Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (12/6/21)
The Man’s gold is on the line!
Will Big Time Becks still be Raw Women’s Champion?
Liv Morgan takes on The Man for the Raw Women’s Championship! Will she catch Becky Lynch underestimating her? Or will Raw still be Big Time Becks’?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Steel Cage Match: Big E VS Kevin Owens; Big E wins.
- Zelina Vega w/ Carmella VS Nikki A.S.H. w/ Rhea Ripley; Vega wins.
- Tag Team RKBRO-nament: The Street Profits VS AJ Styles & Omos; The Street Profits win and advance to the second round.
- WWE United States Championship Open Challenge: Damian Priest VS Robert Roode w/ Dolph Ziggler; Priest wins and retains the title.
- Bianca Belair VS “Doudrop” Piper Niven; Belair wins.
- Tag Team RKBRO-nament: Rey & Dominik Mysterio VS The Alpha Academy; Rey & Dominik Mysterio win and advance to the second round.
- Finn Balor VS T-Bar; Balor wins.
- Raw Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch VS Liv Morgan; Lynch wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Seth Rollins is backstage.
“Welcome, everybody, to Monday Night Rollins. Where last week, Kevin Owens connived his way into MY title match at WWE Day 1. But tonight, oh tonight! Kevin Owens, in just a few moments actually, finds himself going one on one with WWE Champion, Big E, inside the steel cage! Hahaha! A match where they will rip each other apart in, and I will enjoy every single second. And at Day 1, we will usher in a new year. We will usher in a new era with a NEW champion when I beat both Big E and Kevin Owens and reclaim my rightful place as WWE Champion! Hahahaha! Enjoy the show.”
Big E speaks.
“Man, I’ve been through hell and back to get my WWE Championship. And tonight is no different. Kevin Owens, it may be you and me and Seth Rollins at WWE Day 1 for my WWE Championship, but tonight, we’re locked inside a steel cage! And boy, there is no easy way out! There is no shortcut home! But not only am I going to beat you, Kevin, I’m gonna punish you. Oh, you got to feel that, SUCKA!”
Kevin Owens speaks.
“Big E’s been calling me a liar for weeks, months really. But he’s the liar. Because earlier he said it was his WWE Championship.” It’s KEVIN’s championship! Big E is just holding it for Kevin until Day 1. That means there’s 26 days left until Kevin takes the title and the fans can rejoice. Big E wants to punish Kevin but Kevin will be the one to punish him. And that is no lie.
Steel Cage Match: Big E VS Kevin Owens!
The gold may not be on the line, but there is pride and physical well-being at stake! Who gets out of this cage in better shape going towards the New Year’s Day Triple Threat?
The door closes, the bell rings and Kevin goes right for the exit! Big E stops him so Kevin throws hands then tries again. Big E rains down fists but Kevin kicks back. Big E denies the stunner but Kevin boots him! Big E still stops Kevin from getting out the door! Big E throws body shots, then runs into the corner. Kevin BOOTS Big E again, then goes up the wall! Big E trips him up and Kevin lands bad on the ropes! Big E grabs Kevin by his beard, then throws forearms! Kevin is against the steel, so Big E dribbles him off it! Kevin hits back but Big E throws body shots and forearms. Kevin hits back again, climbs up the corner then the cage, but Big E catches up to him!
They brawl on the ropes, Kevin headbutts and pushes Big E. Big E hits back with more body shots, then climbs up to dig Kevin’s face into the girder! Kevin elbows Big E until Big E hops down. Kevin then hotshots Big E away, and goes along the wall towards the door. Big E runs and RAMS into him! Kevin falls back into the center and Big E drags Kevin up. Big E whips Kevin and smacks him off steel! Kevin goes to a corner, Big E brings him around and SMACKS him off steel again! Fans fire up as Big E paces around. Big E has Kevin against the wall again with more body shots and more dribbling. Big E scrapes his forearm off Kevin’s face, then runs, only for Kevin to move!
Big E only gets steel and he tumbles back! Kevin catches his breath in a corner while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Kevin stomps a mudhole into Big E! Kevin lets off to shout, “This is MY show!” Kevin then climbs, but Big E gets up to bring him down again! Kevin kicks back then QUEBRADAS! Cover, TWO! Kevin rains down fists, then drops a senton! Fans rally up for Big E, Kevin brings Big E up to talk trash and whip. Big E reverses and RAMS Kevin into steel again! Big E hurries to cover, TWO! Big E grows frustrated, but he goes for the door! Kevin hurries after and clamps onto Big E to dribble him off the steel now! Kevin has Big E in the ropes to CHOKE him! Kevin lets off to stomp Big E down, then he goes to climbing the cage.
Big E catches up to Kevin again! Big E climbs up, CLUBS Kevin and brings him back to the top rope. Kevin dribbles Big E off the steel again! Big E tumbles down and Kevin adjusts, but he goes back up! Big E hurries but Kevin’s already at the top! Big E gets Kevin’s legs, brings him down into Electric Chair position, but Kevin fights free! Kevin SUPER SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMBS! Cover, TWO!! Big E survives and Kevin can’t believe it! Kevin scowls as fans rally up for Big E. Kevin scuffs Big E, but Big E powers up! Kevin throws hands but Big E just glares. Kevin runs, into an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! And another! And then the SIDE Belly2Belly!
Fans fire up as Big E swivels them hips! Big E runs but Kevin gets away to the door! Big E stops Kevin, brings him in but Kevin elbows him away. Kevin then ducks the clothesline to SUPERKICK! But Big E falls to the door! Kevin runs in, CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO! Kevin crawls over Big E to go to the door, but Big E grabs at Kevin again. Big E clubs Kevin, Kevin ROCKS Big E! Kevin throws forearms to back Big E down, then he trips Big E to turn him! BOSTON CRAB! Big E endures, powers up, and powers his way not to the ropes but to the door! But Kevin sits deep, shifts around, and grabs at Big E’s head! Big E keeps crawling, but Rollins SLAMS the door shut on them both!!
Rollins wants to lock the door so that no one can escape that way! The Architect had a plan all along, and he laughs maniacally as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Kevin climbs a corner while Big E crawls! Rollins mockingly ushers Big E on and Big E drags Kevin down! Kevin hits back, they brawl up top, Big E turns around to throw back elbows. Big E brings Kevin onto his shoulder, but Kevin rakes eyes! Big E hops down, Kevin kicks him away. Big E is down, Kevin FROG SPLASHES! Cover, TWO! Rollins is loving this because the match continues! Big E crawls to the corner, Kevin runs in, but Big E elbows him away! Big E gives Kevin the Urenag-E! Cover, TWO! Rollins says it was THAT close. “What a fight! This is amazing!” Fans rally for Big E and he waits for Kevin to rise. Big E scoops, but Kevin slips out to kick and-
NO, Big E stops the stunner again, only to run into the POP-UP POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Rollins again says “That close!” Kevin gets up, steps on Big E’s leg, then goes to a corner. Kevin tells Rollins to shut up already, and he climbs up. Rollins shouts to Big E, and Big E hurries to get up! Kevin is halfway out but Big E clubs him! Big E drags Kevin back in, throws back elbows to force him down, and even more back elbows to get him into place! SUPER BIG ENDING!! Big E doesn’t cover, he heads for the door! Big E crawls as it opens, but Kevin gets a foot! Big E kicks Kevin away, Big E is free, and he is out! Big E wins!
Winner: Big E, by escape
And Rollins attacks him anyway! Rollins stomps and punches Big E down, then the cage rises, so Rollins goes after Kevin! Rollins soaks up the heat from Memphis as he aims from a corner. Rollins runs in, but Big E catches him! OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Big E gets Kevin back up to give him a BIG ENDING! The world champion stands tall, but can he do it again on Day 1?
Raw returns as everyone is down around ringside.
Big E may have stood tall just before the break, but what we didn’t see during the break was that BOBBY LASHLEY just appeared and wrecked all three of them! Big E, Kevin Owens AND Seth Rollins got dominated by the Rocky Mountain Machine! Will Lashley be waiting on the Monday after Day 1 to take the title from the Triple Threat winner?
Zelina Vega w/ Carmella VS Nikki A.S.H. w/ Rhea Ripley!
“Hear ye, hear ye,” the Queen of the Ring says. “How lucky are all of you that the Queen and the Women’s Tag Team Champions decided to grace you with our presence tonight? Uh, the queen is talking. The queen is talking! Would you rather be cheering for that loser, Almost a Superhero, Nikki A.S.H?” Zelina feels sorry for Nikki, but not as much as when she’ll beat Nikki tonight and send her into the pit of despair. AKA, Memphis! But Zelina stops gloating as Nikki & Rhea make their way out! Will the Almost Super Hero humble the Queen of Raw?
The bell rings, the two tie up, and Zelina powers Nikki back. The ref counts, Zelina lets off at 4, but Nikki elbows her away. Nikki goes up but Zelina YANKS her down! Zelina waves, but Nikki gets to ropes. Zelina pulls Nikki against ropes, thrashes her about, and then taunts Rhea as she lets off to take a royal bow. Zelina KNEES Nikki down, covers, TWO into a crucifix cover, TWO! Nikki gets around Zlinea to roll her up, TWO! Zelina knees low, whips Nikki to a corner, but Nikki goes up and over and keeps moving to LARIAT Zelina down! Fans fire up with Nikki and she run sin to SPLASH in the corner, then hits a BULLDOG!
Nikki brings Zelina back up, but Zelina slips out of the fisherman! Zelina trips Nikki from the corner, high stack and feet on the ropes! The ref sees it and stops the count! Zelina protests but Nikki fires forearms! Zelina kicks back, whips, but Nikki reverses and hits a NECKBREAKER! Nikki climbs up the corner, for a CROSSBODY, but it FLOPS as Zelina moves! Zelina hops on, CODE RED!! Cover, Zelina wins!
Winner: Zelina Vega, by pinfall
The Queen stands tall and Rhea is frustrated. Mella shouts at the assistant to get Zelina’s crown for her, and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions gloat all the way to the back. Will Rhea & Nikki ever get those belts back off such an arrogant duo?
RKBRO meet backstage.
Matt Riddle is in his ring commentator best. He got one for Orton, where is it? Don’t start. But Riddle was watching this movie and- Kevin Patrick walks in to ask them about tonight’s Raw Tag Team Championship tournament? No, no, it’s the RKBRO-nament. They put their favorite holiday movies in a tournament style bracket to debate which is the best, and that gave them the idea for this tournament tonight to determine their next #1 contenders. Adam Pearce & Sonya Deville both loved the idea and- Randy says none of that happened. That is all Riddle’s idea. All Orton said was that if they had to defend their tag titles, that is all they would focus on. And then Riddle replied about how Home Alone changed his life.
Bro, he shared that in confidence…! But on a more important not, RKBRO will be special guest hosts and correspondents, doing all the interviews courtesy of RKBRO. Orton never agreed to that, either. Riddle loves his sarcasm. And so… here’s your blazer! There is no way in hell Orton is wearing that. But Orton will look so good in it! And the fans want it. Plus the voices in Riddle’s head are telling him to slap the blazer on. Is that so? He wants Orton to wear the blazer? And Memphis wants to see it? Yes, they need it! FINE! Orton puts on the blazer! RKBRO head out, who will win this very professional Raw Tag Team Championship Contenders Tournament?
Rhea tries to talk to Nikki backstage.
She wants her not to worry, they’ll get it next time. But then a fan comes by and says she’s their biggest fan. Nikki would love to! Sorry, she was talking to Jerry the King Lawler. Jerry doesn’t mind. And sorry about that loss, kid. Want an autograph? Nikki sulks away and Jerry shrugs. What will it take for the Almost Super Hero to cheer up?
Tag Team RKBRO-nament: The Street Profits VS AJ Styles & Omos!
Raw returns and the Phenomenal Styles and the colossal Omos make their entrance. RKBRO are on commentary, or at least Riddle will be, just as Riddle said. The Profits then make their entrance, and fans fire up for the red Solo cups raining down! The teams sort out, Styles starts with Montez Ford and Styles fires right off! Styles CHOPS, whips, but Ford reverses to dropkick Styles down! Ford brings Styles up, wrenches the arm, whips him into the corner, then tags Dawkins. The Profits double whip, Dawkins dropkicks Styles down! Then they coordinate, BACK SUPLEX SPLASH, to Dawkins’ RUNNING SPLASH! Cover, TWO!
Angelo Dawkins brings Styles up, Styles RAMS him into the corner! Styles digs his shoulder in, the ref counts and Styles lets off. Dawkins dodges to ROCK Styles, whip him corner to corner, CYCLONE SPLASH! Dawkins runs but Omos holds the ropes down! Dawkins tumbles out and Omos shrugs. Riddle says that is not in the spirit of the RKBRO-nament! But Styles DECKS Ford, then SLINGSHOT FOREARMS Dawkins! Styles has control as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns and Omos is in! He drags Dawkins up, whips him hard into a corner, and Dawkins falls to the mat. Omos drags Dawkins back up, scoops him and then SLAMS him! Omos stares Ford down, then he brings Dawkins back up to CLUB him down. Omos drags Dawkins up, Dawkins throws body shots but Omos knees him low. Omos CLUBS Dawkins, looms over him, but Dawkins hits a JAWBREAKER! Omos checks his teeth as he staggers back, but he CLOBBERS Dawkins down! Omos scowls, drags Dawkins back up, then tags Styles in. Omos holds Dawkins in place for Styles to stomp. Styles brings Dawkins up but Dawkins fires forearms!
Styles KICKS the leg but Dawkins throws more forearms! Styles throat chops, runs but only gets buckles! Hot tag to Ford! Ford rallies on Styles, brings him up but Styles blocks the suplex, so Ford rolls him up! TWO, and Ford mule kicks then front kicks then ENZIGURIS! Ford fires up, taunts Omos, runs in but Styles BOOTS him! Styles runs in but Ford dodges to then LEAPING LARIAT! Ford takes off the glove, and he BACK HAND SLAPS Omos! Omos is furious! Ford screams but Dawkins ROCKS Omos! DOUBLE DROPKCIKS sends Omos off the apron! Styles PELES Dawkins, slides under Ford, but Ford fights the lift to switch the waistlock!
Styles lands out of the back suplex to ENZIGURI, and PELE! Then Styles suplexes, BRAINBUSTER!! But Styles won’t cover, he goes to the apron! Styles aims, but Omos gets up to tag himself in! Styles is surprised by that, but Dawkins drags Styles out to ROCK him! Omos runs over to RUN OVER Dawkins! Ford PLANCHAS, but Omos catches him! APRON POWERSLAM! Omos throws Dawkins into barriers but the ring count! Omos didn’t hear it in time, he gets counted out!! The Profits win!!
Winners: The Street Profits, by count-out (advance to the second round)
Riddle says that is an upset! But he admits, he’s relieved he doesn’t have to worry about Omos. Styles tells Omos he has to listen, to do what he’s told. But Omos just leaves Styles behind! Is this the end of their phenomenal partnership? Riddle gets in the ring to say breaking news! Riddle is “Howard Brocell” and he asks for a comment on this crazy event. AJ, a word? What? Is Riddle talking to him? Yes! Styles tells Riddle to go interview the winners. Well, AJ, Riddle’s integrity tells him to follow the biggest story, and the Profits got out way too fast. But things got juicy there between Styles and Omos. Would he like to explain what’s going on?
What is this? Dateline? Kinda. Styles says that was a disagreement between a great tag team, that’s all. Not that Riddle would know anything about that. Now get the mic out of Styles’ face or he’ll shove it down your throat! Styles storms off, Riddle says this was an explosive start to the RKBRO-nament. It’s anyone’s game! Except for Styles & Omos. They’re out. Would Randy like to add anything? Fans cheer and Orton gets a mic to say, “Nope.” Always beautiful insight from Randy. But dude, things are just heating up for the tag team tournament, brought to you by the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment, R K BRO. “Back to you, Jimbo Slice.”
Backstage interview with Becky Lynch.
The Raw Women’s Champion has a big match with Liv Morgan> yes, a big, big night. For Liv. The biggest night of Liv’s career, going in with a lot of momentum. Liv won her match last week, hit her finisher afterward. The week before that, sucker punched Becky as hard as she could, and the week before that, countered the Manhandle Slam. The Liv Morgan bandwagon is big and the train is rolling. But the real battle isn’t in the ring with Becky, no. It’ll be in the mind and in the heart, and out in the crowd where fans want to tear her apart. No one really wants Liv to win. You do well enough, they cheer. You do too well, they turn on you.
Liv is in the perfect position as the underdog who will never join the stars. Becky is the biggest star there is! So it’s just another Monday for your champion, Big Time Becks. Will Becky prove herself right through and through when she takes on Liv later tonight?
RKBRO talks backstage.
Riddle says that was the coolest! When Orton said, “Nope,” the fans went insane! But Riddle says Orton left some money on the table. They gotta bring the fans on a roller coaster ride, dude! Is that right? A little bit. Orton says his broadcasting career is over. For now, at least. Have fun, it’s all on you, now. Thanks, Randy! Riddle vows not to let him down!
WWE United States Open Challenge: Damian Priest VS ???
The Archer of Infamy continues to be a fighting champion, not even worrying about who’ll answer the call! Who steps up and tries to take Priest’s title? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns and Robert Roode is in the ring, Dolph Ziggler in his corner. The belt is raised, and we see if the GLORIOUS One can get himself some gold!
Priest and Roode circle, tie up, and go around. Roode puts Priest in a corner, throws body shots, then haymakers. Roode stomps, punches, but lets off as the ref counts. Priest comes back to grab Roode by the neck and throw him to the corner! Priest fires off heavy hands and ROCKS Roode! Priest whips, Roode kicks back, then runs, but into a shoulder! Priest drags Roode up and bumps him off buckles. Priest ROCKS Roode, whips him to ropes, then jumping back elbows him down! Cover, TWO! Priest bumps Roode off buckles again, throws knees in again and again, then snapmares to KICK Roode in the back. And then KICK him in the chest!
Priest brings Roode up to ROCK him with a right, fans fire up and Priest runs corner to corner, but Roode moves! Priest stops himself to then BOOT Roode down! Ziggler takes a swipe but Priest avoids it to swipe back at Ziggler! Ziggler runs away as Priest goes out after him! Roode comes up and CLOBBERS Priest, and Priest hits steel steps! Roode then TOSSES Priest over the barrier! Roode gloats that he’ll be the new champ, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Priest throws heavy haymakers on Roode, then BOOTS him to a corner. Priest runs in but Roode BOOTS back! Roode goes up, GLORIOUS BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Roode is frustrated but Ziggler coaches “Big Bob” on. Roode taunts Priest, “I’m the champ!” But Priest counter punches and ROCKS Roode! And again! And again! Priest fires off fast hands, Roode staggers to a corner and Priest even hurt his own hand. Roode runs in, but into a FLAPJACK! Fans fire up, Priest runs corner to corner to back elbow! Priest suplexes, Roode slips out and shoves, but Priest LARIATS on the return!
Priest kicks low, suplexes again, BROKEN ARROW! Cover, TWO! Priest keeps his cool as he brings Roode back up. Priest reels Roode in but Roode wrenches out, only to get a BELL CLAP! Roode ducks the heel kick to shove, ducks the lariat then hits a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Roode snarls and throws forearms, but Priest forearms back! Roode kicks low, Priest knees low! Roode CHOPS, Priest KICKS, KICKS and KICKS! ROUNDHOUSE! Roode staggers, Priest springboards, but Roode gets him for a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Roode grows frustrated again, Priest crawls to ropes. Priest drags himself up, Roode wants him, kicks him in and reels him in, but no DDT!
Priest dragon sleepers, but Roode fights free! Only to run into the choke grip! Roode fights out of that, rolls Priest up, TWO! Priest catches Roode to the dragon sleeper, RECKONING!! Cover, Priest wins!
Winner: Damian Priest, by pinfall (still WWE United States Champion)
But Ziggler SUPERKICKS Priest down! The Show-Off took out his frustrations, and promises that next time, Priest is done! But will the Archer of Infamy shoot down these Dirty Dawgs next time they meet?
Bianca Belair VS “Doudrop” Piper Niven!
Finally, the EST gets the grudge match with Doudrop that she’s wanted for weeks now! But she doesn’t even get to finish her entrance before Piper CLOBBERS her from behind! Fans boo but Piper just gets in the ring. Can Bianca pull off the quickEST recovery she’s had to in order to get the sweetEST revenge?
Raw returns and Bianca is ready now. The bell rings and she dropkicks Piper! Piper comes back and they start throwing hands! Bianca shoves, but Piper fights the spinebuster! Piper tries to whip, Bianca blocks but Piper powers through. Piper runs in at the corner, Bianca slips to the apron! Piper hits buckles, Bianca hits Piper! Bianca then jumps in to stomp a mudhole into Piper while fans fire up. Bianca whips, Piper reverses, Bianca goes up and tells her to “Kiss this.” Piper runs in but Bianca flips over and does her dance. Bianca runs, ducks and redirects but Piper avoids the dropkick to drop the SENTON! Cover, TWO!
Piper stalks Bianca to a corner, brings her up and CLUB her, then brings her up to CLUB her again. Piper CLUBS Bianca down, kicks her around, then drags her up by an arm. Fans rally for Bianca but Piper headbutts the arm! Piper gets Bianca’s arm for a COBRA CLUTCH! Bianca endures, Piper leans on the hold, but Bianca throws elbows. Piper ripcords and short arm LARIATS! Bianca rolls away but Piper stalks her to a corner. Piper wraps the arm around ropes, pulls, but the ref counts. Bianca shoves Piper, too, but Piper runs back in, into an elbow! Bianca boots Piper, but Piper CLOBBERS Bianca! Piper scowls, covers, TWO!
Piper grows frustrated, she soaks up the heat and brings Bianca up to HEADBUTT her again. Piper drags Bianca back into the cobra twist and thrashes her around! Bianca endures, fights up, fans rally and Bianca RAMS Piper into the corner! Bianca gets free, runs back in but Piper puts her on the apron to SLAP her! Piper goes to the apron and scoops Bianca, but Bianca fights her way into the ring! Bianca fires forearm after forearm but Piper shoves her away. Bianca handsprings to hit Piper off the apron! Fans fire up with Bianca as she eggs Piper on. Piper slowly gets up, she drags Bianca out! Piper RAMS Bianca into the apron! Piper SPLASHES down on Bianca! Bianca is down and Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and Bianca fights with body shots, only for Piper to ripcord her. Bianca ROCKS Piper with forearms and a dropkick! Piper stays up but Bianca brings her in. But Piper is the one who suplexes Bianca! Bianca slips out, shoves and hits a SPINEBUSTER!! Fans fire up with Bianca and she runs at Piper in the corner to RAM in her shoulder! And again! And again! The ref counts, Bianca lets off to climb up! Bianca rains down fists, but Piper slips out! Bianca kicks her away, leaps, CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Bianca is a bit surprised but Piper shakes her head. Bianca drags Piper up and fans rally behind her, but Piper blocks the whip!
Piper reverses Bianca, runs in but into a back elbow! Bianca goes up and sunset flips but Piper SITS on her! Piper then goes up the corner, VADER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Bianca survives and Piper is seething! Memphis is thunderous as Piper pulls at her hair. Piper pushes Bianca around, fans rally up and Piper stands Bianca up. Piper pulls out the butterfly hairpins and even pulls at the braid! Bianca windmills haymakers but Piper CLUBS her down! Piper scoops, Bianca slips off but Piper HEADBUTTS her down! Bianca ends up in a corner, Piper runs in, CANNONBALL only gets buckles! Bianca gets Piper up and torture racks!
Fans are thunderous but Bianca can’t keep Piper up and Piper slips out of the ring! Piper wants to walk!? Bianca seethes but she doesn’t chase after, Piper lets herself get counted out! Bianca wins!
Winner: Bianca Belair, by count-out
Piper tells Bianca to kiss this and then walks backstage. Bianca doesn’t get it, but she still gets the win. Will this be the end of it? Or will Piper come back when Bianca least expects it?
Austin Theory visits Vince McMahon’s office again.
They sit down and Theory is a bit wary given last time, Vince slapped him. Theory’s been doing good? Yeah, good. Vince reminds Theory that asking about how someone doing is fake. Now time to learn something this week. Theory will be in a match tonight. Really? Okay! Wait, did Vince expect him to do that? Was he surprised? Yeah, definitely. Oh. Well then he didn’t really learn from last week. Will Theory learn much of anything with the cryptic ways Mr. McMahon is teaching him? Or is it just Theory who’s out of touch?
MizTV returns!
The Miz struts his way out to the ring, and he’s inviting the Rated R Superstar to be his first guest! Will Edge give the Hollywood A-Lister the satisfaction? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns and Miz welcomes us back to the Most Must-See WWE Talk Show, and he knows what we’re thinking. They want to know where his beautiful, gorgeous, sexy wife is, but Maryse doesn’t go to places like Memphis, Tennessee. Have you seem yourselves lately? She’s not coming here. But Miz rewatched his confrontation with Edge from last week, and he couldn’t believe his eyes. It was unbelievable. Edge complimented him! A heartfelt compliment from Edge! Miz has known Edge for 15 years, it doesn’t sound like him. He’s a shell of his former self! Or is he? We’ll find out. Miz introduces the Rated R Superstar, the music hits, and Edge appears!
Edge has the fans fired up and he heads down the ramp and even Miz fires up for the pyro. Edge gets in the ring, Miz takes a seat but Edge just takes the mic. Edge decides to sit after all and sees Miz is confused. Edge says he meant those compliments, and he still means them this week. Aww, how sweet. But Miz can’t help but think that the Rated R Superstar has lost his edge. Wow, a clever pun, Mike. But the ultimate opportunist, the master manipulator would’ve just speared Miz out of his $9000 shoes. And honestly, this Edge is definitely physical in the ring, but Miz can’t help but think that mentally, Edge is weak.
First off, $9000 for ugly ass shoes? Edge’s Jordan 3’s are way cooler. And don’t mistake kindness for weakness. Whatever is going on here, Miz has bigger issues than Edge. Miz says Edge doesn’t need his kindness. When he needed that was in 2006 when Miz started in the WWE. Miz walking on eggshells, everything he said and did was wrong, and how he got kicked out of the locker room! But they both know Miz wasn’t kicked out for eating chicken, he was kicked in because he didn’t fit the mold. He was an outcast, he was ostracized for having “it,” but everyone else wanted to protect their spot.
So instead of protecting the kid who came off the hit show, MTV’s The Real World, he was treated like a peasant when he was already more famous than 90% of the locker room! Miz doesn’t need Edge’s kindness, nor does he want it. So then Miz is painting Edge with “that brush?” Glossing over some key points here. It was in this arena where Edge pulled Miz aside, told him he has “it,” and that he could endure the BS. Oh wow~. Well does Miz remember what he did after that? He brushed Edge off! Or did Miz forget? Edge went through the same things seven years before that! And if someone had pulled him aside, Edge damn sure would’ve listened.
The biggest difference between Edge and Miz, is that Edge didn’t walk into the locker room and already think he was a bigger star than everyone else. And Edge isn’t afraid of losing the spot. When he sees a new face, he sees a new opportunity and a new opponent. He never puts anyone down. But Miz wants to blame everyone else? Here’s what he should do: At the end of the day, Miz should look himself in the mirror, and that mirror will tell him what it would’ve in 2006. “Miz, you’re an ass!” Miz gets up and so does Edge. Miz seems to think things over, and then he chuckles. “And you’re a hypocrite, and you’re vulnerable, and I’ve surpassed you in and out of the ring.”
2022 will be the Year of Miz, and Miz can’t think of a better way to usher it in than beating Edge on January 1st! Well if that’s a challenge, Edge accepts! But Edge is right here, they’re in Memphis, and there’s nothing between them but air and opportunity. What’s Miz say to that? Fans fire up, but Miz says, “No.” But here’s why. Edge thinks Miz is afraid? He’s- Edge steps and Miz falls over! “Not afraid?” Edge chuckles and leaves. Will the Rated R Superstar make this A-Lister feel like just an extra on WWE Day 1?
Backstage interview with Liv Morgan.
Sarah brings up Becky’s strong words, how does Liv respond? Liv heard that, and Becky isn’t wrong. Liv did all of that, and Becky is right, people are watching. That scares Becky, because what she got wrong is that fans are watching to see Liv win. They believe there is a chance that things won’t go Becky’s way. Becky’s used to getting what she wants, but Liv will do everything in her power to get what she wants: that Raw Women’s Championship! Liv is ready, but will her moment finally arrive?
Tag Team RKBRO-nament: Rey & Dominik Mysterio VS The Alpha Academy!
La Familia has had their run-ins with Chad Gable & Otis Dozovic before, but now there’s a title opportunity on the line! Will Rey & Dom get a step closer to becoming the first-ever two-time father-son tag team champions? Or will Gable & Otis win this one #ForTheAcademy?
Raw returns and Riddle is back on commentary! The Alpha Academy make their entrance, the teams sort out and Dom starts against Gable. They circle, they tie up, Gable trips Dom and knuckle lock covers, ONE! Dom gets up, goes shoulder to shoulder with Gable but then breaks to fire off forearms. Dom goes up and up and FLYING ARM-DRAGS! Then another arm-drag for a cording hold! Gable whips Dom away from Rey, and Gable says, “Don’t go running to daddy!” Gable then SLAPS Dom! Dom runs in, Gable slips around to BUTTERFLY SUPELX! Bridging cover, ONE, but Gable wrenches, only for Dom to whip Gable and SLAP him back!
Gable can’t believe it but fans fire up! Gable waistlocks, Dom throws him out of the ring! Gable gets back in, Dom dropkicks him down! Dom brings Gable away, but Gable reels him in for an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Otis talks trash, Gable crawls over to Dom, but Dom grabs his leg! Gable stomps Dom then YANKS the leg! Gable stares Rey down, goes back to Dom, but Dom throws forearms, Gable shoves, Dom runs but into a rolling HALF CRAB! Dom endures, Riddle likes the seamless transition. Dom powers up, rolls Gable to a cradle, TWO! Gable blocks a kick but not the ENZIGURI! Gable staggers, Dom trips him up! Dom brings Gable away from Otis, but Gable CLUBS him!
Gable brings Dom up, Dom counter punches! Dom fire so haymakers, whips, but Gable reverses. Gable runs in but blocks the boot to put it in the ropes! DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Gable goes up top, MOONSAULT, but Dom turns it into a roll-up, the Mysterios win?!!
Winners: Rey & Dominik Mysterio, by pinfall (advance to the second round)
No one even tagged out in that match! Gable keeps Otis back, the loss is on him! Riddle gets back in the ring to interview the losers. The first ever RKBROnament, how do they feel- Otis scoops Riddle! Riddle shouts, “I’M A JOURNALIST!” but he still gets the POWERSLAM! Will Riddle learn when not to talk? Will the Mysterios get past the Profits to go after the tag titles?
Austin Theory warms up in Vince’s office.
While Vince was testing Theory, he was serious about making a match. Vince is on the phone but then ends the call. He has Theory take a seat and says unfortunately, because Theory wasn’t ready to start, no match tonight. But last time he had a match was the WWE title against Big E. Yes, and it was impressive. But Theory is not having a match tonight. So find another way to impress him. Uh, okay. Theory unzips to show off his abs while doing jumping jacks. #AllDay, Mr. McMahon! All day. No, please stop. Vince says to find another way. Use your brains! Right, okay. Theory has an idea and heads out. Vince is ready to see what Theory comes up with.
Finn Balor VS T-Bar!
The Prince is ready to make Memphis part of the Balor Club, but the towering T-Bar is ready to destroy everyone! Will Balor avoid that destruction to make tonight Too Sweet?
Raw returns and T-Bar is in the ring. The bell rings, T-Bar and Finn tie up. Finn gets the arm but T-Bar CLUBS him with the other. Finn KICKS a leg, T-Bar choke grips. Finn headlocks, T-Bar powers out, Finn ducks and dodges then leaps, but into T-Bar’s arms! T-Bar KNEES then TOSSES Finn, covers, TWO! T-Bar rains down fists, drags Finn up and bumps him off buckles. T-Bar stomps, ROCKS Finn then digs his boot in! The ref counts, T-Bar lets off at 4, and he gives Finn a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! T-Bar clamps on with a chinlock! Finn endures, fans rally, and Finn fights up. Finn fights the chinlock but T-Bar knees him low!
T-Bar TOSSES Finn to a corner, but Finn BOOTS back! Finn throws forearms and body shots, then whips. T-Bar reverses to choke grip and CHOKE- NO, Finn wheelbarrows to a victory roll, TWO! Finn trips T-Bar to DOUBLE STOMP! Fans fire up with Finn and he aims from the corner, but T-Bar denies the slingblade! T-Bar CYCLONE BOOTS Finn down! Cover, TWO!! Finn survives and T-Bar is furious! T-Bar drags Finn up, scoops him, but Finn slips off to SLINGBLADE T-Bar down! Finn goes up top, fans fire up, but T-Bar choke grips Finn then climbs up! Finn ax handle chops and elbows free! T-Bar falls, Finn adjusts, COUP DE GRACE!! Cover, Finn wins!
Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall
Finn rebounds from his loss to Seth Rollins over a literally huge challenge! Will Finn be able to fight his way to- Oh no! Theory goes after Finn! This is him impressing Vince with an ATL to Finn! Oh, and a selfie, too! Will Theory score points with Vince along with the likes? Or will Finn show Theory to never cheap shot the Prince?
Dana Brooke sneaks around backstage.
The WWE 24/7 Champion has to be careful at all times, of course. But then R-Truth AND Akira Tozawa jump out and surprise her! They could’ve gotten her right here, but Truth doesn’t even know if that’s PG. They’ll have to read up on the rules. Take care, Brooke. But wait! Here comes Reggie like an American Ninja Warrior! But he tells Dana not to worry. He just wanted to finish that conversation from last week. He was impressed by that move she pulled on Cedric. And that title looks nice on her. But Tamina comes storming in! Reggie helps delay her so Dana can get away. Will Reggie win something other than the title from Dana Brooke with that assist?
MVP and Bobby Lashley head out backstage.
Time to paint the town red. But Kevin Patrick asks as to why Lashley attacked Big E, Rollins and Kevin Owens. MVP says KP knows how this works. “We live in an area where people have become way too comfortable disrespecting other people, because there are no consequences for those actions. Not so in the All Mighty Era.” Those three had the audacity to have a WWE Championship match without even mentioning Lashley’s name. That was disrespectful, and that attack was the consequence. “When you disrespect me, Kevin, that’s what happens.” MVP adjusts KP’s tie, and the Hurt Business heads out. Is this all further setting up the Rocky Mountain Machine on the other side of Day 1?
WWE takes a closer look at Liv Morgan.
The youngest of six children to a single mother who worked 60 hours a week. Most times, they were above water. But there were times where things didn’t work. A confused kid who couldn’t find her way in life. But Liv loved the WWE her whole life. With a dream in her head she couldn’t express, that only she could understand, now she knows who she is. From NXT to SmackDown to Raw, from confused kid to confident woman who fights for her dreams. She won’t be pushed aside or shamed for feeling her feelings. She won’t be denied the moment she’s waited an entire life for. She knows who she is: the next Raw Women’s Champion.
Raw Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch VS Liv Morgan!
This could be the moment where it all comes falling down for The Man! Emphasis on could, as far as Becky is concerned. Will she overlook and underestimate Liv enough for Liv to finally live that championship life? Or is Liv still too small time for Big Time Becks?
Raw returns as Liv makes her entrance. Is it her moment? We find out after the break!
Raw returns again, and the introductions are made. The belt is raised, and we see if a dream lives or dies in Memphis!
Liv and Becky circle, tie up, Becky waistlocks and SLAMS Liv down. Becky talks trash, “Welcome to the big time.” Liv gets up, circles with Becky again, but Becky gets around to headlock. Liv powers out, Becky runs her over, and Becky flexes on Liv. Liv gets up but Becky pie faces her around. Liv gets the arm to arm-drag, then runs in. Becky avoids Oblivion by mere seconds! Liv tells her how close that was, but she lets Becky get on the apron,. Becky kicks Liv, Liv forearms back! Liv headlocks, Becky powers out, but Liv runs Becky over! Liv gives back the trash talk, things speed up and Liv rolls over Becky to then sidestep. Becky catches the hurdle to throw Becky down!
Becky wants the arm, Liv slips out to Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Liv sweeps the legs, covers, ONE as Becky goes Matrix! Becky smirks, but Liv goes Matrix to dodge the lariat! Becky wants the arm, Liv rolls her up, TWO! Liv gets the arm, La Magistrol! TWO, Liv trips Becky to a jackknife, TWO as Becky bridges up and spins Liv around! Liv reverses the backslide, TWO! Liv has the leg for a lateral press, TWO! Becky DECKS Liv to stop that! Becky stomps Liv, talks trash, then SLAPS Liv down! Becky kicks Liv around, whips her to a corner, but Liv elbows her back. Liv goes up and up and missile dropkicks! Becky scrambles away, Liv runs in to DOUBLE- NO, Becky dodges to JUMP KICK!
Liv falls out of the ring, Becky builds speed. Becky slides, Liv ducks it and hits a CODE BREAKER! Liv gets in the ring, sees Becky slowly get up, and now Liv builds speed! Liv DIVES! Direct hit and down goes Becky! Fans fire up but Liv clutches an arm! Liv still gets up and gets Becky in the ring to cover, TWO! Liv grimaces, but she goes to the apron for a breather. Fans rally up, Liv climbs up a corner, but Becky stops her with a forearm! Becky climbs up, throws more forearms, then brings Liv up. Liv fights back with body shots, but Becky still SUPERPLEXES! Both women are down as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns once more, and the forearms are flying! Becky knees low and throws Liv out to the apron, to then bring her in the ropes for more forearms and uppercuts! Becky sobats, then goes to the corner, GUILLOTINE LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Becky is getting frustrated but she thinks of what else to try. Liv slowly gets up, Becky straddle attacks then chinlocks to stretch Liv back. Liv endures, fans rally up, and Liv fights up to throw body shots! Liv arm-drags Becky to a corner, Becky comes back but into counter punches! Becky shoves Liv, shoots after a leg and trips Liv to roll her and dragon sleeper, INVERTED DDT! Cover, TWO!
Becky paces while Liv gets to a corner. Becky runs in but Liv dodges! Liv throws Becky down by her hair, then hurries up top! But Becky YANKS Liv off and Liv hits buckles on the way down! Becky goes up top now, to leap, but she has to bail out as Liv dodges! ENZIGURI! Both women are down but fans rally up. Becky gets up, brings Liv around, but Liv forearms! And again! Liv kicks low, front kicks, then dodges to THESZ PRESS! Liv fires fast hands and fans fire up! Becky shoves Liv away, goes to a corner, but Liv back body blocks! Liv rolls and runs in to SHINING WIZARD! Liv has Becky on the ropes, but still no Oblivion! But she SWING KICKS Becky away!
Liv runs, goes up the ropes, FLYING CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Becky survives and Liv can’t believe it! Liv is growing frustrated, but she hears the fans firing up for her! She gets Becky up but Becky sobats and EuroUppers! Liv staggers to a corner, Becky runs in but into a RANA! Becky tumbles to the apron, Liv KICKS her down! Liv goes up the corner, to DOUBLE STOMP her onto the apron! Liv adds extra stomps and fans fire up again! Liv climbs again while Becky crawls into the ring. Liv leaps to missile dropkick! Cover, TWO! Liv gets the arm to RINGS OF SATURN!! Becky endures, rolls it to a cover, ONE! Becky gets the arm, DISARM-HER!!
Liv flails, scrambles, ROPEBREAK! Fans fire up as Becky lets off, but Becky drags Liv away. Liv gets a cradle! TWO!! Becky escapes, gets Liv, but Liv wheelbarrows out of the Manhandle Slam to victory roll, TWO! Becky has it, with the ropes! BECKY WINS!
Winner: Becky Lynch, by pinfall (still Raw Women’s Champion)
Just like Survivor Series when Becky beat Charlotte Flair! But if The Man had to cheat Liv like she did The Queen, what does that say about Big Time Becks’ confidence? Will Liv get another chance down the line?
My Thoughts:
Not a bad Raw, but there could’ve been better things. For one, don’t do two commercial breaks before the main event even starts. And that Liv Morgan vignette should’ve been shown last week instead of right before her match as filler. That was almost like rubbing it in that she wasn’t going to win tonight. The match itself was good, though that same double commercial break might’ve killed the crowd’s energy. It did get going once Liv had her rally, but Becky getting the dirty win is surely to extend this. You can’t have WWE Day 1 feel like it matters if you keep Becky Lynch off it.
The Women’s Tag Division continues to be poorly booked with how quick Zelina VS Nikki was, and I swear they better be making Nikki go back to her SAnitY ways, not turning on Rhea. This tag division barely has teams, they can’t take away one of their more popular ones. Also when are Zelina & Mella going to show up with these belts on SmackDown? They need to be taking on a team like Shayna Baszler & Natalya to scare them for a minute. But Bianca VS Piper was an awesome match, exactly what we needed from that feud. A bit disappointed that Piper literally walked away, but maybe they cue up a rematch.
We got great stuff from the WWE Championship story tonight. Great opening promos, great Steel Cage match, even if it was a fairly typical steel cage match with the outside interference. The rather lame thing was that the TV audience didn’t get to see Lashley’s attack on the three of them until the replays. Was that just bad timing since this is all live? And while MVP & Lashley had a good promo later that could imply wanting to make things a Fatal 4 Way, I would rather they wait for a winner at Day 1, and then Lashley goes after the winner at the Royal Rumble. Also, why aren’t the Hurt Business all together? Didn’t they work together at Crown Jewel?
Just as I thought there was no one for the US Championship Open Challenger, the Glorious Jobber to the Stars pops up. But it was still a really good match, and naturally Priest wins. Ziggler getting his shot in probably means he’ll answer the challenge next time. Not sure who will ever take this title off Priest since so many good choices got released. I was thinking Finn, to revisit their NXT TakeOver: In Your House match, but seems he goes from being fodder for Rollins to have something with Theory just so this Vince-Theory story has something happen. But even then, what happens there? Finn putting Theory over so Theory can go for a title?
The tag team tournament was really fun tonight. Riddle and Orton continue to have good promos together, and it seems Omos and Styles are close to breaking up. Styles putting Omos over in a singles match could be quite the moment. Alpha Academy losing by it basically being just Gable VS Dom the whole time was quite the surprise. But Riddle was talking up the Mysterios on commentary, and I myself want to see RKBRO VS Mysterios, so I hope the Mysterios win. Profits VS Mysterios will be a really good one, that’s for sure.
My Score: 8.3/10
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Nothing is over until Carmelo Hayes says it’s over!
Not able to accept his loss at Stand & Deliver, Carmelo Hayes drags Trick Williams into the cage! Will Trick ever be able to get past… HIM?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Noam Dar w/ The Meta Four VS DIJAK; Dar wins.
- Sol Ruca VS Lola Vice; Lola wins.
- Ridge Holland VS Joaquin Wilde; Ridge wins.
- Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov VS Je’Von Evans; Dragunov wins.
- Thea Hail w/ Chase U VS Tatum Paxley; Tatum wins.
- Malik Blade & Edris Enofe VS The Authors of Pain w/ The Final Testament; AOP wins.
- Josh Briggs VS Ivar; Ivar wins.
- Steel Cage Match: Carmelo Hayes VS Trick Williams; Trick wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Noam Dar w/ The Meta Four VS DIJAK!
The Meta Four’s idea to parody #HardJustice obviously didn’t make Dijak laugh, but it’s the Scottish Supernova who will take the heat for it. Will Dar teach Dijak to have a sense of humor? Or will “Mr. PLE” prove he’s no joke?
The bell rings and the two circle. They approach, Dar gets around to headlock, but Dijak powers out. Dar RAMS shoulders but Dijak doesn’t budge! Dar kicks, kicks, bobs ‘n’ weaves and he kicks Dijak’s leg out! Dijak ducks the buzzsaw to choke grip! Dar choke grips, but that’s not as effective. Dijak SHOVES Dar into a corner, but Dar avoids the haymaker to KICK, KICK and KICK! Dijak blocks,. Dar SLAPS! Dar grabs an arm to wrap around ropes, but Dijak shoves him away. Dijak storms up on Dar, brings him up, reels him in, but Dar wrenches to KICK the arm! BACKHAND! Dijak wobbles, Dar runs up to CLOBBER him! Cover, ONE!!
Dar clamps onto Dijak’s arm and he pulls it back. The fans rally as Dijak fights up and rolls through. Dijak avoids the sweep, whips Dar to ropes, but Dar holds ropes to bail out. The Meta Four coaches Dar and fans him off, but Dijak storms out! Dar slips back inside, but Dijak BOOTS him! Dijak then springboards to FLYING LARIAT! The fans fire up, Dijak covers, TWO! Dar stays in this and the fans rally up. Dijak drags Dar up, whips him to ropes, then scoops Dar, but Dar tilt-o-whirls into a GUILLOTINE! Dijak endures, powers up, and he RAMS Dar into the corner! Dar holds on! Dijak powers up again, but Dar throws headbutts!
Dijak pries the body scissors to KNEE Dar, and FLING him out of the ring!! The fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” while NXT goes picture in picture.
Dijak snarls while Meta Four checks Dar. They fan him but Dijak storms out after him. Dijak drags Dar up, stands him up against barriers, and CHOPS! Dijak talks trash, Dar shoves him back, but Dijak storms up. Dar fires forearms, but Dijak knees low! Dijak CHOPS Dar and Dar spasms from the pain! Dijak brings Dar around, puts him in the ring, but Dar bails out the side. The Meta Four get in Dijak’s way but he just pushes through. Dijak drags Dar up to then scoop, only for Meta Four to get in the way again! Dar slips free, and he POSTS Dijak! Meta Four taunts Dijak, then Dar KICKS Dijak against the apron!
Dijak gets in the ring, Dar pursues, and Dar stomps Dijak around. Dar KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! Dijak wobbles, Dar reels him in, but Dijak’s too big for a fisherman suplex! Dijak throws body shots and then suplexes Dar away! Both men are down while Dijak catches his breath. Dijak rises, and he takes aim as Dar stirs. Dar stands, into the choke grip! But Dar ROCKS Dijak with a left hand! Then roll into CHAMPAGNE SUPER KNEEBAR! Dijak endures, even as Dar twists the ankle! Dijak fights around, sits up, and the two start throwing hands! NXT returns to single picture as Dar and Dijak go back and forth!
Dijak ROCKS Dar again and again, but Dar fires a flurry in return! The fans rally for Dijak as he roars, and he ROCKS Dar again and again and again! Dijak is free, and he KICKS Dar in the face! Meta Four panics, Dijak watches Dar rise. Dijak hobbles up to ELBOW Dar down! And ELBOW again! Dijak runs, breaks through the lariat and FLYING FOREARMS! The fans fire up while Dar flounders to a corner. Dijak storms up and puts Dar in the corner to CHOP, CHOP, CHOP, repeat! Meta Four freaks out as it’s TIME TO FLY! The fans are thunderous behind Dijak while Dar flounders around.
Dijak aims, spins, but Dar jumps on! GUILLOTINE, but Dijak pries the hold open fast! Dijak choke grips, and he brings Dar up for HIGH JUSTICE!! Cover, TWO?!? Dar survives and Meta Four is very relieved. Dar sputters while the fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” Dijak drags Dar back up, reels him in, but Dar fights with elbows! The fans rally, Dar reels Dijak in and still wants the fisherman! Dijak throws body shots, so Dar wrenches to KICK the leg! Dar reels Dijak in again, but Dijak throws more body shots. Dijak shoves Dar, Dar stops himself then dodges the boot! Dijak gets hung up, Dar goes up to FLYING LARIAT!
Dar hurries to get Dijak in, FISHERMAN BUSTER!! Cover, TWO!! Dijak survives, but Dar ARMBARS!! Dijak flails, reaches out, but Dar keeps changing his grip! Dijak stacks Dar, TWO! SUPERKICK! The fans fire up as Dar flounders. Dijak runs up, but Dar dodges, so Dijak hits buckles and tumbles up and out of the ring! Dar runs up to CLOBBER Dijak into the steel steps! The fans boo but Dar runs up to DROPKICK! Dar puts Dijak in, Dijak staggers to his feet, into the BACK ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Dijak survives and the fans fire up! Dar is beside himself, fans hope they “FIGHT FOREVER!” but this is just the opener!
Dar aims from the corner, Dijak rises, and Dar runs in, into a SUPERKICK! Dar QUESTION MARK KICKS! Dijak roars, spins, into the HAYMAKER! Dar runs, into the CYCLONE BOOT!! The fans are thunderous and Dijak storms around! Dijak calls his shot, but Oro gets on the apron! Dijak swings on Oro, Oro ducks it, but then Dijak SUPERKICKS! NOVA ROLLA!! Cover, Dar wins!
Winner: Noam Dar, by pinfall
The numbers game wins again as Main Man Mensah bites the bullet! Will Dar use this momentum to make his way towards a title opportunity?
Ilja Dragunov meets with Ava Raine.
The Czar visits the NXT General Manager in her office as she brings up that next week is the start of the two-week Spring Breakkin’. Yes, and he adds that it’ll be the last week of Trick Williams in NXT as Dragunov will defend this title. Yes, well, we’ll see. But tonight’s main event is Trick VS Melo in a Steel Cage, and yet Dragunov doesn’t have a match. That doesn’t seem fair given the title match. Well, she’s the GM, she can do what she must. Then that means Dragunov will be in action! But… he does get to pick his opponent. He welcomes that challenge.
But then he wants her to send a message to the entire NXT locker room that whoever stands eye to eye with him first will be the one to have that match with the Mad Dragon. Dragunov heads out while Ava sends the message, who will take this Open Challenge as their opportunity to reach the top?
Tatum Paxley speaks.
“I always wanted to be good. That’s every little girl’s dream: fitting in, playing with dolls, living the life just like the ones in the fairytales. But then I realized… no matter how good I am, nobody wants to play with girls like Tatum Paxley. The cool girls didn’t wanna be my friend. But I didn’t need them. I found the one thing that would be good to me as long as I was good back. It didn’t matter who held it, because I will always be there for it. Charlotte, Bayley, Asuka, Shayna, Kairi, Rhea, Iyo, Raquel, Roxanne, Indi, Tiffany, Becky, Lyra…
“Oh, Lyra. I loved you. I wanted to be you, because you were the closest thing to good as there was! And I was a good girl because I fought hard to keep that championship with you! You were the only one that really let me in, and that title made us real best friends. We were so close! But then, you lost the one thing that I love most, the NXT Women’s Championship. Lyra, you broke my heart. So what is Lyra to me now? Nothing. And I see now that Roxanne is the coolest girl in class. But I can’t have that anymore. It needs to be me. Lyra, my sweet dove, you’re in my way.” Twisted Tatum’s come to play, but will she be the one that’s good enough to challenge the champion?
Sol Ruca VS Lola Vice!
The Sol Surfer was just telling it like it is, and that upset the Mayor of Vice City. Will Lola cause Sol to wipe out before Spring Breakkin’? Or will Sol continue to ride a wave of momentum towards title opportunities?
NXT returns as Sol makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Lola wrenches and clamps onto the arm, but Sol cartwheels and lifts Lola! Sol slams Lola down then has the cording hold. Lola headscissors, Sol kips free then trips Lola to flip over her! Lola sits up into the mule kick! Cover, TWO! Sol clamps onto an arm, wrenches, then wristlocks. Lola wrenches back, kicks then mule kicks! Sol goes to a corner, Lola storms up and whips, but Sol goes up and up and over! Sol keeps moving, Lola drops down but Sol handsprings through the hip toss to FACEBUSTER! Then DROPKICK!
Lola goes to a corner, Sol runs in but Lola dodges to BACKHAND! The fans rally while Sol sits up in a daze. Sol stands, Lola fires off lightning kicks! Lola puts Sol in a corner, goes to the far corner and reminds us, “I’M A LATINA~!” She shakes her hips then HIP ATTACKS! Cover, TWO! Lola gets in Sol’s face, saying she’s the next champ, then she AX KICKS Sol down! And KICKS her in the side! Lola storms up on Sol, brings her around to KICK and KICK, then she brings Solo up. Solo ROCKS Lola, ROCKS her again, but Lola BODY BLOWS! Lola clamps on with a SLEEPER! Sol endures, fights up and has Lola as a backpack!
The fans rally as Sol RAMS Lola into buckles! Lola jumps back on for the SLEEPER! Lola’s still a backpack, so Sol swings and SIDEWALK SLAMS! Sol flounders to the corner, Lola runs up, but Sol dodges! Sol CLOBBERS Lola, CLOBBERS her again, then springboards to CROSSBODY! Sol scoops Lola and POWERSLAMS! Then STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Solo keeps cool and the fans rally. Sol goes to the apron to springboard, but she has to roll through as Lola moves! Lola runs up, Sol dodges and goes up! Lola anchors legs, Sol kicks her away and FLYING SUNSET FLIPS! TWO, and Lola stands! Sol ducks a kick to SUPERKICK!
Solo goes up and up and then CARTWHEEL- BLAIR HITS THE ROPES! The ref reprimands, but Lola HEEL KICKS Sol down! Cover, Lola wins!
Winner: Lola Vice, by pinfall
Blair with the assist there as Lola scores major points. It’s buenas noches for now, but then Natalya tells Lola hey! Natty’s on the tron and says Lola kept Natty from winning a title she never held before. Well now, Natty will fight Lola on her turf, in her match, to test her. So now is Lola’s chance to show us what she’s got. Time for Lola to show us her heart. In two weeks, Spring Breakin Night 2, Natty VS Lola… in NXT UNDERGROUND!! The fans fire up as the BOAT is looking to sink Vice City, but who will move on to be a step closer to title opportunity?
NXT Anonymous is watching…
This was yesterday as Ridge Holland talked with Ava about his in-ring return. Only for Joaquin Wilde to storm up and tell Ridge to just admit who he really is. Ridge put hands on Wilde to RAM him into the wall and shout “You don’t KNOW who I really am!” Ava reprimanded Ridge for his outburst and Ridge stormed off. Ridge is clearly still working on his inner rage, but will he let all of it out on Wilde tonight?
Arianna Grace meets with Gigi Dolin.
The self-appointed Miss NXT says there is still so much to work on with “Giorgina” before Spring Breakin’. Surely she’ll be late. But no, Gigi is actually early, to Grace’s surprise. Yeah, because the sooner they start, the sooner they get this over with. Arianna isn’t gonna make her bow and curtsey or whatever, is she? They’ll get to etiquette later. The first essential is the dress. Time to go show shopping! Think of your body as a canvas. The way Gigi dresses now… Makes people think she’ll kick their head in if they get too close? Yes. And what a horrifying vision that is! They need to strive for peace, not the opposite.
That prize is within their grasp, they just need to change Gigi’s attire and soften that rather… harsh exterior. Gigi sighs and says fine, but at least make it black. It goes with everything, she already has shoes that match. Black? No, no, no! Why not? Arianna says she’ll take the lead. Gigi just needs to open her mind and allow elegance to come right in. They’ll have Gigi looking like Arianna in no time! Gigi sighs, but just how bad can this get?
Ridge Holland VS Joaquin Wilde!
Yorkshire Grit is starting to loose his grip on his emotions. His bad mood made him sloppy and that’s how he accidentally hurt Cruz Del Toro. But will there be no accidents with what Wilde’s gonna do to get payback? Or will he push Ridge one step too far?
The bell rings, Ridge asks what Wilde wants from him about Cruz’s hand. Wilde fires off forearms! Ridge SHOVES Wilde, CLOBBERS him, and says what happened with Cruz was an accident! Ridge grabs at Wilde, Wilde slips under, and Wilde kicks low to UPPERCUT! Wilde runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then goes up and up to TORNILLO CROSSBODY! Cover, ONE, but Wilde DROPKICKS Ridge out! The fans fire up with Wilde, he PLANCHAS but Ridge moves! Ridge pushes Wilde, Wilde stops from hitting post, so Ridge UPPERCUTS! Ridge fires forearms, but then Wilde ducks! Ridge hits post, then Wilde SUPERKICKS!
Ridge gets in the ring, Wilde runs in, but Ridge puts him on the apron! Wilde ducks one lariat but not the RIGHT! Wilde falls off the apron but fans boo Ridge as he huffs and puffs. Ridge keeps insisting Cruz’s hand was an accident. Wilde gets in, Ridge traps him in ropes to UPPERCUT again and again! Ridge BOOTS Wilde down, covers, TWO! Ridge clamps onto Wilde with the armlock and he grinds the shoulder. Wilde fights up, throws body shots, but Ridge traps the arms! Ridge HEADBUTTS and Wilde ends up in a corner. Ridge runs in to SPLASH, then OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Wilde flounders, Ridge runs up, but Wilde dodges!
Wilde runs back in, ELBOWS, then runs to come back, but Ridge POUNCES! Ridge drags Wilde up, throws knees, then reels him in. Ridge hoists Wilde up, but Wilde DDTS! The fans rally, and Shawn Spears appears on stage. The Chair Man insists that the truth is painful, and Ridge storms up. Wilde ELBOWS Ridge, fires off haymakers then whips, but Ridge reverses. Wilde springboards to FLYING CHUCK! Then JAWBREAKER! Then POP-UP BOOT! Ridge staggers, Wilde spells it out, “L! W! O!” But Ridge runs back up! Wilde goes Matrix to then NECKBREAKER! Ridge bails out and the fans fire up with Wilde!
Wilde builds speed, and DIVES, into a POWERSLAM!! Ridge drags Wilde up and into the ring, hauls him up into a PACKAGE DDT! Cover, Ridge wins!
Winner: Ridge Holland, by pinfall
Wilde may have let his emotions get the better of him, but Ridge is still conflicted. Spears smiles, is Ridge’s “truth” about to come to light?
Josh Briggs visits the medical center.
He’s getting his ribs checked and he says he feels much better now. Though, it’s still a bit painful to breathe and move around, is that normal? Yes, especially given those ribs were broken. Briggs needs to be careful until he’s truly 100%, but he’s “cleared as tolerated.” Briggs thanks the doc, but then Ivar checks in. Ivar asks if Briggs is good and Briggs says yeah, he’s cleared and ready to go after Oba Femi again. Ivar says he likes the grit, but he’s been in this room so many times before. Take it from Ivar, give it a couple more weeks so he can fully heal up. In that time, Ivar can have his match with Oba, and then when Ivar wins the title, Briggs is first up. How’s that sound?
Briggs says absolutely not. Ivar can go back to Raw and get his ass kicked by Sheamus again. Okay, okay, Ivar sees how this is gonna go. Then tonight, Ivar VS Briggs, winner fights Oba. Briggs says then go put on the war paint and he’ll see Ivar tonight. The Viking Raider and the Blue Collar Brawler are ready to throw hands, but who will get their hand raised at the end of the night?
Brinley Reece posts to TikTok.
She wants everyone to know she, Malik Blade & Edris Enofe are all going to work out at the Performance Center and wants them to join in. #BrinActive! They pump up to take on “Ohp.” Who? Y’know, A O P. Oh, Authors of Pain… But Edris says knowing their luck, by the time AOP is done with them, they’ll be SOL. Brin puts it together she’s been saying it wrong, but yeah they are scary. But who cares! She’ll be in their corner! Edris says no she’s not! Malik smooths it over by saying they can’t let their bad juju rub off on Brin. Edris says they need any kind of luck right now. They have been losing and losing!
Malik calms Edris down and says they just have to believe. Brin says exactly! Believe in the lift! Let’s go! Well, Brin’s always positive, will Edris ever see things her way? Or will Akam & Rezar write them off completely?
Andre Chase finds Thea Hail backstage.
She thanks him for coming to talk. He appreciates her wanting to meet, even with her match against Tatum tonight. After last week, they need to talk this out. They sit, and Thea says Jacy wasn’t lying about that bet. Nope. Last July, Chase was already knee deep into his gambling. At the time, he had things under control. Which is why he felt right betting on Thea against Tiffany Stratton. He knew deep down, Thea could do this. Thea could become the youngest NXT champion in history, so when asked if he was for or against, he went all in on Thea. But then seeing her suffer, her refusing to tap out, tears flowing down her cheeks, Chase had to throw in the towel.
In that moment, he didn’t care what it cost him, he just wanted Thea to be okay. Then why didn’t he tell her? She treated him so badly after that! Why didn’t he say something? Because she didn’t sign up for that, she just wanted to win a title. Then what about the towel? Honestly, he just hoped she would understand where his heart is, both that night and every night. He’s always in Thea’s corner. Then she is sorry! She hugs him and he says it’s okay. Chase U looks stronger than ever, but will there be another chance at a title for Thea in the future?
The D’Angelo Family is here!
The fans cheer as The Don leads Stacks, Rizzo & The Legal Eagle out to the ring, having finally returned to NXT after his loss at Stand & Deliver. Tony feels a little better showing off the new suit, then he gets the mic. Tony says after he and Stacks lost the tag titles, he talked about rapid growth in the family. He never said it was gonna be easy, but he knew it was worth it. And if you ask him how, when he’s not NXT Champion, Tony thinks about where they were a year ago. They made Pretty Deadly disappear, but they faced serious allegations. Now he looks at Stacks and the Consigliere, Luca Crusifino, both ready to crack skulls and add gold to the family.
Tony looks to Adrianna, the future of the NXT Women’s Division! And at Stand & Deliver, he went toe-to-toe with one of the toughest men in NXT history! Tony and Dragunov had a fight, one of the hardest fights Tony has ever gone through, and Tony lost. But this is about going one more round when you can’t. Toughness comes from longevity, and he’s here to tell you- Well, No Quarter Catch Crew interrupts first. Charlie Dempsey has the mic to tell Tony he doesn’t appreciate their dealings from last week were made public. What kinda business is he running here? Is Dempsey talking to Tony? Oh yeah, he sure is!
NQCC get in the ring but Tony tells them they came to the Family to take care of one of their own, all because they didn’t have the cajones to do something themselves! No problem, they’re the experts. Yeah, well, when it comes to taking someone out- Oh oh oh, stunad! No specifics, okay? There’s people watching. Yeah but Tony said- Hey, Charlie, didn’t Tony just say no specifics? Tony says they’re No Quarter, right? Well, Tony hasn’t gotten his full quarter, so when’re they gonna pay up? What? Payment? Wasn’t this for the good of the business? There was trash that needed to be taken care of, and they did that. It did the industry some good while they were at it.
Luca tells Mr. Dempsey that they’re still on the hook for services rendered. But the Don has a suggestion: They can either settle the debt, or it gets handled the way the D’Angelo Family always does it. Damon Kemp says no way, this was supposed to be done for the- Whoa, whoa, Damon, no one was even talking to you. Tony says he’ll say this to all three. Tony doesn’t do this for charity, or about feelings. This is about business, and in his business there is a code that you don’t betray. So listen up. It doesn’t matter who NQCC think they are, but they wanna come out here and interrupt him? Don’t think so.
Charlie tells Tony, “Is there anything else you wanna say to me? Is that it?” Tony says that Heritage Cup looks pretty nice. Oh does he? Well, don’t look at the cup, look at Charlie. That cup represents the competition and skill that takes place in this ring. It doesn’t need to be held by some two-bit gangster in wrestling boots! Charlie didn’t have a problem with that when Tony took care of this situation. So is Charlie gonna pay up? Over his dead body that some lowlife scumbag disgraces that cup! Scumbag? Well… Tony takes off the suit jacket, and says how bout this? They brawl! The fans fire up as The Family clears the ring of the NQCC!
The battlelines have been drawn, is The Family about to test that Catch Clause?
Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov VS ???
The NXT Champion is just fine with facing anyone in the back ahead of facing Trick Williams one last time next week! But then who will step up to be the “tune up?” Lexis King, Joe Gacy, and a lot of others rush out here! They all brawl, but in from the crowd side, it’s JeVon Evans! Ya boi bouncy~, and he quite literally jumps to the front of the line! Dragunov likes the Young OG’s guts, but will he beat those guts right outta him here tonight?
The bell rings and Evans fires forearms with Dragunov! The fans fire up as they go back and forth over and over! Dragunov fires boxing elbows but Evans BOOTS! Dragunov BOOTS, Evans rebounds to spin but Dragunov ducks the kick! GERMAN SUPLEX! Dragunov holds on, he drags Evans up, and GERMAN SUPLEXES again! The fans chant “DAT BOI!” “BOUNCY~!” but Dragunov drags him up again. Evans pries free, elbows, but Dragunov rebounds to PELE! Then GERMAN SUPLEXES again! Evans flounders to a corner, Dragunov runs in, but blocks a boot! Dragunov blocks another try, puts that leg in the ropes, and then CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS!
The fans fire up while Evans slumps down, and Dragunov scrubs him with his boot! Dragunov runs side to side, but into a SUPERKICK! The fans fire up again as Evans has Dragunov dazed! Dragunov stands, he ROCKS Evans, but Evans ROCKS Dragunov! Evans blocks a chop to CHOP, then repeat! Evans CHOPS, CHOSP and CHOPS, the fans “WOO~” again and again. But Dragunov block sone, to HEADBUTT! And HEADBUTT! And HEADBUTT! Then GERMAN SUPLEX, but Evans lands out of it! Evans runs to SCREW HIGH KICK! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Evans and Dragunov rise again.
Evans winds up to KICK! Dragunov wobbles, so Evans KICKS again! Evans goes up and rebounds, but Dragunov turns Rana into POWERBOMB! Evans grits his teeth as he sits up, but Dragunov runs and runs and runs to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Evans survives being turned inside-out but Dragunov nods. The fans rally for “NXT! NXT!” as Dragunov brings Evans up. Dragunov fireman’s carries, but Evans fights free! Dragunov hits buckles, Evans reels him in but Dragunov fights with elbows and knees! CONSTANTINE- SPANISH FLY!! Cover, TWO!! Dragunov survives that sudden turn around and the fans are loving it!
Evans aims from a corner as he goes up and up, but Dragunov CHOPS first! And SLAPS Evans right to the apron! Evans BOOTS back, springboards, but into a CHOP!! Dragunov sits Evans up so he can run and KNEE!! Cover, TWO!! Evans survives and the fans are thunderous! Dragunov reels him in, “This is Awesome!” as Evans fights the bomb, and DDTS! Dragunov flounders out of the ring, Evans goes to the far side. Evans snarls as he gets to his feet, and he builds speed to FLY!! Direct hit at the ramp! Evans puts Dragunov in, hurries up again, and FROG SPLASHES onto knees! Roll through and deadlift, Dragunov powers Evans up to a fireman’s carry!
Dragunov then hits a CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Dragunov goes to the corner, “UN! BE! SIEG! BAR!!” TORPEDO MOSCOW!! Cover, Dragunov wins!
Winner: Ilja Dragunov, by pinfall
The Young OG showed guts and ability beyond his years, but he’s still a little early if he wants to be champion. Dragunov does show Evans respect, will we see this showdown again one day?
Backstage interview with Karmen Petrovic.
Kelly Kincaid is with Karmen to speak on Natty facing Lola in the first-ever Women’s NXT Underground match. Will Karmen help her train? 1000% yes! Karmen will get Natty training, but her schedule is so crazy right now. She’s on the WWE Europe tour, but then in walks Lola. Lola says Karmen can help Natty all she wants, but Natty is entering Lola’s world, and will be playing by Lola’s rules. Sure, Natty has guts, but she can’t handle the Latina Heat. Karmen can be in her corner, teach Natty all she knows, but it won’t mean a thing. Just wait until you see who Lola has in her corner. See you at next week’s contract signing. Adios~!
Sol talks with Ava backstage.
Blair cost Sol nine months of her career, a year of Wendy Chu’s, so much of Nikkita Lyons’, and Sol’s match tonight! Sol NEEDS to end this. Ava hears that, but Sol already had her match with Blair. No, not just another match. Sol wants Blair in NO DISQUALIFICATIONS! Is that what she wants? Sol says she will not stop until Blair has to be carried outta here. Sol storms off, is she going to wash Blair away with the tide? Or is this all playing right into Blair’s hands?
Thea Hail w/ Chase U VS Tatum Paxley!
The fire is back inside the top prospect, and she’s ready to blaze a trail back to title contention! But will we all hail Thea? Or will the twisted outcast not stop until she’s the one on top of NXT?
NXT returns and Tatum makes her entrance. The bell rings and Thea rushes up. Tatum slips around, waistlocks and SLAMS, then floats around to smile right in Thea’s face. Thea is creeped out and backs up, but Tatum slithers up. Thea rushes in again, but into another waistlock. Thea arm-drags free, runs up, but into a scoop! Thea arm-drags Tatum, runs up to back body block, then runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Tatum goes Matrix! Thea leaps over, the two stare down, and the fans fire up. Tatum reaches out but Thea grabs that arm! Thea SPLASHES down on it, and Tatum flounders to a corner. Thea runs in but only gets buckles!
Tatum scoops Thea to BACKBREAKER! Thea writhes, Tatum has Thea on ropes and bends her against them! The ref counts, Tatum lets off, but she KNEES Thea down. Thea goes to the corner, Tatum runs up, and she BODY CHECKS Thea into the buckles! Tatum digs Thea into the buckles but lets off as the ref counts. The fans rally for Thea and she fires forearms! Thea whips, Tatum reverses to knee low! Tatum grins as she GUT WRENCH PLEXES! Cover, TWO! Tatum top mounts Thea to say she’s the next champion, but Thea hits with body shots. Tatum hooks Thea’s legs and turns over, SPLADLE CHINLOCK! Thea endures as gravity does all the work!
Thea fights her way out, then fires forearms! Tatum hits back, and says the title is hers! Thea HEADBUTTS Tatum down! Tatum goes to ropes, comes back, but Thea wrenches for the ARMBAR CODE BREAKER! Thea whips and CLOBBERS Tatum! And CLOBBERS her again! Thea mule kicks a leg out, runs and ROLLNG NECKBREAKERS! But wait, is that Jazmyn Nyx? Jazmyn is mocking the “nerd” but Thea tells her “SUCK IT!” Thea scoops Tatum, POWERSLAM! SENTON! Thea shakes the ropes, but Jacy trips her up! The fans boo and Tatum ghost pins, Tatum wins!
Winner: Tatum Paxley, by pinfall
It seems no one can leave well enough alone, can they? Thea makes Jacy pay with a TOPE SUICIDA!! The fans fire up as Thea rains down fists on Jacy, but Chase and Riley get in there! Jacy hits Thea back but refs rush out to stop this! And then IN the ring, Lyra goes after Tatum! They brawl, refs have to divide and conquer, but the Morrigan is enraged! Will Thea humble the toxic Jacy once and for all? Will Lyra have vengeance on the two-faced Tatum?
Backstage interview with Roxanne Perez.
Kelly Kincaid says it looked like there was going to be a Stand & Deliver rematch between her and Lyra, but after- Oh, yeah, that freak finally turned on little her “girlfriend.” But it doesn’t matter how obsessed Tatum is with the title, or if Lyra has a chip on her shoulder, they can destroy each other for all Roxie cares. Beat each other to a pulp! Roxie will sit back, be entertained, and whoever makes it out of that fight in one piece maybe, just maybe, gets a title match. Wow, that was super easy. Like, what’s Ava even complaining about? Roxie sees it: Spring Breakin’, Roxie defends her title 1v1 against-
Ava walks in and says Roxie is so right. She made Ava’s job even easier! Why choose? Triple Threat! Roxie VS Lyra VS Tatum! NO! Of course Ava does this! Everyone is against Roxie, so why not Ava? Ava wants Roxie to lose her title without actually losing! Well, Roxie said Ava’s job is easy, but surely Roxie will do great. Ava leaves, Roxie is fuming, but will Roxie have no choice but to eat her words?
Malik Blade & Edris Enofe VS The Authors of Pain w/ The Final Testament!
It’s getting harder and harder to find the silver lining for Malik & Edris, and this time, platitudes like “there’s always next time” might not apply. That’s because Akam & Rezar, backed by Paul Ellerin, Karrion Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux, might just write their Final Chapter! Will Malik & Edris survive to fight another day? Or is there no upside to facing AOP?
NXT returns as Malik & Edris make their entrance, minus Brin like Edris said. The teams sort out, Akam starts against Edris. They tie up, Akam RAMS Edris into the corner and fires off hands! Akam swings, Edris dodges and fires off hands! Akam shoves Edris, Edris tags Malik and then Edris DROPKICKS Akam! Malik goes up to AX HANDLE! Akam stays up, Malik fires more hands! Tag back to Edris and he goes up, so he can AX HANDLE! Akam is still up, he headlocks, and Rezar tags in as Edris powers out. Akam whips, pop-up to Rezar for the CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Cover, TWO!
Edris survives and Rezar is already furious! Rezar HAMMERS away on Edris, then paces around. Edris drags himself to ropes, but Rezar is right on him. Tag to Akam, the AOP stand Edris up and Akam runs to KNEE Edris low! Rezar CLUBS Edris down, Akam clamps on and makes Edris look to Malik. Akam dribbles Edris’ face off the mat! Malik reaches out, the fans rally, but Rezar tags in. AOP gets Edris up, pops up and KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Edris survives and the fans rally again. Rezar seethes as he drags Edris away. Rezar reels Edris in, TOSSES him to a corner, then runs in, only to get buckles! Hot tag to Malik!
Malik dodges Rezar, BLASTS Akam and fires off on Rezar! Rezar stays up, swings, but Malik dodges to DROPKICK! Rezar tumbles out, Akam storms in but Malik SUPERKICKS! Malik builds speed, Edris tags in, Malik FLIES! AOP catches Malik!! But Edris FLIES but Malik’s thrown at him!! The fans go nuts as AOP are still monsters, and then AOP get a man each. SUPER COLLIDER!! Cover, AOP wins!
Winners: The Authors of Pain, by pinfall
The Final Testament makes up for their loss at WrestleMania, if only in part. But will they not stop until they’re once again wearing NXT gold? Speaking of, Nathan Frazer & Axiom are here! AOP attacked the champs last week so the dynamic duo want to return the favor, except the refs stand in the way. Will the Undeniable Hard-Hitting Truth be able to take the fight to the Final Testament?
Arianna & Gigi visit Lauren Nicole.
The shopping begins, and Gigi can’t believe Arianna thinks Gigi would actually wear anything from here. Like, what is this frilly halter top? Arianna wants “Giorgina” to understand that to become a princess, she must act, think and believe that she truly IS a princess. And Arianna for one thinks Gigi has all the makings to be one. OMG look at that dress! Arianna rushes over to grab the big green one. What does Gigi say? She hates it already. Like, so much. Nonsense! She’d look breathtaking in it! Well, Gigi could make it her own. Yes, Giorgina! Such a fast learner! Then Gigi has some ideas. She’ll try it on.
Arianna is ecstatic that Gigi is taking this seriously! Gigi slips into a dressing room, and there is definitely sounds of tearing. When Gigi comes out, she’s given the outfit a makeover! Yeah, Gigi does look good. She just had to “Gigi” the dress up a bit. She’ll wear it out, thanks. Spring Breakin’, here she comes! Arianna’s paying. Do they take credit?
Josh Briggs VS Ivar!
JBL’s seal of approval means a lot to Briggs, and he wants to finally prove JBL was right to give him the nod. He may have failed to take the North American title at Stand & Deliver, but will he fight his way to another shot here tonight? Or will the raid crash the party at Spring Breakin’?
NXT returns and Briggs makes his entrance, taped up quite a bit around the ribs. The bell rings, the two run up and Ivar BOOTS! Ivar whips, Briggs reverses but Ivar rolls off Briggs’ back! Ivar then cartwheels to dodge and he LARIATS Briggs down! The fans fire up, Briggs goes to a corner and Oba is watching as Ivar fires ELBOW after ELBOW! The fans chant “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” and Ivar whips Briggs to ropes. Briggs blows through the lariat to BOOT Ivar down! The fans fire up as Briggs storms up and whips back. Briggs scoops to SIDEWALK SLAM and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Briggs clutches the ribs, this is perhaps all double-edged right now.
Briggs powers through the pain, but runs up into a SEATED SENTON! The fans fire up while Briggs sputters. Ivar storms up on Briggs, drags him up and CLUBS him, but Briggs throws body shots. Ivar CLUBS Briggs again, has him on ropes, and then HEADBUTTS! Ivar runs, into an ELBOW! Briggs choke grips, but Ivar breaks free to BODY SHOT! Briggs sputters, Ivar reels him in, underhooks for the Canadian Rack! Briggs slips free, ELBOWS, and runs, into a SPINNING POWERSLAM! Briggs coughs and sputters, Ivar underhooks for the TIGER DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!!! Briggs survives and stuns Ivar!
Ivar storms around, goes to a corner and climbs up. The fans rally as Ivar aims for the VIKING- NO, Ivar rolls through the splash as Briggs dodge! BOSS MAN SLAM! TWO! Briggs’ bad ribs probably held that move back, but Briggs isn’t gonna stop! Briggs gets Ivar up, wrenches, and GUT BUSTERS! Briggs huffs, puffs, runs, and RAMS Ivar! Ivar tumbles out of the ring, and Briggs roars as he fights through the pain! Briggs goes to the apron, and FLYING SHOULDER TACKLES! Down goes Ivar and Briggs rises! The fans are torn as Briggs reels Ivar in. Ivar fights the lift to RAM Briggs into steel steps!
Briggs hobbles up, into the HEEL KICK! Ivar puts Briggs in, goes up the corner again, for the DOOMSAULT!! Cover, Ivar wins!
Winner: Ivar, by pinfall
Perhaps Briggs should’ve listened to Ivar earlier, he was nowhere near 100% and therefore had no chance of stopping the War Beard. Will Ivar raid right through The Ruler and take his throne?
Kelly Kincaid asks Oba his opinion on this win, and Oba just says, “Interesting.” Oba leaves, and he apparently clobbers Oro without a second thought! Main Man Mensah is upset that this keeps happening, when will he get his shot at The Ruler?
Steel Cage Match: Carmelo Hayes VS Trick Williams!
After he failed to Stand & Deliver, Melo could not stand the fact that Trick was going back for THE NXT Championship. Trick’s getting his shot at Dragunov one way or another, but will Melo make sure Trick doesn’t have a leg to stand on? Or will this be Trick finally saying goodbye and good riddance to HIM?
Before the match, Kelly Kincaid is with Melo at gorilla. He cuts her off to tell Trick that this ain’t over until Melo says it is. Trick thinks he’s gonna be a champion, that he’s gonna make it out of the cage in one piece, but Melo will make sure that doesn’t happen. Melo gave Trick everything he has here, and now he’s taking it all away from his ungrateful ass! Melo heads out, his personal security following behind. Then Trick makes his entrance and the fans go wild! NXT is ready to see Trick whoop Melo one more time because there’s no escape. The bell rings, the two storm up, and Melo shoves Trick. They circle, Trick runs up but Melo dodges!
Melo goes to bump off the cage but Trick blocks. Melo then blocks Trick trying that, then Melo gets space. Melo rushes up, Trick headlocks but Melo powers out. Things speed up, melo jumps but into a scoop and SLAM! Trick then scoops to SLAM again! Trick scoops again, but Melo slips free to shove. Melo runs up, Trick dodges and Melo jumps up, but Trick brings him off the cage. The two circle again, Melo kicks low then runs, but he rolls off Trick’s back and Trick DROPKICKS! Trick scoops to SLAM again, then covers, TWO! The fans chant “Melo Got Whooped!” Trick whips, Melo holds ropes to stop himself, but Trick runs up to ROCK him!
Trick whips, Melo holds ropes again, then he sidesteps to SMACK Trick off steel! Melo runs, springboard, FLYING LARIAT! Melo then gets a baton from a security guard! Melo SMACKS Trick with the stick! Then SMACKS him again! And AGAIN! Trick writhes, the fans boo, but Melo SMACKS Trick down again! Melo mockingly conducts the booing while NXT goes picture in picture.
Melo taunts the fans, then he CHOKES Trick with the stick! Trick fights up, pulls the stick away, but Melo knees low! Melo JAMS Trick, SMACKS him on the back, then swaggers around. Trick slowly rises, Melo talks more trash as he winds up, but Trick blocks the stick! Melo kicks low, winds up again and SMACKS Trick low! Melo tosses the stick away to whip Trick, but Trick reverses and back drops! Melo flounders to ropes and Trick stands. Trick runs up, but into a drop toehold! Melo KICKS Trick, CLUBS away, then has the FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Trick rolls through to a cover, TWO! Melo CLOBBERS Trick!
Melo drags Trick up, wraps his arm around ropes and pulls! Trick can only suffer until Melo lets go. Melo puts the other arm around ropes to pull on that, then he has a SLEEPER! Trick endures, the ref reprimands, but Melo lets go when Melo wants. Melo SMACKS Trick off the steel! Cover, TWO! Melo seethes, he drags Trick around, and he ROCKS Trick. Trick ROCKS Melo back! Melo ROUNDHOUSES Trick, CLUBS him, and stomps away! Melo fires off wild shots while NXT returns to single picture. Melo has Trick in a corner, climbs up to stand on Trick’s head, and then stomps the arms against the ropes!
The fans boo, Melo SLAMS Trick’s arm against the steel, then SLAMS the arm again! The fans boo but Trick hits back! Melo stomps Trick, YANKS the arm against ropes, then stalks Trick. Melo whips, Trick blocks, then Trick whips. Melo reverses to ARMBAR CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Melo is frustrated but he clamps onto Trick’s bad arm. The fans rally as Trick endures, and Trick powers his way around. Melo brings Trick down to an ARMBAR! Trick powers his way to a cover, TWO! Melo lets Trick go to kick, whip, but Trick blocks! Trick reverses, but Melo reverses back to send Trick into steel!
Trick falls back, but Melo gets him up. Trick stops from hitting steel, but Melo kicks him through ropes to stomp him against steel! The fans boo but Melo soaks it up. Melo drags Trick back up, runs side to side, and he SPLASHES Trick against steel! And then SPLASHES him against steel again! Melo goes again, but Trick drops and Melo splashes into steel himself! The fans fire up while Trick rises! Melo kicks Trick, Trick blocks the whip to ROCK Melo. Trick whips Melo, Melo goes up but Trick follows! Trick clinches, SUPER BOOKEND!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Trick rises, the fans rally, and Trick pounds the mat.
Trick ROCKS Melo, Melo fires back! They go back and forth, Trick gets the edge, then whips Melo for the LEG LARIAT! LEG LARIAT! FLAPJACK! The fans fire up, Melo staggers and Trick aims! Trick spins but Melo rushes up to LA MYSTI- NO, Trick stops that to INVERTED SUPLEX! Trick kips up, the fans fire up with him, and he whips Melo into steel! And more steel! And more steel! And then the fourth wall! NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives but Trick lets the hair down! Trick drags Melo around, cartwheel and ripcord, but Melo arm-drags! Melo runs, but he’s sent into steel again!
Trick storms up, but Melo HOTSHOTS the bad arm! Melo climbs, aims, but Trick catches the three pointer for the BOOKEND! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives but Trick isn’t done with him! Trick fireman’s carries, but Melo DDTS! Cover, TWO! Trick is still in this but Melo stays on him. FIRST 48! Trick rebounds to LEAPING LARIAT! Melo comes back to V-TRIGGER! “This is Awesome!” as both men are down! Melo goes to the corner, Trick rises at center, and Trick runs up after Melo! SMACK off the steel! But Melo gives it back! Trick SMACKS Melo, Melo SMACKS Trick! They dribble each other off the steel again and again!
Trick and Melo wobble, but then Trick CHOPS! Melo CHOPS! Melo SMACKS Trick off steel, headlocks, SUPER BULLDOG but Trick superhero lands out of it! Trick shakes his head, Melo is furious, and Melo runs up! Trick dodges to SPIN KICK! But the personal guards climb the cage! Trick BLASTS a couple off the side, but there’s still another! Trick hurries to get that guy, but the fourth gets in with a chair!! Trick kicks that guy first then TOSSES Him around! And this is a BIG guy! Trick sees the guy stagger to the door, and BOOTS him out! Trick closes the cage, but Melo has the chair!! Trick dodges, runs up, FULL METAL TRICK SHOT!! Cover, Trick wins!!
Winner: Trick Williams, by pinfall
Melo tried to stack the deck but Trick’s shot don’t miss! And now, Trick climbs the cage to be level with the perch, where Dragunov is watching! Spring Breakin’, NXT Championship, and if Trick loses, he must LEAVE NXT. Will Trick’s final chance be the one chance he needs to finally be on top of the world?
My Thoughts:
A great NXT here as the go-home to Spring Breakin’ 2024. Great opening match from Dar and Dijak, and while the fans were super behind Dijak, of course Dar wins thanks to help from Meta Four. Dar is definitely being primed for some kind of title opportunity past Spring Breakin’, but Oro kinda got the karma for cheating when Oba Femi again clobbers him while simply exiting a room. Good promo from Briggs and Ivar to set up Briggs VS Ivar, which was a great match. The promo helped us understand how beat up Briggs is, so logically, Ivar would win. Oba VS Ivar is going to be great stuff, and I would think Oba wins.
Good NXT Anonymous promo to add heat to Ridge VS Wilde, and of course Shawn Spears shows up during that match. Ridge wins, though it’s hard to say he was that more brutal with Wilde than any other match, but maybe Ridge is going to end up more and more unhinged. Really good #gymtok promo from Brin, Malik & Edris, but of course AOP demolishes Malik & Edris in the match. Axiom & Frazer wanted after AOP but that’s rather reckless when AOP are both physically bigger than Bron and Corbin. I’m sure Axiom & Frazer find a way to win, but this is gonna be pretty brutal for the champs.
Great stuff in the Women’s Division building towards both the top title and the coming Women’s North American Championship. Great match from Sol VS Lola but we should’ve known Blair would mess Sol up. Then Natty calls out Lola, so we’re going to get awesome stuff out of both the “Beach Brawl” No Disqualification match and the NXT Underground match. And then really good promo where Mr. Chase and Thea finally make amends for last year, and good promo from Tatum putting the twist on how her character’s been this entire time. Kinda some long term storytelling with how Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn always sensed that darkness in Tatum.
Tatum VS Thea of course got Jacy & Jazmyn interfering, there has to be one final blowoff of Jacy VS Thea for Spring Breakin. And Lyra going after Tatum was great stuff, and Roxie was good in her promo. The Triple Threat was a wild move but Roxie might have a point, she could lose that title without being pinned, and then she gets drafted away. We saw Roxie be part of the Raw After Mania, maybe that’s where she’s headed. After all, we know Melo’s gonna end up on SmackDown. Great Steel Cage main event, and again I like that it was a use of the No Escape stipulation. Trick of course won, he’s got momentum going into what is surely his win next week.
As such, Dragunov might end up drafted away after he loses, and if so, his match tonight was even more awesome for him giving Je’Von Evans some shine in the Open Challenge tonight. Evans is definitely ahead of the curve, he’s going to be a big name very soon. The only real rough spot from tonight would probably be the D’Angelo Family interacting with NQCC. They made good points but the flow needed to be ironed out for it being live in front of the fans. For one, we’re getting a big Six Man Tag, and that will then give Tony D’Angelo momentum going into a Heritage Cup match with more than likely Dempsey.
But I think part of the awkwardness in the promo was them having to work-shoot away the Gulak issue. From how things were worded, NXT is siding with Ronda, as Gulak wasn’t even directly named in this whole thing, but they made it sound like he was the problem. Gulak wasn’t part of events during Mania Weekend or anything since, though there’s nothing on him being fired or suspended. we’ll just have to wait and see how this goes.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA Xplosion Results & Match Ratings: 4.12.2024
Okay now, I’m just happy Kevin Knight gets a little time to shine. with New Jersey’s own Steve Maclin!
Xplosion has been a waste of time since the new regime took over completely, and I can’t really see anything special about this episode. Still only promoting 1 match, prolly have an old match, an ICYMI and Gia’s interview.
It looks like the Around the Ring interview will be with Rosemary. So maybe that will be interesting, and I was recently talking about what’s been up with Kevin Knight since the Referendum match; so its nice to see him around. Knight shouldn’t win, but as long as he looks good, we might finally get a match worth sitting through old footage and a useless Top 5.
Ratings:
Steve Maclin vs Kevin Knight: Maclin wins via KIA – ** 1/2
Results:
TNA+Throwback Moment: Team 3D vs Motor City Machine Guns, Genesis 2007
Now I’ve said many times that I’m tired of all the clips and vault matches, but I’m also a MCMG fanboy…and this was prime TNA, so I’m at least amused. Plus to validate the match, we’ve got MCMG versus The System coming up on iMPACT!, so its just a nice old match to get the blood pumping.
Don West, You’ve Got to be Kidding Me! Trending Topics of the week:
5. New Full Blooded Italians.
4. Hammerstone vs Alexander, Last Man Standing
3. Myron Reed returns to The Rascalz
2. Nic Nemeth beating Alex Shelley
1. Jonathan Gresham officially signs with TNA
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, this Top 5 is legitimately a waste of air. Its just dumb dirt sheet highlights mostly from 2 weeks ago because their filming schedule makes the topics old and uninteresting.
Gia’s Around the Ring interview is with Rosemary. She stays in gimmick, not quite as over the top as the one Alicia Atout interview from a few years ago, but Gia is leading “the demon” on why they picked Courtney. They talk about Gia visiting the Undead Realm and that they still don’t know where Taya is. She also reveals a Bunny top of her cane, and very obviously hints to Allie. So I wonder if this is her trying to speak it into existence or if it’s actually a hint. Did something finally make a point for foreshadowing in storylines?
TNA+Throwback Moment: MCMG vs Beer Money, 2 out 3 Falls, 8.12.2010 iMPACT!
Steve Maclin vs Kevin Knight
So basic opening, but when Maclin tries a Hip Toss, Knight also attempts to counter it and it looks really ugly and car crashy. Nothing dangerous, just a fall down “didn’t get all of it” kind of spot. If that’s the only misstep, at least it was at the beginning.
Maclin tries to slow things down, but a huge Twisting Crossbody off the rope keeps things going for Knight. Another miscue where Knight tries to dodge a Chop in the corner, but is hella slow and eats the chop to the eyes. I mean in a way the ugly execution makes the match feel more like a dirty brawl from the 80s, but with how choreographed everything is nowadays, its just odd. Maclin whips Knight to the ropes, Knight jumps over the rope to the outside, revels in his landing, turns around and eats a SCUD Missile from Maclin!
Fully in control, Maclin is working over Knight until Knight catches him with a desperation strike and then rides the momentum into a few nice High spots. There is a locomotion Cradle spot which is also a little wonky to put it nicely, Knight tries to jump on Maclin for a Jumping DDT, but Maclin shrugs it off and heads to the corner. Knight charges, Maclin throws him over his shoulder but Knight catches himself and lands on the ropes, Maclin just shoves him forward to crotch him on the top buckle, Tree of Woe, Caught in the Crosshairs into KIA, and Maclin wins.
Overall Score: 4/10
Given this the old Bret Hart special. The main event was tolerable if not sloppy, the throwbacks having the Machine Guns made the fanboy side of me giddy, but I still hate all the old footage stuff. The main reason for the higher score than the last few weeks is as I already said, decent main event and my hope the convenient Bunny on the cane is foreshadowing and not just acknowledging. Depending on availability, Su Yung could always return to TNA with an “Undead Bunny”. Hell the possibility of a Suzie and Allie tag team is comedic gold.
But we’ll see if that goes anywhere. Its also sad when a 4 is a pretty big upgrade to the last month or so of these shows. Xplosion really is a waste of damn time when I have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find crumbs of entertainment.
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