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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.
Monday
Monday Night Raw (USA Network)
SummerSlam is in the books and we have about a month until the next pay-per-view (PPV), No Mercy. However, we already know that main event is going to be Braun Strowman vs. Brock Lesnar. In the last week, they did a great job already building that match.
It isn’t specifically advertised that Brock will be there, but likely at least Heyman will be there to represent him if he’s not.
The big match advertised for this show is the Women’s title match between Alexa Bliss and champion Sasha Banks. Sasha will try to successfully defend the Women’s title for the first time. This a title that changes hands a lot on television so a title change is definitely not out of the question.
Also, Asuka has relinquished her NXT women’s title and could be moving to either brand at any time. That’s something to definitely keep an eye on.
Verdict: Women’s title matches on Raw are often big time matches. And the main event program should be a blast. But that doesn’t account for the other 2 hours 15 minutes of Raw.
Tuesday
SmackDown Live (USA Network)
There’s plenty time between now and SmackDown’s next pay-per-view (Oct. 8) so they have not set up anything yet for that show. We don’t know the next WWE title program, but if last week was any indication, it could be a rematch between Shinsuke Nakamura and Jinder Mahal.
Bobby Roode is on the blue brand now so Tuesdays have become glorious. He isn’t the only person to debut; however, as Shelton Benjamin is also officially on SmackDown. He’ll be a partner for Chad Gable tonight. This could be a full time tag team. This could turn into a feud between the guys. Both options kind of rule.
Verdict: SmackDown is a bit of an unknown story wise with so much time until their next PPV. The unknown makes it intriguing, but outside Gable/Benjamin, there’s also not a lot to recommend.
205 Live (WWE Network)
Enzo Amore is a member of the cruiserweights now. I’ll let you all decide for yourselves if that makes you want to watch it more or less. (There’s no right answer)
Verdict: If you like the cruisers or certified g’s, check it out.
Wednesday
NXT (WWE Network)
This is the real fallout show from TakeOver, where they will pick up where they left off in Brooklyn. Drew McIntyre is champion. Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, and Bobby Fish laid him out after he won it. So that feud is already started and Drew will address that this week.
Where does Roddy Strong stand? Will Bobby Roode be back to finish off his issues with Roddy or get a rematch? There’s plenty of questions to be answered.
Plus we know that Asuka is relinquishing the women’s title soon. (Well technically it’s already happened but has yet to air.) It’s not necessarily on this episode but happened at this taping. Where does that leave the women’s division?
Verdict: There’s a lot of interesting stuff to look for here. It’s worth checking out.
Lucha Underground (El Rey Network)
Last week was the Cueto Cup finale where we learned that the main event of their Ultima Lucha season finale will be Johnny Mundo vs. Prince Puma for the title. Also, Rey Mysterio delivered a 619 to owner and promoter Dario Cueto. So there will definitely be repercussions from that.
While there’s nothing advertised yet for this week, there’s about 2 months for them to build up to the finale in October and that starts tonight.
Verdict: Lucha Underground starts the road to the season finale tonight. If you’re curious on where they are, check it out.
Thursday
GFW Impact Wrestling (Pop TV)
Last week, Eli Drake won the GFW championship. This week, his reign begins.
They haven’t advertised anything specifically for this show. The last couple weeks with Cornette replacing Prichard as the authority figure have been pretty good. It looks like they could be doing a soft reboot from the first round of shows the new regime put on.
Verdict: Not much to go on here. I’m a big fan of Eli Drake and I’m glad he’s champion. But outside that, there’s nothing to recommend since there’s nothing yet advertised.
If I could only watch one thing this week, it’d be:
NXT
Raw was definitely an option given the Raw women’s title match, but the more compact NXT gave it the edge.
I’ve quite enjoyed the yellow brand the last few months. I’m a big McIntyre fan and I can’t wait to see Adam Cole in NXT. TakeOver: Brooklyn left me wanting to know what happens next with a lot of things and this Wednesday, we get to find out.
Let us know what you’d pick if you could only watch one thing in the comments.
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!