Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Survivor Series Report! (11/19/17)
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff Match, Elias VS Matt Hardy; Elias wins.
- Kickoff Match, WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Enzo Amore VS Kalisto; Enzo wins and retains the Cruiserweight Championship.
- Kickoff Match, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn VS Breezango; win(s).
- Six Man Tag: The Shield VS The New Day; The Shield wins.
- Women’s 5v5 Elimination Tag Match: Team Raw VS Team SmackDown; Team Raw wins, Asuka as Sole Survivor.
- Champion VS Champion: The Miz w/ The Miztourage VS Baron Corbin; Corbin wins.
- Champions VS Champions: The Bar VS The Usos; The Usos win.
- Champion VS Champion: Alexa Bliss VS Charlotte Flair; Charlotte wins.
- Champion VS Champion: Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman VS AJ Styles; Lesnar wins.
- Men’s 5v5 Elimination Tag Match: Team Raw VS Team SmackDown; Raw wins, Triple H and Braun Strowman surviving.
PLAY BY PLAY
The SmackDown Women are ready to get payback on Raw.
But then former champion and new teammate, Natalya, appears to make this into a pep rally to compliment herself. Captain Becky wants Natty to hush, Natty acts like Becky is being the dramatic one. Raw has former champions in Sasha, Bayley, and Alicia, along with the pure power of Nia and Asuka, but they’ve got women to match. Tamina can handle Nia, there are just as many former champs, and SmackDown has the first ever Ms. Money in the Bank. That plus their heart, SmackDown will be THE Show! The women in blue are ready, can they prove their Women’s Division is the superior product?
Alexa Bliss joins the Kickoff Panel.
Now that it’s Charlotte and not Natalya, the Goddess has prepared for nothing. But as the superior champion, she will still win for Raw. Did Alexa feel the emotion of Ric Flair congratulating his daughter? No, it was the same as always. Two women have held both Raw and SmackDown championship belts, but Alexa was the first. How about the size difference and how Charlotte is taller? So what? Alexa is Five Feet of Fury and is so quick. HBK can agree, being small doesn’t make you an underdog. Alexa always did like the Showstopper. Charlotte now joins via camera, she’s doing well. What does Charlotte have for Alexa? Well Alexa won’t be running away now. Charlotte doesn’t put on a costume and pretend to be a comic book hero. She is a Flair, the true Iron Woman of WWE. She doesn’t miss shows and doesn’t run from fights. Alexa may have done it first, but Charlotte is a Grand Slam champion and will do it better. Okay Charlotte has her legacy, but Alexa has given blood, sweat and tears. Charlotte isn’t saying that, she’s talking about the change in the Women’s Division? Of if the Horsewomen were so great, then why did it take so long for them to catch up to her? The Queen came first, the Goddess will bow down. Make it a t-shirt, why don’t you? Alexa vows she will sweep the Horsewomen, Charlotte dares her to try. Which woman will reign supreme?
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Elias.”
The Drifter is in Houston! And fans hope he’ll #DriftAway already. Can they feel the tension in the air here at Survivor Series? Wear red, wear blue, but in the end, ask yourself “What would Elias do?” Not come to Houston if he had the choice. Unless he had a song. So silence cellphones and shut mouths, he begins his one-man concert. “Listen to my songs, they’ll tell you the truth.” Fans boo and jeer instead. “Follow me, I’ll show you the way. Problem is, people of Houston, are just too dumb, and Texans are the worst thing about the USA! Matt Hardy’s a boy, but he’s gonna become a man.” Speaking of, here he comes!
Elias VS Matt Hardy!
It’s WONDERFUL~ to see Matt again as he takes on The Drifter to stay afloat in the Raw rankings. The bell rings, fans chant “DELETE DELETE DELETE!” for Matt as he ties up with Elias. Elias arm wrenches, Matt reverses and puts on a headlock, switch to hammerlock. Elias swings but misses, headlock takedown. Elias grabs Matt’s hair and stands up, Elias powers Matt up but gets taken into another takedown. Elias gets up again, powers out successfully, but Matt holds ropes. Matt boots Elias, Russian side leg sweep, and Matt hops up. Matt takes aim, elbow to the head, TWO. Matt is right on Elias as we go to a break.
We return, Elias pries his way out of another headlock, Matt whips him and elbows him down, fist drop on top, TWO. Elias pushes Matt to ropes and they must break, but Elias yanks Matt into ropes instead. Matt goes down, gasping for air, Elias catches his own breath as he stalks Matt to a corner. Elias fires off nasty shots, goes out and rams Matt’s arm against the apron edge. The LED screen even glitches out as Matt yells in pain. Elias grins, enjoying what he is doing to the tag team icon. Elias wrenches that bad arm, fans rally, Matt gets up and fights back with right hands, only for that left arm to be yanked again. Knee drop on the arm, “Who wants to walk with Elias?!” Fans boo and jeer as he keeps on Matt. Matt tries to fight back but is put in a corner, his arm wrenched with the help of ropes. Elias lets Matt out, but hammerlocks him before throwing that shoulder into buckles. Elias keeps on Matt with another hammerlock buckle bump, cover, TWO. Elias isn’t bothered at all, he goes back to an armlock. Fans rally again, Matt works his way up, fights back, arm wrench into double underhook, shoulder breaker! TWO, Elias is getting a little annoyed now. They go to the apron, Elias brings Matt up, goes after that bad arm again with the help of ropes. Matt fights back, Side Effect to the apron! Now they’re even as Elias’ back is sore. Matt gets back in the ring, Elias gets up but Matt counters his punches with punches. Matt fires haymakers, gets buckle bumps “DELETE DELETE DELETE” all the way to the bottom! Matt is fired up, the fans are, too. Clothesline yes, and the bulldog, too! But Matt’s bad arm is slowing him down. He grabs Elias, Elias shoves back, another Side Effect, TWO! Matt gets up first, but is shoved into the buckles again. Matt elbows and boots back, hops up again, takes aim, elbow drop. Crawl to a cover, TWO, but Matt isn’t slowing down. He calls for the Twist, Elias gets up, Twist denied, then Matt is thrown bad shoulder first into the post! Drift Away neckbreaker!
Elias wins! Fans may not like his music, but they have to respect his in-ring skills, can those same skills get him closer to a title?
The Social Media Lounge has The Miz!
The Hollywood A-Lister and Intercontinental Champion eagerly awaits his match against The Lone Wolf and United States Champion, Baron Corbin. Uncomfortable and personal was their war of words, what can The Miz say about that? Talking is over, Miz’s actions will speak for him. He is an elite talent, and Corbin is going to see why. Corbin talking about his wife and child brings on a whole new focus for Miz, like nothing before. He will unleash all that on Corbin tonight. As for the “brain busters”, first question: How would Team Raw react to Miz losing? Miz’s entire goal as the IC Champion is to make it the most prestigious title in all of the WWE, losing is not even in his vocabulary. Second question, because the first was “so good”: Is Miz feeling the pressure? No one puts pressure on Miz the way Miz does. Miz pressures himself so much and since day one, it’s why he’s outlasted even his haters. Now he not only belongs in the WWE, but in the main event, and he makes every match become the main event. Tonight it isn’t Lesnar VS Styles or Raw VS SmackDown but Miz VS Corbin! Third and final question: What is Miz’s thought about Team Raw? Are they good enough? Whatever show Miz is on, that show succeeds. He made SmackDown the best, now he makes Raw the best. Raw will be superior tonight, and it is thanks to The Miz. Amazing questions, really. Thank the WWE Universe for them. Can Miz make Corbin eat his words along with defeat?
WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Enzo Amore VS Kalisto!
While Red battles Blue, the Purple Brand is either going to stay The ‘Zo Show or be brought back under the 205 Lucha Lucha banner! The Certified G reminds us it was all Kalisto’s birthday last Tuesday. The Realest Champ is also the Nicest Champ, he got Kalisto a Cake Boss level cake and what happens? Kalisto shoves Enzo’s face in the cake! The Face of 205 Live, in a cake! Well now it feels like Enzo’s birthday, and his birthday wish is coming true, Kalisto isn’t taking his boo. No cake? Then here’s beef, even though Kalisto is a chicken, because he’s S A W F T!
The bell rings, Enzo goes right at Kalisto with haymakers and then puts the Lucha Dragon in a corner with shoulder tackles and a Certified Mudhole. Kalisto gets in a knee and then lots of kicks, Kalisto wants Enzo up. Salida denied, Enzo gets out of the ring, Kalisto builds speed but Enzo gets out of the way. Kalisto has to stop his take-off, adjusts, and chases Enzo around the outside. Back into the ring, Kalisto shoulders in then slingshots into the sunset flip powerbomb, TWO! A super close call, but Kalisto keeps on Enzo at the ropes. Kalisto drags Enzo up but the ref backs him off, in that gap, Enzo hits a hotshot. Kalisto snaps back, we go to break.
We return to Enzo giving Kalisto a big lariat, cover, TWO. Enzo is frustrated, he keeps on Kalisto with another Certified Mudhole. He then yanks Kalisto up and into a sidewalk slam, TWO again. Enzo puts a chinlock on, trash talking the entire time. Kalisto endures, works to get up, fans rally but Kalisto is powered back to a corner. Enzo scoops and places Kalisto in a Tree of Woe for a corner to corner forearm smash! Cover, TWO, Enzo stalks his challenger as he mocks Kalisto fans. Enzo stretches Kalisto back, then a clobbering crossface forearm. Back to a chinlock to grind and ground Kalisto. Fans rally, Kalisto feeds off it, jawbreaker breaks the hold, then Salida- no, Enzo yanks Kalisto down by his mask. Enzo brings Kalisto around, scoop into the Tree of Woe again. Enzo sets up again, runs in, Kalisto sits up and Enzo hits buckles. Kalisto gets up, super asai moonsault! But Kalisto’s own sore core muscles keep him from making a cover. The two men slowly stand up, Kalisto boots Enzo away. Kalisto dodges, runs, headscissors! Enzo flounders, Kalisto rams in a shoulder then goes to a rolling Death Valley. Penalty kick knocks Enzo down, Spike-Rana on top! Enzo gets to ropes, Kalisto gets the “LUCHA! LUCHA!” going, Salida Del Sol escaped! Enzo slips out again, Kalisto grabs him again, they fight on the ropes and end up on the apron. They won’t stop even as the ref tells them to, Enzo clobbers Kalisto with a haymaker. Then, Jor-DONE-Zo on the apron, Kalisto blocked thanks to ropes! He has Enzo’s foot, they scurry on the corner, Kalisto grabs an arm, Enzo uses that to yank Kalisto into exposed steel! Then into the ring, Enzo truly hits Jor-DONE-Zo!
Cover, Enzo wins and retains! The ‘Zo Show rolls on, can anyone cancel the Realest Show in the Room?
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn VS Breezango!
The WWE’s Best Friends didn’t come here to compete with “clowns” like the Fashion Police. Call this what it is: a disgrace, and an insult to the very two best on SmackDown! Give up on Fashion Files, investigate the crime of Kevin and Sami being treated so poorly. Kevin and Sami should be making history again as team leaders, but they’re not, and that’s all because of Shane McMahon. The Fashion Police should be investigating how Shane is still the Commissioner when he let his roster get beat down by Raw’s. Sami was concerned for his well-being, for Kevin’s well-being, so the two of them did “the right thing” and escaped the #Rawtaliation.
However, Officers Breeze and Fandango respond. An anonymous tip mentioned “optical offenders” harassing Houston. By the smell of it, it’s these two in the ring. Yes, that is the stench of unkempt beards. Look, the “police.” Say something, paper boy? Here’s a headline: Local Sexy Cop Heroes save Survivor Series. And rewarded handsomely. The teams sort out and have Kevin start with Fandango, the bell rings and Kevin goes right at him. Whip but Fandango kicks back, he sees Sami coming in, dropkicks him out. Breeze gives them citations! Sami & Kevni regroup as we go to break.
We return to Sami on Fandango, but Sami gets the chop then gets hung up on the top rope. Tag to Breeze, double boots bring Sami back in, cover, TWO. Breeze brings Sami into a corner for a bump, then his corner for a bump, whip to the ropes, Sami bails out of the ring. Breze in pursuit, big forearm smash. Houston gets fired up as Breeze has to fight off both Sami & Kevin, Sami pounces on reentry. Sami ground ’n’ pound, then reels Breeze in for a lariat. Tag to Kevin, Kevin mugs Breeze with body shots. Kevin drags Breeze up for a clubbing forearm, tag to Sami. Breeze is isolated in Best Friend territory, and put into a chinlock. Fans rally, Breeze gets to his feet, reaches but Sami knees low then whips. Breeze kicks Sami right in the face, Sami goes down, but Sami anchors Breeze and then drags him away. Tag to Kevin, back senton on Breeze’s back, TWO. Kevin is frustrated, he puts Breeze back in a chinlock. Fans rally again, Breeze works but can’t get away as Kevin trash talks. Fans rally again, Breeze gets his second wind, and fights back only to be thrown down. Kevin covers, TWO, back to that chinlock. Sami even trash talks from his corner. Breeze feeds off the third rally from the fans, fights back again, but Kevin sweeps the legs. Kevin goes for it, but his back senton hits Breeze’s knees! Both men crawl for their corners, hot tags to Fandango and Sami! Fandango rallies with jabs and lariats, whip but reversed, forearm to take out Kevin. Back elbow to Sami, Fandango hops up, missile dropkick connects. Hip swivel, running tornado DDT! Kevin breaks the pin. Breeze in with a forearm smash, he pursues Kevin outside, but gets rammed into an apron. Fandango climbs up but Kevin distracts, Sami dodges the Last Dance! Tag, Kevin goes after Fandango with the Pop-Up Powerbomb!
Kevin & Sami win! Or is it Sami & Kevin win? Either way, these two are united in their anti-Shane agenda, will they be vindicated any time soon?
Backstage interview with AJ Styles.
The Phenomenal World Champion faces the Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar. How will he avoid Suplex City? Not telling you that. But Styles knows he is the underdog against The Beast, just like anyone else. Styles doesn’t fear Lesnar. Styles fears what Lesnar will do to him, but sometimes fear is a good thing. He’ll move faster, jump higher and hit harder, and Styles will have to truly be phenomenal to win. Of course, Jinder Mahal appears, his presence alone enough to remind Styles that they’ll have their title rematch soon enough. Can Styles conquer the Beast to then thwart the Maharaja?
True brand dominance shall be decided tonight.
From #UnderSiege to #Rawtaliation, both rosters have raided the other. A 25 year legacy is in peril, but it won’t end without a fight. The one night a year Raw and SmackDown are pitted against each other, will Goddess dethrone a Queen? Will A-Lister silence the Lone Wolf? Will a Phenomenal One survive Suplex City? Which is the B Show? Which is THE Show?
Six Man Tag: The Shield VS The New Day!
“Awwww~ H-Town!” Clap for a dream match so big it had to open the show! Will the Hounds of Justice or the Unicorns of Positivity come out the superior trio of WWE? Great material for the “tumblr kids”, this is more about showing the world who is the most dominant and entertaining faction in WWE history! Kurt Angle put SmackDown #UnderSeige to let The Shield go after the New Day, but it took all of three weeks to steal an idea. “The one thing that was proven” is that The Shield have a “big ol’ set of big, gigantic, dangling, GUTS.” But Dogs are Dogs, time to go Bob Barker on them! Spade and neuter. It’s Dog Eat Dog, and Wrestlemania will creep up to tempt any one of them to bite the others. Brotherhood? There is no greater brotherhood than the New Day, because “New! Day Rocks!”
The six men meet in the ring, the bell rings, and the two chosen to start are Dean Ambrose and Kofi Kingston. The two circle, tie up, waistlock but standing switch, standing switch back, arm wrench. Ambrose rolls, reverses, the fans duel between Raw and SmackDown as Kofi handsprings out, Ambrose slaps him down. Kofi sees how it is, laughs it off, tags Woods in. Ambrose tags Rollins is, the Architect and the PhD of Positivity go now. Rollins sues speed to go from arm lock to hammerlock, Woods does the same, and several times around. Rollins decks Woods with a clothesline! Woods tags Big E, Rollins tags in Roman Reigns. The biggest men meet, circling the other. Fans tell Roman “You still suck!” They tie up, standing switch, but Big E pries his way out with power. Roman gets a headlock, Big E powers out and they collide, Big E rebounds to run Roman over. Big E blows a bit of bad wind Roman’s way, things speed up, Roman runs Big E over with a big elbow! Big E gets right up, he’s mad now. “Suck on this, sucka!” Big E runs, but into a Samoan Drop, TWO. Kofi tags in, Big E reverses the whip, Amborse tags in and The Shield runs The New Day over. Triple clothesline to take out Big E and Kofi, Woods is all alone now. Woods sees he’s in a bad spot, he’s getting mugged 3v1 as the SHield tag in and do their own sort of stampede. Roman drags Woods up, into a big lariat. Tag to Rollins, who goes up top, flying haymaker. Tag to Ambrose, they hit the frantic combination of clothesline, knee drop and elbow drop, TWO. Ambrose taunts Big E, grabs Woods, back suplex slipped out, Woods slides under to tag Kofi. Kofi flies in, knocks Ambrose down, takes out the other Shield members then rallies on Ambrose. Kofi is fired up, fans are mixed, Kofi hits the Boom Drop. Kofi gets fans chanting “New! Day Rocks!” Trouble In Paradise misses, but Kofi boots back to jump, into double underhook! Kofi backs Ambrose into the New Day corner, Big E tags in and “time to turn up!” The proper Unicorn Stampede begins! And it goes on and on until all three of the New Day get a few turns. Kofi whipped in but misses, Ambrose runs Big E over. Woosd tags in, he brings Ambrose back over for hands in the corner. Woods keeps going with the Stampede, and it starts up all over again. SmackDown fans love it, Raw fans boo it. Big E whips Woods now, big dropkick to Ambrose. The Shield decide to take matters into their own hands, they come around and start barwls on the outside. Ambrose rallies inside, then DIVES on Woods!
The Shield regroups with The New day down, but Big E gets up to SPEAR Ambrose out!
A crash and burn, Rollins can’t believe what he just saw. Roman and Rollins get back to their corner, Big E gets Ambrose back in, covers, TWO. Big E yanks Ambrose’s shirt off him, no respect for the new merchandise. Ambrose fires up to chop and chop, Big E shoves him and runs him over, TWO. Big E tags Woods, half-nelson chinbar locked on Ambrose. Fans rally, Ambrose gets up and fights back, but Woods keeps him away with a headbutt. In a neutral corner, Woods keeps giving Ambrose strikes before hoisting him up top. Woods prepares but Ambrose resists, Ambrose gives Woods a super gordbuster! Ambrose adjusts, Woods tags Big E, Big E climbs up and keeps Ambroes stuck there, wanting a super belly2belly! Ambrose resists with ear claps, getting Big E to tumble back. Ambrose aims, jumps, missile dropkick connects. Both men down but crawling, fans rallying, hot tag to Kofi to deny the Shield Roman, so Ambrose body drops Kofi to tag Rollins! The Architect rallies, blockbuster and then slingblade, cover, TWO! Rollins is a bit surprised but he isn’t done. He stalks Kofi, Kofi elbows back, tag to Woods. Mule kick to powerbomb, Roman tags. Buckle bomb, leaping lariat, TWO! Roman is surprised now, but he’s in position. He locks and loads, takes aim, but Woods dodges to roll up, TWO, fireman’s carry but Woods fights out. Things speed up again, SUPERMAN PUNCH! The fans are mixed but thunderous, Roman fires up and lets out the battle cry. Woods knees him away! Tags to Big E and Ambrose, SUPERMAN PUNCH, Belly2Belly! Lunatic- tag to Kofi! Rollins tagged in, mule kick! SUPERKICK! Mule kick again! They drag Kofi in, Kingslayer to Dirty Deeds! Cover, Woods breaks! That is not enough to defeat the record-setting tag team champions. Woods drags Kofi over, tags in, and trash talks Rollins as he brings him up. Rollins revives, SUPERKICK! Both men down, Rollins tells Ambrose to “end it now!” Ambrose and Roman take Big E and whip him right into barriers. Then for Kofi and do the same. They return to their corner, tag to Roman to then tag Ambrose. The three come in, and ew all know that means… No wait, Big E brings out Roman! Woods fights the other two off, Kofi comes in! Trouble in Paradise! Mule kick to Shining Wizard! Woods fires up, and the New Day targets Roman first. It’s 3v1 in a very Shield like way, Penalty Kick keeps Roman down. Back to Ambrose in the ring, tag to Big E, tag to Kofi, buckle kick combo! Tag back to Woods, tag back to Big E, the New Day forms an odd totem for a leap-frog frog splash! And Big E Splash! Rollins returns but Big E keeps him down. Tag to Kofi, “load ’em up!” Kofi and Woods climb up as Big E shoulders Ambrose AND Rollins, DOUBLE Midnight Hour!!
But Roman has returned, SPEAR through Big E to break the pin!! This is not over by a long shot, but “This is awesome!” The teams regroup, Roman tags in. The Shield and The New Day stare each other down, barely able to stand, they rush each other for a huge brawl! Big E sent out, Woods sent out, Kofi and Roman remain inside. Kingslayer and Dirty Deeds on the outside, corner to corner whip but Kofi kicks back. Kofi goes up, Roman ducks under his jump, SPEAR! And NOW it’s coming, as they all tag in. A bit of an audible, SUPER TRIPLE POWERBOMB!!
The Shield wins, +1 for Raw! Is this just the beginning of a Raw victorStephanie McMahon gives a pep talk to her Raw Women’s Team.
Raw is up 1–0, time to make it 2–0. Steph loved seeing them rip into SmackDown. Raw’s Women won last year, they’re gonna do it again. Asuka is the Undefeated Empress of Tomorrow, but the Lass Kicker is after Asuka’s arm. Break every bone in Becky’s body. Legit Boss Sasha Banks, use that swagger. Huggable Bayley, time for hugging is over. Bayley is a force to be reckoned with when she’s focused, give it your all! And Brutal Beauty, the Unstoppable Force, dominate and destroy, throw Carmella into the crowd. If Naomi wants to #FeeltheGLow, then knock her lights out! And, Captain Foxy. Stephanie doubted her, but after last week, she is so proud of her. One last question: Are you ready? Yes, ma’am! ARE, YOU, READY!? YES, MA’AM! SmackDown started the fight, Raw ends it!!
Women’s 5v5 Elimination Tag Match: Team Raw VS Team SmackDown!
Foxy, Sasha, Bayley, Asuka and Nia go up against Becky, Natty, Carmella, Naomi and Tamina, who will be the winning women of WWE? The teams sort out, we start with the Captains, Foxy and Becky. They circle, tie up, Foxy backs Becky up and thrashes her in a corner. Becky shoves back so Foxy unloads knees and elbows. Back to a corner, Foxy slaps Becky around. Becky boots back, fans duel again, Becky fires out with a forearm, then smashes Foxy with a forearm. Snapmare, calf kick, back kick and whip, but Alicia puts Becky on the apron. Hotshot to Alicia, Becky goes up, leg drop! TWO, Foxy’s still in. Becky shakes it off, waits for Alicia to get up, goes after that arm, but Alicia gets a ropebreak. Becky lets go, Alicia back elbows and Bayley tags in. Becksploder for Alicia, roll up for Becky, Becky is eliminated!! Bayley took out the team captain! SmackDown is down a woman already, and Raw is loving it. Natty steps up now, trash talking with Bayley before kicking low and snap suplex quick. Natty gets Bayley in a corner for a mudhole, Natty embraces the heat. Natty drags Bayley up and out, another snap suplex. Bayley’s legs are bothering her but she still kicks out at TWO. Bayley is brought into Blue territory, tag to Tamina to stomp away. Tamina whips Bayley, Bayley dodges, forearm smash and more forearms added on. Bayley rams in her shoulder, then drags Tamina over. Asuka tags in! She kicks and kicks and kicks, then rapid fire hands, tag to Foxy. Foxy adds on, Tamina tries but can’t get out, tag to Bayley. Bayley gets a big right from Tamina, Tamina brings Bayley over and unloads body shots. Tag to Natty, Natty stomps away. Bayley elbows Natty away, then dodges, and fights off all of the SmackDown women. Hotshot to Naomi, but then Natty goes after Bayley. Tag to Carmella, double mudhole stomps. Natty tells Raw fans to shut up while Carmella tags in Tamina. Bayley fights out again, FABULOUS Kick from Carmella. Tamina up, SUPERFLY!
Bayley is eliminated! We’re back to 4v4, Raw has to regroup to send someone in. It’s Nia Jax! Family faces off now, but Nia knocks out Naomi first. So Tamina does the same to Asuka. Now they tie up directly, pretty even in power. Headbutt from Nia, headbutt from Tamina. The two circle, double headbutts! Both are staggered, Nia powers Tamina to a corner and rams in her shoulder. Nia says “It’s about me!” before crushing Tamina in the corner. Cannonball senton! TWO! Tamina is still in this, Nia is already frustrated. Nia drags Tamina up, Tamina revives to throw haymakers. Fireman’s carry but Nia is too much, Nia gets Tamina up, but Lana gets on the apron to throw a shoe at Nia. Nia blasts Lana off the apron! Nia turns around, SUPERKICK from Tamina, then another SUPERKICK to send Nia staggering out. Tamina wants after Nia but the ref won’t let her, so Naomi slingshots for a splash! Nia is down, Tamina fetches her with a third SUPERKICK! The ten count gets up to 5, Tamina gives Nia a huge crossbody to topple her down. Count at 8, Tamina gets in, Nia doesn’t, Nia is eliminated! We’re now 4–3 with SmackDown leading. Raw sends Captain Foxy out but she’s so mad at Nia, she doesn’t see Naomi coming! Roll up, TWO, Naomi throws forearms on Foxy. Foxy fights back, hops up but faked out, enziguri rocks her to the mat. Naomi in position but Foxy dodges, big boot to the face. Foxy drags Naomi up, whip but Naomi reverses, tilt-o-whirl escaped for a sunset flip, Alicia’s eliminated! But there’s a bit of confusion, Naomi thought it wasn’t, so as Alicia gets out, Sasha gets in to put on the Bank Statement Crossface!
Naomi taps and is eliminated! Now it’s 3–2, so Carmella goes right at Sasha with furious right hands. The Princess of Staten Island gives a snap suplex, TWO. Sasha blocks a bump to give a bump, tag to Asuka! And Asuka rips into Carmella with strikes. Kick after kick to the back, Asuka’s just getting started, big hip attack on the run, TWO! Asuka drags Carmella up but Carmella slips out and yanks Asuka down by her hair. Carmella is pissed, she puts Asuka in a corner and stomps a mudhole then throws in hands. Carmella hits the Fabulous Bronco Buster, then moonwalks it off. She mocks Sasha, but she should be worried about Asuka. Carmella slaps Asuka, THAT was a mistake. Asuka fires up, shoves, then hip toss knee! Buzzsaw! Carmella is eliminated! Natty comes in now that it’s 2–2, tag to Sasha, Raw double suplexes Natty. Cover, TWO, Natty slaps Sasha, so Sasha slaps Natty back hard. Kick blocked, knee given, but discus lariat connects, TWO! Sasha fires off forearms on Natty, runs and starts rallying. Sasha goes corner to corner for double knees, comes back and puts Natty sideways, Stock Drop knees! Bank Statement number 2! Natty endures, Tamina breaks the hold. Natty rolls Sasha, TWO, Sasha is thrown right into buckles. Sharpshooter!
Sasha endures, crawls and reaches for Asuka, but Tamina intercepts! Sasha taps, she’s eliminated! Asuka is 2–1 as the last woman for Raw, and SmackDown feels confident they can take her. Asuka gets in and Natty is right on her, Asuka comes back, it gets pretty scrappy in there. Natty takse a moment to gloat, bumps Asuka, tags Tamina. Mudholes again, double suplex of their own. Tamina drags Asuka up, Asuka fights back, fans cheer “Let’s go, Asuka!” Asuka takes a stiff slam, cover, TWO! SmackDown is surprised, Asuka keeps fighting back. Tamina dumps Asuka down again, then climbs up top. Tamina takes aim, SUPER- flop! Asuka gets up, runs in, jumping armbar! Tamina taps and is eliminated! We’re down to one woman each, and Natty goes right at Asuka without hesitation. Natty wants Sharpshooter, Asuka makes that a kneebar!! Natty fights out, Asuka kicks her in the head. Discus misses, heel kick connects! Asuka is all fired up, chicken wing drop into Asuka Lock! Natty taps, Raw wins again! Are we looking at a sweep in the making?
Stephanie McMahon rubs the wins in Daniel Bryan’s face.
Raw’s gonna run the table, get used to it. Or Raw is lucky, as the Men’s Team can still win with John Cena. How did Bryan get Cena, anyway? Angle’s ignorance or Bryan being family? Says the woman who put her husband on Team Raw. No no, Triple H did that because it is his right. The guy that Bryan beat at Wrestlemania 30? Bryan got an awesome moment, and now he’ll get another awesome moment when SmackDown beats Raw, too. No, Raw has the stronger team, literally, and Raw raided SmackDown to prove it. As vindictive Stephanie sounds, Shane will be twice as much, which is why SmackDown will win. Maybe, if he were 100%. Bryan should consider that without Shane, he’s “stuck” in charge. Something to think about.
Champion VS Champion: The Miz w/ The Miztourage VS Baron Corbin!
The time for talk is over, time for fighting! And with Maryse in the front row, The Miz has his full support system present, is it enough to finally shut the Lone Wolf up? The bell rings, the two circle, Corbin trash talks Maryse then swings on Miz, Miz swings and connects. Miz gets out of the ring as Corbin rushes him, Corbin waits as Miz regroups with his Miztourage. Miz gets in and knocks Corbin away, then bobs ’n’ weaves with the former Golden Glove winner. Corbin catches him, however, throws him in a corner and then kicks him to another. Miz goes up, The Miztourage disrupt the slide out then in, wrekcing ball dropkick knocks Corbin to the announce table. Corbin blocks Miz then throws him into the barriers, right in front of Maryse. Corbin taunts her by punching Miz right in front of her. “That’s what a real man does, honey.” Miz pounces, furious that Corbin would talk to Maryse lik that. They return to the ring, Miz clotheslines Corbin right back out. Miz pursues, clobbering the Lone Wolf, and ramming him into barriers. Miz puts Corbin in the ring, Corbin kicks Miz on reentry then boots him all the way out again. The Miztourage check on Miz, Corbin comes out to fetch the A-Lister, ramming him into barriers now. Corbin brushes off the jeers as he puts Miz in the ring, then in a corner for stiff right hands. The Miztourage tries to coach Miz into this, Corbin whips Miz corner to corner. Corbin mocks the dueling chants, then drives a knee into Miz before throwing Miz to ropes. Miz holds those ropes and dropkicks a leg out, then dumps Corbin out over teh top. Corbin is still on his feet, backing the Miztourage off. Corbin sees the second wrecking ball dropkick coming and rocks him with a right hand. Corbin keeps the Miztourage back again as he puts Miz in the ring, but the MIztourage works together so that Bo Dallas can go after Corbin’s bad leg! Miz keeps on with the low boot. Leg-DDT jams the foot, Miz kicks Corbin’s ribs. Miz stomps away on the bad leg, the referee backs him off. Corbin forces himself up, trise to boot back with the bad leg, just gets another leg jamming move from Miz. Miz drags Corbin out, Figure Four denied, Corbin back suplexes but Miz slips out, chopblock! To Figure Four! Corbin endures the legendary leg lock, using his long arms to get that ropebreak. Miz lets go at 4 to add on, but the ref won’t let him get back on Corbin just yet. Miz rushes in, Corbin hits Deep Six! TWO! Corbin is frustrated as well as in pain, he and Miz slowly crawl to opposite corners. Corbin runs in for a clothesline, but then Miz slips away to boot back. Miz hops up, jumps into a choke grip, slips out, roll up, TWO. Corbin runs, Miz goes up and over so Corbin slides out, and Corbin decks the wounded Axel down! Corbin back in, and even on one leg, lariats Miz down! Bo distracts but gets dragged in, for an End of Days! Miz rolls Corbin up, TWO, Corbin whips MIz into- no, Miz escapes, low DDT! TWO, but Miz is too tired to react. Both men slowly stir, Miz is up first, so he starts up those “It Kicks!” Fans chant “Miz! Miz! Miz!” but the Buzzsaw misses. Corbin up, takes Miz’s corner dropkick. Then another, but END OF DAYS!!
Corbin wins, SmackDown is on the board! In-ring interview with Renee Young to point that fact out, Corbin says “My hand went up, and your mouth went shut.” To those watching around the world, Corbin just shut their mouths, too. Is this the beginning of a SmackDown comeback?
Backstage interview with The Advocate, Paul Heyman.
AJ Styles said earlier that he plans to be Phenomenal in order to defeat Brock Lesnar, but Heyman says he’s always Phenomenal since day one of his career. This entire night is phenomenal, and AJ Styles is the most phenomenal in-ring performer of this or any other generation. But then the bell will ring, and that phenomenal one finds he’s in for a fight! A fight with a Beast, a conqueror, and a predator, and that is when Styles will regret beating Jinder Mahal to face the “number one champion in WWE then, now, and forever”.
Champions VS Champions: The Bar VS The Usos!
The Celtic Gladiator and Swiss Cyborg state that they set the standard in WWE tag team wrestling today, but Jimmy & Jey have tag team wrestling on lockdown. If they’re The Bar, then the Usos are Bartenders. Because everything that comes through The Bar comes through the Usos first. They’re pole vaulters because they clear The Bar. Candy Bar? Nope. Ice Cream Bar? Nope. Pull-up Bar? Nope. Crowbar? Nope. Handlebar? Nope. The only “bar” is the one they slam shut in the Uso Penitentiary! To start this match, it is Sheamus against Jimmy, they circle and tie up, Sheamus puts Jimmy in the corner. Jimmy turns it around, then Sheamus back, headlock takeover. Jimmy gets up, powers out, but gets run over. Sheamus gives him The Bar thumb, the two circle again, tie up, hammerlock from Sheamus but an elbow, uppercut and chop from Jimmy. Corner to corner whip reversed, Jimmy slides to a stop to uppercut Sheamus to his corner. Tag to Jey, “Uce! O!” forearm smash. Mudhole stomping now, tag, Jimmy and Jey stomp both legs. Jimmy tags Jey back in, body shot, but then Sheamus clobbers Jey and tags Cesaro. Cesaro gives a right hand to Jey, then a whip, but Jey reverses to hip toss Cesaro, cover, TWO. Jey drags Cesaro over, tag to Jimmy, body shot and hedbutt. Tag to Jey again, the Usos aren’t slowing down as they keep on Cesaro. Chop from Jey, Cesaro doesn’t care, he gives a European Uppercut. They brawl, chop for EuroUpper, tag to Sheamus. The Bar whips and gives Jey the Bar Lariat. Sheamus stands Jey up, headlock again, Jey powers out as Jimmy tags in, sneak kick and an uppercut. Sheamus out, Cesaro comes in but gets sent out, Jey builds speed but runs into a EuroUpper! So Jimmy DIVES!
Down goes Cesaro, but then Sheamus gives Jimmy a rolling senton on the ground. The ref says to bring this back inside, Sheamus drags Jimmy up and puts him in. Sheamus climbs up, Jimmy stands up, flying clothesline takes Jimmy down, TWO. Sheamus drags Jimmy up, tags Cesaro, now The Bar gets to mug Jimmy. Cesaro puts on a chinlock to keep Jimmy grounded. Fans rally, Jimmy gets up, Cesaro keeps Jimmy back while tagging in Sheamus. They double whip then Super Saiyan mule kick Jimmy down. Sheamus gives Jimmy a knee drop for good measure, then back into a chinlock. Shift to keylock, Jimmy works himself up, Jimmy arm-drags Sheamus but then Sheamus brings him back around. Corner clothesline to Irish Curse backbreaker, TWO, Sheamus goes right to a facelock. Sheamus gets Jimmy back around to a chinlock, fans rally. Jimmy feeds off that, jawbreaker, Cesaro tags in. Cesaro boots Jey out of the picture, Jimmy slips under to find no one. Tag to Sheamus, shoulder tackle, then feed to a EuroUpper! TWO, and The Bar is getting frustrated. Fans cheer Usos on, Sheamus gets Jimmy in the Bodhrain. Sheamus gives three beats before denying teh fans counting along, but he gets a hotshot for it. Sheamus gives Jimmy a body shot, suplexes Jimmy over but Jimmy lands on his feet. Uppercut, corkscrew crossbody!
Both men down, fans rally as both men crawl to their corners. Jey is back, he gets the fans going, tags to Cesaro and Jey! Jey rallies, mule kick to uppercut. Jey hits Cesaro with the Samoan Drop! Cesaro ends up in a corner, Jey fires up, but the hip attack misses, EuroUpper clobbers Jey in return. Cesaro whips Jey corner to corner, Jey slides to a stop, body drop sends Cesaro into the buckles! Now the hip attack hits! Cover, TWO, and Jey looks for ideas. He keeps Sheamus off the apron, then with the ref keeping Sheamus back, Jimmy SUPERKICKS Cesaro before taking out Sheamus, Jey covers, TWO! Jey decides to go up top now, takes aim, but Sheamus throws Jimmy to barriers while Cesaro jump up with a EuroUpper! Cesaro drags Jey up, Jey fights back, Sheamus trips up Jey, Cesaro takes Jey down and goes swinging! Then, Sharpshooter!
Jey endures, Sheamus comes in to BROGUE Jimmy! Jey keeps trying but Cesaro keeps him away from ropes. Jey changes direction, ropebreak! Cesaro can’t believe it. He keeps Jey on ropes, cheap shot knee from Sheamus, big lariat from Cesaro, TWO. The Bar is getting frustrated, they want to finish this. Tag to Sheamus, Sheamus lifts Jey, Cesaro goes up but Jey rolls up, TWO. Jey rocks Cesaro, then dodges Sheamus! Sheamus down, Jey goes up, but he still has to fight Cesaro off. Sheamus catches Jey, Cesaro tags, springboard A-Swiss-ted White Noise!
Jimmy breaks the pin just in time! The Usos continue to prove their toughness, The Bar can’t stand it. The Bar throws Jimmy into the ropes, he goes floundering away. Tag to Sheamus, switch it up with the powerbomb but Jey fights both of them off. Jey grabs Sheamus and turns this into a Super Samoan Drop Powerbomb!
Cesaro gets a SUPERKICK! Jey covers, TWO!! Now the Usos can’t believe it, but “This is awesome!” Jey and Sheamus stir, crawl, but Sheamus keeps Jey anchored and drags Jey with him to The Bar’s corner. Cesaro is crawling his way on the outside, Jey hits the dragon whip kick! Tag to Jimmy, both Usos SUPERKICK Cesaro, who took the shot for Sheamus. Brogue misses, SUPERKICK to SUPERKICK to DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Jimmy FLIES and tags, UCE SPLASH! The Usos win! SmackDown has tied it up!
Champion VS Champion: Alexa Bliss VS Charlotte Flair!
The Queen of Flair becoming the SmackDown Women’s Champion was a great moment in the Queen City, but the Goddess of Raw isn’t bothered by this change one bit. Will Five Feet of Fury or the Nature Boy’s Daughter be the better woman tonight? The bell rings, the two stare down as “WOO” echoes throughout the arena. They then tie up, Charlotte knees low and whips Alexa, an elbow runs her over so Alexa bails out. Charlotte dares Alexa to come back in. Alexa does, but then goes right out as Charlotte rushes her. Alexa wants Charlotte to back off so she can enter. Fans duel, Alexa finally gets room to enter, and the two stare down again. The two tie up, Charlotte powers Alexa to the ropes and Alexa shrieks as she calls for the break. Charlotte backs off, they tie up again, Charlotte puts Alexa in a corner. Alexa kicks out but is bumped back into the corner, so Alexa slaps Charlotte. Charlotte slaps Alexa, Alexa gets to the apron, Charlotte rocks her with a right. Charlotte joins her, but gets an arm wringer that brings her right to the ground! Alexa gets Charlotte in, covers, TWO. Alexa kicks Charlotte while she’s down, then dropkicks her out of the ring. Alexa goes out to keep on Charlotte, another dropkick to the ribs. Alexa drags Charlotte up, puts her in the ring again, covers, TWO. Alexa is annoyed, she kicks Charlotte before putting on a modified keylock abdominal stretch. Fans rally, Charlotte endures as Alexa claws and grinds an elbow into those ribs. Charlotte fades a bit, Alexa keeps on the bend. Fans rally again, Charlotte gets up, scoop slam but Alexa slips out to drive Charlotte down, TWO. Alexa keeps on Charlotte with more kicks to the ribs. Alexa tells Charlotte to just give up as she puts her in a corner. “You’re not the Queen here, Charlotte!” Alexa stomps a mudhole into her, then gets mad at the referee for counting. Charlotte elbows back, rolls Alexa, TWO, Charlotte goes into buckles hard! Alexa stays back as the ref checks on Charlotte, Charlotte is okay to continue so Alexa drags her out by her hair to kick at the ribs again. Alexa hops up, tornado DDT denied, T-Bone into buckles! Charlotte recovers while Alexa is down under the ropes, but Charlotte decides to climb. She scrapes Alexa off, but Alexa comes back to trip her up into a Tree of Woe, basement dropkick! Alexa drags Charlotte into position now, Alexa climbs up to the top, but Charlotte stirs as Alexa takes aim. Alexa switches tactics, knee drops for Insult2Injury! TWO! Alexa is getting frustrated, she hops on but her sunset flip is blocked, Charlotte gives one big knee and then prepares a powerbomb, which Alexa resists, Alexa huricanrana pin, TWO! Alexa goes for it again, and hits Code Red!
TWO, and Alexa can’t believe it. Alexa drags Charlotte up by her hair, argues with the ref, but Charlotte denies the DDT. Alexa rushes in but gets Flair Chops! “WOO~!” echoes out as chop after chop hits, but then Alexa drags Chalrotte down to scrap and thrash into a guillotine lock! Charlotte starts fading, she reaches for ropes, fans rally and Charlotte gets her second wind. Charlotte stands up, uses her height and power for a sit-out powerbomb!
TWO! Charlotte is not deterred just yet, as both women slowly stir. The fans duel, Charlotte gets up first, but Alexa uses that stiff right to deny the Figure Four. Even so, Charlotte glares at Alexa as Alexa crawls for a corner, Natural Selection! TWO!! Charlotte is getting angry now. She drags Alexa over, walks all over her, then starts to climb. Moonsault, FLOP! Alexa covers, TWO, and she’s unsure what to do next. Alexa scoots back, afraid of Charlotte now. Charlotte is right on her, yanking her to her feet, stiff right again, DDT! Cover, ROPEBREAK! And Alexa throws a tantrum. Alexa gets mad, she drags Charlotte up by her hair, fans duel again, Alexa says Charlotte’s time is over! But then Charlotte returns that mandible claw, shove, SPEAR! Both women down again, from exhaustion and soreness. A ten count begins, both women stir and stand up at the same time. Alexa rushes in, dropkick to the ribs again, then kicks in the corner. The ref backs Alexa up to check on Charlotte, but the match continues as Alexa stomps on Charlotte’s back. Alexa goes up now, takes aim, Twisted Bliss hits knees! Charlotte stalks Alexa, big boot to her face! Then, Figure Four becomes Figure Eight!
Alexa is stuck, she flails and endures, but she taps! Charlotte wins, SmackDown breaks the tie to go 3–2! The pressure is on the Red Brand, can they still win this?
Champion VS Champion: Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman VS AJ Styles!
Two incredible careers in professional wrestling finally intersect as the “reigning, defending, undisputed Universal Champion” is to take on the Phenomenal One and new WWE World Champion! The fans duel “AJ Styles!” “Suplex City!” The bell rings, and Styles is wary of Lesnar but Lesnar boots Styles to a corner, rams in shoulder after shoulder then throws Styles across the ring. Lesnar gives big knee strikes then throws Styles again! Lesnar keeps on Styles in a corner, grinding Styles against a buckle. Lesnar lets Styles go at 4, Styles flounders to ropes. Styles gives a haymaker back but Lesnar clubs Styles down and then stands on his face. Lesnar is toying with Styles as he lets Styles get to a corner before stomping him more. Lesnar drags Styles corner to corner then gives more big knees. Belly2belly suplex launches Styles! Styles flounders again, fans duel again, Lesnar just steps on Styles’ face again. Lesnar drags Styles up, German Suplex! Suplex City begins with one. Lesnar stalks Styles, Styles can barely stand up, Lesnar drags him up to throw him out of the ring. Lesnar lets Styles stay out there as a ten count begins. Styles struggles to get up, Lesnar gives up on waiting, he throws Styles right into an announce desk! Lesnar drags Styles up and into the ring, still toying with him. Styles crawls to ropes, Lesnar waiting for him to stand up. German Suplex number 2! Styles is still on jelly legs as Lesnar gets him in a corner, running knee strike!
Styles crumbles to the mat, but Lesnar just grins. He wants Styles to get back up. Styles swings, misses, Lesnar is just playing with him now. Styles kicks, it’s blocked, Lesnar decks him with a right hand. Styles throws hands and it starts connecting! Styles backs Lesnar down but then Lesnar knocks him down and stomps him out. Lesnar drags Styles up again, fireman’s carry, but STyles slips out! Styles gets away, then dodges a second knee strike, dropkick to that leg. DDT on top of it! Styles has Lesnar down, but Styles can’t get up. The fans are thunderous, Styles kicks at Lesnar’s leg. Styles has Lesnar on his knees as he brings in right hands. Lesnar shoves Styles, Styles enziguris back. Springboard moonsault but Lesnar catches him, Styles slips down to shove Lesnar into buckles. Tornado DDT denied with pure power, both men are down. Fans applaud as both men slowly get up, Pele used like a leg drop! Styles gets to the apron, takes aim, springboard but into German Suplex Number 3, and a wicked one! Styles and Lesnar both get up, Lesnar lumbering over to Styles. Big right hand countered into a body drop to slam Lesnar on the apron’s edge. Styles takes aim again, and uses what energy he has left for the slingshot forearm!
Lesnar gets up, Styles shoves Lesnar into steel steps. Styles refreshes the count, then jumps for another forearm! Lesnar goes down, Styles puts him in the ring. The two men stand up and Lesnar gives a big forearm, but then Styles hits an enziguri! Lesnar down, Styles stirring, springboard for the Lionsault! Styles isn’t done there, he gets to the other side, Springboard 450!
TWO! Styles is too sore to be frustrated. Styles gets up, drags Lesnar up, Clash prepared, but Lesnar gets the fireman’s carry! Styles slips down, Calf Crusher!
Lesnar’s bad leg is the target of this killer leglock! Lesnar endures, Heyman is panicking, Lesnar grabs Styles and bounces his head off the mat again and again! Lesnar gets to ropes, “This is awesome!” Styles up, Lesnar up, fireman’s carry but Styles holds ropes. Styles forearms Lesnar again, and then Phenomenal Forearm!
Cover, TWO!! Styles is shocked, but The Beast is The Beast for a reason. Styles gets to the apron, wants to go again without the elbow pad, Phenomenal Forearm caught into fireman’s carry and F5!!
Lesnar wins! The score is tied 3–3 thanks to the Universal Champion! Styles came close, will he have enough left in him to defend against Jinder Mahal?
Men’s 5v5 Elimination Tag Match: Team Raw VS Team SmackDown!
The Olympic Gold Medalist and General Manager of Raw, Kurt Angle, was made Team Captain by Stephanie McMahon to counter how SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon is Team Captain for SmackDown. They’ve assembled what are quite possibly the greatest teams in Survivor Series history, which quintet will survive to get the final point and the win?! The ten men stand face to face, but the referee keeps the peace. No one wants to back down from either side, the referee insists this is one man at a time. The teams finally settle down, but it is clear Strowman wants to start for Raw. SmackDown isn’t as sure, so Shane McMahon gets the jump on him! The bell rings, Strowman throws Shane around! Orton tags in and gets his Captain out of harm’s way. Samoa Joe tags in, the Destroyer and the Viper circle. They tie up, Orton gets a waistlock but Joe pries his way out, headlock, Orton powers out, Joe runs him over with a shoulder. Joe waits for Orton to come out of the corner, Orton ties up with him, headlock from Orton, Joe powers out and runs him over again. Joe gets moving, Orton elbows him down. Orton gives Joe European Uppercuts in the corner, then whips him corner to corner but is reversed. Joe runs in, RKO denied just in time, Coquina Clutch but Orton arm-drags out. Stand-off, so Finn tags in. The Extraordinary Man gets the attention of the King of Strong Style! Orton tags Nakamura in, the fans go wild. An NXT rivalry renewed as the two tie up, Finn goes for a leg but Nakamura slips away. They tie up, fans go wild for NXT as they standing switch back and forth, Finn gets an armlock. Nakamura rolls, reverses, cartwheel, and wristlock. Finn rolls and reverses, Nakamura powers him to ropes, for the ab rest. Finn doesn’t care, he just gives Nakamura a Too Sweet. Then a kick before a snapmare but Nakamura lands on his feet. Snapmare, Finn dodges the stomp and kick but misses his own double stomps, another stalemate gets the fans excited. Now Triple H wants in. Finn obliges, the King of Kings wants at the King of Strong Style. They circle, Nakamura says “C’mon!” Triple H rushes him, powers Nakamura to a corner, then gives a clean break. Fans duel, Triple H dirties it up with haymakers and stomps in the corner. Nakamura gets Triple H in the corner and drives in knees. Triple H shoves Nakamura back, Nakamura kicks him down. Triple H knees low, whips Nakamura, reversed, knee facebuster. So Roode tags in! The GLORIOUS One grins as he is now face to face with The Game. The two circle, trash talk, and start shoving. They get face to face again, Roode winds it up… Triple H decks him! Triple H won’t let Roode taunt him, so Roode throws right hands instead with haymakers and chops. Corner to corner reversed, but Roode fires out with a lariat, cover, ONE. Roode keeps on Triple H, more chops against ropes. Another whip reversed, Spinebuster! Triple H catches his breath, winds it up, and… SUCK IT!
Kick, double underhook, but Roode slips out for his OWN Spinebuster! Wind it up, GLORIOUS, but Triple H reverses the DDT, Roode slips out of the Pedigree, Triple H drives Roode into into Raw’s corner and Angle tags in. Roode is ready, he throws hands on Angle. Angle gets under, German Suplex! But he’s not done, another German Suplex, and holds on for a third German Suplex! Angle is back to his old self again, he waits for Roode to get up, but Roode arm-drags out of the Angle Slam, double clotheslines bring both men down. Angle and Roode crawl for their corners, tag to Nakamura so Triple H comes in to intercept. Nakamura unloads strikes on Triple H, Dynamic Dropkick on Angle, and a sucker punch for Strowman. Nakamura kicks away at Angle, one blocked but he hits an enziguri! Angle down, but Strowman looks angry… Nakamura whips Angle corner to corner, running knee. Nakamura then sets Angle up sideways on the top rope, Top Shelf Knee. Joe rushes in, but Nakamura dodges to then drive JOe down with a knee. Finn in, but he gets knees, too. Triple H is back, Nakamura gets caught but escapes, swings a kick and hits the left. Angle tags in Strowman! KINSHASA to Triple H but The Monster Among Men comes in. He and the Rockstar stare down, Nakamura takes the fight to Strowman, kneeing him away and hoping up for a flying knee. Strowman stays up, Nakamura runs into the Monster Powerslam!
Nakamura is eliminated! But Bobby Roode is right on Strowman with haymakers. Roode slips out of the choke slam but is shoved into a corner. Strowman runs in, Roode dodges, hops up, blockbuster! Cover, ZERO as Strowman kicks out already. Strowman powers Roode up, Roode slips down and then boots from a corner. Hops up again, blockbuster deflected and then Roode is picked up for the second Monster Powerslam! Roode is eliminated, Raw is up 5–3! Orton steps up, Joe tags in. Strowman doesn’t like that, he and Joe start shoving… Triple H, Finn and Angle try to stop the dysfunction, their team is winning. But then Angle and Triple H get mad at each other, as one is Captain but the other is COO. So Orton shoves Angle into Triple H, then a cheap shot for Finn. Shane throws hands on Joe, Cena goes right after Finn, draping DDT to Triple H!
Joe gets Shane off him, but then runs into Orton’s powerslam! Cena is all fired up for his team, but he and Orton face Strowman now. Two WWE legends and a legend in the making, the brawl is 2v1 yet Strowman is winning. He shoves them away again and again, Cena tries but can’t lift Strowman, the RKO is blocked, so they both bumrush Strowman to send him out! They go after him but they both get stiff right hands. Strowman starts stripping an announce desk now… Strowman brings Cena up and over, Orton recovers and saves Cena. The two club away on Strowman, they try to double suplex but Strowman is too big and strong. So the rest of Team SmackDown — even the eliminated Nakamura & Roode — come in to make it a 5v1 suplex through the table!
Strowman crashes through, Team SmackDown has done something no one has: they’ve brought Strowman down. But Shane isn’t done, he’s got a crazy idea in his head. He climbs up, but Joe springs up to grab him. Joe gets Shane turned around, for a SUPER Belly2Belly overhead!
Joe is seething, he wants Shane to get up. Coquina Clutch but Shane slips down to kick Joe and tag Cena! Cena and Joe go at it, dropkick from Cena then a corner shoulder, but atomic drop to boot! Joe gives a back senton on top, TWO! Cena is sore now as he ends up in Raw territory. Joe jabs Cena, runs in for the back elbow. Joe lines up the shot, fans duel over whether or not “Cena Sucks!” Joe runs in, misses, Cena in, yurinagi! Finn tags, goes up, but Joe tags back in. More dysfunction when they don’t need to, so Cena gets Joe with the AA! Then Finn flies in, FINN gets an AA! Then Joe gets another AA! Joe is eliminated, the teams are 4–3! Raw still leads, but it gets a little less assured they’ll win. Cena dares someone to step up to him. Angle does, to bring things full circle. The two tie up, Angle gets the waistlock, wrestling slam. Cena gets up, works out of the hold, headlock from Angle but Cena powers out. Angle runs Cena over with a shoulder but Cena sits up. Cena smirks, probably feels familiar from that very first match. They tie up again, another waistlock but Cena elbows out to put on a headlock. Angle powers out, now Cena shoulders him down, “You Can’t See Me.” Fans are a mix of cheers and jeers, Cena and Angle go again, Cena knees low but now it’s a brawl of haymakers. Cena ducks, starts on those jumping shoulder tackles, spin-out powerbomb. Fans know what’s next as Cena again says “You Can’t See Me!” But then ANKLE LOCK!
Cena endures as he crawls, rolls to push out, wants fireman’s carry but Angle slips out to Angle Slam, Shane breaks the pin! So Finn hits COUP DE GRACE behind the ref’s back. Angle Slam again! Cena is ELIMINATED!! SmackDown is down 4–2! Orton is on Angle with those signature sadistic stomps and then scrapes his boots on Angle’s face. Knee drop misses, Angle crawls and hot tag to Finn. Finn kicks Orton, gets in and rallies. He takes out Shane for good measure, takedown to double stomps. Finn goes out to give Shane a blasting dropkick! Shane is down and out while Finn goes back to Orton, RKO denied, roll up, TWO, SLINGBLADE! Orton is staggered, Finn gives him a blasting dropkick then goes up top again. Finn jumps but Orton dodges, RKO!!
Outta nowhere as always, and Finn is eliminated! Things are bit closer at 3–2, but with Strowman and Shane out it’s more like 2–1. Triple H clobbers Orton, his old protege. The Game keeps on The Viper with right hands and stomps. Triple H brings Orton over, tags Angle, Angle goes up but Orton shoves Triple H into Angle. Back2back backbreaker, H goes down. Orton crawls away, Shane has returned! But then, Shane is ambushed by Kevin & Sami!
Their grudge against Shane is above brand, they beat Shane O’Mac down without remorse. Shane is tossed over the remaining announce desk, but that’s not the end of it. They stalk around but Shane has a steel chair and goes to town on the Best Friends! Orton gets Kevin with an RKO! Shane runs the petty duo out of the arena, Strowman is back!? He tags in, and the Monster has his eyes on the Viper. And then runs him over! Scoop, Monster Slam Three! Orton is eliminated, Raw is up 3–1, and it’s only Shane left. He started this with #UnderSiege, now he has to face the consequences. Strowman is so ready to maul a McMahon, and even Angle and Triple H are ready. No more chair, too, so Shane really is all alone. Shane is stalling out of fear more than anything, but as he paces, he works himself up back to bravery. Tension mounts as Shane approaches, but Triple H tags in? The brother-in-law wants at Shane first. The two circle, but then Angle reaches out and tags in. Captain against Captain, but now they argue,. Roll up, TWO, Russian leg sweep, TWO. Shane throws those jabs and boxing shots on Angle. Whip and big jumping elbow, Shane covers, TWO. Shane keeps on him with a roll, TWO, so he tries a DDT! TWO, but a lot closer than before. Shane keeps trying, kicking away at Angle but then Angle gets behind him, ANGLE SLAM! Angle isn’t done there, Ankle Lock! Angle punishes Shane with this, Shane flails and endures, reaches around and rolls but Angle keeps it on. Triple H even trash talks Shane as this is going on. Shane can’t get to ropes but can’t get free, he’s suffering through this hold, but even Triple H starts feeling bad. PEDIGREE to Angle?!
Strowman is confused by what Triple H is doing, but does nothing as Triple H helps Shane get the cover, Angle is eliminated! Strowman stares at Triple H, Triple H stands in the way of Shane. Seems family is stronger than brand. Shane is on one leg, Triple H helps him stand up. Shane doesn’t seem to understand either, but then Triple H hits Shane with a Pedigree himself!
A selfish swerve, but Shane is still eliminated! Raw wins with two men left, and 4–3 in the series! Triple H raises Strowman’s hand in victory, assuring him it was all part of the plan.
Raw reigns supreme, and that’s all that matters, right? Strowman doesn’t seem to think so. Even as Triple H explains it, Strowman doesn’t seem to like it. The Game is celebrating, until Strowman grabs him by the throat. “If you ever cross me again, I promise you will NEVER Play this Game again! You hear me?!”
Strowman lets Triple H go, but Triple H goes right at him! Kick, double underhook, but Strowman makes good on his threat, he powers out to POWERSLAM TRIPLE H!
Strowman roars victoriously as he stands over Triple H, but Triple H makes the mistake of getting back up. So Strowman gives him another powerslam! He rips off his shirt, not wanting to be associated with such a brand, then storms off to leave Triple H for dead. The Monster Among Men is the true Sole Survivor, what will this all mean for WWE’s future?
My Thoughts:
This was probably the greatest Survivor Series in a long time, even if the builds were a bit wonky. Two surprise kickoff matches that were actually still fun, as Elias keeps rolling and Kevin-Sami make a lot of good points about Shane in the grand scheme of everything while still getting a good win. The Cruiserweight Championship match was good, too, though I was hoping for just a bit more from Kalisto in terms of high-flying. Enzo wins to put a cap on their feud, but unless Neville is coming back, sounds like Mustafa Ali might step up to the Certified G next.
Then the main card was incredible. I can’t be sure what was the weakest match, but even that weakest match was high quality and worthy of this Pay-Per-View. Opening with The Shield VS New Day was actually a really good move, it got things at a fever pitch as both teams brought out some newer stuff and then gave amazing modifications on their team finishers. The Shield goes over because, well, it’s The Shield, who were always so dominant the first time they were together and it does indirectly mean Roman stays on a winning streak for the sake of what WWE still has planned. The Women’s 5v5 was fun, Tamina got to show her stuff and Nia is more or less protected with that count-out elimination. It meant a lot that Asuka became Raw’s last hope and then won it for them, she has yet to be pinned or submitted in any kind of match and could easily move up to be #1 contender to the Raw Women’s Championship. On the SmackDown side, any one of the Heels on the team could point out how Becky, the team captain, went down first, and that starts a feud towards Clash of Champions to determine their #1 contender. Miz-Corbin was an interesting one as WWE usually doesn’t do Heel VS Heel, but as far as tactics, Miz was bigger Heel since he still had the Miztourage work to distract. Corbin looks to finally be turning that dumpster fire trend around as he wins despite the distractions, and both champions have pretty fluid futures leading towards Clash of Champions and the Royal Rumble. The Bar VS Usos was outstanding, as to be expected from these two teams, it was something roughly on par with Shield VS New Day, and Usos went over not only to tie things up in the Survivor Series best of 7, but also because they really are some serious mainstays in WWE’s combined tag team division, and those two could probably take on just about any tag team today (anyone else notice Byron Saxton’s mention of Superkick Party?). Bliss-Flair was great but only the audience seemed lackluster by this point, probably tired from those other great matches. Bliss said her match with Mickie James was her best but I think this will replace that, even if Bliss lost. I almost thought Carmella was going to cash-in on Charlotte since the Women’s 5v5 already happened, but perhaps everyone wanted to simply enjoy a SmackDown victory, and there will be more chances since SmackDown gets Clash of Champions.
Holy crap Lesnar-Styles was a lot better than I was expecting. At least, it was after seeing Lesnar trying to bury Styles. Styles pushed Lesnar to his limits, but once again Lesnar wins clean and it’s technically okay as Styles doing this much to Lesnar implies he can definitely defeat Mahal in a fair match. Lesnar is also meant to stay on a win streak for the other half of WWE’s Wrestlemania plans as it is 99.9% assured it’ll be Lesnar VS Roman 2. And then the main event, the Men’s 5v5 was also incredible, we got every possible combination of 1v1 match-ups in those early minutes, and the order of eliminations were all great to keep most of these guys strong for the future. Seeing Strowman take on and keep even with two of WWE’s strongest booked superstars was also great, as was the 5-man suplex spot, it is all a compliment to Strowman’s power level that it took that much to keep him out of the way. In fact, Strowman did all the heavy lifting for Raw, almost literally, as he eliminates three SmackDown team members himself. And with how Triple H screws over Angle and then goes after Shane to then suffer the wrath of Strowman, there are a lot of possibilities for The Monster Among Men while also building towards a Triple H VS Angle match at ‘Mania.
My Score: 9/10
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
The Maniac takes on the Powerhouse!
In the wake of AEW Dynasty, in perhaps Will Hobbs’ biggest match, he takes on IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Jon Moxley! Will the Don Callis Family have even more gold?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- AEW World Championship Eliminator: Swerve Strickland VS Kyle Fletcher; Swerve wins and denies Fletcher a title match.
- Mina Shirakawa w/ Mariah May VS Anna Jay; Mina wins.
- Casino Gauntlet: Will Ospreay wins and will challenge for the AEW International Championship at Double or Nothing.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs; Moxley wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Elite arrives at Daily’s Place.
They roll up together in the same SUV, showing off all their gold, from Kazuchika Okada still being the AEW Continental Champion to The Young Bucks being the NEW AEW World Tag Team Champions. Matthew congratulates The Rainmaker, and says he is so proud. Nicholas says he is proud of being the first-ever THREE-TIME AEW World Tag Team Champions. Wait, who is this pulling up next? It’s JACK PERRY! He just smiles at the cameraman, and Matt says alright, gentlemen, it’s a big night! They head in, but then security flags Jack down, saying he can’t be here.
Matt has security stop there, Jack is with The Elite. Hands off the merchandise. And cameraman, stick with The Elite, they’ve got some business to attend to. The Scapegoat walks with The Elite, just what will they do on this Homecoming night?
Orange Cassidy is here!
Daily’s Place fires up as Freshly Squeezed makes his way out, or rather is TOSSED out by Trent Beretta! Trent’s modified the old T-Shirt so it now reads, “Trent & Orange w/ Chuck Taylor win the big one.” Trent DECKS Cassidy down the ramp while fans boo the further betrayal! Trent DECKS Cassidy again, and Cassidy flops into the ring! Trent rains down fists, soaks up the heat, and then he gets a mic. “Chuck. Chuck, it’s time. Please get out here.” Trent waits, but tells the fans they have no idea what they’re talking about so please. Chuck walks out on stage and Trent apologizes? He is sorry… that he didn’t do this a long time ago!
Trent is sorry that Best Friends spent five YEARS hugging a narcissistic p*ick! Cassidy was brought in here to be their sidekick, yet somehow he made Best Friends into his lackies! Best Friends fought for Cassidy, protected him, did EVERYTHING for him, and yet Cassidy gave them NOTHING! Cassidy does NOT care about Chuck! Cassidy is NOT his friend! Trent looms over Cassidy while the fans rally for “FRESHLY SQUEEZED! FRESHLY SQUEEZED!” Trent tells Chuck that Trent cares about him. Trent IS Chuck’s friend. So please… Do the right thing and give the people what they want. Trent tosses the mic to Chuck so he can respond.
Trent holds his arms open, and then Chuck holds his arms open, to then stop and say he always thought Trent was a POS! Chuck DECKS Trent!! Trent tumbles away, gets back up, but avoids Chuck’s haymaker! The Kentucky Gentleman tells Trent he knows that they won’t clear Chuck for a fight in this ring. But Chuck doesn’t wanna fight in this ring, he wants to fight in the damn parking lot!! The fans go nuts hearing that! Trent shakes his head, but will he have no choice but to fight his former Best Friend?
Jon Moxley speaks.
“I am confident tonight that I will defend successfully my IWGP Championship, but I don’t want you to mistake that for arrogance, or ignorance, or an underestimation of my opponent, ‘Powerhouse’ Hobbs. I know exactly who ‘Powerhouse’ Hobbs is, what he’s capable of. A truck of a man who hits like one, too. Born and bred with a killer instinct, an instinct I can see and smell from a mile away. I’m acutely aware of what’s at stake tonight. I know it’ll only take one mistake for my entire world to come crashing down around me. And I know that this Callis Family put a hit out on my friend, so I know just how far they’re willing to go to get an edge to win.
“But nobody knows better than me what it takes to get to the top. More importantly, what it takes to stay at the top. So I know, honestly, for me, tonight’s gonna suck. It’s gonna be a walk through Hell. A march through mud and fire, slings and arrows, a march through Hell. But there’s no place I’d rather be, there’s no better way to feel alive. I don’t play golf, man. This is pro-wrestling, this is the king of sports, the greatest thing int he world. And tonight, I’m gonna remind the world just who I am, in case they’ve forgotten. When all the oxygen is pulled out of Powerhouse’s lungs and his carcass hits the canvas, they’re gonna feel it, from Jacksonville to Tokyo!”
The Maniac heads out, but will the Book of Hobbs’ next chapter be written in gold?
AEW World Championship Eliminator: Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana VS Kyle Fletcher w/ Don Callis!
Whose Dynasty? SWERVE’S DYNASTY! Because The Realest did dethrone the One True King of Wrestling Television to become the NEW AEW World Champion! Prince Nana leads the way with his dance as Swerve looks to be a fighting champion! Will Swerve snipe the Aussie Arrow? Or will the Don Callis Family already have a win on a world champion to start the night?
The bell rings and the fans rally for Swerve as he stares Kyle down. They circle, get face to face, talk some trash, and then Swerve goes for a leg! Kyle facelocks to fight the takedown, then slips around to a waistlock. Swerve switches and hammerlocks, but Kyle reaches back to headlock. Swerve cranks the hammerlock, but Kyle reaches for legs. Kyle manages to switch, snapmare and then ghost pin, TWO! Kyle headlocks but Swerve slips right out to hammerlock again. Swerve grinds Kyle down but Kyle fights to the ROPEBREAK. Swerve lets off and waits on Kyle. Kyle stands, the two reset, and they tie up again.
Swerve headlocks, Kyle powers up and puts Swerve on ropes. The ref counts, Kyle lets off but then takes a swing! Swerve ducks the chop, snapmares Kyle down and slips around to roll Kyle to a cradle, TWO! Kyle hurries after a leg, but Swerve spins around, victory roll and step over, SHORT ARM SCISSOR! Kyle scrambles around to stack, TWO! Swerve gets up, Kyle goes for a leg, but Swerve steps over. Kyle dodges the dropkick, but then Swerve avoids the Penalty Kick! Both men block the other’s kick, and the fans fire up as they both let off. The two reset, the fans rally for “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!”
Swerve and Kyle circle, Kyle kicks but Swerve blocks, only for Kyle to ROCK Swerve with a forearm. Kyle whips, Swerve goes up and over then JUMP SOBATS! The fans fire up as Kyle sputters, and then Swerve UPPERCUTS, snapmares, and goes up to FALLING UPPERCUT! Swerve hits the Griddy and the fans fire up! Swerve says “DU~VAL~!” and the fans echo it. Swerve goes for Kyle but Kyle gets to ropes. Swerve waits on Kyle, goes for an arm, wrenches, but Kyle whips Swerve out! Kyle runs to CALF KICK Swerve to the floor! The fans boo but Kyle snarls and Swerve checks his arm. Kyle goes out after Swerve, brings him around, but tells Nana to back off.
Swerve BACK DROPS Kyle away! Kyle writhes, Swerve goes to the apron and he tells fans to pay attention, get off their phones. PENALTY KICK and Kyle goes down! The fans cheer while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Swerve struts around before he fetches Kyle, and whips him into railing! Swerve again tells fans to watch the show, not their phones. He fist bumps the front row, gets Kyle back up, and pushes him into the ring. Swerve has Kyle on the apron to CLUB him. Swerve then stalks Kyle to a corner, ROCKS him, then has him on ropes. Swerve UPPERCUTS Kyle, whips him to ropes, but Kyle reverses to scoop and SLAM! Swerve writhes while Kyle mockingly shouts, “Whose house?!” Kyle even gets on a corner to soak up the heat and tell Jacksonville up theirs! Kyle goes back to Swerve, Swerve throws body shots, but then Kyle swings. Swerve blocks to fire more body shots!
Swerve turns Kyle for a NECKBREAKER! Swerve drags Kyle around, covers, TWO! Kyle is still in this but Swerve clamps onto him with an armlock and chinbar. Swerve grinds his elbow into Kyle’s face, then grabs the other arm. Swerve wrangles Kyle into a CAMEL CLUTCH, but then makes it a SLEEPER STRETCH! Kyle still endures, fights free, and Dynamite returns to single picture as he stands. Kyle fires body shots, but Swerve grabs the arm. Kyle KICKS and KICKS but Swerve blocks, slips around, LEG CAPTURE BACKBREAKER! Swerve again grinds on the arms, pulls on back, but Kyle slips through to arm-drag free!
Swerve has the wristlock but Kyle fires forearm after forearm! Swerve swings, Kyle swats it to SLAP Swerve! Kyle whips, Swerve flips up and around but Kyle SUPERKICKS him! Then scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Both men are down and the fans fire up! A camera is backstage, and we see The Elite plus Jack Perry walking right up to Tony Khan’s office. Matthew doesn’t even knock as he leads the way right in. In the ring, Swerve and Kyle rise while the fans rally up. Swerve goes to ropes, Kyle runs in, but is put on the apron! Kyle waistlocks to drag Swerve out, and half nelsons! Swerve fights that, slips around, APRON NECKBREAKER!
The fans rally for Swerve while he shakes out his arm, then he encourages them to get louder. Swerve goes up the corner, Kyle slowly sits up, APRON KILL STOMPS!! Swerve clutches a leg, that was a risky move that may have been double-edged! Swerve walks off the pain and fans rally up. Swerve pushes Kyle into the ring, hurries to another corner, and then runs up, HOUSE- NO, Kyle catches the foot! ANKLE LOCK!! Kyle THRASHES the foot but Swerve endures! The fans rally for Swerve as he fights around, reaches out, but Kyle drags him away from ropes! GRAPEVINE!! Swerve is caught, and Kyle is even stomping Swerve’s back!
Swerve endures, the fans are thunderous, and Swerve crawls to the ROPEBREAK! Kyle lets go but keeps his eyes on Swerve. Kyle brings Swerve around to KICK him in the chest! And KICK him again! And KIJCK again, but Swerve blocks! Swerve ROCKS Kyle, Kyle ROLLING ELBOWS! Swerve MULE KICKS, HAYMAKERS, and whips to HIP TOSS! Roll through to the deadlift, but the bad foot holds Swerve back! Kyle suplexes, Swerve slips around and half nelsons but Kyle breaks that. Swerve still O’Conner Rolls so that he can BOOT from below! Kyle wobbles, into the SOMERSAULT FLATLINER! Swerve rolls through again, for the BRAINBUSTER!
The fans fire up as Swerve crawls back to cover, TWO!! Kyle survives and Swerve is frustrated. Swerve snarls, drags Kyle up for a gut wrench, but Kyle flails and kicks his way to turn it around! But then Swerve flails and kicks to turn it back around! So Kyle drops, victory roll and deadlift, into the JUMPING TOMBSTONE!! Cover, TWO!! Swerve survives and now Kyle is frustrated! Kyle pounds the mat, Callis tells him number four, and Kyle nods. Kyle goes outside, looks under the ring, but then shakes his head. Kyle doesn’t wanna do number four, he awnts to do it his way! GAMANGIRI! He puts Swerve up top and climbs!
Kyle has Swerve up on the very top, lifts, but Swerve fights! Swerve throws body shots, haymakers, and then he ROCKS Kyle! Kyle ends up in the Tree of Woe, and Swerve hits WOE STOMPS!! Cover, TWO!!! Kyle survives but Swerve just reloads! HOUSE CALL!! Cover, Swerve wins!!
Winner: Swerve Strickland, by pinfall (denies Kyle Fletcher a title opportunity)
The Realest crosses Kyle off the list, and Callis is disappointed Kyle didn’t play things how he wanted. Are tensions rising in the Don Callis Family? Who will be next to step to Swerve’s Dynasty?
BREAKING NEWS for Dynamite!
As AEW returns to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, so will The Cleaner! Kenny Omega finally makes his way back to Dynamite, what will he have to say about The Bucks’ new Elite?
Backstage interview with Thunder Rosa.
Renee Paquette is with La Mera Mera and notes her being so close to winning the AEW Women’s World Championship, only to fall short. What does Rosa feel went wrong out there? Rosa says she can either stand here and complain about what happened, or she can move on. Honestly, Rosa could bring up who Deonna Purrazzo again got involved in her business, or how “Antonia Tormenta” kicked Rosa in the ovarios. But she won’t. She’s just proud of herself for- Oh, wait, Deonna walks in. The Virtuosa doesn’t get it. Rosa says she doesn’t wanna talk about Deonna, yet all she does is say her name!
Deonna dares Rosa to say things to her face, and Rosa tells Deonna en Espanol that she’s already told her before. The two start shoving, security rushes in, will we see these two have it out before one of them goes back for Toni Storm?
Mina Shirakawa w/ Mariah May VS Anna Jay!
Speaking of Toni Storm, her protege’s old mentor has been coming around AEW & ROH more and more, mostly because of Mariah May. Will Stardom’s Fighting H Cup Idol prove she’s elite? Or will Anna remind us she’s still the Star of the Show?
The bell rings and the two circle. They approach, Anna dodges and she takes a bow. The fans cheer, but Mina says okay, c’mon now. Then Mina dodges and shimmies! Anna mockingly applauds before she BOOTS Mina down! Anna brings Mina up to fire off forearms, then shows off her assets. Anna runs, but Mina dropkicks the legs out! Mina then runs to SHOTGUN Anna down! Mina grabs a leg to SMASH the knee! Mina steps over to SPLASH onto the leg, then struts around. The fans fire up as Mina brings Anna up, ties up the legs, and then DOUBLE KNEE SMASHES! Mina gets the legs again, steps through, but Anna kicks her away.
Anna runs in but Mina dodges in the corner. Mina ducks a forearm, ROCKS Anna with a forearm, then goes up to REBOUND ENZIGIRI! Cover, TWO! Mina stays on Anna while the fans rally. Mina dragon sleepers, but Anna fight the suplex! Anna swings, Mina dodges and tilt-o-whirls, to then RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Mina drags Anna by her leg, drops an elbow on the knee, and then another! And then another! And another! Mina shakes it up again and the fans cheer as she drops one more elbow! Mina steps through, FIGURE FOUR! Anna endures, crawls, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Mina lets go and Anna goes to the apron.
Mina lines up a shot, runs in, but Anna ducks to CLAW the eyes! Anna brings Mina into the ropes, give her a kiss right in front of Mariah, and HOTSHOT NECKBREAKERS! Mariah is upset but has to stay back, and Anna goes in to cover, TWO! Mina hangs in there while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Anna CHOKES Mina, lets off as the ref counts, and then she drags Mina up. Mariah says boo Anna, but Anna puts Mina in a corner. Anna digs her boot in, lets off as the ref counts, and Mina sputters as Anna brings her around. Anna ROCKS Mina, brings her around and bumps her off buckles. The fans rally, Anna CHOPS Mina, then she struts. But Mina runs up to ROCK Anna! Anna CLUBS Mina, then pushes her around. Anna stands on Mina but that’s a CHOKE! The ref counts, Anna steps away, and she blows kisses at everyone. Anna brings Mina up, to snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Anna is frustrated but she brings Mina back to ropes.
Anna CHOKES Mina more, taunting Mariah to reach out, then Anna steps off as the ref counts. Mina coughs, Anna brings her up, but Mina fires body shots! Anna CLUBS Mina and has her in a corner. Anna drags Mina up, CHOKES her more, but the ref counts. Anna lets off, Mina coughs and sputters, but Anna soaks up the heat. Anna drags Mina up, cravats and snapmares, then clamps on a FULL NELSON! Mina endures, fights around, and Mariah cheers Mina on as she fights up. Mina throws elbows to fight the hold, but Anna holds tight! Dynamite returns to single picture as Mina breaks free and ROCKS Anna!
Anna comes back to ROCK Mina, but Mina ROCKS Anna again! The fans rally as the forearms go back and forth! Anna gest the edge, runs, but into a ROLLING ELBOW! Anna stands, into Mina’s URAKEN! Anna flounders to a corner, Mina roars and runs in, but Anna puts her on the apron! Mina knuckle locks, ROCKS and climbs up to FALLING KNEE DROP onto Anna! Cover, TWO!! Anna survives but Mina keeps her focus. Mina ROCKS Anna again, brings her in, but Anna wrenches out of the suplex to HOOK KICK! Then Gory Especial, GORY BOMB! Shoutout to Tay and Anna covers, TWO!!
Anna is beside herself but Mariah is also worried. Anna brings Mina up but Mina fights the STO! Mina gets free, blocks a kick, and DRAGON SCREWS! Then she steps through on the legs, FIGURE FOUR! The fans “WOO~” but Anna endures and fights to the ROPEBREAK! Mina lets go fast to go up a corner. MISSILE DROPKICK! Anna staggers back up, into the GLAMOROUS SWORD! Cover, TWO!! Anna survives Mina’s enzigiri but Mina drags her into the dragon sleeper! GLAM- NO, Anna slips free to have the QUEENSLAYER!! Mina flails, reaches out, but Anna is too busy staring down Mariah! Mina wrenches out to wrangle Anna!
Mina hooks legs, GLAMOROUS COLLECTION MINA! MINA WINS!!
Winner: Mina Shirakawa, by pinfall
Anna got cocky and got caught! Mariah brings in the champagne and glasses, and they toast the victory! But then Anna CLOBBERS Mariah and DECKS Mina! The fans are torn as Anna puts the QUEENSLAYER on Mariah!! Mariah flails, but here comes Toni Storm! The champ runs Anna off to protect her protege! “How DARE~ you!” Storm checks on Mariah, but wait! SERENA DEEB is here! The Professor of Professional Wrestling is looking rather glamorous herself as she struts out, tosses Storm’s shoes aside, and looks at the AEW Women’s World Championship! Deeb sits down beside it on the ramp and has the camera come in close.
Deeb says she could hold the title up, but she won’t. Because instead, she’s going to make the AEW Women’s Division a promise: the next time she holds the belt, it will truly belong to her as the NEW AEW Women’s World Champion. Deeb is undefeated, will she remain that way all the way through dethroning Timeless Toni Storm?
Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway are in the ring.
Dynamite returns as the Galaxy’s Greatest and #BigStoke are here, balloons at all the corners of the ring, and the fans cheering them on. Stokely says, “In 1977, Bill Withers created one of the greatest songs of all time, Lovely Day. And that’s exactly how I felt when one of my best friends became TBS Champion at Dynasty!” The fans cheer that! Stokely wants to know, is Jacksonville ready to partaaay~?! They sure sound like it! Stokely says Caprice Coleman is on commentary, Krissy Stat is right here, and she says this one’s for Willow.
“She is the Babe with the Power, and we are here to give her her flowers She reminds us that nothing matters and to smile anyway, because every time we see her, she brightens our day. I’m standing her in silver because she is our gold. And now, she has the TBS Championship to hold.” Stoke says with all due disrespect, that was two packs of ass! So let’s just bring out the NEW Face of TBS, “HOO! HOO!” WILLOW~ NIGHTINGALE! Coleman sings along with the theme song just like in ROH, and the Babe with the Championship makes her entrance. Willow gets the mic, Stokely says when this whole thing to started, he didn’t like her. Well she didn’t like him, either.
Stokely says Willow was like a fungus that they couldn’t cut off. But look at them now! Willow earned that title, and they are proud of her! Willow thanks Stokely and Kris, and is proud of herself, too. Because tonight in JACKSONVILLE~, the very place where she hit the big time. She’ll take us back to Spring of 2020. Willow was right here, in the front row, trying to get her big break. Then in 2022, she was in the ring, Tony Schiavone stepped in to join her, and on that big tron, we saw the graphic: Willow is All Elite! But tonight, Willow isn’t trying to catch a break, she is not a rookie. She is THE FACE OF TBS!! WHAT WHAT!
But wait, here comes The CEO. Mercedes Mone again steps on Willow’s moment, just like she did at Dynasty. But it’s already obvious why as she struts her way to the ring. Mone gets her own mic while the fans chant “C E O! C E O!” Mone tells “Jacksonviiiiille~” to say hello to the C E O. Willow tells Mone this has to be like the fourth time she’s done this. And this is Willow’s time! So it just feels like if Mone has something to say, then go ahead and say it. Mone says she just wanted to congratulate Willow! And to enjoy the celebration now, because in just 23 days, at Double or Nothing, you will be looking at the NEW Face of TBS, Mercedes Mone.
The fans are torn, but Mone says she just wanted to ask if Willow was the b*tch who attacked her in the dark two weeks ago! What? Why would she? Kris steps up to tell Mone that Willow got attacked just last week, so how do we know Mone didn’t do that? Well how do we know it wasn’t Kris?! They argue, Stokely speaks up and says while he hates getting up in women’s business, we all know it was Julia Hart. Willow says even before this whodunnit, it feels like there’s been a personal vendetta against her. Does Mone really think Willow meant to injure Sasha during the NJPW Women’s Tournament? Stokely says of course Mone thinks that, but then Kris shuts him up.
Mone asks Willow if she really just asked if Mone blames Willow for almost ending her career. Is Willow really asking if Mone blames Willow for all the pain and suffering Mone went through? Is Willow really asking if Mone was blaming Willow for taking away the one thing Mone loves most for a whole year? Willow doesn’t want the truth, she just wants to feel better about what she did to Mone. Willow says she genuinely feels so awful what happened. But there were a lot of questions and doubts for her, too. She went to hotel room, she looked at the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, and she should’ve been smiling.
But the whole time, she wondered to herself, “Could I have beaten Mercedes Mone at 100%?” And then the next day, Willow saw everyone saying that online. She heard the locker room saying it! And so that NJPW Strong Women’s title reign has quite the asterisk next to it. But THIS title reign? This? There is NOT asterisk next to this! The fans fire up for that! So at Double or Nothing, Mone, Willow wants you at 100%! Because Willow wants to show Mone that she CAN beat her, and why Willow IS TBS Champion. The fans fire up for that! Mone says to enjoy it while she can, because they both know deep down, Willow CAN’T beat Mone.
The fans are torn as the two stare down, and then Mone says bye. Kris grabs at Mone, Mone turns around and mistakenly SLAPS Willow!! Kris has to stop Willow from retaliating, and then refs get out there to stop it! Kris’s mistake only just turned up the heat on this one! Will there be no holding back from the CEO or the Babe with the Power when it’s Double or Nothing?
Alex Marvez waits outside Tony Khan’s office.
Jack Perry is the first to exit and Marvez says they’ve been in there a long time. Is Jack reinstated in AEW? Jack doesn’t answer and moves on, so Marvez asks “Okada-san” if that’s the case. The Rainmaker just pats Marvez on the shoulder and follows Jack. Nicholas, is Jack All Elite again? Matthew, please, Marvez needs the scoop! Is Jack Perry once again in AEW? Matt wishes he had a better scoop for Marvez, but things are still uncertain. One thing Matt will tell Marvez is… Tony Khan literally just agreed to talk with Jack in the ring, live here tonight. That’s still a pretty big scoop! Will TK bring the Scapegoat back into the fold?
Casino Gauntlet!
AEW shuffles the deck and puts a golden opportunity for Double or Nothing on the line! This isn’t your typical gauntlet, either! It is “sudden death,” so anyone that scores a pinfall or submission wins, BUT! There are also timed intervals, so more and more competitors will be added, meaning things can get really crazy really quickly. One way or another, the AEW International Champion will have a new challenger, but who will it be when it’s the luck of the draw?
First out, it’s King Switch! Jay White leads Austin & Colten Gunn out as the NEW unified AEW & ROH World Trios Champions, but will Bullet Club Gold be adding even more gold to the collection? Second out, Top Flight’s Dante Martin! Will Angel Dorado get himself a golden ticket instead?
Jay White VS Dante Martin!
The bell rings, the two circle, and they tie up. White pulls hair to put Dante in the corner, but Dante slips free. They circle again, Dante waistlocks but White switches. White headlocks, Dante powers up but can’t power out as White holds on. White wrenches to wristlock, but Dante flips through and breaks free. White CHOPS, then CHOPS, then CHOPS again! Dante is stinging, the fans “WOO~” and White says guns up! White whips, runs in, but Dante slips out to the apron! Dante then goes up and around, GAMANGIRIS, then springboards. White gets under, Dante comes back, and turns hip toss into RANA! Then he DROPKICKS White down! Cover, TWO!
White bails out, Dante builds speed, and Dante FLIES, but has to handspring through as White moves! White CHOPS, CHOPS, and then brings Dante around. APRON- NO, Dante slips free of the suplex to JUMP KNEE! Dante puts White in, hurries to the apron, and then slingshots to roll, only for White to catch him! EXPLODER out of the ring! But here comes the third man, PENTA EL ZERO MIEDO! The Man with No Fear now makes this a Triple Threat, will he be able to survive these odds?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo!
White storms up but Penta GAMANGIRIS him away! Penta goes up the corner, leaps, CROSSBODY! Penta runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges then SLINGBLADES! Dante returns, but into a SLINGBLADE! Penta whips Dante corner to corner but Dante reverses. Penta SUPERKICKS back, then pops Dante up on the corner, for another SUPERKICK! Dante wobbles into Penta’s fireman’s carry, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Penta spins for the SWINGING DEATH VALLEY! Penta then goes back to a corner, climbs up, but White SHOVES Him to the ramp! White then runs up, fireman’s carries, but Penta fights free! And SUPERKICKS! White flops to the apron, Penta uses him as a step to get up and in and hit a DESTROYER on Dante!! Fans lose their minds as Penta stands, and says “CERO! MIEDO!” Dante bails out so Penta goes after White. Penta CHOPS White, then hears the fans rally up. Penta goes out after Dante, gets him in the ring, and stands him up against ropes. Penta winds up, to CHOP! Dante grits his teeth, but White BOOTS Penta down!
White stands Penta up, CHOPS Penta, but Penta CHOPS in return! Penta hears the fans rallying for “CERO! MIEDO!” and he goes back to SUPERKICK White! Penta stands Dante up, whips him to ropes and SUPERKICKS him down! But then White gets Penta for a cradle, TWO!! Penta escapes, White UPPERCUTS him down! White snarls, stomps Dante, then stomps a mudhole into Dante at the corner. White drags Dante up, whips him to ropes, and back drops him away! White covers, TWO! Penta is after White but White scrambles away as Dynamite returns to single picture. Penta brings Dante up, but Dante fights the suplex!
White storms back in, CLUBS them both down, and next up is KYLE O’REILLY! Whoa, #CombatKyle is now #CleanKyle as his hair and beard are trimmed. Maybe he’s going back to those babyface assassin days!
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly!
Kyle KICKS White down, KICKS Penta down, and KICKS Dante down! Kyle fires forearms on White, then wrenches. Dante gets up, Kyle BOOTS him away, then gives White an ELBOW BREAKER! Kyle wrenches Dante, BOOTS Penta, then hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Wrench on Penta, ELBOW BREAKER! Kyle whips, Penta reverses but Kyle goes up and over. Kyle also ducks Dante so Dante’s LARIAT takes down Penta! Dante runs up, Kyle blocks the kick and gives it to Penta. Then Kyle gets one of Penta’s legs, DOUBLE DRAGON SCREW!! White KNEES Kyle low, runs but into a KNEE from Kyle! Kyle snapmares White, runs, but feints to then SLAP him!
The fans fire up while White frowns. White gets up but Kyle fires off fast strikes! KICK, LEG SWEEP, and the fans fire up! Dante wheelbarrows Kyle, but Kyle drops that into the ARMBAR! White stomps but Kyle catches that, to a HEEL HOOK! White flails, ROPEBREAK! Kyle lets go, and now we add WILL OSPREAY! Will the Aerial Assassin take his momentum from Dynasty and make it Double or Nothing?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly VS Will Ospreay!
Ospreay storms right in, Kyle staring him down! They fire forearms and the fans are thunderous already! Ospreay fires up to fire off a flurry! Kyle KICKS, whips, but Ospreay BOOTS back! Ospreay goes up and out to springboard, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Penta runs up to KICK Ospreay’s leg! Dante gets in, he and Penta double whip, but Ospreay handsprings to DOUBLE PELE! But White SLEEPER- NO, Ospreay arm-drags free! These two know each other well and the fans are thunderous to see this one! White and Ospreay shake hands, but then White CLAWS Ospreay’s face! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS!
White clinches, but Ospreay fights free to CHOP! Ospreay whips, White holds ropes to bail out, but the fans boo. Dante kicks Ospreay and runs, into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO! And out comes LANCE ARCHER! The Murderhawk Monster says #EverybodyDies, will that be the case in this sudden death gauntlet?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly VS Will Ospreay VS Lance Archer!
Ospreay shakes his head, but Archer storms right in! Ospreay gets in Archer’s… well, chest, but he fires off forearms! Archer DECKS him! Kyle returns, Archer LARIATS! Penta runs up, Archer LARIATS! White runs up, into a half nelson, dragon sleeper, but Dante jumps in! But into Archer’s hand! CHOKE SLAM DDT COMBO!! Penta jumps onto Archer, fires off hands, then whips. Archer reverses to CLOBBER Penta! Kyle gets up, Archer choke grips, but Kyle turns slam into GUILLOTINE! Kyle thrashes, but Archer THROWS him away! Kyle goes to the apron, Archer DECKS Kyle! Ospreay BOOTS Archer, goes up, but Archer STEP-UP KNEES!
Archer picks Ospreay up in the reverse crucifix! BLACKOUT BOMB onto the others on the outside!! The fans are thunderous and Dynamite goes picture in picture!
Archer storms out to go looking under the ring. Archer brings out a TABLE! Daily’s Place loves it as Archer sets up the furniture at ringside. Archer positions that but Ospreay runs up to fire shots! Archer knees low, SMACKS Ospreay off apron, and then goes around to BOOT Kyle down! And CLUB White down! And get another TABLE! Archer drags that table over White, then sets it up with the other. Archer drags Ospreay up, but Ospreay fires forearms first! Archer RAMS Ospreay into railing! Archer CLUBS away on Ospreay, SMACKS Kyle off apron, BOOTS Dante, then CLUBS White. Archer brings White over, and SMACKS him off the table.
Ospreay fires forearms on Archer, then brings him around to SMACK off the apron. Ospreay goes up, takes aim, and FLYING- BODY CHECK!! Archer just has Ospreay bounce right off him! White ROCKS Archer, ROCKS him again, then brings him around to the tables. White fireman’s carries, but Archer’s too big! Archer CLUBS White, CLUBS him again, then ROCKS him! Archer BOOTS Penta, sends him into railing, then goes back for White. White fights the choke grip but gets an APRON CHOKE SLAM for it!! Archer roars, White dangles before he flops, then Archer goes back up the apron. Archer grins while Dynamite returns to single picture.
Archer drags White up to the apron, but next is KOMANDER! The AAA Cruiserweight Champion’s entrance distracts Archer so that White can CLAW the eyes! We’re now at a Lucky 7 Way, is this where someone’s luck runs out?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly VS Will Ospreay VS Lance Archer VS Komander!
Komander hurries to the corner, climbs up and tightrope walks, to FLYING RANA, but Archer blocks!! Archer brings Komander back up, only for Komander to RANA Archer down through the tables!! The Murderhawk Monster is hoisted on his own petard and even Komander is stunned! Komander hurries to springboard in at Ospreay, but Ospreay ducks! Komander rolls through, comes back and kicks, then runs, only for Ospreay to TIGER WALL KICK and- NO, Komander ducks the enzigiri, to TIGER WALL KICK back! Things speed up, Komander tilt-o-whirls around the world, DEJA VU DDT!! Cover, White breaks it!!
White clinches to URENAGE!! Cover, TWO!! Komander survives, but White goes back to Ospreay. But Ospreay flips up and through Bladerunner to LIGER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! White survives, but Ospreay takes off the elbow pad! White rises, but here comes JAY LETHAL! We’re at eight, how much longer can this go?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly VS Will Ospreay VS Lance Archer VS Komander VS Jay Lethal!
Lethal runs in, Ospreay is ready and they brawl! Ospreay kicks, whips but Lethal reverses! Ospreay handsprings through the arm-drag but Lethal still cartwheels to DROPKICK! Dante returns but into the LETHAL COMBINATION! Penta is back and he KICKS Lethal’s leg! Penta whips, Lethal sunset flips but Penta rolls through. Lethal dodges and handsprings, LETHAL INJECTION!! But White’s back to clinch! Lethal slips free, but swings into the SNAP SLEEPER SUPLEX! White hurries to clinch again, but Dante MISSILE DROPKICKS them both down! Lethal runs in, Dante goes up and over, then Dante dodges Kyle!
Kyle CLOBBERS Lethal, ducks Dante’s enzigiri, AX & SMASH!! Ospreay returns, Kyle fights the nelson to fire off strikes! KICK, KICK, but Ospreay BUZZSAWS and HEEL KICKS! Kyle yoyos to LARIAT, but Ospreay slips through to pick Kyle up! But Kyle slips free to ROLLING ELBOW! Ospreay SUPERKICKS! Kyle YOYOS into HIDDEN BLADE!! Cover, TWO!!! Kyle survives but Ospreay calls for his shot! Underhooks, but wait, he hesitates. Storm Driver 93 damn near destroyed Bryan Danielson, does he want to do that to Kyle? Kyle back drops free first! Then ARMBAR!! But Komander is up top! CIELITO LINDO onto Kyle!! Cover, HIDDEN BLADE!!!
Ospreay drags Komander to a cover, OSPREAY WINS!!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the AEW International Championship)
The Assassin found a target and took them out! But here comes the Undisputed Kingdom, the Savior of the Backbreaker leading the way. Roderick Strong stares Ospreay down, with Mike Bennett, Matt Taven, Wardlow and Adam Cole all backing him up. Ospreay doesn’t back down, will he simply tear that gold away from The Kingdom?
Chris Jericho is here!
And as his new theme says, he is The Learning Tree. But what we see is that he is the NEW FTW Champion after cracking Hook in the head with a baseball bat at Dynasty. Jericho smiles and waves at the fans while he gets a mic, but they’re booing back. “Hey, guys! It’s true, I’m the new FTW Champion! It’s great, right? And there’s been a lot of negative connotation with the letters F T W. Does it mean F The World? Does it mean Forget The World? No, it’s none of those things, I’m changing it right here, right now. From now on, this means FOR The World Championship, because this was FOR all of you!”
The fans boo and Taz can’t stomach this on commentary. Jericho says “we” won this together! The whole world is buzzing and he knows why. Jericho is doing God’s work. The Wrestling God, that is, and that’s Terry Funk. Terry once told Jericho that it is now Jericho’s responsibility to teach the younger generation and take them to the next level, and that is what Jericho is doing! Thank you, Terry Funk, and thank you, fans. And thanks, Hook! What a great champion and a tough competitor in the ring. Hook beat the hell outta Jericho, but his only flaw is that there are still certain things he needs to take from The Learning Tree.
There are lessons Jericho wants to teach Hook, including how to get rid of the dead weight that surrounds him: Taz, Shibata, the collateral damage, and all the clowns that support him. More importantly, Hook, you need to listen to Jericho when he says to stay down. Jericho told Hook to stay down but Hook kept getting back up. Even after two Judas Effects! Hook forced Jericho to hit him in the head with the baseball bat. So that’s on Hook. But Jericho knows Hook is listening, thinking on the lessons he learned, and that is exciting to Jericho.
What is also exciting to Jericho is the list of men and women who have been drawn into the #JerichoVortex and come out the other side even bigger and better stars! So many! Jericho is so excited- Wait! “Big Bill” Morrissey is here! Bill has a mic already as he steps to Jericho in the ring. Bill tells Jericho, “I have been in the back listening to you, and I only have one thing to say.” Jericho waits as Bill thinks on his words, and Bill says he needs The Learning Tree! The fans boo, they were clearly hoping for something else.
Bill says everyone knows Jericho is the Socrates of Professional Wrestling! Always willing to give advice, to lend a hand, and to take a less established guy and bring him up to the top with him. That is Chris Jericho to a T. Jericho nods, and Bill knows there is a long line of guys foaming at the mouth for the very opportunity to be under the Learning Tree. But Bill wants Jericho to take this into consideration: there is nobody bigger than Bill, nor better fit for the Learning Tree. Jericho knows it deep down in his heart that Bill is the very best fit for The Learning Tree.
Jericho does have to say, Bill, he has been watching Bill a long time. A fan of his for years. It’s partly why Bill is in AEW. But Jericho will think on what Bill said, and he’ll keep his eye on Bill to see if what he says is true. Bill says go ahead and do that, because he’ll do just that. Just watch him. Bill heads out, Jericho says he sure will be. Let’s celebrate together! Jericho waves and gives a thumbs up, but will Bill be The Learning Tree’s first true pupil?
Backstage interview with The Don Callis Family.
Renee is with Will Ospreay, Kyle Fletcher and Callis himself as she congratulates Ospreay on becoming #1 contender to the International Championship. Callis, the rest of the Family has had an evening of ups and downs, so- Callis “apologizes” for interrupting but he has to say, he is so happy for the “golden goose,” and now Ospreay will have the gold. An international star deserves the International Championship. The only note Callis has, that Tiger Driver 91, AKA Storm Driver 93. He had that all set up, why didn’t Ospreay use it? No, Ospreay doesn’t wanna do that anymore. Not after what he did to Bryan.
Callis doesn’t understand, what happened? Ospreay says we all saw what happened to Bryan because of his neck, and Kyle O’Reilly has a bad neck, too. Storm Driver has to go. Callis doesn’t care about any of that, Ospreay should win! Roddy’s got a bad neck, so what’s gonna happen if Ospreay shows weakness? Fletcher speaks up saying that Ospreay still won, and he’ll win at Double or Nothing, what does it matter about that move? Callis tells Fletcher shouldn’t be talking about winning after how tonight went. Ospreay WILL be International Champion because he’s gonna nail Roddy with Storm Driver, break his neck, and take his title!
Now, Callis needs to go find Hobbs, he’s gonna coach Powerhouse to a championship tonight, just like Ospreay will win at the PPV. Callis leaves Ospreay and Fletcher behind, Fletcher apologizes on Callis’ behalf. Are the former Empire boys still united despite how Callis is leading this “family?”
BREAKING NEWS for Saturday Night!
Once again, Saturday nights are alright for fighting, and it will be another THREE HOUR BLOCK, but this one will be live coast to coast! The Bang Bang Gang will defend their Unified AEW & ROH World Trios Championships against Top Flight, will Jay White & The Gunns make Dante, Darius & Action breathe with The Switchblade? After what happened tonight, Toni Storm will take on Anna Jay, will Mariah May be avenged? And then on Rampage, Thunder Rosa and Deonna Purrazzo finally have it out 1v1, and we get the Parking Lot Brawl! Trent Beretta, Chuck Taylor, who proves they were the strongest Best Friend all along?
Collision and Rampage will follow NBA Playoff coverage, keep your eyes open for this one!
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs!
It was a Windy City Riot when The Maniac took this title off Tetsuya Naito, and he made a point of saying he runs from no challenge. NJPW’s Ren Narita and Shota Umino are both waiting on the other side of this match, will they still get their shot at Moxley? Or will the Don Callis Family start to take over the wrestling world?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who makes history in this historic main event!
The bell rings and the two circle. They feel things out as the fans rally, and Moxley KICKS a leg. Hobbs stays up, feel things out with Mox, but Moxley KICKS again. The two tie up, Moxley waistlocks the SLEEPERS, but Hobbs RAMS Moxley into buckles. Hobbs throws elbows, stomps a mudhole, then fires hands! Hobbs puts Moxley in a corner, ELBOWS him, but Moxley CHOPS! Hobbs pie faces Moxley, Moxley CHOPS, but Hobbs ROCKS him. Hobbs talks smack, then whips Moxley corner to corner. Moxley stops himself, ROCKS Hobbs, then fires more forearms and KICKS! Moxley runs, but leaps into Hobbs’ arms!
Hobbs pops Moxley up but Moxley slips free to waistlock and GERMAN SUPLEX! But Hobbs is right up!? The fans fire up and Hobbs grins. Moxley runs up, into a clinch! EXPLODER! Moxley writhes, bails out, and Hobbs grins as he goes out after him. Hobbs CLUBS Moxley, but Moxley fires a forearm! Moxley SMACKS Hobbs off the timekeeper’s table, but Hobbs body shots in return! Hobbs SMACKS Moxley off railing, then he runs up, only for Moxley to avoid the boot! Hobbs gets caught up on the railing, Moxley BOOTS him over! Moxley goes up the railing, Hobbs rises, but Moxley AX HANDLES him down!
Moxley headlocks, brings Hobbs around the back of the fans, and throws hands. Moxley ROCKS Hobbs, Hobbs HEADBUTTS, and they brawl! The ring count starts, both men have until 20, and we’re at 4 now. Hobbs SMACKS Moxley off a trash can! Hobbs stalks Moxley around the way, CHOPS, then brings Moxley around to ROCK him! Hobbs stalks Moxley, CLUBS him, then pushes him. Moxley hobbles his way back to railing, but turns around to fire haymakers! Hobbs KNEES low, TOSSES Moxley over railing, then storms after him. The count is 15 but Moxley gets in the ring. Hobbs follows and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Hobbs storms up on Moxley, talks trash, but Moxley SLAPS him and flips him off! Moxley eggs Hobbs on so Hobbs BOOTS him down! Moxley flops to the apron then the floor. Hobbs storms out after Moxley, and RAMS him into railing! Hobbs scoops Moxley to APRON POWERSLAM! And APRON POWERSLAM again! And again!! Hobbs snarls, brings Moxley around and SLINGS him down! Hobbs leaves Moxley behind in the ring to soak up cheers and jeers, and even make the pecs dance. IWGP rules do let titles change hands on count-outs, will Hobbs settle for that? No, Hobbs goes out to fetch Moxley, wanting to beat him directly.
Moxley blocks a suplex, fires forearms, but Hobbs hits back! They brawl, Moxley whips but Hobbs reverses! Moxley hits railing hard, and slumps down. Hobbs sits Moxley up to throw down hands, then goes up to rain down mores fists! The ring count climbs, but Hobbs still goes to TEN! Hobbs brings Moxley around to suplex to the floor! Moxley hobbles away, but Hobbs storms up after him. They go up the steel steps and into the ring, and Hobbs eggs Moxley on. Hobbs stomps Moxley, soaks up more cheers and jeers, then BOOTS Moxley down as Dynamite goes to break!
Dynamite returns and Hobbs says he’s whooping Moxley’s ass! Moxley crawls, Hobbs brings him up, but Moxley CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! But Hobbs body shots, then BEARHUGS! Moxley endures, even as Hobbs squeezes tight! Hobbs throws body shots, Moxley throws elbows, and Moxley is free. But Hobbs CLUBS Moxley first! Hobbs whips Moxley to a corner, then has him on the rebound. Callis doesn’t want Hobbs to wait, keep on him! Hobbs whips Moxley to the other corner, runs in, but Moxley BOOTS! Moxley runs, but Hobbs SLAMS the cutter down! Moxley staggers up, Hobbs runs in, but the splash only gets buckles!
Hobbs falls, clutching a knee. Hobbs bails out, Moxley goes to ropes and takes aim. Moxley builds speed as Hobbs rises, to DIVE! Down goes Hobbs again! The ref checks Hobbs as Hobbs still clutches his knee. The fans rally for Moxley as he rises, fires himself back up, and then gets Hobbs up. Moxley puts Hobbs in, storms around to slide in from the other side, and then waits on Hobbs. Hobbs rises, hobbles, and Moxley runs up to RAM him into a corner! Moxley goes up to rain down fists! Moxley goes way past ten, all the way to TWENTY!! Moxley keeps going past even that! Hobbs can barely guard, Moxley gives him PARADIGM SHIFT!! Cover, TWO?!?
Moxley slips around to a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Hobbs sputters, flails, reaches out, but Moxley squeezes tight! Hobbs is fading, the ref calls it! MOXLEY WINS!
Winner: Jon Moxley, by submission (still IWGP World Champion)
Hobbs is a powerhouse, but even he needs to breathe! The Maniac has his first defense in the books, but NJPW Wrestling Dontaku is coming. Will the #SouledOut Ren Narita take this title from Moxley? Or is Moxley going to blast through him to then take on his former protege, Shota Umino? Wait! Konosuke Takeshita appears on stage. The Alpha wants his own shot at that IWGP World Championship, will he get in line ahead of Narita and Shota?
Backstage interview with Katsuyori Shibata.
Renee is with The Wrestler and brings up Jericho’s “choice words” for him. But what does Shibata have to say in response? Shibata uses his Google Translate voice-to-text to say, “Jericho called me deadweight and collateral damage. Next week, I’m going to damage him in his hometown of Winnipeg, and become FTW Champion.” So then that’s an official challenge for the title? “Yes, with FTW Rules. Jericho, I’m going to chop down your Learning Tree.” Okay then, Winnipeg, Jericho VS Shibata for the FTW title, it is official! Shibata then adds that the rhinestones on Renee’s shirt make a heart, how nice. Yes, she thought so, too.
Shibata is ready to take the fight to Jericho, will The Wrestler prove the Learning Tree is all bark and no bite?
Tony Schiavone is in the ring.
“Ladies and gentlemen… Jack Perry.” The fans are torn as The Scapegoat makes his way out, with no music since he isn’t an AEW talent anymore. Jack takes the mic from Schiavone while fans sing, “OH~ Cry Me a River~!” Jack says first thing’s first, he wants it known that he’s had some of the best nights of his life right here in Jacksonville! The fans cheer that! Jack says tonight… they have business to handle. And he wants to handle it right here, right now, face to face… with Tony Khan! Jack waits, the fans chant “He’s Our Scapegoat!” and here comes TK. Tony Khan joins Jack in the ring, as promised earlier tonight.
Jack says it has been a long road. TK agrees. Almost five years ago was the very first Double or Nothing. And since then, AEW has gone on to change the world. But now, TK, it is no secret they’ve had their ups and downs, haven’t always seen eye to eye. But Jack will say right now, from the bottom of his heart, he swears to God, the only thing that Jack has ever wanted is what’s best for AEW. The fans cheer that and TK applauds as he agrees there. So Jack just wants to ask TK to please shake his hand, reinstate him, and let’s go on to continue to change the world together. The fans like the sound of that!
TK gives a big thumbs up, he and Jack shake hands, and they hug it out! Jack is All Elite once again, and then Jack smiles at the camera… Jack raises TK’s hand, the fans cheer, and then Jack DECKS TK!! The Elite rush out here, from Nick to Matt to Okada, and they ask Jack what the hell! This is TK, THE boss of AEW! You can’t just do that, Jack! Jack nods, backs away, and The Bucks help TK sit up, but it looks a little suspicious…! The Bucks realize the optics, as does Okada, and they all say no no no, it’s not what anyone thinks. They help TK to his feet, and then Okada says do it. Matt scoops TK!! Nick goes up a corner!! T K DRIVER ON TK?!?!
The fans lose their minds as The EVPs stand over Tony Khan’s body! Jack drags TK to the center of the ring so all four of them can stand together. The refs rush out and ask what the hell is wrong with the EVPs! Jack says he waited for eight MONTHS to do that! Matt thanks Jacksonville for a great night, they love everyone so much! Jack, Okada, Nick & Matt leave the ring to have their curtain call on the stage. The Elite is running All Elite Wrestling now, are they going to change the world and remake it in their image?
As for Tony Khan, not only do wrestlers like Top Flight, The Infantry, Penta and Komander rush out to check on him, Tony’s father, Shahid Khan, is here! Shahid checks on his son, what will be done as the consequences for The Elite’s actions?
My Thoughts:
A really good episode of Dynamite here, but they were really not handling the audio that well. It was so hard to hear quite a few of the promos, well delivered as they all were. Rosa VS Deonna being set up was a good move, that’s definitely gonna be great. Really good stuff from Jericho as he leans into the obliviously selfish veteran persona, and I was definitely surprised Big Bill wanting to join him. Shibata has a good promo to call Jericho out, but if it’s FTW Rules, pretty sure Bill is gonna screw Shibata over so Jericho wins. And great stuff with the former Best Friends, Chuck VS Trent in a Parking Lot Brawl is going to be awesome stuff, but I wonder if Orange Cassidy messes it up for Chuck.
Great stuff with the Don Callis Family through the night. Moxley had a good promo to hype up the main event with Hobbs, but unfortunately, I think the match got cut down because Hobbs actually got hurt. Moxley was of course retaining, but this doesn’t help. Konosuke stepping up is fine, though, a natural move given this BCC VS DCF story going on. Fletcher stepped up to Swerve in the match tonight, but it was also very clear Swerve was going to win. The Casino Gauntlet wasn’t really named well, and they didn’t really explain it properly before it started, but it was clearly based on William Regal’s Gauntlet Eliminator from NXT a couple years ago.
However, in execution, it was amazing! Great win for Ospreay and a great showing for all the wrestlers involved, Ospreay VS Roddy will be great stuff. But I also really like that they’re not only going with Ospreay being hesitant about Storm Driver, but they’re going with what I was hoping for. Ospreay and Fletcher are likeminded but that means they clash with how Callis wants to do things. This very well could lead to Ospreay & Fletcher VS Konosuke & Hobbs, so long as Hobbs isn’t out of action. Maybe Don Callis Family finds someone else to bring in to make up for that, but also as foreshadowing of Ospreay and Fletcher leaving the group.
I also like that they seem to be heading for another idea I had when it comes to Toni Storm, Mariah May and Mina Shirakawa. Great match from Mina VS Anna with a good win for Mina, but also Anna going Heel on her and Mariah. For that matter, that should mean Mariah and Storm are turning Face to counter, which is fitting since the fans love them so much anyway. Storm defends Mariah, she’ll definitely beat Anna this Saturday, and then we can move into Storm and Mina fighting for Mariah’s affections. And great stuff from the TBS Championship story. Great promos, for one, and then great detail that Kris gets Willow hit. Has it been Kris behind the attacks all along? If Willow somehow retains at Double or Nothing, Kris going after her would be a wild twist.
And of course, incredible stuff out of this story with Jack Perry’s return. Good opening bit as Jack arrives and the EVPs vouch for him, and good little backstage bit to set up the closing segment. I just knew the moment Jack asked for a handshake, he was just setting Tony Khan up. The entire Elite beating TK down was wild but powerful, and this is very much their nWo moment. This combined with Kenny Omega making his return next week, there is something big brewing in a very nWo VS Wolfpac kinda way. Kenny, Hangman & FTR uniting against Okada, Jack & Bucks? Feels like an awesome 8 Man to me.
My Score: 8.8/10
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
The House of Torture gets another try!
Despite losing in the NEVER Openweight Six Man title tournament, the House of Torture get one more shot against Tanahashi, Yano & Oleg! But will shuffling the deck really help the King of Darkness trump President Ace?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Six Man Tag: Bishamon & Shoma Kato VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- 8 Man Tag: El Desperado, El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & Katsuya Murashima VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
- NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture; Tanahashi, Yano & Oleg win and retain the titles.
- LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Yota Tsuji VS Gedo; Tsuji wins.
- LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: BUSHI VS Gabe Kidd; Gabe wins.
- LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Shingo Takagi VS Clark Connors; Takagi wins.
- LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Tetsuya Naito VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Drilla wins.
- LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Hiromu Takahashi VS David Finlay; Finlay wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture!
Don’t adjust your screens, this is not a rematch from Wrestling World in Taiwan. That’s because while The Ace, the Joker and the Rook won the tournament, they’re up against a different formation! The King of Darkness and Heel Master now have Tokyo Pimp as their third man, but will that change be enough to change the result? Or will Tanahshi-sachou and team be an undefeated combination?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if Darkness Falls!
The teams sort out, and Oleg starts against Yoshinobu Kanemaru. The fans rally behind “BO-LU-TIN! BO-LU-TIN!” as he circles with Kanemaru, but then Evil & Yujiro attack! The fans boo, Tanahashi & Yano hurry in but Evil & Yujiro get them first! Kanemaru drags Oleg out of the ring to stomp him down while Evil & Yujiro have Tanahashi & Yano in corners. Yujiro fires forearms, Evil CHOPS, then the House all whips. But Oleg reverses and sends Kanemaru into railing! And Tanahashi & Yano reverse to send Evil & Yujiro into each other! Oleg returns to CLOBBER Evil & Yujiro! The fans fire up as now Yano & Tanahashi intercept Kanemaru.
Tanahashi & Yano whip Kanemaru to Oleg for a scoop and SLAM! The fans rally behind the champs as Oleg paces around Kanemaru. Oleg stomps Kanemaru, tags Tanahashi, and Tanahashi eggs Evil on. Evil tags in, Tanahashi kicks first! Tanahashi fires hands, UPPERCUTS, then tears away the “President Evil” shirt to TOSS it away! Evil is furious, he made that himself! Tanahashi throws a body shot, then whips Evil corner to corner. Evil reverses, runs in, but Tanahashi ELBOWS him! Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up for the air guitar and Tanahashi tags in Yano! Yano unties a buckle pad, dodges Evil, then gives Evil the pad!
The ref reprimands Evil and confiscates the pad, and Yano SLAPS Evil on the head! Yano whips, Evil reverses, but Yano avoids the bare buckles. Evil runs up to SLAP Yano, and shove him into the buckles! Kanemaru & Yujiro BLAST Tanahashi & Oleg off the corner! Evil SMACKS Yano with the pad! Evil TOSSES Yano out of the ring, distracts the ref, and that lets Dick DECK Yano! Dick drags Yano up and puts him in the ring for Evil to cover. TWO! Evil is upset with the “slow count,” and he tags Kanemaru. Kanemaru runs to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Kanemaru ELBOWS Yano in the head!
Kanemaru snapmares Yano down into a chinlock and drags him to the corner. The ref reprimands but Yujiro tags in. Kanemaru lets go, so that Yujiro can CHOKE Yano! The ref counts, Yujiro lets off, and he drags Yano back up. Yujiro whips Yano into the bare buckles! Yano suffers his own trick, and Yujiro brings him up to knee low. Yujiro snapmares, drops a leg, then drops an elbow! Then he drops a HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Yujiro tags to Evil. Evil BLASTS Tanahashi & Oleg off the corner! Dick distracts the ref so Evil can put Yano in the COBRA TWIST, and link up with the others!
The fans boo but the House gets away with that. Evil covers, TWO! Evil is even more upset with the ref, and he drags Yano up. Evil reels Yano in for a FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Wait, who is ringing the bell? Dick is ringing the bell, and Kanemaru is giving the announcement that they’ve won! The fans boo, this is of course a farce. Tanahashi & Oleg storm over, scaring off Dick and Kanemaru. Evil tags Kanemaru, then TOSSES Yano outside. Kanemaru drags Yano back up to whip him into railing! Then DDT to the floor! Yano is down in enemy territory while Tanahashi argues with the ref.
The fans rally up but Yujiro puts Yano in. Kanemaru covers, TWO! The fans cheer but Kanemaru drags Yano around. Yano is dead weight so Kanemaru leaves him behind to BLAST Tanahashi! Kanemaru drags Yano up but Yano pulls hair! Kanemaru CLAWS Yano’s eyes! Kanemaru whips, Yano reverses and throws him down by his hair! The fans fire up as Yano crawls, hot tag to Oleg! The fans fire up as Oleg CLOBBERS Kanemaru, BLASTS Evil & Yujiro, then runs in at the corner. Kanemaru BOOTS Oleg, runs, but into a POP-UP BEARHUG! Kanemaru endures, but then Oleg turns that into a BIG suplex! The fans fire up as Oleg storms around.
Oleg deadlift gut wrenches, but Dick gets on the apron. Oleg drops Kanemaru to scare Dick off. But then Yano puts Dick in! Dick prays and begs for mercy, but Oleg just deadlift gut wrenches him! Shake, Rattle and THROW! And a kip up!? Oleg then gets Kanemaru back up, Shake, Rattle, and some more shaking, and THROW! Oleg roars, runs, and SPLASHES down! Cover, Evil & Yujiro break it! Then they BLAST Tanahashi & Yano! The House stomps away on Oleg, then drag him up. They double whip Oleg to a corner, then Yujiro BOOTS! Evil clotheslines! They snapmare, Kanemaru distracts the ref, and Dick goes up!
The fans boo but Dick hits the DICK CHOP! Kanemaru covers, TWO!! The fans fire up but Evil tags back in. Evil and Kanemaru get Oleg up to suplex, but Oleg fights it! Oleg DOUBLE SUPLEXES back! Hot tag to Tanahashi! Ace of the Universe meets King of Darkness, and Tanahashi runs to CLOBBER Evil! Tanahashi fires forearms and body shots on Evil, then scoop SLAMS him into a drop zone! Tanahashi goes up to SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! The fans rally behind Tanahashi as he waits on Evil. Tanahashi runs, but Evil goes to the corner! Evil LARIATS Tanahashi down! Tag to Yujiro and he storms up on Tanahashi.
Yujiro brings Tanahashi up to knee low and fire forearms. Yujiro CHOPS then runs up, to BOOT! Yujiro then runs, to BOOT again! Tanahashi SHOTEIS! Tanahashi runs, but Yujiro TOSSES him out! Evil is there to set Tanahashi up for a whiskey bottle shot! Evil puts Tanahashi back in, then he and the rest go after Oleg and Yano! Yujiro gets Tanahashi up for an INCOLLE SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Yujiro goes for his pimp cane, but the ref stops him! That leaves Dick open to use the SPOILER CHOKER on Tanahashi!! The fans boo as President Ace suffers! Tanahashi fades out, Dick slips away, and Yujiro laughs.
Yujiro drags Tanahashi up while the fans rally. Yujiro reels Tanahashi in, but Yano gets in to grab Yujiro! Kanemaru gets in while the ref is distracted again! But Yano ducks, the WHISKEY MIST hits Yujiro! LOW BLOW for Kanemaru! But Evil LOW BLOWS Yano! So Tanahashi LOW BLOWS Evil! Dick gets in but Tanahashi kicks the ropes! Dick falls, Oleg returns, and he gets Yujiro up! Tanahashi climbs, Oleg hits the KAMIKAZE SENTON! Then Tanahashi HIGH FLY FLOWS!! Cover, Team Go Ace wins!
Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)
The House of Torture tried their usual tricks, but Tanahashi’s team proved they could play that, too! The Ace, the Joker & The Rook stand tall again, will The House have to start playing a different game?
LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Yota Tsuji VS Gedo!
While Los Ingobernables de Japon and the Bullet Club War Dogs have already done battle on this Road to Wrestling Dontaku, tonight is a best of five series! Will it be Gene Blast or Blacksmith that sets the tone for tonight?
The moment Yota hops off the corner, Gedo takes a swing! Yota dodges and GENE BLASTER!! The bell rings, Yota covers, Yota wins!!
Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall
Well not sure about the tone but this sure set a new record! From bell the bell, that was FIVE SECONDS! Score one for LIJ already, and Yota helps roll Gedo out of the ring. Will LIJ make this a shut out? Or will the other War Dogs be a bit smarter about the pitches they throw across the plate?
LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: BUSHI VS Gabe Kidd!
Round two is here sooner than expected after what we just saw, and the Black Mask is up against the #WarReady Mad Man. Gabe vows to take back everything NJPW used to mean, but will he get War Dogs on the board? Or will Bushi keep things tranquilo?
Bushi climbs onto the corner and Gabe rushes him! Bushi jumps over, the bell rings and Bushi DROPKICKS Gabe down! Bushi whips, Gabe reverses but Bushi ducks ‘n ‘dodges to RANA! Gabe bails out, Bushi builds speed, but Gabe gets away. Bushi slides out, but Gabe kicks and CHOPS! Gabe UPPERCUTS Bushi down, then drags Bushi up to dig at Bushi’s eyes! The ref reprimands, Gabe storms around and mockingly calls upon the wrestling gods. Gabe runs but Bushi dodges, Gabe crashes into railing! The fans fire up while Bushi rises. Bushi brings Gabe up, fires forearms, then brings Gabe around. Gabe blocks the bump off the apron to whip Bushi hard into railing!
Bushi flounders and Gabe snarls while the fans rally up. Gabe storms out to open the way to the orange bleachers! Gabe ROCKS Bushi, brings him around and they go up into the stands. Gabe HEADBUTTS Bushi down, shouts “I’m a MAD MAN, y’know!” then continues up to the next level. Bushi fights the lift but Gabe CLUBS him! Gabe lifts again but Bushi still fights! Gabe CLUBS away on Bushi, CHOPS and HAYMAKERS! Gabe backs up, flips everyone off, and he runs back in, but Bushi dropkicks the leg! Bushi SMACKS Gabe off railing, then he goes up higher into the stands! Bushi stands on the ledge, to SUPER CROSSBODY! Down go Gabe and the Young Lions!
The fans are thunderous as Bushi rises, and he brings Gabe up. Bushi headlocks Gabe to bring him back down the bleachers. Gabe throws body shots but Bushi throws hands in return. Bushi brings Gabe back to ground level, then through the gate. They return to ringside but Gabe CLUBS Bushi down again. Gabe HEADBUTTS, then he puts Bushi in. The fans rally, but Gabe drags Bushi around to ROCK him again. Gabe has Bushi on the apron, CLUBS him again, then brings Bushi out. Bushi fights the suplex to throw body shots! Gabe HEADBUTTS again, but Bushi fires more hands! Bushi puts Gabe in and the fans cheer.
Bushi drags Gabe up but blocks his haymaker to spin and DDT! Cover, TWO! Bushi goes to a corner while Gabe sputters. Gabe stands, Bushi runs in, but no Code Breaker! Gabe ELBOWS, JABS and YUKON LARIATS! Gable copies Takagi, covers, TWO! Gabe flips off the fans, they boo, and so he just flips them off more. Gabe eggs Bushi on, taunts him, so Bushi CHOPS! Gabe dusts himself off, Bushi CHOPS again! Gabe CHOPS, says Bushi ain’t got nothing, but Bushi fires a flurry! Gabe CHOPS again, Bushi DOUBLE CHOPS! Gabe UPPERCUTS, then he gut wrenches! But Bushi slips free and shoves!
Gabe blocks one kick, ducks the enzigiri, but not the REWIND HEEL! Bushi reels Gabe in, for a DESTROYER!! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives and flounders away while the fans fire up. Gabe flops right out of the ring but Bushi pursues. Bushi drags Gabe up, but Gabe HEADBUTTS him back down! Gabe rips away the LIJ shirt to tell them to suck it! Gabe SPITS on the shirt, throws it down, then goes back for Bushi. Gabe puts Bushi in, Bushi goes to a corner, and Gabe runs in to clothesline! Gabe suplexes, Bushi slips free, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and uses the ref as a shield! BLACK MIST!! Bushi gets the better of Gabe and hooks the arms!
Gabe fights the backslide, BOOTS the ref, so the ref can’t see the Bushi Roll! Bushi would’ve had this one! Bushi goes to check on the ref but Gabe storms up to HAYMAKER! Gabe shouts at the ref, drags him back up, and then storms over to Bushi! PILEDRIVER!! Cover, Gabe wins!
Winner: Gabe Kidd, by pinfall
The series is tied 1-1, and Gabe shouts for water to wash out the mist. LIJ VS War Dogs aside, Gabe now has momentum going into his NEVER Openweight Championship match with Shingo Takagi. Will the Rampaging Dragon be just as #WarReady as Gabe after tonight?
LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Shingo Takagi VS Clark Connors!
Speaking of the NEVER Openweight Champion, he’s third up in the batting order, ready to drive home another run. Will the Rampaging Dragon score and soar towards Wrestling Dontaku? Or will he be struck out by 100 Proof?
Takagi and Connors get in each other’s face and talk some trash. Connors shoves but the ref has them both back down. Connors gets all fired up, Takagi says okay then, and the bell rings, only for Connors to bail out. The fans boo Connors trolling them, but he says tranquilo. Takagi paces while Connors goes around the outside. Takagi dares Connors to get in but Connors dares Takagi to come on out. The fans rally up so Connors goes back to the apron. Connors steps in, fires up, but then bails out. But Takagi pursues! They go around the ring, back in, and then Connors RAMS Takagi! But Takagi doesn’t fall!
Connors runs again, RAMS Takagi, but still Takagi stays up. Connors fires forearm after forearm after forearm, but then Takagi ROCKS, KNEES, CLUBS and CHOPS! And JABS! Takagi whips, Connors ducks ‘n’ dodges to RAM Takagi! Takagi rebounds, but Connors runs him over! The fans fire up while Takagi goes to a corner. Connors runs corner to corner to clothesline, then he reels Takagi in. Takagi fights the suplex, and he suplexes Connors instead! The fans fire up again but Connors bails back out. Takagi pursues, JABS, then SMACKS Connors off the apron. Takagi follows Connors around, POSTS him, and the fans cheer.
Takagi stomps Connors, Connors goes around the way but Takagi follows. Takagi runs up to BOOT Connors, then follows him. Connors uses a Young Lion as a shield, then shoves him into Takagi! Connors then whips Takagi into railing! Takagi leans against railing and Connors UPPERCUTS! Connor opens the gate and pushes Takagi into No Man’s Land. Connors brings Takagi around to SMACK off the wood bleachers! Takagi hits back, they brawl, and Takagi knees low! Takagi whips, Connors reverses and Takagi is sent into the wall of the hallway! Connors throws up the Too Sweet but the fans boo.
Connors brings Takagi back to SMACK into the gate, then POST! Connors reels Takagi in, to snap suplex to the floor! Takagi writhes, the ref reprimands but Connors wants the ring count to start. The ring count does start, and Connors scoops a Young Lion to SLAM him onto Takagi! And then he grabs another Young Lion to SPINEBUSTER onto Takagi! Connors slides into the ring at 10 of 20 while Takagi pushes the Young Lions off him. Takagi stands at 17, hurries up at 18, but Connors SPEARS him down! Cover, TWO!! Takagi is still in this and the fans rally, but Connors keeps on Takagi with a half nelson.
Takagi fights as Connors goes for the full nelson! Takagi reaches out but Connors keeps him from ropes. Takagi fights to his feet, powers up, but Connors keeps the nelson! The fans rally more as Takagi keeps fighting. Takagi powers the hold open, but Connors spins him to knee low! Connors whips, but Takagi avoids the snap powerslam! Takagi runs up to SLIDING- NO, Connors dodges, but runs into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up and Takagi goes to a corner. Connors flounders around, rises up, and Takagi storms up to the corner. Takagi clotheslines, then JABS and CHPOS on repeat! Takagi JABS, JABS, JABS and CHOPS!
Takagi whips corner to corner, runs in to clothesline again, then short arm LARIAT! Takagi scoops Connors to SLAM him, then he goes up and up for the FALLING ELBOW DROP! Takagi hauls Connors up for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Connors is still in this but Takagi looks around. The fans rally with “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi says, “OI, KORAKUEN! TOKI GA KITA!!” The time has come and the “OI! OI! OI!” continues. Takagi brings Connors up, pump handle, but Connors fights the lift! Connors throws elbows, then ROCKS Takagi! Takagi eggs Connors on, Connors throws another forearm! Takagi fires back!
Connors fires more forearms, but Takagi HEADBUTTS! Connors HEADBUTTS, but he’s the one wobbling! Connors ROCKS Takagi with a forearm, then eggs Takagi on. Takagi ROCKS Connors with boxing elbows! Takagi runs, Connors follows to LARIAT against ropes! Connors runs but Takagi follows to KNEE against ropes! Takagi keeps moving, Connors gets under to come back and POUNCE! Then a whip and SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! But Connors powers up and runs, to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, ONE?!?! The fans fire up but Connors aims from a corner! Connors runs in to SPEAR!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous!
Connors rises, Takagi stirs, and Connors brings Takagi up. But Takagi fights No Chaser! Takagi wrenches out to JAB! And HEADBUTT! Connors dodges the lariat, but runs into a SNAP POWERSLAM! Takagi runs up to PUMPING BOMBER! Then SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Connors shakes his head as he stays in this, but Takagi roars! Takagi pump handles for MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!?! Connors survives and shocks Takagi, but the fans are thunderous again! “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi powers up. Takagi runs, but Connors dodges! But PUMPING BOMBER still finds him! Cover, Takagi wins!
Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall
We’re halfway done and LIJ takes the lead! Takagi has momentum for himself, too, but will the Rampaging Dragon be #WarReady for Gabe Kidd? Or will Wrestling Dontaku be the end of the road for Takagi?
LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Tetsuya Naito VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney!
The Uncontrollable Charisma may no longer be IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but we all know he never lets things get to him. Will he therefore stay tranquilo as he looks to win this series for his team? Or will he lose a shootout with the .44 Caliber?
As always, Naito takes his time with his entrance attire. Drilla mockingly asks what happened to his belt, but Naito doesn’t let that get his goat. The fans rally for Naito and that annoys Drilla. Naito puts the pants away, the bell rings, and Drilla runs up! But Naito puts him on the apron, and sweeps the legs! Then he DROPKICKS Drilla down! Naito goes out slowly to fetch Drilla, CLUB him on the neck, and then CLUB him again. Naito CLUBS Drilla more, cravats for a neck wrench, and even grinds Drilla against railing! The ref counts, Naito puts Drilla in, and the fans applaud. But Drilla comes back to WRECK Naito with a dropkick!
Drilla whips Naito hard into railing, and Naito gets stuck! Drilla dumps him over, tells fans off about cheering for Naito, then drags Naito up and around. Drilla CHOPS Naito, follows him along the way, and whips him hard into railing! The fans applaud the impressive speed and strength, but Drilla leaves Naito behind as Naito slumps into the front row. The ring count climbs, Naito sits up at 7 of 20. Naito finds his way around to the gate at 12, steps in at ringside, and rolls in at 15. Drilla throws Naito’s hat at him, then stomps away! Drilla drags Naito up, HEADBUTTS him, then has him on ropes. Drilla CHOPS and Naito staggers.
Drilla eggs Naito on so Naito fires forearms! Naito whips, Drilla reverses and ELBOWS Naito down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Naito but Drilla digs his knee into Naito’s neck! The ref counts, Drilla lets off to get in the ref’s face, but the ref reminds Drilla to respect his authority. Drilla kicks Naito around, steps on Naito’s head, then taunts the fans. Naito gets up to throw hands but Drilla hits back! They go back and forth, forearm for forearm, but then Drilla CHOPS! Drilla runs, into an ELBOW! Drilla rebounds, but Naito hip toss NECKBREAKERS! The fans rally as Naito rises and Drilla writhes. Naito drags Drilla up to fire forearms and kicks!
Naito whips, arm-drags, then he ELBOWS Drilla down to basement dropkick in the back! Naito turns Drilla for a NECKBREAKER! Drilla writhes, Naito pushes him to a cover, TWO! Naito keeps on Drilla with a cravat neck wrench. Drilla endures, fights around, and he fights up. Drilla breaks free, CLUBS Naito, then runs, but Naito catches him to a dragon sleeper, NECKBREAKER! Drilla fights the legs but Naito still hooks him into the LEG HOOK NELSON! Drilla endures, fights around, and has the ROPEBREAK! Naito again “forgets” how to undo the hold, so the ref pries the legs away.
Drilla is free and clutches his neck, but Naito paces around. Naito drags Drilla back up, but Drilla CHOPS! Naito fires a forearm in return! Drilla CHOPS! Naito forearms! The shots go back and forth, Drilla grunts and has a crazy grin. Drilla fires a forearm, Naito mocks the grunt! Naito fires back, both men grunt and fire forearms again! Drilla CHOPS, but then Naito ROCKS him, SPITS on him, and fires off more forearms! Drilla gets under, shoves Naito then hurdles, drops and DROPKICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Naito and Drilla go to opposite corners, and Drilla runs corner to corner! Drilla blocks a boot but Naito SPITS!
Naito runs up, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Drilla horks up and SPITS a big one at Naito, then DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Naito stays in this and Drilla is seething. Drilla slashes his throat and throws up the Too Sweet. Drilla drags Naito up, reels him in, but Naito fights the lift. Drilla ENZIGIRIS Naito, then gets him back up! Canadian Rack, but Naito arm-drags Drilla into the ref! The ref tumbles all the way out, Naito atomic drops Drilla and ENZIGIRIS! COMPLETE SHOT, and then PLUMA BLANCA!! Drilla endures, flails, is he tapping? But there’s no ref anyway! Wait, David Finlay rushes out here!
The Rebel taunts Naito while swinging the shillelagh! Naito lets Drilla go, only for JAKE LEE to show up!?! Talk about a CrossOver, the Good Looking Emperor is here in NJPW and he fires hands with Naito!! The fans are going nuts, but Naito gets the edge! Only for Jake to KNEE low! Jake puts Naito in a corner, takes aim, and runs in to HELLUVA KICK!!! Or as he calls it, #FaceBreakShot! Naito staggers into Drilla’s arms, for the DRILLA KILLA!!! Cover and the ref is back, Drilla wins!!
Winner: “Drilla” Dan Moloney, by pinfall
The Rebel gets the Madness Dark Side to help him screw over Naito, and now this series is all tied up again! But then Finlay & Drilla beat Naito down more! Jake steps in, and the War Dogs back away. Jake stands on Naito’s chest, then stomps away! Is Jake going to destroy Naito once and for all? But wait! Here comes Hiromu! The Ticking Timebomb ROCKS Jake, ROCKS Drilla, then fires off on Finlay! But then Drilla & Finlay mug Hiomru! They double whip, but Hiormu ducks ‘n’ dodges to DOUBLE SHOTGUN! Hiromu goes out after Finlay, but Drilla CLUBS Hiromu! They POST Hiromu, but what about the main event!?
Red Shoes hurries out here, the fans tell Jake and Drilla to go home. Jake literally kicks Naito out of the ring and then stands him up against railing. Jake gets space, takes aim again, and Finlay makes Hiromu watch the FACE BREAK SHOT that sends Naito into the front row!! The fans boo and tell Jake to go home. Jake smirks as he takes his leave with Drilla, the damage done. Is there an alliance between Jake’s Good Looking Guys and Finlay’s War Dogs? Is Naito just the first casualty of many?
As for Finlay and Hiromu, Finlay RAMS Hiromu into railing! And then RAMS him in again! Finlay RAMS Hiromu a third time, then he soaks up the heat. Red Shoes reprimands, but this isn’t officially a match yet. Finlay takes aim, he runs in, but Hiromu sends him into railing! Hiromu gets Finlay in, the bell rings, and it’s time to settle the score!
LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Hiromu Takahashi VS David Finlay!
Hiromu fireman’s carries, CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Hiromu fireman’s carries again, but Finlay slips away! The fans rally for Hiromu as he eggs Finlay on. Finlay snarls, storms back up but Hiromu then SUNSET FLIPS! Finlay holds ropes to throw down hands! Hiromu staggers away, Finlay fireman’s carries him now! Finlay runs and THROWS Hiromu at a post! The fans boo while Finlay throws up the Too Sweet and taunts them all. Finlay leaves Hiromu behind, he tells the fans they look stupid, then he goes back to fetch Hiromu. Finlay slaps Hiromu around, drags him up, and throws him into the ring.
Finlay crawls to a cover but Red Shoes says nope, too many shenanigans. Finlay is upset, there were a lot of shenanigans both ways. But Finlay drags Hiromu up to suplex and TOSS Hiromu! Now things are fine and Finlay covers, TWO! Hiromu stays in this but Finlay mocks the “MOTO! MOTO!” Finlay whips Hiromu hard into a corner! Hiromu falls then crawls, and Finlay taunts him that it’s too easy. Finlay stalks Hiromu to another corner as the fans rally up, but Finlay makes Hiromu smile! Finlay says smile like Tsuji! Red Shoes reprimands, Finlay lets off, but then he drags Hiromu up to whip hard into another corner!
Hiromu staggers and falls out of the ring and Red Shoes checks him. Finlay waits on Hiromu while he writhes on the floor. Finlay mockingly says “Moto! Moto!” Red Shoes has Finlay stay back, and the ring count starts. Hiromu stands at 4 of 20 while Finlay lounges on the ropes. The fans rally, Hiromu rolls in at 10, but Finlay brings him back up. Finlay scoops and carries Hiromu around for a BACKBREAKER! Finlay says he’s strong AF, and then he kicks Hiromu around. Finlay mocks the fans chanting for Hiromu, and that makes them boo Finlay. Finlay pushes Hiromu around, so Hiromu CHOPS! And CHOPS!
Finlay dusts himself off, eggs Hiromu on, so Hiromu CHOPS again! Finlay felt that one so he knees low. Finlay runs, Hiromu follows, and Hiromu RANAS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Finlay flounders while Hiromu goes to ropes. Finlay runs up, but into a BOOT! Hiromu then has a HANGING HEADSCISSOR! Red Shoes counts, Hiromu lets go at 4 and he drags Finlay out to wheelbarrow FACEBUSTER to the floor! The fans rally up behind Hiromu and he goes to the apron. Hiromu aims as Finlay stands, FLYING SHOTGUN sends Finlay through the gate! The fans fire up with Hiromu as he pursues.
Hiromu smiles at TJP on English commentary, then gets a real “MOTO! MOTO! MOTO!” going. Hiromu gets Finlay up and in, and Finlay goes to a corner. Hiromu runs up to clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Hiromu keeps his cool and he kicks Finlay around. Hiromu drags Finlay up, fireman’s carries, but Finlay fights free. Hiromu takes a swing, but Finlay catches him to an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Hiromu survives but Finlay scoops him, for the SWINGING IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives again and Finlay grows frustrated.
Finlay mocks Yota Tsuji as he powers up and goes to the corner. Hiromu rises, Finlay flips him off, and steals GENE- TRIANGLE D!! Hiromu has Finlay caught and the fans fire up! Finlay flails, tries to stack Hiromu, but Hiromu squeezes tighter! Finlay is fading and the fans fire up! But Finlay gets a second wind, deadlifts Hiromu, and POWERBOMBS him down! Finlay is free of D, but both men are down as the fans rally again. Finlay drags Hiromu up, reels him in, and lifts, but Hiromu RANAS to a cover! TWO!! Finlay escapes, kicks low and whips, but Hiromu slips free of Deep Six to wheelbarrow and COMPLETE SHOT!
The fans fire up while Finlay flounders! But Finlay sneaks his shillelagh into the ring! The fans rally for Hiromu while Finlay hides the shillelagh under him. Hiromu rises, Finlay shields the shillelagh from Red Shoes but Red Shoes is suspicious. Red Shoes sees the weapon! Finlay shoves Red Shoes away and takes a swing, but Hiromu dodges! SUPERKICK! Hiromu takes the shillelagh now! The fans are torn, but then Hiromu plays like Finlay did hit him! Red Shoes isn’t sure who to believe, but Finlay really is innocent this time! Finlay argues with Red Shoes but fans boo to help sell Hiromu’s trick.
Hiromu then runs to HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! And then fireman’s carry! TIMEBOMB 1.5! Cover, TWO! Finlay is still in this but the fans are still with Hiromu. Hiromu fireman’s carries again, but Finlay fights free. Hiromu elbows, runs, but into an UPPERCUT! Finlay runs, but into a SUPERKICK! HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER, but Finlay stays up! Hiromu runs again, but Finlay catches him spins him, ROLLING ELBOWS, then runs! Into a SUPERKICK! Finlay returns, for another SUPERKICK! Hiromu runs to HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! The fans are thunderous and Hiromu gets Finlay up, suplex and INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!!!
Finlay survives his own move but Hiromu won’t let that bother him! Hiromu drags himself up, dragon sleepers Finlay, but Finlay fights the suplex with knees! Finlay suplexes, but Hiromu knees free! Hiromu runs, but Finlay LARIATS! Finlay hauls Hiromu up, Canadian Rack, DOMINATOR!! Cover, TWO!!! Hiromu survives and the fans are thunderous! Finlay goes to a corner as he thinks on what to do next. Finlay storms over to Hiromu, says it’s over now, and he drags Hiromu back up. But Hiromu slips out of the bomb to tuck the arms! Finlay wrenches out, but into TRIANGLE D!! Finlay flails, CLUBS at Hiromu, but he’s fading again!
Red Shoes checks, the fans rally up, and Finlay fights to deadlift again! POWERBOMB, but Hiromu just holds onto D!! Finlay is fading, flailing, reaching out, but Hiromu squeezes tight! Finlay deadlifts again! BUCKLE BOMB, and INTO OBLIVION!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! Hiromu survives again and Finlay is beside himself! The fans are electric as Finlay shakes his head. Hiromu sputters but Finlay brings down the kneepads. Finlay slashes his throat and vows to end this! Finlay drags Hiromu back up, suplexes, but Hiromu slip free! Hiromu wrenches, pump handles, HIROMU-CHAN ROLL!! TWO!!! Finlay escapes and Hiromu is frustrated!
Both men catch their breath while the fans rally as hard as they can. Hiromu grits his teeth, pounds the mat, and rises up. Hiromu hobbles over but Finlay UPPERCUTS! Hiromu comes back, into another UPPERCUT! And another UPPERCUT! And another! And another, and another! But Hiromu stays on his feet, even as Finlay UPPERCUTS again! And again! And again!! Hiromu won’t stop, but Finlay won’t, either! The fans rally and Finlay eggs Hiromu on. Hiromu runs in, into another UPPERCUT! UPPERCUT! UPPERCUT! Hiromu roars, runs, but into an UPPERCUT!! Hiromu drops to his knees, and Finlay says this is it!
Finlay suplexes, INTO OVERKILL!! Cover, Finlay wins!
Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall
Bullet Club War Dogs takes the best of five in the fifth and final round! It took much more than Finlay wanted, but Hiromu always gives it his all. Will the Timebomb be able to fire back up in time for the Best of the Super Juniors?
Wait, Drilla returns, and now the War Dogs mug Hiromu! But then Tsuji & Takagi return to run them off! The War Dogs egg them on and vice-versa, but then GABE KIDD runs in! He CLOBBERS Takagi, DECKS Tsuji, and the War Dogs beat up on LIJ! The fans boo but the War Dogs just keep stomping LIJ! Drilla stands Tsuji up for Finlay’s SHILLELAGH SHOT! Drilla gives Hiromu the DRILLA KILLA! Gabe hits Takagi with a PILEDRIVER! Drilla gets to hold on to the shillelagh so he can JAM Hiromu! Finlay gives Tsuji the OVERKILL!! The War Dogs stand tall over LIJ, but Finlay still gets the mic to talk.
“What have I been telling you people? I AM the Savage King! You all thought you saw cracks in my game, but that’s because I let you. You all thought you saw weakness in my War Dogs, but that’s because I let you. Time and time again, I have been steps ahead of everyone in this company. Time and time again, I have solved any problem that was put in our way. The only thing worse than fighting a man who knows how to hurt you is fighting a man who knows when. LIJ learned that tonight, didn’t they?” A young fan tells Finlay to shut up and the fans cheer the kid.
Finlay says you can strip him of championships, you can keep him from tournaments, but in the end, remember this: “HATE always finds a way!!” The Rebel has spoken, will he and his hateful War Dogs find a way to dominate all of NJPW whether we like it or not?
My Thoughts:
A great event for the Road to Wrestling Dontaku series. Great Six Man title match with Tanahashi’s team winning again, probably no more shots for House of Torture. Not really sure what House of Torture is supposed to do next, though. We’re seeing Narita go after Moxley and the IWGP World title, Jack Perry is technically back in AEW, Evil and Yujiro could try for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles but you know they’d lose to Bishamon. I’ve been thinking that House of Torture should join Jack in AEW for this stretch until Forbidden Door, have some interactions with The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada or something like that.
Really fun Best of 5 series, and it was hilarious that Yota beat Gedo so easily. Great wins for Gabe and Takagi going into their NEVER Openweight Championship match. For a moment, I thought LIJ was winning, given how badly the War Dogs beat up Naito with the help of their new pal, Jake Lee, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and a big name in Pro-Wrestling NOAH. But then in the end, Finlay found a way to win against Hiromu, keeping him strong as he probably moves up from midcard titles to world title. If we go by the math, Takagi should win the NEVER Openweight title match, but it’d feed Gabe’s story better if he did get the title.
As for Hiromu, he probably gets a strong showing in Best of the Super Juniors, but since his streak of tournament championships was broken, who knows if he gets another one or if he puts someone else over.
My Score: 8.8/10
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Hockey Talk- 2024 NHL Playoff Preview [042224]
Hockey Talk previews the 2024 NHL Playoffs and discuss the stunning news that the Arizona Coyotes are moving to Salt...
Hockey Talk- Metro Mayhem [040924]
Hockey Talk looks at an absolutely wild playoff situation taking shape in the Eastern Conference while, out West, the battle...
The Pick N Roll: Sweet Sixteen
Join Patrick O'Dowd and PC Tunney as they breakdown the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Hockey Talk- Reverse Psychology [032624]
Hockey Talk looks at the resurgent St. Louis Blues & Washington Capitals. Plus, the Rangers stay hot, and can anyone...
Down the Wire: Filling Out Our Brackets and Drafting Draft Busts
Join the Brothers Wortz as they cover professional sports in unprofessional ways!
Bandwagon Nerds #232: Superhero Madness- A Top Seed Falls
Superhero Madness continues and sees the first #1 seed fall!. Plus, a trailer for a new Transformers movie, and a...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (4/20/24)
HPW looks to the horizon.
Bandwagon Nerds #231: Disney News & Superhero Madness
Round two of Superhero Madness begins this week. Cinema Con gives us plenty of Disney news and a trip to...
Bandwagon Nerds #230: Superhero Madness- Resident Aliens
Superhero Madness continues with first round battles in the Aliens bracket, plus Invincible Season 2 comes to an excellent conclusion.
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (4/1/24)
We got five on it!
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (4/24/24)
Anybody can get it!
Mitchell’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (4/23/24)
GO ACE! GO ACE!
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (4/23/24)
It's Trick Williams' last shot!
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (4/22/24)
It's a golden Raw!
Mitchell’s AEW Dynasty Results & Report! (4/21/24)
AEW passes through the Gateway City!
Attitude Of Aggression #289- The Big Four Project: Survivor Series ’92
The guys review Survivor Series '92 including a watch-along of an instant classic: Bret "Hitman" Hart v. Shawn Michaels for...
Andrew’s TNA Rebellion Results & Match Ratings: 4.20.2024
Moose takes on Nic Nemeth fka Dolph Ziggler in the main event for the World Championship!!
Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (4/20/24)
Kyle O'Reilly is on a Rampage!
Mitchell’s AEW Collision Results & Report! (4/20/24)
A high risk Collision!
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (4/19/24)
Prepare for Backlash!
