THE WRESTLING REPORT

Clash of Champions is shaping up to be a great show.

Clash of Champions is shaping up to be a great show.
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Born with a comic book in one hand and a remote control in the other, Cory DLG is the talent of Conroe's very own Nerd Thug Radio, Sports. Check out the podcast replay of the FM radio shows www.nerdthugradio.com!

Raw came out swinging, with an appearance from Stone Cold Steve Austin and a stunner on AJ Styles. The contract was finally signed between Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman but then the OC showed up and wrecked shop, then in the next match AJ Styles was fighting Cedric Alexander and the OC showed up again, but this time The Viking Experience saved the day. Could they finally be building up to an actual rivalry for the OC? The girls put on an amazing tag match in selling the upcoming clash of champions as all four of them looked great. Baron Corbin coming out on top of the triple threat to make it into the King of the Ring finals is an obnoxious development but hopefully he won't win it. It was great of Raw to finish with a Stone Cold toast, with him kind of crowning Seth and Brawn.

Smackdown started off a little wonky with a timing error meaning the show opened up with Undertaker already in the ring and Sami Zayn out to address him. It does end nicely though with Undertaker choke slamming the Mouth of the North. The build up to the Women's Tag Team titles hasn't been anywhere near as good, with this week finally stooping to Mandy just calling Nikki Cross ugly. The underselling continued with Rowan and Roman squaring off and then Chad Gable defeating Shane for his pathway to the finals. We're now set up for Chad Gable against Baron Corbin for the title of King of the Ring, in a true who cares less match. Shane taking Elias' place was an interesting development and they're building up for an interesting Kevin Owens vs Shane rivalry which is great except this won't be the first time it's come up.

Clash of the Champions is looking really strong overall and there is genuine uncertainty coming into the event of who will be champion when it's all said and done. This weekend is going to be a big deal simply because it's unclear what will happen next.

Feel free to check out my brand new comic book Another Day at the Office email me for details or buy a shirt from Side Hustle Ts where some proceeds help people struggling with cancer or listen to Nerd Thug Radio. Thoughts, complaints, events and comments can be sent to corydlg@gmail.com.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 4-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.

Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.

The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.

Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.

Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.

Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.

Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.

Key moment

Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.

Key Stat

Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.

Up next

Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.

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