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Week in Review

Week of May 15, 2021

Each week, Graham "GSM" Matthews breaks down the latest Raw, SmackDown and NXT broadcasts as well as the occasional pay-per-view events for that respective show's highlights, low points and other noteworthy moments. Awards are also given to the week's best match, most impressive Superstar, and strongest show.

Match of the Week:
Kushida vs. Santos Escobar (NXT, May 11)

It was super cool to see the NXT Cruiserweight Championship take center stage this week on NXT. I mean, it was almost imperative given that it was a two-out-of-three falls match and nothing else was going to follow it. I had no doubt Kushida and Santos Escobar were going to kill it and they definitely did.

Escobar took the first fall, and almost immediately, Kushida stole the second. I would have spaced those out a bit, but I'm glad the third fall went a while. The action was exciting as they really brought the best out of each other. Ultimately, Kushida retained the title, which should pave the way for Escobar to move into the heavyweight division where he belongs.

Superstar of the Week:
Hit Row

Picture
It's been a long time coming, but it feels like Isiah "Swerve" Scott has finally found his footing in NXT. Don't get me wrong, he's been doing some solid work over the last two years, but he was fairly directionless as a babyface. Turning heel was the key and giving him his own stable was the cherry on top.

Collectively known as Hit Row, the stable made their official debut on Wednesday's NXT. Scott introduced all of the members, which include AJ Francis (now known as Top Dolla) and Ashante "Thee" Adonis. I don't know much about the woman, but she seems to be a good fit for the faction as well.

Show of the Week:
WWE NXT, May 11

All of this week's awards went to NXT and rightfully so as it was a strong show on the whole. The ratings may not reflect it, but I truly feel the black-and-gold brand has been on another level since moving to Tuesdays last month. A lot of the feuds have been clicking and there's been some great matches to boot.

That was once again the case this week as Kushida and Raquel Gonazlez both retained their titles in fierce battles. Additionally, Karrion Kross killed Austin Theory, MSK had a fun sprint against Breezango, Kyle O'Reilly vs. Oney Lorcan was a blast, and Hit Row debuted. We also found out TakeOver: In Your House is returning next week, which is exciting news.

Other Notable Highlights and Low Points

This Week's Highlights

  • Drew McIntyre vs. Bobby Lashley: Being that this was a rematch from WrestleMania 37, I appreciated that it was advertised one week in advance. It had that big fight feel and it was another entertaining encounter, which shouldn't have come as much of a surprise considering how strong their in-ring chemistry is. I also didn't have a problem with the non-finish because neither man should have lost and it gave Braun Strowman a much-needed momentum boost.
​
  • Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka: This was another WrestleMania rematch that took place on Raw. Unfortunately, this one was made official earlier in the evening and wasn't advertised as heavily. That just goes to show what WWE thinks of the women's division at the moment. On the bright side, it was one of their better bouts together and was enjoyable while it lasted. I liked the clean finish in this case because, at this point, Asuka doesn't really have much to lose.
​
  • Cedric Alexander vs. Shelton Benjamin: I feared this would be short on time, and although it didn't last more than five minutes, this was a really fun sprint. They've already held the Raw Tag Team Championship, so I honestly don't mind WWE splitting them up as long as both men get something out of it. Benjamin winning took me by surprise, so hopefully that means there are more matches to come from them because they clearly have chemistry together.
​
  • Cesaro vs. Jimmy Uso: The setup was simple in that Jimmy told Roman Reigns he didn't think he'll beat Cesaro at WrestleMania Backlash, so Reigns manipulated Jimmy into challenging Cesaro to a match in the main event of SmackDown. In theory, that would soften up Cesaro before Sunday. Brilliant. The match was well-wrestled, but this is in the "Highlights" column more so because of the progression of the storyline involving these men, Reigns and Jey Uso.
​
  • Raquel Gonzalez vs. Mercedes Martinez: I think we all assumed/knew Martinez wasn't winning the NXT Women's Championship on Tuesday night, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a hard-hitting, entertaining affair. Martinez is just terrific and she gave Gonzalez a hell of a fight before falling short. Gonzalez is off to a solid start as champion and it looks like her split away from Dakota Kai is coming soon based on what happened in that WWE.com video after the show.
 
  • Kyle O'Reilly vs. Oney Lorcan: You can put Lorcan in there with pretty much anyone and it's bound to be a fun match. Considering you can say the same thing about O'Reilly, you had to know this would be a blast of a bout. Sure enough, they beat the crap out of each other and I loved every second of it. Not only was that enjoyable, we also got the long-awaited return of Bobby Fish afterward as he helped O'Reilly fend off Lorcan and Pete Dunne. I'm curious where that will lead.

This Week's Low Points

  • Jinder Mahal vs. Jeff Hardy: Mahal is back following a long layoff due to injury and I couldn't care less. I'm sorry but I've just never been able to get into his stuff, including his dull WWE Championship reign four years ago. This stable of his might have potential, but time will tell. The worst part is that Hardy was the sacrificial lamb here. You know, the guy who is still extremely popular with fans and still has something to offer. I don't understand why he's booked like a loser.
​
  • Asuka, Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke vs. Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler and Charlotte Flair: All of this was terrible. Just terrible. Okay, so the match was passable, but it wasn't as good as it should have been given some of the talent involved. I'm talking about the ending, really. Alexa Bliss apparently using supernatural powers to give Baszler a leg cramp (or whatever the hell it was) was atrocious television. Needless to say, Baszler has never meant less since signing with WWE.
 
  • Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler vs. Natalya and Tamina: To their credit, this was a better bout than I was expecting from these four. That said, it wasn't a very high bar to surpass. Despite there being an abundance of teams, very few of them mean anything and therefore WWE's women's tag team scene is on life support. I doubt putting the titles on Natalya and Tamina will do anything to change that, but congrats to them for getting their moment after so many years, if nothing else.
 
  • King Corbin vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: There wasn't anything technically wrong with the match, but I have no idea why Nakamura continues to lose matches he should be winning. Assuming Roman Reigns is going to be Universal Champion for the foreseeable future, WWE should be building up more potential challengers, such as Nakamura (who has unfinished business with Reigns, anyway). Meanwhile, Corbin's king gimmick is death and he needs to drop it as soon as possible.
 
  • Intercontinental Championship Fatal 4-Way announced for next week's SmackDown: This was a minor nitpick (and I'm stretching because there wasn't a lot to complain about this last week in WWE), but I have no clue why WWE would do Apollo Crews vs. Big E vs. Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens on SmackDown next week and not at WrestleMania Backlash on Sunday. That's definitely a pay-per-view-worthy match. Maybe WWE wants to keep the event under three hours?
 
  • MSK vs. Breezango: Although this was a fun match that I enjoyed, it's not in the "Low Points" column for its quality. It's because the Breezango act is so tired at this point and I have no clue what purpose they serve in NXT's growing tag team division. I'm glad they're helping elevate other teams, but the gimmick wore out its welcome a while ago. Hopefully these losses are leading something, but I'd personally prefer to see them go their separate ways. Tyler Breeze still has value.

Week in Review Archive

2012

November 10, 2012

November 17, 2012

November 24, 2012

December 1, 2012

December 8, 2012

December 15, 2012

December 22, 2012

2012 Year in Review

2013

January 5, 2013

January 12, 2013

January 19, 2013

January 26, 2013

February 2, 2013

February 9, 2013

February 16, 2013

February 23, 2013

March 2, 2013

March 9, 2013

March 16, 2013

March 23, 2013

March 30, 2013

April 13, 2013

April 20, 2013

May 4, 2013

May 11, 2013

May 18, 2013

May 25, 2013

June 1, 2013

June 8, 2013

June 15, 2013

June 22, 2013

June 29, 2013

July 6, 2013

July 13, 2013

July 20, 2013

July 27, 2013

August 3, 2013

August 10, 2013

August 17, 2013

August 24, 2013

August 31, 2013

September 7, 2013

September 14, 2013

September 21, 2013

September 28, 2013

October 5, 2013

October 12, 2013

October 19, 2013

October 26, 2013

November 2, 2013

November 9, 2013

November 16, 2013

November 23, 2013

November 30, 2013

December 7, 2013

December 14, 2013

December 21, 2013

December 28, 2013

2013 Year in Review

2014

January 4, 2014

January 11, 2014

January 18, 2014

January 25, 2014

February 1, 2014

February 8, 2014

February 15, 2014

February 22, 2014

March 1, 2014

March 8, 2014

March 15, 2014

March 22, 2014

March 29, 2014

April 5, 2014

April 12, 2014

April 19, 2014

April 26, 2014

May 3, 2014

May 10, 2014

May 17, 2014

May 24, 2014

May 31, 2014

June 7, 2014

June 14, 2014

June 21, 2014

June 28, 2014

July 5, 2014

July 12, 2014

July 19, 2014

July 26, 2014

August 2, 2014

August 9, 2014

August 16, 2014

August 23, 2014

August 30, 2014

September 6, 2014

September 13, 2014

September 20, 2014

September 27, 2014

October 4, 2014

October 11, 2014

October 18, 2014

October 25, 2014

November 1, 2014

November 8, 2014

November 15, 2014

November 22, 2014

November 29, 2014

December 6, 2014

December 13, 2014

December 20, 2014

December 27, 2014

2014 Year in Review

2015

January 3, 2015

January 10, 2015

January 17, 2015

January 24, 2015

January 31, 2015

February 7, 2015

February 14, 2015

February 21, 2015

February 28, 2015

March 7, 2015

March 14, 2015

March 21, 2015

March 28, 2015

April 4, 2015

April 11, 2015

April 18, 2015

April 25, 2015

May 2, 2015

May 9, 2015

May 16, 2015

May 23, 2015

May 30, 2015

June 6, 2015

June 13, 2015

June 20, 2015

June 27, 2015

2012

2013

2014

June 28, 2014

June 21, 2014

July 5, 2014

July 12, 2014

July 19, 2014

July 26, 2014

Aug. 2, 2014

Aug. 9, 2014

Aug. 16, 2014

Aug. 23, 2014

Aug. 30, 2014

Sept. 6, 2014

Sept. 13, 2014

Sept. 20, 2014

Sept. 27, 2014

Oct. 4, 2014

Oct. 11, 2014

Oct. 18, 2014

Oct. 25, 2014

Nov. 1, 2014

Nov. 8, 2014

Nov. 15, 2014

Nov. 22, 2014

Nov. 29, 2014

Dec. 6, 2014

Dec. 13, 2014

Dec. 20, 2014

Dec. 27, 2014

2014 Review

2015

Jan. 3, 2015

Jan. 10, 2015

Jan. 17, 2015

Jan. 24, 2015

Jan. 31, 2015

Feb. 7, 2015

Feb. 14, 2015

Feb. 21, 2015

Feb. 28, 2015

Mar. 7, 2015

Mar. 14, 2015

Mar. 21, 2015

Mar. 28, 2015

April 4, 2015

April 11, 2015

April 18, 2015

April 25, 2015

May 2, 2015

May 9, 2015

May 16, 2015

May 23, 2015

May 30, 2015

June 6, 2015

June 13, 2015

June 20, 2015

June 27, 2015

July 4, 2015

July 11, 2015

July 18, 2015

July 25, 2015

Aug. 1, 2015

Aug. 8, 2015

Aug. 15, 2015

Aug. 22, 2015

Aug. 29, 2015

Sept. 5, 2015

Sept. 12, 2015

Sept. 19, 2015

Sept. 26, 2015

Oct. 3, 2015

Oct. 10, 2015

Oct. 17, 2015

Oct. 24, 2015

Oct. 31, 2015

Nov. 7, 2015

Nov. 14, 2015

Nov. 21, 2015

Nov. 28, 2015

Dec. 5, 2015

Dec. 12, 2015

Dec. 19, 2015

Dec. 26, 2015

2015 Review

2016

Jan. 2, 2016

Jan. 9, 2016

Jan. 16, 2016

Jan. 23, 2016

Jan. 30, 2016

Feb. 6, 2016

Feb. 13, 2016

Feb. 20, 2016

Feb. 27, 2016

Mar. 5, 2016

Mar. 12, 2016

Mar. 19, 2016

Mar. 26, 2016

April 2, 2016

April 9, 2016

April 16, 2016

April 23, 2016

April 30, 2016

May 7, 2016

May 14, 2016

May 21, 2016

May 28, 2016

June 4, 2016

June 11, 2016

June 18, 2016

June 25, 2016

July 2, 2016

July 9, 2016

July 16, 2016

July 23, 2016

July 30, 2016

Aug. 6, 2016

Aug. 13, 2016

Aug. 20, 2016

Aug. 27, 2016

Sept. 3, 2016

Sept. 10, 2016

Sept. 17, 2016

Sept. 24, 2016

Oct. 1, 2016

Oct. 8, 2016

Oct. 15, 2016

Oct. 22, 2016

Oct. 29, 2016

Nov. 5, 2016

Nov. 12, 2016

Nov. 19, 2016

Nov. 26, 2016

Dec. 3, 2016

Dec. 10, 2016

Dec. 17, 2016

Dec. 24, 2016

Dec. 31, 2016

2016 Review


2017

Jan. 7, 2017

Jan. 14, 2017

Jan. 21, 2017

Jan. 28, 2017

Feb. 4, 2017

Feb. 11, 2017

Feb. 18, 2017

Feb. 25, 2017

Mar. 4, 2017

Mar. 11, 2017

Mar. 18, 2017

Mar. 25, 2017

April 1, 2017

April 8, 2017

April 15, 2017

April 22, 2017

April 29, 2017

May 6, 2017

May 13, 2017

May 20, 2017

May 27, 2017

June 3, 2017

June 10, 2017

June 17, 2017

June 24, 2017

July 1, 2017

July 8, 2017

July 15, 2017

July 22, 2017

July 29, 2017

Aug. 5, 2017

Aug. 12, 2017

Aug. 19, 2017

Aug. 26, 2017

Sept. 2, 2017

Sept. 9, 2017

Sept. 16, 2017

Sept. 23, 2017

Sept. 30, 2017

Oct. 7, 2017

Oct. 14, 2017

Oct. 21, 2017

Oct. 28, 2017

Nov. 4, 2017

Nov. 11, 2017

Nov. 18, 2017

Nov. 25, 2017

Dec. 2, 2017

Dec. 9, 2017

Dec. 16, 2017

Dec. 23, 2017

Dec. 30, 2017

2017 Review

2018

Jan. 6, 2018

Jan. 13, 2018

Jan. 20, 2018

Jan. 27, 2018

Feb. 3, 2018

Feb. 10, 2018

Feb. 17, 2018

Feb. 24, 2018

Mar. 3, 2018

Mar. 10, 2018

Mar. 17, 2018

Mar. 24, 2018

Mar. 31, 2018

April 7, 2018

April 14, 2018

April 21, 2018

April 28, 2018

May 5, 2018

May 12, 2018

May 19, 2018

May 26, 2018

June 2, 2018

June 9, 2018

June 16, 2018

June 23, 2018

June 30, 2018

July 7, 2018

July 14, 2018

July 21, 2018

July 28, 2018

Aug. 4, 2018

Aug. 11, 2018

Aug. 18, 2018

Aug. 25, 2018

Sept. 1, 2018

Sept. 8, 2018

Sept. 15, 2018

Sept. 22, 2018

Sept. 29, 2018

Oct. 6, 2018

Oct. 13, 2018

Oct. 20, 2018

Oct. 27, 2018

Nov. 3, 2018

Nov. 10, 2018

Nov. 17. 2018

Nov. 24, 2018

Dec. 1, 2018

Dec. 8, 2018

Dec. 15, 2018

Dec. 22, 2018

Dec. 29, 2018

2018 Review

2019

Jan. 5, 2019

Jan. 12, 2019

Jan. 19, 2019

Jan. 26, 2019

Feb. 2, 2019

Feb. 9, 2019

Feb. 16, 2019

Feb. 23, 2019

Mar. 2, 2019

Mar. 9, 2019

Mar. 16, 2019

Mar, 23, 2019

Mar. 30, 2019

April 6, 2019

April 13, 2019

April 20, 2019

April 27, 2019

May 4, 2019

May 11, 2019

May 18, 2019

May 25, 2019

June 1, 2019

June 8, 2019

June 15, 2019

June 22, 2019

June 29, 2019

July 6, 2019

July 13, 2019

July 20, 2019

July 27, 2019

Aug. 3, 2019

Aug. 10, 2019

Aug. 17, 2019

Aug. 24, 2019

Aug. 31, 2019

Sept. 7, 2019

Sept. 14, 2019

Sept. 21, 2019

Sept. 28, 2019

Oct. 5, 2019

Oct. 12, 2019

Oct. 19, 2019

Oct. 26, 2019

Nov. 2, 2019

Nov. 9, 2019

Nov. 16, 2019

Nov. 23, 2019

Nov. 30, 2019

Dec. 7, 2019

Dec. 14, 2019

Dec. 21, 2019

Dec. 28, 2019

2019 Review

2020

Jan. 4, 2020

Jan. 11, 2020

Jan. 18, 2020

Jan. 25, 2020

Feb. 1, 2020

Feb. 8, 2020

Feb. 15, 2020

Feb. 22, 2020

Feb. 29, 2020

Mar. 7, 2020

Mar. 14, 2020

Mar. 21, 2020

Mar. 28, 2020

April 4, 2020

April 11, 2020

April 18, 2020

April 25, 2020

May 2, 2020

May 9, 2020

May 16, 2020

May 23, 2020

May 30, 2020

June 6, 2020

June 13, 2020

June 20, 2020

June 27, 2020

July 4, 2020

July 11, 2020

July 18, 2020

July 25, 2020

Aug. 1, 2020

Aug. 8, 2020

Aug. 15, 2020

Aug. 22, 2020

Aug. 29, 2020

Sept. 5, 2020

Sept. 12, 2020

Sept. 19, 2020

Sept. 26. 2020

Oct. 3, 2020

Oct. 10, 2020

Oct. 17, 2020

Oct. 24, 2020

Oct. 31, 2020

Nov. 7, 2020

Nov. 14, 2020

Nov. 21, 2020

Nov. 28, 2020

Dec. 5, 2020

Dec. 12, 2020

Dec. 19, 2020

Dec. 26, 2020

2020 Review

2021

Jan. 2, 2021

Jan. 9, 2021

Jan. 16, 2021

Jan. 23, 2021

Jan. 30, 2021

Feb. 6, 2021

Feb. 13, 2021

Feb. 20, 2021

Feb. 27, 2021

Mar. 6, 2021

Mar. 13, 2021

Mar. 20, 2021

May 15, 2021

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