Opinion: Match & Show Ratings for October 10 to October 16, 2021

Welcome to TPWW’s Emperor Smeat’s Match and Show Ratings for the week of October 10th to October 16th, 2021.

Match and show star ratings (out of 5):

WWE

WWE RAW (October 11)
* King of the Ring 2021 tournament First Round match – Xavier Woods vs. Ricochet – 3.0
* Mustafa Ali & Mansoor vs. Hurt Business (Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin) – 2.0
* Queen’s Crown tournament First Round match – Shayna Baszler vs. Dana Brooke – 1.5 (Squash)
* Riddle vs. Omos – 1.0 (Squash)
* Jeff Hardy vs. Austin Theory – 1.5
* King of the Ring 2021 tournament First Round match – Jinder Mahal vs. Kofi Kingston – 2.5
* Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch – 2.0
* Queen’s Crown tournament First Round match – Doudrop vs. Natayla – 2.0
* Drew McIntyre & Big E vs. The Usos – 3.0
Overall – 2.0
Best – Xavier Woods vs. Ricochet match and the Big E & Drew McIntyre Mega Powers inspired backstage segment.
Worst – Riddle vs. Omos match and Women’s Tag Team match.
Show Notes – McIntyre & Big opening promo segment about their WWE title feud & Usos response was all right. Woods’ suplex into a gutbuster to Ricochet was nice. Ricochet’s Swanton dive over the turnbuckle to Woods on the outside was cool. Woods vs. Ricochet was a pretty good back-and-forth action match. Ali & Mansoor potentially splitting up is interesting. Flair backstage promo about Belair, Lynch, & Banks was bland. Orton’s RKO outta nowhere to Styles was the only good part about a forgettable Riddle vs. Omos match. McIntyre & Big E backstage segment about the Usos, their alliance, & “Mega Powers” handshake was a bit funny. Hardy vs. Theory was looking to be a decent match until the 24/7 title shenanigans happened. Belair backstage promo about Flair, Banks, & Lynch was all right. Mahal vs. Kingston was a solid match. Some really dumb booking by WWE to keep teasing a potential Woods vs. Kingston KotR match & then drop the ball with it in the end. Lynch backstage promo about Flair, Banks, & Belair was fine. The non-start of the Women’s tag match was both a bit goofy & a waste of time. Women’s tag match was somewhat decent at best despite the lame double DQ ending & mess of a match booking. Doudrop vs. Natayla was mostly decent but WWE’s booking of their Queen’s tournament has been downright awful so far in terms of action & time given. Ali’s angry backstage promo to Mansoor & attack was splendid. McIntyre & Big E vs. Usos was a good back-and-forth action match despite the lame countout ending. This week’s show was average at best overall but also felt like a chore to get through.

NXT (October 12)
* Joe Gacy vs. Tommaso Ciampa – 3.0
* Xyon Quinn vs. Malik Blade – 2.0 (Squash)
* Ivy Nile vs. Valentina Feroz – 2.0 (Squash)
* Ikemen Jiro vs. Julius Creed – 2.5
* Kyle O’Reilly & Von Wagner vs. Ridge Holland & Pete Dunne – 3.0
* Duke Hudson vs. Grayson Waller – 2.5
* Persia Pirotta & Indi Hartwell vs. Amari Miller & Sarray – 2.0 (Squash)
* NXT North American Championship – Santos Escobar vs. Isiah “Swerve” Scott (c) – 3.5
* NXT North American Championship – Carmello Hayes vs. Isiah “Swerve” Scott (c) – 2.0 (Squash)
Overall – 3.0
Best – Santos Escobar vs. Isiah “Swerve” Scott match.
Worst – Toxic Attraction promo segment and Lashing Out talk show segment.
Show Notes – Opening Hit Row & Legado Del Fantasma parking lot brawl segment was okay. Gacy pre-match promo about Ciampa & “snowflakes” was lame. Not a fan of Gunnar Harland going from looking like young Lesnar to generic bald bad guy. Gacy vs. Ciampa was a quite good back-and-forth action filled match. Toxic Attraction promo segment about NXT Women Tag titles & Gonzalez was boring. Ciampa, Bron Breakker, & Grizzled Young Vets backstage segment was fine. Nile’s squat style Torture Rack to Feroz was cool while their squash match was decent despite being a bit rough at times. Gonzalez’s promo vignette about her NXT Women’s title reign was okay. Lashing Out talk show segment was nothing special. O’Reilly & Wagner vs. Holland & Dunne was a quite good back-and-forth action match, especially the latter half. Chase University wrestling lesson segment was a bit funny but the bleeped swears felt too forced. Tony D’Angelo promo segment about his debut match & Lash Legend talk show was splendid. Imperium’s backstage promo trashing MSK was splendid. Pirotta, Hartwell, Shirai, Stark, & Toxic Attraction promo segment about NXT Women’s Tag titles & brawl was decent. Solo Sikoa debut vignette was nice. Escobar’s dive to Scott on the outside sending him flying over the announcer’s table was cool. Escobar somehow busted out one of the worst ever looking Frog Splashes to Scott. Scott’s DVD to Escobar on the apron was brutal. NXT N.A. title was a very good action packed match. NXT N.A. title match part deux was decent. This week’s show was mostly enjoyable overall.

Friday Night SmackDown “Supersized SmackDown” (October 15)
* King of the Ring 2021 tournament Semi-Finals match – Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn – 3.0
* 2-on-1 Handicap match – Naomi vs. Sonya Deville & Shayna Baszler – 2.5
* Queen’s Crown tournament Semi-Finals match – Carmella vs. Zelina Vega – 1.5
* SmackDown Tag Team Championship Street Fight – Street Profits vs. The Usos (c) – 3.5
* Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks – 3.5
Overall – 3.5
Best – Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks match and the Universal Championship match contract signing segment.
Worst – Zelina Vega vs. Carmella match and the lame Happy Talk in-ring segment.
Show Notes – Opening Edge sitdown promo about his bad blood with Seth Rollins was superb. Zayn’s Exploder Suplex to Balor in the corner was nice. Balor vs. Zayn was a pretty good back-and-forth action match. Heyman video package about his loyalty status between Lesnar & Reigns was wonderful. Deville & Baszler’s new partnership is interesting. Naomi vs. Deville & Baszler was a solid quick match. Hit Row vignette was all right. Banks backstage promo about SD Women’s title was decent at best. Rollins response promo about his issues with Edge & Hell in a Cell was all right. Carmella vs. Vega was mostly dull. WWE’s booking of their Queen’s Crown tournament has stunk so far. Rick Boogs & Shinsuke Nakamura rocking out interruption was the only good part about a very lame Happy Talk segment. Monte Ford got some really nice air with his flying crossbody to the Usos. Ford managing to switch direction mid-air with his Frog Splash to Jimmy Uso was cool. Usos double Splash finisher to Dawkins was nice. SD Tag title was a very good back-and-forth action filled match. Ouch at Banks’ knees after nailing the post from Lynch’s escape counter. Ouch at Lynch’s head from her rough landing from Banks’ top rope Meteora. Lynch’s leg drop counter of Banks’ powerbomb was nice. Banks’ Bank Statement counter of Lynch’s leap off the stairs on the outside was cool. Lynch vs. Banks was a very entertaining back-and-forth action packed match despite the ending shenanigans by Belair. Universal title match contract signing segment with Lesnar & Reigns was superb. This week’s Crown Jewel 2021 go-home show was mostly very enjoyable overall.

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AEW

AEW Dark Elevation (October 11)
* Penelope Ford vs. Notorious Mimi – 2.0 (Squash)
* Santana & Ortiz vs. Adrien Soriano & Gabriel Hodder – 2.0 (Squash)
* FTR vs. Lee Moriarty & LSG – 3.0
* Tay Conti vs. Dani Mo – 2.0 (Squash)
* Joey Janela vs. Crowbar – 2.5
* Emi Sakura vs. Ruby Soho – 3.0
* Eight-Man Tag Team match – Hardy Family Office (Private Party, The Butcher, & The Blade) vs. Brock Anderson, Lee Johnson, & Best Friends (Wheeler Yuta & Chuck Taylor) – 3.0
Overall – 3.0
Best – Emi Sakura vs. Ruby Soho match and the 8-Man Tag Team match.
Worst – The awkward ref turning around timing botch after Crowbar’s chair-assisted move to Janela.
Show Notes – Ford vs. Mimi opener was a decent squash style match. FTR’s new Midnight Express inspired entrance theme sounds wonderful. Wheeler’s vicious European uppercut to LSG was nice. LSG’s single arm hooked Stunner to Wheeler was cool. FTR vs. Moriarty & LSG was a quite good back-and-forth methodical action style match. Janela’s pre-match promo trashing Philly was superb. Former WCW & ECW guys Crowbar & Blue Meanie showing up in AEW is cool. Jannela’s running springboard forearm to Crowbar on the outside via chair assist was sweet. The ref botching the timing of turning around & blatantly seeing Crowbar with a chair after he attacked Janela was funny. Janela vs. Crowbar was a solid match. Rossi’s Phoenix Splash to Sonny Kiss during the post-match brawl was impressive. Soho’s puzzled reaction to Lulu Penicl’s comedic strikes to her back on the apron was a bit funny. Sakura’s Saito Suplex to Soho bending her in half was sweet. Sakura vs. Soho was a good back-and-forth action match. Crowbar & Meanie’s backstage promo about their AEW appearance was cheerful. Yuta’s bridging Dragon Suplex to Quen was nice. Blade’s suplex to Yuta onto the corner looked brutal. Johnson & Taylor’s sunset dives to HFO was cool. Butcher’s vicious clothesline finisher to Johnson was great. 8-Man Tag was an entertaining action filled match. This week’s show was enjoyable overall.

AEW Dark (October 12)
* Capt. Shawn Dean vs. Andrew Lockhart – 2.0 (Squash)
* Kilynn King vs. Ashley D’Amboise – 2.5
* Wardlow vs. Darian Bengston – 2.0 (Squash)
* Evil Uno vs. Anthony Greene – 3.0
Overall – 2.5
Best – Evil Uno vs. Anthony Greene match.
Worst – N/A
Show Notes – Dean vs. Lockhart opener was a decent mostly squash match. King vs. D’Amboise was a solid back-and-forth style quick match. Wardlow vs. Bengston was a decent squash style match. Uno vicious looking neckbreaker to Greene onto his knee was cool. Greene’s half-and-half underhook & overhook crucifix bomb to Uno was nice. Uno vs. Greene was a quite good back-and-forth action match. This week’s extra short length show was average but enjoyable overall.

AEW Rampage (October 15)
* Buy-In pre-show: Tay Conti vs. Santana Garrett – 2.5
* Buy-In pre-show: Lee Moriarty vs Bobby Fish – 3.0
* Minoru Suzuki vs. Bryan Danielson – 5.0
* CM Punk vs. Matt Sydal – 4.0
* Ruby Soho vs. The Bunny – 3.0
* Trios match – Inner Circle (Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, & Chris Jericho) vs. Junior Dos Santos & Men of the Year (Scorpio Sky & Ethan Page) – 3.0
Overall – 4.0
Best – Minoru Suzuki vs. Bryan Danielson match.
Worst – The audio quality issues during Minoru Suzuki’s entrance.
Show Notes – Conti vs. Garrett was a solid opening match. Fish’s Exploder Suplex to Moriarty onto the ropes looked brutal. Moriarty vs. Fish was a pretty good back-and-forth action match. Danielson & Suzuki’s stiff strikes & kicks exchange was sweet. Suzuki’s hammerlock submission to Danielson looked brutal. Danielson’s head stomps & Cattle Mutilation to Suzuki was cool. Danielson & Suzuki’s stiff forearms & slaps fest exchange was sweet. The slugfest into counters fest into Danielson’s Busaiku Knee finisher sequence was awesome. Suzuki vs. Danielson was a magnificent grueling action packed war & an instant classic. Sydal’s leg lock & neck crank submission combo to Punk was nice. Ouch at Sydal’s back after Punk’s bodyslam onto the apron. Punk’s Rolling Senton to Sydal was nice. Sydal’s swing kick & Lightning Strike combo to Punk was cool. Punk’s GTS finisher counter of Sydal’s crucifix pin attempt was sweet. Punk vs. Sydal was a great hard fought action packed match. Dark Order’s backstage segment about Super Kliq was decent. Soho vs. Bunny was a pretty good back-and-forth style bout. Lambert & MotY and Inner Circle pre-match split-screen interview was all right. Guevara’s springboard Cutter to Sky was cool, same for his Spanish Fly to Page & running Shooting Sky Press to Sky afterwards. Hager’s Uranage to Dos Santos through a table was nice. Trios match was a quite good back-and-forth action filled bout despite the ending shenanigans. Post-match brawl with Top Team & Santana & Ortiz was splendid. This week’s show was very entertaining overall.

AEW Dynamite Saturday Night Edition (October 16)
* Malakai Black vs. Dante Martin – 3.5
* AAA World Tag Team Championship – Las Super Ranas (FTR) vs. Lucha Brothers (c) – 3.0
* Wheeler Yuta vs. Jon Moxley – 2.5 (Squash)
* Trios match – SuperKliq (The Young Bucks & Adam Cole) vs. Dark Order (Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds, & John Silver) – 3.5
* Kiera Hogan vs. Penelope Ford – 2.0
* Bobby Fish vs. Bryan Danielson – 3.5
Overall – 3.5
Best – SuperKliq vs. Dark Order tag match and Miro’s newest “Redeemer” promo segment.
Worst – Kiera Hoagn vs. Penelope Ford match being mostly rough in quality.
Show Notes – Black’s powerbomb counter of Martin’s springboard dive was cool. Martin’s reverse hurricanrana to Black was nice. Black vs. Martin opener was a really good back-and-forth action filled match despite being a bit off at times. Black’s post-match nod to Martin was interesting. Inner Circle, Dan Lambert, & Scorpio Sky promo segment about their bad blood & war of insults was splendid. FTR being unmasked as the mystery Super Frogs team was interesting. AAA Tag title was pretty good despite the ending shenanigans & bit surprised FTR won. Moxley’s pissed off squash destruction of Yuta was sweet. Serena Deeb backstage interview about AEW Women’s division & brawl with Shida was fine. Young Bucks & Cole’s super kick & Ushigoroshi combo to Reynolds was sweet. Evil Uno busting out Socko to Nick Jackson was cool. Super Kliq vs. Dark Order was a very good back-and-forth action filled match, especially the latter half. Cody, Arn Anderson, & Nightmare Family warehouse segment was superb. MJF promo mocking Miami & Allin & brawl with Sting was entertaining. Anna Jay & Britt Baker backstage segment about Dark Order being losers & brawl was fine. Miro’s “Redeemer” promo questioning god’s faith in him & TNT title goal was awesome. Hangman Page promo about his road to upcoming AEW title match was wonderful. Fish’s backdrop knee driver to Danielson & Danielson’s snapping Heel Hook submission finisher to Fish afterwards looked vicious. Fish vs. Danielson was a very good back-and-forth hard hitting action bout. This week’s show was mostly very enjoyable overall.

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NJPW, Impact, & Other Wrestling

NJPW G1 Climax 2021 Night 14 (October 12)
* Ryohei Oiwa vs. Hiromu Takahashi – 3.0
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – Tama Tonga vs. Taichi – 3.0
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – SANADA vs. YOSHI-HASHI – 3.5
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – Chase Owens vs. Kazuchika Okada – 3.5
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – EVIL vs. Hirooki Goto – 3.0
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jeff Cobb – 4.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jeff Cobb match.
Worst – The lame overbooked shenanigans filled ending to the EVIL vs. Hirooki Goto match.
Show Notes – Yikes at Oiwa’s bright red chest from Takahashi’s brutal chops. Oiwa vs. Takahashi was an entertaining opening bout. Taichi’s Dangerous Suplex counter of Tonga’s Gun Stun attempt was nice. Ouch at Tonga spiking his head from his Rolling DVD to Taichi. Tonga vs. Taichi was a quite good back-and-forth action bout. YOSHI’s Blockbuster to SANADA looked rough. SANADA still arguably the dumbest wrestler these days based on the amount of times he’s let go of a submission early for a moonsault that fails way too often. SANADA vs. YOSHI-HASHI was a very good back-and-forth action filled match despite being a bit sloppy near the end. Owens top rope cravat/snap mare DDT to Okada was cool. Owens’ Slingshot spear to Okada was nice. Okada’s backbreaker & Money Clip counter of Owens’ Jewel Heist was cool. Owens vs. Okada was a really good competitive action match, especially the latter half. Wonder what NJPW’s ring announcer did to piss off EVIL to be the poor victim of EVIL’s constant barricade smash antics. Goto’s GTR & stiff lariat combo to EVIL was nice. Ouch at EVIL’s chest after Goto’s stiff kick to it. EVIL vs. Goto was a mostly good hard hitting match despite going overboard with the shenanigans near the end. Cobb mocking Tanahashi over his weak mid punches was a bit funny. Tanahashi’s Aces High to Cobb on the outside was cool. Tanahashi’s Twist & Shout counter of Cobb’s suplex was nice. Cobb’s catch & F5 counter of Tanahashi’s High Fly Flow was awesome. Cobb vs. Tanahashi was a great back-and-forth action packed match. G1 Climax 2021 Night 14 was a very enjoyable show overall.

NJPW G1 Climax 2021 Night 15 (October 13)
* Kosei Fujita vs. Hiromu Takahashi – 3.0
* Satoshi Kojima vs. Kota Ibushi – 3.0
* G1 Climax 2021 A Block match – Yujiro Takahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii – 3.5
* G1 Climax 2021 A Block match – Tanga Loa vs. KENTA – 3.5
* G1 Climax 2021 A Block match – Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Toru Yano – 3.0
* G1 Climax 2021 A Block match – Great-O-Khan vs. Shingo Takagi – 4.0
Overall – 4.0
Best – Great-O-Khan vs. Shingo Takagi match.
Worst – Yujiro Takahashi’s very scary looking Buckle Bomb to Tomohiro Ishii during their match.
Show Notes – Ouch at Fujita’s chest after Takhashi’s chop massacre to it. Fujita vs. Takahashi opener was an entertaining stiff hitting match. Ouch at Ibushi’s neck after getting spiked hard by Kojima’s DDT. Kojima vs. Ibushi was a quite good back-and-forth action match. Kevin Kelly’s running gag of explaining Pieter’s seductive dances as her “interpretive dance” tales of Yujiro’s G1 matches has been funny. Ouch at Yujiro’s bright red chest after Ishii’s hard chops. Holy crap at Ishii’s neck after Yujiro’s very rough Buckle Bomb. Takahashi vs. Ishii was a surprisingly very good hard fought action filled bout. KENTA’s ring antics to Loa was funny. KENTA’s top rope Tornado DDT to Loa on the ropes was nice. Loa’s T-Bone Suplex to KENTA was cool. KENTA’s swift low blows to Loa & Jado was funny & same for Loa returning the favor afterwards. Loa vs. KENTA was a very good back-and-forth action filled match, especially the latter half, despite the abrupt ending. Sabre Jr. choking out Yano during Yano’s merch shill entrance routine was funny. Yano & Sabre Jr’s entrance stage antics was a bit funny & same for their handcuffed together antics afterwards. Sabre Jr. vs. Yano was a fun comedic style match. Khan & Takagi’s stiff chops exchange was sweet. Takagi’s Saito Suplex into Khan’s Big Boot into Takagi’s lariat into Khan’s backdrop into Takagi’s sliding lariat sequence was awesome. Takagi’s Made in Japan counter of Khan’s Big Boot was nice. Takagi’s stiff forearm strike to Khan was brutal. Great-O-Khan vs. Takagi was a great slugest & action packed bout. G1 Climax 2021 Night 15 was an excellent show overall.

NJPW G1 Climax 2021 Night 16 (October 14)
* Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa vs. BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi – 3.0
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – Taichi vs. Chase Owens – 3.0
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto – 3.0
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – YOSHI-HASHI vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – 3.5
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – EVIL vs. Jeff Cobb – 2.5
* G1 Climax 2021 B Block match – Tama Tonga vs. Kazuchika Okada – 4.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – Tama Tonga vs. Kazuchika Okada match.
Worst – EVIL vs. Jeff Cobb match being riddle with way too many match flow killing Bullet Club style shenanigans.
Show Notes – Opening Young Lions vs. LIJ tag was an entertaining stiff hitting match. Owens’ Bobby Eaton tribute shirt & gear was wonderful. Owens’ sumo antics at the start of the match was a bit funny. Taichi vs. Owens was a pretty good bout despite dragging a bit at times & bit surprised Owens won. SANADA’s TKO to Goto via rope assist was nice. SANADA’s moonsault into a Skull End & Goto’s rope assist neckbreaker right after both looked very sloppy. SANADA vs. Goto was a good back-and-forth action match despite it falling apart near the end. YOSHI’s suplexes & Tanahashi’s Twist & Shouts exchanges was nice. Ouch at Tanahashi’s back after the hard landing from YOSHI’s backbreaker. YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tanahashi was a very good back-and-forth action filled bout. The slow tumble of the ring announcer’s table onto him after EVIL’s barricade running gag was funny. Cobb giving EVIL a taste of his own medicine with the barricade slam gag via EVIL as the ring announcer & Dick Togo as the slammed guy was funny. EVIL vs. Cobb was a mostly good back-and-forth hard hitting match dragged down a lot by the constant shenanigans throughout it. Okada’s drop kick to Tonga on the top rope sending him tumbling to the outside was nice. Tonga’s leaping Veleno DDT to Okada was cool. Tonga’s Gun Stun & Okada’s Rainmaker counters fest was sweet. Tonga busting out a Bloody Sunday to Okada was awesome. Tonga vs. Okada was a great back-and-forth action packed match & shocked at Tonga actually pulling off the upset victory. G1 Climax 2021 Night 16 was a most very enjoyable show overall.

NJPW Strong Autumn Attack Night 2 (October 16)
* Alex Coughlin Challenge Match Series – Alex Coughlin vs. Chris Dickinson – 3.5
* Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs) – 3.0
* Bullet Club (Chris Bey, Hikuleo, El Phantasmo, & Taiji Ishimori) vs. TJP, Clark Connors, Lio Rush, & Juice Robinson – 3.5
* Karl Fredericks vs. Will Ospreay – 4.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – Karl Fredericks vs. Will Ospreay match.
Worst – The lame DQ finish to the Bullet Club vs. TJP, Clark Connors, Lio Rush, & Juice Robinson tag team match.
Show Notes – Coughlin’s deadlift overhead belly suplex to Dickinson was nice. Coughlin’s vicious lariat to Dickinson sending him spinning to the ground was nice. Dickinson’s head stomps & armbar submission finisher combo to Coughlin was brutal. Coughlin vs. Dickinson opener was a very entertaining physical bout. Romero & Taguchi’s Irish Whip comedic swings antics before hitting Isaacs in the corner was a bit funny. Romero’s Tornado DDT counter of Isaac’s Pump Handle Slam was cool. Isaac’s catch & backdrop counter of Taguchi’s hip attack was nice. Romero’s Tornado DDT to Nelson via Tauchi butt assist in the corner was nice. Romero & Taguchi vs. WCWC was a quite good back-and-forth action match. Phantasmo & Ishimori’s double Tree of Woe nut stomps to Rush was funny. Rush’s Tornadno DDT counter of Phantasmo’s backbreaker was cool. Hikuleo’s powerslam to Robinson was smooth. Bey”s sunset dive to Connors & Rush’s suicide dive to Phantasmo on the outside was nice. 8-Man Tag was a very good back-and-forth action filled match despite the buzzkill DQ ending by Hikuleo. Ospreay’s springboard lariat to Fredericks was nice. Fredericks & Ospreay’s counters fest sequence was cool. Fredericks’ dropkick counter of Ospreay’s Oscutter was nice. Ospreay’s Running Spanish Fly counter of Fredericks lariat was sweet. Ospreay’s Hidden Blade finisher to Fredericks looked brutal. Fredericks vs. Ospreay was a great hard fought action packed bout. The post-match brawl with Connors & heel turn by TJP was splendid. This week’s Autumn Attack Night 2 themed show was very enjoyable overall.

Impact Wrestling Impact! (October 14)
* Impact X-Division Championship Tournament First Round Triple Threat match – El Phantasmo vs. Rohit Raju vs. Willie Mack – 3.5
* Savannah Evans vs. Lady Frost – 2.0
* VSK vs. Rich Swann – 3.0
* Chris Bey vs. Chris Sabin – 3.5
* 20-Person Battle Royale for Call Your Shot Gauntlet #1 & #20 spots match – 2.5
Overall – 3.0
Best – Chris Bey vs. Chris Sabin match.
Worst – Savannah Evans vs. Lady Frost match being a bit rough at times.
Show Notes – El Phantasmo got some really good air with his springboard Senton to Mack. Mack’s Fireman’s Carry & Samoan Drop to Phantasmo & Raju at the same time was cool. Phantasmo’s Frankensteiner to Mack onto Raju was cool. Ouch at Mack’s back after his rough landing from his sunset dive to Hikuleo & Bey on the outside. Opening Triple Threat was a very entertaining action filled match. Ouch at Frost’s head after Evans very rough Samoan Drop to her. Evans vs. Frost was decent at best. Gail Kim & Decay backstage interview about Knockouts Knockdown & Inspiration was splendid. VSK vs. Swann was a pretty good back-and-forth action match. Swinger’s Palace finale with Sabin was funny. Heath Slater & D’Amore office segment about Impact contract signing, Rhino, & Violent By Design was all right. Sabin’s Rolling Fisherman Buster to Bey was cool. Bey’s Torture Rack into a spinning neckbreaker to Sabin was cool. Bey & Sabin’s stiff chops fest exchange was nice. Bey vs. Sabin was a very good back-and-forth action packed bout. Good Bros vacation promo segment decent. Swinger eliminating himself after getting scared by the Undead Brides was a bit funny. Black Taurus eliminating himself by accident was funny. Moose & Morrissey double chokeslam to Austin sending him flying onto Fulton on the outside was cool. 20-Person Battle Royal was a solid match. Minoru Suzuki Impact debut vignette was sweet. Christian Cage & Josh Alexander sitdown interview segment about Cage’s Impact return & their upcoming Impact title match was decent despite dragging a bit long. This week’s show was enjoyable overall.

Dark Side of the Ring – The Many Faces of Luna Vachon (October 14)
Overall – 3.0
Show Notes – The story about Luna’s bad experiences & sexual harassment incidents during her time with the Fabulous Moolah was a bit depressing. The origin of Luna’s ring name and crazy character persona during her time with Kevin Sullivan was interesting. Dark Side of the Ring’s Luna episode was an enjoyable look back at the wrestling career of Luna Vachon and her tragic real life struggles with drugs and mental health issues.

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Weekly Awards:

• Best match of the week – Minoru Suzuki vs. Bryan Danielson (AEW Rampage)
• Best match of the week runner-up – Karl Fredericks vs. Will Ospreay (NJPW Strong Autumn Attack Night 2)
• Worst match of the week – Riddle vs. Omos (WWE RAW)
• Worst match of the week runner-up – Queen’s Crown tournament Semi-Finals match – Carmella vs. Zelina Vega (WWE Friday Night SmackDown “Supersized SmackDown”)
• Best show of the week – NJPW G1 Climax 2021 Night 15
• Worst show of the week – WWE RAW