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Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (7/19/21)

Fallout from MITB!

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Coverage Raw 2021

Dallas is Raw, and so is JOHN CENA?!

After his EPIC return at Money in the Bank, JOHN CENA is back and will open tonight’s Raw to explain why once again, his time is now!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Six Man Tag: Matt Riddle & The Viking Raiders VS AJ Styles, Omos & John Morrison w/ The Miz; Riddle & The Viking Raiders win.
  • Symphony of Destruction: Jaxson Ryker VS Elias; Ryker wins.
  • Natalya & Tamina VS Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax w/ Reginald; Natalya & Tamina win.
  • WWE 24/7 Championship Better to have Loved and Won: Reginald wins and is the new WWE 24/7 Champion.
  • Sheamus VS Humberto Carrillo; Sheamus wins.
  • Open Challenge: Bobby Lashley w/ MVP VS Keith Lee; Lashley wins.
  • Karrion Kross VS Jeff Hardy; Hardy wins.
  • Raw Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair VS Rhea Ripley; Ripley wins by disqualification, Charlotte retains the title.
  • Raw Women’s Championship Money in the Bank Cash-in: Charlotte Flair VS Nikki Ash; Nikki

PLAY BY PLAY

JOHN CENA is opening Raw!

Dallas fires up because they get to be part of the Cenation once more! Cena runs to the ring like he did less than 24 hours ago in Fort Worth to close out Money in the Bank! And Cena welcomes the fans still filing it! It’s rockin’ tonight! There’s a kid who is celebrating his 11th birthday and he’s here for Cena! Cena’s here for him and all of us because damn he’s missed us, and missed this. Fans welcome him back and Cena loves the confusion, the chaos and the electricity. There are still the dueling chants but everyone is loud and here!

Now, Cena has always said the biggest star in the WWE is the fans, and this is proof! This isn’t just loud tonight, tonight is DEAFENING! Tonight is electric, tonight is Monday Night Raw! Live from DALLAS, TEXAS! But Dallas, you just proved how loud you can get. Tonight is a team effort. Everyone is wondering, and yes, he will wear his Peacemaker outfit to the Suicide Squad premiere. And Cena is here to explain his meme worthy return from last night. Cena shows up, ruined Roman Reigns’ celebration. Roman was angry, Heyman was confused, Michael Cole was very excited and Pat McAfee couldn’t see Cena, but everyone had questions! Who, what, where, when, and why.

So to get to those, who brought Cena back here? That’s a lay-up! It’s the fans all around him! FINALLY, we can cheer and boo and make noise and connect with others who love this! So who brought him back? The WWE Universe did. And it was also Roman Reigns. That brings Cena to what: What is Cena here for? The WWE Universal Championship! When? In five weeks at a little thing called SummerSlam! Where? Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Why? This is where it gets interesting. Cena could be all excited for the pageantry of SummerSlam, being in the main event in a packed stadium. He could tell us about his history-making 17th world title win.

But it’s not for any of that. Cena says, “It’s because Roman Reigns is an a**hole.” WHOA~! Fans agree with, “YES HE IS! YES HE IS!” Cena says Roman needs to be knocked down a peg. “This pathetic Roman Reigns Experience has gone on long enough!” Roman “is an arrogant, self-absorbed, overhyped, overprotected, overexposed gimmick who is not as over as he says he is!” That is coming from Cena. There was a saying, “If you’re good, you’ll tell everybody. If you’re good, you will demand that they acknowledge you.” But here’s some team effort, get loud! Dallas gets loud, and Cena wants to hear everyone! But the rest of the saying is, “If you’re great, they tell you.”

And Cena’s telling us right now, he’ll be on SmackDown this Friday, and he can’t wait to see Roman there! Now, with that said, let’s get down to business! “Bro…” Matt Riddle heads out to the ring?! But Cena wants to wait a minute. Cena finally gets it! Bro… Bro! Bro! Bro…! Bro! Bro! It’s a bro off! Brooooo…! Synchronized bro! BRO! They high-five and fist bump, and then Cena gives Riddle the ring. The Bro and the Viking Raiders team back up to take on Johnny Drip Drip and the still phenomenal Raw Tag Team Champions, after the break!

Six Man Tag: Matt Riddle & The Viking Raiders VS AJ Styles, Omos & John Morrison w/ The Miz!

Raw returns as Morrison ‘n’ Miz ride in and squirt squirt! Byron Saxton gets soaked! Morrison has Mike Rome correct the introduction and officially makes him “America’s Moist Wanted!” The rest of the superstars are here and the trios sort out. Riddle starts with “Skipper” and the two go right into a tie up! Styles headlocks, Riddle powers out but Styles runs him over! Styles speeds things up, Riddle KICKS Styles, then back drops! Styles gets up and Styles has to choose who to tag. He tags Morrison to save Omos as the trump card. Morrison and Riddle circle, Morrison gets a leg but Riddle rolls through the takedown to get an omoplata! Riddle has a modified Yes Lock!

Morrison rolls, sunset flips, but Riddle rolls through !Morrison avoids the kick, kips up and ROCKS Riddle with big forearms and kicks! Riddle knees the clothesline, then palm strikes! Morrison ducks the roundhouse, shoves Riddle, Riddle goes up and over! Riddle gets Morrison for a BROSPLODER! Miz is upset, Riddle covers, TWO! Riddle tags Ivar and then Ivar tags Erik. Feed to Ivar’s knee, feed to Erik’s KNEE! Erik roars, Miz is upset at the fans for cheering, and Erik throws knees into Morrison. Erik has Morrison in the Viking Bro corner, tag to Ivar. Feed to a scoop and SLAM, then Erik scoops and SLAMS Ivar onto Morrison! Ivar covers, TWO!

Ivar pushes Morrison, gets him up, tags in Riddle, Morrison tires to kick but Riddle kicks him down! Hot tag to Styles, Riddle KICKS him in the ropes! Morrison KICKS Riddle, Erik runs in but is sent out! Ivar runs in and he’s dumped out! Morrison slingshots for a FLYING- NO! No rana! Erik gets Morrison up, he slips out, but gets a VIKING SANDWICH! Styles gets a boost from Omos to FLY!! Styles takes out everyone and Omos is fired up as Raw goes to break!

Raw returns and Omos is in, clamped onto Riddle’s shoulders! Riddle fights up but is thrown down! Omos stomps Riddle to keep him from his corner, and then drags him back up. Omos whips Riddle to a corner, runs in and back elbows! Riddle falls down, Omos looms over him, and then Omos clamps onto Riddle’s head. Omos stands Riddle up, tags in Styles, and the tag champs hand off Riddle, only for Riddle to power Styles to the corner! Styles digs in his heels, and snap suplexes Riddle! Cover, TWO! Styles sits Riddle up, brings him over and tags in Morrison. Fans rally for the Bro but Morrison fires off strikes. Morrison kicks but Riddle blocks to KICK back!

Both men fall over, Morrison blocks Riddle from his corner with a CHANCERY! Riddle endures, fights up, fans rally up more, but Morrison makes it a wrench across his shoulder. Riddle spins out to FINAL FLASH! Styles tags in to waistlock, and back suplex! Riddle lands on his feet, leaps over, hot tag to Erik! Erik dodges Styles, gets him up but Styles fights free. Styles fires off the Phenomenal Blitz! Erik blocks to give a VIKING BLITZ! Erik whips corner to corner, Styles goes up but Erik stays away to SHOTGUN KNEE Styles down! Fans fire up as Erik gets Styles up to a snap suplex. Styles knees free, but runs into Act Ten Mao! But he PELES right back!

Both men are down and fans fire up again! Hot tags to Ivar and Morrison! Morrison runs in but Ivar back drops him. Morrison lands on his feet?! But Ivar rolls over Morrison’s back to kick and whip. Morrison slides under, kicks back, whips but Ivar reverses. Ivar ducks the Flying Chuck, cartwheels and LARIATS Morrison down! Fans fire up with the War Beard and Ivar runs corner to corner. Morrison gets a BRONCO BUSTER! Ivar goes up the corner, and way up top! VIKING MOONSAULT FLOPS! SHINING WIZARD from Morrison! Morrison goes up, STARSHIP PAIN FLOPS! Both men are down and Omos is there! Riddle shuts Miz up and SQUIRT SQUIRT on Omos!

Omos looks over, and thinks MIZ did it! Miz says it was Riddle but Omos isn’t listening. Morrison hurries out to defend Miz but Omos TOSSES Morrison back into the ring! Ivar stalks up behind Morrison as Styles calms Omos down, and Ivar tags Erik! The Viking Raiders get Morrison with THOR’S HAMMER!! Cover, the Viking Bros win!!

Winners: Matt Riddle & The Viking Raiders, by pinfall

They didn’t win at MITB but they won tonight! Will this help Erik & Ivar get back towards those Raw Tag Team Championships? What about RKBRO with Riddle here representing for Randy?

 

Jaxson Ryker stares into your soul.

Replay footage shows Ryker putting the strap to Elias again and again, and now Ryker smirks. “Wait to you see what I do to Elias tonight.” What more can Ryker do to the Drifter when he already whipped him and whooped him?!

 

Ladies and gentlemen: Elias.

The phone lights come out as The Drifter introduces himself and plays a somber tune. “There is a truth that will last for forever.” And that is a truth we all know deep down: WWE stands for #WalkWithElias! Fans do say it, and Elias is glad they remembered. But Ryker interrupts via titantron! Ryker interrupts just like everyone else has. Everyone’s tired of hearing Elias introduce himself over and over again. That’s why after tonight, we’ll never hear the words, “Hello, I am Elias,” ever again! Quite the ultimatum, but will Ryker make sure this is Elias’ swan song?

Symphony of Destruction: Jaxson Ryker VS Elias!

The bell rings, Elias runs at Ryker but gets CLOBBERED! Ryker fires off hands, Elias hits back but Ryker bumps him off buckles. Ryker whips Elias to ropes, Elias kicks back! Elias throws Ryker out hard, then catches his breath. Ryker comes back as Elias hops out, and clubs him from behind! Then uses a keyboard piano to SMACK Elias on the back! And then he throws Elias down on the keyboard! Cover, TWO! Ryker gets a cymbal stand but Elias kicks him first. Elias CLUBS Ryker, JAMS Ryker with the stand, then CLUBS him in the side with it! Elias tosses the cymbal stand aside but Ryker fires off hands before he bowls him into the drum set!

“C’mon, drummer boy!” Well, Elias is a guitarist but Ryker uses him to beat the bass drum! Speaking of the guitar, Ryker has one! Ryker climbs up the apron to then LEAP, into a Sympho-KNEE! Cover, TWO! Elias gets the keyboard to SMACK it off Ryker’s back! Elias runs but Ryker sends him into the GONG~~! Ryker snarls as Elias slowly gets up, and Ryker looks at what else there is to use. Ryker gets a guitar, jams Elias in the ribs with it, and SMASHES it on Elias’ back! Elias writhes from that literal smash hit and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns and Elias has Ryker on the apron. Ryker holds off the lift and Elias clubs away. Elias tries to get Ryker up again but Ryker shoulders free. Ryker kicks Elias down, chases Elias into the ring, but Elias uses a trumpet into a rib shot! Elias whips and CLOBBERS Ryker with an elbow! “Who wants to walk with Elias?” Fans boo so that’s a no. Elias gets Ryker up to CHOP and throw body shots. Ryker hits back, they brawl, but Elias shoves Ryker out hard! Elias goes out after Ryker towards the grand piano. Elias kicks Ryker down, goes to bump him off the post but Ryker blocks and POSTS Elias instead! Ryker stalks Elias, and JAMS him with another guitar! And again!

Elias throws the drums at Ryker! Ryker comes back to club Elias down! Ryker gets the high hat to SMACK Elias on the back with it! Ryker brings Elias back over to the piano, but Elias blocks the bump off the cover! Elias SMACKS Ryker off the cover instead! And then CHOPS him! Elias runs but into a SPINEBUSTER on the piano! Cover on top of the piano, TWO!! Elias survives but Ryker climbs up onto the piano with him. Ryker stands Elias up and throws hands. Elias hits back, they brawl but Elias CHOPS! Ryker CHOPS back! Elias CHOPS, Ryker throws hands, but Elias gives those, back! Elias gets the edge, fireman’s carries, but Ryker fights free!

Ryker shoves Elias down and Elias hits barriers! Elias staggers back over, Ryker drags him up but Elias trips Ryker! Ryker hits hard on the piano cover, Elias gets a cover, TWO! Ryker crawls away, Elias gets him up. Elias gets Ryker up, and throws him over the steel steps! Elias kicks Ryker while he’s down, and gets the cello! Fans fire up as Elias references the days of him and the Monster Among Men, Elias jams Ryker, and then hits a SUPER SMASH HIT! Cover, TWO!?! Ryker survives and no one can believe it! Elias drags Ryker up, stands him against the post, and throws forearms. Fans want tables but Elias gives Ryker elbow after elbow instead!

Elias roars, fans fire up, and Elias gets Ryker back into the ring. Elias storms up the steps, gets up top, but Ryker hits him first! Ryker throws hands, Elias goes to the apron, and Ryker climbs. Elias shoves Ryker down, Elias climbs, but Ryker ROCKS him with rights! Ryker climbs and sees the tables from a moment ago! The fans fire up as Ryker throws more hands on Elias! Elias is busted open in the forehead as Ryker goes to the apron. Ryker climbs the corner, gets Elias up the other end, SUPERPLEX through the tables!! Dallas is thunderous as Ryker covers, Ryker wins!

Winner: Jaxson Ryker, by pinfall

Ryker may not be a musician but he knows how to please the crowd! Ryker wrecks Elias, will this finally help him move on from The Drifter?

 

Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville talk with Mansoor.

He has a great idea and the WWE Universe will surely like it. Mustafa Ali then walks in and Sonya brings it up their request to be a tag team. Wait, what? Ali didn’t make that request! What is Mansoor up to? Mansoor says he may not have been a fan of Mustafa’s advice and lessons, but it was more how he was going about it. Because in the end, Mustafa was right each and every time. So if he wants to teach Mansoor more, then do it alongside him. So wait, are they still having a tag match or not? Mustafa says it is just this one time, and Mansoor better not screw it up! Well then, can the Star of Saudi Arabia succeed by being guided by the Beacon?

Mustafa leaves, Sheamus walks in and tells Mansoor to leave, so Mansoor does. Sheamus talks with management about he has to face Humberto Carrillo again tonight, even those Sheamus won last week with a broken nose? Is Sheamus really proud of that? He attacked Carrillo backstage before the match! Oh is Pearce some kind of fortune teller? How does Pearce know Carrillo didn’t start it? Sonya stops the arguing here to say that the only fair way to do this is to give Carrillo a real rematch with Sheamus, to earn another shot at the US Championship.

Sheamus says this is like talking to a brick wall! But if this is what they want, then this is what they get. Don’t be surprised if Carrillo leaves needing his own steel face mask! Will the Fella finally fight Carrillo fair and square tonight?

 

Charlotte Flair is here!

And she is once again Raw Women’s Champion, making her a ELEVEN TIME (13 if you include her two NXT title reigns) Women’s Champion in the WWE! The fans cheer the Queen as she gets the mic, and she says, “This. Feels. Good!” She is so proud to be standing here as NEW Raw Women’s Champion! But the last year and half hasn’t been kind to us. From adversity comes opportunity, and Charlotte is THE Opportunity. She is the opportunity that all of us fans have been begging for. That snake, Rhea Ripley, is an opportunist. The difference is, Charlotte doesn’t need to take a page out of anyone’s book, she wrote the book!

And Rhea can do as many of Charlotte’s moves as she wants, but she’ll never measure up to the original! Charlotte doesn’t need to tell us, we can just look up “Charlotte Flair” online! What an outpouring of congratulations- The fans chant “Becky! Becky!” Yes, yes, yes, Becky is home breastfeeding her baby, while Charlotte is dominating the division! So as she was saying, there were so many congratulatory messages when she won the title last night at MITB! But here’s the important part. This makes Charlotte the one-time, and final, Diva’s champion, the five-time SmackDown women’s Champion, and now a five-time Raw Women’s Champion! She’s the ONLY 11 time women’s champion in the WWE!

Rhea had her chance and failed. Charlotte beat Rhea last night and could beat her any night of the week. Well here comes Rhea Ripley! And Charlotte isn’t happy about it. Rhea walks her way to the ring, not in any better mood. Rhea gets a mic, joins Charlotte in the ring, and Charlotte rubs it in that she has Rhea’s title. But at least Rhea has fans. If Charlotte thinks she can beat Rhea any night of the week, then why not tonight? Rhea, you’re in no condition to challenge for the title after the damage to her leg. And Charlotte knows because the camera got footage of Rhea crying like a little girl last night. So for Rhea’s sake, Charlotte declines.

But management comes out to say hold on! Sonya congratulates Charlotte on behalf of herself and Pearce on Charlotte’s newest reign. Truly an incredible accomplishment. However, didn’t she just say she could beat Rhea any night of the week? And if Rhea’s up for it, then Charlotte should be, too! So Pearce makes it official! So tonight, in Dallas, Charlotte VS Rhea in a rematch for the title! Charlotte kicks her shoe off at Rhea and then kicks the bad leg! The Queen gets out of the ring to go get ready for this last minute match, will 11 feel like 13 and be unlucky for the new champ?

 

Alexa Bliss speaks.

Hello~! She can’t wait for us to play with her tonight. And she has a very, very special guest tonight! See you soon~!

 

Natalya & Tamina VS Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax w/ Reginald!

The Queen of Harts and Daughter of Superfly don’t have to worry about #SexyMuscleFriends anymore, but they might have to be careful with the agitated Queen of Spades and Irresistible Force. Will the former champs get one over on the current champs to get back in the title hunt?

Raw returns and this match is already going as Shayna has Natty in a heel hook! Natty endures, kicks at Shayna and gets free. Shayna CLUBS Natty, whips her hard to a corner, and Natty bounces off buckles! Shayna runs in but Natty dodges and the knee hits buckles! Natty shoves Shayna out of the ring, hurries over, but Nia trips Tamina and ROCKS her with a right! Then SAMOAN DROPS her into barriers! Nia looms over Tamina, Shayna KNEES Natty down! Cover, TWO! Shayna hurries to tag in Nia, she gets Natty up and shoves her to the corner. Nia runs in to SPALSH, then tags Shayna. Nia scoops, Shayna runs, KNEE SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO!

Shayna keeps Natty from her corner as she twists the wrist and stands on Natty’s head. Natty endures, Shayna locks up the arm, and Shayna lets her hair down for the STOMP!! Natty writhes and clutches her arm while Shayna soaks up the heat. Tag to Nia, she taunts Natty, then gets her up by her hair. Nia talks more trash, whips Natty to a corner, then swaggers before she runs in. Natty dodges and Nia POSTS herself! Natty reels Nia in for lariat after lariat, then the DISCUS! Cover, TWO! Nia still has power and she stalks Natty. Nia gets Natty up, headbutts her down, then tags Shayna. Shayna taunts Natty but fans rally up.

Shayna stands Natty up but Natty waistlocks! Tamina tags in as Natty GERMAN SUPLEXES Shayna! Tamina aims as Shayna flounders, but Nia gets in to take the SUPERKICK! Shayna rolls Tamina, TWO! Shayna KICKS away on Tamina’s leg but Tamina elbows back! Tamina scoops and SLAMS Shayna, then heads to a corner. Fans fire up but Reggie distracts Tamina! Shayna GAMANGIRIS Tamina! Natty trips Reggie! Shayna BOOTS Natty, Tamina aims at Shayna! SUPERKICK! Cover, Natty & Tamina win!

Winners: Tamina & Natalya, by pinfall

The champions hold off would-be challengers! Will they now be able to focus on their challengers from SmackDown, Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox?

As for the former champions, Shayna says she is getting sick of this! Nia wants her to calm down but Shayna says they were unstoppable before Reggie! This is Reggie’s fault! Nia hugs Reggie, she says it’s okay. And then she HEADBUTTS Reggie down?! Nia DOES blame Reggie! Nia and Shayna leave Reggie behind, and again the sommelier is solo. But wait, the 24/7 Champion and contenders are running into the arena? Reggie sees his golden lining tot his! Akira Tozawa laughs at the others for falling over themselves, but he spots Reggie. Reggie dodges Tozawa, then TORNILLO CROSSBODIES?! And SOMERSAULT SENTONS! Cover, Reggie wins?!?!

Winner: Reginald, by pinfall (NEW WWE 24/7 Champion)

Reggie’s got gold! But he has to run, too! Drew Gulak, Akira Tozawa, R-Truth and even Lucha House Party are after him! Reggie hides behind commentary, then heads for steel steps. Reggie uses those to LEAP over Gulak! And then again! Reggie grins but he has a golden target on his back now. Reggie handsprings up the ramp, will his fancy moves keep him golden through the rest of the night?

 

Tick-tock, Monday Night Raw.

Though still NXT Champion, KARRION KROSS, will make his debut on the red brand later tonight! Who will feel the hands of time take away their last moments?

 

Sheamus VS Humberto Carrillo!

The Celtic Warrior used a backstage confrontation to keep Carrillo from having a fair fight last week. But now, whether he likes it or not, he has to give Carrillo a fighting chance! Will Carrillo prove himself worthy of another shot with a win here tonight?

Raw returns and Carrillo makes his entrance. The bell rings and Carrillo dodges Sheamus to fire off in a corner! Sheamus shoves him away, boots him down, but Carrillo rolls, dodges and trips Sheamus up. Carrillo fires off hands and stomps but Sheamus bails out. Sheamus gets back up but Carrillo knocks him down! Sheamus is furious but Carrillo WRECKS him with a dropkick! And then PLANCHAS! Direct hit and down goes Sheamus! Carrillo CLUBS away on Sheamus’ back, chases him into the ring, but Sheamus kicks him down! Sheamus seethes and stands Carrillo up to CLUB him back.

Sheamus stands Carrillo up, suplexes but Carrillo holds ropes to resist. Sheamus CLUBS Carrillo but Carrillo fights back! Carrillo HOTSHOTS Sheamus away! Carrillo climbs up, leaps, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, ONE?! Sheamus is tough but Carrillo is furious as he fires off on him! Sheamus gets to a corner, the ref counts as Carrillo keeps after him, and Carrillo lets off at 4. We see Damian Priest watching closely backstage, perhaps supporting Carrillo as he did last week. Carrillo KICKS Sheamus in the corner, then again! Carrillo keeps on Sheamus with clubbing forearms, then brings him around to go after the mask! Sheamus fights up and elbows Carrillo away!

Sheamus runs in but Carrillo dumps him out! Carrillo builds speed to DIVE into a double ax handle! Sheamus drags Carrillo out to APRON POWERBOMB! Carrillo writhes and flops to the floor and Sheamus asks, “Are you not entertained?!” Fans are torn as Raw goes to break.

Raw returns as Sheamus grinds Carrillo down with an armlock and chinbar. Carrillo endures, fights up and throws body shots, then whips. Sheamus reverses and gets Carrillo for an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Sheamus turns Carrillo over, fish hooks his face for the Dublin Smile, and the ref counts. Sheamus lets off at 4 as Priest still watches backstage. Sheamus gets Carrillo on the apron, against the ropes, and CLUBS him for the Beats of the Bodhrain. Fans count so Sheamus stops and CLUBS Carrillo in the back. Fans cheer and jeer and Sheamus soaks it all in. Sheamus gets Carrillo around for another Dublin Smile! The ref reprimands, counts, but Carrillo BITES Sheamus!

Carrillo fights up, throws elbows and arm-drags free! Carrillo KICKS away on Sheamus’ legs, but Sheamus ducks a roundhouse, only to get a GAMANGIRI! Carrillo runs but into a BOOT from the corner! Sheamus goes up, shakes out the bit finger, but Carrillo GAMANGIRIS again! Carrillo goes up to SUPER STEINER Sheamus down! Sheamus gets up but Carrillo dropkicks him out! Carrillo builds speed to DIVE! Sheamus is sent over the announce desk! Carrillo hurries to get Sheamus into the ring at 5 of 10, then he climbs a corner. Carrillo leaps to missile dropkick Sheamus down! Cover, TWO!! Sheamus survives and shocks Carrillo!

Carrillo grits his teeth as he gets up. Fans rally as Carrillo KICKS and KICKS and KICKS Sheamus! Sheamus punches but Carrillo counter punches, only to hit the mask! Sheamus then HEADBUTTS, making sure the mask hits Carrillo! Sheamus runs and BROGUES Carrillo down!! Cover, Sheamus wins!

Winner: Sheamus, by pinfall

The Celtic Warrior got quite the fight from Carrillo, and there won’t be a title match in Carrillo’s immediate future. But will Sheamus have an Archer of Infamy aiming at him from now on?

 

Open Champion: Bobby Lashley w/ MVP VS ???

From WWE United States Champion to WWE World Champion, the All Mighty is here! Lashley showed his power and his brutality last night, and now he wants to show it again just 24 hours later! But after what we saw Lashley do to Kofi Kingston, will anyone even want to accept this open challenge? We’ll see, after the break!

Raw returns and Lashley has a mic. “Last night, I did all the talking I needed to do in this ring when I destroyed Kofi Kingston.” Fans boo that, but Lashley says, “No more talking. P, tell ’em what’s up.” MVP takes the mic to say, “Aren’t you all so lucky to be here live in attendance tonight to bear witness to the All Mighty WWE Champion, Bobby Lashley?” Fans are mixed on that but MVP says this is Dallas, right? Home of the Cowboys! So he gets why they’re reacting this way, it has been DECADES since they’ve seen a champion! But let’s address what happened last night: All Mighty Lashley made a statement at Kofi’s expense.

Over the past several weeks, Kofi’s said some very harsh and disrespectful things to these two. Kofi said Lashley lost his edge, that the women, the drinks and the good life had made Lashley soft. Lashley and MVP looked in the mirror, had self-reflection, and MVP reluctantly admits that Kofi was right. Kofi was right that Lashley lost his edge. MVP apologizes for bringing that about. But what Kofi didn’t realize was that his word slit an inferno inside Lashley unlike we’d ever seen! And from now on, anyone that goes against Lashley for the WWE Champion faces utter annihilation and decimation!

MVP almost feels sorry now, because the window of opportunity where the champ had some semblance of vulnerability has closed forever! NO ONE will take this title from Lashley! No more ladies, no more champagne, no more fun and games. As the champ said, no more BS. The Hurt Business is back to business. All of you here live get to lay witness to the ultimate, most dominant WWE Champion in the history of the WWE, all for the price of admission. So then who will it be that accepts this All Mighty Open Challenge? Lashley waits, and out comes… KEITH LEE!! The Limitless One is finally back!! Fans fire up for Keith’s return as he goes right to the ring!

Lee and Lashley stare down, and it is clear that Lee wants what Lashley has! Can Lee earn himself a title opportunity with a shocker of a return match tonight, in his home state of Texas?!

Raw returns and the bell rings. Fans fire up already as the two stare down. Lashley is moving around a lot but Lee just stands like a statue. They tie up, Lashley powers Lee but Lee turns it around. They go around again, then break. Lee smiles as he and Lashley circle again. Lee avoids Lashley’s punches but they tie up again. Lee can’t hold Lashley back forever and Lashley puts him in a corner. The ref counts, Lashley lets off but then sucker punches Lee! Lashley throws more haymakers, then forearms. Lee picks Lashley right up to RAM him into a corner! Fans fire up as Lee hauls Lashley up again to carry him to the other corner!

Lee backs off, runs back in, but Lashley elbows him away! Lashley runs but Lee dodges, and hurdles?! And then things keep going, BODY CHECK! Fans fire up with Lee as he watches Lashley. MVP coaches Lashley, Lee gets him up to pop-up, but Lashley fights free! Lashley throws hands, Lee shoves him to POP-UP!! Lashley fights the bomb off again, clinches, COMPLETE SHOT! Lashley snarls but fans boo as he stalks up behind Lee. MVP is confident as Lashley clubs and CHOKES Lee! The ref counts, Lashley lets off and MVP talks trash. Lashley gets Lee up, bumps him off buckles and throws hands! The ref counts, Lashley lets off at 4 and runs corner to corner to RAM Lee!

Lashley lets Lee stagger about, and then he runs in at the ropes, to clothesline Lee out of the ring! Lee lands on his feet but staggers some more. Fans rally up for Lee but Lashley goes out and stalks him around the way. Lashley tries a fireman’s carry but Lee is so big! Lashley somehow gets Lee up but Lee slips off to POST Lashley first! And then SPALSHES him against the post! The ref counts, we’re at 7 of 10! Lee puts Lashley in, but MVP swipes at him? Lee is distracted, Lashley DECKS Lee! The ring count begins again, Lashley goes back out, and builds up speed! Lashley runs in to SPEAR Lee down!! Lashley hushes the crowd but MVP talks trash.

Lashley puts Lee in, rains down rights, then storms around the ring as fans boo. Lashley gives Lee his last rites, waits for him to stand up, and goes for the Hurt Lock! But Lee’s so big and strong, Lashley’s struggling to even lock hands! Lee arm-drags Lashley away! Fans fire up as Lee runs, but into a MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER!?! Lashley seethes, runs in, and SPEARS again! Cover, Lashley wins!!

Winner: Bobby Lashley, by pinfall

A valiant effort from the returning Keith Lee, but the All Mighty refuses to bask in anyone else’s glory! With this level of dominance, does anyone stand a chance against- WAIT!! Is that GOLDBERG?!? Lashley is in shock and the fans go nuts as Goldberg steps through the pyro! Goldberg gets in the ring and stares Lashley down. And then he shouts, “I’M NEXT!!” MVP says that’s not tonight, though, and he keeps Lashley from starting something with the legend here tonight. Lashley is chomping at the bit, but will he get to take a bite out of the icon?

 

MVP and Lashley talk backstage.

MVP keeps Lashley calm and reminds him of their mission, “back to business.” But Kevin Patrick asks about a response to the apparent challenge from Goldberg. MVP answers by saying what Goldberg just did, that disrespect, won’t even be dignified with a response! The Hurt Business heads out, but will Goldberg find a way to get his match?

 

Jinder Mahal, Veer & Shanky are in the ring.

The Modern Day Maharaja has the mic to say, “Today, yes, it’s my birthday!” And it’s better than that! Because Drew McIntyre is NOT Mr. Money in the Bank! McIntyre took away opportunities that were Mahal’s so Mahal took them back from McIntyre. First, the match with McIntyre a few weeks ago, where Team Mahal mugged McIntyre. And Mahal will admit, McIntyre is smart. Mahal thought he had the precious family sword, and broke it last week to try and anger McIntyre. But McIntyre revealed that what they grabbed was a decoy! The real deal with with McIntyre. And that was the same for Mahal’s motorcycle! McIntyre bashed it to pieces and Mahal could only watch!

But Mahal says, “There he is! Your Scottish Warrior, your knight in shining armor, your beacon in the dark of the ThunderDome Era.” But when it comes to karma, it always comes around. McIntyre was all alone with the ladder and briefcase when Mahal, Veer & Shanky attacked again! They made sure McIntyre wasn’t even in the match anymore after that by dragging him away from ringside! Mahal says he can buy another motorcycle, or even ten! But McIntyre will never have another title opportunity as long as Lashley is champion! So before moving on with the celebration, please join them as Shanky sings happy birthday for Mahal.

Shanky is given the mic to sing, and he’s a bit sour. But wait, who is coming in from the crowd?! It’s MCINTYRE, with a chair! He SMACKS the birthday boy down, and then goes after Veer! Shanky wants McIntyre to take it easy, this is supposed to be a celebration! Veer gets Mahal away as McIntyre stares down Shanky. McIntyre smiles, then jams and SMACKS Shanky down! Shanky gets the chair shots meant for Mahal! The chair is bent and broken, much like the motorcycle was. Fans still want “One More Time!” but McIntyre tosses the chair and then throws off his shirt. McIntyre goes out to get a new chair!

McIntyre gets in, Shanky crawls but can’t get away! McIntyre brings Shanky back to center for MORE chair shots! Mahal and Veer stay away, too afraid to stop this! McIntyre hits Shanky ten times, 15 times… TWENTY! McIntyre throws away another bent chair, but he is FAR from through with Mahal! When and where will the Modern Day Maharaja have to meet McIntyre in the ring? Will Shanky and Veer choose to stay away?

 

Karrion Kross VS Jeff Hardy!

Doomsday has come to Raw! The NXT Champion is live in Dallas, but will he be able to crush the Charismatic Enigma? Or will there be a Twist of Fate in Kross’ near future?

Raw returns and Hardy makes his entrance. Fans fire up for the old theme and the pyro returning! The bell rings, Kross and Hardy tie up and Hardy headlocks. Kross powers out and DECKS Hardy with a forearm! Kross stomps Hardy, gets him up and gets him for an EXPLODER! Hardy gets up but Kross is on him with another EXPLODER! Kross grins as he stomps Hardy, and he shouts, “I OWN YOU!” Another EXPLODER! Kross dares Hardy to get up, then he runs corner to corner but Hardy moves! Kross POSTS himself, and Hardy kicks low, TWIST OF FATE! Hardy hurries up top and fans are thunderous! Hardy SWANTON FLOPS as Kross moves!

Kross winds up the hands of time, “TICK TOCK!” But Hardy gets around to waistlock! Kross backs Hardy into a corner, fires off elbows, and then climbs up. But Hardy trips him, has the cover, and the ropes! HARDY WINS?!

Winner: Jeff Hardy, by pinfall

The NXT Champion can’t believe it! Hardy beat him and ruined his Raw debut?! Hardy pinned the NXT Champion, does that mean Hardy could become NXT Champion?

Kevin Patrick interviews Kross in the ring about that shocking loss. “Jeff Hardy just made the biggest mistake of his life! Because in the end, everyone will fall… and pray!” Kross is putting Hardy on the clock, when and where will it strike midnight for the Charismatic Enigma?

 

Alexa Bliss welcomes us to the Playground.

She isn’t going to lie, though: She’s a little sore today. But that’s okay, because she has her very, very special guest! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, fresh outta timeout, welcome back LILLY! The doll sits in the other swing and Alexa chants for her. Now, last time Lilly was here, things got outta hand. But Lilly’s promised to be on her best behavior. Is this a joke? Eva Marie and “Doudrop” Piper Niven walk in. Eva thought “Doudrop” throwing Alexa around taught her a lesson to not treat them like an afterthought. But here we are again! Alexa is ignoring the star and face of the WWE to talk to “some creepy, gross little doll.”

Alexa finally looks over and says hi to “Doudrop.” Eva doesn’t want Piper saying hi back. Alexa finally notices Eva and says, “Yay…” Well, Eva, since you insist on coming to the playground, remember that it is a bad idea to say anything mean about Lilly. Mean? Like if Eva says she’ll have “Doudrop” throw Lilly in the trash? Hahahahahahaha. For their sake, they better not. Plus, Alexa doesn’t want to put Lilly back in timeout so soon. But here’s an idea! Let’s put “Doudrop” in timeout for just a moment. Then we can all see what Eva Marie, “the most important star in WWE,” can do without anyone’s help. AKA by herself.

Does Alexa know what Eva’s capable of on her own? No, no one does. Well, Eva won’t waste any more of her time on Alexa, or Lilly. “There’s no room in the #EvaLution” for them. She and “Doudrop” leave again, but then Eva trips over Lilly’s swing! Oh, was that there before? Oops. Eva gets up in a huff and storms off. Alexa laughs and commends Lilly for that one. Will Eva get what she wants, or what she deserves, on the road to SummerSlam?

 

BREAKING NEWS!

With the big win earlier tonight, we get to run it back from MITB! The Viking Raiders get another title match with Styles & Omos! Will Erik & Ivar make the most of this second chance next week? Speaking of…

 

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

The Queen took the title from the Nightmare last night, but 24 hours later, Rhea’s back for more! Will Rhea learn that she can’t copy Charlotte to be better than her? Or will not even her own brand of brutality be enough to bring the belt back?

The introductions are made, the title is raised, and the shoe is on the other foot here in Dallas!

Raw returns and this match finally begins. Fans fire up as Charlotte rushes Rhea but Rhea gets around to SLAM her down! Rhea rains down rights, Charlotte shoves her away and kicks her low. Charlotte whips Rhea to a corner, runs in but Rhea dodges. Charlotte hits buckles, Rhea SPALSHES then RAMS Charlotte! And again! Rhea digs her shoulder in, the ref counts, and Rhea lets off. Rhea CLUBS Charlotte, whips her to a corner, but Charlotte tumbles up and out. Charlotte blocks a punch to give a punch, then shoulders in. Charlotte slingshots to arm-drag Rhea down to an armlock! Rhea endures, fights up, and throws haymakers!

Charlotte hits back, Rhea fires forearms but Charlotte knees low! Charlotte whips Rhea back to a corner but Rhea rebounds to dropkick her down! Cover, TWO! Rhea clamps on with a cravat, cranks the neck wrench, but Charlotte endures and fights up. Rhea throws in knees, Charlotte grabs hair, but Rhea throws body shots. Rhea goes to buckle bump but Charlotte blocks and hits back! Charlotte gives Rhea the buckle bump, then CHOPS! Charlotte bumps Rhea off more buckles, reels her in and suplexes, but Rhea makes it a cradle! TWO, and Rhea gets up to kick low! Rhea reels Charlotte in, suplexes, but Charlotte slips out! Charlotte shoves Rhea, Rhea gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX!

Fans fire up as Rhea gets up. Rhea runs and basement dropkicks hard! Cover, TWO! Charlotte sits up but Rhea is on her. Rhea brings Charlotte up to whip her to a corner. Charlotte reverses, Rhea hits buckles hard, and Charlotte clotheslines her out of the ring! Rhea hobbles up, the leg coming into play. Charlotte BOOTS Rhea off the apron, Rhea lands on her feet but she again jams the leg! Charlotte goes out, runs in around the way, and CHOP BLOCKS at high speed! Rhea is down and writhing, but Charlotte gets her up fast! Charlotte puts Rhea in the ring, wants after the leg but the ref has her hold off. Rhea gets to a corner, Charlotte is shark with blood in the water, but Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Charlotte is after Rhea in a corner. Charlotte has the bad leg on ropes and pulls but the ref counts. Charlotte stops, to ROCK Rhea with a forearm! Charlotte puts the leg on ropes to drop a knee on the knee! Rhea writhes, Charlotte grabs the leg and puts it on ropes again. Charlotte goes to the apron to wrap the leg around ropes and pull! The ref counts, Charlotte lets off but she stomps away on the leg! Charlotte gets back in, drags Rhea around again, and then steps through, but Rhea boots her into buckles! Charlotte staggers, Rhea gets her for another GERMAN SUPLEX! Rhea grits her teeth, the bad leg was affected by that one!

The fans rally for Rhea but Charlotte is after her with forearms. Rhea hits back, Charlotte CLUBS her but Rhea ROCKS Charlotte! The two brawl back and forth, Charlotte gets the edge but Rhea spins her into a LARIAT! And then another! And then a ripcord to HOOK KICK! And NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover on one leg, TWO!! Rhea couldn’t hold that because of the damage Charlotte’s done, but she’s still after Charlotte. Charlotte is in a corner and she suckers Rhea into a BACKBREAKER! And then a BOOT! Charlotte drags Rhea around, climbs up the corner, and MOONSAULTS onto knees! Rhea used the bad leg to save herself!

Rhea gets up, gets the bad leg moving, and she grins as she steps through! She’s stealing the Figure Four!! Fans go nuts as Charlotte endures her own family’s favorite hold! Charlotte turns it over to put pressure back on Rhea! Rhea crawls to the ropebreak! Charlotte slips free to stomp away on Rhea! Charlotte gets Rhea up, CHOPS and HCOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Rhea ends up in a corner but the CHOPS keep coming! The ref counts, Charlotte lets off and Rhea BOOTS her, then HOOK KICKS! Pump handle, RIPTIDE!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Charlotte survives by a game of inches! Rhea is furious but she focuses, only to see Charlotte is running away with the belt!

The fans boo as the Queen wants to use Champion’s Advantage, but Rhea chases after her! So Charlotte CLOBBERS her with the belt!!

Winner: Rhea Ripley, by disqualification; Charlotte Flair is still Raw Women’s Champion

Rhea’s anger cost her against the savvy of Charlotte! But Rhea SUPERKICKS Charlotte down! They brawl outside, Charlotte RAMS Rhea into barriers! Rhea POSTS Charlotte, pump handles, and RIPOTIDES to the floor! And here comes NIKKI CROSS! Er, Nikki Ash! She runs in with her Ms. MITB briefcase!! 24 hours later, is she cashing in?! SHE IS!! Rhea is fine with this as the announcement is made!!

Raw Women’s Championship Money in the Bank Cash-in: Charlotte Flair VS Nikki Ash!

Nikki climbs, the bell rings, and she wants Charlotte to get up! SUPERHERO CROSSBODY!! Cover, NIKKI WINS!!!

Winner: Nikki Ash, by pinfall (NEW Raw Women’s Champion)

Almost a Superhero, DEFINITELY a champion!! Nikki’s fighting spirit wins out and she is now on top of the world!


My Thoughts:

What a great episode for this return to live fans and to follow an awesome MITB PPV. There were things that brought it down, though, but mostly because of executive decisions. We were given such a great moment with Keith Lee returning to accept Bobby Lashley’s Open Challenge, and it was a great match, but I’m a little disappointed Lee lost after being gone for so long. But at the same time, Lashley is being built into a beast, in what I am still hoping will be the eventual Lashley VS Roman Survivor Series match of top title VS top title. However, there is the roadblock in the middle and it’s in the shape of Goldberg.

I personally didn’t want Goldberg to come back, I’m pretty sure a lot of other fans out there didn’t, but it’s happening. I suppose this is to build Lashley up even more, adding to how powerful he is, but they could’ve done that with an extended program with Keith Lee. Lee is better than Goldberg, that’s not even an opinion. Lashley VS Lee would’ve added must-see value to an already awesome SummerSlam card given we’re getting Cena VS Roman and Edge VS Rollins, but whatever. Speaking of Cena, he had a great opening moment to call Roman out, though I am reminded of his promo going into Firefly Funhouse Match with Bray in how he called Roman all those things. And he had a great little bit with Riddle, it seems he’s just as amused by the Bro as Randy Orton.

Another odd choice was having Karrion Kross appear on Raw even though he’s still NXT Champion. I suppose if anyone was going to get a Kevin Owens style double duty contract, it’d be Kross. I’m torn on him losing to Hardy, but at least it was surprising. It also gives Kross reason to keep coming back to Raw, and could even give Hardy a reason to go NXT. I would love seeing Hardy in NXT for a spell, just because there are many unique match-ups he could have. This could go any which way, but it is something that can help get Kross some exposure on the more mainstream RawDown stage so that he can get a running start after losing the NXT title and being on Raw full time.

Ryker VS Elias in a Symphony of Destruction match was another interesting move, but I think this one was for the better. It was hard to tell if the fans even cared about Ryker, but they at least got behind him destroying Elias and destroyed various instruments. I do like there were all these callbacks to the other Symphony of Destruction matches, and it’s fitting of the story that Ryker win here. If nothing else, being the new hard-hitting hardcore guy can help get fans behind Ryker.

Things with Reginald were a bit mixed. On one hand, Vince sending Mandy Rose away and ending #SexyMuscleFriends hurts the Women’s Tag Division, because we had to go back to Natty & Tamina VS Shayna & Nia. But on the other, this was finally the time Reggie gets kicked to the curb so that Shayna & Nia can be more serious. And then, in quite the twist, Reggie gets in on the 24/7 Championship and takes it from Tozawa! Reggie’s acrobatics can definitely help him make for exciting escapes, so I hope we get more title segments with him.

The Six Man opener was great stuff, and it was clever for Riddle to frame Miz for squirting Omos. The Heel team falling apart for the Faces to win works out, and we’re getting a rematch from MITB’s Raw Tag title match mostly for ratings. Omos & Styles surely will retain again so that RKBRO can go after them for SummerSlam, and then we’ll see where things go for Orton and Riddle. Sheamus and Carrillo had a very good match, but Priest watching backstage is another indicator that he’s up next. And we got a great attack from McIntyre on Mahal and his men. Poor Shanky, but talk about paying your dues. No less than 20 chair shots total, wow.

We got a better Alexa’s Playground with Eva and Piper than we did last time, but of course Lilly is back. Are we heading for a tag match, Eva & “Doudrop” VS Alexa & Lilly’s human form? Is that human form going to be Dana Brooke since she’s without Mandy Rose? Or NXT’s Aliyah since she was “traded” to Raw? I suppose being dressed up as an evil Raggedy Anne is better than nothing, right? Then we got an awesome main event with the Raw Women’s Championship. Charlotte and Rhea had a decent promo exchange to set it up, but I absolutely felt the cash-in coming, and it was still great for Nikki Cross/Ash to finally get herself a singles title. I wish USA Network stayed with it a little longer to watch her celebrate, but this was still definitely how to close out Raw.

My Score: 8.7/10


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Coverage

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

Talk about a Big Time Raw!

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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Jey Uso is here!

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

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

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

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is on the phone.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

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

 

Judgment Day meets backstage.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission

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

 

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Nia Jax speaks.

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

 

Cody Rhodes returns backstage.

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

 

Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall

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

 

Sami Zayn is backstage.

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is in the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Sami confronts Gable now.

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

 

CM Punk speaks.

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

 

Drew McIntyre is here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Becky Lynch speaks.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Liv Morgan confronts Becky Lynch.

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

 

Cody walks with his dog, Pharaoh, backstage.

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

 

Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Becky Lynch

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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

The semifinals are here!

Published

on

We’re just one step away from the Cup!

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

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

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

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

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

No Contest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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