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Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (10/12/20)

The WWE Draft continues!

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WWE Raw Coverage 3.0

Raw is on the verge of a new era!

The 2020 WWE Draft takes Seth Rollins away from Raw! The Monday Night Messiah is leaving, but who will fill that void in Raw’s locker room? Perhaps Mustafa Ali, as he speaks to his role in Retribution!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • No Disqualifications: Kevin Owens VS Aleister Black; Kevin wins.
  • Triple Threat: Jeff Hardy VS Seth Rollins VS AJ Styles; Styles wins.
  • Dana Brooke & Mandy Rose VS Natalya & Lana; Brooke & Rose win.
  • Angel Garza VS Andrade Almas; Garza wins.
  • Raw Tag Team Championships: The New Day VS Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode; The New Day wins and retains the Raw Tag Team Championships.
  • Ricochet VS Cedric Alexander w/ The Hurt Business; Ricochet wins and the Hurt Business must stop assaulting him.
  • Raw Women’s Championship #1 Contender Battle Royal: Lana wins and will challenge Asuka for the title next week.

PLAY BY PLAY

Randy Orton opens Raw!

The Viper wants that WWE World Championship back and is willing to go through hell to do it! He and Drew McIntyre step inside Hell in a Cell to finally put this rivalry to rest! Orton takes his time before taking to the mic. “Regardless of whether or not I get moved to SmackDown, of if I stay on Monday Night Raw, one thing remains the same. And that one thing is a fact, that in less than two weeks, I will be locked inside Hell in a Cell with Drew McIntyre, and I am going to TAKE his WWE Championship from him.” 2020 has been one hell of a year to say the least, but one thing is that it has bee the Year of McIntyre. McIntyre main evented WrestleMania, beat Brock Lesnar, became WWE Champion and became one of the main faces of the WWE.

Orton didn’t realize this until a few days ago, but last week he beat McIntyre with an RKO and became the first man to beat him via pinfall in almost one entire year! If that’s not a sign of things to come, then what is? Orton talks to McIntyre directly as he says, “In less than two weeks at Hell in a Cell, I’m going to pin you again. I’m going to beat you 1-2-3 in the middle of that cell, I am going to end your legacy, and I am going to take the WWE Championship from you!” And he’ll do all of that with the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment: R K- Wait! McIntyre is here! McIntyre knows he is staying on Raw with Friday’s first round, and he tells Orton, “I guess I got to congratulate you, Randy.” Randy is right because he is the first person to pin McIntyre in over a year. Nothing less from the Viper.

The part he didn’t expect was that McIntyre was prone for a kick to the head, and Orton decided to gloat. That’s where Orton messed up, because McIntyre got back up. McIntyre wants Orton to know that when he kicked Orton in the head, that was for everyone Orton screwed over. But at HIAC, all the pain, all the suffering McIntyre causes Orton will be for his sake. But the thing is, Orton might be drafted. McIntyre promised that every single time these two are in the same building together, he’d kick the crap out of Orton. So he isn’t going to break that promise. McIntyre tears off his shirt and heads to the ring! He throws haymakers on Orton and stomps him in a corner! Orton flounders around but McIntyre keeps after him! McIntyre won’t let Orton get away but Orton kicks back, McIntyre just throws more haymakers!

Orton kicks low and bails out! McIntyre pursues but Orton RAMS him into the apron! Orton throws haymakers and European Uppercuts. Orton whips but McIntyre reverses to send him into barriers! And then POSTS him! And bounces him off the desk! And CHOPS him onto the desk! McIntyre drags Orton up by his ears, for a BACK SUPLEXE to the desk! McIntyre uses Orton’s own ideas against him! McIntyre puts Orton in the ring but Orton bails out the far side! Orton retreats but McIntyre is grinning! McIntyre says they still have three hours, and a whole bunch of fun ahead of them! Will McIntyre catch Orton again before the night is over?

 

Stephanie McMahon is here to continue the 2020 WWE Draft!

She welcomes us to the final night of this year’s draft, and says it is her privilege to preside over this career-altering event. So to get started with round six, Raw’s first pick is… THE FIEND, BRAY WYATT!! The nightmare comes to Monday nights!! SmackDown’s pick is… the SmackDown Women’s Champion, BAYLEY! An obvious and brilliant choice, of course. Raw keeps the Viper, RANDY ORTON! Now he can’t get away from McIntyre no matter what he does! SmackDown selects the Raw Tag Team Champions, the STREET PROFITS! Well, Raw has the New Day, so it’s only fair. And to close the round, Raw keeps THE QUEEN, CHARLOTTE FLAIR! Charlotte is still recovering, but now she can return to reclaim her throne on Mondays!

 

No Disqualifications: Kevin Owens VS Aleister Black!

The Prizefighter put up a hell of a fight against The Fiend on Friday, but it wasn’t enough to win. Does Kevin have anything left to fight off the Embodiment of the End? Or will he Fade to Black before learning his fate in the Draft?

Both men are moving with purpose, the bell barely rings in time before this fires off! Fists fly fast and furious but Kevin gets the edge! Aleister bails out, Kevin pursues and CLUBS Aleister at the ramp! They brawl, Aleister BOOTS and then throws Kevin into the LED apron! Aleister drags Kevin up, in and stalks him. Kevin ducks Black Mass but the stunner is denied! Kevin tackles Aleister to rain down furious fists! Aleister kicks him away, bails out again but Kevin pursues. Kevin throws hands, brings Aleister around and bumps him off steel steps! Aleister falls back, Kevin taunts, “Where’s that fight?!” Aleister hits back and KICKS back as they near the desk! Aleister stalks Kevin and KICKS him at the desk!

Aleister drags Kevin up, whips him but Kevin reverses, sending Aleister into barriers! Kevin runs in to CANNONBALL! Direct hit into barriers! Kevin grimaces while fans clap on their ThunderDome screens. Kevin goes looking under the ring, and brings out a TABLE! Also it seems there are no count outs, so this is more of a No Holds Barred match than anything. Kevin drags Aleister up and over, reels him in, but Aleister resists the bomb! Aleister clubs the legs, throws EuroUppers, but Kevin BOOTS back! Kevin climbs up onto the barriers, but Aleister intercepts! Aleister throws Kevin through the announce desk!! Kevin writhes as Raw goes to break!

Raw returns and Aleister has a chair in the ring! He tries to suplex Kevin but Kevin blocks! Kevin fights back, throws a big EuroUpper, and then fireman’s carries. His back gives out! Aleister throws forearms but Kevin headbutts! Kevin runs into a sweep, and he SMACKS off the chair! Cover, TWO!! Kevin survives but Aleister only grows angrier. Aleister takes a seat in the chair while Kevin rises. Aleister throws haymakers, Kevin gives them back, but Aleister rocks, stomps and drops a knee on him in return! Aleister goes out, looks under the ring, and brings out more chairs! Aleister slowly returns to the ring but Kevin grabs for a chair. Aleister stomps the chair down but Kevin throws body shots on Aleister! Kevin fights up but into a ROUNDHOUSE!

Aleister grimaces as he leans on ropes. He demands Kevin rise, and he runs in, but Kevin shields himself with a chair! Aleister’s knee hits steel, then steel hits Aleister’s back! Kevin gives Aleister a DDT to the chair! Cover, TWO! Aleister still lives but Kevin keeps his focus. Kevin holds onto a chair, rises even with his back bothering him, and he goes after Aleister. Kevin JAMS Aleister with the chair, then starts setting chairs up together. Kevin has a chair square and then goes to the corner. He drags Aleister up to the top rope, fans anticipate what’s coming but Aleister does, too! Aleister fights back, brawls with Kevin, and Aleister’s elbow sends Kevin down! Aleister gets up, METEORA to the chairs!! Cover, TWO!?!? Kevin survives and shocks Aleister!

Kevin gets to a corner, Aleister wants more! Aleister fetches Kevin’s table and brings it into the ring! He sets it back up but Kevil rolls out to the apron. The table is ready, Aleister fetches Kevin, but Kevin kicks! Aleister denies the stunner as he POSTS Kevin! But Kevin ducks and BLACK MASS HITS POST!! Aleister just did damage to himself! Aleister gets back in, Kevin follows, STUNNER! Kevin isn’t done there, he drags Aleister up and POWERBOMBS him through the table!! Cover, Kevin wins!!

Winner: Kevin Owens, by pinfall

Kevin was able to #JustKeepFighting, and now he’s won! But as he deals with one dark foe, he knows another has come to Raw. Will Bray Wyatt make sure his “friend” knows he’s here?

 

Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose talk backstage.

These two are both certified Monday Night Raw thanks to Friday’s round of draft picks, but they’re about to be guests to Raw’s newest additions. Miz TV returns to Raw, what will Miz and Morrison ask the Flex Appeal and Golden Goddess?

 

Raw returns as Stephanie McMahon returns to the podium!

Time for more draft picks! Raw opens round seven with… THE MONSTER, BRAUN STROWMAN! He and Keith Lee destroyed part of the stage, what more damage can he deal? SmackDown keeps… DANIEL BRYAN! YES, YES, YES! The fans definitely love that pick. Raw continues and takes… The Bro, MATT RIDDLE! Will Riddle still be ready to #BroDown even though he’s no longer on SmackDown? SmackDown takes… KEVIN OWENS! It seems Kevin won’t have to worry about The Fiend if he’s going back to Fridays. And Raw close this out by taking… JEFF HARDY! The Charismatic Enigma follows Riddle, maybe Mondays will continue to have #BROetryInMotion?

 

Raw presents Miz TV!

The Miz and John Morrison welcome us back to the Most Must-See Talk Show in WWE history, and introduce each other. They are the Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century *look off into distance* and are now THE greatest acquisition in the WWE Draft! Raw hit the jackpot getting these two! Monday Night Miz and the Monday Night Delight! People coming, going, splitting up! Like the New Day! Well, it’s a new new day. The newest day! And even Heavy Machinery got split up. How di that happen? Someone must have great connections with The USA Network. Miz is the Face of USA. He uses his connections for the greater good. Morrison, you can’t use that! That’s Rollins’ line. Well he’s going to SmackDown so whatever.

But moving on to their guests, two of the freshest faces on Raw. They’re strong, they’re blonde, they got it goin’ on! It’s Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose! And they’ve already got a team intro! Dana and Mandy strut their stuff down to the ring, showing off the guns. Mandy and Dana take their seats, as do Miz and Morrison. First off, Miz won’t make this entirely about Mandy thanking him for this. Of course he goes there. But moving Mandy to Raw wasn’t generous, it was petty. We all know that! He did it to mess with Otis! What is wrong with him? He’s ruining people’s lives! Ruining? Miz asks Mandy, “Are you happy?” She looks happy. New partner, new music, new hair. And she won! She SHOULD be thanking Miz. Be like, “Thanks, Miz! Thanks, John!” Try it. She’s rather slap them.

Well let’s get serious then! Dana, are you certain you want Mandy as a tag partner? Mandy and Sonya were best friends for years, and then Mandy met Otis and Sonya was kicked to the curb. Dana is certain she and Mandy are friends, and with no jealously like Sonya had. They’re making the most of this opportunity. Speaking of opportunities, they’re claiming to go for the WWE Women’s Tag team Championships, but tonight they’re in the dual branded battle royal where only one can win to face Asuka for her Raw Women’s Championship. That’s awkward~! The only thing awkward is them all being on the same brand. As far as that battle royal goes, “may the best woman win.” That guitar riff can only mean one thing. YEP! Natalya and Lana are crashing the show!

The Ravishing Russian says, “Excuse me, I’m actually really, really confused.” Why is Miz interviewing those two blondes when this blonde, the Queen of Harts, is the winningest female in WWE history plus the Best of All Time, #BOAT? And Lana herself is the savviest social media influencer. And if you want drama, Lana is the one you talk to. Two ex-husbands and one ex-girlfriend trumps jealous ex-bestie, so spill the tea and let’s talk. Miz and Morrison move aside as Natty and Lana get in the ring. Natty says she and Lana are also in the battle royal, but nobody wanted to interview them. And the Draft could mean this is their last night on Raw together.

Dana mockingly says, “Aww, maybe to commemorate that, you two should do a TikTok dance dancer or something?” Mandy says that if these two spent less time on TikTok and more time training, maybe Natty could win another match. Natty throws hands and it’s a brawl! Lana tries to get away but Mandy tackles her! Dana rams into Natty over and over but Natty turns it around. Mandy and Dana get Natty together, Dana reels Natty in for a clothesline! Dana and Mandy hold the ring, but will these four fire off again in that battle royal?

 

Raw returns with MORE Miz TV.

Miz and Morrison admit things got “out of hand” before the break. But Miz has a plan B for the “season premiere” of Miz TV on Raw! While the previous four get ready for a tag team match instead of the battle royal, Miz’s back-up guest is… The Mayor of Slam Town, JOHN MORRISON! That’s right! Tonight Plan B is just a little bit better than Plan A. But it is an honor to sit with Miz on his show and talk about all the amazing things these two plan on bringing to Raw. There’s a lot of speculation on when The Dirt Sheet makes its Raw debut, but- OH NO! Is that Lars Sullivan?! The Freak has followed these two to Raw! Miz and Morrison prepare for a fight given what we saw on Friday!

Lars storms down to the ring, but Miz bails out! Morrison BOOTS Lars but Lars comes back to LARIAT! Lars drags Morrison up and tosses him to a corner, for a corner clothesline! Miz drags Morrison but can’t get him out in time! Lars drags Morrison up for a TOSS! Miz is frozen in place with fear as Lars paces Morrison. Lars dead lifts and gives Morrison a FREAK ACCIDENT! The Freak just freakin’ finished off the foursome he wanted to maul on Friday! Who will feel the monstrous might of the Mile High Monster?

 

Adam Pearce has the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Champions meet.

The New Day are SmackDown Tag Team Champions once again, but got drafted to Raw. And the Street Profits are still the Raw Tag Team Champions, but they got drafted to SmackDown. So an easy and logical solution is to simply swap the titles. Wait, is it, though? Montez and Dawkins talked about this. Dawkins knows, and he asks Kofi to treat “Patricia” right. Clown the Clippers each and every night. Yeah alright, alright. The exchange is official, and things go as planned. Pearce heads off, and Kofi wants the Profits to let Big E know something, but Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode step in. How convenient is this! The Profits get to run away to SmackDown before the Glorious Show-Offs get what they’re owed!

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Don’t you know how drafts work? Yes, but they also know that they pinned the Raw Tag Team Champions in that Six Man Tag, and deserve a shot at the titles. Well okay! If they want have a go at the NEW W, W, E, Raw, Tag, Team, CHAMPIONS~, they can have it! If it is a molly whopping thou wants, then they shall placeth their boots firmly between thine cheeks! Roode and Ziggler are ready to fight, see you out there! But the New Day and Profits are up, and #WeWantTheSmoke!! Will the New Day make sure their tenth tag title reign’s subtle beginnings doesn’t have a GLORIOUS ending?

 

Raw returns with more draft picks!

Stephanie announces that the Raw Tag Team Championship match IS happening! And to start round 8, Raw takes… RETRIBUTION! The rebels and their new leader, MUSTAFA ALI, are staying right on Monday nights! SmackDown takes THE FREAK, LARS SULLIVAN! He mauled the four men leaving SmackDown, will he just move on to more unsuspecting targets? Raw takes… THE LIMITLESS, KEITH LEE! Now he and Braun can continue their battle for dominance! SmackDown takes… KING BARON CORBIN! The Wolf King still “rules” over Fridays, will there be an uprising in response? Raw finishes the round with… ALEXA BLISS! The Goddess, the Five Foot Fury, and The Fiend’s bewitched beauty, is joining him on Raw!

 

Seth Rollins heads to the ring!

As he said on Friday after being drafted to SmackDown, it was never about the name, it was always about the mission. Monday Night Messiah no more, Seth Rollins might just become SmackDown’s Savior now. Rollins takes to the mic and says, “I just want to soak it all in for a minute, because tonight is the end of an era.” While he is thrilled to be going to Fridays, he must acknowledge how difficult this must be for fans of Monday Night Raw. This is the last night Rollins steps into the ring as a member of the Raw roster. “And you guys are losing a lot. You’re losing a champion. You’re losing a man who has slain beasts, who has conquered monsters! You are losing a purveyor of the greater good! And most importantly, and most glaringly, you guys are losing the greatest leader in the history of Monday Night Raw.”

As he looks to the current Raw roster, “Is there anyone who can fill my shoes? Is there anyone who can fill the void that I am leaving behind?” Sadly, the answer is no. Who will step up? Who will fill the shoes? He’ll tell us who it won’t be: Dominik and Rey Mysterio. Unfortunately, they’re also going to SmackDown… While this is a sad, sad moment for all of us, Rollins doesn’t want to end his run- Jeff Hardy interrupts! The Charismatic Enigma heads to the ring, adorned in face paint! Rollins smiles and says he appreciates Hardy’s enthusiasm, but he is certainly not the next leader. Please, get the hell out of his ring. Hardy gets a mic to say that Rollins is on SmackDown, he’s here on Raw. This is like mirroring.

Oh okay, Rollins gets it. Hardy wants to say good-bye to him, too. Again, appreciated, but Hardy should really be focusing on his match this Friday with The Freak. “Good luck, pal. You’re gonna need it.” Rollins waves and takes his leave, but look who is coming out first! The PHENOMENAL AJ Styles is here! Styles asks if Hardy stumbled down to the ring like it’s last call. But keep going, Rollins, this was never his night. If Rollins thinks Styles cares about filling anyone’s shoes, he’s out of his mind. He is the footprint! But Rollins storms back to get in Styles’ face. Hardy wrecks them both with a dropkick and brawls with Styles! And then throws Styles into steps! Hardy gets space and uses Styles to give Rollins POETRY IN MOTION! Hardy goes back up fast to LEAP onto Styles!

Hardy gets back in the ring and says, “Oh man, AJ, you and me still got business.” But before Rollins leaves, Hardy is going to show him Raw is in good hands. How about a TRIPLE THREAT, right now?! Raw has to go to break first, but what a way to say good-bye and hello at the same time!

 

Triple Threat: Jeff Hardy VS Seth Rollins VS AJ Styles!

Raw returns and this match begins! Styles and Hardy brawl, Hardy hits Rollins, too! Hardy kicks Styles, clubs Rollins then goes back after Styles. Rollins clubs Hardy, throws haymakers and whips. Hardy kicks back, runs and clotheslines Rollins out! Styles ROCKS Hardy, kicks him to a corner and CHOPS! Styles elbows Hardy, bumps him off buckles, then rams into him! Styles whips, Hardy reverses and sends Styles to a corner, but runs into a boot! Styles runs at Hardy but gets a SLING BLADE! These two are down but Hardy covers Styles, ONE! Hardy bumps Styles of buckles, drags him up and bumps him again. Hardy rams into Styles and digs his shoulder in. Hardy runs but Rollins trips him up!

Rollins glares at Hardy as he climbs up onto the apron. Rollins and Styles go after Hardy together, corner clothesline and corner forearm! Hardy flops down and the two start stomping him! Then Styles rolls Rollins, TWO! ENZIGURI! Rollins wobbles into a fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! Rollins bails out so Styles goes after Hardy again. Styles puts Hardy on the ropes to choke but there’s no disqualifications! Styles still lets up to let Hardy flop to the mat. Styles snapmares Hardy, sets him down and stomps his face! Styles runs to drop a knee! Cover, TWO! Styles grows annoyed and Rollins returns but Styles kicks Rollins down. Styles goes after Hardy in a corner and brings him up. Styles wants to suplex but Hardy fights back with body shots and haymakers!

Hardy rams Styles into a corner and rams his shoulder in, but Styles turns it around to throw haymakers. Styles whips Hardy to a corner, but Hardy elbows him away. Hardy goes up but Rollins shove shim down! Hardy tumbles to the floor, Rollins rams into Styles then springboards! Styles gets under but comes back into a SLING BLADE! SUPERKICK! Rollins DIVES onto Hardy! Rollins keeps moving and drags Styles up, but Styles slips out of the bomb for the Phenomenal Blitz! But Rollins ducks the clothesline to ENZIGURI! Styles tumbles out to join Hardy, Rollins builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit on both men, the Architect stands tall as we go to break!

Raw returns and Hardy fights against Rollins’ cobra clutch. Fans clap and rally as Hardy fights free, only for Rollins to club him down and even stomp him! Rollins boots Styles out of the ring and shouts for him, “You don’t run this house! I run this house, until I say different!” Rollins stalks Hardy, drags him up and brings him around to bump off buckles. Rollins whips Hardy corner to corner, runs in but Hardy elbows him back. Styles runs in but into a haymaker! Hardy goes up, WHISPSER IN THE WIND! Two-for-one special, but double-edged given the bad leg! Fans clap and rally and Hardy gives Styles an atomic drop to leg splitting leg drop! And basement dropkick! Rollins runs in but misses, he gets an atomic drop to full nelson, then snapmare to neck snapper!

Styles kicks Hardy, suplexes, but Hardy fights that off to GOURD BUSTER! Hardy crawls to the cover, TWO! Rollins drags Hardy up, fireman’s carry but Hardy slips out to Russian Leg Sweep! Leg clutch cover, Styles breaks it! Fans clap and give thumbs both up and down. Styles drags Hardy up, suplexes to a dragon sleeper, REVERSE DDT! Cover, TWO! Styles is a bit surprised but he brings Hardy back up. Styles reels Hardy in and calls his shot, but Rollins FLYING KNEE stops that! Rollins DECKS Hardy with an elbow, then spins Styles for the FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! All three men are down and fans are excited on their screens! Hardy goes to a corner while Rollins sits up. Styles stirs and Rollins seethes, but Rollins goes to another corner. Rollins aims at Styles, runs out but Hardy leaps in, POETRY IN DDT! Cover, TWO!!

Hardy goes to the apron while Rollins is in a drop zone. Styles trips hardy up and climbs up to join him! Styles brings Hardy up, Rollins adds on, Styles rolls out of the Electric Chair to get the Calf Crusher! Rollins flails, reaches, but Hardy SWANTON BOMBS! Styles pushes Hardy away to cover Rollins, TWO!! The Monday Night Messiah still lives and shocks the Phenomenal One! Rollins flops out of the ring so Styles is after Hardy! Hardy resists the Clash, spins out to kick! TWIST OF FATE! SMASH!! Elias?! Elias hits Hardy with the guitar!! When did the Drifter get back!? Does he still blame Hardy for that alleged hit and run?! But that was Sheamus!! Elias watches as Styles covers Hardy, Styles wins!!

Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall

The Phenomenal One gets a phenomenal assist from Elias! Will Hardy try to talk reason to Elias? Or is it already too late for that?

 

Stephanie checks the next round of draft picks.

She seems really excited to see what Raw and SmackDown have done for round 9, and in some cases surprised. We’ll learn why after the break!

 

Raw returns with Stephanie at the podium.

With the first pick, Raw takes… ELIAS! We just saw what he did to Hardy, who else will be part of his next smash hit? SmackDown takes… WWE Intercontinental Champion, SAMI ZAYN! The Great Liberator will continue to be part of Friday nights, so who on the blue brand will step up to challenge him next? Raw takes… The Sassy Southern Bell, LACEY EVANS! The Woman’s Right comes back to Monday nights, will she aim for the title once more? SmackDown takes… The Swiss Cyborg AND the King of Strong Style, CESARO & SHINSUKE NAKAMURA! With the Street Profits in possession of the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, will Cesaro and Nakamura look to kill two birds with one stone? Raw closes the round by taking… The Celtic Warrior, SHEAMUS! The Fella lost that Street Fight with Big E, but now he can move on to some new challengers!

 

Dana Brooke & Mandy Rose VS Natalya & Lana!

The brawl that broke out on Miz TV is now a full on tag match! Will the #SexyMuscleFriends (Asuka’s nickname for Dana and Mandy) take that next step towards the Women’s Tag Team Championships? Or will they be sunk by the #BOAT and her “influential” friend?

Dana and Natty start, and Natty kicks Dana right at the bell! Natty throws haymakers, whips, but Dana handsprings and headscissors! Tag to Mandy, Mandy runs and back checks into Natty for an arm-drag! Cover, TWO! Mandy waistlocks Natty, brings her over and tags in Dana. Mandy snapmares, both handspring and basement dropkick! Cover, TOW! Natty tries to reach Lana but Dana O’Conner rolls! TWO, Dana swings on Lana, but Natty gets her for a rebound atomic sit-down! Tag to Lana, she runs for the sliding KICK! Cover, TWO, but Lana is on Dana with a suplex! Lana has Dana in the corner, stomps a mudhole and tags in Natty. Natty gets in and she stomps a mudhole in! The ref counts, Natty SLAPS Dana then tags Lana.

Lana and Natty have Dana on the ropes, Lana runs for double knees to the back! Cover, TWO! Lana keeps Dana down and bounces her head off the mat. Lana gives Dana more stomps, then drags her up into a chinbar and armlock. Dana endures, reaches for ropes but Lana gets a rear mount. Fans clap with Mandy to rally up, and Dana fights up and throws body shots. Lana throws Dana down by her hair! Lana talks trash on Mandy then SLAPS her! Dana rolls Lana up! TWO! Mandy tags in and she rallies on Lana! And DECKS Natty for good measure! Mandy dodges Lana, throws forearms and elbows and even stomps and knees! Mandy reels Lana in for a suplex! And kips up! Mandy fires up as she somersault CLOTHESLINES!

Mandy goes to the apron, shoulders into Lana then slides under to roll her! Tag to Dana before the KNEE FROM A ROSE! Dana has Lana in the drop zone and she climbs up onto Mandy’s shoulders! Assisted SENTON! Cover, Dana and Mandy win!

WInners: Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke, by pinfall

Friends who flex together win together! Will their unique combination of strength, speed and agility bring them tag team gold? As for Natty, she asks Lana, “Are you really that stupid?” This isn’t working out anymore, Natty is DONE with Lana. Lana has no husband, no girlfriend and no best friend. What is the Ravishing Russian to do on Raw?

 

The Hurt Business has a meeting backstage.

MVP knows that they and Retribution are staying on Raw thanks to the Draft. But Retribution isn’t here, because they knew what’d happen after last week. But wait, Ricochet is here. The One and Only must be a glutton for punishment. Maybe, because he’s here for one last match. As in his retirement? Yes, he’s retiring this. Alexander made a choice, and Apollo might get drafted to SmackDown, leaving Ricochet all alone. He has a proposition for the businessmen. It doesn’t do anything for them to be going after him, and it doesn’t do anything for him. Ricochet takes anybody. If he wins, this ends and they go their separate ways. But if they win, he’s in. Whoa, really? Alexander steps up because he would love nothing more! Bet? Bet. Is Ricochet going to win the gamble he put forward?

 

Angel Garza VS Andrade Almas!

The Lethal Lothario is back after an injury that cost him and Andrade Almas the Raw Tag Team Championships. But he and El Idolo will settle things between each other, with Zelina Vega watching on commentary! Which way does this break-up break, after the break?

Raw returns as Almas makes his entrance. Vega has already arrived on commentary and tells Garza to stop looking at him. Garza lounges on the ropes while waiting on Almas. The bell rings and Garza takes off the pants to throw at Almas! They start shoving and then throwing CHOPS! Almas headlocks, Garza gets ropes and the ref calls for the break. Vega talks smack on “Alexa Quinn” mixing up reality and fantasy, the real world and movies. Garza gets a headlock but Almas endures the grind. Almas lifts to back suplex Garza down! Then stomp and throws forearms! Garza grabs at ropes but Almas kicks the bad leg! Vega says this isn’t difficult to watch, because she wishes she could do this to both of them right now. This, as in Almas wrapping Garza’s bad leg around ropes and pulling!

The ref counts, Almas gets stomps in before he lets off at 4. Almas drags Garza up to kick the leg again. Almas stomps Garza’s back then lets off to waistlock and drag Garza around. Vega says these are two of the best, and she is still contractually obligated to be their manager, until the end of tonight. Garza fights up and throws elbows, then he bucks Almas off to SUPERKICK him! Cover, ONE!! Garza drags Almas up, underhooks, but Almas slips out of the Wing Clipper to HIP TOSS Garza into buckles! The bad leg takes damage again as Almas soaks up the heat. Almas drags Garza up but Garza grabs ropes. Vega loves watching this as Almas tries to hammerlock Garza. Garza gets ropes, Almas lets up to boot feint and ELBOW Garza out!

Almas follows Garza and tells Vega, “This is for you!” Almas brings Garza up, Garza throws him into the apron! Garza drags up and puts him in, then brings him up to underhook. WING CLIPPER!! Cover, Garza wins!!

Winner: Angel Garza, by pinfall

Vega does feel bad, despite how hard she’s trying not to care about either. Garza leaves her and Almas behind, is he going to fly higher without them?

Vega goes to check on Almas, but wait! Lights are going down! And when they come back, ALEXA BLISS is in the corner doing the spider walk!! Vega said her name too many times on commentary! And the FIEND is here, too!! They each get Almas and Garza in position, for DOUBLE SISTER ABIGAILS!! The Fiend and the Fallen Goddess have just made a statement their first night on Raw! Who else will let them in?!

 

Raw returns with another round of draft picks!

Stephanie goes right to the picks, Raw takes… NIKKI CROSS! The Twisted Sister will follow her former best friend, Alexa! Will she be able to save Alexa from the Fiend? SmackDown takes… ZIGGLER & ROODE! Well, will they end up winning the Raw Tag Team Championships and bring them to SmackDown anyway? Raw takes… The 24/7 Champion, R-TRUTH! The 42-time 24/7, 7/11, 747, European ThunderDome 2020 Television Champion will continue on Monday nights! SmackDown takes… APOLLO CREWS! Ricochet’s sixth sense was right and now he IS all alone! Raw finishes the round with… Raw Underground’s DABBA-KATO! If and when Raw Underground returns, will the big man continue to build momentum through those brutal brawls?

 

Raw Tag Team Championships: The New Day VS Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode!

Big E not opening with “AWWWW” doesn’t feel right. But either way, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods keep that positive energy flowing now that they’re on a new day. But will these titles be absolutely GLORIOUS and heading to SmackDown after all?

The introductions are made, the titles are raised, and this match to determine the fate of those belts begins!

Woods and Ziggler start, they circle, and Woods shoots it but Ziggler blocks and facelocks. Ziggler rolls Woods to a cover, TWO! They reset and go again fast, Woods gets a takedown to cover, ONE! Woods facelocks but Ziggler pops out to facelock and Oklahoma roll, TWO! Woods shoves Ziggler up and over to get a headlock, cover, ONE! Ziggler facelocks, Woods wrenches free to get the wristlock. Ziggler reaches for Roode but stomps Woods’ foot. Ziggler wrenches Woods to a wristlock, hammerlocks him but Woods spins to hammerlock back. Woods headlocks, wrenches, tags Kofi, and Kofi goes up to drop ax handles! Kofi shoots the half, covers, ONE! Ziggler gets up, around, facelocks to waistlock, and brings Kofi back to tag in Roode.

Roode stomps Kofi, headlocks and grinds, but Kofi fights up. Kofi powers Roode to ropes and then powers out, but Roode runs him over! Roode runs, Kofi stays down to then jump up and up and elbow Roode down! Cover, TWO! Kofi brings Roode up, wrenches, but Roode pulls hair to put Kofi on ropes. Roode rams into Kofi, then throws hands on Woods! Kofi rolls Roode, TWO! Roode ducks Trouble in Paradise to FULL NELSON SLAM! Tag to Ziggler and the two work together, ALLEY-OOP FAMOUSER! Cover, TWO!! The Glorious Show-Offs are shocked but in control as Raw goes to break!

Raw returns and Ziggler chokes Kofi on ropes! The ref counts, Ziggler lets up and Roode gets in a choke! The ref misses it and Ziggler tags Roode. Ziggler whips Roode for Roode to whip Ziggler and Ziggler hits a corner splash on Kofi! Ziggler feeds Kofi to Roode’s neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Kofi toughs it out and that frustrates Roode. Roode glares at Woods before he brings Kofi up. Kofi throws hands, Roode throws haymakers then stomps Kofi at the ropes. Roode chokes Kofi, lets up at 4, and Ziggler gets a cheap shot in! Roode drags Kofi up, suplexes high and hard, then hops up to ropes for a flying knee drop! Cover, TWO! Roode grows frustrated but fans rally up for Kofi. Roode jams a knee in and wraps on a chinlock. Kofi endures, fights up, Roode RAMS him into a corner!

Roode rams over an dover, lets up at 4 and then runs back in, into Kofi’s DOUBLE STOMPS! Both men are down, crawl for their corners, and hot tags to Ziggler and Woods! Woods dodges Ziggler to deck Roode and then dodges Ziggler again! Tilt-o-whirl heasdcissors! Woods mule kicks Ziggler, but Roode whips him to a corner! Woods boots Roode and hits the HONOR ROLL! Ziggler gets thrown out of the ring, Woods drop toeholds Roode! Woods run to slide off Roode and hit Ziggler with a dropkick! Woods puts Ziggler in, GET OVER HERE! Cover, TWO!! Ziggler survives but Woods grins. Woods brings Ziggler up, trophy lifts to show off his own strength, and then drops him, but Ziggler blocks the gutbuster! SATELLITE DDT! Cover, TWO!! Woods lives and Ziggler is shocked!

Ziggler tags Roode, Ziggler whips Roode for Roode to whip Ziggler, but Kofi helps Woods avoid the splash! Roode DECKS Kofi for it, but Woods rolls Roode! TWO, Woods boots Roode from the corner., Woods tries another Honor Roll into a SPINE BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Woods writhes while Roode seethes! Roode drags Woods up, but Woods ENZIGURIS! Both men are down again, Kofi is back on the corner, but Ziggler trips Kofi and whips him at steps! Kofi goes up and over to come back, LEAPING LARIAT for Ziggler! Roode grabs Woods but Kofi tags in! Roode still rolls Woods but Woods kicks out, and Roode goes into Kofi’s enziguri! Kofi goes up top, Woods scoops Roode, UP UP DOWN DOWN!! Cover, the New Day wins!!

Winners: The New Day, by pinfall (still Raw Tag Team Champions)

Surely Big E is celebrating as he watches this at home! Why? BECAAAAUSE~! New! Day Rocks!

 

Backsatge interview with Elias.

Charly Caruso welcomes him back but notes the first thing he does is smash Hardy with a guitar. Well she’s a reporter, so here’s the headline: “Elias’ new single off the album, Payback, headed Jeff Hardy’s way.” Payback for what? Well, it seems that everyone else has forgiven and forgotten Hardy, but NOT Elias! Elias won’t forget about the hit ‘n’ run that sidelined him! But we still don’t really know who was responsible for that frame job! Maybe it was Sheamus, maybe it was someone else. Elias gets it. “The mystery man with red hair.” You don’t think he knows who did it? Elias won’t forgive Hardy for trying to send Elias to the big stage in the sky. And as much as “the man upstairs” would love a private concert with The Drifter, cars can’t stop Elias.

Call him a legend, call him a rockstar, call him whatever, he IS Elias. Being the great musician he is, he searched his soul and wrote his magnum opus. Put this down in the calendars: October 26th, the night after HIAC, the new album, “Universal Truth” drops. But next week, we celebrate Elias’ return with something people have needed: a concert. It will be unforgettable, especially for Hardy.

 

Ricochet VS Cedric Alexander w/ The Hurt Business!

The One and Only knows he’s alone, and he’s willing to put his future here on Raw on the line! If he wins, he stays the One and Only, and the Hurt Business leaves him alone. If he loses, he joins up. Will Ricochet secure his future with his own two hands?

Raw returns as Ricochet makes his entrance. The bell rings and Ricochet and Alexander rush in and ROCK each other with simultaneous forearms! Ricochet comes back to throw body shots and forearms then a CHOP! Ricochet throws more forearms and CHOPS in the corner and whips corner to corner. Alexander reverses but Ricochet comes back to CLOBBER him! Cover, ONE! Ricochet comes back to CHOP Alexander more, but Alexander waistlocks and SLAMS Ricochet to basement dropkick! And then tackles Ricochet for furious fists! The Hurt Business loves this! Ricochet flounders, Alexander CHOPS him in the corner! Alexander stomps Ricochet at the corner, but lets him up as the ref counts. Alexander snap suplexes HARD, then covers, TWO! He tries again, TWO!

Alexander keeps Ricochet down with a chinlock and he grinds Ricochet down. Ricochet endures, fights up and fights back. Ricochet throws forearms, whips but Alexander reverses to then ROCK Ricochet at the ropes! Ricochet flops down and MVP says to capitalize! Alexander is all over Ricochet with grinding forearms, then shoots the half to a cover, TOW! Alexander still has Ricochet trapped, and rolls him from the ropes! Ricochet endures, fights his way back towards ropes but Alexander drags him away. Ricochet throws body shots but Alexander clubs him down. Alexander drags Ricochet up by an ear, DECKS him with a forearm, then talks trash just as MVP talks trash. MVP tells Alexander to slap Ricochet, so Alexander SLAPS Ricochet! Ricochet SLAPS back!

Alexander fires off on Ricochet in the corner, the ref counts and Alexander lets off. Alexander rolls Ricochet, Ricochet cradles Alexander, TWO! Ricochet ducks the clothesline to HALF ‘N’ HALF! Cover, TWO!! Alexander survives and Ricochet is furious! The Hurt Business isn’t much happier as they coach Alexander up. Ricochet goes to the corner, climbs up top, and 450s but has to bail out. Alexander runs into a fireman’s carry but slips off to forearm and CHOP! But he runs into the dropkick-flip and ROUNDHOUSE, to ENZIGURI! Ricochet runs into the SCOOP MICHNIOKU! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet survives again but the ref is part of collateral! So MVP gets a chair into the ring! But Ricochet gets said chair!

Ricochet glares but sees he’s surrounded on all sides. So he SMACKS the mat, and hands the chair to Alexander! Ricochet pulls a classic Eddie Guerrero move! The ref disqualifies Alexander!!

Winner: Ricochet, by disqualification; does NOT have to join the Hurt Business

Ricochet bails out, having outsmarted them all! The Hurt Business MUST leave Ricochet alone, or else they go back on their word. Will Ricochet be able to hold this over their heads for the rest of their careers?

 

Raw Talk gets Phenomenal!

Tonight’s WWE Draft edition of Raw Talk will not only have AJ Styles, but the NEW Raw Tag Team Champions, the New Day, and the winner of tonight’s #1 contender battle royal! Oh, and of course, one final round of draft picks.

 

Raw announces MASSIVE things for the Season Premiere!

After breaking part of the stage, and now that both men are on Mondays, Braun Strowman and Keith Lee will have a rematch from last week’s exhibition! Who wins and who stays standing now that things ARE on the record?

 

Stephanie McMahon returns with one more round of draft picks.

With the first pick of this 10th round, Raw takes… TITUS O’NEIL! The Real Deal stays Raw, will he rise back up to some gold? SmackDown takes… The Untouchable, CARMELLA! New look, new attitude, but still fabulous on Fridays! Raw takes… PEYTON ROYCE! No longer part of a duo, will the Venus Flytrap build her strength as a singles competitor? SmackDown takes… ALEISTER BLACK! The darkness follows, will he still go after Kevin Owens on Fridays? Raw finishes this round with… AKIRA TOZAWA! R-Truth still has his rivals here on Raw, will Tozawa get the 24/7 Championship back?

 

Raw Women’s Championship #1 Contender Battle Royal!

Superstars from both Raw and SmackDown are allowed to participate in this match, as it could turn out that yet undrafted talent ends up on Monday nights. Asuka joins commentary to watch as Peyton, Alexa, Zelina, Billie Kay, and even the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, battle for a shot at her title! Will this battle royal prove someone is finally ready for Asuka?

Raw returns as Mandy, Dana, Natty, Lana, Bianca Belair, Lacey Evans, Tamina and the Riott Squad have made their entrances. Before the bell, Nia grabs a mic to say, “The battle royal’s obviously gonna be won by Shayna, or more likely me.” So to save the other girls time, pain and humiliation, just jump over and out of the ring so you don’t have to get thrown out. Nia says, “You’re welcome,” but the bell rings and the champs get jumped by everyone else! Asuka loves this! That’s what they get! Nia and Shayna power out but then Lana ROUNDHOUSES Nia! And again! But then Tamina clobbers Lana! Family watches out for family, right? Tamina and Nia drag Lana up for DOUBLE HEADBUTTS! Asuka likes that! The family goes to hug, but then Nia throws Tamina out and ELIMINATES her! So much for family…

Billie goes after a leg but Nia is too big for her. Nia picks Billie up and puts her on the apron, and then corners her, as it were. Billie rams into Nia but hurts herself! Nia HEADBUTTS Billie and down she goes, Nia ELIMINATES Billie! Asuka cheers on Mandy and Dana, the #SexyMuscleFriends. But Shayna fights them off, scoops Dana and puts her on the ropes. Mandy goes after Shayna and saves Dana, but then Shayna puts Mandy out there with Dana! Dana and Mandy go to bring Shayna up but Nia rams and ELIMINATES them both! Nia says that’s four, but then the rest go after her! Asuka likes that as they all pick Nia up! Shayna is even part of it! Everyone ELIMINATES Nia!! Nia can’t believe it! But it’s not like they’re pals, right? Nia throws a tanturm and tears up the desk!

Bianca fights off Lacey and Nikki, Nia grabs Lana! Nia SAMOAN DROPS Lana through the desk!! Asuka does like that, though. Nia’s rage subsides for now, but wait, what’s going on backstage?! McIntyre found Orton!! McIntyre’s keeping his promise as he looks to beat the hell out of the Viper! Orton hits back, clubs and whips McIntyre into a garage door! McIntyre throws Orton into the garage door, too! “This is every Monday night! I’m gonna rename you, ‘Drew McIntyre’s B*TCH!!'” Orton rakes McIntyre’s eyes to then club away! There’s chaotic brawling everywhere and Raw goes to break!

Raw returns as Bianca tries to get Lacey up and over the ropes. The Squad goes after Shayna, Nikki goes after Lacey and Natty goes after Bianca. Lacey whips Nikki to a corner, but Nikki elbows back. Nikki hops up, reels Lacey in, TORNADO HOTSHOT! But the apron’s a bad place to be, Lacey uses a WOMAN’S RIGHT to ELIMINATE Nikki! Natty clubs Bianca while Lacey insults the “nasty.” Shayna KNEES Ruby, drags her up and Lacey goes after Liv. Liv kicks Lacey away to go save Ruby! But then Bianca chicken wings Liv for the GLAM SLAM onto Ruby! But Shayna gets Bianca in the KIRAFUDA! Bianca flails and pushes back to roll out! She drags Shayna up in chicken wings, and throws her at the ropes! Bianca ELIMINATES Shayna!! The EST makes sure the tag champions don’t have a shot!

Natty clobbers Bianca! And hoists her up top! Bianca fights back as Natty tries to push her out. The Squad regroups as Bianca clubs Natty and throws forearms. The Squad work together to dropkick and ELIMINATE Bianca! Well, Bianca’s heading to SmackDown anyhow, so she’ll have to focus on the SmackDown Women’s Championship. And we have a final four: Natalya, Lacey Evans, Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan. Natty and Lacey join forces against the Squad in a big brawl! Ruby has Natty, Liv has Lacey! The Squad whips Queen and Lady at each other but Lacey and Natty reverse. Liv leaps over Ruby, only for each of them to be put up and over onto the apron! Natty and Lacey run but into shoulders! But then a DISCUS and WOMAN’S RIGHT ELIMINATE Ruby and Liv at the same time!! Lacey and Natty are the final two!!

Fans are upset, because it’s not like either of these two are very likeable. Natty and Lacey circle, Lacey kicks and bumps Natty off buckles. And then more buckles! Lacey runs in but is put up and over! Natty throws hands but Lacey holds on! Lacey shoulders in, slingshot sup and over to waistlock. Natty fights the lift, elbows back and turns it around , but Lacey denies the atomic drop to then knee! Natty SLAPS Lacey! Natty clubs Lacey, SLAPS her again, then SLAPS her more! Lacey pushes back, Asuka now watches backstage as the two brawl. Natty suplexes Lacey up and over, but Lacey stays on the apron. Lacey drags Natty up and over onto the apron! They fight for control, Natty POSTS Lacey! Lacey sits down but keeps her feet up! Natty glare and runs in, into a BOOT! Natty holds onto the ropes! Lacey kicks the feet, Natty gets her feet back on the apron to save herself!

Natty gets up, but runs into Lacey’s headscissors! Natty keeps herself and Lacey up to swing and POST Lacey! Lacey hits the ground, Natty WINS! But wait, Lana is in!? She wasn’t eliminated!? She BOOTS Natty down and WINS!!

Winner: Lana (NEW #1 Contender to the Raw Women’s Championship)

The Ravishing Russian actually got lucky Nia decimated her earlier! She comes away with the biggest win of her career, and heads for the biggest match of her career! But if she only won this by luck, does she stand any chance against Asuka?

Whoa! Randy and McIntyre are brawling at ringside! McIntyre dumps Orton over barriers then stalks after. Orton kicks McIntyre, throws EuroUppers, then kicks him more! Orton brings McIntyre to the apron but McIntyre throws him into it! McIntyre CHOPS Orton, stalks him and clubs him, but Orton hits back! They keep brawling, McIntyre clubs and clubs and whips. Orton reverse and sends McIntyre into barriers! Orton brings McIntyre to the ramp for more haymakers! McIntyre hits back, referees and security hurry to stop this! These two have to make it to Hell in a Cell, but they don’t want to wait! Orton seethes and McIntyre shouts at him, but the referees and officials have brought them away. McIntyre vows he’ll see Orton next Monday, and then END him at HIAC! But will either man even survive to go through hell?


My Thoughts:

What a wild Raw! Now, a lot of the draft picks tonight were predictable yet logical. I am a little disappointed Kevin isn’t sticking around on Raw now that The Fiend and Alexa are here, there was so much potential there. Kevin VS Aleister was a great No Disqualification match, but now it seems wasted if they’re both going to SmackDown. Zelina Vega hasn’t been announced yet but I expect Raw Talk to handle that. She and Aleister are married IRL, so they are going to stick together on SmackDown. That will be great for both of them, as Zelina can A) continue her feud with Bianca, who is also on SmackDown, and B) be a fresh face to shake things up on Fridays. Keith Lee and Braun Strowman both being on Raw is great, they’re having a match next week which will be awesome, and it’s even of note that Dabba-Kato was a televised pick. Will Dabba get involved given his Raw Underground “match” with Braun? Three big behemoths brawling is better than two.

It makes sense for the Profits to go to SmackDown as Montez Ford and Bianca Belair are married, and because the New Day are here on Raw. I’m a little disappointed that the tag titles were literally just traded so that the champs have the proper belts. I would’ve preferred things to build to the double tag team champions, but I suppose WWE hasn’t completely given up on their Raw and SmackDown tag divisions. It’s just that they got bored with many of the teams that were still in it. But this technically means the New Day are TEN TIME champions, as this will be their third Raw title reign. And the Profits technically become triple crown in tag titles alone. They’ve been NXT, Raw and now SmackDown tag champs, a great accomplishment they’re definitely deserving of. I just wish it was with an epic match against New Day.

Garza VS Almas was great, and it was great for Garza to win. It’s another shame that Kevin and Aleister aren’t sticking on Raw, because Fiend and Alexa attacking Almas and Vega was great! Maybe we get a Mixed Tag that acts as a farewell to Vega. Almas is staying on Raw because last I checked, he and Charlotte Flair are engaged, and Charlotte is staying on Raw. Maybe Charlotte subs in for Vega to bring her relationship with Almas into kayfabe? Actually, I’m hoping not because we saw how that was for Rollins and Becky and that got awkward. Speaking of Rollins, his “good-bye speech” turning into that phenomenal Triple Threat was the best good-bye he could’ve had. Commentary said it was PPV worthy, and I actually agree. That could’ve easily be considered a contender’s match for the world championship, taking on the winner of McIntyre VS Orton.

Speaking of which, Orton and McIntyre both staying on Raw is the obvious move. It keeps the match at HIAC in HIAC for the WWE World Championship unpredictable. Their brawling tonight was really good too, especially to close the show. While McIntyre will surely want after Orton again next week, I hope that means they put a special stipulation on the world title HIAC match. Universal Championship match added I Quit on top of theirs, why not add Last Man Standing onto McIntyre VS Orton? Then Lana going from losing the tag match for her team, having Natty dump her as a friend and tag partner, getting Samoan Dropped through the announce desk a fourth time, and STILL winning the battle royal was an incredible arc for her in one night.

But there’s no way in hell she’s winning that title, even if it’s in a normal match next week for the “season premiere.” Asuka is Asuka, Asuka is awesome, Asuka will probably battle someone far more serious a threat at HIAC, and that person might even make themselves known next week. Probably “Alexa Quinn,” as Vega mocked her. One thing that wasn’t part of tonight was Retribution, despite Ali being advertised. Perhaps a last minute rewrite? Ricochet betting Hurt Business like that did come out of nowhere, so maybe Retribution just wasn’t ready for tonight and they adlibbed this part. Still good for the story, but I would’ve liked if Retribution made Ricochet an offer to join. Either way, it would’ve worked for one of those groups to get a fifth man, as I feel like Survivor Series could give us Retribution VS Hurt Business.

My score: 8.8/10


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Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (3/18/24)

Talk about a Big Time Raw!

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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 Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher; The Awesome Truth wins and advances to WrestleMania.
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy; The New Day wins and advances to WrestleMania.
  • Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax; Becky 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?

 

Adam Pearce is in the ring.

Raw returns with the GM by a table, and he welcomes us to a contract signing to make official the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship for WrestleMania! The fans cheer, and Pearce introduces first, the challenger, Sami Zayn! The Great Liberator makes his entrance and the fans sing along with his song. Sami still looks troubled by what Gable said just moments ago, but he still high-fives fans and gets in the ring. Then Pearce introduces the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time, Der Ring General, GUNTHER! The fans boo as Gunther walks in, having reached Day 647!

Gunther smiles as Sami watches him make his way down the ramp and into the ring. Pearce says we know how this works, but Gunther says before we proceed, let us call this what it is: the most important contract signing for the most important match in the history of this championship. And why, why, why is the challenger dressed no better than any of the bums in the audience? Fans boo but Sami just shrugs that off. Sami gets a mic to say that Gunther keeps sitting there all smug, and it’s really starting to piss Sami off. Gunther thinks this is just another day at the office, that he’ll steamroll through Sami like any other contender.

But with all respect to Gunther, he really has. He has beaten everyone that has come his way, and has done it on his own. Gunther doesn’t believe Sami can do it. A lot of people didn’t believe Sami at many points in his career. They didn’t believe he’d even make it to WWE, let alone win championships and main event a WrestleMania. And if you ask The Usos, they didn’t believe Sami would be one of the guys to end the longest tag title reign in WWE history, but he did! And one year later, he will make history again by ending the longest Intercontinental title reign in WWE history! Sami signs his part and pushes the contract over to Gunther.

The fans cheer Sami on but Gunther waits it out. Gunther tells Sami, what Sami should do is listen to his new friend, Gable. Gable doesn’t believe Sami can win. The people here cheer Sami, they probably even love Sami. But even they don’t believe Sami can win. And y’know, when Gunther looks Sami in the eyes, and if Sami was honest with himself, even Sami doesn’t believe he can win. So what Sami is doing right now is standing on Gunther’s doorstep and begging him to get the beating of a lifetime on the Grandest Stage of Them All! So whatever Sami has to do, from training to believing, just keep doing that. Because at WrestleMania, Sami’s dreams will meet reality.

Gunther grins and signs his part, and it is now official! Gunther then stands, title on his shoulder, and takes his leave. The fans boo, but then Sami tells Gunther to wait. Gunther steps back inside to hear Sami as Sami turns around. Gunther looks in Sami’s eyes and believes Sami doesn’t believe? Sami stands to get in Gunther’s face and dares him to look again. Get a good long look, because these are the eyes of the man who will take you down at Mania! The fans fire up, and now Sami leaves first. Gunther still just grins, but will Sami use a Helluva Kick to wipe that smile off his face?

We follow Sami as he storms backstage, right past DIY and The Awesome Truth. Truth asks what’s up with Sami, but The Miz says that is the mindset of WrestleMania right there. That’s what they need. DIY wishes Awesome Truth luck. Awesome Truth knows DIY is into the ladder match, and they are gonna have their own qualifier. Miz & Truth just need to beat… Indus Sher. Jinder Mahal tells Veer & Sanga to warm up for the match. They head out, and Truth says he feels sorry for whoever has to face those guys. Miz stares at Truth, and he has DIY hold off. Miz will explain. The Awesome Truth heads to gorilla, their match is next!

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher w/ Jinder Mahal!

Miz wants a remix of the theme song but Truth says to just follow his lead. NC State knows what’s up, but will the Awesome Truth finally reach the top of the tag division 13 years after they first teamed? We’ll see, after the break!

Raw returns as Indus Sher makes their entrance, the Modern Day Maharaja by their side. The teams sort out and Truth starts against Sanga. The fans echo “WHAT’S UP?!” but Sanga roars! Truth is scared now so he tags Miz. Truth fires Miz up, Miz runs up and dodges Sanga to fire off haymakers! Miz kicks, whips, but Sanga blocks! Sanga whips and CLOBBERS Miz! Jinder nods as Sanga then scoops Miz and brings him over. Veer tags in, Sanga SLAMS Miz, then Veer ELBOW DROPS! Indus Sher say “NAMASTE!” but the fans say “WHAT’S UP!?” with Truth. Veer HIP DROPS Miz, then looms over him.

Veer eggs Miz on, drags him up with shoulder claws, and then steps over Miz for the neck wrench! Miz endures as Veer still digs a claw into his shoulder. The fans rally for Miz, Miz fights up and throws body shots! Miz reaches out but Veer knees low! Veer SHOVES Miz to the corner, runs in, but Miz BOOTS! Miz ELBOWS Sanga, but Veer catches him! Veer puts Miz back int he corner, but Miz ducks the boot to tag Truth! Truth dodges Veer and starts up the shoulder tackles! Truth gets around Veer to SPIN-OUT BOMB! The fans fire up as Truth shouts out Cena with “You Can’t See Me!” Truth runs to Five Knuckle Shuffle!

Jinder is not happy now as Truth fireman’s carries! But Veer slips free! Truth drop toeholds to the STF!! The fans fire up but Sanga stomps Truth! Miz fires off kicks on Sanga, then body shots! Truth joins in, they mug and whip Sanga, to DOUBLE DROPKICK! Sanga staggers around, Veer runs up, but into a full nelson! Truth and Miz combine for a SKULL CRUSHING LIE DETECTOR!! But Sanga whips Miz away! Miz WRECKS Jinder with it, but Sanga runs up! Sanga knocks Miz down, Miz anchors Sanga, Sanga ELBOWS Truth, Truth falls onto Veer for the cover! Awesome Truth wins!!

Winners: The Awesome Truth, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

The fans fire up, and Truth doesn’t even realize what happened! Miz celebrates with Truth and Truth puts it together! They’re now one of the six in the ladder match! Will this combination of teamwork and luck be just what they need to take those titles from Judgment Day?

 

Sami confronts Gable now.

Sami tells Gable to tell him why. Why what? Why does Gable think Sami can’t beat Gunther? Well you just saw why! With Gunther, it isn’t just physical, it is mental. Sami made his career out of being the underdog that crawls his way out of any hole he’s in, right? Just like last week! Sami found the window of opportunity to get out of a bad situation any time he can. Gunther’s on a different level! You gonna sit and wait for that window to appear? It doesn’t happen with Gunther! He’s a different beast, a different animal. If Sami doesn’t change his mentality, then he can’t beat Gunther. Gable leaves Sami with a lot to think again. Is there a way Sami can change enough to defeat Der Ring General?

 

CM Punk speaks.

“Do I plan at being in WrestleMania? WrestleMania is in Philadelphia, what’re the first four letters in Philadelphia? Phil. You can’t have WrestleMania Philadelphia without Phil. Whether I’m invited or uninvited, Punk will be there.” And next week in Chicago, Punk returns to Raw! Will the Second City Saint find a way to be part of the biggest WrestleMania ever?

 

Drew McIntyre is here!

The Scottish Terminator, or as his new shirt says, “The Savior of WrestleMania,” makes his way to the ring, NC State a bit torn about seeing him. But then Seth Rollins is here, too!? McIntyre is upset but the fans sing along, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” as The Visionary struts his way out. Rollins swaggers right past McIntyre in his green storm pattern suit, and steps into the ring first. McIntyre frowns as he follows Rollins in, and sits in a corner. The fans continue to sing, which Rollins revels in for a moment. Rollins has the mic to then say, “RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA~! Welcome to Monday Night Rollins~!

“And Drew, hah, sorry, I didn’t even see you there. I was too busy, uh, y’know, soaking up the spotlight, right?” McIntyre has a mic to say, “Alright, here we go.” Here goes what, Drew? McIntyre says no, no, get it all out of your system, he knows Rollins has more! McIntyre can stay in the back while Rollins enjoys the spotlight, because after WrestleMania, that spotlight’s all McIntyre’s. Hey, hey, c’mon. Rollins is here with an honest cause. Rollins doesn’t like McIntyre, he thinks he’s stupid, a hypocrite, has said a lot of dumb things lately, but Rollins is here to admit that one thing McIntyre said is absolutely right and he wants to say it to McIntyre’s face, right here in Raleigh, in front of the fine people.

Now, they always say the first step to recovery is the hardest, so bare with Rollins. He has been working on this all week, but… “My name is Seth Freakin’ Rollins, and I’m a spotlight junkie.” The fans chant “Spotlight Junkie!” and also sing, but McIntyre says everything is just a joke to Rollins, isn’t it? Look at Rollins! He’s a parody of himself at this point. But honestly, McIntyre doesn’t care. He tried reasoning, he gave the answers, and now he only cares about their match and the world title. And you wanna know the real punchline, funny man? “What?” McIntyre says they say that because they’re happy McIntyre sidelined Punk, thanks for remembering!

But the punchline is when McIntyre beats Rollins for that title. The fans chant for “C M PUNK!” but McIntyre says don’t be ridiculous. Punk’s waiting until next week to return because he’d never show up in a place like Raleigh. The fans boo but McIntyre says see, they’re booing Punk! Punk is only getting off his couch to be at his local arena. Rollins tells McIntyre to shut up already. Oh, seems McIntyre got Rollins’ attention. Rollins takes off the sunglasses to say yeah, McIntyre has his attention. Because this isn’t a joke! When Rollins says he is a junkie, it isn’t a joke! He’s been doing this for 20 YEARS! Just like McIntyre!

And every time Rollins comes out of the curtain, that’s his fix. And it gets better and better every single time. Rollins comes out here, lays it all on the line, and it just gets better and better! When he hears the fans sing the song so loud, Rollins can barely speak, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” That’s Rollins’ fix! That is the spotlight he craves, and y’know what? Rollins wants the spotlight as bright as it can possibly be. So yeah, McIntyre’s been busy online entertaining people with memes, so he hasn’t been listening to Rollins. So Rollins will get this through McIntyre’s thick skull: Night One, Rollins takes the biggest star in Hollywood and his side chick, and makes them his b*tches!

Then on Night Two, the biggest spotlight possible will be shined down on McIntyre and Rollins and the World Heavyweight Championship! McIntyre says all hail the savior, Seth Rollins! This is what McIntyre wanted! The passion and desire, not the stupid laughing and dancing. Rollins had McIntyre all the way to the finish. Rollins has done this 20 years, just like McIntyre. They’ve given their lives to this industry, and that is what the title is about! The wrestlers’ title, the workhorse championship! Rollins had McIntyre with him until he mentioned the bigger spotlight and how Rollins pins one of the biggest stars in the world.

Why can’t it just be about Rollins’ hard work to make that title, and all of McIntyre’s hard work to get this chance? Why can’t that be the reason they’re getting the biggest spotlight!? Rollins has had his priorities all backwards, McIntyre has been giving him all the answers. McIntyre said he is over the BS, and all he cares about is Rollins making it to the ring on Night Two. And if Rollins can’t walk, then McIntyre will wheel him down. If not, McIntyre will carry Rollins down. At Mania, McIntyre doesn’t get the moment he deserves. He gets the moment he has bloody EARNED. The fans do cheer that!

Rollins smirks and says, “Ah, Drew. There it is. That’s right, you wanna call me a spotlight junkie, but you want the spotlight just as bad as I do, don’t you? You’re an addict, just like I am. And you’ve been begging for spotlight for the past four years, because you won the WrestleMania main event. You did, back in 2020, in an empty warehouse. And all we’ve been hearing from Drew McIntyre for the past four years was how that wasn’t good enough. You’ve been whining and complaining and bitching and moaning that you deserve better, that you deserve more. The problem is, Drew, when everybody came back around, and the lights got bright again, what happened? You fumbled the ball.

“And that’s the difference between you and me. When the lights are the brightest, I shine, baby. I shine bright. And at WrestleMania 40, the lights are gonna be as bright as they have ever been. And you are gonna find out you are not as good as you think you are.” Rollins drops the mic, but this time McIntyre smirks. The verbal battle continues, but who will put their money where their mouth is once this one finally happens?

 

Becky Lynch speaks.

“I’m a wanted woman, and I don’t even have the title. Yet. But we’re less than three weeks away from WrestleMania, so why would I risk it all? Because I don’t know anything else. All I know is taking risks. All I know is fighting. And all I know is tonight, I’m gonna be the Last Woman Standing.” Becky is fired up to finally do what she hasn’t done in the most extreme way possible. Will she be the immovable object to Nia’s irresistible force?

 

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy!

Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods have been W, W, E, World, Tag, Team, CHAMPIONS~, but they’ve never been a part of a title match as big as this Six Pack Ladder challenge! Will they look to be part of history once again? Or will Akira Tozawa & Otis say “A THANK YEW~!” for this golden opportunity?

Raw returns as the Academy makes their entrance. The teams sort out and Woods starts against the tree trunk, Otis. The fans rally for “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Otis and Woods tie up, but Woods kicks low then headlocks. Otis powers up and out then runs Woods over! Otis storms up on Woods, GUT RAMS him back down, then brings him back up. Otis GUT RAMS Woods again, then runs to CLOBBER Woods! Otis swivels his hips, the fans echo “Oh~ yeah!” Otis tags Tozawa and the Academy mugs Woods. Tozawa brings Woods around but Woods CHOPS! Woods tags Kofi, he and Kofi double whip Tozawa but Tozawa holds ropes!

Tozawa fires hands, dodges Woods then BOOTS Woods down! Kofi kicks low, whips Tozawa to a corner, but Tozawa BOOTS Kofi away! Tozawa goes up to FLYING RANA! The fans fire up as Tozawa sees New Day regroup outside. Tozawa runs to DIVE! Direct hit on both New Day, and Otis joins in for “A THANK YEW~!” The Academy stands tall as Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Tozawa fights a chinlock. Tozawa reaches for Otis but Woods back suplexes. Tozawa lands out to then DROPKICK Woods down! The fans rally as Woods and Tozawa crawl, hot tags to Otis and Kofi! Otis CLOBBERS Kofi, CLOBBERS him again, then whips him to ropes. WRECKER ELBOW! Woods runs in, Otis dodges, to LARIAT! Otis sees Kofi leap off the corner, and catches him for a WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM! Otis rips the shirt off, winds up the hips, and then starts up the CATERPILLAR! ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Kofi survives but Otis hurries to step on him! Tag to Tozawa, and Otis goes up!

Otis VADER BOMBS but FLOPS as Kofi moves! Tozawa hurries up top while Kofi SUPERKICKS Otis! Kofi turns around into the CROSSBODY from Tozawa! Cover, TWO! Tozawa SUPERKICKS Kofi but Woods tags in! Woods GAMANGIRIS Tozawa, then steps in to TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Tozawa toughs it out but Woods grits his teeth as he goes to the corner. Woods climbs, but Tozawa rises! Tozawa throws body shots, Woods CLUBS Tozawa! Tozawa throws more hands and climbs up! The fans rally as they brawl up top! Tozawa brings Woods up but Woods fights the lift! Woods throws body shots in return!

Woods shifts position to get under Tozawa for a fireman’s carry! But then Tozawa pops up to SUPER STEINER!! Tozawa rips off his shirt, climbs back up top, SUPER SENTON!! Cover, Kofi breaks it! The fans fire up but Otis drags Kofi out! Otis whips Kofi at steps, Kofi goes up and jumps off the steps to TORNADO DDT to the floor! Kofi hurries back up to the apron but Tozawa SCREW HIGH KICKS him down! Tozawa dodges Woods, pop-up, but Woods blocks the rana to then SPINNING POWERBOMB! Woods sees the WrestleMania sign, hurries up the corner, and he tightrope walks! LIMIT BREAK ELBOW!! Cover, New Day wins!

Winners: The New Day, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

The New Day are the ones saying A THANK YEW~ as they put their names down for the Six Pack Ladder Match! Will they once again climb to the top of the WWE Tag Team Division and bring home those championships?

 

Liv Morgan confronts Becky Lynch.

Becky asks if she’ll have to watch out for Liv as well. Well, you should always #WatchMe, but no, not tonight. Nia is all Becky’s. Liv just wants Becky to kick Nia’s ass. Liv leaves, will Becky kick ass and then some?

 

Cody walks with his dog, Pharaoh, backstage.

Rollins finds him and brings up Friday. One on one? One on one. Rollins nods and says he loves Pharaoh’s bandanna. The Visionary trusts the American Nightmare can handle himself, but will we be able to trust The Tribal Chief?

 

Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax!

From the origins of “The Man” in WWE to the aftermath of Elimination Chamber: Perth, these two have battled, but never as brutally as this! They’re able to go anywhere and do anything, but who will be the Last Woman Standing this close to WrestleMania 40?

The bell rings and the two rush in! Becky DROPKICKS Nia and Nia goes to a corner. Becky runs in but Nia puts Becky on the apron. Becky ROCKS Nia, goes up a corner, then leaps to MISSILE DROPKCIK! Nia stumbles and tumbles out of the ring, so Becky WRECKS her with another dropkick! Becky then goes to the apron for a FLYING FOREARM! Nia stays up, Becky tries again, but Nia dodges! Fireman’s carry and Nia POSTS Becky, to then SAMOAN DROP her into barriers! The ref counts as Becky is down, but she stands at 4 of 10. Nia CLOBBERS Becky and wants the count! The count climbs but Nia is impatient.

Nia clears off the desk, Becky stands at 5 of 10, and she leans against barriers. Becky comes back with body shots and haymakers, but Nia ROCKS her with a forearm! Becky staggers away as Raw goes to break!

Raw returns and Becky is bringing out a table! The fans fire up as Becky sets that up ringside. There’s been a lot of chaos during the break according to commentary, from chairs to kendo sticks to even a copy of Becky’s book, The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl! But Nia storms over to stop Becky and SMACK her off the desk! Nia puts Becky in the ring, takes that table for her own and sets it up. The table doesn’t cooperate and fans boo, but Nia goes for chairs instead. She slides those in the ring, Becky manages to stand at 7 of 10, and she grabs at those chairs. Nia ditches the table, it just doesn’t wanna work.

Nia storms in but Becky JAMS her with a chair, SMACKS her with it, then clinches! Nia fights the slam, fireman’s carries Becky, and FULL METAL SAMOAN DROPS!! Becky writhes from hitting chairs but Nia looms over her. Nia soaks up the heat as she counts along. Becky flounders to ropes and drags herself up at 7! Nia sits a chair up, fans want a table, but Nia scoops Becky. Becky slips around to a SLEEPER! Nia RAMS Becky into buckles again and again until Becky lets go. But then Becky BULLDOGS Nia off the chair! Nia is down for the count now, and Becky leans against ropes to stay up herself.

Nia stirs at 5, stands at 8, but Becky is up top! Becky leaps, into a CHAIR SHOT! Nia SMACKS Becky again and again and again! The fans boo but Nia finally stops. Nia puts that chair aside and goes out to get some kendo sticks! Nia puts those in, but Becky grabs one! Nia snatches it from her to SMACK! And SMACK! And SMACK! Becky sputters and staggers, Nia clinches and scoops! Nia SLAMS Becky onto chairs! Then Nia runs to drop the leg, brother! Nia wants the count and the count begins! Becky sputters as we reach 5 of 10. Becky grabs that kendo stick but Nia SMACKS Becky with a chair! And again!

Nia kicks Becky around, then uses the chair to take a seat on Becky’s body!! The fans boo as the count begins, but Becky SMACKS Nia with the kendo stick! And again and again and again, even in the butt! Nia stands up, into more shots! Becky stands and she fires away until Nia scurries out of the ring! Becky pursues but Nia CLOBBERS her! Nia pulls the steel steps apart now, and takes that top half to RAM Becky down! Becky flounders, Nia hauls her up and puts her in the ring. Becky’s on the apron and Nia takes aim! Nia runs up, APRN LEG DROP only gets apron! Becky avoids disaster, then has Nia by the steps! DDT onto the steel!

Nia is down again and the count begins. Nia stirs at 5 of 10, sits up at 6, but Becky SMACKS her off steps! Nia falls over again and the count resets. Becky hurries to go looking for things while Nia rises again. Becky has a new table! The fans fire up as Becky gets that in the ring. Nia stands at 7, staggers after Becky, and Raw goes back to break.

Raw returns once again and Nia mugs Becky against barriers! Nia puts Becky on a table, and surprise! There’s a ladder set up now! Nia climbs the ladder?! She also demands Pat support the ladder. But Becky gets off the table so now Nia has no reason to be up there. Nia storms after Becky, but gets a FIRE EXTINGUISHER BLAST!! The fans fire up as Becky cools Nia off, then JAMS her with the canister! Becky puts Nia in the ring, and there’s a table waiting in a corner! Becky lines up the shot, and runs in, but Nia SAMOAN DROPS Becky through the table!!! Both women are down in the wreckage and the count begins!

Nia flounders away from the wreckage but she still needs to stand. Nia is up at 5, and she isn’t satisfied with this! She drags Becky all the way to another corner and puts her in the drop zone! Nia climbs up, for the A-NIA-LATOR!! Nia shouts for the count, the count begins, and Nia storms around as she points to the Mania sign. Becky is still down at 5 of 10, only starts stirring at 7, and she slumps out of the ring to stand up! Nia is furious, goes out after Becky, and kicks things aside to keep after her. Nia asks if Becky’s vision is blurry. Nia fireman’s carries Becky up the steel steps and along the apron, aiming for that other table!

The fans freak out but Becky fights with elbows! Becky CLUBS away on Nia and the fans are thunderous! Becky then clinches, for a MANHANDLE SLAM through the table!!! Both women are down int he wreckage again, and the count begins! Becky sits up at 4 while fans are still losing their minds! We pass 5 of 10, then 7! Nia sits up at 8 and stands at 9! But then she slumps back over! The count starts again, Nia flounders around and stands at 5. Becky goes up the ladder! Becky sees Nia approaching the desk, and then SUPER MAN’S LEG DROP through the desk!!! The fans lose their minds again while both men are down in more wreckage!

The count is 5 of 10! Becky flounders and crawls, drags herself up at 9, but Nia is still down! BECKY WINS!!

Winner: Becky Lynch

The Man conquers truly one of the most intense challenges in her career! But then here comes one of the most intense champions! The fans fire up as Rhea Ripley makes her way out, Women’s World Championship in hand. She goes right to the ring and looks at Becky. Rhea “congratulates” Becky for winning, but then Becky gets in Rhea’s face! The fans fire up, and now there are no obstacles in the way of Mami VS The Man! Who will be the champion after WrestleMania 40?


My Thoughts:

A great Raw right here, though the in-ring action kinda dipped down until that awesome Last Woman Standing main event. This is one of the times I wish they’d done picture in picture so we as the TV audience could see even more action. Great win for Becky, of course, but I also like that Becky had a moment with Liv just before, and of course she had a moment with Rhea to close out the night. Great promos with Sami and Gable that also blended into the contract signing from tonight. And I suppose Gable has a point that Sami, the comeback kid, can’t do that when Gunther has an arsenal of moves that would be “finishers” given all the different ways Gunther has won over the years.

And speaking of that contract signing segment, I really liked the segue they did in following Sami so that he’d cross paths with Awesome Truth at gorilla and we’d get their segment going into their match. WWE has been doing some really creative stuff in this newest era where Vince is truly out and apparently even Kevin Dunn has moved on. Awesome Truth had a really fun but also really quick tag match with Indus Sher, and then New Day VS Alpha Academy was solid stuff, but DIY VS Creeds was such an awesome match. For a moment, I thought Creeds were gonna take this one but DIY still found a way, and I like that DIY is in. Honestly, I’m liking that the HHH favorites are getting in, because we also have New Catch Republic on the other side that can still win into the match.

Judgment Day had good stuff tonight, too. Good group promo with Andrade to tease El Idolo possibly joining, but who knows if he does. Depends on how things go for Priest. He was watching the qualifiers, he’s not worried, but maybe he should be. Granted, he still has the MITB briefcase, he could go from losing the tag titles to taking the world title, who knows how the Judgment Day’s story is going to go as we move past Mania. Dom VS Ricochet was a really good match, and Ricochet winning was the right move to keep this feud going. I think there’s going to be Ricochet VS McDonagh next week as a rematch from the gauntlet, that’ll be great stuff, too.

Candice’s Heel turn slow burn continues as she takes advantage of the “hurt” leg. Indi also does a good job of being very conflicted about this. There’s a WWE YouTube exclusive where Ivy Nile confronts Candice so that’ll be a match, and then maybe when Candice again goes too far, Indi steps in and we get a match of Candice VS Indi at some point. Good little update promo from CM Punk, he’ll have a great homecoming moment in Chicago, but also probably McIntyre coming after him. McIntyre had a great promo segment with Rollins, and with all these continued moments where the other person gets the mic drop moment, it feels like McIntyre has to win the title.

And of course, great stuff with the Bloodline story even on Raw. Jey and Jimmy have great promos in their confrontation, and of course it turns into a brawl. Good segue from that to Heyman being here, and Heyman confronting Cody during Cody’s great promo segment. Cody really went off on The Rock, that was some wild stuff. But the supposed promise of “one on one and no one else aside from Heyman” might be kept, and we get a strong promo segment on SmackDown in a foreshadowing of the fair-and-square 1v1 match. Or it is a trap and that’s more a foreshadowing of Bloodline Rules where they can do whatever they want. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

My Score: 8.9/10


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Mitchell’s NJPW New Japan Cup Results & Report! (3/18/24)

The semifinals are here!

Published

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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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