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Welcome to PWInsider.com’s coverage of Episode 8 of WWE LFG on A&E!
After a short recap of last week’s episode, Mickie James talks to her team about being third in the standings. Dani Sekelsky reveals that she is not currently cleared to wrestle due to the injuries that she’s been dealing with. Also, Troy Yearwood is out with the flu. Bubba Ray talks to his team about getting their first point. He’s still just happy about them taking steps forward over receiving points. Booker T challenges Chris Island to an impromptu push-up contest, which Island wins after almost 50 push-ups.
Shawn Michaels gathers everyone up to let everyone know that they are at the halfway point. He asks the Legends who the frontrunner for them would be today if the contest were to end right now. Bubba Ray picks Zena Sterling, Booker T picks Jasper Troy, Mickie James picks Chris Island, and The Undertaker decides not to make a pick. Instead, The Undertaker wants everyone to step up and keep improving.
Shawn Michaels then talks about having a signature maneuver – like the Tombstone or Sweet Chin Music. A signature move can define a wrestler. Michaels then introduces DDP – Diamond Dallas Page, who gets a video package dedicated to him and his Diamond Cutter signature move.
DDP talks to the Future Greats about why he was brought in to speak to them. He talks about starting wrestling late and becoming a star in his 40s. DDP gives credit to the Diamond Cutter for his popularity. He challenges the Future Greats to come up with the best signature move. It’s not just about the move, though – it’s about the passion, eyes, and facials.
The Future Greats get in the ring and start working on their signature moves. Chris Island wants to do a Go to Sleep variation that Mickie James seems a tad bit worried about. Sirena Linton wants to redeem herself with a strong signature move after the struggles she had in her last match.
Bubba Ray works with his team on their signature moves. He shows Cutler James how to take a bump when feeling impact. It doesn’t matter how hard the move is hit – it’s how hard it’s sold. Drake Morreaux works on doing a splash off of the top rope. Bubba Ray suggests doing the Bayou Shuffle before hitting the splash. Cutler James comes up with the “UpperCutler,” which is an uppercut with some histrionics.
Booker T helps his team with their signature moves. Leigh Laurel thinks about doing a 619 into a spinning kick. Booker T doesn’t like it and they switch to Laurel doing a powerslam. Jasper Troy works on his move, which is a slam/spinebuster variation.
On The Undertaker’s team, Shiloh Hill has an idea for a DDT-like move. Chris Island, on Mickie’s team, wants to dedicate his move to a wrestler from his past, Kal Jak. Sirena Linton asks Molly Holly and Mickie James if she can do Holly’s Molly-Go-Round. Molly wants to see Linton do it safely before approving it. Back on The Undertaker’s team, Bayley Humphrey is working on her Cranium Crusher to add a slam element to it. DDP likes it, but just wants to see more facial expressions on it. Michelle McCool is back and helping The Undertaker’s team, which Booker T smack talks.
Anthony Luke has an idea for a belly-to-back into a uranage move. He has to prove that he can pick up Jasper Troy in it first, which he does. Elijah Holyfield works on an uppercut punch, harkening back to his family’s boxing background. Sirena Linton is shown working on the Molly-Go-Round, which she hits cleanly multiple times.
Zena Sterling is working on a tilt-a-whirl side slam, but is struggling with the speed of it in order to get enough momentum. Bubba Ray wants Dani Sekelsky to help Sterling, but Sekelsky says that she cannot get in the ring. Bubba Ray calls her useless and Chris Island sticks up for her. Bubba Ray and Island then have a back and forth of words. Island tells on Bubba Ray to Mickie James, who helps calm things down. Bubba Ray was joking with Sekelsky, but Island took it seriously. Mickie liked that Island spoke up, though.
It’s time for the Legends to pick who will represent the teams with their signature moves. Bubba Ray picks Zena Sterling and Cutler James. Mickie James picks Chris Island and Sirena Linton (basically by default). The Undertaker picks Bayley Humphrey and Elijah Holyfield. Booker T picks Anthony Luke and Leigh Laurel.
With the representatives chosen, it’s time for the matches! Vic Joseph and Jeremy Borash are on commentary.
Cutler James (Team Bubba) vs. Anthony Luke (Team Booker)
They lock up and Anthony Luke gives Cutler James a knee to the midsection. They lock up again and James backs Luke into the ropes. They break, but Luke grabs a side headlock right away. James works out of it, but Luke gives James a thumb to the eye in front of the referee and grabs the side headlock again. James works out of the hold again and reverses into a side headlock of his own. Luke hits the ropes and is brought down by James. James hits a headlock takeover and cranks Luke’s neck down on the mat.
Luke works out of the hold and forces James into the corner. Luke works James over with some punches, but James shakes them off and hits Luke with some shots. Cutler goes for the UpperCutler, but Luke reverses it into a backslide for a two count. Luke rains down punches on James and then hits a suplex for a two count. Luke signals for the finish and goes for it, but James counters it into a pin that Luke kicks out of. Luke hits a running strike for a two count.
Luke whips James into the corner, but James fires back until Luke cuts him off with a knee to the midsection. They exchange strikes in the middle of the ring until James hits a couple of running tackles. James hits a clothesline and winds up for the UpperCutler. Luke sells the signature move big time, but gets his foot on the ropes during James’ pin. James hits the ropes, but runs into Luke’s Lights, Camera, Action. Luke makes the pin for the win!
Winner: Anthony Luke
Booker T thinks that Anthony Luke delivered on his signature move. Bubba Ray likes what Cutler James did. DDP thinks that James’ move went too long, but liked that it got the crowd involved.
Leigh Laurel (Team Booker) vs. Zena Sterling (Team Bubba)
They lock up and jockey for position. Zena Sterling is able to grab an arm and crank it, but Leigh Laurel rolls out of it and tries to reverse the hold. Sterling stays strong and keeps the arm bar. She cranks down on the arm, sending Laurel down to the mat. Laurel is able to go behind and reverse, but Sterling reverses it right back. Laurel works out of it and hits the ropes, but eats a big clothesline by Sterling.
Sterling goes for her signature move, the tilt-a-whirl slam, but Laurel wiggles out of it. Sterling avoids Laurel’s clothesline when she notices her shoe is untied. Sterling then trips up Laurel and grabs an arm bar. Sterling cranks the arm again, but Laurel slips between the ropes to the apron. She pulls Sterling’s arm down on the ropes. Laurel gets back in the ring and sends Sterling into the corner. Laurel sets up for her signature move, the powerslam, and hits it for a two count. Sterling shakes it off and hits a couple of clotheslines. Sterling then slams Laurel down and hits the Whatchamacallit (her signature move) for the win!
Winner: Zena Sterling
Bubba Ray is very happy with both Zena Sterling and Leigh Laurel. He wasn’t sure about Sterling being able to protect Laurel with her signature move, but she did it well. Booker T loves Laurel’s work, but wants to see her hit another gear when it comes to her energy. The Undertaker agrees with Booker T and reiterates the point. Laurel gets emotional upon hearing the constructive criticism and blames it on getting rocked by a clothesline. Mickie James checks on her and DDP gives her a pep talk about not being afraid to fail.
Chris Island (Team Mickie) vs. Elijah Holyfield (Team Undertaker)
They feel each other out a bit with distance checks and then lock up. Elijah Holyfield backs Chris Island up into the ropes. Island throws Holyfield over with a couple of fireman’s carries and then grabs a side headlock. Island takes Holyfield over and cranks the neck down on the mat. Holyfield tries to roll Island over into a pin, but Island regains control. Holyfield works out of the headlock, but eats a tackle. Island hits the ropes and eats two hip tosses. Holyfield charges Island in the corner and hits a shoulder tackle.
Holyfield works Island over in the corner with some punches and then hits a beel. Holyfield charges Island in the corner again and hits another shoulder attack. Holyfield hits his signature move, the uppercut punch, for a two count. Holyfield lays in some more punches on Island until Island blocks one. Island fires back with some punches and then hits a flying tackle. Island hits a bodyslam and then pulls his straps down. Island hits his signature move, the tilt-a-whirl knee, for the win!
Winner: Chris Island
Mickie James really likes what she saw from both Chris Island and Elijah Holyfield. The Undertaker is impressed with Holyfield, but doesn’t like that he wears a necklace and earrings. Bubba Ray agrees with the jewelry comment. Bubba Ray calls Island rude and tells him to smarten up, but he likes what he saw in the ring.
Sirena Linton (Team Mickie) vs. Bayley Humphrey (Team Undertaker)
They lock up and Bayley Humphrey quickly throws Sirena Linton off, sending her through the ropes. Linton gets back into the ring and goes to lock up with Humphrey again. Humphrey, though, grabs her and drives her into the corner. Humphrey hits some shoulder attacks and then lifts Linton up on her shoulder. Linton wiggles out and gets a boot up on Humphrey’s charging attack. Linton hits a bulldog variation and then climbs to the top rope. Linton sets up for her signature move, the Molly-Go-Round, and hits it for a two count.
Linton chops at Humphrey a few times, but Humphrey eventually blocks a strike and sends Linton into the ropes. Linton tries to hit a crossbody, but Humphrey catches her and slams her down. Humphrey then sets up for her signature move – she locks on the cranium crush, lifts Linton, and hits a slam for the win!
Winner: Bayley Humphrey
Mickie James thanks Molly Holly for helping Sirena Linton with her signature move. Mickie is very proud of Linton. The Undertaker is impressed with both Linton and Bayley Humphrey. DDP wants Linton to scream less and Humphrey to scream more, but he likes what he saw. Bubba Ray says that it was all about the first two minutes and the last two minutes. He tries to give Linton a high five, but she goes for a hug. Bubba gives in to the hug. In the back, Molly Holly congratulates Sirena Linton and gives her permission to use the Molly-Go-Round.
It’s time for DDP to award the points!
Booker T thinks everyone worked hard, but feels Anthony Luke deserves the point. Mickie James feels that Sirena Linton earned the point. The Undertaker believes that Elijah Holyfield completed the task given to the Future Greats. Bubba Ray believes that multiple Future Greats took a step forward.
DDP is impressed with everyone, but decides to give his points to Anthony Luke (Team Booker) and Sirena Linton (Team Mickie).
Standings
Team Undertaker - 5
Team Booker - 5
Team Mickie - 3
Team Bubba - 1
Booker T is happy to be tied for first. The Undertaker plans to get tougher on his team so that they keep improving. Chris Island really wants to earn a point. Sirena Linton is thrilled to have earned a point and wants to keep making people proud.
Next week – D-Von Dudley visits, tag team warfare takes place, and BJ Ray returns.
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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