Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (6/5/20)

Jeff Hardy shares his side!

Published

4 years ago

June 5, 2020

Steven Mitchell

Title talk abound on SmackDown!

The Miz & Morrison have something to say to Strowman, AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan are face to face, and Bliss-Cross defend their WWE Women’s Tag Titles!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Baron Corbin VS Otis Dozovic w/ Mandy Rose; Otis wins, by disqualification.
Lacey Evans VS Sonya Deville; Evans wins.
AJ Styles VS Drew Gulak w/ Daniel Bryan; Gulak wins.
Six Man Tag: The New Day & Chad Gable VS The Artist Collective & Mojo Rawley; Gable & The New Day win.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Bliss-Cross VS Bayley & Sasha Banks; Bayley & Banks win and become new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.

PLAY BY PLAY

Jeff Hardy is backstage.

The Charismatic Enigma is clearly in better shape both mentally and physically after what happened last week. A car accident put Elias in the hospital and all witnesses saw was a man running away from the scene. The evidence pointed towards Hardy, from the rental permit to the alcohol found in the car to how he could barely walk. Police arrested Hardy and that threw the SmackDown schedule out of order. Sheamus would win a battle royal, battle Daniel Bryan, but lose because Hardy returned! Hardy seems to think Sheamus had something to do with last week, but now we hear from Hardy himself!

Hardy heads to the ring!

“Wow, it’s great to see y’all, man. First of all, I would like to thank WWE Management and Fox for giving me this time to get this off my chest.” Last week, we witnessed something awful. People’s lives were endangered, the show was thrown into chaos, and though Elias walked away with serious injuries, it could’ve been worse. Hardy wants to paint you a portrait from his perspective. He pulled into the parking lot, excited about the show. He grabbed his stuff out of the car and BAM, he got hit by something. The next thing he knew, the police were all around him and he reeked of alcohol. His head was barely conscious and the cuffs ripped his wrists up. Hardy questioned the last eight months, from sobriety to career to family. The crowd cheers in support of Hardy continues. He says he felt he let his family down. “How many more times can I beg for forgiveness?”

But it’s all good! Hardy is here in the WWE for a reason! Hardy is glad to know he’s not in this alone. Though his head was spinning, he knew he didn’t slip. He’s in the station, they’re throwing all the tests at him and he passes them all. More witnesses showed up for interviews. The person in the car had red hair and matching beard! So Hardy was free to go and ready to go. We all know who fits that description, right? Sheamus put a rage in Hardy that can only be expressed through action. Sheamus tried to take everything from Hardy, and he won’t let Sheamus get away with it! But here comes Sheamus to respond! “Don’t go pointing fingers and casting aspersions on me, fella.” Hardy is doing what he’s done his entire life: blame others for his problems.

Why is it that people like Hardy try to avoid responsibility? Why does he always have an excuse? The fans of Hardy are worse than him because they’re in denial! Worse, they’re enablers. The crowd boos and he tells them to shut up. Sheamus tells Hardy, “For once in your life, be a man and admit what you did.” But he won’t, right? Because Hardy’s not a man. Hardy’s a junkie. The crowd boos harder, but Sheamus says not to worry about disappointing his wife and kids. They’re used to it. Hardy rushes Sheamus, avoids the Brogue and tackles him on the ramp! Hardy and Sheamus brawl, but the BROGUE lands after all! Sheamus drags Hardy up to slam into the Plexiglas! And then more Plexiglas, and more Plexiglas, and then even more Plexiglas! Hardy flounders to ringside and Sheamus looms over him as the crowd chants, “You Suck!” Is Sheamus the one who framed Hardy? Will Hardy get retribution for everything?

Otis and Mandy arrive.

Mr. Money in the Bank and his sweet peach spot Baron Corbin’s cape and crown. Mandy wants Otis to try it on, so he does. KING Otis looks good to Mandy. They head out with the Wolf King’s crown, will this get back to Corbin? In fact, Corbin walks by a moment later and wonders where the crown went! He demands the staffer tell him what happened, and the guy gives up Otis. Corbin storms after Otis, but this is good timing, since they have a match set for after the break!

Baron Corbin VS Otis Dozovic w/ Mandy Rose!

The King of the Ring has wanted payback on The Dozer since Money in the Bank, but now he’ll want even more because of the little fun Otis and Mandy were having. Will Corbin finally be in a good mood after this? Or will fall to pieces after running into the human wrecking ball?

Corbin obviously wants to fight the minute he’s out there, but the ref tells him to put the scepter aside first. Corbin does, the bell rings and Otis brawls with him! Otis rocks Corbin, counter punches but runs into a kick. Corbin POSTS Otis, then runs corner to corner, only to be sent into buckles! Otis clotheslines Corbin out, Corbin gets in fast, but Otis dodges and clotheslines him back out! Otis fetches Corbin as Mandy and the crowd cheers, but Corbin rams Otis into the apron! And then POSTS him again! Mandy coaches Otis while the ring count climbs. Corbin puts Otis in at 4, gets in at 5, and whips Otis into a corner. Corbin runs in but Otis dodges, so Corbin slides out then in. Otis scoops, Corbin slips out and Corbin hits a SPINE BUSTER! Cover, TWO!

Corbin keeps on Otis with a half nelson chinbar. Otis endures, fights his way up and throws body shots. Corbin throws forearms and has Otis in a corner. Corbin throws body shots over and over until the ref counts 4, then he DECKS Otis! Cover, TWO! Corbin grows frustrated but he keeps on Otis at the ropes. Corbin throws forearms, puts on the half nelson and thrashes Otis around. Otis fights free again but Corbin climbs on for a sleeper hold! Mandy and the crowd rally as Otis rams Corbin into buckles! Otis runs into a boot, then another. Corbin keeps kicking but Otis powers up! Otis dodges and elbows Corbin down! And again! Otis rallies with clotheslines and Fall Away Slams Corbin away! And again!

Corbin gets to a corner and Otis hits a splash! Corbin is down and Mandy wants Otis to finish this! Otis pumps up but Corbin bails out. Corbin wants his crown and takes it from the timekeeper’s area, but Otis walks over. But Corbin uses the crown as a weapon! And then a chair!

Winner: Otis Dozovic, by disqualification

Corbin doesn’t let up on Otis and they go back to the ring. Otis dodges the chair shot to body check and corner splash! Corbin is down again and Otis gets back to the pumping! THE CATERPILLAR ELBOW! Otis is all fired up and Mandy celebrates with him! Will Otis keep building momentum to bust through the WWE Universal Champion, whoever it may be?

The Miz & John Morrison are in a van.

They have surveillance equipment and are preparing to make The Monster Among Men’s life a living hell. Braun Strowman pulls in, grabs his luggage, and heads inside. The Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century clearly has something planned, but will they pull it off?

SmackDown returns and Miz talks to the WWE Universe. “Everyone knows what it’s like to deal with annoying coworkers.” They’re the worst. Ever since they challenged Strowman to a Handicap match, their coworkers-and even the WWE Universe-have been saying stuff like, “Well why did you do that? You don’t stand a chance! It’s gonna be fun watching Braun Strowman disemboweling you.” That’s annoying. But not surprising. Those are the same people that underestimated Miz and Morrison their entire careers, just like Strowman is underestimating them! Strowman showed up to work without a care in the world, but that changes. This may be childish, immature, low-brow and idiotic, but this is strategic. Angry monsters make mistakes. “A wise man once said, ‘This is how we do it. This is Friday nights.'” And by the time we get to Backlash, Strowman’s life will be hell.

Inside, Strowman gets a refill of water and… his drink fizzes over! Somehow Miz & Morrison sabotaged his thermos, and they’re pumped up about it! “Get These Hands, Braun? WASH These Hands!” Strowman is furious and he storms off somewhere else. Will he put together who just pranked him?

Backstage interview with Chad Gable.

Shorty G returned to SmackDown to get an upset over Cesaro. But speaking of returns, Mojo Rawley is here. He apologizes to the “little man,” but there are far more important things to talk about. Like Mojo’s boy, Gronk, getting robbed of that WWE 24/7 Championship. So this interview just got cut short. It’s funny because Gable’s short! Wow, genuine comedian here with some classic material. But then Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura appear to mug Gable with Mojo’s help! The New Day back Gable up and back the others off. Will Shorty G, Big E and Kofi teach these bullies a lesson?

Lacey Evans VS Sonya Deville!

The Sassy Southern Belle and the Gladiator Gal went toe to toe last week but no one won in the Double Count-Out. Now they look to settle things, but then Sonya blindsides Lacey at the ramp! Lacey goes right into steel steps and Sonya goes into the ring. The crowd boos, Lacey grits her teeth and glares at Sonya, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and the bell rings. Lacey and Sonya tie up and go around, and Lacey has Sonya on the ropes. Sonya pushes back, Lacey arm-drags her around and dares her to get up. Sonya composes herself and circles with Lacey again. They tie up, Sonya waistlocks but Lacey standing switches. Sonya elbows out hard, switches back and slams Lacey down. Lacey spins and gets away, but Sonya backs off to cool things down. The two go again, Sonya kicks low and whips Lacey to a corner. Lacey dodges, throws forearms and sweeps the legs! Lacey slingshots for the elbow drop! Cover, ONE! Lacey keeps her cool and keeps on Sonya with buckles bumps! She bumps Sonya off more buckles then pulls on an arm with the ropes. Lacey hooks Sonya’s head with a leg for leverage. The ref backs Lacey off, and Sonya throws hands!

Sonya whips but Lacey reverses, only to run into a BOOT! Sonya says that’s all blondes are capable of, but Lacey gets to her feet. Sonya chokes Lacey on the ropes but the ref counts. Sonya lets up at 4, but comes back to kick at the leg! She taunts Lacey as she kicks more, then kicks her in the corner. Sonya brings Lacey out to clobber! And she stands on the hair! She backs off at 4, but KICKS Lacey in the chest! Sonya grinds forearms in Lacey’s face, then stands her up to go for a corner. Lacey turns it around to bump Sonya off buckles again! Lacey blocks a boot, trips Sonya up, then drags her through the ropes. She knees away on Sonya, then slingshots up and over to roll her up, but into the ref! The ref hobbles away and he needs medical help! Sonya and Lacey back off as the ref is attended to, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and a new referee has tagged in. Sonya throws hands on Lacey then KICKS her down! Cover, TWO, but Sonya wraps Lacey up in a chinlock. Lacey endures as Sonya thrashes her about. The crowd rallies, Lacey fights her way up, and rams Sonya into the corner! Sonya grabs hair but Lacey throws more shoulders in. Sonya throws Lacey down by her hair, then mocks her pain. Sonya drags Lacey out to the apron, for a draping neckbreaker! Lacey writhes but Sonya brings her up to the steel steps. The ref reprimands Sonya but she stands on Lacey’s head on the steps! Sonya stops at 4 but the damage has been done. Sonya drags Lacey up and puts her into the ring to cover, TWO! Lacey gasps for air but she’s toughing it out. Lacey chops but Sonya throws forearms. Sonya fireman’s carries but Lacey slips out to swing. Sonya dodges but gets a LARIAT!

Both women are down and the crowd fires up. Lacey and Sonya stir, and Sonya flounders up to her feet first. But Lacey rallies with more clotheslines! Lacey spins Sonya, kicks away and brings Sonya down! Lacey flexes and runs to Penalty Kick! Sonya ends up in a corner, Lacey hits the swinging bronco buster! Lacey climbs up the corner, for the SASSIEST MOONSAULT EVER! Cover, TWO!! Sonya survives and Lacey can’t believe it! Lacey drags Sonya up, spins her around, but Sonya KNEES Lacey, and ROCKS her with a right! Sonya is after Lacey in the ropes and chokes her more! The ref counts and Sonya stops at 4 to then club Lacey down! Sonya runs, SLIDING WIZARD! Cover, TWO!! Lacey lives and Sonya is furious!

The crowd rallies up as Lacey grits her teeth. Mandy talks to Sonya via the titantron. Sonya may want to hurt Mandy, but Mandy knows Sonya is hurting inside because she’s not a real fighter. Sonya’s a FAILURE! Sonya is furious as she shouts at the screen! She dares the “Barbie doll” to come back out and fight her. But Lacey turns Sonya around for the WOMAN’S RIGHT! Cover, Lacey wins!

Winner: Lacey Evans, by pinfall

Mandy gives Sonya a taste of her own medicine, and the Model Soldier gets the victory. Will Lacey be able to rise back towards the SmackDown Women’s Championship? Has the fury between Fire and Desire only reached a new level?

Bro…

Matt Riddle loves having the crowd fired up behind him. This will be his moment, and you will remember his name.

Backstage interview with Braun Strowman.

The WWE Universal Champion cleaned up after that prank, but he knows “these two dorks,” Miz & Morrison are up to something. They’re like annoying gnats in the middle of the Summer. But speaking of, they’ve got another prank planned. Miz presses a button and… SLIME falls on Kayla! That was meant for him… Well the “jackasses” messed up, and Kayla is angry for Strowman. “Those… BASTARDS.” Well, Miz and Morrison still take that as a win. But are they going to be the ones getting messed up at Backlash?

Renee Young is in the ring!

Her guests tonight are two extraordinary wrestlers of this or any other generation! They will meet in the WWE Intercontinental Championship Tournament Finals next Friday, it’s Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles! Renee wants to start with Bryan but Styles says Bryan will do the same thing: call him a coward for taking the easy way into the finals, while Bryan foolishly chose to fight. If Hardy didn’t get involved, Sheamus would be standing here instead. So does Bryan think Styles is a coward? Well he shows signs of being cowardly, but to each their own. This is the one title Styles hasn’t had in the WWE, so is that why he took his bye? Styles took his bye because it was the smart move. Styles looks in the mirror and sees the greatest champion the WWE has ever had! When Styles looks at Bryan, “he’s all heart.” That’s not a bad thing, no. Bryan is doing something rather noble, but it is also something rather stupid.

Bryan sees what Styles is doing, and it’s not working. They’ve known each other a long time. Long enough to know they have two entirely different world views, and two entirely different visions of what it is to be champion. In Styles’ vision, he defends the title sparingly, against a select few under the guise that no one else is good enough. Styles believes what he just said in saying he’s the greatest of all time. But he could never fathom someone coming out of nowhere and shattering that vision. But Bryan’s vision is defending the title every single week on SmackDown, against decorated veterans and young up-and-comers. Anyone who wants the opportunity gets the opportunity! And not because it’s noble, as Styles put it. It’s because Bryan wants to push himself, test himself, and learn and grow! The best isn’t who Bryan is now, but who he can be!

And when the WWE Universe tunes in to Friday Night SmackDown, Bryan wants them to be excited each and every week, knowing there is a title match! Knowing that maybe their favorite wrestler could beat Bryan and become champion! That’s what Bryan wants! The crowd agrees with that vision, but Styles says Bryan wants Styles to give handouts. Styles doesn’t believe in handouts. He believes in earned opportunities. Speaking of, how did Drew Gulak get the opportunity to become Bryan’s coach? An opportunity to work here, in the WWE. That’s not an opportunity, that’s a handout! So if Styles and Bryan can’t agree, how about this? Styles can reach across the aisle to do something unexpected. How about Styles give Gulak an opportunity? Right here, right now, Gulak is backstage, so he can get out here and get his handout, aka an ass-whipping.

Gulak appears! And he tackles Styles! Styles bails out but Bryan is cheering! Is the whipping gonna be on the other wrestler tonight?

AJ Styles VS Drew Gulak w/ Daniel Bryan!

SmackDown returns and the bell rings. Styles fires off strikes on Gulak and backs him down to a corner. Styles CHOPS and whips and elbows Gulak down! Bryan coaches Gulak but Styles bumps Gulak off buckles. Styles rams shoulders in and CHOPS again. He brings Gulak out but Gulak jawbreakers back! The crowd cheers as things speed up. Styles hurdles but Gulak fakes his dropkick out! Gulak goes after the arm and has a chinbar corssface! Styles gets the ropebreak, Gulak lets up at 4 but clamps right back on for another crossface! Styles gets back to ropes, they end up in a corner, and Gulak lets go but is trapped. Styles elbows Gulak and kicks at the legs! Styles fires off more strikes then snapmares Gulak for a Penalty Kick!

Bryan and the crowd rally for Gulak but he swings into Styles’ backbreaker! Cover, ONE! Styles grows frustrated but he still looms over Gulak. He drags Gulak up to a fireman’s carry but Gulak slips out to headbutt! Gulak whips, Styles reverses, but Gulak boots back, to run into a LARIAT! Styles seethes but the crowd rallies again. Styles drags Gulak into a chinlock and digs his knee into Gulak’s back. Gulak fights up and throws body shots. He powers Styles to a corner and fires off haymakers! The ref counts, Gulak lets up at 4, but comes back. Styles CHOPS and forearms back, then whips Gulak corner to corner. Gulak dodges and Styles runs into buckles, then a clothesline! Gulak rallies and dropkicks Styles to a corner!

The crowd fires up and Gulak runs corner to corner, for a big corner clothesline to snap fisherman suplex! Gulak stalks Styles and scoops him for a DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives but Gulak keeps his cool. Styles gets to a corner and Gulak heads over. Gulak hoists Styles up to an Electric Chair, but Styles rakes Gulak’s face to escape, and PELES! Styles reels Gulak in, scoop to dragon sleeper for an inverted DDT! The crowd boos while Styles and Bryan stare down. Styles drags Gulak back up and reels him in, but Gulak trips him to a jackknife cover! GULAK WINS!

Winner: Drew Gulak, by pinfall

The Phenomenal One just got upset! The Philly Stretcher turns this “handout” into an opportunity and has a win over a former world champion! What will this do for Gulak’s path in the WWE? What will this do to Styles’ confidence going into next week’s title match?

Miz & Morrison go over to Strowman’s car.

The Buick Grand National, a true classic. Yes, one of a kind. It’d be a crying shame if something happened to it. Is that a fly on the window? Well it’s a good thing Miz has been working on his golf game. “FORE!” He smashes the windshield!! And Morrison has a baseball bat. Papa Strowman loves softball. Miz “pitches” to Morrison, and he hits a grand slam into the windshield! They would hate to see the look on Strowman’s face. He’s going to be PISSED.

Six Man Tag: The New Day & Chad Gable VS The Artist Collective & Mojo Rawley!

AWWWW~ people at hooome~! Bullies are no good, and three of them might just get what they deserve! Will Kofi Kingston, Big E and Shorty G show the Swiss Cyborg, the King of Strong Style and the Hype Bro what happens to negativity in the face of positivity?

The teams sort out, and Gable steps up to Cesaro. Gable goes for a rolling kick, but Cesaro catches him! Cesaro brings Gable up but Gable sunset flips! TOW and Cesaro gets up under Gable, only to get a huricanrana! Gable gets up but Cesaro knees him down! Cesaro gut wrenches but Gable blocks the suplex. Gable gets a leg for a dragon screw! Tag to Big E and Gable tweaks the legs. Big E throws body shots then whips, but Cesaro throws a European Uppercut! Tag to Mojo and he runs to tackle Big E! Cover, TWO! Mojo taunts Kofi and puts Big E in the corner. Tag to Nakamura and they stomp away on Big E. Nakamura brings Big E up, mocks the hip swivel then fires off a strike fest! Big E catches the roundhouse but Nakamura resists the belly2belly. It doesn’t work and Big E THROWS Nakamura overhead!

Tag to Kofi and Big E RAMS into Nakamura. Kofi runs and uses Big E’s step stool for a big corner splash! Tag to Gable and he brings Nakamura out for a snapmare. Tag to Big E, and he gives Shorty G help in the moonsault! Big E runs, tags Nakamura, and hits the SPLASH! Kofi frog splashes, TWO! Kofi aims from the corner and the crowd claps along. But Cesaro gets Nakamura out, only for Kofi to FLY! Kofi takes out Cesaro but also hurts himself. Nakamura waits for Kofi, “C’MON!” Kofi gets up but Mojo POUNCES him into the apron!! Kofi is down and SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns Kofi endures as Cesaro cranks on the chinlock. The crowd rallies and Kofi fights up and out. Kofi leaps but Cesaro catches him for a backbreaker! Cover, TWO, but Cesaro tags Mojo in. Mojo stomps Kofi down then pulls on his hair. Mojo headbutts Kofi down then taunts Big E and Shorty G. MOjo runs at Kofi but is sent out of the ring. He gets back up on the apron and in the ring, to hit Big E before Kofi can tag! But Kofi DOUBLE STOMPS Mojo down! Both men are on the mat but crawling for their corners. Hot tag to Gable! Gable is up top fast and crossbodies Mojo down! Gable hits Nakamura then throws forearms and uppercuts on Mojo! Mojo swings but misses, Gable mule kicks then overhead suplexes Cesaro!

Gable fires up and goes corner to corner, for the rolling kick! And then a rolling neckbreaker! Gable goes up top again, for the MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Gable keeps his cool as he keeps his focus on Mojo. Mojo bucks the roll off, then fireman’s carries Gable to pop him p. Gable lands on his feet, trips Mojo up, and has the ANKLE LOCK! With the GRAPEVINE! But Nakamura slides and knees Gable! Big E scoops Nakamura but Nakamura gets tot he apron. Nakamura holds Big E in place, Cesaro EuroUppers Gable! Kofi LEAPS Onto Cesaro, but Mojo lifts Gable, HYPER DRIVE! Cover, TWO!?! Gable survives the pop-up slam and Mojo is furious! Mojo drags Gable up and over but Gable blasts Cesaro! Mojo tosses Gable, runs, but Gable dodges! Big E tags in., Gable feeds Mojo to the scoop. Gable PESCADOS onto the Collective, Mojo takes the MIDNIGHT HOUR! Cover, The New Day & Gable win!

Winners: Chad Gable & The New Day, by pinfall

The SmackDown Tag Team Champions and their new buddy give the bullies what they deserve! Will Mojo, Cesaro and Nakamura learn to pick on someone their own size next time?

Strowman heads to the parking lot.

And he sees what Miz & Morrison did to his car! Miz & Morrison laugh it up in their van, and Strowman is furious! Strowman asks security where Miz & Morrison are. Miz wants Morrison to get the keys so they can get out of here, but Morrison says Miz had them. The security guard tells Strowman that Miz & Morrison are in the van. Strowman storms over but the doors are locked. Miz & Morrison think they’re safe, but Strowman says, “You two are dead men.” Miz & Morrison laugh at him, but Strowman starts rocking the van! And then he starts tipping the van over!! Miz & Morrison panic as they go over!! Strowman shouts, “Now that’s funny!” Will Miz & Morrison survive, let alone win, at Backlash?

Backlash has another match made!

Jeff Hardy and Sheamus will settle the score when they have it out in a rematch from the WWE Intercontinental Championship Tournament! Whether the Fella framed Hardy or not, can Hardy finally shut Sheamus up about his past?

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Bliss-Cross VS Bayley & Sasha Banks!

Alexa & Nikki have gotten past one pair of obnoxious best friends in The IIconics, Peyton Royce & Billie Kay. But now the inaugural Tag Team Champions come back for the titles they put on the map! Will the “role models” of SmackDown have even more gold on them after tonight?

The introductions are made, the tag title belts are raised, and the teams sort out. Nikki runs right at Bayley and tackles her! Nikki hammers away but Bayley gets up, only for Nikki to hop on for a thrashing sleeper! Alexa tags in and she snapmares Bayley into an STO! And she adds Insult2Injury, to tag in Nikki for the basement dropkick! Cover, ONE, but Nikki clamps onto Bayley. Nikki whips Bayley to the corner, then fires up for the corner splash! Alexa tags back in, and waves at Sasha before SLAPPING Bayley! Alexa brings Bayley up but Bayley knees and clubs back! Bayley brings Alexa up and tags in Sasha. They stomp Alexa in the corner then taunt the crowd that they’re going to be tag champs again.

Sasha bumps Alexa off the buckles then digs her boot in. She tags in Bayley and they SLAP Alexa back! Bayley chokes Alexa at the ropes but lets up at 4. Bayley taunts Nikki but Alexa rolls her up! TWO, and Alexa powers Bayley to the corner! Nikki tags in and fires up for a bulldog! Cover, TWO! Bayley bails out but Nikki wrecks her with a dropkick! Nikki fires off on Sasha and POSTS her, then LEAPS onto Bayley! Nikki is all fired up as she says, “You belong to me!” Bayley says she doesn’t but Nikki puts her in the ring. Sasha grabs at Nikki but Nikki headbutts her down! Bayley knees Nikki off the apron and tags in Sasha. Sasha METEORAS and takes Nikki down! The Boss & the Leader are back in control as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns once more and Sasha stomps away on Nikki in the corner. She lets up at 4 to taunt Alexa and tag Bayley. They double whip and spin Nikki around for a double SLAM! Bayley covers, TWO! Bayley stays between Nikki and Alexa, and even taunts Nikki to reach. But she sends Nikki to the corner and tags in Sasha. Sasha mocks Alexa to then hit a corner meteora! High stack cover, TWO! Sasha wraps on with a chinlock and leans on Nikki. Nikki endures, the crowd rallies up, and Alexa reaches. Sasha backslides Nikki, TWO! Sasha drags Nikki away and tags Bayley in. They stomp Nikki down again, then Bayley wraps on with a chinlock of her own. Bayley leans on Nikki as the crowd rallies. Nikki endures and fights her way up. Nikki throws hands but Bayley powers her to a corner. Bayley rams her shoulder in, then rolls back for the wacky waving, only to hit buckles!

Nikki crawls but Bayley clobbers her! Bayley throws Nikki to the apron but the hotshot is denied! Nikki shoulders in then flounders around. Bayley tries to stop Nikki but Nikki kicks her away! Hot tag to Alexa! Alexa rallies on Bayley, counter punches and ROCKS Bayley! Sasha gets the punches, too! Alexa dropkicks Bayley then fires up! Alexa adds Insult2Injury, then goes up top! But Sasha goes after her, only to be kicked away. Bayley ROCKS Alexa then climbs up to join her. “Talk about the first-ever women’s tag team champions!” SUPER BAYLEY2BELLY!! Tag to Sasha, SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO!! Sasha can’t believe it and she is furious! Sasha paces around Alexa like a shark and brings her up. She whips but Alexa reveres, but Sasha goes up and over. Alexa headscissors Sasha into buckles!

Bayley crawls in, Nikki drags her back out, and hits an apron tornado DDT! Alexa hops on for a SUNSET BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Sasha survives but both women are down. Hot tag to Nikki! Nikki climbs up, crossbodies and covers, TWO! Sasha rolls towards her corner but Nikki gets Sasha first. Nikki puts Sasha on the ropes, but no Purge as Sasha springs out. Bayley returns to tag in, BACKSTABBER and BANK STATEMENT! Bayley takes the hand-off but Nikki drags her up and into a neckbreaker! Cover but Sasha breaks it! Sasha drags Bayley back to her corner, tags herself back in, and puts Nikki against ropes. Sasha shoulders and knees in, then slingshot body scissors to the BANK STATEMENT! Nikki endures, reaches, and Bayley keeps Alexa away! Nikki rolls to a cover, TWO, ghost pin! Sasha & Bayley win!!

Winners: Sasha Banks & Bayley, by pinfall (NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)

The miscommunication didn’t stop #BossTime from finishing this off! And we now #BayleyTwoBelts! What will this mean for the future of SmackDown?

My Thoughts:

A really good episode for SmackDown, though still with some things left out. When are we hearing from the hacker again? Maybe at Backlash? One of his possible targets were very active tonight as Miz & Morrison did their best Heel version of Degeneration X pranking Vince McMahon. I actually did like the “failed” slime prank, that was brilliant. And I’m very glad Strowman got back in touch with his vehicle tipping side, that was a natural way for him to get back at Miz & Morrison. With one more week, I feel like there might be escalation but it’ll all follow the formula of Strowman standing tall at Backlash. I doubt Otis tries to cash in, either, that should be when the fans get to return. I can see Corbin playing interference on cash-ins now after his match with Otis tonight. It’d be a logical way to put heat on Corbin, since Corbin wouldn’t want someone else succeeding where he failed.

I really liked how the Styles-Bryan Face-to-Face worked out. They had a great argument about their championship “visions,” and while Bryan’s is the more favorable because it means title matches for ratings, it’s not like Styles is wrong in saying opportunities should be earned. Styles VS Gulak was a really good match, and Styles can’t say Gulak didn’t earn that win. A part of me thinks this means Styles wins next week, and Gulak gets a title match sometime later, but Bryan’s weekly open challenges would be a lot of fun. I think the viewers will be the ones winning in the end. We got a nice segment with Hardy and Sheamus, but the way it was worded, it doesn’t seem like Sheamus was denying the accusations. He didn’t give an alibi, so maybe this isn’t a double frame-up. Hardy VS Sheamus at Backlash will be good, but with as much as Hardy has won already, I feel like Sheamus finds a dirty way to win.

Lacey VS Sonya this week was really good. It was physical, and they used the ref bump in a very unique way. But it was also great for Mandy to get some payback with her titantron distraction. I still hope this leads to a proper blow-off at Extreme Rules, where Sonya and Mandy can just go after each other with reckless abandon. Lacey, meanwhile, is spinning her wheels because she already had her chance at the SmackDown Women’s Championship. The New Day had a great match alongside Gable, and it mostly makes me wonder what Mojo’s going to be up to. The SmackDown Tag Team Championship story might be put on pause because of how people reacted to what Jaxson Ryker said, but I didn’t really see the Forgotten Sons ready for the titles at this point anyway.

But speaking of tag titles, Bayley and Sasha get those back, and this might actually complicate things for the better. I’m now hoping they and the IIconics get to settle things since we never got a follow-up after WrestleMania 35. There was also a good bit of tension teased again where Sasha didn’t realize Bayley tagged in and they had to scramble to get the legal wrestler in. It might be too easy, but it seems like the hacker will return to expose their fragile friendship. That would actually be a shame, Bayley and Sasha should self-destruct on their own. And it’d basically mean the tag titles either go back to Bliss-Cross or to the IIconics without actually earning it. Also can these titles have a match in NXT already? There isn’t really a strong women’s tag team there yet, but if the effort was actually put in, we’d actually some.

My Score: 8.5/10

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

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Coverage

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

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

Published

4 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Andrew Balaz

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

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

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

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

Ratings:

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

Results:

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

Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone

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

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

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

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

LSG vs Joe Hendry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Overall Score: 6.5/10

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

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

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

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

Coverage

Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (4/18/24)

Time to Man Up!

Published

8 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Steven Mitchell

Will the Ivy League MVP earn a title shot?

The NEW ROH World Champion, Mark Briscoe, is here to step onto the Proving Ground with one of Maria Kanellis’ baby boys, Griff Garrison! Will Griff make Maria proud? Or will he reach for the sky?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Bryan Keith VS Aaron Solo; Keith wins.
Six Man Tag: Lance Archer & The Righteous VS Jon Cruz, Savion Truitt & Damian Chambers; Archer & The Righteous win.
Lee Johnson VS JD Drake; Lee wins.
Abadon VS Allysin Kay; Abadon wins.
The Infantry VS The Iron Savages w/Jacked Jameson; The Infantry wins.
Six Woman Tag: Diamante, Leila Grey & Taya Valkyrie VS Kiera Hogan, Leyla Hirsch & Trish Adora; Kiera, Leyla & Adora win.
The Beast Mortos VS Nick Comoroto; Mortos wins.
Lady Frost VS Marti Belle; Frost wins.
The Dark Order VS Zak Patterson & Frank Milano; The Dark Order wins.
ROH World Championship Proving Ground Match: Mark Briscoe VS Griff Garrison w/ Cole Karter & Maria Kanellis; Mark wins and denies Griff a title match.

PLAY BY PLAY

Mark Briscoe speaks.

“Now House of Black, I’ve been doing this dance with y’all a little while now, and I’m starting to understand how y’all operate. Starting to understand y’all’s M-O. You try to intimidate me. You try to strike fear into the hearts of men. Well I done told you, I fear no man, I fear no evil. And ancient wisdom says the violent take it by force. Now lemme tell you, Eddie Kingston, Adam Copeland, and Mark Briscoe, we some violent men! And at Dynasty, we bringing the violence, babeh! So heed my advice, House of Black! Be afraid, be very afraid!” The Sussex County Chicken is ready for a fight, will he, the Rated R Superstar and Mad King tear down The House of Black once and for all?

Bryan Keith VS Aaron Solo!

The Bounty Hunter is still looking for a prize, but he’ll gladly fight to earn his shot. Will Keith be heading for a golden opportunity on the other side of Dynasty? Or will Solo shoot first?

The Code of Honor is upheld with sarcastic enthusiasm by Solo, and Keith shoves him away. The bell rings and Solo SLAPS Keith! Keith TACKLES Solo and rains down fists! The fans fire up, Solo gets away then knees Keith low. Solo ROCKS Keith, whips him to a corner, but Keith comes back to run Solo over! Keith scoops to SLAM Solo, then stands on Solo’s face! The fans fire up for the KNEE DROP! Keith then SLAPS Solo! The fans rally for “BK! BK!” Solo storms up but Keith kicks low. Keith reels Solo in, suplexes, and he holds Solo up! Keith marches around, then SLAMS Solo down! Solo bails out and the fans fire up as Keith aims.

Keith builds speed, slides, but Solo ducks! Solo sends Keith into steel steps! The fans boo as Solo leaves Keith behind. The ring count starts, fans chant “SOLO SUCKS! SOLO SUCKS!” Solo counts along but wants it to go faster. Keith stands at 8 of 20, slides in, but Solo stomps and HAMMERS away! The fans boo more, but Solo stands Keith up to bump him off buckles. Keith CHOPS in return! Then CHOPS again! The fans “WOO~,” then Keith ROCKS Solo with a forearm. Keith CHOPS in the corner, but then Solo dodges. Solo tries but Keith dodges the chop to CHOP Solo down! The fans fire up while Solo is stinging.

Keith whips Solo, Solo reverses and CLOBBERS Keith! Cover, TWO! Keith grits his teeth but Solo knees him in the back! And again! The fans rally, Solo taunts them, and then ELBOWS Keith in the head. Solo stalks Keith to a corner, digs his boots in, but again the fans chant “SOLO SUCKS!” Solo stomps away on Keith, digs his boots in again, but Keith fights up! The fans fire up as Keith fires forearms! Keith fires forearms again and again and again, winds up, but Solo dodges! Solo comes back, but Keith ROCKS him after all! The fans fire up as Keith runs in to BOOT! Solo sputters, Keith runs, but then Solo SUPERKICKS! Keith just roars!

Solo swings, but into a T-BONE SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Keith keeps calm. Keith waits on Solo as fans rally behind him. Solo staggers into a fireman’s carry, but he fights free! Solo shoves, goes to a corner, but then Keith comes back. Solo ELBOWS Keith, whips, but Keith reverses! Solo goes up but gets caught, for an USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up again as Keith slashes his throat and aims his finger gun! Keith underhooks, but Solo fights the lift! Solo back drops, Keith sunset flips but Solo stays up to DOUBLE STOMP! Solo then runs up, catches Keith and hits a T-BONE! Cover, TWO!

The fans fire up but Solo hurries to a corner. Solo climbs fast, and DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Keith survives that coup de grace and Solo isn’t sure what to do. Solo kicks Keith around, drags him up and reels him in to underhook. Keith fight that lift, Solo CLUBS away on him, but Keith Alabama Lifts! Solo grabs ropes so Keith lets him down, and ENZIGIRIS! But Solo SCREW HIGH KICKS! Solo goes up top, but Keith RISING HEADBUTTS! The fans fire up with Keith and he climbs! Keith reels Solo in, for DIAMOND DUST!! Cover, Keith wins!

Winner: Bryan Keith, by pinfall

A big win for BK! And he gives back that sarcastic handshake. Will the Bounty Hunter be hot on the trail of a championship after AEW & ROH pass through the Gateway City?

Mark Sterling speaks.

“If you ask AI to create the perfect professional wrestler, it wouldn’t even come close to you. If wrestling is a body business, then you’re a multinational corporation. Biology defying symmetry, no fat, all muscle, no waste. As functional as you are aesthetic. High-flying? You got it. Ground ‘n’ pound? You got that, too. Striking, brawling, submission, technical, there is not a single style you have not perfected. For the last 20 years, you’ve been one of the most consistent and proficient wrestling specimens for any company that’s been willing to throw money at you and begged you to stay. And now, it’s time for them to beg for mercy.

“You are Tony Nese, and you are a Premier Athlete.”

Now Mark Sterling & The Premier Athletes are here in person.

They stand backstage, Sterling’s guys in matching tracksuits, and he says the last time he looked into the camera, he told everyone he had a plan. The very next day, they enacted that plan. Sterling took them off the road, they entered a professional fight camp. They got the best coaches, best trainers, best doctors, and these three started to do what they do best: go to work. Supercard of Honor, against two former ROH TV Champions, PA got an impressive victory. Fruits of their labor. Ariya Daivari is back better than ever. Josh Woods is bigger and better than he was when he won the National Championship. And Tony Nese is in the best shape of his life, which is saying something.

In fact, what’re we even talking about? These three are the most underappreciated athletes in the company. They walk like stars, they move like stars, they present themselves like stars, and by the end of this year, they will be champions. Supercard was just phase one of this plan. Phase two… starts tonight. Then just what happens when the Premier Athletes start making moves?

Lee Johnson VS JD Drake!

Even though he lost at Supercard, Big Shotty stays positive! He got close to the ROH World Television Championship, will he get back there for another shot? Or will Scrap Metal be another speedbump in Lee’s momentum?

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, JD HIP TOSSES, and Lee scrambles to ropes. JD flexes and fans cheer, which surprises JD. Lee gets up, he and JD reset. They tie up, JD arm-drags, but Lee gets up. Lee keeps calm while JD talks some smack. They circle, tie up again, and JD scoops! JD carries Lee around, with one arm! Then SLAM! JD dusts off his hands and the fans fire up more. Lee is a bit frustrated, but he fires himself up. The fans rally with him, he and JD circle to tie up. Lee goes to hip toss, but JD blocks! JD tells Lee he knows that’s not gonna work!

JD goes to hip toss but now Lee blocks! Lee arm-drags, then he goes to feint, but JD blocks with a headlock. Lee shoves JD, tries another arm-drag, but JD blocks that. JD whips Lee, Lee ducks ‘n’ dodges and arm-drags again! The fans fire up as Lee tries to scoop, but JD’s too hefty! JD SLAPS Lee, ROCKS him, then whips him to ropes. Lee ducks ‘n’ dodges again, shoves JD and hurdles! Lee drops, then DROPKICKS! JD staggers to a corner, Lee fires up, and the fans fire up with him! Lee runs up on JD in a corner to CHOP! JD barely flinches! JD puts his arms back and dares Lee to try again. Lee CHOPS, but JD puts Lee in the corner!

JD swings, Lee dodges and CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Lee whips, JD reverses but Lee ELBOWS back! Lee runs up but into a lift, and FLAPJACK off buckles! Lee falls, the fans rally up, and JD dusts himself off. JD storms back up on Lee, brings him up, and the fans rally. JD ROCKS Lee, stands him up in the corner, and CHOPS! The fans “WOO~!” while Lee sputters. The fans want that “One More Time!” so JD stands Lee up. JD winds up, to JAB! The fans boo JD trolling them, but JD stands Lee up to CHOP him after all! Lee is stinging, but JD brings him up. Lee throws body shots but JD ROCKS Lee!

JD whips, Lee sunset flips! JD stays up, but Lee avoids the hip drop! Ghost pin, TWO! JD gets up, kicks low and whips, to SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Lee stays in this and the fans rally up. JD sits Lee up, KICKS him in the back, then paces around. The fans rally for Lee but JD pie faces him around. Lee rises, JD brings him up and Lee CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again! JD throat chops! The ref reprimands, JD claims he jabbed to the chest. JD then scoops and SLAMS Lee, to then FALLING HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO! Lee is still in this but JD CHOKES him! The ref counts, JD lets off, claiming he was just checking the pulse.

JD clamps on a chinlock, digging his knee into Lee’s back. Lee endures, the fans rally up, and Lee fights to his feet. Lee throws body shots, but JD knees low! JD suplexes but Lee slips free! Lee ROCKS JD, ROCKS him again, but JD CHOPS! JD runs, but Lee SUPERKICKS! JD flops out of the ring and the fans fire up! The fans rally as Lee builds speed, to FLY! Direct hit at the ramp and the fans fire up even more! Lee puts JD in, climbs a corner, and JD stands. JD staggers around, into the CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! JD stays in this but then bails back out. Lee thinks on what he has to do and the fans rally up.

Lee runs, to slide, but JD gets under! JD pops Lee up to CLOBBER him! JD puts Lee in, aims from a corner, and Lee goes to the opposite end. JD runs up, but Lee moves, CANNONBALL hits buckles! Lee hurries up while JD is down! The fans cheer as Lee aims, FROG SPLASH, but JD moves! Lee rolls through, runs back at JD but JD puts him on the apron. JD ROCKS Lee, goes up, and he brings Lee around. The fans fire up as JD brings Lee up, but Lee fires body shots! Lee GAMANGIRIS, then climbs! Lee sunset flips for the POWERBOMB! The fans fire up and Lee climbs back up, FROG SPLASH!! Cover, Lee wins!

Winner: Lee Johnson, by pinfall

Big Shotty’s got range, and he hit the mark! Will Lee take this momentum and turn it into another chance at a championship?

Abadon VS Allysin Kay!

Speaking of second chances, The Living Dead Girl got screwed out of the ROH Women’s World Television Championship when Mercedes Martinez & Diamante conspired against her. And while AK Don’t Play, she knows the OG Badass well. Can Abadon prepare for revenge by taking down Martinez’s greatest rival?

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, but Abadon holds on, to BITE Allysin’s arm! Abadon then laughs, dodges Allysin to HEADBUTT low, HELL STAB, then mule kick! Abadon runs to SHOTGUN BOOT! Allysin goes to a corner while the fans rally up and Abadon shrieks! But Allysin BOOTS Abadon down! Allysin rains down fists, covers, ONE!! Abadon sits up but Allysin brings her around to fireman’s carry. SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up, Allysin drags Abadon up to TOSS her to a corner! Allysin fires body shots, then she CHOPS! Allysin whips corner to corner hard and Abadon bounces off buckles!

Allysin takes a bow, puts pinkies up, and SPLASHES in the corner! Allysin CHOPS, whips, and runs up again, but Abadon BOOTS her! Abadon runs to BULLDOG! The fans rally as Abadon slithers out to the apron then climbs up the corner. Allysin crawls, Abadon aims, CROSSBODY! Abadon runs to KNEE Allysin back down! Abadon storms up on Allysin, reels her in, BLACK DAHLIA! Cover, Abadon wins!

Winner: Abadon, by pinfall

Abadon smiles, then shrieks into the night! Will Mercedes Martinez make sure to stay far, far away from the frightening Living Dead Girl?

Backstage interview with Taya Valkyrie.

Lexi Nair is with La Wera Loca and brings up her trios match alongside Diamante and Leila Grey. But this is also the first time we’ve seen her since Supercard, where Johnny TV lost to Dalton Castle. The question is: where is Johnny? Uh, recovering from that vicious attack by Dalton Castle and his “special boy,” Paul Walter-Whatever! Taya is gonna call up Fran Dreischer to file a complaint! For someone so TV Ready, Castle and Paul sure don’t look it. So yes, Johnny is rehabbing. Wait he’s in rehab? Ew, no, who do you think they are? Johnny is rehabbing the abs! This is an aesthetics business so he has to look amazing!

So tonight, Taya will carry the weight of the TV Family in trios action. So run along, Lexi, Taya has things to do. Uh, this is Lexi’s interview space. Oh, well, her apologies. Taya bumps Lexi on the way out, but will Taya’s team win some major points in the title chase tonight?

The Infantry VS The Iron Savages w/Jacked Jameson!

Captain Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo may not be the ROH World Tag Team Championships, but they are not deterred. Will they get through the jacked ‘n’ juicy juggernauts to go after The Undisputed Kingdom once again?

The teams sort out, #BadNewsAndTattoos starts against Beefcake Boulder, and they keep the Code of Honor. They tie up, Bravo tries but can’t push Boulder back, but Boulder pushes Bravo back! Bravo resets with Boulder, beefs up, and they tie up. Bravo wrenches to wristlock, but Boulder WRINGS Bravo out! Boulder talks smack on Dean and Bravo, but Bravo pie faces. Boulder scoops Bravo, but Bravo slips free to DROPKICK! Boulder stays up, runs up, but Dean is there to GAMANGIRI! Bravo tags Dean while Boulder throws a fit, but DOUBLE DROPKICKS send him reeling! Bulk Bronson tags but runs into a DOUBLE HIP TOSS!

The fans fire up as the Infantry crisscross and SPLIT the wishbone! Bravo gets fans going with “OORAH!” Dean runs to JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Bronson bails out, Boulder is there to help him, and Dean builds speed, only for Jacked Jameson to stand in the way! He wants Dean to sip the Savage Sauce! Dean says no thanks, but in comes Bronson! EXPLODER! Bravo protests but Bronson drags Dean to a cover. The ref is busy arguing, he finally sees the pin, TWO! Bronson is annoyed, but he mocks Bravo’s air machine gun. Bravo then tags Boulder before he brings Dean up. The fans rally but the Savages still hit a SHOULDER TACKLE SUPLEX COMBO!

Bronson flexes, Boulder taunts Bravo, and then Boulder whips Dean to the corner. Boulder wraps Dean’s arms around ropes to HEADBUTT again and again and again! Tag to Bronson, he brings Dean around, and they visit #TIDDYCITY! But Dean reverses, it’s Bronson who dives in! Boulder panics, runs up, but Dean DUMPS him! Bronson swings, misses, hot tag to Bravo! Bravo rallies on Bronson with big forearms! Bravo whips, Bronson reverses, but the CARLIE CROSSOVER takes Bronson down! Boulder gets up, Bravo fakes him out to SCISSOR KICK! Bravo then kicks Bronson, and manages a FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO!

The fans rally, Bravo pounds the mat, but now Jameson wants Bravo to sip! Bravo says no, get outta here! Bronson runs up again, Bravo dodges, and Bronson barely avoids hitting Jameson! Bravo aims, Bronson dodges, the SUPERKICK hits Jameson! Jameson spews sauce! Boulder catches Jameson, Dean goes up, and Dean CROSSBODIES to wipe them both out! But Bronson rolls Bravo up! TWO, and Bronson grabs Bravo, only for Bravo to kick low! Bravo reels Bronson in, tags Dean, and TORNADO- NO, Bronson stops the DDT! Dean gets in, Bronson scoops, but Dean slips free! Feed to a SUPERKICK!

The Infantry coordinate, for BOOT CAMP! Cover, Infantry wins!

Winners: The Infantry, by pinfall

Dean & Bravo redeem themselves from Supercard and are ready to get back on track! But wait, The Premier Athletes make their way out here! Is this what Smart Mark was talking about for phase two? Daivari & Nese rush the ring and start throwing hands with The Infantry! Woods tips the scales as he DECKS Dean, then DECKS Bravo! But wait! Here comes Dalton Castle! The Peacock won’t stand for there to be bullies, and he takes off his sandals to weaponize them! The Premier Athletes dare him to, but wait! Here comes Mark Briscoe, Bryan Keith and Lee Johnson! They run The Premier Athletes off!

Sterling shouts, “Who do you think you are?!” but he’s shouting at THE ROH World Champion and many other big names around here! Will The Peacock, the Chicken and the rest of ROH humble Sterling’s stable once and for all?

Six Woman Tag: Diamante, Leila Grey & Taya Valkyrie VS Kiera Hogan, Leyla Hirsch & Trish Adora!

The Cuban Diamond has staked her claim at challenging for the ROH Women’s World Television Championship, but so has The Hottest Flame. But let’s not forget The Last Baddie Standing, La Wera Loca, the LEGIT One and The AfroPunk! Billie Starkz still sees herself above all six of these women, but which trio takes the lead in the title chase with a win tonight?

The teams sort out, Taya starts against Kiera and the Code of Honor is upheld. The bell rings, the two tie up, and Kiera gets around to waistlock. Taya pries the hold, backs Kiera into a corner and throws elbows! Taya stomps away on Kiera, then says who’s the hottest now? Taya snapmares, covers, ONE!! Taya drags Kiera up, whips her to ropes, but Kiera holds ropes to BOOT back! Taya runs up again but Kiera drop toeholds her onto ropes! HIP ATTACK! Taya flounders, Kiera runs to step-up and LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Kiera keeps cool as she brings Taya up, but Taya ROCKS Kiera then throws her by her hair!

Taya tags Diamante, they stomp Kiera, then Diamante sucker punches Leyla! Diamante runs in to DROPKICK Kiera, then drags her to a high stack cover, ONE!! Kiera is tougher than that but Diamante says it’s just a matter of time. Diamante runs, PLANKING SPLASH flops as Kiera moves! Hot tag to Leyla! Leyla gut wrenches Diamante to GUT WRENCH SUPLEX! Tag to Adora, then Leyla wrenches so she can hand it off to Adora. Adora WRINGS Diamante’s arm, drags her up and wrenches again, but Diamante ROCKS her! Adora swings, Diamante dodges to tilt-o-whirl and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Diamante snarls and pushes Adora down to rain down fists!

Diamante storms around, brings Adora up and CHOPS her on the back! Tag to Grey and she NECK SNAPPERS Adora! Cover, TWO! Adora is tougher than that but Grey rains down fists! Grey drags Adora up, bumps her off buckles, then tags Taya. Taya and Grey dig their boots in, then Taya stomps a mudhole. Taya sits Adora down to METEORA! Tag to Diamante and she stomps a mudhole! The ref reprimands but Diamante tags Taya back in. Taya steps over Adora and mockingly has Adora reach out to her corner. The ref has to keep Hirsch back so Grey gets shots in, then Taya drags Adora up.

Taya again mockingly holds out Adora’s hand but the fans rally up. Adora fights up, but Taya pulls her into the motorcycle stretch! Adora endures the knee in her back, fights up to her feet, and then arm-drags Taya away! Taya gets up, ducks ‘n’ dodges and mule kicks! But Adora ducks the buzzsaw to BASEMENT GERMAN! The fans fire up while both women are down! Adora and Taya crawl, hot tags to Kiera and Diamante! Kiera rallies on Diamante with big forearms, then a SUPERKICK! Turn and NECKBREAKER! Kiera goes up a corner while Diamante flounders around. Diamante stands, into a MISSILE DROPKICK!

Diamante flounders, Grey tags in but Kiera dodges to fire off forearms! Grey shoves back, but Kiera returns to SHOTGUN! Grey flounders, Kiera fires up, and says kiss this! HIP ATTACK in the corner! She sits Grey back down to run and BOOT WASH! Kiera drags Grey to a cover, Diamante breaks it! Diamante gets Grey outta there, and Taya tags in. Taya runs up to mule kick, KNEE LIFT and wrench Kiera, into a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! Leyla also gets in, she pushes Taya around. Leyla drags Taya up but Diamante runs in. Leyla gets around to SAIDO! Taya gets Kiera up but Kiera SUPERKICKS!

Kiera brings Taya over, tags Adora, and they feed Taya to the BUBBA BOMB! Body scissor and GEDO CLUTCH! TWO!! Hot tag to Grey, she runs up, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SLINGBLADES! Cover, TWO! Grey is frustrated but she gets Adora up. Underhooks, but Adora breaks that to fireman’s carry! Adora storms over, tags Hirsch, but Grey slips free! Leyla dodges Leila and feeds her to Adora’s BOOT! Then GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Grey survives but Hirsch tags Kiera. Kiera runs, but Taya trips her up! Diamante distracts so the ref misses that! But then Leyla DIVES onto Taya! Diamante CANNONBALLS Leyla!

LARIAT TUBMAN from Adora to Diamante! Kiera dodges Grey to ROUNDHOUSE! And then “That’s all, PERIODT!” FACE THE MUSIC!! Bridging cover, Team Kiera wins!

Winners: Kiera Hogan, Leyla Hirsch & Trish Adora, by pinfall

It was fast ‘n’ furious in the end there, but the Hottest Flame burns it down! Will she be first up to strike a match with Billie Starkz?

Backstage interview with Maria Kanellis, Griff Garrison & Cole Karter.

Lexi is with the First Lady of Wrestling and her baby boys, the Diamond in the Rough wearing the stolen mask from Serpentico. Lexi congratulates them on their win over Spanish Announce Project at Supercard, but it seems there might be some unfinished business. Are they ever going to give Seprentico his masks back? Karter takes the mask off to say hell no! Griff says Serpentico’s masks mean a lot to him and his lucha libre culture. But uh, they don’t care! It got them the attention that they deserve, and those wins have been a stepping stone in this company.

If Serpentico wants his masks back, he doesn’t need to trick them into a match. They’re happy to beat the crap outta him anytime, anywhere! Maria loves the confidence, and says Griff will need it in his Proving Grounds match against THE ROH World Champion, Mark Briscoe. Griff is all fired up, will the Ivy League MVP pass the test with flying colors? Or will he fail to #ManUp?

The Beast Mortos VS Nick Comoroto!

Black Taurus has evolved into something even more menacing than before, and he is looking to stampede all the way to the top of ROH! But Mr. Freak Beast has changed a lot about himself, too, in hopes of finding success. Whose transformation will prove to be for the better as these behemoths collide?

The Code of Honor is upheld reluctantly, the bell rings, and the fans rally up. The two tie up, go around, and Comoroto shoves Mortos down! Mortos gets up in a huff, gets in Comoroto’s face, but Comoroto pie faces him. So Mortos SLAPS Comoroto! Comoroto runs up, Mortos dodges, and they RAM shoulders! Mortos ducks ‘n’ dodges and jumps to RANA! Comoroto goes to a corner but Mortos runs in to UPPERCUT, CLOTHESLINE, and GAMANGIRI! Mortos wrenches and hits an ARMBAR CODE BREAKER! Comoroto staggers, but he blocks the whip! Comoroto shoves Mortos, runs up, but Mortos dodges to then roll off Comoroto’s back!

Mortos tries to hip toss but Comoroto blocks! Comoroto LARIATS Mortos down then rains down fists! Fans are torn as Comoroto huffs ‘n’ puffs and stomps Mortos around. Comoroto digs his boot into Mortos’ face, lets off to soak up heat, then he drags Mortos up. Comoroto scoops to SLAM, then he runs to JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Mortos pounds the mat in frustration. Comoroto slashes his throat, but Mortos throws body shots. Comoroto CLUBS Mortos, Alabama Lifts, but Mortos sunset flips! Comoroto stays up, hauls Mortos up, but Mortos JAWBREKAERS, KNEES and ROCKS Comoroto!

Mortos goes to suplex but Comoroto’s a big guy, too! Comoroto suplexes Mortos, but Mortos knees free! Mortos goes to a corner, Comoroto runs in but Mortos dropkicks the legs out! Comoroto hits buckles, then Mortos runs in, CORNER 619! Comoroto staggers away and Mortos climbs, to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Comoroto still has power to spare and he storms up on Mortos. Mortos UPPERCUTS first! Mortos goes to whip but Comoroto blocks again! Comoroto whips Mortos to a corner, runs up, but Mortos slips out to the apron! Comoroto hits buckles, Mortos goes up, and the fans rally! MORTOS TWISTER! Cover, Mortos wins!

Winner: The Beast Mortos, by pinfall

Comoroto is big and bad but this is a beast of a different breed! Will nothing stop the modern day minotaur from making ROH his domain? Will Jacoby Watts’ teachings ever pay off for Comoroto?

Backstage interview with Nick Comoroto.

Lexi is with Mr. Freakbeast as he returns backstage, and she asks him what his strategy will be moving forward after this tough loss. Jacoby Watts walks in to say, “Turn the page. Start a new chapter. Nothing changes if nothing changes, Nick. It’s a harsh reality. But I am your answer. Your beacon of hope in the darkness. Follow me and I will lead you into the light! For I am Jacoby Watts, the one and only, praise be to he, and he is me.” Watts waxes poetic while making himself the focus, but will Comoroto accept his guidance?

ROH World Championship Proving Ground Match: Mark Briscoe VS Griff Garrison w/ Cole Karter & Maria Kanellis!

The Sussex County Chicken won this title after a war with Eddie Kingston at Supercard, and those two are still going to be friends taking on The House of Black this Sunday! But will Mark be able to focus on tonight with Dynasty on the horizon? Or is this where Maria’s baby boys start building their kingdom?

Mark shows off the belt and its new camouflage patterned leather! The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings and we’re on the clock. The fans cheer on Mark as he circles with Griff. They tie up, Griff headlocks, but Mark powers up and out. Griff sunset flips, but Mark rolls through to drop on the headlock! Griff moves around, fights up, and powers up, but Mark holds tight! Mark hits the takeover, Griff headscissors, but Mark kips free. Roles reverse as Griff headlocks for the takeover, and Mark headscissors. Griff kips free, but Mark shows Redneck Kung-Fu stance and Griff scrambles away! The fans cheer but Maria coaches Griff back up.

Griff cools off, he and Mark reset, and the two circle again. They knuckle lock but Griff kicks low. Griff UPPERCUTS, UPPERCUTS again, then whips corner to corner. Mark goes up and out, SWATS the haymaker to REDNECK KUNG-FU UPPERCUT! Then Mark gets in to BOOT Griff down! Griff is on ropes, Mark runs in to BOOT WASH him right outta the ring! The fans fire up as Mark builds speed, and he DIVES onto Griff! Not the cleanest landing but Mark borrows a hat to put it on! The fans fire up with Mark, he gives the hat back, then drags Griff up to DECK him! Mark drags Griff up again, to scoop and SLAM!

Griff sputters, Mark goes to the apron, and the fans fire up as Mark takes aim. But then Karter and Maria stand in the way! The fans boo, Mark sighs and steps inside, and Maria coaches Griff up. Griff flounders up, the fans rally behind Mark but then Karter and Maria each get on the apron! The ref is busy arguing with Maria but Karter distracts Mark. Griff sneaks in to CLOBBER Mark! Griff fires forearms while the fans boo, but then Griff stomps a mudhole into Mark. The ref counts as Griff digs his boots in, but Griff lets off at 4. But then that lets Karter CHOKE Mark behind the ref’s back!

The fans boo as Karter gets away with one, and Griff drags Mark up. Griff UPPERCUTS, but Mark CHOPS! Griff sputters, Mark CHOPS again! Griff knees low, whips Mark to a corner, but runs into an ELBOW! Mark runs up, into a BOOT! Cover, TWO! Griff clamps onto Mark with a chinlock and he grinds Mark down. The fans rally as Mark endures and fights up. Mark throws body shots, then fires up to CHOP! CHOP! And CHOP! Mark runs, but into the ROLLING ELBOW! Griff then torture racks for the TOWER HACKER BOMB! High stack, TWO! Mark survives and Griff is frustrated but Maria coaches him up.

The fans continue to rally behind Mark as Griff aims again. Griff goes up but Mark REDNECK UPPERCUTS! Griff gets caught up in ropes, Mark lets him loose so he can fall to the floor. Karter hurries over, but Mark goes up to PLANCHA both baby boys! The fans are thunderous, and Mark cracks open a can of WOOOOO Energy! Mark chugs it, bangs the can against his head, then gets Griff in the ring. The fans fire up as Mark runs corner to corner, but Griff BOOTS him! Mark comes back to LARIAT! The fans fire up, Mark reels Griff in, but Griff wrenches out, only for Mark to LARIAT! Mark hauls Griff up again for underhooks!

Mark lifts, for the JAY DRILLER!! Cover, Mark wins!

Winner: Mark Briscoe, by pinfall (denies Griff Garrison a title opportunity)

Maria is upset but there’s nothing she can do, her baby boy wasn’t man enough to stop the NEW ROH World Champion! Will Mark continue to carry on his brother’s legacy and become one of the best champions in ROH history?

My Thoughts:

A very good episode of ROH for being 92 minutes. I still skipped some very clear filler, but Marti Belle got a good showing in her loss to Frost and The Dark Order got a good match out of Zak & Frank. Cruz, Damian & Savion got an okay showing but c’mon, they were against Archer & The Righteous, those guys have been running through everyone. It hasn’t really led them to anything yet, but maybe after we get undisputed AEW & ROH World Trios Champions after Dynasty, Archer & Righteous challenge the winners. And real good wins for Bryan Keith and Lee Johnson, each guy looking good towards midcard titles at some point.

Really good match from Infantry VS Savages, with the Savages being a bit more Heelish this time. Good win for Infantry, but I didn’t think The Premier Athletes would be going after them first. And I didn’t expect Faces like Keith, Lee and Briscoe to run out to get at them. Maybe the Premier Athletes can also position themselves to go after the trios titles after Dynasty. If The Acclaimed win, they’ll need Heel opponents. Archer & Righteous can play either side, but fans really like Archer so I kinda want him and Righteous to be Faces when facing Bang Bang Gang.

Good match and good win for Abadon over Allysin. Good win for Kiera, Leyla & Adora, though things got a little sloppy in the middle, Leyla’s timing wasn’t quite there. Athena & Billie are both Heels, so while Queen Aminata is in the mix, the champion she doesn’t choose still needs a good Face challenger so you can take your pick of the winners from tonight. Really good match from Mortos and Comoroto, and Mortos winning also helped serve Comoroto’s story with Watts. Watts keeps insisting he’s the answer, but this has to lead to Comoroto breaking free and beating Watts up for his arrogance.

Good promo from Maria, Griff & Karter, and they just kinda copy-pasted Mark Briscoe’s promo from Collision that same Saturday. Really good match for Griff against Mark but of course Mark wins. Mark getting involved with Premier Athletes, maybe Woods or Nese get a shot at Mark only to lose and be Mark’s solid first defense. Not sure who could be a more prolonged feud with Mark, but there are plenty of possibilities, and I’m just happy to see him showing up on ROH TV as the ROH World Champion should.