Whether you know it or not, WWE Starrcade 2019 is a thing tonight! We are about to be witness to the first hour of this three hour event. I’m Jordan Huie of the Overtimer and I’ve previewed what little we’re expecting to see here. (Bobby Lashley vs. Rusev in a Last Man Standing match | Ric Flair appearing on the Kevin Owens Show | Kabuki Warriors defending the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships in a fatal four way match) I’ve even previewed what we won’t be seeing!
It won’t be the longest session I’ve ever had but nonetheless I shall be here to give you the live play-by-play on this show as it happens! Watch this space!
We start seeing Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton, noting that Starrcade comes to us live for the first time in 19 years. They shout out Dusty Rhodes for the creation of the event. The audio quality from inside this arena is a little messy, as you’d expect from a hastily made glorified house show broadcast.
Kevin Owens is the first man to make his way out for the Kevin Owens Show. A chant begins for his name as he welcomes us to Starrcade. Calls this the biggest Kevin Owens Show he’s ever done, I can’t think of a single one to compare it to. “Wooo”s begin and Owens introduces Ric Flair.
Flair and Owens just here on metal folding chairs which Owens lampshades. Flair puts over the WWE roster and Starrcade’s history. Chant of “We Can’t Hear You”. Owens ask if they can hear him, and swaps mics with Ric. Flair puts over WWE as the greatest form of sports entertainment. Claims that tonight will be legendary in this business forever. Flair has broken kayfabe twice in this rambling little promo… says we don’t always get along but we are a family. 36 years ago, nobody who will be wrestling tonight was alive. I don’t think that’s true actually. Yeah it’s not, Asuka is 38. Ric thanks the late great Harley Race for headlining with him at the first-ever Starrcade. Puts over Dusty Rhodes for creating it. Brings up Sting. Says all he wanted to do was be the best wrestler alive and back there is 30 people who want to prove why they’re the best wrestlers alive. Owens asks him for one big woo. Flair sets it up with his old limousine riding jet flying kiss stealin’ wheelin’ dealin’ son of a gun catchphrase. Wants Owens to share in the woo with everyone and they count it down – only for Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows to interrupt.
Anderson asks why we’re talking about your past. Gallows calls him “Hot Karl Anderson” and notes that they are the best mother-lovin’ tag team in the world. Owens says if we’re talking about the past, we can talk about a past where you two had hair. Anderson says they’ve talked to the good brothers in the trucks and they should just run the OC highlight reel, maybe some Botch Club. Owens suggests that the people in the trucks hate them and the Botch Club would just be their last match. Maybe they could show Rey Mysterio defeating AJ Styles for the US title instead.
Street Profits come out to back up Owens! Ford suggests we cook up some highlights tonight in Atlanta. Cheap pop. They wanna let Flair watch ringside as they beat their ass. Impromptu match!
The Street Profits vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Ford gets some early shine in, tag to Dawkins, big standing dropkick. Ford tags in and gets a huge dropkick of his own in. Gallows tags in, distraction, big boot takes Ford to the floor. Gallows distracts the ref, cheap shot from Anderson. Big heat segment going on now with Gallows keeping Ford grounded. Ford makes himself a comeback, kicking away Anderson and hitting a big enziguri to Gallows. Hot tag to Dawkins, simultaneous tag to Karl Anderson. Dawkins all over the place, huge shoulder block, big dropkick, hip toss, running through both men. Springing rolling clotheslines in the corner to both men, bulldog to Anderson, Gallows deposited from the ring, but Anderson catches him with a spinebuster for a nearfall. Back Suplex/Neckbreaker combo gets 2. They want Magic Killer but Ford breaks it up, plancha to Gallows! Spinebuster from Dawkins to Karl Anderson, tag to Ford – beautiful frog splash finishes him off!
Winners: Street Profits
Brief but solid tag match.
Bayley and Sasha Banks backstage rip on the women’s tag titles, the division and the town they’re in.
Tag title match is next. Asuka and Kairi debuted new music tonight.
WWE SmackDown Women’s Tag Team Championship: Kabuki Warriors (c) vs. Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch vs. Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss
Kairi Sane and Nikki Cross start us out. Kairi spanks herself mockingly. Nikki kicks her away and spanks herself in response. Bayley tags in, Kairi out. Hip toss to Nikki, Charlotte tags her. Asuka tags Bayley. Literally nothing happened between those tags. Asuka gets Charlotte in a waistlock. Charlotte counters with a side headlock. Asuka shoots her off, Charlotte with a shoulder block. Charlotte rolls over Asuka, leap frog, Asuka catches her with a kick to the ribs. Lock-up, Charlotte whips Asuka away by the hair, big boot to Kairi Sane, back elbow to Asuka. Charlotte ducks a roundhouse kick, knife edge chops ensue. Throws her to the ropes, fallaway slam into the kip-up! Wants the Figure Eight, Asuka shoves her away and Sasha tags herself in.
Sasha pulls Asuka up, slaps and strikes ensue, running dropkick! Wants a hip attack, Sasha evades it, Nikki Cross tags in, roll-ups and inside cradles for 2. Arm drag, running dropkick. Nikki tags in Alexa Bliss, big slap to the face aaaand she tags back out to Nikki. Alexa bows for the crowd to a pop. Nikki wants a bulldog, Sasha tosses her away. Sasha and Bayley double team Nikki in the corner after Bayley tags in. But Nikki escapes and a tag from Becky! Becky comes in to a big reception and chant of her name. Uppercut, arm drags to Bayley. Armwringer. Bayley fights to her feet, clothesline. Becky takes Bayley to the corner, charge, she’s taken to the apron, Sasha did make the tag, Becky with a WWE Headkick to Bayley, goes up top but Sasha shoves her to the mat, goes into the ring to cover for 2. Sasha stomps Becky into the corner, tags and isolation for Sasha and Bayley.
Banks with a springing double knees, cover but Charlotte breaks up the pin. Tag to Bayley, double team takes her down. Becky kicks Bayley away, tag to Alexa Bliss. Big forearm, dropkick to the face! Double knee drop and spin, Sasha comes in but gets dumped. Bayley wants a waistlock, Bayley counters with a roll-up but Kairi Sane gets the blind tag and a spinning backfist to Alexa. She teases high faving Bayley but gets her with a spinning backfist as well! Grinds Alexa in the second rope. Running dropkick to the back! Cover for 2. Single leg boston crab, Alexa gets to the bottom rope, Sasha tags Kairi. Snap suplex to Alexa for a nearfall, scream as she bolts up. Tag to Bayley, double team in the corner, cover for 2.
Bayley with some forearms, Alexa hung up on the second rope. Wants a Fisherman’s Suplex, Alexa with an inside cradle escape. Running knee to the chest, Asuka tags in. Kairi and Asuka with a double team, axe kick to the back of the head for a nearfall. Bliss evades double knees from Asuka, takes Kairi off the apron, drop toe hold to Asuka. Alexa fighting to get over to the Becky/Charlotte corner but Kabuki Warriors trying very hard to avoid this. Alexa ducks a spinning backfist and gives her a big right hand. Chant for “Becky”. Simultaneous tags to Kairi and and Becky Lynch, Becky going crazy, Bexploders for every heel in the match! Asuka tries to cut her off, but she gets a Reverse DDT/DDT combo on each of the Kabuki Warriors! Second rope legdrop, Asuka breaks up the pin with a driving running knee!
Tag to Asuka, Becky tries to fight her way out of a double team, Nikki tags herself in, crossbody to Asuka and Kairi at once. Spinning Neckbreaker to Asuka, but Sasha breaks up the pin! Everybody in to trade big moves now. Asuka with a wicked German Suplex to Becky! Kairi with a gorgeous Insane Elbow! Charlotte with a spear wiping out both of them! Nikki gets onto her back with a sleeper! Charlotte throws her away, goes for a spear but it’s avoided and she hits the second turnbuckle pad in nasty fashion. Asuka hooks Nikki into the Asukalock and gets the submission!
Winners: The Kabuki Warriors
Pretty good match for being four corners. Had something of a house show vibe but you expect that from a show like this, nice for what it was.
Lana and Bobby Lashley make their way out to rip on Rusev before letting us know that the scheduled Last Man Standing Match will not be happening after all. Lana explains that she filed a restraining order against that monster of a man in the city of Atlanta, meaning he can not be in the building tonight. Therefore, Bobby Lashley will accept the victory in the form of a forfeit.
But then, Kevin Owens emerges! He says he cannot in all conscience let this happen! We started the show with Kevin Owens and Ric Flair, we won’t finish it with Bobby Lashley and Lana! Owens yells that nobody cares about the two of you and your stupid relationship! Lana yells at him to shut up. Owens rips into Lana’s faked Russian accent for years and their careers since they got together. Lashley says if he wants to get the ass whuppin’ that Rusev was gonna get, he can come into this ring! Owens is going for it!
Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley
Kevin ducks a Lashley clothesline, superkick, superkick – Cannonball! Goes for the stunner, but Lashley escapes and bails! Owens pursues, attacks him, big cannonball off the apron wipes him out! Lashley cuts him off for a heat segment, shoulder thrust in the corner. When Lashley rips off his shirt, he reveals how taped up his ribs are. Owens reverses a suplex to try and start a comeback. But Lashley with a Flatliner takes the advantage right back.
The fight gets taken to the corner, where Lashley goes for a superplex. Headbutt takes him to the mat, Top Rope Senton onto the injured ribs! Goes up top again for a Bullfrog Splash, narrow nearfall! Owens wants the Stunner, Lashley blocks it for a moment but on the second attempt he nails it! Lana distracts the ref to prevent the pin! Owens gets into Lana’s face. Then he turns around into a Sit-Out Spinebuster for a nearfall! Lana slides a steel chair into the ring. Sudden ovation – Rusev slides into the ring and attacks Lashley!
Winner: Bobby Lashley (by DQ)
Huge chant of “Rusev Day” as he runs through him in the ring! Runs him right out of there, posing for the audience! Pursues him outside and smashes him around ringside, posts him! Throws Lashley into the barrier and into the crowd! Takes him up the stands! Smacks him in the face with a trash can! “Rusev Day” chant intensifies. The fight spills back into ringside. Lashley drives Rusev into the steel steps! Lashley throws Rusev into the ring and grabs a kendo stick from beneath the ring. Snaps it across the back of Rusev! But Rusev catches the stick on a shot! Fights his way to his feet, until Lashley gets a shot to the gut… hits the ropes – kendo stick across the gut from Rusev! And now he’s laying into him! Snaps the stick across his knees, big pop! Takes up the chair now, drives it into the injured ribs. Smack to the back, tosses it aside. Throws it to Lashley and he catches it – Rusev superkicks the chair into his face!
That’s all for tonight.
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