Alucard

This week they seemed to go out of their way to do the opposite, with the exception of Roode getting squashed 3 on 1.

I love the Iiconics He did a great job coming off like 'the man' when he was WWE Champ then, great promo work in the build to SummerSlam. I much prefer him as a face than heel.

The second one for sure. And then they are pinned clean in 3 minutes on top of that. They've always felt lesser than what they were to me since the Maverick pairing started, this feels like it's going to stick with them for as long as the pairing lasts. They were going way over the top with toilet humor last night that it feels like it will be a regular thing going forward.

They couldn't figure it out either.

Agreed, that was the feud when Alexa became my favorite in the company but both women were killing it in their segments together back then.. a major highlight of one of the best periods of Smackdown.

Agreed x2. Great show, matches and scenes, total Lucha Underground and was a phenomenal finish to the season making it all worth it. Bring on season 5!

Co-signed, I always praise that match and thought about mentioning it in my initial post. To me that's the match/moment that kicked off my favorite period of TNA from BFG to BFG 2011-2012. Biggest pop in TNA history for Hulkamania running wild. Loved it and it was perfectly executed all the way around.

Agreed on all of those... each one of those names had some really great stuff in their TNA Runs. Was definitely an exciting time, as mentioned the 2-3 month build to Jarrett/Raven was fantastic.

Shane got big heel heat in the opening but went out of his way seemingly to shut that down and turn it back around to cheers, including making sure to emphasize he does NOT believe he is really the best in the world and it's for all of Smackdown. Felt like the complete opposite of wanting him to turn heel or get booed. I'm with the pro-Shane crowd, always enjoy his 2-3 matches a year... loved the Styles match, HIAC with Owens, and the Survivor Series 2016 was my favorite. Also he was definitely not the focal point of tonight's main event segment, being out there for 10 seconds at the very end.

2003 Juventud Guerrera vs. Teddy Hart (Sept 3 2003) is a fun one - If not already mentioned, Jeff Jarrett vs Raven (April 30 2003) was one of the best built up matches they ever had and the pinnacle of a "Double J Special" (babyface version) kind of clusterfuck of a match, but a spectacle for sure. 2004 - Kazarian vs. AJ Styles (June 9 2004) is one of my all time fav X Division matches (somewhat botched finish aside) - Kazarian/Michael Shane vs AJ Styles Ultimate X (July 28 2004) was maybe my favorite of the early ultimate X matches. I remember AJ hitting the Styles Clash off the cables being the most insane spot then. - Jeff Jarrett vs. Chris Harris (March 17 2004) I recall liking a lot, I was all in on wanting Harris to win the title in the buildup around this time. - I wanna say one of the AMW/Naturals tags was good, maybe the cage match from July 21 2004. 2007 Jeff Jarrett vs Bobby Roode (Sacrifice 07) same show as the Harris/Storm Texas Death but I remember liking this a lot as the first very good Roode performance vs a great Jarrett babyface performance. 2009 - Have to throw a mention to the Kevin Nash vs. Mick Foley (Hard Justice 09) blood brawl that a few of us here recently praised. Forgot that in my initial post. - I recall really digging Hamada vs Nikki Roxx from New Year's Knockouts Eve Impact show. Similarly Hamada has a pair of 2-3 min matches with Sarita & Taylor Wilde in Nov/Dec 09 that are super short but really good.

There really is a great amount. Aries/Roode from Dest X 2012 may be my all time fav. Co-signed on Aries/Bully from Sacrifice, also loved Aries/Joe from Slammiversary 2012. I'll throw out some more off the top of my head... Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy (No Surrender 2010) Gail Kim vs. Taryn Terrell - Last Woman Standing (Slammiversary 2013) Bobby Lashley vs. Drew Galloway (Slammiversary 2016) Bobby Lashley vs. Eddie Edwards - Steel Cage Match (Impact, 7/21/16) Bobby Lashley vs. James Storm (Impact, 8/11/16) Moose vs. Mike Bennett (One Night Only: Live 2017) Christian Cage vs. Samoa Joe (Destination X 2007) Most recently.. oVe vs Pentagon/Fenix/Swann (Impact 7/12/18) and of course.. The Final Deletion: Broken Matt Hardy vs Jeff Hardy (Impact, 7/5/16)

That actually crossed my mind too ha, have become accustomed to that epic entrance music part of him when he's without mask. Thought it was a nice sendoff for the character if that's the end for him.

I've just never seen the big deal about Braun. Felt like he did get pretty over a year ago, then Brock beat him and he was never the same since then. But I've never gotten this 'next big thing' vibe from him at all, especially this past year with all the corny goofball babyface stuff they had him doing.

Sad to hear on both accounts. Shane O is a great babyface authority figure, we do not need another heel one. I was hoping this was just ramping up the Survivor Series RAW vs SDL stuff like he did last year where Shane came off kind of heelish at times and that was it. Zero desire to ever see another brock/braun match.. it sucked last year, today, and next time... move on to someone else please.

The last portion of the show was total fun. Brock kicking Braun's ass in 3 minutes with like 4 F5s and literally nothing else. Shane McMahon becoming the best wrestler in the world today, pinning Dolph Ziggler in 2 1/2 minutes. And the DX/Brothers epic.. wild

I'll always support them getting serious about pushing Lashley. Nothing's really clicked thus far but maybe they'll put him over strong in the world Cup. I'll keep waiting for 2016 Impact Lashley to burst out. Lucha House Party was promoted as their "RAW Debut" making it sound like they were being called up from the developmental 205 live league. I was thinking Orton would end up winning it, they all stay and become Team SDL for Survivor Series with Captain ShaneO. Orton's been booked pretty strong since the heel turn while on the RAW side, I think Dean will screw Seth, they never get fully behind Lashley, Kurt as much as I would love it won't win it, and Dolph is Dolph. That is correct.

Serena Deeb was the other, believe it was Cole mentioning. Really great lineup with those three as trainers.

They originally came together in Impact last year as The Veterans of War with a military gimmick using the names Mayweather and Wilcox. But they were only there maybe 4 months and have since continued teaming on the indies, now going by The War Kings. I think being NWA led to a more Road Warrior presentation.

Co-signed, being a battle royal vs the Rumble has me worried for the standard 'everyone walks out at once' deal. If I could change anything on the card, it would be giving Asuka a showcase match. I wish Asuka vs. Meiko could've happened here.

Agreed on all 3 points. Thought that period of 2016 was one of Impact's peaks, Lashley was on fire having great matches with everybody, and they were firing on all cylinders. Really digging the Josh/Callis commentary as of late. I find Josh rather underrated as once they got past the over the top Josh/JB feud portion, I think he has been real solid with Borash, Sonjay, and now Callis.

Such a great shoot, absolutely love RVD's Big Johnny impressions, Michael Hayes bit hilarious too.

Mike Jackson and the "Alabama Junior Heavyweight Championship"?

Catching up on the thread after wanting to make sure to avoid spoilers throughout. Fav matches were Meiko/Mercedes, Hiroyo/Evers, and Meiko/Kelly. Meiko is of course the best on another level while I felt Matsumoto was a real gem in this. Loved the performances from Kacy C, Taynara, Deonna, and Killer Kelly as well. Purazzo/Shirai was a lot of fun, I love Deonna's armbar work there.

"By dumping you over the top rope, I show you all that I can win a battle royal!"

It went less than a minute before Killer Kross interfered and they turned it into Moose/Kross vs. Eddie/Dreamer which is a fine tornado tag brawl. Moose has been pretty hilarious in his heel work and outlandish outfits as of late. Agreed, I really liked his 2016 work against Lashley but his character stuff this year has been on another level.