Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE NXT Report! (5/23/18)

Published

6 years ago

May 23, 2018

Three of NXT's biggest starts face off in a 2v1 Handicap!

After quite truly ruining their match last week, Lars Sullivan will now face BOTH The One and Only Ricochet and The Velveteen Dream in a Handicap Match! Can this One and Only Experience topple the Leviathan? Plus, the Lady of NXT gets a rematch with the Pirate Princess in order to bring class to the Women’s Division.

All images courtesy of the WWE Network streaming service

OFFICIAL RESULTS

TM61 VS Heavy Machinery; TM61 wins.
Kairi Sane VS Lacey Evans; Lacey wins.
2v1 Handicap Match: The Velveteen Dream & Ricochet VS Lars Sullivan; Lars wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

TM61 VS Heavy Machinery!

The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but everyone saw them cheat to beat the Street Profits a few weeks ago. Now Tucker Knight & Otis Dozovic want to see if Shane Thorne & Nick Miller can beat them fair and square. Will the Mighty be crushed under the #SteaksAndWeights?

Otis starts with Thorne at the bell, and fans chant “Steaks and Weights!” Thorne dodges Otis to then slap him in the head, not taking “Dozer” seriously. Thorne tires it again but Otis grabs the arm to throw Thorne with it. Otis then runs over Thorne, and tags in “Tucky”. Otis & Tucker take three point stances, then double tackle Thorne. Tucker keeps on Thorne with a cover, ONE, but Thorne misses and ends up in a big atomic drop. Miller tags in but turns into a hip toss. Tucker runs and smashes Miller with a corner splash. Otis sees Thorne and intercepts with a pounce! Tucker sets Miller up in the corner, then helps Otis with Thorne. Thorne holds on but is carried away, for a battering ram Shattered Dreams!

Heavy Machinery belly bump in celebration while fans applaud. Tucker swags around, then goes back to Miller. He puts Miller in another corner with a buckle bump, then back again. Tucker goes for a third, and it connects. Miller is dazed, so Tucker picks him up. Miller slips out but Tucker bucks him off. Tucker goes around but Thorne tags in and he rocks Tucker with a running European Uppercut. Thorne drags Tucker over and clubs away on him. He puts Tucker in the TM61 corner but fans rally. Thorne unleashes on Tucker, but Tucker hits back. Miller tags back in, and he gives hands to Tucker. Miller lets up at 4, then rams a knee into Tucker. Fans rally for “Tucky! Tucky!” but Miller keeps Tucker in the corner. Tag to Thorne, they double arm wrench and double shoulder into Tucker. Thorne gives kicks and knees, then tags Miller.

Thorne brings Tucker up for Miller to punch. Tucker fights back but Miller knees low. Miller tags Thorne, but Tucker is too much to lift, so Miller feets Tucker to a rabbit forearm from Thorne! Fans keep rallying for Tucky, and Tucker is still too much to suplex, so Thorne hits a EuroUpper. Tag to Miller, and The Mighty work to suplex Tucker together. Tucker suplexes both TM61! Fans rally again, and Tucker crawls for his corner. TM61 are in his way, but he manages to hot tag to Otis! Dozer begins bulldozing TM61! Otis runs over Thorne, flattens Miller, then hits a spinning scoop slam. Otis fires up, and the fans rally with him, as he hits the Catepillar elbow! Cover, but Thorne breaks it up.

Tucker returns to knock Thorne down with haymakers. Thorne tries to fight back but gets thrown with a double-trapped-arm belly2belly. Tucker runs in at Thorne, but misses and tumbles out of the ring. Miller goes after Otis, but Otis catches him into an exploder! Otis fires up again, and sees where Miller ended up. He climbs up, wipes himself with the TM61 towel, but Thorne kicks him down! Cover, with ropes and help, TM61 win!

Winners: TM61 (Thorne & Miller), Miller pinning

Another match, another win, but with another underhanded trick. The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but they do cheat. Will they cheat their way to the NXT Tag Team Championships?

Exclusive interview with Biaca Belair.

“Why is Bianca Belair the fastest rising star in NXT?” Why does Bianca have the brightest future? Do you even realize the significance of her roots? She’s the EST of NXT, and you’ll find out next week as the in-depth profile documentary continues.

EC3 is the Top One Percent!

His third match, the triology, and his mindset is already taking over. NXT becomes NX3, fans will dance and sing as the transformation begins. EC3 is the best here, there or anywhere. This golden goose got it all done in three, so imagine when he has his fourth. Who will be the fourth man to face EC3 in this Top One Percent Era?

Kairi Sane VS Lacey Evans!

The Pirate Princess and the Lady of NXT have a rematch from their post-TakeOver encounter. The Model Soldier wants to straighten out and bring up the Women’s Division, but will she only be keelhauled by the Mae Young Classic winner?

The bell rings and Kairi dropkicks Lacey right down! Kairi unloads forearms and elbows, but Lacey gets to the ropes. Lacey comes back and powers Kairi to ropes, and grabs Kairi’s jaw. She lets go at four but gives a SHARP chop to Kairi. Kairi rushes Lacey, go behind, and she grabs Lacey’s jaw to then chop her back. Kairi darse Lacey to bring it, then hits a tilt-o-whirl inverted DDT. Cover, TWO, but Kairi doesn’t let up. She wrenches an arm, then whips Lacey. Lacey reverses but misses in the corner, yet still catches Kairi with a mule kick. She then kicks out the arm, then covers, TWO. Lacey keeps on Kairi with a cobra clutch and some trash talk. Fans rally for Kairi while Kairi endures. Lacey thrashes Kairi but Kairi fights back. Lacey wrings her out for a roundhouse, then drops a knee right on the arm.

Kairi gets to ropes but Lacey keeps on her. Lacey wrenches into a shoulder breaker, then kicks the arm. She brings Kairi up into a corner, and fires off forearms before pulling on the arm with the ropes. The referee counts and Lacey lets go at 4. Lacey stomps a mudhole into Kairi, then backs off to run in for the swinging bronco buster! She pushes Kairi out to then cover, TWO. Lacey grows frustrated with Kairi and goes after the arm again. She bends Kairi backwards across her knee. Kairi endures while fans rally again. Kairi fights out with knees to Lacey’s head. They stand up, Kairi blocks the kick into a takedown, then blockbuster! Kairi ax kicks Lacey’s back, then spears with the Interceptor!

Lacey rolls to the ropes, but Kairi fires up. Kairi marches while Lacey gets to a corner. Kairi runs back in, Sliding D! Lacey is slumped over, then slumps out of the ring. Kairi goes to the apron for the Flying Kabuki! She puts Lacey back in the ring, then hurries up to the top. Lacey stands, and Kairi leaps, into the Woman’s Right!

Down goes Kairi, and Lacey covers! Lacey wins!!

Winner: Lacey, by pinfall

The Lady of NXT gets a major upset! She defeats the inaugural MYC winner fair and square, and out of nowhere. Armed with her Woman’s Right, will Lacey soon find herself atop this NXT Women’s Division?

Backstage interview with Mr. & Mrs. Wrestling.

The recovering Johnny Gargano and wife Candice LeRae are just now arriving to Full Sail. How is Gargano’s neck? “It’s seen better days.” But he and Candice discussed their future. They’ve come to a decision as a team, and they’re going to tell everyone in the NXT Universe. Gargano may not want to do this, but he has to. What is Gargano going to announce to the world?!

Exclusive interview with Lorcan & Burch after last week’s main event.

This one-two combination, along with Pete Dunne, defeated the Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole, Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly in Six Man Tag action. They specifically pinned one of the NXT Tag Team Champions, so they felt like they’re the #1 contenders! They beat them once, they can beat them twice, and be the new tag team champions. Will NXT GM William Regal agree with them?

The Undisputed Era respond.

Adam Cole claims Lorcan, Burch & Dunne were the three luckiest men alive. Last week was a fluke, we all know it. But the funniest part is that those three will hang their hats on this win. Strong agrees, those three are NOT contenders. Those guys shouldn’t face the champions at Chicago. This is “Dune’s” fault for giving false hope to those other two. Who even are Lorcan & Burch? Bobby Fish agrees, he was watching and didn’t even recognize their opponents. But this is all settled in Chicago, and Strong can’t wait. Strong has little patience, so he wants wants “Mr. Number Two”, Danny Burch. Strong will prove that result was a fluke, and that Lorcan & Burch are out of their league. Is that #Undisputed fact going to be challenged next week?

2v1 Handicap Match: The Velveteen Dream & Ricochet VS Lars Sullivan!

All three men want to be NXT Champion, but what was an unofficial contenders match last week between The One and Only and the Patrick Clark Experience was rudely and brutally interrupted by the Leviathan. Now, in order to remove the monstrous obstacle in their path, opponents become allies. Can Dream & Ricochet defeat Lars to then go back to fighting for a shot at Aleister Black?

Lars can only face one man at a time, so Dream and Ricochet come to an agreement. Dream starts, and the bell rings. He circles with Lars as fans chant for him. Dream goes low but Lars is ready and he throws Dream to the corner. Lars flexes to show his monstrous muscles. Dream tags to Ricochet and fans chant for Ricochet as he ties up with Lars. Lars shows power again as he just throws Ricochet down. Dream has a talk with Ricochet and tags back in, and despite the rules, they both go after Lars with haymakers! They punch Lars back and forth, around and around, but Lars shoves them both. Dream & Ricochet come back with double dropkicks that back Lars up! Lars staggers, but dodges Ricochet. Dream anchors Lars’ legs, and Ricochet hits him with a springboard missile dropkick! Lars goes down, and Dream covers, ONE!

Dream climbs up quickly, for flying ax handles. He climbs again, for more ax handles. Dream goes again, and hits a third. Lars still stands, so Ricochet tags in. Dream and Ricochet put Lars in a corner, then Ricochet runs corner to corner for the forearm. Dream runs in for a back elbow, then has Ricochet help whip him in for the corner splash. Ricochet adds a EuroUpper, then signals to Dream. Lars shoves Ricochet away, then catches him on the return. Ricochet punches out but Lars still tosses him to a corner. Lars catches the boot but that ax kick connects. Ricochet rolls and dropkicks Lars to the corner. Dream tags in but Lars fights back. Lars scoops Ricochet, but Dream saves him, and they go to double clothesline him. Lars breaks through the line, but misses his own clothesline.

Ricochet mule kicks Lars, Dream adds the knee lift. Ricochet handsprings to hold Lars still, for Dream’s SUPERKICK! Then Ricochet somersaults and comes back, he and Dream combine for a boot and SUPERKICK combo! Lars goes down, they both cover him, TWO! Dream and Ricochet go for Lars but Lars clamps on Ricochet’s neck. Dream saves Ricochet and they both club away. They try to double suplex but Lars is too big and strong. They club some more, but Lars shoves Ricochet and clobbers Dream! Lars focuses on Dream and clotheslines him in the corner. Lars lifts Dream for an atomic toss. Dream writhes, Lars covers, TWO. Lars drags Dream up to rake and hook the face. Dream gets away to a corner, and Ricochet returns to their corner.

Lars drags Dream up to shove him and forearm him in the back. He puts Dream in a corner for monster shoulders into the stomach. Lars glares at Ricochet, then drags Dream back up. Lars whips corner to corner hard, and Dream slump down. Cover, TWO, but Lars keeps on Dream with crossface forearms. Lars stalks Dream while Ricochet reaches out. Lars wrenches Dream in a powerful chinbar. The fans rally for Dream, and Dream powers his way up. Lars knees low, then clubs him down hard. Lars taunts Dream to tag Ricochet. Dream crawls for his corner, but Lars holds him back by a leg. Lars reels Dream in, for a powerslam! Cover, TWO, and Ricochet is relieved. Ricochet and the fans rally, but Lars climbs up high. Lars leaps, and headbutts Dream’s back!

Cover, but Ricochet breaks it! Lars is upset now. Ricochet dares him to bring it, and leads him on a cat ‘n’ mouse chase. They go around the way, back into the ring, but Lars catches Ricochet. Ricochet kicks Lars away, and sets him up for an elbow drop from Dream! Fans rally, hot tag to Ricochet! Ricochet rallies on Lars with forearms, then bobs and weaves with Lars. Ricochet fires off kicks to the knees, but Lars whips him into a corner. Lars runs in but hits buckles, then Ricochet hits the corner 619! Dream hops up, for a flying crossbody! Lars is down, Ricochet adds the standing shooting star. Cover, TWO!

Ricochet keeps focus and fans are all fired up. Ricochet keeps on Lars with clubbing forearms. Dream tags in, swing kick, Ricochet boots Lars down. Ricochet tags in as Dream hops and springboards for a senton! Then Ricochet adds a springboard 450 splash!

Neither man can cover from the impacts, and Lars rolls away. Dream betrays Ricochet with a rolling Death Valley!!

Their alliance was going so well, but Dream shouts that Ricochet was trying to screw him over, so Dream did it first! Dream retreats as Lars returns, and Lars picks the bones of Ricochet, with a FREAK ACCIDENT!

Cover, Lars wins!

Winner: Lars, by pinfall

The Mile High Monster was gifted this win by The Dream, who wants the spotlight all to himself. But will letting Lars win mean Lars gets his shot against the Embodiment of the End first? And will the One and Only go after Dream for revenge in the coming weeks?

Dakota Kai gets her chance at the NXT Women’s Championship!

However, that means facing her fear of the NXT Women’s Champion, Shayna Baszler. The Queen of Spades has tormented Captain Kick ever since their first match in the ring, and enjoys the power she holds over Dakota.

Backstage interview with Dakota Kai.

Congratulations are in order given this great opportunity, but again, Dakota fears Shayna. How is she going to prepare for this? This is Dakota’s dream, having watched NXT for years. Dakota gets a chance to be NXT Women’s Champion, but she has to face Shayna. Shayna is “the biggest bully” Dakota’s ever known. Speaking of, Shayna appears…

So is that what this is for Dakota? A dream come true? Part of her fairytale story? Nothing to say when she’s in front of you, Dakota? Dakota doesn’t stand a chance. But Dakota speaks up. “We’ll see about that.” Dakota leaves first this time, leaving Shayna a little surprised and perplexed. Will Dakota leave next week the champion? Or more broken than she was the last time Shayna got her hands on her?

Mr. & Mrs. Wrestling head to the ring!

Candice LeRae leads the way as she and Johnny Gargano walk out, with fans cheering with a standing ovation. Gargano spoke of a major announcement earlier, and now it’s time to hear what that entails. Fans chant “Johnny Wrestling!” as he takes up the mic. Gargano lets them know, “I love you, too.” And the last time he was here, he was going to have an NXT Championship match. But he never got that match. His body reminds him of that day Ciampa attacked him, and reminds Gargano of that knee ramming his head into the LED. Gargano’s body reminds him of being thrown off the stage and through tables. Gargano’s done this his whole life, but he talked it out with Candice. Together, they realized, it’s time to start thinking about his future. To start thinking about their future together. “I need to ask myself, is it worth it?”

Fans say “YES! YES!” Gargano knows the injuries are adding up, and the toll it takes on his friends, family and Candice, “Is it worth it?” Again, fans say “YES! YES!” Candice and Gargano talk a little more as fans cheer for them. Gargano says, “Yeah, it’s worth it!” He takes the neck brace off and calls out Ciampa! Candice is afraid for Gargano, but Gargano wants to finish this! Speak of the devil, Ciampa appears.

Candice hurries out as Ciampa tells the “boy” that Ciampa is going to go to the ring, and swears that if Gargano is still there, this WILL be finished. Gargano wants nothing better! Fans cheer Gargano on, but Candice returns with referees to keep them apart. That won’t stop them, as Gargano rolls out and goes around the corners. Ciampa hops into the ring while fans want to “Let Them Fight! Let Them Fight!” The referees keep Gargano back again but only Candice can stop Gargano. She reasons with him, but Ciampa taunts Gargano, “be a good little boy and listen to your wife.” Gargano won’t take that, and rushes the ring! But Ciampa knocks him back down, and Gargano falls on Candice!

Both Mr. & Mrs. Wrestling crash onto the ramp, but she takes the worse of it. Ciampa realizes the mistake he’s made and gets out of the arena. Gargano stays with Candice while medics check on her. Gargano starts to panic, and wants more medical help for Candice. He said it was worth it before this, but is it worth it now?

My Thoughts:

Another great episode, again reaching almost an hour, but it felt so fast somehow. We go right into matches with TM61 VS Heavy Machinery, which was a pretty good match. This slow TM61 Heel turn is going well for them, because it’s at least getting them wins. But given Undisputed Era are the NXT Tag Team Champions, Heel TM61 will have to wait until Faces take those titles. Speaking of, while not official, I myself am expecting Lorcan & Burch VS Strong & O’Reilly for TakeOver: Chicago given last week’s results. The Undisputed Era gives a great promo in belittling Lorcan & Burch, and Strong VS Burch next week will be really fun. Though, I’m going to guess that Undisputed Era interfere as they usually do, and that will make the tag title match official.

I’m intrigued by NXT giving Bianca Belair the kind of indepth look they gave superstars like Finn Balor, Roderick Strong and Ember Moon. She has been Heel so far in her NXT career, but given the right elements, she could be a welcomed Face. I was surprised to see Lacey win, and clean, but that ending is exactly how you book someone with a finisher like hers. This finish was an improvement over last week against Brandi Lauren, and can be the key to Lacey’s success as a Heel. Shayna VS Dakota happens sooner than I expected, but I still expect it to go down as Dakota snapping and going off, only to lose in the end. The way things are going, Nikki Cross is up next and might be the challenger that gives Shayna a real challenge.

I knew Dream was going to betray Ricochet, but I thought it would be a more typical ditch at the corner deal. And at one point, I thought Dream was going to wait until he and Ricochet won. However, it fits his story better to do it before the finish, because if he isn’t in the spotlight alone, then he’d rather not be in it at all. This surely means Dream VS Ricochet truly happens at TakeOver: Chicago, while Lars and Aleister become each other’s most difficult opponent yet. The ending segment was a great parallel to Bryan’s retirement, but then Gargano swerves and ups the ante. I thought there was going to be a brawl, but that “accident” was a great twist. This ups the grudge even more, and Gargano VS Ciampa 2, likely at Chicago, will be an instant classic given how great the first was.

My Score: 8.5/10

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

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Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (4/19/24)

Prepare for Backlash!

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Steven Mitchell

Did you know that challenger in French is still “challenger?”

In a WrestleMania rematch, AJ Styles takes on LA Knight in a #1 contender’s match, to challenge WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Backlash in France!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s match: AJ Styles VS LA Knight; Styles wins and will challenge Cody Rhodes for the title at Backlash.
SmackDown/WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: The Street Profits VS New Catch Republic VS The Authors of Pain VS Legado Del Fantasma; The Profits win and will challenge A-Town Down Under for the titles.
WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley VS Naomi; wins and

PLAY BY PLAY

Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s match: AJ Styles VS LA Knight!

After fighting their way through Triple Threats, the Phenomenal One and the Mega Star meet again, YEAH! It’s a WrestleMania Rematch, the winner moving on to Backlash, YEAH! Will AJ Styles avenge his loss at the biggest WrestleMania ever? Or will everyone from here to France know whose game it is?

The bell rings and the two step to each other. The fans in Pittsburgh “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” and Knight lets Styles know it. Styles snarls, they tie up, and they go around. Knight puts Styles in a corner, the ref counts, but Knight lets off slowly. Styles kicks low! The fans boo but Styles headlocks. Knight pulls hair, throws body shots, then headlocks in return. Styles pushes Knight to ropes, powers up and out, then hurdles, drops and DROP- NO, Knight avoids the dropkick to BOOT, and LARIAT! Knight then TOSSES Styles out of the ring, storms out after him, and brings him to commentary. Knight SMACKS Styles off the desk! And again! And again!

The fans chant “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” with every SMACK, then Knight tops it off with one last SMACK! Knight drags Styles up and into the ring, storms in, but Styles KICKS Knight in the ropes! Styles reels Knight in, but Knight back drops Styles up and out! Styles flounders on the floor, Knight runs to WRECK him with a dropkick! Styles hits desk again and Steel City is loving “L! A! KNIGHT, YEAH!” as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Styles soaks up the heat as he taunts Knight. Styles brings Knight up, but Knight fires haymakers! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight backs Styles down, whips, but Styles ducks ‘n dodges! Knight ducks ‘n’ dodges, then DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! Both men are down and the fans fire up. Both men slowly sit up, crawl around, and then stand. Styles fires a shot, but Knight gives it back! The haymakers go back and forth, “YEAH! BOO! YEAH!” Styles staggers but he still ROCKS Knight! Knight ROCKS Styles again and again, but Styles throat chops! Styles fires off the Phenomenal Blitz, but Knight ducks the lariat!

Knight JABS, JABS, JABS, and DECKS Styles! Knight stomps a mudhole in at the corner, “YEAH!” Knight then runs corner to corner to KNEE Styles down! The fans fire up, Knight puts Styles up, and Knight ROCKS Styles. Knight climbs, but Styles ROCKS him back! Knight staggers away, but returns to spring right up! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives that crash but both men are down again. The fans rally as Knight rises, and he brings Styles around. Knight reels Styles in, suplexes, but Styles slips free! Styles goes to a corner, ELBOWS Knight away, then goes up to QUEBRADA DDT! Cover, TWO!

The fans fire up as Knight stays in this and Styles starts losing his cool. The fans rally for Knight but Styles looms over him. Styles brings Knight up and in, but Knight RAMS him into a corner! Knight then scoops Styles, but Styles slips free to roll up, TWO!! Knight escapes, swings, but Styles dodges to PELE! Knight ends up in a corner, Styles runs in, but Knight puts Styles on the apron! Styles ROCKS Knight, springboards, but Knight gets under! Styles comes back, into a scoop and POWERSLAM! Then JUMP ELBOW DROP! The fans fire up with with Knight as he storms around. Styles rises, Knight winds up, B F- NO, Styles bails out!

The fans boo but Knight storms over. Knight drags Styles up but Styles HOTSHOTS him! And pokes him in the eyes! Then ROCKS him! And springboards, to PHENOMENAL FOREARM!! Cover, Styles wins!

Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the Undisputed WWE Championship)

Styles bent the rules, but a win is a win! He will get his shot at the American Nightmare in Lyon, France, will this year’s Backlash be phenomenal?

The Bloodline arrives backstage.

The car pulls up, Solo Sikoa steps out in a suit, and Paul Heyman is there to greet him. Nice threads, Solo. Tama Tonga walks over and Solo says meet the newest member of The Bloodline, Solo’s MFT. The Wise Man is stunned. But Solo cuts him off to ask if Kevin Owens is here. Heyman hesitates and Solo asks again, is Kevin here? If he is, he’s probably already in the locker room. Then take them to him. Heyman obeys and leads on. There have already been changes to the chain of command, is there about to be a change to the landscape of SmackDown, too?

Nick Aldis is in the ring.

In a familiar scene to Monday Night Raw, there is a podium with something under a satin sheet. The SmackDown General Manager welcomes to Pittsburgh the Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque! The fans fire up as The Game makes his way to the ring! HHH joins Aldis in the ring, gets a mic, looks around at the crowd as he revels in the cheers, then says, “On the heels of the biggest, most epic, history making, record breaking, epic, unbelievable WrestleMania of all time, we are here tonight, sold out, 15 thousand strong, Pittsburgh, PA! So let me say, welcome to SmackDown!” The fans cheer that!

HHH wants to take a moment to say that he thinks Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis are both doing great jobs at leading their respective brands into the future. Thank you to both of them. And when we talk about the future, we have to talk about the history made coming into the future. So when history is made, HHH wants it to be represented here befitting of those that make it. So Aldis, if we could, let us bring the… champions out here. Aldis says without further ado, the NEW SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. The fans boo as A-Town Down Under make their way, blue belts in hand.

Theory & Waller join Aldis and HHH in the ring, mics already in hand, and they soak up the heat from Steel City. Waller says this is huge. Monday, we saw the second place champions get new belts. And now A-Town Down Under will be presented new titles! Theory says speaking of truth, didn’t Truth think HHH was a magician? Well, who knows what magic trick HHH has to make these guys look better than they already do, but hey, give it a try. HHH says congratulations on becoming tag team champions, so he will show them what they will wear going forward. From now on, they will be the WWE Tag Team Champions.

Reveal! In the style of the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Era belts, the solid gold shines. HHH offers a handshake, but Waller leaves him hanging to shake Theory’s hand! Aldis makes it clear to them. They ever pop off and disrespect HHH like that, here’s a real magic trick: A-Clown Down Under will disappear, permanently! The fans like the sound of that! Aldis snatches the blue belts away since they won’t need them, and speaking of disappearing, there’s a chance one of the following four teams will make their title reign disappear. That #1 contenders match starts right now! The fans fire up, but which team defies the odds to get some golden tickets to France?

Backstage interview with Naomi.

Kayla Braxton is with The Glow and says last week, she beat Tiffany Stratton to get this title opportunity tonight. Will the friendship with Bayley get in the way of this match? Naomi says no, of course not. Bayley’s her sister, and she needed help against Damage CTRL, so Naomi was more than happy to help. But in no way will friendship get in the way of this opportunity. It has been over two YEARS since Naomi’s last WWE singles championship match, and there is nothing that will get in the way of making the most of this moment. Now last week, Tiffy Time felt the glow, so that same energy keeps going tonight.

Naomi is also looking forward to next week’s WWE Draft, where she will walk in the NEW WWE Women’s Champion. Naomi is ready, but will she be able to best Bayley in Bayley’s first title defense?

WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: The Street Profits VS New Catch Republic VS The Authors of Pain VS Legado Del Fantasma!

SmackDown returns as Legado makes their entrance, followed by Akam & Rezar with the Final Testament. Waller & Theory are on commentary, Waller admitting he wants any team but AOP, and Theory saying these teams are fortunate to have real superstars leading their division. In this form of Fatal 4 Way, only two teams are active, so the Big Strong Boi, Tyler Bate, starts against Montez Ford. They circle, tie up, and Ford headlocks. Bate powers up to pry at the hold but Ford clamps on tighter. Bate powers up and out, drops, but Ford leaps over! The fans cheer, things keep moving, Bate feints high to drop low!

Bate shows knuckle lock, Ford obliges, but Bate wrenches, baits and double pump handles to FLIP Ford! Cover, TWO! Ford gets up to sweep and cover, TWO! Bate steps over, La Magistrol, TWO! Ford gets up, dropkicks cancel out, and both men kip up! The fans fire up and the two reset. But then Humberto Carrillo sneaks a tag, before he DECKS Bate with a sucker punch! Ford dodges Humberto but Angel Garza holds the ropes open! Ford tumbles out, Garza tags in, and Humberto sits Ford up. Garza runs in to KNEE Ford down! The fans boo, Garza drags Ford to a cover, TWO! Garza back suplexes, Ford lands out!

Ford tags Dawkins and he dodges Garza to FLYING ELBOW! Garza tags out to Akam, but then the Bruiserweight, Pete Dunne, tags in off Dawkins! Rezar tags, Dunne runs up but Akam LARIATS him down! Rezar DECKS Dawkins, then the AOP start clearing the corners! But Ford goes up to leap, but into an URENAGE! The fans boo but the AOP roar and soak up the heat. Waller’s worst case scenario might end up reality, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and the fans rally as Ford endures a facelock. Ford fights up, pries at the hold, but Rezar shoves him to ELBOW him down! Rezar talks trash, Waller taunts the Steelers players sitting in the front row that they don’t really know what championships are, and then Rezar sucker punches Dawkins down! Rezar stands Ford up, Canadian Racks and bends him! Ford endures, the fans rally, but Rezar thrashes Ford around! Ford kicks and flails, he gets free, hot tag to Dunne! Bate sneaks a tag, Dunne GAMANGIRIS Akam and then NCR fire off on Rezar! The fans fire up, Humberto runs in, but Dunne dodges to SNAP GERMAN!

Bate & Dunne STOMP Humberto’s hands! Then BASEMENT DROPKICK! Garza runs up, but into the REBOUNDER GERMAN COMBO!! The fans fire up with NCR, but Rezar runs up! He grabs Dunne, but Bate says Bop up, BANG! Bate fireman’s carries Rezar?! But Rezar ELBOWS right free! Dunne GAMANGIRIS, Ford SUPERKICKS, and Dawkins ENZIGIRIS! Rezar wobbles, and everyone helps Bate gets Rezar up! BIG STRONG AIRPLANE SPINE! But then Legado CLOBBER Bate and Rezar! They BOOT Dunne, whip the Profits but the Profits reverse to TOSS Legado out! Ellering coaches Rezar while the Profits regroup.

Bate gets up, Dawkins ROCKS him! Dawkins brings Bate to the very top, but Dunne CLUBS Dawkins! NCR mug Dawkins but Ford joins in! They brawl, but AOP add on! Humberto finds Rezar to tag in, before the DOUBLE TOWER OF DOOM!! Bate’s the only one left up top, so Legado mug him! They double trophy lift Bate, to DOUBLE ROCKET LAUNCH him onto everyone!! Humberto then finds Bate, sunset flips and rewinds, Garza jumps, MISSILE DROPKICK DOOMSDAY! Cover, DUNNE BREAKS IT! “This is Awesome!” as all eight men are down around ringside, and Waller says this is gonna be easy pickings for A-Town Down Under now.

Dunne grabs Garza, Bate has Humberto, STEREO ANKLE LOCKS!! Grapevine for Garza! But Humberto BOOTS Bate onto Dunne! Legado is free, Ellering has AOP regroup, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Rezar CLUBS Dawkins down. Rezar soaks up heat, taunts the other teams, then CLUBS Dawkins again. Rezar brings Dawkins up again, but Dawkins fires off body shots! Rezar KNEES low, reels Dawkins in, talks more trash, and lifts Dawkins up, to POWERBOMB! But then Dunne runs up to ROCK Rezar! Akam gets in to scoop Dunne and SLAM him on Dawkins! Cover, TWO! Rezar looks to Ellering and he coaches AOP. Rezar HAMMERS Dawkins, Akam tags, and AOP get NCR up! The fans boo but NCR RANA free to send AOP into each other! Ford jumps in, as does Garza.

All the teams realize, they gotta do something about AOP. So they all mug AOP! The fans fire up as AOP tumble out, but now who strikes first? Dunne runs up but Garza SUPERKICKS him first! Bate waistlocks Garza and Ford winds up, but Garza ducks so the BACKHAND hits Bate! Garza SUPERKICKS Ford, but Dawkins DECKS Garza! Humberto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! Cover, TWO!! Theory says if A-Town Down Under were in this match, he’d knock everyone out and Waller could just sneak in to cover. Humberto and Dawkins rise and go to corners. Humberto runs up, but Dawkins POUNCES him away!

Dawkins gets Humberto up, Ford returns and tags in! Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts Humberto and Ford climbs! The stars are out for the BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY! Cover, DUNNE BREAKS IT! Another save from the Bruiserweight and Ford is frustrated. Dunne drags Dawkins up to CHOP, but Dawkins ROCKS him! Dawkins whips Dunne out of the ring, but Dunne grabs the arm! And he pulls off the glove so he can SNAP fingers! The fans fire up, but Ford ENZIGIRIS Dunne down! Ford brings Humberto up, Humberto JAWBREAKERS! Bate tags in off Ford, BOOTS Garza, then runs up, but into a POP-UP! But Bate RANAS Humberto!!

Bate then DUMPS Garza out, goes to the apron, and Dunne lines up targets. Bate and Dunne climb, Ford runs in, NCR DOUBLE ARIHARA MOONSAULT while Ford FLIES over the corner post!! Down goes Legado and AOP!! The fans are losing their minds as Bate hurries to get Humberto up. Bate puts Humberto in, reels him in, underhooks, but Humberto fights it! Humberto back drops but Bate lands on his feet! Humberto cradles, TWO! Humberto LARIATS Bate, tag to Garza! Legado gets Bate up, feed to the POP-UP KICK!! #FTY! Humberto then DIVES to take out Dunne! Garza goes up the ropes to LIONSAULT!!

But Ford flies in FROM THE HEAVENS!! The fans are thunderous as everyone is down again! Bate flounders, Dawkins tags in! Dawkins whips Legado, Ford joins in, THE REVELATION!! Cover, PROFITS WIN!

Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the WWE Tag Team Championships)

Waller & Theory are relieved it isn’t AOP, but they still look a bit annoyed that it is Ford & Dawkins. The Profits are Triple Crown Tag Team Champions from Raw to SmackDown to NXT, but will they soon add the WWE Tag Team Championships to make it a grand slam?

Backstage interview with Bayley.

Byron Saxton is with The Role Model, and brings up the emotional moment from Monday Night Raw where Rhea Ripley had to relinquish her title. But let us focus on Bayley’s title, as she defends it for the first time against Naomi. Where is her head at ahead of the main event? Bayley says after seeing Rhea vacate the Women’s World Championship on Raw, Bayley appreciates her reign more. She is focused, and she has realized she’s THE Women’s Champion in WWE right now, something she does not take for granted. Because we all know that with the WWE Draft, things are bound to change.

And as excited as Bayley is to face her friend, Naomi, one thing that won’t change is her as THE WWE Women’s Champion. Bayley is just as confident at Naomi, so something’s gotta give! Will The Role Model #FeelTheGlow? Or will she still be shining with gold after tonight?

Paul Heyman talks with Solo Sikoa.

The Wise Man apologizes that they haven’t found Kevin Owens, but he has to be here somewhere. Just look at the time. They will find him, somewhere. Solo stops listening and heads to gorilla. Heyman follows after, but Solo gives him a look. Heyman says he isn’t trying to upset Solo. Please believe him. The last person on this planet Heyman wants to piss off is Solo. But respectfully, Solo is making decisions that are not his to make, yet. One day, these will all be Solo’s decisions. But not now, not here! These are decisions that can only be made by one man. Solo asks Heyman if he’s done talking. Heyman asks if MFT is coming with Solo.

Solo just gives a thumbs up, with that taped thumb. The music hits and Solo makes his entrance, Heyman still following all the way into the ring. What does the Enforcer have planned? We’ll find out, after the break.

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

Coverage

Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.18.2024

Motor City Machine Guns either go out on their backs, or head to Rebellion as champs! Lets see how they finish their current run in TNA!

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2024

Andrew Balaz

No burying the lead here! The Main Event is The System versus Motor City Machine Guns, and it’s the Go Home episode before Rebellion! So we’re guaranteed a damn good tag match, and we should get either new wrinkles, or ways to keep the storylines cooking going into the Pay-per-View.

With all the rumors and innuendo about the Guns being on their way out, I think we all assume that MCMG is losing, but my inner fanboy is still excited.

Part Three: Acceptance @TheJonGresham #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/NE9FPzCCz2

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

Ratings:

Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone: Hammerstone wins via Torture Rack – SQUASH
LSG vs Joe Hendry: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – SQUASH
Mustafa Ali & GYV vs Cody Deaner, Jake Something & Rhyno: Ali wins via 450 Splash – ** 3/4
Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna: Rosemary wins via Spear – ***
Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards: System wins via Roster Cut + Knee Party – *** 1/4

Results:

So we kick off the match with Josh coming out to commentary again to watch Hammerstone’s match. They really need a new way to try and keep heat without reusing the same tired gimmick of “ring side seat” to a Squash match.

Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone

Guido tries to shoot the half, but Hammerstone shrugs him off, lifts him like a child and runs him into a corner, few short shots and then just tosses him across the ring. Hammer gets a little distracted talking smack to Josh and eats a foot, but then tosses Guido with the ole Sack of Shit move and keeps working over Guido.

Hammer shoves Clayton, and provokes him to push him back right in front of the referee. She ejects them, Guido tries to take advantage but when he goes for the pinfall Hammer kicks out immediately and presses Guido out of thing through the ropes. Continues to dog walk Guido, puts the head gear on the ECW Original and then Torture Racks him while staring directly at Josh, and of course picks up the submission victory.

.@XiaBrookside and @Ashamae_Sebera face off NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT! pic.twitter.com/Q0S3wSRpeu

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

LSG vs Joe Hendry

Hendry cuts a little promo, mentioning the Fat Uncle Phil joke…something about shopping at the TOP Dollar Store. Solid mic work.

LSG is a damn good local talent, he’s been seen in ROH and AEW in the past (perhaps others, but that’s what comes to mind immediately for me), but we all know this is an enhancement match. A few nice chain wrestling spots early, but Hendry uses his power to stop the smaller wrestler, Sack of Shit into Standing Ovation and the match is over quickly.

Mustafa Ali & GYV vs Cody Deaner, Jake Something & Rhyno

Well okay, having Deaner ask the crowd if they wanted a 3v2 or their third member…RHYNO…is pretty much a no brainer in Philly. But at least the gimmick isn’t quite as cringe as I expected.

Jake starts with Zack Gibson and throws him around. Jake goes for the tag and Deaner asks the crowd who Jake should tag, and the crowd picks Rhyno. Rhyno Whips Gibson into a corner, Drake actually softens the impact, allowing Gibson to fire back, tag out, but Rhyno levels both GYV members and then even knocks Ali off the apron. Rhyno tries to call to the crowd to tag in Deaner and that goes over like a fart in church. He tags him in anyway, and the crowd is kinda dead and doing whatever it wants after the obvious ECW chants when Rhyno tagged in.

GYV take a couple lumps but they of course start to work over Deaner and capture some momentum. Solid tandem work from GYV, they cut off Deaner from making a tag and goad Jake a little to cause the ref to block off the babyfaces so the heels can take a few shortcuts. Cody eventually makes the tag to Rhyno, hot tag, he tries to set up the Gore but the GYV manage to stop him in his tracks and hit an Enzuigiri to daze the Man Beast, he falls to his corner and Jake tags himself in. Jake literally runs them all over, tags in Cody and Launches him from the Top Rope into Zack Gibson. Ali makes the save and Jake tries to get his hands on Ali, but the GYV keep throwing themselves at him, literally. The triple team finally gets the best of Jake, they hit 3 Dives and then post Jake, so they gather around Cody like hyenas.

They forgot about Rhyno, he’s set up for a Gore, he Gores Drake, Gibson and Ali take out Rhyno, but then Cody starts to fight back. Ali stops Deaner’s offense with an Avalanche Sunset Bomb, then hits his 450 Splash. Jake barely misses being able to break up the pin.

.@TheEricYoung channels "The Sickness" as he prepares for FULL METAL MAYHEM with @FrankieKazarian at #Rebellion! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/tm1TqxZBLo

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna

Jody tries to start quickly with Shoulder Tackles, Lariats and Scoop Slams, and it does seem somewhat effective. Rosemary is having trouble finding offense against the intensity, but she keeps kicking out. Shotgun Dropkick finally gives Rosemary an opening, she goes into full mount and rains down strikes. Rosemary shoves Jody into a corner and Bites her in the corner. Jody tries to fight out, they go across and Rosemary catches her with the legs and puts her in the Upside Down. Splash in the corner from Rosemary, Exploder Suplex and Jody is eating a lot of offense.

Rosemary looks like she’s caught after she gets tripped up into the ropes and Jody goes for her Rope Knee into the German, but Rosemary dodges. Rosemary hits her own suplex and pulls out a beautiful Last Chancery! I haven’t seen her do that in a long time. Jody manages to fight to the ropes, Rosemary is a little slow to capitalize and eats a Pump Kick. Rosemary goes flying into the ropes, Jody hits the Double Knees into the German this time for 2, and they trade a few haymakers after that. Jody folds Rosemary with a low Lariat, Zombie rise spot a few times, Jody goes for a pinfall and Rosemary kicks out.

Havok jumps up on the apron, Dani meets her and they decide to step down, but the distraction was enough. Jody turns around and eats a Spear. Rosemary wins!

Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards

Eddie and Shelley start off, and its a very simple slow start. Mostly an early stalemate, the typical Japanese style the TNA seem to love to employ. Starters tag out, but then Shelley with the blind tag, Sabin Baseball Slides out, picks Eddie’s ankle and sends his face bouncing off the apron, while Shelley sneaks up being Myers and they hit a tandem move before we cut to commercial. Off of the commercial it looks like Eddie and Myers regained control. But a nice Jawbreaker from Shelley sends Eddie falling back into the MCMG corner. Dragon Screws to both legs from Sabin and Shelley, and we get the Dragon Screw dissection spot for the Guns.

Myers gets sick of things, tries to get involved, but Simultaneous Figure Fours from the MCMG makes The System look silly. Alisha does the classic “push the rope forward” gimmick to assist Eddie in breaking the hold. She keeps chirping at Shelley until she finally grabs his foot. Shelley doesn’t take kindly, tries to grab her by the hair but she gets away, Shelley eats a strike and falls back to the ropes so Lish can just throttle him with the rope, Sabin walks over and acts like he’s going to PK her and the look of disgust on her face is hilarious, like “how dare he threaten to kick her”. Would I be mad is Masha decides to team with Lish and they win the Knockouts Tag titles? No, because the Knockouts Tags are trash. But I still prefer Lish as valet/manager.

Shelley starts fighting back after another commercial break, Eddie tries to cut him off, but Sabin clocks Eddie and Shelley manages to make the tag and Sabin comes in. Lights up both System members, Kick off Tornado DDT, into a Running Gamengiri. Eddie tries to counter but Shelley assists, tandem strikes, Double Baseball Slide into the classic MCMG spot 5 Hole Dive! Keeping up with the classics Shelley stacks the System members on each other and hit the Missile Dropkick/Flatliner spot. As the Guns are rolling, Sabin accidentally catches Sabin with his foot and The System take control! They hit their pieces of the System Overload spot, but Sabin kicks out. Roster Cut attempt from Myers, but Shelley is back. High Speed Dirt, Machine Gun Sandwich, but Lish grabs Shelley’s foot when they’re setting up Skull and Bones. Shelley gets dropped on the turnbuckle and thrown out, Sabin eats the Roster Cut followed up with Boston Knee Party and System retains!

Its a little weird to have had the two commercial cuts and the fact there’s still Nic Nemeth to follow. So it feels a little flat, I hope this wasn’t their swan song match, because it was nice to see some classic spots, but it was entirely too abbreviated.

Nemeth comes out, goes into the crowd and finds a kid with a kendo stick and borrows a beer from someone, so he does a bit of a Sandman tribute. Moose cuts off his promo basically immediately. He throws out the “can’t beat the system” line again, and Nic rolls with the punches well. Moose uses a few cute analogies about Nic having a failure laden past, but Nemeth bites back and its really damn good. He says he can see it in Moose’s eyes that he thinks he’s getting in the ring with Dolph Ziggler, but no, there is no more old Dolph Ziggler, just the new Nic Nemeth. And Moose’s cool seems to be slightly shaken after those words. Good promo.

Overall Score: 6.5/10

So this was okay, if it didn’t end as strongly as it did, I would’ve rated this much lower. Two squash matches in the beginning, reusing the Josh comes out to the announce table to watch trope is boring, hell even Clayton’s shove to Hammerstone was super lame looking. The Deaner match was luke warm at best, but things picked up around the Rosemary match.

Lets also not overlook the segments with ASH & Xia, Jonathan Gresham’s whole deal and EY having to return to the violence/sickness/world class maniac, whatever you want to call it, were all great building blocks. This definitely wasn’t what I would call a strong Go Home, but it didn’t hurt things for Rebellion. The whole injury of Cardona was addressed, which honestly sounded weird since Jordynne basically said she was expecting them to have a backup plan so she has a backup plan. I don’t really like how that video package came across.

But who knows, all I know is, this wasn’t an awful episode, it just wasn’t really strong either. Here’s to hoping Rebellion Saturday is still strong.

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