Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE NXT TakeOver: WarGames Report! (11/18/17)

Published

5 years ago

November 19, 2017

Steven Mitchell

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Kassius Ohno VS Lars Sullivan; Sullivan wins.
Aleister Black VS Velveteen Dream; Black wins.
NXT Women’s Championship Fatal 4 Way: Kairi Sane VS Ember Moon VS Nikki Cross VS Peyton Royce; Ember Moon wins and becomes the new NXT Women’s Championship.
NXT Championship: Drew McIntyre VS Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega; Almas wins and becomes the new NXT Champion.
WarGames Triple Threat: SAnitY VS The Undisputed Era VS Roderick Strong & The Authors of Pain; The Undisputed Era wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

All images courtesy of the WWE Network streaming service

Backstage interview with Peyton Royce and Billie Kay.

As best friends, the Iconic Duo interviews themselves. How is Peyton feeling “on the biggest night of your career?” Super confident. Best shape in her life, and stoked to be here. Word association time. Ember Moon: Athletic, not Iconic. Nikki Cross: Psychotic, not Iconic. Kairi Sane: Pirate, not Iconic. Peyton Royce: one-half of the most iconic duo in NXT, and the NEW NXT Women’s Champion. Is this confidence going to last through the night?

“I declare a state of war.”

Chaos shall be contained in “two rings, in one cage, in WAR GAMES!” Violent yet beautiful, “there are no laws, there are no rules.” It is survival of the fittest. “In war, what do you fight for?” Honor, destiny, prestige, chaos, redemption, dominance, recognition, principle, pride or yourself? “Only total war can result in total victory.” Who will obtain victory through these wars?!

Kassius Ohno VS Lars Sullivan!

To put it simply, Houston is about to see if a Hero can conquer a Leviathan! Both men are ready to go even before the bell, when it ring,s they go right to it as Lars puts Ohno in a corner and clubs away on him. Ohno fights back,s tiff forearm but it does little. A boot does a bit better, another elbow, but then Ohno runs and Lars runs through him to run him over! Lars clubs Ohno in the back, rams in a knee to the ribs, and another at the ropes that sends Ohno out. Lars goes out to pursue, flying shoulder block knocks Ohno down! Lars keeps on Ohno by tossing him onto the apron edge. Ohno bounces off but manages to crawl into the ring, Lars follows him back in. Lars whips Ohno corner to corner, Ohno bounces out with a boot. Lars stays up, catches the second kick, enziguri from Ohno only to kip-up into a lariat! Lars grimaces as he stands over Ohno. Lars then grins as he stalks his prey. Lars drags Ohno up, clubbing forearm against the ropes. Lars grinds a forearm into Ohno’s face then whips him, Ohno tumbles to the apron and boots his way in. Ohno runs, Lars pop-up powerslams Ohno down! Cover, TWO, Lars is annoyed this isn’t over yet. Lars decides to go up top!? Lars keeps his eyes on Ohno, jumps, his splash flops! Ohno revs himself up, blocks a lariat with a boot, gives a stiff elbow and a stiffer boot, Lars roars but Ohno gives him stiff haymakers! Ohno keeps up hit after hit, Lars stays standing, Ohno runs for a leaping rabbit elbow!

Lars is reeling but still on his feet, fans are fired up for Ohno. Ohno takes aim, runs, spinning boot! TWO! Ohno is shocked, Lars is just angry. Ohno keeps it up with a low boot but Lars sits up and roars. Lars takes another boot, gets up, so Ohno stomps him out. Back senton on top! ONE!? Lars is up at one!? And still as angry as before! Lars and Ohno brawl with heavy shots, Lars runs, into a discus elbow. Lars reels again, Ohno takes off the armband, but runs into the Freak Accident!

Lars wins! The Hero did not triumph, the Leviathan leaves him be. Where will this path of dominance lead the Mile High Monster?

Aleister Black VS Velveteen Dream!

“Is there really a difference between the dark and the light?” The Embodiment of the End pondered that on the road to tonight’s match. He and The Patrick Clark Experience couldn’t be any more different yet somehow the same, but only one will #FadetoBlack. Surpise tights from Velveteen, he has himself and Aleister on them! Aleister ignores that little mind game, he only acknowledges the bell. Velveteen says the fans know his name, they’re cheering it right now. But he wants Aleister to say it. ALeister won’t, they tie up, move around, then break. Velveteen goes to slap but Aleister dodges, then gets him in an arm-drag and wristlock. Velveteen resists with body shots but can’t get free. Velveteen works on reversing, gets a snapmare, but then Aleister gets Velveteen right into the hammerlock. Velveteen rolls, reverses, breaks, snapmare, chinlock but back into the hammerlock. Velveteen endures, reaches around, pulls on hair. Snapmare blocked, snapmare from Aleister, facelock. Velveteen flounders around, gets up, powers Aleister to the ropes. Ropebreak not so clean, but Aleister was ready, he gets a waistlock. standing switch, back to the hammerlock. Velveteen powers out, but ends up in a standing Crucifix Octopus from Aleister! Velveteen reaches, Aleister gets the sunset flip, TWO, feint gets Velveteen to duck so Aleister rolls over his back. Aleister blocks Velveteen into an armbar, Velveteen rolls and now they brawl with forearms. Velveteen clubs Aleister down, Aleister gets mad. Velveteen whips but Aleister holds ropes, then dumps Velveteen out hard. Aleister builds speed, to fake him out, and sits down in front of Velveteen as Velveteen slips into the ring. The fans applaud this evenly matched match-up, but Velveteen taunts with a hip swivel. Aleister ignores it. That upsets Velveteen, Houston wants Aleister to “Say his name!” Aleister doesn’t, so Velveteen sits down with him.

Fans and Aleister are both surprised by that, but only the fans like it. Aleister gets up, to give Velveteen a taste of his own medicine as he slithers up into Velveteen’s face! The fans are loving this! Velvteen rushes in, gets swept, Mahistrol, TWO, arm-drag, Velveteen gets to the ropes to hotshot Aleister. Velveteen back in, big lariat runs Aleister over. Velveteen stomps on Aleister, demanding Aleister says his name. Aleister put into a corner, Velveteen keeps on him. Aleister bails out, Velveteen takes his time to gloat. Aleister catches his breath, Velveteen decides to do something risky. He builds speed, to give us his own fake-out! Velveteen drags Aleister but Aleister hotshots him back. Into the ring, they grapple, fireman’s carry but Aleister fights out. Push, SUPERKICK from Velveteen, TWO! Velveteen is groggy but he gets right back on Aleister with a rain of rights. Velveteen walks around Aleister, drags him up, stiff neckbreaker, TWO! Velveteen is getting angry now, putting Aleister in a chinlock clutch. He stretches Aleister, clawing the lips and nose, “Say my name!” Aleister reaches, building up the willpower to power himself up. Fans rally as Aleister starts to slip out but Velveteen clubs him in the back. Velveteen’s moves are countered with strikes, ropebreak brings a pause to the action, dirty break with that low knee. Aleister is tangled up in the ropes now, just like a few weeks ago. “What’s my name?!” Velveteen shouts at Aleister. Aleister simply kicks back, slips out, they brawl, Velveteen slaps but that only pisses Aleister off. Aleister rallies, handsprings, runs into a corner for a forearm smash, corner to corner for springboard DDT, TWO! Aleister wants to end this, he lifts Velveteen up with one foot. Velveteen knows what that means, so he powers Alesiter to a corner. Aleister kicks back, hops up, jumps over, rolls, fireman’s carry but slips down, stiff knee responded to with a stiff elbow, a stiff roundhouse responded to with a fireman’s carry! Rolling Death Valley!

Cover, TWO! Velveteen is in shock. The fans are loving this, Velveteen has them saying his name again. He drags Aleister over to a corner, then up to his feet to hoist onto the top rope. Up higher now in a fireman’s carry, but sunset flip and escape, sweep to the legs! Velveteen crashes down, Aleister with the running knee! TWO! Aleister still on him, but into a side-winding DDT!

Both men down, the fans are giving a standing ovation. Velveteen crawls to a cover, TWO!! Velveteen can’t even react, he’s that out of it. “This is awesome!” Velveteen crawls, gets to a corner, goes up top, and takes aim. Swivel of the hips, and — boots! Now Velveteen is the one tied up in ropes! Aleister sees he has an opening, stiff boot! SUPERKICK from Velveteen, spinning knee from Aleister! Fans applaud again, this match is already stealing the show. Both men slow to get up but Aleister’s up first. He looks at Velveteen, who still demands “Say My Name! Velvet — “ BLACK MASS!! Aleister wins! Still undefeated, still unfazed, will Aleister make all of NXT #FadetoBlack?

However, he isn’t done with Velveteen yet, as he produces a microphone.

“Say his name! Say his name!” — Houston fans

“Enjoy infamy, Velveteen Dream.” He said his name! Aleister won the match, but he gave Velveteen what he wanted out of respect. What will this mean for both men in their futures?

NXT Women’s Championship Fatal 4 Way: Kairi Sane VS Ember Moon VS Nikki Cross VS Peyton Royce!

After the Empress of Tomorrow decided to move on and up to Monday Night Raw, the NXT Women’s Division was left without a champion. Tonight, we see if either the Pirate Princess, Prophecy of Flame, Psycho Scot or Iconic Venus Flytrap will pick up where Asuka left off. The bell rings, and the four stand off, wary of each other. They slowly approach each other, Peyton and Nikki pounce on Ember and Kairi, respectively. Peyton whips Ember, Kairi reverses Nikki, Ember takes Nikki out then Peyton takes Ember out before Peyton puts Kairi in a corner. Nikki goes after Ember but Peyton won’t let her get ahead of herself, forearm for Crazy Cross. Ember gives Peyton a huricanrana, then a forearm smash for Kairi. Nikki hops on Ember with a thrashing sleeper, Peyton decks them both with the heel kick. Double stack cover, Kairi uses a blockbuster to break that up. Cover on Peyton, TWO, Peyton and Nikki get out. Kairi turns attention to Ember, corner to corner but Kairi put to the apron, Ember forearms her down. Ember sees Nikki and Peyton, slingshot over and hits Nikki. Peyton thinks she’s saef, until Kairi hits her with a flying forearm! Kairi clubs on Peyton, Ember builds speed, Ember DIVES!

Both Peyton and Kairi go down, fans fire up with Ember’s howl. Texas’ own underdog is soon attacked from behind by Nikki, inverted DDT prepared but Ember fights out. They brawl with forearms, Nikki goes up, pop-up powerbomb to the ground! Kairi returns to go after Ember, they go back into the ring, and Kairi keeps on Ember. Ember’s kick is blocked, double chop knocks her down. Kairi gives more double chops, Ember gets to a corner. Kairi gives more chops, fans duel between Ember and Kairi, Ember is chopped to the mat. Kairi marches, corner to corner shoulder tackle! Kairi sees someone return, but misses, Peyton capitalizes with the motorcycle stretch on the ropes. Ember gets up slowly, Peyton gets a mule kick! Ember is shoved back, Peyton and Ember brawl with forearms. Peyton bails out, Ember goes after Kairi, Kairi rolls up, TWO. Ember up, stiff forearm sends Kairi reeling. Peyton returns, Kairi is whipped but dodges, Ember jumps over the SPEAR so that it hits Peyton. Spnining backhand to Ember, Kairi goes up top. Ember up to stop her, Kairi teeters. Ember climbs up, clubs Kairi, Kairi fights back. Ember still gets Kairi set up, Peyton hops up to make it a Tower of Doom, German Suplex variant!

Fans applaud but all three women are down from that impact. Peyton crawls to cover Ember, TWO. Now Kairi, TWO. Peyton is getting frustrated. She drags both women up, they fight back, Nikki climbs up and flies in for a big crossbody! All three targets hit, Nikki fires herself and the crowd up. She goes right at Ember by bashing her into the corner. Then for Kairi, she gets some buckle bumps, hoisted into a Tree of Woe for a mudhole stomping. Then for Peyton, stiff forearms and then clothesline sends her out. Back to Kairi, Fisherman Neckbreaker!

Ember breaks the pin just in time! Every woman down, but neither of them is quitting. Bicycle boot into Nikki from Ember, and then Ember drags herself to a corner. She wants to go up top and Nikki knows it, so she intercepts with forearms. Nikki and Ember brawl, slingshot countered with a forearm, then a draping swinging neckbreaker! Ember rolls out, Peyton rolls in, Perfect Plex! Kairi JUST breaks that in time! Kairi lifts Peyton up, to Alabama Slam Peyton on top of Nikki. Kairi up top quick, anchors away with the InSane Elbow!

Direct hit on Peyton but cover on Nikki, Ember outta nowhere to break that pin! Ember hurries to get herself to a corner, she climbs up, Peyton yanks her down. Stiff knee for Kairi, Peyton gets Nikki up but Nikki revives to fight back. But wait! Ember’s still on the top rope, she jumps, DOUBLE ECLIPSE!!

Ember wins!! Her home state helps her FINALLY become NXT Women’s Champion!! And best of all, perhaps, is that Asuka is there to give her the title belt! Things come full circle for Ember Moon, what new heights can she achieve now?!

NXT Championship: Drew McIntyre VS Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega!

The Celtic Colossus is still undefeated, and compared to El Idolo, seems to be more of a “real man”, too. Will Almas prove he can be a man by taking the title off the “bloody mountain” known as McIntyre? Zelina gets right in the champion’s face even before the bell, she’s fired up enough for her and Almas. Almas moves her aside so that he can get in McIntyre’s face now.

Almas then pie-faces McIntyre, only to back off to the ropes. Fans cheer “Si se puedes!” for Almas as the bell rings, Almas and McIntyre tie up but McIntyre powers Almas into a corner. Almas tries to fire out but McIntyre just puts him back in there. Almas shoves McIntyre, only to hide behidn the ropes again, and then cheap shot slap across the chest! Headlock powered out but Almas lands on his feet for another headlock. McIntyre powers out, Almas up and over, back to headlock. Another power out, McIntyre runs Almas over with a shoulder. McIntyre gets Almas up, Almas kicks his leg then puts on the headlock again. McIntyre powers out, sees Almas coming, kick intercepts Almas’ evasion. McIntyre now stomps on Almas, drags him up, jawbreaker counter. Almas is thrown to ropes, goes Spider-Man to tranquilo, only to be kicked to the ground. McIntyre pursues Almas, stiff chop at the barriers. McIntyre brings Almas around and in, Almas kicks back. Almas distracts the ref, Zelina flies but is reversed with power, and then Almas’ dive is intercepted witha forearm. Cover, TWO, Zelina is beside herself as Almas is chopped again. McIntyre whips Almas, Almas kicks back, McIntyre scoops him up but ends up taking a hotshot. Almas back in, but back to being scooped, slips out again and McIntyre lunges to miss and hit post. Almas goes out to fetch the downed champion, bringing him back into the ring. Almas keeps on McIntyre, bringing him around for the backbreaker and clubbing elbow, ONE. Almas drags McIntyre over, hanging armbar! Almas lets go at 4, then covers, TWO. Fans duel as Almas goes after McIntyre’s arm. McIntyre endures as Zelina coaches Almas. McIntyre wills himself up, fans rallying, Almas knees low and whips. Almas runs in, but picked up and around, Almas still slips down, only to be suplexed across the ring! Both men down from exhaustion and sore bodies. McIntyre up but takes an elbow, so he gives a forearm. They brawl now, Almas whips but is reversed, big lariat and chop knock Almas down each time. Forearm smash in a corner, another whip, overhead suplex! Into the corner for another! Zelina is panicking as McIntyre climbs up and ax handles Almas down. A kip-up from the 6’5″ McIntyre, who then picks Almas up again. Almas fights out, runs, pop up into Celtic Cross, TWO! McIntyre isn’t frustrated but he is sore, he gets up as fans troll with “3MB!” McIntyre starts up the drums, but Almas gives him a dropkick. Corner to corner, dodge but counter at the same time as Almas misses a boot but still hits McIntyre with a back elbow. Almas hops up and brings McIntyre over, tornado inverted DDT!

TWO! Almas and Zelina are frustrated, Zelina ushers him to finish this. Almas drags McIntyre up, prepares the Hammerlock but is driven into a corner. Almas boots out, hops up and on top of McIntyre’s shoulders, tries the inverted huricanrana, ends up in the inverted Alabama Slam! TWO! McIntyre is getting exasperated, he gets to the apron as fans rally. McIntyre climbs up, Almas springs up to dropkick him down to the ground! Zelina keeps Almas on target, slingshot, but McIntyre looks to be stopping Almas in his tracks, only for Almas to huricanrana McIntyre into a post! Almas back to the top rope, SUPER ASAI MOONSAULT!

And it hits! Back into the ring quickly, covers, TWO! Zelina is furious, Almas is getting desperate. Almas goes up again, McIntyre stops him with a right hand and a stiff chop. McIntyre climbs up, Almas yanks him and crotches him. Chop puts him in the Tree of Woe, Woe Stomps! CIEN KNEES!

Drag to a cover, TWO!! Almas gets McIntyre up, Hammerlock escaped, enziguri dodged, deadlift sit-out powerbomb! TWO! Zelina is losing her mind with this roller coaster of emotions. McIntyre gets Almas up in the double underhook, Almas slips out to give another stiff chop. McIntyre headbutts in response, rolling takedown from Almas, TWO, into FUTURE SHOCK! TWO! Now McIntyre is feeling some of that shock and desperation. McIntyre won’t give up yet, he gets up to drag McIntyre around, fireman’s carry to hoist Almas up top. Almas slips out, wants to powerbomb but McIntyre holds on, so Almas yanks a foot out to then CINE KNEES to the back of the head! Cover, TWO, and Almas is furious as he rains down rights on McIntyre. Almas goes out, and his desperation is getting the better of him. He grabs the belt, to distract the ref, Zelina hits McIntyre with a Sipke-Rana!

Zelina slips out, Almas hits the Hammerlock DDT!!

TWO!? Zelina and Almas cannot believe their trick failed to finish this. Almas and McIntyre are in opposite corners, “Si se puedes!” echoes throughout until McIntyre hits a CLAYMORE outta nowhere!

Almas gets flipped and rolled, Zelina helps create a ropebreak! “Si! Si! Si!” the fans chant for the sneaky senorita. McIntyre is furious now, he gets the drums of war going again. Almas flounders to his feet, so Zelina trips Almas to save him from a second Claymore, which collides with ropes to mess McIntyre up. Fans are rabid for Almas as he and McIntyre get to their feet. THey climb up, Almas has McIntyre, draping DDT! Almas wins!! McIntyre loses his streak AND title! El Idolo is now El Campeón! And thanks in large part to La Gerente Vega. How long will this dynamic duo keep the belt with them? Well that’s for later, tonight is about a Cien Celebration!

WarGames Triple Threat: SAnitY VS The Undisputed Era VS Roderick Strong & The Authors of Pain!

The reason this is no longer TakeOver: Houston is because these three sets of three men could not leave well enough alone, so the only way to finish it is in the infamous invention of the American Dream! Who will leave Houston not as winners, but as survivors?! As one man must start for each team, it is Eric Young, Roderick Strong and Adam Cole “BAYBAY” in first for a simple triple threat. The bell rings, it is a stand-off as the clock begins to count down. The fans are already loving this as the other six men wait like animals in a cage. Cole backs off to the second ring, but Eric and Strong pursue. With nowhere else to go, Cole swings but gets attacked. However, Eric and Strong now fight over who gets to go after Cole. Cole tries to use that to his advantage, but Eric boots him away before standing switch. Cole tries again, gets another boot from Strong. Strong elbows Eric, throws him at Cole but Cole dodges and we’re back to a stand-off. They slowly approach each other, Eric haymakers Strong, Cole tries but fails to put Eric into the cage. Cole keeps himself from hitting steel, but Eric knocks him down, Strong gives Eric a backbreaker. Cole and Strong brawl, forearms back and forth, as well as chops. Strong whips Cole, Cole reverses, dropkick blocked int a catapult, Cole climbs to get away, but escaping means elimination so what’s the point? Especially when Eric and Strong both get after him on the cage wall! Cole fights back as best he can, but he gets clubbed left and right. Cole falls down, now the two fight each other. Cole trips them up, double crotch on the top rope. Cole has his pick, so he stomps on Strong then on Eric. Cole drags Strong up and throws him to the first ring with a hard landing. Cole gets Eric, they start brawling. Fireman’s carry for Eric, ushigoroshi! Eric writhes in pain, Cole goes to the first ring and Strong. Cole swings hands and forearms on Strong in a corner. Cole grinds a boot into Strong as he tells him “you’re nothing!” Cole returns to Eric at the intersection, brings him over to ring 1, stiff forearm sits him down. Cole clubs Strong, too, “I run this world!” Cole snap suplexes Strong, and dusts off his hands before stomping Eric again. Cole has control, neckbreaker on Strong. Neckbreaker on Eric, too, but then Strong fights back with chops. Strong whips, reversed, lariat! Strong fires up now, he goes after Cole in a corner with more chops. Then one for Eric, elbows and knees back and forth, more chops, but we’re now getting… the Undisputed Era’s Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish!

Cole gets back up as reDRagon rip away at Strong and Eric. Cole joins in, the first full team has control of the two lone men. Cole puts Eric between ropes and cage, and all there men of the Undisputed Era smash him into steel. Two minute warning, Strong starts fighting back but it’s not enough against two men while Cole goes after Eric. Code breaker wheelbarrow suplex sends Strong to the second ring. Kyle and Fish pursue while Cole keeps Eric down. Strong fights against Kyle’s leg lock, but Fish helps Cole mug Eric with kicks. Kyle picks on Strong with kicks, The Undisputed Era do another 3v1 wall smash. They even take time to gloat before going back to beating down Eric and Strong. The countdown finishes, now we get… the Authors of Pain, Akam & Rezar! They rush the ring, the Undisputed Era holds that door closed, but the Authors just pry it open to slam it back on the heads of reDRagon! Akam & Rezar can now join the fray, they club away on the Undisputed Era. Cole goes into cage wall, Fish goes into cage wall, Eric goes into cage wall, and even Kyle goes into cage wall as he tries a backpack sleeper on Rezar. Kyle is dumped into ring 2, Cole is TOSSED into it! The AoP then double back body drop Eric into Ring 2! The AoP use Strong as a weapon, double hip toss senton!

Everyone else goes down, and the fans fire up! The AoP join everyone in Ring 2, picking at the pieces. Eric put in a Tree of Woe as the Undisputed Era is thrown around. Kyle put in a Tree of Woe, too, Fish and Cole are picked up for DOUBLE Death Valley Drivers into the Trees of Woe!

Strong and the Authors are the only men standing, and pick apart the others as the clock ticks down. Fans anticipate it, here comes SAnitY! Wolfe and Dain rush in, but Wolfe came prepared with a billy club! He goes all out on the Authors, there’s no disqualifications. Speaking of, Big Damo finds a trash can! Wolfe moshes while Damo puts in chairs, the trash cans, a chain, and kendo sticks. Eric and Wolfe use those chairs to unleash on the Authors, Strong, and the Undisputed Era. Fans want tables, so Damo obliges! The Beast of Belfast has Houston hot for the extreme levels SAnitY is bringing this match to. Wolfe sets up one table, Eric the other. Kyle tries a chair shot on the German Ax Man, misses and hits himself, to then get a German Suplex! Fish tries to get extreme, he gets slammed on that can!

Damo finally enters the cage, Wolfe hits Strong with the can, Damo locks the cage door with a chain and padlock. The Authors get the edge on Wolfe, Damo eats the key, then clobbers Strong and the Undisputed Era one man at a time. Damo stares down with Akam & Rezar, and starts fighting off the Authors by himself. Damo puts them together, and squashes them in one corner. Then dropkick back senton to hit them both! Damo surveys his surroundings, Strong brawls with Wolfe, Damo climbs up to the top rope, and then jumps “For SAnitY!”

Big Damo crossbody topples The Authors, Strong and even his teammates. Cover, Cole breaks it up. Damo is wild eyed as he hunts Cole back to Ring 1. Cole has a kendo stick, swings, nothing! Damo slaps the stick out of Cole’s hand, grabs Cole by both hands, but Fish saves Cole with kicks to Damo’s legs. Fish runs, sunset flip but Damo too big. Cole comes in, Michinoku Driver puts Cole on Fish! Double cover, ax kick from Kyle breaks the pin. Kyle goes after Damo, but gets a forearm and then cage wall. Damo hasn’t slowed down, he fireman carry on Kyle, then catches Strong’s crossbody, Samoan Drop Fall Away, while Wolfe and Eric get the exact same from Rezar! Damo and Rezar lock eyes as the two biggest men in this match, they meet in the middle to brawl. Damo gets the edge, drags Rezar into Ring 1, Rezar boots Damo back, Damo gives the bicycle boot. Rezar swings, Damo ducks, big body check! Akam boots in, scoops Damo, powerslam! Cover, Kyle breaks with a fist full of chain. Kyle flounders up but still hits a tornado DDT! Eric up, Cole gives him an enziguri! Fish kicks away at Strong, reDRagon and Cole hit a SUPERKICK Chasing the Dragon! Damo is back up, but everyone else is down out of exhaustion. Cole gets clobbered, reDRagon dodges and kicks away, double kick vice. Wolfe boots Fish, Kyle ax ’n’ smashes Wolfe! Kyle has that chain again, he’s getting a sinister idea. Kyle goes to Wolfe to chain him up around the face and arm, it’s a heavy metal Arm-ageddon! Wolfe resists, Eric climbs up, Eric drops an elbow on Kyle! Arm-ageddon averted, Eric crawls over, Fish moonsaults onto Eric! All nine men are down, fans are loving this but they still want to see a table get involved. Damo, Kyle and Rezar are in Ring 2, Rezar lifts Kyle while Akam has Fish, Damo ends up in the middle of the Super Collider!

Cover in Ring 1, Eric breaks it just in time. Rezar joins Ring 1 again, they take Eric but he slips out to disrupt their plans. Eric clotheslines Akam then fireman carry to Rezar, Death Valley of Rezar onto Akam!

Eric gets to a cover, Strong and Cole both break it up. Strong and Cole brawl now, Cole shoved into Eric for End of Heartache! Lumbar check for Eric, Shining Wizards for Kyle and Fish, backbreaker for Wolfe, jumping knee for Damo, AND Olympic Slam! Cover, Cole SUPERKICKs Strong to break it up. Back to all men down, fans still want tables. Cole climbs up, takes aim at Strong, but Eric sneaks up behind him to pounce. Cole fights him off, Strong comes up on the other end, Cole is stuck in the middle again. They all fight three ways, reDRagon and SAnitY join in, then the Authors, DOUBLE TOWERS OF DOOM!!

The only man not affected: Adam Cole! And he revels in it. However, he is now stuck between Akam and Rezar. He hurries up the cage but can’t get away, gets crotch’d instead. The Authors get the tables into Ring 2, and the fans are loving it. Both tables set up together, Cole completely unaware. The Authors return to Cole, climb up together, line up the shot, but Eric and Wolfe crawl over. Cole fights the Authors off while SAnitY attacks from behind, Cole gets up on top of the cage. Escape means forfeit, is he throwing the match? Speaking of throwing, Wolfe throws Rezar with a SUPER GERMAN through the tables!!

Wolfe and Rezar are down, Eric takes Akam out with a flying neckbreker! Cole crawls on the edge of the cage, but Damo has revived. Kyle has, too, and takes aim with a can. Damo knocks Kyle down, but Kyle kicks and strikes back. Damo clobbers him with a spinning lariat! Cole has by now crawled to a corner of the cage’s rim, Damo brings Kyle into position and wedges in a trash can. Damo then climbs up, and tells Cole to watch this. COAST 2 COAST!

Damo took as much out of himself as he did Kyle, only Cole can stand as he’s atop the cage. With forfeit on the outside, he has no choice but to go back inside, but he doesn’t get a chance to jump as he sees Strong standing up in the center of the ring, right in his way. Strong climbs up after Cole, Cole changes his mind about not leaving the cage. However, Strong keeps him from getting down, drags him up, and with fans begging “Please Don’t Die!”, SUPERPLEX ON TO EVERYONE!!

The fans are losing their minds, Strong covers, TWO!! Even after all that, this match isn’t over. In fact, “This is Awesome!” The nine men finally stir, Damo and Akam end up both going to the intersection, and brawl. Damo backs Akam down, gets room but gets caught, in a modified Last Chapter! However, Kyle goes after Rezar with a sleeper to prevent a cover. Fish helps out with strikes, high-low sweep! Eric and Wolfe get up, Fish put into steel again. Wolfe is bleeding but helps Eric give Kyle the back suplex neckbreaker! Strong gives Wolfe a big slam, and is alone with Cole. They brawl again, back and forth with forearms, Cole is put into the wall but Eric wheelbarrows Strong into the other side. Kendo outta nowhere from Cole to Eric, and Cole isn’t done yet. He takes aim, but Eric grabs a chair. Cole doesn’t care, Shining Wizard through the chair, Undisputed Era wins! They have somehow survived the return of WarGames, can they continue to #ShocktheSystem?

My Thoughts:

This was simply amazing. Beginning to end, so much incredible action and story, no complaints really. Ohno and Lars open the show, naturally, and also with a natural ending as Lars goes over to keep his dominant singles win streak alive. I feel like now should be the time Ohno gets to come up to main, what more can Ohno do if he isn’t going to be NXT Champion? Ohno on SmackDown to face Corbin for the US Title would be great for everyone as far as I can tell. Aleister VS Velveteen was so good, the crowd was so into it for both guys, man it was amazing. Aleister wins for much of the same reasons Lars did, that win streak is going to be important for Aleister, as well. And I suppose Aleister is leaning towards Face if he was willing to show respect to Velveteen by saying his name even after all this between them. With guys like Lars, Aleister, Velveteen and others, NXT really needs to consider a secondary title for their sakes, so that less talents are left waiting for a chance at the main title, a chance that might never come.

That Woman’s Championship Fatal 4 was really good, too, it was really hard to be sure who was winning as everyone got to have their finish. I almost thought Peyton had it, but Kairi just barely breaks things up, a slight botch perhaps as it could’ve easily ended up being Peyton by accident. However, Ember gets her finish last on two targets at once, a great surprise to finally win her the championship, and with Regal and Asuka both there to award her, it was a great moment all around. That NXT Championship match was just as incredible, story elements really worked as Zelina goes above and beyond to help her client get advantages, and in the end it works out. At least story wise, as it is revealed that McIntyre is actually injured. But Houston had a strong Almas following so they were pleased, and all of this this really changes up things going forward for NXT. Then, WWE’s modifications to WarGames didn’t change that the main event was match of the night, week, and month, and up there for Match of the Year for NXT. Great stuff all the way from the introductions — like Undisputed Era and the Authors of Pain taunting SAnitY’s caged members and Strong being in AoP gear a la Kurt Angle in Shield gear — to the very end, with big spot after big spot but never getting boring or overdone. I think every member of SAnitY was bleeding in some capacity by the end, but especially Wolfe after getting a table edge through that double-edged Super German Suplex through tables. Undisputed Era goes over, it just seems to make sense if reDRagon is going to challenge for NXT Tag Team Champions and Cole wants after the NXT Championship. Cole might get his chance, too, if McIntyre isn’t fit to have his rematch against Almas, but if Cole-Almas is anything like tonight, no one will complain.

My Score: 9/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW New Japan Cup Results & Report! (3/19/23)

The semifinals are here!

Published

13 hours ago

March 19, 2023

Steven Mitchell

The New Japan Cup 2023’s Final Four!

Four is bad luck in Japan, but these four are grateful to be in the New Japan Cup semifinals! David Finlay VS Tama Tonga, Sanada VS Mark Davis, who will win to go for it all?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Shota Umino & Oskar Leube VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita; Shota & Oskar win.
Six Man Tag: Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & Ryohei Oiwa VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
8 Man Tag: Ryusuke Taguchi & Team Strong Style VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
YOSHI-HASHI & Tomoaki Honma VS Jeff Cobb & Kyle Fletcher; Cobb & Fletcher win.
Shingo Takagi & BUSHI VS Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan; Henare & Khan win.
YOH & Lio Rush VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi; Naito & Hiromu win.
New Japan Cup 2023, Semifinals: Tama Tonga VS David Finlay; Finlay wins and advances to the finals.
New Japan Cup 2023, Semifinals: SANADA VS Mark Davis; Sanada wins and advances to the finals.

PLAY BY PLAY

New Japan Cup 2023, Semifinals: Tama Tonga w/ Jado VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!

The Good Bad Guy settled things with Bullet Club, but fate has intervened to have him face the NEW leader! Will Tama get past Finlay and into the finals? Or will the Rebel take over everything?

The bell rings and the fans rally up. Tama and Finlay circle, Tama claps to get the fans going more, and then he ties up with Finlay. They go around, Tama puts Finlay on ropes, but he lets off slowly as the ref calls break. Fans applaud and the two reset. They circle, fans rally up for Tama, and the two tie up again. Tama powers Finlay back but Finlay turns it around to have Tama on the ropes. The ref calls the ropebreak again, Finlay lets off slowly, but then swings on Tama! Tama dodges, then hits a headlock takeover! Tama grinds Finlay down, but Finlay keeps his shoulders up. Finlay fights to his feet, powers out, then slips around to headlock!

Tama powers out, hurdles, drops, then DROPKICKS Finlay down! Finlay bails out while fans fire up! Tama storms up to the ropes and slingshots but Finlay slides in! Tama lands on the apron, Finlay storms up but Tama ROCKS him with a forearm! Tama hurries in, and he arm-drags Finlay around! Finlay blocks the next, whips, but Tama reverses. Tama hurdles, but gets caught to a fireman’s carry! HOTSHOT, then BIG back suplex! Fans applaud, that was a good sequence, but Tama crawls to a corner. Finlay stalks Tama, drags him up, and UPPERCUTS him! Finlay whips corner to corner hard and Tama bounces off buckles! Finlay covers, TWO!

Fans rally but Finlay stomps Tama’s hand! Tama clutches that hand, but Finlay fishhooks his face! The ref reprimands, Finlay lets off, and Finlay says that was the nose, not the eyes. The ref doesn’t believe him. Finlay throws Tama out! Gedo tells the ref to leave Finlay alone, but the ref reprimands Gedo for getting on the apron. Finlay drags Tama up to RAM him into railing! No Man’s Land disappears as the railing go back! Finlay rains down fists, but fans rally up for Tama. The ref reprimands Finlay but he drags Tama up and puts him in the ring. Finlay covers, ONE!! Tama is hanging tough but Finlay is amused.

Finlay digs his knee into Tama’s face, he wants the ref to Too Sweet but the ref says no thanks. Finlay drags Tama up, whips him hard into the corner, and Tama bounces off buckles again! Fans rally while Finlay taunts them, “You think Tama’s getting to the finals?” Finlay stomps Tama, then springboard stomps! The ref reprimands, but Finlay clamps on with a cobra clutch. Finlay thrashes Tama around but Tama endures. Gedo tells Tama to give up but Jado coaches Tama to hang tough. Fans rally, Tama fights up and throws hands, but Finlay CLUBS him down! Finlay stomps and elbows Tama, but the ref counts.

Finlay lets off, he brings Tama up to whip corner to corner, but Tama comes back to CLOBBER Finlay! Fans fire up but Gedo is mad! Jado coaches Tama, Gedo coaches Finlay, but Tama is the first to stand. Tama roars, CLOBBERS Finlay, and ELBOWS him! Tama whips, Finlay reverses but Tama CLOBBERS Finlay again! OFF COMES THE VEST! Finlay goes to a corner, Tama runs in, STINGER SPLASH! And then clinch, for an EXPLODER! Finlay scrambles away and out of the ring, but Tama PLANCHAS! Direct hit this time and the fans fire up! Tama slides into the ring to let the ring count handle Finlay.

Finlay sits up at 5 of 20 so Tama goes out to fetch him. Tama puts Finlay in, stalks him to a corner, and Finlay wants mercy, but gets body shots instead! Tama whips Finlay out and then back into the corner, runs in, but Finlay elbows him away! Finlay storms up, but into a scoop! Finlay slips free to CHOP BLOCK! Tama writhes and clutches his knee but Gedo is loving this! The ref checks on Tama but Tama refuses to let this stop him. Finlay storms up on Tama to sit him up, “Look at this beautiful face!” CROSSFACE FOREARM! Gedo likes those, so Finlay sits Tama up again, to CROSSFACE FOREARM!

Finlay drags Tama up again, and he fires off MORE crossface forearms! Fans rally for Tama but Finlay looms over him. Finlay drags Tama up by his hair, sits him up, and BLINDSIDER LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Tama is still in this and Finlay is annoyed. Finlay paces around while Tama slowly rises. Finlay drags Tama up, gut wrenches and Canadian Racks, but Tama slips free! TONGAN TWIST!! Both men are down and fans fire back up! Fans rally as Tama and Finlay stir. Both men crawl over to each other, and Tama ROCKS Finlay with a forearm! Finlay ROCKS Tama right back! Finlay eggs Tama on and Tama sits up.

Tama ROCKS Finlay with another forearm, but Finlay ROCKS Tama again! Tama growls, he and Finlay sit up again. Tama ROCKS Finlay, Finlay ROCKS Tama, repeat! They throw forearms as they slowly stand, and they speed up as the fans rally! Finlay gets the edge, Tama fires off a strike fest! Finlay rebounds but into SRC!! Tama goes to a corner, fans fire up as he climbs, and Tama aims! SUPREME FLOW!! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives but Jado and Tama rally the fans by pounding the mat. Finlay drags himself up with the ropes, Tama runs in, GUN- NO! Finlay rolls Tama, with tights! TWO!! GUN- NO!! Finlay blocks again!

Finlay drags Tama up with a dragon sleeper, inverted suplex, OSAKA STREET CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!! Fans fire up while Finlay grows frustrated. Finlay aims as Tama rises, Jado warns Tama of what’s coming, but Finlay runs in, into a KNEE! Tama SUPER- NO, Finlay dodges to DEEP SIX!! Tama staggers up, into a SPEAR!! Cover, TWO!!! Tama survives and Gedo is furious! Finlay argues the count but the ref says that was all fair. Fans rally back up, but Finlay brings down the kneepad. “X marks the spot!” Finlay drags Tama up but Tama is deadweight. Finlay still hauls Tama up, suplexes, but Tama slips free!

Tama rolls Finlay, ties up the legs, and he has a SHARPSHOOTER!! Finlay endures and fans fire up! Tama sits deep on the hold, Finlay flails and fights forward! Finlay claws at the mat, but Tama goes deeper! Finlay fights back up, crawls and reaches out, but Tama drags him away again!! Finlay shouts in pain but he hasn’t given up yet! Another fight forward, and Finlay gets the ROPEBREAK! Tama lets go and Finlay writhes in pain, but the fans rally up again. Tama drags Finlay up, hooks an arm, but Finlay fights and RAMS Tama into a corner! And again and again and again! The ref counts, Finlay lets off and staggers away.

Tama runs in, but Finlay fights off the DDT! IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Finlay gut wrenches to a CLIFFHANGER DDT! Cover, TWO!!! Finlay is beside himself but Tama survives again! Fans are thunderous for Tama but Finlay is right on him. Suplex and- NO, Tama fights, wrenches, but Finlay ROCKS him! But Tama cradles!! TWO!!!! Finlay escapes but the SUPERMAN PUNCH hits! BLOODY SUNDAY!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Finlay barely survives but Tama just pounds the mat. Finlay rises up, GUN- NO!! Finlay blocks, spins Tama, suplexes, GUN- NO!! Finlay blocks again and ROCKS Tama!

Tama roars, but Finlay fires off a flurry of forearms! Finlay spins, into a HEADBUTT! GUN- NO, Backslide! Deadlift TRASH PANDA!!! Cover, Finlay wins!!

Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

Even El Phantasmo has to give old rival Finlay credit on that one. Gedo gets the mic to make the announcement official: The Rebel wins, and he just beat the NEVER Openweight Champion! Finlay will take the EFF over everything! Gedo needs the Rebel, Bullet Club needs the Rebel, and the world needs the Rebel! But will the Rebel get what he wants in the tournament finals?

New Japan Cup 2023, Semifinals: SANADA w/ Just5Guys VS Mark Davis w/ The United Empire!

New team, new look! The Cold Skull is looking sharp, but will he still bring about a Skull End? Or can Dunkzilla conquer the Cup on behalf of the United Empire?

The bell rings and the fans rally up as Davis and Sanada circle. Davis eggs Sanada on but Sanada feels things out. They keep circling, tie up, and Sanada headlocks. Davis powers out, Sanada RAMS shoulders, but neither man falls! Sanada ducks Davis’ chop, gets an arm and wrenches, but Davis whips Sanada away! Davis CHOPS this time, and Sanada is stinging. Davis whips, Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Sanada whips, Davis cartwheels, then scoops and SLAMS! And SENTONS! Fans fire up while Sanada bails out, but Davis goes out after Sanada. Davis brings Sanada up to whip him into railing!

Sanada drops to his knees, but Davis drags Sanada up to ROCK with a forearm! Great-O-Khan is on commentary and he waves the glowstick in praise. Davis puts Sanada on the apron to CLUB and KNEE and CLUB again! Davis gets space, fans rally up, and Davis runs in to KNEE LIFT Sanada into the ring! Crowns up and the Empire high-fives. Davis gets in the ring while Sanada sputters. Davis knees for the cover, TWO! Davis clamps onto Sanada’s arm but Sanada endures. Fans rally, Sanada fights up to his feet, and he throws forearms! Sanada wrenches but Davis DECKS him! Davis drags Sanada up but Sanada waistlocks!

Davis fights free of the hold, CHOPS Sanada to the corner, then whips him corner to corner. Davis runs in but Sanada dodges the splash! Sanada reels Davis in to back suplex, but Davis turns it into a CROSSBODY! Davis drags Sanada back up and back suplexes, but Sanada lands on his feet! Sanada hits the BIG back suplex! Both men are down but their teams coach them while the fans rally up. Sanada kips up, and then he fires up! Sanada DROPKICKS Davis, Davis stays up, so Sanada DROPKICKS! And dropkicks, but misses this time! Davis runs, but Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Then he DROPKICKS Davis out of the ring!

Sanada takes aim and PLANCHAS! Direct hit and down goes Davis! Sanada stares down the Empire, but then he encourages the fans to get louder. The fans oblige and Sanada likes that. Sanada may have a new haircut but he is still Sanada. Sanada puts Davis in the ring, drags him up to fireman’s carry, but Davis fights it! Davis fireman’s carries now, but Sanada fights it! Only for Davis to rise up again! Sanada fights more, gets to the apron, and he counter punches! Sanada slingshots, but Davis HOTSHOTS him! And then TRIANGLE JUMP FOREARMS! Sanada falls, and Davis DIVES?!? Direct hit into the railing!

Fans fire up as No Man’s Land disappears again! Red Shoes checks both men, they’re both okay to continue, but their teams argue about territory. The ring count starts, Davis drags Sanada up at 7 of 20. Davis puts Sanada in at 10 of 20, aims from the corner and climbs up! Sanada rises, Davis FLYING SHOULDERS him down! Cover, TWO! Sanada is still in this but Davis keeps his cool. Davis drags Sanada up, but Sanada blocks the lift! Sanada throws down elbows, but Davis CHOPS him! Davis whips, Sanada goes up and out and springboards in to MISSILE DRPOKICK! Davis stays up!?

Davis swings, misses, and Sanada CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! But Davis KNEES low! Davis back suplexes but Sanada KNEES free! Sanada runs, into a LARIAT! Davis hits a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO!! Fans fire up and rally as Sanada survives. Davis drags Sanada by a leg, says it’s time to end this! But Sanada kicks Davis away, so Sanada JABS him down! Davis gets the legs, YANKS Sanada up, but Sanada rolls through! Sanada fireman’s carries to T K O!! Cover, TWO!! Davis is still in this, but Sanada goes up top! ROUNDING BODY- NO, Sanada has to roll through as Davis moves! Davis scoops to POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!!

Davis drags Sanada up, wrenches and torture racks, but Sanada slips free! Sanada ELBOWS Davis, QUEBRADAS and has the dragon sleeper! Davis snapmares free to clothesline in the corner! Sanada falls over and fans fire up! Davis climbs the corner, goes to the very top, and DIVING SPLASH, but he FLOPS as Sanada moves! Sanada goes up, ROUNDING BODY PRESS onto the knees!! Davis cradles Sanada, TWO!!! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Davis rises first, drags Sanada up, and fans rally up. Davis swings, but Sanada blocks the forearm to fire UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT!

Sanada spins, into JAB! But he still ROLLING ELBOWS! Davis ENZIGURIS!! Sanada is down and Davis fires up! Fans rally, Davis throws off the elbow pad! Davis waits, Sanada rises up, Davis keeps moving, LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!?! Sanada survives and fans fire up again! Davis stalks Sanada to the corner, then runs side to side, SLIDING FOREARM! Davis shouts “DEAD!” and he drags Sanada up into the torture rack! But Sanada slips free again! O’Conner BRIDGE!! TWO!?! Davis escapes by nanoseconds! Sanada storms up, but Davis trips him! Davis has the legs, Close Your Eyes and Count to F@#$!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!? HOW?!?!?

The fans, the Empire and Just5Guys are all going nuts! Davis roars, he wrenches, torture racks, but Sanada slips free again! SIDEWINDER DDT!!! Cover, SANADA WINS!!!!

Winner: Sanada, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

Davis drove the Cold Skull into the ground, but then Sanada did it back to him! Will Davis find his singles success another time?

Wait, David Finlay and Gedo make his way back out to the ring to see the other finalist in person. Gedo gets the mic to say they just want to give Sanada words of support. Gedo tells Sanada to do his best, because in Nagaoka, Finlay’s gonna beat his face in with the shillelagh, and throw him out of the ring like trash! “See You Next Time, Just Five Losers!” Gedo and Finlay leave, having copied and mocked Sanada’s catchphrase and his new team. Sanada gets the mic to say, “Oi, Finlay! And the people of Gunma. I promise I will beat Finlay on Tuesday, and come back here as the New Japan Cup winner.” Fans applaud that! Sanada then tells Gedo and Finlay to get outta here.

Finlay and Goto leave, flipping Sanada off over their shoulders. Sanada says this debut with J5G is a day he’ll never forget. Fans applaud that, and the mic is handed over to Taka Michinoku. Taka says, “Soon enough, it’ll be us who changes the scene here in NJPW! JUST! FIVE! GUYS!!” The Cold Skull is red hot, but will that heat bring him through to win it all?

My Thoughts:

A great semifinals for the New Japan Cup! Both matches were awesome stuff, and though Tama came close, I figured Finlay would win. He has been winning since his Heel turn and joining the Bullet Club, but he hasn’t quite won the Club over, yet they can’t really deny him, either, because he’s now in the finals of the tournament. The big things in Sanada VS Davis were Sanada’s new look, and that he buries that piledriver. But similarly to Finlay, Sanada’s getting a push because of the big change in allegiance, and now they’re both in this great match for the finals that honestly could go either way.

Gedo as booker does love to push the guys he backs as a manager, but Finlay’s story could be more about controlling Bullet Club than getting the title. And Sanada has openly stated he sees Okada as a rival and Okada reciprocated, so revisiting that now, with Sanada and Okada both having changed ever so slightly, we could get an awesome match for the world title.

My Score: 9/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW New Japan Cup Results & Report! (3/18/23)

It’s lights out, but for who?

Published

2 days ago

March 18, 2023

Steven Mitchell

Who rounds out the Final Four?

The New Japan Cup is getting closer to the end! Shota VS Finlay, Goto VS Tama, who will join Mark Davis and Sanada in the semifinals?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita VS Oskar Leube & Ryohei Oiwa; ZSJ & Fujita win.
YOSHI-HASHI & Tomoaki Honma VS Aaron Henare & Kyle Fletcher; Henare & Fletcher win.
Six Man Tag: Team Strong Style VS Bullet Club; Team Strong Style wins, by disqualification.
Six Man Tag: The United Empire VS The House of Torture; The United Empire wins.
8 Man Tag: Chaos VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; Chaos wins.
New Japan Cup 2023, Quarterfinals: Shota Umino VS David Finlay; Finlay wins and advances.
New Japan Cup 2023, Quarterfinals: Hirooki Goto VS Tama Tonga; Tama wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

New Japan Cup 2023, Quarterfinals: Shota Umino VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!

The Roughneck took The Mighty’s Front Man to the limit and then won, but now he funs into Bullet Club’s newest leader. Will #SHOOTER be the one shot down? Or will another one bite the dust as Shota brings about a paradigm shift?

The two get face to face and start shoving. Red Shoes backs them off, the bell rings and the forearms start flying! Fans fire up as they go faster and faster, and Shota gets the edge! Shota fires off in the corner, but Finlay turns things around, only to miss! Shota fires off more, and even shoves his dad aside! Shota fires off knees and he CLUBS Finlay, then ROCKS him with a forearm! Fans fire up with Shota, and he brings Finlay up. Finlay throws forearms in return, whips, but Shota reverses to ELBOW Finlay down! Shota keeps moving to BASEMENT DROPKICK! Fans fire up again while Finlay checks his chin.

Shota kicks at Finlay, stomps him, but Finlay eggs him on. Shota stomps, Finlay throws a body shot, but Shota just BOOTS Finlay into the corner! Finlay kicks back from below, and even SPITS at Shota! Shota doesn’t flinch, so Finlay steps to him. Shota DECKS Finlay, then digs his boots in! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, Shota lets off at 4 and talks trash. Shota stomps Finlay, stands him up and CLUBS him! Finlay goes to ropes, Shota ROCKS him with another forearm. Fans rally, Shota ROCKS Finlay again, and then whips Finlay to ropes. Finlay reverses to TACKLE Shota to the apron! And then all the way into railing!

Gedo likes that as Finlay RAMS Shota in again! Finlay taunts Red Shoes, then throws hands on Shota. Finlay smacks Shota off the apron, follows him around the way, and claws at Shota’s face! Finlay ELBOWS Shota down, Red Shoes reprimands, but Finlay claims it was just the nose. Finlay stomps Shota around on the ramp, going after the limbs. The ring count starts and Finlay drags Shota up at 6 of 20 to put in at 8. Fans applaud and Finlay paces. Finlay stomps Shota down, gives him toying kicks, but Shota sits up with a frown. Finlay UPPERCUTS Shota in the back, but Shota doesn’t budge!

Finlay gets in Shota’s face, then DECKS him! Finlay stands Shota up to UPPERCUT! Shota goes to a corner, Finlay HEADBUTTS then stomps away! Red Shoes reprimands as Finlay digs a knee in. Red Shoes counts, Finlay lets off at 4 and talks more trash. Fans rally up as Finlay brings Shota out. Finlay taunts the fans, “This is your boy?” Shota stands to ROCK Finlay! Shota hits back! Finlay CLUBS Shota down! Shota writhes but Finlay covers, ONE! Finlay clamps onto Shota with a cobra clutch to grind him down. Fans rally and Shota endures. Finlay shakes his head and pulls harder on the hold, but Shota still endures.

Shota fights up, Finlay knees him low and then again, and again. Finlay whips, Shota reverses to scoop, TOSS and UPPERCUT! Fans fire up while Finlay sits up in a daze. Shota storms up on Finlay, whips him to a corner, then runs in to UPPERCUT! Shota FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect so Finlay escapes, but Shota keeps his cool. Shota kicks Finlay but Finlay gives a body shot. Shota kicks and kicks and CLUBS Finlay, then brings him up. Finlay fights the clinch with elbow after elbow after elbow! Finlay runs, into a DROPKICK! Fans fire up and Finlay bails out!

Shota hurries out to the apron, Finlay stands and Shota CANNONBALLS onto him! Fans fire up with Shota again as he shakes the railing! Shota drags Finlay back up, puts him in the ring, and fans rally behind Shota. Shota aims, to slingshot DDT! Finlay writhes but Shota wants him to stand. Fans rally, but Finlay blocks the kick, and he spins Shota around, only to swing into Shota’s clinch. Finlay fights free, then he clinches back, IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Shota is still in this and the fans rally but Gedo argues the count. Red Shoes says that was a fair count, so Finlay drags Shota up.

Finlay makes Red Shoes watch as Finlay CROSSFACE FOREARMS Shota! And again! Gedo likes that so Finlay gives more CROSSFACE FOREARMS! Finlay then sits Shota up to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Shota is still in this and the fans fire back up! Finlay argues the count but Red Shoes defends it was fair. Finlay kicks Shota around, waits on him to rise, and the fans rally. Shota stands, ducks the lariat, and EXPLODERS! Fans fire up again while both men are down! Red Shoes checks both guys and they slowly stir. They go forehead to forehead, and Shota throws a forearm! Finlay throws it back!

Finlay eggs Shota on, Shota ROCKS Finlay! Shota eggs Finlay on, so Finlay ROCKS Shota! Shota ROCKS Finlay again, so Finlay ROCKS Shota again! They go forearm for forearm, fans rally and the two stand. The forearms keep going, back and forth, faster and faster! Finlay UPPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS again! Shota roars and UPPERCUTS in return! And again! Finlay rebounds into another UPPERCUT! Shota UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS! Fans fire up but Finlay throat chops! And throat chops again! Finlay fires off HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT, then he rains down fists!

Red Shoes reprimands, those are closed fists! Finlay lets off and claims palms but Red Shoes can tell. Fans rally for Red Shoes as he argues with Finlay. Finlay goes back to Shota, but Red Shoes has him stay back to check. Shota is still in this, but Finlay thinks he’s won by knockout. Shota grabs at Finlay’s foot, so Finlay gut wrenches to a Canadian rack! But Shota slips free to CROSS RHODES! Shota holds on, he drags Finlay up, CROSS RHODES! Shota drags Finlay up again, SAVING GRACE! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives but fans are thunderous behind Shota! Shota aims from a corner, runs in, but Finlay LARIATS!

Shota stands, but into a SPEAR! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and Finlay is shocked! Finlay drags Shota up to gut wrench, CLIFFHANGER DDT! Cover, TWO!!! Shota survives again and the fans are thunderous! Finlay scowls at Red Shoes and argues the count, but the count is still fair. Fans rally behind Shota, but Finlay brings down the kneepad. Finlay slashes his throat and he drags Shota back up. Suplex to- NO, Shota cradles! TWO!! Finlay escapes, and ROLLING ELBOWS! Shota staggers to a corner and Finlay hoists him up top. Finlay climbs up after Shota, fires off forearms, then brings Shota up.

Shota throws body shots to stop the superplex! Finlay fires forearms and HEADBUTTS! Finlay brings Shota up again, but Shota SUPER GOURD BUSTERS first! Shota then hurries down and runs in, SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Shota roars and the fans are thunderous again! Shota picks Finlay up but Finlay fights free. Shota kicks low, underhooks, but Finlay powers him back. Shota sends Finlay into buckles! And then TORNADO DDTS! Roll through to the pick-up, SNAP BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives but Shota roars! Fans rally behind Shota and he aims from the corner again.

Gedo shouts at Finlay but the fans rally up. Finlay rises, Shota underhooks, but Finlay fights the lift! Finlay stomps the leg! And then HEADBUTTS Shota down! Gedo says Finlay’s got it! Suplex, but Shota fights free! ENZIGURI! Finlay rebounds, but swings into hooks! Finlay fights the backslide to backslide, but Shota rolls through! Finlay suplexes, Shota slips free, backslide and underhooks! Finlay spins Shota around, suplexes, TRASH PANDA!!! Cover, Finlay wins!!

Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)

Another hard-fought battle, and The Rebel comes out on top! Finlay stands on Shota to add insult to injury, then he throws Shota out to just add more insult! Gedo makes the official announcement that Finlay won, and then he says what Finlay did to Shota will happen to everyone else! “Okada! Okada! Are you listening? The Rebel’s coming for you! The Rebel is taking the eff over everything! I need the Rebel, the Bullet Club needs the Rebel, and the world needs the Rebel!” Will Finlay be unstoppable until he has taken everything?

New Japan Cup 2023, Quarterfinals: Hirooki Goto w/ Yoshi-Hashi VS Tama Tonga w/ Jado!

The Fierce Warrior and the Good Bad Guy have both had their run-ins with the United Empire, and they both came out on top to make it this far. But there’s only one spot left in the semifinals, who is the final of the final four?

The bell rings and fans rally up as the two circle. Goto and Tama tie up, Goto powers Tama back, but Tama breaks free. They reset, tie up again, and Tama powers Goto back. Goto turns things around to put Tama on the ropes, and Red Shoes calls the break. Goto lets off with pats on the shoulder and fans applaud. Tama and Goto circle again, tie up, and Tama headlocks. Tama grinds the hold, but Goto powers out. They RAM shoulders, but Tama keeps moving. They RAM shoulders again, both men egg each other on, so Goto runs. Goto dodges the lariat to run Tama over! Fans fire up while Tama staggers up.

Goto whips Tama corner to corner, runs in but into an elbow! Tama runs in but into a hip toss! Tama avoids the elbow drop, headlocks, but Goto powers out, only for Tama to FLYING SHOULDER TACKLE! But now Goto avoids an elbow drop and fans fire up for the standoff! Goto and Tama circle again and fans rally back up. They tie up, Goto headlocks, and Goto grinds the hold. Tama powers up but Goto holds on tighter. Tama fights up, powers up again, but still can’t power out as Goto just holds tighter! Goto grinds the headlock more, but Tama fights up to throw body shots. Tama powers out this time, and things speed up.

Tama hurdles, but Goto counter a hip toss with a hip toss! Tama goes to ropes, Goto runs in, but Tama dumps Goto out to the apron! Tama swings but Goto counter punches! But then Tama GUN STUN STUN GUNS Goto down! Goto falls to the floor and Tama waits on the ring count. Goto stirs at 5 of 20, fans rally and Hashi coaches Goto up. Goto sits up at 12 of 20, but we past 15 before he stands! Goto slides in at 18! Fans applaud, but Tama drags Goto up to COHP! Tama whips, DROPKICKS and covers, TWO! Tama keeps cool as he looms over Goto. Tama brings Goto up, then CLUBS him in the chest again and again!

Fans rally while Tama paces around. Tama drags Goto back up, snap suplexes and covers, TWO! Tama clamps onto Goto with a chinlock and grinds him back down. Fans rally as Goto endures, but Tama brings Goto down to the mat. Goto kicks and flails, fights his way back up, and he throws body shots. Tama CLUBS Goto on the back, then ROCKS him with a forearm! And then another! Goto scowls but Tama eggs him on. Tama ROCKS Goto again, but Goto snarls. Tama fires off forearm after forearm! Tama then runs, but Goto blocks the boot! Goto throws the foot down but Tama ROCKS him with another forearm!

Goto blocks another boot, waistlocks, but Tama elbows free! Tama runs, Goto follows and LARIATS Tama down! Fans fire up while both men are down! Tama crawls to a corner but Goto is right on him. Goto whips corner to corner and runs in to MURAMASA! Then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Tama survives, and Jado coaches him up. Goto brings Tama up but Tama fires body shots and low headbutts! Tama whips, Goto reverses and he runs Tama over! Fans fire up as Tama bails out, and Goto hurries to PLANCHA! Direct hit and both men go down at the railing! Fans fire up as both men stir.

The ring count starts but Goto is already up at 2 of 20. He drags Tama up at 5, but Tama is deadweight so Goto stomps him. The count passes 10, Goto drags Tama back up at 13. Goto puts Tama back in at 15 and fans applaud. Goto fires up and fans rally behind him. Goto climbs up a corner, but Tama ROCKS him first! Tama throws another forearm, but Goto hits back! Goto ELBOWS Tama in the head, but Tama throws body shots. Tama ROCKS Goto, climbs up and CLUBS Goto on the back. But Goto throws body shots and forearms! Tama and Goto fire off back and forth, and Tama gets the edge! Tama stands Goto up for the SUPERPLEX!

Fans fire up while both men are down again! Red Shoes checks, both men stir, and the fans rally up again. Goto crawls to a corner but Tama runs in, STINGER SPLASH! And then EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! Goto hangs tough and the fans rally up. Tama drags himself up with the ropes, and he storms over to Goto. Tama stands Goto up but Goto throws a forearm! Tama throws a forearm right back! Goto drops to a knee, but he grits his teeth. Goto stands up to ROCK Tama with a forearm! Tama shakes that off to ROCK Goto right back! Goto ROCKS Tama! Tama ROCKS Goto! The forearms go back and forth again!

Fans fire up as Tama fires off a strike fest! Tama whips, Goto reverses, fireman’s carries and USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and Tama clutches his neck. Goto roars and fans fire up with him! Goto drags Tama up, dragon sleepers, but Tama throws hands from below! Goto blocks that, spins Tama around, but Tama fireman’s carries! SRC! Tama flounders but finds his way over to the corner! Tama goes up, for the SUPREME FLOW! Cover, TWO!! Goto is still in this, but fans fire up with Tama! OFF COMES THE VEST! Tama watches Goto stir, and Tama pounds the mat. Fans clap along and build back up.

Goto rises, Tama runs in, GUN- NO, Goto blocks! Goto shoves, runs, Tama redirects but Goto follows! Tama dodges and runs, GUN- NO! Goto blocks, then deflects the boot! But Tama jumps, VELENO! Both men are down after the satellite DDT and the fans are thunderous! Tama rises first, the fans rally back up, and Tama takes aim from the corner. Goto flounders, rises, and Tama rushes in, GUN- NO, Goto puts him in the corner! DRAPING SHOUTO!! But Goto’s too tired to make the cover! Fans rally up again and Goto rises. Goto roars and Tama rises, BUZZSAW! Goto then drags Tama back up to fireman’s carry!

USHI- NO, Tama flips through! But Goto still blocks Gun Stun! Goto drags Tama back up, spins him around, but Tama SUPER FOREARMS! BLOODY SUNDAY!! Cover, TWO!?! Goto survives Tama’s shoutout to The Prince, but Tama roars! Tama drags Goto up, underhooks, but Goto fights the lift! Goto wrenches and HEADBUTTS! And then LARIATS!! Fans fire up as Tama goes flipping through the air! Goto roars and gathers all his strength! BUZZSAW!! And then another dragon sleeper! G T- NO!! Tama blocks to a backslide but Goto holds that off! Tama HEADBUTTS, and GUN STUNS!!! Cover, TAMA WINS!!

Winner: Tama Tonga, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)

The NEVER Openweight Champion bests one half of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions! The Fierce Warrior misses out on the final four, will he and Hashi simply regroup to focus on the tag titles for the Spring?

As for Tama, he shakes Goto’s hand to show respect, and the two hug it out. Goto raises Tama’s hand in victory, then lets him have the ring. Tama gets the mic to say, “HAMAMATSU~!” Fans cheer and Tama continues in Japanese,
“Really, thank you so much! Goto-san. That was amazing, thank you.” Fans cheer the respect shown, and Tama asks that everyone please keep supporting him! A short and sweet message from the Good Bad Guy, will he go all the way until he has his hands on the Cup?

My Thoughts:

Another really good night for the New Japan Cup, though not as shocking and wild as yesterday’s. Shota VS Finlay went about as expected in that Finlay goes over, but I am still impressed that Finlay is a Heel that doesn’t cheat to win. He didn’t need Gedo to do things for him here, Finlay just outdid Shota. And then we got a great main event where I was rather surprised that Tama won out. I thought Goto was going to go strong to the finals to put over the other side of the bracket. Instead, Tama gets a great win here and he’ll get to face Finlay next week, in a great rework of Tama taking on the Bullet Club.