Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE NXT UK Results & Report! (12/30/21)

Happy New Year’s from NXT UK!

Published

2 years ago

December 30, 2021

Steven Mitchell

NXT UK was Pretty Deadly in 2021!

The holiday retrospective continues as former NXT UK Tag Team Champions, Pretty Deadly, take over and give us more of the Best of 2021!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

2/25/21 – NXT UK Tag Team Championships: Gallus VS Pretty Deadly; Pretty Deadly wins and are the new NXT UK Tag Team Champions.
6/24/21 – Triple Threat: Joe Coffey VS Rampage Brown VS Ilja Dragunov; Dragunov wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

“Yes, boy!”

Pretty Deadly welcome us to the New Year’s Eve edition of the “Pretty Deadly Power Hour,” aka NXT UK. And what a year! They’re taking a look back at the greatest moments of 2021, and honestly one of the greatest moments of all time. And of course, they’re talking about themselves!

NXT UK Tag Team Championships: Gallus VS Pretty Deadly!

Markus and Wolfie have held onto these belts for a long time, and admittedly from circumstances out of their control. But after a long road, Lewis Howley & Sam Stoker have found their way to challenging that status quo! Will it be Gallus Boys or #YESBOY on top after tonight?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and the make-or-break on a near 500 day reign begins!

The teams sort out, Mark Coffey starts with Sam Stoker. They circle, tie up, and then break. They tie up again, still a deadlock, so they break again. They circle, tie up, and now Coffey pushes Stoker to a corner. The ref calls for a break, they do let off, but both have their dukes up. Coffey backs off, circles with Stoker again and they tie up. Stoker tries to push Coffey but Coffey pushes him back. Stoker and Howley talk and decide to tag. Howley and Coffey tie up now, Coffey throws Howley down and has the arm. Tag to Wolfgang, he takes the hand-off and wrenches. Howley waistlocks, Wolfgang switches but Howley switches back to CLUB Wolfgang on the back.

Wolfgang just glares at Howley, but Howley waistlocks him again. Wolfgang throws Howley off and wrenches the arm to then arm-drag him! Wolfgang has the arm, fights off Howley’s headscissor attempts, and he tags Coffey back in. Coffey takes the hand-off to wrench and yank the arm, but Howley rolls to ROCK Coffey! Tag to Stoker but Stoker runs into an arm-drag! Coffey grinds the arm, Stoker gets up, tags Howley back in but Coffey reverses the whip to arm-drag! Howley runs in to snapmare but Coffey boots from below! Coffey arm-drags again, grinds the arm, and wrenches Howley. Tag to Wolfgang. he gets the hand-off and wrenches to an elbow breaker!

Howley endures, rolls, and gets a headlock. Wolfgang endures the grind, powers up but Howley thrashes about. Howley hits the takeover but Wolfgang gets a cover! ONE, Wolfgang gets the leg and tags in Coffey! Gallus give Howley a DOUBLE MONKEY FLIP! AKA, a Cornish Toss! Howley bails out, Stoker runs in, but Gallus sends him right out! Pretty Deadly regroups to cool off while Gallus stands tall in the ring. The ref counts, Wolfgang goes back to his corner while Stoker coaches Howley up. Howley gets in, circles with Coffey, and Coffey headlocks. Howley powers out, Coffey runs him over but Howley drops then hurdles to hip toss! Howley runs and rams Coffey!

Coffey drops to a knee, but drops lower to then come back with a hip toss! Cover, TWO, but Coffey tags Wolfgang. Gallus mugs Howley, Wolfgang ROCKS Howley with a EuroUpper, then whips him to a corner! Stoker saves Howley from the corner splash! Wolfgang ends up stuck on the top rope, Howley runs in to TOP SHELF KNEE! Tag to Stoker, Pretty Deadly double whip Wolfgang to DOUBLE LARIAT him! Pretty Deadly coordinate but Wolfgang fights off their combo move! Wolfgang scoops Stoker but Howley makes the save before Coffey tags in! The ref keeps this from turning into a scrap, but Wolfgang is ready for Stoker’s sucker punch!

Wolfgang throws hands then TOSSES Stoker! Stoker grabs at a buckle pad but Wolfgang CLUBS him, then TOSSES him the other way! Stoker still wants after a buckle pad but Wolfgang yanks him out of the corner. Howley goes after that open corner’s pad but Wolfgang goes after Howley! Stoker runs in to KNEE Wolfgang out of the ring! Wolfgang falls hard, Coffey backs Howley off but the ref tells them all to go to their corners. Howley POSTS Wolfgang in the distraction! Howley drags Wolfgang up, puts him in, and then Stoker stomps Wolfgang! Tag to Howley, Pretty Deadly bring Wolfgang up but Wolfgang fights them again! But they give Wolfgang a DOUBLE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

Howley stomps Wolfgang over and over, tags Stoker back in, and they drag Wolfgang back up for a mugging. Stoker rains down hands and stomps, then tags Howley back in. Stoker sits Wolfgang up for Howley to BOOT him! Howley drops ax handles and a leg, then covers, TWO! Howley drags Wolfgang up with an arm and wrenches to an elbow breaker! Howley hammerlocks an arm and RAMS Wolfgang into buckles! Howley chokes Wolfgang at the ropes, the ref counts and Howley lets off. Cover, ONE, and Wolfgang throws body shots. Howley rams Wolfgang into the Pretty Deadly corner, Stoker tags in, and Stoker runs in to UPPERCUT Wolfgang! Cover, TWO!

Stoker facelocks Wolfgang, grinds him down, gets the arm and pulls on it. Tag to Howley and he elbows Wolfgang in the ribs. Wolfgang gets up to ROCK Howley, but Stoker swipes at Wolfgang! Wolfgang DECKS Stoker but Howley attacks! Howley throws knees, hauls Wolfgang up the corner, but Wolfgang hits back, and hits a SPLASH to Howley while he’s standing! Howley is pancaked, but he anchors Wolfgang’s feet! Wolfgang boots Howley but Stoker tags in to intercept! Wolfgang back drops Stoker away! Stoker tags Howley, both Pretty Deadly leap for Wolfgang, but Wolfgang gets the hot tag to Coffey! Coffey rallies on Pretty Deadly with forearms and shoulders!

Wolfgang hits a FULL NELSON SLAM on Howley, then a SNAP SUPLEX on Stoker! Howley runs into a clinch, Coffey throws body shots then whips Howley corner to corner for the running EuroUpper! LARIAT! Coffey shoves Howley to hit a FLYING BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Howley lives but Coffey drags him up to wrench and Russian Leg Sweep! Cover, TWO! Coffey drags Howley up, wrenches and crotch lifts but Howley turns that suplex into a sunset flip! TWO, Howley ducks Coffey to tag Stoker! Stoker runs but into a BOOT, and a BIG back suplex! Cover TWO! Stoker survives and BT Sports Studio fires up! Coffey drags Stoker up, choke grips but Stoker slips out of the slam!

Coffey standing switches, but Howley tags in! Coffey covers Stoker but Howley BOOTS him! Howley fireman’s carries Coffey to the ASSISTED GUT BUSTER!! Cover, TWO!! Coffey survives but Howley drags him back up! Coffey wrenches out, whips and GAMANGIRIS Howley down hard! Howley sits up in a daze, Wolfgang is back on the corner, Coffey tags Wolfgang in! Gallus coordinates, CATAPULT SAMOAN DROP! Wolfgang MOONSAULTS!! Cover, but Stoker breaks it in time!! Wolfgang throws Stoker to the apron, Coffey runs in but Stoker jumps the baseball slide! Wolfgang DECKS Stoker and Coffey catches him, for an APRON CHOKE SLAM!

Wolfgang goes back to Howley, but into a small package! TWO!! Wolfgang SPEARS Howley down! Cover, TWO!?! Howley is still in this and so is Pretty Deadly! Wolfgang tags Coffey in, Gallus drags Howley up to feed to a scoop. Somehow, Stoker is back up and in! Coffey DECKS him, but Howley slips off Wolfgang and dodges him to CLOBBER Coffey! Wolfgang LARIATS Howley outside, Stoker SLAPS Wolfgang! Wolfgang chases Stoker out of the ring, they go around and Howley POUNCES Wolfgang over the barriers!! Howley tags Stoker but Coffey dodges his corner attack to kick Howley low!

Coffey whips Howley at Stoker, but Stoker goes up. Howley gives Stoker a boost to hit a CODE BREAKER on Coffey!! Cover, TWO!?!? Coffey survives that Pretty Deadly combo, but Howley has an idea! He tosses Stoker a tag title belt! The ref is busy with Stoker while Howley has the other belt! Coffey dodges the belt shot to POLISH HAMMER Howley! The ref is busy putting the one belt away as Stoker runs at Coffey, TORNADO DDT on the second belt!! Pretty Deadly hides the evidence and Stoker tags Howley in!! SPILT MILK!!! Cover off the neckbreaker spinebuster combo, Pretty Deadly wins!!

Winners: Pretty Deadly, by pinfall (NEW NXT UK Tag Team Champions)

#YESBOY indeed! Because yes, boy, Gallus’ reign ends at 497! Is this going to be the beginning of a Pretty Deadly Era?

Pretty Deadly reacts to their win.

Yes! The greatest achievement of their careers: winning the NXT UK Tag Team Championships. Though starring in the west end hit of Magic Mike was pretty good, too. Then there was starring on Celebrity Mash-Up, and being voted GQ’s co Sexiest Man Alive 2021. The cameraman says that last one didn’t happen, but they tell him to shush. Just roll the video. It’s of course a video tribute to Pretty Deadly during their time as NXT UK Tag Team Champions. But then the video takes a turn into the rise of Moustache Mountain towards those titles.

Tyler Bate & Trent Seven climbed up to get a rematch with Pretty Deadly, and on December 9th, history was made! Moustache Mountain took the NXT UK Tag Team Championships for their own!

NXT UK superstars wish us a Happy New Year!

Dave Mastiff is first to wish us all a Happy New Year. He knows many people will be making resolutions this year in an attempt to become better people. He’s no different. TO SE TEAMING WITH Jack Starz, he’s learned he needs to smile a little bit more. And that will be his resolution. He does his best but obviously he still needs to work on it. And speaking of Starz, he’s getting in another workout before the year is over. Starz says even though it’ll be a new year, it’ll be much of the same. Same drive, same vision, same dogged mentality. But there will be one thing that changes: he and Mastiff will become NXT UK Tag Team Champions!

Ashton Smith wishes us a Happy New Year, and 2022 won’t have resolutions. The goal remains the same! Ready and forward, always forward! Saxon Huxley says he’ll stomp his way into the new year, and the NXT UK Universe will be saying, “There he goes.” Primate says Christmas has come and gone, now we’re on to New Year’s. And his resolution is to inflict as much pain and suffering as possible! A-Kid wishes a Happy New Year in English and Spanish, and says his resolution will be to get back to the Heritage Cup.

Next week starts the year off big!

The first NXT UK of 2022, and the NXT UK Women’s Championship is on the line! Will Ichiban Gaijin, Blair Davenport, be the one to dethrone the Final Boss, Meiko Satomura? Or will it be easy peasy for the Best in the World to stay on top?

More NXT UK superstars wish us a Happy New Year!

THE NXT UK Champion, Ilja Dragunov, wishes everyone the very best and С новым годом (S novym godom), aka Happy New Year in Russian. Oliver Carter is ready to show why he and Ashton are “the freshest flavor on the brand and the hottest tag team under the sun.” Rohan Raja says, “What is Rohan Raja’s New Year’s resolution?” Well in 2021, Die Familie destroyed Gallus, so in 2022, they’re going to destroy the whole roster! Sam Gradwell says he has some resolutions: he vows to become a master of the paranormal and a certified exorcist so there won’t be any demons running around; and he vows to rattle ya jowls, wobble ya kidneys, and become top of the NXT UK roster. So Happy New Year, and don’t be a yogurt.

Nathan Frazer supposes his resolution is to take that next step. He won’t just be another guy on the roster, he will be THE guy. He knows he can do it, so he’ll do it. And Amale wishes us a Happy New Year, and that all our dreams come true.

Pretty Deadly returns!

The special continues, and this is the only show not hosted this year by James Gordon. Good one, Sam. But this will be the last of them for today as they move on to THE NXT UK Championship. This year started with the dominant reign of Walter! A video tribute plays to Walter’s reign, but also notes the Triple Threat that eventually led to his TakeOver 36 challenger.

Triple Threat: Joe Coffey VS Rampage Brown VS Ilja Dragunov!

Each man in this main event have faced the Ring General, Walter, in the past. Each man has proven their merit, as well as their toughness and aggression, time and time again. But now, all three will collide in one match! Who will prove they are the most fearsome, most violent, and perhaps most worthy of another round with the NXT UK Champion?

The bell rings and the three circle. Coffey and Rampage focus on each other in the stare down, but Dragunov cuts in with a shove. Coffey HEADBUTTS Dragunov but Rampage ROCKS Coffey! Rampage whips, Coffey whips him back, then back drops Rampage! Dragunov knees and CLUBS Coffey then fires off body shots in a corner. Coffey swings but into a waistlock. Coffey wrenches free, whips Dragunov but Dragunov elbows him away. Dragunov runs but into a pop-up EuroUpper! Coffey runs to EuroUpper Rampage in a corner, then runs corner to corner, into Dragunov’s BOOT! Rampage BOOTS Coffey down, then catches Dragunov’s leap into a SPINNING POWERSLAM!

Rampage goes back after Coffey with CHOPS! Rampage whips, Coffey reverses, clinch and OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Rampage gets to a corner. Dragunov JUMP KIJCKS Coffey! Dragunov KNEES Coffey in the corner, then hits a HALF HATCH SUPLEX! BT Sports Studio fires up as Rampage and Dragunov stare down now. Dragunov rushes in but into a scoop. Dragunov slips free, goes after an arm, but Rampage holds him off. Dragunov uses a leg to hook and roll Rampage, and then he throws down hammering elbows! Dragunov floats to a facelock but Rampage tosses him to Coffey! GERMAN SUPLEX! Coffey tells Rampage to finish this themselves!

The two behemoths ram shoulders again and again, but Rampage gets the edge and dropkicks Coffey down! Rampage runs in but Coffey TACKLES him to a corner! And then hits a SPINEBUSTER! Coffey has the legs and turns Rampage for a BOSTON CRAB! Rampage endures as Coffey shouts, “NO MERCY!” Dragunov gets back in and he throws forearms on Coffey! Coffey holds onto Rampage so Dragunov gives boxing elbows! And a CHOP! Coffey eggs Dragunov on so Dragunov runs to BOOT Coffey! Rampage gets free, Dragunov gets Coffey’s arm for a knuckle lock and he CHOPS away on Coffey’s neck and shoulders!

Coffey throws body shots back! Body shot for CHOP, back and forth! They ram shoulders, Rampage barges in but he gets DOUBLE CHOPS! Rampage comes back to DOUBLE LARIAT! BT Sports Studio is thunderous already as Rampage gets both men in facelocks! Both Dragunov and Coffey fight back but Rampage fights off the double suplexes to GIVE DOUBLE SUPLEXES! Rampage’s strength might be the most of all three, and he gets Coffey up. Coffey resists the Doctor Bomb but Rampage CLUBS him! Rampage tries again but Coffey back drops Rampage out of the ring! Coffey steadies himself, dodges Dragunov’s clothesline!

Coffey comes back but Dragunov hip tosses to a cover! ONE, but Dragunov keeps on with a chinlock. Coffey fights free, but Dragunov hits an URAKEN! Then Dragunov spins to CHOP Coffey’s leg! Dragunov pump handles Coffey for a GOTCH LIFT GERMAN!! Bridging cover, TWO!! Coffey narrowly escapes that perfect form but Dragunov stomps him down. Dragunov snarls and sputters as he goes to a corner but is side won’t let him climb. Dragunov STOMPS Coffey to keep him down, and he tries to climb again. Coffey UPPERCUTS him first! Coffey climbs, CLUBS Dragunov on the back, but Dragunov forearms back! Coffey stays up but Dragunov CHOPS him!

Rampage slips in as the other two brawl. Dragunov HEADBUTTS Coffey down, Rampage SAMOAN DROPS Coffey! Rampage sees Dragunov get up so he gets out of the way, SUPER BACK SENTON crashes down on Coffey! Rampage runs in but Dragunov goes Matrix to PELE Rampage! Coffey gets Dragunov’s leg, Rampage hauls Dragunov up, Rampage SPINEBUSTERS Dragunov onto Coffey! Coffey writhes but Rampage covers him, TWO!! Coffey survives and BT Sports Studio rallies back up. Coffey drags Dragunov up to ROCK him with a right! Dragunov CHOPS back! Rampage CHOPS Dragunov off his feet! But Dragunov gets up to egg him on! Rampage DECKS Dragunov!

Rampage drags Dragunov up but Dragunov fires off point-blank lariats! Rampage DECKS Dragunov again! Rampage swings, Dragunov blocks, runs and fires off clotheslines! Rampage SUPERKICKS?! Rampage whips but Dragunov tiger feints for the CONSTANTINE SPECIAL! Rampage falls and BT Sports Studio fires up again! Dragunov sees Coffey’s Spear coming and KNEES him down! Dragunov’s berserker rage is boiling back up! Rampage staggers up, Dragunov is up top and he leaps for a COAST2COAST MISSILE DROPKICK! “GALLUS BOYS ON TOP!!” GLASGOW SENDOFF sends Dragunov into Rampage!

Rampage falls out of the ring, and Dragunov flops out after. Dragunov goes after Rampage, they brawl, but Coffey goes up and up and CROSSBODIES onto them!! Dragunov and Rampage are down but Coffey is up first. Coffey puts Dragunov in, gets up the steps, and then up top again! Coffey leaps to SHOTGUN MISSILE DROPKICK! But he has to crawl to the cover, TWO!! Both Coffey and Dragunov are down but the BT Sports Studio rallies up. Coffey stands to throw hands on Dragunov. Dragunov ENZIGURIS back! Dragunov writhes from landing hard, bot he and Coffey just glare at each other. They go forehead to forehead, then fire forearm after forearm!

Coffey ROCKS Dragunov but he stays up! ALL THE BEST- NO! Dragunov JUMP KICKS Coffey! But Coffey stays up to rebound and EUROUPPER! Dragunov tumbles and sits up in a daze. Coffey is up on the opposite end and BT Sports Studio is electric as the two fire up! Dragunov runs in, but Torpedo Moscow gets ALL THE BEST FOR THE BELLS! Coffey wants a leg but Rampage POUNCES Coffey and himself right out of the ring! Coffey and Rampage ram each other again! And fire off forearms! Coffey BOOTS, Rampage SPINNING POWERSLAMS!! Coffey writhes on the ground, Rampage gets into the ring.

Rampage grins as he has Dragunov alone now. Dragunov slumps over from the pain in his side, but Rampage gets him back up. Dragunov fires off KNEES into Rampage! Step over KNEE, then an ENZIGURI! Rampage staggers about, comes back, but into a SPIENBUSTER! Dragunov rains down furious forearms, then gets Rampage in a waistlock for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Dragunov holds on! Rampages with headlock punches, but Dragunov still gets the second GERMAN SUPLEX! And again Dragunov holds on! Rampage RAMS Dragunov into buckles, but Dragunov hops on to rain down elbows! Coffey slides in, adds on, but Rampage holds ropes!

Rampage elbows Dragunov, switches to get Coffey, DOUBLE GERMAN SUPLEX! Dragunov flops all the way to the apron, and Coffey flounders to a corner! Rampage staggers to an opposite corner as BT Sports Studio says, “This is Awesome!” Rampage runs corner to corner, Coffey dodges and the boot hits buckles! Rampage is stuck, Coffey Electric Chair lifts! Coffey hits an ELECTRIC CHAIR SLAM!! But he can’t make the cover! Coffey slowly rises, Rampage gets up and then Dragunov. ALL THE BEST to Rampage WHILE Dragunov hits Coffey with TORPEDO MOSCOW!! That actually saves Rampage from the worst of Coffey’s attack!

Rampage gets Coffey up and gut wrenches for the DOCTOR BOMB!! Cover, Dragunov breaks it in time! Rampage clamps onto Dragunov, reels him in and gut wrenches, but Dragunov slips free! Dragunov dodges a clothesline to go up a corner, FLYING TORPEDO MOSCOW?!? Cover, DRAGUNOV WINS!!

Winner: Ilja Dragunov, by pinfall

Udivitel’nyy! Russian for amazing, because that reckless, relentless Russian IS amazing! UNBESIEGBAR bests two of the toughest men in the brand, and wait! WALTER is here! Dragunov doesn’t realize it until Walter stands in the ring with him. The NXT UK Champion holds up his belt and wonders if he wants it. Dragunov stands up, and Walter SLAPS him right back down!! Walter stands over Dragunov, and puts him in a SLEEPER!! Walter swings Dragunov up and then drags him right back down to put him out! The Ring General smothers Dragunov but makes him look at the belt. Walter vows he will always be champion, has this preemptive strike made sure of that?

Pretty Deadly reacts.

“What we witnessed there, was what everybody thought was the end of Ilja Dragunov.” Sam Stoker falls back and Lewis Howley says it was not the end! There was a fire lit inside the Czar and he rose from the ashes! Stoker stands back up to note that that moment led to a more dominant Ilja Dragunov, and he was truly UNBESIEGBAR. NXT TakeOver 36, August of 2021, truly a battle for the ages! And in a truly historical moment, Dragunov dethroned the Ring General! And now, The Czar has the Irish Ace coming for him. Jordan Devlin wants to end Dragunov’s reign already, but does he have the grit to stop the man who stopped Walter?

More superstars wish us a Happy New Year.

Kenny Williams says 2022 will go just as 2021: everyone ending up under the boot of the Scum of the Earth! Sha Samuels says, “Oi, oi! What a year, 2021!” Sha makes his NXT UK debut, Noam Dar wins the Heritage Cup, how could it get any better? Sha will tell us how! The odds say 2022 is gonna be an even bigger one. “Happy New Year, mugs. Have a good one. EAST~!” And Xia Brookside says, “You wanna know my New Year’s Resolution? I can’t tell you, because then it won’t come true! Ugh.” Wolfgang says, “New Year, new year. All the best for the bells.”

Eddie Dennis says he’d rather forget 2021, because you’re only as good as your last performance. But all it’ll take is Symbiosis running through Smith & Carter and they’re just a match from getting another dig at Moustache Mountain. He and Trent have a storied history, and Dennis can’t think of a better final chapter than HIS Symbiosis ending this fairy tale of a title reign! Nina Samuels hopes 2022 brings the fans everything they need, because we all know the world needs more Nina.

Pretty Deadly wrap this up.

The dandy highwaymen enjoyed seeing those resolutions and wishes from their fellow superstars, but Sam points out everyone is just hoping for their own fairy tale endings. This isn’t High School Musical, or even High School Musical 2. It’s not even High School Musical 3: Senior Year, or the episodic series, High School Musical: The Musical! But hey, they’re soaring, they’re flying, and we’re all in this together. So thank them, Pretty Deadly, for making this and every episode of NXT UK truly unmissable. Cheers!

My Thoughts:

A really good NXT UK recap episode, though it seems rather odd that they played the Triple Threat match rather than an actual NXT UK title match. But I suppose they already encored Walter VS Dragunov II some time ago so it’d be redundant to do it here. But seeing Gallus VS Pretty Deadly again was a great choice. All good stuff, and we’re jumping right into great stuff next week with the women’s title match and the start of the short tag team tournament.

My Score: 8/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Up Next

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (12/31/21)

Don't Miss

Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (12/29/21)

Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (4/19/24)

Prepare for Backlash!

Published

6 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Steven Mitchell

Did you know that challenger in French is still “challenger?”

In a WrestleMania rematch, AJ Styles takes on LA Knight in a #1 contender’s match, to challenge WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Backlash in France!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s match: AJ Styles VS LA Knight; Styles wins and will challenge Cody Rhodes for the title at Backlash.
SmackDown/WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: The Street Profits VS New Catch Republic VS The Authors of Pain VS Legado Del Fantasma; The Profits win and will challenge A-Town Down Under for the titles.
Carlito w/ Zelina Vega VS Santos Escobar w/ Elektra Lopez; Santos wins.
WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley VS Naomi; Bayley wins, by disqualification, and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s match: AJ Styles VS LA Knight!

After fighting their way through Triple Threats, the Phenomenal One and the Mega Star meet again, YEAH! It’s a WrestleMania Rematch, the winner moving on to Backlash, YEAH! Will AJ Styles avenge his loss at the biggest WrestleMania ever? Or will everyone from here to France know whose game it is?

The bell rings and the two step to each other. The fans in Pittsburgh “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” and Knight lets Styles know it. Styles snarls, they tie up, and they go around. Knight puts Styles in a corner, the ref counts, but Knight lets off slowly. Styles kicks low! The fans boo but Styles headlocks. Knight pulls hair, throws body shots, then headlocks in return. Styles pushes Knight to ropes, powers up and out, then hurdles, drops and DROP- NO, Knight avoids the dropkick to BOOT, and LARIAT! Knight then TOSSES Styles out of the ring, storms out after him, and brings him to commentary. Knight SMACKS Styles off the desk! And again! And again!

The fans chant “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” with every SMACK, then Knight tops it off with one last SMACK! Knight drags Styles up and into the ring, storms in, but Styles KICKS Knight in the ropes! Styles reels Knight in, but Knight back drops Styles up and out! Styles flounders on the floor, Knight runs to WRECK him with a dropkick! Styles hits desk again and Steel City is loving “L! A! KNIGHT, YEAH!” as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Styles soaks up the heat as he taunts Knight. Styles brings Knight up, but Knight fires haymakers! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight backs Styles down, whips, but Styles ducks ‘n dodges! Knight ducks ‘n’ dodges, then DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! Both men are down and the fans fire up. Both men slowly sit up, crawl around, and then stand. Styles fires a shot, but Knight gives it back! The haymakers go back and forth, “YEAH! BOO! YEAH!” Styles staggers but he still ROCKS Knight! Knight ROCKS Styles again and again, but Styles throat chops! Styles fires off the Phenomenal Blitz, but Knight ducks the lariat!

Knight JABS, JABS, JABS, and DECKS Styles! Knight stomps a mudhole in at the corner, “YEAH!” Knight then runs corner to corner to KNEE Styles down! The fans fire up, Knight puts Styles up, and Knight ROCKS Styles. Knight climbs, but Styles ROCKS him back! Knight staggers away, but returns to spring right up! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives that crash but both men are down again. The fans rally as Knight rises, and he brings Styles around. Knight reels Styles in, suplexes, but Styles slips free! Styles goes to a corner, ELBOWS Knight away, then goes up to QUEBRADA DDT! Cover, TWO!

The fans fire up as Knight stays in this and Styles starts losing his cool. The fans rally for Knight but Styles looms over him. Styles brings Knight up and in, but Knight RAMS him into a corner! Knight then scoops Styles, but Styles slips free to roll up, TWO!! Knight escapes, swings, but Styles dodges to PELE! Knight ends up in a corner, Styles runs in, but Knight puts Styles on the apron! Styles ROCKS Knight, springboards, but Knight gets under! Styles comes back, into a scoop and POWERSLAM! Then JUMP ELBOW DROP! The fans fire up with with Knight as he storms around. Styles rises, Knight winds up, B F- NO, Styles bails out!

The fans boo but Knight storms over. Knight drags Styles up but Styles HOTSHOTS him! And pokes him in the eyes! Then ROCKS him! And springboards, to PHENOMENAL FOREARM!! Cover, Styles wins!

Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the Undisputed WWE Championship)

Styles bent the rules, but a win is a win! He will get his shot at the American Nightmare in Lyon, France, will this year’s Backlash be phenomenal?

The Bloodline arrives backstage.

The car pulls up, Solo Sikoa steps out in a suit, and Paul Heyman is there to greet him. Nice threads, Solo. Tama Tonga walks over and Solo says meet the newest member of The Bloodline, Solo’s MFT. The Wise Man is stunned. But Solo cuts him off to ask if Kevin Owens is here. Heyman hesitates and Solo asks again, is Kevin here? If he is, he’s probably already in the locker room. Then take them to him. Heyman obeys and leads on. There have already been changes to the chain of command, is there about to be a change to the landscape of SmackDown, too?

Nick Aldis is in the ring.

In a familiar scene to Monday Night Raw, there is a podium with something under a satin sheet. The SmackDown General Manager welcomes to Pittsburgh the Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque! The fans fire up as The Game makes his way to the ring! HHH joins Aldis in the ring, gets a mic, looks around at the crowd as he revels in the cheers, then says, “On the heels of the biggest, most epic, history making, record breaking, epic, unbelievable WrestleMania of all time, we are here tonight, sold out, 15 thousand strong, Pittsburgh, PA! So let me say, welcome to SmackDown!” The fans cheer that!

HHH wants to take a moment to say that he thinks Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis are both doing great jobs at leading their respective brands into the future. Thank you to both of them. And when we talk about the future, we have to talk about the history made coming into the future. So when history is made, HHH wants it to be represented here befitting of those that make it. So Aldis, if we could, let us bring the… champions out here. Aldis says without further ado, the NEW SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. The fans boo as A-Town Down Under make their way, blue belts in hand.

Theory & Waller join Aldis and HHH in the ring, mics already in hand, and they soak up the heat from Steel City. Waller says this is huge. Monday, we saw the second place champions get new belts. And now A-Town Down Under will be presented new titles! Theory says speaking of truth, didn’t Truth think HHH was a magician? Well, who knows what magic trick HHH has to make these guys look better than they already do, but hey, give it a try. HHH says congratulations on becoming tag team champions, so he will show them what they will wear going forward. From now on, they will be the WWE Tag Team Champions.

Reveal! In the style of the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Era belts, the solid gold shines. HHH offers a handshake, but Waller leaves him hanging to shake Theory’s hand! Aldis makes it clear to them. They ever pop off and disrespect HHH like that, here’s a real magic trick: A-Clown Down Under will disappear, permanently! The fans like the sound of that! Aldis snatches the blue belts away since they won’t need them, and speaking of disappearing, there’s a chance one of the following four teams will make their title reign disappear. That #1 contenders match starts right now! The fans fire up, but which team defies the odds to get some golden tickets to France?

Backstage interview with Naomi.

Kayla Braxton is with The Glow and says last week, she beat Tiffany Stratton to get this title opportunity tonight. Will the friendship with Bayley get in the way of this match? Naomi says no, of course not. Bayley’s her sister, and she needed help against Damage CTRL, so Naomi was more than happy to help. But in no way will friendship get in the way of this opportunity. It has been over two YEARS since Naomi’s last WWE singles championship match, and there is nothing that will get in the way of making the most of this moment. Now last week, Tiffy Time felt the glow, so that same energy keeps going tonight.

Naomi is also looking forward to next week’s WWE Draft, where she will walk in the NEW WWE Women’s Champion. Naomi is ready, but will she be able to best Bayley in Bayley’s first title defense?

WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: The Street Profits VS New Catch Republic VS The Authors of Pain VS Legado Del Fantasma!

SmackDown returns as Legado makes their entrance, followed by Akam & Rezar with the Final Testament. Waller & Theory are on commentary, Waller admitting he wants any team but AOP, and Theory saying these teams are fortunate to have real superstars leading their division. In this form of Fatal 4 Way, only two teams are active, so the Big Strong Boi, Tyler Bate, starts against Montez Ford. They circle, tie up, and Ford headlocks. Bate powers up to pry at the hold but Ford clamps on tighter. Bate powers up and out, drops, but Ford leaps over! The fans cheer, things keep moving, Bate feints high to drop low!

Bate shows knuckle lock, Ford obliges, but Bate wrenches, baits and double pump handles to FLIP Ford! Cover, TWO! Ford gets up to sweep and cover, TWO! Bate steps over, La Magistrol, TWO! Ford gets up, dropkicks cancel out, and both men kip up! The fans fire up and the two reset. But then Humberto Carrillo sneaks a tag, before he DECKS Bate with a sucker punch! Ford dodges Humberto but Angel Garza holds the ropes open! Ford tumbles out, Garza tags in, and Humberto sits Ford up. Garza runs in to KNEE Ford down! The fans boo, Garza drags Ford to a cover, TWO! Garza back suplexes, Ford lands out!

Ford tags Dawkins and he dodges Garza to FLYING ELBOW! Garza tags out to Akam, but then the Bruiserweight, Pete Dunne, tags in off Dawkins! Rezar tags, Dunne runs up but Akam LARIATS him down! Rezar DECKS Dawkins, then the AOP start clearing the corners! But Ford goes up to leap, but into an URENAGE! The fans boo but the AOP roar and soak up the heat. Waller’s worst case scenario might end up reality, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and the fans rally as Ford endures a facelock. Ford fights up, pries at the hold, but Rezar shoves him to ELBOW him down! Rezar talks trash, Waller taunts the Steelers players sitting in the front row that they don’t really know what championships are, and then Rezar sucker punches Dawkins down! Rezar stands Ford up, Canadian Racks and bends him! Ford endures, the fans rally, but Rezar thrashes Ford around! Ford kicks and flails, he gets free, hot tag to Dunne! Bate sneaks a tag, Dunne GAMANGIRIS Akam and then NCR fire off on Rezar! The fans fire up, Humberto runs in, but Dunne dodges to SNAP GERMAN!

Bate & Dunne STOMP Humberto’s hands! Then BASEMENT DROPKICK! Garza runs up, but into the REBOUNDER GERMAN COMBO!! The fans fire up with NCR, but Rezar runs up! He grabs Dunne, but Bate says Bop up, BANG! Bate fireman’s carries Rezar?! But Rezar ELBOWS right free! Dunne GAMANGIRIS, Ford SUPERKICKS, and Dawkins ENZIGIRIS! Rezar wobbles, and everyone helps Bate gets Rezar up! BIG STRONG AIRPLANE SPINE! But then Legado CLOBBER Bate and Rezar! They BOOT Dunne, whip the Profits but the Profits reverse to TOSS Legado out! Ellering coaches Rezar while the Profits regroup.

Bate gets up, Dawkins ROCKS him! Dawkins brings Bate to the very top, but Dunne CLUBS Dawkins! NCR mug Dawkins but Ford joins in! They brawl, but AOP add on! Humberto finds Rezar to tag in, before the DOUBLE TOWER OF DOOM!! Bate’s the only one left up top, so Legado mug him! They double trophy lift Bate, to DOUBLE ROCKET LAUNCH him onto everyone!! Humberto then finds Bate, sunset flips and rewinds, Garza jumps, MISSILE DROPKICK DOOMSDAY! Cover, DUNNE BREAKS IT! “This is Awesome!” as all eight men are down around ringside, and Waller says this is gonna be easy pickings for A-Town Down Under now.

Dunne grabs Garza, Bate has Humberto, STEREO ANKLE LOCKS!! Grapevine for Garza! But Humberto BOOTS Bate onto Dunne! Legado is free, Ellering has AOP regroup, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Rezar CLUBS Dawkins down. Rezar soaks up heat, taunts the other teams, then CLUBS Dawkins again. Rezar brings Dawkins up again, but Dawkins fires off body shots! Rezar KNEES low, reels Dawkins in, talks more trash, and lifts Dawkins up, to POWERBOMB! But then Dunne runs up to ROCK Rezar! Akam gets in to scoop Dunne and SLAM him on Dawkins! Cover, TWO! Rezar looks to Ellering and he coaches AOP. Rezar HAMMERS Dawkins, Akam tags, and AOP get NCR up! The fans boo but NCR RANA free to send AOP into each other! Ford jumps in, as does Garza.

All the teams realize, they gotta do something about AOP. So they all mug AOP! The fans fire up as AOP tumble out, but now who strikes first? Dunne runs up but Garza SUPERKICKS him first! Bate waistlocks Garza and Ford winds up, but Garza ducks so the BACKHAND hits Bate! Garza SUPERKICKS Ford, but Dawkins DECKS Garza! Humberto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! Cover, TWO!! Theory says if A-Town Down Under were in this match, he’d knock everyone out and Waller could just sneak in to cover. Humberto and Dawkins rise and go to corners. Humberto runs up, but Dawkins POUNCES him away!

Dawkins gets Humberto up, Ford returns and tags in! Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts Humberto and Ford climbs! The stars are out for the BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY! Cover, DUNNE BREAKS IT! Another save from the Bruiserweight and Ford is frustrated. Dunne drags Dawkins up to CHOP, but Dawkins ROCKS him! Dawkins whips Dunne out of the ring, but Dunne grabs the arm! And he pulls off the glove so he can SNAP fingers! The fans fire up, but Ford ENZIGIRIS Dunne down! Ford brings Humberto up, Humberto JAWBREAKERS! Bate tags in off Ford, BOOTS Garza, then runs up, but into a POP-UP! But Bate RANAS Humberto!!

Bate then DUMPS Garza out, goes to the apron, and Dunne lines up targets. Bate and Dunne climb, Ford runs in, NCR DOUBLE ARIHARA MOONSAULT while Ford FLIES over the corner post!! Down goes Legado and AOP!! The fans are losing their minds as Bate hurries to get Humberto up. Bate puts Humberto in, reels him in, underhooks, but Humberto fights it! Humberto back drops but Bate lands on his feet! Humberto cradles, TWO! Humberto LARIATS Bate, tag to Garza! Legado gets Bate up, feed to the POP-UP KICK!! #FTY! Humberto then DIVES to take out Dunne! Garza goes up the ropes to LIONSAULT!!

But Ford flies in FROM THE HEAVENS!! The fans are thunderous as everyone is down again! Bate flounders, Dawkins tags in! Dawkins whips Legado, Ford joins in, THE REVELATION!! Cover, PROFITS WIN!

Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the WWE Tag Team Championships)

Waller & Theory are relieved it isn’t AOP, but they still look a bit annoyed that it is Ford & Dawkins. The Profits are Triple Crown Tag Team Champions from Raw to SmackDown to NXT, but will they soon add the WWE Tag Team Championships to make it a grand slam?

Backstage interview with Bayley.

Byron Saxton is with The Role Model, and brings up the emotional moment from Monday Night Raw where Rhea Ripley had to relinquish her title. But let us focus on Bayley’s title, as she defends it for the first time against Naomi. Where is her head at ahead of the main event? Bayley says after seeing Rhea vacate the Women’s World Championship on Raw, Bayley appreciates her reign more. She is focused, and she has realized she’s THE Women’s Champion in WWE right now, something she does not take for granted. Because we all know that with the WWE Draft, things are bound to change.

And as excited as Bayley is to face her friend, Naomi, one thing that won’t change is her as THE WWE Women’s Champion. Bayley is just as confident at Naomi, so something’s gotta give! Will The Role Model #FeelTheGlow? Or will she still be shining with gold after tonight?

Paul Heyman talks with Solo Sikoa.

The Wise Man apologizes that they haven’t found Kevin Owens, but he has to be here somewhere. Just look at the time. They will find him, somewhere. Solo stops listening and heads to gorilla. Heyman follows after, but Solo gives him a look. Heyman says he isn’t trying to upset Solo. Please believe him. The last person on this planet Heyman wants to piss off is Solo. But respectfully, Solo is making decisions that are not his to make, yet. One day, these will all be Solo’s decisions. But not now, not here! These are decisions that can only be made by one man. Solo asks Heyman if he’s done talking. Heyman asks if MFT is coming with Solo.

Solo just gives a thumbs up, with that taped thumb. The music hits and Solo makes his entrance, Heyman still following all the way into the ring. What does the Enforcer have planned? We’ll find out, after the break.

SmackDown returns and Heyman has the mic to give his usual introduction. And he doesn’t know if there is a list of the most brilliant backstage maneuvering politicians int he history of the WWE, but if there were, Heyman would have to think that he personally is in the top… Well, permit Heyman, with Solo’s permission, to explain what’s going on right now within The Bloodline, “the premier act in the history of WWE.” The fans chant, “We Want Roman!” but Solo shrugs that off. Heyman assures us that as The Wise Man for… Heyman gets emotional, so Solo just snatches the mic! The fans boo but Solo paces.

Solo tries to talk but the fans boo. Solo says last week, he had to lose a brother! He had to! It was in order for him to find a new one! His MFT, Tama Tonga! And with that, a bloodied Kevin Owens is tossed out, by the Good Bad Guy! Tama shoves Kevin down the ramp, stalks behind him, and referees rush out to stop him from doing anything further! Kevin can’t even sit up, but Tama steps over him to go to the ring. The fans boo as Tama joins Solo in the ring while the refs help Kevin to his feet and to the back. Tama raises his finger to the sky, because he acknowledges Solo! Heyman has no choice but to go along, but wait! Kevin is heading back down the ramp!?

The fans fire up as Kevin shows his grit and defiance! He drags Tama out to fire off hands!! The fans cheer but then Solo whips Kevin into steel steps! Solo drags Kevin back up, puts him in the ring, but now security rushes in! Tama storms in after Kevin but Kevin TACKLES Tama! The security gets Kevin away from Tama, but Solo SAMOAN SPIKES Kevin down!! The fans boo but then Tama SPLASHES Kevin! Tama rains down fists on that bloody wound, then he DECKS guard after guard! Producers try but Tama is a madman! Tama shoves everyone away so he can slip out of the ring, to grab a chair!!

The fans boo as Tama storms back in, but now Aldis steps up! Aldis warns The Bloodline here, and Solo has Tama stand down. Solo takes the chair from Tama to show they’re done here. The fans chant “YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!” but the damage is done. Solo & Tama are a dangerous duo, will nothing and no one stop them from taking over SmackDown?

Heyman goes to the parking lot.

He’s in shock, but Aldis finds him and pulls him along. Was Heyman aware of this? Aldis shows Heyman the aftermath of one car T-boning another! And in case Heyman can’t guess, the struck car was Kevin’s. The attacking car was Tama’s! Heyman says this wasn’t authorized! No, Heyman, Aldis is speaking now. He gets this is a conflict within The Bloodline, but on his show, things are settle din the ring. Next week is the Draft, a lot of eyeballs on it, and a lot top brass are gonna be here. So Aldis will not tolerate this behavior. So make sure The Bloodline understands. Because, Heyman, if you don’t, the repercussions will be equally savage.

Aldis brings Heyman in close to tell him losing isn’t the only thing that has consequences. Will the Wise Man be able to rein in such an unruly force as Solo and Tama?

Carlito w/ Zelina Vega VS Santos Escobar w/ Elektra Lopez!

The LWO still doesn’t believe Legado’s claims that they had nothing to do with Dragon Lee going down before WrestleMania, so they’re going to get to the bottom of this one themselves! Will Caribbean Cool make the Emperor of Lucha confess his crimes? Or will Santos prove he was right all along?

The bell rings and the two talk trash. Then they start throwing hands! Carlito backs Santos down but Santos gets around to whisper something in Carlito’s ear. Carlito ELBOWS Santos away, runs up and hits a THESZ PRESS! Carlito then bumps Santos off buckles, fires hands, then has him in another corner. Carlito whips corner to corner, runs up, but Santos BOOTS him! Santos runs up, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Vega coaches Carlito to stay on Santos and he brings Santos up. Carlito ROCKS Santos, whips, but Santos KICKS him! Santos runs, but into a DROPKICK! Carlito kips up and the fans fire up!

Santos is on the outside, the ref won’t let Carlito go after him, but then Carlito WRECKS Santos with a dropkick! Carlito loads up to PLANCHA! Direct hit on Santos and Carlito hoists Vega up to celebrate! The fans cheer the LWO on as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Santos whips Carlito hard into buckles. Carlito falls over, Santos soaks up the heat, then Santos HEADBUTTS Carlito to a corner. Santos then CHOPS, gets space and runs in, to DOUBLE KNEE! Carlito slumps in the corner but Santos puts him up top! Santos GAMANGIRIS then climbs up! SUPER STEINER! Carlito flounders, Santos pushes him to a cover, TWO! Vega is relieved but Santos huffs and puffs. Santos rains down fists on Carlito, then clamps on a top wristlock. Carlito endures and Vega coaches him while the fans rally. Carlito rises, throws body shots, then LARIATS!

The fans rally as Carlito starts to rally with more clotheslines, and an ELBOW! Carlito kicks, runs, and KNEE LIFTS! Santos wobbles, Carlito LARIATS again! Cover, TWO! Santos is tougher than that but Carlito says he’s going up! Carlito climbs, but then Lopez gets on the apron! Vega storms right over to YANK her down! The fans fire up as Vega goes up, and RANAS, only for Lopez to block! Lopez SWINGS Vega into barriers! Carlito ROCKS Santos, steps in, but the ref is reprimanding Lopez so he misses Santos KICK ropes to jam Carlito low! Santos reels Carlito in to POST him, then brings him back for the fireman’s carry! PHANTOM DRIVER!! Cover, Santos wins!

Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall

La Madrina helps The Emperor steal this victory, them taking down the Caribbean Cool and La Muneca! Whether or not Legado beat down Dragon Lee, will nothing stop them from conquering SmackDown?

VIP Skybox interview with Damage CTRL!

Kayla is with Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai, Kairi Sane & Asuka as they sit way up in the back. What made the former WWE Women’s Champion and crew want a special view of this main event? Dakota takes offense for Iyo with the use of “former” there. Is Kayla trying to disrespect them? Iyo will take that title back when they’re good and ready. But for now, they’re here to watch two people they can’t stand tear each other apart! Does Dakota need to remind everyone here that DMG CTRL is still the most dominant force in the WWE!? The fans boo but Dakota says the Kabuki Warriors are STILL the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, and that will not change-

WAID! Jade Cargill is here! She makes her entrance from the other skybox, with Bianca Belair alongside her! The strongEST duo argues with DMG CTRL, their own title intentions clear. But for now, it’s time for the main event! Who shines with gold here in the Steel City? We find out, after the break!

Cody Rhodes speaks.

The American Nightmare is in the UK as part of Raw’s tour, but he still took time to say, “What is the task? Run up the score, leave no doubt, right? Formerly, the task was ‘win the big belt, in the big place.’ We’ve done that. Now, it’s a whole new frontier for us, undiscovered country.” There’s an old expression: the title can make the man, or the man makes the title. Which will it be for Cody? He’s in London tonight, the O2, 16 THOUSAND, then it’s on to Belfast, Ireland. Cody is keeping his promise to bring this title all around the world. Back home, AJ Styles has emerged the #1 contender to this championship.

So then, it will be two Georgia boys duking it out in Lyon, France. The first time ever, at that. Styles has an unprecedented reputation in pro-wrestling. The modern day Excellence of Execution, if you will. Styles rarely misses. But the same goes for Cody. So Backlash in France, Cody looks forward to it. The contract signing is next week, even as the WWE Draft is going on! Will things be explosive when American Nightmare and Phenomenal One meet face to face?

WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley VS Naomi!

SmackDown returns and Bayley makes her entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and either we shine or we glow!

The bell rings, the fans rally, and the two circle. The two tie up, go around, and Bayley headlocks. Naomi powers up but Bayley wrenches to wristlock. Naomi slips through, rolls Bayley up, ONE!! The fans rally as the two go again. Naomi waistlocks, Bayley headlocks to hit a takeover, and she makes it a cover, TWO! Naomi fights up to her feet, powers up but Bayley wrenches gain. Naomi waistlocks, O’Conner Rolls, ONE! Both women get up, Naomi ducks the boot but Bayley arm-drags her around! Bayley has the cording hold, the fans rally up, and Naomi fights to her feet. Naomi whips Bayley away, but Bayley runs her over!

The fans cheer and Bayley tells DMG CTRL she’s watching them, too. Things speed up, Naomi does the splits to duck under, then she comes back to kick from below! She drags Bayley into a cradle, ONE!! Bayley hurries to step over, LA MAGISTROL! ONE!! Naomi and Bayley get up, Naomi trips Bayley to jackknife, ONE!! Ghost pin, TWO! Both women hurry up, DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! The fans rally while both women are down, evenly matched in this chess game so far. Both women rise, and Naomi SHOTGUNS first! Then she runs up, uses the ropes to slingshot and BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Naomi is frustrated but keeps her focus.

Naomi drags Bayley up, Bayley shoves her away. Naomi dodges the lariat to hit REAR VIEW! Cover, TWO!! Bayley survives but Naomi lets her know it was that close, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Bayley whips Naomi to a corner, runs in, but into a BOOT! Bayley gets up, Naomi runs up, JAWBREAKER! Bayley ends up in a corner now, Naomi runs in, and she forearm SMASHES! Naomi then runs Bayley corner to corner for a BUCKLE BULLDOG! Naomi slips out to the apron while Bayley flounders, and Naomi climbs. The fans duel as Naomi CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Bayley is tougher than that but Naomi knows that. Naomi keeps her focus while DMG CTRL, Bianca & Jade all focus on them. Naomi ROCKS Bayley, tries the ropes again, but Bayley stops the bulldog to SMACK Naomi off buckles!

Bayley then reels Naomi in, SAIDO! High stack, TWO! Naomi is still in this and Bayley remembers Naomi’s tougher than that, too. Bayley drags Naomi into a drop zone, then goes up the corner! Bayley aims, to MACHO ELBOW onto knees! Bayley writhes, Naomi goes to the apron. Bayley stands, runs up, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! Naomi slingshots, for a FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Bayley survives and Naomi is stunned! Naomi refocuses, goes to the corner, and goes up to SPLIT LEG MOONSAULT onto knees! Bayley returns the favor and both women are down. Bayley shakes out the leg, stands and runs, to KNEE Naomi down!

Bayley hurries to put Naomi back in a drop zone, and then hobbles her way to a corner. Bayley climbs, to MACHO ELBOW!! Direct hit this time and Bayley covers, TWO!! Naomi survives and Bayley is frustrated. Bayley hobbles on the bad leg, leans on ropes while she catches her breath, and the fans duel even more. Bayley stalks Naomi, hooks her up, but Naomi PELES free! Naomi hurries to a corner, Bayley runs up, but Naomi goes up to sunset flip! TWO!! But into the BUTTERFLY LOCK!! Bayley endures, reaches out with her legs, but then she tucks to a cover, TWO!! Naomi gets up, both women throw forearms!

They both wobble, storm up, and Bayley eggs Naomi on. Naomi wants this, right? So hit her! Naomi fires a forearm, Bayley hits back! Naomi winds up to forearm, Bayley comes back with another! The fans fire up as the forearms go harder and faster! Bayley gets the edge, but Naomi SWATS one, to SCORPION KICK, and then JUMP KNEE! Bayley tumbles out of the ring, Naomi PLANCHAS! Direct hit and a hard one, both women are down on the floor! The ring count starts, Naomi stirs at 3 of 10. Naomi brings Bayley up, but BAYLEY2BELLY onto the desk!! The count is 7! Naomi flounders on the desk, but then TIFFANY ATTACKS BAYLEY!!!

Winner: Bayley, by disqualification (still WWE Women’s Champion)

Tiffany makes herself the center of attention as always as she ruins this main event! She dribbles Naomi off the desk, then RAMS Bayley into steel steps! Then she drags Naomi off the desk to POST her! Tiff storms back over to Bayley, puts her in the ring, then adds Naomi in, too. Tiff says sorry not sorry, but it’s Tiffy Time! Tiffy goes to the corner, for the PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER! Tiff flexes over both champion and challenger, having upset Bianca & Jade but having entertained DMG CTRL. But will Wrestling Barbie pay for pissing off the Role Model?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown that also acted as a WWE Draft go-home. Great match from Styles and Knight to open the night but also follow-up their WrestleMania match. Naturally, Styles wins because then he and Knight are 1-1 in 1v1 matches, and also natural Face VS Heel right there. Good promo from Cody Rhodes, that title match is going to be awesome. Awesome new looks for the WWE Tag Team Championships, though maybe too much gold. Nothing really pops when it’s all the same color, so they should’ve had silver on the WWE logo and the words, “Tag Team Champions,” but it’s still a great redesign.

We also got an awesome Fatal 4 Way tag match, with Theory & Waller decent on commentary. And pieces are falling into place for what I was thinking: Profits win the right to face Theory & Waller, we’ll surely get Lashley wanting the US Championship, we’ll get a good faction feud there as we approach those title matches. Also good continuation of the LWO VS Legado feud with Carlito VS Santos, and distractions of course helped Santos win. There’s gotta come a point where Carlito reveals it was him, Dragon Lee, it was him all along! Now, that would make like the third turn since the start of this rivalry (Santos to Heel, Andrade to Face and Carlito to Heel) but hey, the drama is heightened each time, and maybe Dragon Lee will actually get a win in this feud.

Great stuff in Bayley VS Naomi, as well as all the promos. DMG CTRL watching from the skybox, same as Bianca & Jade, was good stuff. The tag title match is definitely coming for Backlash, that will be great stuff. But I should’ve figured Tiffany would “ruin” the main event so that there won’t really be a choice between Bayley and Naomi. The Draft is coming, hopefully they think to keep all three on the same brand, and probably here on SmackDown, so that those three can have it out. I don’t know the chances of a Triple Threat for Backlash but it still feels possible. Though at the same time, I don’t think they’d take the title off Bayley after only a month, so she’d probably use Tiffany against Naomi to retain.

And what wild stuff with this new, more vicious Bloodline. Solo is in a suit because he certainly thinks he is Tribal Chief already, given Roman Reigns did give him the nod as “Tribal Heir” a few months ago. And while Tama is the MFT, which everyone is already wondering what that even means, it’s clear he’s also the right hand man and a loose cannon at that. Without the Draft, it’d be pretty wild for Jimmy to come back and help Kevin against this new Bloodline. With the Draft, we could get Jey back on the same brand as his family and then he and Jimmy stand against Solo and Tama. But either way, it’ll be a wild ride in this new chapter and I’m all for it.

My Score: 8.9/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.18.2024

Motor City Machine Guns either go out on their backs, or head to Rebellion as champs! Lets see how they finish their current run in TNA!

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2024

Andrew Balaz

No burying the lead here! The Main Event is The System versus Motor City Machine Guns, and it’s the Go Home episode before Rebellion! So we’re guaranteed a damn good tag match, and we should get either new wrinkles, or ways to keep the storylines cooking going into the Pay-per-View.

With all the rumors and innuendo about the Guns being on their way out, I think we all assume that MCMG is losing, but my inner fanboy is still excited.

Part Three: Acceptance @TheJonGresham #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/NE9FPzCCz2

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

Ratings:

Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone: Hammerstone wins via Torture Rack – SQUASH
LSG vs Joe Hendry: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – SQUASH
Mustafa Ali & GYV vs Cody Deaner, Jake Something & Rhyno: Ali wins via 450 Splash – ** 3/4
Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna: Rosemary wins via Spear – ***
Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards: System wins via Roster Cut + Knee Party – *** 1/4

Results:

So we kick off the match with Josh coming out to commentary again to watch Hammerstone’s match. They really need a new way to try and keep heat without reusing the same tired gimmick of “ring side seat” to a Squash match.

Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone

Guido tries to shoot the half, but Hammerstone shrugs him off, lifts him like a child and runs him into a corner, few short shots and then just tosses him across the ring. Hammer gets a little distracted talking smack to Josh and eats a foot, but then tosses Guido with the ole Sack of Shit move and keeps working over Guido.

Hammer shoves Clayton, and provokes him to push him back right in front of the referee. She ejects them, Guido tries to take advantage but when he goes for the pinfall Hammer kicks out immediately and presses Guido out of thing through the ropes. Continues to dog walk Guido, puts the head gear on the ECW Original and then Torture Racks him while staring directly at Josh, and of course picks up the submission victory.

.@XiaBrookside and @Ashamae_Sebera face off NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT! pic.twitter.com/Q0S3wSRpeu

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

LSG vs Joe Hendry

Hendry cuts a little promo, mentioning the Fat Uncle Phil joke…something about shopping at the TOP Dollar Store. Solid mic work.

LSG is a damn good local talent, he’s been seen in ROH and AEW in the past (perhaps others, but that’s what comes to mind immediately for me), but we all know this is an enhancement match. A few nice chain wrestling spots early, but Hendry uses his power to stop the smaller wrestler, Sack of Shit into Standing Ovation and the match is over quickly.

Mustafa Ali & GYV vs Cody Deaner, Jake Something & Rhyno

Well okay, having Deaner ask the crowd if they wanted a 3v2 or their third member…RHYNO…is pretty much a no brainer in Philly. But at least the gimmick isn’t quite as cringe as I expected.

Jake starts with Zack Gibson and throws him around. Jake goes for the tag and Deaner asks the crowd who Jake should tag, and the crowd picks Rhyno. Rhyno Whips Gibson into a corner, Drake actually softens the impact, allowing Gibson to fire back, tag out, but Rhyno levels both GYV members and then even knocks Ali off the apron. Rhyno tries to call to the crowd to tag in Deaner and that goes over like a fart in church. He tags him in anyway, and the crowd is kinda dead and doing whatever it wants after the obvious ECW chants when Rhyno tagged in.

GYV take a couple lumps but they of course start to work over Deaner and capture some momentum. Solid tandem work from GYV, they cut off Deaner from making a tag and goad Jake a little to cause the ref to block off the babyfaces so the heels can take a few shortcuts. Cody eventually makes the tag to Rhyno, hot tag, he tries to set up the Gore but the GYV manage to stop him in his tracks and hit an Enzuigiri to daze the Man Beast, he falls to his corner and Jake tags himself in. Jake literally runs them all over, tags in Cody and Launches him from the Top Rope into Zack Gibson. Ali makes the save and Jake tries to get his hands on Ali, but the GYV keep throwing themselves at him, literally. The triple team finally gets the best of Jake, they hit 3 Dives and then post Jake, so they gather around Cody like hyenas.

They forgot about Rhyno, he’s set up for a Gore, he Gores Drake, Gibson and Ali take out Rhyno, but then Cody starts to fight back. Ali stops Deaner’s offense with an Avalanche Sunset Bomb, then hits his 450 Splash. Jake barely misses being able to break up the pin.

.@TheEricYoung channels "The Sickness" as he prepares for FULL METAL MAYHEM with @FrankieKazarian at #Rebellion! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/tm1TqxZBLo

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna

Jody tries to start quickly with Shoulder Tackles, Lariats and Scoop Slams, and it does seem somewhat effective. Rosemary is having trouble finding offense against the intensity, but she keeps kicking out. Shotgun Dropkick finally gives Rosemary an opening, she goes into full mount and rains down strikes. Rosemary shoves Jody into a corner and Bites her in the corner. Jody tries to fight out, they go across and Rosemary catches her with the legs and puts her in the Upside Down. Splash in the corner from Rosemary, Exploder Suplex and Jody is eating a lot of offense.

Rosemary looks like she’s caught after she gets tripped up into the ropes and Jody goes for her Rope Knee into the German, but Rosemary dodges. Rosemary hits her own suplex and pulls out a beautiful Last Chancery! I haven’t seen her do that in a long time. Jody manages to fight to the ropes, Rosemary is a little slow to capitalize and eats a Pump Kick. Rosemary goes flying into the ropes, Jody hits the Double Knees into the German this time for 2, and they trade a few haymakers after that. Jody folds Rosemary with a low Lariat, Zombie rise spot a few times, Jody goes for a pinfall and Rosemary kicks out.

Havok jumps up on the apron, Dani meets her and they decide to step down, but the distraction was enough. Jody turns around and eats a Spear. Rosemary wins!

Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards

Eddie and Shelley start off, and its a very simple slow start. Mostly an early stalemate, the typical Japanese style the TNA seem to love to employ. Starters tag out, but then Shelley with the blind tag, Sabin Baseball Slides out, picks Eddie’s ankle and sends his face bouncing off the apron, while Shelley sneaks up being Myers and they hit a tandem move before we cut to commercial. Off of the commercial it looks like Eddie and Myers regained control. But a nice Jawbreaker from Shelley sends Eddie falling back into the MCMG corner. Dragon Screws to both legs from Sabin and Shelley, and we get the Dragon Screw dissection spot for the Guns.

Myers gets sick of things, tries to get involved, but Simultaneous Figure Fours from the MCMG makes The System look silly. Alisha does the classic “push the rope forward” gimmick to assist Eddie in breaking the hold. She keeps chirping at Shelley until she finally grabs his foot. Shelley doesn’t take kindly, tries to grab her by the hair but she gets away, Shelley eats a strike and falls back to the ropes so Lish can just throttle him with the rope, Sabin walks over and acts like he’s going to PK her and the look of disgust on her face is hilarious, like “how dare he threaten to kick her”. Would I be mad is Masha decides to team with Lish and they win the Knockouts Tag titles? No, because the Knockouts Tags are trash. But I still prefer Lish as valet/manager.

Shelley starts fighting back after another commercial break, Eddie tries to cut him off, but Sabin clocks Eddie and Shelley manages to make the tag and Sabin comes in. Lights up both System members, Kick off Tornado DDT, into a Running Gamengiri. Eddie tries to counter but Shelley assists, tandem strikes, Double Baseball Slide into the classic MCMG spot 5 Hole Dive! Keeping up with the classics Shelley stacks the System members on each other and hit the Missile Dropkick/Flatliner spot. As the Guns are rolling, Sabin accidentally catches Sabin with his foot and The System take control! They hit their pieces of the System Overload spot, but Sabin kicks out. Roster Cut attempt from Myers, but Shelley is back. High Speed Dirt, Machine Gun Sandwich, but Lish grabs Shelley’s foot when they’re setting up Skull and Bones. Shelley gets dropped on the turnbuckle and thrown out, Sabin eats the Roster Cut followed up with Boston Knee Party and System retains!

Its a little weird to have had the two commercial cuts and the fact there’s still Nic Nemeth to follow. So it feels a little flat, I hope this wasn’t their swan song match, because it was nice to see some classic spots, but it was entirely too abbreviated.

Nemeth comes out, goes into the crowd and finds a kid with a kendo stick and borrows a beer from someone, so he does a bit of a Sandman tribute. Moose cuts off his promo basically immediately. He throws out the “can’t beat the system” line again, and Nic rolls with the punches well. Moose uses a few cute analogies about Nic having a failure laden past, but Nemeth bites back and its really damn good. He says he can see it in Moose’s eyes that he thinks he’s getting in the ring with Dolph Ziggler, but no, there is no more old Dolph Ziggler, just the new Nic Nemeth. And Moose’s cool seems to be slightly shaken after those words. Good promo.

Overall Score: 6.5/10

So this was okay, if it didn’t end as strongly as it did, I would’ve rated this much lower. Two squash matches in the beginning, reusing the Josh comes out to the announce table to watch trope is boring, hell even Clayton’s shove to Hammerstone was super lame looking. The Deaner match was luke warm at best, but things picked up around the Rosemary match.

Lets also not overlook the segments with ASH & Xia, Jonathan Gresham’s whole deal and EY having to return to the violence/sickness/world class maniac, whatever you want to call it, were all great building blocks. This definitely wasn’t what I would call a strong Go Home, but it didn’t hurt things for Rebellion. The whole injury of Cardona was addressed, which honestly sounded weird since Jordynne basically said she was expecting them to have a backup plan so she has a backup plan. I don’t really like how that video package came across.

But who knows, all I know is, this wasn’t an awful episode, it just wasn’t really strong either. Here’s to hoping Rebellion Saturday is still strong.

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!