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Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (7/13/21)

Will The Way Fall and Pray?

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NXT Coverage 2021

The NXT title, the Breakout Tournament, and the Warrior of the Sun!

Johnny Wrestling says Karrion Kross is not on his level, but he has to prove it! Will Gargano finally get THE NXT Championship back?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Ember Moon VS Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez; Kai wins.
  • Bobby Fish VS Tyler Rust w/ Diamond Mine; Rust wins.
  • Sarray VS Gigi Dolin; Sarray wins.
  • Dexter Lumis VS Santos Escobar w/ El Legado del Fantasma; Escobar wins.
  • NXT Breakout Tournament 2021 Opening Round: Ikemen Jiro VS Duke Hudson; Hudson wins and advances to the next round.
  • Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter VS The Robert Stone Brand; Catanzaro & Carter win.
  • NXT Championship, with Special Guest Referee Samoa Joe: Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux VS Johnny Gargano; Kross wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

WWE and NXT mourn the loss of “Mr. Wonderful,” Paul Orndorff.

 

Ember Moon VS Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez!

The Shenom got to see Shotzi Blackheart take care o’ business on SmackDown, and now she’s a lone wolf again. Will she get back towards the top by getting through Dakota? Or will #CobraKai sweep the leg and show no mercy in the Capital Wrestling Center?

The bell rings, Ember and Kai circle and fans fire up. They tie up, go around, and Ember throws Dakota down to an armlock. Dakota rolls, wrenches back to a top wristlock, but Ember wrenches and gets around to hammerlock. Ember headlocks, Dakota wrenches and headlocks back. Ember powers out, Dakota runs her over, and fans duel as Dakota talks trash. Things speed up, Ember hurdles and Dakota leaps. Ember handsprings through the hip toss to arm-drag Dakota around and get the armlock again! Ember looks to Raquel and Raquel talks some trash while Dakota endures. Ember digs a knee into Dakota’s head but Dakota fights up as fans rally.

Dakota pulls hair to throw Ember down! The ref reprimands, Dakota covers, ONE! Ember gets up but Dakota is on her with a whip to a corner. Ember hits buckles hard, and Dakota goes side to side to BOOT WASH! Cover, TWO! Dakota grows frustrated but she sits Ember up to CLUB her and AX KICK her down! Cover, TWO! Raquel tells Dakota that she’s got this, and Dakota mule kicks Ember back down! Cover, TWO! Dakota looms over Ember, gets her up, but Ember gets around to roll her up! TWO, and Dakota BOOTS Ember right down! Cover, TWO! Dakota grows annoyed but she brings Ember up and wraps her in a straitjacket stretch.

Ember endures and fans rally up. Ember fights up to her feet but Dakota wrangles her back down! Dakota thrashes Ember around, leans on the hold, but Ember fights back up. Ember arm-drags free, catches the kick to a takedown and has a high stack! TWO, Dakota bails out but Ember builds speed. Ember DIVES and sends Dakota hard into barriers! Fans fire up but Dakota shoves Ember into the apron! Dakota throws Ember into the ring but Ember spins to KICK Dakota down! Ember is on the apron and she SLIDING BOOTS Dakota down! Raquel panics as NXT goes picture in picture.

Dakota gasps and sputters, Ember fetches her into the ring, and then stomps Dakota down. Dakota rolls away to ropes but Ember is after her with a choke on the ropes! Ember CLUBS Dakota, runs and slides and blows a kiss, saying ‘This is for Shotzi!” GAMANGIRI! Cover, TWO! Ember scowls but she gets Dakota up to whip her into a corner. Ember runs in to forearm smash, then reels Dakota in. Dakota ROCKS Ember with a right, whips her to the corner, then runs in only to be put on the apron. Dakota drops down to trip Ember up but Ember boots her away. Dakota comes back to BOOT Ember through the ropes! And then spins her into the POST!

The ref checks on Ember as she’s on the floor, and Dakota leaves Ember behind for the ring count. The count climbs, Ember gets up at 5 and in at 6, but Dakota covers. TWO, and Dakota starts to grow frustrated. Dakota drags Ember up and bumps her off buckles. Dakota digs her boot in, the ref counts and Dakota lets off at 4. High stack cover, TWO! Ember crawls, Raquel talks trash and Dakota clubs away on Ember’s back. Dakota wraps on a chinlock, Ember endures, and Ember fights up to throw body shots. Ember arm-drags free again, to then roll Dakota and bridge! TWO, and Dakota CLOBBERS Ember! Cover, TWO!

Dakota laughs as she brings Ember ack up for Kowata kicks! NXT returns to single picture as Dakota kicks Ember down then covers, TWO! Dakota CLUBS Ember, looms over her and pie faces her around. Ember gets up and Dakota throws a forearm! Ember gets mad, but Dakota kicks low and snap suplexes! But Ember kips up! Ember roars, fans fire up and Ember CLOBBERS Dakota! Ember wrenches, back kicks, front kicks and ENZIGURIS! Dakota gets up for Ember to BOOT, NECKBREAKER and BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Ember kips up again, runs corner to corner and back body blocks! Ember snapmares Dakota, runs and springboards, BIG CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!

Ember keeps her focus as Dakota survives. Ember pushes Dakota around now, brings her up but Dakota boots. Ember blocks but Dakota SCORPION KICKS! Dakota gets to a corner, Ember runs in but misses. Dakota yanks a leg and Ember falls hard! Dakota goes Around the World to BOOT Ember again! Dakota dragon sleepers for the TWISTING DDT! Cover, TWO!! Ember survives and Raquel is shocked! Fans rally up as Dakota gets Ember up again. Ember SLAPS Dakota, Dakota DECKS Ember! Dakota says Ember is nothing without Shotzi, and Raquel repeats that. Dakota climbs, but Ember GAMANGIRIS first!

Ember gets Dakota in position, climbs up to join her, and Ember SUPER STEINERS! Cover, TWO!! Dakota survives and Ember is shocked! Ember scowls and steps on Dakota as she makes her way to the apron. Ember talks trash back at Raquel but Dakota runs over! Ember dodges the shoulder but Dakota dodges the kick! Ember ROCKS Dakota with a forearm and slingshots, but Dakota ROCKS her back! Dakota drags Ember up the ropes, to a fireman’s carry, DRAPING GO TO KICK!! Cover, Dakota wins!!

Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall

Just as it seemed Ember’s Law was going to come into effect, #CapKota finds a way to win! But wait, XIA LI is heading to the ring?! And she goes right past Dakota to go after the champ! “You’re in the way of MY destiny!” Raquel says if Xia wants it, she’s got it! But let’s see her show up for it! Raquel “wishes” Xia luck, because this is the closest Xia will ever get to the belt. But will Tian Sha’s living weapon win this title for the glory of Mei Ying?

 

Backstage interview with Diamond Mine.

Malcolm Bivens says they are open for business, and he explains what this means. “We take, we mold, we build with the best resources…” He looks to Roderick Strong as he says, “The best fighters…” Then he looks to Hideki Suzuki as he says, “With the best coaches…” And lastly, he looks to Tyler Rust as he says, “And with the best prospects.” Bivens says it is all under one roof, one camp, and when you leave, you come out the best you can be. The Diamond Mine is about competition, so it is open challenge time! They want to make money, so- Bobby Fish comes in! He says he’s in as he stares Roderick Strong down! Whoa, whoa, whoa! Fish gets Rust first.

That’s fine, they can all get it as far as Fish is concerned. Strong promises, after Rust is done with Fish, it’s over. Oh is that what Roddy thinks? Fish and Rust is happening, after the break!

 

NXT hears from Ikemen Jiro.

“I am Ikemen Jiro, and I’m from Tokyo, Japan. ‘Ikemen’ means ‘handsome’ in Japanese. Of course I’m Ikemen! Don’t let my good looks fool you. I’ll still kick your ass!” Jiro was trained by Tajiri and The Great Muta, and so it was his dream to join the WWE. He made that dream come true, and looks forward to fighting the “big guy.” WWE has a lot of big guys, actually, so he’s excited about it! Ikemen promises to win the NXT Breakout Tournament! But will he get through the Duke of Smugness in this opening round tonight?

 

NXT checks in with LA Knight and his new butler.

The Million Dollar Megastar is bragging, but the “troglodyte” is late. Cameron Grimes finally arrives and Knight says late on his first day is bad form. Yeah, but he showed up. Because before having all this money, Grimes had his word. His word is his bond, so step out of the way while he holds up his part of the bargain. Grimes is going TO~ THE~ broom. No, the only thing he’s doing dressed like that is going to the toilet. Meet Knight out back and they’ll take care of this.

Knight has his personal barber here! He’s not a miracle worker but they can at least clean Grimes up and make him professional. Fast-forward through it all, and Grimes is trimmed and slick! Even Grimes likes it! He didn’t think the gloves were a good choice, but this is great! What? He looks like a penguin! Now time to get to work. Grimes says Knight is just jealous that Grimes makes this look good. Here we go! But what chores will Knight give Grimes to do first?

 

Bobby Fish VS Tyler Rust w/ Diamond Mine!

The Infamous One wants after the Savior of the Backbreaker but he’ll gladly take on the grunt first. But will Fish be able to get through the Diamond in the Rust to go after his former friend?

The bell rings, the two circle, and fans are on Fish’s side as he has Rust on the ropes. Rust turns it around but Fish knees low. Rust ducks a roundhouse to back suplex high and hard! Rust gets a leg, DRAGON SCREWS Fish, and stalks Fish to a corner. Rust CHOPS Fish, follows him around and wrenches the arm to wrangle him. Rust has a top wristlock, then puts the arm down to stomp it! Fish gets up but Rust throws forearms and CHOPS! Rust snapmares, KICKS Fish in the back, but Fish gets up to throw forearms! Fish snapmares, KICKS Rust, but Rust forearms and snapmares back. Rust wraps on a headscissor squeeze and rolls around but Fish endures.

Fans rally, Fish gets up and out but Rust fires forearms. Fish blocks a kick, hits back with forearms and body shots of his own, then KICKS Rust down! And again! Rust gets to a corner, BOOTS Fish away, but runs into a back drop! Fish gets Rust again for an EXPLODER into ropes! Strong gets on the apron to distract Fish but Fish dares him to get some now. Rust gets up, Fish DECKS him, and Rust bails out. Fish glares at Strong again, Strong says Fish has bitten off more than he can chew. Rust is back and he CHOP BLOCKS Fish! BUZZSAW! Cover, Rust wins!!

Winner: Tyler Rust, by pinfall

Rust may have been a pawn, but Strong baited Fish into a trap! The Diamond Mine surround Fish, but here comes KUSHIDA! The Cruiserweight Champion has a reason to go after Strong for how he attacked from behind, but Strong says “You’re on MY time now!” Will the Time Splitter make that time sooner rather than later?

 

Samoa Joe visits Karrion Kross.

“Mr. Kross, I’ll be your official this evening. I came here to remind you of a few things. First and foremost, protect yourself at all times. And secondly, obey my commands at all times. Do you understand, sir?” Kross still warms up with jabs to the heavy bag, but Joe BOOTS it out of the way! “I said, do you understand?!” Scarlett keeps Kross calm enough to talk. Kross wants Joe to understand that if Joe screws him over, he will be the one that gets dealt with. Joe will take that as a yes. Joe leaves and Kross throws his boxing gloves off in a huff, but will Kross be able to focus on his opponent tonight?

 

NXT Media catches The Way as they arrive.

Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae and Austin Theory all refuse to answer any questions, this is all business tonight. However, Indi Hartwell lingers, and Beth Phoenix asks her details about her and Dexter Lumis. Nothing happened, he was a complete gentleman backstage. But Indi did want something to happen, and surely so did he. But after losing the women’s tag titles, it just wasn’t the right time. Best gives Indi advice: sometimes, just take a chance. Beth heads out and Indi thinks on that advice. Can Indi find a way to make #InDex finally happen?

 

Sarray VS Gigi Dolin!

The Warrior of the Sun wanted to take on the Lightning From Down Under, but Toni Storm said no, and then got moved over to SmackDown. But that’s no sweat off Sarray’s nose, especially with the brash and hungry young star stepping up to take her on instead. Will Gigi rain on Sarray’s parade in the summer heat?

The bell rings, Sarray offers a handshake, and Gigi takes it. There is respect here as the two circle and tie up. They’re in a deadlock but Sarray wrenches through to a wristlock. Gigi spins, steps through, wrenches back, but Sarray rolls and kips up to wrench again. Sarray hammerlocks, Gigi drops but Sarray headlocks. Gigi fights back up, throws body shots, powers out, but Sarray handsprings over and arm-drags Gigi . Headlock takeover but Gigi headscissors. Sarray kips free and the fans cheer the stand-off. The two circle again, but wait, is that Raw’s Mandy Rose? Why is Mandy back in NXT? Sarray and Gigi shrug that off, Sarray kicks but Gigi kicks back!

Gigi snapmares and KICKS Sarray, but Sarray gets up to egg her on. Gigi ROCKS Sarray with a forearm, then eggs Sarray on! Sarray throws a forearm, dodges Gigi and rolls her up, TWO! Sarray keeps the legs to tie them up, and fans fire up as Sarray gets a MUTA LOCK!! Gigi is stuck, she pries at the hold, but Sarray lets her go to then KICK her down! Sarray gets Gigi up, fisherman but Gigi cradle counters, TWO! Sarray rushes in but Gigi rolls her up, TWO! Gigi seethes, Sarray runs in but Gigi dodges. Gigi comes back to STO! Cover, TWO as Sarray Matrix bridges out! Sarray runs but Gigi ROCKS her! Gigi runs but Sarray dropkicks!

Sarray fires up, runs and hits a DROPKICK OF THE SUN!! Gigi staggers up, Sarray brings her in, SAIDO OF THE SUN!! Cover, Sarray wins!

Winner: Sarray, by pinfall

Still undefeated, and apparently impressive to Mandy. What will the Golden Goddess have in store for Sarray and perhaps other women on NXT?

 

El Legado del Fantasma speaks.

Santos Escobar says, “Our world is in a constant state of war. There’s winners, there’s losers, and luck plays a fundamental part. Take Bronson Reed, for example. He’s a winner, and he’s lucky.” He got to live happily ever after without taking on Escobar 1v1! But Swerve on the other hand, he is a winner, but he is NOT lucky. He has the one thing Escobar wants: the North American Championship. Joaquin Wilde asks if they heard that “cypher celebration” last week. It was offensive to his ears! Swerve couldn’t stay on beat! Wilde could never dance to that! Escobar would just press the stop button. Mendoza says that Hit Row has no guts and no class.

Speaking of which, Dexter Lumis! He is a loser! Both a loser in love, and in a minute, a loser in the ring. Escobar always ends up on the right side of history! Legado heads out, but will they be silenced by the menacing mute?

 

NXT hears from Duke Hudson.

“Hey, Duke Hudson here. I’m not perfect, but I’ve gotta be close.” All the way from Adelaide, Australia, towering at 6’5″, 270 pounds with big biceps, a broad back, and “the bets backside in the business,” any more B’s and he’d be making honey. And it all starts with Ikemen Jiro tonight. Yes, Jiro is a risk-taking high-flyer with an odd looking jacket, but Hudson can just punch him in the face. You can call him Duke, or you can call him the Breakout Tournament winner. The other seven don’t have a shot as far as he’s concerned, but will the first one up take him down?

 

Dexter Lumis VS Santos Escobar w/ El Legado del Fantasma!

We’ve heard from Indi about their #InDex moment, and we’ve heard from El Hijo del Fantasma about this match, but Lumis lets his actions speak for him. Will Lumis get lucky both in this match and in love tonight?

The bell rings and Lumis just stares at Escobar. Escobar talks trash, steps to Lumis, but Lumis doesn’t flinch. Escobar throws hands, whips, and runs Lumis over, but Lumis kips right up! Escobar turns around and is startled! Escobar throws a punch, Lumis blocks it! Mendoza distracts and Escobar throws a forearm and knees! Escobar whips, Lumis dodges, ducks and THESZ PRESSES for fast hands! Lumis lets off to scare off Mendoza and Wilde, and then even scares Escobar! Legado regroups and Escobar tells his henchmen to “get ‘im!” Legado flanks Lumis, but wait where did he go?! Lumis trips Escobar up from under the ring! He tries to drag Escobar in!

Legado drags Escobar out and Lumis slithers out after them! Legado freaks out and scrambles up the ramp as NXT goes to break!

NXT returns and Escobar has Lumis down with a double wristlock. Lumis endures, fans rally and duel but Escobar stomps away on Lumis. Escobar kicks Lumis, gets him up, put him in a corner, and CHOP! Lumis winces but Escobar talks trash. “YOU should be afraid of ME!” Escobar CHOPS, Lumis shoves him, but Escobar whips him corner to corner. Escobar runs in to DOUBLE KNEE! Escobar puts Lumis up top, GAMANGIRIS, and then climbs up top. Escobar hits a SUPER STEINER! Cover, TWO! Lumis lives but Escobar covers again, TWO! Escobar grows frustrated and he stomps it out on Lumis. Fans rally as Lumis sits up, Escobar runs and basement dropkicks him down!

Escobar drags Lumis back up, facelocks and puts him in a corner. Escobar throws knees, fans rally and duel as Escobar runs in and clotheslines! Escobar keeps moving, and corner clotheslines again! Escobar gets Lumis up for a snap suplex, uno amigo! Another snap suplex, dos amigos! Escobar gets Lumis up again but Lumis blocks tres! Lumis suplexes, Escobar slips out and hits a BACKSTABBER! Lumis writhes, Escobar runs back in, but Lumis CLOBBERS him! Both men are down and fans fire up! Escobar gets up but Lumis DECKS him! And again! And again! Lumis uppercuts and Escobar goes to a corner. Lumis runs in to clothesline and BULLDOG!

Fans fire up as Lumis looms over Escobar. Escobar staggers up, Lumis baits him in, SIDE EFFECT! But Wilde distracts the ref and Mendoza saves Escobar from The Silence! Lumis glares at Mendoza, but slithers out around the way. Mendoza and Escobar back off, but Wilde YANKS Lumis into the post! Escobar hurries to get Lumis in, reels Lumis in to a fireman’s carry, PHANTOM DRIVER!! Cover, Escobar wins!

Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall

Whether or not Lumis is lucky, Escobar is always prepared by having his henchmen by his side! But sneaking up behind them is Hit Row! Swerve and his crew heard what Escobar had to say, so what is Escobar going to do with them here? Escobar and Legado simply walk off. Will it only be a matter of time before Escobar learns just how and why Swerve is #JustDifferent?

 

Wade Barrett has a sit-down interview with Kyle O’Reilly.

Wade thanks Kyle for joining him, and brings up The Great American Bash. It was an absolute classic, but ultimately, Adam Cole came out the winner. How does that affect Kyle? Well losing is part of what they do and it’s part of life. He looks back and struggled to recognize who he was. Where was Kyle’s killer instinct? Who knows. Kyle’s said in the past that he sold his soul and wants it back, and wonders if he needs it back. Kyle won titles. Sure he did things differently, but it got the job done. So wait, Kyle is saying that in order to beat Cole, he has to do things differently? No, no, he doesn’t need to change. Just get his groove back. That Kyle is still in here somewhere.

Kyle has beaten Cole, but what counts is how well you walk through the fire. They’ll fight again, whether it’s on the sidewalk or in the ring. Kyle can’t let Cole say and do the things he’s done and get away with it. Now, Kyle isn’t just the guy that can and will beat Cole. He is the guy and can and will finish Adam Cole. How, when and where will this finally be settled by these former friends turned bitter enemies?

 

NXT checks back in with Knight and Grimes.

Knight sets down some ground rules. First, Grimes needs to slow down, and walk a few steps behind Knight. Why? Because he’s a butler! And Grimes will address Knight as either “Mr. Knight” or “Sir.” And his first task as butler is to mow the lawn. This huge field right here? Yes, this whole thing. Grimes says this is nothing! Just wait until he gets on this bush hog here- Whoa, okay, first off, Knight has no idea what a “bush hog” even is. Second, he’s not letting Grimes get the keys to ride that thing. Grimes is using an old fashioned PUSH mower! Knight likes detail, this will get that done.

This big yard, with this little pusher? Grimes is fine, Grammy Grimes used to chase him around with one of these all the time! Fine, just get it done. Gotcha, sir! Grimes sets to work, but just how long will this take?

 

NXT shares footage from the break.

Indi Hartwell returns the favor from last week, and somehow carries Lumis? Well, for a few seconds, and then falls over on him. The two lock eyes and fans feel the heat. But Candice shoves Indi away from Lumis! The Poison Pixie is like an anti-cupid! Indi and Lumis were so close, but Candice is taking Indi far away. Will Candice have to lock Indi away in a tower somewhere to stop #InDex from happening?

 

NXT Breakout Tournament 2021 Opening Round: Ikemen Jiro VS Duke Hudson!

The black ‘n’ gold brings back the tournament all about helping fresh faces shine in the spotlight! And starting it off is the Handsome One and the Duke of Smugness, two of the best looking in the bracket! Will there be a bracket buster in the Breakout Tournament already?

The bell rings and the two tie up. Hudson waistlocks and SLAMS Jiro down! Jiro gets up and comes back to waistlock. Hudson throws him off with ease but Jiro gets back up. Jiro gets a little jazzy and he cartwheels around Hudson. Hudson gets annoyed, but Jiro baits him into a headlock. Hudson powers up but Jiro’s jacket helps him hold on! Hudson powers out the second time but Jiro handstands handsomely on the top rope! Jiro dodges Hudson, runs but leaps into Hudson’s arms for a pop-up and KNEE, then a HOTSHOT! Hudson keeps going, BIG double ax handle! Fans boo as Hudson gets Jiro up but Jiro fires off body shots!

Hudson pulls the jacket over Jiro’s head and fires off with hands in the corner! The ref counts, Hudson lets off, but Jiro CHOPS! Hudson CHOPS Back! And Hudson’s hands are bigger so that hurts more. Hudson scoops and SLAMS Jiro, then stalks him to ropes. Jiro tries to slap Hudson but Hudson kicks him down. Hudson whips, Jiro sunset flips, but Hudson brings Jiro up. Jiro bobs ‘n’ weaves to JACKET PUNCH! And again! And again! And again! Jiro whips, Hudson reverses but Jiro goes up and over and shouts out Tajiri with the TARANTULA! The ref counts, Jiro lets off at 4, and fires up! The fans fire up, too, as he springboards, but into Hudson’s OVERHEAD Belly2Belly!

Hudson fires hands in the corner, then hits a BIG uppercut! Jiro checks his face but Hudson covers, ONE?! Hudson gets Jiro up, reels him in, crucifix, but Jiro turns Razor’s Edge into RANA! Hudson hits buckles, Jiro rolls him up, TWO! Jiro BOOTS, goes up, and BLOCKBUSTERS! But Hudson bails out to save himself! Jiro WRECKS Hudson with a dropkick then ASAI MOONSAULTS! Jiro hits Hudson but checks his feet. Fans are fired up for “NXT! NXT!” as Jiro manages to get Hudson up and into the ring. Jiro drags Hudson up but Hudson throws Jiro to the apron. Jiro PALM STRIKES, slingshots and RANAS again! Jiro fires off kicks and SUPERKICK!

Jiro runs, but into a SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, Hudson wins!!

Winner: Duke Hudson, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Hudson snuffs out Jiro’s fire in a flash, and now he’s heading right into round two! Will Hudson tower over the rest of the field and be THE Breakout star?

 

Backstage interview with Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan.

They are going to be watching the main event closely, so who do they think comes out of the NXT Championship match with the title? Dunne makes it clear that he doesn’t care who wins tonight. Do him a favor and ask Gargano “Who’s the baddest man around here?” And then remind Kross that at NXT TakeOver, Kross got caught in Dunne’s triangle hold and had no answers for it. Trust Dunne when he says that he’d beat either of them 1v1 because he is the best technician in the world. But Timothy Thatcher comes by and asks, “Well, which is it? Are you the best technician in the world? Or are you the baddest man in NXT?” Dunne asks who’s asking. Ciampa attacks and the brawl is on!

Security rushes in to stop this, but the Bruiserweight and Boston Brawler want after Old Man Ciampa and Toothless Timmy! Will we see these two teams fight it out to at least prove who is the meanest duo in NXT today?

 

Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter VS The Robert Stone Brand!

With new NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, the title chase starts again! KC Squared is back and ready to climb after the gold, but Jessi Kamea & Aliyah want those belts to add to their bougie bad life. Who gets one step closer to the new champions, Io Shirai & Zoey Stark?

The teams sort out and Jessi starts with Kacy. They circle, tie up and Jessi BOOTS Kacy to the corner! Tag to Aliyah and Jessi whips Kacy into Aliyah’s boot! Aliyah thrashes Kacy around and tosses her by her hair! Kacy goes to a corner, Aliyah runs in and back elbows! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Aliyah gets Kacy up, brings her over, tags Jessi, and the Brand mugs Kacy. Stone applauds as Jessi scrapes Kacy’s face on ropes. Kacy elbows her away but Jessi grins as she CLUBS Kacy down. Jessi gets between Kacy and Kayden as she AX KICKS Kacy down. Cover, TWO! Jessi gets Kacy up and puts her in the corner again to tag Aliyah.

The Brand mugs Kacy more, Aliyah stomps her down, then tag back to Jessi. The mugging continues with a hard knee to the ribs! Cover, TWO! Jessi gets Kacy up, scoops her but Kacy turns that to a cradle! TWO, and Aliyah tags in! Jessi gets Kacy and brings her back so Aliyah can stomp her. Aliyah whips Kacy into the corner, runs in but Kacy boots her! Kacy runs, Aliyah catches her, but Kayden still tags in! Kacy gets free, Kayden BULLDOGS, then rallies with clotheslines! Kayden CHOPS Aliyah, whips but Aliyah reverses to throw Kayden down by her hair! Aliyah swings on Kacy but misses, and Kacy chases Aliyah! The ref keeps Kacy back as Aliyah goes after Kayden.

Stone wants Aliyah to use a shoe as a weapon but that distraction allows Kayden to roll Aliyah up! Jessi breaks it and whips, but Kayden reverses to send Jessi out! Kacy LEAPS and takes Jessi down! Kayden dodges Aliyah to SUPERKICK! Tag to Kacy, Kayden turns Aliyah and Kacy climbs, 450 SPLASH-BREAKER!! Cover, KC Squared wins!

Winners: Kayden Carter & Kacy Catanzaro, by pinfall

The #HightlightReel gets another one, and KC Squared moves on! Will this win get them closer to the Evil Genius and Rising Star(k)?

As for the Brand, Stone tries to console Aliyah but she shoves him away! This is technically his fault, after all. He doesn’t understand why she’s upset, and she says she’s helped him more than Stone has ever helped her! Aliyah doesn’t need him or anyone, and then she SLAPS Stone! And then fires off hands on Stone in a corner! And knees! Fans fire up for Aliyah taking a stand, and Stone flounders about until Aliyah KICKS him in the side! Fans want that “One More Time!” so she kicks him AGAIN! Aliyah is happy with herself, and walks out on both Stone and Jessi.

Franky Monet swaggers in and talks with Jessi. Stone tells Jessi to go, and she leaves with Franky. Is this the end of The Robert Stone Brand once and for all?

 

Samoa Joe visits Johnny Gargano.

Johnny, Candice and Theory are all waiting to welcome Joe to their private room. Joe says, “Mr. Gargano, I am going to be your official tonight. A couple things to remember: One, protect yourself at all times; Two, obey my commands at all times.” That’s so easy! Gargano is a law abiding citizen, and he will even leave The Way backstage. All Joe has to do is count to three, and Gargano will do the rest. Theory asks if Joe wants to hang out while they wait. The Way has these awesome new T-shirts! They can get one for Joe! Joe just leaves. That’s fine, this is a big night for everyone. But as Joe exits, he crosses paths with Dunne. Will there ever be more than just stare downs between them?

 

NXT checks in with Knight and Grimes once more.

Knight returns and what is this? Grimes is in his swimsuit at poolside, having lemonade! Wait why is he still wearing the gloves and cowboy boots? But it’s about time Knight got back! Where is Grimes’ uniform and who is that kid mowing the lawn? Grimes says he is a man of his word. He will still be Knight’s butler, but he’s also a billionaire! Grimes knows how to delegate! Good job, kiddo. Knight tells Grimes to stand up and Grimes says, “Yes sir.” Knight says he doesn’t care how rich Grimes still is, when Knight tells Grimes to do something, Grimes is to do it! Not some kid, not someone else. Okay, okay.

The kid, Noah, finishes up the work and Grimes thanks him. Now how much did he promise? Two, three, five hundred? Grimes is thinking five hundred. But Knight says it’s ZERO hundred, because the kid was not invited. Knight has a no kids policy! Great job, kid, but get out of here. Noah kicks Knight in the shin then runs off! Knight is furious but Grimes notices the money fell on the ground. Grimes will take care of that, and he uses the rake to scoop up the money, and bump Knight into the pool! Knight splashes down in his leather vest and jeans and says Grimes did this on purpose! Grimes says he didn’t, and asks if Mr. Knight wants a towel.

 

Adam Cole is here!

Cole goes to the ring, BAYBAY, and gets a mic. “My GOD does it feel good to say, ‘I told you so.'” Cole told the world that he was better than Kyle O’Reilly, and then proved it at the Great American Bash. Cole proved that he is the greatest superstar in the history of the brand! Cole proved that Stand & Deliver was not just a fluke, but that it doesn’t count because for all the idiots out there, “unsanctioned” means it isn’t on the record. And Cole heard Kyle’s “pathetic” interview earlier. “Losing’s just a part of what we do.” Yeah, if you’re Kyle O’Reilly, it is. But also how Kyle went through the fire. Sure did, and he got burned by ol’ Adam Cole Baybay.

If Cole were Kyle, he’d highly reconsider wanting a rematch. They both know Cole will just embarrass him again. But enough about Kyle, Cole is sick and tired of that guy. Cole wants to talk about Samoa Joe! Big Bad Joe who snuck up from behind to put Cole in the clutch! Joe who stood by as Kyle tried to rip Cole’s knee from its socket! He’s more like COWARD Joe! Joe is “nothing more than an overpaid security guard in a suit,” and he doesn’t scare Cole. Cole would ask Joe to face him but he won’t. There’s no one man enough to go toe-to-toe with Cole! But wait, here comes Bronson Reed!

Reed says “You gotta love the confidence.” Cole is a master of mind games, and of manipulating someone with something to lose. But Reed lost the NXT North American Championship, so he has nothing to lose! So Cole, right here, right now, all eyes are on Reed! And people must wonder what Reed’s next move is. Many see Cole as NXT’s golden boy, but Reed sees him as a golden opportunity! So Baybay- Cole SUPERKICKS, but Reed blocks it! Reed spins Cole, Cole duck sand dodges but runs into Reed’s body check! Cole goes running and says Reed will pay for that! And now Joe comes out! The NXT Enforcer looks at Cole, and Cole stays put.

Joe goes into the ring, and he’s ready for the main event! Cole storms off, Reed takes a moment before he exits, and after the break, we see if Karrion Kross can keep up with Johnny Freakin’ Wrestling, or if doomsday comes for The Way!

 

NXT Media catches up with Robert Stone, Jessi Kamea & Franky Monet.

They ask if, after beating Stone up and storming off, Aliyah is still part of the Robert Stone Brand. Franky says that they won’t have to worry about Aliyah anymore. Mandy Rose returns, and says the brand looks to be under new management. She heads off, but what does any of this mean for the future of the NXT brand?

 

BREAKING NEWS!

After the confrontation tonight, the Diamond Mine has their first tag team match together! Strong and Rust take on Fish and Kushida, will the Infamous and the Time Splitter get even with their common enemies? And, after the challenge was issued and accepted, it is made official! Raquel Gonzalez defends her NXT Women’s Championship against Xia Li! Will Ricky Desperado be able to deny Tian Sha their destiny?

 

NXT Championship, with Special Guest Referee Samoa Joe: Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux VS Johnny Gargano!

Mr. Apocalypse and NXT’s first-ever Triple Crown Champion finally go 1v1 for THE title, with Joe making sure things don’t cross the line. Will Kross make The Way #FallAndPray? Or will Johnny Wrestling prove why he is now, then and forever Mr. NXT?

The introductions are made, Joe raises the belt, and we finally see who is the superior superstar!

Gargano sucker punches Kross before Joe can ring the bell! Joe tells Gargano to let off but Kross TOSSES Gargano into the corner! The bell rings as Gargano dodges and stomps away! Gargano climbs up to rain down fists, but Kross caries Gargano across the way to stomp a mudhole in the other corner! Kross reels Gargano in, spins him around and EXPLODERS! Kross dusts off his hands as he looms over Gargano. Fans chant for “Johnny Wrestling!” as Kross KICKS Gargano in the side. Kross gets Gargano in a corner and throws forearms! Kross digs his forearm in, Joe counts, and Kross lets off at 4. Kross snap suplexes Gargano, then paces around as Gargano writhes.

Kross taunts Gargano, “is this all you got?” Kross waistlocks, Gargano slips under and calf kicks Kross out of the ring! Gargano WRECKS Kross with a dropkick, then SUPERKICKS from the apron! Gargano CANNONBALLS and takes Kross down! Joe wants this back in the ring but fans fire up as Gargano paces around the ring. Kross gets up and BOOTS Gargano right down! Joe gets mad as he tells Kross to get this in the ring. Kross gets Gargano up but Gargano throws forearms! Kross forearms back, a ring count begins, and Gargano baits Kross into running into steel steps! Gargano gets Kross up, throws more forearms, and Joe lets off the count as this continues.

Kross grabs Gargano with both hands to SLAM him on the announce desk! NXT goes picture in picture as Joe reprimands Kross. Kross steps back, other refs check on Gargano, and Gargano slowly stirs. Kross goes to the ring, waves bye to Gargano as the ring count climbs. Gargano sits up at 4 of 10 but Joe gets his mic checked by the other ref. Gargano gets up, Kross gets him in the ring and covers, ONE!! Kross keeps his cool, gets Gargano back up, and wrenches to hammerlock and throw body shots! Gargano falls to a knee, Kross aims and runs in to stomp Gargano down! Gargano gets to ropes but Kross chokes him with them! Joe counts, Kross lets off at 4.

Kross stomps Gargano to a corner, digs his boot in, but lets off at 4 again. Joe reprimands, Gargano fires off hands on Kross! Kross knees low, whips corner to corner, and Gargano tumbles up and down! Kross smirks as Gargano writhes, and Kross shows off his agility just to make a point to the fans. Kross snapmares Gargano, wraps on a chinlock and grinds Gargano down as NXT returns to single picture. Fans rally up, Gargano fights back and throws forearms. Kross knees low, runs in but gets a BOOT in the corner! Gargano elbows Kross away, then dodges Kross, and Kross POSTS himself! Scarlett checks on him and Kross manages to get out of the corner.

Gargano runs in to clothesline, but Kross stays up! Gargano goes again, another clothesline! Kross roars, choke grips, but Gargano breaks free to ROLLING ELBOW! Kross stays up, scoops, but Gargano slips off to ENZIGURI! Kross is in a corner, Gargano runs in but is put on the apron, Kross runs, into the SLINGSHOT SPEAR! Cover, TWO! Kross sputters and scrambles out, but Gargano builds speed! DIVE and direct hit into barriers! Fans fire up as Gargano gets Kross back in the ring. Gargano aims, slingshots, but no final beat! Kross turns it into a NORTHERN LIGHTS! Roll through to dead lift suplex! Cover, TWO! Fans are thunderous as Gargano survives!

Kross stalks Gargano to a corner, drags him up, but Gargano holds ropes to deny the suplex! Kross puts Gargano up top and CLUBS him on the back! Kross climbs, Joe counts the ropebreak but Kross says they’re doing this the hard way! Gargano fights off the suplex to make it a CROSSBODY! And then BUZZSAW! Kross stays up so Gargano BUZZSAWS again! Gargano powers up but Kross LARIATS first! Kross scoops Gargano for an OKLAHOMA- DDT!! Gargano counters, covers, TWO!! Gargano gets up slowly but the fans are thunderously behind him! Gargano fires off forearms but Kross choke grips. Gargano gets free again, but Kross ROCKS him first!

Gargano rebounds but into a CHOKE SLAM! Kross gets Gargano up, “I own you!” Kross runs but into a SUPERKICK! And then another SUPERKICK! Gargano runs, tilt-o-whirls, gets the arm, but Kross makes it a SLEEPER! It isn’t quite the Krossjacket, Gargano rolls back to get GargaNO ESCAPE!! Kross endures, Scarlett shouts to him, and Kross powers up! Kross pops Gargano around to spin and spin and SLEEPER! Gargano flails, reaches, fades, but gets a second wind! Gargano reaches out, for the ROPEBREAK! Kross doesn’t let go so Joe pulls him away from Gargano! Kross laughs it off, stares down with Joe, but goes after Gargano on the outside.

Gargano is at the barriers, Kross DRIBBLES him off them! “You remember this, right? Time to go, Johnny!” Gargano flops over, Joe tells Kross to get in the ring but Kross says up his! Kross pulls steel steps apart, but Joe goes out to snatch those from Kross! Joe isn’t letting Kross do what he wants, but dares him, “All you gotta do is jump.” Speaking of, Gargano DIVES for a TORNADO DDT! Gargano puts Kross in, ONE FINAL BEAT!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Kross survives, dodges a superkick, DOOMSDAY FOREARM! And then Kross reels Gargano in, POWERBOMB! Dead lift and ANOTHER POWERBOMB! And then ANOTHER POWERBOMB! And then a fireman’s carry, to DOOMSDAY SAIDO!!

Kross isn’t done with Gargano, he winds up the hands of time. Gargano manages to get up, Kross grins, DOOMSDAY FOREARM!! Cover, Kross wins!

Winner: Karrion Korss, by pinfall (still NXT Champion)

Joe hands Kross the belt and raises Kross’ hand in victory, but only for a short time. Joe dares Kross to do something if he feels like it. Kross says for Joe to take the ref shirt off first. Scarlett is the one who keeps this from going down, until Joe isn’t looking! Kross gets Joe in the Krossjacket! Fans boo as Joe works to escape the hold, but the body scissors are in! Kross mockingly shouts, “Unless provoked, Joe! You brought this on yourself!” Joe is out and Kross finally lets him go! Will Kross make himself into the tyrant of NXT? Or will he have to answer to the authority above even Samoa Joe?


My Thoughts:

A great episode of NXT, but I have to say, a handful of things got completely ruined because Vince McMahon just insisted on getting new faces for his SmackDown Women’s Division. No Tegan for Candice to feud with, no Toni Storm for Sarray or Raquel Gonzalez, the knee jerk reaction from Vince is causing a ripple effect in NXT and it sorta sucks. You know who’s a team that should’ve been moved up to RawDown? Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter. 1) You can still do name shortening and it’d probably be fine. “Kacy & Kayden, Catanzaro & Carter” whatever, it works better than “Shotzi & Nox.” 2) THEY DIDN’T HAVE STORIES TO STILL GET TO!

Also, I don’t understand why Mandy Rose is hovering around, she has a tag partner in Dana Brooke so why is she apparently scouting out things? Sarray VS Gigi was good but I feel like Gigi wasn’t ready for some of the moves Sarray was throwing around. Even just that headlock takeover was rough. Ember VS Dakota was a great match, but it was mostly just filler after losing some pivotal players. But I will say, this worked out great for Xia Li. They’re kinda just rushing to her getting a title match, but she and Raquel can have a great match. Raquel surely retains now and then we build to whatever SummerSlam TakeOver we’re getting with whoever is next.

I do like that the Robert Stone Brand finally hit the wall, but why is Aliyah leaving? Did we not see Franky trying to recruit both her and Jessi away from Stone? Is this a sign that Aliyah is going to go to Raw just because, the same way we’re just suddenly getting Storm, Nox & Shotzi on SmackDown? I mean, Aliyah’s been in NXT forever, but I feel like she almost didn’t need to go to RawDown. With Franky managing her instead of Stone, maybe she could’ve built herself up to be a tag title contender. Now she’ll just be fodder for someone else. Maybe Franky finds someone new to take Aliyah’s place. And again, why was Mandy talking with them when she’s on Raw?!

The first 2021 Breakout Tournament match was great stuff from Jiro and Hudson. For just a moment, I thought Jiro was going to pull it off in that sweet space nebula jacket, but Hudson finishing it right off in that Boss Man Slam/Winds of Change scrapbuster was a great way to suddenly finish this off. Dunne had a good promo, but I like that Thatcher and Ciampa get in his face. That’s going to be a great tag match, but the point of it is a bit uncertain. If Ciampa & Thatcher had the tag titles, yeah, okay, they want to be fighting champions and are picking fights with the toughest people they can find. But now, it’s just a really good scrap to perhaps build contenders up? I guess that’s fine.

Legado had a good promo, Escobar VS Lumis was a really good match, and Legado keeps getting that Heel Heat from cheating to make sure Escobar wins. Hit Row coming out to confront them was good, and I definitely look forward to a big Six Man Tag before Swerve VS Escobar for the North American Championship. I would love if Hit Row helps Swerve win to stick it to Legado for all the times they cheated Swerve. We got a lot of great stuff out of Grimes and Knight, and I had a feeling Grimes was going to find a way to make this annoying for Knight. Grimes enjoyed being a butler, enjoyed mowing the oversized lawn, and found a way to kinda Tom Sawyer it. The rake bumping Knight into the pool was clever, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

We also got a good interview promo from Kyle, a good in-ring promo out of Cole about Kyle, and I like that Reed is stepping up to him. They had a good brawl and Joe showing up was a good segue to the main event. Joe had good segments with both Kross and Gargano throughout the night, and of course his presence added something to the title match. There was a lot of great interaction and tension between Joe and Kross, but in a way, that just made it seem like Gargano was just a formality. Though I suppose that was what this was all along, but it might not have felt it in a normal match.

Either way, Kross retains, goes after Joe, and probably takes on Joe for SummerSlam TakeOver in Joe’s in-ring return. Maybe Joe wins to become the first ever THREE-time NXT Champion and allows Kross and Scarlett to move on to RawDown like some have been thinking. Otherwise, Joe gets added to Kross’ legacy, that I personally wouldn’t want to see but would understand why they did it.

My Score: 9/10


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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!

Published

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We’re just one step away from the Cup!

Cold Skull faces The Fierce Warrior, and Gene Blast faces The King of Darkness, and when the smoke clears, we will have our New Japan Cup finalists!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Boltin Oleg & Shoma Kato VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Mikey Nicholls; ZSJ & Mikey win.
  • Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Tomohiro Ishii & Togi Makabe VS Just5Guys; Just5Guys win.
  • Tanga Loa & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman; Loa & Taguchi win.
  • Six Man Tag: YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano & Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
  • 8 Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & YOH VS The House of Torture; Shota, ELP, Leo & Yoh win.
  • Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; LIJ wins.
  • 2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL; Tsuji wins and advances to the finals.
  • 2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto; Goto wins and advances to the finals.

PLAY BY PLAY

2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!

The Gene Blast overcame the tricks Ren Narita tried, but that’s because the House of Torture was saving all the good stuff so they could slay the Rampaging Dragon. Will the deck be even more stacked to make sure Everything is Evil’s? Or will Yota be one step away from LIJ VS LIJ at Sakura Genesis?

Well, Dick is making his way out here, but where is Evil? Oh, there he is. No tricks just yet it seems. But then Yota DIVES onto Evil! The fans fire up but Dick attacks Yota! Dick whips, Yota stops himself, and then scoops Dick for a BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Yota wants the bell. The ref says yes, ring the bell, and this is on the record! Yota stomps and CLUBS Evil, then whips, but Evil reverses! Yota hits railing, and then Evil whips him into more railing! Evil CHOKES Yota against the railing, Yota fights back, but the ref gets knocked aside! Evil puts Yota in so he and Dick can stomp away!

The fans boo but here comes the rest of the House already! Narita, Yujiro, Kanemaru and Jack all stomp away on Yota, but here come Bushi & Hiromu! It’s a replay of yesterday as LIJ fights off the House, but the numbers are still against them! The ref rushes in to tell everyone to stop! Evil shoves the ref out of the ring, Yota fires off on him, but Evil CLAWS Yota’s eyes! The House CHOKES LIJ, but the ref says stop! The bell rings, but what is the decision!? NO CONTEST!?

No Contest

What does this mean!? Someone has to advance, right? The finals aren’t until the 20th, how can there be a no contest? The House started this, where’re the consequences?! Yota gets up but Evil TOSSES him back out! LIJ regroups and Yota asks for a mic. Yota tells Evil that he’s sick and tired of this! They ARE gonna finish this match! The fans like the sound of that! All the refs come out, including Red Shoes, to discuss how this will be handled. For starters, they tell all the extras to get outta here! LIJ is cool with that, and Hiromu tells the House to come along. Evil says fine, and Jack, Kanemaru, Narita, Yujiro and even Dick reluctantly exit.

The announcement is officially made, and the bell rings! Yota and Evil rush in, Evil kicks low but Yota CLUBS away on Evil! Evil CLAWS the eyes! Evil kicks, runs, RAMS, but Yota rebounds to run Evil over! Then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Yota fires up and the fans are with him! Evil bails out but the fans rally for Yota. Evil wants Yota to stay back, then he slides in, only to slide right out! Yota runs out after Evil, but Evil kicks him! Evil RAMS Yota into the timekeeper! Abe-san and his table go flying! Evil gets the mic to tell Yota that this is what he gets! The fans boo but Evil tells them off, too! Evil stomps Yota then soaks up the heat.

Evil unties the blue buckle pad himself, then waits in the ring. The ref checks Yota and the fans rally up again. The Young Lions help Abe-san while Yota drags himself up. Yota slides in, the fans cheer, but Evil pulls on Yota’s hair! Evil wrenches the hair, then wrenches it again! And again! Evil CLUBS the hair! The ref reprimands but Evil just dusts off his hands. Evil covers, but the ref refuses to count! Evil is furious but he’s the one up to no good! The ref still says no, so Evil stands on Yota’s head. The fans rally up, Yota rises, and he grins as he winds up to ROCK Evil with a forearm! And ROCK him with another!

Yota ROCKS Evil again, but Evil whips him into the bare buckles! Yota falls and the ref reprimands about the missing buckle pad. Evil stomps Yota, covers, TWO! The fans cheer but Evil is annoyed. Evil scuffs Yota, taunts him, and drags him up. Evil CHOPS, Yota drops to his knees, but Evil stands him back up. Evil CHOPS again and Yota grits his teeth as he drops to his knees! Evil stands Yota up again, to fake the chop to CLAW the eyes! The ref reprimands, Evil lets off, and then Evil stands on Yota in a corner. The ref counts, Evil lets go of the ropes but that’s not the problem! Evil steps away, drags Yota up but claims he’s dead weight.

The ref checks, Evil stands Yota up and wrenches an arm. Evil whips Yota into a corner, runs in, but into a BOOT! Evil runs in again, blocks the boot, but Yota brings Evil in for the STOMP! The fans fire up while Yota rests on the mat. The fans rally up and Yota rises again. Evil’s in the corner, runs out, but into the BACKBREAKER! COMPLETE SHOT! STOMP! The fans fire up again as Yota stands back up. Yota runs, to CURB STOMP!! Yota roars and the fans fire up again! Evil flounders while Yota aims. Yota runs in, but the ref is used as a shield! Evil kicks Yota low, then uses the ref in MAGIC KILLER!

All three men are down while the fans rally up again. Evil stands, he brings Yota up, and the ref also rises. Evil whips Yota into the bare buckles, then clotheslines him in! Then FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, but Evil lets off?! Evil wants to torture Yota but it’s hard to say if Yota is still even in this. Yota opens his eyes, rises up, but Evil fireman’s carries! DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives, the fans fire up, but Evil is furious! Evil slashes his throat and vows to end this now! Evil drags Yota up, spins him around, but Yota fights the STO with elbows! Evil kicks low, whips again, but Yota stops from hitting buckles!

Evil runs in, Yota dodges and Evil hits the buckles! SUPERKICK!! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! We’re only ten minutes into this new match but this is on top of the madness from earlier. Evil drags Yota up, but Yota ROCKS Evil! Evil fights Yota’s fireman’s carry and CLUBS him, but both men wobble. Evil LARIATS, but Yota stays up! The fans fire up but Evil swings to LARIAT again! Yota drops to a knee, but he grins through the pain! Evil says alright, and he throws off his elbow pad. Evil runs to LARIAT! Yota grits his teeth to stay up! V-TRIGGER! Yota brings Evil in, suplexes, ORANGE CRUSH! Cover, TWO!!

Evil is still in this but the fans rally behind Yota again. Yota rises, drags Evil up, and then goes to the corner. Yota goes up and up and Evil moves the ref into the way! The ref takes the FLYING CURB STOMP!!! And now the House returns! The fans boo as Kanemaru, Dick, Yujiro, Narita & Jack all stomp away on Yota again! The fans tell them to go home, again, but these guys don’t care! They just put one out on Yota. They whip Yota to a corner, then DIck runs in to ELBOW! Kanemaru ELBOWS! Yujiro BOOTS! Jack SPLASHES! Narita ELBOWS! Then they snapmare and set Yota up! Dick climbs for the DICK CHOP!!

The fans boo but the House applauds their own dirtiness. But here come Bushi & Hiromu again! But they just get mugged again! They set Hiromu up for the DICK CHOP, while Bushi gets a JACK CHOP! The House then slithers away before a replacement ref rushes out here. Evil drags Yota up, winds up and runs, to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!!! Yota survives and the fans are thunderous! Evil is at a loss for words, but he slashes his throat! He vows to end it for real, and he reels Yota in. EVERYTHING IS- Yota flips through!? And HEADBUTTS!! The fans fire up as Yota reels Evil in for a fireman’s carry! 70 CROSS!! Cover, TWO!!

Evil survives the swinging spinebuster and the House cheers! Yota drags himself to a corner, drags himself up with the ropes, and roars as he takes aim! Evil rises, but Yujiro distracts! Dick runs in, but gets a V-TRIGGER! The ref sees Dick, but misses the LOW BLOW! Then Evil RAMS Yota into the ref! That’s the second ref this match! Narita gets his push-up bar! The others set Yota up, but here comes SHINGO TAKAGI! The Rampaging Dragon has seen enough, and he’s still pissed from yesterday as it is! He dodges Narita to PUMPING BOMBER! Kanemaru & Yujiro kick Takagi, double whip, but he DOUBLE PUMPING BOMBERS!!

Jack gets in, but he gets ELBOW, JAB and YUKON LARIAT! Evil runs up but Takagi SWATS Evil’s lariat to JAB! Then feed to Hiromu’s SUPERKICK! Hiromu & Takagi set Evil up for Bushi’s BLACK MIST!! Evil can’t see, the PUMPING BOMBER turns him inside-out!! The fans are thunderous as LIJ helps Yota up! Red Shoes hurries out here, and Yota aims at Evil! GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, Yota wins!!!

Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

The House of Torture ran out of tricks, and now there is light at the end of the tournament! Will Yota do LIJ proud and bring home the Cup?

 

2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto!

One down, one to go. Yota Tsuji has made it through, now we see who joins him in the finals! Will the Cold Skull or Fierce Warrior be the one that steps closer to former glory?

The bell rings and the fans duel between “GO-TO-O!” and “SA-NA-DA!” Red Shoes measures the levels, and it seems to slightly favor Goto. Goto and Sanada circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Goto gets some leverage to put Sanada against ropes, but he lets off slowly. Goto pats Sanada on the shoulders and the fans cheer. The two reset, circle again, and tie up again. It’s another deadlock, but again Goto finds a way to put Sanada on ropes. Sanada turns things around, lets off slowly, and also pats Goto on the shoulders. The fans applaud and the two reset again. They feel things out, knuckle lock, then move to a clinch.

They fight for control, Sanada starts pushing Goto towards a corner but Goto slips away. They feel things out, knuckle lock again, then break. They tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, Goto waistlocks, but Sanada wrenches to wristlock. Goto rolls, wrenches, wristlocks, but Sanada spins, wrenches, only for Goto to roll! Goto gets a leg to trip Sanada up, and he has a toehold. Sanada fights back with a chinlock but Goto pulls on the leg. Sanada uses his free leg to hook Goto into an ARMBAR, but Goto clasps hands! Goto moves around, pops free, then headlocks. Sanada fights up, Goto grinds the headlock, but Sanada throws body shots.

Sanada powers up and out, but Goto runs him over! The fans rally as things speed up, and Goto counters hip toss with hip toss! Goto runs and he clotheslines Sanada up and out! The fans fire up and Goto slides out after Sanada. Goto stomps Sanada, drags him up, then CLUBS him on the neck! Sanada staggers, Goto CHOPS him, then kicks him, then CLUBS him! Goto whips but Sanada stops himself from hitting railing! Goto runs in but Sanada drop toeholds him into the railing! Goto goes down in a heap, but Sanada opens the gate. Sanada brings Goto through, then to the crowd! PILEDRIVER to the bare floor!

The fans are stunned but Red Shoes reprimands. Sanada leaves Goto behind and slides into the ring. The fans rally for Goto as the ring count begins. Goto crawls at 5 of 20, finds his way to ringside at 10, but still hobbles and crawls. He stands at 17 to slide in! The fans cheer, but Sanada stomps Goto. Sanada drags Goto up, CLUBS him on the neck, then brings him back up to CLUB him again. Goto CHOPS! And CHOPS! Sanada eggs Goto on so Goto CHOPS again! Goto whips, Sanada reverses to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Sanada keeps cool and sits Goto up into a chinlock. Goto endures and the fans rally again.

Goto kicks forward, reaches out, but Sanada cranks on the hold! Goto keeps fighting, and has the ROPEBREAK! Sanada lets go cleanly, but then he stomps Goto while he’s down. Sanada then stands Goto up to CLUB him on the neck. Goto CHOPS in return! And CHOPS, and CHOPS, and has Sanada in a corner! Goto CHOPS again, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, but Sanada BOOTS first! Sanada runs, Goto follows, and Goto LARIATS Sanada down! The fans fire up and Goto rises, clutching his neck. Goto stands Sanada up to fire off forearms, then he whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, MURAMASA!

Sanada wobbles, into the SAIDO! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up while Goto grits his teeth. Goto drags Sanada up, fireman’s carries, but Sanada fights free! Sanada waistlocks, Goto throws elbows, then runs. Sanada hurdles, hurdles, and DROPKICKS! Goto tumbles out of the ring, Sanada PLANCHAS him down! The fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. The fans get louder and Sanada appreciates it. Sanada then goes back for Goto, brings him up and puts him in the ring. Sanada fireman’s carries but Goto throws elbows! Sanada turns around into Goto’s fireman’s carry, but then slips out into the dragon sleeper!

But Goto arm-drags free! Sanada kicks low, runs, but Goto follows! Sanada dodges this time, runs again, but Goto still follows! Sanada sidesteps this time, but Goto holds ropes to avoid the hurdle! Goto runs in, but Sanada fireman’s carries! T K O! Cover, TWO! Goto is still in this and the fans rally up! Sanada goes up the corner, ROUNDING BODY- NO, Sanada has to land out as Goto moves! Sanada runs in, but into the fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! They cheer on “GO-TO-O!” but the “SA-NA-DA!” chants are still there. Red Shoes checks them both, and both men slowly rise.

The two crawl towards each other, and Goto fires a forearm! Sanada shakes his head, eggs Goto on, so Goto throws another! Goto eggs Sanada on, so Sanada fires a forearm! Goto fires a forearm back, and the two stand. Sanada UPPERCUTS! Goto comes back to forearm! Sanada UPPERCUTS again, and Goto drops back to a knee! The fans rally, Goto stands again, and he forearms! UPPERCUT, forearm, repeat! Goto growls, fires a flurry of forearms, and he ROCKS Sanada! Sanada drops to his hand and knees but Goto powers up! Goto KICKS but Sanada blocks! Goto fires more forearms, then waistlocks, but Sandaa fights free!

Sanada runs, but Goto fireman’s carries! And he throws Sanada into the dragon sleeper! But Sanada turns around and suplexes, for MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! Sanada roars as he rises up, and he aims from a corner. Sanada wants Goto to get up, and Goto sits up, into the SHINING WIZARD! Sanada then dragon sleepers, for the SKULL END!! Goto endures, flails, reaches out, but he’s caught in the body scissors! Goto fights around but he’s fading! The fans rally, Goto’s hand drops! Sanada lets him go to then climb! ROUNDING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO!!

The fans fire up as Goto survives but Sanada storms around. Sanada drags Goto up, reels him in and clinches, but Goto slips free to shove Sanada away! Sanada forearms, ROLLING- HEADBUTT from Goto! The fans fire up and duel, and Goto drags Sanada up. But Sanada breaks free! Goto HEADBUTTS again! Sanada falls back down and Goto steadies himself. Goto roars, the fans are with him, and Goto sits Sanada up. Goto runs to PENALTY KICK! Shoutout to Shibata and the fans fire up more! Sanada grits his teeth as he sits back up but Goto takes aim! BUZZSAW! And then he hauls Sanada up to dragon sleeper! G T- BACKSLIDE COUNTER! TWO!!!

Sanada and Goto hurry up, Sanada dodges to O’Conner BRIDGE!! TWO?!!? Goto escapes and shocks everyone! Sanada resets, runs in, SHINING WIZARD!! The fans are thunderous as Sanada roars and drags Goto back up! Clinch and DEAD- NO, Goto slips around to ripcord and fireman’s carry! G T W!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Sanada survives but Goto is all fired up! The fans are thunderous as Goto dragon sleepers for G T R!!! Cover, GOTO WINS!!!

Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

Don’t call it a comeback, Goto’s been here for years! Sanada’s hopes of being IWGP World Heavyweight Champion again have been delayed, how long must he wait for another chance?

As for Goto, he’s going back to the New Japan Cup Finals for the first time since 2016, and his seventh overall! But before he can get the mic to speak, Yota makes his way back out here. Yota steps into the ring and he gets the mic first. Yota tells Goto, “In order to open the door to a new era, we must do this.” The fans applaud that, and Yota continues by asking Goto, “Are you ready?!” Yota drops the mic at Goto’s feet, and Goto stands up to speak. “I also have something I want to show you. As a three-time New Japan Cup Champion, I will show you my strength.” The fans like the sound of that!

The Fierce Warrior stares down with Gene Blast, a true generational showdown on the horizon! Will Goto return not juts to former glory, but finally ascend to top of NJPW? Or will Yota make it LIJ VS LIJ for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship?


My Thoughts:

A great semifinal round for this tournament, with quite a surprising main event. Sanada VS Goto was great stuff, and while I felt Sanada wasn’t winning the Cup, I didn’t think he’d be out this round. Yota VS Evil was rather creatively put together, too. I did not think the House would get so involved that at first it was a No Contest but then they restart under a ringside ban. Takagi making sure Yota won was good stuff, too, maybe we can get Takagi VS Evil for the NEVER Openweight Championship if they’re not gonna circle back to more Shota Umino VS House of Torture stuff.

Goto VS Yota is going to be great stuff, and Goto is clearly a top utility guy. He’s had so many New Japan Cup finals appearances, certainly among the most ever, but I don’t think he gets a fourth Cup win against Yota, one of the “new era Musketeers” that NJPW clearly loves. Yota VS Naito is definitely the title match for Sakura Genesis.

My Score: 8.9/10


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