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Mitchell’s WWE Money in the Bank Results & Report! (7/18/21)

Money in the Bank gets Rated R!

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WWE MITB 2021

The stakes are high and the prizes are big in Fort Worth, Texas!

Fans are back, Money in the Bank is back, but will KofiMania be back? Or will the All Mighty WWE World Champion, Bobby Lashley, bring the hurt?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Kickoff Show – SmackDown Tag Team Championships: Rey & Dominik Mysterio VS The Usos; The Usos win and become the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
  • Women’s Money in the Bank Match: Nikki ASH wins and is Ms. Money in the Bank 2021.
  • Raw Tag Team Championships: AJ Styles & Omos VS The Viking Raiders; Styles & Omos win and retain the titles.
  • WWE World Championship: Bobby Lashley w/ MVP VS Kofi Kingston; Lashley wins and retains the title.
  • Raw Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley VS Charlotte Flair; Charlotte wins and becomes the new Raw Women’s Champion.
  • Men’s Money in the Bank Match: Big E wins and is Mr. Money in the Bank 2021.
  • WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman VS Edge; Reigns wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

It’s the Money in the Bank Kickoff Show!

Join Kayla Braxton, Booker T, Jerry “The King” Lawler, John “Bradshaw” Layfield, “birthday boy” Peter Rosenberg, and the live crowd, in discussing, analyzing and predicting all the action set for this great return to fans at a WWE PPV!

 

Sonya Deville joins the panel.

JBL is upset Rosenberg didn’t offer her a chair but she points out her standing and Rosenberg sitting are the same height. Kayla points out that when it comes to Women’s MITB, every woman that’s cashed in, they win the title. 100% success rate, and every woman who has held the briefcase have become stars. And the winner this year could be THE face of the Women’s Division soon enough. Sonya Deville was involved in a Women’s MITB helping Mandy Rose, but Bayley took them both down. But this is a point that anything can happen tonight. We’ve seen Liv Morgan fight her way in, Carmella was in but got her title match before, anything can happen.

Everything is on the line, Sonya wants to see the women step up, she is hoping Liv shows us something tonight. Booker says that he never won MITB either. It is about sacrifice, the person wanting it most wins. Liv has been putting in work, she might win. Liv is here via video chat and Kayla notes this is Liv’s first MITB ever. What’s going in her head right though? She is so excited! This is the biggest night of her career and she can’t wait to win. Peter asks that with what we saw on an electric Friday night, the fans say, “You Deserve It!” What does that mean to her?

That was so unexpected, but it meant more to her than anything. Liv loves this more than anything ever in her life. She cannot get this feeling anywhere else, so having that love is amazing. Booker says not to put the carriage before the horse, is she too caught up thinking she’s just getting this? She has to have eyes on the back of her head and much more. Liv says she’ll risk it all, there is nothing she won’t do to make sure she’s at the top of the ladder with the briefcase in hand. She has no other option but to win! They all like that and they wish her luck. King knows the song is “I Love a Loser When They Cry,” but he loves a winner when they cry. And if Liv wins, the emotions will pour forth.

The kickoff show returns and Sonya sticks around to talk the Raw Women’s’ Championship. Who does she feel has the upper hand here? Charlotte Flair, one of the most decorated women in WWE, but Rhea Ripley has earned her spot. Sonya says this is about mental strengths and weaknesses. Rhea will take and take and play by the rules for as long as she can, but then she’ll bring out the Nightmare. That is the point to where Charlotte has pushed rhea, and that’s who we see tonight. That is Peter’s concern. Is Rhea good? A nightmare? Caught in Charlotte’s game as the Dirtiest Player in the Game’s daughter? JBL agrees, Rhea is trying to beat Charlotte at her own game, but that’ snot what you do in a match like this.

Kayla knows Charlotte sees something of herself in Rhea, but Booker says Rhea is a work in progress. There will always be someone trying to take your spot, and the Ripper wants to rip Charlotte’s spot away from her. King says how can Booker call the champ a WIP? Well you always get better. Two things you don’t do: don’t let the dog guard the food, and don’t play games with The Queen. Sonya relates to Rhea, she sees the true Rhea. You can get pushed and pushed only so far. Even a nice person can only take things for so long before ripping off the mask and becomes the most passionate fighter. A quick poll: King says Queen Charlotte; Booker says Charlotte; JBL says Charlotte, too; Peter says don’t sleep on The Ripper, Rhea is a top star, she will retain.

Another title from Raw is the tag team titles, and the Viking Raiders get their shot at AJ Styles & Omos. Ivar pinned Styles last Monday, but Omos won his singles debut against Erik. The titles are on the line tonight, and there’s a lot of seize in the ring, not necessarily including Styles. Peter remembers the Great Khali being a dominate force on size and strength, what do you do with such a big man? JBL says you try to take them out of their game, but doubts the Vikings can do that. Booker knows Omos is strong, big, and hungry. You don’t really mess with that guy, especially with a veteran mentor like Styles. King thinks to call MIB, this guy might be an alien.

But King talks to Styles insulting the Viking Raiders. Styles has said they’re stinky barbarians, and King admits they could use a bath. But the Raiders have been away from these titles the better part of a year, they’re hungry. JBL says Styles is the greatest of this era, Omos is a great up-and-comer, but the Raiders are already a great tag team. This could be an instant classic. Quick poll: King says Styles & Omos, as does Booker and JBL; Peter feels that as a fellow former (24/7) champion, he has no choice but to say the champs retain. Will it be as phenomenal as this sweep when Styles & Omos take on Erik & Ivar 2v2?

 

The Miz and John Morrison crash the panel!

Fans fire up as the Most Must-See duo arrives! Wet guys are the best guys! Get some Drip Stick! Careful, you’re getting Booker’s suit wet. Fans chant for “Johnny Drip Drip!” and Miz is fired up. Booker has no idea what’s going on. Is Miz okay? Yeah, he’s gotta be here for Morrison to get the MITB contract. Well what kind of advice as one of the most decorated MITB winners given to Morrison? Morrison doesn’t need advice, he’s been preparing for this his whole career! MITB changes your whole career, Miz got to go to the WrestleMania main event, so Morrison is doing that tonight! Fans chant, “Miz is Awesome!” and that fires Miz up more.

Any nerves, Johnny Drip Drip? Of course! When you stop getting nervous, you stop caring! Morrison isn’t just hungry, he’s thirsty, for that case! Well let’s go to ringside for the kickoff match! Miz and Morrison head out to prepare, will Morrison be dripping with the MITB briefcase?

 

Kickoff Show – SmackDown Tag Team Championships: Rey & Dominik Mysterio VS The Usos!

The King of Lucha Libre and his son, the first-ever father-son championship tag team, got cheated in the Six Man Tag last Friday Night SmackDown. But they won’t let the Bloodline completely conquer the blue brand just yet! Will Rey & Dom deny Jimmy & Jey their SEVENTH tag title reign?

Rey & Dom get a very special entrance, with a portal back to the Aztecs, the origins of lucha libre! Then they warp back here to Texas! The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if the Mysterios draw first blood from the Bloodline!

Dom starts against Jimmy and fans fire up. Jimmy and Dom circle, approach, and tie up. Jimmy puts Dom in a corner, the ref counts, and Dom gets around to throw hands! Jimmy swings on Dom but Dom dodges to fire off haymakers! Dom whips and dropkicks Jimmy down, then dropkicks him again! Dom gets Jimmy up, knuckle locks and CHOPS, then goes up and up, to flying arm-drag! Jimmy gets up but into another arm-drag! Dom has the armlock, Jimmy fights up but Dom tags Rey. Rey kicks the bad arm, the Mysterios double whip and double hip toss! Rey gets a boost from Dom, POWERBOMB SENTON! Cover, TWO!

Rey gets Jimmy up to wrench, but Jimmy RAMS Rey into the corner! Jey tags in, Jey runs in to forearm smash! Jey runs, but Rey dropkicks him down! Rey gets Jey up and headlocks but Jey powers out. Jey ducks, Rey comes back but is sent out of the ring hard! The ref counts, Jey snarls and goes out after Rey. Jey puts Rey in the ring, drags him over, and tags in Jimmy. Jimmy drops a headbutt on Rey, then covers, TWO! Jimmy CHOPS Rey, chokes him on the ropes, but lets off as the ref counts, so Jey can get a cheap shot in! Dom is furious but the ref keeps him back. Jimmy grins and swaggers back over to get Rey up. Jimmy headbutts Rey down, then brings him up in a chinlock.

Rey endures, fans rally up, and Rey fights up and fights back. Jimmy headbutts, back suplexes, but Rey lands on his feet! Rey slides under and tags in Dom! Dom forearms then slingshots to FLYING CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Jimmy gets up but into a NECKBREAKER! Dom drags Jimmy over, stomps him in the drop zone, then goes up and up and around to LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Dom whips Jimmy to ropes, Jimmy reverses but Dom ducks. Jey is there but Dom dropkicks him! Dom throws Jimmy out to GAMANGIRI! The Usos are both down on the outside and Dom fires the fans up as he climbs. Dom LEAPS, but the Usos both catch him! They SLAM Dom into barriers!

Jey gets Jimmy up and the Usos loom over Dom. Jey refreshes the count, Jimmy backs off and Jey puts Dom into the ring. Dom ends up in the Usos’ corner, Jey runs in and HIP ATTACKS! Fans boo as Jey snarls and talks trash on Dom. Jey chokes Dom, throws down hands, but the ref backs him off. Jimmy gets a shot in, Jey paces, and fans duel. Jey scoops Dom to SLAM him, then drags Dom back over. Tag to Jimmy, the Usos split the wishbone! The ref reprimands but the damage is done. Jimmy sits Dom up for a chinlock and grinds him down. Fans rally up, Jimmy thrashes Dom, facelocks and CLUBS him, then bumps him off buckles.

Jimmy puts Dom up top, ROCKS him with an uppercut, then climbs up. Jimmy fireman’s carries but Dom fights free and SUNSET- No, Jimmy holds on! Dom pushes Jimmy off the corner and Jimmy falls to the floor! Dom hurries as fans rally up. Dom has to boot Jey away first, then he crawls towards his corner! Jimmy gets back in at 6 of 10, crawls after Dom to get a foot, but Dom kicks at him. Jey tags in, but so does Rey! Rey rallies on Jey, Jey mule kicks low! Jey ROCKS Rey with an uppercut, whips to ropes, but Rey duck sand dodges to tilt-o-whirl RANA! Fans fire up as Jey gets to a corner. Rey runs in but is put on the apron.

Rey forearms Jey away, climbs up and leaps, SEATED SENTON! Cover, TWO! Rey keeps his cool, stalks behind Jey and gets him up. Jey switches, Rey elbows the O’Conner Roll away, then springboards back. Jimmy tags in before the SPINNING RANA, and Jimmy SUPERKICKS Rey down! Jimmy whips Rey to pop-up SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO!! Rey survives and Jimmy is seething! Jimmy tags Jey and the Usos coordinate. Rey gets up, but Dom trips Jimmy and drags him out! Dom fires off, Jimmy POSTS Dom! Rey rolls Jey, TWO!! Rey keeps moving, and he puts Jey on ropes! Dial it up, but Jimmy intercepts for Jey! Rey still KICKS Jey away, then springboards, into a SUPERKICK!!

Jey drags Rey to a drop zone, climbs up, USO SPLASH!! Cover, TWO?!?! Rey survives and no one can believe it! Jimmy argues with the ref but two is two! Maybe 2.9! “This is Awesome!” and it’s just the KICKOFF! Jey tags Jimmy, the Usos take a corner each, but Dom trips Jey! Jimmy DECKS Dom, Rey gets over but is bumped off buckle! Jimmy rolls Rey, Jey holds him in place?! THE USOS WIN!?!?

Winners: The Usos, by pinfall (NEW SmackDown Tag Team Champions)

Lucky number seven, but it wasn’t luck! It wasn’t paranoia! It was the Uso Penitentiary!! But if it took this to take the titles, will Jimmy & Jey be able to hold onto them?

 

The Money in the Bank briefcase is opportunity incarnate.

Risk becomes reward, and it all starts here. Two star-studded fields of eight. Ladders as far as the eye can see. And a single prize that can and has been proven to create breakthroughs. SO here’s the million dollar question: when opportunity calls, who will do whatever it takes to answer it? And who will do whatever it takes to keep their gold? A Queen challenges a Nightmare. KofiMania collides with the All Mighty. And the Rated R Superstar wants to break the Head of the Table! And in front of a fired-up WWE Universe, live and in person, it is all about the money money money! Who hits the jackpot with their careers as the ante?

 

Women’s Money in the Bank Match!

Raw’s Asuka, Naomi, Alexa Bliss and Nikki ASH (Almost a SuperHero), SmackDown’s Zelina Vega, Liv Morgan, Natalya or Tamina. Only ONE can take down the briefcase and have their golden ticket to a title match. Luck will be a lady tonight, and someone gets to be the Miss Fortune for a champion the next 365 days! Who will be the NEW Ms. MITB?

The bell rings and everyone looks to the briefcase, but for only a moment! They rush out for ladders,  Natty throws  Naomi down while Alexa hasn’t done anything but stand on the corner… Liv fights off Nikki and Zelina and now Alexa skips and frolics in the ring. The fans fire up as the other seven are put off, and Alexa reaches a hand up? Asuka hurries to GERMAN SUPLEX Alexa! Zelina BOOTS Asuka, Liv ENZIGURIS Zelina! Natty DISCUS clotheslines Liv, Nikki boots and TORNADO DDT’s Natty! Naomi hits a REAR VIEW, but Tamina SUPERKICKS! Tamina looks up but Alexa jumps on with a sleeper! Tamina throws Alexa off then CLOBBERS her!

Tamina gets a ladder, wedges it in a corner over Alexa, then gets Alexa’s legs for a LADDER GUILLOTINE CATAPULT! Nobody meana than Tamina! Tamina gets another ladder, stands it up, but Liv climbs it?! Zelina keeps Liv from grabbing the briefcase, Tamina shoves the ladder over! SUPERKICK for Vega, forearm for Liv, then a DOUBLE SPLASH for Liv and Vega! They flop out of the ring and Tamina is alone to put the ladder back up. But Asuka stops her from climbing! They shove each other, Asuka bobs ‘n’ weaves and fires off hands! And back hands! Asuka whips but Tamina blocks to reverses. Asuka ducks the ladder to HP ATTACK Natty!

Asuka avoids the ladder as Tamina shoves it, and Asuka goes up to missile dropkick Tamina down! Fans fire up for the Empress as she stands the ladder back up on Tamina! She SLAMS the ladder down to use the rung on Tamina! Fans fire up again as Asuka climbs, but Tamina bench presses the ladder! Liv jumps on to bring it back down on Tamina! Liv hits a CODE BREAKER to Asuka! Liv hurries, fans fire up, but Natty pushes the ladder over! Liv hotshots off ropes on the way down, then Natty hurries to shove the ladder. Liv avoids it but barely. Natty clips Liv, Liv hobbles after her. They tug-o-war over the ladder, but Nikki gets in.

Nikki ducks the ladder but Natty and Liv come back to RAM her! Naomi ends up in a similar situation, she SMACKS and KICKS Tamina, but Tamina catches her out of the air! SAMOAN DROP! Liv and Natty still fight over the ladder, Asuka and Vega drag Tamina out. Vega goes up to FLYING RANA and sends Tamina away! Asuka runs to HIP ATTACK Tamina into barriers! Natty powers Liv into a corner! Alexa throws Natty down with a backbreaker! Alexa crawls up the ladder like a spider, but Liv flails to escape. Natty gets Alexa up for an atomic sit-down, but Alexa just laughs?! Natty hesitates and Alexa drop toeholds her onto the ladder!

Liv runs at Alexa but Alexa throws her down with the STO! FLIPPING SENTON! Fans fire up as Alexa is alone now with a ladder. She starts standing one up, then starts climbing, but so does Vega! They meet at the top and Alexa’s smile scares Vega. Then Alexa starts hypnotizing Vega?! Vega is Alexa’s puppet, and they climb back down! Then Alexa climbs up without Vega, only for Natty to stop her! Rebound BOMB into ladder, then SIT-OUT BOMB! Natty goes up but Vega throws her down! Vega BOOTS Nikki, and wheelbarrows Asuka to a FACEBUSTER! Vega sees Liv up top and kicks her down! Vega uses the ladder as a platform but Liv resists the suplex!

Liv fires body shots and throws Vega down. Naomi puts Vega in place, and POWERBOMBS Liv onto Vega and ladder! Fans fire up as Naomi is alone with the ladders! Naomi sets the corner ladder up beside the first, but Natty attacks! They brawl, Tamina gets in, the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion work together only to get a DOUBLE FLYING CHUCK! Naomi gets both for DOUBLE STUNNERS! Nikki RAMS into Naomi, but leaps into her arms, POWERSLAM on a ladder! Nikki writhes but Naomi DROPS THE SPLITS! Naomi climbs the ladder, fans fire up, but Natty drags Naomi down and throws her out! Natty climbs but Vega goes after her!

Vega climbs up onto Natty for a sleeper backpack! Natty still fights towards the top! Vega squeezes tighter but Natty reaches the top! Natty grabs the case, Vega pulls her back, Vega reaches up! Liv gets in and drags them both down!! Ladder topples over while every woman is down somewhere around ringside! Fans rally up as Natty, Vega and Liv stagger. Asuka and Tamina get in, Natty fires hands on Liv and Vega! Tamina clubs Asuka. Asuka kicks Vega, hits Liv, ladders are moved side, and the champs mug whoever comes close. Naomi joins in, it is a chaotic brawl, but Nikki climbs a ladder on the outside?! ALMOST A SUPERHERO CROSSBODY!! She takes EVERYONE out!

Fans fire up as Nikki gets a ladder back in the ring. Nikki stands it up, starts to climb, but Alexa drags her back down! Nikki throws a forearm, Alexa ROCKS Nikki back! Nikki shoves, Alexa spider-womans in the ring, then gets Nikki for a TWISTED DDT!! Alexa climbs all alone now, but Natty drags her down! Natty and Tamina mug Alexa, throw her out, but Natty keeps on Alexa and RAMS her into a barrier! The tag champs get a ladder together to RAM Alexa into the barriers harder! And then they set the ladder on top of her! And another ladder! And another! Asuka and Vega help out, they know to pile on the most dangerous woman in this match!

Fans boo but Natty says Alexa deserves this. But Liv slips past Vega and the others to get the ladder in the center! Liv climbs, fans fire up, but Tamina drags her down, only for Liv to RANA her away! Liv stomps away on Tamina, Natty gets in with another ladder, and Natty DECKS Liv! Natty sets up her own ladder next to the first, but Liv stops Natty from climbing! Liv waistlocks, Natty bumps free but Liv spins her to BOOT her into ladder! Asuka and Vega set another ladder up, Liv throws them away! Body block into Vega, then Liv keeps Asuka from climbing. Asuka misses her hip attack and gets ObLIVion!! Liv is in the clear again and climbs!

Naomi and Liv are on the same ladder, Natty and Tamina go up the other two! Asuka and Vega join in, six women fight and paw at the briefcase! Nikki gets back in, she tips the scales by going up the middle! Asuka fights Tamina, Nikki climbs up everyone and GETS THE CASE!!!

Winner: Nikki ASH (NEW Ms. Money in the Bank)

The others may have doubted her, but that was their mistake! Nikki slips in and snatches victory away from everyone else! She may be almost a superhero, but will she a shoe-in for new champion?

 

The Bloodline celebrates backstage.

The Usos are feeling great, and Roman is happy for them. Jimmy & Jey offer the belts to him but he says they can hold onto those for him. This has been a long journey. All the pressure, all the tough love, now they’re golden. Jimmy was smart enough to learn from Roman. But let’s not get this confused. This was the easy part. Roman did the heavy-lifting. Who brought Jey back? Roman. And Jimmy… Well, they’re here now, dripping in gold. The Bloodline is gold. This is about reputation. The family is always watching. Now that Roman has given them what they want, they need to get him what he wants.

Jey says Roman knows him, Uce. Roman’s Jey’s Tribal Chief. And that’s from Right hand Man! Jey nudges Jimmy and says he acknowledges Roman as Head of the Table and Tribal Chief. Roman accepts that, and is proud of them. The bring it in for a hug, but will things stay good for the fam with Edge coming for the title later tonight?

 

Raw Tag Team Championships: AJ Styles & Omos VS The Viking Raiders!

The Phenomenal One and the mountain of a man beside him took these titles their first try! But now, they have to prove they can hold onto these belts against a duo that have held titles in every company they’ve worked for and at every level they’ve been on! Will Erik & Ivar get the gold back for the glory of their Viking ancestors? Or will Styles & Omos make them look like nothing more than “stinky, stupid barbarians?”

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and MITB gets phenomenal!

Erik starts with Styles, but then Styles tags out to Omos. Omos already beat Erik, will he do it again? Erik circles with Omos, but then he smirks and tags out to Ivar. And then the Viking Raiders go after Omos together! But Omos bodies each of them in turn! “This is MY house!” Ivar sits up, Oms mocks him wobbling, and tags in Styles. Styles fires off shoulders in the corner then snapmares him to KICK him! Styles drops a knee, covers, TWO! Styles looms over Ivar, gets him up, but Ivar lifts him and RAMS him into the Viking corner! Ivar RAMS Styles, tags Erik, but many fans chant for Styles. Erik clinches, throws knees, and then SLAMS Styles down!

Tag to Ivar, Ivar scoops and slams Styles, then Erik scoop sand SLAMS Ivar onto Styles! Fans are divided but Ivar covers, ONE! Styles is tough but Ivar bumps him off buckles. Tag to Erik, Erik feeds Styles to Ivar’s knee, and then Ivar feeds Styles to Erik’s KNEE! Cover, TWO! Erik looms over Styles, drags him up, but Styles throat chops! Erik sputters, Styles dropkicks him out! Styles doesn’t tag Omos, he dropkicks Ivar first! Styles now tags Omos, and Omos gives Styles a boost to FLY and RANA Erik?! Fans are thunderous for that truly phenomenal attack! Styles tags back in, fetches Erik into the ring, and stalks him. Styles pulls Erik back into a chinlock and squeezes tight.

Erik endures as fans rally and duel. Erik fights up, breaks free and ROCKS Styles with a right! Styles rebounds but into a BIG back drop! Both men are down, Erik crawls, hot tag to Ivar! Ivar runs at Styles and rallies with big shoulders! Scoop and Sidewalk SLAM! Ivar keeps moving, BASEMENT SPLASH! Ivar fires up and fans fire up with him as he gets Styles up. War Beard scoops but Styles slips out to shove. Ivar cartwheels and LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Ivar gets Styles up, Styles jawbreakers free! Tag to Omos and he rushes in, but Ivar cartwheels and LARITS! Omos stays up!? Ivar goes up top, leaps, but Omos catches him in a choke grip! For a scoop and SLAM!

Omos is fired up and fans duel. Omos runs in at the corner to back body block! Ivar falls over, Omos kicks at him then drags him up to clamp onto the shoulders with claws! Ivar endures as Omos’ massive hands dig into his shoulder but fans rally up. Ivar gets up but Omos throws him down! Styles tags in, he gets Ivar up and taunts Erik before throwing forearms on Ivar. Ivar hits back with haymakers! Ivar kicks low, CHOPS, but Styles throws forearms back. Styles CHOPS Ivar, Ivar ROCKS Styles! Ivar runs and goes over Styles to tag Erik! Erik fires off on Styles, but Styles fires back! Erik ducks the back hand to ROCK Styles!

Erik ROCKS Styles again, whips him to a corner but Styles reverses. Erik goes up and over and runs back in, SHOTGUN KNEES! Erik gets Styles up again, pops him from waistlock to FALL AWAY SLAM! Tag to Ivar, the Viking Raiders whip Styles to a corner, Ivar SPLASHES! Erik uses Ivar as a weapon again, HIP ATTACK! Ivar knocks Omos off the apron then tags Erik back in! The Viking Raiders get Styles up, throw him to a waistlock, SPRINGBOARD LARIAT GERMAN!! Cover, TWO!! Erik seethes as Styles survives but he tags in Ivar. The Viking Raiders coordinate again, Styles fights back and PELES Ivar at the top rope! Styles throws Erik out, hot tag to Omos!

Omos goes after Ivar on the corner, MOUNTAINOUS ROCKET LAUNCHER!! Cover, TWO!?! Ivar survives falling from the mountain top, but Omos tells him to get up then. Styles tags in, Omos whips him in but into a SEATED SENTON! Ivar dodges Omos and sends him into buckles! Hot tag to Erik! Erik forearms Omos, tags Ivar, and then forearms again! Ivar knees Omos, feeds him to Erik’s KNEE, then the Vikings together KNEE Omos again! Omos staggers, Ivar runs to clothesline Omos out of the ring! Omos is still on his feet but Erik DIVES! Tope Suicida rocks Omos but he’s still up!? Styles rolls Ivar, TWO!!

Styles boots Ivar, ENZIGURIS, then runs in, but is put on apron! Styles ROCKS Ivar, springboards, but Erik saves Ivar! THOR’S HAMMER!! Cover, but Omos shoves Erik onto it!! Omos saves this by mere milliseconds! Styles and Ivar crawl, “This is Awesome!” as Erik and Omos tag in! Erik runs in to fire off forearms, but Styles HEEL KICKS him! Ivar LEG LARIATS Styles, Omos BOOTS Ivar! Erik KNEES Omos, runs, but into a TWO-HAND SLAM!! Cover, Omos and Styles win!

Winners: Omos & AJ Styles, by pinfall (still Raw Tag Team Champions)

A big save and an even bigger victory, Omos has proven himself worthy of the tag titles! Will these two be even more than phenomenal as Raw Tag Team Champions?

 

Backstage interview with Drew McIntyre.

The Scottish Warrior is getting ready, but what will it take to win in that stacked Men’s MITB match? Does something seem different to Kevin? McIntyre can’t put his finger on it. Oh wait! Fort Worth, can he get some noise? He does! Kevin, McIntyre is in the position not of wanting to win, but having to win. Last time, McIntyre won the Royal Rumble as fans lost their minds! McIntyre slayed the Beast, Brock Lesnar, and is very proud of being the world champion in the ThunderDome. But he speaks for everyone, if we never go back to ThunderDome, we’ll all be very happy. Being in front of live fans as champion didn’t work out that way, so this is his absolute last chance.

Everyone loves story time, right? Well here’s a story: Tonight in Fort Worth, McIntyre walks in, breaks bones, kicks heads off, climbs a ladder and becomes the NEW Mr. Money in the Bank! Will that story come true, happy ending and all? Or will one of the other seven men get lucky instead?

 

WWE World Championship: Bobby Lashley w/ MVP VS Kofi Kingston!

After the shocking upset from Monday Night Raw, the Chief Hurt Officer wants to HURT someone. And he even admitted, Kofi was right. Lashley wants to prove he still has that edge, that killer instinct, that utterly dominant violence! Will Lashley make sure #KofiMania2 never happens again? Or is his rage only going to throw him for a loop?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if the Power of Positivity can hold it down again!

Lashley rushes Kofi at the bell as MVP anchors him! Kofi gets free, sunset flips, TWO! Kofi goes up fast to FLYING STOMP! Cover, TWO! MVP is furious but Kofi facelocks, Lashley back drops hard out of it! Lashley has Kofi in a corner and fires haymakers! Kofi boots but Lashley blocks to reel him in and CLOBBER him! Fans boo but MVP riles them up as Lashley paces. Lashley gets Kofi up to RAM him over and over, then RAM him again! And again! Lashley goes corner to corner, but Kofi moves and swing kicks Lashley! Kofi springboards, into Lashley’s arms! MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER! Fans boo but Lashley tells them to quiet down.

Lashley looms over Kofi, gets him back up, and scoops him to TOSS him out of the ring! MVP taunts Kofi as Lashley fetches him. Lashley fireman’s carries and POSTS Kofi! Lashley goes back in the ring to let the count finish this. Kofi stirs but Lashley goes out after him again. MVP wants Lashley to punish Kofi, so Lashley fireman’s carries and POSTS him again! Kofi sputters as MVP cheers Lashley on. Lashley gets Kofi up again, puts him in the ring, and drags him back up by his hair. Lashley puts Kofi in a corner but fans rally behind Kofi. The ref counts but Lashley throws back elbows. Lashley throws hands, has Kofi in a corner and throws more elbows.

Lashley paces, goes side to side and ROCKS Kofi with a forearm! Kofi clutches his shoulders, Lashley gets him up for a LIFTING COMPLETE SHOT! MVP says to put the hurt on Kofi, and Lashley looms over Kofi. Lashley watches Kofi flounder up and try to stand, but Lashley gets him for a HURT LOCK!! Kofi flails, reaches, but Lashley won’t even let the ref check on Kofi before a PUMP HANDLE FALL AWAY SLAM!! Lashley snarls as he stands on Kofi’s head at the ropes! The ref counts, Lashley gets Kofi up but Kofi throws hands! Lashley gets him for another COMPLETE SHOT! Lashley rains down fists on Kofi, digs his fingers in, throws more hands, then lets off as the ref reprimands.

Lashley drags Kofi up again, MVP says now they can finish him! Lashley gut wrenches, for the DOMINATOR!! But still Lashley isn’t done with Kofi!? Lashley gets Kofi up again, gut wrenches a second time, for a SECOND DOMINATOR!! Some fans want “ONE MORE TIME!” Lashley paces about, drags Kofi back up, and gut wrenches for a THIRD DOMINATOR!! Lashley hushes the fans but they boo him now as he looms over Kofi. Lashley drags Kofi up yet again, for the HURT LOCK!! Kofi is fading out, he finally taps! Lashley wins!

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

The wrath of the All Mighty rips Kofi Kingston apart, and the gold stays where it is! Is this also a message that whoever is Mr. MITB should not even consider Lashley a target?

 

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

The Nightmare says anything the Queen can do, she can do better. Charlotte likes the spirit, but she is looking to also crush that spirit and get back to the throne. Will Rhea beat Charlotte at her own game? Or will the Queen put the champion in checkmate?

The introductions are made, the title is raised, and we see who’s the better player once and for all!

Rhea and Charlotte stare down at the bell, but Rhea smirks. Fans rally up as the two slowly circle. Rhea brushes off the fans chanting for Charlotte, then she and Charlotte tie up. They go around, Charlotte puts Rhea in a corner but Rhea powers out. The two break, Charlotte keeps her cool, but then fans chant “WE WANT BECKY!” Charlotte flips the fans off!! Rhea and Charlotte tie up, Charlotte waistlocks but Rhea switches. Charlotte pulls hair to turn things around but Rhea HEADBUTTS! Charlotte SLAPS, Rhea SLAPS back! Rhea blocks the boot, throws Charlotte down, and then says neener neener. Charlotte get sup, Rhea dodges, runs and dropkicks Charlotte down!

Charlotte ends up in a corner, Rhea runs in but is put on the corner. Rhea throws forearms, pulls Charlotte to the apron but Charlotte hits back! They brawl on the edge, Charlotte CHOP but Rhea fireman’s carries! Charlotte fights free, kicks the leg but Rhea dodges the chop block to drop knees! Rhea runs to baseball slide Charlotte to the floor! Rhea goes back to apron for a CANNONBALL, but Charlotte moves! Rhea lands on the floor, gets to barriers, but Charlotte SHOTGUNS her into them! Charlotte puts Rhea in, covers, ONE! Charlotte is annoyed but she looms over Rhea. Charlotte gets Rhea up to EXPLODER her into the corner! And kip up!

Charlotte stomps a mudhole into Rhea, the ref counts but Charlotte lets off at 4. Charlotte gets a leg, drags Rhea around and throws her down, covers, TWO! Charlotte sits Rhea up for a thrashing chinlock. Fans rally for Rhea as she fights up, but Charlotte throws her down by her hair! Charlotte shows off with a handspring and BOOT! Charlotte eggs Rhea on, Rhea hits back but Charlotte clubs her. They brawl as Rhea gets up, and Charlotte brings Rhea around to scoop. Rhea slips out, waistlocks, but Charlotte elbows out hard! Fans duel, Rhea elbows Charlotte but Charlotte hits back! Charlotte puts a leg on ropes but Rhea disrupts the knee drop and dumps Charlotte out!

Rhea catches her breath while Charlotte is down. Fans still want Becky but Rhea pursues Charlotte and leaps of steps, CANNONBALL! Direct hit and Rhea fires up! Rhea chases Charlotte back into the ring, swings her around and throws short arm lariats! Charlotte ducks one, breaks free, but Rhea HEADBUTTS again! Rhea snapmares, runs and basement dropkicks Charlotte down! Rhea wants Texas to get loud and they fire up. Rhea cravats to throw in knees, but Charlotte breaks free, only to get a HOOK KICK! Rhea hits a NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Charlotte rolls to ropes and fans rally up as Rhea chases after.

Charlotte hotshots Rhea, then gets in to waistlock. Rhea bucks her off, swings, but into a waistlock. Back suplex, but Rhea land son her feet to GERMAN SUPLEX! Rhea gets up, climbs a corner, leaps at Charlotte, but Charlotte catches the missile dropkick to a BOSTON CRAB! Rhea endures, powers out, sits on a corner, TWO! Rhea gets up but Charlotte trips her to step through. Rhea rolls back to a leg clutch cover, TWO! Rhea kicks but Charlotte ducks to BOOT Rhea down! Cover, TWO! Charlotte is a bit surprised but she thinks of what she has to do to win. Charlotte drags Rhea to a corner, goes up top, but Rhea trips her up!

Charlotte staggers, Rhea gets her up on the ropes again and Electric Chair lifts! Charlotte holds ropes but Rhea gets her arms, only for Charlotte to turn and sunset flip! Rhea rolls through, double pump handle and she flings Charlotte into a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO!! Rhea grows frustrated as Charlotte survives. Charlotte slowly rises, fans still want Becky, but Rhea CHOPS Charlotte! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Rhea whips, Charlotte reverses and she sends Rhea tumbling up and out! Charlotte fires up, Rhea is on the apron, and Charlotte BOOTS her back down! Charlotte goes up top, fans get on their feet for the SUPER MOONSAULT!! DIRECT HIT!

Charlotte gets up and fans are thunderous as she brings Rhea up again. Charlotte puts Rhea in the ring, then NATURAL- NO! Rhea slips free, trips Charlotte, and ties up the legs! PRISM TRAP! Charlotte endures a leg lock now, but she rolls and drags Rhea to a cover, TWO! Charlotte gets up to get a ROUNDHOUSE from Rhea! Rhea pump handles, RIP- DDT?!? Charlotte counters, covers, TWO!?! Rhea survives and Charlotte is in shock! Charlotte gets emotional, Rhea rolls away, but then Charlotte refocuses. Charlotte and Rhea start throwing hands back and forth and fans fire up! Charlotte CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS!

Rhea back elbows outta nowhere! Then she dodges a boot but the elbow hits! Feet on the ropes in the cover, but the ref sees it! Charlotte feels foolish for getting caught, but she gets mad at the ref about it! Charlotte backs off, but Rhea KICKS from below! Rhea slaps sense into herself, runs in and RAMS into Charlotte! And again! The ref counts, Rhea lets off and she gets Charlotte up top. Rhea throws hands, Charlotte hits back, they brawl but Rhea ROCKS Charlotte. Rhea climbs, fans fire up, and Rhea gets Charlotte up, only for Charlotte to attack the leg! Rhea tumbles, Charlotte adjusts, SUPER NATURAL SELECTION!?! Cover, TWO?!?!?! HOW?!?! HOW!?!?

The Queen is beside herself as Rhea survives. “This is Awesome!” as Rhea writhes and Charlotte tries to compose herself. Charlotte glares at Rhea, gets a leg, but Rhea schoolgirls Charlotte into buckles! Charlotte falls out of the ring, Rhea gets up and fans rally up. Rhea bumps her head off the mat to fire herself back up, and she gets Charlotte up. Charlotte POSTS Rhea! And then puts a leg inside the steel steps!? Charlotte BOOTS the steps! And again! And again!! The ref reprimands but Charlotte gets in to get the leg! FIGURE FOUR!! FIGURE EIGHT!! Rhea endures but she’s caught, she TAPS! Charlotte wins!!

Winner: Charlotte Flair, by submission (NEW Raw Women’s Champion)

The Queen again defeats the Nightmare when it counts the most! WrestleMania 36, MITB 2021, Charlotte takes a title from Rhea and is back on top! And with the fight it took to get this belt back, will Charlotte keep this crown for a good, long time?

 

Matt Riddle talks with Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs.

The Bro talks with his fellow MITB entrant and the rockin’ bard. Riddle digs Boogs’ vibe and can totally shred. He’s like a modern day Shreddy Kruger. Boogs digs that reference, and says he and #Kingsuke dig Riddle’s vibe, too. Boogs wishes Riddle luck, but Riddle wishes Nakamura luck, too. Riddle just wishes his best bro, Randy Orton, was here. Riddle says Orton is one of Boogs’ biggest fans. REALLY!? Well, okay, Orton’s never said that but he and Riddle are best buds so Riddle can tell. Riddle imagines Orton as a king! King Randy! Huge snake with a crown! And then no one would wear pants, because Orton hates pants.

Riddle asks Boogs a favor before they all go out there. Can he play Randy Orton’s theme song? Uh… Boogs has never played it before, so he isn’t so sure. JUST KIDDING! It’s the best song ever! Riddle sings the opening lyrics, Boogs does a cover of Voices, Nakamura rolls his eyes, but he does do the Orton pose. And then Kevin Owens walks in. Kevin has no idea what he’s witnessing, so he just heads to the stage.

 

Men’s Money in the Bank Match!

We’ve heard from McIntyre saying this is a desperate situation, and we just saw Riddle and the King of Strong Style rock out with Boogs. The Prizefighter shrugs off what he just saw to get fired up! Kevin, Riddle, Nakamura, Ricochet, Morrison (with The Miz rolling in with him), Big E, Seth Rollins, and of course McIntyre himself, are all hungry for that golden ticket in the briefcase. But who will be the most willing to risk their physical well-being to win the prize?

The bell rings and the brawling begins! Kevin is after McIntyre, Big E is after Ricochet, Riddle and Nakamura brawl despite their chat earlier, but Rollins and Morrison bail out. McIntyre switches to Nakamura, Riddle goes after Kevin, Big E is still after Ricochet, but Rollins and Morrison start  to argue about who is the true Drip King of WWE!? Riddle goes to the apron and PUNTS Rollins! Morrison laughs at the Architect, but Ricochet FLIES over Riddle to take down Morrison! Rollins laughs but now Riddle FLOATING BROS onto Rollins! Fans fire up as Kevin runs but Big E CLOBBERS him! McIntyre throws Nakamura out, and look who’s alone in the ring!

Fans fire up seeing Big E and McIntyre stare down. Riddle gets in but he gets an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly from Big E! Ricochet springboards in, gets caught by McIntyre, and McIntyre TOSSES Ricochet out! Big E runs to hit Rollins, McIntyre fires up and fans do, too! The haymakers and forearms start flying, Big E gets the edge and runs, but into an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! McIntyre runs, Big E gets up to throw him to the apron. Big E runs to SPEAR SUICIDA! Both men crash down, and Kevin gets a ladder in the ring! Nakamura runs in, kicks the ladder down then WHEEL KICKS Kevin! Nakamura gets Kevin for an INVERTED EXPLODER onto the ladder!

Nakamura gets the ladder up as Kevin bails out. Riddle kicks Morrison around but Morrison RAMS Riddle into apron. Morrison gets in to KICK Nakamura’s leg and then DECK him with a right! Morrison climbs but Nakamura gets up to shove the ladder! Morrison flips through to land on his feet! Morrison steadies the ladder but Nakamura pushes him into a corner with it. Morrison reaches through to poke Nakamura in the eye! Morrison goes up the corner, up the ladder, and leap frog TORNILLOS onto Nakamura! Fans fire up as Johnny Drip Drip uses that parkour power! Morrison gets the ladder up, climbs it as fans chant, but Nakamura moves the ladder around again.

Nakamura climbs, throws body shots and forearms on Morrison, then climbs up to get a ESCALATED TRIANGLE! Rollins springboards in to KNEE Nakamura down! Morrison also falls, and the drip warriors stare down again. Fans chant “DRIP! DRIP! DRIP!” and they make an alliance! They stomp away on Nakamura, get the ladder up and RAM Nakamura with it! Then they RAM Big E off the apron! And RAM McIntyre! And Riddle! Riddle flounders, Rollins feeds him to Morrison’s fireman’s carry, SAMOAN POP on the ladder! Riddle writhes and flounders, clutching that elbow! The drip bois get the ladder on the ropes but Ricochet fires off hands!

Ricochet CHOPS Morrison, haymakers Rollins, but Rollins shoves Ricochet, and the drip bois double BACK DROP Ricochet onto the ladder! Ricochet writhes away but Big E gets a ladder of his own into the ring. Rollins intercepts, Morrison dropkicks the ladder to jam it into Big E! The drip bois high five but Kevin drags Rollins out! Morrison saves Rollins with a kick! Rollins and Morrison stomp Kevin down, then they clear off the announce desk! Rollins SLAMS the hood down on Ricochet, then Morrison SHINING WIZARDS Kevin! The drip bois get the ladder up and make a bridge. Fans want tables but they’re getting a bit more than that here!

Rollins has Morrison fetch Kevin but Kevin hits back! Kevin throws Rollins into ladders, hobbles into the ring, but Rollins hobbles and chases him down! Rollins clubs Kevin down, Morrison KICKS Kevin in the leg! And then switchblade kicks Kevin for good measure. Rollins and Morrison get a ladder but Kevin boots it first! Kevin QUEBRADAS the ladder?! It flattens Morrison and Rollins, and fans fire up! Kevin sits the ladder up on its side, then drags Rollins up to reel him in. Morrison saves Rollins again by hitting Kevin with a forearm! Rollins gets Kevin in position, he and Morrison DOUBLE SUPLEX Kevin for a FALCON ARROW on the ladder!!

Morrison says that’s the power of drip! The drip bois kick Kevin out of the ring, but McIntyre sneaks up behind them! McIntyre fires off haymakers and CHOPS! He CHOPS Morrison off his feet, then CHOPS Rollins off his! McIntyre windmill haymakers and stomps Morrison and fans fire up with him! McIntyre gets Morrison up, fireman’s carries, but Rollins ROCKS McIntyre! Morrison ROUNDHOUSES, Rollins DREAM SMASHER ELBOWS! McIntyre is down on a ladder, the drip bois push him around into position, and Morrison goes up top. Rollins holds McIntyre down for Morrison’s FLYING KONG ELBOW?! It was a clipping blow and double-edged!

Rollins has the ladder and he RAMS McIntyre down for good measure! But then he RAMS Morrison! No more drip bois, just Seth Freakin’ Rollins! Rollins stands the ladder up, climbs up all alone, but Big E and Ricochet pull him down! They and Nakamura mug Rollins, Riddle hits an RKO on Rollins!! That’s for you, Randy! But now everyone goes for the ladder! Riddle boots Big E, Nakamura ENZIGURIS Ricochet! Riddle pushes the ladder down but Nakamura gets a strike fest! Riddle dodges the ax kick to give his own strikes, then spins through one of Nakamura’s kicks, only for Nakamura to block the Pele! DOUBLE ROUNDHOUSES stagger both men!

Riddle reaches out, but here comes McIntyre with a DOUBLE CLAYMORE!! Big E is stalking McIntyre, and he runs in, only for McIntyre to spin him around into a FUTURE SHOCK DDT! McIntyre has cleared a path, but here comes Ricochet! McIntyre blocks the rana, pops Ricochet to an Electric Chair, but Ricochet fights! POISON- NO! McIntyre blocks the inverted steiner and has the inverted ALABAMA SLAM into a ladder!! Ricochet flops out of the ring and again, McIntyre’s path is clear. Fans are torn, but McIntyre builds speed?! To FLY!! Down goes Ricochet, Riddle, Morrison, Nakamura and Big E!

Fans fire up as McIntyre gets in, but Rollins runs over! McIntyre avoids an attack to GLASGOW KISS! McIntyre aims, gives us the countdown, CLAYMORE!! Direct hit and NOW McIntyre has a clear path! He sets the ladder up under the case, climbs up, but here comes VEER! And SHANKY! Jinder Mahal’s minions are getting revenge on McIntyre over the Modern Day Maharaja’s motorcycle! Veer & Shanky mug McIntyre as fans boo and they shove him out of the ring, for Jinder himself to JAM a chair into him! And SMACK McIntyre on the back! Mahal keeps McIntyre going up the ramp with more chair shots! SMACK after SMACK as McIntyre is down!

Veer & Shanky drag McIntyre away for Mahal, but back in the ring, Riddle has the ladder up! Riddle climbs, but Ricochet is at a corner! Ricochet tightrope walks and SPRINGBOARDS to the ladder! Ricochet fires off hands, knocks Riddle down, then reaches out! But Riddle pushes things over, Ricochet jumps to the rope and SPRINGBOARD SWANTONS onto everyone else!! Fans are thunderous and even Riddle is shocked seeing that! Riddle sets the ladder quickly but Ricochet is back! Ricochet climbs, Riddle clubs him, they brawl up top! Riddle has a double wristlock but Ricochet rakes Riddle’s eyes! Ricochet tries to suplex but Riddle resists!

Rollins sets another ladder right next to the other, and climbs up while Riddle and Ricochet brawl! Big E yanks Rollins down to throw him away! Big E gets Riddle for an Electric Chair but Riddle fights free, to RKO AGAIN! Riddle gets Ricochet, ANOTHER RKO! The Viper’s spirit is strong in the Stallion, only for Rollins to CURB STOMP it out!! But Nakamura fireman’s carries Rollins for a GO TO SLEEP!? Nakamura climbs the ladder Rollins set up, Morrison climbs the other one. DRIP STICK SQUIRT SQUIRT! Morrison smacks Nakamura’s head off the ladder and down he goes! Morrison climbs but Kevin yanks Morrison down! Kick and STUNNER!

Kevin hobbles back up but Nakamura drags him back down, STUNNER! Ricochet returns, he gets after Kevin, Kevin gets him a STUN- NO! Ricochet runs, but into a POP-UP POWERBOMB! Kevin hurries up the bigger ladder, reaches out, but Rollins attacks the bad leg! Kevin slides down, Rollins has him in position, POWERBOMB through the ladder bridge!!! Fans lose their minds as referees check on Kevin! Rollins hurries to his ladder, gets it centered, “This is Awesome!” because Big E returns! Big E grabs at Rollins but Rollins transfers to the other ladder. Big E clubs away on Rollins’ back, scoops him, SUPER BIG ENDING!!! Big E climbs, fans are going nuts, BIG E WINS!!

Winner: Big E (NEW Mr. Money in the Bank)

Everything is bigger in Texas, and that goes for the BIGGEST moment in Big E’s WWE career! Big E wins this contract the very first time he gets at it, and now things could be changing BIG time!

 

Seth Rollins is backstage, very upset.

The Architect refuses to accept this loss, and Kevin Patrick comes by to interview him. It was a valiant effort- Effort? EFFORT?! That wasn’t good enough!! This was Rollins’ destiny! DESTINY! He should be Universal Champion, but it got stolen from him! He was robbed! Rollins shouldn’t have needed to be in the MITB match in the first place! He should’ve been in the main event tonight! But Edge stole that from Rollins…! Rollins says, “Change,” over and over and over, and then says he needs a new plan. Rollins says whoever wins tonight, he’s not waiting. “I’m next in line. I’M NEXT IN LINE!!” If that’s the case, then will it be Tribal Chief or Rated R Superstar Rollins steps to?

 

WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman VS Edge!

The Reigns-ing, Defending, Undisputed, (Mostly) Uncontroverted Universal Heavyweight Champion, The End All Be All, Center of the WWE Universe, THE Main Event of ALL Sports Entertainment… fears Edge! Roman will never admit it, it is not on a win-loss record, but Roman has tapped out to Edge’s brutal crossface every single time Edge clamps it on! The Tribal Chief refuses to accept the truth, but will the Rated R Superstar make Roman acknowledge him?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and the 1v1 Edge was refused at WrestleMania 37 finally happens in Fort Worth!

Fans are fired up already as Roman and Edge stare down. They slowly approach, Roman talks some trash, fans duel and that annoys Roman because it should just be about him. Edge just soaks it all in as he and Roman circle. They tie up, go around, and Roman powers Edge to a corner. The ref calls for a ropebreak, Roman lets off with a pie face. Edge keeps his cool as fans boo and Roman talks smack. Edge and Roman circle again, fans fire up again, and they tie up again. Edge powers Roman back to a corner now, and then Edge returns the pie face! Roman seethes but stays focused as he and Edge reset. Fans are strongly behind Edge now and that annoys Roman more.

Roman and Edge tie up again, Edge waistlocks but Roman works on an escape. Edge gets Roman on the mat, rear mounts, and slaps him around! Roman seethes as Edge says, “I can do this all day.” Edge and Roman circle again, they tie up again, and Edge waistlocks to a headlock. Roman powers out and runs Edge over with a shoulder! Edge bails out and Roman talks a lot of trash. Fans are fired up both ways as a ring count begins. Edge takes his time, the count is 8 of 10 when he returns. Then Edge bails right back out to give himself another 10 count. Edge returns at 6 this time, and fans rally as Edge and Roman circle yet again.

They tie up, Edge wrenches, hits elbow breaker after elbow breaker, then an ARM JAMMER! Edge wrenches again, but Roman ROCKS him with a right! Roman gets Edge up to headbutt him, then CLUBS him in the corner. Roman gets Edge up again, bumps him off buckles, then digs his palm into Edge’s face before he gives those point-blank lariats! The ref counts, Roman lets off, but then comes back. Edge blocks a lariat to wrap the arm around ropes! Edge CLUBS the arm, and his target is clear! Edge POSTS Roman, then takes him to the other corner to POST him again! Edge goes after the arm and gets Roman down but Roman bails out fast! No crossface just yet!

Roman paces, using the count to his advantage now. Heyman coaches Roman as we pass 5 of 10, and then Roman gets in at 7. Heyman says to teach Edge what fear is, but Edge forearms Roman! Roman forearms back, Edge forearms again! They go back and forth, Roman gets the edge but Edge BOOTS the arm! Edge runs to KNEE Roman out of the ring! Roman gets up but Edge comes in around the way, only to run into a SAMOAN DROP! The ring count climbs again, we’re at 5 of 10 as Roman gets up. Roman gets in at 6, then exits at 8 to go after Edge. Roman POSTS Edge, then goes back into the ring. Now Roman will let the count take care of Edge!

Edge sits up at 6 of 10, gets up at 8, and slides in at 9! Roman is annoyed and he stomps Edge down. Roman gets Edge up, knees him in the side, then stomps a mudhole into him at the corner. The ref counts, Roman digs his boot in, but lets off at 4. Roman glares at the ref as the ref reprimands him, but Roman gets Edge up to throw him back out. Roman follows, bumps Edge off steel steps, then drags him up again just to smack him back off the steps. Roman puts Edge in, covers, TWO! Roman is furious so he rains down forearms on Edge! Edge can’t even get a guard up as Roman throws headbutts! Fans rally and duel again as Roman lets off.

Roman talks trash as he paces around, and he drags Edge. “You’re trying to take my money, huh?” Roman POSTS Edge! Fans duel harder than ever and Roman can’t believe fans are booing him when he’s winning! Roman gets Edge out of the corner, makes fans look at him, and says, “This is what happens when you get in here with the Head of the Table!” Roman POSTS Edge again! Fans boo as Roman swaggers around, then he snap suplexes Edge! Cover, TWO! Roman clamps on the inverted cravat to crank Edge’s neck! Edge endures as Roman leans all his weight on him. Fans rally up, Edge pries at the hold, and he fights up off the mat!

Roman tells Edge not to do this, but Edge pries the hold open! Roman just shifts to a sleeper! Roman thrashes Edge down to the mat, and Roman says, “I could lay on this sumbish all night long!” Roman squeezes tight but Edge still endures. Fans rally up, Roman throws his weight down on Edge, and Edge starts to turn red in the face. Roman doesn’t want fans to clap but they clap! They rally up, Edge gets a second wind, and the fans fire up! Edge stands, throws body shots and is free! Edge runs but into an uppercut! Edge goes down and ends up on ropes! Roman goes out to the apron, takes his time going down the steps, and builds speed to DRIVE-BY DROPKICK! “OH YESSIR!”

Roman pushes Edge into the corner, covers, TWO! Edge is still in this and Roman is growing frustrated. Roman goes to a corner as Edge flounders his way to the other, and Roman locks ‘n’ loads! Roman aims at Edge as he stands, SUPERMAN- NO! Edge ducks to backslide! TWO!! DOUBLE BOOTS take both men down! And yet Heyman is the one stunned! Fans fire up again as Edge and Roman stir. A standing count begins, it reaches 5 of 10, but Roman sits up at 6. Roman gets up, Edge follows, we’re at 9 as both men are on their feet! Edge throws a forearm, Roman rebounds to give it back! Edge rebounds to give another, but so does Roman!

Edge, Roman, Edge, Roman, then Roman gets the edge on Edge again! Edge dodges the uppercut to get an EDGE-O-MATIC!! Cover, TWO!! Edge sighs and gets back to ropes. Fans are thunderous as Edge rises, and he snarls as he looks at Roman. Roman staggers up, Edge CLOBBERS him! Roman boots from a corner, runs, but Edge hits a FLAPJACK! Then an IMPALER!! Cover, TWO!! Roman survives #Edge-ecution, and fans are hoping these two “Fight Forever!” at this rate. But someone has to win, Edge gets up and stalks Roman to a corner. Edge CLUBS Roman, ROCKS him with a right, then puts him up top backwards.

Edge climbs up behind Roman, but Roman elbows Edge down! Edge is on the apron, Roman catches his breath but Edge goes up to SMACK Roman off the post! Roman ends up in a Tree of Woe! Edge hurries back in as Heyman protests, and Edge stomps a mudhole into Roman! The ref counts, Edge lets off at 3! Roman falls out of the Tree but Edge gets him for an STF!! Roman endures a form of the crossface, pries at the hold, but Edge clamps it on tighter! Roman crawls, drags himself and Edge along, Heyman stresses out, but Edge shifts to a FULL CROSSFACE! The arm is caught, Roman shows fear in his eyes again! Roman scoots, reaches, and gets the ROPEBREAK!

Edge holds until the ref counts 4, and both men are down again. Edge slithers to a corner as he watches Roman. Roman slowly rises, Edge wants his target! Edge runs in, SPE- NO! GUILLOTINE!! Roman catches the Spear but Edge still RAMS Roman into a corner! Roman lets go, but then just shifts to the other arm! Roman cranks back on the Guillotine but Edge endures! Edge reaches, but he’s turning red again! Edge gets a third wind and he powers Roman OUT of the ring! They tumble and hit the floor and a ring count begins. Roman and Edge stir as we reach 5 of 10. Roman gets in at 6 to refresh the count, and he aims at Edge.

Roman runs in, but Edge dodges! Roman spears himself through barriers!! Edge hurries back to the ring and has the ref stop counting. Edge goes back out to fetch Roman because he has to win this in the ring but he SPEARS Roman through more barriers!! Heyman is freaking out, as are the fans, and Edge drags Roman up. Edge fireman’s carries Roman to the ring and gets him in at 8 of 10! Edge drags Roman back to center, covers, TWO?!?! Roman barely survives and no one can believe it! Edge sits up as fans are electric! Edge stands, brings Roman up, reels him in, but Roman resists the DDT! Roman ROCKS Edge with an uppercut, then runs, SPUERMAN PUNCH!

But Edge falls into the ref! Heyman points that out to Roman, and they both look at each other. Roman looks back at the downed ref, and now the door is wide open! Roman goes out of the ring, looks at what’s around, and takes the timekeeper’s chair away. Roman breaks off the crossbar, just as he did Friday, and as Edge has done time and again! Roman brings the crossbar to the ring, saying he’s going to teach Edge a lesson about fear! Fans boo as Roman creeps up on Edge. Roman tells fans to shut up but they boo harder. Roman gets Edge, but Edge holds off the crossbar! Edge throws elbows, haymakers, and then HEADBUTTS!! SO MANY HEADBUTTS!!

Heyman tries to shout to the WWE officials and medics helping the ref about this but they leave as Edge puts on THE CROSSBAR CROSSFACE!!! Roman’s eyes are full of fear again as his mouth is full of metal again! But here come the USOS! But behind the Usos are the Mysterios! Jimmy & Jey get in but are pulled right back out by Rey & Dom! Revenge for the tag titles as Dom SEATED SENTONS Jimmy and Rey RANAS Jey! The Mysterios run the Usos off, Roman is fading!! If only there was a ref! But then Roman gets a second wind, but wait, something’s coming in from the crowd! It’s ROLLISN! SUPERKICK to Edge!! The Architect wants next, but why did he stop Edge?!

Rollins storms off, having gotten some payback on Edge. Roman crawls, Edge stirs, but there’s still no ref to call anything! Roman says he never gives up! The Bloodline owns everything! “I’ve got the juice!” Roman fires himself up as fans boo, and Roman lets out the battle cry, “OOOAAH~!” Roman runs in, but Edge SPEARS him first!!! Cover but where’s a REF?!?! This is a five count! Here’s a ref, the count now, TWO!??!! This was Edge’s if not for Rollins!! Heyman is the only one elated about this! “This is Awesome!” and somehow still not over! Edge goes back to a corner, he watches Roman flounder, and ten Rollins returns?! Edge BOOTS Rollins, Roman SPEARS Edge!! Cover, Roman wins!!!

Winner: Roman Reigns, by pinfall (still WWE Universal Champion)

And it is all thanks to the Architect!! Rollins may have wanted next, but he made sure it wasn’t the Rated R Superstar! Roman draws ever closer to one full year as champion, is he going to make it there now?

And then Rollins goes after Edge to vent with furious fists! Fans boo as Rollins stomps away, then Rollins and Roman lock eyes. Rollins tells Roman that this is all thanks to him! This isn’t Roman’s show! But then Edge goes after Rollins! Edge throws Rollins out of the ring, then into barriers! And then over barriers! And then they brawl in front of the fans! They fight to the back and Roman finally gets to celebrate in the ring. Heyman fetches a mic for Roman and hands it over. Fans boo as Roman looks to address the WWE Universe. “Now the whole world can acknowledge me!” BUT WAIT! IS THAT JOHN CENA?!?!

Fort Worth practically explodes as Cena is back! Cena says he missed us all, and he gets in the ring! Cena gets to run the ropes and throw his hat again for the first time in over a year! Roman and Heyman are the only ones not happy about this. Cena steps closer, and closer, and looks at the Universal Championship. Then with his hand gesture says, “You Can’t See Me!” Fans are thunderous for the return of the 16 time world champion, but is he planning on making the 17th universal?


My Thoughts:

What! A! Night! Alright, not everything was perfect, and there was an entire rant I had in real-life about the Peacock having those damn technical difficulties as the Men’s MITB was about to start. But I can’t hold the errors of that overrated streaming service against the WWE, this show was awesome. And you know it’s awesome when the kickoff match gets a “This is Awesome!” chant. The Usos VS Mysterios was great stuff, and the Mysterious had an amazing entrance with the “portal,” but I am utterly shocked that the Usos won. I thought Jimmy’s DUI was going to get in the way, but there was that oddly humorous little allusion to it when Roman was talking with the Usos. Maybe there’s something going on that’s under wraps since it is technically a personal issue.

The Women’s MITB opening was a great move, because it teased a cash-in, though not getting one tonight was a bummer. It was a great match, and I like that the others buried Alexa under ladders to keep her down. Though, it was also like the perfect set-up to her using Fiend powers to teleport and be in the ring. Fans were really behind Liv, but I just knew from Friday that the math wasn’t in her favor anymore. Still, she seemed almost legitimately emotional in the kickoff and after the match, you do have to feel for her. But Nikki winning it by simply getting up and over everyone was the most creative way to win any ladder match period. Nikki’s been on a great roll, even if it was all quick pin wins, and she is going to have a lot of fun with that briefcase.

Speaking of that women’s title match, Rhea VS Charlotte here might’ve topped their WrestleMania 36 match. Charlotte still has Rhea’s number and wins again, but that’s part of why I was hoping for some kind of same night cash-in from Ms. MITB. I suppose Charlotte will build to a SummerSlam match with someone while Nikki just waits in the background. With pieces moving all over the place because Vince is impulsive, no Mandy & Dana to challenge Natty & Tamina, and that also makes you wonder what Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler are going to do. I honestly feel like this could be an opening for Shayna to get back up after the Lily debacle, but Alexa could also move up, eventually pitting her and Nikki against each other again.

The Raw Tag Team Championship match was very good, Omos is really coming into his own. He isn’t just a big guy who lumbers around and relies too much on how he’s the big guy, he is actually doing some stuff in there. For that reason, it’s why he and Styles are champions at all, and they get a great win over the Viking Raiders. Then, I was a little surprised the world title went before the men’s MITB, I would’ve thought they’d want maximum MITB tease, but guess they figured to put that more on the Universal title. At the same time, I don’t think we’ve ever gotten a case where on MITB PPV night, a (Heel) champion insisted they go before the respective MITB match to avoid a cash-in.

This wasn’t that, and Lashley VS Kofi was brutal because Lashley was destroying Kofi. I feel like it would’ve been a better match if, y’know, Kofi got to give Lashley a fight. Yes, it was pretty apparent from the math that Lashley was winning, but why is it that Kofi was only strong during KofiMania at WrestleMania 35? Lesnar squashes him, Kofi gets more tag titles, but then can’t even put a dent in Lashley tonight. But we got an awesome Men’s MITB to make up for some of that. The lead in with Boogs and Riddle was great, I loved that Rollins and Morrison first argued then teamed up over their shared dripocity, and naturally, Mahal and his guys keep McIntyre out of the running.

There was a lot of great innovation in the Men’s MITB, some slightly really rough stuff, but Ricochet got to do some amazing stuff, too. Big E winning is amazing, and apparently there are rumors of a New Day/unicorn design for the briefcase already in the works so that is great. When a superstar gets to customize the briefcase, you know something special- Well, okay, Damien Sandow got to customize his briefcase and then he got buried like a chump by Cena. But for the most part, a custom briefcase is a sign of big things so hopefully that’s how it is for Big E.

Then the Universal Championship was another epic from Roman and Edge, a lot of great story beats borrowed from previous encounters, but they did one sloppy ass job with that ref bump. And also getting a new ref out there, but I suppose how else was “The Deal” supposed to be used? Can’t crossbar crossface someone in a normal match, that’s a DQ, so the WWE had to look like a bungling management system for a minute to make it work. I like that the Usos were thwarted by the Mysterios, and I hope we get a rematch of those two on the way to SummerSlam, if not AT SummerSlam.

Rollins costing Edge was a given but it does contradict with how he said he didn’t care. He obviously did care, he didn’t want Edge winning. Roman wins, Edge and Rollins fight, and those two will go on a detour for SummerSlam so that JOHN CENA can be Roman’s next opponent! A little disappointed we never got “Cena breaks out of Firefly Funhouse” as a story arc, but screw it, WWE isn’t even using Fiend right now because they’ve hit another Vince creativity anomaly or something. But I think there was continuity in that the outfit Cena wore tonight was the same one he wore in the Firefly Funhouse Match, so that’s something.

Roman VS Cena 2 for SummerSlam is going to be great, and it’s already a great story: Roman’s dominance as Tribal Chief or Cena’s historic 17th top title reign, something’s gotta give.

My Score: 9.5/10


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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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on

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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