by JCH
We’re at Full Sail University, home to my Full Sail Armada .
I know we have Shayna vs Mia Yim in store and I think I saw Keith Lee vs Dijakovic advertised on twitter. Yes please.
Rebel Heart hits and out comes, no longer Johnny Champion. Looking less assured without the title. Johny talks about how he’s back to Johnny Failure and there’s only one reason he’s had any success.
Ciampa’s music hits. The crowd chant ‘he’s a champion’. Tommy immediately shuts them down. The difference between a world class heel and a heel who panders to the crowd *cough* Adam Cole *cough*.
Tommy says Johnny’s best is with him and suggests they team up for the Dusty Classic.
Johnny takes the handshake, although he still doesn’t look convinced.
My new prediction is Ciampa vs Gargano one last time for the title at NYC. Gargano turns on Ciampa during the Classic to set it up and Johnny finally wins the big one.
Ricochet backstage says him and Black have unfinished business with the Era. Him and Black are entering the Classic to take out Kyle and Bobby. I will enjoy watching that.
Johnny and Tommy bump into Candace. She does not look impressed.
Vanessa Bourne & Aaliyah vs Taynara Conti & Xia Li
With women’s tag titles they are now looking to establish women’s tag teams. Good plan.
Big Bicycle Kick from Conti early doors. Nice. Then she slaps on a version of the rope armbar of Suzuki/Gable, but does it on the leg as kneebar. Nice. Haven’t seen that before.
Interference gives Bourne and Aaliyah the advantage and they work on Conti. Bourne shows good aggression. She gives of a good mean attitude. Her strikes though are a bit weak. As if she’s been to the Shane McMahon school of punching.
Xia gets the hot tag and unleashes a barrage of Kicks. If you are the person who reads my Stardom reviews you know I love kicks and this woman has a lot of them. Bloody great. Blind tag to Bourne and she takes out Conti. They hit a combo Blockbuster/Backbreaker type move on Xia Li for the finish.
Footage of Dream arriving at Full Sail. The Era interrupt. Cole runs down Dream and the interviewer. Kyle asks where Cathy Kelley is and looks around for her. Brilliant. Cole and Dream argue, Dream walks off.
Bianca Belair and Io Shirai are arguing backstage.
Dominik Dijakovic vs Keith Lee
Have they redone Keith Lee’s music? Sounds a lot more like his old music than I remember. I miss his Indy music. It’s great. So great I bought it off him for $5.
Get a big man, high flyer type exchange with stand off to begin. Lee offers a hand. Dijakovic slaps him away. Lee pops Dijakovic up into Powerbomb position, Dijakovic turns it into a monkey flip and Lee lands on his feet. They do the Ospreay/Ibushi camera shot. Brilliant.
The crowd is going nuts! Then we get chops. This has it all! Big Striking exchange. Lee takes control with a Madden style hit stick tackle. Dijakovic with a sort of sit-out chokelsam for a near fall. Dijakovic off the middle and Lee double handedly chops him out of mid air. Hits his own big Chokeslam type thing for a 2. I love this.
Spinning big boot from Dijakovic knocks Lee off the apron and he follows it up with a Springboard moonsault to the outside landing on the ramp. And the ref gets to a 10 count.
Great stuff. The crowd is disappointed they wanted more. I don’t mind it. Great showcase for both men and leaves us anticipating what they will do next time. Maybe on a Takeover stage?
Is it over. They’re both back in the ring. Ref’s separate them. Dijakovic leaves first and says ’I’ll see you later’
Fantastic.
The final 4 teams in the Classic are announced. I got 2 out of my 4 guesses right,
Moustache Mountain and 1s and 2s are in. Joined by the big 4. DIY and Black and Ricochet.
Brackets are out. You can see them below.
My prediction since Jan has been Moustache Mountain challenging for the tag belts at Mania. I think they can come out of that side for sure. Hopefully see them vs the 1s and 2s. On the right hand side. If Black and Ricochet are getting the chance to settle things with UE then I think my DIY prediction may come true. I’ll go with a Mountain vs Era final?
Regal announces a No.1 contenders match for two weeks time. Bianca Belair vs Io Shirai.
Hang on here comes Sasha Banks…..and Bayley. Izzy is conveniently back in her Bayley gear this week. Bayley hugs her and she cries. Now both of them have made her cry. They hype the titles and say they will be defending them on NXT. Now rethinking my Takeover Card. Might get Io and Kairi vs Sasha and Bayley on it….
Mia Yim vs Shayna Baszler
Shayna starts off with takedowns and mocking Yim, but one missed right hand allows Mia to take control. Big Tope Suicido to the outside. She continues to target the hand that Baszler hurt earlier, but as Mia tries to volley Baszler into the steps Shayna moves and Mia absolutely punts the steps.
Baszler with the injured hand and Mia has the injured foot. Shayna just starts stomping on the bad leg. Nigel adds she broke that same leg a year ago. Shayna does her normal arm break spot on the foot of Mia. Great slight change of tactic from Shayna.
Baszler with the kirafuda clutch, but Mia attacks the injured hand to break out. Baszler goes back to the leg, but can only use one hand so can’t apply full pressure. Yim, omn one leg, hops through the ropes for a tornado DDT.
One leg vs one arm. Mia strike attack on Shayna. But she keeps instinctively using her right leg to hit moves. Including Eat Defeat. She can’t go for the cover straight away due to the pain and Shayna kick out. Gutwrench for a 2.
Shayna 2 big kicks to the chest. Mia catches her on the 3rd and sit out power bomb for near fall.
Big knee from Shayna. And the Kirafuda clutch again. Mia again goes for the bad hand, Shayna adds her leg in to block Mia’s hands. Similar to Sasha adapting the Bank Staetement at EC and Mia has to tap.
Great match. Really enjoyed that. Both picked up injuries on offence and then their opponent used those injuries as the focus of their attacks. Top stuff.
Stars of the Week
1.Shayna Baszler
2. Mia Yim
3.Dominic Dijakovic/Keith Lee
Was hard to separate the four of those guys for star of the week. Two really good matches to finish. Lee and Dijakovic left you wanting more. Baszler and Mia Yim was a really good story and nice to see the champ had enough without interference from Duke and Shafir.
Another very good hour of wrestling. Storyline advancement, great matches. A homecoming.
Humberto Carrillo award
Taynara Conti - That hanging kneebar and a great big kick. I love kicks.
Predicted Takeover Card
Tommy Ciampa vs Johnny Gargano
Shayna Baszler vs Bianca Belair
Io and Kairi vs Boss and Hug
War Raiders vs Moustache Mountain
Velveteen Dream vs Adam Cole
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