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Mitchell’s NJPW WTL x BOSJ Results & Report! (11/16/20)

World Tag League stands alone!

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NJPW WTLBOSJ

NJPW focuses on World Tag League for today!

NJPW may be running two tournaments at once, but even they know 10 matches every day would be a lot! So for day two, it’s JUST World Tag League! Will the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions keep on winning?

NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • World Tag League 2020: Guerrillas of Destiny VS Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens; Guerrillas of Destiny win.
  • World Tag League 2020: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto VS Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb; Hashi & Goto win.
  • World Tag League 2020: FinJuice VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi; Evil & Yujiro win.
  • World Tag League 2020: Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii VS SANADA & Shingo Takagi; Sanada & Takagi win.
  • World Tag League 2020: HenarACE VS Dangerous Tekkers; Dangerous Tekkers win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current World Tag League standings!

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

 

Guerrillas of Destiny w/ Jado VS Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens!

Bullet Club VS Bullet Club? Will this be okay? We saw how this stuff went in the G1 Climax. Will Bullet Club still (not) be fine?

Being that this is all Bullet Club, they all Low Sweet to show they’re still united. GOD and Jado do a second Low Sweet and Owens is a little confused. Owens looks to Fale, but turns around into Tama Tonga’s dropkick! The bell rings and the Good Bad Guy waits on the Crown Jewel. Owens is upset, they’re all Bullet Club so why would Tama do that? Tama apologizes and holds the ropes open for Owens. Fans cheer and Owens gets in the ring, but Tama jumps him from behind! Tama throws hands, Owens bails out and Owens is again upset. Jado has his kendo stick and Owens tells him to stay back. Tama slides out but Owens slides in. Owens is ready and he tackles Tama to rain down rights!

Tama turns things around to rain down rights but Owens turns things back. The ref reprimands as the two scrap and Tama gets the edge. Tama clubs Owens and throws body shots in the neutral corner. Tama also throws elbows, then he whips Owens corner to corner. Owens goes up and over and speeds things up. Tama hurdles but runs into Owens’ calf kick! Owens rains down angry rights but the ref pulls him away. Owens calms down, brings Tama up for a headlock punch! Jado protests but Owens brings Tama up. Tama throws Owens out, Loa leaps to ax handle! Fale protests but the ref keeps him back. Loa whips Owens into railing! Loa blames it on the camera crew. Owens gets up and Tama drags him through the ropes for a DDT! Cover, TWO!

Tama keeps on Owens with a chinlock then a cravat. Owens endures but Tama snapmares him down. Tag to Loa for the slingshot senton, then Tama adds his own! Loa covers, TWO! Loa keeps between Owens and Fale and stomps Owens down. Loa drags Owens up, carries him back into the GOD corner, and Tama tags in. The ref reprimands but he has to keep Fale back. GOD gets away with mugging Owens in the corner! Tama digs his heels into Owens’ head but lets up as the ref counts. Tama goes side to side to BOOT WASH! Fans rally and Fale goes after Jado, but Loa keeps Fale back. Tama covers Owens but the ref is too busy. The ref finally counts, ONE! Tama gets in the ref’s face about being distracted, but Owens body shots Tama!

Tama rakes Owens’ eyes, drags him over and puts him in the corner for body shots of his own! Tag to Loa and Loa brings Owens up to headbutt and stomp! Loa digs his boot in, the ref counts, Loa stops at 4. Owens hurries for his corner but Loa keeps him back, and uses a straddle hip drop to knock Owens down! Loa adds elbows but Owens body shots back! Owens gest up and throws forearms. Loa eggs Owens on, Owens CHOPS but Loa kicks low. Owens fires off a flurry but he swings into the backbreaker and COMPLETE SHOT! Into a CROSSFACE! Fale breaks it up! Fans cheer for Fale as he and Loa argue. Loa shoves Fale, Fale swipes at Loa! The ref has them stay back and Loa runs at Owens in the corner.

Owens boots Loa away but Loa grins. Loa runs in, but into a corner complete shot! Fans cheer as Owens rolls, hot tag to Fale! Fale drags Loa up but Loa throws forearms. Fale shakes those off but Loa keeps throwing more! BOth men roar, Loa runs but he can’t run Fale over! Loa tries again but still Fale doesn’t budge! Loa fires up, then he stomps Fale’s foot. Fale blocks the whip with size and strength to whip Loa to a corner then corner splash! Loa eggs Fale on but Fale fires off! Fale whips Loa out then into the same corner for a back elbow! Jado gets on the apron but Fale grabs his beard! Loa clubs away on Fale and then tags Tama. GOD mug Fale at the ropes, then they double whip. Fale runs through them both!

Fans fire up as Fale goes back and tags Owens! Owens runs and forearms Tama, then Fale runs in to corner splash! Fale rolls Tama for Owens’ SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO! Owens keeps his cool as he stalks Tama. Tama flounders around, Owens runs but no Jewel Trigger! Tama spins Owens around but Owens drops to victory roll! TWO, and Owens reels Tama in for an O’Conner Roll! TWO and Owens boots Loa! Loa LARIATS Owens! Fale runs Loa over! Fans cheer as Owens and Tama are alone in the ring. Tama turns around, sees Owens and rushes in but gets rolled up! Owens has the ropes but Jado pushes him over! Well, Jado is keeping Owens fair, sorta.

Tama jumps in but Owens denies Gun Stun! Owens reels Tama in but Tama back drops free! Tama leaps, misses Owens and almost hits the ref! Jado kendo stick SMACKS Owens in the distraction! SPINE BUSTER and SHARPSHOOTER! Owens endures and Loa keeps Fale out! Owens TAPS, GOD wins!

Winners: Guerrillas of Destiny, by submission; now 1-1, Fale & Owens are now 0-2

Tama and Loa rebound, but with plenty of help from Jado! Will Jay White be proud or disappointed in his Firing Squad for winning like this over their own?

 

YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto VS Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb!

The Head Hunter and Fierce Warrior couldn’t get back at the IWGP Heavyweight Champions but were very close. However, it wasn’t even close when The Dominator revealed “X” was the Hawaiian Hulk and they both dominated HenarACE! Will this be anything but competitive as The Empire continues to grow stronger?

The teams sort out and Cobb starts against Hashi. Fans cheer and rally as the two stare down. Cobb and Hashi approach, tie up, and Cobb shoves Hashi to a corner! Cobb smirks to dare Hashi to come back. Hashi gets up, fans rally up and Hashi ties up with Cobb. Cobb shoves Hashi to the corner again and shakes his head. Hashi throws forearms but Cobb doesn’t budge. Cobb eggs Hashi on and Hashi keeps throwing forearms, but then Cobb throws Hashi into the corner! Cobb stomps away, the ref counts, and Cobb lets off at 3. Cobb slaps Hashi around, egging him on mroe. Hashi fires up and fires forearms! Cobb ROCKS Hashi but Hashi hits back! And again! And again! Hashi isn’t backing down even though Cobb ROCKS him again!

Hashi throws forearms, body shots and CHOPS! Fans fire up with Hashi as he runs, dodges, but gets run over! Cobb tags in Khan and Khan DECKS Goto! Khan and Cobb bring Hashi up, and the Empire double whips Hashi corner to corner. Khan whips Cobb in but Hashi dodges the splash! Hashi CHOPS Khan, dropkicks Cobb down, and Goto returns so he and Khan can double whip Khan and run him over with double shoulders! Then the hip toss senton! Cover, TWO! Hashi stomps Khan, brings him up and throws forearms! Hashi CHOPS Khan to a corner, then whips him corner to corner. Khan reverses the whip but runs into boots! Hashi runs in but into a headlock takeover! ARM TRIANGLE! Cobb clobbers Goto while Hashi fades! Hashi gets a second wind but Khan cranks tighter!

Fans rally and Hashi kicks his way around, to the ropebreak! The ref counts, Khan leans all his weight on Hashi but lets go at 3. Khan drags Hashi up by his hair just to CLUB him down! Khan tags Cobb and Cobb takes his time looming over Hashi. Cobb brings Hashi up to headbutt him on the back! Cobb ROCKS Hashi with a right, scoops him and shows off his strength, to then hit a side backbreaker! And another! Cobb TOSSES Hashi aside as he stares Goto down. Fans rally for Hashi while the ref keeps Goto back. Tag to Khan and the Empire mugs Hashi in the corner. Khan digs his boots in, the ref reprimands but Khan gives one last jam before letting off. Khan sucker punches Goto before dragging Hashi up. Hashi forearms and CHOPS back! But Khan Mongolian CHOPS Hashi down!

Khan drags Hashi up, bumps him off buckles, and holds him in by sitting on him! The ref counts, Khan stands up, but then sits back down! Khan grabs the arms for the inverted motorcycle stretch! The ref counts, Khan lets off at 3, but fans rally with their clapping, “YO-SHI, HA-SHI!” Tag to Cobb and Cobb slaps Hashi around. Hashi hits back with elbows and body shots, but Cobb CLUBS Hashi down! Cobb mocks Goto then drags Hashi up. Cobb fireman’s carries but Hashi fights out! Hashi waistlocks but Cobb elbows free. Hashi spinning mule kicks Cobb back! Fans fire up as Hashi crawls, hot tag to Goto! Goto DECKS Khan for earlier, then runs and clotheslines Cobb! Cobb stays up so Goto throws forearms! Cobb throws them back and fans fire up as the two men brawl back and forth!

Goto gets the edge, but Cobb knees low! Cobb whips Goto corner to corner but Goto reverses, to then corner clothesline! Goto holds on to BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Cobb resists the fireman’s carry lift, but Goto still gets him up! But Cobb slips off, knees low and tags Khan. Khan drags Goto up, whips him corner to corner, then follows up with a clothesline to the back! Khan hoists Goto up top backwards, then Mongolian CHOPS Goto into a Tree of Woe! Khan digs his boot into Goto’s face! The ref counts, Khan jams Goto at 3. Khan goes corner to corner to then run back in, sliding BOOT! Goto falls out of the Tree and Khan covers, TWO! Goto survives and Khan grows frustrated. Khan drags Goto up but fans rally up. Goto CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS!

Khan fires up to Mongolian CHOP back! Khan drags Goto up for another! Goto wobbles, Khan brings him back up for a third Mongolian Chop! Khan runs, but Goto follows and LARIATS him down! Both men are down, Hashi DECKS Cobb! Hashi brings Khan up and he whips Khan to a corner! Hashi whips Goto in for MURAMASA! Hashi runs in to CHOP! Feed to a kick, then combine for GOTO HUNTER! Cover off the combo, but Cobb drags Goto up! Cobb kicks Hashi, knees Goto, and then gets them both for a DOUBLE CROTCH LIFT SUPLEX! Cobb’s strength continues to amaze! The Empire regroups, whips Goto corner to corner and Khan whips Cobb in for a big back elbow!

Cobb gut wrench TOSSES Goto and Khan drags Got up. Khan shows he can gut wrench suplex, too! Cover, but Hashi breaks it at the last second! Cobb throws Hashi out and Khan looms over Goto. Khan sits Goto up to dragon sleeper but Goto fights back! Goto spins things around but Khan uses the claw to get free! Khan lifts, Goto slips out and shoves Khan into Hashi’s SUPERKICK! Goto gets a sleeper hold, then rolls Khan to a cradle! Goto and Hashi win!!

Winners: Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi by pinfall; now 1-1, The Empire is now 1-1

Chaos conquers The Empire!! They’ve brought Khan and Cobb down, but Khan stomps Goto out of the ring! The Dominator does not take losing lightly, but will this be the loss that keeps The Empire from winning it all?

 

FinJuice VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi w/ Dick Togo!

Juice Robinson and David Finlay continued where they left off in World Tag League, but they’re up against the underhanded King of Darkness and Tokyo Pimp! Will FinJuice taste Pimp Juice and find Everything Is Evil?

The teams sort out and after a Low Sweet, and after Juice puts his sunglasses away, Juice and Yujiro start. The fans rally up already as the two circle. Juice lunges in but Yujiro dodges and shoves Juice. Yujiro kicks low and headlocks but Juice throws body shots and powers out. Yujiro rams shoulders but Juice stays up. Yujiro tries again but still Juice doesn’t budge. Juice dares Yujiro to try again, but Yujiro kicks him low instead! Yujiro headlocks, Juice powers out and tags Finlay. Finlay scoops and slams Yujiro, then Juice scoop slams Finlay onto Yujiro! Juice keeps Evil away while Finlay covers, TWO! Finlay drags Yujiro up, wrenches an arm and wristlocks, tag to Juice. Juice climbs up and lets out a “WOO!” before he drops ax handles! Juice jogs around Yujiro then drags him up.

Tag to Finlay, Finlay climbs up and drops ax handles! Finlay double guns and Juice whips Yujiro. FinJuice double kick then double BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Finlay drags Yujiro up but Yujiro elbows. Finlay knees low then runs but Dick swipes at him! Finlay chases Dick but Evil clobbers him! Yujiro BOOTS Juice then Evil drags Finlay up to throw knees. Evil rakes Finlay’s eyes as he brings him around and RAMS him into the timekeeper’s area! Evil loves doing this to Abe for some reason. Then Evil drags Finlay away and puts him in the ring. Evil mocks the fans rallying while Yujiro drags Finlay up. Yujiro keeps Finlay from his corner with a scoop slam! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer but Yujiro tags Evil in. Bullet Club whips Finlay to ropes and double shoulders him over!

Yujiro runs to drop a leg, brother! Evil runs to drop a senton! Cover, TWO! Evil tries again, TWO! And again, TWO! Evil is frustrated but he keeps Finlay from Juice. Finlay throws body shots and forearms! And uppercuts! Evil whips Finlay into bare buckles! Yujiro threw the blue buckle pad away at some point! Tag to Yujiro and he taunts Finlay. Yujiro snapmares Finlay to then run and basement BOOT down! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Finlay reaches for Juice. Yujiro brings Finlay away to stomps and stomp! Yujiro slaps Finlay around but Finlay throws forearms and uppercuts! Yujiro knees low, fans rally harder as Yujiro back suplexes, and Finlay lands on his feet! Finlay dodges Yujiro, hot tag to Juice!

Juice rallies on Yujiro, scares off Evil and Dick, then goes back to JAB Yujiro! And JAB! JAB! Over and over and over, then he pumps up, but Yujiro ducks the Left Hand! Juice facelocks but Yujiro BITES the hand! Juice blocks the kick, gives a kick and still hits the DDT! Juice DECKS Evil off the apron then fires up. Juice runs corner to corner at Yujiro, big corner clothesline! And then a LEAPING LARIAT! Fans fire up but Evil gets in, only to get a high and hard back suplex! And a senton! Yujiro gets up but runs into a full nelson SLAM! Cover, TWO! Juice argues the count but fans clap along. Juice drags Yujiro up, fireman’s carries, spins around, but Yujiro rakes eyes! Yujiro slides off to throw forearms! Juice wobbles and Yujiro eggs him on. And then rakes his eyes!

Yujiro runs, blocks a boot and trips Juice, then hits a basement boot! Tag to Evil and Evil drags Juice up by his hair. Evil keeps Juice from Finlay but Juice elbows free! Hot tag to Finlay! Finlay rallies on Evil with forearms and uppercuts! Evil reverses the whip but Finlay leaping uppercuts! Evil bails out, Finlay PLANCHAS! Dick hurries away and Finlay puts Evil in the ring. Finlay runs corner to corner to uppercut! And then hops up and leaps to FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Finlay tags Juice back in, Juice whips Evil to pick up, UPPERCUT HART ATTACK! Jackknife cover but Yujiro breaks it! Finlay stomps Yujiro out and regroups with Juice. Tag to Finlay, Juice brings Evil up, but Yujiro drags Finlay up! Evil whips Juice into bare buckles!

Dick drags Juice out to throw hands! Then Dick distracts the ref as Yujiro chokes Finlay with the pimp cane! Evil JAMS Finlay with a chair! Juice trips Dick then JABS Evil! Yujiro kicks Juice but FinJuice DOUBLE FLAPJACK him down! Fans fire up as Juice drags Evil up. FinJuice tries again, SHOTGUN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives but FinJuice coordinates another combo. Finlay brings Evil up to the top rope in one corner, Juice climbs up in the other. Finlay has Evil up top, but Yujiro trips Juice! Evil shoves Finlay down and Bullet Club regroups. Bullet Club whips Finlay, Finlay gets around to shove Evil into Yujiro! STUNNER on Evil! STUNNER on Yujiro! Dick gets in, he gets a STUNNER too!

Finlay slashes the throat and drags Evil up! Cravat and Sliced- No! Evil shoves Finlay at the ref then LOW BLOWS! EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! Cover, Bullet Club wins!!

Winners: Evil & Yujiro Takahashi, by pinfall; now 2-0, FinJuice is now 1-1

The King of Darkness and his dastardly tricks bring down the WTL 2019 winners! Will this year’s tournament belong to Bullet Club one way or another?

 

Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii VS SANADA & Shingo Takagi!

The provisional Mr. KOPW and the perennial Stone Pitbull managed to use Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens against each other quite literally to get their first win! Meanwhile, Cold Skull and The Dragon want to rebound from losing to traitorous Evil! Will it be a Skull End for Yano and Ishii already?

Yano hurries through the check and then demands Red Shoes hurry up with LIJ. LIJ take their time putting their fancy entrance attire aside, much like their leader would. Takagi tells Yano to stop his barking, but he lets Sanada start. Fans rally as Sanada stares coldly at Yano. Yano keeps talking a lot and then goes for a corner pad! Sanada stops that, whips Yano away but Yano reverses to finish his work! Sanada ducks the pad shot to dropkick the pad into Yano! Sanada gets the legs, Yano scrambles and gets the ropebreak! Sanada stomps Yano then wrenches the arm. Sanada whips, Yano holds the other ropes and then baits Sanada in. Yano dodges and rakes Sanada’s eyes, to then trip Sanada up.

Yano says here goes nothing, and he goes after Sanada’s limbs! Yano steals- Well, he tries to steal the Paradise Lock, but Yano has no idea how that thing works! Yano tries again but Sanada kicks him into bare buckles! Sanada shows Yano how to do the lock by putting Yano in it! Yano is stuck in Paradise but Ishii runs in to run Sanada over! Ishii and Takagi ram shoulders, then again and again! Takagi throws a forearm, runs and rams Ishii but Ishii comes back to ram Takagi! Takagi rebounds to run Ishii over then Sanada basement dropkicks Ishii out! Takagi has Red Shoes take a much closer look at Yano’s props, and Yano shouts to be let out of Paradise! Sanada grabs the buckle pad and brings it over to SMACK Yano out of Paradise! And out of the ring!

Takagi goes after Ishii on the outside while Sanada brings Yano up. Sanada whips, Yano reverses but Sanada stops himself from hitting railing. But he turns around into Yano’s pad SMACK! Ishii whips Takagi into railing while Yano… wraps Sanada up in the apron skirt?! Sanada is stuck as Yano gets away to the ring! The ring count is 15 as Sanada undoes the layers, and he gets in at 19.9!! Yano stomps Sanada down then whips him to the bare buckles! Tag to Ishii and Ishii drags Sanada up. Ishii CHOPS Sanada, then CHOPS him again! Ishii eggs Sanada on so Sanada CHOPS back! And CHOPS again! Ishii CHOPS and Sanada falls! Ishii eggs Takagi on but goes back to Sanada. Red Shoes keeps Takagi in the corner as Ishii headbutts Sanada.

Ishii bumps Sanada off buckles, tags Yano in and Yano eggs Takagi on? That’s not smart! Red Shoes stays in Takagi’s way and Yano bumps Sanada off the bare buckles! Yano stomps Sanada down then brings him up to hip toss! Cover, ONE as Takagi steps in and scares Yano off. Red Shoes has Takagi go back to the corner and Yano bumps Sanada off buckle pads. Ishii tags in and drags Sanada up. Ishii CLUBS Sanada on the back, then eggs him on. Sanada throws body shots but Ishii doesn’t flinch. Ishii headbutts Sanada then suplexes. Sanada resists and fans rally up, Sanada tries to suplex Ishii! Ishii resists, the two fight for suplex control, and Ishii gets Sanada up. Sanada slips out to waistlock but Ishii elbows him away. Ishii runs but Sanada dropkicks the legs out!

Fans fire up as Sanada heads for his corner! Hot tag to Takagi! Takagi tells Yano he’ll get his, but first blocks Ishii’s boot to clothesline! Ishii blocks the suplex but Takagi still gets him up. Yano clubs Takagi and they double whip him. Takagi sends Yano into Ishii, runs Yano over then spins Ishii all around to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi toys with Ishii and talks trash as he kicks. Ishii just gets mad. The two throw forearms back and forth and fans fire up as they pick up speed! Back and forth, forearm for forearm but Ishii ROCKS Takagi! Ishii runs but Takagi clotheslines at the rope! Takagi runs but Yano trips him! And hotshots him! Ishii GERMAN SUPLEXES! Takagi and Ishii are both down as fans cheer!

Ishii rises first and gives back those toying kicks. Takagi eggs Ishii on so Ishii kicks harder! Ishii runs, but Takagi blocks the boot to give elbows from all sides! Takagi runs but Ishii swats him away! Ishii runs into the elbow, JAB, but he ducks the lariat! Ishii waistlocks, ducks the elbow but so does Takagi! Ishii ROCKS Takagi but Takagi comes back with the LARIAT! Both men are down again and fans fire back up! Takagi tags in Sanada and Sanada drags Ishii up. Sanada whips Ishii corner to corner but Ishii reverses. Sanada elbows Ishii away, Quebrada but Ishii gets under! Sanada fireman’s carries and throws Ishii to the dragon sleeper!

Ishii fights out but gets caught again! Ishii slips around to suplex Sanada high and hard! Fans rally up and Ishii tags in Yano! Yano brings Sanada up, whips for the bare corner but Sanada stops himself. Sanada sends Yano into the buckles! ROLLING CRADLE! They go around and around and around and around and around… And around, to the cover! TWO!! Sanada and Yano are both dizzy but fans rally up! Sanada steadies himself, fireman’s carries Yano but Yano fights out. Sanada kicks but Yano grabs hair! Sanada knees low, runs, but into an atomic drop! Catapult at the bare buckles! Yano goes to low blow but Takagi stops that. Yano rakes eyes and whips Takagi but Takagi stops himself from hitting buckles. Takagi sends Yano into the buckles now!

Ishii returns but Takagi dodges him to feet to Sanada’s boot! Dropkick snap saido! LIJ goes after Yano with a double whip corner to corner! They back elbow, clothesline, boot and lariat, then MAGIC SCREW! Cover, TWO!! Yano survives but Sanada vows to end it! Sanada drags Yano into the dragon sleeper, but Yano turns that to a cradle! TWO, and Yano dodges to drag Sanada down again, M O U! TWO!! Sanada waistlocks, feelds Yano to Takagi’s elbow then rolls Yano up, TWO!! Yano staggers up, but into another waistlock! Yano standing switches, feeds to Ishii’s LARIAT, roll up, TWO!! Yano is mad, but he gets caught to O’Conner Roll with bridge!! LIJ wins!!

Winners: Sanada & Shingo Takagi, by pinfall; now 1-1, Ishii & Yano are now 1-1

LIJ had an answer for all of Yano’s tricks, and they rebound from the opening round! Will Sanada and Takagi be able to take the tournament the way Sanada took the G1 B Block?

 

HenarACE VS Dangerous Tekkers!

Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare could not withstand the assault of The Empire, and The Ace’s leg is a liability against his old foes. Will Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. make Tanahashi #JustTapOut? Or can Henare carry the load and get a win over the tag team champions?

At this moment, NJPW takes a moment with help from HenarAce to announce a charity donation for COVID relief. After that, the Tekkers make their entrance, HenarAce shows off their muscles, but Taichi shows off the dancing pecs. The teams sort out and ZSJ starts with Henare. Fans rally as the two circle and tie up. ZSJ gets around to waistlock and drag Henare down, but Henare gets up to turn things around. Henare has ZSJ on ropes and throws knees. ZSJ gets clear of the back hand, headlocks but Henare powers out. Henare dodges the boot, catches ZSJ’s leap for a SLAM! Fans fire up as Henare DECKS Taichi then tags Tanahashi in.

HenarAce double whips ZSJ and elbows him down! Tomahawk and elbow drop combo! Then the flex! Then the DOUBLE HALF CRAB! ZSJ endures, Taichi gets in but takes his time to CHOKE HenarAce! ZSJ is free, HenarAce kicks Taichi down and gives him the DOUBLE HALF CRAB! Red Shoes counts, they let Taichi go and Tanahashi focuses forearms on ZSJ. Tanahashi whips ZSJ corner to corner but ZSJ reverses and runs in, only for Tanahashi to elbow him away! Tanahashi leap sup to crossbody! Fans cheer as Tanahashi air guitars. Tanahashi eggs ZSJ on, runs but into a cheap shot from Taichi! ZSJ BOOTS Henare, then the Tekkers mug Tanahashi with the ENDLESS DRAGON SCREWS!

Tanahashi drops, Taichi drags him out and ZSJ goes after Henare! HenarAce is whipped into railing on opposite sides! Taichi puts Tanahashi’s leg up and over the railing to then bend it back! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, Taichi stops at 3. Tanahashi clutches the leg, but Taichi takes Milano’s chair from him! Taichi JAMS Tanahashi’s leg with it! Red Shoes takes the chair back and it is returned to Milano on commentary. Taichi chuckles as he looms over Tanahashi. A ring count starts as Taichi drags Tanahashi up by his hair. Tanahashi hobbles on the bad leg as the count reaches 10. The count reaches 15 but Taichi puts Tanahashi in at 17. ZSJ stands on the bad leg and digs his heel in! Then ZSJ wrenches the leg with a toehold!

Taichi adds on and the Tekkers stand on Tanahashi’s leg at the ropes. Tag to Taichi and he drags Tanahashi around by his leg. Taichi stomps the leg, then drops down on the leg in a deathlock! Tanahashi has the ropes, ZSJ stands on Tanahashi’s hand but Red Shoes reprimands. Taichi lets off and tags ZSJ in. ZSJ BOOTS Henare down and Taichi stomps Tanahashi. ZSJ twists Tanahashi’s bad leg all around then drops down on it! ZSJ has the toehold then spins through to get the butterfly deathlock! ZSJ mocks the air guitar and tags in Taichi. Taichi chokes Tanahashi but Red Shoes counts! ZSJ lets off and Taichi stops choking, but Taichi drags Tanahashi around to a Half Crab! Taichi also stomps Tanahashi’s head at the same time!

Tanahashi endures, Taichi steps all the way through to sit deep on the Crab! Fans rally and Tanahashi continues to endure. Tanahashi fights his way to the ropebreak! Red Shoes counts, Taichi lets go, and Tanahashi clutches the leg. Taichi kicks at Tanahashi, egging him on with trash talk. Taichi stomps the bad leg, Tanahashi gets mad and gets to his feet to throw forearms! Fans rally but Taichi KICKS the bad leg! Tanahashi falls but Taichi kicks again! Tanahashi catches it to DRAGON SCREW! ZSJ gets in to BOOT Henare down and then kick Tanahashi, but Tanahashi blocks that, too! Another DRAGON SCREW! The Tekkers are down, Tanahashi tags in Henare! Henare rallies on ZSJ, tanks Taichi’s boot to CHOP back!

Taichi reverses the whip but Henare dodges him to come back with a flying shoulder tackle! ZSJ leaps in, but Henare makes the guillotine into a suplex! Henare glares as he drags Taichi up. Taichi fights out of the fireman’s carry but Henare fights off the saido. Henare whips and clotheslines Taichi, then fireman’s carries to a running SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Henare keeps his focus as fans fire up. Henare aims from a corner and fires himself up with “OH! OH!” Taichi rises, Henare roars and runs in, but Taichi reakes his eyes! Henare ROCKS Taichi with a forearm, runs in but misses in the corner, GAMANGIRI from Taichi! Both men are down but fans rally up! Taichi and Henare stir, and Taichi gets to ropes. Henare heads that way but Taichi brings him up first.

Henare fights back but Taichi eggs him on. Henare throws more forearms, and he ROCKS Taichi! Taichi comes back to KICK, Henare forearms! Kick, forearm, kick! Henare eggs Taichi on and he even leans into the kick! Henare double CHOPS Taichi down! Fans fire up as Henare runs, but into a boot! Henare dodges Ax Bomber, double clotheslines collide! And again! Taichi flounders but Henare stays up! Henare runs, but Taichi boots! HAMMERHEADBUTT!! Henare and Taichi are both down, but Henare heads for his corner. ZSJ trips Tanahashi off the apron! And puts Tanahashi in an ANKLE LOCK! Henare still runs at Taichi but misses in the corner. ZSJ runs in to EuroUpper! Taichi mule kicks, ZSJ penalty kicks, Taichi BUZZSAWS! Cover, TWO!

Taichi is annoyed but fans rally up, and off come the pants! Taichi waits for Henare to stand, but Henare dodges the kick! Taichi resists the Urenage, ZSJ hops on for a sleeper! Henare rams ZSJ into buckles! Taichi Alabama lifts Henare but Tanahashi keeps ZSJ from adding on! Tanahashi kicks Taichi, ZSJ goes after Tanahashi but gets TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Taichi waistlocks, DANGEROUS- SLING BLADE! Tanahashi counters the saido and saves himself! Fans fire up as Henare rises and watches Taichi stir. Henare fires up, runs, LARIAT! Fans fire up more as Henare drags Taichi back up. Taichi resists the urenage and smothers Henare into a cobra twist! ZSJ goes after Tanahashi, takedown into a KNEEBAR!

HenarAce endure dual submissions, but Henare reaches and fights over to the ropebreak! Taichi lets Henare go and fans fire up more! On the outside, ZSJ whips but Tanahashi reverses and sends ZSJ into railing! Back in the ring, Taichi drags Henare up and reels him in. Henare resists the lift and powers Taichi away with a back drop! Both men are down again but fans rally back up. Taichi aims but the buzzsaw is caught! Henare elbows, Taichi ROUNDHOUSES! Henare HEEL KICKS! Taichi ENZIGURIS, but Henare is back up to POUNCE!! Fans fire up for Henare as he and Taichi stir. Henare sits up and Tanahashi returns. HenarAce drags Taichi up and coordinate, but ZSJ grabs Tanahsahi! Taichi fights out and kicks Henare down!

Taichi ROCKS Tanahashi, ZSJ scoops and Taichi SUPERKICKS! TENSHO ZACK DRIVER! ZSJ runs at Henare but the boot is blocked! Henare ELBOWS ZSJ down, but he swings into DANGEROUS SAIDO!! Cover, TWO!?! Henare survives and fans are thunderous! Taichi gets up, beside himself on how to put Henare away. Taichi fires up, aims from a corner and watches Henare rise. Henare again blocks the kick to lift Taichi! TOA BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Taichi survives but Henare fires up! Henare drags Taichi up as fans rally. ZSJ gets in but Henare ROCKS him with a right! Taichi spins Henare around, Alabama, ZACK MEPHISTO!! Cover, Dangerous Tekkers win!!

Winners: Dangerous Tekkers, by pinfall; now 2-0, HenarACE is now 0-2

The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions win again! Not just against Tanahashi but in World Tag League! ZSJ doesn’t even let Henare have an ice pack, he takes it away to give to Taichi. Will the Submission Master and the Sliest Wrestler in the World take everything this tournament has to offer?

ZSJ gets the mic and says, “Oi, cretins of Komatsu, did you enjoy that? Tag team champions in the main event, like we should be? Oi, Henare. Sorry, dick head.” But you’re not only looking at the tag champions, but the future winners of WTL 2020! “Oi, Taichi, talk to these morons in Japanese, eh?” Taichi takes the mic and asks where the hell are they, “I can hear all kinds of critters flying around.” He thought he was going crazy. This town needs to shut up. “This town is so backwards, convenience stores aren’t even open 24 hours.” Be grateful that your tag team champions are here. Though Taichi is managed commentary found their way here. Liger, go home.

As you all saw, there’s no way Taichi and Zack aren’t going to win the tournament, just like Zack said. There’s no way they aren’t going to be champions going into next year, either. No other team can win this league, no other team can win these belts. “Got that, you country bumpkins?” Will the bold predictions come true to make 2020 even more upsetting than before?

 

Here are the NEW World Tag League standings!

The Dangerous Tekkers: 2-0
EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi: 2-0
SANADA & Shingo Takagi: 1-1
Guerrillas of Destiny: 1-1
Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii: 1-1
YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto: 1-1
The Empire: 1-1
FinJuice: 1-1
Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens: 0-2
HenarACE: 0-2


My Thoughts:

Not a bad continuation from yesterday’s really big start to both tournaments. All the matches were really good, but really just one surprising result in Hashi and Goto getting a win off The Empire. I really thought Khan and Cobb would dominate a bit longer, but perhaps this is NJPW taking the story between Okada and Ospreay to another level by including the factions. The Empire isn’t very big yet, and they only lost to a quick pinfall, so naturally them taking on Chaos isn’t going to be as easy as they’d think. Maybe The Empire gains another member, and then Khan, Cobb and the new guy take on the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Champions at WrestleKingdom.

I figured Guerrillas would beat Fale and Owens but I liked that there was some chippy play despite them both being Bullet Club. I’m still betting on a new Bullet Club Civil War that gets to play out because everyone is staying in NJPW, unlike when The Elite were basically out the door with their plans for AEW. I just wonder if GOD is Team White or Team EVIL. Yujiro has stated White is the best leader in his opinion, but teaming with Evil might be slowly changing his mind. Seeing that Bullet Club VS Bullet Club match in this tournament might tell a lot towards that story.

And as I said yesterday, I still think this could and should come down FinJuice and Dangerous Tekkers. FinJuice may have lost today but “Darkness Club” likes to cheat so it’s not like FinJuice looks weaker for the loss. Henare looked great in the match, as I figured yesterday since Tanahashi’s leg was attacked by The Empire, but Tekkers still won. It’d be big to be champions of both the division and the tournament. 2020 can still be historic for something good, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

My Score: 8.9/10


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Coverage

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

Talk about a Big Time Raw!

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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?

Becky Lynch and Nia Jax want to finally put this to an end, so tonight on Raw, it will be a Big Time Last Woman Standing match! Will the Irresistible Force force the WrestleMania 40 match to change?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers; DIY wins and advances to WrestleMania.
  • Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance; Candice & Indi win.
  • Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher; The Awesome Truth wins and advances to WrestleMania.
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy; The New Day wins and advances to WrestleMania.
  • Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax; Becky wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Jey Uso is here!

North Carolina State University fires up and bounces along with Main Event Jey, and Pat McAfee plays a dangerous game standing on the armchairs! From Bret VS Owen to Matt VS Jeff, we’re about to get Jey VS Jimmy in the third-ever Brother VS Brother WrestleMania grudge match! Jey gets the mic as fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey welcomes us to Monday Night Raw, and wants us to check this out. He knows his brothers are somewhere in the building. He knows The Bloodline’s in the building. He knows how the Bloodline rolls! SO Big Brother Jimmy, where you at?! Where you at, Uce!?

Jey waits for someone to show up somewhere, and the crowd spots them first! Fans boo as Jimmy & Solo make their way from the back of the stands. Jimmy gets a mic and goes to the apron while Solo paces around the outside. Fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” again as Jey puts the sunglasses aside. The Usos stare each other down, the fans now chant “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jey wants to say something, hesitates, but then says these two would always get to it but they always knew how to shake right back to this. But now it’s different. Regardless of what happened, the bad blood between them, Jey misses his brother. He does.

Jey knows Jimmy will say what he wants, but Jey doesn’t talk to him no more, doesn’t ride with him no more, doesn’t even see him no more! Jimmy can just come back. Jimmy says he never left! He protected Jey! Jey’s so dumb, he can’t see it! Jimmy is protecting Jey! It was Jey’s idea to leave The Bloodline, but Jimmy helped because he is Jey’s brother. So yeah, Jey leaves, and what happens? Lil’ Bro becomes the BIGGEST star on the Raw roster! Lil’ Bro becomes the top merch seller! Lil’ Bro goes off to become a tag team champion without Jimmy, but with CODY RHODES!? Who left who, Uce?

Jey forgot Jimmy! Everything Jey did that was big was cuz of Big Bro Jimmy! Everything! So listen loud and clear. The biggest moment in Jey’s career, the BIGGEST moment, is because of Jimmy! Jimmy stares Jey down, but Jey says no. Jey’s biggest moment in his career is going to be his dream match at WrestleMania 40: Jey VS Jimmy, and Jey knocks the yeet out Jimmy’s ass! Jey DECKS Jimmy, DECKS Solo off the apron, but then Jimmy SUPERKICKS Jey down! The fans boo but now Solo storms in and looms over Jey. Solo drags Jey up so Jimmy can look him in the face and tell him that Jey needs to get it right! JIMMY made Jey!

But here comes Cody Rhodes! The fans fire up as Cody DECKS Jimmy, then gets in to springboard and CODY CUTTER Solo!! The American Nightmare said he was gonna be a Bloodline Hunter, and he made sure they didn’t take out Jey! Cody tells The Bloodline it is only a matter of time before they lose it all at WrestleMania! Will Jey prove that younger or older doesn’t matter when he is the BETTER brother?

 

Adam Pearce is on the phone.

He’s telling Nick Aldis to stop being a hypocrite, telling Pearce to keep his roster in check when this is happening. But then Paul Heyman walks over and Pearce says he’ll call Aldis back. Pearce then asks Heyman what was all that, and Heyman says he owes Pearce an apology. He is sorry. That was not authorized by The Final Boss nor The Tribal Chief, and certainly not by Heyman. Jimmy & Solo went into business for themselves so Heyman apologizes. But listen, Pearce knows that there have been flight delays all day. Even private jets like theirs. Heyman is barely even dressed for TV, let alone has his make-up!

Pearce says those two were ready. Yeah, well, they got in on a different flight. But Roman Reigns is a chief of his word. Those two are already gone, out of the arena, and Pearce has Roman’s word. Call his bluff, put out a search party. Pearce knows Heyman is here on official business, which Heyman will handle, and then be gone. That is it. But when Heyman does his official business… everyone will be caught off guard. “And Mr. Pearce, sir, that’s not a prediction. That’s a spoiler.” The Wise Man heads out and calls Roman, but just what is Heyman teasing?

 

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers!

Unlike SmackDown’s mini-tournament, Raw and Adam Pearce say it’s win and you’re in! Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano want one more shot at Judgment Day, but so do Julius & Brutus! Will the Sicilian Psycho & Johnny Wrestling prove that when it comes to Mania Moments, you gotta do it yourself? Or will the Creeds be bringing golden tickets to the Diamond Mine?

Raw returns as The Creeds make their entrance. The teams fist bump to show respect, then the teams sort out. Julius starts against Ciampa, they circle and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, Ciampa goes for a waistlock but Julius facelocks. Julius wrangles Ciampa to the mat, flips him over, ONE, and Ciampa keeps moving. They trade facelocks, gator roll, and Julius gets another lateral press. ONE, but Julius gator rolls Ciampa around. Ciampa fights up, puts Julius on ropes, and the ref counts. Ciampa lets off, then CHOPS! Julius shoots in for the takedown! Julius has a leg, Ciampa fights but Julius turns him for the ANKLE LOCK!

Ciampa scrambles to the ROPEBREAK, and Julius lets off cleanly. Ciampa bails out, shakes it off, and he gets back in. They go again, Julius hits a fireman’s carry takeover! Tag to Brutus, and Julius feeds Ciampa to another fireman’s carry takeover! Brutus cording holds but Ciampa endures. Ciampa fights up, but Brutus facelocks. The fans rally as Brutus switches and rolls Ciampa. Ciampa fights up, headlocks, then ROCKS Brutus! Brutus DECKS Ciampa, then whips him to ropes. Ciampa ducks ‘n’ dodges, tag to Gargano! Ciampa slides, CHOPS, Gargano LARIATS and Ciampa JAWBREAKERS! Wrench and LARIAT!

Julius runs in, Gargano kicks and Ciampa gives him the boost for SLICED BREAD! The Creeds bail out, but DIY DOUBLE PLANCHA! Down go the Creeds, and DIY applaud and pat themselves on the back. The fans fire up and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Ciampa has Julius in a chinlock. The fans rally, Julius fights up to throw body shots, but Ciampa hits a back suplex! Julius lands out of it, but Ciampa elbows him away. Ciampa drop toeholds Julius, gets legs, but Julius BOOTS Ciampa away! Hot tags to Gargano and Brutus! Brutus rallies on DIY, TOSSES Gargano, then blocks Ciampa’s kick to get under and POWERBOMB him! Brutus sees DIY regroup, then he runs in to SPLASH them both! O’Conner on Ciampa, but Gargano runs up! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Brutus has a DOUBLE BRIDGE, TWO!! Tag to Julius and he gut wrench SLAMS Brutus on Ciampa!

Brutus helps Julius flip up and over to SPLASH onto Ciampa! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Julius drags Ciampa up. Ciampa throat chops! A bit dirty but Ciampa wants that win! Ciampa storms up on Julius, but Julius basement stalling suplexes!! The fans are thunderous, Gargano runs in, but Brutus intercepts! Brutus suplexes Gargano now, stalls, and then the Creeds SLAM and kip up! Then they both STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ciampa stays in this for DIY but the Creeds keep cool. Julius stomps Ciampa, tags Brutus, and they KNEE Ciampa around! Then they DOUBLE GUTBUSTER! Ciampa sputters but Brutus tags Julius in.

Julius drags Ciampa up, tags Brutus back in, and Brutus climbs. Julius Electric Chair Lifts, but Gargano makes the save! Gargano ROCKS Julius, Brutus ROCKS Gargano! Ciampa BOOTS Brutus, Gargano swings on Julius but is sent into Ciampa! Ciampa pushes Gargano back so he can ELBOW Julius! DIY set up again but Brutus stops the Sliced Bread! Julius DECKS Ciampa, KNEE into the WIDOWMAKER! Julius scrapes Gargano out, Brutus POUNCES Ciampa over the desk! Pat fires up with Brutus and so do the fans! The Creeds say they run this now, and then Brutus drags Ciampa up while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Julius has Ciampa in a chinlock. Ciampa fights up, and he JAWBREAKERS free! Ciampa ELBOWS Brutus down, BOOTS Julius, then runs up, only for Julius to catch him and toss him back! But then Ciampa catches Julius for a REVERSE DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down and crawling! Hot tag to Gargano! Gargano slingshots to KICK Julius, then he CLOBBERS Brutus! ENZIGIRI for Julius, then he runs to DOUBLE KNEE Brutus! BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO! The fans fire up with Gargano while Julius ends up in another corner. Gargano runs in but is put on the apron!

Gargano GAMANGIRIS Julius, SUPERKICKS Brutus, then SLINGSHOT SPEARS Julius! Cover, TWO! Julius survives but Gargano puts him in a corner. Gargano CHOPS, then hoists Julius up top. Tag to Ciampa, Ciampa CHOPS Julius while Gargano DIVES onto Brutus! Ciampa CHOPS Julius again, goes up top, and fireman’s carries! Ciampa then tucks Julius in for the SUPER AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, TWO!! Julius survives again and shocks Ciampa! The fans are just as stunned, but Ciampa and Julius sit up. Ciampa stands, and he CHOPS! And CHOPS! Julius sits back up as Ciampa puts some stank on the CHOP!

Julius brings the straps down! Julius fires a forearm, Ciampa hits back, and the fans fire up as the shots keep going! They go faster and faster, harder and harder, meaner and meaner! The fans fire up as this just turns into a brawl of haymakers and SLAPS! Ciampa then gets around, ripcord and HAYMAKER! ROLLING- TACKLE from Julius! And then the ANKLE LOCK!! Ciampa reaches out, moves around, but Gargano runs up! Julius kicks him, then gets him up with one arm to POWERBOMB! Then it’s back to the ANKLE LOCK on Ciampa! Brutus gets in to get Gargano for an ANKLE LOCK of his own!

The fans are thunderous as DIY endures! Ciampa and Gargano fight, turn things over, SICILIAN CROSSFACE and GargaNO Escape!! The fans are thunderous as The Creeds power up and lift both DIY! They fireman’s carry, then TOSS DIY into each other!! The fans are thunderous as Julius goes up to MOONSAULT onto Ciampa! Brutus MOONSAULTS, too! Cover, TWO?!?! Ciampa survives and the fans are loving this! Julius tags back in, Brutus climbs up! “This is Awesome!” as Julius Electric Chair Lifts Ciampa! But Ciampa VICTORY ROLLS to get under the Brutus Ball!! Cover, Brutus tips it! Gargano TOSSES Brutus then SUPERKICKS Julius!! Ciampa has the cover, DIY WINS!!

Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

Julius can’t believe it! He kicked out at 3.1, but a loss is a loss! And for the first time ever, DIY is going to Mania! Will Philadelphia soon be historic for a DIY championship victory?

 

Judgment Day meets backstage.

Rhea Ripley is with Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh, but also Andrade. Dom says he’s always liked Andrade’s style, but things have changed since the last time he was in the WWE. The Judgment Day runs Raw now. Rhea says yeah, and they don’t extend invitations to just anyone. Judgment Day is very exclusive. JD says very exclusive. But if Andrade continues to impress them, they’ll see about making things happen. And Finn says he just heard that Andrade has a match next week, so the Judgment Day will be watching him. Sounds good. See you next week. But then in steps Damian Priest.

The Punisher says hello to El Idolo, and El Idolo says hello to Senor Dinero. Andrade heads out, will he quite literally win his way into the club? But as for Priest, Finn asks him what he was up to. Priest was getting a closer look at that DIY VS Creeds match. DIY won, but whatever, they can handle those guys. But JD, they thought he could handle Ricochet last week, and run the gauntlet, and then go to WrestleMania to bring even more gold back to Judgment Day. JD says he did he belonged in there. But also, he battered Ricochet, who got lucky at the end there. Right, Finn? Finn hesitates, and Rhea says Priest is right on this one.

Ricochet made a fool out of JD! A fool? Yes. A fool? Yes. That’s why tonight, Dom will make it right. Right, Dom? Yeah, Mami. Let’s go talk to Pearce to make it official. Dom & JD head out, and the others are confident Dom’s got this. But does he, though? Or will the One and Only have two wins over Judgment Day in as many weeks?

 

Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance!

The Poison Pixie certainly lived up to that name last week when she bullied Maxxine Dupri as part of beating her and Ivy Nile last week. Will Candice’s toxic tongue strike again? Or will the party not be stopped by her harsh vibes?

The teams sort out and Candice starts against Kayden. Candice rushes up, Kayden gets around and O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Kayden springboards to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Kayden stalks Candice, Candice ELBOWS her away then tags Indi. Kayden dodges Candice to SUPERKICK, but Indi BOOTS Kayden! Cover, TWO! Indi drags Kayden up, tags Candice back in, and they mug Kayden. Candice CLUBS away on Kayden, fires off furious fists, then covers. TWO, and Candice grows frustrated already. The fans rally, Candice steps up but Kayden avoids the senton! Tags to Katana and Indi! Katana blasts past Indi, comes back and BULLDOGS!

Katana keeps moving, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SHOTGUNS Indi to a corner! The fans fire up as Katana stomps away on Indi! Indi shoves Katana, Katana runs corner to corner to A-LIST LARIAT! Katana shoves Indi down, runs up, but into a back suplex! Katana lands out, but her leg jams! The ref and Kayden check, then the ref keeps Indi back. Indi says okay, and she stays by Candice. But Candice tags in to WRECK Kayden! And she SLAMS Katana’s leg into the post!! HALF CRAB and DEEP! Katana taps, Candice & Indi win!

Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission

Candice smiles and celebrates with Indi, but Indi doesn’t want to. Candice says a win is a win, but just what is going on in her toxic mind?

 

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

NC State fires up again as The American Nightmare walks down the ramp, and this time the fans can sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro then gets the mic. “In less than three weeks time, I will stand opposed for the second year in a row, in the main event, with the lights on brightest, I will challenge for the WWE Undisputed Championship, against the greatest champion in all of sports, The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. And this Friday on SmackDown, Roman and I are going to have a little conversation, if you will. But there are… complications. Factors, elements, combustible elements, namely… The Rock.”

Fans boo but Cody says The Rock took to Instagram on Friday, and followed it up with “extremely entertaining” concert. Too bad The Rock didn’t wanna be here tonight. Something Cody took from the Instagram post: The Rock referred to himself as “Our Favorite Heel.” A bit of an inside term, but we’re not dumb, we know that means he’s the “bad guy.” Cody has known Heels. Bobby Heenan, Arn Anderson, Michael Hayes, “Superstar” Billy Graham, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair! Fans “WOO~” and Cody says he doesn’t think The Rock is a Heel. He’s just an assh*le. The fans go nuts hearing that!

Cody doesn’t want Rock getting upset, he doesn’t want the “seven bucks team” to get upset, he doesn’t want anyone getting emotional. Cody knows how Rock feels about emotions, he poked fun at Cody tearing up at discussing “finishing the story” with good friend, Michael Cole. There’s no crying in pro-wrestling, Jimmy Dugan, we get it. But hasn’t The Rock been crying behind the scenes this whole time? Once that hashtag came out, once fans chanted something else, The Rock cried to his buddies on the TKO board and said “Hey, this is gonna be some good PR for The Rock! I need to save WWE!” God knows, look at this house. They sure needed “saving,” huh?

The fans cheer but Cody says Rock wanted great PR. Until it wasn’t. TKO said OMG yes, put on the Gucci shirt, get those muscles looking big. It’s because they are Yes People, they are enablers, they won’t dare tell The Rock like it is, so Cody’s going to. Cody tells The Rock, “You’re a lot of things. You’re a lot of wonderful things. You are the Braham Bull, you are The Great One.” Cody still has shoes with The Rock’s logo on it! The Rock is the only guy Cody honestly feels is a Mount Rushmore wrestler. But he is also a terrible salesman, a carny succubus, and for those who don’t get what that means, The Rock is “a whiny b*tch!”

Fans lose their minds again but Cody says The Rock has been convinced otherwise. But don’t think that for two seconds this locker room needs The Rock more than The Rock needs it! That’s a rule of wrestling, nobody is bigger than the business! And sure, Cody brought up his mom, so it is fair game for The Rock to use that. But Cody knows The Rock’s mom. Here’s what Cody will tell us about The Rock’s mom. She is a wonderful lady, salt of the earth, she helped Cody chop Kevin in a dark match. Cody has nothing but respect for The Rock’s mom, something The Rock should’ve echoed back towards Cody’s mom.

But see, The Rock was talking about whipping Cody, handing a bloody weight belt to Cody’s mom, and normally someone as powerful as The Rock, Mama Rhodes would tremble. But The Rock doesn’t know Cody’s mom. Cody was more scared than she was, because she ain’t scared of nothing. This is the same woman who once jumped out of her chair at a Willie Nelson concert and beat up an undercover cop! She ain’t afraid of The Rock! Cody has been asked, April 6th, biggest tag match of all time, Rock & Roman VS Cody & Seth. Seth Rollins, the World Heavyweight Champion, a man The Rock should respect because that man has carried The Rock’s company!

How will Cody get past that match? How will April 7th look? Will it be a fair fight? Cody can tell us honestly… He doesn’t know. Cody does not know if it will be Bloodline Rules or not. Hell, he might not #FinishTheStory. “But Dwayne… What do you know? How can you be so sure of your own self, right?” The Rock hasn’t been in the ring in real action in years! April 6th, the bell is gonna ring, and what happens then? Is The Rock gonna bring The Great One, the hero we all had growing up? Is he bringing that #BigDwayneEnergy? Or is it gonna be LDS, Little D*ck Syndrome?! The fans chant “L D S! L D S!”

Cody says The Rock has referred to himself as The Final Boss. Kudos for that nickname, maybe he really is that. Maybe Cody is too naive to see it. But at WrestleMania, Cody doesn’t think The Rock will be The Final Boss. At WrestleMania, he’s just Roman’s side chick. But then ladies and gentlemen, his name is Paul Heyman, and he serves as The Wise Man to Your Tribal Chief, the reigning! Defending! Undisputed! WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman… Reigns! And as Special Counsel to the Bloodline, Heyman is here to say to Cody that the ideals that Cody and Heyman share are far greater than the interests on which they conflict.

By example, don’t you hate it when someone comes out to demand an apology? Not that Cody’s done that, but Heyman is still going to do that. Heyman came out here with some “friends” of his, and he apologized. For a Wise Man, that was pretty freakin’ stupid. One: because it didn’t work. Two: because it was just dumb. And for that, Cody, to you and the fans, Heyman humbly apologizes. Cody says whoa, whoa, whoa. He didn’t ask for an apology, and he certainly knows Heyman wants permission to be in the ring. Heyman is a Hall of Famer starting this year, if he wants into the ring, be Cody’s guest.

Heyman thanks Cody for that but he’s fine on the apron. He carries with him a message from The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Talk about Heels… You may think of Heyman anything negative you want, and that might be understanding the obvious. Heyman is not trustworthy, but Roman is a chief of his word. Heyman assures that this Friday on SmackDown, Roman will be face to face with Cody. American Nightmare, Tribal Chief, challenger and champion. And when they are face to face, there will not be a single other member of The Bloodline in sight. Except for Heyman, but he is no physical threat.

Heyman holds the title belt, the beads, whispers things in Roman’s ear, such as his love and respect. But Cody has Roman’s word that if he shows up on SmackDown, Roman will show up alone. Cody says Roman shows up alone, no Bloodline outside of Heyman, it’s a deal. They good? Heyman has some jet lag, he forgot one little point. And don’t boo him, he’s talking to Cody! Cody says yes they’re booing, and he’s about to go full Homelander and rip Heyman’s throat out if he doesn’t get to the point. Fans like the reference. Heyman composes himself and says if Roman Reigns shows up alone this Friday on SmackDown, then Cody must show up to SmackDown alone, too.

Cody steps closer to Heyman and Heyman is a bit nervous. Cody tells Heyman, “Deal!” They shake hands, and Heyman smiles. The Wise Man negotiated a purely one-on-one meeting between his Tribal Chief and American Nightmare, but can we trust Heyman was telling the truth about Roman telling the truth?

 

Nia Jax speaks.

“You know what I’ve realized? Becky Lynch has never beaten me. And after tonight, she never will. Because after I break her face again, I will be taking her spot at WrestleMania. I will finish business with Rhea Ripley, and not only will I walk out the Last Woman Standing, but I will become Women’s World Champion.” The Irresistible Force is ready for the Big Time, but will she A-Nia-late her?

 

Cody Rhodes returns backstage.

And Jey says there he go! But real quick, Cody can’t be going to SmackDown alone. Cody says he gave them his word. But The Bloodline isn’t gonna play fair! They’re all gonna be there! If Cody needs Jey, Jeys’ got him. Cody hears that, but he knows what he’s dealing with. They shake hands and Jey heads out. Will Cody be able to have that fair, one-on-one meeting? Or does Jey have a point about The Bloodline?

 

Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!

It seems Pearce agreed to the idea that Dirty Dom should try and clean up The Irish Ace’s mess. Will Dom be able to get revenge on Ricochet? Or will Ricochet be the One and Only person holding their head high tonight?

Raw returns and Dom has made his entrance. The bell rings, Dom and Ricochet circle, and they tie up. Ricochet waistlocks, Dom fights the lift and grabs ropes. The ref counts, Ricochet lets off, but Dom ELBOWS him away! Dom fires hands, soaks up the heat, then storms up, but into haymakers! Ricochet CHOPS, kicks then flexes on Dom. Ricochet whips, Dom reverses, but Ricochet goes up and over. Ricochet ducks ‘n’ dodges to then handspring back elbow! The fans fire up while Dom bails out! JD is there to coach Dom up, but Ricochet runs in! JD gets Dom to safety, but Ricochet handsprings to hero land!

The fans fire up, Ricochet then goes to ropes to TORNILLO PLANCHA! Direct hit on Dom and Ricochet tells JD to back off. Ricochet puts Dom in, Dom distracts the ref, but JD grabs Ricochet’s leg! Ricochet kicks JD away, but then Dom WRECKS Ricochet with a dropkick! Dom soaks up the heat and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Dom has Ricochet up top. Dom climbs but Ricochet throws body shots! The fans rally behind Ricochet as he sends Dom staggering. Ricochet hops down as Dom comes running back, and Ricochet GAMANGIRIS him away! Ricochet then springboards, but Dom trips him up! Ricochet flops to the mat, then Dom kicks and FACEBUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Ricochet is still in this and JD argues the count. Dom looms over Ricochet, scuffs him around, then mockingly cheers him on. Fans boo but Dom brings Ricochet up. Dom gives some Latino Heat, then suplexes! Uno Amigo, but fans boo.

Dom gets Ricochet up but Ricochet suplexes Dom instead! And then fireman’s carry, DYNAMITE KICK! Cover, TWO! Dom is still in this and JD coaches him but the fans rally for Ricochet. Ricochet stands, storms up on Dom, but Dom shoots around to roll him up! With tights! TWO, Ricochet blocks a kick and KICKS Dom down! Ricochet hurries up top, the fans fire up, but Ricochet has to bail out of the 450 as Dom moves! Dom runs in again, but into a SUPERKICK! JD gets on the apron, so Ricochet triangle jump DROPKICKS! But then Dom DROPKICKS Ricochet onto ropes! Dom dials it up but Ricochet ducks!

Dom spins around, into the RECOIL!! Cover, Ricochet wins!

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall

But then JD runs in! Ricochet dodges, goes up and around, BOOTS JD away, then BOOTS him again! Ricochet even flips up and out of the ring at the same time! Ricochet gets the better of Judgment Day again, just how disappointed is Mami going to be in her Latino Heat this time?

 

Sami Zayn is backstage.

He finds Chad Gable and wants to talk with him. Last week’s match, that was an honor. Sami hasn’t been pushed like that in a long time, it could’ve gone either way. Gable says yeah, it was great. Thanks. Is Gable alright? Yeah, he’s fine. Kinda feels like not… Gable says he’s fine, so leave it at that. C’mon, man, how many years have they known each other? Sami knows when something’s bothering Gable, so he should just say it. Gable says look, last week, the WrestleMania opportunity, the whole thing, it just meant more to him. Sami says he’s been hearing Gable say that for weeks, and it is really unfair.

Does Gable really think he’s the only one this title opportunity matters to? Sami has a family, too! Sami’s kid cries when Papa loses a match, too. Sami has people he’s let down and is trying to make proud. After all the years put into this, Gable can’t tell Sami what matters more because he doesn’t know Sami like that. Gable has Sami calm down, and says he knows all that. But it isn’t all about that. Then what is all this? Gable says Sami can’t beat Gunther. Gable then leaves, and Sami is at a loss for words. Is this bitter side of Gable only going to get worse as we go down this Road to WrestleMania?

 

Adam Pearce is in the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Sami confronts Gable now.

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

 

CM Punk speaks.

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

 

Drew McIntyre is here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Becky Lynch speaks.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Liv Morgan confronts Becky Lynch.

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

 

Cody walks with his dog, Pharaoh, backstage.

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

 

Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Becky Lynch

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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

The semifinals are here!

Published

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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