Opinion: Match & Show Ratings for February 7 to February 13

Welcome to TPWW’s Emperor Smeat’s Match and Show Ratings for the week of February 7th to February 13th.

Match and show star ratings (out of 5):

WWE

WWE RAW (February 8)
* AJ Styles vs. Jeff Hardy – 3.0
* New Day vs. Retribution (T-Bar & Slapjack) – 2.0
* Lacey Evans vs. Charlotte Flair – 2.0
* Angel Garza vs. Damian Priest – 2.0
* Riddle vs. Keith Lee – 3.5
* Tables match – Nia Jax vs. Lana – 1.5
* Naomi vs. Shayna Baszler – 2.0
* Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre – 3.0
Overall – 2.0
Best – Riddle vs. Keith Lee match.
Worst – Ric Flair, Lacey Evans, & Charlotte Flair promo segment.
Show Notes – Opening Elimination Chamber WWE title match announcement was interesting. Shane McMahon quickly bolting from the show was funny. Styles vs. Hardy was pretty good, especially the latter half. Sheamus & Adam Pearce segment was fine. Ali’s guest commentary was way more goofier than WWE probably expected. Ric Flair, Lacey, & Charlotte promo segment was boring and this feud has been garbage in general. Evans vs. Flair was a somewhat sloppy bout with a lame DQ finish. Edge & The Miz promo segment was entertaining. WWE production crew managing to screw up Priest’s entrance arrow routine setup is not surprising. Bianca Belair interview segment was all right. Riddle vs. Lee was very good and same for Bobby Lashley’s post-match attack. Orton vs. McIntyre hype vignette was pretty good. Tables match stunk but Jax screaming in pain about her butt was funny. Orton vs. McIntyre was pretty good despite the lame DQ finish. This week’s episode was somewhat average at best but skippable.

NXT (February 10)
* 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals Round – MSK vs. Legado Del Fantasma – 3.5
* Xia Li vs. Kora Jade – 1.5 (Squash)
* 2020 Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals Round – Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell vs. Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart – 3.0
* Austin Theory vs. KUSHIDA – 3.0
* 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals Round – Timothy Thatcher & Tommaso Ciampa vs. Grizzled Young Veterans – 3.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – Cameron Grimes promo segment.
Worst – The dumb finish to the Women’s Dusty Tag tournament match.
Show Notes – Opening MSK vs. Legado Del Fantasma match was very entertaining. The Li vs. Jade post-match stuff with Kayden Carter & Boa was decent. Johnny Gargano & Regal promo segment was a bit funny and same for the fake injury shenanigans spot with KUSHIDA. Women’s Dusty Tag Classic tournament match was pretty good although the ending was somewhat bad with how dumb it made Hartwell look. Finn Balor vs. Pete Dunne hype vignette was superb. Austin Theory vs. KUSHIDA was pretty good despite the lame DQ finish. Toni Storm and Imperium vignette segments were wonderful. Cameron Grimes’ Gamestop stocks and newly rich man promo segment was hilarious. Gargano interview segment was decent. NXT Women’s title match hype vignette was very good. Thatcher & Ciampa vs. Grizzled Young Veterans was pretty good despite the flat ending and the Ciampa injury stuff being too forced or overbooked. This week’s TakeOver go-home show was very entertaining overall.

Friday Night SmackDown (February 12)
* Universal Championship Elimination Chamber Qualifier Tag Team match – Dominik & Rey Mysterio vs. King Corbin & Sami Zayn – 3.0
* United States Championship Open Challenge match – Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Big E (c) – 2.5
* Bayley vs. Liv Morgan – 2.5
* Street Profits vs. Chad Gable & Otis – 3.0
* #1 Contender for Universal Championship Elimination Chamber Qualifier Tag Team match – Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode vs. Cesaro & Daniel Bryan – 3.5
Overall – 3.0
Best – Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode vs. Cesaro & Daniel Bryan match.
Worst – Sasha Banks, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, & Shayna Baszler promo segment.
Show Notes – Opening Universal title Elimination Chamber match announcement segment was superb. Mysterio Family vs. Corbin & Zayn was pretty good despite not being interested at all in Corbin now being in the Chamber match. Sasha Banks & Reginald segment was decent. Big E & Apollo Crews promo segment was all right although it did get a bit weird at the end. Nakamura vs. Big E was decent despite WWE’s overuse of DQ finishes in recent times. Seth Rollins return promo was nothing special but a potential Rollins vs. Cesaro feud is interesting. Bayley vs. Morgan was mostly good despite the shenanigans ending. Street Profits vs. Gable & Otis was a nice entertaining match. Banks, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, & Shayna Baszler promo segment stunk. Ziggler & Roode vs. Cesaro & Bryan was very good. Same for the post-match brawl. This week’s episode was entertaining overall.

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AEW

AEW Dark (February 9)
* Natural Nightmares & Nick Comoroto vs. Vary Morales & Jersey Muscle Society – 2.5
* Lee Johnson & Aaron Solow vs. SCU – 3.0
* Brian Cage vs. Jake St. Patrick – 1.5 (Squash)
* Nyla Rose vs. Miranda Alize – 1.5 (Squash)
* PAC vs. VSK – 2.5
* Sonny Kiss vs. KC Navarro – 3.0
* Tay Conti vs. Alex Gracia – 2.5
* Ryan Nemeth vs. Marko Stunt – 2.0
* Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo vs. “Pretty” Peter Avalon & Cezar Bononi – 3.0
* 10 vs. Baron Black – 3.0
* Diamante vs. Red Velvet – 2.5
* Jack Evans vs. Joey Janela – 3.5
Overall – 3.0
Best – Jack Evans vs. Joey Janela match.
Worst – Ryan Nemeth’s pre-match promo.
Show Notes – Opening 6-Man tag match was mostly decent. Johnson & Solow vs. SCU was pretty good. Cage’s powerbomb destruction of St. Patrick was fantastic. The Acclaimed’s music video mocking MJF & Chris Jericho was funny. Janela briefly joining the commentary booth just to praise to Kiss’ rear end was hilarious. Kiss vs. Navarro was all right. Conti’s brutal looking hammerlock DDT to Gracia was nice. Nemeth’s pre-match promo was dull although him picking up his first ever AEW win is interesting. Dean & Bravo vs. Avalon & Bononi was pretty good. 10 vs. Black was also a pretty good bout. Evans vs. Janela was a very good back-and-forth style match. This week’s show was one of the better episodes of Dark in recent months.

AEW Dynamite (February 10)
* TNT Championship – Joey Janela vs. Darby Allin (c) – 3.5
* “Pretty” Peter Avalon & Cezar Bononi vs. Lee Johnson & Cody Rhodes – 3.0
* PAC vs. Ryan Nemeth – 2.0 (Squash)
* MJF & Chris Jericho vs. The Acclaimed – 3.0
* AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator tournament First Round – “Legit” Leyla Hirsch vs. Thunder Rosa – 3.5
* Falls Count Anywhere No DQ match – KENTA & Kenny Omega vs. Lance Archer & Jon Moxley – 4.0
Overall – 4.0
Best – Falls Count Anywhere No DQ match.
Worst – AEW’s handling of the fake crowd audio stuff throughout the show.
Show Notes – Opening TNT title match was a very good action packed bout. Moxley promo segment was superb. Sammy Guevara & MJF segment was fine although poor MJF’s phone being destroyed by Sammy. Avalon & Bononi vs. Johnson & Rhodes was pretty good and Johnson getting his first ever AEW win is interesting. Young Bucks & Good Brothers segment was decent. Hangman Adam Page, Matt Hardy, & Dark Order segment was a bit funny. Max Caster’s pre-match rap was fantastic. MJF & Jericho vs. The Acclaimed was pretty good. Guevara leaving the Inner Circle is very interesting. Hardy & Page bar segment was funny. Sting & Team Taz segment was at least something different for once. Kenny Omega golfing interview segment was a bit funny. Hirsch vs. Rosa was a fantastic start to the Women’s title tournament. Jungle Boy promo segment was wonderful. KENTA & Omega vs. Archer & Moxley was an amazing chaotic match. This week’s show was very enjoyable overall.

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NJPW & Other Wrestling

Impact Wrestling Impact! (February 9)
* 8-Man Tag Team match – Shawn Daivari, Chris Bey, Blake Christian, & Ace Austin vs. Suicide, Willie Mack, Josh Alexander, & Trey Miguel – 3.0
* Kimber Lee vs. ODB – 3.0
* Kiera Hogan vs. Nevaeh – 2.5
* Kaleb with a K vs. Black Taurus – 1.5 (Squash)
* Impact World Tag Team Championship – James Storm & Chris Sabin vs. The Good Brothers (c) – 3.0
Overall – 3.0
Best – Impact World Championship contract signing segment.
Worst – The finish to the Impact World Tag Team Championship match.
Show Notes – Opening 8-Man tag match was pretty good and Sami Callihan’s post-match promo was decent. Impact’s “Happy Birthday” video to Tommy Dreamer was nice. Lee vs. ODB was pretty good despite the ringside shenanigans. Swinger’s Palace segment was funny. Susan, Deonna Purrazzo, & Lee segment was decent. Cousin Jake & Violent By Design segment was superb. AEW’s “Forbidden Door” paid ad segment was hilarious. Good Brothers promo segment was decent. Hogan vs. Nevaeh was decent despite the flat DQ finish. AEW’s “Happy Birthday” video to Dreamer was a bit funny. Fire N’Flava & Scott D’Amore segment was okay. Black Taurus’ surprise appearance and him joining Decay was interesting. Impact Tag title match was pretty good despite the lame DQ finish. Matt Hardy, Private Party, & D’Amore segment was all right. Dreamer’s promo during the Impact title contract signing segment was great. This week’s No Surrender go-home show was enjoyable overall.

Impact Wrestling No Surrender 2021 (February 13)
* Tenille Dashwood & Triple XXXL (Acey Romero & Larry D) vs. Decay (Black Taurus, Crazzy Steve & Rosemary) – 2.5
* Matt Cardona & Eddie Edwards vs. Brian Myers & Hernandez – 3.0
* Deaner vs. Jake Something – 3.0
* #1 Contender for Impact X-Division Championship Triple Threat Revolver match – Trey Miguel vs. Blake Christian vs. Suicide vs. Chris Bey vs. Daivari vs. Josh Alexander vs. Willie Mack vs. Ace Austin – 3.5
* Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championship Texas Tornado No Disqualification match – Havok & Nevaeh vs. Fire ‘N Flava (Kiera Hogan & Tasha Steelz) (c) – 3.0
* Impact X-Division Championship – Rohit Raju vs. TJP – 3.0
* Kimber Lee, Susan, & Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jordynne Grace, Jazz, & ODB – 3.0
* Impact World Tag Team Championship Triple Threat match – James Storm & Chris Sabin vs. Private Party vs. Good Brothers (c) – 3.5
* Impact World Championship – Tommy Dreamer vs. Rich Swann (c) – 2.0
Overall – 3.0
Best – Impact World Tag Team Championship Triple Threat match.
Worst – Impact World Championship match.
Show Notes – Opening intergender tag match was decent at best. Cardona & Edwards vs. Myers & Hernandez was pretty good, especially the later half. Matt Hardy & Private Party segment was okay. Deaner vs. Something was an entertaining back-and-forth style bout. Triple Threat Revolver match was very good and was a nice twist to the typical format of a Gauntlet match. Knockouts Tag title match was pretty good. Swann interview segment was decent. X-Division title match was pretty good despite dragging a bit too long. Dreamer interview segment was wonderful. 6-Woman tag match was pretty good. Impact Tag title match was very good and Good Brothers winning via a Dusty-like finish made sense. Impact World title match was somewhat decent despite being sluggish or flat in terms of pacing. Moose’s post-match attack was fantastic. No Surrender 2021 was a mostly enjoyable show overall despite the weak main event.

NJPW The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 Night 1 (February 10)
* Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura, & Yota Tsuji vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, & Minoru Suzuki – 3.0
* BUSHI vs. Master Wato – 3.5
* El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori, Yujiro Takahashi, Jay White, & EVIL vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, Toru Yano, & Kazuchika Okada – 3.0
* Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Tomoaki Honma & Kota Ibushi – 3.0
* IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship – Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) vs. Guerillas of Destiny (Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga)(c) – 4.0
* IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – SHO vs. Hiromu Takahashi (c) – 4.5
Overall – 4.0
Best – IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match.
Worst – Gedo booking an almost 30 minute IWGP Tag title match just for a DQ finish.
Show Notes – Young Lions vs. Suzuki-Gun was an entertaining opener bout and the finish was great. BUSHI vs. Master Wato was very good and was one of Wato’s best matches in NJPW. BUSHI’s antics towards Wato after the match was funny. 10-Man Bullet Club vs. Chaos match was pretty good. EVIL & Okada post-match fight was all right. The double Kokeshi spot with Honma & Ibushi was cool. Naito & SANADA vs. Honma & Ibushi was pretty good. Tama Tonga’s maniacal laughter during Guerillas of Destiny’s entrance was funny and same for his bag of wacky gifts. IWGP Tag Title match was fantastic despite the shenanigans filled ending. Taichi getting back Iizuka’s glove from Tonga was a good closure to their storyline. IWGP Jr. title match was amazing. Night 1 of New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 was a very entertaining show overall.

NJPW The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 Night 2 (February 11)
* Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura, & Yota Tsuji vs. DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr., & Taichi – 3.0
* Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, & Minoru Suzuki vs. Master Wato, SHO, & Tomoaki Honma – 3.0
* El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori, & Yujiro Takahashi vs. BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, & Tetsuya Naito – 3.0
* Dick Togo & EVIL vs. Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada – 0.5
* EVIL vs. Kazuchika Okada – 2.0
* NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship – Guerillas of Destiny (Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga) & Jay White vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto, & Tomohiro Ishii (c) – 3.5
* IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Double Championship – SANADA vs. Kota Ibushi (c) – 4.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Double Championship match.
Worst – The WWE style booking of the EVIL vs. Kazuchika Okada stuff on the show.
Show Notes – Opening Young Lions vs. Suzuki-Gun match was pretty good, especially the finish. Suzuki-Gun vs. Master Wato, SHO, & Honma was pretty good despite Wato botching the finish to the match. BUSHI’s blinking lights entrance mask looked cool. The 6-Man Bullet Club vs. LIJ tag match was all right. The ring entrance announcement routine for Yano might have been his longest ever and even Kevin Kelly mocked its absurd length. Togo & EVIL vs. Yano & Okada was a big waste of time. EVIL vs. Okada was decent at best despite the lame DQ finish. NEVER 6-Man tag match was very good. Zack Sabre Jr. on guest commentary ridiculing SANADA’s choice of fashion for his entrance attires was hilarious. IWGP Double title match was great. Night 2 of New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 was very enjoyable overall.

NJPW Strong (February 12)
* JR Kratos vs. Jordan Clearwater – 2.5
* Clark Connors vs. Bateman – 3.0
* Team Filthy (Danny Limelight & Chris Dickinson) vs. Ren Narita & TJP – 3.0
Overall – 3.0
Best – Clark Connors vs. Bateman match.
Worst – The first half of the main event tag match being a bit too slow paced or low enegry for an empty arena type show.
Show Notes – Opening Kratos vs. Clearwater match was decent. KENTA interview segment was okay. Connors vs. Bateman was a fine hard hitting bout, especially the latter half. Bateman’s post-match backstage promo was all right. Team Filthy vs. Narita & TJP was a pretty good grapple heavy bout despite dragging a bit too long. The post-match brawl was wonderful though. This week’s show was entertaining overall.

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Weekly Awards:

• Best match of the week – IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – SHO vs. Hiromu Takahashi (c) (NJPW The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 Night 1)
• Worst match of the week – Dick Togo & EVIL vs. Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada (NJPW The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 Night 2)
• Best show of the week – AEW Dynamite
• Worst show of the week – WWE RAW