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Mitchell’s NJPW WTL x BOSJ Results & Report! (11/15/20)

World Tag League AND Best of the Super Juniors 2020!!

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NJPW WTLBOSJ

NJPW holds two iconic tournaments at the same time!

One way or another, 2020 will be a historic year, because for the first time ever, NJPW is holding both World Tag League AND Best of the Super Juniors SIMULTANEOUSLY! How much more incredible will both traditions become with them layered on top of each other?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • World Tag League 2020: Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii VS Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale; Yano & Ishii win.
  • Best of the Super Juniors 27: Master Wato VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru Yuya Uemaru; Wato wins.
  • World Tag League 2020: HenarACE VS Great-O-Khan & ???; Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb win.
  • Best of the Super Juniors 27: Robbie Eagles VS DOUKI; Eagles wins.
  • World Tag League 2020: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto VS Dangerous Tekkers; The Dangerous Tekkers win.
  • Best of the Super Juniors 27: SHO VS BUSHI; SHO wins.
  • World Tag League 2020: SANADA & Shingo Takagi VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi; EVIL & Yujiro win.
  • Best of the Super Juniors 27: Ryusuke Taguchi VS El Desperado; Taguchi wins.
  • World Tag League 2020: FinJuice VS The Guerrillas of Destiny; FinJuice wins.
  • Best of the Super Juniors 27: Hiromu Takahashi VS Taiji Ishimori; Hiromu wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

World Tag League 2020: Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii VS Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale!

Chaos VS Bullet Club starts off the opening round, and the provisional Mr. KOPW joins forces with the Stone Pitbull against the Crown Jewel and Rogue General! Will there be someone more aiming for that trophy come WrestleKingdom?

The teams sort out and after the ref checks Yano for his tricks and a Bullet Club Low Sweet, Ishii and Owens start. Owens pie faces Ishii to egg him on but Ishii swings on him! Owens ducks, clubs away on Ishii but Ishii ROCKS him with a right! Ishii whips, Owens reverses but Ishii comes back from the corner to run Owens over! Ishii runs at Fale but Fale hits him first! Fale holds Ishii, Owens runs but Yano cheap shots! Yano rakes Owens’ eyes, Fale rushes in but Yano gets away. Ishii throws forearms Fale but Fale whips Ishii away. Ishii holds ropes and Yano gets in to slap Fale on the back of the head! Fale glares at Yano but Yano apologizes and runs away! Fans cheer as Ishii throws forearms on Fale again.

Fale throws forearms back and rocks Ishii! Yano returns but Fale sees him coming! Yano turns around and Owens is there! Yano apologizes again but still gets mugged! Owens and Fale stomp Yano, then bring him up. Ishii gets Yano out of the way and Owens forearms Fale! Yano and Ishii run Owens over then go after Fale with a double whip. Fale runs Yano and Ishii over! Fale finally gets out and Owens stomps Ishii. Owens bumps Ishii off buckles but Ishii just roars. Owens throws forearms and elbows, Ishii roars more, but Owens knocks him down! Tag to Fale and they stand on Ishii together at the ropes! The ref counts, Owens and Fale let up at 4 but get some last shots in. Fale brings Ishii up to CLUB him down! And again!

Ishii grits his teeth while Fale says, “I’m back motha f***a!” Ishii throws body shots back but Fale CLUBS him down again! Tag to Owens and Bullet Club mugs Ishii! The ref is too busy with Yano and Ishii suffers more mugging than normal. Fans rally up as Owens toys with Ishii, but Ishii blocks the kick! Owens fires off a strike fest but Ishii ROCKS him! Ishii runs but Owens BOOTS! Owens runs but Ishii spins him around and suplexes. Owens fights out, knees back, but Ishii headbutts! Owens LARIATS! Both men are down and fans fire up! Owens runs but Ishii dodges to GERMAN SUPLEX! Fans fire up more as both men are down again! Hot tags to Fale and Yano!

Yano dodges Fale and rakes his eyes! Then he goes for the buckle pad! The pad is loose but Fale clubs Yano back. Fale whips Yano, Yano stops himself and dodges! Fale hits buckles, Yano goes to scoop but Fale is a big man! Fans rally for Yano as he keeps trying but Fale clubs Yano down! Fale whips Yano to ropes, Yano holds the ropes then dodges, but he still can’t scoop! Fale clubs and scoops Yano for a slam! Ishii returns and fires off on Fale! Fale whips Ishii into the exposed buckles! And then Fale whips Yano into Ishii! Fale whips Owens in to sandwich Chaos against the buckles! Fale runs in, but Yano and Ishii get away, only Owens gets sandwiched!

Fale choke grips both Ishii and Yano, but they break free to ram Fale into Owens! Another buckle sandwich! Fale swings on Yano but Ishii hits him first! Yano tries to scoop but Fale scoops him instead! Ishii shoves them over! Yano covers, Owens runs in but Yano moves, the splash lands on Fale! Yano covers them both, Yano and Ishii win!

Winners: Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall; now 1-0, Fale & Owens are now 0-1

Bullet Club isn’t just upset, they’re pissed! They go after Yano and Ishii after the bell! Fale scoop slams Yano then chokes him! And shoves Young Lions that try to stop him! Then another scoop slam, to another choke! Owens keeps Ishii down in a corner then kicks him out of the ring. Fale scoop slams Yano for a third time! Bullet Club’s Rogue General and Crown Jewel may have lost the opening round, but have they made sure Yano and Ishii won’t win the next round?

 

Best of the Super Juniors 27: Master Wato VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru Yuya Uemaru!

What was meant to be a rematch from Jingu! is canceled because the Heel Master suffered a knee injury! Will the Way of the Grandmaster be ready for the Young Lion take is taking Kanemaru’s place?

The bell rings and Uemaru rushes Wato! Uemaru fires off forearms and whips Wato corner to corner, to then hit a big corner to corner dropkick! Uemaru doesn’t stop, he puts on a BOSTON CRAB! Wato reaches for ropes but Uemaru drags him away! Wato tries again but again Uemaru drags him away! Uemaru sits deep on the hold but Wato powers up! Wato crawls his way to ropes, Uemaru sits as deep as he can but Wato still gets the ropebreak! Uemaru lets off fast to stomp away on Wato! Fans are fired up with Uemaru as he drags Wato up. Wato kicks back and kicks Uemaro down! Wato brings Uemaru up, scoops and slams him, then brings him up to KICK him down! And then kick him in the back! Cover, TWO!

Fans fire up and Wato drags Uemaro back up. Wato throws elbows, Uemaru gets to ropes but Wato keeps firing off! Wato brings Uemaru up, CHOPS him and whips him, but Uemaru DECKS Wato with a forearm! Uemaru fires up, brings Wato up and throws more forearms! And even European Uppercuts! Uemaru stomps a mudhole into Wato but lets off as the ref counts. Uemaru brings Wato up, whips him corner to corner and runs in but Wato dodges! Wato runs but into Uemaru’s dropkick! Uemaru fires up, brings Wato up and trasp the arms! Wato resists the suplex but Uemaru throws forearms! Uemaru waistlocks to GERMAN!

Uemaru keeps going and stands Wato back up. Uemaru traps the arms this time, roars at him, and lifts him. Wato body scissors to block, then pops out to the MOUSE TRAP DRIVER! But he can’t hold the cover! Wato drags Uemaru back up, brings him in and scoops to the DRIVER! Cover, Wato wins!

Winner: Master Wato, by pinfall; now 1-0, Yuya Uemaru is now 0-1

The TDD has been passed on and Wato has a big win in his first BOSJ! Will this lead Wato to the Junior Heavyweight Championship? Or is it still a long way for the Way of the Grandmaster?

 

World Tag League 2020: HenarACE VS Great-O-Khan & ???

Toa Henare reunites with Hiroshi Tanahashi but they’re up against The Empire! But who is it that Will Ospreay recruited to fight alongside The Dominator?

The Empire makes their entrance first, and we learn that the mysterious “X” is JEFF COBB! The Hawaiian Hulk has joined Will Ospreay’s forces!! Will this unbelievable wild card make the Empire the real ace of this tournament?

Tanahashi and Henare get in and O-Khan and Cobb attack! Khan stomps Tanahashi while Cobb has Henare in the corner for CHOPS! The ref has the bell ring to get this on record as Khan bumps Tanahashi off buckles. The Empire whip HenarAce at each other, but Tanahashi dropkicks Cobb’s leg out and Henare runs Khan over! Tanahashi gives Cobb a DRAGON SCREW, Henare Samoan Drops Khan! HenarAce double whip Cobb, elbow him down, then combine elbow drop and tamahawk drop! HenarAce flexes on Cobb before getting a DOUBLE HALF CRAB! Cobb endures, Khan gets in and claws HenarAce! Khan knocks HenarAce’s heads together, then the Mongolian Chop knocks Henare down!

Khan focuses on Tanahashi, and gives him a Mongolian Chop! And another! Tanahashi blocks the third but Khan dodges the Shotei to IRON CLAW SLAM! Cobb and Khan go after Henare but Henare forearms and CHOPS back and forth! Henare rocks Cobb, blocks Khan’s kick to elbow the knee then elbow Khan down! Henare escapes Cobb’s lift to rock him with a strike fest! Henare runs into a BOOT from Khan! Khan drags Henare up, feeds him to the TOUR OF THE ISLANDS! Cover, The Empire wins!!

Winners: The Empire, by pinfall; now 1-0, HenarAce is now 0-1

That wasn’t just fast, that was DOMINANT! And they’re not done! Cobb throws Henare out hard, and then Khan fetches Tanahashi into the ring! Khan takes this one as he puts Tanahashi’s leg in a KNEEBAR! Young Lions get in but Cobb DECKS them! Khan lets go of Tanahashi’s leg and grins as he goes outside to get a chair! Khan puts the chair in, brings it over to Tanahashi, and SMACKS the leg!! Tanahashi writhes and clutches the knee! Khan tells everyone that this is the power of himself and Jeff Cobb, THE EMPIRE! Will this first win together be just the beginning?

 

Best of the Super Juniors 27: Robbie Eagles VS DOUKI!

The Eagle returns to Japan! But will the Sky Sniper soar high above to start the Junior Heavyweight round robin?

Eagles gets in the ring and Douki is right after him! Douki throws clubbing forearms, Eagle hits back but Douki rocks and CHOPS Eagles down! Douki whips, Eagles reverses to go around and arm-drag Douki away! Eagles dodges Douki to huricanrana! Fans cheer as Eagles eggs Douki on! Douki gets up, Eagles windmill kicks him out! Eagles kips up and builds speed to DIVE, Somersault Tope! Fans fire up for Eagles as he lands on his feet! Eagles and the fans rally up, and Eagles puts Douki in the ring. Cover, TWO! Eagles keeps on Douki with a step over and trap of the arm to then drop a knee. Eagles has the other arm, then the legs. Fans rally up and Eagles STOMPS the deathlock!

Eagles KICKS Douki over and over but Douki blocks one to rake the eyes! Douki whips Eagles but Eagles reverses and runs in, but is put on the apron. Eagles counter punches Douki, springboards, but Douki uses the ref to trip Eagles up! Eagles falls to the floor, Douki goes out to fetch him, and wrenches to whip him into railing! Eagles goes down in a heap but Douki brings out a chair! Douki puts the chair down, drags Eagles over, but the ref takes the chair away. Douki shoves the ref and grabs his steel pipe! Douki uses the pie to choke Eagles in the facelock! And turn Eagles for a neckbreaker! Eagles writhes and Douki goes back into the ring. Fans rally up as Eagles stirs. The ref goes back to the ring, starts a count, and it climbs to 10 of 20 before Eagles stands.

Eagles hobbles to the ring and in at 15, but Douki is on Eagles with elbows! Douki wraps on a chinlock and bends Eagles against his knee. Eagles endures, fights his way around and gets the ropebreak with a foot! Douki lets go and slaps Eagles around. Douki stands Eagles up and slaps him, then whips him corner to corner. Douki runs in but Eagles elbows him away. Eagles drops down to sunset flip, TWO! Douki knees low, reels Eagles in and suplexes, but Eagle slips out to rolling kick the leg out! Eagles runs to blindside elbow Douki down! Fans cheer as both men are down, and rally up as Eagles goes to a corner. Eagles aims from the apron, and springboard dropkicks a leg out! Douki sits up into more KICKS, then Eagles runs to leg lariat! Cover, TWO!

Eagles grows frustrated but Douki flounders to a corner. Eagles runs corner to corner to double knee! Then he rolls back, only for Douki to boot him! Eagles corner tiger feint kicks a leg out, then DOUBLE KNEES Douki into the corner! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up and Eagles heads up top! Eagles aims, 450 SPLASH, but into Douki’s ITALIAN STRETCH! Eagles endures this modified triangle, fans rally up as he works to stay on his feet, and Eagles manages to get a ropebreak with a foot. Douki lets go at 3 and Eagles finally flops over. Douki slashes the throat and heads to the apron. Eagles rises, Douki slingshots but Eagles catches him! Eagles spins around, Douki blocks the cravat to uppercut!

Douki runs, Eagles ducks and mule kicks, to cravat for Sliced Bread, but Douki slips out! Douki elbows Eagles back, but walks into double knees! ROUNDHOUSE! HEEL KICK! ENZIGURI! Douki wobbles and Eagles fires up with the fans! Eagles runs but into a LARIAT! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Douki crawls to a corner, fires himself up, and wants Eagles to stand. Eagles rises, Douki slingshots, DAYBREAK DDT! Cover, TWO!?! Eagles survives but Douki won’t stop here! Douki calls for the suplex, and he reels Eagles in, but Eagles victory rolls! Douki kicks him away but Eagles comes back to jackknife, TWO!

Eagles swings, Douki spins and reels him in and around to arm-drag! Then Douki drags Eagles into a Dragon’s Lair! TWO!! Douki is SHOCKED! Douki kicks, Eagle blocks and spins Douki around, cravat, TURBO BACKPACK! But Eagles isn’t done there, SUPERKICK! Eagles goes up top, for WARP 4.5 to the LEGS! Then the RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Douki endures the modified figure four, and taps! Eagles wins!!

Winner: Robbie Eagles, by submission; now 1-0, Douki is now 0-1

What a way to return! Will Eagles fly high and become the Best of the Super Juniors?

 

World Tag League 2020: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto VS Dangerous Tekkers!

On the Road to Power Struggle, the Head Hunter and Fierce Warrior could not dethrone the IWGP Heavyweight Champions. But Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi will have to be careful not to take any team easy, or else they’ll end up owing title matches. Will the Submission Master and Sliest Wrestler in the World start off on the right foot in the tournament?

The teams sort out and Goto starts against Taichi. Taichi puts his fanny pack away and the bell rings. Fans cheer as Goto and Taichi slowly circle. They tie up, Goto puts Taichi on the ropes but lets off clean. Taichi circles with Goto, they tie up again, and again Goto puts Taichi on ropes. The ref calls for the break, Goto pushes Taichi as he lets off this time. Goto wants Taichi to take him seriously, and the two tie up again. Goto again puts Taichi on ropes, then pulls Taichi’s hair! The ref gets in the middle but ZSJ knocks Goto down! ZSJ also DECKS Hashi, and then the Tekkers double whip Goto corner to corner. Goto dodges Taichi and clobbers ZSJ! Goto ROCKS Taichi, Hashi comes on and they double whip Taichi to run him over! Hashi runs, hip toss senton! Goto covers, TWO!

Goto stays on Taichi with a chinlock and digs his knee into Taichi’s back. ZSJ gets in and KICKS Goto, then runs away. Goto glares at ZSJ but Taichi kicks him. Taichi runs but Goto runs him over! Cover, TWO! Goto sees ZSJ sneaking around and dares him to do something. Taichi chokes Goto in the corner! ZSJ runs and BOOTS Hashi down! The ref tells Taichi to stop choking but he misses ZSJ throwing EuroUppers on Hashi! Hashi CHOPS back but ZSJ pulls Hashi’s ears! ZSJ gets Hashi down to CRANK his neck! Taichi throws Goto out and chokes him with camera cable! The ref counts, Taichi lets go but not for long! The ref counts again, frees Goto, but the Tekkers regroup and put Goto in.

Taichi brings Goto up, and chokes him again! ZSJ adds his boot into this but the ref counts on them both! The Tekkers put their hands up at 3 but ZSJ’s boot is still choking Goto! The ref counts again, again ZSJ and Taichi put their hands up, but the boot hasn’t moved! The ref gets them to finally stop and Goto falls over. Taichi smirks and tags ZSJ in, and they stomp Goto down. ZSJ brings Goto up to spin into a cravat and crank on the neck. ZSJ snapmares but still has the cravat to grinds Goto down! Goto scrambles and gets a ropebreak! ZSJ tries to hold on with a headscissor but the ref counts. ZSJ lets off but Taichi stands on Goto’s leg. Taichi tags in and mocks fans as they clap and rally for Goto. Taichi “covers” but he’s just choking Goto again!

The ref reprimands and counts, Taichi stops but chokes again! Taichi keeps using the same tricks but the ref counts again. Taichi stops, to sucker punch Hashi! Fans rally up for Goto but Taichi is on him first. Goto choke grips Taichi! Goto gives Taichi the choking back but ZSJ sleeper holds Goto! ZSJ drags Goto down but lets go at the count. The Tekkers double whip but Goto DOUBLE LARIATS them down! The fans cheer as all three are down and Hashi returns! Hot tag to Hashi! Hashi fires up and runs at Taichi in the corner to CHOP him! Hashi whips Taichi corner to corner, reels him in and CHOPS again! Hashi runs but into a boot! He just fires up, dodges and BLOCKBUSTERS! Hashi DECKS ZSJ as revenge for earlier!

Taichi staggers up, Hashi runs in and CHOPS him against ropes! Hashi hangs Taichi out to dry then runs to dropkick him down! Hashi keeps going, basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Taichi survives but Hashi drags him up. Fans rally, Hashi suplexes but Taichi blocks. Taichi spins out but Hashi denies the saido! Hashi runs at Taichi in a corner but misses! Hashi dodges the gamangiri but not the boot, but he fires up again! Hashi runs, into Taichi’s AX BOMBER! Both men are down but fans fire up! Taichi crawls to his corner, hot tag to ZSJ! ZSJ runs in and uppercuts Hashi in the corner! Hashi shoves back and eggs ZSJ on! ZSJ fires off more EuroUppers then a boot! Hashi CHOPS ZSJ off his feet!

Hashi drags ZSJ up and suplexes, then neckbreaker position, but ZSJ wrenches out of the Head Buster and hops on for a guillotine! But Hashi powers out to hit a BRAIN BUSTER! Goto DECKS Taichi and brings ZSJ up. Goto whips ZSJ corner to corner, runs in and MURAMASA! Hashi CHOPS! Hashi feeds ZSJ to Goto’s kick! They hook ZSJ up, HEAD HUNTER LEG SWEEP! Cover, but Taichi breaks it! Goto goes after Taichi but Taichi chokes him! Taichi choke grips Hashi, too, but they both choke Taichi! The ref reprimands all the choking and everyone lets go. Goto and Hashi get Taichi up but Taichi fights out! Taichi pops Hashi up, he and ZSJ coordinate but Goto shoves ZSJ down!

Hashi has Taichi now, turns him, and with Goto, GOTO BUSTER! ZSJ uppercuts in but Hashi SUPERKICKS! Goto has ZSJ, SUPERKICK to dragon sleeper, but Taichi saves ZSJ while choking Goto! ZSJ sunset flips Hashi, the Tekkers win!!

Winners: The Dangerous Tekkers, by pinfall; now 1-0, Goto & Hashi are now 0-1

The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions win by the seat of their pants! And they scramble away to laugh at Goto and Hashi from a safe distance! Will the champions stay this clean through the whole tournament?

 

Best of the Super Juniors 27: SHO VS BUSHI!

High Voltage has pulled off some shockers, but will he lightning strike twice for him in the Junior Heavyweight round robin? Or will Death Mask Bushi start on a path towards the Bone Soldier?

The bell rings and Bushi circles with Sho. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Bushi gets Sho on ropes. Sho turns it around, Bushi turns it around but Sho turns it back around. The ref calls for the break and Sho lets off. Bushi kicks low and headlocks! Sho powers out, things speed up and Sho goes sideways to run Bushi over! Fans cheer and Bushi bails out, but Sho gets on the apron. Bushi avoids the kick to trip Sho up! Bushi stomps Sho, the ref wants this to get back in the ring, but Bushi whips Sho into railing! Bushi drags Sho up and looks to put him in the ring, then whips him into more railing! The ref starts a count, it climbs to 5 as Bushi brings Sho up again. Bushi whips Sho into even MORE railing at 10!

Bushi gets in at 12 of 20 and leaves Sho on the outside. Sho gets moving at 17, and in at 19! Fans cheer but Bushi is annoyed. Bushi stomps Sho, drags him up and bumps him off buckles. Bushi stomps and CHOPS Sho, then CHOPS Sho again! Bushi CHOPS a third time and Sho sits down, and Bushi digs his boots in! The ref counts, Bushi lets off but that’s the same trick we saw ZSJ do! Bushi actually lets off and fans rally up. Bushi brings Sho up, scoops and slams him, then covers, TWO! Fans cheer but Bushi stays on Sho with an STF! Sho fights his way towards ropes, dragging Bushi with him as he goes! Bushi claws Sho’s eyes but Sho still gets the ropebreak! The ref counts, Bushi stops and fans cheer.

Bushi gives toying kicks to Sho, then drags him up. Sho throws forearms but Bushi eggs him on. Bushi knees low, clubs Sho down, then brings Sho up. Sho spins out of the fisherman but BUshi kicks low. Bushi runs but into a SPEAR! Fans fire up with Sho, Sho throws big forearms and backs Bushi to a corner. Sho whips corner to corner and runs in to clothesline! Sho spins Bushi around, kicks and kicks and KICKS! Fans rally up as Sho watches Bushi stand, and Sho KICKS Bushi down! Cover, TWO! Sho watches Bushi stir, brings him back up and goes after the arm. Sho wrenches and twists the arm to an elbow breaker! And another! And another! Bushi clutches the arm and Sho KICKS at it! Bushi blocks and elbows the leg then kicks out the other. Bushi runs to basement dropkick Sho out of the ring!

Bushi runs and DIVES, direct hit sends Sho into railing! Both men are down and the ring count returns. Bushi is up at 9 of 20, he puts Sho in at 12. Fans cheer as Bushi brings Sho up and around to a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Bushi stomps Sho in frustration then stands on Sho’s head. Fans rally up as Sho gets up and throws forearms in return! Bushi forearms, Sho forearms, repeat! Sho fires up and forearms but Bushi gives them back! Fans rally as they go faster and faster! Bushi gets the edge but Sho gives forearms from all sides! Sho runs and LARIATS Bushi down! Sho fires up and reels Bushi in, but Bushi fights the bomb off! Bushi spins Sho around, backslide but Sho slips out. Bushi dodges to enziguri!

Sho staggers into a corner then back out, and Bushi runs, but his monkey flip is blocked! Sho gets a takedown to the ARMBAR! Bushi endures, moves around to get a cover, TWO!! Sho dead lift GERMANS! Sho fires up again and he drags Bushi up. Sho reels Bushi back in, lift, POWER BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives the powerbomb backbreaker but Sho keeps turning up the voltage! Sho tucks Bushi in and lifts, SHOCK ARROW!! Cover, Sho wins!

Winner: SHO, by pinfall; now 1-0, Bushi is now 0-1

Sho scores big to open the BOSJ! Will he keep up the voltage and make it to the top?

 

World Tag League 2020: SANADA & Shingo Takagi VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi w/ Dick Togo!

Who would have thought it’d come to this? The Cold Skull and King of Darkness have won the WTL trophy together in back to back years, but are now on completely opposite sides. Who takes what is already a very important win in this year’s tournament?

After a Low Sweet, Bullet Club jumps LIJ! The bell rings as Evil stomps Takagi and Yujiro throws Sanada out. Takagi fights back with forearms and chops but Evil clubs Takagi back. Bullet Club whip Takagi but he holds ropes and comes back to run over Yujiro! Evil dodges but Takagi elbows him and spins him to a suplex, BRAIN BUSTER! Fans fire up and Takagi tags in Sanada. LIJ whip Evil, Takagi knees low and snapmares Evil for Sanada’s basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Sanada elbows Evil and follows him to a corner. Sanada whips corner to corner and runs in, but he blocks the boot! Sanada trips Evil but Evil denies Paradise! Sanada knees Evil low, clubs him then whips him, but Evil reverses. Sanada hold ropes and dumps Evil out!

Fans fire up and Sanada builds speed, to tumble out. Evil knows that trick and brings Sanada down to RAM him into the timekeeper’s area! Evil did this to Naito at Power Struggle, now he’s doing it to Evil! Yujiro goes after Takagi in the distraction, and Evil chokes Sanada with camera cable! Dick doesn’t see the problem and keeps the ref away. Evil lets off on Sanada and Yujiro comes over. They put Sanada in and Evil follows. Evil has a cocky cover, the ref counts, TWO! Fans rally but Yujiro tags in. Yujiro stomps Sanada, brings him up, snapmares him back down and drops a leg, an elbow and a headbutt! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer but Yujiro sits Sanada up to rain down big right hands! Tag to Evil and Evil hears fans rally for “SA-NA-DA!” with clapping.

Evil throws Sanada out and distracts the ref so that Dick can hit Sanada! Dick puts Sanada back on the apron, Evil runs in and BLASTS Sanada off, and Sanada again topples the timekeeper’s area over! Yujiro throws Takagi into railing on the other side and the ref check son Sanada. Yujiro mocks Sanada with butt pats. Yujiro puts Sanada in and Evil covers, TWO! Another try, TWO! Another try, TWO! Evil grows frustrated and argues the count. Tag to Yujiro and Yujiro brings Sanada up. Sanada throws forearms but Yujiro knees low. Yujiro has Sanada on the ropes and BOOTS him! Yujiro brings Sanada around, fisherman but no buster as Sanada fights out! Fans rally and Sanada goes to suplex Yujiro, but Yujiro BITES Sanada’s hand!

The ref counts, Yujiro stops, then fireman’s carries. Sanada BITES Yujiro’s hand! The ref counts, Sanada stops and Yujiro whips him, but Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Fans rally up as Sanada crawls, hot tag to Takagi! Takagi runs at Yujiro, blocks the boot and stomps away! Evil gets in to kick Takagi and whip him away but Takagi reverses! Takagi corner clotheslines Evil, then clotheslines Yujiro, then sends Evil into Yujiro to double clothesline them! And he DECKS Dick, too! Fans fire up as Takagi suplexes Yujiro high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi drives elbow after elbow into Yujiro, then runs but Yujiroi avoids the clothesline. Yujiro kicks and forearms but Takagi forearms back. Fans rally as they go back and forth, but Yujiro rakes eyes! Yujiro runs but Takagi clotheslines him at the ropes!

Takagi runs but Yujiro BOOTS him! Yujiro brings Takagi in for the reverse DDT! Tag to Evil and Evil stalks Takagi. Evil gives toying kicks to Takagi’s head but the fans rally up for “TA-KA-GI!” Takagi kicks but Evil blocks it to hand it off to the ref! Takagi catches the mule kick because he knows this trick! Takagi shoves the ref aside to DRAGON SCREW Evil down! Fans cheer and Takagi tags in Sanada! Sanada brings Evil up, knees him low and whips him corner to corner. Evil reverses but Sanada elbows back. QUEBRADA but Evil gets under! Sanada runs but Yujiro trips him up! Evil DECKS Takagi then brings Sanada up. Bullet Club whips Sanada corner to corner, Yjiro BOOTS and Evil corner clotheslines!

Takagi gets in, Yujiro kicks him! DOUBLE FISHERMAN BUSTERS take LIJ down! Evil drags Sanada back up but fans rally for “L I J!” with their claps. But Evil hits DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO! Sanada survives and Evil is furious! Fans rally up more but Evil slashes the throat. Evil drags Sanada up, spins him around, but no STO! Sanada waistlocks, Takagi runs but Evil boots him away! Evil standing switches, Takagi still runs in and Sanada moves, PUMPING BOMBER on Evil! Yujiro returns but Takagi clobbers him! Fans fire up with LIJ and they double whip Evil corner to corner. Sanada hits a back elbow, Takagi hits a clothesline, then Takagi feeds Evil to Sanada’s boot! Takagi adds a blindside lariat, Sanada hits T K O! Cover, but Yujiro breaks it!

Takagi throws Yujiro out and lets Sanada take care of this! Sanada brings Evil up in the dragon sleeper! Evil fights but Sanada hits a SKULL SWING! Yujiro has the pimp cane! The ref stops him, but Evil powers Sanada to ropes. Dick gets Sanada with the SPOILER CHOKER! The ref is busy with Yujiro, but Sanada is fighting out of the choker! Fans rally and Sanada frees himself! And sends Evil into Dick! Takagi drags Yujiro out while Sanada rolls Evil up! TWO! Sanada fireman’s carries Evil and throws him into the dragon sleeper! Fans fire up but Sanada sees Yujiro coming! Sanada pushes Evil away, fireman’s carries Yujiro, but Yujiro grabs the ref! Evil LOW BLOWS Sanada!! Evil reels Sanada in, spins him around, EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! Cover, Bullet Club wins!!

Winners: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi, by pinfall; now 1-0, Sanada & Takagi are now 0-1

All the dirty tricks in the book were used and Bullet Club takes the win! Is the King of Darkness truly the better half of the duo that was? Or is he the worst?

 

Best of the Super Juniors 27: Ryusuke Taguchi VS El Desperado!

Though the Heel Master is injured, “Despy” holds onto both IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. Will he represent both and disarm the Funky Weapon in the opening round?

The bell rings and fans cheer as Taguchi does some last warm-ups. Desperado just shrugs that off as he circles with Taguchi. Taguchi does some jumping and spinning and Desperado keeps his distance. Fans rally up as Taguchi moves around a lot. Taguchi and Desperado circle but Taguchi needs a breather from his warming up. Taguchi comes back, Desperado kicks him low and talks trash. Desperado thrwos forearms, elbows then runs, but Taguchi drops down to speed things up. And again, and again! Desperado basement dropkicks but Taguchi dodges! Taguchi outsmarted Desperado there, and then he throws poke after poke! Taguchi powers up to pat Desperado at super speed! Desperado stops that and rakes Taguchi’s eyes!

Desperado whips Taguchi but Taguchi reverses, but he runs in to be put on the apron. Taguchi counter punches then climbs up, jumps in but into a basement dropkick to the leg! Desperado drags Taguchi to the corner and pulls him into the post! And then SLAMS a leg into it! Taguchi clutches his leg but Desperado talks more smack. Fans rally up, Desperado has the leg again and SLAMS it back into the post! Desperado gets in the ring while Taguchi tumbles to the floor. Taguchi gets his leg moving as Red Shoes starts the ring count. Fans rally up and Taguchi gets up at 10, then walks off the bad leg. Taguchi hears the count pass 15, he gets in at 19! And then goes back to the apron!

Desperado chases after and they go around the way. Taguchi wants Desperado to take it easy but Desperado throws a forearm then POSTS Taguchi! Desperado puts Taguchi in, fans cheer as Taguch slowly rolls all the way to ropes. Desperado stops Taguchi from getting out so Taguchi rolls the other way. Desperado brings Taguchi up, has the bad leg, but Taguchi fights off the shin breaker! Taguchi tries to run away but Desperado reels him in for the SHIN BREAKER! And then steps through to drop a leg on the leg! Desperado ties the legs up for a butterfly stretch! Taguchi endures, grabs at Desperado, but Desperado pushes on the butterfly harder. Fans rally for Taguchi as he endures and crawls, and gets the ropebreak!

Desperado says he’s stuck so Red Shoes helps undo the hold. Taguchi clutches the leg again, Desperado drags him up and suplexes. Taguchi slips out but the bad leg buckles! Taguchi ends up in a corner, Desperado runs in, but Taguchi boots back! Taguchi runs but into an atomic drop! Desperado runs in but into boots! Taguchi gets the bad leg moving, he fakes Desperado out, and fans cheer as he jumps again, but into another atomic drop! Desperado uppercuts then runs, but into a SOMERSAULT FUNKY WEAPON! Fans fire up with Taguchi as he runs and goes up the corner, triangle crossbody! Direct hit and fans fire up as Taguchi rises! Taguchi drags Desperado up and into the ring.

Taguchi climbs up but reconsiders. Taguchi brings Desperado up and snap suplexes! Uno amigo! Snap suplex, dos amigos! Taguchi wants tres but Desperado fights it off! Taguchi fights off Desperado’s suplex to hit THREE AMIGOS! Cover, TWO! Taguchi has the ankle lock! Desperado scrambles around as Taguchi holds tight, and Desperado still gets the ropebreak! Taguchi goes after Desperado’s leg to give back to spinning toehold! Taguchi drags Desperado up, suplexes and GOURD BUSTERS! Taguchi rolls back to a corner and powers up! “ORYA~!” But Desperado does the splits to duck Bum-a-ye! Fans fire up and Desperado runs in. Desperado blocks the boot and dropkicks the bad leg! Then he gives it a DRAGON SCREW!

Taguchi writhes, Desperado gets the leg for the Stretch Muffler! Desperado cranks on the leg, grabs for an arm as Taguchi flails, NUMERO DOS! Taguchi still gets the ropebreak with the other arm and Desperado lets go. Desperado grows frustrated but the fans cheer Taguchi on. Red Shoes checks on Taguchi but Desperado drags him up first. Desperado underhooks but no guitar as Taguchi slips out and spins Desperado around! Taguchi double chicken wings but the leg gives out on the lift! Desperado kicks then runs but into a dropkick! Fans fire up as Taguchi rises! Taguchi fires up and runs in, SLIDING HIP! Cover, TWO! Desperado also has the rope for good measure and fans rally up.

Taguchi gets up, drags Desperado around to the chicken wings, but Desperado shoves him at Red Shoes! Taguchi blocks the low blow and spins Desperado around, but Desperado pops out to underhook! Taguchi fights off the lift and enziguris back! Taguchi fires up and the fans join in as he brings Desperaod up. DONDON- VICTORY ROLL! TWO, Taguchi has Desperado down, Taguchi wins!!

Winner: Ryusuke Taguchi, by pinfall; now 1-0, Desperado is 0-1

Taguchi got the better of Desperado there! Will the Funky Weapon hit its mark as the BOSJ continues?

 

World Tag League 2020: FinJuice VS The Guerrillas of Destiny w/ Jado!

The 2019 WTL winners are back again! But they’re up against familiar foes in Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. Will David Finlay and Juice Robinson be able to survive the Bullet Club’s Firing Squad? Or will they be reminded why ain’t nobody realer than Guerrilla?

After a Low Sweet for GOD, the teams sort out and The Flamboyant One starts against the Good Bad Guy. Fans rally already as Juice and Tama circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Juice uses his height to get leverage. Juice pushes Tama to ropes but Tama turns it around. Tama lets off to show the good part, but then swings on Juice to show the bad part! Juice gets away and pretends to be a matador. Fans cheer as Juice tells Tama to kiss this. Tama and Juice tie up again, Tama waistlocks but Juice pries out and wrenches to a wristlock. Tama kicks low, wrenches back and then shifts to a hammerlock. Tama then headlocks to a takeover but Juice headscissors back!

Tama pops out, gets another takeover but again Juice headscissors! Tama pops out again, to get another headlock takeover! Juice wants a third headscissor but Tama fights that off to grind on then headlock. Juice powers up and throws body shots. Juice powers out and tags to Finlay. Things speed up and Finlay elbows Tama down! Cover, ONE but Finlay gets Tama in a headlock. Tama fights up, Finlay shifts to wrench to a wristlock, then he drags Tama down to the mat. Finlay grinds the arm, Tama fights back up and knees low. Tama CLUBS Finlay, tags Loa but Final dodges him to wrench and wristlock! Tag to Juice, Juice drops ax handles on the arm! Juice wrenches, Finlay tags back in and drops more ax handles!

Finlay wrenches Loa again, tags back to Juice and Juice hollers as he drops more ax handles! FinJuice double whip and double hip toss Loa down, then Finlay hits a sliding uppercut, and Juice drops a senton! Fans cheer as Juice drags Loa to a cover, ONE! Juice argues the count but he drags Loa up. Loa throws body shots and powers Juice to a corner. Tag to Tama and the GOD mug Juice! Tama digs his boot into Juice’s chest, then runs side to side to BOOT WASH! Cover, TWO! Tama grabs Juice’s hair to keep him in place for elbows. Tag to Loa, GOD double whip, throw hands and a leaping neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Loa keeps on Juice with a chinlock but fans rally. Loa makes it part straitjacket but Juice fights up. Juice throws body shots but Loa throws elbows. Juice clinches to jawbreaker free!

Juice DECKS Tama, too, but Loa catches Juice to throw him away. Juice ducks the clothesline, hot tag to Finlay! Finlay rallies on Loa, whips but Loa reverses, only for Finlay to hit a flying elbow! Tama runs in but Finlay dropkicks him down! Finlay aims and PLANCHAS to take Loa down! Fans fire up with Finlay as he stares Jado down. Finlay drags Loa up and into the ring then goes to a corner. Fans rally, but Tama goes after Finlay first. Finlay decks Tama but Loa goes up and clubs away on Finlay! Loa underhooks, SUPER BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Finlay ends up in the opposite corner, but Loa brings him up to throw him out! Loa goes after Juice and Tama whips Finlay into railing!

Red Shoes reprimands but the damage is done, and Loa RAMS Juice into the apron! Loa BOOTS Juice down and then regroups with Tama to CLOBBER Finlay. Loa drags Finlay up and puts him in to cover, TWO! Finlay is still in this and fans cheer but Loa tags Tama. GOD double whip and double back drop Finlay high and hard! Fans rally for Finlay but Tama DECKS Juice! Tama goes back to Finlay, throws crossface forearms over and over and then CLUBS Finlay down! Tama looms over Finlay, Tama drags back up and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer as Finlay reaches for his corner, but Tama brings him away to snapmare. Tag to Loa for the senton atomico! Tama adds his own then Loa covers, TWO!

Loa keeps Finlay down by pulling his hair. Finlay pushes Loa and fans fire up! Loa and Finlay are forehead to forehead and Finlay fires off forearms and uppercuts! Finlay hits Tama then elbows Loa! Loa is fired up but Finlay FLYING UPPERCUTS him down! Loa grabs at Finlay’s legs, Finlay kicks him away, hot tag to Juice! Juice rallies on GOD over and over, SPINE BUSTER for Loa! Tama ducks the leg lariat but not the SPINE BUSTER! Juice is fired up and he runs in at Loa for the CANNONBALL! Juice gets fans to stomp-stomp-clap, and he goes after Loa with JABS! We Will, We Will JAB You! Juice fakes Loa out with the Left Hand to dropkick him down! Juice then whips Loa, Loa reverses and Jado swipes at Juice! Juice dodges Loa to WRECK Jado with a dropkick!

Juice then shoulders into Loa, goes up top and leaps up and over him! Loa comes back to kick low, knee and enziguri! Juice wobbles, Loa is pissed and so he scoop POWERSLAMS him! Both men are down but Loa gets to his corner, tag to Tama! Tama rains down rights on Juice, Red Shoes reprimands but Tama just SLAPS Juice instead. GOD coordinate, drag Juice up, TONGAN TWIST! Cover, but Finlay breaks it! Fans cheer as Finlay fires off on Loa and then Tama! And then back and forth, but he gets caught into a TONGAN TWIST! FinJuice is down but fans are fired up all the same! GOD coordinates and brings Finlay back up. Loa RAMS Juice into a corner and Tama adds a splash! Loa runs at Juice but is put on the apron! Juice dodges Tama, FinJuice DOUBLE FLAPJACK him down!

FinJuice coordinate now, Juice brings Tatma up and Finlay runs in, shotgun Russian leg sweep! Cover, TWO!! Tama survives and Juice grows frustrated. Juice drags Tama back up and Finlay builds speed, but Loa gets in to LARIAT Finlay! GOD hit MAGIC KILLER on Juice!! Cover, TWO!?! Juice survives and GOD is shocked! Jado calls for Super Bomb and GOD brings Juice up. Loa RAMS Juice into a corner, Tama hits his corner splash! Loa climbs, but Juice suplexes Tama instead! Finlay hits Loa, climbs up and clubs away. Finlay brings Loa up for a SUPERPLEX! Juice FROG SPLASHES in! FinJuice fires up but Jado gets on the apron! Juice DECKS Jado with the Left Hand o’ God!

Tama runs in but Finlay turns his Gun Stun into a BACKBREAKER! Juice hoists Tama up in an Electric Chair and Finlay is up top, DOOMSDAY DEVICE! Cover, FinJuice wins!!

Winners: FinJiuce, by pinfall; now 1-0, Guerrillas of Destiny are 0-1

The 2019 World Tag League winners are still winners! Having defeated one of Bullet Club’s best duos, is it all but a shoe-in that FinJuice will go back to back?

 

Best of the Super Juniors 27: Hiromu Takahashi VS Taiji Ishimori!

There is a lot of history between the Ticking Time Bomb and the Bone Soldier Reborn, but most recently was their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in Jingu! This opening round main event could very well determine everything in the Junior Heavyweight Division! Will Hiromu avenge the Summer Struggle?

The bell rings and the two rush each other! Hiromu dodges the kick to fireman’s carry but Ishimori slips out! Ishimori half hatches but Hiromu resists the lift. Ishimori dodges the clothesline to tilt-o-whirl, but Hiromu holds that off. Ishimori and Hiromu block each other’s strikes but Hiromu’s kick low hits. Hiromu whips but Ishimori reverses. Ishimori runs in, blocks Hiromu’s boots and turns him into the ropes. Ishimori enziguris and runs side to side, but Hiromu comes back to dropkick the legs out! Hiromu runs and dropkicks Ishimori out! Fans fire up as Hiromu aims from the apron, and he flying dropkicks Ishimori into railing! Hiromu walks around the way to build up speed as he makes a full lap, and then he stops to stomp Ishimori!

Hiromu brings Ishimori up to CHOP him, then CHOP him again! Hiromu puts Ishimori in the ring, digs his knee into Ishimori’s neck then stomps him more. Hiromu drags Ishimori up and CHOPS him again! Ishimori goes to a corner, Hiromu CHOPS him again, and fans rally as Hiromu whips corner to corner. Ishimori slips out to the apron, slides under and slips to the other side to shoulder back in. Ishimori slingshots but Hiromu DECKS him! Ishimori tumbles down but Hiromu waits for him to get on the apron. Hiromu runs and LEAPS to sunset flip! Ishimori holds off the bomb, back flips through, but Hiromu huricanranas, only for Ishimori to block! Ishimori swings and lifts Hiromu up to APRON BOMB him! Fans rally up while Hiromu is down.

Ishimori gets back in the ring while Red Shoes checks on Hiromu. Hiromu is okay so a ring count begins. Hiromu sits up at 6, slowly stands up at 12, then walks around the way to get in at 16. Ishimori is after Hiromu with clubbing forearms, then he drags Hiromu up for a cravat. Ishimori rams his shoulder in, snapmares and CRANKS Hiromu’s neck! Hiromu writhes but fans rally up again. Ishimori stomps Hiromu, kicks at him, then eggs him on. Hiromu CHOPS but Ishimori just flexes. Hiromu CHOPS, so Ishimori CHOPS! Hiromu CHOPS, Ishimori CHOPS, and now we go to forearms back and forth! Ishimori gets the edge then runs, but into a wheelbarrow to COMPLETE SHOT! Both men are down but fans rally up for “HI-RO-MU!”

Hiromu gets to one corner while Ishimori gets to the other. They run at each other again, double clotheslines collide! And again! Hiromu runs in to clothesline, then goes corner to corner. Ishimori follows to clothesline back! Ishimori runs, Hiromu follows, and then blows past Ishimori to whip him into the corner! Hiromu hits a shotgun dropkick, then keeps going, only for Ishimori to return the dropkick! Ishimori runs but Hiromu pops him up, only for Ishimori to huricanrana! Ishimori runs in, Hiromu throws him up to the top rope, then fireman’s carries! Ishimori pops up again but Hiromu sets him down. Things speed up, Hiromu reverses the whip and catches the handspring into a GERMAN! But Ishimori is right up to POISON-RANA!

Hiromu stands but flounders, Ishimori runs in but Hiromu OVERHEAD suplexes Ishimori into buckles! Fans fire up as both men are down again! Hiromu stirs and slowly sits up but Ishimori gets under the bottom rope. Hiromu smiles as he heads over and joins Ishimori on the apron. Hiromu drags Ishimori up, suplexes him but Ishimori slips out! Ishimori enziguris back! Ishimori reels Hiromu in but Hiromu holds ropes! Hiromu lifts Ishimori but Ishimori fights out. Ishimori knees Hiromu then brings him up, APRON PILE DRIVER!! Hiromu falls to the floor and fans are stunned! Red Shoes checks on Hiromu, and Hiromu is somehow okay! Fans rally up now as Hiromu stirs. Ishimori goes back into the ring to let the count take care of this.

The count reaches 10 but Hiromu stands so Ishimori goes to the corner, TRIANGLE MOONSAULT! But Hiromu catches Ishimori for a MICHINOKU DRIVER! Both men are down on the outside and fans fire up! Ishimori and Hiromu stir, the ring count reaches 10 of 20, but Hiromu is up first at 15. Hiromu hobbles and gets into the ring at 17! Ishimori is up at 18 but in at 19.5! Fans cheer as this match continues in the ring! Hiromu fires himself up and runs, but Ishimori clotheslines him at ropes! Ishimori runs but Hiromu dropkicks him at ropes! Hiromu runs and dropkicks Ishimori into the ropes! Ishimori ends up stuck in the ropes then slumps to the apron! Hiromu drags Ishimori up, fireman’s carry and DYNAMITE PLUNGER! Cover, TWO!

Ishimori survives and Hiromu grows frustrated. Hiromu gets up as fans rally. Hiromu drags Ishimori up, fireman’s carries again but Ishimori blocks! Hiromu still gets Ishimori up but Ishimori throws elbows! Ishimori slips off, deflects the superkick and BOOTS, but Hiromu SUPERKICKS back! Hiromu runs into a LEAPING KNEE! Ishimori runs into a LARIAT! Both men are down again and fans fire up! Hiromu crawls to a cover, TWO!! Ishimori survives but Hiromu is too tired to be frustrated. Fans rally up again as Hiromu rises. Hiromu drags Ishimori up, fireman’s carries again but Ishimori slips right off! Hiromu fights off Bloody Cross and double clotheslines collide again! Ishimori runs and LARIATS Hiromu down! Both men are down and fans fire up again!

Ishimori rises, fires himself up and brings Hiromu up. Ishimori gut wrenches, SHOULDER BREAKER then CYPHER UTAGI! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives but Ishimori is too tired to be frustrated now! Fans rally as Ishimori gets to a corner and watches Hiromu flounder. Hiromu gets up, Ishimori tilt-o-whirls to the takedown! YES LOCK! Hiromu endures, fans fire up, Hiromu grabs at Red Shoes but refuses to give in! Ishimori cranks harder but Hiromu crawls over. Hiromu reaches with a foot, but Ishimori rolls Hiromu away! Ishimori keeps the Yes Lock on but Hiromu refuses to give in! Hiromu moves around, finds ropes again, but Ishimori shifts the arm for the chicken wing. This gives Hiromu an opening, he gets the ROPEBREAK!

Ishimori lets go in frustration but perhaps also exhaustion! Ishimori gets up and says BANG, then drags Hiromu up. Hiromu resists the suplex, ducks one clothesline then a back hand but not the next clothesline! Ishimori fires up but Hiromu is dead weight. Ishimori stands on Hiromu but Hiromu keeps a shoulder up. Ishimori has an arm, he drags Hiromu up and half hatch, but Hiromu arm-drags free! POP-UP BOMB! And then suplex to facebuster! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer and rally up again as both men rise. Hiromu is up first and fires himself up as he goes back to Ishimori. Hiromu drags Ishimori up, dragon sleeper and inverted suplex, but Ishimori fights out!

Ishimori inverted suplexes but Hiromu fights, so Ishimori hits a backbreaker! Ishimori lifts again but Hiromu arm-drags, holds on to roll and fireman’s carry! Ishimori flails but Hiromu CORNER DEATH VALLEY DRIVERS! Hiromu holds on, brings Ishimori back up, RUNNING DEATH VALLEY BOMB! Fans fire up and Hiromu does, too! Hiromu fireman’s carries once more, spins and TIME BOMB!! Cover, Hiromu wins!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall; now 1-0, Ishimori is now 0-1

The Time Bomb gets an explosive victory! He pins the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, but with WrestleKingdom 15 fast approaching, will Hiromu still have to win BOSJ to have his shot at the title? Will Ishimori have to be much more careful to make sure his dance card doesn’t fill up before the end of the year?

After catching his breath, Hiromu gets the mic to speak. “I beat Taiji Ishimori!!” Is Ishimori listening? He might as well hand the belt over to Hiromu now. Pff, nah, Hiromu knows that’s not how this works. After all, this is Best of the Super Juniors. Hiromu sits back while fans cheer. Hiromu continues to say that the point is that he won the first main event of BOSJ 27. “That’s what Hiromu Takahashi does! I’m of to a good start! How about it, Aichi?” Oh? Oh oh? Ho ho ho, well well well. This is the first time in ages for fans to watch ten matches in a row. They must be tired! Fans cheer because they still have energy. Hiromu is very tired, he should sit back down.

“But it’s all good, right? This moment, this time, this kind of exhaustion, this is amazing! To wrestle and watch wrestling until you’re completely exhausted, that’s the most fun you can have, right?!” Fans cheer in agreement. Even though we’re all going through these tough times, Hiromu hopes to wear us out even more! “All the pro-wrestling fans, you better be ready!” Because this month is going to be so much fun, you WILL be exhausted! Fans cheer, loving that idea! “World Tag League and Best of the Super Juniors 27 is underway! Let’s have more, more, more, more more more more fun together!!” Will Hiromu have the most fun ever as 2020 nears the end?

 

Here are the current standings!

World Tag League

Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii: 1-0
The Empire: 1-0
The Dangerous Tekkers: 1-0
EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi: 1-0
FinJuice: 1-0
Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens: 0-1
HenarACE: 0-1
SANADA & Shingo Takagi: 0-1
YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto: 0-1
Guerrillas of Destiny: 0-1

Best of the Super Juniors 27

Master Wato: 1-0
Robbie Eagles: 1-0
SHO: 1-0
Ryusuke Taguchi: 1-0
Hiromu Takahashi: 1-0
Yuya Uemaru: 0-1
DOUKI: 0-1
BUSHI: 0-1
El Desperado: 0-1
Taiji Ishimori: 0-1


My Thoughts:

A real great start to these two tournaments in one night, but I do feel bad Kanemaru injured his knee before he could be in this. His match with Wato was surely going to be really good, but I’m also sure Wato would’ve won that to avenge his Jingu loss. Uemaru taking Kanemaru’s place, obviously Wato was going to win, and there could be a lot of changes to how the round robin was going to go. I bet Uemaru does get one win at the right time to really mess up someone’s record, like on Desperado or Eagles. For just BOSJ, they were all great matches, but it was really only Taguchi VS Desperado and Hiromu VS Ishimori that felt they could go either way. Hiromu VS Ishimori was title match worthy, but I can’t be sure the Junior Heavyweight title mirrors the Heavyweight title with the double duty for WrestleKingdom 15. If Hiromu doesn’t win the whole thing, he might not get his shot at the title until after WK15.

In World Tag League, there was also a lot of great stuff, but it felt like Cobb being “X” aka the new Empire member, was the biggest surprise of the night, as well as he and Khan just destroying HenarAce, in more ways than one. They went after Tanahashi’s leg and that can end up being Tanahashi’s entire story from here on, putting it on Henare to do the heavy lifting, in parallel to how the Golden Aces story was feeling. Dangerous Tekkers get a quick win, which speaks to Hashi and Goto being strong, but also to start strong as the tag champions being in the tournament. I feel like Tekkers will go on a run similar to Tetsuya Naito in the G1 Climax, in that they’ll be undefeated until almost the very end.

FinJuice beating GoD really is big as FinJuice are the previous WTL winners, and GOD are a high level tag team that could also be contenders. FinJuice and Tekkers will make for a big match that I hope is somehow saved until the end of the rounds to be a very pivotal moment. It could also be a parallel to Naito and Evil or Evil and Sanada, where it all determines the final tally and who wins.

My Score: 9/10


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Coverage

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

Talk about a Big Time Raw!

Published

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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

on

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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