Hell in the Cell Recap & Results

            It was a great night for the last pay-per-view in the ThunderDome despite many fans having viewing issues with Peacock.

            The night kicked off with a pre-show match between Natayla and Mandy Rose. Mandy's past accomplishments include being a fitness and bikini model. Nattie's past accomplishments include being a graduate of the Hart Dungeon. Adorable storyline but does anyone really think Ms. Rose could ever beat a Hart? Mandy did display evidence that she has been training and showed off some moves, including a dropkick off the top rope. She also tried multiple pin attempts to throw Nattie off her game. Nice effort but in the end, it was fruitless. Nattie picks up the win with a signature sharp shooter.

            Now for the main event matches. Hell in the cell began with a championship match. Current SmackDown Women's champ Bianca Belair successfully defended her title against former champ Bayley. I don't understand why but my brain goes Freudian whenever these two fight each other. Last month at WrestleMania BackLash, I said that Bianca came dressed to win in her azure and gold gear. Bayley on the other hand had on what I initially thought was a picture of a ferengi on her shirt. It wasn't until the camera tightened in that I saw it a three headed Picasso like drawing.

            Well, Freud would have a field day with these two because once again Ms. Belair came dressed with confidence while Bayley seemed more focused on making a questionable fashion statement. Bianca came dressed in white gear accented with flames and Bayley wore that same Picasso like shirt. I don't know what subliminal message she's sending us but someone should tell her that shirt is unlucky. But that's not what I tuned in for so let's get to the action. 

            It was brutal. Bianca gave as good as she took in her inaugural hell in a cell. At one point it was a "hair v chair" match. That braid of Bianca's is both a weapon and a hazard and needs to go. Then Bayley ties her opponent's hair to the bottom rope. At another point, Bianca purposefully ties her braid to Bayley's wrist for an attempt at a strap match. An intense match with one low point. Bayley bites Bianca. I don't get it. Tyson v Holyfield, Shayna Bazsler v Becky Lynch and now Bayley v Bianca Belair. The squared circle is not the name of a buffet! Biting an opponent undoes years of hard work, skill and credibility. 

            Continuing with the ladies, the match between Shayna Baszler and Alexa reminded me of a quote from Sun Tzu: "The greatest victory is that which requires no battle." That seemed to be the Mistress of Mind Games' strategy. The prolonged maniacal stares of Alexa appeared to put Shayna and her corner colleagues under a controlling spell. At one point, she had Nia in a trance resulting in Reggie receiving a slap from the irresistible force. In the end, Ms. Bliss picks up the win. 

            The last women's match was for the Raw Championship title. Of the thousands who participated in the Draft Kings pool, 59.74 % picked Rhea to win and 40.26 % chose Charlotte. Participants also had a chance to speculate as to how the match would be won. 58.87 % selected pinfall, 24.64 % chose submission and 16.49 % guessed disqualification. The least predicted winning move rose to the top. 

            The match began with Charlotte going for an immediate pin attempt. Rhea then turns things around with her trademark brutality. Ripley shines on offense and Charlotte can be equally cruel. The wicked queen helped Rhea become familiar with the turnbuckles. However, it was the action outside the ring from these two superstars that caused a perplexing ending. How many times have we seen wrestlers use the apron from the announce desk as a weapon? So, it was a little jaw dropping when Rhea did the same thing only to have the ref call for the bell and rule the match a disqualification. I'm just happy that Ripley retained.

            Next was Cesaro v Seth Rollins. I was team Cesaro all the way. A sneak attack by Rollins before the bell is how it all began. Cesaro's strength was on full display last night. He powers out of Seth's Falcon Arrow and swings him at least 15 times. Despite all his efforts, Rollins rolls up Cesaro into a small package to pick up the win. 

             The showdown between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn didn't go the way I predicted yesterday. Sami won. The color commentary really played up the Nigerian Nail attack from 48 hours ago to explain why KO wasn't at peak performance. After the match, KO took to Twitter to issue the following statement: "I fought like hell. Now, I need a little break. I'll be back soon. Thank you, guys." Does this now open the door for a Sami Zayn v Apollo Crews storyline? Time will tell.

            Now for the main event. It's Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley inside the sadistic structure of the menacing red steel cage. This was the other match that Draft Kings participants had the opportunity to weigh in on. Lashley was favored to win with 60.19 % of the votes and Drew garnered 39.85 %. One of the other questions was as to how the match would be won. 73.72 % of fans said pinfall and 26.28 % selected submission.

            This match was vicious from bell to bell. Drew is one of the few that can match power with Bobby. One prime example is when McIntyre launches Lashley across the ring with a belly to belly. Hellacious beatings back and forth between the competitors. By the end, both men's bodies wore the battle scars of war but only one walked out the winner.

            Before I get to the outcome, I would like to share a common experience I often have with people who give me grief for being a lifelong wrestling fan. Here is how the conversation usually goes with a non-fan:

            Me: I like to watch wrestling. 

            Random Human: You like that crap?! You know it's fake right?

            Me: Okay boss, what do you like to watch?

            Random Human: Walking Dead.

            Me: You know it's fake, right? Totally scripted.

Random human is stunned silent. There are no stunt doubles in wrestling. Their skin is really ripped open, bruised and bleeding. Broken noses and neck surgeries are also real.

 O.K., jumping off my soapbox now. Time to get back to Drew and Bobby.

            It is with an interference assist from MVP, that Bobby Lashley retains his title. I accurately predicted this outcome yesterday. My forecast went on to envision Lashley losing his title at SummerSlam. This, I think, would open the door for McIntyre to go after the gold again in front of a live crowd. I would love to see the current champ drop the belt to either Damien Priest or Jinder Mahal.

            No matter who steps up next, I still miss Adam Scherr, aka Braun Strowman. Adam recently posted a video to his story on Instagram that gives me some hope. He recently stated how much fun he had in the Carolinas and was now on his way to Orlando. That's the same town as the WWE Performance Center!!! Are the suits correcting another mistake? 

            #BringBackBraun

Hell in a Cell 2021 is TONIGHT!

            Hell in a Cell is usually held in October. Tonight will only be the second time in its history that it won't be. The other time that it was held outside of October was back in 2018. This is one of my absolute favorite pay-per-views from WWE. Let's get to the card for tonight along with predictions.

            The WWE Championship match between Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre will be held inside hell in a cell. This particular feud needs to come to an end. And I think that is exactly what the stipulation within this match is meant to accomplish. If McIntyre loses to Lashley, he will not be given another opportunity at the title as long as Bobby holds the gold. I am rooting for McIntyre all the way but I have a feeling that Lashley will retain. I further predict that he will then lose it at SummerSlam opening the door for McIntyre to go after it again in front of a live crowd. But to whom does the champ drop the title? I would love to see either Damien Priest or Jinder Mahal be the next thorn in the side of Lashley.

            Saving the women for last, let's look at Kevin Owens v. Sami Zayn. I predict that the conspiracy continues. Sami is such a great heel and Kevin knows how to give a great beatdown. This one is all KO.

            Next, Cesaro squares up against Seth Rollins. My vote goes to Cesaro here. He is a consistent hard worker and ever the underdog despite winning belts in the past. Seth Rollins easily commits to his character's evolution and will be, for the foreseeable future, one of the company's top guys. 

            A match that I'm really not interested in is Shayna Baszler v. Alexa Bliss. I do not like Alexa's current character but I'll watch just to see how Shayna tries to beat the evil out of her. I fully expect psychology mind games and interference with this particular match. As much as I want Shayna to walk out triumphant, I predict Alexa Bliss picks up the win.

            The Raw Women's Championship is on the line tonight. The current holder of the gold Rhea Ripley goes up against Charlotte Flair. I am always thinking about both the long and short game that WWE plays. Recently, multiple outlets have reported that Becky Lynch has been seen practicing at the performance center. It's been almost 7 months since she gave birth to her first child. Fans, me included, are always wondering when and where, she will make her return. I think that Rhea retains tonight but loses when Becky Lynch returns. This opens the door for a  Becky v. Charlotte match with a live audience.

            Bianca Belair's feud with Bayley is the last match on the card for tonight. I predict that Bianca retains. Belair won the title back in April when she defeated Sasha Banks. We haven't seen Ms. Banks since that loss. I suspect that she will be returning soon looking for an opportunity to reclaim the gold.  

            I am beyond excited for tonight. The snacks and drinks are on deck for what will be an insane evening. I will be watching fully expecting the unexpected. One person that I also hope will be watching is Adam Scherr, aka, Braun Strowman. The company did him dirty but it is important to be ready for when WWE corrects their mistake.  #BringBackBraun 

JOE! JOE! JOE! JOE! JOE!

            He's back!!! 

            Last week, we saw an exhausted general manager William Regal proclaim that it was time for a change. As Mr. Regal opened up this week's NXT, Karrion Kross interrupts and essentially tries to bully the GM into quitting. Then the music we've all been waiting for hits.....JOE! JOE! JOE!

            Samoa Joe enters the ring and after some back and forth negotiating, it is so declared that he will be an enforcer for the continuing general manager William Regal. Joe gets right to executing his duties and sends the usually snarling Karrion Kross back to the locker room.  

            The enforcement continues backstage where we see Joe put an unruly Adam Cole in a Coquina Clutch. 

            Next we have an answer to Kushida's open challenge for the NXT Cruiserweight championship. Trey Baxter steps up to the plate and the man has moves. Even though he taps out to Kushida's Hoverboard Lock, he will make a name for himself in wrestling. I could easily see him go up against Ricochet in the future. Until then, it will be Kyle O'Reily v. Kushida next week.

            Besides getting a definite answer to the Samoa Joe headline, I was interested in seeing how the coronation of the new Million Dollar Champion was going to go. LA Knight defeated the favored Cameron Grimes to become the new holder of the million dollar belt tasked with carrying on the legacy. No sooner was the belt on the shoulder of Knight that he makes a declaration: 

            "Now that I have everything I want, it's time to drop everything that I don't need."

            As the beat down on the Hall of Fame legend is in progress, Cameron Grimes comes to the aide of his hero. I'm still invested in the storyline even though Grimes didn't win. And kudos to Ted DiBiase for taking a bump at 67 years young.

            NXT continued the brutality with the next two matches.

            First up are the ladies. Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter take on the current tag team champs. Great ring action from all four women. At one point, Kayden had Raquel Gonzalez in a submission hold which was eventually broken. The human highlight reel that is Kacy Catanzaro  showcased her ninja warrior skills. I can't help but to always think of her American Ninja Warrior days, as well as, her impressive showing at the 30 woman Royal Rumble back in 2019. Nevertheless, Dakota Kai pins Kacy for the win. 

            The evening ends with the Grizzled Young Veterans squaring up against Timothy Thatcher and Tomasso Ciampa in a Tornado Tag Match. In a Tornado Tag Match, all 4 men are legal, there are no tags, no countouts and you can only win by pinfall or submission inside the ring. Right from the bell, there are dueling beat-downs by Ciampa and "toothless" Timothy. The ref is absolutely helpless to stop the onslaught. GYV, who drive on either bending the rules or working with no rules, turn the situation around for a beat. Then comes a second wind for an unleashed Ciampa who thrives on chaos.

            Back and forth it goes and the Veterans almost secure a victory with a pin attempt on Thatcher. However, he is saved by his partner who ultimately secures the win by submission. NXT finished the way they started - seriously intense.

            Now it is time to end today's post the same way I've been ending it since June 2, 2021...

            #BringBackBraun

            And if you don't believe me, check out today's article by Sportskeeda:

            6 recently released WWE Superstars that the company should’ve kept (sportskeeda.com)

Monday Night Before Hell In A Cell 2021

            A couple of facts about me. I'm a cradle WWE fan. I have been a consistent member of the WWE ThunderDome for several months. I am also a member of the WWE Fan Council. I haven't had live TV or cable since 2004. I stream everything via Roku. I also have experience working on a production team. So last night, I got to watch Monday Night Raw and this upcoming Friday night's Main Event as a member of said ThunderDome. When I watched the replay via Hulu today, not only were the matches not played in the order they aired last night, but some very highly promoted matches were missing! Also, because of these editing choices, some of the color commentary didn't line up.

            When Monday night's entertainment began, I thought it was ladies night. The show opened with Alexa's playground where she informed us that Lilly is in timeout because of her actions with Shayna last week. Nia also stepped to Miss Bliss resulting in a match later in the evening. 

            Next, there was the match between Charlotte Flair and Nikki Cross. This was one of the matches that didn't air next day on Hulu. I can't tell you if this match will appear via replay on Peacock because they are still a month behind in uploading current episodes of Raw, SmackDown and NXT. This particular decision to remove Nikki and Charlotte's match from next day viewing led to some head scratching color commentary from Corey Graves and Jimmy Smith.

            Graves: "...Charlotte was humiliated again tonight..."

            Smith: "Both ladies had matches tonight..."

Huh? If you are a next day streamer, then you only saw Charlotte when she interrupted the match between Asuka and Rhea Ripley. You missed Charlotte's match where she entered the ring with her signature peacock feathers and her getting counted out which secured another victory for Nikki Cross. 

            Another match that was only shown live was the highly promoted return of Eva Marie. She was suppose to have a match against Naomi. Did you notice that I used the word "was"? Eva came down the ramp with someone I initially thought was the Blue Meanie's sister. Turns out, it was Piper Niven. Piper is known for her stint on NXT UK. I don't follow NXT UK so I was a little lost and the announce desk acting puzzled didn't help the situation. Anyway, Piper fought Naomi instead and picked up the win for Eva. Besides coming to the ring with Eva, there is chatter about her being called Doudrop. Hey WWE creative....please don't. Course correct and have her next tv appearance be as Piper Niven. 

            I also only saw the match between Jeff Hardy and John Morrison live. Jeff won but his celebration was interrupted by Cedric Alexander. Cedric issued a half ass apology and a challenge. A "retirement match" happened right then and there. If the veteran Hardy lost, then he would have to retire. Guess who's not retiring! Mr. Alexander is his own worst enemy and should never be allowed to be in possession of a live mic.

            Continuing with the ladies, there was some jaw jacking between Nattie and Tamina against Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke. The Barbie dolls didn't like the champ's practice session interrupting their photoshoot. Needless to say, they learned good and quick that the second generation champs are "statement makers, bone breakers and truth tellers".

            Alexa and Nia had their match. Besides remembering their friendship turned storyline from years ago, a question immediately came to mind: Will Reggie ever play with the big boys? 

            He was first introduced to us as Carmella's valet who had an eye for Sasha then he became involved with Nia and Shayna's storyline. Tonight, he seemed to be under Alexa's spell. The man isn't having much luck with the ladies. 

             I personally don't like the current evil evolution of Miss Bliss but she is getting over. Mind games and ring psychology have a place in sports entertainment and it's a fine line. The New Day and Randy Orton both have it in spades. 

            The New Day squared up against RK-Bro. The odd couple teaming of Matt Riddle and Randy Orton has built chemistry but eventually Randy will get tired of being saddled with Matt and gift him a very special RKO leading him to go back to singles competition.

            Drew McIntyre vs. AJ Styles was the last match of the evening. There is somewhat of a power disparity between these two competitors. AJ's agility helped him earn some frequent flyer miles. He also got in some impressive combination strikes. Styles is no stranger to going up against guys bigger than him. Remember the Bone Yard match against the Undertaker? 

            McIntyre has this fan's heart. I love watching him in action. All the while the match was in progress, the executive lounge was fully occupied at the top of the ramp. Lashley threatens to interrupt the match but his plans are thwarted by the Viking Raiders. What started as a one on one main event quickly turned into a 6 man tag match. Bobby, AJ and Omos versus Drew, Ivar and Erik was a powerful match with omens. 

                At one point, Ivar and Omos had at it. Being in a tag team doesn't prevent a competitor from entering into a singles match. I would love to see Ivar v. Omos. The second omen was Drew pinning Lashley for the win. McIntyre will hold the gold up high this Sunday.

            As I said at the beginning, I saw the taping of this upcoming Friday night's Main Event. Stop reading now if you want to be surprised.

            The first match was Mace and T-Bar v. Lucha House Party. David and Goliath matches are always nail biting to watch. Despite rope intelligence and speed advantage of the Lucha House Party, the dangerous duo of  Mace and T-Bar pick up the win.

            The second match between Ricochet and Drew Gulak highlighted different in ring styles. Ricochet is a high flyer while Gulak is known for his submission ground game. However, Ricochet showed his intelligence by taking a page from his opponent's playbook. He gets Drew trapped in a submission move and scores a W. Mr. Gulak showed much love and respect in his loss and shook Ricochet's hand before exiting the ring. 

            Speaking of exits...#BringBackBraun

NXT In Your House Results

            Let's get right to the results of last night's WWE pay-per-view event.

            The evening nostalgia started with the 6 man, winner take all, tag match. Fast paced mat action with both teams demonstrating innovation.  Lee, Carter and Reed came in with a strategy that worked to perfection. Santos avoided Reed as much as he could and at one point it was raining men. All competitors showed off their high flying skills in front of the announce team. Santos grabs a championship belt only to be blasted through a barricade compliments of Bronson. In the end, a tsunami from Reed is how he and MSK retain their titles.

 

            Next was Mercedes Martinez v. Xia Li. I was happy to see improvement by Mercedes since I last saw her compete against Raquel Gonzalez. Xia Li came out like a warrior. I had totally forgotten about the Mae Young Classic of 2017 until Todd Pettengill rolled the B footage. Four years ago, Li lost to Martinez. Xia's desire to redeem herself from that defeat was clearly on display last night. Li  was dominant in her performance. She was a relentless warrior against her opponent. Mercedes did get in a couple of good moves, but it wasn't enough. The rugged veteran lost to Li. 

            Continuing with the women, Ember Moon and Raquel Gonzalez squared up for a semi-predictable match. I just knew Ember was going to come out quick and hard in a frenzied manner. It was also a sure bet that the strength of Gonzalez would be fully demonstrated. Dakota Kai's repeated interference was eventually halted when Shotzi Blackheart returned to "plant" Kai as far away from the ring as possible. I said yesterday that Ember's emotions were going to be her downfall and fall she did. Raquel power bombs Moon with a single arm to retain her championship. 

            Now, for my two favorite matches.

            First, the ladder match for both the belt and legacy. It was surreal to see Ted DiBiase and the million dollar belt.  I was rooting for Grimes all the way and even picked him to win on Draft Kings. 53.41% of the fans voted for Cameron Grimes to win and 46.59% wanted LA Knight to claim the honor. 

            Cameron and Knight put their bodies through hell to give the WWE Universe a fantastic match. I am always impressed with Grimes' wrestling and striking abilities. LA Knight was equally impressive. Ladder matches are remorseless and both men deserve high admiration. In the end, it would be LA Knight winning the belt and the task of continuing the million dollar legacy. 

            The main event of the evening was the fatal five way between the NXT champ Karrion Kross, Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, Pete Dunne and Johnny Gargano. All 5 five men brought their A game. It started off with the four challengers taking care of each other. Then, one by one, Kross took care of them. There were "mini" matches within the main event. Cole and O'Reilly squared off for decent amount of time. And then there was the dream match up between Karrion and Dunne. Four skilled opponents gave their all but it wasn't enough. Karrion Kross eventually gets the Kross Jacket on O'Reilly to retain the gold. 

            A great show with a cliff hanger ending. A very exhausted looking William Regal states "It's been seven years since I became GM of NXT and I've never seem so much bedlam. It's complete madness. I think it's time for a change." Now there have been rumors about Samoa Joe being brought back since his release in April 2021. Maybe Joe will be the interim or new general manager of NXT. If the chatter is true that Joe is returning, congrats WWE! You've corrected one mistake so far. #BringBackBraun

NXT In Your House is Tonight!

             So excited for NXT In Your House tonight on Peacock. There are five matches on the card tonight. Let's look at each one individually.

            Ladies first.  I think the match between Xia Li and Mercedes Martinez is a filler match. As I've said in an earlier post, Mercedes needs more training - specifically her timing. The last time that I saw her in action was against Raquel Gonzalez. It was not an enjoyable match. Timing was off and it felt like I was watching two athletes practice in the gym. Maybe she has improved in these past couple of weeks. However, I predict the Xia Li will win the match.

            Raquel herself has a match tonight against Ember Moon. Ember's tag partner Shotzi Blackheart is out with an undisclosed injury. Moon is letting her emotions over the situation get the best of her and I predict that she will not come out the victor. This match goes to Raquel with the high probability of an assist from Dakota Kai.

            Next we have a 6 man, winner take all, tag match between MSK and Bronson Reed v. Santos Escobar and Legado Del Fantasma. On June 1, 2021, MSK squared up against Legado Del Fantasma for a breathtaking performance. The smooth, high flying choreography was flawless. Then out of nowhere, Bronson  body checks Santos into the audience barricade. Tonight's match can go either way. Both teams have what it takes to bring honor to the belts.

            The last two matches are the ones I am looking forward to the most. Before the main event of the evening,  there will be a fun match for legacy. The million dollar belt is back in a golden ladder match! This is going to be a great one. I love Cameron Grimes. He is an excellent wrestler and his character is obnoxiously entertaining. LA Knight is no one to dismiss either. I am invested in this storyline. The ladder, the return of the million dollar belt and the passing down of a legacy is everything a die hard fan like myself is looking forward to enjoying. I predict Cameron Grimes as the Million Dollar winner.

            Now for the main event. A fatal 5-way between the champ Karrion Kross, Kyle O'Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole. I am pleased that Karrion is still champ and that his storyline with Finn Balor is over. He is currently the right face of the championship. He wears and defends it like a fierce gladiator. I predict Karrion will retain his gold tonight, however, his time in NXT is coming to an end. He is ready for the main roster. It was due to injury that he had to relinquish his title last year. He will remain champ a little while longer. My hope as a fan is that when he is drafted to either Raw or SmackDown during the superstar shake-up later this year, that the belt will drop to either Adam Cole or Pete Dunne. It would be epic to see Karrion Kross v. Brock Lesner or Karrion Kross v. Roman Reigns.

       Adam Cole is ready to move up to the main roster but I would give him another year in NXT. 

            Johnny Gargano is a great wrestler but I have lost interest in him since his storyline with Tomasso Ciampa ended. 

            Pete Dunne is always worth watching. While he has been a champion in the past, he has never held the NXT Championship. Don't quit before the miracle.

            One last thing.....#BringBackBraun

Friday Night SmackDown June 11, 2021

            Roman Reigns has family problems. Problems with his own family and the Mysterio family. The show started with Jimmy Uso in the ring calling out Roman for being jealous and promising that he was going to do something. At the end of the show, Rey Mysterio calls Roman to the ring. After Rey makes his point as a father very clear, he attacks Roman with a kendo stick. Rey went to town. Shortly after a superman punch, Dominik makes his way to the ring and continues the assault on Roman. Then Roman gains the upper hand and throws Dominik out of the ring like a bag of trash. Many have Roman's name in their mouth and I am interested to see how the big dog gets humbled. 

            A lot is changing in the WWE. From releases to storylines and new looks. Some have been smart moves and improved looks while others have been epic fails. One look that I believe severely missed the mark can be seen on Otis. Clean shaven and a ponytail. No Bueno. I couldn't tell if he reminded me of Vader without the mask or a make-up free Adrian Adonis. I greatly miss the Otis of old when he was paired with Tucker. They were the polar opposite of Too Cool and the formula worked.

 

            It was during a match between Montez Ford and Chad Gable that we see Otis ambush and destroy Dawkins backstage before making his way to the ring. He then goes after Montez Ford resulting in serious injuries. According to WWE, Ford suffered a partial rib fracture and torn intercostal cartilage. Keep Tez in your prayers.

            I grew up in the 80s and I remember a lot of WWEs classic segments. One of the classic segments that I miss and which has never come close to being duplicated was Piper's Pit. Hot Rod could talk and entertain. One of the current "talk show" features is Bailey's Ding Dong, Hello!. I'm not a fan but I am so glad that I watched last night. Seth Rollins was the guest in his least offensive outfit yet. But the best part was the surprise guest. Ding Dong! It's Cesaro! He literally rips the pants off of Seth, destroys the set and javelins an artificial tree in Seth's direction as he scurries away in his undies. It was awesome!

            I said at the beginning that a lot was changing in the WWE. One of the more exciting changes for me is the storyline between Shinsuke Nakamura and Baron Corbin. Yeah, I said Baron Corbin and not King Corbin. It is time to crown a new king. Shin would be a fun sovereign for the common people. And let's not forget about his 80s hair band hype man, Rick Boogs. I love the combination but my preference would have been for creative to keep the name Average Joe - from the Old Spice commercials featured in earlier PPVs this year. What I am equally eager to see after Shin becomes King Shinsuke is Boogs against Corbin. 

            A superstar that we're going to see in action next week is Commander Azeez. I personally wish they would have called him either Babatunde or Dabba-Kato but I understand what the company is doing. We haven't seen Azeez in action since his Raw Underground days. No matter what he's called, Azeez gets his character over and he is impressive to watch. Next week, it will be Kevin Owens and Big E squaring up against Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez. If only WWE had kept Braun Strowman. Braun versus Azeez in singles competition would have been something to see. I highly recommend rewatching 2018 Greatest Royal Rumble. Azeez, then known as Babatunde was entrant number 37 only to be eliminated shortly thereafter by Braun.  #BringBackBraun