Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: The 47th Anniversary Show!

NJPW turns 47 and celebrates in a big way!

Published

5 years ago

March 15, 2019

NJPW turns 47 and AXS gives us TWO HOURS tonight! Jay White and Will Ospreay go Champion VS Champion in a non-title instant classic!

Coverage of the 47th Anniversary Show will be as aired by AXS TV.

Gifs can be found on http://frentique.tumblr.com/

OFFICIAL RESULTS

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: BUSHI & Shingo Takagi VS Roppongi 3K; Roppongi 3K wins and become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Taiji Ishimori VS Jushin Thunder Liger; Ishimori wins and retains the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto & Hiroshi Tanahashi; Okada, Goto & Tanahashi win.
Champion VS Champion: Jay White VS Will Ospreay; White wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

NJPW and AXS set the scene for this epic anniversary!

In 1972, professional wrestling changed forever as Antonio Inoki and Carl Gotch headlined the inaugural NJPW event! The decades have gone by with dream match-up after dream match-up, and that tradition continues even now! The Switchblade ushered in the Cutthroat Era to become the NEW IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Jay White will head to Madison Square Garden for his first ever defense, but he has much more than just a tune-up tonight! The Aerial Assassin returns from injury still the NEVER Openweight Champion and looks to show he can beat White again. Will Will Ospreay ascend to even greater heights? Or will he simply Breathe with the Switchblade?

But first, the Bone Soldier Reborn hit NJPW hard upon his debut, and kept hitting all the way to becoming IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion at Wrestle Kingdom. Taiji Ishimori beat a great Junior Heavyweight in Ryusuke Taguchi, but now he dares aim for the greatest! Ishimori called out Jushin Thunder Liger, and the living legend accepted by telling the youngster, “You will regret this.” Does Liger have what it’s take to become a historic 12-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion? Or will the Bone Soldier prove he can hang with “the big boys”?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: BUSHI & Shingo Takagi VS Roppongi 3K!

A special bonus on this two hour airing, Los Ingobernables de Japon’s championship duo put up their belts again so soon, and against one of the best Junior Heavyweight teams in NJPW. Black Mask and Muscle Hawk had a confrontation with Sho & Yoh already, and left Chaos’ contenders down and out. Will hunters become the hunted or vice-versa here tonight?

Skip the entrances and start with Sho and Shingo with the bell! Sho goes right at Shingo and fires off! Shingo staggers but Sho stomps and forearms him to a corner. Sho whips corner to corner but Shingo reverses. Shingo blocks the boot to clothesline! Shingo goes corner to corner but Sho follows to get him back with a clothesline of his own! Sho runs but they both clothesline! Each man staggers back but fans fire up. Sho roars and Shingo grits his teeth as they stare down. Shingo shoves but Sho comes back with a clothesline. Shingo stays up and hits Sho back. Sho manages to stay up but Shingo throws big forearms. Shingo runs but Yoh tags in. RPG3K drop toehold and dropkick! They double dropkick Bushi, too! LIJ regroups outside but RPG3K build speed to FLY! Sho almost ends up on commentary!

Sho hobbles up but he doesn’t let that bad leg bother him. RPG3K get Shingo back in, and Yoh stomps away on Shingo. Yoh drops for a knee wrench, then yanks on the leg. Yoh drags Shingo over and tags in Sho. RPG3K split the wishbone then keep on the leg with stomps. The referee counts but Sho lets up at 4. Sho clubs then whips and then knees Shingo down! Sho kicks stiff but Shingo doesn’t flinch. Shingo stands and they both throw forearms at each other. Sho gets an edge then runs, but Bushi gets a cheap shot in. Bushi holds Sho but Yoh gets a cheap shot in! Sho breaks free and runs Shingo over! Yoh comes in and RPG3K stomp a mudhole into Shingo.

RPG3K double whip corner to corner then Sho whips Yoh in. Shingo puts Yoh out and Bushi trips him up. Shingo gives Sho a boot and PUMPING BOMBER! Bushi whips Yoh hard into barriers while Shingo gets his bad leg moving. Shingo drags Sho up and tosses Sho out. LIJ hit Rocky Romero then Shingo runs Sho into the railing! Bushi rakes Yoh’s face while Shingo rains right hands down on Sho. The referee reprimands Shingo while Bushi gets away with more. LIJ is in control while we go to break.

NJPW on AXS returns as Bushi still stomps Yoh. Shingo puts Sho in the ring and slingshot stomps down! Shingo grinds his boots in while the ref is busy with Bushi. Fans rally while Shingo pulls Sho back in a motorcycle stretch. Tag to Bushi and LIJ mugs Sho. Bushi takes his shirt off and uses it to choke Sho! The ref counts but Yoh comes in to get back at Bushi. Yoh runs but into Shingo’s spinebuster! The ref is busy helping Sho so he misses Shingo catapult Yoh into Bushi’s CHOP! Bushi basement dropkicks Yoh then stomps him out of the ring. Bushi goes back to Sho but Sho CHOPS him. But Bushi barely flinches, and he CHOPS Sho back! Bushi stomps Sho down then brings him over. Tag to Shingo and LIJ mugs Sho in the corner. Shingo hushes the crowd so they can hear his CHOP!

Sho writhes, chest stinging from those open palm chops. Fans rally but Shingo drags Sho up. Shingo toys with Sho but Sho stands to CHOP Shingo. Shingo eggs Sho on so Sho chops and punches and kicks. Sho runs but into Shingo’s back elbow, then into a jab! Shingo clobbers Sho with a left-hand lariat! The ref checks on Sho, who looks glazed over. Shingo drags Sho around while Yoh slowly returns. Sho resists a suplex then suplexes Shingo! Shingo fights out, suplexes Sho but Sho slips out. Sho waistlocks but Shingo elbows back. Shingo whips Sho but follows through to knee him into the ropes. Shingo runs but into Sho’s SPEAR! Both men are down and fans fire up. Hot tag to Yoh! Yoh uses Shingo as a step stool to hit Bushi with a flying elbow!

Yoh dragon screws Bushi, then throws haymakers on Shingo. He whips but Shingo reverses, only for Yoh to run him over with a spinning elbow! Fans fire up with Yoh as he stalks Shingo in the corner. Yoh runs corner to corner but his back elbow is caught! He elbows out but Shingo throws him down. Yoh dodges the knee drop then dropkicks the bad one. Shingo blocks the kick but Yoh gets out of the dragon screw! Yoh dragon screws Shingo back! Yoh puts Shingo in a Figure Four Leglock! Sho returns to intercept Bushi, drop down into an armbar! RPG3K has dual submissions on the champions! Bushi resists while Shingo endures but they’re both stuck! Fans rally both ways as Shingo rolls to a ropebreak! The ref helps Yoh release while Sho shoves Bushi out.

RPG3K regroup while Shingo crawls. Yoh drags Shingo up, and puts on a full nelson. Bushi wipes Sho out into railing while Shingo powers out of the full nelson. Shingo breaks free of the waistlock, too, but Yoh hits back with uppercuts. Yoh whips but Shingo reverses, pop-up Death Valley Driver! Both men are down but Shingo tags to Bushi. Bushi goes to an open corner and climbs. Bushi leaps, missile dropkicks hits! And he hits the Bushi-rooni, too! He runs in corner to corner for meteroa, then fisherman. Yoh slips out of the swinging neckbreaker but Bushi guards the enziguri. Bushi enziguris Yoh back, but Yoh mule kicks in return. Yoh ducks one kick but Bushi hits the other. Bushi runs into a lethal combination! Fans rally as both men crawl, hot tag to Sho!

Sho hits Shingo then drags Bushi up. Sho hits a big suplex then covers, TWO! Fans rally as Sho deadlifts Bushi. Bushi elbows out then runs, but Sho keeps up to dropkick! Sho waits for Bushi then runs, but Bushi blocks his lariat to code break the arm! Shingo returns to hit Yoh then coordinates with Bushi. Shingo whips corner to corner and runs in for a BIG clothesline! He feeds Sho to Bushi’s enziguri, then they combine for a spinebuster backstabber! Cover, TWO!! Sho survives and keeps RPG3K in the match. But LIJ coordinate again, wheelbarrow but Yoh SUPERKICKS Bushi! Sho fights off Shingo then works together with Yoh. RPG3K double whip but Shingo holds ropes. RPG3K blocks the double clotheslines, but not the second effort! Shingo runs but into double knee strikes! RPG3K go after Bushi, backstabber to dropkick!

Fans fire up as RPG3K drum the mat. They stalk Bushi, call for it, but Bushi breaks free of 3K. Bushi shoves Sho into Yoh then double huricanranas them down! Bushi and Sho slowly stand and Sho fires forearms. Sho whips but Bushi dodges to DIVE onto Yoh! Shingo clotheslines Sho but runs into a German Suplex! Sho holds on but Shingo resists. Sho still gets Shingo up, but Bushi shoves the ref aside! Bushi breathes green mist into Sho’s face!! PUMPING BOMBER! But LIJ isn’t done here, they coordinate, wheelbarrow and codebreaker, REBELLION! Cover, but Yoh breaks it!! RPG3K stays alive but Shingo clotheslines Yoh out. Shingo keeps on Yoh while Bushi climbs and aims at Sho. Sho stands, Bushi leaps, but Sho dodges! Bushi enziguris Sho while Yoh whips Shingo to railing. Bushi runs in, but he’s caught into 3K!! Cover, RPG3K win!!

Winners: Roppongi 3K, Sho pinning; NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions

Rocky Romero celebrates with his boys as they become three-time champions! Will this third time be the charm to become truly the best Junior Heavyweight duo in the world?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Taiji Ishimori VS Jushin Thunder Liger!

Born Soldier Reborn considered himself one of the greatest Junior Heavyweight wrestlers even before arriving in NJPW, and he feels even more justified now that he has the title. But he wants to make it undeniable, which is why he called out the legend. Will Ishimori regret flying to close to the sun? Or will it be Liger who crashes and burns?

Introductions are made and the belt is raised. Fans are strongly behind Liger even before the bell. Ishimori and Liger circle and fans are already thunderous for the living legend. Liger and Ishimori approach but back away before tying up. Ishimori gets a waistlock but Liger reverses to a wristlock. Ishimori reverses but Liger drop toeholds! Liger has Ishimori in a figure four knot and shifts right to a Bow ‘n’ Arrow! Ishimori pops out to a cover but Liger gets away fast. Fans applaud and cheer as Liger circles with Ishimori again. Liger gets a single leg takedown then goes for a toehold. Ishimori resists so Liger shifts to another knot. Liger has Ishimori in a combination figure four knot and double wristlock!

Ishimori endures and works his way around. Ishimori gets an arm free and gets the ropebreak. Liger lets go, but comes right back for a surfboard! Liger pulls Ishimori back but Ishimori endures, even as Liger rocks him back! He can’t get Ishimori up so Liger makes it part chinlock instead. Ishimori pops out again but Liger drags him away. Liger gets the legs hooked and pulls on the arms. He rocks Ishimori for THE Romero Special surfboard! Then he shifts to the dragon sleeper variant. Ishimori refuses to give up, even as Liger pulls him in deep. Liger lets Ishimori go to drag him back up. Liger throws forearms into Ishimori’s back, then shoves him to ropes. Ishimori hits back on the rebound! Ishimori runs, handsprings and enziguris Liger down!

Fans rally as Ishimori tosses Liger out hard. Ishimori pursues, then whips Liger into railing! Ishimori throws haymakers then drags him into the ring. Fans rally for Liger but Ishimori grinds his foot in. Ishimori backs off at 4 but comes back to cravat Liger. Liger manages to prevent a snapmare so Ishimori just cranks on the cravat harder. Ishimori puts Liger down for the neck twist! Liger writhes while Ishimori looms over him. Ishimori rains down rights then wraps on a chinlock. Fans continue to rally and Liger feeds off the energy. Liger fights out but Ishimori drop toeholds fast! Ishimori wants the crossface but Liger gets the ropebreak just as quickly. Ishimori backs off to come back with haymakers. He runs but into Liger’s tilt-o-whirl backbreaker! Ishimori bails out but Liger wrecks him with a dropkick!

Liger aims from the apron at Ishimori, cannonball! Direct hit wipes Ishimori out, but Liger isn’t done. Liger opens the gate and drags Ishimori through. Liger suplexes and drops Ishimori with a brainbuster! The referee checks on Ishimori while Liger leaves him behind. Fans cheer as Liger stands tall in the ring! The ring count begins and passes 10 of 20 before Ishimori even sits up. Ishimori starts crawling at 15, gets to his feet at 18, and runs in at 19.9! Liger runs at Ishimori in the corner for a SHOTEI! Liger drags Ishimori up to the top rope then climbs up to join him. SUPER STEINER! Cover, TWO! Ishimori still lives but fans still rally behind Liger. Liger drags Ishimori up, powerbomb lifts, but Ishimori counters with a DDT! Both men are down but stirring as fans continue to cheer.

Liger and Ishimori crawl towards each other, and they start throwing forearms. They go back and forth, and slowly rise to their feet. Liger throws more forearms then whips, but Ishimori goes Spider-Man to slide under and around. Ishimori shoulders in then springboard seated sentons Liger down! Liger bails out but Ishimori builds speed, corner moonsault! A direct hit, but Ishimori takes a moment to catch his breath before putting Liger in. Ishimori aims from across the way, then runs in corner to corner for meteora! Liger is down but Ishimori shows no mercy. Ishimori drags Liger up, gut wrench, Bloody Cross! Cover, TWO!! Liger lives and shocks Ishimori! Fans rally but Ishimori drags Liger. Liger hits a Fisherman Busher outta nowhere!

Liger fires up and takes aim at Ishimori. Ishimori stands, but blocks the Shotei! Ishimori runs, but into SHOTEI! Liger isn’t done there, LIGER BOMB! Cover, TWO?! Ishimori barely survives but Liger won’t let up! Liger drags Ishimori up again, suplexes but Ishimori knees out. Ishimori grabs Liger but Liger counters Bloody Cross into a Northern Lights! Liger runs but Ishimori catches the kick! Ishimori drops down to the Lebell crossface! Liger endures and fans are thunderous for him not to give up! Ishimori pulls back but Liger holds on, to get the ropebreak! Ishimori lets Liger go, and looks at a loss for what to do to end Liger. He whips but Liger slips out, only for Ishimori to clothesline. Liger stays up so Ishimori runs, and clobbers him! Cover, TWO!

Ishimori drags Liger up and runs again, but into a FLASH CRADLE! TWO!! Ishimori escapes and runs, but into a Thesz Press! Cover, TWO! Liger powers up, but Ishimori dodges, tilt-o-whirl takedown into the Lebell Lock!! Ishimori cranks back, then shifts to Rings of Saturn! Ishimori uses it to get Liger away, back to the Lebell! Liger taps, Ishimori wins!!

Winner: Taiji Ishimori, by submission; still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion

The Bone Soldier makes the legend submit! That in itself is a massive accomplishment! Does this truly make Ishimori the greatest Junior Heavyweight in the world? Liger leaves without a word while Ishimori takes up the mic. “Next up, April 6, I want to put this belt on the line.” He wants a match for Madison Square Garden! Ishimori calls out ROH to send him a proper challenger. It seems there’s someone already here to answer the call!

Dragon Lee, who is really more a CMLL star, steps up to Bone Soldier and says, “Ishimori, make no mistake. NJPW isn’t the only one with the best wrestlers. ROH isn’t the only one with the best wrestlers.” The best come from Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre! Lee has wanted to be Junior Heavyweight Champion, so he’ll show Ishimori and the world that HE is the best, in MSG! Ishimori responds, “I speak Spanish, too, ok?” And hola, Dragon Lee, he’s Ishimori. He is the champ, and let’s have some fun! #ItisReborn! Madison Square Garden will host an international instant classic, who will prove themselves the best Junior Heavyweight in the world?

Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto & Hiroshi Tanahashi!

The stars keep on coming as Tetsuya Naito, EVIL & SANADA take on The Rainmaker, the Fierce Warrior and the Once in a Century Talent! Will the recent title losses suffered by LIJ drag them down? Or can they make a massive comeback even against this amazing trio?

The teams sort out, and Okada starts against Naito! Fans are already loving this match and duel over fan favorites. Okada and Naito circle and tie up, but are even in strength. Okada gets Naito to the ropes but backs off to feint. Naito comes right at him with a facelock and clubbing forearms. Okada forearms back then whips. Things speed up and Naito arm-drags Okada, but Okada arm-drags back. Naito headscissor holds but Okada pops out, Naito Tranquilo! Fans cheer this stand-off as Naito takes his time standing back up. Naito and Okada circle again, and Naito kicks and clubs Okada to the ropes. Naito whips but Okada reverses. Okada boots then snapmares to dropkick Naito down! Okada tags Goto but Naito gets away. Sanada tags in and now they circle.

Sanada and Goto tie up and Goto fires forearms. Goto kicks but Sanada blocks and trips him up! Sanada goes for Paradise but Goto pushes him away. Sanada kicks back then whips Goto corner to corner. Goto reverses but runs into an elbow. Sanada hops and springboards but Goto gets clear. Sanada lands on his feet and runs but Goto follows to clothesline him down! Goto tags Tanahashi then attacks LIJ alongside Okada. The super trio whip, kick and drop elbows on Sanada, Okada tops it off with a dropkick. They look to each other, but the team pose isn’t quite ready. Tanahashi drags Sanada up to throw body shots. Tanahashi whips Sanada corner to corner for a big dropkick. He whips Sanada again but Sanada goes around with him, battling for the abdominal stretch! They go around and around, and it’s Sanada who gets it!

But it’s not for long, as Naito comes in to dropkick Tanahashi! Evil rushes Okada and Goto! LIJ stomps the super trio out then Naito whips Okada into railing! Sanada stomps Tanahashi then tags in Evil. Evil grabs Tanahashi’s leg and smashes the knee on the mat. Tanahashi clutches the notoriously bad leg but Evil smashes it again. Evil tags Naito and they smash both knees down! Tanahashi writhes but Naito ties him up in an Indian Deathlock. Tanahashi endures as Naito pulls and twists. Goto stomps Naito but Sanada whips Goto. Sanada elbows Goto down, Goto avoids the standing moonsault but not the dropkick to the back. Naito brings Tanahashi up and tags in Evil. LIJ go after the bad leg, then Evil clubs Tanahashi on the back.

Tanahashi forearms Evil but Evil eggs him on. Evil kicks low then wrenches the arm over and over. Evil whips Tanahashi corner to corner, then runs in, but blocks the boot! Tanahashi uses the other foot to boot Evil, then goes to kick. Evil blocks that kick and hand sit off to referee Red Shoes, but then Tanahashi blocks the mule kick! Tanahashi gets Red Shoes to let go, then he dragon screws Evil! Both men are down with bad legs but fans rally up. Tanahashi and Evil crawl, hot tag to Okada! Okada throws forearms on Evil then whips. Evil reverses but Okada dodges to hit the big back elbow! Okada hits Naito for good measure, but Evil hits Okada. LIJ double whips but Okada DDT’s Sanada! Okada kicks and DDT’s Evil, too! Naito runs in but even he gets a DDT! Okada kips up and fires up!

Okada whips Evil for the flapjack! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Okada drags Evil up. Okada scoop slams then heads for the corner. He climbs up top, but Evil gets clear. Evil clotheslines Okada in a corner, Fisherman Suplex! Cover, TWO! Evil keeps his cool as fans continue to duel. Evil goes to fireman’s carry but Okada fights it off. Okada clubs Evil but Evil CHOPS back. Okada whips but Evil fakes him out. Evil runs but Okada wrings him out. Evil counters Rainmaker but Okada escapes Everything is Evil. Okada runs but Evil follows to clothesline Okada down! Evil tags Sanada and Sanada drags Okada up. Sanada whips but Okada reverses, only for Sanada to tumble and slingshot. Okada catches Sanada, reverse neckbreaker! Fans fire up as Okada tags in Goto!

Goto kicks away on Sanada but Sanada stands and blocks. Sanada spins Goto but Goto blocks the German. Goto Germans but Sanada lands on his feet. Sanada feeds Goto to Naito’s atomic drop. Naito feeds Goto to Evil’s mule kick. Sanada saido suplexes Goto down! Cover, but Tanahashi breaks it. Evil throws The Ace out and LIJ goes after him and Okada. Sanada drags Goto up, fireman’s carry but Goto fights out. Goto dragon sleepers, but Sanada reverses! Goto reverses back but Sanada reverses again. Sanada pulls back on the dragon sleeper but Tanahashi dragon sleepers Sanada! Evil German Suplexes Tanahashi! Okada returns, whips Evil and dropkicks him down! Naito returns and dropkicks Okada! Naito baits Goto in, tornado DDT denied into USHIGOROSHI!

Goto fires up and goes to Sanada. Goto fireman’s carries and Ushigoroshi, but Sanada handsprings out of it! Sanada kicks back then runs, but GOto follows. Sanada dodges and rolls Goto to the dragon sleeper! He swings Goto around before bringing him into Skull End. But Goto rolls through and around to deathlock and cover! The super trio wins!

Winners: Goto, Okada & Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto pinning

What innovation from the Fierce Warrior! LIJ continues to drop, and with the New Japan Cup on the horizon, is there any hope for any of them to make it to the finals? Or will one of the three winners here be strong contenders for the cup this year?

Goto takes the mic and speaks on the New Japan Cup. He vows to be the one to win it all. But Tanahashi takes the mic and says, “Wait, wait, wait. At the New Japan Cup, I’ll be making my comeback.” He vows to win it all, but then Okada takes the mic. “Excuse me, senpai, but the winner of the New Japan Cup is gonna be me, the huge favorite!” All three men stake their claims, but only one can be the cup winner and new #1 contender. Who will it really be by the end of NJPW’s own March Madness?

Champion VS Champion: Jay White VS Will Ospreay!

Perhaps the most exciting tradition of this anniversary is such an exhibition between those who stand atop NJPW’s many divisions. One year ago, when he was the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, the Aerial Assassin took on The Rainmaker, who was then the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Now, a new era has emerged as The Switchblade holds the same title Okada did. Ospreay himself holds his own title, and now we see IWGP Heavyweight VS NEVER Openweight! Will Ospreay show weight means nothing going into the New Japan Cup? Or will White show Ospreay just how much he’s grown since they first faced off?

The belts are put aside for this epic encounter. Fans are solidly behind Ospreay, but White bails out at the bell. White and Gedo grin as they troll Ospreay and the fans. Ospreay dares White to get in but White does things on his time. White returns at 6 of 20, then circles with Ospreay. Ospreay and White tie up and White pushes Ospreay to ropes. But Ospreay pushes back! Ospreay digs deep to put White on the ropes! Fans applaud and Ospreay lets up, but White grabs him to put on the ropes. White backs off but Ospreay ducks the sucker punch. Ospreay gets a headlock but White pulls hair to power out. White and Ospreay collide but neither falls. White taunts Ospreay into trying again, and Ospreay runs. They collide again but still neither falls.

Ospreay dares White to show him how it’s done, and White runs to run Ospreay over. But Ospreay nips right up, only for White to SLAP him. White smirks then runs, but things speed up. White sees the boots coming and pulls Ospreay up to CHOP him. He CHOPS Ospreay more then whips. Ospreay dodges and speeds up even more to finally run White over! Then he dropkicks White down! White bails out and Ospreay builds speed, only to fake him out! Superhero landing! White comes back but gets another dropkick. Ospreay slingshots and takes White down! Fans cheer Ospreay as he drags White up. Ospreay whips White hard into railing, then throws haymakers. Ospreay dodges Gedo and grabs him by the jacket. White clobbers Ospreay down!

White clubs and CHOPS Ospreay around the way, then whips Ospreay at railing. But Ospreay hops over them and rocks White back with a right. Ospreay springboards but White dodges, White saido suplexes Ospreay down! White checks his chin then refreshes the ring count. He fetches Ospreay to suplex, but Ospreay resists. Ospreay tries but can’t quite get White up. White swings Ospreay into the post, ribs first! White leaves Ospreay behind while Red Shoes checks on the NEVER Openweight champ. Gedo talks with White and White goes back to get Ospreay. White puts Ospreay in and toys with him. Ospreay tries to hit back but those ribs rob him of power. Ospreay stands and forearms but White knees low. White lifts Ospreay for a gutbuster! Ospreay coughs and sputters but White pumphandles him for another! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally for Ospreay as he grits his teeth. White drags Ospreay up and keylocks so he can attack the ribs. White rams his shoulder in again and again, then puts on a rear bearhug. Ospreay endures as White squeezes and leans on him. Fans rally but White deadlifts. Ospreay fights out, but then White hits another saido suplex! Ospreay rolls out of the ring but White pursues. White drags Ospreay up to ram him into the apron! Then the railing! Then back to the apron, then back into railing! White taunts the fans with “That’s why I’m the champ!” The ring count begins but White puts Ospreay in at 5. White aims as Ospreay slowly stands. He runs in but Ospreay dodges! Ospreay CHOPS White then throws uppercuts. Ospreay whips but his ribs give him trouble. White Half Hatches Ospreay into buckles, cover, TWO!

Fans cheer Ospreay on but White puts him in a seated abdominal stretch. Ospreay endures even as White digs an elbow into the ribs and hip. Ospreay pries an arm free and gets to his feet. He throws body shots and forearms but White clubs back. Ospreay rocks White with a right! And then another! Ospreay whips but White reverses, Ospreay manages to handspring but White sweeps his arms out! White checks his chin while Ospreay gets to a corner. Ospreay boots White back, then enziguris! Ospreay drags himself to the apron, and slingshots up, but White trips him up! White catches his breath while Ospreay sputters for his own. Ospreay still fights back, but White punches him down. White runs but into a body scissor that sends him out!

Fans fire up as Ospreay builds speed, SASUKE SPECIAL! The direct hit is also double-edged as Ospreay’s ribs hit White. Ospreay still stands up while we go to break.

NJPW on AXS returns as Ospreay throws White into the ring. Ospreay aims again, springboards for the flying clothesline! Fans fire up with Ospreay as he looms over White. Ospreay throws forearms and jabs then whips. White reverses but Ospreay handsprings and enziguris! Standing corkscrew moonsault! Cover, TWO! Fans keep cheering Ospreay on as he brings White up. Ospreay double underhooks but his ribs won’t let him lift. White CHOPS but Ospreay kicks! Ospreay kicks and kicks and kicks, but White ducks one to reel him in. Ospreay fights to saido off to clothesline White out. Fans cheer and Ospreay builds speed again. Ospreay DIVES, but White makes it a belly2belly into railing! Red Shoes checks on Ospreay quick, but somehow he’s okay to continue.

White gets in the ring and leaves Ospreay behind. The ring count begins and passes 10 before Ospreay stands. Ospreay falls but gets back up at 15. He still has trouble, but hops in at 19.5! White drags Ospreay up into a fireman’s carry, Death Valley Bomb! Cover, TWO! White is too tired to be frustrated, but he kicks Ospreay while he’s down. He rams his knees into the ribs and sends Ospreay into a corner. White stomps a mudhole into Ospreay but backs off. He comes back with knees into Ospreay’s shoulders, then toys with him. Ospreay grabs White’s foot and stands up to put him up top! Ospreay tucks White in, Cheeky Nandos SUPERKICK! White teeters but Ospreay puts him into the Tree of Woe. Ospreay sits down to stare at White. He won’t let White sit up, either! He SLAPS White over and over and over!

Gedo gets Ospreay’s attention, but instantly regrets it. White sits up but Ospreay is right on him with the Canadian Rack. White escapes Stormbreaker but Ospreay dragon sleepers. Ospreay lifts White but White slips out to lift Ospreay. White rolls Ospreay off but Ospreay escapes Blade Runner. White CHOPS then fires off a strike fest. He runs but into Ospreay’s dropkick flip and enziguri! Ospreay swings into a Complete Shot! Deadlift German Suplex! White gets up but so does Ospreay. STANDING SPANISH FLY! But Ospreay’s too sore to cover! Fans are thunderous as Ospreay wills himself to stand. White slowly follows but Ospreay hits first. They trade forearms, and Ospreay grits his teeth to give a trio. Ospreay drags White back up but White knees low! White throws forearms back and Ospreay slouches over.

White drags Ospreay up but Ospreay breaks out to CHOP. And CHOP, and then uppercut! Ospreay calls for it but White stops him from running. Ospreay dodges and hooking SUPERKICKS White! He drags White up then hoists him into an Electric Chair. Ospreay climbs the corner with White on his shoulders, SUPER ARM-DRAG BOMB! Cover, TWO!! White survives but fans keep Ospreay going. Ospreay calls for it and runs, but White drops down before the Oscutter takes flight. Ospreay fetches White and double underhooks, but those ribs still bother him. White grins but Ospreay glares. Ospreay buzzsaws and heel kicks so fast! White is wobbly and Ospreay aims, ROBINSON SPECIAL! But Ospreay says BANG to the Bullet Club leader, Oscutter caught into White’s Rings of Saturn! White elbows and elbows and elbows, just before Ospreay would’ve been out cold.

Fans rally up as White stands. White slashes his throat and drags Ospreay up. Ospreay slips out and REVERSE-RANAS! Ospreay wobbles but he still back hand elbows White! Both men are down but the fans haven’t give up. They cheer Ospreay on as he and White slowly stir. Ospreay grits his teeth and glares at White as he crawls over. Ospreay drags White up by his hair, then pulls off the elbow pad. He aims again, but Gedo runs into the ring! Red Shoes keeps Gedo back but Ospreay wants after him. White LOW BLOWS Ospreay! Gedo goes away, and White drags Ospreay into a sleeper suplex! White drags Ospreay up, cross arms, straitjacket brainbuster! Cover, TWO!? Ospreay still lives and White is just exhausted.

White keeps wrist control and drags Ospreay back up, but Ospreay slips out and POWERBOMBS outta nowhere! Cover, TWO!! White narrowly escapes but fans are thunderous again. Ospreay puts White in the drop zone then climbs up top. Ospreay hits imploding 450! But the impact keeps him from covering! He comes back, ROPEBREAK! White survives by literal fingertips! Ospreay is beside himself but he gets back up. He’s foaming at the mouth despite his ribs hurting. Ospreay pushes through and underhooks, and somehow gets White up! But White slips out, but so does Ospreay! White ducks the hook kick and reels Ospreay in, but Ospreay lands out of the sleeper suplex! ROUNDHOUSE! HOOK KICK! Ospreay aims, spins, ROBINSON SPECIAL! Springboard, BLADE RUNNER?! White caught the cutter, but he’s not done! He drags Ospreay up, TRUE BLADE RUNNER! Cover, White wins!!

Winner: Jay White, by pinfall

Time after time after time, The Switchblade finds a way to shock the world! The IWGP Heavyweight Champion wins, and will simply watch the New Japan Cup tournament play out. Who meets White in Madison Square Garden?

But Gedo feels this isn’t enough. He brings a chair in and hands it to White. The bell rings and fans boo as White aims with the steel. But Kota Ibushi jumps in to make the save! The Golden Star wants to hit the champ, but the Bullet Club appears to save their leader! Chase Owens and the Tongan Firing Squad wreck havoc on Ibushi and Ospreay, but now Tanahashi, Okada and Goto appear! The super trio runs Bullet Club off before anything worse can happen. White clutches his belt while he reminds Tanahashi and Okada that he already beat them. White says it doesn’t matter who comes out of the tournament, he’ll beat them all again! He holds the title up high, but will he be doing so at the end of G1 Supercard?

Backstage interviews

Okada notes how he was “the only one who didn’t get a finish” for the team. But he’s still everyone’s favorite to win, and win he will. The main event at MSG for the IWGP Heavyweight title? That sounds awesome. But as for Jay White, that “son of a b*tch”, Okada will definitely win this time! Okada leaves, but Tanahashi peers around the corner. It seems The Ace disagrees. Tanahashi comes out to take his turn, and simply says, “I want to go to New York.” He wants to be in the main event in New York, too. No, he WILL be in New York! Tanahashi sees the path to New York’s main event before him. This is the best time for the New Japan Cup, and it will be the biggest one yet. Tanahashi took the G1, he’ll take this one, too.

As for Goto, he wants Kota Ibushi to remember back to their NEVER Openweight Championship match. Goto knows him better than anyone. If Ibushi has nowhere else to go, join Goto. And for White, Goto’s coming for your head. “Don’t you forget that.” Ibushi says that he finally made a decision on his own terms. Ibushi is very thankful to Tanahashi. Tanahashi returns for Ibushi to thank and apologize to. Tanahashi likes the idea of teaming with Ibushi in the future, too. Teaming up aside, who comes out of all this the 2019 New Japan Cup Champion, and the man to challenge Jay White in the Garden?

My Thoughts:

One hour of NJPW on AXS is always great, so TWO hours is amazing! We get bonus content, and I was really surprised to see RPG3K win the titles here. I thought LIJ was going to hold on to their belts, but after EVIL & SANADA lost their titles at Honor Rising (which unfortunately AXS had no room for this year), it seems LIJ is quickly on their way back down. LIJ also lost the Six Man Tag, but this loss was a bit more logical given the sheer singles star power they were up against. Okada, Tanahashi and Goto are all major players in the New Japan Cup so naturally they go in with great momentum. Sad to say, Goto is actually the least likely of the three to go all the way, and falls even further when you factor in Naito and Ibushi.

Ishimori VS Liger was incredible, but naturally Ishimori goes over since Liger is retiring. It really did mean a lot for Ishimori to submit Liger, submissions always carry more weight than pinfalls. Ishimori called out ROH because of how G1 Supercard is advertised as their cross-promotional event, but it was clever to bring in CMLL to take the match. Ishimori VS Lee is going to be great, they’re both such fast moving guys. I would still think Ishimori wins, and this is to boost his resume in NJPW. White VS Ospreay was incredible, so it’s just a shame Ospreay can’t challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship given weight restrictions. That said, Ospreay probably won’t win it all, and he’ll focus on his own Openweight title. White could take on anyone at G1 Supercard for a great match, but Okada and Ibushi have the best chances to take the title.

My Score: 9/10

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

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

Prepare for Backlash!

Published

6 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.
Carlito w/ Zelina Vega VS Santos Escobar w/ Elektra Lopez; Santos wins.
WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley VS Naomi; Bayley wins, by disqualification, and retains the title.

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.

SmackDown returns and Heyman has the mic to give his usual introduction. And he doesn’t know if there is a list of the most brilliant backstage maneuvering politicians int he history of the WWE, but if there were, Heyman would have to think that he personally is in the top… Well, permit Heyman, with Solo’s permission, to explain what’s going on right now within The Bloodline, “the premier act in the history of WWE.” The fans chant, “We Want Roman!” but Solo shrugs that off. Heyman assures us that as The Wise Man for… Heyman gets emotional, so Solo just snatches the mic! The fans boo but Solo paces.

Solo tries to talk but the fans boo. Solo says last week, he had to lose a brother! He had to! It was in order for him to find a new one! His MFT, Tama Tonga! And with that, a bloodied Kevin Owens is tossed out, by the Good Bad Guy! Tama shoves Kevin down the ramp, stalks behind him, and referees rush out to stop him from doing anything further! Kevin can’t even sit up, but Tama steps over him to go to the ring. The fans boo as Tama joins Solo in the ring while the refs help Kevin to his feet and to the back. Tama raises his finger to the sky, because he acknowledges Solo! Heyman has no choice but to go along, but wait! Kevin is heading back down the ramp!?

The fans fire up as Kevin shows his grit and defiance! He drags Tama out to fire off hands!! The fans cheer but then Solo whips Kevin into steel steps! Solo drags Kevin back up, puts him in the ring, but now security rushes in! Tama storms in after Kevin but Kevin TACKLES Tama! The security gets Kevin away from Tama, but Solo SAMOAN SPIKES Kevin down!! The fans boo but then Tama SPLASHES Kevin! Tama rains down fists on that bloody wound, then he DECKS guard after guard! Producers try but Tama is a madman! Tama shoves everyone away so he can slip out of the ring, to grab a chair!!

The fans boo as Tama storms back in, but now Aldis steps up! Aldis warns The Bloodline here, and Solo has Tama stand down. Solo takes the chair from Tama to show they’re done here. The fans chant “YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!” but the damage is done. Solo & Tama are a dangerous duo, will nothing and no one stop them from taking over SmackDown?

Heyman goes to the parking lot.

He’s in shock, but Aldis finds him and pulls him along. Was Heyman aware of this? Aldis shows Heyman the aftermath of one car T-boning another! And in case Heyman can’t guess, the struck car was Kevin’s. The attacking car was Tama’s! Heyman says this wasn’t authorized! No, Heyman, Aldis is speaking now. He gets this is a conflict within The Bloodline, but on his show, things are settle din the ring. Next week is the Draft, a lot of eyeballs on it, and a lot top brass are gonna be here. So Aldis will not tolerate this behavior. So make sure The Bloodline understands. Because, Heyman, if you don’t, the repercussions will be equally savage.

Aldis brings Heyman in close to tell him losing isn’t the only thing that has consequences. Will the Wise Man be able to rein in such an unruly force as Solo and Tama?

Carlito w/ Zelina Vega VS Santos Escobar w/ Elektra Lopez!

The LWO still doesn’t believe Legado’s claims that they had nothing to do with Dragon Lee going down before WrestleMania, so they’re going to get to the bottom of this one themselves! Will Caribbean Cool make the Emperor of Lucha confess his crimes? Or will Santos prove he was right all along?

The bell rings and the two talk trash. Then they start throwing hands! Carlito backs Santos down but Santos gets around to whisper something in Carlito’s ear. Carlito ELBOWS Santos away, runs up and hits a THESZ PRESS! Carlito then bumps Santos off buckles, fires hands, then has him in another corner. Carlito whips corner to corner, runs up, but Santos BOOTS him! Santos runs up, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Vega coaches Carlito to stay on Santos and he brings Santos up. Carlito ROCKS Santos, whips, but Santos KICKS him! Santos runs, but into a DROPKICK! Carlito kips up and the fans fire up!

Santos is on the outside, the ref won’t let Carlito go after him, but then Carlito WRECKS Santos with a dropkick! Carlito loads up to PLANCHA! Direct hit on Santos and Carlito hoists Vega up to celebrate! The fans cheer the LWO on as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Santos whips Carlito hard into buckles. Carlito falls over, Santos soaks up the heat, then Santos HEADBUTTS Carlito to a corner. Santos then CHOPS, gets space and runs in, to DOUBLE KNEE! Carlito slumps in the corner but Santos puts him up top! Santos GAMANGIRIS then climbs up! SUPER STEINER! Carlito flounders, Santos pushes him to a cover, TWO! Vega is relieved but Santos huffs and puffs. Santos rains down fists on Carlito, then clamps on a top wristlock. Carlito endures and Vega coaches him while the fans rally. Carlito rises, throws body shots, then LARIATS!

The fans rally as Carlito starts to rally with more clotheslines, and an ELBOW! Carlito kicks, runs, and KNEE LIFTS! Santos wobbles, Carlito LARIATS again! Cover, TWO! Santos is tougher than that but Carlito says he’s going up! Carlito climbs, but then Lopez gets on the apron! Vega storms right over to YANK her down! The fans fire up as Vega goes up, and RANAS, only for Lopez to block! Lopez SWINGS Vega into barriers! Carlito ROCKS Santos, steps in, but the ref is reprimanding Lopez so he misses Santos KICK ropes to jam Carlito low! Santos reels Carlito in to POST him, then brings him back for the fireman’s carry! PHANTOM DRIVER!! Cover, Santos wins!

Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall

La Madrina helps The Emperor steal this victory, them taking down the Caribbean Cool and La Muneca! Whether or not Legado beat down Dragon Lee, will nothing stop them from conquering SmackDown?

VIP Skybox interview with Damage CTRL!

Kayla is with Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai, Kairi Sane & Asuka as they sit way up in the back. What made the former WWE Women’s Champion and crew want a special view of this main event? Dakota takes offense for Iyo with the use of “former” there. Is Kayla trying to disrespect them? Iyo will take that title back when they’re good and ready. But for now, they’re here to watch two people they can’t stand tear each other apart! Does Dakota need to remind everyone here that DMG CTRL is still the most dominant force in the WWE!? The fans boo but Dakota says the Kabuki Warriors are STILL the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, and that will not change-

WAID! Jade Cargill is here! She makes her entrance from the other skybox, with Bianca Belair alongside her! The strongEST duo argues with DMG CTRL, their own title intentions clear. But for now, it’s time for the main event! Who shines with gold here in the Steel City? We find out, after the break!

Cody Rhodes speaks.

The American Nightmare is in the UK as part of Raw’s tour, but he still took time to say, “What is the task? Run up the score, leave no doubt, right? Formerly, the task was ‘win the big belt, in the big place.’ We’ve done that. Now, it’s a whole new frontier for us, undiscovered country.” There’s an old expression: the title can make the man, or the man makes the title. Which will it be for Cody? He’s in London tonight, the O2, 16 THOUSAND, then it’s on to Belfast, Ireland. Cody is keeping his promise to bring this title all around the world. Back home, AJ Styles has emerged the #1 contender to this championship.

So then, it will be two Georgia boys duking it out in Lyon, France. The first time ever, at that. Styles has an unprecedented reputation in pro-wrestling. The modern day Excellence of Execution, if you will. Styles rarely misses. But the same goes for Cody. So Backlash in France, Cody looks forward to it. The contract signing is next week, even as the WWE Draft is going on! Will things be explosive when American Nightmare and Phenomenal One meet face to face?

WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley VS Naomi!

SmackDown returns and Bayley makes her entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and either we shine or we glow!

The bell rings, the fans rally, and the two circle. The two tie up, go around, and Bayley headlocks. Naomi powers up but Bayley wrenches to wristlock. Naomi slips through, rolls Bayley up, ONE!! The fans rally as the two go again. Naomi waistlocks, Bayley headlocks to hit a takeover, and she makes it a cover, TWO! Naomi fights up to her feet, powers up but Bayley wrenches gain. Naomi waistlocks, O’Conner Rolls, ONE! Both women get up, Naomi ducks the boot but Bayley arm-drags her around! Bayley has the cording hold, the fans rally up, and Naomi fights to her feet. Naomi whips Bayley away, but Bayley runs her over!

The fans cheer and Bayley tells DMG CTRL she’s watching them, too. Things speed up, Naomi does the splits to duck under, then she comes back to kick from below! She drags Bayley into a cradle, ONE!! Bayley hurries to step over, LA MAGISTROL! ONE!! Naomi and Bayley get up, Naomi trips Bayley to jackknife, ONE!! Ghost pin, TWO! Both women hurry up, DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! The fans rally while both women are down, evenly matched in this chess game so far. Both women rise, and Naomi SHOTGUNS first! Then she runs up, uses the ropes to slingshot and BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Naomi is frustrated but keeps her focus.

Naomi drags Bayley up, Bayley shoves her away. Naomi dodges the lariat to hit REAR VIEW! Cover, TWO!! Bayley survives but Naomi lets her know it was that close, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Bayley whips Naomi to a corner, runs in, but into a BOOT! Bayley gets up, Naomi runs up, JAWBREAKER! Bayley ends up in a corner now, Naomi runs in, and she forearm SMASHES! Naomi then runs Bayley corner to corner for a BUCKLE BULLDOG! Naomi slips out to the apron while Bayley flounders, and Naomi climbs. The fans duel as Naomi CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Bayley is tougher than that but Naomi knows that. Naomi keeps her focus while DMG CTRL, Bianca & Jade all focus on them. Naomi ROCKS Bayley, tries the ropes again, but Bayley stops the bulldog to SMACK Naomi off buckles!

Bayley then reels Naomi in, SAIDO! High stack, TWO! Naomi is still in this and Bayley remembers Naomi’s tougher than that, too. Bayley drags Naomi into a drop zone, then goes up the corner! Bayley aims, to MACHO ELBOW onto knees! Bayley writhes, Naomi goes to the apron. Bayley stands, runs up, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! Naomi slingshots, for a FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Bayley survives and Naomi is stunned! Naomi refocuses, goes to the corner, and goes up to SPLIT LEG MOONSAULT onto knees! Bayley returns the favor and both women are down. Bayley shakes out the leg, stands and runs, to KNEE Naomi down!

Bayley hurries to put Naomi back in a drop zone, and then hobbles her way to a corner. Bayley climbs, to MACHO ELBOW!! Direct hit this time and Bayley covers, TWO!! Naomi survives and Bayley is frustrated. Bayley hobbles on the bad leg, leans on ropes while she catches her breath, and the fans duel even more. Bayley stalks Naomi, hooks her up, but Naomi PELES free! Naomi hurries to a corner, Bayley runs up, but Naomi goes up to sunset flip! TWO!! But into the BUTTERFLY LOCK!! Bayley endures, reaches out with her legs, but then she tucks to a cover, TWO!! Naomi gets up, both women throw forearms!

They both wobble, storm up, and Bayley eggs Naomi on. Naomi wants this, right? So hit her! Naomi fires a forearm, Bayley hits back! Naomi winds up to forearm, Bayley comes back with another! The fans fire up as the forearms go harder and faster! Bayley gets the edge, but Naomi SWATS one, to SCORPION KICK, and then JUMP KNEE! Bayley tumbles out of the ring, Naomi PLANCHAS! Direct hit and a hard one, both women are down on the floor! The ring count starts, Naomi stirs at 3 of 10. Naomi brings Bayley up, but BAYLEY2BELLY onto the desk!! The count is 7! Naomi flounders on the desk, but then TIFFANY ATTACKS BAYLEY!!!

Winner: Bayley, by disqualification (still WWE Women’s Champion)

Tiffany makes herself the center of attention as always as she ruins this main event! She dribbles Naomi off the desk, then RAMS Bayley into steel steps! Then she drags Naomi off the desk to POST her! Tiff storms back over to Bayley, puts her in the ring, then adds Naomi in, too. Tiff says sorry not sorry, but it’s Tiffy Time! Tiffy goes to the corner, for the PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER! Tiff flexes over both champion and challenger, having upset Bianca & Jade but having entertained DMG CTRL. But will Wrestling Barbie pay for pissing off the Role Model?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown that also acted as a WWE Draft go-home. Great match from Styles and Knight to open the night but also follow-up their WrestleMania match. Naturally, Styles wins because then he and Knight are 1-1 in 1v1 matches, and also natural Face VS Heel right there. Good promo from Cody Rhodes, that title match is going to be awesome. Awesome new looks for the WWE Tag Team Championships, though maybe too much gold. Nothing really pops when it’s all the same color, so they should’ve had silver on the WWE logo and the words, “Tag Team Champions,” but it’s still a great redesign.

We also got an awesome Fatal 4 Way tag match, with Theory & Waller decent on commentary. And pieces are falling into place for what I was thinking: Profits win the right to face Theory & Waller, we’ll surely get Lashley wanting the US Championship, we’ll get a good faction feud there as we approach those title matches. Also good continuation of the LWO VS Legado feud with Carlito VS Santos, and distractions of course helped Santos win. There’s gotta come a point where Carlito reveals it was him, Dragon Lee, it was him all along! Now, that would make like the third turn since the start of this rivalry (Santos to Heel, Andrade to Face and Carlito to Heel) but hey, the drama is heightened each time, and maybe Dragon Lee will actually get a win in this feud.

Great stuff in Bayley VS Naomi, as well as all the promos. DMG CTRL watching from the skybox, same as Bianca & Jade, was good stuff. The tag title match is definitely coming for Backlash, that will be great stuff. But I should’ve figured Tiffany would “ruin” the main event so that there won’t really be a choice between Bayley and Naomi. The Draft is coming, hopefully they think to keep all three on the same brand, and probably here on SmackDown, so that those three can have it out. I don’t know the chances of a Triple Threat for Backlash but it still feels possible. Though at the same time, I don’t think they’d take the title off Bayley after only a month, so she’d probably use Tiffany against Naomi to retain.

And what wild stuff with this new, more vicious Bloodline. Solo is in a suit because he certainly thinks he is Tribal Chief already, given Roman Reigns did give him the nod as “Tribal Heir” a few months ago. And while Tama is the MFT, which everyone is already wondering what that even means, it’s clear he’s also the right hand man and a loose cannon at that. Without the Draft, it’d be pretty wild for Jimmy to come back and help Kevin against this new Bloodline. With the Draft, we could get Jey back on the same brand as his family and then he and Jimmy stand against Solo and Tama. But either way, it’ll be a wild ride in this new chapter and I’m all for it.

My Score: 8.9/10

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!