Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE TLC Results & Report! (12/20/20)
TLC: Trop Loves Championships!
WWE brings out the Tables, Ladders, Chairs, and CHAMPIONSHIPS!
2020 is almost over, but it’s about to get more painful! Will Roman Reigns still be WWE Universal Champion after tonight? Or can Kevin Owens #StunTheWorld and dethrone the Tribal Chief?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – 8 Man Tag: Daniel Bryan, Big E, Otis Dozovic & Chad Gable VS Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro & King Corbin; Bryan, Big E, Otis & Gable win.
- WWE World Championship TLC Match: Drew McIntyre VS AJ Styles w/ Jordan Omogbehin; changed to…
- WWE World Championship TLC Triple Threat: Drew McIntyre VS AJ Styles w/ Omogbehin VS The Miz w/ John Morrison; McIntyre wins and retains the title.
- SmackDown Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks VS Carmella; Sasha wins and retains the title.
- Raw Tag Team Championships: The New Day VS The Hurt Business; The Hurt Business wins and become the new Raw Tag Team Champions.
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler VS Asuka & ???; Asuka & Charlotte Flair win and become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
- WWE Universal Championship TLC Match: Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman VS Kevin Owens; Reigns wins and retains the title.
- Firefly Inferno Match: The Fiend VS Randy Orton; Orton wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s the WWE TLC Kickoff Show!
The last kickoff show for the last WWE PPV for 2020! Join Charly Caruso, Booker T, Jeff Jarrett and Peter Rosenberg in discussing, analyzing and predicting all of tonight’s action!
MVP joins the kickoff show by video.
“Bring ’em out, bring ’em out!” Charly asks MVP what it would mean for The Hurt Business to add the Raw Tag Team Championships. It would be destiny fulfilled. Shelton Benjamin is one of the most decorated superstars, Cedric Alexander is a former Cruiserweight Champion, and MVP just reminded them of their past glory and got them back to their winning ways. So as the de facto leader, what advice does MVP give to his guys? Well Benjamin was a former tag team champion, so he knows what he’s doing. MVP just directs traffic. The New Day are clowns, it’s hard for MVP to respect them, but you have to acknowledge they are one of the greatest tag teams in this industry. But every day must end in night. And the only “new” we’ll be talking about is the new tag team champions.
Booker knows he and MVP both come “from the neighborhood,” and Alexander was the guy who needed that “dirt” on him. Has MVP had that talk with Alexander? Oh they’ve talked a lot lately, and in this re-emergence, Alexander now has that attack dog in him. We’ve seen a new Alexander. “They dropped, if you will.” Charly thanks MVP for his time and wishes his team luck in that title match up. Will the Hurt Business acquire new assets tonight at the expense of the 10-time tag team champions?
The Miz and John Morrison join the panel!
Hey, hey! Ho ho! They’re on the kickoff show, and Miz is feeling great as Mr. Money in the Bank. Is he cashing in? Well he doesn’t know. If the opportunity presents itself, then that opportunity will be taken. But if not, then no. What does that look like then> Morrison says this is about chaos and carnage, and a lot of people have a lot to lose. Morrison says even Roman and Kevin could be a target. So these two are working together? Why wouldn’t they? But who takes the case home? Miz is Mr. MITB so it is his. Morrison gets the first shot after, though. To cash in for a championship, they both understand how valuable the MITB is.
Then what about Omos, Jordan Omogbehin? Well we haven’t seen or heard much from him, but his presence alone, “you can’t teach tall.” Miz considers Omos as a factor. But McIntyre has been unstoppable! People keep asking why Miz hasn’t cashed in, but that’s because McIntyre is hard to pin! AJ Styles is also to be reckoned with. Miz felt the wrath of AJ Styles when Styles first came to WWE. Miz knows the talent on display is TLC, pain and torment!
But to cash in, the window has to be cracked, the back door has to be opened, but Miz doesn’t seem that confident. Morrison defends Miz’s confidence but Booker says he’s calling it like he sees it. Miz IS confidence! The most confidence in the WWE! And he is going to cash in, at the right time. Could it be tonight? Yes! Could it be tomorrow on Raw? Yes! Could it be months from now? Yes! But it isn’t if, it is when, and Miz will be champion! The Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century head off, will the opportunity present itself tonight?
R-Truth joins the kickoff show!
Asuka needs a tag partner, right? Truth had a #WWJCD moment. What Would John Cena Do? Truth officially declares, or rather offers, to be Asuka’s tag team partner! They can win and become champions! There are many reasons she should choose him! He knows Japanese, and has held more titles, title reigns combined, in WWE history! Well 45 of them are as 24/7 Champion. Please don’t say “45-time” 45 times… Truth hurries of, but will someone please remind him it’s the Women’s Tag Team Championships, not a mixed tag title match?
8 Man Tag: Daniel Bryan, Big E, Otis Dozovic & Chad Gable VS Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro & King Corbin!
Quite a star-studded 4v4 match courtesy of SmackDown! Will the YES Movement, Mr. Five Count, the Blue Collar Brawler and the Alpha Academy Coach be able to best the group formerly known as the Artist Collective?
Naturally, the Wolf King has the Knights of the Lone Wolf, Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake, with him. Perhaps they’ll be factors in this match. The teams sort out, and Sami starts with Gable. But Sami wants Big E, so Gable obliges! Big E tags in, rushes Sami, but Sami tags out! So much for wanting after him. Corbin is in and he circles with Big E. They tie up, go around, and Corbin pushes Big E to a corner. Big E turns it around, but lets off at the ref’s count. Big E comes back for more but Corbin stays in the corner. Sami taunts Big E, Corbin knees Big E low! Corbin runs, Big E drops to then hurdle and elbow Corbin, but Corbin comes back to CLOBBER Big E!
Sami talks trash but Big E dodges Corbin. Corbin slides out, slides in but into the belly2belly! Tag to Gable but Cesaro tags in. The Swiss Cyborg headlocks, Gable powers out but Cesaro runs him over! Cover, ONE, Gable has the waistlock! Cesaro elbows out, headlocks but Gable powers out. Things speed up, Gable leaps but into Cesaro’s arms! Gable slips out and runs to arm-drag! And then he goes up to headscissor Cesaro! Gable wrenches, tags in Bryan, and Bryan hops up to drop ax handles on Cesaro’s arm! Bryan wrenches an arm to an elbow breaker, then he throws EuroUppers and KICKS in the corner! Bryan wrenches, whips Cesaro but Cesaro reverses.
Bryan goes up and over and keeps moving, ducks a clothesline to leap and lariat! Cesaro sits up, blocks the Yes Kick and trips Bryan, but Bryan denies the swing with a victory roll! TOW, and Bryan kicks, but Cesaro powers him to ropes! The ref counts, Cesaro lets off and Nakamura gets a cheap shot roundhouse! Tag to Nakamura, they combine for a KNEE and SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Nakamura drags Bryan around, cravats and grinds, but Bryan endures. Sami tags in, they mug Bryan and Sami fires off haymakers! Nakamura gets a cheap shot as the ref pulls Sami back. Sami taunts Big E, drags Bryan up to throw more hands, then he drags Bryan to the corner.
Corbin tags in, the mugging continues, then Corbin puts Bryan on ropes to throw forearms into his back! Corbin taunts Otis, throws more clubbing forearms to Bryan’s back, then argues with the ref. Corbin laces Bryan in the ropes to stomps him! Tag to Sami and he gets in Big E’s face! The ref has to keep Big E back before Sami goes over to bump Bryan off the boots of Cesaro and Nakamura! Tag back to Corbin, Corbin throws haymakers then hoists Bryan up top. Corbin climbs, brings Bryan up, but Bryan resists the superplex! Bryan throws body shots, then headbutts Corbin! Corbin holds on but Bryan headbutts until Corbin falls! Bryan leaps and missile dropkicks!
Both men are down, the teams fire up, but Sami grabs at Big E! Big E chases Sami but Sami goes to the barriers! Cesaro EUROUPPERS Big E, Gable CANNONBALLS onto Cesaro! Bryan hot tags Otis! Nakamura is in, Otis rallies with big elbows! Otis whips Nakamura and FLAPJACKS him! Gable coaches Otis on and Otis hits a corner splash! Nakamura is down, but it’s time for the test! What will Otis do? He chooses CATERPILLAR ELBOW! Tag to Gable, they coordinate, but Nakamura ROUNDHOUSES Otis first! Gable ducks one kick but not the windmill! Tag to Cesaro, they combine for FLYING KNEE GUT WRENCH BOMB!! Cover, but Otis breaks it!
Otis throws Nakamura out, but Corbin SPINEBUSTERS Otis! Bryan dodges Corbin to hit the FLYING KNEE! Cesaro pop-up UPPERCUTS Bryan! Gable waistlocks Cesaro for CHAOS THEORY! Both men are down but Sami is lurking! Sami returns to the corner and tags in! Sami drags Gable up, but Gable slips out of Blue Thunder to tag in Big E! And Sami is alone!! Big scoop, but Sami slips out to BOOT! Sami runs corner to corner, into a Urenag-E! Big E scoops for the BIG ENDING! Cover, Big E and team win!
Winners: Big E, Daniel Bryan, Chad Gable & Otis Dozovic, by pinfall
Sami is a clever strategist but he didn’t #ThinkBig E-nough! Will this lead Big E back to the Intercontinental Championship that Sami clings to?
A storm is coming.
It isn’t raining cats ‘n’ dogs, but wood and steel! And with gold sprinkled in between! Will the Boss still be in charge against the #UNTOUCHABLE? Will the Empress of Tomorrow have a surprise for the sadistic Queen of Spades and Irresistible Force? Will a Viper be burned to ash by a Fiend? Will the tables, ladders and chairs raining down change the landscape of the WWE forever?
WWE World Championship TLC Match: Drew McIntyre VS AJ Styles w/ Jordan Omogbehin!
The Scottish Warrior and the Phenomenal One have their first-ever 1v1 encounter and it’s with the highest stakes possible! But between tables, ladders, chairs, Omos ringside and Mr. MITB lurking in the shadows, what will take the title away from McIntyre? CAN anything take the title away from him?
The introductions are made, the belt is already high above the ring, and the first high stakes battle of the night begins!
McIntyre takes time to take off the kilt and gauntlets but Styles fires off on him! Styles CHOPS away in a corner, gets a leg but McIntyre kicks him away. McIntyre runs in but Styles dodges to fire off haymakers and kicks and a CHOP! Styles brings McIntyre out but McIntyre suplexes and TOSSES Styles away! McIntyre glares as he stands Styles up to CHOP him! And then McIntyre TOSSES Styles again! Styles gets to a corner, McIntyre throws hands! McIntyre dares Styles to get up but McIntyre CHOPS Styles back down! Styles crawls, McIntyre stalks him, whips him corner to corner HARD and Styles bounces off buckles chest first!
McIntyre drags Styles up, whips him back the other way and Styles bounces off into haymakers! McIntyre stomps Styles’ leg then glare at Omos. Omos stays put but McIntyre drags Styles up to kick low. Styles throat chops! Styles runs, but McIntyre back drops him high and hard! McIntyre watches Styles flounder to a corner. McIntyre runs in but into Styles’ boot! Styles hops up, McIntyre CHOPS him off and to the floor! McIntyre goes out after Styles, and he brings Styles up to bump him off the announce desk! Styles slumps down and McIntyre clears off a table with ease. McIntyre brings the table closer and then drags Styles up.
McIntyre bounces Styles’ head off the table, climbs up and over, then brings Styles up to suplex. Styles fights free but McIntyre ROCKS him with a right! Styles flounders into furniture but McIntyre scoops him to SNAKE EYES those ribs off the barriers! McIntyre wants Omos to move out of the way, and he obliges, and McIntyre uses Styles to bowl chairs off another table! Strike! Styles reaches around but McIntyre brings him up again, to again SNAKE EYES off barriers! That was head first this time. McIntyre gets a ladder and puts it in the ring! McIntyre stands the ladder up right under the belt and begins his climb! Styles hurries back in and he SMACKS McIntyre’s leg with a chair!
McIntyre falls off the ladder and Styles takes it for his own! Styles climbs, but McIntyre hobbles up. Styles gets the chair again and sees McIntyre clutching that leg. Styles SMACKS McIntyre on the back! Styles slows down because of his own hurting body but he wedges the chair in a corner. McIntyre hobbles, uses ropes for support, but Styles stops him from climbing the ladder. Styles goes to bump McIntyre off the chair but McIntyre blocks, trips Styles up, and catapults him! But Styles uses that to get UP the ladder! McIntyre stops Styles with clubbing forearms, pries him off and then aims at the ladder, but Styles sunset flips! McIntyre rolls through to catapult Styles into the CHAIR! Styles’ plan backfires on him!
McIntyre clutches his leg but goes to the ladder. McIntyre climbs but Omos fetches more chairs for Styles! Styles THROWS the ladder into McIntyre’s back! McIntyre stops his climb and even comes down a rung, for Styles to chop block! McIntyre writhes, clutching his leg, and Styles steadies himself. Styles drags McIntyre up and RAMS his head into rungs! McIntyre is down, the ladder tips over, but Styles brings it around to push down onto McIntyre! McIntyre is even more dazed and Styles walks over to bring him up. Basement enziguri! Styles looms over McIntyre as McIntyre crawls to the ladder.
Styles drags McIntyre up, reels him in and wants the Clash, but McIntyre resists the lift! McIntyre spins out, FUTURE SHOCK! Styles flounders, McIntyre gets up and has the ladder back. McIntyre sees Styles in a corner, and decides to wield the ladder LIKE A SWORD! Styles manages to avoid a direct hit, and he CHOP BLOCKS McIntyre again! Styles yanks on the leg, slams it on the ladder, then puts it inside the ladder for a FULL METAL CALF CRUSHER! McIntyre can only endure as there is no tapping out in this kind of match! Styles lets go when he tires out, and he frees McIntyre’s leg of the ladder. Or rather he frees the ladder of McIntyre’s leg, so that he can stand the ladder up.
McIntyre anchors Styles’ foot but Styles stomps him down. Styles tells McIntyre if he doesn’t stay down, he’ll be put down! CHAIR SHOT to the back! And another! And then to the leg! McIntyre flails and writhes but now Styles puts the leg through the chair! Another FULL METAL CALF CRUSHER! McIntyre endures, moves around, but Styles just pulls on the leg more! McIntyre crawls onto the ladder, to SLAM Styles’ head off it! Styles lets go of McIntyre to clutch his own head! McIntyre frees his leg but both men are both still down. Styles crawls back to the ladder, works to stand it up, but McIntyre grabs the other end of the ladder! McIntyre RAMS the ladder into the corner, Styles trips McIntyre to drag him to a corner. Styles KICKS the leg, then SLAMS the leg against the post!
Styles drags McIntyre out to throw a haymaker, then to RAM him down with another ladder! McIntyre is down and dazed, but Styles clears off a table and clears some space. McIntyre flounders over but Styles kicks him again. Styles takes a seat while McIntyre crawls, and then Styles throws more haymakers. Styles puts McIntyre on the table, rains down fists, and then goes back in the ring. Styles walks up the ladder wedged in the corner, but McIntyre gets up and THROWS a chair back at him! Direct hit and down goes Styles! McIntyre gets the table while Styles sputters and staggers about. McIntyre tosses the table in without even folding it up!
McIntyre gets his bad leg moving, stands the table back up, but Styles is after him. McIntyre elbows Styles, but runs into a drop toehold, into the corner ladder! McIntyre is down and dazed all over again! Styles drags McIntyre back up, whips him but McIntyre reverses. Styles slides under the table, then shoves it into McIntyre’s legs! Styles uses the table to leap, but McIntyre catches him! McIntyre OVERHEAD SUPLEXES Styles onto the ladder! Styles slides down the rungs while McIntyre gets to a corner. McIntyre works to get his bad leg moving again, and he heads over. Styles forearms McIntyre away, springboards, and hits a PHENOMENAL FOREARM!
Both men are down but they both roll to corners. Styles has Omos fetch him a new ladder, and he sets this one up under the belt. Styles climbs up, but McIntyre returns to grab at him! Styles kicks McIntyre but McIntyre still comes back! McIntyre gets Styles in a trophy lift, to TOSS out of the ring and through a table!! Referees check on Styles in the wreckage but McIntyre hurries to the ladder! McIntyre begins his climb, but here comes THE MIZ!! The Miz attacks McIntyre and Morrison has the briefcase! Miz POWERBOMBS McIntyre THROUGH THE TABLE!! Morrison gives the ref the briefcase because Miz is cashing in! THIS CHANGES THE MATCH TYPE!!
WWE World Championship TLC Triple Threat: Drew McIntyre VS AJ Styles w/ Omogbehin VS The Miz w/ John Morrison!
And as such, Miz is now climbing the ladder! Miz is grinning because he sees the title right above him! But OMOS gets involved! Omos yanks Miz off the ladder, cradles him like a child, and DROPS him through a TABLE! The cash-in is in jeopardy! Morrison SMACKS Omos with a chair, but the CHAIR breaks?! Omos barely felt that! Morrison sees he’s in trouble, and ditches the chair to bail out! Omos glares at Morrison, Morrison gets another chair as protection, but he falls over spare ladders! Morrison is up the ramp, Omos storms up that way, but the match is still going on! Miz, McIntyre and Styles are all in wreckage of tables, but McIntyre is the one in the ring!
McIntyre drags himself up, but Styles is back in now. Styles positions the ladder, McIntyre staggers but that leg is not cooperating. McIntyre hobbles over to get on the ladder, and the two are climbing! McIntyre has the lead based on his own natural height, but Styles manages to hit him in his leg! McIntyre keeps going and he hits back! McIntyre reaches at the belt but Styles punches him in the gut! Styles bounces McIntyre off the ladder but so does McIntyre! Miz is setting up another ladder next to theirs! McIntyre and Styles brawl but Miz climbs clear to the top! Mcintyre punches Miz, punches Styles, Styles falls down! GLASGOW KISS!
But Miz stays up and throws more hands! They go back and forth, they bounce each other off their ladders! McIntyre shoves Miz away! Styles springboards up to the top! Styles throws forearms, McIntyre throws hands, they brawl again! Styles sends McIntyre down into the ropes! But Miz is back! Miz hits Styles with haymakers! Miz reaches, Styles hits him! McIntyre uses Miz’s ladder to tip the other, and both men hit ropes! Styles tumbles out hard and Miz flounders, into a CLAYMORE!! McIntyre stands a ladder back up, climbs as fast as he can with his bad leg, he’s all alone up top! McIntyre WINS!
Winner: Drew McIntyre (still WWE World Champion)
The Scottish Warrior slays all of his adversaries! The Phenomenal One could not get it done, Mr. Money in the Bank went bankrupt, and the gold stays with McIntyre! If even these odds were not enough to knock McIntyre off the top, what in the world can?
Backstage interview with Paul Heyman.
The Tribal Chief’s Special Counsel is here, and Kayla brings up Kevin Owens’ ultimatum of winning the title, or die trying. “Aesthetics over competency again, I see.” But Heyman will give everyone the real question, “Is Heyman a sports fan?” Yes. And outside of the WWE, he likes NASCAR. Not for who wins, but for the crashes. Heyman is a sick individual, yes, but he likes that part of him.
Pro-wrestling is dangerous enough as it is, but tonight is carnage. People fall of ladders and through tables because they were hit by a chair. “Someone is going to get hurt bad tonight, and that someone’s name is Kevin Owens.” And Kevin will be hurt on purpose by your Tribal Chief, the undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman Reigns. And that is not just a prediction. That is a spoiler! Will Heyman again be proven right? Or will Kevin prove him oh so wrong?
SmackDown Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks VS Carmella!
The Boss, the blueprint, the standard of the Women’s Division has been the target of the #UNTOUCHABLE Princess of Staten Island ever since Carmella made her return. But while Mella has been successfully ambushing Sasha, and thought she had Sasha right where she wanted her, Sasha turned the tables on her! A disqualification ended the match these two had on television, but will things end very differently here on PPV?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and the battle to see who is truly the baddest bitch on the blue brand begins again!
Sasha rushes Mella but Mella bails out right way! Mella claims she needs to make sure her ring gear is fitting just right, and she’s using the ring count. Mella returns at 5 but Sasha is right on her with fast hands! Mella knocks Sasha down and talks trash as she knocks her down. Mella drags Sasha up, whips, but Sasha reverses and trips her up to drag her out! Sasha bumps Mella off the apron, then uses the apron for an arm-drag! Sasha CLUBS Mella, puts her back in the ring, and covers, TWO! Sasha looms over Mella, drags her up but Mella SLAPS her! Mella drags Sasha back up, whips but Sasha reverses to throw Mella out! Luckily, Mella’s sommelier, Reginald, is there to catch her!
Sasha goes to the apron and leaps, but Reginald gets under the Meteora! Reginald then helps Mella give Sasha a huricanrana! Sasha gets up but Mella shoves Sasha into the steel steps! Mella puts Sasha in the ring, covers, TWO! Mella takes her time to adjust her gear and then she drags Sasha back up. Mella puts Sasha in a corner and stomps her down! The ref counts, Mella lets off at 3, but then runs in to BRONCO BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Mella drags Sasha back into a chinlock and talks trash while grinding her down. Sasha endures even as Mella bends her back, and Sasha fights up to hip bump. Mella ends up a backpack as Sasha rams her into a corner!
Sasha snapmares out, runs and BASEMENT METEORA! Cover, TWO! Mella goes to a corner, Sasha runs in but is put on the apron. Sasha KNEES Mella back, drags her out, and turns her around, but Mella switches out of the Backstabber to hit an apron EDGE O’MATIC! Or maybe a Mella Matic? Mella puts Sasha in, covers, TWO! Mella keeps on Sasha with a motorcycle stretch and she digs a knee into Sasha’s back. Mella shouts, “You’re not the Boss!” Sasha fights up as fans clap on their ThunderDome screens. Sasha elbows out then scoops Mella for a BACKBREAKER! Mella hobbles over but Sasha blocks the kick to KNEE Mella back!
Sasha runs at Mella in the corner, METEORA! Sasha snap suplexes, una amiga! Dos amigas! And then THREE AMIGAS! Sasha smiles as she gives her tribute to Latino Heat, and then she drags Mella to a drop zone. The tribute isn’t over as Sasha climbs up, for a FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Mella survives and shocks Sasha! Sasha works to keep her cool, but she says Mella messed up. Sasha reels her in but Mlela backs Sasha into buckles! Mella throws elbow after elbow but the ref counts, so she stops at 3. Mella runs back in but into a BOOT! Sasha hosp up and leaps, but Mella gets under! Mella runs, into a tilt-o-whirl, into a MELLA BUSTER! Cover, TWO!?!
Mella tries again, TWO!! Mella is furious, she high stacks, TWO!! Sasha is still in this and Mella is in disbelief! Mella drags Sasha back up, then feeds Sasha to Mella’s boot! Mella goes up, for the HANGING NECKLOCK! The ref counts, Mella lets go at 4, and then adjusts her gear again. Mella drags Sasha by her hair to pull against the ropes! Sasha SLAPS Mella and that angers Mella! Mella clubs away with furious fists on Sasha’s back! The ring count begins but Mella says to be patient. FABULOUS KICK to Sasha! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Mella is furious! Sasha flounders away but Mella stalks over. Sasha throws Mella into buckles! Sunset flip, TWO!
Sasha gets Mella for Deadly Nightshade! Sasha drags Mella up to the top now, but Mella throws body shots back! Mella clubs Sasha, adjusts position, and FABULOUS STEINERS! But Sasha sunset flips through, TWO!! Sasha runs into a roll up, TWO! Sasha spins Mella for a backslide, TWO! They roll over, fight up, and Mella reels Sasha back in. Sasha trips to the jackknife, TWO! Mella has the CODE OF SILENCE!! Sasha endures the necklock, rolls to pop out but Mella fights off the crossface! RINGS OF SATURN, WITH A NECKLOCK!! Mella stomps away on Sasha’s head!! Sasha manages a cover, TWO!! Mella let Sasha go and Sasha is gasping in a corner.
Mella runs in but her Bronco Buster misses! Sasha rolls Mella to a takedown and a BANK STATEMENT CROSSFACE!! Mella crawls around, reaches with her legs and arms, Reginald gets her out of the hold! The ref reprimands Reginald but Sasha LEAPS to METEORA Reginald down! But another FABULOUS KICK! And another FABULOUS KICK! Mella puts Sasha in, covers, TWO!?!? Mella is beside herself as Sasha survives again! Mella refuses to believe this, and she shouts, “You are NOT better than me, Sasha!” Mella slaps Sasha over and over and keeps shouting at her! Mella drags Sasha up, but Sasha pops out of the facebuster to get the CROSSFACE!! Mella flails, but she taps! Sasha wins!
Winner: Sasha Banks, by submission (still SmackDown Women’s Champion)
And it is STILL #BossTime for SmackDown! Mella had her assistant helping her and she still couldn’t put Sasha away! Will Sasha be popping bottles to celebrate this victory tonight?
Billie Kay talks with Asuka backstage.
Billie asks Asuka if she just saw that match. Billie just knew Sasha would retain. Maybe Billie’s clairvoyant? She’ll add that to her resume real quick. And speaking of, Billie presents her headshot and resume to Asuka. We all know Asuka needs a tag team partner, Billie is a former tag team champion, so she’d be a great partner against Nia and Shayna. And in the skills section, Billie is proficient in Japanese! Really? Asuka fires off Japanese and Billie says “Right back at you.” Billie even made her own mask to match Asuka’s! Asuka says enough! Clearly Billie did not understand. But thank you, but no thank you. The position has been filled. Billie is NOT ready for Asuka! Thanks, bye. But then if Asuka has a tag partner all set up, who is it?!
Raw Tag Team Championships: The New Day VS The Hurt Business!
The title matches do not stop! The 10-time W, W, E, World, Tag, Team, CHAMPIONS~ are hoping to hold onto the gold against the very hungry Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander! But will Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have to kiss their assets good-bye tonight?
Backstage, Charly Caruso asks if the New Day is ready. How is this match going to be different from the last time? Well Kofi puts it like this: it won’t be. But the longer answer: it definitely won’t be. The Hurt Business have gone against the New Day before, but this is #BigMatch New Day! The Butt Hurt Business will be even more butt hurt because 2020 ends as it began: with the New Day as tag team champions. Why? BECAAAUSE- It’s still not quite right without Big E. But the point is, NEW! DAY ROCKS!
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and the teams sort out, with Kofi starting against Alexander!
Alexander rushes Kofi but gets a SUPERKICK for it!! Cover, TWO! Kofi drags Alexander up, hits a Russian Leg Sweep, then tags Woods. Kofi twerks on Alexander as Woods drops the SUPER LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Woods drags Alexander up as MVP shouts for him to tag out! Kofi tags in, rams into Alexander, Woods rolls Alexander for Kofi’s crossbody! Cover, TWO! Kofi keeps Alexander away from Benjamin with a snapmare. Tag to Woods, penalty kick to sliding lariat, and Kofi’s rebound splash! Woods dragon sleepers for a SAVING GRACE! Cover, Benjamin breaks it up!
Benjamin and MVP coach Alexander and Alexander kicks Woods away. Benjamin tags in to clobber Woods! Benjamin snap suplexes Woods, covers, TWO! MVP helps Alexander hydrate while Benjamin whips Woods for a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Benjamin drags Woods back up and whips, but Woods ducks and dodges to slide and ROLLING ELBOW! Woods whips, wrenches and puts Benjamin on ropes! Kofi tags in as Woods builds speed, sliding attack onto Benjamin and he wrecks Alexander with a dropkick! The Hurt Business is reeling from that 2-for-1 special, Kofi springboards and STOMPS Benjamin down! Cover, TWO!
Woods keeps on Alexander with elbows and Kofi kicks Benjamin. Kofi mule kicks, tags Woods, PLANCHA for Alexander and GET OVER HERE for Benjamin! Cover, TWO! The New Day is fired up and Woods brings Benjamin up. Woods CHOPS Benjamin, and CHOPS and CHOPS, then whips. Benjamin puts Woods on the apron but Woods hits him away, Benjamin KNEES Woods back! Benjamin throws Woods hard into the buckles! Tag to Alexander, and Alexander aims at Woods, to PENALTY KICK him in the back! MVP says the kick was good! Alexander puts Woods in, covers, TWO!
Alexander rains down elbows, digs knuckles into ribs, and then pulls Woods back in a chinlock. Alexander drags Woods over, tags Benjamin in, and Benjamin stomps Woods down. Benjamin drags Woods up and wrenches to an elbow breaker! Benjamin keeps on the arm but MVP wants to hear it snap. Benjamin stomps Woods, tags Alexander back in, and Alexander throws elbows. Alexander clamps on claws into Woods’ shoulder and he taunts, “How’s that nerve feeling!?” Woods endures, fights up and fights back but Alexander DECKS him with a right! Alexander runs, handsprings, but into Woods’ enziguri! He neutralizes the Neuralizer!
Woods and Alexander crawl, hot tags to Kofi and Benjamin! Kofi springboard ax handles Benjamin first! And he hits Alexander, then rallies with CHOPS on Benjamin! Dropkick! Benjamin gets up, Kofi LEAPING LARIATS! MVP shouts at Benjamin but Kofi BOOTS Alexander down! Kofi runs for the Boom Drop, but gets caught! Alexander tags in, climbs up, Benjamin moves Kofi around, but no Doomsday! Kofi victory rolls and STOMPS Benjamin! Kofi catches Alexander for SOS! Cover, TWO!! MVP is panicking as Kofi watches Alexander. Kofi claps it up, spins, but Alexander ducks Trouble to back suplex! Kofi lands out, whips Alexander but Alexander reveres! Kofi goes up, up and over, but Alexander gets under to come back with a KNEE! BRAIN BUSTER! Cover, but Woods breaks it!
Benjamin brawls with Woods, KNEE, to Alexander’s NEURALIZER! Benjamin hits PAYDIRT on Woods! Kofi is down, Alexander tags back to Benjamin, and Benjamin drags Woods up. OLYMIPC- NO! Kofi slips out to dropkick Benjamin down! Alexander is there, Kofi KICKS him, too! Kofi slips out to swing kick Benjamin! Kofi goes up, but Benjamin ROCKS him first! Benjamin climbs, drags Kofi up but Kofi fights back! Kofi headbutts Benjamin away, adjusts, but Benjamin ROCKS him again! Benjamin goes up, brings Kofi right up, for a HALF HATCH SUPERPLEX! Benjamin fires up and wants to hit Kofi with something more, but Alexander tags in!? Alexander drags Kofi up, LUMBAR CHECK!! Cover, The Hurt Business wins!!
Winners: The Hurt Business, by pinfall (NEW Raw Tag Team Champions)
MVP doesn’t mind Alexander improvising, because they just took the titles! The Hurt Business’ treasury is growing larger, and Bobby Lashley is there to celebrate with them! Will they soon take over all of Raw together?
Sami Zayn confronts Kayla Braxton.
“Oh, there she is! Little Ms. Journalist!” She must be proud of leaking that audio that breached his privacy! Does she have no shame? But Sami stops himself and apologizes. He just wants to know who gave her the audio. Was it Big E? Sami will deal with it himself. Kayla apologizes, but a journalist doesn’t reveal their sources. Oh is she lecturing him on ethics?! He is the ONLY ONE who knows about ethics in the WWE! Will Sami rant and rave until this mystery is solved?
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler VS Asuka & ???
Nia and Shayna have bullied the Ravishing Russian for months, but while her spirit did not break, they finally broke her physically. Lana is not able to compete tonight for the opportunity she and the Empress of Tomorrow won together, but WWE is allowing for a substitution! Who is it that Asuka has chosen for her new teammate? It’s… THE QUEEN, CHARLOTTE FLAIR!! She finally returns and wants her own revenge on Nia! They’ve been rivals before, but will Charlotte and Asuka now reign together?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and Asuka starts against Shayna to start this wrestling royal showdown!
Asuka and Shayna circle, feel the grapple out, and Asuka gets a leg. Shayna waistlocks, Asuka switches, but Shayna rolls to get free and KICK Asuka back! Asuka shakes her head but Shayna KICKS her again! Asuka ducks the next kick to give KICKS! Shayna blocks a kick but Asuka gets an arm! They roll, Asuka wants the armbar but Shayna moves around to trap an arm! Hair down, but Asuka dodges the stomp! Asuka and Shayna stand off, but Charlotte wants in! Asuka gives her the tag! The Queen of Spades and Queen of Flair stare down, but then Charlotte blasts past Shayna to hit Nia! Charlotte elbows Shayna down and gets the leg but Shayna kicks her away!
Shayna and Charlotte circle, but Shayna grins as she tags to Nia. That’s what Charlotte wanted anyway! Charlotte and Nia tie up, Charlotte waistlocks but Nia rams her into the corner! Nia keeps hitting, then runs in, but Charlotte dodges! Charlotte headlocks, Nia powers out and the two collide. Neither falls, Nia dares Charlotte to bring it, so Charlotte kicks and headlocks. Asuka tags in, fire off kicks, then fast hands! Asuka back kicks then whips, but Nia reverses. Asuka holds ropes and she elbows back then ROUNDHOUSES and CODE BREAKERS! Nia stays up so Asuka kicks her in the corner! Asuka goes up but Nia ROCKS her!
Nia fireman’s carries, Asuka flails to a sunset but Nia drags her up to headbutt! Nia POSTS Asuka in the corner, tags Shayna, and they throw Asuka down. Nia sets the arm up for Shayna’s STOMP! Shayna keeps stomping the arm, then covers, TWO! Charlotte coaches Asuka but Shayna has the cording hold. Shayna tortures the elbow then the wrist and fingers! Asuka endures, Shayna twists it around to a double wristlock, but Asuka fights up to roll her! ONE, Shayna CLOBBERS Asuka! Shayna drags Asuka up, throws her into buckles, then tags in Nia. Nia drags Asuka down then YANKS her into the post! Nia drags Asuka up to whip her hard into barriers!
The ring count climbs but Nia takes her time. Nia puts Asuka in at 6, tags Shayna, and they wrap the arm around ropes to throw body shots! The ref reprimands, Shayna brings Asuka out to twist the arm around into another double wristlock. Asuka endures as Shayna goes after the elbow more, then Shayna shifts. Asuka goes after Shayna’s arm now! Shayna pulls hair, whips, but Asuka wrenches back to kick away! Shayna blocks a kick, trips Asuka up, and covers, TWO! Charlotte was ready just in case but Asuka survives. Shayna throws Asuka out, tags to Nia, and Nia goes around to go after Asuka. Nia scoops Asuka but Asuka slips off to shove Nia! Nia avoids post but not BACK HAND!
Asuka hurries back in, Nia gives chase, and Shayna lurks around the way, Asuka kicks Nia away, ROUNDHOUSE! But Shayna yanks Charlotte down! Charlotte DECKS Shayna for it, and tags in! Charlotte CHOPS away on Nia! Charlotte’s father, Ric Flair, is watching backstage! Charlotte whips, Nia reverses but Charlotte kicks back! Charlotte runs to BOOT Nia down! Shayna returns but gets a kick! And an EXPLDOER! Shayna flops out while Charlotte kips up! Charlotte runs, blocks a boot to give a forearm! Charlotte puts the leg on a rope to drop a knee! Nia staggers, Charlotte BOOTS her down! Cover, TWO!
Charlotte keeps her cool but Shayna gets Nia out. Asuka SLIDING KICKS Shayna! Charlotte goes up and aims, MOONSAULT takes the champions down! Charlotte fires up as she gets back up and she puts Nia back in at 6 of 10! Charlotte is in at 7, gets Nia’s legs, and ties them up, but Nia kicks her away! Nia reels Charlotte in but Charlotte fights the fireman’s carry! Asuka tags in, Nia gets Charlotte for the SAMOAN DROP! Asuka is up top and leaps to missile dropkick Nia all the way to her corner! Shayna tags in, Asuka dodges, but Shayna ducks a kick to wrench the arm! Kirafuda, but Asuka slips out! Asuka wants her lock but Shayna wrenches the arm! KIRAFUDA KLUTCH!
But Charlotte tags in! Asuka gets away and Charlotte gives Shayna a backbreaker to buckle shot! BOOT for Nia! Charlotte smirks but Shayna creeps up behind! Charlotte fights the Kirafuda off but Shayna cradles, TWO! Charlotte has the legs, FIGURE FOUR! Bridge, FIGURE EIGHT!! Nia drags Charlotte off her own hold! FLYING HIP ATTCK from Asuka to Nia! Charlotte holds ropes to avoid the Kirafuda, but Shayna brings her away! Charlotte rolls to a cover, TOW! NATURAL SELECTION! Cover, Charlotte and Asuka win!!
Winners: Charlotte Flair & Asuka, by pinfall (NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)
Asuka is a double champion, and the Queen is a GRAND SLAM CHAMPION! Will this combination of Empress and Queen be even more unstoppable than Nia and Shayna?
Big E and R-Truth are laughing about something backstage.
Sami confronts them! It WAS Big E who gave Kayla the audio! No, Sami, don’t worry about that leak. But go on somewhere else with that conspiracy theory. Truth has a conspiracy thesis. “Your lips don’t touch when you say the word ‘touch,’ but they do when you say the word, ‘separate.'” Sami says Big E is not as clever as Sami, because Sami is still Intercontinental Champion while Big E has been a joke ever since going water! Alright, Sami, keep playing these games. Big E will see him soon. Big E’s scary seriousness gets both Truth and Sami to leave, but will Sami find himself being chased by a powerful contender?
WWE Universal Championship TLC Match: Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman VS Kevin Owens!
The Tribal Chief, the Head of the Table, this Samoan sociopath, has been instilling fear and pain into not only those who oppose him, but his own flesh and blood. Jey Uso has fallen in line, and others shy away. But not the Prizefighter! Kevin has defiantly fought back and claims that he will be champion, or die trying. Will Roman make it so that Kevin never fights again? Or will Kevin #StunTheWorld and take away the title?
Roman Reigns enters first for the title to be hoisted high above the ring. But Kevin shows up out of nowhere and attacks! He fires off fists on Roman, the bell rings to start the match, and Kevin stomps a mudhole into Roman! Roman shoves Kevin but Kevin fires off on Roman! Kevin runs corner to corner to CANNONBALL! Roman is down, Heyman is stressed out, and Kevin goes out after Roman! Kevin whips Roman into barriers, then CANNONBALLS again! Kevin drags Roman back up, and whips him into steel steps! Roman is down and writhing, so Kevin goes up to the apron, for an APRON FROG SPLASH! Direct hit and now Roman is gasping!
Kevin finally leaves Roman behind for a moment, and he’s fetching a ladder! Kevin puts the ladder in, but here comes Jey Uso! Kevin SUPERKICKS Jey down! Kevin goes back out, gets a chair and he JAMS it into Jey’s ribs! And SMACKS Jey on the back! Kevin SMACKS Roman on the back with the chair, too! Kevin storms after Jey but Jey ROCKS Kevin with the uppercut! Jey kicks but into the CHAIR! Kevin SMACKS away on Jey’s leg! Kevin puts the chair around the leg, then STOMPS the chair! Jey writhes and clutches his foot and Kevin says him he should’ve stayed in the back!
Kevin clears off the announce desk and he drags Jey over! The refs and medics want Kevin to spare Jey, so Kevin does. And Roman returns with a DRIVE-BY DROPKICK! Kevin falls off the apron and Roman grits his teeth. Roman throws the desk hood down on Kevin, then finds something more while Jey is helped to the back. Roman has the steel steps and he RAMS Kevin down! And RAMS him again! And then hammers away with the steps! Then Roman tosses the steps aside in anger! Roman sees the ladder in the ring, but he wants something to end Kevin first. Roman drags Kevin up and into the ring, and then fetches another ladder.
Roman puts this shorter ladder in while Kevin gets up, and Roman SMASHES Kevin with that ladder! And then swings and SMACKS Kevin, and again! And then Roman hammers Kevin with this ladder! Roman digs the ladder into Kevin’s ribs! Kevin keeps trying to fight but Roman stomps him down. Roman puts the ladder on ropes, stomps Kevin more, then fetches chairs. Roman mumbles to himself as he puts the chairs in, then he stomps Kevin’s hand! And SMACKS Kevin on the back! Kevin gets the other chair and tries to swing back, but Roman hits chair with chair into Kevin! Roman just hammers away with the chair on Kevin’s ribs! And another chair shot to the back!
Roman smiles a bit as he sets up the chairs together, side by side. Kevin gets up, hits back with haymakers and body shots, but Roman ROCKS him with a right! Roman fireman’s carries but Kevin slips out! Kevin wants to bomb but Roman back drops him onto the chairs! Roman takes a moment to talk to himself again, “I’m gonna torture this fool,” then he brings Kevin up. Roman throws Kevin out, moves things around in the ring, and stands the tall ladder up. The ladder is under the belt, Roman climbs up, but Kevin SMACKS Roman with a chair! And again! Roman is down and Kevin SMACKS him again! Heyman is feeling that one!
Kevin sits a chair up, brings Roman over, and fisherman BUSTERS Roman onto the chair!! Roman writhes, Heyman is shocked, and Kevin tells Roman, “You’re making me do this!” Kevin goes to the ladder, climbs up now, and grabs the belt! But Jey is back!? Jey is on one good leg as he drags Kevin down, and the two of them brawl! Kevin kicks and punches and kicks! Kevin rains down rights on Jey, but a SUPERMAN PUNCH takes Kevin down! Roman and Jey move the ladder aside for now, and Jey fetches a table for the Head of the Table! And not just one, but another table! Roman makes sure the ladder is out of the way enough for these tables to be set up.
Roman stomps Kevin to keep him down, and the tables are set up. Roman has one propped up in a corner, Jey stands his up on its own. Again, Roman talks to himself. Roman stands on Kevin’s head and grinds him into the mat! “This is because you pissed me off!” Roman drags Kevin up but Kevin keeps fighting him. Roman feeds Kevin to Jey but Kevin kicks back! SUPERKICK even! STUNNER for Roman!! Kevin clears the ring of the Bloodline and hurries to get the ladder back up! Kevin heads up, but Jey anchors a foot and drags him down! Jey and Kevin brawl again, Kevin kicks Jey’s bad leg! Kevin has Jey by the announce desk, and uses a POP-UP POWERBOMB to put Jey through it!
Kevin hobbles over to flip pieces of the desk onto Jey! The Bloodline tried to bury him, he’s burying one of them! With armchairs, too! Kevin goes back to the ring, climbs up the ladder, is at the top, but Roman returns! Roman keeps Kevin from touching the belt, throws hands, but Kevin throws hands back! Kevin punches Roman but Roman rakes eyes! Kevin falters, Roman goes around to his side, and drags him down to throw haymakers. Kevin stays standing against ropes, and he hits back! Kevin SUPER- No, Roman blocks the kick to POWERBOMB Kevin onto the short ladder!
Kevin is down, Roman brings the short ladder around, and then brings Kevin over. The ladder is on its edge, Roman back suplexes Kevin onto the ladder! Roman follows Kevin out of the ring, moves things aside, and drags Kevin back up. Roman CHOKE SLAMS Kevin through a table! Roman checks on Jey under all the wreckage then throws the armchair onto Kevin! Roman drags Kevin up by his shirt, throws more haymakers but Kevin falls right over. Roman drags Kevin up again, and SAMOAN DROPS him through a table! Kevin coughs and sputters as Roman goes back to the ring. Roman is all alone with the ladder, and he takes his time climbing up.
Roman is at the top, but Kevin is back?! Roman chuckles in disbelief. Roman goes back down the ladder, kicks at Kevin, but Kevin keeps clawing at him. Roman can’t believe Kevin is doing this. “You’re embarrassing your family now.” Roman toys with Kevin, but Kevin SLAPS him! Roman SPEARS Kevin through a table! The table in the corner! But that was risky, as Roman is clutching his own neck and shoulder. Kevin flops out of the ring, and is still moving?! Kevin is crawling to another ladder, and says, “You’re gonna have to kill me!” Roman goes out as Kevin leans against the ladder to stand. Roman runs in and SPEARS, but Kevin moves! Roman blasts though barriers!!
Kevin drags himself back into the ring, climbs the ladder, and gets to the top! Kevin reaches at the belt but Roman is back in! Roman drags Kevin down, grabs him by the head and digs him into the ladder, to then throw him into it! The ladder tips over and Kevin falls again, and Roman is seething as he moves things aside. Roman walks into a SUPERKICK! And ANOTHER SUPERKICK! Kevin whips Roman for a POP-UP- SUPERMAN PUNCH! Roman hits back, runs, but into a POP-UP BOMB THROUGH A TABLE!! Roman flops out of the ring and Kevin gets the ladder! Roman stands the ladder up, climbs up, and grabs at the belt!
But JEY is back!! Jey climbs up, keeps Kevin from bringing the belt down, but Kevin headbutts Jey over and over! Kevin gives Jey a STUNNER! Kevin goes back up, reaches the top again, and grabs for the belt! Roman is back?! Roman LOW BLOWS Kevin through the rungs! Roman chokes Kevin out with the GUILLOTINE! Kevin fades, falls off the ladder, and Roman stands up to grab the belt off the holder!
Winner: Roman Reigns (still WWE Universal Champion)
The Tribal Chief still reigns! But it took so much out of Roman, Kevin, and even Jey, the Head of the Table’s insurance policy! Will anyone ever overthrow the Bloodline?
BREAKING NEWS for SmackDown!
Big E’s pin on Sami Zayn tonight has earned him a title match for Christmas! Will Big E give us the best present of all when he dethrones the Great Liberator?
Firefly Inferno Match: The Fiend VS Randy Orton!
Bray Wyatt and The Viper seem to be fated to battle again and again. But a rivalry has never been more heated than this! One will burn for the sins of the past, will this be a completely different kind of nightmare before Christmas?
Orton is wary as he gets in the ring with The Fiend, because The Fiend keeps watching him. The bell rings, the two slowly, slowly circle, and then Orton throws a haymaker! But The Fiend just laughs it off! Orton is put off by that as he still circles around. Orton kicks low but again The Fiend just laughs, and even sticks out his tongue. Orton throws another hand, then tries an RKO but is denied! The Fiend fires off haymakers, uppercuts, and a flurry of headbutts! Then The Fiend stomps Orton down, paces, and brings Orton up to uppercut him back down! Orton flounders, Fiend whips him and headbutts him down! Orton flounders even more and gets to a corner.
The Fiend storms over to drag Orton back up, reels him in, but Orton gets out of Sister Abigail to dropkick! The Fiend stays up and throat chops back! The Fiend rams into Orton in the corner, digs Orton’s face into ropes, then whips Orton to swing. Orton dodges but Fiend BODY CHECKS him! Orton fights off Sister Abigail to hit the back2backbreaker! The Fiend is finally down, but he’s up fast! Fiend denies an RKO to hit SISTER ABIGAIL! And NOW there’s fire! The Fiend summons it all around ringside, but Orton gets back in the ring. The Fiend fires off uppercuts, throws Orton back out, and they’re closer to the fire.
Orton hurries back in but Fiend drags him back out to ROCK him with an uppercut! Fiend bumps Orton off steel steps, and digs his thumbs into Orton’s eyes! Orton screams in pain but Fiend laughs! Fiend drags Orton over but Orton pushes away to avoid flames! Orton punches back, but runs into a clothesline! The fire spouts stronger with that impact, as if responding to The Fiend’s mood. The Fiend finds a leather strap and he LASHES Orton with it! And LASHLES him again! Fiend laughs as he LASHES Orton even more! Fiend has an even bigger, heavier strap of leather, and he LIGHTS IT ON FIRE! Fiend swings the burning leather but Orton moves! Strap meets flames and they erupt again!
Fiend reels back to keep himself from catching on fire. Orton throws hands and pushes Fiend close to flames but Fiend hits back. Fiend POSTS Orton, then brings out a PICKAXE!? Orton avoids getting chopped down! The Fiend finds the pickaxe is stuck, but Orton attacks! Wait is that a rocking chair? Fiend POSTS Orton again, and again, then rams him into barriers! The fires are getting hungrier but The Fiend sees the rocking chair. The Fiend brings the chair, and a gas can, and sets it up, to soak the chair in the gasoline! The Fiend draws a line with the gasoline, goes after Orton, but Orton avoids the flames! The Fiend whips Orton into steel steps!
The Fiend drags Orton over, makes him take a seat in the gas soaked chair, and then has a LIGHTER! Fiend lights the line of gas and it goes right for the chair! Orton moves before the chair is burned to ash! The Fiend laughs as he stalks after Orton, and has part of the steel steps! But Orton uses an AX HANDLE! Orton SMACKS and CLUBS Fiend with it, then RAMS Fiend with the steps! And RAMS him again! The flames are only getting hotter but Orton fetches a chain from under the ring! FULL METAL KNUCKLE! Orton keeps hitting The Fiend with the chain fist, and then uses the chains to choke the Fiend! The Fiend is inches from fire but he fights free!
Orton hurries back up, wraps his fist back up, and stalks Fiend into the ring. The Fiend catches Orton for an URENAGE! NECK SNAP! Fiend drags Orton up, brings him around and throws him back out. Fiend looms over Orton, and STOMPS his hand before he could grab the ax handle! Fiend takes the handle for his own, and ignites it! Orton kicks Fiend first! Orton drags Fiend onto the apron for a DRAPING DDT! And the fires are erupting again! Orton hears the voices in his head as he lurks close to The Fiend. The Fiend slowly stirs and stands, but he catches Orton into the MANDIBLE CLAW! Fiend is pushing Orton towards the fire! But Orton turns it around! Now Fiend is pushing Orton, but Fiend IGNITES!! Orton wins!!
Winner: Randy Orton
But The Fiend is still after Orton! Orton hits an RKO!! Orton looks at The Fiend as he is out cold but on fire! Is the Viper feeling remorse for what he’s done? Orton checks on Bray, kicks at him, but Bray isn’t moving… Orton leaves the ring, because he wants to be sure he’s gotten rid of The Fiend. He has the gas can, and there’s plenty still inside! Orton told the world before that he’s “the most evil son of a bitch” ever, and he is pouring the gasoline all over The Fiend’s body! Is he really going to…!? Orton fetches matches!
Orton stands over the gas soaked Fiend, lights a match, watches it burn… and throws it down on The Fiend!! THE FIEND ERUPTS IN FLAMES, and the flames around the ring react in kind! Is Orton going to have a circle of hell all to himself?!
My Thoughts:
This was a great TLC PPV, but obviously with some glaring flaws. First, I don’t like that they didn’t include a separate Tables match and separate Chairs match for the matches that it could’ve worked for. If they had kept Lana in the match with Asuka, it could’ve been a Tables Tag match. That is a match that Lana and Asuka honestly still could’ve won because it’s just about getting someone through a table. Plus, that’s just using the story telling Vince was giving us in a logical way: Lana puts Nia through a table somehow, and wins the titles off her as the cherry on top. But I suppose two TLC matches and an Inferno Match makes up for that in WWE’s mind.
We got a good 8 Man Tag of what is basically the WWE Intercontinental Championship field, and Corbin. Big E gets a big win and a title match for Christmas SmackDown! I feel like that’s as good as having a match here tonight on the PPV, and I really think if Big E’s winning the title, he’s winning it then. And R-Truth was present tonight, yet no WWE 24/7 Championship moments so that was a tiny letdown. They could’ve gotten some SmackDown stars involved since PPV’s seem to be the best opportunity for that, but nope. It sounds like Truth is doing stuff on WWE Main Event, which is more of a reason I wish it was on the Network, not on Hulu.
Opening the main card with the WWE World Championship TLC was a clear sign there would be an MITB cash-in, and then we got it! Even before Miz and Morrison got involved, it was a great match of McIntyre VS Styles. And then with Miz and Morrison getting involved, OMOS got involved, and I love that they made a completely gimmicked chair that falls apart, just to sell that Omos is a tank in his own right. Sucks that Miz’s cash-in failed but this was the best opening for him. But McIntyre’s power is off the charts retaining in this situation, so whatever plans they have for him at Royal Rumble must be huge!
Sasha VS Mella was also very good, but of course “Reginald the sommelier” gets involved somehow. But it didn’t cost Sasha so I’m not really sure it helped anything. Honestly, I thought Mella’s new submission hold was going to win, but that thing got buried out the gate. Y’know, maybe Sasha VS Mella could’ve been a Champagne match to “redefine the C” for one night. It was being set up by Mella smashing bottles on Sasha this whole time, but much like Lana being removed from the Women’s Tag title match, WWE misses another opportunity they themselves set up.
And then, in said Women’s Tag title match, they could’ve given us Asuka & Mandy or Asuka & Dana, but they went with the answer that oddly enough, quite a few people predicted. It was great for Charlotte to return now, and the tag match was great because it was Charlotte, and now Charlotte is a Grand Slam Champion, but I feel like there was an opportunity missed again. I suppose they can still circle around for Dana and Mandy to get involved with the story, but Charlotte getting a tag title reign with Asuka must be because WWE is very concerned about Raw’s ratings.
New Day VS Hurt Business was a great tag title match, even without extra stipulations added on. Alexander and Benjamin worked well together, and just as I thought Alexander tagging in without warning would backfire, he instead takes the win for his own. The Hurt Business has three champions, and I really hope there’s a way for MVP to be 24/7 Champion with the others defending him so he can have a long reign. Of course, now the problem is, WWE has downsized the tag team divisions on Raw and SmackDown, so who is there on Raw to challenge Hurt Business other than the New Day? I suppose because of what’s been building, it’ll be Jeff Hardy & Matt Riddle, but then is Riddle also going to challenge Lashley for the US Championship to tease being a double champion? Vince has really written himself into a corner with how he’s booked things.
Roman VS Kevin was a great TLC match. Better than McIntyre VS Styles VS Miz, and perhaps the best one in a long time because of the story going into it. Kevin had a great sneak attack and just wouldn’t stop moving despite what happened to him. Of course Jey gets in, and he gets thrown around quite a bit himself. They did a great job teasing us into thinking Kevin was going to win, because he was so close to getting the belt with both hands at one point. But in the end, Roman finds a way to win, mostly because he remembers he can just low blow his opponent, then choke them out. Much like with McIntyre, I have no solid idea what is happening next, but I am so ready for it.
The Firefly Inferno Match wasn’t all that “Firefly,” I was expecting the puppets to get involved and for Ramblin’ Rabbit to perhaps get set on fire as part of his immortality gag where he just keeps coming back from the dead. But it was a decent Inferno Match, with Orton and Bray brawling, and the reference to original Bray using the rocking chair. This match was clearly partially edited because Orton would not have had time to get out of the chair before the fire got to him if it were live. But the editing just made things work out better, because obviously that was a dummy Fiend “unconscious” in the ring for Orton to set on fire. Been a long time since Orton’s tried burning someone alive *cough* Taker */cough* but this really escalates things between him and Bray. Bray could take this any which way, and he and Orton could still have a proper Firefly match come Rumble or Mania.
My Score: 8.6/10
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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?
Becky Lynch and Nia Jax want to finally put this to an end, so tonight on Raw, it will be a Big Time Last Woman Standing match! Will the Irresistible Force force the WrestleMania 40 match to change?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers; DIY wins and advances to WrestleMania.
- Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance; Candice & Indi win.
- Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy; wins and advance to WrestleMania.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher; win(s) and advance to WrestleMania.
- Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax; wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Jey Uso is here!
North Carolina State University fires up and bounces along with Main Event Jey, and Pat McAfee plays a dangerous game standing on the armchairs! From Bret VS Owen to Matt VS Jeff, we’re about to get Jey VS Jimmy in the third-ever Brother VS Brother WrestleMania grudge match! Jey gets the mic as fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey welcomes us to Monday Night Raw, and wants us to check this out. He knows his brothers are somewhere in the building. He knows The Bloodline’s in the building. He knows how the Bloodline rolls! SO Big Brother Jimmy, where you at?! Where you at, Uce!?
Jey waits for someone to show up somewhere, and the crowd spots them first! Fans boo as Jimmy & Solo make their way from the back of the stands. Jimmy gets a mic and goes to the apron while Solo paces around the outside. Fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” again as Jey puts the sunglasses aside. The Usos stare each other down, the fans now chant “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jey wants to say something, hesitates, but then says these two would always get to it but they always knew how to shake right back to this. But now it’s different. Regardless of what happened, the bad blood between them, Jey misses his brother. He does.
Jey knows Jimmy will say what he wants, but Jey doesn’t talk to him no more, doesn’t ride with him no more, doesn’t even see him no more! Jimmy can just come back. Jimmy says he never left! He protected Jey! Jey’s so dumb, he can’t see it! Jimmy is protecting Jey! It was Jey’s idea to leave The Bloodline, but Jimmy helped because he is Jey’s brother. So yeah, Jey leaves, and what happens? Lil’ Bro becomes the BIGGEST star on the Raw roster! Lil’ Bro becomes the top merch seller! Lil’ Bro goes off to become a tag team champion without Jimmy, but with CODY RHODES!? Who left who, Uce?
Jey forgot Jimmy! Everything Jey did that was big was cuz of Big Bro Jimmy! Everything! So listen loud and clear. The biggest moment in Jey’s career, the BIGGEST moment, is because of Jimmy! Jimmy stares Jey down, but Jey says no. Jey’s biggest moment in his career is going to be his dream match at WrestleMania 40: Jey VS Jimmy, and Jey knocks the yeet out Jimmy’s ass! Jey DECKS Jimmy, DECKS Solo off the apron, but then Jimmy SUPERKICKS Jey down! The fans boo but now Solo storms in and looms over Jey. Solo drags Jey up so Jimmy can look him in the face and tell him that Jey needs to get it right! JIMMY made Jey!
But here comes Cody Rhodes! The fans fire up as Cody DECKS Jimmy, then gets in to springboard and CODY CUTTER Solo!! The American Nightmare said he was gonna be a Bloodline Hunter, and he made sure they didn’t take out Jey! Cody tells The Bloodline it is only a matter of time before they lose it all at WrestleMania! Will Jey prove that younger or older doesn’t matter when he is the BETTER brother?
Adam Pearce is on the phone.
He’s telling Nick Aldis to stop being a hypocrite, telling Pearce to keep his roster in check when this is happening. But then Paul Heyman walks over and Pearce says he’ll call Aldis back. Pearce then asks Heyman what was all that, and Heyman says he owes Pearce an apology. He is sorry. That was not authorized by The Final Boss nor The Tribal Chief, and certainly not by Heyman. Jimmy & Solo went into business for themselves so Heyman apologizes. But listen, Pearce knows that there have been flight delays all day. Even private jets like theirs. Heyman is barely even dressed for TV, let alone has his make-up!
Pearce says those two were ready. Yeah, well, they got in on a different flight. But Roman Reigns is a chief of his word. Those two are already gone, out of the arena, and Pearce has Roman’s word. Call his bluff, put out a search party. Pearce knows Heyman is here on official business, which Heyman will handle, and then be gone. That is it. But when Heyman does his official business… everyone will be caught off guard. “And Mr. Pearce, sir, that’s not a prediction. That’s a spoiler.” The Wise Man heads out and calls Roman, but just what is Heyman teasing?
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers!
Unlike SmackDown’s mini-tournament, Raw and Adam Pearce say it’s win and you’re in! Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano want one more shot at Judgment Day, but so do Julius & Brutus! Will the Sicilian Psycho & Johnny Wrestling prove that when it comes to Mania Moments, you gotta do it yourself? Or will the Creeds be bringing golden tickets to the Diamond Mine?
Raw returns as The Creeds make their entrance. The teams fist bump to show respect, then the teams sort out. Julius starts against Ciampa, they circle and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, Ciampa goes for a waistlock but Julius facelocks. Julius wrangles Ciampa to the mat, flips him over, ONE, and Ciampa keeps moving. They trade facelocks, gator roll, and Julius gets another lateral press. ONE, but Julius gator rolls Ciampa around. Ciampa fights up, puts Julius on ropes, and the ref counts. Ciampa lets off, then CHOPS! Julius shoots in for the takedown! Julius has a leg, Ciampa fights but Julius turns him for the ANKLE LOCK!
Ciampa scrambles to the ROPEBREAK, and Julius lets off cleanly. Ciampa bails out, shakes it off, and he gets back in. They go again, Julius hits a fireman’s carry takeover! Tag to Brutus, and Julius feeds Ciampa to another fireman’s carry takeover! Brutus cording holds but Ciampa endures. Ciampa fights up, but Brutus facelocks. The fans rally as Brutus switches and rolls Ciampa. Ciampa fights up, headlocks, then ROCKS Brutus! Brutus DECKS Ciampa, then whips him to ropes. Ciampa ducks ‘n’ dodges, tag to Gargano! Ciampa slides, CHOPS, Gargano LARIATS and Ciampa JAWBREAKERS! Wrench and LARIAT!
Julius runs in, Gargano kicks and Ciampa gives him the boost for SLICED BREAD! The Creeds bail out, but DIY DOUBLE PLANCHA! Down go the Creeds, and DIY applaud and pat themselves on the back. The fans fire up and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Ciampa has Julius in a chinlock. The fans rally, Julius fights up to throw body shots, but Ciampa hits a back suplex! Julius lands out of it, but Ciampa elbows him away. Ciampa drop toeholds Julius, gets legs, but Julius BOOTS Ciampa away! Hot tags to Gargano and Brutus! Brutus rallies on DIY, TOSSES Gargano, then blocks Ciampa’s kick to get under and POWERBOMB him! Brutus sees DIY regroup, then he runs in to SPLASH them both! O’Conner on Ciampa, but Gargano runs up! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Brutus has a DOUBLE BRIDGE, TWO!! Tag to Julius and he gut wrench SLAMS Brutus on Ciampa!
Brutus helps Julius flip up and over to SPLASH onto Ciampa! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Julius drags Ciampa up. Ciampa throat chops! A bit dirty but Ciampa wants that win! Ciampa storms up on Julius, but Julius basement stalling suplexes!! The fans are thunderous, Gargano runs in, but Brutus intercepts! Brutus suplexes Gargano now, stalls, and then the Creeds SLAM and kip up! Then they both STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ciampa stays in this for DIY but the Creeds keep cool. Julius stomps Ciampa, tags Brutus, and they KNEE Ciampa around! Then they DOUBLE GUTBUSTER! Ciampa sputters but Brutus tags Julius in.
Julius drags Ciampa up, tags Brutus back in, and Brutus climbs. Julius Electric Chair Lifts, but Gargano makes the save! Gargano ROCKS Julius, Brutus ROCKS Gargano! Ciampa BOOTS Brutus, Gargano swings on Julius but is sent into Ciampa! Ciampa pushes Gargano back so he can ELBOW Julius! DIY set up again but Brutus stops the Sliced Bread! Julius DECKS Ciampa, KNEE into the WIDOWMAKER! Julius scrapes Gargano out, Brutus POUNCES Ciampa over the desk! Pat fires up with Brutus and so do the fans! The Creeds say they run this now, and then Brutus drags Ciampa up while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Julius has Ciampa in a chinlock. Ciampa fights up, and he JAWBREAKERS free! Ciampa ELBOWS Brutus down, BOOTS Julius, then runs up, only for Julius to catch him and toss him back! But then Ciampa catches Julius for a REVERSE DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down and crawling! Hot tag to Gargano! Gargano slingshots to KICK Julius, then he CLOBBERS Brutus! ENZIGIRI for Julius, then he runs to DOUBLE KNEE Brutus! BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO! The fans fire up with Gargano while Julius ends up in another corner. Gargano runs in but is put on the apron!
Gargano GAMANGIRIS Julius, SUPERKICKS Brutus, then SLINGSHOT SPEARS Julius! Cover, TWO! Julius survives but Gargano puts him in a corner. Gargano CHOPS, then hoists Julius up top. Tag to Ciampa, Ciampa CHOPS Julius while Gargano DIVES onto Brutus! Ciampa CHOPS Julius again, goes up top, and fireman’s carries! Ciampa then tucks Julius in for the SUPER AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, TWO!! Julius survives again and shocks Ciampa! The fans are just as stunned, but Ciampa and Julius sit up. Ciampa stands, and he CHOPS! And CHOPS! Julius sits back up as Ciampa puts some stank on the CHOP!
Julius brings the straps down! Julius fires a forearm, Ciampa hits back, and the fans fire up as the shots keep going! They go faster and faster, harder and harder, meaner and meaner! The fans fire up as this just turns into a brawl of haymakers and SLAPS! Ciampa then gets around, ripcord and HAYMAKER! ROLLING- TACKLE from Julius! And then the ANKLE LOCK!! Ciampa reaches out, moves around, but Gargano runs up! Julius kicks him, then gets him up with one arm to POWERBOMB! Then it’s back to the ANKLE LOCK on Ciampa! Brutus gets in to get Gargano for an ANKLE LOCK of his own!
The fans are thunderous as DIY endures! Ciampa and Gargano fight, turn things over, SICILIAN CROSSFACE and GargaNO Escape!! The fans are thunderous as The Creeds power up and lift both DIY! They fireman’s carry, then TOSS DIY into each other!! The fans are thunderous as Julius goes up to MOONSAULT onto Ciampa! Brutus MOONSAULTS, too! Cover, TWO?!?! Ciampa survives and the fans are loving this! Julius tags back in, Brutus climbs up! “This is Awesome!” as Julius Electric Chair Lifts Ciampa! But Ciampa VICTORY ROLLS to get under the Brutus Ball!! Cover, Brutus tips it! Gargano TOSSES Brutus then SUPERKICKS Julius!! Ciampa has the cover, DIY WINS!!
Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)
Julius can’t believe it! He kicked out at 3.1, but a loss is a loss! And for the first time ever, DIY is going to Mania! Will Philadelphia soon be historic for a DIY championship victory?
Judgment Day meets backstage.
Rhea Ripley is with Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh, but also Andrade. Dom says he’s always liked Andrade’s style, but things have changed since the last time he was in the WWE. The Judgment Day runs Raw now. Rhea says yeah, and they don’t extend invitations to just anyone. Judgment Day is very exclusive. JD says very exclusive. But if Andrade continues to impress them, they’ll see about making things happen. And Finn says he just heard that Andrade has a match next week, so the Judgment Day will be watching him. Sounds good. See you next week. But then in steps Damian Priest.
The Punisher says hello to El Idolo, and El Idolo says hello to Senor Dinero. Andrade heads out, will he quite literally win his way into the club? But as for Priest, Finn asks him what he was up to. Priest was getting a closer look at that DIY VS Creeds match. DIY won, but whatever, they can handle those guys. But JD, they thought he could handle Ricochet last week, and run the gauntlet, and then go to WrestleMania to bring even more gold back to Judgment Day. JD says he did he belonged in there. But also, he battered Ricochet, who got lucky at the end there. Right, Finn? Finn hesitates, and Rhea says Priest is right on this one.
Ricochet made a fool out of JD! A fool? Yes. A fool? Yes. That’s why tonight, Dom will make it right. Right, Dom? Yeah, Mami. Let’s go talk to Pearce to make it official. Dom & JD head out, and the others are confident Dom’s got this. But does he, though? Or will the One and Only have two wins over Judgment Day in as many weeks?
Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance!
The Poison Pixie certainly lived up to that name last week when she bullied Maxxine Dupri as part of beating her and Ivy Nile last week. Will Candice’s toxic tongue strike again? Or will the party not be stopped by her harsh vibes?
The teams sort out and Candice starts against Kayden. Candice rushes up, Kayden gets around and O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Kayden springboards to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Kayden stalks Candice, Candice ELBOWS her away then tags Indi. Kayden dodges Candice to SUPERKICK, but Indi BOOTS Kayden! Cover, TWO! Indi drags Kayden up, tags Candice back in, and they mug Kayden. Candice CLUBS away on Kayden, fires off furious fists, then covers. TWO, and Candice grows frustrated already. The fans rally, Candice steps up but Kayden avoids the senton! Tags to Katana and Indi! Katana blasts past Indi, comes back and BULLDOGS!
Katana keeps moving, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SHOTGUNS Indi to a corner! The fans fire up as Katana stomps away on Indi! Indi shoves Katana, Katana runs corner to corner to A-LIST LARIAT! Katana shoves Indi down, runs up, but into a back suplex! Katana lands out, but her leg jams! The ref and Kayden check, then the ref keeps Indi back. Indi says okay, and she stays by Candice. But Candice tags in to WRECK Kayden! And she SLAMS Katana’s leg into the post!! HALF CRAB and DEEP! Katana taps, Candice & Indi win!
Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission
Candice smiles and celebrates with Indi, but Indi doesn’t want to. Candice says a win is a win, but just what is going on in her toxic mind?
Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.
NC State fires up again as The American Nightmare walks down the ramp, and this time the fans can sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro then gets the mic. “In less than three weeks time, I will stand opposed for the second year in a row, in the main event, with the lights on brightest, I will challenge for the WWE Undisputed Championship, against the greatest champion in all of sports, The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. And this Friday on SmackDown, Roman and I are going to have a little conversation, if you will. But there are… complications. Factors, elements, combustible elements, namely… The Rock.”
Fans boo but Cody says The Rock took to Instagram on Friday, and followed it up with “extremely entertaining” concert. Too bad The Rock didn’t wanna be here tonight. Something Cody took from the Instagram post: The Rock referred to himself as “Our Favorite Heel.” A bit of an inside term, but we’re not dumb, we know that means he’s the “bad guy.” Cody has known Heels. Bobby Heenan, Arn Anderson, Michael Hayes, “Superstar” Billy Graham, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair! Fans “WOO~” and Cody says he doesn’t think The Rock is a Heel. He’s just an assh*le. The fans go nuts hearing that!
Cody doesn’t want Rock getting upset, he doesn’t want the “seven bucks team” to get upset, he doesn’t want anyone getting emotional. Cody knows how Rock feels about emotions, he poked fun at Cody tearing up at discussing “finishing the story” with good friend, Michael Cole. There’s no crying in pro-wrestling, Jimmy Dugan, we get it. But hasn’t The Rock been crying behind the scenes this whole time? Once that hashtag came out, once fans chanted something else, The Rock cried to his buddies on the TKO board and said “Hey, this is gonna be some good PR for The Rock! I need to save WWE!” God knows, look at this house. They sure needed “saving,” huh?
The fans cheer but Cody says Rock wanted great PR. Until it wasn’t. TKO said OMG yes, put on the Gucci shirt, get those muscles looking big. It’s because they are Yes People, they are enablers, they won’t dare tell The Rock like it is, so Cody’s going to. Cody tells The Rock, “You’re a lot of things. You’re a lot of wonderful things. You are the Braham Bull, you are The Great One.” Cody still has shoes with The Rock’s logo on it! The Rock is the only guy Cody honestly feels is a Mount Rushmore wrestler. But he is also a terrible salesman, a carny succubus, and for those who don’t get what that means, The Rock is “a whiny b*tch!”
Fans lose their minds again but Cody says The Rock has been convinced otherwise. But don’t think that for two seconds this locker room needs The Rock more than The Rock needs it! That’s a rule of wrestling, nobody is bigger than the business! And sure, Cody brought up his mom, so it is fair game for The Rock to use that. But Cody knows The Rock’s mom. Here’s what Cody will tell us about The Rock’s mom. She is a wonderful lady, salt of the earth, she helped Cody chop Kevin in a dark match. Cody has nothing but respect for The Rock’s mom, something The Rock should’ve echoed back towards Cody’s mom.
But see, The Rock was talking about whipping Cody, handing a bloody weight belt to Cody’s mom, and normally someone as powerful as The Rock, Mama Rhodes would tremble. But The Rock doesn’t know Cody’s mom. Cody was more scared than she was, because she ain’t scared of nothing. This is the same woman who once jumped out of her chair at a Willie Nelson concert and beat up an undercover cop! She ain’t afraid of The Rock! Cody has been asked, April 6th, biggest tag match of all time, Rock & Roman VS Cody & Seth. Seth Rollins, the World Heavyweight Champion, a man The Rock should respect because that man has carried The Rock’s company!
How will Cody get past that match? How will April 7th look? Will it be a fair fight? Cody can tell us honestly… He doesn’t know. Cody does not know if it will be Bloodline Rules or not. Hell, he might not #FinishTheStory. “But Dwayne… What do you know? How can you be so sure of your own self, right?” The Rock hasn’t been in the ring in real action in years! April 6th, the bell is gonna ring, and what happens then? Is The Rock gonna bring The Great One, the hero we all had growing up? Is he bringing that #BigDwayneEnergy? Or is it gonna be LDS, Little D*ck Syndrome?! The fans chant “L D S! L D S!”
Cody says The Rock has referred to himself as The Final Boss. Kudos for that nickname, maybe he really is that. Maybe Cody is too naive to see it. But at WrestleMania, Cody doesn’t think The Rock will be The Final Boss. At WrestleMania, he’s just Roman’s side chick. But then ladies and gentlemen, his name is Paul Heyman, and he serves as The Wise Man to Your Tribal Chief, the reigning! Defending! Undisputed! WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman… Reigns! And as Special Counsel to the Bloodline, Heyman is here to say to Cody that the ideals that Cody and Heyman share are far greater than the interests on which they conflict.
By example, don’t you hate it when someone comes out to demand an apology? Not that Cody’s done that, but Heyman is still going to do that. Heyman came out here with some “friends” of his, and he apologized. For a Wise Man, that was pretty freakin’ stupid. One: because it didn’t work. Two: because it was just dumb. And for that, Cody, to you and the fans, Heyman humbly apologizes. Cody says whoa, whoa, whoa. He didn’t ask for an apology, and he certainly knows Heyman wants permission to be in the ring. Heyman is a Hall of Famer starting this year, if he wants into the ring, be Cody’s guest.
Heyman thanks Cody for that but he’s fine on the apron. He carries with him a message from The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Talk about Heels… You may think of Heyman anything negative you want, and that might be understanding the obvious. Heyman is not trustworthy, but Roman is a chief of his word. Heyman assures that this Friday on SmackDown, Roman will be face to face with Cody. American Nightmare, Tribal Chief, challenger and champion. And when they are face to face, there will not be a single other member of The Bloodline in sight. Except for Heyman, but he is no physical threat.
Heyman holds the title belt, the beads, whispers things in Roman’s ear, such as his love and respect. But Cody has Roman’s word that if he shows up on SmackDown, Roman will show up alone. Cody says Roman shows up alone, no Bloodline outside of Heyman, it’s a deal. They good? Heyman has some jet lag, he forgot one little point. And don’t boo him, he’s talking to Cody! Cody says yes they’re booing, and he’s about to go full Homelander and rip Heyman’s throat out if he doesn’t get to the point. Fans like the reference. Heyman composes himself and says if Roman Reigns shows up alone this Friday on SmackDown, then Cody must show up to SmackDown alone, too.
Cody steps closer to Heyman and Heyman is a bit nervous. Cody tells Heyman, “Deal!” They shake hands, and Heyman smiles. The Wise Man negotiated a purely one-on-one meeting between his Tribal Chief and American Nightmare, but can we trust Heyman was telling the truth about Roman telling the truth?
Nia Jax speaks.
“You know what I’ve realized? Becky Lynch has never beaten me. And after tonight, she never will. Because after I break her face again, I will be taking her spot at WrestleMania. I will finish business with Rhea Ripley, and not only will I walk out the Last Woman Standing, but I will become Women’s World Champion.” The Irresistible Force is ready for the Big Time, but will she A-Nia-late her?
Cody Rhodes returns backstage.
And Jey says there he go! But real quick, Cody can’t be going to SmackDown alone. Cody says he gave them his word. But The Bloodline isn’t gonna play fair! They’re all gonna be there! If Cody needs Jey, Jeys’ got him. Cody hears that, but he knows what he’s dealing with. They shake hands and Jey heads out. Will Cody be able to have that fair, one-on-one meeting? Or does Jey have a point about The Bloodline?
Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!
It seems Pearce agreed to the idea that Dirty Dom should try and clean up The Irish Ace’s mess. Will Dom be able to get revenge on Ricochet? Or will Ricochet be the One and Only person holding their head high tonight?
Raw returns and Dom has made his entrance. The bell rings, Dom and Ricochet circle, and they tie up. Ricochet waistlocks, Dom fights the lift and grabs ropes. The ref counts, Ricochet lets off, but Dom ELBOWS him away! Dom fires hands, soaks up the heat, then storms up, but into haymakers! Ricochet CHOPS, kicks then flexes on Dom. Ricochet whips, Dom reverses, but Ricochet goes up and over. Ricochet ducks ‘n’ dodges to then handspring back elbow! The fans fire up while Dom bails out! JD is there to coach Dom up, but Ricochet runs in! JD gets Dom to safety, but Ricochet handsprings to hero land!
The fans fire up, Ricochet then goes to ropes to TORNILLO PLANCHA! Direct hit on Dom and Ricochet tells JD to back off. Ricochet puts Dom in, Dom distracts the ref, but JD grabs Ricochet’s leg! Ricochet kicks JD away, but then Dom WRECKS Ricochet with a dropkick! Dom soaks up the heat and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Dom has Ricochet up top. Dom climbs but Ricochet throws body shots! The fans rally behind Ricochet as he sends Dom staggering. Ricochet hops down as Dom comes running back, and Ricochet GAMANGIRIS him away! Ricochet then springboards, but Dom trips him up! Ricochet flops to the mat, then Dom kicks and FACEBUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Ricochet is still in this and JD argues the count. Dom looms over Ricochet, scuffs him around, then mockingly cheers him on. Fans boo but Dom brings Ricochet up. Dom gives some Latino Heat, then suplexes! Uno Amigo, but fans boo.
Dom gets Ricochet up but Ricochet suplexes Dom instead! And then fireman’s carry, DYNAMITE KICK! Cover, TWO! Dom is still in this and JD coaches him but the fans rally for Ricochet. Ricochet stands, storms up on Dom, but Dom shoots around to roll him up! With tights! TWO, Ricochet blocks a kick and KICKS Dom down! Ricochet hurries up top, the fans fire up, but Ricochet has to bail out of the 450 as Dom moves! Dom runs in again, but into a SUPERKICK! JD gets on the apron, so Ricochet triangle jump DROPKICKS! But then Dom DROPKICKS Ricochet onto ropes! Dom dials it up but Ricochet ducks!
Dom spins around, into the RECOIL!! Cover, Ricochet wins!
Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall
But then JD runs in! Ricochet dodges, goes up and around, BOOTS JD away, then BOOTS him again! Ricochet even flips up and out of the ring at the same time! Ricochet gets the better of Judgment Day again, just how disappointed is Mami going to be in her Latino Heat this time?
Sami Zayn is backstage.
He finds Chad Gable and wants to talk with him. Last week’s match, that was an honor. Sami hasn’t been pushed like that in a long time, it could’ve gone either way. Gable says yeah, it was great. Thanks. Is Gable alright? Yeah, he’s fine. Kinda feels like not… Gable says he’s fine, so leave it at that. C’mon, man, how many years have they known each other? Sami knows when something’s bothering Gable, so he should just say it. Gable says look, last week, the WrestleMania opportunity, the whole thing, it just meant more to him. Sami says he’s been hearing Gable say that for weeks, and it is really unfair.
Does Gable really think he’s the only one this title opportunity matters to? Sami has a family, too! Sami’s kid cries when Papa loses a match, too. Sami has people he’s let down and is trying to make proud. After all the years put into this, Gable can’t tell Sami what matters more because he doesn’t know Sami like that. Gable has Sami calm down, and says he knows all that. But it isn’t all about that. Then what is all this? Gable says Sami can’t beat Gunther. Gable then leaves, and Sami is at a loss for words. Is this bitter side of Gable only going to get worse as we go down this Road to WrestleMania?
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We’re just one step away from the Cup!
Cold Skull faces The Fierce Warrior, and Gene Blast faces The King of Darkness, and when the smoke clears, we will have our New Japan Cup finalists!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Boltin Oleg & Shoma Kato VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Mikey Nicholls; ZSJ & Mikey win.
- Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Tomohiro Ishii & Togi Makabe VS Just5Guys; Just5Guys win.
- Tanga Loa & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman; Loa & Taguchi win.
- Six Man Tag: YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano & Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & YOH VS The House of Torture; Shota, ELP, Leo & Yoh win.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; LIJ wins.
- 2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL; Tsuji wins and advances to the finals.
- 2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto; Goto wins and advances to the finals.
PLAY BY PLAY
2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!
The Gene Blast overcame the tricks Ren Narita tried, but that’s because the House of Torture was saving all the good stuff so they could slay the Rampaging Dragon. Will the deck be even more stacked to make sure Everything is Evil’s? Or will Yota be one step away from LIJ VS LIJ at Sakura Genesis?
Well, Dick is making his way out here, but where is Evil? Oh, there he is. No tricks just yet it seems. But then Yota DIVES onto Evil! The fans fire up but Dick attacks Yota! Dick whips, Yota stops himself, and then scoops Dick for a BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Yota wants the bell. The ref says yes, ring the bell, and this is on the record! Yota stomps and CLUBS Evil, then whips, but Evil reverses! Yota hits railing, and then Evil whips him into more railing! Evil CHOKES Yota against the railing, Yota fights back, but the ref gets knocked aside! Evil puts Yota in so he and Dick can stomp away!
The fans boo but here comes the rest of the House already! Narita, Yujiro, Kanemaru and Jack all stomp away on Yota, but here come Bushi & Hiromu! It’s a replay of yesterday as LIJ fights off the House, but the numbers are still against them! The ref rushes in to tell everyone to stop! Evil shoves the ref out of the ring, Yota fires off on him, but Evil CLAWS Yota’s eyes! The House CHOKES LIJ, but the ref says stop! The bell rings, but what is the decision!? NO CONTEST!?
No Contest
What does this mean!? Someone has to advance, right? The finals aren’t until the 20th, how can there be a no contest? The House started this, where’re the consequences?! Yota gets up but Evil TOSSES him back out! LIJ regroups and Yota asks for a mic. Yota tells Evil that he’s sick and tired of this! They ARE gonna finish this match! The fans like the sound of that! All the refs come out, including Red Shoes, to discuss how this will be handled. For starters, they tell all the extras to get outta here! LIJ is cool with that, and Hiromu tells the House to come along. Evil says fine, and Jack, Kanemaru, Narita, Yujiro and even Dick reluctantly exit.
The announcement is officially made, and the bell rings! Yota and Evil rush in, Evil kicks low but Yota CLUBS away on Evil! Evil CLAWS the eyes! Evil kicks, runs, RAMS, but Yota rebounds to run Evil over! Then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Yota fires up and the fans are with him! Evil bails out but the fans rally for Yota. Evil wants Yota to stay back, then he slides in, only to slide right out! Yota runs out after Evil, but Evil kicks him! Evil RAMS Yota into the timekeeper! Abe-san and his table go flying! Evil gets the mic to tell Yota that this is what he gets! The fans boo but Evil tells them off, too! Evil stomps Yota then soaks up the heat.
Evil unties the blue buckle pad himself, then waits in the ring. The ref checks Yota and the fans rally up again. The Young Lions help Abe-san while Yota drags himself up. Yota slides in, the fans cheer, but Evil pulls on Yota’s hair! Evil wrenches the hair, then wrenches it again! And again! Evil CLUBS the hair! The ref reprimands but Evil just dusts off his hands. Evil covers, but the ref refuses to count! Evil is furious but he’s the one up to no good! The ref still says no, so Evil stands on Yota’s head. The fans rally up, Yota rises, and he grins as he winds up to ROCK Evil with a forearm! And ROCK him with another!
Yota ROCKS Evil again, but Evil whips him into the bare buckles! Yota falls and the ref reprimands about the missing buckle pad. Evil stomps Yota, covers, TWO! The fans cheer but Evil is annoyed. Evil scuffs Yota, taunts him, and drags him up. Evil CHOPS, Yota drops to his knees, but Evil stands him back up. Evil CHOPS again and Yota grits his teeth as he drops to his knees! Evil stands Yota up again, to fake the chop to CLAW the eyes! The ref reprimands, Evil lets off, and then Evil stands on Yota in a corner. The ref counts, Evil lets go of the ropes but that’s not the problem! Evil steps away, drags Yota up but claims he’s dead weight.
The ref checks, Evil stands Yota up and wrenches an arm. Evil whips Yota into a corner, runs in, but into a BOOT! Evil runs in again, blocks the boot, but Yota brings Evil in for the STOMP! The fans fire up while Yota rests on the mat. The fans rally up and Yota rises again. Evil’s in the corner, runs out, but into the BACKBREAKER! COMPLETE SHOT! STOMP! The fans fire up again as Yota stands back up. Yota runs, to CURB STOMP!! Yota roars and the fans fire up again! Evil flounders while Yota aims. Yota runs in, but the ref is used as a shield! Evil kicks Yota low, then uses the ref in MAGIC KILLER!
All three men are down while the fans rally up again. Evil stands, he brings Yota up, and the ref also rises. Evil whips Yota into the bare buckles, then clotheslines him in! Then FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, but Evil lets off?! Evil wants to torture Yota but it’s hard to say if Yota is still even in this. Yota opens his eyes, rises up, but Evil fireman’s carries! DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives, the fans fire up, but Evil is furious! Evil slashes his throat and vows to end this now! Evil drags Yota up, spins him around, but Yota fights the STO with elbows! Evil kicks low, whips again, but Yota stops from hitting buckles!
Evil runs in, Yota dodges and Evil hits the buckles! SUPERKICK!! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! We’re only ten minutes into this new match but this is on top of the madness from earlier. Evil drags Yota up, but Yota ROCKS Evil! Evil fights Yota’s fireman’s carry and CLUBS him, but both men wobble. Evil LARIATS, but Yota stays up! The fans fire up but Evil swings to LARIAT again! Yota drops to a knee, but he grins through the pain! Evil says alright, and he throws off his elbow pad. Evil runs to LARIAT! Yota grits his teeth to stay up! V-TRIGGER! Yota brings Evil in, suplexes, ORANGE CRUSH! Cover, TWO!!
Evil is still in this but the fans rally behind Yota again. Yota rises, drags Evil up, and then goes to the corner. Yota goes up and up and Evil moves the ref into the way! The ref takes the FLYING CURB STOMP!!! And now the House returns! The fans boo as Kanemaru, Dick, Yujiro, Narita & Jack all stomp away on Yota again! The fans tell them to go home, again, but these guys don’t care! They just put one out on Yota. They whip Yota to a corner, then DIck runs in to ELBOW! Kanemaru ELBOWS! Yujiro BOOTS! Jack SPLASHES! Narita ELBOWS! Then they snapmare and set Yota up! Dick climbs for the DICK CHOP!!
The fans boo but the House applauds their own dirtiness. But here come Bushi & Hiromu again! But they just get mugged again! They set Hiromu up for the DICK CHOP, while Bushi gets a JACK CHOP! The House then slithers away before a replacement ref rushes out here. Evil drags Yota up, winds up and runs, to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!!! Yota survives and the fans are thunderous! Evil is at a loss for words, but he slashes his throat! He vows to end it for real, and he reels Yota in. EVERYTHING IS- Yota flips through!? And HEADBUTTS!! The fans fire up as Yota reels Evil in for a fireman’s carry! 70 CROSS!! Cover, TWO!!
Evil survives the swinging spinebuster and the House cheers! Yota drags himself to a corner, drags himself up with the ropes, and roars as he takes aim! Evil rises, but Yujiro distracts! Dick runs in, but gets a V-TRIGGER! The ref sees Dick, but misses the LOW BLOW! Then Evil RAMS Yota into the ref! That’s the second ref this match! Narita gets his push-up bar! The others set Yota up, but here comes SHINGO TAKAGI! The Rampaging Dragon has seen enough, and he’s still pissed from yesterday as it is! He dodges Narita to PUMPING BOMBER! Kanemaru & Yujiro kick Takagi, double whip, but he DOUBLE PUMPING BOMBERS!!
Jack gets in, but he gets ELBOW, JAB and YUKON LARIAT! Evil runs up but Takagi SWATS Evil’s lariat to JAB! Then feed to Hiromu’s SUPERKICK! Hiromu & Takagi set Evil up for Bushi’s BLACK MIST!! Evil can’t see, the PUMPING BOMBER turns him inside-out!! The fans are thunderous as LIJ helps Yota up! Red Shoes hurries out here, and Yota aims at Evil! GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, Yota wins!!!
Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
The House of Torture ran out of tricks, and now there is light at the end of the tournament! Will Yota do LIJ proud and bring home the Cup?
2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto!
One down, one to go. Yota Tsuji has made it through, now we see who joins him in the finals! Will the Cold Skull or Fierce Warrior be the one that steps closer to former glory?
The bell rings and the fans duel between “GO-TO-O!” and “SA-NA-DA!” Red Shoes measures the levels, and it seems to slightly favor Goto. Goto and Sanada circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Goto gets some leverage to put Sanada against ropes, but he lets off slowly. Goto pats Sanada on the shoulders and the fans cheer. The two reset, circle again, and tie up again. It’s another deadlock, but again Goto finds a way to put Sanada on ropes. Sanada turns things around, lets off slowly, and also pats Goto on the shoulders. The fans applaud and the two reset again. They feel things out, knuckle lock, then move to a clinch.
They fight for control, Sanada starts pushing Goto towards a corner but Goto slips away. They feel things out, knuckle lock again, then break. They tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, Goto waistlocks, but Sanada wrenches to wristlock. Goto rolls, wrenches, wristlocks, but Sanada spins, wrenches, only for Goto to roll! Goto gets a leg to trip Sanada up, and he has a toehold. Sanada fights back with a chinlock but Goto pulls on the leg. Sanada uses his free leg to hook Goto into an ARMBAR, but Goto clasps hands! Goto moves around, pops free, then headlocks. Sanada fights up, Goto grinds the headlock, but Sanada throws body shots.
Sanada powers up and out, but Goto runs him over! The fans rally as things speed up, and Goto counters hip toss with hip toss! Goto runs and he clotheslines Sanada up and out! The fans fire up and Goto slides out after Sanada. Goto stomps Sanada, drags him up, then CLUBS him on the neck! Sanada staggers, Goto CHOPS him, then kicks him, then CLUBS him! Goto whips but Sanada stops himself from hitting railing! Goto runs in but Sanada drop toeholds him into the railing! Goto goes down in a heap, but Sanada opens the gate. Sanada brings Goto through, then to the crowd! PILEDRIVER to the bare floor!
The fans are stunned but Red Shoes reprimands. Sanada leaves Goto behind and slides into the ring. The fans rally for Goto as the ring count begins. Goto crawls at 5 of 20, finds his way to ringside at 10, but still hobbles and crawls. He stands at 17 to slide in! The fans cheer, but Sanada stomps Goto. Sanada drags Goto up, CLUBS him on the neck, then brings him back up to CLUB him again. Goto CHOPS! And CHOPS! Sanada eggs Goto on so Goto CHOPS again! Goto whips, Sanada reverses to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Sanada keeps cool and sits Goto up into a chinlock. Goto endures and the fans rally again.
Goto kicks forward, reaches out, but Sanada cranks on the hold! Goto keeps fighting, and has the ROPEBREAK! Sanada lets go cleanly, but then he stomps Goto while he’s down. Sanada then stands Goto up to CLUB him on the neck. Goto CHOPS in return! And CHOPS, and CHOPS, and has Sanada in a corner! Goto CHOPS again, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, but Sanada BOOTS first! Sanada runs, Goto follows, and Goto LARIATS Sanada down! The fans fire up and Goto rises, clutching his neck. Goto stands Sanada up to fire off forearms, then he whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, MURAMASA!
Sanada wobbles, into the SAIDO! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up while Goto grits his teeth. Goto drags Sanada up, fireman’s carries, but Sanada fights free! Sanada waistlocks, Goto throws elbows, then runs. Sanada hurdles, hurdles, and DROPKICKS! Goto tumbles out of the ring, Sanada PLANCHAS him down! The fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. The fans get louder and Sanada appreciates it. Sanada then goes back for Goto, brings him up and puts him in the ring. Sanada fireman’s carries but Goto throws elbows! Sanada turns around into Goto’s fireman’s carry, but then slips out into the dragon sleeper!
But Goto arm-drags free! Sanada kicks low, runs, but Goto follows! Sanada dodges this time, runs again, but Goto still follows! Sanada sidesteps this time, but Goto holds ropes to avoid the hurdle! Goto runs in, but Sanada fireman’s carries! T K O! Cover, TWO! Goto is still in this and the fans rally up! Sanada goes up the corner, ROUNDING BODY- NO, Sanada has to land out as Goto moves! Sanada runs in, but into the fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! They cheer on “GO-TO-O!” but the “SA-NA-DA!” chants are still there. Red Shoes checks them both, and both men slowly rise.
The two crawl towards each other, and Goto fires a forearm! Sanada shakes his head, eggs Goto on, so Goto throws another! Goto eggs Sanada on, so Sanada fires a forearm! Goto fires a forearm back, and the two stand. Sanada UPPERCUTS! Goto comes back to forearm! Sanada UPPERCUTS again, and Goto drops back to a knee! The fans rally, Goto stands again, and he forearms! UPPERCUT, forearm, repeat! Goto growls, fires a flurry of forearms, and he ROCKS Sanada! Sanada drops to his hand and knees but Goto powers up! Goto KICKS but Sanada blocks! Goto fires more forearms, then waistlocks, but Sandaa fights free!
Sanada runs, but Goto fireman’s carries! And he throws Sanada into the dragon sleeper! But Sanada turns around and suplexes, for MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! Sanada roars as he rises up, and he aims from a corner. Sanada wants Goto to get up, and Goto sits up, into the SHINING WIZARD! Sanada then dragon sleepers, for the SKULL END!! Goto endures, flails, reaches out, but he’s caught in the body scissors! Goto fights around but he’s fading! The fans rally, Goto’s hand drops! Sanada lets him go to then climb! ROUNDING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as Goto survives but Sanada storms around. Sanada drags Goto up, reels him in and clinches, but Goto slips free to shove Sanada away! Sanada forearms, ROLLING- HEADBUTT from Goto! The fans fire up and duel, and Goto drags Sanada up. But Sanada breaks free! Goto HEADBUTTS again! Sanada falls back down and Goto steadies himself. Goto roars, the fans are with him, and Goto sits Sanada up. Goto runs to PENALTY KICK! Shoutout to Shibata and the fans fire up more! Sanada grits his teeth as he sits back up but Goto takes aim! BUZZSAW! And then he hauls Sanada up to dragon sleeper! G T- BACKSLIDE COUNTER! TWO!!!
Sanada and Goto hurry up, Sanada dodges to O’Conner BRIDGE!! TWO?!!? Goto escapes and shocks everyone! Sanada resets, runs in, SHINING WIZARD!! The fans are thunderous as Sanada roars and drags Goto back up! Clinch and DEAD- NO, Goto slips around to ripcord and fireman’s carry! G T W!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Sanada survives but Goto is all fired up! The fans are thunderous as Goto dragon sleepers for G T R!!! Cover, GOTO WINS!!!
Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
Don’t call it a comeback, Goto’s been here for years! Sanada’s hopes of being IWGP World Heavyweight Champion again have been delayed, how long must he wait for another chance?
As for Goto, he’s going back to the New Japan Cup Finals for the first time since 2016, and his seventh overall! But before he can get the mic to speak, Yota makes his way back out here. Yota steps into the ring and he gets the mic first. Yota tells Goto, “In order to open the door to a new era, we must do this.” The fans applaud that, and Yota continues by asking Goto, “Are you ready?!” Yota drops the mic at Goto’s feet, and Goto stands up to speak. “I also have something I want to show you. As a three-time New Japan Cup Champion, I will show you my strength.” The fans like the sound of that!
The Fierce Warrior stares down with Gene Blast, a true generational showdown on the horizon! Will Goto return not juts to former glory, but finally ascend to top of NJPW? Or will Yota make it LIJ VS LIJ for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship?
My Thoughts:
A great semifinal round for this tournament, with quite a surprising main event. Sanada VS Goto was great stuff, and while I felt Sanada wasn’t winning the Cup, I didn’t think he’d be out this round. Yota VS Evil was rather creatively put together, too. I did not think the House would get so involved that at first it was a No Contest but then they restart under a ringside ban. Takagi making sure Yota won was good stuff, too, maybe we can get Takagi VS Evil for the NEVER Openweight Championship if they’re not gonna circle back to more Shota Umino VS House of Torture stuff.
Goto VS Yota is going to be great stuff, and Goto is clearly a top utility guy. He’s had so many New Japan Cup finals appearances, certainly among the most ever, but I don’t think he gets a fourth Cup win against Yota, one of the “new era Musketeers” that NJPW clearly loves. Yota VS Naito is definitely the title match for Sakura Genesis.
My Score: 8.9/10
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