Andrew brings us the Top 5 matches of the week! A week without huge events, should make the list interesting!

The February matches are in the books! So this article will be one of those two voters. So let’s look at the February pool.

• NXT: Halftime Heat
• AJPW Triple Crown Championship: Kento Miyahara (c) vs Suwama
• NXT: Matt Riddle vs Drew Gulak
• Men’s WWE Championship Elimination Chamber

There we go! A very WWE dominated February pool. With that being said, I’m still voting for Halftime Heat as the match of February. That was a hell of a showcase, great match and was a bright spot in a rather dull Super Bowl. The All Japan match is fantastic though, but Halftime Heat is on a different level.

Now let’s get to this week’s matches!

5. SmackDown Live: Kofi Kingston & Kevin Owens vs Rowan & Daniel Bryan

From My Review:
The main event happens, and delivers well. Kofi continues his saga of being the good employee, just like they were getting across with the past 11 years. Hell, even Owens stayed true to the concept of not being a bad guy. He tagged himself in for hot tags, tagged out to Kofi and even after the match seemed to maybe have on of those “If I win you’re first up” kind of conversations. So seeing what Owens does in the coming weeks should be interesting.

Winner: Owens via Stunner

Rating: *** 1/2

4. NOAH: Minoru Tanaka & Naomichi Marufuji vs Kaito Kiyomiya & Daisuke Harada

From My Review:
Marufuji and Kiyomiya started off, and the veteran definitely outsmarted the young champion early in the match. He and Tanaka took advantage of 5 counts and toyed with him a little while working over the heavily taped up arm. Once Harada tagged in against Tanaka, they really brought the energy of the match up. Nice counter exchanges, just really great fast paced action. Harada rarely puts on a bad match, Tanaka is also not too shabby, so if this is any precursor to their singles match, it will be special. Kiyomiya and Marufuji end the match, with the champion finally getting in some offense. Marufuji keeps trying to pick him apart, which causes Kiyomiya to use headbutts and a few other interesting striking attempts to keep Marufuji at bay. But the veteran catches the younger wrestler in a Key Lock, that he adjusts a few times and puts his own twist on it, being dubbed The Perfect Key Lock. Really good match setting the scene for both title pictures nicely.

Winner: Marufuji via Perfect Key Lock

Rating: *** 3/4

3. 205 Live: Drew Gulak vs Brian Kendrick

From Mitchell’s Coverage:
The bell rings and Gulak circles with Kendrick. They stare down while testing the waters. They reach but back away, then finally tie up. Gulak gets a headlock and takedown, Kendrick counters with headscissors but Gulak pops out. Fans applaud the exchange and the two go again. Gulak goes for an arm but Kendrick cravats. Gulak breaks free and wrenches but Kendrick gets a full nelson. Kendrick holds on as Gulak goes to break free, so Gulak rolls and makes it a cover, ONE! Gulak and Kendrick each facelock each other, and Kendrick steps through. Gulak rolls and breaks free, and fans applaud again. Kendrick glances at the Wrestlemania sign as he approaches Gulak again. They tie up for a test of strength but Gulak uses a leg to bring Kendrick down.

Gulak has a hammerlock then transitions to trap a leg. He goes after arms and twists Kendrick around. Gulak shifts to a cover, ONE, and Kendrick fights Gulak’s hands off to get to a corner. The ref keeps Gulak back as Kendrick returns. Kendrick and Gulak circle again, and Kendrick wrenches. Gulak rolls but Kendrick puts his shoulders to the mat, ONE. Kendrick pushes back down, ONE. Kendrick and Gulak roll and Gulak gets the legs. Gulak makes it a cover, ONE, so Gulak wrenches the foot! Gulak has a standing Heel Hook but Kendrick uses his free leg to get free! Kendrick has Gulak in a headlock but Gulak pulls hair. Gulak powers Kendrick to ropes, but they back off at 4.

Kendrick and Gulak get chippy as they circle again. They tie up and Gulak pushes Kendrick to the ropes. Kendrick gets to a corner but Gulak throws body shots. Kendrick shoves Gulak but runs into a German Suplex! Bridging cover, ONE! Gulak shoots the half, ONE, but he has the arm again. Gulak wrenches the arm and pulls a leg for a modified Bow ‘n’ Arrow. Kendrick endures and powers his way up. Fans rally as Gulak turns Kendrick but Kendrick gets the backslide! TWO, and Kendrick tilt-o-whirls for a crucifix! But Gulak blocks and brings Kendrick around for another Heel Hook! Gulak shifts to a modified deathlock and pulls back as far as he can! They roll around and Kendrick gets a ropebreak. Gulak lets go but keeps close. Kendrick tackles Gulak and then CHOPS away! Kendrick runs but into Gulak’s lariat! Cover, TWO!

Gulak SLAPS Kendrick then grinds his knee in as he pulls the arm. He also pulls hair but the ref counts. Gulak focuses on the arm, and then pulls at the fingers. Gulak forces the arm to fold to a keylock. Kendrick stands up but Gulak knees and CHOPS him to a corner. Gulak whips corner to corner but Kendrick goes up and over! Kendrick arm-drags Gulak around, then goes for an armbar! Gulak endures while moving around. Kendrick pulls but Gulak shifts his weight to avoid full extension. Gulak reaches with his legs and brings Kendrick to a leg lock! Gulak goes after the arm again and pulls fingers! He stands on Kendrick’s head then brings Kendrick around to pull hair. Kendrick fights back with body shots and forearms. Gulak turns it around to stomp a mudhole into Kendrick.

Gulak whips corner to corner but Kendrick reverses. Kendrick hits a forearm smash but is denied his bulldog as Gulak shoves him hard! Gulak grimaces as he stalks Kendrick at the ropes. Gulak whips Kendrick and tilt-o-whirls, but Kendrick counters with a cradle! TWO, and the two scrap. They end up at the ropes, and Gulak whips. Kendrick reverses and calf kicks Gulak down! Gulak scrambles to a corner and Kendrick runs in for another forearm. Kendrick back drops Gulak then crawls to a cover, TWO! Gulak just gets up but Kendrick is too tired to be frustrated. Kendrick comes around and brings Gulak up in a headlock. Gulak pulls hair again, then powers out. Gulak runs Kendrick over then does it again.

Things speed up and Kendrick comes back with a headlock. Gulak back suplexes but Kendrick turns it to a crossbody! Cover, TWO, and Gulak blocks the boot to a trap-leg German Suplex! Cover, TWO! Kendrick lives and Gulak grits his teeth. Gulak drags Kendrick up and runs, but into a back elbow! Kendrick kicks and Dragon Suplexes Gulak! Gulak springs up to clobber Kendrick! Both men are down and a standing count begins. Fans build to a rally as Gulak stands at 6. Gulak stomps Kendrick and drags him onto the apron. Gulak grinds his foot into Kendrick’s face but backs off at 4. Kendrick slowly sits up as Gulak stalks him. Kendrick jawbreakers, but Sliced Bread is denied! Gulak goes for the GuLOCK, but Kendrick rolls through to cover! TWO, Kendrick gets Gulak for the Captain’s Hook! Gulak endures a submission now!

Gulak crawls, reaches, but Kendrick rolls him from the ropes! Kendrick pulls back harder, and Gulak starts to fade! Gulak fish hooks and POWERBOMBS! Cover, TWO!! Kendrick survives and now Gulak is too tired to be frustrated. Gulak grits his teeth and glares as he stands up. Kendrick drags himself up on the ropes and eggs Gulak on. Gulak runs into a boot, and then another. Gulak comes back but gets a SUPERKICK! Kendrick grabs Gulak but Gulak escapes Sliced Bread! Kendrick deflects the boot and rolls Gulak up! TWO into a surfboard, into the GuLOCK! Gulak has Kendrick stuck in the dragon sleeper and body scissors! Kendrick reaches blindly, but he’s fading! Gulak wrenches more, and Kendrick is OUT! Gulak wins!

Winner: Gulak via GuLock

Rating: *** 3/4

Honorable Mentions:

205 Live: Kalisto vs Tony Nese
Winner: Nese via The Running Kneese
Rating: *** 1/2
NOAH: 5v5 Elimnation Match: Mitsuya Nagai, Cody Hall, Maybach Taniguchi, KAZMA SAKAMOTO & Yuji Hino vs Takashi Sugiura, Kinya Okada, Masao Inoue, Yoshiki Inamura & Akitoshi Saito
Winner: Sugiura via Olympic Slam
Rating: *** 1/2
NXT: Shayna Baszler vs Mia Yim
Winner: Baszler via Kirafuda Clutch
Rating: *** 1/4
SmackDown Live: Ricochet & Aleister Black vs Rusev & Nakamura
Winner: Black via Black Mass
Rating: *** 1/4
NXT UK: NXT UK Tag Titles: Grizzled Young Veterans vs Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch
Winner: GYV via Ticket to Mayhem
Rating: *** 1/4
NOAH: GHC Jr. Tag Team Championship Match: Kotaro Suzuki & Yoshinari Ogawa vs Back Breakers (c)
Winner: Suzuki via Tiger Driver
Rating: *** 1/4
WOW: The Temptress vs Fire
Winner: Temptress via Backbreaker
Rating: *** 1/4
IMPACT: Johnny Impact & Brian Cage vs Moose & Killer Kross
Winner: Kross via Kross Jacket Sleeper
Rating: ***
WOW: Kobra Moon vs Azteca
Winner: Kobra via Fire Thunder Driver
Rating: ***
IMPACT: Tommy Dreamer & Willie Mack vs oVe
Winner: Mack via Frog Splash
Rating: ***

2. NOAH: GHC Heavyweight Tag Championship Match: 50 Funky Powers (c) vs Go Shiozaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima

From My Review:
We get a very early glimpse at Katsuhiko’s personality. Yone does his Disco pose with Katsuhiko starts laughing uncontrollably. He tries to throw a kick while laughing and misses high, causing Yone to adjust his afro. So Katsuhiko just tags out to Go, all while still giggling. Go takes most of the big bumps in this match, but it was a damn good match. Both teams looked great, pulled off a few tandem moves each, but Kastuhiko gets the best of Quiet Storm, landing a few kicks to the head and then his Vertical Spike, to become NEW tag champions!

Eddie and Kitamiya come out afterwards to declare that after their matches, they have a respect for one another and want a shot at the tag belts. Nakajima has a lot of story here. Kitamiya is his former Aggression teammate and Eddie was the one that beat him and took the GHC Heavyweight Title in 2017. So if Go and Katsuhiko can defeat this challenge, it might be the storyline wrinkle that Katsuhiko needs to aim towards the main title scene.

Winner: Nakajima via Vertical Spike

Rating: ****

1. Stardom: Wonder of Stardom Championship: Momo Watanabe (c) vs Jungle Kyona

Well Momo was looking to break the defense record set by Io Shirai for the Wonder of Stardom title, and she wanted to do it against the woman she started the streak against. So Momo challenged Kyona, just to bring everything full circle. Kyona on the other hand has had a rather disappointing 2019 so far. 2018 ended with J.A.N. losing both the Artist and Goddess of Stardom tag belts and the subsequent rematches. 2019 has shown Kyona as having some of the best matches, but always ending without victory. So both women have something to prove in this match.

Both come out swinging, and you can see a rougher feel to this match. Kyona worked over Momo’s leg and back, where Momo was just landing stiff kicks and suplexes like they were on sale. Selling was great, Momo sold the back damage by not being able to hold the bridge on a Half and Half Suplex Hold. Kyona had a convincing near fall with her Scorpion Deathlock. Not to be outdone, Momo nearly won by submission as well, when she caught the Sliding Lariat in a Crossface Chickenwing, nearly putting Kyona to sleep. The crowd was into the match, the respective stable members seconding around the ring, smacked the mat and did everything they could to raise the morale of their member.

After tripping a little when she popped over the top rope, Kyona missed the big Splash and that gave Momo an opening for offense. A few kicks, a PK and Peach Sunrise while Kyona was trying to fight for the rope, won her the record setting 11th defense!

Winner: Momo via Peach Sunrise

Rating: **** 3/4

Thoughts:

Now some people may question why the NOAH matches are on the list when they were done on February 24th. The answer is, the show wasn’t on TV until March 2nd, so if IMPACT and other tape delay shows count, so does NOAH.

Regardless of my explanation for the NOAH matches, the Stardom match got a lot of early buzz, so much so that Stardom-World posted it up immediately. Tremendous match, one of the best women’s matches I’ve ever seen and just damn. Momo is getting a huge push and Kyona is probably being set up for something good later in the year. Either way, great match, won’t get the recognition it really deserves, but still damn great.