It’s a rare treat to see so many Mop-Ups back to back, but hey, who am I if not someone who loves to please? Just ask my wife, I’m very giving. Anyway, tonight’s PWI Live is going head to head with AEW Dynamite’s Season 2 premiere, so naturally I’m watching PWI Live Tuesday morning and playing catch up. We begin the show with an “earlier today” segment where we see Jackie Mouse arrive to the PWI arena, mumbling to herself about how “that takes care of that.”
Like Caitlyn Jenner, we then transition to a shot of the ring and Jim Ross and Ric Venom welcome us to week two of PWI’s pre-season. They hype up the card for this glorified house show, capped off by the Spears’ Open Challenge for the Immunity Championship.
Things pick up with Mickey Mouse’s music, and Venom points out this is two weeks in a row we’ve started the show with a Mickey appearance. Hey, Ric, you of all people should understand we’ve got to have SOME star power on this show! I chuckle to myself at the thought of Benny Mouse and Mickey Mouse both appearing in the opening segment (those Mouse brothers LOVE an opening segment) This is the first time the two have been on television at the same time (on different channels) in over two years. Mickey says he’s here to reveal some changes, which I feel is something the poor guy does every week. Mickey says we are reducing the number of shows from three to two, with the change primarily impacting Wednesday Night War. I cry a sad tear because of all the MMouse Enterprises shows, Wednesday Night War has been the most consistently entertaining.
I love that Mickey said he’s here to simply things, but instead has initiated a convoluted three-phase plan to simplify things LMAO. Poor guy, crippled by his OCD. Mickey says as of the end of the year, the Ascendants Class will finally be eliminated. This is a change I can get behind! Mickey says in phase two we’ll eliminate the Ascendants Championships, which again is a change that’s long overdue. Mickey’s love for unifying championships is again evident, as the two women’s championships will be merged to one and the men’s championship will unify with the Immunity Championship. In a change I wasn’t expecting, Mickey announced the Premiere Athlete Tournament is also going away, with this year’s shorter tournament being its final installment. We’ll see the Immunity Championship, Ascendants Championship, and the Premier Athlete merged into the Premier Championship. Mickey says the fate of the women’s tournament is still being determined.
Mickey says the third phase of the plan will reduce the number of shows from three to two, but he can’t announce that just yet. Instead he welcomes the Undisputed Champion, Dragonfly to the ring. Two decades later, and I still get pumped every time I see a Dragonfly entrance. Mickey says it’s time to present Dragonfly with a new title, since the HCW and PWI titles have been merged. Shane McMahon’s out and I’m wondering what year it is, because I can’t remember the last time he got to come out to his theme music. Mickey gives Dragonfly a big gold belt, but the celebration doesn’t last long as the lights go out. FRED’s music hits but Rhyno makes the save. Nice of FRED to teach him how to teleport. Dragonfly makes his escape and Mickey runs away too. We get a holy shit chant from the crowd, capping off one of the most fun opening segments we’ve seen from PWI in years. I’m a sucker for all the chaos, what can I say?
We then move to the opening contest, featuring Liv Morgan and Emma. Morgan’s clearly got the brass behind her, and she’s been on a roll for a minute now and I don’t see that stopping until her inevitable clash with Becky Lynch. Emma’s sort of treading water after moving to the main roster, and I am sure she’s feeling like a small fish in a big pond. Morgan picks up the victory, and then demands that Shane McMahon bring her the Women’s Immunity Championship.
We’re then treated to Alexa Bliss having a seizure in the back to the beat of the flickering lights. The camera pans to reveal an outfit change, and Bliss is now dressed in black. Would’ve been more fun to watch her change, but oh well. Lurking in the shadows, Nikki Cross watches on.
We’re backstage with Shane McMahon and the first thing I realize is that the PWI has FINALLY upgraded the backstage area, only three years after AEW/EWA did the same. Glad to see some funds could finally be invested in the company’s presentation. We get FTR taunting the Bucks, and the trend of PWI superstars laughing randomly continues.
Finn Balor paces around in the back, only to be attacked by Karrion Kross. Well, this is a downgrade for Finn, but and upgrade for Kross, I suppose.
Up next is YMCA vs. The Brothers Metal. I’m happy Metal Head is getting the opportunity to shine, but I do long for the days in which he was treated as a star on the same level as Dragonfly. I’m predicting the Brothers Metal pick up a win here, because the YMCA is essentially a jobber team and I’d hate to see Metal Head and Heavy Metal treated as less than in comparison. As predicted, they pick up a win in a solid showing, and I aint mad.
Backstage, Orton yells at Mickey for costing him his shot at the world title. Mickey says Orton’s only claim to fame is, let me get this right… beating his world champion?!? Mickey’s lost his marbles! Orton is then confronted by Seth Rollins, who’s got new drip!
Lana is standing by with Stacy Keibler, manager of the Agency. She’s interrupted by Ruby Riott, who declares the Riott Squad are number one contenders for the women’s tag belts. Oh, is that how it works?
Shane McMahon and Lance Archer are in the back, as McMahon tends to his nuts. McMahon threatens to fire Archer, who then picks Shane up only to set him back down… I… I… what?!?
Wade Barrett accepts the open challenge for Spears’ Immunity Championship, and I chuckle to myself because there’s no way in hell Spears is dropping that belt any time soon. To his credit, Barrett is in great shape, but the poor guy’s entire career has been a series of starts and stops. That trend appears to be continuing, as Spears makes short work of Barrett to close out the show.
A more cohesive effort than last week; although unfortunately it was all downhill following that awesome opening segment. See ya next time!
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 