Opinion: Match & Show Ratings for January 31 to February 6

Feb 7, 2021

Welcome to TPWW’s Emperor Smeat’s Match and Show Ratings for the week of January 31st to February 6th..

Match and show star ratings (out of 5):

WWE

WWE Royal Rumble 2021 (January 31)
* Pre-show: WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka & Charlotte Flair (c) – 1.5
* WWE Championship – Goldberg vs. Drew McIntyre (c) – 2.0
* SmackDown Women’s Championship – Carmella vs. Sasha Banks (c) – 3.0
* 30-Women Royal Rumble match – 3.5
* Universal Championship Last Man Standing match – Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns (c) – 3.5
* 30-Men Royal Rumble match – 4.0
Overall – 4.0
Best – Ending to the Women’s Royal Rumble match.
Worst – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match.
Show Notes – Women’s Tag title match was somewhat dull and made worse by the terrible Flair Family drama shenanigans. WWE title match was decent at best. SmackDown Women’s title match was pretty good. Completely forgot how terrible Jillian Hall’s theme was back in the day. Victoria being a surprise entrance was cool. Jax getting the final surprise spot was just as anti-climatic as Natalya getting the #30 spot before the show. The Final Two part of the Women’s Rumble was great while the match itself was very good and legit surprised Bianca Belair won. Universal title match was very good despite the botched finish being a huge buzz kill. WWE somehow screwing up who comes out #1 & #2 in the Men’s Rumble was hilarious. Carlito & Christian being surprise Rumble entrants were cool. Braun Strowman being #30 was a bit anti-climatic since there was no real surprise to it. Men’s Rumble was amazing and surprised Edge won. This year’s Royal Rumble was one of the better Royal Rumble shows in years.

WWE RAW (February 1)
* United States Championship – Riddle vs. Bobby Lashley (c) – 1.5
* Xavier Woods vs. Mustafa Ali – 2.5
* The Miz vs. Damian Priest – 2.0
* RAW Tag Team Championship – Lucha House Party vs. Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) – 3.0
* #1 Contender for WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Triple Threat match – Charlotte Flair & Asuka vs. Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke vs. Lana & Naomi – 2.5
* Jaxson Ryker & Elias vs. Jeff Hardy & Carlito – 2.5
* Alexa Bliss vs. Nikki Cross – 1.5
* Randy Orton vs. Edge – 3.0
Overall – 2.0
Best – RAW Tag Team Championship match.
Worst – Alexa Bliss vs. Nikki Cross match.
Show Notes – Opening Drew McIntyre, Edge, & Sheamus promo segment was all right. Riddle vs. Lashley was mostly a waste of time. Orton promo segment was decent although his face being completely healed that quickly from “serious burns” was dumb. Miz TV segment with Bad Bunny & Priest was a bit boring. Priest needing a distraction by Bad Bunny to beat Miz doesn’t make his RAW debut look that impressive. RAW Tag title match was pretty good despite the flat ending. Asuka & Flair interview segment was okay. Women’s Tag match was somewhat good but dragged down by the lame Flair Family shenanigans and ending. McIntyre interview segment was fine. Edge promo segemnt was wonderful. Cross’ new theme might be an even worse fit than Carmella’s as an entrance theme. Bliss vs. Cross was just as dumb as Bliss’ recent matches have been. Orton vs. Edge was pretty good despite the lame Bliss “Fiend” style shenanigans. This week’s episode was somewhat average at best overall but also mostly skippable.

NXT (February 3)
* 2020 Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals Round – Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez vs. Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter – 3.0
* Leon Ruff vs. Austin Theory – 2.0
* 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Quarterfinals Round – Legado del Fantasma vs. Lucha House Party – 3.0
* Jessi Kamea vs. Toni Storm – 1.0
* NXT Cruiserweight Championship – Curt Stallion vs. Sants Escobar (c) – 2.5
* 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Quarterfinals Round – Undisputed Era (Roderick Strong & Adam Cole) vs. Timothy Thatcher & Tommaso Ciampa – 3.5
Overall – 3.5
Best – Undisputed Era vs. Timothy Thatcher & Tommaso Ciampa match.
Worst – Jessi Kamea vs. Toni Storm match.
Show Notes – Opening Women’s Dusty Tag tournament match was mostly good. Toni Storm interview segment was fine. Ruff vs. Theory was decent at best despite the lame shenanigans and flat finish. Legado del Fantasma vignette was all right. The origins vignette for Xia Li & Boa’s mysterious boss was great and one of the best ever vignettes in NXT history. Legado del Fantasma vs. Lucha House Party was pretty good. Pete Dunne, Finn Balor, & Edge promo segment was fantastic. The KUSHIDA & Gargano brawl was the only good part of a mostly dull Johnny Gargano interview segment. Io Shirai chilling on the turnbuckle during the Storm & Mercedes Martinez brawl was cool. Stallion vs. Escobar was somewhat decent but the stuff with Scarlett Bordeaux & Karrion Kross both during and post-match stunk. Kross and Edge backstage segment was okay. Undisputed Era vs. Thatcher & Ciampa was very good. This week’s episode was mostly very entertaining overall.

Friday Night SmackDown (February 5)
* Dominik Mysterio vs. King Corbin – 2.0
* Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro – 3.5
* Bayley vs. Ruby Riott – 2.5
* Otis & Chad Gable vs. Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode – 2.5
* Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat match – Apollo Crews vs. Sami Zayn vs. Big E (c) – 3.0
Overall – 3.0
Best – Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro match.
Worst – Hulk Hogan’s segment.
Show Notes – Opening Roman Reigns promo segment was superb. Mysterio vs. Corbin was decent at best although Dominik needing Rey’s help just to beat Corbin makes his win way less impressive. Big E interview segment was fine. Bryan vs. Cesaro was very good. Bianca Belair’s Royal Rumble win vignette was wonderful while her interview segment was decent. Seth Rollins vignette was decent. Billie Kay’s commentary and antics were the best part of a mostly average Bayley vs. Riott match. SmackDown Women’s title promo segment was decent at best. Street Profits guest commentary work was mostly annoying. Hulk Hogan’s promo segment was very anti-climatic and a big waste of time. Intercontinental title match was pretty good. Edge’s WrestleMania title choice segment with Reigns was all right despite the anti-climatic ending with Kevin Owens. This week’s episode was enjoyable overall.

AEW

AEW Dark (February 2)
* Terrence & Terrell Hughes & M’Badu vs. Nick Comoroto & Natural Nightmares – 3.0
* KC Navarro vs. Rey Fenix – 3.0
* Tesha Price vs. Tay Conti – 2.5
* Dani Jordyn vs. Thunder Rosa – 2.0
* Fuego Del Sol & Vary Morales vs. Santana & Ortiz – 2.0 (Squash)
* Katalina Perez vs. Leyla Hirsch – 1.5 (Squash)
* Ryzin & Danny Limelight vs. The Acclaimed – 2.5
* 8-Man Tag Team match – Shawn Dean, Baron Black, Aaron Solow, & Mike Verna vs. Bear Country, Sonny Kiss, & Joey Janela – 2.5
* Vertvixen & Jazmin Allure vs. Ivelisse & Diamante – 2.5
* John Skyler & Ray Jaz vs. Gunn Club (Colten & Billy Gunn) – 2.5
* Alex Gracia vs. Red Velvet – 2.0
* Jake St. Patrick vs. 10 – 2.0
* Chaos Project vs. SCU – 3.0
Overall – 2.5
Best – Negative One’s banter with Excalibur and Taz during the St. Patrick vs. 10 match.
Worst – The almost two hour run-time for the show.
Show Notes – Opening trios match was pretty good. Navarro vs. Fenix was a solid action packed bout. Waiting Room segment was fine although Tony Schiavone crashing the blossoming romance between Ricky Starks and Britt Baker was funny. The Acclaimed’s rap music video was decent. Max Caster’s pre-match rap was a swing & miss in terms of quality. 8-Man tag was decent but also entertaining. Austin Gunn’s guest commentary work was okay. Skyler & Jaz vs. Gunn Club was decent despite dragging a bit long. Excalibur and Taz having a blast with Negative One on guest commentary was wonderful. Chaos Project vs. SCU was pretty good. This week’s episode was average but mostly enjoyable overall.

AEW Dynamite Beach Break (February 3)
* #1 Contender for AEW Tag Team Championship Battle Royal – 3.5
* Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa – 3.5
* Hangman Adam Page & Matt Hardy vs. Chaos Project – 3.0
* Lumberjack match – Eddie Kingston vs. Lance Archer – 3.0
* The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) & Kenny Omega vs. Death Triangle (PAC & Rey Fenix) & Jon Moxley – 4.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – 6-Man tag match and KENTA’s surprise appearance.
Worst – Sting, Darby Allin, & Team Taz segment and feud in general that’s been mostly treading water these past few weeks.
Show Notes – Opening tag team battle royal was very entertaining despite not being a fan of the winner’s decision. Anthony Bowens channeled his inner Miz with that lack of catching Stu Grayson on the outside. Jade Cargill vignette was cool. Darby Allin, Sting, & Team Taz segment was okay at best but AEW’s handling of Sting has gotten a bit stale. Baker vs. Rosa was very good despite the botched finish. Page & Hardy vs. Chaos Project was pretty good despite dragging a bit. The field for the upcoming Women’s tournament looks great. Miro’s antics during the Sabian & Ford wedding segment was great while the segment itself was mostly funny. Kingston vs. Archer was pretty good. Bear Country doing spots during the Lumberjack match was interesting. FTR promo segment was okay. Joey Janela promo was decent. 6-Man tag match was amazing and Fenix might be the craziest when it comes to dives to the outside. KENTA’s surprise appearance was great. This week’s episode was very entertaining overall.

NJPW & Other Wrestling

WWE Icons: Yokozuna (January 31)
Overall – 4.0
Show Notes – It was a fantastically produced documentary and a great series premiere episode for WWE’s new Icons series. It was a wonderful look back on the life and wrestling career of Yokuzuna from his rise to big stardom in WWF to his struggles with weight problems leading to his tragic death in 2000.

Impact Wrestling Impact! (February 2)
* Tasha Steelz vs. Havok – 2.5
* Madman Fulton vs. Josh Alexander – 2.5
* Crazzy Steve vs. Larry D – 2.0
* Susan vs. Jordynne Grace – 2.0
* Rohit Raju vs. TJP – 3.0
* Moose & Chris Bey vs. Tommy Dreamer & Rich Swann – 3.0
Overall – 2.5
Best – Moose & Chris Bey vs. Tommy Dreamer & Rich Swann match.
Worst – Crazzy Steve vs. Larry D match.
Show Notes – Opening Steelz vs. Havok bout was decent at best. Scott D’Amore & Sami Callihan backstage segment was decent although Ken Shamrock being “indefinitely suspended” is interesting. Good Brothers, Chris Sabin, & James Storm segment was fine. Hernandez joining Brian Myers was the most interesting part of the Myers promo & Eddie Edwards brawl segment. Johnny Swinger backstage casino segment was funny. Trey Miguel & Callihan segment was pretty good. XXXL & Tenille Dashwood interview segment was decent. ODB’s surprise return was cool. Matt Hardy & Private Party segment was fine. AEW paid ad segment was fantastic, especially Tony Schiavone’s goofy looking shark hat and glasses. Raju vs. TJP was pretty good. Violent by Design vignette was a bit creepy. Moose & Bey vs. Dreamer & Swann was pretty good despite the weak finish. This week’s episode was mostly average but enjoyable overall.

NJPW Strong (February 5)
* The DKC vs. Kevin Knight – 3.0
* 8-Man Tag Team match – The Riegel Twins (Logan & Sterling Riegel), Barrett Brown, & Brody King vs. Jordan Clearwater, Adrian Quest, Misterioso, & Bateman – 3.5
* TJP vs. Rey Horus – 3.0
Overall – 3.0
Best -8-Man Tag Team match.
Worst – TJP vs. Rey Horus match being a somewhat slow paced match that dragged at times.
Show Notes – DKC vs. Knight opener was an entertaining back-and-forth style bout. Jon Moxley interview segment was fine. 8-Man tag match was very good. TJP vs. Horus was all right despite dragging a bit too long. This week’s episode was enjoyable overall.