Opinion: Match & Show Ratings for March 21 to March 27

Welcome to TPWW’s Emperor Smeat’s Match and Show Ratings for the week of March 21st to March 27th.

Match and show star ratings (out of 5):

WWE

WWE Fastlane 2021 (March 21)
* Pre-show: United States Championship – Mustafa Ali vs. Riddle (c) – 2.5
* WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – Bianca Belair & Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax & Shayna Bazler (c) – 3.0
* Intercontinental Championship – Apollo Crews vs. Big E (c) – 3.0
* Elias vs. Braun Strowman – 1.0 (Squash)
* Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – 3.0
* No Holds Barred – Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus – 3.5
* Intergender match – Randy Orton vs. Alexa Bliss – 1.0
* Special Ringside Enforcer Universal Championship match – Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns (c) – 4.5
Overall – 3.0
Best – Universal Championship match.
Worst – Elias vs. Braun Strowman match.
Show Notes – Retribution dumping Ali as their leader was interesting. Opening WWE Women’s Tag title match was pretty good despite the lame ending sequence. Intercontinental title match was going on well until the odd and/or botched finish. The Old Spice ad segment with R-Truth & Tozawa was funny. Elias vs. Strowman was a very boring squash match. Riddle’s pothead persona is still a very unfunny version of RVD’s gimmick in WWE back in the day. Rollins vs. Nakamura was pretty good despite dragging too long. McIntyre’s Bravehart inspired facepaint was cool. Ouch at the gash on Sheamus’ back. McIntyre vs. Sheamus was a very good hard hitting bout despite it also dragging a bit long. The Fiend’s new gear looks way too comical. Orton vs. Bliss was very cringey but also a somewhat entertaining train wreck of a cinematic match. Universal title match was one of the best WWE PPV matches in recent years despite the shenanigans at the end. Fastlane was a mostly enjoyable show overall despite not being WWE’s best effort for a debut PPV on Peacock.

WWE RAW (March 22)
* Bobby Lashley vs. Sheamus – 3.0
* Asuka vs. Peyton Royce – 2.5
* The Miz vs. Jeff Hardy – 2.0
* AJ Styles vs. Kofi Kingston – 3.0
* 2-on-1 Handicap match – Drew McIntyre vs. Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander – 3.0
* Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke vs. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler – 1.5
* Elias vs. Braun Strowman – 1.5 (Squash)
Overall – 2.0
Best – AJ Styles vs. Kofi Kingston match minus the finish.
Worst – Sheamus and Matt Riddle backstage segment.
Show Notes – RAW starting off with the rare instance of a match instead of a long promo was a big surprise. Lashley vs. Sheamus was pretty good despite the odd booking of Sheamus being in a face role. Asuka vs. Royce was mostly decent despite Royce being sloppy at times. Rhea Ripley’s debut involving her just being handed a RAW Women’s title match at WrestleMania was lackluster. Miz TV segment was lame but the music video preview was a bit funny. Bad Bunny being out of breath after barely attacking Miz isn’t a good sign for their Mania match. Omos, Styles, & New Day promo segment was terrible. Styles vs. Kingston was pretty good despite the ending shenanigans. Sheamus & Riddle backstage segment was stupid. The handicap match was quite good despite it dragging a bit long. Alex Bliss segemnt was odd as usual. Shane McMahon & Elias pre-match concert was a bit funny. The train sound effects added to Strowman’s ringside plowing routine was comically bad. Randy Orton, Bliss, & Fiend segment was awful. This week’s show was somewhat bad overall.

NXT (March 24)
* Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez vs. Zoey Stark & Io Shirai – 3.0
* Bronson Reed vs. LA Knight – 2.5
* Karrion Kross vs. Oney Lorcan – 3.0
* Drake Maverick vs. WALTER – 1.5 (Squash)
* NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship – Aliyah & Mercedes Martinez vs. Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart (c) – 2.5
* Jordan Devlin vs. KUSHIDA – 3.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – The show closing sitdown promo segment with William Regal, Adam Cole, & Kyle O’Reilly.
Worst – Ember Moon, Shotzi Blackheart, & The Way backstage segment and Regal & Johnny Gargano office segment.
Show Notes – Opening women’s tag match was a pretty good back-and-forth style bout. Post-match Kai, Gonzalez, & Shirai brawl was all right. Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly gym brawl segment was fine. O’Reilly & Roderick Strong backstage segment was interesting. Bit surprised Knight suffered his first loss this early. Kross vs. Lorcan was an entertaining hard hitting bout. Post-match Kross & Finn Balor promo was superb. William Regal’s announcement for the North American title at TakeOver sounded a bit TNA-like convoluted. KUSHIDA promo segment was fine. Tommaso Ciampa promo and Imperium brawl segment was decent. Pete Dunne promo segment was decent. Johnny Gargano & Regal office segment was dull. Moon, Blackheart, & The Way segment was a bit cringey. Devlin vs. KUSHIDA was pretty good despite dragging a bit too long. Shawn Michaels sliding a ladder into the ring during the Devlin & Escobar Santos staredown was cool. O’Reilly & Cole sitdown segment was great. This week’s show was very entertaining overall.

Friday Night SmackDown (March 26)
* Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – 3.0
* 6-Man Tag Team match – Big E & The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis) & Apollo Crews – 3.0
* Bianca Belair vs. Natalya – 1.5
* Dolph Ziggler vs. Rey Mysterio – 2.5
Overall – 2.5
Best – The show long storyline of Adam Pearce’s decision for the Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 37.
Worst – Sasha Banks commentary work during the Bianca Belair vs. Natayla match.
Show Notes – Opening Daniel Bryan, Adam Pearce, & Edge promo segment was superb. Bryan’s line about others getting handed dream matches and title shots for Mania without having to earn it was an interesting dig at WWE’s lazy Mania booking for the RAW side this year. Rollins vs. Nakamura was pretty good and same for the post-match Rollins & Cesaro brawl. Reigns, Paul Heyman, & Pearce segment was fine. Cesaro swinging Rollins before accepting his Mania match request was funny. Yikes at Dawkins getting spiked on his head from the clothesline & German suplex combo spot. 6-Man tag match was quite good. Edge & Pearce backstage segment was decent. KO Show segment with Sami Zayn was dull. Belair interview segment was all right. Belair vs. Natalya was nothing special while Sasha Banks’ commentary was very annoying. Edge & Reigns segment was interesting. Pearce, Reigns, Edge, & Bryan Universal title match Mania decision segment was all right but the show closing brawl was great. This week’s show was mostly average overall.

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AEW

AEW Dark Elevation (March 22)
* Tay Conti vs. Ray Lyn – 2.0
* Lee Johnson vs. Adam Priest – 2.5
* Varsity Blondes vs. Fuego del Sol & Jake St. Patrick – 2.0 (Squash)
* Max Caster vs. Ryzin – 2.5
* Leva Bates & Madi Wrenkowski vs. Big Swole & Red Velvet – 2.5
* Powerhouse Hobbs & Ricky Starks vs. Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs – 2.0 (Squash)
* Danny Limelight vs. Baron Black – 3.0
* “Hollywood Hunk” Ryan Nemeth vs. Orange Cassidy – 2.5
* “All Ego” Ethan Page vs. Alan “5” Angels – 2.5
* Ryo Mizunami vs. Leyla Hirsch – 2.5
Overall – 2.5
Best – Danny Limelight vs. Baron Black match.
Worst – The abrupt and poorly done Bates & Wrenkowski team breakup spot during the women’s tag match since it deflated the rest of the match’s energy.
Show Notes – Conti vs. Lyn opener bout was somewhat decent. Nemeth interview segment was decent. Caster’s pre-match rap was a bit funny until it lost steam at the end. Red Velvet vignette was splendid. The abrupt Bates & Wrenkowski mid-match team breakup spot was awkward. Women’s tag match was going on well until that team breakup moment happened. Post-match Swole & Velvet and Jade Cargill & Nyla Rose staredown was interesting. Ethan Page interview segment was all right. Hobbs swatting away Nelson mid-air spot was cool. Limelight vs. Black was pretty good. JD Drake helping Nemeth during the post-match Cassidy vs. Nemeth attack was interesting. Page vs. Angels was mostly good but also felt a bit lacking in energy. Page’s post-match promo was fine. Mizunami vs. Hirsch was a decent hard hitting match. This week’s show was mostly average at best but also enjoyable overall.

AEW Dark (March 23)
* Chaos Project vs. Dark Order (John Silver & Alex Reynolds) – 3.0
* SCU vs. Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs – 3.0
* Penelope Ford vs. Miranda Alize – 2.5
* The Gunn Club vs. Baron Black, Jake St. Patrick, & Adam Priest – 2.0 (Squash)
* Jack Evans vs. Dante Martin – 2.5
* FTW Championship – Brandon Cutler vs. Brian Cage (c) – 2.5
* Ashley Vox vs. Alex Gracia – 2.0
* Sonny Kiss & Joey Janela vs. Vary Morales & Seth Gargis – 2.0 (Squash)
* JD Drake vs. Fuego del Sol – 2.0 (Squash)
* Shawn Dean vs. QT Marshall – 2.5
* The Bunny vs. Jazmin Allure – 1.5 (Squash)
* Carlie Bravo, Brick Aldridge, & Dean Alexander vs. Dark Order (Colt Cabana, Stu Grayson, & Evil Uno) – 2.5
* Nick Comoroto & Aaron Solow vs. Angel Fashion & D3 – 1.5 (Squash)
* Cezar Bononi vs. John Skyler – 2.0 (Squash)
Overall – 2.5
Best – Chaos Project vs. Dark Order match.
Worst – The Bunny vs. Jazmin Allure match.
Show Notes – Chaos Project vs. Dark Order opener bout was pretty good, especially the latter half. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian interview segment was superb. SCU vs. Nelson & Isaacs was also pretty good. Ouch at Alize taking a hard knee to her face from Ford’s slingshot knee spot on the apron. Martin chucking Evans onto the ramp was both cool and brutal looking. FTW title match was mostly entertaining. Both Vox and Drake getting their first ever wins in AEW was interesting, especially Vox’s victory being the bigger of the two surprise moments. Negative One giving ringside advice to Cabana during the Dark Order vs. jobbers 6-Man tag match was delightful. This week’s show was average but enjoyable overall.

AEW Dynamite (March 24)
* Kenny Omega vs. Matt Sydal – 4.0
* Hangman Adam Page vs. Cezar Bononi – 2.5
* Trios Tag match – The Pinnacle (FTR & Shawn Spears) vs. Dante Martin & Varsity Blonds – 3.0
* Laredo Kid & Lucha Bros vs. Brandon Cutler & The Young Bucks – 3.5
* Nyla Rose vs. Tay Conti – 3.0
* TNT Championship – John Silver vs. Darby Allin (c) – 3.5
Overall – 3.5
Best – Kenny Omega vs. Matt Sydal match.
Worst – QT Marshall & Cody Rhodes segment.
Show Notes – Sydal’s Poison Rana to Omega looked brutal. Omega vs. Sydal opener bout was fantastic, especially the ending sequence. Silver & Dark Order segment was funny. Lance Archer promo segment was fine. Britt Baker’s promo was her best one so far in AEW. Christian Cage interview segment was fine and same for the Cage & Kazarian stuff. Trios match was pretty good despite the flat ending. Pinnacle post-match promo was great. Team Taz promo segment was fine. QT Marshall & Cody segment was a big dud. 6-Man tag was a very good high flying action packed bout. Omega’s post-match attack & promo with the Young Bucks, Kid, & Lucha Bros was splendid. Jade Cargill promo segment was a bit rough. Kingston & Moxley promo segment was superb. Rose vs. Conti was good and same for Bunny & Hikaru Shida post-match brawl stuff. Scorpio Sky promo was all right. Ouch at Allin’s head hitting the floor. TNT title match was a very good hard hitting bout. The show closing mass brawl was nice. This week’s show was very entertaining overall.

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NJPW, Impact, & Other Wrestling

NJPW New Japan Cup 2021 Finals (March 21)
* Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura, & Yota Tsuji vs. DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr., & Taichi – 3.5
* Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb vs. Tomoaki Honma & Satoshi Kojima – 3.0
* Yujiro Takahashi, KENTA, & EVIL vs. SHO, YOSHI-HASHI, & Toru Yano – 2.5
* BUSHI, SANADA, & Tetsuya Naito vs. Toa Henare, David Finlay, & Juice Robinson – 3.0
* Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, & Kota Ibushi vs. Chase Owens, Bad Luck Fale, & Jay White – 3.5
* New Japan Cup 2021 tournament Finals match – Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi – 5.0
Overall – 4.0
Best – New Japan Cup 2021 tournament Finals match.
Worst – Yujiro Takahashi, KENTA, & EVIL vs. SHO, YOSHI-HASHI, & Toru Yano match.
Show Notes – Young Lions vs. Suzuki-Gun 6-Man tag opener was very good. The post-match brawl between Kidd & Sabre Jr. was awesome. United Empire vs. Honma & Kojima was a pretty good despite dragging a bit long. Bullet Club vs. CHAOS 6-Man tag match was mostly decent. KENTA, Takahashi, EVIL, & Dick Togo pummeling YOSHI-HASHI & Yano after the match was interesting. LIJ vs. Henare & FinJuice was an entertaining back-and-forth style action bout. Henare’s post-match fit after suffering the loss was interesting. Okada, Tanahashi, & Ibushi vs. Bullet Club was very good, especially the ending sequence. Both Ospreay’s diving Oscutter and his 450 through the table spots to Takagi on the outside were awesome. Takagi’s killer stare to Ospreay moment was cool. Ospreay vs. Takagi was a terrific action packed bout and easily match of the tournament. Ospreay’s post-match promo and angle with Ibushi and Bea Priestley was both interesting and a bit weird. New Japan Cup 2021 Finals was a fantastic show overall, especially the main event match.

NJPW Strong (March 26)
* New Japan Cup USA 2021 Qualifying match – Clark Connors vs. TJP – 3.0
* New Japan Cup USA 2021 Qualifying match – Chris Dickinson vs. Blake Christian – 3.5
* Team Filthy (Danny Limelight & “Filthy” Tom Lawlor) vs. Karl Fredericks & David Finlay – 3.0
Overall – 3.0
Best – Chris Dickinson vs. Blake Christian match.
Worst – Clark Connors vs. TJP being way too slow in action and pacing during the latter half for an empty arena show.
Show Notes – Opening backstage segment of Team Filthy showing dissension within the group was interesting. Connors vs. TJP was an entertaining bout, especially the frantic start by Connors, despite it dragging in action in the latter half. The finish to Dickinson vs. Christian was great while the match itself was one of the best performances by both guys on NJPW’s Strong series. Team Filthy vs. Fredericks & Finlay was a quite good back-and-forth hard hitting bout. Finlay’s post-match promo was fine. This week’s show was enjoyable overall.

Impact Wrestling Impact! (March 23)
* Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jazz – 2.5
* X-Division Championship – TJP vs. Ace Austin (c) – 3.0
* Rohit Raju vs. Fallah Bahh – 2.0
* Acey Romero vs. Trey Miguel – 2.5
Karl Anderson vs. Eddie Edwards – 3.0
Overall – 3.0
Best – Swinger’s Palace ad segment.
Worst – Havok, Nevaeh, Fire N’Flava, Tenille Dashwood, & Kaleb backstage segment.
Show Notes – Purrazzo vs. Jazz opener bout was mostly decent despite the flat shenanigans ending. Good Brothers, Edwards, & Decay locker room segment was decent. Swinger’s Palace ad segment was hilarious. Swinger’s segments have been among the favorite stuff about Impact these past few months. Bahh & Raju backstage segment was fine. X-Division title match was pretty good despite the lame DQ finish. Matt Cardona interview segment was all right. Miguel, XXXL, & Tommy Dreamer segment was okay but Dreamer booking an exploding ring match and the little digs at AEW was funny. AEW paid ad segment with Don Callis & Kenny Omega was fine. The zoom in on Omega’s goofy looking shoes was funny. Callis & Omega promo segment was splendid despite dragging a bit too long. Violent By Design vignette was superb. Rich Swann interview segment was decent at best. Chris Sabin & James Storm, Scott D’Amore segment was fine. Anderson vs. Edwards was pretty good but can’t say the same for FinJuice’s post-match promo. This week’s show was entertaining overall.

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Weekly Awards:

• Best match of the week – New Japan Cup 2021 tournament Finals match – Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi (NJPW New Japan Cup 2021 Finals)
• Worst match of the week – Elias vs. Braun Strowman (WWE Fastlane 2021)
• Best show of the week – NJPW New Japan Cup 2021 Finals
• Worst show of the week – WWE RAW