Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (11/29/19)

So much uncertainty after Survivor Series!

Published

4 years ago

November 29, 2019

Steven Mitchell

What is going to happen now?

SmackDown did not win Survivor Series, and Daniel Bryan did not win against The Fiend. What’s more, Bray Wyatt promises a NEW Firefly Fun House friend! Who, or what, will join Bray, Mercy the Buzzard, Ramblin’ Rabbit, Huskis the Pig Boy and Abby the Witch on this Black Friday Night SmackDown?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Roman Reigns VS Robert Roode w/ Dolph Ziggler & Baron Corbin; Roman wins.
Mustafa Ali VS Drew Gulak; Ali wins.
Sonya Deville w/ Mandy Rose VS Nikki Cross; Cross wins.
SmackDown Tag Team Championship Open Challenge: The New Day VS ???; The New Day wins and retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.

PLAY BY PLAY

Roman Reigns is here!

The Big Dog is in Birmingham, Alabama, coming off his big win at Survivor Series! And Roman was the #SoleSurvivor in the first-ever 15-Man Elimination Triple Threat Tag! Roman goes to the ring and gets a mic. “I know it’s a day late, but in my household, if you still have leftovers in the fridge, ti’s still Thanksgiving. So Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!” To Roman, Thanksgiving means three things: family, good health, and happiness. To be honest, Roman only had one of those things last year, and that was family. But to be here now, with good health and with his new family, Roman is very, very thankful. Fans are thankful to have Roman back, too. Roman is also thankful that Team SmackDown “whooped some ass.” He wasn’t on his own, and he does give his props to NXT. But NXT didn’t get it done, SmackDown did!

And Roman’s team was great. Roman thanks Mustafa Ali, “Shorty G,” and the Monster Among Men! But there is one “dummy” he wasn’t thankful for. We all know who he means, and Roman says the dummy should thank Roman. Let’s bring that dummy out! Roman wants the dummy to apologize. And yes, King Baron Corbin appears! Fans boo Baron, who already has a mic. The Lone Wolf King wants to understand something. Roman thinks Corbin should thank him? Roman must’ve lost his mind. It was Corbin’s “fearless leadership” that helped them win. Corbin eliminated two people before Roman betrayed him! But Roman surely had ulterior motives. Roman’s ego couldn’t handle that Corbin was going to be the one to get the job done. But Corbin didn’t it. Corbin got a Spear then got eliminated. But Corbin has a chance to redeem himself here and now.

Corbin saw this coming. Roman doesn’t have Corbin fooled. Roman is just an ego maniac, not a role model. Corbin says he had the best Thanksgiving ever! He drops a fork, he has someone there to get him a new one. But Roman doesn’t know anything about good food, he’s used to eating crap like the fans in Alabama! Corbin is thankful he doesn’t have to fake a smile, that he doesn’t have to eat crap food, and he doesn’t have to stay in a state with food worse than their football! But if Roman wants a fight, Corbin has someone else victorious from Sunday: Robert Roode! And Corbin has a good feeling that Roman will be wheeled out on a stretcher. And that will be absolutely glorious! With that, Roode appears, with Dolph Ziggler in his corner! Will the King’s Court (Jesters) get one over on The Big Dog?

Roman Reigns VS Robert Roode w/ Dolph Ziggler & Baron Corbin!

SmackDown returns with this match in progress. Roode headlocks but Roman powers out only for Roode to run him over. Roode gloats and gets the headlock back, but Roman powers his way to his own headlock. Roode powers out but now Roman runs him over! Roode bails out to regroup with Ziggler and Corbin. The ring count climbs but Roode returns. Ziggler distracts, Roode attacks! Roode stomps away but the ref backs him off. Only Corbin and Ziggler applaud. Roode drags Roman up but Roman uppercuts! And again! Roman has Roode in the corner, he climbs up and rains down rights! Roode stops Roman at 5 to boot him away. Roode hops up but gets another uppercut! Roode tumbles out to the floor! Fans rally for Roman as he goes out, to give Roode a Drive-By dropkick!

Corbin takes off his crown and both he and Ziggler distract Roman. Roman puts Roode in but ZIggler takes a swipe! Roode hits Roman off the apron! Roman hits the announce desk, and then Roode hurries out to SPINE BUSTER! The King’s Court gloats as fans boo and the ring count climbs. Roode drags Roman back up and throws Roman into barriers. Roode gets back in to keep the ring count off him. Roode goes out to throw haymakers, and then whip Roman into barriers again! Roode wants the ring count as we go to break.

SmackDown returns as Roode knees low and whips Roman. Roman bounces out to rally with lariats! Roode reverses the whip but Roman hits a leaping lariat! Corbin and Ziggler panic as Roman gives Roode point-blank lariats in the corner! Roman gets all 10 of these! Roman runs to BOOT Roode down! Fans fire up as Roman stares Corbin down from a corner. Roman locks ‘n’ loads but Ziggler distracts again. Roode gets clear of the punch to roll up, TWO!! Roode boots Roman then hops up, GLORIOUS BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Roman survives and The King’s Court is furious! Roode wants Roman to stand as fans rally up. Roode winds it up, GLORIOUS~! He drags Roman in, but the DDT is turned into a roll-up! TWO, but Roman dead lifts and BOMBS Roode! Cover, TWO!! Roode survives and Corbin is relieved.

Roman still has fans rallying up behind him and Roman gets to a corner. Corbin is worried as Roman reloads. Ziggler gets Roode out! Fans boo but Roman goes out to come around the way. Roman leaps off the steps, SUPERMAN PUNCH for Ziggler! Roode rams Roman into a post! And steel steps! Roode throws Roman in and climbs up top. Roode leaps, into a SUPERMAN PUNCH! Cover, TWO!! Roode still lives and Corbin breathes easier. Both Roman and Roode are down but stirring. Fans rally up and Roman gets to the corner. Corbin shouts at Roode as Roman lets out the “OOAAH~!” GLORIOUS SPINE BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Roman survives and Roode is stunned! Corbin coaches Roode up and Roode gets up. The scepter is passed to Roode behind the referee’s back. Corbin distracts and Roode takes aim at Roman! Roman uppercuts Roode, SUPERMAN PUNCHES Corbin, and SPEARS Roode! Cover, Roman wins!

Winner: Roman Reigns, by pinfall

The Big Dog manages to overcome Corbin and his cronies working together for another big win! But then Ziggler attacks from behind! Ziggler fires up and tunes up the band. Ziggler runs into a Samoan Drop! But Corbin gets Roman, only for Roman to put Corbin into a post! Roode uses the scepter to SMASH Roman down! Roode rains down right hands but that’s not enough. Roode gets a chair and brings it in. Corbin watches safely from the stage as Roode sits the chair up. Roode has the sceptor again, and then drags Roman to the chair. “Time to go home for the holidays, Roman! Say hello to your kids!” Roode raises the sceptor, Roman avoids the SMASH! SUPERMAN PUNCH sends Roode out!

Roman is seething as he goes out to SPEAR Roode through the timekeeper’s area!! Corbin has fear in his eyes as Roman tosses an arm chair into Roode! “You want me gone?!” Roode throws the other arm chair on Roode! And then Roman eyes the steel steps. Roman takes the top half off, to SMASH Ziggler into the crowd! Roman then moves the announce desk, and lifts it up and over to dump onto Roode!! Roode is trapped and Corbin is fearing what might happen to him. Will the Big Dog take a big bite out of the Lone Wolf before the year is over?

SmackDown presents a brand new Firefly Fun House!

Hola, Fireflies! Hopefully everyone had a great Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Bray Wyatt is thankful that he’s still the WWE Universal Champion! But sharing is caring, so if Bray has one, “he” should have one too. A really creepy belt for The Fiend! But Bray loves this new toy! He had a blast playing with Daniel Bryan at Survivor Series. They should do it again! Do the fans want to see them “play” again? YAY~! Well in that case, someone tell Daniel Bryan that Bray can make his wish come true. All Bryan has to do is #LetMeIn. Okay bye~! Later everyone~!

Sheamus speaks!

SmackDown was once home of the fiercest competition in the land. But watching from home, he sees SmackDown is just “a bunch of misfits and cowards. A Fiend, a King, a Shorty G… Whatever the hell that is.” But no one is hungry, with a backbone, or like him. Sheamus says SmackDown is soft, so the Celtic Warrior is ready to return to ravage the roster! “SmackDown will be mine.”

Mustafa Ali VS ???

The Beacon shines in Birmingham to enjoy his part of that SmackDown victory! But who will he shine the light on next?

SmackDown returns as Ali’s opponent is revealed as Drew Gulak! These old rivals tie up and go around with a waistlock. Gulak elbows out, haymakers Ali then whips. Ali reverses and things speed up. Ali goes up, redirects, Gulak goes up and Ali handsprings over! Fans cheer the agility and Ali dropkicks Gulak! Cover, ONE, and Gulak grabs hair to yank Ali down. Gulak drags Ali up to put in a corner. Gulak sneers as fans rally up for Ali. Gulak chops Ali then headbutts low. Gulak drags Ali up but Ali kicks back! Ali uppercuts from a corner and climbs up, but Gulak POWERBOMBS him down! Cover, TWO! Gulak drags Ali up and around for a back suplex, but Ali makes it a crossbody! Cover, ONE, and Gulak has a leg for a Half Crab!

Gulak sits down deep and pulls on hair. The ref reprimands so Gulak lets up. Ali crawls but Gulak turns him around. Ali kicks away but Gulak spins Ali around, only to walk into Ali’s SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! Ali crawls to a corner as Gulak stirs. Gulak hurries after Ali to grab his feet. Gulak drags Ali but Ali rolls to throw Gulak into buckles. Ali goes up, leaps, TORNADO DDT! Ali hurries up top again, takes aim, 450! Cover, Ali wins!

Winner: Mustafa Ali, by pinfall

This rivalry is still fast and furious, but it also still goes Ali’s way! Will Ali only shine brighter as SmackDown heads for the New Year?

Heavy Machinery plugs WWE Black Friday!

HUNDREDS of deals! That slow cooker, yum yum. And 25% off your entire order, $15+ gets free shipping. Use the promo code, FRIDAY, to save that 25%, get all you want or need now!

Daniel Bryan paces.

He heard like we all heard that Bray is giving him another shot at the Universal Championship. What will his answer be?

Bayley and Sasha Banks are here!

They were both on the losing ends of huge women’s matches for Survivor Series. Sasha Banks was team captain and last eliminated by Rhea Ripley’s Team NXT. Bayley and Becky Lynch were both beat by Shayna 2-Time Baszler. Now the Boss and Smug Connection are here to address those losses. Bayley admits, Shayna got the better of her, only because of Becky. Sasha says a great leader is ruined by the weakest link, and her weak link was the whole damn team! Nikki Cross was on the team by a fluke. Dana Brooke can’t flex out of a paper bag. Carmella is messy, broke and lame. Lacey Evans is too busy sipping sweet tea to be better. The SmackDown Women’s Division makes them sick.

But speaking of Lacey, here she comes! The Sassy Southern Belle struts her way into the ring and has herself a mic of her own. “Honey, don’t test my patience.” She just spent all night preparing a Thanksgiving dinner for her in-laws. She is not in the mood for lip from two who lack class to even sit at the kiddie table. They’re leaders? Bless their hearts. These two wouldn’t be trusted with the chicken dance at a garden party. If all they’re doing is hiding behind excuses, then Lacey says SmackDown gets a real woman as their leader. A woman with style, class, confidence and sophistication. And Birmingham nominates Lacey Evans! Lacey is a woman who wouldn’t tap out to pressure. Tappy tap tap. Sasha gets in Lacey’s face, to get a WOMAN’S RIGHT!

Lacey picks up her hat to dust it off and take her leave. Bayley hesitates, maybe she really isn’t leadership material. Will Lacey lead by example as WWE heads for TLC?

Backstage interview with Daniel Bryan.

What is his answer for Bray’s challenge/ But we interrupt this interview with a thanksgiving Firefly Fun House Feast! Except, Huskis has eaten most of it. He ate too much and now his belly is ready to blow! The only thing that would make him feel better is if Bryan agrees to play again. Bray says the story of Thanksgiving is a LIE! The first Thanksgiving wasn’t about pilgrims and natives, but lizard men and aliens! But anyway, Huskis can stuff his face as much as he wants and still change. Just like Bryan can change! All you have to follow these rules to be PHAT. Hit it! “Yo, yo, yo, it’s ya boi, Bray Wyaaatt~!” Time to pull up your pants and do the Muscle Man Dance! Let’s show these bleepin’ bleepers (he actually says that himself) what we talkin’ bout~!

It’s Huskis, the P I G! Sadly, “everyone points and laughs at me.” He’s hefty, living large, and his dependence on food is what’s in charge! Strudel, noodles, ice cream and jams, he’ll eat anything but says no to ham. If he could work out and find close that fit, well Huskis would be as happy as a pig in SHHHHH! Hustle, muscle, man, dance! Pull up your pants and “erase your mind.” YO YO YO! Shake them hips and let the backbone slip! Just #LetMeIn! Don’t let the reptilians in, though, they’ll take over your business, your family, your life! STOP IT REPTILIANS! And just #LetHimIn. After that strange addition to the challenge, Bryan’s answer is… silence. Will Bray get the answer he wants soon enough?

Sonya Deville w/ Mandy Rose VS Nikki Cross!

Fire & Desire have a lot to prove to the SmackDown Women’s and WWE Women’s Tag Divisions. They weren’t part of Team SmackDown, but can they show how much better they would’ve done firsthand?

But before the bell, Mandy has a mic. She usually doesn’t make fun of looks, (oh really?) but just look at Nikki! She’s a cold plate of leftovers in human form! Mandy laughs at her own joke as she gets out of the ring. The bell rings and Sonya DECKS Nikki! Sonya knees Nikki around then kicks her down! Sliding Wizard! Cover, TWO! Sonya has Nikki in a thrashing chinlock, but Nikki endures. Nikki fights her way up to jawbreaker free! Nikki rams into Sonya then knocks her into a corner. Nikki fires up and splashes Sonya to a bulldog! Fans fire up with Nikki as she goes to the top rope. Mandy distracts and Sonya yanks Nikki down! Sonya goes over, Nikki cradle counters, Nikki wins!!

Winner: Nikki Cross, by pinfall

But Fire & Desire attack together! They’re sore losers as they give Nikki a Knee From a Rose! But here comes THE GODDESS! Alexa Bliss is back and she ducks Mandy to lariat Sonya! And then Mandy! Alexa rallies! Nikki anchors Mandy, for Alexa to mock and SLAP! Alexa drags Mandy up, Nikki helps, DOUBLE DDT! The best friends are back together again! Will Bliss-Cross have a resurgence now that they’re reunited?

The Miz talks with Bryan.

The Miz is growing concerned. Bryan may not want to listen, but just look at the facts! The Fiend has changed the men he has mangled. Bryan survived once, but another try is tempting. But Bryan has to ask himself: is it worth it? Bryan still refuses to respond, so Miz says Bryan is important to SmackDown and the WWE. They can’t afford to lose him. His family can’t- Bryan pays attention now. Miz leaves it at that, but his point is valid. Will Bryan understand that, and decided based upon the frightening facts?

Drake Maverick says it is Christmas season.

He asks Dana Brooke his favorite tradition. It’s mistletoe. Ewe, Drake. Not this holiday season or any season. Isn’t he married? Well it’s complicated. But with a twang of the guitar, Elias is back! Where has he been? On a journey both outwards and inwards. What does that mean? It means to shut your mouth and listen. Elias is back, so you have hop again. He’s back in time for the Christmas Season. Drake’s a creep, there’s no doubt. What’s it going to be like when his wife finds out? Dana gets into the groove, is the Drifter going to find himself some gold for the holidays?

SmackDown Tag Team Championship Open Challenge: The New Day VS ???

Awwww~ Birmingham~! Kofi Kingston and Big E are lucky seven-time tag team champions, but seem to be feeling lucky even after a Survivor Series defeat. They fling flapjacks to fans and then take up the mics. “Birminghaaaam~!” What a Thanksgiving the New Day had. Ya bois the NEW~ DAY~ had to fill up on all the fixins! They had beans, greens, potatoes, ham, ram, hog and dog! Wait hog and dog? NO that’s just a joke. But today is Black Friday. They debuted on this day. There are deals and steals, squeals and feels, and where your wildest fantasies come true. Which is why they’re open for business! Tonight is a match for their W, W, E, World, Tag, Team, CHAMPIONSHIPS~! Not just any match, either. They will defend the titles in an OPEN CHALLANGE, BABYYYY~! But the question is now, “Who? WHO WHO WHO?” Team Sami, that’s who!

Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro stand with their Great Liberator as Sami tells Birmingham to shut up. What makes Sami sick to his stomach is hearing New Day romanticize such a holiday where the gluttonous masses celebrates imperialistic evil! And then, the New Day praises Black Friday? The most fraudulent conspiracy that epitomizes the evils of capitalism! Selfish people step over their own mothers to get what they want! “Shame on you.” Shame on every single person who continues to perpetuate this cycle of a bogus holiday season! The tag titles need to be held by men smart enough to see through the nonsense! Therefore, Cesaro and Shinsuke answer the call to become NEW SmackDown Tag Team Champions! Fair enough. The Swiss Cyborg and King of Strong Style head to the ring, and this match happens after the break!

SmackDown returns as teams sort out. Cesaro stands against Kofi Kingston at the bell. They circle and tie up, and Cesaro headlocks. Kofi powers out but Cesaro runs him over to cover, ONE. Cesaro headlocks but Kofi powers out again, but then things speed up. Kofi hurdles and elbows Cesaro down then covers, ONE. Cesaro is up, but Kofi wrenches. Cesaro knees low, tag to Shinsuke and Shinsuke kicks Kofi low. Nakamura fires off at the ropes and then has Kofi in a corner. He whips corner to corner and monkey flips but Kofi lands on his feet to dropkick! Cover, TWO! Kofi keeps his cool as he drags Nakamura up. Nakamura body shots and forearms Kofi away. Nakamura runs into an elbow and Kofi hops up, Cesaro distracts and Nakamura yanks Kofi down! Kofi hits backs but is put back up for the Top Shelf Knee! Cover, TWO!

Nakamura drags Kofi up and over, tag to Cesaro. Team Sami mugs Kofi and Cesaro gut wrench suplexes Kofi with ease! Cover, TWO! Cesaro is on Kofi with a headlock, but Kofi endures. Fans rally as Kofi fights his way up off the mat. Kofi throws body shots but Cesaro tags Nakamura. Nakamura kicks Kofi then throws forearms in the corner. Kofi fights out with haymakers and kicks! Kofi hurries but Nakamura keeps him from Big E. Nakamura whips Kofi out but Kofi fights off Cesaro. But he forgot about Sami, who yanks him down! Cesaro EuroUppers Kofi over the announce desk! The New Day is in danger as we go to break!

SmackDown returns again and both Kofi and Cesaro are down! Hot tags to Nakamura and Big E! Big E gets Nakamura for an overhead suplex! And another! And then the side belly2belly! Big E positions Nakamura for a BIG FLOP! Nakamura rams knees into Big E over and over! Nakamura whips, Big E gets him for the Urenag-E! Cover, TWO!! Big E keeps his cool as he claps. Fans join in, “New! Day Rocks!” Nakamura stands, Big E scoops but Nakamura slips out. Nakamura roundhouses! Cesaro tags as Nakamura goes up, DYNAMIC ENTRY! Cesaro is up, FLYING HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO!! Cesaro drags Big E up into the Gotch hold, but Big E powers out! Cesaro lands on his feet, tag to Nakamura! EuroUpper!

Kofi comes in and back drops Cesaro out! Big E boosts Nakamura up, Kofi kicks him down! Big E has Nakamura on his shoulders. Kofi comes in, DOUBLE STOMP BOMB! Cover, Cesaro breaks it in time!! Cesaro hauls Kofi to ropes but Kofi throws Cesaro out! Big E helps Kofi BOOST! But into a EuroUpper!! EuroUpper for Big E! Cesaro gets Nakamura in, then throws Kofi in. Nakamura runs in, but gets rolled up! TWO, Kofi ducks one kick but gets the heel! Sliding knee! Cover, but Big E breaks it! Cesaro rams Big E into a post! Nakamura tags Cesaro, drags Kofi up for endless EuroUppers from all sides! Cesaro runs but Kofi slips out to swing kick back! Kofi spins, but into a scoop! Hotshot! Cesaro chokes Kofi, backs off, but Sami has the pancakes. Sami has the platter but the ref sees it in time! Sami can’t trick the ref, the ref EJECTS Sami! Sami is furious, as is Cesaro!

But as they argue, Kofi is recovering. Kofi is up, Cesaro turns around, TROUBLE IN PARADISE! Cover, The New Day wins!!

Winners: the New Day, Kofi Kingston by pinfall; still SmackDown Tag Team Champions

The Sami screw job fails, Kofi and Big E are still the seven-time champions! Will Team Sami regroup and go back to the drawing board? Will any other team step up before TLC?

Daniel Bryan heads to the ring!

After Bray Wyatt put the question out there, we’ve all been wondering what the answer would be. Bryan has a mic and reminds us that Bray is offering another Universal Championship match, if he would #LetHimIn. The Miz tried to talk Bryan out of it, because The Fiend would change him. The Miz might be right. Bryan needs to change! That’s why Bryan went against The Fiend as nervous as he’d been in years because of that change. It happened to Finn Balor, to Seth Rollins, and then in the middle of his match, Bryan felt changed. But not because of The Fiend, but because of the fans! The fans’ passion, energy and voice that made Bryan realize the person he always should’ve been. Bryan once said that the Yes Movement was dead. “But maybe, just maybe, you guys brought it back to life!” Bryan has a question for the fans. Bray put out the challenge, so should Bryan accept? “YES! YES! YES!” That doesn’t seem complete, so Bryan does it, too! “YES! YES! YES!”

The Firefly Fun House returns again! And YOWIE WOWIE! Bray is very happy to hear this. But he has to admit, Miz is right. Going trough this will change Bryan. Bryan will remove his mask and show his true self. It’s only fair, since Bryan helped Bray change. Heck, Bryan helped build the Fun House! You remember, don’t you? Because “he” does. But one more thing! The best part is that Bray has his promise to keep. Bray is a man of his word. And so, to introduce this new face of the Fun House, the lights go out! The red light comes on, and The Fiend comes out from under the ring!! Bryan fights but is being dragged down! The Fiend goes for the Mandible Claw, and though Bryan resists, it clamps on!! The Fiend smothers and thrashes Bryan about! He drags Bryan into the depths of darkness!

But is Bryan still fighting from below? Parts of Bryan’s beard are ripped off!? The Fiend goes down deeper to keep going after Bryan, and tears off MORE of the beard?! The Fiend is ripping away the facial hair, chunk after chunk, after chunk! Bray Wyatt’s laugh echoes out through the night, but what has happened to the face of the Yes Movement?

My Thoughts:

A pretty good episode for SmackDown to follow Survivor Series, and it does well in building towards TLC, which is only two weeks from Sunday. Roman has a good segment with Corbin and a good match with Roode. It seems The King’s Court will continue to support each other match after match. I suspect one of the TLC stipulations will go to a Roman VS Corbin blow-off, and after that scepter-chair attempt, it should be a Chairs match. It’s great to hear Sheamus is coming back, but I wonder if he’ll be Face or Heel. If he has interactions with Cesaro and Team Sami, Sheamus might end up the Face against them. At the same time, the way his promo went, he came off sounding like a Heel, which is where Sheamus has always shined. Either way, just great to know he’s healthy again. For that matter, same for Elias. I really hope this “Drake is a creep” thing stops now before it begins, but it was a good set-up for Elias to sing on.

I feel really bad for Drew Gulak. He loses the Cruiserweight Championship and gets sent to SmackDown in the WWE Draft, but for what? His feud with Mustafa Ali used to be main event material, but now it’s just a filler. It’s still good for Ali to win, but he also seems in a holding pattern while SmackDown figures out if there’ll be an Intercontinental Championship challenger. Nakamura being an Intercontinental Champion is part of why it was obvious he and Cesaro wouldn’t win the tag titles. It was still an incredible match, and I was hoping we were going to see them have such a match, but it is hard to be sure who beats The New Day for the titles right now. I almost thought the open challenge was to bring a new team but there was no word of it happening, and no one from any other brand that I could think of changing shows.

The women’s division had an alright night. Sasha and Bayley do classic Heel whining that they’re not the reasons SmackDown lost. I am so glad to see this brings Lacey Evans’ face turn. She was due for one in NXT before being moved over, so now she gets it here. Lacey will surely have a match with each of them, and with Bayley for TLC. Nikki gets an okay with, but the main thing was Alexa Bliss returning! The WWE Starrcade advertising gave away her return but it was great to see her back. Obviously we get a story of Bliss-Cross VS Fire & Desire, maybe Bliss-Cross wins to get a tag title shot on SmackDown or a PPV. Mostly because Starrcade probably isn’t going to have the title change hands.

And then story of the night was Bray Wyatt daring Daniel Bryan to have a rematch. It’s happening, and probably at TLC in a TLC match since I don’t think another title story takes the spotlight over it. It was great for Miz to try and reach out to Bryan again, I wonder if he’ll become a bigger factor in this story. I loved the remix of the Muscle Man Dance, and The Fiend’s title belt was perfectly creepy. I’m moderately disappointed we didn’t get to see that new face Bray “promised,” but perhaps the new face is a Bryan without a beard. Though I highly doubt that was his hair being pulled out. I’m definitely excited to see where next week’s SmackDown goes with this.

My Score: 8.4/10

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

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The House of Torture gets another try!

Despite losing in the NEVER Openweight Six Man title tournament, the House of Torture get one more shot against Tanahashi, Yano & Oleg! But will shuffling the deck really help the King of Darkness trump President Ace?

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Six Man Tag: Bishamon & Shoma Kato VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
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Don’t adjust your screens, this is not a rematch from Wrestling World in Taiwan. That’s because while The Ace, the Joker and the Rook won the tournament, they’re up against a different formation! The King of Darkness and Heel Master now have Tokyo Pimp as their third man, but will that change be enough to change the result? Or will Tanahshi-sachou and team be an undefeated combination?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if Darkness Falls!

The teams sort out, and Oleg starts against Yoshinobu Kanemaru. The fans rally behind “BO-LU-TIN! BO-LU-TIN!” as he circles with Kanemaru, but then Evil & Yujiro attack! The fans boo, Tanahashi & Yano hurry in but Evil & Yujiro get them first! Kanemaru drags Oleg out of the ring to stomp him down while Evil & Yujiro have Tanahashi & Yano in corners. Yujiro fires forearms, Evil CHOPS, then the House all whips. But Oleg reverses and sends Kanemaru into railing! And Tanahashi & Yano reverse to send Evil & Yujiro into each other! Oleg returns to CLOBBER Evil & Yujiro! The fans fire up as now Yano & Tanahashi intercept Kanemaru.

Tanahashi & Yano whip Kanemaru to Oleg for a scoop and SLAM! The fans rally behind the champs as Oleg paces around Kanemaru. Oleg stomps Kanemaru, tags Tanahashi, and Tanahashi eggs Evil on. Evil tags in, Tanahashi kicks first! Tanahashi fires hands, UPPERCUTS, then tears away the “President Evil” shirt to TOSS it away! Evil is furious, he made that himself! Tanahashi throws a body shot, then whips Evil corner to corner. Evil reverses, runs in, but Tanahashi ELBOWS him! Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up for the air guitar and Tanahashi tags in Yano! Yano unties a buckle pad, dodges Evil, then gives Evil the pad!

The ref reprimands Evil and confiscates the pad, and Yano SLAPS Evil on the head! Yano whips, Evil reverses, but Yano avoids the bare buckles. Evil runs up to SLAP Yano, and shove him into the buckles! Kanemaru & Yujiro BLAST Tanahashi & Oleg off the corner! Evil SMACKS Yano with the pad! Evil TOSSES Yano out of the ring, distracts the ref, and that lets Dick DECK Yano! Dick drags Yano up and puts him in the ring for Evil to cover. TWO! Evil is upset with the “slow count,” and he tags Kanemaru. Kanemaru runs to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Kanemaru ELBOWS Yano in the head!

Kanemaru snapmares Yano down into a chinlock and drags him to the corner. The ref reprimands but Yujiro tags in. Kanemaru lets go, so that Yujiro can CHOKE Yano! The ref counts, Yujiro lets off, and he drags Yano back up. Yujiro whips Yano into the bare buckles! Yano suffers his own trick, and Yujiro brings him up to knee low. Yujiro snapmares, drops a leg, then drops an elbow! Then he drops a HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Yujiro tags to Evil. Evil BLASTS Tanahashi & Oleg off the corner! Dick distracts the ref so Evil can put Yano in the COBRA TWIST, and link up with the others!

The fans boo but the House gets away with that. Evil covers, TWO! Evil is even more upset with the ref, and he drags Yano up. Evil reels Yano in for a FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Wait, who is ringing the bell? Dick is ringing the bell, and Kanemaru is giving the announcement that they’ve won! The fans boo, this is of course a farce. Tanahashi & Oleg storm over, scaring off Dick and Kanemaru. Evil tags Kanemaru, then TOSSES Yano outside. Kanemaru drags Yano back up to whip him into railing! Then DDT to the floor! Yano is down in enemy territory while Tanahashi argues with the ref.

The fans rally up but Yujiro puts Yano in. Kanemaru covers, TWO! The fans cheer but Kanemaru drags Yano around. Yano is dead weight so Kanemaru leaves him behind to BLAST Tanahashi! Kanemaru drags Yano up but Yano pulls hair! Kanemaru CLAWS Yano’s eyes! Kanemaru whips, Yano reverses and throws him down by his hair! The fans fire up as Yano crawls, hot tag to Oleg! The fans fire up as Oleg CLOBBERS Kanemaru, BLASTS Evil & Yujiro, then runs in at the corner. Kanemaru BOOTS Oleg, runs, but into a POP-UP BEARHUG! Kanemaru endures, but then Oleg turns that into a BIG suplex! The fans fire up as Oleg storms around.

Oleg deadlift gut wrenches, but Dick gets on the apron. Oleg drops Kanemaru to scare Dick off. But then Yano puts Dick in! Dick prays and begs for mercy, but Oleg just deadlift gut wrenches him! Shake, Rattle and THROW! And a kip up!? Oleg then gets Kanemaru back up, Shake, Rattle, and some more shaking, and THROW! Oleg roars, runs, and SPLASHES down! Cover, Evil & Yujiro break it! Then they BLAST Tanahashi & Yano! The House stomps away on Oleg, then drag him up. They double whip Oleg to a corner, then Yujiro BOOTS! Evil clotheslines! They snapmare, Kanemaru distracts the ref, and Dick goes up!

The fans boo but Dick hits the DICK CHOP! Kanemaru covers, TWO!! The fans fire up but Evil tags back in. Evil and Kanemaru get Oleg up to suplex, but Oleg fights it! Oleg DOUBLE SUPLEXES back! Hot tag to Tanahashi! Ace of the Universe meets King of Darkness, and Tanahashi runs to CLOBBER Evil! Tanahashi fires forearms and body shots on Evil, then scoop SLAMS him into a drop zone! Tanahashi goes up to SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! The fans rally behind Tanahashi as he waits on Evil. Tanahashi runs, but Evil goes to the corner! Evil LARIATS Tanahashi down! Tag to Yujiro and he storms up on Tanahashi.

Yujiro brings Tanahashi up to knee low and fire forearms. Yujiro CHOPS then runs up, to BOOT! Yujiro then runs, to BOOT again! Tanahashi SHOTEIS! Tanahashi runs, but Yujiro TOSSES him out! Evil is there to set Tanahashi up for a whiskey bottle shot! Evil puts Tanahashi back in, then he and the rest go after Oleg and Yano! Yujiro gets Tanahashi up for an INCOLLE SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Yujiro goes for his pimp cane, but the ref stops him! That leaves Dick open to use the SPOILER CHOKER on Tanahashi!! The fans boo as President Ace suffers! Tanahashi fades out, Dick slips away, and Yujiro laughs.

Yujiro drags Tanahashi up while the fans rally. Yujiro reels Tanahashi in, but Yano gets in to grab Yujiro! Kanemaru gets in while the ref is distracted again! But Yano ducks, the WHISKEY MIST hits Yujiro! LOW BLOW for Kanemaru! But Evil LOW BLOWS Yano! So Tanahashi LOW BLOWS Evil! Dick gets in but Tanahashi kicks the ropes! Dick falls, Oleg returns, and he gets Yujiro up! Tanahashi climbs, Oleg hits the KAMIKAZE SENTON! Then Tanahashi HIGH FLY FLOWS!! Cover, Team Go Ace wins!

Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)

The House of Torture tried their usual tricks, but Tanahashi’s team proved they could play that, too! The Ace, the Joker & The Rook stand tall again, will The House have to start playing a different game?

LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Yota Tsuji VS Gedo!

While Los Ingobernables de Japon and the Bullet Club War Dogs have already done battle on this Road to Wrestling Dontaku, tonight is a best of five series! Will it be Gene Blast or Blacksmith that sets the tone for tonight?

The moment Yota hops off the corner, Gedo takes a swing! Yota dodges and GENE BLASTER!! The bell rings, Yota covers, Yota wins!!

Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall

Well not sure about the tone but this sure set a new record! From bell the bell, that was FIVE SECONDS! Score one for LIJ already, and Yota helps roll Gedo out of the ring. Will LIJ make this a shut out? Or will the other War Dogs be a bit smarter about the pitches they throw across the plate?

LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: BUSHI VS Gabe Kidd!

Round two is here sooner than expected after what we just saw, and the Black Mask is up against the #WarReady Mad Man. Gabe vows to take back everything NJPW used to mean, but will he get War Dogs on the board? Or will Bushi keep things tranquilo?

Bushi climbs onto the corner and Gabe rushes him! Bushi jumps over, the bell rings and Bushi DROPKICKS Gabe down! Bushi whips, Gabe reverses but Bushi ducks ‘n ‘dodges to RANA! Gabe bails out, Bushi builds speed, but Gabe gets away. Bushi slides out, but Gabe kicks and CHOPS! Gabe UPPERCUTS Bushi down, then drags Bushi up to dig at Bushi’s eyes! The ref reprimands, Gabe storms around and mockingly calls upon the wrestling gods. Gabe runs but Bushi dodges, Gabe crashes into railing! The fans fire up while Bushi rises. Bushi brings Gabe up, fires forearms, then brings Gabe around. Gabe blocks the bump off the apron to whip Bushi hard into railing!

Bushi flounders and Gabe snarls while the fans rally up. Gabe storms out to open the way to the orange bleachers! Gabe ROCKS Bushi, brings him around and they go up into the stands. Gabe HEADBUTTS Bushi down, shouts “I’m a MAD MAN, y’know!” then continues up to the next level. Bushi fights the lift but Gabe CLUBS him! Gabe lifts again but Bushi still fights! Gabe CLUBS away on Bushi, CHOPS and HAYMAKERS! Gabe backs up, flips everyone off, and he runs back in, but Bushi dropkicks the leg! Bushi SMACKS Gabe off railing, then he goes up higher into the stands! Bushi stands on the ledge, to SUPER CROSSBODY! Down go Gabe and the Young Lions!

The fans are thunderous as Bushi rises, and he brings Gabe up. Bushi headlocks Gabe to bring him back down the bleachers. Gabe throws body shots but Bushi throws hands in return. Bushi brings Gabe back to ground level, then through the gate. They return to ringside but Gabe CLUBS Bushi down again. Gabe HEADBUTTS, then he puts Bushi in. The fans rally, but Gabe drags Bushi around to ROCK him again. Gabe has Bushi on the apron, CLUBS him again, then brings Bushi out. Bushi fights the suplex to throw body shots! Gabe HEADBUTTS again, but Bushi fires more hands! Bushi puts Gabe in and the fans cheer.

Bushi drags Gabe up but blocks his haymaker to spin and DDT! Cover, TWO! Bushi goes to a corner while Gabe sputters. Gabe stands, Bushi runs in, but no Code Breaker! Gabe ELBOWS, JABS and YUKON LARIATS! Gable copies Takagi, covers, TWO! Gabe flips off the fans, they boo, and so he just flips them off more. Gabe eggs Bushi on, taunts him, so Bushi CHOPS! Gabe dusts himself off, Bushi CHOPS again! Gabe CHOPS, says Bushi ain’t got nothing, but Bushi fires a flurry! Gabe CHOPS again, Bushi DOUBLE CHOPS! Gabe UPPERCUTS, then he gut wrenches! But Bushi slips free and shoves!

Gabe blocks one kick, ducks the enzigiri, but not the REWIND HEEL! Bushi reels Gabe in, for a DESTROYER!! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives and flounders away while the fans fire up. Gabe flops right out of the ring but Bushi pursues. Bushi drags Gabe up, but Gabe HEADBUTTS him back down! Gabe rips away the LIJ shirt to tell them to suck it! Gabe SPITS on the shirt, throws it down, then goes back for Bushi. Gabe puts Bushi in, Bushi goes to a corner, and Gabe runs in to clothesline! Gabe suplexes, Bushi slips free, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and uses the ref as a shield! BLACK MIST!! Bushi gets the better of Gabe and hooks the arms!

Gabe fights the backslide, BOOTS the ref, so the ref can’t see the Bushi Roll! Bushi would’ve had this one! Bushi goes to check on the ref but Gabe storms up to HAYMAKER! Gabe shouts at the ref, drags him back up, and then storms over to Bushi! PILEDRIVER!! Cover, Gabe wins!

Winner: Gabe Kidd, by pinfall

The series is tied 1-1, and Gabe shouts for water to wash out the mist. LIJ VS War Dogs aside, Gabe now has momentum going into his NEVER Openweight Championship match with Shingo Takagi. Will the Rampaging Dragon be just as #WarReady as Gabe after tonight?

LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Shingo Takagi VS Clark Connors!

Speaking of the NEVER Openweight Champion, he’s third up in the batting order, ready to drive home another run. Will the Rampaging Dragon score and soar towards Wrestling Dontaku? Or will he be struck out by 100 Proof?

Takagi and Connors get in each other’s face and talk some trash. Connors shoves but the ref has them both back down. Connors gets all fired up, Takagi says okay then, and the bell rings, only for Connors to bail out. The fans boo Connors trolling them, but he says tranquilo. Takagi paces while Connors goes around the outside. Takagi dares Connors to get in but Connors dares Takagi to come on out. The fans rally up so Connors goes back to the apron. Connors steps in, fires up, but then bails out. But Takagi pursues! They go around the ring, back in, and then Connors RAMS Takagi! But Takagi doesn’t fall!

Connors runs again, RAMS Takagi, but still Takagi stays up. Connors fires forearm after forearm after forearm, but then Takagi ROCKS, KNEES, CLUBS and CHOPS! And JABS! Takagi whips, Connors ducks ‘n’ dodges to RAM Takagi! Takagi rebounds, but Connors runs him over! The fans fire up while Takagi goes to a corner. Connors runs corner to corner to clothesline, then he reels Takagi in. Takagi fights the suplex, and he suplexes Connors instead! The fans fire up again but Connors bails back out. Takagi pursues, JABS, then SMACKS Connors off the apron. Takagi follows Connors around, POSTS him, and the fans cheer.

Takagi stomps Connors, Connors goes around the way but Takagi follows. Takagi runs up to BOOT Connors, then follows him. Connors uses a Young Lion as a shield, then shoves him into Takagi! Connors then whips Takagi into railing! Takagi leans against railing and Connors UPPERCUTS! Connor opens the gate and pushes Takagi into No Man’s Land. Connors brings Takagi around to SMACK off the wood bleachers! Takagi hits back, they brawl, and Takagi knees low! Takagi whips, Connors reverses and Takagi is sent into the wall of the hallway! Connors throws up the Too Sweet but the fans boo.

Connors brings Takagi back to SMACK into the gate, then POST! Connors reels Takagi in, to snap suplex to the floor! Takagi writhes, the ref reprimands but Connors wants the ring count to start. The ring count does start, and Connors scoops a Young Lion to SLAM him onto Takagi! And then he grabs another Young Lion to SPINEBUSTER onto Takagi! Connors slides into the ring at 10 of 20 while Takagi pushes the Young Lions off him. Takagi stands at 17, hurries up at 18, but Connors SPEARS him down! Cover, TWO!! Takagi is still in this and the fans rally, but Connors keeps on Takagi with a half nelson.

Takagi fights as Connors goes for the full nelson! Takagi reaches out but Connors keeps him from ropes. Takagi fights to his feet, powers up, but Connors keeps the nelson! The fans rally more as Takagi keeps fighting. Takagi powers the hold open, but Connors spins him to knee low! Connors whips, but Takagi avoids the snap powerslam! Takagi runs up to SLIDING- NO, Connors dodges, but runs into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up and Takagi goes to a corner. Connors flounders around, rises up, and Takagi storms up to the corner. Takagi clotheslines, then JABS and CHPOS on repeat! Takagi JABS, JABS, JABS and CHOPS!

Takagi whips corner to corner, runs in to clothesline again, then short arm LARIAT! Takagi scoops Connors to SLAM him, then he goes up and up for the FALLING ELBOW DROP! Takagi hauls Connors up for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Connors is still in this but Takagi looks around. The fans rally with “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi says, “OI, KORAKUEN! TOKI GA KITA!!” The time has come and the “OI! OI! OI!” continues. Takagi brings Connors up, pump handle, but Connors fights the lift! Connors throws elbows, then ROCKS Takagi! Takagi eggs Connors on, Connors throws another forearm! Takagi fires back!

Connors fires more forearms, but Takagi HEADBUTTS! Connors HEADBUTTS, but he’s the one wobbling! Connors ROCKS Takagi with a forearm, then eggs Takagi on. Takagi ROCKS Connors with boxing elbows! Takagi runs, Connors follows to LARIAT against ropes! Connors runs but Takagi follows to KNEE against ropes! Takagi keeps moving, Connors gets under to come back and POUNCE! Then a whip and SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! But Connors powers up and runs, to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, ONE?!?! The fans fire up but Connors aims from a corner! Connors runs in to SPEAR!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous!

Connors rises, Takagi stirs, and Connors brings Takagi up. But Takagi fights No Chaser! Takagi wrenches out to JAB! And HEADBUTT! Connors dodges the lariat, but runs into a SNAP POWERSLAM! Takagi runs up to PUMPING BOMBER! Then SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Connors shakes his head as he stays in this, but Takagi roars! Takagi pump handles for MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!?! Connors survives and shocks Takagi, but the fans are thunderous again! “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi powers up. Takagi runs, but Connors dodges! But PUMPING BOMBER still finds him! Cover, Takagi wins!

Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall

We’re halfway done and LIJ takes the lead! Takagi has momentum for himself, too, but will the Rampaging Dragon be #WarReady for Gabe Kidd? Or will Wrestling Dontaku be the end of the road for Takagi?

LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Tetsuya Naito VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney!

The Uncontrollable Charisma may no longer be IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but we all know he never lets things get to him. Will he therefore stay tranquilo as he looks to win this series for his team? Or will he lose a shootout with the .44 Caliber?

As always, Naito takes his time with his entrance attire. Drilla mockingly asks what happened to his belt, but Naito doesn’t let that get his goat. The fans rally for Naito and that annoys Drilla. Naito puts the pants away, the bell rings, and Drilla runs up! But Naito puts him on the apron, and sweeps the legs! Then he DROPKICKS Drilla down! Naito goes out slowly to fetch Drilla, CLUB him on the neck, and then CLUB him again. Naito CLUBS Drilla more, cravats for a neck wrench, and even grinds Drilla against railing! The ref counts, Naito puts Drilla in, and the fans applaud. But Drilla comes back to WRECK Naito with a dropkick!

Drilla whips Naito hard into railing, and Naito gets stuck! Drilla dumps him over, tells fans off about cheering for Naito, then drags Naito up and around. Drilla CHOPS Naito, follows him along the way, and whips him hard into railing! The fans applaud the impressive speed and strength, but Drilla leaves Naito behind as Naito slumps into the front row. The ring count climbs, Naito sits up at 7 of 20. Naito finds his way around to the gate at 12, steps in at ringside, and rolls in at 15. Drilla throws Naito’s hat at him, then stomps away! Drilla drags Naito up, HEADBUTTS him, then has him on ropes. Drilla CHOPS and Naito staggers.

Drilla eggs Naito on so Naito fires forearms! Naito whips, Drilla reverses and ELBOWS Naito down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Naito but Drilla digs his knee into Naito’s neck! The ref counts, Drilla lets off to get in the ref’s face, but the ref reminds Drilla to respect his authority. Drilla kicks Naito around, steps on Naito’s head, then taunts the fans. Naito gets up to throw hands but Drilla hits back! They go back and forth, forearm for forearm, but then Drilla CHOPS! Drilla runs, into an ELBOW! Drilla rebounds, but Naito hip toss NECKBREAKERS! The fans rally as Naito rises and Drilla writhes. Naito drags Drilla up to fire forearms and kicks!

Naito whips, arm-drags, then he ELBOWS Drilla down to basement dropkick in the back! Naito turns Drilla for a NECKBREAKER! Drilla writhes, Naito pushes him to a cover, TWO! Naito keeps on Drilla with a cravat neck wrench. Drilla endures, fights around, and he fights up. Drilla breaks free, CLUBS Naito, then runs, but Naito catches him to a dragon sleeper, NECKBREAKER! Drilla fights the legs but Naito still hooks him into the LEG HOOK NELSON! Drilla endures, fights around, and has the ROPEBREAK! Naito again “forgets” how to undo the hold, so the ref pries the legs away.

Drilla is free and clutches his neck, but Naito paces around. Naito drags Drilla back up, but Drilla CHOPS! Naito fires a forearm in return! Drilla CHOPS! Naito forearms! The shots go back and forth, Drilla grunts and has a crazy grin. Drilla fires a forearm, Naito mocks the grunt! Naito fires back, both men grunt and fire forearms again! Drilla CHOPS, but then Naito ROCKS him, SPITS on him, and fires off more forearms! Drilla gets under, shoves Naito then hurdles, drops and DROPKICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Naito and Drilla go to opposite corners, and Drilla runs corner to corner! Drilla blocks a boot but Naito SPITS!

Naito runs up, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Drilla horks up and SPITS a big one at Naito, then DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Naito stays in this and Drilla is seething. Drilla slashes his throat and throws up the Too Sweet. Drilla drags Naito up, reels him in, but Naito fights the lift. Drilla ENZIGIRIS Naito, then gets him back up! Canadian Rack, but Naito arm-drags Drilla into the ref! The ref tumbles all the way out, Naito atomic drops Drilla and ENZIGIRIS! COMPLETE SHOT, and then PLUMA BLANCA!! Drilla endures, flails, is he tapping? But there’s no ref anyway! Wait, David Finlay rushes out here!

The Rebel taunts Naito while swinging the shillelagh! Naito lets Drilla go, only for JAKE LEE to show up!?! Talk about a CrossOver, the Good Looking Emperor is here in NJPW and he fires hands with Naito!! The fans are going nuts, but Naito gets the edge! Only for Jake to KNEE low! Jake puts Naito in a corner, takes aim, and runs in to HELLUVA KICK!!! Or as he calls it, #FaceBreakShot! Naito staggers into Drilla’s arms, for the DRILLA KILLA!!! Cover and the ref is back, Drilla wins!!

Winner: “Drilla” Dan Moloney, by pinfall

The Rebel gets the Madness Dark Side to help him screw over Naito, and now this series is all tied up again! But then Finlay & Drilla beat Naito down more! Jake steps in, and the War Dogs back away. Jake stands on Naito’s chest, then stomps away! Is Jake going to destroy Naito once and for all? But wait! Here comes Hiromu! The Ticking Timebomb ROCKS Jake, ROCKS Drilla, then fires off on Finlay! But then Drilla & Finlay mug Hiomru! They double whip, but Hiormu ducks ‘n’ dodges to DOUBLE SHOTGUN! Hiromu goes out after Finlay, but Drilla CLUBS Hiromu! They POST Hiromu, but what about the main event!?

Red Shoes hurries out here, the fans tell Jake and Drilla to go home. Jake literally kicks Naito out of the ring and then stands him up against railing. Jake gets space, takes aim again, and Finlay makes Hiromu watch the FACE BREAK SHOT that sends Naito into the front row!! The fans boo and tell Jake to go home. Jake smirks as he takes his leave with Drilla, the damage done. Is there an alliance between Jake’s Good Looking Guys and Finlay’s War Dogs? Is Naito just the first casualty of many?

As for Finlay and Hiromu, Finlay RAMS Hiromu into railing! And then RAMS him in again! Finlay RAMS Hiromu a third time, then he soaks up the heat. Red Shoes reprimands, but this isn’t officially a match yet. Finlay takes aim, he runs in, but Hiromu sends him into railing! Hiromu gets Finlay in, the bell rings, and it’s time to settle the score!

LIJ VS War Dogs Best of Five Series: Hiromu Takahashi VS David Finlay!

Hiromu fireman’s carries, CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Hiromu fireman’s carries again, but Finlay slips away! The fans rally for Hiromu as he eggs Finlay on. Finlay snarls, storms back up but Hiromu then SUNSET FLIPS! Finlay holds ropes to throw down hands! Hiromu staggers away, Finlay fireman’s carries him now! Finlay runs and THROWS Hiromu at a post! The fans boo while Finlay throws up the Too Sweet and taunts them all. Finlay leaves Hiromu behind, he tells the fans they look stupid, then he goes back to fetch Hiromu. Finlay slaps Hiromu around, drags him up, and throws him into the ring.

Finlay crawls to a cover but Red Shoes says nope, too many shenanigans. Finlay is upset, there were a lot of shenanigans both ways. But Finlay drags Hiromu up to suplex and TOSS Hiromu! Now things are fine and Finlay covers, TWO! Hiromu stays in this but Finlay mocks the “MOTO! MOTO!” Finlay whips Hiromu hard into a corner! Hiromu falls then crawls, and Finlay taunts him that it’s too easy. Finlay stalks Hiromu to another corner as the fans rally up, but Finlay makes Hiromu smile! Finlay says smile like Tsuji! Red Shoes reprimands, Finlay lets off, but then he drags Hiromu up to whip hard into another corner!

Hiromu staggers and falls out of the ring and Red Shoes checks him. Finlay waits on Hiromu while he writhes on the floor. Finlay mockingly says “Moto! Moto!” Red Shoes has Finlay stay back, and the ring count starts. Hiromu stands at 4 of 20 while Finlay lounges on the ropes. The fans rally, Hiromu rolls in at 10, but Finlay brings him back up. Finlay scoops and carries Hiromu around for a BACKBREAKER! Finlay says he’s strong AF, and then he kicks Hiromu around. Finlay mocks the fans chanting for Hiromu, and that makes them boo Finlay. Finlay pushes Hiromu around, so Hiromu CHOPS! And CHOPS!

Finlay dusts himself off, eggs Hiromu on, so Hiromu CHOPS again! Finlay felt that one so he knees low. Finlay runs, Hiromu follows, and Hiromu RANAS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Finlay flounders while Hiromu goes to ropes. Finlay runs up, but into a BOOT! Hiromu then has a HANGING HEADSCISSOR! Red Shoes counts, Hiromu lets go at 4 and he drags Finlay out to wheelbarrow FACEBUSTER to the floor! The fans rally up behind Hiromu and he goes to the apron. Hiromu aims as Finlay stands, FLYING SHOTGUN sends Finlay through the gate! The fans fire up with Hiromu as he pursues.

Hiromu smiles at TJP on English commentary, then gets a real “MOTO! MOTO! MOTO!” going. Hiromu gets Finlay up and in, and Finlay goes to a corner. Hiromu runs up to clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Hiromu keeps his cool and he kicks Finlay around. Hiromu drags Finlay up, fireman’s carries, but Finlay fights free. Hiromu takes a swing, but Finlay catches him to an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Hiromu survives but Finlay scoops him, for the SWINGING IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives again and Finlay grows frustrated.

Finlay mocks Yota Tsuji as he powers up and goes to the corner. Hiromu rises, Finlay flips him off, and steals GENE- TRIANGLE D!! Hiromu has Finlay caught and the fans fire up! Finlay flails, tries to stack Hiromu, but Hiromu squeezes tighter! Finlay is fading and the fans fire up! But Finlay gets a second wind, deadlifts Hiromu, and POWERBOMBS him down! Finlay is free of D, but both men are down as the fans rally again. Finlay drags Hiromu up, reels him in, and lifts, but Hiromu RANAS to a cover! TWO!! Finlay escapes, kicks low and whips, but Hiromu slips free of Deep Six to wheelbarrow and COMPLETE SHOT!

The fans fire up while Finlay flounders! But Finlay sneaks his shillelagh into the ring! The fans rally for Hiromu while Finlay hides the shillelagh under him. Hiromu rises, Finlay shields the shillelagh from Red Shoes but Red Shoes is suspicious. Red Shoes sees the weapon! Finlay shoves Red Shoes away and takes a swing, but Hiromu dodges! SUPERKICK! Hiromu takes the shillelagh now! The fans are torn, but then Hiromu plays like Finlay did hit him! Red Shoes isn’t sure who to believe, but Finlay really is innocent this time! Finlay argues with Red Shoes but fans boo to help sell Hiromu’s trick.

Hiromu then runs to HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! And then fireman’s carry! TIMEBOMB 1.5! Cover, TWO! Finlay is still in this but the fans are still with Hiromu. Hiromu fireman’s carries again, but Finlay fights free. Hiromu elbows, runs, but into an UPPERCUT! Finlay runs, but into a SUPERKICK! HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER, but Finlay stays up! Hiromu runs again, but Finlay catches him spins him, ROLLING ELBOWS, then runs! Into a SUPERKICK! Finlay returns, for another SUPERKICK! Hiromu runs to HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! The fans are thunderous and Hiromu gets Finlay up, suplex and INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!!!

Finlay survives his own move but Hiromu won’t let that bother him! Hiromu drags himself up, dragon sleepers Finlay, but Finlay fights the suplex with knees! Finlay suplexes, but Hiromu knees free! Hiromu runs, but Finlay LARIATS! Finlay hauls Hiromu up, Canadian Rack, DOMINATOR!! Cover, TWO!!! Hiromu survives and the fans are thunderous! Finlay goes to a corner as he thinks on what to do next. Finlay storms over to Hiromu, says it’s over now, and he drags Hiromu back up. But Hiromu slips out of the bomb to tuck the arms! Finlay wrenches out, but into TRIANGLE D!! Finlay flails, CLUBS at Hiromu, but he’s fading again!

Red Shoes checks, the fans rally up, and Finlay fights to deadlift again! POWERBOMB, but Hiromu just holds onto D!! Finlay is fading, flailing, reaching out, but Hiromu squeezes tight! Finlay deadlifts again! BUCKLE BOMB, and INTO OBLIVION!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! Hiromu survives again and Finlay is beside himself! The fans are electric as Finlay shakes his head. Hiromu sputters but Finlay brings down the kneepads. Finlay slashes his throat and vows to end this! Finlay drags Hiromu back up, suplexes, but Hiromu slip free! Hiromu wrenches, pump handles, HIROMU-CHAN ROLL!! TWO!!! Finlay escapes and Hiromu is frustrated!

Both men catch their breath while the fans rally as hard as they can. Hiromu grits his teeth, pounds the mat, and rises up. Hiromu hobbles over but Finlay UPPERCUTS! Hiromu comes back, into another UPPERCUT! And another UPPERCUT! And another! And another, and another! But Hiromu stays on his feet, even as Finlay UPPERCUTS again! And again! And again!! Hiromu won’t stop, but Finlay won’t, either! The fans rally and Finlay eggs Hiromu on. Hiromu runs in, into another UPPERCUT! UPPERCUT! UPPERCUT! Hiromu roars, runs, but into an UPPERCUT!! Hiromu drops to his knees, and Finlay says this is it!

Finlay suplexes, INTO OVERKILL!! Cover, Finlay wins!

Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall

Bullet Club War Dogs takes the best of five in the fifth and final round! It took much more than Finlay wanted, but Hiromu always gives it his all. Will the Timebomb be able to fire back up in time for the Best of the Super Juniors?

Wait, Drilla returns, and now the War Dogs mug Hiromu! But then Tsuji & Takagi return to run them off! The War Dogs egg them on and vice-versa, but then GABE KIDD runs in! He CLOBBERS Takagi, DECKS Tsuji, and the War Dogs beat up on LIJ! The fans boo but the War Dogs just keep stomping LIJ! Drilla stands Tsuji up for Finlay’s SHILLELAGH SHOT! Drilla gives Hiromu the DRILLA KILLA! Gabe hits Takagi with a PILEDRIVER! Drilla gets to hold on to the shillelagh so he can JAM Hiromu! Finlay gives Tsuji the OVERKILL!! The War Dogs stand tall over LIJ, but Finlay still gets the mic to talk.

“What have I been telling you people? I AM the Savage King! You all thought you saw cracks in my game, but that’s because I let you. You all thought you saw weakness in my War Dogs, but that’s because I let you. Time and time again, I have been steps ahead of everyone in this company. Time and time again, I have solved any problem that was put in our way. The only thing worse than fighting a man who knows how to hurt you is fighting a man who knows when. LIJ learned that tonight, didn’t they?” A young fan tells Finlay to shut up and the fans cheer the kid.

Finlay says you can strip him of championships, you can keep him from tournaments, but in the end, remember this: “HATE always finds a way!!” The Rebel has spoken, will he and his hateful War Dogs find a way to dominate all of NJPW whether we like it or not?

My Thoughts:

A great event for the Road to Wrestling Dontaku series. Great Six Man title match with Tanahashi’s team winning again, probably no more shots for House of Torture. Not really sure what House of Torture is supposed to do next, though. We’re seeing Narita go after Moxley and the IWGP World title, Jack Perry is technically back in AEW, Evil and Yujiro could try for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles but you know they’d lose to Bishamon. I’ve been thinking that House of Torture should join Jack in AEW for this stretch until Forbidden Door, have some interactions with The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada or something like that.

Really fun Best of 5 series, and it was hilarious that Yota beat Gedo so easily. Great wins for Gabe and Takagi going into their NEVER Openweight Championship match. For a moment, I thought LIJ was winning, given how badly the War Dogs beat up Naito with the help of their new pal, Jake Lee, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and a big name in Pro-Wrestling NOAH. But then in the end, Finlay found a way to win against Hiromu, keeping him strong as he probably moves up from midcard titles to world title. If we go by the math, Takagi should win the NEVER Openweight title match, but it’d feed Gabe’s story better if he did get the title.

As for Hiromu, he probably gets a strong showing in Best of the Super Juniors, but since his streak of tournament championships was broken, who knows if he gets another one or if he puts someone else over.