:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57251853/AngleWWE.0.png)
There’s a ton of wrestling content nowadays and unless you’re a hardcore pro-graps fan, you have to decide what to watch when and what to consider leaving out. That’s where we come in to help.
Every week, we are going to run down the big in-ring happenings for the easily accessible US wrestling. This won’t cover your indie needs, but ReverendKain always has you covered in his weekly Sermon on the Mat for that.
Bear in mind, matches could be added after this posts that would definitely change how worth a show is to watch.
Sunday
WWE TLC (WWE Network)
Boy is this a weird one.
Coming out of Raw on Monday, this show was focused on really just one thing: The Shield reuniting. They packed the main event with multiple enemies for the Shield such as the Miz, the Bar, Braun Strowman, and yes Kane.
The rest of the card is rather thin. Asuka is making her debut and that is surely exciting. There are a total of three women’s matches and two cruiserweight matches. But it was obvious it was all about the main event.
And then Roman Reigns ended up coming down with an illness that will keep him off the card. Now the entire show that was build on the Shield won’t have the Shield.
To try to maintain interest, WWE ended up making this match Kurt Angle’s in-ring return to the company. He’ll be replacing Roman in that main event. It’ll be random as alls hell, but it will be Kurts WWE in-ring return.
Bray Wyatt also cannot compete and he will be replaced by AJ Styles. AJ Styles vs. Finn Bálor may very well be an improvement over Sister Abigail vs. the Demon.
Verdict: I dunno, man. This is a weird one. Most of the show is very underwhelming. Outside the debut of Asuka, there’s not much I’m jazzed for. I watch TNA/Impact so I’ve seen Kurt wrestle plenty in the last few years. But it will be interesting to see how they roll him out. This show really depends on how much you want to watch Kurt but it definitely feels like a PPV that you can start at 9:45 pm and be OK.
Monday
Monday Night Raw (USA Network)
The same question mark from TLC will apply to much of this show when it comes to the Shield. I can’t imagine that Roman can’t go on tonight but will good to go tomorrow.
Brock Lesnar is advertised to respond to Jinder Mahal’s Survivor Series challenge.
Verdict: It really depends on TLC. That’ll give us a good idea on what will be in store for Raw.
Tuesday
SmackDown Live (USA Network)
SmackDown has improved the last couple weeks since they turned Sami Zayn heel. He and Kevin Owens were a focus and the highlight of the show last week, a show where many other stories spun their wheels.
This week, Shane McMahon will return to address the new team of Owens and Zayn and that’s worth keeping an eye on.
It should be noted that Kevin Owens left their South American tour Friday due to personal issues and we don’t know if he’ll make it to SmackDown or not. If he can’t go, this show will have to book on the fly as well.
Verdict: Heel Sami has been great and that’s worth checking out. Hopefully, they’ll start to move the other stories along.
205 Live (WWE Network)
This will be the first episode after Enzo gets his rematch at the TLC show.
Verdict: If you like the cruisers or certified g’s, check it out.
Wednesday
NXT (WWE Network)
This week will fill out the Women’s title fatal 4-way match with a battle royal to determine who takes the last spot. It looks like it’s a bunch of Mae Young participants and Billie Kay.
The Authors of Pain returned last week and laid waste to SAnitY. Plus, Andrade “Cien” Almas has Zelina Vega lobbying to get him a title match against Drew McIntyre.
Verdict: There’s not much advertised for this show so there’s little to go on. But overall, NXT has been solid. And they’ll need to announce that War Games match eventually.
Thursday
Impact Wrestling (Pop TV)
Impact has been rough lately. It’s been a ton of filler and despite just being weeks away from Bound for Glory, it’s been really underwhelming.
They haven’t advertised anything major yet for this show.
Verdict: I’d skip it until they can prove it’s not going to be all filler.
If I could only watch one thing this week, it’d be:
TLC
This card is going to be a weird one but it has me curious.
There’s a ton of other wrestling out there and we can’t cover it all on here. So if there’s something you’re particularly excited for this week, let your fellow wrestling fans know in the comments.
See ya next week!