers Tozawa for the victory.

Main Event Match: AJ Styles(s) vs Seth Rollins – At the end, Edge hits the ring and attacks AJ with a steel chair, causing the DQ victory for Styles.

After the match Seth flips out, gets on the mic and yells “this is bullshit!” He then says that he won’t be at Raw next week unless he gets what he wants, which is a WrestleMania moment

NXT

North American Championship Qualifier: Solo Sikoa vs Roderick Strong w/ Malcolm Bivens – Solo connects with a top rope splash for the win and advances to Stand & Deliver.

Tony D’Angelo vs Dexter Lumis w/ Indi Hartwell – Persia and Indi end up struggling over Tony’s crowbar as he attempts to get it. Tony and Indi struggle with it, and when he snaps it away, he clocks Dexter with the crowbar, which is missed by the ref. Tony tosses the crowbar and gets the 1-2-3.

Elektra López w/ Legado Del Fantasma vs Fallon Henley w/ Briggs & Jensen – Elektra slams Fallon for the pinfall

Bron Breakker vs Robert Roode w/ NXT Champion Dolph Ziggler – Roode attempts a 2^nd rope attack, but Bron catches him mid-air and plants him in the middle of the ring for the 1-2-3.

North American Championship Qualifier Singles Match: Grayson Waller w/ Sanga vs A-Kid – Waller with a rolling Stunner for the win.

The Grizzled Young Veterans vs the Creed Brothers w/ the Diamond Mine – The Creed brother hit Top Gear for the 1-2-3.

After the match we see 2 people trashing and spray painting the Diamond Mine’s locker room.

Duke Hudson w/ Persia Pirotta vs WALTER w/ Imperium – WALTER chops the hell out of Hudson in the corner, hits a powerbomb for the pinfall

Main Event: Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray vs Dakota Kai & Wendy Choo – Shirai hits the Over the Moonsault on Wendy for the win.

AEW – DYNAMITE

Dax Harwood vs. CM Punk – Punk locks in the Anaconda Vice for the submission victory.

Backstage the Jericho Appreciation Society talks about being the group that “beats up pro wrestlers” then mentioning their attack on Jericho’s former Inner Circle faction last week.

Eight-Man Texas Tornado Tag Match: The Hardys & Darby Allin & Sting vs. Private Party, The Butcher & The Blade – This match goes all over the place, including the merch area, where Jeff Hardy hits a window balcony swanton onto The Butcher. Back in the ring, Matt hits the Twist of Fate on Marq Quen for the 1-2-3.

Tony Schiavone is backstage with FTR and they talk about how the Gunn Club was ringside and wanted to get into their business. They degrade Colten and Austin. They talk about the respect they have for Billy, but not the sons and will refer to them as the ass boys going forward.

Jon Moxley & Bryan Danielson vs. The Varsity Blonds – The ref stops the match due to both Varsity Blonds being unable to keep going after Bryan and Mox beating the hell out of them.

After the match Moxley, Danielson & Regal put the AEW locker room on notice and talk about being part of the  Black Pool Combat Club, and if anybody else wants in then there’s only one way to get in, “the hard way.”

MJF comes out and runs down Wardlow until Wardlow comes out. He is held back by security. MJF reminds him that he doesn’t have a contract with AEW, but with MJF. He informs him that he is going to pay him to sit at home until he becomes irrelevant. 

Wheeler Yuta and Trent Baretta are with the best friends and are arguing about how they never liked each other. This stems from Yuta attempting to shake Regal’s hand the previous week. What’s the fate of Best Friends?

Adam Cole vs. Jay Lethal – In the end, Lethal tries for his Lethal Injection but is hit with a low blow when the ref is distracted by reDRagon. This allows Cole to hit the Lower The Boom for the 1-2-3.

After the match, Cole calls out Adam Page and while in the ring Page gets attacked by Cole and reDRagon until the Jurassic Express and Christian Cage make the save.

“Legit” Leyla Hirsch vs. Red Velvet – Hirsch hits Velvet with a turnbuckle item when the ref isn’t looking and scores the pinfall.

Main Event: Jericho Appreciation Society vs. John “No. 5” Silver & “No. 10” Preston Vance – Jericho nails Reynolds in the back with a bat allowing Garcia to lock in the sharpshooter for the submission victory.

IMPACT

Josh Alexander starts the show in the ring and talks about Moose going to his house last week and  that is something there is no going back from. Moose comes out and Moose vows to take another trip to Alexander’s home after he beats him at Rebellion. Alexander attacks Moose, but they are eventually pulled apart.

Rebellion X-Division Title Match Qualifier: Willie Mack vs Laredo Kid vs Mike Bailey – Mike Bailey hits Ultima Weapon on Mack for the 1-2-3 and advances to Rebellion

Steve Maclin vs Heath w/ Rhino – Maclin counters the Wake Up Call and then uses the ropes to steal a win

After the match, Rhino delivers a Gore to Maclin

The talk show “All About Me”Tenille with Dashwood is back as Kaleb With a K who asks Kaleb where his loyalties lie; is it withThe Influence or The IInspiration. Kaleb dodges the question and runs right onto the set of Madison Rayne’s talk show, “Locker Room Talk”. Madison tries to get Kaleb to answer the question while taking a lie detector test but Kaleb escapes once again.

It’s announced that NJPW’s Tomohiro Ishii will battle JONAH at Rebellion

IMPACT World Tag Team Championship (Lumberjack match): Violent By Design (Eric Young & Joe Doering) vs The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) – With the referee distracted, Mike Bennett hits Anderson with a low blow, followed by the Climax from Matt Taven which allows Eric Young to cover him for the 1-2-3.

Eddie Edwards vs Rocky Romero – Edwards counters the Diablo Armbar into a rollup for the pinfall

After the bell, Edwards offers his hand to Romero but as they go to shake hands, Edwards attacks Romero, which then leads to ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham to come out for the save.

Street Fight: Knockouts World Championship: Tasha Steelz vs Mickie James – Savannah Evans comes out and gets involved. Chelsea Green then comes out to presumably help Mickie James, but grabs a chair and sits in the ring as Tasha hits a frog splash for the win. 

After the match Mickie attacks Green out of frustration until Green’s husband, Digital Media Champion Matt Cardona, blindsides her with Radio Silence, the Green attacks her before they leave the ring.

AEW – RAMPAGE

Lance Archer vs. Dustin Rhodes – Dustin rolls up Archer for the 1-2-3 after being busted open in the ear.

Backstage, Jay Lethal talks about that although he has a really good winning record, the 2 loses he has really bother him because no matter how well he wrestles, the men he lost to, Adam Cole and Ricky Starks both cheated to win and  now has some thinking to do as he walks away.

The House Of Black beats down Fuego Del Sol because they can, and then are confronted by The Dark Order who have a match against reDRagon

Alan “No. 5” Angels & “No. 10” Preston Vance vs. reDRagon – Fish and O’Reilly hit a double team leg sweep / roundhouse kick spot before connecting with their double-team finisher for the 1–2-3.

After the match, reDRagon weren’t finished and continued the beatdown until the Jurassic Express came to make the save. They leave their tag titles on the edge of the ring and Adam Cole runs down and steals the championships.

Nyla Rose vs. Madi Wrenkowski – Nyla wins in a squash

QT Marshall has Hook come out to receive a Certificate of Accomplishment. Hook takes the award and cracks it over the head of his fellow Factory trainee and leaves the ring. As he heads up the ring Danhausen makes his way out and puts a curse on Hook, but the curse doesn’t work. Danhausen is extremely confused.

Main Event: FTW Championship: Ricky Starks (C) vs. Shane “Swerve” Strickland –  Powerhouse Hobbs gets involved at ringside and attacks Swerve then throws him back in the ring allowing Starks to nail him with the roshambo for the 1-2-3.

After the match Keith Lee comes down to the ring and attacks Powerhouse Hobbs as Swerve attacks Starks until the refs break it up.

WWE – SMACKDOWN

We find Brock backstage, where he cuts a quick promo as he recaps last week’s forklift attack. He tells us he’s gotten Roman a replacement in his favorite color, “blood red.” He then states he was warned by WWE Officials that he can’t touch Roman unless he’s provoked, so he’s going to wait in Roman’s locker room for “some provoking’.” He then admires Roman’s dressing room, but admits it’s not as nice as his.

Shinsuke Nakamura w/ Rick Boogs vs Jimmy Uso w/ Jey Uso – Rick Boogs and Jey Uso struggle over the electric guitar. Boogs ends up sending Jey face-first into the ring post. This distracts Jimmy, allowing Shinsuke to hit his Kinshasa for the 1-2-3.

Kofi Kingston w/ King Woods vs Ridge Holland w/ Sheamus & Butch aka Pete Dunne – King Woods ends up taking Kofi’s place and scores a quick roll up pinnfall victory.

Brock is shown waiting in Roman Reigns’ locker room as Kayla Braxton interviews him and he tells her to go find Roman and tell him that Brock’s running out of things to smash. 

IC Championship Contendership Match: United States Champion Ricochet vs Angel Garza w/ Humberto Carrillo – Humberto causes a distraction by hopping up on the apron and Angel rolls up Ricochet for the win and now has a future shot at the IC Championship.

After the match, Ricochet asks Humberto to get in the ring for a match and get an ass whooping.

Ricochet vs Humberto Carrillo – As Ricochet goes up top. Garza pulls Carrillo out of the ring. Ricochet lands a dive that takes out Garza. As the referee starts to count, Ricochet tosses Carrillo back into the ring. Garza then grabs Ricochet’s foot, preventing him from getting back in the ring. Ricochet is counted out and Humberto will now also get a future shot at the championship.

Main Event: Fatal 4-Way:Sasha Banks w/ Naomi vs Rhea Ripley w/ Liv Morgan vs Shayna Baszler w/ Natalya vs Queen Zelina w/ Carmella – Zelina hits a Code Red on Sasha but wastes time messing with the crowd which allows Banks to roll her up and slap in the Bank Statement for the win.

We are now shown the Universal Champion Roman Reigns arriving with Paul Heyman. They head to the ring as Roman demands Brooklyn to acknowledge him. He then calls out Lesnar, who is shown in the back destroying Roman’s newest vehicle. Brock eventually makes his way to the ring with a steel chair and chases Roman & the Usos out of the ring.

By Jeff Knapp, Lawrence Lang and Mike Rifkin

Last week the wrestling world lost a tremendous prefromer. Scott Hall passed away at the age of 63. Scott Hall was the first ever four time WWE Intercontinental champion. In WCW Scott Hall was a former seven time tag team champion, television champion and United States champion. Scott Hall was the first WWE wrestler to jump ship to WCW and along with Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash formed the NWO, one of the greatest factions of all time. 

Scott started out in the mid-1980s wrestling in Championship Wrestling from Florida, the CWF which was a NWA territory at the time. He was trained by Dusty Rhodes, Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham. From 1984 to 1985 he traveled around Florida with CWF, the Carolinas in Mid-Atlantic and the Kansas area with Central States Wrestling.

His 1^st break came in 1985 when Scott joined the AWA where he wrestled as “Magnum” Scott Hall due to his likeness to Magnum PI and then later as “Big” Scott Hall. During his time in the AWA he traveled to Japan and wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

While in the AWA, Scott was able to form a tag team with Curt Hennig and in 1986 defeated Jimmy Garvin and Steven Regal for the AWA World Tag Team Championship. After the two men broke up, Scott would get his shot at the AWA World title Stan Hansen and Rick Martel, coming up short.

Eventually Scott left the AWA in 1989 and joined the NWA. At this time is was NWA’s World Championship Wrestling. He was one of the younger talents that the NWA were trying to bring into the company, along with Brian Pillman and Sid Vicious. 

In 1990, Hall took a break from the NWA and toured Japan and the Caribbean, where he won his 1^st major singles title by capturing the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship in March of 1991. In April, he lost the title and returned to NWA/WCW and changed his gimmick to the Diamond Studd and was paired with Diamond Dallas Page as his manager, who also gave him the toothpick gimmick. Scott, who formed tag teams with the likes Kevin Nash and Raven, who were wrestling as Vinnie Vegas and Oz and Scotty Flamingo, stayed in NWA/WCW until his departure in April 1992 when he headed to the WWF.

In May of 1992 Scott debuted in the WWF as Razor Ramon, an amazing homage to Al Pacino in the movie Scarface. This is where Scott had some of the greatest matches of his career. He had memorable matches and feuds with Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Diesel, Goldust and Vader. During his time there he will be mostly remembered for his Wrestlemania 10 ladder match against Shawn Michaels for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, which has become the gold standard for one on one ladder matches to this day. 

On May 27, 1996 Scott Hall made his WCW debut interrupting a match and telling the world “You know who I am, but you don’t know why I’m here” This debut would set up the arrival of Kevin Nash a very short time later which could change the course of wrestling history forever. Hall and Nash would form the Outsiders tag team and go on to the 1996 Bash At The Beach PPV, where the course of wrestling history would change forever. Nash and Hall kept claiming there would be a 3^rd man for their 6 man tag against Macho Man, Sting and Lex Luger. That man was Hulk Hogan. That night they formed the NWO, The New World Order and became the most powerful faction in pro wrestling. 

During his run in WCW as part of the NOW (and NOW Wolf pack) he became a 7x WCW World Tag Team Champion (6x with Nash and 1x with Paul Wight aka The Giant aka The Big Show) Their 1^st title win was in defeating Harlem Heat at Halloween Havoc in 1996.

Scott also became a 2x WCW United States Champion and a WCW Television Champion. 

After the sale of WCW to Vince McMahon, Scott was inactive for a while before making a few appearances for ECW in their final year. He teamed with Jerry Lynn and defeated Justin Credible and Rhino and then in Poughkeepsie, NY, in which I was there for this show, he defeated Credible again and then losing to Big Sal E. Graciano.

In 2002, Hall, along with Nash and Hogan returned as the NWO to the WWE. While there he had his biggest match since the late 90s by facing Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 18. In may of 2002 Hall was released.

After taking some time off, Hall then returned to wrestling as a member of the TNA roster between 2002 and January of 2005 and then returning in November 2007 and leaving for good in 2008. 

For some it’s difficult to not talk about Scott Hall and not talk about his out of the ring issues, but that’s not what I wanted to do. I want to remember his contributions to the world of pro wrestling and all the memories this 2x WWE Hall Of Famer would give us. 

Before I close this out, I’d like to give you 5 of Scott’s top matches (in no particular order)

1. Wrestlemania 10 – IC Championship Ladder Match vs Shawn Michaels
2. King Of The Ring 1993 vs Bret Hart
3. SummerSlam 1995 vs Shawn Michaels
4. Survivor Series 1992 w/ Ric Flair vs Randy Savage and Mr. Perfect
5. RAW 1993 vs Rick Martel for the IC Championship

This is something hard to write about because it’s still surreal to know that the “Bad Guy” is gone growing up. I don’t have many memories of watching Hall wrestle but hey that’s what the internet is for and I was able to grow appreciation for hall for his in ring work and what he did for the business of professional wrestling/ sports entertainment. He definitely was the original “Bad Guy” and he was definitely cool at being it.  With being Razor Ramon he should you only need a toothpick to be a bad guy and to this day if you are fan of pro wrestling fan when you see a tooth pick the first thing you think of is Razor Ramon, you grab one and use it but at the end instead of just throwing it away like a normal person you flick it like Razor did because you wanted to be cool just like him. Also who can forget “Hey Yo” , a simple way to grab the audience’s attention. Another thing if you are a wrestling fan you greet your other wrestling fans with that saying. Hall was definitely a contribution to the business and he will be missed dearly by the pro wrestling world and fans. One my favorite moments in hall comes in the form of his sell of the Stone Cold Stunner from Stone Cold Steve Austin and Wrestlemania 18 when he took the finisher and threw himself up in the air like a rocket it definitely was an over sell but when you take the stunner from Austin it’s you taking the move that makes the fisher work. So for Hall to do a bit of an over-sell made it perfect cause it fit the Wrestlemania mood and also when you’re in the NWO anything you do will look great.   And when your NWO you are NWO 4 life

RIP to the “Bad Guy” WE love you and you will always be missed.