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Showing posts from January, 2017

Henry's Universe Mode #112: Raw

Coming off an incredible Royal Rumble event, big news was released earlier today, when it was announced that Elimination Chamber will be the next Universe Mode pay-per-view, taking place in three weeks, on February 19th. In the main event, the World Heavyweight Title will be on the line, as new champion Goldberg defends the belt inside the chamber. Also confirmed for that match is former champion Brock Lesnar. Tonight, we will confirm two more entrants into that match, as Kevin Owens faces The Undertaker and Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns go head to head once more in the main event. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson make their debuts, Chris Jericho defends the US Title and more! Universe Mode Monday Night Raw January 30th, 2017 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Chris Jericho(c) vs ???- United States Title Match We got things going in a big way, with a US Title Open Challenge opening Raw. It was Zack Ryder, accompanied by good friend Mojo Rawley, who answered Jericho's challen

Royal Rumble 2017 Recap

Wow. Just, wow. That was quite a pay-per-view, one that had plenty of highs, and plenty of lows. Say watch you will about WWE's current product, but damn if Vince can't make me care about the results of matches, and that's more than I can say about almost any other company in wrestling history. There was raw emotion at the end of that Royal Rumble, with the wrestling world staring down literal Armageddon, and you all know what I'm talking about. WWE has the power to make me feel, so I tip my cap. Let's get into the recap. - This was a fantastic show for wrestling. I'll start with the pre-show, where I went 3 for 3 in my predictions. Other than that, not much to add. I enjoyed all three matches for what they were. - It seems Raw has finally figured out Bayley's character. She and Charlotte had a very enjoyable match, and the Hugster looked strong enough to stay in the title scene. - I know almost everyone expected Roman to walk out with the Univer

Henry's Universe Mode #111: Royal Rumble(Part 3)

After all the hype, all the anticipation, it has finally arrived. Thirty men, all vying for the opportunity of a lifetime. Who will be the one? Who will outlast the others, and take his chance for immortality? It's time for the Royal Rumble. The Royal Rumble Match Entrant #1- Kofi Kingston Entrant #2- Triple H What a way to open the Royal Rumble, as Kofi Kingston, representing the New Day and the Raw brand, and Triple H, representing D-X and SmackDown, kicked things off. Both men took it easy, awaiting the third entrant... Entrant #3- Big Cass The tag team theme continued with the arrival of Big Cass. Would it continue for number 4... Entrant #4- Fandango The Lord of Dance made his way to the ring, tying up with Triple H, while Cass and Kofi went at it, everyone holding on for number 5... Entrant #5- Curtis Axel Another member of a stable, Axel represents the Social Outcasts, and he went right after Kofi, as we got some faction warfare. We would need some or

NXT Takeover: San Antonio Recap

Note: I'm trying a new, more condensed format for these reviews. We'll see how it goes. There's been a lot of talk of what's wrong with NXT. One of the hottest shows in the world has fallen to the C show in it's own promotion, well behind Raw and SmackDown. The glory days of NXT seem to be over, the old guard has left it's post. But even when NXT is struggling, it still has the possibility to pull a rabbit out of it's hat. For this one night, perhaps for the last time, perhaps not, NXT was...............................GLORIOUS!!!! - I'll start by sending some good wishes the way of Corey Graves, who is departing NXT, to be replaced with Nigel McGuinness. My first NXT show was Fatal Four Way, but I wasn't seriously watching the show until the lead up to REvolution, and the addition of Graves. Corey is the last of NXT's first generation, a true changing of the guard. - Eric Young and Tye Dillinger had an entertaining match to start the

My Royal Rumble Predictions

In an effort to continue bringing new content to my blog, here's something I've never done before. I've been very excited in the build to tomorrow's Royal Rumble, so I've made my list of predictions for the event, including pre-show matches. I'm probably going to be completely wrong, so here goes nothing. Pre-Show- Sasha Banks vs Nia Jax My Prediction: Nia Jax Nia needs a win here, otherwise any mystique her character has will be shot. Sasha's been quite involved in the Raw Women's title scene, so she can take a loss to elevate another talent. Pre-Show- Raw Tag Team Title Match- Cesaro and Sheamus vs Gallows and Anderson My Prediction: Gallows and Anderson Having multiple officials involved in this match and Cesaro and Sheamus in the Rumble makes this one obvious to me. A screwy finish gives the heels a win and some much-needed credibility. Pre-Show- Team Becky vs Team Alexa My Prediction:  Naomi pins Alexa again The heels have b

Henry's Universe Mode #110: Royal Rumble(Part 2)

Welcome back for Part 2 of the Royal Rumble. In this part, we have three titles matches, with the main event of this part seeing a triple threat match for the WWE Title. Sasha Banks(c) vs Nikki Bella vs Bayley- Raw Women's Title Match Right off the bat it was Nikki Bella that took control of this match, using her power to take out both Bayley and Sasha. The two former best friends were forced to form a temporary alliance to take out the bigger threat, though it didn't last long. Bayley escaped the Bank Statement and caught Sasha with a Bayley-to-Belly, only for Nikki to break up the pin. Nikki and Bayley exchanged big blows and a lot of offense. Nikki swung and missed on the big forearm, and Bayley hit another Bayley-to-Belly to capture the Raw Women's Title for a second time, as Sasha was a second too late to break up the fall. After the match, things exploded. Sasha and Bayley got into an exchange of words before going right into a flurry of fists. Multiple off

Henry's Universe Mode #109: Royal Rumble(Part 1)

It's the big stage, the big spotlight. It's the culmination of hopes and dreams, of sacrifices and tribulations. It's the grandest stage of them all. It's WrestleMania. But we are not there yet. Tonight the journey begins. Thirty men, each vying for the chance to etch their name in history. Who will rise to the occasion? Who will be the last man left standing, the one who outlasts all the others? The Road to WrestleMania has officially begun. And now, Raw and SmackDown present......................Royal Rumble! Universe Mode Royal Rumble January 29th, 2017 Location: El Paso, TX Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn- Extreme Rules Match These two bitter rivals kicked off the show by beating the absolute stuffing out of each other. This was less of a match than a brawl, with weapons being involved right from the start. Ultimately, Sami just couldn't match the vicious nature of Kevin Owens, and KO put Sami away again with a Pop-Up Powerbomb, Sam

Henry's Universe Mode #108: Main Event

Tonight, it's the final stop before the Royal Rumble. Perhaps more importantly, though, is the semi-finals of the Cruiserweight Classic. Group B winner Rich Swann faces TJ Perkins, and Group A winner Kota Ibushi takes on Cedric Alexander. Plus, it's another Royal Rumble preview in the main event as Raw faces SmackDown. Universe Mode Main Event January 25th, 2017 Location: Honolulu, HI Rich Swann vs TJ Perkins- Cruiserweight Classic Semi-Finals Match Despite winning Group B, Rich Swann was viewed as the underdog heading into this match, and would have to work hard to prove the doubters wrong. Unfortunately, Perkins was just better on this night. Swann had one chance, one opportunity to turn things around, but whiffed on the 450 Splash. Perkins saw his chance, locking in the TJP Clutch and advancing to the finals of the CWC. Winner: TJ Perkins Kota Ibushi vs Cedric Alexander- Cruiserweight Classic Semi-Finals Match The undefeated Kota Ibushi was heavily

Henry's Universe Mode #107: SmackDown

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to SmackDown. As we continue to close in on the Royal Rumble and the Road to WrestleMania, things are heating up on the blue brand. Literally, as in SmackDown's main event, monsters collide as the Big Red Machine Kane faces the undefeated Braun Strowman. A Last Chance Royal Rumble Qualifier, Jason Jordan versus Scott Dawson, Becky Lynch in action and more! Universe Mode SmackDown January 24th, 2017 Location: Cohasset, MA Dana Brooke vs Becky Lynch These were two women searching for answers, Dana after her debut loss and Becky after failing to get back in the hunt for the SmackDown Women's Title. With neither willing to lose, this turned out to be a fantastic display of heart and tenacity, coupled with vicious strikes and unreal power. Becky put on an offensive showcase, hitting suplexes galore, including three Bex-ploder's, but couldn't get the job done. Dana showed her resilience in fighting out of the Dis-arm-her, and

Henry's Universe Mode #106: Raw

With just six days until the Royal Rumble, we have a big main event in store for this edition of Raw. The three World Heavyweight Title contenders(Bray Wyatt, Rusev and Goldberg) will meet in a triple threat match. On the line is a Royal Rumble spot, but remember that should the winner become champion on Sunday, their spot will go to another Raw roster member based on the results of a random lottery. A six-man battle royal, the New Day and more on this episode of Raw! Universe Mode Monday Night Raw January 23rd, 2017 Location: Houston, TX Brock Lesnar Promo Before we could get the show underway, the World Heavyweight Champion made his way to the ring, mic in hand. It is very rare to hear Brock Lesnar speak: such is the enormity of tonight's main event and this Sunday's championship match. Lesnar went on a tirade against his competition, the Raw roster and GM Shane McMahon. A fired up Brock Lesnar is the last thing anyone needs, but it appears that the Beast

Behind the Universe #1: The Introduction

Hey guys, welcome to a new series here on my blog. In this series, I take a behind-the-scenes look at my Universe Mode, which is now well over a hundred posts. I'll take about upcoming matches, my thoughts on certain developments and the future of the series as a whole. Enjoy! Warning: The following is done completely out of character and out of kayfabe. Because of this, there will be massive spoilers up ahead. Just looking out. My Thoughts - I'd like to start by saying that this series has been an absolute pleasure to write. I feel that at the moment, my content is the best it ever has been, and I've been very, very pleased with everything. My Universe Mode wiki is looking very good(and will be updated soon), and the posts themselves seem to be doing very well. There are very few things I would change in this regard. - I very much like the current show structure. Three shows a week is perfect, and has made this series feel a lot less like a chore. I've a

Henry's Universe Mode #105: Main Event

With all four competitors tied at 3 points apiece, Group B of the Cruiserweight Classic is all up for grabs on the final week of action. Zack Sabre Jr faces Rich Swann and Cedric Alexander faces Drew Gulak, with everything to gain and everything to lose. Also, Asuka is in action as she faces SmackDown's Naomi. Universe Mode Main Event January 18th, 2017 Location: Pontiac, MI Asuka vs Naomi The Empress of Tomorrow came into this match in a fury, having lost for most of her time on the main roster thus far. Naomi simply couldn't compete, falling prey to the Asuka Lock. Winner: Asuka Zack Sabre Jr vs Rich Swann- Cruiserweight Classic Group B Match Sabre was considered a favorite by many to advance to the semi-finals, with Swann a massive underdog. Straight off the start, ZSJ was dominant, taking Swann apart with vicious kicks and slow, methodical offense. Swann stayed in the match, though, using his speed and athleticism to out-maneuver the slower Sabre.

Henry's Universe Mode #104: SmackDown

Welcome to Tuesday Night SmackDown! The blue brand has a big main event in store, as AJ Styles and Tyson Kidd face off once more in a Number One Contendership Match for the WWE Title. Also on tap, a fatal four way match for a shot at the SmackDown Women's Title, Baron Corbin takes on Dolph Ziggler, Triple H looks to enter the Royal Rumble and more! Universe Mode SmackDown January 17th, 2017 Location: Dayton, OH Prime Time Players vs Triple H and ???- Royal Rumble Qualification Match With The Game in need of a tag team partner to enter the Royal Rumble, there was only one man he could call. To open SmackDown, we saw the reunion of D-Generation X, as Shawn Michaels came out of retirement to help his buddy out, and also punch his own spot in the Royal Rumble. The two veterans out-classed a struggling Prime Time Players, with HBK tuning up the band once more to deliver a devastating Sweet Chin Music to Titus for the win. Winners: D-Generation X Apollo Crews Pro

Henry's Universe Mode #103: Raw

First off, happy MLK Day! It's always important to remember the sacrifices of those that came before us, and honor the legacy of a truly great man. With just under two weeks until the Royal Rumble, Monday Nights are heating up, with two big championship matches. Sami Zayn puts the US Title on the line in an open challenge, in which the winner will also receive a Royal Rumble spot. In Raw's main event, the World Tag Team Titles are on the line as the Wyatt Family look to end Hideo Itami and Finn Balor's impressive reign. The Shield reunite in an attempt to qualify for the Rumble, Bayley faces Nikki Bella and more! Universe Mode Monday Night Raw January 16th, 2017 Location: Greensboro, NC KO Isn't Finished With Sami The United States Champion was making his way to the ring for his open challenge when he was ambushed by the former champion, Kevin Owens. KO, furious that he no longer held gold, brutalized Sami with a vicious sneak attack, putting Zayn

Henry's Universe Mode #102: Main Event

It's a big fight feel here on Main Event, as former Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews faces former United States Champion Kevin Owens in a huge main event. Also, it's the final week for Group A action in the Cruiserweight Classic, as Kota Ibushi faces Brian Kendrick and TJ Perkins faces Noam Dar. Who will be the first two men to punch their tickets to the semi-finals? Universe Mode Main Event January 11th, 2017 Location: Hampton, VA TJ Perkins vs Noam Dar- Cruiserweight Classic Group A Match With Perkins knowing that a win could send him through to the semi-finals, he possessed a fire that Noam Dar simply couldn't quench. In the end, it was an easy win for TJP, dominating the match before locking in the TJP Clutch and forcing the submission. A dominant victory for TJ Perkins keeps him in contention for the semi-finals, leaving Noam Dar in the dust. Winner: TJ Perkins Kota Ibushi vs Brian Kendrick- Cruiserweight Classic Group A Match Brian Ke

Henry's Universe Mode #101: SmackDown

Welcome to SmackDown! Tonight, after putting each other through hell, the rivalry between Cesaro and Randy Orton will come to an end. In SmackDown's main event, it's a No Holds Barred Match to try to settle this blood feud. After his shocking WWE Title win to close 2016, Tyler Breeze is in the building. What will Prince Pretty have to say? Six more Royal Rumble spots are on the line, Emma finds a new tag team partner and more! Universe Mode SmackDown January 10th, 2017 Location: Anaheim, CA Tyler Breeze Promo The new WWE Champion came out to open SmackDown, arrogant as ever. He showed off his new belt, before calling out his tag team partner, Fandango. Although Breeze had shown no interest in their team over the past few weeks, Fandango tried his best to talk Tyler out of breaking the team up. However, the champ ignored his pleas, telling Fandango in no uncertain terms to get the hell of out of his ring. Fandango snapped, unleashing on Breeze with rights and l

Henry's Universe Mode #100: Raw

First off, apologies for no posts recently. I've been sick, and I didn't feel motivated to post any content. Also, as this is episode 100, this was originally meant to be a special episode. Unfortunately, it isn't now, but I will thank everyone that has made this series what it is. After ending 2016 by defeating Rusev, Brock Lesnar demanded better competition from Raw GM Shane McMahon. Shane answered the challenge, and tonight's main event will be a three-on-one handicap match. Lesnar will face three of his former foes in Rusev, Bray Wyatt and Goldberg. If Lesnar wins, he picks his opponent for the Royal Rumble. If the three man team should triumph, it will be a fatal-four-way at the Rumble. Additionally, there are four Royal Rumble spots on the line tonight, Nikki Bella faces new champ Sasha Banks and more! Universe Mode Monday Night Raw January 9th, 2017 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Roman Reigns Promo The Big Dog wasted little time, opening Raw by cal

Henry's Universe Mode #99: 2016 Slammy Awards

Today, we are here to celebrate the year of 2016 in Henry's Universe Mode, with the first ever Slammy Awards! We have eight different categories, featuring the most shocking moments of the year, the best show and best match of the year, and much more. I'm your host, Henry Keys, and let me take you on a trip down memory lane as we recognize the best of 2016. Brand of the Year Nominees: Raw (GM Shane McMahon), NXT (now defunct)(GM William Regal), SmackDown (GM Daniel Bryan) We open the Slammys with the award for Brand of the Year, recognizing the best overall brand in Henry's Universe Mode. It was a close race, as all three brands put on great matches and showcased some incredible talent. In the end, it was the competitors on Monday Night that took home our first Slammy, with the award being accepted by GM Shane McMahon, who promised an even bigger 2017 on Monday Nights. Winner: Raw Feud of the Year Nominees: The Undertaker vs Kane , Randy Orton

Happy New Year!

Hey guys, it's Henry, welcoming you to 2017. 2016 was a great year for my blog, as Henry's World grew at a ridiculous pace, and I'm so happy with how everything turned out. My goal is to make 2017 an equally strong year on the blog. Now, I have not produced any content in the past few days. If you read on Twitter, the main reason for that is the fact that I recently fell ill. On top of that, my computer was acting up yesterday, making it impossible to write any blog posts. I've almost recovered, and my computer is back to working order, so things should go back to normal soon. This week will be a bit crazy, as there's a post I wanted to put out yesterday that is unfinished, plus the usual Universe Mode content. Things will be hectic, but I'm sure it'll all work out. Once again, just wanted to thank all of you for making 2016 for my blog as great as it was. Cheers!