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Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (9/20/21)

Will Raw ACKNOWLEDGE the Tribal Chief?

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Coverage Raw 2021

The New Day takes on the Bloodline for a massive Monday Night Raw!

It’s a powerful Six Man Tag as WWE World Champion, Big E, reunites with Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods in the ring against the champions of SmackDown! Will the Power of Positivity stop the Tribal Chief & The Usos from asserting their dominance?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Six Man Tag: The New Day VS The Bloodline; The Bloodline wins.
  • Eva Marie VS “Doudrop” Piper Niven; Niven wins.
  • Randy Orton w/ Matt Riddle VS AJ Styles w/ Omos; Orton wins.
  • Shayna Bazler VS Nia Jax; Baszler wins.
  • Mansoor & Mustafa Ali VS Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo; Garza & Carrillo win.
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Natalya & Tamina VS Rhea Ripley & Nikki A.S.H; Rhea & Nikki win and become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
  • WWE 24/7 Championship Best Laid Plans: Reggie retains the title.
  • WWE United States Championship Opportunity: Jeff Hardy VS Sheamus; Hardy wins and joins the title match at Extreme Rules.
  • Triple Threat: Bobby Lashley VS Big E VS Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman; Reigns wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Awww~ NC State!

Don’t you dare be sour! Clap for your REUNITED New Day, from Kofi Kingston to Xavier Woods to the NEW WWE World Champiooon~, and FEEL~ the POWAAAH~! That’s right, it’s time to celebrate! Woods, Kofi and Big E head to the ring together once again and everyone is fired up for that! Big E soaks in the moment as fans chant his name, and then move to “You Deserve It!” Big E says they’re the best for that, and then says that today isn’t November 25th, but he is still going to give thanks. Thanks to the fans who chanted “New Day Rocks,” and even those who once said, “New Day Sucks.” Big E forgives them.

Big E is also thankful to those who supported him as he climbed the ladder to grab the Money in the Bank briefcase, and he is beyond grateful to all those who lost their minds when Big E became the NEW WWE Champion. Big E is grateful tot hem below the Heavens, and one incredible friend above. Fans chant for Brodie, but Big E says the celebration is going to be cut a little short, because there’s some town business! That business is with the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, the Usos, and of course “their little friend, their cousin, the Tribal Chief, the Head of the Table, Roman Reigns.”

But Raw is the NEW DAY’s show! Tonight, they shall send the Bloodline packing! And do you know why? Fans are excited to hear, “BECAAUSE!” “New! Day Rocks! New! Day Rocks!” But speak his name and he shall appear, ROMAN REIGNS makes his entrance. He and the Usos hold up their belts for the pyro while fans are torn on how they feel seeing them. Roman has Heyman holding the belt as he leads the way down the ramp, and that golden glove has been replaced with a red one. The Bloodline then stands face to face with the New Day, holding up the belts for another round of pyro. But Big E holds up his belt in response as he stares Roman down. The battle is about to begin, after the break!

Six Man Tag: The New Day VS The Bloodline!

Raw returns and Kofi starts with Jimmy at the bell. They tie up, Jimmy headlocks but Kofi powers out, only for Jimmy to run him over. Jimmy gets on the corner to boast, “Bloodline!” Roman talks trash but Kofi gets up and shrugs it off. Kofi waistlocks Jimmy, headlocks then hammerlocks then headlocks again. Kofi wrenches, whips but Jimmy reverses. Jimmy runs in to monkey flip but Kofi lands on his feet! Kofi dropkicks Jimmy down, cover, TWO! Kofi keeps Jimmy from the corner and snapmares him to tag in Woods. Speed combo of Penalty Kick and SLIDING LARIAT, to Kofi’s rebound SPLASH, and Woods’ second rope ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO!

Woods keeps on Jimmy and bumps him off the buckle. Tag to Big E and fans fire up as Big E runs in to CLOBBER Jimmy! Cover, TWO! Tag to Woods, Woods climbs up as Big E wrenches, Woods drops double ax handles. Woods wrenches but Jimmy headbutts and uppercuts! Jimmy RAMS into Woods, Jey tags in and he DECKS Woods with an uppercut! Jey talks trash to Woods, gets him up and scoop SLAMS him! Heyman talks trash, “I bet that hurt!” Jey pushes Woods around, talks more trash, then whips Woods to ropes. Woods ducks and Kofi tags in. Woods shoves Jey into Kofi’s shoulder! Schoolboy to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!

Kofi keeps on Jey with an armlock, wrench but Jey ROCKS Kofi with a right! Jey brings Kofi over, tags to Jimmy and they mug Kofi. Jimmy tags Jey back in, the Usos mug Kofi again, then Jimmy shoves Kofi down. Jey brings Kofi back up in a facelock to whip to the Bloodline corner, but Kofi DECKS Jimmy! Kofi dodges Jey and he hits buckles, but Roman tags in! Kofi fires off kicks on Jey and whips, but Jey reverses. Kofi dodges but Roman trips him up, drags him out and bounces him off the announce desk! Then POSTS him! Roman gets Kofi up and TOSSES him over the desk! The Bloodline is fired up and dares the New Day to do something as Raw goes to break.

Raw returns and Jey has Kofi down. Jey brings Kofi up, throws a heavy uppercut, and Kofi ends up in the corner. Jey runs corner to corner, but Kofi pops him up and over! Jey can’t hold on and he falls to the floor, clutching an arm! Kofi crawls, Jimmy calls to his brother, and Jey gets in to tag Jimmy! Jimmy SUPERKICKS Woods down! Jimmy says it’s done, then he grabs at Kofi. Kofi slides underneath, reaches out but Jimmy keeps him away! Jimmy reels Kofi into a knee, whips him to a corner but Kofi goes up and up and DOUBLE STOMPS Jimmy down! Fans are thunderous as they rally for “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Kofi and Jimmy crawl, hot tags to Roman and Big E!

Roman slows his roll as Big E steps in the ring with him. Fans go nuts as we get world champion against universal champion, and the hands start flying! Back and forth, forearm for forearm, but then Big E ducks one to OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! And then ANOTHER! Roman is sputtering, but getting pissed, too! But he still runs into the Belly2Belly! Big E runs but has to clothesline Jey out first! Roman gets Big E for a BIG Urenage! Cover, TWO! Roman is surprised but he focuses as he goes to the corner. Roman locks ‘n’ loads, runs in but into a clinch! ANOTHER Belly2Belly, then the BIG SPLASH! Big E claps and fans join in again, “NEW! DAY ROCKS!”

Big E watches Roman, scoops him up, but Roman slips off. Jimmy runs in but is thrown out! Woods tags in, Big E gives Kofi a boost to FLY! Kofi takes out the Usos! Big E sees Roman but gets a SUPERMAN PUNCH! Woods dares Roman to bring it, and Roman runs into a GAMANGIRI! GET OVER- NO! Roman throws the DDT away to UPPERCUT! Woods SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO!! Roman survives, and here comes BOBBY LASHLEY! He SPEARS Big E, then hoists Kofi up to fireman’s carry! Lashley POSTS Kofi! Then Lashley CLOBBERS Jimmy, and he RAMS Jey into steel steps! The Rocky Mountain Machine has made his wrath felt, but Woods still has to watch for Roman! SPEAR!! Cover, The Bloodline wins!

Winners: The Bloodline, by pinfall

The Tribal Chief survives because the All Mighty gave him an assist. But then Lashley SPEARS Roman!! Lashley did all this for Lashley and no one else! And then Lashley aims at Big E again, to SPEAR him through the timekeeper’s area! After decimating the top of both brands, will Lashley look to tear everything apart until HE is back on top of the WWE?

 

Bobby Lashley storms into management’s office.

He tells Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville that if Roman isn’t done with Big E, neither is he! Lashley says Big E comes out after Lashley had one of the biggest matches of his career against Randy Orton, cashing in when Lashley was obviously hurt! Look at his knee! It’s hurt! “Oh, big guy!” Then Big E goes to SmackDown, and there’s this New Day reunion, all this other stuff! Raw is about LASHLEY, the REAL WWE Champion! Give him a match with Big E 1v1, he’d win every time. Give him a match with Roman Reigns 1v1, he’d beat him every time! Both of them together, no problem! This is the All Mighty Era and it never stops!

Adam and Sonya are speechless, so Lashley leaves. What decision will management have to address the statement Lashley made?

 

WWE has a medical update on MVP.

After the RKO he took last week, Montel Vontavius Porter is nursing an injured rib and will be out for an indefinite time. What devastation will Lashley unleash without his advisor by his side?

 

Matt Riddle talks with Randy Orton backstage.

Riddle saved up to get match headsets so they can listen to the same Spotify playlists. You never know what’ll happen with the WWE Draft coming, after all. And Riddle also made a special playlist for Randy to prepare for his match with AJ Styles. Orton takes his headset off and Riddle says that’s fine, they can jam out later. But maybe Orton needs some of Riddle’s world famous motivational speaking. Riddle knows Orton is hurting on the outside, as well as deep in his heart, from losing to Bobby Lashley. “But bro, you’re a Viper, you’re an Apex Predator! You’re a Legend Killer! You’re Randy Orton, bro! Skipper doesn’t stand a chance against you!”

Riddle starts wondering what his spirit animal be. Orton’s a viper, Styles is a Pitbull and Omos is a lion. Maybe Riddle’s a mongoose. Riddle remembers going on safari and he saw a lion get trampled by wildebeest! Orton asks if Riddle is confusing his real-life with the movie, The Lion King. No, this was a true story! It was all outta nowhere, just like Orton with that RKO to MVP. But Riddle saw it, the lion was shoved off a cliff- Orton wants Riddle to keep Omos busy with the safari story. Sure! Okay, and while he’s doing that, Orton will do his best to break Styles’ ribs, just like to MVP. Sound like a plan? Yeah!

And after thinking about it, Orton says the headphones are cool, so he thanks Riddle. Riddle says “You’re welcome,” and then jams out to Orton’s theme song.

 

Eva Marie VS “Doudrop” Piper Niven!

First, the #EvaLution gets pummeled without the bell ever ringing. Then, Eva legitimately loses, after getting pummeled again. Is Eva ever going to learn that she’s been #Doudropped like a bad habit? Or will the third time be the charm for Piper?

Raw returns as Doudrop makes her entrance. The bell rings and Eva gets a mic. “So, I have to say, I am not one for shaming or any negativity but… Look at me, look at me again, and look at you.” Fans cheer because Piper’s just fine! Eva says she’s put together and Piper’s a mess. “Girls like you can never beat women like me.” Piper doesn’t care about any of that, and she chases Eva out of the ring! Eva dares Piper to chase her, Piper chases Eva, but it’s all cat ‘n’ mouse as Eva is trolling Piper. Piper says Eva will get it soon enough, but the chase continues. Piper promises she has a punch waiting for Eva, and then she lets Eva have space to get in, only to pounce!

Piper thrashes Eva around but Eva rakes eyes! Eva throws forearms but Piper just gets pissed! Eva runs, but leaps into Piper’s arms! POWERSLAM, then a BACK SENTON! Piper runs to BASEMENT SPLASH! Cover, Piper wins again!

Winner: Piper Niven, by pinfall

Three weeks in a row, twice on record, Piper stands tall over Eva and dances the night away! Will Eva finally Doudrop the issue? Or will Piper gladly crush her a fourth time?

 

Management makes calls but Big E barges in.

Big E wants Bobby AND Roman tonight! “Make it happen!!” The demands keep on coming, will management give in?

 

Management is making more calls.

They’re trying to reassure the higher ups that things are going fine, but then Paul Heyman walks in and mocks their chatter. But he wants them to indulge him: Lashley gets up in the face of those who run the show, bitches and moans and then Big E does the same, stripping them of all their authority. Heyman won’t do such a thing. He won’t bitch ‘n’ moan because he doesn’t have to. Heyman carries an order from the Tribal Chief! Pearce stops Heyman there but Sonya has them calm down. This is coming from all sides, so here’s what’s happening: A TRIPLE THREAT match, Lashley VS Big E VS Roman. And so Heyman can tell Roman that it is official. Heyman says he’ll do just that, and wishes them a great Monday night.

 

Randy Orton w/ Matt Riddle VS AJ Styles w/ Omos!

RKBRO may not even have a Raw Tag Team Championship match at Extreme Rules now that MVP is out and Lashley’s attention is on the top titles. But will the Viper make sure the Phenomenal One doesn’t fill that vacancy with a win here tonight?

Raw returns and AJ Styles makes his entrance, his towering tag partner right behind him. The bell rings and Riddle fires the fans up for “Randy! Randy!” as he circles with Styles. They tie up, Orton headlocks and he grinds Styles down to the mat. Styles makes it a cover, ONE! Orton grinds the hold harder and pushes Styles down to a lateral press, ONE! Styles gets away and Orton watches him closely. Styles tells Riddle to shut it before even starting or he’ll get smacked. Orton and Styles tie up again, Styles wrenches to wristlock and pulls on the fingers. Orton rolls, wrenches through and wristlocks in return.

Orton grinds Styles’ elbow now and then twists the wrist to a hammerlock. Styles reaches, gets a ropebreak, but Orton lets go at the ref’s count of 4. Orton backs away and fans cheer while Styles shakes out the arm. Styles and Orton circle, Styles kicks low and CHOPS! And CHOPS! Styles whips corner to corner, runs in but Orton dodges! No RKO just yet as Styles shoves Orton away! Orton wants Omos to confirm how close that was but Omos says that was nothing. Orton and Styles circle, Orton kicks low and suplexes! Cover, ONE! Orton stomps Styles’ hand, then his foot. Orton keeps stomping Styles piece by piece, then strikes the pose. Riddle joins in and fans cheer.

Orton scrapes his laces on Styles’ face, then stomps him right on the head! Cover, TWO! Orton looms over Styles and lines up a shot. But Omos trips Styles up to prevent the punt! Orton points that out to the ref but Omos defends his own innocence. The ref knows better and he EJECTS Omos! Styles is shocked and Riddle sings, “Nana na na” with the fans. But Omos CLOBBERS Riddle with a European Uppercut! Then Styles KNEES Omos out of the ring to get even! Styles then slingshots to FOREARM Orton down! Styles and Omos fire up, and Styles assures Omos he can handle this. Omos leaves as Raw goes to break.

Raw returns and Orton throws hands on Styles! Orton kicks but Styles blocks to spin him around and CHOP BLOCK! Styles then toeholds and drops knees on the knee! Orton clutches his leg, drags himself to a corner but Styles is after him. Styles digs his heel in but lets off as the ref counts. Fans rally for Orton but Styles gets Orton’s leg. Orton throws hands then boots Styles away! Styles dodges Orton’s clothesline but runs right into buckles! The ref checks on Styles but he’s alright. Orton comes back and rallies with big clotheslines! Styles staggers into a corner, Orton hits another clothesline! Orton climbs up and rains down fists! Fans count to 4 but Styles trips Orton up!

Styles fireman’s carries but Orton slips off to ROCK him with more haymakers! Orton EuroUppers Styles to a corner, then fans fire up as Orton gets his bad leg moving. But Styles KICKS that leg! Styles runs but into a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Orton seethes but Riddle says he’s that close! Orton puts Styles in a corner, hoists him up top and then throws more haymakers. Orton then climbs up to join Styles, but Styles slips to the outside, only for Orton to CLOBBER him down! Styles is in a daze, Orton drags him up through ropes! But Styles HOTSHOTS Orton first! Orton gasps and sputters while Styles takes aim from the apron! PHENOMENAL-

NO! Orton catches Styles in the cravat, but Styles hurries to turn RKO into SLEEPER! Styles is a backpack on Orton but Orton grits his teeth as he stays up. Orton RAMS Styles into buckles and is free! Orton gasps for air gain as he gets away, but he returns to get a BOOT! Styles hops up, reels Orton in, but Orton denies the DDT with a shove! Styles staggers up into a clinch, and Orton shows some power with an EXPLODER! Riddle likes that one, that was like his Brosploder! Cover, TWO! Orton has a bloody scratch on his eyebrow but he’s still feeling good as he looms over Styles. Fans rally behind “Randy! Randy!” and Riddle coaches Orton on.

Orton gets Styles up, but Styles throat chops! Styles fires off the Phenomenal Blitz, PELE included! Orton goes down, Styles covers, TWO! Styles grows a bit frustrated but he gets Orton back up. Styles reels Orton in and calls for it, but Orton back drops! Styles sunset flips, Orton sits on it, TWO! Styles SLIDING FOREARMS Orton down! Styles goes to the ropes, LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Orton survives because Styles ain’t the Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla! Styles goes to the apron and takes aim again. Orton stands, Styles sees Riddle and takes a swing! Riddle avoids the kick, Orton storms over but into a forearm! Styles springboards but he fakes Orton out! They each point at each other with that one!

Styles slingshots in but into a kick! Orton has Styles in the ropes, DRAPING DDT! Orton hears the voices, RKO!! Cover, Orton wins!

Winner: Randy Orton, by pinfall

Riddle is fired up for his bro as Orton strikes Styles down! With the Phenomenal One cleared out of the way, who steps up in the Raw Tag Division to go after RKBRO?

 

Shayna Bazler VS Nia Jax!

The Queen of Spades and Irresistible Force were always a dysfunctional duo united by their success, but now they’re each only concerned about their own success. The former women’s tag team champions do battle, but who comes out the better half?

Raw returns and Shayna makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two stare down. Shayna paces but Nia is like a statue. Then they start talking trash, and Nia says, “I hate you! You were nothing without me!” Shayna tells Nia to shut up and says that SHE was always the one! They start shoving, but then Nia fireman’s carries! But then she lets Shayna down to make a point of how easy it was! Nia says she’s the winner here, but Shayna fires off kicks! Nia ROCKS Shayna, scoops her, then hits a SHOULDER BREAKER! Cover, ONE, and Shayna gets to a corner. Nia runs in and SPLASHES! Nia pie faces, Shayna pie faces back! The hands start flying, Nia RAMS into Shayna!

Shayna comes back with muay thai knees! And a ROUNDHOUSE! Nia wobbles, Shayna KNEES her again, then ROUNDHOUSES her down! Nia sits up in a daze but Shayna KNEES her again! Then a KIRAFUDA KLUTCH!! Shayna is a backpack as Nia gets up but Shayna shifts to kick away on an arm! Shayna puts the clutch back on but Nia powers up, only to fall back! Shayna squeezes tight, Nia shouts and sputters, she is OUT!! Shayna wins!

Winner: Shayna Baszler, by submission

Shayna seems to show a hint of remorse having to do that to a former tag partner. But then she PUNTS Nia off the apron! The Queen of Spades considers what to do next, and she gets Nia up to kick away on the arm again. Shayna pulls steel steps apart, gives Nia a KICK to the face, then has her down on the steps. Shayna isolates Nia’s arm, puts it through one of the hand holds, and despite the ref saying no, Shayna STOMPS the arm!! Nia writhes and cries in pain as she clutches her wrist, but Shayna gets the arm and isolates it on the steps! Nia begs for mercy and Shayna is conflicted again. But Shayna STOMPS the arm anyway!!

Nia is screaming in agony and referees hurry out with medics. Fans are stunned as Shayna is unsure how to feel about this herself. But is this how the Queen of Spades is going to play the game in order to reach the Raw Women’s Championship?

 

Mansoor & Mustafa Ali VS Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo!

While the Star of Saudi Arabia and The Beacon are still trying to get on the same page, it seems the cousins of the Garza lucha familia are finally seeing things eye to eye! Will the dysfunction fix itself tonight? Or will nothing defeat this handsome and debonair duo now that they’re united?

The teams sort out and Garza starts with Ali. They tie up, Ali waistlocks but Garza headlocks. Ali powers out, things speed up and Ali hurdles into Garza’s dropkick! Garza tears away the pants and throws them at Ali! Tag to Carrillo, they double whip and double hip toss to a rebound FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Carrillo keeps cool as he looms over Ali. Carrillo stands Ali up to CHOP, snapmare and clam on a chinlock. Ali endures the knee in his back and Mansoor coaches him up. Ali fights up, throws body shots but Carrillo throws him down hard! Carrillo SLAPS Ali, brings him around and suplexes. Ali slips out, waistlocks, but Carrillo switches.

Ali goes to the corner to buck Carrillo, then leaps for the TORNADO DDT! Both men are down, hot tags to Garza and Mansoor! Mansoor rallies, whips but Garza reverses, only for Mansoor to BOOT and ENZIGURI! Fans fire up with Mansoor as he runs in to clothesline Garza! Tag to Ali and he goes up, DOUBLE STOMP BACK SUPLEX! Cover, but Carrillo breaks it! Mansoor throws Carillo out and slides, but Carrillo gets under to RAM Mansoor into barriers! Ali slides out to RAM Carrillo into barriers! But Garza goes out to POST Ali! Garza tells Ali that nothing beats familia, and he puts Ali in the ring.

Tag to Carrillo, he fires up as he stretches Ali in a LAST CHANCERY! Garza runs and adds a basement dropkick to it!! Carrillo covers, the familia wins!

Winners: Humberto Carrillo & Angel Garza, by pinfall

The lucha libre bloodline get a powerful first victory! Will they surge up the rankings towards those Raw Tag Team Championships soon enough?

 

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Natalya & Tamina VS Rhea Ripley & Nikki A.S.H!

The challengers walk out first and have mics to address the crowd. Before they face the champions tonight with the titles on the line, they wanted to talk to the WWE Universe about Conner’s Cure. Fans cheer for that one and Rhea says young Conner inspired us all to join the fight against pediatric cancer. Over the years, the WWE and Conner’s Cure have raised millions of dollars to fight that fight. Rhea gets a bit emotional as she says the charity has worked with the V Foundation to invest and fundraise all this money to help find the answer to pediatric cancer. And there’s still so much work to be done.

They have the honor and privilege of competing in the ring, but they wanted to do two things with the fans. Firstly, they’re dedicating this match to the kids, to everyone that’s been affected by pediatric cancer, and to Conner’s Cure. And secondly, when they count to three, everyone put your arms together in a V and shout, “Victory!” One, two, three, VICTORY over pediatric cancer! Fans cheer the inspirational moment as the challengers go to the ring. But will the eclectic duo be able to dedicate a championship victory to the fight? We find out, after the break.

Raw returns and the champions make their entrance. Tamina starts with Nikki and TOSSES her to the corner, then sucker punches Rhea! Nikki fights back but Natty tags in. Tamina whips, scoops Nikki and Natty runs to HART ATTACK! Cover, Rhea breaks it! Tamina gets back in, headbutts Rhea then throws her out of the ring hard! Natty throws Nikki into the corner, throws knees and haymakers but lets off as the ref counts. Tag to Tamina, she stomps a mudhole into Nikki. Tag to Natty, she drags Nikki up to throw more hands. Natty and Tamina are a little off synch but Natty tags Tamina back in. Feed to a SAMOAN DROP!

But Tamina isn’t done here! She goes up top and takes aim, SUPERFLY onto knees! Nikki crawls but Rhea is still down! Tamina tags in Natty and she CLOBBERS Nikki from behind! Natty rebounds Nikki for the sit-down! Natty steps on Nikki and basement dropkicks! Tamina sees Rhea getting up and goes after her, but Rhea boots her to then CANNONBALL! Fans fire up with Rhea as she gets Tamina up and pump handles! RIPTIDE to the apron!! Natty is shocked, Nikki drags her down to a cradle! NIKKI & RHEA WIN!!

Winners: Rhea Ripley & Nikki A.S.H, by pinfall (NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)

They did it for Conner!! Rhea & Nikki are champions together, but is this only the beginning?

 

Alexa Bliss heads to the ring.

She and Lily are ready to make NC State into Alexa’s Playground! But will the Queen still be willing to come out and play after the Charlie fiasco last week? We find out, after the break.

Raw returns and Alexa sits on the swing. “Hello, friends! And welcome to my playground!” Now her “friend” is a real doozy, but she holds a place near and dear to Alexa’s heart. Welcome soon to be former Raw Women’s Champion and The Queen, Charlotte Flair! The music plays and Charlotte actually walks out to the ring. Fans cheer and “WOO~” for Charlotte as she enters the ring and gets a mic. Alexa says hey and wants Charlotte to make herself comfy on the rocking horse. No, that’s okay, Charlotte would rather stand and remind us that once upon a time, Alexa was a competitor. But please, continue with the hocus pocus and magic tricks.

Yes, the fun police is here. But c’mon, Charlotte! There’s no tricks up Alexa’s sleeves, her sleeves are too short. But why is there always an ulterior motive here? Alexa just wants to have fun. Girls’ night, Alexa, Charlotte & Lily! But where’s Charlie? Fans boo Charlotte being a party pooper and chant, “We Want Charlie!” but Alexa says it’s fine! SHE has Charlie! Fans chant for “Charlie! Charlie!” as Alexa sits again but Charlotte says Alexa is embarrassing herself. Charlotte doesn’t want Charlie. Charlotte wants Alexa! The old Alexa, the Five Feet of Fury, the Mean Girl, the once upon a time champion material!

Alexa can fool the fans but she can’t fool Charlotte. All this is “a pathetic attempt to hide how fragile, how delicate you really are.” Charlotte wants Lexi to admit she’s broken, and that’s why she hides behind the playground, the dolls, the dress and the pigtails, as well as that nasty black lipstick. Alexa used to walk to the ring with a title on her arm, but now she walks with a doll. “How does it feel that the doll is more popular than you?” But now that we’re talking about the old Alexa, the only reason she was champion at all was because she and Charlotte were on separate brands. But now that they’re both on Raw, Charlotte finds these games to be a joke.

But the one game she can’t comprehend is, how did Charlotte go from main-eventing WrestleMania 35 to a Monday Night Raw where she’s playing with dolls? Charlotte doesn’t play dress up nor play pretend, she is the real deal. Charlotte has beaten an Almost Super Hero, a Nightmare, and now she’s about to beat a “grown ass woman that dresses up like a little kid.” Alexa is bored as Charlotte says she gets it. “This is all a desperate cry for help.” So Charlotte will make it her job to beat some sense back into Alexa. Does Alexa want that to be tonight or this Sunday at Extreme Rules?

Alexa says, “Oh my gosh, Charlotte! We get it! You’re the best, you’re the champ, you’re in your own league, no one can reach you.” Does Charlotte ever get sick of hearing that like the rest of us do? We get it! Yes, Charlotte’s won more titles than any other woman. But that also means she’s lost more titles than any other woman. And since we’re getting personal, which Alexa loves on Girls’ Night, she asks this: “Without a title, who is Charlotte Flair? Nobody knows because even you don’t know.” If Charlotte isn’t a champion, she isn’t anything. Nothing at all. And let’s be honest, Alexa doesn’t need to play games to expose Charlotte’s insecurities. “They’re stamped right on your forehead.”

Charlotte is just so terrified of the Raw Women’s Championship moving on without her and leaving her with nothing. What would Charlotte do if she didn’t have a title? What would she say to the fans? Fans go “WOO~!” but Alexa says that’s not even originally hers! Well let’s not talk about originality, Lexi. Alexa didn’t give Charlotte Charlie to play a game. Alexa gave her Charlie as a pity gift. Alexa pities Charlotte. “Because even a narcissistic, self-centered bitch like you deserves happiness.” Charlotte pretends to cry but Alexa says Charlotte can call her whatever she wants. Alexa doesn’t care, because at least Alexa knows who she is!

And she doesn’t need to grasp at titles to stay relevant. So yes, tonight, call Alexa crazy. But at Extreme Rules, we WILL call her champion! “Now doesn’t that sound like fun?” Charlotte pretends to laugh and mocks Alexa’s points. Good for Alexa, but you’ll never find out who she is without the title. Then Charlotte pie faces Alexa. Alexa jumps on Charlotte and throws hands! Charlotte throws her off, throws off her shoes and then BOOTS Alexa down! Charlotte dusts off her hands and then finds Charlie. But Alexa jumps on again! Charlotte throws her down, grabs up Charlie, and looks at it closely as she RIPS OFF ITS HEAD! Charlotte drops the pieces and then looks for Lily!

Alexa jumps on Charlotte again! Charlotte rams Alexa into buckles, runs in but Alexa sends her into buckles! Alexa reels Charlotte in for a DDT! Charlotte falls out of the ring and Alexa picks up Lily. Will Alexa do everything she can to drop Charlotte again and tear that title away from her?

 

Drake Maverick brainstorms with his fellow conspirators.

Rockstar Spud has R-Truth, Drew Gulak and Akira Tozawa going over his newest master plan. Operation: 24/7 is simple: drop a net on Reggie and get the title off him. But wait. Reggie is two, three, four times bigger than that. Truth, c’mon… Gulak, you’ll be the distraction. Tozawa, do your ninja stuff. Truth, when Maverick signals you, drop the net. Okay, but what’s the word? Just “now, dog!” Who cares! Reggie’s walking over! Hurry! The others hide and Gulak gets Reggie’s attention. Reggie is already worried but Gulak says there is no ref around so it’s safe. Gulak talks to Reggie about Chinese holistic medicine and the 361 pressure points!

Gulak guides Reggie to the spot and Maverick shouts to Truth! Truth drops the net but Reggie turns things around and Gulak is caught! Reggie goes up and around the pallets, over pipes and onto trunks! The others give chase but Reggie LEAPS down to the photoshoot area! He even gets some snapshots before running off! Maverick is disappointed with Truth, since he gave the word. Truth corrects Maverick, the signal was “Now dog.” Gulak says he’s really stuck right now. Maverick is furious, but will he be able to craft a foolproof plan that not even these fools can foil?

 

WWE United States Championship Opportunity: Jeff Hardy VS Sheamus!

The Charismatic Enigma has had his battles with the Celtic Warrior before, and came very close to defeating Damian Priest last week. With there still being time before Extreme Rules, can the extreme risk taker beat Sheamus again and get in on the title match?

Raw returns and Sheamus makes his entrance. Damian Priest joins commentary to watch this closely, saying this is all his idea to give Hardy this opportunity. The bell rings, fans rally behind Hardy but Sheamus powers him to the corner. The ref counts, Sheamus lets off as he shoves Hardy down. Hardy gets up, ties up with Sheamus but Sheamus hits a headlock takeover. Hardy headscissors, Sheamus kips free and hits another headlock takeover. Hardy headscissors again, Sheamus gets free again, but Hardy headlocks. Sheamus powers out, runs Hardy over, then fixes his mask. Sheamus stands Hardy up to throw heavy EuroUppers.

Hardy dodges, dropkicks Sheamus’ leg out then basement dropkicks. Hardy puts Sheamus in a corner, rams his shoulder in then headlocks again. Sheamus powers Hardy into the corner and throws body shots. Sheamus whips, hardy holds ropes and puts Sheamus on the apron. Sheamus CLUBS Hardy in the back, but Hardy fights off the Bodhrain! Hardy hotshots Sheamus down then goes out. Fans fire up as Hardy runs and leaps off the steps! Sheamus catches Hardy to SLAM him on the apron! Sheamus takes off his face mask to CLOBBER Hardy again! The Fella soaks up the heat as Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Sheamus has Hardy in a chinlock. Hardy fights up, throws body shots but Sheamus back suplexes. Hardy lands on his feet, ends up in a corner, and Sheamus runs in. Hardy POSTS Sheamus, then fires haymakers! Hardy whips, Sheamus reverses but Hardy runs him over! Hardy trips Sheamus up, leg splitting leg drop and basement dropkick! Sheamus gets up, Hardy runs in but Sheamus scoops. Hardy slips off to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Hardy has Sheamus in a drop zone and he hops up the corner, second rope SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Hardy is frustrated but Sheamus gets up. Hardy kicks but no Twist as Sheamus shoves!

Sheamus runs but into a kick! Hardy drop toeholds Sheamus into buckles! Hardy goes up and swings but into a BOOT from below! Sheamus goes up, bloody nose only motivating him! Sheamus leaps to FLYING CLOTHESLINE Hardy down! Cover, TWO! Priest likes the fight from these two as Sheamus fireman’s carries. Hardy elbows free, kicks low and TWIST- NO! Sheamus pushes free to KNEE Hardy down! Cover, TWO!! Hardy survives but Sheamus staggers up to his feet. Sheamus gets the legs, ties them up, but Hardy throws hands to fight the hold! Hardy pushes, dodges the Brogue to TWIST OF FATE!

Hardy hurries to a corner, heads up top, and NC is fired up for their hero, SWANTON BOMB onto knees! Sheamus fireman’s carries but Hardy sunset flips! HARDY WINS!

Winner: Jeff Hardy, by pinfall (joins the WWE United States Championship match at Extreme Rules)

Priest gave Hardy the opening and Hardy capitalized! Sheamus blames Priest for all this and shoves Priest! Priest RAMS Sheamus into the apron! Hand start flying but the ref hurries to stop it! More refs come out but Sheamus and Priest knock into cameramen! Priest CLUBS away on Sheamus but the refs back him down. Sheamus staggers up, Priest uses the apron to LEAP and CLOBBER Sheamus! Priest hammers away, the refs pull him off Sheamus, but Sheamus POSTS Priest! Sheamus puts Priest in the ring, CLUBS away on him in return, but Priest ROCKS him with a right! Then Priest clotheslines Sheamus and himself out of the ring! The scrapping continues, will it only end on Sunday?

 

Triple Threat: Bobby Lashley VS Big E VS Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman!

The wrath of the All Mighty has only stirred up the anger of the Powerhouse of Positivity and the rage of the Tribal Chief! Three titans are set to battle at once, but who proves themselves the biggest and the baddest in the WWE today?

The bell rings and Lashley is right after Big E! Big E throws hands back, Lashley kicks low but Roman just watches and waits. Lashley glances over at him but Big E CLOBBERS Lashley! Now Roman makes a move, but Big E ROCKS him with a forearm! Big E drags Lashley out to the apron and he CLUBS away! Big E says, “You wanna play, Bobby? Let’s play!” APRON SPLASH! Big E shoves Lashley in but Roman hits a DRIVE BY! Universal Champion knocks down World Champion and raises up his finger. Roman knows the Bloodline are the ones, but this match continues after the break.

Raw returns again and Lashley RAMS Big E in the corner. Lashley tells Heyman to scram but he’s just checking on Roman. Lashley whips Big E but Big E reverses, only to run into an elbow. Things speed up, Big E HURDLES then CLOBBERS Lashley! Cover, TWO! Big E gets Lashley up, “This is what you want, huh?!” Big E wraps Lashley up in the cobra twist! Big E clubs to the rhythm, “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Lashley endures but Roman gets in to UPPERCUT Big E down! Roman then runs at Lashley to clothesline him out of the ring! Big E staggers and Roman goes after him with a whip. Big E reverses but Roman LEAPING LARIATS! Cover, TWO!

Roman is annoyed but he goes out and sees Lashley on the apron. Roman runs around the way but Lashley CLOBBERS him out of the Drive By! Lashley snarls, pushes Roman into the ring and covers, TWO! Lashley bumps Roman off buckles, throws haymakers, then runs corner to corner to RAM into Big E! Then he goes back to RAM into Roman! Lashley runs into an Urenag-E! Cover, TWO!! Big E runs in at Roman and RAMS into him! Big E keeps moving, but runs into a SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Roman is further annoyed, but Big E flops out of the ring. Roman runs at Lashley in a corner to clothesline! Roman fires point-blank lariats again and again, all the way to 10!

Lashley flounders and Roman hoists him up top. Roman throws hands then climbs up to join Lashley. Lashley hits back with haymakers, but Roman ROCKS Lashley with an uppercut! Lashley wobbles and sways on the top rope, Roman climbs up to join him again. Roman gets Lashley up, but Lashley resists the superplex! Big E joins in, TOWER OF DOOM!! The powerbomb superplex shakes the ring and fans are thunderous as Raw goes to break!

Raw returns once again and Lashley is down while Big E and Roman are in the ring. Roman clotheslines Big E in the corner, then says, “I run the show.” Fans boo and Roman eggs them on, then he throws hands on Big E. Roman whips corner to corner, runs in but Big E catches the clothesline for an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Big E’s throwing things back to earlier tonight as he OVERHEAD Belly2Belly suplexes again! Big E baits Roman in and gets the third Belly2Belly! Big E fires up, runs, but Lashley trips Big E up and drags him out to RAM him into barriers! Lashley roars and goes back into the ring, and he gets Roman for the COMPLETE SHOT!

Lashley shouts, “Whose house?!” Lashley gets Roman up, suplexes and stalls to show his strength, then SLAMS Roman down! Cover, TWO! Roman survives but Big E is back so Lashley goes after him. Gut wrench but Big E slips out to Belly2Belly! Roman returns but Big E CLOBBERS him! Big E sets the two side by side and fans fire up as he runs for a DOUBLE BIG SPLASH!! Cover on Lashley, TWO!! Big E sees Roman rolling away but fans rally behind Big E as he runs. Roman knees Big E away, Lashley hits a MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER! Cover but Roman drags Lashley off to throw him out! Roman covers, TWO!!

“This is Awesome!” as Roman watches Big E go to a corner. Roman locks ‘n’ loads, runs in but Big E dodges! Scoop and BIG ENDING!! Cover, but Lashley drags Big E out! Lashley RAMS Big E into barriers again, then brings him to the desk! Just like last week, MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER through the table!! But this time, Lashley’s knee is just fine and he goes back to Roman in the ring. Roman slowly gets up, Lashley takes aim from a corner, Lashley runs into a SUPERMAN PUNCH! Cover, TWO! Roman seethes but is too tired to be any angrier. Roman stands and he goes to the corner as Lashley slowly rises. Roman lets out the battle cry, runs but into LASHLEY’S SPEAR!! Cover, Big E breaks it!!

Lashley is furious again and he snarls as Big E gets up! Lashley puts on the full nelson but Big E fights it from locking in! They struggle, half is in, Roman SUPERMAN PUNCHES Lashley down! Roman and Big E lock eyes but Big E throws Lashley out! Big E runs to SPEAR Roman off the apron!! Big E puts Roman in, fans are thunderous and Big E scoops Roman again! BIG ENDING AGAIN!! Cover, but Lashley SMACKS Big E with a chair! No Disqualifications finally comes into play as Lashley SMACKS Big E again, and again, and again! Lashley doesn’t stop until Big E’s on the mat! Lashley snarls and then he throws MORE chair shots on Big E!

Fans boo, Lashley turns around into Roman’s SPEAR!! Cover, Roman wins!!

Winner: Roman Reigns, by pinfall

The WWE Universal Champion found another opening, just like earlier tonight, and he takes victory from the jaws of defeat! But will the Head of the Table be able to do the same when The Demon waits for him at Extreme Rules?


My Thoughts:

A pretty stuffed episode, but the go-home syndrome was pretty strong in the middle there with the recap packages and extra commercial breaks. And did we really need Piper VS Eva a third time? Hopefully this is the end of it and Piper can move on to someone new. And I’m thinking that someone is Shayna after how she brutalized Nia. That was a very powerful moment, and I’m thinking that not only will Nia be kept off TV for a time, maybe the WWE Draft moves her to SmackDown so she can be with the Bloodline. Same goes for Tamina now that she’s lost the tag titles. They can even have Tamina turn on Natty to side with Nia and the family as things move into the Fall.

Speaking of which, of course Rhea & Nikki win with them getting to do the Conner’s Cure moment. Both things were still great separately, and it was very endearing to see Rhea get choked up with talking about the cause. Rhea & Nikki freshen things up by being the new champions, and they better show up on SmackDown this Friday to start building towards Shotzi & Tegan finally getting their long overdue title opportunity. Alexa and Charlotte had a pretty good promo segment together, and having Alexa’s Playground back in the ring was a nice change of pace. The shots fired were pretty decent but the main thing is, Alexa stood tall here so of course Charlotte retains at Extreme Rules per WWE math.

Orton VS Styles may seem repetitive, because in a way it is, but they always put on great matches so that’s what we got tonight. Orton wins and there’s no Raw Tag Team Championship match set for the PPV, maybe something builds on the way to Crown Jewel. Mansoor & Ali losing was a bit of surprise but I am glad we’re finally seeing Garza & Carrillo as a tag team. Too bad there was no build to it. There was a lot of “corporate synergy” tonight with them plugging American Ninja Warrior Jr. for Peacock, and then Reggie actually doing some Ninja Warrior stuff again. The comedy of these bits is kinda drying up because they’re a little too focused on setting Reggie up for these stunts, but maybe they figure out how to be creative even in that.

Hardy VS Sheamus was a really good match but I feel like this was all spurred on by someone *cough* Vince */cough* thinking there needed to be more to the US Championship match. Granted, without Hardy winning his way in, it would’ve just been Priest VS Sheamus in a rematch from SummerSlam, but oh, I dunno, how about spicing up the match with stipulations? Yes, a Triple Threat will make this No Disqualifications, but I feel like Hardy is in just to take the pin. Why didn’t they just greenlight McIntyre winning the contender’s match so he could reach for the Grand Slam? WWE can’t just isolate big things to the Big Four (and apparently now Crown Jewel, too) and ask why we aren’t excited for the other shows.

The big story of tonight was of course having the world champion and the Universal Champion here at the same time. The Six Man Tag was great but I didn’t think they’d have Lashley show up to decimate everyone like that. Big points for Lashley while Roman again gets a win as the physically strongest opportunistic Heel in a long time. Then the Triple Threat at the end was awesome stuff, definitely upping the quality of tonight. All three guys looked great but Roman winning makes a lot of sense for a lot of reasons. For one, #RomanWinsLOL. For another, he’s got to go strong into Extreme Rules against The Demon because of course he’s going to win that and go into Crown Jewel strong to face The Beast.

My Score: 8.3/10


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Coverage

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

Talk about a Big Time Raw!

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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Jey Uso is here!

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

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

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

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is on the phone.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

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

 

Judgment Day meets backstage.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission

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

 

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Nia Jax speaks.

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

 

Cody Rhodes returns backstage.

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

 

Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall

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

 

Sami Zayn is backstage.

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is in the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Sami confronts Gable now.

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

 

CM Punk speaks.

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

 

Drew McIntyre is here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Becky Lynch speaks.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Liv Morgan confronts Becky Lynch.

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

 

Cody walks with his dog, Pharaoh, backstage.

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

 

Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Becky Lynch

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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

The semifinals are here!

Published

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We’re just one step away from the Cup!

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

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

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

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

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

No Contest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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