Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (5/4/20)
Crews’ misfortune is another’s opportunity!
Raw gives its roster one last chance!
Apollo Crews’ knee injury means he’s OUT of Money in the Bank! Who survives the Gauntlet to then head for WWE headquarters?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Money in the Bank Last Chance Gauntlet: AJ Styles wins and advances to the MITB Corporate Ladder match.
- Ricochet & Cedric Alexander VS Shane Thorne & Brendan Vink; Thorne & Vink win.
- The Street Profits VS The Viking Raiders; The Viking Raiders win.
- Charlotte Flair VS Liv Morgan; Flair wins.
- Drew McIntyre VS Buddy Murphy w/ Seth Rollins; McIntyre wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Raw opens with MVP’s VIP Lounge.
Montel Vontavius Porter welcomes us back to Raw and his lounge. He admits things went sideways last week when he had the MITB men’s competitors as his guests. Things didn’t go to plan, unless the plan was to be a brawl. But moving on from that, this week is a return to style, sophistication and class. This week he has the MITB women’s competitors! Though, the last time they were all together, it was also brutal chaos. A Triple Threat became a brawl involving the ladders at ringside, and a no contest. But even knowing all that, MVP gives introductions to the Empress of Tomorrow! Asuka heads to the ring and MVP speaks to her in Japanese. He confirms she’s very excited to be here. Second out is the Queen of Spades, Shayna Baszler! Asuka takes a seat and is no longer happy. Shayna sits far away from Asuka as MVP introduces the Irresistible Force, Nia Jax!
All three women are in the ring now, and Nia sits on the table just so she isn’t near the others. MVP says these three better get comfortable now because they’ll be way out of their comfort zones in the most unique MITB match ever. Nia is the most powerful superstar in this match-up, but does she have the skill set needed to make it past all the way to the roof, then to the top of a ladder to take down the briefcase? Skill set? Does MVP even watch Raw? Has he not seen Nia dominate and destroy? She is relentless, and that is all she needs to do that again this Sunday. Asuka responds in Japanese and says she’s doing this for Kairi! Nia is very rude, with her big booty! That’s NOT VIP. MVP turns to Shayna, the cage fighter with her own unique set of skills. How will that help her win MITB? Shayna dusts off her jeans before saying, “Opera non verba.” That’s Latin.
But if she needs to spell it out for everyone, it’s that all she needs is her action. Isn’t that right, Asuka? Asuka is upset again, but Shayna just mocks her chatter. Asuka says that Shayna may have it EZ-PZ in the Chamber, it won’t be the same here. Also, she has no manners! That’s also NOT VIP. The two stare down while Nia just minds her own business, but then they BOOT her down! Nia crashes through the table and MVP jumps in to prevent another brawl on his show. Please, save it for the PPV. The Empress and the Queen of Spades have both shown what they bring to the table. But who will be feasting as Ms. MITB 2020?
Money in the Bank Last Chance Gauntlet!
Apollo Crews suffered a knee injury in his WWE United States Championship challenge, and is now OUT of the MITB match. The Rocky Mountain Machine, Bobby Lashley, looks to run the gauntlet to punch his ticket! His first opponent is the Real Deal, Titus O’Neil! Is Titus about to make a million dollar move? Or will he bust before even cashing in?
Bobby Lashley VS Titus O’Neil!
The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, go around, and Titus manages to power Lashley back. Lashley knees low but Titus throws haymakers! Titus has Lashley in a corner and CHOPS, but Lashley turns things around. Titus dodges and ROCKS Lashley again! Titus whips but Lashley dodges and SPEARS him down! Cover, Lsahley ELIMINATES Titus! One down, but we don’t know how many men are being given a chance! All we know is that next up is… Akira Tozawa! Lashley grins as he welcomes the former Cruiserweight Champion into the ring. Will the Stamina Monster be the next to fall?
Bobby Lashley VS Akira Tozawa!
Tozawa slides in and under Lashley to hit the spinning roundhouse! Tozawa climbs up top and leaps, to missile dropkick! Lashley staggers but stays up. Tozawa runs, but into a SPEAR! Cover, Lashley ELIMINATES Tozawa! Another one bites the dust, but here comes the Gold Standard, Shelton Benjamin!
Bobby Lashley VS Shelton Benjamin!
Benjamin is in but Lashley clobbers him! Lashley goes to bump Benjamin off buckles but Benjamin gets him first! Benjamin climbs up now, leaps and hits a BLOCKBUSTER! Benjamin throws haymakers but Lashley kicks low. Lashley forearms and whips, but Benjamin holds ropes. Benjamin dumps Lashley out and then step-up KNEES him back! Slingshot FACEBUSTER to the apron! Benjamin has Lashley down and hurries to get him back in. Lashley RAMS Benjamin into barriers instead! The ref reprimands Lashley but he RAMS Benjamin again. Lashley refreshes the count before he throws Benjamin into more barriers! The count climbs but Lashley puts Benjamin in at 6. Lashley takes aim from the corner, Benjamin stands, and Benjamin hurdles the spear! Lashley blocks the kick but gets the DRAGON WHIP! Only to SPEAR!! Cover, Lashley ELIMINATES Benjamin! That’s three, but here comes Humberto Carrillo! Can Ultimo Ninja stop the hot streak?
Bobby Lashley VS Humberto Carrillo!
Raw returns and Lashley grinds his boot into Carrillo’s chest. He lets off at the ref’s count but drags Carrillo up to throw haymakers. Lashley whips Carrillo corner to corner but runs into a BOOT! Carrillo goes up, leaps, but into Lashley’s arms for a SLAM! Lashley runs to run Carrillo over with a shoulder! Lashley grins as he toys with Carrillo. He drags Carrillo up to gut wrench and Canadian rack. But Carrillo escapes the Dominator, and then slips to the apron to enziguri! Carrillo goes up and leaps to missile dropkick! Lashley goes down, Carrillo somersault moonsaults! Cover, TWO! Carrillo hurries to the top rope again. Lashley stops him with a haymaker, then TOSSES him to the mat! Lashley aims and runs in, to corner clothesline! He stomps a mudhole into Carrillo but lets up at the ref’s count of 4.
Lashley goes after Carrillo with hammering hands but the ref has to pull him off. Lashley won’t stop, and even shoves the ref! The ref tells him that’s a disqualification! Lashley ELIMINATES HIMSELF! The Machine is furious and he THROWS Carrillo again, and SPEARS him! Lashley won’t let off Carrillo and referees rush the ring. They back him off and Lashley storms off, but here comes Angel Garza! El Latino es en la casa to pick the bones. Will Carrillo be able to recover and overcome his cocky cousin?
Angel Garza w/ Zelina Vega VS Humberto Carrillo!
Raw returns again and Garza digs his knee into Carrillo in the corner. Garza lets up at 4 to stand Carrillo up. Garza wraps Carrillo’s arms around the ropes and pulls! The ref counts but Garza lets up at 4 again, to CHOP! Garza mocks his cousin’s pain but runs into an elbow! Carrillo hops up but Garza trips him up to dropkick the legs out! Vega applauds as the pants come off! Garza throws the pants at Carrillo then drags him around to stomp. Garza hits a Jeff Hardy like leg-splitting leg drop, and then adds a basement dropkick to it! Cover, TWO! Garza keeps his cool as he stands on Carrillo’s head and pulls on an arm. Carrillo endures the armlock as Garza adds a leg to it. Garza bends Carrillo back but Carrillo refuses to give up. Garza hammers the ribs and pulls on the body again, but still Carrillo endures.
Backstage, Lashley is seething and Lana tries to soothe him. She says if she was in his corner, she could’ve done something. Lashley says, “Not now,” and storms off again. Back to the ring, Vega likes what she sees as Garza grinds Carrillo more. But Carrillo fights up and hip tosses free! Garza catches a kick to give a knee! And then dragon sleepers to an inverted rebound suplex! And SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! Carrillo still lives and Garza grows frustrated. Garza looms over Carrillo and scuffs him with his foot. Vega and Garza mock Carrillo’s pain as Garza whips. Carrillo BOOTS back! And then huricanranas! Garza flounders, ducks a kick but gets hit by the enziguri! Cover, TWO! Carrillo keeps close, and hits a moonsault, onto knees! Cover, TWO! Garza clubs his cousin for that, then drags him up into a camel clutch. Carrillo endures all over again as Garza pulls back on the neck.
Garza grabs a leg and pulls it up. Then he gets the other leg. Garza gets the arms back, and has the Mexican swing! But Carrillo rolls and pops out, only for Garza to roll him! Carrillo gets his shoulders up before a count, but Garza pushes him down with both hands. ONE, and Garza tries again, TWO! Garza is losing his cool but Vega coaches him up. Garza drags Carrillo to a drop zone, goes up, MOUNTAIN TOP MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Carrillo survives again and now Vega is frustrated. Garza drags Carrillo back up and underhooks the arms. Carrillo resists but Garza gets the hooks in again. Garza lifts, but Carrillo slips up and over to sunset flip! Carrillo ELIMINATES Garza!! Vega protests, but her other client is up next! Will Austin Theory redeem himself through the gauntlet?
Humberto Carrillo VS Austin Theory w/ Zelina Vega!
Raw is picture in picture as Carrillo stands up to face #AllDay. Theory kicks low then clubs Carrillo down. He stomps Carrillo and drags him up for a scoop! Backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Theory stomps and stalks Carrillo to a corner then drags him up. He bumps Carrillo off buckles then whips corner to corner hard! Raw returns to single picture as Theory kicks and stomps Carrillo more. Carrillo gets up to ROCK Theory, but Theory comes back with body shots. Theory brings Carrillo up to snapmare down and stomp again! Cover, TWO! Theory clamps on with a rear bearhug and squeezes! Carrillo endures the damage to his ribs, fights his way up, and fights back with elbows. Theory KICKS him hard in the side, then clamps on with the bearhug again. Carrillo scrambles up but Theory wrangles him back down with a slam.
Theory keeps on the bearhug but Carrillo fights his way up again. Carrillo elbows out but Theory dropkicks him down! Theory is on Carrillo in the corner shouting, “What did I tell you?!” But Carrillo forearms and chops back! Theory clamps on with a facelock then shifts to the waistlock. Carrillo prevents the bearhug and elbows out again! Carrillo fireman’s carries but Theory escapes. Theory suplexes but Carrillo escapes to mule kick! Carrillo KICKS and springboards, into a FOREARM! Cover, TWO!! Carrillo survives again and Vega is furious! Theory drags Carrillo up, hoists him to the top rope, then CHOPS him. Theory climbs up and brings Carrillo to the very top, for a SUPERPLEX! But Carrillo cradles, and ELIMINATES Theory!! Vega’s stable just can’t get it done! But here comes the PHENOMENAL ONE!! AJ Styles has returned from the Boneyard!! He climbed out of the shallow grave, but will he be the one climbing the corporate ladder?
Humberto Carrillo VS AJ Styles!
Raw returns again as Styles drags Carrillo up, only to get a dropkick! Carrillo stomps away on Styles and throws forearms! The ref counts as Carrillo stomps in the corner, but he lets up to whip. Styles reverses, avoids Carrillo going up and over, and catches him into a waistlock. Carrillo trips Styles up but Styles pushes him away. Styles catches Carrillo into knee after knee and he dumps Carrillo down. Styles stomps Carrillo at the ropes but Carrillo gets to the apron. The ref checks on Carrillo but Styles drags Carrillo up. Styles back suplexes and dumps Carrillo on his stomach! Cover, TWO! Styles looms over Carrillo and drags him up by a chinbar. Styles uses the bearhug like Theory did and really digs in. Carrillo endures but Styles shifts to a cobra twist! Carrillo endures so Styles elbows the ribs. Styles hammers away but Carrillo powers up! ROPEBREAK!
Styles lets go but drags Carrillo back up for a side bearhug. Carrillo elbows out and throws forearms. Carrillo runs at Styles in the corner but Styles dodges. Styles runs in, blocks the boot, and hits a knee jammer! And dragon screw! Carrillo writhes but Styles comes back for more. Styles tweaks the leg and cranks on it, then gets up to set the leg on the ropes. CALF KILLER! ROPEBREAK and Styles lets go. Styles walks into an elbow but he gives forearms back. He drags Carrillo by the leg, for another dragon screw, only for Carrillo to slip out! BASEMENT DDT! Both men are down but Carrillo grits his teeth. Carrillo gets up and goes after Styles. Styles has the leg again, but Carrillo enziguris! Carrillo goes back but Styles unleashes the Phenomenal Blitz! Carrillo ducks the back hand to ENZIGURI! Both men are down again!
Styles and Carrillo crawl to opposite ends and stand. Carrillo runs corner to corner, but into a boot! Styles goes up, QUEBRADA, but Carrillo counters the DDT to a cradle! TWO, and DOUBLE CLOTHESLINES rock both men! Carrillo walks into a waistlock, tries for the trip up but Styles counters! Styles has the pump handle, lifts and GUT BUSTERS! Styles drags Carrillo into the CALF KILLER!! Carrillo taps, Styles wins!!
Winner: AJ Styles, by submission (advances to the MITB Corporate Ladder Match)
NOW the field is complete! The Phenomenal One is the sixth and final man in the match, but will he be the one to win it all?
Wait! Styles isn’t done with Carrillo! He drags him to the corner to SLAM the leg against the post! And again! And again! The Boneyard has brought out the darkness in Styles as he keeps on Carrillo’s leg! Will this same brutality be what helps Styles stand atop the WWE as Mr. Phenomenal in the Bank?
AJ Styles still isn’t finished, as he grabs a mic. “I’m not a zombie! I’m not a ghost!” This is truly the Phenomenal AJ Styles! And there’s no Undertaker to steal his spotlight this time! Styles got buried at WrestleMania, but so what? He admits it and understands it, but he didn’t lose anything! There are no rules in the Boneyard. But that was then, this is now. Styles has seized his opportunity! He is now in “the most unique Money in the Bank Ladder Match, and it’s worth it.” In fact, Styles vows to do anything, and he means anything to get the contract. If that means throwing Rey Mysterio or Aleister Black off the very top of WWE HQ, “then so be it.” They haven’t been through what he’s been through, and they haven’t seen what he’s seen. Styles is going to rewrite the history books on “Greatest Moments in MITB History.” Because the truth is, AJ Styles will be number one with that contract and its guaranteed title match. Then Mr. MITB will finally be phenomenal.
Raw relives the Top Ten Greatest MITB Moments!
Coming in at #10, it’s 2017’s MITB Ladder Match, and AJ Styles giving Kevin Owens Ushigoroshi onto a ladder! Somehow neither ladder nor Kevin’s back were broken by that. At #9 was 2018 and the inaugural Women’s MITB Ladder Match! And Ember Moon giving Sasha Backs a springboard crossbody onto a ladder! There’s already a trend here. Moment #8 was 2013, when Daniel Bryan finally became WWE World Champion, only for the Viper in the Bank to cash-in. And for the Authority to screw Bryan over! HHH gave Bryan a PEDIGREE, leaving him vulnerable, and allowing Randy Orton to become champion instead. What will be the other seven greatest moments in MITB history?
Seth Rollins heads to the ring!
The Monday Night Messiah has been Mr. MITB and is surely on the Top Ten Greatest Moments list one way or another. But for now, he sits with Charly Caruso for an in-ring interview. Before challenging Drew McIntyre this Sunday, Rollins’ disciple, Buddy Murphy, will face the champion tonight. Does Rollins have any alst minute predictions? Rollins says that whatever is meant to be will be. With that said, Rollins has the utmost confidence in Murphy. Then how about Rollins’ own preparation for a man as dominant as McIntyre? An interesting question. McIntyre truly is a dominant champion, a fighter, a warrior and an honorable man. But Rollins said it before and will say it again: McIntyre is not a leader. It is not McIntyre’s destiny to be the champion that takes Raw into the future. That is Rollins’ destiny. So what the question really is: How is Rollins preparing to meet his destiny?
McIntyre will put up a great fight, but the title means too much to him. Rollins is willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good of destiny. Everyone thinks Rollins is trying to take something from McIntyre. That’s not true! Being a champion and being a leader is more than just what you do in the ring. You represent an entire generation, and all the generations that came before you. You represent the entire industry! That is the responsibility of a leader. McIntyre is not ready for the pain, suffering, agony and despair that comes with being a champion of that level! Rollins isn’t trying to crush anyone’s dreams or take anything from anyone. Rollins is trying to take that burden upon himself and save McIntyre. That is the truth. At MITB, Rollins’ destiny becomes reality when he stands in the ring, hands held high, and the announcement rings true. “And NEW WWE Champion, The Monday Night Messiah, SETH. Rollins.” A powerful prediction for an intense showdown, but will destiny be able to #BurnItDown?
Shane Thorne and Brendan Vink prepare backstage.
They have a match coming up, and MVP comes over to check on his new guys. The match against Ricochet & Cedric Alexander is up next but MVP couldn’t resist giving them a quick pep talk. “Great moments are born from great opportunity.” And that is what they have here tonight. Isn’t that from Miracle? YES! And it is a miracle that “two of Australia’s finest” have this opportunity against two of Raw’s fliest! Yeah, that sounds great! They lost once, but not again. Cedric and Ricochet will have all the opportunity to tell everyone how they lost to Shane Thorne and Brendan Vink. MVP likes where this is going, but is it really going the way he hopes?
Backstage interview with Buddy Murphy.
The disciple faces the Scottish Stud. Why has he been so loyal to Rollins this entire time? Murphy says that Rollins took him under his wing when it benefited them both. They needed each other, and Murphy has learned and developed. Hopefully one day, Murphy is on the same level as Rollins. Or, maybe even better. But they know this day will come, later. Tonight is about getting back at McIntyre for that Claymore. If Rollins says he can beat McIntyre, then he can. But Murphy knows he can. Will Murphy be proven right or wrong in the main event?
Ricochet & Cedric Alexander VS Shane Thorne & Brendan Vink!
The fast, the furious and the fliest tag team has a rematch with the Worst and the Smug! Will Thorne and Vink still feel like Australia’s finest after this second time around?
The teams sort out, and Alexander starts against Vink. Alexander bobs ‘n’ weaves, haymakers and chops, but Vink shrugs it off. Alexander avoids Vink’s grasp and throws more chops! But he starts to hurt his own hand. Alexander dodges again and boots Vink away! Alexander hops up and over and baits Vink in, but Vink grabs him! Vink TOSSES Alexander to the Aussie corner then tags in Thorne. Thorne uppercuts Alexander down, but Alexander rolls him up! TWO but Alexander basement dropkicks Thorne down! Alexander staggers up and drags Thorne over to tag Ricochet. Uppercut to waistlock, feed to a knee! Neckbreaker backbreaker combo! Cover, TWO! Ricochet drags Thorne up and tags Alexander back in. They mug Thorne and Alexander CHOPS Thorne. ALexander whips Thorne corner to corner, but is put on the apron. Vink runs over but ALexander avoids the cheap shot. But Thorne blasts Alexander off with an elbow!
Tag to Vink and the 6’5″ Aussie throws Alexander hard into barriers! Alexander writhes but Vink kicks him while he’s down. Vink drags Alexander up and into the ring, then clamps on with a half camel clutch. Alexander endures being bent back, and fights his way up. Alexander throws hands but can’t get away. He throws haymakers but Vink whips him. Alexander handsprings, to hit the NEURALIZER! Thorne tags in but misses the diving catch! Hot tag to Ricochet! The One and Only rallies with fast hands and a whip. Thorne reveres but Ricochet springboards to crossbody! Vink runs into the dropkick-flip and enziguri! Thorne grabs Ricochet to whip to a corner. Ricochet dodges and enziguris! Ricochet hoists Thorne up for a NO HANDS RANA! Tag to Alexander and Ricochet whips him in for a big forearm! And a FLYING dropkick! TORNADO DDT! Cover, but Vink breaks it!
Vink runs at Ricochet but gets dumped out! Ricochet hustles back and Alexander drags Thorne up. Alexander wants the Lumbar Check but Thorne resists with elbows. Alexander elbows Thorne away, Vink tags in! To get a KNEE! Alexander brings Vink over, tags in Ricochet, and Ricochet heads up top. But Vink knows what’s coming and pulls Alexander’s hair! Vink whips Alexander at the corner but Ricochet leaps over. Ricochet SUPERKICKS Vink then front kicks him. Thorne runs in and CANNONBALLS Alexander! Ricochet SUPERKICKS Thorne but Vink BOOTS Ricochet! Cover, Vink and Thorne WIN!!
Winners: Shane Thorne & Brendan Vink, by pinfall
MVP’s motivational speech actually worked! Australia’s Finest just got their first win and it was a big one! Are they going to become Raw’s newest VIP’s?
Raw relives MORE of the Top Ten Greatest MITB Moments!
Coming in at #7, it is 2019’s shocking appearance by BRRROCK! LENSARRR! Just as Mustafa Ali was about to becoming Mr. Money in the Bank, Lesnar appeared to fill the empty spot and completely turn things upside-down! No one could stop Lesnar from becoming the BEAST in the Bank, or having his #BrockParty as Seth Rollins and Kofi Kingston both wondered who he would target. Moment #6 is all the way back in 2006! Shelton Benjamin used a ladder as a launching pad for the craziest tope ever! Moment #5 was also from 2019, when the Hugger in the Bank, Bayley, chose to cash-in on PPV night! The Queen, Charlotte Flair, couldn’t thwart her attempts, and Bayley became the first-ever WWE Women’s Grand Slam Champion! One of the biggest moments ever but there’s still four more to go! Who made the top of the list?
The Street Profits VS The Viking Raiders!
Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins are the Raw Tag Team Champions, but Erik & Ivar won’t let them forget it didn’t come off of them. This match may be non-title, but it will prove whether or not the Profits can finally overcome the raid!
Before the match, the Profits grab some mics. “Tonight, the fam is in the WWE Performance Center!” Professor Dawkins needs to school the WWE Universe on the history of this building. Dawkins says that the WWE PC is where it all started. It’s where Dawkins and Ford met, where they broke bread and became brothers. This is where the Profits were born. But it ain’t all good, either. Because ever since the Viking Raiders signed up and came to the PC, the Profits have been chasing after them. But the chase ends tonight! The Profits are UP, and #WeWantTheSmoke! With that, the Viking Raiders make their entrance, and this match begins, after the break.
Raw returns as Ford starts against Erik. Ford avoids the knees, ducks the run and hurdles over. Ford kicks, but Erik blocks to flip him back. But Ford keeps moving, and manages to land on his feet out of the back drop! The two look at each other and Dawkins gets hype. But then he gets DECKED! Ford fires off on Erik and grinds his forearm in, but lets up at 4. Ford wrenches and whips, but Erik reveres. Ford goes up and over and shows off his agility with the handspring. He tries to return the favor but Ivar gets clear of the haymaker. Erik DECKS Ford with the forearm! Ivar runs at BOOTS Dawkins on the outside! Erik lifts Ford for an EXPLODER! Ivar basement SPLASHES Dawkins! Erik gives Ford Ace Ten Mao! Tag to Ivar, Erik gut wrenches Ford up, and POWERBOMBS him! Ivar hits the WARBEARD SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Ford survives and Ivar is surprised!
Ivar glares at Ford as Ford manages to sit up. Ivar drags him up but gets a jawbreaker! Ford jumps but Ivar catches him! He still makes the tag! Dawkins fires off fast hands on Ivar! Erik gets in but gets ROCKED! Ivar swings but into a dropkick! Dawkins has Ivar and tags in Ford. Dawkins whips Ford in for a cyclone splash! Ford and Dawkins work together but Ivar slips out of assisted sliced bread! Ivar LARIATS Dawkins and tags in Erik! Ivar corner clotheslines Ford and Erik adds the SHOTGUN KNEES! Erik uses Ivar as the human weapon, hip attack! Cover, TWO!! Ford still lives! Erik is frustrated as he stalks Ford to a corner. Erik RAMS into Ford with his shoulder, then ROCKS him with a right! Ford flounders against ropes, but Erik tags in Ivar. Ivar drags Ford up and knees him hard, and clubs him harder! Ivar snapmares Ford down for a falling fist drop! Cover, TWO!
Ivar keeps on Ford with an armlock and chinbar. He grinds that forearm into Ford’s face but Ford endures. Ford fights up, but Ivar rams him into Raider territory. Tag to Erik and Erik rams into Ford again. Erik suplexes Ford but Ford slips out and rolls Erik up! TWO, Ford dodges to hot tag Dawkins! Dawkins rallies with clotheslines, then ducks under to scoop, for an EXPLODER! Erik flounders up but Dawkins decks Ivar! Dawkins gives Erik the cyclone splash, then the bulldog! Erik goes out and drags Dawkins out. Erik then runs, to DIVE into a haymaker! Dawkins dodges Ivar and POUNCES him into barriers! The Profits are back up as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns and Dawkins has Erik down in a chinlock. Erik endures the grind as Dawkins leans on him. Dawkins talks some smack but Erik fights his way up. Erik elbows free, but Dawkins knees low. Tag to Ford and Dawkins whips Erik. Ford dropkicks Erik down and covers, TWO! Ford keeps on Erik with a cravat and crank. Erik endures again, but Dawkins tags in. The Profits mug Erik and Dawkins brings him up for haymakers. Dawkins brings Erik up but Erik ROCKS him! Tag to Ivar, and Dawkins flounders. Ivar dodges and rolls off Dawkins’ back t BOOT him down! Dawkins flounders up and avoids Ivar in the corner, but Ivar hits the SEATED SENTON! Ford runs in but Ivar cartwheels and clotheslines! The Warbeard roars as he runs at Dawkins, for the BRONCO BUSTER! Cover, TWO!
Ivar keeps his cool and brings Dawkins up. He clubs Dawkins to the corner and tags in Erik. The Viking Raiders feed Dawkins to knees back and forth! Cover, TWO! Erik keeps on Dawkins with a facelock. They go around but Erik holds on. Erik drags Dawkins up, Dawkins pops free but Erik throws him for Ace Ten Mao. Dawkins avoids the knee, then gut wrenches Erik for a suplex! Both men are down but crawl for their corners. Hot tags to Ivar and Ford! Ford dodges and rallies with fast hands! Mule kick to front kick, then Ford runs to clothesline! Ivar stays up, so Ford tires again! And again, but he has to dodge. Ivar cartwheels but into an enziguri! Ford reels Ivar in, and tries but can’t back suplex! Ivar standing switches, back suplex but Ford lands on his feet! Tag to Dawkins, enziguri and a DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX! Back suplex splash! Cover, TWO!! Ivar survives the onslaught and the Profits are shocked!
Dawkins tags Ford back in, and they double whip Ivar. Ivar breaks the line to handspring and back elbow them both down! Ivar tags in Erik and Erik is right on Ford with a backbreaker! And then a gut buster! And then tag to Ivar, gut wrench but Ford slips out! Ford enziguris Ivar but Erik ROCKS Ford! Ford staggers, dodges, but runs into THOR’S H- NO! Dawkins SPEARS Erik and Ford escapes! Ford spins Ivar for the DDT! But Ford skips the cover to tag in Dawkins. Dawkins has Ivar up, pop-up SPINE BUSTER! FROM THE HEAVENS!! Cover, but Erik KNEES Dawkins off! Erik drags Ivar away to the corner, and he TOSSES Ford out! Erik tags in, but Dawkins kicks low. Dawkins runs, into THOR’s HAMMER!! Cover, the Viking Raiders win!!
Winner: The Viking Raiders, by pinfall
The chase is NOT over! It has only just begun! And now, the hunters become the hunted, because Erik & Ivar are after the Raw Tag Team Championships! Are the Profits going to be second best after all?
Backstage interview with Drew McIntyre.
The WWE Champion is much more welcoming to Charly. Charly repeats Murphy’s words that he knows he can beat McIntyre. Wow, he must’ve hit Murphy harder than he thought. But Buddy, if that’s still his name, is a very confused young man. He has Rollins praising him, but it all started when Murphy was at his most vulnerable. Rollins is using Murphy because Murphy is very talented. But if Murphy is willing to be sacrificed as the disciple, and Rollins is willing to sacrifice Murphy, then who is McIntyre to deny the people the slaughter? Will McIntyre show Murphy he is just the pawn in Rollins’ game?
Raw relives MORE of the Top Ten Greatest MITB Moments!
Moment #4 is from 2019’s Men’s MITB match. Andrade and Balor battled atop the ladder, and El Idolo would SUPER SUNSET BOMB Balor on a ladder! There’s that trend again. Moment #3 was 2006, after John Cena won a brutal Elimination Chamber match to retain his WWE Championship. But as Vince McMahon said, “This night is not over.” The moment is actually the Rated R Superstar’s cash-in and victory! Moment #3 was 2007, Jeff Hardy giving the very same Rated R Superstar a SUPER SEATED SENTON THROUGH a ladder! The Charismatic Enigma is back, but will he give us a moment quite that crazy? And what is THE greatest moment for Money in the Bank?
Backstage interview with The Viking Raiders!
Erik & Ivar are obviously very happy that they won tonight. Another big victory against the Street Profits, but what do they owe their success to? Erik says that this isn’t success, this is dominance! Ivar says that they have a ton of respect for The Profits. In fact, they like Ford & Dawkins. But the truth is, the Raiders are just better. The raid is on, and tonight, just like every night, they #ExtinguishTheSmoke!
Aleister Black speaks.
“Tell me how it felt, AJ. In fact, tell all of us how it felt. How did it feel to be buried six feet deep, all alone in that darkness, clawing for a way out, being swallowed by darkness?” One thing it didn’t do: It didn’t humble Styles. Now Styles is talking about throwing Aleister off a building. If Styles somehow manages to do that, Aleister wants him to pray that Aleister doesn’t get back up. Because Aleister will climb the ladder and take the MITB contract. When that happens, Styles will wish that he was buried deeper.
Rey Mysterio speaks.
“I’ve been a WWE superstar long enough to know what to expect before any match.” Except for this Sunday. For the first time ever, this match does not take place in just a ring. It starts in WWE HQ. Six men and six women are all fighting at the same time, from the ground floor to the very roof of Titan Towers to reach those briefcases. And that means one wrong move, and that’s all one wrote. This is by far the riskiest match of anyone’s career, but it is for a briefcase with a championship match anytime, anywhere. That makes Mysterio realize that his career is closer to the end than the beginning. Mysterio isn’t sure how many more opportunities he has left. So yes, it is risky, but it is also worth the reward. Will the King of Lucha Libre become the Greatest Mask in the Bank?
Charlotte Flair returns to Raw!
The Queen of All Eras defends her NXT Women’s Championship match this Wednesday against the Evil Genius of the Sky, Io Shirai! She takes up the mic to say, “I am the hardest working woman in any industry.” Ever since winning this title, she has been pulling double duty! She works Mondays and Wednesdays! And if you don’t know her opponent, Shirai has wrestled all over the world. Shirai won a brutal Six Woman Ladder match to become #1 contender, but on top of all that, Shirai said that Charlotte was her dream opponent. That makes Charlotte very happy. Charlotte gets to make Shirai’s dream come true, by making her bow down to the queen. But the LIVing Embodiment makes an appearance!
Liv says hi to the Queen and asks if she remembers her. Think really, really hard. Charlotte does, and thinks Liv wants some attention, while also being taken seriously. PFFFT. No, Liv doesn’t need Charlotte to take her seriously. Not all of us are born with silver spoons shoved up our a- Mouths. And Liv didn’t have a dad to walk her to school, let alone to the front of the line. But that’s fine, because Charlotte shouldn’t worry about Liv. Liv will be a champion sooner or later. And if that means knocking down backstabbers or dethroning self-entitled royals, then Liv is blessed. Charlotte says Liv doesn’t know who Liv is, but Charlotte knows who Charlotte is. Yes, she is born as Ric Flair’s daughter with a silver spoon, but guess what? Charlotte is proud of it!
It’s a shame, because Liv was being so “authentic,” yet she said the same things about Charlotte that everyone says. Charlotte was almost expecting Liv to say Charlotte was her dream opponent, too. But in the end, they will both bow down to the Queen. Well then, why don’t we just get a ref down here and see what happens? Liv is stepping up, but will she just be a warm-up for Charlotte?
Charlotte Flair VS Liv Morgan!
Raw returns with the bell, and Liv ties up with Charlotte. Charlotte powers her to a cover and grinds her into buckles, but the ref counts. Charlotte lets up and draws a line “in the sand.” Liv steps right over and scuffs that line. They tie up again, Charlotte throws Liv down but Liv gets up. Charlotte throws her again then kips right up. Charlotte dusts herself off but Liv keeps her cool. The two circle, Liv dodges and headlocks. Charlotte rolls and pops out the back to facelock. Liv gets up, tries to bring Charlotte down then tries to power out. Charlotte stays clamped on, but Liv gets it on the second effort. Charlotte runs her over and things speed up. Liv drops down but Charlotte stops to boot her down! Charlotte taunts Liv and toys with her. Liv talks trash so Charlotte CLUBS her down. Charlotte bumps Liv off buckles and taunts some more.
Charlotte goes to bump but Liv blocks to elbow back! Liv turns around and Charlotte ROCKS her! Charlotte runs in but misses the splash, and Liv fires off! Charlotte shoves Liv away but Liv shotgun dropkicks back! Things speed up again and Liv huricanranas! Charlotte flounders to a corner, and Liv back body blocks! But Charlotte LARIATS right back! Charlotte looms over Liv and brings her up. She whips Liv to a corner, then runs in. Liv goes up and over, rolls and returns, but Charlotte dodges. Liv hops up, up and missile dropkicks! Charlotte flounders again, and Liv runs in, to be hip tossed into buckles! Charlotte stomps away in anger but the ref counts. She stops at four and struts around as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Charlotte uses the headscissors hold to RAM Liv into the mat over and over! The ref counts and Charlotte throws Liv to a corner at 4. Charlotte drags Liv up to SLAP, so Liv fires back! Charlotte runs into boots! Liv runs and swings, but into a back suplex. She slips free, kicks low then runs to LARIAT! And Liv is rallying, into the running facebuster! Liv keeps going, basement enziguri! Charlotte flounders but Liv goes up, to STOMP her down! Cover, TWO! Charlotte survives but Liv keeps her focus. Liv stalks up behind Charlotte but Charlotte elbows her away! Charlotte pops Liv up to the apron and ROCKS her with a right! Charlotte seethes as she stands Liv up, but Liv hotshots her back! Liv slides under, but Charlotte stomps the sunset flip apart! Charlotte taunts Liv, but Liv actually grins. Liv throws hyamakers and a jawbreaker! Then the tornado CODE BREAKER! Both women are down, but Liv is getting up first!
Liv runs, but Charlotte blocks the huricanrana! Charlotte brings Liv up, to POWERBOMB! High stack cover, TWO!! Now Charlotte is grinning, because she’s actually having some fun. Charlotte stalks Liv to a corner, and CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! The ref reprimands but Charlotte CHOPS once more. She argues with the ref but Liv elbows her away! Liv hops up and leaps, but into Charlotte’s arms! BOSTON CRAB! Liv endures, crawls and claws, and gets the ropebreak! Charlotte lets go at 4, but Liv drop toeholds her into ropes! Charlotte flounders to a corner, Liv runs in, but into the backbreaker and buckle shot! Liv crawls and Charlotte goes up top. But Liv goes up to forearm! Liv runs in, hops up, SUPER CODE BREAKER!! Cover, TWO!! Charlotte survives but Liv tries another cover, TWO! Liv can’t believe how close she was!
Liv watches Charlotte closely as she goes to ropes. She runs in, rebounds, but into a roll-up! She slips out, but Charlotte gets the Figure Four, and FIGURE EIGHT!! Liv taps, Charlotte wins!
Winner: Charlotte Flair, by submission
The Queen avoids ObLIVion, and now has momentum for her match against Io Shirai! Will the Evil Genius use everything we just saw to improve her strategy? Or will the dream match become Shirai’s nightmare?
Raw shares THE Greatest Moment in MITB History!
It is of course, Seth Rollins’ 2015 cash-in at WrestleMania 31! He turned Lesnar VS Roman into a Triple Threat, and took the title on the Greatest Stage of Them All! The Heist of the Century truly raised the bar on all cash-ins, but will Rollins outdo even that against Drew McIntyre this Sunday?
Drew McIntyre VS Buddy Murphy w/ Seth Rollins!
All sides have spoken, but now it is about backing up those words. Will the Scottish Stud leave the disciple lost in #ClaymoreCountry before he goes after the Monday Night Messiah? Or will Murphy play his part in Rollins realizing his destiny?
The bell rings and Murphy circles with McIntyre. They tie up, and McIntyre shoves Murphy right down! Murphy bails out while Rollins glares from the ramp. Murphy gets in, but McIntyre blocks the kick. McIntyre pushes Murphy back but Murphy comes back with a chop! That does nothing! Murphy headlocks but McIntyre powers out. They collide, but neither falls, and Murphy SLAPS McIntyre! Murphy runs, McIntyre follows, but Murphy stops himself only to get run over! Murphy bails out again, but McIntyre pursues! McIntyre stalks up behind Murphy and BOOTS him down on the ramp! McIntyre drags Murphy up to RAM into barriers, and then into apron, and then back to barriers! And then the apron one more time! Rollins looks disappointed as McIntyre throws Murphy OVER barriers! McIntyre returns to the ring and says, “Maybe you should step up and be a leader,” Rollins! Then McIntyre fetches Murphy to snake eyes him off LED boards!
McIntyre glares at Rollins as he CHOPS Murphy! They go back to the ramp and McIntyre headlock punches Murphy down! Murphy scrambles into the ring at 5 but Rollins steps closer. McIntyre stares him down, but Murphy dropkicks back! Murphy throws McIntyre into barriers, then more barriers! McIntyre powers out but Murphy escapes the scoop to POST McIntyre! Murphy puts McIntyre in and climbs up top. Murphy leaps, METEORA! Cover, ONE!! Rollins has made his way to ringside now as Murphy Penalty Kicks McIntyre in the back! And again! But McIntyre gets up! Murphy chops but McIntyre CHOPS! McIntyre drags Murphy up to CHOP again! McIntyre whips, Murphy reverses, bobs ‘n’ weaves and fires off a strike fest! But McIntyre avoids the knee to HEADBUTT! The Glasgow Kiss rocks Murphy, and McIntyre says this is for Rollins. McIntyre says Murphy can’t give up with his leader watching. “Get to your feet, dammit!”
McIntyre runs at Murphy but Murphy boots! Murphy slips to the apron and enziguris! Murphy climbs but McIntyre CHOPS him off the ropes! He crashes into barriers, and McIntyre drags him back in. McIntyre climbs up and waits for Murphy to stand. And then he leaps to flying ax handle! And kip up! McIntyre drags Murphy up and into a fireman’s carry, to then climb up top again! But Murphy slips out to a sunset, then tucks McIntyre in for the SUPERKICK! And POWERBOMB!! Cover, ONE!? Murphy is shocked and Rollins is seething, but so is McIntyre. Murphy aims from the corner and mocks the countdown. He runs out, but McIntyre CLAYMORES!! Cover, McIntyre wins!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall
The disciple has fallen, and McIntyre dares Rollins to step up and give us MITB early. McIntyre says he is an impatient man, so why wait for this “destiny” Rollins speaks of? “Fight me, Seth! C’mon, I’ll get on my damn knees if you fight me right now!” Rollins storms off, not ready for what’s coming. Will Rollins make destiny happen on his time? But wait, Rollins reappears and SUPERKICKS McIntyre down! “This is not about you, Drew!” This is BIGGER than either of them! Rollins sees the title belt and picks it up. He looks at it and surely remembers what it was like to have it for his own. But then he tosses it aside, and runs, but McIntyre avoids the stomp! McIntyre HEADBUTTS Rollins, then demands the coward get back up. But Rollins retreats again, clutching his jaw. Will McIntyre have even more than that in store for the Monday Night Messiah this Sunday?
My Thoughts:
A really good go-home right here. I like that the VIP Lounge had the women’s entrants for the MITB match, and I like how it turned out. Asuka and Shayna stand tall together, but don’t count them out of the running just yet. Becky Lynch was being advertised for next week already, because she wants after Ms. MITB regardless of brand. But I’m pretty sure that’s a telltale sign that Raw takes the Women’s MITB, because I don’t see this being the time when Fox wants to let “their” superstars work on USA Network. MVP’s audio for his pep talk with Vink and Thorne was horrible for part of it, but it was still a good promo. I did not expect Vink and Thorne to win, either. I honestly feel like MVP should’ve been using Vink and Thorne to recruit Ricochet and Alexander, but maybe there’s some kind of long game at play.
And then we got a really good Gauntlet match tonight. I’m not so sure Lashley had to lose by disqualifying himself, as a lucky roll-up would’ve been just as effective. At the same time, it does keep Lashley strong, and it strengthens the story of tension between him and Lana. Carrillo had a great performance against Garza and Theory, and what a great way for Styles to return! Styles won to finally give the match another male Heel, and he had a great return promo. Mysterio and Aleister had really good responses in their promo, and it all makes me that much more excited for this match. The tag match of Profits VS Raiders was an excellent match, and this was the right result to keep the story going. That Raw Tag Team title match is going to be like a TakeOver match, but I’m not sure which is the better result. Profits winning means they finally get out from the Raiders’ shadow, but then what do the Raiders do after losing?
Charlotte had a good promo but I feel like she and Liv stumbled somewhere in there. Why didn’t they reference the match on SmackDown that basically sent Liv into this reinvention of herself? The match was really good, though, especially for Liv. But of course Charlotte wins, she’s a champion and headed for a title defense. Flair VS Shirai is going to be incredible, but win or lose, I feel like Charlotte needs to eventually choose which brand she’s on. And we got some really good promos from McIntyre, Rollins and Murphy, and a pretty good main event out of McIntyre VS Murphy. But boy did Rollins get punked out by McIntyre. He “retreats” to then be forced to retreat anyway. Murphy’s nickname at one time was the Aussie Juggernaut, but McIntyre is becoming a Scottish Juggernaut right now. I feel like the only thing that could stop McIntyre is the surprise cash-in.
My Score: 8.4/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s IMPACT Sacrifice Results & Match Ratings: 3.24.2023
Well damn, 24 hours changes everything! Josh is injured and has to vacate the World title! Mickie is also injured but she’s making her announcement during the show. How does IMPACT salvage their two main title pictures at Sacrifice?
Well hot damn, a lot of news popped up in less than 24 hours. So Josh Alexander tore his triceps; so he has to vacate the World Title and he’s being replaced by Steve Maclin in the 6 man match. Mickie James apparently also has an injury, but they are going to turn it into a segment on the show instead of a straight up vacating.
Now from a story perspective this sucks since I loved the Maclin/Alexander segment last night. That’s just me being selfish since I wanted to see that build and Maclin get the big win he deserves. Now he’ll be facing Kushida for the vacated title at Rebellion, and even if Maclin wins it will feel a little flat. Here’s to hoping that when Josh returns from injury they can find a way to bridge the time lost and keep the story going eventually.
.@MeanGiaMiller caught up with @FrankieKazarian and #RichSwann to talk about @Walking_Weapon's unfortunate injury and @SteveMaclin replacing him as their partner TONIGHT at #Sacrifice! #CountdownToSacrifice pic.twitter.com/jdnqk6BLN9
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 24, 2023
Ratings:
- Speedball Mike Bailey vs Jonathan Gresham: Bailey wins via Reverse Figure Four – *** 3/4
- Digital Media Championship: Joe Hendry (c) vs Brian Myers: Hendry retains via Standing Ovation – ***
- Gisele Shaw w/Jai Vidal & Savannah Evans vs Deonna Purrazzo: Deonna wins via Venus de Milo – *** 1/4
- Kenny King w/Eddie Edwards vs PCO: PCO wins via Straight Right Chair Punch – *** 1/4
- X Division Championship: Lince Dorado vs Trey Miguel (c): Trey retains via Cradle – *
- IMPACT Tag Team Titles: TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito) vs Bullet Club (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) (c): Bullet Club retains via ABC 1-2-Sweet – ****
- Busted Open Match: Bully Ray vs Tommy Dreamer: Bully wins – ** 1/2
- Time Machine (Kushida, Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs Rich Swann, Frankie Kazarian & Steve Maclin: Kushida wins via Hoverboard Lock – ****
Results:
Speedball Mike Bailey vs Jonathan Gresham
With the injuries in the main event, I could definitely see one, or both of these guys; fast tracked into the title scene after Rebellion. And I don’t think anyone would really be mad at that.
A quick tit for tat start, no one really gets any advantage. Just a few quick counters and takeover attempts. They both pause to take in chants from the crowd and then lock up again. Collar and Elbow tie up, they don’t release and both roll one another under the rope and out of the ring. There is an early moment where while he’s against the ropes he pokes Speedball in the eye and then apologizes. So things go back to a technical face vs face, but it could be a precursor.
Technical catch wrestling continues. Wrestling one another down, trying to get positions for small submission picks or limb attacks, but nothing is sticking yet. Gresham does manage to an Indian Deathlock, and then a Reverse Figure Four that Gresham conveniently can’t untangle so the referee has to do it and Bailey is pissed. Gresham tries to explain it, but Bailey lights him up, Gresham falls out of the ring, Golden Triangle Moonsault and now the aggression is starting to pick up. Hamstring Kicks and Chops from Bailey, but Gresham baits the attack and trips up Bailey before attacking the left knee with a grin on his face. Bailey is grounded for a while and Gresham keeps trying to twist off his leg. Eventually some Up Kicks break the submission attempt but Gresham wrestles him down again into a Bow and Arrow Trailer Hitch kind of move. Since Bailey has Tanahashi next week, Gresham must be trying to make Bailey’s knees equal. Good Guy Gresham.
Bailey starts stringing some offense together, but a few Low Dropkicks ruins Bailey’s base and causes him to face plant and the offense is going nowhere. Gresham even goes for the pinfall by trying to hyper extend the leg he’s been working on. Strikes continue to trade, Gresham tries to shoot the half but Bailey kicks off, Hamstring Kick again, Gresham Kips Up but clutches the leg a little, a chance for Speedball but Gresham cradles him to the ground and locks in a Figure Four. Speedball eventually rolls to the apron, Gresham tries to continue the stretching but Bailey kicks him into the post, sweeps the leg and Moonsault Double Knees right on Gresham’s head; Bailey went full Billy Kidman with his offense.
Bailey and Gresham continue to jockey for position on the outside, it looks like it might be a double count out. Gresham gets in at 9, Bailey gets in right at the 10 and the referee allows the match to continue. Some quick offense, Tornado Kicks to the corner, Ultima Weapon misses, Gresham goes for the Figure Four again but Speedball reverses it and Gresham taps pretty quick.
Backstage segment with Brian Myers, Moose joins and says he’ll help him beat Hendry – but then Santino shows up! He tells Moose he’s dumb and just stooged himself out, so he’s banning him from ringside. Who would’ve thunk it, the comedy character brings the logic.
Digital Media Championship: Joe Hendry (c) vs Brian Myers
Myers powders after a few early bumps and then Hendry follows him. Hendry is definitely not fighting with “champion’s advantage”, as is the way for babyfaces. Myers tries to fight back on the floor but a Scoop Slam leaves Myers on the receiving end. Hendry has to roll in to reset the 10 count and Myers catches him.
A few quick attacks, Roster Cut attempt but Hendry gets the goozle on. Standing Ovation attempt but Myers slips it, Chop Block, and continues to hammer down on Hendry. Myers with a Falcon Arrow and a bunch of slightly arrogant offense until he goes for the Crossbody, gets caught again, Sack of Shit, and Hendry is back on the offensive. Pop Up Power – no, slips and a Running Spear from Myers for a 2 count. Myers hits the top rope but Hendry cuts him off, Myers pushes him off, launches and Hendry hits the RKO mid move! Throws Myers into the ropes, Standing Ovation, and Hendry retains!
So Mickie addresses her injury, it seems she broke a rib during the tag match. They are allowing Mickie to hold on to the title until Rebellion. Either she defends it in a 3 way versus Jordynne and the winner of the 4 Way at the Multiverse United show or Jordynne will face the winner of the 4 Way for the vacated title.
Gisele Shaw w/Jai Vidal & Savannah Evans vs Deonna Purrazzo
Deonna starts off angry, Gisele is getting rocked early, they go through a few rope running counter cradles and slides but its just early counter wrestling. Gisele manages to surprise Deonna going for an Armbar, but Deonna counters it, tries the Venus de Milo but Shaw powders. Deonna hits the Baseball Slide, starts beating on Gisele but she slides back in to distract the referee while Savannah clocks Deonna.
Triplicate European Uppercuts from Gisele keep her very comfortably in control. Another distraction to the ref and Savannah swings and connects with Deonna again. Deonna tries to fight from the corner, Gisele grabs Deonna’s feet drapes her across the ropes and drops both knees on Deonna. Gisele drives her knee into Deonna’s shoulder blades and goes for the Chin Lock. Deonna tries to power out, Gisele stifles it a little, but Deonna catches her with a Twisting Neckbreaker. Slow start to the strike exchange but it slowly picks up, Deonna with a beautiful spot of a no look Back Kick right to Gisele’s stomach, Running Knee Lift into the Russian Leg Sweep for 2. Deonna Pump Kick, Gisele Superkick, Deonna bounces off the ropes, Flatliner into Koji Clutch, but Gisele slides back a little to turn it into a pinfall to break the submission.
Both women have wrist control and just swing at each other. Deonna gets the best, one big swing but Gisele ducks it, catches Deonna in Shock and Awe (Backbreaker into Flatliner). Denouement attempt, Deonna grabs at the arm for the Fujiwara attempt but Gisele fights it off. Venus de Milo gets locked in and Deonna holds it a little longer to make a point.
Savannah attacks Deonna afterwards, but Tasha Steelz music hits. Tasha tries to play nice like she’s here to help Savannah, then cheap shots her, fights off Jai with a Tornado DDT kicking off of Savannah. Okurr on Jai and Tasha cleans house and babyfaces herself.
Kenny King w/Eddie Edwards vs PCO
Kenny comes out in an Honor No More shirt, which is a nice way to play into the story.
Eddie tries to get PCO’s attention and then Kenny attacks him right as the bell rings. PCO turns things around shortly, Eddie keeps trying to find angles to give Kenny ambush spots but PCO keeps fighting back. PCO stalks Eddie on the outside and Kenny hits a beautiful Tornillo, then a Scoop Slam as he mocks the whole Frankenstein gimmick. PCO rolls in and Kenny John Woo’s him into the corner and starts Bootwashing his face to talk smack. PCO fires, goozle and just throws Kenny out of the ring.
PCO kicks Kenny from getting back in the ring, looks to do his Senton but “short circuits”. So PCO does a Senton to the wrong side of the ring, crashing but popping right back up, and it apparently helped correct the issue. So Senton onto Kenny, throws him back in, Kenny tries the Eddy Gordo kick but PCO just barrels over him. PCO drapes Kenny in the corner, Codebreaker, into the back of the head Guillotine Leg Drop and now PCO pulls him to the apron.
Here we go, Deanimator attempt – but Eddie cuts him off, PCO kicks him back into the cameras, Kenny gets up and an Iconoclasm bouncing off the apron of the ring! Kenny throws him into the steps, rolls in, things he’s all but won…yet PCO beats the 10 count. “He’s Not Human” chant starts, Frog Splash from Kenny and PCO kicks out and fires at 2. Eddie throws a Kendo stick in the ring to distract the referee from Kenny using a chair. Kenny hits PCO once, PCO shakes it off and has a gameplan. So he actually helps keep the referee distracted to bait in Kenny for another chairshot attempt, but PCO just punches through the chair and knocks out Kenny.
Maclin, Kaz and Rich have a backstage segment. It perfectly shows the story beats of Maclin being annoyed that he put in all this prep and recon on Josh just for the opponent to be flipped. Typical tumultuous team members vibe, but Maclin gets his story beats across beautifully.
Can #RichSwann and @FrankieKazarian trust @SteveMaclin? #Sacrifice pic.twitter.com/TcEZ79IWkC
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 25, 2023
X Division Championship: Lince Dorado vs Trey Miguel (c)
Okay Lince comes out in a bathrobe with some cringe ass “Lucha Lit” gimmick. I…hate it. This is probably the first time ever that I want Trey to win. Cause Dorado is cringe as hell. In a game of them both sucking, I’ll pick the style of trash that I can tolerate more…which is Trey.
Lucha counter wrestling with flips over trips and that stupid ass Mirrored Dropkick Spot. I also don’t love the Lince doing the cat mannerisms, but Puma King and a few others have done that…so I guess its more tolerated in Lucha. This whole match has been a little paint by numbers boring Lucha where the moves are done just to pop the crowd but not to actually accomplish anything.
Diving whatever moves they accomplish nothing. Its really hard for me to care about flippy trash matches. Lince hits 2 of the 3 step Moonsaults, but Trey of course no sells and dodges the third, Tiger Wall Kick, but Trey stumbles a little for the Enzuigiri, Trey also hits a sloppy Outside In Tiger Feint…its just sloppy spots for spots sake. I would probably be more entertained if I had Runescape fired up on a different tab. This is just a waste of space, much like both “wrestlers”.
Lince hits a Avalanche Frankensteiner, into a Shooting Star Press but Trey powders. Lince tries that bounce off the corner with his legs spot, but its sloppy. Another sloppy Tiger Feint from Trey, Slingshot Sunset Bomb for 2. These are just stupid moves for stupid sake. Lince tries to cut off Trey from a rope run with a Big Boot but mostly misses, makes the whole cut off exchange look stupid. Trey with a flash cradle during the cut offs for pinfall. Eww…this was garbage.
IMPACT Tag Team Titles: TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito) vs Bullet Club (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) (c)
It is nice to see a variation of TMDK back together. I also enjoyed Tito called Ace and Bey the “Mini Bullet Club” since they’re the juniors heavyweights.
Tito and Bey start off, Bey is trying to show off his speed, Tito gets across the power though. Tito kinda looks like a young Scott Steiner, and he literally tosses Bey back into his corner. Ace tags in, tries to do something but Tito is just too strong. Haste gets tagged in for some flashy yet effective offense. Ace finds something with the Triangle Victory Roll, Bey blind tag, cheap shot on Tito, Russian Leg Sweep + Low Sweep combination into some Click Click Boom. So Bullet Club is showing very nice Junior style synergy. Haste is very loud and animated, so he’s a great one to have eating the offense. Especially when they do their Back Rake goof spot.
Haste finally maneuvers things to tag Tito in, and Haste hands off Ace to Tito and Tito hits a Standing Blue Thunder Bomb. Tree of Woe, Bey tries to come in to break up the spot but the referee is distract, Tito steps up and stands on the groin, nice homage to Petey Williams. We are in Canada. Announce team almost sets up too much meme fodder, and then Rehwoldt steers into it. Rehwoldt said Bey was trying to rush into to get Tito off…paused for a second, which you know Hannifan gave him a look. So then they just pivot to everyone in TMDK being like Australian Sex Pistols. Very clever misdirection.
The match is fun, Bey gets the hot tag, clocks everyone, Haste tries a Lariat, Bey ducks that, flies onto Tito on the outside, comes back in, Tornado Fameasser for 2. Bullet Club goes for a Torture Rack/Triangle Kick combo, but Haste gets out of it. Tito gets tagged in and he start to look like Steve Williams with the Doctor Bomb for 2. Tito hits a big battering ram Dive on Bey to clear him out. Haste Falcon Arrow, Tito Froggy Splash, but Bey breaks it up.
Tito starts getting ping ponged between the two Juniors, Torture Rack/Triangle Kick combination, for 1-2-3? – no Haste comes in the referee says it was in time to stop the 3 count. Tito charges and a beautifully times Superkick + Spinning Back Heel Kick on Tito. He’s dazed, ABC 1-2-Sweet! Bullet Club retain!
Busted Open Match: Bully Ray vs Tommy Dreamer
This is a First Blood Match for anyone who doesn’t know, and Dreamer comes out with an ECW Championship Belt.
Chair duel to start things, ECW replica belt to the face of Bully Ray. Dreamer grabs a soda from a fan, Muta mist on Bully, tries to shove the can into his skull for early blood but no. Bully crotches Dreamer on the guardrail and then picks a fight with Darren McCarty who’s in the crowd. Darren McCarty was the enforcer for the Detroit Red Wings, so its very old school letting the ex sports guy play. Bully also has a great spot where he pulls out a step ladder, then asks the referee to hold it, does the Jimmy Snuka pose and goes for a Splash and misses. Bully gets to rile up AEW and WWF fans all in one spot. Good old school heat. Corny, but good.
Dreamer gets a bag of tacks, Bully fights off the Piledriver, gets the cheese grater but Dreamer hits the Bionic Elbow as a counter. Cheese grater with Dreamer, Dreamer charges, Bully pulls the referee in the corner, so ref bump. Dreamer eventually makes contact with the cheese grater, but there’s no referee and Bully has his back to the camera, so it slow rolls the result nicely. Good Hands hit the ring, on with a towel to see if he can blot the bleeding before the ref comes to.
Bully hits Tommy with pocket tacks instead of pocket sand. Tries to drive Dreamer’s face into the tacks and then Elbow it further down but Dreamer moves. Dreamer grabs the grater again, Bully tries to beg off, screams he’s sorry and now tries to guilt Tommy with his family is going to see this. Dreamer actually stops and then Bully hits him in the balls. Bully busts open Tommy with the tacks, the Good Hands slide in Tommy as the referee comes to, so the referee only sees Dreamer bleeding. Its a solid old school Hardcore match but it was definitely a little too plodding and corny.
Yuya Uemura tries to make the save, then Darren McCarty jumps the railing. This really has turned into ECW, Bully gets a mic, asks him if he really wants to fight and tells security to let him go. LOL – a literal Hockey Fight. McCarty gets the best of things, Good Hands mug him from behind. Triple Powerbomb McCarty through the table.
Scott D’Amore’s music hits! Scott starts stripping like he’s Ric Flair. Bully calls down Scott, but Scott has backup. He calls Rino, Heath, Gresham, Baily and Joe Hendry. Good Hands try to attack Scott…Scott stops him…and HITS A CANADIAN DESTROYER! Can this lead to a Lethal Lockdown match? Team D’Amore versus Team Bully? Give me that…give me some Lethal Lockdown now!
Time Machine (Kushida, Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs Rich Swann, Frankie Kazarian & Steve Maclin
Shelley and Swann start off, and its just a bit of chain wrestling. They both have Hammerlocks, Headlocks, and just twist around to try and find an angle. Shelley speeds things up a little, Shoulder Tackle, rope run, Swann goes down and Shelley puts on the brakes to sink in a quick STF but Rich grabs the rope. Kaz and Sabin tag in and we get some Battle of the Futures nostalgia.
Back and forth, Up and Over, Sabin with the Arm Drag into the Top Wristlock. Kaz fights through, a little more quick counters and fun stalemate spots as they are all having fun with each other. Kushida tags in and points to Maclin. Kaz slaps Maclin’s chest and we all know Maclin isn’t a fun loving babyface like Kaz and Swann, so the tone should start to change. Kushida starts by starting Grounded ala Inoki vs Ali, then manages to trip up Maclin and keep the mat wrestling going, but Maclin finally gets back to hit feet and can finally use his size and power to his advantage. Shelley blind tag, Time Splitters PK to the Arm combo.
Shelley keeps on the arm that got kicks with the Arm Wringer and then a few quick shots to the damaged arm. Kaz makes the blind tag after Maclin uses the middle rope into Shelley’s throat. Kaz and Rich with a little Hip Toss tandem stuff for a near fall on Shelley. But the tone of Rich and Kaz is definitely much different. Shelley fights his way out of the enemy corner, Time Machine triple team, Single Leg Crab, Camel Clutch, Sliding Dropkick from Sabin onto Rich. Kaz is trying to police too much of Maclin’s motion, typical team that doesn’t get along stuff. Rich driven into Kaz in the corner, triple Dropkicks from all of Time Machine.
Kushida tags in, stares down Maclin and then Maclin picks up and throws Rich to Time Machine because you can tell he’s frustrated getting policed with all of his moves. MCMG hold Rich, Kushida hits the Baseball Slide on the restrained wrestler and Kushida does the little Liger spin around pose/taunt and stares down Maclin. Shelley starts with the joint manipulation, and Swann is just getting torn apart. Swann in the Tree of Woe, Sliding Dropkick to Swann’s face, and then the Triple Baseball Slide. Sabin tags in with the Octopus Hold on Rich which he rolls into a pinfall, but Rich kicks out. You hear Maclin say “All you have to do is tag me bitch” – which proves that Maclin is trying to be a team player in his own way.
Rich fights out of the triple team, and chooses to tag in Kaz. Kaz hot tag, exchanges with Sabin which turns into the Guillotine Leg Drop through the ropes, Kaz is taking out everyone right now. Two Springboard Leg Drops…and now a third as all of the Time Machine offense is stopped. Sabin blind tag though gives Time Machine some momentum. Rich tries to come in, gets rocked, Maclin charges, Sabin grabs him and Tornado DDT sends Maclin to powder. Missile Dropkick/Flatliner on Kaz for 2.
Cradle Shock counter, rolling tag to Rich. Avalanche Headscissors, Rich goes to the top rope, Maclin tags himself in, but Time Machine gets rolling. Dragon Screw from Kushida with the Mutoh pose afterwards. Maclin and Shelley are legal, and going back and forth. Double Arm Breaker from Shelley after Kaz tries to get involved. Maclin gets some offense back in, Caught in the Crosshairs form Maclin, Maclin tags in Kaz, Kaz tags Rich, tandem attacks, Cutter form Rich into a 450…1-2-Kushida Kicks out! Swann goes for Phoenix Splash but misses. Flying Armbar from Kushida, triple Submission spot, but Maclin gets out of his and breaks Kushida’s submission. Maclin stares down Time Machine, hits the ropes and gets eaten alive by tandem attacks.
Time Machine goes for a Double Shiranui Tower, but it gets broken up. Outatime lands on Kaz. Sliced Bread lands on Swann. Tanaka Punch blocked, Maclin eats Shell Shock, Sabin gives Kushida a rolling start to throw him onto Maclin like a Spider Monkey and sink in the Hoverboard Lock. Maclin taps relatively quick, which is strategic to not risk injury.
Overall Score: 7/10
Talk about a show that no one knew what the hell to expect! Josh vacating the belt means that things had to change with fairly short notice. Mickie’s implications of either a Triple threat or she’ll hand over the belt to the winner if she’s not cleared is something you don’t see too often. But when it comes down to the card, the show was relatively good. Trey & Lince was hot garbage, and Busted Open was what we all kind of expected. Was it a bit more entertaining with some of the ECW nods? Sure. But it was just a spectacle and honestly Scott D’Amore hitting the Canadian Destroyer made that all worth it.
OH CANADA! @ScottDAmore CANADIAN DESTROYERS @TheJasonHotch and Windsor EXPLODES! #Sacrifice pic.twitter.com/iqqpiH0tMZ
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 25, 2023
The tag and six man matches were the best stuff on the card, and sets the stage decently well for storylines into Rebellion. I’m not joking though, if we don’t get Team D’Amore vs Team Bully in a Lethal Lockdown…the salt will pour. Don’t let the Canadian Destroyer spot be for naught! Oh – and put the damn belt on Maclin!
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Wrestling really does have more than one royal family.
While Cody Rhodes is back on SmackDown to take on Ludwig Kaiser, Dominik Mysterio plans on confronting in his entire family in Las Vegas! Will Rey finally snap on his son?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Cody Rhodes VS Ludwig Kaiser w/ Giovanni Vinci; Cody wins.
- Rey Mysterio VS LA Knight; Knight wins.
- WrestleMania Women’s Tag Team Showcase Qualifier: Lacey Evans & Xia Li VS Shotzi Blackheart & Natalya; Shotzi & Natalya win and advance to WrestleMania.
- “Butch” Pete Dunne w/ The Brawling Brutes VS GUNTER; Gunther wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Cody Rhodes VS Ludwig Kaiser w/ Giovanni Vinci!
The American Nightmare is back on SmackDown, looking to stay razor sharp for his match with the Tribal Chief. But will he get more than just a tune-up from the Impeccable German? Or will Kaiser keep the mat sacred?
The bell rings and the two circle. Fans rally up for “CODY! CODY!” Ludwig eggs Cody on, they tie up, and they’re in a deadlock. Cody powers Ludwig to a corner but Ludwig turns it around. Ludwig lets off, but throws a body shot! Ludwig whips, Cody reverses and reels Ludwig in to suplex! Fans fire up as Cody keeps Ludwig in the air, before the GOURD BUSTER! But wait, here comes Paul Heyman. Cody is distracted by the Wise Man, Ludwig waistlocks, but Cody trips Ludwig to then SHINING WIZARD! Ludwig bails out while Cody glances back at Heyman. Fans continue to rally for Cody while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Cody staggers over to Ludwig. Ludwig UPPERCUTS then COMPLETE SHOTS! Cover, TWO! Ludwig scowls, and he rains down fists in a headlock! Fans boo but Ludwig lets off. Ludwig clamps onto Cody with a chinlock, then CLUBS him down. Fans boo as Ludwig goes outside to drag Cody to the corner, but Cody YANKS Ludwig into the post! Cody goes out to CHOP Ludwig, ROCKS him, and then CHOPS him against the announce desk! Cody rains down fists and fans fire up! Cody puts Ludwig back in the ring, runs and springboards, but Ludwig trips him up and YANKS him down!
Heyman is stoic as Ludwig sits Cody up to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Cody scowls but Ludwig looms over him. Ludwig pie faces Cody, drags him up but Cody ROCKS Ludwig and JABS and throws a body shot. Ludwig throat chops in return! Ludwig CHOKES Cody on the ropes, the ref counts and Ludwig lets off. Fans boo, but Vinci gets a cheap shot! Cover, TWO! Ludwig clamps back on with a chinlock. Cody endures, fans rally up, and Cody fights up to his feet. Ludwig throws Cody down by his hair! Fans boo more as Ludwig paces around and taunts Cody. Ludwig rains down more fists, then scrapes Cody’s face!
Ludwig runs to BASEMENT UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Heyman is still stoic as Cody drags himself to ropes. Ludwig kicks the ropes to jam Cody’s arm! Ludwig drags Cody up to UPPERCUT! Cody ROCKS Ludwig with forearm after forearm! Ludwig JAWBREAKERS! Ludwig throws body shots and stomps in the corner, whips corner to corner, then runs in, but Cody puts him on the apron! Cody ROCKS Ludwig, and BEAUTIFUL DISASTER KICKS Ludwig down! Fans fire up and Heyman is upset now. Ludwig staggers up into a kick, and Cody reels Ludwig in! Cody hooks the arms, but now SOLO SIKOA appears!
Fans boo as the Bloodline approaches, but Ludwig CHOP BLOCKS Cody’s leg! Solo and Heyman stay at the ramp as Ludwig goes out. Cody throws hands, whips, but Ludwig reverses and sends Cody crashing into steel steps! Fans boo but Cody drags himself up, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Cody throws hands on Ludwig. Ludwig headlocks, Cody powers out and things speed up, but DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! Solo & Heyman are now ringside as fans rally up. Vinci coaches Ludwig but Cody sits up first. They stand, Cody throws a body shot but Ludwig throws a haymaker. Cody throws a forearm, Ludwig gives it back, they go shot for shot, back and forth, faster and faster, and fans fire up! Ludwig kicks low, whips, but Cody reverses to then follow and CLOBBER Ludwig! Cody kicks, RHODES UPPERCUT! Cody then baits Ludwig, goes up and over in a corner, and POWERSLAMS! Cover, TWO!
Solo is stoic, Heyman smiles, but then Vinci throws in his track jacket. The ref gets that out of the way, but misses the HIGH LOW COMBO from Imperium! Cover, TWO!! Cody survives and Ludwig is surprised. Ludwig shouts “NEIN!” and runs in to UPPERCUT, GAMANGIRI and HALF HATCH SUPLEX! Ludwig goes up top, leaps, but into a dragon sleeper! But Ludwig drops to victory roll! TWO, and Cody dodges Ludwig to springboard, CODY CUTTER! Fans fire up as Cody stares down Heyman & Solo! Cody waits on Ludwig, reels him back in, CROSS RHODES!! Cover, Cody wins!
Winner: Cody Rhodes, by pinfall
The Impeccable German was less than perfect, and he loses to the American Nightmare! But Cody watches Solo get up on the apron and Heyman has the mic. Heyman has Solo stand down, and then tells Cody, “You’re owed an apology. And since I’m the Wise Man of the Bloodline, may I? I am going to be the one to deliver that apology to you.” The ring announcer did a lousy job. She must be from Vegas. Fans boo and Heyman acts surprised. But Heyman will do the honors. “Ladies and gentlemen! Your winner… and still challenger for the reigning! Defending! Undisputed! WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman Reigns… Cody! RRRRHODES!”
Fans are torn but Heyman says this is the very same Cody Rhodes that sees his Road to WrestleMania with a giant pothole in front of him that happens this Monday Night Raw, when Cody goes one versus one against… SOLO! And if, and isn’t that a big “if,” IF Cody survives Solo, then it’s not the Road to WrestleMania. All roads lead to Roman Reigns, who will be here live on SmackDown next Friday to see Cody one final time face to face. Heyman tosses the mic to Cody and he catches it. “Is that what we’re doing, Mr. Heyman? Are you moving the goal posts for me? Another thing you did, you interrupted them while they were singing the song.
“And now, you wanna move the goal posts and move ’em right here, huh? Am I expected to say ‘No?’ Oh, it’s six days out from the biggest match in the history of my family, I should probably say no, right? WELL, I probably shouldn’t have wrestled with half my body hanging off, and I still beat Seth Rollins! So when it comes to you,” he says as he points at Solo, “undefeated and as good as you are, like I said last week. You’re. Not. Ready!” Fans chant that, then Cody continues.
“And as for the champion, Roman Reigns. After Solo finds out that he’s not ready, at WrestleMania on April 2nd, your boy, Roman Reigns, the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, will find out the same thing. He is not ready, either!” Cody throws the mic back and Heyman misses it! Will everything about this homestretch to Hollywood be a nightmare for The Bloodline?
BREAKING NEWS for WrestleMania!
The very first match of night one on Saturday, April 1st will be… AUSTIN THEORY VS JOHN CENA! The United States Championship will set the pace for the weekend, will The Now find that he’s not ready, either?
Charlotte Flair is here!
Vegas fires up as The Queen heads to the ring. The SmackDown Women’s Champion has her pyro then gets the mic to tell Las Vegas, “We are just eight days away from WrestleMania! Fourteen times. Fourteen time world champion. And I can tell you, that was not built on fear, insecurities or nepotism. The same three things have been used against me by everyone, and I mean everyone, since I started in this business.
“Fear. What is fear? Fear is a lack of understanding. It’s ignorance. This business wasn’t built on fear. This business was built on respect! Rhea Ripley, I don’t fear you. I respect you! The only thing that I fear is my own potential. I respected Nikki and Brie. I respect Sasha, Bayley, Becky, Trish, Ronda, Asuka, Natty! I respected all of them! Insecurities. Damn right I have insecurities! Are you really ‘whatting’ me? This is important to me so listen. Insecurities, damn right I have them. And I have built this house on every brick that all of you have thrown at me! For the last seven YEARS! Lastly, nepotism.” Fans “WOO~!”
“That’s right, Vegas. I love my dad. And I will never apologize for continuing the greatest legacy in sports entertainment! And whether you like it or don’t like it, you better learn to love it, because diamonds are forever, and so is Charlotte Flair. WOO~!” The Queen is fired up, but will she be able to hold her throne at WrestleMania?
Rey Mysterio VS LA Knight!
The King of Lucha Libre, the headliner of this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class, has been pushed and pushed and pushed by his punk of a son, and the Mega Star was one big mouth too far! Will Rey be able to shut up the obnoxious jerk that isn’t Dominik? Or will things only get worse for Rey on the Road to WrestleMania Weekend?
SmackDown returns and Knight makes his entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. Knight chases Rey but Rey dodges and fires off hands! Knight shoves Rey away, but Rey slides under and dropkicks Knight to a corner. Rey runs in but Knight fights off the monkey flip. But Rey avoids the elbow drop! Rey runs in, and now he MONKEY FLIPS! Knight staggers up,. Rey KICKS Knight to a corner, and then rains down fists! Fans count all the way to TEN, then Rey gives us some Latino Heat. Rey runs, but Knight FLAPJACKS him down! Knight stomps Rey, stomps him to ropes, but the ref counts.
Knight lets off, “YEAH!” Then he bumps Rey off a buckle. Knight throws hands, JABS Rey, then digs his boots in. The ref counts, Knight lets off at 4, and Knight brings Rey up. Knight shoves Rey into the corner, Rey bounces off buckles, and into the NECKBREAKER! Knight spells it out, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” Cover, ONE!! Knight is annoyed and he throws fists down. Knight keeps on Rey, throws hands, then he bumps Rey off buckles. Fans rally and duel, but Knight whips Rey to ropes. Rey ducks ‘n’ dodges then tilt-o-whirls to RANA! Knight flounders out of the ring and fans fire up!
Rey runs, WRECKS Knight with a dropkick, then he builds speed. Rey SLIDES to SPLASH! Fans fire up for that one, and Rey stalks Knight to CLUB him! Rey puts Knight in the ring, climbs up and shoulders in! Then he GAMANGIRIS Knight away, climbs the corner, but here comes Dom! Dom said he’d ruin the fun, and Knight trips Rey up! Rey tumbles to the mat, but Dom doesn’t care. Fans boo as Dom walks down the ramp while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Knight stomps away on Rey again. Knight drags Rey up but Rey throws hands! Rey fires off but Knight knees low! Knight scoops, Rey slips off and rolls Knight up, to then dropkick! Fans fire up while Knight scrambles around. Knight goes after Rey, Rey slips under and runs, but into a BOOT! Cover, TWO! Dom paces at ringside, and Knight sits Rey up to KNEE him in the back! Knight drags Rey up, back suplexes high and hard, then dusts off his hands. “YEAH!” Knight grins as he stands over Rey, then he pulls on the mask. The ref reprimands, Knight whips Rey to ropes, but Rey ducks ‘n’ dodges!
Rey CROSSBODIES, but Knight catches him for a POWERSLAM! Dom smirks while Knight spells it out again. “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” But Rey avoids the elbow drop! Rey and Knight slowly stand up, Rey goes to ropes and Knight storms over, but into an elbow! Rey springboards, wheelbarrows and BULLDOGS! Dom is annoyed but Rey goes to the apron. Rey climbs up, SEATED SENTONS! And Rey keeps moving, SPRINGBOARD CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Knight is still in this but Rey brings him up to whip him to ropes. Knight reverses, kicks low and back suplexes, but Rey lands on his feet! Tilt-o-whirl, but Knight blocks to a BACKPACK SLAM! Cover, TWO!
Knight grows frustrated but he drags Rey back up. Fans rally for “619! 619!” as Knight scoops, but Rey turns slam into DDT! Rey then dropkicks Knight onto the ropes! Fans fire up, Rey dials it up, 619 BLOCKED by Knight! Knight grins, lifts Rey up, but Rey RANAS free! Rey redials, but Dom trips him up!! Fans boo and Rey is furious! He can’t believe Dom is doing this now, but Knight rolls Rey up! KNIGHT WINS!!
Winner: LA Knight, by pinfall
Dom smiles because he just screwed his dad over. Dom gets the mic and tells, “Jefe… You gonna give me what I want? Huh? C’mon. C’mon Or are you gonna run away? Or are you gonna finally be a man and face me at WrestleMania?” Dom pushes Rey, and Rey brings down the straps. To wag his finger, “No.” Dom says, “That’s right. Walk away like you always do. Hey, mom. How does it feel to be married to such a pathetic loser? A coward who can’t even stand up to his own son?” Fans boo but then Dom points out the rest of the family. He asks if mom knew she married a deadbeat.
She did, because here’s why. She sat there every night while Rey abandoned Dom, sot hat makes her no better! His sister steps up now, and Dom asks Aalyah what she’s gonna do about it. She’s too stupid to understand this. Mom Angie snatches the mic from Dom but Dom snatches it back to tell her to shut up! Rey storms back over and fans fire up! Dom dares Rey to do something, and Rey DECKS Dom!! Dom is shocked but Vegas is thunderous! Rey tells Dom that Dom pushed him to do this. Rey doesn’t wanna do this but Dom gave him no choice! You do not disrespect your mother like that! That is Rey’s wife!
Dom wanted a fight at Mania? Then he’s on!! Fans are thunderous again as Rey says, “I’ll see you at WrestleMania, son.” Dom scurries away, having gotten what he wanted like the brat he is. But will Dom come to regret everything he’s done these past few months?
WrestleMania Women’s Tag Team Showcase Qualifier: Lacey Evans & Xia Li VS Shotzi Blackheart & Natalya!
The Model Soldier teams with The Predator to take on the Wild Child and the Queen of Harts! Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez are watching ringside, who will they see join them in this Fatal 4 Way tag team showcase?
The teams sort out, Shotzi and Lacey start. Fans rally as Shotzi and Lacey circle, then Shotzi gets around to a waistlock. Shotzi ripcords, wrenches and wristlocks but Lacey throws Shotzi by her hair! Cover, TWO! Lacey drags Shotzi up and fans rally as Lacey whips her to the corner. Lacey RAMS into Shotzi, tags Xia, and then mocks the fans. Xia stomps Shotzi, brings her up to CHOP, then taunts Natty. Xia runs in to KNEE and ELBOW Shotzi, then reels her in for an EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! Natty rallies the fans behind Shotzi but Lacey tells them to shut up. Xia bumps Shotzi off buckles and tags in Lacey.
Lacey mocks the fans, then runs to headstand and BRONCO BUSTER! Lacey drags Shotzi up, snapmares and then dribbles Shotzi’s face off the mat! Cover, TWO! Fans rally but Lacey drags Shotzi up. Shotzi throws hands, kicks but Lacey blocks to trip her up! Lacey then sucker punches Natty! Fans boo but Shotzi rolls Lacey up! TWO and Shotzi ENZIGURIS Lacey down! But Natty is still off the corner so Shotzi has to BOOT Lacey away! Shotzi runs but Lacey CLOBBERS her! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up but Lacey tags Xia. Lacey & Xia drag Shotzi up, double whip but Shotzi KICKS Xia and JAWBREAKERS Lacey!
Xia waistlocks Shotzi, Lacey storms up, but Shotzi slips free and the WOMAN’S RIGHT takes out Xia!! Lacey is furious, but Shotzi whips her out of the ring! Shotzi swings on Lacey, Lacey counter punches, but Natty is back! Natty BOOTS Lacey, then Shotzi DIVES to take Lacey down! Fans fire up as Shotzi hurries back in and tags Natty! HART ATTACK! And then the SHARPSHOOTER! Xia taps, Natty & Shotzi win!
Winners: Shotzi Blackheart & Natalya, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)
Two hearts and a lot of fire, these two make it through! But wait, here come Ronda & Shayna! Shayna says, “Look at all the history in the ring right now! I mean, each single one of those women has a reason to want to get revenge on us, right? Let’s look. Broken hand, broken nose, broken arm, broken spirit. What do you say we uh… Give them the opportunity tonight?” Fans fire up as the Baddest Women on the Planet step up, but then Ronda says, “Wait, Shay-Bayz. I’ve got a question for you. How many times have we sold out this exact arena?” A couple times. And what about this entire town? A couple more times.
And how much did they appreciate it? ZERO TIMES! These two have given Vegas more than it deserves, so never again! And certainly not tonight. Shayna agrees with that. But lucky for the others, or maybe unlucky, these two are here to let them know, they’re in the tag team showcase! WrestleMania may be taking place in Hollywood, but the stakes just got raised like here in Vegas! Who wins when the odds are not in their favor?
Drew McIntyre heads to the ring.
Vegas fires up as the Scottish Warrior, Celtic Warrior and Der Ring General are about to converge for a contract signing! The Triple Threat for the Intercontinental Championship isn’t until WrestleMania, but will things break down on SmackDown?
SmackDown returns and Adam Pearce is in the ring to welcome us to this contract signing. But before he can introduce McIntyre, Sheamus and the Brawling Brutes make their way out! “Las Vegas, what’s the crack?” Sheamus says everyone’s been asking why he’s so mad at McIntyre. Imagine this: imagine working 15 YEARS of your life to achieve a particular goal; now imagine telling your best friend about that goal, only for him to go behind your back to try and steal it away from you. Imagine that friend being someone you let sleep and live on your couch, that you brought to his first training session in this business!
McIntyre rolls his eyes as Sheamus has said a lot of this before. Sheamus says, “Now imagine getting the opportunity to smash that person’s face in on the Grandest Stage of Them All, because they’re nothing but a backstabbing-” McIntyre says, “Imagine shutting up for a second. Every week, you run your mouth, you try to give me this guilt trip, trying to make me feel bad. And if it’s not on SmackDown, it’s on social medial with your little gifs and memes you create, blow up my Twitter like a teenage girl. It’s embarrassing, mate!”
McIntyre says last week, they were in this ring, proving why they are the most physical superstars in the WWE! They beat the hell out of each other! And afterwards, they should’ve been in the bar, laughing about it. That’s what they did in the old times. But now, Sheamus is so sensitive, he has this temper, that Sheamus can’t separate personal and business. Sheamus says McIntyre made this personal! McIntyre has a lot he’d love to say but he’ll stick to facts. And the facts are: McIntyre has beaten Sheamus, and he KNOWS he can beat Gunther. And history has shown that Sheamus can’t. Fans fire up as the two stare down.
Pearce has both men stand down because in order to get to WrestleMania, he needs three signatures on the contract. So how about we get the first two taken care of now? McIntyre takes the pen, signs his part, and then hands things over to Sheamus. Sheamus takes another pen, he signs his part, and then McIntyre throws his pen to the crowd as a free souvenir. And here comes GUNTHER! Gunther storms right into the ring, he gets right in Pearce’s face, and he tells Pearce to justify this decision. Justify why Gunther is in a match where the other two can pin or submit the other and Gunther still loses his title. Justify it! JUSTIFY IT!!
Pearce has Gunther calm down now, and Gunther signs his part. Is Pearce happy now? Whatever he has to do to defend HIS title at WrestleMania will be justified. Gunther will beat McIntyre. He will beat Sheamus. And if he has to, he’ll beat up Ridge and- What is Dunne looking at him like that for? DUNNE JUMPS THE TABLE TO GET AT GUNTHER!! Fans go wild as Butch goes wild! Ridge drags Dunne away, Gunther TOSSES the table! Gunther gets in Pearce’s face and Gunther wants a match! Pearce says okay, just calm down! Is Der Ring General about to break the Bruiserweight?
“Butch” Pete Dunne w/ The Brawling Brutes VS GUNTER!
SmackDown returns, and Gunther has Dunne on the ropes. Dunne pulls on Gunther’s ears! Then CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Dunne runs, but into a BOOT! Gunther drags Dunne up, scoops and SLAMS him, then sits him up to PENALTY KICK! Dunne kicks back from below! Dunne forearms, CHOPS, SLAPS and then jumps on for a a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Gunther throws body shots and then shifts Dunne around into a BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Fans fire up while Gunther paces around Dunne. Gunther kicks Dunne in the side, he taunts Sheamus, then he stomps Dunne down.
Gunther brings Dunne up but Dunne throws body shots! Dunne forearms, but Gunther CHOPS Dunne off his feet! Even McIntyre is feeling that one. Gunther drags Dunne up, and CHOPS him right back down! But Gunther holds onto the wrist and he brings Dunne up again. Gunther CHOPS Dunne inside-out! Gunther still holds the wrist and he gives toying kicks to Dunne while taunting Sheamus. Gunther ripcords, but Dunne uses that for a TRIANGLE HOLD! Gunther CHOPS Dunne down, into a BOSTON CRAB! Dunne endures, Sheamus and Ridge coach Dunne, and Dunne fights, only for Gunther to shift to an STF!
Dunne still endures, even as Gunther bends him back. Dunne pries free, wrenches the arm and bends the fingers! Gunther pulls hair, then CHOPS Dunne down! Gunther drags Dunne back up but Dunne ENZIGURIS! And ENZIGURIS again! Gunther wobbles, blocks the third enziguri and deadlift GERMAN SUPLEXES! Dunne goes to a corner, Gunther hauls him up onto the top rope to CHOP! Gunther climbs up and he STANDS on Dunne! Dunne endures and the ref counts, Gunther lets off and Dunne tumbles to the floor! Sheamus checks on Dunne, Gunther stands tall, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Gunther has Dunne on the ropes. Gunther taunts Sheamus, but Dunne catches his Beats of the Bodhrain! Fans fire up as Dunne bends the fingers, and SNAPS them!! Gunther staggers away, Dunne runs in to fire forearms! GAMANGIRI! Gunther staggers, Dunne goes up and fans chant for the “BRUISERWEIGHT! BRUISERWEIGHT!” as Dunne DOUBLE STOMPS the arm! Dunne waistlocks, but Gunther switches and puts on a SLEEPER! Dunne drops down, but powers up and he pries at the hold! Gunther holds on tight, Dunne reaches for ropes, and fans rally up, ROPEBREAK!
Gunther SLAPS the arms down, GERMAN SUPLEXEs, but Dunne lands on his feet! BUZZSAW! Gunther bails out and McIntyre smirks. Dunne goes to the apron but Gunther avoids the moonsault! Gunther CHOPS Dunne, and Dunne tumbles onto the desk! Gunther turns around to see Sheamus and McIntyre, but Dunne runs in! Gunther sends him into McIntyre! Gunther BOOTS Dunne into the ring! But Dunne STOMPS the hands and BUZZSAWS Gunther! Fans fire up, but McIntyre is on the apron! Sheamus drags McIntyre down! GLASGOW KISS from McIntyre! Ridge goes after McIntyre but McIntyre POSTS him!
Sheamus KNEES McIntyre down! Dunne runs in at Gunther, into a LARIAT!! Gunther drags Dunne up, scoops for the LAST SYMPHONY!! Cover, Gunther wins!!
Winner: Gunther, by pinfall
Der Ring General used his enemies against each other, but The Fella stands back up. They both look at the WrestleMania sign, but Sheamus gets out of the way! CLAYMORE hits Gunther!! Fans fire up as Sheamus and McIntyre stare down now, will either of these men come away the NEW Intercontinental Champion in Hollywood? Or will Gunther use them against each other then like he did tonight?
The Street Profits are fired up backstage.
Montez Ford says that Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat is bound to be a banger. But he says there’s one thing bigger than that. Angelo Dawkins asks what, and Ford says THEIR tag team showcase. Alpha Academy, Viking Raiders, Braun Strowman & Ricochet, but wait. What do they have in common? Ford motions to the top of the head. Oh, right. They’re “smooth operators~.” But then Braun & Ricochet walk in. Real funny, guys. Y’all got jokes, huh? They got a problem with bald men? They don’t have a lot of room to talk, Dawkins is thinning up top. Whoa, fam, c’mon. Just jokes! Just playing. Well no one’s laughing.
Dawkins is just saying, Braun & Ricochet aren’t much of a tag team. Oh, well, we’ll see who’s playing when Ricochet & Braun show up and the other three teams fool around and find out. They want ALL that smoke. Well, okay, okay. Everyone is fired up for WrestleMania, but who wins the tag team showcase at the Showcase of the Immortals?
It’s the SmackDown return of the Kevin Owens Show!
And as such, Kevin Owens himself is headed to the ring. His guest will be Sami Zayn, but what will the Prizefighter and Great Liberator have to say about their coming Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship match? We’ll see, after the break.
SmackDown returns one more time and Kevin has his set and his mic. He thanks the ring announcer for the introduction, and then welcomes us back to the KO Show. Now please welcome his guest, tag team partner, friend and brother, the one and only Sami Zayn! Sami makes his entrance and the fans fire up again. Sami gets a mic and Kevin says, “Yeah, so I did it right? The way you wanted. It worked out?” Sami asks what Kevin means. Well, he brought Sami out with the big introduction like he wanted. It was good, right? Sami says he didn’t want a big introduction, this is Kevin’s show, and Sami’s the guest.
Yeah, but earlier, Kevin suggested they come out as co-hosts but Sami said they should make separate entrances so the fans can hear both of their songs and cheer for both of them. Which really means Sami wanted his own pop. Sami says he did not, but Kevin says it’s fine, the fans love him! Kevin gets it. Fans do cheer for “SAMI! SAMI!” Kevin sits, Sami asks if they need to spill more backstage secrets, or can they just get to business? Yeah, of course. Sami says more than anyone, he’s been going non-stop about taking down Roman, the Usos, the Bloodline. And even Sami has lost sight of the fact that, does Kevin realize what they’re on the verge of doing?
“After all these years, from where we started, from nothing, staring together in Montreal all those years ago, we are on the verge of winning the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championships! We are on the verge of doing that together, at WrestleMania! And not just any WrestleMania. This year, I don’t know what it is, but WrestleMania feels different this year.” Kevin says that’s right. And it isn’t lost on him. He knows what they can accomplish. But Sami is right, WrestleMania does feel different this year. Which is why Kevin brought Sami out here. Kevin has something for Sami.
Now, remember a few months ago, after Roman gave Sami that Honorary Uce shirt, that Kevin said Sami needed a new one. Kevin has one, it’s a KO-Mania Goes Hollywood shirt. That’s great! Well yes, but this is the back of it. Kevin does KO-Mania every year. But this year is different. This year isn’t about KO-Mania. “This year, there is only one person who took WWE by storm, who caught fire like no one else. There’s only one person that people can look at and say, ‘That guy has been the MVP of the WWE for the last 12 months,’ and that person is you,” Sami. Fans chant “MVP! MVP!” and Sami is rather touched.
Kevin says this year, it isn’t KO-Mania. It’s about the other side of the shirt. Kevin hands it over, Sami turns it around, and he sees… WrestleZAYNIA!! Sami’s all fired up now! Kevin shows that he’s been wearing one the whole time! Sami loves it! He throws off his shirt to put on the new shirt! Sami wants a hug but Kevin says no, one hug a year. Aw what the heck? THEY HUG! But then THE USOS attack!! They blindside KO & Sami from the crowd side, and then Jimmy rains down fists on Kevin while Jey rains down fists on Sami! Fans boo while the Usos clear the ring of the chairs. DOUBLE SUPERKICKS for Kevin!
Jey drags Sami up, whips him to ropes, and the Usos hit ONE AND DONE!! The fans boo more but Kevin gets up with a steel chair! The Usos run for it, telling KO & Sami that they’re going down! Kevin beats an armchair with the steel chair, but Sami tells the Usos that they’re not getting away with this one. Will Jimmy & Jey ruin the first ever WrestleZaynia? Or will KO & Sami be the ones to finally stop the ones?
My Thoughts:
A great episode for SmackDown here, especially with the story developments. For one, great closing moment we just saw with a great KO Show. I love that we got a positive swerve where Kevin gave Sami a shirt that had a WrestleZaynia logo on it. But I should’ve figured the Bloodline would do something, and the Usos technically stand tall here. That math would suggest the Usos are losing at WrestleMania, and we finally get so much in that moment, from vindication for Sami to the WWE Grand Slam for Kevin. We also got a really good match out of Cody VS Ludwig that Cody of course wins, and a really good promo segment right after for Cody and Heyman. The Bloodline is definitely desperate to hold onto everything, but that could be what brings them down.
Fairly big news with Theory VS Cena opening WrestleMania Night One. I’ve said before that it just feels like Theory is gonna win, since Cena doesn’t need the US title, and isn’t gonna be sticking around long enough to do anything with the US title. So if Theory wins the first match of the weekend, I could see him boasting, bragging and partying the entire weekend until he is just insufferable and annoys someone into challenging him for that title on the Raw After Mania. And then a pretty good promo from Charlotte, and I did like her calling out the “WHAT” chants here. Stone Cold Steve Austin is timeless, but lemming fans throwing out “WHAT” just to throw out ‘WHAT” are what? Stupid, that’s what. A) Show respect and pay attention. B) Come up with something of your own.
Really good match from Rey VS Knight, but of course Dom distracts to cost Rey. But biggest of all from that segment, the moment fans have wanted for the last few weeks now: REY DECKS DOM! And now we’ll get Rey VS Dom, and Dom sold all the emotion after that perfectly. He was upset, but there was also the fear and realization that comes with seeing something he thought would never happen actually happening. His dad is gonna whoop him, because Dom will only have Priest by his side while Finn prepares for Edge and Rhea prepares for Charlotte. And Legado can make a heroic move by countering Priest so that Rey VS Dom has a fair finish.
Good promo from Profits, Braun & Ricochet to put some tension between those teams going into the men’s Fatal 4. Good tag match qualifier for the women’s Fatal 4, and it was good weaving of stories that Shotzi & Natty win. Shayna & Ronda get that “first round bye” right into the match, but it does work because all four Faces want payback on them. It might not even matter who the fourth team is (though I’m sure it’ll be a team from Raw), Ronda & Shayna are probably gonna tear into them all to win and essentially be #1 contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
And there was just so much great stuff in the Intercontinental Championship contract signing. Sheamus brought back the same stuff he said when he and McIntyre had their 1v1 feud last year but that makes sense, it is how people can be when they argue with friends and family. I feel like McIntyre was tempted to Steiner Math because this is a Triple Threat, and he knows he can beat Sheamus. Gunther was also great, and I love that “Butch” Dunne went right after Gunther over their NXT UK past. Gunther VS Dunne was great stuff to have just for the hell of it, but of course there was the usual misunderstanding shenanigans that helped Gunther win.
If Gunther somehow retains at Mania, can we have HHH get Trent Seven back in WWE so we can have British Strong Style VS Imperium for the Summer? There were fans in Vegas who remembered Dunne for being Dunne and not for being a sidekick, and all fans deserve to see that Dunne alongside Tyler Bate and Trent Seven.
My Score: 8.8/10
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