Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Monday Night Raw Results & Report! (11/12/18)
The Raw Commissioner and The Beast return as The Goddess reveals her 5-Woman Team for Survivor Series! What will Stephanie McMahon have to say on this week’s edition of WWE Raw!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Raw Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Battle Royal; No Contest.
- Ember Moon VS Tamina w/ Nia Jax; Tamina wins.
- Finn Balor VS Dolph Ziggler w/ Drew McIntyre; Finn wins.
- Natalya VS Ruby Riott w/ The Riott Squad; No Contest.
- Raw Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Battle Royal, second attempt; Ready, Willing & GLORIOUS wins and will lead the Raw Tag Team Division Elimination Match team.
- Elias VS Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush; Lashley wins by count-out, and is the fifth man of Raw’s 5-Man Elimination Match team.
- Sasha Banks VS Bayley; No Contest.
PLAY BY PLAY
WWE and Raw honor America’s Veterans.
Raw Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Battle Royal!
Almost the entire tag team division is in the ring and ready to fight! Who will be the last team left to lead the Red Brand into Survivor Series’ 10v10 Elimination match?
The brawling is chaotic and all over the ring! Lince Dorado slips out of Chad Gable’s German Suplex to then combine with the Lucha House Party for a Kalisto elevated splash, a Lince planking splash, and Gran Metalik’s springboard missile dropkick! Kalisto bates Dash Wilder of the Revival into the corner, but here comes BRAUN!? He’s not part of a tag team, but he doesn’t care! The Ascension slide out to meet him but get run over! Lince leaps but gets swatted! Kalisto leaps but is caught and thrown at Metalik! Strowman clubs Bobby Roode, then enters the ring to rock the Revival! The B-Team, Gable, Slater and Rhyno attack all at once, but Strowman explodes out of it! He steamrolls the Revival, then roars!
Fans are on the Monster Among Men’s side as he starts making laps around the ring. Strowman blasts Curt Axel, then Chad Gable, then Scott Dawson! Strowman picks up a chair! And he brings it into the ring, but Roode and Slater retreat. Strowman has cleared the ring, and grabs a microphone.
“Tonight’s Monday Night Raw episode is brought to you by The Monster Among Men.” He uses the chair to take a seat and says, “I’m done chasing Acting General Manager, Baron Corbin, around. I’m not leaving this ring until Corbin Gets. These. Hands!” The Monster waits for the man who screwed him over, but he instead gets Stephanie McMahon. The Commissioner makes her appearance earlier than she planned, but the current situation calls for her presence.
Stephanie knows Braun is upset, and he has every right to be. But he cannot hold Raw hostage. Fans boo and chant “Get These Hands!” Stephanie appreciates Braun’s rage, but she wants him to channel it for what matters: Survivor Series. Shane McMahon insulted the entire Raw locker room when he stole the WWE World Cup win. Is Strowman going to let Shane disrespect the locker room? Braun doesn’t give a damn about Shane, or about representing Raw! Well Stephanie does, so he better give a damn, too! Well all due respect, he knows the corporate types just see him as “a mindless meat castle,” but he’s smart enough to know when people are manipulating him. So just bring Corbin out so they can settle this.
Stephanie doesn’t underestimate him, she’s a business woman. They’ll compromise so everyone gets what they want. Raw has beat Survivor Series two years in a row. If they get a 3-0 sweep, Strowamn gets whatever he wants. He word is her bond. Fans don’t believe that. He doesn’t care about planes, trains or any of that, he just wants another shot at Brock Lesnar! “Done.” But before that, Strowman wants Corbin. Also done. And under his stipulations. Also done. Good. Stephanie just needs to get Corbint to sign a waiver so Strowman isn’t responsible for the damage. She can get that done, provided he does nothing to Corbin until after Survivor Series. Fans boo but Stephanie wants Strowman to prove he’s a proud member of the roster. Then he can have what he wants. He better, or else he’ll destroy WWE headquarters! Also understood.
Stephanie says she’s being very transparent about motivating the roster, from monster to man to– Ronda Rousey! Ronda heads right to the ring and Stephanie is not happy about it. But Stephanie still gives Ronda an introduction, up until Ronda snatches the mic away. “You can save the pep talk, Steph.” There’s nothing Stephanie has that could motivate Ronda more. Ronda’s been waiting for a challenge like Becky Lynch since showing up to WWE. She’s sick and tired of hearing talk from “The Man”, she just wants to fight. However, fans do chant for Becky, too. Ronda realizes she doesn’t have to wait for a fight. Stephanie is in fear for her arms, but here comes Baron Corbin!
The Constable wants everyone to relax. They need to focus on Shane and SmackDown this Sunday. And Corbin is here to motivate the talent. Corbin carefully approaches with Strowman’s eyes on him. Corbin agrees with Stephanie, Shane stole the WWE World Cup. Raw is in a must win situation now. And that includes Ronda. He puts his hand on her shoulder, she throws him down! Ronda picks up her belt and heads out, but Corbin turns around to see Strowman. Stephanie reminds Strowman of their deal. Strowman says Corbin should enjoy being Stephanie’s lap dog while he can, because after Survivor Series, Strowman vows to neuter the Lone Wolf! It’s only a matter of time, what will be left of Corbin once Strowman can #GetTheseHands on him?
Ember Moon VS Tamina w/ Nia Jax!
An alliance has been struck between the Samoan Dynasty cousins, and now the Irresistible Force has an equally powerful ally. The Prophecy of Flame was Nia’s friend, but now she’s just prey, will she be able to survive the Daughter of Super Fly?
The bell rings and Ember glares at both of them. But she looks at Nia too long, Tamina clobbers her! Tamina kicks and headbutts Ember, but Ember hits back. Tamina puts Ember in a corner hard, but then misses as Ember gose up and over. Ember gets moving, lands on her feet out of the hip toss and spins around to a sunset flip. Tamina stays up and brings Ember up, but Ember fires off strikes! Ember kicks and kicks and kicks, but Tamina shvoes her back. Ember comes back with an enziguri! Tamina is down so Ember hits her with a running forearm. Cover, TWO!
Alexa Bliss watches back stage as Tamina rocks Ember back. Surely Alexa wants to be 100% sure her team of five is the best possible. Tamina brings Ember up and scoops, but Ember slips out. Ember kicks Tamina’s leg, then runs for the sliding shot! Tamina rolls out but Ember gets to the apron. Ember has the fans on her side as she slides for a dropkick! Tamina staggers and crashes into barriers. Ember goes out to fetch Tamina, but Nia approaches. Ember is distracted and Tamina pounces again! Tamina has control with thanks from family as we go to break.
Raw returns as Tamina has Ember in a chinlock. Fans rally as Ember endures, and Ember fights back. Tamina wrangles her back down, but Ember continues to endure. Ember fights her way back up as fans rally, but Tamina drops a knee! Cover, TWO! Ember fights back but Tamina pushes her to a corner. Tamina runs into a boot, and Ember throws forearms. Tamina hits back and reels Ember into a back suplex. Ember slips out to fire off more forearms! Tamina shoves Ember but Ember comes back with a dropkick! Ember kicks, kicks and forearms, then enziguris again! Tamina is dazed, but still hits back with an uppercut. Tamina whips but Ember dodges, to DIVE onto Nia! But Nia just deflects her. Ember shakes off the shock to kick Tamina away!
Ember runs in, springboards, crossbody! Cover, TWO! Nia is relieved, but Ember keeps moving. She runs in at Tamina for the handspring forearm! Tamina staggers out and Ember climbs up. Nia distracts again, SUPERKICK from Tamina! Ember goes down as fans boo and jeer, but Tamina climbs up now. Tamina leaps for the Superfly! Cover, Tamina wins!
Winner: Tamina, by pinfall
The Moon was taken down by these duo of lady titans. Nia adds insult to injury as she drops a leg on Ember! Will this killer instinct and ruthless aggression get the Samoan Dynasty added to Alexa’s Team Raw?
Exclusive in-ring interview with Seth Rollins!
The Architect is back to being only Intercontinental Champion because The Lunatic Fringe wouldn’t help him in a Raw Tag Team Championship defense. However, Rollins must shrug that off and prepare for the United States Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura, at Survivor Series!
Rollins joins Corey Graves in the ring and Corey asks Rollins how he feels going up against The King of Strong Style, mentally. Well, a first-time-ever match up of Rollins VS Nakamura, it’ll be a hell of a fight. But Rollins doesn’t actually care about any of that. Dean Ambrose is still on his mind, but Corey wants Rollins to know that if he’s not focused, Nakamura knees Rollins’ head off. Rollins will be ready for Nakamura on Sunday, but this is Monday. Tonight, Monday in Kansas City, Rollins wants answers! Why did Ambrose do what he did? Corey has known Ambrose as long as Rollins has, and while Ambrose doesn’t always speak his mind, he’s still a bright guy. Ambrose has a reason, he’s just not man enough to tell any of us.
But Ambrose is on the titantron! Not man enough? Ambrose won’t let Rollins say he’s not man enough. Ambrose is more than man enough to go into the arena and beat the hell out of Rollins! But he won’t, because no one here deserves that. No one deserves an explanation from Ambrose! These fans who come up with no manners, calling Ambrose names and crying, “Why, Dean, why?” Ambrose says The Architect doesn’t have all the answers, huh? Maybe Rollins shouldn’t have treated Ambrose like an idiot or a charity case. Maybe something went wrong with Ambrose. Or maybe Ambrose has always been this way, but Rollins was just too selfish to see reality. Maybe Ambrose regrets what he did and when he did. Maybe his brothers will forgive him.
No, Ambrose thought the Shield was stronger together. Ambrose thought the fist and the gear made him strong. But the truth is, “The Shield made me weak.” Rollins and Roman made Ambrose weak. The burden of watching their backs made him weak! But it’s a new day, “a chance to be reborn. A chance to take the past… And burn it down.” Ambrose soaks his old Shield vest in gasoline, then tosses it into the fire. Ambrose has almost literally burned the bridge between him and Rollins. Is there any going back? Rollins storms off towards the back, will he find Ambrose when he gets there?
Kurt Angle heads to the ring! NOT!
Last week, The Olympic Gold Medalist fought to become captain of Team Raw, but the Scottish Terminator was on a mission to destroy the legend put in front of him. McIntyre could’ve won even sooner than he did, but he chose to humiliate Angle using his own submission hold to win. But instead of seeing the Hall of Famer, we see Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre walk out. The Show-Off and the Scotsman are part of Team Raw alongside Braun Strowamn, but there are still two spaces left to be filled.
McIntyre picks up a mic and speaks over the booing fans. “When I first showed up on Raw, I told you I was going to take over. Do you believe me now?!” First McIntyre had a part in breaking The Shield, and then he alone broke Kurt Angle. Angle went into the match a national treasure, but left as “nothing more than an embarrassment.” Angle gave it his all, McIntyre has to admit. But McIntyre saw Angle’s will to win fade in his eyes. McIntyre saw Angle realize that he was in the ring with a superior man. And finally, McIntyre saw Angle crawl on his hands and knees. Then “he started crying.” Ziggler mockingly says that’s too heart wrenching.
McIntyre was never more disgusted in his entire life! But McIntyre was more than happy to put Angle down with his own Ankle Lock! McIntyre says he’s had the highest highs, the lowest lows, and has sacrificed more than anyone here ever has. “Look at me! Raw is my show now!” And McIntyre shall mold this show into his image. There is no room for weakness! No more nostalgia acts! But here comes Finn Balor! The Extraordinary Man leads Balor Club into Kansas City and the ring, because he wants payback for the swerve McIntyre gave him with that Claymore kick.
Finn grabs a mic as fans chant “Too Sweet! Woop Woop!” McIntyre admits Finn has guts for coming out here. Finn admits that, too, but he also says that listening to McIntyre talk about all this, that’s just too much. Finn says McIntyre crossed a line. McIntyre could’ve won. Oh sorry, did McIntyre offend everyone? Here’s a life lesson: “Dignity is not a right reserved for all.” McIntyre could’ve done even worse but chose not to. But Finn isn’t here for Angle, he’s here because McIntyre tricked Finn after what “Big Bad Bobby” did to him. But Finn is exactly what’s wrong with Raw. So many superstars here are more concerned with their feelings, it makes him sick. Go cry to Balor Club and too sweet some–
SHUT UP! Does McIntyre want to act like a bully? Finn’s had bullies his whole life. So Finn will stick to what he knows: Finn VS McIntyre, right here and now! Fans want to see that! McIntyre wonders what’s more fragile: Finn’s feelings or his body. But if it’s a match he wants, it’s a match he gets! Not with McIntyre, though. Fans boo as McIntyre says it’ll be a match with the TRUE Best in the World, Dolph Ziggler! If Finn somehow defeats Ziggler, then maybe McIntyre will lower himself to Finn’s level. McIntyre of course makes a height joke with this. Ziggler doesn’t take Finn seriously, but then McIntyre headbutts Finn! Will Finn be able to get past Ziggler after that?
Finn Balor VS Dolph Ziggler w/ Drew McIntyre!
Raw returns as Finn says he’s okay to do this match. The bell rings and Ziggler goes right at Finn with haymakers! The ref backs Ziggler of, but Ziggler comes back to grind his boot into Finn. Finn crawls but Ziggler grinds his face into ropes. The ref counts and Ziggler backs off at 4, but then goes back after Finn. Ziggler puts Finn in an armlock and chinlock. Fans rally for Finn as Finn endures. Finn fights his way up but Ziggler wrangles him back down. Ziggler drops an elbow, then covers, TWO! Ziggler wraps Finn into a sleeper hold and body scissors. Finn endures again as McIntyre stares him down.
Ziggler shifts to a camel clutch with his hands over Finn’s face. Even so, Finn reaches out and gets the ropebreak! Ziggler lets go at 3, and Finn gets to his feet, only to get a dropkick! Cover, TWO! Ziggler stalks Finn to throw hands. Finn tries to shake it off but Ziggler is on him with another chinlock. Ziggler shifts to a modified armlock, then rolls Finn back into the body scissors and sleeper. Fans rally and Finn gets up again. Finn elbows his way out but Ziggler knees low. Ziggler runs but into Finn’s boot! Then Finn throws haymakers to back Ziggler down. Ziggler kicks low, then whips. Finn reverses but Ziggler sunset flips, Finn rolls through to dropkick! Finn runs in but Ziggler rolls him up, with tights! TWO, and Ziggler hits the splash in a corner.
Finn spins the neckbreaker off, then dodges Ziggler to swing kick! Ziggler’s down, Finn goes up! Ziggler trips him up! The Show-Off is back in control as we go to break.
Raw returns and Ziggler still has Finn down on the mat. Fans rally up but Ziggler eggs Finn on. Ziggler brings Finn up for the neckbreaker! Finn rolls to a corner, but boots Ziggler away. Ziggler kicks back then throws haymakers. Ziggler runs, but into a chop! Finn blocks the kick but runs into an elbow, to PELE Ziggler down! Both men are down but fans rally up. McIntyre coaches Ziggler as he paces on the outside. Ziggler and Finn slowly stand, and Finn fires off on Ziggler. Fans fire up with Finn as he runs in for the chop! Finn whips Ziggler but Ziggler reverses and redirects. Finn goes up and over but walks into a boot. Ziggler hops up but gets a kick! Then the takedown to double stomps! Cover, TWO!
McIntyre glares as Finn takes aim. Ziggler stands, and gets a slingblade! Finn aims again, but runs into a knee! Ziggler leaps, satellite DDT! Cover, TWO!! Finn survives and Ziggler grows frustrated. Ziggler waits for Finn to stand, but Finn blocks the kick. Ziggler kick slow, Famouser! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre grows frustrated along with Ziggler as Finn survives again. Ziggler watches Finn stand, but Finn bucks off the Zigzag to dropkick Ziggler down! Finn hurries up top, but Ziggler gets under the jump. Finn sends Ziggler, out, and dropkicks McIntyre down! But Ziggler returns, only to be launched! Ziggler and McIntyre regroup as Finn builds speed, Finn FLIES! He hits both men then puts Ziggler in. Fans chant “Too Sweet! Woop Woop!” as Finn leaps. Ziggler dodges, rolls Finn but Finn reverses, Finn wins!!
Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall
The Extraordinary Man beats the “Best in the World”, and to McIntyre’s chagrin! Will McIntyre man up and take Finn on 1v1?
Baron Corbin talks with Stephanie McMahon.
The Constable isn’t so sure bribery is the best way to control The Monster. It’s not bribery. But before Stephanie can argue her reasoning, they encounter Finn Balor. Stephanie congratulates Finn on his win, but also for standing up for himself. Not everyone has that kind of courage. Finn is going to be on Team Raw! Finn thanks Stephanie for the opportunity. Corbin wants to discuss the decision of making Finn the fourth man, but then McIntyre comes storming in! McIntyre asks if Finn thinks he’s funny. Stephanie tells McIntyre that she heard what he said, and corrects him: Raw is her show. And while McIntyre is upset, he can’t hurt his new teammate. Ziggler wants to get his hands on Shane for the World Cup, and McIntyre showed pure evil, which is what she wants him to do to Shane and all of SmackDown’s team.
Now, these three don’t have to like each other, but they have to work together. Understood? Yes. After they win, they can tear each other apart. Finn grins but so does McIntyre. Can Team Raw coexist long enough to win at Survivor Series?
Backstage interview with Ronda Rousey.
We’ve all heard what Becky Lynch said on Tuesday, what is Ronda’s response? Becky can dish it out, but Ronda wasn’t trying to offend or mock anything about Becky’s past. Ronda was just pointing out how ridiculous it is for Becky to think she’s taking Ronda’s arm. While Becky was learning the alphabet, Ronda was learning armbars. While Becky was learning to juggle, Ronda was learning armbars. And while Becky was pointing to where the exits were, Ronda was learning armbars. Ronda can’t believe she has to point this out. Becky can dish it out, but she can’t take it. Ronda speaks specifically to Becky about how “hypersensitive” she’s being. Becky isn’t “The Man”, she’s The Millennial. The skinny jean wearing, avocado toast munching Man with a bubble-wrapped ego and a porcelain self-perception.
Maybe someone should tell The Man that Ronda isn’t Charlotte, Raw isn’t SmackDown, and that being upset doesn’t make you right. Put the tiny violin away, “champ”, this isn’t Oliver Twist VS a trust-fund golden child. Ronda earned every fan with her blood, sweat and tears! And Ronda sure as hell didn’t pour her heart and soul into redefining “Fight like a girl” so that a leader of the Women’s Revolution could call herself “The Man”! Ronda calms down when Nia Jax walks by, with Tamina. They just want to wish their champ luck. And remind her that Nia is up next. The Baddest Woman is all riled up, but will her rowdy fighting spirit get burned by Becky’s Straight Fire?
Natalya VS Ruby Riott w/ The Riott Squad!
Before the match, Ruby has a mic to speak to The Queen of Harts. Ruby addresses her actions last week, while showing us footage. The Six Woman Tag rematch between The Riott Squad and Natty’s team ended not with a pinfall or a submission, but with Ruby breaking Jim the Anvil’s sunglasses. Natty was in tears but The Squad didn’t seem to care at the time. Now a week later, Ruby says that breaking The Anvil’s sunglasses struck a nerve with Natty and the WWE Universe. She thought it over since then, and she completely understands why there’s such backlash. “Let’s face it, Jim was a future WWE Hall of Famer.” He was a badass powerhouse with infectious charisma. And in that moment, Ruby took all of those happy memories and made them into nightmares.
Not only that, but Ruby humiliated Natalya in front of the world. “And I enjoyed every second of it!” The Squad laughs at how they tricked all the fans. That wasn’t taking it too far! That wasn’t far enough! These three have scratched and clawed for so much, and Ruby wanted everyone to feel emotion, REAL emotion. And “to bawl like a baby.” In that moment, it just made sense as to why Jim wore the sunglasses: “It was because he was ashamed to look at his own daughter.” Jim had to cover his eyes– But here comes the Daughter of the Anvil! Not from the ramp, but from behind! And she trips Ruby up to hammer away!
Liv and Sarah come back but Natty takes care of them. Ruby gets Natty, and now it’s a numbers game! Sarah lifts Natty up, and Ruby runs, for a Hart Attack! They steal the move of Bret & Jim to further humiliate Natty! Natty isn’t crying, but she isn’t standing either. Will Natalya ever get payback for what The Squad did in disrespect?
Raw Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Battle Royal!
The Monster Among Men blasted this match apart to open the show, but now we’ll try again. Who will be the last team standing to lead the Red Brand into the epic 10v10 Elimination Match?
The bell rings and that brawl begins again. The Revival pick on Slater while The Ascension go after Bobby Roode. The Lucha House party go after Rhyno while Corey complains that they shouldn’t have the entire trio in a tag team battle royal. Slater fights off The Revival but ends up caught on the top rope. Dawson throw him out, The Revival ELIMINATES Slater & Rhyno! Rhyno has to leave by default, and The Revival go after Lucha House Party.
The B-Team go after Chad Gable while The Revival and LHP continue to fight. The Revival put Kalisto on the apron but Kalisto fights them off. Lince runs in to help but is tossed over! Kalisto helps keep Lince in and they skin the cat. Lince headscissors but Dawson reverses to shove Lince out. Lince bodyscissors to bring Dawson with him! Dash goes to save Dawson, but Metalik suckers him into the B-Team. Axel knees Dash and feeds him to Metalik’s tornado DDT, that he also uses to kick Dawson down! Lucha House Party ELIMINATES The Revival! B-Team help throw Dash out for good measure, and the #TopGuys collide!
Bo Dallas & Curt Axel chant “B-Team! B-Team! GO GO GO!” but Lucha House Party respond with “Lucha! Lucha!” The Ascension blow up the chant battle, and go after everyone left. Konnor has all three luchadores on him but throws them all off! And then he throws Kalisto out, The Ascension ELIMINATES Lucha House Party! Lince and Metalik roll out, leaving The Ascension, The B-Team and Roode-Gable. Viktor throws Axel at Bo and gets rid of them both, The Ascension ELIMINATES The B-Team! Viktor and Gable brawl and Roode hits Konnor! Roode gets Viktor in place for a neckbreaker, and Gable adds a moonsault! The teamwork works out, and they hurry to get Viktor up. Konnor hits Roode down, then boots Gable. Konnor brings Gable up, but gets caught into a handing armbar! Roode dumps Konnor out, they ELIMINATE the Ascension!
Winners: #ReadyWillingAndGLORIOUS
We have our Raw team captains! The captains are victorious and GLORIOUS, but which other four teams will they bring with them to Survivor Series?
Raw returns, and we have our Tag Team Division team!
With names like the Authors of Pain already champions, Dolph & Drew in the normal Men’s Team and Rollins & Ambrose at odds, it wasn’t hard for them to choose. Roode & Gable will bring The Revival, The B-Team, the Ascension and Lucha House Party with them to face Team SmackDown! Who will SmackDown captains, Jimmy & Jey Uso, bring besides themselves and The New Day?
Brock Lesnar is here!
The Beast and his Advocate head to the ring, the WWE Universal Championship belt back around his waist. Of course, it was thanks to Baron Corbin’s Crown Jewel Screw-Job, but that doesn’t matter to Lesnar or Heyman. Now for the second year in a row, Survivor Series will feature The Beast VS The Phenomenal One in the Universal VS World, Champion VS Champion match. Heyman gives his standard introduction for himself and the “only two-time reigning, defending, undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion”, BROCK! LESNAR!! And Heyman knows everyone will agree with him that no one deserves congratulations more tahn The Beast. But Strowman will get some congratulations that he’s almost unbeatable, “except when you get hit with not one F5, not two F5’s,” but FIVE F5’s from Brock, Lesnar. And congrats to Strowman that he’s able to worm his way back to a title shot with “some hardball negotiations.”
Heyman congrats the SmackDown roster for avoiding the beating their world champion gets at Survivor Series. Heyman congrats AJ Styles for being the world champion who will get that beating. Fans chant “AJ Styles!” but Heyman says they only chant that because they think Styles has a fighting chance based on last year’s match. Heyman says that Styles will fly into LA, check in to Hotel California, go to the “Suplex City” suite, and “take the beating that is coming the way of the WWE Champion.” For those who don’t know what that Hotel California reference was about, “google it, b*tches, I’m not here to educate you!”
But he’s here to educate AJ Styles. So based on last year, there is no one in the WWE from Raw or SmackDown or NXT, or even the UFC, that Lesnar wants to beat up more, wants to take to Suplex City more, wants to F5 more, and no one Lesnar wants to beat more, than AJ Styles. “Which means, ladies and gentlemen, this Sunday at Survivor Series, Suplex City, F5, one, two, three.” Your winner, the champion of champions, Brock Lesnar. That’s not a prediction, that’s– Jinder Mahal? Mahal addresses Heyman and respects the goal of making Lesnar a two sport champion. But do not underestimate AJ Styles. Last year, Mahal was focused on a dream match: Universal Champion, “The Beast” Lesnar VS World Champion “Beast Master” Mahal! That opening allowed Styles to steal the title and steal the match!
So Mahal is here as a friend to offer his services and help Lesnar focus. Mahal can show Lesnar the power of his mantra! Mantra? Seriously? Is Lesnar even going to entertain this notion? Surprisingly, yes. Lesnar says Heyman should hear this, since he’s Jewish and all. Heyman tries to explain that’s not how it works, but Mahal enters the ring. Mahal thanks Lesnar for this chance. Now, center your energy. Breathe in, then breathe out as you say “Shanti!” Lesnar tries the breathing, but he decides instead of “Shanti”, he says Suplex City! He runs one Singh Brother over and throws the other! Lesnar clotheslines Mahal out, then a suplex for the other Singh Brother! Then back to Sunil for another suplex! Heyman uses “Shanti”, and it seems to keep him calm as Lesnar throws Samir again!
Fans want “One More Time!”, so Lesnar hauls Sunil up to toss at Mahal! The Beast looms over the Modern Day Maharaja, then hauls him up for an F5 to the floor! Heyman hands Lesnar back his belt, and The Beast leaves Mahal and the Singh Brothers down and out. Will this rematch one year later go the same way? Or will Styles surprise everyone, but especially Heyman and Lesnar?
Elias VS Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush!
The Monster Among Men, the Scottish Terminator, the Show-Off and the Extraordinary Man are four of the five members of Team Raw. Will the Drifter or the Rocky Mountain Machine join them as the fifth and final man?
Before the match, the Hype Man of the Hour hypes up “the most magnificent body in the world.” Bobby Lashley is a work of art! His genetic make-up is art. But show them all those poses. “Yes, yes!” The side pose, the lats, the double biceps and quads. And yes, Kansas City will get Lashley’s favorite, the gluteus maximus! Lio gets a laugh out of it, that’s fore sure. But then Elias appears! Elias sits on stage with his guitar, and takes out his phone. Why? Because he needs to tell Kansas City Child Protective Services that Lashley has a child he kidnapped weeks ago. How old? Lio how old are you? Can’t be more than 10. And the poor kid is pointing at Lashley’s muscles, and Lashley was bent over just now. Why? No idea. Yes, it’s very disturbing, hence the call.
How long can they hold him? Make it quick, the longer Lashley is out here, the more prone we are to falling asleep. Lashley tells Elias the clown to shut up. Elias is up there running his mouth and trying to be funny, why doesn’t he get down here to say it in Lashley’s face? Calm down, Lashley. Elias will tell the whole world that Lashley sucks. Elias was just trying to help Lashley and “the toddler”, but before that, he plays his guitar. And then he asks, “Who Wants to Walk with Elias?!” Kansas City does! This match happens after the break!
Raw returns as Lashley has Elias in a headlock. Lashley wrangles Elias down but Elias keeps fighting back. Fans rally up and Elias gets up, only to be thrown down by Lashley! Lashley stomps Elias, then drops an elbow. Elias moves and Lashley hits mat. Elias throws hands, but Lashley kicks low. Lashley backs Elias down then whips him corner to corner. Elias goes up, and dropkicks Lashley away. Elias runs in corner to corner and runs Lashley over! Lashley staggers to a corner, Elias stomps and throws hands! Fans fire up with Elias, but Lio gets up on the apron. Elias hits him down, but Lashley rolls him up! TWO, and Elias baits Lashley. Elias dumps Lashley out, then leaps from the apron for a big knee!
Lashley’s down but Elias whips him into the post. But Lashley throws Elias into steel steps! Lashley gets in the ring at 6, Elias heads over, but Lio appears from under the apron! Lio keeps Elias from getting in before 10!!
Winner: Bobby Lashley, by count-out; joins the Raw 5-Man Survivor Series team
The now 24 year old piece of gold pays dividends! His big man gets in, keeping Elias out of Survivor Series. So Elias goes after little Lio! But then Big Bobby runs in, so Elias dodges to send him into the post! Elias throws Lashley into barriers, then grabs Lio. Elias puts Lio in the ring, hauls him up by his pants, then tosses him back out onto Lashley! The Drifter gets the last laugh on Lashley & Lio tonight, but will he be able to bounce back from this loss? Is the Men’s Team Raw truly powerful enough to destroy SmackDown once and for all?
Alexa Bliss heads to the ring!
The Goddess was put in charge of putting together the Raw Women’s Team, and she has Mickie James, Tamina and Nia Jax in tow as she makes her entrance. SmackDown already gave their team, though it’s unclear if Charlotte Flair will accept the appointment. That said, knowing Naomi, Carmella, Sonya Deville and Asuka will definitely be on the other side, Alexa surely wants to have the best possible on her side.
Alexa says “This Sunday is personal.” This is about proving Raw is always the A-Show and SmackDown is always second best. The Goddess not only expects a win, but demands it! She has the most dominant team ever, “you’re welcome.” A key member of the team, Natalya, has had an emotional night. She was sent home early to channel that range and focus it at SmackDown. For now, she introduces the present members of her team: First, her loyal friend and six-time women’s champion, Mickie James. Second, the former Raw Women’s Champion, Evolution Battle Royal winner, and perhaps someone who can help Alexa bury the hatchet, Nia Jax! Third, another fierce competitor and someone has shown she was born with the killer instinct, Tamina!
2Now this plus Natty is still one superstar short. Alexa thought long and hard on who the fifth woman to be. It should be someone willing to do anything, even end friendships, to win. The winner of tonight’s main event will be that fifth woman.
Sasha Banks VS Bayley!
No matter how many times the Legit Boss and the Huggable One make up as friends, they’re always pitted against each other over something. Will Sasha and Bayley stay friends after this match? Or will history repeat itself here tonight?
Raw returns, and the bell rings. The two friends circle and tie up as the others watch closely at ringside. Sasha chops then goes acrobatic to arm-drag Bayley. Sasha runs in but Bayley rolls her up, ONE. Bayley rolls Sasha again, ONE! Sasha waistlocks but Bayley bucks her off. Bayley hits a sliding lariat, cover, TWO! Sasha whips Bayley but Bayley slips out and brings Sasha over. Sasha denies the hotshot to knee Bayley down! Bayley goes down but catches the slide to knee Sasha back! Both women are down but Bayley gets up to put Sasha in the ring. Sasha spins around and hits a huricanrana! Now Sasha puts Bayley in, then climbs up. Flying meteora! Cover, TWO! Both women are down again but Sasha sits up first.
Sasha runs in but Bayley pops her up and tosses her out. Bayley elbows Sasha down, then goes out. Bayley runs, and dropkicks through the corner, but Sasha swings her into the post! Sasha catches her breath while Bayley clutches her ribs. Sasha gets in the ring, and goes to the apron to double knee Bayley into the post! She goes back in, but Bayley dodges and Sasha’s knees hit post! Bayley rolls Sasha up, TWO! Alexa seems mildly amused while fans fire up for both women. Bayley gets up but Sasha throws her out. Sasha hobbles over but into a hotshot! They’re both on the apron now as they slowly stand up. Fans rally up, Sasha blocks the kick to give a knee! But she runs into a Bayley2Belly on the apron!! They both crash down while we go to one last break.
Raw returns once again, as Bayley’s Macho Elbow hits knees! Sasha puts on the crossface! Bayley reaches, but Tamina and Mickie attack?!
No Contest
And now so does Nia! Tamina SUPERKICKS Sasha, and Nia gives Bayley a leg drop! Alexa is mockingly shocked. Bayley and Sasha didn’t win, so she’ll introduce her real fifth woman: Ruby Riott!! The Squad Leader appears, as do Sarah and Liv. Seems it was all just a game to The Goddess, and now the team is complete. However, with the tension between Ruby and Natalya, can the women of Team Red coexist long enough to defeat Team Blue?
An attack happens backstage!!
Becky Lynch has somehow gotten in the building, in the locker room, and after Ronda’s arm!! “The Man” bends back the Baddest Woman’s arm, threatening to break it now before Survivor Series! Security runs Becky off and she shouts “Everyone’s tough ’til The Man comes ’round!” The Relent-Lass Straight Fire has fired the first shot, but she’s not done! She heads to the ring with all the Raw women in the ring. Is she crazy?! No, she has back-up! Team SmackDown appears!
Naomi, Asuka, Carmella, Sonya and even Charlotte are here to fight! The IIconics, too! They throw the Raw Women around, so Dana Brooke and Alicia Fox come out to reinforce their team. Nia takes Charlotte and puts her in a corner, but oddly enough her enemy, Becky, saves her. Becky has a bloody nose but she helps Naomi with Tamina while Sonya takes care of Nia. Fans see the chaos and declare “This is Awesome!”
But here comes RONDA!! Becky gets out, she’s already had her go. Ronda decimates the IIconics and Mandy Rose, and with one arm she decks Peyton Royce. But Becky has a chair to jam into Ronda’s ribs! SmackDown continue to wreck Raw as Naomi throws Tamina into steps, and the rest throw Nia into a post! Charlotte SPEARS Nia while Becky SMACKS Ronda! Fans want “One More Time!” so Becky does SMACK Ronda one more time! Becky leads her team out, but Ronda glares daggers at them all. Alexa is beside herself on the ramp. Raw may have the Baddest Woman and the strongest team, but will any of that matter when SmackDown is united in their defiance?
Stephanie is FURIOUS!
Where was Baron Corbin? How could he let this happen under his nose?! Becky and SmackDown decimated Raw! Corbin has no idea, but Stephanie wants to know how that’s possible! Is he not the acting GM? He is, but– But nothing! This cannot happen on Sunday! What will Corbin do to fix this?! Corbin promises to find a way, but can he? Or is he going to be out of power the moment Team Raw suffers even one loss?
My Thoughts:
For about 80% of tonight, Raw was in the sad standard of sub-par go-home. It opened with a lot of fun as Strowman wrecks that battle royal, and while I’m disappointed he didn’t threaten to just dismantle everything on the Raw side of Survivor Series, I suppose it’s fine Strowman will hold onto his anger until after. If Strowman is going after Corbin in a match of his choosing, I’m thinking TLC ends up being when and where. This will of course bring into question what Strowman does in the Mixed Match Challenge now that we know there’s actually something at stake in it. But Corbin at TLC and Lesnar at Royal Rumble makes sense for Strowman’s path of destruction towards the title he should already have.
Then we go into that sub-par mode as we get very few matches in two hours. We didn’t need recaps, just the building on those events. Ziggler VS Finn was a great match, though, and I suppose we’re just accepting that Finn isn’t feuding with Lashley anymore. Finn VS McIntyre will be a great match when we get it, and putting Finn on Team Raw is an interesting twist. I’m thinking all this dysfunction on Team Raw and the emphasis of getting back at Shane is going to be exactly why SmackDown wins the Men’s match. And in the Rollins-Ambrose story, Ambrose says we don’t deserve an explanation, but he still technically gave us one. As I figured, it’s one part what The Pack brought up, and one part how Ambrose took Rollins using his nickname of “Lunatic”. Ambrose likely attacks Rollins, title match at TLC.
Heyman has another great promo to plug Lesnar VS Styles 2018, and it was actually a pretty good moment of continuity for Mahal to act like he’s the expert on Styles. Mahal and the Singh Brothers end up a good workout for Lesnar as he slaughters them with Suplex City. Now obviously there’s a lot that says Lesnar wins, such as this talk of his UFC match and perhaps the spectacle a WWE Universal Champion becoming a UFC Heavyweight Champion brings. But I’m still banking on some sort of shocking upset, or maybe, if The Club aren’t brought onto Team SmackDown’s Tag Team team, Gallows & Anderson help Styles just beat down Lesnar because they can. I doubt they’d be booed if they did.
Ember put up a good fight against Tamina, but with Nia helping out, naturally Tamina wins her singles return. And naturally, Tamina and Nia make a lot of sense to be put on the Women’s team. Alexa had a good character moment to say that maybe she and Nia can be friends again. For one, wrestling logic dictates that Heels can always find common ground regardless of their pasts. Second, Alexa is literally the kind of character to work with someone, betray them, then work with them again. Just look at Mickie. Now, I expected the entire Riott Squad to be on the team instead of Mickie and Natty, but it seems the Women’s Team needs dysfunction to jeopardize their chances, too. And that entire ending brawl was amazing! Becky got a bloody nose, but that somehow adds to how badass she is. She has to win now, right?
My Score: 8.1/10
Did the last Raw before WWE Survivor Series do it for you? Let us know on social media @theCHAIRSHOTcom and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.25.2024
We just got done with Rebellion, and Under Siege is two weeks away! Gotta see how these dots connect!
Rebellion had quite a few returns, Mike Santana, Sami Callihan and Broken Matt Hardy. All three of these guys could easily be main event players, and its nice to mix up and expand what felt like a rather small pool of potential challengers.
Under Siege is only like 2 weeks out, so we’ll see how the dots connect in such a short period of time.
.@AJFrancis410, Rich Swann, and rap legend @BunBTrillOG are IN THE HOUSE Meanwhile, @joehendry announces he will deliver an apology to Fir$t Cla$$ NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT! pic.twitter.com/4GNe2xWfyU
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024
Ratings:
- Mike Santana vs Myron Reed w/Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz: Santana wins via Spin the Block – ** 1/2
- #1 Contender: Frankie Kazarian vs Josh Alexander: Josh wins via Grapevine Ankle Lock – ***
- ASH by Elegance vs Xia Brookside: Xia wins via School Girl Roll-Up – ** 3/4
- Sami Callihan vs The Good Hands: Sami Callihan wins via Cactus Driver ’97 – SQUASH
- Eddie Edwards w/Alisha Edwards & Brian Myers vs Nic Nemeth: Eddie wins via Boston Knee Party – *** 1/4
Results:
Did @NicTNemeth say BROKEN? @MATTHARDYBRAND has arrived in the iMPACT Zone! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/HbkUangt6e
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024
A weird opening that is just framed to put Nemeth and Hardy together against The System. Feels a little awkward, but who knows how it will play out.Â
.@JordynneGrace vs @miyu_tjp NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT will now be for the Knockouts World Championship! pic.twitter.com/YnKZjb9yjx
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024
Mike Santana vs Myron Reed w/Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz
Ahh I didn’t really pay attention to Santana’s theme at Rebellion, but its pretty damn cool. Good stuff.Â
Rascalz blindside Santana early, but the heel advantage doesn’t last more than a few moves. Santana whips Myron from corner to corner, hits a few Hip Attacks before Myron finally dodges one and starts using his unique offense and agility to his advantage. Matrix dodge, into an Leaping Outside Back in Slingshot Codebreaker. Some more offense and Santana powders to the ramp, Myron jumps over the rope and tries a Flying Cutter, but Santana blocks it, turns things around, gets pushed forward and hits the Rolling Cutter. Santana takes out the Rascalz, heads back into the ring, Myron tries to catch him unawares but eats the Spin the Block off the rope run! Santana wins fairly quickly.
Maclin’s music hits, he tries to employ the help of The Rascalz to attack Santana, but as soon as Maclin positions himself to get in, The Rascalz bail and flip off Maclin. Maclin makes it out of the confrontation relatively unscathed, but at least we know where he’s going for Under Siege probably.
OH FUCK ME WITH RUSTY KNIVES. Because Cardona is hurt Kon is paired with SDL, and she just challenges Jordynne and PCO to a tag match. WHY!? STOP IT. This is hot garbage.Â
Josh Alexander comes out…I wonder who’s Super Finisher he’s gonna conveniently kick out this time? Brian Myers? Frankie Kazarian? Rich Swann? Because yes, I’m still annoyed that Hammerstone has been in TNA for half a sandwich, he already connects with a Super version of his finish on tacks, and that’s not a finish. Oh Kaz’s music hits. Okay, so time for Josh to kick out of Fade to Black or Flux Capacitor. Kaz talks smack, says he won his match too so he should have a say in who’s number one contender. Josh challenges him, Kaz says not right now, but a referee runs out and says the match is official.Â
#1 Contender: Frankie Kazarian vs Josh Alexander
Kaz throws his jacket on Josh’s head, and attacks him with some strikes before Josh fights back and throws Kaz out. Commercial break, we see Kaz misses his Apron Guillotine, Josh goes for the Low Crossbody but Kaz dodges and Josh goes flying. Kaz starts throwing some chops and claws at the cauliflowered ears of Josh. Russian Leg Sweep from Kaz for a near fall. Josh swings wildly and Kaz ducks the strike and levels Josh with a Lariat.
Josh blocks a Vertical Suplex attempt, but Frankie pulls off a Fisherman’s Suplex after a few overhead strikes for a near fall. Josh stands up and connects with a straight right, rocks Kaz, Back Body Drop, into a Charging Forearm, Rolling Senton, 2 count! C4 Spike attempt countered into a Back Stabber and then Chicken Wing, but Josh fights it off, rolls through and into an Ankle Lock, Kaz kicks off and into a Head and Arm Cradle for a near fall and then the Guillotine Leg Drop into Slingshot DDT spot from Kaz for another 2 count!
Fade to Black, but its fought off, Big Boot but then Kaz counters the next move with a Power Slam into the Springboard Guillotine Leg Drop, but Josh grabs the Ankle Lock! Locomotion German Suplex time from Josh, Halfhatch Suplex after the Germans, floats over for a 2 count! C4 Spike attempt again, but Kaz fights it off, dumps him over the top rope, slingshots him in and into the Cutter for a near fall for Kaz! After the 2 Kaz grabs a chair and chain, the referee stops the chair of course, so he tries the chain, EY runs down and grabs the chain so Kaz pulls the Eddie Guerrero and the referee admonishes EY, but doesn’t DQ Josh. So as Kaz is busy laughing at EY, Josh picks the ankle, Ankle Lock with the Grapevine, Kaz taps.
Tensions are sky-high between @alexhammerstone and @JakeSomething_! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/LLCUJOCy7H
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024
ASH by Elegance vs Xia Brookside
Both are jawing at each other and then throw hands before Xia gets the upper hand with a Headscissors from the Top Turnbuckle, Charging Knees, a Flurry of Kicks, but when the ref forces some space in the corner, ASH is finally able to dodge and work over Xia with her Twisting Body Splash, a few choking moves, a corner Stomp into a Snap Suplex for 2. ASH is in charge elegantly, but the referee keeps forcing space on both of them when they go for corner attacks. Xia manages to take advantage a little, but ASH regains control, kicks Xia up the ramp and then lands her Cartwheel Back Elbow up the ramp. It actually looks pretty cool executed like that.
Headlocks and Hair Pulling to keep Xia down and using energy to kick out. ASH is getting frustrated but Xia is remaining persistent. ASH goes back to the Headlock, but Xia fights up, Jawbreaker, Back Elbow, Kick to the gut and Drop Toe Hold sends ASH face first into the middle buckle. Xia rips off 4 Double Knee Smashes to the back of ASH’s head into her Flying Crossbody for a close 2! Xia pulls her up, but ASH spins out, then Xia slips it, but ASH kicks her in the chest and deposits her to the outside and demands a count from the referee. Iceman puts Jeweled Knuckles/Rings on ASH’s hand, the referee catches her, removes the stuff from her fingers and Xia hits the School Girl Roll-Up for the flash win.
Fraud has thrown the Ballot Box Battle into chaos, but also paved the way for an explosive showdown between @TheTreyMiguel and @The_Ace_Austin NEXT WEEK to determine the #1 Contender for the X Division Championship! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/lYHrtgNrc3
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024
Sami Callihan vs The Good Hands
So the Good Hand Jobs are about to do their job to Sami. I’m just gonna assume Sami beats the hell out of both and wins with a Cactus Driver ’97. If anything interesting happens I might actually cover it, but come on now.
.@SteveMaclin has a proposition for @FrankieKazarian#TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/XY6lMdmSWo
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024
Kaz makes a Metallica reference with the “Wash Your Back So You Won’t Stab Mine”…and Sweet Amber is the only good song on St. Anger. So…I ain’t mad.
Eddie Edwards w/Alisha Edwards & Brian Myers vs Nic Nemeth
A little early ground wrestling and headlocks for control from both men. Nothing super flashy to start until we get to the rope run and Nemeth goes for the Flying Body Press to drop Eddie. Before Nemeth can follow up, Lish grabs his foot. Nic does have his brother Ryan in the crowd, trying to get chants going and do the old school ‘power up the babyface’ thing, but Eddie has been in control since Lish got involved. Simple offense, chokes, strikes, Snap Suplexes, Knee Drops, simple yet effective. But then Eddie ducks his head too early, Nemeth kicks him in the face, bounces his head off the buckles a few times, Dropkick sends Eddie reeling to the corner, Nemeth starts the 10 Count Punches but Myers hits the apron to distract and Eddie manages to slip the situation and push Nemeth to the floor.
Commercial break happens, Nemeth is trying to fight back with Chops, but a Kitchen Sink from Eddie puts Nemeth on the floor again! Clubbing blow from Eddie, but Eddie then misses the Hip Attack in the corner and Nemeth counters with the Rude Awakening into the 10 Count Rain of Elbows. Fame Ass-er miss, Eddie tries something but Nemeth turns it into that hesitation DDT for 2! Tuning up the band starts to build and Eddie powders to avoid it. Nemeth throws Eddie back in, goes to the top, but Eddie crotches him, rises up and hits the Superplex into Tiger Driver for 2! Eddie starts mocking with Tuning Up the band but Nemeth hits his own Superkick into an Olympic Slam for 2!
Both men just trade strikes Fighting Spirit style, Eddie says “Always Trust the System” and Nemeth shuts him up with a Headbutt. Danger Zone is blocked, Boston Knee Party gets ducked, they level each other with Lariats! Myers and Ryan Nemeth start fighting to distract the referee, Moose hits the ring and hits Nemeth with the belt. Eddie lands Boston Knee Party and The System wins again!
Overall Score: 6/10
A lame opening segment, a squash match, ASH by Elegance getting her first loss, and a weird way of just pulling the number one contender out of mid air makes for an awkward show. Also Kon still be involved in, literally anything, is negative. However, I can say there was a ton of stuff thrown at the wall this episode, so there’s a chance that some things landed better with other people than myself. The ballot segments were amusing, they overused the “I need to talk to you Santino” gimmick a bit much and personally I feel like having Jake versus Hammerstone is booking yourself into a weird corner.
But hey, the main event was fun, Nemeth getting laid out to the point that there could be a story reason to take him out of the Under Siege match. Kaz with the Metallica reference was pop worthy and I guess its a lot of ‘let’s see where it goes’ kind of angle creation. So it wasn’t complete trash, but its definitely a wait and see episode.
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The Queen is coming for her crown!
Athena & Billie Starkz are the top champions in the ROH Women’s Division, but Queen Aminata’s coming after them! Who will she target first?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Isiah Kassidy VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes; Zay wins.
- Six Man Tag: Top Flight VS The Dark Order; Top Flight wins.
- Anna Jay VS Allysin Kay; Anna wins.
- Johnny TV w/ Taya Valkyrie VS Will Austin; Johnny wins.
- Six Man Tag: The Mogul Embassy VS MANDERS & BEEFTANK; The Embassy wins.
- Yuka Sakazaki VS Leila Grey; Yuka wins.
- ROH World Tag Team Championships Proving Ground Match: The Undisputed Kingdom VS The Outrunners; The Kingdom wins and denies The Outrunners a title match.
- Taya Valkyrie w/ Johnny TV VS Laynie Luck; Taya wins.
- Six Man Tag: Lance Archer & The Righteous VS Jon Cruz, GPA & Ren Jones; Archer & The Righteous win.
- Abadon VS Nova; Abadon wins.
- Triple Threat: Blake Christian VS AR Fox VS The Beast Mortos; Mortos wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Isiah Kassidy VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes!
Brother Zay and the Commander of the Skies are coming down from the high of competing against Rob Van Dam on April 20th, but they’re both ready to get back up. Will Kassidy earn his shot (shot shot) at a championship? Or will the AAA Cruiserweight Champion be aiming for ROH gold?
The Code of Honor is upheld, but Zay has his fingers crossed! Zay trips Komander at the bell, says he’s too smart, then he steps on Komander’s dropdown to say “SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!” and “SUCK IT!” Komander keeps cool, he and Zay tie up, and Komander headlocks. Zay pulls on the mask, powers up and out to hurdle, but then Komander steps on him! Komander mocks “SHOTS! SHOTS!” Zay runs up, Komander avoids the boot to then wrench, wrench and mule kick a leg! Kmoander steps over, rolls through, then rolls again, to a HALF CRAB! Zay endures, fights around, ROPEBREAK! Komander lets go and Zay stands back up.
The fans rally, Komander runs in but is put on the apron. Zay runs in but into a slingshot BOOT! Zay comes back but Komander goes up and headscissors Zay into buckles. Komander comes back to springboard, wheelbarrow, but Zay HOTSHOTS Komander and then throws him down! The fans boo but Zay says they don’t teach that at school. Just follow Zay and he’ll get your right. Zay then smothers Komander with his towel! The ref reprimands, Zay lets off and Komander sputters to a corner. Zay bumps Komander off buckles, CHOPS him, then stomps Komander down. Zay says “SHOTS! SHOTS!” as he gives stomp after stomp.
The ref counts, Zay lets off at 4 and dusts his shoes off. Zay goes back to scuff Komander, taunt him, but the fans rally up for Komander. Zay scuffs Komander more, eggs him on, but Komander fights up to fire hands! Zay ducks a roundhouse but not the HEEL KICK! Zay leans on ropes, Komander runs in but Zay puts him on the apron. Komander gets up but Zay triangle jump STUNNERS! Komander flops to the floor, Zay scowls and goes out after him. The fans rally, Zay backs Abrahantes off, and the fans boo. Zay goes back for Komander, SMACKS him off barriers, then grabs the chair.
The fans boo, Zay says watch this, it’s about to be an 8K. Zay runs and uses the chair to LAUNCH, into barriers! Komander avoids disaster, puts Zay in the ring, and he hurries to a corner. The fans fire up as Komander springboards, but Zay moves! Komander rolls through, ducks ‘n’ dodges then RANAS! The fans fire up while Zay bails out. Komander builds speed and WRECKS Zay with a dropkick! Then ASAI MOONSAULT and down goes Zay! The fans fire up, Komander drags Zay up and in, then he springboards again, for a SWANTON BOMB! Cover, TWO! Zay stays in this as fans chant “DOS! DOS! DOS!”
Zay goes to the apron, Komander storms up and stands him up. Zay shoves Komander away, goes up the corner, but Komander runs up! Zay anticipates and GAMANGIRIS! Zay goes up to SUPSER SUSNET FLIP, but Komander flips through!! The fans fire up and Zay is shocked! Zay still BOOTS Komander, fires forearms, but Komander bobs ‘n’ weaves to SLAP, UPPERCUT and power up! Zay turns Komander around but gets a SHOTEI! Komander then jumps up top POISON-RANA! The fans fire up again and Komander runs, but into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO! Or as the fans remind us, “DOS! DOS! DOS!”
Zay says Komander’s done wasting his time. Zay whips, Komander reverses but Zay reverses back to scoop, only for Komander to tilt-o-whirl sunset flip! TWO, but Komander tries a side roll sunset, TWO! Zay escapes, Komander dodges his haymaker and waistlocks. Zay switches, Komander switches back, but Zay grabs the ref! LOW BLOW MULE KICK!! The fans boo as Zay gets away with that one! Abrahantes protests but the ref can’t call what he didn’t see! Zay blows a kiss, before the INVERTED TWIST OF FATE! Cover, Zay wins!
Winner: Isiah Kassidy, by pinfall
Brother Zay didn’t break rules but he did find a loophole to DELETE Komander’s momentum. Will Zay soon have a WONDERFUL ascension to the top of ROH?
ROH hears from Bullet Club Gold.
It was backstage at AEW Dynasty this past Sunday that the Bang Bang Gang unified the AEW and ROH World Trios Championships! Jay White says, “Today, our destiny, fulfilling our destiny by building our Dynasty! Y’see, I’m full! I’m full of that feeling when I get to say, I told you so! When I came to AEW, joined forces with The Gunns, I said the Gunns were money! Brought them in along with Juice Robinson, to Bullet Club GOLD. I said I would bring you gold, and boys, we’re running out of space. Because we’ve got gold a plenty, haven’t we, boys? Cuz I’m the mother effin’ Catalyst of Professional Wrestling! I told you so!”
Austin says their backpacks are heavier on the ride home, but that extra weight just reminds him that the Bang Bang Gang runs this Trios ish! Colten says they like to have fun before and after, but during? They don’t take no ish! There’s this saying around here, “Restore the Feeling.” That’s something for the young guys to get on TV, but guess who are never mentioned? The Gunns! Is it because they’ve been in too many main events? Is it because they’ve been tag team world champions? And now they’re AEW & ROH Trios Champions! The Gunns are the best damn team in the world! White is the best singles man in the world!
And tonight, they are the BEST trio in the world!! And if you’re not down with that, they’ve got two words for ya: GUNS UP!! The Bang Bang Gang is firing on all cylinders, but will they be able to shoot down those who take aim at them?
Six Man Tag: Top Flight VS The Dark Order!
Speaking of the trios championships, Action Andretti, and the brothers Martin get their shot at the Bang Bang Gang this Saturday! Will Top Flight pick up speed going into that Collision? Or will Evil Uno, John Silver & Alex Reynolds prove they are worthy contenders?
The Code of Honor is upheld, the trios sort out, and Darius Martin starts against Johnny Hungy. The bell rings, the fans rally and the two circle. The fans rally for “JOHNNY HUNGY!” as the two tie up. Darius wrenches, wristlocks, but Silver spins and fireman’s carries for the takeover. Silver has the cording hold but Darius fights up. Silver wrenches but Darius spins, slips around, waistlocks, spins Silver and cravats for the neck wrench. Silver endures, powers up and out, but Darius rolls over the dropdown. Darius sweeps a leg to cover, ONE! Darius turns Silver’s sweep into a cradle, TWO!
Silver gets up but Darius arm-drags him back down. The fans cheer, Darius wrenches Silver and tags Action. Action runs to LEAP FROG ATTACK the arm! Action wrenches Silver, tags Dante, and Dante goes up to AX HANDLE the arm! Dante clamps onto the arm, digs a knuckle into Silver’s ribs, or was it a tickle attack? Tag to Darius and Dante snapmares Silver. Darius runs to basement dropkick! Cover, ONE!! Silver stays in this but Darius stays on him. Tag to Dante, Top Flight reel Silver in but the rest of Dark Order save him from the double suplex! So Action jumps in and Top Flight TRIPLE SUPERKICKS!
The fans fire up while Uno and Reynolds spill back out. Action and Darius aim, DOUBLE PLANCHA but Uno and Reynolds DECK them outta the air! Dante brings Silver up but Silver fights the half nelson to then whip Dante into the ropes! Silver then runs up, Uno & Reynolds join in, TRIPLE DROPKICK! Silver then waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX Dante into a bridging cover, TWO! Silver tags Reynolds and he short arm LARIATS Dante! Cover, TWO! Reynolds brings Dante up, bumps him off buckles, then tags Uno. Uno CHOPS Dante, then snapmares him to stomp him down! The fans rally for Uno as he tautns Action.
Uno goes back for Dante but Dante throws body shots. Uno CLUBS Dante, bumps him off buckles, and tags Reynolds. Silver holds Dante in whiel Reynolds whips Uno for the SPLASH! Uno goes again, but Dante dodges, goes up and over Reynolds, hot tag to Action! The Sight to See rallies on the Dark Order! ELBOW for Uno! BOOT for Silver! ELBOW for Reynolds! Uno kicks low, whips, but Action handsprings to DOUBLE BACK ELBOW! The fans fire up as Action kips up, and he runs in at Reynolds in a corner. UPPERCUT! Uno runs in but the SPLASH is sent into Reynolds! Uno staggers away, Action DECKS Reynolds!
Action aims, slingshot and SPLIT LEG but he has to bail out as Reynolds moves! Action just uses that to roll and PELE Uno! SPANISH FLY on Reynolds! Cover, Silver breaks it! Darius tosses Silver out but Silver ROCKS Darius! Darius drops down but Dante runs in and uses Darius as a step, POETRY IN MOTION! Silver falls, Reynolds dodges Darius to RAM Dante! Dante comes back, Darius helps him get up and over, then Dante helps in the TORNADO DDT! Darius sets Reynolds up for the STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, Uno shoves Dante onto it! Uno then CHOPS Darius down and goes to his corner.
Reynolds crawls over, hot tag to Uno! Uno fires forearms on all of Top Flight! Uno winds up, but Dante JUMP KNEES! Darius mule kicks! Action KICKS, Darius BUZZSAWS! But then Silver & Reynolds drag the Martins out! Uno dodges Action, tells him to STOP, then ROCKS him! The rest of Dark Order get in, Reynolds spins Action before the TRIPLE ROLLING ELBOWS!! Action wobbles, Uno reels him in, and Silver gives Reynolds the BOOST to take out the Martins! PILEDRIVER for Action! Cover, TWO!! Action survives and shocks the Dark Order! Uno cools off, tags Silver in, and Silver tags Reynolds.
The Dark Order surrounds Action and the fans rally up. They stand Action up, hoist him up, and Silver builds speed, but the Martins trip Silver! Darius drags Silver out, Action gets away and Dante baits Uno. Uno runs in, Dante goes up and over to JUMP KNEE Reynolds! GAMANGIRI for Uno, then Action SUPERKICKS! Dante DIVES to take out Silver, Darius steps in to COMPLETE SHOT Uno! Action and Darius have Reynolds for the double pump handle, DOUBLE LIGHTNING SPIRAL! Cover, Top Flight wins!
Winners: Top Flight, by pinfall
Action, Dante & Darius are flying high and heading for Collision, will they take those unified World Trios Championships away from the Bang Bang Gang in the blink of an eye?
Backstage interview with Athena & Billie Starkz.
Lexy Nair is with the ROH Women’s World and Women’s Television Champions, and says “Ladies and gentlemen, we are calling an Emergency MEM, a Minion Empowerment Meeting.” The Fallen Goddess asks the Minions why they’re here, and Minion #400,237.75 knows why. This is because of Red Velvet and Queen Aminata. They decided to stick their noses in Athena’s moment. The main event of Battle of the Belts, live on TNT, the first time the Overlord has been on live TV in over a YEAR. And Aminata put her hands on Athena, put Athena on her head, and proved that she is nothing more than “a hot piece of porcelain hussy garbage.”
Billie says not to forget about Red Velvet. Velvet acted all high ‘n’ mighty, but she just forgot Billie hasn’t beat her yet. Lexy says then it seems there is some unfinished business. The champs bring Lexy in for an uncomfortable double side hug, and Athena says “Bestie” is right. There is unfinished business. And since MIT is a nonprofit, they’ll give a “scholarship to the biggest ass-whooping Queen Aminata and Red Velvet have ever seen. Got it?” Athena tells Queenie and “Blue Velvet” to either step up or step out. Challenge issued to the Queen and the Chef, but are the Overlord and her sidekick about to get cooked?
Mark Sterling speaks.
“Some people get into professional wrestling because they need to. You haven’t needed anything in your entire life. You have an unlimited amount of resources at your fingertips. Money, culture, knowledge. You wanted to excel at this business, so you got the best training, the best workouts, the best diets, the best gear, the best moves. If it’s not the best, it’s simply not you. But the wisest man doesn’t think he’s the best until he’s surrounded by the best. And now, we all are. You are Ariya Daivari. And you are a Premier Athlete. We are the Premier Athletes.”
The Premier Athletes are here in person.
Sterling talks to his stable and tells them the beginning of phase two was a success. They wanted to assert dominance over ROH, and he would say message sent. However, they were not aware that the message would be sent to ROH World Champion, Mark Briscoe, to Dalton Castle, and half of the ROH men’s locker room. It took SIX men to stand face to face to these three. They’ve got Ariya back and more pissed off than ever. They’ve got National Champion, Josh Woods. And they’ve got Tony Nese in peak, physical performance. Now, they all know The Infantry wasn’t personal. They were just in the line of fire.
The Infantry is just on a long list of people who do not deserve the opportunities. Opportunities that belong to these three physical specimens! Because these are The Premier Athletes. When and where will Sterling’s stable finally break through to that next level?
Backstage interview with Griff Garrison & Cole Karter.
Lexy is now with Maria Kanellis’ baby boys and says they haven’t had the best luck as of late. What’s next? Karter isn’t sure. They keep getting opportunities, but they keep failing. Karter recently had a match against Christopher Daniels, and he lost! Griff says Karter thinks that’s bad, but Griff lost his shot at the ROH World Championship. Griff has faced Mark Briscoe twice in his career, and he’s 0-2. Karter’s match wasn’t even for a title! Griff had so much more on the line! Maria then walks in and sees her boys are disappointed. Well, Mama is disappointed, too. They both could’ve done much better in their matches.
But every loss is an opportunity. Griff was in the ring with THIRTEEN TIME ROH World Tag Team Champion, Mark Briscoe! Karter was up against Christopher Daniels, a legend! Maria’s been in the ring with both of those men, and they have so much experience. That is what Griff & Karter gain every time they’re out there. Every single loss is an opportunity. And everyone around here is always jealous of the abs and the looks, and it’s great that they are. But eventually, they’ll be jealous of what these two do in the ring. And eventually, these two will get back her championships, the ROH World Tag Team Championships.
Maria leads the way, but does anyone wanna tell her that that would mean her baby boys going up against her husband, Mike Bennett?
ROH World Tag Team Championships Proving Ground Match: The Undisputed Kingdom VS The Outrunners!
Speaking of Mike Bennett, he and Matt Taven are still champions after the big assist from Wardlow at Supercard of Honor. But will the Kingdom need their War Machine again real soon? Or will they be able to handle Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum in 10 minutes or less?
The fans rally up for the Outrunners already while the Code of Honor is upheld Mega Powers style. The teams then sort out, and though Taven is confused, Bennett steps up and starts against Truth. The fans chant “TAVEN SUCKS!” but Taven just eggs the Melvins on. Truth and Bennett tie up, then Truth wrenches to wristlock. Tag to Turbo, he takes the handoff, and he nods as he wrenches and wristlocks. Bennett knees low, flexes on Turbo, then wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! Bennett wristlocks, says this is old school wrestling, but Turbo powers up! The fans fire up as Turbo rolls, handsprings, and kips up! Turbo then BOPS Bennett on the head!
The fans cheer, Turbo tags Truth, and Truth wrenches to wristlock. Truth grinds the arm, whips, but Bennett reverses. Taven trips Truth up while Bennett’s all up in the ref’s face! The fans boo and Turbo protests but Bennett dropkicks Truth down! Bennett mocks the old school posing then takes a bow. Tag to Taven, he CHOPS Truth in the corner. Taven CHOPS again, digs his boot in, but the ref counts. Taven lets off to taunt Turbo, and Bennett gets a cheap shot on Truth! Bennett drags Truth up by his hair, the ref sees that and reprimands, but Taven ROCKS Truth. Taven whips, but Turbo trips Truth to actually save him from the crossbody!
Taven tumbles up and out of the ring, Truth gets up to tag Turbo! Truth then runs and Turbo holds ropes up, BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICK! Bennett runs up, is sent out, and The Kingdom regroups. The fans fire up for Turbo as he fires up, then PLANCHAS! Down goes The Kingdom and Turbo is all revved up! Turbo gets in the ring, shakes the ropes, then tags in Truth. The Outrunners coordinate, to spin and pose! The fans fire up but The Kingdom CLOBBER The Outrunners from behind! The fans boo but Bennett flexes. Bennett brings Truth up, CHOPS, and now fans chant “BENNETT SUCKS!”
Bennett CHOPS Truth, puts him in the corner, and tags Taven. Bennett feeds Truth to a BOOT, adds the BOSTON BAYONET, then Taven LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Truth is tougher than that, but Taven argues with the ref. The ref defends his count, so Taven brings Truth over to ropes. Taven CHOKES Truth but the fans boo. The ref counts, Taven lets off at 4, and Taven soaks up the heat. Truth sputters but Taven tags Bennett. The Kingdom mugs Truth, then Bennett keeps Truth from Turbo with a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Truth stays in this but Bennett stays on him with a chinlock and stretch. The fans rally as Truth endures.
Truth is red in the face but he fights to his feet. But Taven BLASTS Turbo! Bennett throws Truth by his hair! Turbo storms in but the ref has to stop him. Turbo is upset but Bennett stands on Truth’s face! Bennett clamps onto Truth with a chinlock and grinds him down with a knee in the back. The fans fire up, we pass five minutes as Truth fights up, but Taven runs at Turbo again! Turbo ROCKS Taven first this time! Truth then hits a BIG back suplex on Bennett! The fans fire up, Turbo is feeling it, and Truth crawls over! Truth staggers ot his feet, hot tag to Turbo! Turbo rallies on The Kingdom with big haymakers!
The fans fire up as Turbo scoops and SLAMS Taven! Then he scoops and SLAMS Bennett! Scoop and SLAM for Taven! Scoop and SLAM for Bennett! The fans fire up and Turbo drops an elbow! And another elbow! And then he winds up, flexes, and JUPM ELBOW DROPS! Taven runs up but Turbo kicks! Turbo reels Taven in, flexes again, and hits a BIG suplex! Turbo points to Truth, Truth tags in, and Truth goes up! FLYING FOREARM on Bennett! The Outrunners hurry to get Bennett up, but Taven ENZIGIRIS Truth to stop Boot Camp, er Vice City, or whatever they were calling it! Bennett shoves Turbo into Truth then rolls Truth up, with tights! The Kingdom wins!
Winners: The Undisputed Kingdom, by pinfall (denies The Outrunners a title opportunity)
Taven grabs the belts to celebrate and Bennett says that was too easy. But then the ref suspects shenanigans! Did Bennett pull tights? Bennett defends his innocence, as does Taven, and the ref drops the issue. Will The Kingdom do anything and everything they have to in order to stay champions?
Red Velvet & Queen Aminata speak.
The Chef and The Queen are backstage, and Velvet tells Athena, “There you go again. Stirring up the pot. Oh my gosh, we ruined your moment~! I’m done with you. Billie? You wanna hang with the big girls? You wanna get in big girl business? Then bring it on. Yes, I haven’t forgotten I beat you, twice. And I’ll do it again, and this time, I’m a beat you like your mama never did. You know why? Cuz I don’t roll with minions. I roll with royalty.” Aninata says that’s right. And Athena, oh, they feel so sorry for “ruining” the moment. Actually, Aminata would do it again and again and again. And wanna know why? Because Queen Aminata does not respect Athena as a champion!
Athena has ZERO honor! And no one knows better about honor than The Queen. And Velvet says, “Y’know what, Queen? I’m looking for a fight. Are you looking for a fight?” Aminata is definitely ready for a fight. Velvet says it is time to cook, eat, leave no crumbs, and take out the trash! This dynamic duo is ready to tear down the Forever Champion and her little buddy, will they take the gold right off Athena & Billie?
Backstage interview with The Infantry.
Lexy is now with Trish Adora, Carlie Bravo & Captain Shawn Dean, and we’ve seen them get on a roll. How are they continuing the momentum? Carlie is so glad she asked. Have no fear, you know The Infantry is here. Dean says yes, they are here. And there’s been nothing but targets on their backs. They said they’re the most popular team, and people have been after them. Carlie does realize now that they had those OG Ops, then those really big Ops, and last week, there’s Ops they didn’t even know about. But let’s not forget those really old Ops, the- Oh wait, The Outrunners walk in. Turbo & Truth are feeling good. They may not have targets on their backs, but they’ve got some guns!
Wait, wait, wait. Are they wearing brightly colored camo?! Okay, first they take the Infantry’s move, now they’re copying the swag? What’s next? Trying to take Adora and their homes? What the what, son? Dean has Carlie calm down. He’s always got great ideas. He does? Yes, because next week, Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida, they take this to where it all began! Finally, Infantry take The Outrunners to where they belong, and that’s Boot Camp! Hold on, The Outrunners have been using camo since The Cow Palace. Dean has to hold Carlie back on that one! Turbo has a better idea! Outrunners VS Infantry, Daily’s Place, where it all began!!
WHAT!? Didn’t they just- Fine, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Oh yeah? The Outrunners will do Infantry one better and THEY will accept! Let’s roll out! Copy that! WHAT!? Stop copying them, Outrunners!! But will Dean & Carlie finally get through the delusional duo and make them find their own schtick?
Backstage interview with Johnny TV & Taya Valkyrie.
Lexy is with Mr. & Mrs. TV Ready and notes the season finale of Johnny Loves Taya just dropped. How are they feeling? Amazing~! Everyone loves their show, they worked so hard on it for months. Ten episodes, the grand finale, it couldn’t have gone any better. And think about it: awards season! The acceptance speeches, the red carpets, the fashion moments. But in sneaks Aaron Solo. That sounds fun! Though they would’ve won more awards if they had this face on the show. Maybe next season? Johnny says maybe Aaron would’ve been on the show, if he supported it once. He didn’t tweet about it once! All their real friends did.
Uh, Aaron is the Retweet King! Especially those first three episodes. Aaron and Johnny argue but Taya has them calm down. Taya runs the socials for the show, and she can confirm, Aaron did retweet. Oh, well, thanks, bro. Yeah, man! Remember QTV? The handshake? They do the handshake, right down the rocket ship taking off. Aaron says see? They’re bros. Before Johnny Loved Taya, Johnny Loved Solo. Uh… No. Aaron is a loser! TV Ready people do not hang with losers. Remember how his name used to be S O L O W? They took the W away cuz he keeps getting L’s! He’s 0 and THIS CENTURY! Get a win already!
Aaron says fine, if that’s what they want, he will win. And he’ll prove to both of you that Aaron is TV Ready! Aaron heads out, and Taya says it’ scute that he’s so confident. Not that it’ll work out. And they got the last word. Aaron then says “Bye” from offscreen, so Johnny says, “Adios.” Aaron has bet on himself, but will he win out?
Triple Threat: Blake Christian VS AR Fox VS The Beast Mortos!
All Heart, The Whole Fox’n Show and the evolved Black Taurus are among the fastest, toughest and hungriest competitors around, and they’re all looking for that golden opportunity. Will Blake be rolling into NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament? Or will another big name prove they’re a big deal?
The Code of Honor is upheld between Fox and Blake, but not Mortos. The bell rings, Mortos stares down Fox and Blake. Fox runs in to RAM Mortos but bounces off! Blake RAMS Mortos but also bounces off! They both run up, but he runs them over! Fox & Blake both kip up, but Mortos choke grips them both. Mortos shoves Blake away, but Fox flips through the choke slam! Blake & Fox DOUBLE SUPERKICK Mortos down! Mortos bails out, Blake and Fox coordinate, and Fox runs. But then Blake sweeps the legs! Fox ends up on ropes, Blake runs to BASEMENT 619! The fans boo but All Heart also has some brains.
Blake aims from the apron, springboards in and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Fox flounders to a corner, Blake runs in, but Fox puts him on the apron. Blake RAMS into Fox, slingshots, but Fox goes out to then slingshot SENTONS! The fans fire up, Fox suplexes for ANARCHY! Blake bails, Mortos LARIATS Fox down! The fans fire up as Mortos roars, and Mortos drags Fox up. Mortos suplexes, Fox slips free to waistlock but Mortos switches. Mortos shoves, follows, then rolls off Fox’s back! Mortos SOBATS, KNEES, ELBOWS and snapmares, to then NECK TWIST! Then SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!
Fox survives that onslaught but Mortos roars again. Mortos drags Fox up, wrenches and grabs a leg, for a SHIN BREAKER! Fox writhes, Mortos gets legs and steps through, and Mortos ties Fox up for a NAVARRO DEATH ROLL! Fox endures the leg lock, but Blake DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS Mortos! The fans fire up and Blake smirks as he runs in at Mortos. Mortos BOOTS Blake, SLING-DOGS, then CRUCIFIX DRIVERS! Blake wobbles, Mortos whips to POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Blake survives but Mortos snarls. Mortos drags Blake up, UPPERCUTS him down, and Blake flounders to a corner.
The fans cheer as Mortos drags Blake back up. Mortos reels Blake in to back suplex, but Blake lands out! Blake dodges in the corner, then whips to ropes. Mortos reverses but Blake handsprings, wheelbarrows, SPLASH 182! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Mortos and Blake stir while Fox returns. The fans rally, Fox and Mortos stand first and Fox throws a haymaker! Blake adds a haymaker, he and Fox pinball Mortos around! They put him in a corner, throw more hands, then Fox goes up to rain down fists! Mortos shoves Fox away so Blake rains down fists. Mortos shoves him away, Fox returns to A-LIST LARIAT!
Mortos slumps down, Blake adds a LOW CROSSBODY! Fox skins the cat to DROPKICK Mortos, and then Fox goes to the apron. The fans fire up as Fox goes up, but Blake ROCKS him first! Blake goes up, brings Fox up, but Mortos adds on! The fans are going nuts already for the SPANISH FLY BOMB!! Cover on Blake, TWO! Cover on Fox, TWO!! Mortos snarls but he drags Fox back up. Mortos trophy lifts Fox, but Fox slips free to BOOT! Mortos tumbles out to the apron, and Blake SPEARS him down! Blake hurries to build speed so he can DIVE! Mortos stays up!? So Fox FLIES! Down goes Mortos and the fans fire up!
Fox puts Mortos in but Blake aims first! Springboard 450 SPLASH! Fox adds the SWANTON BOMB! But then Blake TOSSES Fox to cover Mortos, only for Fox to break it! Fox has had it with Blake being so sneaky, and TOSSES him out! Blake is on the apron, he ROCKS Fox, but Fox stops the slingshot! Fox has Blake in ropes, step-up DRAPING DDT! Roll through, but Mortos reels Fox in! Scoop and MORTOS DRIVER!! Cover, Mortos wins!
Winner: The Beast Mortos, by pinfall
Blake and Fox couldn’t say on the same page, and that allowed the minotaur of lucha to take the win! Will nothing stop The Beast Mortos from stampeding his way to a championship opportunity?
My Thoughts:
A good episode of ROH here at an hour and 38 minutes, but that made for quite a bit of filler. I did like the Six Meaty Men Slapping Meat Tag match of Mogul Embassy VS 1 Called Manders, BEEF and Calvin Tankman, but of course The Embassy won. Good return matches for Johnny and Taya, but I liked their promo with Aaron Solo better. It was a good use of continuity bringing up the failed QTV to pivot into a new story for Johnny TV now that Dalton Castle is moving on. Good promos from Mark Sterling, but a bit redundant again to have him hype up Ariya Daivari, then for him to talk directly to Ariya and the others.
Another confusing thing was the promo from The Infantry and Outrunners. Well, the promo wasn’t confusing, the timing was. Perhaps it was a victim of poor pacing as we’ve seen all over AEW & ROH. But I do appreciate we’re finally seeing these two teams have it out for ROH at Daily’s Place “next week,” aka prerecorded sometime this week. Outrunners had a good match with The Kingdom but of course The Kingdom won. But we’re getting an interesting detail where Maria wants her new boys, Griff & Karter, to go for those ROH World Tag Team Championships while her old boys, Bennett & Taven, still have them. Some sort of Kingdom Civil War angle in the works here?
Really good stuff with Zay winning by going to new lows, and really good Six Man Tag to give Top Flight momentum going into their title match with Bang Bang Gang. Really good promo from Bang Bang Gang and of course White & The Gunns are going to retain. And at least they did just what I was hoping by having a promo from Bullet Club Gold on ROH so that it counts as them being on this show. Just needs to keep happening, maybe with some in-person appearances. Not even matches, just BCG watching other trios fighting it out because they’re scouting, aka foreshadowing, new opponents.
Great main event Triple Threat but also a fast one, Mortos with the big win over Fox and Blake. While there’s something brewing for the ROH World Championship with Mark Briscoe being around Dalton Castle and The Premier Athletes, maybe Mortos can find himself in the world title scene for the next ROH PPV. And then great promos from Athena & Billie as well as Velvet & Aminata. We’re definitely getting a tag team match that will end up earning Velvet a shot at the Women’s TV title and Aminata a shot at the Women’s World title, and those will be awesome matches.
And if either of the champs is losing, I’m actually thinking it’s more Athena losing to Aminata than Billie losing to Velvet. I’ve said it before, Aminata’s proven herself worthy, and if she wasn’t gonna be inaugural Women’s TV Champ, might as well make her the woman that dethrones the undefeated Athena.
My Score: 8.5/10
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