Opinion: Match & Show Ratings for September 19 to September 25, 2021

Welcome to TPWW’s Emperor Smeat’s Match and Show Ratings for the week of September 19th to September 25th, 2021.

Match and show star ratings (out of 5):

WWE

WWE RAW (September 20)
* 6-Man Tag Team match – The New Day vs. The Bloodline (Roman Reigns & The Usos) – 3.0
* Eva Marie vs. Doudrop – 1.5 (Squash)
* Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles – 3.0
* Nia Jax vs. Shayna Baszler – 2.0 (Squash)
* Mustafa Ali & Mansoor vs. Humberto Carrillo & Angel Garza – 2.0
* WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – Nikki A.S.H. & Rhea Ripley vs. Natayla & Tamina (c) – 2.0
* Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus – 2.5
* Triple Threat match – Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Big E – 3.5
Overall – 2.5
Best – Triple Threat match.
Worst – WWE’s booking of their Women’s division in general during the show.
Show Notes – Opening video package of Big E’s WWE title win last week was sweet. Big E’s WWE title celebration segment with New Day was all right. 6-Man Tag was a quite good action filled match despite the ending shenanigans with Lashley & ref blatantly ignoring Lashley’s DQ attacks. Lashley’s destruction of New Day & Bloodline was cool though. Marie’s pre-match fat shamming promo to Doudrop stunk. The Phenomenal Forearm & RKO counter fakeout spot near the end of Orton vs. Styles was cool. Orton vs. Styles was a pretty good back-and-forth style match. Baszler’s destruction of Jax was the only interesting part about a mostly nothing match & post-match Jax high pitched screams. Carrillo’s random heel turn was odd. Ali’s spiked Tornado DDT to Carrillo was cool. Garza chucking Ali hard into the post looked brutal. Ali & Mansoor vs. Carrillo & Garza was decent at best. Nikki & Ripley pre-match promo was awkward but Ripley forgetting her lines was a bit funny. Women’s Tag title match was somewhat dull. Alexa’s Playground segment with Charlotte Flair about their feud & dolls was mostly awful. 24/7 backstage segment with Drake Maverick & Pals goofy plans to beat Reggie was very dumb but also a bit funny. Ouch at Hardy’s back after Sheamus’ knee counter to his Swanton Bomb. Hardy vs. Sheamus was solid despite the abrupt finish. Reigns stiff clotheslines to Big E to break up his Octopus Hold on Lashley was nice. Big E’s suicide dive spear to Reigns to the outside was cool. Triple Threat was a very good hard hitting action match. This week’s Extreme Rules go-home show was average overall.

NXT (September 21)
* NXT Cruiserweight Championship – Roderick Strong vs. KUSHIDA (c) – 3.0
* Kay Lee Ray vs. Amari Miller – 2.0 (Squash)
* Trey Baxter vs. Dante Chen – 1.5 (Squash)
* Joe Gacy vs. Cameron Grimes – 2.5
* Elektra Lopez vs. Anna Scheer – 2.0 (Squash)
* 2-on-1 Handicap match – Odyssey Jones vs. Cary Millman & Darren Ciapetta – 2.0 (Squash)
* Ridge Holland & Pete Dunne vs. Bron Breakker & Tommaso Ciampa – 3.0
Overall – 2.5
Best – Ridge Holland & Pete Dunne vs. Bron Breakker & Tommaso Ciampa match.
Worst – Toxic Attraction promo segment.
Show Notes – Opening Ciampa rambling promo about his NXT title win & NXT’s new era and a bunch of NXT guys responses & brawl was all right despite dragging a bit long. 1st 15 minutes was somewhat all over the place in terms of quality, especially the random women’s backstage brawl. Breakker legit sounds just like his uncle Scott Steiner. NXT Cruiser title was pretty good back-and-forth style match despite the Diamond Mine ending shenanigans. Grayson Waller promo & Cruiser title match request to Diamond Mine was decent at best. Tony D’Angela promo vignette was okay. Jensen & Briggs bar promo segment was okay. Breakker & Ciampa backstage segment about their match tonight was fine. Chase University segment mocking Odyssey Jones was lame. WWE going overboard with the bleeped swears felt way too forced & reactionary to AEW’s show last week. Gacy’s new gimmick and Elias-style pre-match promo was odd. Von Wagner promo vignette about his NXT title match last week was fine. Santos Escobar & Lopez post-match promo about B-Fab & brawl with B-Fab was decent. Zero interest in a new super hero gimmick for Baxter based on the backstage tease between him & Elayna Black. Lash Legend & Franky Monet backstage segment about Legend’s new talk show was dull. Ikemen Jiro’s goofy vignette was funny. Toxic Attraction promo about their group, NXT Women’s division, and bashing the fans was awful. Holland & Dunne vs. Breakker & Ciampa was a quite good back-and-forth action match. This week’s show was average at best overall but also mostly skippable.

Friday Night SmackDown (September 24)
* Intercontinental Championship – Apollo Crews vs. King Nakamura (c) – 3.0
* Liv Morgan vs. Zelina Vega – 2.0
* Nikki A.S.H. vs. Natayla – 2.5
* Montez Ford vs. Roman Reigns – 3.5
Overall – 3.0
Best – Montez Ford vs. Roman Reigns match.
Worst – Liv Morgan vs. Zelina Vega match.
Show Notes – Opening Becky Lynch & Bianca Belair promo about their bad blood & brawl was splendid. Crews’ Guerilla Press Slam to Nakamura chucking him out of the ring was nice. Rick Boogs’ T-Bone suplex to Azeez on the outside was impressive. IC title was a quite good back-and-forth action match. Ford backstage interview about the Usos & SD Tag title match was okay. Rollins backstage promo mocking Edge & wanting Edge to admit his career is over was all right. Morgan vs. Vega was somewhat dull but surprised Vega actually managed to win a match since her return. Happy Corbin suits store vignette was fine. Happy Talk segment about Corbin living the good life & Kevin Owens interruption with ambush attack by Riddick Moss was all right. Ford backstage interview about Reigns was fine. Nikki vs. Natalya was a solid match. Shozti & Tegan Nox post-match appearance & tank toy missile shot to Nikki & Ripley was goofy. Dominik & Rey Mysterio backstage locker room about their issues & Sami Zayn response was okay. Naomi & Sonya Deville promo segment about Naomi’s issues with Deville’s authority & demanding a match on the Blue Brand was decent at best despite dragging too long. Lynch’s angry backstage promo about her upcoming match against Belair was all right. Ford accidentally breaking the announcer table after stepping on it for a high flying move was funny. Ford vs. Reigns was a very good back-and-forth action filled match. Post-match brawl with Usos & Demon Balor was all right. This week’s Extreme Rules go-home show was enjoyable overall.

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AEW

AEW Dark Elevation (September 20)
* Thunder Rosa vs. Kaia McKenna – 1.5 (Squash)
* Gunn Club (Billy, Colten, & Austin Gunn) vs. Anthony Bennett, Ray Jaz, and Leon St. Giovanni – 2.0 (Squash)
* Dark Order (Alan “5” Angels & 10) vs. Dark Order (Evil Uno & Colt Cabana) – 2.5
* Orange Cassidy vs. Mike Verna – 1.5 (Squash)
* Private Party vs. Teddy Goodz & Jorge Santi – 2.0 (Squash)
* Hikaru Shida vs. Masha Slamovich – 2.5
* Joey Janela vs. Sonny Kiss – 3.0
* Santana & Ortiz vs. Avery Good & JT Dunn – 2.5 (Squash)
* QT Marshall vs. Dustin Rhodes – 3.0
Overall – 2.5
Best – Joey Janela vs. Sonny Kiss match.
Worst – Thunder Rosa vs. Kaia McKenna match.
Show Notes – Rosa vs. McKenna opener was a somewhat rough squash match, especially the sloppy finish. Gunn Club’s new entrance theme sounds decent. Gunn Club’s new heel personas in the ring is okay & something that likely will improve once Billy’s sons get more experience as heels. Dark Order civil war tag match was a solid back-and-forth action bout. Evil Uno rejecting Angel’s post-match friendship mending handshake was interesting. Marq Quen’s hands-behind-the-head head scissors to Goodz was nice. Private Party vs. Goodz & Santi was a decent squash match. Shida vs. Slamovich was a solid match. Kiss’ new entrance theme sounds okay. Ouch at Janela’s getting busted open after getting accidentally kicked in the head from Kiss’ moonsault to the outside. Rossi’s viscous looking spear to Kiss on the outside was sweet & same for Janela’s brainbuster to Kiss on the floor. Ouch at Janela’s back after his missed Swanton dive to Kiss on the apron. Janela vs. Kiss was a really good hard hitting action filled match. Santana & Ortiz vs. Good & Dunn was an entertaining jobber destruction squash match. Marshall vs. Rhodes was a pretty good back-and-forth action match. This week’s show was average overall.

AEW Dark (September 21)
* Wardlow vs. JDX – 2.0 (Squash)
* Big Swole vs. Allie Katch – 2.0
* Chaos Project vs. Santana & Ortiz – 3.0
* Dillon McQueen vs. Joey Janela – 2.0 (Squash)
* Tay Conti vs. Marina Tucker – 2.5 (Squash)
* Lee Johnson & Brock Anderson vs. Luke Curtis & Cameron Stewart – 2.0 (Squash)
* FTR vs. Stallion Rogers & Anthony Greene – 3.5
* The Bunny vs. Xtina Kay – 2.0 (Squash)
* Lance Archer vs. Marcus Kross – 2.0 (Squash)
* The Wingmen (Ryan Nemeth & Pretty Peter Avalon) vs. Dark Order (John Silver & Alex Reynolds) – 3.0
* Daniel Garcia vs. Alan “5” Angels – 3.5
* The Factory (Nick Comoroto, Aaron Solo, & QT Marshall) vs. Darian Bengston, Cole Carter, & Sean Maluta – 2.0 (Squash)
* JD Drake vs. Colt Cabana – 3.0
* Bear Bronson vs. Eddie Kingston – 3.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – FTR vs. Stallion Rogers & Anthony Greene match.
Worst – The almost two hour run-time for this week’s show.
Show Notes – Opening Wardlow’s “Wardlow’s World” brief promo segment was decent. Wardlow’s powerbomb massacre of JDX was sweet while their squash match was decent. GCW’s Allie Katch making her AEW debut was nice. Luther using Serpentico as a weapon to counter Santana’s dive to the outside was a bit funny. Chaos Project vs. Santana & Ortiz was a pretty good back-and-forth action bout. -1 making his return for Conti’s match was splendid. Anna Jay probably called him to help end the Dark Order’s civil war. Conti vs. Tucker was an entertaining mostly squash style match. Former WWE talents August Grey (Anthony Greene) & Curt Stallion (Stallion Rogers) showing up in AEW is interesting. Greene’s top rope corkscrew crossbody to FTR was nice. Harwood’s brainbuster to Green on the outside was cool. FTR vs. Rogers & Greene was a very good action filled competitive match. Wingmen vs. Dark Order was a pretty good back-and-forth action match. Garcia & Angels chop off exchange was nice. Angels’ sunset flip off the ramp onto Garcia & 2point0 was cool. Garcia vs. Angels was a very entertaining back-and-forth action packed match. Comoroto’s vicious chokeslam to Maluta was sweet. The Factory vs. Bengston, Carter, & Maluta was a decent squash match. Drake vs. Cabana was pretty good. Bronson vs. Kingstom was a quite good hard hitting match. Kingston’s post-match promo about Suzuki-Gun & brawl with Archer was splendid. This week’s show was very enjoyable & one of Dark’s best ever shows despite its very long length.

AEW Dynamite Grand Slam (September 22)
* Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny Omega – 5.0
* MJF vs. Brian Pillman Jr. – 3.0
* Malakai Black vs. Cody Rhodes – 3.0
* FTR vs. Sting & Darby Allin – 3.5
* AEW Women’s World Championship – Ruby Soho vs. Dr. Britt Baker (c) – 3.5
Overall – 4.5
Best – Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny Omega match.
Worst – Arn Anderson’s awkward apron slip & distraction spots during the Malakai Black vs. Cody Rhodes match.
Show Notes – AEW’s stage setup for the show looked sweet. Yikes at Danielson and Omega’s welts & bright red chests after their chop exchanges. Ouch at Danielson’s head after getting spiked by Omega’s hurricanrana. Danielson busting out the Cattle Mutilation to Omega was cool. Omega’s brutal Snap Dragon to Danielson on the ramp was awesome & same for his vicious running V-Trigger afterwards. Omega’s Avalanche Dragon Suplex to Danielson was cool. Danielson’s Poison Rana counter of Omega’s Dragon Suplex was awesome. Danielson vs. Omega opener was an instant classic in terms of greatness. CM Punk’s promo about Team Taz & Happy Punk was wonderful. MJF vs. Pillman Jr. was a good back-and-forth action match. Black’s entrance with the red lights & LED ramp setup was cool. Cody’s KO ragdoll sell of Black’s Black Mass was nice. Arn Anderson slipping off the apron for the failed distraction spot was a bit funny. Black vs. Rhodes was a good back-and-forth match & a bit surprised Black won. Miro vs. Guevara match hype video was splendid. FTR’s nWo style gear looked great. FTR’s catch & apron slam counter of Allin’s Coffin Drop was cool. Allin’s Coffin Drop to stop FTR’s attempt to break up Sting’s Scorpion Deathlock was amazing. FTR vs. Allin & Sting was a very good action filled match. Baker’s swinging neckbreaker to Soho on the outside looked brutal. Soho’s Senton to Baker was nice. Yikes at Soho’s head almost getting spiked by Baker’s Avalanche Air Raid Crash. AEW Women’s title match was very good despite the ending shenanigans. This week’s Dynamite Grand Slam show was terrific overall.

AEW Rampage Grand Slam (September 24)
* Powerhouse Hobbs vs. CM Punk – 3.0
* SuperKliq (The Young Bucks & Adam Cole) vs. Christian Cage & Jurassic Express – 3.5
* Men of the Year (“All Ego” Ethan Page & Scorpio Sky) vs. Inner Circle (Jake Hager & Chris Jericho) – 3.0
* 8-Man Tag Team match – Hardy Family Office (Private Party, The Butcher, & The Blade) vs. Santana, Ortiz, & Lucha Bros – 3.5
* Anna Jay vs. Penelope Ford – 2.0
* Lights Out match – Suzuki-Gun (Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki) vs. Eddie Kingston & Jon Moxley – 3.5
Overall – 3.5
Best – SuperKliq vs. Christian Cage & Jurassic Express match and the Lights Out match.
Worst – The crowd being very exhausted for good chunks of the show due to Dynamite’s Grand Slam show being taped right before it.
Show Notes – Hobbs’ spinebuster counter of Punk’s GTS was cool. Yikes at Hobbs’ head & getting busted open after getting spiked from Punk’s botched Frankensteiner. Hobbs vs. Punk opener was entertaining. Thunder Rosa, Jade Cargill, & Nyla Rose bad blood vignette was fine. Jungle Boy’s double arm drag to Young Bucks via ropes assist was cool. Jungle’s Frankensteiner & German Suplex combo to the Young Bucks was sweet. Ouch at Luchasaurus’ head getting spiked by Cole’s Panama Sunrise. Trios tag was a very good action packed match. AEW going to a fake commercial break during the MotY vs. Inner Circle match was weird. Men of the Year vs Inner Circle was pretty good despite dragging a bit long & abrupt ending. Post-match mass brawl with Lambert’s MMA pals was splendid. Marq Quen’s reverse Slice Bread DDT to Ortiz via Isiah Kassidy assist was cool. 8-Man Tag was a really good back-and-forth action filled match. Matt Hardy backstage interview about HFO & Orange Cassidy was all right. Sammy Guevara, Fuego Del Sol, & Miro brawl was superb, especially Miro’s destruction of Del Sol. Andrade promo video about PAC was fine. Jay vs. Ford was mostly decent despite the ending shenanigans. Suzuki & Moxley chair duel on the ramp was cool. Archer beating up the ringside attendants during the match was funny. Ouch at Moxley’s back after getting whipped by a leather strap by Suzuki-Gun. Homicide’s surprise appearance helping out Kingston & Moxley was cool. Lights Out was a very entertaining hard hitting hardcore match, especially the latter half. This week’s Grand Slam special show was very enjoyable overall.

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NJPW, Impact, & Other Wrestling

NJPW G1 Climax 2021 Night 2 (September 19)
* Kosei Fujita vs. SHO – 3.0
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – EVIL vs. YOSHI-HASHI – 3.0
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – Chase Owens vs. Jeff Cobb – 3.0
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – Tama Tonga vs. SANADA – 3.5
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – Hirooki Goto vs. Taichi – 3.5
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada – 4.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada match.
Worst – The Bullet Club style shenanigans-based ending to the EVIL vs. YOSHI-HASHI match.
Show Notes – Fujita vs. SHO was an entertaining opening match. EVIL resuming his barricade slam antics to the ring announcer’s table at ringside was funny. YOSHI-HASHI’s pump handle backbreaker to EVIL looked cool. EVIL vs. YOSHI-HASHI was a mostly good match despite the ending shenanigans & dragging a bit long. Cobb’s release belly-to-belly suplex on Owens to the floor was brutal. Cobbs stiff punch & Tour of the Islands finisher combo to Owens was sweet. Owens vs. Cobbs was a quite good back-and-forth hard hitting match. Tonga & SANADA suplex counter fest into a solo Magic Killer by SANADA was cool. Tonga’s double underhook spiked suplex to SANADA was nice. SANADA’s Skull End counter of Tonga’s Gun Stun looked bad and/or botched. Not a fan at all of SANADA’s constant habit to let go of Skull End submissions for dumbass moonsaults that miss way too often. Tonga vs. SANADA was a very good back-and-forth action match, especially the latter half. Goto’s busting out his old Shouten Kai driver to Taichi was cool. Taichi’s vicious Saito suplex to Goto was sweet. Goto vs. Taichi was a very good hard hitting action filled bout. Ouch at Tanahashi’s head & loud thump sound after Okada’s DDT to the floor. Also ouch at Tanahashi’s ribs after his hard landing to the apron from Okada’s dropkick to him on the top rope. Tanahash’s Aces High splash to Okada on the outside was cool. Tanahasni’s Sling-blade counter of Okada’s spinning Rainmaker was nice. Okada vs. Tanahashi was a great back-and-forth action packed match. G1 Climax 2021 Night 2 show was very enjoyable overall.

NJPW G1 Climax 2021 Night 3 (September 23)
* Tanga Loa vs. Yuji Nagata – 3.5
* G1 Climax 2021 A Block match – Great-O-Khan vs. Toru Yano – 3.0
* G1 Climax 2021 A Block match – Yujiro Takahashi vs. KENTA – 3.5
* G1 Climax 2021 A Block match – Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kota Ibushi – 4.0
* G1 Climax 2021 A Block match – Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shingo Takagi – 4.5
Overall – 4.0
Best – Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shingo Takagi match match.
Worst – The ref botching the timing of his ring countout during the Great-O-Khan vs. Toru Yano match.
Show Notes – Loa vs. Nagata opener was a very entertaining back-and-forth action match. Khan revealing he kept the piece of his braid that got cut off because of Yano’s guard rail tying antics months ago was interesting. Yano tying up Khan’s hair on the railing again was a bit funny. Yano using the turnbuckle pad as an assist for his Dragon Screw to Khan was cool. Great-O-Khan vs. Yano was a pretty good hard hitting match with some nice comedic moments. Kevin Kelly explaining Pieter’s seductive dance during Yujiro’s entrance as her telling the tale of Yujiro’s victory over Ibushi was funny. The ref botching his 20 count routine during the Takahashi vs. KENTA match was weird. KENTA’s Game Over counter of Yujiro’s low blow attempt was nice. Takahashi vs. KENTA was a surprisingly very good match. Yujiro is currently having one of his best G1 showings in a long time. Ouch at Ibushi’s bright red chest after Ishii’s chop fest to him. Yikes at Ibushi’s head after getting spiked by Ishii’s backplex. Ibushi showing signs of unleashing his Psycho/Murder Ibushi persona was splendid. Ishii’s vicious headbutt to Ibushi was great. Ishii’s back-to-back brutal lariats to Ibushi was cool. Ishii vs. Ibushi was an awesome hard hitting bout. Takagi’s one arm slam counter of Sabre Jr’s arm drag was nice. Takagi’s overhead suplex counter of Sabre Jr’s jumping Octopus Hold was cool. Takagi’s sliding lariat to Sabre Jr’s leg on the ropes was brutal. Sabre Jr’s La Mistica to Takagi was sweet. Sabre Jr’s Takagi was a fantastic grappler vs. brute style bout & legit surprised Sabre Jr won. G1 Climax 2021 Night 3 show was great overall.

NJPW G1 Climax 2021 Night 4 (September 24)
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – Hirooki Goto vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – 3.5
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – Chase Owens vs. Tama Tonga – 3.5
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – Jeff Cobb vs. YOSHI-HASHI – 3.5
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – SANADA vs. Taichi – 4.0
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – EVIL vs. Kazuchika Okada – 3.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – SANADA vs. Taichi match.
Worst – The way over-done stale Dick Togo and Bullet Club style shenanigans during the EVIL vs. Kazuchika Okada match.
Show Notes – Tanahashi busting out the Muta Lock on Goto was nice. Goto’s reverse GTR to Tanahasi looked brutal. Goto vs. Tanahashi opener was a very entertaining back-and-forth action match. Owens’s hip toss & neckbreaker combo to Tonga was nice & same for his Tiger Driver & STF combo afterwards. Owens’ STF did look The Rock-level bad in terms of execution though. Tonga’s Gun Stun counter of Owens’ Package Piledriver was great. Owens vs. Tonga was a surprisingly very good match. Cobbs’ smoothing looking dropkick to YOSHI-HASHI was impressive for someone of his size. Cobb’s chop & lariat combo fest to YOSHI-HASHI was sweet. YOSHI-HASHI’s Destroyer to Cobb was cool. Cobb vs. YOSHI-HASHI was a really good hard hitting action filled match. SANADA & Taichi pec-off contest to the crowd was a bit funny. SANADA’s Magic Killer/Screw counter of Taichi’s Saito suplex was cool. Taichi’s backdrop bending SANADA in half was nice. SANADA blatantly tapping & the ref not bothering to count it was weird. SANAD’s moonsault to Taichi was very sloppy. SANADA vs. Taichi was an excellent hard fought action packed match & bit surprised Taichi won. Poor NJPW ring announcer, one of these days he’ll realize to immediately run away once EVIL gets anywhere close to the guard rail he is sitting next to. Okada’s Shotgun Dropkick to Dick Togo sending him flying & Togo’s ragdoll sell of it was great. Okada stealing EVIL’s finisher was sweet. EVIL vs. Okada was pretty good despite the Bullet Club style shenanigans near the end. G1 Climax 2021 Night 4 show was very enjoyable overall.

NJPW Strong Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2021 Night 2 (September 25)
* The DKC & Kevin Knight vs. Yuya Uemura & Yuji Nagata – 3.0
* Wheeler Yuta vs. Jay White – 3.5
* Ren Narita vs. Fred Rosser – 3.5
Overall – 3.5
Best – Ren Narita vs. Fred Rosser match.
Worst – The ref’s botch looking pinfall count for the finish of the Ren Narita vs. Fred Rosser match.
Show Notes – Knight got some really nice height with his smooth looking dropkick to Uemura. LA Dojo Young Lions vs. Uemura & Nagata opener was an entertaining hard hitting bout. White’s loud sounding knife edge chop to Yuta was sweet. Ouch at Yuta getting spiked on his head from White’s Sleeper Suplex. Yuta vs. White was a very good back-and-forth action filled bout. White’s post-match promo about Tomohiro Ishii & their upcoming match and brawl with Ishii was all right. Ouch at Narita’s chest after Rosser’s rough landing from his leg drop from the apron to Narita on the floor. Rosser’s Razor’s Edge to Nartia from the corner looked brutal. Narita’s loud sounding stiff chop to Rosser resulting in a big mist of sweat flying in the air was cool. Narita vs. Rosser was a very good hard fought action packed match despite the ref botching the pinfall count finish. This week’s Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2021 themed show was very enjoyable overall.

Impact Wrestling Impact! (September 23)
* Hikuleo vs. David Finlay – 3.0
* Intergender match – Rohit Raju vs. Chelsea Green – 2.5
* Rich Swann & Willie Mack vs. Brian Myers & VSK – 3.0
* Ace Austin vs. Josh Alexander – 3.0
Overall – 3.0
Best – Ace Austin vs. Josh Alexander match and Christopher Daniels’ surprise return.
Worst – The somewhat annoying audio buzzing sound during the opening segment of the show.
Show Notes – Opening D’Amore, Alexander, Cage, & Austin promo segment about Alexander dropping X-Division title & getting Impact title shot was splendid. Swann, Mack, & Myers backstage interview about X-Division title & Call Your Shot Gauntlet was okay. Hikuleo’s vicious clothesline to Finlay was cool. Hikuleo vs. Finlay was a pretty good back-and-forth style match. El Phantasmo’s surprise appearance was nice & his stiff punch to Juice Robinson’s nuts during the post-match brawl was funny. Violent By Design promo video about Rhino not being kicked out of the group was interesting. Su Yung & pals creepy backstage segment about souls was weird. Raju vs. Green was a solid match despite the ringside ending shenanigans. Edwards & Callihan backstage promo & brawl with Moose was all right. Swann & Mack vs. Myers & VSK was an entertaining match despite the shenanigans & abrupt finish. Swinger’s Paclace segment about Swinger freaking out over his illegal casino potentially shutting down was a bit funny. Good Bros vacation promo segment about Impact Tag division was decent. Mickie James & Deonna Purrazzo promo segment about their bad blood & match setup and brawl was splendid. Gail Kim & The Influence backstage segment about Knockouts Knockdown event was fine. Ouch at Fulton’s back after Alexander crashed onto him from Austin’s roundhouse kick to the apron. Austin vs. Alexander was a quite good back-and-forth action filled match, especially the latter half. Christopher Daniels’ surprise return during the post-match brawl with Cage & Fulton was great. This week’s show was enjoyable overall.

Dark Side of the Ring – The Double Life of Chris Kanyon (September 23)
Overall – 4.0
Show Notes – The Sinister Minister’s story about how Kanyon came out about being gay to him was funny. The story about Kanyon’s Mortis character being a way for him to hide about being gay from others within WCW and lessen the stress he was dealing with over the issue was interesting. The story of Kanyon going as far as to come up with the idea of making a porno video to prove to others within WCW’s locker room that he wasn’t gay was a bit funny but also shocking in regards to Kanyon’s growing temper issues resulting in Sinister Minister pulling a gun on him to defuse the situation. The story about Kanyon’s return from injury in WWE resulting in him being booked in a brutal backstage attack segment featuring Undertaker nailing him hard with chair shots was a bit depressing and also a very disgusting act by WWE if it really was done due to them finding out that he was gay. Kanyon’s well-being spiraling downwards even more after finally publicly coming out as gay but not getting the attention he thought he would receive because he waited too long was a bit sad. John Cena & Ric Flair’s disparaging comments about Kanyon’s WWE firing & personal life struggles over being gay on a Howard Stern show was horrible. Sinister Minister’s story about his final time hanging out with Kanyon before his death was sorrowful. Dark Side of the Ring’s Chris Kanyon episode was a very depressing tale about the life and career and tragic passing of Kanyon.

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Weekly Awards:

• Best match of the week – Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny Omega (AEW Dynamite Grand Slam)
• Best match of the week runner-up – G1 Climax 2021 A Block match – Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shingo Takagi (NJPW G1 Clmiax 2021 Night 3)
• Worst match of the week – Eva Marie vs. Doudrop (WWE RAW)
• Worst match of the week runner-up – Thunder Rosa vs. Kaia McKenna (AEW Dark Elevation)
• Best show of the week – AEW Dynamite Grand Slam
• Worst show of the week – WWE NXT