Henry's World

First off, apologies for this post being a little late. The end of Henry's Universe Mode took up most of my time over the past few days. Brooklyn has basically become NXT's WrestleMania, and they've delivered some pretty big moments in the past on these shows. This show did feature some pretty big changes, as championships changed hands in NXT for the first time since January. There were a couple of absolutely fantastic matches, and an overly long, stagnant main event, which has become pretty standard fare for Takeovers. NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II Score: 8/10 - Maybe the trick would be to move NXT Championship matches to the open of the show is a smart idea? NXT crowds are so hot at the start of these shows, and it really helps elevate matches to the next level. - Not that Andrade Almas and Johnny Gargano really needed any help. These guys have the reputation they do for a reason, and this is perhaps the best both have looked since coming to NXT. Gargan...

I gotta tell you, I was not looking forward to this show. I've not been keeping huge tabs on the product, and this card, aside for a few standouts, looked pretty poor. Almost in spite of itself, this show did end up entertaining me, but it took a beach ball being torn in half. SummerSlam 2016 Score: 4/10 - Although I've heard a lot of complaints that this show was too long, I definitely didn't really feel it that much. I did skip most of the pre-show though, so that might be why. - Hey, remember when Baron Corbin had the Money in the Bank briefcase? Brooklyn remembers. It was a foolish move to get rid of the briefcase to begin with, but it's even worse when you consider that it was done to add heat to this match. This was always going to be a mid-card match, no matter how many cash-in failures you want to throw in. RIP Baron Corbin's push, 2016-2017. - Natalya and Naomi may have had the match I was least interested in(which is saying something)...

Welcome to the third and final part of Summerslam. In the final two matches in Henry's Universe Mode history, Samoa Joe faces The Undertaker and AJ Styles battles Cesaro and John Cena. Samoa Joe(c) vs The Undertaker- Universal Championship Match These powerhouses, giants of the industry squared off in our semi main event, and put on a match for the ages. From the beginning, you could tell that this was something more than any championship match. This was a passing of the torch, if you will, as Samoa Joe proved time and time again he could hang with The Undertaker. The Phenom pulled everything out of the playbook, including a suicide dive and a brutal DDT to the apron, but he could never keep Joe down. A Tombstone couldn't put the match away, and a second followed by the Hell's Gate submission hold wasn't enough either. The Samoan Submission Machine simply refused to lose, and even with blood pouring down his face, was not going to give up. Samoa Joe was simply ...

Welcome to Part 2 of Summerslam. In this part, we see Tyler Breeze face Fandango, with Breeze's Money in the Bank briefcase on the line. Becky Lynch and Randy Orton put their championships up for grabs, against Asuka and Kenny Omega respectively. In Part 2's main event, the Hardy Boyz defend their championships against Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. Tyler Breeze vs Fandango It became apparent pretty quickly that Fandango was not interested in actually winning this match. He seemed determined only on causing as much pain to Tyler Breeze as Breeze had caused to him, opening Prince Pretty up with right hands. Fandango declined again and again to get the three count, focusing on opening the cut on Breeze's forehead. You knew this strategy would cost him, and eventually, it did. Fandango unloaded on Breeze in the corner with rights and left, only for Tyler to roll out of the way and connect with a Super Model Kick, winning the match but paying the price. Winner: Tyler...

Tonight, it all comes to an end. After a year and a half of blood, sweat and tears, it all comes full circle. Here, in the waning days of August, we bid goodbye to Henry's Universe Mode. But sorrow and regret will some later. There is still one more stop to make, one more fight to take. There will be champions crowned, dreams realized and careers changed forever. That's just what happens around here. For the final time, allow me to present to you my world, my Universe. Welcome to Summerslam. Universe Mode Summerslam August 20th, 2017 Location: Brooklyn, NY Official Summerslam Theme Song- "Leave It All Behind"- Cult To Follow Emma(c) vs Alexa Bliss- SmackDown Women's Championship Match These two former allies kicked off the Biggest Party of the Summer, but they were not alone, as Emma had Dana Brooke in her corner, while Alexa was accompanied to the ring by former champion Bayley. From the start, the champion had a plan. She wen...

In the waning days of August, as Henry's Universe Mode draws to a close, NXT has taken over once more. Tonight, in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the past, present and future will collide. Natalya, Nikki Cross and Ember Moon clash for the NXT Women's Championship. Roderick Strong looks to prove himself as he faces Neville, and two near unstoppable tag teams collide. Plus, after becoming the face of NXT in Chicago, can Hideo Itami survive perhaps his greatest challenge in the form of the dangerous Aleister Black? Universe Mode NXT Takeover: Brooklyn August 19th, 2017 Location: Brooklyn, NY Natalya(c) vs Nikki Cross vs Ember Moon- NXT Women's Championship Match For the most part, this was Nikki Cross' match to lose. The female leader of Sanity took the fight to both of her opponents, keeping Natalya and Ember Moon on the defensive. It took everything that both women had to fight Cross off, and any alliance would be temporary. Ember struck ...

With Takeover: Brooklyn up next, both members of the main event are in action. Aleister Black goes one on one with Drew McIntyre, while Hideo Itami faces a vindictive Kassius Ohno. Also, Roderick Strong faces Cedric Alexander and the Authors of Pain face Sanity. Universe Mode NXT August 9th, 2017 Location: Full Sail University Aleister Black vs Drew McIntyre The number one contender wasted no time getting this match going, unloading on Drew McIntyre from the moment the bell rung. The impressive kicks and strikes of Aleister Black kept McIntyre on the ropes throughout, though the Sinister Scotsman did prove his merit when he kicked out of a Black Mass. A second, though, put him down for the count. Winner: Aleister Black Sanity vs Authors of Pain This was perhaps the most competitive Authors of Pain match we've seen yet, as Eric Young and Killian Dain showed that they could hang with the champs. Akam and Rezar continued to get frustrated as they couldn't...

Welcome to SmackDown Live, where for the final time, the blue brand is back and in a major way. In a huge main event, the Cleaner Kenny Omega faces the Beast Brock Lesnar, with the winner facing Randy Orton at Summerslam for the Intercontinental Championship. John Cena and Cesaro team up and Alexa Bliss fights for a championship match on the final stop before Summerslam. Universe Mode SmackDown Live August 8th, 2017 Location: Orlando, FL The Club vs John Cena and Cesaro There had to be a certain element of distrust between John Cena and Cesaro in this match, with both men soon to be going to war for the WWE Championship. However, with a common need to attempt to embarrass AJ Styles, they were able to work together. Their combined talents were just a little too much for Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, and it took several distractions from Styles just to keep them in the match. It wouldn't be enough, and it would be Cena who got the win for the team with an Attitud...

It's the final Raw before Summerslam, with the event itself just 13 days away. After being interrupted by a mysterious vignette a few weeks ago, tonight Samoa Joe will find out the identity of his next challenger. Also, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose take on American Alpha, with the winners facing #DIY in the main event for number one contendership. Shinsuke Nakamura looks for revenge and Asuka faces Sasha Banks as Raw finishes the build to the Biggest Party of the Summer. Universe Mode Monday Night Raw August 7th, 2017 Location: Denver, CO American Alpha vs Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose Both of these teams had to be prepared to wrestle a potential second match against #DIY in the main event, so they were both a little cautious. Despite that, this was still a very entertaining, high octane tag team contest. Rollins and Ambrose showed every bit of their incredible skill, but it was the Architect who stole the show, delivering a Phoenix Splash to Gable for...

Tonight, the stakes will once again be raised as Adam Cole and Apollo Crews do battle in our main event, with the winner challenging for the NXT Championship at Takeover: Brooklyn. Plus, Roderick Strong and Noam Dar go one on one and British Strong Styles face a mystery team. Universe Mode NXT August 2nd, 2017 Location: Full Sail University Championship Match Announced Before the show got started, we had our first match for Brooklyn booked in. After going back and forth in recent weeks, Natalya, Ember Moon and Nikki Cross will battle in out in a triple threat match for the NXT Women's Championship. Roderick Strong vs Noam Dar During an interview for WWE.com earlier in the week, Strong called out Cruiserweight Champion Neville for a match in Brooklyn. Although there had been no response, he seemed motivated to prove himself against a former Cruiserweight Champion in Noam Dar. These two grapplers went right at it, putting on a very exciting match. In the end, ...

Before I begin, I have another important announcement about Universe Mode. Summerslam is currently just under three weeks away, however I will not be covering all of that. Instead, next week will be the final Raw, SmackDown and NXT of the series. The following week will just be Summerslam and Takeover: Brooklyn, but I will have other content to fill the empty gap. Daniel Bryan made a big announcement following Battleground, when he announced AJ Styles' next title defense. It will be in the main event of Summerslam, and Styles will face Cesaro..............and John Cena, in a triple threat match. Cena and Cesaro face off tonight on SmackDown. Plus, Sami Zayn has been give a big opportunity in the tag team division. If he can find a partner, they'll face The Usos tonight, with the winners facing The Club at the Biggest Party of the Summer. Universe Mode SmackDown Live August 1st, 2017 Location: San Francisco, CA Nikki Bella vs Emma Nikki Bella is known for h...