Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (12/16/20)
Who heads for New Year’s Evil?
Who will challenge THE NXT Champion?
Before going home for the holidays, NXT has some business to sort out! Kyle O’Reilly and Pete Dunne fight for the right to challenge Finn Balor for his title!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory VS KUSHIDA & Leon Ruff; Gargano & Theory win.
- Tommaso Ciampa VS Tyler Rust; Ciampa wins.
- NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Pete Dunne VS Kyle O’Reilly; O’Reilly wins and will challenge Finn Balor for the title at New Year’s Evil.
- Shotzi Blackheart VS Indi Hartwell w/ The Way; Shotzi wins, by disqualification.
- Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux VS Desmond Troy; Kross wins.
- Toni Storm VS Rhea Ripley; Storm wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory w/ Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS KUSHIDA & Leon Ruff!
#TheJohnnyGarganoWay is growing, from having the North American Championship to having a new member in #TheRealSuperstar! But things might not go The Way’s way now that the Time Splitter is Ruff’s tag partner! Will Kushida help NXT’s top underdog get one over on #TheWayAllDay?
The teams sort out, Kushida insists on starting and he wants Gargano! Gargano steps up, circles with Kushida, but then no look tags to Theory. Theory avoids Kushida’s drop toeholds, drops down for a headlock but Kushida facelocks back. Kushida rolls with Theory then floats all over him, and gives him spanks! Kushida still wants Gargano but he dodges Theory to fire off hands! Theory knees, whips but Kushida reverses to atomic drop and knee lift! Kushida wrenches an arm, tags Ruff in, and Ruff kicks Theory’s arm! Ruff wrenches but Theory kicks low and snap suplexes! Ruff writhes, Theory drags him up and DECKS him with a left!
Theory has Ruff in a corner, whips him corner to corner and runs in but Ruff slips out! Ruff throws a forearm back, then springboards, goes all around Theory in the corner and dropkicks! But Ruff stares Gargano down too long and turns around into an ELBOW from Theory! Tag to Gargano and Gargano drops ax handles and rains down fists! Gargano tells Ruff this is HIS world, then he swipes at Kushida! Kushida stays clear but stares Gargano down. Ruff comes back to RANA! And then he arm-drags Gargano around! Roll up, kip up and calf kick! Cover, TWO! Ruff keeps on Gargano with clubbing forearms and a CHOP in the corner!
Ruff stands on Gargano at the ropes to show his rough side, but he lets off as the ref counts. Gargano throws hands but Ruff boots him down! Gargano goes to the corner, hits Ruff back then taunts Kushida. Gargano suplexes Ruff for the gourd buster! Ruff sputters as Gargano looms over him. Gargano drags Ruff up, bumps him off buckles and tags in Theory. Theory CHOPS Ruff, and taunts Kushida with that hand. Theory whips Ruff out to whip him back in hard, then he tags Gargano back in. Theory feeds Ruff to Gargano’s boots! Gargano drags Ruff up and tags Theory back in, and The Way double suplexes, but Kushida makes the save! Double dropkicks sends the Way out!
Ruff whips Kushida and he handspring kicks Theory down! Ruff builds speed to go up, up, but he slips off a rope and has a hard landing! He barely clips Gargano and the ref hurries out to check on him! Theory drags Ruff up and bumps him off the apron! Theory puts Ruff in, Ruff gets up to SATELLITE DDT! Cover, TWO! Ruff is okay to continue but Theory fireman’s carries. Ruff slips out and shoves Theory but Gargano tags in! Ruff hits Gargano then tilt-o-whirl headscissors Theory away! Ruff sees Gargano on the apron, but Theory slingshot somersault SHOTGUNS Ruff into Gargano’s slingshot SPEAR! Fans boo but The Way is feeling great as NXT goes to break.
NXT returns as Theory has Ruff down in a chinbar and armlock. Ruff endures, fights up, throws body shots, but Theory shoves him to ropes. Ruff rebounds to LARIAT! Theory flounders and tags in Gargano! Gargano drags Ruff away but Ruff enziguris! Hot tag to Kushida! Kushida springboard ax handles Gargano down then tackles him for ground ‘n’ pound! Theory gets in but Kushida KICKS away! Kushida whips, Theory reverses but Kushida handspring back elbows Theory away! Gargano whips Kushida but he reverses to hip toss, cartwheel and basement dropkick! Fans fire up with Kushida as he drags Gargano by his arms. Theory saves Gargano from the stomps but Kushida gets Theory’s arm for a BULLDOG!
Kushida runs at the corner but Gargano goes up and over to roll him. Kushida ducks the kick to Penalty KICK Gargano’s arm! Gargano rises, Kushida goes after the arm but Gargano spins through to ROCK Kushida with a right! Kushida still winds up but the enziguri intercepts the fast ball! Ruff tags in, springboards and missile dropkicks Gargano down! Ruff and Kushida run at the corner to ENZIGURI SANDWICH Gargano! Cover, TWO!! Gargano survives but Ruff doesn’t lose focus. Ruff drags Gargano up, hops on but Gargano slips out to CLOBBER him!
Tag to Theory and Theory looms over Ruff. Theory reels Ruff in, lifts, but Ruff throws hands to get to a corner! Theory slips out to CLUB Ruff on the back! Theory then torture racks Ruff, spins him, TOWER HACKER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Ruff survives and Theory smirks as he shakes his head. Theory drags Ruff back over, tags Gargano back in, and The Way brings Ruff up. Gargano DECKS Kushida but Ruff fights against The Way! That’s 2v1 and they double whip Ruff to ropes. Ruff tries his rebound but he runs into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Cover, Kushida breaks it! Fans fire up as Theory goes after Kushida, but Kushida slips around to FAST BALL Theory down!
Gargano SUPERKICKS Kushida! Theory drags Kushida out to RAM Him into barriers! Ruff drags Gargano down to roll him up, Gargano slips out, but Ruff dodges the superkick to give a SUPERKICK! Gargano staggers to his corner, Theory tags in before Ruff runs in! Ruff dodges Gargano, hops up and DECKS Theory, to then LEAP for the TWISTING CUTTER! Ruff hops on, CRUCIFIX DRIVER! But Theory SUPERKICKS Ruff, reels him in, “This is the Way!” TWISTING COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, The Way wins!
Winners: Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory, by pinfall
Theory’s losing streak from before he “quit” no longer matters now that Theory is with Gargano! Will The Way have their way in NXT?
Dexter Lumis is watching.
He seems to be “inspired” by the match we just saw. What art piece will he create tonight?
NXT hears from Toni Storm.
The Lightning From Down Under says Rhea Ripley VS Toni Storm is nothing new. “Tonight, we renew our rivalry.” Toni makes it clear that she is why Rhea is in the States in the first place. Toni ran “that so-called nightmare” out of the UK when she won the NXT UK Women’s Championship off her! Toni knows Rhea better than anyone in NXT. Toni lets us in on a secret: Rhea uses fear and intimidation to get a leg up. But Rhea knows when she’s in the ring with Toni, “it just doesn’t work like that.”
Last time they were in the ring together, it was Worlds Collide. Rhea won, but she won’t be in the ring with that Toni Storm. That Toni respected Rhea. The new Toni does not care about approval or acceptance. She just care about #ToniTime. And tonight, Toni ends the rivalry on her terms.
Backstage interview with Shotzi Blackheart.
Though her team lost at WarGames, she gets a match with Indi Hartwell tonight. “First of all, McKenzie, I just want to say I am damn proud of my team at WarGames. We gave Team Candice a beating that they barely survived. But now, Candice wants to claim she’s a general? Calling herself ‘Ms. WarGames,’ walking around with a trophy that her husband stole- I mean, ‘imported,’ from a Little League banquet.” WarGames may be over, but Shotzi’s war with Candice is far from done. Shotzi broke Candice’s arm, and now she’ll break he bestie! Shotzi howls to the moon, will she make Indi howl in pain?
Tommaso Ciampa VS Tyler Rust!
The Psycho Killer dealt with the Professor of Pain, but now he wants to teach the student the same lesson! Will Timothy Thatcher’s prized pupil be pummeled to a pulp?
Ciampa sets a chair up on the ramp and puts a Thatch As Thatch Can shirt on it, as if to invited Thatcher to watch up close and personal again. The bell rings and Ciampa hopes Thatcher is at least watching. Fans chant, “Ciampa’s Gonna Kill You!” Ciampa and Rust tie up, Ciampa powers Rust to a corner, but the ref counts. Ciampa pie faces as he backs off but Rust keeps his cool. Rust and Ciampa circle, tie up, and Rust gets the arm for a wrench and wristlock. Rust slips through to wrangle Ciampa down but Ciampa headscissors back. Ciampa squeezes tight, Rust moves around, and Rust pops out to then get Ciampa for a headlock. Ciampa slips out to a facelock and has Rust again.
Fans rally as Rust fights up. Rust wrenches free, leans on the arm and shifts to a cording hold. Ciampa trips Rust up with a leg then gets the headlock back! Fans cheer as Ciampa traps an arm and keeps Rust down. But now Thatcher appears to accept the invitation. Ciampa knew it was a matter of time. Rust gets up and he powers Ciampa to a corner by pulling on an ear. Rust throws a forearm but Ciampa CHOPS back! Ciampa bumps Rust off buckles, CHOPS him down, then drags him up to whip and CLOBBER with an elbow! Ciampa throws Rust out to Thatcher, but Thatcher keeps his distance. Ciampa goes out and DECKS Rust.
Ciampa asks Thatcher what’s up but then Rust shoves Ciampa into Thatcher! Thatcher shows the ref he hasn’t done anything to Ciampa, but then Ciampa moves and Rust’s BOOT hits Thatcher! Rust freaks out and Ciampa puts him in the ring! Ciampa sees Thatcher getting up and the ref hurries to keep Thatcher back. The ref calls for back-up to keep Thatcher away, and Ciampa goes back to the ring. Rust ROCKS Ciampa with a right, goes out to the apron and WRINGS Ciampa’s arm out into the apron! Thatcher ended up a distraction after all, and Ciampa is down as NXT goes to break!
NXT returns as Rust reels Ciampa in for a modified cobra twist. Russ pulls on the arm, fish hooks Ciampa’s face, but lets off as the ref sees. Ciampa powers up and lifts Rust up, for a SAMOAN DROP! Both men are down but fans fire up as the two stir. Ciampa is up first but Rust KICKS the arm! Ciampa CHOPS, Rust wrenches the arm and uppercuts the shoulder! Ciampa throws an elbow then rallies with clotheslines! Ciampa only builds up speed as he clotheslines again and again, then LEAPING LARIATS! Fans fire up with Ciampa as he runs at Rust for a big corner clothesline! Ciampa hoists Rust up for an AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, TWO!!
Ciampa shakes his bad arm out and he brings Rust up for a CHOP! And another CHOP! Rust grits his teeth as Ciampa brings him up, and Rust avoids the suplex to mule kick and SCISSOR KICK! Cover, TWO! To the ARMBAR! Ciampa clasps hands, rolls to a cover, TWO! Rust runs but the kick is blocked, only for Rust to turn Ciampa’s counter punch into a takedown! ARMBAR! Ciampa again clasps hands, sits up and moves around, and then stomp Rust off his arm! Ciampa stalks up behind Rust and KNEES him down! Rust is in a daze but the fans fire up as Ciampa keeps on him. Ciampa reels Rust in, underhooks the arms, but Rust breaks free from the bad arm to BOOT Ciampa!
Rust cravats Ciampa for a FLIPPING CRAVAT SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Ciampa survives whatever Rust calls that and Rust can’t believe it! Rust grabs the bad arm, and pulls back for a Fujiwara! Ciampa reaches with the free arm but Rust grabs that and hooks it with a leg!! Ciampa endures Rust’s take on the Jim Breaks Armbar, reaches out and gets a ropebreak with a foot! Rust holds on until 4 and lets go in frustration. Ciampa clutches both arms and he glares at Rust. Rust KICKS the arm, then KICKS again! Ciampa blocks the next kick, puts the leg on the ropes and uppercuts the thigh! Then he elbows the knee! And CHOPS Rust while he’s stuck in the ropes!
Ciampa fires off until the ref backs him off, but Ciampa BOOTS Rust down, then runs to KNEE Rust through the ropes! He drags Rust back in through them, WILLOW’S BELL!! Cover, Ciampa wins!
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa, by pinfall
Rust was almost on par with “Professor” Thatcher, but that still means he wasn’t enough to stop Ciampa! Ciampa gives a nod of respect as he leaves, but Thatcher comes back wanting more! The refs barely hold him back and Ciampa waves bye. Will Thatcher get a second try at the Psycho Killer?
The Grizzled Young Veterans speak.
“If there is one thing that is important in this job, it is momentum. And no other team had more momentum heading into 2020 than the Grizzled Young Veterans.” Just look at who they’ve beaten! The Time Splitters, Kushida and Alex Shelley! The Undisputed Era’s reDRagon! And they were so close to winning the Dusty Rhodes Classic! A lot has changed these last eight months. New tag teams have emerged, a lot of new faces are on the scene. “But the more things change, the more they stay the same.” The GYV are still the very best tag team of this generation! The very best tag team you will find anywhere in the world! They are still soon to be recognized as NXT’s number one! Who will be added to the list of top tier tag teams Zack Gibson and James Drake put away?
NXT shares footage from the commercial break.
After the match with Ciampa, Malcolm Bivens came out to talk to Tyler Rust. Bivens told Rust, “You’re a star!” He told Rust to pick himself up, and Rust got up. They gave a fist bump, and Rust is officially with Bivens Enterprises!
Dexter Lumis works on his art.
Lumis is drawing the NXT New Year’s Evil logo, but what special changes will he make to it?
NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Pete Dunne VS Kyle O’Reilly!
The Bruiserweight has the NXT Tag Team Champions, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch, with him while the Undisputed Era back up the man that pushed The Prince to his limits! This will be a completely uninterrupted broadcast, who comes out of this as Finn Balor’s New Year’s Evil challenger?
Lorcan and Burch talk trash with Adam Cole and Roderick Strong, but Killian Dain and Drake Maverick come out to go after the tag team champions! Big Damo and Rockstar Spud throw hands, Oney throws Maverick away but the UE help out! The tag champs are 3v2, but then TYLER BREEZE wrecks the group with a dropkick, so that FANDANGO can FLY up and out and wipe them all out! Dunne and Kyle don’t even care, they’re staring each other down! The bell rings as referees get the four tag teams away from ringside, and both Dunne and Kyle fire off furious fists!
Fans are fired up already as Kyle bobs ‘n’ weaves then throws kicks. Dunne tackles Kyle, goes for knuckle locks but Kyle wants a double wristlock! Kyle gets around Dunne to have the top and then hooks up legs to roll Dunne to a waistlock. Dunne slips out, wrenches the arm, hammerlocks, but Kyle slips through to waistlock. Dunne hooks a leg, drop toeholds and locks the legs up for part of a Queen Angelito. Kyle endures the deathlock and fans rally for “UNDISPUTED!” but Dunne adds a half straitjacket to this! Dunne puts Kyle to a cover, ONE and Kyle dumps Dunne down. Dunne wants an arm, Kyle has the legs, and Kyle mounts. Dunne slaps and chops at Kyle but Kyle gives those back, for an ARMBAR!
Dunne rolls, gets free, but kicks into a dragon screw, only to roll through and omoplata Kyle! Dunne wants both arms but Kyle resists. Kyle rolls to omoplata, shifts to a headlock, but Dunne powers up to power out. Dunne drops, hurdles and drops again to CLOBBER Kyle with a clothesline! The fans are fired up for “NXT! NXT!” as Kyle bails out. Dunne goes up and out and moonsaults but Kyle moves! Kyle leaps but Dunne dodges to BOOT! A ring count starts as Dunne suplexes, but Kyle slips out to hop on for a sleeper! Dunne pries at Kyle’s fingers to free himself! The count is 5 and the forearms fly again! The count is 9, they get in at 9.9!! And then the forearms fly again!
Dunne fires off from all sides but Kyle clinches to knee and KICK! Kyle KICKS Dunne’s leg out, but Dunne gets to the apron. Kyle runs to PENALTY KICK Dunne off the apron as NXT goes picture in picture!
Kyle watches Dunne writhe and then goes out to fetch him. Kyle throws a forearm, then brings Dunne around to throw into boards! Dunne grabs Kyle’s arm to hammerlock and ram THAT into the boards! Dunne puts Kyle in at 8, and BOOTS Kyle down! Dunne stands on one hand and grabs the other to torture the fingers! Kyle endures but Dunne bends the other arm, and then pulls all the way back on the other. Dunne STOMPS Kyle’s shoulder, but Kyle comes back to tackle Dunne! Kyle throws elbows and knees in, floats around then throws in more elbows and knees! Kyle runs to sliding knee Dunne in the ribs!
Kyle sits Dunne up, ties his legs together and traps an arm to have a modified cobra twist! Dunne hits Kyle as best he can in that position but it isn’t enough! Kyle makes it a cover, TOW! Dunne ties Kyle’s legs up now, chinbars and pulls in him into the Bow ‘n’ Arrow stretch! Kyle endures, Dunne lets him down and drops knees on the legs! Dunne pulls Kyle back into the Bow ‘n’ Arrow! Kyle continues to endure, Dunne even pulls on an arm to add to the stretch, but again Dunne lets Kyle down to drag him to ropes. Dunne wraps an arm around ropes and pulls! The ref reprimands and counts, Dunne lets go at 4 to STOMP Kyle down!
Dunne steps in but Kyle gets his leg in the ropes! Dunne ROCKS Kyle but Kyle forearms back! Kyle throws more forearms, drags Dunne up but Dunne resists the suplex! NXT returns to single picture as Dunne tries to suplex Kyle out! Kyle fights that off to suplex Dunne in but Dunne waistlocks. Kyle switches, Dunne switches, they go around and around, Dunne shoves Kyle to REBOUND GERMAN SUPLEX! Dunne drags Kyle up, pump handles, BITTER- NO! GUILLOTINE! Kyle has Dunne in the facelock but his arms can’t hold on! So Kyle KNEES Dunne down instead! Fans are thunderous as Kyle drags Dunne up, but Dunne X-PLEXES first!
Dunne’s own arms keep him from making a cover, and he’s got blood from his mouth. Dunne just grits his teeth as he digs a knee into Kyle’s hand. And then he STOMPS the entire arm at once! Dunne stands on Kyle’s head, pulls on the arm and even digs knuckles into Kyle’s head! Fans rally as Kyle endures being bent, Dunne STOMPS Kyle’s ribs! Dunne stalks Kyle and basement dropkicks him down! Kyle kicks from the mat but Dunne pulls hair and KICKS Kyle in the back! Dunne drags Kyle up with a facelock, turns Kyle and hits a neckbreaker! Dunne sits Kyle up for a cobra clutch and a grapevine on one leg!
Kyle endures as fans rally. Kyle throws body shots with the free arm but Dunne gives him kicks in the head. Kyle gets up to throw body shots, Dunne JABS and back hands over and over! Dunne whips, Kyle reverses but Dunne goes up and over. Kyle gets under, dodges the kick to KITCHEN SINK KNEE! Fans fire up for Kyle as he staggers back to Dunne. Dunne ROCKS Kyle with a right! Dunne runs, into a pop-up KICK! Kyle fires off muay thai knees and more strikes! Sweep the legs! Dunne goes to a corner and Kyle grits his teeth. Kyle runs in and forearm smashes! Wrench to an elbow breaker! Dunne forearms back, Kyle knees low, BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Kyle holds on, ANOTHER BUTTERFLY! And then, a butterfly TOSS! Cover, TWO!! Dunne survives and fans say “This is Awesome!”
Kyle drags Dunne up, reels him in, hooks a leg, but Dunne blocks the suplex! Dunne elbows Kyle over and over, but Kyle KICKS a leg! Kyle whips Dunne corner to corner, Dunne goes up and over but Kyle kicks a leg out! Dunne is stuck on the top rope, Kyle positions him and climbs up behind him, but Dunne bends the fingers! Kyle has the sleeper and sits Dunne down with it! Kyle clubs Dunne, waistlocks again, SUPER GERMAN! But Dunne lands on his feet?! Kyle is in a Tree of Woe and Dunne BUZZSAWS him! Then Dunne grabs the arms for DANIELSON WOE STOMPS! The ref counts, Dunne stops at 4 and then DROPKICKS Kyle out of the Tree! Both men are down as NXT goes picture in picture again!
Dunne and Kyle stir and the ref makes sure Kyle is still okay to continue. Dunne hobbles over, drags Kyle up and sets him on a buckle, to STOMP him! Dunne goes to the apron to STOMP from that side! And stomp and stomp and stomp! The ref counts, Dunne stops at 4, and he goes back into the ring. Kyle crawls but Dunne puts him against ropes to ROCK with a right! And then another! The ref counts for the ropebreak but Kyle eggs Dunne on with a look, so Dunne ROCKS Kyle again! Dunne twists and clubs Kyle’s ear! The ref reprimands again but Kyle still has a defiant look. Kyle shoots at Dunne but Dunne counters with a facelock!
Dunne drags Kyle up, and HALF HATCH SUPLEXES Kyle into buckles! Kyle tumbles down and crawls to the apron, but Dunne climbs up the corner. Kyle gets a leg for a DRAGON SCREW through the ropes! Dunne ends up on the apron on the other side of the corner, and both men slowly climb the corner. Kyle throws hands but Dunne gives them back. They brawl as NXT returns to single picture. Kyle has Dunne’s arms through the ropes and he YANKS Dunne into the buckle. But Dunne does the same and YANKS Kyle back! They go back and forth, a tug of war into the buckle faster and faster and faster! Both men wobble and flop back in through the ropes!
Fans hope these two “Fight Forever!” at this point as Dunne grabs Kyle’s foot. Kyle gets free but runs into a KNEE! Dunne drags Kyle up, SIT-OUT BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Kyle survives but Dunne has his arm! Dunne gives Danielson Stomps before the ARMBAR!! Kyle’s other arm is caught underneath him! But Kyle rolls, and his legs get the ropebreak! Dunne lets go but he keeps his focus on Kyle. Dunne drags Kyle up and in, Gotch lifts, but Kyle fights off the driver to a back drop, and ARMBAR! Dunne clasps hands but Kyle shifts to get the other arm! Dunne rolls and has an ANKLE LOCK! Kyle rolls to get an ANKLE LOCK!
Dunne gets up, hops on and has a Hoverboard Kimura! Kyle grabs his own trunks to block the wristlock! Kyle throws body shots, clinches Dunne and has an ARM TRIANGLE! Dunne lets go of the body scissors to grab the arms, and he reels Kyle in for a HEADBUTT! Kyle is down but Dunne isn’t done with him! Powerbomb, but Kyle slips out and BRAIN BUSTERS! The fans are thunderous as both men are down! Kyle sits up first but Dunne slowly follows. Fans still want them to “FIGHT FOREVER!” and Kyle knees Dunne low! AX AND SMASH!! Dunne ends up in a corner, Kyle runs in and he SHINING WIZARDS! Dunne’s mouth piece is on the mat, Kyle reels him in for the FISHERMAN BACK SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!!
Both men are down again and fans continue to fire up! Dunne finds his mouth piece but Kyle stomps his hand! And Penalty Kicks but Dunne ducks! Dunne kicks but Kyle catches it! Dunne SLAPS Kyle, but Kyle just drops down for the HEEL HOOK! Dunne fights up to get the TRIANGLE HOLD! Kyle stays up, Dunne tips him over and goes after the hand! Kyle resists the finger snap, but he’s just back in the Triangle! Kyle fights up to make it a cover, ONE and Kyle uses a body scissor to pry free! Dunne grabs at a hand, Kyle throws big forearms with the other! Kyle lines it up and PENALTY KICKS! Dunne springs up to STOMP the hands and BUZZSAW! Kyle yoyos but into an ENZIGURI! Kyle rebounds again, but Dunne gets the arm! SNAP go the fingers!
Dunne goes to the apron and he KICKS Kyle in the ropes! Kyle ends up on the apron with Dunne, Dunne pump handles but Kyle shifts out of the Bitter End into a DDT OFF the apron! Kyle gets up, puts Dunne in as fans lose their minds, and he climbs up top! GUILLOTINE KNEE DROP!! Cover, Kyle wins!!
Winner: Kyle O’Reilly, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the NXT Championship)
A brutal instant classic, and now New Year’s Evil will be a TakeOver: 31 rematch! Will the new year bring with it a new champion?
Backstage interview with Rhea Ripley.
What are her thoughts on the tense confrontation she and Raquel Gonzalez had as last week’s NXT ended? “Raquel backed down, period.” At WarGames, Raquel had back-up. But Rhea has known Raquel for a lot longer than most people realize, and Raquel is “a whole different animal when she’s all by herself.”
Well speaking of someone she’s known a long time, that brings McKenzie to Toni Storm tonight. “Yeah, Toni and I have a lot of history together.” And while Toni says she’s not the same Toni back then, this isn’t the same Rhea from back then, either. To be honest, Rhea doesn’t care if she’s stepping into the ring with the new Toni or the old Toni. “She’s still the piece of trash that I knew back then.” Rhea vows to be the one to finish this once and for all. What happens when these two forces of nature meet 1v1 once again?
The brutal training continues.
Xia Li is in tears as she begs Shifu to let her stop, but he tells her to do it again! “She” is watching as Xia kicks and hits something. But what is it? As for Boa, he wants his training to stop, too. Shifu refuses, and Boa keeps getting hit with something. “Please… no more!” But Shifu says to just do it “AGAIN!” Xia shouts, and she’s been hitting BOA! She is forced to show no mercy to Boa, no matter how much they both want to stop. But what will “she” do once the training is finally over?
Shotzi Blackheart VS Indi Hartwell w/ The Way!
We heard from the wild child about what she wants to do to the #Impressive addition to The Way! But with Candice LeRae, Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory nearby, will Shotzi be able to #TCB and get the win?
The bell rings and Shotzi ties up with Indi. Indi waistlocks then clubs Shotzi but they tie up again and Shotzi throws Indi. They tie up again, go around, and Shotzi waistlocks but Indi switches for a slam! Indi keeps on Shotzi with another waistlock and slam! Indi floats to a facelock, waistlocks again but Shotzi throws elbows. Indi holds on so Shotzi runs at ropes to hotshot her off! Shotzi rams shoulders, Indi stays up but Shotzi dropkicks her down! Shotzi slams one of Indi’s arms on the mat then stomps a foot! Shotzi grabs the arm to drop a knee on it! Indi only just got over a neck injury and now Shotzi turns her around to get both arms! Indi gets a ropebreak with a leg and Shotzi lets go at 4.
Indi gets up in a huff and shoves Shotzi! Shotzi wrenches Indi and hammerlocks, then ducks the elbow to ROUNDHOUSE! Indi wobbles into the enziguri! Indi goes to a corner, Shotzi runs in to CANNONBALL, but Indi blocks just enough with her boots! Indi gets up and stomps away on Shotzi! Indi drags her to a cover, ONE! Shotzi flounders but Indi looms over her. Indo throws haymakers, whips Shotzi to ropes and elbows her down! Cover, TWO! Indi keeps on Shotzi and drags her up to throw her through roughs for a clubbing forearm! Indi full nelsons, lifts and TOSSES Shotzi down! Cover, TWO!
The Way coaches Indi as she drags Shotzi up. Shotzi throws body shots, Indi knees low and fireman’s carries. Shotzi slips out, BOOTS back, then hops up to go over. Shotzi comes back to splash in the corner, and she pushes Indi to another corner for forearms! Shotzi bumps Indi off buckles again, and Indi is down, for Shotzi to CANNONBALL! Direct hit this time! Indi flops out to the apron, Shotzi runs again, and she WRECKS Indi with a dropkick! Shotzi goes out to fetch Indi back into the ring but Candice is creeping around! The ref warns Candice, Shotzi is distracted, Indi has the trophy! The ref turns around just in time to see the TROPHY SHOT! DISQUALIFICATION!
Winner: Shotzi Blackheart, by disqualification
Now the trophy is broken for nothing! But Indi jams Shotzi with it again! And then stomps her down! Gargano and Theory see if the trophy can be fixed while Indi and Candice stomp Shotzi more. They bring Shotzi up for WICKED STEP SISTER! Theory uses the trophy to mock Shotzi, but will Shotzi find a way to turn the tide of this war with The Way?
NXT, prepare for a COLOSSAL return!
Bronson Reed is ready to make a comeback! Will he bulldoze his way back towards the top?
Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux VS ???
Tick-tock, time’s up! The apocalypse was merely put on pause, and now Kross is back! Will there be nothing NXT can do but to #FallAndPray?
The bell rings and Desmond Troy ties up with Kross. Troy tries to get a leg but Kross floats to rain down furious forearms! Kross drags Troy up and throws him into a corner to clothesline! And then he whips corner to corner to clothesline and uppercut, and clothesline again! Kross has Troy for an EXPLODER! Troy flounders into a ROUNDHOUSE! Kross hits the DOOMSDAY SAIDO! And then the KROSSJACKET! Troy taps, Kross wins!
Winner: Karrion Kross, by submission
He was surprisingly merciful at the end by letting Troy go, but Kross wishes not to waste time. Will Kross quickly be back to the top of NXT as champion again? “Priest! Time’s up! January 6th, New Year’s Evil, tuck your chin because your ass is mine!” Kross has called out the Archer of Infamy! Will Priest no longer #LiveForever after facing the one man apocalypse?
Backstage interview with Isaiah “Swerve” Scott.
After losing to Jake Atlas last week, he refused to shake Atlas’ hand. Why did he blow Atlas off? Swerve asks back, “Why is everyone making a big deal about this?” This is getting blown out of proportion. Swerve lost, he was frustrated, he gets frustrated when he loses, especially to someone like Atlas. Swerve cools off and compliments Atlas as “a hell of an athlete,” and he deserves to be here in NXT. But Swerve has been here longer, and has been working harder, so he let the loss get to him. To show his respect to Atlas, Swerve talked with William Regal and a rematch has been made for next week. And this time, Swerve promises a different result.
But then Ever-Rise walks in and asks McKenzie if she saw what happened to them last week. That Triple Threat Tag was more like a 2v1 situation! But where they’re from, that’s a handicap match, an unfair situation! So what did they do? They went to “corporate” and requested to have that match stricken from the record like it never happened! Ever-Rise is STILL on a winning streak! How do you like that, Goldberg?! Ever-Rise is coming for you! But McKenzie is pretty sure their request won’t be granted, as it was a fair match and a fair loss. Is she trying to say something? Well, does Ever-Rise want a rematch with Grizzled Young Veterans? Rematch?! Does McKenzie have a problem with them?! Does she want to take a swing?! Why is Matt Marthel yelling…?
Chase Parker calms things down and says this isn’t about matches or taking swings. They just want to be heard by management. Thank you. But also, EVER-RISE RULES!!!
Dexter Lumis is almost done with his artwork.
Wait, he has added something to the logo for New Year’s Evil after all. It reads… “Host,” with an arrow pointing to a doodle of HIMSELF! Lumis is going to host New Year’s Evil!? He barely talks, how can he host something?!
NXT hears from Finn Balor.
“NXT TakeOver 31. Kyle, you answered all the questions. You proved you weren’t an underdog. You proved you belong in the main event, you proved you belonged in the ring with Finn Balor. You broke my friggin’ jaw!” And yet, Kyle still lost. So what’s next, Kyle? New Year’s Evil, 1/6/21, this isn’t just Finn VS Kyle 2. It’s Finn Balor VS Kyle O’Reilly, THE END. Will the next chapter be the last chapter for these two?
BREAKING NEWS for next week!
With it being the holidays, Johnny and Candice want us to celebrate with them! It’ll be “A Very Gargano Christmas” on NXT! Will this go down as a timeless Christmas classic?
Toni Storm VS Rhea Ripley!
These two went back and forth, defining the first year of NXT UK. Now they clash again in the States in what could just be one of many more matches to come! But will it be the Riptide or the Lightning From Down Under that strikes?
The bell rings and the two stare down and circle slowly. They tie up, Rhea powers Toni to ropes but Toni turns things around. Toni lets off clean but she taunts Rhea. Rhea shrugs that off to circle with Toni again. Fans rally and duel as the two tie up again. Rhea powers Toni to a corner but Toni turns it around again, only for Rhea to turn it right back! Rhea lets off clean but with a sharp pat on the shoulder. Toni and Rhea circle again and there are more Rhea fans than Toni fans right now. They tie up, Toni waistlocks then headlocks and grinds Rhea down. Rhea tries to power out but Toni holds tight. Rhea fights up and throws body shots to then power out and ram shoulders. Toni is surprised Rhea stays up, and then Rhea runs Toni over!
Rhea runs but Toni trips her! Toni Oklahoma Rolls, ONE and Rhea had a cover, ONE! Toni ghost pins, ONE, Rhea ghost pins, ONE! Toni kicks low, whips Rhea to a corner, but Rhea goes up and over and keeps moving. Toni drops, side steps but Rhea rolls and gets a leg to roll Toni. Toni stays up, sits on Rhea, ONE as Rhea sunsets! ONE as Toni sits back up, ONE and the two stand. Rhea kicks low now and fans cheer! Rhea reels Toni in, suplexes, but Toni resists to cradle, TWO! Toni CHOPS Rhea but Rhea CHOPS back! Toni CHOPS, Rhea swings a haymaker! Toni CLAWS Rhea’s back but Rhea CHOPS! Rhea fakes Toni out to DOUBLE CHOP her on the back!
Toni is stinging and Rhea is grinning as she drags Toni by her legs. Toni kicks Rhea away, but runs into a wrench and clothesline! And another! Rhea ripcords to HOOK KICK Toni down! Toni gets to ropes, Rhea Electric Chair lifts her, but Toni wiggles free to shove Rhea out. Rhea gets on the apron, Toni runs in but gets caught! Rhea drags Toni out but Toni POSTS her and BOOTS her! Toni stands tall as NXT goes to break!
NXT returns and Toni grinds Rhea down in a chinlock. Rhea endures, fights up, throws body shots, but Toni throws her by her hair! Toni drops an elbow but Rhea moves! Toni hurries after Rhea to whip but Rhea reverses, Toni dodges one kick, then the next, but the SUPERKICK hits! Toni wobbles, Rhea cravats and knees her over and over! Rhea snapmares and runs to basement dropkick hard! Fans fire up with Rhea and she drags Toni up for an atomic SLAM! Cover, TWO! Rhea grows frustrated, checks her mouth but no blood. Rhea drags Toni up, pump handles but Toni fights out. Rhea AX KICKS Toni down, then stomps her!
Toni gets up, Rhea runs in but the boot misses! Toni HEADBUTTS! Both women are down but fans fire up again! The standing count climbs to 5 but Toni sits up. Rhea follows, and they both slowly stand at 7. Toni throws a forearm, Rhea throws it back! They brawl back and forth with big hands and clubbing forearms! Rhea gets the edge, runs, but Toni follows to ROCK Rhea t ropes! Toni runs but Rhea returns the forearm! Rhea runs, Toni follows but Rhea dodges to dropkick her down! Cover, TWO! Rhea grows frustrated but fans rally up. Rhea stomps Toni and gets the legs, for PRISM TRAP!
Toni endures the hanging cloverleaf, crawls for ropes, but then rolls to send Rhea into the ropes! Toni runs to SLIDING LARIAT! Toni drags Rhea up, GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Rhea survives and Toni can’t believe it! Fans hope these two “Fight Forever!” like they did for Kyle and Dunne! Toni scowls as she drags Rhea up and tosses her to a corner! Then she tosses Rhea the other way! Toni runs in but Rhea avoids the hip attack! Rhea Electric Chair lifts to SLAM Toni on buckles! Cover, TWO!! Toni survives and Rhea is again frustrated! Rhea drags Toni around to drop a leg! And then another! And then a third! Cover, TWO!
Rhea grits her teeth as she drags Toni back up. Pump handle and lift, but Toni flails! And who is this?! Raquel Gonzalez helps Toni stay on the apron!? But Rhea runs and BOOTS Toni onto Raquel! Raquel tumbles over barriers and Rhea drags Toni up and into the ring. Toni distracts the ref and Raquel yanks Rhea down! To LAWN DART her into buckles! HIP ATTACK from Toni!! Toni underhooks and hits STORM ZERO!! Cover, Toni wins!!
Winner: Toni Storm, by pinfall
Big Mami Cool laughs as she just screwed Rhea over! Will Rhea make sure Raquel regrets this for a long time to come? As for Toni, a win is a win, will she be heading for a new #ShinyShiny?
My Thoughts:
A very good NXT with quite a bit set up for New Year’s Evil. For one, Lumis is surprisingly going to be the host. I didn’t think there’d be a host for that but I guess Halloween Havoc was just the first case of a special occasion being given an extra special something. Maybe Lumis speaks for the first time on television? That in itself will be a big moment. Kross puts away Desmond Troy quickly because obviously he was going to. And another obvious choice was that Kross and Priest are going to have a match for New Year’s Evil. That will be a very good match, and I’m fairly confident that Kross will win that.
I’m surprised Dunne VS O’Reilly wasn’t the main event, but there are a lot of reasons why it wasn’t. For one, it gave that match time to breathe, and it was all completely worth it. A bit surprised Kyle won rather than Dunne, but a rematch from TakeOver 31 is a great move. Finn getting to respond tonight rather than waiting a week was also pretty good, but could’ve still been done. And the brawling of many tag teams was a great way to get rid of ringside help so that it’d just be Dunne and Kyle 1v1.
Breezango makes a great return, and it looks like we might end up with a tag team title Fatal 4 Way. Cole and Strong are the one combination that hasn’t really worked together in the UE, and with Bobby Fish recovering from his torn tricep, this would be a great time to give that a try. But I have a feeling Lorcan & Burch find a way to hold onto the titles, as UE and Breezango have already had reigns, and I don’t think Dain & Maverick are quite there yet. I suppose Grizzled Young Veterans haven’t been back long enough to be considered for such a match, but that’s alright, I’m enjoying what’s going on between them and Ever-Rise.
I actually like that “The Johnny Gargano Way” is simplifying the name to “The Way.” This way, it isn’t just about Johnny, it’s about him and Candice. They lead The Way together as equals. Gargano and Theory had a very good tag match with Ruff and Kushida, though I was really scared there for Ruff after his fall from the top rope to the floor. Gargano and Theory win to help build Theory back up, and I like his new finisher, even though it’s hard to describe. Shotzi continuing after Candice is a good move, as WarGames wasn’t as conclusive for them as it probably could’ve have been. Of course, Candice broke her arm so it couldn’t really have ended with the two of them. Shotzi had a good match with Indi but clearly Indi still needs a few reps. The disqualification was a good way of ending that match and propelling the feud forward.
The presentation of the brutal training Xia and Boa are undergoing was done expertly. Keeping half of each part a mystery was great for the reveal of how it has escalated. I’m thinking that something is going to happen on New Year’s Evil with Xia, Boa and “her” (pretty sure it’s still Karen Q) decimating someone or a group of someones to establish themselves as a faction. Even more so if Io Shirai is defending her title, Xia and “her” can both go after Shirai to issue a challenge for whatever TakeOver special is happening next. Rhea VS Toni was a really good match, but I should’ve figured Raquel would get involved. Rhea VS Raquel in a rematch is going to be great stuff while Toni moves on to perhaps feud with Ember Moon or even go after Io Shirai to revisit their Mae Young Classic match as a match for the NXT Women’s Championship.
My Score: 9.1/10
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Did you know that challenger in French is still “challenger?”
In a WrestleMania rematch, AJ Styles takes on LA Knight in a #1 contender’s match, to challenge WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Backlash in France!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s match: AJ Styles VS LA Knight; Styles wins and will challenge Cody Rhodes for the title at Backlash.
- SmackDown/WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: The Street Profits VS New Catch Republic VS The Authors of Pain VS Legado Del Fantasma; The Profits win and will challenge A-Town Down Under for the titles.
- Carlito w/ Zelina Vega VS Santos Escobar w/ Elektra Lopez; Santos wins.
- WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley VS Naomi; Bayley wins, by disqualification, and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s match: AJ Styles VS LA Knight!
After fighting their way through Triple Threats, the Phenomenal One and the Mega Star meet again, YEAH! It’s a WrestleMania Rematch, the winner moving on to Backlash, YEAH! Will AJ Styles avenge his loss at the biggest WrestleMania ever? Or will everyone from here to France know whose game it is?
The bell rings and the two step to each other. The fans in Pittsburgh “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” and Knight lets Styles know it. Styles snarls, they tie up, and they go around. Knight puts Styles in a corner, the ref counts, but Knight lets off slowly. Styles kicks low! The fans boo but Styles headlocks. Knight pulls hair, throws body shots, then headlocks in return. Styles pushes Knight to ropes, powers up and out, then hurdles, drops and DROP- NO, Knight avoids the dropkick to BOOT, and LARIAT! Knight then TOSSES Styles out of the ring, storms out after him, and brings him to commentary. Knight SMACKS Styles off the desk! And again! And again!
The fans chant “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” with every SMACK, then Knight tops it off with one last SMACK! Knight drags Styles up and into the ring, storms in, but Styles KICKS Knight in the ropes! Styles reels Knight in, but Knight back drops Styles up and out! Styles flounders on the floor, Knight runs to WRECK him with a dropkick! Styles hits desk again and Steel City is loving “L! A! KNIGHT, YEAH!” as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Styles soaks up the heat as he taunts Knight. Styles brings Knight up, but Knight fires haymakers! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight backs Styles down, whips, but Styles ducks ‘n dodges! Knight ducks ‘n’ dodges, then DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! Both men are down and the fans fire up. Both men slowly sit up, crawl around, and then stand. Styles fires a shot, but Knight gives it back! The haymakers go back and forth, “YEAH! BOO! YEAH!” Styles staggers but he still ROCKS Knight! Knight ROCKS Styles again and again, but Styles throat chops! Styles fires off the Phenomenal Blitz, but Knight ducks the lariat!
Knight JABS, JABS, JABS, and DECKS Styles! Knight stomps a mudhole in at the corner, “YEAH!” Knight then runs corner to corner to KNEE Styles down! The fans fire up, Knight puts Styles up, and Knight ROCKS Styles. Knight climbs, but Styles ROCKS him back! Knight staggers away, but returns to spring right up! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives that crash but both men are down again. The fans rally as Knight rises, and he brings Styles around. Knight reels Styles in, suplexes, but Styles slips free! Styles goes to a corner, ELBOWS Knight away, then goes up to QUEBRADA DDT! Cover, TWO!
The fans fire up as Knight stays in this and Styles starts losing his cool. The fans rally for Knight but Styles looms over him. Styles brings Knight up and in, but Knight RAMS him into a corner! Knight then scoops Styles, but Styles slips free to roll up, TWO!! Knight escapes, swings, but Styles dodges to PELE! Knight ends up in a corner, Styles runs in, but Knight puts Styles on the apron! Styles ROCKS Knight, springboards, but Knight gets under! Styles comes back, into a scoop and POWERSLAM! Then JUMP ELBOW DROP! The fans fire up with with Knight as he storms around. Styles rises, Knight winds up, B F- NO, Styles bails out!
The fans boo but Knight storms over. Knight drags Styles up but Styles HOTSHOTS him! And pokes him in the eyes! Then ROCKS him! And springboards, to PHENOMENAL FOREARM!! Cover, Styles wins!
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the Undisputed WWE Championship)
Styles bent the rules, but a win is a win! He will get his shot at the American Nightmare in Lyon, France, will this year’s Backlash be phenomenal?
The Bloodline arrives backstage.
The car pulls up, Solo Sikoa steps out in a suit, and Paul Heyman is there to greet him. Nice threads, Solo. Tama Tonga walks over and Solo says meet the newest member of The Bloodline, Solo’s MFT. The Wise Man is stunned. But Solo cuts him off to ask if Kevin Owens is here. Heyman hesitates and Solo asks again, is Kevin here? If he is, he’s probably already in the locker room. Then take them to him. Heyman obeys and leads on. There have already been changes to the chain of command, is there about to be a change to the landscape of SmackDown, too?
Nick Aldis is in the ring.
In a familiar scene to Monday Night Raw, there is a podium with something under a satin sheet. The SmackDown General Manager welcomes to Pittsburgh the Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque! The fans fire up as The Game makes his way to the ring! HHH joins Aldis in the ring, gets a mic, looks around at the crowd as he revels in the cheers, then says, “On the heels of the biggest, most epic, history making, record breaking, epic, unbelievable WrestleMania of all time, we are here tonight, sold out, 15 thousand strong, Pittsburgh, PA! So let me say, welcome to SmackDown!” The fans cheer that!
HHH wants to take a moment to say that he thinks Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis are both doing great jobs at leading their respective brands into the future. Thank you to both of them. And when we talk about the future, we have to talk about the history made coming into the future. So when history is made, HHH wants it to be represented here befitting of those that make it. So Aldis, if we could, let us bring the… champions out here. Aldis says without further ado, the NEW SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. The fans boo as A-Town Down Under make their way, blue belts in hand.
Theory & Waller join Aldis and HHH in the ring, mics already in hand, and they soak up the heat from Steel City. Waller says this is huge. Monday, we saw the second place champions get new belts. And now A-Town Down Under will be presented new titles! Theory says speaking of truth, didn’t Truth think HHH was a magician? Well, who knows what magic trick HHH has to make these guys look better than they already do, but hey, give it a try. HHH says congratulations on becoming tag team champions, so he will show them what they will wear going forward. From now on, they will be the WWE Tag Team Champions.
Reveal! In the style of the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Era belts, the solid gold shines. HHH offers a handshake, but Waller leaves him hanging to shake Theory’s hand! Aldis makes it clear to them. They ever pop off and disrespect HHH like that, here’s a real magic trick: A-Clown Down Under will disappear, permanently! The fans like the sound of that! Aldis snatches the blue belts away since they won’t need them, and speaking of disappearing, there’s a chance one of the following four teams will make their title reign disappear. That #1 contenders match starts right now! The fans fire up, but which team defies the odds to get some golden tickets to France?
Backstage interview with Naomi.
Kayla Braxton is with The Glow and says last week, she beat Tiffany Stratton to get this title opportunity tonight. Will the friendship with Bayley get in the way of this match? Naomi says no, of course not. Bayley’s her sister, and she needed help against Damage CTRL, so Naomi was more than happy to help. But in no way will friendship get in the way of this opportunity. It has been over two YEARS since Naomi’s last WWE singles championship match, and there is nothing that will get in the way of making the most of this moment. Now last week, Tiffy Time felt the glow, so that same energy keeps going tonight.
Naomi is also looking forward to next week’s WWE Draft, where she will walk in the NEW WWE Women’s Champion. Naomi is ready, but will she be able to best Bayley in Bayley’s first title defense?
WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: The Street Profits VS New Catch Republic VS The Authors of Pain VS Legado Del Fantasma!
SmackDown returns as Legado makes their entrance, followed by Akam & Rezar with the Final Testament. Waller & Theory are on commentary, Waller admitting he wants any team but AOP, and Theory saying these teams are fortunate to have real superstars leading their division. In this form of Fatal 4 Way, only two teams are active, so the Big Strong Boi, Tyler Bate, starts against Montez Ford. They circle, tie up, and Ford headlocks. Bate powers up to pry at the hold but Ford clamps on tighter. Bate powers up and out, drops, but Ford leaps over! The fans cheer, things keep moving, Bate feints high to drop low!
Bate shows knuckle lock, Ford obliges, but Bate wrenches, baits and double pump handles to FLIP Ford! Cover, TWO! Ford gets up to sweep and cover, TWO! Bate steps over, La Magistrol, TWO! Ford gets up, dropkicks cancel out, and both men kip up! The fans fire up and the two reset. But then Humberto Carrillo sneaks a tag, before he DECKS Bate with a sucker punch! Ford dodges Humberto but Angel Garza holds the ropes open! Ford tumbles out, Garza tags in, and Humberto sits Ford up. Garza runs in to KNEE Ford down! The fans boo, Garza drags Ford to a cover, TWO! Garza back suplexes, Ford lands out!
Ford tags Dawkins and he dodges Garza to FLYING ELBOW! Garza tags out to Akam, but then the Bruiserweight, Pete Dunne, tags in off Dawkins! Rezar tags, Dunne runs up but Akam LARIATS him down! Rezar DECKS Dawkins, then the AOP start clearing the corners! But Ford goes up to leap, but into an URENAGE! The fans boo but the AOP roar and soak up the heat. Waller’s worst case scenario might end up reality, but SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and the fans rally as Ford endures a facelock. Ford fights up, pries at the hold, but Rezar shoves him to ELBOW him down! Rezar talks trash, Waller taunts the Steelers players sitting in the front row that they don’t really know what championships are, and then Rezar sucker punches Dawkins down! Rezar stands Ford up, Canadian Racks and bends him! Ford endures, the fans rally, but Rezar thrashes Ford around! Ford kicks and flails, he gets free, hot tag to Dunne! Bate sneaks a tag, Dunne GAMANGIRIS Akam and then NCR fire off on Rezar! The fans fire up, Humberto runs in, but Dunne dodges to SNAP GERMAN!
Bate & Dunne STOMP Humberto’s hands! Then BASEMENT DROPKICK! Garza runs up, but into the REBOUNDER GERMAN COMBO!! The fans fire up with NCR, but Rezar runs up! He grabs Dunne, but Bate says Bop up, BANG! Bate fireman’s carries Rezar?! But Rezar ELBOWS right free! Dunne GAMANGIRIS, Ford SUPERKICKS, and Dawkins ENZIGIRIS! Rezar wobbles, and everyone helps Bate gets Rezar up! BIG STRONG AIRPLANE SPINE! But then Legado CLOBBER Bate and Rezar! They BOOT Dunne, whip the Profits but the Profits reverse to TOSS Legado out! Ellering coaches Rezar while the Profits regroup.
Bate gets up, Dawkins ROCKS him! Dawkins brings Bate to the very top, but Dunne CLUBS Dawkins! NCR mug Dawkins but Ford joins in! They brawl, but AOP add on! Humberto finds Rezar to tag in, before the DOUBLE TOWER OF DOOM!! Bate’s the only one left up top, so Legado mug him! They double trophy lift Bate, to DOUBLE ROCKET LAUNCH him onto everyone!! Humberto then finds Bate, sunset flips and rewinds, Garza jumps, MISSILE DROPKICK DOOMSDAY! Cover, DUNNE BREAKS IT! “This is Awesome!” as all eight men are down around ringside, and Waller says this is gonna be easy pickings for A-Town Down Under now.
Dunne grabs Garza, Bate has Humberto, STEREO ANKLE LOCKS!! Grapevine for Garza! But Humberto BOOTS Bate onto Dunne! Legado is free, Ellering has AOP regroup, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Rezar CLUBS Dawkins down. Rezar soaks up heat, taunts the other teams, then CLUBS Dawkins again. Rezar brings Dawkins up again, but Dawkins fires off body shots! Rezar KNEES low, reels Dawkins in, talks more trash, and lifts Dawkins up, to POWERBOMB! But then Dunne runs up to ROCK Rezar! Akam gets in to scoop Dunne and SLAM him on Dawkins! Cover, TWO! Rezar looks to Ellering and he coaches AOP. Rezar HAMMERS Dawkins, Akam tags, and AOP get NCR up! The fans boo but NCR RANA free to send AOP into each other! Ford jumps in, as does Garza.
All the teams realize, they gotta do something about AOP. So they all mug AOP! The fans fire up as AOP tumble out, but now who strikes first? Dunne runs up but Garza SUPERKICKS him first! Bate waistlocks Garza and Ford winds up, but Garza ducks so the BACKHAND hits Bate! Garza SUPERKICKS Ford, but Dawkins DECKS Garza! Humberto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! Cover, TWO!! Theory says if A-Town Down Under were in this match, he’d knock everyone out and Waller could just sneak in to cover. Humberto and Dawkins rise and go to corners. Humberto runs up, but Dawkins POUNCES him away!
Dawkins gets Humberto up, Ford returns and tags in! Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts Humberto and Ford climbs! The stars are out for the BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY! Cover, DUNNE BREAKS IT! Another save from the Bruiserweight and Ford is frustrated. Dunne drags Dawkins up to CHOP, but Dawkins ROCKS him! Dawkins whips Dunne out of the ring, but Dunne grabs the arm! And he pulls off the glove so he can SNAP fingers! The fans fire up, but Ford ENZIGIRIS Dunne down! Ford brings Humberto up, Humberto JAWBREAKERS! Bate tags in off Ford, BOOTS Garza, then runs up, but into a POP-UP! But Bate RANAS Humberto!!
Bate then DUMPS Garza out, goes to the apron, and Dunne lines up targets. Bate and Dunne climb, Ford runs in, NCR DOUBLE ARIHARA MOONSAULT while Ford FLIES over the corner post!! Down goes Legado and AOP!! The fans are losing their minds as Bate hurries to get Humberto up. Bate puts Humberto in, reels him in, underhooks, but Humberto fights it! Humberto back drops but Bate lands on his feet! Humberto cradles, TWO! Humberto LARIATS Bate, tag to Garza! Legado gets Bate up, feed to the POP-UP KICK!! #FTY! Humberto then DIVES to take out Dunne! Garza goes up the ropes to LIONSAULT!!
But Ford flies in FROM THE HEAVENS!! The fans are thunderous as everyone is down again! Bate flounders, Dawkins tags in! Dawkins whips Legado, Ford joins in, THE REVELATION!! Cover, PROFITS WIN!
Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the WWE Tag Team Championships)
Waller & Theory are relieved it isn’t AOP, but they still look a bit annoyed that it is Ford & Dawkins. The Profits are Triple Crown Tag Team Champions from Raw to SmackDown to NXT, but will they soon add the WWE Tag Team Championships to make it a grand slam?
Backstage interview with Bayley.
Byron Saxton is with The Role Model, and brings up the emotional moment from Monday Night Raw where Rhea Ripley had to relinquish her title. But let us focus on Bayley’s title, as she defends it for the first time against Naomi. Where is her head at ahead of the main event? Bayley says after seeing Rhea vacate the Women’s World Championship on Raw, Bayley appreciates her reign more. She is focused, and she has realized she’s THE Women’s Champion in WWE right now, something she does not take for granted. Because we all know that with the WWE Draft, things are bound to change.
And as excited as Bayley is to face her friend, Naomi, one thing that won’t change is her as THE WWE Women’s Champion. Bayley is just as confident at Naomi, so something’s gotta give! Will The Role Model #FeelTheGlow? Or will she still be shining with gold after tonight?
Paul Heyman talks with Solo Sikoa.
The Wise Man apologizes that they haven’t found Kevin Owens, but he has to be here somewhere. Just look at the time. They will find him, somewhere. Solo stops listening and heads to gorilla. Heyman follows after, but Solo gives him a look. Heyman says he isn’t trying to upset Solo. Please believe him. The last person on this planet Heyman wants to piss off is Solo. But respectfully, Solo is making decisions that are not his to make, yet. One day, these will all be Solo’s decisions. But not now, not here! These are decisions that can only be made by one man. Solo asks Heyman if he’s done talking. Heyman asks if MFT is coming with Solo.
Solo just gives a thumbs up, with that taped thumb. The music hits and Solo makes his entrance, Heyman still following all the way into the ring. What does the Enforcer have planned? We’ll find out, after the break.
SmackDown returns and Heyman has the mic to give his usual introduction. And he doesn’t know if there is a list of the most brilliant backstage maneuvering politicians int he history of the WWE, but if there were, Heyman would have to think that he personally is in the top… Well, permit Heyman, with Solo’s permission, to explain what’s going on right now within The Bloodline, “the premier act in the history of WWE.” The fans chant, “We Want Roman!” but Solo shrugs that off. Heyman assures us that as The Wise Man for… Heyman gets emotional, so Solo just snatches the mic! The fans boo but Solo paces.
Solo tries to talk but the fans boo. Solo says last week, he had to lose a brother! He had to! It was in order for him to find a new one! His MFT, Tama Tonga! And with that, a bloodied Kevin Owens is tossed out, by the Good Bad Guy! Tama shoves Kevin down the ramp, stalks behind him, and referees rush out to stop him from doing anything further! Kevin can’t even sit up, but Tama steps over him to go to the ring. The fans boo as Tama joins Solo in the ring while the refs help Kevin to his feet and to the back. Tama raises his finger to the sky, because he acknowledges Solo! Heyman has no choice but to go along, but wait! Kevin is heading back down the ramp!?
The fans fire up as Kevin shows his grit and defiance! He drags Tama out to fire off hands!! The fans cheer but then Solo whips Kevin into steel steps! Solo drags Kevin back up, puts him in the ring, but now security rushes in! Tama storms in after Kevin but Kevin TACKLES Tama! The security gets Kevin away from Tama, but Solo SAMOAN SPIKES Kevin down!! The fans boo but then Tama SPLASHES Kevin! Tama rains down fists on that bloody wound, then he DECKS guard after guard! Producers try but Tama is a madman! Tama shoves everyone away so he can slip out of the ring, to grab a chair!!
The fans boo as Tama storms back in, but now Aldis steps up! Aldis warns The Bloodline here, and Solo has Tama stand down. Solo takes the chair from Tama to show they’re done here. The fans chant “YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!” but the damage is done. Solo & Tama are a dangerous duo, will nothing and no one stop them from taking over SmackDown?
Heyman goes to the parking lot.
He’s in shock, but Aldis finds him and pulls him along. Was Heyman aware of this? Aldis shows Heyman the aftermath of one car T-boning another! And in case Heyman can’t guess, the struck car was Kevin’s. The attacking car was Tama’s! Heyman says this wasn’t authorized! No, Heyman, Aldis is speaking now. He gets this is a conflict within The Bloodline, but on his show, things are settle din the ring. Next week is the Draft, a lot of eyeballs on it, and a lot top brass are gonna be here. So Aldis will not tolerate this behavior. So make sure The Bloodline understands. Because, Heyman, if you don’t, the repercussions will be equally savage.
Aldis brings Heyman in close to tell him losing isn’t the only thing that has consequences. Will the Wise Man be able to rein in such an unruly force as Solo and Tama?
Carlito w/ Zelina Vega VS Santos Escobar w/ Elektra Lopez!
The LWO still doesn’t believe Legado’s claims that they had nothing to do with Dragon Lee going down before WrestleMania, so they’re going to get to the bottom of this one themselves! Will Caribbean Cool make the Emperor of Lucha confess his crimes? Or will Santos prove he was right all along?
The bell rings and the two talk trash. Then they start throwing hands! Carlito backs Santos down but Santos gets around to whisper something in Carlito’s ear. Carlito ELBOWS Santos away, runs up and hits a THESZ PRESS! Carlito then bumps Santos off buckles, fires hands, then has him in another corner. Carlito whips corner to corner, runs up, but Santos BOOTS him! Santos runs up, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Vega coaches Carlito to stay on Santos and he brings Santos up. Carlito ROCKS Santos, whips, but Santos KICKS him! Santos runs, but into a DROPKICK! Carlito kips up and the fans fire up!
Santos is on the outside, the ref won’t let Carlito go after him, but then Carlito WRECKS Santos with a dropkick! Carlito loads up to PLANCHA! Direct hit on Santos and Carlito hoists Vega up to celebrate! The fans cheer the LWO on as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Santos whips Carlito hard into buckles. Carlito falls over, Santos soaks up the heat, then Santos HEADBUTTS Carlito to a corner. Santos then CHOPS, gets space and runs in, to DOUBLE KNEE! Carlito slumps in the corner but Santos puts him up top! Santos GAMANGIRIS then climbs up! SUPER STEINER! Carlito flounders, Santos pushes him to a cover, TWO! Vega is relieved but Santos huffs and puffs. Santos rains down fists on Carlito, then clamps on a top wristlock. Carlito endures and Vega coaches him while the fans rally. Carlito rises, throws body shots, then LARIATS!
The fans rally as Carlito starts to rally with more clotheslines, and an ELBOW! Carlito kicks, runs, and KNEE LIFTS! Santos wobbles, Carlito LARIATS again! Cover, TWO! Santos is tougher than that but Carlito says he’s going up! Carlito climbs, but then Lopez gets on the apron! Vega storms right over to YANK her down! The fans fire up as Vega goes up, and RANAS, only for Lopez to block! Lopez SWINGS Vega into barriers! Carlito ROCKS Santos, steps in, but the ref is reprimanding Lopez so he misses Santos KICK ropes to jam Carlito low! Santos reels Carlito in to POST him, then brings him back for the fireman’s carry! PHANTOM DRIVER!! Cover, Santos wins!
Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall
La Madrina helps The Emperor steal this victory, them taking down the Caribbean Cool and La Muneca! Whether or not Legado beat down Dragon Lee, will nothing stop them from conquering SmackDown?
VIP Skybox interview with Damage CTRL!
Kayla is with Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai, Kairi Sane & Asuka as they sit way up in the back. What made the former WWE Women’s Champion and crew want a special view of this main event? Dakota takes offense for Iyo with the use of “former” there. Is Kayla trying to disrespect them? Iyo will take that title back when they’re good and ready. But for now, they’re here to watch two people they can’t stand tear each other apart! Does Dakota need to remind everyone here that DMG CTRL is still the most dominant force in the WWE!? The fans boo but Dakota says the Kabuki Warriors are STILL the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, and that will not change-
WAID! Jade Cargill is here! She makes her entrance from the other skybox, with Bianca Belair alongside her! The strongEST duo argues with DMG CTRL, their own title intentions clear. But for now, it’s time for the main event! Who shines with gold here in the Steel City? We find out, after the break!
Cody Rhodes speaks.
The American Nightmare is in the UK as part of Raw’s tour, but he still took time to say, “What is the task? Run up the score, leave no doubt, right? Formerly, the task was ‘win the big belt, in the big place.’ We’ve done that. Now, it’s a whole new frontier for us, undiscovered country.” There’s an old expression: the title can make the man, or the man makes the title. Which will it be for Cody? He’s in London tonight, the O2, 16 THOUSAND, then it’s on to Belfast, Ireland. Cody is keeping his promise to bring this title all around the world. Back home, AJ Styles has emerged the #1 contender to this championship.
So then, it will be two Georgia boys duking it out in Lyon, France. The first time ever, at that. Styles has an unprecedented reputation in pro-wrestling. The modern day Excellence of Execution, if you will. Styles rarely misses. But the same goes for Cody. So Backlash in France, Cody looks forward to it. The contract signing is next week, even as the WWE Draft is going on! Will things be explosive when American Nightmare and Phenomenal One meet face to face?
WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley VS Naomi!
SmackDown returns and Bayley makes her entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and either we shine or we glow!
The bell rings, the fans rally, and the two circle. The two tie up, go around, and Bayley headlocks. Naomi powers up but Bayley wrenches to wristlock. Naomi slips through, rolls Bayley up, ONE!! The fans rally as the two go again. Naomi waistlocks, Bayley headlocks to hit a takeover, and she makes it a cover, TWO! Naomi fights up to her feet, powers up but Bayley wrenches gain. Naomi waistlocks, O’Conner Rolls, ONE! Both women get up, Naomi ducks the boot but Bayley arm-drags her around! Bayley has the cording hold, the fans rally up, and Naomi fights to her feet. Naomi whips Bayley away, but Bayley runs her over!
The fans cheer and Bayley tells DMG CTRL she’s watching them, too. Things speed up, Naomi does the splits to duck under, then she comes back to kick from below! She drags Bayley into a cradle, ONE!! Bayley hurries to step over, LA MAGISTROL! ONE!! Naomi and Bayley get up, Naomi trips Bayley to jackknife, ONE!! Ghost pin, TWO! Both women hurry up, DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! The fans rally while both women are down, evenly matched in this chess game so far. Both women rise, and Naomi SHOTGUNS first! Then she runs up, uses the ropes to slingshot and BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Naomi is frustrated but keeps her focus.
Naomi drags Bayley up, Bayley shoves her away. Naomi dodges the lariat to hit REAR VIEW! Cover, TWO!! Bayley survives but Naomi lets her know it was that close, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Bayley whips Naomi to a corner, runs in, but into a BOOT! Bayley gets up, Naomi runs up, JAWBREAKER! Bayley ends up in a corner now, Naomi runs in, and she forearm SMASHES! Naomi then runs Bayley corner to corner for a BUCKLE BULLDOG! Naomi slips out to the apron while Bayley flounders, and Naomi climbs. The fans duel as Naomi CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Bayley is tougher than that but Naomi knows that. Naomi keeps her focus while DMG CTRL, Bianca & Jade all focus on them. Naomi ROCKS Bayley, tries the ropes again, but Bayley stops the bulldog to SMACK Naomi off buckles!
Bayley then reels Naomi in, SAIDO! High stack, TWO! Naomi is still in this and Bayley remembers Naomi’s tougher than that, too. Bayley drags Naomi into a drop zone, then goes up the corner! Bayley aims, to MACHO ELBOW onto knees! Bayley writhes, Naomi goes to the apron. Bayley stands, runs up, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! Naomi slingshots, for a FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Bayley survives and Naomi is stunned! Naomi refocuses, goes to the corner, and goes up to SPLIT LEG MOONSAULT onto knees! Bayley returns the favor and both women are down. Bayley shakes out the leg, stands and runs, to KNEE Naomi down!
Bayley hurries to put Naomi back in a drop zone, and then hobbles her way to a corner. Bayley climbs, to MACHO ELBOW!! Direct hit this time and Bayley covers, TWO!! Naomi survives and Bayley is frustrated. Bayley hobbles on the bad leg, leans on ropes while she catches her breath, and the fans duel even more. Bayley stalks Naomi, hooks her up, but Naomi PELES free! Naomi hurries to a corner, Bayley runs up, but Naomi goes up to sunset flip! TWO!! But into the BUTTERFLY LOCK!! Bayley endures, reaches out with her legs, but then she tucks to a cover, TWO!! Naomi gets up, both women throw forearms!
They both wobble, storm up, and Bayley eggs Naomi on. Naomi wants this, right? So hit her! Naomi fires a forearm, Bayley hits back! Naomi winds up to forearm, Bayley comes back with another! The fans fire up as the forearms go harder and faster! Bayley gets the edge, but Naomi SWATS one, to SCORPION KICK, and then JUMP KNEE! Bayley tumbles out of the ring, Naomi PLANCHAS! Direct hit and a hard one, both women are down on the floor! The ring count starts, Naomi stirs at 3 of 10. Naomi brings Bayley up, but BAYLEY2BELLY onto the desk!! The count is 7! Naomi flounders on the desk, but then TIFFANY ATTACKS BAYLEY!!!
Winner: Bayley, by disqualification (still WWE Women’s Champion)
Tiffany makes herself the center of attention as always as she ruins this main event! She dribbles Naomi off the desk, then RAMS Bayley into steel steps! Then she drags Naomi off the desk to POST her! Tiff storms back over to Bayley, puts her in the ring, then adds Naomi in, too. Tiff says sorry not sorry, but it’s Tiffy Time! Tiffy goes to the corner, for the PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER! Tiff flexes over both champion and challenger, having upset Bianca & Jade but having entertained DMG CTRL. But will Wrestling Barbie pay for pissing off the Role Model?
My Thoughts:
A great SmackDown that also acted as a WWE Draft go-home. Great match from Styles and Knight to open the night but also follow-up their WrestleMania match. Naturally, Styles wins because then he and Knight are 1-1 in 1v1 matches, and also natural Face VS Heel right there. Good promo from Cody Rhodes, that title match is going to be awesome. Awesome new looks for the WWE Tag Team Championships, though maybe too much gold. Nothing really pops when it’s all the same color, so they should’ve had silver on the WWE logo and the words, “Tag Team Champions,” but it’s still a great redesign.
We also got an awesome Fatal 4 Way tag match, with Theory & Waller decent on commentary. And pieces are falling into place for what I was thinking: Profits win the right to face Theory & Waller, we’ll surely get Lashley wanting the US Championship, we’ll get a good faction feud there as we approach those title matches. Also good continuation of the LWO VS Legado feud with Carlito VS Santos, and distractions of course helped Santos win. There’s gotta come a point where Carlito reveals it was him, Dragon Lee, it was him all along! Now, that would make like the third turn since the start of this rivalry (Santos to Heel, Andrade to Face and Carlito to Heel) but hey, the drama is heightened each time, and maybe Dragon Lee will actually get a win in this feud.
Great stuff in Bayley VS Naomi, as well as all the promos. DMG CTRL watching from the skybox, same as Bianca & Jade, was good stuff. The tag title match is definitely coming for Backlash, that will be great stuff. But I should’ve figured Tiffany would “ruin” the main event so that there won’t really be a choice between Bayley and Naomi. The Draft is coming, hopefully they think to keep all three on the same brand, and probably here on SmackDown, so that those three can have it out. I don’t know the chances of a Triple Threat for Backlash but it still feels possible. Though at the same time, I don’t think they’d take the title off Bayley after only a month, so she’d probably use Tiffany against Naomi to retain.
And what wild stuff with this new, more vicious Bloodline. Solo is in a suit because he certainly thinks he is Tribal Chief already, given Roman Reigns did give him the nod as “Tribal Heir” a few months ago. And while Tama is the MFT, which everyone is already wondering what that even means, it’s clear he’s also the right hand man and a loose cannon at that. Without the Draft, it’d be pretty wild for Jimmy to come back and help Kevin against this new Bloodline. With the Draft, we could get Jey back on the same brand as his family and then he and Jimmy stand against Solo and Tama. But either way, it’ll be a wild ride in this new chapter and I’m all for it.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.18.2024
Motor City Machine Guns either go out on their backs, or head to Rebellion as champs! Lets see how they finish their current run in TNA!
No burying the lead here! The Main Event is The System versus Motor City Machine Guns, and it’s the Go Home episode before Rebellion! So we’re guaranteed a damn good tag match, and we should get either new wrinkles, or ways to keep the storylines cooking going into the Pay-per-View.
With all the rumors and innuendo about the Guns being on their way out, I think we all assume that MCMG is losing, but my inner fanboy is still excited.
Part Three: Acceptance @TheJonGresham #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/NE9FPzCCz2
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024
Ratings:
- Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone: Hammerstone wins via Torture Rack – SQUASH
- LSG vs Joe Hendry: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – SQUASH
- Mustafa Ali & GYV vs Cody Deaner, Jake Something & Rhyno: Ali wins via 450 Splash – ** 3/4
- Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna: Rosemary wins via Spear – ***
- Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards: System wins via Roster Cut + Knee Party – *** 1/4
Results:
So we kick off the match with Josh coming out to commentary again to watch Hammerstone’s match. They really need a new way to try and keep heat without reusing the same tired gimmick of “ring side seat” to a Squash match.
Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone
Guido tries to shoot the half, but Hammerstone shrugs him off, lifts him like a child and runs him into a corner, few short shots and then just tosses him across the ring. Hammer gets a little distracted talking smack to Josh and eats a foot, but then tosses Guido with the ole Sack of Shit move and keeps working over Guido.
Hammer shoves Clayton, and provokes him to push him back right in front of the referee. She ejects them, Guido tries to take advantage but when he goes for the pinfall Hammer kicks out immediately and presses Guido out of thing through the ropes. Continues to dog walk Guido, puts the head gear on the ECW Original and then Torture Racks him while staring directly at Josh, and of course picks up the submission victory.
.@XiaBrookside and @Ashamae_Sebera face off NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT! pic.twitter.com/Q0S3wSRpeu
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024
LSG vs Joe Hendry
Hendry cuts a little promo, mentioning the Fat Uncle Phil joke…something about shopping at the TOP Dollar Store. Solid mic work.
LSG is a damn good local talent, he’s been seen in ROH and AEW in the past (perhaps others, but that’s what comes to mind immediately for me), but we all know this is an enhancement match. A few nice chain wrestling spots early, but Hendry uses his power to stop the smaller wrestler, Sack of Shit into Standing Ovation and the match is over quickly.
Mustafa Ali & GYV vs Cody Deaner, Jake Something & Rhyno
Well okay, having Deaner ask the crowd if they wanted a 3v2 or their third member…RHYNO…is pretty much a no brainer in Philly. But at least the gimmick isn’t quite as cringe as I expected.
Jake starts with Zack Gibson and throws him around. Jake goes for the tag and Deaner asks the crowd who Jake should tag, and the crowd picks Rhyno. Rhyno Whips Gibson into a corner, Drake actually softens the impact, allowing Gibson to fire back, tag out, but Rhyno levels both GYV members and then even knocks Ali off the apron. Rhyno tries to call to the crowd to tag in Deaner and that goes over like a fart in church. He tags him in anyway, and the crowd is kinda dead and doing whatever it wants after the obvious ECW chants when Rhyno tagged in.
GYV take a couple lumps but they of course start to work over Deaner and capture some momentum. Solid tandem work from GYV, they cut off Deaner from making a tag and goad Jake a little to cause the ref to block off the babyfaces so the heels can take a few shortcuts. Cody eventually makes the tag to Rhyno, hot tag, he tries to set up the Gore but the GYV manage to stop him in his tracks and hit an Enzuigiri to daze the Man Beast, he falls to his corner and Jake tags himself in. Jake literally runs them all over, tags in Cody and Launches him from the Top Rope into Zack Gibson. Ali makes the save and Jake tries to get his hands on Ali, but the GYV keep throwing themselves at him, literally. The triple team finally gets the best of Jake, they hit 3 Dives and then post Jake, so they gather around Cody like hyenas.
They forgot about Rhyno, he’s set up for a Gore, he Gores Drake, Gibson and Ali take out Rhyno, but then Cody starts to fight back. Ali stops Deaner’s offense with an Avalanche Sunset Bomb, then hits his 450 Splash. Jake barely misses being able to break up the pin.
.@TheEricYoung channels "The Sickness" as he prepares for FULL METAL MAYHEM with @FrankieKazarian at #Rebellion! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/tm1TqxZBLo
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024
Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna
Jody tries to start quickly with Shoulder Tackles, Lariats and Scoop Slams, and it does seem somewhat effective. Rosemary is having trouble finding offense against the intensity, but she keeps kicking out. Shotgun Dropkick finally gives Rosemary an opening, she goes into full mount and rains down strikes. Rosemary shoves Jody into a corner and Bites her in the corner. Jody tries to fight out, they go across and Rosemary catches her with the legs and puts her in the Upside Down. Splash in the corner from Rosemary, Exploder Suplex and Jody is eating a lot of offense.
Rosemary looks like she’s caught after she gets tripped up into the ropes and Jody goes for her Rope Knee into the German, but Rosemary dodges. Rosemary hits her own suplex and pulls out a beautiful Last Chancery! I haven’t seen her do that in a long time. Jody manages to fight to the ropes, Rosemary is a little slow to capitalize and eats a Pump Kick. Rosemary goes flying into the ropes, Jody hits the Double Knees into the German this time for 2, and they trade a few haymakers after that. Jody folds Rosemary with a low Lariat, Zombie rise spot a few times, Jody goes for a pinfall and Rosemary kicks out.
Havok jumps up on the apron, Dani meets her and they decide to step down, but the distraction was enough. Jody turns around and eats a Spear. Rosemary wins!
Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards
Eddie and Shelley start off, and its a very simple slow start. Mostly an early stalemate, the typical Japanese style the TNA seem to love to employ. Starters tag out, but then Shelley with the blind tag, Sabin Baseball Slides out, picks Eddie’s ankle and sends his face bouncing off the apron, while Shelley sneaks up being Myers and they hit a tandem move before we cut to commercial. Off of the commercial it looks like Eddie and Myers regained control. But a nice Jawbreaker from Shelley sends Eddie falling back into the MCMG corner. Dragon Screws to both legs from Sabin and Shelley, and we get the Dragon Screw dissection spot for the Guns.
Myers gets sick of things, tries to get involved, but Simultaneous Figure Fours from the MCMG makes The System look silly. Alisha does the classic “push the rope forward” gimmick to assist Eddie in breaking the hold. She keeps chirping at Shelley until she finally grabs his foot. Shelley doesn’t take kindly, tries to grab her by the hair but she gets away, Shelley eats a strike and falls back to the ropes so Lish can just throttle him with the rope, Sabin walks over and acts like he’s going to PK her and the look of disgust on her face is hilarious, like “how dare he threaten to kick her”. Would I be mad is Masha decides to team with Lish and they win the Knockouts Tag titles? No, because the Knockouts Tags are trash. But I still prefer Lish as valet/manager.
Shelley starts fighting back after another commercial break, Eddie tries to cut him off, but Sabin clocks Eddie and Shelley manages to make the tag and Sabin comes in. Lights up both System members, Kick off Tornado DDT, into a Running Gamengiri. Eddie tries to counter but Shelley assists, tandem strikes, Double Baseball Slide into the classic MCMG spot 5 Hole Dive! Keeping up with the classics Shelley stacks the System members on each other and hit the Missile Dropkick/Flatliner spot. As the Guns are rolling, Sabin accidentally catches Sabin with his foot and The System take control! They hit their pieces of the System Overload spot, but Sabin kicks out. Roster Cut attempt from Myers, but Shelley is back. High Speed Dirt, Machine Gun Sandwich, but Lish grabs Shelley’s foot when they’re setting up Skull and Bones. Shelley gets dropped on the turnbuckle and thrown out, Sabin eats the Roster Cut followed up with Boston Knee Party and System retains!
Its a little weird to have had the two commercial cuts and the fact there’s still Nic Nemeth to follow. So it feels a little flat, I hope this wasn’t their swan song match, because it was nice to see some classic spots, but it was entirely too abbreviated.
Nemeth comes out, goes into the crowd and finds a kid with a kendo stick and borrows a beer from someone, so he does a bit of a Sandman tribute. Moose cuts off his promo basically immediately. He throws out the “can’t beat the system” line again, and Nic rolls with the punches well. Moose uses a few cute analogies about Nic having a failure laden past, but Nemeth bites back and its really damn good. He says he can see it in Moose’s eyes that he thinks he’s getting in the ring with Dolph Ziggler, but no, there is no more old Dolph Ziggler, just the new Nic Nemeth. And Moose’s cool seems to be slightly shaken after those words. Good promo.
Overall Score: 6.5/10
So this was okay, if it didn’t end as strongly as it did, I would’ve rated this much lower. Two squash matches in the beginning, reusing the Josh comes out to the announce table to watch trope is boring, hell even Clayton’s shove to Hammerstone was super lame looking. The Deaner match was luke warm at best, but things picked up around the Rosemary match.
Lets also not overlook the segments with ASH & Xia, Jonathan Gresham’s whole deal and EY having to return to the violence/sickness/world class maniac, whatever you want to call it, were all great building blocks. This definitely wasn’t what I would call a strong Go Home, but it didn’t hurt things for Rebellion. The whole injury of Cardona was addressed, which honestly sounded weird since Jordynne basically said she was expecting them to have a backup plan so she has a backup plan. I don’t really like how that video package came across.
But who knows, all I know is, this wasn’t an awful episode, it just wasn’t really strong either. Here’s to hoping Rebellion Saturday is still strong.
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