Opinion: Match & Show Ratings for June 20 to June 26

Welcome to TPWW’s Emperor Smeat’s Match and Show Ratings for the week of June 20th to June 26th.

Match and show star ratings (out of 5):

WWE

WWE Hell in a Cell 2021 (June 20)
* Pre-show: Mandy Rose vs. Natayla – 3.0
* SmackDown Women’s Championship Hell in a Cell match – Bayley vs. Bianca Belair (c) – 3.5
* Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins – 3.5
* Shayna Baszler vs. Alexa Bliss – 1.0
* Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens – 3.0
* RAW Women’s Championship – Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley (c) – 2.0
* WWE Championship Hell in a Cell match – Drew McIntyre vs. Bobby Lashley (c) – 4.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – WWE Championship Hell in a Cell match.
Worst – Shayna Baszler vs. Alexa Bliss match.
Show Notes – Bayley’s sunset flip powerbomb to Bianca onto the cell was cool. Bayley telling Michael Cole to shut up after she heard about her failed kendo stick table spot last year was hilarious. Bianca’s KOD finisher on Bayley onto a ladder was awesome. Opening SmackDown Women’s title match was very entertaining. Bliss’ promo segment was cringey. Cesaro vs. Rollins was a very good back-and-forth action bout, especially the latter half, despite the anti-climatic roll-up finish. Baszler vs Bliss stunk a lot and a strong contender for worst WWE match of the year. WWE’s dumb idea to replace Bray with Bliss for the Fiend persona has easily been one of their worst creative blunders in recent years. Ouch at Zayn’s mouth getting busted open. Zayn vs. Owens was mostly good despite it dragging at times. The WWE credit card ad segment with Booker T & Cashios was a bit funny. Flair vs. Ripley was decent at best despite the lame DQ finish with the table that made no sense at all. Zero interest in wanting to see their mostly dull feud continue. McIntyre modified White Noise to Lashley onto the steps looked brutal. The ref getting accidentally whacked with a chair was a bit funny. MVP’s plan backfiring & getting locked in the Cell with Drew was funny. Yikes at the welts on McIntyre’s back. WWE title match was a great hard hitting battle despite the flat ending. Hell in a Cell 2021 was a mostly very entertaining show overall.

WWE RAW (June 21)
* Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying match – AJ Styles vs. Ricochet – 2.5
* Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying tag team match – Asuka & Naomi vs. Doudrop & Eva Marie – 1.5
* Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying match – Randy Orton vs. John Morrison – 2.5
* Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying tag team match – Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross vs. Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax – 1.5
* Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying match – Riddle vs. Drew McIntyre – 3.5
* Hell in a Cell match – Xaiver Woods vs. Bobby Lashley – 3.0
Overall – 2.0
Best – Riddle vs. Drew McIntyre match.
Worst – WWE’s abysmal booking of their women’s division stuff on the show.
Show Notes – Opening MVP Lounge toast segment with New Day was dull except for Woods’ promo to Lashley part. Guess NBC & USA Network really were upset at WWE for giving FOX a Hell in a Cell match on TV and got one in return to appease them. Styles vs. Ricochet was mostly decent despite the ringside shenanigans and was surprised that Ricochet won. RK-Bro backstage segment was a bit funny. Marie & Doudrop backstage interview segment was bland. Doudrop & Marie already teasing a breakup a week after their RAW debut is typical patented WWE Creative dumbness. RAW Women’s title “controversy” segment was horrendous. Ouch at Morrison’s back after the failed table break spot by Orton. Orton vs. Morrison was mostly decent despite the ending shenanigans. Bliss’ new entrance theme sounds okay I guess. Cross’ new superhero persona is both very interesting and goofy at the same time. Both women’s tag matches were somewhat decent at best that got dragged down a lot by some truly awful booking decisions. Mahal, Alexander, Hardy, & Sheamus backstage segment was a bit of a mess. Riddle’s scream after McIntyre’s hard chop spot was funny. Riddle vs. McIntyre was a very good action filled match. WWE was lazy with the finishes to the MitB Qualifier matches on RAW. Mansoor, Ryker, & Ali backstage segment was all right. Hell in a Cell match was a pretty good back-and-forth style bout. This week’s show was mostly boring overall outside of most of the third hour.

NXT (June 22)
* Adam Cole vs. Carmelo Hayes – 3.0
* Aliyah & Jessi Kamea vs. Zoey Stark & Io Shirai – 2.5
* The Way (Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory) vs. Oney Lorcan & Pete Dunne – 3.0
* Elektra Lopez vs. Franky Monet – 2.5
* Ever-Rise vs. Hit Row (Ashante “Thee” Adonis & Top Dolla) – 2.0 (Squash)
* KUSHIDA vs. Kyle O’Reilly – 3.5
Overall – 3.5
Best – KUSHIDA vs. Kyle O’Reilly match.
Worst – Johnny Gargano & Pete Dunne in-ring promo segment but mainly Gargano’s portion of it.
Show Notes – Opening Cole & Hayes pre-match promo was decent at best. Cole vs. Hayes was a pretty good back-and-forth stye match, especially the latter half. Franky Monet & Robert Stone Brand backstage segment was decent but Robert Stone being scared of Monet’s adorable dog was a bit funny. Stark & Shirai interview segment was okay. LA Knight “Million Dollar Megastar” vignette segment was splendid. Gargano & Dunne promo segment was dull. Cameron Grimes parking lot segment was a bit funny. Cole & Regal backstage segment was fine. The Way & Regal office segment was lame. Aliyah & Kamea vs. Stark & Shirai was a solid bout. Post-match mass brawl with The Way, Blackheart, Moon, Kai, & Gonzalez was wonderful. The Way working in a very face-like role during their match against Lorcan & Dunne was interesting. The Way vs. Lorcan & Dunne was an entertaining match. Samoa Joe’s backstage staredowns with Karrion Kross and Dunne was cool. Bronson Reed & Hit Row backstage segment was decent. Ever-Rise & Top Dolla parking lot segment was funny. Mercedes Martinez interview & brawl with Xia Li, Boa, & Jake Atlas segment was a bit flat. KUSHDIA vs. O’Reilly was a very good grapple-heavy bout despite the abrupt ending. Diamond Mine not being an MMA-based group is interesting considering the vignettes for it. Roderick Strong being one of its members is also interesting. This week’s show was mostly very entertaining overall.

Friday Night SmackDown (June 25)
* Mixed Tag Team match – Bianca Belair & Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins & Bayley – 3.0
* Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying match – Big E vs. Apollo Crews – 3.0
* Carmella vs. Liv Morgan – 2.0
* Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying match – Jimmy Uso vs. Dolph Ziggler – 2.5
Overall – 2.5
Best – Big E vs. Apollo Crews match.
Worst – Shinsuke Nakamura coronation segment and the Sonya Deville, Carmella, & Liv Morgan in-ring Women’s Money in the Bank promo segment.
Show Notes – Opening Roman Reigns & Jimmy Uso backstage segment was all right. Belair, Rollins, & Bayley pre-match promo segment about their upcoming bout & brawl with Cesaro was decent despite dragging a bit long. Mixed tag match was a pretty good back-and-forth style bout. Uso & Paul Heyman backstage segment was decent. Pat McAfee partying during Shinsuke Nakamura’s coronation segment was funny while the segment itself & Baron Corbin’s interview was a big waste of time. Rollins, Sonya Deville, & Adam Pearce office segment about Rollins wanting a Universal title match shot was interesting. Big E vs. Crews was an entertaining match despite the weak ending. Sami Zayn interview segment about getting justice over Owens at Hell in a Cell & karma rant was all right. Owens & Pearce office segment about him not wanting to wrestle against Owens next week and karma was decent. RAW women having to compete to get spots in the Women’s Money in the Bank match while SmackDown women just get named for spots is dumb. Same for Deville granting Morgan’s request to compete for a spot but having to win a pre-qualifying match while still guaranteeing Carmella’s spot was since it made their match somewhat counter-productive. Uso vs. Ziggler was decent at best. Heyman & Reigns promo segment and brawl with Edge & Uso was superb. This week’s show was mostly average at best overall.

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AEW

AEW Dark Elevation (June 21)
* FTR vs. Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson – 2.5
* Nyla Rose vs. Delmi Exo – 1.0 (Squash)
* The Acclaimed vs. Baron Black & Tamilian Vineesh – 2.0
* Varsity Blonds vs. Bums R Us (Raymond & Milo Beasley) – 2.0 (Squash)
* Kris Statlander vs. Renee Michelle – 1.5 (Squash)
* Matt Hardy vs. Jora Johl – 2.0 (Squash)
* Shawn Spears & Wardlow vs. Ryzin & Kal Herro – 2.0 (Squash)
* Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Darien Bengston – 1.5 (Squash)
* Jade Cargill vs. Robyn Renegade – 1.0 (Squash)
* Penta El Zero Miedo & Eddie Kingston vs. Vary Morales & Fuego del Sol – 2.5 (Squash)
* Cezar Bononi vs. Jungle Boy – 2.5
* Jack Evans vs. Matt Sydal – 3.0
Overall – 2.5
Best – Jack Evans vs. Matt Sydal match.
Worst – This week’s show being way too heavy in squash and near squash type matches.
Show Notes – Opening Sydal interview segment about his brother being attacked last week and Hardy Family Office was decent. FTR vs. Isaacs & Nelson was a solid competitive bout. Max Caster’s pre-match rap was all right. A tag team of hobo looking guys called Bums R Us is prety amazing. Statlander vs. Michelle was a bit sloppy especially for a quick squash match. Taz & Hobbs promo segment about Hobbs’ upcoming match against Hangman Page was fine. Hardy offering a membership spot in the HFO to Johl after their match is interesting. Ouch at Bengston’s back after his rough landing on the ring post. Mark Sterling’s pre-match promo for Cargill about their new business deal was decent. Johl backstage promo segment about him seriously considering Hardy’s offer earlier is interesting. Penta’s loud snapping chop to Moarles’ chest sounded brutal. Penta & Kingston vs. Morales & del Sol was an entertaining squash match. Bononi vs. Jungle Boy was a decent competitive match despite the flat ending. Evans vs. Sydal was a quite good back-and-forth action match. This week’s show was average overall.

AEW Dark (June 22)
* Lance Archer vs. Rex Lawless – 2.0 (Squash)
* Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Bear Bronson – 2.5
* Brian Cage vs. Chandler Hopkins – 2.5
* Diamante vs. Ashley D’Amboise – 1.5 (Squash)
* Colt Cabana vs. Kit Sackett – 1.5 (Squash)
* Chuck Taylor vs. Dan Barry – 2.5
* Abadon vs. Ashley Vox – 2.0 (Squash)
* Griff Garrison vs. Marko Stunt – 2.0
* The Bunny vs. Reka Tehaka – 2.0 (Squash)
* Serpentico vs. Stu Grayson – 2.5
Overall – 2.5
Best – The way shorter than usual runtime for this week’s show and the Brian Cage vs. Chandler Hopkins match.
Worst – Colt Cabana vs. Kit Sackett match.
Show Notes – Opening Varsity Blonds interview segment about Miro’s attack on them last week was all right. Pillman Jr. vs. Bronson was a mostly decent match for the short time it had. Ouch at Hopkins’ knee after the rough landing from Cage’s release German Suplex. Cage vs. Hopkins was a decent back-and-forth style match and was a bit surprised at how competitive it ended up being. Kris Statlander goofing around at ringside and Taz’s “Chuck Barry” joke during the Taylor vs. Barry pre-match entrance routine was a bit funny. Taylor’s spiked piledriver to Barry looked brutal. Taylor vs. Barry was a solid match. Abadon’s leghook DDT finisher looked pretty cool. Taz mocking Evil Uno’s fashion choice for shorts during Grayson’s entrance was a bit funny. Serpentico vs. Grayson was a decent back-and-forth style bout. This week’s show was average at best but also mostly skippable overall.

AEW Dynamite (June 26)
* Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Hangman Adam Page – 3.0
* Dante Martin vs. Matt Sydal – 3.0
* “All Ego” Ethan Page vs. Bear Bronson – 2.5
* The Bunny vs. Kris Statlander – 2.5
* AEW World Championship – Jungle Boy vs. Kenny Omega (c) – 4.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – AEW World Championship match.
Worst – Mark Sterling & Jade Cargill merch sales promo segment.
Show Notes – Opening Sammy Guevara interview and Shawn Spears ambush segment was okay. Yikes at the gash on the back of Page’s head. Hobbs spinebuster counter of Page’s Buckshot Lariat was cool. Hobbs vs. Page was a quite good back-and-forth style bout. Young Bucks & Brandon Cutler backstage promo segment was decent. Tully Blanchard & Konnan face-to-face promo segment and FTR’s ambush attack on Konnan was superb. Konnan’s Walmart greeters insult to Tully was hilarious. Martin vs. Sydal was an entertaining action filled match. MJF interview mocking Dean Malenko and Pinnacle & Inner Circle brawl segment was a bit all over the place in quality and ouch at Spears’ arms after Guevara’s chair shot. Miro’s religious-based promo on Pillman Jr. was great. Page vs. Bronson was mostly decent despite the ending shenanigans. Page’s Ego’s Edge to Bronson looked very impressive. Page issuing a Coffin Match challenge to Darby Allin is interesting. Britt Baker & Nyla Rose promo segment about their upcoming match was all right. Bunny vs. Statlander was a mostly solid bout. QT Marshall interview segment was okay. Pillman Jr’s response to Miro was fine. Ouch at Omega and Jungle Boy’s chests after their chop fest. Jungle Boy’s brainbuster spot to Omega was cool. Jungle Boy’s Poison Rana and Omega’s Tiger Driver spots looked brutal. AEW World title match was an amazing action packed match. This week’s show was mostly very enjoyable overall.

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NJPW, Impact, & Other Wrestling

Impact Wrestling Impact! (June 24)
* Rosemary vs. Kiera Hogan – 2.5
* Susan vs. Deonna Purrazzo – 2.0
* Rohit Raju & Shera vs. Petey Williams & Trey Miguel – 3.0
* Sam Beale vs. Jake Something – 2.5
* Impact World Tag Team Championship Match – Eddie Kingston & Satoshi Kojima vs. Violent By Design (Deaner & Joe Doering) (c) – 3.5
Overall – 3.0
Best – Impact World Tag Team Championship match.
Worst – Rachael Ellering, Jordynne Grace, Jazz, & Tenille Dashwood drawn out and boring in-ring promo segment.
Show Notes – Rosemary vs. Hogan was a solid back-and-forth style bout despite the abrupt finish. Chris Bey backstage interview segment about him not getting involved in last week’s X-Division brawl and Miguel & Williams trying to recruit him on their side was all right. Tommy Dreamer staying in his role as Anthem’s rep for Impact is interesting. Susan vs. Purrazzo was decent at best despite dragging too long. Swinger’s Palace segment with TJP, Fallah Bahh, Willie Mack, & Rich Swann was a bit funny. Don Callis & Dreamer setting up a Team Dreamer vs. Team Callis match is interesting. Raju & Shera vs. Williams & Miguel was pretty good despite the ending shenanigans. The post-match brawl with Ace Austin, Madman Fulton, & Josh Alexander was splendid while Bey doing nothing and just recording the brawl for social media was funny. Moose & Sami Callihan joining Team Dreamer is interesting. Jazz’s surprise return was the best part of an awful Ellering, Grace, Jazz, & Dashwood promo segment. Brian Myers entrance mask gift to Beale being just a disposable face mask with his initials on it was funny. Something’s Black Hole Slam finisher to Beale was cool. Impact Tag title match was a very entertaining action filled bout. Doering’s spinning Revolution Bomb is among the best looking powerbombs in wrestling. This week’s show was mostly enjoyable overall.

NJPW Strong Ignition Night 2 (June 25)
* The DKC & Kevin Knight vs. Wheeler Yuta & Fred Yehi – 3.5
* Clark Connors vs. Rocky Romero – 3.0
* NJPW Strong Openweight Championship – Karl Fredericks vs. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (c) – 3.5
Overall – 3.5
Best – NJPW Strong Openweight Championship match.
Worst – The somewhat sluggish pacing to the Clark Connors vs. Rocky Romero match.
Show Notes – LA Dojo Young Lions vs. Yuta & Yehi opener was a very good hard hitting action packed bout. Connors vs. Romero was a pretty good competitive match despite it being too slow paced for an empty arena show and flat finish. Connors post-match promo segment was all right. Ouch at Fredericks head after the hard landing from Lawlor’s DDT from the middle rope. Strong Openweight title match was a very good hard fought competitive bout and one of Fredericks’ best matches on NJPW Strong. Team Filthy’s show of respect fake out moment to Fredericks was wonderful. Satoshi Kojima challenging Lawlor for his belt is interesting. This week’s show was very enjoyable overall.

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Weekly Awards:

• Best match of the week – AEW World Championship – Jungle Boy vs. Kenny Omega (c) (AEW Dynamite)
• Worst match of the week – Shayna Baszler vs. Alexa Bliss (WWE Hell in a Cell 2021)
• Best show of the week – WWE Hell in a Cell 2021
• Worst show of the week – WWE RAW