How To Watch The WWE In A Focused, Fun Manner, Whether You're New Or A Long Time Fan, 17: All In

The shift in the balance of wrestling history really begins here. Yes, we've seen women's wrestling start to improve dramatically over the past few seasons, yes, we've seen NXT prove that so called "indie" wrestlers on their way to the main roster of the WWE are capable of better wrestling and better storylines than a majority of the superstars, yes, we've seen New Japan start to creep into American wrestling, yes, Ring of Honor and Impact have weathered the constant onslaught of WWE's dominance of the wrestling world. But there hasn't been real competition since WCW started to crumble. Well, next season is when we'll see a new promotion instantly grow larger than ROH and WCW, but this season we see its founding.

​Before we get there, not everything in the WWE is bad. NXT, in particular, shines brightly this season. New Japan launches Kenny Omega into the stratosphere of professional wrestling. Ring Of Honor starts to cool its heels except when Bullet Club and New Japan is involved, and Impact is completely absent from this season until some of their stars pop up in the final episode of the season.

And the season ends strong. Our final three episodes include another stellar tournament featuring up and coming women, followed by their meshing with the main women's roster of the WWE, and concluding with the probably the most important wrestling show of the 21st century: All In 2018.

All In came together because professional wrestling's most famed critic and supporter said that nobody other than WWE could sell 10,000 tickets to a wrestling show in the 2010s. So Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks decided to prove him wrong. And they more than succeeded.

Season 17:
​All In

Starring: Kenny Omega, Young Bucks, AJ Styles, Adam Cole, Tomasso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Seth Rollins, Tyler Bate, Charlotte Flair, Asuke, Jay Lethal, Kevin Owens, Sasha Banks, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax, Shinsuke Nakamura, Cody Rhodes, and Hangman Page

1701. Fastlane, 2017/2018

We're flying right into season seventeen. No time spent on who's managing which program, no background stories for new factions. The heaviest hitters from last season plow into each other as we ready for Wrestlemania with both a Royal Rumble and an Elimination Chamber match.

1. Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe
2. AJ Styles (WWE Champ) vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
3. Men's Royal Rumble
Rusev, Finn Bálor, Rhyno, Baron Corbin, Heath Slater, Elias, Andrade, Bray Wyatt, Big E, Sami Zayn, Sheamus, Xavier Woods, Apollo Crews, Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro, Kofi Kingston, Jinder Mahal, Seth Rollins, Matt Hardy, John Cena, The Hurricane, Aiden English, Adam Cole, Randy Orton, Titus O'Neil, The Miz, Rey Mysterio, Roman Reigns, Goldust, Dolph Ziggler

4. Elimination Chamber Match
John Cena vs Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins vs Finn Balor vs The Miz vs Braun Stroman vs Damian Sandow

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1702. Womens' Road To Wrestlemania, 2018

We should be well past the point of segregating womens' cards from mens' but I didn't want an episode that was just two back to back rumbles. Also, the buildup to Charlotte vs Asuka, and Alexa Bliss's continued dominance is a fun storyline from a time when womens' storylines weren't really fun.  I have completely eliminated Ronda Rhousey from this episode, even though her fingerprints were all over this era. But since she hadn't yet been in a match, the idea of her just running around and pointing out signs after other wrestlers had epic matches just never sat right with me. Don't worry, though, she's going to show up soon.

Announcers: Michael Cole, Jonathan Coachman, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves, Stephanie McMahon, Tom Phillips, Jojo, Maria Manounos

1. Women's Royal Rumble

Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Sarah Logan, Mandy Rose, Lita, Kairi Sane, Tamina, Dana Brooke, Torrie Wilson, Sonya Deville, Liv Morgan, Molly Holly, Lana, Michelle McCool,  Ruby Riott, Vickie Guerrero, Carmella, Natalya, Kelly Kelly, Naomi, Jacqueline, Nia Jax, Ember Moon, Beth Phoenix, Asuke, Mickie James, Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Bayley, Trish Stratus

​2. Elimination Chamber Match
Mickie James vs Sasha Banks vs Bayley vs Alexa Bliss vs Sonya Deville vs Mandy Rose

3. Natalya & Carmella vs Becky Lynch & Naomi
4. Charlotte Flair (WWE Smackdown Womens Champ) vs Ruby Soho (as Ruby Riott)

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1703. Takeover Philadelphia, 2018

​Announcers:​

1. Roderick Strong vs Tyler Bate (NXT 1/31/18)
2. Adam Cole vs Malakai Black (as Aleister Black) in a Hardcore Match
3. Roderick Strong vs Hideo Itama (205 Live 2/6/18)
4. Andrade (NXT Champ) vs Johnny Gargano 
5. Roderick Strong vs Cedric Alexander (205 Live 3/13/18)
6. Andrade (NXT Champ) vs Johnny Gargano in a Career vs Title Match (2/21/18)

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​1704. Wrestle Kingdom, 2018

Dave "I've Rated Every Wrestling Event Since Before You Were Born" Meltzer has a five star rating scale. The lowest star rating he gave out in this episode of Japanese bangers is six stars. See what all the fuss was about with The Elite before they became the founders of AEW.

Announcers: Jim Ross, Kevin Kelly, Don Callis, Matt Striker

1. Kazuchika Okada (IWGP Champ) vs Kenny Omega
2. Kenny Omega (IWGP Champ) vs Tetsuya Naito
3. Cody Rhodes vs Kota Ibushi
4. Young Bucks vs Golden Lovers

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1707. Impact Redemption, 2017/2018

1. Trevor Lee (Impact X Champ) vs Dezmond Xavier vs Garza Jr. vs Matt Sydal vs Petey Williams vs Sonjay Dutt

2.Abyss vs Grado in a Monster's Ball Match
3. Ohio Versus Everything (Impact Tag Team Champs) vs LAX in a No DQ Match
4. Taya Valkerie vs Kiera Hogan
5. Austin Aries (Impact World Champ) vs  Pentagon El Zero vs Fenix
6. Ohio Versus Everything vs Eddie Edwards, Moose and Tommy Dreamer in a Hardcore Match

7. Pentagon El Zero vs Sami Callahan in a Hair vs Mask Match

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1706. Being The Elite, 2017/2018

The Young Bucks/Bullet Club have been all over ROH and New Japan for a few seasons now, and it's not changing anytime soon. There weren't many interesting non-Bullet Club stories in 2017/8. Luckily, they put on some fantastic matches along with Cody Rhodes, Marty Skurrl, Hangman Page, and Kenny Omega.

Announcers: BJ Whitmer, Ian Riccaboni, Bobby Cruise

1. Bullet Club (ROH 6 Man Tag Champs) vs Search & Destroy
2. Jay Lethal vs Marti Scurrl
3. Bullet Club (ROH 6 Man Tag Champs) vs Dragon Lee, Flip Gordon & Titan
4. Cody Rhodes (ROH Champ) vs Dalton Castle
5. Young Bucks vs Best Friends
6. Hung Bucks vs SoCalU

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1707. Low Blow City, 2018

I originally had this episode as the Saudi Arabian Royal Rumble but I'm a huge fan of the John Cena vs Undertaker storyline from this era. The hype around a match that wasn't going to happen was fantastic, and it's really the last interesting storyline for either one of them until Undertaker's Boneyard Match and John Cena's 2023 attempted comeback. We also get to see the best of the many WWE AJ Styles vs Shinsuka Nakamura matches, and the much anticipated Charlotte vs Asuke.

1. AJ Styles (WWE Champ) vs John Cena vs Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn vs Dolph Ziggler vs Baron Corbin

2. The Authority vs Kurt Angle & Rhonda Rousey
3. John Cena vs Kane
4. Charlotte Flair (WWE Smackdown Womens Champ) vs Asuke
5. John Cena vs Elias
6.AJ Styles (WWE Champ) vs Shinsuke Nakamura in a Last Man Standing Match

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1708. Honorversary, 2018

ROH is still all about the Bullet Club. But we also get Dalton Castle's first defense of the ROH title, and a banger between Hangman Page and Koto Ibushi. 

Announcers: Ian Ricabboni, Colt Cabana, Shane Taylor, Bobby Cruise

1. Dalton Castle (ROH Champ) vs Jay Lethal
2. Koto Ibushi vs Hangman Page
3. SoCalU (ROH 6Man Tag Champs) vs Flip Gordon & Young Bucks
4. Cody Rhodes vs Kenny Omega

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1709. The Saudi Arabian Rumble, 2018

It's an Intercontinental episode as we see Rollins defend the workhorse title twice in two fantastic matches, and Nia Jax's greatest storyline against Alexa Bliss. Plus, a fifty person rumble.

1. Seth Rollins (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Finn Balor
2. Alexa Bliss (WWE Raw Womens Champ) vs Nia Jax
3. Seth Rollins (WWW Intercontinental Champ) vs The Miz
4. Nia Jax (WWE Raw Womens Champ) vs Alexa Bliss
5. The Greatest Royal Rumble
Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler, Sin Cara, Curtis Axel, Mark Henry, Mike Kanellis, Hiroki Sumi, Viktor, Kofi Kingston, Tony Nese, Dash Wilder, Hornswoggle, Primo, Xavier Woods, Bo Dallas, Kurt Angle, Scott Dawson, Goldust, Konnor, Elias, Luke Gallows, Rhyno, Tucker Knight, Bobby Roode, Fandango, Chad Gable, Rey Mysterio, Mojo Rawley, Tyler Breeze, Big E, Karl Anderson, Apollo Crews, Roderick Strong, Randy Orton, Heath Slater, Babatunde, Baron Corbin, Titus O'Neil, Dan Matha, Braun Strowman, Tye Dillinger, Curt Hawkins, Bobby Lashley, The Great Khali, Kevin Owens, Shane McMahon, Shelton Benjamin, Big Cass, Chris Jericho

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1710. Takeover New Orleans, 2018
​
It's pretty rare that I include an entire pay-per-view without removing any matches but this event was near perfection. I've added a great 205 Live 4-way match as an intro and then it's all New Orleans as EC3 joins NXT, and Gargano and Ciampa's long-awaited match after last season's betrayal not only doesn't disappoint, it exceeds expectations by miles.

Announcers: Nigel McGuinness, Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, Vic Joseph, Mike Rome, Greg Hamilton

1. Akira Tozawa vs Buddy Murphy vs TJ Perkins vs Kallisto 
2. EC3 vs Adam Cole vs Ricochet vs Velveteen Dream vs Big Damo vs Lars Sullivan in a Ladder Match for the inaugural NXT North American Championship

3. Ember Moon (NXT Womens Champ) vs Shayna Baszler
4. The Undisputed Era (NXT Tag Team Champs) vs Future Shock vs Authors Of Pain
5. Andrade (NXT Champ) vs Malakai Black (as Aleister Black)
6. Johnny Gargano vs Tomasso Ciampa in an Unsanctioned Match

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1711. Chicago Rules, 2018

1. Buddy Murphy vs Mustafa Ali (5/8/18)
2. Cedric Alexander (WWE Cruiserweight Champ) vs Buddy Murphy (5/29/18)
3. Undisputed Era (NXT Tag Team Champs) vs Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan
4. Shayna Baszler (NXT Womens Champ) vs Nikki Cross
5. Ricochet vs Velveteen Dream
6. Johnny Gargano vs Tomasso Ciampa in a Street Fight

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1712. UKC3, 2018

NXT was firing on all cylinders in 2018. In particular, their British stars. This episode is wound around the Undisputed Era/Mustache Mountain feud with a few other title matches thrown in. 

Announcers: Nigel McGuinness, Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, Vic Joseph, Kayla Braxton, Andy Shepherd
​
1. The Undisputed Era vs British Strong Style
2. Undisputed Era (NXT Tag Team Champs) vs Mustache Mountain
3. Pete Dunne (NXT UK Champ) vs Zack Gibson
4. Shayna Baszler (NXT Womens Champ) vs Kairi Sane
5. Mustache Mountain (NXT Tag Team Champs) & Ricochet vs Undisputed Era
6. Malakai Black (as Aleister Black) (NXT Champ) vs Tomasso Ciampa
7. Mustache Mountain (NXT Tag Team Champs) vs Future Shock (as Undisputed Era)

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1713. Omega Man, 2018

Kenny Omega is the absolute star of this season. Here, he features in three of the four matches, and they are some of the best of the season. All of this action takes place in New Japan, as The Elite portion of Bullet Club gets ready for the launch of a whole new wrestling promotion next season.

Announcers: Don Callis, Kevin Kelly

1. Kenny Omega vs Chris Jericho in a No DQ Match
2. Roppongi 3K (IWGP Tag Team Champs) vs Young Bucks
3. Adam Page vs Kenny Omega
4. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega

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1714. Rusev Day, 2018
WWE hasn't had a ton of love this season because there matches and storylines took a bit of a dip. Here we see the consistently fun Money In The Bank ladder matches from the year, as well as seeing an obvious person ascend to a title and a complete left field choice win a title.

Announcers: Michael Cole, Jonathan Coachman, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips, Greg Hamilton, Jojo

1. Women's Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, Natalya, Becky Lynch, Naomi, Ember Moon, Alexa Bliss

2. Nia Jax (WWE Raw Womens Champ) vs Rhonda Rousey
3. Men's Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens, The Miz, Kofi Kingston, Braun Stroman, Bobby Roode, Rusev

4. Deleters Of Worlds (WWE Raw Tag Team Champs) vs The B Team
5. AJ Styles (WWE Champ) vs Rusev

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1715. Ducks In A Row, 2018

Lethal claimed yet another ROH title between episodes, Bubba Ray Dudley returns to the ring for, what else, a tables match, and more Bullet Club shenanigans.

Announcers: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman, Bobby Cruise

1. Jay Lethal vs Kushida
2. The Briscoes (ROH Tag Team Champs) vs Young Bucks
3. Bubba Ray Dudley & Silas Young vs Flip Gordon & Colt Cabana in a Tables Match
4. Bullet Club vs Chaos in a 10 Man Tag Match
5. Jay Lethal (ROH Champ) vs Will Ospreay

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​1716. Takeover Backlash, 2018

Vengeance is the theme of this episode as we mostly see some return matches that somehow deliver even stronger than their originals, and we see the impressive debut of Riddle.

Announcers: Nigel McGuinness, Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, Vic Joseph, Kayla Braxton, Andy Shepherd

1. Adam Cole (NXT US Champ) vs Ricochet
2. Riddle vs Casius Ohno
3. Shayna Baszler (NXT Womens Champ) vs Kairi Sane in a 2/3 Falls Match
4. Mustache Mountain (NXT UK Tag Team Champs) vs Grizzled Young Vets
5. Tomasso Ciampa vs Johnny Gargano in a Last Man Standing Match  

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1717. Super Showdown, 2018

​Announcers:

1. The Bar (WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champs) vs New Day (Smackdown 8/7/2018)
2. AJ Styles (WWE Champ) vs Samoa Joe
3. Seth Rollins (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Kevin Owens (Raw 8/27/18)
4. Charlotte Flair (WWE Smackdown Womens Champ) vs Becky Lynch
5. Cedric Alexander (WWE Cruiserweight Champ) vs Buddy Murphy
6. D0lph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre (WWE Raw Tag Team Champs) vs The SHIELD

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1718. Alundra Blayze Classic

The second annual Mae Young Classic gives us some returns from the first edition but also introduces us to some future WWE, Impact, and AEW stars like Tay Melo, Killer Kelly, Iyo Sky, and Toni Storm. This is really a highlight reel of the whole competition, leaving out the final match, which is a part of the next episode.

Announcers: Michael Cole, Beth Phoenix, Renee Young, Kayla Braxton

1. MJ Jenkins vs. Rhea Ripley
2. Killer Kelly vs. Meiko Satomura
3. Toni Storm vs Jinny
4. Mia Yim vs. Allysin Kay
5. Toni Storm vs Hiroyo Matsumoto
6. Kayden Carter (as Lacey Lane) vs Tay Melo (as Taynara Conti)
7.  Meiko Satomura vs Mercedes Martinez
8. Toni Storm vs Meiko Satomura
9. Rhea Ripley vs Iyo Sky (as Iyo Shirai)

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1719. Stephanie McMahon's Evolution

Now that we've seen the future superstars of various women's divisions, it's time to see how well they fare mixed in with the NXT and WWE women's main roster talent.

​Announcers: Michael Cole, Beth Phoenix, Renee Young, Lillian Garcia

1. Trish Stratus & Lita vs Mickey James & Alicia Fox
2. 20 Women Battle Royal for Championship Match
3. Toni Storm vs Iyo Sky
4. Sasha Banks, Bayley & Natalya vs Riott Squad
5. Kairi Sane (NXT Womens Champ) vs Shayna Baszler
6. Becky Lynch (WWE Smackdown Womens Champ) vs Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing Match

7. Rhonda Rousey (WWE Raw Womens Champ) vs Nikki Bella

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1720. All In On The Big Dream, 2018

We end the season with the groundbreaking event that set up AEW. Cody Rhodes uses all his indie connections to put on a supershow of NWA, Ring Of Honor, Impact, AAA, and more. Everybody showed up and put on some devastating matches to prove that there's room in the big stadiums for more than just WWE. The most unexpected return on the card? Sean Mooney, who hadn't been seen on wrestling television since working for WWE in the late 1980s.

Announcers: Ian Riccaboni, Excalibur, Don Callis, Tenille Dashwood, Mandy Leon, Bret Tarring, Sean Mooney, Alicia Atout, Bobby Cruise, Justin Roberts


1. Tessa Blanchard vs Britt Baker vs Chelsea Green vs Madison Rayne
2. Nick Aldis (NWA Champ) vs Cody Rhodes
3. Hangman Page vs Joey Janella
4. Kenny Omega vs Penta El Zero
5. Kazuchika Okada vs Marty Skurrl
6. The Golden Elite vs Rey Mysterio, Rey Fenix & Bandido