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Mitchell’s NXT TakeOver: WarGames Results & Report! (12/6/20)

Prepare for war!

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NXT WarGames 2020

TakeOver goes back inside the sinister steel!

NXT is going to see 2020 off with a bang! Pat McAfee and his boys challenge the Undisputed Era, in a WARGAMES match! Who will be on top of the brand after tonight?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Women’s WarGames: Team Shotzi VS Team Candice; Team Candice wins.
  • Tommaso Ciampa VS Timothy Thatcher; Ciampa wins.
  • Strap Match: Dexter Lumis VS Cameron Grimes; Lumis wins.
  • NXT North American Championship Triple Threat: Leon Ruff VS Damian Priest VS Johnny Gargano; Gargano wins and becomes the new NXT North American Champion.
  • Men’s WarGames: The Kings of NXT VS The Undisputed Era; The Undisputed Era wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

It’s the TakeOver Kickoff Show!

Join Wade Barrett, Sam Roberts and ESPN’s Ariel Helwani as they analyze, discuss and predict all the action for WarGames 2020!

 

McKenzie Mitchell reports on the WarGames teams.

She says that she managed to get comments from both men’s teams as they arrived. She certainly heard from Pat McAfee, who is so confident that he guaranteed his team would win. As for the Undisputed Era, they were all rather reserved as they went to ringside to survey the Capitol Wrestling Center’s take on the double-ring, double-cage structure. Perhaps they are already strategizing. Adam Cole said McAfee is a great talker, but the time for talk is over as it is time for war.

And on the Women’s WarGames end, McKenzie managed to get a word from William Regal, and he confirms that TakeOver starts WITH the Women’s WarGames match! A battle that started brewing at Halloween Havoc finally comes to blows tonight! Will Team Poison Pixie or Team Wild Child take ultimate revenge and take over the women’s division?

 

NXT shares Triple H’s comments on the North American Championship Triple Threat.

HHH knows that while Johnny Gargano and Damian Priest are “used to that big dance, used to that big game, used to that moment,” this is Leon Ruff’s first. How bad does that affect him? How nervous is he? How emotional is he? If Ruff can’t breathe, can’t catch his breath, and pressures himself into trying to beat both opponents, “he’s doomed.” Will Ruff listen to The Game and change tactics?

 

NXT throws it to The Bump’s Matt Camp and Ryan Pappolla.

They give us some quick analysis of the TakeOver card. Strap Match, Grimes VS Lumis, no running away from this one! Grimes can’t go to the moon strapped to Lumis, it’s Lumis’ to win. Then Thatcher VS Ciampa in a battle with fists, kicks and brains! Ryan says Thatcher is a bad man, but Ciampa’s song is “NO ONE WILL SURVIVE,” this is Ciampa’s win. Matt thinks that if Thatcher choked Ciampa out once he can do it again, they’re split. North American Championship Triple Threat, Ruff is on cloud nine but he’s got the biggest test of his life here in Gargano and Priest at the same time. Ryan may sound crazy, but in this season of miracles, Ruff can find a way! Matt says the Ghost Face(s) will help Gargano get this, it’s another split.

Then there’s TWO WarGames matches again. For the women, Team Shotzi VS Team Candice, a match only possible in NXT. Ryan agrees because both teams are stacked! It’s an even call, so you gotta go with X-factors, and for Shotzi Blackheart, Ryan says that’s Io Shirai. Matt says Candice’s team has the real X-factor, in Raquel Gonzalez. He says team Candice wins, another split. And of course, the men’s match, Undisputed Era VS McAfee and crew. Ryan says UE needs to keep it cool and not focus too hard on McAfee, and they’ll win. Matt says Team McAfee has Pete Dunne on their team, that’s why they win.

 

McKenzie interviews Cameron Grimes.

What is his strategy for facing Dexter Lumis in the Strap Match? Wait, what is he looking at? He’s looking at that stupid video Lumis made! Grimes ain’t scared of anybody! Grimes ain’t ever ran from anybody! “To tell you the truth, Dexter Lumis, you’re the one that’s scared! You ain’t said nothing and I’ve said everything I could ever say!” But after tonight, when Lumis is strapped to “the man,” Cameron Grimes, Lumis will be screaming! And he’ll be screaming that Grimes is GOING TOOOOO THEEEEE MOOOOON!

 

The sirens sound, and it is time… for WARGAMES!!

The double cage is lowering already, because it begins! “The match that the Undisputed Era made famous in NXT,” teams are going to drag each other into hell! Armies of four open fire inside the steel, who will win, and who will even survive?

 

Women’s WarGames: Team Shotzi VS Team Candice!

Though the Wild Child and her team has the advantage, being the first to add a fighter to the match at every interval, it’s all about how this match ends! The Poison Pixie started this war all because Shotzi kept things fair and square at Halloween Havoc. Will Candice’s team pay the price for her short fuse?

Speaking of, Team Candice makes their entrance first. They sort out, and #CobraKai wants to start this! Dakota goes to the double-ring while the others enter their shark cage. Then Team Shotzi makes their entrance, and Shotzi rides in on TCB MK II!! Bigger and badder than ever, it can fit all four rockstars on it! And it even shoots a (Nerf) missile at the cage as a warning shot! As such, the one to join Dakota in the cage is Ember Moon! Will Ember’s Law kick in and kick Team Kick’s captain to the curb?

The cages are locked and the five minute countdown begins! Dakota is in the second ring and Ember hurries over, but Dakota attacks with kicks and clubbing forearms! Ember tackles Dakota down and gives back those clubbing hands! Dakota hits back, wraps on a sleeper, but Ember pries at the hold. Dakota hops on as a backpack but Ember rolls for a senton! Fans fire up as Ember is free, but Dakota jumps the sweep. Ember ducks the kick then blocks a kick, but Dakota blocks, too! Dakota lifts but Ember headscissors Dakota to a corner! Ember runs in to KNEE Dakota, then goes side to side, but Dakota follows and BOOTS!

Dakota goes corner to corner but Ember follows to handspring ELBOW! Ember snapmares Dakota, and dropkicks her down! Then the leg sweep hits and Ember STOMPS Dakota down! And drops a senton! There’s still three minutes to go and Dakota crawls for the first ring. Ember grabs a leg, Dakota kicks her away and then SCORPION KICKS her down! Dakota rains down angry fists then digs Ember’s face into steel! Fans rally as Dakota talks some trash. Dakota grinds boots into Ember’s head, then stomps her down. Dakota drags Ember up, puts her on ropes and clubs her. Dakota runs but Ember dodges! Ember springs up to headscissor Dakota back to a corner!

Dakota comes back but swings into a wrench and Ember DECKS Dakota! Fans rally as we hit a two minute warning. Ember suplexes Dakota into the steel! Dakota scrapes down the side and then Ember runs, to TACKLE Dakota into the wall! Fans fire up for Ember as she drags Dakota out from the ropes. Ember then climbs, but Dakota KICKS her first! Dakota drags Ember out along the top rope, for a DRAPING- NO! Ember catches the GTK and rolls Ember for a SUPERKICK! Dakota flounders and crawls to the gap, and Ember runs in, only for Ember to BOOT her! Dakota gives Kowata kicks to Ember as she’s trapped, then BOOTS her back down!

Dakota climbs a corner, reels Ember in, SUPER KAI-ROPRACTOR! The clock is finally at 15 seconds and Dakota digs her knee into Ember’s back while pushing Ember’s face into the mat! The countdown hits zero and SHOTZI heads out! But before getting in, Shotzi brings some friends out from under the ring! It’s a toolbox, and a crowbar! Shotzi used those to build her tank back up and is going to use them to tear Dakota down! Dakota hurries to intercept but Shotzi gets her first with a shotgun dropkick! Dakota ends up in a corner, Shotzi splashes! Shotzi snapmares, runs and SLING DOGS! Then a BIG knee, and a ROLLING ELBOW!

Dakota wobbles into the QUESTION MARK KICK! Dakota ends up on ropes, Shotzi runs to CANNOBALL in! Shotzi drags Dakota up, shouts for Ember, but Dakota hits back! Dakota whips but Shotzi reverses to put Dakota in the gap. Shotzi ROUNDHOUSES then runs to WRECK Dakota with a dropkick! Shotzi joins Dakota in the gap, runs in and boots, but Dakota dodges! Dakota bumps Shotzi off steel, Ember comes over but Dakota BOUNCES her off the cage! Dakota focuses on Ember with a stomp and hammering hands! Shotzi enters the second ring to enziguri Dakota down! Shotzi clubs Dakota, and then digs her into the steel in return for Ember!

Shotzi brings Ember up for a suplex into buckles! Dakota is in a drop zone, Shotzi climbs, but Dakota gets up to enziguri! Dakota climbs to join Shotzi now, clubs her on the back but Ember clubs Dakota! Ember Electric Chair lifts Dakota, Shotzi joins in, SHOTGUN DOOMSDAY! Fans are fired up and the countdown hits zero again! Team Candice sends in RAQUEL GONZALEZ! Big Mami Cool has Shotzi and Ember right on her, but she shoves them away. Shotzi and Ember flank Raquel, throws some kicks and just keep out of range! They hammer Raquel down but she explodes out!

Raquel waits for someone to get up, and she CLOBBERS Ember! And BOOTS Shotzi! And elbows Ember! Raquel scoops Ember and swings her for a POWERSLAM! Shotzi kicks back then uses the ropes for a springboard into the huricanrana, but Raquel BOMBS Shotzi into steel! Dakota regroups with Raquel now and Raquel fireman’s carries Dakota to weaponize her! Dakota’s feet SMACK Ember, then SMACK Shotzi! Raquel sets Dakota down to stomp away on Shotzi! Raquel goes after Ember and TOSSES her! Dakota puts Shotzi in the second ring, Raquel clubs Ember that way. Raquel goes after Shotzi and whips her hard into a corner! Dakota BOOT WASHES Shotzi!

Raquel drags Ember up, scoops her, and Dakota runs, BOOT O’ DOOM! Dakota and Raquel grind their boots into Shotzi and Ember, respectively, then trade as Raquel throws forearms on Shotzi. Raquel whips Shotzi back in, Dakota goes to the gap and Raquel follows. Dakota climbs up and Raquel helps her steady herself, for a HUGE LEAPING LARIAT! Dakota wipes out Shotzi and Ember, and Raquel checks on Dakota. The countdown is zero, here comes RHEA RIPLEY! Raquel wants this showdown most of all! Nightmare and Desperado face off again, but Dakota returns! Rhea ROCKS Dakota, fights Raquel’s waistlock and BOOTS Dakota!

Rhea elbows free, Ember and Shotzi anchor Raquel and Rhea BOOTS Raquel down! Dakota hops onto Rhea but Rhea throws her off! Rhea cravats and knees away on Dakota, but Dakota kicks Rhea’s leg. Rhea reels Dakota in to clobber her over and over again! Ripcord and dropkick! Rhea whips Dakota corner to corner, reels her back in and HOOK KICKS! Then atomic FACEBUSTER! Raquel blocks Ember’s whip but Ember goes up and leaps to CODE BREAKER! Shotzi takes Raquel around for a springboard SUNSET BOMB! Rhea borrows Shotzi’s toolbox, opens it up and brings out… a short handle sledgehammer!

HHH would be proud as Rhea HAMMERS Dakota in the stomach! And then HAMMER her on the back! Ember and Shotzi keep Raquel in the second ring as Rhea takes off her belt. Rhea uses her belt to trap Dakota while Shotzi and Ember whip Raquel to a corner! Rhea fires off point blank shoulders into Dakota, and then SLINGS her into steel! Raquel comes back to CLOBBER Shotzi and Ember, and again the female titans stare down! Fans fire up as they talk some trash from opposite sides of the gap. They both get IN the gap and fire off hands! Raquel blocks a boot, scoops Rhea but Rhea fights up to TACKLE Raquel back to the first ring!

The countdown reaches zero as the two scrap on the mat, and Toni Storm joins in! Toni decides to bring in reinforcements, KENDO STICKS! Toni GERMAN SUPLEXES Rhea, then strips a crossbar? She removes a buckle pad while Raquel drags Rhea up. Toni and Raquel mug Rhea with kendo stick SMACKS! Shotzi and Ember get in but Toni ROCKS Shotzi! Toni strips another buckle but has to fight Ember and Shotzi off! Toni BOOTS Ember, drags Rhea up and whips her into a BARE BUCKLE! Rhea writhes while Raquel stomps Shotzi. Toni drags Ember up to whip Ember, but Ember blocks! Toni reels Ember in for a snap suplex!

Toni stomps Ember down, Raquel stomps Shotzi in a corner, and Dakota is watching Rhea in the second ring. Toni stands on Ember, and Raquel uses the crowbar on Shotzi’s side! Toni SMACKS Ember with a kendo stick! Raquel SMACKS Shotzi with a kendo stick! Rhea whips Dakota but Dakota reverses and Rhea hits steel! Toni chokes Ember with a kendo stick then intercepts Shotzi up top! Rhea intercepts Dakota up top on the other side, and then Raquel and Ember join in respectively! On one end, Shotzi has Toni AND Raquel while Ember and Rhea have Dakota caught! Team Shotzi coordinates, and in stereo, Shotzi hits DOUBLE SLICED BREAD while Ember and Rhea hit an ELECTRIC CHAIR BULLDOG!!

And the countdown hits zero again! The CWC is thunderous as IO SHIRAI is finally in! The Evil Genius has an idea of her own, and she brings in a LADDER!! Shirai gets that ladder in the ring, but isn’t done yet! Raquel closes the door on her?! Shirai smacks at Raquel’s fingers with a kendo stick of her own! Raquel BOOTS the door into Shirai and she goes flying! Raquel clears some space but Shotzi SMACKS her with a kendo stick! Raquel CLOBBERS Shotzi back, but Shirai brings in a second ladder!! Raquel stops that and RAMS Shirai off the steps! Raquel again slams the door shut and tells refs to shut up! Toni grabs at Ember as Ember grabs at Raquel.

Raquel stomps Ember, Toni adds stomps, and Raquel keeps the door shut. Raquel then grabs a kendo stick to SMACK Shotzi! But this allows Shirai to finally get in! And with a chair, no less! Ember CLUBS Toni, Toni SLAMS Ember on the gap’s steel! Raquel notices Shirai’s work and throws the chairs aside. Shirai is ready with her own, tosses it at Raquel and DROPKICKS it into her! Raquel still boots Shirai out?! And slams the door shut! Toni uses one of her own belts to lock the door!! Raquel drags Shotzi up but Shirai just climbs the cage itself! Shotzi is used to KNOCK Shirai down!

The final countdown hits and Captain Candice finally joins in! But the flaw in their perfect plan is that Shirai is now in Candice’s way! But Candice’s insurance policy, Indi Hartwell, attacks from behind! Indi throws Shirai into barriers! Candice then brings in more props, such as a trash can and it’s lid! Indi tosses chairs in for the team, too! Candice’s team brawls with Shotzi’s but it’s clear who has the edge. Candice closes the door, and Indi has a CHAIN to lock it up! Indi keeps the key in a special place so that the ref’s can’t do anything about this. Candice grins as she and her team SMACK away with kendo sticks! Candice BREAKS the stick on Shotzi’s back!

Raquel is after Rhea while Toni and Dakota keep on Ember. Shotzi hits back but that’s 4v1 and she gets SMACKED from all sides! Raquel stomps Rhea, Candice gives Shotzi a WICKED STEP SISTER! Cover, but the ref says this WarGames is NOT complete because Shirai isn’t in the ring! This is the OTHER flaw in their perfect plan! And Team Shotzi saves their captain! But that’s a 4v2 brawl! Wait, Shirai is up top, with the trash can?! Shirai makes the can her armor, for a FULL METAL CROSSBODY!! Down goes EVERYONE! And WarGames finally begins!! Also, Shirai is the only one excited about that landing. Shirai is also the first to get up.

Shirai grabs the hammer and HAMMERS Raquel! And HAMMERS Toni! And HAMMERS Candice! And then HAMMERS Dakota! Shirai runs, dodges Raquel, and gets help from Rhea to tilt-o-whirl TORNADO DDT Raquel! SHINKANSEN for Dakota! 619 for Toni! FLAPJACK for Candice! Team Candice ends up in one corner! Shotzi runs in to splash sandwich them, then SAIDO Candice! Rhea runs in to SPLASH and then TOSS Toni into steel! Ember runs in to back body press and then SIDE EFFECT Dakota! And then with a chair wedged against Raquel, Shirai gets a boost from Ember and Rhea to DROPKICK the chair into Raquel!

The team holds Raquel down for the OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, but ALL of Team Candice breaks it! Team Shotzi clubs Team Candice back down, and then Rhea stomps Dakota. Rhea drags Dakota up but Dakota whips her into the steel! Dakota hits Shirai and throws her into steel, too! Toni and Ember are in the first ring and Ember has a wrench. Toni begs for forgiveness since she betrayed Ember, but Candice gets in to tilt-o-whirl takedown! And then the GargaNO Escape! Shotzi trips Toni to put her into CATTLE MUTILATION! Dueling submissions, but Candice lets Ember go to CLUB Shotzi!

Candice has the trash can lid and she aims at Shotzi. Candice swings, Shotzi dodges and Shotzi has a chair! Candice runs away and wants help! She gets a kendo stick, but steel beats bamboo! Then bamboo SMACKS Candice! And SMACKS Toni! And SMACKS Candice! Dakota CHAIR SHOTS Shotzi, but Shirai FULL METAL MISSILE DROPKICKS Dakota! Shirai clears some space to run corner to corner at Dakota, but Dakota sends her into buckles! Dakota goes side to side to BOOT Shirai into steel! Toni puts Shirai back inside the trash can but for a very different reason! Dakota goes up, FULL METAL DOUBLE STOMPS!

But the can is shut tight, Dakota struggles to drag Dakota out of the can! Cover, but Ember breaks it! Ember CROWBARS Toni!! And then whips Toni into steel! Dakota CHAIR SHOTS Ember! And again! Dakota sits the chair up, then gets another. Ember KICKS Dakota first, then CHAIR SHOTS Dakota! Ember sits the chairs together, dribbles Dakota off each of them, then sets her up against the backs of the chairs. Ember goes up to the top rope, aims, and ECLIPSES Dakota ONTO THE CHAIRS!! Fans are thunderous as Ember covers, but Toni uses the TRASH CAN to break it! Toni whips Ember into the bare buckle from earlier! Then underhooks, STORM ZERO ONTO THE CAN! Cover, Shirai breaks it!

Rhea joins in, and she stomps Toni. Rhea hooks Toni up in PRISM TRAP! Shirai DROPKICKS Toni out of it! Cover, TWO!?! Toni survives but the ladders come into play now! Shirai and Rhea put one ladder through the gap but Candice suplexes Shirai for a BRAIN BUSTER! Rhea runs at Candice but gets a trash can, and then FULL METAL SUPERKICK! Candice spots Shotzi getting a ladder and so she hurries over! Candice stops Shotzi from standing the ladder up, then shoves the ladder into her! Shotzi slumps down, Candice stands the ladder for herself and then gathers chairs. Shotzi goes after Candice with forearms!

Shotzi headbutts Candice and Candice falls on her own chair pile. Shotzi climbs but Candice hurries up after her! They brawl on the ladder, Candice falls back onto the chairs! Shotzi climbs all the way up, SUPER SENTON, ONTO CANDICE AND CHAIRS! But Candice used a chair on her stomach to deal as much damage as she could back to Shotzi! Their teams kick at each other in the other ring, and Rhea hoists Dakota up to FLAPJACK her! Shirai goes up again, for another OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, Rhea plays defense, but Toni barrels Rhea over to break the pin! Rhea CLUBS Toni, Electric Chair lifts and HOTSHOTS her!

Shirai goes up again, but Raquel back drops Rhea into the steel! Shirai is knocked off balance, Raquel bounces her off steel! Raquel goes up, Shirai fights her off and hops up, but Raquel holds off the huricanrana! Raquel brings Shirai back up, DESPERADO BOMB THROUGH THE LADDER!!! Cover in the gap, TEAM CANDICE WINS!!

Winners: Team Candice, by pinfall

They didn’t have the advantage, but they had Indi the #Impressive insurance policy, and the ace in Raquel Gonzalez! Speaking of Indi, she joins Candice and the team to celebrate! They wrecked the NXT Women’s Champion to win, but does that mean one of Candice’s team is up next to challenge for that title?

 

NXT hears from Finn Balor!

“To everyone watching tonight; everyone on the Network, everyone following online, and everyone in the locker room, enjoy your WarGames tonight. Enjoy the craziness, enjoy the big risks, enjoy the spectacle. But when those sirens stop, and the cage raises, we get back to what matters most. The time for team sports is over. This Wednesday, all eyes go back on the Prince.” What does Balor have planned for NXT after the smoke clears?

 

Tommaso Ciampa VS Timothy Thatcher!

For the Psycho Killer, true toughness isn’t about your bark but your bite. And right now, he wants to sink his teeth into the Professor of Pain. Will Thatcher learn a thing or two from the former NXT Champion tonight?

The bell rings and the two tie up. They go around in the elbow and collar, then Ciampa headlocks to hit a takeover. Thatcher rolls to get back to his feet and pries out of the headlock. Thatcher has the arm but Ciampa gets up before a wristlock can be put on. The two separate and fans continue to rally. Ciampa and Thatcher tie up again, they clinch, Ciampa facelocks but Thatcher waistlocks. Thatcher drags Ciampa to the mat, Ciampa headlocks in return, but Thatcher digs a forearm into Ciampa’s face. Thatcher wants the arm again, but Ciampa clasps hands. Thatcher KNEES Ciampa in the side, then mounts for a hammering palm strike!

Thatcher still wants the arm but they end up in ropes! The ref calls for the break, the two separate, but Ciampa comes back to CHOP and CHOP! Thatcher gets a leg, trips Ciampa up and cranks on the foot! Ciampa grabs at Thatcher’s face but the ref reprimands. Ciampa clubs Thatcher, chinbars and pries him off the foot. Thatcher endures but Ciampa CLUBS him. Thatcher slips out the back to give back clubbing forearms. Thatcher goes for a chinlock but Ciampa fights that off. Thatcher gets a cover, ONE, but Thatcher is after the arm again. Ciampa resists but Thatcher KICKS him! Ciampa snapmares and digs his knee in! Then clubs away on Thatcher’s chest!

Ciampa stomps Thatcher, blocks the kick and drops a knee on the foot! Ciampa SLAPS Thatcher, drops a knee on the leg, then SMASHES the knee into the mat! And again! Ciampa stands on the foot to then STOMP it! Thatcher kicks back, throws forearms but Ciampa kicks low. Ciampa throws Thatcher out hard, then follows, only for Thatcher to get in the ring. Ciampa gets in but Thatcher EuroUppers Ciampa off his feet! The ref checks on Ciampa after that shot, because Ciampa’s neck is still a concern. Thatcher paces impatiently but Ciampa still gets to his feet. Ciampa wants to continue so Thatcher ROCKS him with forearms and EuroUppers!

Thatcher drags Ciampa up for a half hatch suplex! Cover, TWO! Thatcher has the chinlock and he grinds Ciampa down. Fans rally for Ciampa and Ciampa fights his way over and gets the ropebreak. Thatcher lets off and KNEES Ciampa in the back! And KNEES him again! Ciampa ends up on the apron, Thatcher drags him out and SLAMS him onto the edge! Ciampa slumps down and Thatcher smirks as he stalks Ciampa. Thatcher puts Ciampa back in, back on the apron, and CLUBS Ciampa in the chest with the elbow! Thatcher gets in, covers, TWO! Ciampa sits up but Thatcher is on him with another chinbar. Ciampa endures, fights up and BITES Thatcher’s hand!

Thatcher clinches and BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES Ciampa down! Cover, but Thatcher’s in the ropes. Thatcher nods, he respects rules. Thatcher jams his knee into Ciampa’s back then drops an elbow! Cover, TWO! Ciampa CHOPS back but Thatcher brings him up for forearms. Ciampa throws forearms back, but Thatcher EuroUppers him off his feet! The ref shows more concern for the neck but Ciampa says he’s fine. Thatcher drags Ciampa up by his ears and then has a standing chinlock. Fans rally as Ciampa endures. Ciampa fights up, and jawbreakers free! Thatcher staggers, Ciampa rises but Thatcher clinches again. Ciampa shoves him away to CHOP and BOOT and CHOP!

Thatcher grabs Ciampa by his jaw to SLAP him down! Thatcher underhooks Ciampa and drags him up, but Ciampa manages to shove Thatcher up and DROP onto him! Both men are down now that Thatcher is gasping for air. Fans rally up for Ciampa as he and Thatcher slowly rise. Ciampa grabs Thatcher’s wrist but Thatcher throws a forearm! Ciampa forearms back, and the two brawl! The wrist control is still on and the forearms keep flying. Thatcher whips Ciampa away, Ciampa comes back, they collide head to head! Both men sit up and shake out the stars, but Thatcher shoves Ciampa. Ciampa boots back then rallies with clotheslines!

Ciampa clotheslines again and again and again, then LEAPING LARIATS! Fans fire up with Ciampa and he runs corner to corner to clothesline Thatcher again! Ciampa hoists Thatcher up top, climbs to join him, then goes way up, for a SUPERPLEX!! Both men are down but Ciampa crawls to the cover, TWO! Thatcher survives but he’s clutching his stomach again. Ciampa stands first and kicks Thatcher while he’s down! Ciampa drags Thatcher up, underhooks him now, but Thatcher fights free to THROAT CHOP! The ref reprimands but Thatcher facelocks! Ciampa resists the grovit but Thatcher clamps on tight! Ciampa fades fast!

The ref checks on Ciampa, but Ciampa gets a second wind and tackles Thatcher out of the ring! Both men hit the floor and fans fire up! A ring count starts and Thatcher sits up at 4. Thatcher drags himself up and in at 7. Ciampa flounders at 8 but is in at 9! Thatcher and Ciampa glare at each other as they stand up. Ciampa avoids the throat chop to GIVE the throat chop! KNEE TRIGGER! Ciampa runs to KNEE Thatcher down! And he puts on a BULLY CHOKE!! Thatcher endures but he’s fading! Thatcher has a bloody ear but he fights up! Ciampa keeps Thatcher from ropes and drags him back down! Ciampa hammers away on that bad ear!

Thatcher fights up, and gets into the ropes! The ref counts, Ciampa lets go but Thatcher GERMAN SUPLEXES! Thatcher grits his teeth and CLUBS Ciampa down! Now Thatcher has a wild-eyed grin, ear blood all over his own arm as he CLUBS Ciampa down! Fans still rally for Ciampa as Thatcher drags Ciampa up for a SNAP GERMAN! Ciampa sits up in a daze but flops over. Thatcher has another sinister grin as he stalks Ciampa. They both go to the apron but the ref tells them to get back in. Thatcher drags Ciampa up, “Bye, Ciampa!” But Ciampa holds ropes and fires off elbows! Ciampa is free but Thatcher DECKS him with a right!

Thatcher takes his time going back in, and Ciampa kicks him in the ropes! Ciampa drags Thatcher out but Thatcher HOTSHOTS first! Ciampa flails and sputters, Thatcher gets back in and he throws a HARD EuroUpper! Thatcher snarls as Ciampa gets back up, another EuroUpper floors Ciampa! Fans still rally behind Ciampa but Thatcher drags Ciampa back up. Thatcher throws another uppercut but Ciampa catches them! BACKLSIDE, ROPEBREAK! But Ciampa has Thatcher in the ropes and CHOPS him! And CHOPS him! And CHOPS him! CHOP, CHOP, CHOP! The ref counts, Ciampa stops and then BOOTS Thatcher! Ciampa has the GROVIT! To WILLOW’S BELL! Cover, Ciampa wins!

Winner: Tommaso Ciampa, by pinfall

Just as Ciampa said, the truly tough prove it, and Ciampa proved who was the tougher man here! Did Ciampa also prove he is deserving of something even bigger, better and tougher in NXT?

 

Strap Match: Dexter Lumis VS Cameron Grimes!

The Tortured Artist has become rather fixated on the Carolina Caveman, but to be fair, Grimes is rather… unique. Grimes claims he has never been afraid of anyone, has never ran away or tried to hide from anyone, but the video evidence is in their Halloween Havoc Haunted House of Terror match. With the leather keeping these two bound together, will Grimes prove he can face his fears and defeat them? Or will his body bear the marks of Lumis’ sadistic masterpiece?

Grimes brings a strap to the ring but the ref says the approved strap is in this bag. Grimes says it’s his strap or no strap. Lumis accepts the terms so the ref takes the other end of the strap. Grimes goes to a corner and “accidentally” yanks the strap away from the ref. The ref reprimands, Grimes “apologizes,” then Grimes CLOBBERS Lumis! The ref reprimands but Grimes stomps away on Lumis in the corner! Fans boo and Lumis bails out as Grimes gets fired up! Grimes goes out and CLOBBERS Lumis again! And then throws Lumis into boards! And kicks him! And posts him! And whips him into more boards!

Lumis tries to get in the ring but Grimes uses the strap to drag Lumis back out. And then Grimes body checks Lumis, leather first! Grimes smothers Lumis with the strap! Grimes KICKS Lumis again and puts him on the apron, to smother Lumis again! The ref reprimands and fans boo but Grimes gets in to stalk Lumis. Grimes KNEES Lumis down, stomps him, then grins as he takes a length of the strap, to LASH! Lumis dodges and ROCKS Grimes with the uppercut! They brawl back and forth, Lumis gets the edge and he whips Grimes, to THESZ PRESS! Lumis rains down rights but this match still isn’t officially on record! Lumis takes his end of the strap, puts it on, and the bell finally rings!

Lumis reels Grimes in as Grimes tries to run away, and there’s no more slack! Lumis blocks a boot, throws Grimes to a corner, and Grimes bounces off buckles to stumble into a leather LARIAT! Lumis LASHES but Grimes narrowly avoids it! Lumis follows Grimes, but Grimes SUPER FOREARMS! Grimes wraps Lumis’ face with the strap! Then KICKS Lumis, and whips him. Lumis reverses, Grimes goes up the fencing, but Lumis drags him back down! Grimes leaps into an UPPERCUT! Lumis reels Grimes back in, stomps him down, and follows him around the ring. Lumis brings Grimes to the announce desk for some punches, then throws him into boards!

Grimes hits hard and slumps down, but Lumis drags him back up. Lumis reels Grimes in to whip him into even more boards! Lumis drags Grimes up, and throws clubbing crossface forearms. Lumis drags Grimes up, uses the strap again to bring Grimes around, but Grimes RAMS Lumis into barriers! Grimes back suplexes Lumis up and over! Lumis hits hard and Grimes grins as he catches his breath. But there’s a tug at the strap, and Lumis rises! Grimes is scared of those eyes and he ROUNDHOUSES Lumis! Grimes pulls on the strap and Lumis flies back up and over the barriers! Lumis is down at ringside and Grimes brings him back up.

Grimes throws forearms, and keeps the slack short as he brings Lumis around. Grimes throws more forearms, Lumis staggers around and Grimes BOOTS him down! Fans rally and Grimes looms over Lumis. Grimes smears the leather in Lumis’ face, then whips him into the timekeeper’s area! Grimes again goes after Lumis’ eyes with the strap! Grimes throws things around, and uses the ref’s strap to SMACK Lumis on the back! Grimes grins as he empties the bag, and puts the bag over Lumis’ face as a blindfold! Grimes mugs Lumis, then LASHES him! And LASHES him again! Lumis flounders into fists and then Grimes puts Lumis back in.

Grimes uses the spare strap to choke Lumis, then winds up to LASH Lumis again! And again! Lumis flounders around blindly as Grimes soaks up the heat. Grimes drags Lumis up, but Lumis hits a SPINEBUSTER! Lumis takes the bag off his head and fans fire up! Lumis stalks Grimes to a corner, goes out to the apron, and wraps the strap around the post! Grimes is caught but he manages to JAB Lumis! Grimes uses the strap to YANK Lumis into the post! Fans rally up as Lumis staggers, and Grimes goes out to the apron. Grimes reels Lumis in for a PENALTY KICK! Lumis staggers back and leans against another post.

Grimes pulls on the strap to reel Lumis back in, for another PENALTY KICK! Grimes goes for another, but Lumis catches the kick! Grimes scrapes Lumis off but Lumis pulls Grimes off the apron to send him flying! Fans fire up for Lumis as he again LASHES Grimes! Grimes hurries into the ring but Lumis follows. Lumis LASHES Grimes again! Grimes flounders and spasms about but Lumis just LASHES him yet again! And again! And again! And again! Lumis corner clotheslines but Grimes slips out of the bulldog to CORNER GERMAN! Lumis flops down and Grimes goes out to the apron. Grimes puts a chair in the ring, and he aims at Lumis to SMACK him on the back! And SMACK him again!

Grimes soaks up the heat from the fans and gives his chair a kiss, before another SMACK to Lumis! Grimes sits the chair up, takes a seat and catches is breath while Lumis flounders around. Grimes reels Lumis in with the strap, but Lumis catches Grimes for a FALL AWAY SLAM! And a kip up! Fans fire up and Lumis snarls as he brawls with Grimes! Haymaker for haymaker, body shot and more! Lumis has the edge, but Grimes throws Lumis up and over! Lumis ROCKS Grimes with a right, climbs up top, but Grimes YANKS Lumis down! Payback for earlier! And then COLLISON COURSE! Cover, TWO!! Lumis survives and Grimes is beside himself!

Grimes sits his chair back up, has Lumis rest on the chair, and he gives back those LASHES! Lumis sits up in the chair, Grimes points to the moon, but the Cave-In is caught! Grimes arm-drags out of Silence and throws elbows. Lumis catches Grimes again but Grimes elbows free. Grimes spins Lumis, scoops him, but Lumis slips out and uses the strap to trip Grimes up! Grimes hits the chair on the way down! The strap wraps the legs, and then SILENCE! Grimes flails, fades, but the strap wraps around his head! Grimes taps, Lumis wins!

Winner: Dexter Lumis, by submission

And Lumis shuts up Grimes’ big mouth! But if Silence is golden, will Lumis be golden soon enough?

 

A clock is ticking.

A vulture perches. It watches NXT. The apocalypse is not cancelled. “Tick. Tock.” Can it be?! Will we see Karrion Kross return before the clock strikes midnight on 2020?!

 

NXT North American Championship Triple Threat: Leon Ruff VS Damian Priest VS Johnny Gargano!

In the unlikeliest twist in 2020, an arrogant Johnny Gargano thought he could break his curse by cheating the system. The Archer of Infamy made sure to even things out against the rig wheel of challengers, and in the end, the underdog became the unlikeliest of champions! But now, to prove he isn’t a joke, he’s taking on the most serious challenge he’s ever faced! Will the Cinderella story continue to live happily ever after? Or will one of the former champions reclaim the throne and wake Ruff up from his dream come true?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and Ruff’s first-ever TakeOver match, with the highest stakes possible, begins!

Ruff is wary of his challengers, but Gargano waistlocks him first! Gargano shoves Ruff at Priest, Priest shoves Ruff aside and Gargano SUPERKICKS Priest down! Gargano rolls Ruff up, TWO! Gargano cradles, ONE! Gargano scoops and slams Ruff to cover, TWO! Ruff survives this opening salvo but Gargano CHOPS him to the corner! Priest is up on the apron but Gargano dropkicks him out! Gargano corner clotheslines Ruff, but then Ruff slips out to forearm back! Ruff goes up and around and under and dropkicks Gargano back! Ruff knuckle locks, CHOPS and goes around the ropes to springboard RANA! Ruff dropkicks Gargano down and fans fire up!

Ruff stomps Gargano in a corner but Priest returns. Priest again pushes Ruff aside to fire off big hands on Gargano! Ruff squeezes in to throw hands on Gargano. Priest tells Ruff to stay out of his way and throws him out! Gargano boots Priest but Priest shoves him. Gargano dodges dodges Priest, Ruff missile dropkicks them both! Only Gargano goes down, so Ruff is ready to throw hands with Priest. Priest tells Ruff to go home, but Ruff throws a kick! And then body shots! Priest shoves Ruff, Ruff slides under and CHOPS! Priest doesn’t even flinch! Priest choke grips and lifts Ruff, then grabs Gargano! But Ruff kicks free and Gargano throws hands!

Gargano wants Ruff to help him and Ruff does, and they hammer Priest down. DOUBLE ENZIGURI! Gargano and Ruff DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE Priest out! Gargano runs and DIVES! Direct hit and Priest hits barriers! Gargano tells Ruff to go, and Ruff runs, but Gargano is tricking him! Gargano shoves Priest away to slingshot SPEAR Ruff down! Cover, TWO!! Ruff survives the betrayal and Gargano seethes. Gargano tells Ruff he’s a joke, and then tells his fans that they’re jokes! But Gargano says the joke is over. But Priest drags Gargano out and ROCKS him with a right! Priest SMACKS Gargano off boards, then stalks him around the way. Priest drags Gargano up to ROCK him again!

Ruff LEAPS from the ramp! But Priest catches him, BOOTS Gargano, and then puts Ruff down. Priest says this is his last warning, but Ruff says he’s not a joke! Ruff SLAPS Priest, Priest ROCKS Ruff! Priest’s rage boils up and he drags Ruff into the crucifix lift, for a RAZOR’S EDGE, into the barriers! And the barriers fall over like dominos!! Priest realizes just how hard he tossed Ruff and feels awful for it, and the ref checks on Ruff’s condition. Other refs come out to check, and Priest asks how he’s doing. The refs tell Priest to just stay back and give Ruff some room. Priest apologizes, but now this championship match continues without the champion!

Gargano CLOBBERS Priest from behind! Gargano clubs Priest, Priest knees low but Gargano RAMS Priest into the ramp! Gargano tries to use the ramp, needs to go again, and he TORNADO DDT’S Priest to the floor! Priest gets up and Gargano says “I told you! He can’t hang!” Gargano leaves Ruff in the past and puts Priest on the ramp. Gargano aims from the ring, but Priest blocks One Final Beat! Priest puts Gargano through the ropes but Gargano escapes the Reckoning, only for Priest to ROCK Gargano with a right! Priest then steps up and leaps, but Gargano dodges, only to run into a windmill kick! Cover, TWO!

Priest drags Gargano up, but Gargano slips under, only for his chop to be blocked! Gargano avoids the bell clap to hit a STANDING SLICED BREAD! Cover, TWO! Priest flounders to a corner, Gargano runs in, but Priest boots him away! Priest boots again but Gargano dodges, the BELL CLAP hits! Gargano ducks a roundhouse to throw forearms, then he fakes Priest out to mule kick the leg and BUZZSAW! Gargano runs into a LEAPING ROUNDHOUSE! And then staggers into a LARIAT! Both men are down, Priest rolls to the ramp and the fans fire up. Priest rises, but Ruff returns?! Ruff uses Priest as a step for a FLYING LARIAT on Gargano!

Ruff dropkicks Priest away, tackles Gargano and rains down furious fists! Gargano gets away, Ruff builds speed and goes up, to FLY out onto both opponents! Fans are thunderous for Ruff as he puts Gargano in! Ruff stalks Gargano, reels him in, and headlocks, but Gargano denies the buckle bulldog! Ruff just goes up and leaps for a CORKSCREW CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!! Gargano survives and Ruff shakes his head. Ruff figures the first-ever Triple Crown winner in NXT would survive that. Ruff climbs up the corner but Gargano throws haymakers first! Gargano dumps Ruff down off the top and grimaces as he drags Ruff up. Gargano DECKS Ruff with a left!

Gargano drags Ruff up and whips, but Ruff rebounds to LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Priest is floundering back up into the ring as Ruff climbs the corner again. Ruff sees Priest, and Priest says no more chances. Priest gets under Ruff’s leap, Ruff ducks and dodges but Priest BOOTS him down! Gargano swings into Priest’s clutches! Priest adds Ruff on, DOUBLE COMPLETE SHOT! Priest grits his teeth as he sees Gargano and Ruff go to opposite corners. Priest stomps around, and leaps to elbow Ruff! Then runs to elbow Gargano! Back to Ruff! Then Priest suplex TOSSES Ruff at Gargano with the Broken Arrow!

Priest gets Gargano up, but Gargano slips out to POST Priest! Gargano gets Ruff up and scoops him, to LAWN DART Ruff into Priest! Priest ends up in the double-ring gap and Ruff flounders. Gargano goes after Priest in the gap with haymakers. Gargano tries Priest up in the ropes of the second ring! Gargano waves by to Priest, then goes back to Ruff. Gargano scoops Ruff but Ruff slips out to O’Conner roll but Gargano bucks him off! Ruff CRUCIFIX DRIVERS! Cover, TWO!! Gargano escapes and fans are thunderous! Ruff goes to a corner, Priest works to free himself, but Ruff aims at Gargano for the FROG SPLASH but it flops!

Gargano gets Ruff in the GargaNO Escape, right in front of Priest! Priest shouts at Ruff not to quit, and then Priest frees himself! Priest helps Ruff get to ropes and then KICKS Gargano away! Gargano runs back in but into another ROUNDHOUSE! Priest climbs up and leaps for the FLYING WINDMILL! Priest sees Gargano bail out and Ruff stay in. Ruff avoids the back elbow and LARIATS, but Priest stays up! Ruff tries again, but Priest is too big! Priest whips Ruff, Ruff goes for the rebound but Gargano SUPERKICKS Ruff down! Again Priest feels remorse for what happened to Ruff, but Gargano enziguris!

Priest denies One Final Beat to the SOUTH OF HEAVEN CHOKE SLAM! But wait, it’s GHOST FACE again!! The ref tells him to stay away, but there are TWO OTHER Ghost Faces?! They’re attacking Priest on behalf of Gargano! Priest fights them off with elbows and BOOTS and a kick! Priest throws two out then CLOBBERS the third! The Ghost Faces regroup and retreat, but there are more on the outside side?! Priest BOOTS one down and then FLIES out onto them all! And then he goes back in to FLY out onto the others! All six Ghost Faces are down, but Gargano DIVES! Priest caches him for an APRON CHOKE SLAM! For Ruff’s FROG SPLASH!! Cover, Priest breaks it just in time!!

Priest finally catches his breath and he stands over Ruff. Priest drags Ruff up by his ear but Ruff fires off furious fists from all sides! Priest shoves, Ruff kicks! Ruff runs but Priest CYCLONE KICKS! Priest runs at Gargano, Gargano tilt-o-whirls but the takedown is blocked to- NO! No Reckoning, SUPERKICK! ROUNDHOUSE from Priest! CYCLONE KICK for Gargano! Priest sees he’s got an opening, and he roars as he drags Gargano back up! But another Ghost Face uses a PIPE on Priest!! Lucky number seven saves Gargano! But then Ruff rolls Gargano up! Gargano slips out to SUPERKICK! Gargano goes to the apron, aims and ONE FINAL BEAT for Ruff!! Cover, Gargano wins!!

Winner: Johnny Gargano, by pinfall (NEW NXT North American Champion)

History is made again for Johnny TakeOver, as he is a three-time North American Champion! But he had a seemingly endless supply of Ghost Face aces in the hole. Will Gargano finally break his curse and hold onto this title a little longer this time? And wait! Lucky Ghost Face number seven turns out to be AUSTIN! It was Austin all along! Does this mean it’ll be #TheJohnnyGarganoWay #AllDay?

 

2020’s been a real bummer.

But NXT has something very special planned for 2021. The first Wednesday of the New Year, will be New Year’s EVIL! What will the black ‘n’ gold have in store as we wipe the slate clean?

 

Men’s WarGames: The Kings of NXT VS The Undisputed Era!

Pat McAfee and his pack of mercenaries have done whatever they’ve wanted since TakeOver: 31, but that could all change now that Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong are back! And though the UE has been in each and every single Men’s WarGames match since it debuted in NXT, they’re only 1-2! Will the UE break even as they break McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch down to the last piece?

First, the Undisputed Era make their entrance. For the first time, they do not have the advantage, but Kyle doesn’t let that bother him as he steps up first. Then McAfee’s team enters, and the Bruiserweight says he’s up first. McAfee is totally okay with that, especially when you consider Dunne is the only man on his team with WarGames experience, and was part of a team that beat the Undisputed Era. Kyle’s also happy to see Dunne, because Kyle wants revenge for both the betrayal and the advantage match screwjob! Dunne steps inside and the five-minute countdown begins!

Kyle and Dunne stare down and slowly circle. They approach and feel things out, Kyle tries testing kicks. Dunne stays clear, knuckle locks with Kyle, and then have a test of strength as they go shoulder to shoulder. They go around, Dunne gets a leg but Kyle counters to get a leg. Dunne gets around, facelocks, Kyle slips out but Dunne hooks the leg again. Kyle gets away and the two stand off. Fans fire up as the two circle again. They tie up. Kyle slips around but Dunne puts him on the ropes. Dunne dumps Kyle down then goes to ground ‘n’ pound, but Kyle has his leg guard. Kyle goes for a triangle but Dunne slips out! Dunne kicks but Kyle blocks, only for Dunn to spin through the dragon screw!

Dunne wants fingers but Kyle avoids the snap! Kyle rolls out of the omoplata to get the arm! Dunne avoids the armbar but Kyle avoids a stomp to the arm, and then Dunne backs off before the kick comes in! Dunne goes to the gap and baits Kyle into a triangle hold of his own! Kyle ends up in the gap, but he goes to the second ring. Dunne lets him go but Kyle gets Dunne’s arm for a takedown! Kyle wants a kimura but Dunne fights up. Kyle wrenches, waistlocks and GERMANS, but Dunne lands on his feet to BUZZSAW! McAfee is happy to see that! Dunne then hammerlocks Kyle’s arm and grabs the other to torture the fingers!

Dunne bends the wrist, twists the elbow and pulls on the shoulder, to then STOMP! Kyle gets up, puts Dunne in a corner but Dunne turns things around to CHOP! Kyle turns things back around to fire off body shots! Dunne has the fingers again and puts them throw fencing! Dunne uses steel for leverage as he bends the joints! Kyle body shots but Dunne lets off to whip. Kyle reverses, Dunne goes up and over, Dunne picks a leg and rolls Kyle to STOMP the hands! BUZZSAW! But Kyle counters the bomb to a GUILLOTINE! Dunne fades already! Kyle KNEES Dunne down! Dunne sits up, Kyle drags him back up but Dunne X-PLEXES, to the ARMBAR!

Kyle flails and moves around to get a leg! HEEL HOOK! Dunne endures now but the first countdown is ending! Dunne heel hooks Kyle back and they end up in a corner. The clock hits zero and Oney wants in! McAfee is again fine with that, and the #STARDESTROYER rushes Kyle! They brawl with forearms and CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Kyle blocks a chop to knee, kick and palm strikes! Dunne CLOBBERS Kyle! Oney and Dunne have Kyle in a corner, Oney back elbows in again and again! Kyle kicks but Oney ducks to HALF ‘N’ HALF! Dunne PENALTY KICKS an arm out! Dunne and Oney just loom over Kyle as they still have two minutes to go!

Dunne has the arms and the legs, for a Surfboard! And Oney CHOPS Kyle, then basement DDT’s him down! Kyle rolls back to the gap but Oney goes over, only for Kyle to DRAGON SCREW a leg! Dunne gives chase, Kyle gets him for a DRAGON SCREW! Kyle has them both stuck in ropes as he climbs up, and Kyle stomps Dunne away, to then GUILLOTINE KNEE DROP Oney! But Dunne missile dropkicks the leg out! Kyle clutches his knee and he still has to wait for reinforcements. Dunne drags Kyle around, wrenches an arm while Oney gets a leg, it’s an armlock Half Crab fusion! Kyle endures because there’s nothing else he can do! But the time is almost up!

The clock hits zero again and for the UE, it’s BOBBY FISH! Dunne and Oney hurry to intercept but Fish hits them first! Fish spins Dunne around to fire off strikes! Dunne ducks a roundhouse but not the mule kick! Fish knees Oney then EXPLODERS Dunne into Oney! Fish shouts for Kyle and he goes after Oney! Fish whips Oney for a SPINEBUSTER! Fans fire up but Dunne kicks Fish from below! Fish staggers over, but he throws Dunne into the gap! Kyle BOOTS Dunne down, and now reDRagon has Oney! Oney throws uppercuts, runs, but into a pop-up ROUNDHOUSE! Kyle brings Oney up, he and Fish combo for a DRAPING BUTTERFLY DDT, and then a BOOSTED Wheelbarrow German!

Dunne goes after Kyle and gets a HOVERBOARD KIMURA! Fish sleeper holds Dunne and drags him off! Kyle mule kicks Dunne, then reDRagon DOUBLE BUZZSAW! Fans fire up and reDRagon stomps Oney down. Fish drags Dunne up and throws knees in the corner while Kyle digs boots into Oney. Oney kicks Kyle away but Fish goes over to bring Oney up. Fish has a leg for a DRAGON SCREW! Oney clutches his leg, Kyle regroups with Fish but Dunne throws hands! Fish ROCKS Dunne, Kyle and Oney grapple with leg locks. Dunne knees Fish and has the wristlock! Kyle wants to get Oney for an armbar, and Dunne uses the cage to torture fingers!

The countdown returns as Fish clubs Dunne away! Burch gets in for McAfee’s team, and he goes under the ring! Burch brings in something in a bag and then DECKS Fish! And ROCKS Kyle! And spins Kyle for a EuroUpper! Burch opens that mystery bag, and he has a CRICKET BAT! Burch swings on Kyle but Kyle dodges! Burch runs to corner clothesline, enzigujri and then GERMAN! Kyle flounders to the gap and Dunne grabs the cricket bad the dig into Fish’s fingers! Burch brings out another cricket bat and he JAMS it into Kyle’s ribs! Kyle flops to the gap, Dunne keeps hitting Fish’s arm with his bat, and we’re at a two minute warning.

Oney helps Dunne go after Fish, and Burch talks trash on Kyle. Kyle picks a leg for a HEEL HOOK! Burch is tapping, if only this match was complete! Dunne goes after Kyle with a FLYING STOP to Kyle’s arm!! Kyle clutches what could be a broken elbow! And then Burch SMACKS Kyle with the back! That’s for six, aka a cricket home run. Oney and Burch give a “cheers” with the bats, then Oney hands his to Dunne. Dunne wedges the bat into Kyle’s leg for a cricket calf killer! Burch taunts Kyle then helps Oney with Fish. Dunne stomps Kyle’s leg as Burch and Oney club Fish. The countdown reaches 10 seconds as Fish tries to fight back in a 3v1 situation!

Dunne twist a foot, Fish falls, but here comes RODERICK STRONG! But Oney BLASTS him with a EuroUpper right away! Burch and Oney fire off on Strong, then whip him, but he DOUBLE LARIATS them both down! Strong fires off on Burch, then on Oney, then he whips Oney for a dropkick! Dunne hurries over but Strong gets him for a half nelson BACKBREAKER! And then Burch swings on Strong, but gets a knee and a BIG back suplex! Strong fires up and fans fire up with him, but Oney puts Strong in the gap. Strong BOOTS Dunne, forearms Oney and enziguris Burch! Strong runs side to side in the gap, giving everyone forearms as he goes! And then again the other way! And again to KNEE Dunne!

Strong TOSSES Dunne into the second ring! Strong goes after Oney, but Oney throws him into steels! Kyle goes after Dunne but Dunne grabs Kyle’s nose! Dunne and Oney throw Kyle and Strong into the steel! Burch and Fish brawl, Dunne is after Fish in the gap and throws him at the steel! McAfee’s team dig boots into Fish and Strong, then they club and EuroUpper Kyle! Oney and Burch double whip and double elbow Kyle, then they mug Fish and Strong! Oney CHOPS Strong, Dunne STOMPS Fish’s arm on steel! Burch stomps Kyle but Kyle hooks the leg to a heel hook! The countdown is back, and finally Captain McAfee enters!

McAfee has an idea, and he brings out a TABLE from under the ring! The table even has Fish’s name on it! McAfee gives that table to his team and they know what to do with it. McAfee brings out another table, and this one has Kyle’s name on it. Clearly he made sure these were here for reDRagon. Those tables are put in the gaps, then McAfee just tosses chair after chair in, before bringing out a table for Strong! McAfee’s team continues to mug the UE as the furniture is moved in. McAfee brings out one more table, and yes, this is for Cole, baybay. With his team firmly in control, McAfee finally joins in.

Burch and Oney set up a table for McAfee in a corner, and then Dunne RAMS Strong into buckles. Dunne brings Fish towards the table labeled for him while Oney and Burch have Strong. Dunne gives Kyle an elbow breaker to keep him down, then Burch and Oney mug Strong. They put Strong on his table, and then McAfee climbs up, to MOONSAULT Strong through the table! McAfee’s team all high-five over that one! Fans boo and the final countdown finally arrives! And that means this match finally has ADAM COLE BAYBAY!! Cole hurries over, but he had something planned, too! Cole brings out a fire extinguisher, and hoses off McAfee’s team!

Cole then grabs a chair, gets inside and he JAMS Oney! SMACKS Burch! SMACKS Oney! THROWS the chair at Dunne but Dunne dodges! So Cole BACKSTABBERS! And PELES Oney! And fireman’s carries to USHIGOROSHI Burch! Fans fire up with Cole as he stares at McAfee in the second ring. McAfee dares Cole to bring it on, so Cole storms over, only for Dunne to stand in his way. “Screw you!” Dunne and Cole brawl, Cole rocks Dunne but Dunne DECKS Cole! Dunne gives Cole some Danielson Stomps! And then pump handles for a BITTER- DDT!! Cole counters and then runs, but McAfee catches him! Dunne enziguris Cole down!

McAfee brags about his big brain and Dunne grabs Cole’s fingers. Kyle SMACKS Dunne from behind! Payback for weeks ago! Kyle says if McAfee wants to be a wrestler, he’s in WarGames, time to put that money where his mouth is! Kyle dares McAfee to take a free shot, and McAfee gets in. Cole SMACKS McAfee! And then rains down right hands! Dunne clobbers Cole and it’s a huge brawl! Fish throws Oney, Dunne throws Cole, Bruch rams Strong and McAfee fires off with Kyle! Fish stomps Oney, Strong hammers Burch, Cole has Dunne down and Kyle throws knees on McAfee! Kyle KICKS McAfee but Dunne has Cole’s hands in the table leg! Dunne STOMPS the leg to crush Cole’s hand!

Dunne goes after Fish and kicks him down! Dunne gives Fish a suplex but Fish slips out to sleeper! Strong fires off on Burch but Oney BLOCKBUSTERS Fish! Kyle staggers over and AX ‘n’ DOUBLE SMASH with Strong on Dunne! Cover, but Oney breaks it! Oney whips Strong into the gap hard! Burch and Oney drag Kyle up, LONDON BRIDGE!! Cover, Fish breaks it! Oney RAMS Fish into steel, Cole BOOTS Oney and then BOOTS Burch! McAfee chop blocks Cole!! Fans boo as Dunne and McAfee stomp Cole together. Oney and Burch regroup, McAfee lets out a “WOO~!” and steps through for a FIGURE FOUR!

McAfee’s team plays defense as Cole endures the leg lock! Fish, Strong and O’Reilly fight fist to fist, but Cole turns things around! McAfee endures the pressure now, Dunne is in an Ankle Lock! Fish has Oney in a sleeper, Strong has Burch’s leg! Dunne breaks free to KICK Cole! The hold is undone but the damage was done. Burch and Oney go back after the UE to throw down fists. Oney brings a table up as Burch DECKS Fish. The table is put in the second ring, but Strong HOTSHOTS Dunne! Burch and Oney set up the table marked for Cole, but Strong ROCKS McAfee! Fish joins in, they brawl with Oney and Burch!

McAfee is in the gap as Oney CHOPS! Fish BOOTS, Strong and Oney DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE! Burch ROCKS Fish but Fish ROUNDHOUSES Burch! Those four are all down in the second ring, leaving Dunne, McAfee, Cole and Kyle in the first ring. Cole superkicks but Dunne blocks to throw Cole down! ARMBAR, but Cole makes it a cover, TWO! Dunne enziguris, then goes to suplex, but he gets a LAST SHOT BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Dunne survives but Cole finally throws his shirt away. Cole brings up one of the other tables, and stands it up. This is the Kyle table, and then he brings Dunne over to a corner. Cole drags Dunne up top, but Dunne pulls on fingers!

Strong and Fish save Cole but Burch goes after them. Kyle goes after Burch and throws hands. Burch ends up on the Cole table, and Fish and Strong have Dunne up! They DOUBLE BOMB Dunne onto Burch, but the table doesn’t give! Strong climbs up, and he FROG SPLASHES through them both!! Fans are thunderous as the Cole table is used up! Cole adjusts but McAfee springs up! Cole resists, and shoves McAfee down, he crashes through the Kyle table!! Cole hops down, wreckage is cleared, and Cole regroups with the UE. They bring Burch up to throw him into Dunne and steel! Cole wants to end this, and Oney is thrown into Burch and Dunne!

Kyle runs in and back body blocks Dunne into steel! Fish runs in and body blocks Dunne into steel! Strong KNEES Dunne, Cole SUPERKICKS Dunne, and Dunne is done! Now they start on Oney! Kyle, Fish, Strong and Cole hit him in turn! Then Burch gets the same! McAfee’s mercenaries are down and fans are fired up! McAfee somehow stands back up, and sees he’s all alone. McAfee asks they spare him, his back is hurting from the table. But the four UE go after McAfee, and drags him off the steel! They won’t let him forfeit by escaping! And they mug him 4v1!!

Cole throws McAfee into steel! Then Kyle throws McAfee into steel! Fish and Strong throw McAfee together! “Ain’t so tough now, are you, Pat?!” They dare him to talk trash now! They put McAfee in the gap and slap him around. They take his shirt off and then Cole lines it up. But Dunne, Burch and Oney make the save! They throw hands, Dunne stomps away on Strong, then Oney and Burch do the same to reDRagon. McAfee gets up and his guys help him around. Oney and Burch have Fish in an Electric Chair but Kyle makes the save! Strong has Dunne in a corner, Burch throws Fish away and goes after Kyle! Kyle is in the Electric Chair, EUROUPPER DOOMSDAY!!

Fish CLOBBERS Burch! Dunne and Cole fight on the top rope! Dunne wobbles and Cole hits a SUPER LEAPING NECKBREAKER! Strong has McAfee, for a SUPERPLEX!! ALL EIGHT MEN ARE DOWN!! The fans are thunderous as everyone crawls around. The teams regroup, stand together, and stare down the other side. It’s a brawl like the one from when it was UE VS Dunne-Ricochet-War-Raiders! But wait, where’s McAfee? He’s up on the VERY TOP of the cage!! And he SWANTON BOMBS #ForTheBrand!!! All eight men are down again!!

Dunne and Kyle crawl to the second ring and glare at each other as they slowly rise. The first two in are still standing, and now they’re throwing forearms back and forth! Fans rally up and Kyle ROCKS Dunne! Dunne ROCKS Kyle back, and then they pick up the pace! There’s no slowing down! Kyle ROCKS Dunne again and Dunne flops down! Kyle drags Dunne up by his hair but Dunne gets the fingers! Kyle wrenches to ELBOW BREAKER! And AX to- DUNNE’S SMASH! Dunne blocks the yo-yo lariat to get the fingers! SNAP!! Then pump handle, to BITTER END!! Cover, TWO?!?! Dunne can’t believe Kyle survives!!

Kyle sits up in a daze but Dunne drags him around. Dunne brings Kyle to the gap, and though the table says “Fish,” Dunne wants to use it on Kyle! But Kyle slips out of the bomb to suplex Dunne for a FULL METAL BRAIN BUSTER!! Cover, TWO!??! Dunne survives and now Kyle is shocked! Kyle gets up and sees the chair. Kyle sits that chair up, drags Dunne over to it, and puts him through it! Kyle goes to a corner, Dunne barely moves, but McAfee CHAIR SHOTS Kyle down! Kyle falls through the ropes, McAfee aims at Cole. Cole dares him, McAfee swings but misses! Cole fires off with fury, and has the chair for his own! But McAfee LOW BLOWS! It’s not illegal in WarGames!!

McAfee mocks Cole but he misses the punt, Cole BOOTS McAfee down! Cole goes to a corner and wants to take us back to TakeOver: 31! But Burch yanks Cole down! Cole SUPERKICKS Burch! Fish SPEARS Burch through the FISH table!! McAfee SUPERKICKS Cole!! And then he hops up, PANAMA SUN- SUPERKICK! Cole goes back to the corner, and hits the TRUE PANAMA SUNRISE!! Cover, TWO!?!?! McAfee survives a move that put him away before! Cole says that’s fine, he’ll gladly put McAfee away with something more! Cole brings the knee pad down, says BANG, but Oney takes the LAST SHOT WIZARD for McAfee!

Dunne KICKS Cole, brings the chair over, and hits a BITTER END to the chair back!! Cole sputters and gasps, Dunne covers but Strong STOMPS it apart! END OF HEARTACHE! Oney swings his chair but Strong dodges, Fish helps out for a FULL METAL STRONG ANNIHILATION! Kyle walks the tightrope to FLYING KNEE DROP onto Oney’s head! Cover, the Undisputed Era wins!!

Winners: The Undisputed Era, by pinfall

And the war is over! Cole, Fish, O’Reilly and Strong may be 2-2 in the overall record, but this win means so much more than numbers can speak to! Have they finally shut McAfee up? Is NXT now, then and forever Undisputed?


My Thoughts:

This was a really great TakeOver! The kickoff show had good promos and sports show talk from the special guests, sorry I missed Helwani’s. Bookending the night with WarGames matches made sense, and the women starting was fine. In retrospect, it perhaps gave away that Shotzi’s team was going to lose, so I feel like it would’ve worked just fine as the main event. But given the Undisputed Era, as Faces, won theirs, this is also fine. NXT wasn’t going to have both Face teams win, but I would’ve still done it that way. Though then maybe Shotzi and her team look way too strong.

Indi getting involved does help with the power balance, she’s a good reason as to why Team Candice won. I do like the strategy of trying to keep out the other team’s fourth for as long as possible. Shirai with the trash can dive was a great way around it, too. And with Shirai essentially Face, it makes sense that Heels win so that Heels move up to challenge her. I have a feeling this will end up pitting Raquel and Dakota in opposition to Candice and Toni, with Indi of course being Candice’s back-up. And I bet the build is quick enough so that someone can challenge Shirai for “New Year’s Evil.” The Evil Genius needs to be on a show with the word “Evil” in it, it’s only logical.

Ciampa VS Thatcher was a very good match, and the (more than likely accidental) bloody ear definitely adds to the concept of it being about toughness. Ciampa wins to build up his momentum, and with Balor calling everyone in the men’s division out, I have a feeling Ciampa is a frontrunner for facing him for the title. Lumis VS Grimes was a really good strap match, and Lumis wins again, meaning he has to be poised for a title shot. And given how Gargano won that great Triple Threat to be champion again, Gargano VS Lumis is an excellent next feud for both. Gargano is about as mouthy as Grimes so that makes for a good foil to Lumis being eerily silent.

Priest had good character work in that Triple Threat given he doesn’t dislike Ruff but still has to beat him up. And of course Ruff became an even bigger star with how he kept up with two big names. And while having seven Ghost Faces in one segment was a bit much, I love that Austin Theory turned out to be THE Ghost Face, as I’d hoped. Austin and Indi are now the “kids” in the #TJGW sitcom parody that they’ve created, and that will make for a great overall story as Austin and Indi help Gargano and Candice in trying to keep/gain gold.

And UE winning in the main event was to give us fans a “happy ending,” but that itself surprised me. I suppose that means UE is staying in NXT, no jumping to SmackDown or Raw, which will surely be best for UE overall. But I can’t be sure what they do next then, as they’ve checked everything off the list. I suppose they could at least attempt to take all the titles back, only to fail, but wouldn’t that mean they leave for RawDown at that point? I’m not sure what’s planned, but I’m sure NXT will execute a near perfect plan.

My Score: 9.4/10


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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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