Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (9/23/20)
Who survives the Gauntlet Eliminator?
Two huge matches for huge NXT title opportunities at TakeOver!
A battle royal for a shot at Io Shirai’s NXT Women’s Championship and a GAUNTLET ELIMINATOR for Finn Balor’s title, all in one night! Who is left standing at the end of each to challenge the Evil Genius and the Prince?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Battle Royal: Candice LeRae wins and will challenge Io Shirai for the title at TakeOver.
- Tommaso Ciampa VS Jake Atlas; Ciampa wins.
- Danny Burch & Roderick Strong VS Fabian Aichner & Raul Mendoza; Burch & Strong win and their teams move on to face each other in an NXT Tag Team Championship #1 Contender’s match.
- Damian Priest VS Austin Theory; Priest wins.
- Ridge Holland VS Antonio de Luca; Holland wins.
- NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Gauntlet Eliminator: Kyle O’Reilly wins and will challenge Finn Balor for the title at TakeOver.
PLAY BY PLAY
WWE and NXT mourn the loss of Road Warrior Animal, Joe Laurinaitis
NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Battle Royal!
We open with Aliyah, Shotzi Blackheart, Raquel Gonzalez, Dakota Kai, Indi Hartwell, Kayden Carter, Kacy Catanzaro, Xia Li, the returning Marina Shafir, and several other prospects of the NXT Women’s Division in the ring! They’re all pumped up and ready for a shot at Io Shirai, but Candice LeRae makes her entrance, already smiling and waving like she’s the queen of NXT. But footage plays showing that she’s in a good mood because she attacked Tegan Nox backstage! She used a pipe and a TRUNK on Tegan’s already vulnerable knees!! The crowd boos Candice, but they cheer Rhea Ripley as she arrives! Will the only woman to have been both NXT and NXT UK Women’s Champion be the one heading back to TakeOver?
The bell rings and brawls break out all over! Rhea brawls with Shotzi, Raquel hits whoever is around, and Aliyah has to fight out of a corner already. Raquel clubs Shotzi, Rhea hits some of the new faces but they hit back. Rhea double hand lifts and headbutts the young woman in camouflage, to push and ELIMINATE “Gia!” Rhea waves bye before going after Indi. Candice takes a shot, Kayden helps Kacy against Dakota, and Aliyah shows some fight. Raquel whips “Raven” and runs at her. Raven boots back but is blocked, and tossed out! Raquel ELIMINATES Raven! Raquel helps Dakota against KC Squared while Catalina fights out of a corner. Rhea hits Indi and a few others while Aliyah is after Shotzi.
Rhea TOSSES and ELIMINATES “Ellie”, right into the railing! Xia Li and Aliyah fight, an old rivalry renewed. Candice hits Shotzi, Raquel scoops Kacy but Kacy fights free. Rhea throws Marina into a corner, dumps her up and out but Marina holds on! Rhea counter punches and hotshots Marina, for a HEADBUTT! Rhea ELIMINATES Marina, for a third! Raquel CLOBBERS and ELIMINATES “Avery!” Indi throws down Shotzi and throws down Kayden to protect Candice? Raquel suplexes and puts her target on the apron. Raquel fakes punch to BOOT and ELIMINATE her! She and Rhea each have three! But then Raquel gut wrenches “Rita” up, but Rita slips out to go after the arm! Raquel stays standing, dead lifts Rita and TOSSES her! Raquel ELIMINATES a fourth!
Dakota and Xia brawl, Raquel hits whoever and then goes after Catalina. Indi goes after Rhea but she fights her off. Rhea scoops Emily to the apron, Emily shoulders back and springboards up, into a BOOT! Rhea ELIMINATES her fourth! Aliyah stomps Kacy, Indi and Candice work on Kayden. Catalina brings the fight to Raquel, goes up, but Raquel BOOTS her down! Raquel ELIMINATES a fifth! Rhea goes after Aliyah, Raquel helps Indi with Kayden. Rhea RAMS Aliyah to a corner, hoists her up top, but Aliyah fights back. Xia and Dakota fight in a corner as Dakota holds on for dear life. Candice tries to scrape Shotzi out but Shotzi hits back. Raquel is after Indi now but Indo holds on.
Aliyah has Kacy on the apron, scrapes her off with a kick, but Kacy keeps her feet up! She isn’t out until her feet touch the ground, so being on her shoulders is okay! Kacy scoots with feet up in the air, somersaults back to a handstand, and then skins the cat! She’s back in! Kacy helps Kayden against Aliyah as NXT goes picture in picture.
Dakota goes after Indi but Indi hits her away. Kayden fights with Xia, Shotzi and Candice are in a corner with Rhea. Aliyah hits Kacy, Indi drags Shotzi and Rhea off Candice! Is Indi trying to make a good impression on Candice? Raquel scoops Shotzi but Shotzi holds onto the ropes! Raquel shoves Aliyah, Rhea shoves Aliyah. It seems Aliyah has no friends in this ring. Rhea swings on her but Aliyah gets around for a sleeper! But she’s just a backpack that Rhea throws to the outside! Aliyah punches but Rhea blocks. Rhea pulls Aliyah’s fake eyelashes off her face! Aliyah freaks out so bad, and then Rhea DECKS her onto Stone, and ELIMINATES her!
Dakota and Raquel go after Shotzi together, Xia clubs Candice and then Rhea goes after Candice. Indi goes after Rhea because she again wants to be on Candice’s good side. KC Squared fights with Xia to continue things from last week. Xia counters Kayden’s toss, only to be bodyscissor’d out of the ring! Kayden ELIMINATES Xia! Shotzi fights off Dakota and Raquel but not for long. Raquel and Dakota go after her, she kicks them away again and again. Candice hides under the bottom rope a moment while Indi takes care of Rhea. Raquel scoops Shotzi, she and Dakota try to scrape Shotzi out but Shotzi kicks back. Indi and Candice go after Rhea but Kacy goes after Candice. Raquel goes after Kayden with clubbing forearms and Rhea BOOTS Dakota down.
Raquel bumps Kayden off buckles, Rhea stomps Dakota then drags her up. Indi is after Shotzi with Candice’s help and Raquel notices Rhea lifting Dakota up. Raquel saves Dakota, Shotzi survives Candice trying to push her out, and Indi scoops Kacy. NXT returns to single picture as Indi puts Kacy on the apron and BLASTS her off! But Kacy clings to the railing! She’s on the barrier, not the floor! Kacy climbs while Kayden fights off Raquel. Kacy finds her way to the steel steps but Indi is watching her. Kacy lands on the steps! But Indi boots her off them!! But Kacy just goes back to the railing!! Kacy is still in this! Indi leaves her alone to help Candice against Rhea.
Kayden ends up on the apron and HOOK KICKS Raquel! Kayden reaches out for Kacy, but Raquel BLASTS Kayden off and ELIMINATES her! Now Kacy is stranded! Or is she? Kayden can still help Kacy by letting her stand on her shoulders! Kacy is back on the apron and in the ring! Rhea CHOPS Raquel, Raquel shoves back. They start brawling with haymakers! Rhea kicks but into the Electric Chair lift! But Rhea uses the ropes to headscissor Raquel out! They both tumble off the apron and ELIMINATE each other!! Dakota panics because now she’s all alone! The refs keep Rhea and Raquel from brawling, and now we’re down to our final five! Dakota is in one corner, Kacy in another, and Indi still helps Candice with Shotzi!
Indi goes after Kacy now but that leaves Candice alone! Shotzi gets her up and over, Indi fireman’s carries Kacy and bumps her off the post! Kacy swings around it, forearms and springboards back! She headscissors and ELIMINATES Indi! So much for making an impression. Dakota is right on Kacy and Candice storms over. Dakota stomps Kacy, Candice helps out. Candice runs in to back elbow Kacy! Candice dumps Kacy to the apron, Dakota goes Around the World and BOOTS Kacy off! Dakota ELIMINATES Kacy! Now they gang up on Shotzi! They throw haymakers and stomps, Candice goes corner to corner for another back elbow, but into knees! Dakota still goes Around the World, but Shotzi dodges the boot! Dakota is stuck, Shotzi dumps her out, and ELIMINATES her!
But Candice whips Shotzi! Shotzi reverses, sends Candice up but not out. Candice elbows back, goes after Shotzi but Shotzi boots the clothesline away! Shotzi hits the SLING DOD! Candice flounders, Shotzi brings her up but Candice holds on for dear life. Candice shoulders back in, pulls on green hair, but Shotzi breaks free to ENZIGURI! Shotzi runs, for the BALLPIT, but Candice moves! DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Candice drags Shotzi up and throws her out, but Shotzi holds on! Shotzi ROUNDHOUSES back! Shotzi gets in and goes up, but Candice CHOPS her! Candice climbs up, Shotzi fights back, and puts Candice on the apron! Candice grabs at Shotzi and shoves her down! Both women are on the apron, and Candice climbs up! Shotzi ROCKS Candice first, then YANKS her into the post!
Candice flops down the steel steps but hasn’t touched the floor. Shotzi joins her, steps on her, but Candice pushes her back. Shotzi grabs for Candice but Candice monkey flips Shotzi away! Candice wins!!
Winner: Candice LeRae (NEW #1 Contender to the NXT Women’s Championship)
Considering she “eliminated” Tegan Nox even before the match, and oddly had a friend in Indi, the Poison Pixie had a much easier time winning this match. Husband Johnny Gargano joins her in the ring to celebrate, because breaking news: Gargano is going to challenge Damian Priest for the North American Championship at TakeOver, too! Will Mr. & Mrs. Wrestling make their dreams come true and reign together as champions?
Backstage interview with Damian Priest!
The Archer of Infamy knows Johnny Gargano is coming for his title, what is his reaction? “This is huge, Sarah!” It’s Johnny TakeOver! The guy made NXT, or so he says. But as good as Gargano says he is, he’s not ending the Reign of Infamy so soon. In fact, as long as Priest is champion, the title will continue to slide through Gargano’s fingers. Just like in that TakeOver: XXX Ladder match. Priest is also facing Austin Theory tonight, how is he preparing? Theory is a guy whose record is not relevant to what his talent is. Theory is great, but it sucks to be him because his losing continues. Sarah, you’re really good at this. Maybe he’ll see you at the after party? Will Priest still be in the mood for partying after going #AllDay?
NXT returns to… an investigation?
Danny Burch, Roderick Strong, Raul Mendoza and Fabian Aichner are all arguing with “Fandango Holmes” and William Regal walks over to sort this out. Cheerio, William! Please, hear him out. No silly accents, Dango. Right, sorry. Why is he dressed like that? Also, his whiteboard reads, “Fandango’s #1 Contender Algorithm,” but none of the contenders’ names are spelled right! Danee Birch & Uno Lorcan, Billy Fish & Robert Strong, Fabio Acne & Marty Barty, as well as Ryan Bulldozen and Quinoa Wilde, are not real people.
Fandango says he’s figured this out! NXT will take one man from each worthy team, from Danny & Oney to Undisputed Era to Los Gatos (The Cats?) and Emporium (Imperium…) and put them in a special tag team match! The duo that wins will have a match next week with each other, and the team of the winner faces Breezango at TakeOver! It’s so simple! Regal has no idea so he turns to Danny. Danny says he and “the Sherman” take on against the merchant and the burke, winners take on the ceptics. THAT Regal gets? Well, either way, Fandango’s fandangled process of elimination is approved! Who wins to face each other to win a chance at gold?
Tommaso Ciampa VS Jake Atlas!
The Psycho Killer made his return by brutalizing this same young star without remorse or hesitation. He also attacked Atlas backstage the same way. Will Atlas finally get a semblance of payback in the rematch? Or will he just get more of the same from Ciampa?
The bell rings and the two tie up. Ciampa puts Atlas in a corner, lets off but tries to chop. Atlas dodges to CHOP and forearm and repeat! Atlas whips, Ciampa reverses and ROCKS Atlas with that right! Ciampa throws Atlas through the ropes, Atlas escapes the DDT and drags Ciampa out for fast hands! Atlas kicks and punches Ciampa to the steel steps then stomps away! The ref counts, Atlas lets off, but Atlas brings up the apron skirt. Atlas wants to return the favor but Ciampa kicks him away! Ciampa gets in the ring, Atlas follows, and Ciampa tries to retreat! Atlas goes after Ciampa at the ropes so Ciampa LARIATS him down!
Ciampa cools off and Atlas crawls, but Ciampa is right after Atlas with a trapped-arm chinlock. “You want to be a main event player, huh!? You want to be at the top!?” Ciampa stomps Atlas! Ciampa says HE is the main event! Then he drags Atlas up, whips him to a corner hard, but Atlas comes back to ROCK Ciampa! Atlas throws more haymakers, then whips Ciampa, only for Ciampa to reverse. Atlas handsprings out of the way, shoves to Manhattan drop and dropkick Ciampa down! Atlas trips Ciampa, stomps him and rains down rights! Atlas fires off but Ciampa pushes him away. The crowd fires up, Ciampa boots but Atlas blocks to reel Ciampa in. Ciampa resists the lift, Atlas shoves him to a corner and BOOTS!
Atlas gets up top and aims at Ciampa. Ciampa bails out but Atlas just hops down to the apron. Atlas jumps over the sweep and boots Ciampa again! Atlas goes up, SUPER MOONSAULT! Direct hit takes Ciampa down but Atlas puts Ciampa in. Atlas climbs, Ciampa stands, Atlas leaps for the BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Ciampa survives but Atlas slaps some focus into himself. Atlas goes back up, RAINBOW- NO! The boot takes Atlas down, he puts Atlas through the ropes, WILLOW’S BELL! Cover, ONE!? Ciampa lets off so he can hurt Atlas more! “You want to eat at the champ’s table?” Ciampa knows Atlas is hungry, so he feeds him stomps! “Security at gonna save you!” Underhooks, for the FAIRY TALE ENDING BOMB! Cover, Ciampa wins!
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa, by pinfall
Ciampa didn’t even have to, but he was making a point with the new take on the Fairy Tale Ending. Will everyone feel that same ending now that Daddy’s home?
NXT hears from Ridge Holland.
“People say, ‘Who is Ridge Holland?’ I remember a time back home in Yorkshire, I was around 8 years old, four kids tried to lock will over little Ridgey.” But a switch went off, and four bodies were left lying on the floor. Ever since then, Holland has fought for everything. He fought in Rugby, the toughest sport on Earth. It may not be fighting, but it is the next best thing. And during that time, Holland nurtured a skill for hurting people. And the best place to show that off is in NXT. From the UK to the US, the NXT Universe will learn what Holland is all about.
NXT returns to hear from the Gauntlet Eliminator participants.
Cameron Grimes says Regal did it again! The top five fighting for the top prize, THE NXT Championship, and Grimes is one of them! “Now that Finn Balor has that championship, that’s just what I need to take Cameron Grimes tooo theee MOOON~!”
Timothy Thatcher says “Titles are nice and all, but right now, what’s more important to me is getting another round with Finn Balor. Get ready for round two, Finn, because I’m coming for your title.”
Bronson Reed says Balor doesn’t watch the business, the business watches him. “Well, Prince. Bronson IS a battle tested, Colossal Bronson Reed who is ready to become a champion NOW more than ever!”
Kushida simply vows he is “going to be standing in front of Finn Balor.”
Kyle O’Reilly says “The Golden Prophecy is the Golden Prophecy. No matter who’s holding the gold, which member of the Era boys, it really doesn’t make a difference, because this is about becoming the NXT Champion. That’s not just a prediction, that’s Undisputed.”
Balor repeats that it is time for people to start fighting to face the champion. Who makes good on their threats and promise in the Gauntlet Eliminator? Regal wishes all the competitors the best of luck and looks forward to seeing who heads to TakeOver.
Danny Burch & Roderick Strong VS Fabian Aichner & Raul Mendoza!
The Gov’nah and the Savior of the Backbreaker are one odd couple, and so is the Pride of Italy and technical assassin of El Legado del Fantasma. Will these duos stick together long enough to earn a title opportunity for them and their real tag partners?
Strong and Aichner start us off, tie up and go around. Strong gets the arm, wrenches but Aichner pulls hair! Aichner puts Strong in a corner, whips him corner to corner but Strong goes up and over. Strong keeps moving, blocks the hip toss but Aichner blocks back. Aichner CLOBBERS Strong, runs back in and scoops Strong for a slam! Tag to Mendoza but with some salt. Mendoza snapmares Strong, runs and basement knees Strong. LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Strong powers Mendoza to a corner, Burch tags in and he throws European Uppercuts on Mendoza. Burch wrenches and snapmares Mendoza for a chinlock.
Mendoza fights up, pops out the back but Burch pushes him away. Burch scoops Mendoza, Mendoza slips out and slides under. Mendoza side steps, Burch catches Mendoza out of the air! Burch rolls Mendoza, TWO! Burch whips, Mendoza reverses but Burch dodges and Mendoza only gets buckles! Burch enziguris and pushes Mendoza down to then hop up. Aichner rushes over but Burch swats him away, only for Mendoza to YANK him off the top! Mendoza and Aichner are oddly working together well as NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and Aichner has Burch down in a modified chinlock, with an arm trapped inside the hold. Burch endures, Strong coaches him up but Mendoza talks trash. Burch fights up, throws body shots, but Aichner choke grips. Burch breaks free but Aichner ducks the punch to back suplex Burch high and hard! Aichner poses, kicks toyingly at Burch, then brings him up by a hair. Aichner bumps Burch off buckles but Mendoza tags in. Mendoza stomps away, the ref backs him off, but Mendoza drags Burch up. Mendoza CLUBS Burch, then chokes him on the rope! The ref counts, Mendoza lets off, and mocks the UE fingers before he kicks Burch.
Mendoza snapmares Burch, covers, TWO! Mendoza stomps Burch, drags him away from Strong and puts on a cobra clutch. Burch endures as Mendoza cranks on the hold. The crowd rallies up and Strong reaches out but Mendoza drags Burch away. Burch throws body shots but Mendoza knees low. Mendoza shoves, Burch sunset flips! Aichner tags in and stomps Burch down! Aichner BOOTS Strong for good measure, then reels Burch in for a scoop. Burch slips out, but can’t tag out! Burch BOOTS Aichner, Strong tags in! Aichner CLOBBERS Burch but Strong CLOBBERS Aichner! Strong hits Mendoza and comes back to calf kick Aichner!
Strong rallies, intercepts Mendoza, then catches Aichner to SLAM him onto Mendoza! Aichner flounders, Strong has him for an OLYMPIC SLAM! Cover, but Mendoza breaks it! Strong kicks Mendoza out, drags Aichner back up, but Aichner resists the suplex. Aichner suplexes, Strong slips out while Aichner’s back gives out, but Mendoza gets a cheap shot in! Strong staggers into the SPINE BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Aichner drags Strong up to a fireman’s carry then tags Mendoza. Strong fights out, throws Aichner out, but Mendoza dropkicks him down! Mendoza throws forearms on Strong, whips him corner to corner, but Strong puts Mendoza on the apron. Burch heads over but Mendoza enziguris him down!
Mendoza goes to the corner, Strong runs in but gets a forearm. Mendoza goes up, Strong KNEES Mendoza and Burch tags in. Strong PSYCHO KNEES Aichner, Burch drags Mendoza out, TOWER OF LONDON!! Cover, Burch and Strong win!!
Winners: Danny Burch & Roderick Strong, by pinfall; advance to the NXT Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders match
The Undisputed Era and the One Two have moved on thanks to these two, but that just means no more unlikely friendships! Will Strong and Bobby Fish take down Lorcan & Burch? Or will the BritAm Brawlers punch their ticket to another TakeOver?
Backstage interview with Austin Theory!
Coming up in a matter of minutes, Theory has his match with Damian Priest. Priest says Theory will continue to “slide,” what is his response? But Gargano interrupts and tells Theory that he’s been watching since Theory’s return. Theory has “all the God-given talent in the world to be a major player here. Kinda like me.” Just be smart, okay? Priest is big, but you can bring him down to your level. And if Theory can at least soften Priest up for Gargano, Gargano will not forget. Sarah wishes Theory luck, but he just scoffs at the sentiment. Will Theory do Johnny TakeOver a favor tonight?
Damian Priest VS Austin Theory!
No more time for talk, it’s time for the Archer of Infamy to put Theory to the test! Will Theory pass with flying colors? Or will he crash and burn as Priest continues to #LiveForever?
The bell rings and Priest circles with Theory. They tie up, Priest wrenches Theory’s arm hard, then cranks on the wristlock. Theory rolls, handsprings and wrenches back to a wristlock of his own. Priest spins through, arm-drags Theory and Theory scrambles to a corner. Priest smirks but Theory grins and shakes it off. The two go again, Theory waistlocks but Priest pries free. Priest switches, headlocks and grinds Theory down. Theory powers out and back elbows Priest hard! Theory whips, Priest reverses and leaping back elbows Theory down! Theory scrambles to a corner and Priest runs in, but Theory put shim on the apron. Priest dodges the punch, catches the arm and wrenches as he goes up top. Theory can’t stop Priest going Old School for the CROSSBODY!
Priest arm-drags Theory again, cranks on the arm and digs a knee into his head. Theory endures, Priest grinds but Theory fights up. Priest wrangles him down and clamps harder, but Theory stomps on a foot. Theory pulls hair but Priest arm-drags Theory again. Priest runs in but Theory uses a drop toehold to send him into buckles! Theory stomps away on Priest, hauls him up and back suplexes! Theory grins as he covers, ONE! Theory says he knew that’d happen, but he drags Priest back up. Priest throws body shots, Theory blocks to LARIAT back! Standing moonsault! Cover, TWO! Theory keeps his cool as he lines up the shot and KICKS Priest in the side! Theory mocks Priest’s pain and throws forearms.
Theory fireman’s carries but Priest slips out to BELL CLAP! And then ripcord LIFTING COMPLETE SHOT! Priest gets up, stalks behind Theory, and runs to springboard, but Theory pushes him out of the ring! Priest crashes and burns as NXT goes to break!
NXT returns and Priest swings on Theory at the apron. Theory ducks and forearms back, to then somersault shotgun dropkick! Cover, TWO! Theory grows frustrated and argues the ref hasn’t seen a move like that before. Theory clamps onto Priest with an armlock and chinbar. Priest endures, fights up but Theory slaps him around. Theory clamps onto the chin but Priest fights up. Theory knees low, chops Priest to a corner, but Priest JABS the arm! Priest fires off kicks and ROCKS Theory with the forearm to LARIAT him down! Priest fires up, takes aim and runs corner to corner for the leaping back elbow! Then the BROKEN ARROW! Cover, TWO! Theory survives but Priest keeps focus.
Priest watches Theory get up, but Theory ducks the spinning roundhouse. Theory waistlocks, Priest elbows free, but misses the elbow in the corner. Theory CLUBS Priest, torture racks, and spins for the TOWER HACKER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Theory grows frustrated, but the crowd rallies up. Priest flounders up and out of the ring but Theory taunts the champ for retreating. Theory goes out after Priest with forearms and taunts him more. Priest choke grips but Theory slips out to elbow back! Theory suplexes, Priest fights out and SPINNING ROUNDHOUSES! Priest drags Theory up, crucifix, APRON RAZOR’S EDGE!! Priest stalks Theory into the ring, roars and dragon sleepers, for the RECKONING! Cover, Priest wins!
Winner: Damian Priest, by pinfall
The Archer of Infamy shoots down Theory, and now has his sights on Gargano! Will Priest keep Johnny from taking over at TakeOver? But speaking of, Gargano SUPERKICKS Priest down!! The crowd boos as Gargano looms over Priest, and mocks the archer taking aim. Gargano aims for the North American Championship, but is he going to have things #TheJohnnyGarganoWay?
NXT sees things through someone’s visor?
“I’m not sure what happened. I helped create something of my own blood. Years and years of dedication, only to be taken over by paper champions.” These championships have been in isolation for far too long. “Now I’ve come back to take what is mine.” Who is this that is returning? Find out on 10/4/20, the next TakeOver!
NXT returns and hears from Isaiah “Swerve” Scott.
“Santos Escobar, in case you forgot, that’s two pinfall victories over you.” Swerve is not content because Escobar still has the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. Swerve is this close to beating him for the title, but this time, no sidekicks. No special masks. Next time they face off, there will be a new champion.
Ridge Holland VS Antonio de Luca!
Yorkshire Grit returns to the ring, ready to bulldoze through whoever is put in front of him! Will he do just that here tonight?
The bell rings and Luca rushes Holland, but Holland shove shim away. Luca tries again, but Holland DECKS him! Holland drags Luca up, whips him but Luca kicks back. Luca runs but Holland goes the other way to POUNCE him! Holland dares Luca to stand, then gives him a HUGE overhead suplex! Holland still dares de Luca to do something, then brings him up for another overhead suplex! Holland wants Luca to get up again, but has him in the corner. Luca throws forearms but Holland HEADBUTTS and HEADBUTTS and just keeps going! The ref counts, Holland lets up at 4 and drags Luca up. NORTHERN GRIT!! Cover, Holland wins!
Winner: Ridge Holland, by pinfall
Holland manhandled de Luca to say the least! Will Holland do the same to the rest of NXT until he’s taken over?
Backstage interview with Io Shirai!
The Evil Genius and Candice LeRae have a long rivalry, and now Candice is the #1 contender. But Shirai says that it doesn’t matter what Candice does. Shirai has never really liked Candice, and never will. At TakeOver- But Candice and Johnny find Shirai and say she’s been hiding. Shirai takes offense and she argues with Candice. Gargano says while he can’t understand Japanese, he doesn’t like the literal sound of what Shirai is saying. But Priest walks in, “Here’s Johnny!” Priest DECKS Gargano! Referees hurry in to keep this from getting worse, but clearly the champions and their contenders are ready to go already. Will things only get more vicious as TakeOver draws closer?
NXT returns with news for next week!
After being in the final three of tonight’s battle royal, Shotzi and Dakota will go 1v1! Will the wild child #TCB against #CobraKai? And after the confrontation we just saw, it will be a special Mixed Tag of Priest & Shirai VS The Graganos! Will the NXT North American and Women’s Champions show their contenders what they’ve signed up for at TakeOver?
NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Gauntlet Eliminator!
Another first for NXT, this is a match that mixes the two words in its name! Two will start, but if one doesn’t eliminate the other before the countdown is over, it’ll turn into a Triple Threat! And then a Fatal 4 Way, and could even be a Furious 5 before it’s all over! Who is still standing at the end to take on The Prince?
Well first, we see who is starting this match! And it will be Kushida and Kyle O’Reilly! Will the Time Splitter put the Undisputed Era member away before time is up?
The bell rings and Kushida circles with Kyle. They both try a leg guard but then get back up. Kushida leaps on, Kyle drops him down and the two feel out a grapple on the mat. Kyle backs up to get a leg then shoot the half. Kushida keeps an elbow up so Kyle settles for a mount. Kushida turns things around, pushes for a cover, ONE! Kushida tries again, Kyle tries a triangle but Kushida cartwheels to headscissor. Kyle pops out and the two stand off. They circle again, Kushida gets a leg, Kyle reaches but drops down to get the arm and body scissors. Kushida fights out of the body scissors and shifts around to get the arm! Kyle resists th earmbar to get a kneebar! Kushida rolls to get the ropes. The ref calls for the break, Kyle lets go and the two reset.
Kyle and Kushida circle, tie up with knuckle locks, and Kushida gets a facelock. Kushida floats to a chinlock, Kyle fights up, and rolls Kushida to a cover. ONE but Kyle has a facelock now. Kushida fights up, powers out but Kyle runs him over! Things speed up, Kyle rolls to BOOT Kushida. Kyle runs into a hip toss! Kushida handsprings and dropkicks back! Kushida grabs an arm, steps through and hammerlocks to then get the arm. Kyle endures the Jim Breaks but Kushida steps over again to hammerlock that arm. Kushida drops back for a SNAP lock! Kyle gets away but Kushida is after his arm again. Kushida wrangles Kyle down, pulls on the arm and mounts, but Kyle endures.
Kyle slips around, trips Kushida but Kushida has the leg guard. Kyle kicks Kushida, Kushida goes for the drop toehold but Kyle stays up. Kushida kicks the leg then kicks Kyle in the face. Kushida kicks the arm, throws forearms, but Kyle blocks to kick back! Kyle and Kushida brawl as the last 20 seconds show on the board. Kyle grits his teeth as he forearms, but Kushida forearms back. They just keep throwing forearms faster and faster, but here comes… The COLOSSAL Bronson Reed! Kushida and Kyle glare at each other but they go after Reed! Reed clobbers them both and starts to rally! Reed lifts Kushida to TOSS at Kyle! Reed then has them both in a corner, for a COLOSSAL sandwich splash!
Reed hoists Kushida up top, brings Kyle over and fireman’s carries. Reed puts Kushida on top, but Kushida fights free. Kushida kicks Reed low and Kyle is saved. Reed reverses the whip but Kushida handsprings to back elbow both Reed and Kyle! Only Kyle falls but Kushida enziguris Reed! Reed ends up in a corner, Kushida KICKS Kyle. Kushida whips, Kyle reverses but Kushida sunset flips. Kyle stays up but he ARMBARS Kushida! Reed goes to stomp but gets caught in a HEEL HOK! Kushida MOONSAULTS onto Kyle to get the HOVERBOARD!! Kyle flails, but Reed drags Kushida up for a dead lift suplex! Then he SENTONS Kyle! Reed stomps and headbutts Kyle then goes after Kushida at the corner.
Reed RAMS into Kushida over and over but Kyle kicks at Reed. Reed and Kyle brawl but Reed headbutts Kyle down again. Reed SLAMS Kyle then goes up top. Kushida hurries but Reed punches him away. Kyle attacks with forearms then climbs up to join Reed. Reed and Kyle brawls, Kushida joins in! Kushida and Kyle club away on Reed but then hit each other. Reed headbutts Kushida down, Kyle clubs Reed but Kushida HANDSPRING KICKS them both! Kyle crashes down, the ref is busy checking on him, and Velveteen Dream slides in!? He goes after Kushida and hits the DREAM VALLEY DRIVER! Dream screws Kushida over!! Reed doesn’t even realize it, either! Reed just adjusts, and leaps for the TSUNAMI SPLASH!! Cover, Reed ELIMINATES Kushida in time for the countdown!
Reed drags Kyle up but here comes Timothy Thatcher! The Professor of Pain rushes in but Reed decks him! Reed glares at Thatcher while Kyle still flounders in a corner, and NXT goes to break.
NXT returns again, Reed and Thatcher brawl as Kyle gets back in. The countdown is in the last 20 seconds again as Kyle kicks away on both men. Kyle gives Reed a wrench and shoulder breaker but Thatcher is after Kyle’s arm! Reed waistlocks Thatcher, Kyle gets away to waistlock Reed! Thatcher switches with Kyle but Reed gets behind Thatcher again! Kyle grabs ropes, Reed GERMANS Thatcher! Reed goes back to GERMAN Kyle as the final entrant is none other than CAMERON GRIMES! The Carolina Caveman feels great about his odds as he throws forearms on Reed. Grimes goes up top for a HUGE crossbody! Grimes puts his hat on a post and BOOTS Thatcher! Grimes goes up top to QUEBRADA Thatcher down!
Grimes throws off his vest and fires up as he goes out to PENALTY KICK Kyle! Then Grimes gets in but Thatcher swats the kick to get the arm! Grimes gets free, SUPERKICK to Thatcher but Reed CLOBBERS Grimes! Kyle kicks but Reed ROCKS Kyle, Thatcher pushes Reed but gets Kyle’s yoyo LARIAT! Grimes BOOTS Kyle, Kyle rebounds again but swings into a scoop and SWINGING SLAM! Reed LARIATS Grimes! All four men are down but stirring as the “crowd” rallies up. Thatcher goes out, has Kyle on the apron for forearms, but Kyle hits back with kicks! They brawl on the edge, Thatcher gets the edge, but sees Reed coming. Thatcher goes for a sleeper, Reed pries at the hold and Grimes SUPERKICKS Thatcher down!
Kyle leaps off the apron and KNEES Thatcher at the ramp! Grimes builds speed but Reed rocks him first. Reed slingshots Grimes out onto Thatcher and Kyle! Then Reed fires up to go after all three men with forearms and headbutts. Thatcher CHOPS Reed, bumps him off the apron, then pushes him into the ring. Thatcher gets in, Reed fireman’s carries for the DEATH VALLEY! Cover, TWO!! Thatcher survives but Reed grits his teeth. Kyle goes after Reed with forearms but Reed gives them back. They brawl, Kyle goes after legs but Reed pries him off. Reed POWERBOMBS Kyle down, matchbook cover, TWO!
Kyle bails out, Grimes drags himself up and Reed is after him. Grimes hotshots Reed then gets in to CHOP! Grimes throws big forearms and kicks Reed down. Cover, TWO! Grimes won’t stop, he drags Reed into a neck wrench and chinlock. Reed powers Grimes to ropes, and TOSSES him across the way! Thatcher goes after Kyle on the outside but Reed builds speed to COLOSSAL DIVE!! Direct hit on ALL THREE opponents! All four men are down again as NXT goes picture in picture.
Thatcher flounders up and goes after Reed with a chinlock. Grimes and Kyle go to the ring, Grimes stomps Kyle as Thatcher goes after Reed’s arm. Grimes digs his knees into Kyle’s face and then throws big kicks! Kyle goes to a corner, Grimes throws body shots. Grimes whips Kyle corner to corner hard! Kyle bounces off buckles and hits the mat but Grimes calls Thatcher in to go after Kyle together. Thatcher ROCKS Kyle with uppercuts and Grimes keeps Reed out. Thatcher throws more EuroUppers then gets a leg. Thatcher goes for the Half Crab but Kyle resists. Thatcher still has the heel hook and cranks on that while Grimes gets Reed in the ring.
Grimes drops knees on Reed and stands on him in the corner. Thatcher goes after Kyle’s arm now but Kyle resists. Thatcher puts Kyle in the corner and throws more EuroUppers. Thatcher cravats Kyle for the wrench while Grimes kicks away on Reed. Thatcher throws Kyle out and helps Grimes with Reed. NXT returns to single picture as Thatcher throws knee after knee. Grimes throws forearms but Reed CHOPS away on both men! Reed Bionic Elbows Thatcher, atomic drops and elbows Grimes! Kyle kicks away on Reed, runs but into the POWERSLAM! Reed runs in to corner splash Kyle then hoists him up top. Grimes goes after Reed but gets spun into the dragon sleeper. Thatcher gets caught for an URENAGE onto Grimes! Cover on Thatcher, TWO!
Reed goes up top again, Grimes goes after him but Reed clubs him down. Thatcher throws forearms on Reed, climbs up to join him and throws more forearms. Reed hits back with body shots so Thatcher throws more forearms. Reed headbutts Thatcher down, adjusts and leaps, TSUNAMI FLOP! Thatcher dodges, Kyle LEAPS to drop KNEES! Cover, Kyle ELIMINATES Reed! But Thatcher gets an ANKLE LOCK! Kyle flails, kicks, moves around and rolls to get Thatcher for an ANKLE LOCK! Thatcher endures, fights up, turns and pries Kyle off to go after the arm. Kyle resists the takedown, hooks a leg to get a facelock. Thatcher pops free to EuroUpper hard! Kyle forearms, but shoots into a knee!
Grimes DEAD LIFT GERMANS Kyle! But Thatcher gets Grimes’ leg! Grimes kicks away to get free and scrambles up. Thatcher gets him for a belly2belly! All three men are down, but Thatcher sits up. Thatcher glares at Kyle, drags him up, and clamps on underhooks. Kyle resists, spins out and knees hard! Kyle throws forearms, Thatcher returns them and the two brawl. Kyle kicks but Thatcher catches, only for Kyle to slap away! Kyle enziguris, Thatcher ducks and Grimes takes the hit! Thatcher still wobbles into Kyle’s wrench, but gets a sleeper hold! Grimes runs in, but Kyle catches the foot! ANKLE LOCK! Grimes endures but Kyle fades! Kyle boots Grimes away and turns the hold into a cover! TWO, Grimes runs at Kyle but is sent out!
Kyle brawls with Thatcher again, throwing kicks and knees and more kicks! He sweeps the leg, takes a moment to catch his breath, and runs at Thatcher in a corner. BIG forearm smash! Kyle keeps moving but Thatcher uppercuts! Thatcher throws more EuroUppers, Kyle gives more knees and a strike fest! Thatcher choke grips and SLAPS! Thatcher grits his teeth as he swings, but into a backslide! TWO, Thatcher rushes in but Kyle steps over to roll him up! Kyle ELIMINATES Thatcher!! But Grimes hits the CAVE-IN!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Grimes thinks he’s won but he didn’t hear the ref! Kyle is STILL in this!
Kyle sits up, Grimes grits his teeth and talks trash as he stomps Kyle down. Grimes stomps Kyle and says, “You’re nothing like Adam! He was the man of the group!” Kyle fires up and fires off forearms. Grimes hits back but Kyle runs, into a COLLISION COURSE! Cover, TWO!! Grimes is losing his cool as Kyle survives again! The last man of the gauntlet and the first man are still going, as Grimes throws forearms. Kyle hits back, they brawl more, Kyle knees low and ax kicks, but Grimes hits the smash! Grimes runs into another knee! Kyle waistlocks, Grimes grabs ropes but Kyle DRAGON SCREWS!
Kyle has Grimes up, but Grimes knees free. Grimes SUPERKICKS Kyle, then takes aim from a corner! CAVE- NO! Kyle gets under, Grimes’ leg buckles, Kyle drops down to get the leg!! Grimes TAPS, Kyle wins!!
Winner: Kyle O’Reilly, by submission (NEW #1 Contender to the NXT Championship)
Kyle has run the gauntlet!! He survives four of the best in NXT today, to take on perhaps THE best! Will Kyle prove he can be the top star against Finn Balor? The Undisputed Era celebrates with Kyle, but here comes The Prince himself! Balor smirks as he stares Kyle down. Will Balor shoot down the Golden Prophecy once and for all?
My Thoughts:
What a great episode! There was a bit more going on that I expected but that actually made things even more fun. It is of note that there wasn’t actually a crowd as there was another breakout of coronavirus cases at the Performance Center. So much like the ThunderDome or BT Sports studio, the crowd noises were from production, not real people. Which is probably while Ridge Holland was “booed” as much as he was. Last I knew, he wasn’t a Heel, and the crowd cheered him. Holland makes quick work of his opponent tonight and with even more aggression than usual. Maybe they are trying to make him out as a Heel, but that seems a bit strange to me. Another strange thing was the video hyping a mysterious return to NXT. I honestly have no idea who this could be, as no one had a cyborg gimmick before.
The Women’s Battle Royal opening was great, and it was great to see them fill the field with some prospects and trainees. Catalina finally returns to television after being sent back to NXT when the Sin Cara VS Almas feud wasn’t really gaining traction. I was surprised Rhea and Raquel weren’t in the final three, but I do like they at least cancelled each other out. Maybe they feud now that Mercedes Martinez is weirdly part of Retribution, thereby delaying both their rises to the NXT Women’s Championship. Candice takes Tegan out and wins the battle royal, she’s going to have a great match with Shirai. Priest has a great match with Theory, and great interaction with Gargano. The mixed tag match we’re getting is going to be a lot of fun, and will be a big indicator for TakeOver since next week is the go-home.
Ciampa and Atlas have a really good match, and I was expecting Kyle to get involved given last week, but seems not. Swerve has a quick promo video on Escobar, I hope the Cruiserweight title match gets to be part of TakeOver just to give it some spotlight. Fandango being the supposed mastermind behind the convoluted tag tournament was great. The makeshift team match was really good, and I’m actually surprised it’s UE and the OneTwo instead of El Legado and Imperium. I suppose this was just a nice way to send Imperium off before they go back to NXT UK, and I suppose El Legado can bide their time with 205 Live until a later, bigger TakeOver event.
While I wish there was more time given to the Gauntlet Eliminator, we still got incredible stuff. I almost thought Kushida was going to win and give us a NJPW flashback, but I forgot Dream would want revenge. Instead, it is a great surprise for Kyle to be the one, and I want to see this be a major story point for the Undisputed Era. They’re clearly happy for Kyle here, but will they stay happy with him if he fails? Will his story with Ciampa circle back around to screw Kyle over? I actually hope note, I would love to see Kyle and Balor really give it their all and give us a great main event at TakeOver: Still No Subtitle or Theme. Seriously, is this going to be the first time since the first one that it was just NXT: TakeOver? That seems the weirdest thing of all to me.
My Score: 9.3/10
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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?
Becky Lynch and Nia Jax want to finally put this to an end, so tonight on Raw, it will be a Big Time Last Woman Standing match! Will the Irresistible Force force the WrestleMania 40 match to change?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers; DIY wins and advances to WrestleMania.
- Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance; Candice & Indi win.
- Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy; wins and advance to WrestleMania.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher; win(s) and advance to WrestleMania.
- Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax; wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Jey Uso is here!
North Carolina State University fires up and bounces along with Main Event Jey, and Pat McAfee plays a dangerous game standing on the armchairs! From Bret VS Owen to Matt VS Jeff, we’re about to get Jey VS Jimmy in the third-ever Brother VS Brother WrestleMania grudge match! Jey gets the mic as fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey welcomes us to Monday Night Raw, and wants us to check this out. He knows his brothers are somewhere in the building. He knows The Bloodline’s in the building. He knows how the Bloodline rolls! SO Big Brother Jimmy, where you at?! Where you at, Uce!?
Jey waits for someone to show up somewhere, and the crowd spots them first! Fans boo as Jimmy & Solo make their way from the back of the stands. Jimmy gets a mic and goes to the apron while Solo paces around the outside. Fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” again as Jey puts the sunglasses aside. The Usos stare each other down, the fans now chant “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jey wants to say something, hesitates, but then says these two would always get to it but they always knew how to shake right back to this. But now it’s different. Regardless of what happened, the bad blood between them, Jey misses his brother. He does.
Jey knows Jimmy will say what he wants, but Jey doesn’t talk to him no more, doesn’t ride with him no more, doesn’t even see him no more! Jimmy can just come back. Jimmy says he never left! He protected Jey! Jey’s so dumb, he can’t see it! Jimmy is protecting Jey! It was Jey’s idea to leave The Bloodline, but Jimmy helped because he is Jey’s brother. So yeah, Jey leaves, and what happens? Lil’ Bro becomes the BIGGEST star on the Raw roster! Lil’ Bro becomes the top merch seller! Lil’ Bro goes off to become a tag team champion without Jimmy, but with CODY RHODES!? Who left who, Uce?
Jey forgot Jimmy! Everything Jey did that was big was cuz of Big Bro Jimmy! Everything! So listen loud and clear. The biggest moment in Jey’s career, the BIGGEST moment, is because of Jimmy! Jimmy stares Jey down, but Jey says no. Jey’s biggest moment in his career is going to be his dream match at WrestleMania 40: Jey VS Jimmy, and Jey knocks the yeet out Jimmy’s ass! Jey DECKS Jimmy, DECKS Solo off the apron, but then Jimmy SUPERKICKS Jey down! The fans boo but now Solo storms in and looms over Jey. Solo drags Jey up so Jimmy can look him in the face and tell him that Jey needs to get it right! JIMMY made Jey!
But here comes Cody Rhodes! The fans fire up as Cody DECKS Jimmy, then gets in to springboard and CODY CUTTER Solo!! The American Nightmare said he was gonna be a Bloodline Hunter, and he made sure they didn’t take out Jey! Cody tells The Bloodline it is only a matter of time before they lose it all at WrestleMania! Will Jey prove that younger or older doesn’t matter when he is the BETTER brother?
Adam Pearce is on the phone.
He’s telling Nick Aldis to stop being a hypocrite, telling Pearce to keep his roster in check when this is happening. But then Paul Heyman walks over and Pearce says he’ll call Aldis back. Pearce then asks Heyman what was all that, and Heyman says he owes Pearce an apology. He is sorry. That was not authorized by The Final Boss nor The Tribal Chief, and certainly not by Heyman. Jimmy & Solo went into business for themselves so Heyman apologizes. But listen, Pearce knows that there have been flight delays all day. Even private jets like theirs. Heyman is barely even dressed for TV, let alone has his make-up!
Pearce says those two were ready. Yeah, well, they got in on a different flight. But Roman Reigns is a chief of his word. Those two are already gone, out of the arena, and Pearce has Roman’s word. Call his bluff, put out a search party. Pearce knows Heyman is here on official business, which Heyman will handle, and then be gone. That is it. But when Heyman does his official business… everyone will be caught off guard. “And Mr. Pearce, sir, that’s not a prediction. That’s a spoiler.” The Wise Man heads out and calls Roman, but just what is Heyman teasing?
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers!
Unlike SmackDown’s mini-tournament, Raw and Adam Pearce say it’s win and you’re in! Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano want one more shot at Judgment Day, but so do Julius & Brutus! Will the Sicilian Psycho & Johnny Wrestling prove that when it comes to Mania Moments, you gotta do it yourself? Or will the Creeds be bringing golden tickets to the Diamond Mine?
Raw returns as The Creeds make their entrance. The teams fist bump to show respect, then the teams sort out. Julius starts against Ciampa, they circle and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, Ciampa goes for a waistlock but Julius facelocks. Julius wrangles Ciampa to the mat, flips him over, ONE, and Ciampa keeps moving. They trade facelocks, gator roll, and Julius gets another lateral press. ONE, but Julius gator rolls Ciampa around. Ciampa fights up, puts Julius on ropes, and the ref counts. Ciampa lets off, then CHOPS! Julius shoots in for the takedown! Julius has a leg, Ciampa fights but Julius turns him for the ANKLE LOCK!
Ciampa scrambles to the ROPEBREAK, and Julius lets off cleanly. Ciampa bails out, shakes it off, and he gets back in. They go again, Julius hits a fireman’s carry takeover! Tag to Brutus, and Julius feeds Ciampa to another fireman’s carry takeover! Brutus cording holds but Ciampa endures. Ciampa fights up, but Brutus facelocks. The fans rally as Brutus switches and rolls Ciampa. Ciampa fights up, headlocks, then ROCKS Brutus! Brutus DECKS Ciampa, then whips him to ropes. Ciampa ducks ‘n’ dodges, tag to Gargano! Ciampa slides, CHOPS, Gargano LARIATS and Ciampa JAWBREAKERS! Wrench and LARIAT!
Julius runs in, Gargano kicks and Ciampa gives him the boost for SLICED BREAD! The Creeds bail out, but DIY DOUBLE PLANCHA! Down go the Creeds, and DIY applaud and pat themselves on the back. The fans fire up and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Ciampa has Julius in a chinlock. The fans rally, Julius fights up to throw body shots, but Ciampa hits a back suplex! Julius lands out of it, but Ciampa elbows him away. Ciampa drop toeholds Julius, gets legs, but Julius BOOTS Ciampa away! Hot tags to Gargano and Brutus! Brutus rallies on DIY, TOSSES Gargano, then blocks Ciampa’s kick to get under and POWERBOMB him! Brutus sees DIY regroup, then he runs in to SPLASH them both! O’Conner on Ciampa, but Gargano runs up! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Brutus has a DOUBLE BRIDGE, TWO!! Tag to Julius and he gut wrench SLAMS Brutus on Ciampa!
Brutus helps Julius flip up and over to SPLASH onto Ciampa! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Julius drags Ciampa up. Ciampa throat chops! A bit dirty but Ciampa wants that win! Ciampa storms up on Julius, but Julius basement stalling suplexes!! The fans are thunderous, Gargano runs in, but Brutus intercepts! Brutus suplexes Gargano now, stalls, and then the Creeds SLAM and kip up! Then they both STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ciampa stays in this for DIY but the Creeds keep cool. Julius stomps Ciampa, tags Brutus, and they KNEE Ciampa around! Then they DOUBLE GUTBUSTER! Ciampa sputters but Brutus tags Julius in.
Julius drags Ciampa up, tags Brutus back in, and Brutus climbs. Julius Electric Chair Lifts, but Gargano makes the save! Gargano ROCKS Julius, Brutus ROCKS Gargano! Ciampa BOOTS Brutus, Gargano swings on Julius but is sent into Ciampa! Ciampa pushes Gargano back so he can ELBOW Julius! DIY set up again but Brutus stops the Sliced Bread! Julius DECKS Ciampa, KNEE into the WIDOWMAKER! Julius scrapes Gargano out, Brutus POUNCES Ciampa over the desk! Pat fires up with Brutus and so do the fans! The Creeds say they run this now, and then Brutus drags Ciampa up while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Julius has Ciampa in a chinlock. Ciampa fights up, and he JAWBREAKERS free! Ciampa ELBOWS Brutus down, BOOTS Julius, then runs up, only for Julius to catch him and toss him back! But then Ciampa catches Julius for a REVERSE DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down and crawling! Hot tag to Gargano! Gargano slingshots to KICK Julius, then he CLOBBERS Brutus! ENZIGIRI for Julius, then he runs to DOUBLE KNEE Brutus! BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO! The fans fire up with Gargano while Julius ends up in another corner. Gargano runs in but is put on the apron!
Gargano GAMANGIRIS Julius, SUPERKICKS Brutus, then SLINGSHOT SPEARS Julius! Cover, TWO! Julius survives but Gargano puts him in a corner. Gargano CHOPS, then hoists Julius up top. Tag to Ciampa, Ciampa CHOPS Julius while Gargano DIVES onto Brutus! Ciampa CHOPS Julius again, goes up top, and fireman’s carries! Ciampa then tucks Julius in for the SUPER AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, TWO!! Julius survives again and shocks Ciampa! The fans are just as stunned, but Ciampa and Julius sit up. Ciampa stands, and he CHOPS! And CHOPS! Julius sits back up as Ciampa puts some stank on the CHOP!
Julius brings the straps down! Julius fires a forearm, Ciampa hits back, and the fans fire up as the shots keep going! They go faster and faster, harder and harder, meaner and meaner! The fans fire up as this just turns into a brawl of haymakers and SLAPS! Ciampa then gets around, ripcord and HAYMAKER! ROLLING- TACKLE from Julius! And then the ANKLE LOCK!! Ciampa reaches out, moves around, but Gargano runs up! Julius kicks him, then gets him up with one arm to POWERBOMB! Then it’s back to the ANKLE LOCK on Ciampa! Brutus gets in to get Gargano for an ANKLE LOCK of his own!
The fans are thunderous as DIY endures! Ciampa and Gargano fight, turn things over, SICILIAN CROSSFACE and GargaNO Escape!! The fans are thunderous as The Creeds power up and lift both DIY! They fireman’s carry, then TOSS DIY into each other!! The fans are thunderous as Julius goes up to MOONSAULT onto Ciampa! Brutus MOONSAULTS, too! Cover, TWO?!?! Ciampa survives and the fans are loving this! Julius tags back in, Brutus climbs up! “This is Awesome!” as Julius Electric Chair Lifts Ciampa! But Ciampa VICTORY ROLLS to get under the Brutus Ball!! Cover, Brutus tips it! Gargano TOSSES Brutus then SUPERKICKS Julius!! Ciampa has the cover, DIY WINS!!
Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)
Julius can’t believe it! He kicked out at 3.1, but a loss is a loss! And for the first time ever, DIY is going to Mania! Will Philadelphia soon be historic for a DIY championship victory?
Judgment Day meets backstage.
Rhea Ripley is with Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh, but also Andrade. Dom says he’s always liked Andrade’s style, but things have changed since the last time he was in the WWE. The Judgment Day runs Raw now. Rhea says yeah, and they don’t extend invitations to just anyone. Judgment Day is very exclusive. JD says very exclusive. But if Andrade continues to impress them, they’ll see about making things happen. And Finn says he just heard that Andrade has a match next week, so the Judgment Day will be watching him. Sounds good. See you next week. But then in steps Damian Priest.
The Punisher says hello to El Idolo, and El Idolo says hello to Senor Dinero. Andrade heads out, will he quite literally win his way into the club? But as for Priest, Finn asks him what he was up to. Priest was getting a closer look at that DIY VS Creeds match. DIY won, but whatever, they can handle those guys. But JD, they thought he could handle Ricochet last week, and run the gauntlet, and then go to WrestleMania to bring even more gold back to Judgment Day. JD says he did he belonged in there. But also, he battered Ricochet, who got lucky at the end there. Right, Finn? Finn hesitates, and Rhea says Priest is right on this one.
Ricochet made a fool out of JD! A fool? Yes. A fool? Yes. That’s why tonight, Dom will make it right. Right, Dom? Yeah, Mami. Let’s go talk to Pearce to make it official. Dom & JD head out, and the others are confident Dom’s got this. But does he, though? Or will the One and Only have two wins over Judgment Day in as many weeks?
Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance!
The Poison Pixie certainly lived up to that name last week when she bullied Maxxine Dupri as part of beating her and Ivy Nile last week. Will Candice’s toxic tongue strike again? Or will the party not be stopped by her harsh vibes?
The teams sort out and Candice starts against Kayden. Candice rushes up, Kayden gets around and O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Kayden springboards to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Kayden stalks Candice, Candice ELBOWS her away then tags Indi. Kayden dodges Candice to SUPERKICK, but Indi BOOTS Kayden! Cover, TWO! Indi drags Kayden up, tags Candice back in, and they mug Kayden. Candice CLUBS away on Kayden, fires off furious fists, then covers. TWO, and Candice grows frustrated already. The fans rally, Candice steps up but Kayden avoids the senton! Tags to Katana and Indi! Katana blasts past Indi, comes back and BULLDOGS!
Katana keeps moving, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SHOTGUNS Indi to a corner! The fans fire up as Katana stomps away on Indi! Indi shoves Katana, Katana runs corner to corner to A-LIST LARIAT! Katana shoves Indi down, runs up, but into a back suplex! Katana lands out, but her leg jams! The ref and Kayden check, then the ref keeps Indi back. Indi says okay, and she stays by Candice. But Candice tags in to WRECK Kayden! And she SLAMS Katana’s leg into the post!! HALF CRAB and DEEP! Katana taps, Candice & Indi win!
Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission
Candice smiles and celebrates with Indi, but Indi doesn’t want to. Candice says a win is a win, but just what is going on in her toxic mind?
Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.
NC State fires up again as The American Nightmare walks down the ramp, and this time the fans can sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro then gets the mic. “In less than three weeks time, I will stand opposed for the second year in a row, in the main event, with the lights on brightest, I will challenge for the WWE Undisputed Championship, against the greatest champion in all of sports, The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. And this Friday on SmackDown, Roman and I are going to have a little conversation, if you will. But there are… complications. Factors, elements, combustible elements, namely… The Rock.”
Fans boo but Cody says The Rock took to Instagram on Friday, and followed it up with “extremely entertaining” concert. Too bad The Rock didn’t wanna be here tonight. Something Cody took from the Instagram post: The Rock referred to himself as “Our Favorite Heel.” A bit of an inside term, but we’re not dumb, we know that means he’s the “bad guy.” Cody has known Heels. Bobby Heenan, Arn Anderson, Michael Hayes, “Superstar” Billy Graham, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair! Fans “WOO~” and Cody says he doesn’t think The Rock is a Heel. He’s just an assh*le. The fans go nuts hearing that!
Cody doesn’t want Rock getting upset, he doesn’t want the “seven bucks team” to get upset, he doesn’t want anyone getting emotional. Cody knows how Rock feels about emotions, he poked fun at Cody tearing up at discussing “finishing the story” with good friend, Michael Cole. There’s no crying in pro-wrestling, Jimmy Dugan, we get it. But hasn’t The Rock been crying behind the scenes this whole time? Once that hashtag came out, once fans chanted something else, The Rock cried to his buddies on the TKO board and said “Hey, this is gonna be some good PR for The Rock! I need to save WWE!” God knows, look at this house. They sure needed “saving,” huh?
The fans cheer but Cody says Rock wanted great PR. Until it wasn’t. TKO said OMG yes, put on the Gucci shirt, get those muscles looking big. It’s because they are Yes People, they are enablers, they won’t dare tell The Rock like it is, so Cody’s going to. Cody tells The Rock, “You’re a lot of things. You’re a lot of wonderful things. You are the Braham Bull, you are The Great One.” Cody still has shoes with The Rock’s logo on it! The Rock is the only guy Cody honestly feels is a Mount Rushmore wrestler. But he is also a terrible salesman, a carny succubus, and for those who don’t get what that means, The Rock is “a whiny b*tch!”
Fans lose their minds again but Cody says The Rock has been convinced otherwise. But don’t think that for two seconds this locker room needs The Rock more than The Rock needs it! That’s a rule of wrestling, nobody is bigger than the business! And sure, Cody brought up his mom, so it is fair game for The Rock to use that. But Cody knows The Rock’s mom. Here’s what Cody will tell us about The Rock’s mom. She is a wonderful lady, salt of the earth, she helped Cody chop Kevin in a dark match. Cody has nothing but respect for The Rock’s mom, something The Rock should’ve echoed back towards Cody’s mom.
But see, The Rock was talking about whipping Cody, handing a bloody weight belt to Cody’s mom, and normally someone as powerful as The Rock, Mama Rhodes would tremble. But The Rock doesn’t know Cody’s mom. Cody was more scared than she was, because she ain’t scared of nothing. This is the same woman who once jumped out of her chair at a Willie Nelson concert and beat up an undercover cop! She ain’t afraid of The Rock! Cody has been asked, April 6th, biggest tag match of all time, Rock & Roman VS Cody & Seth. Seth Rollins, the World Heavyweight Champion, a man The Rock should respect because that man has carried The Rock’s company!
How will Cody get past that match? How will April 7th look? Will it be a fair fight? Cody can tell us honestly… He doesn’t know. Cody does not know if it will be Bloodline Rules or not. Hell, he might not #FinishTheStory. “But Dwayne… What do you know? How can you be so sure of your own self, right?” The Rock hasn’t been in the ring in real action in years! April 6th, the bell is gonna ring, and what happens then? Is The Rock gonna bring The Great One, the hero we all had growing up? Is he bringing that #BigDwayneEnergy? Or is it gonna be LDS, Little D*ck Syndrome?! The fans chant “L D S! L D S!”
Cody says The Rock has referred to himself as The Final Boss. Kudos for that nickname, maybe he really is that. Maybe Cody is too naive to see it. But at WrestleMania, Cody doesn’t think The Rock will be The Final Boss. At WrestleMania, he’s just Roman’s side chick. But then ladies and gentlemen, his name is Paul Heyman, and he serves as The Wise Man to Your Tribal Chief, the reigning! Defending! Undisputed! WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman… Reigns! And as Special Counsel to the Bloodline, Heyman is here to say to Cody that the ideals that Cody and Heyman share are far greater than the interests on which they conflict.
By example, don’t you hate it when someone comes out to demand an apology? Not that Cody’s done that, but Heyman is still going to do that. Heyman came out here with some “friends” of his, and he apologized. For a Wise Man, that was pretty freakin’ stupid. One: because it didn’t work. Two: because it was just dumb. And for that, Cody, to you and the fans, Heyman humbly apologizes. Cody says whoa, whoa, whoa. He didn’t ask for an apology, and he certainly knows Heyman wants permission to be in the ring. Heyman is a Hall of Famer starting this year, if he wants into the ring, be Cody’s guest.
Heyman thanks Cody for that but he’s fine on the apron. He carries with him a message from The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Talk about Heels… You may think of Heyman anything negative you want, and that might be understanding the obvious. Heyman is not trustworthy, but Roman is a chief of his word. Heyman assures that this Friday on SmackDown, Roman will be face to face with Cody. American Nightmare, Tribal Chief, challenger and champion. And when they are face to face, there will not be a single other member of The Bloodline in sight. Except for Heyman, but he is no physical threat.
Heyman holds the title belt, the beads, whispers things in Roman’s ear, such as his love and respect. But Cody has Roman’s word that if he shows up on SmackDown, Roman will show up alone. Cody says Roman shows up alone, no Bloodline outside of Heyman, it’s a deal. They good? Heyman has some jet lag, he forgot one little point. And don’t boo him, he’s talking to Cody! Cody says yes they’re booing, and he’s about to go full Homelander and rip Heyman’s throat out if he doesn’t get to the point. Fans like the reference. Heyman composes himself and says if Roman Reigns shows up alone this Friday on SmackDown, then Cody must show up to SmackDown alone, too.
Cody steps closer to Heyman and Heyman is a bit nervous. Cody tells Heyman, “Deal!” They shake hands, and Heyman smiles. The Wise Man negotiated a purely one-on-one meeting between his Tribal Chief and American Nightmare, but can we trust Heyman was telling the truth about Roman telling the truth?
Nia Jax speaks.
“You know what I’ve realized? Becky Lynch has never beaten me. And after tonight, she never will. Because after I break her face again, I will be taking her spot at WrestleMania. I will finish business with Rhea Ripley, and not only will I walk out the Last Woman Standing, but I will become Women’s World Champion.” The Irresistible Force is ready for the Big Time, but will she A-Nia-late her?
Cody Rhodes returns backstage.
And Jey says there he go! But real quick, Cody can’t be going to SmackDown alone. Cody says he gave them his word. But The Bloodline isn’t gonna play fair! They’re all gonna be there! If Cody needs Jey, Jeys’ got him. Cody hears that, but he knows what he’s dealing with. They shake hands and Jey heads out. Will Cody be able to have that fair, one-on-one meeting? Or does Jey have a point about The Bloodline?
Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!
It seems Pearce agreed to the idea that Dirty Dom should try and clean up The Irish Ace’s mess. Will Dom be able to get revenge on Ricochet? Or will Ricochet be the One and Only person holding their head high tonight?
Raw returns and Dom has made his entrance. The bell rings, Dom and Ricochet circle, and they tie up. Ricochet waistlocks, Dom fights the lift and grabs ropes. The ref counts, Ricochet lets off, but Dom ELBOWS him away! Dom fires hands, soaks up the heat, then storms up, but into haymakers! Ricochet CHOPS, kicks then flexes on Dom. Ricochet whips, Dom reverses, but Ricochet goes up and over. Ricochet ducks ‘n’ dodges to then handspring back elbow! The fans fire up while Dom bails out! JD is there to coach Dom up, but Ricochet runs in! JD gets Dom to safety, but Ricochet handsprings to hero land!
The fans fire up, Ricochet then goes to ropes to TORNILLO PLANCHA! Direct hit on Dom and Ricochet tells JD to back off. Ricochet puts Dom in, Dom distracts the ref, but JD grabs Ricochet’s leg! Ricochet kicks JD away, but then Dom WRECKS Ricochet with a dropkick! Dom soaks up the heat and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Dom has Ricochet up top. Dom climbs but Ricochet throws body shots! The fans rally behind Ricochet as he sends Dom staggering. Ricochet hops down as Dom comes running back, and Ricochet GAMANGIRIS him away! Ricochet then springboards, but Dom trips him up! Ricochet flops to the mat, then Dom kicks and FACEBUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Ricochet is still in this and JD argues the count. Dom looms over Ricochet, scuffs him around, then mockingly cheers him on. Fans boo but Dom brings Ricochet up. Dom gives some Latino Heat, then suplexes! Uno Amigo, but fans boo.
Dom gets Ricochet up but Ricochet suplexes Dom instead! And then fireman’s carry, DYNAMITE KICK! Cover, TWO! Dom is still in this and JD coaches him but the fans rally for Ricochet. Ricochet stands, storms up on Dom, but Dom shoots around to roll him up! With tights! TWO, Ricochet blocks a kick and KICKS Dom down! Ricochet hurries up top, the fans fire up, but Ricochet has to bail out of the 450 as Dom moves! Dom runs in again, but into a SUPERKICK! JD gets on the apron, so Ricochet triangle jump DROPKICKS! But then Dom DROPKICKS Ricochet onto ropes! Dom dials it up but Ricochet ducks!
Dom spins around, into the RECOIL!! Cover, Ricochet wins!
Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall
But then JD runs in! Ricochet dodges, goes up and around, BOOTS JD away, then BOOTS him again! Ricochet even flips up and out of the ring at the same time! Ricochet gets the better of Judgment Day again, just how disappointed is Mami going to be in her Latino Heat this time?
Sami Zayn is backstage.
He finds Chad Gable and wants to talk with him. Last week’s match, that was an honor. Sami hasn’t been pushed like that in a long time, it could’ve gone either way. Gable says yeah, it was great. Thanks. Is Gable alright? Yeah, he’s fine. Kinda feels like not… Gable says he’s fine, so leave it at that. C’mon, man, how many years have they known each other? Sami knows when something’s bothering Gable, so he should just say it. Gable says look, last week, the WrestleMania opportunity, the whole thing, it just meant more to him. Sami says he’s been hearing Gable say that for weeks, and it is really unfair.
Does Gable really think he’s the only one this title opportunity matters to? Sami has a family, too! Sami’s kid cries when Papa loses a match, too. Sami has people he’s let down and is trying to make proud. After all the years put into this, Gable can’t tell Sami what matters more because he doesn’t know Sami like that. Gable has Sami calm down, and says he knows all that. But it isn’t all about that. Then what is all this? Gable says Sami can’t beat Gunther. Gable then leaves, and Sami is at a loss for words. Is this bitter side of Gable only going to get worse as we go down this Road to WrestleMania?
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We’re just one step away from the Cup!
Cold Skull faces The Fierce Warrior, and Gene Blast faces The King of Darkness, and when the smoke clears, we will have our New Japan Cup finalists!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Boltin Oleg & Shoma Kato VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Mikey Nicholls; ZSJ & Mikey win.
- Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Tomohiro Ishii & Togi Makabe VS Just5Guys; Just5Guys win.
- Tanga Loa & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman; Loa & Taguchi win.
- Six Man Tag: YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano & Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & YOH VS The House of Torture; Shota, ELP, Leo & Yoh win.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; LIJ wins.
- 2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL; Tsuji wins and advances to the finals.
- 2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto; Goto wins and advances to the finals.
PLAY BY PLAY
2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!
The Gene Blast overcame the tricks Ren Narita tried, but that’s because the House of Torture was saving all the good stuff so they could slay the Rampaging Dragon. Will the deck be even more stacked to make sure Everything is Evil’s? Or will Yota be one step away from LIJ VS LIJ at Sakura Genesis?
Well, Dick is making his way out here, but where is Evil? Oh, there he is. No tricks just yet it seems. But then Yota DIVES onto Evil! The fans fire up but Dick attacks Yota! Dick whips, Yota stops himself, and then scoops Dick for a BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Yota wants the bell. The ref says yes, ring the bell, and this is on the record! Yota stomps and CLUBS Evil, then whips, but Evil reverses! Yota hits railing, and then Evil whips him into more railing! Evil CHOKES Yota against the railing, Yota fights back, but the ref gets knocked aside! Evil puts Yota in so he and Dick can stomp away!
The fans boo but here comes the rest of the House already! Narita, Yujiro, Kanemaru and Jack all stomp away on Yota, but here come Bushi & Hiromu! It’s a replay of yesterday as LIJ fights off the House, but the numbers are still against them! The ref rushes in to tell everyone to stop! Evil shoves the ref out of the ring, Yota fires off on him, but Evil CLAWS Yota’s eyes! The House CHOKES LIJ, but the ref says stop! The bell rings, but what is the decision!? NO CONTEST!?
No Contest
What does this mean!? Someone has to advance, right? The finals aren’t until the 20th, how can there be a no contest? The House started this, where’re the consequences?! Yota gets up but Evil TOSSES him back out! LIJ regroups and Yota asks for a mic. Yota tells Evil that he’s sick and tired of this! They ARE gonna finish this match! The fans like the sound of that! All the refs come out, including Red Shoes, to discuss how this will be handled. For starters, they tell all the extras to get outta here! LIJ is cool with that, and Hiromu tells the House to come along. Evil says fine, and Jack, Kanemaru, Narita, Yujiro and even Dick reluctantly exit.
The announcement is officially made, and the bell rings! Yota and Evil rush in, Evil kicks low but Yota CLUBS away on Evil! Evil CLAWS the eyes! Evil kicks, runs, RAMS, but Yota rebounds to run Evil over! Then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Yota fires up and the fans are with him! Evil bails out but the fans rally for Yota. Evil wants Yota to stay back, then he slides in, only to slide right out! Yota runs out after Evil, but Evil kicks him! Evil RAMS Yota into the timekeeper! Abe-san and his table go flying! Evil gets the mic to tell Yota that this is what he gets! The fans boo but Evil tells them off, too! Evil stomps Yota then soaks up the heat.
Evil unties the blue buckle pad himself, then waits in the ring. The ref checks Yota and the fans rally up again. The Young Lions help Abe-san while Yota drags himself up. Yota slides in, the fans cheer, but Evil pulls on Yota’s hair! Evil wrenches the hair, then wrenches it again! And again! Evil CLUBS the hair! The ref reprimands but Evil just dusts off his hands. Evil covers, but the ref refuses to count! Evil is furious but he’s the one up to no good! The ref still says no, so Evil stands on Yota’s head. The fans rally up, Yota rises, and he grins as he winds up to ROCK Evil with a forearm! And ROCK him with another!
Yota ROCKS Evil again, but Evil whips him into the bare buckles! Yota falls and the ref reprimands about the missing buckle pad. Evil stomps Yota, covers, TWO! The fans cheer but Evil is annoyed. Evil scuffs Yota, taunts him, and drags him up. Evil CHOPS, Yota drops to his knees, but Evil stands him back up. Evil CHOPS again and Yota grits his teeth as he drops to his knees! Evil stands Yota up again, to fake the chop to CLAW the eyes! The ref reprimands, Evil lets off, and then Evil stands on Yota in a corner. The ref counts, Evil lets go of the ropes but that’s not the problem! Evil steps away, drags Yota up but claims he’s dead weight.
The ref checks, Evil stands Yota up and wrenches an arm. Evil whips Yota into a corner, runs in, but into a BOOT! Evil runs in again, blocks the boot, but Yota brings Evil in for the STOMP! The fans fire up while Yota rests on the mat. The fans rally up and Yota rises again. Evil’s in the corner, runs out, but into the BACKBREAKER! COMPLETE SHOT! STOMP! The fans fire up again as Yota stands back up. Yota runs, to CURB STOMP!! Yota roars and the fans fire up again! Evil flounders while Yota aims. Yota runs in, but the ref is used as a shield! Evil kicks Yota low, then uses the ref in MAGIC KILLER!
All three men are down while the fans rally up again. Evil stands, he brings Yota up, and the ref also rises. Evil whips Yota into the bare buckles, then clotheslines him in! Then FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, but Evil lets off?! Evil wants to torture Yota but it’s hard to say if Yota is still even in this. Yota opens his eyes, rises up, but Evil fireman’s carries! DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives, the fans fire up, but Evil is furious! Evil slashes his throat and vows to end this now! Evil drags Yota up, spins him around, but Yota fights the STO with elbows! Evil kicks low, whips again, but Yota stops from hitting buckles!
Evil runs in, Yota dodges and Evil hits the buckles! SUPERKICK!! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! We’re only ten minutes into this new match but this is on top of the madness from earlier. Evil drags Yota up, but Yota ROCKS Evil! Evil fights Yota’s fireman’s carry and CLUBS him, but both men wobble. Evil LARIATS, but Yota stays up! The fans fire up but Evil swings to LARIAT again! Yota drops to a knee, but he grins through the pain! Evil says alright, and he throws off his elbow pad. Evil runs to LARIAT! Yota grits his teeth to stay up! V-TRIGGER! Yota brings Evil in, suplexes, ORANGE CRUSH! Cover, TWO!!
Evil is still in this but the fans rally behind Yota again. Yota rises, drags Evil up, and then goes to the corner. Yota goes up and up and Evil moves the ref into the way! The ref takes the FLYING CURB STOMP!!! And now the House returns! The fans boo as Kanemaru, Dick, Yujiro, Narita & Jack all stomp away on Yota again! The fans tell them to go home, again, but these guys don’t care! They just put one out on Yota. They whip Yota to a corner, then DIck runs in to ELBOW! Kanemaru ELBOWS! Yujiro BOOTS! Jack SPLASHES! Narita ELBOWS! Then they snapmare and set Yota up! Dick climbs for the DICK CHOP!!
The fans boo but the House applauds their own dirtiness. But here come Bushi & Hiromu again! But they just get mugged again! They set Hiromu up for the DICK CHOP, while Bushi gets a JACK CHOP! The House then slithers away before a replacement ref rushes out here. Evil drags Yota up, winds up and runs, to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!!! Yota survives and the fans are thunderous! Evil is at a loss for words, but he slashes his throat! He vows to end it for real, and he reels Yota in. EVERYTHING IS- Yota flips through!? And HEADBUTTS!! The fans fire up as Yota reels Evil in for a fireman’s carry! 70 CROSS!! Cover, TWO!!
Evil survives the swinging spinebuster and the House cheers! Yota drags himself to a corner, drags himself up with the ropes, and roars as he takes aim! Evil rises, but Yujiro distracts! Dick runs in, but gets a V-TRIGGER! The ref sees Dick, but misses the LOW BLOW! Then Evil RAMS Yota into the ref! That’s the second ref this match! Narita gets his push-up bar! The others set Yota up, but here comes SHINGO TAKAGI! The Rampaging Dragon has seen enough, and he’s still pissed from yesterday as it is! He dodges Narita to PUMPING BOMBER! Kanemaru & Yujiro kick Takagi, double whip, but he DOUBLE PUMPING BOMBERS!!
Jack gets in, but he gets ELBOW, JAB and YUKON LARIAT! Evil runs up but Takagi SWATS Evil’s lariat to JAB! Then feed to Hiromu’s SUPERKICK! Hiromu & Takagi set Evil up for Bushi’s BLACK MIST!! Evil can’t see, the PUMPING BOMBER turns him inside-out!! The fans are thunderous as LIJ helps Yota up! Red Shoes hurries out here, and Yota aims at Evil! GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, Yota wins!!!
Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
The House of Torture ran out of tricks, and now there is light at the end of the tournament! Will Yota do LIJ proud and bring home the Cup?
2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto!
One down, one to go. Yota Tsuji has made it through, now we see who joins him in the finals! Will the Cold Skull or Fierce Warrior be the one that steps closer to former glory?
The bell rings and the fans duel between “GO-TO-O!” and “SA-NA-DA!” Red Shoes measures the levels, and it seems to slightly favor Goto. Goto and Sanada circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Goto gets some leverage to put Sanada against ropes, but he lets off slowly. Goto pats Sanada on the shoulders and the fans cheer. The two reset, circle again, and tie up again. It’s another deadlock, but again Goto finds a way to put Sanada on ropes. Sanada turns things around, lets off slowly, and also pats Goto on the shoulders. The fans applaud and the two reset again. They feel things out, knuckle lock, then move to a clinch.
They fight for control, Sanada starts pushing Goto towards a corner but Goto slips away. They feel things out, knuckle lock again, then break. They tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, Goto waistlocks, but Sanada wrenches to wristlock. Goto rolls, wrenches, wristlocks, but Sanada spins, wrenches, only for Goto to roll! Goto gets a leg to trip Sanada up, and he has a toehold. Sanada fights back with a chinlock but Goto pulls on the leg. Sanada uses his free leg to hook Goto into an ARMBAR, but Goto clasps hands! Goto moves around, pops free, then headlocks. Sanada fights up, Goto grinds the headlock, but Sanada throws body shots.
Sanada powers up and out, but Goto runs him over! The fans rally as things speed up, and Goto counters hip toss with hip toss! Goto runs and he clotheslines Sanada up and out! The fans fire up and Goto slides out after Sanada. Goto stomps Sanada, drags him up, then CLUBS him on the neck! Sanada staggers, Goto CHOPS him, then kicks him, then CLUBS him! Goto whips but Sanada stops himself from hitting railing! Goto runs in but Sanada drop toeholds him into the railing! Goto goes down in a heap, but Sanada opens the gate. Sanada brings Goto through, then to the crowd! PILEDRIVER to the bare floor!
The fans are stunned but Red Shoes reprimands. Sanada leaves Goto behind and slides into the ring. The fans rally for Goto as the ring count begins. Goto crawls at 5 of 20, finds his way to ringside at 10, but still hobbles and crawls. He stands at 17 to slide in! The fans cheer, but Sanada stomps Goto. Sanada drags Goto up, CLUBS him on the neck, then brings him back up to CLUB him again. Goto CHOPS! And CHOPS! Sanada eggs Goto on so Goto CHOPS again! Goto whips, Sanada reverses to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Sanada keeps cool and sits Goto up into a chinlock. Goto endures and the fans rally again.
Goto kicks forward, reaches out, but Sanada cranks on the hold! Goto keeps fighting, and has the ROPEBREAK! Sanada lets go cleanly, but then he stomps Goto while he’s down. Sanada then stands Goto up to CLUB him on the neck. Goto CHOPS in return! And CHOPS, and CHOPS, and has Sanada in a corner! Goto CHOPS again, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, but Sanada BOOTS first! Sanada runs, Goto follows, and Goto LARIATS Sanada down! The fans fire up and Goto rises, clutching his neck. Goto stands Sanada up to fire off forearms, then he whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, MURAMASA!
Sanada wobbles, into the SAIDO! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up while Goto grits his teeth. Goto drags Sanada up, fireman’s carries, but Sanada fights free! Sanada waistlocks, Goto throws elbows, then runs. Sanada hurdles, hurdles, and DROPKICKS! Goto tumbles out of the ring, Sanada PLANCHAS him down! The fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. The fans get louder and Sanada appreciates it. Sanada then goes back for Goto, brings him up and puts him in the ring. Sanada fireman’s carries but Goto throws elbows! Sanada turns around into Goto’s fireman’s carry, but then slips out into the dragon sleeper!
But Goto arm-drags free! Sanada kicks low, runs, but Goto follows! Sanada dodges this time, runs again, but Goto still follows! Sanada sidesteps this time, but Goto holds ropes to avoid the hurdle! Goto runs in, but Sanada fireman’s carries! T K O! Cover, TWO! Goto is still in this and the fans rally up! Sanada goes up the corner, ROUNDING BODY- NO, Sanada has to land out as Goto moves! Sanada runs in, but into the fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! They cheer on “GO-TO-O!” but the “SA-NA-DA!” chants are still there. Red Shoes checks them both, and both men slowly rise.
The two crawl towards each other, and Goto fires a forearm! Sanada shakes his head, eggs Goto on, so Goto throws another! Goto eggs Sanada on, so Sanada fires a forearm! Goto fires a forearm back, and the two stand. Sanada UPPERCUTS! Goto comes back to forearm! Sanada UPPERCUTS again, and Goto drops back to a knee! The fans rally, Goto stands again, and he forearms! UPPERCUT, forearm, repeat! Goto growls, fires a flurry of forearms, and he ROCKS Sanada! Sanada drops to his hand and knees but Goto powers up! Goto KICKS but Sanada blocks! Goto fires more forearms, then waistlocks, but Sandaa fights free!
Sanada runs, but Goto fireman’s carries! And he throws Sanada into the dragon sleeper! But Sanada turns around and suplexes, for MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! Sanada roars as he rises up, and he aims from a corner. Sanada wants Goto to get up, and Goto sits up, into the SHINING WIZARD! Sanada then dragon sleepers, for the SKULL END!! Goto endures, flails, reaches out, but he’s caught in the body scissors! Goto fights around but he’s fading! The fans rally, Goto’s hand drops! Sanada lets him go to then climb! ROUNDING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as Goto survives but Sanada storms around. Sanada drags Goto up, reels him in and clinches, but Goto slips free to shove Sanada away! Sanada forearms, ROLLING- HEADBUTT from Goto! The fans fire up and duel, and Goto drags Sanada up. But Sanada breaks free! Goto HEADBUTTS again! Sanada falls back down and Goto steadies himself. Goto roars, the fans are with him, and Goto sits Sanada up. Goto runs to PENALTY KICK! Shoutout to Shibata and the fans fire up more! Sanada grits his teeth as he sits back up but Goto takes aim! BUZZSAW! And then he hauls Sanada up to dragon sleeper! G T- BACKSLIDE COUNTER! TWO!!!
Sanada and Goto hurry up, Sanada dodges to O’Conner BRIDGE!! TWO?!!? Goto escapes and shocks everyone! Sanada resets, runs in, SHINING WIZARD!! The fans are thunderous as Sanada roars and drags Goto back up! Clinch and DEAD- NO, Goto slips around to ripcord and fireman’s carry! G T W!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Sanada survives but Goto is all fired up! The fans are thunderous as Goto dragon sleepers for G T R!!! Cover, GOTO WINS!!!
Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
Don’t call it a comeback, Goto’s been here for years! Sanada’s hopes of being IWGP World Heavyweight Champion again have been delayed, how long must he wait for another chance?
As for Goto, he’s going back to the New Japan Cup Finals for the first time since 2016, and his seventh overall! But before he can get the mic to speak, Yota makes his way back out here. Yota steps into the ring and he gets the mic first. Yota tells Goto, “In order to open the door to a new era, we must do this.” The fans applaud that, and Yota continues by asking Goto, “Are you ready?!” Yota drops the mic at Goto’s feet, and Goto stands up to speak. “I also have something I want to show you. As a three-time New Japan Cup Champion, I will show you my strength.” The fans like the sound of that!
The Fierce Warrior stares down with Gene Blast, a true generational showdown on the horizon! Will Goto return not juts to former glory, but finally ascend to top of NJPW? Or will Yota make it LIJ VS LIJ for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship?
My Thoughts:
A great semifinal round for this tournament, with quite a surprising main event. Sanada VS Goto was great stuff, and while I felt Sanada wasn’t winning the Cup, I didn’t think he’d be out this round. Yota VS Evil was rather creatively put together, too. I did not think the House would get so involved that at first it was a No Contest but then they restart under a ringside ban. Takagi making sure Yota won was good stuff, too, maybe we can get Takagi VS Evil for the NEVER Openweight Championship if they’re not gonna circle back to more Shota Umino VS House of Torture stuff.
Goto VS Yota is going to be great stuff, and Goto is clearly a top utility guy. He’s had so many New Japan Cup finals appearances, certainly among the most ever, but I don’t think he gets a fourth Cup win against Yota, one of the “new era Musketeers” that NJPW clearly loves. Yota VS Naito is definitely the title match for Sakura Genesis.
My Score: 8.9/10
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