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Mitchell’s NJPW Music City Mayhem Results & Report! (7/30/22)

It’s going down on the Fairgrounds!

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NJPW MCM

This may be Nashville, but someone will be playing the Blues!

NJPW isn’t just about the G1 Climax! Nashville hosts a country hoedown of a showdown with Music City Mayhem! And in the main event, Interim AEW World Champion Jon Moxley takes on El Desperado!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Six Man Tag: Fred Yehi, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura VS Kevin Knight, Ren Narita & The DKC; Yehi, Umino & Uemura win.
  • MLW National Openweight Championship: Davey Richards VS Rocky Romero; Richards wins and retains the title.
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Fred Rosser VS Big Damo; Rosser wins and retains.
  • Hiromu Takahashi VS Blake Christian; Hiromu wins.
  • Six Man Tag: Alex Zayne & FTR VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
  • KUSHIDA VS Alex Shelley; Time Limit Draw.
  • No Disqualifications: Jon Moxley VS El Desperado; Moxley wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

MLW National Openweight Championship: Davey Richards VS Rocky Romero!

Who needs to wait for a Forbidden Door? NJPW’s got a crossover right here with Major League Wrestling as the American Wolf brings this title to Nashville, to face his former tag team partner! Will Richards retain this title? Or will Azucar go from Player Coach to Player Champion?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who from the corps truly has no remorse!

Fans rally for “Rocky! Rocky!” as the two circle. They approach, and Richards offers a fist bump. Rocky is tentative, but he accepts, only for Richards to pull it back. They tie up, go around, and Richards puts Rocky on the ropes. The ref calls the ropebreak, but Rocky ducks Richards’ cheap shot to CHOP him down! Richards bails out of the ring while fans fire up. Richards hurries in, he and Rocky circle and knuckle lock. They go shoulder to shoulder, but Richards drops, rolls, and wristlocks to wrangle Rocky down. Rocky keeps his shoulders up, then gets up to roll, slip around and hip toss to a wristlock!

Fans rally, Richards gets up, he rolls and handsprings and rolls again to then bridge and KICK Rocky away! Fans fire up for that exchange, and the two reset. They tie up but Richards kicks low. Richards fires a forearm, Rocky hits back. Richards kicks, Rocky kicks, but Rocky KICKS and KICKS! Richards trips Rocky, has a toehold, but Rocky keeps his shoulders up again. Rocky rolls, facelocks and cradles, TWO, into the ARMBAR! Richards moves into a STRETCH MUFFLER! Rocky gets the ROPEBREAK, and Richards lets off quickly. Fans fire up for that newest exchange, and the two reset again.

Rocky kicks low, CHOPS hard and whips Richards. Richards reverses but Rocky holds ropes. Richards runs in but is sent out! Rocky goes to the apron for a FLYING KNEE! Down goes Richards and fans fire up again! Rocky brings Richards up to CHOP him against the apron! Richards staggers around the way and the ring count starts. Rocky kicks Richards, puts him in the ring at 4 of 20, but Richards trips him! Richards has the legs and ties them up, and he gets the fans fired up for the TWIST! Rocky clutches his knee after that figure four tweak, but Richards gets Rocky up to whip then CLOBBER! Cover, TWO!

Richards gets Rocky up to a BIG back suplex! Then he grabs the leg for a HALF CRAB! Fans rally as Rocky endures being bent! Rocky fights up but Richards finishes the step over to have the leg pulled back deeper! Rocky still crawls to the ROPEBREAK! Richards lets off quickly again, then paces around. Rocky SPITS at Richards! So Richards KICKS Rocky in the back! Richards drags Rocky up to KICK him down, and then tells the ref to check. Rocky says he’s okay, and the fans rally up. Richards drags Rocky up, KICKS him down again, but Rocky gets up! Fans fire up but Richards clinches Rocky to KICK him down again!

But Rocky’s right back up! Rocky CHOPS, forearms, repeat! Rocky whips, Richard reverses but Rocky RANAS! Richards ends up in a corner and Rocky hobbles to the other. Fans rally behind Rocky and he runs in for the clothesline! Rocky goes corner to corner, another! The Forever Clotheslines are stopped by a forearm! Richards fires off KICK after KICK, then he runs side to side, into a LARIAT! Rocky got one last one in there, and then he KICKS a wobbly Richards, CHOPS him, and cravats! No Sliced Bread but Rocky UPPERCUTS Richards, then FLYING TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up as Rocky has Richards on the apron. Rocky brings Richards up and through the ropes to CLUB him! Richards shoves Rocky, Rocky CLUBS him and kicks, but Richards blocks that! Richards has Rocky in the ropes but Rocky ROCKS Richards first! Then CHOPS him again! Rocky suplexes but Richards blocks! Richard suplexes but Rocky blocks! They fight for suplex control, but then Rocky HOTSHOTS the arm! Rocky drags Richards through ropes, goes up the corner, and jumps for a missile dropkick! Direct hit and Richards flops back in! Cover, TWO!! Richards is still in this but the fans fire up!

Rocky KICKS Richards’ bad arm, and KICKS again. Then SOBATS! Richards is in the corner, Rocky runs in but Richards dodges! Richards is on the apron, he has the leg, and he DRAPING DRAGON SCREWS! Rocky flounders away but Richards’ bad arm slows him down. Fans fire up with Richards as he climbs all the same, and howls to the moon! DOUBLE STOMPS MISS as Rocky moves! BUt Richards gets around to waistlock. Rocky elbows free, runs, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! Richards gets ROcky up, Rocky throws more elbows, but Richards ducks the enziguri, only for the rewind heel kick to hit! Then the JUPM KNEE!

Rocky runs, for the SHIRANUI!! Cover, TWO, but into a DIABLO ARMBAR!! Richards clasps his hands but Rocky pulls them apart! Fans fire up, Richards rolls through to the ANKLE LOCK! Rocky endures, fans rally up and he rolls to kick Richards away. Richards rebounds to PENALTY KICK! Richards stands Rocky up to suplex, for the BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!?! But it’s back to the ANKLE LOCK!! Rocky survives only to endure! Rocky rolls, victory rolls, TWO! Richards has it now, Richards wins!!

Winner: Davey Richards, by pinfall (still MLW National Openweight Champion)

Fifteen years later, these two men are veterans of the ring, but it’s Richards who comes out the alpha! Rocky shoves Richards but Richards shoves back. They both wind up, to hug it out! Fans cheer, will the American Wolf continue to hunt for more challengers around the world?

 

NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Fred Rosser VS Big Damo!

Mr. No Days Off has been running strong as the Openweight Champion, but he’s running right into the Beast of Belfast! Will Rosser have no choice but to take days off after tonight? Or will he be able to survive the North Ireland Nightmare in Nashville?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised by none other than Tiger Hattori, and we see who stays strong in this summer heat!

Rosser rushes Damo at the bell, but Damo CLOBBERS him! Damo gets Rosser up and puts him in a corner for big body shots! Rosser escapes to CHOP, LARIT, CHOP, repeat! But Damo shoves Rosser away. Rosser CHOPS, and CHOPS, but Damo kicks low! Damo tosses Rosser out, but Rosser comes right back! Rosser CLUBS Damo, fires off forearms and jabs, but Damo knees low and TOSSES Rosser out. Rosser gets right back in, and he CLUBS and CHOPS Damo again! Damo kicks, CLUBS and TOSSES Rosser again. Rosser gets up but Damo KNEES him at the apron! Damo goes out after Rosser, drags him up, but Rosser fires off elbows first!

Rosser turns Damo around, but Damo’s too big to lift! Rosser CLUBS Damo on the back, tries again, but Damo didn’t get smaller! Damo throws body shots then he CLOBBERS Rosser into the ring! Fans fire up as Damo slingshot SENTONS! Fans fire up more as Damo goes back out and drags Rosser from the apron. Damo SLAMS Rosser on the floor, then stands on him! Damo balances himself, but hops off as the ref reprimands. Damo refreshes the ring count and he waits on Rosser to get up. Damo mule kicks Rosser in the ribs! Then Damo drags Rosser up to RAM into railing! Front row fans get to see Damo CHOP Rosser, then CHOKE him, then CLUB him!

Rosser flounders around, but Damo drags Rosser up and into the ring. Fans rally but Damo stomps Rosser’s hand! Rosser CHOPS and headbutts and scoops! But Damo’s still too big! Damo throws a hard body shot, shoves Rosser down, and then he stands on Rosser again, before a SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up and rally but Damo clamps onto Rosser’s face! Damo lets off as the ref reprimands, but Damo CLUBS Rosser. Damo whips Rosser for the DIVIDE! Cover, TWO! Rosser survives but Damo clamps onto him with a cording hold. Damo also gets a leg, he stretches Rosser back in a modified Bow ‘n’ Arrow!

Rosser endures, crawls forward with his free arm and gets the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Rosser kicks with his free leg, but Damo lets off at 4. Damo paces and soaks up the heat from fans, and Damo BOOTS Rosser down! Damo drags Rosser around, fishhooks the face then elbows him! Damo clamps on a cording hold to stretch Rosser’s ribs! Fans rally and taunt Damo, and Damo throws Rosser away to FLASH them! That’s the Celtic salute right there! Damo stalks Rosser to a corner, then whips him corner to corner hard! Rosser falls, Damo soaks up more heat, and Damo drags Rosser up to a pump handle GUT BUSTER!

Fans rally for Rosser but Damo gets the legs tied up. Damo then chinbars and digs his knees in, FULL BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Rosser endures and pops out to a cover, TWO! Rosser gets up but Damo ROCKS him with a body shot! Rosser falls out, Damo grins and fans duel. Damo stalks Rosser, drags him up by an ear, but Rosser uses a camera cable to get at Damo! The ref reprimands, Rosser lets off at 4, and Rosser gets in while Damo sputters. Damo pie faces Rosser, talks trash and slaps him around. Rosser snarls and fans rally up behind him. Damo keeps pie facing, then he CLUBS Rosser! And throws forearms!

Rosser still snarls so Damo throws another heavy body shot! Damo talks more trash, stands Rosser up, but Rosser fires off boxing elbows! Damo HEADBUTTS but Rosser LARIATS! Damo stays up to Rosser keeps throwing LARIAT after LARIAT! Damo staggers but Rosser CLUBS him around! PINBALL LARIATS! But Damo just fires up! Rosser BOOTS Damo, and Rosser fires up! Rosser runs, and LARIATS Damo down!! Fans fire up as Damo staggers, and Rosser CHOPS and LARIATS and repeat in the corner! Rosser gets a leg to KICK the thigh, then he fires off more forearms and CHOPS! Rosser drives his knee in again and again, but lets off at 4.

Fans fire up while Damo is dazed. Rosser throws off his elbow pads to HIP ATTACK Damo in the corner! Cover, ONE!! Rosser pushes Damo down, drags him around, STF! Rosser CLUBS away on Damo to get the arm, but Damo resists! Rosser HEADBUTTS Damo, but Damo BITES the hand! The ref reprimands, Damo elbows Rosser away! Fans fire up, Damo slaps Rosser but Rosser JABS! Rosser fires off more boxing elbows but Damo EuroUppers! Rosser wobbles, but he HEADBUTTS! Rosser fires more boxing elbows, but Damo ROCKS Rosser, then EuroUppers and mule kicks! Damo runs, but Rosser KNEES him low!

Rosser fires off haymakers from all sides, then another HEADBUTT! Both men wobble but Rosser CHOPS! Fans fire up with Rosser, and he ROLLING ELBOWS! Down goes Damo! Rosser looms as Damo staggers up, and Rosser scoops him! But Damo CLUBS the ribs! Damo is free to POP-UP SPINEBUSTER to an ELBOW DROP! Damo fires up and he drags Rosser back up! Fireman’s carry for the WASTELAND, to the SENTON! Damo then goes up the corner, but Rosser anchors his foot! Damo rakes Rosser’s eyes! Rosser staggers away, but he comes back to CLUB the legs and back! Damo shoves Rosser away, but Rosser fires off more shots! ROLLING ELBOW!

Rosser drags Damo off the top! SIDEWINDER POWERSLAM! Cover, Rosser wins!

Winner: Fred Rosser, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Champion)

Rosser put the “strong” in NJPW Strong with that one! He used all his strength to get Damo up and bring him down! Who is next to test the strength and stamina of Mr. No Days Off?

 

Hiromu Takahashi VS Blake Christian!

The Ticking Timebomb didn’t get to be part of Forbidden Door, but this might be the next best thing. Will Hiromu get a big win in Nashville? Or will not even the Threepeat Best of the Super Juniors winner stop the beat of All Heart?

Even bigger than this, Daryl returns to NJPW! He joins Ian Riccaboni and Matt Rehwoldt on commentary! The bell rings and fans duel, “All Heart!” “Timebomb!” Hiromu and Blake circle, then they rush in! Hiromu dodges, headlocks but Blake powers out. Hiromu runs Blake over but Blake gets right up to run Hiromu over! Things speed up, Hiromu follows Blake and runs him over again, only for Blake to kip up! Blake wags his finger, but Hiromu CHOPS him down! Hiromu stomps but Blake blocks and kips up! Blake wags his finger again but Hiromu dropkicks the leg! Hiromu whips but Blake reverses to CHOP!

Blake whips, Hiromu reverses and hurdles, but Blake front flips over! Things keep moving, pop-up RANA! Hiromu bails out and fans fire up! Blake builds speed and then handsprings to fake Hiromu out! Hiromu gets in but Blake still wheelbarrows, victory rolls and SPLASHES! Hiromu bails out again and fans fire up as Blake builds speed to FLY! Direct hit at the ramp, and Blake lands on his feet! Nashville is fired up for “ALL HEART!” as he drags Hiromu back up. Blake puts Hiromu in, covers, TWO! Daryl is worried but Blake drags Hiromu up to ROCK with a forearm. Blake whips, Hiromu holds ropes, and then BOOTS back!

Hiromu goes up to HANGING HEADSCISSOR! Blake flails and the ref counts, Hiromu lets off at 4. Hiromu drags Blake out to POST Blake! Fans rally up while Hiromu catches his breath. Hiromu CHOPS Blake against railing, then CHOPS him again! Hiromu drags Blake around to snap suplex to the floor! Fans fire up while Blake writhes. The ring count starts, Hiromu gets in the ring at 5. Blake gets in at 7, but Hiromu is on him in a corner. Hiromu CHOPS, and CHOPS, but Blake fires off forearms! Blake CHOPS, Hiromu CHOPS! Blake ends up in the corner, Hiromu whips him corner to corner to then clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up as Hiromu drags Blake into the headscissor squeeze! Blake endures and fans rally up. Blake turns, pries at the hold, but Hiromu squeezes tighter! Blake moves around, flails and reaches out, to the ROPEBREAK! Hiromu lets off at 4, and pretends to be shocked. Fans chant “OH MAH GAWD!” as Hiromu drags Blake up. Blake slips out of the suplex to half nelson but Hiromu elbows free. Hiromu ducks the heel kick but not the ROUNDHOUSE! Blake whips, Hiromu reverses but Blake handsprings for a NEURALIZER KICK! Fans fire up and Blake drags Hiromu up. Blake half nelsons but Hiromu elbows back.

Hiromu rolls but Blake rolls with him! HALF ‘N’ HALF! Hiromu bails out but Blake builds speed again! Blake FLIES with the Fosbury, Flop, and has a dragon sleeper! REVERSE DDT to the floor! Hiromu writhes but Blake drags him up to put in the ring. Cover, TWO! A cut on Blake’s forehead is open again, but he ignores it as he kicks Hiromu around. Blake throws forearms while egging Hiromu on. Hiromu gets up so Blake throws more forearms. Hiromu ROCKS Blake, Blake fakes Hiromu out to trip and DOUBLE STOMP! Fans fire up again and Blake goes to the corner. Blake climbs, Hiromu rushes over, but Blake boots him away!

Hiromu rushes in again but Blake goes up and over! Blake runs back in but Hiromu fireman’s carries! Blake slips off, wheelbarrows, victory rolls and SPLASHES onto knees! Cover, TWO!! Blake survives, and he’s got half a crimson mask going now. Fans rally up, Hiromu rises and he drags Blake up. Hiromu fireman’s carries but Blake fights that off. Blake waistlocks but he ducks the back elbow to throw a forearm! Hiromu throws it back so Blake throws another! They go back and forth with forearms, fans rally up as they go faster and faster, and Hiromu DECKS Blake! Blake kips back up!? Blake fires off a flurry, then runs, into an elbow!

Hiromu runs, into a mule kick! Blake runs but Hiromu follows to elbow! Hiromu runs, Blake follows to QUEBRADA! Fans fire up with Blake and he runs, into a fireman’s carry! Blake fights off to fireman’s carry in return, AIRPLANE SPIN! But Hiromu slips free to ROCK Blake! Blake BOOTS, then DOUBLE FOREARMS hit! DOUBLE LARIATS hit, then Blake ROUNDHOUSES! Blake runs, into a HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! But Blake lands right on his feet?! And he DISCUS LARIATS Hiromu in return!! Fans are thunderous while both men are down! Blake gets up at the ropes, he hobbles over to Hiromu, and he drags Hiromu up.

Blake fireman’s carries and starts up the AIRPLANE SPIN, to then ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! Blake goes to a corner, springboard 450 SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives and Blake can’t believe it! Fans rally again as Blake drags Hiromu to a drop zone. Blake goes up the corner, slashes his throat, and 450, but he has to roll through as Hiromu moves! Blake comes back, but Hiromu gets him for an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly into the corner! Blake goes down and Hiromu gets to center. Fans rally up, Hiromu grits his teeth and drags Blake up. Fireman’s carry, but Blake fights, so Hiromu throws Blake into the dragon sleeper!

Hiromu inverted suplexes but Blake slips out to get a dragon sleeper! But Hiromu spins around to suplex, but Blake knees free! SCREW HIGH KICK! Hiromu wobbles, Blake runs, into a SUPERKICK! Hiromu runs, but Blake gets around, hammerlock and cradle, TWO!!! Blake can’t believe it, but he runs into a POP-UP POWERBOMB! Hiromu gets Blake back up, VICTORY ROYALE!! Cover, TWO!! “This is Awesome!” as both men are still going! Hiromu runs to HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Then dragon sleeper, lift and TIMEBOMB MK. II!! Cover, Hiromu wins!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall

The Timebomb learned why Blake is #AllHeart, but Blake learned why Hiromu won the BOSJ three years in a row! But both men respect each other after this battle. Will we see Blake make history in his own right one day? Will Hiromu get back up to the top soon enough?

 

Six Man Tag: Alex Zayne & FTR VS The United Empire!

The Sauce teams up with the simultaneous AAA, ROH & IWGP Tag Team Champions in a battle with TJP and Aussie Open! Will Zayne help Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood bring the heat to Nashville? Or will Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis & Public Enemy #1 prove they’re worthy of being contenders?

Tanga Loa joins commentary for this one as the trios sort out. He really likes that Zayne has tacos all over his social media. Fans rally for “F T R!” as they hug it out with Zayne. Zayne starts against TJP and they circle. They tie up, TJP headlocks and hits the takeover. Zayne rolls, waistlocks, and he SLAMS TJP down! TJP fights up, reaches out but Zayne SLAMS him to keep him from the corner. TJP gets up, slips around to wrench an arm, but Zayne rolls, handsprings and wrenches back. TJP rolls, spins, cartwheels, drags Zayne in and TWISTING RANAS! But Zayne headscissors back! TJP headstands and pops free, but Zayne ducks the Penalty Kick!

Zayne rolls TJP up but TJP rolls through, to avoid the Eddy Gordo kick! Zayne blocks a kick, DOUBLE DROPKICKS cancel out, and both men kip up! Fans fire up as Zayne stares down the bigger men in Fletcher and Davis. But then he turns around, and TJP is dabbing on him! Zayne offers a handshake out of respect, but TJP SLAPS Zayne instead! Fans boo but TJP kicks and whips Zayne. Zayne catches the hurdle to a FLAPJACK, then runs to MARIPOSA! TJP tags out to Fletcher but Zayne dodges to mule kick! Zayne then runs for the SOMERSAULT AX KICK! Fletcher flounders but Zayne drags him up and tags in Dax!

Fans fire up as Dax the Ax is in and he stares Fletcher down. Fans rally for FTR again as Dax and Fletcher circle. They tie up, Fletcher puts Dax in a corner but Dax turns it around. Fletcher turns it back around, he lets off but then CHOPS! Fletcher throws a heavy body shot, then he stomps Dax in the corner. Fletcher CHOPS but Dax CHOPS Fletcher down! Fletcher flounders but Dax CHOPS him in the corner! Dax snapmares Fletcher, CHOPS him on the back, and then pushes him to a cover, TWO! Dax clamps on a chinlock to grind Fletcher. Fletcher fights up, pops out the back and headlocks back.

Dax powers up and out but Fletcher runs him over! Fans boo but things speed up. Dax DROPKICKS Fletcher, and Fletcher flounders away. Dax clutches an arm, though. The landing from the dropkick was rather double-edged, given Dax’s bad shoulder as a result of that Best 2 Out of 3 Falls at Death Before Dishonor. Fletcher waits on Dax while fans rally up. Dax stands, Fletcher storms over, but Dax gets a cradle! TWO, and Fletcher DECKS Dax! Fletcher drags Dax up, CHPOS him down, then puts him in a corner to CHOP again! Dax ROCKS and CHOPS away on Fletcher! Dax whips, Fletcher reverses and Davis gets a cheap shot in!

Fletcher CLOBBERS Dax, rains down fists, then tags in Davis. Aussie Open throw hands on Dax at the ropes, then Davis fires off more forearms! Dax staggers around, Davis has him against ropes again to whip. Dax reverses, Cash gets a cheap shot in, and then Dax CLOBBERS Davis! FTR returns the favor and fans fire up as Dax drags Davis up. Tag to Cash, FTR double whips to DOUBLE HAYMAKER! Davis falls and fans fire up more. Cash brings Davis up but Davis knees low. Davis scoops, Cash slips off to JAB, JAB, bob ‘n’ weave, uppercut and CHOP! Davis CHOPS back and Cash falls down!

Davis drags Cash up to ROCK with a forearm, then he whips Cash to a corner. Davis runs in to forearm smash, then he runs the ropes, but Cash RAMS into him! Cash LARIATS Davis down, then drags Davis up to HEADBUTT! Cash goes corner to corner but Davis puts him on the apron. Cash ROCKS Davis, CHOPS Fletcher, ROCKS Davis again, then CHOPS TJP! But then Davis DECKS Cash! Fletcher gets Cash up to APRON BACK SUPLEX! Dax rushes over to CHOP Fletcher! Zayne goes after TJP, Dax and Fletcher fire off haymakers, and fans fire up for the brawl! TJP gets Cash by his ears while Davis CLOBBERS Dax into railing! A fan even falls over!

Davis gets in and has Cash for a cover, but Cash has the ropes! Davis stomps the arm, but Cash CHOPS back! Fletcher grabs Cash, he and Davis mug Cash but the ref counts. Aussie Open lets off, Fletcher tags in, but here comes Dax with a chair! The ref stops that, and Fletcher gets the chair out of the ring. Aussie Open double whip Cash to DOUBLE ELBOW, PENALTY KICK and SENTON! Cover, TWO! Cash survives but Fletcher drags Cash up into a cobra twist! Fletcher CLUBS Cash in the ribs and stretches him more. Cash endures, fans rally up, but Fletcher scoops and SLAMS Cash down! Cover, TWO!

Fletcher tags TJP, and Fletcher scoop SLAMS Cash again. TJP slingshots sentons then covers, TWO! Fans rally up but TJP wraps Cash up in another cobra twist. Cash endures, fans rally, and Cash powers free to arm-drag TJP! TJP runs in but into body shots and haymakers! TJP ROCKS Cash but Cash ROCKS TJP! TJP ROCKS Cash, then SOBATS! Cash ends up in United Empire territory and TJP digs his boots in! The ref counts while fans boo, but TJP scrubs Cash’s face before 4. Fans rally for FTR, TJP runs but Cash CLOBBERS TJP! Both men are down and crawling, hot tag to Davis!

Davis drags Cash away, to SENTON onto knees! Cash saves himself, Davis tags Fletcher and he rushes the corner. He misses but Dax and Zayne, Cash back drops him! Hot tag to Dax! Dax JABS, JABS and DECKS Fletcher! Davis gets in, Dax ROCKS him first! TJP gets in, Dax DECKS him! Dax CHOPS and UPPERCUTS Fletcher, but Davis knees Dax! Davis whips, Dax reverses and wrenches to LARIAT! Davis stays up and roars, so Dax LARIATS him again! Davis still stays up so Dax reels him in. Davis dodges one lariat but not the NEXT! TJP gets back in, Dax gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX! Dax holds on, Zayne intercepts Fletcher! DOUBLE GERMAN SUPLEXES!

Zayne still has Fletcher, Dax still has TJP, and Cash intercepts Davis now! TRIPLE GERMAN SUPLEXES! Fans are thunderous as Dax gets Fletcher up for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Fletcher survives but Dax drags him over to tag Cash. Cash tags Zayne, FTR gets Fletcher up while Zayne climbs. ASSISTED GOURD BUSTER, and Zayne CINNAMON TWISTS!! Cover, TJP breaks it! TJP and Davis throw FTR out, Aussie Open double whip Zayne to a corner. TJP whips Davis on to forearm smash! TJP whips Fletcher in to GAMANGIRI! Then Aussie Open gives TJP a boost for DOUBLE KNEES! TJP feeds Zayne to double underhooks POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!!

Fans are thunderous as Zayne survives! The United Empire is frustrated but Fletcher tags in Davis. Fans rally, Davis drags Zayne up and ROCKS him with a right. Zayne is in a corner, Davis tags Fletcher, and Aussie Open puts Zayne up top. Davis CHOPS Zayne, Aussie Open climbs up after Zayne, and they double pump handle! Zayne fights free, TJP runs in but is sent into Aussie Open! TJP is down, Zayne uses him as a pommel horse to DOUBLE DRAGON RANA Aussie Open!! Fans fire up, FTR returns, they clothesline Davis and TJP out! Zayne has Fletcher for the LAST RIDE!! Cover, TWO!?!? Fletcher survives and shocks everyone!

Zayne hurries to get Fletcher up! Straitjacket and pump handle but Fletcher slips out. Fletcher shoves Zayne at Dax, Dax moves Zayne aside, Fletcher SUPERKICKS Dax! Zayne waistlocks Fletcher, rolls him up, but the ref is busy with Dax! Davis whips Zayne, he and Fletcher hook him up, COREALIS!! Fletcher covers, The United Empire wins!

Winners: The United Empire, by pinfall

Fans can’t believe it! The United Empire wins, though not over #SevenStarFTR. Will Aussie Open add the NJPW Strong Tag Team Championships to the collection of gold? Fletcher gets a mic to tell the Top Guys that before they head back to AEW, this is how things go in NJPW. When a team beats a current champion, which FTR are the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, right? That means that they’re next in line! The mic cut out a bit so fans aren’t sure what was said. Dax gets a mic but it isn’t working, either. So Dax gets up as high as he can to shout to everyone, he’s more than ready to fight Aussie Open! In Australia, even!

Dax also adds that uh… Top Guys Out! Will FTR look to take Aussie Open on once they’re champions in their own right?

 

KUSHIDA VS Alex Shelley!

The Time Splitters meet again! But they’re not teaming up tonight, they’re testing each other 1v1! Will Kushida prove to the Bone Soldier he is worthy of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship? Or will this Motor City Machine Gun take that right for his own?

Fans are already fired up for “Both These Guys! Both These Guys!” The bell rings and Kushida rushes in! Shelley dodges, headlocks but Kushida powers out. Things speed up, Kushida jumps on with body scissors! Shelley knows Kushida wants his arm so he gets the ROPEBREAK! Kushida lets go and Shelley bails out. Kushida says it was that close. Shelley says no it wasn’t. Shelley gets back in the ring and the fans cheer as the two circle again. They feel out the grapple, Shelley trips Kushida up and then runs. Shelley hops over Kushida’s dropdown to bring him up, but Kushida reverses the whip, only for Shelley to reverse the arm-drag!

Things keep moving, Kushida sunset flips but Shelley stays up to KIMURA! Kushida endures his own favorite hold as he scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Shelley lets off and Kushida pushes him away to get out of the ring. Fans rally and duel, Shelley holds ropes open for Kushida. Kushida accepts the gesture, and fans applaud the sportsmanship as Shelley leaves him be. Shelley and Kushida circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Kushida powers Shelley to a corner, the ref calls the break, and Kushida lets off cleanly. Fans fire up and Shelley comes back. Kushida rushes in but Shelley avoids the drop toehold. Kushida still approaches with his leg guard ready.

Shelley goes around, Kushida rolls and gets up. They tie up again, they end up on ropes and then in a corner. The ref counts, Shelley lets off with a kiss on the forehead. Fans fire up while Kushida keeps his cool. They tie up again, Shelley headlocks and he grinds Kushida down. Kushida endures, fights up, and powers out. Fans rally as Shelley runs Kushida over. Kushida gets up in a huff and shoves Shelley! They argue, Kushida shoves more so Shelley shoves back. They shove, shove, CHOP, CHOP, CHOP, CHOP! Fans fire up as they CHOPS keep going back and forth! Shelley ROCKS Kushida, throws body shots, then ROCKS Kushida again.

Shelley uppercuts and Kushida staggers. Shelley whips him to ropes but Kushida handsprings to back elbow! Fans fire up as Shelley goes down! Kushida aims from a corner, runs in but Shelley slips out, only for a SHOTEI to floor him, literally! Shelley sits up at the ramp but Kushida waits. The ring count starts so Kushida goes out, and he puts Shelley in. Kushida stalks Shelley and fans rally up. Kushida gets the arm, YANKS it, CLUBS it, then digs his knee into Shelley’s shoulder. Shelley endures as Kushida has both arms, chicken wing cradle! TWO, but Kushida keeps on the arms. Kushida moves around, headstands, then has CATTLE MUTILATION!

Shelley endures, kicks around but Kushida brings him away from ropes! They move around, Kushida floats to a cover, TWO! Kushida clamps on a chinlock then makes it a headlock to grind Shelley into the mat. Shelley endures, moves back, but Kushida shifts his leverage. Shelley fights up to avoid the Bully Choke, and he KICKS Kushida’s leg! Shelley throws a body shot and fans fire up as he runs. Kushida body scissors and rolls Shelley to an ARMBAR! Shelley hurries to clasp hands, but Kushida just mounts to shift, ARMBAR! Shelley reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Kushida lets go quickly and fans applaud the exchange.

Kushida drags Shelley around to omoplata one arm, and cording hold the other, then he adds a leg! Shelley is a pretzel right now but he still endures. Kushida steps over to hook both arms up, DOUBLE ARM TWEAK as he drops back! Fans rally and Kushida brings Shelley up. Kushida CHOPS, and CHOPS, then copies the Nature Boy’s strut before he wrenches Shelley’s arm for an ELBOW BREAKER! Shelley staggers away to a corner and fans fire up. Kushida runs in but Shelley elbows him away! Shelley goes up to FLYING KNEE Kushida’s arm! And he dropkicks the leg out! Shelley checks his bad arm while Kushida goes to the apron.

Fans duel, “Let’s Go, Shelley!” “KU-SHI-DA!” Shelley finds Kushida in a corner, runs in and gets a leg to put it on the ropes. Shelley KICKS the leg, pie faces Kushida and pulls on the leg! The ref counts, Shelley lets off but then gets the other, DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Kushida grimaces in pain while he leans against ropes. Shelley drags Kushida out of the corner, has the leg again, and the arm! Shelley hits a DRAGON SCREW ARM WRINGER! Fans rally up while Kushida writhes. Shelley drags Kushida away, ties up the legs and simply squats on the DEATHLOCK! Kushida endures, fans rally up, and Kushida sits up, only for Shelley to HEADBUTT him down!

Shelley stands up to add Kushida’s arm into this pretzel knot of his own design! Kushida endures, he only has one arm free! Shelley BENDS the fingers, too! Shelley SNAPS those fingers, steps over the arm to omoplata and have a modified cradle! TWO!! Kushida manages to escape but Shelley keeps his cool. Shelley looms over Kushida and kicks him around. Shelley drags Kushida up by the bad arm but Kushida KICKS the leg! And again! And again! Fans rally, Shelley gets double knuckle locks and moves right to a straitjacket! Kushida endures, fights up, and fans rally again. Kushida turns things around on Shelley, but Shelley turns them right back!

Shelley keeps on the straitjacket, into a BACKSTABBER! Kushida writhes and fans rally up as Shelley aims. Kushida avoids the Penalty Kick and catches the clothesline to a spin, for a NECKBREAKER! Kushida roars, he and Shelley rise, and Kushida KICKS away on Shelley’s bad arm. Shelley reverses the whip but Kushida CROSSBODIES! Then fakes Shelley out to PELE him down! Kushida wrenches the arm, Shelley wrenches it back, but Kushida wrenches and wrangles Shelley into an omoplata, ARM TWISTER! Then DARK ARMBAR!! Shelley endures his arm being pulled back, and he kicks around with his legs!

Kushida grabs a leg, uses that to turn Shelley over, O’Conner Bridge! TWO!! Kushida runs in at the corner to SHOTEI! Fans fire up as Kushida shoves Shelley, and then jumps on! Body scissors and HOVER- NO, Shelley powers through to give Kushida the HOVERBOARD!! But Kushida reaches back to clasp hands, then he wrenches out to ROCK Shelley! Shelley staggers into a fireman’s carry! Shelley fights off, spins Kushida for a ROLLING ELBOW! But Kushida ROCKS Shelley again! Shelley spins, into the FASTBALL! Kushida fireman’s carries for the CRADLE SHOCK!! Cover, TWO!?!? Shelley survives but Kushida hurries to get him up

Kushida double underhooks, BUTTERFLY SUPLEX with a bridge! ROPEBREAK!! Shelley survives by inches! But Kushida goes out to the apron and climbs up the corner. Kushida leaps to KNEE the bad arm! And then somersault, spring up, but Shelley wrenches! Kushida KICKS the bad arm, but Shelley CLUBS that leg! Kushida kicks with the other but Shelley blocks to a DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up again as Shelley watches Kushida stir. Shelley aims, but Kushida blocks the kick! Shelley SLAPS then ENZIGURIS, but Kushida PENALTY KICKS the bad arm! Hip toss and handspring dropkick! Fans fire up again as both men go to opposite corners.

Kushida runs in but Shelley catches him for a BUCKLE SHOT! Shelley goes up the corner while Kushida is down! Shelley reaches the top but Kushida HANDSPRING KICKS! Kushida then positions Shelley, goes up top after him, and has the HOVERBOARD! But that’s not all! Kushida stands up on top, but Shelley fights back! SUPER ATOMIC DROP! And then a SUPERKICK! Kushida wobbles, Shelley wrenches to fireman’s carry, for AIR RAID CRASH!! Cover, TWO!! But into the BORDER CITY STRETCH!! Kushida endures the over-the-shoulder crossface! He fights around, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! And we’re at the two-minute warning!

Fans fire up as we’re so close to the end! Shelley drags Kushida up but Kushida fires off forearms! SHOTEI! But Shelley CHOPS! Kushida falls, so Shelley brings him up. Shelley CHOPS, Kushida is down, so Shelley brings him up again, for a CHOP! Shelley drags Kushida up one more time, wrenches through to an ELBOW BREAKER! One minute left in the 20 minute time limit! Shelley wants the Border City Stretch again, but Kushida arm-drags him away! Kushida slips around to roll-up, then roll then STEALS BORDER CITY STRETCH!!! But Shelley rolls it to a deep cradle! TWO!! Shelley ducks the buzzsaw, rolls Kushida, 30 seconds left!!

Shelley wants the stretch but Kushida slips around and STEALS BORDER CITY STRETCH AGAIN!! But Shelley slips out to put it on Kushida! But Kushida tips it to a deep cradle, TWO!!! DOUBLE LARIATS! DOUBLE LARIATS! BLADERUNNER!! Cover, TWO!!! INITO HOVERBOARD!!! The countdown is coming, Shelley endures and the bell rings!! TIME LIMIT DRAW!

Time Limit Draw

Fans give this one a standing ovation, because “Both These Guys!” gave it 110%! The Time Splitters share a smile, they’re still good friends. Will they both prove they’re still the top of the Junior Heavyweight Division?

 

No Disqualifications: Jon Moxley VS El Desperado!

The Interim AEW World Champion says to take that “interim” and shove it! The Maniac says he is THE champion, and he is THE Best in the World, despite CM Punk being out with injury. Will Moxley prove that, even when visiting NJPW? Or will the Rogue Luchador show he’s the Best in the World by beating Moxley at his own game?

As Desperado makes his entrance, he has a guitar on his shoulder and a bouquet of roses in his hand. Will he look to use both here tonight? And as we see the ring, it seems someone has already set up wooden planks with barbed wire all over them! As for Moxley, he actually enters from the ramp for once. The bell rings and fans rally up, “F him up, Moxley, F him up!” Moxley and Desperado circle, wary of those planks. They tie up, and Moxley powers Desperado towards one of those planks! Desperado turns it around and wants to send Moxley face first into it! Moxley fights back, waistlocks, but Desperado fights the suplex.

Desperado throws elbows, gets free, and fans fire up. Moxley and Desperado each check the barbed wire, and it is legit. They tie up again with knuckle locks, and they’re in a test of strength. Desperado pushes Moxley back but Moxley turns things around to get a full nelson! Now Moxley wants to send Desperado into wires face first! Desperado switches, pushes Moxley, but Moxley holds ropes to avoid the barbed wire. Moxley elbows Desperado, whips him but Desperado stops before hitting the corner! Fans fire up the standoff as the two circle again. They talk some trash and Moxley dares Desperado to hit him! No guard, even!

Desperado throws a forearm, so Moxley forearms back! Fans rally as Moxley eggs Desperado on. Desperado fires a forearm, Moxley gives it back, and they go back and forth! Fans rally, Desperado pokes Moxley in the eyes! Desperado runs, rams Moxley, but Moxley rebounds to run Desperado over! Fans fire up, and Moxley says he’s going to take off that mask! Moxley drags Desperado around and he claws at the eyes of the mask! Desperado fights to keep the mask together but Moxley stands him up to CHOP! And CHOP! Moxley fires off forearms and CHOPS on repeat, then a ROLLING ELBOW sits Desperado down!

Moxley whips Desperado corner to corner, Desperado dodges and runs back in, and he blocks Moxley’s boot! DRAGON SCREW! Moxley hobbles and falls while Desperado fixes his mask. Desperado SPLASHES the leg, then he stalks Moxley to ropes. Fans rally, Desperado digs is boots into Moxley at the ropes! Desperado lets off, even though there’s no ropebreak count, because he’s going for his bouquet of roses. Surprise, it was never about the roses! He hid BAMBOO SKEWERS in there! Fans are freaking out already as Desperado prepares a handful of them! Moxley blocks the skewer attack! Moxley throws a body shot, runs, but Desperado dropkicks the leg out!

Fans fire up as Desperado gets Moxley up! AND DIGS IN THE SKEWERS! Desperado JAMS THEM IN!! About a dozen skewers stay stuck in, but that’s still not even half of how many Desperado had! Desperado kisses Moxley’s forehead wound before a MONO LOCO to push the skewers in more! Fans freak out while Moxley gets up with skewers dangling all over his forehead! Obviously Moxley’s bleeding, and Desperado has Moxley on the ropes as he pulls them out, one at a time! Desperado has unskewered Moxley and he stomps him down. Moxley flounders away onto ropes, Desperado DIGS at the forehead wound!

Desperado wipes Moxley’s blood on his body like it’s paint, then digs in at the wound more! Desperado kicks Moxley around but Moxley throws a haymaker. Moxley’s the one who falls over, though, but Desperado drags him up. Moxley blocks the whip into barbed wire plan, but Desperado stomps the feet! Desperado pushes Moxley’s face into the wires, making sure the forehead gets plenty of it! Moxley gets free of the barbs but Desperado taunts Moxley, “You Can’t See Me!” Desperado avoids the wild haymakers, and he gets a leg to step through, DEATHLOCK! Desperado thrashes the hold but Moxley endures!

Fans rally up as Desperado puts more pressure on the legs. Moxley fires off haymakers, then pulls at the mask! He rips the eye hole open more! Desperado lets Moxley out of the hold, and Moxley CHOPS him! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Moxley whips, Desperado holds ropes and then dumps Moxley out! Moxley flounders, a crimson mask forming. Desperado builds speed and DIVES into a smash hit!! Moxley used Desperado’s guitar against him! Fans lose their minds over that one while Moxley tears up what’s left of the guitar. Moxley then holds onto a jagged edge of it and he brings Desperado up.

Moxley puts Desperado into the ring, and he sits him up, to JAM Desperado’s forehead with the wood shard! And then HAMMER ELBOW! WOOD JAM, HAMMER ELBOW, on repeat! Then Moxley focuses on the wood piece! Now Desperado is bleeding from his forehead! Moxley positions a barbed wire cross and he grins as he fetches the twin. Moxley says he’ll use them both if he has to, and he brings Desperado up. Scoop, but Desperado slips off! To SPEAR Moxley through a wood plank!! Moxley’s groin is trapped inside the barbed wire! Moxley manages to get free, but Desperado drags him up! Desperado whips, but Moxley reverses!

Desperado stops himself short, Moxley runs in, and he SHOTGUNS Desperado into the other wood blank!! Fans are thunderous as they lose their minds over Desperado being caught in wires! The tassels of his mask are tangled up but Moxley drags Desperado out. Moxley reels Desperado in, gets him up, PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Desperado survives and Moxley can’t believe it! Fans fire up as Moxley gets up and fires up. Moxley goes out to look under the ring. Moxley searches, fans chant, “We Want Tables!” Tada! A TABLE! Moxley sets this up at ringside while Desperado flops out of the ring. Desperado finds chairs!

Moxley has the table ready, but Desperado uses one chair to sit up while he brings out more. Moxley finds Desperado, and Desperado drop toeholds Moxley onto the one chair! Then he JAMS Moxley’s face with the other! Desperado brings Moxley up to put him on the table. Desperado RAKES the bloody forehead, then makes his way up the corner! Fans fire up again but Moxley goes up after Desperado! Moxley THROWS Desperado off the top and through the table!! Fans are thunderous again while Desperado is down in the wreckage. Wait, what did Moxley just find? A plank covered in cut-up aluminum cans?!?

Fans chant, “YOU SICK F***!” at Moxley for even imagining that contraption, because who else would make that? Moxley drags Desperado in, and then X-PLEXES Desperado onto the cans!! Cover, TWO!?!? Desperado barely gets that arm up but he still got it up! “This is Awesome!” as Moxley and Desperado stir. Moxley stands, runs, and PENALTY KICKS! Desperado sits back up and eggs Moxley on!? Moxley accepts and runs gain, PENALTY KICK! But Desperado rises again! Moxley PENALTY- NO, Desperado blocks, spins Moxley around, dropkicks the leg out from behind, then DRAGON SCREWS it!

Desperado holds onto the leg, stomps away on Moxley’s hip, and then hooks him up in the STRETCH MUFFLER!! Moxley endures as Desperado thrashes the leg around! Moxley fights, sits up, and gets the ARMBAR!! But Desperado stands to steal DRAGON STOMPS!! Desperado isn’t Blackpool Combat Club but he knows that’s Bryan Danielson’s move! Desperado then goes to a corner, climbs up top, and FROG SPLASHES!! Cover, TWO!!! Moxley survives but fans fire up! Desperado gets up, stalks Moxley, and he brings Moxley in, but Moxley ROCKS him with a forearm! Desperado hits back, Moxley hits again, and fans rally up!

Moxley JABS, JABS, but Desperado ROCKS Moxley! And again! And again! Moxley fires off a flurry of forearms, but swings into a spin and backslide, but Desperado turns that into PINCHE LOCO!! But he holds onto the underhooks, only for Moxley to wrench out and LARIAT! Moxley hauls Desperado up, DEATH RIDER!!! But Moxley isn’t done there, he clamps on the BULLY CHOKE!!! Desperado endures, flips Moxley off, but he passes out! Moxley wins!!

Winner: Jon Moxley, by submission

These two went to the extreme just for fun, and it was one hell of a match! And because this is a NJPW show, Moxley gets the mic to close this out! Fans chant for “Moxley! Moxley!” as he paces, and Moxley, “In case you haven’t noticed with everything going on. In case you haven’t noticed, look to your right and to your left and even behind you at all these fans here in Nashville. Professional wrestling in the year of our Lord, 2022, was alive and well!” Fans cheer for that! Moxley does his best to continue, even though the mic sucks.

Moxley says it doesn’t matter if the card says NJPW, AEW, or ROH, the only three letters that matter on the card are M-O-X!! When you see those letters, you know that no matter where we are, no matter what day of the week it is, you know s*it is about to go down!! Moxley stands tall, what will it take to hang with the Death Rider himself?


My Thoughts:

A great event for NJPW on a busy weekend in wrestling. NJPW had the G1 Climax, this event, and NJPW Ignition, and then of course WWE had SummerSlam. I skipped the opening match because while it’s cool to see Shota Umino here, it was all NJPW Strong guys that are borderline Young Lions.

Then we got some great midcard championship matches here, with a quick crossover with MLW here. Richards and Rocky were tag team partners like 15 years ago, so it great to see them sorta reunite here. That said, Richards naturally retains as he’s the MLW guy and I don’t see Rocky bringing that MLW title all around NJPW, AEW and CMLL. Great match from Rosser and Damo for the NJPW Strong Openweight title, and while I haven’t been keeping up with NJPW Strong, it seems Rosser is being booked strong (no pun intended) as the second-ever champion. Those who know NJPW Strong would know who else is/isn’t being booked strong, too, so maybe Rosser keeps giving us great matches for this title during his run.

A great singles match from Hiromu and Blake Christian. This match should prove to everyone that Blake Christian is a top talent already, even with him still being so young. WWE was foolish to let him go, and they were definitely misusing him in a romcom angle with Cora Jade and something about superheroes. Maybe Blake can get an Openweight title shot? As for Hiromu, great for him to get this win after losing out on the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, and great to see Daryl back period, I do not know what’s been keeping him away. Also an awesome match out of Kushida and Shelley, and I love that they went to a time limit draw. It would’ve been really hard to choose a winner, what with Shelley challenging for the title in Impact.

Great Six Man Tag from Zayne & FTR VS United Empire. Just as I was wondering if Zayne was in the match to take the pin, that’s what happens. But even then, Aussie Open feels that entitles them to a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. Sadly, the one glaring flaw of this event was the technical difficulties with those wireless mics. But either way, it was clear that FTR is willing to take on anyone from NJPW, and it would be really interesting if Aussie Open wins the NJPW Strong Tag Team Championships to try and make things Winners Take All again. How wild would it be if FTR added those brand new titles to their achievements while being only the second ever champions? Though, maybe for that reason alone, the other team wins and Aussie Open have nothing to lose.

And of course, Moxley in anything No Disqualification is going to be insane. Barbed wire planks that were shaped like crosses, skewers hidden inside of roses, the guitar smash, and much more, Desperado proves he can go in a hardcore environment. But in the end, Moxley wins because as AEW World Champion, interim or otherwise, he can’t lose until that title is on the line. Again, technical difficulties ruined most of Moxley’s promo, but he got the tagline of it out. Moxley obviously takes pride in leading the way for all of the non-WWE pro-wrestling that’s going on, and will do everything in his power to get AEW, NJPW, ROH and wherever else he might be asked to appear the attention of the wrestling fandom.

My Score: 8.6


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Coverage

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

Talk about a Big Time Raw!

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Will The Man be the Last Woman Standing?

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Jey Uso is here!

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

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

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

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is on the phone.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winners: DIY, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

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

 

Judgment Day meets backstage.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell, by submission

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

 

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Nia Jax speaks.

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

 

Cody Rhodes returns backstage.

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

 

Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall

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

 

Sami Zayn is backstage.

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

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

 

Adam Pearce is in the ring.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Sami confronts Gable now.

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

 

CM Punk speaks.

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

 

Drew McIntyre is here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Becky Lynch speaks.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Liv Morgan confronts Becky Lynch.

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

 

Cody walks with his dog, Pharaoh, backstage.

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

 

Last Woman Standing: Becky Lynch VS Nia Jax!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winner: Becky Lynch

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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

The semifinals are here!

Published

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We’re just one step away from the Cup!

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

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

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

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

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

No Contest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

2024 New Japan Cup Semifinals: SANADA VS Hirooki Goto!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


My Thoughts:

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

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

My Score: 8.9/10


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