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Mitchell’s WWE Hell in a Cell Results & Report! (6/20/21)

Abandon all hope, ye who enter the Cell!

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WWE Hell in a Cell 2021

The WWE goes back to Hell earlier than usual!

It isn’t October yet, but the WWE couldn’t wait to step inside Hell in a Cell! Will Drew McIntyre’s run at the world title come to an All Mighty end?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Kickoff Show – Mandy Rose w/ Dana Brooke VS Natalya w/ Tamina; Natalya wins.
  • SmackDown Women’s Championship Hell in a Cell Match: Bianca Belair VS Bayley; Belair wins and retains the title.
  • Cesaro VS Seth Rollins; Rollins wins.
  • Alexa Bliss VS Shayna Baszler w/ Nia Jax & Reginald; Bliss wins.
  • Kevin Owens VS Sami Zayn; Sami wins.
  • Raw Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley VS Charlotte Flair; Charlotte wins by disqualification, Ripley retains the title.
  • WWE World Championship Hell in a Cell Match: Bobby Lashley VS Drew McIntyre; Lashley wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

It’s the Hell in a Cell Kickoff Show!

Join Kayla Braxton, Jerry “The King” Lawler, John “Bradshaw” Layfield and Peter Rosenberg in discussing, analyzing and predicting the action tonight.

 

Sonya Deville joins the panel!

She joins in the discussion on the SmackDown Women’s Championship Hell in a Cell match, Bianca Belair VS Bayley! JBL wishes she was just Rosenberg’s replacement but maybe next time. But what does Sonya think we’ll see between Bianca and Bayley? Bianca is extremely talented as a pure athlete and as a superstar, but Bayley is playing the same old games. Bianca played the games right back, got Bayley back with them, and that forced Bayley to bring out that vicious side we know well. We know what that Bayley is capable of and will be bringing her best, but Bianca is already a big star in the division.

Rosenberg points out Bayley’s tweet from yesterday, where she promises that Bianca’s “idea of ‘Oh wow, WWE? That would be fun to try!’ becomes an ugly reality.” Bayley says this is her world and will see Bianca in Hell! So Bayley is saying that while Bianca is a great athlete, Bayley is going to prove she’s the better wrestler. Sonya says Bayley plays her mind games when she knows she can. And then when it doesn’t work, she goes back to her core of “vicious, aggressive, ruthless” Bayley. Kayla says Bianca has been on a roll but last Friday night, Bianca dared Bayley to get in the Cell. Bayley’s been in the Cell before, so is Bianca getting overzealous? Too much too fast?

King says this overconfidence could be her downfall. Bianca, not having been in the Cell before, has no idea what that’s like, while Bayley does know. There’s a saying and he’ll paraphrase here, “She who laughs last, laughs best.” And he predicts it will be Bayley. JBL agrees, you have to be careful what you wish for. “Hotrod” Roddy Piper and HBK Shawn Michaels played mind games all the time, but they were two of the all time best. Bayley is in that category now. The mean Bayley that was the longest reigning champion has always been there, and JBL predicts that will help her win.

Sonya cannot fault a champion that has stepped up and raised the ante. She respects Bianca calling Bayley out even knowing the experience edge Bayley has, so she’s going Bianca. We will see soon enough if Bianca’s boldEST move is a smart one!

 

The Kickoff Show returns, and Sonya talks Alexa Bliss VS Shayna Baszler.

Kayla for one has never seen Shayna this frazzled, so what exactly is going on? Sonya says there is nothing quite as daunting as this Alexa Bliss and her “maniacal ways.” No one can fully prepare for something like this. But that said, if there is anyone that can handle it, it’ll be Shayna and here’s why. Shayna is a decorated cage fighter and unpredictability is her strong suit. Sonya has the same background, she knows what it’s like to be locked into a cage and get hit in the face. Being able to be on the tip of your toes and be ready for anything is something Shayna is skilled in. Sonya chooses Shayna.

Rosenberg isn’t sure what to say about this. Alexa being this demented, Lily is in “timeout” or something, all that. But Sonya is right, Shayna is one of the few people who could stand in a crazy situation like this, with the pure fight experience she has, and come out of it on top. King counters by saying if we’re talking mind games, the recap package is enough to show that Alexa has gotten under Shayna’s skin. JBL adds that if Rosenberg never knows what to say, he can just stay quiet and let JBL handle things. King continues that when it comes to Alexa, he isn’t sure if she’s a witch, but he’s pretty sure her other car is a broom. Something weird is going on here.

Rosenberg tells JBL, “See? This is what we’ve got. Witchcraft!” And Rosenberg gets what King is saying, this isn’t normal stuff. JBL says Shayna’s complaining, sun in her eyes, shoe was untied, “Wah wah wah,” to avoid taking the blame for her own failures. But Alexa, who is a former champion, is living rent free in Shayna’s head. There is no way Shayna can overcome any of this. Rosenberg gets that, too. He feels Shayna is the one who can handle it, and better her than him. Wow, quoting himself, huh? You can’t use yourself as a source! Kayla puts a final touch on this that this will be unpredictable.

But moving on to the Raw Women’s Championship, Rhea Ripley VS Charlotte Flair. Rhea has been a great champion, just like Bianca, but Charlotte has been coming hard to get the title back. The brawl was wild, it took referees and officials to stop it, but then it kept going until Charlotte got a bloody nose. Charlotte is not happy to say the least. Kayla had Charlotte on today’s special edition of WWE’s The Bump, and Charlotte admitted she sees her younger self in Rhea. This could be good or bad for Rhea. Sonya agrees there. Charlotte is one of the most decorated and dominant champions as a 13 time women’s champion. She’s been around the block, has all the confidence in everything she does.

But that said, Rhea has all that, too! Strength, dominance, and no backdown. Others might, but Rhea has the confidence to go out there. It is experience that might get the win. Rosenberg says being in a position like Rhea’s as the new kid, new champion, she’s kicking butt all over the world, doing her thing. But at the same time, she’s in the early stages of learning how to be a champion, and she has to deal with someone like Charlotte who has a lot of experience. JBL agrees with that point, because this is next level. There is always that one match in a champion’s reign, where it is essentially champion VS champion, even if that other person doesn’t have a title.

This is Charlotte Flair! She is not in Ric’s shadow, she is standing on her own. Rhea is a terrific champion, but this could be her coming out party, if you will. She could show she is the champion, or find out that she still doesn’t stand up to Charlotte’s level. But it is very telling that Charlotte sees something of herself in Rhea. Kayla brings up how last year, we saw something like this play out with NXT. Rhea was the champion, she took on Charlotte, and Charlotte took that title from her. Rhea’s grown a lot, she has a title again, surely she won’t let history repeat itself. King says that everyone who gets in the ring thinks they’ll win. If you don’t, then you won’t. You need that confidence first.

Both Charlotte and Rhea are thinking they’re going to win tonight, but you don’t earn the title of “The Queen” for nothing. Charlotte is The Queen of women’s wrestling, King is not betting against the Queen. Kayla is excited, we’ll see if the Nightmare will finally overcome Charlotte tonight.

 

Backstage interview with Sami Zayn.

Megan Morant asks Sami about his long and storied history about Kevin. Sami asks if Megan knows about “karma.” Yes, karma is when- Sami interrupts and explains, “Karma is the idea that there is an inherent sense of justice in the universe. That things have a way of evening out. And that if you are a good person, an honest person, a truthful person, a liberator, a champion of the people, and dare I say, a borderline saint,” then in this life, you will be rewarded. If you are the opposite, such as a “selfish, backstabbing, corporate co-conspirator piece of trash like Kevin Owens, you will be punished.”

Sami admits he was skeptical about karma after having suffered injustice after injustice. But Sami then saw that karma is real! Because look at Kevin! Look at what’s been happening to him recently! Kevin lost his chances at the WWE Intercontinental Championship, not because of Sami but because of karma! And when Commander Azeez caved in Kevin’s windpipe, that wasn’t thanks to Sami! That was karma! Sami happens to know that Kevin is not 100% tonight! Kevin can barely breathe! If that’s not karma, then what is? So tonight, when Sami defeats Kevin, Sami won’t just be winning a match, no! He’ll get vindication! He’ll be serving cosmic justice! Sami loves karma, but will things turn right back around on him?

 

Mandy Rose w/ Dana Brooke VS Natalya w/ Tamina!

Stemming from the scrap between the #SexyMuscleFriends and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, the Golden Goddess looks to take the fight to the Queen of Harts! Will Mandy get her and Dana one step closer to a title match? Or will the #BOAT sink the challengers before they even set sail?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Natty headlocks to a takeover but Mandy headscissors. Natty kips free and resets with Mandy. Mandy headlocks now and hits the takeover, but Natty headscissors. Mandy kips free now and Dana cheers her on. Natty applauds somewhat mockingly, and ties up with Mandy again. Natty wrenches to a wristlock but Mandy handsprings and wrenches back. Mandy has the wristlock, but Natty rolls, handsprings and slips through to back drop! Mandy makes it a sunset flip, TWO! Natty rushes Mandy to get a waistlock. Mandy gets up, throws Natty down and has a wristlock, but Natty headscissors again.

Mandy moves around, gets Natty’s legs and turns her over to then hook the legs for a figure four knot. Natty reaches back to get a chinlock and drags Mandy off the leg lock. Mandy fights up and wrenches out to get a headlock. Natty endures the grind, powers out but Mandy goes up and over in the corner. Things speed up, Mandy rolls and eggs Natty on. They keep moving, Mandy hurdles Natty and drops but Natty jumps over. Natty eggs Mandy on now, then side steps her, only for Mandy to get around and roll her up. TWO, and the two reset again. Natty might be applauding genuinely this time as the two reset again.

Mandy kicks Natty low and fireman’s carries, but Natty fights free to go after an arm! They go around and Mandy gets a ropebreak. The ref counts, Natty lets off but Mandy YANKS Natty into the ropes! Mandy gets Natty in a corner for mudhole stomps! The ref counts, Mandy lets off but comes back to dig her knee in. The ref counts again, Mandy lets off and she taunts Tamina. Mandy stands Natty up to snapmare and drag her to a cover, ONE! Mandy keeps her cool as she brings Natty up, to DECK her with a right forearm! Cover, TWO! Mandy puts Natty in body scissors and squeezes. Natty endures but Mandy even uses a chinbar. Mandy taunts Natty that she CAN do it all!

Natty powers up, turns around and rains down fists! Mandy and Natty fight in facelocks, and Mandy powers out to get a guillotine, only for Natty to scoop and SLAM Mandy down! Mandy still gets up first and goes after Natty with forearms! Mandy hammers away on Natty’s back, drags her back up, and hooks her up for a modified Octopus Stretch! Natty endures but Dana taunts Natty. Natty powers out, gets around, and puts Mandy in a COBRA TWIST! Mandy endures as Natty cranks and SPANKS her! Mandy powers out and puts Natty in the Cobra Twist! Mandy throws down elbows, but Natty hip tosses Mandy!

Both women slowly rise, and Mandy rushes at Natty but Natty shoves her away. Mandy comes back but only gets buckles! Natty gets Mandy for a slingshot atomic sit-down! Natty steps on Mandy then basement SHOTGUN dropkicks! Cover, TWO! Mandy is proving she’s tougher than Natty thought but Tamina says Natty still has this. Natty gets Mandy up, RAMS Mandy into a corner and then fires off forearms! Natty hoists Mandy up top but Mandy boots her away! Mandy adjusts, leaps, and missile dropkicks! Mandy hurries to cover, TWO! Mandy is surprised but she shouldn’t be with Natty’s track record.

Natty sits up but Mandy is on her. Mandy reels Natty in, underhooks the arms, but Natty blocks the lift! Natty wrenches out, reels Mandy in but Mandy cradle counters! TWO, and a DISCUS from Natty takes Mandy down! Cover, TWO! Natty grows frustrated with the “glorified fitness model,” and she drags Mandy up by her hair. Mandy gets around to backslide! TWO, and a KNEE FROM A ROSE!! Cover, TWO!! Natty survives Mandy’s best shot and Mandy is shocked! Mandy goes for another knee but Natty blocks and spins her. Mandy ducks the discus to waistlock, but Natty switches and O’Conner Rolls! Cover, TWO, and Mandy has a schoolgirl! TWO!

Natty and Mandy fight for control, Natty goes for an arm! Mandy scrambles and gets a ropebreak! Natty lets go at 4 and Mandy checks her arm. Natty comes back, but Mandy trips her first! Jackknife cover, TWO as Natty bridges out! They spin, Natty trips Mandy and steps through! Mandy flails but Natty ties her up for the SHARPSHOOTER!! Mandy taps, Natty wins!

Winner: Natalya, by submission

This is why Natty is the winningest woman in WWE history! Will this make Mandy and Dana get more serious about their in-ring ability?

 

“Good evening, all you hell raisers out there.”

Thank you for tuning into the station of eternal damnation. You already know who she is: “Your villainous voice of choice; your hellish hostess through Hades; the one you can’t escape.” For first-time listeners, it’s okay to be scared. “Actually, if you ain’t scared, you should be!” The All Mighty is giving the Scottish Warrior one last chance at the dance! And here’s a special shout out to the women ready to step inside. “Slay, my lady warriors, slay!” The Queen haunts the Nightmare, and the one who laughs last will laugh b-E-S-T!

Our mysterious MC will sign off now, but before she goes, she wishes everyone standing at the gates of Hell good luck tonight. They’re gonna need it. Here’s one dedicated to you, as Ozzy Osbourne’s Straight to Hell rocks the ThunderDome! No apologies, no love lost, no more waiting! Hell in a Cell is here!

 

SmackDown Women’s Championship Hell in a Cell Match: Bianca Belair VS Bayley!

The EST wants to finally shut up the rude Role Model once and for all, and is willing to take on perhaps the scariEST match type possible to do it! Bianca has never seen the inside of this sinister structure but Bayley has, is this the boldEST move or the dumbEST?

The Cell is lowered, the introductions are made, and the belt is raised as the blue brand’s gold opens the ThunderDome’s last ride!

Bayley tells Bianca there’s no going back now. But Bianca dares Bayley to bring it already. The two circle, tie up, and Bianca scoops to SLAM Bayley! And scoops to SLAM her again! And then she CLOBBERS Bayley! Bayley bails out and Bianca mockingly asks what’s up. Bayley walks off those slams as Bianca eggs her on. Bianca rushes her at the apron but Bayley HOTSHOTS Bianca down! Bayley hurries to bring out a chair from under the ring! Bayley puts that in the ring, then adds a second chair. But Bianca gets Bayley first, only for Bayley to throw Bianca down by her hair! Bayley smiles as she gets a chair, but they both see the second one!

Bayley kicks the second chair away before Bianca can get it! Not even the fastEST can make up that distance. Bayley taunts Bianca with the one chair, swings, but Bianca drops down to get a sunset flip! TWO, Bianca schoolgirls, ONE! Bayley gets the chair back before Bianca can get it! But Bianca prepares her hair! Bianca forces Bayley to use the chair as a shield to defend against the hair whip! Bayley swings but Bianca dodges, and then shoves Bayley into the corner! Bayley sandwiches the chair between her and buckles, then staggers back into a dropkick! The chair goes into Bayley and Bayley goes down! Bianca is fired up as she dares Bayley to get up. Bayley does, and Bianca RAMS her!

Bianca digs her shoulder into Bayley, hoists her up top, and throws hands on her. Bianca sits Bayley up but Bayley throws furious body shots! Bayley swings but Bianca backflips away! Bianca is right up, stumbles a moment but steadies herself. Bayley still resists, drops down to the apron and SMACKS Bianca off the top of the post! Bayley brings Bianca through ropes to POST her! Then KNEES her into the post! Bayley hurries to cover, TWO! Bianca shows she’s the toughEST, but she’s not invincible as her arm is bothering her now. Bayley is after that arm with a hammerlock, then she RAMS Bianca into more buckles!

Bayley wraps the arm around ropes, clubs away on Bianca, then lets off to watch Bianca flounder away. Bianca tries to hold Bayley off but Bayley CLUBS her down. Bayley steps over the bad arm for a finger-bending mounted armlock! Bayley CLUBS Bianca down, covers, TWO! Bayley gets Bianca back up but Bianca fires off forearms with the good arm! But Bayley has the bad arm for a SHOULDER COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, TWO! Bianca writhes but Bayley goes out to move the steel steps. Bayley gets the top half up and in, then drags them over to a corner. Bayley goes back for Bianca and drops elbows onto the bad arm.

Bianca rolls towards the steps, Bayley grabs her ponytail and stands on it on the steps! Bayley wants Michael Cole to praise her, but Bianca gets her ponytail free. Bayley mocks Bianca, but Bianca TRIPS Bayley! Bayley lands on her tailbone on the steps! But Bayley snarls and runs to KNEE Bianca in the corner! Cover, TWO! Yep, still the toughEST! Bayley stalks Bianca back towards the steps, grabs the braid again and ties it around the bottom rope! Bianca’s hair is becoming a hindrance now as Bayley has her stuck! Bayley runs, but Bianca uses the rope to trip Bayley! Bayley falls and SMACKS onto the steel steps!

Bayley bails out, Bianca gets free, and she TOSSES the steps! Bayley barely gets out of the way, but Bianca WRECKS her with a dropkick! Bayley runs into a support beam and now she has a bad arm! Bianca digs Bayley’s face into the steel fence to grate her face! But Bayley gets Bianca’s hand and BITES it!! Bianca staggers away in pain and in shock that Bayley would do such a thing! Bayley grabs the bad arm to KICK it against the steel! Bayley leaves Bianca behind to go looking under the ring again. Bayley finds a kendo stick now and mockingly shushes commentary as if it’s a secret. Bianca gets up, and Bayley SMACKS her in the ribs! Wait, that was a DOUBLE stick, two sticks taped together!

Bayley backs off and runs in, to SUNSET BOMB Bianca into the Cell wall! Bayley kicks at Bianca to get out from under her. Bayley says Bianca wanted this match and here it is! Bayley brings out another super kendo stick, like Darth Maul’s lightsaber! And another! Bayley makes the kendo stick line between ring and Cell, just like last year. Bianca comes back with a kendo stick! Bayley dodges but Bianca ROCKS her with a right hand! They play a little cat ‘n’ mouse in and out of the ring. Bayley doesn’t see Bianca waiting, and Bianca gives Bayley a SPINEBUSTER through the double super kendo sticks!! Bianca shoves Bayley back in the ring, covers, TWO!!

Bianca can’t believe Bayley survived, but just because she’s the toughEST doesn’t mean Bayley isn’t tough, too! Bianca finally gets one of those chairs, and she gets in to SMACK Bayley on the back! Bianca sees Bayley go to a corner, runs in at her with the chair, but Bayley BOOTS the chair into Bianca! Bianca is down while Bayley grits her teeth. Bayley gets the chair again, stands it up and puts Bianca’s bad arm through it! Bayley YANKS the arm over and over then JAMS it! Bianca clutches the arm but somehow it still has feeling. Bianca kicks Bayley from below but Bayley grabs the braid to keep Bianca close. Bayley stomps Bianca, then ties the hair to the chair!

Bayley reels Bianca in to then dig her boots in! Bianca endures so Bayley stomps her down! Bayley laughs at Bianca again, and says Bianca is trapped! So Bianca SLAPS Bayley! Bianca drags herself and chair over to ropes. Bayley run sin, but KNEES chair! Bianca got Bayley back and gets up. Bianca is free of the chair and she CHOP BLOCKS the leg! Bianca uses her braid to tie herself to Bayley’s arm! Bianca uses it to reel Bayley in over and over for shoulder after shoulder! Arm-drag and then drag outside, Bayley is thrown into steel! Bianca uses the kendo sticks to SMACK away on Bayley! Then the braid reels Bayley into more steel! Bianca RAMS Bayley into the steel again and again!

Bianca lets Bayley free and slaps her around. Bayley crawls but Bianca has a little laugh now. Bayley wants out but that’s not how HIAC works! Bianca laughs more as Bayley realizes the situation she put herself in. Bianca BOOTS Bayley into the steel! And dribbles her off it! Bayley staggers about, Bianca follows her around the way, but Bayley finds a ladder! Bayley RAMS the ladder into Bianca’s ribs! Bayley puts the ladder into the ring, then she drags Bianca up and into the ring. Bayley gets the ladder, but Bianca grabs the other end! They tug-o-war, and Bianca uses the corner to push off.

Bianca pushes Bayley all the way across the ring, but Bayley moves aside so that the ladder hits post! The ladder jams Bianca in the stomach, Bayley SMACKS Bianca off the rungs! Bayley gets the ladder for herself and she sets it down. Bayley puts Bianca inside the ladder to SLAM it shut on her! Bayley stands on the ladder to squeeze Bianca! Bayley drags Bianca up for a ROSE PLANTER!! But that’s a bit double-edged as Bayley’s leg takes some damage! Bianca rolls away, Bayley drags her back inside the ropes and covers, TWO!!! That was the closEST it could’ve been! Bianca survives and bails out but Bayley pursues.

Bayley drags Bianca in but Bianca sunset flips! TWO, Bayley has the cover and the ropes! TWO and Bayley is furious! Bianca gets back up, Bayley hurries after her, but Bianca blocks the leg takedown! Bianca wants a backslide, Bayley fights it off but swings into a double chicken wing! GlamEST Slam into buckles! Bianca puts Bayley in the drop zone, then presses the ladder down onto her. Bianca is going for broke as she goes up top! Bianca jumps but Bayley rolls with the ladder! Bianca rolls through, comes back and drops a BACK SENTON! Bayley is sandwiched between Bianca and the ladder!!

Bayley writhes and Bianca repositions the ladder. Bianca opens the ladder up, then torture rack lifts Bayley! Bianca aims for the ladder! FULL METAL KISS OF DEATH!! Cover, Bianca wins!!

Winner: Bianca Belair, by pinfall (still SmackDown Women’s Champion)

That was the nastiEST, wildEST and perhaps greatEST win in Bianca’s career! She is still champion and her legacy is still growing, will there be no denying that Bianca is the b-E-S-T yet?

 

Backstage interview with Bianca Belair.

Megan congratulates her on her win just now, what was her first HIAC like? That thing is brutal! But she had what it takes to keep the title. Bayley did kick Bianca’s butt, but Bianca will never forgive Bayley for how she treated her. Is Bianca finally through with the obnoxious Role Model’s ridicule?

 

Bobby Lashley and his ladies are partying even now!

MVP wants Bobby Lashley to remember, Drew McIntyre may have skill, and they may be in the Cell, but this is business as usual. The ladies say this is all Lashley! They’re all confident he’ll show McIntyre what’s what, and MVP wants Lashley to get in that zone. Lashley is turning on the Chief Hurt Officer mode, but will it be a little too late against the always-on Scottish Warrior?

 

Alexa Bliss speaks from the Playground.

“Wow! What a painful night for Bayley. But what a great night for Bianca! Anyway, it’s so nice of you guys to join me tonight in Hell… in a Cell!” Speaking of cells, Lily is still serving her timeout. Alexa says Lily is a little naughty, but not nearly as much as Shayna Baszler. Shayna brought all this upon herself, so don’t blame Alexa for what happens next. But there is a lesson to be learned! One: be careful what you wish for. Two: expect the unexpected. When you knock on Alexa’s door, you’ll never know who or what will answer. Will Twisted Lil’ Bliss make the Queen of Spades sorry that she didn’t say she was sorry?

 

Cesaro VS Seth Rollins!

The Swiss Superman already bested The Architect back at WrestleMania 37, and then again soon after. Rollins continues to see things with a more-than-skewed perspective, will Cesaro make him see things right after another spin?

But as Cesaro makes his entrance first, Rollins attacks from behind! Just like #WrestleManiaBacklash and thereafter! Cesaro goes after Rollins and he throws Rollins into barriers! Rollins gets up, they brawl, Cesaro puts Rollins in the ring then hurries in. Rollins is after Cesaro again, Cesaro pulls Rollins’ jacket off him! The ref has them both back off long enough for the bell to ring, and then Rollins leaps into a POWERSLAM! Cesaro rains down furious forearms, Rollins gets up and throws hands. The brawling continues, Rollins gets an edge then whips but Cesaro reverses to back drop!

Cesaro roars and glares at Rollins. Rollins gets up, Cesaro is after him and yanks him up by a leg to put him on the apron. Cesaro runs and BOOTS Rollins down! Rollins flounders up as Cesaro goes out after him. Cesaro storms over but Rollins kicks low. Rollins whips but Cesaro reverses to send Rollins into barriers! Cesaro runs side to side to EuroUpper Rollins down! Cesaro puts Rollins in at 7 of 10, climbs up a corner, and leaps to FLYING AX HANDLE Rollins down! Cover, ONE, and Rollins grimaces. Cesaro CLUBS Rollins, then bumps him off buckles. Rollins staggers, Cesaro throws more forearms and body shots.

Cesaro bumps Rollins off buckles again, then brings him around to EuroUpper! Rollins sputters, Cesaro throws more EuroUppers! The ref check son Rollins but Cesaro just throws more EuroUppers! Rollins kicks low, then gets Cesaro for a BUCKLE SHOT! Rollins scrapes Cesaro’s face on the rope! The ref reprimands, Rollins lets off but Cesaro grabs hair! They scrum in the ropes, the ref pulls them apart but Rollins pokes Cesaro in the eye! And ROCKS him with a right! Rollins waistlocks, Cesaro swings an elbow but Rollins spins Cesaro for a DDT! Cover, ONE!! Cesaro sits up while Rollins seethes. Rollins throws hands on Cesaro then digs his boot into Cesaro at the ropes!

The ref counts, Rollins lets off at 4, and Rollins brings Cesaro up to DECK him! Cesaro sits up again as Rollins winds up. “One punch!” Rollins DECKS Cesaro again, perhaps claiming he’s WWE’s One Punch Man compared to Cesaro’s Superman. Rollins whips, KNEES Cesaro against ropes, then whips back the other ay for another KNEE! Rollins reels Cesaro back in, but Cesaro blocks the suplex. Rollins throws body shots but Cesaro still blocks to suplex Rollins instead! Both men are down, Rollins rolls away to the apron and Cesaro crawls over. Rollins gets up, Cesaro swings on him but Rollins shoulders into Cesaro. Rollins shovels Cesaro up and out!

Cesaro gets up and is a bit punch drunk. Rollins leaps to FLYING KNEE! Cesaro goes down, a ring count starts, and Rollins gets Cesaro up and in at 7 of 10. Rollins aims from the apron, springboards, for another FLYING KNEE! Cover, TWO! Cesaro survives and Rollins is a bit frustrated now. Rollins stalks Cesaro, throws haymakers and keeps Cesaro down. Cesaro gets up again, but Rollins DECKS him again! Rollins sits Cesaro up to dig fingers into Cesaro’s bad eye! The ref counts, Rollins lets off, and he watches Cesaro stagger up. Rollins runs but Cesaro blocks the kick to EuroUpper! Rollins DECKS Cesaro again, but Cesaro’s right back up with another EuroUpper!

Rollins ROCKS Cesaro, Cesaro EuroUppers again! And again! Cesaro backs Rollins down with the flurry of EuroUppers and body shots! Cesaro lets off in the corner and catches his breath. Cesaro blocks Rollins’ clothesline to torture rack and SLAM Rollins down! Cesaro pulls of Rollins’ black glove while stomping him down! Cesaro makes Rollins eat his glove before the RAINMAKER?! Cover, TWO!! Rollins survives but Cesaro PUNTS the glove! Cesaro runs in to EuroUpper Rollins in the corner! Whip corner to corner, another EuroUpper! Cesaro keeps moving but into a mule kick! Rollins runs but into a SPINNING POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!!

Cesaro grits his teeth while he and Rollins are still down. Cesaro gets up, grabs Rollins’ leg, but Rollins flails for ropes. Rollins gets the ropebreak but Cesaro yanks him up and reel shim in! Rollins back drops Cesaro out but Cesaro lands on the apron to DECK Rollins! Cesaro climbs a corner, but Rollins springs right up there to join him! Cesaro holds off the superplex with pure power! Cesaro HEADBUTTS Rollins down! Cesaro adjusts, leaps, CROSSBODY but Rollins rolls it to a cradle! TWO!! Rollins dodges a EuroUpper to send Cesaro into buckles! Rollins waistlocks, Cesaro elbows free, but Rollins PELES!

Cesaro staggers and Rollins runs, to ROLLING ELBOW! Rollins reels Cesaro back in, DREAM SMASHER ELBOW!! Rollins shouts out Cesaro’s fellow King of Wrestling! Cover, TWO!! Cesaro survives the knockout shot and Rollins is beside himself! Rollins says, “You’re not gonna earn anything over me! You think you’re better than me?!” Rollins says Cesaro hasn’t earned anything, and he stomps away on the bad arm! And digs his fingers into Cesaro’s face! And then drags him into a FUJIWARA! Cesaro endures the armbar, powers up, and scoops Rollins! Rollins knees free, reels Cesaro in, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO!! But Rollins runs, BOOMERANG WIZARD! Cover, TWO!!

Rollins is beside himself again as Cesaro still stays in this. Rollins gets up, Cesaro flounders and Rollins aims from a corner. Rollins runs but has to dodge a clothesline! Rollins mule kicks, front kicks and sobats, but runs into a DISCUS! Both men are down but stirring. Rollins crawls to ropes, Cesaro stalks up behind him, and gets him for a SPINEBUSTER! To the SWING!! Around and around Rollins goes for 10, 15, and stops at 18! Cesaro goes for and gets the SHARPSHOOTER! Rollins endures, reaches for ropes, but Cesaro clamps onto that arm for a CROSSFACE! Cesaro rolls to have Rollins in the middle of the ring! Rollins rolls it to a cover, TWO!

Cesaro gets legs again and we’re back to the SHARPSHOOTER!! Rollins fights towards ropes but again Cesaro gets the arm! Cesaro STOMPS the arm down! And then again! And again! Cesaro reels Rollins in but Rollins uses it for a cradle counter! ROLLINS WINS!!

Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall

Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, the Architect finds a way to survive Cesaro! Rollins celebrates finally getting one on the board, but is this series far from over?

 

We return to the Kickoff Panel!

Kayla likes the “hot start” to the night. She recaps the wins we’ve seen so far, how does King feel about the night? Has it gone the way he thought it would? Not exactly, but he just loves the look on the faces of the losers. That scowl on Cesaro, and of course Bayley! A tough night for Bayley, Rosenberg couldn’t believe that KOD onto a ladder. Brutal for sure. Rollins finds a way and JBL dares someone to follow that. This is a loaded card and he is happy to be here in person. Still much more to go, and we have perhaps the most twisted one up next!

 

Alexa Bliss VS Shayna Baszler w/ Nia Jax & Reginald!

Ever since pulling the rug out from under The Fiend, Twisted Lil’ Bliss and her friend, Lily, have been doing whatever they want to the Raw Women’s Division. It got on the nerves of the Queen of Spades, and her disrespecting the “stupid little doll” has set off Alexa. Will there be no running and no hiding from what’s coming?

Sarah interviews Shayna, along with Nia Jax and Reginald, before the entrance. Can they explain in their own words what is going on with Shayna, Alexa and Lily? Shayna tells Sarah to never say that stupid doll’s name around her again. Okay but what is her response to Alexa’s cryptic warning about “expect the unexpected?” Does Shayna look like she cares at all what that lunatic has to say? Alexa has fun playing with dolls, Shayna has fun hurting people. Alexa started this, Shayna will end it! Nia agrees, but there’s nothing wrong with a little luck. Nia has Reggie wish Shayna luck but Shayna slaps him before he can kiss her hand. Nia says it’s fine, and the three head out.

The bell rings and Alexa has a sinister smirk as she and Shayna circle. Shayna hesitates seeing Alexa not even put up her dukes. They circle, Reggie distracts, and Shayna CLOBBERS Alexa! Shayna fires off in a corner, the ref counts and Shayna lets off at 4. Alexa just smirks as she gets up, but then grits her teeth as Shayna stomps her back down! The ref counts again, Shayna lets off at 4, but Alexa grins as she gets up again. Shayna runs in, Alexa dodges and Shayna knees buckles. Alexa contorts herself as she crawls back after Shayna. Shayna tries to shake that off but Alexa ROCKS her, KICKS her, and then runs in to double KNEE her against ropes!

Alexa stalks Shayna and Nia worries. Alexa drops a SOMERSAULT SENTON! Cover, TWO! Alexa sees Reggie on the apron again but he does his best not to look her in the eyes. He doesn’t want to get hypnotized again! Alexa smirks but Shayna CLOBBERS her from behind! Shayna fires off in the corner, lets off to run back in and KNEE Alexa down! Alexa sits up and laughs?! Shayna is confused, and runs in to get Alexa up for a gut wrench SLAM! Cover, TWO! Alexa survives but is still relishing the fight! Shayna drags Alexa by her arm and wrenches for a double wristlock! Shayna tortures Alexa’s elbow and now Alexa is mad!

Alexa fights up, moves around, but Shayna shifts to a top wristlock! Shayna bends the fingers way back, but Alexa throws knees. Shayna gets up to stand on Alexa’s head! Alexa endures, even as Shayna twists the wrist. Shayna keylocks the arm! And STOMPS it!! Alexa writhes, finally feeling pain! Nia and Reggie applaud, but crying turns to laughter again?! Shayna gets the arm, wrenches it and twists it, but Alexa overpowers her? Shayna still bends the fingers but Alexa shouts, “LOOK AT ME!” Their eyes lock, and is Alexa hypnotizing Shayna?! Shayna resists, but she let go of the hold! Alexa ROCKS her again! And then CLOBBERS her!

Alexa rallies with big forearms then a THESZ PRESS! Fast hands but Shayna shoves her away! Alexa shrieks, gets Shayna up and reels her in, SPIKE DDT!! Cover, TWO!! Shayna survives and now Alexa is throwing a tantrum! That was a glimpse of the old Alexa but she calms down to KICK Shayna right back down! Alexa storms about, runs in and SHOTGUN dropkicks Shayna out of the ring! Nia and Reggie hurry to check on Shayna, but then Nia and Alexa lock eyes. The ring count is climbing and… Is Nia going to be Alexa’s puppet now? Shayna gets in the ring at 5 of 10, and Alexa IS controlling Nia! Reggie tries to snap her out of it, but Nia is used to SLAP Reggie!!

Alexa and Nia shout, but Shayna wraps on the KIRAFUDA KLUTCH! Alexa gets free to THROAT CHOP! And… TWISTED DDT!! Alexa goes up top for TWISTED BLISS!! Cover, Alexa wins!!

Winner: Alexa Bliss, by pinfall

Nia is shaking off the hypnosis and has no idea what just happened! Though, does anyone really know what happened here? Is Alexa going to make the entire Raw Women’s Division dance to her tune?

 

Kevin Owens VS Sami Zayn!

The Prizefighter admits that he has done awful things to people throughout his career, and the Great Liberator wants him to pay for it all! Sami claims he will triumph over the #KOConspirator with his cosmic justice, but will Sami find out that karma is a two way street?

Sami keeps his distance from Kevin before the bell, and then they start throwing hands with the bell! Kevin backs Sami down to a corner, the ref counts, and Kevin lets off at 4. Sami hurries to ropes for defense but Kevin keeps him in the ring. Kevin DECKS Sami, stomps Sami, and throws more hands! Sami flounders about but Kevin CHOPS him off his feet! Sami goes to another corner, Kevin whips him corner to corner hard, and Sami writhes about. Kevin smirks as he stalks Sami and has him up in a corner. Kevin is still gasping and coughing but he CLUBS and stomps Sami down. Kevin CHOPS Sami, whips him corner to corner hard again, and Sami bounces off buckles!

Kevin takes a second to breathe, and he double stomps Sami in a corner! Kevin gets Sami up, throws forearms, and Kevin whips Sami to ropes to CLOBBER him with an elbow! Then a BACK SENTON! Kevin again has to catch his breath but Sami gets away in that gap. Sami bails out, Kevin goes out the side and comes in around the way. Sami kicks but Kevin blocks to kick the hamstring! Kevin whips Sami into barriers, then puts him in the ring. Kevin gets on the apron but Sami gets him in the ropes with a kick! Sami fires off on Kevin now, but the ref counts. Sami lets off at 4 and Kevin sputters again. Kevin gets up and CHOPS Sami! Sami headlocks to throw a punch!

Sami stomps Kevin, brings him up and whips him to ropes to LARIAT! Kevin scrambles as Sami wants a chinlock. Sami throws clubbing crossfaces, then lets off while Kevin coughs and sputters again. Sami stands Kevin up now, reels him in, but Kevin blocks the suplex. Kevin tries a suplex, and hangs Sami out to dry! Sami flops off, Kevin runs corner to corner to corner clothesline! Kevin gasps but he comes back with a CANNONBALL! Kevin drags Sami to a cover, TWO! And now things get harder for Kevin because of his coughing and sputtering. Sami drags himself to ropes, Kevin stalks over to him.

Kevin keeps Sami from running away with a fish hook in the mouth! But Sami YANKS Kevin into the ropes! Kevin sputters as he bails out, and Sami builds speed to FLY! Tope conjilo hits but Kevin gets up as he sputters and coughs his way to the timekeeper’s area. Kevin gets in the ring, Sami sees he’s vulnerable. Sami wants after Kevin but the ref has him stay back. Kevin holds a hand, Sami wants to keep going, but the ref won’t let him. Sami doesn’t believe Kevin’s arm injury and he BOOTS Kevin down! Sami stomps Kevin over and over, the ref reprimands and Sami lets off. Kevin refuses to give up so Sami stomps him more! And rains down rights!

Kevin can only guard as Sami ground ‘n’ pounds. Sami lets off and Kevin kicks from below! Sami drops an elbow onto Kevin’s throat! Kevin bails out and is hurting all over! The ref has Sami stop and Kevin is struggling just to stand now. Kevin holds the wrist, gasps, but fires off forearms on Sami! Takedown and ground ‘n’ pound! Kevin’s fury is helping him fight through the pain, but only so much. Sami gets to a corner, Kevin stomps a mudhole into him, but lets off as the ref counts. Sami bails out, Kevin pursues and LARIATS with the good arm! Kevin refuses to stop but a ring count is climbing! Kevin gets in at 6, but goes out to SWANTON onto knees!!

Sami and Kevin are both down with a new count climbing! Sami hurries to get Kevin up, in and reels him in, BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?! Kevin survives with everything that hurts and Sami is furious! Sami stalks Kevin to ropes, throws crossface forearms, but Kevin gets up to ROCK Sami with the good forearm! Kevin still hangs back but Sami goes after him with haymakers. The ref wants Sami to back off but he won’t as Kevin wobbles in the ropes. Kevin hits back now, haymakers and CHOPS on repeat! BOOT! Sami staggers into another BOOT! Sami swings but Kevin kicks! STUN- NO! HALF ‘N’ HALF!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Talk about #JustKeepFighting!

Sami hammers Kevin but Kevin back hands from below, these two won’t stop! It is a scrum and McAfee for one loves it! Sami and Kevin stop as both catch their breath, and Kevin gets to the apron. Kevin SLAPS Sami, Sami hammers and stomps Kevin off the apron! Kevin leans on the announce desk to get up while coughing and sputtering. Sami has a bloody lip, but he storms over, into a kick and STUNNER!! Kevin drags himself up with one good arm to get into the ring! The ring count is 5 of 10 and Sami is still down! Sami sits up at 7, flounders at 8, stumbles at 9, but gets in at 9.99!! Kevin would sigh if not for his hurt throat.

Sami is dazed, Kevin coughs, and yet Sami still throws a jab! Kevin HEADBUTTS Sami! And uses his shoulder! Sami throws haymakers and jabs, Kevin fires off, they’re brawling on their knees! Kevin gets the edge with so many headbutts! Kevin stomps Sami on the ropes in a rage and the ref is counting! Kevin just lets off at 4.5! Sami is half in and half out of the ring, but Kevin storms back over. Kevin drags Sami up with his good arm but Sami HOTSHOTS the bad one! Sami hurries in as Kevin is down, BLINDSIDE SHINING WIZARD! Kevin’s throat hits ropes!! Kevin staggers into a HELLUVA KICK!! Cover, Sami wins!!

Winner: Sami Zayn, by pinfall

Whether this was cosmic justice or not, this was a grudge match that was out of this world! Sami vindicates himself, but is karma far from done with these two eternal frenemies?

 

Raw Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley VS Charlotte Flair!

Anyone else getting deja vu? The Nightmare was NXT Women’s Champion, the Queen was incredibly confident she’d change that, and it did go the challenger’s way at WrestleMania 36. But a year has made both women stronger, tougher and meaner. There may have been distractions and detours, but these two finally meet 1v1 again. Will Rhea be living a nightmare as history repeats itself? Or will this be a redemption story for the underdog champion?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who has grown more since April of 2020!

Wait, Charlotte snatches the belt from the ref, throws it to Rhea, then DECKS her! The ref reprimands Charlotte because this is before the bell! Rhea is furious, she demands this go down, and it begins! Charlotte rolls Rhea up, TWO! Rhea gets up but into Charlotte’s BOOT! Charlotte shouts at Rhea as she bails out, “That’s why you’re number two!” Rhea fumes, the ring count begins, but Charlotte eggs Rhea on. Rhea tells her to back off, and then gets in at 6 of 10. They approach, Charlotte kicks low and goes to buckle bump but Rhea blocks to bump Charlotte! Rhea fires off hands, Charlotte ROCKS her back! It is a brawl, just like Raw! Rhea spins and back elbows!

Rhea whips Charlotte to a corner, Charlotte reverses and Rhea hits hard! Charlotte rushes in, Rhea dodges, and then Rhea BOOTS Charlotte down on the return! Rhea snarls while Charlotte checks her face. Rhea goes up top, but Charlotte kicks a leg out! Rhea tumbles to the mat and Charlotte stomps away on her! The ref counts, Charlotte lets off but then digs her boots in! The ref counts, Charlotte stops at 4 and wraps on a sleeper hold. Charlotte thrashes Rhea around but Rhea endures. Charlotte leans on the chinlock but Rhea reaches with legs. Charlotte keeps Rhea from ropes and then wrangles her back down.

Rhea keeps moving, gets up, but Charlotte throws her down by her hair! Charlotte drags Rhea back up, goes to suplex, but Rhea blocks to suplex instead! Charlotte slips out to shove Rhea into buckles! Charlotte runs and clotheslines Rhea out of the ring! Rhea crawls, Charlotte goes out and BOOTS her into barriers! Charlotte applauds herself and then puts Rhea in the ring. Cover, TWO! Another try, ONE! Another, ONE!! Charlotte has a wild grin, apparently amused by Rhea’s resilience. Charlotte drags Rhea up, KICKS her in the leg, and Rhea drags herself as she suffers a Charlie horse. Charlotte CLUBS Rhea down then dares her to get up.

Charlotte keeps kicking Rhea, has the leg and wraps it around the ropes! Charlotte pulls on the leg to go after the knee, but Rhea pulls on hair. The ref reprimands and counts, Charlotte lets off by dropping an elbow. Rhea gets to a corner, Charlotte runs in but into boots. Charlotte blocks them to ROCK Rhea again! Charlotte puts the leg on the ropes but Rhea avoids the knee drop! Charlotte hobbles into forearms! Rhea gets around Charlotte, reels her in and hits a short-arm clothesline! And another! Ripcord but Charlotte breaks free, only for Rhea to bob ‘n’ weave and HEADBUTT! Charlotte wobbles into a SUPERKICK!

Rhea has to get her bad leg moving as Charlotte goes to the apron. Rhea hobbles over, gets Charlotte up but Charlotte ROCKS her! Charlotte shoulders in but Rhea dodges, only for Charlotte to catch the kick! DRAPING KNEEBAR! The ref counts the ropebreak but Charlotte lets go at 4.5! Rhea hobbles again, but still comes back to WRECK Charlotte with a dropkick! Rhea goes out to fetch Charlotte into the ring, and then growls as she goes up the corner! Rhea climbs, leaps, and missile dropkicks! Cover, TWO! Rhea growls again as she hammers and clubs Charlotte. Rhea gets the legs, PRISM TRAP!!

Charlotte is caught, but she rolls to throw Rhea into buckles! Rhea is dazed, Charlotte pushes her out to hit NATURAL SELECTION! Cover, with legs on the ropes! TWO!?! Rhea kicks out and the ref noticed too late, Charlotte is surprised either way! Charlotte goes after Rhea again, scoops but Rhea slips out to waistlock! Charlotte elbows free, runs in but boots buckle! Rhea gets Charlotte for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Charlotte tumbles to the opposite corner and Rhea has to get her bad leg working again. Rhea runs corner to corner, but Charlotte gets her for a BACKBREAKER to BUCKLE SHOT! Rhea is dazed again as Charlotte drags her around.

Charlotte slithers to the corner and goes up top. MOONSAULT! Rhea moves but Charlotte STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO!! El Idolo’s combo did not help The Queen finish this! Charlotte is after the leg, jams knee into knee and then steps through! Rhea makes it a cradle, TWO! Charlotte runs, boot feint to ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Another El Idolo move but still not a victory! Charlotte rains down forearms on Rhea, then has the leg to KICK it! Charlotte steps through but Rhea boots her to the apron. Charlotte BOOTS back, and then climbs back up. Rhea CLUBS her first! They brawl, Rhea goes after Charlotte’s legs then her shoulders!

Rhea hobbles up the corner to join Charlotte, and stands her up for a SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Rhea is writhing but also raging as Charlotte survives! Charlotte seems to be grinning through the pain, but Rhea kicks at her. Charlotte and Rhea start throwing hands as they stand and it is fast and furious! Charlotte CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! About time she uses those! Charlotte runs in but only gets buckles! Rhea pump handles for the RIPTIDE!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!!! Charlotte’s ring awareness saves her and Rhea can’t believe it! Charlotte bails out as Rhea shouts in frustration. Rhea wants out after Charlotte but the ref says no.

Rhea doesn’t listen, she goes out the side. She hobbles around the way, but hobbles into a kick to the leg! Rhea hits apron on the way down, goes to the steel steps, and Charlotte dropkicks the bad leg into them! Rhea is shouting in pain as she writhes and rolls. The ring count is 8 of 10, both women get in at 9! Charlotte SPEARS Rhea down! And gets the leg, for a FIGURE FOUR! Rhea shouts at Charlotte, slaps and clubs the leg lock, but Charlotte pushes and bridges. Rhea rolls first to get the ROPEBREAK! Charlotte is frustrated and swings on Rhea, but Rhea drags Charlotte with her to the floor! Rhea is free but shouting in pain.

The ring count has started again as both women get up. Rhea goes to the announce desk, Charlotte runs at her, but Rhea YANKS the desk hood off and it hits Charlotte! The ref calls the match?!

Winner: Charlotte Flair, by disqualification (Rhea Ripley retains the title)

Rhea doesn’t even understand that’s what happened, she fires off furious fists and forearms! Rhea puts Charlotte on the apron to hammer away! The ref tells her to stop, the match is done! Charlotte is pissed, too, Rhea gets in and Charlotte tackles her! They just want to fight!! Charlotte claims that DQ was on purpose, but Rhea throws her into buckles! Rhea hobbles up, gets Charlotte in the pump handle, for a RIPTIDE!! Charlotte recovers as Rhea leaves, and while Charlotte says, “You’re learning!” Rhea says, “Just doing what you would do to me!” The Raw Women’s Championship remains with the Nightmare, but will the controversy only keep the door open to the Queen?

 

WWE World Championship Hell in a Cell Match: Bobby Lashley VS Drew McIntyre!

The Rocky Mountain Machine wants to be done with the Scottish Warrior, and the feeling is mutual. To make it worth both men’s time, they each added a stipulation. McIntyre put this match inside the devil’s playground, but Lashley says that when McIntyre loses, McIntyre can no longer challenge for the world title while it belongs to Lashley! Is that motivation enough for McIntyre to reach the top a third time? Or is there no stopping the All Mighty?

The Cell touches down again, the introductions are made and the title is raised as we see how it all ends for these two titans!

MVP promises this ends tonight for McIntyre as McIntyre and Lashley stare down. They get face to face but then Lashley bails out to go looking under the ring! McIntyre goes after Lashley with haymakers and elbows! McIntyre whips Lashley into the steel, then digs his face into it! Lashley can only endure as McIntyre brings him around for more haymakers. McIntyre hauls Lashley up to RAM him into steel! McIntyre scowls as he brings Lashley around the way and POSTS him! McIntyre gets the steel steps, raises them high overhead, but Lashley kicks his leg out! The steps drop, Lashley RAMS McIntyre into the Cell! Lashley digs his knee into McIntyre’s head to push him into the steel!

Lashley drags McIntyre up, MVP nods and Lashley goes to suplex. McIntyre blocks, to suplex and TOSS Lashley into steel! Lashley tumbles down, MVP checks on him through the fencing, but McIntyre goes back for the steps! McIntyre RAMS Lashley down with them! Lashley is in a daze as McIntyre dares him to get up. McIntyre RAMS Lashley again! McIntyre puts the steps aside to bring Lashley back up. McIntyre puts Lashley in the ring, drags him up again, and underhooks the arms! Lashley wrenches out to ROCK him with a right! But McIntyre BOOTS back! McIntyre hauls Lashley up, clinches and OVERHEAD Belly2Belly suplexes!

Lashley flounders out of the ring, McIntyre pursues and MVP hurries to coach Lashley from outside. McIntyre gets a kendo stick and SMACKS Lashley down! McIntyre gets Lashley up and uses the kendo stick in a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP into the steel! Lashley crawls but McIntyre gets a TABLE! McIntyre stands the table up in a corner of the Cell, but MVP slips his cane into the Cell! Lashley gets it to CANE SHOT McIntyre in the throat! And again! Lashley looms over McIntyre as McIntyre gasps for air. Lashley drags McIntyre back up, and RAMS McIntyre into the steel now! Lashley digs his boots into McIntyre then lets off.

McIntyre sputters and hobbles, MVP tells Lashley to stomp McIntyre out! Lashley RAMS McIntyre into the apron, then RAMS him into steel! They go to the base steps, Lashley gets McIntyre up but McIntyre shoves Lashley into the post! McIntyre fireman’s carries, shifts position, AIR RAID CRASH to the STEPS!! MVP panics as he sees his champion down! McIntyre steps up and over Lashley to go looking under the ring. McIntyre finds another table! McIntyre sets this table up near the ring, then fetches Lashley. McIntyre throws punches, dribbles Lashley off the steel over and over and over, then lets him flop to the floor!

Lashley flounders, McIntyre gets him up again, and brings him around the steps. McIntyre lines things up but Lashley throat chops again! MVP tells Lashley to catch his breath quick so he can go after McIntyre more. Lashley gets McIntyre up for headbutt after headbutt after headbutt! Both men are down, exhausted, but Lashley gets up to bring McIntyre around the way. Lashley whips McIntyre into the steel, but McIntyre rebounds to CLOBBER Lashley! McIntyre gets Lashley up and bumps him off the top half of the steel steps. McIntyre puts Lashley in the ring, brings out chairs and shouts, “We’re just getting started!”

McIntyre puts three chairs in the ring, takes one and wedges it in a corner. McIntyre runs at Lashley but gets an elbow for it! McIntyre staggers, gets through a boot to elbow back, and has Lashley’s legs! INVERTED ALABAMA SLAM onto a chair! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre is frustrated but he keeps his focus as he gets the other chair. McIntyre SMACKS Lashley on the back! Lashley crawls, McIntyre goes up top with a chair, for a FLYING CHAIR- NO! Lashley catches McIntyre and wants the full nelson! McIntyre runs at a corner and uses the buckle to knock Lashley away! SPINEBUSTER! Jackknife cover, TWO!!

But McIntyre gets Lashley right up for a SIT-OUT POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Lashley lives and McIntyre is a bit surprised. McIntyre watches Lashley crawl and MVP is stressing out. McIntyre KICKS Lashley out of the ring! McIntyre taunts Lashley to show how badass he is, and then he kicks Lashley down the way. McIntyre gets the steel steps again, takes aim, and RAMS him again! Lashley flounders, McIntyre lifts the steps, but Lashley RAMS them into McIntyre’s face, and steel fencing! And then again! And again! Lashley pushes the steps aside so he can hammer away on McIntyre’s head, and CHOKE him! Lashley lets off as MVP continues to sing his praises!

Lashley finds the kendo stick and brings it over to McIntyre. McIntyre sits up in a daze, MVP says this is what McIntyre asked for! Lashley passes the stick to MVP, and MVP uses the stick to wedge McIntyre into the corner! McIntyre is still defiant with double middle fingers! Lashley fires off haymakers in a rage! And chokes McIntyre against the kendo stick! And fires off body shots! Lashley roars right in McIntyre’s face, then gets space. McIntyre breaks free of the stick! But he runs into a COMPLETE SHOT! MVP says that they hurt McIntyre, and now they will finish him! Lashley puts McIntyre in the ring, and gets one of the chairs.

Lashley sits the chair up, gets McIntyre up, FULL METAL COMPLETE SHOT! McIntyre somehow sits up, but Lashley gives him another FULL METAL COMPLETE SHOT! Lashley doesn’t end it here, he goes to get something more. MVP likes that, he wants Lashley to punish McIntyre! Lashley has a new kendo stick and he SMACKS McIntyre! And again! And again! Lashley eggs McIntyre on as he SMACKS him, and McIntyre is getting mad! McIntyre stands up, and blocks the stick! GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT! Lashley staggers, McIntyre has a chair and he JAMS Lashley! Lashley pokes McIntyre in the eye! Lashley ducks the blind chair shot, and shoves McIntyre into the ref!

Lashley whips McIntyre at his own corner chair, but McIntyre reverses to RAM Lashley into it!! McIntyre gets Lashley turned around, FUTURE SHOCK!! Cover, but the ref can’t call it!! McIntyre sees this, and shouts to another ref to get in as substitute! The ref obeys, opening the cage door. Lashley gets the HURT LOCK! McIntyre fights, arm-drags free, an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly suplexes Lashley! Another chair, another JAB and SMACK! Chair TOSS! Lashley flounders, into a CLAYMORE!!! Cover, but where is the ref? There he is! But MVP drags the ref out to stop the count!! Opening the Cell let MVP in, too!

McIntyre glares a hole through MVP and MVP talks trash, but the door is relocked! MVP realizes he’s trapped! He turns around into McIntyre’s hands! McIntyre dribbles MVP around ringside! McIntyre shoves MVP into the ring, and aims from a corner. CLAYMORE FOR MVP!! Montel Vontavious Porter pays for his role in all this, but McIntyre isn’t done. McIntyre has MVP on the outside and is shouting in his face how MVP has brought this upon himself. But Lashley sneaks up behind! HURT LOCK!! McIntyre rams Lashley into steel over and over but he’s still stuck! McIntyre keeps going, they both GO THROUGH THE TABLE!! The one McIntyre left in a corner finally comes into play!!

McIntyre drags himself out of the wreckage, drags Lashley up out of the same wreckage, and they get in the ring. McIntyre drags Lashley to center, but he wants to make Lashley suffer now. Lashley crawls, McIntyre SMACKS him with the chair! Lashley snarls at McIntyre so McIntyre SMACKS him again and again and again! McIntyre aims from a corner, Lashley flounders up, CLAY- NO! Lashley ducks and avoids the kick! McIntyre ends up on the apron, Lashley hurries over and POSTS McIntyre, then CHOKE SLAMS him through the other table!! Lashley goes out after McIntyre to get him up and into the ring again.

Lashley doesn’t bother with a pin here, he wants to finish this off with his one-shot-kill. McIntyre drags himself up, Lashley runs in, but the Spear gets buckles! Backslide, TWO!!! GLASGOW KISS! Lashley staggers, McIntyre gets him up, FUTURE SHOCK DDT!! But McIntyre won’t end it here, and he takes aim from the corner again. Lashley stands, but MVP anchors McIntyre’s foot! Lashley rolls McIntyre up and pulls tights! Lashley wins!!!

Winner: Bobby Lashley, by pinfall (still WWE World Champion)

THIS is how the All Mighty defeats the Scottish Warrior?! If not for MVP, Lashley wouldn’t have lasted this long! But sadly, a win is a win, and a loss is a loss. McIntyre is BLOCKED from challenging for the world title so long as the Lashley has it! And with an insurance policy like MVP, will Lashley ever lose it?


My Thoughts:

Well, another Hell in a Cell, another mixed bag of results. Firstly, for the kickoff show, I did like that Sonya stuck around a bit more, certainly to talk the three women’s matches, but I feel like she still could’ve given general predictions for the men’s matches. It’s not like the men on the panel only talked about the men’s matches and stayed quiet during the women’s matches. If we’re talking equality, let Sonya at least give her ideas on one of the grudge matches we had. The kickoff match being a singles match was actually the best move given how depleted Vince has made the RawDown Women’s Tag Division. The champs, Sexy Muscle Friends and ShayNia are the only teams right now after all the releases, they gotta stretch things out.

Opening with the SmackDown Women’s Championship HIAC made 111% sense to sandwich the show with HIAC matches, and this one was a great one. There was a lot of creativity just on how Bayley and Bianca used Bianca’s braid, and they managed to use the Cell just enough to justify it being there. Honestly, if this were Extreme Rules and not HIAC, I could’ve seen them do a lot of the same spots, like the hair tied to ropes or chairs. But whatever, WWE will do what it wants. Bianca retaining also makes 111% sense, she is building up to be stronger and stronger. Money in the Bank is next, it’ll be the first one with live fans, I’m thinking Bianca will retain there, too.

I almost thought they were going to schedule all the SmackDown matches in a row and then do all the Raw matches in a row, but I suppose a slight shuffle was good enough. Cesaro VS Rollins was on par with their WrestleMania 37 match, maybe a touch better given the story of them knowing each other’s moves better now. Rollins winning and in an inconclusive cradle counter was the right call. These two could easily make it a best of 5, or at least use MITB as part of the story. Perhaps even the rumored return of King of the Ring? They meet in the SmackDown bracket finals, and whoever wins probably defeats even the Raw finalist.

Alexa VS Shayna, and by proxy taking on Reggie and Nia, was certainly more an interesting segment than a good match. There were elements to the in-ring action that made Twisted Alexa feel almost literally like The Fiend, which is still a good thing, but I’m surprised they went away from Reggie as the puppet to Nia. It does make more sense, though, as Alexa would want the strongest one under her power. I wonder if Shayna and Reggie will have to put aside their differences to keep Nia from becoming Lily’s human host body. It seems just the right balance of hokey and actual quality story telling that is WWE’s wheelhouse.

Sami VS Kevin was an awesome match, even without it being in the Cell. We all know Kevin was selling bad throat, but I hope he was also selling bad arm. It didn’t seem to come up that naturally, even with Sami’s tope conjilo landing on him hard. An injury now would really derail this awesome story. Assuming Kevin is good to go, we’re going to get plenty of gloating from Sami and then Kevin will go after him, claiming it is karma back on him. They, too, could even look to use MITB or KOTR to settle this if WWE really wanted fans to show up/tune in for summer SmackDowns.

What was really awkward for this year’s HIAC was for the last two matches, both belonging to Raw we should note, having dirtied up finishes. Everything about the main event was awesome up until the “controversy.” Granted, HIAC matches have no disqualifications, but Lashley doesn’t come out looking that strong when MVP had to help him multiple times. Though to counter back again, this is no worse than Roman Reigns as Universal Champion, really. Could be why Roman’s stopped needing Jey to help, Roman needs to look stronger than other top champions so he stops cheating to win while they start cheating to win. Guess I have to commend Vince on some shrewd tactics there.

I do think Rhea VS Charlotte, being an awesome match, actually benefits in their story for having the Champion’s Advantage finish. Rhea hasn’t had much going for her, so that her beating Charlotte clean almost seems the less interesting move. The brutality continuing after the bell and that little bit of verbal exchange as Rhea left both add some depth back into the story and to Rhea’s character. I don’t think there’ll be a double turn, Charlotte is having too much fun being Cruella da Heel. But if Rhea is becoming a savvier Face, maybe even a Tweener, it could really lend to Rhea taking on anyone and everyone (that Raw has left) over the summer.

My Score: 8.7/10


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Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (3/18/24)

Talk about a Big Time Raw!

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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?

Becky Lynch and Nia Jax want to finally put this to an end, so tonight on Raw, it will be a Big Time Last Woman Standing match! Will the Irresistible Force force the WrestleMania 40 match to change?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers; DIY wins and advances to WrestleMania.
  • Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance; Candice & Indi win.
  • Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher; The Awesome Truth wins and advances to WrestleMania.
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy; The New Day wins and advances to WrestleMania.
  • Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax; Becky wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Jey Uso is here!

North Carolina State University fires up and bounces along with Main Event Jey, and Pat McAfee plays a dangerous game standing on the armchairs! From Bret VS Owen to Matt VS Jeff, we’re about to get Jey VS Jimmy in the third-ever Brother VS Brother WrestleMania grudge match! Jey gets the mic as fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey welcomes us to Monday Night Raw, and wants us to check this out. He knows his brothers are somewhere in the building. He knows The Bloodline’s in the building. He knows how the Bloodline rolls! SO Big Brother Jimmy, where you at?! Where you at, Uce!?

Jey waits for someone to show up somewhere, and the crowd spots them first! Fans boo as Jimmy & Solo make their way from the back of the stands. Jimmy gets a mic and goes to the apron while Solo paces around the outside. Fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” again as Jey puts the sunglasses aside. The Usos stare each other down, the fans now chant “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jey wants to say something, hesitates, but then says these two would always get to it but they always knew how to shake right back to this. But now it’s different. Regardless of what happened, the bad blood between them, Jey misses his brother. He does.

Jey knows Jimmy will say what he wants, but Jey doesn’t talk to him no more, doesn’t ride with him no more, doesn’t even see him no more! Jimmy can just come back. Jimmy says he never left! He protected Jey! Jey’s so dumb, he can’t see it! Jimmy is protecting Jey! It was Jey’s idea to leave The Bloodline, but Jimmy helped because he is Jey’s brother. So yeah, Jey leaves, and what happens? Lil’ Bro becomes the BIGGEST star on the Raw roster! Lil’ Bro becomes the top merch seller! Lil’ Bro goes off to become a tag team champion without Jimmy, but with CODY RHODES!? Who left who, Uce?

Jey forgot Jimmy! Everything Jey did that was big was cuz of Big Bro Jimmy! Everything! So listen loud and clear. The biggest moment in Jey’s career, the BIGGEST moment, is because of Jimmy! Jimmy stares Jey down, but Jey says no. Jey’s biggest moment in his career is going to be his dream match at WrestleMania 40: Jey VS Jimmy, and Jey knocks the yeet out Jimmy’s ass! Jey DECKS Jimmy, DECKS Solo off the apron, but then Jimmy SUPERKICKS Jey down! The fans boo but now Solo storms in and looms over Jey. Solo drags Jey up so Jimmy can look him in the face and tell him that Jey needs to get it right! JIMMY made Jey!

But here comes Cody Rhodes! The fans fire up as Cody DECKS Jimmy, then gets in to springboard and CODY CUTTER Solo!! The American Nightmare said he was gonna be a Bloodline Hunter, and he made sure they didn’t take out Jey! Cody tells The Bloodline it is only a matter of time before they lose it all at WrestleMania! Will Jey prove that younger or older doesn’t matter when he is the BETTER brother?

 

Adam Pearce is on the phone.

He’s telling Nick Aldis to stop being a hypocrite, telling Pearce to keep his roster in check when this is happening. But then Paul Heyman walks over and Pearce says he’ll call Aldis back. Pearce then asks Heyman what was all that, and Heyman says he owes Pearce an apology. He is sorry. That was not authorized by The Final Boss nor The Tribal Chief, and certainly not by Heyman. Jimmy & Solo went into business for themselves so Heyman apologizes. But listen, Pearce knows that there have been flight delays all day. Even private jets like theirs. Heyman is barely even dressed for TV, let alone has his make-up!

Pearce says those two were ready. Yeah, well, they got in on a different flight. But Roman Reigns is a chief of his word. Those two are already gone, out of the arena, and Pearce has Roman’s word. Call his bluff, put out a search party. Pearce knows Heyman is here on official business, which Heyman will handle, and then be gone. That is it. But when Heyman does his official business… everyone will be caught off guard. “And Mr. Pearce, sir, that’s not a prediction. That’s a spoiler.” The Wise Man heads out and calls Roman, but just what is Heyman teasing?

 

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: #DIY VS The Creed Brothers!

Unlike SmackDown’s mini-tournament, Raw and Adam Pearce say it’s win and you’re in! Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano want one more shot at Judgment Day, but so do Julius & Brutus! Will the Sicilian Psycho & Johnny Wrestling prove that when it comes to Mania Moments, you gotta do it yourself? Or will the Creeds be bringing golden tickets to the Diamond Mine?

Raw returns as The Creeds make their entrance. The teams fist bump to show respect, then the teams sort out. Julius starts against Ciampa, they circle and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, Ciampa goes for a waistlock but Julius facelocks. Julius wrangles Ciampa to the mat, flips him over, ONE, and Ciampa keeps moving. They trade facelocks, gator roll, and Julius gets another lateral press. ONE, but Julius gator rolls Ciampa around. Ciampa fights up, puts Julius on ropes, and the ref counts. Ciampa lets off, then CHOPS! Julius shoots in for the takedown! Julius has a leg, Ciampa fights but Julius turns him for the ANKLE LOCK!

Ciampa scrambles to the ROPEBREAK, and Julius lets off cleanly. Ciampa bails out, shakes it off, and he gets back in. They go again, Julius hits a fireman’s carry takeover! Tag to Brutus, and Julius feeds Ciampa to another fireman’s carry takeover! Brutus cording holds but Ciampa endures. Ciampa fights up, but Brutus facelocks. The fans rally as Brutus switches and rolls Ciampa. Ciampa fights up, headlocks, then ROCKS Brutus! Brutus DECKS Ciampa, then whips him to ropes. Ciampa ducks ‘n’ dodges, tag to Gargano! Ciampa slides, CHOPS, Gargano LARIATS and Ciampa JAWBREAKERS! Wrench and LARIAT!

Julius runs in, Gargano kicks and Ciampa gives him the boost for SLICED BREAD! The Creeds bail out, but DIY DOUBLE PLANCHA! Down go the Creeds, and DIY applaud and pat themselves on the back. The fans fire up and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Ciampa has Julius in a chinlock. The fans rally, Julius fights up to throw body shots, but Ciampa hits a back suplex! Julius lands out of it, but Ciampa elbows him away. Ciampa drop toeholds Julius, gets legs, but Julius BOOTS Ciampa away! Hot tags to Gargano and Brutus! Brutus rallies on DIY, TOSSES Gargano, then blocks Ciampa’s kick to get under and POWERBOMB him! Brutus sees DIY regroup, then he runs in to SPLASH them both! O’Conner on Ciampa, but Gargano runs up! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Brutus has a DOUBLE BRIDGE, TWO!! Tag to Julius and he gut wrench SLAMS Brutus on Ciampa!

Brutus helps Julius flip up and over to SPLASH onto Ciampa! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Julius drags Ciampa up. Ciampa throat chops! A bit dirty but Ciampa wants that win! Ciampa storms up on Julius, but Julius basement stalling suplexes!! The fans are thunderous, Gargano runs in, but Brutus intercepts! Brutus suplexes Gargano now, stalls, and then the Creeds SLAM and kip up! Then they both STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ciampa stays in this for DIY but the Creeds keep cool. Julius stomps Ciampa, tags Brutus, and they KNEE Ciampa around! Then they DOUBLE GUTBUSTER! Ciampa sputters but Brutus tags Julius in.

Julius drags Ciampa up, tags Brutus back in, and Brutus climbs. Julius Electric Chair Lifts, but Gargano makes the save! Gargano ROCKS Julius, Brutus ROCKS Gargano! Ciampa BOOTS Brutus, Gargano swings on Julius but is sent into Ciampa! Ciampa pushes Gargano back so he can ELBOW Julius! DIY set up again but Brutus stops the Sliced Bread! Julius DECKS Ciampa, KNEE into the WIDOWMAKER! Julius scrapes Gargano out, Brutus POUNCES Ciampa over the desk! Pat fires up with Brutus and so do the fans! The Creeds say they run this now, and then Brutus drags Ciampa up while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Julius has Ciampa in a chinlock. Ciampa fights up, and he JAWBREAKERS free! Ciampa ELBOWS Brutus down, BOOTS Julius, then runs up, only for Julius to catch him and toss him back! But then Ciampa catches Julius for a REVERSE DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down and crawling! Hot tag to Gargano! Gargano slingshots to KICK Julius, then he CLOBBERS Brutus! ENZIGIRI for Julius, then he runs to DOUBLE KNEE Brutus! BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO! The fans fire up with Gargano while Julius ends up in another corner. Gargano runs in but is put on the apron!

Gargano GAMANGIRIS Julius, SUPERKICKS Brutus, then SLINGSHOT SPEARS Julius! Cover, TWO! Julius survives but Gargano puts him in a corner. Gargano CHOPS, then hoists Julius up top. Tag to Ciampa, Ciampa CHOPS Julius while Gargano DIVES onto Brutus! Ciampa CHOPS Julius again, goes up top, and fireman’s carries! Ciampa then tucks Julius in for the SUPER AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, TWO!! Julius survives again and shocks Ciampa! The fans are just as stunned, but Ciampa and Julius sit up. Ciampa stands, and he CHOPS! And CHOPS! Julius sits back up as Ciampa puts some stank on the CHOP!

Julius brings the straps down! Julius fires a forearm, Ciampa hits back, and the fans fire up as the shots keep going! They go faster and faster, harder and harder, meaner and meaner! The fans fire up as this just turns into a brawl of haymakers and SLAPS! Ciampa then gets around, ripcord and HAYMAKER! ROLLING- TACKLE from Julius! And then the ANKLE LOCK!! Ciampa reaches out, moves around, but Gargano runs up! Julius kicks him, then gets him up with one arm to POWERBOMB! Then it’s back to the ANKLE LOCK on Ciampa! Brutus gets in to get Gargano for an ANKLE LOCK of his own!

The fans are thunderous as DIY endures! Ciampa and Gargano fight, turn things over, SICILIAN CROSSFACE and GargaNO Escape!! The fans are thunderous as The Creeds power up and lift both DIY! They fireman’s carry, then TOSS DIY into each other!! The fans are thunderous as Julius goes up to MOONSAULT onto Ciampa! Brutus MOONSAULTS, too! Cover, TWO?!?! Ciampa survives and the fans are loving this! Julius tags back in, Brutus climbs up! “This is Awesome!” as Julius Electric Chair Lifts Ciampa! But Ciampa VICTORY ROLLS to get under the Brutus Ball!! Cover, Brutus tips it! Gargano TOSSES Brutus then SUPERKICKS Julius!! Ciampa has the cover, DIY WINS!!

Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

Julius can’t believe it! He kicked out at 3.1, but a loss is a loss! And for the first time ever, DIY is going to Mania! Will Philadelphia soon be historic for a DIY championship victory?

 

Judgment Day meets backstage.

Rhea Ripley is with Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh, but also Andrade. Dom says he’s always liked Andrade’s style, but things have changed since the last time he was in the WWE. The Judgment Day runs Raw now. Rhea says yeah, and they don’t extend invitations to just anyone. Judgment Day is very exclusive. JD says very exclusive. But if Andrade continues to impress them, they’ll see about making things happen. And Finn says he just heard that Andrade has a match next week, so the Judgment Day will be watching him. Sounds good. See you next week. But then in steps Damian Priest.

The Punisher says hello to El Idolo, and El Idolo says hello to Senor Dinero. Andrade heads out, will he quite literally win his way into the club? But as for Priest, Finn asks him what he was up to. Priest was getting a closer look at that DIY VS Creeds match. DIY won, but whatever, they can handle those guys. But JD, they thought he could handle Ricochet last week, and run the gauntlet, and then go to WrestleMania to bring even more gold back to Judgment Day. JD says he did he belonged in there. But also, he battered Ricochet, who got lucky at the end there. Right, Finn? Finn hesitates, and Rhea says Priest is right on this one.

Ricochet made a fool out of JD! A fool? Yes. A fool? Yes. That’s why tonight, Dom will make it right. Right, Dom? Yeah, Mami. Let’s go talk to Pearce to make it official. Dom & JD head out, and the others are confident Dom’s got this. But does he, though? Or will the One and Only have two wins over Judgment Day in as many weeks?

 

Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance!

The Poison Pixie certainly lived up to that name last week when she bullied Maxxine Dupri as part of beating her and Ivy Nile last week. Will Candice’s toxic tongue strike again? Or will the party not be stopped by her harsh vibes?

The teams sort out and Candice starts against Kayden. Candice rushes up, Kayden gets around and O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Kayden springboards to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Kayden stalks Candice, Candice ELBOWS her away then tags Indi. Kayden dodges Candice to SUPERKICK, but Indi BOOTS Kayden! Cover, TWO! Indi drags Kayden up, tags Candice back in, and they mug Kayden. Candice CLUBS away on Kayden, fires off furious fists, then covers. TWO, and Candice grows frustrated already. The fans rally, Candice steps up but Kayden avoids the senton! Tags to Katana and Indi! Katana blasts past Indi, comes back and BULLDOGS!

Katana keeps moving, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SHOTGUNS Indi to a corner! The fans fire up as Katana stomps away on Indi! Indi shoves Katana, Katana runs corner to corner to A-LIST LARIAT! Katana shoves Indi down, runs up, but into a back suplex! Katana lands out, but her leg jams! The ref and Kayden check, then the ref keeps Indi back. Indi says okay, and she stays by Candice. But Candice tags in to WRECK Kayden! And she SLAMS Katana’s leg into the post!! HALF CRAB and DEEP! Katana taps, Candice & Indi win!

Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission

Candice smiles and celebrates with Indi, but Indi doesn’t want to. Candice says a win is a win, but just what is going on in her toxic mind?

 

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

NC State fires up again as The American Nightmare walks down the ramp, and this time the fans can sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro then gets the mic. “In less than three weeks time, I will stand opposed for the second year in a row, in the main event, with the lights on brightest, I will challenge for the WWE Undisputed Championship, against the greatest champion in all of sports, The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. And this Friday on SmackDown, Roman and I are going to have a little conversation, if you will. But there are… complications. Factors, elements, combustible elements, namely… The Rock.”

Fans boo but Cody says The Rock took to Instagram on Friday, and followed it up with “extremely entertaining” concert. Too bad The Rock didn’t wanna be here tonight. Something Cody took from the Instagram post: The Rock referred to himself as “Our Favorite Heel.” A bit of an inside term, but we’re not dumb, we know that means he’s the “bad guy.” Cody has known Heels. Bobby Heenan, Arn Anderson, Michael Hayes, “Superstar” Billy Graham, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair! Fans “WOO~” and Cody says he doesn’t think The Rock is a Heel. He’s just an assh*le. The fans go nuts hearing that!

Cody doesn’t want Rock getting upset, he doesn’t want the “seven bucks team” to get upset, he doesn’t want anyone getting emotional. Cody knows how Rock feels about emotions, he poked fun at Cody tearing up at discussing “finishing the story” with good friend, Michael Cole. There’s no crying in pro-wrestling, Jimmy Dugan, we get it. But hasn’t The Rock been crying behind the scenes this whole time? Once that hashtag came out, once fans chanted something else, The Rock cried to his buddies on the TKO board and said “Hey, this is gonna be some good PR for The Rock! I need to save WWE!” God knows, look at this house. They sure needed “saving,” huh?

The fans cheer but Cody says Rock wanted great PR. Until it wasn’t. TKO said OMG yes, put on the Gucci shirt, get those muscles looking big. It’s because they are Yes People, they are enablers, they won’t dare tell The Rock like it is, so Cody’s going to. Cody tells The Rock, “You’re a lot of things. You’re a lot of wonderful things. You are the Braham Bull, you are The Great One.” Cody still has shoes with The Rock’s logo on it! The Rock is the only guy Cody honestly feels is a Mount Rushmore wrestler. But he is also a terrible salesman, a carny succubus, and for those who don’t get what that means, The Rock is “a whiny b*tch!”

Fans lose their minds again but Cody says The Rock has been convinced otherwise. But don’t think that for two seconds this locker room needs The Rock more than The Rock needs it! That’s a rule of wrestling, nobody is bigger than the business! And sure, Cody brought up his mom, so it is fair game for The Rock to use that. But Cody knows The Rock’s mom. Here’s what Cody will tell us about The Rock’s mom. She is a wonderful lady, salt of the earth, she helped Cody chop Kevin in a dark match. Cody has nothing but respect for The Rock’s mom, something The Rock should’ve echoed back towards Cody’s mom.

But see, The Rock was talking about whipping Cody, handing a bloody weight belt to Cody’s mom, and normally someone as powerful as The Rock, Mama Rhodes would tremble. But The Rock doesn’t know Cody’s mom. Cody was more scared than she was, because she ain’t scared of nothing. This is the same woman who once jumped out of her chair at a Willie Nelson concert and beat up an undercover cop! She ain’t afraid of The Rock! Cody has been asked, April 6th, biggest tag match of all time, Rock & Roman VS Cody & Seth. Seth Rollins, the World Heavyweight Champion, a man The Rock should respect because that man has carried The Rock’s company!

How will Cody get past that match? How will April 7th look? Will it be a fair fight? Cody can tell us honestly… He doesn’t know. Cody does not know if it will be Bloodline Rules or not. Hell, he might not #FinishTheStory. “But Dwayne… What do you know? How can you be so sure of your own self, right?” The Rock hasn’t been in the ring in real action in years! April 6th, the bell is gonna ring, and what happens then? Is The Rock gonna bring The Great One, the hero we all had growing up? Is he bringing that #BigDwayneEnergy? Or is it gonna be LDS, Little D*ck Syndrome?! The fans chant “L D S! L D S!”

Cody says The Rock has referred to himself as The Final Boss. Kudos for that nickname, maybe he really is that. Maybe Cody is too naive to see it. But at WrestleMania, Cody doesn’t think The Rock will be The Final Boss. At WrestleMania, he’s just Roman’s side chick. But then ladies and gentlemen, his name is Paul Heyman, and he serves as The Wise Man to Your Tribal Chief, the reigning! Defending! Undisputed! WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman… Reigns! And as Special Counsel to the Bloodline, Heyman is here to say to Cody that the ideals that Cody and Heyman share are far greater than the interests on which they conflict.

By example, don’t you hate it when someone comes out to demand an apology? Not that Cody’s done that, but Heyman is still going to do that. Heyman came out here with some “friends” of his, and he apologized. For a Wise Man, that was pretty freakin’ stupid. One: because it didn’t work. Two: because it was just dumb. And for that, Cody, to you and the fans, Heyman humbly apologizes. Cody says whoa, whoa, whoa. He didn’t ask for an apology, and he certainly knows Heyman wants permission to be in the ring. Heyman is a Hall of Famer starting this year, if he wants into the ring, be Cody’s guest.

Heyman thanks Cody for that but he’s fine on the apron. He carries with him a message from The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Talk about Heels… You may think of Heyman anything negative you want, and that might be understanding the obvious. Heyman is not trustworthy, but Roman is a chief of his word. Heyman assures that this Friday on SmackDown, Roman will be face to face with Cody. American Nightmare, Tribal Chief, challenger and champion. And when they are face to face, there will not be a single other member of The Bloodline in sight. Except for Heyman, but he is no physical threat.

Heyman holds the title belt, the beads, whispers things in Roman’s ear, such as his love and respect. But Cody has Roman’s word that if he shows up on SmackDown, Roman will show up alone. Cody says Roman shows up alone, no Bloodline outside of Heyman, it’s a deal. They good? Heyman has some jet lag, he forgot one little point. And don’t boo him, he’s talking to Cody! Cody says yes they’re booing, and he’s about to go full Homelander and rip Heyman’s throat out if he doesn’t get to the point. Fans like the reference. Heyman composes himself and says if Roman Reigns shows up alone this Friday on SmackDown, then Cody must show up to SmackDown alone, too.

Cody steps closer to Heyman and Heyman is a bit nervous. Cody tells Heyman, “Deal!” They shake hands, and Heyman smiles. The Wise Man negotiated a purely one-on-one meeting between his Tribal Chief and American Nightmare, but can we trust Heyman was telling the truth about Roman telling the truth?

 

Nia Jax speaks.

“You know what I’ve realized? Becky Lynch has never beaten me. And after tonight, she never will. Because after I break her face again, I will be taking her spot at WrestleMania. I will finish business with Rhea Ripley, and not only will I walk out the Last Woman Standing, but I will become Women’s World Champion.” The Irresistible Force is ready for the Big Time, but will she A-Nia-late her?

 

Cody Rhodes returns backstage.

And Jey says there he go! But real quick, Cody can’t be going to SmackDown alone. Cody says he gave them his word. But The Bloodline isn’t gonna play fair! They’re all gonna be there! If Cody needs Jey, Jeys’ got him. Cody hears that, but he knows what he’s dealing with. They shake hands and Jey heads out. Will Cody be able to have that fair, one-on-one meeting? Or does Jey have a point about The Bloodline?

 

Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!

It seems Pearce agreed to the idea that Dirty Dom should try and clean up The Irish Ace’s mess. Will Dom be able to get revenge on Ricochet? Or will Ricochet be the One and Only person holding their head high tonight?

Raw returns and Dom has made his entrance. The bell rings, Dom and Ricochet circle, and they tie up. Ricochet waistlocks, Dom fights the lift and grabs ropes. The ref counts, Ricochet lets off, but Dom ELBOWS him away! Dom fires hands, soaks up the heat, then storms up, but into haymakers! Ricochet CHOPS, kicks then flexes on Dom. Ricochet whips, Dom reverses, but Ricochet goes up and over. Ricochet ducks ‘n’ dodges to then handspring back elbow! The fans fire up while Dom bails out! JD is there to coach Dom up, but Ricochet runs in! JD gets Dom to safety, but Ricochet handsprings to hero land!

The fans fire up, Ricochet then goes to ropes to TORNILLO PLANCHA! Direct hit on Dom and Ricochet tells JD to back off. Ricochet puts Dom in, Dom distracts the ref, but JD grabs Ricochet’s leg! Ricochet kicks JD away, but then Dom WRECKS Ricochet with a dropkick! Dom soaks up the heat and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Dom has Ricochet up top. Dom climbs but Ricochet throws body shots! The fans rally behind Ricochet as he sends Dom staggering. Ricochet hops down as Dom comes running back, and Ricochet GAMANGIRIS him away! Ricochet then springboards, but Dom trips him up! Ricochet flops to the mat, then Dom kicks and FACEBUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Ricochet is still in this and JD argues the count. Dom looms over Ricochet, scuffs him around, then mockingly cheers him on. Fans boo but Dom brings Ricochet up. Dom gives some Latino Heat, then suplexes! Uno Amigo, but fans boo.

Dom gets Ricochet up but Ricochet suplexes Dom instead! And then fireman’s carry, DYNAMITE KICK! Cover, TWO! Dom is still in this and JD coaches him but the fans rally for Ricochet. Ricochet stands, storms up on Dom, but Dom shoots around to roll him up! With tights! TWO, Ricochet blocks a kick and KICKS Dom down! Ricochet hurries up top, the fans fire up, but Ricochet has to bail out of the 450 as Dom moves! Dom runs in again, but into a SUPERKICK! JD gets on the apron, so Ricochet triangle jump DROPKICKS! But then Dom DROPKICKS Ricochet onto ropes! Dom dials it up but Ricochet ducks!

Dom spins around, into the RECOIL!! Cover, Ricochet wins!

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall

But then JD runs in! Ricochet dodges, goes up and around, BOOTS JD away, then BOOTS him again! Ricochet even flips up and out of the ring at the same time! Ricochet gets the better of Judgment Day again, just how disappointed is Mami going to be in her Latino Heat this time?

 

Sami Zayn is backstage.

He finds Chad Gable and wants to talk with him. Last week’s match, that was an honor. Sami hasn’t been pushed like that in a long time, it could’ve gone either way. Gable says yeah, it was great. Thanks. Is Gable alright? Yeah, he’s fine. Kinda feels like not… Gable says he’s fine, so leave it at that. C’mon, man, how many years have they known each other? Sami knows when something’s bothering Gable, so he should just say it. Gable says look, last week, the WrestleMania opportunity, the whole thing, it just meant more to him. Sami says he’s been hearing Gable say that for weeks, and it is really unfair.

Does Gable really think he’s the only one this title opportunity matters to? Sami has a family, too! Sami’s kid cries when Papa loses a match, too. Sami has people he’s let down and is trying to make proud. After all the years put into this, Gable can’t tell Sami what matters more because he doesn’t know Sami like that. Gable has Sami calm down, and says he knows all that. But it isn’t all about that. Then what is all this? Gable says Sami can’t beat Gunther. Gable then leaves, and Sami is at a loss for words. Is this bitter side of Gable only going to get worse as we go down this Road to WrestleMania?

 

Adam Pearce is in the ring.

Raw returns with the GM by a table, and he welcomes us to a contract signing to make official the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship for WrestleMania! The fans cheer, and Pearce introduces first, the challenger, Sami Zayn! The Great Liberator makes his entrance and the fans sing along with his song. Sami still looks troubled by what Gable said just moments ago, but he still high-fives fans and gets in the ring. Then Pearce introduces the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time, Der Ring General, GUNTHER! The fans boo as Gunther walks in, having reached Day 647!

Gunther smiles as Sami watches him make his way down the ramp and into the ring. Pearce says we know how this works, but Gunther says before we proceed, let us call this what it is: the most important contract signing for the most important match in the history of this championship. And why, why, why is the challenger dressed no better than any of the bums in the audience? Fans boo but Sami just shrugs that off. Sami gets a mic to say that Gunther keeps sitting there all smug, and it’s really starting to piss Sami off. Gunther thinks this is just another day at the office, that he’ll steamroll through Sami like any other contender.

But with all respect to Gunther, he really has. He has beaten everyone that has come his way, and has done it on his own. Gunther doesn’t believe Sami can do it. A lot of people didn’t believe Sami at many points in his career. They didn’t believe he’d even make it to WWE, let alone win championships and main event a WrestleMania. And if you ask The Usos, they didn’t believe Sami would be one of the guys to end the longest tag title reign in WWE history, but he did! And one year later, he will make history again by ending the longest Intercontinental title reign in WWE history! Sami signs his part and pushes the contract over to Gunther.

The fans cheer Sami on but Gunther waits it out. Gunther tells Sami, what Sami should do is listen to his new friend, Gable. Gable doesn’t believe Sami can win. The people here cheer Sami, they probably even love Sami. But even they don’t believe Sami can win. And y’know, when Gunther looks Sami in the eyes, and if Sami was honest with himself, even Sami doesn’t believe he can win. So what Sami is doing right now is standing on Gunther’s doorstep and begging him to get the beating of a lifetime on the Grandest Stage of Them All! So whatever Sami has to do, from training to believing, just keep doing that. Because at WrestleMania, Sami’s dreams will meet reality.

Gunther grins and signs his part, and it is now official! Gunther then stands, title on his shoulder, and takes his leave. The fans boo, but then Sami tells Gunther to wait. Gunther steps back inside to hear Sami as Sami turns around. Gunther looks in Sami’s eyes and believes Sami doesn’t believe? Sami stands to get in Gunther’s face and dares him to look again. Get a good long look, because these are the eyes of the man who will take you down at Mania! The fans fire up, and now Sami leaves first. Gunther still just grins, but will Sami use a Helluva Kick to wipe that smile off his face?

We follow Sami as he storms backstage, right past DIY and The Awesome Truth. Truth asks what’s up with Sami, but The Miz says that is the mindset of WrestleMania right there. That’s what they need. DIY wishes Awesome Truth luck. Awesome Truth knows DIY is into the ladder match, and they are gonna have their own qualifier. Miz & Truth just need to beat… Indus Sher. Jinder Mahal tells Veer & Sanga to warm up for the match. They head out, and Truth says he feels sorry for whoever has to face those guys. Miz stares at Truth, and he has DIY hold off. Miz will explain. The Awesome Truth heads to gorilla, their match is next!

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher w/ Jinder Mahal!

Miz wants a remix of the theme song but Truth says to just follow his lead. NC State knows what’s up, but will the Awesome Truth finally reach the top of the tag division 13 years after they first teamed? We’ll see, after the break!

Raw returns as Indus Sher makes their entrance, the Modern Day Maharaja by their side. The teams sort out and Truth starts against Sanga. The fans echo “WHAT’S UP?!” but Sanga roars! Truth is scared now so he tags Miz. Truth fires Miz up, Miz runs up and dodges Sanga to fire off haymakers! Miz kicks, whips, but Sanga blocks! Sanga whips and CLOBBERS Miz! Jinder nods as Sanga then scoops Miz and brings him over. Veer tags in, Sanga SLAMS Miz, then Veer ELBOW DROPS! Indus Sher say “NAMASTE!” but the fans say “WHAT’S UP!?” with Truth. Veer HIP DROPS Miz, then looms over him.

Veer eggs Miz on, drags him up with shoulder claws, and then steps over Miz for the neck wrench! Miz endures as Veer still digs a claw into his shoulder. The fans rally for Miz, Miz fights up and throws body shots! Miz reaches out but Veer knees low! Veer SHOVES Miz to the corner, runs in, but Miz BOOTS! Miz ELBOWS Sanga, but Veer catches him! Veer puts Miz back int he corner, but Miz ducks the boot to tag Truth! Truth dodges Veer and starts up the shoulder tackles! Truth gets around Veer to SPIN-OUT BOMB! The fans fire up as Truth shouts out Cena with “You Can’t See Me!” Truth runs to Five Knuckle Shuffle!

Jinder is not happy now as Truth fireman’s carries! But Veer slips free! Truth drop toeholds to the STF!! The fans fire up but Sanga stomps Truth! Miz fires off kicks on Sanga, then body shots! Truth joins in, they mug and whip Sanga, to DOUBLE DROPKICK! Sanga staggers around, Veer runs up, but into a full nelson! Truth and Miz combine for a SKULL CRUSHING LIE DETECTOR!! But Sanga whips Miz away! Miz WRECKS Jinder with it, but Sanga runs up! Sanga knocks Miz down, Miz anchors Sanga, Sanga ELBOWS Truth, Truth falls onto Veer for the cover! Awesome Truth wins!!

Winners: The Awesome Truth, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

The fans fire up, and Truth doesn’t even realize what happened! Miz celebrates with Truth and Truth puts it together! They’re now one of the six in the ladder match! Will this combination of teamwork and luck be just what they need to take those titles from Judgment Day?

 

Sami confronts Gable now.

Sami tells Gable to tell him why. Why what? Why does Gable think Sami can’t beat Gunther? Well you just saw why! With Gunther, it isn’t just physical, it is mental. Sami made his career out of being the underdog that crawls his way out of any hole he’s in, right? Just like last week! Sami found the window of opportunity to get out of a bad situation any time he can. Gunther’s on a different level! You gonna sit and wait for that window to appear? It doesn’t happen with Gunther! He’s a different beast, a different animal. If Sami doesn’t change his mentality, then he can’t beat Gunther. Gable leaves Sami with a lot to think again. Is there a way Sami can change enough to defeat Der Ring General?

 

CM Punk speaks.

“Do I plan at being in WrestleMania? WrestleMania is in Philadelphia, what’re the first four letters in Philadelphia? Phil. You can’t have WrestleMania Philadelphia without Phil. Whether I’m invited or uninvited, Punk will be there.” And next week in Chicago, Punk returns to Raw! Will the Second City Saint find a way to be part of the biggest WrestleMania ever?

 

Drew McIntyre is here!

The Scottish Terminator, or as his new shirt says, “The Savior of WrestleMania,” makes his way to the ring, NC State a bit torn about seeing him. But then Seth Rollins is here, too!? McIntyre is upset but the fans sing along, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” as The Visionary struts his way out. Rollins swaggers right past McIntyre in his green storm pattern suit, and steps into the ring first. McIntyre frowns as he follows Rollins in, and sits in a corner. The fans continue to sing, which Rollins revels in for a moment. Rollins has the mic to then say, “RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA~! Welcome to Monday Night Rollins~!

“And Drew, hah, sorry, I didn’t even see you there. I was too busy, uh, y’know, soaking up the spotlight, right?” McIntyre has a mic to say, “Alright, here we go.” Here goes what, Drew? McIntyre says no, no, get it all out of your system, he knows Rollins has more! McIntyre can stay in the back while Rollins enjoys the spotlight, because after WrestleMania, that spotlight’s all McIntyre’s. Hey, hey, c’mon. Rollins is here with an honest cause. Rollins doesn’t like McIntyre, he thinks he’s stupid, a hypocrite, has said a lot of dumb things lately, but Rollins is here to admit that one thing McIntyre said is absolutely right and he wants to say it to McIntyre’s face, right here in Raleigh, in front of the fine people.

Now, they always say the first step to recovery is the hardest, so bare with Rollins. He has been working on this all week, but… “My name is Seth Freakin’ Rollins, and I’m a spotlight junkie.” The fans chant “Spotlight Junkie!” and also sing, but McIntyre says everything is just a joke to Rollins, isn’t it? Look at Rollins! He’s a parody of himself at this point. But honestly, McIntyre doesn’t care. He tried reasoning, he gave the answers, and now he only cares about their match and the world title. And you wanna know the real punchline, funny man? “What?” McIntyre says they say that because they’re happy McIntyre sidelined Punk, thanks for remembering!

But the punchline is when McIntyre beats Rollins for that title. The fans chant for “C M PUNK!” but McIntyre says don’t be ridiculous. Punk’s waiting until next week to return because he’d never show up in a place like Raleigh. The fans boo but McIntyre says see, they’re booing Punk! Punk is only getting off his couch to be at his local arena. Rollins tells McIntyre to shut up already. Oh, seems McIntyre got Rollins’ attention. Rollins takes off the sunglasses to say yeah, McIntyre has his attention. Because this isn’t a joke! When Rollins says he is a junkie, it isn’t a joke! He’s been doing this for 20 YEARS! Just like McIntyre!

And every time Rollins comes out of the curtain, that’s his fix. And it gets better and better every single time. Rollins comes out here, lays it all on the line, and it just gets better and better! When he hears the fans sing the song so loud, Rollins can barely speak, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” That’s Rollins’ fix! That is the spotlight he craves, and y’know what? Rollins wants the spotlight as bright as it can possibly be. So yeah, McIntyre’s been busy online entertaining people with memes, so he hasn’t been listening to Rollins. So Rollins will get this through McIntyre’s thick skull: Night One, Rollins takes the biggest star in Hollywood and his side chick, and makes them his b*tches!

Then on Night Two, the biggest spotlight possible will be shined down on McIntyre and Rollins and the World Heavyweight Championship! McIntyre says all hail the savior, Seth Rollins! This is what McIntyre wanted! The passion and desire, not the stupid laughing and dancing. Rollins had McIntyre all the way to the finish. Rollins has done this 20 years, just like McIntyre. They’ve given their lives to this industry, and that is what the title is about! The wrestlers’ title, the workhorse championship! Rollins had McIntyre with him until he mentioned the bigger spotlight and how Rollins pins one of the biggest stars in the world.

Why can’t it just be about Rollins’ hard work to make that title, and all of McIntyre’s hard work to get this chance? Why can’t that be the reason they’re getting the biggest spotlight!? Rollins has had his priorities all backwards, McIntyre has been giving him all the answers. McIntyre said he is over the BS, and all he cares about is Rollins making it to the ring on Night Two. And if Rollins can’t walk, then McIntyre will wheel him down. If not, McIntyre will carry Rollins down. At Mania, McIntyre doesn’t get the moment he deserves. He gets the moment he has bloody EARNED. The fans do cheer that!

Rollins smirks and says, “Ah, Drew. There it is. That’s right, you wanna call me a spotlight junkie, but you want the spotlight just as bad as I do, don’t you? You’re an addict, just like I am. And you’ve been begging for spotlight for the past four years, because you won the WrestleMania main event. You did, back in 2020, in an empty warehouse. And all we’ve been hearing from Drew McIntyre for the past four years was how that wasn’t good enough. You’ve been whining and complaining and bitching and moaning that you deserve better, that you deserve more. The problem is, Drew, when everybody came back around, and the lights got bright again, what happened? You fumbled the ball.

“And that’s the difference between you and me. When the lights are the brightest, I shine, baby. I shine bright. And at WrestleMania 40, the lights are gonna be as bright as they have ever been. And you are gonna find out you are not as good as you think you are.” Rollins drops the mic, but this time McIntyre smirks. The verbal battle continues, but who will put their money where their mouth is once this one finally happens?

 

Becky Lynch speaks.

“I’m a wanted woman, and I don’t even have the title. Yet. But we’re less than three weeks away from WrestleMania, so why would I risk it all? Because I don’t know anything else. All I know is taking risks. All I know is fighting. And all I know is tonight, I’m gonna be the Last Woman Standing.” Becky is fired up to finally do what she hasn’t done in the most extreme way possible. Will she be the immovable object to Nia’s irresistible force?

 

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy!

Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods have been W, W, E, World, Tag, Team, CHAMPIONS~, but they’ve never been a part of a title match as big as this Six Pack Ladder challenge! Will they look to be part of history once again? Or will Akira Tozawa & Otis say “A THANK YEW~!” for this golden opportunity?

Raw returns as the Academy makes their entrance. The teams sort out and Woods starts against the tree trunk, Otis. The fans rally for “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Otis and Woods tie up, but Woods kicks low then headlocks. Otis powers up and out then runs Woods over! Otis storms up on Woods, GUT RAMS him back down, then brings him back up. Otis GUT RAMS Woods again, then runs to CLOBBER Woods! Otis swivels his hips, the fans echo “Oh~ yeah!” Otis tags Tozawa and the Academy mugs Woods. Tozawa brings Woods around but Woods CHOPS! Woods tags Kofi, he and Kofi double whip Tozawa but Tozawa holds ropes!

Tozawa fires hands, dodges Woods then BOOTS Woods down! Kofi kicks low, whips Tozawa to a corner, but Tozawa BOOTS Kofi away! Tozawa goes up to FLYING RANA! The fans fire up as Tozawa sees New Day regroup outside. Tozawa runs to DIVE! Direct hit on both New Day, and Otis joins in for “A THANK YEW~!” The Academy stands tall as Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Tozawa fights a chinlock. Tozawa reaches for Otis but Woods back suplexes. Tozawa lands out to then DROPKICK Woods down! The fans rally as Woods and Tozawa crawl, hot tags to Otis and Kofi! Otis CLOBBERS Kofi, CLOBBERS him again, then whips him to ropes. WRECKER ELBOW! Woods runs in, Otis dodges, to LARIAT! Otis sees Kofi leap off the corner, and catches him for a WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM! Otis rips the shirt off, winds up the hips, and then starts up the CATERPILLAR! ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Kofi survives but Otis hurries to step on him! Tag to Tozawa, and Otis goes up!

Otis VADER BOMBS but FLOPS as Kofi moves! Tozawa hurries up top while Kofi SUPERKICKS Otis! Kofi turns around into the CROSSBODY from Tozawa! Cover, TWO! Tozawa SUPERKICKS Kofi but Woods tags in! Woods GAMANGIRIS Tozawa, then steps in to TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Tozawa toughs it out but Woods grits his teeth as he goes to the corner. Woods climbs, but Tozawa rises! Tozawa throws body shots, Woods CLUBS Tozawa! Tozawa throws more hands and climbs up! The fans rally as they brawl up top! Tozawa brings Woods up but Woods fights the lift! Woods throws body shots in return!

Woods shifts position to get under Tozawa for a fireman’s carry! But then Tozawa pops up to SUPER STEINER!! Tozawa rips off his shirt, climbs back up top, SUPER SENTON!! Cover, Kofi breaks it! The fans fire up but Otis drags Kofi out! Otis whips Kofi at steps, Kofi goes up and jumps off the steps to TORNADO DDT to the floor! Kofi hurries back up to the apron but Tozawa SCREW HIGH KICKS him down! Tozawa dodges Woods, pop-up, but Woods blocks the rana to then SPINNING POWERBOMB! Woods sees the WrestleMania sign, hurries up the corner, and he tightrope walks! LIMIT BREAK ELBOW!! Cover, New Day wins!

Winners: The New Day, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

The New Day are the ones saying A THANK YEW~ as they put their names down for the Six Pack Ladder Match! Will they once again climb to the top of the WWE Tag Team Division and bring home those championships?

 

Liv Morgan confronts Becky Lynch.

Becky asks if she’ll have to watch out for Liv as well. Well, you should always #WatchMe, but no, not tonight. Nia is all Becky’s. Liv just wants Becky to kick Nia’s ass. Liv leaves, will Becky kick ass and then some?

 

Cody walks with his dog, Pharaoh, backstage.

Rollins finds him and brings up Friday. One on one? One on one. Rollins nods and says he loves Pharaoh’s bandanna. The Visionary trusts the American Nightmare can handle himself, but will we be able to trust The Tribal Chief?

 

Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax!

From the origins of “The Man” in WWE to the aftermath of Elimination Chamber: Perth, these two have battled, but never as brutally as this! They’re able to go anywhere and do anything, but who will be the Last Woman Standing this close to WrestleMania 40?

The bell rings and the two rush in! Becky DROPKICKS Nia and Nia goes to a corner. Becky runs in but Nia puts Becky on the apron. Becky ROCKS Nia, goes up a corner, then leaps to MISSILE DROPKCIK! Nia stumbles and tumbles out of the ring, so Becky WRECKS her with another dropkick! Becky then goes to the apron for a FLYING FOREARM! Nia stays up, Becky tries again, but Nia dodges! Fireman’s carry and Nia POSTS Becky, to then SAMOAN DROP her into barriers! The ref counts as Becky is down, but she stands at 4 of 10. Nia CLOBBERS Becky and wants the count! The count climbs but Nia is impatient.

Nia clears off the desk, Becky stands at 5 of 10, and she leans against barriers. Becky comes back with body shots and haymakers, but Nia ROCKS her with a forearm! Becky staggers away as Raw goes to break!

Raw returns and Becky is bringing out a table! The fans fire up as Becky sets that up ringside. There’s been a lot of chaos during the break according to commentary, from chairs to kendo sticks to even a copy of Becky’s book, The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl! But Nia storms over to stop Becky and SMACK her off the desk! Nia puts Becky in the ring, takes that table for her own and sets it up. The table doesn’t cooperate and fans boo, but Nia goes for chairs instead. She slides those in the ring, Becky manages to stand at 7 of 10, and she grabs at those chairs. Nia ditches the table, it just doesn’t wanna work.

Nia storms in but Becky JAMS her with a chair, SMACKS her with it, then clinches! Nia fights the slam, fireman’s carries Becky, and FULL METAL SAMOAN DROPS!! Becky writhes from hitting chairs but Nia looms over her. Nia soaks up the heat as she counts along. Becky flounders to ropes and drags herself up at 7! Nia sits a chair up, fans want a table, but Nia scoops Becky. Becky slips around to a SLEEPER! Nia RAMS Becky into buckles again and again until Becky lets go. But then Becky BULLDOGS Nia off the chair! Nia is down for the count now, and Becky leans against ropes to stay up herself.

Nia stirs at 5, stands at 8, but Becky is up top! Becky leaps, into a CHAIR SHOT! Nia SMACKS Becky again and again and again! The fans boo but Nia finally stops. Nia puts that chair aside and goes out to get some kendo sticks! Nia puts those in, but Becky grabs one! Nia snatches it from her to SMACK! And SMACK! And SMACK! Becky sputters and staggers, Nia clinches and scoops! Nia SLAMS Becky onto chairs! Then Nia runs to drop the leg, brother! Nia wants the count and the count begins! Becky sputters as we reach 5 of 10. Becky grabs that kendo stick but Nia SMACKS Becky with a chair! And again!

Nia kicks Becky around, then uses the chair to take a seat on Becky’s body!! The fans boo as the count begins, but Becky SMACKS Nia with the kendo stick! And again and again and again, even in the butt! Nia stands up, into more shots! Becky stands and she fires away until Nia scurries out of the ring! Becky pursues but Nia CLOBBERS her! Nia pulls the steel steps apart now, and takes that top half to RAM Becky down! Becky flounders, Nia hauls her up and puts her in the ring. Becky’s on the apron and Nia takes aim! Nia runs up, APRN LEG DROP only gets apron! Becky avoids disaster, then has Nia by the steps! DDT onto the steel!

Nia is down again and the count begins. Nia stirs at 5 of 10, sits up at 6, but Becky SMACKS her off steps! Nia falls over again and the count resets. Becky hurries to go looking for things while Nia rises again. Becky has a new table! The fans fire up as Becky gets that in the ring. Nia stands at 7, staggers after Becky, and Raw goes back to break.

Raw returns once again and Nia mugs Becky against barriers! Nia puts Becky on a table, and surprise! There’s a ladder set up now! Nia climbs the ladder?! She also demands Pat support the ladder. But Becky gets off the table so now Nia has no reason to be up there. Nia storms after Becky, but gets a FIRE EXTINGUISHER BLAST!! The fans fire up as Becky cools Nia off, then JAMS her with the canister! Becky puts Nia in the ring, and there’s a table waiting in a corner! Becky lines up the shot, and runs in, but Nia SAMOAN DROPS Becky through the table!!! Both women are down in the wreckage and the count begins!

Nia flounders away from the wreckage but she still needs to stand. Nia is up at 5, and she isn’t satisfied with this! She drags Becky all the way to another corner and puts her in the drop zone! Nia climbs up, for the A-NIA-LATOR!! Nia shouts for the count, the count begins, and Nia storms around as she points to the Mania sign. Becky is still down at 5 of 10, only starts stirring at 7, and she slumps out of the ring to stand up! Nia is furious, goes out after Becky, and kicks things aside to keep after her. Nia asks if Becky’s vision is blurry. Nia fireman’s carries Becky up the steel steps and along the apron, aiming for that other table!

The fans freak out but Becky fights with elbows! Becky CLUBS away on Nia and the fans are thunderous! Becky then clinches, for a MANHANDLE SLAM through the table!!! Both women are down int he wreckage again, and the count begins! Becky sits up at 4 while fans are still losing their minds! We pass 5 of 10, then 7! Nia sits up at 8 and stands at 9! But then she slumps back over! The count starts again, Nia flounders around and stands at 5. Becky goes up the ladder! Becky sees Nia approaching the desk, and then SUPER MAN’S LEG DROP through the desk!!! The fans lose their minds again while both men are down in more wreckage!

The count is 5 of 10! Becky flounders and crawls, drags herself up at 9, but Nia is still down! BECKY WINS!!

Winner: Becky Lynch

The Man conquers truly one of the most intense challenges in her career! But then here comes one of the most intense champions! The fans fire up as Rhea Ripley makes her way out, Women’s World Championship in hand. She goes right to the ring and looks at Becky. Rhea “congratulates” Becky for winning, but then Becky gets in Rhea’s face! The fans fire up, and now there are no obstacles in the way of Mami VS The Man! Who will be the champion after WrestleMania 40?


My Thoughts:

A great Raw right here, though the in-ring action kinda dipped down until that awesome Last Woman Standing main event. This is one of the times I wish they’d done picture in picture so we as the TV audience could see even more action. Great win for Becky, of course, but I also like that Becky had a moment with Liv just before, and of course she had a moment with Rhea to close out the night. Great promos with Sami and Gable that also blended into the contract signing from tonight. And I suppose Gable has a point that Sami, the comeback kid, can’t do that when Gunther has an arsenal of moves that would be “finishers” given all the different ways Gunther has won over the years.

And speaking of that contract signing segment, I really liked the segue they did in following Sami so that he’d cross paths with Awesome Truth at gorilla and we’d get their segment going into their match. WWE has been doing some really creative stuff in this newest era where Vince is truly out and apparently even Kevin Dunn has moved on. Awesome Truth had a really fun but also really quick tag match with Indus Sher, and then New Day VS Alpha Academy was solid stuff, but DIY VS Creeds was such an awesome match. For a moment, I thought Creeds were gonna take this one but DIY still found a way, and I like that DIY is in. Honestly, I’m liking that the HHH favorites are getting in, because we also have New Catch Republic on the other side that can still win into the match.

Judgment Day had good stuff tonight, too. Good group promo with Andrade to tease El Idolo possibly joining, but who knows if he does. Depends on how things go for Priest. He was watching the qualifiers, he’s not worried, but maybe he should be. Granted, he still has the MITB briefcase, he could go from losing the tag titles to taking the world title, who knows how the Judgment Day’s story is going to go as we move past Mania. Dom VS Ricochet was a really good match, and Ricochet winning was the right move to keep this feud going. I think there’s going to be Ricochet VS McDonagh next week as a rematch from the gauntlet, that’ll be great stuff, too.

Candice’s Heel turn slow burn continues as she takes advantage of the “hurt” leg. Indi also does a good job of being very conflicted about this. There’s a WWE YouTube exclusive where Ivy Nile confronts Candice so that’ll be a match, and then maybe when Candice again goes too far, Indi steps in and we get a match of Candice VS Indi at some point. Good little update promo from CM Punk, he’ll have a great homecoming moment in Chicago, but also probably McIntyre coming after him. McIntyre had a great promo segment with Rollins, and with all these continued moments where the other person gets the mic drop moment, it feels like McIntyre has to win the title.

And of course, great stuff with the Bloodline story even on Raw. Jey and Jimmy have great promos in their confrontation, and of course it turns into a brawl. Good segue from that to Heyman being here, and Heyman confronting Cody during Cody’s great promo segment. Cody really went off on The Rock, that was some wild stuff. But the supposed promise of “one on one and no one else aside from Heyman” might be kept, and we get a strong promo segment on SmackDown in a foreshadowing of the fair-and-square 1v1 match. Or it is a trap and that’s more a foreshadowing of Bloodline Rules where they can do whatever they want. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

My Score: 8.9/10


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Mitchell’s NJPW New Japan Cup Results & Report! (3/18/24)

The semifinals are here!

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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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