Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (1/22/2020)

Does Lee make Strong #BaskInHisGlory?

Published

4 years ago

January 28, 2020

Steven Mitchell

Will the North American Championship be Undisputed or Limitless?

After powering through a smashed ankle, Keith Lee has rage fueling him towards the title! Will Roderick Strong reach his limits against the Limitless One?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic 2020 Semifinal: The Undisputed Era VS Grizzled Young Veterans; Grizzled Young Veterans win and advance to the finals.
Toni Storm VS Io Shirai; Storm wins, by disqualification.
Finn Balor VS Joaquin Wilde; Balor wins.
Shotzi Blackheart VS Shayna Baszler; Baszler wins.
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic 2020 Semifinal: The Broserweights VS Imperium; The Broserweights win and advance to the finals.
NXT North American Championship: Roderick Strong VS Keith Lee; Lee wins and becomes the new NXT North American Champion.

PLAY BY PLAY

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic 2020 Semifinal: The Undisputed Era VS Grizzled Young Veterans!

Tonight, the Undisputed Era looks to once again #ShockTheSystem! Roderick Strong has his title defense later tonight, but Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish look to take one step closer to another incredible achievement. But can they get to the finals against James Drake & Zack Gibson? Or will they SOON be recognized as the team that lost so close and yet so far from the cup?

Fans troll Liverpool’s Number One almost immediately with “If you hate Gibson, shoes off~!” Gibson starts against Kyle and they tie up. Gibson wristlocks and wrenches but Kyle drop toeholds to a takedown and headlock. Gibson gets up and powers Kyle to a corner. Gibson looks to back off, but he slaps Kyle! So Kyle turns it around and gives Gibson forearm after forearm! Kyle fires off shot after shot after shot, then even some kicks before the ref reachs a count of 4! Kyle whips Gibson corner to corner but Drake uses his body to save Gibson from buckles. Gibson blocks Kyle’s kick and then clobbers him with a clothesline! Tag to Drake and the GYV mug Kyle in the corner. Drake throws forearms and chops then whips Kyle corner to corner. Kyle reverses, Drake goes up and out to shoulder back in. Cole and Strong distract Drake long enough for Kyle to grab a leg for a Dragon Screw!

Tag to Fish and Fish sweeps the other leg to make Drake crash and burn! Fans rally for the Undisputed Era as Fish puts Drake in the ring. Cover, TWO, but Fish keeps close. Fish throws big knees and then snapmares. Fish slingshot sentons down! Cover, TWO! Fish has Drake trapped in the Undisputed corner with forearms and kicks. The ref counts, Fish tags to Kyle. Kyle adds kicks and forearms of his own and even a boot. Tag back to Fish, and reDRagon double snap suplexes Drake down! Cover, TWO but barely. Fish drags Drake up to a back suplex! Cover, TWO but with more strength this time. Fish throws body shots to keep Drake in the Undisputed corner, and boots him back. Tag to Kyle but Drake starts hitting back! Kyle kicks Drake’s leg then grabs it for a shin breaker! Kyle elbows the knee then sweeps the leg! There’s no mercy in this dojo! Kyle covers, TWO, but brings Drake up to grab the leg again.

Kyle lifts but Drake slips out of the shin breaker to sunset flip! Kyle rolls right out to grab the leg again, but Drake shoves Kyle at the GYV corner. Kyle swings on Gibson but turns into a jawbreaker from Drake! Tag to Gibson and Gibson clotheslines Kyle down. Gibson swings on Fish but Fish gets clear, and Gibson turns around into kicks from Kyle. Kyle fires off strikes and sweeps the leg! Gibson wobbles around but Kyle whips. Gibson reverses, headlocks and then tags Drake. Gibson whips Kyle, Drake dropkicks a leg out, then Gibson adds his own dropkick! Drake uses Gibson as a step stool, Mayhem in Motion dropkick takes out Fish! Fans say “You Still Suck!” as NXT goes to break.

NXT returns as Gibson keeps Kyle trapped in the corner. Cole distracts Drake before he runs in at Kyle, and Kyle puts Drake up and onto Gibson’s shoulders. Kyle sweeps Gibson’s legs and both Grizzled Young Veterans fall down! Fans rally as Kyle crawls for his corner, but Drake gets in to drag Kyle back. Tag to Gibson and Kyle manages a tag to Fish! Fish rallies on GYV with elbows and kicks! Drake ducks one kick but not the other. Fish boots Gibson then EXPLODERS Drake into Gibson! Gibson gets to an open corner and Fish runs in, but to get an enziguri. Gibson hops up and leaps, TICKET TO RIDE! But Fish grabbed a leg! KNEEBAR! Gibson flails and endures, Drake helps him reach the Ropebreak! Fish lets go to DECK Drake! Gibson hobbles up but into a Samoan Drop!

Fish has Gibson in a drop zone and goes up top, MOONSAULT FLOP! Gibson tags Drake and Gibson powers Fish to the corner. Drake comes in, GRIT YOUR TEETH DROPKICK! Then Gibson lifts Fish in a suplex, Helter Skelter! Cover, TWO!! Fish survives and fans tell GYV, “You Still Suck!” Drake drags Fish over, tags Gibson, and Drake gut wrenches. But FIsh slips out and shoves GYV into each other. Fish boots Gibson and dumps Drake. Kyle flying knees Drake from the apron! Fish misses Gibson and Gibson waistlocks. Kyle tags in as Fish bucks Gibson off, then coordinate, CHASING THE DRAGON! Cover, TWO!! Fans rally up as Kyle tags Fish. Kyle drags Gibson up as Fish runs, but Gibson fights Kyle off! Drake also gets in, no Total Annihilation for reDRagon.

Drake tags in, Gibson grabs Fish for Drake to enziguri! Then Gibson feeds Fish to Drake’s scoop, only for Kyle to boot Gibson down! Fish slips off Drake as Kyle Ax and SMASHES Gibson! Drake SUPERKICKS Kyle but Fish ROCKS Drake. Drake hits back and we have a heavy hitting brawl! Full Sail is on the Undisputed Era’s side as Fish kicks and Drake knees. Kyle tags back in, Fish ducks Drake, and then reDRagon double pop-up kick! Kick sandwich! Fans fire up with reDRagon as they drag Drake back up. But wait! Is that Imperium!? While Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner are in the other semifinal match, all of Imperium will face all of the Undisputed Era at Worlds Collide! As such, Walter, Alexander Wolfe and the aforementioned Barthel & Aichner are now on the NXT balcony to make their presence known!

Cole and Strong dare them to come down and fight, but Gibson drags Fish out! Drake scoops Kyle, TICKET TO MAYHEM!! Cover, GRIZZLED YOUNG VETERANS WIN!!

Winners: Grizzled Young Veterans, James Drake pinning; advance to the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Classic Finals

A Ticket to Mayhem turns out to be a ticket to the finals! Will Gibson and Drake SOON be recognized as the inaugural NXT UK tag team to win this amazing tradition? As for Undisputed Era and Imperium, will there be consequences for these actions?

NXT looks at the ripper year Rhea Ripley had.

Becoming inaugural NXT UK Women’s Champion. Leading her team to victory in the first ever Women’s WarGames. Leading her Team NXT to victory at Survivor Series the very next night. And now, becoming our NEW NXT Women’s Champion by dethroning the Queen of Spades, Shayna Baszler. Memories that will last a lifetime. But speaking of memories, a blast from the past wants to strike! Toni Storm is proud of Rhea, but one memory Rhea left out is losing the NXT UK Women’s Championship to Toni. And then Toni kept it in the rematch. So now, Toni promises to do the same thing for this women’s championship. Challenge accepted, and when Worlds Collide, only one force of nature stands tall!

“The world is talking about Shotzi Blackheart.”

The Evolve star has come to NXT, and she already made an impact when she eliminated Shayna Baszler from the #1 Contender’s Battle Royal. But that’s just Shotzi being Shotzi. She knows how to #TCB, “Take Care o’ Business.” Predictable isn’t in her vocabulary. You can’t out-crazy Shotzi. If that was a statement, then wait for what happens 1v1 tonight.

Toni Storm VS Io Shirai!

The Lightning From Down Under wants to strike twice, but that’s easier said than done. And even with the Riptide on the horizon, she wants to take on the Evil Genius of the Sky! Is Toni getting ahead of herself? Or is she only picking up speed heading for Houston?

The bell rings and Toni circles slowly with Shirai. This Mae Young Classic rematch ties up, goes around the ring, and Toni headlocks. Shirai trips Toni and twists the leg with a toehold. Toni works her way up and around and pries free to get a headlock of her own. Toni gets the take down, but Shirai headscissors back. Toni goes up and around to pop out and offer Shirai a hand. Shirai refuses it, but Toni avoids the slap. Toni avoids the clothesline to give slaps and a kick, but the boot is blocked. Shirai runs to handspring but Toni gets clear, only for Shirai to dropkick her down! Shirai shows off with a kip up and fans fire up! Shirai talks trash but Toni blocks the buzzsaw. Things speed up, Toni redirects to dropkick Shirai back. Toni keeps going to BOOT Shirai now! Cover, TWO!

Toni keeps her cool as she brings Shirai up. Toni throws European Uppercuts as fans rally and duel. Shirai ends up in a corner but Toni gives more EuroUppers. Toni waistlocks and lifts but Shirai elbows back. Toni holds on, so Shirai runs forward to jump through ropes. Toni gets a hotshot in the process, and Shirai comes back to Drive-By Dropkick! The Big Dog would be impressed. Fans stop dueling because they realize they like “Both These Girls! Both These Girls!” Shirai gets in the ring and stalks behind Storm. Cover, TWO, but Shirai keeps her cool. Toni crawls to a corner but Shirai stomps a mudhole into her. Shirai drags Storm up to CHOP! Toni gets to another corner, Shirai CHOPS again! Shirai grins as she stalks Storm to a third corner.

Shirai stomps Storm more then chokes her on the ropes. The ref backs Shirai up at 4, but Shirai clamps onto Toni for a modified camel clutch. Toni endures, fans rally up, and Toni snapmares free! But Shirai runs her right over with a shoulder. Shirai drags Toni up for big forearms but Toni gives them back. Now we have a brawl going back and forth, but Shirai grabs a headlock! Shirai brings Toni down right away, but fans rally back up. Toni fights her way up and throws some body shots. Shirai gives her forearm after forearm then throws her down by her hair. Cover, TWO! Shirai is frustrated but still in control as we go to break.

NXT returns as Shirai has Toni in a crossface! Fans rally as Toni rolls back to cover, TWO! Shirai grabs Toni but Toni standing switches. Toni lifts but Shirai victory rolls through to then double STOMP Toni down! Toni gasps as she goes to a corner but Shirai is on her with more stomps. The ref counts as Shirai grinds both feet into Toni, but Shirai swings up to hit the meteora! Shirai laughs as she gets space. Shirai runs in corner to corner but into a BOOT! Toni hops up and over Shirai to then roll, waistlock and GERMAN SUPLEX! Toni fires up now and keeps moving, basement lariat! Cover, TWO! Shirai survives and Toni perhaps remembers how hard that MYC2 win was.

Toni underhooks and lifts but Shirai fights out of Storm Zero. Shirai forearms and SHOTEIS! Shirai runs but into a LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Shirai survives again but fans rally up more. Toni drags Shirai up but Shirai ducks the lariat to ghost pin! TWO, and Shirai BUZZSAWS! Toni is dazed and Shirai runs, 619 IS BLOCKED! Toni keeps Shirai on the ropes to dropkick her out! Toni then builds up speed to DIVE into Bianca Belair’s forearm!? The EST comes outta nowhere!

Winner: Toni Storm, by disqualification

Bianca is the #1 Contender thanks to her Battle Royal win, but it’s Storm getting the Worlds Collide shot. That clearly doesn’t sit well with Bianca, and she SPEARS Toni down! Bianca rains down hands from all sides then DECKS Shirai! Bianca double chicken wings Toni for her own version of the GLAM SLAM! Bianca whips her hair back ‘n’ forth and says kiss this, but here comes RHEA! The NXT Women’s Champion spots her TakeOver: Portland challenger and heads down the ramp. Bianca dares Rhea to throw down, and they do! Bianca gets Rhea down but Rhea turns things around! Shirai springboards in to missile dropkick Rhea out! Then Shirai dodges Bianca to send her out, and then ASAI MOONSAULTS onto them both! Fans are thunderous, but Toni DIVES in on Shirai! The Storm stands tall this close to Worlds Collide, but will she come away with a new #ShinyShiny?

Backstage interview with The Undisputed Era.

Cole, Fish, O’Reilly and Strong are all riled up by Imperium, but Cathy Kelly still asks their mindset. If it wasn’t for Imperium, the Undisputed Era would be headed to the Dusty Cup finals! There is no clearer picture. The Undisputed Era made a statement in Blackpool, not Imperium. But Cole refocuses the team on Roderick Strong retaining his North American Championship against Keith Lee. Imperium will pay in Houston, because the UE is #DrapedInGold. But will it stay that way?

Ilja Dragunov speaks on Finn Balor.

“Finn, I heard you’ve been watching me.” Everything Finn said is right. But the one thing Finn missed is that Ilja is driven. Driven to beat him! Ilja will throw 1000 strikes and bring the sky crashing down. When Ilja wins, everyone will believe that Ilja is not Finn, he is UNBESIEGBAR. The invincible will not miss.

Finn Balor VS Joaquin Wilde!

But speaking of The Prince, he is in action just days away from the incredible crossover dream match at Worlds Collide! Are things about to get rrrreeeal wild in Full Sail?

The bell rings and Balor ties up with Wilde. Balor forearms Wilde in the back then slams Wilde down. Balor kicks Wilde while he’s down and looms over him at the ropes. Balor stomps Wilde and again, then springboard stomps over and over, saying Wilde just represents Dragunov, Gargano “and anybody else who wants it!” Balor CHOPS Wilde at the corner then stalks him to another corner. Balor CHOPS, whips Wilde corner to corner then CHOPS again! Fans are fired up with the Prince as he whips corner to corner again. Balor runs into a boot and Wilde gets moving. But Wilde runs into a dropkick! Balor takes aim from a corner, SHOTGUN Dropkick blasts Wilde into buckles! Wilde is down and Balor goes up. COUP DE GRACE! But Balor doesn’t cover there, he wants to send a message. “When you come at Finn, you better not miss!” BLOODY SUNDAY! Cover, Balor wins!

Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall

Too easy and too sweet for Balor, but will he be leaving Dragunov with the bitter taste of defeat in Houston?

Backstage interview with Shayna Baszler!

The Queen of Spades returned only for her plans to be spoiled by new girl Shotzi Blackheart. Shotzi thinks she made a statement, but she only ended her career here before it started. Rhea says she’s a nightmare, but nightmares give way to reality. And the reality is that Shayna isn’t going anyway. If Shayna has to go through every woman in that locker room to become #ShaynaThreeTime, then she’ll do it. Does the road to redemption run through Shotzi?

Shotzi Blackheart VS Shayna Baszler!

A lot of words have been said about this match, but actions will speak far louder. Will Shotzi shock Shayna again? Or will she simply succumb to the Submission Magician?

The bell rings and fans duel already. Shotzi and Shayna circle and tie up. Shayna gets the facelock and then gets Shotzi down, to pat her on the head. Shotzi shrugs the mocking off and circles with Shayna again. Shotzi waistlocks but Shayna wristlocks to sweep the legs. Shayna pats Shotzi’s head again but Shotzi slaps the hand away. Shotzi avoids the Penalty Kick but Shayna blocks a kick from Shotzi. Shotzi rolls to bring Shayna down and then grabs the ankle, but Shayna grabs the ankle of Shotzi. Shayna trips Shotzi to get the headlock and then shift to a mounted armlock. Shotzi moves around so Shayna shifts to a toehold. Shayna rolls Shotzi to get the arm again and tortures the wrist! Shotzi endures as Shayna twists and bends her arm. Shotzi spins and gets up to get the ropebreak. Shayna adds on until the count of 4 and lets go.

Fans rally for Shotzi but Shayna runs in. Shotzi dumps Shayna out, just like the battle royal elimination! Things speed up now, Shotzi uses teh ropes to bounce back and elbow Shayna. Then swing kick her back! Shotzi hops up the ropes to springboard but Shayna gets under and dump Shotzi out! Payback for the battle royal. But Shayna goes out to fetch Shotzi, lifting her to flapjack on the apron! Shayna puts Shotzi on the apron to club away with both hands! And KNEE Shotzi right back into the ring! Shayna stalks up behind Shotzi and throws her at the ropes to clobber her from behind. Shayna covers, TWO, and Shotzi gets to ropes. Shayna brings Shotzi around by her arm and facelocks. Shotzi clubs back but Shayna whips her. Shotzi ROCKS Shayna with a right, then more! Shayna ducks the kick and wants the Kirafuda, but Shotzi throws her into buckles! Shotzi runs in, shining wizard to DDT!

Shayna is dazed and fans are rallying up. Shotzi grits her teeth and aims from the corner to run Shayna over with a clothesline! Shotzi keeps going but Shayna clips her with a clothesline of her own! Shayna whips Shotzi but Shotzi slides under to enziguri! And then the question mark kick! Shayna wobbles, Shotzi SLING-DOGS! Shayna is on the ropes, Shotzi is moving, CANNONBALL! Shayna is down now and Shotzi heads up top. But Shayna springs up to ROUNDHOUSE Shotzi first! Shayna goes out to the apron and brings Shotzi up, but Shotzi blocks the suplex. Shotzi fights back and cravats, to SLICED BREAD ON THE APRON!! The Queen of Spades is down and fans are fired up for Shotzi! Shotzi pushes Shayna into position then heads back up top. SUPER SENTON into the KIRAFUDA!!

Shotzi claws and flails as she endures the hold, but she’s caught! Wait, she gets around and to her base! But Shayna just wrangles her back around and clamps on tighter! Shotzi taps, Shayna wins!

Winner: Shayna Baszler, by submission

But Shayna wants to make Shotzi suffer! Shotzi is passing out! Shayna lets go when she’s satisfied, but this is just an appetizer for her. Will she soon be feasting on the rest of the NXT Women’s Division as she heads back for the title?

Team Kick’s break-up sent shockwaves through the NXT Universe.

“June 1st, 2017. From that day,” she and Dakota Kai were best friends. Close as sisters, even. Dakota was there for Tegan when she was doing rehab. When they were in the WarGames cage together, they were so excited to be Team Kick at TakeOver. But then, it changed. Dakota says Tegan is not as good as she thinks she is. Being snubbed for WarGames, Dakota wanted Tegan to support her, but she didn’t. Tegan got in the contender’s battle royal because she saw Dakota advertised. But then Dakota bowed out just so she could stick it to Tegan. Dakota doesn’t play by anyone’s rules. Dakota says Tegan deserves it, but Tegan says Dakota deserves getting hurt right back. These two are going to kick things up to another level when they finally face off next week!

Backstage interview with Angel Garza!

El Latino is in la casa but he’ll be in a Fatal 4 Way in Houston. The pressure is on, but how is he preparing for such a big defense? When you’re as good as Garza, you feel no pressure. It doesn’t matter which two stars NXT UK puts up, Garza will beat them AND Swerve. Swerve’s House? No, it’s El Campeon’s Casa. And Garza proves it when Worlds Collide.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic 2020 Semifinal: The Broserweights VS Imperium!

Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne surely surprised a lot of people when they became a team for this NXT tradition. And they perhaps surprised many more by winning their first match out. But can they continue to surprise us by taking on such an experience and established team as Aichner & Barthel?

The teams sort out and Aichner starts against Dunne. They rush at each other, Aichner headlocks but Dunne headscissors. Aichner pops out, they tie up again, roles reverse but Dunne pops out of the headscissors. They stare down and fans fire up! Aichner and Dunne back up and Barthel tags in. Barthel and Dunne tie up, Barthel wrenches to a hammerlock, then trips Dunne by a leg. Dunne grabs back for a headlock but Barthel bridges over! Barthel floats back to the hammerlock and then chinbars Dunne. Dunne wrenches out but Aichner tags in. Barthel whips Dunne and Aichner arm-drags Dunne down! Aichner grinds on the arm but Dunne endures. Dunne gets up but Aichner wrenches and yanks the arm. Aichner headlocks, Dunne powers out and things speed up. Aichner manages to hurdle Dunne but Dunne CLOBBERS Aichner!

Fans are thunderous for the Bruiserweight as he tags in the Bro. Dunne wrenches Aichner and holds him down to help with Riddle’s standing corkscrew senton! Dunne adds a basement dropkick then Riddle covers, ONE! Riddle Penalty Kicks Aichner then drags Aichner up for a gut wrench suplex! Aichner tags Barthel but Riddle welcomes him with another gut wrench! Riddle hits a Broton, onto knees! Barthel throat chops Riddle and has him in a corner for mudhole stomps and punches. Fans boo Barthel but Riddle CHOPS! And CHOPS! And throws big forearms. Barthel pushes then elbows Riddle int he leg. Riddle boots Barthel down, tags to Aichner and Dunne! Dunne boots Aichner then hops up to dropkick a leg out! Barthel runs in, but into a German Suplex! And buzzsaw! Aichner Germans but Dunne lands on his feet to kick Aichner in the back! Dunne hits a Crucifix DRIVER! Cover, TWO!

Aichner flounders to a corner while fans are fired up. Dunne runs in but Aichner puts him on the apron. Aichner runs in but Dunne moonsaults off the apron to wipe Barthel out! Aichner runs into a kick, and an apron X-PLEX! But Walter looms close, rubbing in that he has the United Kingdom Championship. The ref backs Walter away, but Barthel EuroUppers Dunne into steps! Aichner RAMS his knee into Dunne! Imperium takes over as NXT goes to break.

NXT returns as Dunne fights up out of Barthel’s armlock. Barthel shoves Dunne to a corner to rock him with another EuroUpper, an enziguri, and a DDT! Barthel hops up and watches Dunne rise. Barthel leaps, to get DECKED by a forearm! Both men are down but fans rally up. Dunne and Barthel crawl, hot tag to Aichner who intercepts Dunne. Barthel helps out, too, and they double wrench to whip Dunne. Dunne stumbles on the corner and Imperium stomps away on him. Aichner drags Dunne up and whips Dunne, but Dunne reverses to enziguri! Fans rally as Dunne crawls, hot tag to Riddle! The Bro rallies on Imperium with kicks and forearms! Riddle PELES Barthel! Forearm and BROSPLODER for Aichner! Forearm and BROSPLODER for Barthel! Broton onto Aichner! Broton onto Barthel! Penalty Kick for Barthel and a dead lift FISHERMAN BUSTER for Aichner!

Tag to Dunne, the Broserweights focus on Aichner with stomps to the hands! They both shrug, and Buzzsaw Final Flash combo! Cover, TWO!! Tag to Riddle and they go after Aichner again. Fireman’s carry but Aichner slips out to shove Riddle into Dunne! Then Riddle into the post! Tag to Barthel and Riddle ends up upside-down, Imperium meets at the corner! Double dropkicks and cover, TWO! Riddle lives but Barthel drags him up. Barthel talks trash then tags Aichner, and Imperium both talk trash. Riddle DOUBLE FLASHES! Tag to Dunne and Dunne DECKS Aichner! Barthel tags in, Dunne dodges to step off Aichner, but into a waistlock! Barthel uses a wheelbarrow and Aichner goes up top, FLYING DDT! Cover, but Riddle breaks it with a knee! Fans are loving this as all four men are down.

Riddle drags Barthel up but Barthel throws Riddle out. Tag to Aichner and Barthel whips Dunne. Dunne reverses and runs in but Barthel puts him up top. Barthel uppercuts then tosses Dunne to Aichner. But Dunne Guillotines and Kimuras out of the suplex! Riddle intercepts Barthel into an ANKLE LOCK! Double submissions from the Broserweights!! Walter shouts at his men as Barthel gets to the ropes. Barthel crisscrosses and knees Riddle, but runs into a FINAL FLASH! Aichner powers Dunne off but Dunne lands on his feet to ROCK Aichner with a right. Aichner hits back with a CHOP, kick and EuroUpper! Enziguri from Dunne, tag to Riddle. Aichner BOOTS Dunne then runs, into DOUBLE SPEARS! Riddle is all fired up as Dunne SPEARS Barthel! JACKHAMMER! Cover, TWO!?! Imperium survives and Walter sighs in relief.

But Riddle won’t let up here. “This is Awesome!” as Riddle climbs up top. But Aichner trips Riddle up and turns him around. Riddle and Aichner trade CHOPS, then Aichner climbs up. But Dunne tags in and Riddle shoves Aichner down. But Barthel shoves Riddle off the top, into Aichner’s BRAIN BUSTER! Dunne returns but into the SPINE BUSTER and PENALTY KICK! Imperium takes Riddle but no EuroBomb as Riddle headscissors Aichner and GERMAN SUPLEXES Barthel! FINAL FLASH again for Aichner, then BOMB to FINAL FLASH! Tag to Dunne, fireman’s carry, BROSERWEIGHT TO SLEEP! Cover, Broserweights WIN!!

Winners: The Broserweights, Pete Dunne pinning; advance to the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Classic Finals

Un-BRO-lievable! Riddle and Dunne are heading to the Dusty Cup finals! Will this magnificent makeshift team make good against the Grizzled Young Veterans? Speaking of, Gibson and Drake come back out to speak to their opponents. “It looks like that we have our Dusty Classic Finals.” Grizzled Young Veterans VS Riddle & Dunne, “the jokers, joint manipulation,” the Broserweights. Whatever these two dweebs think they are, Gibson tells Dunne that the “neckbeards” are the ones to think he’s the best out of NXT UK.

But the truth is, Dunne is the most selfish! Every time GYV tried to take the next step in their careers, Dunne was a roadblock. But now, that changes. Next week, GYV take Dunne and Riddle out to take the trophy back to Liverpool. Before Drake can add on, Riddle takes his mic to use for his own. “Bro… I don’t even know what you really said, but it was something about manipulating joints.” Then Riddle lost focus, tuned out and day-dreamed. Fans chant, “Riddle’s Gonna Smoke You!” Dunne says while Riddle was in the clouds, GYV was reminding us that every single time they stepped to Dunne, they lost. And that doesn’t change next week! The Broserweights will walk out with the trophy, “bro.” Ultimatums have been issued, but who will be the ultimate NXT tag team in 2020?

NXT North American Championship: Roderick Strong VS Keith Lee!

The Savior of the Backbreaker has had run-ins with the Limitless One in the past, but Lee has only grown stronger since. Will Strong finally #BaskInHisGlory? Or will this title stay Undisputed?

The introductions are made, fans sing for Lee and the belt is raised as this amazing main event begins!

Strong and Lee circle and then Strong gets a leg. Lee pries Strong right off, but Strong SLAPS Lee. Lee just scowls as he DECKS Strong! Lee has Strong in a corner for big body shots and forearms. Lee throws Strong around then CHOPS again. Strong staggers away but the boot is blocked. Lee DECKS Strong again! Strong kicks low but Lee THROWS Strong across the way! Lee shows Grizzly Magnum but Strong bails out right away! The Undisputed Era is there as Strong’s corner men as NXT goes to break.

NXT returns again as Lee blocks Strong’s whip with pure strength. Lee whips Strong and hurdles him! Things keep moving, Lee crossbodies Strong down! Fans are fired up as Strong bails out again. The Undisputed Era regroups again but Lee heads out to fetch Strong. Lee bumps Strong off the apron but the Undisputed Era looms close. Lee CLUBS Strong on the apron to send a message to them. The Undisputed Era barks at Lee, and this distracts him so Strong can dropkick the legs out! Strong then dropkicks Lee again to knock him down! The UE coach Strong as he goes after the leg and brings it to the steel steps. Strong slams the leg against the side, and then puts it on a step, to STOMP!

Lee writhes in pain and Strong moves the steps. Strong refreshes the count before bringing Lee over. Strong wedges the foot in place and KICKS the steps! The steps nutcracker that ankle and Lee hobbles into the ring. Strong covers, ONE but Strong is back on the ankle with stomps. Leg DDT and cover, ONE! Lee has strong arms but Strong is after that leg again. Strong has a modified toehold, almost a Half Crab, but fans rally as Lee endures. Lee powers up with his arms, but Strong pulls him from ropes. Lee pushes Strong away but Strong comes back for a grounded Dragon Screw! Lee can barely stand on that bad leg, but he won’t let this take him out of the match. Strong kicks the bad leg then drags Lee up. Lee throws body shots but Strong throws more forearms. Strong puts the leg on the ropes to springboard drop on it! Fans boo but Strong just does it again, only for Lee to launch Strong out of the ring!

Strong wobbles up and gets back in, going after the leg again. Strong uses his Ankle Lock to torture Lee, but Lee refuses to quit. Lee uses his good leg to push and push until Strong lets go. Lee hobbles over but Strong boots, enziguris and forearms! The forearm train begins! Left, right, left, but then Lee swings on Strong. Strong ducks it to clobber Lee from behind! Both men are down as we go to another break.

NXT returns once more as Lee manages to scoop and POWERSLAM Strong down! Cover, TWO!! Strong survives but Lee manages to stand on the bad leg. Fish talks trash but Lee tunes him out to go after Strong. Lee scoops again but Strong slips out this time. Strong runs, dodges but still gets a MOUNTAINOUS SPINE BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Strong survives again and the Undisputed Era is relieved. Strong bails out to regroup with them again and fans boo. Lee rises and rolls out after Strong. Lee puts Strong in the ring but he still keeps his eyes on the rest of the UE. Cole distracts the ref, Fish sweeps Lee’s legs on the apron! Strong hits a DDT! Cover, TWO! Lee will not be screwed over like that! Strong drags Lee up as fans rally, and Lee throws body shots. Strong clubs Lee, Lee hits back. They throw hands, but then Strong kicks the leg, so Lee HEADBUTTS! Both men fall and a standing count begins.

Fans rally up as Lee rises. Strong rises, too, but Lee stands first. Lee sees Strong struggling so Lee heads up top! Strong chop blocks the leg! And then climbs up behind Lee, preparing to shout out Kurt Angle. But Lee fights back and sends Strong down! Lee adjusts but Strong gets back up to club the leg. Strong is back up, has Lee for the SUPER OLYMPIC SLAM! Cover, TWO!! And Lee has Strong in his arms! Strong elbows back but Lee tosses him aside. Fans sing for Lee as he and Strong rise again. Strong knees but it’s blocked, GRIZZLY MAGNUM! Lee fires up, runs and POUNCES Strong out onto reDRagon! Cole is in shock as Lee comes out to fetch Strong. Lee puts Strong in as fans chant “MAMMA MIA!” Lee fires up again, runs again, and LARIATS Strong inside-out! Cover, TWO!! Strong survives but Lee won’t stop here.

Lee heads up top again, stares the Undisputed Era down, then MOONSAULTS! But he FLOPS as Strong gets clear! Strong has the Ankle Lock again! And GRAPEVINES! Strong even adds heel stomps while Fish mocks Lee from the apron. Lee crawls and claws and drags himself and Strong, to the ROPEBREAK! Strong holds on until 4 before sparing Lee. Strong shouts for Lee to stay down, but Lee refuses. Fans chant, “You Suck, Roddy! You Suck!” Lee stands, Strong CHOPS him. And forearms, and CHOPS. Lee DECKS Strong with one left! Then fireman’s carries, but Cole distracts. So Lee DECKS Cole, Fish and O’ReillY! STRONG KNEE! Strong runs, to PSYCHO KICK! Cover, TWO!! Strong keeps moving, but into the fireman’s carry! BIG BANG SLAM! Cover, KEITH LEE WINS!!

Winner: Keith Lee, by pinfall; NEW NXT North American Champion

Bask! In his! GLORY!! The Limitless One finally reached the title summit! The Undisputed Era is no longer #DrapedInGold, is their time coming to a close?

But wait, there’s still one more thing to deal with. Imperium returns! And they stand 4v4 against the Undisputed Era in the ring! It goes off!! The eight men brawl as a preview of Worlds Collide! Walter has Cole but gets a BOOT! The superkick is blocked, and the CHOP flips Cole upside-down!! The Undisputed Era go to save their leader but the Imperium soldiers do the same for the Ring General! Security floods the ring but fans want to “Let Them Fight!” But they will fight, in Houston! Which faction proves their brand is superior?

My Thoughts:

I am almost speechless at how great this episode was. This was a great go-home to Worlds Collide, even though obviously NXT will have parts in the Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumbles on Sunday. Finn got a great tune-up out of Joaquin Wilde, Shotzi puts up a hell of a fight against Shayna even in losing, and I love the blending of the NXT Women’s Championship stories. Bianca is understandably upset that someone else is getting a title shot first, but she should also be happy to let Toni beat up Rhea, and even take advantage of whoever wins in Houston. Either way, great stuff, but with Toni standing tall, the math says she won’t win.

Tonight’s Dusty Rhodes Classic semifinals were amazing! Imperium being a distraction so Undisputed Era loses is a good way of keeping the Era strong while keeping them out of the finals. The Broserweights are just incredible, even after only two matches. Imperium also didn’t need to be in the finals if they’re going against the Undisputed Era for Worlds Collide, and also if they’re going to go after the NXT UK Tag titles. Broserweights VS GYV is going to be incredible, and I honestly won’t be upset with either result. But I am very happy with the main event’s result tonight. Keith Lee finally gets a title and it was in an TakeOver worthy match. I know they wanted the giffable spot of Strong being Pounced out of the ring onto the Era, but it didn’t quite go as well as they’d hoped. But Lee winning that title is great heading for Portland and WrestleMania. The brawl of Imperium and Undisputed Era was great, too, a real solid go-home tradition right there.

My Score: 9.3/10

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

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

Prepare for Backlash!

Published

14 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Steven Mitchell

Did you know that challenger in French is still “challenger?”

In a WrestleMania rematch, AJ Styles takes on LA Knight in a #1 contender’s match, to challenge WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Backlash in France!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s match: AJ Styles VS LA Knight; Styles wins and will challenge Cody Rhodes for the title at Backlash.
SmackDown/WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: The Street Profits VS New Catch Republic VS The Authors of Pain VS Legado Del Fantasma; The Profits win and will challenge A-Town Down Under for the titles.
Carlito w/ Zelina Vega VS Santos Escobar w/ Elektra Lopez; Santos wins.
WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley VS Naomi; Bayley wins, by disqualification, and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s match: AJ Styles VS LA Knight!

After fighting their way through Triple Threats, the Phenomenal One and the Mega Star meet again, YEAH! It’s a WrestleMania Rematch, the winner moving on to Backlash, YEAH! Will AJ Styles avenge his loss at the biggest WrestleMania ever? Or will everyone from here to France know whose game it is?

The bell rings and the two step to each other. The fans in Pittsburgh “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” and Knight lets Styles know it. Styles snarls, they tie up, and they go around. Knight puts Styles in a corner, the ref counts, but Knight lets off slowly. Styles kicks low! The fans boo but Styles headlocks. Knight pulls hair, throws body shots, then headlocks in return. Styles pushes Knight to ropes, powers up and out, then hurdles, drops and DROP- NO, Knight avoids the dropkick to BOOT, and LARIAT! Knight then TOSSES Styles out of the ring, storms out after him, and brings him to commentary. Knight SMACKS Styles off the desk! And again! And again!

The fans chant “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” with every SMACK, then Knight tops it off with one last SMACK! Knight drags Styles up and into the ring, storms in, but Styles KICKS Knight in the ropes! Styles reels Knight in, but Knight back drops Styles up and out! Styles flounders on the floor, Knight runs to WRECK him with a dropkick! Styles hits desk again and Steel City is loving “L! A! KNIGHT, YEAH!” as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Styles soaks up the heat as he taunts Knight. Styles brings Knight up, but Knight fires haymakers! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight backs Styles down, whips, but Styles ducks ‘n dodges! Knight ducks ‘n’ dodges, then DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! Both men are down and the fans fire up. Both men slowly sit up, crawl around, and then stand. Styles fires a shot, but Knight gives it back! The haymakers go back and forth, “YEAH! BOO! YEAH!” Styles staggers but he still ROCKS Knight! Knight ROCKS Styles again and again, but Styles throat chops! Styles fires off the Phenomenal Blitz, but Knight ducks the lariat!

Knight JABS, JABS, JABS, and DECKS Styles! Knight stomps a mudhole in at the corner, “YEAH!” Knight then runs corner to corner to KNEE Styles down! The fans fire up, Knight puts Styles up, and Knight ROCKS Styles. Knight climbs, but Styles ROCKS him back! Knight staggers away, but returns to spring right up! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives that crash but both men are down again. The fans rally as Knight rises, and he brings Styles around. Knight reels Styles in, suplexes, but Styles slips free! Styles goes to a corner, ELBOWS Knight away, then goes up to QUEBRADA DDT! Cover, TWO!

The fans fire up as Knight stays in this and Styles starts losing his cool. The fans rally for Knight but Styles looms over him. Styles brings Knight up and in, but Knight RAMS him into a corner! Knight then scoops Styles, but Styles slips free to roll up, TWO!! Knight escapes, swings, but Styles dodges to PELE! Knight ends up in a corner, Styles runs in, but Knight puts Styles on the apron! Styles ROCKS Knight, springboards, but Knight gets under! Styles comes back, into a scoop and POWERSLAM! Then JUMP ELBOW DROP! The fans fire up with with Knight as he storms around. Styles rises, Knight winds up, B F- NO, Styles bails out!

The fans boo but Knight storms over. Knight drags Styles up but Styles HOTSHOTS him! And pokes him in the eyes! Then ROCKS him! And springboards, to PHENOMENAL FOREARM!! Cover, Styles wins!

Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the Undisputed WWE Championship)

Styles bent the rules, but a win is a win! He will get his shot at the American Nightmare in Lyon, France, will this year’s Backlash be phenomenal?

The Bloodline arrives backstage.

The car pulls up, Solo Sikoa steps out in a suit, and Paul Heyman is there to greet him. Nice threads, Solo. Tama Tonga walks over and Solo says meet the newest member of The Bloodline, Solo’s MFT. The Wise Man is stunned. But Solo cuts him off to ask if Kevin Owens is here. Heyman hesitates and Solo asks again, is Kevin here? If he is, he’s probably already in the locker room. Then take them to him. Heyman obeys and leads on. There have already been changes to the chain of command, is there about to be a change to the landscape of SmackDown, too?

Nick Aldis is in the ring.

In a familiar scene to Monday Night Raw, there is a podium with something under a satin sheet. The SmackDown General Manager welcomes to Pittsburgh the Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque! The fans fire up as The Game makes his way to the ring! HHH joins Aldis in the ring, gets a mic, looks around at the crowd as he revels in the cheers, then says, “On the heels of the biggest, most epic, history making, record breaking, epic, unbelievable WrestleMania of all time, we are here tonight, sold out, 15 thousand strong, Pittsburgh, PA! So let me say, welcome to SmackDown!” The fans cheer that!

HHH wants to take a moment to say that he thinks Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis are both doing great jobs at leading their respective brands into the future. Thank you to both of them. And when we talk about the future, we have to talk about the history made coming into the future. So when history is made, HHH wants it to be represented here befitting of those that make it. So Aldis, if we could, let us bring the… champions out here. Aldis says without further ado, the NEW SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. The fans boo as A-Town Down Under make their way, blue belts in hand.

Theory & Waller join Aldis and HHH in the ring, mics already in hand, and they soak up the heat from Steel City. Waller says this is huge. Monday, we saw the second place champions get new belts. And now A-Town Down Under will be presented new titles! Theory says speaking of truth, didn’t Truth think HHH was a magician? Well, who knows what magic trick HHH has to make these guys look better than they already do, but hey, give it a try. HHH says congratulations on becoming tag team champions, so he will show them what they will wear going forward. From now on, they will be the WWE Tag Team Champions.

Reveal! In the style of the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Era belts, the solid gold shines. HHH offers a handshake, but Waller leaves him hanging to shake Theory’s hand! Aldis makes it clear to them. They ever pop off and disrespect HHH like that, here’s a real magic trick: A-Clown Down Under will disappear, permanently! The fans like the sound of that! Aldis snatches the blue belts away since they won’t need them, and speaking of disappearing, there’s a chance one of the following four teams will make their title reign disappear. That #1 contenders match starts right now! The fans fire up, but which team defies the odds to get some golden tickets to France?

Backstage interview with Naomi.

Kayla Braxton is with The Glow and says last week, she beat Tiffany Stratton to get this title opportunity tonight. Will the friendship with Bayley get in the way of this match? Naomi says no, of course not. Bayley’s her sister, and she needed help against Damage CTRL, so Naomi was more than happy to help. But in no way will friendship get in the way of this opportunity. It has been over two YEARS since Naomi’s last WWE singles championship match, and there is nothing that will get in the way of making the most of this moment. Now last week, Tiffy Time felt the glow, so that same energy keeps going tonight.

Naomi is also looking forward to next week’s WWE Draft, where she will walk in the NEW WWE Women’s Champion. Naomi is ready, but will she be able to best Bayley in Bayley’s first title defense?

WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: The Street Profits VS New Catch Republic VS The Authors of Pain VS Legado Del Fantasma!

SmackDown returns as Legado makes their entrance, followed by Akam & Rezar with the Final Testament. Waller & Theory are on commentary, Waller admitting he wants any team but AOP, and Theory saying these teams are fortunate to have real superstars leading their division. In this form of Fatal 4 Way, only two teams are active, so the Big Strong Boi, Tyler Bate, starts against Montez Ford. They circle, tie up, and Ford headlocks. Bate powers up to pry at the hold but Ford clamps on tighter. Bate powers up and out, drops, but Ford leaps over! The fans cheer, things keep moving, Bate feints high to drop low!

Bate shows knuckle lock, Ford obliges, but Bate wrenches, baits and double pump handles to FLIP Ford! Cover, TWO! Ford gets up to sweep and cover, TWO! Bate steps over, La Magistrol, TWO! Ford gets up, dropkicks cancel out, and both men kip up! The fans fire up and the two reset. But then Humberto Carrillo sneaks a tag, before he DECKS Bate with a sucker punch! Ford dodges Humberto but Angel Garza holds the ropes open! Ford tumbles out, Garza tags in, and Humberto sits Ford up. Garza runs in to KNEE Ford down! The fans boo, Garza drags Ford to a cover, TWO! Garza back suplexes, Ford lands out!

Ford tags Dawkins and he dodges Garza to FLYING ELBOW! Garza tags out to Akam, but then the Bruiserweight, Pete Dunne, tags in off Dawkins! Rezar tags, Dunne runs up but Akam LARIATS him down! Rezar DECKS Dawkins, then the AOP start clearing the corners! But Ford goes up to leap, but into an URENAGE! The fans boo but the AOP roar and soak up the heat. Waller’s worst case scenario might end up reality, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and the fans rally as Ford endures a facelock. Ford fights up, pries at the hold, but Rezar shoves him to ELBOW him down! Rezar talks trash, Waller taunts the Steelers players sitting in the front row that they don’t really know what championships are, and then Rezar sucker punches Dawkins down! Rezar stands Ford up, Canadian Racks and bends him! Ford endures, the fans rally, but Rezar thrashes Ford around! Ford kicks and flails, he gets free, hot tag to Dunne! Bate sneaks a tag, Dunne GAMANGIRIS Akam and then NCR fire off on Rezar! The fans fire up, Humberto runs in, but Dunne dodges to SNAP GERMAN!

Bate & Dunne STOMP Humberto’s hands! Then BASEMENT DROPKICK! Garza runs up, but into the REBOUNDER GERMAN COMBO!! The fans fire up with NCR, but Rezar runs up! He grabs Dunne, but Bate says Bop up, BANG! Bate fireman’s carries Rezar?! But Rezar ELBOWS right free! Dunne GAMANGIRIS, Ford SUPERKICKS, and Dawkins ENZIGIRIS! Rezar wobbles, and everyone helps Bate gets Rezar up! BIG STRONG AIRPLANE SPINE! But then Legado CLOBBER Bate and Rezar! They BOOT Dunne, whip the Profits but the Profits reverse to TOSS Legado out! Ellering coaches Rezar while the Profits regroup.

Bate gets up, Dawkins ROCKS him! Dawkins brings Bate to the very top, but Dunne CLUBS Dawkins! NCR mug Dawkins but Ford joins in! They brawl, but AOP add on! Humberto finds Rezar to tag in, before the DOUBLE TOWER OF DOOM!! Bate’s the only one left up top, so Legado mug him! They double trophy lift Bate, to DOUBLE ROCKET LAUNCH him onto everyone!! Humberto then finds Bate, sunset flips and rewinds, Garza jumps, MISSILE DROPKICK DOOMSDAY! Cover, DUNNE BREAKS IT! “This is Awesome!” as all eight men are down around ringside, and Waller says this is gonna be easy pickings for A-Town Down Under now.

Dunne grabs Garza, Bate has Humberto, STEREO ANKLE LOCKS!! Grapevine for Garza! But Humberto BOOTS Bate onto Dunne! Legado is free, Ellering has AOP regroup, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Rezar CLUBS Dawkins down. Rezar soaks up heat, taunts the other teams, then CLUBS Dawkins again. Rezar brings Dawkins up again, but Dawkins fires off body shots! Rezar KNEES low, reels Dawkins in, talks more trash, and lifts Dawkins up, to POWERBOMB! But then Dunne runs up to ROCK Rezar! Akam gets in to scoop Dunne and SLAM him on Dawkins! Cover, TWO! Rezar looks to Ellering and he coaches AOP. Rezar HAMMERS Dawkins, Akam tags, and AOP get NCR up! The fans boo but NCR RANA free to send AOP into each other! Ford jumps in, as does Garza.

All the teams realize, they gotta do something about AOP. So they all mug AOP! The fans fire up as AOP tumble out, but now who strikes first? Dunne runs up but Garza SUPERKICKS him first! Bate waistlocks Garza and Ford winds up, but Garza ducks so the BACKHAND hits Bate! Garza SUPERKICKS Ford, but Dawkins DECKS Garza! Humberto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! Cover, TWO!! Theory says if A-Town Down Under were in this match, he’d knock everyone out and Waller could just sneak in to cover. Humberto and Dawkins rise and go to corners. Humberto runs up, but Dawkins POUNCES him away!

Dawkins gets Humberto up, Ford returns and tags in! Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts Humberto and Ford climbs! The stars are out for the BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY! Cover, DUNNE BREAKS IT! Another save from the Bruiserweight and Ford is frustrated. Dunne drags Dawkins up to CHOP, but Dawkins ROCKS him! Dawkins whips Dunne out of the ring, but Dunne grabs the arm! And he pulls off the glove so he can SNAP fingers! The fans fire up, but Ford ENZIGIRIS Dunne down! Ford brings Humberto up, Humberto JAWBREAKERS! Bate tags in off Ford, BOOTS Garza, then runs up, but into a POP-UP! But Bate RANAS Humberto!!

Bate then DUMPS Garza out, goes to the apron, and Dunne lines up targets. Bate and Dunne climb, Ford runs in, NCR DOUBLE ARIHARA MOONSAULT while Ford FLIES over the corner post!! Down goes Legado and AOP!! The fans are losing their minds as Bate hurries to get Humberto up. Bate puts Humberto in, reels him in, underhooks, but Humberto fights it! Humberto back drops but Bate lands on his feet! Humberto cradles, TWO! Humberto LARIATS Bate, tag to Garza! Legado gets Bate up, feed to the POP-UP KICK!! #FTY! Humberto then DIVES to take out Dunne! Garza goes up the ropes to LIONSAULT!!

But Ford flies in FROM THE HEAVENS!! The fans are thunderous as everyone is down again! Bate flounders, Dawkins tags in! Dawkins whips Legado, Ford joins in, THE REVELATION!! Cover, PROFITS WIN!

Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the WWE Tag Team Championships)

Waller & Theory are relieved it isn’t AOP, but they still look a bit annoyed that it is Ford & Dawkins. The Profits are Triple Crown Tag Team Champions from Raw to SmackDown to NXT, but will they soon add the WWE Tag Team Championships to make it a grand slam?

Backstage interview with Bayley.

Byron Saxton is with The Role Model, and brings up the emotional moment from Monday Night Raw where Rhea Ripley had to relinquish her title. But let us focus on Bayley’s title, as she defends it for the first time against Naomi. Where is her head at ahead of the main event? Bayley says after seeing Rhea vacate the Women’s World Championship on Raw, Bayley appreciates her reign more. She is focused, and she has realized she’s THE Women’s Champion in WWE right now, something she does not take for granted. Because we all know that with the WWE Draft, things are bound to change.

And as excited as Bayley is to face her friend, Naomi, one thing that won’t change is her as THE WWE Women’s Champion. Bayley is just as confident at Naomi, so something’s gotta give! Will The Role Model #FeelTheGlow? Or will she still be shining with gold after tonight?

Paul Heyman talks with Solo Sikoa.

The Wise Man apologizes that they haven’t found Kevin Owens, but he has to be here somewhere. Just look at the time. They will find him, somewhere. Solo stops listening and heads to gorilla. Heyman follows after, but Solo gives him a look. Heyman says he isn’t trying to upset Solo. Please believe him. The last person on this planet Heyman wants to piss off is Solo. But respectfully, Solo is making decisions that are not his to make, yet. One day, these will all be Solo’s decisions. But not now, not here! These are decisions that can only be made by one man. Solo asks Heyman if he’s done talking. Heyman asks if MFT is coming with Solo.

Solo just gives a thumbs up, with that taped thumb. The music hits and Solo makes his entrance, Heyman still following all the way into the ring. What does the Enforcer have planned? We’ll find out, after the break.

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

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

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

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

Heyman goes to the parking lot.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall

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

VIP Skybox interview with Damage CTRL!

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

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

Cody Rhodes speaks.

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

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

WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley VS Naomi!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10

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

Coverage

Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.18.2024

Motor City Machine Guns either go out on their backs, or head to Rebellion as champs! Lets see how they finish their current run in TNA!

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2024

Andrew Balaz

No burying the lead here! The Main Event is The System versus Motor City Machine Guns, and it’s the Go Home episode before Rebellion! So we’re guaranteed a damn good tag match, and we should get either new wrinkles, or ways to keep the storylines cooking going into the Pay-per-View.

With all the rumors and innuendo about the Guns being on their way out, I think we all assume that MCMG is losing, but my inner fanboy is still excited.

Part Three: Acceptance @TheJonGresham #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/NE9FPzCCz2

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

Ratings:

Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone: Hammerstone wins via Torture Rack – SQUASH
LSG vs Joe Hendry: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – SQUASH
Mustafa Ali & GYV vs Cody Deaner, Jake Something & Rhyno: Ali wins via 450 Splash – ** 3/4
Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna: Rosemary wins via Spear – ***
Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards: System wins via Roster Cut + Knee Party – *** 1/4

Results:

So we kick off the match with Josh coming out to commentary again to watch Hammerstone’s match. They really need a new way to try and keep heat without reusing the same tired gimmick of “ring side seat” to a Squash match.

Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone

Guido tries to shoot the half, but Hammerstone shrugs him off, lifts him like a child and runs him into a corner, few short shots and then just tosses him across the ring. Hammer gets a little distracted talking smack to Josh and eats a foot, but then tosses Guido with the ole Sack of Shit move and keeps working over Guido.

Hammer shoves Clayton, and provokes him to push him back right in front of the referee. She ejects them, Guido tries to take advantage but when he goes for the pinfall Hammer kicks out immediately and presses Guido out of thing through the ropes. Continues to dog walk Guido, puts the head gear on the ECW Original and then Torture Racks him while staring directly at Josh, and of course picks up the submission victory.

.@XiaBrookside and @Ashamae_Sebera face off NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT! pic.twitter.com/Q0S3wSRpeu

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

LSG vs Joe Hendry

Hendry cuts a little promo, mentioning the Fat Uncle Phil joke…something about shopping at the TOP Dollar Store. Solid mic work.

LSG is a damn good local talent, he’s been seen in ROH and AEW in the past (perhaps others, but that’s what comes to mind immediately for me), but we all know this is an enhancement match. A few nice chain wrestling spots early, but Hendry uses his power to stop the smaller wrestler, Sack of Shit into Standing Ovation and the match is over quickly.

Mustafa Ali & GYV vs Cody Deaner, Jake Something & Rhyno

Well okay, having Deaner ask the crowd if they wanted a 3v2 or their third member…RHYNO…is pretty much a no brainer in Philly. But at least the gimmick isn’t quite as cringe as I expected.

Jake starts with Zack Gibson and throws him around. Jake goes for the tag and Deaner asks the crowd who Jake should tag, and the crowd picks Rhyno. Rhyno Whips Gibson into a corner, Drake actually softens the impact, allowing Gibson to fire back, tag out, but Rhyno levels both GYV members and then even knocks Ali off the apron. Rhyno tries to call to the crowd to tag in Deaner and that goes over like a fart in church. He tags him in anyway, and the crowd is kinda dead and doing whatever it wants after the obvious ECW chants when Rhyno tagged in.

GYV take a couple lumps but they of course start to work over Deaner and capture some momentum. Solid tandem work from GYV, they cut off Deaner from making a tag and goad Jake a little to cause the ref to block off the babyfaces so the heels can take a few shortcuts. Cody eventually makes the tag to Rhyno, hot tag, he tries to set up the Gore but the GYV manage to stop him in his tracks and hit an Enzuigiri to daze the Man Beast, he falls to his corner and Jake tags himself in. Jake literally runs them all over, tags in Cody and Launches him from the Top Rope into Zack Gibson. Ali makes the save and Jake tries to get his hands on Ali, but the GYV keep throwing themselves at him, literally. The triple team finally gets the best of Jake, they hit 3 Dives and then post Jake, so they gather around Cody like hyenas.

They forgot about Rhyno, he’s set up for a Gore, he Gores Drake, Gibson and Ali take out Rhyno, but then Cody starts to fight back. Ali stops Deaner’s offense with an Avalanche Sunset Bomb, then hits his 450 Splash. Jake barely misses being able to break up the pin.

.@TheEricYoung channels "The Sickness" as he prepares for FULL METAL MAYHEM with @FrankieKazarian at #Rebellion! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/tm1TqxZBLo

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna

Jody tries to start quickly with Shoulder Tackles, Lariats and Scoop Slams, and it does seem somewhat effective. Rosemary is having trouble finding offense against the intensity, but she keeps kicking out. Shotgun Dropkick finally gives Rosemary an opening, she goes into full mount and rains down strikes. Rosemary shoves Jody into a corner and Bites her in the corner. Jody tries to fight out, they go across and Rosemary catches her with the legs and puts her in the Upside Down. Splash in the corner from Rosemary, Exploder Suplex and Jody is eating a lot of offense.

Rosemary looks like she’s caught after she gets tripped up into the ropes and Jody goes for her Rope Knee into the German, but Rosemary dodges. Rosemary hits her own suplex and pulls out a beautiful Last Chancery! I haven’t seen her do that in a long time. Jody manages to fight to the ropes, Rosemary is a little slow to capitalize and eats a Pump Kick. Rosemary goes flying into the ropes, Jody hits the Double Knees into the German this time for 2, and they trade a few haymakers after that. Jody folds Rosemary with a low Lariat, Zombie rise spot a few times, Jody goes for a pinfall and Rosemary kicks out.

Havok jumps up on the apron, Dani meets her and they decide to step down, but the distraction was enough. Jody turns around and eats a Spear. Rosemary wins!

Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards

Eddie and Shelley start off, and its a very simple slow start. Mostly an early stalemate, the typical Japanese style the TNA seem to love to employ. Starters tag out, but then Shelley with the blind tag, Sabin Baseball Slides out, picks Eddie’s ankle and sends his face bouncing off the apron, while Shelley sneaks up being Myers and they hit a tandem move before we cut to commercial. Off of the commercial it looks like Eddie and Myers regained control. But a nice Jawbreaker from Shelley sends Eddie falling back into the MCMG corner. Dragon Screws to both legs from Sabin and Shelley, and we get the Dragon Screw dissection spot for the Guns.

Myers gets sick of things, tries to get involved, but Simultaneous Figure Fours from the MCMG makes The System look silly. Alisha does the classic “push the rope forward” gimmick to assist Eddie in breaking the hold. She keeps chirping at Shelley until she finally grabs his foot. Shelley doesn’t take kindly, tries to grab her by the hair but she gets away, Shelley eats a strike and falls back to the ropes so Lish can just throttle him with the rope, Sabin walks over and acts like he’s going to PK her and the look of disgust on her face is hilarious, like “how dare he threaten to kick her”. Would I be mad is Masha decides to team with Lish and they win the Knockouts Tag titles? No, because the Knockouts Tags are trash. But I still prefer Lish as valet/manager.

Shelley starts fighting back after another commercial break, Eddie tries to cut him off, but Sabin clocks Eddie and Shelley manages to make the tag and Sabin comes in. Lights up both System members, Kick off Tornado DDT, into a Running Gamengiri. Eddie tries to counter but Shelley assists, tandem strikes, Double Baseball Slide into the classic MCMG spot 5 Hole Dive! Keeping up with the classics Shelley stacks the System members on each other and hit the Missile Dropkick/Flatliner spot. As the Guns are rolling, Sabin accidentally catches Sabin with his foot and The System take control! They hit their pieces of the System Overload spot, but Sabin kicks out. Roster Cut attempt from Myers, but Shelley is back. High Speed Dirt, Machine Gun Sandwich, but Lish grabs Shelley’s foot when they’re setting up Skull and Bones. Shelley gets dropped on the turnbuckle and thrown out, Sabin eats the Roster Cut followed up with Boston Knee Party and System retains!

Its a little weird to have had the two commercial cuts and the fact there’s still Nic Nemeth to follow. So it feels a little flat, I hope this wasn’t their swan song match, because it was nice to see some classic spots, but it was entirely too abbreviated.

Nemeth comes out, goes into the crowd and finds a kid with a kendo stick and borrows a beer from someone, so he does a bit of a Sandman tribute. Moose cuts off his promo basically immediately. He throws out the “can’t beat the system” line again, and Nic rolls with the punches well. Moose uses a few cute analogies about Nic having a failure laden past, but Nemeth bites back and its really damn good. He says he can see it in Moose’s eyes that he thinks he’s getting in the ring with Dolph Ziggler, but no, there is no more old Dolph Ziggler, just the new Nic Nemeth. And Moose’s cool seems to be slightly shaken after those words. Good promo.

Overall Score: 6.5/10

So this was okay, if it didn’t end as strongly as it did, I would’ve rated this much lower. Two squash matches in the beginning, reusing the Josh comes out to the announce table to watch trope is boring, hell even Clayton’s shove to Hammerstone was super lame looking. The Deaner match was luke warm at best, but things picked up around the Rosemary match.

Lets also not overlook the segments with ASH & Xia, Jonathan Gresham’s whole deal and EY having to return to the violence/sickness/world class maniac, whatever you want to call it, were all great building blocks. This definitely wasn’t what I would call a strong Go Home, but it didn’t hurt things for Rebellion. The whole injury of Cardona was addressed, which honestly sounded weird since Jordynne basically said she was expecting them to have a backup plan so she has a backup plan. I don’t really like how that video package came across.

But who knows, all I know is, this wasn’t an awful episode, it just wasn’t really strong either. Here’s to hoping Rebellion Saturday is still strong.

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