Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 Night 2 Special! (1/5/2020)
Who makes double gold history?!
NJPW knocks on the door of destiny!
Tetsuya Naito as IWGP Intercontinental Champion. Kazuchika Okada as IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Only ONE can have them both!
NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Revolution Pro-Wrestling British Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS SANADA; ZSJ wins and retains the RPW British Heavyweight Championship.
- IWGP United States Championship: Jon Moxley VS Juice Robinson; Moxley wins and retains the IWGP United States Championship.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: KENTA VS Hirooki Goto; Goto wins and becomes the new NEVER Openweight Champion.
- Chris Jericho VS Hiroshi Tanahashi; Jericho wins and denies Tanahashi his AEW World Championship opportunity.
- IWGP Double Gold Dash: Kazuchika Okada VS Tetsuya Naito; Naito wins and becomes the first-ever dual IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
Revolution Pro-Wrestling British Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS SANADA!
The Submission Master and the Cold Skull have battled many times before, from New Japan Cup 2018 to G1 Climaxes 28 and 29 to many tag team matches as part of Suzuki-Gun VS Los Ingobernables de Japon. But now they battle for ZSJ’s precious RPW gold on NJPW’s biggest stage! Who wins the newest chapter in this growing rivalry?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and Sabreism VS Strong Style begins again!
ZSJ and Sanada circle and ZSJ rushes in. Sanada stays clear and the two test the tie up. ZSJ wristlocks and wrenches then wrenches again. ZSJ has Sanada down but Sanada kips up. Sanada handsprings all around and wrenches to a headlock, shifts to a hammerlock and headlock takeovers. ZSJ slips out and arm-drags Sanada down, but Sanada gets up to arm-drag ZSJ down! ZSJ headscissors, Sanada pops out and the two stand off. Fans cheer this technical exchange as the two reset. ZSJ and Sanada approach and ZSJ headbutts Sanada in the stomach. ZSJ whips but Sanada reverses. ZSJ goes up, under, baits Sanada in and slips around to drop down, but Sanada sits on his sunset flip, only for ZSJ to still get the sunset!
Sanada pops out to high stack but ZSJ shifts to sit, but Sanada sunsets back! ZSJ pops out to stack but Sanada sits only for ZSJ to sunset again, but Sanada slips away again. ZSJ crawls under but Sanada trips him, and has the legs! But ZSJ denies Paradise to standing toe hold. Sanada tries to escape, ZSJ ties up his legs for a Bow ‘n’ Arrow but Sanada pops out to a cover, ONE! The two stand off again and fans cheer! ZSJ is frustrated as he backs off and the two reset again. Sanada and ZSJ circle and Sanada calls for a test of strength. Both men flex at each other and then tie up with the knuckle locks. ZSJ brings Sanada down and wrenches one arm into a half straitjacket. ZSJ gets the full straitjacket but Sanada’s been here with ZSJ before.
Sanada turns things around and has ZSJ in the straitjacket. ZSJ turns it around but Sanada turns it back. ZSJ drops, bridges and spins to put the hold back on Sanada, and he sits Sanada down! ZSJ digs a knee into Sanada’s back, but Sanada uses that to pivot and roll to put the straitjacket back on! ZSJ grows frustrated as he again gets up and goes around. ZSJ uses power to wiggle the jacket down and slip it back on Sanada! But Sanada does the same, wiggling out to put ZSJ right back in the jacket! Fans cheer all this back and forth as ZSJ wiggles out again, but Sanada uses this to pump handle and flip ZSJ over! ZSJ boots back and trips Sanada, but no Figure Four for him as Sanada boots ZSJ out of the ring. Sanada builds speed but fakes ZSJ out to handspring back in. ZSJ throws a tantrum as fans fire up behind Sanada.
ZSJ cools off while Sanada waits in the ring. ZSJ takes his time returning and rushes at Sanada but Sanada redirects ZSJ. ZSJ rebounds to get Sanada in the standing cobra twist! They go around and around and Sanada puts ZSJ in the cobra twist! ZSJ reaches for ropes, Sanada makes it a rolling cobra cradle! Around and around and around the go, Sanada stops on a cover, TWO! ZSJ gets up but Sanada elbows him down! Sanada standing moonsaults, but into ZSJ’s armbar! ZSJ shifts to hammerlock that arm and pull back on the other! Sanada endures the “Clarky Cat” but ZSJ twists the right arm. Sanada reaches out with his foot to get a ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go reluctantly, but then clamps an arm between his legs and TWISTS! Sanada writhes while clutching his shoulder but ZSJ hammerlocks and STOMPS it!
The ref checks on Sanada but he’s okay to continue. ZSJ clamps on again and wrenches the arm. ZSJ tortures the arm more but Sanada forearms with his good arm! Sanada whips, ZSJ reverses but Sanada dodges the boot to dropkick a leg out! Both men are down but Sanada is up first. ZSJ headbutts low and snapmares but Sanada handsprings through. ZSJ dodges the dropkick but Sanada catches the Penalty Kick to DRAGON SCREW! ZSJ clutches the knee as he scrambles away but Sanada is ice cold as ever. ZSJ bails out but Sanada PESCADO! Direct hit and fans fire up for Sanada! Sanada encourages the cheers as he goes around the way. Sanada comes back to ZSJ and brings him up to put back in. Fans cheer the sportsmanship as Sanada looms over ZSJ.
Sanada grabs a leg but ZSJ grabs an ear! ZSJ shoves Sanada, Sanada runs back in but ZSJ scoops him! Sanada slips out to dragon sleeper, but ZSJ wrenches free to PELE the arm! ZSJ walks into a fireman’s carry but slips around to a HOVERBOARD! But Sanada pops out of that hold, cranks ZSJ aruond tot he dragon sleeper, and swings ZSJ around! He drops ZSJ to go up top and MOONSAULT, but he FLOPS! ZSJ PENALTY KICK! But that was double-edged from how much damage was done to the leg earlier! Both men are down but the fans rally. A standing count begins and both men rise to stand at 10 of 20. ZSJ European Uppercuts but Sanada gives them back! Sanada EuroUppers harder and harder, but ZSJ comes back, only for Sanada to uppercut ZSJ down!
Sanada runs corner to corner, ZSJ dodges but Sanada tumbles out and climbs up. Springboard but ZSJ gets clear! ZSJ comes back, crucifix to sunset flip, TWO and Sanada Prawn Holds! TWO as ZSJ sunset flips again, TWO! Prawn, ONE, Sunset, TWO! ZSJ pops Sanada for the sunset but Sanada pops out to Prawn! TWO!! That was almost it! ZSJ EuroUppers Sanada hard, but Sanada elbows back. Sanada moonsaults to get the dragon sleeper! Lift, but ZSJ slips out to trip and body scissor, EUROCLUTCH! Cover, TWO!! Sanada has the dragon sleeper! Skull End is almost complete but ZSJ scrambles and flails. ZSJ snapmares but Sanada powers back to bring the sleeper back around. ZSJ slips out and hops on for the cobra twist! But Sanada powers out again, pops ZSJ up, fling and dragon sleeper! Body scissors but ZSJ slips out to pull on the arms! Sanada denies EuroClutch to clutch back! But ZSJ slips and bridges back to a cover!! ZSJ WINS!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall; still RPW British Heavyweight Champion
The #VeganHyrda snatches victory from the jaws of defeat! Cold Skull is still in shock that ZSJ got that one, but the British Heavyweight Championship stays with the British wrestler! Will Sabreism continue to rise up and overtake the wrestling world?
IWGP United States Championship: Jon Moxley VS Juice Robinson!
The Death Rider went through a wild Texas Deathmatch with Lance Archer, but he’s an all in, all out kind of guy. He wants to settle this with the Flamboyant One once and for all, but will he only give rise to #JuicyTwoBelts?
The introductions are made, and Juice FLIES out onto Moxley as the champion makes his entrance! Juice rains down furious fists as the bell rings and this match officially begins!
Juice whips Moxley into railing! Moxley hits the floor but Juice drags Moxley up to scoop and snake eyes on the railing! Moxley gasps as his throat hits the steel, but then Juice scoop slams Moxley down! Juice drags Moxley into the ring but Moxley bails out. Juice pursues but Moxley shoves him into the post! Moxley throws off his jacket and goes looking under the ring. Moxley brings out chairs and sits one up. Moxley goes back to Juice and brings him up in a fireman’s carry. Juice escapes, dodges Moxley, and drop toeholds Moxley onto the chair! Juice has the other chair but the referee reprimands them both. Juice puts that chair down to sit Moxley up in the other. Juice then grabs the other chair and sets it aside, to CANNONBALL Moxley off the chair! Fans fire up as Juice throws caution to the wind!
Juice puts Moxley in the ring and runs into the corner, big corner clothesline! Juice whips Moxley corner to corner but Moxley reverses hard, sending Juice tumbling over and out of the ring! Moxley paces before going out to grab those chairs. Moxley goes after Juice and SMACKS him on the back! “He started it!” Juice writhes but Moxley drags him up into the ring. Moxley rains down angry right hands and headbutts, but the ref reprimands him. Moxley mockingly bows to the ref for the explanation, then he drags Juice up for a swinging backbreaker! Juice writhes away but Moxley covers, TWO! Moxley pushes Juice around and pulls on his hair to pull him back. Moxley brings Juice up into a camel clutch and adds clubbing crossface forearms!
Juice endures the hold and powers up as fans rally. Moxley clubs Juice and he goes staggering. Moxley corner clotheslines then snapmares to basement lariat! Cover, TWO! Moxley keeps his focus as he circles Juice like a shark. Moxley drags Juice up and CHOPS! Juice wobbles but Moxley puts him in a corner to CHOP again! Juice gets in Mox’s face and CHOPS back! So now it’s a CHOP fight! They go back and forth, until Moxley BITES Juices face! Just like their first match for this title! The ref reprimands Moxley, Moxley stops and runs, into a SPINE BUSTER! Juice checks his eyebrow, he isn’t bleeding this time, but he does fire up. LEG LARIAT! Juice drags Moxley up to a fireman’s carry, for a gutbuster drop! Juice keeps on Moxley with a lift, but he has to double clutch for the POWERBOMB! High stack cover, TWO!
Juice grows frustrated but he keeps his focus. Juice pumps up and fans chant along, “JUICE! JUICE!” with every jab! Juice powers up but Moxley trips him, into a Figure Four! Moxley cranks on the legs but Juice endures the leg lock. Juice drags himself and Moxley towards ropes with a back stroke, and gets the ropebreak! Moxley lets go reluctantly, but then is right back on Juice to pull him into a post! And throw a leg into it! And again! Moxley ties the legs up for a HANGING Figure Four! The referee reprimands Moxley and counts, but Moxley lets up at 4. Moxley walks around and goes back to the chairs. Moxley puts the chair around Juice’s head and then fetches the other chair! Moxley wants to be just like Evil, but Juice’s LEFT HAND OF GOD punches the chair into Moxley’s face!
Moxley is down and Juice takes off the chair necklace to go after Moxley. Juice puts Moxley in and hurries after him. Juice puts Moxley up top and CHOPS! Juice headbutts Moxley before climbing up to join him. SUPERPLEX! But he’s not done, Juice goes to another suplex, JACKHAMMER! Cover, TWO!! Moxley survives and Juice grows frustrated. Moxley slowly rises and calls for his move. Juice clamps onto Moxley with chicken wings and turns him, but Moxley pops out to GERMAN SUPLEX! Juice flounders up, ducks Moxley’s clothesline to GERMAN SUPLEX in return! Moxley flounders but so does Juice. Juice runs at Moxley and the two collide with clotheslines! Moxley comes back to LARIAT! Fans fire up with Moxley as he drags Juice back up. Moxley underhooks and lifts but Juice avoids Death Rider to roll Moxley up, with a bridge! TWO!! LARIAT!!
Both men are down but Tokyo rallies up. A standing count begins and both men slowly stir. Moxley and Juice sit up at 7 and that is enough for the ref. Moxley dares Juice to do something, and they stand. “Hit me! Hit me!” Juice throws a forearm so Moxley gives one back. Juice gives another but Moxley gives two! Juice headbutts, Moxley headbuts and forearms! Moxley fires off forearm after forearm from both sides, and slaps Juice! Juice SLAPS back! Moxley ROCKS Juice then runs, REGAL KNEE! “He’s done now!” Moxley drags Juice up but Juice slips out. Juice ROCKS Moxley with a right, then bobs ‘n’ weaves to LEFT HAND OF GOD! Juice fires up, pumps up, ANOTHER LEFT HAND! Juice drags Moxley up and chicken wings, turn around, but Moxley slips out to kick and DIRTY DEEDS! Float through, lift, DEATH RIDER!! Cover, Moxley wins!
Winner: Jon Moxley, by pinfall; still IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion
The Maniac wins big again! And while he splits time with AEW, will Moxley be able to make it back to Japan in time for his next defense?
But speaking of his next defense, a new challenger approaches! MINORU SUZUKI makes his entrance!! Moxley keeps his eyes on the King of Pancrase at the stage as he kicks off his sweatpants! And as he takes off his jacket! Does Suzuki want this match NOW?! Moxley doesn’t shy away from the idea, either! And a brawl is on!! They throw forearms over and over, but then Moxley runs. Suzuki gets around him for a SLEEPER! Moxley flails but Suzuki turns him around, GOTCH…! PILEDRIVER! The Man with the WORST Personality in the World just took out one of the most insane men in the world! And then grabs a mic to say, “Oi! You piece of crap. Who do you think you are?!” Suzuki wants Moxley to know that Suzuki is KING of Pro-Wrestling! If Moxley wants a fight, Suzuki’s gonna give him a fight! Forget returning, will Moxley even survive his next defense?
NEVER Openweight Championship: KENTA VS Hirooki Goto!
Bullet Club has been refreshed ever since it “reloaded” and added #FangRevived to its ranks! The real Kenta looks to keep this title #TooSweet, but the Fierce Warrior wants revenge for what Kenta did to friend and rival, Katsuyori Shibata! Will revenge be a dish best served with gold? Or will Goto simply #Go2Sleep?
The introductions are made, Kenta puts the belt in Goto’s face, but Goto DECKS Kenta! Goto is in no mood for Kenta’s ego so the bell rings and this grudge match begins!
Goto stomps away on Kenta then drags him up to club him on the back. Goto whips but Kenta reverses, only for Goto to reverse the hip toss! Goto keeps moving and runs Kenta over! Kenta bails out but Goto pursues! Goto puts Kenta in quick and runs at him in the corner! BIG corner clothesline and a bigger bulldog! Kenta bails out again but Goto pursues! Goto puts Kenta back in and hurries, stomping away without mercy! Goto drags Kenta up to snapmare and KICK Kenta in the back! Cover, ONE, but Goto is on Kenta with a chinlock. Kenta endures as Goto drives an elbow into his face! Goto stomps Kenta and slaps him around. Goto eggs Kenta on as he clubs him on the back. Goto whips, Kenta BOOTS back! Kenta brings Goto up to throw him out, but Goto is in fast! Kenta knees low and throws Goto out again. Goto is back up again but gets another BOOT!
Kenta goes out to fetch Goto now, and whips him into railing! Kenta finally takes off the shirt and KICKS Goto in the chest! Kenta drags Goto up to whip into railing again! Kenta leaves Goto behind and a ring count begins. The count reaches 10 of 20 but Goto gets in. Kenta is on Goto fast with stomps, and then throws Goto back out. Kenta goes out the side to pursue Goto, kicking him while he’s down. They go up the ramp as Kenta clubs Goto, and then spikes Goto with a DDT! The ref reprimands and Kenta leaves Goto behind again. Goto is okay to continue so a new ring count begins. The count again reaches 10 of 20 but Goto crawls over. Goto is ringside by 15 and stands at 18, to get in at 19.5! But Kenta is on him again, just to throw him back out. Fans boo but Kenta soaks it all up. Kenta is both toying with Goto and avoiding him, but Goto is back again.
Kenta whips Goto and hits the kitchen sink knee! Then a Penalty Kick hard to the back! Cover, TWO! Goto toughs it out but Kenta drops knees. Then he jumps, to scuff Goto’s face. Kenta thinks that’s Too Sweet but fans boo. Kenta KICKS Goto hard again, then drags him into a chinlock. Goto endures and fights his way out with elbows. Goto runs but into another kitchen sink! Fans rally behind Godo but Kenta mocks them. Kenta toys with Goto as he scuffs his face. Kenta swiftly KICKS Goto again, but Goto gets back up. Kenta slaps and KICKS, then just shrugs. Goto sits up and blocks the next kick! Kenta counter punches but Goto elbows and LARIATS! Both men slowly rise and Goto throws big forearms! Kenta staggers but Goto keeps on him.
Kenta turns it around to fire off furious forearms! Goto gives them all back! Kenta gives more! Goto gives them all back again! The ref warns both men as Kenta throws another forearm, Goto DECKS Kenta! Is Kenta knocked out!? No, he comes to, but he’s dazed to say the least. Goto drags Kenta up and whips him corner to corner. Goto runs in for the wheel kick! Then the SAIDO! Cover, TWO!! Kenta survives and Goto is frustrated, but Tokyo is loving this! Goto drags Kenta back up, fireman’s carry, but Kenta claws at Goto’s face! Kenta shoves and spinning powerslams! Kenta drags Goto up and throws big haymakers. Kenta puts Goto in the corner and whips, but Goto reverses. Goto runs in but gets a boot! Kenta hops up, tornado hotshots Goto down, then climbs up! Kenta leaps to flying clothesline! Cover, TWO!
Kenta gives more toying kicks to Goto but Goto gets to his feet. Kenta eggs Goto on, and then catches him into a DDT! Kenta shoves Goto into a corner and brings him up against ropes. Kenta runs and knees Goto into those ropes! Kenta looms over Goto as he flounders around. Kenta runs but Goto follows! Kenta dodges but runs into USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down but Tokyo is still fired up! Goto fires himself up and drags Kenta up, but gets caught into a LeBelle Lock! Kenta wants to make it GameOver! Goto endures the hold and reaches with a leg, ROPEBREAK! Kenta lets go but he argues with the ref. Kenta KICKS Goto hard while he’s down, then stomps him at the apron. Kenta drags Goto up and through the ropes, DRAPING DDT! Kenta grins and Jado would be proud.
Goto flounders to a corner but Kenta runs corner to corner, HESITATION DROPKICK! Kenta climbs up top and aims at Goto, DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives Kenta’s coup de grace, but Kenta isn’t done with him yet. Kenta aims from a corner again and Goto slowly rises. Goto denies the Psycho Knee with a sleeper hold! Kenta slips out to get his own sleeper, but Goto reaches for ropes again. Kenta pulls Goto away and Goto is fading! Kenta lets go just to PENALTY KICK! And PSYCHO KNEE! Cover, TWO!? Kenta slashes the throat, he vows to end this! Kenta drags Goto up to a fireman’s carry, GO- NO! Goto doesn’t go to sleep as he grabs the leg! Kenta fires forearms but Goto HEADBUTTS! Kenta falls but Goto staggers and stays up.
Kenta slowly rises and Goto fires himself up. Goto runs at Kenta, LARIAT! But Kenta stays standing?! BACK HAND! BACK HAND! LARIAT! But now Goto stays standing!? Kenta spins but Goto LARIATS! Cover, TWO!! Goto drags himself up with ropes and focuses his power! But Kenta blocks the kick! Kenta SLAPS with big palm strike after strike! But Goto only powers up more?! Goto ROCKS Kenta again! And again! Kenta counter punches! And fires off so many! Goto catches Kenta but Kenta fights out of the GTR. Goto fireman’s carry for G T W! Cover, TWO!?! Kenta lives?! But Goto won’t stop now, G T R!! Cover, GOTO WINS!!
Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall; NEW NEVER Openweight Champion
The Fierce Warrior is back atop the NEVER Division! Goto has his vengeance on Kenta, but will we see these two fight again?
Chris Jericho VS Hiroshi Tanahashi!
The Once in a Century Champion dared Le Champeon of All Elite Wrestling to put his title on the line. Jericho would not do that, but he did get Tony Khan’s permission to stipulate that if Tanahashi wins, Tanahashi will have a title opportunity in the future. Will the Ace force Y2J’s hand? Or will he suffer defeat at the hands of the Painmaker?
Jericho shows off his AEW World Championship before handing it over, and fans again marvel at The Ace’s physique. The bell rings and this special singles showdown begins!
The fans cheer for Tanahashi so Jericho flips them off. Jericho and Tanahashi circle and tie up. They break and Jericho taunts “Bakahashi” while flexing. Fans boo but Jericho soaks it all up. Fans return to cheering for Tanahashi as he circles with Jericho. They tie up, Tanahashi headlocks and grinds Jericho down. Jericho fights up and powers out but the two collide. Neither falls so both men flex at each other. Tanahashi and Jericho circle and tie up again. Jericho headlocks to a takeover but Tanahashi headscissors. Jericho pops out but roles reverse as Tanahashi headlocks but Jericho headscissors. Tanahashi pops out and the two stand off, Tanahashi air guitars! Jericho and Tanahashi circle and tie up again. Jericho wrenches to a wristlock and yanks on the arm.
Jericho elbows away on Tanahashi’s shoulder and eggs Tanahashi on. Tanahashi powers up to arm-drag Jericho down to an armlock of his own. Jericho endures and fights his way up, but Tanahashi wrenches and yanks back. Tanahashi whips but Jericho kicks him back. Jericho CHOPS then whips but Tanahashi kicks him abck! Tanahashi grins but they tie up. Tanahashi hammerlocks but Jericho slips around to hammerlock back. Tanahashi reverses back onto Jericho but Jericho elbows and hammerlocks again. They end up in a corner and Jericho pulls Tanahashi’s hair. Red Shoes counts, Tanahashi elbows and dropkicks Jericho! Tanahashi runs in but Jericho dodges and sends Tanahashi into buckles. Jericho runs in but Tanahashi elbows and springboards for a crossbody!
Tanahashi air guitars and hip tosses Jericho down! Tanahashi stands on Jericho and mocks his cocky flexing pose! “C’mon, BABY!” ONE, and Jericho slaps Tanahashi! So Tanahashi slaps back! It’s a slap fight! Tanahashi slaps more, then whips. Jericho holds ropes and baits Tanahashi in to send him out. Jericho sees Tanahashi get up, triangle dropkick sends Tanahashi down! Jericho grins while Tanahashi is down. Fans boo but Jericho soaks it all up. Jericho goes outside to fetch Tanahashi and brings him up to whip him into railing! Jericho puts Tanahashi in the gateway and SLAMS the door closed on Tanahashi’s face! Tanahashi falls and Jericho confiscates a camera! Jericho takes pictures of Tanahashi, and then of himself flipping off the fans.
Jericho slaps a Young Lion down before dragging Tanahashi up. Jericho whips Tanahashi hard into railing by commentary! And clears off the English announce desk to put Tanahashi on it! Jericho refreshes the ring count before climbing over the railing. Jericho clears more space for himself and Tanahashi before climbing up. Deja vu to his matches with Tetsuya Naito and Kenny Omega as Jericho gives “Bakahashi” a DDT to the desk!! Jericho confiscates a bottle of water to refresh himself and splash Tanahashi. Jericho throws Tanahashi back over the railing and returns to ringside. Red Shoes reprimands Jericho but Jericho gets in his face. Jericho puts Tanahashi in the ring and mocks the booing fans. Fans also rally up for Tanahashi, who has fire in his eyes.
Jericho knees Tanahashi hard and then springboard stomps him down. Jericho climbs up and leaps to drop a knee on Tanahashi’s head! Cover, TWO! Jericho slaps Tanahashi around and mocks the booing fans more. Tanahashi gets up but Jericho is on him with forearms. Tanahashi gives them back and we have a brawl! Tanahashi gets the edge and a strike fest. but Jericho counters to an underhook, Tiger Backbreaker! Tanahashi writhes but Jericho dropkicks him down! Jericho mocks the air guitar playing and he stomps some more. “You don’t like that?!” Jericho gets up top to do more air guitar, then leaps! Frog Splash FLOPS! Cameras catch Tanahashi’s grin. Tanahashi gets up as fans rally, and he throws big forearms on Jericho! Jericho knees low and whips Tanahashi out, but Tanahashi skins the cat! Tanahashi dodges Jericho to throw more forearms! Tanahashi whips, Jericho reverses, Tanahashi hits flying forearms!
Fans fire up with The Ace as he runs corner to corner. Jericho uses Red Shoes as a shield! Down goes Red Shoes and Jericho LOW BLOW KICKS! Fans boo hard as ever as Tanahashi writhes. Jericho takes off his weight belt to LASH Tanahashi! And again! And again! Jericho laughs as he puts his belt back on and mocks Tanahashi more. Tanahashi LOW BLOWS BACK! Turnabout is fair play! Fans rally as Tanahashi and Jericho rise. Tanahashi grits his teeth as he stalks up behind Jericho. Tanahashi throws forearms and body shots and European uppercuts! Jericho boots back and grabs Tanahashi’s hair. They head for a corner but Tanahashi sends Jericho’s bulldog into buckles! Tanahashi keeps moving to crossbody into Jericho’s back! Jericho falls and Tanahashi stomps him down before hopping up. Second rope senton! Cover, TWO!
Tanahashi keeps his focus and drags Jericho up to throw body shots. Tanahashi runs but Jericho back elbows! Jericho springboards but he’s shoved out! No Lionsault for Le Champeon! Tanahashi hurries up top and HIGH FLY CROSSBODIES! Direct hit and both men are down! Tokyo Dome cheers as Tanahashi slowly stands. Tanahashi returns to the ring and the count begins. Jericho stirs at about 7, and sits up at 10 of 20. Jericho stands at 12 but flops over! Jericho hurries to get up at 15, staggers over, and gets in at 19! Tanahashi is on Jericho at the ropes and has the leg, DRAGON SCREW! And a dropkick! And another Dragon Screw! Jericho flops into the ring and Tanahashi has the fans rallying again. Tanahashi dares Jericho to stand and then he runs, but Jericho dodges. Jericho leaps but NO Code Breaker, DRAGON SCREW! And then a GROUNDED Dragon Screw! Then another, going the other way!
Jericho writhes while clutching the knee but Tanahashi heads up top. Tanahashi HIGH FLY FLOW, onto knees! Jericho springboards, LIONSAULT! But his bad leg won’t let him cover right away, TWO!! Tanahashi survives and Jericho grows frustrated. Jericho rises and takes aim at Tanahashi. Tanahashi stands, but he blocks the Judas Effect! Waistlock, straitjacket, SUPLEX! Bridge cover, TWO!! Tanahashi waits for Jericho to rise before building speed, but Jericho trips him! WALLS OF JERICHO! Tanahashi endures but will this lion be tamed?! Tanahashi powers up but Jericho sits deeper! Tanahashi powers up again as Tokyo Dome is thunderous! Jericho drags Tanahashi away from the ropes! Tanahashi continues to endure, tries again, and finds a way to slip through!
Tanahashi throws hands on Jericho then body scissor throws him! SLINGBLADE! Tanahashi drags Jericho up in the dragon sleeper, elbow drop DDT! Jericho is in the drop zone and Tanahashi heads up top again! Tanahashi aims but Jericho rises. Tanahashi still leaps, INTO A CODE BREAKER!! Jericho drags Tanahashi to a cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives and Jericho can’t believe it! Jericho aims from a corner again and shouts, “I’M LE CHAMPEON!” Tanahashi rises, ducks the Judas to CODE BREAKER BACK! Cover, TWO!! Jericho survives his own move but Tanahashi still has his! Tanahashi runs, but no Slingblade! Back to the Walls!! But Tanahashi blocks and cradle counters, TWO!!
Tanahashi keeps hold of Jericho with a facelock, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Fans are thunderous as Jericho rises and Tanahashi runs. SLINGBLADE AGAIN! Cover, TWO!! Jericho is still in this but Tanahashi still has something. Tanahashi goes back up top and Jericho stands gain, HIGH FLY CROSSBODY, but Jericho rolls through! Jericho has the legs again! Tanahashi flails but Jericho keeps turning him over, WALLS OF JERICHO!! Tanahashi endures as Jericho sits as deep as he can! Fans rally hard as ever for Tanahashi, and Tanahashi powers up once more! Tanahashi drags himself towards ropes, but Jericho drags him away! And gets a FULL Lion Tamer angle! TANAHASHI TAPS!!
Winner: Chris Jericho, by submission
An incredible match of living legends! But in the end, the lion was tamed, and Jericho has his win! The “forbidden portal” stays closed, but is the last we’ve seen of Y2J in NJPW? Or are their other ways to crossover?
IWGP Double Gold Dash: Kazuchika Okada VS Tetsuya Naito!
The Rainmaker thwarted the Golden Star to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. The Uncontrollable Charisma regained his IWGP Intercontinental Championship when he defeated The Switchblade. Now, destiny brings these two back to each other two years removed. Who will history smile upon in this #WinnerTakesAll title match?
Naito wears a white fur jacket emblazoned with “DESTINO,” the infinity symbol, and the words, “TODO O NADA,” Spanish for “All or Nothing.” Okada dollars fly as he returns in the glowing white and gold of last night. The introductions are made, the belts are raised and the illustrious entrance gear is taken off. Naito of course takes his time with it but Okada is patient. Once Naito is ready, the bell rings and history begins!
Tokyo Dome erupts with cheers for both men! Red Shoes tries to judge the way the scales are going, but it seems to be even. Or is it going Naito’s way? Yes, it seems Naito has more fans present. Okada shrugs that off and slowly circles with Naito. The two approach but Naito backs off, as is his usual strategy. They circle again, approach, but Naito fakes Okada out again. The dueling between fans keeps going as Okada waits on Naito. The two circle and finally tie up! They’re deadlocked, but Okada starts getting the edge thanks to height and leverage. Okada puts Naito in a corner but Naito turns it around onto the ropes. Red Shoes calls for the ropebreak but Okada slips in and turns it around again. Okada lets up and fakes his chop to pat Naito on the shoulder, as is his usual strategy.
But then Okada whips Naito to ropes, things speed up and Okada hurdles but Naito leaps! Things keep moving, Okada dodges and dodges to elbow Naito down! Okada fires up the Tokyo Dome before bringing Naito back up. Okada whips Naito corner to corner and hits the back elbow. He kicks and hits the DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer as Okada stands and paces. Naito sits up but Okada brings him up to scoop and dump down. Okada goes to the apron to slingshot senton! Naito writhes while Okada calmly paces again. Okada brings Naito back up and around to snapmare and chinlock Naito against his knee. Naito fights his way up so Okada elbows and snapmares him back down. Okada runs to basement dropkick Naito hard!
Naito rolls around from the pain but Okada calmly stalks behind him. Okada brings Naito up but Naito throws body shots and forearms! Okada knees low then whips again but Naito reverses to arm-drag! And elbow! And basement dropkick of his own! Fans fire up for Naito as he drags Okada up. Naito whips corner to corner and rocket kicks! Leg sweep and swing, Combinacion Cabron! Naito strikes the pose and fans cheer! Naito walks around now and drags Okada up. Naito turns Okada but Okada fights out. Naito blocks the kick to sweep the legs! Naito drags Okada to the apron, flexes, and draping neckbreaker! Okada clutches that neck and Naito takes his time bringing Okada back up. Naito stomps Okada back down then brings him up again, to elbow him back down.
Okada leans on railing but Naito puts Okada in the ring. Fans cheer as Naito brings Okada up for another neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and duel as Okada slowly stirs. Naito gives toying kicks to Okada but Okada swings on him. Naito catches Okada for the backbreaker! And then the leg full nelson, just like he used on Jay White! Naito cranks on Okada’s neck but Okada endures. Okada crawls and reaches with his legs and gets the ROPEBREAK! Naito lets go at Red Shoes’ count of 4, with some help. Naito stomps Okada while he’s down but Okada gets to a corner. Naito throws big back elbows into Okada over and over, then clubs him down. Naito cravats Okada as he brings him back up and cranks on the neck more. Okada endures but Naito clubs him again!
The cravat returns but Okada throws body shots. Naito clubs him even harder, and SPITS on him! Naito whips Okada but Okada reverses. Okada runs in but into an elbow! Naito runs but into a BOOT! That one flips Naito through the air! Fans rally up for both men as they slowly stir on the mat. Okada kips right up! Okada throws forearms on Naito then whips, FLAPJACK! That was a high one, too. Okada takes aim from the corner as Naito slowly sits up and comes around. Okada waits until Naito stands, but Naito blocks this new boot! Okada still forearms Naito away and then EuroUppers! Okada Alabama lifts Naito but Naito sunset flips. Okada rolls through to jackknife and Alabama, AIR RAID NECKBREAKER!
Naito writhes while clutching his head but Okada drags him up. Fans are thunderous as Okada scoops Naito for a slam. Standard Okada formula, he heads up top for the MACHO ELBOW! Direct hit and that leads to the… Rainmaker Pose! Okada drags Naito up into the wristlock ripcord, but Naito elbows hard! And again! And again! Naito keeps Okada’s wrist as he drags him up for even more elbows! Naito throws another but Okada dodges, only to run into the SPINE BUSTER! Naito has Okada in the corner and then hoists him onto the top rope. Naito climbs up to SUPER STEINER! Fans fire up as Naito has Okada on the defensive. Okada slowly stirs but Naito drags him up. Naito hammerlocks but Okada clubs free of Gloria.
Okada throws forearms and EuroUppers, but Naito reels a fist back! It’s a feint so that he can kick Okada low! Okada ends up in the corner but he comes back to SHOTGUN DROPKICK! Naito rolls to the apron but Okada is down, too. Fans rally and duel as Okada gets up. Okada watches Naito and runs in, but Naito boots back. Okada runs into more boots, then Naito hops up, only for Okada to dropkick him down! Naito crashes ‘n’ burns to the outside! Okada rests while Red Shoes checks on Naito. Naito is okay to continue so Okada goes out to fetch him. Okada drags Naito around to smash the knee on the floor! Everyone saw how much damage Jay White dealt to Naito’s knee so Okada is taking advantage of that! Red Shoes says to get this in the ring but Okada clears off the Japanese commentary desk! Okada is being more like Chris Jericho now, but Naito clubs back. Okada chop blocks the bad leg!
Okada drags Naito back up and has the leg, SHIN BREAKER TO THE TABLE!! Naito falls to the floor in a heap and Red Shoes checks on him. Somehow, Naito is okay to continue, or he’s just too stubborn. Okada rests in the ring again, leaving it to the ring count. The passion of the fans grows as the count climbs. The count is past 10 of 20, then 15! Naito is only at the railing again! He hobbles up at 17, runs at 18, 19.9!! Okada is up top fast, for a missile dropkick! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives and Okada grows frustrated. Tokyo reaches a fever pitch now for Naito but Okada just shrugs that off as he drags Naito up. Okada wristlocks but Naito fights free, so Okada just waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX! That was a strong one, but Okada holds on.
Wristlock and ripcord, but Naito counters with a tornado DDT! Fans are loving this, even as both men are down on the mat. Naito sits up first but Okada follows. Okada flops back down but Naito heads his way. Naito manages to stand and hobble before bringing Okada up. Hammerlock and lift, GLORIA! Naito managed it and Okada is in a daze as he sits back up. Naito smirks a bit as he gets back to his feet. Okada is in the corner and Naito shakes out the bad leg before bringing Okada up. Naito puts Okada on the top and clubs his back before climbing up behind him. Naito stands Okada up, SUPER POISON-RANA!! Cover, TWO?!? Okada survives?! No one can believe it, least of all Naito!
Naito drags Okada up, wrenches but Okada fights as best he can. Naito just enziguris back! Naito whips, Okada reverses and dodges the flying forearms! Okada wristlocks and ripcords but Naito dodges to kick low. Naito puts a facelock on fast but Okada resists whatever Naito is up to. Okada breaks free to throw forearms again, but Naito eggs him on. Okada swings again, Naito dodges and hits his flying forearms! Naito wrenches, tilt-o-whirls, but Okada slips Naito off, so Naito rolling kicks! Naito whips, Okada reverses, Naito leaps but Okada dropkicks him down! But Naito is right back up, tilt-o-whirl, DESTINO! Cover, TWO?!? Is The Rainmaker secretly not human?! All that damage to his head and neck and he isn’t done?!
But Naito doesn’t care about any of that, he’ll just keep going! Naito drags Okada up, a grin on his face. Naito wrenches, tilt-o-whirls, but Okada slips him off again! Okada ripcords but Naito dodges, only to run into another dropkick! Both men are back down on the mat, but fans are back to that fever pitch! These two champion fan favorites are somehow still in this so Red Shoes skips a standing count. Okada sits up first, but Naito grabs at him. Naito and Okada each grab the other’s hair as they sit up. Okada throws a forearm but Naito gives one back. Okada comes back with another, and he grins! But so does Naito as he hits Okada again! These two may not like each other, but they’re enjoying this fight! Okada throws a forearm, Naito throws a forearm, repeat! The fans echo each shot, and Naito seems to rock Okada with that last one. But Okada comes back all the same!
Naito hits Okada again, and leans against him. Okada grits his teeth as he stands back up to throw yet another forearm! Naito SPITS again! And throws another forearm! Okada gives yet another, but so does Naito. The pace even picks up! Okada wristlocks and ripcords, but Naito SLAPS Okada first! Naito scoops, but Okada slips out to DISCUS RAINMAKER! Okada fires up and so does Tokyo! Okada drags Naito up, ripcords but Naito tilt-o-whirls, into Okada’s JUMPING TOMBSTONE! Okada drags Naito up again, wristlocks and ripcords, RAINMAKER!! Cover, TWO!?!? Whatever Okada is, so is Naito!! Okada and Naito are down and Tokyo is electric. Okada gets up and calls for something even bigger now.
Okada drags Naito up, gut wrenches but Naito flails and fights free! Naito falls over but Okada looms over him at the ropes. Okada drags Naito up, but Naito SPITS again! Defiant to the end, it seems. Okada drags Naito around to SMASH the knee on the mat! Naito writhes and clutches the leg again but Okada shows no mercy, another knee smash! Okada doesn’t care that fans are booing him now, because he sit-out smashes the knee now! Okada then grabs the wrist to drag Naito up to his feet. Point-Blank RAINMAKER! But that’s not enough, Okada gives another Point-Blank RAINMAKER! Okada wants to end this, he drags Naito up, wristlock ripcord, but Naito DESTINO!! Cover, TWO!?!? Naito’s knee was a liability on that pin, but he won’t stop now.
Naito drags Okada up, scoops and slams him. Naito’s stepping into the past as he climbs up top, STARDUST PRESS! Cover, TWO!!! The corkscrew moonsault wasn’t enough, even after everything in this match! The fans reach that eletric level again as Naito has one more thing left. Naito wrenches, tilt-o-whirls, but Okada blocks! Okada has Naito on his shoulder but Naito slips out to scoop, VALENTIA!! And then… DESTINO!! Cover, NAITO WINS!!
Winner: Tetsuya Naito, by pinfall; DOUBLE GOLD CHAMPION
History and destiny are one in the same for Naito! Naito now holds both the IWGP Heavyweight AND Intercontinental Champion! The first-ever and had to fight so hard to do it! This wasn’t just because of the efforts of tonight, or of this weekend, but all the hard work in Naito’s career! Okada is helped out of the ring, but surely The Rainmaker will fight his way back up as before.
Before being presented with both titles, Naito asks for the mic. “Okada. Okada! Winning the main event in the Tokyo Dome… actually feels pretty great.” And perhaps they can do this again some time. Okada raises a fist a la LIJ, confirming he feels very much the same even in losing. Naito then allows the belt presentation to begin. Red Shoes holds both belts as Naito gets back his LIJ hat and puts it on. Naito takes his Intercontinental Championship first and holds it as usual, and then takes the Heavyweight Championship in the other hand. Naito is pretty casual with both as he sets them down side by side, and strikes a pose!
Naito takes the mic back to say, “Buenos noches, TOKYO DOOOOOME~!” Naito wants them to know that everyone that is here watching in the audience or online around the world, you all get to finally see Naito change things! Naito eyes his two belts, and wonders what he’ll do with them. What does everyone think? They surely know the answer: TRANQUILO! Assenayo. But there is one other thing he wants to say. Naito will never, ever forget this Wrestle Kingdom weekend. And with both these belts, Naito vows to step forward into the future. So now, everyone, that brings us to Naito’s favorite closing. And for the first time in the Tokyo Dome, you can join in on the role call! To finish this amazing two-night event… “Evil! Bushi! Sanada! Hiromu! Takagi! Y Naito! Nosotoros, Los Ingoberrrrnables! De!” KENTA!?
Kenta attacks Naito, and has a huge grin on his face! Tokyo erupts with boos and jeers as Kenta Penalty Kicks Naito down! Their hate is music to his ears! The former NEVER Openweight Champion isn’t going to let things end happily, he makes Naito GO 2 SLEEP!! And then he rains down rights on Naito’s head! Kenta sees both belts and picks them both up. Kenta sits down on Naito with crossed legs like Shibata would, and holds up both belts! Kenta laughs as fans shout “Go Home! Go Home!” Kenta drops the belts and walks away from Naito, and Bushi rushes out to support his leader. But the damage has been done and the declaration of war has been sent. Kenta mocks fans as he leaves, and Naito can barely walk, even with Bushi’s help. Bullet Club’s #FangRevived wants to sink his teeth into the historic double champion. How will NJPW management handle this new era?
My Thoughts:
Just as with Night 1, I focused on the matches that were more important and higher rated matches, such as by Andrew Balaz here on The Chairshot. The Rev-Pro British Heavyweight and IWGP United States Championship matches were both great for being on the shorter ends. I personally wanted to do the RPW match because ZSJ VS Sanada is always a great match-up with how technical ZSJ is and how surprisingly technical Sanada can be. In the end, it was just fine that ZSJ won, and in close fashion. These two will continue to battle back and forth like this, I can’t wait to see if they meet again during New Japan Cup 2020. Moxley VS Juice was a good choice on story, and I feel it was also natural for Moxley to retain since he literally wasn’t meant to lose the title, the weather cost him. Given that, I would think Moxley holds that belt for a long time now.
The NEVER Openweight Championship ended up a great choice, just on that one STIFF shot Goto gives Kenta. Plus, after everything played out, it turns out it helps continuity if Kenta’s motivation is explained. He lost the title and Goto has it back, again, but that freed Kenta up to do something big. Jericho VS Tanahashi was a great choice on paper because of the two men involved, but was of course a great choice in action because of the two men involved. I also laughed so hard at seeing Tanahashi mock the Painmaker persona, it was so good! After putting the stipulation of a possible AEW World Championship opportunity, you had to figure Jericho would win. But just because “the forbidden portal” wasn’t opened here doesn’t mean it won’t ever be. You never say “never” in wrestling, usually.
Apologies to Loser VS Loser, White VS Ibushi, for skipping it, but everyone knows for a fact that match was going to be great. But naturally, obviously, gotta cover the Double Gold Dash. Okada VS Naito was amazing, maybe a bit false finish heavy, but at the same time, going with false finishes and superhuman levels of resilience is to show just how epic this moment is, because it is an epic moment. Especially with it being NAITO WINNING. Tokyo Dome was so ready for this so it was just great that he got to have this moment. And in the end, it made Kenta’s attack that much more heinous and hated! Kenta becomes new Top Heel in one fell swoop, and immediately pushes the issue of how NJPW will choose to handle a dual champion. Though, with a few more events this year being multiple night events, maybe NJPW has already planned on Naito having to pull double headers? This is going to be an incredibly interesting time for NJPW now.
My Score: 9.4/10
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The storied rival has its final chapter!
For the last time, John Cena and Randy Orton battle over the WWE Championship! This time, it is on Backlash, in Orton’s hometown of St. Louis!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE United States Championship Fatal 4 Way: Jacob Fatu VS Drew McIntyre VS LA Knight VS Damian Priest; Fatu wins and retains the title.
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria VS Becky Lynch; Lyra wins and retains the title.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio VS PENTA; Dominik wins and retains the title.
- GUNTHER VS Pat McAfee; Gunther wins.
- Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena VS Randy Orton; Cena wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s the WWE Backlash Countdown Show!
Join Michael Cole, Wade Barrett & Big E in discussing, analyzing and predicting all the action on this highly anticipated night!
Backstage interview with Lyra Valkyria.
Byron Saxton is with The Morrigan and asks how she is feeling tonight. She looked up to Becky Lynch for so long, only for her to stab her in the back. And at the same time, Lyra has dedicated this match to Bayley. How is Lyra going to manage all her emotions? Lyra says there is so much going on in her head, but the way to deal with it is focusing on the main emotion: embarrassment. She gave herself “the ick” looking back and seeing how she ate everything Becky fed her. Becky would’ve had a friend for life in Lyra, but then Becky turned on her. And what did The Man expect? For Lyra to run home to Dublin and cry?
No! That shows Lyra that Becky underestimated her. Lyra meant it when she said she is the better wrestler now. Becky may still be the bigger star, but when that bell rings, Lyra will show that she was never a stepping stone. Becky becomes Lyra’s stepping stone, as well as the crowning name on the long list of opponents when Lyra retains the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Lyra is locked in, but will the Luck of the Irish favor her in the end?
Vic Joseph joins the panel!
The Voice of NXT helps plug Battleground, but he also gives Lyra her props. From NXT UK to NXT USA, Vic has seen Lyra achieve her potential every step of the way. The NXT Women’s Championship match between Lyra and Becky was all about someone from the NXT roster stepping up and proving herself, and Lyra did just that. Lyra took the NXT Women’s title off Becky, but will Lyra keep the Women’s Intercontinental title from Becky? Or is #BeckyHogan going to step on Lyra to get ahead?
Jackie Redmond & Peter Rosenberg tag in for the panel.
Cole & Barrett have to go prepare for calling Backlash, so Jackie and Peter join Big E in looking back on memory lane. John Cena VS Randy Orton as a rivalry predates the iPod, Wikipedia, and even the original Xbox! 25 years later, will this truly be the end of an era for WWE?
Pershard Owens sings the Star Spangled Banner.
Talkin’ ’bout a detonator…
The fuse is let, and tonight is about to be explosive. Egos, attitudes, grudges, ambitions, motivations, and glory, it’s overflowing! WrestleMania was historic, but now everyone will face the Backlash!
WWE United States Championship Fatal 4 Way: Jacob Fatu VS Drew McIntyre VS LA Knight VS Damian Priest!
The Samoan Werewolf only just took this title “for the family” at WrestleMania, and yet now the stakes are raised! The Scottish Warrior wants to fight a real fighter, the Mega Star wants to redeem himself from his loss, and the Archer of Infamy wants to kill two birds with one stone by avenging his own loss while putting gold back around his waist. Will one of these challengers get what they want? Or will Fatu dog walk all of ’em, YADADA MEAN!?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who’s really all gas and no brakes with it!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as all four men look at each other. Knight talks some smack but St. Louis is loud for “FATU! FATU!” Knight runs up to throw hands on Fatu, Priest and Drew go after each other! Fatu fires back and they trade shots. Priest and Drew are on the outside while Knight throws hands “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Priest CLUBS Drew, Fatu TOSSES Knight, and then Fatu runs corner to corner. Knight dodges, Fatu hits buckles, and Knight hits a JUMP NECKBREAKER! Priest is back in the ring, but Knight gives him a BIG back suplex! Knight WRECKS Drew with a dropkick, then RAMS into Fatu!
Knight slingshots to SHOUDLER TACKLE Fatu! Knight sunset flip BACKBREAKERS, then he dodges Drew to pop-up and POWERSLAM! The fans fire up as The Mega Star is unlocking that kavorka! Spell it out, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” ELBOW- NO, Priest catches Knight, but Knight kicks free! DDT! Knight runs and DOUBLE ELBOW DROPS! Fatu shoves Knight, scoops, but Knight slips free, REVERSE DDT! Cover on Fatu, ONE!! Fatu is tougher than that, but Knight drags Fatu up. Fatu RAMS Knight into a corner, fires hands, then he ROCKS Priest! Knight ROCKS Fatu, Priest ROCKS Fatu, and Knight runs, they HIGH-LOW COMBO!
The fans fire up for that teamwork, and then Priest & Knight POST Fatu! Fatu flops out of the ring, but Priest avoids Knight’s cheap shot! BELL CLAP! Drew RAMS Knight into Priest, then OVERHEAD SUPELXES Knight! Priest runs up, but into a SPIENBUSTER! Drew has Knight again, NECKBREAKER! Then a NECKBREAKER for Priest! Fatu is back, but Drew gives him a NECKBREAKER! Drew kips up, the fans fire up, and Drew aims at Fatu. Drew runs up, but Knight LARIATS! Fatu SUPERKICKS Knight! Fatu kicks Knight out, ELBOWS Priest away, then goes up. Priest JUMP KICKS! Priest climbs up to the very top, SUPER STEINER!
Fatu flounders, Priest rises, and Priest clinches Knight for a FLATLINER! Priest goes out to run around the ring, and he FLYING AX HANDLES Fatu! Priest puts Fatu back in, then dodges a shot to ROUNDHOUSE Fatu! Priest knuckle locks Fatu, St. Louis wants tables, but Priest goes Old School to CROSSBODY Drew! Fatu runs up, Priest dodges, COMEBACKER LARIAT! Fatu flounders out, Priest runs to ELBOW Drew! And ELBOW Knight! Priest runs, and he LARIATS Drew up and out! Knight swings, misses, and Priest DREAMCAST KICKS! The fans fire up and Priest goes back out. Priest runs in but Fatu POP-UP SAMOAN DROPS Priest onto the barriers!
The fans fire up with Fatu, and then Fatu stares down with Drew. The fans fire up even more as these alpha males step into the ring. This is the match-up Drew wanted all along, and the two men step up. The hands start flying and the fans fire up! The fans are strongly on Fatu’s side, but the hands keep going faster and faster! Fatu gets the edge, but Drew HEADBUTTS! Drew runs, but Fatu BODY CHECKS him! Drew is right up, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but runs into a POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! The fans are thunderous, and Fatu runs in, HIP ATTACK on Drew! The fans fire up again, and Fatu drags Drew to the drop zone.
Fatu climbs the corner as St. Louis declares, “This is Awesome!” Fatu nods, reaches the top, but Drew is up to CLAW Fatu’s face! The ref reprimands but that’s all he can do! Drew goes up to the top, but Knight trips Drew up! Knight puts Drew in the Tree of Woe to stomp away, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight then runs corner to corner and back again, KNEE for Drew! Knight then climbs up, has Fatu on the very top, but Fatu HEADBUTTS Knight down! Fatu adjusts, but Drew sits up! SPIDER SUPLEX throws Fatu onto Knight! But Fatu’s right up to HIP ATTACK Drew!! And then he DIVES onto Priest!! Fatu is all fired up and the fans are thunderous!
Fatu goes up again, SEWANTON BOMB on Drew! Fatu geeks out, but gets B F T!! Priest has Knight, SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Drew hits a CLAYMORE on Priest!!! Priest falls on Knight for a cover! DREW BREAKS IT!! The fans are electric as all four men are down! “This is Awesome!” and that might be an understatement now! Priest flops out of the ring, Fatu and Drew go to corners, and Knight finds his way to another. The fans rally, Fatu geeks out, and Fatu runs, into a FLYING HEADBUTT! And then a kick and FUTURE SHOCK!! Then Drew has Knight, but Knight wrenches out! B F- NO, Drew powers out, reels Knight in, FUTURE SHOCK!!
Drew kips up, the fans fire up, and Drew calls his shot! Drew gives the countdown, “THREE! TWO! ONE!!” CLAYMORE for Knight!! Cover, PRIEST yanks the ref!! Priest really does screw Drew this time! Drew is furious but Priest drags him out now! Priest and Drew throw hands and the fans fire up! Drew THROWS Priest and himself over the barriers! Fatu is up, he brings Knight around for HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! Fatu has Knight down, goes up, up, BEST MOONSAULT FLOPS!! Knight rises up, goes to the corner, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” BOX JUMP FLYING AX HANDLE! And then the BOX JUMP ELBOW DROP!! Cover, TWO!?!
Fatu survives and Knight is beside himself! Priest and Drew are brawling in the crowd! Priest SMACKS Drew off a road case! Priest makes Drew look into the camera, “He’s bored at work!” Priest ROCKS Drew, but Drew ROCKS Priest! They go up to some upper deck, and Priest ROCKS Drew again! They stand on road cases, but Drew HEADBUTTS! Drew reels Priest in, takes aim, but Priest CLAWS Drew’s face! Priest decides to do what Drew was planning, and with the straps down, SOUTH OF HEAVEN DOWN THROUGH THE TABLES!!! The fans go nuts with Priest and Drew down in the wreckage!!
Producers and medical hurry to check Drew and Priest, but that just means Knight and Fatu are the only two left! Knight RAMS Fatu into the apron, then POSTS him! Knight hobbles but he brings Fatu back up to SMACK him off the desk! Fatu is on the desk, and Knight uses a piece that fell off to SMACK Fatu! Knight keeps Fatu on the desk, and he looks for a perch. The fans fire up as Knight climbs the corner! “L! A! KNGIHT!” NO, Solo Sikoa gets Fatu clear! Knight is furious but Solo tells him it’s not going down like that. Knight storms up on Solo, but a LARIAT hits outta nowhere!! IS THAT JEFF COBB?!?
The fans go nuts as now the Imperial Unit is Solo’s new enforcer! Cobb THROWS Knight around, POSTS him, and then runs to SPLASH Knight against the post!! Cobb drags Knight up, puts him in the ring, and Fatu sees what’s going on. Fatu is not happy with Solo bringing in reinforcements when he didn’t want it, but Solo still serves Knight up on a silver platter. Fatu doesn’t look the gift horse in the mouth, and he gives Knight a HIP ATTACK!! Fatu puts Knight in the drop zone, goes up and up, BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Cover, Fatu wins!
Winner: Jacob Fatu, by pinfall (still WWE United States Champion)
The Samoan Werewolf may not like Solo bringing in a ringer, but he still keeps his gold. Will nothing stop “the family” now that they’ve reloaded the arsenal?
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria VS Becky Lynch!
When they say, “Never meet your heroes,” perhaps those people were talking about this scenario right here. The Morrigan & The Man were bonded by their Irish blood, and by how the younger followed in the footsteps of the elder. They’ve battled over the NXT Women’s Championship and even won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania. But the moment they lost those titles, Becky showed her true colors and betrayed Lyra! Becky called Lyra “recycling,” or rather, “less offensive trash,” but will Becky be the one thrown out this time? Or will Becky take away a title just as Lyra did to her back in the day?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who the real Lass Kicker is around here!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Lyra and Becky circle, tie up, and they go around. Becky puts Lyra in the corner, the ref counts, and Becky lets off to talk trash. Becky shoves, Lyra shoves, and the two reset. They tie up, Lyra waistlocks, Becky switches, and Becky SLAMS Lyra down. Becky smothers Lyra into the mat, then waistlocks again. Lyra fights up, ELBOWS free, then runs. Becky dodges and RUNS Lyra over! Becky flexes, talks trash, then soaks up the heat. Things speed up, Lyra drops down then hurdles, but Becky hits an arm-drag, only for Lyra to ghost pin! TWO, and Becky arm-drags again!
The fans boo but Becky soaks it up. The two reset, tie up, and Lyra waistlocks. Becky elbows Lyra, whips her to ropes, but Lyra slides under! Lyra blocks a kick, trips Becky, and then turns Becky over with the REVERSE CRAB, to then go for the arms! MEXICAN SURFBOARD! Becky endures as Lyra swings her around! Lyra drops Becky, stands on the legs, and then hooks the legs up! Becky resists but Lyra still gets the arms to pull her back, into the ROMERO SPECIAL! Becky endures, Lyra rolls and pulls Becky back into the ROMERO SPECIAL! Becky still endures, but Lyra rolls her and pulls her back again! A third ROMERO SPECIAL! Then a cover, TWO!
Becky escapes, but Lyra waistlocks. Becky switches, Lyra spins through and NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Becky scrambles and Lyra says she told her she’s the better wrestler! Lyra then dodges to ENZIGIRI! Becky bails out, the fans “WHEW~” with Lyra, and she WRECKS Becky with a dropkick! The fans fire up and Lyra puts Becky in the ring. Lyra climbs, but Becky trips her up! Becky THROWS Lyra down, then snarls as she rains down fists! The fans boo but Becky seethes as she paces around. Becky signals that she will be champion! She CLOBBERS Lyra, smothers her into the mat again, then HAMMERS away on Lyra! Cover, ONE!!
Lyra is tougher than that, but so is Becky given she has a bloody cut on her elbow. Lyra ELBOWS Becky but Becky CLUBS Lyra! Becky stands Lyra up to SLAP her! And CHOP her! And CHOP again! Lyra falls into a corner but Becky soaks up the heat. Becky stands Lyra up, runs corner to corner, but Lyra dodges! Becky hits buckles, but then she dodges to JUMP KICK! And BECKSPLODER! Lyra writhes, Becky covers, ONE!! Becky argues the count with the ref, then goes back to Lyra. Becky talks trash on Lyra, CHOKES her on the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. Lyra goes to the corner but Becky brings her around to TOSS her out!
Lyra is on the floor, Becky builds speed, and Becky WRECKS Lyra with a dropkick! Becky THROWS Lyra into barriers, then SMACKS her off more barriers! “Is this your girl?” Becky tells Lyra’s fiancé to thank her! Lyra fires forearms off on Becky! Becky POSTS Lyra in return! Becky puts Lyra in the ring, covers, TWO! The fans rally for Lyra but Becky talks more trash. Becky SLAPS Lyra, pie faces her, but Lyra just stares defiantly! Then Lyra SLAPS Becky back! The SLAPS fly, Becky clinches, but Lyra cradle counters! Roll through, into a RUNNING FISHERMAN BUSTER!! Both women are down and the fans fire up!
Lyra feeds off that energy and she rises up! Lyra runs and LARIATS! And LARIATS! And SOBATS! KICKS! HEADBUTTS, KICKS again, then runs, cartwheel and ENZIGIRI! Becky staggers around, Lyra GUT WRENCH BOMBS! Cover, TWO!! Becky survives and Lyra is beside herself! Becky goes to the apron but Lyra drags her up. The fans rally m ore, but Becky ROCKS and ROUNDHOUSES Lyra! Becky climbs, but Lyra ROCKS her first! Lyra reaches the top, and fans actually duel as Lyra stalling SUPERPLEXES!! Cover, TWO!! Becky survives, reminding us why she’s a Grand Slam Champion!
The fans rally up and Lyra has Becky for a fireman’s carry! Becky fights free, waistlocks, but Lyra switches! O’Conner Roll, TWO! Becky has the O’Conner, but wants the rope! The ref stops that! The fans boo and Becky “apologizes,” but then she runs up on Lyra! Lyra scoops, Becky slips free, EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Cover, TWO!! Lyra survives and Becky is growing frustrated. The fans rally for Lyra more and Becky dares Lyra to get up. Lyra rises, Becky clinches, but Lyra slips free to shove Becky into buckles! Lyra runs up, Becky dodges, but Lyra stops the jump kick! Lyra DUMPS Becky out, takes aim, and PLANCHAS! Down goes Becky!
The fans fire up as Lyra hurries to put Becky back in. Lyra climbs the corner, takes aim, TURN OF FORTUNE!! Cover, TWO!!! Lyra is frustrated, but she hurries back up! MOONSAULT onto knees! Becky turns that around on Lyra while the fans fire up! Becky crawls her way over to Lyra, both women stand, and the forearms fly! Becky ROCKS Lyra but Lyra ROCKS Becky right back! The shots pick up speed, Lyra gets the edge, but Becky KNEES low! UPPERCUT into a hook! Becky fights the backslide, SLAMS Lyra down, ARMBAR!! Lyra clasps hands, rolls through, and she has the ARMBAR!!
Becky fights, rolls, high stacks, TWO! Becky steps over, DISARM-HER!! Lyra rolls Becky to a cover, TWO!! Becky clinches, MANHAND- ARM-DRAG! Cover, TWO!! MANHANDLE SLAM!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Lyra survives and Becky cannot believe it! St. Louis is thunderous, “This is Awesome!” Becky is freaking out trying to figure out what to do. Becky just HAMMERS away on Lyra! The fans boo but Becky goes to the outside. Becky grabs a chair! The fans boo but The Man is getting desperate! Becky brings the chair in, the ref stops her, and they tug-o-war over the chair! Becky give sit up to the ref, but that lets her untie a buckle pad!
Becky drags Lyra up, brings her around and whips, but Lyra reverses! Becky stops from hitting steel but Lyra GERMAN SUPLEXES! And HEEL KICKS! MOONSAULT!! Cover, TWO!! Becky survives and Lyra is beside herself! The fans rally while Lyra now thinks on what she must do. Lyra drags Becky up, fireman’s carries, but Becky fights free! Becky shoves Lyra into a buckle! MANHANDLE SLAM!! Cover, TWO?!?! Lyra survives one thing after another and Becky is going berserk! Becky HAMMERS away on Lyra again, and even DRIBBLES Lyra head off the mat! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Becky stands Lyra up.
Becky aims but the ref sees the bare buckle! The ref stops that, goes to fix things, but Lyra fireman’s carries! NIGHTWING DRIVER!!! The ref is too busy with the buckle! Cover, TWO!?!?!? Becky survives thanks to her shenanigans and Lyra is completely frazzled! Lyra drags Becky up, fireman’s carries, but Becky still fights! Clinch and MAN- NO, wheelbarrow for the victory roll! TWO, and Becky SLAPS Lyra! Roll-up, high stack, TWO! Lyra has a victory roll, LYRA WINS!!!
Winner: Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion)
Becky attacks Lyra! The Man is a sore loser! DISARM-HER!! The ref reprimands, pries at Becky’s grip, but Becky refuses to let go! More refs rush in, Becky still doesn’t stop, so producers are needed! Adam Pearce shouts right at Becky, and only now does Becky let go!! Lyra is down, potentially her arm and even her nose broken by the woman she once looked up to! Becky scowls, wants to go back for more, but the producers stand in her way. Did Becky still coset Lyra her title with all the damage she did? Or can The Morrigan rise up and keep her #ShinyShiny?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio VS PENTA!
Though it took a Fatal 4 Way to win it, and an Irish Ace in the hole to keep it, “Dirty Dom” thinks he is already the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time, as well as the greatest Mysterio and the greatest luchador ever. But now, the Man with Zero Fear gets another shot, and hopefully it’ll be a fair one. Will Penta prove he is the greatest? Or will Dom have another dirty trick up his sleeve?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly El Campeon!
The bell rings and Dom circles with Penta. Dom talks trash but the fans rally behind Penta. Dom shoves Penta, so Penta DROPKCISK Dom! Penta runs up, Dom dodges and fires hands! Dom whips, Penta ducks ‘n’ dodges and RANAS! Dom tumbles, the fans fire up, and Penta runs in. Dom dodge the kick, comes back, ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! The fans cheer because that was impressive, and Dom runs up again. Penta pops him up to SUPERKICK him upside-down! Then BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Dom stays in this and Penta nods respect. The fans rally for Penta while Dom goes to a corner.
Penta runs in, Dom pops him up to crotch him on the ropes! Dom then DROPKICKS Penta down to the floor! The fans cheer, Dom builds speed, and Dom DIVES to TORNADO DDT! Dom flexes and fans cheer because that was impressive, too! Dom refreshes the ring count then mocks Penta’s swagger. Dom stomps Penta, fans actually sing for “Dirty, Dirty Dom~!” Dom stands Penta up to CHOP, but Penta CHOPS in return! The CHOPS go back and forth, then Dom dodges to SHOVE Penta into steel steps! Dom rolls into the ring and flexes. The fans cheer, Dom goes out to drag Penta up, and Dom puts Penta in.
Dom hears the fans dueling, tunes out the taunts, and he slingshots to SENTON! Cover, TWO! Penta stays in this and Dom argues the count. The ref defends it, so Dom just stomps away on Penta! Dom uses the Finn style jump stomps, then he rains down fists! Dom lets off to soak up cheers and jeers, then covers, ROPEBREAK! Dom is annoyed and he CLUBS Penta into the chinlock. Penta endures, claws at the hold, and fights up. Penta fires body shots, but Dom fires knees! Dom whips, Penta KICKS him, then Penta dodges to come back, SLING-DOG! The fans fire up and Dom bails out. Penta goes up, up, and from the post, SUPER CROSSBODIES!
The fans fire up as Dom and Penta crash down! The ring count starts, both men stir at 3 of 10, and Penta rises up. Penta pushes Dom into the ring, huffs ‘n’ puffs, and he climbs up the corner. Penta leaps, but into Dom’s kick! Dom snap suplexes, that’s Uno Amigo! Then another suplex, but Penta slips free! Penta shoves Dom, but Dom drop toeholds him onto ropes! Dom dials it up, but Penta ducks the 619! Penta GAMANGIRIS, then slingshots to CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Dom survives and both men are down! The fans rally up and Dom DROPKICKS Penta! Dom runs up, OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!!
Penta survives Liv’s move and Dom is furious! Dom runs up, Penta puts him on the corner, and Penta GAMANGIRIS! Penta climbs, but Dom shoves him down! Penta CHOPS from the apron, then runs up, but Dom BOOTS him! Dom hops down, reels Penta in, but Penta fights the suplex! Penta ENZIGIRIS, then runs up, APRON DESTROYER!!! Both men are down and the fans go nuts! But wait, here comes Carlito! Judgment Day let Dom come out here alone, but Caribbean Cool isn’t gonna let this go down! But this is all so Finn & JD can get Penta up! Finn gets an idea and grabs a chair!
But the ref sees Finn! Finn’s improvising just cost him his chance! The ref EJECTS Judgment Day!! The fans fire up as now things are 1v1 again! Carlito can’t believe Finn messed this up! Penta FLIES onto Judgment Day! The fans fire up but wait, Finn avoided disaster! Where’d he go? Penta hobbles, rolls into the ring, and SUPERKICKS Dom down! Penta vows to finish this, but Finn returns! Finn distracts the ref now, and EL GRANDE AMERICANO is here! Grande HEADBUTTS Penta with that loaded mask!!! Dom goes up, FROG SPLASH!!! Cover, DOM WINS!
Winner: Dominik Mysterio, by pinfall (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)
The Prince almost screwed things up, but then he managed to turn things around with help from the supposed other greatest luchador in history! Will Judgment Day owe Chad Gable- Er, uh, El Grande Americano big time for this?
GUNTHER VS Pat McAfee!
Once again, Der Ring General lost a championship, at WrestleMania, against someone he surely felt was beneath him. And while his ego was still hurting, he lashed out against Michael Cole in an attempt to intimidate and silence commentary. Pat stepped up for his friend, got beat up for it, but he isn’t going to back down just because Gunther is a bully. In fact, Pat has always believed in standing up to bullies, which is why he’s getting back in the ring! Will Pat win one for all the underdogs out there? Or will Gunther unleash all of his anger and silence Pat for good?
The bell rings and Pat throws his shirt to the crowd! The fans fire up as Pat and Gunther circle. They feel things out, Gunther smirks but Pat is stone cold serious. The fans taunt Gunther with, “You Tapped Out!” but Gunther ignores that. He and Pat tie up, and Gunther shoves Pat to a corner. Pat sees what he’s dealing with now, but he still comes back to circle with Gunther again. They tie up, Gunther headlocks and THROWS Pat! The ref checks Pat but Pat stands back up. Pat and Gunther circle again, tie up, and Gunther grabs an arm! Gunther wrenches Pat, wrangles him down and steps over. Gunther pie faces Pat around and the fans boo.
Gunther wrenches, wristlocks, but Pat rolls, rolls, handsprings, and wrenches! But Gunther breaks free! Pat avoids the chop and the fans fire up! Pat and Gunther circle again, and Gunther is oddly amused. Pat and Gunther tie up, and Pat headlocks! Gunther powers Pat to ropes, Pat shifts to a facelock, but Gunther puts Pat on the apron! Pat holds on, the ref counts, and Pat lets go slowly. Gunther pats Pat on the head, and Pat says okay. Pat ROCKS Gunther! Pat slingshots, runs, and fires forearms! Pat runs, into a CHOP! Pat is right down and coughing for air! Gunther drags Pat up, just to CLUB him back down!
Gunther stomps and kicks Pat around, pushes Pat, but Pat comes back to JAB! JAB! HAYMAKER! Pat fires hands, and even CHOPS! Gunther eggs Pat on! Pat CHOPS, the fans fire up, but Gunther wants more! Pat CHOPS, but Gunther CHOPS Pat down again! The fans boo as Gunther glares at Michael Cole. Gunther stalks Pat to a corner, talks trash, “You wanna play with the big boys, huh?” Gunther CHOPS Pat in a corner, CHOPS again, then stomps a mudhole! Gunther stops and Pat puts up his dukes! The fans rally, but Gunther CHOPS Pat down! The fans boo and Cole tells Gunther fine, just pin and finish it!
Gunther decides not to do that, he wrenches and whips Pat instead. Gunther CLOBBERS Pat, but Pat avoids the elbow drop! Pat KICKS Gunther! That NFL punt wasn’t quite enough, and Gunther snapmares Pat! Gunther KICKS Pat now! Pat writhes, but he still rises up! The fans rally behind Pat and he stands again. Pat roars, Gunther eggs him on, and Pat spins to CHOP! Gunther CHOPS, but Pat stays up to CHOP! Gunther BOOTS Pat down now! Gunther glares at Cole, dares Cole to help Pat, but Wade Barrett tells Cole to just sit down. The fans still taunt Gunther with, “You Tapped Out!” as Gunther goes back to Pat.
Gunther talks trash on the fans, then he brings Pat up. Gunther dares Cole to keep cheering his guy on. Cole says stop toying with Pat then! Pat SLAPS Gunther! Gunther CHOPS Pat, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Pat sputters, Cole says just end it then! Gunther looms over Pat, eggs him on, and Pat still rises up! Gunther clamps onto Pat’s head, and then has the SLEEPER!! Pat is already red from everything else, but wait! Pat pries at the grip! Gunther is amused as Pat manages the ROPEBREAK, but then Gunther GERMAN SUPLEXES! Pat flounders and Gunther paces. Gunther laughs as the fans boo, because Gunther knows only he can end this.
Gunther soaks up the boos and he stalks Pat to ropes. Pat sits up, Gunther clamps onto him again, and Gunther uses a facelock to put Pat in a corner. Gunther CLUBS Pat, reels him in, and hoists Pat up top! Gunther CLUBS Pat, then climbs up. The fans rally for Pat, and he holds on for dear life! Pat fires elbows and he knocks Gunther down! Pat adjusts, and manages to MOONSAULT! Gunther moves, Pat lands out, GERMAN SUPLEX! Pat lands out?! PUNT!! PUNT!! And then a PUNT!!! Cover, ONE?!?! Gunther takes all those shots and is just pissed!! Gunther eggs Pat on, so Pat SLAPS him! Gunther eggs Pat on more, so Pat SLAPS again!
Pat SLAPS, Gunther CHOPS, but Pat just feeds off that now! The CHOPS keep going, and then Pat ELBOWS Gunther! The forearms go back and forth, Pat fires fast hands, Gunther guards! Pat runs, and he BOOTS Gunther! Pat keeps moving, to SUPERKICK! Shoutout to the Panama City Playboy, but Gunther reels Pat in for a POWERBOMB!! Cole says fine, just end this match already! Gunther clamps on the BOSTON CRAB!! But Pat endures! Cole goes to the apron to tell Pat to keep fighting! But Gunther drags Pat back to rain down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! The fans cheer on Cole, but Gunther grabs him through the ropes!!
The fans boo as Gunther drags Cole into the ring! The ref reprimands and Cole says Gunther should just pin Pat already! Gunther pushes Cole around, has him by his tie, then reels Cole in! But Pat BOOTS Gunther! Gunther BOOTS Pat!! Gunther glares at Cole as Cole is on the outside again. Pat O’Conner Rolls! TWO!! Pat bails out, Cole coaches him, but Gunther is on Pat again! Gunther suplexes, but Cole trips Gunther!! Cole holds Gunther’s foot down as Pat covers, TWO!!! Gunther is pissed, but Pat puts on the SLEEPER!!! Gunther flails, powers out, and short arm LARIATS!! Gunther drags Pat back up, and he stares Cole down before putting on the SLEEPER!!!
Pat is down in the body scissors and he’s turning purple! The fans rally as Pat still fights, but Gunther traps his arms, too!! Pat is still fighting even now!! Pat rises up, throws elbows, and the fans are thunderous! Pat fires shot after shot but Gunther wrangles him back down!! Pat is caught again, and NOW he’s out! Gunther wins!!
Winner: Gunther, by submission
Gunther pushes Pat away and Cole is distraught. Cole goes to Pat’s side, feeling just a bit responsible for letting it go this far. Der Ring General grins as he still returns to his winning ways. Pat manages to sit up again now that he can breathe, and Cole helps him stand. Gunther and Pat stare each other down, and Gunther shows Pat a nod of respect! Gunther leaves, but will he be just as ruthless as he heads back for the mountaintop?
Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena VS Randy Orton!
Both men have been here in the WWE for 25 years, never wrestling anywhere else, and never wanting to go anywhere else. And while he’s “gone Hollywood,” Cena still became the #NeverSeenSeventeen. The Viper is still only at 14, but he hopes to change that tonight as he now has the homefield advantage. Will the Legend Killer add one more name to that hit list? Or will Cena still be the Last Real Champion?
The fans obviously sing along with Voices as their hometown hero makes his entrance. Orton already seems to be getting chills hearing his hometown sing that for him. Then things turn to “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” even before the music plays. Then things turn to “JOHN CENA SUCKS~!” with the music, even as Cena wears his St. Louis Blues inspired merchandise. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly the greatest of their generation!
The bell rings and the fans fire up as Cena and Orton circle. They feel things out, tie up, and are in a deadlock. The two break, the fans applaud, and the two reset. Orton and Cena circle again, tie up again, and are in another deadlock. They break again and the fans again applaud. St. Louis rallies behind “RANDY! RANDY!” which annoys Cena, but then he offers a handshake. The fans boo and Orton smirks. Orton steps up, Cena still offers, and Orton accepts. But then Cena pokes Orton in the eyes! Cena fires hands, headlocks, but Orton powers up and out. Orton runs Cena over, then he pokes Cena in the eyes!
The fans cheer, Cena bails out, and Orton goes to the corner so he can look down at Cena. The fans cheer more and Cena slides in. The two tie up, go around, and Orton puts Cena in a corner. The ref counts, Orton lets off at 4, but he counters Cena’s punch! Orton ROCKS Cena, headlocks, and the fans duel, “You Can’t Wrestle!” “YES, HE CAN!” Cena powers up and out, ducks down, and hurdles over! Orton still runs Cena over again! The fans fire up as Orton headlocks, hits a takeover, but Cena keeps his shoulders up. Cena endures, fights up, and powers out. Orton runs Cena over yet again! Cena bails out and the fans boo.
Cena wants to walk!? The fans boo more but Cena doesn’t care. But Orton rushes out to CLUB Cena from behind! Orton ROCKS Cena, ROCKS him again, and they return to ringside. Orton ROCKS Cena, Cena rolls into the ring, and Cena comes back to LARIAT! Cena rains down fists, the fans boo, but Cena stops to catch his breath. Cena brings Orton up to bump him off buckles. Cena climbs up and fans boo more as Cena rains down fists! The fans still count along, and Cena goes to 7 before he hops down. But Orton kicks low! Orton bumps Cena off buckles, then climbs up to rain down fists! The fans count and Orton goes past TEN, to hit TWENTY!!
The fans fire up and Orton backs off. Cena staggers around, Orton reels him in, and UPPERCUTS Cena down! Cover, TWO! Orton drags Cena to center to stomp a leg! The fans cheer and Orton stomps Cena’s other leg! Cena clutches his ankle, but Orton stomps Cena’s hand! The fans cheer as Orton picks Cena apart, with a stomp to the other hand! Orton pushes Cena down and runs up, to KNEE DROP! Cover, TWO! Cena stays in this but Orton stays focused. Cena goes to ropes, rises up, but Orton is on him with a kick down low! The fans cheer Orton and he whips, but Cena reverses. Cena clamps on a SLEEPER! And becomes a backpack!
Orton stays on his feet and Cena slips down. Orton powers up and out, and he catches Cena for a SLEEPER! Cena endures, but he drops to a knee. Cena fights up, powers out, and he grabs the SLEEPER again! The fans boo but Orton powers up and out. Orton has the SLEEPER! Cena powers out, to have the SLEEPER! Orton slips around to hit a BIG back suplex! The fans rally while both men are down. Orton and Cena stir, Cena goes to the ropes, and Orton is up. Cena ducks ‘n’ dodges to start up those SHOULDER TACKLES! And then the SPIN OUT BOMB! The fans boo but Cena smooths his hair. Cena smirks, raises his hand, and says the fans can’t see him!
Cena runs, and FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLES! Orton staggers, Cena fireman’s carries, but Orton slips free! Orton shoves Cena and LARIATS! And LARIATS again! Orton dodges then SNAP POWERSLAMS! The fans fire up while Cena flounders to the apron! Orton storms over there, drags Cena through the ropes, but Cena slips through to roll Orton up! TWO, and Cena has a leg! Orton fights off the crossface, but Cena powers through! STFU!! Orton endures, reaches out, but Cena drags him from the ropes! Orton BOOTS Cena away and Cena goes back to the apron! Orton runs up, has Cena in the ropes, DRAPING DDT!
The fans fire up while Cena sputters, and Orton starts to hear those voices! Orton watches Cena rise up, R K- NO, Cena powers out, fireman’s carries, and ATTITUDE- RKO?!?! Orton turns that around at the last second and the fans are losing their minds! “This is Awesome!” while both men are down again! Both men slowly rise up, Cena has Orton, but Orton ROCKS Cena! Cena ROCKS Orton! Orton kicks Cena low, but then Cena fires a body shot! Orton HEADBUTTS Cena, but Cena HEADBUTTS back! Orton ROCKS Cena again, but Cena ROCKS Orton again! Orton UPPERCUTS! Cena HAYMAKERS! Cena fireman’s carries, ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!! Cover, TWO!?!
The fans fire up as Orton survives while Cena grows frustrated. Cena waits on Orton to rise up, the fans duel again, and Cena fireman’s carries! Orton grabs ropes, Cena pries him free, but Orton slips off the carry! Cena ducks ‘n’ dodges to start more shoulder tackles, but into an RKO!!! The fans fire up but Cena flounders away to a corner! Orton clutches his shoulder, the RKO continues to be a double-edged move when you get right down to it. But wait! Orton wants to go yard! But Cena avoids the Orton Punt! Fireman’s carry and ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!! Cover, TWO!!!! Orton survives again and Cena is beside himself!
The fans rally as hard as they can for Orton but Cena stalks Orton to a corner. Cena talks trash, and he mocks hearing those voices! Cena smirks as the fans boo, and then Cena decides to further copy Orton! Cena aims from a corner, runs up, but Orton dodges Cena’s kick! RK- NO, Cena shoves Orton into the ref!! The ref goes down, Cena has Orton again, ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!! But no ref means no pins! Cena smirks again, and he tells the fans, “Shh.” Cena goes outside, grabs the title belt, and Cole asks why he’s resorting to this. Cena says, “History.” Cena slips back into the ring with the belt, but Orton hits an RKO!!!
The ref stirs, Orton covers, and the ref counts! TWO!!!! The delay saves Cena and Orton is beside himself! Cena flops out of the ring, crawls off towards barriers, but Orton pursues. Orton huffs ‘n’ puffs and storms up on Cena. The fans call BS, but Orton thinks this is a good a place as any. Orton clears the desk! The ref reprimands but then Cena RAMS Orton into the ref!! The ref hits steel steps! Cena POSTS Orton, and the fans are dueling again! Cena sees the desk, and then smirks again. Cena decides to use another of Orton’s ideas, and he fireman’s carries Orton. But Orton slips free and fireman’s carries! ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT onto the desk!!
Cena tumbles off the desk and to the floor! Then the desk breaks! They really made those sturdier than before. Orton mutters something while he clears space. Orton drags Cena up, SMACKS him off the pieces of the desk, then goes back to the ring. The fans fire up as Orton starts looking underneath the ring! Orton goes around the way, and tada! Orton brings out a TABLE! St. Louis fires up again as Orton sets the table up right where he found it, then he drags Cena over that way. Cena fires hands and SMACKS Orton off barriers! And off the steps! Cena fireman’s carries Orton, but Orton fights free! Orton fireman’s carries again!
Orton hits another ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, through the table!!! Once again, Orton gives Cena his move! Orton drinks some Prime Hydration, then goes back to Cena. Orton steps over Cena to drag him back up, and he puts Cena in the ring. “This is Awesome!” but the ref is still down! Orton huffs ‘n’ puffs and he hears those voices again! Cena stirs, rises to his feet, and RKO!!! Cover, here comes a spare ref!! The count, TWO!??!?!? Another delay saves Cena and Orton is at a loss for words! The ref defends the count was fair, but Cena has the belt again! Cena aims, runs up, but Orton dodge! BELT SHOT on Eddie Durango! RKO AGAIN!!!!
Orton covers, he would’ve won ten times over! Nick Aldis and his producers hurry to ringside to finally check on both refs. Orton argues with Aldis, they need another official! Aldis says okay but there aren’t many left to work tonight! Orton is furious, so he just RKOS Aldis! And RKO for each and every producer! Even Jamie Noble!! The fans are thunderous as Orton unleashes that 2009 Viper! Orton looms over Cena, seethes, and goes with the last thing he has in his arsenal. Orton lines up a shot, Cena rises up, BUT R-TRUTH gets in the way! Truth pleads with Orton to spare his “childhood hero!” Orton just RKOS Truth!!
Cena is up, and he LOW BLOWS Orton!!! The fans boo, but Cena isn’t done there! He has the belt, and he CLOBBERS Orton with it!!! Cena puts the belt outside, the first ref returns, and he counts the cover! CENA WINS!!!
Winner: John Cena, by pinfall (still Undisputed WWE Champion)
Cena’s first defense of his 17th world title is certainly one for the history books! It took multiple referees, tables, distractions, and even a friend/fan biting the bullet for him, and Cena comes out the other side still the champion. Cena takes the mic, and he shouts to cut the damn music! Cena says he doesn’t need the music, he needs competition. And he sure as hell doesn’t need the fans. “Drink it in, St. Louis. Because this is what the Last Real Champion looks like.” The fans boo as Cena holds up the title at the corner, but if this is what the Last Real Champion needs to survive the Viper, what more will it take for him to finish his Farewell Tour?
My Thoughts:
Despite the concerns from right after WrestleMania, this Backlash turned out amazing! It didn’t need a two hour preshow when there wasn’t gonna be a preshow match, but I get that they did so because this was the final Backlash for Cena, they needed time to talk about Cena becoming the 17 time world champion, and what facing Orton one more time meant to everyone. Cena VS Orton: The Final Time was definitely better than Cody VS Cena at Mania. There was a lot of talk of Cena “purposefully” giving a bad match at Mania and whether that saved it from actually being a bad match because of the meta, but I think they realized that this time, it had to be a legitimately good match.
And it was! It was great stuff from two icons of wrestling, no matter what anyone says. It’s that saying of “I’m not as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was.” It didn’t flip the classic moment of Orton slapping the ref to get disqualified, but Cena did still took out two refs through the course of this. Great stuff with Aldis and all those producers, aka former/retired wrestlers, taking RKOs so Orton could unleash his anger. And while I figured R-Truth would play a part, I didn’t think we’d get him taking an RKO. Cena of course resorts to all the cheating ways to win, but this is Heel Cena after all, what else would he do? And now there is some real intrigue as to who is next for Cena as he continues his farewell tour.
To go back to the top, awesome move with the Fatal 4 Way opening tonight. All four guys got their stuff in, it was wild, and yet, Solo Sikoa still gets involved, just as they implied last night. Additionally, Solo brought in a new member to the team, also as they implied. Personally, I still wanted Hikuleo, just so that Solo would be leading the entire Guerrillas of Destiny, but maybe they want to wait until Tama and Loa are health. At the same time, I can’t fault them for going with Jeff Cobb because he’s Jeff Cobb. Cobb is sturdy, strong, athletic, and anyone who has watched NJPW, ROH and/AEW already knows what he’s capable of. You can tell already that this only ups the tension within the faction, and we might get Cobb VS Fatu very quickly.
Lyra VS Becky was great, with Becky really doing her best to Heel her way through this. I really thought she was going to pull off a cheap win thanks to the buckle or some other trick, but Lyra does prove herself the better wrestler tonight. Now, with Lyra holding her nose and then playing up the damage to the rest of her body, they could be setting up some injury angle where she has to take time off, maybe even vacate the title. Lyra’s fiancé was right there, this could be Lyra’s out so the two of them can have their wedding and honeymoon and all that while Becky goes for the vacated title. Bayley could even return to be a major roadblock to that title, and we get a great match from Bayley VS Becky to crown a new champion.
Dom VS Penta was great, and St. Louis seems to be a Dom friendly crowd. Naturally, Judgment Day had to help, but also a logical move for El Grande Americano to get involved because of how Penta superkick’d Gable. Penta will surely confront Gable and get a match with El Grande, this can lead us into something for either Worlds Collide or Money in the Bank in June. As for Dom, things seem patched up in Judgment Day for now, but that could easily change at a drop of a hat. Honestly, Worlds Collide needs to be built starting this Monday, and maybe some AAA stars show up to call out “the greatest Intercontinental Champion/greatest Mysterio ever.”
And of course, for being a bit sudden, Gunther VS Pat was great stuff. It went about how I expected, with Pat just taking damage and getting back up. A little surprised Cole tried to help Pat cheat Gunther out of this, but it didn’t change the outcome. Gunther make Pat take a nap to get the win, but I did like the modicum of respect Gunther showed on his way out. Logan VS Jey is set for Saturday Night’s Main Event in a couple weeks, but much like Rollins, perhaps Gunther tries to change plans? Or maybe Gunther wants the Intercontinental Championship? Gunther should go for something, I’m just not sure what with all these other stories going on right now.
My Score: 9/10
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Will the Front Man have his Resurgence?
Hirooki Goto and Zack Sabre Jr. battle over the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, knowing that Shingo Takagi waits at NJPW Dominion!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Strong Survivor: Allan Breeze VS CJ Tino; Tino wins.
- Bea Priestly VS Viva Van; Priestly wins.
- Fred Rosser VS Matt Vandagriff; Rosser wins.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: World Class Wrecking Crew VS TJP & Templario; TJP & Templario win and become the new NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions.
- 8 Man Tag: Bullet Club VS The Young Bucks & The Good Brothers; The Bucks & Good Brothers win.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Tomohiro Ishii VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Ishii wins and retains the title.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS El Phantasmo; Konosuke wins and retains the title.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS Zack Sabre Jr; Double Pinfall Draw, Goto retains the title.
- NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Mercedes Mone VS AZM VS Mina Shirakawa; AZM wins and becomes the new NJPW Strong Women’s Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: World Class Wrecking Crew VS TJP & Templario!
No longer just for the West Coast, Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson are World Class! But will they start to take over the world from the West Coast? Or will the Aswang & Lion Warrior conquer them for the United Empire?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who is truly world class!
The teams sort out and then WCWC just attack! The bell rings, the fans boo, but Nelson stomps away on TJP! Isaacs TOSSES Templario, then WCWC double whip TJP. TJP leaps over the double lariat and Templario springboards to DOUBLE CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as now TJP & Temp have Isaacs. They double whip him to DOUBLE ELBOW, then roll him into a wheelbarrow and BULLDOG! The fans fire up and Temp SPLASHES the leg! And SPLASHES it again! Then stomps it! Temp wrenches Isaacs, tags TJP, and they double whip to HIP TOSS, then TJP becomes Templario’s weapon for a GOURD BUSTER SPLASH!
The fans cheer and TJP covers, TWO! TJP stays on Isaacs with an UPPERCUT! Isaacs goes to ropes, Nelson talks trash, but TJP tells Nelson to “SUCK IT!” TJP UPPERCUTS Isaacs, whips, but Isaacs catches TJP to a suplex! TJP slips free and wraps on the IRON OCTOPUS! Nelson runs in, CLUBS TJP and BLASTS Templario! Then BOOT and BACKBREAKER, into a BODY CHECK! The fans boo but Isaacs rains down fists! Tag to Nelson and WCWC wrench TJP for a DOUBLE ATOMIC DROP! TJP staggers, Nelson dropkicks the legs out, then Isaacs deadlift suplexes TJP! Nelson covers, TWO! Nelson rains down forearms while the fans boo!
Nelson rains down fists, the ref reprimands, and Nelson “apologizes.” Nelson taunts Templario, bumps TJP off buckles, then tags Isaacs. Isaacs digs his boot into TJP while Nelson messes with TJP’s hair. Isaacs then BLASTS Templario while Nelson rains down fists! The ref reprimands WCWC but he also has to keep Temp from storming in. Isaacs & Nelson stomp away on TJP in the distraction and the fans boo. Isaacs taunts TJP to go tag Templario, then stomps him down! Isaacs clamps onto TJP’s arms for a motorcycle stretch! TJP endures, the fans rally, but Isaacs pulls on the arms! The fans boo WCWC while TJP still endures.
The fans rally harder for “T J P! T J P!” Nelson hijacks English commentary to talk trash, but TJP fights up to FLIP KICK Isaacs away! Isaacs hurries to whip TJP, but TJP goes Spider-Man to then slip under and RANA! The fans fire up while TJP and Isaacs crawl, hot tags to Templario and Nelson! Templario handsprings, then he fires forearms with Nelson! Templario gets the edge, trips Nelson, and things speed up. Nelson hurdles but Temp shoves. Nelson sunset flips, Temp rolls through but Nelson avoids the basement dropkick! Temp avoids a kick, rolls Nelson, but Nelson rolls through to RAM Temp! Temp comes back to SHOTGUN!
The fans fire up as Nelson tumbles out! Isaacs is in, Temp kicks but Isaacs blocks! Isaacs FLIPS Temp but Temp lands out! Isaacs whips but TJP tags in! Temp slips around Isaacs, shoves him to TJP for BOOTS, then TJP goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! WCWC regroups outside and the fans fire up. Temp holds the way open for TJP to Triangle Jump DROPKICK! Then TJP returns the favor so Temp can DIVE onto WCWC! The fans fire up with the Empire as they put Nelson back in. TJP goes up, up, and MAMBA- NO, Nelson dodges! TJP blocks a shot, SOBATS, then runs, but into a DROPKICK! Nelson dodges Temp but Temp goes up to DROPKICK back!
Isaacs is in, Temp dodges and V-TRIGGERS! Temp runs, but into a ROLLING ELBOW! All four men are down and the fans fire up! Isaacs and Temp bail out and the fans rally as TJP and Nelson go to corners. Nelson throws off the elbow pads and runs up, but into TJP’s TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up again as Nelson flounders to the apron. TJP goes up, but Isaacs ROCKS him! Isaacs goes up, and stalling SUPERPLEXES! TJP flounders back up and Isaacs LARIATS him back down! Nelson hits a MACHO ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! TJP survives and the fans fire up! WCWC is furious, they whip to SPINEBUSTER and CATAPULT, for NO VASELINE!! Cover, Temp breaks it!!
Temp fires off on WCWC then runs, but into DOUBLE ELBOWS! WCWC soak up the heat, but they miss the Templarooni! The fans fire up as Temp dodges and uses Nelson to get up and RANA Isaacs! Temp then whips, Nelson reverses, but Temp drop toeholds Nelson into buckles! Wheelbarrow and GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up, but Isaacs is back! He POP-UP UPPERCUTS Temp down! The fans boo but Isaacs drags Temp back up. Isaacs whips, Temp reverses, and TJP goes up and over to TORNADO- NO, Isaacs stops that! TJP waistlocks, Isaacs switches, but TJP ducks so Temp’s SUPERKICK hits Isaacs!
Temp runs up on Nelson, Nelson slips around to waistlock Temp, but TJP waistlocks Nelson! Nelson steps through the O’Conner but TJP reaches up to headscissor Nelson forward for Temp to reel in and pick up! EL TEMPLO!! TJP goes up to MAMBA SPLASH!! Cover, ISAACS BREAKS IT! The fans fire up while all four men are down! TJP rises and THROWS Isaacs out! TJP aims to PLANCHA! Down goes Isaacs! Temp kicks away on Nelson, ENZIGIRIS, and TJP joins in. TJP Electric Chair Lifts and Temp goes up! Temp tightrope walks, FLYING FOREARM DOOMSDAY!! Cover, TWO!! Nelson survives and TJP is beside himself!
The fans rally up as TJP rises. Isaacs rolls back in, TJP holds him down with a facelock. Temp steps in, they double suplex, but Isaacs fights that to DOUBLE SUPLEX! TJP & Temp fight that, but Nelson anchors Temp! Isaacs shoves TJP into Temp, but TJP fireman’s carries Isaacs! Isaacs fights free, gut wrenches, but TJP turns that around!? Isaacs turns it back around, SPINNING TOMBSTONE!! Nelson whips Temp and pops him up, POWERBOMB! Another catapult, another fireman’s carry, and again, NO VASELINE!! Temp writhes and the fans boo, but WCWC kips up! They keep after Temp with another fireman’s carry.
Nelson and Isaacs take Temp to a corner, and Nelson steps on Temp’s back to- NO, TJP avoids the splash! Temp slips free to ENZIGIRI Isaacs! Nelson CLAWS TJP’s eyes and goes up another corner, to POP THE- NO, TJP catches Nelson to a backslide, but Nelson rolls through to cradle! Temp tips it over, THE UNITED EMPIRE WINS?!?
Winners: TJP & Templario, by pinfall (NEW NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)
Nelson is stunned! He thought he had it, but the Lion Warrior gave Captain TJP the much needed assist! Nelson throws a fit before he and Isaacs storm off. Will all of NJPW, all over the world, soon belong to the United Empire?
8 Man Tag: Bullet Club VS The Young Bucks & The Good Brothers!
The War Dogs are still coming fresh off their win against The House of Torture, and now claim the right to be called THE Bullet Club! However, the Founding Fathers of Bullet Club seem to take offense. Matthew & Nicholas Jackson reunite with Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, will they #ShowUsTheLight? Or will we see that David Finlay, Gedo, Gabe Kidd & Clark Connors are the ones that’re #JustTooSweet?
The fans bark for the War Dogs, and then they throw up their Too Sweet. The fans chant, “Too Sweet! WOOP WOOP!” and the Founding Fathers raise theirs, but the War Dogs attack! The bell rings, the fans are torn, but the brawl is on! Things spill out to the outside, Karl fires hands on Gedo, Finlay THROWS Matt over barriers, and then goes after Matt in the crowd! The fans fire up as Karl CLAWS Gedo’s face! Gabe sends Gallows into railing, but Nick TOSSES Finlay to ringside! Connors has Matt now and they brawl. Gedo CLAWS Karl’s face in return! Gabe and Gallows return to ringside, then go up the ramp.
Gabe and Gallows brawl, shout at each other, and then Gabe CHOPS! Gallows UPPERCUITS! Matt ROCKS Connors, and Finlay has Nick on the stage! Nick fights the suplex, then SUPERKICKS Finlay down the stairs! Finlay tumbles, Gallows CLUBS him, and they all set up for Nick to run and FLY! Nick bowls them all over and the fans fire up! Matt puts Connors in and Nick puts him in a corner. The Bucks whip Connors to a corner, then Matt LARIATS! Nick LARIATS! Karl JUMP KICKS! Gallows SPLASHES! Gallows scoops Connors and SLAMS him down! The fans rally up as Matt goes to a corner. He FLIES out onto Gabe & Finlay!
Anderson SENTONS Connors, Gallows SPLASHES, and then the Bucks coordinate! RISKY BUSINESS! The fans fire up for the Founding Fathers, and they call for the Too Sweet! The fans cheer as they wind up, but the War Dogs attack again! Finlay fires off on Matt, Gabe HEADBUTTS Gallows, Gedo has Karl and Connors has Nick! The War Dogs climb up in the corners, and they rain down fists! The fans count along, and we go all the way up to TEN! That’s forty total and the fans cheer! The War Dogs toss everyone out but Karl, and Gedo stomps him. Gabe SMACKS Gallows off railing, and Connors drags Karl up.
Connors whips Karl to the corner hard and Karl falls to the mat! Connors puts Karl in place, runs, and hits an ELBOW DROP! Connors drags Karl up, brings him around, and whips him into Finlay’s boot! Connors tags Gedo but Finlay digs his boots in. The ref counts, Gedo argues with him, but that lets Finlay & Gabe CHOKE Karl! Gedo storms up but Karl CHOPS him first! And CHOPS, but Gedo blocks to poke Karl in the eyes! The fans are torn, but Gedo CLAWS at Karl’s eyes! The ref reprimands and counts, and Gedo stops at 4. Gedo looms over Karl, pulls him back, and CLAWS at his face again!
The fans boo, the ref counts, and Gedo stops at 4. The fans are torn as Gedo throws up the Too Sweet, then he tags Finlay. Finlay stomps Karl to a corner, stomps a mudhole in, but stops as the ref counts. The fans rally and duel as Finlay stands Karl up. Finlay UPPERCUTS, runs corner to corner, and UPPERCUTS again! Finlay suplexes and THROWS Karl, then pushes him down for a cocky cover. TWO, but Finlay drags Karl away from his corner. Finlay bends Karl’s fingers while Gabe & Connors BLAST the OGs! Gabe grabs a mic to talk trash during the match! Gabe stomps Karl, and mockingly asks if this is 2013 again, when those “14-year-olds were still cool?”
Gabe mocks the Bucks and say they’re the Young CUCKS, because they’re bigger virgin nerds than anyone in this building! And F YOU, too!! Gabe tells Karl and Gallows that HE’s the resident bald white guy in NJPW now! But then Karl CHOPS Gabe! And CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Gabe DECKS Karl, the War Dogs BLAST the OGs, then Connors feeds Karl to Finlay. Karl dodges, sends Finlay into Connors, but Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe whips, Karl reverses, SPINEBUSTER! Hot tag to Gallows! The fans fire up as Doc BOOTS Connors, ROUNDHOUSES Finlay, and YAKUZA KICKS Gedo! Gallows whips Connors into Finlay!
Gallows runs to SPLASH them both, then runs to CROSSBODY Finlay & Connors! The fans fire up but Gabe attacks! Gab e BITES Gallows’ head, talks trash, but Gallows UPPERCUTS! Gabe COMEBACK- NO, he runs into the 12 STEP PROGRAM! Both men are down from that modified Sky High and the fans fire up! Hot tags to Finlay and Nick! Connors still jumps in with Finlay but Nick rallies on them with his strike fest combo! SHINING WIZARD for Finlay, then a BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO! The fans fire up again and Nick tags Matt. The Bucks mug Gabe, double whip, but Gabe reverses. Nick goes up and Matt SUPERKICKS!
Matt cravats, Nick helps, ASSISTED SLICED BREAD! SHINING WIZARD! Finlay is up, DOUBLE SUPERKICKS hit him first! Matt puts Finlay in the ropes, Nick goes up, DRAPING SWANTON! Cover, TWO! Finlay survives but Matt tags Karl. Gallows joins in and the fans rally up. Gallows reels Finlay in, but Connors SPEARS him! Finlay hits Karl with an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! But he gets DSOUBLE SUPERKICKS again! The Bucks fake Connors out to DOUBLE DDT! Gabe blocks a kick, sends it into Matt, then UPPERCUTS! But Nick SUPERKICKS in return! Gabe rebounds, but into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS!
Gabe rebounds again, to DOUBLE LARIAT! Gallows is back, he and Gabe DOUBLE LARIAT! And DOUBLE LARIAT! Gabe CHOPs, CHOPS, and UPPERCUTS! Gabe runs, into a GUN STUN!! We never thought that move would return to NJPW but here we are! Finlay flounders, hot tag to Gedo! Gedo JAWBREAKERS Karl, SUPERKICKS, and the rest of the Dogs hold down the OGs! Gedo mule kicks Karl now to GEDO CLUTCH! TWO!!! Karl escapes and the fans fire up! GUN STUN for Gedo!! Gabe runs up, dodges, COMEBACKER!! Gallows ROUNDHOUSES Gabe!
Connors & Finlay mug Gallows, double whip him, then Connors runs in, only for Gallows to DUMP him! Gallows DUMPS Finlay, too! YAKUZA KICK for Gedo, and into the E V P TRIGGER!! Matt says that’s not enough! Nick climbs up to be on Gallows’ shoulders! SUPER T K DRIVER!! The Bucks PLANCHA out to wipe out the Dogs! The Good Brothers top it off with a MAGIC KILLER on Gedo!! Cover, the Founding Fathers win!
Winners: The Young Bucks & Good Brothers, by pinfall
The War Dogs are beside themselves, but the OGs of Bullet Club still got it! The War Dogs step back into the ring, they look at their “senpai” while Gedo is helped to the back. The Bucks say no hard feelings, and offer the Too Sweet. War Dogs throw it up, just to Too Sweet with each other. It seems some things aren’t “4 life” like we thought. But with the Good Brothers back in town, will things be #JustTooSweet no matter where you look?
NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Tomohiro Ishii VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney!
The Stone Pitbull took this title off Gabe in the Windy City Riot, and now he defends it against another of the War Dogs! Will Ishii survive the 44 Caliber? Or will his reign not even last a full month?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who’s really got that dog in ’em!
The bell rings and the fans rally as Drilla and Ishii get face to face. Then Drilla fires forearm after forearm! Drilla whips, Ishii reverses, but Drilla RAMS Ishii! Ishii roars so Drilla fires more forearms! Ishii eggs Drilla on and leans into the shots! Drilla keeps throwing shots but Ishii backs him down! The fans rally behind Ishii, and he DECKS Drilla into a corner! The fans fire up and Ishii shakes off those forearms. Ishii CHOPS, and CHOPS, but now Drilla eggs him on! Ishii fires forearms but now Drilla leans into the shots! The fans fire up as Drilla ROCKS Ishii. Drilla runs but Ishii CLOBBERS Drilla!
The fans fire up and Ishii suplexes, but Drilla slips free! Drilla waistlocks, Ishii fires elbows, and things speed up. Drilla hurdles, drops down, then DROPKICKS! The fans are torn but Drilla shakes out his arms. Drilla looms over Ishii, kicks him, and CHOPS him! The fans “WOO~” while Ishii wobbles, and Drilla CHOPS again! Drilla CHOPS Ishii to the corner, then CHOPS again! Ishii eggs Drilla on so Drilla winds up and CHOPS! Drilla stomps away on Ishii, the ref counts, but Drilla digs his boot in. The ref counts, Drilla steps off, and the fans rally. Drilla grins and brings Ishii up, but Ishii fires body shots!
Ishii backs Drilla down but Drilla snapmares and KICKS Ishii in the back! Ishii writhes, Drilla covers, TWO! Drilla is annoyed but Ishii is tougher than that. Drilla drags Ishii up, reels him in, and hits a BIG back suplex! Ishii sputters and rolls to the apron. The fans rally as Drilla storms over to join Ishii. Drilla drags Ishii up, reels him in, but Ishii fights the lift! Drilla pushes Ishii and ELBOWS him down! Ishii LARIATS the legs out from under Drilla! Drilla hobbles up, runs in, but into a SNAP POWERSLAM on the floor! The fans fire up while the ref checks Drilla. Drilla is okay to continue, so Ishii drags him into the ring.
Drilla goes to a corner, Ishii runs in, and LARIATS! Ishii whips, Drilla reverses, but Ishii comes back to CLOBBER Drilla! The fans fire up more as Ishii shakes off that damage. Ishii drags Drilla up, but Drilla fights the lift with elbows! Only for Ishii to shift and SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Drilla stays in this but he’s frustrated with himself. Ishii kicks at Drilla rather mockingly, and Drilla stands in a huff! Drilla ducks the haymaker to ripcord and CHOP! Then he brings Ishii in for a PILE- NO, Ishii fights that, so Drilla grabs tights for a STUFF PILEDRIVER! Ishii writhes but Drilla also grits his teeth from pain, and the fans rally up.
Drilla and Ishii stir, and Drilla rises first. Drilla drags Ishii up, CHOPS and ROCKS him on repeat, and the fans “WOO~” with every CHOP! Ishii just stares Drilla down! Drilla CHOPS, ROLLING ELBOWS, but Ishii DECKS him! The fans fire up and Ishii finally feels that damage. Ishii clutches a shoulder but he storms up on Drilla. Ishii kicks Drilla, hoists him up top, and then climbs up after him. Ishii stalling SUPERPLEXES! But Drilla’s right up!? The fans fire up and Drilla returns, but Ishii LARIATS! Drilla HAYMAKERS! Ishii HEADBUTTS! Drilla ROLLING ELBOWS, then ducks the enzigiri! Drilla runs, but Ishii stuffs the Gore!
Drilla wrenches free of the facelock, but Ishii HEADBUTTS Drilla down! The fans fire up while Ishii staggers around. Ishii roars to fire back up and the fans are with him! Drilla slowly rises, Ishii runs, but Drilla catches Ishii to a MADE IN JAPAN!??! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives Drilla using Shingo Takagi’s move and the fans fire up! Drilla goes to a corner while the fans rally up. The fans are on Ishii’s side and that pisses Drilla off. Drilla aims and runs in, but Ishii KNEES him low! Ishii stands Drilla up, but Drilla SUPERKICKS! Ishii rebounds, but into the SPINEBUSTER! Drilla gets moving again, and he GORES Ishii down!! Cover, TWO?!?
Ishii survives and Drilla is beside himself! The fans rally while Drilla and Ishii are down again. Drilla sits up and slashes his throat, vowing to end this. Drilla stands and he brings Ishii up. Drilla reels Ishii in, but Ishii fights the lift! Drilla swats a lariat, ducks the other, but Ishii ducks the enzigiri to deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! Drilla and Ishii stir as the fans rally up more. They go to ropes, rise up, and they both run in! DOUBLE LARIATS! Ishii fires boxing elbows, but Drilla eggs him on! Ishii fires forearm after forearm, but Drilla DROPKICKS! Drilla runs, but Ishii LARIATS him down! Cover, TWO!
Drilla survives and the fans rally up! Ishii sits Drilla up, runs, and SLIDING- NO! Drilla catches Ishii into a clinch! URE- NO, Ishii slips free to waistlock! Drilla switches, ripcords and DROPKICKS! Drilla reels Ishii in and suplexes, for a BRAINBUSTER!! But Ishii rises?!? His fighting spirit keeps him moving, but Drilla runs to LARIAT! Ishii stays up, UPPERCUTS, and ENZIGIRIS! Both men fall again and the fans fire back up! Ishii headbutts the buckles to fire up, and the fans are with him! Ishii runs again, to LARIAT!! Drilla tumbles, Ishii pushes him to a cover, TWO!! Drilla survives but Ishii powers back up!
Ishii hauls Drilla up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Drilla slips fere! Drilla shoves, then catches Ishii to wrench and Canadian Rack! DRILLA- NO, Ishii lands out! Drilla avoids a lariat, then another, and GORES!! Cover, ONE!?!? Drilla is shocked and the fans are thunderous! Drilla goes to a corner and he aims again! Drilla runs up, but Ishii turns leg lariat into POWERBOMB! And SLIDING LARIAT!! Ishii roars, suplexes, and BRAINBUSTERS!!! Cover, Ishii wins!!
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Champion)
The Stone Pitbull showed the young pup how it’s done! Will Ishii continue to prove no one is as NJPW Strong as him?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita w/ Rocky Romero VS El Phantasmo!
It was just last week at Wrestling Dontaku that The Alpha and Headbanga battled over the NJPW World Television Championship. They went 15 minutes for a time limit draw and both men want more! Will ELP get all he can when he takes this title from Takeshita? Or will Konosuke NEVER lose again?
The introductions are made, the NEVER belt is raised, and we see who NEVER gives up!
The bell rings and the one hour time limit is on. ELP and Konosuke circle, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Konosuke headlocks, ELP powers up and out, but Konosuke runs him over! Things keep moving, ELP stays low then hurdles over, but Konosuke leaps over. Konosuke sidesteps, ELP rolls off Konosuke’s back, but Konosuke reels him in! BLUE THUNDER- NO, ELP sunset flips! But Konosuke rolls through! ELP still reels Konosuke in and tucks the arms, but then Konosuke wrenches free! ELP dodges the lariat, but Konosuke goes Matrix to avoid Sudden Death! The fans fire up as the two are in a standoff!
Konosuke and ELP reset, circle again, and the fans are dueling. Konosuke and ELP step up, and ELP CHOPS! The fans “WOO~” and ELP eggs Konosuke on. Konosuke winds up, but then ROLLING ELBOWS! ELP falls, the fans are torn, but Konosuke stands ELP up. Konosuke whips, ELP ducks ‘n’ dodges to springboard and CROSSBODY! Then he somersaults to LIONSAULT! ELP bounces off the cover, and Konosuke is up to LARIAT ELP up and out! The fans are torn but Konosuke builds speed to FLY! Down goes ELP and the fans fire up! Konosuke drags ELP up, puts him in the ring, and then clamps on with a chinlock.
ELP endures, pries at the hold, but Konosuke shifts to go for an arm. The fans rally as ELP throws body shots, but Konosuke knees low! Konosuke whips, ELP reverses, but Konosuke FLYING UPPERCUTS ELP down! Konosuke clamps onto ELP with a double wristlock! ELP endures so Konosuke changes it to a COBRA CLUTCH! ELP fights around all the same, reaches out and has the ROPEBREAK! Konosuke lets go, ELP goes to a corner, and Konosuke storms up. Konosuke whips corner to corner hard and ELP bounces off buckles! The fans rally while ELP writhes on the mat. Konosuke watches ELP as he rolls away to ropes.
Konosuke stalks ELP, drags him up, and wrenches to put him in a corner. Konosuke whips ELP corner to corner, but ELP stops short! Konosuke runs in but ELP goes up and over! ELP runs in, but into a BOOT! Konosuke hops up, but ELP GAMANGIRIS him to the floor! The fans fire up and ELP builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Konosuke goes over railing! The fans fire up while both men are down! Konosuke rises as the ring count starts. ELP aims from the ropes! ELP did this in Japan, he’s gonna do it in California! SUPER DUPER THUNDERKISS!! Direct hit and the front row almost gets wiped out!
A Takeshita fan talks trash while showing off her Konosuke art, but Rocky is mad and throws off his jacket. ELP drags Konosuke up, CHOPS him back over the railing, and the ELP fans all “WOO~!” ELP storms after Konosuke, CHOPS him again, then puts him in the ring. Rocky gets up on the apron! The fans boo and ELP jumps, but Konosuke dodges! Konosuke then sidesteps to BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! ELP survives but Konosuke reels him in. ELP fights the suplex, but Konosuke powers through to suplex! ELP slips free, straitjackets and torture racks! BRAIN SALAD! Cover, TWO!!
Konosuke survives, but ELP kips up and the fans fire up! ELP tunes up the band and the fans cheer him on. ELP aims at Konosuke, for SUDDEN- NO, Konosuke blocks it to fire off boxing elbows! Then a ROLLING- NO, ELP mule kicks, front kicks, but then Konosuke BOOTS! ELP BOOTS! Konosuke rebounds but ELP ENZIGIRIS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Rocky coaches Konosuke, the fans rally for ELP, and both men rise. ELP and Konosuke go forehead to forehead, then forearm for forearm! ELP grins as the shots keep going back and forth! Both men stand, and the forearms keep going! Konosuke ROCKS ELP and eggs him on!
ELP returns to ROCK Konosuke, and the forearms fly again! The fans fire up as the shots go faster and faster! Then DOUBLE FOREARMS send both men staggering back! ELP and Konosuke go to the apron now, and the forearms fly again! The fans rally as the shots keep going, and ELP ROCKS Konosuke! And ROCKS him again! Konosuke just ROCKS ELP in return! And again, and again, and again! Konosuke has ELP up against the corner, and hoists him up! Konosuke drags ELP onto his shoulder, but ELP fights free!
ELP mule kicks, then he reels Konosuke in! Konosuke fights the tuck, so ELP kicks him low! APRON PILEDRIVER!! Konosuke falls to the floor and Rocky is stunned! We pass 10 minutes while ELP rises up. ELP hears the ring count so he refreshes it, then he goes looking under the ring! ELP brings out a table! The fans fire up but the ref reprimands. ELP ignores that to set the table up at ringside. ELP then fetches Konosuke, drags him to the apron, and tucks the arms! Konosuke fights the lift, and ROCKS ELP! Then POWER DRIVE KNEES! Konosuke reels ELP in, but ELP fights the Blue Thunder with elbows! ELP rolls into the ring, but Konosuke avoids the shoulder!
Konosuke KNEES ELP back down and the fans fire up! Konosuke drags ELP up the corner, and the fans are already worried about what he’s planning. ELP fights with body shots, and then adjusts his position on the top rope! Konosuke fires body shots, then SUPER LARIATS ELP down!! Konosuke hurries to cover, TWO!! ELP survives and Konosuke is furious! Konosuke drags ELP up, scoops him, but ELP slips free to gut wrench! But Konosuke turns that back around! TOMBSTONE!! But Konosuke holds on! Konosuke stands up, tucks ELP in, BASTARD DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives and the fans fire up!
ELP shakes his head, defiant against the damage done to him. The fans rally more but Konosuke brings ELP up. But ELP wrenches out, only for the ALPHA ELBOW to knock him down! POWER DRIVE- SUDDEN DEATH!! ELP hits first and the fans fire up! ELP hurries to reel Konosuke in, but Konosuke Alabama Lifts! And he spins ELP around for another BASTARD DRIVER!! And then a WHEELBARROW GERMAN SUPLEX!! The fans are thunderous, and ELP is right up!! LARIAT!! Cover, ONE?!!? WHAT?!?
ELP just runs again, goes up and up, and FLYING- ALPHA ELBOW!!! Cover, ONE!??! The fans are thunderous as both men defy expectations! ELP dodges a lariat to POISON-RANA!! Konosuke stands up but wobbles, and ELP ROLLING ELBOWS!! Cover, ONE?!?!?! HOW?!?! ELP shrugs it off to tune up! SUDDEN DEATH!! SUDDEN DEATH AGAIN!! And then C R 2!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Konosuke survives all of that and the fans are electric! Rocky is freaking out but “This is Awesome!” ELP is up, THUNDERKISS ATTACK! And then a somersault back to the apron, THUNDERKISS 86 SPLASH!!! Cover, ROCKY DRAGS THE REF OUT!!!
The fans boo as Azucar sours the taste of this one! The ref and Rocky argue, but ELP storms out to get Rocky! Rocky runs for it, but ELP SUPERKICKS him! ELP reels Rocky in and POWERBOMBS him through the table!! ELP goes into the ring, but the POWER DRIVE KNEE finds him! And then RAGING- CRADLE!!! TWO!!! Konosuke escapes, dodges, and ROLLING ELBOWS!! And then POWER DRIVE KNEES!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!? HOW?!?!? Konosuke throws off his elbow pad, winds up, and ALPHA ELBOWS!!! Then the RAGING FIRE!!! Cover, Konosuke wins!!!
Winner: Konosuke Takeshita, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)
ELP kept his NJPW World TV Championship, but now Konosuke has kept his NEVER Openweight Championship! Is Konosuke going to prove he isn’t just The Alpha of AEW, but the Alpha of the World?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS Zack Sabre Jr w/ Shane Haste!
The Fierce Warrior took this title from The Front Man at the New Beginning in Osaka, and the Goto Revolution has been on a roll these last few months. ZSJ wants the spotlight back, but there’s also a catch: The winner here must defend against Shingo Takagi at NJPW Dominion in June! Will it be out of the frying pan and into the fire for Goto? Or will this be ZSJ’s resurgence?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if the G in IWGP is still for Goto!
The bell rings and the fans fire up as Goto and ZSJ stare down. Goto and ZSJ then circle, feel things out, and go around. They knuckle lock, then clinch, and ZSJ waistlocks. ZSJ shifts to a headlock but Goto wrenches out to wristlock. ZSJ rolls, bridges, spins and wrenches, but Goto headlocks! ZSJ hammerlocks, Goto goes to the ROPEBREAK, and the fans cheer this opening exchange. Goto and ZSJ reset, circle again, and the two tie up. ZSJ headlocks, grinds the hold, but Goto powers up and out. Fans sing for “OH~ Zack Sabre Junior~!” as he RAMS Goto! Goto rebounds to RUN ZSJ over!
ZSJ avoids the elbow drop, Goto avoids the Penalty Kick, and Goto hits a headlock takeover! ZSJ headscissors, Goto kips free and Goto deflects a boot, only for ZSJ to avoid the lariat! The fans cheer and the two reset again. ZSJ and Goto circle, feel things out, and ZSJ RAMS low! ZSJ whips, but Goto blocks a hip toss, only for ZSJ to do the same! ZSJ THROWS Goto down, then clamps on for the NECK TWIST! The fans fire up, and Goto goes to the apron. ZSJ steps outside and NECK TWISTS Goto again! The fans rally while ZSJ sits Goto up on the floor, and KICKS him in the back! ZSJ then UPPERCUTS, but Goto CHOPS!
ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Goto CHOPS, repeat! The fans rally while Goto falls back! ZSJ swaggers around a bit, rolls into the ring, and lets the ring count climb. Goto sits up at 7 of 20, stands at 10, and takes a moment before rolling in at 12. ZSJ kneels on Goto, the ref reprimands as they’re in the ropes, but ZSJ SNAPS the fingers! Goto bails out while clutching his hand, but the ring count starts again. ZSJ eggs Goto on, Goto shakes out the bad hand and rolls back in. ZSJ is after the hand again and SNAPS the fingers! ZSJ then wrenches the arm, steps over, and he reaches out to have the other arm! Goto endures this modified motorcycle stretch, but ZSJ wrangles him down!
ZSJ has a DOUBLE MOUNTED ARMBAR! Goto endures, the fans duel, and ZSJ pulls on the arms! Goto kicks around to the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go and kicks at Goto. ZSJ scuffs Goto, taunts him with more kicks, but Goto sits up. ZSJ kicks at Goto while taunting him more and more. Goto scowls and stands up. They shoulder bump each other, but then Goto CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! ZSJ UPPERCUTS back, then storms up on Goto in a corner. ZSJ pushes Goto, slaps him around, but Goto SLAPS! Goto CHOPS, ZSJ UPPERCUTS, and ZSJ uppercuts. Goto reverses, runs in, but into a BOOT!
ZSJ runs, but Goto follows to LARIAT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Goto rises, he drags ZSJ up, and he ROCKS ZSJ with forearm after forearm! Goto whips, runs in, and MURAMASA! SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Goto stays focused and he brings ZSJ up. ZSJ fights the lift, pulls on an arm, and ZSJ wrenches. Goto fires forearms but ZSJ PELES the arm! Goto staggers, ZSJ runs, but then Goto follows again! Only for ZSJ to wrangle Goto to a FUJIWARA! Goto fights, ZSJ traps that arm, and then gets the other arm again! Goto endures the DOUBLE FUJIWARA! The fans rally, Goto fights around, but ZSJ steps over! Goto still gets the ROPEBREAK!
ZSJ lets go in frustration but the fans rally back up. Goto sputters but ZSJ stands him up. ZSJ UPPERCUTS Goto, has him on the ropes, then UPPERCUTS again! And again! ZSJ whips, Goto reverses, fireman’s carries, USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and the fans fire back up! Goto and ZSJ stir, rise up, and Goto brings ZSJ up to ROCK him with a forearm! Goto eggs ZSJ on, so ZSJ ROCKS him back! Goto ROCKS ZSJ again, and again, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Goto ROCKS ZSJ, ZSJ UPPERCUTS, and repeat! They go faster and faster, harder and harder, and the fans fire up more! ZSJ UPPERCUTS again and again, but Goto spins him! URA GTR!
Goto runs and LARIATS ZSJ down! The fans fire up and we’re only at ten minutes! The fans hope these two “FIGHT FOREVER!” and considering there’s a one hour limit on this, they can definitely keep going! Goto rises and fires up again. Goto stands ZSJ up, but ZSJ scoops back! ZACK DRIVER!! ZSJ can’t make the cover and the fans fire up again! Shane coaches ZSJ and the fans rally again. ZSJ makes it to ropes, stands back up, and he goes to a corner. Goto sits up, ZSJ runs in, PENALTY KICK! Deep stack cover, TWO!! Goto survives and the fans cheer again. Goto goes to a corner, ZSJ goes back to his, and ZSJ aims again.
ZSJ runs in but Goto puts him in the ropes! Then DRAPING SHOTO!! Both men are down again and the fans still rally! Goto rises and powers up! ZSJ sits up, into the BUZZSAW! Goto then drags ZSJ up, fireman’s carries, USHIGOROSHI again! Goto roars, the fans fire up, and Goto dragon sleepers, for G T- NO, ZSJ catches the arm, backslides, TWO!! ZSJ steps over, hammerlock and then CLARKY CAT!! ZSJ has the arms trapped again but Goto fights around! ZSJ pushes on the arms for an almost standing Clarky Cat! Goto endures, even as ZSJ pushes down hard on the arms! And has a leg! CLARKY CAT: BAD BALLOON REMIX!!
Goto fights with his free leg, so ZSJ shifts to focus on just an arm, URESHI ARMBAR!! Goto endures, fights with his legs, and still manages the ROPEBREAK!! ZSJ lets go in frustration and the fans fire up again! Shane coaches ZSJ to keep on Goto and the fans duel. ZSJ waits on Goto to sit up, and then he KICKS! Goto falls over, ZSJ paces, and Goto sits back up. ZSJ KICKS again! Goto falls back over, the fans rally, and ZSJ paces again. Goto sits back up, ZSJ eggs him on, and then ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Goto falls in another heap and the fans continue to rally and duel. ZSJ lines up another shot to KICK, KICK, KICK! Goto blocks!
ZSJ SLAPS, SLAPS, SLAPS, and fires off fast SLAPS! Goto HEADBUTTS him in return! Shane is worried now as Goto HEADBUTTS again and again and again! Goto SLAMS ZSJ down, runs, and LARIATS ZSJ inside-out! The fans fire up as Goto drags ZSJ back up, fireman’s carries, and G T W!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives and the fans fire up again! Goto shrugs that off to drag ZSJ up and dragon sleepers, but ZSJ drops down to victory roll, then EURO CLUTCH!! TWO!!! Goto escapes in time, and he clinches to a SLEEPER! Then roll, GOTO NI SHIKI!! TWO!! Goto fireman’s carries, ZSJ sunset flips, but Goto rocks it back, TWO!
ZSJ has the sunset flip, TWO!!! Goto narrowly escapes and the fans boo! Goto and ZSJ run back in, and DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Then they DOUBLE LARIAT again! And DOUBLE LARIAT again! The fans rally up while both men wobble. Goto eggs ZSJ on, ZSJ runs in, but into a fireman’s carry! Throw and G T- NO, ZSJ slips through, waistlocks, O’Conner BRIDGE, but Goto has a waistlock!! DOUBLE COVER, AND THREE!?!? The ref has to explain to the timekeeper to ring the bell, and then call it a DOUBLE PINFALL DRAW!!!
Double Pinfall Draw; Goto retains the title
ZSJ is pissed with the ref, and uses a GUILLOTINE CHOKE to take him down!! ZSJ grabs the world title, tosses it down at Goto’s feet, and the fans all call BS! ZSJ undoes his wrist tape, the fans tell the ref he sucks for this one, and Goto stands up to stare ZSJ down. This draw does not sit well with either man, but ZSJ pie faces Goto! ZSJ and Shane storm off while the fans boo, but there’s nothing that can be done about this decision now. Goto survived the rematch with The Front Man, will he be so lucky against the Rampaging Dragon?
NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Mercedes Mone VS AZM VS Mina Shirakawa!
The CEO thought she was just getting one or the other for Resurgence, but that Double Count Out Draw in Chicago really upped the ante. Now both High Speed Bomb Girl and Fighting Gravure Idol get their shot, will one of them leave the Golden State wearing gold? Or will she still be #FourBeltsMone?
The introductions are made, the lavender belt is raised, and we see who is truly NJPW Strong!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Mone mocks Mina and AZM for being shorter than her, but it’s not like Mone is a towering titan herself… The fans boo Mone’s attitude as she calls for a Test of Strength. Mina and AZM tie up with Mone, then with each other. The three way Test of Strength is on, and Mina shimmies and shakes! The fans cheer but Mone is annoyed so she kicks Mina low! Mone then wrenches AZM, Gory Especials, but AZM arm-drags free! Mina arm-drags AZM, then dodges Mone. Mone ROCKS Mina, dodges AZM to arm-drag and lateral press, then rolls into the STATEMENT MAKER! AZM fights the crossface, Mina storms up and rolls things over!
Mina runs, and then slides, to hold hands with Mone and AZM as she does her dance! The fans cheer but both Mone and AZM are annoyed. They roll Mina to a DOUBLE COVER! TWO, Mina double covers them! TWO and everyone stands! AZM runs, trips Mone, and then Mina joins in for a DOUBLE DROPKICK! Mone tumbles out and the fans cheer. Mina has the fans fired up, but things speed up! AZM whips Mina to a corner, runs in, but Mina puts her on the apron! AZM slides in, sunset flips, TWO! AZM keeps moving but Mina catches her to a victory roll! TWO, AZM ducks a kick to roll Mina, but Mina rolls through!
AZM trips Mina, runs, but avoids Mone’s trip to DROPKICK Mina down! AZM kips up, the fans fire up, and then AZM runs again. But Mone trips her up right this time! The fans boo as Mone drags AZM out, SMACKS her off the apron, and throws forearms! AZM fires back, but Mina climbs up! Mina SUPER CROSSBODIES Mone & AZM both down! The fans fire up with Mina as she stands back up! Mina drags Mone up, puts her in the ring, and the fans chant, “We Want Mina!” Mina covers Mone, TWO! Mone is tougher than that and she CHOPS! Mone knuckle locks, goes up, and up, and FLYING ARM-DRAGS!
Mone does her CEO dance, the fans are torn, but Mone runs in at the corner. DOUBLE KNEES, then she brings Mina out for a facelock. Mina wrenches free to CHOP! Mina fires up, the fans are with her, and Mina knuckle locks to go up, up, shimmy and shake, then CROSSBODY onto AZM! AZM bails back out, Mina and Mone run up, and Mone wrenches to suplex! Una Amiga! Mone hits another suplex, Dos Amigas! And then THREE AMIGAS! The fans are torn as Mone gives some Latina Heat. Mone runs in at Mina, blocks her boots and puts her in the ropes! AZM runs up, but Mone gives her DEADLY NIGHTSHADE!
Mone puts AZM under Mina, and then hits a DOUBLE STOCK DROP! Cover on Mina, TWO! Cover on AZM, TWO! Back to Mina, TWO! Back to AZM, TWO! Mone grows frustrated but her opponents are just that tough. Mina and AZM bail out and the fans rally. Mone goes to the apron, runs up, and DOUBLE METEORAS to the floor! The fans fire up and Mone smirks. Mone SMACKS Mina off the apron, puts her in, and covers, TWO! Mina is still in this but Mone looms over her. Mone soaks up cheers and jeers, stomps Mina, then drags her up. Mone Gory Especials, but Mina fights to kick at the legs! Mina Gory Especials, for a GORY BOMB!!
Mina SMASHES away on Mone’s knee! Then one BIG SMASH! The fans fire up for Mina and she reels Mone in. Mina hooks up the legs, does her dance, then DOUBLE STOMPS the knees! Mone writhes but Mina steps through, KNEE JAMMER on the left leg! Mina then SLAPS Mone’s leg, steps through, and has the FIGURE FOUR! Mone endures, Mina thrashes around, but AZM DIVING STOMPS Mina! The fans fire up and AZM brings Mina in, only for Mina to power out! AZM kicks low, runs, and uses Mina to get Mone in LA MYSTICA! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Mone endures, but Mina runs up, only for AZM to drop toehold her onto Mone!
AZM has a DOUBLE FUJIWARA, then shifts to have a DOUBLE RINGS OF SATURN!! The fans fire up as AZM makes them both suffer, but they both push over to a cover! TWO!! AZM BOOTS Mone, BOOTS Mina, and fires up! The fans cheer AZM on as she climbs, but Mone trips her up! Mone calls to Mina and Mina ROUNDHOUSES AZM! Mone & Mina talk it out, and they both climb up! They bring AZM up, but AZM resists their suplex! AZM trips them into a Double Tree of Woe, for DOUBLE WOE STOMPS!! AZM drags Mone away to a drop zone, and then she goes back up! The fans fire up as AZM aims, to DIVING DOUBLE STOMP!!!
Mone writhes, AZM covers, Mina breaks it! Mina has AZM but AZM blocks the kick! The HEEL KICK still lands, and Mina runs, tilt-o-whirls, but AZM stays up! Mone runs up to DOUBLE BACKSTABBER!! All three women are down and the fans fire up! The dueling is all over the place, and Mone grabs each opponent by their hair. AZM and Mina both break free, and AZM ROCKS Mina! Mina ROCKS Mone! Mone ROCKS Mina! AZM ROCKS Mone! The forearms go around and around, then Mina and AZM mug Mone! The fans fire up as Mina just fires off furious hands! Mina and AZM drag Mone up, double whip, but then AZM ROUNDHOUSES Mina!
AZM tilt-o-whirls at Mone, but Mone fights that to CIPHER UTAKI! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up as AZM stays in this, but Mone snarls. The chants of “C E O!” and “C E NO!” echo out, but Mone bumps AZM off buckles. Mone fires off forearms, then runs corner to corner! DOUBLE KNEES, and AZM sits down! Mone runs back in and METEORAS! Cover, TWO! AZM is still in this and Mone is frustrated. Mone drags AZM up, vows to end this, and she lifts AZM, only for AZM to RANA! Mina is up top, and she FLYING SLINGBLADES AZM! Cover, but Mone breaks it! Mone covers AZM now, TWO!! Mone grows further frustrated and she hauls AZM up!
AZM fights the Gory Especial, Mina victory rolls Mone! Mina then steps through and has the legs tied up! AZM runs up but Mina spins her, DDT SNAP LOCK COMBO! The fans fire up for Mina as she Electric Chair Lifts AZM! Mina spins Azm to hit a FALLING DRAGON SCREW!! Then Mina has the leg, FIGURE FOUR! AZM endures, the fans “WOO~” and Mina puts on the pressure! Mone is back and she METEORAS Mina! The fans are torn but Mone seethes. Mone says this is HER title! She SLAPS Mina, but Mina blocks a kick! DRAGON SCREW! Mina drags AZM over to join Mone, and she has both their legs!
The fans fire up as Mina steps through for a DOUBLE FIGURE FOUR!! That’s rather tricky but she keeps it on! The fans “WOO~” more as Mina thrashes! AZM and Mone endure, keeping each other from tapping! They SLAP Mina, Mina SLAPS them! Mina puts on as much pressure as she possibly can, but Mone and AZM work together to backstroke and ROPEBREAK! Mina lets them both go and the fans fire up again. “This is Awesome!” as Mina goes for Mone, only for Mone to bail out. Mina settles for AZM as we pass 15 minutes. Mina steps through, AZM throws her off! Mina ROLLING ELBOWS, then URAKENS!
Mina runs and SHOTGUN KNEES! Cover, TWO!! AZM survives but Mina is right on her with the IMPALER DDT!! Cover, TWO!!! AZM survives yet again and Mina is frustrated. Mina calls her shot and the fans rally up again. Mina drags AZM up, brings her around, dragon sleeper and GLAMOUR- NO, Mone rolls Mina up! TWO! Mina shoves Mone, jackknife bridges, TWO! Mone sunset flips, TWO! Mone Gory Especials but MZM shoves them both over! DOUBLE STACK, TWO!! Mone Gory Especials but AZM BOOTS Mina! AZM wrangles Mone to the AZM SUSHI ROLL!! TWO!!! Mone escapes, blocks a kick, and KNEES AZM down!
Mone runs up and SUNSET FLIP BUCKLE BOMBS AZM! A shoutout to her Role Model, then she runs back in for DOUBLE KNEES! Mone has the Gory Especial, but AZM kicks off buckles to flip up and over! DESTROYER!!! Mina grabs AZM but AZM rolls through to the SUSHI ROLL! TWO!! ROLLING ELBOW from Mina! Mina fires up, aims, but AZM dodges the uraken to LA MYSTICA!! But Mina wrangles AZM for the GLAMOROUS COLLECTION CRADLE!! But Mone breaks it! Mina TOSSES Mone, ROUNDHOUSES her, then she blocks AZM’s kick! Mone trips AZM, steps through, but AZM drags her down to a cradle! TWO!!!
Mine escapes, AZM has her again, AZM SUSHI ROLL! TWO, but AZM gives it another try!! AZM WINS!!!
Winner: AZM, by pinfall (NEW NJPW Strong Women’s Champion)
Mone is stunned! She slid in one second too late, and the High Speed Bomb Girl just blew up her reign! The Money Train just got derailed and Mone is furious! She lost a corner piece of her treasure, how will she ever recover? She also argues with Mina, shoves her, and then runs away from her! These two go all the way to the back, will Mina get after Mone for her attitude?
As for AZM, she is now a double champion in her own right! This title can now sit alongside her Artists of Stardom Trios Championship, and then gets the mic to say, “I’m a new champion!” The fans cheer that! AZM says she’s so, so happy! She got her revenge on Mone from last year, and got to be a champion for it! She thanks everyone here tonight and the fans cheer her on. “You Deserve It!” AZM says, “It’s AZM time!” The fans cheer that! AZM is ready ready to make this her NJPW Strong! It won’t be a matter of who will step, but more a matter of who can keep up with the High Speed Bomb Girl!
My Thoughts:
An awesome Resurgence here, NJPW is really doing all they can to make NJPW Strong, well, strong again. Good stuff seeing Bea Priestly back in NJPW/Stardom after her release from WWE. Vince McMahon fumbled her but she’ll be back to what she was doing before moving to NXT UK. And between the IWGP Women’s Championship almost exclusively in Stardom, and a new NJPW Strong Women’s Champion being from Stardom, Bea has her choice of title stories. Speaking of, awesome move making the women the main event given how AZM is the new champion. That was a great Triple Threat, and it worked out for the best. Mone finally loses the belt but wasn’t in the finish, and now she and Mina can bring their animosity to AEW.
Great tag title match, and a rather surprising result with TJP & Templario winning. World Class Wrecking Crew just upgraded themselves to that name, and now they’re no longer champions, that’s kinda wild. But it does feel like the United Empire is making a play to have as much gold as they can, with Khan & Callum also holding the IWGP Tag Team Championships. Great stuff with the War Dogs tonight. That 8 Man Tag was a fun time, but Gedo was in the match so duh, War Dogs were gonna lose. Plus, it gives Good Brothers a strong win with their return to NJPW. Who knows where this goes, especially with their #ShowUsTheLight gimmick. Ishii VS Drilla was also great stuff, but I figured Ishii would win. Ishii seems to be going through the War Dogs, I wonder if Connors is next.
Konosuke VS ELP was great stuff, especially after we just got great stuff from them last week. ELP retained his title so it made sense Konosuke would retain his. I am not sure who takes this title off Konosuke, but it’ll have to be an insane match to do it. And then a great match of Goto VS ZSJ, but wow I did not think they’d pull that kind of draw. The fans weren’t happy, but I can see that they wanted to keep ZSJ strong but keep the title on Goto. Goto VS Takagi better be a slugfest to make up for it, though.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
4 Corners Podcast: Playoffpalooza
Dave and Tunney discuss all the awesome action that has been going on in the NHL and NBA Playoffs!
4 Corners Podcast: Is It Drafty In Here?
Patrick and Dave discuss the NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders, and the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs!
4 Corners Podcast: Rory McIlroy, NBA Playoffs & NIL
Join Patrick and Dave every Tuesday as they cover the four corners of the professional sporting world!
4 Corners Podcast: Houston Still Has a Problem
This week, we discuss the NCAA Final Four, the NHL Playoff chase, the end of the Gr8 Chase and much...
4 Corners Podcast: Chalk & Chase
This week we talk a little MLB, discuss the red-hot Blues, the GR8 Chase, and whether a chalky NCAA Tournament...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (5/9/25)
June will be electric!
Bandwagon Nerds #287: Filling A Void
The Nerds review Thunderbolts*, check out the latest trailers, and celebrate Star Wars Day as only they can!
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (5/1/25)
Let's live it up!
Attitude Of Aggression #308- Unidentified History: From Undesirable to Undeniable
This debut Episode examines how UAPs went from an undesirable topic of discussion into an undeniably important aspect of our...
Bandwagon Nerds #286: Hela Hath No Fury
VILLAIN MADNESS reaches its epic conclusion. Plus trailers for Predator: Badlands, Pee Wee as Himself, WWE Unreal and much more!
Mitchell’s WWE Backlash Results & Report! (5/10/25)
John Cena's Final Backlash!
Mindless Wrestling Podcast: Release The Backlash
Join DJ, Rob and Jason every week as they give their "Mindless" takes on Pro Wrestling and much, much more!
Mitchell’s NJPW Resurgence Results & Report! (5/9/25)
NJPW's back in the Golden State!
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (5/9/25)
The time is now!
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (5/9/25)
TGIROHF!
Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis
Chairshot Staff picks!!!
DWI Podcast #475: JAFC vs RKO
We give our picks and predictions for WWE Backlash!
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 5.8.2025
We get to see Alicia Fox in action and a dog collar match! Definitely an odd combination, so let's see...
Mitchell’s AEW Collision Results & Report! (5/8/25)
Collision on a Thursday?!
Mitchell’s WWE Evolve Results & Report! (5/7/25)
Hear ye, hear ye!
