Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (12/2/20)
Who will be ready for WarGames?
Shotzi Blackheart fights for her team’s advantage at TakeOver!
Before the teams go head to head, Captain Shotzi Blackheart will battle #BigMamiCool to gain advantage for her, Ember, Rhea and…? Who is the fourth woman for Team Shotzi?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Damian Priest & Leon Ruff VS El Legado del Fantasma; Priest & Ruff win.
- Cameron Grimes VS August Grey; Grimes wins.
- Jake Atlas VS Tony Nese; Atlas wins.
- Grizzled Young Veterans VS
Ever-RiseImperium; Imperium wins, by disqualification. - WarGames Advantage Ladder Match: Shotzi Blackheart VS Raquel Gonzalez; Shotzi wins and her team will have advantage in the WarGames match.
PLAY BY PLAY
WWE and NXT mourn the loss of Pat Patterson.
“From San Francisco, California,” and with Frank Sinatra singing, we see a highlight reel of moments from Pat Patterson, and then transition to Pat’s karaoke cover of “I Did It My Way.” Because that’s exactly how he did it. The inaugural WWF/WWE Intercontinental Champion, the inventor of the Royal Rumble match, and the architect of countless memories in pro-wrestling history, we will never forget him. Thank you, Pat, for everything.
Damian Priest & Leon Ruff VS El Legado del Fantasma!
Johnny Gargano is on commentary and talking trash on the Archer of Infamy as he teams up with the ultimate underdog North American Champion! Priest is taking Curt Stallion’s place here because he wants to make sure the North American Champion makes it to TakeOver. Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde have been getting at Ruff on social media, and they tried getting at Priest before the show, but Priest doesn’t sweat Santos Escobar’s “little idiots.” Will Priest and Ruff make sure the NXT Cruiserweight Champion and his right hand man are in for a rough night?
The teams sort out, Ruff wants to start to show he can do this, so Priest agrees. Ruff starts against Escobar and we have a champion VS champion sampler here! Escobar and Ruff circle as fans rally up. They tie up, Escobar throws Ruff down! Ruff gets to ropes and Escobar talks trash, “This is your champ?” Escobar and Ruff tie up, Escobar rolls Ruff up, ONE! Escobar keeps Ruff down, then pushes him. Escobar doesn’t take Ruff seriously, and tags Mendoza in. Mendoza doesn’t take Ruff serious either, but he wrenches and knees low to whip Ruff to a corner. Ruff slips out, forearms and goes around the ropes to slide under and dropkick Mendoza down! Cover, ONE!
Ruff drags Mendoza up but Mendoza knees low! Tag to Escobar, Escobar pulls hair but Ruff breaks free, only for Escobar to KNEE him down! Priest tags in and now Priest dares Escobar to do something. Escobar reconsiders and tags out again. Mendoza and Priest tie up, Mendoza waistlocks but Priest breaks free and wrenches. Priest wrenches more, whips Mendoza corner to corner but Mendoza slips out to slingshot in and run, into a tilt-o-whirl. Mendoza lands on his feet, speeds things up and dodges to club away and KICK Priest! Mendoza runs but into Priest’s leaping back elbow! Fans fire up for Priest as he goes out after Mendoza and scoops him. Priest gives Mendoza snake eyes to the apron!
Priest dares Escobar to do something before he ROCKS Mendoza! And RAMS him into boards! Priest gets in at 8 but goes back out. Mendoza CHOPS but Priest just scowls. Priest BELL CLAPS and ROUNDHOUSES Mendoza down. But Gargano’s friend, Ghost Face is watching! Gargano pretends it’s just some fan cosplaying, and Priest throws Mendoza in to glare at Ghost Face. Escobar tags in and DIVES! Direct hit from Escobar to Priest, the Arrow from Hell was sure more than the Archer of Infamy was expecting! Escobar grins and fans are fired up as NXT goes picture in picture.
Escobar stomps Priest, drags him up and instead of putting him, he hits a DDT to the floor! Escobar rains down rights, drags Priest up and puts him back in. Priest hits back but Escobar tags Mendoza in. El Legado mugs Priest, Mendoza clubs away on Priest, then taunts Ruff. Mendoza stomps Priest, tags Escobar, but Priest throws body shots! Escobar elbows and mule kicks Priest to then enziguri! Escobar CHOPS Ruff off the apron! Then Penalty Kicks Priest down! Tag back to Mendoza, who runs, and coordinates with Escobar, for the hip toss rebound splash! Mendoza keeps moving to LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO!
Mendoza keeps close to Priest, and kicks him back down! Mendoza clubs Priest, drags him up, but Priest powers up, only to end up in the Fantasma corner! Escobar tags in and KICKS Priest’s leg! Escobar kicks Priest around, stomps him down, but the ref counts. Escobar lets off at 4, Priest flounders and sputters, but Escobar stomps him again. Escobar drags Priest by a leg, stomps the knee, then kicks Priest more. Escobar wraps up the legs for a Trailer Hitch! Priest endures as Escobar cranks on the legs, then he power sup to hammer Escobar! Escobar lets go of the legs but he clubs Priest down! Tag to Mendoza and they mug Priest. Mendoza watches Priest get up to dropkick him back down!
Mendoza aims at Priest, but then sucker punches Ruff! NXT returns to single picture as Mendoza runs in to clothesline Priest! Tag to Escobar, and Escobar runs corner to corner for his own clothesline! Tag back to Mendoza for another clothesline! Escobar tags in again, but Priest choke grips Mendoza! Escobar dropkicks Priest hard! Escobar brings Priest up to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Escobar tries again, TWO! Gargano denies that the Ghost Face in the crowd is his Ghost Face, or that he’s as bad as people say. Escobar drags Priest up to knee him down, then drags him by his legs. Escobar drops an elbow on the leg and pulls on the foot!
Priest tries to fight back with a chinbar but Escobar cranks on the foot. Priest throws elbows into Escobar’s head but Escobar just shifts to drop an elbow on the knee! Tag to Mendoza, Mendoza digs his knee into Priest’s knee, then pulls Priest’s hair. Gargano says this serves Priest right, he had no business stepping in. Priest kicks Mendoza away, but Mendoza comes back to kick Priest down! Mendoza drags Priest around to hit another spinning toehold. Mendoza throws forearms, Priest shoves Mendoza then catches him for a LIFTING COMPLETE SHOT! Fans fire up as Priest crawls, and tags in Ruff!
Escobar tags in, but Ruff dodges to dropkick Mendoza! Then he elbows Escobar, goes up and leaps to FLYING RANA! Cover, ONE!! Escobar gets up, Ruff runs in but Mendoza tags. Escobar reverses the whip but Ruff kicks, kicks, enziguris and neckbreakers! But Mendoza dropkicks Ruff down! Mendoza drags Ruff up, CLUBS him down, then brings Ruff up for a back suplex. Ruff lands on his feet, slides under and tags Priest back in! Priest rallies on El Legado now, FLAPJACK for Mendoza! Kick and kick and ROLLING ELBOW for Escobar! Gargano can’t believe Priest is still going. “I hate when he does this! I hate that stupid arrow!” Priest hits the leaping back elbow!
Escobar distracts so Priest DECKS him! Mendoza enziguris back and goes up top! Mendoza walks the tight rope, but Priest DECKS him out of the air! Priest roars, drags Mendoza up, but Ruff tags in!? Priest still hits THE RECKONING! Ruff goes up and hits a FROG SPLASH! Cover, Priest and Ruff win!
Winners: Leon Ruff & Damian Priest, by pinfall
Gargano says none of this will be how it is Sunday at TakeOver. That’s true, as it will be a Triple Threat. But will that North American Championship match go #TheJohnnyGarganoWay? Or will one of the two men who won here win again?
Team Shotzi is putting in work in the NXT garage.
Shotzi has Ember Moon and Rhea Ripley on her team now, and they’re helping put things back together. Ember has to shout over the noise of the power tools to tell her about this “gift” they got her. Rhea says every war machine needs an engine. And they have show Shotzi what they got. “What do you think?” “I think I’m in love.” Time to go to war! But there’s still a piece missing to the team! Who will be the final member of Team Shotzi? And bigger still, who gets the advantage with tonight’s ladder match?
NXT takes a look at the Men’s WarGames match!
The Kings of NXT boasted to Finn Balor about what they’ve done in his absence. But he said “it’s easy for the mice to play when the cat’s away.” And this cat wasn’t alone! The Undisputed Era made their triumphant return and took the fight to McAfee, Dunne, Oney and Danny! And what else was Mr. Regal to do but put this in… WARGAMES!! This match has proven to be brutal as ever, but also has been a major claim to fame for the Undispute Era, having been in every single NXT WarGames, and having won a couple while they were at it.
“It’s really good, it’s really important, to just get out and reflect sometimes.” Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong are all dressed up, hoping to use a night out on the town to make up for the last few weeks. Kyle lost his NXT Championship match, Cole was brutalized by Ridge Holland, Bobby and Roddy were both attacked backstage by who knows from the Kings of NXT, and Pete Dunne blindsided and betrayed Kyle over a years-old grudge. Not to mention, a certain masked man (probably Pat) screwed Kyle out of WarGames Advantage last week. Cole says “we have been running this for years,” Kyle says they’ve been “top dogs since basically we stepped foot here.”
They made an impact when attacking Drew McIntyre, when winning all the gold, and whatever else they decided to do in NXT. The four ride in style as they go out for a meal. Cole isn’t sure if they’ve ever been tested like this before. Their backs are against the wall here. “It’s making me think about everything.” Strong agrees, because they’ve yet to “fight from underneath” like this. Kyle says this might be good for them. They can remind themselves of what got them all here. Bobby feels he’s reflected enough. It’s time to whoop some ass.
Cole told McAfee and his crew will realize they’re in over their heads, being trapped inside two rings and two cages against four of the baddest men to ever be in the WWE. And four guys as pissed off as them, this will end McAfee. This isn’t about embarrassing or hurting the “Kings,” but about making them the Bitches of NXT! So Cole makes a toast to McAfee, “for being so incredibly smart, and also so incredibly stupid.” The wars the UE have gone to are only a sample of what’s coming. Will they take things to an entirely new level to prove they are still the top of the mountain?
Backstage interview with Team Candice.
Candice LeRae has Indi Hartwell as well as her WarGames teammates, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez and Toni Storm, with her, but what are their thoughts on Shotzi’s team? You call that a team? Candice and cohorts have a laugh, and Candice says Shotzi only has two people, “and they’re damaged goods!” Indi took a bullet for the team last week, and yet the team is still stacked! Toni’s unpredictability, Dakota’s resilience and Raquel’s strength are everything Candice needs to win. And we will see that strength on full display. Raquel says that after tonight, this team goes home with the advantage. And Shotzi will feel like she got run over, by a tank. Candice likes the reference there. Team Poison Pixie heads out, but will Shotzi and her team be the antidote?
Cameron Grimes VS August Grey!
Before being strapped in to the Strap Match with Dexter Lumis, the Carolina Caveman is here with a burlap sack of his own. Will Grimes have this match with #RetroAG in the bag as he heads for TakeOver?
Turns out, what was in the bag was a leather strap! Grimes is showing us all that he isn’t afraid of the strap, but the leather isn’t Lumis. The bell rings, Grimes and Grey tie up and Grimes waistlocks to CLUB and CLOBBER Grey down! Grimes kicks Grey, stalks him along ropes and KICKS him again! Grimes whips corner to corner hard and Grey bounces off buckles! Grimes drags Grey up, whips him and kitchen sink knees him! Grimes wants Lumis to watch this as he rakes Grey’s face and hooks the mouth! Grimes CLUBS Grey, brings him up, but Grey throws hands! Grey haymakers but Grimes knees low! Grimes whips but Grey kicks back!
Grey runs but Grimes scoops, only for Grey to slip out an dropkick! Grimes runs in but into a jawbreaker! And neckbreaker! Fans rally as Grey baits Grimes into a corner! Grimes puts Grey on the apron but Grey throws haymakers! Grimes flounders, Grey climbs and tightrope walks for a crossbody! Cover, TWO! Grey keeps his cool as he drags Grimes up. Grimes shoves Grey, Grey rolls Grimes up, TWO! Grimes spins Grey, scoops him and swings him for the SIDEWALK SLAM! Grimes whips Grey to CAVE-IN! Cover, Grimes wins!
Winner: Cameron Grimes, by pinfall
The Technical Savage stomps out Grey’s red hot momentum, and then takes the strap in hand. “Lumis, you wanna be strapped up to me? Cameron Grimes, a real man! Well I’m afraid you made a mistake.” Grimes uses Grey as an example as he straps him in and pulls him up for a LARIAT! Grimes says that’ll happen to Lumis, but maybe he doesn’t understand. So he LASHES Grey on the back! And LASHES Grey again! “Here’s the best part! He can run, but he’s still strapped up! And I can pull him right back in!” But now LUMIS is on the other end!
Grimes turns around and is spooked! Lumis gets to reel Grimes in and throw hands on him, then LASHES him on the back! And again! Grimes runs like a scalded dog, but will Lumis get to whip him like a government mule at TakeOver?
Jake Atlas VS Tony Nese!
Though the NXT Cruiserweight Championship is spoken for by the Lonestar, these two stars of the Cruiserweight Division know there’s always another chance! Will Atlas shrug the Premier Athlete off? Or will Nese show the new wave why this 205 Live OG is still here?
The bell rings and they tie up. Nese arm-drags and armlocks Atlas, and then messes Atlas’ hair up. Atlas keeps his cool as Nese flexes on him, but then rushes Atlas and goes after him at the ropes! The ref backs Atlas off, Nese goes after a leg but Atlas steps over to arm-drag Nese down! Atlas has the armlock and grinds the shoulder but Nese fights up. Atlas messes Nese’s hair and Nese gets mad. But Nese backs down as Atlas gets in his face again. The two speed up, Atlas O’Conner rolls, TWO! Nese avoids the kick, and the moonsault, but Atlas cartwheels and dropkicks Nese out! Atlas DIVES and sends Nese into the desk! The young star is fired up with the fans as he puts Nese in the ring.
Atlas goes up to the corner and to the top rope, but Nese SHORYUKENS Atlas down! Nese stomps Atlas down at the ropes, but cameras cut to the parking lot, as the Kings of NXT arrive in a bright yellow H2! McAfee is fired up because “the show is here!” Nese whips Atlas to knee him at the ropes, then whips him the other way to knee him again! Nese snap suplexes Atlas to a cover, TWO! Nese drags Atlas back up, cravats and throws in knees! Nese torture racks Atlas, bends him, but Atlas endures to fight out with elbows! Atlas then ROCKS Nese with a right! And another! Nese back kicks before the third, but runs into a chicken wing, spin and DISCUS!
Fans fire up with Atlas as he back drops Nese! Atlas blocks a punch, fires off forearms on Nese, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Nese gets up for Atlas to DECK him! Cover, TWO! Atlas keeps his cool as Nese survives. Atlas then fires himself up with slapping his own face! Fans fire up, too, and Atlas drags Nese up, but Nese gets to ropes! The ref counts, Atlas lets go at 3, and Nese SLAPS him! Nese reels Atlas in, “You think you’re better than me?!” Hotshot bulldog! And PREMIER TRIANGLE but he has to land out as Atlas moves! Atlas sunset flips, Nese slips out to spinning KICK! Cover, TWO!! Atlas survives and Nese is shocked!
Nese glares as Atlas goes to a corner. Nese stomps him down, pulls down the knee pad, and runs side to side, but Atlas moves! The knee gets buckles, Atlas hits a LEAPING JAWBREAKER! Atlas goes up, sees Nese and hits the CARTWHEEL DDT! Cover, Atlas wins!!
Winner: Jake Atlas, by pinfall
The new wave just washed away a former Cruiserweight Champion! McKenzie is ringside to interview Atlas and asks about his rough couple of weeks. Atlas is fired up, but he knows the pattern. One step forward, three steps back. But Atlas has fought through the bad things in life. As soon as he wants to give up, he turns it around. Atlas knows being at the top is no joke. Atlas isn’t champion, but he just picked himself back up. “This is just the beginning.” Atlas wants to keep this momentum going until he gets back to that Cruiserweight title! Will Atlas climb the mountaintop once more to finally plant his flag and put himself on the map?
The Kings of NXT head to the ring!
Pat McAfee leads the Bruiserweight and the NXT Tag Team Champions to the ring, and of course he gets the mic. “Shut up, Vic Joseph. You suck.” But first of all, McAfee wants to say RIP Pat Patterson, a man he has the utmost respect for, and he appreciates everything that man has done for the business. For once, McAfee said something fans cheer for. But now, on the complete opposite end of the respect spectrum, i.e. those he has ZERO respect for: every loser wrestling fan at home or in the Capitol Wrestling Center, and especially the Undisputed Era. “They’re not worth it. A bunch of punks.”
McAfee is upset that we were “forced to watch a night out with the Undisputed Era.” As expected, it was the lamest night on the town McAfee has ever seen! Rented tuxedos that didn’t fit, drinking boxed wine in glasses, and they were in a low level pizza shop, out back by the kitchen, because the establishment was so embarrassed to have the UE there. “And we’re talking, reflecting, nostalgia was running wild, brother!” But how about these four do that? It’s no secret that this team was put together by money!
And like every good team, you invest in greatness, and that is what McAfee did with these three men! And that isn’t counting the Mercedes he gave to a man who isn’t even able to be here. That’s more money than “any of you losers will ever see or have in your entire life, COMBINED, to make the greatness that you see in front of you!” McAfee says they have run NXT since they got here! And this Sunday at WarGames, it will be about Pete Dunne, the longest reigning UK Champion of all time! “A man who has ended careers! A man who just one week ago, maybe with the help of a masked man, who I assume was very attractive under that mask,” but totally NOT McAfee, no. But Dunne beat the hell out of Kyle and won the team advantage! “Atta boy, Pete Dunne!”
Sunday will not be another main event for the ungrateful Undisputed Era. This will be about two main event players, 30 years combined experience, finally getting the opportunity to seize the spotlight and main event the biggest wrestling PPV in history! Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch will not squander this opportunity, right? “HELL NO!” Is there any ounce of fear in them? “HELL NO!” Are these two the greatest tag team ever? Wait, yes, of course they are. McAfee knows they’re the absolute best.
But McAfee says those at home, this is what he wants us to do: Sunday, WWE Network, TakeOver: WarGames, in your tiny basements of your dumb mom’s house, “envision yourself as a member of the Undisputed Era.” Feel every single kick in the mouth that McAfee gives Adam Cole. Feel every single punch, every single time the Kings bounce UE off the steel, put them through tables, hit them with chairs, hit them with kendo sticks, whatever else happens! Feel every single part of it!
Because McAfee knows when we tune in this Sunday, we want to see him get ripped apart. We want to see McAfee “get his.” But McAfee has three badasses behind him. “Two rings, two cages, two teams, one brutal truth: the boys broke the Undisputed Era’s spirit last week.” And Dunne says they will END the Undisputed Era! Damn right! Dunne doesn’t talk until he has to. This isn’t just undisputed, it’s a promise. “We’re the greatest, you all suck. Cheers.” The war of words is over, but who wins the WarGames?
Xia Li and Boa endure harsh training.
But “Shifu” is not satisfied with how long they’re holding their breaths under freezing water. He has them keep going, again and again and again. They’re being pushed past their limits, but “she” is very demanding. The training concludes for the night, and Xia and Boa both stand before her. They bow, but she is not satisfied. Xia and Boa get kendo stick SMACKS to their backs! Will they break under the pressure before they ever have a chance to prove themselves worthy?
Grizzled Young Veterans VS Ever-Rise!
Zack Gibson and James Drake made their return to NXT at the expense of Chase Parker and Matt Marthel last week, which is why they’re having this match! Will Liverpool’s Number One and Mr. Mayhem climb towards the NXT Tag Team Championships at Ever-Rise’s expense, too?
But before GYV can hit the ring, IMPERIUM strikes down Ever-Rise?! So much for returning to NXT UK! Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner are beating down Marthel and Parker! Aichner gives Marthel a back suplex over the barriers! Then Parker is TOSSED out to join Marthel! Barthel gets the mic to shout, “Grizzled Young Veterans, who do you think you are?!” The tag team division belongs to IMPERIUM! Teams like Danny & Oney and Breezango had their fun, but Imperium is here to put them back in their places. But for now, they will put GYV in their place. Well GYV will accept this change of plans! Who from NXT UK proves they’re the top team in ALL of NXT?
Grizzled Young Veterans VS Imperium!
Teams sort out and Gibson starts against the Pride of Italy. Fans fire up as Aichner and Gibson tie up and go around. Gibson keeps away from the Imperium corner but Aichner waistlocks. Gibson switches, Aichner pries free to get the arm and wrench. Gibson gest to ropes but Barthel tags in. Imperium whips Gibson, Barthel arm-drags then scrapes Gibson’s face! Barthel mocks Gibson, runs in and European Uppercuts hard! Barthel whips the other way, Drake saves Gibson from hitting buckles and Gibson CLOBBERS Barthel! Gibson drags Barthel up, elbows him to the ropes then brings him over. Tag to Drake and GYV mugs Barthel!
Drake stalks Barthel, CHOPS him, then throws forearms. Barthel EuroUppers, Drake CHOPS! Barthel EuroUppers, Drake throws a forearm! Drake whips corner to corner, Barthel reveres but Drake goes out and shoulders in! Drake slingshot sunset flips, TWO! Barthel ROCKS Drake with a right! Barthel talks trash in German, brings Drake to his knees and pulls on hair. Barthel clubs away, bumps Drake off buckles, then tags Aichner. Aichner brings Drake around to whip into Barthel’s enziguri! Then Aichner hits a high and hard back suplex! Aichner poses as fans boo but he scuffs Drake with his foot.
Aichner puts Drake on ropes and CHOPS him! Drake hits back, they brawl but Aichner stomps away in the corner! The ref counts, Aichner lets off at 4, then drags Drake back up. Aichner reels Drake in, suplexes, but Drake slips out and tumbles. Aichner CLUBS Drake, CHOPS him, but Drake forearms. Aichner knees low, Drake tries to wrench out of the facelock, but he slips out of the suplex! Gibson tags in, GYV leap frog and CLOBBER Aichner! Gibson DECKS Barthel and shouts, “Back of the line!” Aichner BOOTS Gibson, elbows Drake, then drags Gibson into the double wristlock!
Gibson fights up, whips Aichner and swings, but Aichner ducks to fireman’s carry and standing Death Valley! Gibson boots Aichner away and arm-drags him down! Aichner headscissors but Gibson pops out, Aichner CHOPS! Gibson headlocks, Aichner powers out but Gibson reverses, only for Aichner to reverse. They both go back and forth, and end up tumbling out of the ring together! Drake and Marthel back up their tag partners but the ref keeps this from breaking down as NXT goes to break!
NXT returns as Drake denies a roll up to tag in Gibson. Gibson waistlocks, Aichner switches but Drake helps Gibson back Aichner into a corner! Gibson then moves for Drake to elbow Aichner, then adds a clothesline! Feed to the windmill kick! Cover, TWO! Gibson drags Aichner up to club him down, then brings him up to tag in Drake. Gibson ripcords Aichner for Drake’s forearm to DECK him! Cover, TWO! Drake grows frustrated but he throws forearms to keep Aichner from Barthel. Drake brings Aichner up but Aichner suplexes to hang Drake out to dry! Drake flops down, Aichner crawls, hot tag to Gibson! Aichner trips Gibson to catapult into the corner!
Barthel tags in, Barthel puts Gibson in the ropes, Imperium meets with the dropkick sandwich! Barthel then scoops Gibson for a RUNNING AIR RAID! Cover, TWO!! Gibson survives but Barthel grits his teeth. Barthel stalks Gibson to a corner and throws haymakers. Barthel whips Gibson, Gibson reverses but Barthel stops himself to enziguri! Barthel runs in but Gibson boots, only for Barthel to shout “NEIN!” Butterfly suplex! Barthel goes up, poses for a moment, but leaps into a throat chop! But he throat chops back! Both men gasps for air, scowl at each other and pull each other’s ears. The ref reprimands, Barthel stops and tags in Aichner.
Aichner waistlocks Gibson, reels him in but Gibson runs into Barthel! Aichner hits a SPINEBUSTER, Barthel hits the PENALTY KICK! Then the GUT WRENCH, and Aichner covers, TWO! Aichner drags Gibson up to a fireman’s carry, ROLLING SENTON! And then MOONSAULT onto knees! Hot tag to Drake! Gibson holds Aichner in place for Drake’s ENZIGURI! Drake scowls as he drags Aichner up in the corner, bumps him off buckles, then CHOPS him! Drake hoists Aichner up top, climbs up to join him but Aichner fights back! Aichner slips under, Drake fights back now, and Aichner says he got hit in the nose. Barthel shoves Drake into Aichner’s arms for the SUPLEX! Cover, Gibson breaks it!
Fans are thunderous as Barthel goes after Gibson. Gibson throws Barthel out then rams Aichner in, GRIT YOUR TEETH DROPKICK! MAYHEM IN MOTION for Barthel! GYV fire up and Gibson goes out, only for Barthel go after him! Aichner rolls Drake, TWO! Aichner throws Drake out to where Gibson and Barthel brawl, and then Aichner builds speed to FLY! Direct hit takes everyone out at the ramp!! Fans are thunderous but Marthel returns to RAM Aichner into steel steps!!
Winners: Imperium, by disqualification
But then Parker POSTS Gibson! Ever-Rise is getting revenge on both teams! They RAM Barthel into boards, and then bring Drake up to FLAPJACK off the apron!! Ever-Rise will not be left out of the NXT Tag Team Championship race, but they do realize they’re now outnumbered 4v2. Parker and Marthel get away, but will they have to face both teams eventually?
Backstage interview with Ever-Rise.
At least, it would be if they’d stay. Parker and Marthel say “they got a taste,” and “Ever-Rise rules!” Then they get in the car and pull off into the night.
NXT presents another Thatch As Thatch Can!
Timothy Thatcher welcomes us back to another live session. “Today’s lesson: distractions. Apparently here in NXT, a lot of people lose matches via distractions.” Music plays, lights go out, people jump up on the apron, or people take seats at ringside. Tonight, Thatcher and his new student show us how to deal with distractions. Tonight- TOMMASO CIAMPA?! Thatcher tells him to out, he has a student already. No, Ciampa isn’t here to learn. He’s here to teach. “Class is in session.”
Thatcher says he has no beef with Ciampa. Thatcher goes to leave, but then Ciampa says, “Timothy Thatcher, everybody! Such a disappointment.” Thatcher takes offense, but he knows Ciampa is trying to goad him. Then Thatcher tackles Ciampa! They scramble, Ciampa gets up and DECKS Thatcher! “Lesson one: Don’t be an ass!” But then Thatcher’s student attacks Ciampa! They go after Ciampa 2v1 and Thatcher DECKS Ciampa! Thatcher throws knees and “student” Tyler Russ takes his leave. But Ciampa drags Thatcher out, only for Thatcher to RAM him into boards! And then into more boards!
Thatcher puts Ciampa back in the ring while fans boo, and Ciampa gets up! Thatcher has the facelock and makes it a grommet! Ciampa endures but faces, and is OUT! Thatcher grins as he looms over Ciampa. Thatcher did teach us what he can do when he has help, but will learn that the Psycho Killer doesn’t give up so easily?
Backstage interview with Timothy Thatcher.
It would appear he and his student tonight were just setting Ciampa up. Seems like it? No, Thatcher had no idea Russ would do that! But Thatcher is impressed to see a student taking initiative. Tonight, Ciampa learned about “distraction.” Sunday at TakeOver, Ciampa learns about respect. So another match has been added to WarGames! Will this one be as knockdown, drag out brutal as all the rest?
WarGames Advantage Ladder Match: Shotzi Blackheart VS Raquel Gonzalez!
While Shotzi’s army is missing a necessary unit, the tactical advantage is still very important! Will the wild child win big and worry about the missing piece later? Or will the situation only become more dire after facing #RickyDesperado?
The rest of Team Candice watches from one of the perches, as do Rhea and Ember from the other. The bell rings, Shotzi shotgun dropkicks Raquel but she stays up! Shotzi fires off forearms, Raquel shoves her, but Shotzi dodges the forearm to kick away on a leg! Raquel shoves Shotzi again, blocks the code breaker and throws her to a corner. Shotzi dodges again but Raquel blocks the kick! Raquel shoves Shotzi down, Shotzi kicks her away, then Shotzi runs in, only to get buckles! Raquel runs in, gets under the boots and Canadian racks Shotzi, to make it a torture rack by pulling Shotzi’s hair!
Raquel throws Shotzi then throws her into ropes! Shotzi lands safe and throws forearms back! Raquel DECKS Shotzi, then goes out to get a ladder! Shotzi stops Raquel but Raquel elbows her away. Raquel scoops Shotzi, but Shotzi slips out to shove Raquel into the ladder! Raquel falls, Shotzi gets in and builds speed, to dropkick the ladder into Raquel! Fans fire up as Shotzi gets that ladder back up and puts it in the ring. But Raquel grabs Shotzi, only for Shotzi to kick her away. Shotzi leaps, but Raquel catches her, to SLAM her onto the ladder! Raquel gets the ladder up, but Shotzi returns to hop on as a backpack! Raquel rams Shotzi into buckles, but Shotzi holds on!
Raquel rolls out, RAMS Shotzi into the apron, then goes up the steel steps! Shotzi still holds on as Raquel gets to the apron, to RAM Shotzi into the post! Shotzi falls to the floor, Raquel gasps for air and goes back after Shotzi, to haul her up and RAM her into boards! And then toss her away! Shotzi lands on her feet, baits Raquel in and lets the boot hit rungs! Shotzi throws the foot into the steps, then goes to the apron to dropkick Raquel back into those steps! Raquel still pushes back, and tosses Shotzi at the fencing! But Shotzi leaps up and clings to it like a cat! Shotzi mule kicks Raquel away, then TRUST FALLS! Down goes Raquel and fans are fired up!
Fans fire up as Shotzi drags herself to the ring. Shotzi gets up but Raquel kicks her into the steps! Shotzi gets up again but Raquel kicks her again! And again! Shotzi finally goes down as NXT goes picture in pnicture.
Raquel seethes, gets up, and drags Shotzi up to throw her into boards! Raquel hobbles while Shotzi slumps down. Raquel drags Shotzi up, and throws her into more boards! Shotzi flops back down while Raquel gets another ladder into the ring. Shotzi hurries after Raquel to club her from behind! And again! And again! Shotzi CHOPS Raquel, fires up, then goes after her again. But Raquel rakes Shotzi’s eyes! Raquel goes around the way, looks under the ring, and brings out another ladder! She puts that in the ring, but Shotzi is there to tug-o-war with her! Raquel lets go of the ladder to CLOBBER Shotzi!
Raquel picks a ladder up to JAM it into Shotzi again and again! Raquel brings Shotzi up, Shotzi keeps fighting, and then rolls Raquel out of the ring! Raquel drags Shotzi out but Shotzi kicks her away! Shotzi gets the ladder, and RAMS Raquel at the apron! And again! Raquel grabs the ladder this time and shoves Shotzi down with it, only for Shotzi to ROUNDHOUSE back! Shotzi has the ladder, sets it up beside Raquel and then goes up. Shotzi reels Raquel in, for a TORNADO DDT onto the ladder and apron!! Both women crash down but are still okay to continue. Shotzi cravats but no Sliced Bread as Raquel SLAMS Shotzi into the apron!
Both teams are watching intently as Raquel pulls steel steps apart. Raquel RAMS Shotzi down! Raquel gets in the ring, stands a ladder up, and starts to climb. Shotzi returns to hurry up the other side! Shotzi grabs one of Raquel’s arms and yanks it through the rungs! Raquel fights back but Shotzi bumps her head off the top! Both women fall off the ladder but the ladder stays up. Shotzi clutches an ankle but she gets her bad leg moving. Shotzi hobbles over, climbs up but Raquel grabs her to yank her down! Shotzi returns the favor, but Raquel shoves her! Raquel climbs, Shotzi tips the ladder over!
Raquel and Shotzi hobble around to fight over the same ladder. Shotzi ROCKS Raquel, grabs the other ladder, but Raquel BOOTS it out of Shotzi’s hand! Raquel grabs the ladder, but Shotzi goes up an dover! The ladder is in the ropes, Shotzi headscissors Raquel into it! Shotzi then aims and runs, to CANNONBALL Raquel into the ladder!! Raquel flounders and sputters as fans go nuts for “NXT! NXT!” Raquel flops out, Shotzi climbs up and aims, for a FLYING SEATED SENTON! Both women hit the floor and their teams are both worried. Wait, who is putting a ladder next to the platform? Indi Hartwell is helping Team Candice make a jailbreaker! The refs say this isn’t fair, but the team is just worried about Raquel.
Wait, someone did the same thing for Rhea and Ember? Who…? But Rhea and Ember go after Team Candice, while also checking on Shotzi. But now Indi is setting up a ladder in the ring? Shotzi gets in to stop her from winning this for Raquel! ROUNDHOUSE! Raquel rushes in, and she CLOBBERS Shotzi! Raquel climbs, the teams brawl ringside and officials have to stop that! But wait, IO SHIRAI literally jumps in! She is a backpack on Raquel to keep her down! Raquel is stuck in a sleeper, but she throws Shirai off to the apron! Shirai baits Raquel in and dumps her out! Then Shirai lines up her shot as she climbs up top, for a SUPER ASAI MOONSAULT!! Everyone goes down!!
Shotzi is back in the ring! She’s climbing all alone! Shotzi gets the briefcase and wins!!
Winner: Shotzi Blackheart (Team Shotzi has the advantage)
Not only does Shotzi’s team have the edge, they have an Evil Genius on their side! Will those two important factors be all the difference against Team Candice?
My Thoughts:
A really good episode for the go-home to WarGames! I feel a bit bad for Curt Stallion being replaced in at least kayfabe. It does make sense for Priest to feel he has to protect Ruff, but I would’ve liked if Stallion finally got some time on NXT to interact with the Cruiserweight Champion. The match was good, but with Priest and Ruff standing tall, the math would dictate Gargano winning the title back to become a historic three-time North American Champion. I’m hoping they defy the math and find a way for Ruff to retain, because I wouldn’t mind seeing North American VS Cruiserweight Champion, #WinnerTakesAll. What better way for Escobar to “mold” the Cruiserweight Division in his image than to establish that Cruiserweights can win more than just one title?
Cameron Grimes had a very good segment tonight, with beating Grey to then beat Grey, only for Lumis to give him his comeuppance. This likely means Grimes finds a way to win at TakeOver to tie the series at 1-1. But I do have to say that Grimes is already becoming a master of blending serious and comedic wrestling within his character. We know he can win and be a strong threat, but he’s also able to bring charisma and an over-the-top nature so that it’s fun to see him get shown-up. We also got a great match out of Atlas VS Nese, in a way giving us great blending of NXT and 205 Live, but also just building Atlas back up, as we heard him say in that promo.
The Undisputed Era had a really good pseudo Prime Target, and McAfee had a great promo running it down. I also like that he easily utilized an honest, out of character moment of praising Pat Patterson to then double down on UE. McAfee’s character definitely talks a big game, but this has to mean he and his team lose big at WarGames. Though, with the UE having done everything, and a lot of new tag teams getting in the mix, this could be the moment UE pass the torch so to speak and head on to Raw or SmackDown (preferably SmackDown). And speaking of, GYV VS Imperium was great, and I’m fine that Ever-Rise caused the DQ. GYV and Imperium both stay strong, and this could become a Triple Threat to determine the first challengers for Oney & Danny.
Ciampa and Thatcher had a good segment to give us a good brawl, and their match being added last minute is whatever, the match itself should be very good. I have a feeling we’re also going to see the results of this new story for Boa, Xia Li and I believe it’s Karen Q who NXT casted as “her” this Sunday. Depending on who wins what, Xia might be sent after Io Shirai to try and jump the line towards the title. And speaking of Shirai, she was a shoe-in for joining Team Shotzi after what Team Candice did to her. I like how they introduced it, though. The almost Pulp Fiction briefcase moment with the “engine,” then the mysterious ladders scooting up to the perches, it was great stuff.
I was afraid for Shotzi there with her ankle, I thought she was going to end up sidelined right as she is going in as the team leader of WarGames. In a vacuum, it’s a bit worrisome in the math that the Faces went over, since they would then lose at WarGames. But since the UE are Faces in their match, and are the underdogs because of The Kings having advantage, you can’t just copy and paste that. Maybe Shotzi’s team still somehow end up against the wall since Indi likes helping Candice, and there are still somehow multiple Ghost Faces running around. All I know is, Shotzi and team need to be riding in on a tank and it’ll be a success.
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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