How To Watch The WWE In A Focused, Fun Manner, Whether You're New Or A Long Time Fan, 13: Stable Competition

All three of the wrestling federations from the last few seasons start to get their acts together this season. We get some compelling stories, some top rate matches, and we see stables start to rise again for the first time since The Attitude Era. Sure, there was Evolution in WWE, and Impact tried a few grizzled old timer stables, but this season sees WWE introduce The Shield, who will be THE headliners of the industry for the next decade as well as The Wyatt Family, and Impact will get their first real compelling stable story out of Aces & Eights. ROH still bumps along with solid matches and forgettable storylines, but we're going to see them less and less, as this season also sees the arrival of NXT. NXT is the joint where ROH vets work to become WWE rookies, and some of them make that transition effortlessly. This also begins the fall of the Divas era (mostly terrible sex-focused matches for women like pillow fights and pudding matches rather than wrestling matches) and the rise of the Four Horsewomen in NXT, who will help usher in "The Womens' Revolution" in WWE where the women get actual storylines, character development, and the division is comprised of athletes on par with the men, as opposed to models that Vince McMahon wishes he could sleep with (or, allegedly, in some cases, has to pay hush money to after he sleeps with them). 

While there's no real focus at the beginning of this season, other than highlighting entertaining matches and storylines, we end the season with the climax of Daniel Bryan's Yes Movement, and then the most shocking moment in Wrestlemania History.

Season 13:
Stable Competition

Starring: CM Punk, John Cena, Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Bubba Ray Dudley, Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, Jeff Hardy, Sheamus, Chris Jericho, Bobby Roode, Austin Aries, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, Matt Hardy

​1301. Over The Limit, 2012

We get a bit of a peek at the impending Hell No/Yes Movement here, as well as CM Punk at the height of his first real run at the top of the WWE. Oh, and Brock Lesnar returns from a near decade long absence and absolutely annihilates John Cena.

Announcers: Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Booker T, Jim Ross, Josh Matthews, Matt Striker, Tony Chimel, Justin Roberts, Lilian Garcia, and Howard Finkel

1. CM Punk (WWE Champ) vs Chris Jericho
2. Sheamus (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Daniel Bryan in a 2/3 Falls Match
​3. John Cena vs Brock Lesnar in an Extreme Rules Match
4. Sheamus (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Chris Jericho vs Randy Orton vs Alberto Del Rio

5. CM Punk (WWE Champ) vs Daniel Bryan

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1302. Roode Awakening, 2012

Bobby Roode had an incredible and long run as TNA champ. His best matches weren't against the TNA Dino Squad but against the younger up and comers, and here he gets his up and commance against Austin Aries, who we saw dominate ROH a few seasons ago. There's also minor AJ Styles controversy that leads him to friendship and a tag team with former rival Kurt Angle.

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Tazz, Jeremy Borash

1. Kurt Angle vs AJ Styles
2. Bobby Roode (Impact Champ) vs AJ Styles
3. Bad Influence (Impact Tag Team Champs) vs Kurt Angle & AJ Styles
4. Christopher Daniels vs AJ Styles in a Last Man Standing Match
5. Bobby Roode (Impact Champ) vs Austin Aries
6. Austin Aries (Impact Champ) vs Bobby Roode

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1303. Young Wolves Rising, 2012

Adam Cole makes his first appearance since the CZW episode a few seasons ago, Lance Storm retires, and we see Nigel McGuinness join the commentary team. 

Announcers: Kevin Kelly, Nigel McGuinness, Vada Scott, and Bobby Cruise

1. Jay Lethal (ROH TV Champ) vs Tomasso Ciampa
2. Adam Cole & Eddie Edwards vs Team Ambition
3. Lance Storm vs Mike Bennett
4. Davey Richards (ROH Champ) vs Michael Elgin

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1304. Kill Steen Kill, 2012

Jim Cornette HATES Kevin Owens (aka Kevin Steen). Kevin Owens hates not destroying everything in his path. And a babyfaced, pre-baby Adam Cole quickly climbs the first class of ROH members who are destined to be known more for their time in AEW than WWE.

Announcers: Jim Cornette, Kevin Kelly, Nigel McGuiness, Steve Corrino, Matt Hardy

1. Adam Cole vs Kyle O'Reilly in a Hybrid Rules Match
2. Kevin Owens (as Kevin Steen) (ROH Champ) vs Davey Richards in a No DQ Match
3. Adam Cole (ROH TV Champ) vs Mike Mondo
4. Davey Richards vs Jay Lethal
5. Kevin Owens (as Kevin Steen) (ROH Champ) vs Michael Elgin
3. Kevin Owens (as Kevin Steen) (ROH Champ) vs Eddie Kingston in a No DQ Match

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1305. Contractually Obligated, 2012

Brock Lesnar is back and annoying The Corporation, so the head of The Corporation, Triple H steps back into the ring to get him in line. Plus, Ziggler climbs up the card, and CM Punk and Daniel Bryan relive their ROH days before Bryan enters the tag team division, and Punk becomes a Heyman Guy and takes on John Cena again.

Announcers: Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Booker T, JBL, Lilian Garcia, Tony Chimel,  Justin Roberts

1. WWE Heavyweight Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Christian, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Damien Sandow, Santino Morella, Sin Cara, Tyson Kid, A-Train

2. CM Punk (WWE Champ) vs Daniel Bryan
3. Chris Jericho vs Dolph Ziggler
4. Brock Lesnar vs Triple H in a No DQ Match
5. CM Punk (WWE Champ) vs John Cena

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1306. NXT, 2012

WWE's developmental rebrands from FCW (and we catch a glimpse of the FCW at the very beginning of this episode)  to NXT, and they start with an amazing class of future WWE headliners. Some we're seeing for the first time here, others, like Seth Rollins, we saw during their ROH days. Plus, we get a late career William Regal match.

Announcers: Jim Ross, William Regal, Byron Sacton, Todd Grisham, Josh Matthews, Maryse, Howard Finkel

1. Dean Ambrose vs Wiliam Regal
2. Bray Wyatt vs Aiden English
3. Big E vs Chase Donovan
4. Drew McIntyre vs Seth Rollins
5. Brodus Clay vs Ryan Collins
6. The Usos vs Ascension
7. Richie Steamboat vs Chris Hero (as Kassius Ohno)
8. The Usos vs Ascencion
9. Big E vs Chad Baxter
10. Damien Sandow vs Garret Dylan
11. Tyson Kidd vs Curtis Axel (as Michael McGillicutty)
12. Seth Rollins vs Jinder Mahal for 1st ever NXT Championship

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1309. Full Sail, 2012

The Rollins run collides with Big E, one of two unstoppable forces introduced during the early days of NXT (the other one being Roman Reigns). We also see Corey Graves brief stint as a wrestler before he becomes one of the core WWE announcers, and Cesaro jumps the fence to NXT from ROH. 

Announcers: Jim Ross, William Regal, Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips

1. Chris Hero (as Kassius Ohno) vs Richie Steamboat
2. Roman Reigns vs CJ Parker
3. Caesaro (NXT US Champ) vs Tyson Kidd
4. Paige vs Sasha Banks
5. Seth Rollins (NXT Champ) vs Jinder Mahal
6. Big E vs Camacho and Aiden English
7. Big Show (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Bo Dallas
8. Seth Rollins (NXT Champ) vs Corey Graves
9. Wyatt Family vs Percy Watson & Yoshi Tatsu
10. Seth Rollins (NXT Champ) vs Big E

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1308. Aces & Eights, 2012/2013

Last season's main storyline where Hogan and Bischoff made Impact all about WCW nostalgia isn't remembered as a golden age for the company. But this season, we see the rise of the Aces & Eights stable where they took months to slowly reveal a gang of wrestlers who set out to destroy the old guard. It was fun, it had some interesting twists, and in this episode we get to see them debut, we see a couple of them unmasked, and we even see some decent wrestling as it happens. We also get our first glimpse of Joseph Park a Not Wrestler who will have a fascinating storyline through the rest of the season.

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Tazz, Jeremy Borash, Christy Hemme, "Joseph Park"

1. Jeff Hardy vs Bubba Ray Dudley (as Bully Ray) vs James Storm vs Mr Stone
2. Bad Influence (Impact Tag Team Champs) vs Kurt Angle & AJ Styles vs Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez

3. Aces & Eights vs Sting & Bubba Ray Dudley (as Bully Ray)
4. Austin Aries (Impact Champ) vs Jeff Hardy
5. Jeff Hardy (Impact Champ) vs Kurt Angle

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1309. THE SHIELD, 2012

Daniel Bryan & Kane's unlikely tag team gets a shot at the title. CM Punk extends his time as one of the longest reigning WWE champs in history with the help of three little NXT stars who level up as THE SHIELD, and who will soon be three of the top names in wrestling. Oh, and The Rock comes back. Again. Again. The only real downside to this episode is the "AJ Lee is crazy" storyline but I promise, the WWE Womens' Revolution is right around the corner.

Announcers: Michael Cole, JBL, Matt Striker, Lilian Garcia, Justin Roberts

1. Kofi Kingston & R-Truth (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs Team Hell No 
2. CM Punk (WWE Champ) vs John Cena vs Ryback
3. The Shield vs Ryback & Team Hell No in a TLC Match
4. Dolph Ziggler vs John Cena for the Money In The Bank Contract
5. CM Punk (WWE Champ) vs The Rock

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​1310. Defy Or Deny, 2013

The Kevin Owens era continues to be a fun one. With Jim Cornette gone, and NXT taking some of ROH's top talent, we start to see more of a focus on the tag team division, and a few WWE and Impact castoffs popping into the singles main event scene.

Announcers: Kevin Kelly, Nigel McGuinness, Steve Corino, Bobby Cruise

1. Matt Hardy vs Adam Cole
2. Kevin Owens (as Kevin Steen) (ROH Champ) vs Sami Zayn (as El Generico) in a Ladder Match
​
3. The American Wolves vs The Forever Hooligans
4. The Briscoe Brothers (ROH Tag Team Champs) vs reDragon
5. Kevin Owens (as Kevin Steen) (ROH Champ) vs Jay Lethal

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1311. The Jabroni Chamber, 2013

So far, The Rock's last hurrah in the WWE has him squaring off with CM Punk. Yea, he has a John Cena match after this, but it's not great so we're skipping it.  The SHIELD is also making their presence felt as more than just CM Punk's muscle.

Announcers: Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, JBL, Lilian Garcia, Justin Roberts

1. The Royal Rumble
Dolph Ziggler, Chris Jericho, Cody Rhodes, Kofi Kingston, Santino Marella, Drew McIntyre, Titus O'Neil, Goldust, David Otunga, Heath Slater, Sheamus, Albert (as Tensai), Brodus Clay, Rey Mysterio, Darren Young, Bo Dallas, The Godfather, Wade Barrett, John Cena, Damien Sandow, Daniel Bryan, Antonio Cesaro, The Great Khali, Kane, Zack Ryder, Randy Orton, Jinder Mahal, The Miz, Sin Cara, Ryback

2. #1 Contendor Elimination Chamber
Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Kane, Daniel Bryan, Mark Henry, Jake Haeger

3. The Shield vs John Cena, Shaemus & Ryback
4. The Rock (WWE Champ) vs CM Punk

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​1312. Wrestling Weddings Are Always Cursed, 2013

I have often busted on Impact's storytelling. The Vince Russo Senior Citizen Brigade Ideas were pretty terrible and the Hulk Hogan/Eric Bischoff era wasn't much better. And yet, Hogan is still the General Manager of Impact at this point and, somehow, the storytelling gets really interesting. In this episode it's revealed that Hulk Hogan's daughter is in love with Bubba Ray Dudley. Now ... is it movie level storytelling? Nah. Is it on par with WWE's Attitude era at its peak? Kinda. 
​
Announcers: Mike Tenay, Tazz, Todd Keneley, Jeremy Borash, Christy Hemme

1. D-Von Dudley (as Brother Devon) vs Kurt Angle
2. Jeff Hardy (Impact Champ) vs Austin Aries in a Ladder Match
3. Samoa Joe (Impact TV Champ) vs D-Von Dudley (as Brother Devon)
4. Sting vs Knox
5. Sting vs Luke Gallows (as DOC)
5. Jeff Hardy (Impact Champ) vs Austin Aries vs Bobby Roode

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1313. Saturday Morning Slam, 2012-13

Be prepared for an episode like no other. This cartoonish show was focused on bringing wrestling to kids in the 2010s. The focus of the show was humor, faster-paced matches, and some ridiculous spots. Oh, and dancing. There was a TON of dancing.

Announcers: Michael Cole, Booker T, Josh Matthews, Santino Morello, R Truth, Tony Chimel

1. Tyrus (as Brodus Clay) vs Curt Hawkins
2. William Regal vs Matt Cardona (as Zack Ryder)
3. Sin Cara vs Jinder Mahal
4. Daniel Bryan vs Tyson Kidd
5. 3MB vs The Usos
6. Kane vs Jinder Mahal
7. Daniel Bryan vs Heath Slater
8. Alicia Fox vs Natalya
9. Ryback vs 2 jobbers
10. Randy Orton vs Damien Sandow

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1314. Stable Champions, 2013

The SHIELD gets all the gold. CM Punk leaves the title behind to chase some of the biggest names in the business. Brock Lesnar Brock Lesnars, and Damien Sandow reaches his apex in the business.

Announcers: Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, JBL, Lilian Garcia, Justin Roberts

1. The Undertaker vs CM Punk
2. Kofi Kingston (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Dean Ambrose
3. Team Hell No (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs The Shield
4. Brock Lesnar vs Triple H in a Steel Cage
5. CM Punk vs Chris Jericho
6. The Shield (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs Daniel Bryan & Randy Orton
7. WWE Heavyweight Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Dean Ambrose, Cody Rhodes, Caesaro, Jake Haeger (as Jack Swagger), Wade Barrett, Damien Sandow, Fandango

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1315. The Next Next Big Things, 2013

The SHIELD stomps all over their former playground but the big story is that the future womens' revolution gets started here as Bayley and Charlotte Flair each debut.

Announcers: Jim Ross, William Regal, Tom Phillips, Brad Maddox, Renee Young

1. British Ambition vs The Wyatt Family for the inaugural NXT Tag Team Championship
2. Bo Dallas vs Corey Graves vs Conor O'Brian
3. Seth Rollins vs Corey Graves in a Lumberjack Match
4. Chris Jericho vs Bray Wyatt
5. Paige vs Bayley
6. Big E (NXT Champ) vs Bo Dallas
7. Charlotte Flair vs Bayley
8. Emma vs Page for the Inaugural NXT Womens Champ
9. AJ Lee (WWE Divas Champ) vs Bayley
​10. Sami Zayn vs Caesaro

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1316. Stacked Deck, 2013

It's the turning point of the Aces & Eights storyline, as they stop having to wear masks and start running things in TNA. Plus, Joseph Park is still out there having fun. And then the Aces & Eights storyline starts to go off the rails for a bit. We'll see if it rights itself next season.

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Tazz, Todd Keneley, Jeremy Borash, Christy Hemme

1. Joseph Park vs Joey Ryan
2. Aces & Eights vs Team TNA in a War Games Match
D-Von Dudley (as Brother Devon), Kennedy, Luke Gallows, Mike Knox & Garrett Bischoff vs Sting, Samoa Joe, James Storm, Erick Young & Magnus

3. Matt Hardy (Impact Champ) vs Bubba Ray Dudley (as Bully Ray) in a Steel Cage
4. Gail Kim vs Taryn Terrell
5. Kurt Angle vs AJ Styles
6. Bubba Ray Dudley (ROH Champ) vs AJ Styles in a No DQ Match

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1317. Goat Herding, 2013

The Yes Movement is on the horizon as Vince McMahon and Triple H make it clear that they don't think Daniel Bryan has what it takes to be the WWE champ. So we get some twists and turns and some special guest referees interfering with the Bryan/Orton feud. Oh, and while they're keeping Daniel Bryan down, Triple H and Stephanie are also out to rid the WWE/NEXT of the Rhodes family, who must fight for their jobs in this episode by going head to head with The SHIELD. Plus a dream match as CM Punk takes on Brock Lesnar.

Announcers: Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, JBL, Shawn Michaels, Booker T, Vickie Guerrero, Lilian Garcia, Justin Roberts

1. Brock Lesnar vs CM Punk in a No DQ Match
2. John Cena (WWE Champ) vs Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton
3. Randy Orton (WWE Champ) vs Daniel Bryan
4. The SHIELD (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs The Rhodes Scholars
5. Randy Orton vs Daniel Bryan in a Steel Cage for the WWE Championship

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​1318. The Eater Of Worlds, 2013

The Wyatt Family's jump from NXT to WWE proper takes off with nearly as much momentum as The SHIELD's. We get to see Roman be mean to the Usos years before The Bloodline storyline takes shape, and the ROH alums continue to have some of the best matches in the WWE.

Announcers: Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, JBL, Renee Young, Lilian Garcia, Justin Roberts

1. The Rhodes Scholars (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs The SHIELD vs The Usos
2. CM Punk & Daniel Bryan vs The Wyatt Family
3. CM Punk vs The SHIELD
4. AJ Lee (WWE Divas Champ) vs Natalya
5. Bray Wyatt vs Daniel Bryan
6. The Wyatt Family vs The Shield

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1319. Nostalgiamania, 2014
The matches in this episode are youngish and freshish superstars but there are cameos from the 80s, 90s, and 00s. I threw the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle into this because it's fun but also because there is a drout of Royal Rumbles this and next season, as there was a creative dry spell around the event for a few years, but it will be back. We also get a setup to our finale which features two Major Events in WWE history.

Announcers: Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, JBL, Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, The Rock, Lilian Garcia, Justin Roberts

1. Big E (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Jake Hager
2. WWE Heavyweight Elimination Chamber
Randy Orton (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs John Cena vs Christian vs Daniel Bryan vs Shaemus vs Caesaro

3. Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal
4. John Cena vs Bray Wyatt

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1320. Windex & The Yes Movement, 2014

The wildest short term story of the era: Daniel Bryan and The Yes Movement, and the longest running storyline in sports entertainment history: The Undertaker's Streak are the only two elements of this excellent season finale.

Announcers: Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, JBL, Gene Okerlund, Howard Finkel, Lilian Garcia, Justin Roberts

1. Daniel Bryan vs Triple H
2. The Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar
3. Randy Orton (WWE Champ) vs Batista vs Daniel Bryan