Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (5/4/21)
Ospreay VS Takagi, ROUND 4!!
Will the Dragon finally slay Ospreay?
Once more, Will Ospreay and Shingo Takagi wage war, and it shall be for THE biggest prize in NJPW! Will the Fourth be with the Dragon tonight?
NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado VS YOH; postponed.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS Shingo Takagi; Ospreay wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW released a statement!
One wrestler who was scheduled to appear on today’s Wrestling Dontaku Day 2 card presented with a fever on the morning of the event. This individual is currently undergoing thorough examination and PCR and antibody testing. In addition, another wrestler who has been a part of events since May 1 in Beppu and has since also presented with a fever is also undergoing evaluation.
In an abundance of caution, neither participated in today’s event, and any wrestler who competed with them on recent cards were also removed from the event.
New Japan Pro-Wresting continues to take every step possible to protect wrestlers, staff and fans during the pandemic. All NJPW wrestlers are subject to regular testing, and masks are compulsory during training and backstage. Further, wrestlers keep outside interactions to the barest minimum, with packaged food provided at venues.
We deeply apologize for any inconvenience or concern caused.
Sadly, this means the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match had to be cancelled for Dontaku and rescheduled for another time. Hopefully El Desperado, Yoh, and their teammates will be alright.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay w/ The United Empire VS Shingo Takagi!
In the Best of the Super Juniors 26 Finals, the Assassin slayed the Dragon. In the G1 Climax 30, the Dragon got even. But in the 2021 New Japan Cup Finals, the future Commonwealth Kingpin defeated Takagi again to then move on and take this title from Kota Ibushi. Four is bad luck in Japan, but will it curse Ospreay’s reign? Or will it keep Takagi from winning the big one once again?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is slain to end Wrestling Dontaku 2021!
Fans fire up with the bell and the two stare down. Fans rally with “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!” as he and Ospreay slowly start to circle. They approach, feel things out, Ospreay tries a kick but Takagi shrugs that off. Takagi keeps working to get a knuckle lock but Ospreay uses kicks to keep his distance. They circle, tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, and are in a deadlock. Takagi powers Ospreay back but Ospreay pulls hair to turn that around. They end up on ropes, go around and Ospreay pulls hair more. Takagi lets off, Ospreay avoids the chop but Takagi avoids the hook kick! Fans cheer as the two reset and circle again. They tie up, Takagi headlocks, Ospreay endures the grind and pries at the hold.
Takagi fights the wrench but Ospreay powers through to keylock then headlock. Ospreay grinds now, but Takagi powers out. They ram shoulders and Ospreay stays up. Fans cheer, and the forearms start flying! Takagi fires up and keeps giving forearms back and forth with Ospreay. Ospreay gets the edge, runs and rams, Takagi stays up! Takagi blocks Ospreay’s boot, and DOUBLE CHOPS! But Ospreay kips right up! Ospreay knees, runs, rams and boots but Takagi is up to run Ospreay over! Takagi drops a senton but Ospreay avoids it, only for Takagi to come back. Ospreay hits a headlock takeover, Takagi headscissors and Ospreay kips free!
Takagi gets up but staggers a bit, and fans cheer that fast and furious exchange! Fans rally for “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!” but maybe some of it is for “WILL OS-PREAY!” Ospreay and Takagi circle, feel out things, but back off a moment. They try again, knuckle lock and test of strength! Ospreay hooks a leg and gets Takagi to kneel! Takagi powers up but Ospreay headbutts! Ospreay wrenches, Takagi blocks the whip but Ospreay kicks and fires off haymakers. Ospreay whips, Takagi reverses and back drops! Fans cheer for the air Ospreay got! Takagi digs a knee into Ospreay’s back as part of a motorcycle stretch. Ospreay fights up, Takagi pulls on the arms, but Ospreay fights.
Takagi CLUBS Ospreay on the back, whips him to ropes and knees him against them! Takagi keeps going and runs Ospreay over! Ospreay doesn’t spring up from that one, and Takagi drops the back senton! Cover, TWO! Takagi keeps Ospreay down with a chinlock. Ospreay throws hands, fights his way up, but Takagi shifts to a facelock. Ospreay throws body shots so Takagi knees him against ropes. Takagi whips, Ospreay holds ropes and kicks back! But Takagi clotheslines Ospreay out of the ring! Fans cheer as Takagi goes out to fetch Ospreay. Takagi gets Ospreay up to ROCK him with a haymaker! Takagi bumps Ospreay off the apron, then whips, but Ospreay reverses!
Takagi hits railing, and Ospreay back suplexes! Takagi fights free, shoves Ospreay away, but Ospreay comes back! Takagi drop toeholds Ospreay into the railing! Takagi chokes Ospreay against the railing but Red Shoes reprimands. Takagi lets off, and POSTS Ospreay! Takagi brings Ospreay around the way and fireman’s carries, to APRON SNAKE EYES! Fans fire up with Takagi while Ospreay staggers around the way. Fans rally for Takagi as Red Shoes makes sure the Empire stays back. Takagi goes to the apron but Ospreay handspring heel kicks him down! Ospreay hurries out after Takagi to RAM him into railing, then APRON BACK SUPLEX!
Takagi flops to the floor and Ospreay catches his breath. Fans rally up still and Ospreay gets upset. Ospreay checks on the belt at the timekeeper’s area, and gives it a kiss. Then Ospreay snatches the table away from the timekeeper! But Takagi’s got a table of his own! Ospreay walks over, Takagi hits table with table and knocks Ospreay down! Fans cheer as Takagi sets the tables up together by a corner. Takagi seems to be planning a flashback to the New Japan Cup! Takagi goes for Ospreay, and Red Shoes warns him not to but Takagi wants to decimate the Kingpin! Fireman’s carry, but Ospreay slips off to ROCK Takagi with a right! Ospreay runs, into a CHOP from Takagi!
Takagi grins and suplexes, but Ospreay fights it off! Ospreay suplexes Takagi up and into the ring! Ospreay goes to the apron, springboards for PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, ONE!! Ospreay grows frustrated with Takagi, and he stomps Takagi at the ropes. Ospreay drags Takagi up, throws elbows and CHOPS, then some kicks! Ospreay wrenches, reels Takagi in and hits a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Ospreay is right after an arm! Takagi clasps hands to block, but Ospreay goes after individual fingers! Ospreay SNAPS the arm back, and lets Takagi go! Takagi writhes and clutches his elbow as he bails out. Red Shoes checks on Takagi but Ospreay goes out to stomp away on Takagi.
Ospreay wraps the bad arm around railing, pulls it, then BOOTS the railing! Takagi staggers away, Ospreay pulls his arm through the corner to POST Takagi! Ospreay wraps Takagi’s arm around the post then SLAMS it into the steel! Takagi staggers away while shaking the arm out, but Ospreay puts Takagi on the apron. Ospreay WRINGS the arm into the apron edge! Fans rally for Takagi but Ospreay gets in the ring. Ospreay stands on the bad arm to then drop a knee on it! Ospreay gets Takagi up, wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! Takagi drops to a knee, Ospreay BUZZSAWS the arm! Fans still rally as Takagi gets to ropes but Ospreay kicks him away.
Ospreay has the arm and a chinbar but Takagi is defiant. Ospreay CLUBS the arm, wrenches it again, and hits another elbow breaker! And another! And- No, Takagi turns it into a sleeper! Ospreay backs Takagi into buckles, then bumps him off buckles! Takagi just gets mad! Fans rally up but Ospreay fires off Kowata Kicks! Takagi hulks up! Ospreay kicks low, gives more Kowatas, but Takagi blocks! Ospreay gets free and CHOPS! Takagi staggers, but he still elbows, JABS and YUKON FEINT to the DDT! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Ospreay slowly sits up while Takagi shakes out the bad arm. Takagi runs to run Ospreay over, then scoops him to SLAM!
Takagi whips, Ospreay reverses, Takagi reverses back and spins Ospreay around to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi says he’s just getting started and fans rally up again. Takagi stands Ospreay up, hooks the arms, but Ospreay reverses that. Takagi whips him away, blocks the boot, and powers through to JAB and CHOP Ospreay over and over and over, faster and faster! Takagi JABS and JABS, Ospreay CHOPS back! Ospreay whips, Takagi reverses, but Ospreay stops to put Takagi right up into the Tree of Woe! Ospreay KICKS Takagi in the back! Ospreay grins as he sits in front of Takagi, mocking Takagi’s meditation pose.
Ospreay slaps Takagi around, Red Shoes tells him to let off, but Takagi slaps from below! Takagi reaches up to BITE Ospreay! Ospreay KICKS Takagi out of the Tree! Ospreay drags Takagi back up, dragon sleeper for the SAVING GRACE! Cover, TWO! Takagi is still in this and Ospreay grows annoyed. The Empire coaches him and Ospreay gets Takagi back up. Ospreay underhooks but Takagi fights the lift. Takagi powers up to back drop Ospreay again! Fans fire up as both men slowly rise. Ospreay blocks a back hand to KICK. Ospreay kicks again but Takagi blocks, to a DRAGON SCREW! Fans still rally for “TA-KA-GI!” as he gets Ospreay up! Suplex, STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE!
Ospreay runs around the world to dropkick Takagi’s bad arm! Then Ospreay tilt-o-whirls to get a takedown for a KIMURA! Takagi fights and endures the double wristlock as fans rally! Ospreay keeps cranking the arm and gets the Kimura in deep! Takagi fights, reaches, and has the ropebreak with a foot! Ospreay lets go in frustration, and fans still rally for Takagi. Ospreay drags Takagi up, wrenches the bad arm, but Takagi fires off with the good arm. Ospreay ROLLING ELBOWS Takagi, then calls his shot. Ospreay jumps but Takagi catches him to the torture rack! Ospreay lands on his feet out of Blood Fall! Takagi ducks the Penalty Kick, Ospreay STANDING MOONSAULTS, onto knees!
Takagi shoves Ospreay to a corner, Ospreay bounces off buckles and into the Gory Especial! NOSHIGAMI! Takagi can’t make the cover but fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi reels Ospreay in for a wheelbarrow GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives but Takagi keeps his cool. Takagi hears the fans rallying and he kicks at Ospreay. Takagi gets Ospreay up but Ospreay throws a forearm. Takagi fires off boxing elbows! The bad arm bothers him, though, and Ospreay KICKS and KICKS! Takagi blocks and he FLIPS Ospreay so hard, Ospreay lands on his back! Fans fire up again while both men are down. Ospreay is in a daze as Takagi runs.
Ospreay avoids the sliding lariat, Takagi avoids the buzzsaw, Ospreay elbows and whips but Takagi reverses. Ospreay handsprings into a GERMAN, but lands on his feet! ENZIGURI but Takagi rebounds! Ospreay slips through the lariat to get Takagi up, only for Takagi to escape the bomb! Takagi whips, Ospreay handsprings to NEURALIZER! Takagi rebounds to SILDING LARIAT! Fans are thunderous after that newest and most insane exchange yet! Fans rally up as Takagi and Ospreay stir. Ospreay goes to a corner, Takagi shouts, “OI! OI! OI!” Fans follow that and Takagi runs in, but Ospreay boots! Takagi blocks to clothesline through!
Takagi runs but Ospreay follows to BOOT in the corner! Ospreay hoists Takagi up top and tucks him in for CHEEKY NANDOS! Takagi teeters on the ropes and Ospreay climbs. Ospreay grins as he underhooks the arms! Takagi resists the lift again, powers free and throws short headbutts. Ospreay bumps Takagi off buckles, sunset flips, but Takagi punches him down! Ospreay PELES! Ospreay goes back up, has Takagi, but Takagi headbutts him away! Ospreay hops down, but springs right back up! SUPER SPANISH FLY!! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives and fans are thunderous again! Ospreay gets Takagi up, suplexes to hang him out to dry, and then goes to the corner. GUILLOTINE SHOOTING STAR!!
Ospreay isn’t done there, he goes back up top and aims again! SHOOTING STAR PRESS!! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives again and the Empire is in disbelief! Fans rally up again as Ospreay and Takagi slowly sit up. Takagi holds onto ropes but Ospreay kicks him to the apron. Takagi is on the tables he set up! Ospreay makes sure Takagi is in the right position, throws hands to keep Takagi down, and then climbs again. Red Shoes warns Ospreay but Ospreay shoves him away. But Takagi gets up to anchor Ospreay! Ospreay throws hands but Takagi drags Ospreay off to a fireman’s carry! Ospreay fights free and wants the underhooks! Takagi turns it around to a Gory Especial!
Ospreay elbows free and HOOK KICKS! Ospreay wants to use the corner, but Takagi trips him up! Takagi brings Ospreay over, pump handle and MADE IN JAPAN THROUGH THE TABLES!!!! Fans are electric over the carnage! Red Shoes checks both men, and somehow they’re both okay! A ring count starts, Takagi shares the cobwebs out and slowly rises. Great-O-Khan coaches Ospreay but we’re already at 10 of 20! Takagi drags himself up at 12 while Khan fans Ospreay off. Ospreay sits up at 14, Takagi is in at 16, and Ospreay is still crawling! Ospreay gets one last burst to get in at 19.9! SLIDING LARIAT outta nowhere!!
Takagi gets Ospreay up, pump handle and MADE IN JAPAN!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?!? How is that even possible?!? Somehow Ospreay survives, and fans are going nuts! Takagi vows he’ll end this, gets Ospreay up, but then Ospreay falls over before Takagi can build up speed. Takagi stalks Ospreay as he flounders about, and kicks him to a corner. Takagi gets Ospreay up, whips him corner to corner, but Ospreay flops down at three-quarters of the way. Takagi kicks at Ospreay more, the Empire rallies for their leader, but Takagi runs corner to corner. BIG corner clothesline, and Ospreay falls over! Takagi says he’s going to end this, and he drags Ospreay back up.
Takagi fireman’s carries, then climbs the corner! Ospreay fights desperately, Takagi catches the arm, but Ospreay uses the other to fight! Ospreay gets free, balances on the rope, and the two brawl on the edge! Ospreay manages to adjust but Takagi gets his tights! Ospreay fights in a panic, slaps himself to get focus, and SUPER STEIN- NO! Takagi resists and Ospreay falls off alone! Ospreay steadies himself as Takagi adjusts, and Takagi LEAPS, into an OSCUTTER!! Ospreay gets whatever is left in his body to move, and he springboards for another OSCUTTER!! Cover, TWO?!!!? Takagi survives his own miscalculation, but Ospreay stands back up!
Fans are thunderous again as Ospreay turns Takagi, but Takagi elbows free. Ospreay ROCKS Takagi, then CHELSEA GRIN! Ospreay drags Takagi back up, prepares the arm, HIDDEN- NO! Takagi ducked the blindside! Takagi blocks a boot but Ospreay ENZIGURIS! Ospreay goes up and up and SUPER- NO! Takagi blocks the cutter, puts Ospreay in ropes, TAKAGI G T R!! The draping elbow smash leaves both men down but fans are rallying up again! Ospreay stands, Takagi gets to a corner, Takagi runs but Ospreay blocks the lariat, only to get the YUKON LARIAT! Takagi fires up as Ospreay staggers to his feet. Takagi builds speed but Ospreay dodges, but then PUMPING BOMBER!
Ospreay lands on his feet?! Ospreay springboard, Takagi steals the OSCUTTER!?! TakagiCutter this time! Takagi keeps going, MAXIMUM PUMPING BOMBER!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!?! Is Ospreay superhuman?! Fans are electric again as Takagi roars! Takagi pump handles, fireman’s carries, but Ospreay throws elbows. Takagi powers through but Ospreay slips out. Takagi pops Ospreay up but Ospreay catches him for a crucifix takedown! TWO, Ospreay dodges to ROLLING ELBOW and HOOK KICK! Takagi falls over, Ospreay fires back up, and Ospreay aims, BUZZSAW and HOOK! Underhooks, lift, STORM-
NO! Takagi lands on his feet, pump handle and fireman’s, but Ospreay slips out to POISON-RANA!! Takagi gets up?! POISON RANA FROM TAKAGI?! But HIDDEN BLADE!!! Both men are down in the same corner and the fans are going beyond electric! Ospreay crawls to a cover, ROPEBREAK! Takagi survives by mere inches and Ospreay doesn’t want to believe it! Fans rally as hard as ever as Ospreay drags Takagi back to center. Ospreay underhooks, drags Takagi’s dead weight up, but his back won’t let him lift! Fans still rally for “TA-KA-GI!” but Ospreay stomps Takagi on the head and back. Takagi wakes up! Takagi slowly rises as Ospreay keeps giving him toying kicks.
Takagi glares up at Ospreay but Ospreay gives him kicks. Ospreay throws forearms but Takagi feeds off them! Takagi starts backing Ospreay down by leaning into the shots! Takagi fires off a flurry, then the boxing elbows! LARIAT, then PUMP- NO! Ospreay dodges, but into a pop-up DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Ospreay’s rage gets him back up! They grind foreheads, shove, POINT-BLANK PUMPING! Ospreay wobbles around, into another! Takagi winds up but Ospreay ROUNDHOUSES! Ospreay runs, Takagi clotheslines at the rope! Takagi runs, into STANDING SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay drags Takagi up fast, underhooks and lift, STORM-
NO! YUKON LARIAT! V-TRIGGER?!? Ospreay takes Takagi down with a different champion’s move and fans are thunderous again! Takagi and Ospreay get forehead to forehead, give each other junkyard dog headbutts, then start throwing SLAP after SLAP! They both pull hair, stand up, and the forearms fly! Takagi DOUBLE CHOPS, Ospreay throws forearm after forearm! Ospreay backs Takagi down but Takagi comes back with boxing elbows! Fans rally as the pace picks up and Takagi ROCKS Ospreay! Ospreay comes back to ROCK Takagi! Takagi smiles through it?! Takagi ROCKS Ospreay, Ospreay wobbles but he smiles, too! Ospreay headbutts!
Takagi headbutts, JABS, HEADBUTTS! Ospreay leans back, Takagi fires up! Takagi pump handles, fireman’s carries, but Ospreay fights desperately, CHELSEA GRIN! Takagi grits his teeth and comes back, but Ospreay gets around, to steal RAINMAKER?!? Ospreay takes off the elbow pad and takes aim from a corner! Ospreay demands Takagi rise up, and fans are rallying hard as ever! HIDDEN BLADE but not so hidden!! It gets Takagi right in the faces!! Ospreay underhooks, lifts, STORMBREAKER!!!! Cover, Ospreay wins!!!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
The series is 3-1 in favor of Ospreay! Somehow, some way, Ospreay finds a way to slay the Dragon! The Empire help their leader recover, and he stands tall over Takagi once again! Is this it for Takagi and the world title? Or will he fight his way back and find what he needs to defeat perhaps his greatest rival?
The Empire stands with Ospreay as he gets the mic. “Takagi, arigato.” He thanks Takagi for being the stepping stone that is the first defense as THE IWGP World Heavyweigth Champion! Ospreay said it years ago, “this company leans on me way too much. ‘Card subject to change,’ but when Will Ospreay is in the main event, you guys got your tickets worth just seeing me!” All it took was 24 hours and this match being announced, “and this bitch sold out because of Will Ospreay and the United Empire! FACT. And now, it’s time for redemption. At WrestleKingdom, each and every one of you thought that that loss would’ve been my demise, would’ve been the failure of the United Empire.” They’re not failing now, are they?
Fans may not like it, and Okada for damn sure doesn’t like it, but there is a reason Ospreay is IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: DESTINY! Okada is surely disappointed in the man Ospreay has become, and the world is probably disappointed, too. But Ospreay doesn’t care, because the only thing that he cares about is the United Empire, and being IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! Ospreay will right the wrong from WK in Wrestle Grand Slam Tokyo, Ospreay VS Okada!
With that, Khan is given the mic to tell us, “Tonight is your chance for amnesty. Peasants, raise your hands towards us.” Ospreay killed a god and slayed a dragon. “What’s left to conquer? What the Empire always wants: spoils, luxuries, and riches!” In the Tokyo Dome, Ospreay will EXECUTE Okada and NJPW’s treasures shall fall to them! “The peasants’ coins will be ours. Tremble with fear. This is the power of Jeff Cobb, Aaron Henare, Great-O-Khan and the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Will Ospreay! This is the power of the UNITED EMPIRE!!” Will this be the course of history now and forever? Or will the Rainmaker prove there was nothing wrong at WrestleKingdom?
My Thoughts:
I was already going into this planning on just the title matches, but I didn’t expect one to be postponed. At the same time, kudos to NJPW for being careful and responsible with health issues. I probably could’ve covered the Six Man Tag matches they had planned, but we got plenty of Suzuki-Gun and Guerrillas yesterday, and Los Ingobernables de Japon and United Empire have had matches over and over lately. Andrew Balaz has the full event results here, and from his assessment, they weren’t that big of a deal in the end. I did catch the bit in Bullet Club VS Taguchi, Tanahashi & Yano with the hair-pulling gag, so it was a good blend of the serious and the comical there.
The world title main event was INCREDIBLE, a true instant classic if I’ve ever seen one. The story that has built between Takagi and Ospreay in just a couple years came to a climax here. Even knowing the winner faces Okada in a couple weeks, it was still incredible to see Ospreay win here. I’m torn between thinking Takagi is level capped here at strong world title contender, or if this is great pacing so that he can come back around in time for either the G1 Climax or WrestleKingdom’s sweet sixteen. Either way, no one can deny these two are stars. Ospreay VS Okada might be off the charts at this rate.
My Score: 9/10
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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; 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?
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?
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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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