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Welcome to PWInsider.com’s coverage of Episode 9 of WWE LFG on A&E!
After a short recap of last week’s episode, Bubba Ray meets his brother, D-Von Dudley, at the Performance Center’s front door. It’s time to bring the Future Legends up to speed on tag team wrestling…and who better to do so than The Dudley Boyz? Bubba Ray warns D-Von, though, that Booker T is at the Performance Center. He’s not thrilled upon hearing the news.
Shawn Michaels gathers everyone up, sans The Dudley Boyz, to let them know that it’s time to learn about tag team wrestling. He then introduces The Dudley Boyz. Bubba Ray introduces the Future Greats to D-Von Dudley and goes over the accolades of The Dudley Boyz. Booker T isn’t thrilled with this happening. In a talking head segment, Booker T calls the ECW Tag Team Titles regional championships. What Booker T won were world championships.
Bubba Ray talks about The Dudley Boyz being different from all other tag teams. They couldn’t do what a lot of other tag teams could do, but they had chemistry and a great finish. D-Von talks about being cohesive.
Shawn Michaels makes the tag team matches: Penina Tuilaepa and Leigh Laurel (Team Booker) vs. Sirena Linton and Dani Sekelsky (Team Mickie), Zena Sterling and Tatyanna Dumas (Team Bubba) vs. Tyra Mae Steele and Bayley Humphrey (Team Undertaker), Drake Morreaux and Cutler James (Team Bubba) vs. Chris Island and Troy Yearwood (Team Mickie), and Elijah Holyfield and Shiloh Hill (Team Undertaker) vs. Jasper Troy and Anthony Luke (Team Booker). When all is said and done, D-Von Dudley will be awarding the points to the winning tag teams. Michaels reminds D-Von to be objective.
The Future Greats meet with their Legends to talk about the matches and their finishing move. Cutler James and Drake Morreaux talk about doing an uppercut into a splash. As Bubba is talking to his team, BJ Ray returns with papers showing that he is cleared to wrestle. BJ Ray talks about jumping in and getting points for the team. Cutler James gets frustrated and tells BJ Ray to shut up. James has a good thing going with Morreaux. Bubba asks James what would have happened if James had to tag with BJ Ray. James says that he wouldn’t work with BJ Ray. Bubba presses James on the topic and James backs down from his stance. Bubba says that James’ viewpoint is concerning. Bubba talks about working with people who he didn’t like, but he still did business with them. A wrestler has to be professional. Therefore, Bubba takes Drake Morreaux out of the tag team match and replaces him with BJ Ray. BJ gets scolded for smirking by Bubba. Bubba then gets James and BJ Ray to shake hands. In a talking head moment, Cutler James says that Bubba just likes to see drama.
Team Bubba and Team Mickie are shown going over their match. Team Mickie is confused over how BJ Ray is in the match, but they are just going with the flow. Bubba gives Team Mickie an idea for their double team move – a double kip up into a double elbow. D-Von checks in with Team Bubba and Cutler James and BJ Ray seem to be on the same page.
It’s time for the match! Vic Joseph and Jeremy Borash are on commentary and the match was taped in front of a crowd.
BJ Ray and Cutler James (Team Bubba) vs. Chris Island and Troy Yearwood (Team Mickie)
Cutler James and Troy Yearwood start things off, but BJ Ray quickly tags himself in. They lock up and Ray goes behind and slams Yearwood down. Yearwood hits the ropes and hits a dropkick for a two count. Chris Island tags in and Ray is hit with a double suplex. Team Mickie then hits their double team move – a double kip up into a double elbow. Ray recovers and dodges an Island dive. They lock up and Ray is able to take Island down for a two count. Ray picks a leg and yanks Island down. Island then hits the ropes and eats a boot to the midsection. Ray hits a bulldog on Island.
Ray starts to jaw at Yearwood. James gets into the ring and pushes Ray down and tells him that he’s done. James leaves the ring. Ray is able to roll up Island for the three count!
Winners: BJ Ray and Cutler James
In the back, Cutler James tells the camera to get out of his face. During the match, the coaches were confused over what was happening between James and BJ Ray. Apparently, Chris Island and Troy Yearwood were confused as well. Bubba Ray is waiting for BJ Ray after the match. He tells him to walk through the back door and go outside. Bubba brings Mickie James with him. Ray says that he thought it would be fun to do what he did since the crowd was chanting his name.
Bubba tells BJ Ray that he put everyone in the ring in jeopardy. BJ says he wasn’t thinking about it – he was just trying to entertain the fans. Mickie James and Bubba both rip into BJ Ray about what he did and how unprofessional it was. Bubba says he doesn’t care what happens to BJ Ray anymore – it was the worst thing he’s ever seen in wrestling. BJ Ray apologizes to Bubba, but Bubba doesn’t believe him.
Bubba talks to Team Mickie. He has no answers. Bubba says that he doesn’t need to apologize to them, but he’s sorry for what BJ Ray did. In a talking head segment, BJ Ray feels sorry for what he did to Team Mickie, but was just trying to show how mentally weak Cutler James is. In a talking head segment, Cutler James says that he’s done working with BJ Ray.
The Team Booker and Team Mickie women are shown working on their match. Dani Sekelsky is cleared to wrestle after dealing with her injuries. Sirena Linton is feeling pressure since she doesn’t have a ton of experience, but is excited to get back into the ring. Penina Tuilaepa wants to make sure everyone has a shining moment. Apparently, Tuilaepa has a secret ingredient with Leigh Laurel that she won’t share – not even with their coach, Booker T.
It’s time for the match! Vic Joseph and Jeremy Borash are on commentary and the match was taped in front of a crowd.
Penina Tuilaepa and Leigh Laurel (Team Booker) vs. Sirena Linton and Dani Sekelsky (Team Mickie)
Leigh Laurel and Dani Sekelsky start things off with a lock up. Sekelsky grabs a side headlock, but Laurel reverses it into an armbar. Sekelsky rolls out of it and grabs another side headlock. Sirena Linton tags in and grabs a side headlock. She takes Laurel over. Laurel works out of it, but Linton grabs another side headlock and a takeover. Linton sends Laurel into the corner. Linton works her over and then hits a cartwheel attack. Sekelsky tags in and hits a running knee on Laurel for a two count.
Sekelsky grabs a side headlock. Laurel brings Sekelsky to her corner, but Sekelsky fights off the double team. The referee gets distracted and Penina Tuilaepa levels Sekelsky. Laurel hits a backbreaker followed by some shoulder attacks in the corner. Tuilaepa tags in and climbs to the second rope. She jumps down and clubs Sekelsky’s back. Tuilaepa goes for a running attack in the corner, but Linton pushes her partner out of the way and sacrifices herself between the ropes.
Laurel tags in and she hits a double elbow with Tuilaepa. Laurel drives Sekelsky into the corner and tags in Tuilaepa. Tuilaepa lifts Sekelsky up on her shoulder and stretches Dani’s back. Sekelsky wiggles out and fights back. Linton tags in and comes in hot. Laurel tags in and Linton hits her with a series of tackles. Linton slams down Laurel and goes for the pin. Tuilaepa runs in and tries to break up the pin with a splash, but Linton moves. Laurel shakes it off, though, and hits a powerslam on Linton for the win!
Winners: Penina Tuilaepa and Leigh Laurel
The coaches think that the teams did too much in the match. In a talking head segment, Mickie James blames the Team Booker women for the rough patches in the match. Booker T talks to the teams about laying things in and not overthinking. Leigh Laurel feels bad about killing the crowd.
The men from Team Booker and Team Undertaker are shown going over their match. The Undertaker is helping them be intense and how to utilize the referee. He tries to show them how to evoke emotion from the crowd. Jasper Troy is amazed at what he’s learning from The Undertaker. D-Von makes his way over and helps the teams with the hot tag. Jasper Troy talks about how their match’s story is built around the hot tag, so they have to make sure to make it work. Anthony Luke doesn’t want to lose out on any more points, so he’s going to do whatever he can to win.
It’s time for the match! Vic Joseph and Jeremy Borash are on commentary and the match was taped in front of a crowd.
Elijah Holyfield and Shiloh Hill (Team Undertaker) vs. Jasper Troy and Anthony Luke (Team Booker)
Jasper Troy and Elijah Holyfield start things off. Troy grabs Holyfield right away and launches him into the corner. Holyfield ducks under a strike. Holyfield is sent into the corner, but ducks another attack and gets in some punches. Troy forces Holyfield into his corner and tags in Anthony Luke. Luke hits a big tackle, but Holyfield shakes things off and tags in Shiloh Hill.
Hill is able to yank Luke down and get a two count. Troy tags back in, but Hill gets the early advantage. Hill tries to lift up Troy, but Jasper fights it off. Luke makes a blind tag as Troy lifts up Hill. Luke kicks Hill and Troy slams him down. Luke and Troy try to double team Hill in the corner (Troy tags in), but Hill fights it off until Troy drags him out of the ring. Troy slams Hill onto the apron and then hits a splash in the ring for a two count.
Troy headbutts Hill. Troy distracts the referee by taunting Holyfield as Luke takes a cheap shot at Hill. Luke tags in and he hits an elbow for a two count. Luke knocks Holyfield off of the apron and clotheslines Hill for a two count. Luke slaps on a chinlock, but Hill fights out of it with a jawbreaker. Troy tags in and Hill has no one to tag in the corner. Troy hits a Bossman Slam for a two count.
Troy goes for a Vader Bomb, but Hill moves out of the way. Luke tags in. Holyfield tags in. Holyfield comes in hot. He tackles down Luke and goes for a cover. Troy tries to break it up with a splash, but misses and hits Luke. Hill tags in. Troy is sent out of the ring. Hill lifts up Luke and Holyfield climbs to the second rope. Holyfield hits a clothesline and Hill makes the pin for the win!
Winners: Shiloh Hill and Elijah Holyfield
The Undertaker is very happy with the match. Booker T is a fan of the match, as well. Both coaches congratulate the Future Greats after the match.
The women of Team Bubba and Team Undertaker are shown going over their match. Bayley Humphrey has a new finish in mind. Tatyanna Dumas is not enjoying going over the match because Tyra Mae Steele is being a control freak. Apparently, Steele doesn’t like that Dumas and Zena Sterling want to do a dance before hitting their double team move. Fit Finlay gets involved and says that it is the wrong place, wrong person. Dumas and Steele jaw at each other a bit, but it’s lighthearted.
It’s time for the match! Vic Joseph and Jeremy Borash are on commentary and the match was taped in front of a crowd.
Zena Sterling and Tatyanna Dumas (Team Bubba) vs. Tyra Mae Steele and Bayley Humphrey (Team Undertaker)
Tatyanna Dumas and Tyra Mae Steele start things off with a lock up. Steele tries to lift Dumas, but Dumas wiggles out and slams Steele. Dumas cranks at Steele’s arm, flipping her over twice. Zena Sterling tags in and cranks Steele’s arm, as well. Sterling hits a rolling pin for a two count. Sterling fakes tying her shoe, trips Steele, and grabs an armbar. Dumas tags back in and climbs to the top rope. She jumps down and clubs on Steele’s arm. Steele is able to shake it off and hangs Dumas over the top rope.
Steele then stretches Dumas down on the mat. She transitions to a chinlock and then works Dumas over in the corner. Bayley Humphrey tags in, but Dumas uses her quickness to avoid Humphrey. Humphrey is able to grab Dumas eventually and sends her into the corner. Dumas tries to use her speed again, but Humphrey catches her and slams her down. Humphrey hits some shoulder attacks in the corner and tags in Steele. Steele gets a two count. She lifts Dumas up, but Dumas wiggles out and gets a two count off of a roll up. Dumas starts to fight back and tags in Sterling.
Sterling comes in hot and drops Steele a couple of times. Sterling slams down Steele and takes a shot at Humphrey. Sterling hits a running attack in the corner and then hits a gutwrench suplex. Humphrey breaks up the pin. Dumas tries to get involved and distracts the referee. Humphrey trips up Sterling and then levels Dumas on the outside. Humphrey tags in and hits a powerbomb-to-slam type move on Sterling for the win!
Winners: Tyra Mae Steele and Bayley Humphrey
After the match, Tatyanna Dumas is upset because she feels Tyra Mae Steele was not working safely enough. Dumas says that she got hurt from one of Steele’s moves. In a talking head segment, Steele doesn’t see it the same way as Dumas.
Shawn Michaels gathers everyone up. He feels like some of the matches were rough and ugly. He’s not happy that the matches lost the crowd. Michaels wants the Future Greats to have fun, but fun is greatness, winning, and making a lot of money. He feels that they are too comfortable.
D-Von gives the points to Team Bubba’s women (Zena Sterling and Tatyanna Dumas) and Team Undertaker’s men (Shiloh Hill and Elijah Holyfield). The winners are very happy. Anthony Luke really wanted to get a point for Team Booker. Booker T feels that Anthony Luke and Jasper Troy deserved the point. The Undertaker feels that Shiloh Hill and Elijah Holyfield truly deserved the point.
Standings
Team Undertaker - 6
Team Booker - 5
Team Mickie - 3
Team Bubba - 2
Next week – the Future Greats will work on unexpected happenings during a match and Cutler James will take on BJ Ray with Bubba Ray saying that only one of them can stay.
What did you think of this week’s LFG episode? How are you enjoying the show? Let me know at matt.tenhoeve@gmail.com and let’s talk about it! See you next time!
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