Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (10/5/21)
Tag teams, unite!
The NXT Tag Division is still must-see!
MSK’s ready to be fighting NXT Tag Team Champions, but they’ll focus on fighting alongside Briggs & Brooks against Melo, Trick & Grizzled Young Veterans!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Mandy Rose w/ Toxic Attraction VS Ember Moon; Rose wins.
- LA Knight VS Odyssey Jones; Knight wins.
- Joe Gacy VS Ikemen Jiro; Gacy wins.
- Cora Jade VS
Virginia FerryFranky Monet w/ Robert Stone; Jade wins. - Pete Dunne w/ Ridge Holland VS Cameron Grimes; Dunne wins.
- Tony D’Angelo VS Malik Blade; D’Angelo wins.
- Indi Hartwell w/ Persia VS Mei Ying w/ Boa; Hartwell wins.
- NXT Tag Team Championships Fatal 4 Way Elimination: MSK VS Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen VS Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams VS Grizzled Young Veterans; MSK wins and retains the titles.
PLAY BY PLAY
Mandy Rose w/ Toxic Attraction VS Ember Moon!
With Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne by her side, the #ToxicGoddess took out the Franky Monet Brand and the NXT Women’s Champion to close out the night last week. But will she open the night with a big win over the Shenom? Or will Ember use a Rose to spark a new Prophecy of Flame?
The bell rings and Ember ties right up with Mandy. Mandy headlocks but fans rally behind Ember. Mandy hits a takeover, Ember headscissors but Mandy kips free to get the headlock again. Ember powers out, runs Mandy over with an elbow, then strikes a pose to mock Mandy. Things speed up, Ember stops but Mandy whips. Ember reverses and hurdles but Mandy SLAPS her! Mandy drags Ember up but Ember howls to fire off forearms! Ember kicks Mandy to a corner, scoops her into the Tree of Woe, then KICKS away on her back! Gigi & Jacy complain, the ref backs Ember off and Gigi & Jacy bail Mandy out of the ring.
Fans boo but Ember keeps her cool. Ember shrugs and builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit in Jacy, but Gigi gets Mandy out of the way! Mandy runs in but into an APRON POWERBOMB! Ember puts Mandy in the ring then shoves Gigi down. Ember goes back to the ring but Mandy CLOBBERS her at the ropes! Mandy drags Ember up, reels her into an inverted GUT WRENCH SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Mandy puts Ember in the corner, stomps a mudhole then walks it off. Mandy snapmares and wraps on body scissors! Fans rally and duel as Mandy thrashes Ember around. Ember endures, pries at the scissors but Mandy adds a chinlock! Ember uses that to get a cover, TWO!
Mandy lets Ember free to CLUB her around the ring. Mandy brings Ember around into an OCTOPUS STRETCH! Ember endures, Mandy drives elbows into the ribs then digs it in. Ember hip tosses free! Ember wrenches and ROLLING ELBOWS to knock Mandy down! Mandy gets back up but Ember ENZIGURIS! Ember then snapmares Mandy and climbs up top. Ember leaps for a FLYING CODE BREAKER! Ember CLUBS Mandy back down, then goes back up top. Fans fire up for the ECL- No, Mandy gets under and comes back, KNEE FROM A ROSE! Cover, Mandy wins!
Winner: Mandy Rose, by pinfall
Toxic Attraction celebrates as their leader puts Ember out! Will Mandy be the one blazing a trail to the top after what she’s done to top women in NXT?
NXT hears from Legado del Fantasma.
Santos Escobar says, “Decisions, decisions, deciones.” He tells Hit Row has the world buzzing about SmackDown drafting the whole crew. But to him, SmackDown just saved Hit Row’s asses. Joaquin Wilde says, “It’s hard to respect a bunch of wannabe thugs whose deadliest weapons are their words.” Elektra Lopez says she shut B-Fab’s trap so there’s no more games. And Raul Mendoza says it’ll all end when Escobar leaves as North American Champion. Swerve can run to SmackDown like the coward they know he is, or he can prove he’s a man and defend that title. What kind of a man is Swerve? We’ll surely find out soon enough.
LA Knight VS Odyssey Jones!
The Million Dollar Megastar’s mega ego has gotten on everyone’s nerves, but especially on the Breakout Tournament’s runner-up, who got a lot closer to that title contract than Knight did the actual title. But will Odyssey #SoundtheAlarm and make this a bad night for Knight? Or will NXT still be LA Knight’s game even in 2.0, yeah?!
NXT returns as Knight makes his entrance. The bell rings, Knight stays near the ropes as he circles with Jones. Fans are on Jones’ side and Knight wants them to shut up, but he avoids getting cornered by the big man. Jones corners Knight again, Knight escapes and throws a haymaker! Knight gloats but Jones roars! Jones chases Knight, Knight dodges and throws another haymaker, but Jones just tosses him and SPLASHES him in the corner! Then TOSSES him across the way! Knight hobbles up, Jones TOSSES him the other way! Knight bails out and Jones goes out the side. Knight sees Jones storming up and goes around the way.
Knight gets in the ring, Jones pursues, and he runs Knight over! Jones runs in at the corner but Knight drop toeholds him into buckles! Knight clubs away on Jones’ back, but lets off as the ref counts. Knight chokes Jones on the ropes, lets off again, then chokes him again. Knight CLUBS Jones against the ropes but lets off as the ref counts. Fans jeer but Knight chokes Jones again! Knight goes in and KNEES Jones down! Knight gets in to stomp away on Jones, then runs to drop a jumping elbow! Fans tell Knight, “You Still Suck!” Cover, ONE!! Jones throws Knight off with that kick out and fans love this! Knight kicks, CLUBS and throws more hands, but Jones gets to his feet.
Knight scoops but Jones is so big, Knight falls over! Jones and Knight slowly get up, and Jones counter punches Knight, then DECKS him! And again! Jones whips, CLOBBERS Knight, and he fires up with the fans! Jones stalks Knight, gets him up and hits a back suplex GUT BUSTER! But wait! It’s Andre Chase! He’s yelling at Jones for last week but Jones DECKS him! But he turns around into a NECKBREAKER! Cover, ROPE- NO, Chase pushes the foot back in! Knight wins!
Winner: LA Knight, by pinfall
LA owes a lot to ACU, the Andre Chase University, and that PhD in BS! Will Jones get payback on the punk ass professor? Or will Chase have a lesson plan for that, too?
Backstage interview with Cameron Grimes.
The Carolina Cash Money Caveman says love is in the air. Did you see the #InDex wedding? Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. A bit pricey, but still beautiful. And then Cora Jade and Trey Baxter are having PDA’s in the locker rooms. Grimes is getting jealous. So Grimes is on the search to find himself a lucky lady. But then Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland walk in. The Bruiserweight says there ain’t a woman in the world who’d go even near Grimes. Listen to lover boy Peter! Watch who you’re talking to. Things might be changing around here, but nothing’s changed when it comes to Dunne. He is still the baddest man in NXT! Is Grimes listening?! Yeah, yeah, sure he is.
Then how about you hear this? Bruiserweight VS Grimes! Okay, okay, just excuse him. Grimes walks over to talk to some ladies waiting in the back. Any of them single? Well… NXT cuts away, but is the Million Dollar Caveman about to find himself a Lady Luck?
Kyle O’Reilly talks with Von Wagner in the locker room.
Kyle says that last week was the second time Wagner’s had his back, and he wants to know why. The truth is, Wagner took an opportunity and jumped on it. He doesn’t like Dunne or Holland any better than Kyle does. Wagner respects Kyle’s heart. As far as trust- Kyle stops him there. After the year he’s had, he trusts no one. Let Kyle handle business his way, and stay out of the way. Will Wagner accept that? Or will there be a third time that Kyle needs help from an unlikely ally?
Tommaso Ciampa heads to the ring!
Fans fire up for the NXT Champion, and he’s ready to address the state of the title scene! Who does the Psycho Killer see as a worthy contender? We find out, after the break.
NXT returns to the ring and Ciampa says “Let’s get right to it. On Tuesday night, October 26th, Halloween Havoc returns to NXT! And the champ, well the champ needs an opponent.” Ciampa knows the 2.0 roster is full of hungry men and women, but one man in particular says he isn’t a patient man. He wants to be the flag bearer of 2.0? That’s all fine and dandy, “but in the world we live in, actions speak louder than words. So the question is, who has the balls to come out here and take my NXT title from me?!” Ciampa waits, but here comes that impatient man, Bron Breakker! Bron goes right to the ring and stands face to face with Ciampa.
Bron tells Tommaso Ciampa, “I’ve treated you with nothing but respect since the day that I walked through the door. But I do not give a damn if I’ve been here for four minutes, four weeks or four months. I wanna be the NXT Champion!” And Ciampa wants to fight someone with balls? Bron’s got the biggest balls in the locker room! The match he wants, that the fans want, it happens at Halloween Havoc! Bron VS Ciampa for the title! Ciampa asks if Bron wants to know the difference between them. Bron wants the title. Ciampa NEEDS it. For Bron, the title is just a stepping stone to something bigger and better. For Ciampa, it IS that something bigger and better!
But Halloween Havoc is three weeks away. So as Ciampa sees it, Bron has three weeks to go from intern to a PhD, because CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Bron is fired up, Ciampa pushes past him to take his leave, but these two meet again soon enough! Will there be gold in Bron’s future? Or just a hard learned lesson?
Joe Gacy speaks.
“While the world stood still when social media platforms crashed, I sat with my voice, the voice of a righteous and inclusive generation. I know one platform that won’t crash, and that is NXT 2.0, where tonight, I use the ring as our safe space. And tonight, we gather in unity to prove that conflict can be resolved peacefully. And yes, there can be two winners.” Is Gacy going to win, lose or draw more attention to his cause after tonight?
Indi Hartwell & Persia walk ‘n’ talk.
It was fun and all but sand gets everywhere. But how was it really? It looked amazing. And where is her man? Oh, he’s away this week. She really wore him out, y’know? Went through two packets! Wow, so 7? 8? 9 and a half! WHOA! Wait, what’s this smoke? Tian Sha?! GET OUT! Okay well that was freaky. Indi’s seen freakier. Well the honeymoon is over, but will Indi still be feeling good now that she’s back?
Joe Gacy VS Ikemen Jiro!
The Handsome One is already in the ring as Gacy makes his way to the “safe space” in the ring. But how does Gacy plan on making two winners in a 1v1 match?
The bell rings, fans chant for “I-KE-MEN! I-KE-MEN!” but Gacy offers a handshake. Jiro takes it and the two circle. They tie up, Jiro headlocks but Gacy powers out. They ram shoulders, neither falls, and Gacy gives Jiro the affirmation that he can knock Gacy down. Jiro runs, but he has to duck Gacy’s clothesline! Jiro comes back and arm-drags Gacy. Things speed up and Jiro RANAS! Gacy ducks the jacket punch and the two stand off. Fans rally for Jiro and Gacy gives Jiro respect. He offers another handshake, Jiro takes it, but Gacy uses that to whip him to a corner! Gacy corner splashes, and Gacy apologizes for the trick.
Gacy stands Jiro up, throws hands, then brings Jiro in for a suplex! Gacy drags Jiro up, whips him to ropes and CLOBBERS him with an elbow! Gacy apologizes again but fans seem divided on his “peaceful resolution.” Gacy scoops Jiro but Jiro sips out for a BACKBREAKER! And an IKE-TWIST! Gacy gets up, clutching his neck, and he gets a JACKET PUNCH! And another! And another! And a ROLLING JACKET PUNCH! Fans fire up with Jiro and he runs corner to corner at Gacy, but into a BOOT! Gacy goes up but Jiro GAMANGIRIS! Jiro goes up to FLYING HEADSCISSORS! Gacy hobbles up, into the IKE- NO! He dodges the kick to handspring LARIAT! Cover, Gacy wins!
Winner: Joe Gacy, by pinfall
Well, wait. Gacy won and Jiro lost. Well, Gacy stands Jiro up and gives him a respectful handshake and hug. Is Gacy practicing what he preaches after all? Is sportsmanship a way to make sure there are multiple winners?
Wait, who is that who stands up in the audience? Gacy is started by him at first, but then he smiles. Is there someone who is willing to stand up and follow Gacy?
NXT hears from Duke Hudson.
“NXT superstar, professional poker player. The two go hand in hand, really. It doesn’t matter if it’s the squared circle or the poker table. If I can play with your mind, then I’ve beaten you before it even begins.” And at Duke’s Poker Room, they don’t discriminate. All money is welcomed, because he’ll take it from you anyway. Whether the belt or the mat, #BetterLuckNextTime.
Cora Jade VS Virginia Ferry!
The youngest star in all of WWE skates down to the ring, and after getting a good couple of wins on 205 Live, is ready for her first NXT match! Except, wait, someone drags Ferry out of the ring?! It’s Franky Monet! And she RAMS Ferry into the steel steps! Then gives her a GLAM SLAM to the floor! Robert Stone is fired up, and he apologizes to Cora, but her new opponent is Franky! The ref allows it, and #CardSubjecttoChange is a thing in NXT 2.0! Will the young star still be able to shine when having to turn on a dime?
Cora Jade VS Franky Monet w/ Robert Stone!
The bell rings, Franky CLOBBERS Cora with a clothesline, then pushes her around. Franky elbows Cora against the ropes, whips then elbows her again! Franky laughs, bumps Cora off buckles and throws elbows. Franky CHOPS Cora, stomps a mudhole, then walks it off. Franky whips corner to corner hard, then runs in to METEORA! The ref counts, Frank lets off while grinning, but Trey Baxter appears! All Heart coaches up his girlfriend, but Franky drags Cora out to dribble her off the mat. Franky gets the legs but Cora kicks her away! Cora crawls for Trey but Franky drags her away into a chinlock stretch! Franky CLUBS Cora down then surfboard STOMPS her while staring Trey down!
Cora goes to a corner, Franky runs in but Cora SHINING WIZARDS! Cora staggers away but turns around into a SPEAR! Franky laughs maniacally and she drags Cora up to chicken wing. But Cora victory rolls! Cora wins!!
Winner: Cora Jade, by pinfall
Even Cora is shocked! Bougie Bad is incredibly mad, but will she be where the #GenerationofJade begins?
Backstage interview with MSK.
McKenzie asks Wes Lee & Nash Carter how they feel about this sudden change in the main event. It isn’t an 8 Man Tag anymore, but a FATAL 4 WAY for the titles! Nash says it’ll be tough, Wes says they have to keep their heads on a swivel. But GYV walk in and say this is typical MSK. Last week, they called themselves fighting champions, so here we are! The snakes have found loopholes! They’ll pin one of the two other teams because they know they can’t beat Grizzled Young Veterans! Enough of this! Shut up! They can make this ELIMINATION style, too! Briggs & Brooks walk in and say why wait? The brawling returns from last week right here in the backstage area!
Security and refs rush in and try to pull these four teams apart! With things now every team for themselves, who will be the last ones standing with those NXT Tag Team Championships?
NXT returns with a backstage interview with Ciampa.
He issued a challenge for Halloween Havoc, Bron Breakker immediately accepted it. How does Ciampa feel about that? Well, Bron is young, strong and a certifiable blue chipper. But he is going up against a certifiable main eventer, so this is going to be one hell of a match. But then Gacy walks in. Gacy saw Ciampa offer the opportunity to anyone with the balls to step up to him. That’s oddly specific and toxic energy. Gacy realizes Ciampa must be feeling the strength of privilege as champion, but Gacy speaks for a voice struggling to be heard. They speak through him, and they would love to be included in an opportunity for the title.
Ciampa sees what Gacy’s up to. If Gacy wants his shot, he has to beat Ciampa next week. If Gacy wins, he can join the Halloween Havoc title match and make it a Triple Threat. But no hugs. Ciampa promises that the ring next week won’t be a safe space for Gacy.
Raquel Gonzalez storms into the CWC!
Will Big Mami Cool look to hunt down and trample Mandy Rose for what happened last week?
Pete Dunne w/ Ridge Holland VS Cameron Grimes!
The Bruiserweight called the Million Dollar Caveman out, but now it’s time to put money where mouths are! Will Dunne make this a Bitter End for Grimes? Or will there be a Cave-In in Dunne’s future?
The bell rings and the two circle. Grimes gets a leg but Dunne counters with a facelock. Grimes wrenches out to a wristlock, Dunne rolls and kips up to then handspring and WRING Grimes out. Dunne traps the arm and SNAPS it back. Dunne then grinds the arm, digs a knee into the shoulder, but Grimes kips up. Grimes snapmares free and RANAS Dunne down! Grimes tells Dunne to #KissMuhGrits but Dunne trips him up! Dunne floats to a lateral press but Grimes slips out to arm-drag him down! Fans rally as Grimes has Dunne down in an armlock, but Dunne kicks, gets up, and powers out to speed things up. Dunne hurdles, drops and CLOBBERS Grimes with a clothesline!
Fans boo but Dunne shrugs as he bends Grimes’ fingers. Dunne isolates the arm to STOMP the arm! Dunne keeps after that arm and wraps it around ropes. The ref counts but Dunne stomps Grimes to the corner. Dunne wrenches, wrangles Grimes to the mat, then digs his knuckles into Grimes’ head. Dunne traps the one arm, bends the other and even bends the fingers. Grimes fights but Dunne throws kicks. Dunne wrenches but Grimes throws forearms! Dunne WRINGS Grimes out again! Then basement dropkicks Grimes in the back! Grimes flounders to ropes, Dunne wrings Grimes’ arm and bends the elbow, but Grimes throws body shots!
Grimes forearms but Dunne ROCKS Grimes! Grimes ends up in the corner but h e dodges Dunne’s enziguri! Grimes runs and rallies with big forearms! Fans chant “TO THE MOON!” as Grimes hits a running BOOT in the corner! Dunne flounders, Grimes goes up and Grimes CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Grimes grits is teeth, drags Dunne up with a deadlift but Dunne elbows out of the waistlock. Dunne runs in to ENZIGURI! He shoves Grimes down to KNEE DROP on the arm! SNAP GERMAN! Dunne stomps the feet and BUZZSAWS Grimes down! Cover, TWO! But Dunne has the ARMBAR! Grimes hurries up, makes a cover, ONE and they roll together!
Grimes kicks, Dunne ducks, Grimes flips back to DEAD LIFT GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!! Fans fire up as Grimes snarls and gets to his feet. Grimes drags Dunne up, SUPER FOREARMS, then roundhouse, but Dunne ducks to ENZIGURI! Dunne goes after a buckle pad? That’s to distract the ref! Ridge Holland drags Grimes out, but KYLE goes after Holland! Kyle fires hands, Dunne goes out and THROWS Kyle over the desk! But Grimes PENALTY KICKS Dunne from the apron! Grimes puts Dunne in, runs but Dunne sends him into ropes! Pump handle, BITTER END! Cover, Dunne wins!
Winner: Pete Dunne, by pinfall
The Bruiserweight still wins out, but Kyle tackles Dunne! Holland drags Kyle up to HEADBUTT him in the back! Holland stomps Kyle, drags him up and scoops. Dunne ROUNDHOUSES Kyle before the NORTHERN GRIT DRIVER! Fans boo but Dunne just shrugs. With Holland on his way to SmackDown in a few weeks, will he and Dunne make sure to put everyone in their place these next few weeks?
NXT hears from Hit Row.
And they’re laughing and having a good time. Swerve says Santos is actually right, the WWE Universe is buzzing about Hit Row right now. But y’know who they ain’t buzzing about? Legado! Top Dolla can’t believe they think Hit Row is running away. Los estupidos. They ain’t runnin’ from nothing. They’re running to money! Ashante Thee Adonis points out SmackDown chose Hit Row. Everything they do is a mood. Act your age, Legado. And Swerve is so sick of this. Parking lots, in the ring, and Legado keeps making mistakes. But hola, chica. Lopez hung in the No DQ match but she didn’t win. Next time, B-Fab won’t be so nice.
So if Escobar wants to challenge Swerve’s manhood and his title reign, then challenge accepted. That way, Swerve can win and Escobar won’t see this title except on Friday nights. And if you didn’t know, now you know!
NXT shares footage from the break.
After getting beat down by Dunne & Holland, Von Wagner went out to the ring to check on Kyle. Kyle accepted that help, but will these two be able to turn things around on Dunne & Holland?
Tony D’Angelo VS Malik Blade!
It’s a double debut for NXT 2.0 tonight! The Chicago Italiano is here to bring the “family business” to pro-wrestling. Will he be too thick for Blade to cut through in his move up from 205 Live?
The bell rings and the two circle. D’Angelo talks some smack and then ties up with Malik. Fans fire up for Malik, Tony wrenches to a headlock and talks more trash. Malik powers out but Tony holds on tight. Malik pries the hold apart, Tony holds on tighter, and fans are rallying and dueling. Malik rolls Tony up, TWO! Malik throws body shots, Tony CLUBS him on the back! Tony headlocks but Malik powers out, only for Tony to run him over! Tony talks more smack, Malik gets up and the two go again. Tony blocks the takedown for a facelock, then shifts to a headlock. Tony grinds the headlock, Malik powers up and powers out.
Things speed up, Malik leaps but into Tony’s BACKBREAKER! Tony talks more trash, puts Malik in the corner and RAMS him in the back! But Malik BOOTS him back! Malik runs but Tony DECKS him! Tony drags Malik up by his ear, saying he’s gonna teach Malik a lesson his mama should’ve taught him a long time ago. But Malik fires off haymakers! Tony dodges but Malik dropkicks him out! Tony leads Malik on a cat ‘n’ mouse then TACKLES him down! Cover, TWO! Tony is annoyed but he wraps on a waistlock for a rear bearhug. Malik endures, fans rally and duel, and Malik fights up to his feet. Malik throws elbows, Tony shoves him into the corner hard!
Tony BOOTS Malik into buckles! The ref reprimands but Tony slaps Malik around. Tony facelocks, throws some body shots, then spins Malik around for a modified cobra twist. Malik elbows free, ducks and dodges then LEG LARIATS! Fans fire up, Malik goes corner to corner to A-LIST LARIAT! Tony staggers, Malik climbs, CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Another try, ONE! Tony gets up and wants a timeout? There’s no timeouts in wrestling! But Tony uses that to sucker Malik into a buckle! Then a BIG Belly2Belly! Tony paces around, says Malik’s down, and gets him up for a NORTHERN LIGHTS! Roll through and FISHERMAN NECKBREAKER! Cover, Tony wins!
Winner: Tony D’Angelo, by pinfall
Bada bing, bada boom! With wins like that, will Tony be untouchable here in NXT?
Backstage interview with Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes.
It is official: tonight’s tag match is an NXT Tag Team Fatal 4 Way ELIMINATION match! Their thoughts? First, Melo wants to say, “D’Angelo? Forget about it!” You saw it all earlier, Trick & Melo came out on top of that scrap. And somehow, they’ve finessed their way into a title match without the contract. Melo don’t miss, Trick don’t but kiss. They’ll strap up the boots and make the ring sing, cuz they #BoutItBoutIt. Say it again for the people in the back. They bout it bout it! You’re looking at future champs, and that’s all there is to it. Will Melo sink this one from down town with the assist from Trick?
Indi Hartwell w/ Persia Pirotta VS Mei Ying w/ Boa!
The weird encounter backstage apparently raised the ire of Tian Sha’s dragon lady! Will she ruin #IndiWrestling’s return to the CWC?
NXT returns as Indi & Persia make their entrance. Indi shouts out #SexyDexi before getting in the ring with Mei Ying. The bell rings and Indi is very wary as Mei Ying stands up tall. Indi approaches but Mei Ying shoves her away. Indi tries again but Mei blocks and throws her down! Indi gets up, dodges Mei Ying and waistlocks, but Mei wrenches free and WRINGS Indi to then stomp her down! Indi gets up at the ropes, dodges Mei and manages a headlock, but Mei powers out and they ram shoulders. Neither falls so Indi runs again. She rams Mei but Mei RAMS her back! Indi falls over from that shot and sits up gasping for air.
Mei stomps Indi, claws her in the corner then double CHOPS her down! Mei stalks Indi, drags her up and clamp claws into the shoulders! Indi endures, fights up, but Mei digs her nails in deeper! Fans rally as Indi fights up. Indi throws body shots, a haymaker, but Mei just snarls. Mei spins Indi, ripcord and STRAIGHT PALM STRIKE! Indi flounders to ropes, but staggers into the THROAT STAB! They tumble out of the rings as Mei continues to torture Indi! She POSTS Indi, then runs in, but Persia takes the shot for her! Indi POSTS Mei Ying, puts her in the ring, and climbs up for the SAVAGE ELBOW! Cover, Indi wins!
Winner: Indi Hartwell, by pinfall
Persia and Indi get away, but Mei Ying sits up like the Deadman! Indi kisses her wedding ring, is Dexter somewhere watching and celebrating, too?
Lash Legend talks with some fans.
If y’all thought the premiere was good, next week on episode two, Lashing Out is gonna spill some real hot tea that’ll make Urban Meyer look likes child’s play. But Tony D’Angelo walks in and says if she really wants some eyes on her show, have him as her very first guest. Well, she’ll think about it. And she loves him in that new Sopranos prequel. Anyways… Lashing Out was so hot on the internet, she’s why Facebook and Instagram shut down! Will Lash Legend look to break the internet all over again?
Malcolm Bivens properly introduces Diamond Mine.
He will introduce us to each individual member and explain just what makes them special and why you should fear them. First up, their coach, Hideki “Hachiman” Suzuki! He teaches everyone how to be better versions of themselves. Hailing from Japan, he has blessed every continent with his presence and has left bodies in every single corner. He’s won more titles than Tom Brady, and he could kick Tom Brady’s ass. Hachiman says “Diamond Mine has just begun to climb the mountain called NXT. Keep an eye on us.”
Next, their newest member, Ivy Nile. She is half human, half Pitbull and has the greenlight to knock out every single woman in NXT. The star of the Titan Games, a mixed martial artist and a fitness competition veteran. More chiseled than Adonis (of myth, not Ashante Thee Adonis; but maybe him, too). She knows Bivens saw something in her. She is more powerful than ever. And don’t tell anyone but these two are Bivens’ favorites: the modern day embodiments of #RuthlessAgression, Julius & Brutus, the Creed Brothers. Division I athletes, All Americans and national champions. When you win as much as they have, you just stop counting. You can try to, but you won’t keep up.
And of course, last but not least, the centerpiece of Diamond Mine and the NXT Cruiserweight Champion, Roderick Strong. This group is special. They have taken him to new heights, and the title proves that. If you get in their way, you will regret it! #DiamondMineForever!
Raquel Gonzalez is here!
The NXT Women’s Champion apparently didn’t find Toxic Attraction in the back, but will she call them out to the ring? We find out, after the break.
NXT returns and Samantha Irvin is in the ring with Raquel to congratulate her on retaining the title last week, but brings up Toxic Attraction’s attack. Raquel stomps Sam there and says, “Message received. Toxic Attraction has been making headlines. But Mandy, has all that hair-dye seeped into your brain? Do you know who you jumped last week?!” Mandy’s made waves for what? A month? Raquel’s dominated the division for almost a YEAR. This title is not a fashion accessory, chicita. This means you’re the best female in the best division in the BUSINESS. If Mandy thinks Sarray busted her up with a dropkick, mi amore, touch the title again and you will be posing for a body cast!
As for her little- Oh speaking of! Here comes Toxic Attraction! Mandy tells Raquel to please stop. Mandy used to admire Raquel’s strength, tenacity and ambition. And say “What?” again if you don’t think she’s the sexiest woman alive! Fans still go “What?” so guess that means they don’t. But Raquel, now Mandy sees her as just desperate. “A desperate champion that knows her title reign is coming to an end.” And these idle threats simply fall on the floor. So just know Toxic Attraction is taking over. Not even the “unstoppable’ Raquel will slow them down. But it’s not Raquel’s fault! Gigi says Mandy is championship material! As are her and Jacy. Raquel can’t help but stare in awe!
Raquel can’t help but stare in awe at the stitches Gigi has in her head from Raquel bashing her with the title! Gigi storms up but Jacy laughs the insult off. Clearly, they can add jealousy along to desperation. And if Raquel has been living under a rock, which it looks like she has… They’re all over Raw AND SmackDown! They’re the faces of NXT 2.0 now! And soon enough, they will be holding all~ the gold in NXT! They’re not just Toxic Attraction, they’re THE attraction! Mandy and Jacy join Gigi in flanking the ring again, just like last week. Shall they have some fun? Ladies, if you will. Raquel is ready just like last time, too, and asks who wants stitches this time.
But wait! Here come Io Shirai and Zoey Stark! The NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions won’t let Toxic Attraction do what they want! As such, Toxic Attraction step back and back away from a fair fight. When will they throw down with the champions for their crowns?
Wagner talks with Kyle in the back.
Kyle ices his shoulder and Wagner says next week, it’s them against Holland & Dunne. Whether Kyle likes it or not, Wagner’s the only one watching Kyle’s back. Will Kyle let himself trust again in order to get even with his enemies?
Raquel talks with Shirai and Stark backstage.
The champ appreciates the help from the champs, but she didn’t need their help. Well it kinda looked that way to them. Shirai says she dislikes Toxic Attraction way more than she dislikes Raquel. Stark keeps the peace and says that they ARE the champions here. But Persia & Indi walk in to remind Shirai & Stark that Toxic Attraction aren’t the only ones the champs should worry about. Indi points at the belt, Shirai slaps that finger away. Raquel lets them talk this out and heads off. Stark asks if Shirai remembers how they got the belts. Oh right, that’s from beating Indi! Yeah, but Persia says there’s fresh blood in the water now.
Shirai says the only gold they will ever wear here are on Indi’s finger, and on Persia’s ears. Stark likes that sick burn and the champs head out. But will the Aussie besties best the champions when they finally get in the ring together?
NXT Tag Team Championships Fatal 4 Way Elimination: MSK VS Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen VS Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams VS Grizzled Young Veterans!
Briggs & Brooks make their entrances first but this match is all about who is last in the ring! Will the tag division still be must-see? Or will Wes Lee & Nash Carter be completely boxed out of the decision before the night is over?
NXT returns and GYV make their entrance. Zack Gibson & James Drake join Briggs, Brooks, and even Melo & Trick who are already in the ring. MSK now make their entrance, confident despite this being the biggest challenge of their reign. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and in this kind of Fatal 4, only two teams are active. As such, Lee steps up for the champs and Liverpool’s Number One starts with him. Fans are fired up already as Gibson and Lee tie up. Gibosn waistlocks, trips Lee then knuckle locks. Lee pushes up from the cover to then sunset flip, ONE! Gibson runs into a takedown and cover, ONE! Lee avoids the sweep and headlocks!
Gibson powers out but Carter tags in! MSK Blitz, topped off with the DOUBLE STOMPS! Carter knuckle locks, CHOPS and goes up to FLYING ARM-DRAG! Gibson wants things to slow down, and Melo tags in. Melo has the fans on his side but things speed up in the ring. Melo rolls off, boots then ENZIGURIS! Melo runs to springboard SLINGBLADE! Fans fire up as Melo tags his boy, and Trick runs with him to DOUBLE STOMP Carter down! Trick gives Melo the assist for the springboard LEG DROP! Trick covers, TWO! Carter shoves him away, Brooks tags in. Brooks and Trick fire up and talk trash, then Trick SLAPS Brooks!
Trick says he’d punk Brooks’ ass out, but then Brooks fires off haymakers on Trick’s punk ass! Trick blocks, spins, and body shots! Then UPPERCUTS! Then runs, to LEAPING LARIAT! Fans fire up with Trick, then tag to Melo. Melo BOOTS Brooks, runs, but into a BIG atomic drop! Tag to Briggs, he and Brooks DOUBLE SHOULDER! Tag to Trick, he gets DOUBLE BOOTS! Briggs stays clear of GYV’s corner as James Drake swipes at him, but he and Brooks then DOUBLE HIP TOSS GYV in! Brooks ‘n’ Briggs SPLASH Trick and Drake, then SPLASH Melo and Gibson! They fire up and then things calm down. Briggs tags Wes in to let him “do the flip!”
Lee takes advantage of this and FLIES out onto Melo ‘n’ Trick! Fans fire up, Lee “welcomes’ Trick to the division and throws him in! Hot tag to Carter, he gets Trick up, MUST-SEE BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, MSK ELIMINATES Trick & Melo! One team down, three to go! MSK watches both opposing teams closely as NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and fans chant, “WE WANT MELO!” but are getting Gibson putting Lee in a corner. Lee hits back with body shots, but he runs into a scoop! Lee slips off, reaches out, but Gibson keeps him from the other teams to CLOBBER him! Gibson DECKS Carter, tags in Drake, and GYV gets Lee up. Feed to a clinch, Gibson goes up, MISSILE DROPKICK COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, TWO!! Lee lives and GYV is frustrated. Drake drags Lee up, tags Gibson, and they wrench and whip Lee for a DOUBLE LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Gibson scowls and looms over Lee. Gibson pushes Lee around while talking trash, then throws a forearm to put Lee back in the corner.
Gibson CLUBS Lee, ROCKS him with a right, then tags in Drake. They double whip, but Lee holds ropes to BOOT Gibson down! Drake blocks Lee’s path to Carter, but Lee waistlocks and swings around to tag in Carter after all! Carter rallies on GYV and fans fire up! Carter CHOPS Drake, whips but Drake reverses. Drake hurdles but Carter YANKS him out of the air, and then DEADLIFT GERMAN SUPLEXES! Drake flounders to a corner, Carter runs in and KNEES him, to a rolling snapmare and PENALTY KICK! STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, Gibson drags Drake out! Carter goes to the corner and SUPERKICKS Gibson into Drake! Then ARIHARA MOONSAULTS!
Fans fire up as Carter takes out both GYV! Carter puts Drake in the ring but Gibson anchors Carter’s foot! Carter kicks Gibson away but runs into a waistlock from Drake. Carter elbows, Drake whips and Gibson tags in, but so does Brooks! GYV get Carter to jump, into a TICKET TO MAYHEM! Cover, but Carter’s no longer legal! Briggs storms in to shove Drake out! Gibson realizes who is behind him too late, and turns around into Brooks’ ROLLING HAYUMAKER! Brigs choke grips, he and Brooks combine for a CHOKE BOMB!! Cover, Briggs & Brooks ELIMINATE Grizzled Young Veterans! And now, it’s just them and the champs!
Lee makes sure Carter is okay and then he squares off with Brooks. Lee rushes in and punches low, then fires off palm strikes and KICKS! DROPKICK! Brooks wobbles, Lee runs but Brooks CLOBBERS him with an uppercut! Tag to Briggs, Brooks gets Lee up and Briggs runs, BOOT RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO!! Lee survives and Briggs can’t believe it! Fans fire up for MSK as Briggs drags Lee up. Briggs CLUBS Lee, tags Brooks, “This is Awesome!” as Brooks ‘n’ Briggs whip. DOUBLE CHOKE SLAM!! But Brooks ‘n’ Briggs ain’t done, they get Lee back up. CHOKE- NO! Carter tackles Briggs outta the ring! Lee RANAS Brooks down for a cover, MSK wins!!
Winners: MSK, by pinfall (still NXT Tag Team Champions)
The big bad hosses can’t believe how close they were to the titles! They get the belts, but they show respect to the champs by handing the belts to them. Have MSK finally gotten the division to see them as the champions they are? But wait, IMPERIUM attacks from behind! Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner are furious they weren’t anywhere near this match, and they give Carter a SPINEBUSTER to PENALTY KCIK! They stack Lee and Carter, Briggs ‘n’ Brooks run Imperium off! Will the Impeccable German & Pride of Italy get their shot at the gold? Or will MSK make another team respect their champions?
My Thoughts:
A great episode for NXT, especially for this 2.0 era. We got some good stuff out of the women’s division, with Mandy VS Ember opening the night in a fast but strong match. Raquel and Toxic Attraction have a good segment, especially with Shirai & Stark stepping in. Though, I feel like pacing and order of events is screwed up in the typical RawDown way. Toxic Attraction should’ve called out the champs before facing them, but with NXT having to rebuild their women’s tag division, there wasn’t really any other team to fill the gaps. Six Woman Tag should happen just because, and then we can see Indi & Persia get into the ring as a team along the way.
That random moment with Tian Sha turning into a match was very RawDown, but I bet that means Mei Ying ruins things for Indi & Persia. If only Xia Li was staying in NXT. Tian Sha as a women’s team would’ve been really good for this brand. Maybe Indi & Persia have their first match as a team against KC Squared. Even though Indi was a former champ, Persia still has to show her skills. Though, like that seems to matter when Briggs & Brooks, as well as Trick & Melo, got to be part of a title match when they’d yet to have tag matches anywhere. The main event was great all the same, but I’m both a bit surprised and disappointed it was Briggs & Brooks who made it to the end.
At the same time, MSK retaining to be attacked by Imperium, it makes sense that other Faces were still present to help MSK out. MSK VS Imperium is going to be great, who knows who wins there. Now we just need to see Walter be full-time in NXT 2.0 and he goes after the top title. Yes, Ciampa is facing Bron Breakker at this year’s Halloween Havoc, but I really hope Ciampa isn’t losing Goldie so soon after getting her back. Bron did great in his promo, at least, and he is still so very much “Rex Steiner” despite going in a different direction with his name. Gacy wants after the title, too, which is natural.
Gacy had a very good match with Jiro, and apparently that was Parker Boudreaux staring at him from the audience. Gacy will have a good match with Ciampa but I wonder if Boudreaux (Harland in NXT, I believe) gets involved in any way. Dunne VS Grimes was a good match, Kyle going after Holland makes sense, and then Wagner being there to help Kyle also makes sense. Wagner seems a little bland in delivering his promos but maybe he’s just getting comfortable on screen. Their match with Dunne VS Holland could even be Holland’s good-bye since he’ll be going to SmackDown cuz Vince wants that Yorkshire BEEF.
D’Angelo VS Malik was a really good match, and the fans really loved it because Malik is a local guy and for whatever reason, they’ve taken a liking to “Ey, oh, ey!” Tony. But Lash Legend did have a good Sopranos burn. We got quite the promo vignette out of Diamond Mine, and good promos from Legado and Hit Row. Escobar is definitely taking the title off Swerve but I hope they have an awesome match in the process. Swerve losing on the way out is fitting wrestling tradition, and that can make him hungry on SmackDown to go after the Intercontinental Championship. Escobar can then have a fresh run with a title, taking on just about anyone left in NXT 2.0.
My Score: 8.8/10
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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.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The New Day VS The Alpha Academy; wins and advance to WrestleMania.
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Awesome Truth VS Indus Sher; win(s) and advance to WrestleMania.
- Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax; 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?
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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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