The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Old School – Copps Coliseum 03.13.88

Taped from Hamilton, ON

Your hosts are Craig DeGeorge & Nick Bockwinkel.  OK then.

Starrcade 2019
Date: December 1, 2019
Location: Infinite Energy Arena, Duluth, Georgia
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton

I mean, it has been a whole week since their last big event. This is another one of those house shows that is airing on the Network in a shortened form. It isn’t exactly something interesting though last year’s show was pretty good. The two matches announced aren’t exactly breaking new ground but they could be good. Let’s get to it.

TakeOver: Toronto
Date: August 10, 2019
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Beth Phoenix, Mauro Ranallo

We’re going north for this one with the second Takeover from Toronto. The second part is rather appropriate as the main event is a rematch (of a rematch) with NXT Champion Adam Cole defending against former champion Johnny Gargano in their second 2/3 falls match. A lot of the show centers around Cole’s Undisputed Era so there is certainly a theme. Let’s get to it.

NXT
Date: July 17, 2019
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix

It’s weird to say this but NXT is in a little bit of a funk. I don’t know if it’s the Breakout Tournament or Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole III not being the most inspiring story in the world, but the last few shows haven’t been the most thrilling the world. They’re not bad by any stretch, but when your standards are this high, anything but great is jarring. Let’s get to it.

NXT
Date: October 10, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson

It’s title night around here with the North American Title being defended in a triple threat as champion Ricochet defends against both Adam Cole and Pete Dunne. That alone should carry the show as far as it needs to go but NXT should have more than enough to make a full night of awesome wrestling. Let’s get to it.

WWE 205 Live

14^th August 2018

Greenville, South Carolina

Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson

We’re only 4 days out from SummerSlam, grapple fans, as things are heating up in the WWE Universe!  While this weekend will see Cedric Alexander defend his Cruiserweight Championship against Drew Gulak on the pre-show in Brooklyn, there’s no shortage of action on this week’s 205 broadcast.  Akira Tozawa and Lio Rush will collide again following the latter’s win last month, whilst Cedric clashes with ‘Gentleman’ Jack Gallagher, with Gulak and The Brian Kendrick barred from ringside.  Let’s get to it!

WWE 205 Live

17^th July 2018

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson

Tonight sees Lio Rush’s first main event on 205 Live, grapple fans, as he tussles with Akira Tozawa. Also in action are TJ Perkins and Noam Dar in a rematch of their clash two weeks ago. Let’s get to it!

WWE 205 Live

3^rd July 2018

Omaha, Nebraska

Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson

Another night of cruiserweight action is upon us, grapple fans.  Big main event this week as Mustafa Ali and Buddy Murphy tussle in a no-disqualification match.  TJ Perkins will also be in action, taking on “an opponent of Drake Maverick’s choosing”.  Well, you can certainly cut the anticipation in my lounge with a knife.  Let’s get to it!  Oh, and before I forget, I hope all my American readers have a happy Independence Day!

WWE 205 Live

12^th June 2018

Memphis, Tennessee

Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson

Good day, grapple fans!  We start with highlights of last week’s main event where Hideo Itami ran in to cause a DQ finish, before accosting Mustafa Ali and Buddy Murphy.  Drake Maverick tells us that, as a result of his reprehensible actions, Itami is banned from appearing on this week’s show.  Tonight, we’ve got six-man tag action as the Lucha House Party clash with Drew Gulak, ‘Gentleman’ Jack Gallagher and The Brian Kendrick, while Mustafa Ali is back in action against Tony Nese.  Let’s get to it!

WWE 205 Live

29^nd May 2018

Raleigh, North Carolina

Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson

The quality of 205 picked up somewhat last week, with Akira Tozawa and Hideo Itami ripping it up in their grudge match.  Can defending champion, Cedric Alexander, and heel contender, Buddy Murphy, keep the momentum rolling this week?  Let’s get to it!

NXT
Date: May 2, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson

It’s back to Full Sail and that means a nice relief from the breakneck pace of the last few weeks of Raw and Smackdown. At least they’ve set some stuff up in advance and this show will likely deliver some entertaining stuff. There are three matches announced for tonight, including Roderick Strong vs. Pete Dunne. Let’s get to it.

WWE 205 Live

1^st May 2018

Montreal, Quebec

Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson

We are 5 days removed from Oil Rumble, grapple fans, and Cedric Alexander is still the Cruiserweight Champion, having bested the winner of last week’s gauntlet match, Kalisto in Saudi Arabia.  What does 205 Live have in store for us this week?  Let’s find out!

WWE 205 Live

24^th April 2018

Louisville, Kentucky

Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson

We are only 4 days out from Oil Rumble, grapple fans, and tonight sees a 5-man gauntlet match to determine a number one contender for Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander in Saudi Arabia this Friday.  If there’s a pre-show for this stadium spectacular, you can bank on this match being on it.  Drake Maverick confirms the competitors: Drew Gulak, Tony Nese, Kalisto, TJ Perkins and Mustafa Ali.  Let’s get to it!

WWE 205 Live

17^th April 2018

Providence, Rhode Island

Commentators: Vic Joseph and Percy Watson

Time for another week of cruiserweight action, grapple fans, as 205 Live is seemingly entirely unaffected by the ‘Superstar Shakeup’.  The hype video focuses on tonight’s tornado tag match between Lince Dorado & Gran Metalik and Hideo Itami & Akira Towawa.  Let’s get to it!

WWE 205 Live

10^th April 2018

New Orleans, Louisiana

Commentators: Vic Joseph and Percy Watson

If you don’t think you’ve had quite enough wrestling this week, grapple fans, then read on as I recap the first episode of 205 Live post-WrestleMania.  We’ll hear from the new Cruiserweight Champion, Cedric Alexander, and Mark Andrews is set to do battle with Drew Gulak.

NXT
Date: March 14, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness

It’s another big night as we have four weeks left before Takeover: New Orleans. That means knocking out more matches in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, but on top of that we have some build towards a title match. This week NXT Champion Andrade Cien Almas and Aleister Black will sign the contract for Takeover: New Orleans which could be interesting. Let’s get to it.

NXT
Date: November 29, 2017
Location: Aztec Theater, San Antonio, Texas
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson

We’re back on the regular schedule this week as it’s time to get ready for Takeover: Philly. Therefore, we need to deal with the lack of Drew McIntyre, who has wrecked his elbow and be out for several months. Tonight will be at least partially focused on the women though with Kairi Sane facing Peyton Royce. Let’s get to it.

NXT
Date: November 15, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson, Mauro Ranallo

It’s the last show before Takeover: WarGames and that means things could be getting very fun in a hurry. The big story tonight, aside from the build towards Saturday’s main event of course, it Andrade Cien Almas and NXT Champion Drew McIntyre coming face to face. That match hasn’t gotten a lot of attention so a good focus could serve it well. Let’s get to it.

NXT
Date: July 5, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson

The title shows continue as we have the NXT Title on the line tonight. Bobby Roode has gotten far underneath the skin of Roderick Strong, including talking about Strong’s wife. The title is up for grabs tonight with a ticked off Strong wanting both the title and a measure of revenge. Let’s get to it.

NXT
Date: June 7, 2017
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Percy Watson, Tom Phillips, Nigel McGuinness

Tonight is, in theory at least, all about Bobby Roode, who promised to show up for a Championship Celebration. Then again he said the same thing last week and had more important things to do. Teasing the crowd like that is far more effective of a heel tactic than a lot of them you’ll see so it’s not the worst idea. Let’s get to it.