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Mitchell’s WWE Monday Night Raw Results & Report (5/20/19)

Witness the Money in the Bank Fallout!

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WWE Raw Cover image

It’s the Raw after Money in the Bank!

And the Beast has the briefcase! Will he choose to strike tonight? Or wait until Seth Rollins is unable to fight? Plus, Becky Two Belts is now just Becky One Belt! Will the Raw Women’s Champion respond to the Sassy Southern screw job?

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Sami Zayn VS Braun Strowman; Strowman wins.
  • Ricochet VS Cesaro; Cesaro wins.
  • The Usos VS The Revival; The Revival wins.
  • Six Woman Tag: Becky Lynch, Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss VS Lacey Evans & The IIconics; Lynch, Cross & Bliss win.
  • WWE 24/7 Championship Scramble: Titus O’Neil wins and becomes the inaugural WWE 24/7 Champion.
  • WWE 24/7 Championship Change: Robert Roode wins and becomes the new WWE 24/7 Champion.
  • The Miz VS Drew McIntyre w/ Shane McMahon; McIntyre wins.
  • WWE 24/7 Championship Change: R-Truth wins and becomes the new WWE 24/7 Champion.
  • Seth Rollins & Kofi Kingston VS Bobby Lashley & Baron Corbin; changed to…
  • No Disqualifications Tag: Seth Rollins & Kofi Kingston VS Bobby Lashley & Baron Corbin; Rollins & Kingston win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Brock Lesnar returns to Raw!

The Advocate is alongside the #BeastintheBank as he rubs his shocking victory in the faces of the WWE Universe! Lesnar and Heyman go into the ring as he holds up the briefcase high above his head. The only reason Lesnar was even able to be in the Men’s MITB Ladder Match is because someone took out Sami Zayn before the show. And Lesnar, much in the fashion of the MITB contract itself, decided to appear when no one else could stop him.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Paul Heyman introduces himself and explains that his money is on The Beast, “the purveyor of paranoia, BROCK! LESNAR!” And paranoia should be around because of all the conspiracy theories going on. And they’ve heard them all: this was hatched the moment Braun Strowman stuck Sami Zayn on that wall; that Lesnar was able to sneak into the arena through a back door. How can you sneak a Beast into the room? Maybe Sami was lured into a dark hallway and then someone with political pull in the WWE got Brock to be the eighth man. That’s far too much credit for them. Just blame Lesnar for JFK why don’t you!

But this is how it goes: the world and universal champions need to be very paranoid. Wherever Seth Rollins or Kofi Kingston go, they’re both vulnerable to the “greatest assassin” in the WWE, who literally has a contract out on their reigns. Heyman imagines Rollins being afraid to show up in the ring or on TV, because Lesnar might strike. As Heyman’s daddy once taught him, “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean the world isn’t out to get you.” But it won’t be the world coming for those titles, it’ll be Lesnar! Because Lesnar has a contract that guarantees you HAVE to defend that title when Lesnar demands you defend that title! But speaking of the champs, here comes Seth Rollins!

The Architect is still WWE Universal Champion after a truly phenomenal match with AJ Styles, and he stands in the ring with Mr. Beast in the Bank. Rollins picks up a mic and says he’d be in a great mood after being in the fight of his life, and won. He would be, but he’s not, because he has to come out and “see this.” Lesnar with the MITB contract. Rollins cuts to the chase: he’s here being a champion that inspires people, and that Lesnar never had the guts to be! But he can’t do that with Lesnar hanging that contract over his head. Rollins makes a proposition: he beat Lesnar at Mania, and he’ll beat him again, but he doesn’t want to wait. Lesnar should cash that contract in tonight! Fans definitely want to see that!

Heyman says no to this, because it’s Rollins who has to play Lesnar’s game. This is Lesnar’s game of “antici…pation.” Which means Rollins has to wait until Lesnar feels like cashing in. Rollins should be used to waiting. Like waiting seven hours to watch his girlfriend main event when Rollins wants to be The Man. Rollins does NOT take kindly to that, and starts shoving Lesnar to egg him on. Heyman keeps Lesnar back, and says Rollins might not even be worthy of being Lesnar’s target. Lesnar might not even cash in on Rollins. Maybe Lesnar wants a new challenge. Or maybe a New Day! Maybe it’ll be Lesnar VS Kofi Kingston! Well ask and you shall receive! The Wild Card Rule brings Kofi to Raw!

Kofimania returns as Kofi stands with Rollins and Lesnar. He doesn’t mean to steal Rollins’ thunder, but he is trying to establish his legacy as WWE World Champion. He wants to be remembered as one of the best of all time! And Kofi can’t do that without beating the best night after night, the title on the line against the best! “So Brock, congratulations on becoming Mr. Money in the Bank.” But if he’s gonna cash in tonight, Kofi wants it to be him. Heyman just realizes something: Universal Champion, World Champion, and they’re both auditioning to have a match against “the reigning, defending, undisputed WWE Universal Champion of the Box Office”! Mr. MITB didn’t need to go to them, they came here to him.

Heyman has an inside scoop that Rollins and Kofi aren’t done for the evening. And with both of them out here,  Lesnar and his contract isn’t going anywhere. “Stay tuned, the Beast is yet to come.” What matches are Rollins and Kofi in? Will they be able to win and be ready for a possible cash-in?

 

Someone arrives in the arena.

It’s Mick Foley! Foley returns to Raw to unveil the newest WWE championship! He says hello to superstars left and right, but what kind of title is he bringing?

 

Sami Zayn talks with Bobby Lashley.

Sami’s freaking out because he got attacked at MITB and is up against Braun Strowman tonight! Now these two haven’t always gotten along, but maybe they can help each other. Strowman and Lashley have a match at WWE Super Showdown, so why not help Sami soften Strowman up? No, Lashley’s not going to help Sami. He’s going to let Sami help him. Good luck out there!

 

Kofi and Seth talk backstage.

Rollins appreciates the help out there but Kofi doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into. Oh Kofi gets it, he’s cementing his legacy. But what is this about having action tonight? HHH appears! He was going to explain but they both ran out there. They’ll be teaming up in the main event against Bobby Lashley and Baron Corbin. Well at least they’ll have strength in numbers. But will the Rocky Mountain Machine & Lone Wolf end up doing Brock’s dirty work?

 

Sami Zayn VS Braun Strowman!

The Underdog from the Underground and critic of the critics does not want this rematch with Strowman. He screwed the Monster Among Men out of the MITB ladder match, and then may or may not have been attacked by Strowman last night. Either way, is Strowman about to get revenge on Sami for the Falls Count Anywhere screw job?

Raw returns as Strowman makes his entrance and Sami starts running! Strowman gives chase through the crowd! This is a flashback to when Strowman chased Sami backstage before MITB! Strowman encounters Bobby Lashley. And Sami sucker punches Strowman! Sami tries to whip but Strowman just shoves Sami into trunks! Sami crawls away but Strowman stares down with Lashley. “I’ll deal with you later.” Strowman chases after Sami! And clubs him down into trunks! They end up back by gorilla position as Strowman punches Sami down. Strowman shoves and stalks Sami onto stage! Then carries him on his shoulders.

Sami can’t escape as Strowman carries him all the way to the ring! But then Sami slips out to shove Strowman into a post! And another post! Sami shoves Strowman but Strowman stops himself to shove Sami into barriers! He puts Sami in the ring then takes aim from a corner. Sami dodges and Strowman goes into a post! The bell finally rings, and Sami runs corner to corner, into a lariat! Strowman drags Sami up and tosses him back out of the ring. Strowman starts building up speed, and he runs Sami right over! He puts Sami in the ring again, scoops him, and gives him the Monster Slam! Cover, Strowman wins!

Winner: Braun Strowman, by pinfall

The Monster has his revenge, but now he’ll have a bigger fight in Saudi Arabia! Will Bobby Lashley #GetTheseHands?

 

Raw holds an in-ring interview with Lars Sullivan.

The Leviathan is a SmackDown superstar, but the Wild Card Rule allows him to walk out to the ring. Charly notes Lars’ “unparalleled” path of destruction, and Raw gives us a highlight reel. Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, R-Truth and both Hardy Boys on multiple occasions, and even the Lucha House Party just last night. Fans boo but Lars laughs. What are Lars’ goals on the main roster? Before he can answer, the Lucha House Party appears for revenge! Kalisto, Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik flank the ring, and they hit first! A knee and double missile dropkicks! Metalik and Lince club away but Lars throws them into each other. Kalisto missile dropkicks now, then TRIPLE dropkicks send Lars out!

Fans rally for the Lucha House Party, but Lars gets angry. Kalisto slingshots but is caught and slammed on the apron! But a double DIVE hits! Lars still explodes out and lariats Lince! Lars puts Lince in, then shoulders Metalik over. He dares them to keep trying, then turns his attention back to Lince. Lince fights but still gets a FREAK ACCIDENT! Lars isn’t done, he drags Lince up in a corner. But Kalisto and Metalik save Lince from the Leviathan Bomb! Lucha House Party survives, for now. But will it take more than three luchadores to defeat a Freak?

 

Ricochet VS Cesaro!

The One and Only wasn’t the only one surprised and screwed over by Beast at Money in the Bank, but he’s not going to be the one to let that slow him down. He takes on the Swiss Cyborg in a match that is sure to be fast and furious!

Raw returns and shares why this match came about. After the Men’s MITB ladder match, and all the destruction Ricochet and the other six superstars not named Brock Lesnar put themselves through, he was obviously sore walking into tonight. Cesaro felt the need to add insult to injury by claiming Ricochet is just like the rest of the “bubble wrap” generation, and Ricochet took offense. Ricochet’s not going to take the night off, but will he regret not resting up?

Cesaro finally makes his entrance, with a brand new song. He enters the ring and we finally begin this match!

Ricochet rushes Cesaro but gets tossed to a corner! Cesaro walks into haymakers but knees low. He whips Ricochet and tosses him with a HIGH back drop! Ricochet hits hard on his bad back and rolls out of the ring in pain. Cesaro shows no mercy as he drags Ricochet up for a scoop. Ricochet slips out to send Cesaro into a post! Ricochet runs back in but is put on the apron. He keeps moving to moonsault onto Cesaro! With his bad back, that’s double-edged for Ricochet, but he doesn’t let that stop him. Ricochet gets back in and slingshots back out, only to get caught and tossed back on the apron! The Swiss Cyborg shows no mercy while we go to break!

Raw returns again as Cesaro has Ricochet in a modified Bow ‘n’ Arrow lock. Ricochet endures being bent back, but fans rally up. Ricochet fights his way up and out then jawbreakers Cesaro back! Cesaro still goes after Ricochet but gets haymakers for it. He whips Ricochet and pops Ricochet up, but Ricochet back flips off him! Ricochet runs, tilt-o-whirls twice, then headscissors Cesaro out! Fans fire up as Ricochet builds speed to FLY! He wipes Cesaro out! But Cesaro hurries away, forcing Ricochet to follow after. Ricochet puts Cesaro in the ring while fans say “This is Awesome!” Ricochet climbs, leaps, but into a European Uppercut! Cesaro drags Ricochet up into a torture rack to go after that back! Then gives him a backbreaker drop! And the Gotch Neutralizer! Cover, Cesaro wins!

Winner: Cesaro, by pinfall

Lesson learned: go after someone when they’re less than 100%! Ricochet’s back held him back, but can he bounce back on the road to WWE Stomping Grounds?

 

Raw backstage interview with AJ Styles!

The Phenomenal One was so close to beating Seth Rollins in an instant classic. But where does Styles go from here? “Back to Square One.” But Styles likes that, working hard is what he does. Styles knows he can beat Seth Rollins, just not last night. It was a loss, fair and square, and there’s no shame in that. It’s why Rollins is Universal Champion. But Baron Corbin has to come over and mock him. Is Styles telling that same tired story of getting bigger, stronger and faster to do it next time? Please. Styles lost! Yes, says the failure of a Mr. Money in the Bank and Raw General Manager.

That’s all the past. Corbin pinned Rollins on Raw, so it was a slap in the face that Styles got his chance first. No, it wasn’t. THIS is a slap in the face! Because Styles actually slaps him! Corbin promises Styles will pay, but where and when?

 

Kofi talks with Mick Foley backstage.

The WWE World Champion is very curious about this new WWE title, and Mick gives him a tiny peek. What is in the bag?!

 

Roman Reigns returns to Raw, again!

The Big Dog loves using the Wild Card Rule! Though, he should since he’s part of why Vince McMahon felt the need to make it. But what will Roman do with this week’s use of the rule? Find out after the break!

Raw returns and Roman has a mic. But before he can say a word, Shane McMahon appears! Shane O’Mac survived a Steel Cage match with The Miz at Money in the Bank, but now he’s back to annoy Roman. “Roman Reigns, using the Wild Card Rule. The Big Dog in the Yard, right?” Well the Yard is only so big compared to being Best in the World. And Shane proved so last night in that brutal match. Shane walked out with hands held high in victory. And Shane is officially done with The Miz. Now Shane’s focus will be fully on Roman. He can’t get it out of his head what Roman did to Vince McMahon, Shane’s father and “the WWE personified.” Roman cowardly hitting Vince down, what kind of man does that? Fans say “YOU! YOU!”

Roman doesn’t know about the fans, but he hates spoiled rich kids. Shane said a bunch of crap, but the only thing Roman heard was Shane’s done with Miz. Perfect timing, because Roman’s done with Elias. No, Roman thinks that, but Elias isn’t done with Roman. One fluke victory doesn’t prove anything. Again, Shane’s one to talk. But if Elias isn’t here and Shane has business, let’s squash it in the ring tonight! Wow, how brave, Roman, to issue a challenge after Shane got all beat up even in winning. But Shane does ask the fans if they want to see “The Best in the World” VS “The Big Dog”. They do! Shane takes off his jacket, tosses it aside, and says it’s not happening. Shane does what all “spoiled rich kids” do: controlling his own destiny. He’s the boss, and he has control around here. Let him demonstrate.

Drew McIntyre appears! The Scottish Terminator is again willing to help Shane while going after Roman. He and Roman stare down as Shane considers that challenge again. Still not happening tonight. But he accepts it for Super Showdown. The last thing Roman will hear, “Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this match, and the Best in the World, Shane McMahon!” Roman tells the spoiled rich kid that he’ll soon be saying what a lot of people have been saying around here: “I just got my ass kicked by Roman Reigns.” Believe that. But Super Showdown aside, will Roman and McIntyre add another chapter to their rivalry later tonight?

 

Shane walks with McIntyre.

They feel good about that stare down and trash talk with Roman Reigns. But they’re quickly interviewed about the implication that Shane wont’ be alone in Super Showdown. There’s no implication. What happened was- The Miz is here as another Wild Card! They’re not done. McIntyre stands between them. Shane doesn’t think, he knows he’s done. And if Miz has problems, then he’s got problems with McIntyre. Now Shane has others fighting his battles? Fine. Miz will get McIntyre out of the way, and go back after Shane. Will the A-Lister get through the Terminator to give us that trilogy?

 

The Usos VS The Revival!

Jimmy & Jey give a quick hey to their cousin, Roman, as they make their way out. They put the SmackDown Tag Team Champions on #LockDown at MITB, but they keep moving right into settling things with Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson! Will the #TopGuys get revenge for the pranks? Or will they be put in the Uso Penitentiary?

Raw returns as Dash & Dawson make their entrance. The teams sort out, and Dash just attacks Jimmy! Dash drags Jimmy over to the Revival’s corner to stomp away! Dash tags in then climbs up top! They give Jimmy the backbreaker leg drop! Cover, TWO! The referee backs Dawson off so everyone can take jackets off but Dawson throws Jimmy out of the ring. Jey runs in but Dash runs Jimmy over! The ref keeps Jey back and Dash tags in. The Revival both go after Jimmy to throw him into a barrier! Fans cheer the Usos on but Dash dares Jimmy to laugh now. He puts Jimmy in and then haymakers him to the corner. Dash throws uppercuts then tags Dawson. The Revival work together for the assisted suplex! Cover, TWO!

Dawson taunts Jey then drags Jimmy back up. He puts Jimmy in a chinlock and drives an elbow into Jimmy’s face. Dawson CHOPS Jimmy then stands him up. Jimmy hits back and fights out! Jimmy whips but Dawson reverses, only for Jimmy to dodge. Jey tags in and they double mule kick Dawson. They throw Dawson out then double clothesline Dash out! Fans fire up with the Usos while we go to break.

Raw returns and Jimmy fights up out of Dash’s chinlock. Dash holds Jimmy away from Jey but Jimmy throws back. Dash suplexes but Jimmy slips out! Jimmy kicks Dash away but both men are down. Dash tags in Dawson and Dawson anchors Jimmy. Jimmy hits the dragon whip enziguri! Now he and Dawson are down, but fans rally up. Jimmy and Dawson tag Jey and Dash! Jey rallies and mule kicks, then dabs and uppercuts on ’em! Things speed up, Samoan Drop for Dash! And one for Dawson, too! The Revival end up in opposite corners and Jey rallies the fans. “Uce O!” hip attack to Dawson! Then to Dash! Dash dumps Jey out but gets a kick for it! Jey climbs and crossbodies! Cover, TWO!

Jey keeps his cool while Dash crawls. Dash whips Jey in the corner and rocks him with a right. Dash climbs up but Jey uppercuts him back. Jey CHOPS Dash then climbs up to join him. Dawson tags in and Dash sunset flips! Dash carries Jey then powerbombs him, Dawson drops the Macho Elbow! Cover, TWO!! Jey survives and The Revival pleads with the ref! The count is what it is, so Dawson drags Jey back up. “You think it’s funny!?” Dawson gives Jey uppercuts while fans rally up. Jey hits back! They brawl with big hands, then Dawson ducks to backslide. Jey uses Dash as a step to get out of it but Dawson rocks Jey with a right! Dawson whips but Jimmy tags in, the Usos Double SUPERKICK! Cover, but Dash barrels in!

Dash hits Jey then goes after him. He deflects the superkick and uses the barriers as a step for his tornado DDT! Jimmy builds speed and DIVES onto Dash! Jimmy goes back to Dawson, but gets caught in a cradle! TWO, superkick blocked! Dawson throws another right, but Jimmy SUPERKICKS again! Cover, TWO!! Dawson survives and now Jimmy can’t believe it! Fans say “This is Awesome!” as Jimmy gets himself up top. Jimmy aims but Dash runs in. Jimmy jump over, back drops Dash but Dawson rolls him up! With tights! The Revival wins!!

Winners: The Revival, by pinfall

It looks like Dash & Dawson have the last laugh this time. They steal one from the Usos, but will they be able to take back those Raw Tag Team Championships that way?

 

Alexa Bliss gets a touch-up from the Raw make-up department.

The Goddess has enough blush so she stops here. Nikki Cross comes by and Alexa compliments her on that Women’s MITB Ladder Match performance. The only thing is, Nikki didn’t win. Well yes, but she had the briefcase for a second. Yes, Alexa saw that, but Nikki didn’t win. Well it’s okay. Alexa will cheer her up with- The Revival marches in, celebrating their win! Did they see them win against the Usos?! They’re the next guests on A Moment of Bliss, right? Just think about it, okay? They head off and Alexa isn’t sure what to make of it. Will Nikki cheer up after Alexa has Becky Lynch as tonight’s guest?

 

Raw presents another episode of Firefly Fun House!

Though, it doesn’t look as cheerful as usual. “Let Him In.” Bray Wyatt is back, in his demonic form! Will you let Bray in?

 

Time for another A Moment of Bliss!

Raw’s top talk show has a new co-host with Nikki joining Alexa on stage. Alexa addresses the fact her luggage keeps getting misplaced by wearing her gear just in case. Where is her coffee, though? The stage hand brings out two cups, but Alexa doesn’t realize one was meant for Nikki… She pours the second into the first and takes a sip. On to her guest: the woman, or rather, The Man, that retained her Raw Women’s Championship but not her SmackDown Women’s Champion! It’s Becky Lynch!

Becky appears, holding up her one belt, and Nikki lets Becky have her seat. To then lurk by Alexa. Alexa has Nikki maintain personal space then welcomes Becky to the show. Last night was surely heartbreaking. Becky climbed a mountain against Lacey Evans and Charlotte Flair. How does it feel to no longer be the Double Champion? But speaking of champions, here come the IIconics! The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions are here without violating the Wild Card Rule. This isn’t Becky Two Belts anymore, she’s Becky One Belt! It doesn’t have the same ring to it, though. And poor Becky is so sad. If it makes her feel any better, Peyton & Billie still have two belts.

“Shut yer faces, the two of ya.” Becky defended more in one night since those two have since Mania. And if they wanna talk trash, Becky will fight them both, take their titles and go up to Becky Three Belts! But wait, Lacey Evans appears! The Sassy Southern Belle struts onto the stage and says “Typical man, never knowing where to give proper credit.” The reason Becky is down a belt is because of Lacey. Fans still feel Becky is “Becky Two Belts” in their hearts. And Lacey can add honey to her sentences, but the fact is, the Lady got tapped out. She couldn’t get the job done when Becky was giving only half her attention. But now that Becky is focused, she can slap Lacey all up and down Raw. She’ll do it to the IIconics, too! Three versus one? Yeah right.

Nikki will be Becky’s partner. Okay, that’s 3v2. Well Alexa will do. What? No, she’s not part of this. Nah it’s okay, just stand there and look cute while The Man handles business. The Goddess is reluctant, but she joins in. A major Six Woman is about to go down, after the break!

 

Six Woman Tag: Becky Lynch, Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss VS Lacey Evans & The IIconics!

Raw returns as the teams sort out. Becky and Billie start and tie up. Becky headlocks but Billie powers out, only to get run over. Billie scrambles away to tag Peyton. By the way, Alexa’s finishing her coffee off the apron. Peyton and Becky tie up and Becky scoops. Peyton slips out and yanks Becky down by her hair. Cover but Becky slips out Matrix style. Peyton scrambles away and Becky dares Lacey to tag in. Lacey says she’ll tag in when she wants to, so Peyton runs into a drop toehold. Nikki tags in and gets the hand-off from Becky. Peyton shoves Nikki around, but Nikki table tops Peyton. Nikki dropkicks Peyton then whips her to a corner. Nikki roars before hitting a corner splash to bulldog! Cover, TWO!

Nikki is wild as ever as she shoulders into Peyton the hits Billie. She dropkicks Peyton then climbs up to crossbody! Cover, TWO! Billie shouts at Nikki but Peyton clobbers Nikki from behind. Tag to Billie and the IIconics crisscross Nikki to kick her down. Then they strike their pose. Billie drags Nikki up to knock her down, and now Lacey tags in. Lacey stomps a mudhole into Nikki then takes out her handkerchief. Lacey wipes the sweat from her brow then gives Nikki her swinging bronco buster! Peyton tags and covers, TWO! Peyton drags Nikki up and into an armlock. She adds a chinbar while fans rally for Nikki. Nikki fights up but Peyton throws her down by her hair. Peyton puts the armlock and chinbar back on and Nikki endures again.

Fans cheer Nikki on while Alexa sips her coffee. Nikki gets up and fights out but Peyton whips her hard into buckles. Lacey tags herself back in and stomps Nikki down. Lacey drags Nikki up to throw her down and step on her. She taunts Becky before putting Nikki in a neck wrench camel clutch. Lacey whips Nikki into the corner then tags Peyton. Peyton drags Nikki up for forearms then puts her in a corner. She whips Nikki corner to corner then runs in, but only gets the post! Hot tags to Becky and Billie! The Man rallies on Billie and hits a calf kick! Lacey drops down to avoid Becky even further, but then Billie rolls Becky! ONE, and Becky mule kicks Billie into the Becksploder! Lacey just leaves so Becky Straight Firearms Billie. Then hits the missile dropkick!

Becky hits Peyton for good measure then boots Billie back down. Becky hops up, leg drop! Cover, Becky’s team wins!

Winners: Becky Lynch, Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss, Lynch pinning

This match quite literally lasted a cup of coffee because only now is Alexa done and able to join her team. She celebrates with Nikki and Becky, but Becky leaves her behind to grab her belt. Will the Raw Women’s Champion continue to slap the heads off challengers now that she only has one belt to worry about?

 

Raw returns with Mick Foley!

Foley loves the response but he’s all business. He has a title on his shoulder in a bag. There’s been something missing from Raw as of late, so it’s time to revisit “R A W”. Raw needs to be raw again! Let’s make Mondays raw again! For superstars wanting to step up, Foley knows it takes a lot to make a mark. It takes a lot to become a champion. You don’t just defend a title, you live, dream and covet! It’s something you’ll sacrifice teeth and an ear to have! It is an obsession that consumes the day. 24 hours a day, seven days a week, that is. And so with that in mind, Mick Foley presents the new… WWE 24/7 Championship!

The name obviously implies that this belt will be defended anytime, anywhere! Keep in mind, the champion won’t get days off. The champion could be playing golf and boom, a ref appears and a match happens. A slide at Chuck E. Cheese or at the tanning salon, you better have your trunks ready because falls count anywhere. Foley puts the title down and starting tonight, this very third hour of Raw will get downright mean and nasty! Maybe a little dirty. And it starts right here tonight, in Albany, New York. The inaugural 24/7 Champion will be crowned! It will be a championship scramble! Mick will leave, superstars will line up, and they’ll go for the gold. Is this belt open to all superstars on Raw? No. It’s open to Raw, SmackDown, 205 Live, NXT, NXT UK, and maybe even a good ol’ legend or two!

The moment this bell rings, “he who retrieves it, receives it, and destiny is staring you in the eye.” Foley gets out of the ring, and we begin!

WWE 24/7 Championship Scramble!

First on the scene are FOUR superstars! Cedric Alexander, Eric Young, EC3 and Mojo Rawley run down the ramp while fighting each other! They crash and burn but Mojo gets closest! But now No Way Jose and both Good Brothers head out! Seven superstars fight and push and stomp, and even Titus O’Neil appears! Karl Anderson is closest but EC3 anchors him! Alexander shoves Titus while EC3 bumps Mojo. Titus throws Alexander back, then goes for the title! But Mojo POUNCES! Alexander springboard clotheslines Mojo but EY slides in! They both see the belt andhesitate, allowing the Good Brothers to trip them up!

Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows both go for the belt! They grab it at the same time, and stare down! Will this tag team break up over this? EC3 shoves them into each other! But No Way Jose punches EC3! They brawl with the belt just below them! Jose gets an edge then tackles EC3 out of the ring! Everyone’s down but no one has the belt! Wait, is that Drake Maverick!? Titus O’Neil stands in his way! But he still grabs the belt! Titus pries him off it, and TOSSES him at the others! Titus grabs the belt and runs away with it!

Winner: Titus O’Neil; inaugural WWE 24/7 Champion

The Real Deal celebrates, but for too long! Robert Roode and a ref appear, and Roode rolls Titus up!! Roode wins the belt!!

New 24/7 Champion: Robert Roode!

A GLORIOUS steal! Roode takes the belt and runs, but everyone chases him backstage! Can Roode get away with the gold? Will Titus get back at him? Or will someone else take that title off Roode first?

 

Raw finds Roode running for his life.

He has the belt but the clock is running. He hides behind some trunks as the angry mob runs past. They all blow past Roode, and he slowly sneaks out to run back the other way. Will Roode make it to a safe place to hold onto that belt a little longer?

 

The Miz VS Drew McIntyre w/ Shane McMahon!

The Hollywood A-Lister wants his trilogy with Shane McMahon, but Shane doesn’t want any more of Miz. Probably because Miz comes closer and closer to actually defeating him. But for now, Miz must survive the Scottish Terminator in order to have a clear path. Will Miz find a way to finally have retribution on Shane O’Mac?

Raw returns as McIntyre makes his entrance, Shane O’Mac shuffling around behind him. McIntyre doesn’t break focus from Miz, and the same goes for Miz with McIntyre. The bell rings and we begin this first-time-ever!

Miz and McIntyre tie up and Miz manages to sidestep him. McIntyre lungs and Miz gets a headlock. Miz goes for the takeover but McIntyre blocks with power! McIntyre powers out but Miz dodges to kick and punch him back. Miz whips but McIntyre blocks to CHOP Miz down. Shane likes what he sees as McIntyre drags Miz up for more CHOPS! McIntyre whips Miz corner to corner but Miz goes up and over! Miz runs, but into McIntyre’s arms! McIntyre pops Miz up but Miz slips out to jawbreaker back. McIntyre shoves but Miz kicks him back. It does nothing! Miz speeds things up and baits McIntyre onto the apron. Miz slides and trips McIntyre up! Then blocks a boot to throw McIntyre’s leg into barriers!

Shane lurks but Miz sees him. Shane stays back as Miz puts McIntyre in. Miz slides but McIntyre blocks the sunset flip. McIntyre tosses Miz into a corner, but Miz dropkicks the legs out! McIntyre hits buckles and Miz fires off! Miz throws hands but McIntyre back suplexes. MIz lands on his feet and boots McIntyre away. McIntyre ends up in a corner and Miz runs in. McIntyre catches the A-List lariat! And he TOSSES Miz overhead! Shane applauds and McIntyre stomps Miz’s hands. McIntyre deadlift suplexes Miz hard! Cover, TWO! Shane says that’s fine, because McIntyre is still in control. McIntyre stands Miz up to CHOP him against the ropes!

McIntyre drags Miz to the ropes and wants to suplex him out! Miz resists and knees McIntyre back, to then sunset flip! But McIntyre holds ropes to save himself. He hits Miz away but Miz trips him up! McIntyre hits the apron hard! McIntyre hobbles but hits Miz back, to sit him on the barrier. Shane applauds as McIntyre blasts Miz into the front row! Shane mockingly asks if Miz is okay, before McIntyre deadlift suplexes Miz up and to the floor! The Terminator is in control while we go to break.

Raw returns as McIntyre drags Miz up on the to rope. Miz fights free to sunset flip powerbomb McIntyre down! Shane doesn’t like that. Miz catches his breath while McIntyre crawls away. Fans rally for Miz as he counter punches McIntyre! Miz throws more hands and even It Kicks! He runs corner to corner to hit double knees! And again! But McIntyre follows, only to get post! Miz has the fans fired up as he runs corner to corner to hit that A-List Lariat! He dumps McIntyre down to springboard ax handle! Cover, TWO! McIntyre lives but Miz keeps focus as he gives more It Kicks! Miz kicks and kicks and aims, but McIntyre counters the buzzsaw, only for Miz to huricanrana!

Miz wants the full nelson but McIntyre powers out. McIntyre hits him with a back elbow in the corner, and then the Inverted Alabama Slam! Cover, TWO! Miz survives and McIntyre is frustrated. But Shane still has confidence as McIntyre whips Miz. Miz dodges again, to give kicks to the inner thigh! Miz runs and blocks a boot, to a knee jacker! McIntyre writhes but Miz is after the legs for a Figure Four! McIntyre shoves Miz away, Shane gets a cheap shot in! SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Shane is shocked the cheating didn’t work! But McIntyre takes aim and runs, but Miz dodges the claymore! Takedown, to Figure Four! McIntyre endures and Shane freaks out, but McIntyre CHOPS away on Miz! Miz falls back and the hold comes off.

McIntyre hobbles up and heads for Miz. Miz dumps McIntyre out and wrecks him with a dropkick! Then Miz glares at Shane! Shane runs away! Miz misses getting Shane, but dodges McIntyre again. He throws McIntyre into barriers! Then the ring, but Shane attacks from behind! Shane pushes Miz in the ring, CLAYMORE!! Cover, McIntyre wins!

Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall

Shane is the Best in the World at screwing over The Miz! McIntyre rolls on, will he get a title match out of this? Shane tells Miz he was done with him, but he has a parting gift. Shane has McIntyre put Miz in a corner while Shane climbs up. McIntyre holds Miz down, but here comes Roman! Roman saves Miz and SUPERMAN PUNCHES McIntyre! Then he runs Shane off! Shane’s also the Best in the World at running away. But will he have what it takes to fight The Big Dog at Super Showdown?

 

Baron Corbin and Bobby Lashley discuss their main event match.

They’re ready to team up again, but then Robert Roode bumps into them! Roode does his best to hide the 24/7 Championship so they don’t get any bright ideas. The mob runs in and Roode gets out of there! How has Roode not just gotten to the hotel!? And is Drake Maverick going to be okay? He might need to hydrate.

 

Raw backstage interview with the WWE World and Universal Champions, Kofi and Seth!

They’ll both be taking on Baron and Bobby, but what about the Beast in the Bank? As champion, you need to multitask! They both know Lesnar’s around but they also know Corbin & Lashley are legit. No one likes Lashley, no one ever liked Corbin, in all of space and time. They’re dangerous, so they’re first. Then who do they think Lesnar will go after first? That’s not their concern. Kofi worked hard to be world champion, so he’ll visit and survive Supelx City to stay W, W, E, World, Heavy, Weight, CHAMPION~! Seth, where them hips at? Yeah no. The two champs head out for their main event, but will it be ruined by a cash-in?

 

Samoa Joe speaks.

“Witness what happened last night. My shoulders were never fully on the mat.” Joe shouldn’t have lost his WWE United States Championship to Rey Mysterio. But he’s not angry, because it was just a mistake. Joe knows Rey knows, because he is an honorable man, a caring husband and father, and a man with a reputation that spans the globe. So Rey won’t let that controversy taint his legacy. Joe knows Rey. Joe is not compassionate, but he will gift Rey an opportunity to simply hand the title back. He’s giving Rey the opportunity to lead by example. Be the man Joe knows he wants Dominique to be. Because if Rey doesn’t, imagine the example Joe will set for him. The WWE United States Championship will be addressed next week!

 

Roode makes it to the parking lot!

The only way he stops the Raw roster from chasing him is to get to a vehicle! He asks R-Truth for help! Truth puts him in the trunk! Truth sends the mob the other way, then goes back to his car. He lets Roode out, and brings him to the passenger seat. But a ref is here?! Truth hits Roode and bumps him off the car! Cover, Truth wins!!

New WWE 24/7 Champion: R-Truth!

He takes the belt and runs away with it! The belt’s headed to SmackDown either way, but will Truth be able to hold onto it through the night?

 

Seth Rollins & Kofi Kingston VS Bobby Lashley & Baron Corbin!

Two top champions in the WWE team up together against two towering opponents. With Lesnar and his MITB contract lurking, will the Architect and Kofimania be able to focus? Or will the Rocky Mountain Machine and “Albany’s Favorite Son” take advantage and earn themselves title matches?

Raw returns and someone made this No Disqualifications?!

No Disqualifications Tag: Seth Rollins & Kofi Kingston VS Bobby Lashley & Baron Corbin!

That someone has to be HHH, who made this match with Heyman. Rollins makes his entrance, only to be attacked by Corbin! Corbin drags Rollins up but Kofi runs to help, only to be intercepted by Lashley! Lashley tackles Kofi into the LED wall while Corbin stomps Rollins on the stage. Corbin drags Rollins to the ring and Lashley follows. They put Rollins in and the bell rings! Rollins fights Corbin off, then hits Lashley, only to turn around into DEEP SIX! Cover, but Kofi returns to break it!

Lashley throws Kofi out then goes after him again. Corbin keeps on Rollins with body shots. Corbin rains down rights then yanks Rollins up. Rollins lands on his feet to PELE! Rollins and Corbin are down, but crawling for their corners. Kofi is there for the hot tag! Lashley also tags in, but Kofi springboard ax handles Lashley down! Kofi CHOPS away then dropkicks Lashley. Lashley runs but Kofi dodges to clothesline him down! Kofi drops the New Day Boom Drop! Fans fire up with Kofi but Kofi has to hit Corbin away. Lashley hits Kofi then suplexes, but Kofi slips out. Kofi boots Lashley away, then hops up for a crossbody! Cover, but Corbin breaks it. Rollins returns but gets a right hand from Corbin. Corbin returns to his corner and Lashley tags him in.

Lashley takes Kofi and throws him out. Corbin and Lashley drag Kofi up to whip him at barriers hard! Then they do the same to Rollins! Corbin and Lashley loom over both champions while we go to one last break!

Raw returns again as Corbin ROCKS Rollins with a right. Lashley grinds his boot into Kofi while Corbin drags Rollins up again, only to punch him back down. Rollins flounders to his feet but Corbin runs again, into Rollins’ slingblade! Rollins hits Lashley away then DIVES onto Corbin! But Corbin catches him, to choke slam him on the apron! And toss him into the timekeeper’s area! Corbin stomps away then buries Rollins with chairs! Lashley puts Kofi in the ring and rams his shoulder into him! Fans boo and jeer as Lashley and Corbin mug Kofi. Corbin hits the choke slam backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Kofi crawls to a corner but Corbin and Lashley haul him up top. They both climb up, but Rollins returns with a chair!

Rollins SMACKS Lashley! He SMACKS Corbin! He SMACKS Lashley, but Corbin punches him down. Corbin tosses Rollins to the apron but Rollins kicks back! Rollins springboards and hits a flying knee! Lashley swings but Rollins ducks to PELE! Rollins mule kicks Lashley! And mule kicks Corbin! Fans fire up and Rollins stomps, “Burn It Down!” He aims at Corbin but Lashley yanks him out! Lashley stomps Rollins, but Kofi meets Lashley in the ring. Kofi leaps but into Lashley’s arms, to tackle him in ropes! But it’s Kofi who dumps Lashley out of the ring! Corbin runs but he gets dumped out! Rollins DIVES and gets them both! Kofi climbs and Trust Falls! He wipes out Corbin and Lashley!

Fans fire up as Kofi puts Corbin in the ring. Kofi springboards but Corbin gets under. Corbin reels Kofi in but Kofi slips out to spin and hit Corbin with Trouble in Paradise! Cover, Kofi & Rollins win!

Winners: Kofi Kingston & Seth Rollins, Kingston pinning

But Lashley SPEARS Kofi! Then SPEARS Rollins! The Almighty Lashley has the chair, and takes aim at Kofi. Kofi ducks, Rollins SUPERKICKS Lashley! But here comes Lesnar!! He has his briefcase, but Rollins has the chair! Who is The Beast going to target?! Lesnar circles like a shark, but both Rollins and Kofi are on guard. Lesnar does his lap, hops up on the apron, but stays back. Fans boo as the Beast simply plays mind games with the champions. Heyman says they take a week to decide. The Beast will return next Raw, who will be his prime target?

 


 

My Thoughts:

Well this was certainly something. There was actually a good bit of buzz going into Raw tonight after what happened at MITB. And this time, the formula of a long opening segment works because we needed Heyman to talk for Lesnar to tell us how things are in story. Everything Heyman said about those conspiracy theories was a worked shoot, because word is, they really did find a way to sneak Lesnar in and surprise everyone, superstars included. But it was a great move to throw intrigue back in by teasing a choice between the two top titles. It really would be good if Lesnar VS Kofi became a thing, but it sadly sounds like Rollins VS Lesnar is happening at the now Saudi Arabia Super Showdown. Though, I would hope the title doesn’t change overseas like that.

Lesnar going out during the main event was obviously just a tease. Between running short on time and having one champion there to help the other, Lesnar wasn’t going to succeed anyway, even if he’s Lesnar. The tag team main event was really good, to be honest, though it clearly sounds like Vince doesn’t know how match rules interact anymore. Either way, it seems interesting that the Brock Lesnar bias is spreading to all of the McMahon authority with HHH apparently helping set the champions up for Lesnar to attack. HHH should be the only one on their side, given how he is on NXT. Though, Vince doesn’t care about continuity between main roster and NXT, obviously.

Ricochet and Cesaro had a great match, but naturally Cesaro wins over a battered Ricochet. A rematch of these two when Ricochet is at 100% will be awesome. The Lucha House Party getting to at least survive Lars was a good move. Someone needs to start putting up a fight, so three someones doing it is fine. We finally get a great Usos VS Revival match, as we should’ve been getting all along. Renee seemed so salty during this part, I can’t be sure if she’s going Tweener or what. It’s smart for Revival to win by cheating, they’re still the Heels. They must get those Raw tag titles off Hawkins & Ryder.

The Raw Women’s Division stuff is definitely being forced by Vince. Granted, Becky and Nikki do their parts, and obviously there isn’t meant to be chemistry between Nikki and Alexa, but it doesn’t even seem like good awkward chemistry. Clearly Alexa still isn’t at 100%, or whatever WWE needs her to be at to compete, but maybe that can go into story. Alexa lets Nikki and Becky do all the work against Lacey and the IIconics, and of course Becky wins for her team. Alexa might get Nikki to do the same if they become a tag team to face the IIconics 2v2. I do like that Becky has a non-submission finisher now with that top rope leg drop, it’ll give her matches more variety now. Lacey seems a front runner for another shot, but she should have matches with Naomi and/or Dana first.

Strowman squashes Sami to get that story done, and now his match with Lashley at Super Showdown is the next thing. Hopefully we get some real build next week, a stare down was okay but obviously not enough for these behemoths. Honestly, they could’ve been doing more with these two all along, so maybe the Super Showdown match is just the start. At the same time, Lashley has to be part of this new Mean Street Posse Shane’s making. Lashley, McIntyre and Elias are definitely members given they’re the ones doing Shane’s bidding. Obviously Shane cheats Miz, and almost as obvious, Roman helps Miz. This still looks good for a second Miz-Roman team-up down the line. Maybe Miz helps Roman at Super Showdown since McIntyre will be in Shane’s corner. Miz, Roman and Strowman can make an interesting team to face Shane’s guys.

This new title is obviously the Hardcore Championship revived, but apparently without a No Disqualification element. That’s a shame, since it’s literally Falls Count Anywhere. This belt has three reigns already, and it’s all been pretty fun in my opinion. I really hope that with modern technology like Facebook Live, YouTube and even the WWE Network, we get all sorts of shenanigans with this title, especially on days without Raw or SmackDown. Hell, this belt better show up at TakeOver: XXV! I just don’t get why this announcement went alongside the changes to Raw’s third hour. The lighting is dimmer and the tone is apparently going to be more mature. It’s been obvious how desperate Vince has gotten because of his own booking, but one of these things might save WWE TV.

My Score: 8/10


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Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (3/18/24)

Talk about a Big Time Raw!

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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?

Becky Lynch and Nia Jax want to finally put this to an end, so tonight on Raw, it will be a Big Time Last Woman Standing match! Will the Irresistible Force force the WrestleMania 40 match to change?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers; DIY wins and advances to WrestleMania.
  • Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance; Candice & Indi win.
  • Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher; The Awesome Truth wins and advances to WrestleMania.
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy; The New Day wins and advances to WrestleMania.
  • Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax; Becky wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Jey Uso is here!

North Carolina State University fires up and bounces along with Main Event Jey, and Pat McAfee plays a dangerous game standing on the armchairs! From Bret VS Owen to Matt VS Jeff, we’re about to get Jey VS Jimmy in the third-ever Brother VS Brother WrestleMania grudge match! Jey gets the mic as fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey welcomes us to Monday Night Raw, and wants us to check this out. He knows his brothers are somewhere in the building. He knows The Bloodline’s in the building. He knows how the Bloodline rolls! SO Big Brother Jimmy, where you at?! Where you at, Uce!?

Jey waits for someone to show up somewhere, and the crowd spots them first! Fans boo as Jimmy & Solo make their way from the back of the stands. Jimmy gets a mic and goes to the apron while Solo paces around the outside. Fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” again as Jey puts the sunglasses aside. The Usos stare each other down, the fans now chant “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jey wants to say something, hesitates, but then says these two would always get to it but they always knew how to shake right back to this. But now it’s different. Regardless of what happened, the bad blood between them, Jey misses his brother. He does.

Jey knows Jimmy will say what he wants, but Jey doesn’t talk to him no more, doesn’t ride with him no more, doesn’t even see him no more! Jimmy can just come back. Jimmy says he never left! He protected Jey! Jey’s so dumb, he can’t see it! Jimmy is protecting Jey! It was Jey’s idea to leave The Bloodline, but Jimmy helped because he is Jey’s brother. So yeah, Jey leaves, and what happens? Lil’ Bro becomes the BIGGEST star on the Raw roster! Lil’ Bro becomes the top merch seller! Lil’ Bro goes off to become a tag team champion without Jimmy, but with CODY RHODES!? Who left who, Uce?

Jey forgot Jimmy! Everything Jey did that was big was cuz of Big Bro Jimmy! Everything! So listen loud and clear. The biggest moment in Jey’s career, the BIGGEST moment, is because of Jimmy! Jimmy stares Jey down, but Jey says no. Jey’s biggest moment in his career is going to be his dream match at WrestleMania 40: Jey VS Jimmy, and Jey knocks the yeet out Jimmy’s ass! Jey DECKS Jimmy, DECKS Solo off the apron, but then Jimmy SUPERKICKS Jey down! The fans boo but now Solo storms in and looms over Jey. Solo drags Jey up so Jimmy can look him in the face and tell him that Jey needs to get it right! JIMMY made Jey!

But here comes Cody Rhodes! The fans fire up as Cody DECKS Jimmy, then gets in to springboard and CODY CUTTER Solo!! The American Nightmare said he was gonna be a Bloodline Hunter, and he made sure they didn’t take out Jey! Cody tells The Bloodline it is only a matter of time before they lose it all at WrestleMania! Will Jey prove that younger or older doesn’t matter when he is the BETTER brother?

 

Adam Pearce is on the phone.

He’s telling Nick Aldis to stop being a hypocrite, telling Pearce to keep his roster in check when this is happening. But then Paul Heyman walks over and Pearce says he’ll call Aldis back. Pearce then asks Heyman what was all that, and Heyman says he owes Pearce an apology. He is sorry. That was not authorized by The Final Boss nor The Tribal Chief, and certainly not by Heyman. Jimmy & Solo went into business for themselves so Heyman apologizes. But listen, Pearce knows that there have been flight delays all day. Even private jets like theirs. Heyman is barely even dressed for TV, let alone has his make-up!

Pearce says those two were ready. Yeah, well, they got in on a different flight. But Roman Reigns is a chief of his word. Those two are already gone, out of the arena, and Pearce has Roman’s word. Call his bluff, put out a search party. Pearce knows Heyman is here on official business, which Heyman will handle, and then be gone. That is it. But when Heyman does his official business… everyone will be caught off guard. “And Mr. Pearce, sir, that’s not a prediction. That’s a spoiler.” The Wise Man heads out and calls Roman, but just what is Heyman teasing?

 

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers!

Unlike SmackDown’s mini-tournament, Raw and Adam Pearce say it’s win and you’re in! Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano want one more shot at Judgment Day, but so do Julius & Brutus! Will the Sicilian Psycho & Johnny Wrestling prove that when it comes to Mania Moments, you gotta do it yourself? Or will the Creeds be bringing golden tickets to the Diamond Mine?

Raw returns as The Creeds make their entrance. The teams fist bump to show respect, then the teams sort out. Julius starts against Ciampa, they circle and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, Ciampa goes for a waistlock but Julius facelocks. Julius wrangles Ciampa to the mat, flips him over, ONE, and Ciampa keeps moving. They trade facelocks, gator roll, and Julius gets another lateral press. ONE, but Julius gator rolls Ciampa around. Ciampa fights up, puts Julius on ropes, and the ref counts. Ciampa lets off, then CHOPS! Julius shoots in for the takedown! Julius has a leg, Ciampa fights but Julius turns him for the ANKLE LOCK!

Ciampa scrambles to the ROPEBREAK, and Julius lets off cleanly. Ciampa bails out, shakes it off, and he gets back in. They go again, Julius hits a fireman’s carry takeover! Tag to Brutus, and Julius feeds Ciampa to another fireman’s carry takeover! Brutus cording holds but Ciampa endures. Ciampa fights up, but Brutus facelocks. The fans rally as Brutus switches and rolls Ciampa. Ciampa fights up, headlocks, then ROCKS Brutus! Brutus DECKS Ciampa, then whips him to ropes. Ciampa ducks ‘n’ dodges, tag to Gargano! Ciampa slides, CHOPS, Gargano LARIATS and Ciampa JAWBREAKERS! Wrench and LARIAT!

Julius runs in, Gargano kicks and Ciampa gives him the boost for SLICED BREAD! The Creeds bail out, but DIY DOUBLE PLANCHA! Down go the Creeds, and DIY applaud and pat themselves on the back. The fans fire up and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Ciampa has Julius in a chinlock. The fans rally, Julius fights up to throw body shots, but Ciampa hits a back suplex! Julius lands out of it, but Ciampa elbows him away. Ciampa drop toeholds Julius, gets legs, but Julius BOOTS Ciampa away! Hot tags to Gargano and Brutus! Brutus rallies on DIY, TOSSES Gargano, then blocks Ciampa’s kick to get under and POWERBOMB him! Brutus sees DIY regroup, then he runs in to SPLASH them both! O’Conner on Ciampa, but Gargano runs up! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Brutus has a DOUBLE BRIDGE, TWO!! Tag to Julius and he gut wrench SLAMS Brutus on Ciampa!

Brutus helps Julius flip up and over to SPLASH onto Ciampa! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Julius drags Ciampa up. Ciampa throat chops! A bit dirty but Ciampa wants that win! Ciampa storms up on Julius, but Julius basement stalling suplexes!! The fans are thunderous, Gargano runs in, but Brutus intercepts! Brutus suplexes Gargano now, stalls, and then the Creeds SLAM and kip up! Then they both STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ciampa stays in this for DIY but the Creeds keep cool. Julius stomps Ciampa, tags Brutus, and they KNEE Ciampa around! Then they DOUBLE GUTBUSTER! Ciampa sputters but Brutus tags Julius in.

Julius drags Ciampa up, tags Brutus back in, and Brutus climbs. Julius Electric Chair Lifts, but Gargano makes the save! Gargano ROCKS Julius, Brutus ROCKS Gargano! Ciampa BOOTS Brutus, Gargano swings on Julius but is sent into Ciampa! Ciampa pushes Gargano back so he can ELBOW Julius! DIY set up again but Brutus stops the Sliced Bread! Julius DECKS Ciampa, KNEE into the WIDOWMAKER! Julius scrapes Gargano out, Brutus POUNCES Ciampa over the desk! Pat fires up with Brutus and so do the fans! The Creeds say they run this now, and then Brutus drags Ciampa up while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Julius has Ciampa in a chinlock. Ciampa fights up, and he JAWBREAKERS free! Ciampa ELBOWS Brutus down, BOOTS Julius, then runs up, only for Julius to catch him and toss him back! But then Ciampa catches Julius for a REVERSE DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down and crawling! Hot tag to Gargano! Gargano slingshots to KICK Julius, then he CLOBBERS Brutus! ENZIGIRI for Julius, then he runs to DOUBLE KNEE Brutus! BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO! The fans fire up with Gargano while Julius ends up in another corner. Gargano runs in but is put on the apron!

Gargano GAMANGIRIS Julius, SUPERKICKS Brutus, then SLINGSHOT SPEARS Julius! Cover, TWO! Julius survives but Gargano puts him in a corner. Gargano CHOPS, then hoists Julius up top. Tag to Ciampa, Ciampa CHOPS Julius while Gargano DIVES onto Brutus! Ciampa CHOPS Julius again, goes up top, and fireman’s carries! Ciampa then tucks Julius in for the SUPER AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, TWO!! Julius survives again and shocks Ciampa! The fans are just as stunned, but Ciampa and Julius sit up. Ciampa stands, and he CHOPS! And CHOPS! Julius sits back up as Ciampa puts some stank on the CHOP!

Julius brings the straps down! Julius fires a forearm, Ciampa hits back, and the fans fire up as the shots keep going! They go faster and faster, harder and harder, meaner and meaner! The fans fire up as this just turns into a brawl of haymakers and SLAPS! Ciampa then gets around, ripcord and HAYMAKER! ROLLING- TACKLE from Julius! And then the ANKLE LOCK!! Ciampa reaches out, moves around, but Gargano runs up! Julius kicks him, then gets him up with one arm to POWERBOMB! Then it’s back to the ANKLE LOCK on Ciampa! Brutus gets in to get Gargano for an ANKLE LOCK of his own!

The fans are thunderous as DIY endures! Ciampa and Gargano fight, turn things over, SICILIAN CROSSFACE and GargaNO Escape!! The fans are thunderous as The Creeds power up and lift both DIY! They fireman’s carry, then TOSS DIY into each other!! The fans are thunderous as Julius goes up to MOONSAULT onto Ciampa! Brutus MOONSAULTS, too! Cover, TWO?!?! Ciampa survives and the fans are loving this! Julius tags back in, Brutus climbs up! “This is Awesome!” as Julius Electric Chair Lifts Ciampa! But Ciampa VICTORY ROLLS to get under the Brutus Ball!! Cover, Brutus tips it! Gargano TOSSES Brutus then SUPERKICKS Julius!! Ciampa has the cover, DIY WINS!!

Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

Julius can’t believe it! He kicked out at 3.1, but a loss is a loss! And for the first time ever, DIY is going to Mania! Will Philadelphia soon be historic for a DIY championship victory?

 

Judgment Day meets backstage.

Rhea Ripley is with Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh, but also Andrade. Dom says he’s always liked Andrade’s style, but things have changed since the last time he was in the WWE. The Judgment Day runs Raw now. Rhea says yeah, and they don’t extend invitations to just anyone. Judgment Day is very exclusive. JD says very exclusive. But if Andrade continues to impress them, they’ll see about making things happen. And Finn says he just heard that Andrade has a match next week, so the Judgment Day will be watching him. Sounds good. See you next week. But then in steps Damian Priest.

The Punisher says hello to El Idolo, and El Idolo says hello to Senor Dinero. Andrade heads out, will he quite literally win his way into the club? But as for Priest, Finn asks him what he was up to. Priest was getting a closer look at that DIY VS Creeds match. DIY won, but whatever, they can handle those guys. But JD, they thought he could handle Ricochet last week, and run the gauntlet, and then go to WrestleMania to bring even more gold back to Judgment Day. JD says he did he belonged in there. But also, he battered Ricochet, who got lucky at the end there. Right, Finn? Finn hesitates, and Rhea says Priest is right on this one.

Ricochet made a fool out of JD! A fool? Yes. A fool? Yes. That’s why tonight, Dom will make it right. Right, Dom? Yeah, Mami. Let’s go talk to Pearce to make it official. Dom & JD head out, and the others are confident Dom’s got this. But does he, though? Or will the One and Only have two wins over Judgment Day in as many weeks?

 

Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance!

The Poison Pixie certainly lived up to that name last week when she bullied Maxxine Dupri as part of beating her and Ivy Nile last week. Will Candice’s toxic tongue strike again? Or will the party not be stopped by her harsh vibes?

The teams sort out and Candice starts against Kayden. Candice rushes up, Kayden gets around and O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Kayden springboards to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Kayden stalks Candice, Candice ELBOWS her away then tags Indi. Kayden dodges Candice to SUPERKICK, but Indi BOOTS Kayden! Cover, TWO! Indi drags Kayden up, tags Candice back in, and they mug Kayden. Candice CLUBS away on Kayden, fires off furious fists, then covers. TWO, and Candice grows frustrated already. The fans rally, Candice steps up but Kayden avoids the senton! Tags to Katana and Indi! Katana blasts past Indi, comes back and BULLDOGS!

Katana keeps moving, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SHOTGUNS Indi to a corner! The fans fire up as Katana stomps away on Indi! Indi shoves Katana, Katana runs corner to corner to A-LIST LARIAT! Katana shoves Indi down, runs up, but into a back suplex! Katana lands out, but her leg jams! The ref and Kayden check, then the ref keeps Indi back. Indi says okay, and she stays by Candice. But Candice tags in to WRECK Kayden! And she SLAMS Katana’s leg into the post!! HALF CRAB and DEEP! Katana taps, Candice & Indi win!

Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission

Candice smiles and celebrates with Indi, but Indi doesn’t want to. Candice says a win is a win, but just what is going on in her toxic mind?

 

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

NC State fires up again as The American Nightmare walks down the ramp, and this time the fans can sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro then gets the mic. “In less than three weeks time, I will stand opposed for the second year in a row, in the main event, with the lights on brightest, I will challenge for the WWE Undisputed Championship, against the greatest champion in all of sports, The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. And this Friday on SmackDown, Roman and I are going to have a little conversation, if you will. But there are… complications. Factors, elements, combustible elements, namely… The Rock.”

Fans boo but Cody says The Rock took to Instagram on Friday, and followed it up with “extremely entertaining” concert. Too bad The Rock didn’t wanna be here tonight. Something Cody took from the Instagram post: The Rock referred to himself as “Our Favorite Heel.” A bit of an inside term, but we’re not dumb, we know that means he’s the “bad guy.” Cody has known Heels. Bobby Heenan, Arn Anderson, Michael Hayes, “Superstar” Billy Graham, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair! Fans “WOO~” and Cody says he doesn’t think The Rock is a Heel. He’s just an assh*le. The fans go nuts hearing that!

Cody doesn’t want Rock getting upset, he doesn’t want the “seven bucks team” to get upset, he doesn’t want anyone getting emotional. Cody knows how Rock feels about emotions, he poked fun at Cody tearing up at discussing “finishing the story” with good friend, Michael Cole. There’s no crying in pro-wrestling, Jimmy Dugan, we get it. But hasn’t The Rock been crying behind the scenes this whole time? Once that hashtag came out, once fans chanted something else, The Rock cried to his buddies on the TKO board and said “Hey, this is gonna be some good PR for The Rock! I need to save WWE!” God knows, look at this house. They sure needed “saving,” huh?

The fans cheer but Cody says Rock wanted great PR. Until it wasn’t. TKO said OMG yes, put on the Gucci shirt, get those muscles looking big. It’s because they are Yes People, they are enablers, they won’t dare tell The Rock like it is, so Cody’s going to. Cody tells The Rock, “You’re a lot of things. You’re a lot of wonderful things. You are the Braham Bull, you are The Great One.” Cody still has shoes with The Rock’s logo on it! The Rock is the only guy Cody honestly feels is a Mount Rushmore wrestler. But he is also a terrible salesman, a carny succubus, and for those who don’t get what that means, The Rock is “a whiny b*tch!”

Fans lose their minds again but Cody says The Rock has been convinced otherwise. But don’t think that for two seconds this locker room needs The Rock more than The Rock needs it! That’s a rule of wrestling, nobody is bigger than the business! And sure, Cody brought up his mom, so it is fair game for The Rock to use that. But Cody knows The Rock’s mom. Here’s what Cody will tell us about The Rock’s mom. She is a wonderful lady, salt of the earth, she helped Cody chop Kevin in a dark match. Cody has nothing but respect for The Rock’s mom, something The Rock should’ve echoed back towards Cody’s mom.

But see, The Rock was talking about whipping Cody, handing a bloody weight belt to Cody’s mom, and normally someone as powerful as The Rock, Mama Rhodes would tremble. But The Rock doesn’t know Cody’s mom. Cody was more scared than she was, because she ain’t scared of nothing. This is the same woman who once jumped out of her chair at a Willie Nelson concert and beat up an undercover cop! She ain’t afraid of The Rock! Cody has been asked, April 6th, biggest tag match of all time, Rock & Roman VS Cody & Seth. Seth Rollins, the World Heavyweight Champion, a man The Rock should respect because that man has carried The Rock’s company!

How will Cody get past that match? How will April 7th look? Will it be a fair fight? Cody can tell us honestly… He doesn’t know. Cody does not know if it will be Bloodline Rules or not. Hell, he might not #FinishTheStory. “But Dwayne… What do you know? How can you be so sure of your own self, right?” The Rock hasn’t been in the ring in real action in years! April 6th, the bell is gonna ring, and what happens then? Is The Rock gonna bring The Great One, the hero we all had growing up? Is he bringing that #BigDwayneEnergy? Or is it gonna be LDS, Little D*ck Syndrome?! The fans chant “L D S! L D S!”

Cody says The Rock has referred to himself as The Final Boss. Kudos for that nickname, maybe he really is that. Maybe Cody is too naive to see it. But at WrestleMania, Cody doesn’t think The Rock will be The Final Boss. At WrestleMania, he’s just Roman’s side chick. But then ladies and gentlemen, his name is Paul Heyman, and he serves as The Wise Man to Your Tribal Chief, the reigning! Defending! Undisputed! WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman… Reigns! And as Special Counsel to the Bloodline, Heyman is here to say to Cody that the ideals that Cody and Heyman share are far greater than the interests on which they conflict.

By example, don’t you hate it when someone comes out to demand an apology? Not that Cody’s done that, but Heyman is still going to do that. Heyman came out here with some “friends” of his, and he apologized. For a Wise Man, that was pretty freakin’ stupid. One: because it didn’t work. Two: because it was just dumb. And for that, Cody, to you and the fans, Heyman humbly apologizes. Cody says whoa, whoa, whoa. He didn’t ask for an apology, and he certainly knows Heyman wants permission to be in the ring. Heyman is a Hall of Famer starting this year, if he wants into the ring, be Cody’s guest.

Heyman thanks Cody for that but he’s fine on the apron. He carries with him a message from The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Talk about Heels… You may think of Heyman anything negative you want, and that might be understanding the obvious. Heyman is not trustworthy, but Roman is a chief of his word. Heyman assures that this Friday on SmackDown, Roman will be face to face with Cody. American Nightmare, Tribal Chief, challenger and champion. And when they are face to face, there will not be a single other member of The Bloodline in sight. Except for Heyman, but he is no physical threat.

Heyman holds the title belt, the beads, whispers things in Roman’s ear, such as his love and respect. But Cody has Roman’s word that if he shows up on SmackDown, Roman will show up alone. Cody says Roman shows up alone, no Bloodline outside of Heyman, it’s a deal. They good? Heyman has some jet lag, he forgot one little point. And don’t boo him, he’s talking to Cody! Cody says yes they’re booing, and he’s about to go full Homelander and rip Heyman’s throat out if he doesn’t get to the point. Fans like the reference. Heyman composes himself and says if Roman Reigns shows up alone this Friday on SmackDown, then Cody must show up to SmackDown alone, too.

Cody steps closer to Heyman and Heyman is a bit nervous. Cody tells Heyman, “Deal!” They shake hands, and Heyman smiles. The Wise Man negotiated a purely one-on-one meeting between his Tribal Chief and American Nightmare, but can we trust Heyman was telling the truth about Roman telling the truth?

 

Nia Jax speaks.

“You know what I’ve realized? Becky Lynch has never beaten me. And after tonight, she never will. Because after I break her face again, I will be taking her spot at WrestleMania. I will finish business with Rhea Ripley, and not only will I walk out the Last Woman Standing, but I will become Women’s World Champion.” The Irresistible Force is ready for the Big Time, but will she A-Nia-late her?

 

Cody Rhodes returns backstage.

And Jey says there he go! But real quick, Cody can’t be going to SmackDown alone. Cody says he gave them his word. But The Bloodline isn’t gonna play fair! They’re all gonna be there! If Cody needs Jey, Jeys’ got him. Cody hears that, but he knows what he’s dealing with. They shake hands and Jey heads out. Will Cody be able to have that fair, one-on-one meeting? Or does Jey have a point about The Bloodline?

 

Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!

It seems Pearce agreed to the idea that Dirty Dom should try and clean up The Irish Ace’s mess. Will Dom be able to get revenge on Ricochet? Or will Ricochet be the One and Only person holding their head high tonight?

Raw returns and Dom has made his entrance. The bell rings, Dom and Ricochet circle, and they tie up. Ricochet waistlocks, Dom fights the lift and grabs ropes. The ref counts, Ricochet lets off, but Dom ELBOWS him away! Dom fires hands, soaks up the heat, then storms up, but into haymakers! Ricochet CHOPS, kicks then flexes on Dom. Ricochet whips, Dom reverses, but Ricochet goes up and over. Ricochet ducks ‘n’ dodges to then handspring back elbow! The fans fire up while Dom bails out! JD is there to coach Dom up, but Ricochet runs in! JD gets Dom to safety, but Ricochet handsprings to hero land!

The fans fire up, Ricochet then goes to ropes to TORNILLO PLANCHA! Direct hit on Dom and Ricochet tells JD to back off. Ricochet puts Dom in, Dom distracts the ref, but JD grabs Ricochet’s leg! Ricochet kicks JD away, but then Dom WRECKS Ricochet with a dropkick! Dom soaks up the heat and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Dom has Ricochet up top. Dom climbs but Ricochet throws body shots! The fans rally behind Ricochet as he sends Dom staggering. Ricochet hops down as Dom comes running back, and Ricochet GAMANGIRIS him away! Ricochet then springboards, but Dom trips him up! Ricochet flops to the mat, then Dom kicks and FACEBUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Ricochet is still in this and JD argues the count. Dom looms over Ricochet, scuffs him around, then mockingly cheers him on. Fans boo but Dom brings Ricochet up. Dom gives some Latino Heat, then suplexes! Uno Amigo, but fans boo.

Dom gets Ricochet up but Ricochet suplexes Dom instead! And then fireman’s carry, DYNAMITE KICK! Cover, TWO! Dom is still in this and JD coaches him but the fans rally for Ricochet. Ricochet stands, storms up on Dom, but Dom shoots around to roll him up! With tights! TWO, Ricochet blocks a kick and KICKS Dom down! Ricochet hurries up top, the fans fire up, but Ricochet has to bail out of the 450 as Dom moves! Dom runs in again, but into a SUPERKICK! JD gets on the apron, so Ricochet triangle jump DROPKICKS! But then Dom DROPKICKS Ricochet onto ropes! Dom dials it up but Ricochet ducks!

Dom spins around, into the RECOIL!! Cover, Ricochet wins!

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall

But then JD runs in! Ricochet dodges, goes up and around, BOOTS JD away, then BOOTS him again! Ricochet even flips up and out of the ring at the same time! Ricochet gets the better of Judgment Day again, just how disappointed is Mami going to be in her Latino Heat this time?

 

Sami Zayn is backstage.

He finds Chad Gable and wants to talk with him. Last week’s match, that was an honor. Sami hasn’t been pushed like that in a long time, it could’ve gone either way. Gable says yeah, it was great. Thanks. Is Gable alright? Yeah, he’s fine. Kinda feels like not… Gable says he’s fine, so leave it at that. C’mon, man, how many years have they known each other? Sami knows when something’s bothering Gable, so he should just say it. Gable says look, last week, the WrestleMania opportunity, the whole thing, it just meant more to him. Sami says he’s been hearing Gable say that for weeks, and it is really unfair.

Does Gable really think he’s the only one this title opportunity matters to? Sami has a family, too! Sami’s kid cries when Papa loses a match, too. Sami has people he’s let down and is trying to make proud. After all the years put into this, Gable can’t tell Sami what matters more because he doesn’t know Sami like that. Gable has Sami calm down, and says he knows all that. But it isn’t all about that. Then what is all this? Gable says Sami can’t beat Gunther. Gable then leaves, and Sami is at a loss for words. Is this bitter side of Gable only going to get worse as we go down this Road to WrestleMania?

 

Adam Pearce is in the ring.

Raw returns with the GM by a table, and he welcomes us to a contract signing to make official the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship for WrestleMania! The fans cheer, and Pearce introduces first, the challenger, Sami Zayn! The Great Liberator makes his entrance and the fans sing along with his song. Sami still looks troubled by what Gable said just moments ago, but he still high-fives fans and gets in the ring. Then Pearce introduces the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time, Der Ring General, GUNTHER! The fans boo as Gunther walks in, having reached Day 647!

Gunther smiles as Sami watches him make his way down the ramp and into the ring. Pearce says we know how this works, but Gunther says before we proceed, let us call this what it is: the most important contract signing for the most important match in the history of this championship. And why, why, why is the challenger dressed no better than any of the bums in the audience? Fans boo but Sami just shrugs that off. Sami gets a mic to say that Gunther keeps sitting there all smug, and it’s really starting to piss Sami off. Gunther thinks this is just another day at the office, that he’ll steamroll through Sami like any other contender.

But with all respect to Gunther, he really has. He has beaten everyone that has come his way, and has done it on his own. Gunther doesn’t believe Sami can do it. A lot of people didn’t believe Sami at many points in his career. They didn’t believe he’d even make it to WWE, let alone win championships and main event a WrestleMania. And if you ask The Usos, they didn’t believe Sami would be one of the guys to end the longest tag title reign in WWE history, but he did! And one year later, he will make history again by ending the longest Intercontinental title reign in WWE history! Sami signs his part and pushes the contract over to Gunther.

The fans cheer Sami on but Gunther waits it out. Gunther tells Sami, what Sami should do is listen to his new friend, Gable. Gable doesn’t believe Sami can win. The people here cheer Sami, they probably even love Sami. But even they don’t believe Sami can win. And y’know, when Gunther looks Sami in the eyes, and if Sami was honest with himself, even Sami doesn’t believe he can win. So what Sami is doing right now is standing on Gunther’s doorstep and begging him to get the beating of a lifetime on the Grandest Stage of Them All! So whatever Sami has to do, from training to believing, just keep doing that. Because at WrestleMania, Sami’s dreams will meet reality.

Gunther grins and signs his part, and it is now official! Gunther then stands, title on his shoulder, and takes his leave. The fans boo, but then Sami tells Gunther to wait. Gunther steps back inside to hear Sami as Sami turns around. Gunther looks in Sami’s eyes and believes Sami doesn’t believe? Sami stands to get in Gunther’s face and dares him to look again. Get a good long look, because these are the eyes of the man who will take you down at Mania! The fans fire up, and now Sami leaves first. Gunther still just grins, but will Sami use a Helluva Kick to wipe that smile off his face?

We follow Sami as he storms backstage, right past DIY and The Awesome Truth. Truth asks what’s up with Sami, but The Miz says that is the mindset of WrestleMania right there. That’s what they need. DIY wishes Awesome Truth luck. Awesome Truth knows DIY is into the ladder match, and they are gonna have their own qualifier. Miz & Truth just need to beat… Indus Sher. Jinder Mahal tells Veer & Sanga to warm up for the match. They head out, and Truth says he feels sorry for whoever has to face those guys. Miz stares at Truth, and he has DIY hold off. Miz will explain. The Awesome Truth heads to gorilla, their match is next!

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher w/ Jinder Mahal!

Miz wants a remix of the theme song but Truth says to just follow his lead. NC State knows what’s up, but will the Awesome Truth finally reach the top of the tag division 13 years after they first teamed? We’ll see, after the break!

Raw returns as Indus Sher makes their entrance, the Modern Day Maharaja by their side. The teams sort out and Truth starts against Sanga. The fans echo “WHAT’S UP?!” but Sanga roars! Truth is scared now so he tags Miz. Truth fires Miz up, Miz runs up and dodges Sanga to fire off haymakers! Miz kicks, whips, but Sanga blocks! Sanga whips and CLOBBERS Miz! Jinder nods as Sanga then scoops Miz and brings him over. Veer tags in, Sanga SLAMS Miz, then Veer ELBOW DROPS! Indus Sher say “NAMASTE!” but the fans say “WHAT’S UP!?” with Truth. Veer HIP DROPS Miz, then looms over him.

Veer eggs Miz on, drags him up with shoulder claws, and then steps over Miz for the neck wrench! Miz endures as Veer still digs a claw into his shoulder. The fans rally for Miz, Miz fights up and throws body shots! Miz reaches out but Veer knees low! Veer SHOVES Miz to the corner, runs in, but Miz BOOTS! Miz ELBOWS Sanga, but Veer catches him! Veer puts Miz back int he corner, but Miz ducks the boot to tag Truth! Truth dodges Veer and starts up the shoulder tackles! Truth gets around Veer to SPIN-OUT BOMB! The fans fire up as Truth shouts out Cena with “You Can’t See Me!” Truth runs to Five Knuckle Shuffle!

Jinder is not happy now as Truth fireman’s carries! But Veer slips free! Truth drop toeholds to the STF!! The fans fire up but Sanga stomps Truth! Miz fires off kicks on Sanga, then body shots! Truth joins in, they mug and whip Sanga, to DOUBLE DROPKICK! Sanga staggers around, Veer runs up, but into a full nelson! Truth and Miz combine for a SKULL CRUSHING LIE DETECTOR!! But Sanga whips Miz away! Miz WRECKS Jinder with it, but Sanga runs up! Sanga knocks Miz down, Miz anchors Sanga, Sanga ELBOWS Truth, Truth falls onto Veer for the cover! Awesome Truth wins!!

Winners: The Awesome Truth, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

The fans fire up, and Truth doesn’t even realize what happened! Miz celebrates with Truth and Truth puts it together! They’re now one of the six in the ladder match! Will this combination of teamwork and luck be just what they need to take those titles from Judgment Day?

 

Sami confronts Gable now.

Sami tells Gable to tell him why. Why what? Why does Gable think Sami can’t beat Gunther? Well you just saw why! With Gunther, it isn’t just physical, it is mental. Sami made his career out of being the underdog that crawls his way out of any hole he’s in, right? Just like last week! Sami found the window of opportunity to get out of a bad situation any time he can. Gunther’s on a different level! You gonna sit and wait for that window to appear? It doesn’t happen with Gunther! He’s a different beast, a different animal. If Sami doesn’t change his mentality, then he can’t beat Gunther. Gable leaves Sami with a lot to think again. Is there a way Sami can change enough to defeat Der Ring General?

 

CM Punk speaks.

“Do I plan at being in WrestleMania? WrestleMania is in Philadelphia, what’re the first four letters in Philadelphia? Phil. You can’t have WrestleMania Philadelphia without Phil. Whether I’m invited or uninvited, Punk will be there.” And next week in Chicago, Punk returns to Raw! Will the Second City Saint find a way to be part of the biggest WrestleMania ever?

 

Drew McIntyre is here!

The Scottish Terminator, or as his new shirt says, “The Savior of WrestleMania,” makes his way to the ring, NC State a bit torn about seeing him. But then Seth Rollins is here, too!? McIntyre is upset but the fans sing along, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” as The Visionary struts his way out. Rollins swaggers right past McIntyre in his green storm pattern suit, and steps into the ring first. McIntyre frowns as he follows Rollins in, and sits in a corner. The fans continue to sing, which Rollins revels in for a moment. Rollins has the mic to then say, “RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA~! Welcome to Monday Night Rollins~!

“And Drew, hah, sorry, I didn’t even see you there. I was too busy, uh, y’know, soaking up the spotlight, right?” McIntyre has a mic to say, “Alright, here we go.” Here goes what, Drew? McIntyre says no, no, get it all out of your system, he knows Rollins has more! McIntyre can stay in the back while Rollins enjoys the spotlight, because after WrestleMania, that spotlight’s all McIntyre’s. Hey, hey, c’mon. Rollins is here with an honest cause. Rollins doesn’t like McIntyre, he thinks he’s stupid, a hypocrite, has said a lot of dumb things lately, but Rollins is here to admit that one thing McIntyre said is absolutely right and he wants to say it to McIntyre’s face, right here in Raleigh, in front of the fine people.

Now, they always say the first step to recovery is the hardest, so bare with Rollins. He has been working on this all week, but… “My name is Seth Freakin’ Rollins, and I’m a spotlight junkie.” The fans chant “Spotlight Junkie!” and also sing, but McIntyre says everything is just a joke to Rollins, isn’t it? Look at Rollins! He’s a parody of himself at this point. But honestly, McIntyre doesn’t care. He tried reasoning, he gave the answers, and now he only cares about their match and the world title. And you wanna know the real punchline, funny man? “What?” McIntyre says they say that because they’re happy McIntyre sidelined Punk, thanks for remembering!

But the punchline is when McIntyre beats Rollins for that title. The fans chant for “C M PUNK!” but McIntyre says don’t be ridiculous. Punk’s waiting until next week to return because he’d never show up in a place like Raleigh. The fans boo but McIntyre says see, they’re booing Punk! Punk is only getting off his couch to be at his local arena. Rollins tells McIntyre to shut up already. Oh, seems McIntyre got Rollins’ attention. Rollins takes off the sunglasses to say yeah, McIntyre has his attention. Because this isn’t a joke! When Rollins says he is a junkie, it isn’t a joke! He’s been doing this for 20 YEARS! Just like McIntyre!

And every time Rollins comes out of the curtain, that’s his fix. And it gets better and better every single time. Rollins comes out here, lays it all on the line, and it just gets better and better! When he hears the fans sing the song so loud, Rollins can barely speak, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” That’s Rollins’ fix! That is the spotlight he craves, and y’know what? Rollins wants the spotlight as bright as it can possibly be. So yeah, McIntyre’s been busy online entertaining people with memes, so he hasn’t been listening to Rollins. So Rollins will get this through McIntyre’s thick skull: Night One, Rollins takes the biggest star in Hollywood and his side chick, and makes them his b*tches!

Then on Night Two, the biggest spotlight possible will be shined down on McIntyre and Rollins and the World Heavyweight Championship! McIntyre says all hail the savior, Seth Rollins! This is what McIntyre wanted! The passion and desire, not the stupid laughing and dancing. Rollins had McIntyre all the way to the finish. Rollins has done this 20 years, just like McIntyre. They’ve given their lives to this industry, and that is what the title is about! The wrestlers’ title, the workhorse championship! Rollins had McIntyre with him until he mentioned the bigger spotlight and how Rollins pins one of the biggest stars in the world.

Why can’t it just be about Rollins’ hard work to make that title, and all of McIntyre’s hard work to get this chance? Why can’t that be the reason they’re getting the biggest spotlight!? Rollins has had his priorities all backwards, McIntyre has been giving him all the answers. McIntyre said he is over the BS, and all he cares about is Rollins making it to the ring on Night Two. And if Rollins can’t walk, then McIntyre will wheel him down. If not, McIntyre will carry Rollins down. At Mania, McIntyre doesn’t get the moment he deserves. He gets the moment he has bloody EARNED. The fans do cheer that!

Rollins smirks and says, “Ah, Drew. There it is. That’s right, you wanna call me a spotlight junkie, but you want the spotlight just as bad as I do, don’t you? You’re an addict, just like I am. And you’ve been begging for spotlight for the past four years, because you won the WrestleMania main event. You did, back in 2020, in an empty warehouse. And all we’ve been hearing from Drew McIntyre for the past four years was how that wasn’t good enough. You’ve been whining and complaining and bitching and moaning that you deserve better, that you deserve more. The problem is, Drew, when everybody came back around, and the lights got bright again, what happened? You fumbled the ball.

“And that’s the difference between you and me. When the lights are the brightest, I shine, baby. I shine bright. And at WrestleMania 40, the lights are gonna be as bright as they have ever been. And you are gonna find out you are not as good as you think you are.” Rollins drops the mic, but this time McIntyre smirks. The verbal battle continues, but who will put their money where their mouth is once this one finally happens?

 

Becky Lynch speaks.

“I’m a wanted woman, and I don’t even have the title. Yet. But we’re less than three weeks away from WrestleMania, so why would I risk it all? Because I don’t know anything else. All I know is taking risks. All I know is fighting. And all I know is tonight, I’m gonna be the Last Woman Standing.” Becky is fired up to finally do what she hasn’t done in the most extreme way possible. Will she be the immovable object to Nia’s irresistible force?

 

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy!

Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods have been W, W, E, World, Tag, Team, CHAMPIONS~, but they’ve never been a part of a title match as big as this Six Pack Ladder challenge! Will they look to be part of history once again? Or will Akira Tozawa & Otis say “A THANK YEW~!” for this golden opportunity?

Raw returns as the Academy makes their entrance. The teams sort out and Woods starts against the tree trunk, Otis. The fans rally for “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Otis and Woods tie up, but Woods kicks low then headlocks. Otis powers up and out then runs Woods over! Otis storms up on Woods, GUT RAMS him back down, then brings him back up. Otis GUT RAMS Woods again, then runs to CLOBBER Woods! Otis swivels his hips, the fans echo “Oh~ yeah!” Otis tags Tozawa and the Academy mugs Woods. Tozawa brings Woods around but Woods CHOPS! Woods tags Kofi, he and Kofi double whip Tozawa but Tozawa holds ropes!

Tozawa fires hands, dodges Woods then BOOTS Woods down! Kofi kicks low, whips Tozawa to a corner, but Tozawa BOOTS Kofi away! Tozawa goes up to FLYING RANA! The fans fire up as Tozawa sees New Day regroup outside. Tozawa runs to DIVE! Direct hit on both New Day, and Otis joins in for “A THANK YEW~!” The Academy stands tall as Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Tozawa fights a chinlock. Tozawa reaches for Otis but Woods back suplexes. Tozawa lands out to then DROPKICK Woods down! The fans rally as Woods and Tozawa crawl, hot tags to Otis and Kofi! Otis CLOBBERS Kofi, CLOBBERS him again, then whips him to ropes. WRECKER ELBOW! Woods runs in, Otis dodges, to LARIAT! Otis sees Kofi leap off the corner, and catches him for a WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM! Otis rips the shirt off, winds up the hips, and then starts up the CATERPILLAR! ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Kofi survives but Otis hurries to step on him! Tag to Tozawa, and Otis goes up!

Otis VADER BOMBS but FLOPS as Kofi moves! Tozawa hurries up top while Kofi SUPERKICKS Otis! Kofi turns around into the CROSSBODY from Tozawa! Cover, TWO! Tozawa SUPERKICKS Kofi but Woods tags in! Woods GAMANGIRIS Tozawa, then steps in to TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Tozawa toughs it out but Woods grits his teeth as he goes to the corner. Woods climbs, but Tozawa rises! Tozawa throws body shots, Woods CLUBS Tozawa! Tozawa throws more hands and climbs up! The fans rally as they brawl up top! Tozawa brings Woods up but Woods fights the lift! Woods throws body shots in return!

Woods shifts position to get under Tozawa for a fireman’s carry! But then Tozawa pops up to SUPER STEINER!! Tozawa rips off his shirt, climbs back up top, SUPER SENTON!! Cover, Kofi breaks it! The fans fire up but Otis drags Kofi out! Otis whips Kofi at steps, Kofi goes up and jumps off the steps to TORNADO DDT to the floor! Kofi hurries back up to the apron but Tozawa SCREW HIGH KICKS him down! Tozawa dodges Woods, pop-up, but Woods blocks the rana to then SPINNING POWERBOMB! Woods sees the WrestleMania sign, hurries up the corner, and he tightrope walks! LIMIT BREAK ELBOW!! Cover, New Day wins!

Winners: The New Day, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

The New Day are the ones saying A THANK YEW~ as they put their names down for the Six Pack Ladder Match! Will they once again climb to the top of the WWE Tag Team Division and bring home those championships?

 

Liv Morgan confronts Becky Lynch.

Becky asks if she’ll have to watch out for Liv as well. Well, you should always #WatchMe, but no, not tonight. Nia is all Becky’s. Liv just wants Becky to kick Nia’s ass. Liv leaves, will Becky kick ass and then some?

 

Cody walks with his dog, Pharaoh, backstage.

Rollins finds him and brings up Friday. One on one? One on one. Rollins nods and says he loves Pharaoh’s bandanna. The Visionary trusts the American Nightmare can handle himself, but will we be able to trust The Tribal Chief?

 

Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax!

From the origins of “The Man” in WWE to the aftermath of Elimination Chamber: Perth, these two have battled, but never as brutally as this! They’re able to go anywhere and do anything, but who will be the Last Woman Standing this close to WrestleMania 40?

The bell rings and the two rush in! Becky DROPKICKS Nia and Nia goes to a corner. Becky runs in but Nia puts Becky on the apron. Becky ROCKS Nia, goes up a corner, then leaps to MISSILE DROPKCIK! Nia stumbles and tumbles out of the ring, so Becky WRECKS her with another dropkick! Becky then goes to the apron for a FLYING FOREARM! Nia stays up, Becky tries again, but Nia dodges! Fireman’s carry and Nia POSTS Becky, to then SAMOAN DROP her into barriers! The ref counts as Becky is down, but she stands at 4 of 10. Nia CLOBBERS Becky and wants the count! The count climbs but Nia is impatient.

Nia clears off the desk, Becky stands at 5 of 10, and she leans against barriers. Becky comes back with body shots and haymakers, but Nia ROCKS her with a forearm! Becky staggers away as Raw goes to break!

Raw returns and Becky is bringing out a table! The fans fire up as Becky sets that up ringside. There’s been a lot of chaos during the break according to commentary, from chairs to kendo sticks to even a copy of Becky’s book, The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl! But Nia storms over to stop Becky and SMACK her off the desk! Nia puts Becky in the ring, takes that table for her own and sets it up. The table doesn’t cooperate and fans boo, but Nia goes for chairs instead. She slides those in the ring, Becky manages to stand at 7 of 10, and she grabs at those chairs. Nia ditches the table, it just doesn’t wanna work.

Nia storms in but Becky JAMS her with a chair, SMACKS her with it, then clinches! Nia fights the slam, fireman’s carries Becky, and FULL METAL SAMOAN DROPS!! Becky writhes from hitting chairs but Nia looms over her. Nia soaks up the heat as she counts along. Becky flounders to ropes and drags herself up at 7! Nia sits a chair up, fans want a table, but Nia scoops Becky. Becky slips around to a SLEEPER! Nia RAMS Becky into buckles again and again until Becky lets go. But then Becky BULLDOGS Nia off the chair! Nia is down for the count now, and Becky leans against ropes to stay up herself.

Nia stirs at 5, stands at 8, but Becky is up top! Becky leaps, into a CHAIR SHOT! Nia SMACKS Becky again and again and again! The fans boo but Nia finally stops. Nia puts that chair aside and goes out to get some kendo sticks! Nia puts those in, but Becky grabs one! Nia snatches it from her to SMACK! And SMACK! And SMACK! Becky sputters and staggers, Nia clinches and scoops! Nia SLAMS Becky onto chairs! Then Nia runs to drop the leg, brother! Nia wants the count and the count begins! Becky sputters as we reach 5 of 10. Becky grabs that kendo stick but Nia SMACKS Becky with a chair! And again!

Nia kicks Becky around, then uses the chair to take a seat on Becky’s body!! The fans boo as the count begins, but Becky SMACKS Nia with the kendo stick! And again and again and again, even in the butt! Nia stands up, into more shots! Becky stands and she fires away until Nia scurries out of the ring! Becky pursues but Nia CLOBBERS her! Nia pulls the steel steps apart now, and takes that top half to RAM Becky down! Becky flounders, Nia hauls her up and puts her in the ring. Becky’s on the apron and Nia takes aim! Nia runs up, APRN LEG DROP only gets apron! Becky avoids disaster, then has Nia by the steps! DDT onto the steel!

Nia is down again and the count begins. Nia stirs at 5 of 10, sits up at 6, but Becky SMACKS her off steps! Nia falls over again and the count resets. Becky hurries to go looking for things while Nia rises again. Becky has a new table! The fans fire up as Becky gets that in the ring. Nia stands at 7, staggers after Becky, and Raw goes back to break.

Raw returns once again and Nia mugs Becky against barriers! Nia puts Becky on a table, and surprise! There’s a ladder set up now! Nia climbs the ladder?! She also demands Pat support the ladder. But Becky gets off the table so now Nia has no reason to be up there. Nia storms after Becky, but gets a FIRE EXTINGUISHER BLAST!! The fans fire up as Becky cools Nia off, then JAMS her with the canister! Becky puts Nia in the ring, and there’s a table waiting in a corner! Becky lines up the shot, and runs in, but Nia SAMOAN DROPS Becky through the table!!! Both women are down in the wreckage and the count begins!

Nia flounders away from the wreckage but she still needs to stand. Nia is up at 5, and she isn’t satisfied with this! She drags Becky all the way to another corner and puts her in the drop zone! Nia climbs up, for the A-NIA-LATOR!! Nia shouts for the count, the count begins, and Nia storms around as she points to the Mania sign. Becky is still down at 5 of 10, only starts stirring at 7, and she slumps out of the ring to stand up! Nia is furious, goes out after Becky, and kicks things aside to keep after her. Nia asks if Becky’s vision is blurry. Nia fireman’s carries Becky up the steel steps and along the apron, aiming for that other table!

The fans freak out but Becky fights with elbows! Becky CLUBS away on Nia and the fans are thunderous! Becky then clinches, for a MANHANDLE SLAM through the table!!! Both women are down int he wreckage again, and the count begins! Becky sits up at 4 while fans are still losing their minds! We pass 5 of 10, then 7! Nia sits up at 8 and stands at 9! But then she slumps back over! The count starts again, Nia flounders around and stands at 5. Becky goes up the ladder! Becky sees Nia approaching the desk, and then SUPER MAN’S LEG DROP through the desk!!! The fans lose their minds again while both men are down in more wreckage!

The count is 5 of 10! Becky flounders and crawls, drags herself up at 9, but Nia is still down! BECKY WINS!!

Winner: Becky Lynch

The Man conquers truly one of the most intense challenges in her career! But then here comes one of the most intense champions! The fans fire up as Rhea Ripley makes her way out, Women’s World Championship in hand. She goes right to the ring and looks at Becky. Rhea “congratulates” Becky for winning, but then Becky gets in Rhea’s face! The fans fire up, and now there are no obstacles in the way of Mami VS The Man! Who will be the champion after WrestleMania 40?


My Thoughts:

A great Raw right here, though the in-ring action kinda dipped down until that awesome Last Woman Standing main event. This is one of the times I wish they’d done picture in picture so we as the TV audience could see even more action. Great win for Becky, of course, but I also like that Becky had a moment with Liv just before, and of course she had a moment with Rhea to close out the night. Great promos with Sami and Gable that also blended into the contract signing from tonight. And I suppose Gable has a point that Sami, the comeback kid, can’t do that when Gunther has an arsenal of moves that would be “finishers” given all the different ways Gunther has won over the years.

And speaking of that contract signing segment, I really liked the segue they did in following Sami so that he’d cross paths with Awesome Truth at gorilla and we’d get their segment going into their match. WWE has been doing some really creative stuff in this newest era where Vince is truly out and apparently even Kevin Dunn has moved on. Awesome Truth had a really fun but also really quick tag match with Indus Sher, and then New Day VS Alpha Academy was solid stuff, but DIY VS Creeds was such an awesome match. For a moment, I thought Creeds were gonna take this one but DIY still found a way, and I like that DIY is in. Honestly, I’m liking that the HHH favorites are getting in, because we also have New Catch Republic on the other side that can still win into the match.

Judgment Day had good stuff tonight, too. Good group promo with Andrade to tease El Idolo possibly joining, but who knows if he does. Depends on how things go for Priest. He was watching the qualifiers, he’s not worried, but maybe he should be. Granted, he still has the MITB briefcase, he could go from losing the tag titles to taking the world title, who knows how the Judgment Day’s story is going to go as we move past Mania. Dom VS Ricochet was a really good match, and Ricochet winning was the right move to keep this feud going. I think there’s going to be Ricochet VS McDonagh next week as a rematch from the gauntlet, that’ll be great stuff, too.

Candice’s Heel turn slow burn continues as she takes advantage of the “hurt” leg. Indi also does a good job of being very conflicted about this. There’s a WWE YouTube exclusive where Ivy Nile confronts Candice so that’ll be a match, and then maybe when Candice again goes too far, Indi steps in and we get a match of Candice VS Indi at some point. Good little update promo from CM Punk, he’ll have a great homecoming moment in Chicago, but also probably McIntyre coming after him. McIntyre had a great promo segment with Rollins, and with all these continued moments where the other person gets the mic drop moment, it feels like McIntyre has to win the title.

And of course, great stuff with the Bloodline story even on Raw. Jey and Jimmy have great promos in their confrontation, and of course it turns into a brawl. Good segue from that to Heyman being here, and Heyman confronting Cody during Cody’s great promo segment. Cody really went off on The Rock, that was some wild stuff. But the supposed promise of “one on one and no one else aside from Heyman” might be kept, and we get a strong promo segment on SmackDown in a foreshadowing of the fair-and-square 1v1 match. Or it is a trap and that’s more a foreshadowing of Bloodline Rules where they can do whatever they want. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

My Score: 8.9/10


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Mitchell’s NJPW New Japan Cup Results & Report! (3/18/24)

The semifinals are here!

Published

on

We’re just one step away from the Cup!

Cold Skull faces The Fierce Warrior, and Gene Blast faces The King of Darkness, and when the smoke clears, we will have our New Japan Cup finalists!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Boltin Oleg & Shoma Kato VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Mikey Nicholls; ZSJ & Mikey win.
  • Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Tomohiro Ishii & Togi Makabe VS Just5Guys; Just5Guys win.
  • Tanga Loa & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman; Loa & Taguchi win.
  • Six Man Tag: YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano & Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
  • 8 Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & YOH VS The House of Torture; Shota, ELP, Leo & Yoh win.
  • Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; LIJ wins.
  • 2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL; Tsuji wins and advances to the finals.
  • 2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto; Goto wins and advances to the finals.

PLAY BY PLAY

2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!

The Gene Blast overcame the tricks Ren Narita tried, but that’s because the House of Torture was saving all the good stuff so they could slay the Rampaging Dragon. Will the deck be even more stacked to make sure Everything is Evil’s? Or will Yota be one step away from LIJ VS LIJ at Sakura Genesis?

Well, Dick is making his way out here, but where is Evil? Oh, there he is. No tricks just yet it seems. But then Yota DIVES onto Evil! The fans fire up but Dick attacks Yota! Dick whips, Yota stops himself, and then scoops Dick for a BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Yota wants the bell. The ref says yes, ring the bell, and this is on the record! Yota stomps and CLUBS Evil, then whips, but Evil reverses! Yota hits railing, and then Evil whips him into more railing! Evil CHOKES Yota against the railing, Yota fights back, but the ref gets knocked aside! Evil puts Yota in so he and Dick can stomp away!

The fans boo but here comes the rest of the House already! Narita, Yujiro, Kanemaru and Jack all stomp away on Yota, but here come Bushi & Hiromu! It’s a replay of yesterday as LIJ fights off the House, but the numbers are still against them! The ref rushes in to tell everyone to stop! Evil shoves the ref out of the ring, Yota fires off on him, but Evil CLAWS Yota’s eyes! The House CHOKES LIJ, but the ref says stop! The bell rings, but what is the decision!? NO CONTEST!?

No Contest

What does this mean!? Someone has to advance, right? The finals aren’t until the 20th, how can there be a no contest? The House started this, where’re the consequences?! Yota gets up but Evil TOSSES him back out! LIJ regroups and Yota asks for a mic. Yota tells Evil that he’s sick and tired of this! They ARE gonna finish this match! The fans like the sound of that! All the refs come out, including Red Shoes, to discuss how this will be handled. For starters, they tell all the extras to get outta here! LIJ is cool with that, and Hiromu tells the House to come along. Evil says fine, and Jack, Kanemaru, Narita, Yujiro and even Dick reluctantly exit.

The announcement is officially made, and the bell rings! Yota and Evil rush in, Evil kicks low but Yota CLUBS away on Evil! Evil CLAWS the eyes! Evil kicks, runs, RAMS, but Yota rebounds to run Evil over! Then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Yota fires up and the fans are with him! Evil bails out but the fans rally for Yota. Evil wants Yota to stay back, then he slides in, only to slide right out! Yota runs out after Evil, but Evil kicks him! Evil RAMS Yota into the timekeeper! Abe-san and his table go flying! Evil gets the mic to tell Yota that this is what he gets! The fans boo but Evil tells them off, too! Evil stomps Yota then soaks up the heat.

Evil unties the blue buckle pad himself, then waits in the ring. The ref checks Yota and the fans rally up again. The Young Lions help Abe-san while Yota drags himself up. Yota slides in, the fans cheer, but Evil pulls on Yota’s hair! Evil wrenches the hair, then wrenches it again! And again! Evil CLUBS the hair! The ref reprimands but Evil just dusts off his hands. Evil covers, but the ref refuses to count! Evil is furious but he’s the one up to no good! The ref still says no, so Evil stands on Yota’s head. The fans rally up, Yota rises, and he grins as he winds up to ROCK Evil with a forearm! And ROCK him with another!

Yota ROCKS Evil again, but Evil whips him into the bare buckles! Yota falls and the ref reprimands about the missing buckle pad. Evil stomps Yota, covers, TWO! The fans cheer but Evil is annoyed. Evil scuffs Yota, taunts him, and drags him up. Evil CHOPS, Yota drops to his knees, but Evil stands him back up. Evil CHOPS again and Yota grits his teeth as he drops to his knees! Evil stands Yota up again, to fake the chop to CLAW the eyes! The ref reprimands, Evil lets off, and then Evil stands on Yota in a corner. The ref counts, Evil lets go of the ropes but that’s not the problem! Evil steps away, drags Yota up but claims he’s dead weight.

The ref checks, Evil stands Yota up and wrenches an arm. Evil whips Yota into a corner, runs in, but into a BOOT! Evil runs in again, blocks the boot, but Yota brings Evil in for the STOMP! The fans fire up while Yota rests on the mat. The fans rally up and Yota rises again. Evil’s in the corner, runs out, but into the BACKBREAKER! COMPLETE SHOT! STOMP! The fans fire up again as Yota stands back up. Yota runs, to CURB STOMP!! Yota roars and the fans fire up again! Evil flounders while Yota aims. Yota runs in, but the ref is used as a shield! Evil kicks Yota low, then uses the ref in MAGIC KILLER!

All three men are down while the fans rally up again. Evil stands, he brings Yota up, and the ref also rises. Evil whips Yota into the bare buckles, then clotheslines him in! Then FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, but Evil lets off?! Evil wants to torture Yota but it’s hard to say if Yota is still even in this. Yota opens his eyes, rises up, but Evil fireman’s carries! DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives, the fans fire up, but Evil is furious! Evil slashes his throat and vows to end this now! Evil drags Yota up, spins him around, but Yota fights the STO with elbows! Evil kicks low, whips again, but Yota stops from hitting buckles!

Evil runs in, Yota dodges and Evil hits the buckles! SUPERKICK!! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! We’re only ten minutes into this new match but this is on top of the madness from earlier. Evil drags Yota up, but Yota ROCKS Evil! Evil fights Yota’s fireman’s carry and CLUBS him, but both men wobble. Evil LARIATS, but Yota stays up! The fans fire up but Evil swings to LARIAT again! Yota drops to a knee, but he grins through the pain! Evil says alright, and he throws off his elbow pad. Evil runs to LARIAT! Yota grits his teeth to stay up! V-TRIGGER! Yota brings Evil in, suplexes, ORANGE CRUSH! Cover, TWO!!

Evil is still in this but the fans rally behind Yota again. Yota rises, drags Evil up, and then goes to the corner. Yota goes up and up and Evil moves the ref into the way! The ref takes the FLYING CURB STOMP!!! And now the House returns! The fans boo as Kanemaru, Dick, Yujiro, Narita & Jack all stomp away on Yota again! The fans tell them to go home, again, but these guys don’t care! They just put one out on Yota. They whip Yota to a corner, then DIck runs in to ELBOW! Kanemaru ELBOWS! Yujiro BOOTS! Jack SPLASHES! Narita ELBOWS! Then they snapmare and set Yota up! Dick climbs for the DICK CHOP!!

The fans boo but the House applauds their own dirtiness. But here come Bushi & Hiromu again! But they just get mugged again! They set Hiromu up for the DICK CHOP, while Bushi gets a JACK CHOP! The House then slithers away before a replacement ref rushes out here. Evil drags Yota up, winds up and runs, to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!!! Yota survives and the fans are thunderous! Evil is at a loss for words, but he slashes his throat! He vows to end it for real, and he reels Yota in. EVERYTHING IS- Yota flips through!? And HEADBUTTS!! The fans fire up as Yota reels Evil in for a fireman’s carry! 70 CROSS!! Cover, TWO!!

Evil survives the swinging spinebuster and the House cheers! Yota drags himself to a corner, drags himself up with the ropes, and roars as he takes aim! Evil rises, but Yujiro distracts! Dick runs in, but gets a V-TRIGGER! The ref sees Dick, but misses the LOW BLOW! Then Evil RAMS Yota into the ref! That’s the second ref this match! Narita gets his push-up bar! The others set Yota up, but here comes SHINGO TAKAGI! The Rampaging Dragon has seen enough, and he’s still pissed from yesterday as it is! He dodges Narita to PUMPING BOMBER! Kanemaru & Yujiro kick Takagi, double whip, but he DOUBLE PUMPING BOMBERS!!

Jack gets in, but he gets ELBOW, JAB and YUKON LARIAT! Evil runs up but Takagi SWATS Evil’s lariat to JAB! Then feed to Hiromu’s SUPERKICK! Hiromu & Takagi set Evil up for Bushi’s BLACK MIST!! Evil can’t see, the PUMPING BOMBER turns him inside-out!! The fans are thunderous as LIJ helps Yota up! Red Shoes hurries out here, and Yota aims at Evil! GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, Yota wins!!!

Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

The House of Torture ran out of tricks, and now there is light at the end of the tournament! Will Yota do LIJ proud and bring home the Cup?

 

2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto!

One down, one to go. Yota Tsuji has made it through, now we see who joins him in the finals! Will the Cold Skull or Fierce Warrior be the one that steps closer to former glory?

The bell rings and the fans duel between “GO-TO-O!” and “SA-NA-DA!” Red Shoes measures the levels, and it seems to slightly favor Goto. Goto and Sanada circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Goto gets some leverage to put Sanada against ropes, but he lets off slowly. Goto pats Sanada on the shoulders and the fans cheer. The two reset, circle again, and tie up again. It’s another deadlock, but again Goto finds a way to put Sanada on ropes. Sanada turns things around, lets off slowly, and also pats Goto on the shoulders. The fans applaud and the two reset again. They feel things out, knuckle lock, then move to a clinch.

They fight for control, Sanada starts pushing Goto towards a corner but Goto slips away. They feel things out, knuckle lock again, then break. They tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, Goto waistlocks, but Sanada wrenches to wristlock. Goto rolls, wrenches, wristlocks, but Sanada spins, wrenches, only for Goto to roll! Goto gets a leg to trip Sanada up, and he has a toehold. Sanada fights back with a chinlock but Goto pulls on the leg. Sanada uses his free leg to hook Goto into an ARMBAR, but Goto clasps hands! Goto moves around, pops free, then headlocks. Sanada fights up, Goto grinds the headlock, but Sanada throws body shots.

Sanada powers up and out, but Goto runs him over! The fans rally as things speed up, and Goto counters hip toss with hip toss! Goto runs and he clotheslines Sanada up and out! The fans fire up and Goto slides out after Sanada. Goto stomps Sanada, drags him up, then CLUBS him on the neck! Sanada staggers, Goto CHOPS him, then kicks him, then CLUBS him! Goto whips but Sanada stops himself from hitting railing! Goto runs in but Sanada drop toeholds him into the railing! Goto goes down in a heap, but Sanada opens the gate. Sanada brings Goto through, then to the crowd! PILEDRIVER to the bare floor!

The fans are stunned but Red Shoes reprimands. Sanada leaves Goto behind and slides into the ring. The fans rally for Goto as the ring count begins. Goto crawls at 5 of 20, finds his way to ringside at 10, but still hobbles and crawls. He stands at 17 to slide in! The fans cheer, but Sanada stomps Goto. Sanada drags Goto up, CLUBS him on the neck, then brings him back up to CLUB him again. Goto CHOPS! And CHOPS! Sanada eggs Goto on so Goto CHOPS again! Goto whips, Sanada reverses to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Sanada keeps cool and sits Goto up into a chinlock. Goto endures and the fans rally again.

Goto kicks forward, reaches out, but Sanada cranks on the hold! Goto keeps fighting, and has the ROPEBREAK! Sanada lets go cleanly, but then he stomps Goto while he’s down. Sanada then stands Goto up to CLUB him on the neck. Goto CHOPS in return! And CHOPS, and CHOPS, and has Sanada in a corner! Goto CHOPS again, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, but Sanada BOOTS first! Sanada runs, Goto follows, and Goto LARIATS Sanada down! The fans fire up and Goto rises, clutching his neck. Goto stands Sanada up to fire off forearms, then he whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, MURAMASA!

Sanada wobbles, into the SAIDO! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up while Goto grits his teeth. Goto drags Sanada up, fireman’s carries, but Sanada fights free! Sanada waistlocks, Goto throws elbows, then runs. Sanada hurdles, hurdles, and DROPKICKS! Goto tumbles out of the ring, Sanada PLANCHAS him down! The fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. The fans get louder and Sanada appreciates it. Sanada then goes back for Goto, brings him up and puts him in the ring. Sanada fireman’s carries but Goto throws elbows! Sanada turns around into Goto’s fireman’s carry, but then slips out into the dragon sleeper!

But Goto arm-drags free! Sanada kicks low, runs, but Goto follows! Sanada dodges this time, runs again, but Goto still follows! Sanada sidesteps this time, but Goto holds ropes to avoid the hurdle! Goto runs in, but Sanada fireman’s carries! T K O! Cover, TWO! Goto is still in this and the fans rally up! Sanada goes up the corner, ROUNDING BODY- NO, Sanada has to land out as Goto moves! Sanada runs in, but into the fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! They cheer on “GO-TO-O!” but the “SA-NA-DA!” chants are still there. Red Shoes checks them both, and both men slowly rise.

The two crawl towards each other, and Goto fires a forearm! Sanada shakes his head, eggs Goto on, so Goto throws another! Goto eggs Sanada on, so Sanada fires a forearm! Goto fires a forearm back, and the two stand. Sanada UPPERCUTS! Goto comes back to forearm! Sanada UPPERCUTS again, and Goto drops back to a knee! The fans rally, Goto stands again, and he forearms! UPPERCUT, forearm, repeat! Goto growls, fires a flurry of forearms, and he ROCKS Sanada! Sanada drops to his hand and knees but Goto powers up! Goto KICKS but Sanada blocks! Goto fires more forearms, then waistlocks, but Sandaa fights free!

Sanada runs, but Goto fireman’s carries! And he throws Sanada into the dragon sleeper! But Sanada turns around and suplexes, for MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! Sanada roars as he rises up, and he aims from a corner. Sanada wants Goto to get up, and Goto sits up, into the SHINING WIZARD! Sanada then dragon sleepers, for the SKULL END!! Goto endures, flails, reaches out, but he’s caught in the body scissors! Goto fights around but he’s fading! The fans rally, Goto’s hand drops! Sanada lets him go to then climb! ROUNDING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO!!

The fans fire up as Goto survives but Sanada storms around. Sanada drags Goto up, reels him in and clinches, but Goto slips free to shove Sanada away! Sanada forearms, ROLLING- HEADBUTT from Goto! The fans fire up and duel, and Goto drags Sanada up. But Sanada breaks free! Goto HEADBUTTS again! Sanada falls back down and Goto steadies himself. Goto roars, the fans are with him, and Goto sits Sanada up. Goto runs to PENALTY KICK! Shoutout to Shibata and the fans fire up more! Sanada grits his teeth as he sits back up but Goto takes aim! BUZZSAW! And then he hauls Sanada up to dragon sleeper! G T- BACKSLIDE COUNTER! TWO!!!

Sanada and Goto hurry up, Sanada dodges to O’Conner BRIDGE!! TWO?!!? Goto escapes and shocks everyone! Sanada resets, runs in, SHINING WIZARD!! The fans are thunderous as Sanada roars and drags Goto back up! Clinch and DEAD- NO, Goto slips around to ripcord and fireman’s carry! G T W!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Sanada survives but Goto is all fired up! The fans are thunderous as Goto dragon sleepers for G T R!!! Cover, GOTO WINS!!!

Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

Don’t call it a comeback, Goto’s been here for years! Sanada’s hopes of being IWGP World Heavyweight Champion again have been delayed, how long must he wait for another chance?

As for Goto, he’s going back to the New Japan Cup Finals for the first time since 2016, and his seventh overall! But before he can get the mic to speak, Yota makes his way back out here. Yota steps into the ring and he gets the mic first. Yota tells Goto, “In order to open the door to a new era, we must do this.” The fans applaud that, and Yota continues by asking Goto, “Are you ready?!” Yota drops the mic at Goto’s feet, and Goto stands up to speak. “I also have something I want to show you. As a three-time New Japan Cup Champion, I will show you my strength.” The fans like the sound of that!

The Fierce Warrior stares down with Gene Blast, a true generational showdown on the horizon! Will Goto return not juts to former glory, but finally ascend to top of NJPW? Or will Yota make it LIJ VS LIJ for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship?


My Thoughts:

A great semifinal round for this tournament, with quite a surprising main event. Sanada VS Goto was great stuff, and while I felt Sanada wasn’t winning the Cup, I didn’t think he’d be out this round. Yota VS Evil was rather creatively put together, too. I did not think the House would get so involved that at first it was a No Contest but then they restart under a ringside ban. Takagi making sure Yota won was good stuff, too, maybe we can get Takagi VS Evil for the NEVER Openweight Championship if they’re not gonna circle back to more Shota Umino VS House of Torture stuff.

Goto VS Yota is going to be great stuff, and Goto is clearly a top utility guy. He’s had so many New Japan Cup finals appearances, certainly among the most ever, but I don’t think he gets a fourth Cup win against Yota, one of the “new era Musketeers” that NJPW clearly loves. Yota VS Naito is definitely the title match for Sakura Genesis.

My Score: 8.9/10


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