WWE TV - 8/19/2024 - 8/25/2024 - 99 Livballoons

[Dolfan in NYC]

You and I in a little toy shop, buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got. Set them free at the break of dawn, 'til one by one they were gone...

One of the funnier things in WWE is the official voice of the online accounts saying stuff like "Why is no one helping Roman Reigns?" when he gets jumped by the AliExpress Bloodline.  Like he didn't spend literal years doing the same thing to everyone else.

Back at base bugs in the software, flash the message: "something's out there!" Floating in the summer sky, 99 red balloons go by!

But hey, that was last week.  This week, we get more of GUNTHER as champ! We (probably) get a strap match in Berlin!  Maybe even some Wyatt Si6 wackiness!

...This is what we've waited for, this is it, boys, this is war! The president is on the line as ninety-nine red balloons go by!

Of course, this week MAAAAAAY feature the retirement of the guy who was known as the B+ Player over here.  So I'm guessing a lot of focus is gonna be on All Elite, but hey, should be a fun week regardless!

Yes I did English lyrics to the German version. Beißt mich.

[The Natural]

Chuckling at the song reference as it was a favourite of mine growing up. Cheers, Dolfan.

[Hamhock]

The best version belongs to Homer Simpson.

 

Edited August 19, 2024 by Hamhock

[odessasteps]

“Everyone’s a Captain Kirk.”

one of my favorite lines ever is: “ worry worry super scurry, call the troops out in a hurry” 

[Eivion]

Sheamus/Dunne was good as expected with some nice fighting spirit moments from Sheamus throughout.

The bits of Maxxine/Ivy we got were fun before the Wyatt Sicks invasion. Kind of wish we got an actual match either before or instead of the angle as I think it would have done more for both Maxxine and Ivy.

New Day/Odyssey vs. Final Testament was solid. 

Bronson/Miz was good with Bronson regularly looking like beast, getting heel reactions, and Miz building up to some good comebacks. The post match save by Braun has me looking forward to a battle of monsters next week. Surprised they are doing this next week instead of saving it for Bash. Still should be another nice feather in Bronson's cap assuming he wins.

Damien/Dom never happened Judgement Day finally getting one over on the Terror Twins via beating their asses. Part of me is disappointed we didn't get a match, but I also think this was probably needed with Rhea and Damien having had so much success over the group the past 2-3 weeks.

Alba/Isla vs. Io/Kairi vs. Shayna/Zoey was solid with Damage CTRL in particular getting in a good showcase throughout. With the reactions they got here it definitely feels like the right move is to just go with a proper face turn for Io & Kairi.

Orton/Kaiser built into a good match. The post match brawl between orton and Gunther was nice to see though nothing special per say.

Only five real matches here but all of them were solid at worst. Sheamus/Dunne, Bronson/Miz and Orton/Kaiser were all well worth watching. Sheamus/Dunne was probably the highlight though I think Miz/Reed was my favorite. Segment wise nothing here stood out too strongly to me though I liked most of the quicker backstage scenes and promos. Solid show overall.

[username]

I feel like WWE is making their classic mistake with Alba/Isla as tag champs as you can't use a title to get an unover act over, it just lowers said title. They seem like fine enough hands but they did nothing on the main roster before being tossed into a tag title match cold & getting the win for the home country fans and like... even last night's match got a good reaction yet when they hit their finish and won it was just silence. Splitting time between Raw and SD is likely just making it worse.

[Eivion]

1 hour ago, username said:

I feel like WWE is making their classic mistake with Alba/Isla as tag champs as you can't use a title to get an unover act over, it just lowers said title. They seem like fine enough hands but they did nothing on the main roster before being tossed into a tag title match cold & getting the win for the home country fans and like... even last night's match got a good reaction yet when they hit their finish and won it was just silence. Splitting time between Raw and SD is likely just making it worse.

You aren't wrong, but at the same time this presumes their act or Alba and Isla themselves are a problem when most of their issues come from not being well featured at all the past year. The crowd for the most part doesn't really know who they are. 

[Ramo2653]

Yeah, it's not that Alba and Isla aren't capable performers, it's that Alba and Isla haven't gotten chances to actually show who they are before getting titles and even now, aside from some cackling, they're not getting featured on either show. 

On NXT, Kelani Jordan makes the case for dumbest face of the week but interfering in the Lola/Choo match costing Lola the match. At least they explained the loaded pillow.

Also Wren is great, she's way too good at playing a grating person that you have to wonder if it's like Sami and it's an extension of who they actually are. Also cool to see Sol break out some power stuff along with her flips. That finishing sequence looked a bit too coordinated after the powerbomb reversal sequence but it's NXT. 

I know Gallows and Anderson are seething about working NXT. 

Also how many weeks has Vic been wearing a suit? I always liked that it seemed that he was planning on going to a different event that whoever who was paired up with for commentary.

I saw some chatter on Twitter about Tony D chumping Oba Femi and looking at it, I don't see what the outrage was? He got a hit with a spine buster.

Loved the chaos of the ending of the main. 

[Eivion]

Duke/Riley vs. Axiom/Frazer was good as expected.

Lola/Wendy started off well but dragged the longer Choo was on offense. Choo was dominant here, and it just felt a bit off with the size difference and actual offense Wendy was bringing to the table. Didn't dislike it, but it felt like Lola should have been given more here and maybe the match could have been shorter given the finish. Was not fond of Kelani's interference as it doesn't really vibe with her character, but maybe that was also the point with there being an earlier scene where she was clearly psyching herself up to attack Wendy in the background of an interview.

The Gauntlet Eliminator was solid. Felt like everyone involved got a bit of shine however short. Still out of the women involved here its clear this should have gone to Sol or Wren. None of them were close to being on their level. Hopefully Roxanne can get something good out of Jaida, but it doesn't feel likely with the heel/heel dynamic arguably in effect.

Dug Good Brothers vs. Hank & Tank. Was short and action filled which is better for Gallows and Anderson than a drawn out match. Was pleasantly surprised to see hank & Tank actually get the win. Hopefully they will be up for a tag title shot soon. I feel like them vs. Chase U or Axiom/Frazer should turn out well.

The NQCC celebration with Oba and the D'Angelo Family's interruption was solid. Wren continues to be fun as obnoxiously hyped up, and it was good to see Oba/Tony finally set up properly. 

Ashante/Dion was fine.

Hendry vs. Wes vs. Dunne was the typical WWE 3-way which I generally find good for the most part. I thought the finish with Page's interference and Trick making the save with his attack on Dunne went off well.

Solid show building up No Mercy. The tag opener and main event were highlights match wise though I think the eliminator is worth a check for me as I tend to like seeing how rookies are growing in wrestling.

[Dolfan in NYC]

1 hour ago, Ramo2653 said:

I know Gallows and Anderson are seething about working NXT. 

Don't confuse your wishes with the workers'.   Their options currently are: 1) Go back to Japan and be the oldest tag team by a country mile, 2) Be on AEW tv for a few weeks and disappear faster than you can say Keith Lee, 3) Work the indies where they have to deal with the nonsense that comes there, or 4) Continue collecting WWE main roster checks while jobbing to young guys on NXT.  (Probably with a lot less travel requirements than the rest of the main roster too.)

Fact is, only they know their feelings about being in the PC.  Anything else, even my list above, is pure conjecture. 

[Ramo2653]

37 minutes ago, Dolfan in NYC said:

Don't confuse your wishes with the workers'.   Their options currently are: 1) Go back to Japan and be the oldest tag team by a country mile, 2) Be on AEW tv for a few weeks and disappear faster than you can say Keith Lee, 3) Work the indies where they have to deal with the nonsense that comes there, or 4) Continue collecting WWE main roster checks while jobbing to young guys on NXT.  (Probably with a lot less travel requirements than the rest of the main roster too.)

Fact is, only they know their feelings about being in the PC.  Anything else, even my list above, is pure conjecture. 

Well yeah, it's a message board. Of course I don't know what they're actually thinking. They might be loving it and helping out the tag teams down there.

[Dolfan in NYC]

 

[Cliff Hanger]

We went from no card for NM to title matches for 4 of the 6 titles (with Choo/Jordan seeming obvious and Charlie presumably getting the night off) and presumably Lee/Wentz. 

 

Hank and Tank are, again, ridiculous cartoon people who have completely won me over. 

Parker/Perez is a big test for Parker. I think she can hold up her end, but this is pretty much guaranteed to be her longest match (probably less painful than the ladder match, at least.)

Still haven't seen a frame of Raw.

[Eivion]

https://twitter.com/CiampaWWE/status/1826301333680296113

[username]

22 hours ago, Eivion said:

You aren't wrong, but at the same time this presumes their act or Alba and Isla themselves are a problem when most of their issues come from not being well featured at all the past year.

I mean, it presumes that you can't heat up a cold act this way despite WWE believing so. Like I said they seem like fine hands, if they were given anything before this perhaps they'd be fine off. Unfortunately they weren't and kinda seem stuck in a no win situation.

[Dolfan in NYC]

 

 

[Dolfan in NYC]

The plan is (as of now) to have the winner of the IC #1 contender tournament face Bron Breakker at Bad Blood next month.  

[Greggulator]

Fyre/Dawn/Davenport vs. Jade/Bianca/Naomi was so good. Fyre and Dawn have really come into their own lately. Good heel tag team and I love their mannerisms. Goth teens in the mall food court making fun of norms is a really fun archetype. Jade is a fantastic hot tag. Naomi also did Naomi things and showed proper babyface fire.

I somehow think Bianca is underrated as big of a star as she is. She really held the match together for the faces with being an awesome Ricky Morton and looking desperate to make the tag and her crazy dives and the way she connects with the crowd. Just a fantastic performer.

[Eivion]

Escobar/Knight was pretty solid. Dug the beginning that got LDF thrown out and how Escobar used the damage done to Knight to control much of the match. Dug Knight's springboard elbow setting up his finish.

Bianca/Jade/Naomi vs. Blair/Alba/Isla was good. Bianca was great as FIP and the team & heel work from the witches was pretty neat. I assume Bianca and Jade take the tag titles back at Bash, but i do hope whatever the result Alba and Isla start getting more tv time be it for character building or matches.

Street Profits vs. G.o.D. was another solid match. The Tongans kept it simple with strikes and double teams for control while the Profits regularly brought the flash and fire. Not perfect but this was easily the best Tanga has looked so far this run. The segment setting the match up prior and the post match beatdowns on the Profits and DIY were both good. I do like how Solo gets more physically involved than Roman.

Cody/KO vs. Waller/Theory wa another solid match as expected. Its interesting seeing them tease tension with setups that in the past would absolute cause dissension between Cody and KO.

Thought tonight was a good night with most of the segments being decent and all of the matches being solid at worst. The women's tag was the highlight for me with Bianca showing a side of herself we don't see often by playing FIP, good heel work form the witches, and good hot tags from Jade and Naomi. Dug the tag titles match and Santos/Knight a good deal as well. Hopefully next week is a strong one with it taking place in Berlin.

Edited August 24, 2024 by Eivion

[Iron Moose]

All In was a lot to process, so this will be very truncated - meanwhile, on LVL UP:

Dani Palmer is back! With a loss to Jazmyn Nyx featuring some square-dancing distraction from Jacy and Fallon. She was out for quite a while with hip or back surgery, but moves quite well regardless. Not sure I dig the look of her shoes; kickpads or boots or something would look more complete - I kept thinking she was at risk of ankle injury, either from her opponent or an errant landing. Dani has a locker-room promo after where she leans a bit on a new 'Daredevil' personal branding.

Stacks and Luca defeat Tyriek Igwe and Tyson Dupont - didn't have the time for this, but I think the win was via Shatter Machine.