Every week, the New Ringside Apostles will bring you the very best wrasslin’ programming reviews. Every month, one week will be “The Sean & Shawn Show.”
WWE hope you like!
Sean Farrell: CRUISERWEIGHT CLASSIC (Episodes 1&2) – With the first 2 episodes of The CWC, we’ve seen 16 competitors give all they have to be seen and get noticed. There is a decent mix of established vets, newcomers and new-to-you’s. I watch a ton of wrestling and there are guys here I’ve never even heard of!
So far we’ve had some crazy lucha action, strong style, high flying, mat work and all types in between. The presentation of CWC is nothing like anything else the WWE is currently producing. The announcing/on-screen graphics/background videos all help educate us on these performers and create emotional attachments. Early standouts to look for are Gran Metalik, Mustafs Ali and the always entertaining Cedric Alexander. These early rounds? They’re all winners. 4/5 Hurricanranas.
The Cruiserweight Classic airs tonight on the WWE Network.
Shawn Puff: BATTLEGROUND 2016 (July 24) – From the nation’s capital, in the aftermath of the WWE Draft, comes Battleground–a “PPV” that seemed to be thrown together and strangely timed. At least former NXT besties-turned-bitter rivals, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, had their absolutely outstanding “final encounter” (despite both being drafted to RAW).
While a solid event, it seems fans had to wait another 24 and 48 hours for the fed’s biggest shockers. We waited for the big payoff all night Sunday, with the height of Battleground‘s surprise was Sasha’s “mystery” partner, Bayley. DOH! She should have just been drafted. JBL also made it a point to let everyone know that she WON’T be on the main roster and that this was just a one-time team up. So much for that, Sean…
Sean Farrell: Oh, BG2K16? I’ll make this short and sweet, Shawn. It was a fantastic show, top to bottom. From the PreShow Matches to the final bell, this was easily one of the best PPVs in some time. The worst match? There really wasn’t one. Great promos / some great debuts / and some legitimate surprises… well.. at least to me (Roman NOT winning). Stop reading and watch this show, congregation–even if you’ve already watched RAW, SD Live! and/or read our reports. 5/5 RKO’s.
Shawn Puff: Wow. You actually enjoyed.. okay now THAT was a surprise: Breezango over Uso’s! I thought those guys were on their way out the door Also, neither the US or IC title switched hands, and I don’t know why I was expecting anything else. I mean, either BOTH had to move or neither had to move. Could anyone really see Zack Ryder upsetting Rusev?? Woo Woo Woo!! You know it!! Super Cena wins again; Natalya (for some odd reason) was put over on Becky Lynch; and Dean Ambrose walked out with a clean win over his former Shield teammates in arguably the BMOTN.
If I had to give worst match to someone, though –which this SHAWN does– it’d be Miz versus Darren Young. I get that you don’t want to bring both titles over to RAW but a double dq after Miz attacks Bob Backlund and Young attacks the Miz? Really? I don’t even get why Young was disqualified. He locked the crossface chicken wing on outside of the ring, but there wasn’t even a count. As soon as it was locked in the bell rang. 3.5/5 Bibles.