Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (10/16/20)
It’s the SmackDown Season Premiere!
SmackDown says hello to some, and farewell to others!
After the 2020 WWE Draft, it’s the Friday Night SmackDown SEASON PREMIERE! And the brand new #TripleCrownProfits put their SmackDown Tag Team Championships on the line!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Jeff Hardy VS Lars Sullivan; Lars wins.
- A Farewell to Fridays Six Man Tag: The New Day VS Sheamus, Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura; The New Day wins.
- SmackDown Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler; No Contest, the Street Profits retain the titles.
- WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman VS Braun Strowman; Roman wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Are you STILL ready for a good time?
Some new stars are in the intro, but this is still Friday Night SmackDown! And to that affect, there are superstars on stage from both Raw and SmackDown, while Triple H and Stephanie McMahon are in the ring! Stephanie welcomes us to tonight’s season premiere! HHH says premieres are exciting with all new action, drama and excitement! Tonight, there’s something for everyone, including tonight’s main event for the WWE Universal Championship! The Monster Among VS The Tribal Chief! Plus, in a farewell match, The New Day takes on Cesaro, Sheamus and Shinsuke Nakamura! And for perhaps the last time, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods man the Big E Cannon! But Steph reprimands them, that is “obscene.”
But moving on, the Charismatic Enigma will take on THE SUPER FREAK, Lars Sullivan! And for the first time in the ThunderDome, it will be DANIEL BRYAN! There he is on stage! The fans chant, “YES! YES!” on the ThunderDome screens. Plus, look at all the new faces to SmackDown. Such as Kevin Owens! And Aleister Black! These two don’t like each other, but there’s still the WWE Intercontinental Champion, Sami Zayn! But also Mr. Money in the Bank, Otis! Oooh yeah~! And defending the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford, THE STREET PROFITS! Some fans chant, “We Want the Smoke!” but Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode attack! Because the GLORIOUS Show-Offs want the tag titles! And the rest of the locker room brawls!
Aleister goes after Kevin, The New Day brawls with Sheamus, Cesaro and Nakamura, and whoever else is in there goes after whoever else they can find! Kevin throws Aleister out, then he CANNONBALLS onto Aleister, Cesaro and Nakamura! Kalisto fights Buddy Murphy, Shorty G hits Kalisto, Apollo goes after Murphy. Ford FLIES onto Ziggler and Roode! Sami is smart enough to stay out of the way, but here comes LARS!! Lars roars as he storms down to the ring! He CLOBBERS Ford, CLOBBERS Dawkins, and catches Kalisto’s dive to RAM him into barriers! Lars glares, Sami runs away but Apollo and Chad Gable try, only to get clobbered! Gable takes a FREAK ACCIDENT! The Freak roars again, but here comes Jeff Hardy! Hardy kicks, but no Twist of Fate just yet! Hardy baits Lars in and dumps him out! Hardy wants payback for last week’s sudden attack, will Hardy’s farewell to Fridays be monstrous?!
Jeff Hardy VS Lars Sullivan!
SmackDown returns as the match begins, and Jeff Jarrett is spotted in the ThunderDome LED screens. Jeff Hardy starts as he dropkicks a leg out and throws haymakers on Lars. Lars blocks a kick but Jeff spins back to heel kick. But Lars comes back to CLOBBER Hardy! Lars drags Hardy up, clubs him with crossface forearms, then looms over him. Lars drags Hardy up and throws him into buckles! Hardy crawls to another corner but Lars stalks up behind him. Lars drags Hardy up to club him more, and Hardy flounders against ropes. Lars brings Hardy up for a back suplex TOSS! Then Lars runs to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! A bit cocky on that cover, but Lars is upset with Hardy! Lars drags Hardy around, goes to a corner and climbs up top! FLYING FREAK HEADBUTT FLOPS as Hardy moves!
Hardy is up, he kicks and throws more haymakers! Lars choke grips but Hardy breaks free to jawbreaker! Lars staggers, Hardy whips but Lars blocks! Lars whips Hardy but Hardy comes back with forearms! Atomic drop, but Lars blocks the trip-up to CLUB Hardy back down! Lars drags Hardy up and puts him in a corner, but Hardy elbows him away! Hardy goes up, WHISPER IN THE WIND! Cover, ONE?! The Whisper wasn’t enough but Hardy comes back with a kick. Lars denies the Twist again and he shoves Hardy right out! Hardy flounders up as the ring count starts, but Lars pursues! Lars comes around, and CATCHES Hardy’s Poetry in Motion to SLAM him on the apron! Lars puts Hardy in at 8 and stalks him again. Hardy kicks back, TWIST OF FATE!!
Hardy throws off the shirt but Lars staggers up to his feet?! Hardy is up top, sees Lars standing there, and Lars grabs Hardy by the throat! Lars drags Hardy off the top, for a FREAK ACCIDENT!! Cover, Lars wins!
Winner: Lars Sullivan, by pinfall
That move may be called the Freak Accident, but make no mistake, Lars purposefully destroys his opponents! Will Lars have a purpose moving forward on Fridays?
A Farewell to Fridays Six Man Tag: The New Day VS Sheamus, Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura!
AWWWW~ ThunderDooome~! Don’t you dare be sour! Just because Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are moving to Mondays doesn’t mean the Power of Positivity (hold it down!) goes away! Will this be the happiest of “good bye for now” moments as ya bois come out on top? Or will the Celtic Warrior, Swiss Cyborg and King of Strong Style ruin the fun?
SmackDown returns as the New Day have some mics and the fans clap along, “New! Day Rocks!” Big E says that after the last six years, ya bois the NEW~ DAY~, finally found the one thing stronger than the Power of Positivity. And that is the WWE Draft. Now, we all know that Big E stays on SmackDown, and for the first time in those six years, the team will be split. Kofi says they have had a week to think about this, and after going through a plethora of emotions, Kofi is feeling emotional. He couldn’t help but smile, though. When he went on social media, the WWE Universe reminded them of all the special moments. Woods saw the night they won TWO Triple Threat Tag Matches to become the longest reigning W, W, E, World, Tag, Team, CHAMPIONS~!
Kofi remembers the sound of kendo sticks on Woods’ body against the Usos at Hell in a Cell. Big E remembers the tears as they watched Kofi finally become WWE World Champion. Especially Woods’ face. But while those moments are so incredible, this means something else to them. Woods sees two guys who didn’t have to take a chance on someone doing nothing and wouldn’t have been in the WWE anymore. But Big E and Kofi trusted Woods’ idea, and it became the best six years of his life. Big E thinks of those Saturday mornings in towns like Macon, Georgia, or Jackson, Mississippi, eating a meal at Waffle House and talking about families, kids, and Big E’s TV. He’ll be a family man soon enough. Hey don’t rush him.
But Kofi isn’t sure if he said this on TV, but in 2012, he was in a point in his career where he didn’t know if he wanted to do this anymore. Then he was approached by Big E and Woods, they had this idea “to do something special.” Kofi is so glad they did. He knows they did a great, legendary, iconic things in the ring, but more importantly, he made two of the best friends he’s ever had in his life. Kofi fully considers them his brothers in every sense of the word. But now they’re gonna cry before the match. No more sappy! They’re going to get it done in the ring one last time, and whoop that tail the only way they know how! And why? BECAUSE~! NEW! DAY ROCKS! Will all this emotion give us the best match these three have had yet?!
Meanwhile, Kayla Braxton has a backstage interview with Sheamus, Cesaro and Nakamura. Given all their history with the New Day, what does this “farewell” match mean? Sheamus says they’re so grateful to give the three “hip-swiveling Muppets” what they deserve! Cesaro says “those pancake eating punks” stole the tag titles! Tonight, they’ll take great pleasure in ruining these final moments together! Nakamura will bid them adieu. And not just for now, but good-bye FOREVER! The Bar plus one go out one last time in their own right, will their short-lived reunion be the victorious one?
SmackDown returns and the farewell is already underway as Woods and Nakamura grapple. Nakamura waistlocks and rolls but Woods gets up to wrench free. Woods elbows the arm, wrenches again but Nakamura pulls hair to knee low! Nakamura knees and forearms Woods in a corner, whips him corner to corner, but Woods goes up and over and arm-drags! Woods has the armlock, Nakamura gets up but Woods wrenches. Nakamura stomps Woods’ bad foot then throws forearms. Nakamura whips, Woods ducks and Kofi tags in! Woods slides under, mule kicks and feeds Nakamura to Kofi’s DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, ONE! Kofi keeps on Nakamura with an arm wrench, he hits an elbow breaker then whips. Nakamura reverses to knee low and kick, Kofi ducks that but not the windmill!
Tag to Cesaro, he and Nakamura double whip and double hip toss! Then they split the wishbone! Cesaro drags Kofi up, throws heavy European Uppercuts, then body shots in the corner! The ref counts, Cesaro wrenches and whips Kofi corner to corner, but Kofi goes up and dropkicks back! Kofi tags Big E and then leap frogs over for the senton! Tag to Woods, Woods manages to Electric Chair lift Big E for a SPLASH! Woods covers, TWO! Woods drags Cesaro up, CHOPS him, and CHOPS him, but Cesaro DECKS Woods with the EuroUpper! Tag to Sheamus, and the Bar gets to double whip and Bar Lariat once again! Sheamus runs and drops a knee! Sheamus stomps Woods’ hand, then drags Woods up for a EuroUpper of his own!
Sheamus drags Woods up, scoops Woods, but Woods fights out! Woods rolling elbows then mule kicks! And KNEES Sheamus down! Tag to Big E, Woods runs and rolls for Big E to bomb lift! Kofi tags in, Big E POWERBOMBS Woods onto Sheamus! Kofi is up top, he leaps for a FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Kofi keeps Sheamus from the others as he brings him up. Sheamus throws body shots, shoves Kofi but Kofi kicks back! Kofi runs but Cesaro distracts the ref and Nakamura holds the ropes down! Kofi tumbles out hard! Woods and Big E protest while checking on Kofi, but Sheamus tags Cesaro, and Cesaro tags Nakamura! The Bar hold Kofi up for Nakamura to TOP SHELF KNEE! Then Sheamus pushes Kofi for Cesaro’s suplex to the floor! The ref reprimands, Nakamura puts Kofi in the ring and covers, TWO!
Nakamura drags Kofi up, puts him in the corner and gives him Bad Vibrations! The ref reprimands, Sheamus tags in and he throws heavy body shots! Tag to Cesaro and Cesaro stomps away with Sheamus! Cesaro lets up, he eggs Kofi on, and Kofi fights up to throw haymakers! Kofi throws body shots, too, and he backs Cesaro down! But Cesaro scoops and SLAMS Kofi, to then drop the leg, brother! Cover, ONE!! Kofi is tougher than that, but Cesaro tags in Sheamus. The Bar mugs Kofi, Sheamus clubs Kofi down and tags Nakamura. They mug Kofi, then Nakamura stomps away! The ref counts, Nakamura tags in Cesaro, and Cesaro steps on Kofi as he enters! Cesaro walks all over Kofi literally, but Kofi fights back! Kicks and elbows and hayamkers, but Cesaro keeps Kofi from the New Day!
Cesaro puts Kofi up top, Sheamus tags in and just YANKS Kofi down! Kofi crashes to the ground and the #BARtists are in control as SmackDown goes to break!
SmackDown returns and Sheamus clamps onto Kofi with a chinlock. Kofi fights up but Sheamus knees low and then sucker punches Woods! Sheamus goes back after Kofi but Kofi spins around to crucifix pin! TWO, Sheamus runs into SOS! Both men are down, the fans fire up on their screens and Big E starts up the “New! Day Rocks!” claps. Hot tags to Big E and Cesaro! Big E gets Cesaro for an OVERHEAD suplex! Big E hits Nakamura, OVERHEAD suplexes Cesaro again, then gets him for the side belly2belly! Fans cheer Big E as he swivels the hips and runs, to SPLASH! Big E keeps clapping and he waits for Cesaro to stand. Big E scoops Cesaro, Cesaro fights out and gut wrench suplexes! Cesaro goes to Big E in the corner and hits a EuroUpper! Then he whips corner to corner, but Big E elbows him away!
Woods returns and tags in! Cesaro EuroUppers Big E, but Woods shoves Cesaro into the URENAG-E BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO!! Cesaro survives the combo move but “Morning Woods” didn’t hit hard enough. Woods throws haymakers, Cesaro shoves him but Woods comes back. Cesaro puts Woods on the apron, Woods forearms him away, but Get Over Here runs into a EuroUpper! Nakamura tags in, Woods is stuck and Nakamura hits the SLIDING GERMAN! Cover, TWO!! Woods survives but Nakamura stomps him down. Nakamura kicks at Woods and scrapes him at the ropes! The ref reprimands, Woods shoves Nakamura but Nakamura fires off a strike fest! Woods dodges and drop toeholds Nakamura onto ropes! Woods runs, and tags Kofi while hitting the sliding back attack!
Kofi gets in but Cesaro CLOBBERS Woods! Big E holds the ropes down for Kofi to FLY out onto Cesaro and Nakamura! Sheamus CLOBBERS Big E! Kofi kicks Sheamus back, puts Nakamura in and climbs up top! Kofi leaps into a KICK! Both men are down, Nakamura tags in Cesaro! Swiss Sing KNEE! Tag to Sheamus, catapult to Alabama, Cesaro is up top, A-SWISS-TED WHITE NOISE!! Cover, but Big E breaks it! Big E sees Cesaro coming and scoops for the BIG ENDING! Nakamura is in, DYNAMIC DROPKICK! Woods leaps for the missile dropkick! Sheamus clotheslines woods out hard! Sheamus gets in Kofi’s face, shouting that New Day would be NOTHING without The Bar as their rivals! Kofi HEADBUTTS Sheamus away! And then baits him in to POST him!
Woods tags in, then tags Big E! Big E scoops Sheamus, Woods is up, MIDNIGHT HOUR!! Cover, the New Day wins!!
Winners: The New Day, by pinfall
And THAT is why the New Day is the best trio, tag team and group of three friends the WWE has seen perhaps ever! They have one last emotional good-bye with each other, when and where will they be reunited in the ring again?
Backstage interview with Otis!
Mr. MITB has had a challenging few weeks, capped off by a lawsuit by The Miz, with the MITB briefcase as the price to pay. What is the plan tonight? Sami Zayn butts in to say that Otis isn’t used to talking for himself. It was always Tucker, but he got drafted away. If memory serves, Mandy Rose also went to Raw, too. So surely, when it comes to this lawsuit, Otis will lose that and his MITB contract! But hey, look! There are winners and there are Otises. Otis SHOVES Sami! Sami is upset by this, but what will he get management to do about it?
BREAKING NEWS!
Because of MLB playoffs, next week’s Friday Night SmackDown won’t be on Fox but on Fox Sports 1!
Daniel Bryan is here!
Well, we saw him earlier, but now he gest to go to the ring! What will he have to say now that he’s back? We find out after the break!
SmackDown returns and fans are still chanting, “YES! YES!” Brie Bella and Birdie are among the ThunderDome screens! Bryan says, “Wow! I’ve watched it from home, but being here, seeing the faces of the WWE Universe in person, man! I love being inside the ThunderDome!” Especially for this season premiere. Now, don’t get him wrong, Bryan loves his time at home. So much so that he got Brie and Birdie the special “VIP seating.” But that said, he could not wait to come back! And what a night to return to! The SmackDown Tag Team Championships, the Universal Championship, and Bryan met the new mix the roster that will be here for the next year on Friday nights! Now, there are some fresh faces, but Bryan is excited to have people like Bianca Belair, The Riott Squad, and even those he can face like Kevin Owens, Aleister Black and Apollo Crews! Bryan can’t wait to get back in the ring!
But wait, here comes another new name to SmackDown! It’s Seth Rollins! And Rollins is so happy to see Bryan again! Rollins is thrilled Brie let Bryan off “Daddy duty” to share the excitement of the ThunderDome! But in all that excitement, baby brain has gotten to him. Bryan mentioned a lot of great superstars, but forgot the most important acquisition! The man who will lead SmackDown into the future, Seth Rollins. SmackDown’s Savior, the Great Leader, Rollins the Redeemer. Choose whichever one you like best. But while they’re both here, Rollins has an important question. “Which side of history would you like to be on?” When it comes to the greater good, either you’re with Rollins, or you’re against him. A man of Bryan’s intellect is surely smart enough to stand beside Rollins and help him mold the future of this industry, in Rollins’ image.
Well this is awkward. Bryan is all for changing the future for the better. Bryan wants to save the planet, he wants to make SmackDown and the WWE the best it can be. But to be honest, Rollins’ “vision” is “shortsighted” and “self-indulgent.” And to be frank, just dumb. Rollins laughs that off because surely Bryan is joking. No, he’s serious. It is dumb. NO, it’s not dumb! It’s NOT! Rollins DECKS Bryan and then throws his jacket down on him! And stomps Bryan at the ropes! Rollins keeps saying “it’s NOT dumb! YOU’RE dumb!” Rollins whips Bryan but Bryan ducks and comes back with a leaping lariat! Bryan fires up, throws his jacket off and goes after Rollins with Yes Kicks! From all sides, even! Rollins bails out and retreats, but here comes REY MYSTERIO! And Dominik, too! Rollins’ past followed him to Fridays!
Rey and Dom chase Rollins back into the ring and Rollins wants Bryan to help him. Um, no? Bryan lets Rey and Dom handle their business. Rollins says Rey and Dom need to calm down, but here comes MURPHY! Is Murphy still the Disciple?! Fans give thumbs down, but Murphy does stand by Rollins’ side. TO TACKLE HIM! Murphy throws hands then a KNEE TRIGGER on Rollins! Rollins runs away, having NO ONE on his side! Murphy stares down with Dom and Rey. He offers a handshake, Dom isn’t so sure, and neither is Rey. They may not like Rollins, but there’s still too much history here to forgive Murphy. But the question is then, who gets after Rollins first?
SmackDown Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler!
SmackDown wants the smoke, just like Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins! But as the GLORIOUS Show-Offs made clear earlier tonight, they only want the gold! Will they get shown up instead as the Profits are up?
SmackDown returns and the introductions are skipped as the belts are raised. Ziggler starts against Dawkins as Ric Flair is watching on the LED screens! Dawkins and Ziggler circle, tie up, go around and Ziggler waistlocks. Dawkins pries free to headlock but Ziggler powers out, only for Dawkins to run him over! Things speed up, Dawkins hurdles and dropkicks Ziggler down! Ziggler goes to a corner, Dawkins runs but misses the cyclone splash! Ziggler tags Roode and Roode stomps away on Dawkins! The ref counts, Roode lets off and drags Dawkins up for a big suplex! Cover, TWO! Roode sucker punches Ford! Roode stomps Dawkins, Flair likes the gourd buster! Tag to Ziggler, GLORIOUS FAMOUSER! Cover, Ford breaks it! Ford and Roode brawl, Ziggler goes after Ford! They brawl, Roode joins back in and it’s chaos! The ref throws this out!
No Contest; The Street Profits retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championships
It doesn’t seem like Roode or Ziggler care as they literally throw Ford out! The Glorious Show-Offs are furious, but they bring Dawkins up, Dawkins ROCKS them both with haymakers but they attack again 2v1! They double whip Dawkins, into the GLORIOUS ZIGZAG! But Ford is up top, and he LEAPS in for a HUGE CROSSBODY! The Profits still have the belts, and Flair likes that, too! Will Roode and Ziggler come back for another chance? Or are Ford and Dawkins on to bigger and better?
Sasha Banks heads to the ring!
The Boss and the Ruthless Role Model are going to put each other through hell in Hell in a Cell! Not only will that match be for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, but it will finally put this grudge to bed. The contract signing is up next, after the break!
SmackDown returns as Bayley makes her entrance with her friend, the chair! The table is set up with Adam Pearce presiding as Bayley gets in. Pearce says that their “extremely bitter and deeply personally rivalry takes us to Hell in a Cell, where for the very first time, the SmackDown Women’s Championship will be defended inside the cell.” This contract signing is of course to make that official. They both know what’s at stake. Sasha as challenger will have the honor of signing first. Sasha takes the pen, signs on the dotted line, and then takes up the mic. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time.” Bayley has been, too! Talk about baggage! Bayley wants to be done with Sasha and continue on as the longest reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion of all time! How long, Michael Cole? But she did it all by herself!
What? By yourself? That’s the lie you’re telling us? Say that to Sasha’s face! So vindictive! That look in Sasha’s eyes is how she keeps looking at Bayley and her title. Sasha’s been waiting to turn on Bayley all this time, but Bayley beat her to the punch. That’s why she’s so upset! It all makes sense. Turn on Bayley? If Sasha was going to turn on her, she would’ve done it years ago. Friends don’t turn their backs on each other. When Bayley was left behind in NXT, who was the first person to call? Who brought Bayley in has her partner? It was Sasha. Sasha was there to help Bayley win that Raw Women’s Championship. And are we just skipping over the Women’s Tag Team Championships? A reign of 370+ days as SmackDown Women’s Champion, big whoop! Congratulations! But don’t forget who helped her every single time! Sasha!
Bayley tried to end Sasha’s career! So Sasha vows to end HER! She is Sasha Banks, whose name is bigger than Bayley’s title. And when Sasha walks out with that title, that will be the icing on the cake. Bayley gets up and grabs her chair, but she still needs to sign. Bayley pushes the contract away and takes her title. She says she doesn’t have to sign anything! Fine, run away, coward! Run, run, run! But Sasha promises that when Bayley is locked inside the cell, there is nowhere to run. Bayley will sign the contract, one way or another. Bayley says Sasha can talk all she wants, she has the title! But Sasha does have a point, and not just about needing to sign. Will Bayley run away from the mess she made?
WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman VS Braun Strowman!
The Tribal Chief may have a Hell in a Cell I QUIT match AT Hell in a Cell with cousin Jey Uso, but that match might not even be for the title now! Will the Monster #GetTheseHands on the Universal Championship and take it with him to Raw? Or will this still be Roman’s title as Braun steps onto Roman’s island?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and one way or another, this classic rivalry says farewell to close the season premiere!
SmackDown returns, Jey is watching very closely backstage, but so is Mark Henry on the LED’s! Strowman and Roman tie up, Strowman powers Roman to a corner but Roman powers him back. They go around, Roman throws Strowman out! Strowman gets up but gets a SUPERMAN PUNCH! Strowman is down again and a ring count begins. Strowman staggers up at 4 but Roman goes out to give him a DRIVE-BY DROPKICK! Roman drags Strowman up and into the ring at the new count of 5, but Roman covers. TWO and with power! Roman is a bit surprised but he throws more hands on Strowman in the corner. Roman also stomps Strowman, throws haymakers, and stalks Strowman. Strowman reverses the whip to put Roman in a corner! Strowman runs in but into an uppercut!
Roman adds a BOOT and down goes Strowman! Cover, TWO and still with power! Roman is annoyed as he ends up outside the ring. Roman gets back in, but Strowman runs over! Roman dumps him out and Strowman hits the floor. Strowman gets up but Roman headbutts him! Roman bumps Strowman off steps, the ring count climbs, but Roman goes in at 5. Roman tells the ref to take it easy, and he goes back after Strowman. Roman bounces Strowman off the desk, but Strowman knees back and pushes Roman away. Roman leaps off the steps, into Strowman’s hands! Strowman POSTS Roman, then THROWS him over the announce desk! Strowman refreshes the count, watches Roman hobbling up, and goes out the side. The Strowman Express BLASTS Roman over the barriers! The Monster roars as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns once more and Strowman runs at Roman in the corner to RAM him! And then TOSS him across the way! Strowman drags Roman up and Goldberg is on the ThunderDome LED’s now! Strowman CLUBS Roman down, covers, TWO! Strowman looms over Roman, Keith Lee is on the screens, too, because he’s waiting for Strowman this Monday. Strowman runs in but Roman BOOTS him away! And then dodges to POST Strowman! Roman goes corner to corner now, SUPERMAN- NO! Strowman has Roman in the choke grip, knees low, and then gut wrenches for the TWISTING DOMINATOR! “I’m not finished with you!” That classic line can only mean, DEAD LIFT CHOKE SLAM!! Cover, TWO!! Roman survives and wait, another “inadvertent” low blow?! The way Roman kicked out against Jey, too!
Roman is up, aiming from a corner, and he SPEARS Strowman down!! Cover, TWO!?! Strowman survives being hit in the balls and being nearly tackled in half!? Roman can’t believe it!! Roman seethes while Strowman stirs. Roman goes back to a corner, watches Strowman rise, and then runs in again, only for Strowman to scoop! But Roman slips out to POST Strowman again! And hone runs, jumps up and gets Strowman in a guillotine!? The Big Dog has some new tricks! But Strowman powers out to RAM Roman into buckles! Roman holds on and Strowman is turning red! Strowman is fading, Roman is squeezing even tighter! The ref checks, Strowman is OUT! Roman wins!!
Winner: Roman Reigns, by submission (still WWE Universal Champion)
Roman wins by submission for the first time perhaps ever, but here comes Jey Uso! Roman seems even more annoyed as Jey is on stage. But Strowman stirs, and Roman is even more upset. Roman wants Jey to watch this one. Roman SPEARS Strowman down! Roman tells Jey to get down to the ring. Jey walks to the ring, and Heyman fetches Roman a chair. Roman says he didn’t want to make an example of Jey. “This is how we eat. This is how we take care of generations of our family. If I’m not at the top, we can’t do that, Uce. I don’t want to do this to you. I’m giving you another chance.” If Roman can do this to the Monster, he can do this to Jey. And then Roman fires off CHAIR SHOT after CHAIR SHOT on Strowman’s back!!
Referees and officials hurry in and get Roman to stop! Roman still has the chair, because he’s not done! He SMACKS Strowman again! And again! And again! Does Jey not understand? Jey gets up on the apron and Roman wants him to get in. Jey does and the chair, bent as it is, is put down. Roman says he would never hurt Jey. But Jey is embarrassing the family, and needs to prove himself. But the fact Jey is trying to take his place and be on the same level as him makes no sense! They’re family, Roman still wants them to be together. Prove Jey he is family, and take the chair to hit Strowman. The officials and refs try to reason with Roman and Jey. If Jey wants to take a shot on Roman, go right ahead. Jey has the chair, he’s conflicted, but then he throws the chair down, having hit no one.
Roman walks in, wanting a hug, but Jey ROCKS him with an uppercut! And then SUPERKICKS him down! Jey says “I LOVE YOU, TOO!” as he SMACKS away on Roman!! Heyman freaks, the officials grab Jey, but the fans are fire dup for this! But then Roman SUPERMAN PUNCHES Jey down! Roman says that was Jey’s last chance. But now he has to turn his back on Jey. Is what Roman is saying have anything to do with those consequences that come with the HIAC I Quit match?
My Thoughts:
Y’know, given the marketing and booking choices as they were announced last week, I thought this season premiere, aka the one year anniversary of SmackDown being on Fox, was overhyped. But in execution, this was actually a great episode! Now, as there tends to be with WWE, there was a lot of hyping, plugging and announcing not really needed to open the show, but it did end up giving us a great brawl that segued into Hardy VS Lars. That was a pretty good match, but between Lars being back and needing momentum and Hardy going to Raw, of course Lars wins. On the flipside, the natural move was for the New Day to win tonight. There was so much genuine emotion from them in what they were saying before the match, which I won’t call a promo because promos are kayfabe. The Six Man Tag was a great match, it was the best send-off for the best trio, certainly of the modern era.
Sami picking on Otis seemed oddly appropriate, Sami likes pushing buttons. I was hoping Sami getting on Otis’ nerves was going to result in a match but maybe that’s for next week. I also kinda hoped Sami pushing Otis was going to make Otis realize he could try to use the MITB contract before having to give it to Miz, but that didn’t happen, either. The SmackDown Tag Team Championship match ending up like it did was a bit of a ripoff, but maybe we get a HIAC match between Profits, Glorious Show-Offs and maybe even a third team. Nakamura and Cesaro are still on SmackDown, they and the Profits have business of their own to settle, so maybe a Triple Threat in the Cell can wrap it all up at once.
Sasha and Bayley continue to change the game in the Women’s Division and WWE overall, because we had a contract signing that didn’t end in fighting, or even really end! Bayley backs out of signing, but with one week left, I wonder. Will Sasha hit Bayley with the contract so hard that Bayley signs it in blood? That’d be pretty fitting for this feud and HIAC. Daniel Bryan had a good segment with Rollins that also helped bring Murphy and the Mysterios around. Murphy trying to be the bigger man is a good move for his character. And I feel like all it would take Aalyah Mysterio to get Rey and Dom to understand is to bring up the principle of forgiveness. If Rollins wants to play Messiah, Aalyah should use the Bible to bite him in the butt. At the very least, Rollins shifting from Mysterios to Bryan is great for Rollins and Bryan as well as fans.
And while Roman VS Strowman was a forgone conclusion because Strowman is leaving for Raw, Jey has his shot at HIAC (and because Goldberg just voiced interest on social media), there was still a lot of great stuff to come out of the main event. Roman bringing out a submission move was something, and I didn’t think it’d win the match for him. Then him going off on Strowman to make a point to Jey was some strong Heel work. It was great for Jey to get his shots in on Roman, too, but Roman still stands tall. We have the go-home, I feel like that will be the night Roman reveals what he truly means by those final consequences. Mentioning turning his back on Jey here, this has to be about disowning Jey from the family. Sure, Jey could “acknowledge” Roman but that would’ve happened by now. This story could take all kinds of twists, and that’s a lot of the fun.
My Score: 8.5/10
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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?
Becky Lynch and Nia Jax want to finally put this to an end, so tonight on Raw, it will be a Big Time Last Woman Standing match! Will the Irresistible Force force the WrestleMania 40 match to change?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers; DIY wins and advances to WrestleMania.
- Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance; Candice & Indi win.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy; wins and advance to WrestleMania.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher; win(s) and advance to WrestleMania.
- Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax; wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Jey Uso is here!
North Carolina State University fires up and bounces along with Main Event Jey, and Pat McAfee plays a dangerous game standing on the armchairs! From Bret VS Owen to Matt VS Jeff, we’re about to get Jey VS Jimmy in the third-ever Brother VS Brother WrestleMania grudge match! Jey gets the mic as fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey welcomes us to Monday Night Raw, and wants us to check this out. He knows his brothers are somewhere in the building. He knows The Bloodline’s in the building. He knows how the Bloodline rolls! SO Big Brother Jimmy, where you at?! Where you at, Uce!?
Jey waits for someone to show up somewhere, and the crowd spots them first! Fans boo as Jimmy & Solo make their way from the back of the stands. Jimmy gets a mic and goes to the apron while Solo paces around the outside. Fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” again as Jey puts the sunglasses aside. The Usos stare each other down, the fans now chant “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jey wants to say something, hesitates, but then says these two would always get to it but they always knew how to shake right back to this. But now it’s different. Regardless of what happened, the bad blood between them, Jey misses his brother. He does.
Jey knows Jimmy will say what he wants, but Jey doesn’t talk to him no more, doesn’t ride with him no more, doesn’t even see him no more! Jimmy can just come back. Jimmy says he never left! He protected Jey! Jey’s so dumb, he can’t see it! Jimmy is protecting Jey! It was Jey’s idea to leave The Bloodline, but Jimmy helped because he is Jey’s brother. So yeah, Jey leaves, and what happens? Lil’ Bro becomes the BIGGEST star on the Raw roster! Lil’ Bro becomes the top merch seller! Lil’ Bro goes off to become a tag team champion without Jimmy, but with CODY RHODES!? Who left who, Uce?
Jey forgot Jimmy! Everything Jey did that was big was cuz of Big Bro Jimmy! Everything! So listen loud and clear. The biggest moment in Jey’s career, the BIGGEST moment, is because of Jimmy! Jimmy stares Jey down, but Jey says no. Jey’s biggest moment in his career is going to be his dream match at WrestleMania 40: Jey VS Jimmy, and Jey knocks the yeet out Jimmy’s ass! Jey DECKS Jimmy, DECKS Solo off the apron, but then Jimmy SUPERKICKS Jey down! The fans boo but now Solo storms in and looms over Jey. Solo drags Jey up so Jimmy can look him in the face and tell him that Jey needs to get it right! JIMMY made Jey!
But here comes Cody Rhodes! The fans fire up as Cody DECKS Jimmy, then gets in to springboard and CODY CUTTER Solo!! The American Nightmare said he was gonna be a Bloodline Hunter, and he made sure they didn’t take out Jey! Cody tells The Bloodline it is only a matter of time before they lose it all at WrestleMania! Will Jey prove that younger or older doesn’t matter when he is the BETTER brother?
Adam Pearce is on the phone.
He’s telling Nick Aldis to stop being a hypocrite, telling Pearce to keep his roster in check when this is happening. But then Paul Heyman walks over and Pearce says he’ll call Aldis back. Pearce then asks Heyman what was all that, and Heyman says he owes Pearce an apology. He is sorry. That was not authorized by The Final Boss nor The Tribal Chief, and certainly not by Heyman. Jimmy & Solo went into business for themselves so Heyman apologizes. But listen, Pearce knows that there have been flight delays all day. Even private jets like theirs. Heyman is barely even dressed for TV, let alone has his make-up!
Pearce says those two were ready. Yeah, well, they got in on a different flight. But Roman Reigns is a chief of his word. Those two are already gone, out of the arena, and Pearce has Roman’s word. Call his bluff, put out a search party. Pearce knows Heyman is here on official business, which Heyman will handle, and then be gone. That is it. But when Heyman does his official business… everyone will be caught off guard. “And Mr. Pearce, sir, that’s not a prediction. That’s a spoiler.” The Wise Man heads out and calls Roman, but just what is Heyman teasing?
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers!
Unlike SmackDown’s mini-tournament, Raw and Adam Pearce say it’s win and you’re in! Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano want one more shot at Judgment Day, but so do Julius & Brutus! Will the Sicilian Psycho & Johnny Wrestling prove that when it comes to Mania Moments, you gotta do it yourself? Or will the Creeds be bringing golden tickets to the Diamond Mine?
Raw returns as The Creeds make their entrance. The teams fist bump to show respect, then the teams sort out. Julius starts against Ciampa, they circle and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, Ciampa goes for a waistlock but Julius facelocks. Julius wrangles Ciampa to the mat, flips him over, ONE, and Ciampa keeps moving. They trade facelocks, gator roll, and Julius gets another lateral press. ONE, but Julius gator rolls Ciampa around. Ciampa fights up, puts Julius on ropes, and the ref counts. Ciampa lets off, then CHOPS! Julius shoots in for the takedown! Julius has a leg, Ciampa fights but Julius turns him for the ANKLE LOCK!
Ciampa scrambles to the ROPEBREAK, and Julius lets off cleanly. Ciampa bails out, shakes it off, and he gets back in. They go again, Julius hits a fireman’s carry takeover! Tag to Brutus, and Julius feeds Ciampa to another fireman’s carry takeover! Brutus cording holds but Ciampa endures. Ciampa fights up, but Brutus facelocks. The fans rally as Brutus switches and rolls Ciampa. Ciampa fights up, headlocks, then ROCKS Brutus! Brutus DECKS Ciampa, then whips him to ropes. Ciampa ducks ‘n’ dodges, tag to Gargano! Ciampa slides, CHOPS, Gargano LARIATS and Ciampa JAWBREAKERS! Wrench and LARIAT!
Julius runs in, Gargano kicks and Ciampa gives him the boost for SLICED BREAD! The Creeds bail out, but DIY DOUBLE PLANCHA! Down go the Creeds, and DIY applaud and pat themselves on the back. The fans fire up and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Ciampa has Julius in a chinlock. The fans rally, Julius fights up to throw body shots, but Ciampa hits a back suplex! Julius lands out of it, but Ciampa elbows him away. Ciampa drop toeholds Julius, gets legs, but Julius BOOTS Ciampa away! Hot tags to Gargano and Brutus! Brutus rallies on DIY, TOSSES Gargano, then blocks Ciampa’s kick to get under and POWERBOMB him! Brutus sees DIY regroup, then he runs in to SPLASH them both! O’Conner on Ciampa, but Gargano runs up! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Brutus has a DOUBLE BRIDGE, TWO!! Tag to Julius and he gut wrench SLAMS Brutus on Ciampa!
Brutus helps Julius flip up and over to SPLASH onto Ciampa! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Julius drags Ciampa up. Ciampa throat chops! A bit dirty but Ciampa wants that win! Ciampa storms up on Julius, but Julius basement stalling suplexes!! The fans are thunderous, Gargano runs in, but Brutus intercepts! Brutus suplexes Gargano now, stalls, and then the Creeds SLAM and kip up! Then they both STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ciampa stays in this for DIY but the Creeds keep cool. Julius stomps Ciampa, tags Brutus, and they KNEE Ciampa around! Then they DOUBLE GUTBUSTER! Ciampa sputters but Brutus tags Julius in.
Julius drags Ciampa up, tags Brutus back in, and Brutus climbs. Julius Electric Chair Lifts, but Gargano makes the save! Gargano ROCKS Julius, Brutus ROCKS Gargano! Ciampa BOOTS Brutus, Gargano swings on Julius but is sent into Ciampa! Ciampa pushes Gargano back so he can ELBOW Julius! DIY set up again but Brutus stops the Sliced Bread! Julius DECKS Ciampa, KNEE into the WIDOWMAKER! Julius scrapes Gargano out, Brutus POUNCES Ciampa over the desk! Pat fires up with Brutus and so do the fans! The Creeds say they run this now, and then Brutus drags Ciampa up while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Julius has Ciampa in a chinlock. Ciampa fights up, and he JAWBREAKERS free! Ciampa ELBOWS Brutus down, BOOTS Julius, then runs up, only for Julius to catch him and toss him back! But then Ciampa catches Julius for a REVERSE DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down and crawling! Hot tag to Gargano! Gargano slingshots to KICK Julius, then he CLOBBERS Brutus! ENZIGIRI for Julius, then he runs to DOUBLE KNEE Brutus! BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO! The fans fire up with Gargano while Julius ends up in another corner. Gargano runs in but is put on the apron!
Gargano GAMANGIRIS Julius, SUPERKICKS Brutus, then SLINGSHOT SPEARS Julius! Cover, TWO! Julius survives but Gargano puts him in a corner. Gargano CHOPS, then hoists Julius up top. Tag to Ciampa, Ciampa CHOPS Julius while Gargano DIVES onto Brutus! Ciampa CHOPS Julius again, goes up top, and fireman’s carries! Ciampa then tucks Julius in for the SUPER AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, TWO!! Julius survives again and shocks Ciampa! The fans are just as stunned, but Ciampa and Julius sit up. Ciampa stands, and he CHOPS! And CHOPS! Julius sits back up as Ciampa puts some stank on the CHOP!
Julius brings the straps down! Julius fires a forearm, Ciampa hits back, and the fans fire up as the shots keep going! They go faster and faster, harder and harder, meaner and meaner! The fans fire up as this just turns into a brawl of haymakers and SLAPS! Ciampa then gets around, ripcord and HAYMAKER! ROLLING- TACKLE from Julius! And then the ANKLE LOCK!! Ciampa reaches out, moves around, but Gargano runs up! Julius kicks him, then gets him up with one arm to POWERBOMB! Then it’s back to the ANKLE LOCK on Ciampa! Brutus gets in to get Gargano for an ANKLE LOCK of his own!
The fans are thunderous as DIY endures! Ciampa and Gargano fight, turn things over, SICILIAN CROSSFACE and GargaNO Escape!! The fans are thunderous as The Creeds power up and lift both DIY! They fireman’s carry, then TOSS DIY into each other!! The fans are thunderous as Julius goes up to MOONSAULT onto Ciampa! Brutus MOONSAULTS, too! Cover, TWO?!?! Ciampa survives and the fans are loving this! Julius tags back in, Brutus climbs up! “This is Awesome!” as Julius Electric Chair Lifts Ciampa! But Ciampa VICTORY ROLLS to get under the Brutus Ball!! Cover, Brutus tips it! Gargano TOSSES Brutus then SUPERKICKS Julius!! Ciampa has the cover, DIY WINS!!
Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)
Julius can’t believe it! He kicked out at 3.1, but a loss is a loss! And for the first time ever, DIY is going to Mania! Will Philadelphia soon be historic for a DIY championship victory?
Judgment Day meets backstage.
Rhea Ripley is with Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh, but also Andrade. Dom says he’s always liked Andrade’s style, but things have changed since the last time he was in the WWE. The Judgment Day runs Raw now. Rhea says yeah, and they don’t extend invitations to just anyone. Judgment Day is very exclusive. JD says very exclusive. But if Andrade continues to impress them, they’ll see about making things happen. And Finn says he just heard that Andrade has a match next week, so the Judgment Day will be watching him. Sounds good. See you next week. But then in steps Damian Priest.
The Punisher says hello to El Idolo, and El Idolo says hello to Senor Dinero. Andrade heads out, will he quite literally win his way into the club? But as for Priest, Finn asks him what he was up to. Priest was getting a closer look at that DIY VS Creeds match. DIY won, but whatever, they can handle those guys. But JD, they thought he could handle Ricochet last week, and run the gauntlet, and then go to WrestleMania to bring even more gold back to Judgment Day. JD says he did he belonged in there. But also, he battered Ricochet, who got lucky at the end there. Right, Finn? Finn hesitates, and Rhea says Priest is right on this one.
Ricochet made a fool out of JD! A fool? Yes. A fool? Yes. That’s why tonight, Dom will make it right. Right, Dom? Yeah, Mami. Let’s go talk to Pearce to make it official. Dom & JD head out, and the others are confident Dom’s got this. But does he, though? Or will the One and Only have two wins over Judgment Day in as many weeks?
Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance!
The Poison Pixie certainly lived up to that name last week when she bullied Maxxine Dupri as part of beating her and Ivy Nile last week. Will Candice’s toxic tongue strike again? Or will the party not be stopped by her harsh vibes?
The teams sort out and Candice starts against Kayden. Candice rushes up, Kayden gets around and O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Kayden springboards to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Kayden stalks Candice, Candice ELBOWS her away then tags Indi. Kayden dodges Candice to SUPERKICK, but Indi BOOTS Kayden! Cover, TWO! Indi drags Kayden up, tags Candice back in, and they mug Kayden. Candice CLUBS away on Kayden, fires off furious fists, then covers. TWO, and Candice grows frustrated already. The fans rally, Candice steps up but Kayden avoids the senton! Tags to Katana and Indi! Katana blasts past Indi, comes back and BULLDOGS!
Katana keeps moving, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SHOTGUNS Indi to a corner! The fans fire up as Katana stomps away on Indi! Indi shoves Katana, Katana runs corner to corner to A-LIST LARIAT! Katana shoves Indi down, runs up, but into a back suplex! Katana lands out, but her leg jams! The ref and Kayden check, then the ref keeps Indi back. Indi says okay, and she stays by Candice. But Candice tags in to WRECK Kayden! And she SLAMS Katana’s leg into the post!! HALF CRAB and DEEP! Katana taps, Candice & Indi win!
Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission
Candice smiles and celebrates with Indi, but Indi doesn’t want to. Candice says a win is a win, but just what is going on in her toxic mind?
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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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